[Katsuki doesn't really register that Izuku has touched his arm until he takes it away and leaves it hovering there, the spot on Katsuki's skin where it had been resting feeling suddenly chilled. But Izuku moves a little closer, their legs touching, and Katsuki allows it, listening out the other boy as he explains.
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. He knows that Katsuki will work hard to redeem himself if he does.
Katsuki's eyes flick over to Izuku and he looks at him for a few long moments, trying to internalize that. That it's okay to make mistakes with this, that Izuku's not going to write him off, as long as he's actually trying. It's a foreign concept, strange to turn over in his head. As long as he can remember, the goal has been nothing less than perfection, in every aspect of his life.]
I will.
[The expression on his face is serious, so Izuku will see that he's taking this seriously, that it's something else he's going to expect perfection from himself for. His expression softens a little bit as Izuku says it's something that he admires about him. That...brings up some complicated emotions. He's always barked back when Izuku claims to admire him for something, thinking that it was just the other boy looking down on him, but he's starting to register that it isn't some kind of lording it over him that Izuku is better. At least, he doesn't think so, not anymore.]
You...really mean that, don't you?
[His voice is low and a little throaty, but his red eyes are still locked on Izuku's face, meeting his eyes after a few seconds because he wants to see the other boy's real reaction.]
no subject
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. He knows that Katsuki will work hard to redeem himself if he does.
Katsuki's eyes flick over to Izuku and he looks at him for a few long moments, trying to internalize that. That it's okay to make mistakes with this, that Izuku's not going to write him off, as long as he's actually trying. It's a foreign concept, strange to turn over in his head. As long as he can remember, the goal has been nothing less than perfection, in every aspect of his life.]
I will.
[The expression on his face is serious, so Izuku will see that he's taking this seriously, that it's something else he's going to expect perfection from himself for. His expression softens a little bit as Izuku says it's something that he admires about him. That...brings up some complicated emotions. He's always barked back when Izuku claims to admire him for something, thinking that it was just the other boy looking down on him, but he's starting to register that it isn't some kind of lording it over him that Izuku is better. At least, he doesn't think so, not anymore.]
You...really mean that, don't you?
[His voice is low and a little throaty, but his red eyes are still locked on Izuku's face, meeting his eyes after a few seconds because he wants to see the other boy's real reaction.]