Set You Free [Angst!] - Chapter 4

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Katsuki expected more excitement when he shared the decision with Izuku, handing over a printed copy of the first chapter for him to read and review. Over the weeks their guards had gotten a little more lenient about them exchanging papers – Katsuki suspected Izuku got searched on their way back to the cells anyway, the same way Katsuki had to go back through the metal detectors, so it probably wasn’t too big of a deal to push some papers across a table. As long as everything ended up back in Katsuki’s hands at the end, it wasn’t like Izuku could smuggle anything in – what would they want to smuggle out, after all? Maybe a map of the place to plan an escape route or something, he supposed, but that would still require Izuku to take something back in to escape his cell with.

At any rate, as he pushed the papers over and explained his idea, he expected more of a reaction. More gushing praise, more bright enthusiasm and ideas bursting out of him, but instead he just got that typical bright smile he’d gotten for every article so far, accompanied by a cheerful “that’s great, Katsuki!”

“Spill it, nerd,” Katsuki demanded, catching the way green eyes darted away when he tried to meet them. “What’s going on?”

“It’s no big deal, really. Let me take a look at this chapter! Do you have any more questions for me yet?”

“Deku,” Katsuki growled, eyes narrowing. “You can’t hide your shitty face from me, I see you, I see right through you.”

“That’s a new one,” Izuku snorted, leaning his head on his hand as he flipped through pages. “Very creative, Kacchan.”

“Talk to me.”

Izuku hesitated, then huffed a short sigh, still refusing to meet Katsuki’s eyes.

“I don’t have long left,” he said finally. “We’ve been having all these meetings, and my lawyers have been pushing more and more desperately for retrials or extensions, but they’ve had no luck so far. I don’t know the date, they don’t tell us, but I assume my lawyers do. So it must be coming soon.”

“No, they can’t,” Katsuki scowled, hands balling into fists. “You’re innocent.”

“I’m not.”

“Okay, maybe not innocent, but it was... It was...”

“Exactly,” he shrugged. “I’m not innocent, it wasn’t self-defence, and I was a police officer. I should have put my faith in the system, you know? Should have found the evidence and prosecuted them the proper way instead of snapping. I know that, I’ve always known that, but in the moment... You see them hurting people, hurting kids, and it feels like there’s no other choice, you know? If I tried to leave with that knowledge they would have killed me anyway, but you can’t file for pre-emptive self-defence.”

“But it’s not right,” Katsuki insisted. “They can’t. I won’t let them. I’ll tell your story, to everyone I know, every newspaper – I have contacts, I can get attention! I’ll write this damn book and I’ll make sure it ends up in the hands of everyone. Every politician, every lawyer, every police officer, everyone. I swear, Izuku, I will make sure everyone knows your story.”

“Thank you, Kacchan,” Izuku smiled weakly. “It means a lot, knowing someone cares. Knowing you care. Thank you for believing in me.”

“Of course I believe in you! They would too, if they just listened. I just... I have to do something.”

All too soon the guards were calling him away, dragging him back to his cell with a last smile over his shoulder, and Katsuki clutched his chapter tightly, crinkling the edges of the pages.

For the next month, he barely slept. He spent long nights researching and writing, pitching his first chapters to different publishers, editing and reordering different passages and scenes until he was satisfied. Every week he took his new pieces to Izuku, letting him read over the latest scenes or chapters, getting him to fact-check his words to make sure it was all accurate and legitimate, and most importantly, giving him that hope, showing him how soon it would all be out there for the world to see, for them to jump on his support-train and get Izuku out.

He couldn’t wait for that day to come. The day he could be there, standing in reception, when Izuku walked out in ordinary civilian clothes, finally free of the weird teal jumpsuit that clashed so horribly with his green hair. He wanted to show the world the man they thought needed to be locked away, show them exactly how incredible and sweet and heroic he really was, show them what a mistake they’d made in convicting him without listening to the entire story.

The week he got a letter from one of the biggest publishing companies in the country was one of the most exciting ones of his life – not just because someone actually wanted to publish his work, but because he might actually make a difference.

Izuku seemed to sense the excitement in him when he walked in, eyes lighting up when he saw Katsuki’s face, and Katsuki could only grin as he shoved the letter across the table. Izuku picked it up obediently, eyes scanning down the page, and when he reached the most important part he almost started clapping with his joy.

“That’s amazing, Kacchan! I’m so happy for you! I’m so proud of you! Of course they want you, you’re the best writer ever. I’m so honoured that you chose me to be the subject of your first book!”

“Had to pick a worthy topic,” Katsuki shrugged. “Thanks for being it, I guess.”

Izuku’s eyes began to water, and Katsuki could only watch in horror as tears spilled down his cheeks, smile finally cracking as a choked sob wrenched its way out of him. He clapped both hands over his mouth, trying to hold it in, but it was too late – the dam had finally burst, and there was no stopping it once it started. His chest heaved, his breaths shuddered, and for a long moment Katsuki was frozen, just watching silently as the man fell apart before him.

He was going to throw up if he watched for much longer.

“I want to live,” Izuku whispered, between wracked sobs. “I don’t want to die, Katsuki. I don’t want to! Not yet, not ever! I just- I just want to live.”

“Oh, God, Deku. Izuku. Come here.”

He pulled Izuku out of his chair, wrapping him up in a tight hug, and gently pressed the blubbering face into his shoulder, tucking him in all close and safe. With his words failing him, he settled for running a hand up and down Izuku’s spine slowly, soothing him through the tears. The skinny frame shuddered in his grip, barely staying on its feet, so Katsuki shifted his grip, wrapping around Izuku’s waist to hold him up, all the while whispering vague reassurances that he was sure Izuku didn’t hear a word of.

“I want to see the world,” Izuku hiccuped. “I never got to travel.”

“You will.” Katsuki knew the words came out hollow – they’d both known from the beginning that it was a long shot, but he’d just so desperately wanted to hope. “Don’t give up yet, Deku.”

“I want to sit in the sun, and swim in the ocean,” he continued breathlessly. “And build snowmen, and eat good food, and- and- and I want to be with you for all of it. Because I’ve- I’ve fallen in love, Kacchan. With you. And I don’t- I don’t want Kacchan to forget me.”

“I could never,” Katsuki assured him, voice carefully level. “I could never, ever forget you, even if I tried. And I’m gonna do everything I can to get you out of here, you know that. I’ll do everything I can, so you can come home with me.”

He squeezed a little tighter, closing his eyes to keep his own tears at bay – he refused to break in front of Izuku, refused to let him see anything other than his careful composure. He needed Izuku to have faith in him, needed to stay strong for him.

“We’re just not meant to be,” Izuku sniffled, quieting a little. “Not in this life. But... But next time, it’ll be you and me, okay? Promise me. Promise me you won’t forget.”

“I promise,” Katsuki whispered, kissing the top of his head. “I promise I won’t forget you. Not now, not ever.”

“I love you, Kacchan, so much. I wish I’d found you sooner, I wish we’d had more- More time.”

“We still have time, Deku. Don’t you go giving up on me. It’s your turn to promise, now. Promise me you won’t stop fighting. Fighting to live, fighting for me, fighting for us. I think... I think I’m in love, too. With you. So don’t give up on me.”

“I could never,” Izuku sniffed, laughing weakly. “Give up on you? Impossible. Until my last breath, I’ll be waiting.”

“I’m gonna fight for you.”

“If anyone can win an unwinnable battle, it’s Kacchan.”

“Damn right, nerd.”

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