#i swear i havent stopped thinking about that smol comic its just so sweet and perfect?!?

[jekacatrina]

A memory safe in my soul

I come with a humble gift for @a-hobit because their Bakudeku comic made me so happy and we had a super nice conversation in which they gave me green light to write this. I hope you like it, but no pressure, this was written with love and it's so self indulgent, like everything I write!

Izuku believed in giving his all in every fight, plus ultra. How could he not if he had grown next to Kacchan, both admiring All Might, the man who gave his everything? That being said, when it came to training, he did try to tailor his power to the person who asked to spar with him. The purpose behind accepting wasn’t always to hone his abilities, but to help his classmates improve. Therefore, whatever his friends needed from him and his skills, he did his best to deliver.

Problem with that was that he could still get carried away during a fight, especially with strong opponents. So when Todoroki asked him to spar, Izuku got excited. His friend was a brilliant fighter, and his quirk turned him into a hero who could shield and attack in equal opportunities.

Truth be told, Izuku hadn’t been training that hard prior to the request. He had been too preoccupied watching Kacchan go through his air maneuvers, working on breaking out a sweat despite the cold weather. Izuku could lie to himself all he wanted and say he was taking notes for Float and Black Whip, but honestly he just found him captivating. Every explosion was perfectly timed, not a movement wasted. Kacchan was inspiring, and he was hogging all his attention instead of letting him take advantage of the gym time.

Todoroki proved to be a great distraction, since Izuku loved to measure his progress in contrast to his classmates’, see how far he had advanced as he faced people who had had their quirks since birth, and he couldn’t help but to be a little competitive. That’s why when he managed to break through his ice and fire defenses, he forgot that what Todoroki had in raw power he lacked in hand to hand combat.

As his friend lifted a hand to fend him off, Izuku didn’t hesitate to kick it away hard, leaving him open to strike. He used the leverage to arch his other leg in a powerful second kick, which connected with his friend’s face and sent him sprawling, the ice that covered the floor serving as a slide, and Todoroki almost fell off the platform.

“Todoroki-kun, are you okay?!” Izuku promptly ran to him, his friend was getting on his hands and knees, shaking his head as if he was rearranging his thoughts or checking how many of his teeth rattled. “I’m so sorry, I went too hard, didn’t I?” He slid his hands under his armpits, pulling him from the edge, and helped him to his feet.

“Stop apologizing for hitting me during fights,” his voice was calm as usual, if a little winded. “I knew what I was getting into, Midoriya.” He raised his face to stare at him, and Izuku couldn’t stop a snort from escaping. “What?” Todoroki asked, dumbfounded.

“You might need to wash your face,” he replied, still laughing despite how rude it was, but he couldn’t help it. There was a clear imprint of the sole of his shoe on his friend’s face, black stripes and everything. Todoroki used his ice as a mirror, and the closest to a reaction he got was a few quick blinks.

“Oh, okay,” he walked to the edge of the training mat, lightly touching his cheek. Izuku failed to stifle his giggles, caught in his own bubble until he heard him.

“PFFFFF!”

He swirled and found Kacchan standing a couple of steps away from them. Izuku hadn’t seen him as Todoroki and he fought. Had he been watching the match?

As his friend passed next to Kacchan, he saw the red eyes open comically wide before he erupted in loud guffaws.

“For fuck’s sake, IcyHot, have you ever heard of ducking? I can almost read the nerd’s shoe brand on your face and that shit wore off years ago!” That was all he could get out before his childhood friend was doubled over, shoulders shaking as he brought a hand to his mouth, probably to smother his booming laugh, but not quite covering it, so Izuku had a perfect view of the corners of his lips lifted in an genuine grin, no bite or sharpness in it, just pure amusement.

Kacchan looked so young, and happy, and Izuku’s breath caught in his throat.

He stood there, drinking the sight of him with the same intensity he analyzed heroes, wishing he could commit to memory every single detail. Izuku touched his chest lightly when he felt a sweet and intense pang in it. He didn’t know a heart could crack from happiness, and all because he hadn’t heard Kacchan laugh like that in years.

His childhood friend turned to him, and their gazes met. Izuku gave him a tentative smile, and the laugh was gone, replaced by his battle smirk and smoldering eyes.

“What are you looking at, you damn nerd?” Kacchan said, marching to him, palms up and smoking already. “You’re looking for a real match? I’ll wipe the floor with you before you can even land a blow.”

Izuku activated One for All, energy coursing through his body and lighting him up inside. Kacchan was really the fire in him; he was incapable of refusing a challenge from him. Well, he was incapable of rejecting anything from him.

Whatever Kacchan was willing to give him, Izuku would take it, and he would do it with a smile.

“I’m ready when you are, Kacchan,” he taunted him, raising his guard.

The blond ran to him, and blasted his palms under him before reaching him, flying over his head in an arch and easily avoiding his punches. Immediately after landing, Kacchan ducked out of the way of a kick, smirking before releasing an explosion which was pure smoke, obscuring his field of vision. Izuku thought back on the notebook with the quirks of his OFA predecessors. Even with just one quirk, Kacchan was his perfect match.

Just before they clashed again, Izuku sent up a wish to whoever was listening:

Let Kacchan and I smile together someday. Just once, I want to be the reason he’s smiling.

In the meantime, Izuku would save the memory of this moment safely in his soul for future strength: Kacchan laughing, safe and content.

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Thank you for reading, I had such a blast writing this! Hope you guys liked it, I just can't wait to see how their relationship is going to change now that everything is out in the open!