The Deku-Shaped Hole - Chapter 15 [FINAL]

Kirishima barged into the house like he owned the place, immediately wrapping his arms around Izuku's waist and spinning him around, the pair laughing like it was the funniest thing that had ever happened to them. Izuku winced a little when he was set down again, but when concern flickered through ruby eyes he quickly pushed it away with another hug. 

"It's so good to see you, Kirishima!" he exclaimed. "It's been so long!"

"I'm so damn happy to see you," Kirishima sniffed, his eyes watery. "You had us so worried, man!"

"I'm sorry! Everything is okay now, I swear!"

"Yeah, we have so much to celebrate today! Forget all this emotional stuff, let's have some fun! Are you drinking yet?"

"Ah, no, but there's heaps of beer in the fridge, and Kacchan has some nice whiskey that I bet he'd share if you asked nicely!"

"Oh man whiskey sounds awesome. Alright, I'm gonna go say hi, you take care of yourself okay?"

"Of course! It's good to see you!"

He ducked off down the hall to find Katsuki, and Izuku breathed out a short sigh, one hand touching his ribs tenderly. It was amazing how much his strength had deteriorated in just a couple of months, he had forgotten about the muscle pains of the early days.

"Evening, Midoriya."

Izuku looked up with wide eyes, a little alarmed to hear the familiar voice, but still he cracked a shy smile when their gazes met.

"It's been a long time, Aizawa-sensei! How are you?"

"I think I should be the one asking you that," he pointed out, gesturing vaguely toward Izuku's skinny frame. "All clear from the doctors?"

"Uh-huh! Still on a few medications but no big deal!"

"Take it easy, kid. I've lost enough former-students in my lifetime, don't add another."

"I'll do my best."

Izuku turned when the footsteps approached, watching a grin stretch across Katsuki's face as he joined them. It was surprisingly genuine – not quite the loving softness of when he looked at Izuku, but much more than the friendly sneers he gave his friends. Maybe closer to how he looked at his father, on a good day.

"I'm glad you made it."

"I can't stay long, but I wanted to drop by and see how my problem child is healing up, and to congratulate you. It's a lovely house."

"Yeah, I really like it! You can't stay for a drink?"

"Maybe just one."

With a little smile Izuku left them to catch up, slinking out to the living room where their first group of guests were hanging out to catch up. He slipped a few more drinks into the ice bucket on the table, despite the protests he got about how they could fetch their own refreshments, and smiled awkwardly when Iida waved for him to come sit. He perched on the arm of the couch rather than sit all the way down, and thankfully Iida seemed to accept that. 

"May I ask about your check up? You didn't tell me what they said."

"Oh, it's no big deal," Izuku shrugged. "Um, I won't be able to work for... For quite a while, still. But they said I can start moving a little more, if I'm feeling up to it. Kacchan has been helping me stretch and things, it feels good to let my body do something."

"Don't hesitate to call if you need someone to help! We can go for a nice walk together!"

"That sounds lovely! Let me know when you have some free time!"

Any hope of talking about days off was cut off sharply when the door burst open, and Izuku found himself crushed in a surprisingly strong grip. He grunted a little, winded, but then the weight was being pulled off him just as quickly and he found himself falling into gentle arms.

"What the fuck, round-face?!" Katsuki demanded. "You trying to kill the nerd?!"

"W-What?! What did I do?!"

"Be more fuckin' gentle!"

"I-I'm okay," Izuku choked out, slowly piecing things together in his mind. "Really, I'm fine. Kacchan, can you just turn me and- Yeah, that's the one."

He reached out, hugging Uraraka first this time, and she was much more cautious as she returned the grasp. People watched on nervously, but Izuku smiled when they parted, rubbing at the back of his neck. 

"You surprised me," he laughed sheepishly. "I didn't have a chance to brace myself."

"I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay! Really!"

Katsuki grumbled as he moved to scribble something at the table, returning to tape a big sign to Izuku's chest.

NO HUGS

"Kacchan that's mean!" he protested, looking down at the words with a pout. "I like hugs!"

With another grumble he tore it back off, flipping it over to try again.

GENTLE HUGS ONLY

"Okay," Izuku giggled. "Thanks for worrying, Kacchan."

"Rest or some shit, alright?"

"I am! I promise!"

He leaned back on the arm of the couch when he was released, but kept his sign proudly in place – an embarrassing, but also very amusing, sign of his boyfriend's love. 

Asui smiled at it when she arrived, pausing to read the sign before she held out her arms.

"Gentle, I promise," she croaked. "I don't need Bakugou's wrath tonight."

"Good choice, lizard-face," Katsuki smirked, passing by to hand out more drinks. "Maybe you'll live a long life yet."

When everyone had arrived, Katsuki marched to the middle of the room, holding up his glass.

"To no more crutches," he grinned, glancing back at Izuku. "To all of us standing on our own two feet."

"Cheers!" 

All around the room people clinked their glasses, taking long drinks as they laughed and chattered.

"Also," Kirishima spoke up, raising his bottle. "To Bakugou and Midoriya. Property owners and cutest couple I've met in ages!"

"Cheers!"

"And let's not forget," Izuku smiled softly, the room falling silent around him. "To Bakushinchi, right?"

"Number one!" Kaminari yelled, throwing both hands in the air. "Finally, Bakuboy! We're so proud!"

"It doesn't count until I beat Deku for real."

"It totally counts, you ass," Ashido laughed, elbowing Katsuki in the ribs. "Number one hero! Cheers!"

"Cheers!!"

The room erupted into chaos as people celebrated, and the next time Izuku looked up, Katsuki was gone. For a moment he was concerned, looking around hurriedly, but right as he leaned over to ask Iida if he'd seen him, a familiar shock of blond spikes appeared in the crowd.

"Sorry it took so long," Katsuki said quietly, setting down a giant cardboard box at his feet. "I had to get it designed and made, so it took a while."

Curious, Izuku reached for the box, carefully peeling off the tape to pry it open. Inside he found a pile of dark fabric, and he frowned as he reached in to retrieve it. It took a little effort to tug it out, but soon it sat in his arms, and Izuku gaped as he examined it.

"Kacchan!" he bleated. "You had it made for me?!"

"Just in case, you know? I can't always be here when you want to nap."

"Kacchan!"

He hugged the toy close, big enough to fit snugly in his arms, before he held it out to look once more. The fabric was soft and fluffy, perfect for snuggling, every detail carefully planned and crafted. Just for him.

"Hug!" Izuku demanded, carefully levering himself up to reach for Katsuki. "Now!"

"Demanding, aren't we?" Katsuki complained, hugging him all the same.

"Dakishinchi."

"Is that his name?" Katsuki snorted. "You have Bakushouchi and Dakishinchi?"

"And Bakushinchi, obviously," Izuku grinned, nuzzling into his neck. "My three best boys."

"They're all just me in varying sizes."

"Exactly."

Katsuki finally cracked a smile, patting Izuku on the back gently as they parted. Izuku sat back down with his new plushie in his lap, hugging it close and resting his cheek on fluffy blonde spikes, grinning when Asui and Uraraka gave him pointed looks.

"I wanted one to hug when he isn't around!" he explained. "I asked if he made them and he didn't, so he got me one!"

"He's actually kind of cute."

"He's the best!"

The plushie stayed on Izuku's person the entire night. No matter how many times Katsuki grumbled at him to put it away, it remained in his lap. No matter how many times Katsuki growled to be careful, it remained under his arm. And no matter how many times Katsuki tried to stubbornly take it from his hands, Izuku held tight, pouting until his boyfriend gave up.

"I'm glad you like it, but this is ridiculous."

"But he's so cute! Look at his face! He's so angry!"

"Shut up," Katsuki sighed, making one last futile tug at the toy. "You're an idiot."

"I'm not! You're too busy socialising to cuddle me, I need Dakishinchi to hug instead."

"Is that your problem? You want affection?"

"I always want affection!"

Grumbling, Katsuki snatched the toy away, setting it safely in a corner before he sat down and pulled Izuku into his lap. Izuku smiled when the strong arms wrapped around his waist, holding him close, and he closed his eyes as he snuggled into the warm grip.

When Izuku graduated high school, he'd bawled like an idiot. After three years of spending every day with his best friends in the world, the best teammates he could ever have asked for, it had hit him that if worst came to worst, he might never see some of them again. They'd spent their time plagued by villains and disaster, tough teachers, and classes that left him half-dead in his dorm room, lamenting that he'd ever made the decision to attend U.A.

As he'd held his diploma with shaking hands, tears pouring down his face, he'd seen his childhood friend looking as impassive as ever, like it didn't matter to him at all. He wasn't sad about the loss of their youth or the parting of ways, he wasn't excited about graduating and being a hero, he just... stared.

He'd approached with the intention of talking, of finding out if everything was okay, and instead he'd found himself holding out his arms stupidly, bleating "Kacchan, hug?" in a pathetic voice. Katsuki had been shocked, his face burning as he'd yelled, but Izuku had only grinned at the return of his more emotive demeanor.

As he cracked his eyes open to look up at Katsuki's strong jaw, his soft hair and shining eyes, he found himself grinning once more.

"Kacchan," he murmured. "Hug?"

"I'm already hugging you, dumbass."

"Yeah, I know."

Fin.