[He didn't expect him to fall... but he doesn't buckle either. Katsuki holds him, letting Yuji decide whether he'll struggle to keep it in or let it all go. He's been in this place before, breaking down and crying in front of Izuku, yelling about how it was Katsuki's fault All Might had to retire, about how his beliefs couldn't be wrong, could they?
He remembers Izuku likewise, falling into his arms and crying after everyone in 1-A came for him to save him from himself. Everything they said finally leading to the hero breaking down in his childhood friend's arms after Katsuki reaffirmed Izuku's path and choices, admitted his own complicate complexes towards the other boy, then apologized to him for everything he'd done to Izuku.
People are strong, heroes are strong, but they're still people. They break when they fall, they hurt when they're injured, and trying to weather something alone for too long only wears them down. Suffering certainly can help you grow when you overcome it, but it doesn't make you stronger by itself. You shouldn't wish it on anyone either... Not as an excuse to get stronger at least.
His chest clenches as Yuji holds onto him. It means so much to him the other boy listened to him, trusted Katsuki to hear him out. They clash on many things, but agree on many others. Someday, he'll be the one holding onto Yuji... He remembers when All Might hugged him after that fight with Izuku. A hand in his hair felt like such a comfort, hiding his shame and sadness for a little while so he could record. It really did feel like letting someone else handle that burden for a while so his soul and mind could vent all the emotions piled up inside. Katsuki gently caresses through Yuji's hair, fingertips grazing his scalp, wanting to continue offering that respite.
Izuku and Yuji are both crybabies...
When their classmate left and their school went into lockdown as the second war approached, Katsuki threw himself into training. To get stronger, to fight, to improve so he could save as many people as possible once the war broke open. Like Yuji, there are things only he can do. He doesn't want anyone else to die on his watch either. Hero or villain. There's enough loss and pain in the world already; nothing can improve and get better if everyone's dead. Katsuki is willing to die to protect... but he's doggedly determined that no one will have to pay that cost. Including himself.
Listening to and feeling Yuji break down in his arms, Katsuki rests his head against the other boy's own, cheek to his hair and arms giving the occasional squeeze. Tears wet his neck and collar, but it's fine. He holds that burden for a little while. It's so very heavy... and his ginger is so very strong. It's not fair that this world would bring them together and not let them help each other once they finished helping this one. He wants so badly to go back with Yuji and protect him, help him, and it hurts to know that he can't. Somehow... he hopes his words will stay, that Yuji's support will also engrave itself on Katsuki's body, so he can take some of his friend back home with him.]
It's nice to say, but it's impossible. We all have regrets. [Mirko said something similar about living with no regrets, ever day like it was her last... but even she had regrets, failing to kill Shigaraki before the monster awoke and unleashed hell on Japan. She was the only one close enough to do that... and she failed.] But we can make sure our happiness and successes outweigh our regrets. You can still live that way.
[Helpful. Strong. Good. Loved. Regrets don't have to clog up life and drag someone down. Katsuki braces a bit when Yuji drops his weight on him and supports his friend without fail. Holding him close in a safe catch. He wishes he could take all of Yuji's negatives and make them vanish. Such a stupid wish, but it's true. Just like Yuji would probably wish as well. So he holds him, feels the strength in the sorcerer's heart beating strong. This is a friendship he'll protect and cherish. A support he won't ever take for granted. Even as his shirt drags in Yuji's fingers, his collar dampens from hot tears, Katsuki holds on. This precious, fractured person he refuses to let go of.]
Aa. I won't ever give up on you. I know you'll win. And when we meet again, I'll hear all about it. [He'll believe in him, he'll wait for him, he'll keep his faith, knowing Yuji's best will come out. Yuji's promise to return, to prove his life, hits home a lot harder than he might think. Katsuki rests his mouth against the other boy's head, breathing quietly as a number of feelings run through.] I'm with you. Always.
[ Bakugo holds on to him, and Yuji feels as if he can survive this.
How many people has he told about what has happened to Megumi? Gojo-sensei. Choso. He implied it with some others. Taking about his failures still makes him feel sick, discussing the things that he had done in the past still hurts him, but he can't avoid it or deny it any more than he can run from it. Bakugo might say his hands are clean of blood, but Yuji knows otherwise, because there are humans lives that he alone had taken. Add that to the suffering that Sukuna had caused and he's well aware that he can never forgive himself, not even for a moment.
When he had fought Higuruma-san, the other man had told him that he was innocent in the eyes of the law. He wasn't in control, therefore Sukuna was to blame - it came up again when they had been discussing the best option to deal with him using Judgeman. The problem is even with that reality in front of him, ready to be accepted, Yuji simply isn't capable of shrugging away his own belief in his guilt, determined to accept it. The world they live in is one where the good are punished, and the evil thrive, so he was happy to take that punishment and allow himself to accept it, carry it. In some ways, it made him stronger, gave him something to overcome.
In other ways, it broke him more. What do you fight for when you no longer want to fight to stay alive? Without Megumi needing him, Yuji would have very little left now. He'd said 'start by saving me', and Yuji clings to that like a curse, guiding him forward. He isn't going to give up, he isn't going to stop until his best friend is safe and free from the horrors of being a vessel. After all, Yuji knows how that feels.
Regrets are the kind of thing that kill a sorcerer: cursing people with their last words, regrets cloying their throats, dragging them down to the pits of despair and leaving them to rot, but Yuji doesn't know how to deal without them now. He doesn't know what to do other than try and keep fighting, to try and keep pushing, and if he doesn't do that then he feels as if he really will fall apart. This moment, this tenderness with Bakugo, is scraping the surface of the grief and hurt he feels, squashed down inside of him so it doesn't kill him.
Yuji had said it, after all: he wants to be the person people turn to in order to feel safe, and taken care of, that when they see him they feel hope. He doesn't want to be the kind of person that only hurts them.
Letting his grief tip over has him shivering in Bakugo's arms, leaning into him, trying to listen to his words. He wants to live in the way that his friend says he can, wants to allow himself the possibility of a brighter, better future, but he also knows the reality of his world. For all that Bakugo wants Yuji to overcome, for all that he can try and come back here, he also knows one thing: his role in this battle might be to die to save Megumi's life, and that's something he would do without hesitation. Megumi is everything to him, and in the world of Jujutsu Sorcery they are prepared to take that everything from you.
Bakugo remains strong, sturdy, just as Yuji had predicted, and he sinks into him just that little bit more. It's rare that Yuji feels as though he can let himself feel his sadness, let alone share it with others, and while he might not think his crying is much of a gift at all... It's a sign of how much faith he has in Bakugo, how much he treasures their friendship, how much he believes in their shared companionship. Bakugo has come to mean a lot to him in the last few months, and Yuji trusts him with his life.
For someone who's willing to give it all up, that's the best trust he can offer.
Yuji keeps sniffling, keeps gripping at Bakugo, as if afraid that he might just collapse to the floor if he lets go, afraid that he might lose himself to whatever yawning pit is underneath him. Silly, stupid Yuji, feeling too much and not being able to handle it at all. He really is just a teenager, in the end. ]
I'll live how I can. To be the best I can. I... [ He'll die in the best way he can too, if that's how it ends. Yuji thinks of looking into Higuruma's eyes, thinks of Nanami's last words, thinks of Gojo-sensei's smile, and he thinks maybe it would be okay to die to save someone else. It would make his life have the kind of meaning he's always dreamed of.
Sniffling, tears still rolling down his face, he doesn't let go. He squeezes, gently, and swallows the lump in his throat. ]
I want us both to win. I want us to come back here, later, if LILITH lets us, and celebrate. We could have the biggest party and invite everyone... I want to have fun with you too, Katsuki, not just cry.
[That's the very sensation he wants to convey. A hero gives hope and strength. A hero's presence should give every person around them the feeling of "I can get through this" - the symbol of peace and hope.
Katsuki understands the weight of this information passed onto him. A secret, a sorrowful update of Yuji's world and life. It's not his information to pass around and not a shred of it will fall from his lips to anyone other than Yuji himself if they talk about it. But it contextualizes so much of his friend's suffering and the onus behind his guilt and drive going forward. Katsuki doesn't like to discuss his failures either, but after this... he'll probably open up more to Yuji about his own life. Another time. Right now, this is helping Yuji.
Like lancing a wound, it hurts, it looks disgusting, it feels worse, but it drains the bad out to give more room to heal. He would never suggest Yuji avoid his failures or run from them, but rather confront them and conquer them. The problem with Yuji's bloody hands is the circumstances of that blood. Katsuki doesn't think for a second that the sorcerer willingly stepped up with murder and sadism in his heart and eyes to slaughter a human without remorse. Even when Hawks killed Twice, it came at the the end, all doubt and options exhausted, with the final decision being "one man" versus "thousands of innocent lives" - and even that has weighed on the winged hero's heart since then.
Katsuki won't believe Yuji's guilt, even if the sorcerer himself says he's guilty. It's not up to the blonde whether Yuji forgives himself, however, but he'll damn well encourage him to. While hypocritically being unable to forgive himself for his horrible treatment of Izuku all those years and his own hand in ending All Might's era. Factually, Yuji is innocent of the death... but no one can convince his internal judge when his internal jury has already passed "Guilty" as verdict. Izuku's the same way, talking blame, guilt, and responsibility for things that are outside his control. Both of these heroes are insane like that, something Katsuki has to grit his teeth and accept. Can't argue with crazy.
But he will argue Yuji's treatment of himself if he can. Even if it comes in the form of holding him tight while the sorcerer beats himself up inside. Their worlds are extremely different, as Nanami revealed when he and Katsuki clashed over the sorcerer society structure versus the hero society build. Difference in size, teaching, expectations, good, bad, presence, goals. Yuji's treatment at the hands of the society he was just trying to help pissed Katsuki off to no end.
And yet, he'll continue to challenge Yuji not to fight out of the sorrow of his past regrets, but out of the hope for a world and himself that is strong enough and healthy enough not to let those regrets happen again. Perhaps it's the difference between sorcerers who fight in the darkness while heroes have always fought in the light. Regardless, Katsuki won't stop encouraging Yuji to not fall into his own grief and pain. It's there... but it doesn't have to be his fuel.
From people he's talked to, Yuji brings that sensation of safety and light when he's around them. Those who know him better have to accept he needs some... looking out for as well. Katsuki's aware of his heroic friends' mindsets thinking hurting someone can range anywhere from stabbing them in the gut to mildly inconveniencing them.
Yuji's a handful, but a handful Katsuki will keep close to his chest as long as he can, protect, encouraged, cherished, and fussed over. Another shiver and he gathers him in close again, squeezing the opposite shoulder and resting his cheek atop his head. It hurts, but... he's only human. Katsuki knew the pain of death in exchange for life. He'd felt it when he blitzed in front of Izuku and took the fatal blow without even thinking. Felt it again right before Shigaraki punched him in the chest and blew Katsuki's heart to pieces. Each time, he did it to protect. A hero's willing to sacrifice.
... but he doesn't want Yuji to die. It's selfish, simple, and sincere. If even the faintest vestige of himself can survive long enough in his friend's soul to make him change from a fatal rush to a death-defying miracle, that'll be enough for him. There has to be a way to save. He can't give up believing in that. In Yuji.
It's not the tears that are a gift, but the trust enough to let them flow. Katsuki can't squeeze them all out, but he can soak them up and help wipe them away as they go. He feels a silent sense of relief himself that Yuji can address his pain and sadness. The fake smiles, the promises of "I'm fine", pushing himself to swallow it day after day... Punching through that and reaching out for the sad boy inside, even if just for a short while, is a gift. Holding Yuji's hand and feeling his fingers curl around his own for support is a gift.
Katsuki treasures this boy too. And while he trusts Yuji with his life as well and cares about him enough to die for him... how much more meaningful is it to live for him? It's like Izuku's mother said to All Might about Izuku. "Don't give up your life for him. Live properly so you can continue to help him." Being willing to give it all up isn't bad. But Katsuki doesn't want that to be so eagerly offered... by anyone.
He gazes at the wall behind them over top Yuji's head, letting him grip onto him as he stands firm. He won't let go. He won't let him fall. No pit will have Yuji as long as he lives. Katsuki's a silly, stupid teenager as well, who struggles with weakness, who has regrets, who cries in private, even if extremely rare. But he's come to learn he can't handle it all on his own. He's just a boy. Growing into a hero.]
Thank you. [It may be strange to thank someone for promising to live, but between them, it should mean a lot. Fight to live, Yuji. Be ready to die, but fight as hard as fuck to live. If Yuji can promise him that, Katsuki won't ask him for anything else. He never got to be there when Midnight-sensei died. He wasn't there when Sir Nighteye passed away. But he was there when All Might's era came to an end... Dying to save someone is honorable. But he would rather save them alive and smile at them later during recovery. It's one of the issues he has with Yuji and Izuku. Don't glorify your death. Don't die for someone. Live for them. Save them, and yourself, and live. If at all possible.
But he won't say those things to Yuji right now. Another time and place. Katsuki lowers his eyes and closes them as he nuzzles against Yuji's head. Quiet, comforting, gently rubbing his hair again.]
Aa. We'll win. And we'll come back here. [One way or another.] Tch, baka. I've had a lot of fun with you already, Yuji. Besides, [He feels a small smile curve the corner of his mouth, probably Yuji feels it too on his head.] You'll cry anyways when we meet again, cause you're happy.
[ The problem with Yuji remains the way his heart beats and breaks for people: because he has dedicated his life to saving them, to giving them all that he can, everything that he can, choosing that to become his role and his purpose.
Fighting Sukuna doesn't feel as frightening to him as perhaps he should. It's terrifying, of course it is, to fight the King of Curses, the creature that had stolen Gojo-sensei away from him, who had ripped him to shreds and had been a constant thorn in his side. Sukuna had lived in his mind for months, had tried to make him feel that strange, twisting guilt that had eaten him from the inside out, and Yuji had come to know him well enough - well enough to know that he would never stop. He would keep hurting Fushiguro, would keep tearing him apart and destroying the remains of his soul, and thus Yuji would have to fight all the harder to save him.
It's simple to say that's his reason for living, and other people might think that it's a bit narrow-minded of him, but to Yuji it's that easy. Fushiguro Megumi had given him a purpose when he had asked him to 'start by saving me', had given him a reason to continue to fight after all his losses in Shibuya, when he had wanted nothing more than to die. Even now, that echoes in his mind, tears him into a thousand pieces, leaving him broken and wounded and hurting: just him. He is the only person who should have died on that day. His fingers bleeding in the dirty gravel, his hand shaking, mouth tasting like vomit - only him.
Yuji isn't going to get to choose how he dies, not really. It's not up to him to decide how it's going to end. He had known from the first moment that he entered the world of Jujutsu Sorcery that he was going to be subject to execution, so all the hours he spent with the people he loved had felt like borrowed time, had felt like a gift on top of everything else. Why would he ever want to ask for more than that, when he had already been given enough? To be able to be friends with Megumi, with Kugisaki, to meet people like Gojo-sensei, and Nanamin, and Junpei, to know Higuruma-san and Yuta-senpai, see people like Maki-senpai stand tall and strong despite loss...
Coming here, to Neo Tokyo, has changed him a little. He understands, now, more about the kind of damage he causes to people with his mindset, so he is doing what he can to reshape it, to adjust. Not to hope for a better future, necessarily, or to imagine that he'll be able to outlive this fight with Sukuna, but to consider himself a little more. When he fights in missions, when he throws himself into the deep end, when he takes those upgrades without considering the damage it might do in the long run... He can consider what other people might be feeling, because he empathises. He's seen so much hurt and death that he wants to spare his friends that pain, wants to make sure that they never have to experience it because of him.
There's a level of guilt that comes from doing this, as there always will be, but Yuji is starting to put the pieces together. Bakugo is strong, one of the strongest people he's met, and that means he can handle this, just as he wants to handle things for his friend. The idea of this boy being hurt because of him, feeling the same pain and grief he felt when Megumi, Raidou or Kugisaki got hurt is intolerable, and he's had to force himself to rethink his actions. That, plus the previous mission... Is it time that he starts to take more care of himself, starts to reconsider the depth of the danger he puts himself in?
(There are some things he'll still have to do: he'll still fight to get stronger, get the upgrades that seem worth it, so his body can adjust and grow, so that he can relish the chance to be someone better, but he'll think. He'll message. He'll try harder.)
For all that he is growing internally, Yuji knows it's not good enough just yet. He sinks into Bakugo's embrace and allows himself a moment to just cry, to let all the weight of his sadness and grief slip away and fall into Bakugo's arms. For now, perhaps for just this moment, he can allow himself to rely on one of his friends, and maybe that will pave the way for more honesty with the others. Megumi, Kugisaki, Raidou, Gojo-sensei - maybe they can get their share of insights into the depths of just how miserable and broken Yuji Itadori is, more often than not, how his grief has reshaped him and moulded him into someone that lives for a singular purpose.
Does this mean he's rationalised his feelings for Bakugo, that he's thought about the depth of affection? No. In a few short months, this person has become so important to him, reaching the tiers of friendship that he'd never had before, and the thought settles in his mind like a puzzle piece, like it was meant to fit there: I'd die for you too. If, for some reason, it was necessary... Yuji Itadori would die for Katsuki Bakugo, even if his friend would bring him back to kill him for it. Trust like that is borne out of all of these things, and the heart of it is this empathy and understanding that Yuji could never doubt for even a moment.
His grip on his friend doesn't ease, doesn't settle, doesn't relax. If anything, it tightens, and with Yuji's strength it might be enough to hurt a regular person. It's as if the idea of letting go terrifies him, as if he feels like he might somehow disappear and drown in his own misery, or he might just collapse to the ground under the weight of all his own heartache. He doesn't want to keep crying, but it's hard not to when Bakugo - when Katsuki is offering him solace. The others do, this isn't an isolated moment, but Yuji is keeping so many secrets for himself and Gojo-sensei that it's hard to admit it all to anyone else. It's hard to allow himself to speak in real words the hell that he has found himself tied up in, Sukuna's laughter an echo in his mind.
Eventually, the tears do stop, but he doesn't let go of Katsuki, doesn't let himself do anything except lean into him and rest his body against him, taking a little control back. It's a softer embrace now, less sad and desperate and more filled with gratefulness and a flickering sense of contentment and joy, knowing that they're safe together. That they're able to take care of one another, that when he needs it, Katsuki will be here - and Yuji will be here for him, too. It's especially true when he feels that little smile against his body.
Yuji smiles all the time, bright and brilliant, some real, some fake, as if the idea of not smiling would curse others. Katsuki grins, but his smiles are rarer, and Yuji is glad he gets to have this little one for himself, even if it's just for a fleeting moment. He's happy, to have a friend like this, even if he doesn't think he deserves it even a little. There is no world where he would ever be a good enough person to have people like Katsuki and Megumi and Raidou and the others in his life. There's no way he's a good enough person to be this loved.
Nodding his head, he breathes out a shaky sigh against Katsuki's body, eyes still closed, voice a little hoarse from the tears and the new cotton feeling in his throat. ]
Isn't it about time I cried happy tears around you, dandelion? [ He's still gripping at his shirt... He's definitely ruined this one for the day. ] I want the first time you see me next time to be a Yuji who can smile at you, though. So that you know that I held on for as long as I could, and I did the best that I could, and in the end I was a hero of my own making.
[ That it wasn't from Sukuna's powers, or eating his siblings, or from borrowed strength. That he can use what he has, that only he has, to bring Megumi Fushiguro back and save the centre of his entire universe. ]
You can still hit me and call me stupid, though, dandelion.
[Problem. Is it a problem. Yeah, it is in someways. That reckless disregard for his own safety when it comes to helping other people because of that bleeding heart is never going to not be problematic. And yet it's something people who care about Yuji simply have to accept.
Katsuki's aware of the "frozen" state of their world back home, thanks to Yuji and Denji's experiences of going back home and returning to this world. But that can never completely eradicate the concern he feels towards those left behind. All Might's broken and bleeding body, safe behind Katsuki's back-from-the-dead stance, but for how long. Izuku still trapped in mortal combat with Shigaraki, whose mere touch could wipe out miles of Japanese land. All for One, the deadliest villain ever, hovering not far off and threatening to merge with Shigaraki to end the world as they knew it. The broken, the bleeding, the dying, the suffering heroes and villains that lay in states of victory and defeat all around the nation. Innocent civilians and people watching them fight for the sake of their world... All of that trapped in suspended time, ready to start again once "he" ceased to exist in Neo Tokyo.
How the fuck is that comforting?
Even now, Katsuki can still taste blood in his mouth if he thinks about the last moment he had in his world. Yuji's weight is different, just as heavy, carrying a burden of guilt and determination, war-ravaged hope narrowed down to a single life as his goal to save, and somewhere along the way thinking this penance for a death he skipped out on. Katsuki has never once wished to die. No matter his fear, pain, sorrow, or struggle, he determined to overcome the trials and move forward. But not everyone's like that. That's fine. If he's with one of those people, Katsuki vows to slug them in the face and haul their ass up by their collar to yell at them about why they should continue to live.
Yuji should be able to choose how he dies. He'll never accept anything less than that. If it meant standing between the entire Jujutsu world and his friend, Katsuki would take that stance every time, as long as possible, until he perished first. And even then, he'd sure as hell try to take them out with one last explosion. So long as it meant Yuji got to live. It's a pleasant thought, to strive to live a life so well you get to die surrounded by people who love you. But he'd rather live with those people as long as possible, and fight to keep that life going. Old age comes for everyone in the end. No point in hurrying the Grim Reaper along.
Katsuki's watched the sorcerer grow a little here, seen an honest attempt to at least take more people into consideration when he dives into decisions that could satisfy his desire to protect, yet hurt those who love him in the same stroke. It's a fine Catch 22 in that aspect the boy's set himself up for. Katsuki can't live Yuji's life for him, won't, but isn't going to stop growling at him for making those rash decisions. While he can't raze him for wanting to spare someone else the suffering, he will snarl at him for not trusting someone else's strength and resilience. Too much empathy ends up doing nothing more than removing someone else's choices with the excuse of protection. No one wants to be smothered. Pain by itself isn't evil. Katsuki's not lacking in empathy, but he's also more than willing to let someone drop a piano on their foot because they tried to move it by themself.
The problem with Yuji's thoughts of protecting him stem from Katsuki taking offense at the idea his friend thinks he's too weak to handle the trial before them. Protection clashes with his pride, though he's gotten better at accepting this as the year at U.A. went on. Doesn't mean he likes it. Yet so far, Yuji's not been the cause of Katsuki's pain. Frustrations? Sure, a million damn times. When he makes rash decisions, gets himself hurt, bottles up his pain... Does he not trust his strength to weather it? Mah, who knows. It's not like Katsuki's absolved of doing the same in his own ways. At some point, they're going to come to a head about this and it won't be pretty... but it'll be needed. Katsuki has never been one to stand behind a shield. He'd much rather stand beside an ally.
(He's gonna murder him for this new implant, but that'll come after he finishes dealing with his babbling bleeding brother bundled in the bloody bathtub. Which once again having second thoughts about a healing implant.)
Each moment here is a quiet reminder that they're never going to be good enough. No one's perfect. Katsuki holds onto Yuji with no intention of letting him go, taking each tear and weight that seeps into his collar and tugs at his arms. A hero does his best to remove the sadness and fears of those they help. And yet, for all his power, Katsuki's aware he can't reach inside Yuji and pull out all those traumas causing his sorrow. Fucking hell he wishes he could. To promise this boy a future where he can smile with no more worry or loss. He'd take on all his misery and agony if he could, either to carry the burden for him or smash it into smithereens that never haunt Yuji again.
Unfortunately, life's not like that. What Katsuki can do right now is hold him. Carefully handle the broken and rest the pieces together once more. If grief breaks Yuji further, love and kindness can bandage the area and support until it heals. He can do that. Extend his hand into the darkness, pushing and shoving each grieving slash and burning tear aside until he finds the boy in the middle of the maelstromic pit. Catches him. Holds him tight. Not alone. Not weak. It hurts, badly, but he moves with him, trying his damnest to help Yuji walk towards that light. Against all odds. To victory.
Don't die for me. Live for me. That's all he wants. Every feeling he has for this boy pounds down into a final point and crystalizes into one desire. Frustration, affection, curiosity, attraction, anger, happiness, an urge to save his life. It's only been a few months, and Katsuki's found this guy settled in beside his heart to such a point he feels for him things he hasn't for others. He has no intention of ever letting himself be at a point where Yuji would need to even think about such a sacrifice. To let his friend die for him would be a price Katsuki could never pay. Dying hurts like a fucking bitch. And while he would never want anyone to die for him, this intense want to protect blooms for the layers upon layers of friendship, kindness, and trust poured into him but this special boy. So much given to him. How could he do anything but give back the same in return. He'd face down hell itself to make sure Yuji lives.
Katsuki keeps the grunt in his head. He's been grabbed by All Might before, even when severely limited in power and holding back, and Yuji's strength feels comparable. But he bears it without a flicker of discomfort. He's got muscles. He refuses to let his friend hurt him. No matter how tight Yuji has to hold onto him, he stands strong, spreading his fingers over the back of his head and curling them in soothing motions, the hand around his shoulders doing the same as it wanders from shoulder to shoulder blade to middle of back to blade to joint once more. Never leaving that embrace. He'll hold him above his misery, above his vanishing, above his heartache. As long as he needs to for Yuji to regain his strength. Because Yuji is strong, resilient, and unwavering. He trusts him in that, no matter what tears fall. He's only human. Treasured.
Can he tell when Yuji stops crying? Not really. His shirt's damp. But eventually shoulders cease to shiver, those quiet shudders of breath ease, and new gushes of heat taper off. Held close, knees brushing, legs braced, feet instep, arms and head resting together in that protective circle. Letting Yuji lean and take in the comfort and solace. Akin to that time on the boat during the orca kaiju fight, when Yuji healed him and Katsuki finally let himself rest enough to lean against the sorcerer, relying on his strength to support him. Tears can't last forever. Grief is given its due, not a blank check. As the embrace eases up, Katsuki's little hand motions continue their trek. Safe. A storm slowly passing. So this is what it means to be there for someone...
The smile comes quietly, short for a time, but true. A friend like Yuji is one in a million. No matter what the other boy believes about himself, deserving of friends or not, luckily for him, those friends, Katsuki included, don't ascribe to what Yuji thinks about deserving them. They're his friends, the love him, and he's a good person. Period. Yuji will change his mind about that long before they do. Katsuki certainly intends to out-stubborn the guy in this regard. Because Yuji deserves to be loved. It's a good thing the sorcerer doesn't get to decide that for others.
Katsuki opens his eyes again, pink strands tickling the underside of his nose and the sides of his cheeks as he leaves his mouth rested against that ruffle of hair. No wonder Yuji's voice sounds rough.]
You will. [In time. Yuji will. Now is not the time. Sadness and painful tears soak into his shirt, but the source has calmed enough for now. He gives a light squeeze on the back of Yuji's head, fingers threading through the soft sakura there, ring and fifth fingers caressing the dark shorn of his undercut.] Aa. Keep wanting that. And show me that smile the next time we meet again, hero. [He brushes his lips against Yuji's head again, eyes lidding slightly. Those feelings are there. They always will be. He wants to see that sight too. Yuji's victory and life.]
Don't give me a reason to, Gari Head. [Katsuki tightens his arm around Yuji in a quick, affirming embrace. He isn't ever going to give up on him. He'll always trust that Yuji's going to win and save as many as he can.]
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blastedass
no subject
Date: 4/28/24 21:34 (UTC)He remembers Izuku likewise, falling into his arms and crying after everyone in 1-A came for him to save him from himself. Everything they said finally leading to the hero breaking down in his childhood friend's arms after Katsuki reaffirmed Izuku's path and choices, admitted his own complicate complexes towards the other boy, then apologized to him for everything he'd done to Izuku.
People are strong, heroes are strong, but they're still people. They break when they fall, they hurt when they're injured, and trying to weather something alone for too long only wears them down. Suffering certainly can help you grow when you overcome it, but it doesn't make you stronger by itself. You shouldn't wish it on anyone either... Not as an excuse to get stronger at least.
His chest clenches as Yuji holds onto him. It means so much to him the other boy listened to him, trusted Katsuki to hear him out. They clash on many things, but agree on many others. Someday, he'll be the one holding onto Yuji... He remembers when All Might hugged him after that fight with Izuku. A hand in his hair felt like such a comfort, hiding his shame and sadness for a little while so he could record. It really did feel like letting someone else handle that burden for a while so his soul and mind could vent all the emotions piled up inside. Katsuki gently caresses through Yuji's hair, fingertips grazing his scalp, wanting to continue offering that respite.
Izuku and Yuji are both crybabies...
When their classmate left and their school went into lockdown as the second war approached, Katsuki threw himself into training. To get stronger, to fight, to improve so he could save as many people as possible once the war broke open. Like Yuji, there are things only he can do. He doesn't want anyone else to die on his watch either. Hero or villain. There's enough loss and pain in the world already; nothing can improve and get better if everyone's dead. Katsuki is willing to die to protect... but he's doggedly determined that no one will have to pay that cost. Including himself.
Listening to and feeling Yuji break down in his arms, Katsuki rests his head against the other boy's own, cheek to his hair and arms giving the occasional squeeze. Tears wet his neck and collar, but it's fine. He holds that burden for a little while. It's so very heavy... and his ginger is so very strong. It's not fair that this world would bring them together and not let them help each other once they finished helping this one. He wants so badly to go back with Yuji and protect him, help him, and it hurts to know that he can't. Somehow... he hopes his words will stay, that Yuji's support will also engrave itself on Katsuki's body, so he can take some of his friend back home with him.]
It's nice to say, but it's impossible. We all have regrets. [Mirko said something similar about living with no regrets, ever day like it was her last... but even she had regrets, failing to kill Shigaraki before the monster awoke and unleashed hell on Japan. She was the only one close enough to do that... and she failed.] But we can make sure our happiness and successes outweigh our regrets. You can still live that way.
[Helpful. Strong. Good. Loved. Regrets don't have to clog up life and drag someone down. Katsuki braces a bit when Yuji drops his weight on him and supports his friend without fail. Holding him close in a safe catch. He wishes he could take all of Yuji's negatives and make them vanish. Such a stupid wish, but it's true. Just like Yuji would probably wish as well. So he holds him, feels the strength in the sorcerer's heart beating strong. This is a friendship he'll protect and cherish. A support he won't ever take for granted. Even as his shirt drags in Yuji's fingers, his collar dampens from hot tears, Katsuki holds on. This precious, fractured person he refuses to let go of.]
Aa. I won't ever give up on you. I know you'll win. And when we meet again, I'll hear all about it. [He'll believe in him, he'll wait for him, he'll keep his faith, knowing Yuji's best will come out. Yuji's promise to return, to prove his life, hits home a lot harder than he might think. Katsuki rests his mouth against the other boy's head, breathing quietly as a number of feelings run through.] I'm with you. Always.
i'm going to fight you "his ginger" MY HEART!! this thread!!
Date: 4/28/24 21:59 (UTC)How many people has he told about what has happened to Megumi? Gojo-sensei. Choso. He implied it with some others. Taking about his failures still makes him feel sick, discussing the things that he had done in the past still hurts him, but he can't avoid it or deny it any more than he can run from it. Bakugo might say his hands are clean of blood, but Yuji knows otherwise, because there are humans lives that he alone had taken. Add that to the suffering that Sukuna had caused and he's well aware that he can never forgive himself, not even for a moment.
When he had fought Higuruma-san, the other man had told him that he was innocent in the eyes of the law. He wasn't in control, therefore Sukuna was to blame - it came up again when they had been discussing the best option to deal with him using Judgeman. The problem is even with that reality in front of him, ready to be accepted, Yuji simply isn't capable of shrugging away his own belief in his guilt, determined to accept it. The world they live in is one where the good are punished, and the evil thrive, so he was happy to take that punishment and allow himself to accept it, carry it. In some ways, it made him stronger, gave him something to overcome.
In other ways, it broke him more. What do you fight for when you no longer want to fight to stay alive? Without Megumi needing him, Yuji would have very little left now. He'd said 'start by saving me', and Yuji clings to that like a curse, guiding him forward. He isn't going to give up, he isn't going to stop until his best friend is safe and free from the horrors of being a vessel. After all, Yuji knows how that feels.
Regrets are the kind of thing that kill a sorcerer: cursing people with their last words, regrets cloying their throats, dragging them down to the pits of despair and leaving them to rot, but Yuji doesn't know how to deal without them now. He doesn't know what to do other than try and keep fighting, to try and keep pushing, and if he doesn't do that then he feels as if he really will fall apart. This moment, this tenderness with Bakugo, is scraping the surface of the grief and hurt he feels, squashed down inside of him so it doesn't kill him.
Yuji had said it, after all: he wants to be the person people turn to in order to feel safe, and taken care of, that when they see him they feel hope. He doesn't want to be the kind of person that only hurts them.
Letting his grief tip over has him shivering in Bakugo's arms, leaning into him, trying to listen to his words. He wants to live in the way that his friend says he can, wants to allow himself the possibility of a brighter, better future, but he also knows the reality of his world. For all that Bakugo wants Yuji to overcome, for all that he can try and come back here, he also knows one thing: his role in this battle might be to die to save Megumi's life, and that's something he would do without hesitation. Megumi is everything to him, and in the world of Jujutsu Sorcery they are prepared to take that everything from you.
Bakugo remains strong, sturdy, just as Yuji had predicted, and he sinks into him just that little bit more. It's rare that Yuji feels as though he can let himself feel his sadness, let alone share it with others, and while he might not think his crying is much of a gift at all... It's a sign of how much faith he has in Bakugo, how much he treasures their friendship, how much he believes in their shared companionship. Bakugo has come to mean a lot to him in the last few months, and Yuji trusts him with his life.
For someone who's willing to give it all up, that's the best trust he can offer.
Yuji keeps sniffling, keeps gripping at Bakugo, as if afraid that he might just collapse to the floor if he lets go, afraid that he might lose himself to whatever yawning pit is underneath him. Silly, stupid Yuji, feeling too much and not being able to handle it at all. He really is just a teenager, in the end. ]
I'll live how I can. To be the best I can. I... [ He'll die in the best way he can too, if that's how it ends. Yuji thinks of looking into Higuruma's eyes, thinks of Nanami's last words, thinks of Gojo-sensei's smile, and he thinks maybe it would be okay to die to save someone else. It would make his life have the kind of meaning he's always dreamed of.
Sniffling, tears still rolling down his face, he doesn't let go. He squeezes, gently, and swallows the lump in his throat. ]
I want us both to win. I want us to come back here, later, if LILITH lets us, and celebrate. We could have the biggest party and invite everyone... I want to have fun with you too, Katsuki, not just cry.
fight me! if he gets to say "his dandelion" then "his ginger" happens! damn onion ninja.
Date: 4/28/24 23:03 (UTC)Katsuki understands the weight of this information passed onto him. A secret, a sorrowful update of Yuji's world and life. It's not his information to pass around and not a shred of it will fall from his lips to anyone other than Yuji himself if they talk about it. But it contextualizes so much of his friend's suffering and the onus behind his guilt and drive going forward. Katsuki doesn't like to discuss his failures either, but after this... he'll probably open up more to Yuji about his own life. Another time. Right now, this is helping Yuji.
Like lancing a wound, it hurts, it looks disgusting, it feels worse, but it drains the bad out to give more room to heal. He would never suggest Yuji avoid his failures or run from them, but rather confront them and conquer them. The problem with Yuji's bloody hands is the circumstances of that blood. Katsuki doesn't think for a second that the sorcerer willingly stepped up with murder and sadism in his heart and eyes to slaughter a human without remorse. Even when Hawks killed Twice, it came at the the end, all doubt and options exhausted, with the final decision being "one man" versus "thousands of innocent lives" - and even that has weighed on the winged hero's heart since then.
Katsuki won't believe Yuji's guilt, even if the sorcerer himself says he's guilty. It's not up to the blonde whether Yuji forgives himself, however, but he'll damn well encourage him to. While hypocritically being unable to forgive himself for his horrible treatment of Izuku all those years and his own hand in ending All Might's era. Factually, Yuji is innocent of the death... but no one can convince his internal judge when his internal jury has already passed "Guilty" as verdict. Izuku's the same way, talking blame, guilt, and responsibility for things that are outside his control. Both of these heroes are insane like that, something Katsuki has to grit his teeth and accept. Can't argue with crazy.
But he will argue Yuji's treatment of himself if he can. Even if it comes in the form of holding him tight while the sorcerer beats himself up inside. Their worlds are extremely different, as Nanami revealed when he and Katsuki clashed over the sorcerer society structure versus the hero society build. Difference in size, teaching, expectations, good, bad, presence, goals. Yuji's treatment at the hands of the society he was just trying to help pissed Katsuki off to no end.
And yet, he'll continue to challenge Yuji not to fight out of the sorrow of his past regrets, but out of the hope for a world and himself that is strong enough and healthy enough not to let those regrets happen again. Perhaps it's the difference between sorcerers who fight in the darkness while heroes have always fought in the light. Regardless, Katsuki won't stop encouraging Yuji to not fall into his own grief and pain. It's there... but it doesn't have to be his fuel.
From people he's talked to, Yuji brings that sensation of safety and light when he's around them. Those who know him better have to accept he needs some... looking out for as well. Katsuki's aware of his heroic friends' mindsets thinking hurting someone can range anywhere from stabbing them in the gut to mildly inconveniencing them.
Yuji's a handful, but a handful Katsuki will keep close to his chest as long as he can, protect, encouraged, cherished, and fussed over. Another shiver and he gathers him in close again, squeezing the opposite shoulder and resting his cheek atop his head. It hurts, but... he's only human. Katsuki knew the pain of death in exchange for life. He'd felt it when he blitzed in front of Izuku and took the fatal blow without even thinking. Felt it again right before Shigaraki punched him in the chest and blew Katsuki's heart to pieces. Each time, he did it to protect. A hero's willing to sacrifice.
... but he doesn't want Yuji to die. It's selfish, simple, and sincere. If even the faintest vestige of himself can survive long enough in his friend's soul to make him change from a fatal rush to a death-defying miracle, that'll be enough for him. There has to be a way to save. He can't give up believing in that. In Yuji.
It's not the tears that are a gift, but the trust enough to let them flow. Katsuki can't squeeze them all out, but he can soak them up and help wipe them away as they go. He feels a silent sense of relief himself that Yuji can address his pain and sadness. The fake smiles, the promises of "I'm fine", pushing himself to swallow it day after day... Punching through that and reaching out for the sad boy inside, even if just for a short while, is a gift. Holding Yuji's hand and feeling his fingers curl around his own for support is a gift.
Katsuki treasures this boy too. And while he trusts Yuji with his life as well and cares about him enough to die for him... how much more meaningful is it to live for him? It's like Izuku's mother said to All Might about Izuku. "Don't give up your life for him. Live properly so you can continue to help him." Being willing to give it all up isn't bad. But Katsuki doesn't want that to be so eagerly offered... by anyone.
He gazes at the wall behind them over top Yuji's head, letting him grip onto him as he stands firm. He won't let go. He won't let him fall. No pit will have Yuji as long as he lives. Katsuki's a silly, stupid teenager as well, who struggles with weakness, who has regrets, who cries in private, even if extremely rare. But he's come to learn he can't handle it all on his own. He's just a boy. Growing into a hero.]
Thank you. [It may be strange to thank someone for promising to live, but between them, it should mean a lot. Fight to live, Yuji. Be ready to die, but fight as hard as fuck to live. If Yuji can promise him that, Katsuki won't ask him for anything else. He never got to be there when Midnight-sensei died. He wasn't there when Sir Nighteye passed away. But he was there when All Might's era came to an end... Dying to save someone is honorable. But he would rather save them alive and smile at them later during recovery. It's one of the issues he has with Yuji and Izuku. Don't glorify your death. Don't die for someone. Live for them. Save them, and yourself, and live. If at all possible.
But he won't say those things to Yuji right now. Another time and place. Katsuki lowers his eyes and closes them as he nuzzles against Yuji's head. Quiet, comforting, gently rubbing his hair again.]
Aa. We'll win. And we'll come back here. [One way or another.] Tch, baka. I've had a lot of fun with you already, Yuji. Besides, [He feels a small smile curve the corner of his mouth, probably Yuji feels it too on his head.] You'll cry anyways when we meet again, cause you're happy.
me vibrating all day at work to reply to this
Date: 4/29/24 22:01 (UTC)Fighting Sukuna doesn't feel as frightening to him as perhaps he should. It's terrifying, of course it is, to fight the King of Curses, the creature that had stolen Gojo-sensei away from him, who had ripped him to shreds and had been a constant thorn in his side. Sukuna had lived in his mind for months, had tried to make him feel that strange, twisting guilt that had eaten him from the inside out, and Yuji had come to know him well enough - well enough to know that he would never stop. He would keep hurting Fushiguro, would keep tearing him apart and destroying the remains of his soul, and thus Yuji would have to fight all the harder to save him.
It's simple to say that's his reason for living, and other people might think that it's a bit narrow-minded of him, but to Yuji it's that easy. Fushiguro Megumi had given him a purpose when he had asked him to 'start by saving me', had given him a reason to continue to fight after all his losses in Shibuya, when he had wanted nothing more than to die. Even now, that echoes in his mind, tears him into a thousand pieces, leaving him broken and wounded and hurting: just him. He is the only person who should have died on that day. His fingers bleeding in the dirty gravel, his hand shaking, mouth tasting like vomit - only him.
Yuji isn't going to get to choose how he dies, not really. It's not up to him to decide how it's going to end. He had known from the first moment that he entered the world of Jujutsu Sorcery that he was going to be subject to execution, so all the hours he spent with the people he loved had felt like borrowed time, had felt like a gift on top of everything else. Why would he ever want to ask for more than that, when he had already been given enough? To be able to be friends with Megumi, with Kugisaki, to meet people like Gojo-sensei, and Nanamin, and Junpei, to know Higuruma-san and Yuta-senpai, see people like Maki-senpai stand tall and strong despite loss...
Coming here, to Neo Tokyo, has changed him a little. He understands, now, more about the kind of damage he causes to people with his mindset, so he is doing what he can to reshape it, to adjust. Not to hope for a better future, necessarily, or to imagine that he'll be able to outlive this fight with Sukuna, but to consider himself a little more. When he fights in missions, when he throws himself into the deep end, when he takes those upgrades without considering the damage it might do in the long run... He can consider what other people might be feeling, because he empathises. He's seen so much hurt and death that he wants to spare his friends that pain, wants to make sure that they never have to experience it because of him.
There's a level of guilt that comes from doing this, as there always will be, but Yuji is starting to put the pieces together. Bakugo is strong, one of the strongest people he's met, and that means he can handle this, just as he wants to handle things for his friend. The idea of this boy being hurt because of him, feeling the same pain and grief he felt when Megumi, Raidou or Kugisaki got hurt is intolerable, and he's had to force himself to rethink his actions. That, plus the previous mission... Is it time that he starts to take more care of himself, starts to reconsider the depth of the danger he puts himself in?
(There are some things he'll still have to do: he'll still fight to get stronger, get the upgrades that seem worth it, so his body can adjust and grow, so that he can relish the chance to be someone better, but he'll think. He'll message. He'll try harder.)
For all that he is growing internally, Yuji knows it's not good enough just yet. He sinks into Bakugo's embrace and allows himself a moment to just cry, to let all the weight of his sadness and grief slip away and fall into Bakugo's arms. For now, perhaps for just this moment, he can allow himself to rely on one of his friends, and maybe that will pave the way for more honesty with the others. Megumi, Kugisaki, Raidou, Gojo-sensei - maybe they can get their share of insights into the depths of just how miserable and broken Yuji Itadori is, more often than not, how his grief has reshaped him and moulded him into someone that lives for a singular purpose.
Does this mean he's rationalised his feelings for Bakugo, that he's thought about the depth of affection? No. In a few short months, this person has become so important to him, reaching the tiers of friendship that he'd never had before, and the thought settles in his mind like a puzzle piece, like it was meant to fit there: I'd die for you too. If, for some reason, it was necessary... Yuji Itadori would die for Katsuki Bakugo, even if his friend would bring him back to kill him for it. Trust like that is borne out of all of these things, and the heart of it is this empathy and understanding that Yuji could never doubt for even a moment.
His grip on his friend doesn't ease, doesn't settle, doesn't relax. If anything, it tightens, and with Yuji's strength it might be enough to hurt a regular person. It's as if the idea of letting go terrifies him, as if he feels like he might somehow disappear and drown in his own misery, or he might just collapse to the ground under the weight of all his own heartache. He doesn't want to keep crying, but it's hard not to when Bakugo - when Katsuki is offering him solace. The others do, this isn't an isolated moment, but Yuji is keeping so many secrets for himself and Gojo-sensei that it's hard to admit it all to anyone else. It's hard to allow himself to speak in real words the hell that he has found himself tied up in, Sukuna's laughter an echo in his mind.
Eventually, the tears do stop, but he doesn't let go of Katsuki, doesn't let himself do anything except lean into him and rest his body against him, taking a little control back. It's a softer embrace now, less sad and desperate and more filled with gratefulness and a flickering sense of contentment and joy, knowing that they're safe together. That they're able to take care of one another, that when he needs it, Katsuki will be here - and Yuji will be here for him, too. It's especially true when he feels that little smile against his body.
Yuji smiles all the time, bright and brilliant, some real, some fake, as if the idea of not smiling would curse others. Katsuki grins, but his smiles are rarer, and Yuji is glad he gets to have this little one for himself, even if it's just for a fleeting moment. He's happy, to have a friend like this, even if he doesn't think he deserves it even a little. There is no world where he would ever be a good enough person to have people like Katsuki and Megumi and Raidou and the others in his life. There's no way he's a good enough person to be this loved.
Nodding his head, he breathes out a shaky sigh against Katsuki's body, eyes still closed, voice a little hoarse from the tears and the new cotton feeling in his throat. ]
Isn't it about time I cried happy tears around you, dandelion? [ He's still gripping at his shirt... He's definitely ruined this one for the day. ] I want the first time you see me next time to be a Yuji who can smile at you, though. So that you know that I held on for as long as I could, and I did the best that I could, and in the end I was a hero of my own making.
[ That it wasn't from Sukuna's powers, or eating his siblings, or from borrowed strength. That he can use what he has, that only he has, to bring Megumi Fushiguro back and save the centre of his entire universe. ]
You can still hit me and call me stupid, though, dandelion.
spills it all over this tag
Date: 4/30/24 00:28 (UTC)Katsuki's aware of the "frozen" state of their world back home, thanks to Yuji and Denji's experiences of going back home and returning to this world. But that can never completely eradicate the concern he feels towards those left behind. All Might's broken and bleeding body, safe behind Katsuki's back-from-the-dead stance, but for how long. Izuku still trapped in mortal combat with Shigaraki, whose mere touch could wipe out miles of Japanese land. All for One, the deadliest villain ever, hovering not far off and threatening to merge with Shigaraki to end the world as they knew it. The broken, the bleeding, the dying, the suffering heroes and villains that lay in states of victory and defeat all around the nation. Innocent civilians and people watching them fight for the sake of their world... All of that trapped in suspended time, ready to start again once "he" ceased to exist in Neo Tokyo.
How the fuck is that comforting?
Even now, Katsuki can still taste blood in his mouth if he thinks about the last moment he had in his world. Yuji's weight is different, just as heavy, carrying a burden of guilt and determination, war-ravaged hope narrowed down to a single life as his goal to save, and somewhere along the way thinking this penance for a death he skipped out on. Katsuki has never once wished to die. No matter his fear, pain, sorrow, or struggle, he determined to overcome the trials and move forward. But not everyone's like that. That's fine. If he's with one of those people, Katsuki vows to slug them in the face and haul their ass up by their collar to yell at them about why they should continue to live.
Yuji should be able to choose how he dies. He'll never accept anything less than that. If it meant standing between the entire Jujutsu world and his friend, Katsuki would take that stance every time, as long as possible, until he perished first. And even then, he'd sure as hell try to take them out with one last explosion. So long as it meant Yuji got to live. It's a pleasant thought, to strive to live a life so well you get to die surrounded by people who love you. But he'd rather live with those people as long as possible, and fight to keep that life going. Old age comes for everyone in the end. No point in hurrying the Grim Reaper along.
Katsuki's watched the sorcerer grow a little here, seen an honest attempt to at least take more people into consideration when he dives into decisions that could satisfy his desire to protect, yet hurt those who love him in the same stroke. It's a fine Catch 22 in that aspect the boy's set himself up for. Katsuki can't live Yuji's life for him, won't, but isn't going to stop growling at him for making those rash decisions. While he can't raze him for wanting to spare someone else the suffering, he will snarl at him for not trusting someone else's strength and resilience. Too much empathy ends up doing nothing more than removing someone else's choices with the excuse of protection. No one wants to be smothered. Pain by itself isn't evil. Katsuki's not lacking in empathy, but he's also more than willing to let someone drop a piano on their foot because they tried to move it by themself.
The problem with Yuji's thoughts of protecting him stem from Katsuki taking offense at the idea his friend thinks he's too weak to handle the trial before them. Protection clashes with his pride, though he's gotten better at accepting this as the year at U.A. went on. Doesn't mean he likes it. Yet so far, Yuji's not been the cause of Katsuki's pain. Frustrations? Sure, a million damn times. When he makes rash decisions, gets himself hurt, bottles up his pain... Does he not trust his strength to weather it? Mah, who knows. It's not like Katsuki's absolved of doing the same in his own ways. At some point, they're going to come to a head about this and it won't be pretty... but it'll be needed. Katsuki has never been one to stand behind a shield. He'd much rather stand beside an ally.
(He's gonna murder him for this new implant, but that'll come after he finishes dealing with his babbling bleeding brother bundled in the bloody bathtub. Which once again having second thoughts about a healing implant.)
Each moment here is a quiet reminder that they're never going to be good enough. No one's perfect. Katsuki holds onto Yuji with no intention of letting him go, taking each tear and weight that seeps into his collar and tugs at his arms. A hero does his best to remove the sadness and fears of those they help. And yet, for all his power, Katsuki's aware he can't reach inside Yuji and pull out all those traumas causing his sorrow. Fucking hell he wishes he could. To promise this boy a future where he can smile with no more worry or loss. He'd take on all his misery and agony if he could, either to carry the burden for him or smash it into smithereens that never haunt Yuji again.
Unfortunately, life's not like that. What Katsuki can do right now is hold him. Carefully handle the broken and rest the pieces together once more. If grief breaks Yuji further, love and kindness can bandage the area and support until it heals. He can do that. Extend his hand into the darkness, pushing and shoving each grieving slash and burning tear aside until he finds the boy in the middle of the maelstromic pit. Catches him. Holds him tight. Not alone. Not weak. It hurts, badly, but he moves with him, trying his damnest to help Yuji walk towards that light. Against all odds. To victory.
Don't die for me. Live for me. That's all he wants. Every feeling he has for this boy pounds down into a final point and crystalizes into one desire. Frustration, affection, curiosity, attraction, anger, happiness, an urge to save his life. It's only been a few months, and Katsuki's found this guy settled in beside his heart to such a point he feels for him things he hasn't for others. He has no intention of ever letting himself be at a point where Yuji would need to even think about such a sacrifice. To let his friend die for him would be a price Katsuki could never pay. Dying hurts like a fucking bitch. And while he would never want anyone to die for him, this intense want to protect blooms for the layers upon layers of friendship, kindness, and trust poured into him but this special boy. So much given to him. How could he do anything but give back the same in return. He'd face down hell itself to make sure Yuji lives.
Katsuki keeps the grunt in his head. He's been grabbed by All Might before, even when severely limited in power and holding back, and Yuji's strength feels comparable. But he bears it without a flicker of discomfort. He's got muscles. He refuses to let his friend hurt him. No matter how tight Yuji has to hold onto him, he stands strong, spreading his fingers over the back of his head and curling them in soothing motions, the hand around his shoulders doing the same as it wanders from shoulder to shoulder blade to middle of back to blade to joint once more. Never leaving that embrace. He'll hold him above his misery, above his vanishing, above his heartache. As long as he needs to for Yuji to regain his strength. Because Yuji is strong, resilient, and unwavering. He trusts him in that, no matter what tears fall. He's only human. Treasured.
Can he tell when Yuji stops crying? Not really. His shirt's damp. But eventually shoulders cease to shiver, those quiet shudders of breath ease, and new gushes of heat taper off. Held close, knees brushing, legs braced, feet instep, arms and head resting together in that protective circle. Letting Yuji lean and take in the comfort and solace. Akin to that time on the boat during the orca kaiju fight, when Yuji healed him and Katsuki finally let himself rest enough to lean against the sorcerer, relying on his strength to support him. Tears can't last forever. Grief is given its due, not a blank check. As the embrace eases up, Katsuki's little hand motions continue their trek. Safe. A storm slowly passing. So this is what it means to be there for someone...
The smile comes quietly, short for a time, but true. A friend like Yuji is one in a million. No matter what the other boy believes about himself, deserving of friends or not, luckily for him, those friends, Katsuki included, don't ascribe to what Yuji thinks about deserving them. They're his friends, the love him, and he's a good person. Period. Yuji will change his mind about that long before they do. Katsuki certainly intends to out-stubborn the guy in this regard. Because Yuji deserves to be loved. It's a good thing the sorcerer doesn't get to decide that for others.
Katsuki opens his eyes again, pink strands tickling the underside of his nose and the sides of his cheeks as he leaves his mouth rested against that ruffle of hair. No wonder Yuji's voice sounds rough.]
You will. [In time. Yuji will. Now is not the time. Sadness and painful tears soak into his shirt, but the source has calmed enough for now. He gives a light squeeze on the back of Yuji's head, fingers threading through the soft sakura there, ring and fifth fingers caressing the dark shorn of his undercut.] Aa. Keep wanting that. And show me that smile the next time we meet again, hero. [He brushes his lips against Yuji's head again, eyes lidding slightly. Those feelings are there. They always will be. He wants to see that sight too. Yuji's victory and life.]
Don't give me a reason to, Gari Head. [Katsuki tightens his arm around Yuji in a quick, affirming embrace. He isn't ever going to give up on him. He'll always trust that Yuji's going to win and save as many as he can.]