#bkdk When Katsuki realizes he would do anything for Izuku he gets super uncomfortable because he knows that also means Izuku would do anything for him and he just can't handle the thought.

He /needs/ to be the one to protect Deku, even though he knows the nerd's selfless, sacrificing streak is a huge part of what Katsuki loves about him.

Katsuki has already seen Deku throwing himself into saving and protecting everyone, including Katsuki, but he hadn't been able to pinpoint why it infuriated him so much until now.

Meanwhile, Izuku has known he'd do anything for Katsuki for a while, long since before Kamino, actually, and even before the sludge villain. If he really thinks about it, his protective streak predates even the log incident.

And even when he and Katsuki got together, he never really gave it a second thought, about whether or not Katsuki would /want/ Izuku to protect him because actually, he knew deep down that Katsuki /wouldn't/ but that had never stopped Izuku before and it never would.

Neither of them bring it up because they know it'd lead to an argument. They're both so freakin' stubborn. But they don't necessarily bottle the feelings up, either. Rather they sit with them, knowing the other is in the same boat, that they WILL talk about it when they need to

Then one day, on a particularly difficult case, they HAVE to talk about it because their stubbornness nearly cost them the mission, getting in each other's way had created a window for the villain to escape and the hard truth of why that was wasn't lost on their team or them.

Mirio doesn't /punish/ them per se, but they know that look. He's not asking them to explain anything to their co-workers (it's obvious what's going on, anyway), but he's urging them to talk to one another.

They sat alone in his office, not meeting each other's eyes, not speaking. Until Kacchan reached out his hand to grab Izuku's.

"Kacchan."

"Let me talk first, Deku," Katsuki said.

"I would do /anything/ to protect you," he continued. "I know you'd do the same for me, but that's not what either of us wants, is it? I know we think we're doing the other a favor by saving them, but we shouldn't sacrifice ourselves. That'd just make the other miserable, yeah?"

Katsuki was usually more a man of action, than words, but sometimes Izuku was floored by just how well he could express himself. Izuku merely nodded in agreement.

"If you sacrifice yourself for me and I have to continue on by myself, that's not /saving/ me, Deku..."

"I'd rather be the one to go."

"Kach..." Izuku began, weeping openly now.

"But, I know you feel the same as me and I'd never want to make you feel that kind of hurt. So, I promise, I'll protect you, but I won't sacrifice myself for you. Because I know you'd hate that shit."

Izuku let out a small laugh, through the tears. For Izuku, losing Katsuki because he couldn't save him would make him feel worse than almost anything in the world.

"I don't want to lose you," said Izuku.

"Me neither. This was never gonna be easy. But we agreed to be a team."

"Right," said Izuku taking a deep breath. "That means supporting each other, working together, not making our own reckless decisions."

"Imagine you /not/ being reckless," Katsuki teased.

"I'll try to be better, Kacchan. I will. I won't be so rash and I won't make decisions for you."

"We can't be the Wonder Duo without both of us," said Katsuki.

"Right," Izuku agreed.

"This won't be the last time we have this conversation, Deku. It has to be ongoing."

"I know that too," Izuku said, squeezing the hand in his.

"We both know Mirio would like to suspend us, but he feels too bad, so...why don't we make it easy on him and take a little vacation. We could both use the time, right?"

"Hmm," thought Izuku, pulling on his bottom lip with is thumb and forefinger.

"You're too damn cute when you do that, nerd," said Katsuki, leaning in to kiss his temple. "You shouldn't have to think that damn hard about my offer. Let's just get out of the city for a few days."

"Yeah, Kacchan. That sounds...perfect, actually.

"Good. I've already booked a place."

"Hey! What happened to making decisions together?" Izuku asked, feigning displeasure.

"I meant in our professional life, Deku. In our personal life, sometimes you have to yield to me."

Katsuki's grin grew devious. "Oh, is that so?" asked Izuku, playfully punching at Katsuki's shoulder.

"Trust me nerd, you're gonna be happy with what I have planned."

"Kacchan. I /do/trust you." Izuku beamed and they shared a sweet, chaste kiss.

As they walked towards home, Katsuki clutched the little black box in his jacket pocket, a small smile on his lips. He'd spent many late nights while Izuku slept, picking out the perfect location & designing this ring. And that was a sacrifice he was willing to make.

The End