midoriya praising bakugou’s body by running his mangled up, scarred hands over his porcelain flesh that’s soft to the touch and free of any kind of indication of violence.

there’s not a scar in sight, not even a small nick from shaving or a slip up with a knife while cooking.

bakugou’s flawless in so many ways, yet he himself...

with these crooked hands and this fragile arm...

tears brimmed his eyes as a heavy feeling settled in his chest, but in favor of breaking down on the spot, midoriya opted to tickle his lips over every inch he can get to.

though they’re not quiet pressed flush against bakugou, he’s close enough to feel the heat radiating off of him and the tickle of peach fuzz.

close enough to make bakugou’s breathing grow heavier, a low groan vibrated through closed lips.

“mm... deku...” he breathed out.

a roll of his body pushed his shoulders back and his abdomen forward, and midoriya cupped his lithe waist, fingers sprawled against the curve of his spine.

“kacchan...” he whispered against his navel, content in just kissing—worshipping—the strong muscles of his lower stomach.

“you’re...”

beautiful. amazing. strong.

unparalleled.

how could he compare?

his throat tightened, a heavy lump forming as the tears pooling his waterline threatened to break the seal of his eyelids.

“what?” bakugou rasped as his stomach flexed, then relaxed, in his hold.

“what am i?”

“everything i wish i could be.” he murmured, hoping his confession was too quiet to hear.

if he’s lucky, it could be a secret that only he and these four walls share.

one hand slid higher up bakugou’s back, and he could feel his shoulder blades as they shift.

“look up at me.”

unable to deny any kind of demand from bakugou, especially one said so softly, midoriya swallowed, then fluttered his eyes open.

a distorted and blurry version of his lover stared back at him, and heat bled into his cheeks when a small leak through the dam.

he could feel it’s slow trickle down his face, and one eye shut as he felt a rough palm cup his jaw.

then a calloused fingertip rubbed against his cheek, slick like a damp towel and scratchy like sandpaper.

it leaves a lingering burn in his cheek. one that makes him smile.

“just what are you crying over now, nerd?” bakugou asked, amusement dripping through every word as he sits up with ease.

midoriya sat up, propping himself up on both arms and knees before craning his neck to look up at the other.

even through his tears, he’s a work of art.

a masterpiece handcrafted through hours of hard work, of blood, tears, and so much sweat.

“nothing.” he shook his head before leaning into the rough skin of his palm.

“i bet you’re thinking something stupid in that head of yours...“ he accused, and midoriya sniffled quietly.

“you’re always thinking about things i could never understand...”

bakugou tilted his head back by forcing his neck even higher, and midoriya leaned closer into him.

his gaze dropped to his lips before lifting back to his eyes, and another hand held the other side of his jaw.

“always doing things i don’t understand...”

midoriya watched as he leaned down, closing the gap between them so the tips of their noses could brush.

“yet somehow i still know you better than anyone else in the world.” bakugou whispered as his eyelids began to drop.

“stop thinking i’m untouchable...”

a cold wave washed over midoriya as he was caught, tangled up in a web he thought he was safe on.

his lips parted even if he had nothing to say, and the heat of bakugou’s half-amused chuckle fanned over him.

“— when you’ve already caught me.”

their lips pressed together, and midoriya’s eyes shut as a warmth began to flood his stomach at his hushed, kind words.

“with these fucked up hands of yours...” bakugou gasped, “you’ve caught me, deku.”

he nodded as fresh tears rolled down his cheeks.

“i caught you, kacchan.”