Work Text:
It's getting loud again, he can't bear the noise so Katsuki went to that one place where he can be peaceful -- Shouto's dorm room.
Everything is still placed in the same way. That's what he thought when he went inside and flopped straight into the futon. Buried himself with Shouto's lingering scent. Hugged the stuffed cat he won for him on their arcade getaway with Utsushimi and Yoarashi.
Katsuki's still not satisfied with that, so he got up and rummaged through Shouto's closet and found his favorite blue hoodie. Good thing is that Shouto got this in a bigger size so whenever he wore it, it's drowning him while it just fit perfectly for Katsuki.
As soon as he picked up the hoodie, a photo fell down. Shaking, he picked it up and saw that it was a picture of the two of them during their arcade stroll. At the back of the picture, there was a note saying "Bakugou got me a cat, I think we're friends now" and that got him to smile.
So he went back to lying down on the futon, comfortable in Shouto’s hoodie while looking at the photo, with the stuffed cat beside him. He felt his eyes getting heavier with unshed tears.
And that's when the memories started attacking him. He can still remember how confused Halfie is when they went to the arcade. The way his mismatched eyes lit up when he saw the claw machines with the stuffed toys inside. How he smiled when Katsuki won him the cat he's been eyeing for in the last 30 minutes. How he literally radiated joy when Katsuki went inside with him in the photobooth and how flustered he was when he kissed Katsuki's cheek for the last photo. And at the end of the day, they went from Bakugou and Todoroki to Katsuki and Shouto. Like what it should have been from the start.
He also remembered how Shouto looked absolutely gorgeous standing under the sun when they went on a hiking trip that he can't resist his urge to kiss his half and half idiot right there and then.
How Shouto calmed him down during one of his nightmares about getting kidnapped. How he held him tight in his arms as he says, "Katsuki, you're here with me. You're safe. I'm here, always" as he kissed the top of his head.
How Katsuki grabbed him, hugged him tight and kissed him oh so passionately before parting ways for that fated battle against the LOV.
"You said you'll always be here. Why did you lie?" Katsuki asked, tears streaming like waterfall on his face.
He still remembered the day he woke up after the war. He died but Edgeshot saved him. He's still trying to get used to his new heart and he's wondering why Shouto hasn't come to see him yet. Almost everyone from their class went to him already (even the self-sacrificial bastard, Deku)
From the looks they're giving him whenever he opens up the topic about Shouto, the feeling of unease won't go away. Until he exploded, and his mom and dad had to hold him down when he got the news.
But it can't be. Shouto won, right? And he promised Katsuki that he'll always be there. They promised that to each other.
"Come on, please tell me where he is! I don't believe you!" He shouted while he feels his heart beating loudly and his head pounding. No, he won't accept the news. Shouto is out there somewhere. Probably with his mom or his siblings while eating udon with their arsonist brother.
"Please, he can't be gone. He won't break his promise to me."
And as much as he wanted to deny it, the proof is there the whole time. Shouto won't waste his time by not seeing Katsuki. That's when it clicked. He hasn't seen Shouto because he's gone. Gone to a place where he can't follow. For now.
Days passed by in a blur, they held a memorial for Shouto. Everyone looks at him with pitying looks but he doesn't care about that. How could he when the person who matters the most left him?
--
"Idiot, you are an absolute idiot, Shouto. I miss you so damn much. But I promise you, I'll become the best hero for you. And I hope you're waiting for me there, you dipshit. Don't you ever dare replace me"
A gush of wind entered from the open balcony, engulfing him with soothing presence, as if someone responded to what he said.
Katsuki wiped his tears and chuckled, "you're still here with me, aren't you, Shouto?"
This time, the photo of them from the photobooth at the arcade fell from the desk beside him, with another note at the back that says, "I'll always be here for you, Katsuki. I love you"
"I love you more, Halfie"
And with that thought, he went to sleep, basking with what's left of Shouto's presence.