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A knock interrupts their dinner.
„I‘ll get it“, Katsuki grumbles and stands up. Who the hell would knock at this time of the year?
He groans as he opens the door. If this is one of the idiot squad ruining his rare family dinner then for god-
He doesn’t finish that thought because in front of him is standing a familiar but yet unknown boy. His dark hair is pressed against his scalp, his entire body dripping wet and Katsuki can hear the harsh breaths through the rain thundering outside. He looks up and he can‘t help but freeze, mustering the toxic green eyes he hasn‘t seen in years.
„De- Izuku?“, Katsuki brings out, but the shorter boy only replies with a heavy sigh and tries to shove his way inside.
Katsuki catches his arm and grips it tightly.
„What are you doing here?“, Katsuki demands, „For fuck‘s sake you are - were missing for 2 years, where the hell have you been?“
Izuku doesn‘t respond and it‘s quiet besides the water dripping from his body and the rainstorm raging outside.
„Don‘t ignore me-“, Katsuki's voice raises but stocks when the younger boy looks up to him. His eyes are resigned and dead, and his voice is bone, deep tired, downright exhausted when he speaks up.
„Not now Katsuki“
And Katsuki almost falters, because he called him ‚Katsuki‘ and not the ‚Kacchan‘ he got used to hearing before he disappeared, the nickname he heard in every situation: cheery, excited, shyly, nervously, scared, tired. But not angry - never angry and how he wished he heard him angry because he deserved it for the bullshit he put him through.
Katsuki shakily breathes in and lets go of the boy‘s arm in favor of closing the door.
„Brat?“, his mother’s voice cuts through the tension like a knife and he hears her steps coming near, „What the hell is taking you-“
She takes in a sharp breath when she sees Izuku standing near Katsuki.
„Izuku?“, she gasps out with wide eyes.
She steps up to him and brings him into a bone-crushing hug, not minding how he is dripping wet.
Izuku‘s hands spasm at his side before hesitantly landing on her back.
Katsuki can make out countless scars stretching along his arms.
What the hell did he do in these 2 years?
His father enters the hallway and his eyes widen as they land on his mother and Izuku.
Katsuki meets his eyes and shakes his head before he can mouth any questions.
After some more minutes, his mother loosens her hold on the teen and shuffles them all to their living room.
"Where have you been?", his mother asks with a frown and Izuku looks at the moist towel in his lap.
"That day", Izuku gulps and Katsuki instantly knows which day he is talking about as he clenches his fists "I must have forgotten my notebook somewhere"
"Because only a day later, a portal opened up under me while going to school", he continues, "To- Shigaraki or All For One, I have no idea who, they have found my notebook and they liked what they saw. They liked how my analysis could destroy lives. So they wanted me to join"
"And you joined them?!", Katsuki interrupts disbelieving and he can feel his mother's warning gaze on him, "You would-"
„They threatened to kill my mother“, Izuku says before Katsuki can continue.
Katsuki goes rigid and his mother and father go pale.
„And you know what? When I was faced with a situation where I could die every moment I emulated you. Not All Might, you.“, Izuku admits with a depressing laugh, staring at the ceiling, „Because in my mind, you were the sign of victory“
"Well we can be glad you didn't try All Might", Katsuki says dryly in hopes to lift the mood.
Izuku laughs out - genuinely and relaxes a bit.
"Yeah", he murmurs out.
Katsuki frowns before probing for more information.
"There were never any implications that the League had an analyst"
"How do you think I was able to survive so long? I made sure of that", Izuku answers darkly, "And I slipped information about the League to the police as often I could"
Now it's Katsuki's turn to gasp.
"You are X"
X was mainly an informant, always leaving anonymous tips on the League. After All For One's arrest, they established themselves as a vigilante as well. But they were never caught.
Izuku nods, leaning back.
"All while convincing more and more members to leave or turn themselves in"
"So you...", Katsuki doesn't continue, too shocked.
Suddenly Dabi and Toga turning themselves in, but only in exchange for rehabilitation, and them being vague about what convinced them to, makes more sense.
"Eri", Katsuki switches the topic, "Was that you too?"
Izuku sighs in response, but he can see a fond smile on his lips.
Katsuki's lips twitch - Eri was a delight to be around, although she could be quite chaotic - before his face scrunches up.
"Why did she call you Jiyuu?"
Izuku groans and covers his face.
"I panicked and it was the only name I could think about"
"Freedom?"
"Don't judge me!"
A chuckle interrupts their bantering.
His mother smiles softly.
"You really didn't change Izuku"
But the teen shakes his head.
"I'm-", he starts, sighing, "I'm not the same. I have so much blood on my hands"
The mood drops.
"Once I learned to kill for my survival I stepped over a line I shouldn't have crossed", he explains, "Which is why I'm going to turn myself in"
Katsuki abruptly stands up, his palms popping but Izuku doesn't even flinch.
"You can't do that!"
"Katsuki", Izuku hesitates, "Kacchan. I have to face my consequences"
"Is that why you are here and not with Auntie?!", Katsuki accuses and Izuku averts his eyes.
"I have no idea how long I will be landing in prison", Izuku responds, "You don't know what I did"
Katsuki wants to refute, but his father lays a hand on his shoulder and stops him.
"What right have I to meet her after 2 years, only to rip it away from her again?"
Izuku shakes his head.
"I'm not that cruel. It's better that she doesn't see me like this"
"Like what?!", Katsuki blurts out but Izuku doesn't answer his question, instead he closes his eyes and breathes shakily in.
"Whenever I look at my hands I see blood", the teen says softly, "I'm just so tired, Kacchan. I can't do this anymore"
"So you are just leaving again? Just like that?", Katsuki's voice comes out hoarse and he wants to scream in frustration.
Izuku smiles sadly and tilts his head.
"Just like that ", he repeats, "Goodbye, Kacchan"
Katsuki watches on as the detective's car drives away and he balls his fits.
His mother grips his shoulder, his father pressed to his side.
"He's going to be fine. He's strong, brat"
Katsuki lets a single, hot tear fall, feeling defeated.
"I know"