The fight started over something small—so small it shouldn’t have mattered. A misread look, a forgotten word, a simple misunderstanding. But with Katsuki, nothing ever stayed small for long. His voice was sharp, his words laced with fire meant to defend himself but cutting too deep.

“You’re always like this!” he snapped, pacing in front of you, palms sparking with agitation. “Overthinking every damn thing, blowing it all out of proportion—” His chest heaved, anger twisting his face. “You’re too busy being in your head over every little thing to even see what’s right in front of you!”

The words landed like shrapnel. Your throat closed, breath stuttering as the edges of your vision blurred. His voice, the sparks, the weight of his fury—it was all too much. The walls closed in, your heart pounding so loudly you could barely hear anything else.

Katsuki froze when he finally saw your shaking hands, the uneven rise and fall of your chest. The anger on his face cracked instantly, replaced by something far worse—fear.

“Shit,” he muttered, eyes wide. The sparks on his palms fizzled out. “Shit, no, I didn’t—” He reached for you, then stopped short, as if afraid to make it worse. “Damn it, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

Your breaths came fast and shallow, tears stinging your eyes as you tried to ground yourself. Katsuki cursed under his breath, crouching down in front of you, lowering his voice to a raw whisper.

“Hey…look at me. It’s me, okay? I’m right here. You’re safe.” His hand hovered, trembling, before he finally pressed it gently against your knee. “I was an idiot. I let my damn temper run my mouth again. You didn’t deserve that.”

The sight of you breaking because of him gutted him in ways no villain ever could. He clenched his jaw, forcing his voice softer, steadier. “I don’t care how long it takes. Just…breathe with me, yeah? In and out. Like this.”

He exaggerated the motion of his breaths, stubbornly keeping his gaze locked on yours, silently daring you to match him. Slowly, unevenly, your breaths began to sync with his. The tension in your chest eased just enough for the tears to fall freely.

Katsuki reached up this time, brushing the dampness from your cheek with a gentleness so at odds with his usual fire. His voice cracked when he spoke again. “I’m sorry I made you feel like that. You’re not too much. You’re never too much.”

Silence settled, heavy but tender. Katsuki stayed close, his hand never leaving yours, grounding you with his presence instead of his pride.

When you finally steadied, he let out a shaky breath. “You should’ve blown up at me, not…this. I’d take you screaming at me over watching you break any damn day.” His thumb brushed over your knuckles, slow and careful. “I’ll do better. I swear it.”

His eyes searched yours, raw and vulnerable. “If you’ll still have me.”