Chapter Text
Katsuki groans as he shuffles out of his shoes, pulling off his black leather jacket and shoulder gun holsters, followed by two smaller knives in the special pockets of his boots. Setting them on the table in the entry, he moves into the living room where he unceremoniously flops onto the couch facedown, breath wooshing up and out of his lungs, muscles sighing with relief. He was absolutely exhausted. He knew he’d made the right choice in turning down the others' idea of continuing the night out at a dance club.
Not that he normally wouldn’t enjoy going out with his band of idiots. However, after spending two hours getting acquainted with Kaminari’s new boy-toy and said boy-toy’s friends, Katsuki’s drained. Though, color-him-shocked when he actually liked this one. He’d told Kaminari as much. Shinsou seemed to actually have a good head on his shoulders – despite his hair looking like a troll doll – Dunceface needed that in a partner.
Ugh, Katsuki could practically feel his pores clogging and the general grime of a busy day all over his body. Growling in annoyance into the couch cushions, he definitely needs a shower, but it felt so good to lay down. He seriously did not want to get back up. Fucking extras making him deal with shit that should already be handled.
Late last night Katsuki had to get his hands dirty by making an example out of an extra who was stealing money from his drug busting sector. Then this evening, he and Momo were half an hour late to dinner because a stupid underling got the drop points confused. Katsuki was not happy about having to teach that shit a lesson. At least the fucker won’t fuck up again; fully understanding the consequences if he did.
A consistent buzzing alerts Katsuki to the phone at his hip. Sighing heavily, he rolls to his side to pull the offending thing from his pants pocket. What could these fuckers want now?
Tapping his screen awake, he’s automatically relieved that the messages are coming from the group chat with all his friends instead of the one for business. Opening the chat, he’s afforded a stream of messages upon messages from his idiots, along with a photo taken of the entire group. Including Shinsou’s friends, minus his two friends that couldn’t show up, Tsu and Zu, at a club he remembers Mina boasting about. He only remembers because she hadn’t shut up about it for over a month. Apparently it was new and located in local neutral territory. She’d been dying to go.
Katsuki sends a quick text telling them to enjoy themselves and he’d see Kirishima tomorrow afternoon. They had a serious meeting with the head of the One For All organization due to their recent take over of One-Bee territory, which bordered parts of Katsuki’s Grimm Wolves territory. Sometimes he wished he hadn’t taken over for the Old Hag so soon. This was the most boring part of being Head of House.
Pocketing his phone again, Katsuki tucks his hands in under armpits and closes his eyes, laying on the couch for another ten minutes, letting his body relax, before deciding enough is enough. Rolling the rest of the way off the couch, he stands up and arches his back, causing it to pop, much more than a normal twenty-four year-olds probably should, then heads to the bathroom to shower and get ready for bed. Yes, it's 10:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. Fuck off. He’s tired.
Katsuki starts up his Shower Playlist, connecting through the bathroom speakers, before undressing and stepping into the skin-peeling hot shower. The pressure and heat melt his tired, aching muscles, an involuntary groan leaving his lips. He let's the water pound against his body for a few extra minutes before moving on with his shower routine. Through the steaming glass shower doors, he spots the screen of his phone flicking on as it continues to blowup, but ignores the messages (if it was important, they’d call) until he’s finished and toweled off.
There’s fifty-plus new messages in the group chat. Katsuki rolls his eyes, turns down the music volume, then goes to text them back. Better to placate his friends now compared to later so they’ll leave him alone. He’s immediately taken to the most recent incoming message where Mina is shouting at him.
Whatsapp chat with: Bakusquad 
Today
Received Message from:Alien Queen
Get off your GRANDPA ass and come to the club!!! 10:54pm
Received Message from:Alien Queen
Zuku showed up and he's super fun!!!! 10:55pm
Received Message from:Alien Queen
Come out Bakubabe! 10:58pm
Type a message 
Katsuki rolls his eyes again. Yeah, sure. The other extras with Shinso seemed pretty boring, except for maybe that pink-cheeked chick and the Half-n-Half looking bastard. They’d been fun to rile up. But there’s no way this new guy would ever make Katsuki leave his house when he’s already started his bedtime routine.
He quickly swipes up on the chat, getting to the beginning of his friends’ night out at the club.
Most of the pictures and texts are about how Shinsou’s friends are ‘super fun’. Followed by pictures of them all together, separate, lounging in the VIP section or dancing on the dance floor. Around the time he’d gotten in the shower, that’s when his phone really started blowing up and the idiot squad tried talking him into joining them.
Whatsapp chat with: Bakusquad
Today
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
Yo, my man! You'll never guess who's here! 10:31pm
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
Remember when we were in HS and I was still with FG? And we worked to save that kid from the Shie Hassaikai but there was another dude, GR, who was running the op?? 10:30pm
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
He's here!!! 10:31pm
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
I mean I only got to talk to him once before. 10:31pm
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
But he's friends with Shinso!! How cool is that man?! 10:31pm
Received Message from:Jirou
They're all freaking out abt this guy. 10:32pm
Received Message from:Jirou
He seems nice. 10:32pm
Received Message from:Jirou
But they're drunk already so don't mind them, boss. 10:32pm
Received Message from:Sparkplug
Jiro!! Why?!! No!! We're not that bad yet!! 10:32pm
Received Message from:Alien Queen
Yes YOU are babe. You and that boytoy need to CELEBRATE!!! 10:34pm
Received Message from: Alien Queeni
10:34pm
Received Message from: Kaminari
10:35pm
Received Message from: Kaminari
10:35pm
Received Message from:Tape Face
Dude, you'd totally enjoy tonight. 10:40pm
Received Message from:Tape Face
maybe come out to the party??? 10:40pm
Type a message
Katsuki scrolls through another fifteen-to-twenty more texts and gifs asking him to come out to the club before getting to something a little better.
Whatsapp chat with: Bakusquad
Today
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
Dude, I def get you're not gonna come out 10:45pm
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
But here I'll send you a pic so when we all meet up again you'll know what the dude looks like 10:45pm
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
He's kinda adorable 10:45pmpm
Received Message from:Alien Queen
BABE! 10:46pm
Received Message from:Alien Queen
You know, maybe we should talk abt doin a 3some some time?! 10:48pm
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
Babe! Yes! 10:48pm
Received Message from:Jirou
Guys can we not right now? 10:48pm
Received Message from:Ponytail
We love you all and we respect it. 10:49pm
Received Message from:Ponytail
But yes, can we keep the possible discussion between only you two until you have reached a verdict? 10:49pm
Received Message from:Sparkplug
Awwww! But I wanna hear! 10:49pm
Received Message from: Sparkplug
10:49pm
Received Message from:Tape Face
Slut 10:50pm
Received Message from:Alien Queen
Slut 10:50pm
Received Message from:Jirou
The sluttiest of sluts 10:50pm
Received Message from:Sparplug
Don't shut slame me! You know you're all secretly interested! 10:50pm
Received Message from:Alien Queen
shut slame 10:50pm
Received Message from:Jirou
shut slame 10:51pm
Received Message from:Tape Face
shut slame 10:51pm
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
shut slame 10:51pm
Received Message from:Ponytail
shut slame 10:51pm
Received Message from: Sparkplug
10:52pm
Type a message
Katsuki rolls his eyes again at his friends' antics, then scrolls further till he sees something more reasonable coming from Sero.
Whatsapp chat with: Bakusquad
Today
Received Message from:Tape Face
We're having fun. Wish you were here instead of being Grumpy Kats 10:55pm
Received Message from: Tape Face
10:55pm
Received Message from:Shitty Hair
Here's a pic of all of us missing you! ❤️ 10:56pm
Type a message
The picture appears with a multitude of people. Katsuki really doesn't look to hard at it, not interested in new people. Except when he's about to keep scrolling a forest green color catches his eye. He flicks up and almost finger punches his phone to enlarge the picture. His breath catches, then he proceeds to choke on his own spit, eyes widening as he recognizes the mop of green curling hair, large doe green eyes and smattering of freckles across well defined, yet youthful cheeks, left ear covered in piercings lobe to cartilage.
“Deku?” He chokes.
No.
No way.
He looks harder, zooming in on Deku, his once childhood friend, sandwiched between Kirishima and Kaminari, smiling wide and carefree like he always had.
What. The. Fuck!
Katsuki tries to calm his racing heart and wipes his now overly sweating palms on the towel still wrapped at his waist.
Exiting the picture, he scrolls to the next ones spread throughout the group chat. He passes two or three before finding another one with Deku and Kirishima smiling excitedly, drinks in hand.
Fuck.
It really is the nerd. He hasn’t… Katsuki puts a hand to his head. Fuck. He hasn’t seen Deku since they were ten years old. He spends more than a minute staring at the image of a much older and matured Deku staring up at him. Then opens a private chat.
Whatsapp chat with: Ponytail
Today
Sent Message: You guys still at the club? 11:10pm 
Received Message from:Ponytail
Yes. 11:10pm
Sent Message: Good. DON'T FUCKING LEAVE. 11:11pm
Sent Message: And don't say anything to the rest of the idiots 11:11pm
Received Message from:Ponytail
Okay. 11:12pm
Received Message from:Ponytail
Should I ask what brought on the change? 11:12pm
Type a message
Katuski doesn’t answer. He rushes to change into club appropriate clothing, forgetting his typical jewelry and artillery that's kept on him at all times in his rush. He grabs his keys, double checks the address on his phone and decides taking the train will be faster than dealing with traffic.
* * *
When Katsuki enters the club, none of his idiots are within sight, meaning they’re most likely upstairs on the VIP mezzanine. He shoves his way through the crowd as best he can, avoiding sloshing drinks and random hands reaching for his body. The bouncer guarding the stairwell access asks for ID which Katsuki easily provides before being allowed upstairs – he’ll let it go considering how new this club was in neutral territory.
His eyes adjust to the lowlights on the tables and overhead once he reaches the second floor. There’s multiple people holed up at the bar to his left, flowing into the back corner. People splayed across the lounge area catch his attention, gaze passing over the extras easily until he spots the sharp red of Kirishima’s hair, the bright pink of Mina’s and the wonderful forest green he hasn’t seen in person in fourteen years.
“Deku,” He growls to himself, stalking towards the group. Deku’s sitting on one of the two loveseats surrounding a large rectangular table with another longer couch between them. Deku may not see his approach, but Katsuki’s own imbeciles spot him immediately, waving excitedly, unaware of the storm of emotions building under his skin. He ignores them.
“Deku! What the fuck?!” Katsuki yells once he’s in hearing distance, finding an odd satisfaction with the way Deku’s shoulders visibly tense.
Confused eyes fall on Katsuki immediately. But he only cares about one pair of eyes. Rounding the couches, he stands in front of his inner circle and Deku’s friends, blocking their view to the dancing below. He glares at Deku’s bowed head, where he refuses to look up from the drink in his hands. It gives Katsuki the chance to take him in, the way Deku’s body showcases muscular legs and shoulders, a stocky build on a shorter body. The insane amount of freckles across visible skin and the multitude of scars on his hands and arms. Katsuki notes the intricate lightning tattoo on Deku’s right arm, starting up under his shirt and ending over the back of his hand and fingers. The contrast to the minimalistic black background makes the bright green pop even more, as if it was striking in real time.
“Well?” Katsuki growls again, and then eyes so green and bright and lovely – nope, nope, bad thoughts – turn to look up at him. Deku’s pupils widen even further as he takes him in, quickly raking up and down his body. Katsuki feels a satisfied smirk pull at his lips, but doesn’t let it show.
He’s transfixed, absolutely enthralled, watching Deku’s features soften. Taking the time to take in every inch of Deku’s face – the rounded apple of his cheeks, strong jawline, the way his fringe splays over his forehead, and the four point diamond shaped freckles Katsuki distinctly remembers from his youth. A copy of them tattooed on his own wrist in remembrance.
Deku’s eyes lock with his own and there’s a glint that appears that Katsuki can't identify. But it’s burning. A shiver runs down his spine.
“Hi, Kacchan.”
He blanches at the pure elation that rolls through him at that name.
Oh.
Oh fuck.
Shit. He didn’t realize he actually missed that silly childhood nickname. And now? Coming out of a grown-up Deku’s mouth with a much deeper lilt?
Fuck. Him. He’s gotta get his head on straight. He didn’t come here to… to… he doesn’t want to go down that road.
He came here for answers.
“Hi?” He scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest, eyes boring into the other man. He notes Deku’s don’t leave him either despite the shifting he can make out of Todoroki, Uraraka and Iida. “That’s all you have to say to me? Fucking, ‘Hi’?”
Deku rolls his eyes at him. “Well, how else would you like me to greet you?”
On your knees, or ass up, Katsuki thinks. The lustful thought makes him even more annoyed at the situation. Shoving the horniness back down, Katsui growls low in his throat. “How about starting with where you’ve fucking been for the past fourteen god damn years?”
Deku brings his glass up to his lips, eyes locked with his over the rim, taking a long drink. The glass clinks against the glass table-top when he’s finished, green head tilting as a smile pulls suggestively over his teeth. “That actually sounds like the midpoint of a conversation, not the beginning, Kacchan.”
“Oi,” he snaps, taking a half-step forward. Half-n-Half shifts next to him, but Deku stops him from doing anything by placing a hand on his knee and flicks his fingers at Pink Cheeks and Glasses, who Katsuki notes from his peripheral had moved as well. “Drop the fucking attitude!”
Deku continues to smile up at him, practically a picture of innocence. A flash of a memory flits across his mind from when they were seven. They’d taken two of the cookies off the cooling rack on the counter in the kitchen. They were almost caught, but when confronted by the big boss’ chef, Deku had plastered on a smile of complete innocence. It somehow got them off scott free. Nothing more than a side eyed look before being sent out to play in the yard.
“You have anything else to say smartass? Or are you going to tell me where the fuck you’ve been?”
Deku’s eyes glitter in the strobe lights from the main floor, cheeks bunching up at the widening of his smile. “Yeah! I’ve really missed you, Kacchan!”
Katsuki notes offhandedly his own idiots chuckling at the repeated use of the nickname. Ugh, he’ll probably be hearing about this later. However, he can’t help admitting to himself how adorable Deku looks grinning up at him; he wants to excessively pinch his freckled cheeks. Or bite them. He’s good with either. He knows that’s not going to happen. He’s very mad at Deku right now.
“Fuck you.”
Deku’s smile almost gets impossibly wider. “Come sit, Kacchan!” He gestures to the loveseat across from him; the couch already full with the rest of their friends.
“Yeah man, we can move if you want to take a seat,” Kirishima says, as Mina moves to sit in his lap.
“Yeah dude,” Kaminari agrees from the larger couch, “it seems like there’s maybe a lot to talk about?”
Katsuki doesn’t budge. He’s not conceding first. Especially with the way the stupid Todoroki heir won’t stop glaring at him. He feels his blood pressure rising.
“You gonna answer my question or not?”
Deku sighs, smile falling by a hair; picking up his glass from the table. He leans back into the couch, taking a long drink from brightly colored liquid. “I feel like you should already know… you’ve always been pretty smart, Kacchan.”
Without thinking through his actions, Katsuki takes the last step forward. Reaching out to grab Deku by the front of his stupid light blue crop-top with ‘Party Shirt’ written across the chest. He’s ready to haul the idiot out of there so they can actually talk, but his friends and Deku’s don’t seem to agree with this course of action.
Shouts immediately erupt from everyone. A chilling hand wraps around his wrist holding Deku’s shirt, and Kirishima and Mina are at his shoulders trying to pull him back.
“Don’t. Touch. Him.” Todoroki growls, fingers tightening into a bruising hold, eyes piercing into Katsuki, promising death if he moves wrong. Katsuki can appreciate the protective nature. But it’s pissing him off. Looking back at Deku, he realizes the little shit hasn’t even dropped the carefree smile.
“It’s alright, Sho.” Deku pats at Todoroki’s bicep. “He’s not going to hurt me.”
“Oh, like fucking —”
“Dude! Kats, let's calm down okay?” Kaminari says from his right. “Let’s get you settled in a seat. Maybe a drink? And let’s start over, okay?”
“Agreed,” Uraraka says from her position standing behind the Half-n-Half bastard. “Especially since we’re all a bit confused on how you guys know one another.”
“Yeah man, you can have Mina and I’s seat, alright.”
“No no, you guys stay in your spot. He can take my seat.” Sero stands, moving to sit on the arm of the larger sofa.
Ignoring the musical chairs going on behind him, Katsuki sends a sharp glance to his wrist where it’s still trapped in the chilly grasp, then back up to its owner. His glare doesn’t have an effect, but a pointed look from Deku has Todoroki letting go.
Katsuki wants to snap that the Half-n-Half bastard was no better than a trained mutt, but swallows the words. Kirishima would call him ‘unmanly’ if he was uncouth. Plus, he wants to get as much information out of Deku as possible, which wouldn’t bode well by calling out his little pet. Katsuki releases Deku’s shirt and moves to sit on the end of the love seat, next to Kirishima and Mina, opposite of Deku across the coffee table.
A bar waitress makes her way to their group, as everyone else finds their previous positions, collecting the empty glasses. Taking advantage of her presence, Katsuki orders himself a drink and something for Kaminari and Shinso. He does have enough self-realization to understand his interruption wasn’t exactly conducive to a ‘proper’ meeting of friend groups.“Need 3 bottles of Nanbu Bijin “Daiginjo” and glasses for the table.”
“Right away, sir.” The waitress nods in acknowledgement, finishing up her task before heading back to the bar.
“Aww!” Deku coos from his couch corner. “Kacchan’s still a softy I see.”
“Fuck off!” He retorts snipply, while his friends laugh in good fun.
“It’s good to know it’s still true, Kacchan.”
Katsuki grins viciously. “Yeah, well, I’d put money down that you’re still a fucking crybaby.”
Shinsou barks a dry laugh. “Oh, for sure!”
“Yes, he does cry at everything.” The Todoroki bastard even joins in on the teasing.
“Hitoshi! Sho!” Deku blushes and playfully smacks Todoroki on the shoulder, who was the only one he could reach, and settles on sticking his tongue out at the purple haired looking troll doll, like a five year old. No, Katsuki did not find it cute. He did not.
Katsuki smirks knowingly. “Knew it.”
“O-kaaayy!” Mina claps her hands together once, then wiggles her fingers together anticipatingly. “Do we all get to know how you both know each other, even though today is the first day the rest of us have met each other?”
“Except us, Mina-babe!” Kaminari raises a hand, indicating between him and Troll Doll.
She giggles, waving a dismissing hand towards them. “Well, obvi, babe.”
Katsuki, unwilling to let his gaze stray from Deku, gets to watch the way a light flush of pink spreads across his freckled cheeks under the strobing lights. Glittering and shimmering sparks dance across Deku’s left ear and cheek as the multi-colored lights flit through piercings from lobe to cartilage. Viridian eyes turn back to him, and Katsuki sucks in a low shuddering breath at the intensity behind them.
“Do you wanna go, or shall I?”
“I mean, we really don’t have to. This is supposed to be about Hitoshi and Kaminari. We can’t just —”
“Oh yes you can, ‘Zu,” The purple haired troll doll smirks at Deku. “I definitely wanna hear all about how you happen to know Bakugou Katsuki.”
“Yeah, Deku,” he narrows his eyes at him, “never told your little nerd squad here about me? I’m fucking devastated.”
“Ugh! Kacchan!” Deku rolls his eyes, but keeps smiling brightly. “We’re not a nerd squad.”
“Whatever.” He waves flippantly.
Silence lasts a heartbeat too long, weighing between them despite the heavy beats of an EDM song pounding through the club. Katsuki raises an eyebrow towards Deku who shrugs and takes another sip from his drink.
Fucking fine. Katsuki would start them off if Deku was gonna be a little bitch about it all. He didn’t know why, but he felt a sting in his chest at the realization that Deku didn’t want to talk about him.
Was he ashamed?
“We were childhood friends.” Gasps echo throughout the group, mostly drowned out by the music. “Our parents were originally part of Aldera way back when. Ya know, before the idiot took over and practically ran it into the damn ground.”
Deku nods his head in consensus and understanding. “Yeah, I heard Auntie Mitsuki ‘took care’ of him. And his followers.”
“The old hag went a bit ape shit when we found out what happened.” Katsuki can still see the massacre, the bloodshed; he was just happy the old hag let him help.
“Aww!” Deku coos and leans forward to rest his chin in his hand, eyes once again locking onto Katsuki’s, as if he too can’t bear to let Katsuki out of his sight. “And what about you?”
Katsuki arches a brow. What did Deku mean? “I fucking helped, of course. What kind of shit question is that?”
Deku shrugs. “Wanted to hear from you how much you actually cared.”
His inner circle ‘oohed’ like imbeciles. He ignores them. “Oh, fuck off. You don't get to say shit. Of course I cared. What the fuck, Deku?”
“Wait!” Kirishima interrupts, pointing excitedly, “You’re Izuku Midoriya! Dude!” He leans forward, red eyes wide, “You’re Yagi Toshinori’s heir to the company right?! That’s where I’ve also seen you before! Dude! That’s so cool!”
Deku grins brightly at Kirishima. If Katsuki didn’t already know that Shitty Hair was in a long-term relationship with Mina, he’d pull the fucker back.
“Thanks! Yeah, Toshinori-san wanted to announce it sooner. But he was waiting till I finished college and then he wanted to show me more of the ropes, so that took a bit of time. Though it’s not like I haven’t watched him run Might Corporations since I was like fifteen but, working with him was definitely great! And I love him to pieces and I did learn a lot more than I had known, especially when it came to things like marketing, because honestly, marketing isn’t —”
“Still a rambler I see.” Katsuki buts in.
He knew if he didn’t, and Deku’s loser friends hadn’t yet, then Deku would mumble on and on for hours. Katsuki did want to know what he was doing with one of the top bosses of the underground. And how he ended up with him. And how freaking Deku was CEO of Might Corp., but didn’t seem to have connection to the underground anymore. Katsuki had been looking for Deku since he had been taken when they were ten years old; he knows that if he’d gotten any whiff of the nerd's name or someone resembling his childhood best friend, he already would have.
One couldn’t be in the underground scene and not know about All Might. But he was one of the good guys – so how’d Deku wind up with him?
“Oh,” Deku stops, blushing under his freckles, “I, uh… ”
“Oh yes, Midoriya will ramble on about any given topic. Many times though, it is very educational,” The extra with the glasses says.
Deku looks at his friend with an annoyed fondness. “Thanks, Iida.”
“You owe the hag a call,” Katsuki says in lieu of anything else. “Furthermore my old man! And what about Auntie? She better still be fucking alive.”
Deku’s cheeks redden even more and begins tapping his index fingers together. “Heh, yeah.”
An old memory of Deku doing the same finger tapping when they were brats flashes through Katsuki’s mind. He almost opens his mouth to comment, but was thankfully interrupted by the waitress arriving with their sake. She sat everything down on the rectangular table in between the couches. Katsuki caught the sly tip Momo slipped her.
“Thank you.” The waitress lowers her head. “Please, let me know if you need anything else.”
Kaminari and the woman with pink cheeks grabs the cups and start filling them, passing them off to people as they finish.
When Deku receives his, he speaks up once again, “Yes, my mom is still alive. Doing very well, actually, as Director of Nursing at a local hospital. She really misses you guys.”
He still wasn’t explaining anything and Katsuki’s blood continued to boil, flexing his hands intermittently to stave off some of the energy, but it only does so much. “Then why the fuck didn’t you tell us you were alive, huh?!”
“Look,” Pink Cheeks holds up a hand, “there’s no need to yell like that, alright?”
“It’s alright, ‘Chako,” Deku appeases at the same time Katsuki says,
“This isn’t even close to me yelling.”
His band of idiots voice their agreements with him.
Deku downs his first drink before accepting the poured sake from Mina. “Kacchan, it’s a long story. Just know that Toshi-san saved me and I did what I could. I thought about you, all of you, everyday. But we heard you guys were doing okay. And mom wanted out.”
Katsuki can only shake his head, fists tightening as he folds his arms across his chest. “You could have still fucking called.”
His throat feels tight and he wonders how bad it was when Deku’d been taken. He’d heard All For One was pretty fucked up – both their organization and leader who went by the same name (for some stupid reason). Katsuki wonders, when he heard about All Might taking them down a few years ago, if Deku was rescued during the attack and how bad of shape he was in.
Deku nods like he’s acknowledging his words. “Probably. Maybe. And do I regret it? Yes. Am I sorry? Also yes. But we're here together now, right Kacchan? Why don’t we just… start from here?”
What Katsuki wants is answers.
He wants to rage and to fight Deku; get an actual explanation for never contacting him. For never contacting his family. Wants to scream and ask if Deku never actually cared about him, cared about his mom and dad. They cared for the Midoriyas. Did they not care the same amount?
No… no, he knows that’s not the case. He knows Deku cares. Cares too much really - based on what his therapist said. And Katsuki’s done enough anger management to recognize now is not the time to let those feelings out. He knows it’s best to talk them out and find an outlet sooner than later. Maybe he can find a horrid extra pulling stupid shit he can beat up later.
But for now, he takes in three deep breaths through his nose, letting them out slowly through his mouth. Concentrates on releasing the tightness in the muscles he’d been clenching.
“You still as much of a brat from when we were kids?”
His own friends cheer and clink their glasses. Deku’s friends look on in confusion. Deku himself breaks out into a smile brighter than sunshine, his laughter sounds like coming home.
“Oh, you have no idea.”
Katsuki’s mouth twitches into a wicked smile. “Good. Then I already know how to fucking handle you.”
Deku’s own mouth turns into a captivating smirk that has Katsuki’s toes curling in excitement. “You may need a few new tricks, Kacchan.”
“Would be stupid if it wasn’t challenging.”
“Uhhh,” Todoroki raises a hand like they’re back in fucking primary school, “does this mean you two are friends again?”
“Yeah, Sho,” Deku nods, eyes never leaving Katsuki’s, “we’re friends. We’re good.”
“Our Kats has his own way of saying things,” Kaminari adds, from his perch on Shinsou’s lap, “But he’s definitely still a softy and likes having friends.”
Katsuki points at Kaminari threateningly. “You shut your fucking mouth!”
“That’s my job, actually,” Shinso says in that dry sarcastic tone Katsuki is starting to get annoyed with.
He snarls and throws a glare at Shinsou while the others uproariously laugh. “Watch it, Troll Doll, or I’ll put you down with him.”
Shinso’s face remains passive, but there’s an edge of chaos playing in his eyes. “Ooh, kinky.”
This sends the group into another round of laughter. Katsuki growls again, but decides not to retaliate – he’s suddenly very much distracted by Deku’s laugh. It sounds a touch psychotic, as he clutches tightly to his stomach as if it could hold him together while tears appear at his eyeline. An unexpected warmth explodes in Katsuki’s chest, and he’s pretty sure it wasn’t from the shot of alcohol.
Once everyone’s calmed down, Uraraka grabs the Sake to start filling the empty cups. “I think we should all make a toast to Shinsou and Kaminari.” Everyone, including himself, grabs their drinks to hold them aloft. “You guys are absolutely adorable! And I’m so excited to get to know you and your friends better, Kaminari!”
Jiro chimes in next with some good natured ribbing. “Yeah, who knew you could lock down such a cool dude.”
“Jiro!” Kaminari cries, “Come on! I’m cool!”
Shinsou leans over to kiss his boyfriend’s cheek. “You’re cool to me, babe.” A chorus of ‘awws’ follows suit.
“Okay, my turn!” Mina cheers. From there they go around the circle, everyone giving their support to the happy couple till it’s Katsuki’s turn. He’d been hoping to go last, but with the way everyone’s eyes turn to look at him, he’d have to make a small speech before Deku.
“Fine! Fine,” He concedes. “You seem really good for Denki. And if you fuck it up it won’t be Jiro you have to worry about hunting you down.”
“I’ll count on it.” Shinso bows his head in acknowledgement. Katsuki huffs then turns to look at Deku along with everyone else.
He’s still grinning excitedly as he gestures to the couple with his glass. “To the happy couple. May your fights be fast and brutal with make-up sex that’s even kinkier!”
Katsuki chokes on a laugh, which thankfully goes unnoticed as the rest cheer excitedly before downing their shots. Katsuki swallows his just as fast before pouring another… just for good measure.
He’s going to really enjoy getting to know this older Deku.
* * *
Katsuki nurses his drink in hand where he leans over the rounded railing of the upstairs balcony.
Everyone else was down below, dancing amongst the crowd, having left almost as soon as the toasts had finished. Though, Half-n-Half and Four Eyes were still on the couches behind him, chatting about something Katsuki could care less about, voices drowned out by the music.
Casually watching over the group, Katsuki is pleased to see his band of idiots letting loose. However, his eyes never stray too long from Deku. Katsuki finds himself entranced in the way his body moves to the music, how he finds a rhythm within his body and lets loose.
Currently, he’s pressed bodily up to his friend with the pink cheeks. For the most part Deku has been dancing between her, Troll Doll and Dunce Face. Katsuki is oddly pleased, as he watches Deku dance - he’s been keeping his hands to himself for the most part. A very respectful – though still intimate – hold at Pink Cheek’s waist as they grind and roll against the other in ways best friends do. Katsuki has danced in a similar manner with his friends, especially the girls.
Kaminari and Shinsou move to dance with them again – Kaminari quickly pulls Deku into him, splaying his hands across Deku’s shirt-covered collarbone, trailing across tight abs to curved hips. Kaminari grinds into the meat of Deku’s ass in a way that would make anyone not familiar with the blonde think he was trying to get into Deku’s pants.
When Deku turns around to face Kaminari, Katsuki is afforded the view of three different color starburst tattoos running down his spine — purple, pink and yellow. He finds himself staring unabashedly as a fourth green starburst peeks out from the waistband of his jeans. He wonders how many more tattoos Deku has and whether he might be afforded the chance in the future to find them all.
Kaminari’s hands play at the hem of Deku’s jeans, while Shinso’s curl over his boyfriends, matching the movement. Katsuki’s eyes immediately zero in as the couple ensures Deku’s body is entwined with their own. The intensity of the visage has Katsuki swallowing thickly. However, just when he thinks it can’t get more intense, his attention is diverted to Deku’s hands as they feel around Kaminari’s waist, sliding down, down, down over the blonde’s ass where it’s pressed into Shinso’s groin.
Katsuki takes a shot, heat pooling low in his gut – a brat indeed.
Shinsou caresses up Denki’s arms, then down Deku’s when he reaches where their bodies meet; playing along freckled skin, following the zagging lines of lighting, then down to those deft fingers. Shinso shifts one of Deku’s hands higher on Kaminari’s ass, and takes the other in his own, placing it at his hip.
A pout visibly pulls at Deku’s lower lip, then turns to a satisfied smile as Kaminari tilts his head back against Shinso’s shoulder and his boyfriend leans down to occupy Kaminari's waiting mouth, lips moving together easily. Deku’s gaze is greedy, body rolling with the blondes’, like he’s waiting for the best time to join the two. The couple breaks apart just as quickly only for Shinso to lean in to whisper something in his boyfriends’ ear, indiscernible over the loud thumping music. Kaminari nods enthusiastically before Shinso leans over the blonde’s shoulder into Deku’s space and presses their lips together.
Rage shoots through Katsuki like an inferno, the glass creaking in his hands from how tight he grips it. The purple-haired man licks hotly into Deku’s wet mouth, the joined hands of the couple coming up to rest against that freckled neck. Katsuki grips the balcony bannister tightly trying to reign in his fury.
Kaminari can’t seem to hold himself back – he never liked missing out on fun for long – and pulls Shinso away from Deku to enthusiastically capture Deku’s pink lips with his own. Their mouths moving together sloppily. Katsuki can practically hear how wet it sounds from the mezzanine. The few friends who see them holler encouragingly. Katsuki feels a bit out of himself as he catches the glint of Deku’s earrings bounce light from the strobe lights. Flashes of tongue and teeth send heat spiking low in Katsuki’s gut.
The jealousy and quick-fire rage settles somewhat. Mostly because he knows from personal experience this was just Kaminari being Kaminari – because no way is he that smooth when trying to get someone.
It still bubbles under his skin, not at the threat of Dunceface, but the fact he and his boyfriend were making out with Deku and he wasn’t. Not that Deku belongs to him. Has no claim over him or who he kisses. Especially when drinking. But —
Half-lidded green and bright eyes glance up at Katsuki, even while his mouth is latched to the others. The blazing fire changes shape from jealousy to pure lust almost as quickly as it flared. Deku watches him and Katsuki watches back – it almost feels like he’s the one being kissed by that pink, slick mouth.
It's enthralling, his own body responding to the way Deku’s hands grip tight into Kaminari’s skin, squeezing the top of his ass, as if his hands were on Katsuki instead. Can feel the ghost of the way their bodies grind together on his own body – chest to chest, legs between thighs. Kaminari’s fingers play with Deku’s skin over the tattoos and Katsuki wants to bat them away to put his own there. Feel the sweat and heat coming from that body. Relish in the way it would truly feel against his own. They breathe against each other, Deku’s green eyes unwavering, staring up at Katsuki all-the-while. A pulsing energy beats in Katsuki’s groin, a heat that has him quickly readjusting himself, lest he be incriminated on popping a boner.
Eventually, Deku draws away from Kaminari’s mouth, slowly, sensually, spit trailing between them – the blondes mouth quickly being occupied once again by his boyfriend’s – a wide smile spreads across Deku’s lips, bunching up the freckles on his cheeks. Katsuki feels an overwhelming urge to tear them from Deku’s skin.
Instead he takes another sip of his drink and thinks of anything else to calm his hardening cock.
Few people try to join in with their large group, but the ones who do are immediately drawn to Deku. These dances however are completely different than the way Deku danced with his friends – stilted even, despite the rolling rhythm of his body. Katsuki finds it intriguing; can practically see the way Deku’s brain overthinks as his body twines around the outsiders. At times they’ll shift into something smoother, fluidity and ease softening his tight muscles, but Deku never fully relaxes with another person, eyes surveying the room surrounding them, as though he’s the watch-dog protecting their friend group. Such a countenance compared to the way Katsuki just saw him with Pink Cheeks and Kaminari and Shinso.
Katsuki wants to make him stop overthinking. To stop thinking fully.
Viridian eyes find his own again – holding for a second, two… three… before returning to his friends.
A shudder runs up Katsuki’s spine.
He takes another drink.
Despite obsessively watching from the balcony, he’s caught Deku shifting his gaze up to him multiple times. Katsuki feels tight satisfaction at each glance. Almost as if Deku’s worried that it’s him that will disappear this time. But Katsuki isn’t going anywhere.
He’s not letting Deku out of his sight this time.
Songs bleed into the next. Deku forgets about the extras and finds himself sandwiched between different friends, taking the chance to dance with everyone in the group. Kaminari and Deku find each other again, the tension fully dissipating off Deku’s shoulders, eyes no longer taking in the entire room, looking for threats. He lets himself go, enjoying the way Kaminari’s body moves his own.
Dark green eyes glance up again, holding even longer, burning into Katsuki, with an accompanied dirty roll of his body against Kaminari, hands trailing his own skin in a seductive caress. When Deku looks away, Katsuki takes another swig of liquor and readjusts his pants for the second time that night.
He’s not going down there. He didn’t come here to dance. He’s not going to.
From his peripheral, Katsuki catches split white and red hair join the fray, followed by Four-Eyes. Deku abandons Kaminari, who pouts like a baby but is quickly swept away by Shinsou, and moves closer to the Todoroki heir, bringing him fully into the circle of their friends, coaxing him into a dance. Katsuki’s knuckles tighten around his glass as a sharp pang sings in his chest.
They move against the other as though they’ve done this before. Can see the way Deku helps the Half-n-Half bastard open up and ease his body into more comfortable movements: hands grip at hips, thumbs in pockets, arms draped over shoulders and neck. Todoroki’s long fingers play at the top of Deku’s ass and up the expanse of his spine. Molding them together in two perfect pieces.
But Katsuki sees it in the same way he sees it in Kaminari and Kirishima – a comfortable body to get lost in, but nothing beyond platonic. Sensual desire lacking lust. The aching fire in his chest lessens. They’re not what he thought.
A smirk forms against his lips when forest green eyes glance up again.
Maybe he’s luckier than he thought.
Dance partners change up again around the group, enthralling themselves in the music - Katsuki finds he's actually liking the pieces this DJ is playing - and he’s not as much shocked but intrigued to see Deku’s new position sandwiched between Pink Cheeks and Mina and Kirishima. Sero yanks Todoroki away by the elbow, pulling him into a dance that is far more inappropriate than what the bastard been doing with Deku. What is it about Deku that has his friends absolutely obsessed? He thought it was just him.
The beat drops, and Katsuki is yet again fascinated in the delicious way Deku dances between Mina and Pink Cheeks; moving with the pair in ways that are obscene to a passer-by.
Katsuki can do nothing but take in the scene below him. Gorgeous eyes flicker to him once again as Deku purposefully grinds between the two. Katsuki downs the last of the alcohol in his glass.
Katsuki debates turning around to grab the rest of the sake, when his world tilts.
No, not from the alcohol. But from some extremely tall, broad shouldered extra who slides up to Deku placing his meaty hand on his waist. Deku whips his head up in surprise at the gesture – Katsuki had noted that all previous attempts from others had been less forward. The girls don’t leave Deku’s side, but when words are exchanged, their small group smiles and nods, leaving Deku alone to dance with the stranger. A low growl builds in Katsuki’s chest.
The guy is large and burly, easily encompassing Deku’s smaller form despite the fact he’s built like a goddamn brick house. Seriously, how did little bitty Deku turn into a short fucking god? Katsuki brushes those thoughts away as the larger man moves his hands over Deku’s body like he owns him, coming to rest on Deku’s ass and groping it suggestively.
Ugh, gross.
He’s disappointed in the extra as he immediately grinds against Deku. No lead up. No finesse. No nothing. Like he’s trying to hump Deku into submission.
Katsuki rolls his eyes.
Fuck this.
He turns around sharply, setting his glass down a little too harshly on the table top with a loud clink, before marching his way to the stairwell, passing an exhausted looking Iida on his way up. Katsuki moves deliberately through the throng of people, eyes locked on his target, ignoring the way the crowd tries to swallow him whole.
Green hair and freckles pop up through the crowd, easily spotting the light blue crop-top and sliver of skin peaking out. He almost smirks in gratification when he sees how uninteresting Deku’s dancing is once again. He’s seen what that body can do, and Katsuki’s ready to pull that out from where it hides under those thick muscles.
Kirishima spots him, trying to get his attention from his spot next to Deku – who’s still face to face with the poorly dressed larger extra – but Katsuki ignores him.
“Dude, what are you doing?” A shout to his left catches his ear. He glances over to see a concerned looking Sero waving Katsuki over with hurried gestures, despite the way he’s pressed up against Half-n-Half.
“Getting that creep away from my nerd,” He growls back, not caring if his friend hears him over the pounding bass.
Katsuki pulls up a foot behind Deku, reaches to grab his belt loops and yanks harshly. Deku stumbles out of the extra’s hold and into his chest.
“Wha —”
“Fuck. Off,” Katsuki hisses, staring down the pitiful man whose face grows angrier by the second.
“Fuck you, man! I was dancing wi —”
“Go find some other piece of ass,” He growls threateningly, then turns both him and Deku around to be ‘in’ their circle of friends once more. He gives no more thoughts to the fucking extra.
“Kacchan!” Deku yanks himself out of Katsuki’s hold, turning and facing him, eyebrows furrowed in agitation. “What the fuck?”
Katsuki shrugs. “Was a shit dancer.”
“So you think you can do better?” A glint flashes in his eyes. Katsuki takes in the visage of the man before him, skin flushed from dancing and indignation, a powerhouse ready for a challenge. Warmth spreads from the tip of his ears down to his toes.
God, he loves when he’s proven right.
Katsuki smirks a devilish smile. “I know I can.” He tongues over his canines, satisfied at the way Deku’s eyes zero in on his mouth. “The question is: Can you keep up?”
This time, when Katsuki pulls Deku into him, he comes on his own accord. Katuski’s hands grip at Deku’s waist, fingers spread from crop-top to waistline. The warmth of Deku’s skin heats his hands, and Deku’s own hands are hot against his chest. Knobby fingers tighten at his pecs over his shirt suggestively.
“Show me then, Kacchan.”
Katsuki hums in answer and begins moving them to the beat of the music thumping up into their bones. Getting a feel for the beat.
Getting a feel for Deku.
Eyes locked – viridian to vermillion. A challenging glint present in Deku’s eyes. Katsuki moves their hips in time to the song and Deku slides a lightning-covered hand slowly up over Katsuki’s chest and shoulder to rest a forearm against his neck.
They’re chests are flush together, rising and falling as they fall into rhythm. If Katsuki focused hard enough he could practically feel Deku’s heart beating as erratically as his own. Deku taps a beat out on Katsuki’s chest, making him smirk.
Such a nerd.
On a downbeat, Deku rakes his fingers over his chest, smirking at the gasp Katsuki releases before turning around in Katsuki’s arms to press against him, back to front.
Deku’s ass slots against him, a low moan emitting deep from his throat. A gorgeous view of flushed skin and bright starburst tattoos fills Katsuki’s vision. He trails a finger over the green starburst half hiding behind the waistband of those jeans, skimming deliberately across the skin, goosebumps following in his wake to gorgeous hips that he takes between his fingers tightly. Deku’s arms wrap behind Katsuki’s neck and they fall into a rhythm once more, finally dancing into each other. But there’s something a little off still, something that Katsuki’s beginning to realize as Deku’s brain getting in the way; overthinking their movements.
Leaning over Deku’s shoulder, he noses up his neck to his ear, breath puffed across the lobe earning him a shuddering gasp. “Stop thinking, Deku. Just feel the music.”
“Maybe,” Deku swallows thickly, breathing a little heavier, “you should be a better dancer.”
Katsuki bites at Deku’s ear. The resulting moan encourages him to grind teasingly into Deku’s ass and trails a hand up Deku’s tight stomach, following the planes up underneath that light blue crop-top to rest at the center of his chest. He uses his other hand to dip a pinky past the waistband of Deku’s jeans earning him another full body shudder and a press of hips back into his own. They sway for another count or two before Katsuki spins Deku around to hold him front to front once more.
Katsuki firmly presses their foreheads together. They’re so close he can see the individual flecks of multicolored greens making up Deku’s iris – he wants to catalog them all. Deku’s hands twine into Katsuki’s shirt around his lower back. Katsuki mimics the position at Deku’s bare back – fingers pressing into the beginning curve of his full ass. Their feet slide across the floor together, keeping themselves as close as possible.
“Let loose and you’ll actually enjoy it. No judgment here, Deku. Just fucking feel the music. Let it consume you.”
Katsuki emphasizes his statement by dropping himself low, hands sliding deliciously deliberate down Deku’s powerful thighs. Deku practically stills at the sight of Katsuki below him and his chest buzzes at the way those forest green eyes shift from playful and inquisitive, to playful and lustful.
Katsuki rolls his body up slowly, dragging a hand up the front of Deku’s body, passing a breath away from where he can tell his cock strains against the zipper of his jeans. Katsuki swirls patterns over Deku's stomach, up to the edge of his crop-top, across his ribs, then up his back, skin warm under his touch, to hold his shoulder.
Deku’s body melts under him. Satisfied hums meet his ears as the last tensions leave Deku’s muscles.
Then the real fun begins, Deku meeting him move for move, dancing in a way neither experienced with another before, finally losing themselves in the other. Whether they’re front to front or back to front, the music consumes them - strokes their bodies and lends them the ability to speak in a way words lacked earlier.
Intentional arm caresses. Intentional pressing of their bodies together – drowning in the beats vibrating into their skin and bones.
A synchronicity they were falling into, never wanting to leave.
Deku’s back presses into Katsuki’s chest, a hand is settled in Deku’s front pocket, with Deku’s black/green lightning-covered hand laid over his, two fingers in the pocket with him. Deku’s other twines up Katsuki's neck, allowing him to curl fingers into his hair, while Katsuki uses a palm to press against Deku’s stomach.
Deku leans his head back against Katsuki’s shoulder, mouth turned to breathe into his neck. Hot flashes shudder through him.
“Wanna get out of here?”
“Fuck, yes.”