Chapter 36

A burning pain shot through Izuku's veins, causing him to hiss and clutch at his wounded side. It soared through his system, knocking the breath out of his lungs and making his toes curl. The beeping on his heart monitor quickened, alerting the nurses, who soon rushed into the room to tend to the suffering greenette. His back arched off the bed, his teeth clenched together, grinding against each other as he held back a scream. Every movement felt like shots of electricity, making his muscles tense every other second.

Morphine was injected through his IV as the nurses rushed to calm him down. One of them wiped his sweaty forehead with a cool rag, snapping her fingers in front of his eyes to divert his attention to them. "Breathe, Midoriya. Try to focus on the snapping of my fingers instead of the pain. I know it hurts, but you need to relax against the pain."

Izuku did his best to follow her instructions and took a deep breath through his nose, as he had done every day for the past three days. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the painful jabs and focus on the snapping noise. He exhaled shakily through his mouth, repeating the process of inhaling and exhaling until the jabs weren't as painful, meaning that the medication was taking effect.

After making sure that his blood pressure was stabilized, the nurses retreated, offering him a reassuring smile. Izuku relaxed against the bedding, letting out a deep sigh as he looked around his hospital room. The presence of a particular time bomb was clearly missing in that room. Katsuki had gone home to shower and grab some food after half an hour of Izuku's begging and probably some well-deserved smacks from the mama time bomb. The scene had brought a smile to the greenette's lips, feeling at ease despite his state.

It didn't take long until the door opened, and a refreshed-looking blond stepped through with a bag in hand. A small smile tugged at the corner of Izuku's lips as Katsuki's ruby-red eyes met his. He lifted his left hand, tiredly waving at Katsuki, whose brows furrowed. "It happened again, didn't it?"

Izuku frowned slightly, and Katsuki immediately knew the answer to that question. It wasn't the first time the greenette would get the random burning and electrifying sensation coming from his wound. Ever since he had woken up three days ago, he would get them every now and then. They had been warned that it would happen as an after-effect of the quirk-canceling bullet and One for All fighting against it.

Even with the pain and sleep medication, Izuku had been mostly restless. He could barely get any sleep in since he would wake up either from pain or a nightmare. Katsuki had witnessed Izuku's struggle painfully, whispering soothing words to him and snapping at the nurses and doctors for not arriving fast enough to ease his pain. He, too, was restless the majority of the time. He watched Izuku like an owl day and night and would sometimes drift off after seeing the greenette sleeping soundly. However, their rest would only last for about four hours tops before Izuku would jolt awake, waking Katsuki up in the process.

On the very minimal bright side, Izuku was no longer in the intensive care unit, which meant that the visiting hours were longer, and he could have more than one visitor at a time. His classmates would often visit him with get-well gifts and would even sneak food in, claiming that he deserved a cheat day from hospital food. In all honesty, if it weren't for Katsuki and everyone else, Izuku would have probably gone insane by now. Even in his horrendous state, he couldn't be more grateful for such friends.

"The old lady said that the antidote should be done by tomorrow," Katsuki spoke, sitting in his usual spot next to the greenette. "It was supposed to be done last week, but it's a complicated antidote. At least that's what the old lady said. Since it's the first of its kind, she can't guarantee it will work."

"That's to be expected," Izuku said with a warm smile. Katsuki had a worried frown etched on his face, brows knitted together as he glared down at his lap. Izuku could sense the blond's uneasiness and hesitancy, which made him reach out to one of his clenched fists. "I know you don't like the idea, but the sooner I get out of here, the better. Who knows what All for One is planning to do while I'm stuck here."

"That fucker is good at hiding. No one has been able to track him down these past two weeks," Katsuki grumbled, irritated. He wanted nothing more than to find that asshole and tear him to shreds. His mind would get clouded with pure rage that it would blind him, but Izuku was more important than revenge. The gentle grip on his fist reminded him of just how strong the greenette really was, but that didn't stop him from worrying.

"I am his main target. He could appear when we least expect him to, even more so in my weakened state," the greenette pointed out, lips tugging down in a frown. "If it weren't for my quirk being unstable, I would've gotten out of here the moment I woke up."

The blond clicked his tongue, rolling his eyes with a huff. "Yeah, right. No one would've let you get off this bed even if you tried, you shitty nerd."

The comment made Izuku chuckle, unconsciously caressing Katsuki's knuckles. The action caused the blond to look down at their hands. Scars littered the healing skin on Izuku's arms and hands. It made the skin slightly rough and bumpy to the touch, but Katsuki found it oddly relaxing. It showed how hard Izuku had worked to get to where he was now. How many battles he had won, how many obstacles he had overcome. Although part of Katsuki hated the pain that was brought upon the greenette, he knew that it made Izuku the person he was now.

He had his flaws, yes. But fuck if Katsuki wasn't flawed too. He was hot-headed and extremely prideful; his words had absolutely no filter. He was also extremely bad at apologizing and expressing his feelings. Two things that rolled off Izuku naturally. What one lacked, the other made up for. It amazed Katsuki just how different they were, yet they perfectly fit together. Like two misshaped puzzle pieces that were rough around the edges that, despite their distinct flaws, completed the other.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Izuku asked with a soft voice, snapping Katsuki out of his daze. He didn't realize that his fingers were tracing the greenette's scars absentmindedly.

Ruby red eyes found jade orbs that were staring at him with the gentlest of gazes. The fondness behind those eyes made his heart ache, and a soft smile tugged at his lips. "It's nothing, nerd."

"You are oddly calm," Izuku commented with a small chuckle. It was a rare sight for him, yet he couldn't help but love the fact that Katsuki could let his guard down around him. It meant that he was finally comfortable enough around him, and it made Izuku feel somewhat accomplished. Sure, the two had been dating for a month now, but it still felt so surreal to have the blond act so differently.

"You'd rather have me going around exploding stuff?" Katsuki asked with his significant smirk, earning a playful eye roll from the greenette.

Before Izuku had the time to respond, the door to his hospital room opened, and a smile brightened his features as a few of his friends came through it. "Midobro!"

"Kiri! Hi guys!" the greenette perked up, waving at his friends. Kirishima, Todoroki, Uraraka, and Kaminari all stood in front of Izuku's bed, making Katsuki click his tongue, feigning annoyance.

"What are you all shitty extras doing here?" Katsuki huffed, crossing his arms half-heartedly.

"Don't be so grumpy, man!" Kirishima pouted, and Izuku laughed.

"Don't mind Kacchan. It's good to see you all!" Izuku smiled as he carefully sat up. He was starting to feel slightly drowsy, most likely because of the morphine that had been injected into his IV earlier.

"How are you feeling, Izu-kun?" Uraraka asked, giving his best friend a concerned look.

"Yeah, dude. It had been a difficult two weeks after what happened with you-know-who. You've had it rough," Kaminari said, making Todoroki nod in agreement. The four didn't know about All for One being his blood-related father, and he planned to keep it that way.

"I'm doing a whole lot better than when I woke up, that's for sure," Izuku reassured with a tired smile. "Although it sucks having to be drugged about four times a day to get rid of the pain for a while."

Katsuki looked at the greenette, who laid his head on his shoulder. "He was given morphine before I got here, so his nerdy ass will doze off any time now."

"Aw, man! We rarely get to see you awake. We've missed you a lot, bro," Kirishima said with a sigh.

"I've missed you guys too, Kiri. I really want to get out of here," Izuku pouted while rubbing his eyes, shifting his head on Katsuki's shoulder to look up at the blond. His mind was getting foggier by the second, and when Katsuki met his gaze, Izuku smiled drunkenly. "Hi, baby!"

Katsuki's cheeks flushed immediately, taken aback. A few snickers filled the room, and Katsuki bit the inside of his cheeks. It wasn't the first time the pet name had left the greenette's lips. However, he only really said it when the meds would cloud his brain. Whenever he woke up, he wouldn't remember anything about what he had said, only bits and pieces, much to his embarrassment.

Katsuki had not once mentioned the certain slip-up.

"Hi," Katsuki murmured, unable to contain a small smile at the adorable sight.

"Whipped!" Kaminari whisper-shouted, followed by a whipping noise from Kirishima's mouth. Katsuki glared at them with a snarl, yet he didn't deny the statement. It was as clear as water that the explosive blond had a very soft spot for the freckled broccoli. There was just no denying it.

"Have you ever thought that your hair resembles spiky mashed potatoes?" The greenette asked in wonder, lifting his good arm to pat Katsuki's spiky hair clumsily. Laughter came from three of their friends while Todoroki gave a small chuckle. Izuku always said the most random things while under the effect of morphine.

"What the fuck does that mean?!" Katsuki asked, slightly offended. His hair did not resemble fucking mashed potatoes!

"Wait, no," Izuku slurred, giving a small giggle. "It's more like a spiky dandelion. Soooo soft."

"Bahahaha! A dandelion!" Uraraka wheezed, enjoying Katsuki's expressions. The explosive blond glared at his laughing classmates, totally embarrassed by Izuku's actions. He knew that it was the morphine doing the speaking, and the poor greenette would not remember any of it. Usually, it wouldn't bother Katsuki what his boyfriend said or did since he found it highly entertaining and adorable.

But that was when it was only him in the room.

"Shut it, you fucking extras!" Katsuki hissed, ready to explode at them, when he felt wind in his face. Dumbfounded, he looks back down at Izuku, who was focused on lazily blowing at his hair. "And what the fuck are you doing?!"

"Your hair doesn't flurry away," Izuku whined with a small, disappointed pout.

"Of course, it doesn't! My hair is not a fucking dandelion!"

Kirishima and Kaminari doubled over in laughter, wiping a few stray tears from their eyes. The four classmates were so glad that they were able to witness Izuku's innocent teasing without Katsuki blasting him away. Even Todoroki was secretly recording the exchange, an unusual amused smile on his usually poker face.

"You better send me that so I can use it as leverage in the future," Uraraka whispered to the heterochromatic, earning a slight smirk from him.

"Oi candy cane! You better not be recording this shit!"

"But Kacchan, since when are candy canes half white and half red? That's just boring," Izuku sighed dramatically. If the greenette wasn't injured, Katsuki would've probably smacked him already.

"Yup, I'm definitely saving this," Todoroki mumbled, a satisfying smirk resting on his lips.

"Don't you dare!" Katsuki warned, ready to attack him when a leg was thrown over his lap.

"Nooo baby, don't leave me!" Izuku cried, his voice slurred, looking up at Katsuki with teary eyes. The blond groaned, sliding a hand down his face as the others laughed.

"I'm not going anywhere, nerd," Katsuki huffed, making Izuku perk up with a drowsy smile. The greenette's eyelids were getting heavy with sleep, causing a yawn to escape his lips. The blond took notice of this and flashed the other four a glare. "Get out of here. He has to rest now."

"Aw! Well, we'll stop by again tomorrow!" Kirishima said with a toothy grin, giving Katsuki a peace sign and throwing his arm over Kaminari's shoulders. "See ya, Bakubro! Take care of our green bean for us."

"Tch, don't tell me what to do, Shitty Hair," Katsuki rolled his eyes but nodded at the redhead. The others said their goodbyes as they headed out the door, Todoroki quickly sending the video to the brunette.

Katsuki stood up and carefully laid Izuku back down on the bed, being mindful of his injuries. He fluffed and adjusted the pillows under his head, brushing away any green locks that would fall over his closed eyes. The soft gesture earned a small giggle from Izuku, who opened his eyes in the slightest, looking into Katsuki's ruby red ones.

"I love you, Kacchan," Izuku slurred, yawning once again and letting sleep finally consume him.

Paralyzed, Katsuki stood next to the greenette's bed. His heart thumped wildly against his ribcage, eyes wide in shock. He suddenly forgot how to breathe.

Four words—four goddamn words were able to completely stop Katsuki's world.

Did Izuku mean it? Was it just something that slipped up his drunken brain? Was it possible to get drunk on fucking morphine? Both make you say some stupid shit, but how does the saying go? "A drunk mind speaks a sober heart" or some shit?!

Finally, remembering how to breathe, Katsuki gently ran a hand down Izuku's cheek, thumb gracing his signature freckles. A warm feeling spread over Katsuki's system like a tidal wave, and he couldn't help the content feeling as he gazed lovingly at Izuku's features.

"I love you too, Izuku. I have for so fucking long," Katsuki whispered with a loving smile, trying not to disturb the sleeping greenette. He leaned down, placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

Sitting down on the chair next to the bed, he let's himself smile wildly.

Was this what happiness felt like? Because fuck did it felt like it.