Tall Order - Chapter 6

As they ran along the beach, Katsuki conceded that maybe the stupid island wasn't as bad as he had initially assumed. It was peaceful, for one thing. As long as he got away from the crowd, it was empty for as far as the eye could see, and quiet as anything. Other than the gentle breeze through the leaves, the small waves crashing on the shore, and the patter of two pairs of feet on the trail, it was silent. Just the way Katsuki liked it If he was gonna be totally honest with himself, there was really nothing to hate. The break from work was, admittedly, nice as well. 

He couldn't even remember the last time he'd taken a vacation. A day off here and there to catch up on sleep? Sure. The occasional sick day? Yeah, of course. He was only human, after all. But a vacation? It just seemed so selfish to him, somehow. Taking time off from being a hero, from protecting people, just to go hang out at a beach or... He didn't even know, honestly. What did people do on vacation? Go skiing? Sightseeing? He supposed he could go hiking, but he did that on his weekends anyway. 

“You keeping up?” Izuku teased.

“Fuck off!”

He'd let Izuku set the pace, since he knew the track now, and as expected, it had been a nice challenge. Izuku's long legs made his comfortable pace a decent work out for Katsuki; so when Izuku was aiming for a work out, it made Katsuki push himself much harder than he'd really expected. It was boiling hot, too, lacking the morning breeze he'd had to help him out over the past few days, and Katsuki was dripping with sweat.

So was Izuku, he couldn't help but notice.

As they ran along the shore, water lapping at their sneakers, something inside of Katsuki broke. Whether it was maturity or self-control or something else entirely, he had no idea, but in that moment it shattered into a thousand pieces.

He tackled Izuku, grabbing him around the waist, and despite a chorus of squawks and giggles he continued to push, wrestling Izuku down the short pier and right off the edge into the water.

“Kacchan!” Izuku objected, when they both surfaced for air. “What was that?!”

“It's fucking hot!” 

Izuku paused for a moment, then burst out laughing. His voice echoed across the empty beach, and Katsuki couldn't help but smile, stifling his own laugh as he splashed Izuku in the face.

“The water feels good,” Izuku admitted, shaking his head and spraying Katsuki in the face with droplets of water. His new hairstyle was even more noticeable when he was drenched, floppy and cute instead of looking like a drowned puppy, the way he had in school. “Refreshing.”

“Then why haven't you been swimming with us? You damn idiot.”

As they hauled themselves out of the water, weighed down by sodden clothing, Izuku's eyes dropped to the sand briefly. His wet shirt clung to him like a second skin, showing off every curve and groove of his pecs and abs, and Katsuki couldn't bring himself to look away, even though he knew he was staring too hard.

“I have more scars than I used to,” he admitted finally, toying with the hem of his shirt. “It's kind of embarrassing, I guess.”

“They're just scars, who cares?”

Izuku peeled his shirt off over his head, and Katsuki's mind went blank. He forgot how to even breathe, eyes locked on the chiselled, sculpted muscles of Izuku's lean frame, every sound and thought drowned out by the high pitched whine of Katsuki's brain ceasing to function.

“Your abs are far more noticeable than your fucking scars,” Katsuki found himself growling, when he caught Izuku giving him a quizzical look. “What the fuck, dude?”

Izuku laughed, all his worries forgotten for a moment as the bright sound erupted from somewhere deep within him, but Katsuki could only watch as droplets of sea water trailed down his torso, disappearing under the waistband of his shorts.

“I'll come, later.”

Katsuki short-circuited again, opening and closing his mouth like a fucking goldfish as he stammered over his words.

“Swimming,” Izuku clarified, nodding toward the ocean. “I'll play with you.”

Fuck.

Katsuki was suddenly hyper aware of his clingy running tights, turning away in a hurry to walk toward the path up the hill. 

“Come on, then,” he grumbled. “We'd better shower and all that shit. You gonna keep up?”

“Coming!” Izuku laughed, slinging his shirt over his shoulder to follow. “Race you!”

“You're fuckin' on!”

If, that day, Katsuki threw a competition for the first time in his life, he would never admit it. It didn't matter what anyone else said, there was no way that Katsuki Bakugou threw a race just so he could watch his childhood friend's back muscles as he ran. 

No fucking way.

─

They'd just finished eating breakfast when the weather decided to turn. It started with a few scattered droplets falling onto the patio, and the next thing they knew it was bucketing down with a vengeance. People scattered, racing between rooms to close doors and windows, but all Katsuki could do was stare at the sliding door, at the glass being pelted with water, his eyes strangely wide.

Was Mother Nature trying to punish him?

“Let me help!” Izuku said cheerfully, taking the clean bowl from his hands to dry. “What are you staring at?”

“Rain.”

“No beach today, huh? Good thing we got our run in before it started!”

“Yeah.”

By the time they finished, leaving every dish and surface sparkling clean – without a single complaint from Izuku, much to Katsuki's surprise – the others had gathered in the living room. There was a projector aimed at one of the walls, connected to an absurdly massive collection of movies that Ochako and Tsuyu scrolled through, calling out prospective titles to the room. In a moment of weakness, Katsuki retrieved a box from the pantry, throwing the first of many bags of popcorn in the microwave. Mina joined him, filling bowls with chips and dip to deliver to the room, and as they waited for the last batch of popcorn, Mina sneaked a glance up at him.

“When the weather clears up we should go for a walk.”

“Where to?”

“Around the island! You have the lay of the land now, right? Show me around while we chat.”

“Fine,” he agreed, shrugging it off. “Something you want to talk about?”

“Yeah, but later.”

“Okay.”

They returned to the room with bowls of popcorn, getting stupid cheers from their companions as they distributed them, and with a nice, big cushion from the closet Katsuki took up residence in a back corner. He couldn't see the bottom edge of the screen, through people's heads, but it wasn't like he was particularly invested in the movie anyway. If anything, this was his perfect scenario for social interaction – sitting in a room together where he didn't need to hold a conversation. The room was growing chilly, though, without the hot sun to warm the area, and Katsuki pulled his knees in to his chest, hugging them close.

“Cold?”

The whisper made him jump, everyone else engrossed in snacks and the beginning of the movie already, and with an apologetic smile Izuku threw a blanket over his lap.

“Sit with me?” he found himself asking, the words slipping between his lips with no chance to stop them. 

Izuku's face lit up, and quickly he nodded, making Katsuki blush as he sat down close. Already committed, Katsuki reached over, tucking the blanket across Izuku's lap to share. He moved a little closer, perching on the edge of Katsuki's cushion, his arm warm where it brushed against Katsuki's briefly. He found himself leaning in, keeping the warmth pressed into him, cheeks still flushed as he refused to meet Izuku's eyes.

“Warming up?” Izuku whispered.

“A little.”

He slid in even closer, and Katsuki's body flooded with heat. If he looked in a mirror, he was sure his entire body would be bright red, but with the darkness of the room around them it was thankfully hidden from Izuku's view. How was the damn nerd's body so insanely warm when Katsuki had been shivering?

“Better?”

“Yeah.”

They made it through just over ten minutes of the film before Izuku leaned in again, whispering in his ear. The warm breathed tickled his ear and neck, and he twitched a little in response, but didn't pull away.

“Is Batman considered a quirkless superhero?”

Katsuki snorted, but nodded faintly, turning his head slightly to whisper back.

“Yeah, but he's rich. If you'd had that much fuckin' money for support gear, you could have done it too.”

“How much do you think it would cost for Hatsume to make me a batmobile?”

“You're not a bat,” Katsuki scoffed. “Maybe a bunnymobile.”

“Rude!” Izuku objected. “Although bunnies are cute, I like bunnies.”

“You're not cute.”

“Mean!”

For a moment Katsuki's lips almost betrayed him, almost blurted out “because you're hot as fuck” or “you're too fuckin' sexy to be cute”, but for once he managed to halt them. He kept control of his voice, settling for a little smirk instead when Izuku shoved him lightly. Even as he did, he still grinned his typical bright smile, and even in the darkness Katsuki could see it as clear as day.

“You're alright,” he mumbled awkwardly, shoving him back. 

By the time the movie ended, Katsuki had his head on Izuku's shoulder. He wasn't sure when or how it had ended up there, only that at some point as they whispered together he'd leaned in to say something, Izuku had wound an arm around his waist, and he had responded in kind. He snuggled in against Izuku's side, savouring his warmth, and if not the the constant exchange of dumb jokes or the stream of nerd analysis he had to make fun of, he probably would have taken a nap. 

When people began to move he quickly came to his senses, blushing as he pulled away, and by the time the lights flickered on he was already on his feet.

“I need to piss,” he muttered, weaving between people to get to the door. “Move it, asshole.”

He could feel eyes staring after him as he made his escape, hurrying to the bathroom and locking himself inside. With a sigh of relief he finally adjusted his pants, falling against the door and repressing a long groan.

No doubt about it, he had a stupid fuckin' crush.

─

Katsuki shoved his hands in his pockets as they walked, bundled up against the wind in his heaviest winter coat. He'd mostly brought it for the boat rides, assuming it would be cold out on the ocean, but boy was he grateful he had. It was freezing cold, since the earlier rains, and the track was muddy and slippery under his boots. That part really didn't bother him too much, he'd done worse in his life as an avid hiker, but he found himself keeping a careful eye on Mina, ready to grab her if she slipped.

“So you wanted to talk?” he prompted, when the track levelled out, becoming less precarious underfoot.

“Yeah!”

“Everything alright?”

“Aww, you're so sweet,” Mina teased, wrapping her arm around his bicep and holding on to him fondly. “I wanted to talk about you, you big dope.”

“Haah? About me? The fuck, Pinky, you dragged me out into the freezing fuckin' cold for this crap? I thought something was wrong you piece of shit.”

“Isn't it?” she asked with complete sincerity, watching his eyes narrow. “I thought maybe you needed to talk about some stuff, yeah?”

“Like what, asshole?”

“Like... Emotions and feelings? Come on, I know you're emotionally constipated, but you're not stupid.”

“Shut up.”

For a minute they walked in silence, and Katsuki led the way to the other end of the island, to the set of little overlooks where they could stare out at the horizon, watching grey water meet an equally grey sky.

“You like someone, right?” she asked gently. “You're having feelings for someone?”

Katsuki didn't answer for a moment, looking away stubbornly, but when the warring thoughts swirling inside his brain started to calm down, he conceded the faintest of nods.

“I think so.”

“Tell me about it. Tell me how you feel, Blasty.”

“Fuck off.”

“Come on, man, talk it out. I swear I won't say a word to anyone. You don't have to tell me who he is, even! Just... You know, get it off your chest.”

He sighed, leading the way to the next break in the trees, where the sun was beginning to peek through the clouds, casting gold over the bleak waves.

“I think I like someone. Or... I do like someone, I guess. It's probably just a stupid crush, right? I always look at guys when they're...”

“Tall and buff,” Mina finished for him, grinning at his little scowl. “So it's just a sweet little puppy crush like with the hot dudes in the bars, or is it more than that?”

He froze, his lungs not taking in enough air to form words, and she squeezed his arm lightly.

“It's okay, you know. You're allowed to like people! It's normal and natural, even if it's... new, I guess, for you. Everyone does it! Well, most people. So you like a guy, we'll leave it at that for now. Have you told him?”

“No, fuck no, I would never. I could never.”

“Why not?”

“Because he's not gonna fuckin' return the sentiment, so why should I fuckin' embarrass myself and ruin our friendship just to get it off my chest or what the fuck ever?”

“Relax, Katsuki,” she said softly. “It's okay, I'm not judging, you know that.”

He gritted his teeth, looking away again with another huff, and Mina waited patiently for him to gather his thoughts, for him to compose himself again, as they walked through the peaceful little forest trail.

“I've been trying to get his attention,” he admitted. “I hate it, I feel like such a fuckin' idiot for it, like I must be so damn obvious and pathetic to everyone watching, but I just can't help it, you know? I hate it when he looks at other people, those fuckin' eyes should be on me and me alone.”

“Aww, you're the jealous type,” she giggled, squeezing again when he tried to pull away. “It's not an insult! A lot of people think it's cute! I mean, unless you start getting obsessive and paranoid about it, but you're not like that.”

“I've been trying,” he repeated, grumbling. “But I'm fuckin' failing, he doesn't notice me at all.”

“I don't think you're failing.”

Katsuki stopped in his tracks, losing any thought of moving his feet, and Mina smiled at him fondly.

“Is it possible that maybe, just maybe, you're just too smitten and distracted to notice that he's flirting too?”

“Yeah fuckin' right.”

“I can't speak for anyone else, but... Well, I would tell him, if I were you.” 

“You'd fuckin' say that no matter what.”

“Maybe. I mean, is it really worth hiding it and suppressing all these thoughts and feelings just to save yourself from a moment of embarrassment? Isn't it worth that potential awkward moment to find out for sure if he feels the same?”

“He doesn't.”

“You don't know that. He's the only one who knows that, no one else can even attempt to make that decision for him.”

“I know him, asshole.”

“I can't make you do anything,” she shrugged, dragging him onward up the trail. “But think about it, okay? Just... consider it. For me?”

“Fucking whatever.”

As they climbed the next hill they fell silent again, but Katsuki returned her grip, squeezing her arm against his body to help her balance. She leaned into him, a strangely comfortable contact it had taken them years to develop. She had been the first one to realise that he didn't really hate physical contact, that sometimes he even needed it, even if he wouldn't admit it. Sure, he might complain or argue, but as long as you were his friend, he wouldn't shove you off. 

It had been a particularly long day at school, when she'd realised. Some time in their final year, after endless exams, when she'd reached out to ruffle his hair fondly and he'd relaxed a little under her touch. She'd been surprised, at first, but it hadn't taken her long to figure it out. Everyone needed a hug on occasion, after all. Katsuki was just not someone anyone would think to offer one to. Or to ask for one from, for that matter.

The rest of his friends had caught on soon after, when they saw Mina holding his arm or leaning on him in public – after the assurances that no, they were not a couple, they'd slowly begun to test the waters, and finally, after two long years of being tentative, his friends had begun to throw themselves at him.

He complained, of course, and sometimes it was the worst, but he never once pushed them away, and somewhere deep down he was grateful for the contact.

“So what are you going to do?” she asked, as the house came into view. “Just keep flirting and hope for the best?”

“Dunno.”

“Do you, um... Want some flirting advice?”

Katsuki snorted, but after a minute he conceded a nod.

“Sure, what have you got?”

“Well, you have a damn good body,” Mina pointed out, squeezing his bicep pointedly and grinning when he laughed. “Show off, yeah? It's not like you don't spend most of your life wearing sleeveless shirts anyway, just, y'know, ditch the sleeves when it's warm. Or the shirts, I don't mind watching you walk around shirtless.”

“Shut up, Raccoon Face,” he scoffed, elbowing her in the ribs. “People question our relationship enough already without you pulling this shit.”

“Hey! We can all appreciate a good looking guy, even if he's gay!”

“Shut up. Any other sage wisdom, idiot?”

“You could cook more. Everyone liked it when you cooked before, including- Well, I assume including this mysterious guy you won't tell me about that I assume is here with us since you're worrying about all of this now.”

“We're out of food, dumbass.”

“There's a boat coming tomorrow to bring more, didn't you see the grocery list?”

“No.”

“Ochako is gonna send the list off to someone tonight, just let her know anything you need!”

“You get cell reception on this shitty island?”

“In some places, I'm not sure where but the others said there are a few. You need to contact someone?”

“Not really. Should check my work emails and shit.”

“Just go with her when she sends the list, she won't mind.”

“Yeah. So less clothing, more cooking.”

“Yeah dude! It'll go great, I promise!”

“Whatever,” he sighed, looking up at the dull grey clouds as he approached the front door again. “You're not gonna tell anyone about this shit, are you?”

“I would never, Blasty, you know that.”

“Thanks.”

“Any time!”

With a last little squeeze at his arm, that he returned with a ruffle of her bright pink hair, they stepped inside and parted aways again. Mina ducked off to her bedroom, and after Katsuki abandoned his jacket in favour of a dark singlet, he made a beeline for the dining area, where he could hear familiar voices.

“Pink Cheeks,” he interrupted, getting a stupidly big smile in response as she looked up. “You're sending out for groceries?”

“Yeah! Do you need anything?”

“A few things.”

“Here, add them to the list!”

She handed her phone over, wrapped in a bright pink case, and he scanned the list briefly. Most of it was basic – eggs, rice, milk, coffee – but there were a few more niche items too, things like marshmallows or potato chips, that made him raise an eyebrow. The group was made of heroes, why did they want that bullshit? He snatched a glance at the group while they were busy talking, pausing for a moment on Izuku's dumb freckled face, then darted back to the list to type.

“Where do you go to send it, anyway?” he asked, as he handed her back the device. “I don't get reception.”

“Oh! There's a few places! I can-” she paused, glancing across the table. “Deku-kun, you wanted to call your Mother, right? Why don't you two go, and you can send the email for me?”

Izuku blinked twice, then nodded, smiling as he reached for the phone.

“Sure! Shall we go now, Kacchan?”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Go put some warm clothes on, I'll just be a minute.”

He pulled a face, but Izuku just smiled at him fondly, and finally he conceded a nod. 

“Fine, let me get my coat.”

“And a sweater! It's cold out!”

“What are you, my mother?” he scoffed, shoving his hands in his pockets and turning away stubbornly, his cheeks dusted with pink. “Don't tell me what to do.”

Izuku laughed, with his typical bright smile, and didn't bother to object. Huffing, Katsuki headed for the stairs, retrieving his coat again from the end of his bed. He buttoned it up to his chin, jamming his hands in his pockets, and with his phone on hand he returned to meet Izuku at the door. 

The nerd was dressed in layers too, his down jacket making him look even broader than he already was, and he threw a small backpack over his shoulder when Katsuki trudged down the stairs. Without a word he opened the door, and Katsuki shivered a little when the cold winds hit him again.

“Did you put a sweater on?”

“Fuck off,” Katsuki blushed. “Quit ordering me around.”

“Kacchan, it's cold,” he reiterated, pouting. “Why are you being so stubborn all of a sudden?”

“I'm not. I was just out there, it's fine.”

Izuku raised an eyebrow at him, and Katsuki scowled, shoving his hands deeper in his pockets.

“Humour me, Kacchan. I'll even carry it for you, until you get cold.”

He grumbled something, and Izuku tilted his head to the side slightly, contemplating him.

“Speak up, Kacchan. What was that?”

“I didn't fuckin' bring one, okay? Let's go, for fuck's sake.”

“You should have said so,” Izuku sighed, patting him on the head lightly. “One minute, wait for me.”

He jogged up the stairs before Katsuki could complain, returning momentarily with a thick navy jumper in his hands. Without a word he unbuttoned Katsuki's coat, stuffing the sweater over his head. Katsuki pouted, but let Izuku dress him all the same, pulling his arms through sleeves that were much too long for his arms. The hem hung down to his thighs, almost passable as a dress rather than a shirt, and when he looked up he found a sweet little smile on Izuku's lips.

“You're so little,” he teased, laughing when Katsuki burned red. “Coat!”

He held it out, and Katsuki pulled it back on obediently, letting Izuku button it for him. He had to admit it was much warmer with the extra layer, his fingers curled into the wool, and he couldn't resist ducking his head to take a quick little sniff. Sure enough, it smelled just like Izuku – clean and sweet, with a hint of something like freshly cut wood. God, he was so far gone, sniffing the dude's damn sweater.

The hike up to the top of the hill was cold and windy, his nose turning numb as they got higher, but soon his phone started buzzing in his pocket, and he fumbled for it to look.

“It's more stable up ahead,” Izuku told him. “Hold on one minute.”

He led the way to a clear area toward the edge of a ciff, laid with concrete tiles and a little wooden bench to perch on. When Katsuki sat down, Izuku reached into his bag, producing a scarf of deep green wool and winding it around Katsuki's face and neck with a smile.

“I warned you,” he pointed out.

“Yeah, yeah. Shut up, nerd.”

Izuku giggled, sitting down beside him and holding out an arm. Just like when they'd all gathered in front of the movie, Izuku pulled him in, holding him against a warm side.

“You're always so damn warm,” Katsuki complained, turning his head a little to press his nose into Izuku's bicep. “How the hell?”

“Just lucky, I guess. Stay close to me, I promise I won't tell anyone.”

He turned away, folding his legs onto the bench and leaning comfortably against Izuku's side. He had a thousand emails waiting, when he pulled his phone out to get started, plus a few texts and voicemails. He sighed quietly, then got to work.

“Lots to go through?” Izuku asked knowingly, combing long fingers through blond spikes lightly. “You mind if I call my Mom?”

“Go for it. Say hey for me.”

He did his best to tune out the conversation, focussing on his own abundance of messages and letting them have some semblance of privacy, but when he heard his name he couldn't help but look up.

“Yeah, he's sitting here with me, we- Huh?- What?- No, Mom, I- Are you-” Izuku sighed, nodding faintly. “Okay, okay.”

He offered the phone to Katsuki with a tired smile on his lips.

“Mom wants to say hi.”

He snorted as he accepted it, letting Izuku pull Ochako's phone out to mail off the shopping list, and held the device to his ear. It was still warm from Izuku's hands, but he couldn't help but smirk when he noticed the model. Nerd had good taste.

“It's me,” he said softly, smirking when he heard a gasp on the other end. “Did you think he was lying or something?”

“Katsuki, it's so good to hear your voice!” Inko gushed. “It's been so many years! I didn't know you boys were still in touch!”

“We weren't really. Not until this week. It's, um, nice, I guess. Catching up, I mean.”

“Are you doing well? I read all your news articles and see you on television all the time, but we know how much they twist things. You're healthy? Safe? Strong?”

“Yeah, all of the above,” he chuckled. “I'm doing well, thank you for keeping up with everything.”

“I'm so glad to hear it. You take care of yourself, alright? Don't go wearing yourself out and getting sick!”

“I'll do my best. You take care too, I'll come visit next time I'm in town. Here, I'll give you back to Deku.”

“It was nice hearing from you, Katsuki! I look forward to seeing you!”

“Yeah, you too.”

He handed the phone back over his shoulder, letting Izuku slip it safely out of his grip, and turned to his emails. Most of them were unimportant, things he could swipe away, but there were a few there from work, too, that he figured he should probably address.

“Kacchan?”

He tiled his head back to look, seeing a silver flask in Izuku's hand, finally dismissed from his phone call.

“Hot chocolate?”

“You brought hot chocolate up here?” Katsuki snorted.

“Yeah! I told you, it gets cold. I need to wait for a grocery confirmation, even if I finish everything else. Do you want some?”

“Sure, why not.”

He poured out a mugful, setting it carefully in Katsuki's hands, then poured his own and slotted the thermos back into his bag. He found his free arm around Katsuki's waist again, hesitating for a moment.

“Is this okay?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

He dropped one of his arms a little lower, to rest over Izuku's, tapping out a couple of quick replies while he drank his warm, sweet cocoa with the other hand. Together they sat in a comfortable silence, tapping at their respective phones, though Katsuki still smiled a little at the fact that they were almost identical. The nerd had done the same research he had, clearly. Cared more about reliability and durability than brand names and prettiness.

It wasn't until the first drops of rain came that they moved, looking up at the shifting grey clouds.

“I guess we'd better go,” Izuku sighed.

“Yeah.”

He tucked his phone away, and Izuku shouldered his bag, their pace a little quicker as they retreated than it had been on their ascent. When Izuku slipped, Katsuki couldn't help but laugh, watching him grab at a tree to steady himself. He reached out, gripping his arm just like he'd done to help Mina, but the way his heart beat faster in response was like nothing he'd ever felt with his friends.

“Come on, nerd,” he smirked, steadying him in the mud as they shuffled their way down toward the house. “Get some decent shoes, for once in your life.”

“I like my shoes!”

“No kidding. At least they're free, now, I guess.”

“Huh?”

“Because they sponsor you?” Katsuki clarified, raising an eyebrow at him. “Did you hit your head on that tree or something?”

“No! I just... I didn't know you knew.”

“Of course I knew, idiot, the billboards are everywhere.”

“Oh God, the billboards,” Izuku cringed. “I hate modelling.”

“They looked good.”

“Thanks,” Izuku smiled sheepishly, kicking mud off his shoes as they approached the house. “It was just so awkward. I never thought I'd see the day that my agent wanted sex appeal from me.”

“Well, I guess some people are attracted to big dumb nerds.”

Izuku shoved him lightly, laughing, and Katsuki smirked as he nudged him back.

“We should hang out again, once we're back.”

“Sexy nerd model is gonna find time for little old me? Wow.”

“Like you can talk, jerk,” he laughed. “We can try, though. Right?”

“Yeah, sure.”

With a last little squeeze of his arm, Katsuki retracted his hand, and they parted ways at the door. He felt oddly cold with Izuku gone, despite the baggy sweater still bunched under his coat, and somehow strangely empty as well. No one had ever told him about this part of crushes, about feeling lonely in a house full of people, about missing them when they're in the next damn room.

The feeling lasted right through the evening, even as he sat with his friends to eat dinner and watched Izuku giggle with his own across the room. Even as they settled in with drinks, and people trickled out one by one to go to bed.

He'd given up on the bedroom, on the sleepless nights of tossing and turning. Instead he'd dug out the little tent he'd brought with him, claiming a pile of blankets and the pillows from his bed, and by torchlight he walked down the hill from the patio, setting it up in a little clearing below the house. It was quiet, even with people still awake and talking just beyond the doors, and he breathed a sigh of relief as he shoved all this things inside. 

He'd camped out in colder weather before, so he knew as long as he stayed zipped inside, it should contain the warmth well enough – especially with the duvets he'd pilfered from the house. He could bundle up nice and cozy in his little nest, with a plastic raincover as his first defense against the weather, and a canvas tent as the second, and until the sun's rays beat through and woke him, all should be well.

Finally, he was going to get a whole night of uninterrupted sleep.