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When Katsuki was late for patrol, Deku began to worry. He was never late, in fact he was always at least a half hour early. Izuku tried to justify why his hero partner would be late - train broke down, got caught up with a villain on the way to the agency, being held for ransom in his apartment. Fuck! After another thirty minutes with no sight nor sound of the explosive blonde, Deku hastily tracked down Todoroki and begged him to switch patrol slots. The amazing friend that he was, always willing to do anything if asked, he agreed immediately, wishing him luck in finding Katsuki.
The first place, and most obvious, to look was the apartment. It was easy to get in, slipping past the locked security door when a mother with a pram was coming out. Being the gentleman that he was, Izuku held the door open for her and then made his way inside, climbing three flights of stairs to get to Katsuki’s floor. His fist pounded on the door.
“Kacchan?” He called. “Are you home?” Faintly, he could hear the sounds of movement. “Kacchan, is everything okay? You didn’t show up for patrol.” The distinct sound of footsteps approaching lowered Izuku’s racing heart rate, but he knew relief wouldn’t come until he saw his best friend and secret crush. His favorite patrol days were the ones he was paired up with Dynamight. They worked well together, barely needing to speak to get the job done. And well, Katsuki was also very nice to look at.
When the lock clicked free and the door opened, Izuku nearly gasped. Dark circles rimmed his eyes and his face was far paler than usual. His nose stood out against his face with how red it was like he’d been rubbing it a lot. But the worst was the glassy look to his eyes, as if he was unfocused, barely able to keep his lids from falling closed.
“Deku?” He croaked. “Fuck, what time is it?”
“Kacchan, are you feeling alright?” Izuku asked, reaching forward without a thought, to place his palm against his friend’s forehead. “You’re burning up! Oh my gosh, I’ll let Endeavor know you need to take sick leave. Come on, let’s get you back to bed.”
“‘M fine, Nerd,” Katsuki slurred, swaying slightly as the freckled hero stepped past him to get into the apartment.
“You’re not, though,” Deku insisted. “When did you start feeling sick? You had patrol last night, right? Were you feeling alright then? Maybe you caught something when we went to the primary school for Hero Days. No, that would mean I probably would have caught it, too.”
“Too much talking,” the blonde murmured, letting the door swing shut and padding across the room to collapse on the couch. “Just give me five minutes and I’ll get ready.”
“Kacchan, you can’t patrol like this.”
“Sure I can,” Katsuki retorted. “Just need some medicine and I’ll be fine.”
“I’m making you some tea,” Izuku announced, confident that the blonde wasn’t going anywhere. His intense scarlet eyes were already hidden behind his lids, chest rising softly as he started to fall asleep again. “I wish you would have told me you weren’t feeling well. I was so worried when you didn’t show up at the agency.” There was no response other than a short hum from the couch. The freckled hero made a strained noise when reaching for the tea on the top shelf of the cabinet before snorting in amusement at himself and using Float to bring himself closer.
With the electric kettle heating the water and teas ready in the diffuser, Deku grabbed a blanket off the armchair and draped it over Katsuki, who’s eyes cracked open at the weight.
“Do you have more freckles?” He asked, hand reaching out to allow the tips of his fingers to caress Izuku’s face.
Cheeks burning at the sudden contact, Deku pulled away and took a deep, steadying breath. “I’m grabbing the thermometer.”
“Don’t need it,” Kacchan mumbled. “Already know I’m hot.” He let out a short laugh and Izuku couldn’t help but roll his eyes. It wasn’t often that his friend cracked jokes - usually only when they’d had a few too many drinks or the blonde was overly tired.
“You’re silly, Kacchan,” Deku told him before shoving the thermometer in his mouth. When it beeped, he felt more concern sweep through his body. It read 102. “Yep, you’ve got a pretty high fever.”
“Mmm, rained last night,” Katsuki told him. “Was wet most of patrol.”
“You didn’t have a chance to dry off?”
“Nope, some asshole stole a freezer truck that was transporting organs for transplant to the hospital. Had to chase, took a while. Then the reports took longer. I didn’t get home until late.” A ragged cough shook his chest.
“I’m sorry, Kacchan.”
“Not your fault, the fuck are you apologizing for?” A crease formed between pale brows as Katsuki looked at him strangely. Izuku tilted his head in question and the blonde smiled softly. “Your eyes are really green.”
The freckled man hung his head in defeat. “You need sleep, Kacchan. You’re delirious.”
“Tch, your eyes are always really green, dumbass. Deku’s pretty eyes.”
Izuku blinked rapidly at his hands resting in his lap. He couldn’t let his heart influence his mind. Kacchan was sick and he was saying things he didn’t mean. These words were just a fever dream. The kettle screeched, pulling him out of his thoughts. As he stared at the steeping tea, Deku could hear the blonde’s continued ramblings, picking up on a few sentences here and there, mostly babbling comments about his appearance or the fact that he’d come over to take care of Katsuki. It was all so confusing. His crush, though it had started when they were just kids, became more apparent in their final year of high school. Katsuki had gained six inches, towering over Izuku who hadn’t grown much between first and third year. His jaw became more chiseled and his muscles more defined. Not to mention the expert way in which he handled his quirk. Kacchan was amazing, and it took every bit of self-control for Izuku to not blurt out how much he loved his best friend. That became increasingly more difficult in the last two years, rookies often paired for patrol, and spending so much time together outside of work. Izuku was certain that he’d slipped at some point, but Katsuki had never called him out or really even acknowledged any type of romantic feelings. When their friends brought up dating or sex, Kacchan never seemed to have anything to contribute, not like Izuku ever expected him to. The blonde had always been exceptionally private, but as his best friend, he didn’t even know if Kacchan had a type. Which was incredibly frustrating since he’d been crushing on his for most of his life and just really wanted to know if he even had a chance.
“Deku!” Katsuki called from the couch, voice teetering on whiny.
“Coming Kacchan,” Izuku sighed, removing the diffuser and carefully carrying the tea to his sick friend. “Sit up so you can drink.”
Katsuki stared at him with a pout, before huffing and dragging himself up to rest against the arm of the couch. As he took the mug, Deku could feel how clammy his hands were. He was used to the buildup of sweat from Kacchan’s palms, but this was different, almost tacky in a way. Verdant eyes roamed his friend’s face, seeing the light sheen of sweat across his skin and the general pallor of his appearance. Crooked fingers brushed sweat soaked bangs away from scarlet eyes and Katsuki hummed, leaning into his touch. Izuku’s heart skipped a beat before his mind shouted at him to not read into things. He pulled away and moved back to the kitchen. At least there were ingredients so he could make a basic soup. But it might be best if he helped Kacchan back to bed.
“You steeped it too long,” Katsuki complained, handing over the mug.
“Sorry,” Izuku apologized, scrambling to take hold of the mug when the sick blonde let go a little too soon. He huffed and placed the half-drunk tea on the nearby table. “You should go back to bed.”
“Don’t wanna move.”
“Kacchan, you’re going to fall asleep in a weird position and hurt your shoulder if you stay on the couch.”
“I’m fine, Deku,” Katsuki grumbled. “Just need some water and vitamin C and I’ll be back to work tomorrow.”
“Um, no. You need to stay home until your fever drops,” Izuku insisted. He got in close to wrap the blonde’s arm over his shoulder and heave him off the couch. Katsuki grunted in surprise and whined out an excuse for why he should stay on the couch, but the freckled hero didn’t comply, dragging his friend back to the bedroom.
“God fucking,” Katsuki growled. “I can fucking walk!”
“Then walk!” Izuku snapped as they reached the bedroom entrance. The blonde shoved off of him, stumbling a bit before falling into bed and wrapping himself in the blankets. He shivered and sucked in a breath, groaning as he rolled over to find a comfortable position.
The freckled man rolled his eyes and padded into the bathroom to wet a washcloth with cool water. There was some medicine in the cabinet, but it had expired a couple months before, which honestly didn’t surprise Izuku that much. Katsuki rarely got sick. He couldn’t even remember the blonde coming down with anything throughout the entirety of high school. Maybe he could run out and buy some once Kacchan fell asleep.
When he returned to the bedroom, Katsuki was shivering and trying his best to pull the sheets and comforter tighter around his body. Izuku perched himself on the edge and shoved sweating blonde bangs out of the way to place the cool washcloth on his friend’s burning forehead.
“Cold,” Katsuki grumbled, eyes cracked open and looking glossier than they had only a few minutes ago.
“It’ll help with the fever,” Izuku told him. The blonde shivered again and tucked his knees in close. “I’m going to grab the blanket from the couch.” But as he stood, he was stopped by clammy fingers wrapping around his wrist.
“Stay here,” Katsuki whispered. “Hold me.”
Izuku’s heart shot into his throat, pounding wildly at the request. Emerald eyes, wide with surprise, stared down at his sick friend. His feet were planted firmly on the ground, but when Kacchan repeated the same plea, he felt his body move. Climbing onto the bed, Katsuki scootched over to make room, pulling back to covers to help him slip in.
“Only for a little bit,” Izuku said half-heartedly, knowing he’d love to lay here forever. The washcloth was discarded, hitting the floor with a wet smack as the blonde shimmied closer and tucked himself tightly against the greenette’s chest. Being so close, Izuku could feel every puff of heated air released from Kacchan’s mouth, fanning across his collarbone and making him relax more into the mattress until his arm wrapped around the blonde’s back. A Freckled hand rubbed gentle circles along his spine, bringing comfort to his sick friend. But while his heart still hammered and pleaded for the closeness to never end, Izuku’s brain was trying to bash down every hopeful thought that passed through. It’s because he’s sick. He needs comfort right now. When he feels better, Kacchan will pretend that none of this happened. He doesn’t like me the same. We’re just friends. But then, his mind went blank as chapped lips pressed into the hollow of his throat. At first, he thought it was a mistake, except it happened again…and again until Kacchan nuzzled closer and tightened his grip around him in a partial hug, humming contentedly.
“You okay?” The blonde asked quietly.
“I’m fine,” Izuku chuckled awkwardly.
“Your heart is beating really fast.”
“Oh, is it?” He gulped, trying to ignore the way Katsuki pressed himself closer. It reminded him of a cat headbutting and bullying their way into someone’s personal space.
“Deku,” Kacchan sighed. “Don’t play dumb.”
“Am I being too obvious?” Izuku whispered, feeling his throat grow tight. “Should I leave?”
“No,” the blonde said, tightening his hold. “You’re such a fucking idiot. It’s always been you…only you.”
“W-What?”
“Tch, and I thought I was being too obvious,” Katsuki huffed. “Why the fuck do you think I make you a bento every day and invite you over all the time and request to be your patrol partner as often as I can?”
“Because we’re friends?” Izuku asked.
“Because I like you, dumbass. I want to spend all my time with you, but you never seem to realize what I really want.”
“And what do you really want, Kacchan?”
“You,” the blonde answered, tipping his head back. The loss of heat made Izuku shiver and when those scarlet orbs locked on his, all thoughts flew out of his head. “All of you, anything you’ll give me. Just want my nerd.”
“You’ve always had me, Kacchan,” Izuku breathed. “I want that, too.”
“Yeah?” Katsuki asked, gaze tired but hopeful.
“Definitely,” he smiled back. “So, what does this mean?”
The blonde dropped his head back to Izuku’s chest and groaned. “Do I really have to spell it out for you?” He gathered his strength to look him in the face again and said, “Izuku, be my boyfriend.”
“Okay,” the freckled man nodded furiously. “Yes, I like that. Kacchan is my boyfriend,” he grinned.
“Good, then I can kiss you,” Katsuki smirked and pushed himself up to press their lips together. It was soft, but sweet, and a little sticky with how sweaty the blonde’s forehead was.
And then Izuku pulled back quickly with a gasp remembering why he was so clammy. “Kacchan! You’re sick! If we kiss, you’re going to get me sick.”
“Then, I’ll just return the favor and take care of you,” Katsuki whispered. “Thanks, by the way, for coming to check on me.”
“I’ll always take care of you,” he smiled. “Now, no more talking, only resting.”
Katsuki pouted, but relented relatively quickly with a grumbled, “Fine.” The weight of the blonde’s head against his chest made Izuku feel secure. And even though his heart was still pounding, it was for an entirely different reason now.
As his boyfriend settled and fell into a heavy, sick induced sleep, Deku couldn’t help but continue to hold him. He’d waited years to do this with Kacchan. Now he could do it without consequence and for as long as he wanted. Humming contentedly, he pressed his cheek into sweaty blonde locks and decided it would be okay if he settled down, too. If he got sick…well, Kacchan was worth it.