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Chapter Text

If he wasn’t so angry all the time, he’d actually be really sexy.

Izuku Midoriya found himself staring across the lobby of his dorm building at the blonde-haired and incredibly muscular Katsuki Bakugo. Midoriya had looked up to him for years, admiring his strength and confidence since they were small children. Despite the way Bakugo presented himself to the world, it never mattered to Midoriya how insulting and belittling he was. He knew there was a kind heart deep within the arrogance. Now that they were becoming men, Midoriya often felt more than admiration for his lifelong classmate.

Bakugo noticed Midoriya staring and quickly looked away. He didn’t know what Midoriya’s issue was lately and he wished he’d stop fucking batting those long lashes his way. It gave him the creeps.

You love it and you know it.

Since they were sixteen years old, Bakugo had been frequently eyeing the green-haired, green-eyed boy with an increasingly arousing interest. Up until their early high school years, he’d found it easy to ignore Midoriya’s desperate desire to be his friend. It wasn’t until Midoriya came back from summer break with rippling muscles and a newfound fire in his eyes that Bakugo couldn’t get him out of his head.

Now they were attending the same university and secretly sharing intimate fantasies. Both of them were broken out of their reveries when they heard a girlish voice shout,

“Good morning, everyone! The camera crew is just about set up and we need all of you seated in the lobby, waiting for your group number to be called. Let’s make a great show today!”. Sakura Matsuda worked for a movie production company that was filming a special on UA University student life. The movie was originally going to cover a wide range of students from different specialties, but after her first day with Hero Class-A, Sakura fell in love and convinced the directors to center the whole thing around the 20 of them.

Instructed not to dress up and to just be their everyday selves, the students sat excitedly in the lobby of the main building, most of them thrilled for their third day of filming. For the previous two days, the cameramen had followed them around silently, observing them in their candid environments around campus. Today was the first day of interviews, and Sakura had divided them into groups of four.

“Group number one, we’re ready for you!” She shouted from the hallway. Midoriya, Bakugo, Fumikage Tokoyami, and Shoto Todoroki stood up and followed the sound of Sakura’s voice until they disappeared around the corner. When they stepped into the main conference room, it was as if they were transported. All of the original furniture had been moved somewhere else and replaced with a long, sophisticated, four-seat white sofa. A glass coffee table was placed in front of it, and enormous cream-colored drapes were carefully arranged on the back wall. Several pillows in various bright colors were scattered across the couch, giving the room just a touch of fun, reminding the viewers they were in a college, not on a talk show. The four students took their seats on the couch, let their mics be discreetly clipped to their shirts, and were instructed to take a moment and get comfortable.

Todoroki sat all the way back, spine straight, hands together in his lap. Bakugo rolled his eyes and tossed his feet onto the coffee table. He leaned back lazily into a pile of soft pillows and put his hands behind his head. Tokoyami sat exactly as he’d landed, and Midoriya perched on the edge of the couch with his fists on his knees and blazing excitement in his eyes. Sakura made a gesture to the cameramen who gestured something in return, then she directed a brilliant smile at the budding Heroes in front of her.

“How are all of you doing today, hm?” she asked.

“Thank you, Sakura! Today is an amazing day!” Midoriya exclaimed.

“Give it a break already, Deku,” said Bakugo followed by his signature huff. Sakura smiled and turned her gaze to Tokoyami who said,

“It’s a fine day. Thank you,” and gave a slight nod.

“Yes, it is,” agreed Todoroki, straight-faced. Sakura seemed delighted by every response and continued without missing a beat.

“Bakugo, tell me about your experience thus far in your second year at the UA University Hero Program.”

“Everyone here is so stupid I can’t believe I haven’t blown up a building. I would have dozens of villains behind bars already if this shit hole wasn’t required to get my license.”

Sakura glided over Bakugo’s arrogance gracefully. “Well, aren’t you a confident one! What about you, Todoroki? Has UA been everything you’d hoped for?”

“Yes, Sakura. I am taking my preparations for official Hero life very seriously, as I’m sure my work study experience has shown.”

“That’s right! You have a work study with your father, the Number One Hero, Endeavor. We’ll talk more about that in another interview. Thank you! Midoriya, you’re up. Or should I call you Deku?” Sakura’s question made Bakugo laugh and Midoriya twitch awkwardly. It’s true it was his chosen Hero name, but before he’d embraced it, it began as an insult from his childhood. It means “person who can’t do anything”, but his closest friend, Ochaco Uraraka, told him it sounded like a word that means “I can do it.” Midoriya embraced the name, using his past to motivate and inspire him. He didn’t want to say any of this to the interviewer, so all that came out of his mouth was unintelligible muttering. Sakura took the hint and swiftly moved on.

“Okay, then! Tokoyami, what do you have to say about your second year in the Hero Program?”

“Please, call me Dark Shadow. It’s been very rewarding and I am grateful for the opportunity every day,” he answered. Sakura asked a few more questions, Bakugo yelled and cursed, and Todoroki’s monotone voice never wavered. Midoriya’s stage fright was crippling, while Tokoyami continued to impress Sakura with his respect and dignity.

“That’s it for today, lovelies! I’ll follow you out and call the next group. Thank you so much for your time,” said Sakura. Having no time to waste, she stood and ushered the students to the door.

“Group two, come on in!” she called from the hallway. Tenya Iida, Momo Yaoyorozu, Ochaco Uraraka, and Mezo Shoji took their turn on the white sofa. Iida was boisterous and compliant, Yaoyorozu was elegant and witty, and Uraraka spoke so quickly she was hardly understood. Shoji only spoke about five words.

The third group was Kyoka Jiro, Eijiro Kirishima, Rikido Sato, and Denki Kaminari. All four of them were excited and talkative, and took up twice as much time as either of the first two groups. Sakura was delighted with their energy and wished them fantastic weekends before calling in the fourth group. Mashirao Ojiro, Koji Koda, Hanta Sero, and Toru Hagakure were noticeably quiet and shy, and Sakura didn’t mind when the interview was over. The most colorful, energetic group was last, and the students could barely contain themselves while they waited for the first four groups to enter and exit the conference room. Sakura didn’t even have time to call for them when Minoru Mineta yelled,

“IT’S FINALLY OUR TURN!”

“No one glitters and shines like I do. Watch out, cameras!” Yugo Aoyama said, following Mineta’s lead. Tsuyu Asui and Mina Ashido simultaneously said “Ribbit,” and squealed, “Let’s do this!”

“I just love the energy, group five! Get in here and show the cameras that spunky fun!” Sakura exclaimed, raising her fist in the air. The four of them maintained that attitude for the entire interview and Sakura was overjoyed.

“Best interviews of the day, you guys! I can’t wait to go over the footage with the crew. Have a great weekend and we’ll see you in a few days!” As the final group headed to the lobby, Sakura grabbed her flask from its hiding place and relaxed into her armchair. After taking a few swigs she said flippantly,

“Damn good job today, boys. Let’s pack the fuck up and get home.”

Bakugo was extremely relieved when the interview had concluded. He couldn’t stand that blonde bitch’s perky attitude or the way she’d skated past him the entire time. Everyone was always more interested in Todoroki just because of the family he came from and how flashy his Quirk was. It never seemed to matter to others that Bakugo was more powerful, which should have been the most important part of being a Hero, in his fuck-being-humble opinion. On the other hand, however, he understood the attention Midoriya was given. Muttering small fry that he was, his determination was incomparable. Those brilliant green eyes didn’t hurt his chances on camera, either. Bakugo was a glutton for those eyes and felt an unfamiliar foolish because of it.

After grabbing something to eat, he headed to the elevator and felt himself relax. It was finally time for him to get upstairs, take his shoes off, and melt into his computer chair. He knew it was juvenile to play video games at his age, especially with as much responsibility as he was taking on, but it was his only escape. He also had a small following and wouldn’t want to let his viewers down. The silent darkness of his room awaited him, and he could already feel the cool winter breeze drifting in from his sixth-story window.

Ding, the sound of the elevator approached.

Ding, only one more floor before the lobby.

Ding, he was just minutes away from—

The elevator doors slid open and revealed Midoriya alone inside. The two men stared at each other, stupefied to be looking at exactly who they’d been thinking of just moments before.

“Are you getting off, or what?” Bakugo asked when Midoriya hadn’t moved.

“Um…no, actually. I…I was coming down for…but I changed my mind because…and now I’m…” Midoriya muttered.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Deku.”

Bakugo rolled his eyes and stepped into the elevator. The button for the dorm floor was already lit up, so he just leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

Not wanting to annoy Bakugo any further, Midoriya stood as far away as possible in the small metal box and closed his eyes. He ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath, trying to think about anything other than the well-built stud of a man three feet away from him. His attempts at clearing his mind were ineffective and when he opened his eyes, Bakugo was staring directly at him. Not at his face, though; he was looking so intently at Midoriya’s waist that he didn’t even notice Midoriya’s eyes had opened.

“Uh…Kacchan?” he asked. Bakugo’s childhood nickname was the only name Midoriya ever addressed him as.

Bakugo’s attention rapidly moved to meet Midoriya’s confused expression and he actually blushed before the elevator doors opened. Midoriya stood motionless for so long that the doors closed once more, snapping him out of his thoughts and motivating him to move. While he walked toward the kitchen, he tried to come up with why Bakugo would be looking where he was looking, other than the very obvious, very real reason. He managed to temporarily shake the thought, but it would surely return.

As the students of Hero Class-A were slowly filing into the common area of the dorms, Midoriya noticed Todoroki leaning against a wall, looking bored. His half-white, half-red hair hung softly above his eyes, one of which was gray. The other eye was a fierce blue, surrounded by a burn scar that covered most of the left side of his face. While the expression in his captivating eyes was typical, his body language was not. Midoriya could sense that he was waiting for someone, or maybe looking for something. He walked straight past Todoroki and directly to the common area where a few of the girls were having an excited conversation.

Dark blue outdated sofas were arranged around an old-school tube TV. There were several end tables and a coffee table, with a shabby gray rug that laid beneath it all. Near two large bay windows in the corner of the room were overstuffed reading chairs. The girls typically pulled the chairs together to talk, curled up with their knees bent and their feet tucked under them. The boys could usually be found slouched on the sofas, their feet propped up on whatever they could reach with minimal effort, barely speaking a word to one another. The vintage TV played Hero footage reruns, occasionally spoken over with topics such as Villain stats and the breast size of R-Rated Heroes.

On the opposite side of the enormous space was a newly remodeled and fully-equipped kitchen. Cupboards filled with dishes lined the two walls, and where the walls came together was a large pantry. Twelve stools surrounded the large island where many of them shared meals together.

The expansive open floor plan was surrounded by four branching hallways, two of which led to the dorms, separated by gender and placed directly across from each other. To the left of the kitchen was a hallway leading to showers and restrooms. Mirroring that, a hallway to the left of the common area led to the elevators and the rest of the building. It was in this hallway that Todoroki stood, his piercing stare sending chills down Midoriya’s spine even though he was facing away from him. As quickly and casually as he could, he sat on one of the sofas and let himself relax, listening to the comforting sounds of dorm life.

An hour or so passed with many of the students eating then heading to their rooms for the night. Midoriya hadn’t moved, worried he’d turn around and see Todoroki staring at him. Bravely glancing around the room, he could see that Todoroki was sitting at the island, finishing a bowl of cold soba, paying him no attention. Midoriya also noticed Tsu and Mineta in the reading chairs talking to each other so quickly he couldn’t decipher a word, and Bakugo looking for something in the kitchen. Hoping to go unnoticed, Midoriya walked toward the restrooms.

“Midoriya?” Todoroki asked.

Midoriya froze and his mouth went dry. “What’s up?” he replied as he turned to face him.

“I wanted to mention that you’ve made excellent progress in training and it’s been inspiring to watch.”

“Th…th…thank you, Todoroki. That means a lot coming from you.” Midoriya swallowed and forced himself to say more. “I didn’t realize you had been watching me,” he lied. Todoroki raised an eyebrow and almost smiled.

“Oh, you didn’t?”

Is he…flirting with me?

Unknown to the two of them, Bakugo was only pretending to be busy in the kitchen in order to listen closely.

What the fuck are you doing, Todoroki? Stay away from Deku or you’ll be fucking sorry.

“Well…I…I guess I’ve thought you might be looking at me…a few times.” Midoriya couldn’t say that he felt Todoroki’s gaze on him almost every day for the last few weeks. Bakugo, who had noticed the frequent stares, was angry and couldn’t stand to hear the rest of the conversation. He needed fresh air and to hit something. On his way toward the elevator, Todoroki and Midoriya noticed him leaving.

Midoriya saw the brief interruption as an opportunity and quickly said, “Thanks again,” then awkwardly walked away.

After using the restroom, he found the common area empty and almost went to his dorm. Instead, he decided to go for a walk outside and clear his head. He didn’t want to try going to sleep with the anxiety Todoroki’s comments had given him. Stepping into the elevator, he exhaled a sigh of relief. He relaxed against the wall, listening to the ding of the elevator as it passed each of the five floors between their dorms and the main floor. Midoriya crossed the lobby, which was filled with many lamps and much nicer furniture.

The cold air filled Midoriya’s lungs as he felt the tension melt from his body. The crunch of the snow beneath his sneakers was satisfying and familiar, and his mind began to clear. The small smile on his face had only been there a few moments before he heard,

“Deku.” He spun on his heel, ready to fight whoever was hiding in the shadows, but saw no one.

“Who’s there?”

“Who the fuck do you think it is?” asked Bakugo as he stepped into the light.

“Is everything okay, Kacchan? What are you doing out here so late?”

“Don’t worry about me, shithead.” There was less malice in Bakugo’s voice than usual.

“Okay. Well, you were amazing in training yesterday. You’ve come so far, and everyone watches you, and I bet they’re all really proud. I know I am.”

“Dammit, Deku! Why do you always have to be so fucking nice?”

“That’s just how I feel, Kacchan.” Midoriya felt comfortable around Bakugo, and he was used to the animosity even when it was pointed at him.

Bakugo growled and a burst of light appeared across the courtyard, headed straight for Midoriya. He powered up his Quirk, but before he could raise an arm in defense, Bakugo’s explosive fist hit its target. When the pain didn’t come, Midoriya saw that Bakugo had punched the tree directly to the left of him. Uncertain and a little scared, Midoriya called out,

“Kacchan—” and suddenly Midoriya was pinned to the tree. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak, and could not predict what Bakugo’s next move would be.

“Dammit, Deku,” he said quietly. His breathing was heavy and his body shook as disbelief coursed through both of them. Bakugo couldn’t believe what was happening any more than Midoriya could. He pressed his chest against Midoriya’s and towered over him. A feeling of primal and hungry power began to build inside Bakugo. He knew that if he didn’t let the power free, it would rip him apart.

Midoriya looked up at him in shock, making no attempts to escape. When all the moisture evaporated from Midoriya’s mouth, he licked his lips and Bakugo lost control. He couldn’t wait any longer.

Dammit, Deku…

His lips crashed into Midoriya’s, filling them both with fire. Midoriya didn’t think about what would happen next, or who might see, or what Bakugo might say tomorrow. He just kissed him back. His left hand still buried in the bark of the tree next to them, Bakugo used his free hand to pull down on Midoriya’s chin, opening his mouth. The instant Bakugo’s tongue was inside, Midoriya lost all focus. Bakugo was just about to reach up Midoriya’s shirt and rake his fingers down Midoriya’s back when voices in the distance interrupted them. Bakugo abruptly broke the kiss and Midoriya could hardly stand. If it weren’t for the tree behind him, he would have fallen to the ground.

Deku and Kacchan were breathing heavily and avoiding eye contact, both of them painfully aware of each other’s rock-hard erections. Not wanting to waste the brief moment they had before they were no longer alone, Bakugo got back in Midoriya’s face, grabbed a fistful of thick, green hair, and pulled his head back. He reveled in Midoriya’s trembling state and inhaled every bit of it. Leaning into Midoriya’s ear, he proclaimed,

“You are mine.” Bakugo let go of him carelessly and went back inside without another word or glance.

Chapter Text

Bakugo and Midoriya had not made eye contact in the three days since the incident, and Midoriya was certain that Bakugo had temporarily gone insane and would likely never speak to him again. Midoriya had replayed the scene in his mind over and over, obsessively analyzing every moment. Uraraka had caught him muttering to himself several times and her concern was steadily growing. Midoriya reassured her he was fine, but she didn’t believe him and silently resolved to keep a close eye on him.

Bakugo hadn’t spoken more than a few words, not even to threaten anyone. The first person to notice was Kaminari, who didn’t dare ask Bakugo what was going on. He whispered his observation to the Class Representative, Iida, who immediately approached Bakugo with loud proclamations of worry. Bakugo stood up, ready to rip Iida a new one, but no words came out. He sat back down at his desk and huffed, never before so impatient for Mr. Aizawa to start class. As he waited and listened to the inane chatter surrounding him, his mind drifted to the night he’d kissed Midoriya. He couldn’t shake the effect that Midoriya had on him. He spent his nights staring at the ceiling, wondering how he could have let himself lose control on such a massive scale. It was a kiss he had thought about for years, and until the other night he was absolutely fucking positive it would never happen.

It was that fucking Todoroki’s fault. Looking at him like a piece of meat. If I ever saw them…

Bakugo couldn’t let himself finish the thought. Picturing Todoroki and Midoriya together made his blood boil and his skin crawl. He always expected Midoriya to find some dumb girl, which never bothered him. It would just be a weak little woman; nothing to be jealous of. Bakugo had seen the way Uraraka looked at Midoriya and she wasn’t someone he felt threatened by. Shoto Todoroki was an entirely different story, with his incredible power and grace. He was the only classmate who Bakugo found remotely worthy to be a Hero, other than his little Deku. Little Deku, who was never supposed to be here. Little Deku, with his screaming green eyes and unbelievable innocence. Little Deku, the only person to ever look up to Bakugo.

Get the fuck out of my head! I don’t want to think about you ever again!

His efforts to clear his mind were futile. He could still feel Midoriya trembling against him. He could still taste the sweetness of Midoriya’s tongue. It was driving him mad and he constantly berated himself for making such a stupid mistake.

Mr. Aizawa entered the room and class began. Bakugo was so thankful for the interruption, he relaxed into his chair and sighed. Unable to control himself, he looked to the other side of the room to catch a glimpse of Midoriya, and their eyes met. Midoriya gasped and quickly looked away, terrified that he had been noticed. He was surprised to see that Bakugo had no reaction whatsoever and somehow Midoriya felt even worse.

Unknown to the two of them, Mr. Aizawa noticed their exchanged glances, and approached Bakugo after class.

“Bakugo.”

“What?” he answered gruffly.

“Stay after for a moment. I’d like to speak with you.” Bakugo was astonished when Mr. Aizawa said,

“If you have feelings for someone, you should tell them. I know you’re going to say––”

“Mind your own business, old man! You don’t know what you’re talking about! I don’t have time for stupid shit like feelings, and I definitely don’t like a single one of these extras!”

“That’s all I wanted to say. You can go now.” Mr. Aizawa said, ignoring the defensive reaction. He left the room, leaving Bakugo to fume in privacy. Once he’d calmed down, Bakugo headed in the direction of the vending machines, hoping food would distract him, if only for a few minutes. He’d barely taken four steps when he heard a noise behind him and turned to see Midoriya standing just a few feet away from the classroom.

“What do you want?” Bakugo asked gruffly.

“I…I…” was all Midoriya could manage.

“Either spit it out or walk in the other direction,” Bakugo snapped.

“What were you and Mr. Aizawa talking about just now?” Midoriya asked with the glowing look of wonder that Bakugo loved so much.

“Nothing important,” he muttered, avoiding Midoriya’s gaze.

Midoriya reached out to touch Bakugo, but Bakugo flinched away.

“Kacchan, look at me.”

“Stop calling me that,” he said while staring at the pattern of the tile on the floor. He would not look up. He knew that if he stared into those emerald eyes, he’d lose control again. He would look at the diamonds and squares beneath his shoes, silently waiting for Midoriya to give up and walk away. But Bakugo knew better. He knew that Midoriya would not give up, and he would eventually have to face him. Still, he stared at the tile. Midoriya took quiet steps forward, closing the distance between them. He couldn’t stand to see Bakugo like this; quiet and confused. He bravely reached out and tilted Bakugo’s head so their eyes could meet. Bakugo stubbornly averted his gaze and Midoriya forced his head to turn and face him.

“Look at me, Kacchan.”

“I said don’t call me that,” but he gave in and looked at Midoriya. There was nothing but admiration looking back at him, and Bakugo’s knees almost buckled. No pity, no concern, no anger, no judgment. Only pure affection.

“What do you want from me?” Bakugo pleaded with Midoriya’s hand still resting on his face.

“I should be asking you the same question,” he replied calmly. Midoriya couldn’t believe they were really having this conversation. All the planning and analyzing he had done in his head completely disappeared once Bakugo looked at him. Neither of them said anything for several moments and Midoriya’s hand never left Bakugo’s cheek. After what seemed like an eternity, Bakugo took a deep breath and put his hand on Midoriya’s, pressing the sweet warmth of Midoriya’s palm tighter against himself.

“Kacchan…”

“I said d—” and before he could utter another word, Midoriya took Bakugo’s face in both hands and pulled himself toward the lips he’d been dreaming about for days. Bakugo stood frozen, terror sweeping through him, until Midoriya’s fingers slid from his cheeks to entwine in his hair, wiping all sense of control clear from Bakugo’s mind. 

“Deku…” he sighed, the word tasting like candy. His arms wrapped around Midoriya and pulled him in, the same desperation for closeness as he felt three days ago. Their lips met and their worlds crashed around them. Everything they had ever known about each other began to fall away. The kiss deepened and Midoriya groaned into Bakugo’s mouth, sending blood and adrenaline through his entire body. Midoriya felt Bakugo’s excitement growing against him and leaned his hips into it. Bakugo took a sharp breath in and moaned low in his throat, so quietly Midoriya felt more than heard the sound escape from him.

A noise in the distance broke them out of their reveries and the realization of where they were and what they were doing suddenly hit them. The two men took simultaneous steps away from each other, shaking and breathing heavily. Footsteps were getting closer, about to turn the corner, and Bakugo heard Todoroki’s voice. He and Midoriya stood in place and silently waited for their classmates to walk past them. Todoroki was with Kirishima and Koda, the three of them discussing the Quirks of Hero Class B. As the group got closer, Todoroki looked at Midoriya from behind, and Bakugo could feel the desire pouring from him. Midoriya didn’t see the look on Todoroki’s face, but Bakugo knew. He knew that feeling better than anyone.

The relentless ticking of a clock, Koda’s snoring, winter winds, and a racing heart kept Midoriya awake. He found himself thinking of nothing but Bakugo and the intensity of their last encounter. He still could not believe it had been real.

Maybe this is why we’ve never been close.

The thought did not comfort him; it only made his ache for Bakugo stronger. Midoriya felt a pull toward Bakugo in a way he had never experienced with another person. There were people he’d crushed on in the past, but never once had he craved someone. He wanted to feel Bakugo’s presence; his energy and power. The same energy that had drawn Midoriya to follow Bakugo since they were children. Now his thoughts stretched far beyond merely being near him. The image of Bakugo’s hand on his, while Midoriya held his cheek, would not leave Midoriya’s mind, nor did he want it to. The look of relief on Bakugo’s face as he accepted what was happening between them was a look that Midoriya would remember and treasure until his last breath.

Unable to toss and turn any longer, Midoriya got out of bed and stepped into the hallway. Just a few doors down he saw Bakugo’s room, and he took two involuntary steps in that direction, as if his heart had taken over.

He was the one who kissed me. He started all of this.

Three more steps toward Bakugo’s door.

Stand up for yourself and get some answers. Why didn’t you say something sooner? Are you hoping I’ll act like it was just a big mistake?

He had made the last few steps without realizing it, took a deep breath, and reached up to knock on the door. At the very last second, light down the hall caught his eye. His hand fell to his side and he went to see what could be going on in the common area at such a late hour.

The television was on, playing a black and white movie with the sound so low it was barely audible. Midoriya’s heart caught in his throat as he saw the unmistakable messy blond hair above perfectly sculpted shoulders. From this angle that was all he could see, and Bakugo was shirtless.

I’ve seen him without a shirt on countless times. Why does this suddenly feel so different?

Midoriya knew that if he answered that question, he’d likely turn into a puddle right there. Taking a silent breath in and a silent breath out, he stepped forward. Right before Bakugo turned his head, Midoriya became painfully aware of the wrinkly All Might t-shirt he was wearing, with cutoff sweats and bare feet. He felt like a small child and it made him want to run as far away as he could until Bakugo forgot about him completely.

Midoriya and Bakugo made eye contact, and Bakugo’s heart nearly exploded. He had been watching a favorite movie of his, unable to sleep and unable to get Deku out of his head.

Of course the little shit would be here. I can’t catch a break.

But even he could feel there was no conviction in the thought. It was merely a reflex, built after years of shutting down his feelings for Deku, knowing they would never amount to anything. Yet, there Deku was. Staring at Bakugo like he was the Hero on his juvenile shirt.

Are you ever going to grow up?

Bakugo treasured Midoriya’s innocence, and his constant rejection of it was pure deflection. He loved the way Midoriya looked almost lost, yet not afraid of anything. He could hear the soft pads of his bare feet as he crossed the room and stood in front of the TV, watching the movie instead of looking at Bakugo. They remained that way for several minutes, staring at the black and white actors and not paying one bit of attention.

“I didn’t know you liked old movies,” Midoriya said without turning around.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” said Bakugo pointedly. Midoriya’s gaze drifted to Bakugo and all the strength Bakugo had built left his body entirely. Standing up would have been impossible for Bakugo, even if the building were burning down. Covering his own anxiety, he asked,

“Are you going to sit down, or what?”

Midoriya’s eyebrows raised with surprise, and his green eyes lit up like fireworks.

Stop looking at me like that, dammit. I can’t fucking think when you look at me with those wide eyes.

Midoriya slowly sat down on the sofa, keeping three feet of space between them. He had the entire left side of his body pressed against the arm of the couch as tightly as he could manage, doing his best not to scare Bakugo away. Bakugo rolled his eyes and put his feet up on the ottoman, exhaling his trademark huff. Almost as an afterthought, he put his arm across the back of the couch, creating the perfect space for Midoriya to fit in. He did this with so much nonchalance that Midoriya was terrified to accept it for the invitation that it was. The idea of moving closer to him only to be rejected was more than he could handle.

Bakugo sat there feeling like an idiot with his arm outstretched the way it was. He had moved it there in case Midoriya wanted to be near him, but regretted it instantly.

What was I thinking? That he’d sit here in the dark and watch a movie with me, like I’m his fucking boyfriend?

Bakugo huffed again and start to move his arm back to his side, but Midoriya said,

“No…um…wait,” and slid over. A deep breath would have been enough to close the distance. Bakugo was stunned, frozen in place, and filled with awkward tension. He stared at his left arm like it was a foreign object, and noticed Midoriya’s thick green curls were brushing against his bicep. After a moment, he felt Midoriya relax into the couch before turning to look up at Bakugo.

Again with those damn eyes. I won’t be able to breath if you don’t stop––

Midoriya smiled and turned his attention to the TV, having no idea of the effect it had on Bakugo. The feeling of his own erection made Bakugo adjust himself, so Midoriya wouldn’t notice. Anticipating that Midoriya would think he was trying to move away, Bakugo pulled him close as he repositioned himself. They were pressed together from shoulder to knee, and Midoriya could barely focus on the movie, frequently looking to the side at Bakugo’s impressive torso. He looked as if he could rip a tree clean in half, without ever needing to use his Quirk. For what might have been the first time in their lives, Midoriya noticed Bakugo was freshly showered. He wasn’t sweating or covered in dirt and ash. There was a slight pine scent coming off of him, and his skin looked smoother than satin.

“You smell really good,” he finally worked up the courage to say.

“Shut up,” Bakugo said, but Midoriya saw him fight off a smile.

After a few minutes, the two of them relaxed into each other, as if they had done it a thousand times. When the movie ended and Bakugo didn’t reach for the remote, Midoriya turned to see he was sleeping, with a pillow propped between his head and the arm of the sofa. Bakugo’s face was free of anger, tension, and fear. Midoriya’s heart skipped a beat and he felt like he was stealing something. He looked so much like the young boy from so many years ago, and Midoriya knew that no one other than Bakugo’s mother had ever seen his face look so peaceful.

“Kacchan,” he said softly. Bakugo let out a small sigh, but made no movements. Midoriya sat up a little and brought himself closer to Bakugo’s face. Only a few inches away from his ear, he tried again,

“Kacchan.” This time Bakugo stirred, and in his half-asleep state, pulled Midoriya closer. Midoriya could feel his heart beating against Bakugo’s chest. He had changed positions slightly in order to be close to Bakugo’s ear, and when he tightened his grip on Midoriya, Midoriya found his face nestled into the space between Bakugo’s head and shoulder. The sweet pine scent of his soap was much stronger here, and Midoriya no longer had to guess how soft his skin was. He curled his entire body up, feeling like a kitten as he did so, and took in as much of the moment as he could. He knew Bakugo would wake up any second, and he prayed that he would not be angry when he noticed the position Midoriya had put himself in.

Bakugo began to move and Midoriya tensed, waiting for the backlash of his decision. Instead, Bakugo’s arm tightened around him even more and when a second sigh escaped from him, Midoriya could hear the smile in it.

I can’t remember the last time I saw you smile happily, Kacchan.

Knowing it might wake him up, Midoriya shifted to catch the joy on Bakugo’s face. He was a moment too late, and the look was gone as Bakugo’s eyes fluttered open.

“Mmm…Deku…” he said. Midoriya let out a small chuckle, a reflex reaction to hearing such sweet words come out of a mouth usually so filled with rage. Hearing him laugh, Bakugo woke fully and jumped off the couch as if he’d been bitten by a snake.

What the fuck? What. The. Fuck?

After the glimpse at Bakugo’s subconscious, Midoriya was far less afraid of rejection. He now saw Bakugo’s indignation for what it truly was: fear of the unknown. With this realization, Midoriya laughed even harder and stood up with a huge smile.

“What are you laughing at, small fry?” Bakugo tried to sound angry, but he had sleep in his eyes that made him look softer, and all Midoriya could do was widen his smile. Bakugo became hard as stone and Midoriya very suddenly looked up. Bakugo saw the thrill in his eyes, and his devious half-smile was back. He closed the distance between them and with a deep, husky voice asked,

“Like what you see?”

“I…I…didn’t see anything,” Midoriya blushed. Bakugo could see sweat on his forehead, and could hear the trembling of his voice. He wanted to take him right there, not giving a shit where they were or who would hear. Bakugo grabbed Midoriya by the hips and dug them against one another as strong and hard as he could. Midoriya’s head flew back and let out a loud, involuntary moan. He could feel every inch of his excitement pressed against Bakugo, with nothing but a thin layer of sweats between them. His mouth was watering, his palms were sweating, and his legs were nearly useless.

A maniacal sound erupted from Bakugo as he pushed Midoriya away. Almost falling over, Midoriya caught himself on an end table and watched in a daze as Bakugo walked toward his bedroom.

“Kacchan, wait,” he said softly, not even sure Bakugo could hear him. Without looking back, Bakugo said,

“Good luck sleeping now,” and closed the door behind him. Midoriya’s legs finally gave out, and he laid in a pile of himself on the carpet for half an hour before he could stand and walk to bed.

Chapter Text

On the weekends, nearly every student went home to be with their families or to see friends outside of UA. Some of them stayed to do extra training, use the pool, or enjoy the quiet of the near-empty dorms. Midoriya always spent that time with his mother, knowing she worried constantly and missing her more than he thought a growing man should. On one particular weekend, however, she called him and said that she wouldn’t be home, but the fridge was loaded with food and he could certainly have the house to himself if he wanted. He decided to make the best of it and see what fun was to be had at the university. He also wondered if Bakugo would be there, and if they could find time to talk, or watch another movie, or rip each other’s clothes off and…

And what? I don’t know the first thing about intimacy. Even if we had the entire world to ourselves, what would I do?

Midoriya knew the obvious answer, but he didn’t know the steps leading up to it. He was ashamed to admit to himself that he was still so inexperienced. Completely inexperienced, in fact. There was no chance he’d be able to live up to all the fun and excitement Bakugo had been a part of. Those concerns weighed heavily on Midoriya as he sat in the common area and wished the other students fun weekends with their friends and family. Soon only a few classmates remained and they were going to the pool.

“Are you sure you don’t want to join us, Midoriya?” Sero asked.

“Yes, thank you! I’m gonna do some homework,” he answered.

“We’ll be down there for a while if you change your mind,” Tsu said with a smile and they headed to the elevator. Midoriya looked around to find himself the very last student in sight. He wondered if Bakugo stayed on campus during the weekends and contemplated knocking on his dorm door to find out. 

Doing his best to focus on his assignments, time passed steadily and his mind gradually drifted away from Bakugo. With books still in his lap, he fell asleep on the couch and began to dream.

Kacchan’s naked body laid in Midoriya’s twin-size bed, surrounded by All Might posters and memorabilia.

“What are you doing at my house?” He asked, realizing they weren’t in the dorm, but rather at his family home. Kacchan smiled and kindly said,

“Don’t play with me, Deku. You know what happened here.” Midoriya was confused by the look on his face and the tone of his voice.

“Why are you acting like that, Kacchan?”

Instead of answering, he stood up from the bed and met Midoriya on the other side of the small room. They kissed passionately, and Midoriya realized he was also naked, but could not feel Kacchan’s skin against his. He pulled away and tried asking what was happening, but the words wouldn’t come out. His mouth moved silently as Kacchan turned to walk out the door. Midoriya screamed his name but could not hear his own voice. All he heard was Kacchan’s maniacal laughter before he slowly disappeared. Midoriya fell to his knees and reached his arm out, trying to stop him from leaving. His heart was breaking, his head was pounding, and he began to sob. He had never known pain this sharp and heavy, and with everything he could he tried one last time to scream,

“Kacchan!” Midoriya bolted awake and sat up on the couch, tears on his face and sweat covering his body. He was shaking, terrified, and completely alone. Someone had arranged his books in a neat pile on the floor and the clock read some time past midnight. After taking a few minutes to catch his breath and wipe his face with the edge of his t-shirt, he went to his room to sleep a hopefully dreamless sleep.

When he walked into his dorm, there was a note near his feet that someone must have slipped under the door. Midoriya looked around in the hallway and listened for sounds in the other bedrooms, but everything was silent. Closing the door behind him, he picked the piece of paper up and unfolded it.

“My room. Don’t knock.”

Midoriya’s breath was knocked out of his chest and he thought he might start hyperventilating. All of his trepidations flew to the front of his mind and he couldn’t move. He was at a complete loss for what to do. Obviously, he was going to listen. He couldn’t imagine ignoring a request from Bakugo. Well, it wasn’t exactly a request; more of a demand. Bakugo’s commanding nature had an effect on him he couldn’t explain and couldn’t ignore.

Remembering how he looked when he was last alone with Bakugo, Midoriya looked in the mirror and decided he needed to change. The same clothes he wore to class earlier were not going to work, so he switched to soft, comfortable sweats and a plain white t-shirt that was snug around his arms and torso. Midoriya rolled his eyes at himself, feeling foolish for worrying so much about his appearance. It never mattered before and Bakugo certainly didn’t care. He would probably laugh at Midoriya for feeling the need to change.

Midoriya wondered what it was that Bakugo saw in him. Perhaps it was similar to what he saw in Bakugo; strength and power. No, that couldn’t be it. Bakugo didn’t see those things in anyone but himself. Maybe he would tell Midoriya if he found the perfect time to ask. Maybe even tonight. He read the note for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“My room. Don’t knock.”

With one last look in the mirror, he worked up every bit of courage he had and stepped into the hallway. The moment the door closed behind him, he realized he was bare foot and desperately wanted to change that, but worried Bakugo had heard the door open and close for a second time, and didn’t have it in him to make the noise again. He stared at Bakugo’s door, heart pounding and hands shaking. A bead of sweat fell from his forehead to his cheek and he quickly wiped it away.

I can face three Villains head-on, but one door has me wanting to pass out. Or evaporate. Or move to another country before I make a complete fool of myself.

Midoriya’s hand hovered over the door knob and before he could change his mind, he turned it and walked in.

Although he wasn’t sure what to expect, he was surprised to find Bakugo at a computer desk. It was dark, the only light in the room coming from the glow of a monitor. Bakugo’s face was illuminated and he casually looked over at Midoriya. Returning his attention to the computer, he clicked a few things and took a couple minutes before leaning back in his desk chair, one arm behind his head, and stared into sparkling emerald eyes.

Even in the dark his face lights up like a fucking Christmas tree.

“Are you going to close the door?” Bakugo asked, his face impossible to read in such darkness. Embarrassed to be caught frozen, Midoriya quickly and quietly shut the door behind him. When he turned around, Bakugo was standing up and only had to take three steps before being so close Midoriya could barely breathe. It was hard to tell in the dark, but Midoriya thought he was wearing a black t-shirt and black pants. Not sweats or joggers, but actual flannel pajama pants. Midoriya found this amusing for some reason and smiled. Before he could remark on his discovery, Bakugo had his hand in Midoriya’s hair and pulled him into a kiss. It wasn’t a fiery kiss like the others; it was brief and almost gentle.

“Hey,” he said. His breathing was the only sound in the room.

“Uh…hi,” said Midoriya. Bakugo’s hand was still in his hair, and he leaned into the sensation, knowing Bakugo would pull him closer. The two of them stood that way, staring at each other in the dark, two short inches away from one another. Bakugo stepped away and flipped a switch for a lamp that was on the bedside table. The room filled with soft yellow light, and Bakugo half-smiled when he saw what Midoriya was wearing.

“Got pretty for me, huh?”

“What? No, I…” but Midoriya didn’t know what to say.

“I saw you sleeping on the couch earlier,” explained Bakugo.

He must be the one who moved my books.

“I didn’t want—” and he stopped himself before making up some lame excuse. “I just wanted to look good for you,” he admitted painfully. Instead of smirking or making fun of him Bakugo said,

“Good.”

Midoriya blushed and awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. Bakugo continued,

“You are so fucking hot,” and took a step toward Midoriya. Shocked and more nervous than he’d ever been in his life, Midoriya backed up and practically yelled,

“Wait!”

Bakugo froze and a look of hurt briefly flashed across his face.

“Is…is that why you like me?” Midoriya managed to whisper.

The hurt on Bakugo’s face was replaced with surprise.

“What?”

“Is that why you like me? Because you think I’m…I’m hot?” Midoriya felt ridiculous saying the words, but he chose that moment to get some answers. Bakugo rolled his eyes and sat on the bed, which was made with blankets as black as everything else in the room.

Unsure of his own feelings, Bakugo tried to turn the conversation around on Midoriya.

“Is that what you think?”

“I don’t know what to think! For almost fifteen years you could barely stand me, and then one day you charge me and kiss me like no one has ever been kissed in history, and I didn’t even know you liked guys, and I didn’t know I liked guys, and you haven’t actually said anything to me other than ‘You’re mine’, and I don’t even know what that means really, and I can’t think of anything other than you, but I don’t know what you want from me or if I could give it to you even if I did know, and—”

“Woah, small fry! Calm the fuck down!”

“You won’t talk to me,” Midoriya whined.

“You haven’t asked,” replied Bakugo.

“Well, I’m asking now.” Midoriya sat in the desk chair, as far from Bakugo as he could, mortified and almost in tears. Bakugo huffed and said,

“I don’t know.”

Midoriya looked up at him in confusion.

“You don’t know what?”

“I don’t know any of it!” said Bakugo. If it weren’t for where they were, he would be yelling. It was all he could do to keep his voice down. “I don’t know why I like you, or when it happened, or why I kissed you. I don’t know what I want from you. I don’t think I want anything. That’s not true. I just don’t fucking know.” Bakugo looked defeated and put his head in his hands. Midoriya almost got out of the chair and sat next to him, but realized the closeness would fog his mind and he’d never get another word out.

We have to do this. Right now. It can’t wait any longer.

“Well, you know, I…I like you because you’re strong and confident and you’re not scared of anything. And…and…you’re hot, too.” The confession made Bakugo look up. Midoriya’s face burned fiercely with embarrassment.

“You do, huh?”

“Yes. I mean, I haven’t looked at anyone that way until now, but you’re different. I don’t know. You’re the one who kissed me. Where did that come from?”

“I see the way Todoroki looks at you and I just couldn’t take it anymore. The thought of him touching you makes me so fucking outraged, I had to do something about it. I was only planning on telling you to stay away from him because he’s a fucking creep, but I ended up so passionate that I lost my shit and fucking kissed you.” Bakugo stood suddenly and shoved his hands into hair, looking like he might pull it out. He growled and pushed some books off a shelf, having no other outlet for his frustration. Midoriya immediately picked the books up and put them back as close to their original place as he could remember.

“Stop, Deku. I can’t stand when you remind me how stupid I am to have started this.”

“You think this was all a mistake?” Midoriya’s heart began to break. He could feel the tears welling up and couldn’t bear the thought of having a breakdown in Bakugo’s room.

What am I even doing here?

“What about the note?” asked Midoriya.

“What?” Bakugo was startled by the question.

“The note you put under my door. Why did you want me here?”

“Because I can’t stand to be away from you! Don’t you get it?! I don’t have any fucking answers for you. Thoughts of you are all I have. I can barely function. My Quirk is acting up, I don’t eat, I toss and turn all night and get no sleep. I thought – fuck, I prayed that all I wanted from you was your body. I fucking knew better. Then the other night on the couch happened and I wanted to hold you next to me forever.” Bakugo hadn’t admitted it to himself until that moment. He sat back on the bed, with his head in his hands again, and Midoriya saw a tear drop to the floor.

“Kacchan…”

“Just leave me alone, Deku. This is fucking stupid.”

Midoriya sat next to him and put his hand on Bakugo’s back, rubbing slow circles against the cotton shirt. Bakugo pushed him away and said,

“I said fucking go, dammit.” There was no anger in his voice, only heartache and longing. Midoriya scooted closer and continued the gentle motion.

“I’m not going anywhere, Kacchan.”

After several minutes, Bakugo gathered himself, turned to lean against the headboard, and stretched his legs out in front of him. Midoriya sat still, unsure of what Bakugo needed or wanted. Catching the lost look in Midoriya’s eyes, Bakugo huffed and said,

“Come here.” Midoriya moved to fit himself perfectly under Bakugo’s outstretched arm and dozed off. When he came to, he felt Bakugo’s hand in his hair, twirling the dark green curls around a finger, untwirling, then twirling again. He looked up to see Bakugo’s head leaned back against the frame of the bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Was I asleep long?” asked Midoriya.

“Only a few minutes,” Bakugo answered. They stared into each other’s eyes for a long time, content in a way neither of them had ever been. Midoriya’s hand was on Bakugo’s chest, and he could feel his heart beating beneath his palm. The sweet pine scent from the other night was there again, and Midoriya could have purred it was so comforting. He tilted his head upward and Bakugo kissed him.

God, I have missed the taste of you.

Bakugo pulled Midoriya closer and they were pressed together from lips to toes. Midoriya’s hand found its way to the rough blond hair he loved so much, and Bakugo’s grip on him tightened. With his free hand, Bakugo gently pulled Midoriya’s chin down to open his mouth. He held it that way for a moment and pulled back from the kiss. Eyes still closed, Midoriya whimpered for Bakugo’s return. Bakugo’s tongue flicked across Midoriya’s bottom lip, traced the flesh behind his teeth, and caressed his tongue. Bakugo let go of his chin and planted a soft kiss on Midoriya’s closed lips. As his eyes fluttered open, Midoriya softly said,

“Come back.”

“Say, ‘please’.”

“Please come back,” Midoriya obeyed. Bakugo growled low in his throat, put one hand on the bed frame, and used the arm wrapped around Midoriya to roll him onto his back. The hot weight of Bakugo’s body on his blurred Midoriya’s vision and he felt his erection growing. Bakugo went in for another kiss and Midoriya once again shouted,

“Wait!”

“No,” Bakugo said, and kissed him anyway. Midoriya squirmed out from under Bakugo, off the bed, and nearly fell on his way to the other side of the room. Bakugo slammed his hand on the wood of the headboard and said,

“Now what?!”

He was so filled with fire that Midoriya was momentarily scared. Seeing the fear in his eyes, Bakugo took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed.

“What’s wrong, Deku?”

“I don’t know what to do,” he pleaded.

“Get your ass over here, that’s what.”

“No, I mean…I…” Midoriya couldn’t bring himself to say the words. Thinking he understood, Bakugo chuckled and said,

“So, you’ve never been with a guy before? It’s not that different. Just—” then he saw the truth in Midoriya’s eyes before Midoriya flinched and turned his back to him.

“Deku, are you saying you’ve never been with anyone?” Bakugo asked with surprise. Even though his voice held no contempt or judgment, Midoriya felt small and ashamed.

“N…n…no…” he whispered, taking a step toward the door. He was certain that Bakugo was about to start laughing. Instead, Bakugo got off the bed and grabbed Midoriya’s arm, spinning him around. Midoriya stared at the carpet. He wanted to fall straight through the floor, never to be seen again. Bakugo tilted Midoriya’s head, encouraging him to make eye contact. When he still couldn’t, Bakugo demanded,

“Look at me.”

With no hesitation, Midoriya’s green eyes met his. Bakugo smiled his half-smile and devilishly said,

“You’re telling me that I get to be the first person to kiss every inch of you?” Bakugo stepped forward and Midoriya took an involuntary step back.

“I get to be the first to have your delicious naked skin against mine?” Midoriya swallowed and Bakugo forced him to take another step back. One more and they’d be against the door.

“I get to be the first…hard…cock…inside of you?” Bakugo had him pinned and Midoriya was seconds away from fainting. Leaning into his ear, Bakugo whispered,

“Don’t worry, little Deku. I’ll show you.”

Chapter Text

As if in a dream, Bakugo led Midoriya by the hand across the room. The elegant black bed seemed so large and dark to Midoriya he thought it might swallow him whole. Bakugo sat him on the bed and stood in front of him, his eyes never leaving Midoriya’s. He parted Midoriya’s knees and placed himself in the space between them. Leaning slightly forward, he brushed Midoriya’s hair to the side and kissed his neck softly. Midoriya shivered. Bakugo kissed him again, just above the first, and reached around to the small of Midoriya’s back. His hands slid under the t-shirt and slowly, gracefully, worked their way upward. The sensation was electric to Midoriya, who took a sharp breath inward and arched his back. A small movement, but Bakugo understood it for the encouragement it was. He pulled Midoriya’s shirt over his head and guided each sleeve off of his arms, one by one, then let it fall to the floor. Midoriya stared at the pool of white cotton on the carpet, amazed at Bakugo’s delicate movements.

“Is this all right?” Bakugo asked. Midoriya nodded silently.

“I need to hear you say it, Deku.”

“Yes.”

Bakugo kissed his forehead, but made no other move to touch him. He looked over every bit of Midoriya’s naked torso, drinking the moment in and decidedly taking his time. The hungry yet patient look in his eyes was more than enough for Midoriya to give himself to Bakugo entirely.

“Would you lie down for me?” asked Bakugo. Midoriya laid his head on the pillows and relaxed into the cool blanket. After a moment he wondered,

“Are you…are you gonna…gonna join me?”

“Do you want me to?”

“Mm-hm.”

Bakugo raised an eyebrow at him and Midoriya intuitively said,

“Y…yes, please.”

He climbed into the bed and laid on his side, far enough from Midoriya that they weren’t touching. Midoriya rolled onto his side and reached out to touch Bakugo, but stopped himself.

“Why are you so far away?” he asked. Bakugo smiled without holding back and it changed his face from handsome stone to beautiful porcelain. Midoriya’s heart nearly burst and a single tear fell down his cheek.

“Where would you like me to be?” asked Bakugo, the smile still plain on his face. Midoriya didn’t want to speak or move, fearing the slightest movement would shatter the moment and the soft, happy Bakugo before him would cease to exist. He reached an arm across Bakugo’s waist and pulled him across the bed in a swift, strong movement.

“Right here,” he whispered, and left his arm around him. Bakugo ran his fingers from Midoriya’s shoulder to his elbow and back up. He did this several times and watched as his hand traced the subtle hills and valleys of Midoriya’s muscles.

“What else do you want?”

Midoriya thought for a moment. He wanted so many things and couldn’t think clearly enough to put his desires into words.

“I want you to kiss me, but…I…I want more than a kiss,” he said honestly. It was the best he could come up.

I wish I could be as sexy and smooth as you are, Kacchan.

Bakugo gently pulled Midoriya’s head toward his own and kissed him softly. His lips were exquisite velvet. Then he kissed Midoriya’s cheek, his jaw, and finally behind his ear. That final sensation sent sparks through Midoriya and he let out a small laugh.

“That tickles, Kacchan.” Bakugo kissed him there again and gently bit his earlobe, lingering for just a moment.

“I want to taste you, Deku. I want every inch of your flesh on my tongue, and I want it burned into you so you never forget.” He pulled away to look into Midoriya’s eyes. Midoriya noticed Bakugo’s smile wasn’t as clear, but still there was a trace of it, and Midoriya smiled back.

“Okay,” he said. When Bakugo didn’t move, he tried again, “Please.”

Bakugo moved Midoriya onto his back and held himself above him, keeping them from touching. When they were in that position just minutes ago, Midoriya practically threw himself across the room in fear. He didn’t want to scare Midoriya again, so he stayed above him, not touching, and asked,

“Are you okay?”

“Yes,” he answered.

“Can I touch you?”

“Please,” Midoriya begged. Bakugo half-smiled and kissed Midoriya’s chest. He flicked his tongue across Midoriya’s nipple and they both moaned softly. The kisses turned to light nibbles, which turned to held-back bites as Bakugo traveled lower. Midoriya flinched in surprise, but did not protest. When Bakugo reached the top of Midoriya’s sweats, he licked the valley of his hipbone and reached for the edge of the fabric. He looked up at Midoriya to find confirmation in his eyes and kissed his belly once more. Bakugo pulled the pants away from Midoriya’s hips slowly and deliberately. Midoriya lifted himself just enough to help Bakugo pull them the rest of the way down. As carefully has he had taken off the white t-shirt, Bakugo guided his legs out of the sweats and pulled them off his ankles one leg at a time. They joined the shirt in a puddle on the floor.

Midoriya impatiently removed his boxers and threw them off the bed. The sight of his throbbing cock made Bakugo bite his lip so hard that a drop of blood landed on the inside of Midoriya’s thigh. He tore his gaze away to look up at Midoriya’s face, who was suddenly looking away.

“Don’t be afraid. You’re safe with me.” Midoriya remained quiet, silently panicking to himself.

“Do you want me to stop?” Bakugo asked. Midoriya quickly shook his head.

“I need to hear you say it, Deku.”

Midoriya was terrified of embarrassing himself and didn’t think there was anything Bakugo could say or do to alleviate the feeling. He forced himself to look at Bakugo and sat up slightly, propping himself up with his elbows. Bakugo sat patiently between his legs, hands in his own lap and eyes waiting for Midoriya.

“I’m gonna do something wrong,” Midoriya admitted.

“You don’t need to do anything at all. Let me take care of you,” Bakugo said calmly, but Midoriya was speechless. Bakugo carefully got off the bed and walked over to his closet. He grabbed a black necktie and stood by Midoriya’s side.

“Do you really want ‘more than a kiss’, as you put it?”

“Please,” he answered.

“Do you trust me?” Bakugo asked. There was no pressure in his tone and his patience continued to rattle Midoriya.

“Very much,” he finally answered. Bakugo told him to close his eyes as he covered them with the tie and secured the blindfold. He climbed back onto the bed and positioned himself where he had been before. Midoriya naked in his bed, blindfolded and vulnerable, entranced and empowered Bakugo. Bakugo gave Midoriya a moment to adjust and asked,

“Is that better?”

“It really is,” he answered quietly. Bakugo kissed the inside of his thigh and worked his way upward until he met the crease between Midoriya’s leg and groin. He braced himself with his left hand on Midoriya’s hip as his right hand wrapped around Midoriya’s shaft. Before Midoriya had a chance to make a sound, Bakugo licked him from base to tip and Midoriya yelled,

“Kacchan!”

He licked Midoriya again, this time much slower and with more pressure. Midoriya shuddered and Bakugo plunged his cock into his mouth as far as it would go, pulled it out and wet his lips, then plunged it even deeper down his throat. His right hand hadn’t moved, and Bakugo began slow movements up and down, his mouth and hand moving as one. When his cock reached the back of Bakugo’s throat, he used both hands to grasp Midoriya’s hips and anchor them into the bed so he could quicken his pace.

Midoriya’s body arched and he threw his head back, feeling the climax building inside of him.

“Kacchan…Kacchan…Kacch—” Without thinking, he grabbed a fistful of Bakugo’s hair and forced himself deeper. Bakugo made a short gagging sound but never stopped or slowed. The sensation of his throat tightening around Midoriya sent lightning all the way to his toes and he groaned uncontrollably. Bakugo was so full of Midoriya that he couldn’t breathe, and he knew Midoriya was close. He moaned with his lips still wrapped around him and the vibration of it sent Midoriya over the edge, bursting inside of Bakugo, who drank every bit of him. Midoriya thrust two, three, four more times and when he was empty he collapsed.

Bakugo slowly pulled his mouth off of him, licking all around to get every last warm drop. Midoriya twitched beneath him and could not open his eyes. He could not move, think, or speak. Moving toward the head of the bed, Bakugo kissed Midoriya’s neck, then lips, then gently removed the blindfold. Midoriya was so spent he did not even kiss back. A smile was all he could manage, and he missed the joyous look on Bakugo’s face as he pulled him into his arms and covered them both with a soft blanket. Bakugo reached up and flipped a switch, and the darkness enveloped them.

Morning sunlight woke Bakugo and he opened his eyes to find Midoriya looking down at him. For a moment, he thought he was still asleep, only dreaming of the beautiful man before him. When he remembered what happened between them was entirely real, his heart skipped a beat.

“Were you watching me sleep?” he asked. Midoriya nodded and said,

“I couldn’t believe you were really here.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Bakugo admitted and pulled him in for a kiss. Midoriya laid his head on Bakugo’s chest and Bakugo ran his fingers through Midoriya’s hair. Twirling, untwirling, and twirling again. They laid that way for a while, neither of them saying a word. Midoriya listened to Bakugo’s strong heartbeat and thought about how much the connection between them had grown. He had never felt this way about anyone before, and he was sure he never would again. Bakugo was it. He was all Midoriya wanted.

Bakugo played the memory of the night before over and over in his mind. One of his biggest fantasies had finally become reality and it was nothing like what he imagined; it was infinitely better. The most intense part of the whole thing was how he felt. He never would have guessed that his sexual desires would evolve into genuine smiles and thoughts of affection. He couldn’t remember the last time he smiled a real smile, and being with Midoriya made him want to grin constantly. The only problem for him was, he was not and would never be good enough for Midoriya. He was more certain of that than anything, and almost every moment they spent together Bakugo felt guilty in the back of his mind for involving himself. It was all he’d ever wanted, but he knew Midoriya well enough to see how hard and fast he was falling.

I’m a fucking selfish prick for what I’ve done.

Yet, waking up to those brilliant green eyes had changed something in him. He had spent so much of his life angry and disconnected from everyone around him that he often questioned his humanity. Being with Midoriya made him feel human for possibly the first time in his life. He knew he was going to screw it up, it was just a matter of when and how. Pushing the thought away he asked,

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving, actually,” Midoriya answered.

“I’ll be back in a while. Stay put,” Bakugo said.

Lying naked, wrapped in soft black sheets and kept warm by the sunshine, Midoriya patiently waited for Bakugo to return. When he came back he was carrying a tray of food with two cups of tea. He set the tray on the nightstand and Midoriya sat up in the bed to take the cup Bakugo was handing him.

“Where did all this come from?” Midoriya asked. The serving tray was filled with bowls of rice and miso soup, poached eggs, salmon, pancakes, and fruit sandwiches.

“I made it,” Bakugo said nonchalantly.

“Yeah, right,” joked Midoriya. Bakugo took the tea from Midoriya and handed him a bowl of rice.

“Why is that so hard to believe?”

“You? Katsuki Bakugo, King of Hating Everything, can cook a breakfast that even my grandmother would be impressed with?”

“Keep it up and I’ll never do it again,” Bakugo said as he took a bite of a sandwich.

“I think it’s hot,” Midoriya said quietly, and Bakugo smiled. The two of them ate in silence for a while until Bakugo mentioned,

“Shoji and Sato were in the kitchen.”

“Oh?” replied Midoriya with wide, hopeful eyes.

“They saw I was making enough for two people and asked who I had in my bedroom.”

Midoriya almost choked on a bite of pancake.

“So…what…what did you tell them?” he asked.

“That it was some girl from the Support Program,” Bakugo answered, staring intently at the empty bowl in his hands.

“Oh,” was all Midoriya said. He wasn’t surprised that Bakugo didn’t tell them the truth, but it still stung to hear the words.

“I’m not proud of it,” Bakugo said.

“Then why didn’t you tell them the truth?” asked Midoriya.

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Bakugo looked into Midoriya’s eyes and felt ashamed.

“Do I embarrass you?”

“No!” Bakugo shouted. “It’s not that. It’s just…I’ve devoted my life to becoming a Top Hero and Heroes aren’t…” he felt ridiculous saying it out loud.

“What, gay? I’ve got news for you, Kacchan: you are gay.”

Bakugo was speechless.

“I should go,” Midoriya said coldly and stood up to leave. Bakugo grabbed his arm and said,

“Don’t.”

Midoriya returned to the bed, a dozen different feelings swarming inside of him. He wanted Bakugo, and he was beginning to see all the complications that would come with him. Bakugo put the empty bowl on the nightstand and said,

“I need time, Deku. This is all so new and I don’t know how to fucking handle it.”

“I don’t really know how to, either,” Midoriya confessed. “All I know is I don’t want it to stop.”

Bakugo put his hand in Midoriya’s hair and pulled him in for a kiss. Midoriya hesitated at first, but gave in after only a moment and let Bakugo guide him onto his back. Their kiss deepened and Midoriya became aware that he was still naked. He wanted Bakugo’s skin against his and tried taking off his t-shirt. Bakugo half-smiled and pulled it over his head. The sight of his perfectly-sculpted body invigorated Midoriya and in one swift move he rolled the two of them over, putting Bakugo on his back. Midoriya straddled him and Bakugo was instantly hard.

“Take my pants off,” he commanded.

Midoriya obeyed and his heart raced when Bakugo’s seven inches of thick cock were revealed. For several seconds, he just stared at it. Bakugo sensed his perplexity and asked,

“Remember how I took care of you?”

Midoriya nodded.

“Then get to fucking work.”

With no hesitation Midoriya lowered himself between Bakugo’s legs. He bit the inside of Bakugo’s thigh and kissed his way upward. He licked all around the tip of Bakugo’s cock and put as much of him in his mouth as he could. Midoriya gagged and Bakugo pulled on his hair, lifting his head and giving him a chance to catch his breath. Midoriya grabbed Bakugo’s shaft and stroked it slowly as he leaned over to take him into his mouth once more. This time he handled more, but it still wasn’t enough.

“Um…Kacchan? Would you…would you stand up?”

Bakugo smiled and waited for the magic word.

“Please, would you stand up?”

They got off the bed and Midoriya got on his knees. He held onto Bakugo’s hips, licked his cock up and down, and drove it into his throat. Bakugo looked down and Midoriya’s eyes met his. Midoriya pulled away and asked,

“Is this all right?”

Instead of answering, he grabbed the back of Midoriya’s head and guided himself into Midoriya’s mouth, loving the sight of those perfect lips wrapped around him. Midoriya moved slowly, taking Bakugo’s cock in and out, sucking on the tip before plunging it so deep into his throat that his eyes watered. Bakugo pulled him into a standing position and practically growled,

“I want you right fucking now.”

Midoriya laid on his back in the bed and Bakugo retrieved a small purple bottle from the drawer of the nightstand before joining him. Bakugo put his face between Midoriya’s legs and said,

“Bend your knees.”

He licked the rim of Midoriya’s opening and Midoriya took in a sharp breath. Bakugo explored the inside of him, moving in slow circles as he pressed his face tighter against Midoriya’s skin. Midoriya moaned and arched his back, pushing himself against Bakugo to help him get his tongue as far as it would go. Bakugo backed off and kissed Midoriya’s thigh. His lips traveled higher and higher until they met Midoriya’s and he asked,

“Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Is it gonna hurt?” ask Midoriya, panting and shaking. Bakugo grinned and answered,

“Only for a minute, and then it’ll feel so good you’ll want me to stay between these legs forever.”

“Please,” Midoriya said breathlessly.

Bakugo placed one of Midoriya’s legs onto his shoulder and put a few drops from the purple bottle onto himself. He stroked his own cock, spreading the lube across his ample hardness. Bakugo guided the tip of himself into Midoriya and they both moaned. He buried his shaft deeper and deeper, slowing down when he saw Midoriya wince. Bakugo kissed Midoriya’s raised leg and watched as Midoriya relaxed, the pain on his face slowly changing to pleasure.

The sensation of Bakugo inside of him was overwhelming and incredible. Midoriya rocked against him, following the rhythm Bakugo had set. The most intense pleasure he could ever imagine began to build and warm, milky fluid dribbled from his cock. Matching the pace of his hips, Bakugo stroked Midoriya’s shaft. Midoriya’s back arched and moans were pouring from his mouth, one after the other. His Quirk activated outside of his control and his entire body was emitting green electricity. Bakugo was certain Midoriya was close to climax and he quickened his movements to hear Midoriya yell,

“Yes, Kacchan! Right there. Right fucking there.”

Midoriya called his name with ecstasy dripping from the word and Bakugo was close to bursting. Midoriya grabbed a pillow and screamed into it as a geyser of cum cascaded from his cock and Bakugo filled him with a gushing warmth. He collapsed on top of Midoriya who groaned at the pain of Bakugo exiting him.

“Kacchan,” he whispered, barely able to speak. Bakugo kissed Midoriya passionately and rolled off of him. They stared at the ceiling, breathing heavily and feeling the crushing weight of their lives being changed forever.

Chapter Text

Midoriya spent the rest of the weekend in Bakugo’s bedroom, feeling safe, adored, and blissful. It occurred to him that spending time being seen together would be lovely, but he decided to trust Bakugo and be patient with him, enjoying the secret world they had created. Midoriya wanted to be as close to Bakugo as he could be, and if that meant forgoing things like taking a shower together and watching TV in the common room in the middle of the day, it was a price he was willing to pay. Knowing the discretion would only be temporary made it easier for Midoriya to relax and accept Bakugo for exactly who he was.

For nearly three days, Bakugo felt more at peace than he ever believed himself capable of. He wanted so desperately to be worthy of Midoriya, but the more he opened up the more he felt he would never be good enough. Midoriya deserved someone kind and selfless, and especially someone who had the confidence to be seen together. Bakugo told Midoriya he needed time, but he was silently afraid that no amount of time would ever be enough. He didn’t know where he would ever find the courage to face the prying eyes of the world. All he could do was focus on the day in front of him and soak up every second that he was lucky enough to be where he was.

The sun set early that Sunday and the two of them knew their time together was almost over. When the dorm was quiet and everyone was surely sleeping, Midoriya would go to his own room and wake up alone. The thought squeezed his heart and brought on a radiating sadness.

“Deku, what’s wrong?” Bakugo asked, noticing the solemn expression on his lover’s face.

“I have to go soon,” Midoriya answered. Bakugo empathized and pulled Midoriya into his arms. They were in bed, where they had spent nearly every moment, drenched with the smell and taste of one another. Knowing his cowardice was the root of Midoriya’s pain made him angry, and yet, the anger was not enough. He wanted to tell Midoriya that he changed his mind and they could run naked through the streets together if that’s what he wanted, but no such words came out. All he could muster was a quiet,

“I’m sorry.”

I’m sorry I’m weak. I’m sorry I’m a miserable piece of shit. I’m sorry I roped you into this without considering what it would do to you. And most of all, I’m sorry that I still haven’t let you go even though I know it’s going to hurt you in the end.

“It’s okay, Kacchan. It won’t be like this forever and I can take it for a while,” Midoriya smiled. His compassion and understanding made Bakugo want to jump in front of a train. Bakugo moved so that the two of them were lying on their sides and he curled his body around Midoriya’s, inhaling the unmistakable scent of him that would be carved into his heart and mind forever. He felt himself getting hard, and Midoriya grinned when the firm thickness of Bakugo was pressed against the back of him. He pushed his hips into Bakugo who let out a throaty,

“Mmm…”

Midoriya reached to grab Bakugo’s hand and guide it to his hardening cock, but Bakugo resisted and said,

“I think you’re forgetting something, Deku.”

“Please,” Midoriya whined.

“Please, what?”

Midoriya was quiet, embarrassed to say out loud what he thought so clearly in his mind. Bakugo tore his hand from Midoriya’s and backed away so their bodies were no longer touching. Midoriya started to close the distance between them, pining for his skin to be against Bakugo’s, but Bakugo placed a firm hand on Midoriya’s hip and said,

“I don’t fucking think so.”

“Kacchan!” he whined again.

“Izuku Midoriya, you know exactly how to get what you want. Either do what you’re told or lie still and be quiet,” Bakugo said sternly, taking his hand off Midoriya. There was absolutely no point of contact between them, and Midoriya felt he’d go mad.

“Please, Kacchan. Please.”

“Please, what?” Bakugo was growing impatient. He wanted the same thing Midoriya did, but seeing Midoriya submit was the most arousing act he’d ever witnessed.

“I can’t say it,” Midoriya whispered.

“Then you don’t fucking deserve it. You have to earn what you want.”

Midoriya struggled to put the words together. His desire for Bakugo was disorienting, and all he wanted was everything. Closing his eyes and trying his best he finally said,

“I need to feel you inside of me, Kacchan. I need it so badly I can’t think straight. Please, please, please, Kacchan.”

“Was that so difficult?” Bakugo teased. He grabbed the purple bottle off the nightstand and thoroughly wet his cock. Bakugo used two fingers to spread some of the cool liquid in and around Midoriya’s tight entrance. Midoriya arched his back and Bakugo removed his fingers, then plunged himself into Midoriya who yelped at the pain. Bakugo put his left arm under Midoriya’s head and used his hand to cover Midoriya’s mouth.

“Be quiet, Deku,” he demanded. Bakugo brought one of Midoriya’s knees to his chest, creating the space to guide his shaft even deeper. Midoriya moaned and Bakugo heard the sound of pain intertwined with his cries of rapture. He bit down hard on the dense muscles between Midoriya’s neck and shoulder, eliciting a yell that would have been heard across the dorm floor if it weren’t for Bakugo’s hand stifling the sound. The pain in his shoulder briefly distracted Midoriya and Bakugo penetrated him harder and faster. He watched his cock slide in and out of Midoriya’s opening and threw his head back at the sight of it.

“Your tight little asshole feels so fucking good,” he growled into Midoriya’s ear. Midoriya responded by arching himself into Bakugo, encouraging him to go even deeper.

“Are you sure you can take it?”

Midoriya nodded vigorously and Bakugo dripped more lube onto himself, then hurtled his cock inside as far as it would go. Midoriya did his best to hold still, trusting in Bakugo to fill him with every inch. When Bakugo felt the base of himself pounding against Midoriya’s ass, he growled and gripped Midoriya’s thigh so hard he knew it would bruise. Midoriya’s powers lit up and the energy emanating from him triggered Bakugo’s. With both of his hands on Midoriya, he had to concentrate to keep his powers from escaping or Midoriya might not survive. He knew from experience that sex-induced explosions were the strongest he was capable of, and he hurt several people before getting a handle on it. That would not happen this time. He would not leave Midoriya with scars on his face or missing a leg.

Stroking his own cock, Midoriya signaled to Bakugo how close he was to coming. Bakugo took the hint and found the angle he loved, letting go the floodgates he kept his orgasm locked behind. Midoriya erupted and Bakugo lost his rhythm, bucking against him wildly and furiously until every last drop left him.

Keeping his hand on Midoriya’s mouth, Bakugo gradually pulled himself out of Midoriya’s ass. He watched as his lover squirmed with every inch that exited him, until the final moment when they disconnected and Midoriya yelped in disappointment at losing the full feeling of Bakugo that he loved so much.

Bakugo kissed Midoriya’s shoulder, neck, then ear.

“Good fucking job, little Deku.”

Midoriya felt pride in himself equal to none he’d ever known. Pleasing his Kacchan was enormously fulfilling, and he laid in the mess he’d made, satisfied and deliriously happy. Bakugo’s heart grew twice its normal size when he saw the soft smile on Midoriya’s face as he curled up in the blankets.

“I’m going to take a shower. Don’t move,” Bakugo instructed.

“Couldn’t even if I wanted to,” Midoriya said without opening his eyes. Bakugo watched him adoringly for several moments before getting dressed and walking out. At the last second, he turned around and saw Midoriya’s smile widen, sending unfamiliar sparks of love and affection throughout Bakugo’s entire body and soul.

By the time Bakugo had finished his shower and made it back to his room, Midoriya had fallen asleep. Rather than wake him, Bakugo sat in the computer chair and let his mind wander. His thoughts were scattered and he couldn’t focus on any one thing. He kept coming back to how scared he was; scared of the world rejecting him, scared of never being enough, scared of his feelings for Midoriya. Mostly, he was scared of hurting him. The idea of Midoriya crying and in pain made Bakugo’s chest feel like it was being ripped open. As incredible as Midoriya’s presence in his life made him feel, it was matched by the ominous sense of dread he carried with him daily. Bakugo couldn’t understand how he had let this happen. The steps that played out were easy to see, but the reasons behind them were unclear.

Bakugo watched Midoriya sleep, finding it unbelievable that the man he’d been dreaming about for years was naked in his bed. He was so used to feeling nothing but anger, the joy rushing through him was jarring. If it weren’t for his inevitable self-destruction, Bakugo would have thought he could fall asleep next to Midoriya for the rest of his life. He realized that part of the reason he was keeping them a secret was because he knew it couldn’t possibly last. Bakugo wished he was stronger. Midoriya deserved so much more than he felt he could give and it broke his heart.

What am I going to do, little Deku?

Bakugo laid next to Midoriya and curled around him, wanting the moment to last forever and knowing that it couldn’t. It was just after two o’clock in the morning, the ideal time for Midoriya to go back to his own room. Bakugo ran his fingers through his lover’s hair for several minutes before waking him.

“Deku,” he said.

“Mmm,” Midoriya smiled and pulled Bakugo’s arm tightly around himself.

“It’s time to wake up,” Bakugo said regrettably. Midoriya turned over and stared into his eyes, straight through to his soul.

“That’s okay,” he said. “I could use a shower anyway.”

Bakugo smiled and kissed him softly.

“Kacchan?”

“Hm?”

“I love when you smile.”

Bakugo looked away and said,

“I don’t deserve you, Deku.”

“That’s ridiculous, Kacchan. You’re incredible,” Midoriya defended. He sat up in bed and held out his hand. When Bakugo’s hand was in his, Midoriya squeezed it before letting go. He put his clothes on and Bakugo suddenly chuckled.

“Is this the first time you’ve had clothes on all weekend?” he asked.

“Yes,” Midoriya blushed.

“I’m a lucky fucking man,” Bakugo grinned. He stood up and the two of them walked to the door. They silently stared at it, neither of them wanting their perfect weekend to be over. Midoriya looked at Bakugo and reassured him,

“It’s really okay, Kacchan.”

“If you say so.” Bakugo tried to smile then kissed Midoriya, who threw his arms around Bakugo’s neck and returned his passion.

“I’ll see you in class tomorrow,” Midoriya said positively.

“Okay,” said Bakugo as he opened the door and stepped into the hallway. The dorms were quiet and there was no sign of their classmates. Giving Bakugo one last kiss, Midoriya left and went to his room. Feeling a thousand pounds too heavy, Bakugo softly closed his door then went to bed, completely unable to sleep.

Chapter Text

Combat training at UA University was a unique experience incomparable to any other Hero Program in the world. The immense amount of resources the engineers had at their disposal gave them everything they needed to create astonishing hypothetical situations. The university’s campus was bigger than many of the cities surrounding it and it was ever-expanding. Midoriya, Bakugo, and the other 38 students in the Hero Program went through extensive interviews, exams, and practical demonstrations before being chosen out of hundreds of applicants from all around the globe. Every one of the students who applied were in the top ten of their high school graduating class, had highly developed Quirks, impeccable records, and outstanding extracurriculars. A small number of the accepted 40 were recommended by influential members of the community or Top Heroes themselves. Shoto Todoroki was one of those students, and was accepted with a recommendation from Endeavor, his father and the Number One Hero in Japan.

Todoroki was exceptional at everything he set out to do, always carrying himself with grace and honor. He was not the kind of man who lived for the recognition, and believed he’d be equally happy leading an ordinary life. Many of the people who knew him found his neutral nature to be cold or condescending, or both. Todoroki didn’t pay any mind to the whispers and comments frequently aimed at him. He handled them the same way he dealt with compliments; he gave no reaction at all. There were very few things throughout his life that threw his focus or grabbed his attention, and one of them was Izuku Midoriya.

His green eyes and genuine compassion had Todoroki entranced. There were moments when he was sure Midoriya returned his interest, and moments when Midoriya avoided him so obviously that he felt foolish for the assumption. Accustomed to everything coming easily to him, Todoroki was intrigued by Midoriya’s apathy. This was especially true when he caught Midoriya watching him, seemingly just as interested in him as he was in Midoriya. Those instances happened exclusively during combat training and it had begun to affect Todoroki’s performance in the most important class of his education.

In the winter of their second year, there was an end-of-the-semester scrimmage that all 20 Hero Class-A students had to participate in. Each student was sent to an individual location with a sealed envelope not to be opened until they were alone at their destination. The letters in the envelopes disclosed whether they’d be participating as a Hero or as a Villain, with blue or red headbands to identify themselves. Sakura Matsuda and her camera crew would be quietly following the students throughout the entire exercise.

Todoroki had been assigned the role of Hero and was devising his offensive and defensive plans, standing at the bow of a large ship which was moving through a manmade lake in the middle of campus. He explored the boat carefully and when he was below deck he heard footsteps behind him. He quickly turned around and saw a floating red headband. Before Hagakure could take another invisible step, Todoroki shot ice at her feet and froze her in place.

“This isn’t over, Hero!” she yelled in mock outrage.

“Sorry, Hagakure. The goal is to immobilize or capture our opponents. It looks to me like it’s definitely over for you.” Just to be safe, Todoroki sent another blast of ice to attach her to the staircase she was standing next to. Before Hagakure could respond, Todoroki left her to continue searching the ship. When he was certain the cabin was free of other Villains, he returned to the main deck.

The moment Todoroki cleared the stairs, Tokoyami was on top of him and wrestled him to the floor. Todoroki rolled them over and froze his classmate to the deck. Tokoyami’s Dark Shadow could not be frozen and attacked Todoroki, who dodged the assault and countered with fire. Dark Shadow couldn’t withstand the burning light and retreated.

“Todoroki!” he heard Uraraka yell. He saw her boarding the ship with a blue headband on and was happy to have a teammate. She saw Tokoyami stuck in the ice and gave Todoroki a thumbs-up.

“Hagakure is immobilized below deck,” he informed her.

“Nice! I captured Tsu and took her to the containment unit on the other side of the lake. I had to stop her before she got to the water or I was done for!”

“Great job, Uraraka.”

“Thanks. What’s your plan of attack from here?” she asked.

He scanned the beaches and couldn’t see any other students.

“We could stay here and use the isolation to our advantage, but we might give the Villains a chance to form a group and attack in bigger numbers. I think we should disembark and go on the offensive as stealthily as we can.”

Uraraka nodded in agreement and Todoroki froze a path in the water to get them to shore, using his fire side to melt it behind them. When they made it to land, they found themselves in a lightly wooded area with good cover and no signs of their opponents. Quickly and quietly the two of them cut through the trees, keeping an eye out for red headbands.

They were coming up to the edge of the woods when Uraraka heard a whooshing noise and instinctively shouted,

“Look out!”

She and Todoroki jumped out of the way just in time to miss the tape coming from Sero’s elbows. Wasting no time at all, Sero shot another stream at Uraraka and she was stuck to a tree before she could dodge again.

“Yes!” Sero shouted, and Todoroki’s ice immediately covered him from his neck down, securing him to a tree just a few feet away from Uraraka.

“Sorry, Todoroki!” she cried.

“I’ll get the rest of them; don’t worry,” and he raced away, gliding gracefully across an icy path. Up ahead, he could see Ashido running straight for him wearing a red headband. Todoroki veered right and skated along the border of the trees. He knew Ashido’s acid was more effective in unobstructed environments so he used the trees to his advantage.

Todoroki saw Midoriya jumping from tree to tree as swiftly as he could, with a blue headband tied through his thick green curls and an unabated Bakugo pursuing him. Midoriya saw Todoroki’s matching Hero identifier and called out,

“I’ve got Kacchan; secure Ashido!”

Todoroki nodded and admired Midoriya’s confidence. He let Ashido catch up to him and get just close enough that he’d be able to surround her in walls of ice. As he threw the first wall up, she shot thick white acid from her palm before the wall had fully formed, and it melted instantly.

“Someone’s upped their game,” Todoroki noted. For a brief moment, Ashido’s gaze flicked to the left and she grinned. Todoroki looked in that direction and saw Mineta running wildly, throwing sticky purple balls at every tree near Todoroki. Ashido tried cornering Todoroki, planning to get him just close enough to a tree that Mineta could quickly secure him with only a few more throws. He darted and dodged purple and white projectiles so accurately and elegantly that Midoriya couldn’t help but notice.

Bakugo saw his lover’s attention move to Todoroki and he screamed,

“Nowhere to hide, Deku!”

Midoriya landed in the dirt and the second Bakugo thought he had him, Midoriya propelled himself into the air, passing Bakugo on his way up. Todoroki felt the ground shake and looked up to see Midoriya alight with green electricity, a brilliant contrast against the light blue sky. Mineta rushed into Todoroki’s peripheral vision and Todoroki froze him in place without hesitation. Bored with Ashido’s attacks, as impressive as they were compared to her typical moves, Todoroki’s left hand sent a blast of intense fire her direction. It caught her off guard for the single moment he needed to trap her in a prison of ice. Before she could defend with acid for a second time, he covered her hands and arms in thick sheaths of ice, the weight of them bringing her to her knees. Todoroki reinforced the walls of the improvised cell and went to help Midoriya.

Bakugo had blasted him to the ground in the middle of an open field and was about to throw a right hook, but inexplicably stopped halfway through the motion. Midoriya seized the opportunity and kicked Bakugo’s legs out from under him. With a second powerful kick to the stomach he sent Bakugo a few dozen yards away. Todoroki stood still, forgetting he was in the middle of combat, and watched Midoriya as he unabashedly ran full force in Bakugo’s direction. Explosions shot from Bakugo’s palms and he streamed across the clearing to meet him head-on.

An ear-piercing frequency suddenly took over the air around them and the three Heroes-in-Training collapsed. Looking for Jiro, Todoroki covered his head in a makeshift ice helmet to block the signal. She had gotten so strong since the last time they were pitted against each other that his ice gave him only the slightest bit of relief.

“I know you’re here, Jiro,” Todoroki said calmly.

Midoriya looked up with the little resistance he had against Jiro’s attack and watched as Todoroki fought against the sound, standing up into a defensive stance. Bakugo felt alarmingly overshadowed by Todoroki and the rage that coursed through him gave him the strength he needed to fight against Jiro’s Quirk.

“I’m on your fucking team, Jiro! Turn this shit off!” Bakugo yelled. In an instant, the air was quiet and the sudden release disoriented everyone who had been within range. Bakugo stumbled at the sensation then charged Todoroki with everything he had. Midoriya was running to help defend against Bakugo and Todoroki’s attention mistakenly followed his movement instead of the enemy in front of him. Bakugo crashed into Todoroki and pinned him chest-first on the ground, his knee in the middle of Todoroki’s back. He promptly ripped the blue headband off Todoroki’s head and used it to tie his hands behind his back.

“Eat dirt, Todoroki,” Bakugo growled before standing up. Midoriya stared at the two of them and found himself aroused. His lover’s dominance made Midoriya’s toes curl and he unconsciously bit his lip.

Running in the opposite direction, Midoriya went looking for more of his classmates. He made it to a rooftop in the pseudo-city and scanned the streets below. Having seen no one else, he jumped to the next building and continued his search. Before he could find anyone, Villain or Hero, he heard Bakugo taunt,

“Little Deku…” in a sing-song voice. Midoriya spun around and Bakugo was one rooftop away. “Come here,” he demanded.

“Ha-ha, Kacchan. Like I would fall for that.”

“I’m not playing around. Get over here,” Bakugo said with a half-smile.

Midoriya’s resolution was melting fast and he stuttered,

“Th...this…this is training and you…you can’t tell me what to do here.”

Bakugo laughed.

“Is that what you think?” he asked.

“Kacchan…” Midoriya whined.

“I won’t ask again.”

Midoriya sighed and crossed over to the building Bakugo was standing on. He stayed a few yards away and said,

“This isn’t fair.”

“That’s just too damn bad,” said Bakugo. He knew Midoriya would obey and it was magnificently arousing to watch him struggle. Midoriya took a few steps forward, hoping Bakugo would at least meet him halfway, but Bakugo didn’t move a muscle. When they were inches away from each other, Bakugo checked their surroundings for onlookers and determined they were alone.

“Very good job,” he smiled at Midoriya. “Now, give me your headband.”

Midoriya didn’t bother resisting; he was going to do whatever Bakugo said, whenever he said it. He carefully untied the blue fabric from his head and handed it to Bakugo.

“Turn around.”

Midoriya turned around.

“Put your hands behind your back.”

Midoriya put his hands behind his back.

Bakugo began to tie the headband around Midoriya’s wrists and leaned into his ear as he yanked the knots tighter.

“Don’t ever tell me ‘no’ again. Do you understand?”

Midoriya shivered and felt his cock swell.

“Yes,” he said breathlessly, leaning his head back to rest it against Bakugo’s shoulder. Bakugo pulled Midoriya’s arms back so far that pain shot through his shoulders.

“Try again,” Bakugo ordered.

“Y…yes, sir,” he whispered.

Bakugo kissed Midoriya’s neck, sending a chill down Midoriya’s spine all the way to the soles of his feet.

“You are such a good boy,” he growled as he pressed his erection against Midoriya’s ass. “I promise you’ll be rewarded.”

Abruptly letting go and stepping back, Bakugo leapt off the building. Midoriya couldn’t move for several minutes, breathless and hungry for Bakugo’s touch. When he felt mostly composed, he jumped over the edge and landed awkwardly in an alley, then headed to the meeting place for captured participants. It was quite a distance away and Midoriya took his time, thankful for the chance to be alone with his thoughts. The image of Bakugo on top of Todoroki was seared into his mind and guilt washed over him. His attraction to someone else, no matter how harmless, was not something Bakugo would handle well.

“You are mine.”

Bakugo’s declaration was a locked collar around his neck. Every day, Midoriya remembered his words and held them close to his heart. Nothing comforted him more than knowing he belonged to Bakugo. Midoriya wasn’t sure where his submissive instincts came from or what to do with them, but he trusted Bakugo to never take advantage, and to always praise him for his obedience. Midoriya felt Bakugo’s presence deep inside his mind, body, and soul, and nothing short of death would be able to tear it from him.

Midoriya kept a casual pace, enjoying the feeling of the headband keeping his hands tied behind his back. As uncomfortable as it was, it was the most public display of ownership Bakugo had ever committed. He would wear it with pride.

Before long, Midoriya was nearly to his destination and spotted a few of his classmates up ahead. Sato and Ojiro waved to him as he approached and Sato said,

“Really got yourself in trouble this time, eh, Midoriya?”

“Looks that way, doesn’t it?” Midoriya joked. Sato’s sugar-induced bulk had him twice his normal size and he towered over Midoriya, noticing his hands still behind his back.

“You know you can take that off now, right?” Sato asked.

Midoriya blushed and answered, “Oh. Right.” He rolled his shoulders forward and pulled his hands away from each other, easily breaking the headband.

“Is the game over?” he asked.

“Yeah, it ended when everyone started coming back to the base. The Villains won, and even though I’m happy to have been on the team, I’m sure Mr. Aizawa is going to have some intense words to say,” said Ojiro, his huge furry tail twitching anxiously behind him.

Uraraka noticed Midoriya and ran over to see how he had fared during the scrimmage.

“Sero had me taped to a tree in no time! I barely even got to play. What about you, Midoriya?”

“Oh…uh…Kacchan captured me,” and held up the torn blue headband.

“Aw, that’s too bad. I bet you lasted longer than I did. Todoroki had my back for a minute, but I was just too slow.”

At the mention of his name, Todoroki looked to see Midoriya and Uraraka discussing the results of the exercise. Midoriya had dirt all over his costume and across his face. He even had scrapes and bruises on the parts of his body that Todoroki could see. His curly hair was a wild mess of green and Todoroki thought he’d never looked better.

“Hey, Midoriya,” he said as he joined the cluster of students. Midoriya noticeably flinched and replied,

“H…hey, Todo…Todoroki.” He was practically shaking. Just then, Bakugo walked across the meeting area, yelling and bragging about his team winning, when he noticed Midoriya with Todoroki. He saw right through the fact that they were also surrounded by their peers and felt the need to remind Todoroki,

“I kicked your fucking ass today.”

Todoroki was unfazed and looked directly into Midoriya’s eyes as he said,

“You got lucky this time, Bakugo. I couldn’t think straight with Midoriya distracting me,” and he walked away with a smile on his face.

“Oh my goooodness, Midoriya! He was so totally hitting on you!” Uraraka squealed when Todoroki was out of earshot. Bakugo looked as if he might implode.

“I…I don’t think so,” Midoriya said.

“Don’t be modest! He most certainly was! Don’t you think, Ojiro?”

“I have to say Uraraka’s right, Midoriya; Todoroki is definitely into you.”

Midoriya blushed and Bakugo asked,

“So, what are you going to do about it, Deku?”

The question paralyzed him.

“He’s gorgeous; you should ask him out,” said Ojiro.

“Oh, for suuure!” Uraraka cheered.

“Well, Deku?” Bakugo asked again. Midoriya finally found the ability to move and quickly said,

“I’m not gonna do anything.” He looked away from Bakugo and told his classmates, “Let’s go see how everyone else did.”

Chapter Text

Secret kisses and passing gropes were all Bakugo and Midoriya could manage throughout the week. The building filled with students and staff and a quiet, private space was nowhere to be found. Even their bedrooms were dangerous territory, given the number of eyes and ears all around. Throughout classes and training, they didn’t go out of their way to avoid each other because it didn’t seem natural and they didn’t want to miss out on the small amount of time they got together, even if it meant they could hardly make eye contact.

When all school activities ended on Friday, most of Hero Class-A was in the common area, discussing their successes in training and their weekend plans. Midoriya and Uraraka were talking about spending time with family when Todoroki walked up to the conversation.

“Hey, Todoroki! What are you up to this weekend?” she asked. Todoroki barely glanced at her before speaking to Midoriya.

“I was wondering if I could buy you a drink tonight?”

Midoriya’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

“Me?” Midoriya asked.

“Yes, you. An American-style bar just opened not far from here. I thought you might be into that, given your love for All Might.”

Unable to say he was seeing someone, Midoriya was at a loss for words and Uraraka saw the terrified hesitation on his face.

“Wow! That sounds fun!” she squealed. Turning to the rest of the room, she shouted,

“Deku and Todoroki are going to an American-style bar tonight! Who wants to come?”        

Todoroki’s eyes widened and Midoriya couldn’t believe how quickly Uraraka had saved him. She was always good at reading him and he felt so lucky to have her in his life. He would thank her profusely later.

Kacchan is not going to like this.

Midoriya scanned the common area for Bakugo and found him in the hallway, completely still and staring at the three of them with such rage that Midoriya flinched. They made eye contact and Midoriya called out,

“Kacchan, do you wanna come?”

A few students laughed and Todoroki said,

“Bakugo? Being social and having fun? I don’t think so.”

Bakugo stormed down the hallway and said,

“Fuck it, I’ll go.”

Everyone was surprised, but in a moment their attention was off of him. Uraraka ran to change out of her school attire, leaving Midoriya, Todoroki, and Bakugo in an awkward cluster near the kitchen. Bakugo had calmed down, only for appearances Midoriya was sure, and Midoriya did everything he could not to look at him.

“I…I’m gonna go change,” he said, and practically ran to his room. True to form, Bakugo lost some of his control and asked Todoroki,

“You and Deku, huh?”

Todoroki saw the fury in his eyes and found it amusing.

“I just asked if he wanted to get a drink.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s all you wanted,” said Bakugo, rolling his eyes.

“Why do you care?” Todoroki asked sarcastically, suspecting he knew exactly why Bakugo cared.

“I don’t fucking care. I’m just making conversation. Everyone’s always up my ass about my bad attitude and I show one bit of interest in you all, and I get laughed at and questioned. Fucking extras,” and he walked away. Todoroki went to change into street clothes and passed Midoriya on the way.

“I’ll just be a minute,” he said.

“Oh. Um…okay,” Midoriya stammered.

This is not good. This is not good. This is SO not good.

Midoriya tried his best to look as boring as possible, wearing jeans and a white t-shirt. Unfortunately for him, there wasn’t anything he owned that didn’t show off his muscles or accent his green eyes. Over the past week, he had thrown out anything he wouldn’t want Bakugo to see him in, and was left with no choice but to look good on his outing with Todoroki.

Not with Todoroki; with my classmates. It’s a group activity, not a date. It’s not a date. It’s NOT a date.

“What the fuck, Deku?” Bakugo’s voice startled him. Just then, Uraraka came running across the living space wearing a very fluffy pink sweater, purple pleated skirt, and dark tights with dark boots. She covered herself in winter gear as dark as the boots and as fluffy as her shirt. Tsu and Ashido were behind her, already wrapped up in coats and scarves. 

Midoriya desperately wanted a moment alone with Bakugo to explain. He could see Bakugo’s anger growing with every second that passed. He never intended to accept Todoroki’s offer, but Bakugo would not see it that way. 

Todoroki joined them and Midoriya couldn’t help but appreciate how handsome and poised he looked in his olive-green sweater and black trousers. His hands were in his front pockets and he stared directly at Midoriya when he asked,

“Is everyone ready then?”

When everyone agreed, the six of them headed to the elevator. Just before the door closed they heard Kirishima yell,

“Hold the door!” and Todoroki put his arm in the way so the doors wouldn’t close. He stepped aside and Kirishima joined the group.

“American-style bars have darts. Who’s ready to lose?”

The girls giggled, but the three other boys were silent. Midoriya looked to Bakugo, hoping to convey his feelings with his eyes, but Bakugo never turned his head. Todoroki noticed and didn’t let it affect him. He was content with just spending time outside of school with Midoriya and was confident he could take it to another level given enough time, despite Bakugo’s interest.

He made small-talk with Midoriya on the walk to the bar and did his best to pretend he didn’t see how many times Midoriya glanced behind them. The girls and Kirishima walked side-by-side and Bakugo kept himself distant from everyone so he could watch the interactions between Todoroki and Midoriya. Every time Midoriya looked back, Bakugo childishly looked away, completely unequipped to deal with how he was feeling. Nothing like this had ever happened to him and he felt hopeless.

Go ahead, Todoroki. Just take the one thing I care about in the world, as if you don’t already have everything.

His fists were clenched the entire journey and when they arrived at the bar he had to shake his hands out to get the blood pumping again. Todoroki held the door for everyone and when it was Bakugo’s turn to step through he said,

“I can open the door for myself, thanks.”

Todoroki didn’t argue and followed his friends inside. The bar was dimly lit and American music was playing. A pool table was situated in the back corner with a dart board close by and a sign that read “NO ACTIVE QUIRKS ALLOWED”. A bartender stood behind a long black counter with several stools situated in front of it. On the wall behind him, nearly a hundred glass bottles of liquor and accouterments were on risers in front of a massive mirror, and a wooden rack held various glasses directly above the counter. High-top tables were scattered throughout the bar, dressed with cocktail napkins and nothing else. Todoroki was not impressed, but did not voice this after seeing his friends’ excited reactions.

Kirishima and Ashido rushed to play darts, Bakugo headed straight for the bar, and Uraraka and Tsu were puzzled by the pool table. Todoroki asked Midoriya where he wanted to sit or if he was interested in playing one of the games. The place was nearly empty so they had free reign, and everyone other than Bakugo embraced it.

“What’s that?” Midoriya asked, pointing to the pool table as the girls circled it. Before Todoroki could respond, Bakugo answered,

“It’s a pool table. You hit balls with a stick into those pockets.”

“Oooh, Bakugo! Would you please show us how to play?” Uraraka begged, hands clasped in front of her as she jumped up and down.

“It’s not like I’ve got anything better to do,” he said. He grabbed his beer off the bar and sat it on a table near the girls. Shrugging his leather jacket off, he caught Midoriya watching him and huffed, looking away. Midoriya loved how he looked in black, which was pretty much all he wore. He had a Punisher t-shirt on that Midoriya had seen him in for years, and his carefree idea of getting dressed to go out made Midoriya smile. Bakugo grabbed one of the pool sticks off the rack on the wall and started to explain the game to Tsu and Uraraka. Midoriya was about to walk to the bar when Todoroki asked,

“How about that drink?” as if he’d read Midoriya’s mind.

“Um, sure. Yeah. Thank you.”

They walked up to the tattooed man behind the counter and in English he asked, “What can I getchu, folks?”

Midoriya went to say he didn’t speak English very well, but Todoroki answered fluently, with only a bit of his accent lingering.

“I’d like a scotch, neat. Top shelf, please. Midoriya?”

“Red wine, please,” he answered. Todoroki raised an eyebrow and almost smiled.

“What? It’s sweet,” Midoriya defended. Todoroki gave the order and called out to their friends, asking if they wanted anything. Kirishima ordered a beer and all three girls wanted “something fruity”. When the bartender gave Todoroki the drinks he said with a grin,

“Tell those girls these are rum buckets and they should be careful,” then winked at Todoroki. The two of them carried the drinks to the table Bakugo had set his beer down on and Midoriya asked,

“Did he think one of them was your date?”

“I think so,” Todoroki said with a smirk.

Bakugo was showing Tsu how to hold the pool stick and Uraraka walked over to investigate her drink.

“It’s pink! Tsu! Ashido! Our drinks are pink! And they’re in little plastic buckets!” She took a sip of hers and squealed joyously. Tsu put the stick down and Ashido threw one last dart before heading to the table. All three of them were delighted with the rum buckets and thanked Todoroki. When they pulled out cash to pay him back, he waved it away.

“It’s on me tonight, ladies,” and they swooned. Bakugo rolled his eyes, thankful he had bought his beer before Todoroki took orders.

I can buy my own fucking drink, dickhead.

He noticed Midoriya drinking red wine and he smiled so big that he had to quickly turn away from everyone.

Of course that little shit drinks red wine. I bet his lips taste fucking magnificent right now.

He mentally shook himself and went back to teaching the girls pool. Tsu tried breaking and nearly dug a ditch into the green felt when she missed. Bakugo grabbed another stick off the wall and rolled it across the pool table. When Tsu asked what he was doing he explained he was checking to see how curved or straight it was before shooting. She racked the 15 balls as he had shown her and removed the wooden triangle that acted as the guide to setting them up.

“How’s that, Bakugo?” she asked.

“It’s perfect, Tsu.” His neutral tone had the two girls exchanging glances across the table. It was the closest to friendly they had ever heard him be. He went to the other end of the table and placed a 16^th ball on the felt in front of him. Leaning over the table, he pulled the pool stick back and shot the ball at the others with a loud THWAK and they scattered. With a smug look on his face, he handed the pool stick to Uraraka and said,

“There. Now you guys just have to hit this white ball at any colored ball and get the colored ball into a pocket. If you make it, you get to go again. Whoever made the most balls when the table is empty is the winner,” Bakugo explained then walked over to take the last drink of his beer. He carried the empty bottle to the bar and ordered another one. Midoriya involuntarily watched his every move, fascinated to see him so comfortable in such a particular environment.

“I noticed you never actually said ‘yes’ to my invitation out tonight,” Todoroki said to Midoriya, snapping him away from his thoughts. The comment caught Midoriya off guard, especially since he had completely forgotten Todoroki was there.

“What would you have said if Uraraka didn’t come to your rescue?” he asked, face completely neutral. Midoriya struggled with what to say. He wasn’t going to lie to Todoroki, but he couldn’t really tell the truth, either. Todoroki was quiet, giving him time to put his words together.

“I…I probably would have declined, but it’s not easy to explain why.”

“I see. That’s unfortunate, but not unexpected. Are you having a good time, at least?” Todoroki’s understanding was comforting to Midoriya and he felt himself relax. Deciding they could at least be friends, he answered,

“Yes. Thank you for the wine,” and went to take another sip, only to realize his glass was empty. Todoroki smiled and asked Midoriya if he wanted another, which he did. When he stepped away, Midoriya grabbed his wrist and said,

“Why don’t you smile more? It looks good on you.”

“I don’t usually have a reason to,” he answered. Midoriya returned the smile and let go of him. He looked over to his friends, all drinking and playing games. It had been a long time since they did something outside of the Hero world together. Even Bakugo seemed at ease, despite his earlier rage. Midoriya wondered if it was the beer or the pool that was having such a distracting effect on him. He wanted to ask how he knew how to play, but decided to save it for a private moment when Bakugo would give a real answer.

Todoroki returned with a glass of wine and a second drink for himself.

“I was going to ask the girls if they wanted another round, but I think they’re probably good for the night.” Uraraka was dancing with the pool stick in her hand, the game completely abandoned, Tsu was trying to play by herself with no luck at all, and Ashido’s darts kept flying straight past the board. Midoriya laughed.

“You’re probably right.” He wondered how many beers Bakugo had had and pushed the thought away, knowing he could take care of himself. Uraraka came up to them and loudly asked,

“Do either of you know how to play this game? Tsu’s playing all by her sweet little self and I’m just no good!”

“Sorry,” answered Midoriya.

“I’ll play,” said Todoroki, surprising everyone. Bakugo half-smiled and watched as Todoroki racked the balls.

“You know how to play, too?” asked Tsu.

“Just a little,” Todoroki answered. Bakugo approached the pool table and said, “Tsu, let us guys have a chance to play.”

“Ribbit,” she said and gave them a thumbs-up. Midoriya watched the two of them, knowing how competitive they were. If Todoroki had even a sniff of what was going on with him and Midoriya, he would do whatever it took to tear Bakugo to shreds.

“I noticed you didn’t tell the girls the real rules. Was that for their sakes, or do you not know how to play the game correctly?” Todoroki taunted Bakugo. Bakugo huffed and said,

“I’ll break.”

Another loud THWAK and the game was on. Midoriya anxiously sipped his wine, trying hard not to drink too quickly. After the balls were scattered, Todoroki was up and swiftly sank three balls before just barely missing the fourth. Bakugo wasn’t fazed and easily matched his opponent’s three. When he made the fourth shot, the white ball they were using to hit the other ones followed it into the pocket. He rolled his eyes and stood to the side. Todoroki collected the white ball out of a hole in the side of the table that Midoriya hadn’t noticed before. He placed it on the felt and lined it up to sink two balls in at once. They played that way for twenty minutes or so and Todoroki made the last ball.

“Again,” Bakugo said.

“Do you want to play, Midoriya?” Todoroki asked. Midoriya looked at Bakugo for some kind of reaction, but he was so focused on the game he didn’t even notice.

“Um, no. Thanks, though. I like watching,” he answered honestly. In a different setting, Midoriya would love to learn, but he wanted Bakugo to teach him.

“All right. I’ll try to put on a good show,” Todoroki said. Bakugo was laser-focused on the game and Midoriya noticed just how loopy the girls were.

“Hey, Kirishima. Could you call a cab for the girls?” Midoriya asked.

“It’ll be here in a few minutes. I called one a while ago,” Kirishima answered. “I’m gonna ride home with them, too.”

“Thank you,” said Midoriya. In less than five minutes, the four of them were leaving and Ashido sang in English on her way out the door,

“Sweet home Alabama...aaall summer long!”

The bartender laughed and shook his head.

“Have a good night, y’all,” he called out. “Do any of you boys need anything?”

Midoriya, Bakugo, and Todoroki realized they were the last ones there. Bakugo put money on the bar and asked for another one. His movements were more fluid then usual and his eyes seemed droopy.

“Do you really need another one, Bakugo?” Todoroki asked.

“Fuck off, Todoroki. I’m gonna kick your ass at this game just as soon as I take a piss.”

Midoriya agreed with Todoroki, but didn’t say it out loud.

Kacchan can take care of himself.

After several minutes Midoriya wondered what was taking Bakugo so long in the bathroom.

“I’m gonna go check on him,” he told Todoroki who nodded in response.

When Midoriya stepped into the men’s room, he thought it was empty at first. All the stalls were open and it was completely silent.

“Kacchan?”

“Oh, what could you possibly want?” he said from inside a stall. Midoriya followed his voice and looked in. Bakugo was leaning against the wall, head tilted back and eyes closed. His words were sharp and Midoriya cringed, but he took a step into the stall anyway.

“I’m so sorry about tonight. Can we talk about this tomorrow, please? I never meant to hurt you and—”

“I’m not fucking hurt,” Bakugo said as he opened his eyes and looked at Midoriya. “If you want fancy Todoroki with his fancy shirt and his stupid fucking fancy hair, I’m not going to stop you.”

“Kacchan, that’s ridiculous. You’re the one I want and you know that.”

“Is it ridiculous? You seemed pretty damn satisfied sitting with him and not giving a damn about me.”

“You’re drunk, Kacchan. Please let’s go back and talk about this tomorrow. Please.”

“I’m not drunk! Get the fuck out of my face, shithead. I don’t need you.”

Midoriya was on the verge of tears and reached out to comfort Bakugo, but he swatted his hand away and said,

“What are you crying about now? Fucking Deku, always crying. Just go.”

“You don’t mean that,” Midoriya cried. His cheeks were wet with tears and he felt completely helpless. Bakugo grabbed him by the shoulders and closed the distance between them. It was a lot like their first kiss, but Midoriya knew that’s not where it was headed. He started shaking and the tears fell faster.

“You know what? I do mean it. You’re nothing but trouble and I want you gone. Todoroki can fucking have you,” and he shoved Midoriya across the small room.

“Screw you, Bakugo!”

Bakugo couldn’t remember the last time Midoriya used his surname, or if he ever had. The sound of it was wrong and sent a terrifying cold through his body. He reached out to Midoriya and said,

“Wait, Deku. I’m sorry. I—” but Midoriya was already gone. Bakugo crumpled to the filthy floor.

Midoriya ran out of the bathroom, straight to Todoroki.

“What happened?” he asked, seeing the tears and heartache on Midoriya’s face.

“Can we please just go?” he answered, unable to look at him. He wrapped his arms around himself and tried desperately not to panic, but it was no use. He fell against a chair and Todoroki caught him.

“Our friend is pretty drunk in the bathroom. Could you call a cab for him, please?” Todoroki asked the bartender.

“Sure thing,” and he reached for the phone behind the counter.

Midoriya couldn’t breathe. He kept trying to, but his throat wouldn’t open and his lungs were locked up. Todoroki took him outside, hoping the fresh air would help. It did for a moment, but then Midoriya was no longer confined to a building and no longer felt the need to hold back, and he screamed into his hands as he fell to his knees on the sidewalk. Todoroki knelt down and rubbed his back briefly.

“I’ll be right back. I just have to take care of something.”

Somewhere deep in Midoriya’s mind he knew that meant he was going to find Bakugo, but he couldn’t move and he didn’t care. He sat on the ground and rocked himself back and forth as blackness crept into his vision, his mind, and his heart.

Todoroki went to the bartender and paid for everything. The man told him good luck with his friends and Todoroki thanked him. Calmly, Todoroki walked to the men’s room. He found Bakugo staring at himself in the mirror. When he saw Todoroki in the reflection, he turned around and tackled him. Todoroki rolled them over so Bakugo was pinned and said,

“Katsuki Bakugo, you need to calm down and get a grip.”

“Go fuck yourself, Shoto,” and let off explosions in Todoroki’s face. Todoroki blocked them with ice and slammed Bakugo’s head onto the ground.

“Knock it off, get yourself home, and when you wake up tomorrow you better apologize to Midoriya for whatever horrific thing you said to him.”

The bartender ran into the bathroom just then.

“Hey! Didn’t you idiots read the sign? ‘NO ACTIVE QUIRKS ALLOWED’! Now get the hell out of my bar before you blow the whole thing up. You heard me! Get out!”

Todoroki stared Bakugo down and Bakugo felt the cold determination radiating off of him.

“You might be a fair match for me sober, but this drunk you’re nothing but an amateur. Your ride is here. Get up and get out and don’t say a word to Midoriya. Not one single word. Do you understand?”

Bakugo didn’t respond. Todoroki got off of him and went to make sure Midoriya was still there. He found him exactly as he’d left him, curled up on the sidewalk and panicking. The cab pulled up and Bakugo stumbled out of the bar. He looked at Todoroki on the ground beside Midoriya and spit at his feet before getting into the car.

“Can you walk?” Todoroki asked as soon as the cab was out of sight. Midoriya shook his head. Todoroki called someone and said something, but Midoriya was gone and didn’t hear a thing. The blackness had taken over completely.

“It’ll be okay, Midoriya. It’ll be okay,” Todoroki said as he rubbed Midoriya’s back the same way Midoriya had done for Bakugo just days ago. A black car pulled up to the curb and Todoroki helped Midoriya into the back seat. Midoriya would have no memory of it, but Todoroki carried him across the parking lot, up the main steps, through the lobby, the entire elevator ride, and into bed.

Chapter Text

Midoriya woke to find himself fully dressed in his own bed. It was still dark outside and he looked at the clock to find it was 3:06am. He was disoriented and confused until he felt how swollen his face was from crying.

Kacchan…

His whole body hurt and the memory of his fight with Bakugo brought on more tears. A rustling sound made him sit up, and he saw Todoroki sitting on the bedroom floor, leaned against the door to the hallway. It looked like he was sleeping.

“Todoroki?” he called out. His classmate’s eyes fluttered open and he stretched.

“I’m here,” Todoroki said, standing up. He stayed on the other side of the room, giving Midoriya as much space as he could. “I didn’t think you should be by yourself.”

“Oh,” was all Midoriya could manage.

“Should I go?” Todoroki asked, concern clear in his voice.

Midoriya took a moment before responding,

“You…you don’t have to.”

“Do you want me to?”

“Not really,” Midoriya admitted. Todoroki wasn’t who he wanted to see, but he didn’t want to be alone. He felt he might start panicking again without someone around. “How did I get up here?”

Midoriya thought he saw Todoroki blush.

“I carried you,” he answered. Midoriya was just short of mortified. He put his head in his hands and the tears wouldn’t stop.

“I don’t understand why I feel this way,” he said.

“Do you want to talk about what happened at the bar?” Todoroki asked.

“Kacchan said I…he said he didn’t want me anymore,” and Midoriya’s silent tears turned to retching sobs. Todoroki’s suspicions were confirmed, flooding his body with the urge to hunt Bakugo down and beat the living hell out of him.

“Then he’s a fool, Midoriya.”

Midoriya looked at Todoroki, someone he had been practically afraid of not even three weeks ago. He scoured his mind looking for what he could have done differently that would have stopped all of this heartache from happening. Bakugo was hurting, too, Midoriya imagined.

Todoroki walked toward the bed and put his hand on Midoriya’s.

“What can I do?” he asked. All Midoriya wanted was Bakugo’s arms wrapped around him, and the image came with intense pain. He slowly took his hand out from under Todoroki’s and looked up.

“Does anyone else know?”

“No, it’s just me,” Todoroki answered. “I won’t tell anyone about the two of you or the fight, if that’s what you want.”

“Thank you,” Midoriya said. They were both quiet, Todoroki’s eyes never looking away. “Todoroki?”

“Yes?”

“Why are you here?”

“I didn’t think you should be left alone,” he answered. Todoroki started to feel he had overstepped and would need to go soon.

“Yeah, you said that. But why?”

“Bakugo might have tried coming in here and I—”

“That’s not what I’m asking,” Midoriya interrupted. Todoroki’s eyebrows raised and he wasn’t sure what to say.

“I don’t like seeing you hurting,” he finally answered. “I didn’t mean to intrude. Well, maybe I did. I’m sorry, I’ll go. I’m right down the hall if you need me,” and he headed for the door. Midoriya thought about stopping him, but he wasn’t sure why and stayed quiet as Todoroki left.

When he stepped into the hallway, Todoroki stared at Bakugo’s bedroom door and thought of a hundred different ways to ruin his night. Thinking of Midoriya, he ignored his violent urges and went to his own room. When morning came, he took a shower and found Midoriya in the kitchen with Uraraka and Tsu, who were laughing about the night they had.

“Todoroki, that was so much fun. Thank you for inviting us,” Tsu said. Ignoring the fact that he was not the one to invite them he responded,

“I’m happy the two of you had a good time.”

“Poor Midoriya thinks he caught a cold while we were out. Look at his puffy face!” Uraraka sympathized. Todoroki and Midoriya exchanged glances.

“Do you want some soba?” Todoroki asked. His three classmates chuckled.

“You’re always eating soba,” Uraraka said.

“No, thank you,” said Midoriya with a small smile.

“Where are Bakugo and Kirishima?” asked Tsu. Midoriya flinched, but Todoroki was the only one who noticed. He shrugged and went to sit on the couch. The three of them joined him, talking about watching a movie and spending their Saturday morning relaxing. Uraraka grabbed a fluffy pink blanket from her room and wrapped it around Midoriya, hugging him tightly before seating herself next to him. She was so happy for him after seeing him with Todoroki the previous night.

Todoroki was sitting on Midoriya’s other side, far away with his hands in his lap. Tsu was looking for a DVD to put on and Uraraka took the opportunity to make eye contact with Todoroki and try to convey with her eyes,

Now’s your chance! Make another move!

Todoroki understood and nodded. Uraraka’s heart soared and feeling she had done her job for the moment, she just smiled and turned her attention to the TV. Unsure what would be appropriate, Todoroki stared at his hands and tried to come up with a way to comfort Midoriya that wouldn’t be overreaching. He wondered where Bakugo was, and if he’d see them sitting on the couch together.

An hour passed and there was no sign of any other students. Midoriya had not moved from his blanket-cocoon, but found himself looking over at Todoroki every few minutes. He was desperate to be comforted, but they were sitting exactly where he and Bakugo sat the first time they’d curled up together. It felt like an enormous betrayal to be close to anyone else on that couch. Besides that, he was sure it would only hurt worse to have someone’s arm around him who wasn’t Bakugo. He ended up with his head on Uraraka’s shoulder and fell asleep.

“Deku,” he heard in the distance. He was surrounded by trees in the middle of a sunny day, and he kept hearing someone call his name.

“Deku.”

Where am I? How did I get here?

“Deku,” he heard again. He spun around looking for whoever the voice belonged to. There was no sign of anyone. He started running, the trees flew past him, his hair whipped across his face, and the ground beneath him began to crumble. As he sank into the earth he looked up and saw someone reaching out to help him. He desperately grabbed onto their hand but before they could pull him up, they let go and he tumbled into darkness. As the last shreds of sunlight began to flicker out he heard,

“Deku.”

“Deku, wake up!” Uraraka yelled. Midoriya’s eyes flew open and his heart was racing. He could feel sweat on his forehead and wiped it away as he looked around him.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Your Quirk activated while you were sleeping and it looked like you were having a bad dream,” Tsu said.

“Oh. I…I don’t remember.”

“Are you all right?” asked Todoroki, genuine concern in his gray and blue eyes. Midoriya smiled up at him and said,

“Yes, I’m fine.”

The four of them talked for a while before Uraraka and Tsu went off to enjoy the rest of their weekend. When it was just Todoroki and Midoriya, Midoriya cautiously asked,

“Have you seen Kacchan?”

Todoroki looked sad when he answered,

“No. He must have left before any of us woke up this morning.”

Midoriya said nothing.

“Why don’t you let me take you out to lunch? Maybe it’ll help get your mind off things.”

“Um…yeah. Okay,” Midoriya answered. Todoroki called the car service his dad’s agency sometimes used. The two of them went into town and had a nice lunch, followed by a walk in the park. Todoroki was kind, polite, quiet, and gentle. Midoriya found his presence very calming and enjoyable, and he only got lost in thoughts of Bakugo once. In the car on the way back to UA, Midoriya thanked him for the company and generosity.

“Whatever you need, Midoriya,” Todoroki said in response. They walked through the lobby and into the elevator where neither of them said a word. Midoriya stared at the metal doors, imagining Bakugo on the other side of them when they opened. He would apologize and grab Midoriya by the shirt, kissing him with more passion than any one person should be capable of. 

The doors opened and Midoriya’s heart was once again disappointed. He wanted to burst into tears, but was sure he didn’t have any left to cry, and sighed. Todoroki guessed what was going through Midoriya’s mind when the elevator opened, changing his demeanor from neutral to deflated. They stepped into the hallway and as the doors closed behind them Todoroki put a hand on Midoriya’s shoulder and said,

“I’m sorry you’re going through this.”

“It will be okay. Thank you, Todoroki,” Midoriya said with a smile. He decided to try and stay positive. Bakugo would be back, if not today or tomorrow, then in class on Monday. They would talk and work it out and everything would be all right.

We aren’t gonna hide anymore, Kacchan. Everyone will know what you mean to me.

Midoriya patiently spent the rest of his weekend in his room, doing homework and watching romantic comedies. As hurt as he was, and as much as he missed Bakugo, he looked on the bright side of things and was determined to be strong. He fell asleep peacefully Sunday night, looking forward to seeing messy blond hair and a half-smile.

Leaving the dorms, he saw Todoroki and waved.

“Good morning!” he said. Todoroki wished him a good morning in return and said,

“It’s good to see you feeling better,” he told Midoriya.

“Everything is gonna be fine. You’ll see,” he smiled brightly. Midoriya was practically bouncing he was so thrilled to see Bakugo. He knew he’d have to wait until class was over to talk to him, and that was okay. Midoriya had waited much longer for less important things.

Class was about to start and all the students were disbanding their clusters and taking their seats. Mr. Aizawa entered the room, straightened some papers on his desk, and began speaking. Midoriya couldn’t hear a word, however, because he was staring at the only empty chair out of twenty. The third desk in the far-left row was unoccupied.

Where are you, Kacchan?

“…and Hitoshi Shinso will be filling the spot,” Mr. Aizawa said.

Midoriya hadn’t heard the first half of what his teacher said, and when Shinso walked in and sat at Bakugo’s desk, he stood straight up.

“Midoriya?”

“Sorry, Mr. Aizawa. I…I didn’t hear your announcement.”

“Katsuki Bakugo transferred to the Hero Program in New York City and won’t be returning. Hitoshi Shinso from the General Program was chosen to join us in his stead.”

Midoriya’s knees buckled and he fell into his seat. Mr. Aizawa continued his instruction, having no idea the bomb he’d dropped. Midoriya stared at his desk, feeling the blackness invade his vision again. With every pounding heartbeat, the black crept over more and more of his sight and his mind, and just when he was about to faint,

“Midoriya,” someone whispered. He shook his head and looked up, Mineta waving a hand in front of his face. “Are you okay?”

All he could do was shake his head. Midoriya excused himself and went to the restroom. He splashed cold water on his face and stared at himself in the mirror.

This has to be a dream. New York City? Kacchan can’t be in New York City. He can’t be. I’m dreaming. I’m dreaming. I’m—

His thoughts were cut off when he saw Todoroki behind him in the reflection. He turned to face him and quietly said,

“It can’t be true. Eraser Head got mixed information and…and…” tears poured from Midoriya’s emerald eyes and Todoroki couldn’t bear it. He wrapped his arms around him and pressed Midoriya’s head to his chest, his hand entangling in thick green curls.

“I’m so sorry, Midoriya. I’m so sorry,” he cooed. Midoriya collapsed into him and screamed into Todoroki’s shirt. Todoroki held him tighter and stood still as he let out all the anger and heartache he had been bottling up. When the sobs turned to quiet hiccups, Todoroki said,

“Let’s get you out of here,” and led him to the dorms.

Once Midoriya was in his room, he stripped down to his boxers and climbed under the covers. He didn’t care what Todoroki saw or thought, he just wanted to hide in the dark until he could breathe normally again. He heard the door handle turn and looked at Todoroki.

“Don’t go,” he pleaded. Todoroki took his hand off the knob. As he backed up to the door and started to lower himself to the ground, in the same spot he had watched over Midoriya nights ago, Midoriya said,

“You can...you can come over here if you want to.”

Todoroki froze in a half-sitting half-standing position against the door, eyes wide and heart suddenly racing. They stared at each other until Todoroki determined that Midoriya meant what he said, then walked across the room. He took his shoes off and awkwardly stood next to the bed. Midoriya moved back, creating enough space for Todoroki to lie next to him. He lifted the blanket and looked up at him, inviting and almost begging him with his eyes. Todoroki climbed in next to Midoriya, pulled the covers over both of them, and held him close. Hours passed with neither of them saying anything, Midoriya crying on and off, and Todoroki more than content to be there. 

Something was up with Midoriya and Uraraka was determined to get to the bottom of it. Her very best friend was walking around like a zombie for days, not telling her a thing. The two of them told each other everything, so she knew that whatever was going on in his world had to be especially awful. Uraraka was surprised that all of Midoriya’s time with Todoroki wasn’t cheering him up. She could see how much Todoroki cared about him, but Midoriya sometimes looked like he didn’t notice Todoroki at all. His eyes were glassy and he often stared blankly ahead of him. It was breaking her heart to see him that way, so she came up with a plan.

“Come shopping with me, Midoriya! Pleeease. I’ve been dying to go and I would absolutely love company,” Uraraka told him at the close of Friday’s classes.

“I don’t know, Uraraka. I’m not really up for shopping,” Midoriya answered, barely making eye contact.

“Oh, come on! We haven’t done anything just the two of us in so long. For me? Pretty please?”

Seeing the determination on her face, Midoriya reluctantly said,

“Okay, I’ll go.”

“Oh, thank youuu! I promise it’ll be tons of fun. I’m gonna change! Meet me in the kitchen in ten minutes.”

Midoriya smiled timidly, secretly dreading the adventure. His heartache had been incredibly draining and every moment of every day exhausted him. If it weren’t for Todoroki’s comforting presence, Midoriya was certain he would have spent the last four days in bed. He ached for Bakugo. He missed his voice, his touch, his smile. All the years he had spent wishing Bakugo would smile, and as soon as it happened it was taken away from him. Midoriya would have given anything to be with him again.

Feeling unwanted was crushing him, making him feel exponentially smaller as more time passed. Midoriya thought he might feel that way forever, despite Todoroki’s promises that the pain would fade and he would feel like himself again one day. He didn’t understand why Todoroki was always there. Midoriya hardly said a word to him when he was around, and hours would go by like that with Todoroki sitting patiently. It made no sense to Midoriya, but he didn’t have the strength to talk about it. He had no idea what he would say even if he did work up the courage to start the conversation. 

Uraraka came skipping down the hallway toward Midoriya and he almost smiled. The two of them were headed for the elevator when they heard Todoroki behind them.

“Where are you off to?” he asked.

“I’m taking Midoriya shopping with me!”

Todoroki’s eyebrows raised and he looked at Midoriya when he asked,

“Are you okay? Do you want me to go with you?”

“It’s okay, Todoroki. Uraraka mentioned we haven’t had much time together in a while, and she’s right. It’ll be nice to get some fresh air, too.”

“I agree,” said Todoroki. “But, Midoriya?”

“Yeah?”

“I told you to call me Shoto, remember? You don’t need to be formal with me.”

Midoriya blushed and rubbed the back of his head.

“Oh, right. I’ll try,” he said. Todoroki smiled and told them to have fun.

“Byyye!” Uraraka yelled as the elevator doors closed. She turned to Midoriya and giddily said,

“You two are spending an awful lot of time together. Anything your best friend should know about?” and she raised an eyebrow. Midoriya felt embarrassed that Todoroki taking care of him was so obvious.

“No,” he lied. “We’re just friends.”

“Whatever you say,” said Uraraka, not believing a word of it. She would get more out of him later. After spending the day with her, he would relax and brighten up and the confessions would come pouring out. She was sure it was hard on Midoriya to keep such a big secret, whatever it was.

Uraraka drove them to the shopping center and squealed with delight.

“I just looove shopping,” she said.

“I know you do,” said Midoriya. “Where do you wanna go first?”

“Shoes! Then this little Hero boutique that Momo told me about. She said they have tons of glamorous costumes and support accessories. I want something covered in glitter or pink fur, definitely.”

Seeing her so joyous and light was medicine Midoriya didn’t know he needed. He was right about the fresh air, too; being outside was comforting, and Midoriya could feel some of the tremendous weight lifting from him.

Two hours had passed with Uraraka, which was the first time in days that Midoriya wasn’t counting down the minutes until he could sleep. The two of them were getting sushi for lunch when Uraraka reached across the table and took Midoriya’s hand.

“We’re the absolute best of friends, aren’t we, Midoriya?” she asked, concern heavy in her voice.

“Yes, of course,” he answered.

“Could you do me the biggest favor?”

“Anything,” he told her honestly.

Uraraka took a deep breath and said,

“Tell me what’s going on. I can’t bear to see you like this.” She was almost in tears. Midoriya’s eyes widened and he was speechless. He should have seen this coming. It was clear now that the shopping trip was an excuse to get him alone so they could talk. He wasn’t even sure why he hadn’t told her.

“I don’t know how to put it into words, Uraraka,” he said, looking down at his plate.

“Midoriya, you can tell me anything. Please let me in so I can help, I’m begging you.”

Before he could change his mind, he blurted,

“It’s Kacchan,” and immediately started crying.

“Bakugo? What about him? Is he okay?” She moved to sit next to him, never letting go of his hand. His grip on her tightened and he decided to let it all out.

“We…we were…together. That’s probably not the right word, but I don’t know what else to call it. I thought he cared about me. I thought he meant it when he said I was everything he ever wanted, but he obviously didn’t. He left, Uraraka. He moved to the other side of the world and just left me.”

Uraraka was quiet for several moments before gently asking,

“Did something happen?”

Midoriya nodded. “Remember the night we all went to that American-style bar?” he asked.

“Of course. Todoroki asked you out and…” she trailed off, realizing where the story was headed. “That’s why you were so nervous when he asked, isn’t it?”

“Kacchan got drunk and told me I wasn’t worth the trouble anymore,” Midoriya sobbed. He was so tired of crying, but the tears just wouldn’t stop.

“Fucking Deku, always crying. Just go.”

Bakugo’s words haunted him.

“What a terrible thing to say!” Uraraka was outraged. She’d never liked Bakugo or the way he treated everyone around him. There must have been good in him somewhere that only Midoriya could see.

“He was right, Uraraka,” he admitted, only just realizing he felt that way. “Heroes aren’t gay and so he wanted to keep us a secret and he should be with someone he doesn’t have to hide.”

“Izuku Midoriya! That is absolutely not true. First of all, there are plenty of gay Heroes, so I don’t know where you got that idea. Secondly, you are so amazing that it’s blasphemy for anyone to think they needed to hide you. Todoroki wouldn’t hide one single green hair on your head, Midoriya. Damn that Bakugo for doing this to you!”

Midoriya pushed his food around the plate.

“I don’t know what Todoroki is even doing,” he said.

“Oh, you sweet precious thing. He cares. Why is that so hard to believe?”

“It’s not just hard; it’s impossible.” His tears had slowed and he was surprised to find that he was starting to feel better. Being able to finally tell her was incredibly cathartic. “I mean, have you seen Todoroki? In what world does he settle for someone like me?” Midoriya asked incredulously. Uraraka put her arm around him.

“Anyone would be deliriously lucky to have you.”

“You’re just saying that.”

Uraraka giggled at his petulance. “No, I’m not. You’re strong, dedicated, caring, kind, and absolutely adorable, Midoriya.”

Midoriya let out a heavy sigh and looked at her. “Then why did Kacchan leave?”

She thought for a moment before carefully answering,

“I’d bet seeing you with Todoroki made him all sorts of jealous. Bakugo is always so sensitive about him, and I get it. Todoroki is stronger than he is, smarter than he is, sexier than he is. And, worst of all, he wasn’t ashamed to be seen with you. How could Bakugo possibly compete with that?”

“I…I never looked at it that way.”

Uraraka kissed his cheek. “You know, I really think you should give Todoroki a chance,” she said. “He’s obviously mad about you and he’s here. You deserve to be happy.”

Midoriya was quiet, taking in everything she said with as much trust as he could. He felt relieved and tried to be as true to her as she was to him.

“He is really handsome,” he said with a shy smile.

“Yes, he really is! It’s so good to see you smile, Midoriya! I love you so much. Please don’t shut me out like that again. I can’t do my job as your bestie if I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Yeah, okay. I promise,” he said.

The two of them spent the rest of lunch talking about boys and feeling blessed beyond comparison to have each other. They were quiet on the ride home, and it was a pleasant silence. Uraraka could not stop smiling and Midoriya thought of Todoroki. He knew that he would never feel about anyone the way he felt about Bakugo, but that didn’t mean he’d have to be alone forever. The revelation was liberating.

When Uraraka parked the car, she said to Midoriya,

“I’m so happy we did this. Thank you for letting me in.”

“Thank you for caring so much, Uraraka.”

She grinned at him and they headed back to the dorms. When they stepped into the common area, Mineta and Tsu were eating in the kitchen and Todoroki was sitting in a reading chair with a book. He looked up and could not believe his eyes when he saw Midoriya smiling.

“Did you two have fun?”

Uraraka raised her arms to display her many shopping bags.

“Sooo much fun! Right, Midoriya?”

Todoroki thought he saw her wink.

“Yeah, we did,” Midoriya answered. After helping Uraraka take her bags to her room, he sat in a chair next to Todoroki.

“What are you reading?” he asked. Todoroki was caught completely off guard by Midoriya’s change in mood and sudden reciprocated interest in him. He silently wondered what magical words Uraraka could have said to encourage such a drastic transformation so quickly.

“A biography on a Top Hero from decades ago,” he answered happily.

“Oh, neat,” Midoriya said.

“You can borrow it when I finish, if you’d like.”

“Okay, sure. Thanks,” he said, beginning to feel foolish and awkward. Then Todoroki smiled, vanishing all doubts from Midoriya’s mind. Even though he wasn’t sure where to go from there, or if he was even ready, he knew he wanted to at least try. Uraraka was right; he did deserve to be happy.

“What did Uraraka say to you?” Todoroki couldn’t help but ask.

“Oh, um. I told her about…about Kacchan,” he quietly answered. “She helped me see things from a different perspective.”

“Oh,” said Todoroki. “Well, it’s wonderful to see you feeling better.”

“Thanks. I really do.” Midoriya felt brave and decided to use his courage before it was gone. “Do you…do you wanna maybe do something together tomorrow?”

Todoroki smiled and his eyes lit up.

“More than anything.”

Chapter Text

In the weeks since Bakugo had gone, reality had set in and there was nothing Midoriya could do but go on with his life and make the most of it. He’d tried calling Bakugo, but his number had been disconnected. The emails he’d sent were never responded to, and Bakugo had never been one for social media. There was no way to contact him and convince him to come back, so Midoriya succumbed to the loneliness and defeat. He focused on classes, training, and work study. Uraraka had been spending a lot of time with him for study groups and movie nights, and Midoriya loved having someone he could count on. Todoroki was with them for most of their days poured over text books, and nights spent in front of the TV. Occasionally, Todoroki would invite Midoriya to dinner, dancing, and other one-on-one outings. Midoriya never felt pressured and, more often than not, went with him.

Todoroki was patient and understanding, giving Midoriya all the space he needed to be comfortable with him in his own time. Each day that passed brought them closer together and Midoriya often daydreamed about more than just dinner dates. He craved intimate touch and was unsure how to cross that bridge organically. He sometimes wished Todoroki wasn’t so respectful and would just slam him against a wall and ravage him. But, Todoroki was not Bakugo. Left up to Todoroki, Midoriya thought he might never even get a kiss. He felt it would be on him to show he was ready for the next step, something he’d never had to do before. 

Returning to UA one Saturday evening, Midoriya and Todoroki walked arm-in-arm up the steps to the lobby. Being seen in public with him was sometimes like dating a movie star, and they were both thankful to be away from the cameras and the penetrating questions of the press.

“Is there anything else you’d like to do tonight?” asked Todoroki as they stepped into the elevator.
            I want you to rip my clothes off in the kitchen and take me into your mouth until I scream your name.

“I’d love a glass of wine,” was all Midoriya said. Todoroki smiled, which he had been doing almost daily since Midoriya started giving him a real chance.

The two of them walked into the common area, Midoriya’s arm still wrapped around Todoroki’s, and Uraraka grinned at the sight of them. It warmed her heart to see them together.

“How was dinner, you two?” she asked excitedly.

“Incredible. Shoto always picks the most amazing restaurants.” It was still foreign to call him by his first name, but Todoroki insisted.

“Though we were nearly assaulted by a journalist,” Todoroki remarked.

“It only seems to happen when we go somewhere really nice. I don’t mind cozier settings, but Shoto is kind of a food snob,” Midoriya teased.

“I am not.”

“You definitely are.”

Midoriya sat at the island next to Uraraka and asked how her day had been.

“Uneventful. Ever since Villains have all but disappeared, we have too much free time and I don’t know what to dooo with myself.”

Uraraka wasn’t exaggerating; in the last few months, the crime rate had plummeted and no one was really sure why. Endeavor was at the top of his game, but still not as strong and feared as All Might was in his prime. Some people suspected there was an underground force coming together, biding its time until the perfect moment. Other people theorized Villains were dying off due to tainted enhancement drugs, which wasn’t too farfetched. The Quirk Boost epidemic littered the news, with overdoses and complications popping up worldwide.

“I’m grateful for the peace and quiet. I don’t know how I’d be able to spend so much time with Midoriya if I had to chase after my father every other night like before.” Todoroki’s comment made Midoriya smile wide, and he was equally thankful for the time they were sharing.

“You guys are just toooo cute,” Uraraka swooned.

Todoroki poured a glass of red wine and asked Uraraka if she wanted one. Midoriya took a sip of his and it was so exceptionally delicious he followed it with a large gulp.

“I’m never gonna be able to drink cheap wine again, Shoto.”

“Good. You deserve the best,” Todoroki said.

“I guess I will have some. Thanks, Todoroki!” Uraraka’s bubbly energy was always very comforting to the two of them, like having a kid sister around.

Todoroki poured her a glass and sat on the stool next to Midoriya.

“I’m guessing the two of you are ready to watch a movie?” he asked.

Midoriya and Uraraka excitedly agreed and the three of them went to sit on the sofas.

“I’m gonna go put something comfier on,” she said and practically skipped to her room. Todoroki and Midoriya were left alone and Midoriya’s mind once again wandered to intimate daydreams. Todoroki noticed he was somewhere else and asked,

“What are you thinking about?”

“Why haven’t you kissed me?” Midoriya asked, the words leaving his mouth before he had time to stop them.

“I want to give you the time and space you need to heal, so you don’t feel pressured to move too quickly,” Todoroki answered calmly.

“Oh. Thanks.” Midoriya was quiet for a minute before adding, “It sounds like you’ve thought a lot about this,”

“Every day, Midoriya.”

“Well…um…I…I don’t need any more space.”

Todoroki smiled and put an arm around him as Uraraka came bouncing back. Neither Midoriya or Todoroki paid attention to the movie, their minds focused elsewhere. When the credits rolled, Uraraka stretched and yawned before telling the boys good night.

Midoriya looked up at Todoroki, admiring the way his scar made him look like a warrior home from battle.

“You’re incredibly handsome, Shoto,” said Midoriya. Todoroki wasn’t the greatest at receiving compliments and simply smiled.

“I think I’ll turn in for the night, as well,” he said. Before Midoriya could respond, Todoroki took a deep breath and asked, “Do you want to join me?”

Midoriya’s heart began pounding in his chest. He had been waiting for this moment as patiently as a man could, and now that it was here he was frozen.

“It’s all right. Maybe another—” began Todoroki.

“Yes! Absolutely,” Midoriya interjected. They smiled nervously at each other as Todoroki took Midoriya by the hand and lead him to his room. Not accustomed to being unsure, Todoroki found himself shaking slightly, hoping Midoriya wouldn’t notice. It had been a wonderful surprise to learn that Midoriya wanted more than just hand-holding and being close on the couch. For the past several weeks, Todoroki’s thoughts were taken over by images of emerald eyes in morning sunlight, rippling muscles beneath pale skin, the unmistakable shape of him under the blankets. Just the sight of Midoriya’s slippers outside his bedroom door had Todoroki a little breathless.

He held the door open for Midoriya, adoring the sound of his bare feet on the tatami mats. Todoroki’s dorm was the only one decorated in traditional Japanese design, more evidence of his sometimes-daunting sophistication. Midoriya felt like an intruder in such an elegant space, but did his best to try to conceal those feelings. 

“I like to sleep with a little music playing, if that’s all right with you?”

“It’s your room, Shoto,” Midoriya answered, standing apprehensively in front of the door.

“You’re my guest and I want you to sleep well.”

“I really don’t mind. Promise.”

Smiling softly at him, Todoroki hit a button on a small speaker and the room was filled with gentle flutes and the sounds of trickling water. Midoriya was comforted by the melody and sat down on the plush futon. The blankets were a crisp white adorned with intricate red flowers that almost took the shape of flames. Midoriya thought it was perhaps the most beautiful quilt he had ever seen.

“Who made this?” he asked. Todoroki blushed and answered,

“My mother.”

“It must have taken ages,” Midoriya said, wide-eyed and impressed.

“She had a lot of free time in the hospital,” said Todoroki. Midoriya recalled the stories of his mother and apologized for briefly forgetting.

“No need to apologize. She’s home now with my sister,” he explained. A little embarrassed, he added, “She would really like to meet you.”

“Your mom? You…you told her about me?”

“Of course I did,” Todoroki said as he casually removed his shirt before folding it and placing it on his dresser. Anything Midoriya might have said in response left his mind completely at the sight of Todoroki half-naked in front of him. He was slender and graceful, his undeniable strength seemingly hidden within a man too slight to possibly be capable of the things Todoroki could do. His chest hair mirrored the hair on his head; half white, half red. When he carefully lowered himself to sit next to Midoriya on the bed, Midoriya was speechless.

“Are you all right?” Todoroki asked, placing his hand on the small of Midoriya’s back. The touch made Midoriya jump a little.

“Yes. Just…just nervous,” he admitted. Todoroki leaned over and kissed his cheek.

“Don’t be,” was all he said, then slid under the covers and patiently waited for Midoriya to join him. As shaken up as Midoriya was, he still wanted Todoroki’s skin against his, and he took his shirt off. With only a brief pause, he also stepped out of his sweats before climbing into bed. If Midoriya didn’t know any better, he would have thought Todoroki’s expression was as anxious as his own. 

Todoroki picked up a small remote from a low table near them and turned out the lights. Other than the moonlight in the window, they were enveloped in darkness. It was quiet for a while and neither of them had moved. Todoroki wanted to let Midoriya choose on his own when they would touch, and Midoriya wasn’t sure Todoroki even wanted the same things as he did. Unable to find the courage to do it himself, Midoriya asked,

“Kiss me, please.”

With no hesitation, Todoroki had him in his arms and their lips met. The kiss was unexpectedly soft and ended too quickly for Midoriya. Todoroki pulled away and Midoriya rolled on top of him, enveloped in the smell and feel of their bodies colliding. He lowered himself, closing the distance between every inch of them. Their second kiss was much deeper and Todoroki became dizzy with desire.

“Ow!” Midoriya yelped and threw himself off the bed. When Todoroki sat up he saw a thick patch of ice on Midoriya’s side, where his hand had just been.

“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,” he said as he reached out with his other hand to melt the ice and warm Midoriya’s skin.

“What the heck was that?” Midoriya asked, completely startled.

Todoroki’s eyes were filled with shame and sadness when he answered,

“I haven’t had a lot of practice controlling my Quirk in this…particular setting. I would have said something sooner, but I didn’t know if we’d ever get here, and I never imagined you’d kiss me so deeply. I was surprised and forgot myself.”

“Shoto, it’s okay. But, what do you mean you haven’t had a lot of practice?” Midoriya found it hard to believe that someone like Todoroki hadn’t had plenty of sexual experience.

“I’ve been training to be the Number One Hero since I was five years old. Even once puberty hit, there was no time for things like a social life, let alone sex. I’ve only been with a few men, and it was clumsy and awkward with most of them.”

“Most of them?” Midoriya couldn’t help but ask. Todoroki chuckled at Midoriya’s curiosity.

“I was in love once,” he answered. “His Quirk stopped him from being injured by mine and we were able to be passionate and unencumbered.”

“What happened to him?”

Todoroki was quiet for a moment before finally answering,

“He died.”

“Oh, Shoto, I’m so sorry.” Midoriya ran his fingers through the red half of Todoroki’s hair.

“I’d like to tell you about him and what happened someday, but tonight I only want to think of you. Lie next to me and let me hold you like I’ve been dying to for months.”

Midoriya blushed, but Todoroki didn’t see it in the dark.

“Okay,” and he let Todoroki wrap his arms around him.

Chapter Text

“Katsuki, wake up. Someone is knocking on the door and it doesn’t sound like they’re going away.”

“Just tell them to go fuck themselves, Brit,” Bakugo said without opening his eyes. He rolled onto his stomach and put the pillow over his head, wanting to stay in bed for pretty much ever.

“Tell them yourself or listen to them knock, I don’t care,” Britany said as she laughed, scrolling through social media accounts on her phone. Britany Jones was a student at the UA University in New York City, Bakugo’s unfortunate new home. She was in the General Program and, while they fucked regularly, she and Bakugo were just friends. Neither one of them ever expected to tolerate each other for much more than drinking and sex. For the most part, Britany couldn’t stand people any more than Bakugo could.

Somehow, over the weeks since he’d arrived in the shit pile of New York, he’d confided in her and she in him. Fluent in Japanese, Britany was the closest thing to home that Bakugo had and they found themselves spending nearly every day together. She didn’t know it, but the biggest reason he was into er was her astonishing resemblance to Midoriya. It certainly wasn’t a romantic companionship, but it was the only companionship either of them had or wanted to have.

“They’re still knocking, Katsuki.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Bakugo said, throwing the blankets off of himself and stomping to the door. “Who is it and what the fuck do you want?” he asked, practically ripping the door open.

Sakura Matsuda and a cameraman stood in the hallway of his apartment building and Bakugo immediately closed the door in their faces.

“Bakugo, wait! We just have a few quick questions. Please!”

Through the door he yelled,

“You weren’t interested in me before, what the fuck do you have to say to me now?”

Camera rolling all the while, Sakura said,

“We’ll buy you and your girlfriend a few drinks if you come into town and talk to us.”

Britany laughed hysterically, at both the “girlfriend” remark and the bribery. Bakugo sent her dagger eyes and she shrugged while saying,

“Free drinks, dude. What could it hurt?”

Bakugo rolled his eyes, huffed, and shouted,

“I’ll be down in ten minutes and you’re buying top-shelf, plus lunch.”

“You won’t regret it!” Sakura said, absolutely giddy to find her research on his new life to be so helpful.

Bakugo and Britany got dressed and met Sakura on the sidewalk near the main entrance. He would never be used to the hot garbage smell of the city and nearly changed his mind about the interview just to get away from it. Before Britany could hail a cab, Sakura and the cameraman gestured to a car meant to take them to wherever the fuck the waste of time was going to take place. The moment they were all seated and the door was closed, the cameraman turned around in the passenger seat, pointing the camera at them with the little red light on, indicating he was actively recording.

“I need a drink if you’re going to have that fucking thing in my face,” Bakugo said, looking away. The cameraman looked at Sakura who made an approving face and he faced forward, putting the enormous camera in his lap. Britany sat in the middle of the backseat, thoroughly enjoying her friend’s discomfort and impatience. It reminded her of herself, which was somehow a comforting thought rather than an insulting one.

Pulling up to some hipster joint at the corner of Dumb-Ass Americans Ave. and This Place is Disgusting Dr., the four of them got out of the car and headed inside. One look at the explosion of color in the restaurant and the cartoonish way all the employees were dressed and Bakugo asked,

“Did you pick this place to piss me off on purpose, or are you just stupid?”

Sakura only laughed and the hostess led them to a table with a small “reserved” sign on it.

“Your super awesome server will be with you in the shortest second ever! Enjoy!” the hostess sang.

Are you fucking kidding me with this?

They settled in and their drink orders were taken by a young woman in a rainbow jumper and a fuzzy orange alien antennae headband. Bakugo was positive that Sakura’s choice of meeting place was to ensure he’d be an absolute asshole on camera. She must have decided to play into his personality instead of avoiding it, and he didn’t give a shit. After one large gulp of his craft beer, Bakugo asserted,

“Get on with it.”

Britany leaned back with her red wine, flipping her curly green hair over her shoulder, ready to enjoy the show that their conversation would certainly turn into. Sakura asked several pretty standard questions about why Bakugo left, how his life was in The Big Apple, and what was the deal between him and Britany. Right when he was convinced everything was almost over and it hadn’t been as bad as he thought it would be, she dropped the big question on him.

“So, what happened in Time Square two weeks ago? And, how have you found life since the incident?”

Recalling the day he saved thirty-something people from a psychotic Villain with a melting Quirk, he answered,

“It wasn’t as big of a deal as everyone keeps saying and the only thing about life that’s changed is that people keep fucking asking me about it.”

His beer was empty and he ordered another round for both himself and Britany. Bakugo was genuinely tired of the attention surrounding what happened. Everyone kept thanking him and badgering him for autographs and selfies for their Instagram. He always turned them down, finding the entire thing excessive and ridiculous.

“Is it true you switched from UA’s Hero Program to their General Program?” Sakura asked.

“Yeah, so fucking what?”

“If you’re no longer interested in being a Hero, what prompted you to save all those people?”

“In a city with, I don’t know, eleven million people in it, everyone was just standing around with their thumbs up their asses waiting to get turned into a puddle of human goo by that fucking whack job.”

After a brief silence Sakura continued,

“How do you feel about the ‘Be More Like Katsuki’ movement that’s developed since the attack?”

Bakugo knew what she was referring to and the question pissed him off more than any of the others.

“Do I look like a fucking role model to you? I’m not a Hero, I’m never going to be a Hero, and all of these mindless fucking people need to grow some balls and take care of their own shit.” Bakugo stood abruptly before saying, “I’m done with this. Knock on my door again and I’ll fly to Japan myself to just blow your fucking house up.”

Britany laughed, flipped off the camera, and followed him out the door. Knowing better than to question him, and honestly not wanting to, she followed him silently as he stormed down the street. 

After a few blocks, Bakugo’s pace slowed, but his mind was still racing. He couldn’t believe he let that freak show of a woman bribe him into talking. The whole thing would be comic relief for her stupid project on Hero Class-A, something he had been more than happy to get away from. While there was plenty of things he missed about his home country, being followed around by Sakura’s recording slaves was not one of them.

The worst part was that Midoriya would see. Bakugo’s plan had been to move away and never be heard from again, leaving Midoriya to live a life not bogged down by his bullshit. He wasn’t good at seeing things from others’ perspectives, but he knew Midoriya needed to be as far away from him as possible. The fact that Midoriya was likely heartbroken was something Bakugo had to ignore. It was for Midoriya’s own good.

Yet, he missed him. He missed the way Midoriya made him feel almost good enough. He missed the twirling of Midoriya’s green curls in his fingers. Mostly, he missed that ridiculous smile. Nothing in the world was as familiar, warm, or invigorating as Midoriya’s smile. They had been in each other’s lives almost daily for fifteen years. For him to suddenly be on the other side of the planet often felt like Bakugo was missing a limb. Despite all the pain in his heart, he prayed for Midoriya to find peace without him and be happy.

“You wanna get a cab?” Britany asked.

“Walking is fine,” he answered. “Thanks.”

“You’re nuts, but all right. See you tomorrow?”

“Sure, whatever.”

Bakugo didn’t turn around as Britany stepped to the curb and waved her arm out. Instead, he stared at the sidewalk until it was too crowded and he had to look ahead of him to weave in and out of the pedestrians. Less than fifteen minutes later he heard a young woman squeal,

“OMG, it’s Katsuki! Hey, Katsuki! Can we get a picture with you?” as she ran right in front of him. She looked about his age and was wearing skinny jeans and a cropped sweater. Her dyed-blonde hair fell past her waist and her phone was already in Bakugo’s face recording. Coming up behind her was obviously a friend of hers, dressed nearly identically with a matching phone.

“Fuck it. Fine,” Bakugo grumbled in English. He didn’t like to talk about it, but he spent every summer in the US for most of his childhood. When he was a particularly difficult kid to deal with, his parents sent him to Michigan where an uncle of his lived. They weren’t the worst memories of his life, and he was grateful for the lack of a language barrier when he moved to New York.

The two women swooned at Bakugo’s arrogance and stood on either side of him while he crossed his arms and huffed.

Fucking American women.

“Thanks, Katsuki!” they yelled together as he walked away. He didn’t know it at the time, but that one picture was about to change his life. The girls were both major influencers, posting the photo within seconds of taking it. The caption read, “Katsuki, the Man with No Give-a-Damn. #bemorelikekatsuki” and the internet blew up with it before the day had ended.

Chapter Text

Midoriya was pleasantly surprised to learn that not all sex had a power dynamic like the one between him and Bakugo. After only a few intimate nights, Todoroki told him he didn’t have to say “please” for everything, and he didn’t really like being called “sir”. While he missed the sense of fulfillment and pride he’d gotten out of obeying, Midoriya was thoroughly enjoying the softer side of things. The two of them had managed to get the ice and fire situation mostly under control, and as a result their time together was escalating rapidly. It wasn’t as passionate as his sex with Bakugo, but it was comforting and he loved the closeness he felt with Todoroki.

There were a few mornings when Midoriya woke up expecting to see Bakugo lying next to him and was visibly startled by Todoroki’s presence. Being the understanding person Todoroki was, he consoled Midoriya rather than be offended. What he didn’t tell Midoriya was how sad he was that nothing he did could erase the pain Bakugo had caused. He wondered if Midoriya would ever be able to fully, truly let him in. If he could do that, Todoroki would give anything to see him joyous and unburdened. For now, all he could do was be patient and compassionate to the best of his abilities and hope Midoriya’s walls would lower someday.

It had been nearly two months since Bakugo transferred, giving Midoriya ample time to center himself and be closer with his lover. As much time as he spent with Todoroki, he often wondered where they stood, what their future might look like, or if they even had a future together. He decided to finally work up the nerve to have that conversation, even if he felt cliché and juvenile.

The two of them were alone in the hallway heading to Todoroki’s room, both exhausted from combat training and extremely relieved that it was time to turn in for the night. Midoriya had been planning to broach the subject of “them” and he was growing impatient waiting for the perfect moment. When Todoroki opened his bedroom door, Midoriya couldn’t even wait until they were inside before he asked,

“Am I…you know…uh…your boyfriend?”

Todoroki laughed, which he seldom ever did, and pulled Midoriya in for a kiss.

“Of course you are. What else would you be?”

“We’ve just…just never talked about it,” Midoriya pointed out as they entered the room.

“I didn’t realize we were supposed to.”

Sitting across from Midoriya on the futon, Todoroki saw in his eyes that he had more to say. He patiently waited, giving him his undivided attention. Midoriya collected his thoughts and did his best to articulate them.

“Do you…see us as a fleeting thing? Or…”

“I certainly hope not,” Todoroki answered calmly. “I very much enjoy our time together, and I don’t imagine that changing.” He was quiet for a few moments before adding, “Do you?”

“I…I’m not sure,” Midoriya answered honestly. “You’re the first boyfriend I’ve ever had.”

I cannot believe I just called him my boyfriend.

“Does that affect whether or not you see us remaining together?” asked Todoroki.

“I just…don’t know what to think or expect.”

“I see.” Todoroki used the opportunity to voice his own concerns. “What do you suppose would happen if Bakugo returned?”

Midoriya froze, already wanting to cry at just the mention of his name. It was unclear to him whether Bakugo never coming back was worse or better than if he returned. Imagining the latter made Midoriya ache in a way he hadn’t felt in weeks. He was finally able to breathe normally again, and Todoroki’s question, however understandable, was a huge blow to Midoriya’s heart.

“He’s not coming back, Shoto.” Midoriya stared at his hands in his lap.

“And, if he did?”

When Midoriya could not come up with a response, Todoroki felt a sudden emptiness deep within him. He hadn’t cared about someone since Eiji, whose death had convinced him he’d never love again and would likely die alone. The feelings he had for Midoriya were remarkably close to those he had for his deceased partner. Now, he felt like nothing more than a placeholder for Bakugo, a thought that both enraged him and crushed him.

“Shoto…”

“I understand,” Todoroki said coldly. The smile in his voice that Midoriya had grown so fond of had evaporated.

“Really? Because I don’t. If Kac—” Midoriya’s mouth went dry. “If Bakugo walked through that door right now, I have no…no clue what I would do. I know I would cry uncontrollably and run away. After that,” and Midoriya shrugged, an expression of defeat clear on his face. The two of them were silent as they processed their different but equally painful heartaches. Todoroki was the first to speak when he said,

“You deserve better than he could ever give you. I can give you the entire world, Midoriya, and that’s exactly what I would do if you would just give me the chance.”

“I’m trying, Shoto. I don’t wanna lose you. Please believe that,” Midoriya pleaded. He undressed, climbed under the crisp white covers, and shined his irresistibly green eyes at Todoroki, who suddenly could not think of anything he wanted more than to make delicious love to his beautiful boyfriend. 

Todoroki’s clothes were off in five seconds flat, giving Midoriya a perfect view from the bed. His six-feet-two-inches always made Midoriya feel incredibly safe and secure, especially compared to the five-feet-nine-inches that he was typically self-conscious about. Todoroki loved how small Midoriya was; it made him feel all the more like his protector. He laid next to Midoriya, playing with the soft, dark hair on his chest. There was only a small patch of it across Midoriya’s breastbone, but Todoroki found himself petting it often. Kissing him softly, Todoroki’s hand crept farther and farther down Midoriya’s torso until he felt the waistband of his boxers. His fingers slid underneath the fabric and wrapped around Midoriya’s shaft, delighted to find him as hard as Todoroki needed him to be. Midoriya shifted onto his back and Todoroki moved toward the foot of the bed, covering himself entirely with the blanket. He relished the way Midoriya breathed so heavily when he couldn’t see what his lover was up to. The anticipation thrilled them both, and Todoroki took his time. Stroking Midoriya slowly, Todoroki licked the edge of his tip, tracing the soft fleshy line in slow, careful circles. A faint moan came from outside the darkness beneath the covers and Todoroki smiled to himself.

Never breaking the rhythm of his strokes, Todoroki wet his lips and gently sucked on the head of Midoriya’s cock. Midoriya tilted his hips, asking for more, but Todoroki was enjoying the slow game and wasn’t ready to give him what he wanted yet. He tightened his grip ever so slightly and quickened his pace, moving his mouth down only an inch further. When he was satisfied with Midoriya’s obvious impatience, Todoroki wrapped his lips around the next two inches and had half of his lover wet.

“Shoto…”

The sound of his name pouring out of such sweet, plump lips was enough for Todoroki to plunge every last bit of Midoriya’s hardness into his mouth. He made sure all of him was dripping with saliva, threw the blankets off of himself, and straddled Midoriya. Leaning down for a kiss, he guided the hard, wet cock into himself. Inch by glorious inch he took Midoriya in.

Being enveloped by Todoroki was possibly the greatest sensation Midoriya would ever feel. It was so entirely different from being filled himself, and he loved the sight of his cock slowly entering the deepest part of Todoroki. He was the perfect size to gratify Todoroki’s desperate desire to be taken, without ever being too much. Todoroki rocked himself until his ass met the very base of Midoriya, then he held entirely still. They stared into each other’s eyes, neither of them moving a muscle. Without warning, Todoroki clenched, tightening himself around Midoriya’s cock.

“God, I love when you do that. The inside of you is perfect…so fucking perfect…”

Never breaking eye contact, Todoroki thrust against Midoriya deep and fast. Midoriya spit in his hand and stroked Todoroki quickly, encouraging him to move even faster. Todoroki’s head went skyward, his back arched, and he moaned softly.

“Midoriya, I’m going to come…I’m going to—”

Midoriya grabbed Todoroki by the hips and jerked him to a stop, carefully but quickly exiting him.

“I’m not done yet, Shoto,” he said with a grin. Todoroki was flustered, but not surprised; Midoriya had a penchant for halting climax to prolong the fun. He pulled Todoroki close to him so they were chest-to-chest and kissed him passionately. Brushing the white side of Todoroki’s hair to the side, Midoriya asked,

“Bend over for me?”

Todoroki kissed him once more and was happy to accommodate. The image of him on all fours was one of Midoriya’s favorites and he reveled in it for several moments before locating the lube and slicking his erection. He teased Todoroki’s opening without entering him and heard Todoroki whimper.

He slapped Todoroki’s ass and gripped his hips hard, guiding his shaft to the tight, perfect hole. Midoriya wasn’t as gentle that time, but Todoroki didn’t mind and slammed himself against Midoriya, plummeting the entire length of him as deep as it could go. Midoriya let him take control of the rhythm and reached for Todoroki’s six inches of generous girth, only caressing him at first. When he felt the rush of his climax building, his gentle movements turned rigorous and he told Todoroki,

“Come for me, Shoto.”

Simultaneously groans forced their way out and in seconds both men were exploding with pleasure. Todoroki collapsed onto his chest, jerking Midoriya out of him in one sharp movement. It hurt, but the pain would be a welcome reminder. Midoriya laid on his side next to his lover and kissed him fiercely before falling asleep.

He was back in the forest, but all the leaves had fallen from the trees and their nakedness seemed haunting. He was not supposed to be here. A flash of light yards away caught his eye and he walked toward it. Inexplicably afraid to run, Midoriya kept a casual pace while doing his best not to look around. Shadows, cobwebs, crooked-looking creatures lingered in the corners of his eyes, and he knew one look at them would be the end.

“Just follow the flash of light,” he told himself.

The farther he walked, the farther the light traveled, until suddenly BOOM!

An explosion knocked him on his feet. As mysteriously as it had appeared, the light was gone. A burning tree took its place and Midoriya wondered if that had been the source of light all along.
            The trees were starting to ice over and snow fell all around, but the fire before him never faltered.

“Deku,” he heard distantly. He looked back to see what it was and a flash of black and red darted through the forest.

“Kacchan?” he called out. “Kacchan!”

Midoriya raced to see if it was him, if his Kacchan could really be here. Running, running, running, and no other sign of him. He told himself he must have imagined it, and when he turned around to see if the tree was still ablaze, a frozen Bakugo had taken its place. The forest was suddenly on fire and he had to save Bakugo before it was too late.

White mist covered the trees, Bakugo, the ground, and Midoriya himself. He reached out to touch Bakugo one last time before they were both lost forever, but nothingness was all that remained.

Midoriya woke up sweating, and all he could remember from the dream was frozen Bakugo. Helpless, icicle Bakugo. Trembling and scared, he curled around Todoroki’s back, holding him tightly.

Chapter Text

“Look, everyone! It’s Bakugo!” Ashido shouted across the common area. With comments of surprise, everyone gathered around the television. A breaking story was being told on the city’s most popular news station.

“Twenty-one-year-old Katsuki Bakugo saved almost forty people in Time Square last month, inciting nationwide uproar. A Villain of rarely-seen strength attacked in broad daylight, turning everything he touched into a lifeless puddle on the streets of New York City. In the midst of terror and chaos, Katsuki was the only one who came to the aid of the people. In the weeks since the incident, Americans have started a movement they’re calling ‘Be More Like Katsuki’. Citizens of all ages are protesting the standard of Heroes in their country, claiming the Japanese college sophomore should not have had to act alone. They’re calling for an immediate redetermination of all Hero Statuses, and demanding that Katsuki Bakugo’s actions be acknowledged and awarded at both state and federal levels. It’s the first time in American history that the honor and valor of Heroes has been questioned.”

Midoriya and Todoroki were in the elevator two floors down. As it grew closer, Uraraka wondered when they would be returning from dinner, panicking all the while.

Midoriya can’t see this.

She knew seeing Bakugo would unravel all of the progress Midoriya had made, so she scurried out of the living room, hoping to catch them in the hallway. While the rest of her classmates were sharing words of shock and concern, Uraraka was on a mission.

Moments later, the metal doors parted and her two favorite people stood inside. They had such a lovely glow radiating from them; the same glow they usually had when coming home from an evening out. Her heart threatened to leap right out of her chest as she stood in the way of their exit.

“Uraraka? What’s going on?” Midoriya asked.

“Just wondering what you guys were doing all day. Did you have fun? What did you eat? Why are you back so early? Has anyone told you how fantastic you look today, Todoroki?” Uraraka rambled in an attempt to stall.

She was too anxious to think clearly and the two men weren’t fooled for a second. Todoroki raised an eyebrow at her and moved her to the side. He walked quickly into the common room, sensing commotion and excitement. Midoriya hung back for a moment and put his hand on her shoulder.

“What’s going on, Uraraka?”

“Please don’t go out there,” she begged. Tears were pooling under her eyes and he could see the desperation coursing through her.

Midoriya glanced over her shoulder and saw Todoroki standing exceptionally still, even for him. Uraraka tried grabbing Midoriya’s hand as he approached Todoroki, but he quickly jerked away and joined his boyfriend and classmates in the living room. There were so many students in the way, he could hardly see the TV screen, but he heard the voice of a well-known newscaster reporting on what was clearly a huge story.

“…picture taken just days ago. This is the first and only photo that Katsuki Bakugo has allowed to be taken, and it has propelled the movement drastically. The two women in the photo are…”

Midoriya felt faint. He pushed through the small crowd until he was up front, face-to-face with an Instagram photo of Bakugo. Familiar blackness began invading his vision, clouding his thoughts. Todoroki stormed his way to Midoriya and caught him just before he crumpled to the floor.

“Midoriya, can you hear me? Midoriya? Midoriya!”

“Shoto…” was all he could manage. His body went limp. Midoriya cursed himself for being so weak and fragile, then the darkness took over and he was out. Everyone’s attention turned from Bakugo’s picture to Midoriya in Todoroki’s arms. Ignoring the whispers and worries of those around him, Todoroki carried Midoriya to his room. Uraraka was close behind them, calling out to her friends, but he barely noticed.

Once Midoriya was safe in the quiet of his own space and lying in his own bed, Todoroki swiftly slapped him across the face with nearly all his strength. Midoriya bolted upright, utterly confused. He held his hand to his cheek and shouted,

“What the hell, Shoto?!”

“Pull yourself together, Midoriya. This is absurd and I won’t tolerate another breath of it. I’ve been the sweet boyfriend long enough, and you can either get over that miserable piece of shit, or we’re through.”

Before he could even blink, Todoroki slammed the door behind himself, leaving Midoriya alone in the dark. He stared at the door for what seemed like an hour before finally sliding to the floor and mindlessly gazing at the ceiling. His cheek was hot from the impact of Todoroki’s hand, but the rest of him felt cold as ice.

I wonder if this is what Shoto’s Quirk feels like?

A few minutes later there was a soft knock coming from the hallway. He knew it was Uraraka and told her to come in. When she saw him lying on the floor, alone in the dark, she almost flipped the light switch on. Instead, she quietly closed the door behind her and laid on the carpet next to him. Without a word, her gaze followed his and twenty minutes or more passed before he finally said,

“I’m a mess, Uraraka.”

“Maybe a little,” she said, turning her head to face him. “Do you love him?” she asked.

“Shoto?”

“No.”

Midoriya was quiet. He felt the buildup of emotion that always led to tears, but none came. A hollowness took over, evicting all the joy he’d collected in those recent weeks. Uraraka’s question loomed over him like a phantom trapped in purgatory, screaming for resolution and haunting the only person who could hear it.

“Yes,” he finally answered. The crushing weight of that single word stole the breath from his lungs. Uraraka pulled him close, wishing there was anything in the world she could do to alleviate his pain. She knew without asking that he did not feel the same way for Todoroki. Bakugo had chains and rope and locks and tape and everything anyone could imagine, wrapped tightly around Midoriya’s heart, suffocating his chances of ever loving someone else.

“I don’t want to. I wanna love Shoto. Why can’t I love him?” Midoriya pleaded.

“Love doesn’t work that way,” Uraraka answered softly. She silently wondered if Bakugo was capable of love, deciding he must be or he wouldn’t have left.

He was trying to save you, Midoriya. It was just too late.

Chapter Text

Two weeks after Midoriya saw him on the news, Bakugo was on the other side of the world doing his best to hide how insanely miserable he was. Women, who he could barely stand, and media attention, which made him physically ill, were his camouflage in the wasteland of NYC. He had become an overnight sensation and decided to milk it for everything it was worth. Britany wore the nonsense like fucking perfume and thoroughly enjoyed the irony of the country’s obsession with two people who could not possibly care less. The best part of the entire charade was the impermanence of it all. In a matter of days, it would inevitably be replaced by a story with even less substance than theirs had. For the moment, Britany and Bakugo were all the rage.

Discovering that public appearances were the best way to numb his feelings, Bakugo started going out every night. The anxiety he got from cameras and screaming questions masked the rest of his thoughts extremely well. His favorite place to be seen was a shitty little dive bar in a bad part of town. Not only did the journalists and influencers swarm like cockroaches on the sidewalk outside of the place, but the online following blew up every time he was there. Bakugo found it almost fascinating how easily the masses were entertained and manipulated.

After several hours of drinking and kicking ass at pool, Britany and Bakugo sat at a small table in the very back and watched a tiny little blonde dancing by the jukebox.

“She’s hot,” Britany said. Bakugo raised an eyebrow at her and half-smiled.

“Hey, you! By the jukebox,” he called out.

The girl flinched a little and turned around with a “who, me?” look on her face. Bakugo gestured for her to join them.

“What’s your name?”

“T…T…Trixie,” she stammered. “And you’re…you’re Katsuki Bakugo, right?”

Britany laughed and started to walk away.

“Want a drink, Trixie?” she asked. Trixie nodded and Britany took note of the hard seltzer in her hand. When Britany was on the other side of the room, Bakugo noticed the small woman shaking nervously.

“Where are your friends at?” he asked. She pointed at a group of four girls staring at the two of them with their phones out, obviously taking pictures and recording videos. Bakugo beckoned them the same way he had Trixie. They all raced over squealing giddily and spoke over top of one another in shrill, girly voices.

“I cannot believe I’m standing next to “Be More Like Katsuki” Katsuki. OMG.”

“Can we take a picture with you?”

“We come here sometimes ever since we heard it’s, like, your favorite place.”

“Trixie, how?!”

Britany and the bartender were having a good laugh at the flock of airheads surrounding Bakugo and she hung back for a while to let him do his thing. Bakugo made eye contact with her and shrugged with a grin plastered to his face. The four of them situated themselves in perfect selfie positions around him and took at least a dozen photos before he casually dismissed them and turned his attention to the only girl he was mildly interested in.

“Now that that’s out of the way, why don’t you tell me what you’re doing with those phony broads?”

“They drag me out to places like this sometimes,” Trixie answered. Britany walked up with their drinks and sat opposite of Bakugo at the table, watching and listening intently.

“How do you feel about ditching them and hanging out with us for the night?” asked Bakugo, shining is half-smile that was now known nationwide. Trixie’s eyes lit up and she fidgeted with her mini skirt for a moment before finally replying,

“Wh…Where would we be going?”

“How’s a nice dinner sound?”

Trixie fidgeted some more and Britany impatiently pointed out,

“No pressure, kid. If you want to have the night of your life, that’s what’s on the table. If not, your friends are losing their shit over there waiting for you to come back.”

Looking back at the group she’d arrived with, Trixie saw the four of them giving encouraging applause and shouts of admiration. She turned back to Bakugo and Britany, still entirely blown away that she was actually talking to them. Taking a deep breath and exhaling with a shrug she said,

“Okay. Let’s do it.”

Hoots and hollers followed the three of them on their way out the door, and Bakugo threw an arm across each of their shoulders. When they stepped onto the sidewalk, camera flashes went off and questions were thrown, but Bakugo ignored them all. A cab pulled up moments later and he held the door for the two women, then gave one last dirty expression to the onlookers before climbing in and closing the door.

After dinner and wild sex at Bakugo’s apartment, they took Trixie safely home and went to Britany’s house. Bakugo fell asleep thinking about how unfulfilling the entire night was, and how ludicrous it would be to do the same things all over again tomorrow, even though he knew that was exactly what was going to happen.

Midoriya wrapped his arms around Bakugo’s neck, Bakugo’s tongue eagerly tasting the warmth inside of Midoriya’s mouth. Bakugo turned him around and slammed Midoriya’s back against the brick wall behind them, pressing as much of himself against him as he could. All other thoughts completely vanished and Midoriya ripped his jeans off before tearing Bakugo’s open, too impatient and hungry to bother with buttons and zippers. Bakugo wet his enormous cock with spit and hoisted Midoriya into the air, penetrating him fully and deeply as hard as he could.

Moans weren’t enough; the two of them screamed into the night sky at the feeling of being connected once again. When Bakugo’s hardness stroked the exquisitely sensitive place inside of him, Midoriya pounded his ass against him faster, faster, faster. Bakugo leaned forward to kiss him, angling himself deeper into Midoriya. Thrust after thrust sent waves of pleasure crashing through them until the careful rhythm was lost and Bakugo couldn’t hold back his climax. He threw his head skyward and wordlessly yelled into the night as he filled Midoriya with hot juices.

“Don’t stop. Please don’t stop,” he begged. Four more deep plunges in and out of him and Midoriya’s seed burst out, wetting them both with the salty liquid. They collapsed onto pavement, staying tangled in each other, and kissed until the world fell away.

With a searing sense of dread, Bakugo returned to his hollow reality. Everything felt empty without Midoriya, despite all of his attempts to drown himself in pointless intoxication and sex. Britany was entirely pleased with how things had turned out and had no inkling that Bakugo felt any differently. The two of them had coffee and sat in silence for over an hour. When the doorbell outside Britany’s front door rang, they simultaneously shouted,

“Who the fuck is it?”

Bakugo got up to get the door, but Britany beat him to it and unsurprisingly found a girl dressed in black and red with a notepad in her hand. She was short and tiny, radiating nervous determination.

“Katsuki, it’s for you,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Some emo chick wants your autograph.”

When Bakugo stepped outside and closed the door behind him, he crossed his arms and the girl said,

“Wow. Just like the picture.”

She had thick black eyeliner in a raccoon-fashion around her eyes, a black ponytail with straight bangs, a black choker necklace, and what seemed to be a black and red leather cheerleader uniform. The girl stared, mesmerized by her favorite Hero standing not three feet away from her.

“Well, what do you want?” he asked impatiently.

“Oh, right. Um…” She rifled through her notebook until she found what she was looking for. “Can I ask you a few questions about the documentary on UA University in Japan that was just released? It’s where you transferred from, isn’t it?”

“They actually finished that bullshit? Yeah, sure. Be quick about it.” Bakugo was genuinely surprised that the film was ever completed, and briefly wondered how he could get his hands on it and catch a glimpse of Midoriya.

The girl twitched nervously and Bakugo sat in a chair on the porch. He gestured to the seat across from him before shouting,

“Hey, Brit!” When she didn’t answer he yelled even louder, “BRIT!”

“Jesus fucking Christ, Katsuki. What?”

“Bring me a beer?”

He asked the girl if she wanted one and she politely declined. When Britany came outside, she handed a brown glass bottle to Bakugo and took a swig of her own.

“Who the hell are you?” she asked.

Clearly uncomfortable, the girl answered,

“Penny. Penny Lutz. I…I want to be a journalist and so I got your address from an old colleague of yours and—”

“Okay. I’m bored,” Britany said, and went back inside. Bakugo shook his head and drank his beer. Penny straightened her back, squared her shoulders, and proceeded.

“Is it true your classmates back home call you by your surname, Bakugo?”

“If you’ve seen the movie, I imagine you already know the answer to that,” he answered.

“How would you describe your relationships with those classmates?”

“I couldn’t fucking stand them. Why?”

“Well, I…I have a theory that something personal happened, leading you to abandon your Hero ambitions and move away.”

Bakugo was quiet for a moment before asking,

“Is that a question?”

“Let me rephrase. Would you say your move to the US was of a personal nature?” When he said nothing, she tried again. “Did something happen between you and your lifelong friend, Izuku Midoriya?”

Bakugo choked, spraying Penny and the table between them with beer. He cleared his throat and angrily answered,

“Midoriya is not my fucking friend. Yeah, we went to the same schools since we were kids. What about it? Why would you even ask me that?”

Wiping the beer from her face, Penny was immensely satisfied with his response. It was far too defensive of a reply for the question to be as meaningless as he was trying to convey. She removed a small leather backpack from her shoulder and pulled a DVD case out, sliding it across the table.

“I think you should watch the movie,” she said calmly. Bakugo stared at the plastic case in front of him as if it were from another world. He wondered what could possibly be on the footage that would lead her to such assumptions. It seemed to him that dozens of reporters should be on his doorstep if his relationship with Midoriya had been so obvious. Sensing his doubt and curiosity, Penny added,

“This is a bootleg copy that I got from a friend in Tokyo who owed me a favor. The documentary hasn’t been released in the US yet, but your fame is going to bring it over here sooner than you’d think.” She stood up and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. Throwing the backpack over her shoulder once more, she took a step off the porch before turning around and saying,

“My card is in there. I’d appreciate an exclusive in exchange for warning you.”

Petrified, Bakugo watched her leave, carrying herself with far more confidence than she had first appeared. She had gotten all the information she needed without him ever fully answering a single question, and he was impressed. He, of course, was going to watch the stupid fucking movie, but he still couldn’t move. After so much time that the sun was setting, Britany came outside to see what was up. She asked if he was okay and he was silent, his eyes never leaving the DVD case. When she left and returned with another beer, he finally looked up at her and asked,

“Want to watch a dumb movie?”

“You know I do,” she smiled, but saw the fear in his eyes. Britany found it hard to picture Bakugo afraid of anything, so she grabbed the movie and immediately went inside, her curiosity and disbelief controlling every move. It took several minutes for Bakugo to meet her in the living room, his anxiety about what he might see eating away at his insides. By the time he sat down, Britany had already set it up and was making popcorn. Bakugo looked at his surroundings, wondering how he had ended up there. The house was smaller than his apartment with off-white paint on every wall; Britany was not the decorating type. She had thrifted furniture strewn about the place and nearly every surface was littered with empty beer bottles, fast food garbage, take-out containers, unread magazines, or dirty socks. The environment was so astonishingly uncomfortable for Bakugo, he suddenly realized how incredibly wrong it was for him to be there. He felt like a cactus in the jungle; drowning in his surroundings and desperately missing the burning isolation of home.

I need to get the fuck out of here.

Britany started the documentary, the two of them on the edge of the couch with anticipation in their eyes. Hers was curiosity of his old life, his was the knowledge that Midoriya would be on the screen any moment. The first twenty minutes were a lot of background on the school and everything Hero Class-A had been through beforehand. A sky-cam focused on the campus and slowly grew closer to the dorm building Bakugo once called home. Seemingly on their own, the main doors to the lobby opened and the viewer was taken on a tour leading to the elevator. Once the small screen inside read “6”, the metal doors parted, showing the hallway, then the common area. Everyone from his class was naturally going about their day in the kitchen, coming out of their rooms, heading to the showers, and lounging in front of the TV.

The camera angle shifted, showing the living room head-on with Momo and Jiro chatting in the reading chairs, Mineta and Tsu standing near the hallway sipping tea, and—

No fucking way.

Bakugo’s jaw fell open and his beer crashed to the floor, spilling all around him without him noticing. Every bone in his body started shaking and he felt certain he was going to throw up. Unable to accept he was capable of being hurt, he felt only anger and rage.

On screen, Todoroki sat in the corner of a sofa, Midoriya curled up under his arm, the two of them smiling at each other like a couple of lunatics.

“Is that…” Britany began.

“Yeah. That’s…” but Bakugo couldn’t say his name. “Turn it off,” he said. Britany hesitated and without looking at her he screamed, “Turn it the fuck off!”

His hands were wet and he couldn’t figure out why. He pulled them away from his face to find that he was crying, and it wasn’t just a few teardrops. A waterfall of pain gushed from his eyes uncontrollably. Everything around him fell away, leaving him alone in the white-hot space of his own mind. The image of Midoriya so apparently happy with someone else was projected across his thoughts, taking his breath away and numbing him from head to toe.

Shivering and trembling, Bakugo came to on the living room carpet. Britany was staring wide-eyed at his helpless form, but he had forgotten she existed. The only face he wanted to see was Midoriya’s. The only voice he wanted to hear was Midoriya’s. He wanted to feel those soft, thick green curls in his fingers. He needed to taste the magnificent innocence on those trembling, luscious lips.

I’m such a fucking idiot.

Scrambling for the case the DVD had come in, he found the small black business card and dialed the number. After two rings a small voice answered,

“Penny Lutz!”

“It’s Katsuki,” he said.

“I had a feeling I’d be hearing from you.”

“Do you have money for a plane ticket?”

“I can get it,” answered Penny.

“I’ll buy. We leave for Japan in two days,” and Bakugo hung up. Remembering Britany was there, he looked at her and said,

“I have to go.”

She didn’t say anything, and he couldn’t stand her green hair and emerald eyes any longer. They were the wrong ones and it made him sick to spend another second in front of them. Without another word, or even gathering his things, he stormed out the front door and walked in the direction of his apartment.

Chapter Text

Sleep evaded Midoriya nightly, leaving him in an anxious daze every morning and afternoon. Each time he closed his eyes, his mind was filled with nightmares of Todoroki attacking him, of Bakugo showing up bloody and enraged, of falling in an endless dark pit that he could not wake from. The dread of telling Todoroki the truth covered him in a thick, dripping tar of depression. Even the slightest of movements were exhausting, he couldn’t focus, and he couldn’t stand the sight of himself in the mirror. Midoriya was sure he looked as disastrous as he felt, and the confirmation would only push him deeper into the quicksand he felt surrounded by.

When Saturday night came, he was so deliriously tired he fell asleep on a stool in the dorm kitchen. There was a vague image of Uraraka next to him, worry across every part of her face, but all he could see was a dark night sky filled with stars.

“What are we doing here, Shoto?”

“You’ll see,” Todoroki answered.

The two of them walked along a beach, but the shoreline was not made of typical sand; it was tiny shards of broken glass. Todoroki was barefoot, completely unreactive to the intense pain that Midoriya thought he should be feeling. There were boots on his own feet and he himself was in no pain. A warm breeze with the smell of his mother’s cooking drifted across them and Midoriya smiled. When he looked over to comment on how lovely it made him feel, he saw a horrible grimace on Todoroki’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you smell that? It’s disgusting. And, I’m cold. I’ve never been so cold.”

Midoriya was confused, but offered his jacket to Todoroki. When he took it from Midoriya’s hands, it disintegrated and Todoroki acted as if he had never seen the jacket in the first place. They kept walking, and walking, and walking. Midoriya was about to question whether or not Todoroki knew where he was going when the beach suddenly ended. There was no warm breeze, or delightful scents, or broken glass beneath their feet. A stone well in the middle of a concrete parking lot laid before them. Midoriya walked up to the well and peered inside of it. He couldn’t make out what he saw on the bottom, and he turned to ask Todoroki, who was no longer there.

“Shoto?” he called out. There was no answer.

Midoriya looked into the well once more and it was clear what was floating in the water below. A beaten, bruised, broken Shoto Todoroki. Midoriya screamed for him to wake up so he could get him back to the beach. Broken glass and terrible smells were better than being dead and in pieces underneath a cold, miserable sheet of concrete. Todoroki’s body did not even twitch. He was as lifeless as the stones around him, and Midoriya jumped into the well.

The sense of falling woke Midoriya, and he found himself drooling on the countertop. If Uraraka had been next to him before, she left him to take care of himself. He walked to his room and prayed to the universe for a dreamless sleep, doing everything he could to keep the image of Todoroki’s corpse from his mind.

When the warm afternoon light woke Midoriya, he was instantly grateful for the undisturbed rest he had finally achieved. Looking at the clock he realized he had slept for almost twelve hours and nearly cried at the overwhelming sense of healing he could feel throughout his entire body. He stretched and hesitantly looked in the mirror to confront the abuse he had put himself through, finding all he needed was a shower. With a sigh of relief, he grabbed his toiletries and went to wash away the neglect.

Afterward, he found the courage to knock on Todoroki’s bedroom door.

“Shoto, could we talk?” Midoriya asked, speaking the first words to Todoroki since the day they saw Bakugo on the news. The two of them had gracefully given each other space for more than two weeks, and Midoriya felt he finally knew what needed to be said. Sorting through all that filled his heart and mind was more difficult than he’d expected. He didn’t think so many nights would pass without Todoroki by his side. The cold emptiness of his room gave him the clarity he needed to make a choice. It was time to say it aloud and get the burden off of his heart.

“You can come in,” was all Todoroki said. He, too, knew where the conversation would take them. The first night he spent without Midoriya wrapped around him was the loneliest Todoroki had felt in a very long time. He did not imagine a world in which anything good could come from such pain. It was only a matter of time before Midoriya came to the same conclusion.

Opening the door, the weight of their distance hung heavily on their shoulders, though neither mentioned it. Midoriya kicked his shoes off and went inside, immediately relaxing on the bed. As Todoroki sat down next to him he asked,

“How are you feeling, Midoriya?”

“I don’t think I’ve been fair to you,” he replied without answering.

“In what way?”

Midoriya took a deep breath and said, “I…I’ve taken advantage of your friendship and used it to bandage the wound that Kac— that he left.” It was astounding to both of them that Midoriya still could not say Bakugo’s nickname. Todoroki took Midoriya’s hand in his.

“You don’t love me,” he said matter-of-factly. Midoriya sat up and started to respond, but Todoroki continued, “I don’t love you, either. My heart belongs to Eiji and always will. I imagine it’s the same for you with Bakugo. We have both been trying to fix broken hearts that can never be mended. It’s not for you to take the blame.”

“How can you…how can you be so calm? Aren’t you angry?” Midoriya asked.

“What should I have to be angry about?” Todoroki answered.

“That Eiji isn’t here! You never get to love again because you gave your heart to him and he just…”

“He didn’t leave by choice.”

“What…what happened, Shoto?”

Todoroki looked out the window, countless memories flooding his mind until the most horrific stood out from the rest, as it often did. Pushing the images away, Todoroki began his story with his favorite memory.

“We were thirteen the first time we kissed, and we had known each other for mere weeks. His Quirk was Deflection; there was a field of energy surrounding his body and anything that breached it was thrown back in the direction it came from. Eiji would have made an exceptional Hero…”

Midoriya didn’t interrupt with questions or muttering. He let Todoroki take all the time he needed to put into words the greatest and worst thing to ever happen to him.

“Training often took place at his parents’ home, where they had many acres of land and we were free to use our powers uninhibited. His Deflection was quickly growing stronger and unpredictable, which made me the ideal opponent. I can’t be hurt by my own ice or fire, so there was seemingly no risk. Every shard of ice or ball of flame I threw at him, he returned with greater force. There was an afternoon when we were unattended. I had taken an icicle straight to the heart and Eiji ran to my side, hysterical.

‘I’m fine!’ I reassured him. He cried into my shoulder,

‘Shoto, I just don’t know what I would do if I hurt you.’

“We looked at each other in a way that we never had before, and he kissed me. The adrenaline that coursed through me set my Quirk off in a completely unique way, and I burst into uncontrollable flames. I couldn’t activate my ice and Eiji couldn’t get to me because his Quirk was encouraging the fire. There wasn’t any pain, but we were both terrified. Eventually, I took the heat back into myself and was fine. The moment everything was quiet, I kissed him again.”

A smile filled with love and pain appeared on Todoroki’s face, silent tears following it. Midoriya had never seen him cry and did his best to comfort him, running his fingers through Todoroki’s hair.

“For the next five years, we spent nearly every moment together. Everything between us had to be a secret because of my father and what he might do if he found out. If Endeavor had known sooner, Eiji would still be here.”

Comforted by Midoriya’s touch, Todoroki rested his head in his lap and let himself be soothed. He adored the caring and affectionate gestures Midoriya always made, and did not want to accept that tonight would be the last time he felt them. Todoroki was not ready to let him go, to return to the empty and lonely world he was living in before Midoriya had given him a chance. For the moment, it was wonderful to be sharing Eiji’s story and he would focus on that.

“A Villain attacked our home in the middle of a spring day. I remember the cherry blossom petals drifting on the wind, daring to be a beautiful backdrop to such horror and chaos. Eiji was there with his parents, as they often were. We were having tea in the yard when the monster came. He burst through the neighbor’s fence, looking for Endeavor, covered in various blades. Eiji heroically stood in front of his parents, knowing that any knife thrown at him would only Deflect and attack its owner. My father, who knew the Villain’s Quirk, ran to protect Eiji. As the blades flew at him, the Villain used his Magnetism Quirk, nullifying Eiji’s Deflection. The moment he felt what happened, he looked at me and proclaimed,

‘I love you, Shoto.’

“My father was a fraction of a second from standing in the way of Eiji’s death, but his last words startled Endeavor and he hesitated. Twenty or more knives pierced through Eiji’s field and…and he was gone.”

Todoroki’s eyes closed as his story finished, hindering the tears from falling. It had been years since he’d talked about Eiji, and he couldn’t help but understand Midoriya’s unshaking devotion to Bakugo. He could not grasp the attraction itself, but the bond between them was so like Eiji and himself that he could no longer fault Midoriya for being unable to let go. Instead, the symmetry of their pains had Todoroki feeling closer to him than ever before. He sat up and looked deep into Midoriya’s kind eyes, which were letting out tears for Eiji that Todoroki would not allow his own to cry.

He kissed Midoriya softly and lowered him onto his back. They used their lips and their bodies and their hands to convey the endless words they wanted to share that their voices were incapable of saying. Both of their shirts were thrown across the room and their chests were pressed together, the skin contact sending them into frenzies. Midoriya felt a twinge of guilt for wanting to have sex with a man he planned to leave before the sun rose. As Todoroki kissed his neck and put his hand down Midoriya’s pants, the shame became too much and Midoriya threw Todoroki off of him. Todoroki landed on his back on the other side of the room, shocked and staring at the ceiling.

“Shoto, I’m sorry. We…we can’t do this,” and Midoriya started to cry.

Shaking himself and carefully standing, Todoroki asked,

“How can you say that? You want me as desperately as I want you.”

Midoriya couldn’t look at him and remained seated on the bed. Todoroki leaned against the desk, shaking his head.

“This isn’t right when I know what tomorrow brings,” said Midoriya.

“Why does tomorrow matter when we’re together now?”

A thousand feelings raced through Midoriya. His lust for Todoroki, his ache for Bakugo, his guilt for wasting Todoroki’s time and for making Bakugo run away, and everything in between. He couldn’t grasp what was so wrong with him that the man he loved couldn’t even stand to be in the same country. Midoriya didn’t understand why Todoroki wasn’t enough.

Why do I have to love someone who will never feel the same way?

“Come here,” Todoroki said, full of kindness and affection. Overjoyed by the invitation, Midoriya got off the bed and stood in front of Todoroki, resting his head on his chest. Todoroki tilted Midoriya’s face toward his and kissed him gently. Midoriya said,

“I’m so sorry, Shoto.”

“Don’t be. Just make love to me one more time before we’re gone forever.”

Without hesitation, Midoriya tore Todoroki’s pants off and dropped his own to the floor. He kissed down the red side of him, loving the bright curly hairs tickling his face as he did so. In one clean motion, he had all of Todoroki in his mouth. Todoroki fell back, knocking notebooks and a lamp off the desk. Midoriya grabbed Todoroki’s hips and forced his hardness to the very back of his throat, gagging and tearing up. Todoroki whimpered when Midoriya quickly pulled away to reach inside a drawer for the purple bottle. He wet his shaft and dove it entirely into Todoroki with one impatient, powerful thrust. Todoroki groaned and gripped the edges of the desk so he’d have leverage enough to grind himself against Midoriya.

Midoriya watched blissfully as his throbbing cock pleasured Todoroki’s perfect asshole, rhythmically entering and exiting him over and over. Every outward lunge made Todoroki twitch with desire to be filled again. Midoriya pulled completely out and when he didn’t come back, Todoroki was near tears.

“I need you inside of me,” he begged.

With only the tip of himself, Midoriya gave Todoroki what he asked for. Fighting his own urge to fill his lover with every bit of himself, he quickened his pace.

“I need all of it, all of you,” cried Todoroki.

After a few more strokes, Midoriya gave in to what they both wanted and filled Todoroki with every inch of himself once more. While Todoroki moaned his pleasure, Midoriya reached for one of Todoroki’s hands and spit in his palm. He guided it to Todoroki’s own cock and they both caressed him until his back arched and his toes curled. Burying himself as deep, hard, and quickly as he could, Midoriya felt his climax building and didn’t think he could hold back.

“Shoto, I’m so fucking close,”

“Come for me,” Todoroki said breathlessly.

Midoriya let go of Todoroki’s cock and gripped his hips once more, hammering himself into him. In less than thirty seconds, he was bursting inside Todoroki. As Midoriya groaned and nearly fell on top of him, Todoroki kept stroking his shaft, fighting for the same heavenly release Midoriya just had. With no intention of leaving Todoroki unsatisfied, Midoriya smiled devilishly and curled three of his fingers into Todoroki’s tight entrance until he felt the orgasmic firmness inside of him. His fingers stroked Todoroki and he took his cock into his mouth. Todoroki grabbed a fistful of Midoriya’s hair and fucked his face as hard as he could until his deliciously warm cum poured down Midoriya’s throat.

They untangled from each other and moved to the bed, Midoriya on his back and Todoroki’s head on Midoriya’s chest. Todoroki heard a sniffle and looked up to find him crying. He didn’t ask what was wrong, because he already knew the answer. Both men fell asleep in minutes, and when Todoroki woke up alone, it was his turn to cry.

Chapter Text

Bakugo’s grip on the armrest was turning his knuckles white, and he was pretty sure he was going to vomit soon.

“Scared of flying?” Penny teased from the seat next to him.

“I’m not scared of anything, shithead,” he answered, almost believing himself. On the contrary, he’d been very much afraid ever since he’d seen Todoroki and Midoriya together. Nothing had ever sent so much fear coursing through him in his entire life than the image of Midoriya with someone else. Of course, he knew Midoriya would move on. After all, that was the entire point of Bakugo moving to the other side of the world. It never occurred to him that he might actually see him with someone else. When he did, everything he’d done to try to forget about Midoriya was erased and replaced with an incessant alarm blaring in his mind, all but forcing him to get on a plane.

Knowing how long the flight was going to take, he and Penny spent the time organizing their thoughts and ideas for when they landed. As Penny was rattling off some of her checklist, Bakugo was reminded that he hadn’t seen the whole movie, which he admitted to her.

“Katsuki!” Penny grabbed his shoulders and shook him. “We are about to fly seven thousand miles because of the documentary and you haven’t even seen it all?!” Her eyes were huge and Bakugo found himself almost intimidated by her, but covered it with a laugh and pushed her hands away.

“Fucking calm down. What’s the big deal?”

“Do you have any idea how I knew about Midoriya?” Penny asked crossly. Bakugo rolled his eyes and answered,

“Does it matter?”

“We’re watching the damn movie. You need to see it all.”

So, Penny put the DVD into her laptop and the two of them shared a pair of headphones for its entirety. The first thing Penny pointed out was a scene in UA University’s main lobby, where you could just barely see out one of the windows. Bakugo and Midoriya were standing incredibly close together outside, and he realized it was the night of their first kiss. If someone weren’t specifically looking for Bakugo, they never would have noticed. The glare on the window was significant and the focal point of the shot was the lobby itself. Bakugo turned away from the screen and Penny snapped her fingers to turn his attention back to the laptop.

“There’s a lot more. Stop getting uncomfortable.”

Bakugo huffed, crossed his arms, and continued watching.

The next scene Penny identified as evidence was during the scrimmage. Again, the focus was not on Bakugo; he was merely in the background. The camera was following Todoroki and Ashido, but off to the side the viewer could see the moment when Bakugo stopped himself from punching Midoriya in the face. The two of them smiled at each other briefly before Midoriya kicked Bakugo off of him.

“Holy fucking shit,” Bakugo said and paused the movie. “I don’t even remember it happening that way.” He resisted the urge to rewind and once again watch them smile at one another. Penny hit the spacebar and the documentary continued. When the film announced that Bakugo had left, it was only minutes later that Midoriya and Todoroki were seen up close and personal with each other. Penny paused the movie and said,

“This. This is when I knew for sure.”

Finally understanding what had led Penny to Britany’s doorstep, Bakugo was silent. His arms were already crossed, but he wished he could cross them even tighter. She was right that no one would notice unless they were really looking, and he knew people would indeed be looking. If it weren’t for the fame he came into in America, he wouldn’t have even worried about it. Hell, he never would have seen the movie in the first place.

“How long until other reporters start telling this story?” he asked.

Penny thought about it for a minute or two before answering,

“A week at the most. Everyone is digging into you pretty hard.”

Fucking great.

“Do you think we can get everything done before then?”

Penny threw her head back and laughed.

“We’ll be done in less than three days from the time we arrive in Tokyo. I promise you.”

Her words calmed Bakugo down, but only slightly. Their plan was excellent, and nearly foolproof, and both of them were confident in their abilities to execute it.

“Am I being stupid?” Bakugo asked shyly. Penny hadn’t heard such a sad, lonely tone in his voice before. It reassured her that his tough exterior was merely a shell to the real man inside. She put her hands on his, and to her surprise, he didn’t flinch away.

“Katsuki, this is a beautiful idea. There is nothing stupid about it.”

Credits scrolled and Penny closed her laptop. They sat in silence for a long time and eventually fell asleep.

The plane began to shake terribly, flight attendants giving comforting words to the passengers that it was only turbulence and everyone was going to be fine. Bakugo had a feeling deep in his chest that it was not something so mundane; they were going to crash. The oxygen masks fell from the ceiling and Penny started hyperventilating.

“It’ll be okay, Penny. Worst case scenario, I can save us.”

She didn’t answer him, and pieces of the plane started crumbling away, falling into the Pacific Ocean like manmade hail. Panicking, Bakugo put Penny’s mask on her then strapped his own to his face. He felt ridiculous that everyone should be so afraid, considering there must have been a dozen or more people on the flight that had to have useful Quirks. It was impossible to him that his Quirk could be the only one to help.

Windows shattered, passengers were ripped from their seats and thrown into the sea. Flight attendants were hyperventilating and curled up in balls on the floor. The captain was nowhere to be seen, as if he had never been there at all. Overhead lights flickered and live wires were sparking from the spaces where equipment had been torn away. Purses, backpacks, and small luggage swirled through the air and across the floor as if a tornado had found itself inside of the plane.

Bakugo was losing his grip and looked over to find that Penny had disappeared. The window she had been seated next to was blown out, and he knew she had been taken so quickly he didn’t have time to notice, let alone react and save her. As soon as the first tear fell from his cheek, Bakugo saw a flash of green lightning in the sky. The plane fell faster and faster, hurtling toward the death of everyone on board. Just a few yards before it plummeted into the depths of the ocean, it came to a startling halt and was gently placed on the surface of the water.

Alone and terrified, Bakugo wondered why he hadn’t used his Quirk to save anyone. He tried to set off an explosion and nothing happened. His hands were shaking and sweating, but no blast came. Staring at his hands like they were foreign objects, he began to truly panic. In moments, the flash of bright green was in the corner of his eye and he turned to see Midoriya just outside of the window, with a brilliant smile on his face.

“Deku!” he called out. Feeling his lover’s name on his tongue was so remarkably arousing that his head flew back and the plane crash left his mind completely. His eyes fluttered closed and his erection grew quickly, and all he wanted was to jump out the window and taste Midoriya.

“Katsuki, we’re almost there,” Penny whispered as she shook Bakugo’s arm.

He looked around startled, expecting to see chaos and terror, but found everyone as he had left them before he’d drifted off. Then he noticed the throbbing hard-on threatening to rip his jeans in half and couldn’t help but smile. Knowing he would be with Midoriya soon warmed his heart like nothing else could. He knew he was scared, and he knew there was a good chance that Midoriya would tell him to fuck off, but just the thought of telling him how he really felt was an armor of courage he’d never worn before.

The plane landed and the passengers began removing belongings from the overhead compartments, heading single-file down the aisles. Bakugo had been so impatient for this part of the journey, but now that it was time to step onto Japanese soil again, he couldn’t move. Penny graciously waited for him until a flight attendant leaned over and said they really did have to get off the plane. The two of them were the last people on board other than the flight staff, and Bakugo slowly gathered himself and his things. He walked through the airport in a daze, overwhelmed in so many ways to be where he was.

It was a welcoming change to see everything written in his language again, to see the obvious signs of his native culture everywhere around them. The air smelled different, the ambient sound of people walking was different, the energy was different. Bakugo was surprised at how relieved he felt to be home. The last time he was in that building, he had sworn to never return. Only three months had passed since then. He never would have thought his resolve would falter after such a short period of time. Seeing Midoriya curled up with that stupid fuck, Todoroki would have sent him raging back home no matter how soon it was after his arrival in America. 

Noticing Penny’s wide eyes and bouncing footsteps, Bakugo smiled. Before he could catch himself, she noticed and smiled in return. He promptly huffed and crossed his arms. The past two days he had become unrecognizable to himself. Flying across the world for a guy was the single most ridiculous, nonsensical thing he had ever done. Now he was publicly grinning at some Yankee girl being giddy over Japan. More unbelievable to him than anything else was what he and Penny were planning to do once they stepped out of the airport doors.

What the fuck is happening to me?

Chapter Text

Life without Todoroki by his side felt very empty for Midoriya. He tried his best not to think about it, but the twinges of sadness and guilt came frequently anyway. If it weren’t for Uraraka, he had no idea what shape he’d be in. It had only been two days and the awkward tension between him and Todoroki was already enough to fill any room they were in together. Even though there was no resentment on either side, they both felt incredibly strange having to exist in the same space constantly after everything they had been through.

After an exhausting day of avoiding eye contact with his now-ex-boyfriend, Midoriya sat at the kitchen island with Uraraka studying and drinking tea. A few of their classmates were in the living room watching the Class-A documentary that had finally been released just a couple weeks earlier. It was possibly the one-hundredth time it had played on the shared TV, and Midoriya and Uraraka were equally tired of it. When everyone’s voices rose excitedly, Uraraka turned and yelled,

“Would you please calm down? Some of us are trying to work h—” and her eyes suddenly locked on something behind Midoriya. Following her gaze, Midoriya saw someone standing in the hallway, partially covered in shadow. He heard what everyone was saying to the person, but his mind wouldn’t let him process the information. Black boots, leather jacket, beneath piercing red eyes that were looking straight into Midoriya’s soul.

That can’t be…

“Bakugo!” someone shouted.

I have to be dreaming.

“What are you doing back here?”

Wake up, wake up, wake up.

“How was New York City?”

Midoriya stood up from his stool and Uraraka reached out to stop him, but knew better and let her arm fall back to her side. Bakugo took a step toward Midoriya and the light revealed the rest of him. In an instant, Midoriya was on the other side of the room and punched Bakugo square in the face with all of his strength, sending him flying down the hallway and crashing into the back wall. As he looked down at the crumpled heap that was Bakugo, Midoriya noticed a young woman standing in the hallway. She had heavy black makeup on and was wearing fishnet stockings and a short black dress.

“Who are you?” he asked impulsively. Before she could answer, he waved his hand at her and said, “Never mind. I don’t even wanna know.” Stepping into the elevator, he pushed the button for the lobby without turning around. When the metal doors closed, Midoriya fell to his knees and silent tears poured down his cheeks. He sat that way until the elevator reached its destination, where he stood up and dried his face with the sleeve of his shirt. The soft ding of its arrival sounded and the doors opened to reveal Todoroki standing in front of him.

“Midoriya, what’s wrong?” Todoroki asked, his voice filled with concern and kindness. Letting go of the tension between them, Midoriya crashed into Todoroki and threw his arms around him, releasing the tears he had forced himself to hold back. Todoroki knew Midoriya only cried like that for one reason and held him close as he asked,

“What did Bakugo do this time?”

Midoriya grabbed fistfuls of Todoroki’s shirt and screamed into his chest,

“He’s upstairs!”

Todoroki was simultaneously filled with rage, jealousy, and anguish. Though he was not surprised by Bakugo’s return, he was still furious at the audacity and pure selfishness someone had to possess to knowingly put Midoriya through such pain. His first instinct was to go up to the dorms and beat Bakugo bloody, but he knew that would only make the situation worse.

“Do you want to get out of here?”

Midoriya nodded in response. The two of them went outside and aimlessly walked down the sidewalk, Todoroki’s arm around Midoriya. He felt ridiculous about their breakup and was unaware that Midoriya felt the same way. Having missed each other enormously, they were comforted by their physical contact, regardless of what had brought it back. After walking in silence for nearly an hour, they stopped at a coffee shop and sat on the patio waiting for service. Staring at the swirls and patterns in the metal table, Midoriya did his best to keep his freak-out internal. He felt like so much of his life lately had been him sitting with his head in his hands and his heart broken, and he was remarkably tired of it. The one light in all of that was Todoroki, and Midoriya had been stupid enough to end the relationship just because it wasn’t movie-romantic. He had missed him dearly and felt at ease for the first time in two days, despite Bakugo’s return.

Todoroki watched Midoriya carefully, waiting for a burst of tears or hysteria, and was surprised to see only resolve on his face. He, too had been lonely since their last night together, with the feeling of waking up utterly alone still heavy on his shoulders. Todoroki’s regret and shame for their breakup had not left his mind since that first morning apart. The ordeal felt juvenile, even though they had both felt like they were doing the mature thing at the time. It now seemed ridiculous to be apart when being together was such an incredible source of light for both of them.

At the same time, they reached for each other’s hands across the circular table. Small smiles spread across their faces, which quickly grew to large grins. For just a moment, they forgot about Bakugo and the mess that was likely to ensue. They just stared into one another’s eyes and felt joy.

“Shoto, I—” Midoriya began, but was interrupted.  

A young woman with a very high ponytail and thick-rimmed glasses brought them menus and greeted them cheerfully. Todoroki ordered hot tea for himself and red wine for Midoriya, who normally would have asked for a cappuccino with lots of extra foam.

“I figured this likely called for alcohol more so than caffeine,” Todoroki said without prompting. “Were you going to say something a moment ago?” he asked.

Midoriya fiddled with his silverware and averted his gaze. Having no idea how to put his thoughts into words without sounding like a teenager, he merely shrugged.

“You can tell me anything. I’d like to think you know that by now,” said Todoroki kindly.

“I just…I feel stupid saying it,” he admitted.

“Say it anyway.”

“I don’t wanna be broken up,” Midoriya forced himself to admit.

For a few seconds, Todoroki’s eyes widened slightly, then his expression returned to its normal neutrality. The confession caught him by surprise for a number of reasons. The biggest reason being that Bakugo was back. It didn’t make sense to him that Midoriya would see the man he loved and suddenly want to be with Todoroki again. He felt it was likely Midoriya’s defense mechanisms, trying to avoid the pain Bakugo always seemed to bring.

“Does that possibly have something to do with a certain someone’s appearance today?”

Midoriya’s reactive thought was that Todoroki must not feel the same way, sending Midoriya into near-panic. Immediately noticing the anxious reaction, Todoroki added,

“You are not alone in your feelings.”

Looking up with relief in his eyes, Midoriya said,

“It’s not because he’s here. I’ve missed you since the moment I left you sleeping alone. The thing is, I would rather live at this table with you than ever go back there.”

“I see,” Todoroki replied. Even though Midoriya truly believed what he was saying, Todoroki knew better. All it would take for his words to fall apart was Bakugo showing up. Midoriya would run, Bakugo would chase, and Todoroki would pick up the pieces. It was a cycle that he was completely exhausted by.

“You should talk to him.”

“What?!” Midoriya screamed.

“Running forever will not only hurt you, it will continue to hurt me. Do you really want to live that way?”

“No, but I…what would I even say? ‘Sorry I punched your lights out earlier, but can we chat?’” he rolled his eyes and rested his forehead on the table. At that moment, their waitress dropped off their drinks and Midoriya took three large gulps of his wine before she even had time to ask if they were eating. Todoroki politely told her no and turned his attention back to the man across from him. With a slightly wicked smile, he asked,

“You punched him?”

Blood rushed to Midoriya’s cheeks as he swirled the wine around in its glass.

“I…I might have…”

“Good for you. I would have liked to see that.”

Finishing his drink, Midoriya shrugged and gently set the empty glass down. He stared at it for a while, briefly wishing his Quirk manifested wine. When a few tiny droplets of water landed on his hand, he looked up to see the sky turning gray. The sprinkling rain felt refreshing and filled the air with the musk of a storm.

“Would you like to see a trick I’ve never shown anyone else?” Todoroki asked. Midoriya quietly nodded. With a graceful flourish of his right hand, a freezing wind enveloped them and Midoriya gasped. Hundreds, maybe thousands of raindrops froze in the air around them and sparkled magnificently before landing on their surroundings with a tink, tink, tink.

It had been so beautiful, and so fleeting, Midoriya felt a tear fall down his cheek. Todoroki froze the tear, as well, and it quietly fell to Midoriya’s lap before melting into his jeans.

“Don’t cry. It’s only rain,” he said softly.

“You’re just so beautiful, Shoto. I can barely stand it.”

Before Todoroki could respond, the sky darkened and the rain thickened, ushering everyone on the patio toward the doors. Thundered roared in the distance, causing Midoriya to look up at the clouds once more. Screaming red lightning cracked open the darkness above them and several people yelled in terror before running deeper into the restaurant.

“That’s not normal lightning,” Midoriya said to Todoroki with determination in his eyes. Knowing very well what the alternative was, the two of them burst back onto the patio, hurdled the small iron fence, and ran toward the Villain they knew was at the center of the storm. 

Chapter Text

Hearing of Bakugo’s arrival, every student in Hero Class-A gathered in the common area to badger him with questions about his time in America. Knowing it was a necessary part of his and Penny’s plan, he dealt with the annoyance of his ex-classmates and answered them as best he could without ripping people’s heads off. The only student who didn’t seem fooled was Ochaco Uraraka, who glared at Bakugo from across the room. She hadn’t left her stool for even a moment, eyeing every move he made, distrusting everything about his being there. If only she knew what was going on in his head, she might not hate him so much.

His attention was drawn back to the crowd of people when Mineta invaded Penny’s personal space, asking her who she was and why she was with Bakugo.

“You’re Minoru Mineta, right? I’m Penny Lutz, it’s nice to meet you,” she said with a smile.

“She knows my name!” he yelled, and practically melted onto the floor.

“And, you’re Sero, and Kirishima, and Yaoyorozu. Everyone is here! I’m so honored,” Penny swooned. Bakugo rolled his eyes.

“Not everyone,” Uraraka calmly said, loud enough for the entire room to hear.

“Where are Todoroki and Midoriya?” Koda asked, and everyone scanned the room for them. Bakugo’s eyes never left Uraraka and she raised an eyebrow at him while crossing her arms.

Just then, a flash of red light filled the common area and the sky suddenly darkened. Comments of concern and curiosity arose, and everyone shuffled to the large bay windows to get a better look. Crimson lightning filled the sky and terrifying thunder followed soon after.

“That must be a Villain!” Iida proclaimed.

“It’s too bad we can’t help,” said Aoyama.

Everyone was looking back and forth between one another and out the window when Tsu asked,

“Do you think Midoriya and Todoroki are out there?”

Silence fell over the room and Bakugo headed for the elevator with Penny hot on his tail.

“You can’t do anything to help! You don’t have your Hero License!” yelled an unseen Hagakure.

Bakugo turned to the students of Hero Class-A and smiled.

“My Hero Status was secured and finalized by the US government under the pressure of the media. I can do whatever the fuck I want,” then walked through the elevator doors. When they closed behind him, he leaned against a wall and closed his eyes.

“That went rather well, I think,” said Penny. “Do you know the Villain causing the storm?”

“I’ve never seen anything like it.” He stood up straight and looked curiously at his travel partner. “Come to think of it, I don’t know what your Quirk is. Any chance it’s not completely useless?”

Penny threw her head back and laughed.

“I’ve got a few tricks you haven’t seen.”

“Afraid of using them?”

Penny raised her eyebrow in response. Bakugo smiled and nodded.

They barely waited for the elevator doors to fully open before forcing their way into the lobby and sprinting for the exit. Penny was slowing Bakugo down so she told him to fly ahead and she’d catch up. Fat, heavy raindrops fell, dampening Bakugo’s Quirk, but he put on a pair of gloves that a fan had made him, deciding to test them out for the first time. They were supposedly waterproof and made from a material that could withstand intense heat, while also allowing the explosions to pass through. Sure enough, bursts erupted from his palms and he was in the air, chasing after the storm to make sure Midoriya was not caught in it.

On a rooftop not far off, he saw a tall, slender man wearing nothing but red shorts and a red robe, resembling a boxer without gloves. He was laughing maniacally and sending lightning from his hands into the sky. There was no damage done to the surroundings that Bakugo could see, but he knew the Villain had to be plotting something. Landing a few yards away, Bakugo yelled over the thunder,

“Hey, Rocky!” and aimed an explosion at the Villain’s chest. The Villain stumbled a few steps backward, but was not intimidated.

“What do we have here? Another kid with a death wish? I already sent your friends flying, so save yourself and get out of my way.”

Bakugo scanned the top of the nearby buildings and saw Midoriya on his back with Todoroki leaned over him. Before running to reach them, he sent several more explosions at the Lightning Villain without looking back. When he was only a few paces away, he could see that Midoriya was a little dirty, but not injured.

“Deku!” he yelled, falling to his knees next to him. Midoriya bolted upright at the sound of the nickname he’d missed so much, coming from the lips he’d missed even more.

“What are you doing here? This guy is crazy strong. You’re not safe! The Heroes will be here soon.”

Bakugo took Midoriya’s hand in his and gripped it painfully tight.

“I am a Hero,” he said. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Huge emerald eyes stared at him, full of anger and joy and worry, and Midoriya could not speak. Turning to face the Villain, Bakugo heard footsteps behind him and could tell they were Todoroki’s without looking.

“My ice has no effect on him; he just keeps bursting through it with the lightning. What do you think you can possibly do?” he yelled at Bakugo. Bakugo spun on his heel and got in Todoroki’s face. Thinking of Penny’s earlier words, he said,

“I have a few tricks you haven’t seen. Stay with Deku,” and flew toward the rooftop the Villain was on. The moment his feet landed, Bakugo saw green sparks in the corner of his eye and looked to see Midoriya standing next to him. Before he could tell him to get back, Midoriya cut him off and yelled,

“I don’t need you to protect me. I didn’t need you when you left, and I don’t need you now!”

Bakugo would have rather been struck by the Villain’s lightning than hear those words, having no idea that Midoriya didn’t mean any of them. Midoriya’s attention never left the Villain’s, but Bakugo couldn’t take his eyes off Midoriya. Standing so close to him without touching was unbearable. If it weren’t for the enemy they had to face, Bakugo was sure he would throw himself at Midoriya’s feet. He didn’t care about the Villain; all he wanted was to make Midoriya understand his side of things and all the feelings roaring inside of him every moment.

“Deku, I know leaving must have hurt y—”

Red lightning struck the air between the two of them and they both dodged it. Speeding toward the man in the red boxing outfit, Midoriya threw a right hook to his jaw and a jab to his ribs before propelling himself into the air. He was preparing to land a full-force kick to the Villain’s skull when another bolt shot upward and caught Midoriya’s arm. Falling to the roof, he stood up and saw he was scorched from wrist to elbow. He knew he would heal, but his arm was out of commission for the time being. Watching Bakugo shoot explosion after explosion was tantalizing and stirred up all the feelings that Midoriya had pushed away. Leaping into the air to attempt a powerful kick, Midoriya yelled,

“You didn’t hurt me! I’ve been just fine without you!”

Looking around for Todoroki, Midoriya found him standing on the very edge of the roof, a look of extreme focus and calculation on his face. Midoriya’s foot made contact with the Villain’s shoulder, who stumbled, but held his ground. Bakugo saw Midoriya’s glance and shouted between blasts,

“Hiding behind Todoroki isn’t going to convince me I’m wrong about how you felt!”

The storm whirled around them, casting miles and miles of the city in shadow and rain. The lightning went where the Villain directed it, then it flickered out before he sent more. Bakugo shouted,

“Doesn’t look like your lightning is doing you any favors, fuckface!”

The Villain cackled and the wind picked up drastically, nearly knocking Bakugo off his feet. A streak of red light flew two inches from his face and he sent an explosion in return.

“Those wimpy fireworks aren’t going to save you, kid.” He spoke softly, but his words carried through the wind was his microphone.

“You wanna see fireworks, old man?” Bakugo ran full force directly at him, jumping and kicking him in the chest. It didn’t knock him over, but that wasn’t Bakugo’s plan. A quarter-sized black disc stuck to the Villain’s chest and Bakugo snapped his fingers. In the palm of his glove was an embedded detonator linked to half-a-dozen cartridges stored in the soles of his boots. The explosive chemical in his sweat collected in them over time, and if he kicked something hard enough and just right, the compact bomb would stick to his target, disconnecting from his shoe and readying itself to be detonated.

The Villain had no time to realize what was happening, and the explosion went off, knocking him to his knees. While it should have ripped a hole in his chest, it merely left scorch marks on his skin and the edges of the red robe.

“You little shit!” the Villain screamed, aiming his palm at Bakugo. Sparks flickered for only a moment before Midoriya threw himself at the enemy and sent the lighting yards away from Bakugo. He rolled and used the momentum to throw the Villain onto the rooftop with extreme force, almost breaking the concrete beneath them. Using the brief second the Villain was recovering, Bakugo ran to Midoriya and yelled,

“Deku, please just let me talk, damn it!”

The two of them saw Todoroki shooting ice, then fire, then ice again. The Villain quickly turned his lightning on Todoroki. He was dodging well and doing his best to run the Villain out of energy or at least find a weakness.

Midoriya aimed a swinging kick at Bakugo’s face and screamed,

“I don’t wanna hear anything you have to say!”

“I’m so unbelievably sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought—”

“You stomped on my heart like you were putting out a cigarette, then moved to the other side of the world, and you think you were doing the right thing?!”

The wind whipped his hair in his face, the dark sky making the curls look almost black. Anger and fury filled his eyes, and Bakugo was suddenly afraid there was nothing he could ever do to fix his mistake.

“Deku, just—”

“Stop,” jab to Bakugo’s face, “calling,” right hook to his ribs, “me that!” jab to his solar-plexus.

Lightning broke through a wall of ice, grazing Bakugo’s thigh. He ran toward the Villain, blast after blast leaving his palms. Todoroki added fire to Bakugo’s attack, and the heat forced the Villain several steps back. While he was caught off-guard, Todoroki tried taking advantage and built a frozen box around him. It took all the willpower he had to stand and fight while listening to Bakugo and Midoriya’s passionate exchange.

Anticipating the Villain’s escape, Midoriya jumped up moments before the ice shattered. As he brought down another swift kick to the enemy’s chest, he screamed at the top of his lungs,

“WHY DID YOU COME BACK?!”

Frozen with fear, Bakugo was left open to the Villain’s lightning. Midoriya slammed into his opponent at the last possible moment, sending his red sparks skyward and the Villain toppling onto the concrete. As Midoriya flew into the air, body alight with green electricity, Bakugo regained his composure and yelled back,

“Because I fucking love you!”

Every bit of their surroundings disappeared. Every drop of Midoriya’s blood froze within his veins. The breath left his chest and he fell to the rooftop in a daze. Completely unable to move or think clearly, he stared at Bakugo in a frozen stupor. Bakugo stared back, feeling as if his heart had been ripped out by his own hands.

All thoughts of the Villain having left his mind, Todoroki watched Bakugo pour his soul into the night air and Midoriya inhale every last breath of it. Before any of them knew what was happening, red lightning struck Midoriya so hard he crashed through the surface and into the floor of the building below. Shaking himself out of his statue-like state, Bakugo ran after him and didn’t see the lightning aimed at him until Penny was suddenly and miraculously standing before it. She fell to a heap on the roof, smoke radiating from her entire body.

“Penny!” Bakugo cried, momentarily distracted from the enormous confession he’d just made. He heard laughter and realized it wasn’t coming from the Villain. Penny stood up, squared her shoulders, and rubbed her palms together furiously.

“My turn,” she said, then clapped. Identical red lightning shot from her fingertips and struck the Villain in the same place Bakugo’s bomb had been. Dumbfounded, he stood frozen and was thrown into the air and onto his back when the force hit him. Penny took a few steps closer and placed herself in an archer’s stance.

“Come on! Get up! That tasted like cherries and I want some more,” she said calmly. While the Villain struggled to get to his feet, Bakugo yelled,

“A few tricks, huh?!”

She laughed again and shouted,

“My Quirk stores and redirects electrical currents. I can’t produce it myself, but it doesn’t look like I’ll have to.”

Confident she had things under control for the moment, Bakugo and Todoroki jumped after Midoriya through the hole in the roof.

The room Midoriya landed in when the lightning struck him looked like it used to be someone’s office. Tan carpet covered the floor and was filthy with age and neglect. A large wooden desk was falling apart under a boarded-up window and bookshelves were in pieces on one side of the room. All of it was covered in debris from his impact through the ceiling. Lying on his back, Midoriya was stunned, but not from the Villain’s attack. Bakugo’s words danced through his mind like music notes lifting off a page. He wasn’t dreaming. The man he was madly in love with was really there, and had screamed his own love back at him. 

Midoriya could have stayed on the dirty floor for hours, replaying the sound of Bakugo’s voice over and over, but he heard movement in the other room and stood to walk through the space where a door once was. The area outside the office was in even worse shape, clearly taken over by rats and homeless people. In the center of the space was an overstuffed leather chair, the kind you might find behind the desk in the other room. The chair’s leather had holes in it and seemed to be crumbling from disuse.

In the chair sat a man who looked strikingly like the Lightning Villain he had just been fighting, but instead of a red silk robe and shorts, he was wearing an expensive gray suit. The man noticed Midoriya immediately, having heard and felt him crash into the office just yards away from where he sat. His slender fingers wore several gold rings and slowly tapped the arm of the chair, waiting for Midoriya to close the distance between them. Both of them could hear the commotion above, but focused only on each other.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” Midoriya asked as he widened his stance and stabilized himself.

“I am the Storm Brother, and I’m going to take everything away from this city,” he answered calmly without moving. He had an expression of deep concentration, despite his best attempts to appear undistracted.

“You’re not taking anything from anyone. You won’t even leave this room.”

Midoriya ran at him and tackled him out of the leather chair, landing blow after blow across his face, ignoring the screaming pain in his burned left arm. The sound of someone crashing to the floor rang in the other room, but Midoriya didn’t lose focus.

“Deku!” he heard Bakugo shout. When Midoriya’s attention turned away, the Storm Brother rolled away and stood up. Bakugo’s explosions hit their mark and the Villain was back on the ground. The moment he was on his feet again, Todoroki came out of nowhere and blasted him with ice, freezing him to the wall. No matter how hard he struggled, he could not break free and gave up surprisingly quickly.

“My Lightning Brother will kill all of you! You think you’ve stopped us just because my storm isn’t raging any longer, but you’ll see!” he yelled as he thrashed about for the last time. Todoroki got in his face and grabbed him tightly by the jaw.

“The Heroes will be here any minute. You’ve already lost.”

The Storm Brother laughed.

“Why do you think we’re making such a mess? We want those good-for-nothing, overhyped, useless ‘heroes’ to show up. He’s going to take them down one-by-one with his Quirk, and prove to the world what a lie Heroes truly are!”

Midoriya pushed Todoroki out of the way and punched the Villain in the face.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about! Heroes save lives every single day and keep the world a safer place!” he shouted. The Villain laughed again and said,

“They’ve really got you convinced, don’t they? They’re only out for themselves and their glory. When the time comes for them to help, all they do is spread chaos and destruction and destroy lives. Our entire family was wiped out by a Hero who couldn’t do her job! She knew she couldn’t save them, but the cameras were watching and that was all that mattered to her. Everyone we ever loved was crushed by a building because of her carelessness! Now it’s our turn to spread pain and terror!”

Midoriya had a thoughtful look on his face for a minute before saying,

“I know the incident he’s referring to.”

Bakugo and Todoroki’s attentions were on him.

“Shortly after receiving her Hero License, Flash Dancer was on the scene of an apartment building on fire. Her Quirk was extreme speed and strength, but it only worked when music played. She carried an MP3 device with her everywhere. She had cleared almost every floor of the building when the device was crushed by falling debris and her Quirk was rendered useless. The top two levels were still filled with people, including a family of seven living in a two-bedroom apartment. Cameras recorded a red flash bursting through one of the windows, sending her nine stories to the ground.” Midoriya looked at Todoroki and Bakugo. “She was dead on impact, and the bodies of two twin brothers were never found.”

On the roof-top an intense battle raged on. The Lightning Brother was sending the strongest lightning he could at Penny, in every way he could think of. To his dismay, Penny absorbed every strike and sent it back to him without fail. The electricity didn’t hurt him nearly as much as it would have hurt someone else, but it was still doing real damage. His only hope was that she’d tire out soon, or his Storm Brother would pick up his slack.

Suddenly, the roaring storm began to break. The rain was lighter, the clouds were brighter, and the deep gray sky that was slowly turning black was now trying to fight its way back to a daylight-blue. The Lightning Brother realized something must be wrong. His brother would never let go of the storm otherwise. Dodging the strange girl’s return-strike, he leaped through the hole in the roof and into the abandoned office he knew was beneath them. With no hesitation, Penny ran after him.

When she caught up to him and the others, she saw Midoriya standing in front of a man who looked astonishingly like the one she was just fighting, but he was frozen to a wall, clearly by Todoroki’s doing. Midoriya was having serious words with the man, and the Villain who was just coming upon the scene was about to strike him down in a flash of red. Penny threw herself in front of the lightning bolt just in time to absorb it. The Lightning Brother screamed in frustration and tackled her to the floor.

She tried to rub her hands together again and he pinned her arms as he straddled her so she couldn’t touch him or clap. With his palms against her skin, he shocked her over and over until she was glowing and burning with bright red heat. The light began to fade, and he was sure she was either dead or unconscious. Eyes closed and lips sealed, she began to giggle.

“What?! What do you think you’re going to do now, pretty lady? I’m going to crush you like an insect.”

Midoriya, Todoroki, and Bakugo were two steps away from them when Penny opened her eyes and looked at Bakugo, praying he’d understand the expression on her face. He saw the irises of her eyes glowing bright scarlet and filling with fury.

“Run,” he said to the other two. As the three of them burst through the window, falling to the street beneath, Penny screamed. Every molecule of lightning the Villain had filled her with poured from her mouth in a concentrated, angry blast. When she was breathless, his body collapsed on top of her and she pushed him off, only to find a mangled, burnt stub where his head had been. 

Chapter Text

With a graceful slope of ice, Todoroki guided himself and Midoriya safely to the ground. Refusing help of any kind from Todoroki, Bakugo flew down separately. The storm had cleared completely and Heroes had arrived on the scene. Todoroki looked up a few minutes later to see Penny leaning out of the busted window, giving him a thumbs-up. She jumped out and landed on the icy slide to join the three of them. Once she was next to Bakugo, the two of them turned their attentions to Todoroki, who was holding Midoriya in his arms. 

For fuck’s sake. I can’t do this.

Bakugo abruptly looked away and started to walk the opposite direction, but Penny blocked him.

“Katsuki, this is why we’re here,” she said. “You can’t back down now just because seeing him with Shoto is hard. Get your ass over there so we can finish what we started.”

With a heavy sigh, he turned around and walked toward the man he loved. Seeing him embraced by someone else hurt his heart, but he commanded his feet to move forward nonetheless. Todoroki kissed Midoriya’s forehead and was asking if he was injured when the two of them noticed Bakugo. Midoriya’s hands were on his boyfriend’s torso, gripping his shirt as he trembled uncontrollably. The rough expression on Bakugo’s face gradually softened as he closed the distance between them. His heart raced as his eyes locked onto Midoriya’s.

“Can we talk?” Bakugo asked.

Midoriya looked up at Todoroki, who smiled gently and said,

“I should update the Heroes on the situation,” while carefully removing Midoriya’s hands from his chest. As he let go, Todoroki leaned in and kissed him.

“I’m so glad you’re not hurt,” he said before walking away.

As he passed Bakugo, he looked at him sideways with a furious and threatening spark in his eyes.

I will ruin your life if I come back and he’s crying, Bakugo.

Once they were alone, Bakugo found himself at a complete loss for words. All the time he had spent formulating that moment and he just stared, dumbfounded to be so close to Midoriya. Now that the chaos from the Villains’ attacks had subsided, there wasn’t anything distracting him. His feelings for the man standing before him bubbled up to the surface and, unable to find words, he threw his arms around Midoriya and buried his face into his hair. Midoriya was tense for a moment, then relaxed into him and allowed himself to be enveloped. Through the rain on Bakugo’s clothes and the sweat from fighting, Midoriya could still smell the sweet pine scent he had missed for months. Forcing himself to pull away, he said,

“You wanted to talk.”

It was almost painful to feel Midoriya leave his arms, but he knew the conversation needed to happen.

“I’m a fuck-up, Deku,” was the best he could come up with and Midoriya said nothing. “Were you really fine without me? Because I’ve been fucking miserable.”

Midoriya looked at his feet and silently shook his head.

“What does that mean?” Bakugo asked.

Emerald eyes shot up like daggers and Midoriya screamed,

“What do you think?! If it weren’t for Shoto, I’d probably be in a psych ward somewhere! How could you do that to me?!” he pushed Bakugo away and tried to storm off and Bakugo grabbed his arm to stop him. Midoriya stayed where he was, but couldn’t look at him.

“Were you really miserable?” Midoriya asked.

“Every moment since the day I left,” Bakugo answered.

“Good.”

The two men were silent, Bakugo’s fingers still wrapped around Midoriya’s arm.

“Look at me, Deku.”

Midoriya obediently turned and looked at him with tears in his eyes. A single droplet fell down his cheek, and Bakugo wiped it away with his thumb. Midoriya brushed him off and said,

“I’m with Shoto, you know.”

Bakugo flinched at the words. Before he could respond, he saw Midoriya looking behind him and knew Todoroki was approaching. The arrogance radiating from his body as he walked past Bakugo was infuriating, and it took all of Bakugo’s willpower not to slug him in the face.

“The Heroes have the situation handled. Is everything okay over here?” he asked Midoriya. Midoriya nodded and took Todoroki’s hand in his.

“I’m ready for a shower,” he said with a grin, taunting Bakugo as his only remaining defense. As they walked away, Bakugo said,

“I’m not leaving this time.”

Midoriya squeezed his boyfriend’s hand tightly and did not look back. Knowing he needed time to process, Todoroki stayed quiet as they walked back home. The dorm building was only two miles from the scene of the attack and Midoriya wanted the fresh air and silence. He wanted Bakugo out of his head, he wanted to be strong, and he desperately did not want to mess things up with Todoroki. Midoriya felt helpless and hopeless and shattered into a thousand pieces. He knew there was no world in which he could ignore Bakugo. His returning and telling Midoriya that he loved him was everything Midoriya’s heart ached for. But, he would not hurt Todoroki to be with someone who’d abandoned him, no matter how much they loved each other. Midoriya lamented the situation he was in, having to choose between two incredible men.

My heart is big enough for both of you…

As Midoriya was fantasizing about a life in which he didn’t have to choose, Todoroki’s heart was slowly and silently breaking. He walked alongside Midoriya, respecting his muted behavior and everything that must be going on in his thoughts, but he had a terrifying feeling that Bakugo’s return was going to be the end of them. Despite their reconciled breakup, Todoroki was more certain than ever that he wanted to be with Midoriya. He knew Midoriya’s love for Bakugo trumped how he felt for Todoroki, regardless of how strong that was. There was no amount of affection or attention that Todoroki could give that would ever compare to the history and passion Midoriya shared with Bakugo. Not wanting to stand in the way of such love, Todoroki resolved to accept Midoriya’s decision with respect and grace.

I will do whatever it is that makes you happy.

A few miles away, Bakugo and Penny sat in a cab on their way to the hotel. Penny rambled on and on about the rest of their plans, and how they were only just getting started, and how the attack had miraculously good timing. Bakugo looked out the window, staring at everything and seeing nothing. He’d meant what he said about not leaving, but he still felt stupid for coming back. Seeing Midoriya with Todoroki on screen had been awful, and seeing them together in the flesh had been earth-shattering. It was unbelievable to him that he had thought he could swoop in and confess his love, and Midoriya would drop everything to be with him again. All he had done by returning was put the man he loved in a horribly painful situation, facing a choice between someone who left him and someone who picked up the pieces. It was obvious to Bakugo that Midoriya wouldn’t leave Todoroki, and now he had no idea what he was doing there.

If Todoroki is who you want, I’ll deal with it. Somehow.

When they got back to their dorms, Midoriya followed Todoroki to his bedroom, but Todoroki stopped him. He told him that he should take the night, at the very least, to be alone and process everything that was going on. Midoriya had to figure out what kind of life he wanted to live, and who he wanted to share it with. Anything less than absolute surety would not be enough for Todoroki. There were three lives on the line and he didn’t want anyone to get hurt any more than they already had. He found it remarkably sad how much love and pain were mixed together in each of their hearts. Most of the time, he was certain that neither him nor Bakugo were good enough for Midoriya, considering all the damage they had done, and all the heartache Midoriya had suffered through. It seemed like every day something new was broken, and Midoriya deserved some peace. Todoroki would have given him absolutely anything, even if it meant giving him space, permanently or otherwise.

There had been a handful of beautiful weeks in which Todoroki and Midoriya had each other, with no distractions other than school and other mundane things. Midoriya’s longing for Bakugo had lingered for some of them, but Todoroki remembered quite well how happy he had made Midoriya once he’d let go. Those precious days had been so impactful for Todoroki that he knew the two of them were good together, and that they could be for a long time. If it weren’t for Bakugo showing up on TV, and Todoroki slapping Midoriya across the face for his reaction to it, they might be in a stronger place. It was possible to Todoroki that Midoriya wouldn’t have a second thought about who he should be with if Todoroki had kept their foundation stable. Knowing he had let his jealous and rage take over, and that it very well may have been the beginning of the end for them, was more than Todoroki could handle. He was emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted. By the time he made it to his room, undressed, and got into bed, his mind had already begun to fill with fog, and he let his dreams take over.

Cherry blossom petals fell gently from the trees, seeming to melt into pink liquid before touching the soft grass. Todoroki had been there before, though he wasn’t sure when. He stood in someone’s yard, behind an enormous white house. Intricate pillars supported the roof over an expansive porch at the end of a lovely stone pathway. As Todoroki walked the path, he marveled at the many animals in the topiary that took over the garden. Hedges shaped into an elephant, a lion, a bear, and several other creatures of strength and power kept him company along his walk to the house, which seemed to be taking far too long.

When he reached the dark blue door with its beautiful window, swirls and filigree etched into the glass, he reached for the handle and was overwhelmed with familiarity. The door vanished and he was in a hallway lined with photographs, but he couldn’t make out the faces no matter how closely he examined them. Dizziness was creeping in, and if he didn’t remember soon how he knew the beautiful manor he was standing in, he was sure his knees would buckle beneath him.

At the end of the hallway, a door stood ajar and he could hear voices. Finally, there was someone he could talk to and figure out where he was and how he’d gotten there. He peaked through the opening and saw a broad-shouldered man sitting in a leather chair. His jet-black hair looked softer than goose down, and when he laughed, Todoroki suddenly knew exactly where he was.

“Eiji!” he yelled, bursting through the doorway.

“There you are, Shoto. We’ve been waiting for you,” Todoroki’s dead lover said, shining the most brilliant white smile that he had ever seen.

Todoroki was frozen in place, certain that any movement he made would shatter whatever illusion was being cast upon him. He heard movement on the other side of the room and turned to see Midoriya lying on Eiji’s bed, shirtless and leaning against the headboard. Eiji was suddenly lying next to him, patting the middle of the bed and inviting Todoroki to join them. Todoroki looked from one man to the other, wondering how it was possible that neither of them were upset by the other man’s presence. As if reading his thoughts, Eiji said,

“Could you really ever choose between us?”

“Eiji, I love you. I don’t tell you enough. God, I love you so much. Why aren’t you here? How could you be so careless and leave me all alone?”

Eiji didn’t respond; he only held his hand out for Todoroki to take. Todoroki climbed onto the bed, scrambling to be in his embrace again after so many years without him. Eiji’s strong arms were a fraction of a second away from being wrapped around him, then

Todoroki woke up, his pillow soaked with tears, and curled himself into a ball, more aware of Midoriya’s heartache than he had ever been before.

Chapter Text

“Are you even listening to me?” Penny asked. Bakugo continued to ignore her and opened another beer. They had been in their hotel room for several hours, and all he had done was drink and stare at the wall. Stare at the ceiling. Stare at his feet. He hadn’t uttered a single word since his conversation with Midoriya, which had left him more heartbroken than he had been in New York. The last thing he wanted to do was stay there and finish Penny’s foolish plan.

“I don’t want to do this anymore,” he said. Penny rolled her eyes and stood in front of him.

“Stop pouting like a toddler just because it didn’t go exactly how you wanted it to. Did you think this would be easy?” She tapped her foot, waiting for an answer. Finally, Bakugo looked up at her and said,

“He is never going to leave him. Why would he? He’s perfect fucking Shoto,” Bakugo mocked Midoriya’s use of Todoroki’s first name, finding it completely nauseating. Penny kicked him in the shin and said,

“I never would have pegged you for the self-deprecating type. Get your ass up. We have work to do.”

He huffed and finished his beer before following her to the small desk in their room. Penny’s laptop, both of their phones, several photographs, and various other papers were carefully arranged to outline the rest of their journey. The longer they went over the details, the more ridiculous Bakugo felt, which he expressed regularly and vehemently. She reminded him why they were there, and that he was the one who called her, not the other way around.

It was after two o’clock in the morning when Penny closed her laptop and spun around in her chair, grinning ear-to-ear. Bakugo flopped onto his back on the bed, so anxious that he immediately sat back up. When he picked up the phone for room service, Penny started to chastise him.

“Fuck off. I need a drink after all that,” he said, continuing to dial.

“Okay, fine. Get champagne. We’re celebrating.”

Bakugo laughed nervously. “Celebrating what, exactly?”

“The greatest decision you’ve ever made, and coincidentally the biggest move of my career.”

Without arguing, he ordered two bottles of champagne. When it arrived, he courteously poured Penny a drink before chugging straight from the bottle. Penny looked at him from across the bed and asked,

“Wanna have sex?”

Bakugo choked on his drink and champagne sprayed onto his lap. Trying to catch his breath, he croaked,

“What the fuck, Penny?”

She fell onto her back, laughing hysterically.

“Just trying to lighten your mood. I definitely do not want to sleep with you.”

A genuine laugh escaped from Bakugo, and he reveled in the rarity of it. Then he set the bottle down on the nightstand and took his shirt off in one swift motion before slowly walking around to the side of the bed Penny was sitting on. She had a lighthearted expression on her face at first, but as he moved closer, a glimmer of fear crept into her eyes. She couldn’t help but marvel at the intense hardness of his muscles. He looked carved out of creamy, tan marble and smelled intoxicating. His arms went to either side of her, looming over her with radiating desire. Leaning in as if he were going to kiss her, all the while she trembled in disbelief, he lost his composure and a smile broke through his serious expression.

“Katsuki!” she screamed, then beat at his chest with her tiny fists. It was his turn to laugh and he said,

“Don’t pretend you wouldn’t enjoy every second of me fucking you.”

“You’re the worst!”

“You love me,” he said with a grin before walking over to his bottle of champagne and drinking several big gulps.

Penny shook her head and told him to put his shirt back on, which he ignored. The two of them finished their drinks without much more discussion, then went to bed. It was a while before they fell asleep, both of them anxious for what the morning would bring.

After only a handful of hours, Bakugo woke from a dreamless sleep to the smell of coffee. He sat up and saw Penny sitting in a chair near the window, computer on her lap, mug in her hands. For the first time, he saw her without any makeup and suddenly found her adorable.

Chill the fuck out, Katsuki. Like you don’t have enough problems?

Rightfully assuming Bakugo was not a morning person, Penny pretended not to notice him as he got out of bed and headed for the shower. When he came back out in only a towel, she blushed and looked away. He got dressed in the middle of the room and Penny sank into her chair.

“Good morning,” he said, reaching for the coffee she must have ordered for him.

“Black, right?” Penny asked, still averting her gaze.

“For a stalker, you’re awfully embarrassed to see me naked.”

“I did not see you naked!” she denied. Bakugo raised an eyebrow and she quickly added, “And I’m not a stalker! Just about every detail of your life is online. Anyone could look up how you like your coffee.”

Her comment shook him a little, reminding him of what they were waiting for. Bakugo sat down in the chair across from her and ran his fingers through his wet hair. He desperately did not want to ask her if there was any news, and she could tell, so she turned her computer around and let him see the screen for himself.

“Well, fuck,” he said.

“I’d say it’s time to head back to UA.”

“I guess it is.”

The moment they got into their cab was nearly the same moment Midoriya’s conversation with Uraraka was interrupted by a notification on her phone. Midoriya had elected to ditch his classes, considering he didn’t sleep and couldn’t focus on anything. His best friend seized the opportunity to have some alone time with him and skipped her classes, as well. When he was done dumping the previous day’s events on her, she immediately responded,

“He said he loves you?!”

Midoriya put his head in his hands. “That’s what you’re focusing on, out of everything I just told you?”

Shaking her head, she answered,

“How can you be thinking about anything else?!”

“That’s all I can think about,” he spoke into his hands. “But, I can’t believe him, can I? After everything?”

Eyes wide and mouth gaping, Uraraka exclaimed,

“He flew seven thousand miles to tell you, and screamed it on a rooftop! It’s sooo romantic!”

Midoriya was silent, his confusion deepening. He expected her of all people to remind him Bakugo was bad news. After all, she couldn’t stand him, and she saw firsthand what shape he had been in since Bakugo left. He was counting on her to center him, to plead to him how amazing Todoroki was, and how his decision should be so clear. Instead, she was steering him the polar opposite direction, as if she had forgotten about his loving boyfriend entirely.

“What about Shoto?” he said as he took his hands away from his face.

“What about him?” she answered with a puzzled expression.

Baffled, Midoriya shouted, “Uraraka! How can you say I should leave him for someone who threw me away so easily?!”

Uraraka giggled and put her hand on his arm.

“I didn’t say you should leave him, because you definitely should not. He’s amazing and would do absolutely anything for you, and I know how deeply you care for him.” She paused, giving Midoriya some time to put together what she was suggesting. When he still said nothing, she squeezed his arm and continued. “Who said you have to lose Shoto to be with Bakugo? Isn’t your heart big enough for both of them?”

The echo of his own thoughts from the day before throbbed within him. He thought she was absolutely crazy. Of course he had thought about it, and of course it sounded like bliss, but it was complete fantasy and could never actually happen. Before he could respond, Uraraka’s phone chimed and she glanced at it, then set it back on the kitchen island. After only a split second, she picked it back up and read the notification for a second time. Leaping off of her stool, she ran to the living room and turned on the TV, switching it over to the news. Footage from the Villain’s attack was playing, with Midoriya, The Lightning Brother, and Bakugo center stage.

Midoriya and Uraraka were entranced by the careful dance of the battle. It was strange for Midoriya to see himself in such a setting. Green electricity made him glow and his movements were swift and precise. The contrast between his power and the Villain’s electricity was absolutely stunning, and his obvious strength and control of the situation filled him with pride. Bakugo and Midoriya were yelling at each other throughout the fight, and Uraraka turned the volume up.

On the screen, Todoroki built his ice-prison around the Villain, and Midoriya fell onto him from the sky screaming,

“WHY DID YOU COME BACK?!”

Sitting on the couch stunned, Midoriya watched in disbelief. He had no idea how anyone could have been recording the fight, let alone the words of his reunion with Bakugo.

“Because I fucking love you!” Bakugo’s voice carried from the television, reigniting the fire that those same words had lit the day before. It had taken so much for Midoriya to put out those embers, and there they were, laid bare for the world to breathe life into.

Uraraka squealed and turned from the news to tell Midoriya how much she believed Bakugo and how happy she was for him, but an anchorwoman’s voice stopped her.

“There you have it. Another incredible display of passion from the world’s youngest and most-favored Hero, Katsuki Bakugo. Many thanks to the anonymous viewer whose Quirk assisted him in catching the beautiful exchange on camera. As a special treat, our sources have sent in a personal message from him, and we’ll play it for you right after the break.”

While meaningless commercials played, Midoriya and Uraraka stared at each other wide-eyed. Uraraka began scrolling through her social media and nearly dropped her phone when she landed on what she was looking for. Seeing the expression on her face change, Midoriya looked at her screen. Her thumb was hovering over the ‘play’ button for a video, the thumbnail of which was Bakugo. She tapped the button and he began speaking.

“I’m Katsuki Bak— Penny, this is ridiculous.”

“It was your idea,” a girlish voice said off-screen.

Bakugo was wearing a crisp black button-up shirt with the top two buttons undone, exposing his collarbones and silky-smooth skin. His backdrop was an unadorned white wall and he sat in a director’s chair, leaning back slightly with his arms crossed. He huffed and started again, looking straight into the camera.

“I’m Katsuki Bakugo. I can’t believe any of you are wasting your time watching this video, but there’s only one person who’s supposed to see it anyway. Deku, I really fucking hope you’re watching this.”

“No swearing!” the girl interjected.

“How am I supposed to — fine. I won’t swear, for fuck’s sake.”

“Katsuki!”

“It was an accident! Stop interrupting!” Bakugo uncrossed his arms, trying to appear relaxed and casual, managing instead to look like sex personified.

“For those of you who don’t already know, there’s a future Hero whose name is Izuku Midoriya, and I’ve…” Bakugo took a deep breath. “I’ve been in love with him for years, but too afraid to do anything about it. I had a chance with him and I blew it all to hell. Hell isn’t swearing, Penny, so stop looking at me like that. Anyway, there’s two reasons I’m recording this stupid thing.

“Deku, I can’t stand to be without you, and I’d give up my Quirk if it made you believe I’d never again hide us from the world. To the rest of you watching, especially those struggling to be open with your sexuality, don’t let fear run your life. Own your shit. Wave your freak flag, or whatever.”

Bakugo stood up from his chair and the screen flashed,

“#BeMoreLikeKatsuki, a Penny Lutz Exclusive”

Chapter Text

The video played on the news and Midoriya found it even less real watching it for a second time. He played it again on his phone. And again. And tried for a fifth time, but Uraraka gently took it from him. He settled into the couch, looking at the ceiling, feeling suddenly exhausted.

“What am I gonna do, Uraraka?”

“Whatever you want to,” she shrugged.

“That’s not helpful,” said Midoriya. Uraraka rested her head on his shoulder, and he instantly relaxed. He didn’t want to deal with any of this. Life was so much simpler when his biggest worries were classes and training, instead of being torn between two men and feeling like the last piece of steak. In that moment, all he wanted was his best friend, with no beautiful Heroes stealing every moment of his thoughts. It was draining to spend so much of his days thinking about Todoroki and Bakugo. Todoroki needed a lot of attention, even though he’d deny it, and Bakugo took most of what Midoriya had to offer, even though he’d been away. Midoriya had completely lost himself throughout the battles his heart had been fighting, and he was tired. Certain he couldn’t live that way any longer, he made up his mind.

“I know what I want,” he said.

Uraraka started to say something as the elevator doors opened down the hall and Bakugo stepped out. His eyes met Midoriya’s and the sight of him made Midoriya dizzy. Bakugo paused in the archway leading to the living room, and his breath caught in his throat when those lovely green eyes locked on him. He momentarily leaned against the wall, gathering himself before walking to the couch and sitting down. He watched as Uraraka kissed Midoriya’s cheek, squeezed his hand, and left without a word. Finally alone with him, Bakugo had accomplished the moment he’d been planning for.

“Deku, I—”

“I have some things I’d like to say,” Midoriya said firmly. Unsettled by the intense look on his face, Bakugo said nothing, and Midoriya continued.

“It’s incredibly selfish, the position you’ve put me in. Upending my life, trying to get in the way of my relationship, clearly expecting me to forgive you and change my whole life for you. Despite all of that, I’m overjoyed that you’re here. I need to know what changed. Why did you come back?”

The familiarity of the question tugged at Bakugo’s heart, but he knew that his previous response was not the one Midoriya wanted to hear. Ashamed of the truth, Bakugo took a while to answer.

“The documentary,” was all he said. It was impossible to speak of how maddeningly jealous he had been when he saw Todoroki’s arm around him, sitting in the spot he had marked in his mind as “theirs”.

What a stupid fucking thing to care so much about.

“You saw me with Shoto and jumped on a plane to stake your territory. Is that what you’re telling me?”

Bakugo looked out at the city through the window and nodded. Midoriya took a deep breath and said with a smile,

“Kacchan, I’m yours.”

The most delicious words in any language fell from his lips, and as Bakugo leaned in to kiss him, Midoriya’s hands flew up.

“But I’m not leaving Shoto,” he said.

Tears of frustration and extreme confusion streaked Bakugo’s cheeks. He had done everything possible to win Midoriya back, and it still hadn’t been enough. He had lost him to Todoroki, which he felt he undeniably deserved. The pain coursing through him burned intensely and he could not understand the cold determination in Midoriya’s eyes. It was surprising to Bakugo that Midoriya was capable of hurting him so pointedly. He felt attacked, his own feelings used as the weapon. If there was anything he could do to pull the knife from his heart, and from Midoriya’s, he would do it. Living the rest of his life with that feeling would be unbearable.

“I don’t want to live without you,” Bakugo pleaded, looking even smaller than he felt. Midoriya wanted to find some kind of comfort in their shared pain, learning after all this time that Bakugo had been miserable, too. He had convinced himself that leaving was easy for Bakugo, and it was clear now that it had not been. There was no one in the world that Midoriya admired more for their strength, and seeing the man he loved crumble before him was almost torture.

“Kacchan…” he whispered, cupping Bakugo’s face in his hand. Bakugo melted into his touch, tears continuing to fall. He wanted to stay that way forever, hearing his name over and over, feeling the warmth of Midoriya against him. Fearing ‘goodbye’ would be written on Midoriya’s face, Bakugo kept his eyes closed, savoring the moment for as long as Midoriya would let him.

Struggling with how to explain the thoughts racing inside of him, Midoriya silently watched Bakugo’s heart breaking. He felt selfish for what he wanted to say, certain he would only hurt Bakugo more. The words would hurt Todoroki, too, when he finally had the chance to say them to him, as well.

“I refuse to choose,” he said.

Bakugo’s eyes slowly opened, flooding with even deeper confusion than before.

“I…I want both of you,” Midoriya finally managed.

A dozen scenarios flew through Bakugo’s mind, all of which included having to watch Midoriya with Todoroki up close and personal every single day, and he felt sick. He got on his knees and put his head in Midoriya’s lap.

“Deku, I could not handle seeing you together. His hands on you. My favorite smile aimed at him. Hearing the way you say his name. Do I look strong enough for that?”

The blazing honesty and vulnerability pouring from him squeezed Midoriya’s heart, nearly erasing the convictions he had worked so hard to come to. Holding onto his resolve with all he had and pushing away the urge to kiss every inch of Bakugo, Midoriya answered,

“That’s all I have to offer, Kacchan. I absolutely refuse to choose one of you. If I’m forced to make a choice, I will choose to be alone. That would hurt far less than leaving either of you behind. My heart couldn’t bear it.”

Both men were quiet for several minutes.

“I don’t think I can do it,” Bakugo finally admitted.

“I know,” said Midoriya.

Carefully dislodging Bakugo from his lap, Midoriya stood up and started walking toward his dorm room. Bakugo tried regaining his composure, managing to sit on the couch, longingly watching Midoriya leave. Just as Bakugo was sure Midoriya would be gone without another word, Midoriya stopped with his fingers on the door handle. Without looking up he said,

“I love you, too, Kacchan,” and stepped into his room, leaving Bakugo a shattered version of himself.

Walking across the parking lot behind the dorm building, Todoroki was swarmed by reporters, journalists, influencers, and anyone who lived close enough to attack in the hours since Bakugo’s video went viral. Having no social media accounts of any kind, Todoroki was extremely confused. There were people holding signs that read “#TeamTodoroki” and “Don’t Let Him Go!” and similar proclamations. Intermingled with obvious support for Todoroki were signs that read “#BeMoreLikeKatsuki” and “Deku, Give Him Another Chance!”

It didn’t take Todoroki long to figure out what they were all referring to, but he couldn’t come up with how they knew or what inspired them to gather in masses outside of his home.

What did Bakugo do this time?

People were calling out to Todoroki, and he did his best to ignore them, but many of their comments and questions were incredibly personal and specific. He was rattled and angry, and felt more violated by the public than he ever had before.

“Todoroki, was Midoriya cheating on you this whole time?” screamed a woman with purple hair and a large camera.

“How long have you known Bakugo was in love with your boyfriend?” from a man about Todoroki’s age, dressed in a cheap suit and obviously a journalist.

He did the best he could to ignore all of them, and almost made it through the doors without saying a word, until one question was finally too much for him to avoid. A student he recognized from the General Program, with blonde hair and a short skirt, held her phone a foot away from his face and calmly asked,

“What are you going to do if they run off together?”

Todoroki’s hesitation captured the attention of the entire crowd, and silence fell over the parking lot. With his trademark neutrality he answered,

“I will respect Midoriya’s decision, whatever it may be.”

The sound of dozens of people in an uproar was immediately muffled by the doors that closed behind him. Todoroki was barely holding himself together when he leaned against the inside of the elevator, and the ride up five floors seemed to take an eternity. He wasn’t sure where Midoriya was, so he headed to his room to settle into the loneliness he felt he needed to prepare for. The very last thing he ever expected to see when he stepped out of the elevator was Bakugo lying on a couch, shaking with heartbreak and sorrow. Reflexively, Todoroki felt a glimmer of hope that Midoriya had cast Bakugo aside and would soon run into Todoroki’s arms, alight with the feelings Todoroki had patiently waited for.

However, seeing Bakugo so broken was not as enjoyable as Todoroki would have thought. His pain was Midoriya’s pain, which could only mean Midoriya was alone somewhere, feeling as miserable as Bakugo looked. Todoroki took a few steps toward the couch, unsure what he could possibly say to Bakugo, and knowing he shouldn’t really say anything. Bakugo’s eyes opened, barely registering who was standing near him.

“Why are there so many people outside, shouting our business to the entire world?” Todoroki asked, instantly regretting the harshness in his voice.

“Because I’m a fucking idiot, okay? Are you happy now? Do your fucking happy dance wherever you want, just leave me alone,” Bakugo answered, not moving from his position on the couch. He covered his face with his arm and stretched out of the ball he had been curled up in. Todoroki sat on the other couch and was silent for several minutes before carefully asking,

“Do you know where Midoriya is?”

“He’s in his room. Has been for fucking hours.”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Todoroki pried,

“Why aren’t you with him?”

Bakugo bolted upright and glared at him. “Obviously he doesn’t want me, asshole.”

Todoroki uncontrollably burst out laughing and Bakugo brought his fist back, prepared to beat the shit out of him in an instant. Shaking his head, Todoroki stood up from the couch and started to walk away. Making intense eye contact with Bakugo, he said,

“Midoriya wants you more than the sun wishes to rise, you miserable fool.”

When Todoroki turned away from him, Bakugo quietly left the building with a certainty he would never be invited back. As he made his way across the lobby downstairs, Todoroki was standing in front of Midoriya’s bedroom door, petrified. After more time than he could keep track of, he finally knocked. Midoriya’s expression was alarmingly calm when he opened the door and invited Todoroki inside.

“You weren’t in class today,” Todoroki said after several minutes of Midoriya’s determined silence.

“I had a lot of thinking to do.”

“Oh,” was all Todoroki could think to say.

“I’m not gonna choose,” Midoriya said abruptly. Reading the confusion on Todoroki’s face, he explained to him exactly what he had discussed with Uraraka, and how his conversation with Bakugo had gone. Todoroki understood the state he had found Bakugo in, and was surprised to realize he did not feel the same way. Recalling the dream of Eiji and Midoriya in vivid detail, he thought to himself for a while before taking Midoriya’s hand in his.

“I want you to be happy,” he said calmly.

Midoriya’s eyes lit up and his hands began to shake.

“You mean…”

“It’s a complicated concept, polyamory, but not impossible.”

“Polyamory?”

Pulling Midoriya close and breathing in the comforting feeling of having him back in his arms, Todoroki chuckled and said,

“You didn’t think you were the first person in history to love two people, did you?”

Midoriya pulled away, feeling dizzy and overwhelmed. Todoroki’s reaction was so far from what he had expected that he had not prepared for the possibility. He was speechless, frozen, and his heart raced along with his thoughts. So much energy bubbled up that he began to pace back and forth across the small room, unaware of the smile on Todoroki’s face. Suddenly stopping, Midoriya looked at Todoroki and asked,

“But what about Kacchan?”

Todoroki stood and closed the distance between them. He leaned in to kiss Midoriya softly, and Midoriya let him.

“Perhaps we should talk to Bakugo, if he’ll let us.”

“Okay!” Midoriya shouted gleefully, shock still coursing through him. Todoroki excused himself to take a shower and let Midoriya gather his thoughts. Sitting on the edge of his bed, barely able to contain himself, Midoriya let the possibilities wash over him.

He could see himself walking down the street, one hand in each of theirs. Eating dinner at one of Todoroki’s fancy restaurants, Bakugo refusing to wear anything but a t-shirt. Curled up on the couch between the two of them, watching one of Bakugo’s favorite old movies. He saw the two of them arguing a lot, over little things that Midoriya could always settle with calm words and gentle touches. Then he saw his bare skin against theirs, Bakugo behind him and Todoroki beneath him. The imaginary sensation of it was too much to comprehend all at once, and he was immediately centered by the surety that Bakugo would never go for it.

The door opened just in time to save Midoriya from his own anxiety, and he was thrilled to see Todoroki standing there with his hand out, ready to lead Midoriya into their future. Once they were in the lobby, he called Bakugo, who answered after one ring, and Midoriya said he wanted to meet. Bakugo let him pick the place and was stunned by his answer. After only a moment’s hesitation, Bakugo agreed.

The façade of the bar was unrecognizable in the daylight, but Bakugo had the chance to read the sign proclaiming the name of the place to be “The Dive”, which elicited a heavy eye roll from him as he walked inside. The short, blonde-haired man behind the bar was not the burly American from before, and Bakugo was thankful for it. He was uncomfortable enough and didn’t feel like being thrown out for his past behavior. He ordered a beer and sat down for a few minutes before the angst started eating at him, then decided to play a game of pool by himself while he waited. 

He wondered why Midoriya had called him so suddenly, and what the excited tone in his voice could have been for. Bakugo knew better than to assume anything, but he still found himself remarkably impatient for Midoriya to arrive. He was unsettled by Midoriya’s choice of meeting place and knew that whatever it was Midoriya planned to say, it would be huge.

After two games of pool and half of a third, he finally saw Midoriya walk through the doors, and was furious to see Todoroki following behind him.

What the fuck is he doing here?

Todoroki walked up to the bar without a word, and Midoriya raced to meet Bakugo. He crashed into him so hard that the pool stick fell from Bakugo’s hand and hit the floor with a loud CRACK. Midoriya’s arms were around Bakugo’s torso, squeezing tightly, and Bakugo was disoriented. He held Midoriya close, not knowing what to say and not wanting their touch to end. Midoriya looked up at him with green eyes as bright as the electricity of his Quirk, and a brilliant smile filling his entire face.

“Deku, what’s going on?”

“You said you don’t wanna live without me, so I’m here,” he answered matter-of-factly as he stepped away.

“I told you that I can’t see you with him. If you want—”

“Stop for a second. Just hear me out,” Midoriya interrupted, his smile never wavering. Bakugo rolled his eyes and huffed, a sound that sent Midoriya right back into his arms.

“I’ve missed you so much, Kacchan.” His face was buried in Bakugo’s chest and it muffled his words. Bakugo thought his heart might burst at the sound and feel of the man he loved. It would have been a perfect moment if not for Todoroki walking up to them, setting three drinks on a table nearby. He nudged the bottle of beer in Bakugo’s direction with a small smile. Bakugo threw his arms up and shouted,

“I told you I can’t do this! How could you possibly think bombarding me with him was a good idea? Are you trying to fucking hurt me?!”

Midoriya flinched away, but tried his bright charm a second time and reached out to Bakugo.

“Kacchan, please just—”

“No. It’s me or him, and you’ve made your choice. I’ll live with it, but I don’t have to watch it fucking happen.” Bakugo stormed toward the exit, holding back tears and explosions and rage. As he nearly ripped the door off its hinges, he stared at the ground and said with ice in his voice,

“And my name is Bakugo.”

His words electrocuted Midoriya, but only for an instant. He stared at the closed door and felt overwhelming pity for Bakugo and his inability to let himself be loved. After everything he had done to show Midoriya how he felt, he was still letting his pride get in the way. That was something Midoriya couldn’t change, and he was tired of trying to. Bakugo would always find anger where there was none. He would always seek out escape routes. He would always choose himself over Midoriya, or anyone else for that matter. In that moment of clarity, Midoriya looked for the cords that tied his heart to Bakugo’s, and felt them slowly crumble, then turn to dust. He had finally let go. 

Todoroki was stunned to see his boyfriend perfectly calm. The only expression on his face was resolution, putting a hard line across his forehead and shaping his lovely mouth into a frown. Todoroki waited for the heartache to rip through Midoriya and send him into hysteria, and when it didn’t come, he asked,

“Midoriya?”

“Let’s go home,” Midoriya responded. He took Todoroki’s hand and headed for the exit, but Todoroki was not convinced.

“Are you all right?” He stood unmoving in the middle of the bar. The smile Midoriya gave in response shook Todoroki to the core. Then Midoriya put his arms around Todoroki’s neck and kissed him softly.

“I’m so unbelievably lucky to have you, Shoto.”

Even though he was unsure how to feel about Midoriya’s drastic change in perspective, Todoroki was overjoyed at the sentiment and held him tightly, kissing the top of his head.

“As am I, my love.”

Chapter Text

With three months having passed since the Lighting and Storm Brothers attacked the city, displaying Bakugo, Todoroki, and Midoriya’s drama for all the world to see, the media had died down significantly. There weren’t people camped outside of the dorm building, waiting to catch a word or two from Midoriya. Hardly anyone even remembered who Todoroki was, other than Endeavor’s son, and it finally gave the two of them the chance to be a regular couple leading a quiet life. One they were both extremely grateful for.

Exhausted with dorm life and prying eyes, Todoroki had surprised Midoriya with a shiny silver key one evening at dinner. Midoriya had returned from the restroom to find a small white box on the table next to his wine glass. Todoroki had never given him a gift, and it looked like jewelry, so Midoriya was perplexed. His expression showed that emotion clearly, and Todoroki chuckled before saying,

“Go on, open it up.”

“What’s this for?” he asked, holding the key in the candlelight.

“Our home,” Todoroki answered. His tone was as neutral as usual and it took Midoriya several moments before fully grasping what he had meant.

“Our home?”

“The first of many, I imagine.”

Speechless, Midoriya lunged across the table to hug Todoroki, spilling his wine all over Todoroki’s white suit. Neither of them noticed, or they simply didn’t care, until a server rushed over to clean the mess, apologizing as if it were his fault. The moment he was gone, Todoroki asked,

“Do you like it?”

In response, Midoriya’s eyes filled with tears and they soon fell down his cheeks. He was desperate to see the door that belonged to the key and the two of them quickly left the restaurant. The car service pulled up to an enormous condo building with modern architecture and several-million-dollar suites going dozens of stories toward the sky. Midoriya immediately felt like an outsider, uncomfortable in the face of such luxury, and had no idea how to break it to his boyfriend that he could never live in a place like that. He stared up, up, up trying to count how many floors the building was made up of and lost track around twenty-two. He turned to let Todoroki down easily, knowing it would break his heart after all the trouble he must have gone to in order to make it happen. Todoroki was smiling, nearly laughing, and before Midoriya could say anything, Todoroki said,

“I know you better than that. Turn around.”

Glancing across the street, Midoriya couldn’t make out much. There were several tall brick buildings, dwarfed by the condo suites, but they all looked like businesses. He shrugged his shoulders as Todoroki grabbed his hand, leading him to the wonderful surprise he had been planning for weeks. To the right of the smallest brick building was a staircase leading down, similar to the way you enter a subway. Midoriya stayed at the top step when Todoroki began descending.

“In the ground, Shoto?”

“If you don’t like it, we will find something else together. Give it a chance and open the door, please.”

He met him at the bottom of the stairs and they faced a green wooden door with a very old brass handle and lock. Anxiety raced through him, recognizing the significance of where they were and what was about to happen. It was so much more than unlocking a door, and Midoriya was scared. The moment the door opened and Midoriya saw the inside, every ounce of his fear fell away.

They stepped into a long, narrow living room with the entire left wall made of exposed brick. A beautiful hardwood floor stretched from wall to wall, and a small kitchen sat on the far end of the space. There was no furniture, nothing on the cream-colored walls, and no appliances. The staircase on the right wall was made of a much darker wood than the flooring, and Midoriya flew from the bottom step to the top. He had tears in his eyes by the time Todoroki met him on the second floor. The front wall was almost entirely taken over by a window, complete with a cozy window seat and soft, green cushions. Exposed brick on the left wall matched the living room below, and caramel-colored carpet covered the floor. The entire space was barely big enough for the large bed, bookshelf, and wardrobe that were already placed inside.

Throwing himself at Todoroki and crying nonstop, Midoriya had no words to express how absolutely perfect every inch of the place was. It was astonishing to him how regularly and effortlessly Todoroki proved his love. He was certain he didn’t deserve it, after everything he’d put him through, but he planned to do everything he could to be the man Todoroki was worthy of. He showered Todoroki in kisses, stopping only to ask,

“When can we move in?”

“A moving company is packing our belongings in the morning,” Todoroki answered. His heart was filled to bursting to see so much joy in those sparkling green eyes, and to know he had been the man to put such happiness there. Midoriya’s quick, scattered kisses turned to deep, passionate ones, and they made love on the soft carpet of their new home.

The following morning, Midoriya paced through the kitchen in the dorm building, fretting over every little detail. He didn’t like strangers putting his belongings in boxes when he was perfectly capable of doing it himself, but Todoroki told him to relax and let himself be taken care of. Midoriya found the idea laughable, as if he could be calm in the midst of such excitement. He admired how Todoroki gracefully floated from one room to another, instructing the movers with kindness and respect. Neither of them gave much attention to their classmates who were watching the move with a touch of envy. 

“Todoroki is so lucky he can afford to move!” Uraraka exclaimed, once again trying to get Midoriya’s attention.

“What?” he asked, stopping mid-pace.

“I said it’s great that you guys have the money to get out of here.”

“Oh,” Midoriya said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head. “It’s…it’s Shoto’s trust fund, I guess.”

“Will you sit down, Midoriya? Spend some time with me before I never get to see you anymore!” She clasped her hands together, begging him for some affection. They missed each other since all of his focus had been on Todoroki for the last three months, and Bakugo before that. She felt so annoyed by romance ever since it got in the way of her time with her bestie.

“You can come over whenever you want!” he said, hugging her tightly.

“Please call first,” Todoroki said with a smile. “Midoriya and I won’t be spending too much time with our clothes on.”

“Shoto!” yelled Midoriya, covering his face with his hands. Todoroki kissed his cheek, adoring his modesty even after everyone within two stories had heard their passion throughout many nights.

“Your favorite red is in the cabinet. Please have a glass and calm down, my love. I have everything under control.”

His new pet name always melted Midoriya’s heart, immediately having a soothing effect on his mood. Watching Todoroki walk away, Midoriya couldn’t help but focus on the sway of his hips and the slightly snug way his pants fit around his ass. He couldn’t wait to see him naked in their home, after hours of being in bed.

And on the couch, and on the floor, and on the stairs.

“Hello?!” Uraraka yelled. “You can look at his cute butt anytime you want. Come have lunch with me, pleeease!”

Midoriya sighed, swooning over his lover as if they had just met. Untangling his thoughts from all the things he wanted to do with Todoroki in their apartment, he agreed to go out with Uraraka. Todoroki kissed him goodbye and pushed him toward the elevator hallway, telling both of them to take their time and have fun. He offered to buy their lunch, but Midoriya refused, trying to hold onto a modicum of independence. His savings were running out fast and he would have to get a civilian job pretty soon. Todoroki would hate the idea, saying he’d be happy to take care of financial burdens if it meant Midoriya could relax and focus on school and Hero work. Midoriya was dreading the conversation and brought it up with Uraraka.

“You silly boy,” she said. “Just because he wants to take care of you doesn’t mean he’d be upset about you working. If he was happy to share you with Bakugo, I’m sure he’d be happy to share you with an employer.”

The mention of Bakugo was nonchalant, and Midoriya found no painful impact when hearing the words. He was happy and wished for Bakugo to find happiness, too. Whatever that looked like for him. Midoriya had given up on trying to understand him, and rarely thought of him at all since the scene in The Dive. If Bakugo wanted to be left alone, Midoriya could do that. He would always love him, which did bring about heartache occasionally, but love was not enough.

Shifting his thoughts from his ex-lover to his best friend, he asked what she wanted for lunch and they went to her favorite ramen place. Afterward, she convinced him to go shopping with her and they spent the entire afternoon, arm in arm, talking about classes, family, clothes, movies. The topic of boys and love never came up, and both of them were grateful for it. On their way back to the dorms, a light rain began to fall.

“I just love the rainy season,” Uraraka said. Midoriya did not like the rain whatsoever, so he just smiled and said nothing. He wondered to himself where his dislike for an entire season had come from, and realized it was because Bakugo had always hated it. His Quirk was difficult to use in the rain, and Midoriya subconsciously avoided it the same way Bakugo had. He shook the thought the best he could, feeling he had spent enough time thinking about Bakugo for one day. 

When Uraraka parked in the parking lot behind the dorm building, they noticed the moving truck was gone. Midoriya was anxious to see his room emptied, but when he got upstairs, he felt sadness for the end of a chapter in his life. Instead of bare carpet in his room, he saw the note Bakugo had slipped under his door. As he walked down the hallway, he could feel his bare feet on their way to one of the best weekends of his life, in Bakugo’s bedroom. He entered the living room to see both couches empty and stared at the corner cushion he had shared with Bakugo. The kitchen cupboards reminded him of all the cooking Bakugo had done one morning for the two of them.

He tried to hold onto his hard-earned strength. He tried to stand with a straight face and feel nothing. He stood in the kitchen and gripped the counter of the island, forcing himself not to react to the memories flooding through him. But his heart took over and his mind filled with the imaginary smell of sweet pine soap, and he fell to his knees. Uraraka did her best to understand the emotional turmoil he was experiencing and reached out to rub his back.

“I’m fine,” he snapped, pressing his fists into his eyes until it hurt. He got back on his feet and calmly walked down the hallway, past the elevator full of more memories, and down the stairs to the lobby. Uraraka did not follow him. Instead, she sat on the floor in the middle of his old bedroom and cried his tears for him.

On his way to the apartment, Midoriya chastised himself for letting Bakugo invade his thoughts on arguably the most important day of his relationship with Todoroki. He was thankful for the thirty-minute drive as he centered himself, hoping to arrive at his new home full of excitement with no sign of the pain and anger he’d left the dorms with. Midoriya took one last deep breath before thanking the driver and stepping onto the sidewalk. When he crossed the street, he felt ridiculous for feeling the need to force his happiness into existence. Knowing he was walking toward an incredible future was more than enough to wipe away the last lingering cobwebs of Bakugo memories.

Midoriya burst through the green door to see Todoroki gently placing wine glasses in a cabinet, wearing silver satin pajama pants and nothing else. He ran up to him and hugged him around the waist, squeezing a little too hard, and Todoroki laughed, the sound dancing through the apartment like music from a piano. Midoriya had never heard him laugh so freely.

“Did you have a good time with Uraraka?” he asked. Midoriya pulled away just enough to look up at him, stunned by the intensity of his beauty when it was transformed by such overwhelming joy. There had always been doubt in his eyes and a big piece of his heart holding back, but he was finally ready to give everything he had in him.

“I missed you,” Midoriya answered. Todoroki kissed him and pulled his hand downward.

“I’ve missed you, too,” he whispered against Midoriya’s lips. Midoriya grinned and moved his kisses to Todoroki’s chest. He flicked his tongue across Todoroki’s nipple and heard a small sound of anticipation escape him. His kisses moved lower, landing on the small trail of red and white hair that led from his belly button into his pants. He played with the silky fabric’s edge, not moving them toward the floor at all. Todoroki found that maddening and dropped his pants to the ground, kicking them across the wooden floor. He grabbed a fistful of Midoriya’s hair and pulled him closer until Midoriya grabbed his hips and filled his mouth with Todoroki’s hardness. With weak knees, Todoroki stumbled backward and gripped the edge of the counter to balance himself while Midoriya slicked him with wetness and brought his erection to its absolute fullest. When Todoroki’s breath became short and his eyes couldn’t stay open, Midoriya pulled away, stripped naked, and moved to sit on the stairs. Aching for Midoriya to be inside of him, Todoroki hurriedly followed him and dropped to his knees two steps below where Midoriya had sat down. He kissed Midoriya’s inner thigh, biting just a little.

“Bite down harder,” he said breathlessly. Todoroki obliged and Midoriya bit his lips, finding the pain exquisite. Moving to his shaft, Todoroki slowly licked him up and down, savoring him like a popsicle on a summer day. He moved to straddle Midoriya, grabbing Midoriya’s hand and putting two of his fingers into his mouth, begging Midoriya to curl them against his favorite spot. Midoriya loved the sounds Todoroki made when he slowly, gently caressed the sweet firmness inside of him. After only a few strokes, far less than Todoroki wanted, Midoriya pulled his hand away and held it out for Todoroki to spit in, which he did. It was his least favorite way to slick Midoriya’s cock, but Midoriya thought it was delightfully filthy and wet himself with it before spreading Todoroki’s legs and opening him up to him. Midoriya leaned back and put his hands behind his head, drinking in the delicious sight of Todoroki doing the work. Todoroki craved the presence of Midoriya so much that his hands were shaking, and the feeling of just the head inside of him was enough that he lost his footing and fell full-force onto Midoriya, plunging every last bit of Midoriya inside of him.

Todoroki cried out in pain and didn’t want to move, knowing his body hadn’t had enough time to warm and get ready for the deliriously wonderful cock he was now wrapped around. He tensed and Midoriya reflexively arched himself into Todoroki, even though he could not possibly get any deeper. Todoroki took a deep, shaky breath and braced himself against the stairs, slowly pulling Midoriya out of himself. Midoriya told him to hold himself up, scooted down a few steps until his face was under Todoroki’s ass, and licked his entrance.

“Yes…” Todoroki whispered, pressing himself against Midoriya’s mouth, who moaned into him and felt Todoroki shiver. He played with Todoroki’s hole with anxious fingers and an exploring tongue until he was thoroughly wet and warm, then moved up so his hips were between Todoroki’s legs once more. Todoroki could barely wait for Midoriya to lean back and settle into his previous position before lowering himself back where he so desperately wanted to be. Midoriya’s cock fit inside of him with ease and he gradually took in every inch of him. He rocked against Midoriya, moaning with every thrust, and Midoriya sat as still as he could manage. When Todoroki’s rhythm sped up, Midoriya stroked his cock in time with his movements, saying over and over,

“Come for me…come for me…” until Todoroki groaned and erupted all across Midoriya’s chest and the stairs, then fell limp onto his chest. Gripping his hips tightly, Midoriya controlled Todoroki’s ass, grinding himself as deep and hard into him as he could until his orgasmic shouts echoed through the bare apartment. Todoroki rolled off of him and they laid on the stairs, looking into each other’s eyes with desire and satisfaction. A few moments of catching their breath passed and Todoroki started to stand. Midoriya pulled him in for a deep kiss and said,

“I do love you, Shoto. You said before that I didn’t, but I do. And I know you love me, too. You don’t have to say it.”

Pushing the green curls out of Midoriya’s eyes, Todoroki kissed him again and replied,

“Welcome home, my love.”      

Chapter Text

For the first time in weeks, someone had invited Bakugo to a live interview with the pretense of discussing what he’d been up to since the media attention had died down. He wasn’t interested in being on some stupid talk show, but Penny convinced him it was good for his future to shine a positive light on his life instead of letting the world come up with all sorts of ugly ways to discuss the video he had posted. The entire ordeal was secretly mortifying to him and talking about it was the absolute last thing he wanted to do. However, Penny was always right regarding those matters, and he trusted her, as strange as that felt.

She had almost persuaded him to wear a nice button-up shirt on the show, but he ultimately refused and wore a plain black t-shirt and his leather jacket, like he did every day. There was a mic being clipped to his jacket by a very young producer’s assistant whose fingers were trembling the entire time. He gently grabbed her small hands and said,

“Let me do it, okay?” with an unfamiliar softness in his voice. It was obvious that his presence shook her to her core, whether it was out of desire or fear he didn’t know. The mic was situated and he was being signaled that it was almost his time to walk onto the set. He crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, but Penny said,

“Loosen up, babe. It’ll be fine,” so he dropped his tension the best he could before the final signal was given. He heard the hostess of the show announcing him in a glorified manner, then he stepped out from behind the curtains. Stage lights were always too bright for him and he squinted as he walked to the red tufted sofa. When Penny stepped out the live studio audience cheered even louder and she blushed as she sat and scooted next to Bakugo. The light went on for the audience to be silent, and the hostess shined a fake TV smile before turning her attention to the two of them.

“Welcome, you two! It’s such a treat to have you here today.”

“Don’t you say that to everyone?” Bakugo asked, rolling his eyes again. The crowd laughed and Penny smacked his thigh.

“Katsuki, come on,” she said. Bakugo huffed and crossed his arms before immediately uncrossing them again.

“Penny says I have to play nice,” he said, attempting to be lighthearted. Laughter was heard throughout the studio, so he assumed it was at least half-working. For about six minutes they discussed mundane matters that Bakugo was expecting, but he was waiting for the real reason he was invited.

“So, Bakugo. There’s one pretty big question that is on everyone’s mind lately. Can you guess what it is we are all dying to know?”

“I wouldn’t dream of understanding you people,” he answered. Everyone laughed again, but he wasn’t joking.

“Please, tell us about the lovely young woman sitting beside you! We know practically nothing about her.”

“This is Penny Lutz, which I’d bet money you already know. She’s a journalist from the US. What else is there?” Bakugo wasn’t surprised, considering they were in public together all the time, and he was relieved that the big question wasn’t about Midoriya.

“Now, don’t play around with us. Yes, we know who she is, but we want to know what she’s doing next to you. The two of them look rather cozy, don’t they?” she directed at the audience. Everyone shouted and cheered and got far more dramatic than Bakugo felt was necessary. Surprising every person who was watching on set and on a TV somewhere, Bakugo smiled. He put his arm around her and pulled her close before saying,

“She’s my best friend,” and planting a soft kiss on her cheek. The audience erupted with excitement and Penny took the moment to grab his face and kiss his lips, sending the crowd into even further frenzy. People started throwing things at the stage and standing up clapping and Bakugo couldn’t take it anymore. The hostess said her nonsense and wished them well, and Bakugo yanked the mic from his jacket before handing it to the assistant. Penny did the same, and they left the building.

The fresh air and near-silence calmed the buzzing in Bakugo’s mind almost as much as Penny’s delicate fingers wrapping around his. She was therapy and medicine he’d never expected, and remembering the first night they spent together always brought on a genuine smile and a throbbing erection.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked when she noticed his grin. He slapped her ass and answered,

“What a good fucking girl you are.”

She smiled up at him so hard that her eyes were closed.

“Thank you, sir.”

Bakugo abruptly slammed her against the wall of a building and towered over her.

“Are you trying to get fucked right here on the street?”

Penny giggled and shook her head.

“You just like getting me all worked up, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir.”

He released her and they walked along the sidewalk aimlessly, fingers laced together the entire time. Before long, their sexual tension was impossible to ignore and they took a cab back to Bakugo’s apartment. Penny had had plans to go back to the US, but then their night together happened and she never made her flight. He told her she could crash with him as long as she wanted, and that was two months ago. She was an absolute disaster to live with, leaving a mess everywhere she stepped, but Bakugo barely noticed. They spent most of their time in bed, in the shower, in the stairwell. Once in the maintenance closet. On the roof a few times. Very discreetly in a cab or two.

Bakugo found every last thing about her desirable. She was less than five feet tall, barely weighed a hundred pounds, and he could throw her around a room as easily as tossing a pillow. Her experience in submission was apparent, she never asked for anything, and she was always honest with him. Sex brought them together, but he wasn’t lying when he said she was his best friend. It was effortless to be around her and she never made him feel like he needed to change.

She found him absolutely fascinating every moment of the day, and she had learned he was incredibly intelligent despite the way he projected himself. His overpowering strength made her toes curl, the way he said her name felt sinful, and she’d never in her life had more fun with anyone. Even when they were doing nothing, he was pleasant and funny company. Part of her felt sad that the rest of the world had this horribly grumpy image of him, but the other part of her was deliriously happy to be the only person who knew his secret identity. The only person other than Midoriya, that was.

It was obvious to her that he was still, and would always be, madly in love with Midoriya. She knew they should be together, and she found opportune moments to remind him of that, like the time he stopped talking mid-sentence when someone with curly green hair walked by them in the market.

“Just call him,” she would say.

“He doesn’t want to hear from me,” was the most she’d ever gotten out of him, if he said anything at all. They never had sex on those days, and he usually stayed quiet until the following morning. Penny gave him the space he needed, but she had no plans to drop the subject entirely. It was true love and she was a romantic. She knew Midoriya was missing him just as much.

The night following the interview on the talk show, Bakugo was especially quiet. She had her head on his chest in bed and he was playing with her hair in a way that made her want to purr like a kitten.

“Katsuki?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he answered, knowing she was going to ask about his silence.

“Is it Midoriya?”

Bakugo was silent and his fingers stopped twirling in her hair. She sat up and the black sheet fell, exposing her breasts and tiny waist. Bakugo reached over, playing with one of her nipples until it was firm enough to pinch, and she smiled as she batted his hand away.

“Do you like me less because you love him so much?”

“What?” He flinched at her question. She pulled the blankets up to cover her naked torso and tried again.

“You’re into me, right? For more than sex?”

“Little girl, you know I am. What does that have to do with him?”

“That’s exactly my point!” she shouted. “You like me and you love him. Neither of those feelings take away from the other.”

“This again? Look, Penny, it’s not that I don’t believe he can love both of us. I know he can, because his stupid fucking heart really is that big.” Bakugo sat up and wished he had a cigarette, a habit he had left back at Britany’s house.

“I just can’t watch him love someone else, knowing it would be only me if I had stayed. I could have stopped all of this if I hadn’t been such a fucking coward. Todoroki is nothing but a giant neon sign blinking to the world how miserably I fucked up.”

“You have to stop obsessing over the past, babe. He gave you a real chance to be with him, and whether or not you want to accept it, it’s still on the table. He still loves you.”

“He does not,” Bakugo said, turning away so she didn’t see his tear fall. “He chose that perfect fuck, Todoroki, and the entire world knows it.”

Penny got off the bed, threw on her robe, and stood in front of him. He stared at her, in her beautiful fury, and she slapped him across the face.

“Time for the hard fucking truth, Katsuki,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “He did not choose Todoroki. You chose to walk away for a second time. You’re so ashamed of your cowardice? Bullshit. Because if you were, you would have been brave enough to at least try! You didn’t even give it a second thought. The man you’ve loved since you were children handed you his heart on a silver fucking platter and you decided you’d rather have gold.” She shook her head and closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers. “What do I have to say to get you to understand?”

Bakugo had averted his gaze and would not answer her question, because he truly did not have an answer. She leaned in, kissed him quickly, and grabbed a pillow from the bed.

“I’m going to sleep on the couch. I’m not mad, but you think better when you’re alone. Cry if you want to. Jerk off if you want to. I don’t care. But I would really appreciate a fucking answer in the morning. You act like your pain doesn’t hurt me, but it does. Please stop hurting me. Okay?”

Even though she was worked up so much, the moment her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep. Bakugo stared at the ceiling in the other room, unmoving. After a while he wondered if he had even been blinking, then looked at the clock to see it was after two in the morning.

“Do you like me less because you love him so much? What do I have to say to get you to understand?”

Penny’s questions played through his mind, over and over, and he grasped for answers in the depths of his thoughts. He realized that one of the reasons he was so quick to refuse Midoriya’s proposal was because of all the years he had fantasized about the two of them. The idea that another person could possibly be involved had shattered that dream, but here Penny was, proving how ridiculous that reaction had been. He could easily imagine having both of them by his side, and actually loved the idea, but it was an intense battle to give Midoriya the same chance.

It was painful, nearly impossible, to admit to himself that Todoroki made him feel inadequate. He was more suited for Midoriya, sophisticated, composed, admired, with plenty of money and influence. He could give everything to Midoriya that he could ever want, and Bakugo had nothing in comparison. Even if he found it within himself to reach out, he had no idea what he would say.

All I have to offer is my heart, and what is that even worth?

He knew Penny would say that it was all Midoriya ever wanted, and he knew she was right. Bakugo never wanted anything from Midoriya other than to exist next to him, and to fill the hole inside of him that had been there his entire life. He wondered if Midoriya had a missing piece, too, then realized of course he did. Bakugo had torn it from his chest with his bare hands, which meant he was the only person who could give it back. With the smallest shred of hope in his heart, he fell asleep.

Unsurprisingly, he woke up before Penny did. Her internal clock had somehow aligned with his, and her eyes never opened a moment before his. He started a pot of coffee and took a shower, then stepped into the living room to see her yawning and stretching her arms over her head. Bakugo brought her a cup of coffee on his way to sit at the dining table, where he stared intently at a blank page of a notebook.

“Good morning,” she said, holding the warm mug close to her face. He looked up with a smile that reached his eyes and made them sparkle.

“Good morning, little girl. How did you sleep?”

“Fine. What’s got you so happy?” she asked as she set her coffee on the table and curled up in his lap. Her remarkably petite frame fit so nicely in his arms, he put his pen down and squeezed her, kissing the top of her head. Soft black hair fell to her waist, a stunning contrast against her pale skin, always reminding Bakugo of a porcelain doll.

“I feel…better today,” he finally answered, unsure how to put into words the cause of his impenetrable joy. He patted her butt and gently pulled her off of him, eliciting a small whine. She gave him her best pouty face and sat in the chair next to him.

“Yes, you’re very cute,” he laughed, “but I have something I want to figure out, and you’re too distracting.” Penny rolled her eyes and huffed, doing a very accurate Bakugo impression, which deepened his smile and almost had him scooping her up to do all the nefarious things she so clearly wanted to do. As much as he would love to indulge her, he had to work through the racing thoughts in his head, and the only way he could think to do it was to start writing them all down until one of them made sense.

“Sir?”

“Don’t even try it,” he answered, scribbling down the first thing that came to mind.

“But—”

“Go work on your Japanese lessons in the bedroom,” he said without looking up.

“Aww. Katsuki, I—”

Bakugo glared at her, only half-serious, knowing she loved being given orders as much as he loved handing them out. Without a word, Penny stormed off and went to do as she was told.

Fuck, she’s adorable when she pouts. Do not follow her. Focus, Katsuki. Focus.

After an hour of purging his thoughts, Bakugo felt decidedly lighter. He read the pages over and over, crossing off some things, underlining others. It was strange to be dissecting every little bit of his conscience, considering he had always done his best to shove everything deep down inside of himself. When he felt he had gone as far as he could on his own, he called for Penny to help him. She was still in her robe with messy hair and bare feet when she sat down.

“What can I do for you?” she asked in Japanese.

“Good girl,” he said. “Take a look at these.”

She slid the notebook over to her end of the table and started reading with a curious expression on her face. Before long, her eyes widened and she flipped the pages back and forth, forth and back, having a hard time believing what was written in front of her. Taking the pen from him, she scribbled out most of what he had put down, circled a few words, drew stars next to some, then found a blank page. She wrote furiously, her handwriting barely legible as Bakugo watched her take his gibberish thoughts and rearrange them into poetry. After filling a page, she tore it out of the notebook, crumpled it, and threw it over her shoulder onto the white tiled floor. The second page she filled was written more neatly with fewer words.

“There,” she said matter-of-factly. “Does that sound about right?”

 Bakugo quickly read her version of his thoughts, then reread it slower, then again even slower. It was amazing to him how she could see so much of what he was trying to accomplish, without him ever having to say a word about it. He knew she was a great writer and entertainer, but it was her ability to translate his nonsense into something comprehendible that he found so enthralling. With an enormous weight off his shoulders, he closed the notebook and exhaled heavily, running his fingers through his hair.

“It’s perfection. Thank you so much,” he finally said. Penny climbed onto his lap once more, kissing his neck and nibbling his ear. She nuzzled the hollow of his throat with her nose and made a whimpering sound.

“Is there something I can do for you?” Bakugo teased, knowing very well what she wanted. Penny pressed her body into him, grinding her ass against his lap. When she felt his erection start growing, she untied her robe and tossed it to the ground. She straddled him, sitting up straight enough that her breasts were in his face and her hair cascaded around them. Bakugo simultaneously gripped her waist and bit her nipple, moaning with it between his teeth. She put her hands on the back of his chair and lowered herself closer to him, a quiet, “Mmm…” escaping her.

“How badly do you want it?” Bakugo asked, taking his hands and mouth off of her. Letting go of the chair, she looked into his eyes and said,

“Please play with me. I’ll do anything.”

He raised an eyebrow and half-smiled. Penny grabbed one of his hands and put it between her legs so he’d feel just how much she craved him. Curling his fingers inside of her, Bakugo jerked her closer and she let out a small yelp.

“I’ll be your fuck stick,” he said, “but I’m not doing an ounce of the work.” Then he let go of her and put his hands behind his head, leaning back in the chair. Quickly standing up, Penny unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them down just past his knees. They didn’t need to come all the way off for what she wanted to do. Then she pulled his shirt over his head and showered his chest with kisses and nibbles as she stroked his hardness, making sure he was every bit as full as he could be, so that she could be, too.

Even as thick as he was, when she turned around and backed herself onto him, his cock slid into her perfectly and she threw her head back as she moaned. She had to slowly move her hips just right, taking him in only an inch or two at a time, or she’d hit the end of herself too soon and be in pain. When she was soft and warm all the way through, she leaned away from Bakugo and gripped the edge of the table. Biting her lip, Penny rocked herself in a slow rhythm until she heard Bakugo’s breathing speed up. She knew he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off of her for long, so she maintained the calm pace, and patiently waited for him to grab her hips. 

Gripping the seat of the chair, Bakugo closed his eyes and his head went back, reveling in the feel of Penny’s tight, warm entrance. The wetness inside of her was a marvelously different feeling than lubricant inside a man’s ass, and the sensation filled Bakugo with a primal urge to grab her and fuck her senseless. His hands remained on the chair, but his willpower was dwindling. When he opened his eyes, Penny was looking over her shoulder at him, biting her lip and smiling as she pulled the curtain of her raven hair to one side of her neck, exposing her entire back and the meaty part of her shoulder that Bakugo loved to sink his teeth into.

She knew all the tricks and teases to get him to falter, and she could tell how close her success was. Her slow, gentle rocking gradually came to a full stop, and Bakugo knew exactly what she was about to do. He reached up to grab her hips, but it was too late. Penny stood up abruptly, disconnecting herself from him entirely, giggling all the while. Bakugo stood with her, knocking the chair to the ground, and towered over her until she laid flat on her back on the table. With a devilish smile, she rolled to one side, trying to escape from under him, and squealed when he stopped her.

“You think this is funny, little girl?” he asked, sweating and shaking from maintaining his composure as best he could. Penny’s smile widened and she paused a moment before nodding.

“Yes, sir.”

Tipped over the edge of control, Bakugo growled and pulled her delicate legs around him, penetrating her hard and deep. The smile on her face vanished and was replaced with a delicious expression of pain from being filled too quickly by Bakugo’s ample hardness. He picked her up, keeping her wrapped around him, and took her into the bedroom where he slammed her hard against a wall. She yelped in pain as he pinned her there, stretching one leg upward at an awkward angle, opening her up to him even more. It was impossible to fit every inch of himself inside of her and it drove him mad, so he tried to anyway.

“Sir, that hurts,” she could barely get out. With extreme frustration, he pulled out a fraction of an inch, and she thanked him. He reached for the drawer on the bedside table and pulled out her favorite toy.

“Yes, please. Please, please, please,” she begged. Bakugo leaned forward, bit down on her shoulder, stabbed her with as much of himself as her body could possibly allow, hurting her so badly that a tear fell down her cheek. The moment he saw the tear, he clicked on the taser and pressed it against the soft flesh of her side. Penny cried out in pleasure as her body started to glow a soft blue, and Bakugo thrust himself into her, never letting up on the grip his jaw had on her. He fucked her wildly, an absolutely crazed look on his face that her closed eyes couldn’t see.

“Look at me,” he growled. When she opened her eyes, the deep brown of her irises was replaced by blue lightning, and Bakugo felt her entire body tense around him as the orgasm ripped its way through her. The feel of a body that was already too small for him growing even smaller pulled his climax from him and he emptied himself in three final, painful pumps. He turned off the electroshock gun and dropped it to the floor, very carefully exiting her and laying her on the bed. She was shaking, and crying a little, from both pleasure and pain. He covered her with her favorite soft blanket, spooned her and held her in his arms as he ran his fingers through her hair, untangling the mess he had made of it.

“Good girl,” he whispered. “I’m right here, whatever you need.”

Small hiccups bubbled up from inside her, and she pulled his hand from her hair to wrap it around her waist.

“Tell me again, sir,” she said so quietly he could barely hear.

“You are such a good girl. The best good girl in the world. You do such a good job taking this cock. I’m so proud of you.” Bakugo smiled and kissed her neck. Penny returned the smile, curling up into an even smaller ball, and pressed herself against him. He touched every inch of her skin that he could reach, keeping his mouth and nose near her neck so she could feel his warm breath against her and know that he was not going anywhere. Before long, she felt the wonderful sensation of being protected at all costs, and let herself drift off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Life was entirely different now that Todoroki and Midoriya were living together. The commute to classes was taking some adjusting, but they were deliriously happy otherwise. The two men found that they never wanted to leave the apartment or the bubble they had created. Their new world was filled with everything they had ever wanted, and there was no need to go out for dinner, or to the movies, or dancing; they could do all of those things at home. Someday they would return to venturing out into the world, but for now, they would spend every spare moment acting as if they were the only two people on the planet.

Watching Midoriya teach himself how to cook was by far Todoroki’s favorite part of their domestication. He wasn’t very good at it, but he was determined to give Todoroki a slice of the cuisine he was accustomed to. Todoroki reminded him every day that that wasn’t necessary, but it was half-hearted. He loved good food and was as particular as Midoriya accused him of being. He would sit in the window seat with a book, one knee bent and one leg dangling toward the floor, sneaking glances as Midoriya fretted from the counter to the stove to the tiny pantry.

“I can feel you watching me, Shoto,” he said one quiet Sunday evening.

“I enjoy watching you,” said Todoroki

“You make me nervous and I’m gonna burn something.”

You will likely burn something anyway, my love.

Todoroki kept the thought to himself and tried to go back to reading. Not long after, there was a loud CRASH from the kitchen and it was all he could do not to laugh. Midoriya was muttering to himself, clinging and clanging on everything as he cleaned up what Todoroki could only assume was quite a mess. There was a brief moment when the apartment was filled with a delicious aroma, but before Todoroki could voice his approval, the smell quickly turned to something akin to a campfire, and he stayed quiet.

“I need your help and you’re not allowed to laugh,” Midoriya admitted. Todoroki held back his smile and stepped into the kitchen to see what he could do. The problem was immediately identifiable as a small fire, which Todoroki’s frost quickly extinguished, and he was unsuccessful in his attempt not to laugh.

“Shoto, I’m sorry…” said Midoriya, staring at the floor. Todoroki embraced him and smiled into his hair.

“There is no need for apologies, my love. I’ll have something delivered and you can try again tomorrow. How does that sound?”

Midoriya shrugged and wrapped his arms around Todoroki’s torso. His phone began to ring on the counter behind him and he had no interest in looking to see who it was.

“Let it go to voicemail,” Midoriya said. Assuming it was Uraraka, Todoroki reached for it, knowing Midoriya would want to talk to her, regardless of his words. When he saw the name on the screen, Todoroki’s blood went cold and his arms dropped to his side.

“It’s Bakugo,” he finally said. Unable to pick the phone up and hand it to Midoriya, he took two steps backward and practically fell into a dining chair. Midoriya stared at it, buzzing on the countertop, frozen in place. The moment Todoroki was certain Midoriya was in fact going to let it go to voicemail, Midoriya surprised him and quickly answered.

“H…hello? Um, I…I’m good.” He looked at Todoroki. “He…he’s good, too.” Midoriya didn’t say anything for several minutes. Then, “Oh. Um…I…I don’t know, Kac— Bakugo. I don’t think— Yes, okay. I’ll tell him. Uh-huh. Sure. You…you, too. Okay. B…bye.”

Midoriya hung up and set the phone down. He silently walked to the wine cabinet that Todoroki had surprised him with a few days after they’d moved in. His hands were shaking slightly as he reached for the corkscrew and tried to open a bottle. Todoroki took it from him and twisted it into the cork, ripping it out of the glass in one fluid motion, then poured Midoriya’s drink for him. He leaned backward against the counter and crossed his arms, waiting patiently for Midoriya to speak. Midoriya drank the entire glass of wine before meeting Todoroki’s eyes.

“He…he wants to talk to us,” he said quietly.

“Us?” Todoroki asked, immediately suspicious.

“That’s what he said,” Midoriya shrugged.

“Do you want to?”

“Only if you do,” he answered honestly.

“Why on Earth would I want to speak with Bakugo?” asked Todoroki incredulously.

“Because…because he told me to tell you that you’re the one he really wants to talk to.”
            “Bullshit,” Todoroki said, slamming his fist onto the counter. Midoriya flinched away.

“Can we just pretend he didn’t call and go back to our night together, Shoto?”

“Do you really think you can do that?” Todoroki asked with malice in his voice.

“I’d like to try,” admitted Midoriya.

“My appetite has suddenly vanished.”

Without another word, Todoroki went upstairs. Midoriya didn’t follow him. They were both angry that their beautiful little world had been interrupted, and wordlessly knew they would have to settle their feelings separately. Todoroki laid in bed fully dressed, staring out the window and praying for a way to let his rage go. He’d finally been given the chance to build a world for Midoriya, and that world was being threatened by a man who had no business even thinking Midoriya’s name.

He was just about to head downstairs and ask Midoriya to come to bed when Midoriya ascended to their bedroom and crawled in next to him. They undressed and Midoriya curled himself around the back of Todoroki, holding him tightly. Neither of them slept very well, tossing and turning throughout the night. Todoroki woke up alone and heard the shower running, then went downstairs to make coffee. It wasn’t often that Midoriya required caffeine for his mornings, but Todoroki felt dysfunctional without it. His French press was adorned with a small yellow sticky-note that read, “XOXO”, and Todoroki grinned at the knowledge that his love had thought about him the moment his eyes had opened.

As he reached out to grab a mug from the cupboard, Todoroki noticed Midoriya’s phone on the counter. He stared at it for a while, his hand still hovering in the air with the mug. The thoughts going through his mind were unlike him, but they raced along nonetheless. He listened to see if Midoriya’s shower was still going, and when he determined it was, he picked up the phone and dialed a number. After only two rings,

“Good morning,” Bakugo answered with sleep in his voice. “I’m happy you—”

“It’s not Midoriya,” Todoroki said. Silence from the other end. “If it’s me you want to talk to, then I will humor you, but it will be on my terms. Midoriya is leaving for class soon and he doesn’t know I’m speaking with you. I will tell him after I hear whatever bullshit you have to say, because I don’t trust you for one moment. You can meet me at ourhome in an hour.” He gave the address and promptly hung up, deleting the call from the phone’s history before setting it back where he found it. He was disgusted by his deceit, but would be honest with Midoriya later.

Soon after, Midoriya came bounding the stairs in a rush, green curls still wet and only one sock on. He smiled at Todoroki and quickly kissed him, frantically searching the apartment for what Todoroki could only assume was the same item he’d misplaced every other morning they’d lived there.

“My love,” Todoroki said calmly, a gentle and handsome smile on his face.

“Morning. Sorry, I’m looking for…can’t find my…”

“My love,” he repeated, nearly laughing. When Midoriya finally focused on him, he held out his hand to give him the ID badge he needed to get into every one of the UA campus buildings. Midoriya exhaled heavily and shoved it in his pocket, then put on his missing sock.

“What would I do without you?”

“You’ll never have to find out,” Todoroki answered, pulling him in for a kiss. “You’re going to be late.”

“Crap! Okay. See you in combat training later?” He glanced at the clock on the stove. “Crap, crap, crap! Okay, bye!”

Todoroki closed the door behind him and began his typical morning routine of coffee and cleaning. Midoriya wasn’t exactly a slob, but he wasn’t nearly as meticulous as Todoroki was, so he left it to himself to keep the apartment in the order he preferred. He set about straightening the throw pillows on their sofa, putting away the dishes from the drying rack, then went upstairs to make the bed and happily clean up whatever mess Midoriya may have made while hurrying to leave. When he was satisfied with the state of things, he got dressed and went outside to wait for Bakugo to arrive. 

Minutes later, a cab pulled up across the street and Todoroki saw the disapproving face Bakugo made at the luxury condos, undoubtedly assuming that was where they lived. Bakugo scanned his surroundings and saw Todoroki leaned against the wrought-iron railing, arms crossed and an impatient expression on his face. To Todoroki’s surprise, Bakugo moved with an unfamiliar calmness and seemed to have no anger in his posture or gait.

“Hey, Todoroki,” he said casually, as if they were longtime friends.

Todoroki turned and went down the steps, then held the door to his apartment open for Bakugo to come inside. Once the door was closed behind them, Todoroki walked across the room and sat in a dining chair, then gestured for Bakugo to sit at the table with him. When Bakugo took his seat, he pulled several folded-up sheets of notebook paper out of his jeans pocket, carefully unfolded them, and stared at the words written in Penny’s handwriting.

“I’m a coward,” he finally said.

“Among other things,” Todoroki responded.

“Could you maybe just let me fucking talk?” Bakugo barked. Todoroki simply stared at him, his eyes never leaving Bakugo’s.

“I came here to make a case for myself, because I know Deku will listen to you more than he’ll listen to anyone, even himself. I don’t need your approval, but I want it. I want us to get along. The only problem I ever had with you was how inadequate you make me feel. I can get past that now. You are better than me at every single thing, except for one.” He folded the papers back into their neat square, slid it into his pocket, and took a deep breath before continuing. “No one will ever love him as much as I do. We are meant to be together and we always have been. But I have no chance without your help.”

Todoroki laughed when the last word fell from Bakugo’s mouth.

“You want me…to help you…convince Midoriya that you deserve another shot?”

“I just don’t want you to convince him not to. It’s not really up to you, and if he’ll give—”

“He will,” Todoroki said, looking away.

“What?”

“He will give you another chance. And when you hurt him again, and come crawling back again, he’ll give you another and another and another. You do not need me for this.”

“I don’t want it to be like this between you and me. Nothing would make Deku happier than to see the two of us not hate each other.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t be a heartbreaking, worthless piece of shit then.”

“I know.”

When Bakugo agreed with him and didn’t defend himself, Todoroki was genuinely and pleasantly surprised, though his distrust for Bakugo remained.

“Midoriya is his own person. I suppose I should appreciate your attempt to be human and speak with me, though I find it unnecessary. It’s manipulative and entirely too much like your past behaviors.” Todoroki stood up and walked toward the door. “I am so confident in your inevitable failure that I have no desire to spend the energy trying to stop you.” He held the door open for Bakugo then, who thanked him with sincerity in his eyes, then closed it softly before collapsing onto the couch. 

The entire exchange with Bakugo was unnerving, leaving Todoroki exhausted and rather confused. There was a larger part of him than he’d like to admit that actually believed Bakugo. He wanted Midoriya to be as happy as he could possibly be, and he knew Bakugo’s presence was a part of that equation, whether or not Midoriya knew it himself. Todoroki had noticed Midoriya’s all-in attitude in the past few months, and loved him even more for his attempts to swallow his feelings for Bakugo, pouring them into Todoroki instead. He knew he would lose some of that attention if Bakugo were around, but he also knew that the attention he would receive would be that much more genuine.

Fighting the urge to take a nap, Todoroki threw himself off the couch, packed his bag, and headed to combat training. His entire day on campus was a blur while his mind was focused on Bakugo and Midoriya. He was secure enough regarding his place in Midoriya’s life that he didn’t feel jealous or overshadowed. Instead, all he could feel was pain for Midoriya’s future heartache, which he was quite sure would happen. He wanted Midoriya’s true love to work out like a fairytale, but he was painfully aware of the improbability. Whatever Midoriya decided he wanted to do once Todoroki confessed his deception, Todoroki would quietly honor. 

The moment the door to their apartment closed behind them after a long day of training and classes, Todoroki poured himself a glass of scotch and leaned against the counter, sipping it with his eyes closed. Midoriya stood in the entryway, baffled by his partner’s behavior, and yelled,

“Hello?!”

Todoroki’s eyes flew open and he let out a small,

“Hm?”

Dropping his backpack to the floor and kicking his shoes off, Midoriya walked across the small living room and into the kitchen.

“Have you heard a word I’ve said all day? What the heck is going on?”

Setting his drink down and holding onto Midoriya hands, Todoroki answered,

“I called Bakugo from your phone this morning and removed the record from your history. He was here shortly after you left, and we…talked.”

The hesitation in Todoroki’s voice was extremely uncharacteristic and Midoriya barely noticed it, distracted by everything else he had said.

“You did what?”

“I was just trying to protect you,” Todoroki said with shame in his voice.

Midoriya began pacing across the apartment, from the living room into the kitchen and back into the living room again, all the while muttering to himself and looking at his feet.

“Do you want to know what he said?”

“Of course I do!” Midoriya shouted, then sat on the couch and nervously ran his fingers through his hair. Todoroki sat next to him and carefully relayed the conversation, nearly word-for-word, and waited patiently as Midoriya processed in silence. His expression was incredibly focused and serious until he finally looked up at Todoroki with hope in his eyes. Todoroki’s heart broke a little, though he had expected it.

“He said we were meant to be together?”

Todoroki wanted to answer that Bakugo would have said whatever was necessary to have Midoriya back in his life.

“He did,” was all he uttered.

“How do you feel about all of this, Shoto?” Midoriya squeezed Todoroki’s hands and scooted closer to him. Todoroki put his arm around him and kissed the top of his head.

“You and I both know he’s going to hurt you again.”

“I miss him.”

“I know you do, my love. He misses you, too.”

Midoriya was quiet for a while, pushing away his thoughts of Bakugo as much as he could in order to be present for Todoroki.

“I love you, Shoto,” he finally said.

“Not nearly as much as I love you.”

Chapter Text

Impatient and determined to be entirely honest, Midoriya admitted to Todoroki how badly he wanted not only to see Bakugo, but to give him another chance. Rather than rant and rave and argue, Todoroki had told him he felt it was the last chance Bakugo deserved. He also shared his view that Bakugo would certainly hurt him again, to which Midoriya replied that he felt this time was different. Todoroki opposed the sentiment vehemently, but had no issues with Midoriya learning the truth for himself. He thought it was an enormous waste of his boyfriend’s time and energy, who strongly and unsurprisingly disagreed. In Midoriya’s mind, the only possible outcomes were solid closure or happily ever after, and neither of those seemed like a waste.

On a blissfully sunny Tuesday in June, Midoriya called Bakugo, so excited and nervous that he almost hung up the moment Bakugo answered.

“Deku?” he had asked, worried it would be Todoroki again.

“It’s me this time,” he answered.

“You sound happy.” The smile in Bakugo’s voice was heartwarming.

“I am.”

Bakugo was quiet, waiting for Midoriya to elaborate. When he said nothing, Bakugo asked,

“Care to tell me why?”

“Oh,” Midoriya giggled, sending waves of joy through Bakugo, who had missed the sound greatly. “Well, um…so, I…I wanna see you.”

“That would mean the world to me.” Bakugo’s gentle tone and sheer honesty left Midoriya speechless. “Deku, are you still there?”

“Y…yes. What about this weekend?”

“Whenever you’d like.”

“Okay, Bakugo.”

He gave Midoriya his address, and before hanging up he added,

“And Deku?”

“Yeah?”

“Please don’t ever call me Bakugo again. No matter what I say.”

“Oh. Okay.”

They said goodbye and Midoriya collapsed onto his bed next to Todoroki, who couldn’t help but smile at the overwhelming joy Midoriya was radiating.

“I take it that went well?” he asked. All Midoriya could manage was a nod before planting a dozen kisses all over him. It was a rocky adjustment for Todoroki to experience compersion, which the polyamorous community defined as the opposite of jealousy, or “the sympathetic joy we feel for somebody else, even when their positive experience does not involve or benefit us directly.” Todoroki had taken it upon himself to read into the belief system and it had helped him greatly. Midoriya, however, did not seem interested in the resources, and just wanted to experience the beauty of it all in a natural, day-by-day sort of way.

When the weekend came, Todoroki felt seeing Bakugo already was far too soon. He had voiced such concerns, but Midoriya was a neurotic mess and desperately wanted to spend time with Bakugo. Todoroki wanted to see where his boyfriend would likely be spending a large portion of his time from then on, so he joined Midoriya on the ride to Bakugo’s. He was stunned to see that Bakugo lived in a rather luxurious apartment building and wondered how he could afford it. 

Oh, that’s right. He’s a Hero.

For the first time, Todoroki felt second-place in something other than Midoriya’s heart, which was already painful enough to live with.

“Shoto, are you okay?” Midoriya asked when the car pulled up to the curb.

“Not really, but I will be.”

Midoriya kissed him deeply before backing away and saying,

“I don’t like leaving you.”

“Go be with Bakugo and enjoy yourself. Maybe we can all get breakfast on Sunday?”

“I would love that,” Midoriya said with a grin.

“I know you would. Now, get out of here. We will talk soon.”

After several more kisses, Midoriya got out of the car and sprinted to the main entrance of the building. The driver pulled away and headed down the street, waiting for his next destination orders. Todoroki found himself barely able to answer, certain that if he spoke more than a few words, he would burst into tears. Being strong for Midoriya took everything he had, and he was completely exhausted as he stared blankly out the window, dreading the lonely arrival to their home. 

From another window, several stories up, Bakugo watched the car take off and travel out of his sight. He was nervous about the knock on the door he was expecting, suddenly and painfully aware of how long it had been since he’d seen Midoriya.

Knock, knock, knock

Bakugo slowly walked toward the door, completely unsure what to say when he opened it. Midoriya saved him from having to decide when he threw his arms around Bakugo’s neck the instant he was in the room. He pulled away and kissed Bakugo, who thought he might faint from the sensation of those velvet lips against his after so much time away from them. Midoriya’s mouth opened wide, begging for Bakugo’s tongue to explore, but Bakugo restrained himself and stepped away.

“Slow down,” Bakugo said softly. He grabbed Midoriya’s hand and walked with him to sit on the black leather sofa. They quickly passed the small kitchen and dining room, both of which were floored with extremely bright white tile. The living room was carpeted in a plushy, stark white with matching white walls, which were adorned with three enormous works of art, one in the center of each. The artwork was all black and silver with splashes of blood red, but it was obvious none of them were done by the same artist. Bakugo must have carefully curated them in order to create the mirror effect they had.

When Midoriya sat on the couch, he had a clear view to the front door and admired the stunning space Bakugo had made for himself. On the left wall was a large sliding glass door leading to a balcony, and the sunset took over the entire view. Bakugo’s apartment was on one of the highest floors, and the building was one of the tallest in the area, so his view of the city and the sky were mostly unobstructed. Situated directly before the door to the balcony was a high dining table made of brushed steel and lacquered black stones, surrounded by four brushed steel chairs with bright white cushions. Beyond the dining area was his kitchen, with white marble countertops, white cabinets, brushed steel appliances, and small black accents throughout. There were a few dishes on a drying rack next to the sink, and they were all solid, screaming red.

On the right wall were three black doors, leading to what Midoriya assumed to be two bedrooms and a bathroom. As elegant as the apartment was, it was likely just as small as Midoriya and Todoroki’s home, if not a bit smaller. Midoriya assumed Bakugo had prioritized his view and privacy over space, since Bakugo had mostly taken the “less is more” approach to many things in life. More surprising than the size of the place was the mess that seemed to be everywhere. The contrast to the obvious intention of the living space was bizarre to Midoriya until he realized that the bits of clothing and office supplies scattered all over were tiny and feminine.

“Whose stuff is all this?” he asked.

“It’s Penny’s. The girl from the rooftop who saved my life, in more ways than one.” Bakugo took a deep breath before clarifying the most important piece of information. “We’re together now.”

“Oh,” Midoriya responded, taking a moment to process the news and organize it in his heart and mind. He found himself slightly shaken, but not entirely jealous or upset. It seemed to him that this Penny person had had a remarkably positive impact on Bakugo, and Midoriya mentally thanked her for it. He remembered her and her incredibly powerful Quirk from the battle, and could easily imagine her being able to wrangle Bakugo.

“Does that…does that change things for you?” Bakugo asked hesitantly.

“I don’t think so,” Midoriya answered honestly. “Do you treat her right?”

Looking at his hands, Bakugo replied,

“She would say I do. I feel like I try my best, but she’s too good for me. Almost as much as you are.”

“Can I meet her?”

Bakugo looked up and his eyes were sparkling like rubies in moonlight.

“We would both enjoy that a lot,” he said.

“Okay!”

Despite the joy that filled each of them at the idea, they didn’t want to talk about Penny anymore. The two of them sat on the couch, swapping stories about their lives in the last six months. Bakugo was surprised to learn that Midoriya hadn’t been following all of the media, but Midoriya told him that he didn’t believe things on the internet, and would rather hear nothing than hear lies. Bakugo appreciated that and changed the subject to classes and training. There wasn’t much for Midoriya to report on that front, other than he was doing well and progressing as expected. They talked about his classmates, especially Uraraka, and meticulously avoided the subject of Todoroki until it was impossible.

“How do you like living together?” Bakugo asked, trying his hardest to be neutral while also being genuine. It was a difficult combination for him to pull off, but he thought he was doing a pretty good job considering the circumstances.

“I almost burned the place down last week,” he admitted, covering his face with his hands and shaking his head. Bakugo laughed and asked what happened.

“I was trying to cook, is all! Shoto likes fancy food and all I know how to make is ramen. He had to use his Quirk to put the fire out.”

“Just another thing I’m better at, I guess,” Bakugo said with his perfect half-smile. Midoriya had missed the expression and he leaned in to kiss him. They slowly fell backward onto the couch, with Midoriya on top of Bakugo. Their ache for each other’s touch was finally sated, like water after months alone in the desert. Bakugo’s fingers found their way into Midoriya’s thick, green curls and he moaned into Midoriya’s mouth at the soft feel of them. The vibration against Midoriya’s lips was invigorating and he straddled Bakugo to sit up and take his shirt off.

“Deku, I…” he said breathlessly, losing his words and running his hands down the sides of Midoriya’s perfect, naked, muscular torso.

Midoriya fell back on top of him and kissed just underneath Bakugo’s ear before biting down then whispering,

“Kacchan…”

The hardness in Bakugo’s jeans became engorged instantly at the sound and feel of his true love breathing sex into his ear, but he remembered his words from the moment before and he picked Midoriya up off his lap, then sat up straight.

“Deku, I’m not ready for sex yet,” he said without making eye contact.

“What?” Midoriya asked, shocked and disappointed.

“My heart misses you more than my dick does, believe it or not.” He looked up then, smiling and trembling nervously. Bakugo was desperate not to mess things up this time, and he knew that meant paying more attention than they had before to the parts of their relationship other than sex.

Even though Midoriya understood where Bakugo was coming from, it was extremely difficult to respect his wishes. He wanted to be filled with Bakugo more than he wanted to breathe or sleep or eat. Being with him again, touching him again, hearing his voice again, was all too much for Midoriya to handle. It was impossible to understand how Bakugo could be so calm and collected in the face of such obvious passion and desire.

“Well, what the heck else are we gonna do?” Midoriya exclaimed as he stood up from the couch and threw his arms in the air. Bakugo laughed, stood with him, and pulled him in for a brief kiss.

“We could go do something?”

Midoriya’s jaw fell open. “You mean, like…like a date?”

“Yes, that’s what I mean.”

“Who are you?” Midoriya asked, his body radiating disbelief. Bakugo’s soft-spoken manner, his gentle energy, his holding off on sex. It was tough for Midoriya to comprehend such radical differences. Bakugo wrapped his arms around him, squeezed a little too tightly, and said,

“A better man, I hope.”

The two of them walked to the elevator, practically skipping with joy, and when they were inside, Bakugo put his arm across Midoriya’s shoulders to pull him close, then kissed his cheek. It was the gentlest gesture of affection he had ever shared with Midoriya, and Midoriya was close to tears. His big, strong, boulder of a man had somehow become more like a marshmallow, and Midoriya wasn’t sure how he felt about it. He had missed Bakugo’s commanding nature and unmoving confidence. Not to mention his insatiable desire for Midoriya. That was what Midoriya was missing most.

When they stepped outside and began walking down the sidewalk, Bakugo casually took Midoriya’s hand in his, and Midoriya stared at their woven fingers, suddenly unable to breathe. His heart pounded in his chest, his vision was blurry, and he realized he was crying. Bakugo tugged on him until he realized the state Midoriya was in. He cupped Midoriya’s face in his hands and turned it upward to look into his eyes.

“Deku, what’s wrong?”

“I can’t take this!” he yelled, ripping his hand out of Bakugo’s.

“Woah, woah, woah. What did I do wrong? I’m so sorry.”

“I want my Kacchan back. Not this sissy boy you’ve replaced him with,” he said through tears. “I love the realyou. Give him back to me.”

“Don’t you want me to kiss your cheek, and hold your hand, and all of those boyfriend things?” Bakugo asked.

“Yeah, but…” Midoriya stood in the middle of the sidewalk, trying to think of how to explain his frustration. “But I…I still want to feel like you’re in control. I always liked that about us.” He looked away, his cheeks suddenly red as roses.

“Is there something else?”

“I liked being your good boy, okay?!” Midoriya shouted, turning around completely.

“Then get your ass over here, hold my fucking hand, and come to dinner with me,” Bakugo said with no hesitation as he took two steps down the sidewalk. His voice held the deep gruffness that Midoriya had missed so much, and Midoriya threw his arms around his neck, burying his face there. Against Bakugo’s warm, silky skin, he said,

“Yes, sir,” and they walked toward Bakugo’s favorite restaurant. It was a dream come true for Midoriya to finally be out in the world with him after all the time they’d spent hiding, and all the time they’d spent apart. When they walked through the doors of a dimly-lit bistro, Midoriya was shaking with joy. He was in Bakugo’s life, right by his side, for the first time. It was exactly where he wanted to be.

“Katsuki!” squealed a little girl with brown pigtails and a very pink dress. She looked about six years old and a woman was quickly following behind her.

“Hey, Charlie. Hi, Pam,” Bakugo said with a smile.

“Where’s Penny? She said she’d play checkers with me and promised not to let me win this time.”

“She’s out hunting…vampires!” he answered, lurching forward and startling Charlie. She giggled and said,

“No, she’s not.”

The woman with her also laughed and asked if he was going to introduce them.

“Pam, Charlie, this is Deku.”

“He does have green hair!” She pointed emphatically at Midoriya’s head, then put her hands on her hips and spoke without pausing, “Penny told me and mom that Katsuki loved a boy with green hair and I didn’t believe her and I said that boys don’t love boys and she told me sure they do and I said to mom that I thought he loved Penny and mom says our hearts our so big we can love whoever we want and I thought that was really cool but I didn’t believe Penny about the boy having green hair but you do. It’s really green.”

Blood rushed to Bakugo’s cheeks and he clenched his fists. Midoriya was positively glowing with the knowledge he had been so prevalent in Bakugo’s world even while he was away. The relationship he had with the little girl was the cutest thing Midoriya had ever seen in his life. He had a feeling that she and her mother were big parts of Bakugo’s life, and his growth.

“Yes, it really is green. Kacchan loves it,” Midoriya grinned up at him.

“Who’s Kacchan?” Charlie asked.

“I am, but only Deku can call me that. It means ‘little Katsuki’, and I’m bigger than you, so don’t even try it.”

“Okay, Kacchan,” she teased.

“Charlie, why don’t you show them to Katsuki’s favorite table. I’m sure they’re hungry.” Pam said, reaching her hand out. “Deku, it’s lovely to finally meet you. This is my restaurant and any friend of Katsuki’s gets their first meal for free. Have anything you’d like.” She shook Midoriya’s hand and gave Bakugo a long hug. Charlie hooked her tiny fingers through Bakugo’s and pulled him to the back of the dining area. They sat at a small round table with a cream-colored linen tablecloth and Charlie struck a match to light the candle in the center.

“Your server will be right with you!” she beamed, then ran to the kitchen. Bakugo watched her go and Midoriya was absolutely giddy. When Bakugo turned to look at him, his eyes were so filled with joy that he reflexively looked away. He had dreamt of those pools of emerald love for so many months and still was not prepared for when they finally shined on him again.

“I can’t take it when you look at me like that,” he said.

“You talk about me?” Midoriya asked, practically bouncing up and down in his chair.

“Penny does. All the fucking time,” Bakugo admitted. “She’s been on my case to call you for months.”

“Where is she?”

“At her friend’s in Tokyo. Probably waiting anxiously to hear how this went and if you want to meet her. She’s your biggest fan, Deku.”

“Can I meet her when she gets back?”

“She’d love that. We can get breakfast on Sunday,” Bakugo answered, feeling a bit freaked at the idea.

“Um…I was going to see if you’d maybe…um…get breakfast with me and Shoto on Sunday…unless it’s too soon or…I don’t know…” Midoriya’s nervous muttering would have went on forever, but Bakugo saved him and said,

“All four of us can, if you want. Sounds like fucking chaos, but might as well rip off the bandage.”

“I think that would be nice, not chaos, but I get it. And I’m excited,” he smiled. “So, what should I get to eat?”

Bakugo ordered for him, requesting a glass of red wine to go with it, and they had a wonderful evening of sharing stories and staring into each other’s eyes. They were both quiet on the walk back to Bakugo’s, each of them soaking up the togetherness they had thought was impossible to achieve. Midoriya’s mind was heavily focused on feeling Bakugo inside of him again, and was painfully disappointed when they were finally behind closed doors. He had thrown himself at Bakugo the moment their shoes were off, and Bakugo chuckled before gently pulling away.

“You want this cock pretty badly. Are you telling me Todoroki doesn’t take very good care of you?”

Midoriya collapsed onto the couch in frustration.

“Shoto doesn’t…I mean, it’s not…” he muttered, unable to make eye contact while trying to explain exactly why he had missed Bakugo’s presence so much.

“You two don’t fuck?”

“Of course we do!” Midoriya hid behind his hands. “But it’s…I don’t know…I’m the one who…”

“Todoroki is a bottom?!” Bakugo couldn’t help but lose control and double-over with laughter. “All this time, I’ve been freaking the fuck out over another man inside of you, and you’re telling me I’m the only one?”

“The only one,” Midoriya answered, smashing a pillow against his face and wishing he could evaporate and disappear. Ripping the pillow away, Bakugo climbed on top of him and wrapped Midoriya’s legs around his waist. He didn’t want to fuck; he just wanted to spend time together and do the things they hadn’t had a chance to do before. Finding out that such a perfect ass had been saved just for him was almost enough to shatter that resolve. He kissed Midoriya until he felt his erection pressed against his own stomach, then quickly jumped off the couch with a devilish half-smile.

“Kacchan…” Midoriya whined.

“Don’t even try it. You and Penny both think you can get out of anything just by being cute and it’s not going to work.”

“But we are cute.”

“Sure. But I’m in charge and you’ll do what I say.”

Bakugo’s dominance poking through had Midoriya’s hardness growing even more and it was beginning to be uncomfortable. He stood up and unbuttoned his jeans, but Bakugo’s hand was there in an instant and he shook his head.

“Keep your fucking clothes on, Deku.”

“Oh, come on. I just want to get comfortable. I won’t try anything funny, I promise.” Midoriya’s big green eyes pouted up at Bakugo and he couldn’t say no, despite his comment just seconds before. He threw his hands up and rolled his eyes, then Midoriya pulled his jeans, socks, and shirt off. Turning away to regain his composure, Bakugo walked into the kitchen and grabbed a wine glass from a cupboard. Midoriya noticed it was the only wine glass in the kitchen, and it wasn’t red like the other dishes.

Bakugo proceeded to explain that Penny had purchased the wine glass the day before, along with three different reds for Midoriya to choose from. They weren’t quite as sophisticated as the wines Midoriya had become accustomed to, thanks to Todoroki, but they were good and he said as much. The two of them sat at the dining table for a while, Midoriya with his wine and Bakugo with his beer, talking and laughing and rediscovering their comfortability with each other. After a while, Midoriya yawned and Bakugo rinsed their glasses before telling him to come to bed. 

His bedroom had dark red walls, black carpet, and an enormous black bed that took up most of the space. Small silver sconces hung on either side of a large mirror that was placed above the headboard. Midoriya raised his eyebrow at it, and Bakugo shrugged in response before stripping down to his boxers and climbing into bed. Standing awkwardly in the doorway, Midoriya felt close to tears. He couldn’t believe where he was, that he was about to be in Bakugo’s arms with their bare skin pressed together. He suddenly missed Todoroki and wished he could snuggle in between the two of them instead of one at a time.

Maybe someday.

Trying to understand what must be racing through Midoriya’s mind, Bakugo waited patiently for him to join him. He was just as nervous and shaken as Midoriya was, though neither of them spoke about it. It was unbelievable that the absolute love of his life was in his bedroom, about to crawl naked and warm into his bed. It felt strange to imagine someone else lying in Penny’s spot next to him, even though she was aware and approving.

“Kacchan?”

“Are you okay?” Bakugo asked, noticing the look of terror on Midoriya’s face, and that he still had not taken one step into the room.

“I’m scared,” he confessed.

“Of me?”

Midoriya nodded, then stared at his pale bare feet against the thick black carpet. He was suddenly terrified to lie next to Bakugo. If he turned around now and went back home, Bakugo couldn’t hurt him again. But if he joined him in that luxuriously welcoming bed, there would be no going back. All the work he had done to find closure and accept his future without him would be completely erased and he’d have to start all over. Their evening together had been absolutely fantastic, and Midoriya wanted to remember them exactly like that, not fighting or crying or aching for one another.

“Deku, I’m sorry,” Bakugo said, getting out of bed and joining Midoriya in the doorway. He had tears in his eyes when he pulled him into his arms. Midoriya smelled the delicious sweet pine soap and began to sob.

“I’m so mad at you!” he shouted, pushing Bakugo away. “You’re such an asshole!”

“I’m trying to fix it.”

“You’re doing a good job and it’s annoying because you’re just gonna hurt me again!”

“No, I’m not. Please look at me.”

Slowly, painfully, Midoriya turned to face him and looked up. Bakugo held Midoriya’s face in his hands and kissed him.

“I love you, Deku.”

“That’s never stopped you from hurting me before…”

Bakugo flinched at the undeniable truth of his words. Desperate not to pressure Midoriya or scare him away, Bakugo left to sleep in the living room and Midoriya didn’t stop him. Halfway through the night, Midoriya couldn’t take the loneliness any longer and crept out of bed to join Bakugo, who was wide awake. Neither of them said anything as Midoriya squeezed next to him and laid his head on Bakugo’s chest. He fell fast asleep to the sound of Bakugo’s heartbeat, and Bakugo soon followed, his arm holding Midoriya tightly against him.

The moment Midoriya woke up, he fell off the couch in surprise. He had hazily forgotten where he was, and had expected to wake up next to Todoroki. The sound of him crashing to the floor woke Bakugo, who stretched out like a cat before chuckling at Midoriya’s fall. He sat up and held his arms out, and Midoriya scrambled to curl up next to him.

“Good morning, little Deku,” he whispered.

“Good morning, Kacchan,” Midoriya grinned and kissed him. They had breakfast together, and Midoriya was delighted to have Bakugo cook for him again. He loved how effortlessly he glided about the kitchen, grabbing this and that and making magic happen. Afterward, they had tea on the balcony, sitting next to each other with their fingers laced together the entire time. They didn’t say much all morning, both of them feeling like too many words might shatter the blissful bubble they were in. Their happiness felt so fragile and they didn’t mind tiptoeing around, being extraordinarily careful with the heart inside of the other man’s chest.

At Midoriya’s request, they found a bar with a pool table and Bakugo taught him how to play. Their entire afternoon flew by in a blur, and they found themselves walking back to the apartment building as dawn settled around them. The sidewalk was filled with people, most of them enjoying a Saturday night out, and Bakugo tried to keep his head down so their night wouldn’t be interrupted. He was unsuccessful, however, and soon someone walking by said,

“Wasn’t that Katsuki Bakugo?”

“Where?!” the woman with him shouted.

“Shit,” Bakugo muttered. “Sorry for this.”

“For what, Kacchan?” Midoriya hadn’t been paying attention to their surroundings because his mind was on more nefarious things, and he was taken completely by surprise when a small crowd of people surged toward them.

“Katsuki!”

“Take a picture with us!”

“Where’s Penny?”

“Isn’t that Deku, the UA student from the rooftop battle?”

Bakugo half-smiled at everyone and put his arm across Midoriya’s shoulders, pausing for several moments to let everyone take their photos of the two of them. The way Bakugo handled them with patience and poise stunned Midoriya, who stared at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. Questions continued to fly from Bakugo’s fans, and he ignored every one of them. Penny was far better at handling what to say in public, so he’d learned to just stay quiet when she wasn’t with him. When he’d spent as much energy as he was willing to on pleasing the people, he waved his arm aggressively and snapped,

“Go back to whatever the fuck you were doing and let us do the same,” and pulled Midoriya down the sidewalk, through the frantic cluster of strangers. Midoriya had a huge smile on his face when they finally walked through the front doors to Bakugo’s apartment building. He was relieved to see the real Bakugo being expressed, instead of the mask he seemed to be wearing constantly. While Midoriya was proud of the calm Bakugo had achieved, he could tell that it was forced and uncomfortable, and he preferred the loud, rash, explosive man he had known all his life.

The second Bakugo’s door closed behind them, Bakugo abruptly slammed Midoriya against it, pinning both of his arms and breathing heavily against his throat. Bakugo had held back his desires until that moment, when he couldn’t take it any longer. He wanted Midoriya screaming his name, trembling beneath him, drenched in orgasm.

He needs to fucking beg for it.

Bakugo let go of him and walked into the dining room, sitting in a chair with an absolutely wicked grin plastered to his face, not saying a word. After only two minutes of silence, Midoriya couldn’t take it anymore, went past Bakugo, and slowly started taking his clothes off. Bakugo stayed seated and watched a blushing Midoriya strip for him. When he was completely naked, he laid down on the couch, propping himself up with his elbows.

“Are you gonna join me?” he asked.

Bakugo half-smiled and shook his head.

“Why not?” Midoriya pouted. “Don’t you…don’t you miss me?”

Bakugo raised one eyebrow and Midoriya refused to be a good boy and ask for what he wanted.

“I can sit here all day, Deku,” he said calmly.

“I bet you can’t,” Midoriya teased. When Bakugo said nothing, Midoriya laid flat on his back and started stroking himself, making small sounds of pleasure. Bakugo’s erection grew and he tried to look away to prove a point, but was unsuccessful. He’d missed the sight of Midoriya naked before him far too much, and Midoriya was using it to his advantage to get out of being obedient.

“Knock it off, Deku,” he tried again. Midoriya ignored him, putting two fingers in his mouth to get them wet, then reached around to stick them in his ass. In an instant, Bakugo was on top of him, pinning his wrists to the couch cushion.

“Nothing but this cock goes in that perfect ass unless I say so. Do you hear me?” he was breathing heavily as he marveled at Midoriya’s sculpted body. Midoriya grinned and finally gave Bakugo what he wanted.

“Please fuck me, Kacchan.”

Bakugo growled and stood up.

“Take my clothes off. Slowly.”

Midoriya obeyed then dropped to his knees, desperate to feel Bakugo in his mouth. He wrapped his fingers around Bakugo and Bakugo grabbed his hair, pulling him away.

“Did I say you could do that?”

“Please!” he shouted, reaching for his shaft once more. He expected the word to be enough, but Bakugo pulled him to his feet and pushed him toward the bedroom. Once they were in front of the bed, Bakugo ordered Midoriya to climb onto it.

“You thought you’d get away with teasing me? Todoroki has spoiled you, and that ends right now. Put your arms above your head.”

Midoriya did what he was told, with a petulant look on his face while Bakugo tied his wrist to the headboard. Bakugo got off the bed and walked toward the bathroom.

“Where are you going?”

Bakugo didn’t answer and Midoriya heard the shower turn on.

“Kacchan!” he yelled as he yanked at his restraints. It wouldn’t take much effort at all to break them, but he had a feeling he’d be in even more trouble if he broke free.

Well, this is the worst.

By the time Bakugo returned, Midoriya had gone soft and Bakugo was not happy.

“Get that dick hard, Deku, or you’ll be fucking sorry.”

“How am I supposed to do that tied up?!”

“Figure it out,” Bakugo said nonchalantly, his body dripping with water. The sight of the droplets sliding down his chest, his back, his cock was tantalizing and Midoriya wanted to lick them off so badly that it hurt. Mentally scrolling through images that turned him on, Midoriya landed on one of the most delicious. He closed his eyes and let the thoughts take him over, and his erection grew even harder than it had been before. While his eyes were still closed, he felt Bakugo climb onto the bed and place himself between Midoriya’s legs.

“Good boy,” he growled. “What were you thinking about?”

“Watching you fuck Shoto,” Midoriya answered with open eyes.

Dominating Todoroki had never occurred to Bakugo, but he found the idea delectable. His hand on Todoroki’s throat as the graceful little shit lost all of his poise and begged for more. Todoroki so overwhelmed with Bakugo inside of him that he yelled ‘yes, sir’ over and over.

Nearly forgetting that he was supposed to be teasing Midoriya, Bakugo licked him from base to tip. Midoriya had not been expecting it and cried out. Remembering his intentions, Bakugo sat up straight and ran his fingers up and down Midoriya’s thigh. 

“I want you to beg,” he said calmly. Midoriya shook his head in defiance. Bakugo’s fingers lifted from Midoriya and he loomed over him. He brought his face an inch away from Midoriya’s skin and breathed in the scent of him, working his way to Midoriya’s neck, then his ear, not touching him at all. Midoriya’s heart raced and it was all he could do not to wrap his legs around Bakugo and pull him close. Bakugo’s skin was still wet from the shower, dripping onto Midoriya and sending chills through him with every one of Bakugo’s painfully distant breaths. Bakugo abruptly pulled away and Midoriya let out an involuntary,

“No!”

“I’m going to send you home if you don’t do as you’re told.”

“You wouldn’t do that,” Midoriya said in shock.

“Test me. I dare you,” he bluffed. Bakugo wanted Midoriya so badly that he could barely stand. There was no way he was going to kick him out, but Midoriya needed to be reminded who was in charge.

Aching for Bakugo, Midoriya decided to give in. His game was over and he would do anything to have Bakugo inside of him, where he belonged.

“I’ll be good, I promise,” he said quietly.

“No more of this brat shit?”

Midoriya shook his head.

“I…I mean…no, sir,” he corrected himself. Having absolutely no willpower left, Bakugo quickly untied him and pressed every inch of them together. The warm weight of his body on Midoriya’s was intoxicating. Midoriya wrapped his arms and legs around him, locking them as tightly against each other as he could. Bakugo kissed him, forcing his mouth open and licking every bit of wet flesh his tongue could reach. All of their heartache and longing poured into their embrace and they felt as if they could never be close enough to make up for the time they had missed.

“Kacchan, please…I need you…”

The words hadn’t left Midoriya’s mouth and Bakugo already had the familiar purple bottle in his hands. He curled two fingers into Midoriya and slowly stroked the sweetest place within him. A moan escaped Midoriya, who held himself perfectly still as he watched Bakugo carefully guide himself into Midoriya’s opening. He had never been so gentle before and Midoriya quivered beneath him with anticipation. His legs tightened around Bakugo, attempting to fill him with Bakugo faster, harder. Bakugo grabbed Midoriya’s leg, wordlessly telling him to stop. He wanted to take it slow. He wanted to watch himself gradually disappear inside of Midoriya, their pleasure building and building. When he was almost entirely enveloped, he lowered himself and kissed Midoriya slowly and passionately. Midoriya’s legs pulled Bakugo closer against him, filling him with every inch of Bakugo’s cock. He groaned into Bakugo’s mouth and his fingers raked down Bakugo’s back.

Buried inside of the man he loved, after missing him for all those months, Bakugo felt so much bliss that it hurt. Midoriya’s hips rocked against him and every thrust that pulled him away, even just a couple of inches, was more than Bakugo could bear. He wanted to be wrapped in Midoriya’s love and warmth for eternity.

“Hold still,” he said, holding back inexplicable tears. He put his head in the crook of Midoriya’s neck and plunged back into Midoriya until he felt the base of himself against Midoriya’s skin.

“Wrap your legs around me as tightly as you can.”

Midoriya could sense something was wrong, but obeyed without hesitation.

“Kacchan?” he asked, running his fingers through Bakugo’s hair. It was nearly impossible to concentrate with Bakugo’s hardness inside of him, and it took incredible self-control to remain still. He kissed Bakugo’s shoulder, neck, then ear.

“Tell me you love me,” Bakugo finally said, his words muffled against Midoriya’s skin. The sweet, soft, vulnerability in his voice was more than Midoriya’s heart could take.

“I love you, Kacchan.”

When Bakugo still didn’t move or say anything else, Midoriya understood what his partner needed.

“I love you so very much. I forgive you, Kacchan. It’s okay…I’m here…I’ve got you,” he whispered in Bakugo’s ear. “I’m right here…”

Bakugo’s anguish erupted and he sobbed uncontrollably into Midoriya’s shoulder. Midoriya tried to pull his hips away from Bakugo’s, but Bakugo stopped him.

“I don’t want sex; I just want to be as close to you as I can be.”

Continuing his soft touches and whispers, Midoriya held him until he felt his hardness diminish, then Bakugo carefully pulled away. His tears slowed and his breath became even as he laid his head on Midoriya’s chest, letting himself be petted and taken care of in a way he never had been before. It was nearly an hour before he was calm enough and had the courage to look up at Midoriya, whose eyes were closed and breathing was slow. Not wanting to disturb his sleeping lover, Bakugo slowly untangled himself and started to climb out of bed.

“Where are you going?” Midoriya asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. The childlike gesture made Bakugo’s heart skip a beat, reminding him how much he loved Midoriya’s innocence, and how desperately he had missed it. He laid back on the bed, positioning himself so that Midoriya could use his chest as a pillow. Midoriya quickly accepted the invitation, tossing one leg across Bakugo’s and pulling his arm around him. Leaning against the headboard, Bakugo held him close and wrapped his fingers into Midoriya’s thick, green curls. Twirling, untwirling, then twirling again.

“Is it crazy how much I’ve missed playing with your hair?” he asked so quietly it was almost a whisper.

“Nope,” Midoriya answered. “I’m sure I’ve missed it even more than you have.”

“I doubt that very much.”

Midoriya was pressed so tightly against him that Bakugo felt him smile even though he couldn’t see it. The two of them could see the sun setting outside the hotel window, realizing it was far too early for sleep.

“Have you ever seen Casablanca?” Midoriya asked.

“What?”

“It’s a black and white movie.”

Bakugo laughed and said,

“I know what it is. Why are you asking?”

“You like old movies and that one is supposed to be one of the greatest love stories ever. I’ve never seen it. Have you?”

He had seen the movie many times, though he never thought he would admit that to anyone. Knowing how it ended, he wasn’t sure Midoriya would be too happy when it was over, but he agreed to watch it anyway. Midoriya excitedly searched for the remote and rented the film, pulling the covers over both of them to settle in and get comfortable. By the time the end credits appeared, he was sitting up and leaning forward so intently Bakugo thought he might fall over. He turned the movie off and looked at Bakugo, fury filling his eyes.

“What a terrible movie!” Midoriya shouted.

Bakugo shook his head and shrugged.

“Maybe they find each other again, and we just never get to see it,” he said. Midoriya laid down next to him, resting his head over Bakugo’s heart.

“Are you tired?” Bakugo asked.

“No,” answered Midoriya, but his eyes were closed and his voice was small, so Bakugo flicked the lights off and wrapped himself around as much of Midoriya as he could before falling asleep with an enormous smile and a happy heart.

Chapter Text

Pulling up to a restaurant in the back of a hired car, Midoriya’s face was pressed flat against the window. The enormous crowd of people was ridiculous to Bakugo and Todoroki, but Midoriya loved the attention. When he couldn’t stand it anymore, he rolled the window down and stuck half of his body outside the vehicle, waving to the onlookers with a huge grin on his face. Penny was in the front passenger seat, laughing so hard that she was crying. She had been the one to tip off several members of the press when Bakugo had called and said that Midoriya wanted to make a very public display of affection.

Some people were carrying signs, most of which supported Bakugo and Penny, some of which were rooting for Todoroki and Midoriya. Midoriya couldn’t see a single sign or t-shirt that indicated someone knew all four of them were in the car. Hero fans were popular among the crowd, from small children to a few elderly folks. They sported shirts with Bakugo’s face on them, retired Heroes they were still so fond of, and the blue-and-gray flame that had come to symbolize Todoroki. The demographic Midoriya had not prepared for was the few people shaming all of them. It was heartbreaking to see, but it was such a small percentage of the people that he tried not to let it put a damper on his exceptionally good mood.

When the car was parked, the driver walked around to the passenger side and held the door open for Penny. She stepped out, wearing skin-tight black leather pants and alarmingly tall black heeled boots. She waved at the crowd excitedly and waited to go inside. The driver opened the back door and Bakugo stepped out first, in his everyday jeans and black t-shirt, and kissed Penny softly. Nearly every person in sight roared in support, and so many people were calling out to him that Midoriya couldn’t decipher any of it. Bakugo held his hand out for Midoriya to take, and people started storming the car to ask questions and scream their love. Small explosions went off in Bakugo’s palms and everyone stepped back, never losing an ounce of their fervor.

Todoroki’s exit caused an immediate hush over the crowd. He stood stoically in his gray dress pants and light blue polo t-shirt as Midoriya realized he had been correct that no one expected a fourth person to leave the car. When Midoriya took Todoroki’s hand in his while still holding Bakugo’s in the other, the sound filling the streets became deafening. Shining a brilliant smile, Midoriya held up both arms, never letting go of either man, then he turned to head into the restaurant.

The hostess thanked Penny profusely for calling and warning the staff ahead of time that there would likely be an intense gathering outside. They made their way to a large table with a “reserved” sign, situated near a window with beautiful morning sunlight filtering in. When everyone took their seats, Midoriya couldn’t join them, he was filled with so much joy and energy.

“Did you see how many people were out there?!” he exclaimed. “When are we ever going to be left alone?”

Bakugo laughed with Todoroki who said,

“It doesn’t seem to me like you have any interest in being left alone.”

Midoriya barely heard him, his eyes never leaving the people outside of their window. He hadn’t cared for attention in the past, but he didn’t feel the center of it all at the moment. His love for two incredible men was really everyone’s focus, and that was something he would scream out to the world until his last breath. There was nothing to be embarrassed, ashamed, or shy about.

“Would you like us to close the drapes, Mr. Todoroki?” the server asked. Todoroki kindly declined, knowing Midoriya couldn’t get enough of it. Bakugo huffed at the formal way Todoroki was addressed, knowing it was because his family frequented the restaurant they were in. Their surroundings were lovely, but Bakugo found them ostentatious and cold, and he was incredibly uncomfortable to find himself in such a place. While he thought Midoriya’s energy was remarkably adorable, even for him, the whole public display was a lot to process and deal with. It was especially annoying to him how gracefully Todoroki was handling everything.

Unbeknownst to Bakugo, Todoroki was practically screaming on the inside. He was used to keeping a calm, cool exterior in the face of the press and prying eyes, but he was worried about Midoriya. All of the flash and excitement would inevitably lead to negative attention, from Villains and civilians alike. It was only a matter of time before people started throwing bricks through their windows, shouting hateful things in the streets, or actually attacking them. He knew they would soon hear things like “freaks,” and “burn in hell,” and it would crush Midoriya. The truth was, the only alternative to it was hiding, and none of the four of them had any interest in that idea.

After several minutes, the middle-aged man with a thick mustache returned to the table to receive their orders. When everyone was finished, Midoriya politely asked if he could please shut the drapes now, and the server was happy to do so. When the sunshine and the crowd were blocked from view, and the four of them immediately relaxed into their chairs, Midoriya abruptly started a new subject.

“I think you two should, I don’t know, hang out or something.”

“That’s a great idea!” Penny agreed. “It would be nice if you could look at each other without whatever expressionthat is.”

“It’s been two days. Cut me some fucking slack,” Bakugo barked.

“I agree with Bakugo,” Todoroki said, and Midoriya choked on his water. Penny patted his back, giggling at all of them.

“That’s a start, I suppose,” Midoriya said once he’d caught his breath. The smile on his face had been there since the moment he’d opened his eyes that morning. He elected not to think about all the bumps in the road they would soon face, and instead would enjoy every second with both of them. Penny was a lovely yet fiery addition to the group, and he wanted her to meet Uraraka, who Midoriya missed dearly.

Penny had the brilliant idea to invite Sakura Matsuda, who was surely on her way to join them. Penny thought she was the perfect person to team up with to handle all of the PR that she and the three men were going to be dealing with for the foreseeable future. Sakura had been there from the beginning, after all.

Their breakfasts arrived the same moment Sakura did, who quickly ordered,

“Mimosa, please. Light on the orange juice,” and declined to order food. Her dark hair fell in styled waves and she wore a beautiful gray pantsuit that flattered her slender figure, with a purple silk blouse barely showing.

“So, Sakura, what have you been thinking for our next move?” Penny asked, suddenly all business.

“We need to shine a brighter light on Penny and Midoriya,” she answered.

“Absolutely fucking not,” Bakugo said at the same moment Todoroki said,

“That’s not a good idea.”

“Didn’t you see the hate signs outside? The two of them don’t need some fucking stranger attacking them in the streets. Todoroki and I didn’t ask for the attention we had before; it just happened. There’s no reason to—”

“Kacchan,” Midoriya interrupted. “I can handle it. Besides, I’ve already made a spectacle of myself. It’s unavoidable at this point.”

“I think you know how perfectly capable I am, Katsuki,” Penny added, crossing her arms.

“My thoughts exactly,” Sakura said. “We have to take control of the information that’s put out there. We want the first story to be the true story, before the ugly stuff gets plastered everywhere, which it certainly will. People love to hate.”

“Isn’t the true story sort of obvious?” Midoriya asked.

“Selfish Deku Imposes Ultimatum on World’s Favorite Hero,” said Penny, giving a mock headline. “Katsuki and Shoto Take Advantage of Innocent Penny and Deku,” she continued.

“But it’s not like that at all!”

“Don’t be so naïve, Midoriya,” Todoroki said, thanking the server for the food as it was set on the table.

“He doesn’t know how to be anything else,” said Bakugo, staring at his plate with no appetite. Everyone ate in silence for a while, Sakura downing her second mimosa. The five of them went back and forth for over an hour, ultimately giving the reins to Sakura and Penny. The three men trusted them to do their jobs and keep them safe. All the girls wanted was for them to go about their lives as if no one was watching and nothing had changed. Bakugo rolled his eyes at that, and Todoroki hid his doubt behind a neutral face. Midoriya wasn’t sure how to feel, and he thought the whole organized discussion was unnecessary. He wanted to be with them, and if people wanted to watch them grow, that was wonderful. If they didn’t, he didn’t see why they couldn’t just focus on something else entirely.

Sakura brought in her cameraman and took a few candid photos of the four of them. Then she said her goodbyes and that she would be contacting Penny soon. Everyone left at the table sat in silence as they did their best to wrap their brains around how different their lives were going to be from now on. Penny was thrilled for the moves it was going to make in her career, and even happier to see Bakugo and Midoriya finally together again. The other side of it for her was that she’d have to share Bakugo not only with Midoriya, but with the world, and she wasn’t prepared for that. Midoriya’s mind was filled only with all the beautiful possibilities the four of them had, picturing each and every day to be filled with love and connection. Only able to see the dark side of all things in life, Bakugo was overwhelmed with a primal sense of protection for not only Penny and Midoriya, but for Todoroki, as well. In Todoroki’s heart, he knew joy and peace were attainable on this newfound path, but he was skeptical of their chances of success. The one thought that all four minds shared that morning was how unbelievably right it felt to finally be sitting together.

The tornado of attention that soon followed was the most exhilarating and exhausting experience any of them had ever been through. By the end of each day, when their apartment doors would finally close behind them, they would collapse onto their couches and exhale their relief to be home. Every place they went, whether alone, in pairs, or all four of them together, they had to swim through waves of questions, photographs, and sometimes verbal attacks. Todoroki and Midoriya were having an impossible time getting to classes and finishing assignments. Their classmates were incredibly helpful keeping the press and their fans at bay, hardly ever showing any resentment or jealousy for the fame they’d so quickly acquired.

While Penny and Bakugo didn’t have the obstacle of trekking through the university campus, they did have their own battles against privacy. Whenever Bakugo got a call from a Hero Agency, he was swarmed by onlookers and reporters trying to witness his every move. He found it annoyingly difficult to do his job, and couldn’t stand how long it took him just to get from place to place. Leaving Penny alone made him extremely uncomfortable, so he often had her stay with Midoriya and Todoroki while he went off to kick Villain ass and appease the masses. Every week, new job offers came in for Penny from journals, news stations, online magazines, and even a few talk shows. There wasn’t a form of media on the planet that didn’t want a piece of her talent and connections. Completely unsure of what she wanted out of her career now that the possibilities were endless, she turned down every proposal and did all of her work exclusively with Sakura.

There was a never-ending stream of material for them to work with and publish, considering the amount of time they all spent together and the wide variety of things they did out in the world and at home. The public loved personal stories about who cooked the best, what movies they watched at night, and how they managed sleeping arrangements. Penny handled the intimate questions with stunning tact and strategy, never giving away too many details, but always making sure their following knew they had plenty of dirty fun behind closed doors.

Midoriya and Todoroki remained at their apartment, enjoying the time they got to spend just the two of them, and Bakugo and Penny kept theirs for the same reason. No one ever said it out loud, but they all knew Todoroki and Bakugo could never live together, so the idea was quietly off the table. Bakugo had spent a few evenings at Midoriya’s so that Midoriya could have the love sandwich he’d fantasized about for months. Penny absolutely adored having Midoriya at their place, and he spent nearly half of his nights there with her and Bakugo. Each and every day was filled with love and affection for all four of them, even on the days when bumps and buckles in the road became apparent.

It hadn’t taken long for Todoroki to become frustrated with the amount of time he’d lost with Midoriya, not only to Bakugo but also to the press. His time alone at home was hard for him, and Midoriya did his very best to make sure both men felt loved and appreciated. Todoroki was much needier than Bakugo, but Bakugo had his possessive moments and Midoriya had to shut them down the second they bubbled to the surface. He would stay away for a couple weeks, giving himself alone time and giving Todoroki more of the attention he needed and deserved. Bakugo would rant and rave to Penny about Todoroki being manipulative to keep Midoriya away from him, and Penny would do her best to talk him down and remind him that Todoroki had no intentions of belittling Bakugo’s relationship with Midoriya.

Having become accustomed to her private world with Bakugo, Penny struggled to share his time. She loved when it was all three of them, but when Bakugo and Midoriya wanted time alone, which they frequently did, she felt cast aside and very bored. Living in a country where she didn’t fluently speak the language, with customs she wasn’t used to, and with very little support outside of Bakugo, Penny often felt trapped and scared. Midoriya and Bakugo attempted to reconcile this by introducing her to Uraraka, which had not worked out the way they’d wanted it to. The two women couldn’t stand each other, with Penny thinking Uraraka was basically a toddler, and Uraraka certain that Penny was dark to the point of being certifiable.

To everyone’s surprise, the solution to Penny’s loneliness ended up being Todoroki. On the surface, the two of them had absolutely nothing in common, but it turned out that they both appreciated art and history far more than Bakugo or Midoriya cared for, and they found countless ways to fill their time away from their loves. They went to museums, art galleries, sculpture gardens, lectures on Ancient Rome, and even took a trip to Egypt together. They were gone for nearly three weeks, leaving Midoriya and Bakugo behind to do whatever they wanted wherever they wanted to do it. Which, unsurprisingly, turned out to be fucking and eating at Bakugo’s apartment, leaving only twice in nineteen days, and only for more lube and groceries.

Penny and Todoroki returned from their trip and parted ways, kissing each other’s cheeks before getting into separate cars. Todoroki was elated when he opened the green wooden door and Midoriya practically tackled him, obviously having missed him a great deal.

“Hello, my love.”

“I’ve missed you so much,” said Midoriya. He asked how the trip with Penny was, not really hearing any of the answers. His thoughts were upstairs, plunged into the man whose warmth he had been aching for. For all the sex he had had with Bakugo, he still craved the blissful sensation of penetrating Todoroki, and the softer way they made love. In the middle of a sentence, Todoroki was interrupted by Midoriya’s lips crashing into his, sending them both toppling off of the couch. They kissed deeply and Todoroki ripped Midoriya’s shirt off. When he saw the condition of Midoriya’s body, he swiftly rolled them over so he was on top of him.

“Midoriya, what the hell happened to you?”

“What do you mean? I…” he looked over the dark purple bruises, scabbed over scratches and cuts, and realized the beating he had taken during his sex frenzy with Bakugo. He sat up and blushed, not sure how to explain.

“Did Bakugo do this to you?” Todoroki asked in disbelief, running his fingers down a dinner-plate-sized bruise along Midoriya’s left rib cage.

“I…I get thrown around a lot…that’s all…” Midoriya recalled being slammed against the dining table at an awkward angle and assumed that was the cause of the massive contusion Todoroki was glaring at.

“Un-fucking-believable,” he said, standing up and storming through the apartment. “How can you let him treat you that way?”

“Shoto, I—” he stood, trying to tell Todoroki it wasn’t how it looked.

“That’s abuse, Midoriya.” Todoroki paced across the small living room.

“It’s really not—”

“Poor Penny, oh my god. What must she look like under all that makeup and dark clothing? I can’t fucking—”

“SHOTO!” Midoriya screamed, finally getting Todoroki’s attention. “I like it, okay?”

“You can’t possibly,” said Todoroki, frozen in place. Midoriya grabbed Todoroki’s shoulders, shaking him slightly and forcing him to listen.

“I enjoy the pain, and so does Penny, not that that’s my business to share. Don’t worry about it.” He turned around to pick up his shirt from the floor and Todoroki gasped.

“Is that a burn?” he asked, seeing two raw, pink circles amongst dozens of bloody scratches that could only have been left by Bakugo raking his nails down Midoriya’s back and letting off small explosions from his palms. Todoroki had noticed plenty of sex marks over the months and thought nothing of it. He and Midoriya also got a little wild sometimes and would have a bruise from falling, or red puffy lines from Todoroki’s own nails. It was an understandable part of knowing the man he loved had sex with someone else, as hard as that was to become accustomed to. He never would have imagined the extent to which Bakugo mistreated Midoriya.

“And how do you know Penny likes it? She’s probably just naïve and…” The truth settled over Todoroki and he stared at his feet. “The three of you have been intimate…together?”

Midoriya had his shirt back on and walked over to Todoroki, then kissed his cheek.

“I’ve never touched her, Shoto.”

“But?” Todoroki asked, hearing the caveat in Midoriya’s voice.

“But I’ve…I’ve seen them together. He doesn’t treat her to this extent, but she…she does get a little banged up. He would never really hurt either of us. They’re just bruises.”

Todoroki quickly walked to the door and put his shoes back on.

“Where are you going?” asked Midoriya, certain he knew the answer. Todoroki said nothing as he slammed the door behind him. The car ride to Bakugo’s seemed to take hours as Todoroki sat in the backseat filled with rage and disgust.

How could anyone do that to someone they love?

His mind started to wander and landed on an image of Midoriya hitting him so hard during their love making that it left a bruise. He winced at the mere idea, but then remembered the few times Midoriya had bitten him, and thought it wouldn’t have been too bad if he had bitten down harder. Midoriya did seem to like it when Todoroki was a little aggressive, though that was rare. He supposed it wasn’t entirely inconceivable that he would enjoy it when Bakugo was aggressive, which he imagined was all the time. It just had never occurred to him before how rough he might actually be. It was nearly impossible for Todoroki to wrap his brain around the idea that his sweet, soft Midoriya could ever take such abuse willingly, let alone fragile little Penny.

Todoroki opened the door of the car before it was fully stopped and stormed his way through the lobby, up the elevator, and down the hall to Bakugo’s room before pounding on the door.

“What in the actual fuck?” he heard Bakugo say before opening the door. “Oh, Todoroki. What’s got your panties in a twist?”

In response, Todoroki punched him in the nose, pushed him aside, and invited himself in. Penny was on the couch, covering her naked self with a throw pillow.

“Shoto, honey, what’s wrong?”

“How can you let him do that to you?!” Todoroki raged. He turned to Bakugo, who was reaching for a kitchen towel to soak up the blood running from his nose. “I saw the marks all over Midoriya. If you were going to hide your abuse from me all this time, how could you be stupid enough to send him home looking like that?”

Through the towel, Bakugo laughed then leaned against the counter.

“Is that what this is? You came all the way over here to tell me how to fuck my boyfriend? Go home, Todoroki.”

“Katsuki!” Penny interrupted. “He has a right to question if Midoriya is in bad shape. What did you do to him?”

“Spent three weeks with my cock in his ass. So fucking what?”

Todoroki cringed at Bakugo’s vulgarity.

“Those burns are going to leave scars for the rest—”

Having stopped the bleeding for the most part, Bakugo put down the towel and got in Todoroki’s face.

“My perfect, obedient little Deku loves absolutely everything I give to him.” A maniacal grin spread across his face. “And the burns? He begged me to use my Quirk, then came like a fucking waterfall.” As quick as lightning, Bakugo had Todoroki’s arm in his grasp and spun him around before slamming him into the wall, his arm twisted behind him at an awkward and painful angle. He was shocked and breathless, and before he could say a word, Bakugo pressed himself against the entire backside of Todoroki, who felt an enormous erection between Bakugo’s legs.

“And I know for a fucking fact that you would love it, too,” he whispered in Todoroki’s ear. Bakugo held his position for several seconds, breathing heavily against Todoroki’s neck, making sure he felt the hot pressure of his body along every inch of his own. Bakugo abruptly let go, then walked to his door to hold it open as Todoroki wordlessly left the apartment. When Bakugo looked at Penny, she was angrier than he’d ever seen her, and she stomped her way into the bedroom. She came out wearing her black silk robe and carrying something in her hand. Before Bakugo could ask what she thought she was doing, she shocked him with her taser until he passed out on the kitchen floor.

Chapter Text

Embarrassed by his reaction to Bakugo’s assault, Todoroki didn’t tell Midoriya exactly what had happened. He told him Penny stuck up for him, and how crude Bakugo had been both about Midoriya and toward Todoroki himself. Midoriya admitted he didn’t mind the way Bakugo had spoken about their time together, but he was genuinely sorry for the way Todoroki was treated. In secret, Todoroki replayed the incident over and over in his mind, often fabricating an entirely different ending. He tried to feel angry, outraged, offended, violated, but none of it stuck because all he could think about was the hardness pressed against his ass and the hot breath on his skin, and the desire in his own pants as he walked down the hallway. He wanted to feel that strength and power inside of him so badly that during sex with Midoriya, he mindlessly cried out,

“Bakugo!”

Midoriya stopped mid-thrust, disoriented with confusion. He pulled himself out of Todoroki, who remained face-down on the bed absolutely horrified.

“Should we…um…talk about that?” Midoriya asked, putting his pants back on. He wasn’t all that upset about his boyfriend thinking about someone else; it was only natural. Bakugo was just the last person he thought Todoroki would ever fantasize about.

“I think I would rather die,” Todoroki answered, face still pressed into the bedding.

“Shoto, talk to me. Please.”

After getting dressed and sitting on the bed with his back turned to Midoriya, Todoroki finally told him the whole truth about what had happened the week before. He confessed the relentless fantasies racing through him at all hours of the day, and the dreams he’d been having, and the bizarre hope to find himself alone with Bakugo. When he was done explaining and had no words left, he finally had the courage to look at Midoriya, who had possibly the biggest grin Todoroki had ever seen on him.

“Say something!”

“He’s sexy,” Midoriya shrugged. “I’m surprised it took you this long. For what it’s worth, I highly recommend taking him for a test drive.”

“He absolutely is not sexy.”

“You’re cute when you’re embarrassed,” Midoriya laughed and kissed him, but he was too busy pouting to kiss back. He spent most of the day in silence after that, trying unsuccessfully to think about anything other than Bakugo twisting his arm until it hurt, and the desire that had rushed through him. When he finally got to sleep, he dreamt of random nonsense and was happy to wake up with a clearer head.

The smell of coffee surprised him enough that he skipped his morning shower and headed downstairs. Midoriya always made the coffee wrong, so it was strange that he would brew some without Todoroki’s aid or instruction. He walked barefoot down the dark wooden staircase wearing only his favorite silver silk pajama pants, smiling to himself at Midoriya’s ineptitude in the kitchen.

“Good morning, my l—” Todoroki stopped on the last step, staring wide-eyed at Bakugo and Penny, who were sitting at the dining table with Midoriya.

“I didn’t make the coffee, I swear. Kacchan did and it’s delicious,” said Midoriya as he poured a cup for Todoroki and handed it to him. Todoroki sat with them and looked at his coffee mug like he had never seen one before.

“It’s not fucking poisoned,” Bakugo said after a minute of silence. Todoroki reluctantly took a sip, and it was indeed delicious.

“Katsuki has something he’d like to say. Don’t you, sir?” Penny said, a hint of frustration in her voice. Todoroki could tell she was holding back how she really felt, trying to keep the peace between everyone. He had gotten used to her idiosyncrasies and subtle mannerisms and was very good at reading her. She was pissed.

“I’m sorry, Todoroki,” Bakugo said, crossing his arms and huffing. Penny tapped her foot, holding back the screams she felt inside. He rolled his eyes and tried again, “Todoroki, I’m sorry for hurting—”

“Assaulting,” Penny corrected.

“I’m sorry for assaulting you. You were just protecting Deku and I’m supposed to appreciate that. You caught me in the middle of a pretty dominant scene with Penny and I didn’t disengage in time to have an adult conversation with you. So, you know, I’m sorry.” Bakugo was so uncomfortable he looked like he was going to vomit, and Todoroki hadn’t looked up from his coffee at all. His face had turned incredibly red by the time he managed to say,

“It’s fine.”

The three other members of the polycule were perfectly still, eyes wide, mouths gaping. Todoroki still had not looked up, and Bakugo figured out why there was no argument from someone who seemed to love picking fights with him. He leaned back in his chair and clasped his fingers together behind his head. With a small half-smile, he said,

“I was right. Wasn’t I?”

Todoroki’s face burned an even darker shade of red and he was gripping his coffee cup so tightly that Midoriya thought the handle might bust off. Penny reached across the table to touch Todoroki’s arm, but he flinched away and Bakugo chuckled.

“Any time, pretty boy. Any time.”

“Aaand, we’re done,” Penny said as she grabbed Bakugo’s arm and pulled him toward the door. He let her guide them outside, but the devilish smile didn’t leave his face. When the door closed behind them, Midoriya quickly reassured Todoroki that he had not been the one to invite them over. Not wanting to focus on it any longer, Todoroki told Midoriya it wasn’t a big deal and he was glad it was over with. Midoriya didn’t say it out loud, but he was pretty sure it was far from over. It was only a matter of time before Bakugo gave Todoroki exactly what he’d been trying so hard not to think about.

The following Sunday, Penny called Midoriya and invited him out with the pretense that she was shopping for something for Bakugo and wanted his expert opinion. Midoriya had suggested getting a few drinks first, but Penny said she wasn’t feeling well enough for that, so they went straight to the mall. As soon as they were alone, she yelled,

“Katsuki is driving me CRAZY!”

“Woah! What’s going on?” Midoriya asked. They sat on a bench outside of the shopping center and Penny pounded her little fists against her thighs.

“You know how he gets when you don’t feel like having sex?”

Midoriya blushed and shook his head.

“I…I’ve never told him no…”

“What?! You should try it some time. He gets all neurotic and anxious and when I finally let him, the sex is wild. Wonderful. The best.”

“Okay?” Midoriya wasn’t sure where she was going.

“Anyway. My point is, I know it’s because he wants to fuck Shoto, so I told him to just get it over with already.”

Laughter escaped Midoriya.

“Shoto will never go for it,” he said confidently, though the image of his boyfriends being intimate together was delectable.

“Katsuki gets what Katsuki wants, and we both know how much Shoto is going to like giving it to him.” Penny stood up and walked quickly toward the mall, shouting over her shoulder, “So, that’s what you and I are doing here.”

Unsure he heard correctly, Midoriya stopped following her and said,

“I’m sorry, what?!”

At that exact moment, Bakugo was sending a text message to Todoroki. He couldn’t take it any longer; he had to fuck him. It had been on his mind since he’d found out Todoroki was a bottom, and it was gasoline on a fire when Todoroki declared how revolting he found Bakugo’s particular brand of sex. There was no game more fun than dominance, especially if an undiscovered submission was painted on someone’s face like it was on Todoroki’s, and had been on Midoriya’s.

‘Hey pretty boy’

‘Don’t call me that. What do you want?’

‘Come over’

‘No, thank you.’

‘I said come over’

The entire exchange took less than ten minutes, and when Todoroki didn’t respond, Bakugo was certain he was on his way. Less than an hour later, there was a remarkably soft knock on the door, as if Todoroki could hardly move. Bakugo opened the door in torn-up jeans that hung so low on his hips it was obvious he was wearing nothing underneath. Rippling muscles covered with smooth, tan skin was all he wore elsewhere, and Todoroki was distracted by them in a way he never had been before. 

“Would you like a drink?” Bakugo asked, gesturing for Todoroki to come inside. He was standing in the doorway paralyzed with anxiety until Bakugo spoke, and as he crossed the threshold, he started to decline the beverage.

“Penny has several of your favorite scotches here. She thinks she’s a big girl when she drinks it, but I see the faces she makes,” he laughed, grabbing a ruby-red rocks glass from the cabinet without waiting for Todoroki’s answer. Pleased with the bottle Bakugo poured from, Todoroki took the drink and was silently thankful for it.

“Penny ruins it with ice,” he said, unsure of what else to say.

“Shit is disgusting either way.” Bakugo grabbed a beer from the fridge and poured it into a chilled glass.

“That’s because you’re an uncultured barbarian.”

Bakugo half-smiled in response and sat on the couch, stretching his long legs out in front of him and resting his feet on the glass coffee table. Todoroki leaned against the white marble countertop, as far away from Bakugo as he could be.

 “Aren’t you going to sit down?” Bakugo asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“I think not,” answered Todoroki. He was certain that if he took a step forward, his knees would buckle beneath him. He had never felt less graceful and in control in his entire life, a feeling he was completely unfamiliar with.

“What if I ordered you to?”

Please don’t.

Todoroki remembered the urge to listen to Bakugo when he had told him to come over, and that was mere pixels on a screen. Midoriya had tried to relay his dynamic with Bakugo, but Todoroki always thought the concept of dominance and submission was ridiculous. He was finally beginning to understand the draw and appeal to giving up control. Recalling Midoriya’s explanation that obeying genuinely fulfilled him, Todoroki tried to relate to the idea, but realized that he’d rather be taken over than be expected to do whatever Bakugo said. He just wanted to be fucked like a wild animal; he didn’t think he cared for the tedious details of a power exchange.

Sipping his scotch from across the room, Todoroki couldn’t help but watch Bakugo. He’d avoided looking directly at him for years, and now he was unable to look away just because he had an inkling of what was between his legs. As hard as it was to admit to himself, he was also incredibly curious what all Midoriya’s fuss was about. It was obvious to Todoroki that his boyfriend favored sex with Bakugo over sex with him, and he wanted to know why. They already had a great time together, so he wondered how it could possibly be even better. He didn’t mind sacrificing a bit of his pride to steal a few pages from Bakugo’s playbook.

“Get over here,” Bakugo said casually, trying to start with a light approach. When Todoroki stared at him without answering, Bakugo stood up with frustration.

“So, you want to play it that way?” He walked into the kitchen and stood inches away from Todoroki, seeming to tower over him even though Todoroki was the taller man.

“You’ve got two choices, pretty boy. You can either leave right now,” Bakugo pulled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. “Or you can fight me off until I restrain you and do whatever the fuck I want.”

“What if you can’t restrain me?” Todoroki dared to ask. Laughter erupted from Bakugo and he tossed the cuffs toward the middle of the apartment.

“If you somehow manage to get those on me, then I’ll do whatever you want. And no Quirks allowed; I like this apartment.”

Without his Quirk, Todoroki wasn’t very confident he could win against Bakugo. He was twice as strong, fought dirty, and likely had experience wrestling someone into handcuffs. Without hesitation, Todoroki punched Bakugo in the stomach and somersaulted across the kitchen floor. He reached for the handcuffs under the dining table, but Bakugo grabbed his ankles and yanked him away. Todoroki rolled over to kick Bakugo’s legs out from under him and Bakugo dodged, sliding across the dining table to the other side. He almost had the handcuffs in his grasp, but Todoroki slid them out from under the table and wrapped his fingers around them with a satisfied grin. The moment he was standing, Bakugo snatched the handcuffs from him. Todoroki aimed a right hook at his face, but missed when Bakugo crashed into his torso and they both fell to the floor. Todoroki pushed out from under him, almost escaping.

Bakugo grabbed a fistful of Todoroki’s red hair, effectively stunning and immobilizing him. He was flat on his stomach with his face pressed against the white carpet as Bakugo pulled both of his arms behind his back. Todoroki struggled against him, filling Bakugo with a primal burn and sending a growl from between his clenched teeth. Unable to match Bakugo’s strength, Todoroki felt the cold metal of the handcuffs lock around each of his wrists. The pain in his shoulders reminded him of the day Bakugo slammed him against the wall, and he was nearly desperate to feel Bakugo’s bare skin against his.

He hated the position he was in; not just pinned to the floor, but under the control of a man he resented on a daily basis. It was utterly insane that he could be under Bakugo’s spell like he was, aching to be filled by him, craving the aggression he had raged against just days ago. Todoroki laid perfectly still under Bakugo, refusing to give him the satisfaction of trying to escape, and attempting to maintain some semblance of self-control.

“Beg for me, pretty boy,” Bakugo whispered in his ear.

“Fuck you,” Todoroki spit back. With a throaty laugh, Bakugo pulled Todoroki up by the handcuffs, increasing the pain in his shoulders and forcing him to his knees. His hand still gripping Todoroki’s hair, Bakugo slammed his head onto the coffee table hard enough to crack the glass, causing Todoroki’s vision to swim as dizziness rocked through him. When he had centered himself once more, Bakugo was yanking Todoroki’s pants down to his knees. Being taken that way wasn’t what Todoroki wanted; he wanted all those delicious muscles naked and pressed against him. Todoroki froze the handcuffs with his ice and broke free, rolling away as Bakugo was unzipping his jeans.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked with a wicked smile. His pants dropped to the floor as he stood up and he kicked them off, exposing the thick, throbbing erection that they had been hiding. Todoroki’s mouth watered at the sight and he quickly tore off all of his own clothing. His pale, slender frame looked feminine and fragile to Bakugo, inciting an even stronger urge to break him. Having already proved his superior strength, Bakugo decided to take a new approach and casually walked into his bedroom, where he leaned against a wall and waited.

“We had a deal, Todoroki. You lost. Now, get that pretty ass in here.”

For a few moments, Todoroki considered getting dressed and leaving Bakugo to please himself. That fantasy didn’t last long, and he soon followed Bakugo into the bedroom. Bakugo had a small purple bottle in his hands and tossed it to Todoroki without warning, who caught it and stared at Bakugo’s perfect naked form. He was the absolute personification of sex and desire, and somehow his confidence in it made him all the more intoxicating. He grabbed Todoroki’s arm and dragged him toward the bed, pushing him halfway onto it in a bent-over position. Todoroki tried standing up, but Bakugo held him down with one hand between his shoulder blades. He used hardly any pressure, knowing that Todoroki didn’t really want to fight back. Todoroki was successfully subdued and Bakugo calmly said,

“Get yourself wet, or this is going to hurt.”

After seeing exactly what Bakugo was wielding, Todoroki believed him and reached between his own legs with lubricated fingers, going as far into himself as he could, spreading the slippery liquid everywhere he could touch. The bottle fell to the floor and Bakugo penetrated Todoroki without warning. They both cried out as Bakugo plunged himself deeper and deeper. When Todoroki had taken most of him in, Bakugo slowly pulled his hardness out, leaving Todoroki empty and frustrated. He had never felt such girth and power inside of him, and his near-desperation had quickly evolved into frantic desire. Bakugo saw Todoroki’s pale fists clench around the black bedding and he leaned over him, making sure none of their skin touched.

“Are you ready to beg yet?”

When Todoroki didn’t respond, Bakugo pierced him again, with more of his shaft than before. He gripped Todoroki’s delicate hips and thrust in and out until a delicious moan escaped from him, then he left him empty once more.

“God dammit,” Todoroki whispered. Bakugo grabbed him by the hair, pulling his head backward and forcing Todoroki to face him. His shining gray and blue eyes had gone foggy and he wouldn’t look at Bakugo. He didn’t want to see the overwhelming satisfaction on his face. All he wanted was to be filled, over and over and over.

“This is your last chance to be a good boy before I come all over your back and send you home.”

Todoroki wanted that warmth inside of him so badly he couldn’t find the words. All he could finally manage was a breathless, “Please…”

He was immediately rewarded, but once Bakugo was inside of him, he didn’t move. Bakugo still hadn’t given him every last inch and Todoroki arched himself into him, grinding until he felt the base of Bakugo against his ass, and groaned into the bed. He tried rocking against Bakugo, but the grip on Todoroki’s hips tightened and Todoroki laid still.

“Bakugo, please don’t stop.” He couldn’t believe the words fell from his lips. He was delirious and felt sure he would soon go mad. Bakugo pumped out and in exactly one time before once again stopping his movements completely. Watching Todoroki tremble beneath him was glorious and his ass felt fantastic wrapped around Bakugo’s cock. He could make the encounter last hours if he wanted to, but their other lovers would soon be home and he’d prefer to be finished before then.

“Do you want to come?” he whispered. Todoroki nodded and Bakugo yanked on his hair. “Try again,” Bakugo growled.

“Yes…sir…”

I win.

Bakugo put a hand on either of Todoroki’s shoulders and pounded into him so deep and so fast that Todoroki screamed into the bed. When he matched Bakugo’s rhythm, bucking against him with all of his strength, Bakugo stood still and watched. The sight of Todoroki losing his mind with desire was overwhelming and Bakugo slapped his ass hardfive, six, seven times until a puffy red welt formed. Todoroki was too distracted by his impending orgasm to care how much the slaps hurt. The gradually louder pleasure moans from Todoroki showed Bakugo just how close he was to coming, and feeling his own orgasm building, Bakugo regained his composure and exited Todoroki’s ass.

“What the fuck?!” Todoroki yelled, trying to stand up and losing his balance. Bakugo laughed as he climbed onto the bed, lying on his back with a pillow under his head. He patted his thigh and said,

“Get up here and ride this cock.”

Todoroki quickly obeyed, climbing onto the bed and straddling Bakugo. He guided Bakugo back into himself and the sensation of his ass meeting Bakugo’s pelvis made him shudder. His hands gripped the headboard for balance as Bakugo grabbed either side of his waist and held him in place. Todoroki’s soft hair fell across his eyes as he looked down at Bakugo.

“You’re so fucking pretty,” he grinned up at him, tightening his grip to the point of bruising.

“Can I move now?” Todoroki said between clenched teeth, feeling humiliated and objectified, and somehow loving every second of it.

“Good boy for asking.” Bakugo slapped his ass. “You can move.”

Arching his hips into Bakugo’s, Todoroki’s head went back and he moaned before quickening his pace. Bakugo laced his fingers together behind his head and closed his eyes, soaking in his victory and delight. Todoroki’s graceful sways and smooth rhythm were entirely unlike anything Penny or Midoriya ever did, and Bakugo felt like their orgasms were dancing together, waltzing their way toward the edge of a ballroom.

“Shoto…” he moaned. “Right fucking there. Slow down, slow down. Yes…”

Looking back down at Bakugo, Todoroki saw his eyes were closed and he was biting his lip. A sense of triumph coursed through Todoroki and he kept his pace even, watching Bakugo’s expression reveal his building orgasm.

“Katsuki,” he whispered, matching Bakugo’s use of his own first name. Bakugo’s eyes fluttered open to see a smile on Todoroki’s lovely face. “Come for me.”

“No fucking way,” Bakugo said with very little conviction in his voice. Todoroki may not have had any experience submitting, but he was a good bottom and he knew it.

“Please come. Fill me up. Throb inside of me. Please, please, please…” his voice never raised above a whisper and his eyes never left Bakugo’s. Mid-sway, with only half of Bakugo inside of him, he froze in place and clenched himself tightly. Bakugo’s breath caught in his throat and Todoroki grinned. He continued his delicate movements, never meeting the base of Bakugo, only rocking against the first few inches of him. His own climax began to build again, even more intense than before, and he could tell Bakugo was losing his control. When his eyes fluttered closed again, Todoroki slammed his ass into Bakugo’s pelvis, sending a sharp arch through Bakugo’s back and a deep growl from his throat. He rode Bakugo fast and deep and Bakugo sat up straight, raking his fingers down Todoroki’s back. He grabbed Todoroki’s ass and held him in place, trying to stop his pleasure from ripping through him, but Todoroki fought his grip and rocked against him anyway. Todoroki put his fingers in Bakugo’s hair, gently brushing it away from his face, and kissed him the way Midoriya would. His tongue caressed Bakugo’s, sending him completely over the edge. Bakugo was shocked by the sudden force of his orgasm, making no sound as he pumped his seed into Todoroki and collapsed onto his back. None too gently, Todoroki pulled himself off of Bakugo and stroked his own cock until he showered Bakugo’s chest and face with his climax.

He picked up Bakugo’s shirt from the floor and wiped his cum off Bakugo’s closed eyes. Bakugo’s hand shot out and grabbed Todoroki’s wrist, pulling him close.

“What…the fuck…was that?” Bakugo panted, disoriented from losing his control.

“I’m no one’s pretty boy.” He kissed Bakugo’s gaping mouth and headed for the bedroom door. “Thanks for the lay, Katsuki. It was lovely,” then winked and closed the door behind him. His legs felt like jelly as he got dressed and went downstairs, shocked at his own behavior, and even more so at Bakugo’s. 

In the darkness of his room, Bakugo replayed their final moments over and over, completely blown away. No one had ever torn his orgasm from him before. He felt robbed. He felt invaded.

He felt dominated.

Chapter Text

Todoroki was thoroughly enjoying his newfound confidence ever since his encounter with Bakugo, who had successfully avoided him for weeks. He was excelling in his classes and training, his sex with Midoriya had never been better, and he was grateful every single day for the beautiful life he and his polycule had cultivated. There were no four people on the planet as fortunate as they were, and he decided to treat them all with not only a physical gift, but a symbol of their unity. He waited until a weekend when Midoriya would be at Bakugo’s, had the present delivered and set up, then told Midoriya to bring the other two with him when he came home.

With plenty of chatter and laughter, the three of them clambered through the entryway carrying several brown paper grocery bags. Todoroki quickly helped by taking some into the kitchen, noticing all the food and glass bottles inside.

“Kacchan is cooking dinner!” Midoriya beamed, dropping the bags from his hands to the floor in order to wrap his arms around Todoroki’s neck and kiss him. “We had such an amazing weekend, but I missed you.”

“Shoto!” Penny cried, throwing herself into his arms. Midoriya happily made room for her and Todoroki called out to Bakugo,

“There’s plenty of room for you to join, Katsuki.”

Letting go of Todoroki, Penny and Midoriya exchanged confused glances. Their boyfriends always used formal names with each other, and their curiosity about the two men’s time together rose even higher.

“Shut up, Shoto. Everyone out of the kitchen or you’ll all starve to death,” Bakugo answered, walking past them without looking at Todoroki. Midoriya searched the bags until he found their drinks, poured each person their favorite, and handed them out with a kiss on each of their cheeks. Todoroki and Penny sat on the couch, gossiping like old women and forgetting the other two were even there. Practically skipping into the kitchen, Midoriya stood next to Bakugo and asked,

“Can I help?”

“Absolutely not,” Bakugo laughed. “But if you stay out of my way, you can watch.”

Content with that answer, Midoriya lazily moved a pile of ingredients and hopped up onto the counter, kicking his feet as if he were a child on a playground. He studied the scene before him intently, admiring the beautiful people he was surrounded by. It was impossible for him to imagine a better life and he sipped his wine for a while, soaking in the perfection of the moment. Before long, he couldn’t stand to be quiet and loudly asked,

“Kacchan, what happened with you and Shoto?”

The conversation in the living room came to an abrupt halt and Bakugo’s knife was frozen mid-air above the chives on his cutting board.

“I’m also super curious,” Penny chimed in, attempting to save them all from the awkward silence. An uncharacteristically wicked smile crept across Todoroki’s face, but he said nothing.

“Kacchan?”

“We fucked, that’s all,” he answered, furiously taking out his embarrassment on the onions.

“Yes, we figured as much. Shoto?” Penny turned to her best friend, hoping for more information.

“If you don’t tell them in your own words, Katsuki, then I will tell them in mine.”

Bakugo stabbed the knife into the cutting board so that it stuck straight up, and his lovers were absolutely giddy with anticipation. Anything that had him that upset was certain to be interesting. Searching his mind for a way to explain what had transpired, Bakugo took several drinks of his beer while he put his thoughts in order. The best he could come up with was,

“It didn’t go the way I expected,” then he went back to chopping vegetables and avoiding eye contact.

“Kacchan, come on. Give us more than—”

“He made me come, okay?!” he shouted, not taking his eyes or hands off of the food. “He rocked my fucking world. Took me for a fucking ride. Whatever the fuck you want to call it. Then the little shit busted all over my face and straight up went the fuck home, like I was paid-for dick.”

The entire apartment was silent other than the sound of boiling water and steel hitting bamboo. Midoriya managed to hold his composure, but Penny and Todoroki soon lost their minds with laughter.

“Do you…do you think you’ll do it again?” Midoriya dared to ask.

“Absolutely fucking not!” Bakugo yelled at the same moment Todoroki said,

“If he’s lucky,” sending Penny and himself into even deeper hysterics.

By the time their laughter subsided, dinner was nearly ready and everyone started sitting at the table. Midoriya refilled everyone’s drinks and noticed Penny had hardly had a sip of hers, saying she just wasn’t feeling it that night. As Bakugo placed a serving platter and several bowls on the table, Todoroki was admiring his prowess in the kitchen.

“This looks incredible,” he said with genuine delight and approval.

“You don’t get to eat any,” Bakugo replied, but he had a half-smile on his face and the other three were happy to see him feeling light-hearted about the matter. When their bellies were full and the alcohol was setting in, Todoroki announced he had a surprise waiting for all of them upstairs. Being the absolute fastest in the group, Midoriya made it to the second floor in a flash and everyone heard him shriek,

“Shoto!”

“What is it? What is it?” Penny asked gleefully, bounding up the stairs. Bakugo stood at the bottom step, determined to be the last one up, but Todoroki pushed him and said he already knew what it was, so he had to be last. Once he got to the top, Bakugo couldn’t help but smile.

An enormous bed was situated in the center of the room. It was dressed in emerald green silk sheets, several goose-down pillows, and a brown rabbit’s fur blanket. The frame was made of gorgeous mahogany, with four canopy posts that each had intricate carvings in the wood of forest animals, flowers, and trees. Midoriya and Penny were already on their backs, waving their arms along the unimaginably soft pelt and grinning like it was Christmas morning.

“Not half-bad,” Bakugo said, playfully pushing on Todoroki’s shoulder before jumping onto the bed to join his loves. Midoriya patted the space to his left and Todoroki climbed in with them. Him on one end, Midoriya and Bakugo in the middle, and Penny on the other, they could finally all be together. No one had to feel alone or left out. No one had to sleep with only one partner and miss the other. Whenever they wanted, they could puppy-pile into their cozy nest and feel harmonious. None of them expected to sleep that way every night, but the fact that the option was there filled their hearts with unmatched joy.

“Is anyone going to comment on the special accessories I’ve equipped it with?” Todoroki joked, staring up at the four of them in the mirror installed on the ceiling.

“We all know Kacchan loves looking at himself.” Everyone chuckled, including Bakugo.

“What else is there?” Penny asked. In their reflection, they could see Todoroki moving his gaze to the headboard, then slowly to the canopy posts. Squealing with delight, Midoriya quickly sat up and gripped one of the sets of handlebars built into the intricate wooden headboard. An identical set was built into Penny’s side of the bed, and Bakugo could barely keep his hands to himself watching his two lovers on their knees next to each other. Now they all knew Todoroki intended for them do to more than sleep next to each other, if they were so inclined. Bakugo had an idea about what Todoroki may have looked to the posts for and reached to where one of them met the bottom of the frame. He pulled up a thick black strap with a soft cuff on the end of it.

“I assume there are four of these?” he asked with a pleased expression.

“Eight, actually,” Todoroki corrected.

“We love it, Shoto,” Midoriya said softly, leaping into his arms, kissing his neck, his ear, his lips. They heard Penny’s girlish giggling as Todoroki guided Midoriya onto his back and their kisses deepened. Before any of them knew it, they were naked and entangled. Todoroki wrapped his lips around Midoriya’s hardness the same moment Penny wrapped hers around Bakugo, with Penny moving to straddle her lover just moments before Todoroki filled his tight entrance with Midoriya. Todoroki and Penny gripped their sets of handlebars and couldn’t help but grin wickedly at each other before returning their focus to the two beneath them. Bakugo and Midoriya had their eyes closed and were breathing heavily, small sounds of pleasuring bubbling up through their lips. They blindly reached for each other, and when their fingers laced, they opened their eyes to find love and desire staring back at them. Their hands tightened around one another’s before they smiled and let go, grabbing the hips of the beautiful people riding them.

The handlebars were incredibly successful in their intended purpose, to give whoever was on top the leverage they needed to find the angle they wanted. Midoriya heard Todoroki’s impending orgasm and slowly stroked his cock to bring it even closer. Bakugo had reached one hand to close around Penny’s throat, and the other to caress the best part of her that his cock just couldn’t reach.

“Yes…Katsuki, don’t stop…”

“Faster…Right there, Midoriya…”

“Katsuki!”

“Midoriya!”

The sound of the other’s pleasure pushed Todoroki and Penny into bursting climaxes and they collapsed onto their lovers only seconds apart. Lying on their partner’s chests, Penny and Todoroki turned their heads to look at each other, grinning before closing their eyes and relaxing into strong arms and roaming hands. After several minutes of silence, when the two of them had nearly fallen asleep in their pools of ecstasy, Bakugo slapped Penny’s ass hard enough that she cried out.

“Go take a shower, little girl.”

“Yes, sir,” she obeyed, kissing him before pulling away and dancing into the bathroom. Wordlessly, Todoroki kissed Midoriya, their smiles never wavering, and went to join Penny. Without having to be told, Midoriya rolled onto his belly then propped himself up on all fours.

“Good boy,” Bakugo growled, positioning himself behind Midoriya. He ran his hands from Midoriya’s sculpted shoulders, down his strong back, to the pale softness of his ass. Still wet from Penny’s warmth, he penetrated Midoriya with ease and they moaned together. Bakugo’s rhythm was slow and careful until he was entirely enveloped in Midoriya, then he leaned down and whispered,

“Are you ready?”

“Please, sir, please.”

Bakugo grabbed Midoriya’s shoulders and gradually quickened his pace until he could go no faster. He pounded himself into his lover with wild force, ripping cries of pleasure from both of them.

“Kacchan, I’m going to—”

“Fuck, Deku, fuck, fuck, fu—”

They screamed their release as warm, salty liquid erupted onto the fur blanket while Bakugo emptied his own into Midoriya with three final, powerful thrusts. Bakugo kissed Midoriya’s back as he dug his fingers into his sides, then exited him and fell onto the bed. They laid facing each other, staring into one another’s eyes like no one else on earth existed or ever had. Midoriya tossed his leg across Bakugo’s hip and Bakugo’s hand found Midoriya’s thick, green curls. Twirling, untwirling, then twirling again.

“I love you, Kacchan.”

“I love you, too, little Deku.”

Simultaneous smiles spread across their faces and a tear fell from Bakugo’s eye. He’d never felt more at peace in his life and likely never would again. His world was perfect. His loves were perfect. All in the most beautifully imperfect way.

Penny and Todoroki watched their partners from the bathroom doorway and silently marveled at their connection.

I don’t think two people have ever loved each other as much as they do.

Penny smiled up at Todoroki before curling up behind Bakugo, whose eyes were now closed.

Maybe he does love you more than I ever could.

Todoroki wrapped himself around Midoriya, whose fingers were entwined with Bakugo’s. The four of them fell fast asleep, tossing and turning throughout the night, naked bodies happily pressed against one another, regardless of whose skin it was they were feeling. Early in the morning before the sun had risen, Bakugo’s phone rang with the ringtone for the Hero Agency. He sat up to find it, moving Midoriya’s arm from across his belly and carefully pulling away from Todoroki, who had been curled around him with his leg across Bakugo’s. Penny was big-spooning Midoriya with her tiny face buried in his hair, and Bakugo wished he could take a picture of all of them.

Quickly answering the phone and getting dressed, he left the apartment without making a sound. He hadn’t taken three steps up to the street before turning around, sneaking back inside, and taking a photo of all four of them with the front-facing camera on his phone. After sending it to Midoriya and planting a kiss on all three of their cheeks, he dashed back out to the city in search of the Villain who dared take him away from the haven of his bed and his loves.

He found the man with the Alligator Quirk wreaking havoc on a nearby beach. Bakugo flew across the water and pulled young children to safety before rescuing the man in the Villain’s grasp, who looked like he was about to lose his head in the huge reptile’s jaws. The beach soon cleared as everyone ran screaming away from the battle that quickly ensued. It didn’t take long for Bakugo’s explosions to wear down his opponent, and all he could think about when he had the man pinned was how happy he was that the battle ended quickly so he could get back to his polycule and enjoy the rest of his Sunday.

Bakugo turned away to flag down the police officers who were on their way to detain the Villain. As he was calling out to them, an excruciating sharpness pierced his side and he looked down to see the jagged tip of an alligator’s tail protruding from his abdomen. Ripping himself away, he used one of his grenades and blew the entire tail to bloody debris and collapsed onto the sand, watching in a daze as he turned the soft tan earth beneath him into a dark, sticky red.

After tearing off his grenades and costume, he slowly peeled his shirt up to examine the wound. Through the river of blood, he could vaguely make out the pieces of him trying to fall out of their rightful place and into his lap. What he guessed were his intestines now bulged through the gaping space in his torn flesh and he vomited onto his pants. Gritting his teeth through pain he’d never known, he pressed his hand into the wound and let off three small explosions in an attempt to cauterize it closed. His organs were no longer visible, but he wasn’t certain if that was because they were behind melted flesh, or if he had worsened the damage and blown them into ruined shreds. The blood continued to cascade and coughs raked through him like glass in his chest.

He vaguely heard someone calling for an ambulance, but the overwhelming dizziness that took over sent a horrifying knowledge through him that help wasn’t going to make it in time. Blood was thick in his mouth and he was close to passing out. Bakugo knew instantly that the hole in his side was beyond repair and he began to panic, which pumped the blood out of him with even greater force. Without a word to the people coming to his aid, he blasted into the air in the direction of Midoriya’s home.

I can barely keep my eyes open…

How much blood have I lost?

Deku…Penny...

Shoto…

I’m so sorry…

Chapter Text

When the apartment door had closed behind Bakugo, Todoroki woke from the sound. The space between himself and Midoriya was still warm when he scooted over to fill it, and he assumed Bakugo was off being their Hero. Unable to fall back asleep, he put a pot of coffee on and jumped in the shower. When he stepped out, Penny and Midoriya were still sleeping, and she had her head on his chest with his hand in her hair. Todoroki grinned at their love for each other and went downstairs. He was in the window seat with a book and a second cup of coffee when he heard Midoriya’s bare feet on the stairs. Wearing only boxers and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he kissed Todoroki and said good morning.

“Good morning, my love.”

“Where’s Kacchan?”

“He was gone before the sun came up. I’d say he’s out putting criminals away.”

“I worry when he’s gone,” Midoriya said, climbing into Todoroki’s lap even though there wasn’t room on the tiny window seat.

“He’s one of the Top Heroes in the world. You don’t need to worry about him.”

Just then, Penny came bounding down from above, beaming morning wishes at the two of them. She had errands to run and quickly kissed their cheeks before rushing out the door. Todoroki invited Midoriya to spend the day on the couch with him, but he missed Uraraka and left to have some bestie time.

Silence filled the apartment and Todoroki immediately missed the melody of the others’ presence. He tried escaping into a favorite novel, but his mind wandered relentlessly and he closed the book, staring into the empty living room. Remembering the night of passion the four of them had, he smiled to himself and went to his bedroom to change the sheets. The small chore turned into cleaning the entire apartment, and by the time he was done, he couldn’t stand to be in the quiet any longer and stepped out for a walk.

He hadn’t made it a quarter of a mile down the street before seeing someone in the sky, jumping off the rooftop of a nearby building. Seeing the explosion come from their hand, he realized it was Bakugo and was about to yell something snarky and playful when he noticed something off about his movements. Bakugo crashed onto the sidewalk, one hand holding his side tightly, the other hand bursting with small explosions, propelling him toward Todoroki.

“Katsuki?” he said, running to see what was wrong. The closer he got, he started seeing the kind of shape Bakugo was in. His face was in a painful grimace, his left arm was covered in blood, and without his weak explosions he wouldn’t have been able to stand.

“Katsuki!” Todoroki screamed, making it to him just in time for Bakugo to collapse into his arms, sending them both to the ground.

“D…Dek…ku…” he whispered as his eyes slowly closed. Todoroki shook him, trying to wake them both up from the nightmare they must have been in.

“Katsuki, open your eyes dammit!” With a trembling hand, Todoroki pulled his phone from his pocket and called for an ambulance. “Midoriya isn’t here. Why didn’t you go to a hospital? What happened?”

Bakugo’s eyes opened and he coughed, sending blood down his chin and onto Todoroki’s shirt. He lifted his arm, exposing a raw, bloody hole just beneath his ribs. The wound was losing more blood than Todoroki had ever seen in his life, painting the concrete a horrifying shade of red. Bakugo’s face was quickly turning white and Todoroki could feel his breathing becoming erratic.

“Katsuki, answer me! Keep your fucking eyes open and talk to me.”

“I…I couldn’t…make it…hospital,” Bakugo said before coughing up another thick burst of blood, spraying Todoroki’s face and chest. “Need…D…Deku…”

This can’t be happening.

Tears poured from Todoroki’s eyes, landing on Bakugo’s face and turning pink as they mixed with blood and rolled down his cheek. Bakugo’s eyes started to close again and Todoroki held his hand, barely able to see through the curtain of tears.

“Open your fucking eyes,” he cried, tightening his grip on Bakugo’s fingers.

“Sho…to…”

“I’m right here. Stay with me. They’re going to be here soon and you’re going to be okay. Just stay with me, please.”

“Tell them…I…I love…”

“Tell them your fucking self!” Todoroki shouted. Bakugo’s breathing slowed and a half-smile appeared on his face.

“Take care of them, pretty boy,” he managed with open eyes before a series of wet coughs ripped through him. When they finally subdued, he squeezed Todoroki’s hand and his eyes fluttered closed before his entire face went slack.

“Katsuki Bakugo, you can’t leave us. You just can’t. We need you.” Todoroki pulled him closer, pressed him against his chest, and sobbed. He couldn’t feel him breathing anymore and Todoroki started to shake violently. “Open your fucking eyes!”

An ambulance screeched to a stop in front of them and Todoroki was rocking Bakugo back and forth, telling him to stay with him, over and over. When the EMTs loaded him onto a stretcher, Todoroki stayed on his knees on the sidewalk, mesmerized by all the blood on the ground and on himself. He saw a flash of green lightning and looked up to see Midoriya flying toward him.

“Shoto, what—” He landed on his knees next to Todoroki, who couldn’t speak, then looked inside the ambulance.

“Kacchan?”

Midoriya threw himself at the EMTs to get past them, and one of them tried holding him back. From inside the truck, Todoroki heard a loud, flat beep that seemed to sound for an eternity.

“KACCHAN!” screamed Midoriya, throwing the EMT to the ground and climbing in next to Bakugo. “Wake up, Kacchan. Don’t leave me. Please, god, don’t leave me. Wake up. KACCHAN, WAKE UP!”

Chapter Text

The memorial for Katsuki Bakugo was one of the most televised events in history and more than two million people attended, every one of them wearing red. Todoroki and Penny had taken care of everything and spoke at length of the incredible man he had been, the lives he had saved, and the love that they all had shared. Many other people chose to tell stories about their experiences with him or the things they had seen him do that inspired them. His bravery and honor were commended and he was laid to rest in Japan’s Great Heroes of History mausoleum, to spend eternity next to All Might, who had died just a few years before.

Midoriya did not attend the service. He laid in Bakugo’s bed for weeks, even after the sweet pine scent no longer lingered on the sheets. Todoroki spent every day in the apartment with him, but Midoriya wanted to be alone, so Todoroki stayed in the living room. At night, he and Penny would curl up on either side of Midoriya, none of them ever saying a word. Todoroki had lost track of how many days it had been since he heard Midoriya’s voice, who refused to speak or eat or shower. He stayed in the darkness of Bakugo’s bedroom, wearing his Punisher t-shirt and holding onto his phone to stare at the picture of the four of them that Bakugo had taken on his last day alive.

He heard a soft knock on the door one morning and ignored it like he always did. Penny stepped into the room and sat on the bed next to him. When she ran her fingers through his hair, he closed his eyes and let as many tears fall as his body had left.

“Midoriya, darling. I know you don’t want to get up, but I saw Pam and Charlie today and they would really like to see you. I promised them both that I would try with all my heart to bring you over. What do you think?”

He was quiet for a long time before saying,

“I forgot about Charlie…”

“It would mean a lot to them. They miss you very much.”

“What time is it?” Midoriya asked.

“Early in the afternoon,” she answered.

“Okay. I’ll go,” he finally whispered.

Not wanting to startle him with her excitement, she quietly kissed his cheek and told him she’d wait in the living room until he was ready. Nearly an hour later, he opened the door, barely able to keep his eyes open against the sunlight shining in through the drawn curtains. Todoroki was on the couch, afraid to move for fear that anything he said or did would send Midoriya into a fit of tears. Wearing Bakugo’s sweats and the same t-shirt he’d been in for nearly a month, Midoriya silently went to the door and put his shoes on. Penny said a quick goodbye to Todoroki and went to Pam’s restaurant, her hand never leaving Midoriya’s.

“Deku!” Charlie squealed when she saw him, wrapping her arms around his legs and hugging him tightly. It was the first time he’d heard his nickname since Bakugo had been slain in the line of duty, and he cried quietly as he returned Charlie’s hug. Pam put her hand on his back and said,

“Have a seat at your normal spot and I’ll be right over.”

The small table in the very back of the dining room now had a photo of Bakugo and Charlie hung up on the wall behind it. Charlie was in his arms and he was tickling her, causing a beaming smile to light up the entire picture. Midoriya wished he hadn’t left the comfort of Bakugo’s bed, especially to land in a place surrounded by Bakugo memories. His tears continued to fall, and he continued to be silent.

“Midoriya, I have to tell you something,” Penny said, reaching across the table for his hand. He let her take it, but he didn’t meet her gaze. “I never had a chance to tell Katsuki, but we…I’m—”

She was interrupted by Charlie walking up to them with glasses of water and a very excited expression.

“Mom told me you’re having a baby!” she squealed. Midoriya’s eyes shot up and his grip on Penny’s hand tightened tremendously. “If you have a girl, you should name her Charlotte because that’s my real name, it’s just that everyone calls me Charlie.”

“Penny?” Midoriya said, disbelief crashing through him.

“And you know what I think you should name it if it’s a boy?” Charlie continued. “Mom said it’s Katsuki’s baby, too, and that means it’ll be like a tiny him and he told me Kacchan means little Katsuki so I think you should name him Kacchan. Right, Deku?”

“Penny?” he repeated. She smiled at him, tears pouring from her beautifully dark brown eyes.

“It’s true,” she said, then turned to Charlie. “Guess what, kiddo? I just saw the doctor yesterday and she told me I’m going to have a son. A little Katsuki, just like you said.”

Shrieking with delight, Charlie spun on her heel and ran into the kitchen yelling to her mother that Penny was having a boy.

“A baby?” Midoriya said, staring at Penny with wide eyes and the first smile he’d had in more days than he could count.

“Yes, and I think Kacchan is the perfect name. If that’s all right with you?”

Midoriya hugged Penny far too tightly and they cried together for the heartbreak of their love lost, and for the salvation of knowing that a piece of Bakugo would live on.