A few months before meeting Monoma and Shinso.

I almost tripped, as something on the trash littered beach caught my foot. With Izuku pulling me by the hand, I didn't get a chance to hit the ground, toppling forward several steps before I smacked into Izuku's back.

"Are we there yet?" I grumbled, my free hand grabbing the blindfold that he had tied over my eyes.
"Kacchan! You can't peek yet!"

The bubbling excitement in his voice made my heart melt, and I allowed him to pull my hand away from the blindfold.

He lead me a little farther into the mess of a beach, and had me sit down on what felt like a microwave, before he went off to do something.

I could hear him moving something, grunting with the effort.

"Alright! It's ready! You can open your eyes now!"

I carefully pulled off the blindfold, and blinked a few times, the sunlight glinting off of the lake, as well as all of the garbage around me.

When I could see properly, I finally spotted what he had wanted to show me.

In the carefully cleared space we had slowly created, was a haphazardly secured sculpture, of what looked like two heroes, returning from a battle, their costumes torn and battered, pieces of their equipment had broken off and were strewn across the pedestal they were walking on.

Izuku came to stand next to me, a sheepish expression on his face.

"I couldn't quite finish it, but I wanted to make something for your birthday. And since you're always helping me..."

He trailed off, dropping his gaze, his cheeks glowing with a dark blush.

I looked back up at the statue again. And I realized that it was supposed to be me, carrying him in my arms.

Now that I was looking for it, I could see Izuku's messy head of hair, resting on my shoulder, an arm wrapping around the neck.

The sun lit up the construction, making it shimmer, and glisten, brightening the gentle expressions on the faces. 

"What do you think, Kacchan?"

Izuku turned to me, but before he could see my tears, I hugged him from behind, burying my face in his back.

"K-kacchan?"

I felt him turn around, trying to look at me.

"I-is it okay? A-are you alright? Did I-"

I tightened my grip around him briefly, making him stop short.

"It's perfect." I whispered, decidedly not going to tell him that I didn't deserve it.

For him to have spent so much time just for me...

Everything I've ever done to him came back to me, and it was all I could do not to sob.

What had I ever done to deserve such a kind, thoughtful person?

An angel, whose wings were battered, and broken, from trying to love a demon.

Izuku was so much better then this world could ever deserve. And somehow, no matter what, I would protect him.

Protect him from others like me, who would only hurt him, and throw him away.

Izuku sat next to me, and I shifted my grip around his waist, tucking my head into the crook of his neck.

"Thank you."

I could perfectly picture the smile on his face, gentle and caring, his eyes slipping closed, almost as if he himself couldn't look, from how bright it was.

"... Happy birthday, Kacchan."

Katsuki is my best boi.

Love y'all,

Bakeku67 💝💝