————

Izuku, in all senses, was cool.

He was strong, real strong- Katsuki had realized three months into his own sentence that Izuku might've been behind Dabi's beating, and shit, he can't help but admire the courage to pull a stunt like that right under the guards' noses.

'What if you'd been caught!?' Katsuki had yelled, fuming. 'You're gonna get in fuckin' trouble. They coulda added more to your sentence- or worse! Thrown you into an adult facility! Shit, Deku! You don't have to take any risks for me!'

And Izuku had simply looked up, smiled, and patted his head.

'I don't care what happens to me, Kacchan. As long as everyone's safe, l don't matter.'

And fuck, it was filled with such sincerity, and truly, Izuku doesn't care about himself.

What was the point?

He was gonna rot here.

Might as well help people along the way.

But-

Katsuki, against every red flag that flared from doing the action- head butted Izuku real, real hard, making the dude stumble back in surprise. He'd glared down at him, seething, because he can't see.

He can't fucking see how much he means to everyone here.

To his family.

To him.

"You're a fucking idiot."

When those words escaped him, the adrenaline rush was gone as fast as it came, and then panic had settled in.

"Deku- I-"

But Izuku laughs, throws his head back and laughs so hard, before he pats Katsuki on his cheek, still affectionate. "Oh, Kacchan. I'll.. Keep, uh, that in mind." He'd seen through the rash way Katsuki delivered his protest, seen between the lines-

'You mean something.'

"Thank you."

————

Two months pass.

Katsuki accompanies Izuku in the kitchen, watching, hovering over Izuku like some lost kid, eyes transfixed on how he chops the carrots quickly and efficiently, movements light.

"You're good." Katsuki decides, earning a warm laugh, another pile of chopped vegetables pushed to the side. Shinsou- the sleep deprived assistant in the kitchen, scoops it up and throws it into the pan wordlessly.

"I used to cook a lot," the knife scrapes on the board. "And Mr. Toshinori assigned me kitchen duty today."

".. Who's that?"

Surprise makes it's way on Izuku's face, who raises a brow, stilling his movements. "Mr. Toshinori? The blond man? He's in charge of the facility. Then again.." his expression shows thoughtfulness, lips upturned into the little pout he does while thinking. "He hasn't been visiting much. He's nice- but strict. Don't try and take advantage of how kind he is. I learned that the hard way."

"What'd you do?"

"Lashed out. He kicked my ass though."

"Damn. You, of all people- tried attacking-?"

"Yeah," Izuku giggles, as if recalling a memory he was fond of. "He's like a father to me now. Knocked me over the head a couple times when I was off my act. He pretty much guided me to what kinda person I am now."

He resumes to the carrots, sleep still heavy on his eyelids. It was 4:50 AM, early morning. Izuku had to be early to prep the food for the entire facility, which contains over a hundred people. Katsuki simply wanted to tag along to observe. The blond had been assigned gardening, and-

A tall gangly man entered the kitchen, making Katsuki jump a few feet away from Izuku, realizing he'd been standing a bit too close, chest snugly pressed on his back. Though, he didn't seem to mind.

"Izuku?"

Izuku's head snaps up at the friendly tone, before squealing, making the whole kitchen spare them a glance (they look back at their work though, as if this was a normal thing).

"Mr. Toshinori!" He grins. "You're back! And.." Green eyes check him over, flickering before his excitement visibly drops.

"... Its good to see you again, Toshinori."

The Toshinori dude seems to have noticed Izuku's sudden frown, opting to give a sheepish smile. "You too, Izuku." He gives a nod of acknowledgement at Katsuki, before promptly taking his exit, as quick as he came.

.. Well, that was.. certainly something.

"Uh, what.. what was that?" Katsuki questions, hesitant- before backing off when Izuku gives a particularly hard chop at the onion leaks, radiating an aura of shaded sadness and a bit of emotion that Katsuki couldn't really comprehend.

He drops the subject, but remains hovering over Izuku wordlessly.

The dismal, tiny smile on his face made Katsuki think he appreciates the sentiment.

————

".. Toshinori's sick. Am I right?"

"That obvious, huh?" Izuku's tone was quiet, a sliver of barely hidden pain in it. He relaxes against Katsuki, who curls up with him in bed. It was the dead of the night again- lights already off, bunks already full of snores and the occasional bad egg that'll quietly get up and do whatever they did, evident by the footsteps.

No one ever really snitched, and Izuku has never bothered to go to the authorities.

".. 'm pretty sure he's got into an accident or something. I was sparring with him and accidentally ripped up his shirt a little. I saw his scars, and shit-" Izuku chokes up, and Katsuki places a comforting hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat thrum against his fingertips.

"He's all fucked up already. I mean, I doubted he even has at least fifty perfect of his organs, y'know? I'm not a doctor but shit, Katsuki, his left side's fucking obliterated."

Katsuki's speechless, but he coaxes Izuku to ramble, until his words slur and sleep overtakes him.

The nerd was caring. Stupidly, stupidly caring of other people.

Running a finger along Izuku's cheek, he vaguely wonders,

'What has Midoriya Izuku done to be in here?'

————

"Yo, Izuku."

"Are you excited, Kacchan?" Izuku giggles.

And hell, Katsuki damn well is. It's a month until he's fully released- and then he's fucking free. Granted, he'll be on probation, and the counseling won't stop until guilt leaves him, but at least he's getting the fuck outta this hell hole.

"Here. I made you this so we can celebrate."

Katsuki's eyes widen at a steaming bowl of Katsudon, the best food since the constant mashed potatoes and vegetable mix.

Three packets of hot sauce lands on his lap, and Izuku sits on the bunk across him with his own bowl, fork in hands. "Nerd.."

"I know we're not supposed to eat in the bunks but," he gives a sly smile. "It's a special celebration, no?"

Katsuki grins back, already squeezing out the contents of hot sauce of the pork cutlets, mouth watering so much from the delicious smell- shit. It smelled so fucking good that it made Katsuki's stomach rumble. He shovels food in his mouth ungracefully and uncaringly, rolling his eyes at Izuku's charming, amused laughter when the sauce drips down his chin. It was spicy enough to make his eyes water- just how he wants it.

Izuku's eating too, albeit at a much slower pace.

".. How are your cravings?"

Katsuki pauses at the sudden question.

".. Fucked," he says, keeping his voice neutral as possible. "There are nights where I uh, want to pop a pill or shoot up. 'm still twitchy when I'm all alone."

"Is that why you sleep beside me?" Izuku taps his lip, brows furrowed as he thinks, and Katsuki nods in confirmation. "You're basically my anchor now." His eyes widen. "Fuck."

"What?"

"The hell.. how am I supposed to fucking function without you when I get out?"

Izuku leans over and whacks him over the head, making the blond grunt and huff. "Don't think that way, stupid Kacchan. Just.. same as you always do."

"Like what," he snorts. "Sleep beside you? Can't do that when you're in fucking juvie."

Izuku winces, biting his lower lip. Immediately backtracking, Katsuki bows his head. "Sorry. Low blow?"

Izuku nods. "Low blow."

Katsuki wipes his chin with his sleeve, before setting the empty bowl down.

".. Deku."

He looks up from his bowl. "Mm?"

And he sees Katsuki glaring down at him, eyes sharp.

"You better try your hardest to get out of here, okay, you fucking Deku?"

Izuku's face flushes a pretty pink, his lip warbled and trembling. It was a contrast against his cool and collected, serene smile.

"O-Okay, Kacchan. I will."