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Katsuki was tired. He's just gotten back from a robbery gone wrong that escalated into a full blown fight when Trigger got involved. The villain with a destructive earth manipulation quirk had managed to cause quite a bit of collateral damage, crumbling two buildings, destroying at least a kilometer of the street, several dozens of injured and a few casualties.
He sighed, slumping down on a couch in the common room of his agency. He shared the agency with some of his friends from his time at U.A. and the higher floors left room for dorms and common space to relax and hang out in. It was here that his former class had planned to meet this evening.
‘’Hey Bakubro! I saw the news coverage, you were so manly defeating that villain!’’ Kirishima called out as he walked in followed by Kaminari. Katsuki scowled, but his scowls had long ago lost their heat when his friends had shattered his superiority/inferiority complex. It was nice to have friends he could rely on, even though he still doesn’t like to admit it.
‘’Hey guys!’’ Mina shouted as she dragged Sero into the commons. ‘’It’s almost time for our one year class reunion! Are you guys ready?’’
Katsuki groaned.
‘’Oh, uh, not yet Mina.’’ Kirishima chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. Katsuki tuned out the overly energetic conversation and let his mind wander a bit. Meeting with his classmates sounded like a pain, but there was no way any of them would let him out of it. A lot of them were stuck on the whole friendship train and refused to get off. They willingly put up with his bullshit and still dragged him along.
The thought reminded him of a certain green haired kid who would follow him everywhere as small children. Who had pestered him about becoming heroes together. Who looked at him like he was the luckiest kid to be Katsuki’s friend… and didn’t seem to fake it.
Middle school had been different though. The greenette had started avoiding him, distancing himself because of his jealousy. Because Katsuki had a quirk he could achieve his dreams with, and he didn’t. It was only years later, in high school where his behavior was corrected that he realized why the greenette really started avoiding him.
It made him nauseous.
It didn’t really matter now. His ex-friend turned victim was dead.
Katsuki could never and would never forget the phone call that his mom got at the ungodly hour of three thirty in the morning. He’d come down to the kitchen for some water and caught sight of his mom trying to calm a hysterical Auntie Inko over the phone. The words he’d heard turned his blood to ice.
It was his fault, he knew. Dek- no, Izuku had taken his stupid advice and jumped. He’d never hated himself more than in those next months, convinced that he wasn’t a hero. He didn’t deserve to be.
The more he reread the note left to him though, his self hate seemed to morph into a burning resolve. He’d become a hero for both of them. To save those Izuku had always wanted to save. With that new purpose and the help of his class at U.A., he’d become a hero Izuku would be proud of.
Just like the greenette had asked of him in his note.
‘’Bakugo?’’ Sero’s voice broke him out of his thoughts. The others were also looking at him and he had the feeling he’d missed something. They were all ready now, even Kaminari.
‘’What?’’ He snapped in annoyance. He often felt somewhat irritated when he thought about Izuku. It caused unpleasant memories and thoughts to resurface. Nauseating memories and self deprecating thoughts that he’d worked hard with his therapist to get past.
‘’Give me ten minutes to get ready.’’ He growled, getting up to go take a quick shower.
Maybe this reunion would be good, and help distract him from his own head.
He was wrong. Dead wrong.
The reunion did nothing to help him forget about Izuku. Thoughts of the greenette kept popping up as he watched his classmates socialize. He wondered what it would have been like if Izuku had been a part of this. He would’ve without a doubt fit in.
It was all too easy to imagine him playing uno or monopoly with everyone. Too easy to imagine him bouncing up to help make drinks for everyone with a smile. Too easy to imagine him at the table eating dinner with them. Too easy to imagine him sitting with them on the couches as they converse and him participating with his stuttering mess of word vomit that used to peeve Katsuki.
The blond would never admit that he actually really missed the constant muttering.
‘’Hey Bakugo, you okay?’’ Jiro spoke up during a lull in the conversations. ‘’You’ve been really quiet all evening.’’ She points out, latching the attention of nineteen others onto him.
‘’ ‘m fine.’’ He grumbled, diverting his glare. ‘’Just been thinking.’’
‘’Well that’s a surprise.’’ Kaminari snickers.
‘’WHAT WAS THAT PIKACHU?!’’
‘’What were you thinking about?’’ Mina cuts in before Katsuki could start blowing up their friend. Her excited tone made it clear she was looking for some gossip and maybe blackmail. She was infamous for it among the class.
Before Katsuki could yell at her to mind her own business, Kouda tapped him on the shoulder, flinching a bit when the blond spun around angrily. The reaction momentarily reminded Katsuki of Izuku and he immediately tried to calm down.
‘’Someone delivered this for you.’’ The shy animal hero whispered, handing Katsuki an envelope. The blond snatched it, though without his usual roughness.
‘’Who the fuck would be delivering me shit here?’’
‘’It was a short green haired guy.’’ Kouda informed him at the same time he saw the neat Kanji. ‘Kacchan’. Katsuki’s heart stuttered and he ran. He violently ripped the door open and ran out of the agency into the streets looking desperately for even a glimpse of green. The streets were starting to clear of people, most going home or taking a last walk before turning in, but after fifteen minutes of searching, he couldn’t find the mop of green curls he was looking for.
He dejectedly stomped back inside to the curious and worried looks of his class.
‘’What was that?’’ Mina pried. Ever the gossip girl.
‘’Was he someone you know?’’ Uraraka asks, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Katsuki ignored them. He didn’t have the patience for their nosy questions right now. He felt so confused. Izuku was dead, but no one else ever called him Kacchan, and what Kouda said, the guy being short with green hair? It certainly sounded like Izuku.
Was someone fucking with him? Trying to exploit old wounds? He didn’t want to believe in the tiny spark of hope blooming in his gut, but…
Only one way to find out.
He took a steadying breath and barely paid attention to the collective rapt attention of the nineteen others on him. He carefully ripped the envelope open and dumped the contents, a folded letter, folded packet and a small photo.
His breath caught in his throat at the sight of him and Izuku as young kids, not even four yet. They were outside and Katsuki was proudly holding a bug jar while Izuku was laughing with his wide sunshine smile and clinging to the blond.
He gently placed the photo on his lap with a trembling hand and picked up the letter. If someone was trying to fuck with him, they were definitely succeeding.
Dear Kacchan,
I’m sorry if this dredges up some not so great memories or causes some confusion. I originally never intended to bring up the past ever again, but I guess I never was one to let go easily.
I know this will probably be a major shock to you. Whether you’re angry or regretful, I’ll never know, and honestly I don’t think I want to.
I know you thought I was dead, I’ve seen the report, but I’m not. I’m alive and well. Actually I’m thriving in a way I never could’ve had I not done what I did. I don’t regret it. My only regret is not having been able to watch by your side as you realized your dream.
By the way, your fight earlier with that villain with the earth manipulation quirk was really sloppy. Honestly, do you not remember anything I taught you? Your quirk is versatile. Don’t forget that. Also if you want a full analysis on that fight and more about your quirk, it’s in the packet.
Now, the reason I’m writing this is quite simple actually. I’ve watched from afar like any other civilian as you grew alongside that chaotic class of yours and now a year has passed since your debut. I want to say how proud I am of you.
I’m so proud of you Kacchan. You’ve become a great hero. Now you can aim for the top spot.
I hope this will bring you closure about everything like it has for me. You’ll do great things and I’m happy. Please don’t look for me, and don’t tell mom or Auntie Mitsuki.
Love you Kacchan,
Deku
Katsuki felt the hot tears spilling from his eyes making the last part of the letter hard to read, but even as he tried to blink them away they kept coming, blurring his vision and dropping onto the page in his hands. He was crying but he didn’t care. He let a soft sob escape him as he bent over, eyes squeezed shut.
A gentle hand rubbed circles on his back and he remembered that there were nineteen people watching him fall apart. Part of him got angry that he’d let them see him so vulnerable and weak, but the bigger part of him didn’t care anymore. They were his classmates and fellow heroes. They’d been through hell together and he honestly trusted them with his life. So what if they saw him cry after finding out his childhood friend, who he thought was dead, was alive, happy and proud of him even after everything he’d done.
When his tears slowed down and he could breathe normally again, he reread the letter then skimmed over the packet. It was just like the nerd. He could almost imagine listening to Izuku muttering this information to him.
Next, he took another look at the photo. It was one that he didn’t have so he’d probably lost his copy a long time ago.
‘’Bakugo?’’ Kirishima said gently. He was standing next to Katsuki’s armchair and was probably the one who had rubbed his back earlier.
‘’I’m fine.’’ The blond whispered.
‘’Hey, um… There’s something on the back of the photo.’’ Sero pointed out. Katsuki turned it over and sure enough, there was something written on the back.
‘I always knew you’d be a great hero.’
‘’Just some closure.’’ He added, a small smile unlike any his class has seen gracing his lips.