Heros get tired. It can be physical, weary body or broken bones...
Sapphire Midnight@SapMidnight
22 views
Dec 02, 2025
~7 min read
1
Heros get tired.
It can be physical, weary body or broken bones brushed off to face another villain. Other times it's mental, hearing the begging or cries of civilians in their sleep.
But Katsuki knows Deku, the symbol of victory, never lets himself rest.
#BKDK #BakuDeku
It can be physical, weary body or broken bones brushed off to face another villain. Other times it's mental, hearing the begging or cries of civilians in their sleep.
But Katsuki knows Deku, the symbol of victory, never lets himself rest.
#BKDK #BakuDeku
2
Being roommates means he knows how little Deku sleeps. He passes his room when he's going to sleep and sees him with mission papers scattered on his bed.
When he wakes up early the next morning for his early workout, Izuku's slumped sitting up with those same damn documents.
When he wakes up early the next morning for his early workout, Izuku's slumped sitting up with those same damn documents.
3
His diet's pathetic, too.
Katsuki does his best to force him to eat with threats of violence or shoving bowls of food in his hands when they're in the apartment together.
Sometimes he can get the nerd to sit for the entire meal before he's off, saving the world again.
Katsuki does his best to force him to eat with threats of violence or shoving bowls of food in his hands when they're in the apartment together.
Sometimes he can get the nerd to sit for the entire meal before he's off, saving the world again.
4
The only thing that Izuku does without Katsuki's intensive watch is shower. He's always quick to shed his destroyed uniform on longer shifts and slink into the bathroom without a barked order.
Sometimes it's quick, but other days, the hard shifts, the shower's on for hours.
Sometimes it's quick, but other days, the hard shifts, the shower's on for hours.
5
Katsuki doesn't ask, because it's not his business. Izuku is an adult, and he doesn't need someone to treat his battle wounds like weakness.
But maybe he does text Round Cheeks or IcyHot to come over and grab a field report, knowing they'll pop into Deku's room to say hello.
But maybe he does text Round Cheeks or IcyHot to come over and grab a field report, knowing they'll pop into Deku's room to say hello.
6
Izuku never shares an ounce of the heaviness from his title with anyone. Reporters ask intrusive questions. The city pours all their expectation on his shoulders. Even other heros turn to him during times of crisis.
And Deku shines at the darkest moments. He never gives up.
And Deku shines at the darkest moments. He never gives up.
7
But Katsuki's not stupid. He doesn't take the easy way out, and let Deku's cheerful smiles and optimistic speeches fool him.
He thinks others see the cracks in Deku's image, but it's easier for them to glance away. Nobody wants to take on the burden of looking under the surface.
He thinks others see the cracks in Deku's image, but it's easier for them to glance away. Nobody wants to take on the burden of looking under the surface.
8
More villains come. More wounds scar over. More smiles get plastered over the fatigue and cruelness that Deku witnesses every day.
Katsuki balances between showing slight care, and letting the idiot slip through his fingers. He thinks he might be Izuku's final thread of sanity.
Katsuki balances between showing slight care, and letting the idiot slip through his fingers. He thinks he might be Izuku's final thread of sanity.
9
But eventually, something has to break. Either Katsuki's facade of not wanting to cradle Izuku without illusions of disinterest, or Deku's ability to carry the world alone.
The two choices clash when a group of villains attack a hospital.
There's so much blood. Too much loss.
The two choices clash when a group of villains attack a hospital.
There's so much blood. Too much loss.
10
Katsuki doesn't know how many explosions he lets out to keep the scum away while the other heros evacuate the building. By the end of the day, his arms scream from the gauntlets he raises again and again.
When scanning the medical tent in the aftermath, he can't find Deku.
When scanning the medical tent in the aftermath, he can't find Deku.
11
An interrogation with Glasses proves that Izuku gives his spot in medical to Frogger while claiming he'd have 'Kacchan' bandage him up.
He knows Izuku isn't going to ask. Deku never asks for help.
So Katsuki heads to the apartment, ready to finally face the growing problem.
He knows Izuku isn't going to ask. Deku never asks for help.
So Katsuki heads to the apartment, ready to finally face the growing problem.
12
It's dim when he arrives home. If he didn't pick up on the sound of water down the hall, he might think Deku never came back.
He takes his time shrugging off his uniform, collects the pieces Deku seems to have shed in his haste.
Down to boxers and a t-shirt, he steps inside.
He takes his time shrugging off his uniform, collects the pieces Deku seems to have shed in his haste.
Down to boxers and a t-shirt, he steps inside.
13
Izuku looks smaller out of his costume. People forget that before One For all, before UA, before All Might, Izuku was a scrawny nerd.
He's strong now, but if he wants to curl into a ball and become nothing, he does it like a pro.
Katsuki knows he's partly to blame for that.
He's strong now, but if he wants to curl into a ball and become nothing, he does it like a pro.
Katsuki knows he's partly to blame for that.
14
Naked knees press to his chest, freckled cheeks hidden in the arms on top of his legs while he shakes. From how steamy the bathroom is, Katsuki knows his trembles aren't from the cold.
Izuku's sobs hide under the spray.
Katsuki would rather ask for forgiveness than permission.
Izuku's sobs hide under the spray.
Katsuki would rather ask for forgiveness than permission.
15
He doesn't care about his clothes getting wet when stepping in the tub, sinks down to bracket his thighs on either side of Deku.
Katsuki ignores the back tensing against his chest when he lays over it, wraps arms around his curled form.
He presses his face to the warm nape.
Katsuki ignores the back tensing against his chest when he lays over it, wraps arms around his curled form.
He presses his face to the warm nape.
16
"Kacchan?" Even the familiar name sounds tired. Izuku doesn't have any energy to fight him off. "What... what are you-"
"Stop." It isn't a firm demand, no need for Deku to listen out of fear. He's brought back to the pleading tone he used in the rain years ago. "Enough, Izuku."
"Stop." It isn't a firm demand, no need for Deku to listen out of fear. He's brought back to the pleading tone he used in the rain years ago. "Enough, Izuku."
17
The shower raining over them is the only noise. Dirty skin, wet but unwashed by the broken man beneath it, starts shaking again.
Deku's been strong for too long. Everyone sees the accomplishments, but forgets how young he is.
How much heart he carves out for everyone else.
Deku's been strong for too long. Everyone sees the accomplishments, but forgets how young he is.
How much heart he carves out for everyone else.
18
Crooked fingers reach down and clutch the forearms holding him, like recognizing they're the only thing keeping him, physically and emotionally, together. "K-Kacchan..."
"I know," he says, squeezes once to prove they don't need words.
With a heaved sob, Izuku finally breaks.
"I know," he says, squeezes once to prove they don't need words.
With a heaved sob, Izuku finally breaks.
19
The painful cries tear into him like claws, the erratic jerks and flinches doing their best to shake Katsuki away. Like they don't think Izuku deserves to be held in his vulnerability.
But he's a stubborn man, especially with this. Nobody else has ever kept his focus like Deku.
But he's a stubborn man, especially with this. Nobody else has ever kept his focus like Deku.
20
He's not always been the person to carry Izuku's pain for him. The guilt of once adding more weight onto those bony shoulders chases him years later.
Katsuki will make up for his mistakes over the rest of his life. He'll become the watch dog to Izuku's deserved happiness.
Katsuki will make up for his mistakes over the rest of his life. He'll become the watch dog to Izuku's deserved happiness.
21
Izuku's body shifts, legs slipping from Katsuki's arms to turn around and face him. He doesn't seem to care about his knees banging the side of the tub when he lunges forward, collapsing into his chest.
Desperate fingers clutch to his back. "I'm sorry, I tried to save them all."
Desperate fingers clutch to his back. "I'm sorry, I tried to save them all."
22
"You did enough." Because Deku will always be more than the world is due, in his opinion.
They don't deserve a single tear from Izuku. Not one soft sob, not the smallest tremor or whimper of his pain.
He didn't, either, but he knew both would still get them. Because its Deku.
They don't deserve a single tear from Izuku. Not one soft sob, not the smallest tremor or whimper of his pain.
He didn't, either, but he knew both would still get them. Because its Deku.
23
Instead, he pulls him closer, lets Izuku hide from prying eyes outside of their four walls. "You're gonna start letting me take care of your dumb ass."
"I don't want to be a burden-"
"Wasn't a request, Deku." He grabs his chin, pulls him back to make eye-contact. "You got it?"
"I don't want to be a burden-"
"Wasn't a request, Deku." He grabs his chin, pulls him back to make eye-contact. "You got it?"
24
With wide eyes, puffy from the crying and the steam, Izuku's lip wobbles when he nods. "Okay."
"Good." Impulse makes him lean forward, pressing a quick kiss onto the cut on Izuku's forehead. "Now we're gonna scrub you clean, bandage this shit, and feed you until you pass out."
"Good." Impulse makes him lean forward, pressing a quick kiss onto the cut on Izuku's forehead. "Now we're gonna scrub you clean, bandage this shit, and feed you until you pass out."
25
When he leans back, the look of wonder chases away the pain from their earlier mission, hope covering the freckled face. "You'll cook me katsudon?"
"Course you skip the other shit." But he nods just to see excitement tug Izuku's lips into a smile. "Hand me the shampoo, idiot."
"Course you skip the other shit." But he nods just to see excitement tug Izuku's lips into a smile. "Hand me the shampoo, idiot."
26
Izuku will have days he hides. Nights he covers his mouth to smother his tears. Showers too long to be anything but a smokescreen.
But Katsuki knows, while scrubbing green hair and hearing Izuku's laugh about Katsuki tickling him, that he won't let Deku face it alone anymore.
But Katsuki knows, while scrubbing green hair and hearing Izuku's laugh about Katsuki tickling him, that he won't let Deku face it alone anymore.
27
So a piece of BKDK art that inspired this random piece of work. I wasn't planning to post anything, but here you go.
Make sure to vote in my new poll for 🧵 choices this week, check out the new story on Ao3, and I'm writing part 3 of loopholes this week!
Make sure to vote in my new poll for 🧵 choices this week, check out the new story on Ao3, and I'm writing part 3 of loopholes this week!
28
Also, I'm going to put the link to the art here. Go like and follow!!
And please support fanwork because fandoms are the backbones to communities.
(If they don't want this linked, please let me know and I'll delete this part of the thread!)
x.com/Drawhine/statu…
And please support fanwork because fandoms are the backbones to communities.
(If they don't want this linked, please let me know and I'll delete this part of the thread!)
x.com/Drawhine/statu…
