Unedited.

eyes, wide smile.

Constellations across you, across the sky.

Why do you reflect light without even trying?

Why do you never give in to what I'm buying?

Skinship, pale skin, clothes flying

sinking in, latching onto your state of mind.

_

Blond hair, red eyes, no smile.

Metal in, metalled skin, metal mind.

Why do you carry on when it's tiring?

Why do you amaze me by trying?

Skinship, clear skin, clothes flying

rooted in, latching on your state of mind.

It was odd how content someone like Izuku Midoriya was amidst the mess that was his first-year experience. He was luckier than most; he had both of his best friends from high school attending the same college as he was, as well as amazing friends he made along the way. He also had a boyfriend. His name was Katsuki Bakugou. Unfortunately, that didn't spare him any pain and hardship; he'd been mishandled by strangers time and time again, struggled with his mental health, and he had to attend his abusive father's funeral.

Beyond all that though, he found himself happier than he'd ever been. Why was that?

Maybe it was because of love, or something cheesy like that. Maybe it was because he was closer to achieving his dreams, now that he was ending his second year of college.

Today was Katsuki's graduation day, too.

The day was filled with picture taking, snot-nosed parents, and laughter.

"Katsuki, you brat!" Mitsuki Bakugou yelled, "Why haven't you introduced me to Midoriya yet?"

Katsuki's shoulders dropped. "Wait for once! Christ." Izuku chuckled.

"Mum, Dad, this is Dek- Izuku. Deku, these are the people who embarrass the shit out of me for fun. Shake hands or something."

"H-hi!" Izuku squeaked, bowing politely. "It's nice to meet you-"

"Enough with the formalities, already," Mitsuki grinned, a charming but somewhat menacing one that resembled Katsuki's. It runs in the family, huh, Izuku thought briefly as his mother-in-law roped him into a bear hug.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Izuku!" Masaru chimed in, smiling gently.

Katsuki watched the exchange, feeling something constrict in his chest.

"I'm not fucking gay. I'm not. I'm not. I'm not."

"I guess I have met someone, you nosy hag. I don't know... he might be a part of it."

His eyes lowered.

"Bakugou!"

The sight of nine young adults in graduation gowns rushing towards them made Izuku instinctively back away.

"Get off me, you idiots," Katsuki bit out, bristling as his friends suffocated him and Izuku in a group hug. Shinsou and Todoroki were roped into it too.

"I'll miss you guys," sniffled Izuku. "Ugh, I almost don't wanna go to France."

"Same," Ochako wailed. "I'll miss seeing Mina on campus, but you'll be gone for a year."

"Don't sweat it, we'll facetime each other every single month!" Denki reassured. "And when you get back, we'll see each other even more!"

Izuku nodded as though his life depended on it. Katsuki rested his hand on his head of curls, his tone gruff as usual. "You better graduate at the top, dumbass."

"I'll try my best," Izuku chuckled. "Not everyone is as amazing as you are, Kacchan."

"Right!" Kirishima agreed. "Bakugou's crazy smart. It's an unrealistic standard honestly. But you're pretty amazing too, Midoriya. Getting to study in another country because of your good grades? That's impressive!" Ochako nodded in enthusiastic agreement.

Izuku reddened at the praise. "I-it's nothing! Besides, today's your day, not mine."

"We should probably head back to my place soon," Jirou chimed in, running her dark nails through her scalp.

"Yeah, see you guys in a bit," Yaomomo said, waving as she left with her parents. Everyone parted ways with their own families shortly after, and Ochako and Izuku hopped into the Bakugous' family vehicle.

____

"This neighbourhood is boujee," Ochako commented, her voice a low whisper. Izuku stifled a chuckle.

"You're not exactly wrong."

Katsuki pretended not to hear them.

The vehicle eventually pulled through an automatic gate and unto a pretty driveway as Masaru hummed, "And we're here!"

The Bakugous' impressive abode was everything Izuku had expected to see. Katsuki had expressed in the past that his parents were pretty well off, but by no means affluent. Mitsuki and Masaru were both fashion designers, and the former of the two often did modelling on the side.

The home was somewhat large and was painted a pretty shade of gold, with green and brown accents. There were wide glass windows that greeted the front and sides, and neatly trimmed hedges decorated the front lawn.

As everyone exited the car, Katsuki held onto Izuku's hand, threading their fingers together.

Ochako struck up a conversation with Masaru, and Mitsuki led the group of five inside. After removing their shoes, they all headed into the living room.

"Ah," Izuku hummed. It's just as nice in as it is out. Kind of western too.

"Welcome Ochako-san, Izuku-kun." Mitsuki smiled. "The guestrooms are upstairs, I'll show you where they are later. For now, you can rest on the couch. Oh- unless you'd rather sleep in Katsuki's room, Izuku."

Izuku laughed nervously and Ochako stifled a chuckle.

A few hours had passed.

Izuku exited Katsuki's bathroom, damp and ready to get dressed as he grabbed a comb and carefully combed the curly tendrils of his hair out.

The moment he had initially stepped into the room, he felt a comfortable weight rest on his shoulders. The room was much more personal than Katsuki's dormitory.

The red paint that enveloped the space was chipped in a few places. There were massive band posters stuck against the walls, and the black bookshelf towards the corner was much larger than Izuku's, not to mention much more packed and slightly disorganized.

And over by the closet, there was a dresser. On the surface of it, there were multiple framed pictures of Katsuki and various loved ones. A grumpy high school graduate Katsuki with his friends and parents. A Katsuki on the drums mid-play, free and content. A Katsuki with his friends, the smallest smile on his face.

Izuku inspected that photo in particular, smiling a little.

There was a soft rapt against the door, and he blinked. "Kacchan?"

"Yeah," Katsuki confirmed, leaning against the frame. "You mind letting me in?"

Izuku carefully placed the photo back on the dresser top.

"Um sure, the door's unlocked."

Katsuki entered, only wearing his boxers. He chuckled at the warmth blooming in his boyfriend's face as he sat on the bed, reaching for his own clothes.

"What're you getting so shy for? We've seen each other like this before, you know."

Izuku rolled his eyes lightheartedly. "Well sue me. Besides, you clearly took your bath elsewhere."

"Because I didn't wanna bother you," Katsuki hummed. "And if we ended up getting each other off in there somebody would definitely hear."

"Wha– jeez, Kacchan."

Katsuki grinned, pulling a pair of dark jeans on and grabbing a shirt. "Anyway, I'm heading out soon. You should get dressed."

"I am!" Izuku gestures to the shirt he was now pulling over his head, his voice muffled. "Now shoo, shoo!"

"Alright, alright."

After successfully getting Katsuki to go, Izuku went about getting himself ready.

He hastily made his way to the living room, huffing slightly as he was greeted by the sight of Ochako and Katsuki in a conversation.

"Ahem."

Uraraka's eyes swept over Izuku, and she grinned. "Took you long enough, princess."

Izuku scoffed playfully. "I'm not slow. You guys are just way too fast."

"Yeah, yeah," Katsuki said, getting up. "Dad, we're going now."

"Ah, okay. Have fun!" Came Masuru's wholesome reply.

_____

Jirou's house, as expected, wasn't very far. During the ten minute walk, Ochako, Katsuki, and Izuku chatted amongst themselves. About quite a few things. About plans. About the somewhat warm weather. About the future.

A part of Izuku almost didn't want to leave. It was so warm here and everyone cared for each other so much. That wouldn't change with him gone, of course, but it wouldn't truly be carried with him either.

But as they arrived at Jirou's place, and as they were greeted by multiple smiling faces, Izuku found himself deciding that he'd worry about all that later.

The purple-orange of the evening sky transitioned into a starry dark blue and laughs echoed throughout the spacious, grassy backyard. Ochako had gone off with Mina to do god knows what, and everyone else had been drinking like it was the civil war.

Everyone except Katsuki, that is. And Momo, to some extent.

Jirou had given an impromptu performance that was either impressive given her drunken state, or impressive in the eyes and ears of a drunken audience. Either way, it was fun.

Yaomomo, being as considerate and good natured as ever, took to buying food for everyone.

"It's a good thing I did," she chuckled nervously, watching Denki unceremoniously munch down on a burger, his appetite twice as large thanks to the edible he took. "Everyone would be way too out of it order something."

She glanced over at Katsuki, who immediately shook his head in protest. "Fuck no. I wouldn't be babysitting any of these losers. Don't go thinking you can drink anything more than you already have, ponytail. That goes for you too, Deku. Jesus."

Deku had been croaking loudly across the yard alongside Sero and Kirishima in a sad excuse for karaoke. At the mention of his name, he whipped his head around way too fast, his grassy curls stinging him in the face as a result.

"Agh!"

Katsuki rolled his eyes, getting up from his seat beside Shoto. "Jeez."

"C'mon, Deku."

Izuku protested weakly as he was scooped up, making weird sounds akin to 'not yet'. Katsuki waited patiently for the mini temper tantrum to end.

"I'm heading home guys," Katsuki announced, a now half asleep Deku draped over his shoulders. "See ya."

"The night's still young, grandpa!" Denki laughed. Katsuki was unamused.

"It's 10:30."

"Jeez, Bakugou!"

Heading towards the front gate, Katsuki simply waved, his farewell somewhat noncommittal.

As he headed down the road, Bakugou paused for a moment.

This nerd's kinda heavy...jeez.

"Hey, don't you know where pink cheeks is?"

Izuku mumbled incoherently, his lips leaking a bit of drool. Katsuki sighed, letting out a small chuckle.

"Some friend you are, huh?"

The sky was much darker now, and Katsuki took his time to appreciate the peacefulness of his (mostly) quiet neighborhood. There was no need to rush...they were safe here.

He could feel the gentle breathing of his boyfriend on his neck. Bakugou paused, taking in his features for what seemed to be the billionth time.

Little brown spots. Dark green curls. Red cheeks. Fluttering eyelashes.

No matter how many times he looked at him, Katsuki found himself carefully taking everything in, just like the first time.

"You'll be gone for a while, huh?"

Surprisingly, Izuku muttered a response, seemingly half awake. "Mmm. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you way more." I've gone completely soft for this guy, huh? Man.

Izuku's eyes drooped open for a few seconds, before closing again completely. "What're you gonna do Kacchan?"

"Hmmm. Without you? Or in general?"

"Yes."

Katsuki rolled his eyes. "You won't even remember asking me this tomorrow."

"Just...answer."

With a sigh, he complied. "Fine. I want the band to get signed. I want to get a job to support that in the meantime...maybe I'll do tutoring."

"That's nice."

Katsuki opened the front gate to his home, snorting. "You sound sarcastic as fuck."

"M'not."

"Yeah, yeah."

Upon entering, Katsuki reached for the light switch, flicking it on. His eyes scanned the next room over, noticing his parents asleep together on the couch with the television still on.

With a sigh, he headed over, turning the television off before quietly trudging upstairs with a half asleep Izuku in tow.

Bakugou entered his room, carefully placing Izuku onto the bed before changing his attire.

"Deku...don't you want to change?"

Deku opened one eye. "As a person?"

"I– no, dumbass." Katsuki wheezed. "I meant your clothes."

"Oh. Yes."

After getting Izuku out of his clothes and into a pair of fluffy pajama bottoms (with quite the bit of struggle), Katsuki headed into the kitchen, fetching a large bottle of water before heading back.

"Sit up. Drink."

Izuku chuckled. "You're like a mom."

Katsuki joined him on the bed, leaning back a bit. He offered Izuku the bottle. "I think I've told you something like that before."

Deku took it begrudgingly. "Maybe in our first year...you haven't gotten drunk in a while."

"Yeah, but...I think I was high, actually. Like, hungover."

Deku hummed, taking down a few large gulps. A few beats of comfortable silence passed.

"You know," Izuku said, resting his head on Katsuki's shoulder, "I've been thinking a lot about the move. I won't know anyone this time. Even if I hadn't met you and everyone else, I sorta had Ochako and Iida if things got too lonely. But...that's not the same this time. Usually that sort of thing wouldn't bother me, but...I think you guys really spoiled me."

Katsuki inhaled, lazily wrapping an arm around Izuku's waist. "Spoiled?"

"Yeah, I mean... Now I'm expecting to have friends. I'm expecting a memorable year, like my experience here. The bar is way higher." Izuku laughed a little. "And I guess I'm a bit dependent on you guys... If something bad happens, nobody will–"

"Nope. Don't even think about that shit, Deku." Katsuki's voice was firm, like always. "A bit of boredom is inevitable for a while, but it won't reach to that level. Nobody will have to...save you from anything. You need to believe in yourself. You have to believe that if something like that ever happens, you'll be able to defend yourself before it's too late. That probably sounds corny as fuck but I mean it."

Izuku exhaled shakily, leaning further into Katsuki's warmth. "Y-you're right."

"And don't worry. You'll make friends. You kidding me? You're the most likable guy ever. You're literally perfect."

"N-now you're just trying to butter me up."

"I would never." Katsuki grinned. "Anyway, just be careful. You're grown and shit and I know you can take care of yourself, but you're still...you."

Izuku laughed. "I feel like that speech of yours sobered me up quite a bit."

Katsuki hummed, patting his head. "Good."

Several minutes of silence passed over as Izuku simply took large sips of his water, and Katsuki threaded his fingers through his partner's hair.

"I wonder where Ochako is..."

"She's fine. I texted Mina earlier. She's at her place."

Izuku snorted. "Count on Uraraka to start the evening one place and end up somewhere different altogether."

Katsuki intertwined their fingers. "Anyway, are you feeling better?"

"Yeah. I think it's okay for me to lie down now."

Katsuki hummed, shuffling so that the two of them were now lying flat on their backs against the mattress. He pulled the think, fluffy comforter over the both of them.

"Are you sleepy?"

Izuku hummed, turning to face his partner. "Not yet."

"Ha. Me neither."

Izuku shrugged. "Maybe we can talk until we are."

"Okay." Katsuki shuffled closer. "Tell me what you like. Everything."

Izuku blinked. "...Everything?"

"Yup. Shoot."

Izuku blinked in confusion. "Well... I like music that makes you long for things you've never known. The sound of a pencil scratching against a paper, too. And it's weird, but...I like the smell of paint. I... I like long drives in the late evening. I like the echo of a mic at a concert. I guess it reminds me that I like to hear talented people sing live." He inhaled and exhaled, still thinking. Katsuki listened.

"I like it when I see places from my dreams in real life. I like the roads I see in them. The paths are bright and there are huge limestones that lead into a dark, green sea. I like the smell of rain and lavender. That's about it, I think."

Katsuki's eyes lowered, glancing at the black and gold ring that shimmered against Izuku's ring finger. "Well, I like you. Everything about you."

The way your hair is just a tint of green. The way it brightens when the sunlight hits it. The way you brighten when you smile. Your freckles. The way you're truly the most important person in my life. The way you made it so easy for me to love you. Made it so easy to love myself. Made it so easy to love living.

He grinned. "You already know what I'm probably thinking, don't you? You can guess that, right?"

Izuku blinked rapidly, his face reddening as tears welled up in his eyes. "Yes."

"Life is a balance between living in the moment and preparing for the future. For the inevitable." Katsuki held his hands, radiating warmth. "You help me to do both. Thank you."

Izuku nodded silently, tears streaming down his cheeks. He wiped at his face messily with a small chuckle. "Don't mention it."

"I can't wait for our wedding day." Izuku sniffled.

Through hell and high water, they'd managed to pull through.

Katsuki never would've imagined that he'd meet someone like Izuku upon entering his Introduction to Poetry class so many months ago.

The endless happiness they brought each other might've been the reward for all the hardships life hurled at them.

"Me neither. I love you."

"I love you more."

Izuku knew well that he and Katsuki were opposites. But even so, he could never imagine a world without Katsuki in it.

They didn't seem to fit in appearance nor personality, but they slotted together a bit too seamlessly. It was like they were essentially made for each other.

Well, that's to be expected when worlds collide.

____