Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Shouto, for the first time, didn’t know what to make of Bakugou’s expression.

He’s never seen the guy look anything but angry or intensely focused. Those seemed to be his only traits and his furrowed brows and frowning face seemed to be his only facial features. Bakugou always acted predictably, and he usually wasn’t one for surprises. Shouto was at the very least confident that with him, it’s always the same old, same old.

That’s why, when Bakugou’s face was scrunched up not in his usual angry, but in a different blank expression, Shouto inwardly panicked. He didn’t know how to respond.

“Who’s that?” Bakugou asked, and there was a curious edge to his voice that had nothing to do with Shouto at all. Shouto looked down at his phone, where a recent looking Fuyumi and a sheepish looking Shouto were looking into the camera with hints of smiles on their faces. That picture was taken a month ago when Shouto went to visit his mother with Fuyumi. After taking the picture, Shouto immediately got attached to it, for the sole reason that Shouto learned to love Fuyumi in a way that made him want to keep her smiling face close to him.

“My sister?” Shouto asked more than he spoke, taken aback.

“You have siblings?”

It wasn’t like Bakugou to be so chatty and curious. It wasn't like Bakugou to talk to Shouto at all.

“I have thr-- two,” Shouto was quick to correct. “I have two siblings.”

“Huh,” Bakugou said, and then the conversation was over. Bakugou got up from where he was sitting, perched on the couch in their dorm’s common room, and made his way out of Shouto’s view. That might’ve been the weirdest conversation Shouto ever had in his life. Maybe not as awkward as Shouto’s first real conversation with Izuku, but it almost held a candle to it.

Katsuki knew nothing about Todoroki and they were in the middle of their second year.

Katsuki knew Todoroki’s personality. He knew the side he usually went for when sparring, he knew all of his attack patterns, and he generally knew his dressing style and his study methods because they were technically roommates and it’s not hard to know those things when you live with a person for a year. Katsuki knew Todoroki had a rough childhood and a shithead of a father even though he wasn’t supposed to know.

Katsuki had no idea Todoroki had siblings.

The idea never crossed his mind. It’s not like Katsuki had reasons to think he was an only child; In fact, it made more sense if he had siblings. And he did. Katsuki’s feelings got weirdly twisted because Todoroki Shouto has been a pain in the butt for the past year and a half but Katsuki thought he knew him. His tactics, his quirk, his capabilities and every detail concerning his fighting style were things Katsuki could probably recite in his sleep due to the number of times they sparred, but Katsuki knew nothing of Todoroki as an actual person. He used to think Todoroki was so damn obvious. Now he doesn’t know what to think.

In the past, Katsuki couldn’t give a damn about Half ‘n Half and his stupid life. They were enemies and that was that. Now, they've been through things and it was different, and Katsuki couldn’t shake off the feeling that he should’ve asked questions when he had the chance.

That weird feeling bothered Katsuki after he saw Todoroki's older sister. He hated not knowing things.

Kirishima, ever the fucking delight of Katsuki’s life, immediately noticed.

“You seem concerned,” he brought up once, when they were laying on the floor and playing some weird game Sero was into just for the sake of killing Kaminari’s character over and over again.

“Maybe I am,” Katsuki challenged. “Doesn’t concern you.”

“Don’t be like that dude,” Kirishima shrugged it off like Katsuki knew he would. “You can just tell me. Promise I won’t tell a soul.”

Katsuki already knew that. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t hesitant.

“It’s just…” he began, still unsure, but it was Kirishima. “What’s the most random shit you can think of that you know about Half ‘n Half?”

Katsuki could practically hear Kirishima’s eyes sparkling at the question. “Man, Todoroki’s the best. Well, if you’re asking for random… I know for a fact he likes cold soba and chocolate mint ice cream more than life itself. And also, he doesn’t look it but he’s an amazing hugger. He loves cats. He never wore a coat in his life before but he probably wore every jacket under the sun, and I saw him eat a whole lemon without wincing once. I think the madman was actually enjoying that lemon. He also has a nice singing voice but singing makes him super embarrassed.”

Kirishima pondered the question for a tiny bit more. “He wears sweaters in the summer just to mess with people. If he had a cat he’d call it Mitsuo. I think he mentioned an avocado obsession once but I don’t think he likes avocado anymore.”

“How do you even know all of this shit?” Katsuki stopped him and asked honestly. he never would've guessed anything of what Kirishima just rambled about had anything to do with Todoroki.

“I don’t know? We’re friends. Aren’t I supposed to know random stuff about him?” Kirishima looked up from his phone to side-eye Katsuki. “Is there anything going on with Todoroki?”

“I don’t know shit about him,” Katsuki answered straightforwardly. “I found out three days ago he had siblings and we've been living together for a year.”

“Oh yeah!” Kirishima commented. “There’s Fuyumi who makes the best cookies I’ve ever had, and Natsuo who’s a total bro and sends Todoroki photos of his dogs when he’s bored. Love those guys.”

After one pointed look from Katsuki, Kirishima put up his hands. “Sorry, not helping. Since when does that concern you though?”

“That feels weird,” Katsuki stated. “It’s weird that you know all that stuff and I don’t.”

“Ask,” Kirishima prompted. When Kirishima didn’t add, Katsuki huffed in frustration, mostly at himself. Katsuki knew that when Kirishima doesn’t continue, there’s nothing more to be said.

Bakugou tended to make Shouto feel uncomfortable more often than not.

He was just… himself. He liked to win at everything, which Shouto understood, but he was so aggressive about it. Bakugou made it hard to admire him for his many victories, even if Shouto begrudgingly admitted to himself there’s a lot to admire Bakugou for.

Despite Bakugou’s amazing success at everything he put his mind to, he was still Bakugou Katsuki who was loud and rude and mostly angry. He still was the Bakugou Katsuki that didn’t call Shouto by his name and only talked to him when he declared he’ll beat him.

“Hey, Icyhot,” Bakugou called, and Shouto turned around faster than Iida’s Recipro.

“Yeah?” Shouto asked, trying to maintain his tone to stay as monotone as ever. He didn’t like to show his nervousness to people like Bakugou.

“What’s your favorite season?”

Shouto visibly froze. The confused ‘what?’ he thought in his head might’ve come out loudly. From how uncomfortable Bakugou looked, Shouto could see he wasn’t a big fan of the interaction either.

“Winter,” Shouto eventually answered. “I like big warm sweaters, and my older sister loves snowflakes. So Winter.”

Bakugou considered Shouto’s answer for a second. “Okay,” he then said, walking away.

The weird interactions continued.

Shouto was sitting in his seat after the lunch break bell rung. The rest of the class were starting to pack their things or talk to each other like they typically did, and Shouto was minding his own business as usual when Bakugou called his name. Well, not his name. He was still Bakugou.

“Hey, Half ‘n Half.”

Shouto bitterly turned from the notes he was reviewing to look up at Bakugou. He wished he could just ignore him, but knew it’d be more troublesome to do that. “Yes?”

“Out of everyone in our shitty class, who likes the same crap you do? And don’t start getting annoying on me now. Just answer,” Bakugou was quick to warn.

Shouto wished he could understand what prompted Bakugou to talk to Shouto as much as he did lately and especially wanted to figure out how he could make it stop.

“Sero-kun,” Shouto answered, sighing internally. Bakugou quirked an eyebrow.

“Wouldn’t have guessed. You and Soy-Sauce Face don’t look that friendly.”

Shouto almost cringed at the nickname. “We spend a lot of time together reading manga and… things.”

“Right. Well, whatever,” Bakugou said and turned away.

The amount of brain-cells Shouto wasted in an attempt to understand Bakugou was way too much. Shouto sighed and tried to convince himself he didn’t care.

Katsuki busied himself with reading for the rest of the week in early preparations for the mid-term exams. He was sitting in his usual spot on the common room’s couch, and Jirou was sitting next to him, unabashedly staring at her girlfriend and mumbling things Katsuki was too sleepy to care about.

“She sneezes like a kitten and looks like the love of my life,” Jirou said casually. “I’m going to marry her someday.”

Katsuki looked up to where Yaoyorozu paused her process of cleaning the main dining table to materialize a tissue. He looked back to Jirou, who was leaning on her palm and staring with a lovestruck expression.

“You’re a lost fuckin’ cause, shortstack.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you, asshole,” Jirou stuck out her tongue.

“What’s that supposed to mean, earlobe?”

“You’re good at addition. You tell me.”

“Don’t be a fuckin’ smartass.”

Jirou snuck a look at Todoroki who just entered the room, and smirked to herself.

“But you like smartasses, don’t you?”

Katsuki saw Todoroki and immediately reddened. “Shut your trap, pipsqueak. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“If you insist, I won’t talk about your weird new interest in the prettiest boy in our class,” Jirou mentioned slyly. “Don’t think I didn’t notice.”

“Notice what?” Katsuki spit back. “Half ‘n Half and I are the same as always, not that it’s any of your damn business.”

“Same as always,” Jirou repeated. She pondered the statement for a moment and added “I’ll say. You two were always weird.”

Katsuki was annoyed, but couldn’t help his growing interest in what Jirou had to say. Jirou always acted as if she knew everything but more often than not she actually knew.

“Weird how?” Katsuki grumbled, giving in to his curiosity.

“You always had this pressing interest in him,” Jirou pointed out, and Katsuki had to stop himself from visibly startling. “You kept involving him in everything, And you were never friends, but you spent lots of time together alone when you two took the remedial course. And after that, you stopped declaring war on him like you used to, and you two were always standing by each other and fighting together but never really talked. So yeah. Weird.”

Katsuki didn’t know how to respond to that. Were they always like that?

“I’m going to my room,” Katsuki gruffed, closed his book and groggily got up.

“Rest well,” Jirou replied with no hints of teasing. If Katsuki was a softer person, he would’ve smiled.

Shouto was curious.

Bakugou didn’t stop with the questions. He asked basic things like Shouto’s favorite color, his favorite song, his birthday and things that you usually ask on first dates. Not things you ask a person you barely know on totally normal school days, like “did you do the homework from last week?” or “when does class start?”. He asked things that Shouto couldn’t answer, like his favorite show (Shouto never watched anything that wasn’t the news) or Shouto’s favorite book (he had too many).

It’s not like Shouto and Bakugou never talked. It’s not like they never had a calm conversation before, either. But they never talked about themselves around each other, and that made Shouto curious.

It’s not that they hated each other, it’s just that they weren’t friends. They existed in the same space and that was enough for a long while.

It wasn’t a personal thing. Now it seemed like Bakugou wanted it to be.

So Shouto decided that if they’re going to be weird about getting to know each other, he can go all out.

Bakugou hogged the corner of the common room’s couch as usual, and Shouto just finished making himself tea and sat next to Bakugou, keeping a safe distance between them. Bakugou seemed to be immersed in the book he was reading.

“Bakugou,” Shouto said in his quiet voice, and the other boy shot up at the mention of his name.

“What?” he asked, a bit startled at the sudden sight of his classmate.

“What’s your favorite season?”

For a moment, Bakugou stopped, completely off his guard at his own question being redirected to him. He blinked at Shouto, who had to fight a small amused smile off his lips.

“Summer,” Bakugou eventually said. “‘Cause I can use my quirk the best.”

Shouto hummed, but unlike Bakugou who always fled the scene immediately after asking, he continued to sit where he sat and drink his tea. At first, Bakugou was visibly weirded out by Shouto’s presence which made Shouto want to laugh. Bakugou started to ease, and after a few uncomfortable minutes, he continued to read like Shouto wasn’t there.

Shouto decided he liked sitting next to Bakugou.

Their relationship became something like a game of 21 questions.

After Todoroki approached Katsuki, the uncomfortable feeling that plagued Katsuki’s mind left him be, and he started getting braver with his questions.

“What’s something that makes you laugh but isn’t actually funny?”

Todoroki had to think about that one for a minute. Katsuki, ever the impatient, hurried him with a “what’s taking so long?”.

“I’m trying to remember the last time I laughed,” Todoroki said honestly, shushing Katsuki in an attempt to focus. “I don’t think it happened in a while.”

Todoroki said it nonchalantly, like it was no big deal, but Katsuki’s eyes darkened. He was reminded of Todoroki’s circumstances, and he didn’t like getting all worked up because of it.

“You’re taking too long, I’m changing the question,” Katsuki said, faking impatience. “If you could turn people into pets, who would you turn and into what?”

“That’s a weird question,” Todoroki said, a small smile decorating his lips.

“You’re weirder, Half ‘n Half.”

“I’d turn you into a cat,” Todoroki answered playfully and smiled a tiny bit wider after seeing Katsuki’s expression. “How about you?”

“I’d turn you into a dog,” Katuski said and crossed his arms.

“Which breed?”

Katsuki thought for a second.

“Miniature Pinscher. And for me?”

“Siberian cat, because that’s the only justification for the amount of fluffy hair you have and your cold attitude.”

“Don’t try me, Half ‘n Half,” Katsuki warned half-heartedly. “Because cat me will shed in your closet.”

“Then keep your eyes peeled for when dog me starts eating all of your furniture,” Todoroki replied.

Katsuki had to stop himself from laughing.

A sudden, wild thought appeared in Katsuki’s mind.

Since when did he and Todoroki have so much fun in each other’s company?

Katsuki bothered to think about it for a little while but decided to ignore the thought as he tried to pay attention to Todoroki’s soft ramblings on his favorite tea.

Another thought popped up when Katsuki started talking about his favorite type of coffee. He thought, why is he so surprised?

Shouto and Bakugou got inexplicably close in the span of a few weeks.

Of course, with the two of them, it was hard to describe as friendship. They didn’t hang out together, or study together, or eat lunch together.

But they talked to each other. A lot.

They talked to each other so much, Shouto started feeling the difference when they didn’t.

It was a busy day at school. The class was working on assignments through their lunch break and then had physical training for two hours. To say they were all exhausted was an understatement.

So naturally, the first thing Shouto did after getting out of the shower was crash on the nearest flat object, which was luckily the couch. He fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes.

When he woke up, he was in the same uncomfortable position on the couch and the clock on the wall showed it was 4:00 am. Shouto went to his room, silently closed the door and settled in his futon while stifling a yawn. Only then, warmly wrapped in blankets after an exhausting day and an uncomfortable sleep, did he think that he and Bakugou didn’t speak that day even once. He tried not to turn restless and think about it too much, but Shouto couldn't help that he found it a bit difficult to sleep.

The next day, Shouto waited for Bakugou outside of his room for a reason he couldn’t find. When Bakugou stepped out of his room, despite the fact it was an ungodly hour of the morning, he didn’t look mad.

“Hey,” Shouto said. He suddenly didn’t know what he came there to say, only that he had to be there. Bakugou yawned and rubbed at his eyes. “Hey,” Bakugou responded gruffly, barely looking at Shouto’s face. “Whadya want, Todoroki?”

“How did you sleep?”

“Like a damned bear,” Bakugou said and stretched his arms. “From what I saw, you did too.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s one good thing about yesterday, a least,” Bakugou deduced, and Shouto smiled faintly. Bakugou squinted.

“Anyway, get out of my face, Todoroki. it’s way too early for this.”

Shouto stifled a chuckle and went back to his room with a warm feeling beating in his chest. Sleepy Bakugou didn’t put up any angry fronts and softly called Shouto by his name. Sleepy Bakugou was nicer than usual Bakugou, who Shouto concluded wasn’t so bad himself.

Shouto might’ve fallen a little for sleepy Bakugou.

Katsuki has gotten a bit too used to Todoroki’s presence.

They were talking, like what became their usual, when Todoroki’s phone beeped and a few minutes later, rang unexpectedly.

“Oh,” Todoroki's eyes widened, and then he sighed. “Sorry, Bakugou. I have to go.”

Even when he tried to stop it, Katsuki could feel disappointment taking over him. “What happened?”

“Nothing to worry about. I’ll be back soon.”

Katsuki watched Todoroki leave in the middle of their conversation and wondered what that was all about. Only after Todoroki disappeared from his sight, did Katsuki understand he got way too attached to the idiot Half ‘n Half.

Katsuki hated getting attached.

That same day, Todoroki entered the dorm entrance at 12:30 am, making as little noise as possible. He closed the door silently, trying to sneak around the living room, when he saw Katsuki sitting on the couch and looking at something on his phone.

“Bakugou?” Todoroki asked. Katsuki looked up and relief was written all over his face.

“You scared me half to death, stupid Half ‘n Half! You said you’d be back soon and it’s been a few fucking hours!” Katsuki yell-whispered. Todoroki was too tired to care.

“I’m sorry. It’s okay now. Go to bed.”

“What happened?” Katsuki insisted. “Where did you run off to? I went crazy trying to figure out where you disappeared to. Even the Shitty Nerd didn’t know.”

“Drop it, Bakugou,” Todoroki insisted, annoyed. He clearly didn’t want to talk about whatever was going on, but Katsuki didn’t care.

“Just tell me already, damned Half ‘n Half,” he urged. “I think that at the very damn least I deserve to know after thinking about it so fucking much.”

“It doesn’t matter, please drop it,” Todoroki said, his tone turning soft. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“So now you’re tired of talking?” Katsuki snapped in annoyance. Todoroki stared at him with his stupid clear blue eye that seemed to bore into his soul, not making any signs that point to him talking back. "You're really going to hide stuff from me now? are you for fucking real?"

Todoroki didn’t dignify that with an answer and left Katsuki alone with his questions.

Unsurprisingly, After that, things were a bit tense around them.

After the night of Bakugou’s confrontation, Shouto and Bakugou stopped talking to each other.

The simple reason was that Shouto was afraid to open up to Bakugou. That day, when Fuyumi called Shouto to his mother’s mental hospital, he panicked. He immediately texted Aizawa and requested to exit the school grounds, and practically ran to the nearest bus stop.

His mother was okay. She read a headline about his father in the local newspaper and when she had her afternoon rest, nightmares about him haunted her until she woke up and went through a panic attack.

Shouto knew from experience that his mother was unpredictable and frightened while having a panic attack.

He and Fuyumi tried their best to calm her down, but they couldn’t help her. Her doctor had to force her to take panic disorder pills and stayed there until she passed out, and Shouto stayed with Fuyumi until their mother woke up to make sure she was okay.

It wasn’t the first time it happened, but Shouto was still scared every time Fuyumi notified him about his mother. He knew how painful nightmares about his father could be since he experienced a dozen of them, and he knew his mother went through enough of those to be on edge when she experienced them.

Shouto’s mother was okay now, but Shouto wasn’t.

Izuku asked him about it, and they had a good talk. Shouto once again was grateful for his friend’s presence in his life. Izuku knew what Shouto needed to hear to calm down, and even though Shouto was shaken, he felt safer around him. His best friend just managed to have that effect.

Around Bakugou, on the other hand, Shouto couldn’t help but feel anxious.

The fast improvement in their communication halted, and Shouto did his best to avoid Bakugou, trying his hardest to escape opening up about his emotions. Bakugou wasn’t one for understanding pain or struggle. If Shouto was to mention his fear in front of the other, he’ll either laugh, or urge him to get over it, and Shouto didn’t have the energy to handle that kind of reaction.

He didn’t have the bravery to get that hurt.

“Hey, Four-eyes.”

Katsuki felt extreme annoyance at Iida’s surprised expression but reminded himself with gritted teeth that he’d rather ask him than the Shitty Nerd, who was ten times as infuriating especially when it came to things like this.

“Yes, Bakugou-kun? Do you need help with anything?”

There it is again, the overwhelming desire to blow something up that Katsuki felt so many times recently. Katsuki didn’t need help. He just needed the stupid Half ‘n Half to stop avoiding him and tell him what the fuck was going on with him.

“Where did Todoroki go after class,” Katsuki grumbled more than he asked. Katsuki tried not to get mad at how Iida didn’t look surprised at that at all.

“Todoroki-kun felt unwell and is resting in his room. He asked not to be disturbed,” Iida said and fixed his glasses. “If you have a message to relay, I’d be glad to help.”

Katsuki rejected Iida’s offer and went to his room, ready to push out his frustrations by doing his math homework, but was stopped by the voices coming out of Kirishima’s room.

“Sorry man, I only have one,” came Kirishima’s voice. Katsuki was about to ignore what he heard until a very familiar voice spoke up quietly.

“It’s more than enough,” said Todoroki, and his voice would’ve been as stoic as ever if there wasn't tiredness and softness present in the tone of his voice. “Thank you.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it? Or maybe tell someone else?” Kirishima asked.

“I told Izuku, but he has a lot on his mind. Nevermind that he can’t help since his sleeping hasn’t been amazing, either.”

Sleeping?

“--And I appreciate your help, but I’m a little closed off when it comes to these things.”

“I get it. You can always tell Bakugou, you two got close recently, right?”

Katsuki didn’t know how to react to his name being brought up. Why did Kirishima think mentioning him was a good idea? And what was Katsuki supposed to make of the silence that came immediately after?

“Please don’t say a word to Bakugou,” Todoroki said after a pause, twisting the knife deeper. “I don’t want him to know.”

With that, Katsuki’s hands balled into fists and he rushed into his room angrily, not even denying to himself the immense feeling of betrayal that shot through him.

Katsuki just wanted to know, for damn sake, why was their relationship suddenly complicated and gnarled like a twisted old tree?

After that, Katsuki stopped seeking Todoroki out, and there was a forced, stretching silence between them. Everyone noticed, but no one knew what to do about it. Both Katsuki and Todoroki went back to what they did in their first year which was practically ignoring each other’s existence, but this time it was purposeful, and this time it was painful.

Chapter Text

The night Shouto had slept with the sleeping pill Kirishima gave him was a taste of heaven.

Ever since he came back from his visit to his mother’s hospital, he wasn’t able to sleep without having nightmares. Nightmares weren’t new, or surprising; Shouto had experienced them plenty before and got used to them enough to get at least 5 hours of sleep in the nights he had them. But this time, they were different. They were not only more vivid, not only more realistic, and not only more accurate to Shouto’s memories. No, these nightmares were frightening, limiting Shouto from getting any sleep at all. Even worst, he felt them to the tiniest detail and remembered the intensified fear of those memories in the shape of his nightmares throughout the whole day after. The last time his nightmares affected him this badly, he was 5 years old and curling up to his mother’s body in her bed, tears streaming down his face and staining his mother’s pajamas.

The night after he was back from the hospital, he asked Kirishima for a sleeping pill, and that helped a lot. The night after that, Hagakure stole him three sleeping pills from Recovery Girl’s office and offered him a sympathetic pat on the back. The night after those, Shouto couldn’t sleep.

It showed, and his friends were rightfully worried.  

Iida asked him if he was okay, and Shouto didn’t even have the energy to lie to his face. He gave him a worn-out smile, of the ones that were reserved only for Iida, and the taller boy frowned at him and sent him to rest in his room as soon as the school day was over. Izuku understood Shouto since he was exhausted himself, ever so used to overworking his body. He offered Shouto to come sleep at his room if it gave him any comfort, but Shouto was afraid his quirk might activate due to his physical reactions to the nightmares and refused politely. Uraraka offered him a coffee and a smile, and Shouto appreciated it even if he had to reject her offer (he hated coffee). Yaoyorozu made him her favorite type of tea in a failed attempt to help him relax. The only inkling of sleep Shouto’s gotten was the 30-minute nap he took on Sero’s hammock, which lasted very shortly.

The absolute worst part was how Bakugou noticed and did nothing about it.

It’s been three days, and Shouto’s tolerance ran dry. His classmates openly worried, and even Aizawa glanced pointedly at his face when he noticed that Shouto was worse for wear, an act that only managed to depress him further. No matter how much he tried to empty his head, Shouto couldn’t stop thinking about it. He felt an embarrassing desire to hug Fuyumi, and he wanted to see his mother even more, but decided it’d be the best if he stayed put and tried to calm down. Not that keeping the burden to himself was doing him much good.

After another exhausting school day, Shouto was lying comfortably on Yaoyorozu’s lap in an attempt to get some sleep. She was talking absentmindedly to her girlfriend, which created a perfect white noise and a precious opportunity to sleep that he hadn’t had in days.

Shouto was dozing off when a loud shattering noise was heard from the kitchen. His eyes snapped awake and he jolted, scaring both Yaoyorozu and himself.

“S-sorry,” he mumbled, placing a hand on his forehead. 

“Are you okay? You looked so peaceful, do you want to try napping again?” she asked him with a worried tone to her voice. Shouto shook his head.

“I’d rather not. Thanks, Yaoyorozu.”

He dragged himself off the couch, turning to leave the room when his eyes met Bakugou’s.

Shouto took in the sharpness in Bakugou’s red eyes, a pointed look that was normal for Bakugou when they were training together and Bakugou was deciphering Shouto’s movements and strategies. Now, it seemed like Bakugou just wanted to look into his head.

“Hi,” Shouto acknowledged and turned to leave. His head was aching almost as bad as his heart.

“What’s going on with you?” Bakugou’s voice snapped.

Shouto stopped in his tracks. He really didn’t want to start this conversation, but after everything that happened, he couldn’t ignore Bakugou now.  

“Nothing new,” Shouto sighed. “I’m going to bed. Talk to you later.” It was a lie, because Shouto had no intentions of talking to Bakugou again, but he couldn't help falling into their habit again. He didn't want to see Bakugou because it made him miss him. 

“Todoroki, wait,” Bakugou said, and Shouto cursed internally for his inability to refuse. He turned around to face Bakugou, who looked just as lost as Shouto felt.

“Look… shit,” Bakugou cussed, running a hand through his hair. Shouto waited silently and looked at the clear frustration on Bakugou’s face with tiredness and a little bit of undesired fondness.

“I don’t know what the fuck happened to you that night, ok? But I fucked up my sleeping just to make sure you were okay. You didn’t say a damn word when you left.”

“It didn’t matter, Bakugou,” Shouto sighed. “It was fine. Everything was okay. I’m okay.”

“Don’t tell me you’re okay because that’s a blatant fucking lie,” Bakugou spit with his arms crossed, unimpressed. “I can see it on your face. You look like hell.”

“Thanks,” Shouto said dryly. “But it’s doesn’t matter to you.”

“Stop acting like I’m being pushy and we don’t know each other, asshole,” Bakugou said angrily.

Shouto, tired mentally and physically, didn’t have to energy to confront Bakugou now and didn’t have the energy to be nice about it, either. “We don’t,” Shouto replied sharply, hoping Bakugou will back off. 

“We do,” Bakugou disagreed, his brows furrowed in anger. That’s an emotion that to his dismay, Shouto knew well. “I know so much meaningless shit about you. I know you hate every hot drink that isn’t tea. I know that you’d die before you’d be seen using a fork. I know you have more sweaters than hobbies.”

“Hey,” Shouto protested. “Not true.”

“Yes true,” Bakugou answered back. “What I don’t know, is why you’re keeping things from me after we became friends, bastard.”

Shouto’s eyes widened.

“I have no fucking clue where you went that night but I was trying to help you, dumbass," Bakugou finally said, exasperated. "I'm so fucking worried about you.”

“I thought,” Shouto mumbled, “That if I’d share it with you, you’ll laugh in my face.”

“I’d never do that, shithead,” Bakugou said.

Shouto hesitated, Bakugou’s words sounding so unlike him that Shouto almost took a physical step back. He never heard Bakugou say the “F” word (no, not that one) to anyone. Even Kirishima, his known best friend and platonic soulmate. 

“...Can we go somewhere else?”

A few long minutes later, they were both sitting down in Todoroki’s room, and Katsuki knew the whole story with Todoroki’s parents.

Technically, it was Katsuki’s second time hearing it, but back at their sports festival last year when Katsuki eavesdropped on him and Midoriya, Todoroki told Midoriya about his situation in the least detailed way possible.

Katsuki previously knew about Todoroki’s scar, and his mother, and his father’s dream. But he never knew about all the other things.

“And you were how fucking old?” Katsuki hissed.

“Five,” Todoroki mumbled.

“You were five fucking years old when all of that shit happened.”

It was a statement, not a question, and it came out quiet. Furious.

“My mom had a panic attack the night we fought. And I was…”

Todoroki paused, considering his words. He sighed.

“Scared. I was scared.”

“And you thought I’d laugh at you for that? You’re so fucking stupid,” Katsuki huffed. It hurt him to know Todoroki didn’t trust him, but his anger at Todoroki’s fear and vulnerability stopped him from dwelling on it.

“I don’t know,” Todoroki said. And then he went quiet, and Katsuki was painfully reminded just how bad he was at comforting people.

“Look,” Katsuki said with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”

Todoroki’s pretty light eyes went wide like saucers and Katsuki begrudgingly understood that reaction. “I don’t throw that word around, so don’t take it for granted,” Katsuki added, in an attempt to convince Todoroki he didn’t go full crazy yet.

“I know that,” Todoroki was quick to say, “But why are you apologizing? I should be the one apologizing to you.”

“I’m sorry for being a pain in the ass,” Katsuki explained and put both his hands on the back of his head. “Like I said a billion times already, I was worried. Sue me for being a protective little shit."

“Never thought I’d hear those words coming from you,” Todoroki said with a small smile. “But I still owe you an apology. I shouldn’t have overreacted and shut you out like that.”

“We’re fine?”

Katsuki asked it nonchalantly, but inside he was hopeful, a feeling that he couldn’t stop from making him feel stupid and utterly fucked.

“Yeah.”

Todoroki smiled, and Katsuki smiled a little bit. Katsuki’s mood went from crappy to slightly happy, but he wouldn’t admit that to himself, not in a million years.

Shouto felt dumb. It was early, 6 AM or so, and he realized he slept through the whole night without any disturbances from his nightmares.

Who knew that a conversation with Bakugou, his arguable crush, could chase away his trauma?

Shouto sat in his futon and stared at the wall. It was getting hard to deny that he was depending on the happiness that talking to Bakugou made him feel a little too much.

They went back to talking with each other, and the whole class was relieved. Shouto could feel the mood change after Ashido saw him and Bakugou walking together and leaned close to Uraraka, whispering to her. He didn’t particularly care about the gossip circling around, but his heart was a little warmer when he saw just how much his classmates cared when they showed they were eased. Yaoyorozu shot Shouto a big smile when she saw he looked better, and he smiled back at her like he rarely did when he was especially grateful. Things were getting back to normal.

Bakugou was… well. Bakugou.

“The fuck do you mean you don’t like Yakitori?” Bakugou asked him, not trying to mask his shock.

“I don’t like it. It’s too…” Shouto looked for the right word. “Salty?”

“That’s what makes it good,” Bakugou argued. “Yakitori is the only saving grace in this hellhole of a country.”

“Soba’s better.”

“Sure, Soba’s good,” Bakugou agreed, “But Yakitori’s fucking tasty as all hell.”

“Not my cup of tea,” Shouto shrugged.

“Sure, because you can compare tea to Yakitori.”

“That’s not what I was trying to say,” Shouto said, holding back a chuckle.

“Don’t laugh at me, Half ‘n Half,” Bakugou said with a light shove and a hint of a smile. “I’m seriously trying to defend Yakitori, it’s that fucking good.”

“High praise coming from you. I was seriously underwhelmed when I had it.”

“You’ll just have to try it again,” Bakugou concluded. “This time the good kind. That’ll get you convinced.”

“You’ll have to show me,” Shouto said in his usual, monotone voice, but he was also looking to see if teasing Bakugou a little would gouge out a reaction.

“Maybe I will,” Bakugou said, challenging, and that answer made Shouto inexplicably happy.

They talked for a while, passing time, when Bakugou announced he had homework to do and “Shit to take care of.” Shouto gave him a little reluctant wave as he got up.

Oh god. Shouto wanted him to stay.

“Wait, I didn’t do that assignment either,” Shouto quickly said. “Can we do it together?”

“I don’t care as long as it’s done and I get the highest grade in the class,” Bakugou said in a dismissing tone. At that response, Shouto brightened up. He was glad, but the rational voice in his head didn’t like that one bit.

Bakugou’s room was surprisingly clean and tidy. Shouto undermined Bakugou’s perfectionism that was present in everything he did, even in his dorm room.

“Well, I’ve got a fuckton of papers on the subject somewhere,” Bakugou pondered out loud. “3 days ago I put it… ah.”

Bakugou went to one of his desks (he had two, for some strange reason), opened the drawer, counted to twenty-three as he looked through the papers in the drawer and pulled out the assignment papers.

“How are you this organized?” Shouto seriously questioned.

“What, like it’s hard?”

Shouto stifled a chuckle, like he seemed to do a lot around Bakugou, and politely sat on the edge of Bakugou’s bed. Bakugou grabbed a few things from his desk, climbed the bed and sat cross-legged in front of Shouto, placing his notebook on his thigh.

“Let’s do this shit,” he announced, and the corners of Shouto’s mouth quirked up in a tiny smile.

Todoroki Shouto was becoming a problem.

They sat for two fucking hours in Katsuki’s room and did homework and they had fun.

Katsuki hated it. He hated enjoying Todoroki’s company so much it drove him insane. Since when did the stupid Half ‘n Half make him laugh, and smile, and enjoy living in this shitty plane of existence.

Katsuki got too attached and he liked the bastard, for crying out loud. What the fuck is he even supposed to do about it. Todoroki was an infuriating fuck who looked really pretty when he smiled, sounded really soft when he talked and made Katsuki’s heart do backflips when he held back a laugh. Katsuki’s heart was racing in his chest whenever the light-eyed bastard looked at him with his usual soft expression, teasing and bantering and making Katsuki go out of his goddamn mind. Katsuki was sick of this. Fuck having feelings.

So, Katsuki’s predicament led him to a single solution; He had to telepathically tell Kirishima they need to talk and get the best advice he can get out of the idiot his life depends on.

“I think Bakugou wants to talk to you,” Kaminari pointed out, gesturing with his head to where Bakugou was sitting during their lunch break.

Eijirou snuck a look at Bakugou who was glaring daggers at them. “You think?”

“I’ve got a problem, Kirishima,” Katsuki said once they were sitting crossed-legged in Kirishima’s room. “A boy problem.”

“This has something to do with Todoroki, doesn’t it,” Kirishima assumed, and Katsuki’s cheeks reddened, from either anger or embarrassment.

“Yeah, it has,” Katsuki huffed. Kirishima’s slightly smug face softened into a smiley one.

“I’m all ears.”

“I’m catching feelings,” Katsuki mumbled. “I’m in so fucking deep.”

“That’s so sweet,” Kirishima said, a smile gradually spreading on his face. “But I can’t say I’m surprised. You’ve been catching feelings for a longer time than you think, Bakubro.”

“What the fuck does that even mean?” Katsuki growled. “I think I have enough self-awareness to know when I’m catching feelings for the dumbest looking boy in our class.”

“Dumb looking?” Kirishima quirked an eyebrow.

“His dumb pretty face, and his dumb pretty eyes, and his dumb soft stares,” Katsuki ranted. “He’s so fucking stupid. I hate him.”

“You are in deep,” Kirishima said in realization. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said about anyone ever.”

“It’s fucking worse than being nice, Kirishima,” Katsuki said. “He opened up to me and shit. Now I want to go explode the faces of anyone who ever hurt him.”

“Bakugou, what does Jirou always say about violence?”

“There are smarter ways to make someone’s life miserable, or some shit.”

“Exactly.”

“Doesn’t solve my problem of trying to get out of this disgusting mess of emotions,” Katsuki murmured. “I’m so fucked.”

“Why get out of it?” Kirishima genuinely asked. “Doesn’t it feel nice, to catch feelings?”

Katsuki felt how Kirishima intentionally didn’t use the word “crush” like he knew it’ll piss Katsuki off. He knew him too well, the shithead.

“It doesn’t matter how it feels, I’m Bakugou Katsuki,” Katsuki objected. “I can’t afford to have feelings for someone. It’ll get in the way.”

“No, it won’t,” Kirishima disagreed. “Look, I get why you’re so panicked about it, but you and Todoroki always were an amazing duo when it came to your quirks. This is an even better way of being an amazing duo.”

“‘M not panicked,” Katsuki mumbled. “And we’re not a duo.”

“You could be,” Kirishima pointed out. “You want to be.”

“What the fuck do I do, Kirishima?” Katuski asked, exasperated. “I like that fucking idiot. I like him so much. Fuck.”

Kirishima sighed and smiled softly in his trademark 'I love my idiot best friend'  face. “It depends on what you want. If you want to get rid of your feelings then you’ll have to suffer until your problem dies down. But if you want to do something with your feelings, then I’d suggest breaking the barriers of your friendship a bit. Do things you don’t do with normal friends.”

“I don’t know what I want.” Katsuki covered his face with hands and groaned.

“If you like him, I think that’s pretty clear.”

Katsuki retreated to his room and thought the hell out of what he wanted but got nowhere.

Fuck. Having. Feelings.

Shouto was gathering his things, about to head to lunch with Izuku and Iida when Bakugou approached him.

It wasn’t strange for Bakugou to approach him anymore.

“Hey, Half ‘n Half. D’ya want to come to eat lunch with us?”

Shouto blinked owlishly at Bakugou until he was convinced he wasn’t having a lucid dream.

“Uh. Sure?” Shouto said confusedly. He wanted to comment on how strange the suggestion is, but was afraid it’ll make the situation even more awkward than it already is. Shouto noticed Izuku looking at them and they locked eyes for a moment. Izuku looked at him and then smiled the most satisfied grin Shouto’s ever seen.

Damn him and his accurate way of reading Shouto’s emotions.

Kirishima was such a good conversationalist, and it pissed Katsuki off.

It’s been 10 minutes since the lunch break started and he and Todoroki were deep in a conversation about complementary colors.

How does anyone start and succeed to maintain a conversation about fucking complementary colors?

“I don’t get why you’re against wearing purple and green together so much. I dress like that all the time.”

Todoroki seemed weirdly passionate about this topic. “It feels wrong.”

“How does it feel wrong!”

“Every time I look at a mirror I feel like I should dye the red side of my hair,” Todoroki sighed. “Once, Uraraka refused to look at me for a week when she noticed my cyan left eye contrasted with the red in my hair.”

“Why? It’s a pretty combination, dude!”

“Iida, Uraraka and I have this unspoken agreement to dispose of any purple in Izuku’s wardrobe.”

“That’s kind of funny,” Kirishima said with a chuckle, “But still doesn’t explain your reasoning.”

“Those colors contrast too much,” Todoroki said in an attempt to explain. “It’s like, imagine anyone wearing bright neon blue standing next to you when you’re wearing your hero costume.”

“An eyesore, I’m sure,” Kirishima rolled his eyes. Katsuki wanted to laugh at how Kirishima genuinely got frustrated with Todoroki. Katsuki wasn’t sure about it at first, but it was kind of nice to see both of his… friends talk to each other, all passionate about a dumb topic.

(Friends, huh.)

“Actually, I agree with Half ‘n Half,” Katsuki admitted. “I hate colors that contrast. It’s ugly.”

“Hey, but I dress like that all the time!”

“Yeah. Doesn’t change my point.”

“At least it’s subtle on me,” Todoroki said and stifled a chuckle.

Katsuki hated when he did that. He also hated when Todoroki talked about his multicolored face like it’s the worst shit ever. It wasn’t. Todoroki was damn pretty and he needed to know it, the bastard.

“I really don't get you two,” Kirishima sighed. “What now? Should I eliminate anything neon blue from my closet?”

“I would never willingly take the freedom of choice from you,” Todoroki said, maybe jokingly. Katsuki couldn’t tell. “And also it’s endearing when you do it, so no.”

“You got it Todo. It’s gonna be a bright blue day tomorrow.”

“Please have mercy on my poor eyesight.”

Katsuki laughed quietly. This was nice. He didn’t have to take an active part of the conversation either, which was even nicer.

“Wait, if we’re already talking about your eyesight, I’ve actually thought about that for a while,” Kirishima suddenly said. “Does your right eye see better than your left?”

“Nobody’s ever asked me that before, but yeah,” Todoroki confirmed. “My left eye is pretty weak. I wear contacts for that sometimes, but it’s not an eyesight problem as much as it is a scar problem so it doesn’t help a lot.”

“Dude, that sucks,” Kirishima announced. “I was lucky when we checked my scar and it didn’t affect my eyesight for the long term. Sure, my eye was blurry for a day or two, but it healed pretty quick. Is your eye only blurry?”

“Sometimes it hurts, but that didn’t happen in quite a while,” Todoroki pondered. “And my left eye is pretty sensitive to light. When I first got my scar I also had nausea for a week or so, but now it’s pretty okay.”

“Hmm. Guess I can use that in hero training.”

“It won’t work, since the scar is on my fire side, and I don’t need precision to use it like with my ice one.”

Katsuki watched both of them talk in a friendly exchange, half-challenging each other and half-joking. It felt weird that Kirishima just started a conversation about Todoroki’s scar just like that and then started joking about it. How Kirishima managed to be so good at making friends was beyond him.

The weird feeling didn’t go away. Why was Katsuki so bothered by it?

And then it struck that maybe, just maybe, Katsuki was jealous. And maybe, probably, Katsuki wanted to be able to be close to Todoroki like that.

Maybe.

Hopefully not.

Izuku was Shouto’s closest friend. He was the only person Shouto was on a first-name basis with, the first person Shouto trusted enough with his most painful secrets and the only person Shouto wanted to label as something more than just a plainly good friend.

They never talked about it, but in Shouto’s head Izuku was the person he saw himself keeping for the long run, the person Shouto could see in his future as a continuous pillar of support and love.

Izuku was the person who knew Shouto the best out of everyone. A person that was closer to Shouto like family and even more.

The trouble with that was that there was nothing Shouto could hide from him.

“So…” Izuku started as they settled on his bed with their books and papers. “You got a new friend recently.”

“You could say that,” Shouto murmured.

“We didn’t really talk about it,” Izuku pointed out, “Which is very strange, since you are the embodiment of oversharing.”

“Hey.”

“It’s true,” Izuku said, putting up his hands in self-defense. “But seriously, you never hold back from talking to me. What happened?”

Todoroki ‘overshare’ Shouto couldn’t not answer that. Izuku just had to word the question like that, in a way he knew Shouto couldn’t avoid answering. Damn Izuku and his tendency of hitting Shouto in his feelings.

“I hate how well you know me,” Shouto sighed. “It’s just… You asked what happened. It’s Bakugou. Bakugou happened.”

“I noticed.” yeah, Shouto knew that.

“I think… I like him. Like like him. Bakugou.”

“I noticed,” Izuku repeated.

“He’s so different than what I expected. I always thought he was just a jackass. Mainly because of him, but also because of you.”

Izuku quieted. They both told each other everything, which meant that at some point Izuku told him about Bakugou, as well as a lot of other important things that had to do with his childhood.

“He was a different person back then,” Izuku said eventually, and he didn’t have to specify for Shouto to know exactly what he meant. “He didn’t have anyone to help him, and he wasn’t brave enough to ask for help anyway. When I tried, you see where it got me.”

He wasn’t brave enough to ask for help.

“It’s really different now, now that he has his friends and Kirishima and…” a pause. “You.”

I thought that if I’d share it with you, you’ll laugh in my face.

I’d never do that, shithead.

“How am I supposed to react to that?” Shouto mumbled to himself. Izuku shrugged. “Admit you are in love and you also make him a better person?”

Shouto felt the weight of that statement being placed on his shoulders as it came out of Izuku’s mouth. “Strong words,” he said.

“When it comes to you, I’ve learned strong words are a must if I want you to get it,” Izuku chuckled. “Now help me with math. It’s the one thing I can’t beat you at.”

“It’s funny that you think you beat me at anything,” Shouto teased.

Shouto wouldn’t trade Izuku for the world.

“Todoroki.”

Shouto lifted his head from the book he was reading. He and Bakugou were sitting next to each other in their usual spots on the couch in the dorm, each doing their own thing when Bakugou suddenly called Shouto’s name (which was already a rare occasion as it is).

“Yes, Bakugou?”

Bakugou looked up from his phone, looking slightly annoyed. “Kirishima and I planned to go to a cafe tomorrow but the fucker ditched me. Wanna come?”

“I’m surprised you want to go so badly you’re willing to ask me,” Shouto joked.

“Nothing is going to come in between me and my coffee, Half ‘n Half.”

“Sure,” Shouto agreed, repressing a smile. Act casual. “I hope that cafe has tea.”

“I hope they don’t and you’ll have to drink coffee you old man.”

“Coffee is bitter and gross no matter how much sugar you put in it and I refuse to drink it.”

“You got real nerve to be saying that to me.”

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Kaminari said as he sat next to Shouto with some sort of a game device. “But there’s no winning against Kacchan in arguments, Todo.”

“Don’t call me that,” Bakugou said, crossing his arms.

“He has a chance,” Kirishima said and sat next to Bakugou. “You haven’t seen Todo when he gets real logical on him. Someday, Bakugou will see defeat.”

“We can only hope,” Kaminari said seriously.

“Did you two come here to get on my nerves?” Bakugou asked.

“Todoroki’s already doing that apparently, so no,” Kaminari mumbled while clicking some buttons on his game. “You two always hog the couch and I don’t want to hole up in Kirishima’s room.”

“Whatever. Want to explain why you’re bailing on me, Shitty Hair?”

“I forgot about a promise I made to Mina. super important secret business,” Kirishima said, and if Shouto was the one getting bailed on, he would’ve called Kirishima on his bullshit right then and there.

... But Bakugou didn’t seem to do that.

“Don’t promise to do things on our hangout day again, numbskull,” he muttered softly, fondly, and went back to doing things on his phone. “It’s fine. Half ‘n Half said he’ll come.”

Kirishima nodded, not paying attention, and Shouto noticed he was reading the same page of his book for the past ten minutes.

Shouto was a goner. He couldn’t handle soft Bakugou.

Chapter Text

Shouto and Bakugou were sitting in the cafe for five minutes at most, and Shouto already knew so much more about coffee than he ever wanted to know. Unfortunately for him, coffee was the worst, so if it wasn’t for Bakugou those would be wasted 5 minutes. When they ordered, Shouto got iced tea, much to Bakugou’s dismay. Bakugou got something that looked so bitter that Shouto could feel it on his tongue.

“I think hanging out with you just reaffirmed my hatred towards coffee,” Shouto said, taking a sip of his iced tea while they waited for Bakugou’s coffee. “It’s bitter and tasteless. A waste of money and a waste of perfectly good taste buds.”

“Tea is bland and doesn’t have any flavor,” Bakugou retaliated. “You have shit taste in drinks.”

“You don’t have any taste left.”

“Say that to my Long macchiato’s face, bastard.”

They laughed. Bakugou’s laugh was loud while Shouto’s was a more tamed giggle, but the sentiment was there nonetheless.

“Hey, Kirishima texted me,” Bakugou mentioned after a quick look at his phone. “He said that he knows we’re supposed to be together but ‘Send pics or it didn’t happen’. Dumbass.”

“He's very sweet,” Shouto said, almost smiling. “And endearing.”

“He’s shitty at being a bad person, for what it’s worth.”

“Right,” Shouto agreed. “It Feels like he can befriend any person under the sun.”

“Why just under? He befriended Raccoon Eyes.”

Shouto chuckled, hiding his smile under his hand and shoving Bakugou lightly. “You’re mean.”

Bakugou swatted his hand away. “Stop doing that. Your smile is nice.”

Shouto was polite enough to let that comment slide and not freak out right then and there. Nice? His smile is nice? It’s the most awkward smile ever. Shouto doesn’t smile often enough for it to be nice.

Maybe, if Bakugou noticed, it means Shouto was smiling more.

After drinking in silence for a few seconds, Shouto spoke up. “Isn’t it my turn to ask?”

“Don’t remember. Ask anyway.”

Shouto had a few questions ready, since improvising a question to start a conversation when he was socially incompetent wasn't fun. It's something he thought about a lot, mostly because he had too many answers. “What is something you dislike but have no actually good reason to?”

“Just about everything,” Bakugou replied with a lopsided smile. “I hate people who chew too loud. I hate people who step into my clean room when it rained outside.”

“Kaminari?”

“That one was Ashido, actually,” Bakugou sighed and crossed his arms. “I hate mud. I hated it even more when it was all over my clean floor.”

Shouto stifled a giggle. He could imagine Bakugou getting angry over that. “Personally, I’m not a big fan of…”

“Forks?”

“That too, but I was about to say mornings.”

“Makes sense,” Bakugou commented. Makes sense? How does that make sense? Was there anything going on with Shouto in the morning that made that statement make sense? “My turn now. What’s the most important file on your computer?”

“Hmm, that’s tricky,” Shouto pondered. “I don’t want to have to pick between my cat video folder and my satisfying slime compilation folder. Both are essential to my being.”

“Tell me you’re joking,” Bakugou deadpanned.

“Does this face look joking to you?” Shouto asked, placing both hands on his cheeks.

Bakugou blinked and face-palmed. “Tell me it’s a fucking joke. I expected you to say “The project I got a higher score than you on” or something.”

“If you think a project file is better than a cat compilation than you haven’t reached the full potential of life,” Shouto said seriously. “If that’s not the type of file every sane person treasures on their computer, then what about you?”

“I’ve got a picture of all of my rare All Might cards on my computer somewhere. Remember that card game that every kid played when we were five? I had that. I rocked at it.”

“I do,” Shouto smiled. “I had every single All Might card type until my dad found those and burned them.”

“A sore loser,” Bakugou huffed in annoyance.

“Yeah,” Shouto said softly. “He is.”

They walked back to the dorms after an hour or so, easily picking up conversation topics. It was strange. A few weeks back, Shouto couldn’t even stand in Bakugou’s general vicinity without feeling uncomfortable. Now, it felt nice to walk by his side without it feeling too different, even if it did make Shouto feel all bubbly inside.

“You know,” Shouto said after they finished a short conversation about Kirishima’s interesting amount of knowledge on the rock metal genre. “I don’t know what prompted you to ask me about my sister that one time, and it was weird, but I’m actually glad you asked. I could’ve never imagined that we would become friends.”

“You’re not so bad either, Cream Puff,” Bakugou snorted. “I thought talking to you would be worse than watching Kirishima’s romantic comedies every Saturday. Guess I was wrong.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Shouto said, hiding a tiny smile. “Why did you? Start talking to me, I mean?”

Only when Bakugou frowned in an attempt to think did Shouto realize he previously smiled. It was a little strange, getting used to Bakugou’s smiling face, but it was pleasant. Shouto was smiling a lot more himself, too.

“Maybe it was because of your sister,” Bakugou admitted, pushing his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “When I saw her picture I realized I didn’t know shit about you. It bothered me, for some goddamn reason, and I was curious.”

Shouto tried not to overthink why exactly would that bother him, and glanced at Bakugou. “But you didn’t ask about my sister.”

“I guess I didn’t, huh.”

“... You can ask about her now, if you’re still curious.”

Shouto was so hopeful he wanted to throw up. He hated the nice, mushy feelings that came with liking Bakugou. “I’m asking,” Bakugou said, prompting Shouto to talk.

“Well, her name is Fuyumi,” Shouto told him, letting the aching feeling of missing her resurface with his words. “She’s a teacher, and she turned 24 this year. After my mom went away, she was the only person resembling a parent I had, and the only person keeping our family together.”

Bakugou was quiet, but it wasn’t an angry quiet. Shouto learned to understand Bakugou’s silence a little better to know.

“In our first year, I was still figuring some things out, and I was distant from her,” Shouto admitted, regret clear in his voice. “But after I started to pay visits to my mom last year, we gradually came closer. It was hard to let her into my heart after closing my family off for so long, but now she’s irreplaceable to me.”

Shouto thought about how supportive and wonderful Fuyumi’s always been to him. Even now, with his continuous contact with his mother, she still felt like the most mother-like figure in his life.

“She sounds cool,” Bakugou replied after a few seconds.

“She’s the coolest. I don’t deserve her.”

After a little quiet, Bakugou spoke again. “Thanks,” he said begrudgingly. “For trusting me.”

Shouto should’ve been worried of how easy opening up to Bakugou had become. Maybe he trusted Bakugou too much. “I trust you. Just hope you do too.”

“Fishing for compliments?” Bakugou said and lightly bumped into him, causing Shouto to chuckle. Shouto didn’t let the unsaid “I do” go unheard.

It’s been a bit mind-boggling to like Todoroki Shouto, but after accepting it, Katsuki realized it might’ve been a little nicer than he previously thought.

His hesitance is understandable, right? It’s Todoroki Shouto, after all. And Katsuki had no desire to like anyone ever, so rejecting the concept when it first popped up made sense.

Now, Katsuki accepted it. He accepted it because he’s never fallen so rapidly for anyone, because Todoroki was comfortable, because with Todoroki it was more than just tolerating but actually enjoying his company.

Although he accepted his feelings, Katsuki refused to do anything about it, and refused to admit that the real reason why he refused to act on his feelings was that he was terrified of trusting someone else in the way love was leading him. Kirishima was side-eyeing him every time he saw the two together like he could read Katsuki’s hesitation, but he mostly kept quiet about it. Katsuki was relieved Kirishima knew him as well as he did, pushed the many questions he had to the back of his mind and tried to enjoy the most out of the warm, buzzing feeling in his head.

...But this? Maybe Katsuki was completely fucked.

It was a Monday lunch, which meant everyone from their grade was filling in a bit slower than normal due to P.E being the class previous to the break. Katsuki sat in his spot next to Sero, waiting for Kirishima and Kaminari to come and eat with them, and took a bite out of his food when he almost choked and died right then and there.

He recognized his shirt.

It was a normal black shirt, one of the few functioning shirts Katsuki previously owned until Kirishima got his hands on it and never gave it back. But now, Kirishima wasn’t the one wearing it.

Katsuki wondered just how bad his luck was, to have Kirishima lend Todoroki the only shirt he owned that was actually Katsuki’s.

“Woah, you okay?” Sero asked, completely oblivious to what was happening as he worried over Katsuki’s sudden coughing. “‘M fine,” Katsuki mumbled, reaching to the water Sero offered him nonetheless.

What. the actual fuck. Was Katsuki supposed to do about that.

“Yo, Bakugou!”

Katsuki turned his head to face Kirishima, who immediately took a step back upon seeing his angry face. “Umm, are you okay?”

“We need to talk, now,” Katsuki seethed and pulled Kirishima with him.

“Why the fuck would you do that?” Katsuki asked sharply. “I’m not sane enough for your crap.”

“Wait wait,” Kirishima said while putting up his hands. “I know I fuck up a lot, but I genuinely don’t know what I did this time.”

“My shirt?” Katsuki hissed. “Thank the fuck I don’t wear plain-color shirts with sleeves in public, or else I would’ve never heard the end of that.”

“That’s oddly specific, but what shirt? I have no idea what are you talking abou--”

Katsuki stared in dissatisfaction as Kirishima’s face changed with realization. “Oh, so that’s why I didn’t know where I got that shirt from. Don’t worry, he’ll give it back.”

“Todoroki fucking Shouto is wearing my shirt,” Katsuki hissed. “I don’t want it back, you ass, but I don’t want to see it on him.”

Katsuki wanted to punch Kirishima’s face when he smiled like he knew he could use that to annoy the fuck out of Katsuki, even if he meant it to be a supportive smile. “You don’t want it back, and you don’t want it on him? But on me it’s cool?”

Katsuki was almost angry. “Don’t start with me, you piece of--”

“So it’s a weakness thing? That’s so cute.”

“Don’t be genuinely excited for me, shithead. I’ll blow your face out,” Katsuki warned. “Get it off him.”

“Okay,” Kirishima sighed. “I don’t get why I have to do that, though. It isn’t my shirt. It isn’t my fault he looks good in it, either.”

“Which rib do you want me to punch? You can pick.”

Katsuki couldn’t stop thinking about it.

It was dumb as fuck and he was aware of it, but just like Katsuki was bothered when he saw Todoroki’s sister or when Todoroki disappeared the day they fought, he was bothered now.

It was incredible how he went from wanting to have nothing to do with Todoroki to thinking about him in his shirt. It wasn’t that the asshole looked better in it, but the concept of Todoroki wearing something he owned bugged him.

Why was it bugging him?

Maybe because Katsuki had enough of this crap and just wanted his peace and quiet back.

(Maybe it really was because Todoroki looked good in his shirt.)

“Shouto,” Izuku said when he looked up from his homework. “I don’t want to alarm you, but you’re… kind of wearing Bakugou’s shirt.”

What.

“This is Kirishima’s shirt,” Shouto said, uncertain. “I forgot mine so he let me borrow it.”

“I’ve definitely seen that shirt on Bakugou before. And Kirishima doesn’t wear plain blacks.”

“So you’re telling me… I’m wearing Bakugou’s shirt?” Shouto threaded carefully. The shirt was tight around his shoulders, but he assumed people with muscles (like Kirishima) liked that sort of clothing style because it complemented their bodies well.

“I mean, you and Kirishima have the same shoulder width,” Izuku pointed out as Shouto checked. “So it shouldn’t be like it is.”

Shouto looked back at Izuku. “Now what?”

“You tell me, you’re the one wearing his shirt.”

“Should I bring it back to him?”

“Kirishima was the one to bring it to you,” Izuku reminded him. “So it should probably go back to him.”

“That’s so embarrassing,” Shouto groaned. “Of course those two share clothes. If I was Kirishima’s best friend I’d never let him leave the house like he does sometimes.”

“Okay fashion guru,” Izuku teased. “Mr. Purple-Is-Banned. Mr. ‘My life goal is to make the world aesthetically pleasing’.”

“Shut up,” Shouto said with a chuckle. “Mr ‘I wear sheets to bed’. Literally.”

“Hey, my ‘sheet’ shirt is a classic.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“Do you think Kirishima gave you his shirt on purpose?” Izuku suddenly brought up. “I mean, he knows.”

“He might’ve, but I doubt it,” Shouto disagreed. “He’s too sweet to set me up like that.”

“I wouldn’t put it past him. He hangs with Kaminari pretty much every day.”

“I’m going to put faith in both Kaminari and Kirishima and say it was an innocent accident.”

After a doing his laundry and making a quick stop in Kirishima’s room, Shouto was ready to have a good talk with Yaoyorozu over a good cup of tea and maybe talk to Fuyumi for a little bit. His plans weren’t set in stone, which is why Shouto didn’t feel bad when his plans completely changed.

“Hey Half ‘n Half,” Bakugou called him when he saw him wandering in the direction of the kitchen. “C’mere for a second.”

“Yes?”

Bakugou placed a hand on the back of the couch and turned to him. “I thought I saw you reading “Snow Country” once. You still have it?”

“I do. I was hoping to do my literary project on it, actually.”

“Ah shit, that was what I wanted to ask,” Bakugou sighed. “Guess I’m doing a different book then.”

“We can both use it if you want,” Shouto offered. “I don’t mind.”

“Can we work in a pair or something? I just really wanted to use the isolation metaphors. That’s my shit.”

“I get what you mean,” Shouto nodded. “I love those too. The role of the seasons in the story is really interesting, too. Reminds me a lot of me.”

“You mean how the nature of Komako and Shimamura’s relationship changes with the seasons?” Bakugou asked. “I get it. That’s kinda like us. Started in the winter and look at us now.”

“Is it?” Shouto asked, amused. “It took us almost a month to change.”

“But we changed alright,” Bakugou snorted. “A month ago I never would’ve talked to you willingly.”

“I can say the same thing about you.”

“Don’t know what you mean, Icyhot. I’m a delight. Look, I was planning on working on my project now, so you in or not?”

“I guess I’m in,” Shouto said with a smile. He loved “Snow Country”, and he liked Bakugou, so why not?

After finishing almost half of their project in one sitting, Todoroki and Katsuki were taking a break. Katsuki was stretching, yawning, basically the whole sleepy package. Todoroki looked at him with a soft smile, of the ones Katsuki wanted to punch something for. “You should go to sleep, if you’re tired.”

After stretching, Katsuki rest his arm on Todoroki’s thigh. Katsuki and Todoroki weren’t the friends that Katsuki and Kirishima were (even without the other feelings that made Katsuki hyper-aware of every interaction he and Todoroki had) so Katsuki was hesitant to initiate any physical contact with him outside of sparring and bumping into him whenever he made Katsuki laugh. But this felt careful. Safe.

“M’not tired, just restless. I hate sitting on my ass doing nothing,” Katsuki told him.

“You say that, but it looks like if I tried to make you stand you’d bite my hand off.”

“I’m comfortable. Sue me.”

They talked for a bit, and somehow, every interaction they had turned into questioning each other. “Eighteen years from now, you’ve committed a fuckton of crimes and you need to choose a lawyer from our class. Who’re you choosing?” Katsuki asked.

“Definitely you,” Todoroki answered without hesitating. “Because you’re smart. And if all fails, the ruckus you’ll cause will probably get you arrested, so at least I won’t be alone in my cell.”

“Shut up,” Katsuki laughed. “Dumbass. Just ask Yaoyorozu to get you out.”

“Is it dumb that I want you more?”

They both paused. Katsuki’s arm on Todoroki’s thigh froze.

“I… uh. I didn’t mean it like that,” Todoroki mumbled. “Maybe... I should go.”

“Idiot, wai--”

… And Todoroki was already out of the door.

Katsuki wanted to go after him, maybe demand an explanation to what the hell he just heard, but he preferred to stay in his room where no one could see the blush that was blooming on his face. What the fuck. Bakugou Katsuki, blushing, because of Todoroki Shouto. The world finally went insane.

And if Bakugou Katsuki’s hand went up to touch his cheek, the world didn’t know.

“Kirishima, he’s avoiding me.”

It’s hasn’t even been a full day since Todoroki’s weird slip-up, and he was avoiding Katsuki like the plague.

“You can’t really blame him. He’s embarrassed,” Kirishima said in defense. “It’s an ‘easily solved’ sort of problem. He’ll get over it. You’ll talk. Business as usual.”

“But I’m also embarrassed,” Katsuki huffed. “I’m embarrassed because that was actually a pretty smooth line. The fucker got me.”

“So it worked on you? That’s kind of hilarious,” Kirishima commented. “And cute. I support you guys so much.”

“He’s cute and it’s infuriating.”

“You’re also cute, Baku,” Kirishima replied. “You can charm any pretty boy you’d like. Especially ones with “dumb pretty eyes” and “dumb soft laughs”.”

“Shut up.”

“You’re catching feelings.”

“I know,” Katsuki sighed. “I’m so endeared by that idiot. I want to protect him and see him wear my shirts and shit.”

“That’s so adorable,” Kirishima cooed. “Don’t worry, I’ve always got your back. If you want me to lend him more of your tight shirts, let me know. Mina will thank you.”

“She wouldn’t be the only one,” Katsuki said, and Kirishima laughed. Katsuki felt a bit better after talking to Kirishima. It’s an easily solved sort of problem.

Maybe it’s time Katsuki stopped waiting for the problem to be solved.

Shouto should’ve known Bakugou was going to ambush him when he came out of his room. He knew. He also knew he didn’t want to deal with whatever it was that happened, and avoiding the problem was so much easier than confronting it.

“Half ‘n Half, I’ve had too much of your shit to let you avoid me now,” Bakugou said as Shouto exited his room and instinctively turned to run in the opposite direction. “Don’t be a coward.”

Internally, Shouto sighed the biggest mental sigh he had in him. “I’m sorry I made things weird,” Shouto immediately apologized. “But I felt like staying there might’ve been weirder.”

“So you left? Come on. You never gave me a chance to answer it too, you know,” Bakugou pointed out. “Don’t you want to know my answer?”

“I know your answer,” Shouto said. “You’d pick Yaoyorozu. She’d get you out in no time.”

It looked like Bakugou wanted to say something, but he didn’t. “Don’t think I’m not going to hold this above your head for the rest of your life,” Bakugou said instead. “That was a gem. Kaminari would be proud.”

“Would he?” Shouto said, smiling. “I feel like he’d say something smoother, like “getting out of jail isn’t worth it if you’re not with me”, or something.”

“He’s not actually smooth. He’s an idiot,” Bakugou disagreed. “Maybe he should take lessons from you.”

That was… definitely flirting. Maybe it was accidental flirting before, but this time Bakugou deliberately said that to get a reaction. Or maybe he didn’t, and Shouto was hearing things, or reading too much into it, or blowing things out of proportions, or anything that'd explain what Bakugou was trying to do to his heart.

“Sure,” Shouto said, crossing his arms. “As if I could teach Kaminari anything that has to do with social interactions.”

“Idiots that flirt together stay together,” Bakugou said with a smirk. Shouto shoved him.

“I didn’t flirt with you.”

“Sure you didn’t,” Bakugou said smugly. “Anyway, I’m off to work my ass off on our literary project. Nice bumping into you, Half ‘n Half.”

“I’m lucky you didn’t actually bump into me,” Shouto said and rolled his eyes.

Was it flirting? Shouto wasn’t sure. “Talk to you later,” Bakugou said with his back turned, one of his hands buried deep in his pocket while the other one waved at Shouto as he walked away.

“You better,” Shouto responded, smiling a little as he retreated back into his room.

Chapter Text

Katsuki didn’t want to have to sit through these kinds of talks, but here he was, sitting down for what feels like the millionth time in front of a frustrated-looking Kirishima.

“Dude. It’s been almost two months. You’ve got to be kidding me at this point.”

Katsuki crossed his arms. “None of your business,” he scoffed. He hated fighting with Kirishima, but there was so much lecturing he could take from him before blowing a fuse.

“Don’t think I don’t see what’s happening,” Kirishima sighed. “You don't seem to notice it yourself. I saw you waiting for him in the hallway today and I don’t think you even realized it. Not only that, you’re always sitting together and reading at hours you usually sleep in, and then you go around denying anything as soon as I ask you.”

“I’m not denying anything, especially to you,” Katsuki said firmly. “You know the most out of everyone.”

“Right, and then when I talk to you about it you either avoid it, figuratively spit in my face or threaten to blow my face up,” Kirishima said dryly. “I’m tired of it. Do something with yourself.”

Katsuki didn’t have the energy to deal with annoyed Kirishima. He knew better than anyone that Kirishima is all friendly and sweet only to be an immovable rock when he needs to be, not holding anything back.

“Don’t start shit with me,” Katsuki said with a sigh. “I hate it when we fight.”

“I don't know what you’re talking about,” Kirishima said calmly. “I’m not fighting anyone.”

“You’re fucking impossible.”

“You’re hopeless.”

“I never denied anything.”

“Denial number one,” Kirishima said. “And I quote: ”We’re just friends, so don’t stick your nose in my business”. Denial number two. “That dumbass doesn’t give a fuck about me and neither should you”. That one was an obvious lie, by the way.”

“I just got annoyed,” Katsuki huffed, “Because he kept ignoring me.”

“He wasn’t ignoring you. You didn’t have a chance to talk and he headed to lunch with Midoriya, and then you got whiney about it.”

“I’m not whining.”

“Again with the denial,” Kirishima pointed out. “You’re getting really good at it.”

“Stop being mad,” Katsuki said, brows furrowed. Kirishima sighed.

“I’m not mad.”

“You are.”

“I’m frustrated,” Kirishima corrected. “Mostly at you, but also at Todoroki. You two deserve each other.”

Katsuki grabbed Kirishima’s wrist. “Stop being mad,” he repeated, shaking Kirishima’s arm a little to emphasize his point. Kirishima considerably softened and pouted. “I hate it when you’re cute,” he said. “It ruins my anger.”

“I’m not cute,” Katsuki said, as if he didn’t do that because he knew Kirishima would melt and immediately forgive him. “You just have low standards.”

“I hang with Uraraka all the time. I have the highest standards possible.”

Katsuki smiled for a split second, and then frowned. “We’re good?”

“When are we not good?” Kirishima asked good-heartedly. “But seriously. Listen to what I’m saying every once in a while.”

“I listen to no one.”

Kirishima smiled. “Trust me, I know.”

“Izuku…” Shouto said tiredly. “I’m so annoyed.”

“Spill your heart to me,” Izuku said, not looking up from his homework. “Any burden of yours is mine to bear.”

“Stop it, I’m serious,” Shouto said. “Izuku, I tried having avocado today and it sucked.”

“I thought you hate avocado?”

“But I used to really like it.”

“Right,” Izuku nodded as he scribbled something. “So why did you try it again?”

“Because I miss it,” Shouto admitted. “And I want to like it again but I can’t.”

Izuku stopped writing and looked up at him. “Shouto, that’s such a you thing to say.”

“You’re making fun of me,” Shouto complained. “I told you I’m serious.”

“No, no,” Izuku calmed him. “I’m being serious too. I’m just saying, it fits you to get upset over change. I get it.”

“I know. I’m annoying.”

“You’re not,” Izuku sighed. “Come here.”

Izuku pat Shouto on his head. “Avocado is not a huge miss.”

“How dare you,” Shouto retaliated with a sharp intake of breath, but he was only half-joking. The other half was overprotective of avocado, of all things.

“Anyway, want to talk about what’s really bothering you?” Izuku asked and held his hand, comforting. “I can tell. Normal Shouto doesn’t eat things he hates and tries to change his likes and dislikes on a whim like that.”

“Normal Shouto left the building a long time ago.”

“Too bad. I was fond of him,” Izuku teased. “He was the cutest thing. Would get frustrated at avocado and sad at his crush.”

Shouto hid his face in his hands. “Was I that transparent?”

“This is where you say ‘Stop figuring me out already’,” Izuku teased fondly. “It’s lucky that I can read you like an open book, since you keep waiting to be understood without giving anything away yourself.”

“Maybe that’s the problem?” Shouto said hesitantly. “Maybe I’m expecting too much of the both of us when he knows me so little?”

“Give him a little credit,” Izuku said with a smile. “He’s not totally helpless. But he likes to keep quiet just like you. I can promise you that you’re not the problem, Shouto.”

“I’m pretty sure he likes me,” Shouto admitted. “Like, 70% sure. But I keep doubting myself, you know?”

“I know,” Izuku nodded. “Don’t worry. If he knows you as much as I think he does, then he’ll know what to do. Give him some time.”

“Waiting drives me out of my mind,” Shouto sighed.

“Then don’t wait. He drives you out of your mind? Then let him work for it.”

“Izuku, you don’t get it. He’s pretty. It’s so hard.”

“I really don’t get it,” Izuku said and giggled when Shouto hit his shoulder. “Love you too.”

Katsuki and Todoroki were sitting on a makeshift picnic blanket (Maybe one of Kaminari’s towels? It had a weird pattern tacky enough to be one) a little late at night, eating strawberries and drinking tea. It had felt like a moonlit date, with both of them laughing quietly and talking under the stars, but the confusion in their hesitating hearts wouldn’t let them think that it was.

“One moon and two suns, or two moons and one sun?”

Todoroki contemplated the question for a moment. “I’d have to go with… Two suns and one moon, I guess.”

“But you’re a vampire,” Katsuki pointed out, and Todoroki hit him lightly on his shoulder. “Hey, that’s a compliment! Vampires are all cool and attractive and shit.”

“I’ll take it,” Todoroki shrugged. “And I love the moon, so I want it to stay the prettiest and the most special.”

“I love the moon, so I’d want two,” Katsuki disagreed. “Imagine two moons. It’d make awesome pictures.”

“Didn’t know you’re into photography.”

“I’m not. But I would get into it just for pretty moon pictures.”

The moon was a crescent, looking down on them from the dark sky. It was Katsuki’s favorite; A cloudy, dark night, with the moon highlighting the darkness with its silvery light. It was always the most calming and most beautiful type of night.

“It’s really beautiful,” Todoroki said with a small smile, the kind of smile he had when he was entranced by something and didn’t notice. His right eye was glowing under the faint, bright light and for a moment, Katsuki was struck, as if he was hit by lighting. Todoroki looked way, way prettier than the moon, and Katsuki couldn’t look away.

“It’s, uh, getting late for me,” Katsuki mumbled. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the reason he was standing up to leave, either. “You’re good with wrapping up?”

Todoroki turned to him, and the smile that decorated his pretty face shrunk a little. “Sure,” Todoroki said softly. “I’ll take care of it. Go rest.”

“See you tomorrow?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Guess you don’t,” Katsuki said in satisfaction, confident.

“Guess I don’t,” Todoroki repeated, and the small smile got a tiny bit wider. “Good night.”

Katsuki walked into the dorm building. Kirishima, Kaminari, Midoriya and Uraraka were playing cards on the floor, and Iida was sitting next to them to make sure no one was cheating. Kirishima gave Katsuki a pointed look as he passed him, heading up to his room.

He was going crazy. All Katsuki needed was a little confidence, reassurance, that his feelings were the right things to feel. Maybe then, he could live a little easier with Todoroki constantly in his head and his words always pricking his heart.

Todoroki Shouto had no business being that unforgettably beautiful. It was unfair to Katsuki, who was head to toe deep in love.

Sparring with Todoroki was always fun, but today it was even more competitive than it ever was.

It started getting there when Katsuki pinned Todoroki to the floor and then got a handful of dirt thrown in his face as Todoroki easily slipped away from his grasp. It was a dirty move (not only for hygienic/pun reasons), and Katsuki wasn’t going to let him get away with it, so he tripped Todoroki as he was going for Katsuki’s right side. Todoroki smiled as he got up and elbowed Katsuki’s stomach, and kicked Katsuki’s legs to make him lose his balance as he stabilized himself with a hand on the ground (preventing Katsuki from attempting the same kicking move as payback).

Needless to say, they got messy.

Katsuki was always the better hand-to-hand fighter between them, and in a quirkless brawl he almost never lost to Todoroki, but there was something about him this time that kept Katsuki on his toes.

“What’s wrong?” Todoroki asked as he twisted Katsuki’s arm and pushed him to the ground. “You usually never let me beat you.”

“You’re not beating me,” Katsuki grunted as he forcefully freed himself from Todoroki’s grasp. “I’m still warming up.”

Todoroki lit his finger on fire with his quirk, and smirked in a way Katsuki never saw before. “I’m already warmed up, and I’m bored.”

Katsuki didn’t allow himself to show how his breath hitched in his throat, and balled his fists. “You’re awfully playful today, Half ‘n Half.”

“Maybe I am,” Todoroki said, running a hand through his hair. “Want to do something about it, or are you going to just stand there?”

Katsuki wasn’t sure that he liked playfully confident Todoroki. He sure as fuck felt dumb standing there and staring at him. He felt even dumber because he couldn’t kill the excitement that was bubbling in his stomach. Maybe he wasn’t on top of his game today, but he could at least give the cocky bastard a run for his money.

“You got it,” Katsuki said with a grin, putting his left leg back, getting ready to strike.

Bakugou didn’t win that match, but he certainly didn’t hold back. Shouto had to clean up some shallow cuts from when Bakugou decided to kick Shouto’s face with the full force of his shoe, and placed a few bandages over the minimal bleeding in his leg. He didn’t want to go to Recovery Girl because he knew he’d be snitched on.

Their match ended with Shouto pressing Bakugou to the ground, his right arm securing Bakugou’s throat, and his left holding down one of Bakugou’s arms while Shouto’s right knee secured the other. After getting up, Bakugou put up his hand, and Shouto smiled and shook it.

And then, the clapping started.

A few of their classmates were cheering for them; Some from the ground, some on hills of concrete (courtesy of Cementoss), some seated far away taking a break. Shouto couldn’t help being a bit embarrassed.

“Todoroki!” Sero called from where he and Jirou were standing with water bottles in their hands. “How did you do that? I’ve never seen anyone defeat Bakugou so easily before!”

“Don’t get used to it,” Shouto said with a smile. “This was just luck.”

“Luck my ass!” Kaminari shouted. “That was so impressive, dude!”

“Next time, I’ll get you,” Bakugou promised, grinning.

“I know,” Shouto said, hiding a tiny smile with his hand. Bakugou lightly slapped his hand away from his mouth instinctively, as he now tended to do. “Stop doing that.”

Shouto stopped questioning that, ever since he realized thinking about Bakugou calling his smile “nice” was a great way to get distracted and not do homework that’s due tomorrow.

After school, Shouto was a little more exhausted than usual, heading straight to Sero’s where he napped best, when he heard a familiar voice using an unfortunately familiar nickname to call him.

“Half ‘n Half, wait up.”

As he turned around, Shouto had to force his growing smile away, and instead a hefty yawn came out.

“Glad to see you’re so excited to see me,” Bakugou teased and shoved his hands in his pocket. “D’ya want to go on a walk?”

No. he really didn’t want to go anywhere but somewhere comfortable he can sleep soundly in.

“Sure,” he said, like a liar.

They ended up taking a walk by the trees surrounding their dorm, taking in the nice air in pleasant silence. The sun showed no signs of setting, but Shouto’s watch hinted otherwise. Despite that, he said nothing, feeling like Bakugou asked him to come for a reason.

“You fucked shit up today,” Bakugou said out of the blue, sneaking a glance of Shouto’s face. “I was surprised. Didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Shut up,” Shouto said with a light bump into Bakugou’s shoulder. “We both know it was luck. Maybe you let me win.”

Bakugou laughed. “As if I’d ever let anyone win over me.”

“Fair point,” Shouto said with a smile. “But again, it was a one time thing. Even if it did make me really satisfied.”

“I saw it on your face,” Bakugou stated. “You enjoyed the hell out of pinning me to the ground.”

“Who wouldn’t,” Shouto replied, and got a weak jab on the head for his troubles.

“I was impressed,” Bakugou added softly a few seconds after. “We usually don’t spar hand-to-hand because it doesn’t feel like an equal fight, you sucking at it and all. I guess you got your shit down without me noticing.”

“I doubt it,” Shouto said honestly.

“It doesn’t matter what you think,” Bakugou said and crossed his arms. “I think you got better. I’m fucking proud of you, Half ‘n Half.”

Shouto didn’t know what to say, and didn’t look up just in case his expression betrayed him. “Thanks,” he said gently. “It really means a lot coming from you.”

Bakugou looked at him, and Shouto looked back, and for a moment, they were just looking at each other, filling in the silence with soft, unspoken words. Bakugou’s mouth opened, and for a moment, Shouto was short of breath.

“I-”

“Bakugou!”

Bakugou jolted away from Shouto in surprise. It was Kirishima, waving at them from the distance.

“You scared me half to death, you piece of shit!”

“You promised you’re on babysitting duty! Don’t bail on us now!”

Shouto hid a quiet snicker. “Alright, I’m coming,” Bakugou sighed. “Sorry. I promised the idiots I’ll tutor them and stuff.”

“Don’t apologize,” Shouto reassured. “We’ll talk later.”

Katsuki was mad.

He didn’t plan on it, but the truth on his feelings for Todoroki was about to slip away naturally from his grasp. It felt like the right moment, the right time. Katsuki felt like he was ready, like it wasn’t forced, and he felt brave. Like it didn’t matter what came after, as long as the moment happened.

Kirishima at least had the decency to look sorry about it. Fuck him.

“I’m really sorry, again,” he apologized for what felt like the millionth time. “I had no idea you were going to do that. I swear. You know I only want you two to get together, right? I’d never--”

“Stop it,” Katsuki said. “I’m mad. Not at you.”

“I’m mad at me,” Kirishima said, frowning.

“Only I’m allowed to be mad at you, dumbass. Stop it. I’ll live.”

“I’m--”

“Don’t even think about apologizing again,” Katsuki stopped him. “I know you, Kirishima. Don’t think for a second I don’t know your annoying ass will keep feeling bad about it.”

Kirishima made a face that closely resembled the puppy eyes emoji, and sighed. Katsuki could tell there was so much he wanted to say. “Don’t think about it, really,” Katsuki added. “And I am pissed at myself for not noticing that I had to go babysit my favorite idiots. I promised.”

“You called us your favorite,” Kirishima said, his small smile slowly widening. “Alright, you don’t have to tell me twice.”

“Good,” Katsuki smiled back. “Let’s go fuck things up.”

Shouto was going crazy thinking about what Bakugou was going to say. The moment felt… Electric, like lighting struck in Bakugou’s eyes. Shouto was sure, for a moment, that he knew what Bakugou was going to say. But that moment passed as quickly as it came. There’s no way he’d seriously feel like Shouto did… Right?

Yaoyorozu knew he was distracted when his hands hesitated, tangled in her hair. She taught him to braid a little while ago, and every now and then he’d practice on her long, silky hair.

“You’re distracted,” she stated softly, looking up at him. “Are you doing okay?”

“Yeah,” Shouto reassured her. “Just have a lot to think about.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you thought out loud,” she encouraged him. “It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

“I’m just a bit confused, I guess,” Shouto said as he started re-doing her hair. “I don’t know if I’m imagining things or just reading too much into it.”

“Bakugou-kun, right?” Yaoyorozu asked. “It’s hard to figure him out.”

“It is,” Shouto huffed. “I feel like I’m always guessing.”

“Why not ask, then?” she suggested. “Better asking than not knowing, right?”

Maybe.

“I’ll sleep on it,” Shouto promised.

Shouto ran into Bakugou when he was heading to the dorm kitchen to make tea and possibly talk to Kirishima for a bit, and throughout their conversation, Shouto couldn’t stop thinking about what Yaoyorozu said.

“Kaminari sucks at math,” Bakugou complained as Shouto put sugar in two of the pastel-colored mugs he brought over for when he was craving tea. “I hate tutoring because I always help dumbasses. No sugar.”

Shouto put another spoon of sugar in Bakugou’s cup out of spite. “At least, by the end of it, you feel smarter.”

“I already feel smarter. They’re lucky I like them and shit.”

“That’s so sweet,” Shouto smiled to himself. “I’m sure they know you care about them.”

There was a comfortable pause, and Shouto gently put Bakugou’s tea on the table in front of him. A little while ago, Bakugou stated that while he likes coffee better, he doesn’t hate tea. Shouto was pretty sure that was because of him.

“If not, then I’m doing a shitty job at being their friend.”

“Never thought I’d hear that from you,” Shouto said while sitting down. “You don’t throw the ‘friend’ word a lot.”

“Neither do you.”

“Am I your friend?”

The silence after that was a bit tense, but not for bad reasons. They both were hesitating to cross that border they set for themselves and venture into unfamiliar territory.

“You’re more than that,” Bakugou then said, as honest as he’ll ever be. “You’re something special, Half ‘n Half.”

Shouto froze, his hands tightening around his mug. That was what he secretly wanted to hear, but he was terrified. God, he was terrified, scared of becoming something important to someone unfamiliar, afraid of opening his heart more than he already has.

“You, too,” Shouto eventually said, swallowing his fears. “You’re special too.”

And then there was another silence, and Shouto was battling himself. Should he push further? Should he ask?

“It’s getting late for me,” Bakugou suddenly said. “See you tomorrow, Half ‘n Half.”

For once, Shouto didn’t reply, watching Bakugou leaving the room with Shouto’s heart in his hands.

Funny enough, Katsuki didn’t get a wink of sleep that night.

And then came the weekend, and everyone was talking about their plans. Kirishima was visiting home, Kaminari was going to meet with his friends, Jirou was planning on working on her music, and so on and on and on. Katsuki didn’t care.

And then he heard something he did care about.

“I’m going to stay with Fuyumi for the night,” he heard Todoroki say to Midoriya. “She’ll be here soon. I’m going to miss you, though.”

Midoriya and Todoroki hung around in the common room. Midoriya was doing something on his phone while Todoroki stood next to his bag, waiting for a call from his sister.

Katsuki purposely sat on a couch near the entrance, working on his homework as he snuck glances towards Todoroki who was anxiously hanging around the door. He was pacing a little, without noticing, and then he looked up from the floor only to catch Katsuki looking at him.

Katsuki grinned and put up his thumb in encouragement, and Todoroki blinked at him.

“Sorry. I’m distracting you, aren’t I?”

Yes, in more than one way.

“No, it’s fine,” Katuski lied. “You just look bothered, or some shit. Wanted to check up on you.”

“I appreciate you,” Todoroki blurted quietly, visibly relaxing. Just then, there was a loud beep from Todoroki’s phone, and he grabbed his bag. He looked back at Midoriya, a nervous expression on his face.

“Hey, you’ve spent the night at her place before,” Midoriya said, standing up and rushing to his friend. He pulled Todoroki into a hug. “Don’t look like a wet puppy. You’re going to have fun.”

“I know,” Todoroki said, quietly, and placed his arms gently around Midoriya’s neck. “But I can’t help it.”

For a moment, Todoroki allowed himself to sink into Midoriya’s arms, his friend rubbing comforting circles on his back. Katsuki felt a tiny feeling of jealousy at how unquestionably and naturally Midoriya was able to initiate that kind of affectionate contact with his friend. Katsuki hated how he wanted to hug him that that way, too.

Todoroki reluctantly broke away, claiming his sister is waiting and that he should go. Despite that, he made no moves to leave, and Midoriya nudged him in the door’s direction. “You’ll be okay, Shouto. Spend some time with your sister without thinking too much.”

Katsuki’s look lingered on the door after Todoroki left and closed it. He had questions, like why was he so nervous, or how was Midoriya able to comfort him so easily?

There were a lot of things Todoroki didn’t tell him about that were left unanswered, but Katsuki’s main question was when can I hold you like that, too?

The next day, it was almost nighttime when Shouto got a weird text from Bakugou, not long after Shouto came back from meeting Fuyumi. Meet me on the rooftop if you want to hang out, it said. Shouto wondered if that was all he wanted.

The rooftop of the dorm building was a forbidden area, but that didn’t stop anyone from going there. Sero and Tokoyami regularly played cards there like it was one of their rooms, and Shouto knew Bakugou liked to go up there to think.

Maybe, after getting to know Bakugou a little more, Shouto could speculate that he went up there to watch the moon, as well.

It was getting late, and Shouto was tired from the amount of energy he spent on socializing, but he still used his quirk to get up to the rooftop. Bakugou was there. Shouto didn’t know what he was expecting, but Bakugou was there, and he looked peaceful. His eyes were closed, and he was sitting with his head held back to face the sky, breathing silently. Shouto sat down quietly next to him.

They didn’t say anything, because Shouto was too unsure of himself to ask if Bakugou had anything he wanted to say, even if he could see it on his relaxed face.

“I wanted to say something to you,” Bakugou suddenly spoke. “But fuck. I don’t think I have it in me.”

“Lately, you’ve been saying so many things that don’t fit you,” Shouto teased him, suppressing a smile. “I thought nothing could stop you.”

“Apparently you can,” Bakugou said, but he wasn’t smiling. He wasn’t teasing. He had his default frowning expression on, but there was something sad about how the moon highlighted the red in his eyes. “You can do a fuckton of things that stop me. You make me useless.”

Shouto’s eyes widened. He didn’t understand what Bakugou was trying to say, but even if he didn’t mean it like that, it did hurt a tiny bit.

“I’m… Sorry?”

“Not like that,” Bakugou sighed. “I mean, you affect me a lot? I guess?”

Oh.

“And I wanted to tell you,” Bakugou said slowly, carefully. “That you…”

A pause.

“...Really mean a lot to me.”

O… Oh .

“I thought about it when you weren’t here,” Bakugou said. I missed you, is what Shouto heard. “And I wanted to tell you, but I don’t do this kinda stuff, usually.”

I was scared to open up to you.

Shouto understood. He understood all too well how it feels to be scared of opening up to a person that suddenly became important.

“You remind me of myself a lot, you know?” Shouto said, and Bakugou turned to look at him, surprise evident on his face. Shouto continued. “You mean a lot to me, too. I’m really glad you told me.”

Bakugou didn’t say anything for a moment, and then, he averted his eyes to the ground. “Can I…”

Shouto looked at Bakugou’s hesitating face, trying to figure out what he wanted. Bakugou refused to look at him. “Don’t you fucking dare to make fun of me for this. Can I hug you?”

Shouto’s face reddened, and he blinked at Bakugou for a minute, processing what he heard. He could tell his silence was freaking Bakugou out, so he pushed his fears to the back of his mind and wrapped his arms around the other.

“Sorry, you took me by surprise,” Shouto said quietly. “You tend to do that a lot.”

“Expect the unexpected, Half ‘n Half.”

Shouto giggled into Bakugou’s shoulder, an ungodly sound that only embarrassing people like Shouto could make, unsuccessful in his attempt to keep a straight face. Shouto was flustered, mostly due to the fact he thought he’d learn from embarrassing himself in front of Bakugou already.

“I hate to admit it, but Kirishima was right. You are an amazing hugger.”

“A compliment from the hug-shaped hero himself. I’m honored.”

They pulled away from the hug, both hiding corners of smiles. Shouto looked at Bakugou’s little smile, and couldn’t help but smile himself. They were good for each other.

Chapter Text

Touch has become a bit more familiar to both of them, after that. Bakugou would occasionally hold Shouto’s wrist, and Shouto would place a hand on Bakugou’s shoulder in support. It wasn’t close to the amount of affection people like Mina and Kirishima were used to give, but it was a start. To them, it was a whole different kind of friendship.

Friendship. That term was a little up in the air, after everything’s that’s happened.

After observing them for a while and deciding to try to help, Izuku almost always snuck Bakugou into their conversations, in an attempt to move something between them. It was sweet that he cared, but something always stopped in their relationship when they were about to reach its peak. Shouto wanted to do something about it, to confess, to act, but he was scared and unwilling to sacrifice his good relationship with Bakugou for the sake of his crush.

“But you said you’re 70% sure,” Izuku whined. “Why are you doubting yourself now?”

“What about the other 30%?”

“God, you’re impossible.”

And so they continued, running after each other in circles, both of them unsure of what to do. That was, until a shift in the running circle occurred.

When Bakugou wasn’t in class for the entire day, didn’t answer his phone and wasn’t in his room, Shouto got worried.

After school, Shouto sat in the common room with Kirishima and Kaminari. They were all anxious. They’ve written Aizawa a message, and he responded he’d look into it.

Aizawa entered their dorm building an hour or so after they finished school, and everyone rushed to the common room to hear what he had to say.

“Before you get too restless, we found Bakugou. He’s okay.”

The class collectively sighed a sigh of relief. Shouto’s heart stopped beating loudly in his ears.

“Bad news is, he’s heavily injured. He broke his left leg, sprained his right one, shattered his left shoulder and showed signs of a minor concussion.”

The class stiffened, all a bit shocked. Aizawa continued. “He sneaked into the training grounds to practice with his quirk yesterday night, and landed badly. He somehow made it to Recovery Girl’s office as she was leaving, but she was worn out and could only do so much. Long story short, he’s going to stay in her office and rest for a few days until she fixes him up.”

“What do you mean ‘landed badly’? How can someone break so much from one fall?” Sero frowned. “It sounds like he got run over by three tanks.”

“I don’t fully know. That’s what Recovery Girl managed to get out of him before he passed out last night. He’s awake now, but it should take a few days at the very least until Recovery Girl can fully heal him.”

Shouto was extremely worried after hearing the damages, and Kirishima looked close to a frantic mother that lost her child while shopping. Shouto pat him supportively on the back.

“That idiot, I told him not to practice late,” Kirishima cursed, placing a hand on his forehead. “I knew he was pushing himself lately. Idiot. What was I thinking not keeping an eye on him?”

“It’s okay,” Shouto calmed him. “He’ll be okay in a few days.”

“That’s not the issue,” Kirishima sighed. “He’s been practicing when he’s not allowed and hurt himself badly, after I told him he needs to stop being so obsessive over using his quirk. He never listens. I won’t be surprised if he’s going to get suspended.”

“Don’t get mad,” Shouto said. “At least he’s okay.”

“You’re exactly like him,” Kirishima stated. “Stop telling me to not be mad. I’m not mad!”

“You are mad.”

“I’m not.”

Shouto frowned. “You are.”

“... That’s cheating.”

“What’s cheating?” Shouto asked with an innocent look. “I just don’t want you to be angry.”

“You two are impossible,” Kirishima commented with a defeated expression. “You look like a kitten.”

“That’s what I aspire to be.”

Kirishima pat his head. “Good luck with that. I think I’ll go visit Bakugou and see how he’s doing, wanna come?”

Shouto nodded even if he didn’t really know the answer.

Bakugou laid on the makeshift hospital bed in Recovery Girl’s office with a blank look in his eyes, gazing out of the window with the usual frown on his face. He looked dissatisfied and peaceful at the same time. At least until Shouto and Kirishima loudly opened the door to Recovery girl’s office, and Bakugou flinched, looking over at them with wide eyes.

“Idiot,” Kirishima exclaimed. “I’ve come to tell you how disappointed I am in you.”

“What are you, my mom?”

“You wish,” Kirishima huffed. “But don’t change the subject. How many times have I told you not to do things like this? Scratch that, how many times have you promised me you’re not dumb and won’t sneak in to use your quirk?”

“I know,” Bakugou said. “I’m sorry.”

“Now you’re hurt so badly you have to stay here for a few days. We’re lucky you were able to somehow come here before Recovery Girl left.”

Bakugou stayed silent, not trying to stop Kirishima’s rant. “You know how worried we were when you didn’t show up today and weren’t in your room?” he continued. “We searched for you all over school. We were scared something happened to you.”

Shouto sheepishly stood there without saying a word. He didn’t want to interrupt Kirishima, who was determined when he was angry, and he didn’t want to bombard Bakugou with his own feelings, either. “I hope you get why I’m so angry with you,” Kirishima said and crossed his arms. “Don’t do this again. I was worried sick.”

After a few quiet seconds, Kirishima’s slightly angry face melted into confusion. “Why are you so quiet? You usually never shut up and take it.”

“I made the mistake this time,” Bakugou admitted. “And you’re right.”

“Who are you and what have you done to my Bakugou?”

“Shut up, Shitty Hair.”

“Are you okay?” Shouto asked, and Bakugou’s eyes shifted to him. His eyes were so unhappy, Shouto could see his bad mood like he was looking through glass. So did Kirishima.

“Yeah, you look tired,” Kirishima commented.

“Just worn out from the injury,” Bakugou said. “I’m okay.”

“We won’t keep you up, then. C’mon, Todoroki.”

“...Wait, Half ‘n Half,” Bakugou suddenly said as they were turning to leave. “Can you stay for a minute?”

Kirishima’s eyes widened a bit, and he looked at Bakugou, and then at Shouto. And then he looked at the both of them again, and tried (unsuccessfully) to hide his grin when he closed the door.

“How are you doing?” Shouto asked, and sat on the edge of Bakugou’s bed. “Physical-wise, I mean. I can see you’re not really okay.”

“I’m tired, and everything hurts,” Bakugou told him. “Other than that? I‘m peachy.”

“Lair.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time I lied to you.”

Shouto could tell he was in a bad mood, and chose to ignore his attitude in favor of making sure he was okay. “I know. Want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Maybe. Not right now, though.”

“Then what did you want me to stay here for?”

“Nothing in particular,” Bakugou admitted. “Just wanted to talk to you. And I feel bad for making Kirishima angry. I do it a lot lately.”

“He’s angry because he cares,” Shouto clarified. “He worried a lot over you.”

“You’re not angry,” Bakugou pointed out.

“Doesn’t mean I don’t care,” Shouto said. “I was worried too, you know.”

“... Sorry for worrying you.”

“It’s okay,” Shouto reassured him. “As long as you’re safe.”

They stayed like that, in their usual comfortable silence. Shouto wanted to say so many things, but he didn’t want to burden Bakugou when he clearly wasn’t doing well.

“Can I have your hand?” Shouto asked after some time. Bakugou looked back at him, his eyes a little confused, but nonetheless, he still held out his hand to Shouto. Shouto grabbed Bakugou’s hand and laced their fingers together.

“I want to hug you, but I can’t because of your shoulder,” Shouto explained. “So I’ll be satisfied with a hand hug for now.”

“A hand hug?” Bakugou asked and raised an eyebrow. “That’s cute.”

Calling it by its name puts everything into proportions and that’s scary, Shouto wanted to say. He wasn’t planning on directly asking to hold Bakugou’s hand, so he won’t have to deal with the complications that might cause in his heart. For now, Bakugou’s hand was warm, and nice to hold, so Shouto was content.

Bakugou’s bruised hand was a little smaller than Shouto’s, and Shouto’s skin was paler, but their hands still looked like they fit together perfectly.

Shouto went to visit Bakugou every day until he was completely healed, and hand hugs became a frequent thing. Shouto thought of them as a temporary comfort gesture, until Bakugou is okay and won’t need comfort anymore.

Shouto was wrong.

The first day Bakugou was back, everyone organized their stuff, ready to go back to the dorm building. Shouto stuffed his notebook into his bag, swung it over his shoulder and turned around, only to be met with Bakugou’s outstretched hand.

“Let’s go,” he said.

Shouto’s heart skipped a few beats but he didn’t let his expression show that he lost his composure. He took Bakugou’s hand like it was the most natural thing in the world, and maybe it was.

A week passed since Bakugou came back to school, and everything looked like it was going smoothly. At least on the surface.

Shouto was happy, but Bakugou wasn’t. Shouto didn’t know when he got so good at reading other people’s emotions, but Bakugou’s eyes screamed at him that something was wrong, that he wasn’t over whatever happened to him the day he got injured. Shouto wanted to ask, wanted to know, but Bakugou said he’d tell him when he’s ready so he didn’t push. Pushing was bad. He was one to know.

One day, Shouto was doing homework in his room, when he heard a sudden knock on the door. He called for the person outside to come in, putting aside his things. As soon as Bakugou entered, Shouto felt an immense wave of relief.

He looked ready to talk.

“Are we doing it?” Shouto asked. “Should I get my comfort tea?”

“I just need you to shut up and listen,” Bakugou said with a sigh. “It’s annoying that you know.”

“How could I not know?” Shouto complained, patting the space next to him. “I’ve been waiting for you to come to me.”

Bakugou sat next to Shouto rather than in front of him, avoiding looking in his face. He stared at the floor with his intense red eyes, like he held burning fire in them.

“You’re going to think I’m pathetic after this,” Bakugou mumbled. “But I want to tell you, for fuck’s sake.”

“You’ve seen me at my most pathetic, so I won’t mind,” Shouto encouraged him with a comforting hand on his shoulder. “If it helps, I really do want to hear you out.”

“I appreciate it, Half ‘n Half.”

“Of course.”

Bakugou glanced in his direction, and sighed. “You’re not the only one here that’s gone through some shit.”

That sentences took Shouto totally off his guard. He never stopped to think about it, never cared enough to speculate on what Bakugou must be feeling after everything he’s been through. Bakugou always put up a brave front, making up a facade of strength and bravery, when that situation isolated him and kept him from being vulnerable when he needed it most. Shouto was glad Bakugou trusted him enough with his most private feelings, even if his feelings were sad and complicated ones, and readied his heart to listen.

“I always wanted to train after school hours, but I never did it since I hate getting in trouble,” Bakugou continued. “But that night was different. I couldn’t sleep and it was pitch black and the thunder from outside was so fucking loud, I felt so claustrophobic and nervous, like I was back in the tiny ball that freak that captured me had back in the training camp last year. I don’t really have PTSD, but you can’t escape this kinda shit when it hits the hardest. You should know.”

Shouto… did have PTSD. not too often, but he did. It was inescapable, haunting, impossible to deal with. He understood.

“Well, it hit,” Bakugou told him. “I was scared shitless. And the only way I can calm myself when I’m scared is to use my quirk. I know I’m strong. Using my quirk gives me confidence.”

“Safety,” Shouto added, because he knew exactly how it was like to go to your quirk for reassurance. His ice quirk was the safest place to run back to when he needed it.

“So I sneaked out to use my quirk, since I didn’t want anyone knowing. But something was off.”

Shouto hated how well he knew the story. When something triggered him to the point of panic, his quirk would always be unstable. His fire would get too strong, and his ice would weaken, leaving him defenseless.

“I couldn’t use it like normal. My hand started to shake and the explosions were unstable. I was a dumbass, thought I could use my quirk like I usually do and blasted myself really high up, and I mean really fucking high. When I screwed up, nothing could cushion my fall.”

“So that’s why you were so heavily injured?” Shouto asked, wincing. “God, that’s awful.”

“That’s not the only thing,” Bakugou stopped him. “The reason I fell like a sack of potatoes was that I never tried to break my fall with my quirk. As soon as I started to fall, it was like I was back there.”

Shouto tentatively took Bakugou’s hand, trying to reassure him. Bakugou didn’t push him away.

“It felt like the wind in my ears when we ran away,” he said, “And it felt like the feeling of nothingness that I felt while going through that dark portal they had.”

Shouto remembered, he remembered how he and Izuku raced to Bakugou before it was too late, and never making it. He remembered staring at the portal as it disappeared, right after they took him. He remembered the numbness that took over his heart when Bakugou was gone.

“I’m going to protect you,” Shouto decided and squeezed Bakugou’s hand. “I know you don’t think you need protecting, but I won’t let anything like this happen to you again. I swear.”

“It’s nothing you can help with.” Shouto was having none of it.

“Don’t put up that front with me,” Shouto stated, looking at him straight in his fierce red eyes. “I know you. What you don’t know is how I felt after I couldn’t stop them from taking you. I won’t let them hurt you again.”

“You can’t promise this kind of shit,” Bakugou refused. “You can’t always be there.”

“I will be,” Shouto repeated, stubborn. “I won’t leave your side.”

“Todoroki…”

“Let me help you, just this once,” Shouto interrupted. “Please?”

“... I was supposed to be the one helping you.”

“We can help each other.”

“I didn’t come here to get your help,” Bakugou said, and carefully leaned his head on Shouto’s shoulder. “I’m strong enough to deal with this stuff. I just didn’t want to hide it from you.”

“I believe you.”

They sat in silence. Shouto could feel Bakugou’s exhaustion, and his steadying breaths suggested he was slowly falling asleep.

“I’ll bring another futon.”

Katsuki woke up feeling miles better than he did the past two weeks. His head wasn’t aching, and he wasn’t as tired as he previously was. He opened his phone to check the time, and it was still pretty early, which should’ve been expected seeing he fell asleep a few hours earlier than he usually did. He slowly sat up, rubbing at his eyes. Next to him, Todoroki was sleeping soundly on his side, facing away from Katsuki. He looked so peaceful. He looked beautiful.

Katsuki’s face heated up a tiny bit, and he looked away. It was too early for this.

With a yawn, Katsuki laid back down. He still had an hour until he had to wake up.

He fell asleep before he could realize his forehead was touching Todoroki’s back, and that his arm was comfortably placed around Todoroki’s waist.

When Katsuki woke up the second time from a sudden lack of warmth, Todoroki wasn’t there anymore.

At lunch, Katsuki sat next to Kirishima as usual. Kaminari and Ashido were going on about something Katsuki didn’t have the patience to listen to, and Kirishima looked like he was swaying between listening and glancing at Katsuki.

“If you have something to say, just say it.”

“No, it’s just, you seem happier,” Kirishima said, a little surprised. “I’m just glad you’re alright.”

“I uh. Had Half ‘n Half’s help with that.”

“I’m not surprised,” Kirishima said with a big smile. “I’m just relieved you’re okay.”

“Let’s talk later, okay?” Katsuki asked, and Kirishima swung an arm around his shoulder and grinned.

“Would I ever say no to my best friend?”

…

“Actually, don’t answer that.”

Shouto felt like he was being interrogated.

“You held hands?”

“Yeah.”

“And you hugged?”

“Yeah…”

“And you spooned?”

“I guess. I didn’t even know that was a thing.”

“Shouto,” Izuku said, shaking his head. “Bakugou is not a touchy person.”

“I know.”

“But he’s touchy with you.”

“Yeah.”

“Still only 70%?”

“Maybe it’s like… a 75% now?”

“Idiots!” Izuku proclaimed. “You’re both idiots.”

Shouto laughed. “I guess you rubbed off on me.”

He got a playful smack on the head.

Katsuki and Todoroki were sitting on the roof, asking questions like they always did. It was a nice night. A little chilly, and there weren’t any stars, but the sky was beautifully dark blue and the moon shone protectively from its center.

“What sound do you love the most?”

The sound of your voice, Katsuki wanted to say.

“I like the sound of the rain, even if I’m not a big rain fan,” Katsuki said instead. “It’s got a comforting thing about it.”

“I like the sound of water when you throw stones into it,” Todoroki shared. “It’s nice to listen to.”

Bakugou hummed in agreement. “My turn. If you could choose your quirk, what quirk would you choose?”

Todoroki stopped to ponder this one, fiddling with his fingers. “I… Don’t know.”

“C’mon, be creative. You can have anything.”

“I don’t know,” Todoroki repeated. “Because I would definitely get rid of my fire quirk, but I’d like to keep my ice quirk? But having only one of my quirks would make me a lot less strong, because I’ll have more weaknesses. And if I choose to have a different quirk, I think I’d rather just not have one at all.”

Katsuki didn’t know what to say back to that. It seemed like Todoroki was stuck in his head, staring off into the night.

“Sometimes I can’t stop thinking about it. I think that deep down, I always wanted to be a hero. But I also always wanted a normal life. A normal childhood.”

“You were always going to be a hero, Todoroki,” Katsuki cut him off. “You were meant for it. Your heart is in the right place.”

Todoroki turned to look at him with his beautiful light eyes, and Katsuki’s breath was stolen away right then and there. His eyes held every star in the galaxy, and Katsuki wondered, why did it take him so long to notice how mesmerizingly beautiful his dumbass classmate was?

“Do you really mean that?”

Katsuki’s hand disobeyed him, and went up to brush the hair away from Todoroki’s eyes.

“I wouldn’t lie to you.”

Their faces were close to each other, so close that their noses would touch it Katsuki got a tiny bit closer. The anxious butterflies in his stomach refused to subside, but his heart didn’t care for them.

“Wouldn’t you?”

Only after Todoroki asked that, did Katsuki realize he lied to him way too many times.

“Not anymore.”

And just like that, Todoroki’s hands gently settled on the back of Katsuki’s neck, and their lips softly pressed together.

Katsuki’s eyes widened, but the surprise didn’t stop him from placing a hand on Todoroki’s waist, and leaning in a little more, letting warmth take over him.

One of Todoroki’s hands moved to cup his cheek, and he softly broke the kiss. Their eyes met, and Todoroki’s flushed face glowed brilliantly under the silvery light of the moon.

“I wanted to do that for a very long time,” Katsuki said quietly, still buzzing from the kiss. “But I wasn’t sure… about you.”

“I’m pretty sure I wanted to do that longer than you have,” Todoroki said, and then he smiled, his trademarked tiny smile that made Katsuki melt with its softness. “I can’t believe you. Saying something like that, when it’s only the two of us… I tried to stop myself. I really did.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

They sat there, a little closer than normal, gazing quietly at the moon. Todoroki’s hand was in Katsuki’s, and nothing in the world could’ve convinced Katsuki he’s not completely and utterly in love.

That night, Katsuki didn’t go back to sleep in his room. He stayed up way later than he normally did, jammed with Todoroki in the same futon. Their foreheads were touching, and their eyes didn’t know where else to look but each other.

“When did you know you liked me?”

“The day we argued over Yakitori,” Katsuki said with a small smile. “When we went to my room to do the project. I couldn’t stop laughing that day.”

“You had way too much fun,” Todoroki agreed, smiling back. “Do you remember the day we were all so exhausted, and I fell asleep on the couch in the common room?”

“Yeah. We didn’t have time to talk.”

“Right,” Todoroki nodded. “The day after that, I went to see you outside of your room after I woke up. That’s when I knew.”

“In the morning? How did that even happen? I'm terrible in the morning.”

“You were so cute,” Todoroki said, and covered his smile with his hand. “I couldn’t help it.”

“Don’t do that,” Katsuki said. Instead of slapping away Todoroki’s hand like he usually did, he placed his own around it, and slowly put it down. “Your smile is beautiful.”

Todoroki’s eyes softened. “My turn,” Katsuki said, not taking back his hand. “When did you want to kiss me for the first time?”

“‘Sue me for being a protective little shit’,” Todoroki said, imitating Katsuki’s voice. “Or maybe, ‘I’d never do that, shithead’.” Katsuki remembered that. It was when they fought, and Todoroki told him about his parents. “Didn’t know I’m so charming when I’m mad,” Katsuki joked.

“But you are,” Todoroki said. “You took all of the insecurities I had and stepped on them. I’ve never felt that kind of safety with anyone when it came to talking about my family, but you somehow did it.”

“Mine was less sad,” Katsuki said, playing with a strand of Todoroki’s hair. “When you and I went to the cafe together and you laughed at all of my dumb jokes. That’s the first time I got annoyed at you covering your smile, and it was because I wanted to kiss it.”

Todoroki leaned in and pressed a tiny kiss to Katsuki’s lips. “Now you have,” he said, smiling the biggest smile Katsuki’s ever seen on him.

Fuck. I love you so much.

“Don’t do that,” Katsuki said, and Todoroki chuckled, lacing their hands together. “My turn again. What about me makes you smile?”

“Hey, that’s cheating,” Todoroki accused. “It’s my turn.”

“I’ll let you cheat next time.”

“Annoying,” Todoroki stated, suppressing a smile. “I guess… Everything about you. You make me smile more than I ever have.”

“You stole my answer,” Katsuki murmured, and Shouto laughed quietly as he leaned to kiss him.

The next day, Shouto couldn’t focus on anything. He was so happy, he couldn’t think of anything else. He could still feel Bakugou’s lips on his own from the previous night, and the electrifying feeling of the kiss still lingered, leaving him absolutely unable to focus throughout the whole day. He could see that Izuku noticed the absolute glee in his actions, but chose to keep it in him. Good. he wanted to tell Izuku before anyone else, so him confronting Shouto about it would ruin the plans.

When it was lunch, Shouto sat next to Bakugou in their table. The difference then was, that they held hands beneath the table.

“We’ll be back,” Kaminari and Sero said as they got up from their table. “Going to buy drinks.”

Ashido and Jirou were sitting with the girls that day, which left Shouto and Bakugou with Kirishima. It was terrifyingly convenient, since Bakugou wanted to talk to Kirishima about it.

Kirishima was eating and making easy conversation with them as usual, when Bakugou suddenly stopped him. Shouto was nervous.

“I wanted to tell you,” Bakugou started. He coughed. “That we, uh. Kinda sorted out our feelings. Yesterday.”

Kirishima looked confused and doubtful until Bakugou raised their conjoined hands. His eyes widened. “Wait you mean? Actually?? Sorted out your feelings? Are you together???”

They didn’t really talk about it, but when Bakugou looked over at him and they shared a look, Shouto nodded.

“Yeah,” Bakugou said. “I guess we are.”

“Oh my-- you are? I’m so happy,” Kirishima said with his hands covering his face. “Give me a second. I’ve waited for this to happen for so long.”

“You’re not the only one,” Shouto commented softly. Bakugou looked at him with a content almost-smile, and pressed a tiny kiss to his cheek.

“Stop it, I’ll cry,” Kirishima said seriously. “I hate you guys.”

“No you don’t. We’re cute.”

With Izuku, Shouto thought it’d be better to tell him alone. They were sitting down, doing homework as usual in Izuku’s room, when Shouto decided he couldn’t wait anymore.

“Izuku,” Shouto said and sighed. “I have something to tell you.”

“Yes?” Izuku turned around, with a very knowing expression.

“Bakugou and I are together.”

Izuku broke into a huge smile, and hugged his friend. “I’m so happy for you,” he said, “And I totally didn’t know it already since like, today morning.”

“Thank you so much for helping me, Izuku. I know I don’t say it a lot, but I appreciate you so much.”

“Say it,” Izuku said, poking at Shouto’s shoulder.

“I love you,” Shouto sighed. Izuku hugged him again.

“Love you too. So wait, you’re going to keep calling him ‘Bakugou’? That’s kind of weird, if you’re…”

“Together,” Shouto completed.

“Yeah.”

“I mean, we didn’t talk about it? I guess we should.”

“You should,” Izuku nodded. “We talked about it when we chose to move to a first-name basis. I think we make a much better couple.”

“Are you trying to court me?”

“I’m not saying I am, but I am saying that if I wanted to, I could easily steal you.”

“Don’t underestimate my feelings for him,” Shouto said with a little smile. “It won’t be so easy.”

“I should hope not,” Izuku laughed. “Anyway, I’m so proud of you, Shouto. I really am.”

Shouto’s heart was filled with warmth. He was so happy.

Shouto and Bakugou were laying on Bakugou’s bed, with Bakugou’s arms safely secured over Shouto’s frame. “Hey,” Shouto said, turning around to face him. “I’ve been meaning to ask. Should we move to a first-name basis?”

Bakugou was caught off guard, his expression frozen in surprise. “I guess we could? Shit, don’t do this kinda stuff to me, Half ‘n Half. It makes my heart go all funny.”

“Can I… say it? Your name?”

Bakugou nodded, swallowing nervously in anticipation.

“Katsuki.”

“... Say it again.”

“Katsuki.”

His eyes were wide with realization. “Fuck. Say it again.”

“Katsuki. Why are you making me say it so many times?”

“Because it sounds so good when you say it,” Bakugou-- Katsuki, said. “I’ve never liked my name as much as I do now, holy fuck.”

“Say mine,” Shouto encouraged him.

“Fuck you, I can’t do this…”

“...”

“... Shouto.”

“I like you,” Shouto said quietly. “I like you so much.”

“I like you back,” Katsuki said, his cheeks dusted with pink. He pushed the bangs out of Shouto’s face, smoothly moved his hand to the back of Shouto’s head and leaned forward to press a soft kiss to Shouto’s forehead. “Being curious about you is the best shit that ever happened to me.”

“I can say the same thing,” Shouto said with a smile. “If you asked me a few months ago, I never would’ve imagined we’d end up like this.”

Katsuki looked at him with the warmest gaze Shouto’s ever seen from him, and let out a tiny, fond smile. “I never would’ve guessed this is what loving you feels like.”