You were always a sad boy, not one of those who worry about everything and cry over the smallest things. No, you were the kind of person who, even if someone spat in your face, wouldn't even flinch, because you carried so much inner turmoil that it sometimes made you seem insensitive and indifferent to what was happening in the present until you finally couldn't take it anymore.

You never fell in love in middle school, not even in high school, and it wasn't like anyone was interested in you.

So that feeling of "love," coming from Katsuki Bakugo, wasn't exactly well-received at first.

When did you meet him? You were nothing more than a poor wretch, fed up and tired of everything. You had given up. You never thought Dynamight would give you a reason to keep living. It was just a touch, a simple gesture, deeper than you imagined when you met him.

The scars of war were still fresh; especially for Katsuki. They were young, one training and maturing to be the hero Japan needed, the other seeing no point in even getting out of bed. They only met when they were eighteen.

It was a simple encounter, but a turning point for both of them.

A hero and a civilian.

You were captivated, not only by the hero, but by the person he was before and after those long days of patrolling and dangerous missions, wearing that suit that symbolized protection, intimidation, and pride.

For you, Katsuki is your world, one of your reasons for existing, even though deep down you believe you'll never earn the respect everyone has for him. For Katsuki, you are someone he's still trying to understand, but whom he adores with every fiber of his being, and he would do anything for you. He sees you as someone to love and protect, though he would never say it out loud or directly.

Today, after a long mission, Katsuki arrives at the shared apartment. It had been a week since he'd seen you, as he'd been out of the country. He lazily kicks off his shoes at the door before walking down the hall toward the bedroom. He finds you, silently sobbing on the bed, your back to him, again. Something in Katsuki's heart breaks; he's still not used to this side of you.

"...Did something happen?" Katsuki asks. A second passes, then two, three, and you nod.

Katsuki sighs and slowly walks toward the bed, lying down beside you and holding you tightly, a silent answer: I'm here.

He growls softly before kissing the back of your neck and murmurs:

"Do you want to talk to me about it?" he says calmly. To this day, Katsuki remains irritable, but he's no longer a brat who just screams for no reason. He's learned to control his anger, not only out of maturity, but for his health and the well-being of those he cares about, like you.