AN: so i really wanted to include Uraraka in a one shot? she's such a fun and interesting character, so sorry if i don't do her justice! Also, sorry this took so long! I've had exams, I'm trying to finish my other book too so I'm glad I found the time to write this!

Warnings: F E E L S

Word Count: 2982

---

It was a lonely feeling.

That's all that ran through Katsuki's mind as he stared blankly at the wall of his dorm room. There were no tears, no cries, no anguish - not that Katsuki was one to display those kind of things. No, there was only this sensation of emptiness, buried somewhere within his chest.

An Izuku-shaped hole.

After who knows how long, Katsuki fell backwards onto his bed with a sigh, his vision now fixated on the ceiling. There were no cracks, he noticed. Not that there would be, since Alliance Heights was a relatively new and un-lived in building. But still, when the building settles, surely cracks would form? Maybe they predicted the structure so well, the building was settled as soon as it was built.

Realising he was focusing on such an insignificant detail, Katsuki rolled over, face pressed against the pillow, stubbornly ignoring the nagging thought at the back of his mind, telling him that he was just below him, that he should get up and tell him everything he needed to say, put it all out into the open, let it hang there.

He ignored it.

That next morning, he hadn't had any sleep. Dark bags framed his red eyes, which stared back at him dully through the mirror. Katsuki wondered where that spark had gone.

Izuku was your spark.

Katsuki frowned, trying to fix his usual expression onto his features, but it looked forced. Fake.

He sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time and moved away from the mirror, stalking out of the bathroom and snatching up his bag before leaving his room.

No one tried to engage in conversation with him - not even Kirishima, who watched him warily from the other side of the kitchen as Katsuki walked through. Although his usual angry, stormy aura was gone, somehow it was even more unnerving and scary to be around him. Like it was the calm before the storm, everybody waiting impatiently for it to hit.

Katsuki's eyes didn't search for Izuku, instead staying straight ahead, looking at no one. The whole room was silent, despite having ten usually loud, obnoxious teenagers in there with him. He didn't bother to grab breakfast (he wasn't hungry) so he strolled right through the double doors and out into the open, not caring if he arrived early.

He didn't care about anything, anymore.

Upon arriving at school, first and far too soon, Katsuki sat at his desk and rested his head in his hands. Not in despair, but more like...he was trying to hold in his emotions. If Izuku didn't want him, then he didn't want Izuku.

But he did. Desperately.

A loud clattering caught his attention, and then the door to the classroom slammed open. There was heavy, high pitched breathing, but Katsuki didn't raise his head.

"Bakugo."

He ignored it.

"Bakugo."

He didn't react, staying totally still. More clattering, then loud footsteps stomping towards him.

"Bakugo Katsuki, raise your head and look at me," the girl demanded, fury in her voice and assertiveness in her tone.

Katsuki lazily lolled his head to the side, peering at Uraraka Ochaco through one eye. "What the fuck do you want, Round Face?"

Uraraka scoffed, scornful look on her features as she glared at him. "Stand up."

Despite her words leaving no room for argument, Katsuki didn't comply. "No."

She took a step forwards and, lightning fast, grabbed the front of his shirt. Eyes dead set on his face, she dragged him up, almost surprising him with her strength in doing so. Once he was stood up, although she was shorter, the pure anger that she carried was enough to make her seem ten feet tall. "Talk."

"About what? The fucking weather?" Katsuki deadpanned, unimpressed. He shrugged away from her grip but didn't sit back down, instead crossing his arms and returning her glare with a blank gaze.

Uraraka set her jaw, the muscles tensing beneath her skin. "What did you do?"

Anger flared, driving back the dullness which had settled into Katsuki's body over the last few days. It was a welcome feeling. "I didn't fucking do anything."

Exasperated, Uraraka threw her arms into the air and yelled something unintelligible in frustration. "Then why the hell is Izuku so upset? He won't talk to me, won't leave his room or eat, and barely even moves! And it's something to do with you, I know it is, because you haven't come to check on him! So I'll ask you again," she took a menacing step forwards, the look in her eyes intensifying. "What. Did. You. Do."

"And I'll tell you again.," Katauki snapped, stepping towards her, palms crackling as small explosions set off. He usually had more control than this. "I didn't. Do. Anything."

They stayed like that for a minute, heated glares matching each other as they stood off, until Katsuki's resolve weakened and he slumped backwards, falling into his chair. "That's the problem."

Uraraka looked shocked, like even though she had planned on pestering Katsuki 'til he told her what was wrong, she still hadn't quite expected him to tell her. "Huh?"

"I said that's the fucking problem. I didn't do anything, don't do anything, and Deku hates it. He..." Katsuki huffed in annoyance, slamming his hand on the desk with a resounding bang, the action not lessening the torrent of feelings which had broken loose. "He went on some rant about how I don't care about him, how I don't show him enough attention like some needy girl. And how I obviously don't even like him, and that I should just leave." Katsuki began talking faster and faster, Uraraka just watching.

"The fucking nerd has the audacity to think that I would do shit with someone I didn't want to spend any fucking time with and not fucking like them, like some American fuckboy with a fleshlight for a brain."

Once he had finished, breaking off and staring at the floor, she spoke. "Do you like him?"

Katsuki's head snapped up, eyes locking on her. "I fucking love him, alright!" Katsuki snarled, mouth twisting into a scowl and eyes darkening.

"Well, obviously. But I'm not the one who needs reminding, am I?" she chastised, voice even but eyes betraying how worked up she had gotten at his words. They sparkled, eager and excited, and it pissed Katsuki off.

Growling, Katuski glared at her. "He won't fucking talk to me."

The girl paused, her slight bouncing stopping for a moment. Then her eyes lit up, brighter than before. "Then don't talk."

---

Izuku was exhausted. He knew it was stupid, getting so worked up and depressed over someone who clearly didn't care for him in the slightest. He knew being with Katsuki would be difficult, that it wouldn't be like all of the cliché relationships he had seen on TV, or read about in books, but some part of him had hoped that, once that had started dating, Katsuki would open up, let down those walls that prevented anyone from getting near.

That hadn't happened, of course. And it broke Izuku's heart, because he couldn't find a single way to get past them. So, after four months of dating, he had broken it off. His heart couldn't take it.

Somewhere to his right, Izuku's phone buzzed. It was probably Uraraka, telling him that he should come out of his room, or that he should talk to her. He hadn't gone to school that day, not feeling like he would be able to focus on anything that would happen and inevitably get in everyone's way, so she hadn't been able to corner him there, either.

Izuku's phone continued to buzz, again and again and again, until the noise began to grate on Izuku's nerves. He rolled over and snatched it up, unlocking it and clicking on his messages app. Sure enough, there were ten messages from Uraraka.

- Deku

- Deku

- Deku

- Answer me.

- Deku

- Deku

- Seriously if you don't answer your phone I'm going to beat you up.

- Deku!

- DEKU I SWEAR TO GOD

- ANSWER ME OR I'M COMING UP THERE

Okay, okay, what do you want? -

- Could you come outside?

Why? -

- Don't ask questions, just do it.

- And don't look out of your window.

Uraraka, please. I'm really not in the mood. -

- Look, if you don't like it, you can leave. But get down here.

- Now.

Okay, fine. I'm coming. -

Placing his phone back on his nightstand, Izuku groaned and stood up. His body was stiff and sore from being so still for so long, and he suddenly regretted neglecting his training - that was going to impact his progress.

Wandering over to the mirror above his dresser, Izuku peered at his reflection. His hair was a mess, as usual, but there were purple bruises under his eyes and they were red-rimmed and puffy from crying. He looked tired and untidy, but he couldn't find any shred of himself that cared. He abandoned the mirror and moved over to the door, pulling it open and glancing down the hallway. Quickly casting a backwards glance into his room, his gaze lingered on the drawn curtains that covered his window. Izuku almost went back to rip them open, see what Uraraka didn't want him too, but shut the door before the temptation became too much. After all, he was sure he would get to see it soon.

The elevator was devastatingly slow; all Izuku wanted to do was humour his friend for a moment, make her that little bit less worried about him. Once it had arrived on the bottom floor, he was out, trudging into the kitchen to the doors. Oddly enough, the whole ground floor was empty. In fact, now that he thought about it, Izuku hadn't seen anyone since he had emerged from his room. He wasn't oblivious to Uraraka's devilishly sneaky plans, and he pondered what she had up her sleeve for him.

Turning right after pushing open the double glass doors, Izuku took a moment to pause in his tracks and stare.

There, directly in front of him, isolated in the cropped grass, was a single candle. Plain, the wick lit with a flickering flame, gently pushed about by the slight breeze. Izuku's gaze was stuck on it, mind not able to comprehend why it was there. What was Uraraka doing?

He gulped, his palms suddenly sweaty. Izuku wiped them down on his joggers, taking a deep breath as he stepped forwards. The dewy blades were slippy underfoot, and Izuku found himself actively focusing on not falling over, suddenly and inexplicably curious as to what Uraraka had asked him out here for. Some irrational part of his brain was screaming at him that this was a confession, but he dismissed it immediately - Uraraka knew his feelings about Katsuki, and besides, she was his best friend.

Approaching the candle, Izuku knelt down to brush his fingers against it. A sweet smell drifted up to meet him, and for a moment Izuku thought it was familiar, which was odd since neither his mother nor anyone he knew very well owned or lit candles. Then he realised that the candle was as plain as it had appeared on the outside, and was completely scentless. His heart dropped, mouth dry and head pounding. He knew that smell.

Unsteadily straightening up, Izuku passed the candle, it's feeble flame still glowing. Only now did he see the light shining from around he corner of the building, the gentle hue of oranges and yellows. Unsure of himself, Izuku took a couple of steps forwards, willing himself to just walk around, turn the corner and peer around the edge, just stop this suspension!

Izuku took a deep breath, feeling the cool spring air full his lungs, clearing his racing mind just enough for him to take that final step. Upon seeing what awaited him, he realised that breathing was pointless because what he saw took his breath away.

Hundreds upon hundreds of candles were arranged over the lawn, forming patterns and swirls in startling intricacy, each one specifically placed for its specific role in whatever picture it created. two lines, leading from where Izuku stood to the centre of the mass of flickering lights, illuminated his way, clearly showing him where to go, but if that wasn't clear enough, rose petals, reds and pinks and whites, were scattered along, randomly strewn yet having so much significance in the bigger story of things. The glow from the candles combined with the sun that had almost sunk below the horizon cast a gorgeous light that perfectly shone across the scene.

And there, in the centre of it all, stood Bakugo Katsuki.

He wore white trousers and a white shirt, combined with a light gold chain around his neck that glinted in the candle light. Izuku remembered that necklace - he had given it to him, after all.

His face was calm, albeit slightly nervous, eyebrows creased in the centre betraying his true emotions that he hid beneath the surface. Because he always hid them. That was the problem.

"Ka...chan..." Izuku breathed, pupils blown wide with the pure, untouched love he was feeling. Had Katsuki done all of this for him?

Thy stood like that for a moment, gazing at each other from across the short distance that separated them, until Izuku took a hesitant step forwards, following the trail of petals. They fluttered around his feet, each motion picking a few up and sending them scattering around. Izuku kept his eyes on he floor, not trusting himself to look up and see his boyfriend's - ex-boyfriend's - intense eyes on him. And that's what he was. An ex-boyfriend.

All too soon, yet not soon enough, the trail ended, and Izuku was staring at a pair of black dress shoes, polished to a shine and facing him. His heart was racing at a thousand miles a minute, and he thought he might throw up.

"Deku." That nickname, previously spoken with such hatred and distaste, was said gently, softly, filled with a warmth Izuku wasn't sure he could describe.

Gulping with a comical amount of sound, Izuku forced his eyes upwards, tilting his head to look up at the taller boy. Katsuki had a soft expression on his face, unlike the blank one he first had, displaying a startling amount of genuine remorse. "I feel like this is something I should have done a long time ago." Katsuki inhaled deeply, and Izuku realised he was nervous. Cute.

"Let's skip all the sappy bullshit, and get to the point. I...I'm sorry." Izuku blinked, mind attempting to process that Katsuki had just apologised, without being forced, to him. "I'm sorry that I bullied, tormented and made your life hell all those years ago. I'm sorry I was always so closed off in our relationship. I suppose I was...scared. Scared that if I showed how I really felt about you - because god, there's so many shitty feelings - that you'd get freaked out and leave me. But it wasn't that, was it? It wasn't that which made you leave. It was me not showing enough of my feelings, so that's what this is." Keeping his crimson eyes locked on mine, he gestured around us. "These are my feelings, out in the open. Every one is yours to take, and you can blow them all out, if you want. But, before you do, I just want to tell you that I love you. Christ, Deku, I love you so much, and I don't know what to do."

There was pain, now, emotional pain scarred into his eyes, and all Izuku wanted to do was take it all away. This boy, the one with the blond spiked hair and the piercing red eyes, the stubborn gaze and soft lips - this boy was who he knew he could love. Who he did love, and who loved him.

Katsuki loved him.

All those years of seemingly endless unrequited pining, months of feeling unappreciated and alone in a relationship where he shouldn't, it had led up to this. This gesture - a wild, crazy gesture, totally out of character yet somehow totally characteristic - of love.

"Say something, godammit. You're making me nervous."

Clearly, actions were always better in their relationship. Actions were what they both seemed to respond better to, so Izuku didn't reply; he reached out and cupped Katsuki's cheek, feeling the warmth radiate from his skin. Katsuki seemed to recognise what Izuku wanted, because he leaned down and then they were kissing.

Soft, gentle pressed of lips on lips, comforting and incredibly sensual and god Izuku was melting, bones seeping to nothingness as he somehow remained standing.

After what seemed like an eternity of bliss, they separated, although still close enough that Izuku could feel Katsuki's hot breath caressing his face. Tears merged with the liquid green, threatening to spill over and ruin this wonderful moment, scene, sensation. Izuku's bottom lip quivered and he held the carmine gaze, trying desperately to convey how much love he was feeling for the blond that had just spilled everything to him, but it didn't feel enough.

"I love you too," Izuku whispered in an attempt not to shatter the delicate yet simultaneously unbreakable atmosphere that had settled over them. "So, so much."

And those tears that had been teetering on the edge of falling fell at his (hopefully) now boyfriend's next words. "Good. Because I'm going to love you until the day I die."