Work Text:
The cold weather starts to wane as April comes around. Shouto sheds his winter jacket and changes it for a light spring coat on the day that Katsuki asks him to meet up for something important.
There's a button up underneath the grey coat, and Shouto's made an effort to try and dress neater than usual. The slacks are light against his legs as he walks to the park. He too has something important to say, he thinks.
Katsuki's there already. He sits at their usual spot, bench under the shidarezakura. It makes for a pretty picture, the weeping cherry tree casting shadows over his face that's tucked beneath a scarf. The sunset makes its last calls and shines on him beatifically.
Shouto slows his steps as he approaches. Taking a pictures lasts longer, but 4k can only capture so much and is nothing compared to taking in the sight as it is.
"Oi, slowpoke," Katsuki calls out, risking the cold to lift his head and meet Shouto's gaze head on. "You're late."
The watch tells him he's right on time, but anyone arriving later than Katsuki will earn a grumble about their timing, Shouto knows. His lips twitch as he gets closer, wanting to slow in jest, but ultimately hurrying his pace.
"I'm on time," Shouto says as he sits next to Katsuki.
His shoulder is warm from the setting sun, and Shouto inches closer for that warmth. Katsuki tches but doesn't move away. He checks his watch instead.
"One minute late," Katsuki says to be annoying, and Shouto hums to be more annoying.
He's happy, like this. The day's work washed away, heart a giddy little thing, smile coming easily at the presence of Katsuki, Katsuki, Katsuki.
"How was work?" Katsuki asks. He leans back against the bench, face lazily tilted to the sky. "Heard you took down a group of villains."
"I worked hard," Shouto says, and catches lips tilting up in a small smile. "It was fine. What did you have to tell me?"
"Right into it, huh." His face is taut, but his eyes are bright. "I got asked to do a mission."
Oh.
"Abroad."
Oh.
Shouto feels a panic settle low in his chest, festering. It frets away at his heart, rattling its cages he steeled with iron forged from childhood. He calms, tries. Manages a composed, "that's great."
Katsuki grins at him, shoulders loosening. He doesn't know- or maybe he's keeping face for both of them. "Yeah. S'gonna be great."
Great.
"For how long?" Shouto ventures.
"Six months or so," Katsuki says. "Not that long."
Not that long, like they didn't see each other almost everyday, like his absence would be just fine. Just fine.
Shouto hums, swallows. He copies Katsuki's pose and leans back. Katsuki's eyes can be found in the hues of the sky, and Shouto stares and stares like he's already gone and not beside him, tangible, real.
"When are you leaving?" Shouto asks. Calm. Composed. He's fine, he's fine.
Katsuki says, "tomorrow."
Frigid waters crash on Shouto's head. He feels a chill scatter like goosebumps, spreading, spreading as he thinks about the limited time they have together. He's not calm, not anymore. But he tries.
"I'll take you to the airport," Shouto offers.
Katsuki turns away slightly. "Ei's taking me."
"Ah." He should've known, really. Eijirou and Katsuki had always been close, of course he would've told his best friend. Except, he wonders- "then... am I the last to find out you're going away?"
There's an ache in his chest at the silence, growing and growing like thorns and cutting into the fragility he lets loose when with Katsuki.
"I was gonna tell you," Katsuki says, and bites his lip. "But I didn't want our last week together to have it hanging over us."
"I would still have liked to know," Shouto says.
He would. Would have gotten a present or a silly souvenir or something that Katsuki could remember him by, maybe. But it's fine, this is fine. He doesn't want to spend their last moments in this grey haze.
"Dinner?" Shouto diverts, awkward.
Katsuki's still staring intently at the pond. There are ducks there, a mother and her little ducklings that all parade in a line and quack noisily. They look happy, and Shouto wonders when his own faded.
"Yeah," Katsuki says, and grips his pants. The fabric bunches underneath his fingers, crinkles in the smooth. He turns to Shouto then, hand on his shoulder and eyes sincere. "Sorry I didn't tell you. You can still- still come tomorrow.”
Shouto thinks of going, of joining Katsuki and Eijirou to the airport, at saying a vulnerable farewell, at feeling a heavy absence after and Eijirou seeing all of it. It's selfish, maybe. But.
"Maybe," Shouto says, even though they both know this will be the last time they'll see each other in a long while. But they can pretend, Shouto can pretend. Just a while longer, until he's safe at home.
Katsuki purses his lips, and the hand falls off of Shouto's cold shoulder. "Alright. Dinner, yeah?"
Dinner, yeah, becomes a haphazard assortment of meals they find on the street. Now that the weather's warmer, more people are out braving the night with their food carts, and Shouto peers at a particular noodle stand with interest.
He tugs on Katsuki's sleeve, who turns to look with a roll of his eyes. "Course you'd pick that shit," he says, but he follows along as Shouto leads the way.
They don't have cold soba, so Shouto orders a serving of yakisoba with a fried egg. He lets the container warm his hands as they walk around, wanting to wait for Katsuki to get food before he starts on his own.
"It's gettin' cold," Katsuki gripes, but his eyes are fond.
"Yes. So hurry up," Shouto gripes back, and the other just sneers and turns the other cheek, smiling at the last minute.
"Tch."
They amble beneath the lanterns strewn up for hanami. It's pretty, all glowing orange lights that illuminate the fragility of the paper dotted with sakura. Shouto wonders if Katsuki would want to go to the festival, then remembers that he won't even be here.
The lights feel a little more dim.
"Oi, there's an ikayaki stand up ahead," Katsuki says.
He doesn't seem to have noticed the sudden tension, which- good. Shouto doesn't want their last day together to be set in undertones of melancholy.
Shouto shuffles along with Katsuki to the ikayaki stand, where he orders two of them. The squid get fried over the glowing red coals, then glazed in soy sauce and charred over the heat. Katsuki grabs the container with his food and glances at the stand beside theirs.
"Wanna share takoyaki?" Katsuki asks.
"Mm."
So their last stop is at a takoyaki stand. Katsuki orders two servings and the merchant scoops the batter into the pan. Shouto watches as the mixture bubbles over the pan as it turns over. Steam releases in a cloud as the pan opens to reveal the takoyaki within. Eight of them get put on a little container with kewpie mayo and takoyaki sauce, then bonito and nori. Katsuki adds togarashi to his while Shouto keeps his plain.
They find a spot by the park benches overlooking a small koi pond. Katsuki sets the takoyaki between them, then glances at Shouto's yakisoba.
"It's cold now," Katsuki tsks. "Shoulda eaten it when it was warm."
"I wanted to wait," Shouto says, and Katsuki just huffs out a dumbass that shouldn't be endearing but is.
"Itadakimasu!"
The yakisoba is cold. Shouto had tried to keep it warm using his quirk but the evening breeze proved a worthy contender. He splits the egg with his chopsticks, letting the yolk spill over the noodles before slurping it up.
It's not quite cold soba, but it's still good. Everything is- good. Now. As long as he doesn't think about tomorrow, the day after, the weeks after.
Six months.
(Six months without Katsuki.)
"Hey," Katsuki says. He's finished one ikayaki, still munching on the second. "You said you had something you wanted to tell me."
Ah.
"Did I?" Shouto asks.
"Yeah." Katsuki gets out his phone and scrolls to their messages. "See."
Shouto sees, and wants to wilt. "Right."
I like you, Shouto thinks. Had it all planned out and practiced too, in the bathroom mirror in mornings and evenings. I like you. Will you go out with me?
Katsuki looks at him, expectant. "And?"
I like you, Shouto thinks, and says, "I might get a cat."
Katsuki looks away then. Shouto wonders for a second if he's disappointed both of them, even though it wouldn't really make sense.
"Fuckin' good," Katsuki says, and seems like he means it. "At least you'll be doing something in your spare time."
Shouto furrows his brows, mildly affronted. "I do things in my spare time."
"Ha! Like what," Katsuki challenges, and rolls his head lazily on the bench to look at Shouto.
"Like... going to cat cafés," Shouto says. "Sleeping. Drawing. ...being with you."
Katsuki swallows. Shouto catches the bob of the Adam's apple, and feels his own constrict tight.
"We spend a lotta time together, huh," Katsuki notes.
Shouto hums. Admits quietly, "I'll miss you."
If the takoyaki boxes weren't there, Shouto likes to play around with the thought that he could have reached across and held Katsuki's hand that lies flat on the bench.
"Yeah," Katsuki says, and it's a soft, gruff thing. His flat hand curls in a grip, holds, loosens. "I'll miss you too."
.
The keys clatter on the counter.
Shouto murmurs a tadaima that feels empty on his tongue, feels a lump in his throat rising, rising because Katsuki’s in the kitchen, rustling through the fridge and complaining about how there’s no vegetables, Katsuki’s by the kotatsu, legs tucked in and warm, content, he’s-
everywhere, everywhere and Shouto just wants him back already. I like you, he wished he could’ve said, and sinks to the floor.
He wonders how he came to depend on Katsuki for so long to end up shattered at his absence.
.
There's a crash! and the sidewalk becomes a litter of glass up ahead.
Shouto starts running after the villain who's carrying the entire cash register with him. He sends out a sheet of ice that turns the concrete into an ice rink, leaving the villain to fall on his face. The cash register flies out of his arms, and Shouto catches it easily.
He's unimpressed. It's always nice when the villain is easy to catch, but he can see why Katsuki was always rearing to go with the more fun villains. Especially now, when a distraction would have been nice.
Instead he's handing over the villain to the police, giving the cash register back to shaken up business owners, and heading back to the agency to file the paperwork.
Being in the office means he's more liable to checking his phone, means he can check whether Katsuki's flight landed safely and whether the man in question has sent any texts at all.
Buzz!
Shouto puts down his pen and picks up his phone. It's a message from not Katsuki.
Kirishima Eijirou (17:07):
hey man! any plans after ur shift?
You (17:08):
Go home
Kirishima Eijirou (17:08):
sounds solid! would u wanna get dinner tho?
You (17:09):
Ok
Kirishima Eijirou (17:09):
cool! ill meet u at ur agency :) u end in an hour right?
You (17:09):
Yes
See you soon :-)
Kirishima Eijirou (17:10):
bro...
see u soon!
Shouto finishes the paperwork quick and readies himself to leave. He opens his locker and catches the post it note from ages ago. It's written in Katsuki's neat scrawl, a menacing 'don't half-ass today!!' that makes Shouto want to not and do exactly that at the same time. Now it just makes him feel a wistful sort of longing in his chest; a tiny ache that grows and grows the more he thinks about it.
Another buzz from his phone reminds him of his appointment.
Kirishima Eijirou (17:58):
here! waiting in the lobby
no rush bro!
You (17:59):
Almost done
He takes a last glance at the note, then closes his locker quietly.
Eijirou sits in the lobby. He's on his phone, so Shouto sits next to him and peeks at what he's doing.
"That bird looks like Katsuki," Shouto comments, which makes Eijirou startle, then laugh.
"It does, huh," Eijirou says. He points at another one. "This one actually explodes."
He demonstrates, the black bird blowing up when it touches something. Shouto hums, and Eijirou finishes the level before turning off his phone.
"It's good to see you," Eijirou says, giving Shouto a beam.
"You too," Shouto says, and means it.
It's been a while since he's seen Eijirou, but the comfortable camaraderie he feels when around the other hasn't changed.
"Any ideas of what to get for dinner?" Eijirou asks. He looks outside where rain is pouring down heavily. "I got my car, so don't worry about the distance."
Cold soba is at the tip of his tongue, but Shouto is aware that not everyone has delectable taste.
"There's a yakiniku place not far from here," Shouto suggests, and as expected, Eijirou's face lights up that slightest bit more.
Shouto waves goodbye to the receptionist, and Eijirou picks up his umbrella from the stand. He opens it, then holds it over Shouto's head as he exits the building so he doesn't get wet.
At the restaurant they order pork belly, beef and some vegetables as sides. The grill gets prepared, and Eijirou uses the tongs to put the meat on the net that glows red. It makes a searing noise that makes Shouto’s stomach grumble slightly.
"Y'know," Eijirou starts hesitantly. He flips the pork belly, revealing the charred edges. "I thought you'd be the one bringing Katsuki to the airport."
Shouto watches the meat go golden brown. "I didn't even know he was leaving until yesterday."
"What, actually?"
"Actually. Said he didn't want our last week to be heavy."
"Man... that's kinda tough, huh. But..."
"But?"
Eijirou takes the meat off the grill. He dips it in the tare sauce, then puts it on top of the bed of rice. "He hates seeing you sad, I think."
Shouto swallows. He chews on the pork belly as a distraction, but it’s hard to savour with Katsuki’s absence on his mind. "That's my choice, though. If I knew I would have... cherished the moments more, perhaps."
Shouto cherishes all the moments, but he thinks he could’ve made an effort to be even more in the moment, somehow. Taken more pictures or videos or talked more or something.
"He'll be back before you know it," Eijirou says, and reaches over to pat Shouto’s shoulder. “In the meantime, you still have all of us to hang out with. Katsuki always hogs your time, but I know Hanta’s been wanting to catch up with you about manga…”
.
Katsuki (00:09):
just arrived
You (00:09):
Good :-)
Katsuki (00:09):
oi what're u doing awake hah
go tf to bed
You (00:10):
Talking to you is more fun
Katsuki (00:10):
tch
You (00:10):
How was the flight?
Katsuki called you
Call lasted 1:47:50
.
The thing is, they're not dating. Even if their actions matched up with the shoujou manga Shouto reads, they're not- not officially, anyways. And it's fine, what they have, what they had. He just hopes the long distance won’t affect them, because Katsuki is important to him, and Shouto- he sometimes struggles with short distance relationships. Words are hard, and people are harder.
It was easy with Katsuki, who barged into his life and stayed with a comforting ease.
Yet… he doesn't want to keep taking and taking. Initiating is a scary thing, sometimes, but Shouto looks down at the phone and tries to brave through it. Their last conversation was him sending a picture of a cat and Katsuki leaving him on read and it's fun but not fulfilling like being together in person.
Shouto goes to his contact and sees Katsuki’s disgruntled face waiting for him. It makes something squeeze tight in his chest- a type of fierce longing that makes him ache and want and-
he presses the button.
It rings once, twice.
Shouto stands up and starts pacing as it keeps ringing. At this point he's not sure if he wants it to go to voicemail so Katsuki could call back and he can steel himself, or if he wants Katsuki to pick up now.
"Hey," Katsuki says.
"Katsuki," Shouto breathes, and it sounds like home.
"Shouto," Katsuki voices, and it's a soft thing. "What's up?"
"Nothing much," Shouto hums.
He's stopped pacing, now a starfish on the tatami mats. He looks at the ceiling fan as it moves as slow as the time passing by without Katsuki.
"Yeah?" Katsuki asks. There's shuffling going on at his end. "Isn't it ass o'clock over there? What's going on with you?"
Whir whir whir.
"I just wanted to call," Shouto admits, quiet. "If you're busy I can-"
"It's fine, Shouto. Just- you don't usually call first."
Shouto gnaws at his lip slightly. He doesn't, even though he thinks of it often.
"Sorry," he says.
"No, you- don't apologize," Katsuki sighs. "Just thought something happened, that's all."
And it's- it's bad if that's what Katsuki's first impression was, Shouto thinks, berates.
"I miss you," Shouto says. That's what happened.
“Yeah,” Katsuki’s soft. “Miss you too.”
It’s quiet. Shouto can hear the soft breathing from the other end and he matches the rhythm and closes his eyes like Katsuki’s beside him; tangible, real.
“How’s the mission?” Shouto asks because he wants to hear Katsuki’s voice.
“Tch. It’s goin’- but not fast enough,” Katsuki grumbles. “Had a stakeout for a few days due to a lead but it ended up being nothing. Fuckin’ waste of time that was.”
Shouto hums. “Sounds frustrating.”
“Fuck yeah it was.”
“Hn. You’ll catch them- you always do.”
Shouto moves to sit by the window. It’s raining, darkening the clouds and concrete as it pelts down heavily. He watches it idly as he listens to Katsuki go off about his teammates and the mission, humming at the appropriate times.
Five more months.
“What’s going on with you, anyways,” Katsuki asks. “Got a cat yet?”
“Ah,” Shouto says, because he’s forgotten about it. He swallows. “If I did, I’d have told you.”
Katsuki tsks, “right. You’d blow my phone up with pictures or videos and shit.”
A hum, then Shouto feels cold. “Is it annoying?”
“No.”
It’s odd, sometimes. At how Katsuki is the person he’s the most comfortable around, yet still feels like he has to be so careful with.
“In fact, I better be the first to see your cat, yeah?” Katsuki adds.
Shouto hums. “You want me to hide my future cat from everyone until you come back?”
Five months.
“It’s impossible to hide things from the goon squad,” Katsuki grumbles. “I meant pictures. Or we could videocall.”
Videocall… Shouto likes the sound of it. He’s tempted to offer it now, but the thought of Katsuki being able to see his current fragility is terrifying.
“Of course,” Shouto readily says. “You’ll be the first to know.”
“Good.”
Five months.
Shouto watches the darkening sky and thinks, soon, soon.
.
"I have a reservation under Todoroki Shouto," he tells the cashier.
She nods, typing something in the computer and giving him a little stamp on the back of his hand. It's a cat face, smiling at him with large eyes. He smiles back.
"Please sanitize your hands going in and out of the cat room," the cashier tells him. "We try to avoid bringing in outside germs to the cats."
Shouto nods solemnly. "Of course."
"Great, we hope you have a good time!"
"Thank you."
The sanitizer is cool on his hands. He rubs it all over and lets it dry before entering the cat room.
There's so many of them. He made sure to come at the right time so that they're active and not just napping (although he wouldn't have minded much). Except this time he's on a mission.
He picks a table and orders a green tea and hojicha cat macarons. While he's waiting he heats up his left side discretely, subtly. It's always a tried and true tactic to lure in the cats and to his delight, he sees cats approach from all areas.
Shouto moves to the floor, squatting and holding out his hand for them to sniff. There's a ginger cat who sniffs his hand and promptly headbutts him. He feels his heart melt as he gets permission to pet, and he strokes the cat's head affectionately.
There's another short-hair calico who circles around him and starts sniffing his shoe. He holds out his hand and they come bounding with headbutts. Shouto smiles as he obliges, scratching under the chin as the cat starts to sink to the floor before flopping over and showing their belly.
It's therapeutic, being with cats.
Shouto breathes calm when he's surrounded by the little felines. There's a cream one on his lap, another pair napping by his feet, and he has the sudden urge to adopt them all.
He takes pictures of course, and even though they're slightly annoying to upload, he sends them all to Katsuki.
You (9:42):
Sent 78 photos
Wish you were here
It's hard to choose when they're all so friendly. Shouto moves around the café, scouring to see if there's anyone he missed and-
there's an old Siamese cat, tucked high in her cat tower. Only her tail is visible from her perch, but she looks at Shouto when he approaches. Her ears fall flat, fluffy fur raised as she turns right back around.
"This is Mochi," one of the staff explains. "She’s rather shy since she had to be removed from her old place.”
Mochi. The name makes him think of Ochaco, even though the cat is nothing like the bubbly girl he’s gotten to know. The cat reminds him more of himself, maybe.
“You can give her a treat if you’d like.”
Shouto opens the bag and pours out a treat. He lifts it to her hesitantly and waits and waits.
It takes time, he knows. The staff lets them be with a small smile, and then it’s just him and Mochi. Her ears are still downturned, so he steps back a bit in case she’s fearful. He avoids meeting her gaze, even though he wants to meet it with kindness. And she-
lowers her head to cautiously sniff the treat. She licks it, then takes it and retreats back to safety.
Something in him melts.
He rustles through the bag again, taking out another treat and trying his luck a second time; he steps slightly closer and she looks up in interest. Shouto holds out the treat in his palm, and she reaches down to eat. She doesn’t turn away, instead licking his palm for the residues of the treat and sniffing his fingers.
Cautiously, cautiously, she leans into his curled fingers. Shouto kind of wants to cry at the trust she shows as he feels her soft fur under his fingertips. He strokes her gently and scratches under her chin. She lets out a soft meow, and he steps forward slowly, slowly. When she doesn’t move away, he moves even closer, can feel her warmth against his own.
“Good girl, Mochi,” he voices, soft, and she headbutts him again.
.
You (23:31):
Hey, do you want to go shopping for cat supplies tomorrow?
conspiracy theorist 🤝 (23:31):
ill be there.
.
Hitoshi is calm and loves cats. He also doesn’t ask questions or break into a babble about nonsense or talk 24/7, which are all qualities Shouto doesn’t mind but isn’t feeling right now. He likes a nice silence, and he knows Hitoshi does too.
“Show me the cat,” Hitoshi says when Shouto exits the agency.
Obliging, Shouto dutifully takes out his phone and clicks on the Mochi photo folder. He hands it over wordlessly.
“Nice,” Hitoshi comments, then keeps scrolling through the dozens of pictures.
“She was shy at first,” Shouto starts. He thinks of her watchful gaze, anxious position, like she was so used to harm, she didn’t want to get her hopes up. He can… he can relate, he thinks. “But she warmed up to me.”
Hitoshi repeats, “nice.”
Shouto nods. “Yes.”
It’s rush hour, so the streets are bustling as they make their way down to the pet supply store. Shouto feels a thrill of excitement at finally, finally being able to make his own purchase, instead of always accompanying Hitoshi for his own cat.
“Do you know what you need?” Hitoshi asks. He blinks, turning to Shouto. “Have you gotten… anything yet?”
“…no. I’m not planning on buying everything at once though. Just the basics.”
Hitoshi looks a little less panicked now, which is good. “Alright.”
Shouto feels a smile tug at his lips. “Did you think I was going to buy the whole store?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. Mochi is gonna end up so spoiled.”
Shouto smiles. “That’s the plan.”
The bell chimes overhead as he pushes the door open, and holds it out for Hitoshi. They both grab a basket and start roaming around, taking one aisle at a time.
“So,” Hitoshi starts. He picks up three cans of tuna and puts it in his basket. “How’re you holding up with the Bakugou-free life?”
Shouto furrows his brows. “Everyone’s always asking me about him.”
“Well. Yeah,” Hitoshi says. Points out, “aren’t you dating?”
The food bowl drops to the ground. Shouto doesn’t know whether to stare at the broken pieces on the ground, or at Hitoshi in dawning horror.
“I’ll pay for that,” he tells the worker who’s coming their way, then turns to Hitoshi, who’s rubbing a hand across his neck.
“You aren’t dating,” Hitoshi surmises and, yeah.
“We’re not dating,” Shouto repeats. His shoulders droop. “The Katsuki-free life is still miserable though.”
“Ah.” Hitoshi looks like he already regrets asking. “That sucks. …he’ll be back in what- four months?”
“Four and a half.”
“Right. Perfect time to spend all your time with your new cat.”
It’s a silver lining of a dark cloud, and Shouto smiles regardless. “Yeah.”
.
Shouto opens the door to home, this time bringing along its newest inhabitant. “Tadaima.”
He crouches, gently putting down the cat kennel and opening the door. “Welcome to your new home, Mochi. I hope you’ll like it here.”
Mochi remains in the kennel, and he peeks inside to look at her. She’s looking through the open holes in curiosity, but makes no move to exit.
“Mochi,” he calls, and takes out a treat to give her. “It’s ok. It’s ok.”
Mreowl. Mochi starts to walk out, and he readily gives her a treat.
“Good girl,” he says. “Do you want to explore?”
Mochi leans into his hand, so he pets her head and goes to pick her up slowly. When she doesn’t make a move to escape he reaches over her belly and tucks her in his arms comfortably. She makes another little sound, and he nuzzles his face in her soft fur, feeling all the warmth of the sun in his heart.
Then, they explore.
Shouto walks around his small apartment slowly, careful not to jar the fragile cat in his arms. There’s not that much to show, but he wants to give her the full rundown of what her new home looks like. Including, the guest room, which.
“Ah,” Shouto says.
It’s different compared to the rest of Shouto’s apartment. Well. Not vastly different, just-
“Katsuki used to stay here often,” he tells Mochi, and wanders inside.
He’s. He’s avoided this room, he thinks. It’s mostly barren, but there’s still traces of Katsuki he can see with his hoodie strewn over the chair, chapstick on the bedside, futon rolled like a tightly packed sushi roll in the corner.
He sits on the floor, loosening his hold on Mochi as he leans back against the wall. He’s tried not to dwell about it, the moments with Katsuki, even though it’s hard since he’s everywhere.
Katsuki’s in the futon, applying chapstick before he sleeps; he’s in the kitchen, making breakfast for two; he’s outside, going on patrol; he’s at each and every restaurant, having dinner with Shouto.
And Shouto’s tried not to get lost in the past, because if he thinks of a memory as simple and mundane as breakfast together, the omurice with a grumpy face in ketchup, the goodbyes bordering on wistful, he thinks, he thinks-
Mreowl?
Mochi glances up at him, and lifts her paw to touch his face, hesitant. He looks back and sees her guileless stare, then holds her tighter.
“You’ll meet him soon,” Shouto says. “Four more months, then he’ll be back.”
The sun starts to set.
He repeats, “he’ll be back.”
.
The phone gets put on the kitchen counter, and Shouto accepts the video call immediately. Katsuki’s enlarged face comes into view, then zooms out as he also puts his phone down.
“So. Where’s the furball, hah?” Katsuki starts.
Shouto’s too excited to sulk at the lack of a hello. He glances down at Mochi who’s circling his legs, then picks her up and holds her to the camera.
“Mochi,” Shouto says, and feels giddy at the two finally meeting. “Meet Katsuki. Katsuki, meet Mochi.”
Mochi lifts a paw and awkwardly swipes at the phone, causing it to fall. Katsuki’s cackles crackle through the speakers, and it makes Shouto smile, ache.
“Nice to meet ya,” Katsuki says once he’s right side up again, and Mochi mreowls a reply.
After a minute Shouto places her back on the ground, and she wanders back to her cat tower in the living room. She jumps to the highest perch and curls up there, keeping an eye on Shouto. He turns the camera so Katsuki can see.
“Cute little shit,” Katsuki comments.
Shouto frowns. “She’s not a shit. She’s precious.”
“She’s got you wrapped around her finger already, huh,” Katsuki says, which… is true.
“I feel great kinship.”
Katsuki hums. He takes out a chopping board and rustles around in the fridge for ingredients. “Yeah?”
Shouto gets started on his own dinner, which he’s helped Katsuki make several times before. The rice gets washed and placed on the stove, and he prepares the mayo tuna filling for the onigiri he’s making.
“I told you how she was taken from her home,” Shouto starts. He mixes the kewpie mayo with the tuna, then adds in some white pepper. “But I didn’t quite know the reason until today.”
“What was it?”
“She was neglected for a long time,” Shouto says, thinks of Mochi all alone. “She’s affectionate once she warms up to you, so the thought of her all by herself even though she was surrounded by people is…”
It leaves a bitter, bitter ache in his chest, at how her previous caretakers didn’t do their jobs (at how his own didn’t do theirs).
“Well they’re assholes,” Katsuki declares, and stirs aggressively. “M’glad she has you now. She’ll probably be spoiled with affection by the time I’m back.”
Shouto smiles. ”It’s what she deserves.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
It’s quiet save for the sounds of cooking. The rice is done, so he piles it all in a bowl and adds the rice vinegar before mixing it all in using cutting motions not stirring- you don’t want it to become fuckin’ mush, do ya?
“What are you making?” Shouto asks.
“Yakimeshi,” Katsuki answers. “Got a bunch of leftovers to use up.”
Shouto hums. “Sounds good. I’m making onigiri.”
He holds up his lumpy attempt, and Katsuki laughs, which is slightly mean because Shouto’s trying, but also slightly attractive.
“Shape it some more,” Katsuki advises, and holds his hands together like he’s setting a volleyball. “Triangles, not spheres. Unless that’s what you’re going for.”
Shouto usually goes for something edible, but he’s willing to make more of an effort for Katsuki. Shouto shapes the rice into more of a triangle, shaping the edges and smoothing out the center so it doesn’t bulge. He shows his latest attempt to Katsuki, who grins.
“There ya go. Guess you learnt something from those cooking lessons after all,” Katsuki jests.
“I learned a lot of things,” Shouto defends. “Everything you’ve taught me, I listened to.”
“Everything, huh… alright. What’s the first thing I taught you?”
“How to turn on the oven.”
See. It’s simple in theory, but with so many buttons, it’s just as simple to get lost. Shouto stands by this excuse, no matter how much Katsuki laughed at him then, laughs at him now.
“Ha! Right, yeah. Your oven’s got too much shit going on.”
“Truly.”
Katsuki’s reply is drowned by the fan he blasts on high as he finally starts adding in the ingredients he prepped in the wok. Shouto can hear the sizzle from here, so he focuses back on his own dinner. He’s shaped all the onigiris, so he sets about to add the nori; he cuts out a strip for each of them and attaches them firmly. Before he eats, he puts the rest of the canned tuna in a bowl and beckons Mochi over with a pspsps. She comes over when she hears the bowl set on the ground, and he sits with her as she noms away at it. He’s learned that she likes having him near when she eats, and he’ll do it gladly, every and anytime she needs him to.
Her appetite has gone up too, he notices happily. It had taken some time to get her used to bigger and more standard portions but she’s worked up to it well, and he’s elated at her progress.
“Good girl, Mochi,” he says, proud when she finishes.
Shouto takes the bowl away and into the sink to wash later. Katsuki’s finished making his dish, and waits by the table, scrolling on his phone.
Less than four months. Shouto imagines Katsuki around the kotatsu, Mochi curled up beside them as they have dinner together once again.
Soon.
Soon.
.
Hanta is one of the first to officially meet Mochi. He squats down and reaches out his hand for her to sniff. She approaches cautiously, then curiously walks around him. Shouto’s filming it all and catches the exact moment where she leans in and accepts head pats.
“She’s so cute,” Hanta says, awed.
“The cutest,” Shouto readily agrees. He stops recording, and gets out a bag of treats. “You can give her some, if you’d like.”
Hanta feeds her some treats, then finally takes off his shoes. He reaches into his bag and holds out several manga for Shouto to see. “I got the goods.”
Shouto hums, and points at the kotatsu where he has his own stack of manga, along with some snacks and drinks. He’s put out some zabuton for them to lie on, and gives himself a mental pat on the back at being a good host when he sees Hanta grin at the setup.
“Man,” Hanta starts. He stretches, then walks to the kotatsu. “Work has been so busy recently. I can’t wait to just spend the time doing nothing but read manga and hang out with my bro.”
“Mm,” Shouto hums. It does sound like an ideal day, and it’s been a while since he’s caught up with his friend. “It’ll be a nice day.”
(No, Katsuki’s not here, but Shouto’s infinitely grateful for all the friends that are.)
.
You (11:21):
Call tonight?
You (16:20):
?
You (21:43):
Katsuki…?
.
“Only four out of seven pro heroes made it out relatively unscathed, two are in critical condition, and one is missing.”
.
You (13:42):
Please text me back
You (15:51):
please.
.
Shouto holds Mochi and thinks breathe with me, Shou, alright? In, two-
three.
Out, two-
three.
Repeat, repeat, repeat.
.
Helplessness was familiar in childhood. The all too wide gaze, trembling hands stopping a man three times the size (three times the power). The echoes of a hand on flesh, a bruise, a burn, that feeling of panic and fear and being so, so lost and when the most terrifying thing wasn't getting hurt but the lack of control at others getting hurt.
And he's trained for it, see. Being capable enough to help others however he can.
This, this- takes him back to when he was a child. Katsuki’s missing while the rest of his crew are out of commission for a while. It’s a horrifying situation, a group of the top heroes taken off their pedestal by a rising villain group. And for Katsuki, strong, invulnerable to anything and everything Katsuki to go missing instills a different kind of fear altogether.
Shouto hasn't felt helpless for a long time, but it comes back in ferocious waves as he looks at the news and sees footage of the wounded heroes and the lack of one.
.
“Put me on the case,” Shouto says.
“There is nothing you can do,” Endeavour answers. “We already have many pro heroes on the case, and we have no leads on where they might be.”
“Put me on the case,” Shouto repeats. “I can-“
“-nothing.”
Shouto feels anger rise up, and he clenches his fists at his side. “All that training and you’re telling me that there’s nothing I can do?”
Endeavour repeats. “There are already pro heroes on the case. You are needed here, Shouto. Trust that Bakugou will find his way back.”
Shouto ends the call.
.
Mochi helps him through the days. Shouto is panicked at the thought of losing Katsuki, who’s already lost, but he’s still trying because Katsuki promised him he’d be back and he had never broken a promise before. And maybe- maybe it’s childish, to hold onto a pinky promise of a hero. But it’s not when it’s Katsuki, who’s a hero who actually keeps his word.
He checks the news often. In the first week, the story of the missing Ground Zero took precedence over everything it seemed. Details about the case were revealed, and Shouto can see the anguish as the other heroes on the scene get interviewed, then turned away. Then, slowly slowly, it was pushed aside.
It’s terrifying, but he can’t, won’t give up on Katsuki.
.
There are five missed calls. Shouto fishes out his phone at the end of patrol and feels his stomach drop. He calls back and lets it ring and ring and-
“Fuckin’ finally.”
Shouto sinks to the floor and grips his hair. “Katsuki.”
“Yeah, s’me,” Katsuki says. The speakers crackle on his end, and Shouto hangs onto every sound tethering him to hope.
There’s so much Shouto wants to say, but he settles on, “are you safe?”
Silence. Shouto bites his bottom lip, opens his mouth, closes. He hopes, hopes-
“Yeah,” Katsuki chokes out. “Fuck. M’safe now. The mission’s done. I’m coming home soon, Shou.”
“I’ll pick you up from the airport,” Shouto says, and hears a watery laugh on the other end.
“Ok.” Katsuki breathes shallowly. “Fuck is it good to hear your voice again.”
Shouto exhales shallowly, swallows the lump in his throat. He manages a small hum and leans back against the wall, looking at the wide open sky. “I’m glad you’re safe, Katsuki.”
“Me too.”
.
It’s busy at the airport, and Shouto has prepared his best disguise to avoid being seen. He tilts his cap lower and grudgingly removes his sunglasses as he steps inside to avoid looking foolish. He scans for where Katsuki’s flight will land, and heads over to the crowd of people waiting for their loved ones.
There’s already people walking through, weary passengers rolling luggage as they look at the crowd. Shouto scans and scans everyone walking past, trying to hone in on anyone with fluffy blond hair and-
"Katsuki," Shouto breathes.
Katsuki's there, tangible, real. He looks- older; the new undercut making his features more sharp. There's a scar across his cheek and his eyes look more weighted and sharp. He smiles when he meets Shouto’s gaze, and his eyes turn relieved. "Hey, Shouto."
And they're- hugging. Shouto feels the tension and longing of the past six months drift off in the other's arms as his shoulders loosen and body melts in Katsuki’s embrace. Shouto breathes in the scent, still that familiar burnt caramel he's missed so much, and breathes again, again.
His fingers bunch the light fabric of Katsuki's button-up, gripping it tight.
"Missed me, huh," Katsuki teases, even though he's gripping back just as hard.
"So much," Shouto says genuinely. He breathes, breathes. "I thought I lost you."
"I made a promise, didn't I?"
Shouto chokes on a small laugh, and feels a lump in his throat. He buries his head in the crook of Katsuki's neck and swallows. He's so, so- happy.
.
alien_queen (2:31):
party for blasty this sunday!! Everyone better rvsp b/c I already reserved for all of us and missing seats are not acceptable :))
overcooked broccoli (2:34):
I think shouto has patrol that day but @zuko I hope you can come!!! I know kacchan will be happy to see you!!!
alien_queen (2:37):
um we’d all be happy to see todo, he’s been like a hermit these past few weeks >:(( resident pretty boy needs to be there! @zuko be there or be square
zuko (7:41):
I’ll be there, though I’ll be a bit late
Why would I be a square?
residentevil (7:41):
we are all squares in the end
pikachoo (7:42):
bro what…. i feel like im about to die with that sentence??
residentevil (7:42):
death too, waits for us
.
The party is in full swing when Shouto finally arrives. He just finished patrol and tried to make himself look presentable after getting thrown into a building. There might be dust in his hair but there's a thrumming excitement running through his veins at the thought of seeing Katsuki again.
The izakaya is fairly small, so he can spot his friends' table quickly. There's a few faces he hasn't seen in a while admittedly, but he can’t help but hone in on the person he’s been missing.
“We’ve been waiting forever,” Mina exaggerates as Shouto finds the seat next to Katsuki reserved just for him.
“Ah, sorry,” Shouto says, but she waves it off and grins.
He finds himself getting bombarded with greetings all around him, and he tries to reply to Izuku’s cheerful ramble and Fumikage’s solemn nod at the same time, to little success.
“Let him eat, damn,” Katsuki interrupts with a click of the tongue, and Shouto relaxes minutely as his friends back off slightly with sheepish smiles.
Hitoshi sits beside him, and glances at the two of them with raised eyebrows. He leans over and whispers, “still not dating?”
Shouto feels his cheeks catch fire and whispers back, "we're not."
(Not yet.)
"Could've fooled me."
There's a bang! and Shouto looks over as his plate gets clattered. Katsuki places freshly grilled ikayaki on it, then looks at Hitoshi with a look bordering on a glare.
Hitoshi only smiles back lazily, hands in the air. “I’ll back off from your man, don’t worry.”
It only serves to make the heat rise in Shouto’s cheeks, and he uses his quirk to try and stave off the bright red he knows he is. He chances a glance at Katsuki, whose own ears are tinged red.
“Eat up, Halfie,” is all Katsuki says as he piles more vegetables on Shouto’s plate that’s becoming more and more full. “I bet you skipped out on vegetables while I was gone, huh.”
“I ate them,” Shouto defends.
He picks up a sansho pepper and eats it to make a point, but Katsuki only rolls his eyes and turns to Mina, who’s poking his shoulder. Shouto smiles as he slowly makes his way through the rest of the items on his plate, taking sips of peach shochu intermittently. His belly and heart feel warm and full by the end of it, and he sits back and listens to his friends chatter around him. Feeling a little too sleepy at just sitting there, he decides to go outside for a little fresh air.
The chilly air clears his head as he steps outside. Being with his friends always makes him feel warm and loved, but a bit of fresh air helps him feel less overwhelmed at the continuous shouting everyone has going on.
Shouto leans against the railing. He can still hear his friends' loud voices, and smiles when he hears Katsuki yelling at someone. It feels like equilibrium has been restored again, having him back.
"What're you brooding about," a voice calls out.
Shouto looks back and smiles. "I'm not brooding."
"Yeah, yeah."
Katsuki lets out a misty breath. He's always been susceptible to cold, and he rubs his hands together. Shouto moves before he can think, covering his hands over Katsuki's to warm them up.
“Is this alright?" Shouto asks.
Roses bloom on Katsuki's cheeks, but he doesn't look away. "Yeah."
Shouto feels his heartbeat race. He thinks of six months ago back in the park, looking at the stars; he thinks of lost opportunities and regret and repeating the cycle and maybe, just maybe (breaking it).
"Remember how I told you I wanted to say something important," Shouto blurts out. "Six months ago, at-"
"-the park, yeah," Katsuki finishes. Flatly, "you said you were gonna get a cat."
"And I did."
"But… it wasn't everything, was it?"
Shouto looks down, bangs hanging low. "No."
A beat-
Two.
"I wanted to confess, that day," Shouto admits.
"Yeah?" Katsuki murmurs. "What about now?"
"Now..." Katsuki keeps looking, straight ahead with fond eyes that makes Shouto want, want. "I like you a lot, Katsuki."
There's a smile playing on Katsuki's lips, and Shouto wants to kiss him breathless. But he waits, hopes until-
"Fuck, Shouto," Katsuki breathes. His hands wrestle free from Shouto's warm grip, then pull him closer until he can cup Shouto's face. "I've liked you since high school."
High school. There's a pang at the what could have beens, at the thought of being together with Katsuki two years ago.
There's a pang for a different reason altogether as Katsuki asks, "can I kiss you?"
Shouto's heart races, skips a beat. They're already so close, like this; his face cupped in Katsuki's rough, warm hands, nowhere to escape the affection in the gaze.
"Yes," Shouto breathes, and Katsuki's eyes crinkle in mirth as they lean in closer.
It's novel and awkward but so, so warm.
(It feels like home.)
fin.