Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was kind of laughable really, something Izuku didn’t expect. 

The Bakugou Katsuki was in front of him staring, waiting, maybe not for him but for the crowd. He couldn’t help thinking that the blonde was staring at him, naive thinking really but was it true? 

The red eyes pierced the audience's raw singing ability making everyone around vibrate. They were called the Mutant Zero’s, composed of five including the brash singer that held the crowd's interest entirely. 

Getting tickets for such a small venue was nearly impossible due to the usual arena size they fill up. Although there is nothing going to stop the Izuku Midoriya @ZeroIzukii551 from securing the most intimate performance the group has ever done in the four years they've been famous. 

In the mix of the sounds of alternative metal, Ochaco taps me the shoulder 

“Izuku! Did you see that he was so looking at you?!” 

Izuku rolled his eyes in disbelief “No way, he was definitely just looking at the crowd!” He says with a nervous tone, almost wanting to believe the same thing. 

“I mean didn’t you go to the same highschool back in the day he had to recognize you.” Ochaco said expectantly. 

Izuku sighs at the question, yes Katsuki did technically go to izuku’s highschool but the two never crossed paths, they lived in two completely different worlds.

 “Ochaco i've told you this already Katsuki would've never been caught dead talking to me back in the day.”

Ochaco frowns almost as if she is in a cartoon ”You’re not giving yourself enough credit Izuku. You're not the same person you were four years ago. Maybe he does remember you for all we know! He could even give you a start in the industry.” 

Izuku just brushes Ochacao’s overly positive energy off, not everything will go his way and that's okay. Back then Katsuki was always the most loved and talented even back then and Izuku just wasn't. No matter how much he wanted to be a part of all this he knew it was okay to watch from the sidelines.

 “Look, how about we do a little bet.” Izuku says in an effort to steer her away. 

‘Okay listening..” she replies. Giving Izuku her full attention, almost not listening to music anymore. 

“If he ends up coming up to talk to me after the show i'll make sure to give you tickets for a meet and greet with Hawk’s. BUT if he doesn’t you have to buy me all the merch there selling tonight.” 

“DEAL. Get ready to have your bank account drained.” Ochaco says. Then gives Izuku a big kiss on the cheek, continuing to be immersed in the band's performance. 

The night was a dream. Knowing all their songs by heart and singing his heart out. Seeing the band so closely that he almost thought Katsuki was looking at him. He laughs at the thought, as if. 

As the last song comes to an end and the crowd is roaring Katsuki finishes the last line then immediately screams into the mic “Hope you enjoyed fuckers. You won't ever see us perform in a shit hole like this again so take it all in.” He laughs after he says this knowing the fans eat up the brash attitude the blond presents. 

The sweat on his temple after giving his all showed in the blaring lights of the stage. Izuku was really taking this all in. After this he would have to continue watching from the sidelines once again. He couldn’t take this heartbreak of the night ending but it had to be done. Although it didn't have to be done sober. 

Izuku goes to the bar in the small theatre they were inside of in hopes he wouldn’t come down from the high of seeing the person who inspires himself to make music of his own. 

The bar was under the actual theatre, while many had left right after the performance had ended but Izuku stayed around with Ochaco in hopes of keeping this feeling going. 

“Izuku, can you order me an Aperol Spritz? I'm going to dance just come get me when they give it to you mkay?” She says asking me with her puppy dog eyes that always work on Izuku. 

“Okay no problem.” he laughs. Izuku quickly orders his friends to drink while he sees from the corner of his eye a familiar blonde. 

“Hey can I just get a shot Tyler? Thanks, just put it on the tab.” The familiar blonde that Izuku would recognize anywhere is right in front of him. He freezes like a dumbass of course. He tries to take him all in as if this might be the last time his eyes allow him to work. Seeing his white shirt a little damp and black jeans. it's almost laughable how beautiful he looks in person.

Katsuki then smiles. He fucking smiles. Izuku unintentionally lets his face freeze up and thinks about the worst case scenario. What if he has something on his face? What if he finds it super creepy he was just staring at him? What if- what if-.

“Oi stop the mumbling.” He says downing the shot and then looking at me questioning. “Hey, do I know you?” 

“Um- well-“ Izuku says in a panic, almost trying to explain.

”Wait- fuck. I know, you were in the front row today.” He says with a grin that would blind the world itself. 

”YEAH!” I say way to loud feeling relieved he didn’t mention boreline stalking him in highschool. 

Katsuki just laughs then says “Seems like you know a lot of my songs. You don't seem like the type.” He then looks izuku up and down with his black hoodie and green converse.

Izuku just laughs. Man if he only knew. “I’ve loved your music ever since highschool.” 

“And when was that? Last year?” Katsuki says. 

“Close but no four.” Izuku stops himself from saying more in fear it might put off this brash singer. 

Katsuki just stares as if i said the right thing “Hey say what? I'll buy you a drink and I'll play a song just for you. Can't let my most loyal fan go home without one.” 

Izuku almost runs out of his seat, tripping a little bit on the way.

While following Katsuki upstairs to the back of the stage where the atmosphere is hectic to say the least. Staff is moving from down and up the halls carrying out things from left to right. Almost no one paid attention to Katsuki just bringing a random fan to his dressing room.  

When the two get back to Katsuk’s dressing room it truly was better than Izuku's imagination. It looked like a true rockstar’s dream, dark but not dark enough where it isn't bright, guitars lay on the ground next to his rack of clothes and a couch with a questionable package of white substances reside. 

“Just ignore the mess. Come sit with me.” He says as he sits on the far side of the couch. 

Izuku follows as he's told and sits beside him anxious at the sight of the true Katsuki Bakugou, not the imagined person in his head. 

Katsuki picks up his guitar and starts playing a tune that Izuku knows for sure is not released anywhere to the public yet. He plays the tune almost mechanically like the song had been thought out to his core for a long time. It seemed like a song that he knew in his heart as if he had played it a million times. 

As the beautiful melody came close to an end, Katsuki looked up from the cords of his guitar and looked expectantly at Izuku. 

“It’s beautiful.”  He pauses giving that air between them to start to be dormant “Why haven’t you released this?” 

“Label says it's not personal enough. They say i need to go out there and “”experience”” shit but what the fuck do i need to experience to make a good song.” 

“Maybe I can help.” Izuku says nervously and then picks up Katsuk’s guitar and starts playing the revised version. Almost changing the perspective of the entire song putting it into perspective of someone you love but never can touch. With only changing a few pronouns and key words in the bridge, turning “we could’ve been” with “Were we ever.” Turning a once unpersonal song into the deepest feeling Izuku is experiencing right here right now. 

“Fuck. That actually did not sound like shit.” He clapped it up for Izuku making it feel like Izuku was under a spotlight. 

”Maybe you just needed an outside perspective-“ Izuku attempts to explain. 

Katsuki interrupts him by saying ”that’s about me right?” 

Izuku freezes in place but Katsuki goes on “It’s okay if it's about me but I want you to know that you're wrong.” Izuku is even more confused than when he started. but he quickly catches up to speed when Katsuki brings his hand up to the nape of Izuku’s hair and pulls him in close, almost giving him a kiss and says “Just stay the word and you can have it.” He says in a teasing tone that almost feels like he is playing a joke on him. 

“Y-yeah.” He says nervously, almost not even remembering how he got into this situation. 

“Yeah what? What do you want?” Katsuki keeps teasing him not even realizing how much Izuku wants this. 

izuku just leans in for the kiss and the damp breaks as they're all over each other in a fury of passion coming from only physical attraction. Leaving Izuku to believe if it wasn’t only physical how good it could’ve all been. 

Chapter Text

His hands are all over Izuku, feeling that parts of him no one has touched before. The feeling is electric. Izuku gives Katsuki all his passion and fury he never got the chance to before.

Katsuki starts to break away from the kiss and starts to pull izuku to the floor on his knees. Izuku goes down with the physical request in hesitation. Is this really how he wants to meet Katsuki?

It doesn’t matter now as in the same thought Katsuki starts to unbuckle his jeans 

‘I-I've never done this before.”

”Then you better be good at it, nerd.” As he takes out his shaft, Izuku does not hesitate to take this opportunity. He would take anything Katsuki gives him. 

Izuku’s head starts to rank up and down his shaft. Nervous, his teeth might get caught but try his best to give one thing that Katsuki wouldn’t forget. 

Breaking Izuku’s focus, he looks to see Katsuki. Wow. How can one person have this much sex appeal? Katsuki starts rolling his head back and is moaning uncontrollably.

As Izuku gets a hint he is doing something right when Katsuki fists his hair and moans it shorter and shorter. As Izuku feels him twitching under him ready to cum, last minute he hears the door burst open. 

Simultaneously Katsuki finishes at the same moment it opens, “Fuck.” 

“Katsuki! Again? We need to leave. Get him out of here before Shota sees you're done. Katsuki your fucking done. Izuku can just tell by the voice it's Mina, the lead bass of the band. 

“Yeah yeah he was about to leave anyway Pinkie.” He looks to see me dripping in his come while he puts himself away. “You heard her get the fuck up. Get out.” He looks pointingly at Izuku. 

Izuku’s heart shatters all at once, is this really all? This is the climax of the relationship he will ever have with izuku? He quickly wipes off the cum with his sweatshirt and tries to go past Mina but she stops him when trying to pass the doorway. 

“Look. Don't feel too bad Katsuki just has his own shit. What’s your name?”

”Izuku Midoriya.” He says looking at the floor in shame as if his own mother caught in the act.  

Katsuki laughs uncontrollably behind him still on the couch “Deku? Fuck are you serious i just had Deku suck my dick.” 

Mina looks at him confused, “Who’s Deku?”

“He was just some nerd that was in love with me in highschool.” 

Izuku starts turning uncontrollably red and pushes past Mina to get out of the door. He ran like never before all the way home, forgetting the Aperol Spritz and trying to forget the way he almost felt as though he was special. 

It was months after the whole incident and things were looking better. Maybe having your dreams shattered in one night was needed in order to push farther. 

Izuku never told Ochaco what really happened that night. Apparently she never even knew he went missing. She went home with some metal head that night and messaged me in the morning apologizing profusely.  

He said it was fine and he hooked up with someone random that night not mentioning who the “random” was. It was better this way, acting like the whole thing never happened. It was really easy to ignore it. Almost too easy, and that was when he got the notification. 

@KatsukiZero followed him. On his way to his newly signed agent uptown, trying to move forward in his career despite what happened. He still desperately wanted to be part of his world. He needed to prove to himself he could become something important, not just “Deku.”

His heart pounded profusely but he quickly put his phone anyway when he entered the UA agents building. He can’t let katsuki ruin yet another thing for him. He just can't let it happen.  

As he enters the building he gets directed to the 7th floor where his new agent Nemuri Kayama resides.   

He goes inside her office with a horn knock “hello?”

Nemuri stands up with a start in her almost too tight purple work clothes “Oh! Yes of course Izuku I was waiting for you.” 

Izuku goes to sit down on the chair right next to the desk nervously. 

So!” She slams a big pack of white papers in alphabetical order it seems. 

“I was in love with the songs you sent me and the headshots you sent in also perfect. Just what I've been looking for.” 

Izuku blushes “Thank you, I'm happy you think so!”

Nermuri continues “We have too many seductress concepts with our talent we needed a new approach. We’re looking for a cute concept singer. Someone that women would fantasize outside of their houses and not railing them in the allies.” 

Izuku blushes even harder at her lack of professionalism but takes it all in. He can be that. 

“That sounds perfect, I can do that.” He says with the utmost excited attitude. 

“Just so you know this isn’t going to happen overnight. We need to put you in training months before you debut.” She hands me a thick stick of white paper and a dotted line at the bottom. “Look read ov-“

Izuku signs his name without even looking over the papers. He wants this more than anything and he will do anything to prove that. 

It all starts crashing down a little bit when someone unexpectedly walks through the door. 

“Katsuki, Shota’s not here right now. I'm busy and can't deal with your mess again.” She says dismissively. Izuku freezes and he hears a pregnant silence waiting for Katsuki to say anything. 

“Deku?” He says with a smile as Izuku turns around. 

“You two know each other?” She starts to smile. 

”Yeah, he went to my highschool.” He says with no tell on how he's truly feeling about seeing Izuku again. 

“That's great!!” She almost screams in excitement. “I just signed him; he's set to debut in 5 months. Maybe you can show him around and show him where he needs to be.”  

“Got it boss. Deku lets go, you better walk fast. I'm not slowing down for a weak nerd.”

Izuku just felt as though he just got a preview into the next five months of his life and he doesn't know how he feels about it just yet. 

Chapter Text

Izuku was dumbfounded at this turn of events. Katsuki would be working with him in the same building all year long. It felt like his fantasy and nightmare colliding all at once. 

As Katsuki led him down the halls of UA, new and established talent went up and down the halls in a flurry of rush and creativity. It was nothing Izuku had ever seen before. Getting a good look at the building was a fever dream. 

As Izuku was taking this all in, Katsuki abruptly stopped. Making Izuku almost crash into him. Izuku peeked out from behind Katsuki to see a room labeled “Rehearsal.” 

Katsuki opened the door and led Izuku into a room full of instruments and the rest of his band. 

“This is the Mutant Zero as you already know since your such a big fuckin fan. That's Pinkie on the bass.” Izuku blushed a little saying hello to the Pink haired girl, remembering the turn of events last month.

 “The guy on the drums is Shitty hair.” Katsuki pointed. 

The guy with red hair laughed and replied, “Real name is Kirishima.” Izuku noticed 

how tough the guy looked in person, almost a little scary up close. 

“And the two love birds Sparky on the electric guitar and Ears on the electric piano.”

The blonde and purple haired couple reply “Jiro.”  “Denki.” “And when did Katsuki grow a fuckin heart whats up with the special treatment.” The blonde asks suspiciously. 

“What can't I show the new talent around?” He said defensively, looking like they caught him stealing a toy.” Cute Izuku thought. not cute enough to forget his goals but cute enough to give him a chance of being a real person. 

Kirishima replied quickly with a face of realization “Ohhhh i see what this really is. What did you do, Katsuki?” 

“Shut the fuck up. You know I didn't do anything.” The blonde looks away guilty. 

“Whatever dude just know we're going to find out anyway. This favor you're doing for Nermuri, you must’ve fucked up big time.” Kirishima looks almost worried at the act of human decency Katsuki is giving to Izuku. 

“Just keep to the practicing and I'll keep dealing with the press shit it’ll be fine like it always is.” Katsuki motions to the leave the room but Mina stops him with a start “You haven’t even told us anything about Izuku!” She replies with a slick grin like she just did something evil. 

Katsuki turns around with an eye roll “Fine. This is Izuku the new talent here hes going to be downstairs training with the other fuckin losers downstairs.” 

“And..” Mina pushes further, putting her bass down giving her full attention to the two. 

”And what.” Katsuki gets annoyed like speaking about the green haired individual next to him will make him pull out his own teeth. Mina just gives him a look and he starts again. 

“Well he's signed with Nemuri and is set to debut on the record in five months so we'll see him around. Okay? Good enough for you guys? 

The group nods in agreement then Izuku finally feels like he can talk “Yeah im just really excited to get started. Thankyou guys for the welcome. It means a lot.” He says with a blinding smile. 

Then as quickly as he replies hs being dragged out of the room by Katsuki. Then taken down the halls to the elevator. In the awkward silence of Katsuki pressing the keys on the elevator he starts “Don't get the wrong idea. I don't date, especially not someone like you.”

Izuku isn't surprised by the blonde's harsh words but takes it in stride. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Kacchan.” He's not the only one that can make nicknames. Although a stupid one but that's what he reminded him of. Just an immature name for an immature person. 

Katsuki rolled his eyes, “Is that the best name you could come up with?” He left the elevator after arriving at the bottom floor and walked Izuku through the halls once more. They arrived at the end of the hall labeled “Dance Room.” 

Katsuki opened the door and unveiled the competition for Izuku’s next few months. Just getting into the company isn't enough. He has to prove he is the priority here. That he deserved all the agency backing behind him. 

He introduced izuku to the lead teacher Emi Fuckuado. She seemed nice enough, her blue hair was bright under her orange bandana making her look so bold. Izuku wishes he looked so bold. Katsuki skipped over the rest of the talent inside there. To him they were all extras. 

Lastly, Katsuki led him to the recording studio. It was empty but looked full of potential in Izuku’s eyes. Katsuki opened the door for the inside of the booth and looked pointedly at Izuku and the inside of the booth. “Try it out.”

”Are you sure you're allowed to let me use that-“ Izuku nervously twitches. 

”Who cares you’ll be here all the time when Mic is here, what's the difference if he's not here?” Katsuki says annoyed. 

“Okay fine but your taking the blame if hes bad about us fucking up his stuff.” Izuku says as he goes inside the booth.

“Got it nerd.” He turns on the board and speaks into the speaker while izuku puts on his headphones inside the booth. 

“Good Nerd?” Katsuki looks up from the board directing into Izuku’s eyes with his own ruby red eyes glaring. Izuku feels his breath skip a beat unintentionally. 

“Good.” He says breathy, feeling so nervous he’s vibrating. ”Sing something!” Katsuki commands like he's some sort of soldier. 

Izuku laughs and starts to Improvise on the spot while Katsuki is giving him a random beat on the board. The beat was almost slow and sensual with the slow rhythm of the drums and guitar in the near background. 

Izuku has never had a sexual encounter besides the mistake in the dressing room. But inspiration is inspiration. He starts to improvise. Matching the slow beat with his breathless voice. Almost mimicking Katsuki’s moan in song form once again giving Katsuki an all to real performance. Although that's just how Izuku is, he wears his heart on his shoulder. 

Katsuki stops looking at the board and once more looks at Izuku but this time a different look in his eyes. Similar to the dressing room but the difference lied in the rise of tension in the air. 

As Izuku finishes the song as the beat comes to an end he can't help but look back at Katsuki the same way. Izuku quickly breaks eye contact and takes off the headphones and comes out of the recording booth.

“Was that good?” Izuku says nervously doubtful of his own abilities. 

Without saying a word Katsuki gets up and gets up close to Izuku backing him into the board. “What’s your fucking deal-“ He starts to say but Izuku quickly cuts him off by bumping Katsuki’s arm as he pushes past him. “You don't get to treat me like your owed an explanation for everything.” 

Katsuki grabs his arm in an attempt to get him to turn around. “Come on, you can’t still be mad about that shit.” 

“Watch me” As he grabs his own arm away from Katsuki’s and gets out of the room as quickly as he can. He gets into the elevator and slumps on the back of the wall feeling as though rejecting Katsuki was the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. 

Chapter Text

Izuku didn’t know what he was getting into. Before he knew it he was in front of an abandoned looking building in his tight black jeans Ochaco said he “looked absolutely amazing in.” He fights in his tight clothing feeling out of his element with his black under eyeliner. 

Izuku approaches the door as the loud band music makes the door jump. The bouncer looks at his list suspiciously and says “Name?” 

“Izuku” He says as the bouncer reads the names down his list and then flips the page in search. Izuku fiddles with his black shirt as the man finally speaks again “Found you. Next!” Izuku lets out a breath he didn't know he had. 

Izuku goes into the club and sees only a flash of lights and smoke at first. Izuku was never a party guy. It was always him on his guitar never having to give a performance or show up to any event. 

School work was always an excuse to be around the hustle of a college party. He doesn't know if he truly regrets not going but he knows for sure he will be seeing a lot of places like this. 

As he moves through the crowd of men and women alike in next to nothing and what they did have on was a mix of intoxicating colors. The frog prevented him from seeing much but what he could make out from afar was the stage at the front of the crowded venue. 

The opening band was already playing, a group just like Mutant Zero playing similar music with a lead singer that almost rivaled Katsuki. Izuku just took in the atmosphere listening to this band when he heard his name being called out. 

“Izuku!” An unfamiliar blonde haired woman was waving out to him at the side of the club with a table of people Izuku had also never seen before. She was wearing a short pink sequin skirt with an even shorter pink top. 

Izuku moved past the crowds of people and got to the circular table at the side of the club. She made it a point to move aside and make room for Izuku to sit. Getting a better look at the blonde women he noticed he did in fact recognize the blonde. Camie Utsushimi. Izuku almost froze with her presence. God. She was way more beautiful in person. 

“Kirishima told me you were going to be here. It’s nice to finally meet you.” She looked at Izuku, calculating with her eyes trailing over Izuku’s frame. 

Izuku looked around the table and noticed everyone here was a big name in entertainment. Music directors and producers were all talking amongst each other. Paying no mind to Izuku’s presence at all. 

“Yeah it's nice to meet you to Camie i've heard so much about you-“ 

“From Katsuki?” She cuts Izuku off in hopes for the answer she wants. 

“Yeah..from Katsuki how did you know?” Izuku just says to appease the blonde. He gets the feeling honesty doesn’t matter with making connections. 

“Well we went out a few times, nothing major.” She says with an eye roll and a smirk like I've said the right thing. “Kirishmia must really like you.” say with the same expression.

”Well I hope he does but I don't think that's the reason why I'm here. I think the company wants to produce something quick before the media gets to it.” Izuku says thoughtfully, finally putting this whole experience to words. He pauses for a bit debating on letting out his true feelings but chooses the latter. 

 “I know I'm good Camie but not that good to be given these opportunities. That's why I need to work twice as hard before it's ripped under before I can use it.” He says being more real than he's been in the past few days. He doesn’t know why he’s telling Cami this but he doesn’t question the feeling. 

“As long as you know it.” She says laughing a bit. “No one gets into this industry this easily. Use it Izuku.” 

Cami squirrels the orange drink in her hand eye shifting past Izuku's shoulder.

“Izuku — this is Hawks.”

The name hit him like a chord out of tune. 

Izuku face palms internally. These dark lights are going to be the death of him. The blonde older man smiles at Izuku and holds out his hand.

Izuku uses all his power to not nerd the fuck out. He just shakes the man’s hand normally as if all of college Ochaco and Izuku never spent countless nights obsessing over the man. 

“It’s so great to finally meet you. I love your music.” He says trying to act as calm as possible. Building connections is top priority right? Fuck Ochacos going to kill him if he doesnt get his autograph. If he could apologize to her right now he would. 

“Yeah likewise dude i've heard some of your demos there solid just keep up the good work.” He says smiling at izuku.

Izkuk freezes at the mention of his demos. What demos? Have they been saving his test songs? He just thought they were just tests not full on demos?!? 

“G-great! I'm happy you like them. I guess I'm releasing sooner than I thought.” He says scratching his green hair and shrugging. 

As soon as Izuku stopped uttering his last sentence the roar of the crowd went loud. Izuku adjusted fast and started to speak to Camie “Hey I'm going to get closer to the stage. You want to come?” She smiles at Izuku happily for the offer but with a confused look simultaneously inbedded in her smile. 

She gets up to follow Izuku to the crowd, Getting closer to the front she starts to speak. “I'm surprised you're still so excited for their performances you act like you don’t know them personally.” She says as she pushes through the crowd beside Izuku. 

“I mean just because I know them personally doesn't mean i don't still love their music.” he says almost appalled by the question. 

“Yeah but isn't it different now that you know them?” Camie says while pulling her blonde hair to the side. 

Izuku ponders that question in his head and replies swiftly “Well I’ve known Katsuki since highschool and that hasn’t changed my opinion on the band.”Camie looks even more confused with the thought of highschool Katsuki and Izuku. 

“I've seen Katsuki work so hard for every single thing he has and it makes me want to be better.” Izuku says passionately like the band means more than just the words that come out of his mouth. 

 “I was never the most talented but I worked hard Camie. I worked hard enough to where I'm playing in the same league as Katsuki but that makes me love the band even more.”  

He says looking away from Camie now to the once empty stage to now the five members of Mutant Zero getting ready to play their first song on the set. 

“When you put it that way I guess I would love to see the play everytime to.” He says almost too thoughtfully llike shes realizing something about herself after learning more about Izuku. 

Izuku’s full attention goes to Katsuki. he can’t help it. It’s a reflex at this point. He’s the center of attention whenever he's on stage. He's an asshole for sure but a talented asshole that's what Izuku knows for sure. 

Katsuki picks up his mic already glistening in the stage lights reflecting off of his white see through shirt. His black pants don’t shine but on him they do. Izuku feels infatuated with Katsuki but it could just be the air around them foggy, reeking of ecstasy.  

The white smoke of the club turns red with the start of the band playing. Kirishima starts the song off with his drums and then Denki follows after with his guitar. Katsuki is the third to start with his vocals. Then the two girls follow after and the first song kicks off. “Long and lost” Not Izuku’s favorite but it fits the atmosphere perfectly that the song might become one of his favorites.

Staring down the skyline, ghosts in the glass  

Every road I ran still circles back  

Fame is a mirror, cracked in the frame  

I changed my face but not my name  

And I kept the hurt like a photograph  

Folded in a coat I can’t take back  

I’ve been long and lost in the sound  

Looking for pieces that never get found  

Tried to outrun what’s under my skin  

But I still break where I’ve always been  

Long and lost — but loud now  

I’ll never fade out. 

Camie started to match the pace of the crowd's movements like she lived for the crowds movements. She tries to have Izuku join in on her dancing. Izuku follows her movements flowing with the heavy beats and sensual Nader tone of the song itself. When Izuku turns around from facing Camie he looks directly at Katsuki and almost loses his breath. In the fury of lights and dancing Katsuki looks to have spotted Izuku but this time it was different. 

Katsuki’s eyes were glossed over almost red and his voice was not as strong as normal. To others it might look like a creative choice but to Katsuki not sounding perfect was never a style Katsuki wanted. Something was wrong. 

He looked over at Camie again and saw almost the same worried expression on her face with the crowd oblivious to what was occurring. 

“Is Katsuki okay?” He asks Camie thinking she might have some insight to what’s really happening. 

Her worried expression tells a story of its own “I don’t know he’s never been on stage like that.” 

“Like what Camie.” Izuku replies quickly in confusion. 

“You can't tell?” She looks as though he had two heads. “You’re more innocent than I thought.” She looks to force a laugh out of her worry. 

“He’s obviously high out of his mind.” 
She says blankly at Katsuki from the stage giving his worst performance of his life. 

Like on weed? He thinks silently.

As is reading his mind Camie continues “Do I need to spell everything out? You see the headlines Izuku.”

Izuku takes this information headfirst like a rush of cold water emerges and dunks his head inside. He nods quietly at Camie feeling like she didn’t want him to push further on this subject. 

Izuku knows that Katsuki has been in the game for a number of years and has even seen himself the effects.

The white substance on his table in the dressing room wasn’t an illusion but it felt unreal. Especially to someone as talented as Katsuki he almost seemed superhuman at times but Izuku knows that naive thinking. 

As the band is in the middle of their song Izuku looks around at the crowd ones more in an attempt to see if anyone noticed Katsuki’s shaky voice. 

At last it seems no one even cares.

In the far corner of the room Izuku can even spot others lining up the white substance at their respective tables. It almost shocked Izuku that it was so normal.

Something so brushed over. 

He knew being as talented as Katsuki came with struggles but what type of struggles would let Katsuki throw away his most prominent trait of always looking perfect?  It was a question Izuku pondered over in the ending of the band's song. 

Camie noticed Izuku's change in mood and started “Look, have a little fun Izuku! Don't worry about Katsuki. he always has it handled, just trust him.” She says as she puts her hand on Izuku’s shoulders. 

Weirdly this comment did help Izuku feel a little better about the situation at hand. If anyone would know the real Katsuki and his limits wouldn’t be the women he's dating? Or dated might be the right word he thinks. 

He nods happily at Camie and starts to pay more attention to the band while they play their second song “Voltage Veins.”

Katsuki starts the song with the opening verse and Denki’s solo guitar riffing in the background. The crowd goes electric.

You lit the spark, now try to hold the flame  

I’ve got voltage in my veins, I won’t play tame  

Built from pressure, born from pain  

You call it chaos — I call it my name  

Katsuki says the first verse like he’s putting his life on the line just to get the words out. Looks as though he did it on purpose to set the mood but Izuku has a feeling it wasn't. 

As Izuku waits for the second verse it never comes. Katsuki stops and pauses to look down at his shoes holding his mic in the stand as if he wouldn’t be able to stand up without it. Sweat dripped down his hair to his forehead as he breathed in and out. By this point the crowd knew something was up. Murmurs of worry strike the crowd. 

Then with no warning Katsuki gets off stage not running but just calmly walks off. His band mates all looked in panic and then Denki came up to the mic trying to play it off. 

He laughed breathlessly into the mic to try to get the crowd to not feel the tension of the main singer just walking off. Although the blonde handles the situation extremely well. Denki just continues and the band follows. 

So the show really must go on, Izuku thinks. 

The band continues the song but without the lyrics of the main singer. 

Izuku looks at Camie to see her expression but he only sees sadness written on her face. “Hey is anyone going to go after him?” 

“Why would they? Katsuki knows how big this night is for him and the band. It isn't fair that everyone has to skate around him just because he's talented.” Camie said bitterly. 

”Are you fucking serious?” Izuku snaps at the blonde.

He knows that Katsuki is a dick but he's starting to realize everyone around him is worse. At least Katsuki knows when he fucks up. 

Without thinking Izuku pushed through the crowd to the side of the stage leading to the dressing rooms. 

Camie looks after him crossing the crowd and a feeling emerges that she doesn't want to admit. She feels smaller in comparison to the man with green hair. Like he means more to Katsuki then he lets on. 

A body guard greets him and stops him for a second and then gets a better look at his face. 

“Look, I'm with UA Talent. Kirishima put me on the list for backstage, I'm sure of it.” Izuku’s betting this whole plan on an intuition and he hopes he can trust himself that this will work. 

The man looked questioning at Izuku and then his eyes focused on Izuku’s green hair and it looked like something had clicked.

“Yeah I think Kirishmia did mention you coming backstage after the performance.” 

cheered loudly in his head, thanking Kirishmia internally for thinking ahead. “Great! Thank You so much.”

Izuku says after the security guard lets him through the halls where the dressing rooms reside. 

He moves down the halls, many people going down and up the halls in a panic. This whole situation brings Izuku back, bringing a sense of déjà vu. 

He passes each room labeled separately for each band member, First Mina, then Denki, the third room finally has Katsuki’s name on the front. 

Izuku preps himself internally for what he might find in the dressing room.

Izuku's breath gets heavy and he waits about five seconds before he can chicken out and then he does it. He swings open the door to find an empty room. 

In the fury of the moment Izuku lets out a breath he was holding in and looks around the room in a panic looking for a clue where the brash singer might be. In the room Izuku was stepping inside was a mess of clothes and pills laid out on the table and floors. 

Izuku leans over to the table and sees a yellow sticky note written on it “On the roof don’t call the cops I'm not missing.” 

Izuku races out of the room and keeps going down the hall to see a set of stairs leading to the roof. Izuku walks up the graffiti lined walls and holds the metal rails as he goes up to check on the blonde. 

As he finally gets to the end of the stairs he opens the last door without a thought to prepare himself mentally. 

And there he was. Katsuki. On top of the room arms on the side of the roof looking down, almost looking as if he is trying to calm himself down but failing. 

Izuku walks behind the blonde but is still at a far distance from the edge of the roof. About a foot away from him, Katsuki notices the sudden movement. 

Katsuki turns around calmly but immediately looks startled when he sees Izuku staring back at him. 

“H-hey.” Izuku says to fill the silence. 

“What are you doing here Deku?” He says defeated like he doesn’t even want to be rude but it's his default to put on that facade. 

”Are you okay?” Izuku asks with such an earnest expression on his face, making his green eyes look brighter in the night. 

“Like you fuckin care.”

He replies looking away from Izuku and looking towards the night sky. 

”I do fuckin care.” He says as he gets closer to the blonde, now next to Katsuki he can get a better look at his side profile.

Even in his worst moments he even looks breathtaking. “Just because I don't forgive you for being a dick doesn’t give me an excuse to be one.” 

”Well you should.” 

“What—“

“You shouldn’t get to be so fucking nice after I’m a dick to you.

So yeah answer the question Deku what's your deal.” 

“Do you really want to know what my deal is?” He says looking into Katsuki’s red eyes that shine even in the darkest of nights. 

He pauses for a second getting his thoughts together and starts 

“My deal is you.” 

Katsuki looks as if he's about to speak — but Izuku cuts him off.

”Your talent is all I've ever wanted.” 

Izuku says with the most sincerity he's ever shown. 

“It's what made me want you because in reality I wanted to be you.” 

“What does that have to do with any-“

”If you would let me finish.” Izuku laughed. “You would know that I don't feel that way anymore.”

”Kacchan, I want to be better than you.” The nickname he gave Katsuki rolls off his tongue like it was meant to be on his lips. 

“And this is supposed to make me feel better?” Katsuki lets out a laugh — cold sharp —  staring down at the city lights like they’re mocking him. 

”No, It’s just to say how can I beat someone if they’ve already taken themselves out.”

Izuku challenges the blonde not knowing how he will react to his honesty. 

Katsuki looks like he had lost all the words he had for Izuku and looks directly at the green haired boy and stund. 

”I want to be the best of the best.” Izuku says not breaking eye contact.  “Without you how can I measure how far I've come?” 

takes the words and breathes it in like it's his lifeline. He smirks at Izuku like he’s said all the right things. Katsuki's first breaks eye contact and looks at the floor and looks back up to say two words Izuku thought he would ever hear. 

“I'm sorry.” 

Katsuki pauses like it took a mountain to push those words out of himself. Although without thinking Izuku replies. 

“I don't need that.” 

Izuku’s deadpan expression took Katsuki back like he's never experienced someone care this much. 

“I need you to sober up, get back on stage and try. Don't mess this up not for your band, not for me but for yourself because I know you want it as bad as me.”

Izuku leaves him with that thought with a pause waiting for Katsuki to reply but there was none. Just the silence of the cars beeping and music coming from the clubs down below. 

Izuku leaves the roof walking slowly on his way out of the door and down the graffiti lined staircase right back to where he started in the club. 

In a few minutes after the band wrapped up the lyric-less version of Voltage Veins and Under the Fire, Katsuki comes back on stage ready to sing. Looking a little more sober and more focused. 

Izuku didn’t know what this all meant.

For the band. 

For himself.

For them. 

But Katsuki’s eyes dont leave his. Not once. 

Chapter Text

Izuku needs to confess. 

It’s been eating him alive not telling Ochaco what really happened that night months ago. With the recent developments after going to UA talent feels the guilt creep up to him like a shadow. So he did the only possible thing and texted her to meet up with him. 

And that's where he is right now, at their favorite coffee shop where they met up for every study session in college. The memories fill him up with nostalgia and anticipation. 

Ochaco walks in with her favorite pink cat sweater and blue jeans and Izuku cannot help it anymore the minute she sits down he confesses “I HOOKED UP WITH KATSUKI.” She immediately after he finished his sentence put her hands over his mouth.

 “Shhh! Izuku, you can't just go around saying that!” She silently screams while the rest of the coffee shop freezes with a pregnant pause before it goes back to the normal chatter forgetting izuku’s outburst. 

“I'm sorry I didn’t tell you! It’s been eating me alive.” He says with the most guilty expression on his face like he just killed the cat on her pink shirt. 

“Izuku you should’ve told me!! You know you can tell me anything. What happened that night?” She says with a worried motherly tone she usually does when Izuku gets like this. 

“I just felt embarrassed he kicked me out right after, and he even did remember who i was. Ochaco — it was so bad.” He slumps forward, face in his hands. “He knew everything. Even the parts where I always had a thing for him, yeah! He remembers that too! 

“Look, maybe it isn't so bad. Now we can go see Hawks.” She says trying to lighten Izuku’s mood. 

Izuku laughs feeling relieved he finally told Ochaco “Yeah maybe with this new UA money i can finally take you.” 

“Yes! Let’s focus on the positive. How was the interview?” she says excitedly. 

“It was so good Ochaco. I finally got signed after I've been wanting this for so long. Then guess what happened? I see him again. 

“Wait. He works for the same label!?” Ochaco says animatedly looking as surprised as Izuku was when it first happened. 

“Yes! Ochaco, how am I supposed to survive.” Izuku says dramatically. Ochaco just laughs lovingly “Like you always do. You survive by putting your all in despite what some stupid cocky singer thinks.” 

And just like that, maybe Ochaco was right. 

 as always she might add! 

Izuku was on his way into UA Talent, similar to his first time he looked at his phone and still saw Katsuki following him. He contemplates following him back and ultimately decides it can only benefit him. Having the main singer of Mutant Zero is great for Izuku’s image right now.  

Although izuku lingers on his account after following. All in the name of research right? He looks over Katsuki’s newest posts, a few promotionals for brands, and a recent post with his band mates teasing him. 

It all looked so real especially for a singer like him. It humanized him even more. Izuku had to click off in protest of his own realing thoughts. He needed to get away from his infatuation with this blonde. It’s not going to happen again. 

But after clicking off his phone wouldn’t let him forget giving his suggested Katsuki headlines “FAMOUS MUTANT ZERO SINGER CAUGHT WITH COKE?” Showing an obviously fake line of cocaine next to Katsuki. Izuku knows the allegation is real though he saw it himself but he never thought it would be caught in the press so fast.    — “NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH MODEL CAMIE UTSUSHIMI” that's a new one? It was a picture of Katsuki and Camie kissing in an outdoor seat of a restaurant. 

That one looked a little too real. Almost letting his thoughts spiral, a camera flashed as he was entering the UA building. 

Izuku was confused at the sudden intrusion. Was the press that interested to see the UA’s new talent? He couldn’t wrap his head around these new turns of events. Was he going to be that person on the headlines just as Katsuki is?

He walked into the elevator of the UA building pondering this thought. Quickly he changed gears, now worrying about his training. He anxiously fidgets with his hands then stops abruptly when the door opens. 

Izuku walks out of the elevator into Nermuri’s office. He finds her even more stacks of paper than that time. The stacks created a mountain on her desk only leaving little room for her face to peek out to see who had came inside the room. 

“Izuku! Just the man I wanted to see. Sit! Sit!” She says motioning to the chair next to the desk. She moves one of the stacks of papers to the floor while Izuku sits down. 

“As you already know you’re needed for training effective immediately but of course you need your schedule first.” She hands him a green stack of papers from her drawer. “Color coded.” she smirks. 

Izuku goes to look at these papers and the first thing he has to fill out is “Stage Name.” 

She quickly realizes Izuku’s confusion and clarifies “It’s asking what do you want your fans to call you when you finally release.” 

Izuku thinks for a minute about this momentous moment in his career. He knows which name would bring this turn of events full circle. Izuku quickly signs Deku on the green piece of paper. He hands it to Nemuri. 

Nemuri reads over the name and looks puzzled “Deku?” 

“Yeah Deku.” Izuku says confidently. Reclaiming the name will make it mean more than just useless for once. 

“Okay Deku it is.” She says defeatedly with a sigh as she hands back the green paper to Izuku. “Just be on time for your meetings with the dance and music directors and we’ll meet back here when you have a solid song for me.” 

“Will do! Won’t let you down.” Izuku says with his usual blinding smile. He quickly flips through his new schedule then realizing his appointment with Mic is in ten minutes. His eyes go big and Nemuri gives him a laugh and says “You better get going then.” As she put her attention to the mountain on work on her desk. 

Izuku quickly stands up and waves Nemuri a goodbye. He opens the door and goes down the hall. Through the other rooms of agent doors Izuku gets back into the elevator and hits the fifth floor to the recording booth where he is set to meet Mic. 

As he’s walking past the other doors of music recording rooms the pictures on the walls show all of UA’s former talent. On the left of him he stops in his tracks to a picture of the famous actor Nana Shimura. 

Long gone due to the stress of fame but the picture looked so alive with her black hair and bright smile. Next to her was former star turned director En. Both long gone but looked so alive, so happy to be recognized for their hard work and talent. It seemed as though time stopped for them, as well as the other pictures on the wall with their black frames and old film. 

Next to the picture was a more recent loss Yagi Toshinori. God. He was good. Even more one of the greats. Izuku always looks up to Yagi’s work in the industry; his death left millions lost. He was Izuku’s childhood ideal. It felt like a tribute to him in a way that he was finally finding his way. He stayed staring at the picture of Yagi not noticing a red head looking across from him. 

“Wow dude you really do mumble a lot.” Kirishima said, breaking Izuku’s train of thoughts. Izuku laughs awkwardly at the comment and turns a little red at the intrusion. 

“You here to see Mic?” Kirishima asks questioningly at the sight of Izuku lingering in the halls mumbling at the picture frames. 

“Y-yeah.” Izuku replies with an awkward tone and a head scratch. “I actually was going in for an appointment with him.” 

“Dude! I could totally help you with finding direction with that. Just say the word.” Kirishima finished with a big smile. This did little to soothe Izuku nervousness around the redhead. He just looked like a rock. It felt like one wrong move and the guy would crush him with one blow without breaking a sweat on his sleeveless shirts. 

“I think pointers would actually really help me. I know you've written a handful of the songs for the band too.” Izuku said with a little bit of anticipation.

”Oh don't flatter me!” Kirishima laughed and put his arms over Izuku’s shoulders not knowing his strengths, almost knocking him over. “You don’t gotta butter me all up! We both know Katsuki wrote the majority of the songs. I just helped here and there.” Izuku was almost shocked at Kirishima’s honesty. Maybe all stars weren't all ego.  

 “Let’s go and say hi to Mic then why don’t we?” He said walking with Izuku still under his arms in the most cheery way possible not even noticing Izuku distress under the rock of Kirishima’s arms. 

He pushes the door open to reveal Mic sitting beside the board with his feet on top of each other, crushing the board keys with his feet. 

“Heyyy!” The blonde man says with almost a panic like we startled him out of his sleep. 

“Nice to finally meet you Izuku.” The blonde man with headphones stands up from his chair to give Izuku a handshake under Kirishima’s arms. 

“Feels like I already know you, Nermuri told me you write and sing? How well do you do the two?” The man asks questioningly with a hint of doubt in his words. 

Izuku finally releases himself from under Kirishima’s grip and replies “Well I sure hope I do those things well. That's the reason I got signed.” Izuku is kind of annoyed at the question itself but he supposes he understands. Mic needs to know where his levels are. 

“Well then let's get you in the booth and give you some test beats and lyrics and see what sticks.” He motions for Izuku to go inside and he obliges. 

When Izuku gets into the booth and puts on his headphones, he finally starts to feel ready to start the process. Mic abruptly starts to speak Into the speaker and says “Nermuri wants a song by today so let's get moving.” 

Izuku freezes a little bit but quickly recovers and gets back to work. He knew this wasn't going to be a half ass process. 

As Izuku is working on a sample Mic had given him playing off the bars and lyrics he Starts to see Kirishima and Mic getting a bit distracted. As Izuku he's singing on the sample Mic records his parts but keeps turning to Kirishima. Izuku glances at the redhead and sees his phone showing Mic something rather important. 

Izuku quickly stops even as the sample is still playing. “What’s happening guys? Is something wrong?” Izuku takes off one side of the headphones to see if he can hear their conversation over the sample but no luck. 

They catch on to the lack of singing and turn up from their conversation to look at me in the booths. Kirishima stops the beat and goes inside of the booth with Izuku to show something on his phone. 

”Hey look..” Kirishima starts as he closes the door to the booth and approaches Izuku. Izuku Immediately is on high alert for any thing that comes his way but he cant hold in his anxious breath and face from telling everything. 

“Dude! Dude! Relax, it's nothing bad, it's just your picture is kind of everywhere right now. I think it leaked that UA was taking new talent seriously.” Kirishima pulls out his phone and shows Izuku the picture of him entering the building. 

“Wait but why is that a problem?” Izuku ask confused looking over at Mic to see his reaction but alas Mic wasn’t even paying attention. 

“It’s not really a problem but it is.” Kirishima puts his phone down and looks to the side with a sigh. 

He looks back at Izuku, almost trying to really get his point across to make sure he really gets it. “Look, the agency wanted to release you on their time. Now they have to speed up the whole process because the media already knows.”  

Izuku, still confused, asks “And this means..?”

”It means you're going to need to be in the media way more. Like going to events, promotions and getting your social media set up already.” Kirishmia says then picks up his phone and types something fast, seeming to be texting someone. 

“Izuku you're coming with the band tonight to play at an underground venue tonight. it's a little bit of a rave scene but it’ll do you just fine with getting you out there more.” He doesnt look up from his red phone while telling Izuku what is going to happen like Izuku didn't have some other plans. I mean yeah he didn't but how would Kirishmia know!

Izuku just nods in agreement not realizing he's signing up for a whole night with the person he wanted to avoid most.

Chapter Text

Sweat leaked through Izuku’s hands as Mic and Kirishima looked expectedly after asking what songs he could have prepared for tonight. 

Truthfully Izuku had many songs he could show them. 

Are they good? Maybe. Were any of them ready to sing to a live audience? Absolutely not.

A long silence occurred waiting for Izuku to magically have a song at his fingertips. 

Izuku started to wave his hands awkwardly trying to explain “W-wait!- you can't possibly think i have a song ready to go at this moment!” 

Kirishima looks around awkwardly “Weren’t you accepted into the company under the songwriter category?”

Izuku waves his hands around even quicker to somehow shut the whole thing down. “Yeah but that doesn't mean they're ready for an audience!” 

Mic looks at Izuku almost knowingly and gives him a smirk.

”Come on kid, just play us one and we’ll see.” 

As Izuku was about to object, Kirishima pushed him into the booth. Izuku soon is  in front of the mic with his headphones on ready to test his songs. 

Izuku starts to break out into a sweat while opening up his phone to look for a song to play. 

As Izuku scrolls through half finished songs and his deepest regrets in song form he finally finds something he thinks they will approve of. 

”Okay i think i have the song.”

Izuku looks up for some type of reassurance from the two men staring back at him.

Kirishima smiles brightly and gives Izuku a goofy thumbs up as an attempt to encourage him. 

“It’s called Catching Up. I’ll play you guys the chorus and you’ll tell me what you think.” 

Mic starts to play a slow but sultry beat that has sounds of a darker pop sound to it.

Izuku looks at the lyrics of the song and starts to sing into the mic. 

They see gold when they see you burn,

I see the cracks with every turn.

You never looked behind to see—

I bled to catch what you threw free.

I’m catching up through ash and rain,

Chasing you inside my veins.

You shine so loud, you dim the rest,

But I’ve got ghosts you never guessed.

I'm not your echo — I’m the smoke,

Born from bridges that you broke.

Izuku finishes the snippet of his newest song and looks up to see the faces of Kirishima and Mic. 

Mic’s headphones somehow on his neck now. Seeming to be writing something down on his notepad while Kirishima is clapping. 

“What did I say? I knew you had a song ready for tonight.”

He says as he finishes clapping and looks over to see what Mic is writing down.

Kirishmia suddenly looked wide-eyed at the piece of paper Mic had in his hand.

”Dude looks like i'm not the only person who liked it.” 

“Yeah, I seriously think we have the start of something solid.”

He starts to hold up a piece of paper that Izuku couldn’t read out.

”It’s just ideas for the beat to this song.” Mic says as he puts the paper back down. 

“I like the slow and dark pop approach but it needs heavier beats for the themes you want to deal with.” 

Izuku wants to reply but is too dumbfounded to find words. Are they really going to finish this song in one afternoon? 

Mic puts his headphones back on and turns the beat back on and says “Okay let's get back to work boys. This needs to be ready by tonight.” 

Kirishmia grins and crosses his arms “Better get used to it. Our agency gives crazy deadlines like this all the time.” 

Izuku shivers at the thought of having to go through this again but puts on a big grin to match the red head. 

Izuku starts to go from the top and reveals the whole song to be reviewed and produced. 

The song might be ready by tonight but he was far from ready.  

Katsuki was furious. As per usual. but this time around it was more built up frustration than anything. 

“Are they fucking serious?” 

“Come on, it's not that bad.” Mina tries to calm him down after the latest news of where the band is performing at. 

“It really is that bad Mina. We’re the type of band where we sell out arenas!” Katsuki finishes with his hands in the air exacerbated. 

“Why are they having us perform at the grid tonight?” 

He pauses for Mina’s answer but she knows better than to answer the question Katsuki will most likely answer for her. 

And like clock work “I’ll tell you why! UA just wants us to keep that little small town rock band vibe and I'm not going for their bullshit.” 

He starts to pace around the band's studio, running in circles of frustration. 

“Katsuki, I think they're right on this call. it's best to seem like an underdog you know the media eats that up.” She ruffles her pink curly hair trying to convince herself as well. 

“Yeah but fuck what the media wants.” 

“No, do not do that.”

”Do what? Tell the truth!?”

”No Katsuki you know what I mean. Now then ever we need to press to be in our favour.”

”What just because i do some fuckin drugs doesnt make the media hate us Mina be real.” 

“That's not what I'm saying.” 

She says pointedly at Katsuki trying to make him understand her perspective. 

”Isn't though?” 

Katsuki looks straight at Mina to deny more but he stays silent. 

Mina starts to give Katsuki a look of hurt like she had said something wrong. 

Katsuki notices her change in mood and says “I'm not trying to be a dick.”

“I'm trying to say our band deserves more than what gigs the company is giving us and we both know it.” 

”Yeah I do know it. But that doesn't just mean I do whatever I want.” 

Mina said it directly like she really did mean that Katsuki needed to get inline sooner or later. 

“Shota is the one who said we had to play at the venue and what he says is final and you know that.” 

“All i know is if i don't want to do it i won't.”

“And I know you will. You won't let what happened last week happen again.”

”And what makes you so sure?”

”You don't like to let people down. Especially the people that you love.” She pauses almost in thought. 

”That much I know about you Katsuki.” She looks up at Katsuki trying to get him to understand. 

”You think you know me so well huh?” Katsuki laughs but it's a light laughter like all his anger had evaporated in one sentence. 

“Yeah I do know you pretty well..but I don't think I know how you're going to react to the second set of news.”

Katsuki rolls his eyes dramatically “Nothing can be worse than that rave shit.”

Katsuki turns around and starts to pick up his guitar and then hears.

”Izuku’s going to be our opener tonight.”

Katsuki pauses and doesn’t turn around. Then just stays silent waiting for Mina to fill the gap.

“I don't really know what your deal with him is. So I just wanted you to have a heads up.”

”I don't have a deal with him. We just hooked up once get over it Mina.” 

He says as he turns around and goes about tuning his guitar.

”So you absolutely don't think it's going to happen again?’ Mina says smirking leaning on her drum set. 

“Definitely not.” Katsuki trying to ignore her obvious preying.

”You’re such a liarrrrrr” Mina says, dragging out the r’s to really make her point across. 

‘Believe what you want just like the press.” He says rolling his eyes and ruffling up her pink curly hair. 

“He’s definitely into you.” Mina says as if it's a matter of fact. 

”But the question is, am I into him?” He smirks like he just beat a nonexistent debate. 

“Is that a question or a fact because im pretty sure you guys eye fuck whenever you see each other.” 

“I just have fuckable eyes, it's not exclusive to Deku.”

”Even that cute nickname! what is that about?!” 

Before Mina could get more out of him Shota walks in with the rest of the band members to start their practice for tonight’s show. 

While everyone gets set up and ready to play their set for tonight Mina whispers to Katsuki.

”Our conversation is not over!” 

But to Katsuki that conversation was dead and gone after Deku had been mentioned at all. 

Chapter Text

Saying Izuku was nervous was an understatement.

Being poked and prodded by the stylists backstage was not as bad as he anticipated.

 In his dressing room rows of clothes are sat on the rack. All different colors and styles but seemingly none of them look like they will be used for him. 

Much of the UA staff are coming in and out of the square dressing room that looks to only fit ten people comfortably. 

Many faces Izuku had never seen before, looking to be a blur of people coming in and out of the room setting up for tonight’s event. 

As Izuku looks around for a familiar face he suddenly recognizes a fury of yellow blonde hair with his signature black streak. Denki. 

Izuku breathes a sigh of relief at a familiar face. He smiles at Denki as he walks in trying to get a sense of familiarity. 

“Hey Izuku.” He says with a smile and looks up and down at what the green haired boy was dressed.

Denki’s face changes in an instant looking very confused at Izuku’s presence. 

“You here to watch our amazing performance?” He says with a questioning smirk not giving him space for an answer and starts. 

“Trying to learn from the best eh.” He nudges izuku’s elbow with an unknowing smile. 

“I wish that was the reason I'm here. I'm supposed to be your opener tonight.” Izuku finishes awkwardly. 

“What! That's so sick dude!” He finishes with a hand slapped against Izuku’s back. 

”I swear the band never tells me shit.” He says with an eye roll. 

Denki pauses for a minute and then starts to say “Wait.. is that what you're wearing tonight?” 

“Uh- I don't know i've just been back here, I didn't know how this whole thing worked.”

Denki looked at the green haired boy and looked appalled at the plain white oversized shirt and red converse. 

“Yeah no you can't go out there looking like this.” 

“Wait what's wrong with my outfit?!” Izuku’s anxious brain is already spiraling. 

Denki face palms “Everything Izuku. Just everything.” 

Before Izuku could reply back Denki vanished amongst the staff going in and out of the room. 

Only to return minutes later with one of the racks in the dressing room and a black box holding inside god knows what. 

Denki obviously struggling with the metal rack and black box but puts on an excited smile like this is just what he does. 

“Dude this is going to be great. You’re going to be made to be a rockstar.” 

”Am i?” Deku asks surprised at the confidence. 

“You are.” 

Denki replies as he puts the black box down and starts to look through the options on the rack. 

Izuku stops focusing on Denki and starts to get distracted with the staff members running around like they lost their heads. Many screaming for missing cords and yelling out times for stage calls and tickets.

He is quickly snapped out of focus with Denki handing him a stack of clothes and jewelry to put on. 

Izuku gearing up to ask him where to change his clothes. but his answer was quickly revealed without a word as Denki pushes him into the corner with circular curtains. 

”Be quick, You have to be out there in 30!” 

Taking in Denki’s words, Izuku changes quickly without paying attention to what he's putting on. 

Izuku comes out of the makeshift changing room and looks questioning at Denki if this outfit is the right move. 

Denki quietly nods as if he knew all along his first pick would be perfect. 

“Go look.” He points at the light up mirror by the wall.

Izuku could only make out his body from the mirror but from what he could see he thought it was a different person. 

A wife beater with silver necklaces being the centerpiece. The tied plaid green shirt tied around his waist with cargo black pants to compliment the dark vibe Denki was going for. 

“It looks very..”

”Ultimate rockstar coolness?” He says with full confidence. 

”More like rockstar frat boy but I get the vision.” Izuku laughs. 

“Ai don't knock it before you try it! It’s better than what label is wanting to market you as.” 

“I mean I don't mind the whole boy next door type of thing.” 

“You should. Contrary to popular belief the boy next store never gets the girl.” 

“And the girl in this analogy is..”

”The audience!” Denki looks at the boy like he's missed the most obvious point in the world. 

“The fans can say all they want about wanting a sweet boy concept but the numbers show the real story. Chicks never want the sweet boy. They want the guy that's going to beat up the sweet boy.” 

Izuku silently ponders at the notion when before he can get to reply there is someone calling Denki’s name for sound check. 

“Hey man I got to head out but break a leg out there the whole band will be cheering you on!” He says as he walks out quickly to the staff who had called him outside. 

Izuku waves goodbye and starts to look over what he's wearing once more and starts to believe it does suit his frame. The shirt shows off his physique in a way he's never done before and his dark elements to his style seems to fit the occasion. 

He feels just a little more confident about his stage presence that he's never felt before. Maybe Denki is right, the sweet boy truly doesn't get the “girl.”

Breaking his thoughts away one of the female staff members starts to call him name. 

And that's his cue. It’s time to show the world what he's got. 

Izuku starts down the hall following the brown haired girl that had called his name. She twists and turns down the Hall then to a dark tunnel leading to a stage with bright colorful lights in a dark room. 

Peeking at the venue through the tunnel making sure the crowd of people doesn't see him just yet. 

The venue was a true rave scene with crazy outfits and people dancing back and forth with the music from the DJ already playing. 

As Izuku is getting a good look and pacing back and forth, the brown haired staff member starts to say. 

“You’re up.”

Izuku quickly puts on his ear piece and goes out on stage. The cheering of the crowd drowning out his thoughts he goes up to the mic. 

A surge of adrenaline goes through him like he had just taken a drug. Is this what Katsuki feels like?

He almost envy’s the blonde even more for getting this rush everytime and him knowing nothing about it for so long. But now he does. And he won't let it go. 

He grabs the mic and starts to address the crowd “Hey I hope you guys are having a great time tonight!” The crowd cheers in  agreement. 

“Im Deku and my song tonight is about someone i've been looking up to ever since i was a kid.” He pauses. “It’s called Catching Up.” 

The backtrack starts to play as the crowd roars and then he sees it. Katsuki in the crowd. 

Izuku tries to keep himself from staring but fails as the dark and heavy Pop melodies start playing. Almost sensual and direct the song feels now. Like Izuku is naked in front of the crowd bearing his soul and deepest thoughts to a room of strangers. 

Heat, Before i knew the hunger inside of me,

And still I used to trace your name 

Now scratching on the words 

on every stage you sold,

i watched, i waited, i stayed 

face it— 

you want me, you need me, you crave me 

believe the hunger i crave

once you feel it i'll be miles away

The opening lines felt like electricity in Izuku’s veins. The rush of saying what he’s always wanted to confess since he could remember the blonde. 

A rush of confidence goes through Izuku and his eyes make a beeline for Katsuki once again. It's clear the blonde understands the song is for him and it shows on his face but no one can tell through his stoic expression. But of course Izuku could always tell. With Katsuki it was a natural instinct to see through him. 

In a fury of notes and melodies Izuku knows what would be best for the rest of the song. He picks up the Denki’s electric guitar from his right side and begins to riff in between his verses. 

They see gold when they see you burn,

I see the cracks with every turn.

You never looked behind to see—

I bled to catch what you threw free.

I’m catching up through ash and rain,

Chasing you inside my veins.

You shine so loud, you dim the rest,

But I’ve got ghosts you never guessed.

I'm not your echo — I’m the smoke,

Born from bridges that you broke.

Izuku through—out his song riffs the guitar like it is singing with him simultaneously. Giving the crowd more to cheer for bringing Izuku’s wave of excitement to keep going.  

You kissed the stage like it was God,

While I stitched my soul into these songs.

I kept your name under my tongue,

A prayer, a poison, both in one.

I gave up sleep, I starved for sound,

While you just walked on sacred ground.

They fed you fame like holy bread—

I only feasted on regret.

But shadows know the truth beneath—

That glory comes with bloody teeth.

So if you fall, don’t look for grace,

Just me, outpacing your disgrace.

As the song goes on Izuku keeps this rockstar frat boy act on trying to match the energy of the crowd. Clearly working when the women in the front start screaming louder as it goes on. Izuku channel is the whole façade and starts to wink at the girls in front. 

Giving fan service can benefit him right?

I’m catching up through ash and rain,

Chasing you inside my veins.

You shine so loud, you dim the rest,

But I’ve got ghosts you never guessed.

I'm not your echo — I’m the smoke,

Born from bridges that you broke.

It’s not envy. It’s not pain.

It’s not pride that calls your name.

It’s the boy who watched you soar,

Now breaking through your every floor.

You made me small, you made me try—

And now you’ll watch me pass you by.

I’m catching up and breathing fire,

Built from everything you wired.

You were the goal—until you cracked,

And now I’m taking what you lack.

This stage is mine, this fight is too—

I don’t want praise. I want proof.

As the song wraps up he notices he cannot find the brash blonde in the crowd anymore but still continues like he isn't nervous about Katsuki’s final reaction. 

Izuku goes up to the mic, sweat starting to drip from the lights and starts

”Thankyou to such an amazing crowd tonight! Mutant Zero will be out shortly!” He says as he puts down the guitar and leaves the stage to his right, opposite to where he had just came in. 

Too late, Izuku realizes he's exited the wrong side of the stage— and now has no clue how to get back.

Izuku goes up the halls hoping to hit his dressing room but suddenly is pulled into one by a flash of blonde. 

The door quickly shuts and locks as Izuku is pushed against the door. 

“What the fuck was that.” A fury of red eyes look back at green.

”The truth.” Izuku locks eyes with Katsuki not backing away anymore from his confrontation. 

Izuku can't even deny the song, it's what he knows and has known this whole time. 

“You need the attention. You crave it.”

”Shut up Deku.” 

“I might be that attention for now but I won’t be for long Kacchan.” The use of the nickname he had given the boy to annoy him now was a symbol of being on the same footing. 

”Once I’ve surpassed you, who will you have to look back to?” Izuku says, questioning him in a mocking tone. 

Katsuki's heavy breathing gets silent as well as Izuku’s rush of being on stage starts to dwindle. His red guys seem to break away from the greens onto the lower part of his face.

“And who says you will surpass me?” He laughs as he grabs Izuku's face by his chin to knock his head back to the door he has the green haired boy against. 

”Who says you don't crave my attention? Seems like you're begging for mine.”

 Wanting to deny the claims he stays silent, choosing to not let on more than he already has. He just looks back at his red eyes once more and shows only per revival ray through his stare. 

”So guess what. You have it.” 

Izuku didn't know that's what he wanted to hear but it was. His face softened and his expression went wide. 

“Now what Deku? What are you going to do now that you have my attention?” Katsuki smirks at the new expression on Izuku's face. 

Izuku didn’t think he just did. Izuku’s mouth was now smashed together frantically with the person he wanted most to notice him. No matter how much he tries to show he's above it all he cannot deny the truth. 

As their mouths collide, Katsuki falls deeper within the kiss and starts to breathe deeper and deeper. 

Izuku just shy of 5’9 isn't the shortest but in comparison to Katsuki’s 6’0 he felt smaller when Katsuki is bending down slightly to kiss him. 

Even further when Katsuki picks Izuku up. Izuku felt like the girl but he didn’t mind it when it came to Katsuki. He just wraps his legs around the blonde and continues.

Katsuki feels hungrier and hungrier as the kiss deepens, with that he starts grinding upwards like he’s desperate. 

Izuku moans at the sudden movement and puts his hands in his spiky blonde hair and tugs at it for release. 

Katsuki seems to like that even more and moans into Izuku’s mouth like he's begging to be hurt. Izuku gets lost in the blondes' smell, taste and feel, he doesn’t want to stop ever. 

The smell of smoke on Katuki’s lips entices Izuku to go further and deeper grinding on the man's leg trying to become one. 

Katsuki breaks away from the kiss and looks into the green boy's eyes. A sense of vulnerability emerges from Katsuki’s expression. Like he didn’t expect to be so lost in the heat of them colliding. 

As Katsuki goes to say something he is instructed by a loud bang on his dressing room door. 

“Katsuki stop fucking jerking off we need to get on stage.” A familiar voice yells through the locked door. 

Izuku notices quickly it's Denki from the overconfidence in his tone. 

Izuku breaks from Katsuki’s hold and gets his feet on the floor and pushes past Katsuki while walking deeper into the room trying to avoid eye contact. 

Izuku stops dead in his tracks and looks back at Katsuki looking straight at him from across the room. 

”Maybe you are right.”

”Right about what.”

”Craving your attention.” 

Izuku is left speechless when Katsuki turns around and leaves the room without so much as a goodbye. 

Izuku is utterly fucked. 

Chapter Text

The night was like any other after a show. Katsuki was used to it at this point. 

The after party he always goes to as an excuse to get high. An escape from the suffocating performance he puts on for less than he's worth. 

Tonight’s party was held at Tomura Shigaraki’s Penthouse in the richest part of the city. 

Katsuki sits on the couch with a handful of other stars all similar ages as him and just as successful. But he didn’t care about the status of his peers when he knew would pass them in a few short years. 

The party is in full swing at this point with people filling the penthouse to the brim with all well known names. All names Katsuki couldn’t remember at this point. 

He was far too high to remember as the blunt gets passed throughout the group sat on the couch talking about contracts and their next biggest hit. It was all superficial Katsuki decided in his head. It all wasn’t real. 

He thought back to earlier in the night where he had felt real. That kiss was real, as much as he hates to admit it. He wishes it could’ve meant nothing. But it did. 

It was the realest thing he's felt in a long time. Although he cant let the feeling risk everything he's ever built. He has to be the best. Even if it means shutting it down deep where he hides everything. 

As he passes the blunt down to the next person on the couch the girl to his starts to open her hand.

”You want? I know you like this typa shit, we saved it for you.” She hands a plastic bag of three white pills that look to be molly. 

Katsuki, too tired to reply with his swirling thoughts, just takes the bag silently and takes all three spills. 

After thirty minutes of listening in to the most boring conversation he's ever heard he silently gets up and starts to look for Camie.

Usually she's always at these types of parties looking for a reason to hook-up with Katsuki. He always acts like he doesn't notice but he does. He just doesn’t care. 

But making a Quick Look around the party searching the balcony, the rooms and the kitchen he couldn’t find her. Then Katsuki quickly checks the time and it reads 3:10 am. Shit she probably went home he thinks internally kicking himself. 

In horny Katsuki mind he calls her immediately and she picks up after the fourth ring like she was expecting him to call. 

“Katsuki?” She says she woke up like she wasn't waiting for the call and setting timers to stay awake. 

“The-e one and only-y.” He says slurred obviously not in the right mind but having one goal and that's to get to her apartment. 

“Are you okay?” Sounding genuinely concerned.

”I will b-be when you're on top of me.” He giggles a bit when he finishes his sentence like he's just said something hilarious that Camie hadn’t heard. 

“I'll send you an uber to my place not to hook up but to make sure you’re safe okay?” 

“Yeah Yeah-h ssssure.” Katsuki says as he puts the phone a little too close to his face and hangs up while he goes down stairs. 

As he waits for the uber how he gets to her place gets a little blurry in between getting in the car falling asleep then ringing her apartment number to ring him up. 

He feels someone's eyes on him while her front door of her building opens and then a flash. Katsuki was too out of his mind to think too deeply about the flash of light pushing the whole encounter aside as he pushed through to her front door. 

She opens the door before he has the chance to even knock and she starts with a face Katsuki cannot read.

”Katsuki what are you doing?”

He doesn’t use his words for the reason he's at her door instead he kisses her and pushes into her apartment. 

As much as Camie tried to be strong around Katsuki she’s weak to him when hes like this. She moans quietly to his presence to lead her deeper and deeper into the kiss. 

He breaks away, picks her up easily and slams her on her brown couch. She laughs at his abruptness and keeps leading him further for more.

She brushes for his pants and brings against him once more trying to further this whole interaction. 

While Camie was thinking farther Katsuki suddenly starts kissing her neck and mumbling something she couldn’t hear.

”What?” She giggles at the neck kisses. Katsuk says the say word again but she cannot make it out. 

Then she hears it.

 Right in her ear is Katsuki moaning a name.

 A name that isn't hers. 

“Deku…Deku..d-“

Immediately Camie pushes Katsuki off her and slaps him. Cold and clean the slap connects to his face, clearly waking him up a bit. 

Katsuki sobers up a bit but doesn’t even realize what he’s just been saying. All he realizes is his face hurting from Camie’s connecting hit.

”What the-“

”Save it.” Camie says as she looks down, almost hiding her teary eyes from the blonde trying to not show how hurt she really is. 

She keeps her head down after getting up from the couch as she pushes katsuki to the side.

”Get some sleep, Katsuki.” She says before she goes into her room and locks it for the rest of the night leaving Katsuki confused in her living room. 

Katsuki sleeps the whole night then sneaks out of her house before she had woken up not even remembering what went wrong last night. 

Izuku goes into UA Talent once again after the long night of his first song debuting. As he's entering the building he's once again checking the press for any updates on Mutant Zero. (What can he say? He's still a die hard stan at heart!)

Although he maybe should’ve stayed in the dark about the newest update about Mutant Zero. Specifically the brash blond rockstar that he may or may not have made out with. 

The headline on TUA reads “KATSUKI SPOTTED WITH MODEL CAMIE UTSUSHIMI.” 

Izuku stopped dead in his tracks when approaching the elevator. 

What. the. fuck.

The image shown in the newest article has Katsuki clearly in the same outfit as yesterday at the doorstep of Camie’s apartment. 

Izuku suddenly felt sick. Of course kissing Izuku meant nothing to Katsuki, it was just another prospect to add to his list. 

It felt like a punch to the gut. The whole situation made the Izuku even more confused on how the brash blonde was feeling. But actions speak louder than words. 

If Katsuki didn't feel their kiss was important then he would just match it. If impulses are the only reason last night occurred then Izuku would make sure it wouldn't happen again. 

Izuku tries to ignore that tug on his heart and pushes past the feeling to get into the elevator to meet Nemuri. 

Izuku pushes away all the thoughts of the blonde and tries to focus on the training. He is suddenly buzzing with excitement, not letting the situation get him down. 

The elevator door opens and Izuku goes down the hall to Nemuri’s office. He knocks lightly on the door trying not to make too much noise. 

“Come in!”

Izuku then opens the door to see Nemuri’s desk unusually clean with only a file on the table. 

This gives Izuku a better look of her office when it's not such a mess. It was converted into photos and figurines all in the color scheme of black and purple. 

He walks up to her desk and sits down in her black chair across from her purple one. 

“I know yesterday’s performance was sudden but trust me you’ll have more of heads-up next time.” She says as she moves to pick up a file with the name labeled “Deku.”

”This is your schedule for the next two months. You’re set to have a full album out by then.” 

Izuku just silently nods to Nemuri and looks inside his file which reads 

MONDAY 

9:00-11:00 Styling with Best Jeanist

11:00-1:00 Shooting for MMU magazine 

2:00-5:00 Dance practice with Mei Hatsume

TUESDAY 

9:00-1:00 Vocal lessons & recording with Mic

2:00-5:00  Dance practice with Mei Hatsume 

WEDNESDAY

9:00-12:00 Recording and Songwriting 

12:00-1:00 Official concept decision 

2:00-5:00 Instrumental Practice 

THURSDAY 

9:00-12:00 Shooting Headshots

2:00-5:00 Chemistry Test with Talent

FRIDAY 

9:00-1:00 Dance practice with Mei Hatsume 

2:00-3:00 Vocal Lessons 

4:00-5:00 Song Tests

By the time Izuku goes down the first week of tasks he's already buzzing with excitement. 

“Wait What is the Chemistry Test?”

”Oh! That!” Nermuri replies looking a bit surprised that Izuku had even asked. 

“Well as you know we have a lot of talent in this building and it requires a lot of work to keep them all in the public eye.” Nemuri pauses looking for the right explanation that will get Izuku to understand.

“This is more of an opportunity to see who fits with your image the best.”

”Like for what?” Izuku questions, still confused about what that really means. 

“Like who will you be seen with and who is best for the visual we want to create.” Nermuri says carefully in an attempt to make him understand it's all just marketing. 

This rubbed Izuku the wrong way entirely. A PR relationship? Even if it's just PR friendships he feels inauthentic. He ignores his instincts entirely and looks at the clock.

”8:57”

Nermuri notices his stare and starts “Well looks like it's time for styling.”  

She motions for Izuku to get going. 

As Izuku stands up to leave she starts to say 

“It's on the fifth floor. Good luck Deku.” As he turns around with a wave she finishes with ”I'm looking forward to seeing you make it big.”

she smirks after and gets back on her laptop typing away not paying any mind to Izuku as he walks out.

Izuku shifts his focus to work mode immediately when he goes back to the elevator and clicks the fifth floor. 

Izuku wonders if the stylist will feel the same way as Denki in terms of how to style him. He ponders this as he walks in in zig zags trying to find the stylists room. 

As he searches he finally comes across a room labeled “Best Jeanist.” 

He opens the door without knocking and stumbles across a blond thin man rearranging the many racks of clothes in his room. 

The colors hit Izuku all at once, almost blinding him in the name of fashion. The blonde man starts to look at his watch from his left hand and starts to say. 

“On time I like that.”

Izuku laughs awkwardly and starts to say “Always am!” With his hand scratching the back of his hair in attempts to hide how nervous he is. 

In a flurry of movement Izuku now was on a circular pedestal being poked and prodded about his clothes, his hair and demeanor.

”Yes, Yes everything needs to go.” Best Jeanist repeats seemingly to himself. 

“You can't be so unsure of yourself when you walk into a room. Next time come in here with your back straightened and your best outfit to date.” 

Izuku just nods in agreement. To survive in this industry he was right. He had to be so sure of himself no one could ever doubt him. 

Best Jeanists turns away and starts to find clothes on the rack that might fit Izuku’s character or new one to be exact. 

The thin blonde started to fill two seperate racks of clothes one looking to be a softer tones of green and beige sprinkled in with white undertones. While the other rack filled up to have darker green elements and blacks of all kinds, the rack had more patterns and an edgier taste then the rest. 

Best Jeanist finally finishing up both choices for Izuku to look over. 

“See what calls to you as an artist not as Izuku, remember you're Deku right now.”

The irony of those words hadn’t escaped Izuku but made him more proud to be reclaiming the name that had once met he would never be in this position. 

Izuku just nods and goes up to the rack and looks through the options and thinks about the concept of what he wants Deku to be. 

Then he decides. 

“Can we mix these two up?”

Best Jeanist ponders this idea for about two seconds before he smiles at Izuku

”Yeah.. that idea is not half bad.” Immediately the blonde goes for the third empty rack and starts to put both pieces together.

Through much debate the two went back and forth for what would make the final cut.

Eventually, they found common ground with the story surrounding Deku’s personality shifting from a hard exterior but soft to the fans and in his private life. Like a layered creation and world they would create with just his wardrobe alone. 

After trying on clothes and debating back and forth the clock had already hit that time to take the photos with the new and improved styled character they had just created.  

The two go out of Best Jeanists office and go across the hall for the Photoshoot room. 

The photo room was bigger than expected and filled with next to nothing looking as though an empty void waiting to be filled with creativity. 

Best Jeanist dragging the mix of Pop and Rocker fashion together trying his best to carry the heavy rack finally getting it into a place where he wants it. 

Deku starts to pose in front of the white backdrop like an instinct. The whole event feels natural, normal, almost routine even though it’s his first time. 

Best Jeanist camera does not stop flashing at every pose looking for the mix of concepts in this fusion of styles. 

Izuku wanted both of his ideas for his character to shine through from his movements and demeanor. Best Jeanist was right. He needed to find an off switch for Izuku and be Deku when creating his new album. It was the only way to succeed. 

The shoot had finally come to an end and Izuku had gone to lunch and came back ready for dance practice with Mei. 

Izuku didn’t have much expectations for the classes he was going to take with her. Besides the first introduction he doesn’t even know what her specialty is. But he plans to find out. 

Izuku struts into his new class on the bottom floor of the UA building and when he 

walks in he's immediately surprised by who resides in the dance studio. 

When he looks around he just sees more and more stars that brung him to sign up for UA Talent in the first place. 

Shoto Todoroki, the infamous prince of acting and modeling, best known for his cold exposure and nepotism. 

Mirio, extremely famous for his stage and vocal performance was talking to his best friend Tamaki who has modeled for the biggest companies in the fashion space. 

Momo Yaoyorozu, a veteran of Pop Idols worldwide with more smash hits than Izuku could count on his fingers. 

Itsuka Kendo sitting alongside Momo, best known for her dancing in her girl group Marstwo. 

Izuku felt shaken by the amount of talent and influence in the room. As he approached further into the class Mei noticed his presence like she had been expecting the green haired lyricist. 

“IZUKU! It’s great to see you again.” Mei says excitedly and grabs Izuku’s hand as though they’ve known each other forever. 

“It’s great to see you too!” Izuku follows her lead in the familiarity of it all. 

“Where just doing some warm ups right now so you can join the others in stretching while we wait for the last person!” as she ends her instruction to him she lets go with his hand and addresses the other stars in the room. 

“Everyone listen up!” She yells slightly not realizing her volume but everyone in the room seems to be unfazed. 

“This is Izuku midoriya, he’s the new talent at UA. You might have heard of him under the Deku title!” 

The group smiles slightly at Izuku and even a few of them wave a friendly hello to acknowledge his presence. The green haired boy smiles back at the group and pulls himself aside to stretch. He wonders who the last person that they are waiting for is. They must be pretty important to hold up the whole class. 

Before he thinks too deeply about who will be arriving Mirio had already come up to him. Izuku had heard of the buff blonde before but had never experienced how he was in person. 

“Hey! It’s nice to meet you Izuku or would you like to be called Deku?” The man smiles so extravagantly that Izuku is almost blinded by the light.

“IZUKU IS FINE.” Fuck he said that way to loud didn’t he?

Izuku didn’t know how to act now that the famous stars he studied for years are now his peers. 

Mirio was taken aback by the loud outburst but laughed it off and a look of understanding went under his face. While Mirio is still giggling Izuku refuses the urge to nerd out on him but fails extremely.

“Also so off topic but I loved your album Mighty light!!” He basically squealed internally from being able to talk about this amazing piece of work.

“It was clearly inspired by Allmights run in the industry and how that shaped you as an artist, and how you have taken the light from his creations in movies and songs and turned into the light that you have today, and It was so beautiful done that I have about five vinyls that all have different covers and special additions, the nod to Allmight was unique and I even had wrote similar songs to pay tribute to Allmights legacy and-“

Izuku took a deep breath to continue his praise but Mirio stopped him as soon as he let the breath go.

“That means so much thankyou! I Didn’t even think people would get the references honestly!” Mirio replies completely unfazed by Izuku’s passion for Allmight related things. 

“Oi Shut up with the nerd talk we have work to do.” 

Izuku stops in his line of thought at Katsuki being right in front of him and apparently the reason why the dance class had started late. 

Katsuki puts his gym bag down and is clearly coming from a separate workout with his wife beater already soaked and showing his abs peeking through. 

Even as brash as Katsuki is, Mirio laughs him off as well, like he’s used to the attitude the rockstar brings. 

“He’s right, better get to work.” He winks at Izuku and leaves to Tamarki’s side on the right side of the room. 

Izuku gets swallowed in a sea of stars, each finding their mark on the floor. He scans the room, desperate to land anywhere but near Katsuki—only to find the last remaining X sits directly behind him. 

Mei is in front of the class and starts her lesson “SO! Today we are focusing on a new project where we will be doing partner work to get used to moving with another person.” 

She pauses slightly and then says “By the end of this two week period you and your partner will have to work together to perfect your choreo that I’ve assigned you.” 

Izuku looks around the room for a potential partner that isn’t the man standing in front of him but he’s getting the feeling that no one wants to be a team player when it comes to Katsuki.

“Everyone can go check the slip on the door and find their partners. When you're done you're going to learn a duo choreo all together for now, before you go off on your own.” 

Soon all the stars start to go up to the door and look at their assigned partners.

Todoroki - Momo

Mirio - Tamarki 

Itsuka - Mei 

Izuku - Katsuki 

Izuku stares at the pairing list for a second too long. Of course. Just his luck.

But he doesn’t complain — not on his first day.

Mei and Itsuka go and front to teach the rest of the class the choreographed part of today’s lesson. 

“Since Itsuka is the main dancer of her girl group she will be helping demonstrate the chero today with me.” 

Mei goes to the speaker and on top her phone resides hooked up to the Bluetooth and she starts the beat to the dance. 

A fast paced Pop song starts playing and the other and a consistent pattern quickly makes Izuku question if he can keep up with the rest. 

Izuku’s had some practice with high school and college level dance teams before. He's not completely oblivious to choreography and keeping up with a group, but this level is just different. 

Mei and Itsuka teach the choreography step-by-step, hitting the beats at every count of eight. 

“You all need to move in sync with your partner, one will be in front and the other in back.” She demonstrates the position by having Itsuka in front of her and herself slightly back. 

“With the first beat we want to move our chest, then our shoulders, then our stomach and the last will be our legs for the fourth beat.” 

She demonstrates alone at first, then taps Itsuka to move at the same pace as her in front.  

They both move together like they were made for the beat and to move as one. Their movements were sharp and clean showing how they move together and not to contrast each other. 

For the fifth beat they break apart with Itsuka moving away from her partner Mei pushing her then pulling her back in like they were in a fight.  

For the rest of the dance the upbeat pop song with consistent beats show the push and pull of the dynamic dancers. 

Once the breakdown is complete, Mei claps again.

“Alright! Everyone take your places. We’re running it from the top.”

“Remember shortest in front and tallest in the back.”

Izuku frantically gets into position going over the dance moves in his head about a million times.

“Oi stop mumbling.” Katsuki says in his ear.

Izuku quickly shuts his mouth but kicks himself internally for even caring what the blonde says. 

Suddenly before he could tell Katsuki off the music started. 

The two fall in sync with the moves matching each other's pace with no mind or thought. It was like muscle memory to be in sync with Katsuki. 

The trouble happens when they break away and Izuku has to keep his end of the dance and show the contrast in moves, hitting every beat to the best of his abilities.  

When the chorus comes and climax of the dance comes to a head Katsuki puriously changes the move to pull Izuku closer and more on beat than the rest. The change in move changes the story of the choreo from then on. 

No longer showing a push and pull with the beats but rather a sensual pull rather than any push back coming from the moves he does further on.  

It pushes Mei to look directly at the both of them and the new story they are telling with the new version. 

Izuku is frantically trying to save this choreo by going back to the Original but it is too late the show must go on. 

It’s better to have a different story than a failed one. 

So he follows Katsuki's lead,

even if his skin itches with the feeling of getting away at every move. 

The end of the song and the beats slow down and so do Katsuki’s moves. They move in Cohesion as well as the rest of the group coming back to the Original concept. 

The final move wasn’t changed but Izuku figured he wouldn’t. 

Katsuki twists Izuku by his waist and turns Izuku to face the mirror in front with Izuku’s chest to his dripping white shirt. 

Izuku feels Katsuki’s heartbeat through his chest on his back. It’s beating so fast Izuku thinks he might get a heart attack. 

He sees Katsuki’s face in the mirror when there at their final position Katsuki’s face is completely blown to bits. Reminding Izuku of how he looked yesterday in his dressing room. 

Katsuki notices his expression and hides his face and breathes heavily onto Izuku's shoulder trying to keep composure. 

And just like that the song was over. 

Mei lands her eyes right on the two of them and starts to say “No more changing the choreo Katsuki. Seriously, you will never learn if you don’t first listen.” 

Katsuki just rolls his eyes at her comment and says “I do listen. I just know what's better.” 

He crosses his arms and doubles down with “You couldn’t even keep your eyes off of us.” 

Mei ignores him completely and shifts her attention to Izuku. “And you — amazing work. Great job keeping the flow. Most professionals couldn’t recover like that, let alone make the change feel intentional.”

Izuku, going wide eyed at her comment, replies “Thankyou! I-I just tried my best!” 

Camie says a few ending notes for the class's conclusion and everyone grows and glows to end the day and just like that it was five. 

Izuku tries to race out before Katsuki has a chance to talk to him about last night but he’s too late when he hears him down the hall.

“Oi”

Izuku trying to avoid the conversation by speeding down the emergency exit but Katsuki just follows him and repeats.

“Oi nerd. Get back here.” 

And at that Izuku cannot hide from him anymore so he turns around from the steps he was about to race down and faces him.

“Why are you running away from me?” Katsuki asks looking extremely confused. 

Izuku freezes. He doesn’t want to admit the kiss meant so much more than just a spur of the moment. but he can’t explain why he’s so adamant about getting away from him without wearing his heart on his sleeve.

“Did you see TUA this morning?” He says direct enough to send Katsuki a message that he did something very wrong. 

“No I don’t check that shit.” He says as crosses his arms in annoyance.

“I don’t care what they have to say. They don’t know anything anyways.” 

“Well I think they know a lot actually.” 

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Go check for yourself Kacchan.” He says as he leaves down the emergency steps. 

Chapter Text

 “Why would you let them release this?” Katsuki says, slamming the headline on Shota’s desk.  

Shota looks at Katsuki with a deadpan stare like Katsuki’s reaction is completely ridiculous. The black haired man picks up the article and looks at it carefully then looks back at Katsuki. 

”Why wouldn’t i?” 

”Why wouldn't you?!” Katsuki says completely enraged at this point. 

“You've never had a problem before with the press. What's different now?”  

“Because it's my business!” He puts his hands up exacerbated at the turn of events.  

Shota carefully puts the article down and looks up and says

 “Katsuki.” He starts with a sigh.

“Everyone already knows you've been seeing Camie. Like I've said a million times, any press, especially ones like this, is good press.”

”This is fucking ridiculous.” 

”You knew what you signed up for, don't act all surprised now.” Shota says, annoyed, almost ready to kick him out of his office. 

Katsuki knowing he is not going to get anywhere with Shota says 

“I didn't sign up for the press in my fuckin business. I signed up for the best agency in the world. That I thought at least, had the power to protect their stars.”

Shota is unfazed by Katsuki’s attack and says smoothly “We do protect our stars Katsuki but this isn't something you need protection from.”

At that comment Katsuki storms out of his office and simultaneously getting déjà vu from the million other times he’s had to lash out on Shota. 

Katsuki completely over it walks angrily down the hall and back towards the elevator to get back to his band's studio.

He clicks the seventh floor and paces back and forth in frustration in the elevator. By the time the elevator got to his floor he hadn’t even noticed until the bing of the elevator doors. 

He gets off and goes down the hall of many studios that had the same of different bands and groups of every kind then find the door labeled “Mutant Zero.” 

He goes to open the door and reveal Kirishima and Mina talking in the room and playing the chorus to one of their new singles. He enters the room basically stomping down and slamming the door like a child. 

Kirishmia looks at his confusion and stops playing “Dude what's wrong?”

Katsuki stays quiet at the question and just picks up the electric guitar on the stand right next to Kirishima. Hinting that he doesn't want to talk and he wants to just skip this talk and get straight to practice. 

Katsuki tries to ignore the subject but decides he can’t ignore their annoying stares. “It’s the press again doing dumb shit, per usual.” Trying to bush the whole situation off.

Kirishima and Mina both looking at each other and seeing through Katsuki’s act of nonchalant exposure.

”Doesn’t seem like it's per usual dude. You don't even check that typa stuff anymore.”

Katsuki just rolls his eyes as he plays a riff on the guitar trying to tune the conversation out. 

Mina looks at him confused at the lack of confrontation she's used to with the explosive blonde. So she decides to take it into her own hands and find out. She opens up her phone and quickly looks for updates about the band and Katsuki in particular. And then she found it. 

“KATSUKI SPOTTED WITH MODEL CAMIE UTSUSHIMI.” Posted yesterday morning. 

She quickly shows the headline to Katsuki questioning if this is why he's so upset. Katsuki takes a glance at her phone then looks away like there’s nothing to say.

”Katsuki, why is this such a big deal? Camie’s basically a PR relationship anyways.” 

“Well she wasn’t that night okay?” He snaps his red eyes at her. 

“Bro I didn't even know you were into her like that.” Kirishima says genuinely confused. 

”I'm not and that's the problem.”

”Wait. So you're mad at the world thinking you're hooking up with the hottest model right now?”  Mina says trying to piece the situation together. 

“Can you both lay the fuck off. And no, I did not screw her.” 

“Then what's the problem?” Mina questions. 

”Nothing. Just tired of the press always in my business messing shit up for me.”

”Messing what up? Mina questions further with her hands on her hips. 

Katsuki pauses at that question. In truth he didn’t know what the article was messing up. 

”I think Mr. Hothead has a crushhh.” The redhead finishes with a smirk and an arm over Katsuki shoulders, nudging him a bit, making the situation ten times worse. 

“I don’t have a stupid fuckin crush. Now can we leave this alone and get to practice.”

Kirishmia rolls his eyes then takes his arms off Katsuki’s shoulders ”Okay dude sheesh I would hate to be the press right now looks like you're ready to blow them up.”

Kirishmia gets back to the drums and starts to play while Mina follows suit with her on bass. She quickly glances at Katsuki and starts to question what Katsuki is really mad about.

She shortly lets it go when Denki and Jirou join the group for rehearsal. Katsuki is relieved to have the stares off him so he can focus on what's important. There’s no point in talking about the situation; it's not like the article getting deleted will solve anything. 

The exhausting day comes to a close with the band rehearsing and going back and forth with the change of lyrics of the new album “Waves.” 

Katsuki loved this part of creating. It made him go into another realm where he knew every turn and every decision was the right one. Checking the time on his phone showing two o’clock he makes his way to the dance studio downstairs aftring saying bye to his bandmates. 

He didn’t feel like he really needed these dance classes but truthfully he loved it. And maybe it had something to do with Shota reading the names of who was in it and the nerds name stuck out like a sore thumb. Sue him. Keep your friends closer but your rivals even closer. He would never be caught dead admitting that to him but it was the truth.

He entered the dance studio a little later than the rest but wasn’t as late as last time. He quickly looked around for the green haired boy and he found him speaking to Momo about something that lit up his face entirely. A twitch of anger washed over his face for a split second. 

Katsuki didn't even realize why his annoyingly happy face brought this anger. He decides to fight it head on. Like always. 

“Deku you done nerding out? We need to practice.” 

Izuku’s face got brighter for a split second which made Katsuki’s heart twitch even worse than his face. 

“Right! Thanks Momo by the way you helped a lot.” 

Katsuki wondered what they had just spoken about but decided against asking. He doesn’t care. 

…

“What was that about?” 

Okay maybe he does.

”Oh! That? I was just asking her about modeling tips!” 

That's when Katsuki noticed the stupid notebook in his hand writing down the tips Momo had given him.  If he wanted to write something he shouldn’t be taking advice from extras.

”You shouldn't” 

Izuku’s wide curious eyes turned into confusion “Wait why? Did you think she gave me bad advice?” He says as he shows Katsuki the notes he had written down. 

”Of course she gave you bad advice, she doesn’t even know what she's doing.” 

Katsuki questioned if the green haired boy was still upset or not due to the openness to take his advice so easily. 

”She was born rich, so she will die rich. Don’t listen to any of these extras say write down everything I do instead.” 

Most people might take Katsuki’s words as arrogance but Izuku knew it wasn't just his confidence. He could back it up. 

Izuku was still mad at the brash blonde but he wouldn't let that get away from his goals. Having Katsuki as an enemy would be worse than just putting his pride aside and listening to him. 

So Izuku just nodded, fully intending to write down everything Katsuki will teach him from here on out. 

Suddenly Mei calls everyone to their spots, and starts with “Hello everyone! It’s great to see everyone on time today.” She glances at Katsuki. 

“This is the first day of your group pairing and we are setting down the ground rules for the friendly competition.”

She takes out a washable marker from on top of the speaker and starts to write on the mirror of the studio. 

“The concept for the dance number will be sensual.” 

She says as she writes the concept in Teal marker ink that matches her hair. 

“You can interpret this however you want, you have to create a story.”

She places the marker back down and then starts a new song that Izuku had never heard before and says

 “This project will not be done in the studio.” 

Izuku’s stomach drops.

She finishes and turns around to face the mirror and says “Next week on Friday you will need to present.”

Then the beat starts and she goes into a separate solo dance to show the group what they would be working on for the day.  

Izuku spirals at this new information. Outside the studio? As in spend time with Katsuki outside of just mandatory classes? He suddenly feels sick at the thought. 

The class goes on as she teaches a hip-hop inspired solo dance. Mei’s moves make the dance look sharp and effective with a relaxed vibe of the dance. 

Izuku keeps up move by move while she counts the moves in numbers of 1…2…3…4..5…6…7..8 makes Izuku memorize the moves like they are second nature at this point. 

Although he sees Katsuki move like the moves are inside him like he's done this a million times. A tinge of jealousy passing through the green haired boy. This makes Izuku want to push harder to be better. Do better. 

Mei suddenly notices Izuku’s demeanor change in an instant through the mirror. She sees Izuku’s green eyes follow Katsuki like there was no other person in the room. Mei smiles at the both of them in knowingly glances like she will keep this information for later. 

As her steps get closer to the middle of the number and the song shifts to a confident beat which radiates the story she's trying to create. Her baggy style makes the dance even more deliberate in the star attitude she is trying to mimic. 

Izuku follows her lead trying to make the dance a story of his own like Katsuki does in his moves. The way Katsuki moves makes the dance seem like it was his idea all along owning each step. Izuku mimics the move of owning it the same way Katsuki does it.

The song is nearing the end and Katsuki notices the familiarity of Izuku’s actions. Izuku is radiating Katsuki’s story when his dance moves alone. 

Leaving Katsuki annoyed at the sight of Izuku copying what he can never be. 

The song and lesson of each step comes to an end. The class does the dance in full with Mei watching everyone ready to give her grows and glows. 

Mei starts to watch the two move as one she notices the true reason they look to move the same. Izuku is just trying to look like the person he thinks looks the most perfect. And that's a story all on its own. She chooses not to comment on the realization as the song comes to a close and goes down the line of grows and glow for the stars. 

“Todoroki and Tamaki, love the technique but please, please, show some expressions on your face.”

Both boys look nonchalantly at Mei still with little expression and both nod in agreement. 

“Mirio you follow instructions beautifully but you need more body control within your movements, sometimes you feel a bit robotic.”

Mirio smiles at the criticism and takes it in stride 

“Momo your facial expressions are perfect for a stage but i'm going to need you to clean up the technique.”

Momo looks disappointed but takes the advice head on “Okay thankyou!” She says in her posh proper tone. 

“Katsuki's perfect performance. I find it hard to criticize you but if I had to choose, I would say keep to the original concept. Let others make decisions for you sometimes.”

Katsuki doesn't reply to the criticism looking like it went in one ear and out the other. 

“Izuku, your performance is phenomenal for a non-performer but keep true to yourself, I need to see more confidence in you.” 

Izuku smiles brightly at the comment. Is he really that good? 

Mei claps her hands together and then finishes “Thank You guys beautiful work today!” 

Izuku immediately became anxious again after the class ended not knowing what to do about the paired choreography with Katsuki.

Seemingly reading his mind Katsuki comes up to him sweaty per usual with his see through white shirt making his abs look unreal. 

“Okay nerd I saw what you did there today.”

”Did what?!” Izuku jumps at the accusation

”Stop fucking copying my every move. Right that down on your stupid notebook.”

Confused, he picks up his notebook on the floor and opens it questioningly.

”Not literally!” Katsuki says annoyed. 

“Well be literal then!” 

“You need to find your own rhythm, you can’t just copy me to the top.” He pauses looking for words. “How can you keep your promise of surpassing me if you can’t even move on your own?” 

Izuku nods, taking his criticism very literal and this time he does write it down in his notebook.  

Suddenly when Izuku is done writing it down Katsuki says “Okay Deku lets go, i ain't got all day.”

”Wait where are we going?!” Izuku says completely in the dark. 

“To my place. Where else would we be practicing?” 

“Im not having my partner look like an extra next to me,” He says without looking back, like its the most obvious thing in the world.

Izuku’s brain short-circuits.

His place?

Chapter Text

Izuku pictured Katsuki’s apartment cold white with touches of red, probably filled with pictures of himself on the Rolling Stone. Decor and furniture would be a second thought in comparison to the instruments that lay on his wall. He didn’t picture Katsuki having pets, too much distraction he would think the blonde would have decided. 

When Katsuki led him inside the fanciest building that included two door men for the front entrance to the elevator door. Camera’s lined the walls, well hidden through the decor even blending into the gold atmosphere. 

Izuku’s idea of where Katsuki was turning out to be partially correct, but that wasn't a surprise. 

The guy was making millions, of course he would live in a building like this. Even if he wasn’t making as much as he was, the company would still pay out of pocket; they wouldn’t want the leader of the best known bands to be stalked or killed for that matter. 

In the middle of trying to figure out what his apartment might look like he feels a flick to the forehead bring him out of his head.

”Oi stop that.” 

Izuku blushes involuntarily at the sudden interruption of his thoughts. 

Before Izuku can say anything to the blonde haired boy the elevator dinged at the arrival of the 15th floor. Katsuki was the first one to leave the cramped space, giving a nod to the doorman in the elevator and leading Izuku to his front door. 

As the pair approaches the front door Katsuki unlocks it quickly and brings Izuku inside. Izuku’s eyes squint at the light protruding in the apartment and when his eyes finally adjust he is stunned at the sight.

Katsuki’s apartment was even more extravagant than he had once thought. The floor was stone granite that reflected perfectly with the sky high window that overlooked the city’s night sky. His house was spotless, probably coming from Katsuki’s control freak tendencies. But the house layout was utterly gorgeous and spoke to the rockstars personality like no other. 

“Wow.” Izuku stated bluntly 

“Don’t get distracted, nerd. We still have work to do.” 

But Izuku could not help himself to pry and take a million screenshots in his head of everything that lined the walls and shelves. He ignores Katsuki as he goes towards the walls filled with pictures and achievements of his careers down to the most recent tours and album releases. Izuku turns around and sees the guitar wall he predicted on the wall going up the stairs. All coming together to form what Katsuki’s worked so hard to create. 

Katsuki seemingly letting the boy pry gets wide eyed at what Izuku tried to touch next. 

“Wait-“

“Is this an Almight special edition interview with extra scenes to hit best hits?!” He went deeper into the shelf that resides next to the TV. “You have the rare edition of One for all?!?” Izuku now looking back with crazy eyes. 

Katsuki raced up to the shelf and put his arms on the wall to block Izuku’s access to the shelf. His head facing down looked like he broke a sweat from moving so fast.

 “Don't touch.” He picks his head back up and looks directly at Izuku like he just did something unforgivable. 

This just made Izuku glow more over the valuable Almight collection that he has never watched before. 

“You have to play these for me!” 

“The fuck I don’t-“

“Kacchan please!” He says with his hands interwoven together begging the blonde with puppies eyes to at least consider showing him his collection. 

Katsuki takes his hand off the wall and puts and crosses his arms when looking at Izuku in frustrated thought. He pauses for about ten seconds looking back and forth at his collection and Izuku and says “Fine. But don’t break any of my shit when I’m not looking.”

Izuku could cry tears of joy. 

“Of course I wouldn’t!” He says appalled at the comment a little. Who would break such amazing pieces of media?!? 

“Okay nerd we’re watching One for All and then getting back to work okay?” He says it like a fact but Izuku knows the truth: there will be no dance practice tonight.

“But how did you find all of this stuff?” Izuku gearing up to ask a million questions before he puts the movie on.

“We do work in the same company as Yagi did. So there’s a lot of extra stuff lying around.” He says nonchalantly like he hasn't had to search the back rooms for hours to even find something of value. 

Izuku, buzzing with excitement, had not even thought of asking about Yagi’s legacy in the company. Then Izuku saw it. He would have recognized the comic anywhere. The green ruby addition where Almight’s costume gets revamped but shortly discontinued, and there it was one out of 100 copies that were made. 

Izuku had officially been out nerded. 

As Izuku was about to reach Katsuki stops him with his body as a should against his shelf. “Enough Deku!” 

“But-“

“No buts!”

“How can there be no buts when you have green ruby Almight!”  

Katsuki rolls his eyes but Izuku could tell there was no real anger in the blonde face. Only earnest annoyance that made Katsuki smile with his eyes a little. 

“Come on nerd no more snooping, if I play the movie can we get back to work?” 

“Maybe.”

“Why maybe?” He laughs.

“Because you still haven’t shown me upstairs.” He says bluntly and shamelessly. 

“What makes you think I was going to show you?”

“You wouldn’t miss a chance to show off.” Izuku pokes at his big ego a bit trying to tease him. 

“Yeah, yeah sure.” Brushing the green boy off with a smirk and taking the one for all dvd from his shelf.

He takes the dvd out of the cover wrap carefully and puts the movie into his flatscreen tv. 

Izuku, getting in the mood of watching a movie, turns off the lights with the switch that resides next to the tv. He gets into the white couch in a rush to watch the movie. 

While Izuku starts to get comfortable, Katsuki joins him right next to him on the couch. Then Izuku starts to realize the proximity of the two when the movie starts. A pin could drop and they would be able to hear it through their breathy silence. 

It made izuku buzz with anxious energy, making him twitch his leg up and down slightly. 

The closeness makes Izuku drawn to the blonde in a way he's never felt before. The Camie situation is not behind them but a front facing reason as to why he can’t let himself be taken by the brash blonde. He would never see him as anything more than a desperate nerd. But Izuku was going to prove him wrong, even if that was going against his instinct to get as close to Kacchan as possible. 

Katsuki seemingly fixated on the movie not noticing Izuku’s fidgetiness made Izuku want to stare at him more but made himself stare at the screen and focus. 

After the movie picks up Izuku’s shoulder relaxes and he starts to forget the closeness of the two and take in the movie. The movie was amazing as all of Almight movies are but his lids start to get heavy as the movie continues.

The work of the new lessons and work everyday unknowingly taking a toll on Izuku’s sleep schedule. Izuku blinks a few times trying to stay awake to finish the movie but the last thing he remembers in the climax. 

Something hard but weirdly comfortable resides on the green haired boy's head as he twists a little bit more to get comfortable when he hears a sound.

Had to have been a quiet whisper calling out “Deku?”

Izuku groans at the sound and snuggles closer to the warm hard pillow next to him. But then he hears it again. 

“Deku the movies over.” Katsuki nodged Izuku gently. 

Izuku opens his eyes immediately at the sound of Katsuki’s clear voice. He was against the blood boy’s chest manhandling him in his sleep pulling him closer unknowingly. 

Izuku gets up at the speed of light as if Katsuki’s skin was made of fire. “Sorry!” 

“You better be you missed the ending to the movie!” 

“Why didn’t you wake me then?” Izuku questioned. 

“Because-“ he pauses for a beat. “cause-“

“Well?” Izuku questions him further for an answer that he’s secretly looking for. 

Katsuki couldn’t tell him the truth, that his tired face made Katsuki the most nervous he’s ever been and he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. Or move for that matter. 

“Tsk.” he says, looking off and changing the subject without words. 

“I thought you wanted to see the upstairs?”

Izuku nods, blushing slightly at the flustered Katsuki. 

Katsuki turns on the lights and urges Izuku to follow him upstairs. Izuku follows him up the luxurious set of stairs with guitars posted up on the side. Impressed by the amounts of different guitars Katsuki owns, he wonders why he takes a vocal role in his band over everything.

Katsuki walks the green haired boy down the hall and goes past most of the doors that Izuku is itching to see. Izuku questions what he's trying to show him.

Could it be his room? His heart races a little at the thought. 

Could it be a secret hide out that he's keeping all his Almight collections? He thinks and his heart beat gets even louder at the possible collectors items. 

Maybe that one was far fetched but he has his priorities. 

“Oi why are you always mumbling?” 

Katsuki stops his train of thought by pausing at the door at the end of the hall and looking back at Izuku. 

“Sorry!” Izuku says on instinct.

”I didn't ask for you to apologize.” Katsuki brushes Izuku off as he rolls his eyes and opens the door. 

Izuku forgetting what he's about to reply is now focused solely on the room presented. It was neither his bedroom or massive shrine collection of Almight. It was a padded noise canceling, studio that carried more of Katsuki’s instruments. Looking like a replica of the studio back at UA that carried all of his bandmates instruments. 

The walls were padded matte black, swallowing sound even as Izuku stepped in. The faint scent of leather and amplifier dust hung in the air. Katsuki’s various magazine covers lined the walls of his personal studio. And in the corner sat a lone drum set, its top surface spluttered with papers and scrawled notes. 

”Since it looks like your nerd ass is too tired to practice our dance, the least you can do is be useful.”

”And how can I do that?” Izuku asks questioningly, not having a clue what the unpredictable blonde might ask of him. 

“Not like that stupid.” Katsuki rolls his eyes and goes to reach for a paper that resides beside the drum set on the top drum. 

“This.” He holds up the paper and holds it in front of Izuku to take it. 

Izuku takes the paper to reveal its song lyrics, as he reads through them he can tell it’s an unfinished song with multiple parts of the song just left with blank spaces. 

“I know you're good at this sort of thing so what do you think?” Katsuki says honestly. 

Izuku blushes slightly at the notion of Katsuki asking for his opinion. The prideful rockstar act obviously doesn’t apply when looking to learn to be better. That part at least about Katsuki he can admire and understand. 

“I think I need to hear you play it before I say what I think.” Izuku replies laser focused on the white paper. Trying to get a sense of the meaning of the unfinished song. 

“You could’ve just said you wanted a live performance.” Katsuki says, smirking, picking up his acoustic guitar rather than his electric one he always uses. 

Izuku pays no mind to the blonds teasing. If he was going to give advice he was going to take this seriously. 

Katsuki starts to play the melody with his guitar fast paced but grounded tune that a crowd would love. But when the lyrics started coming through was the problem. 

The message of the song goes off the lines of running away from hurt to still feel the same way just in a different setting. The overall theme hit Izuku hard.

 It was a real song that seemed like it meant a lot to the blonde with the riffs of his tone and the way he handled his guitar. When Katsuki was done signing the opening portion to the song Izuku had it be honest. 

“Is this song for the album?” He asked questioningly trying to get the full story.

”Uhh no.” Katsuki looked off to the side not really wanting to admit why he wants Izuku’s help and not one of his bandmates. 

Izuku, taking the hint not to pry too deep , says “The- th- well.” He pauses and try’s again more confidently “The reason I ask is because it doesn’t match the concept of the album but if it's a personal song I have thoughts.”

“Thoughts?” Katsuki laughs at the professional tone, “Nerd just tell it to be straight.

”There’s nothing to tell you straight its good but-“

”But what?’

”If you're going to get personal Katsuki get personal. Don't be afraid of airing out your dirty laundry.” 

”Who says the songs about me?”

Izuku rolls his eyes and just replies “Katsuki it doesn’t matter who the song is about.” Annoyed at his walls that he desperately tries to put up. 

“Songs are supposed to be like a poem with no double deeper meaning or purpose to a song like this it falls flat.” 

Katsuki nods and looks to be in thought, looking to have never heard this type of critique.

“You’ve probably never heard anyone tell this to you because that isn’t your band's thing.” Izuku trying to find the words that won’t offend the blonde but decides fuck it.

“The music you usually produce is no offense.. shallow.” Izuku expecting a shouting Katsuki hears nothing.

He braces for an explosion. But—

Crickets.

“Uh- I mean not to say your music is bad-“ he tries to backtrack a little to soften the blow.

“Deku shut the fuck up.” Katsuki says, but there’s no bite behind it—just thought. 

 “I know my music is good but two things can be true. I don’t write deeper music.” He says honestly, putting his guitar down and walking towards Izuku.

“I guess I just have to learn.” He shrugs his shoulders seemingly unbothered and now more enlightened on what he has to improve.

Izuku, itching to apologize, looks closely at Katsuki’s face but realizes he really wasn’t offended by his honest words.

“Deku don’t apologize for being honest. That’s not something to feel bad for.” He says as he walks past Izuku and opens the door to leave the room. 

The warmth in Katsuki’s response gave Izuku a different perspective that made him understand why everyone didn’t mind his brash attitude. Just because his words are brash doesn’t mean they aren’t honest. Izuku smiles brightly at Katsuki and walks out with him from the studio. 

As they walk down the hall and the night coming to an end Katsuki says 

“Next time be prepared for the dance nerd. I’m not goin easy on you next time.”

“Right!” Izuku says as they go back downstairs.

Katsuki leads Izuku to the front door and says “Next time Thursday works. Come over straight from UA.”

“Got it!” He says quickly and before he can wave goodbye the door is already shut. But Izuku just smiles when he would’ve once felt rejection. Maybe Katsuki isn't so bad as just a friend.

But that little voice in Izuku’s head knew that could never be the case. Even though he knew that would be better for his heart.