CW: // subspace, light ddlg?, fluff, talk about depression and self harm, happy ending, bkdk

Deku always had a difficult time coping with his depression. And usually it came in forms of self isolating and decrease in hygiene. He knew it was gross to not bathe regularly but his-

- mind would tell him that there was no point. That he was useless. Worthless. Why bother taking care of himself if he wasn't gonna let anyone else find him huddled in his room, obsessively snapping rubber bands around his wrists until he felt more of the tears on his-

- cheek than the painful sting. Tonight was no different. A panic attack had set in, triggered by an old memory that made him cringe. He had excused himself from the common area with his classmates, a fake smile still clinging to his lips. And now? Well, now he was here,-

- in his room, chest heaving with his rapid and unstables breaths until he heard knocking on the door.

"Deku will you shut the fuck up with the crying already!? It's been like an hour, why'd you leave the group? The movie was just getting good!" Katsuki called out from-

- behind the door, about to leave when he paused to listen for any answer. Instead of a voice though, he was met with a pathetic attempt to hide a sob. He knew Deku cried a lot, yeah, but he couldn't think of any reason why. It was movie night. An action movie. So it's not like-

- there was any sad sappy romance involved. It rubbed him the wrong way.
"Deku open the door."

"No! I'm fine just... I'll be down in a few minutes!" He called out in response. "I'm studying!"

"Bullshit! Open the door before I blast it open!" There was a small click as the-

-door unlocked and swung open, Deku hiding his face with his hands. Maybe Kacchan wasn't so bad. Maybe it's okay if he knew.
"I'm just... Kacchan I don't know what's wrong! I think I'm having a panic attack and I know you don't care and- and.."

"What the hell, calm down. I-"-

-katsuki paused, eyes drawn down to Deku's wrists, swollen, angry and red. He shut the door behind him so give them privacy. "Did you di that to yourself? Don't fucking lie to me, I swear!"

Bakugou's aggressiveness only served to make him slink back further, shutting his-

-eyes tightly and causing him to sob harder and tremble, muttering phrases of "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Seeing the reaction, the blonde knew his usual approach wouldn't work.
"Hey. De-Izuku. Hey. Look at me. Please." Katsuki asked, lowering his voice to a more soothing tone.-

- "It's okay. You're safe. Talk to me. What happened?"

"I just... I don't know I just felt really sad and I want someone to... to take care of me because I can't seem to take care of myself!" He replied, breathing calmer as he was recepted to the calmer voice.-

-It felt odd, tossing away his usual anger to allow himself to actually feel. Deku needed someone to calm him down. To get him out of this panic. To make him feel safe. That's what heroes do right? Even if it seemed silly to him.-

-"Calm down... that's it. I'm here. C'mere nerd." He openes his arms and Izuku fell right in hugging him tightly. "Daddy I'm scared... I'm scared. I'm sorry I'm calling you weird names I didn't mean that.... Kacchan."

"It's okay. If you need me to be Daddy I can be Daddy." He-

-couldnt believe what he was saying honestly. But... it felt good somehow. Being loved. Being needed and not feared.

"Let's get you in bed baby boy. Okay?"

"Okay daddy... can you hand me my All Might plushie?" Deku asked, allowing Kacchan to lead him to the bed.-

-"Yeah. Here baby." He replied, handing over the stuffed hero plush from the bedside table and bringing the blanket up to cover the green haired nerd. He managed to get Deku to open up about his depression, the rubber bands he abused his arms with and his secret desire to-

-have someone take care of him when he gets like this. How he never thought he'd be comfortable admitting this to anyone and especially not the man that bullied him since kindergarten, probably helping to cause his depression in the first place. And... Katsuki didn't laugh.-

-He understood. "We'll keep this between us okay?" He ran a hand through Izuku's hair which admittedly hadn't been washed in a few days. "We'll get you in the shower in the morning okay baby boy?"
Deku nodded, his panic fully gone now as he drifted to sleep snuggled up against-

- the blonde's legs. And Katsuki knew he'd be there in the morning too. The two began going out a few days later, both men making each other feel like they found what they were both looking for. The end. <3

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