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When he pictured how he would die - not that he pictured it often - he always imagined it would be in this blaze of glory. He imagined it would be as spectacular and intense as the rest of his life, flames and rage and power.
Yet somehow, he couldn't say he was disappointed when he dies peacefully of old age.
Here he lies, surrounded by friends with his never-to-be fiance's ring clutched in his hand. Kirishima's hand lays heavy on his shoulder and he distantly hears the laboured sniffling of his remaining loved ones. Kouta, now a grown man, sits at the edge of his bed, looking down at him with a smile so pained that Katsuki would have chastised him for looking so depressed - had he the energy to do so.
Slowly but surely, the sounds of his friends' suppressed sobs begin to muffle. His eyes grow heavy and the feeling of Kirishima's grip fades away. He takes one last look at his friends, truly taking in how much they loved him as he did them.
And then they're gone.
When he next opens his eyes, he's a young man again, standing on the edge of a large clearing in a forest. A large oak tree stands behind him, a familiar and comforting presence.
In the middle of this clearing sits a cottage, not too large but radiating love and warmth. The door to the cottage opens and out walks Izuku. He's holding a watering can and makes his way to the hanging baskets at the side of the small house.
He had just started carefully watering the flowers in the basket when he spots Katsuki. He drops the watering can, seemingly not noticing the water slosh and pool at his shoes, and turns to him slowly, mouth open in the tiniest gasp.
Katsuki simply takes a moment to stare at Izuku, not in shock, not in disbelief, but simply because he can't not look at him. He's so beautiful.
It's Izuku that breaks the silence first.
"You lived so much longer than I thought you would." He hums slowly.
"Sorry," Katsuki says, his throat scratchy, "You left a lot of work for us."
Izuku nods, smiling softly, and Katsuki can't stand to be apart from him any longer. He runs at him and Izuku's running too, both overcome with the need to be with one another.
Katsuki pulls him into his arms, embracing him tightly and burying his face in his curls.
"I tried to make you proud, Deku." He chokes out.
"I know you did, Kacchan." Izuku whispers back, and if he feels the tears dripping into his hair then he doesn't say anything. "I've waited so long to hear you call me that." He smiles into Katsuki's chest, eyes welling.
They take a moment just to be in each other's arms, before Izuku pulls back, wiping away his tears and gesturing to the cottage.
"So what do you think?" He asks.
"I think I can smell pie cooking." Katsuki grins.
"I've been dreaming of this moment for so long and all you can think about is pie?" Izuku huffs with a smile.
"Shouldn't have made me wait so long for some damn pie then." He shoots back, winding an arm around Deku's waist and kissing him softly.
They part again and Izuku looks up at him through his lashes.
"I really have been waiting for this moment for so long. But now I don't have to wait any more." He steps out of Katsuki's arms but links their hands together. "So why don't you come inside for some blueberry pie and tell me about everything I missed."
Katsuki smiles at him fondly and allows himself to be led into the cozy home. The home where they - finally - start forever together.