Flight Delays [Bakugatsu Day 12]

Izuku yawned as he trudged off the plane, shouldering his backpack and joining the slow march toward the gates. The building was practically deserted, only a few straggling security staff lingering throughout the halls, waiting to process the flight and go home for the night. He slid his passport across a table, waited patiently for a minute, then followed an orderly procession of exhausted people through the final gates. 

The flight had been due just before midnight, and by the time he checked his phone it was past one o'clock. The trains and shuttles were long-since stopped, he was going to have to hope and pray that a taxi would still come for him, despite the extortionate fees it would cost him to get home. If not, he would have to hunt down a hotel that would still take him at such a ridiculous hour, and failing that, sleep on the airport floor until the trains started. 

The whole event had been a mess. Delayed on take off, unfavourable winds in the air, and an engine failure to boot – nothing to stop them getting to their destination, but plenty to make it late as all hell. Not to mention the crying baby that wouldn't let him get a moment of sleep even with earplugs in and headphones over the top.

“Oi, nerd.”

He nearly jumped out of his skin, whirling around to find the familiar face beside him, grumpy and tired but there.

“Kacchan,” he said softly. “Good morning.”

“Shut the fuck up,” he growled. “Could your flight have been any later if they tried?”

“I know! I haven't slept in like thirty hours and I'm so tired Kacchan.”

“Yeah, well, let's go.”

He led the way out to the parking garage where Katsuki's shiny ruby-red car lay in wait. When Katsuki reached for his bag he found himself rooted to the spot, watching with wide eyes as Katsuki took it from him and set it in the backseat. He slid inside obediently when Katsuki opened his door, hand shaking as he reached for his seatbelt, the click of it locking in place almost deafening.

“A-Are you okay to drive?” he asked timidly. “You're not too tired?”

Katsuki responded by waving an empty cardboard coffee cup at him, tossing it into a trash bag near Izuku's feet, and Izuku smiled faintly.

“I'm sorry you were out so late.”

“Haah?” Katsuki demanded, eyebrows knitting together. “Don't you mean fuckin' 'thank you for picking me up Kacchan' or some shit?”

“Oh! Yeah! Thank you Kacchan! I just feel bad because it was already such a late flight, and then we got delayed and it was just a nightmare and I didn't expect you here!”

“Thought I'd surprise you,” he grumbled, turning the car key to avoid looking over. “Instead of leaving you rushing for the last train, y'know?”

“It was really nice of you Kacchan, thank you!”

“You can stop thanking me now, dumbass.”

Izuku giggled, finally relaxing a little as Katsuki pulled out of the spot. He refused to let Izuku pay the parking fee, slapping his hand away when he reached for his wallet, grumbling something nonsensical as he shoved the coins in the slot. 

“Your car is so comfy,” Izuku fawned, softening into his seat. “I always forget.”

“You've got the money, buy one.”

“I don't need one! I'd never use it and I don't really like driving anyway. Kacchan is so brave!”

“Shut up, nerd.”

Izuku's stomach growled, and he blushed as he clapped a hand to it, shushing his gut insistently. Katsuki snorted, hitting his indicator and smoothly changing lanes, pulling up outside a little block of shops.

“Oh! No! Kacchan! I'm okay!”

“Shut up, I'm hungry too.”

He parked the car, climbing out without waiting for Izuku to compose himself, and waited pointedly at the door of the little convenience store. Izuku hurried after him, jumping again when the car beeped as it locked behind him, and followed Katsuki through into the warm, empty store. He snatched everything Katsuki picked up, along with some things for himself, and scanned his payment card before Katsuki could even think to object.

“Nerd-ass,” Katsuki grumbled, punching him lightly. “I can pay.”

“So can I!” Izuku smiled brightly. “Come eat with me, Kacchan!”

The flush of Katsuki's cheeks was a stark contrast against his pale hair, and Izuku giggled when he turned away to hide it, huffing quietly. It wasn't often that he got to see a softer side to Katsuki, he was sure to make the most of it on the rare occasions he got to bear witness.

“Thanks for picking me up, Kacchan.”

“Yeah, yeah. I should never have said it, I get it, now shut up.”

“I mean it!”

“I know.”

In their little corner they ate and drank and caught up, sharing stories from the weeks they'd been apart, but all too soon Izuku was yawning again, and Katsuki was ushering him back out to the parking lot. The drive was much more lively, less awkward, and Izuku couldn't stop smiling to himself – his face was going to ache in the morning.

When they reached Izuku's apartment block, though, it faded quickly. He shoved a pout on his lips instead, tugging at the sleeve of Katsuki's baggy hoodie, getting a little frown in return.

“Stay here for the night,” he insisted. “It'll take you an hour to get home and it's already so late!”

“It's fine, I'll still get a nap before work.”

“But I'm closer to work anyway! You'll get more sleep!”

Katsuki dithered, but when Izuku tugged at his sleeve again, he found himself nodding without even realising it.

“Fine, nerd.”

Izuku beamed again, dragging his backpack out of the car and leading the way up to his floor. His apartment was small, but at least he'd cleaned before he left the country – Katsuki wouldn't walk in and berate him for the mess.

He hoped.

“The bedroom is through here,” Izuku said softly, leading the way with a little smile. “You sleep here, I'll take the couch.”

Katsuki gripped his arm wordlessly, dragging him across the room, and with a little squeak they fell together onto the mattress.

“Sleep,” Katsuki mumbled, crawling under the covers.

“K-Kacchan?” Izuku stuttered, cheeks flooding red. “U-um, w-why... Uh, why did you come pick me up? It's so late, and everything.”

“Can't a guy just pick a dumb nerd up from the airport?”

The lights were still on, but Katsuki's eyes fell closed, his face surprisingly sweet with his usual frown gone. Izuku would never dare to say it, but he was cute when he wasn't so cranky.

“Thank you, then,” Izuku smiled, reaching to switch off the lights before he joined Katsuki's warm body between the sheets. “It was really nice of you to go out of your way for me, I appreciate it a lot.”

“Shut up and sleep,” Katsuki grumbled, his blush swallowed by the darkness. “Already been a month since I saw you, didn't want to wait another day.”

Izuku's eyes widened, but already Katsuki was breathing slow, soft breaths, fingers curling into the sheets. He always had been good at falling asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

“Okay,” Izuku whispered, snuggling in at his side. “Goodnight Kacchan, we'll unpack that line in the morning.”