The only time Katsuki really lets himself be soft is in the 15 or so minutes he spends laying in bed after he wakes up, his mind still hazy with sleep and his guard completely down. He'll usually stretch and search out the warmth laying next to him, wrapping his arms a tightly

around Deku and pulling him close, burying his face in his wild green curls and nuzzling against his neck as he presses soft kisses against it.

He'll whisper against Deku's ear, saying all the sweet words he can't usually bring himself to say.

'Beautiful'

'Gorgeous'

'I love you'

'I love you so fucking much'

'I'm so lucky'

'the best damn thing that's every happened to me.'

'You're amazing'

'Perfect'

Deku always smiles, completely happy and content, humming at each declaration his other half makes. He'll lay there just enjoying the feeling and basking in the warm glow of the love that exists between them until it's it's finally time for them both to get up and get ready.

He'll turn then and face the man he loves with every ounce of his soul and tell him something just as sweet as all the things he'd just said.

'I love you too'

'you make me so happy'

'i'm the lucky one'

'you're gorgeous'

'handsome'

'perfect'

Katsuki's face goes red each and every time, his embarrassment finally waking him up fully and breaking the sweet spell they'd been encased in. He'll pull away & climb quickly from the bed mumbling about 'nerds' and 'shitty feelings' as he heads towards their bedroom door

But right before he passes through it, he'll pause and glace back at the man he loves with every part of his soul and gives him one last little smile before he finally disappears through the doorway.

And although it may seem small, that smile tells Deku everything he needs to

about just how much he's loved. It's that smile that gets him through his darkest battles, that gives him a reason to keep fighting and a reason to come home because it's a soft, sweet smile that's only for /him/.

-end