Febuwhump Day 6 - "you lied to me"
I may have shed a tear while writing this one.
This is a fantasy AU!! No teacher/student!!
TWs in tags || read on Ao3 || wc: 971
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As much as he tried to run away, Izuku had pulled him in like a magnet. They had fallen hard and fast for each other, faster than Shouta had in any of his lifetimes.
The time came to confess his truth, to finally break off their relationship and part ways. It would be easier this way, Shouta could let Izuku live on in his memory, young and vibrant as he was.
But Izuku always did love ruining Shouta’s plans.
“Shouta, it’s okay. I- I am too.”
He didn’t think he’d ever felt such a feeling before. Was it relief? Distress, maybe… Hope.
“Why… why didn’t you say anything?” He examined Izuku’s face, trying to wring out any deceit.
His lover shrugged, smiling. The barely-there crow's feet made an appearance as he nuzzled into Shouta’s hand.
“Probably for the same reason as you. I wanted to protect this. It wouldn’t work if one of us was mortal and the other…”
Shouta frowned, “I know most of the other immortals in the area, I can’t believe I never noticed you.” he swiped Izuku’s freckled cheek with his thumb.
“I’ve…” Izuku sighed, “I’ve had a tough life, Shouta. I’m just grateful that I now get to spend the rest of it with you.”
Eternity… he doesn’t say.
Truly, Shouta should’ve known it was too good to be true.
He let himself believe that it was possible, that the universe had finally granted him some sort of reprieve.
Maybe it was his desperation that led him to ignore the signs. Izuku’s aging, his spirit, his beauty.
Living for as long as Shouta had, you would lose your mind a little more with each passing decade. Cursed immortals like him don’t receive the blessing of death, but rather gradual insanity.
It was all good, all wrong.
Not two years later, it all came crashing down.
Izuku had begun looking tired and lethargic. His smile was strained and his movements painful. Shouta had insisted he go to the healer, ignoring the blaring alarm in his head that screamed this was wrong. He should be regenerating faster than his ailment could harm him.
“Shouta, don’t worry.” He brushed off every time he showed concern. “I’m fine, they can’t help.”
There was something he wasn’t telling him.
Weeks later, Izuku had awoken sometime in the night, and he hadn’t returned. After Shouta lay there unable to rest for some time, he threw the covers off of his bed and trudged into the dark of the house.
He found Izuku curled around the toilet, sitting in a pool of sweat and vomit.
Immediately he leaped into action, gathering the shivering man into his arms and lifting him. Izuku clung to his shoulders, whimpering at the movement.
He rushed them to the nearest healer, doing his best to keep Izuku conscious throughout the trip.
The old woman on duty took one look at Izuku and sighed, waving at Shouta to come through to the back.
They put him on an open cot, and Shouta immediately forewent the waiting bench, kneeling beside Izuku on the dirt.
“Shit, you’ve gotta tell me what’s going on, Izuku. Please, I know you’re hiding something. Is your curse doing this to you? I don’t understand…”
“Love,” Izuku smiled, motioning for Shouta’s hand. He complied, holding the smaller hand in his own. Izuku’s body had always been small, almost dangerously so, but Shouta chalked it up to genetics. He never met Izuku’s family, assuming they’d passed decades or even centuries ago, like his own.
But now, with the moonlight pouring in through the window, illuminating Izuku’s translucent skin, he’s sure he had it all wrong.
He waited a moment, allowing Izuku to collect himself and breathe.
“There’s a letter… in my chest at home. I explain more…” He sighed, eyebrows quivering, “I can’t imagine I have much longer. I’ve already been lucky.”
“Izuku you’re…” acting as though you’re already dead. “You lied to me about being immortal,” Shouta finished, using all his power to stay strong until he got answers. But watching the tears swell in Izuku’s eyes nearly broke him.
“I’m sorry for deceiving you, Shouta. It was never with malicious intent, please believe me.” He took a shuddering breath, “I never had long for this life.”
Shouta brought Izuku’s hand to his forehead, feeling the cool skin and pressing a kiss into his wrist.
Shouta would never be angry at him, and he needed Izuku to know, but he wouldn’t dare interrupt him now.
“I knew you were cursed when we met all those years ago. I knew I was dying then, too.” Izuku explains, nodding to the woman when she brought him another pillow to prop himself on. “As much as I knew it would hurt, I was selfish. I fell in love with you, and I knew you would leave if I was honest. I just…” He sobs, caressing Shouta’s face.
Shouta shakes his head, allowing his burning eyes to well, “Izuku you don’t need to justify yourself. I’m so grateful for the time we’ve had together. If I’d have known… I would’ve spent every waking moment treasuring you.”
Izuku chuckled, “You couldn’t possibly make me feel more loved than I already have. My time with you was the happiest of my life. I’ve been alone for so many years, and though it was greedy, I didn’t want to feel that loneliness in death. I know you’ll always be with me, just like I’ll always be with you, Shouta.”
He pulled himself up onto Izuku’s cot and took the man into his arms.
“I love you more than anything, Izuku.” He murmurs, pressing kisses into Izuku’s crown.
“Not more than I love you,” Izuku whispers back.
He took his last breath with a sleepy smile on his face.
Forever young, just like Shouta.
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