Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It started with a fire. 

Izuku was no stranger to fires. When the alarm sounded that a nearby office building had gone up into flames, he immediately jumped into action. He suited up and jumped into the truck with the others. 

The fire was large and swallowed up most of the building. Most of the inhabitants were outside. Several of them were wearing suits or white lab coats. They reminded him of the one Kacchan often wore for work. Their truck was the first to arrive. 

“Everyone, please back up!” Iida, one of Izuku’s fellow firefighters yelled. “Sir,” Iida called the attention of a tall man with broad shoulders and fiery red hair. He seemed to be in charge “Is everyone accounted for?” 

The man looked around, counting heads “Where’s Shouto?” he asked. “Shouto??” he began to search around the small crowd frantically. 

“Last I saw he was behind me in the stairwell!” another worker yelled. 

“There’s still someone inside?” Izuku asked. “Shit—” he grabbed his gas mask and pulled it up over his face “Start working out here, I’ll grab the person inside!” he yelled to Iida and the others. 

“Midoriya, wait—” Iida called to him. 

Izuku ran into the building. The entire bottom floor was filled with smoke. Izuku had to be fast. He pushed through the lobby looking for the entrance to the stairwell. He found the elevators first. The stairs were just around the bend from them. 

He shoved the door into the stairs open “Hello?” he called into the room. The smoke was heavier here. “Can you hear me?” he yelled through the mask. He started up the stairs, scanning the ground. The fire crackled on the floors above him. The structural security was starting to break down. He picked up the pace. 

There was nothing on the first two floors of the stairwell. But when he turned the corner to the third, there was a man lying on his stomach on the landing of the third floor. 

“Thank god—” he ran up the steps. 

CRASH! 

The ceiling collapsed behind Izuku. He gasped. It had been a near miss but it blocked his way back. Izuku would have to improvise. There was a window on the landing. He pulled his ax off his back and rushed to the window. A few well-placed cracks of his ax and the window was broken open. 

He pushed his head out and looked down at the ground “Iida!” he yelled “Tarp! I found him but the path back is blocked!” 

“RIGHT!” Iida yelled back as he and a few others grabbed an emergency landing tarp. 

With a route out secured Izuku turned to the man on the ground “Hey,” he said to the man as he turned him over “Are you awake?” To his surprise the man was conscious. His eyes were blown wide. 

He was also stupidly attractive. Mismatched eyes of blue and gray. White and red hair, and a mysterious burn scar around his left eye. In any other situation, Izuku might have stopped to admire him. “...Hero?” the man whispered. 

“Don’t call me that yet,” Izuku joked. He picked the handsome man up in a bridal carry “You’re going to be fine. I’m here now.” He carried him to the window. “This is going to be scary but we have to get out of here.” 

Izuku looked out the window. They were still preparing the tarp. 

“Am I going to die?” the man asked. His voice was low and faint. 

“No,” Izuku said at once. “You’re not. I’ve got you.” 

He whimpered and clutched at Izuku desperately. “I can’t die. Not yet. I have to say sorry to my mom— I can’t get married to that girl either. No matter what Father says I can’t do it.” He shook his head “I won’t I won’t—” 

“Hey shh,” Izuku told him. “Save your breath.” He watched them prepare the tarp “Come on guys...” He had to get this guy out of here. Every second they waited was another closer to their death. 

“I can’t marry a woman. I’m... I’m... I’m GAY!” he yelled. “Never said that out loud before.” 

The tarp was ready. Down on the ground, Iida gave him the signal to jump.

“Alright hold on!” Izuku yelled. He backed up from the window and jumped out of it. He twisted in midair to fall on his back and take the brunt of the fall. The tarp cushioned most of the fall but it hurt like hell as Izuku was lowered to the ground. 

“Nggh...” the man groaned into him. “Hurts.” 

“Sorry,” Izuku said, still holding him close to his chest. 

They were pulled up to their feet. The handsome man was still clinging to Izuku desperately as if Izuku were about to vanish. Iida appeared next to him. “That was so reckless!” he scolded “You’re so lucky. There is an ambulance here now. Take him and yourself over to the EMTs and get checked out!” 

Izuku nodded still holding the man. The building was smoking more as the fire was slowly being snuffed out by the hoses. “Right, I’m on it.” He carried the man away from the others to the still-setting-up ambulance. “Hey!” Izuku called. “He was inside for a while. He should be checked for smoke inhalation.” 

“Thank you,” an EMT said and went to take the man from Izuku. 

But the man clung to him like a stubborn octopus “No!” he cried. “Stay!” 

Izuku chuckled. “I will. I have to get checked out too.” 

“Here, sit down with him.” The EMT ordered. Izuku sat where he was pointed to, the man practically in his lap. The EMT pulled Izuku’s helmet and mask off and went to grab them oxygen tanks. 

The man stared at Izuku “...You’re handsome,” he whispered. 

“Thank you,” Izuku said with a laugh. It was sweet. The poor guy was probably out of his mind. 

“I should be marrying you instead,” he said “I don’t want to marry that girl. She’s nice but she’s a girl. I want to quit my job. Find a handsome guy. I should do that, shouldn’t I? But I can’t.” 

“Why not?” Izuku asked and wiped some of the soot off the man’s face. 

He frowned “My father would disown me. He controls everything I do.” 

“But it's your life,” Izuku said. “I get not wanting to disappoint your parents. But trust me, if you make yourself miserable to make them happy, you’ll just be miserable.” He knew that from watching Kacchan. “Go after what you want. Life is short. I mean hell if I had been even a few seconds late—” 

“I’d be dead.” 

The EMT returned with tanks of oxygen. They were each fitted with a mask that pumped oxygen to them. Izuku’s shoulders relaxed. He and the other man fell into silence as they breathed in fresh air. 

“SHOUTO!!!” the broad-shouldered man from earlier yelled. “Shouto there you are!” he grabbed the handsome man from Izuku “You’re okay!” the man began to cry holding his son “I’m so glad—” he hugged him tightly. 

Izuku smiled. Whatever problems they had it seemed this brush with death was going to help get at least this ‘Shouto’ guy on the right path. 

Things got hectic after that. Izuku meant to give Shouto his contact information to offer support in coming out but never found an opportunity. 

Oh well. 

It wasn’t like they were going to see each other ever again. 

Izuku let himself into the small townhouse. He pulled his blue and yellow All Might-themed jacket off and hung it up on the coat rack before he kicked off his pair of bright red sneakers “Kacchan,” he called into the house “I’m home!” he walked into the main living room of the home. 

It was warm with big plush couches, a small TV, and a large fireplace. Above the fireplace was a small portrait of Izuku and Kacchan. They were dressed in matching suits, Kacchan in black, and Izuku in white. A picture of them on the happiest day of Izuku’s life; their wedding day. 

“What took you so damn long?” Kacchan asked, coming out of the kitchen. There was an incredible smell that followed him out. 

“There was a crazy fire today,” Izuku said walking to his husband, “Endeavor Industries burnt to the ground. No casualties but the entire place was going to have to be gutted?”

Kacchan blinked. “Oh shit. That’s one of our competitors. What caused it?”

  Izuku shrugged. “We don’t know yet. But my guess is something went wrong in a chem lab. Didn’t you say you had a fire in one of your labs a while back?” 

“It wasn’t a fire, it was an explosion. So what the fuck happened? Are you okay?” He grabbed Izuku by the face and inspected him “Didn’t run into a burning building or anything stupid again?”

“Well...” Izuku mumbled “There was someone still inside! I had to!” 

Kacchan groaned “Why are you like this? Why did I marry someone this stupid?” He sighed, crossing his arms, but his lips turned up ever so slightly, giving away his amusement. “Look, enough about you being insane, I’m making katsudon. Are you hungry or not?” 

He grinned, bouncing on his toes. “Heck yeah! Your katsudon is the best!” He grabbed Kacchan around the waist and pulled him close. “You’re the best husband ever!” He stood up on his tip-toes and kissed him sweetly. 

“Oi!” Kacchan shoved his face back. “I just said I’m trying to cook!” He sighed. “Go get showered, you smell like smoke. Dinner will be ready soon.” 

Izuku laughed “Aww come on, Kacchan!” he pulled him closer “I haven’t seen you all day. I missed you.” His hands slid down his back to his rear, picking Kacchan up. “I wanna bask in your presence longer.” He tried to kiss him again. 

“Dammit Deku!” Kacchan kicked his shin so Izuku would drop him. “I told you I’m doing shit!” 

He hissed in pain “Ah Kacchan!” he whined “That hurt!” he tried to keep smiling even if it hurt “Alright, alright I’ll go shower. I’m glad I’m home though.” He hesitated. “I love you.” 

Kacchan didn’t look back at him “Yeah, love you too, nerd.” 

Waking up with someone else’s sweat sticking to him was Katsuki’s worst nightmare and it’d be his every morning for the rest of his life. 

He turned off his alarm—the same as Izuku’s, a voice yelling ‘ The morning is here’ in a way that felt like it drilled into his brain. At least it worked. He could admit to himself that he found it sweet. So many things in their apartment were themed after the All Might comics, both because Izuku loved them and because he wanted Katsuki to feel like he was finally allowed to love them too. 

Izuku’s leg was heavy over his hips, pinning him in place. He pushed it off harder than he’d intended. 

He ran a hand over his own sleep shirt to straighten it, even though he knew that no one would see him in it besides the two of them. He wanted to erase the memory of the touch. 

He’d enjoyed casual contact once upon a time before it had started reminding him of what he had to do. Of who he was, and who Izuku was, and what would happen if he stopped providing what he had to.

After a few years of mismatched schedules, Izuku didn’t stir as Katsuki left the bed and started getting dressed.

Before he left the house, he put together a quick bento for Izuku with spicy beef he’d made the night before, rice, and a sesame paste mochi Katsuki had gotten when he’d last gone shopping. As an afterthought, he made himself one too, and put it in his backpack.

He got to work a few minutes before his shift started.

At the station across from his, the rude tall bald guy—Inasa, maybe— was losing his shit over the new hire he had to train. Katsuki listened in as he took his lab coat from the rack and started preparing his workstation. It looked like the new guy was the one they’d decided to hire a few weeks back. His hair was weird enough that Katsuki remembered it, half red and half white.

“Where is the distilled water?” he asked, his voice calm and low.

“Over here!”

He showed him around for a few minutes, as Katsuki opened a centrifuge to check on a compound he’d been trying to isolate overnight. It was doing well enough.

“C’mon, where’s your passion, man?” Baldy asked.

The new guy blinked, visibly confused. Katsuki didn’t really get what he’d done wrong either, he just seemed quiet.

“I’m surprised you moved from Endeavor Industries! You really remind me of the CEO, it’s like you don’t have emotions. Though I suppose you had to go when it burned down.”

Half ‘n Half grit his teeth.“Show me what to do for today, please.”

That seemed to anger Baldy even more. 

Katsuki didn’t like him. He never had. The guy was too fucking self-righteous, somehow convinced that he had the last say in what other people deserved.

Half ‘n Half tared the precision scale before measuring exactly ten grams of active. 

There. He was competent enough, Inasa was just being a bitch again.

They all did their own work in relative silence until lunchtime, save for the new guy asking questions and Baldy being rude about answering.

When they went on break, Katsuki looked at Half ‘n Half. It looked like he was planning on staying in the office. He walked over to the other station.

“Didn’t even bring lunch with you?” Katsuki asked.

“No. Are you here to make fun of me?” The guy raised a red eyebrow.

Fuck. 

This was why all his friends were just Izuku’s friends who decided to tolerate him.

“No. I’m Bakugou Katsuki, just wanted to tell you not to listen to Baldy.”

The other guy tilted his head again. “I won’t. Are you trying to have a conversation, Bakugou?”

“We’re gonna be in the same damn lab, might as well get along.”

“So is Inasa.” He looked at Katsuki again. “Todoroki Shouto,” he said as he stood from his desk. “How about instead of you making fun of me, you come with me for lunch?”

“Just ‘cause you’re a bitch and you forgot yours?”

“It’ll be nice to have a workplace friend. Thank you, Bakugou.”

“I don’t do friends.”

Todoroki took off his lab coat and grabbed his wallet from his bag before he walked out of the office, Katsuki on his heels. They decided to walk around and look for somewhere that seemed like it had good food.

“He’s stupid. I once saw him add water to dry sodium hydroxide,” Katsuki said. It felt good to have someone to bitch to. His—Izuku’s—friends wouldn’t have gotten that.

Todoroki smiled ever so slightly. “Did it explode?”

“Nah, I added ice to stop it.”

“Is that why he doesn’t like you?”

“No. He thought that was very passionate of me.” Katsuki snorted. “He apologized for being a dick to me before that. I just don’t wanna talk to him.”

“I should take that same approach.”

Katsuki shrugged, secretly pleased. It looked like Todoroki saw his side, and that was a rare occurrence. Maybe that made him want to push the conversation. “Did you want to leave Endeavor Industries or did you have to go because of the fire?”

“Both, it was a predatory company that wanted to overcharge patients for life-saving drugs. Plus, my father owned it, fuck him. The fire was just a good push.”

A nepo baby who didn’t want to be one. Interesting. Maybe his childhood had been like Katsuki’s. “Good for you.”

“I believe so, too. By the way, what do you think of that coffee shop?” 

Todoroki pointed at a warm yellow storefront that said Fatgum’s . There were a lot of customers, and the food on their plates looked good. Katsuki saw someone sipping on a tall shaken coffee. “Sure.”

“I hated working for my father, especially after my brother died, but I liked the coffee shop near Endeavor. I hope this one’s just as good.”

Katsuki pushed the door open. “Jesus fuck, Half ‘n Half, anyone ever tell you you’re an oversharer?” 

Todoroki shrugged. They both walked into the shop. “No. I have one other friend, and she’s too polite to say that. In fact, oversharing is how I met—”

He cut himself off when he realized they didn’t need to wait. They’d managed to get there first in line for the lunch break crowd, and there were already people settling behind them. 

The barista looked like too much . His hair was bright red, spiked up, and he had a rainbow pin on his nametag. He smiled widely the whole time. His teeth were unusually sharp, and he looked like he really did enjoy what he was doing. He was giving Katsuki a headache just by being there.

“Hello, welcome to Fatgum’s!” he said to Todoroki. “What are you having?”

“I’d like a black coffee with half n half, please.”

Katsuki couldn’t help it. He snorted in amusement. The barista must've seen the irony too, because he looked like he was trying hard not to laugh. They made eye contact, and that was it for Katsuki. He had to cover his face with his hand to hide his laughter. 

The other guy blinked, staring straight at Katsuki’s face, ignoring Todoroki. 

It took him a few seconds to focus again, and his cheeks looked weirdly red as he said, “Coming right up, pick up at the end of the counter.”

Todoroki tipped more than a normal person would’ve and then it was Katsuki’s turn.

“Hi, welcome to Fatgum’s! What can I—”

“Caramel iced latte.”

The barista smiled. “Let me guess, extra whipped cream?”

“The fuck?”

“You seem sweet like that, am I right?” There’s a note in his voice that Katsuki can’t quite get.

He scowled. The asshole had been right, but he didn’t want to say it now.

“You don’t have to pout, I’ll ring it up.”

“Can I pay now, Shitty Hair?” Katsuki spat. When did getting coffee become so embarrassing?

“Sorry, man, of course!” The redhead pushed a few keys on the card reader. “My name’s Kirishima, though, it’s on the nametag! And my hair’s not that different from yours.”

“I didn’t come here to discuss your damn hair, Kirishima .”

Katsuki glared and Kirishima held his gaze, his cheeks slowly turning a deeper pink. Did he like it? Why would anybody like being glared at? Katsuki should’ve been more weirded out by the idea that he did, but it was almost endearing.

“I changed my mind,” the redhead said.

“About?”

“You can’t pay.” He smiled, his sharp teeth on full display. His eyes squinted, slightly more on the side that didn’t have an eyelid scar. “It’s on the house.”

Oh.

Katsuki didn’t get hit on often, but he knew how to reply if it did happen.

He pulled out his card, making a show of handing it over with his wedding band facing Kirishima. “No.”

“Oh!” Kirishima’s face fell for just a second, before he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Sorry if I made you uncomfortable, bro! I hope your spouse treats you well.”

Katsuki didn’t answer, instead pushing his card into Kirishima’s hand. 

To his surprise, the barista didn’t take it. “Nah, none of that! I offered, so it’d be unmanly to take it back now! If it makes your day better, I’m happy.”

Against his own will, Katsuki’s cheeks heated with embarrassment. It was a strange thing to hear. He didn’t have to do anything, Kirishima just wanted to be nice and make his day better. Immediately, he wanted to reject it,  to stop feeling like he owed him something.

“I don’t—”

The asshole behind Katsuki in line tapped his shoulder. “Excuse me,” he said. “Do you have all day to chit chat here? Because I don’t.”

Katsuki shoved his hand off. “Don’t touch me!”

“Sorry for the wait, man!” Kirishima said, his smile not faltering once. “Pick up at the end of the bar, Blondie.” He turned to the customer. “What are you having?”

They picked up their drinks relatively fast. Kirishima had a coworker who made most of the drinks, a guy with dark blue hair who looked like he didn’t want to be there. He didn’t yell names. He just put the drinks on the counter when he was done and they had to guess.

“He was hitting on you,” Todoroki said when they got a table. He looked almost shaken, like he’d seen a tsunami and not a completely normal conversation. Katsuki was so over it.

“And?”

“Were you okay with that? From a man?”

“I wasn’t okay with it, dipshit. I have a husband. But Shitty Hair fucked off after I said that, so why are we still talking about it?”

“Are you gay?”

So that was the deal. That made sense. It wasn’t that Todoroki cared or anything like that, he’d just been surprised to see a man hit on another man. He’d said it himself that he only had one friend and Katsuki guessed that his father wasn’t the most open person in history. 

No. I’m aromantic and asexual and I’m just stuck in this bullshit . “Yes. Problem?”

“No!” For the second time that day, Todoroki almost looked like he wanted to yell. “I am too, so this is a relief to hear. We’ll be good friends, Bakugou.”

“Fuck off.” He softened his voice, though. 

“How long have you been married?” Todoroki asked. 

Katsuki leaned forward. “Nine years,” he said and tapped on the table a little. “Izuku’s a nerd but he’s my nerd.” 

“Really? How old are you? I thought you were close to my age.” 

“Twenty-eight,” Katsuki said. “We married young. We figured there was no point in wasting time. We’ve known each other our whole lives, as soon as we could get married, we did.” It was a fact. While he wasn’t attracted to Izuku, he still loved him. That counted for something, right?

“That’s sweet.” 

It was sweet, goddammit. This was fun. Talking. Banter. Damn, maybe Katsuki could do friends. 

It didn’t leave his mind for the rest of the day— Todoroki and his weird past, himself, making a friend without Izuku’s interference. Kirishima, giving him something just for the sake of giving it to him. Maybe Katsuki could make another friend in him. The thought made him want to smile, which rarely happened to him, but whatever. He just wanted to see the guy again.

Chapter Text

Izuku had an odd work schedule. Like most firefighters, he worked a forty-eight-hour shift, followed by four full days off. Today was his second day off of four so he took his time getting up that morning. He found the bed empty when he woke that morning. Kacchan must have already left for work. A look at his phone confirmed it was past ten, so he’d been gone for a while already. 

He sat up with a grunt and made his way downstairs to their little kitchen. He put a pot of coffee on and checked the fridge. Kacchan made him a bento. He smiled at the sight of it. He was so lucky. 

After enjoying a cup of coffee he took a jog around their neighborhood. It always woke him up and got him ready for the day. After he returned home he bathed, made eggs over rice, and cleaned up after himself. 

A simple morning routine for his simple happy life. 

Now dressed and ready for the day he found himself with several hours to kill before Kacchan came home. It was always lonely when their time off didn’t line up. But this was fine, Izuku could keep himself busy! He had a hobby. 

He whistled to himself as he made his way upstairs to their spare room. Not long after they moved into the house, Izuku turned it into a home studio. A small computer set up and a drawing tablet, a sketching table, a painter’s easel, and shelves full of art supplies filled the room. He stopped to turn the computer on and pulled up a video to watch while he worked. He settled on a video essay on his favorite comic series, All Might. Once satisfied he sat at his sketching table and grabbed his current sketchbook. 

Izuku flipped through the pages. Most of them were full of designs and redesigns of the same two heroes over and over. Some colored, some not. One wore a green outfit with red sneakers, the other wore bombs on their arms like gauntlents. His Wonder Duo. A few pages had villains or different characters but the main two heroes took up the bulk of the pages. 

The last few pages he’d worked on though were messy and half scribbled out. Designs started but never finished. 

He flipped to an empty page and began to draw. He started with basic shapes, trying to sketch the slope of a jaw. “No,” he mumbled to himself, his right leg bouncing as he erased and tried again “Softer. He should be softer.” He tried to redraw the jaw. Happier this time he sketched out a pair of sultry eyes, and his neutral expression. “Long or short?” he asked himself as he started drawing bangs falling into his eyes. He settled on short hair but he’d probably change his mind later.

This was a design he’d been working on for weeks. A new hero character for the comic book he’d been developing. He didn’t have much in the way of a backstory but he found himself trying to draw this character over and over again. 

He pulled back to admire his work so far. The image was of a handsome man with short hair wearing a simple white hero’s outfit. It wasn’t right. He was missing something. What could he do to spice this design up? 

He was also stupidly attractive. Mismatched eyes of blue and gray. White and red hair, and a mysterious burn scar around his left eye. In any other situation, Izuku might have stopped to admire him. “...Hero?” the man whispered. 

That face appeared in Izuku’s head more than a few times since the fire. 

He started to color in half the hero’s hair red and drew a burn mark around his left eye. That did look pretty cool. He felt a little weird about it. Drawing a character that looked like a real person. Then again, it wasn’t like Izuku’s comic was ever going to amount to anything. And Izuku wouldn’t ever see that guy again. 

Besides, he was finally happy with the drawing. Now he just needed a name and backstory. 

His phone dinged. A text from one of his best friends, Uraraka. 

Hey!!! What did you buy for Iida’s birthday? I’m shopping rn (last min, i know cut me some slack) but I cant find anything good :( Himiko keeps telling me to just get him something practical but Iida deserves betterrrr

He chuckled and replied at once;

I like practical gifts!!! I got him a parenting book he mentioned. 

Boooo! Too practical!!! Oh well ill figure it out. Im smart!!!! Ill see u tonight deku-kun!!

Right. Iida’s birthday party was tonight. It would be low-key knowing Iida. That was fine with Izuku. He put his phone down and went back to drawing. 

He erased the jawline on his new hero character again. “Softer,” he mumbled to himself and got to work.

Iida’s house was nice. Far bigger than Izuku and Kacchan’s place. That was due to his wife’s job. Hatsume Mei is an inventor who has several life-saving patents in the medical field. Her biggest invention was a revolution in prosthetics and helping people have some sort of fine motor skills in their prosthetics. Amazing stuff. 

Izuku parked the car outside of Iida’s house “Got the gift?” Izuku asked. 

“I got it,” Kacchan grunted holding the gift bag “Keep your panties on.” he closed the door with a grimace on his face. 

He crossed around to walk next to him “It’ll be nice to see everyone! I don’t think I’ve seen Asui-san or Hatsume-san since the baby shower.” He took Kacchan’s hand and led him up the driveway to the house. They could hear people talking inside. 

“Mhmm.” 

Izuku knocked on the door. A moment later it opened and Iida stood on the other side of it. “Midoriya-kun! Bakugou-kun!” he cried and took a step to the side “Welcome!” 

“Happy Birthday!” Izuku said as they entered the house. “Where should we put our gift?” 

Iida flushed “I told everyone no gifts!” he sighed “Just... put in the other room with the others.” Knowing their group, everyone brought a gift. Iida should have expected it. 

Kacchan let his hand go “I’ll go put it someplace,” he said and walked off. 

He looked around the living room. It was full of the usual crowd. Hatsume sat on the large couch talking loudly to Shinsou. She had her hands resting on her pregnant stomach. Across the room, Uraraka and Asui chatted quietly as Uraraka’s new girlfriend Toga poured them each a glass of wine. Izuku wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of Toga, but Uraraka was a dear friend and she was happy so that’s all that mattered. 

He sat next to Shinsou. 

“So I told the guy ‘Well you better not hurt my baby!’ and he thought I was talking about my stomach!” she pointed to herself. “Honestly, you’d think they’d get it by now. Hey Midorirya!” she said looking up as he entered. “Can you believe people thought I was talking about my actual baby? He’s not even here yet!” 

“Hi,” he said smiling “I mean, most people don’t call their inventions their babies.” 

“Yeah, but those people aren’t nearly as good as me! And now they want me to stop working!” she rolled her eyes. 

Shinsou looked at Izuku and raised a brow “Mei,” Shinsou began “You’re almost eight months pregnant. People that pregnant shouldn’t work.” 

“Thank you, Shinsou-kun!” Iida cried. He appeared holding a glass of water “Darling the doctor told you to drink more water.” He held it out to her “She keeps arguing with doctors about staying and working longer.”

Hatsume rolled her eyes but took the water “I know my body! I’m still able to work. Even if I can’t go to the office, it’s not going to stop me!” She laughed meniacally and took a long sip of her water “Besides it’s not like I’d do anything to risk him.” Her expression softened as she rubbed her stomach with her free hand “This baby is my greatest creation.” 

A wave of fondness rolled through Izuku. Children were great. His favorite part of his job was when they got to go to elementary schools and teach kids about their job. They were so cute. “I’m so happy for you guys,” he said. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to imagine his own husband holding a bundle of joy. A baby with red eyes and freckles. 

“Have you guys settled on a name yet?” Shinsou asked. “Hitoshi is a classic.” He flashed them a Cheshire Cat smile. 

“Tenya wants to call him Tensei, but I really like Hephaestus!” 

Iida sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “...Mei, we can’t name him after a Greek God.” 

“Says you! This baby would rock any name I give him. Iida-Hatsume Hephaestus!” 

Shinsou glanced around “Who are we still missing?” 

“I invited a coworker of ours, Togata-kun, and his husband. They’re very nice people,” Iida said. 

“Oh yeah!” Izuku sat forward excited “Togata-kun is basically our Senpai at work. He trained us when we first started! You’ll really like him. He’s the funniest guy I know.” 

His friend frowned “Ouch, I’m right here.” 

“I also invited an old friend from high school,” Iida said  “Turns out her family’s company funds a lot of Mei’s work. We reconnected recently so I invited her and she might be bringing a friend.” 

Izuku nodded along “Can’t wait to meet her.” He suddenly realized he hadn’t seen Kacchan in a moment. He glanced around the room. Kacchan was over with the girls talking to Toga. He was glad to see him enjoying himself, even if Toga scared him a little. 

His husband glanced over at him. He looked handsome in the low light. Izuku smiled at him. Kacchan didn’t give one back, but his eyes did soften. Izuku knew that meant he loved him too. 

Even if he still kinda wished he’d smile back.

After Kacchan turned away and followed Toga into the kitchen. Probably for drinks. He turned back to the conversation trying to figure out what they were talking about. 

“Is he really that funny?” Shinsou asked Iida “Do I need to start practicing stand up?” 

“I think Togata-kun’s humor is a little crass,” Iida confessed. “Unless you think butt jokes are funny.” 

Shinsou sighed in relief “There’s room for both of us in this friend group.” 

The doorbell rang. Iida stood up “Probably them right now. Don’t tell him I said that, by the way.” Iida answered the door “Oh! Yaoyorozu-san! Come in!” Iida stepped aside as two people entered. The first was who had to be Yaoyorozu. She was beautiful and had a regal quality to her. Her friend, Izuku had seen before. Weeks ago in person, and just this morning haunting his sketchbook like a ghost. 

He was tall and slender, dressed in a black pinstriped turtleneck and a pair of black pants that made his legs seem like they went on for days. Silky hair half-red and half-white, his eyes just as mismatched with deep gray and aquamarine. The bright red scar around his blue eye only heightened its color making it stick out against his pale skin. He was the kind of person seen on comic pages, not walking around in real life. 

How did Izuku not notice before? He noticed he was stunning, but had the smoke inhalation affected him that bad? Perhaps a face so otherworldly looked at home in a heightened situation like a fire but here in the calm and drudgery of normalcy, he stood out, shining like a glimpse at a world more fantastic than this. 

He shook off the feeling. He should go find Kacchan or something. “I’ll be back,” he muttered before he stood from the couch and walked toward the kitchen. 

Behind him, he heard Iida begin to talk. “This is Yaoyorozu-san, my good friend-” 

“Hey,” a deep voice said, suddenly behind him. 

Izuku squeaked and turned around to face the voice. The gorgeous man from the fire had crossed the room to Izuku. He could feel himself blushing. “H-hi!” 

“Do you remember me?” he asked “I was hoping I’d get a chance to see you again.” He stepped closer into Izuku’s space. “I made an ass of myself, and I didn’t get a chance to thank you for saving my life. I didn’t even get your name.” 

He held up his hands and shook his head “Oh uh! I’m Midoriya Izuku but it’s okay, you don’t have to thank me! It’s my job. All Might wouldn’t ask for thanks-” what was he saying? Why did Izuku always bring up All Might. And to the hot guy too. 

“Still.” He gave Izuku a low bow before he stood “Thank you for saving my life. Can I buy you dinner as a thank you?” 

Izuku had been thanked before. Plenty of times. It didn’t usually send a shiver down his whole body like this. He should say no. For a brief moment, he allowed himself the fantasy of saying yes. But that was a dangerous road. Out of the question. He remembered that handsome soft look in Kacchan’s eye. “I don’t think you need to do that-” he tried to say. 

“At least let me do something,” the man said. “Please?” 

“Todoroki?” A voice asked from behind them. Izuku’s heart nearly fell out of his ass. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Kacchan walked up eyeing them both. 

“You know him?” Izuku and the hot guy whose name was apparently Todoroki asked. Todoroki Shouto, a quiet part of his brain supplied. The name Shouto hadn’t left his mind for long since the fire. 

Kacchan folded his arms “Yeah, Todoroki is a new hire at my job. How do you two know each other?” 

“Midoriya saved my life,” Todoroki said. His voice was soft, almost revenant.  “It’s amazing he’s here. I’m trying to buy him a meal as a thank you.” 

He turned to face Izuku “Oh?” Kacchan asked. Izuku braced for the jealousy. For the explosion. Yelling at Izuku for talking to another man like this, and a bigger scene at Todoroki for trying to ask out his husband. “What the fuck Deku, let the guy buy you lunch.” 

“W-what?” Izuku asked as everything seemed to slow down. What did he say? 

“Don’t listen to my idiot husband, he’d love a free lunch. One less bento to pack,” Kacchan laughed at his own joke. 

Todoroki’s face turned pale, a flush of embarrassment crawling up his neck. “Husband?” he asked. 

Kacchan nodded “Nine years, I told you.” He flashed Todoroki his wedding band. 

He looked like he might be ill. “Oh.”  

A wave of guilt ran through Izuku, pulling him out of the dreamlike state. “H-hey!” he said. “Maybe not dinner, but we could get lunch?” 

“Lunch,” Todoroki repeated. “Lunch... Sounds nice. Here, I’ll give you my contact information.” Izuku pulled his phone out of his pocket, pulled up the new contact feature, and handed it over to him. He put his information in “Call me or text me any time.” 

“Y-yeah. I will.” Something squirmed inside Izuku. “I’m gonna get a drink,” he said before turning toward the kitchen. 

Kacchan wasn’t jealous. He hadn’t reacted at all. That... That was good right? A scene would have ruined the whole party’s mood. This was a good thing. Crisis averted! So why did he feel so awful? And what the hell was he going to do about Todoroki? Izuku was pretty certain he’d just asked him out on a date. Then again... Maybe he just wanted to thank him? 

Was Izuku reading too much into this? Probably. He was being crazy. Todoroki just was so gorgeous a base part of Izuku wanted him to hit on him. He was projecting. Todoroki wasn’t hitting on him. That’s why Kacchan didn’t get jealous. Nothing to get jealous of! That... that was it, right? 

Either way, Izuku needed a goddamn drink. 

The party was over. Some of the guests had left already, and Iida had started talking about his wife’s bedtime in the most unsubtle manner known to man. Ugh, Katsuki didn’t even want to imagine being patronized like that. He was glad they were all leaving. Even seeing her made him uncomfortable in a visceral way. He knew it was unfair to her, but he couldn’t stop it.

They were at the gate, about to go to their car. Toga waved her hand aggressively. “Bye, Katsuki—can I call you Kacchan?”

“Don’t you fucking dare.”

Izuku was obviously drunk, and he was holding onto Katsuki like a goddamn koala. He grinned. “Yeah, that’s my name for him!”

Toga blinked, her face falling ever so slightly. “Oh, okay.”

“Bye, Deku-kun! Bye, Bakugou-kun!”  Uraraka waved, sneaking an arm around Toga’s waist. As they turned around to leave, the other girl still seemed sad. What was it with her and calling everyone by their first names?

Except— they’d talked about this. Her and Katsuki, the two weirdos who were at the party because their partners had friends. The ones no one really wanted to talk to.

It didn’t bother Katsuki, but it had definitely seemed to bother Toga.

“Fangs!” Katsuki called out. “You still owe it to me to show me that knife collection, or I’ll assume you were lying! Round Face can come too.”

Her face broke out into a smile. “I will!”

Uraraka smiled too. “I’ll text you!” Thanks, Bakugou , she mouthed before she turned around. It was unnecessary.

“Bye, Uraraka! Bye, Toga-san!” Izuku said, but they had already gotten too far for the girls to hear.

“Took you long enough to process.”

“Kacchan!” Izuku buried his face in Katsuki’s shoulder. “Stop, ‘m drunk. Don’t be mean!”

“Let’s go home then, nerd.” He guided them toward the car.

“Toga-san’s scary!” Izuku giggled. “You’re scary too, makes sense that you’d get along.”

“Damn right.”

Katsuki did his best to maneuver around him to put the keys in and pushed him off as gently as he could to settle him in the passenger seat. 

When he plugged the seatbelt in, Izuku grabbed his hand and kissed it. “Thanks, Kacchan.” His voice had turned soft, almost sad.

“Whatever. Don’t die on the way, nerd.”

Izuku leaned on the window and closed his eyes for the ride. Something was wrong, but Katsuki had no idea what. He’d acted normally. He hadn’t pushed him off more than usual or anything like that. Had he been mad to see Todoroki? Was it something else? 

Whatever. As much as they knew each other like no one else, sometimes Izuku’s mind was a strange place to him.

Katsuki supported him as they walked into the townhouse, all the way to their bedroom. 

Finally, he got to fucking sleep in peace. That had been enough people in one room for the rest of Katsuki’s year.

He started taking off his clothes, folding them neatly in a pile as he went.

“Are you going to bed?”

“No, I’m gonna work on my tap dancing for a bit. The fuck does it look like?”

Izuku chuckled, leaning closer. He smelled of liquor and the cologne he’d had since he was a teenager.

“You know, you were gorgeous at the party, Kacchan,” he said. He ran a hand over Katsuki’s sides, lingering possessively over his waist.

Katsuki very nearly flinched. 

He managed to stop himself only because he was so used to it, but his face had definitely betrayed him anyway.

Hadn’t they just had sex?

“It’s okay, Kacchan,” Izuku said, pulling back, clearly on the verge of fucking tears. “Let’s just go to bed.” He pulled his hand away like he’d been burned.

Oh, fuck. They hadn’t. That had been three days ago. 

Katsuki tended to overestimate how often they did it. Left to his own devices, it’d take weeks before he even realized—and if he did, he’d probably just notice how comfortable he was feeling. Izuku wasn’t like him, though. He didn’t know how often they’d fuck if Izuku had his way and he honestly didn’t want to know. It’d just make him feel even more like he wasn’t doing what he had to do.

But if Izuku was sad about it so openly, that had to mean it had been too long.

Izuku had half-opened his shirt at some point—probably at Iida’s— so Katsuki pulled at the rest of the buttons as he dragged him into a kiss.

“What?” Izuku said, panting against his lips.

Katsuki raised an eyebrow. “Unless you changed your mind.” 

His husband shook his head frantically, wrapping his arms around Katsuki and pushing him down into the mattress. 

Izuku was reverent in his touches, whispering sweet little nothings about how good he felt, and how sweet he tasted, and how beautiful he was, and Katsuki kissed him in thanks for every single one, almost happy that he could do this to him. Do this for him.

He didn’t normally just put it in, Izuku wasn’t like that, but they were both in a hurry—Izuku, from whatever had possessed him at the party and after, and Katsuki, because he wanted it to be over.

He still rubbed his finger over Katsuki’s dick, wet with saliva, but he stopped when Katsuki gave him a look and said, “ Fuck me .”

At some point along the way, Katsuki had gotten wet enough for everything to work properly, and thank fuck for that. He hated the humiliation when he didn’t and they had to try for it.

He breathed in slowly, attempting to relax.

“I love you,” Izuku whispered. “I love you so much.” He meant it—it was so obvious in the way his voice choked up with emotion. Katsuki had no problem answering normally, but nothing inside him could match the way Izuku was looking at him right then. He ran a hand through Izuku’s hair, gently, and tucked his head down into Katsuki’s shoulder. He didn’t bite. He knew better by now.

Katsuki’s skin felt wet, but not in the sticky sex-induced way—was Izuku fucking crying?

His breathing was weird. He must’ve been.

Katsuki didn’t know what to do. He kept running his hand through Izuku’s hair, too aggressively but impossible for him to control.

“What the fuck, Izuku, you’re so drunk.”

There was a wet, shuddering intake of breath. “Sorry,” Izuku said, slowing down. “You just— you feel so good .” His voice was close to his usual Kacchan-you’re-amazing one. Maybe a bit sadder.

The praise washed over Katsuki like a real touch, one he didn’t hate. He moaned softly.

Izuku’s thrusts picked up, becoming sloppy and uncontrolled, his grip almost bruising. It didn’t feel bad. Katsuki would probably come when he did, which was always nice.

Izuku was staring at him, his pupils almost black. “You’re so pretty, I just want to—we could have a baby, Kacchan , ours —” He groaned and grabbed his hips harder.

Katsuki froze. 

That was everything he never even wanted to imagine—himself, pregnant, the changes to his body, having to talk about it— and it made him nauseous. 

“Kacchan?” Izuku moved his chin so they were making eye contact. “Are you okay?”

“Cramp,” Katsuki mumbled, and his husband seemed to take him at his word, because he continued where he’d left off.

If he’d said something, Izuku would’ve stopped, but what would the point have been? Sure, he felt like he didn’t own his body now, thinking about that , but he never did anyway. It'd be a few more minutes and he’d forget, and Izuku would be happier than he’d been before, and Katsuki would just go to bed and never think about it again.

Izuku kissed him as he came and Katsuki kissed back. 

A scarred hand ran over his inner thighs, Izuku’s eyes fixed on him. “You’re still wet, darling, can I eat you out?”

Katsuki grabbed his wrist and dragged it down to his knee. He could finally breathe again, and while some other time maybe he’d say yes, he knew how it’d go if he did that now. He wouldn’t relax, so it’d last too long, and it wasn’t like Izuku would give up before he came. Katsuki definitely didn’t have another hour of this in him.

“I…” He flashed his phone screen at Izuku, who had to move up to see it. “It’s two in the morning, nerd.”

“It doesn’t—”

“You don’t have work at nine, so fuck off.”

“If you’re sure,” Izuku said, pouting a little bit but not seriously upset. He looked like was struggling to keep his eyes open, snuggling closer and back into the pillows.

He snuck an arm around Katsuki’s waist and pulled him down.

“Oi, what do you think you’re—”

“Shhh. You have work tomorrow.” There was laughter in Izuku’s voice, and Katsuki smiled involuntarily.

This was sweet. Comfortable.

Katsuki wasn’t touch-starved, not really, but he was constantly starved for this —the warmth of someone who cared about him by his side. 

“You’re ‘mazing. I love you,” Izuku said, his words slurred with sleep.

“Me too.”

Katsuki glued his back closer to his husband’s chest.

Izuku had always loved him, no matter what Katsuki had done, no matter that half his life he hadn’t even been himself. Half-asleep, Katsuki wondered if he’d drift into something broken beyond repair if Izuku wasn't there to tether him to the ground.

Chapter Text

Katsuki tapped his hand obnoxiously on the back of Todoroki’s chair. “I don’t have all day, Icyhot.”

“Will you ever stop calling me that?”

“When you realize you can’t just fucking add menthol to everything.”

“But menthol makes it feel—”

“Hot and cold, I know.”

Todoroki rolled his eyes but he finished cleaning his table, took off his lab coat, and joined Katsuki. He’d suggested coffee almost as soon as they’d met that morning. He looked like he needed it, and so did Katsuki with how late he’d stayed up, so here they were.

“Walk slower, I’m still hungover.”

“Tough luck,” Katsuki said. He slowed down to a normal pace.

“How are you so awake?” 

“I don’t drink.”

“Not ever?”

Katsuki grunted an affirmation. Maybe if it had been just Uraraka and her pet vampire there, but even then the idea was weird. People were weird when they were drunk. He still didn’t know what had gotten into his husband, but also— he didn’t want to think of Izuku at all. “Tell me about Baldy’s work, I don’t wanna ask him.”

“I just said I’m hungover.” He looked at Katsuki and sighed. “Fine, but you can’t ask anything that involves math.” 

Katsuki agreed and he started talking. They got to Fatgum’s in five minutes instead of three.

The redhead from last time —Kirishima, that was his name—wasn’t there. Katsuki found that he was disappointed, not just because the blue-haired worker on shift fucking whimpered in fear when he ordered. He’d kind of hoped to talk to him again.

He looked around the coffee shop as Todoroki suggested something about adding methyl salicylate to the muscle pain relief drug he’d been working on. The coffee had clearly helped him because it would probably work to make it better. Too bad Katsuki couldn’t really focus on that right then.

He took in the surrounding tables one by one, until he saw another one hidden from view by the counter. Someone was sitting down at it, working on something.

There that guy was. No one else would wear spikes like that.

Katsuki turned to Todoroki.“I’m gonna go—” Say hi? What the fuck was he even doing? “—I’m gonna go.”

“Sure, let me just get back to work alone.”

“If you can’t find a place three minutes on foot from here, call a damn taxi.” Todoroki frowned ever so slightly, and his upbringing was so obvious in the poshness of the gesture that Katsuki wanted to laugh.

He was halfway across the café when he properly realized he didn’t have any idea what he was going to do, and all the way across when he realized just how weird that was. Katsuki never did shit like that.

He sat down at the table across from Kirishima.

“Hi, man, how’s it going?” He looked up from his textbook enough to give Katsuki a quick smile, but he was clearly busy. 

That was so embarrassing. What the actual fuck was he even doing there?

He grabbed Kirishima’s textbook and looked at the front page.

“Hey, give that back!”

“Organic Chemistry, second edition,” Katsuki read, then put the book down. He might’ve used the first edition in university.

“My worst nightmare.” Kirishima drew what looked like an anhydride, but with simple bonds on all oxygen atoms, then he flipped to the end of his textbook to check the answer and groaned. “I’m never gonna pass this class.”

“Quit whining.” Katsuki grabbed his pencil and pointed at the paper. “You just have to change those to doubles.”

“I don’t even know where that fucking compound came from!”

“I’m gonna guess heat and an acid.”

Kirishima finally lifted his head from the paper, squinting. The red of his eyes was a few shades off from Katsuki’s. Less orange, more crimson. “Who are you ?”

“Bakugou Katsuki,” he offered.

Kirishima grinned.“Katsuki, like victory ? That’s so cool and fitting! I’m—”

“I know your name. We met a few days ago.” Was he slow?

Kirishima’s cheeks tinged pink. “Right, yeah. I was gonna pretend that didn’t happen. What I meant was, how do you know this stuff?” 

“I know what you meant. I was fucking with you.” Katsuki’s chest warmed when Kirishima laughed at that. It was just that he didn’t care about his abrasiveness, he seemed to like it . “I’m a biochemist, I work at Edgeshots.”

“Wait, my professor used to work there! What do you do?”

“Analgesics. Working on a drug for muscle pain.” Katsuki didn’t give him the whole spiel about Yagi Toshinori’s degenerative illness, but he got alarmingly close to doing it. 

Kirishima practically had stars in his eyes. “That’s so manly! You’re gonna help so many people with that!” 

“It’s no big deal.” Katsuki willed his cheeks not to burn, and he didn’t think he was successful. “Why are you taking organic chemistry when you clearly fucking hate it?” he asked instead.

“Ah, I don’t really get a choice there.” Kirishima smiled, something awkward in the way he rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m a med student.”

“You’re a med student and you think I’m the one who’s gonna help people?”

“It’s not like I’ve actually worked with patients before.” 

Katsuki pointed at his textbook. “And you never will if you don’t pass your fucking classes.”

“Way to rub it in, man, I’m trying here! It’s like it’s written in cyrillics.” Despite the energy in his voice, there was a sad, defeated look in Kirishima’s eyes. Like he knew he’d never manage to do it. It was painful to see.

“Did you not cover this shit in high school?”

“Not all of it. Plus, that was four years ago.” Kirishima gave his textbook what could only be described as a suspicious look, and Katsuki had to try hard not to smile. What the fuck. “And Aizawa-sensei keeps saying he’s gonna expel everyone who gets below a seventy, and I’ve only had a seventy- five once on a practice exam—”

“When’s your exam?”

“Three weeks from now.”

Katsuki nodded. That wasn’t as bad as he’d thought. Plus, it meant that Kirishima was taking his work seriously if he was already studying now. 

“It was nice talking to you, but—” Kirishima gestured to his textbook with an awkward smile.

Katsuki remembered right then that his teeth were sharp as fuck, his canines especially. Had he had them filed? Why would he do that? What if he’d been born that way? Katsuki realized that he really wanted to know. 

Was it normal to be so curious about another person? It had never happened to him before.

“Three weeks,” he said, half to himself. “We have time.”

“ We ?”

“I’m gonna help you.” Katsuki glanced at him. “Unless you really, really wanna fail, then be my fucking guest.”

Kirishima’s entire face brightened.

“Nah, man, I’d be stupid to say no!”

“You would.” Katsuki reached his hand across the table. “Give me your phone.” He gasped as he looked at the screen. “Oh fuck, I’m gonna be late. Here. Text me.”

He added his number in quickly, under Bakugou, and got up to leave.

“Thanks so much!” Kirishima called out as the door was closing.

This was normal, right? 

That was all Izuku could tell himself as he stared back at his reflection. This was completely fine and very normal. People took other people out to lunches all the time. Todoroki wasn’t interested in him. He was just repaying Izuku for saving his life. That was normal. Izuku had gotten gifts from people. Sure, it was usually a bottle of wine or a gift card but this was normal! It wasn’t a date. Kacchan knew- hell Kacchan encouraged it! 

Why did Izuku feel so nervous then? He shook his head and splashed his face with some water. He had to do this. Todoroki had given Izuku his number, and Izuku, with Kacchan’s encouragement, reached out. Todoroki set up a lunch for them. It was supposed to be at some fancy French bistro. Izuku tried not to dress too fancy. He changed three times but ultimately settled on a dark wash pair of jeans and a sage green sweater his mom got him for Christmas a few years ago. 

He left the bathroom and walked downstairs to the living room. He could hear Kacchan in the living room watching the news. Izuku made his way into the room with him. “Are you sure this is okay?” Izuku asked. 

Kacchan looked up “Yeah of course,” he said. “Why are you so against Todoroki buying you lunch?” 

“I’m not against it. I’m just... I dunno.”

“Todoroki isn’t as scary as he looks,” his husband said and turned back to the news. “You’ll be fine. Just let the guy buy you lunch and then you don’t have to worry about him again. He’s...” He stopped trying to find the right word “He’s alright. We get coffee at work sometimes.” 

“Oh. I didn’t know that.” He smiled. It was nice to see Kacchan making friends of his own. Izuku loved him very dearly but sometimes Kacchan’s prickly personality could get in his own way. Maybe this was a good thing. “Okay, I feel better knowing he’s a friend of yours.” He wanted to know Kacchan’s friends. 

Kacchan glared at him “Oi, don’t go that far in calling him a friend. He’s a coworker who I get coffee with.” 

He laughed holding up his hands “Of course, of course. Well, either way, I’ll try and not be so nervous with your coworker.” He smiled brightly at Kacchan. “I’m gonna head out. I shouldn’t be gone too long. I’ll text you.” 

He hummed in response, keeping his eyes on the TV. “I might ask you to pick me up some curry.” 

“That’s fine.” He walked to the couch. “I love you.” He leaned down for a kiss. 

Kacchan rolled his eyes and moved his head so Izuku could kiss the top of it. “Love you too, nerd. Now get going. You’re gonna be late.” 

“Yeah yeah,” Izuku said. He slipped his sneakers on and left their house. 

The Twinkling Bistro wasn’t far from the house. Izuku parked his car in a metered spot on the side and made his way toward the door. He didn’t even make it there when he saw Todoroki. 

He was seated at an outdoor table under a white and pastel blue umbrella. He looked damn good. He wore a black turtle neck with a deep blue coat over it. His hair was styled to fluff out giving him an adorably soft look. He tried not to dwell on it. 

Izuku waved “Todoroki-san!” he called and approached the table. “Hi sorry, I hope you weren’t waiting for me long.” 

“Not at all,” Todoroki said. “I just got here myself.” He motioned across the table. “Sorry to drag you out like this.” 

“Eh?” Izuku laughed, sitting across from him. “No, please. You’re the one buying me lunch! I’m sorry you’re out here with me!” 

Todoroki hummed “Right...” 

A waiter came and took their orders. They both ordered small. After they left, they sat there in silence. 

This was awkward. What should they talk about? They were here because Todoroki wanted to ‘repay’ him right? “So um,” Izuku tried to find a topic. “How have you been? When we met you mentioned something about quitting your job? I guess you did since you work with Kacchan now.” 

He frowned. Shit. “I did. My father wasn’t exactly happy to see me go. But it is what it is. I’m much happier at Edgeshots. I didn’t just quit my job though. I changed my whole life after you saved me.” 

“Heh, nothing like a near-death experience to put it all into perspective.” Izuku rubbed the back of his head. 

“Something like that.” 

Their waiter returned. “Here you are,” he said and placed their drinks in front of them. 

“So,” Izuku began as he picked up his drink and took a sip. “You said you changed your whole life?” 

He nodded “Yes. I quit my job, broke off my engagement, and came out as gay.”

Now that Izuku thought about it, Todoroki mentioned something about not wanting to marry a girl. “Oh wow. That’s a ton of change. I’m glad you’re seeking your happiness. That makes me happy.” 

Todoroki hummed. “Seeking my happiness... Yeah, I suppose. I’ve been living a life hand-picked for me. When I was trapped in that fire all I could think about were all the things I wanted to do and thought I would never get to. I was angry. Not just at my father but at myself. I’m twenty-five and up until that point I had never done a single thing for myself. It was always what was expected of me or asked of me. But I could die at any moment. I want to die with no regrets. So I decided to seek my happiness, no matter what.” 

Izuku’s heart fluttered at the bold declaration. He leaned forward, resting a hand on the table. “You’re like a comic book character. That’s amazing Todoroki-san.” 

“It’s thanks to you.” He reached across placing his hand on the table near Izuku’s hand. Not quite touching but close enough Izuku could feel the warmth of his skin compared to the chilly fall air. “You didn’t just save my life by not letting me die. It was something you said.” He met Izuku’s eyes. It sort of felt like Todoroki was staring into his soul. “You said it was my life. That if I made myself miserable trying to make others happy, then I would just be miserable. I don’t want to be anymore. I want happiness. I thought my life was going to be nothing but a predetermined path. But I see so many branching paths now. So, thank you Midoriya. Thank you so much. You’re my hero.” 

He couldn’t help it. Izuku’s eyes watered. His tears flowed down his cheeks as he listened to Todoroki talk.  “I’m so glad-” he choked out. “Oh Todoroki-san-”

“I’m sorry,” Todoroki said and grabbed a napkin. He handed it to Izuku “I didn’t mean to make you upset.” 

“No, no-” Izuku dapped at his eyes “It’s good crying. I promise-” he laughed “Todoroki-san that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you...” 

Their waiter returned with their food. He put a plate down in front of them “Your food-” he said but cut himself off when he noticed Izuku crying. He turned his head away before he retreated. 

“It looks good,” Izuku said, his tears clearing. He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. 

“It does,” Todoroki paused. “Sorry, we’ve been talking about me this whole time. I’d like to know a little about you.” 

Izuku nodded “Um, sure! I’m not that interesting, though, so I’m not sure where to start! I’m just a firefighter!” 

“Why did you decide to become one?” he went with. 

“Oh that’s easy!” he smiled brightly. “When I was a kid I fell in love with the All Might series. Me and Kacchan used to stay up all night reading the manga and watching the anime. I always wanted to be a superhero. But there aren’t real superheroes so I went with the next best thing I could think of. A firefighter!” He laughed a little. “It was either that or an artist but that doesn’t pay well. I could never have afforded art school and supported Kacchan through his masters at the same time.” He laughed. 

“You wanted to be an artist?” 

He nodded “Yeah, I suppose I still am? I’ve sold a few commissions here and there of All Might fan art but that’s just a hobby.” He’d do it full-time if he could and go down to part-time at the station. 

Todoroki’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? Could I see some of your art?” 

Izuku’s entire face turned bright pink. “Y-you want to see my art?” He covered his face with his hands “You really wouldn’t. It’s nothing special honestly. Just some doodles in my spare time!” 

“Please?” Todoroki asked and tilted his head. He looked like a kitten. Izuku could easily imagine the ears and whiskers. It was adorable. 

“Okay!” he cried and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He went to his Twitter and scrolled to find his last art post. It was of his original character, Deku. He handed Todoroki the phone, pointedly not looking at him. “H-here!” 

He took the phone, his fingers sliding over Izuku’s. It sent a shiver up his spine. Todoroki held the phone up to his face. “This is really amazing.” He looked up at Izuku through his long lashes “You’re very talented.” He handed him the phone back. “Is that an All Might character too? I’ve always seen art of it but never gotten to read it.” 

“Oh uh no-” he said, glancing down at it. Deku’s current design was that of a masked green hero. His newest design added a yellow cape. “That’s an original character of mine. It needs a little retooling still but that’s his current design.” 

“I see...” Todoroki hummed softly. “I hope I can see more of your work someday. I never got to read a lot of manga as a kid but I’d happily read yours.” He took a bite of his food and swallowed. “You know though it’s such a small world. I was glad I was able to meet you and tell you about all this. You’d have thought I’d end up working with your husband.” 

He took another bite. “I know! How has Kacchan been treating you as a coworker?”

“He’s been great. He’s very kind.” 

“What? Really? Kacchan?” Izuku asked. Don’t get him wrong, Kacchan was very kind. But it wasn’t the type most people could see. Kacchan was kind in little ways. Small looks, short but perfectly placed words of encouragement. A delicious bento lunch every single day, even when he’s sick. Kisses that made Izuku feel safe. That was Kacchan’s kindness. It was something he saved for people he loved. 

Todoroki nodded “Yeah. He’s definitely got a grouchy exterior but it’s obvious- even to me- he’s a softie. He keeps taking me out for coffee and making sure I’m feeling welcome and included at work. It’s been very helpful. You two make a good pair.” 

“Oh...” he said. “That’s sweet of you to say-” 

“He even agreed to tutor our regular barista.” 

Wait, what? 

“Barista?” he asked, his voice cracking. Kacchan never mentioned this. “What barista?” 

“I think his name is Kirishima or something like that. We see him just about every time we go into the shop. He buys Bakugou’s coffee once in a while. He’s very nice.” 

Izuku could feel his blood pressure rising. There’s a barista buying his husband coffee every day? And Kacchan is going to tutor him? And he didn’t tell Izuku about it? He gripped his drink hard. “O-oh. I see...” He shook his head. He was being crazy. Maybe Todoroki misheard? He didn’t want to ask more questions about it. He didn’t want Todoroki to think he didn’t trust Kacchan. He did! He should just drop the subject and ask Kacchan about it later. He let out a long breath. “That’s really... Nice of Kacchan to do that.” 

Todoroki nodded, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “So you got inspired to become an artist because of All Might?” he asked. 

“Y-yeah!” Izuku said, more than happy for the subject change. “Didn’t you say you’ve never read it?” 

“I haven’t. I’ve wanted to for a while though. I wasn’t allowed to, growing up. But I’m living my own life now. I’m a grown man. I can read a children’s manga if I want to.” 

He laughed “That’s right! Oh! You have my number so feel free to text me about it! I could probably talk on end about All Might for hours if you let me.” 

“I will. But you can go ahead and talk about it. I’m interested in your opinions on it.” 

Izuku nodded, happily talking. They sat there at that bistro for another two hours talking about All Might. Izuku was happy as could be. Even his stomach still twisted whenever he thought about that faceless barista buying Kacchan coffee.

Chapter Text

Katsuki had gone out exactly one time when he was in university. His first-year roommate had invited him to a frat party to be polite, and it had gone almost exactly as badly as Katsuki had assumed it would. The fact that he’d basically been a hermit afterward had been a good thing. Still, though, he remembered that one of the girls in the group had done his eyeliner and cooed about how much it brought out his eyes.

For some godforsaken reason, he had to stop himself from reaching for Izuku’s small makeup kit now. 

It wasn’t like he needed to look good. An argument could be made that he needed to look bad . He scoffed. 

He’d dressed just like he always did. If Kirishima thought anything weird about him then that was his problem, but Katsuki was fairly certain he’d gotten over it already.

Izuku opened the bedroom door just as Katsuki closed the wardrobe. He’d been in his study since Katsuki had gotten home and they’d exchanged greetings. His eyes were cold. “You going out soon, Kacchan?” 

“Figured that out all by yourself?”

“Are you gonna be alone?”

“What kinda loser do I look like?” Katsuki snapped. “Of course not!”

Izuku sat down on the bed, blocking Katsuki’s exit. “You didn’t tell me anything about this strange person you’re apparently meeting.”

“Do I need to tell you when I shit, too? It’s not like you always tell me .” Katsuki couldn’t help the venom seeping into his voice. 

Izuku had the aura of someone who’d caught someone else red-handed, which Katsuki couldn’t stand. How was it fair that he chose to go out once a year and his husband decided to throw a tantrum? How could he even think Katsuki would want someone else when he didn’t even want him that way? 

“Of course I do—” Izuku took a deep breath and visibly forced his voice to lower. “You’re right. What are you gonna do?”

“Tutor a loser kid at a diner near Musutafu University.” Katsuki checked his watch, already over the conversation. He’d promised he’d be there in about an hour, and the transit would take him fifty minutes, so he just barely had the time to talk to Izuku a little more.

“Oh, really?” His husband smiled. He looked much more relaxed. “Why?”

“He’s a med student, I met him at a coffee shop by my job, and he needs to pass organic chem. It’d be nice if future doctors didn’t kill their patients by mixing up drugs.”

He wasn’t lying, not really, but he knew he could’ve easily let Kirishima fail if he’d wanted to. Why hadn’t he? A need to pay him back? No.

There was no point in telling Izuku that he didn’t know what had come over him beyond that he just felt like Kirishima deserved a chance.

“Right,” Izuku said. His smile had gotten even wider, tinged with pride. “That’s very kind of you, Kacchan.”

“Fuck you, that’s not why I’m doing it!”

Izuku grabbed his hand and dragged him down into a short, sweet goodbye kiss. “I’ll see you tonight.” 

With a quick agreement, Katsuki left. The diner was apparently where Kirishima usually went to study, so he’d just agreed to meet him there. Right before he opened the door, he grabbed a pen and shoved it in his pocket in case he needed it.

Kirishima was waiting for him in front of the diner when he got there. He wasn’t in his uniform anymore, wearing a red shirt and leather jacket that hung to his shoulders. His face brightened when he saw Katsuki.

“Hey, man, how’s your week been so far?” He said, as he opened the door to the diner and held it open.

“Fine,” Katsuki said. “Save the stupid questions.”

They sat down at a table and both of them ordered drinks. Apparently, the diner was okay with them doing that and just studying there because students were most of their clientele. Around them, Katsuki could see a few groups of weirdos focusing on their work.

“What’s on the exam?”

Kirishima pushed the textbook toward Katsuki, open on the table of contents.“Up to chapter six.” 

“Tell me what an alkane is, then.”

“Uh—are those the ones with double bonds?”

Katsuki groaned. It was worse than he'd thought it’d be. 

When he was in university he’d graded papers for money, but he’d generally avoided teaching if he could. It was weird to deal with people who knew less than he did. Plus, Kirishima didn’t seem like he was good at paying attention, which proved true over the next twenty minutes.

“Can you at least try to fucking concentrate?” he snapped when he lost the line in the textbook for the third time in a row. 

Kirishima raised his arms in surrender. “I’m not doing it on purpose, man! I just don’t know this stuff and it’s intimidating to deal with you knowing everything.”

“Well, I don’t know how to deal with you not knowing shit either!” Katsuki slapped his pen on the desk. “I wanna go back in time and fire your fucking high school teacher.”

“Thanks so much, bro, that means a lot. We both just need to get used to each other!” That was not what Katsuki had said, but whatever. “Look, here’s a deal: I focus for fifteen minutes and you tell me something about yourself.”

“Huh? Why the fuck would you care?”

“We can get to know each other! I’m curious what’s up with you, man.”

“Nothing’s up with me, Shitty Hair!” Katsuki tried to smack him over the head, but he dodged. “If it gets to shut up I’ll do it.”

“Awesome!”

The first increment of fifteen minutes was marginally better than the work they’d done before. When it passed, Kirishima grabbed his phone and shoved it in Katsuki’s face smugly. He rolled his eyes and gestured for him to get it over with.

Kirishima smiled. “Cool! What’s your favorite color?”

“Orange.”

“You can guess mine—” Kirishima pointed at his red hair and red shirt “—but orange is a close second.”

“Didn’t ask. Get back to chapter 2.”

Soon enough, through trial and error, Katsuki figured that Kirishima was more of a visual learner and that he did especially well when he could see the reactions, which was perfect since they were working on organic chemistry. It looked like their professor had kind of left them to fend for themselves. He’d loved those kinds of professors when he was in university, but he was starting to see now why it wasn’t the best way to teach.

“Draw the reaction to obtain benzene from ethyne.”

Kirishima grabbed the pen with significantly more confidence than he’d had half an hour before, then he scribbled something on his paper. “There.” 

“Not bad,” Katsuki said. 

He wondered half-seriously if someone could get hurt from smiling too hard as he watched Kirishima’s face. Praise clearly helped too.

“Looks like it’s been fifteen minutes again, so I get a question! How did you and your spouse meet?”

“I don’t know.” Katsuki hesitated. “Playground, maybe? There was never a time when I didn’t know Izuku.”

“That’s so manly, childhood friends who got married!” He really looked like he’d been moved to the point of tears. Katsuki wasn’t too surprised; people had always seemed to like their story.

“It’s whatever. You’re weird.”

“I can’t take that seriously, coming from you.” Kirishima flipped the textbook page and started taking some basic notes on the definitions. 

He didn’t take any of Katsuki’s insults personally. A lot of people didn’t care, but he let them roll off him in a way Katsuki had never experienced before, like he could be himself without risking their friendship. Almost as if Kirishima liked him for it.

As time went on, Katsuki started to welcome the questions. They were a break from having to put his knowledge in his head in easy-to-understand terms, which was surprisingly tiring. 

“Tell me about a dream you have.”

Oh, that one was easy. “Getting a PhD.”

“Doctor Bakugou Katsuki. Sounds intimidating.”

“Exactly,” Katsuki said. Kirishima chuckled. “Plus, it shows you’re the best in the one very niche field you pick. Literally, the first and best person to do it.”

“So why aren’t you doing that?”

“And make less money than Izuku? Never. It’s just a fucking pipe dream for when I’m fifty.”

“Would he get mad if you did?” Kirishima leaned forward, looking concerned.

“What? No! What the fuck, never imply that again. I just owe him a lot.” And I couldn’t be a burden to him again.

Regardless of how strangely comfortable Katsuki felt with Kirishima, the last thing he wanted to do was babble about the story of his transition. He’d rather most people not know he was trans at all, and he didn’t trust Kirishima to not be weird about it. Plus, it was fucking humiliating .

“What does chapter three want?” he asked. Kirishima picked up on his discomfort immediately, and he was even more agreeable for the next fifteen minutes than he’d been before. They went through the nomenclature for benzene derivatives with no problems. 

Not that Katsuki appreciated it, but he relaxed in his seat.

“If I ask you something, are you gonna count it?”

“Saying that with a rude voice doesn’t make it less nice. You don’t fool me, Bakugou.” Kirishima’s smile widened when Katsuki rolled his eyes. “Yeah, hit me with it!”

“Med school’s a shit ton of stress, so why’d you decide to go?”

“Man, that’s a long story.” He looked weary.

“If there’s one thing I have right now, it’s time. Unless you decide to take three fucking hours, then I’ll have to go and leave you here.”

“No, no, nothing like that!” Kirishima started fiddling with the pencil in his hand. “My best friend— well, I live with her now, actually— Mina and I met in middle school. We were in the same class.”

Katsuki cut him off. “You two together or something?” 

The question was rude and had some weird implications, he realized as Kirishima paused, but he needed to know. He didn’t want them to be.

“We tried once and then I realized I’m gay, so you know, that didn’t work, but we work much better as friends!” There was obvious affection in his voice. “But that was after. What I was gonna say is that we were heading back from school one day with Mina’s dad and a drunk woman ran into us with her car. The windows broke.” Kirishima closed his eyes and traced a visible scar around his right eyelid. “Everyone lived, but…Mina was on the same side as the other car. She can’t see anymore. We called the paramedics, obviously, and one of them looked her over when he arrived and said they would’ve been able to pull out the glass if they were there earlier. If—” His voice cracked. “If I’d known how to do it, I could’ve done it.”

“That’s bullshit,” Katsuki said. “What were you, twelve?”

“Eleven. I guess you’re right, but I don’t know.”

Katsuki poured some water into his glass and pushed it closer, not knowing what else to do. 

“Anyway!” Kirishima accepted the glass, putting on the same energetic tone he always had. It came off a bit dull. “If I work in the emergency room and I know what I’m doing, I won’t let that happen to others.”

“Being a doctor’s kind of like being a hero, but takes a lot more brains. Think a muscle-brained idiot like you can do that? Then again, you’re studying, so maybe you got a shot, but that’s only if you buckled down! ”

“Fine, fine, I get it!” he said, grabbing his pencil again. He didn’t look sad anymore.

The rest of their time in the diner passed in pretty much the same manner. Katsuki didn’t know what kind of rock he’d be, what the fuck did that even mean. Fine, if he had to pick one he’d pick obsidian. Katsuki’s favorite show from when he was a kid was the All Might anime, and Kirishima’s was Crimson Riot. His parents had bought him the manga when he was a kid and he still had it in his apartment now.

The students around them had started to leave when Kirishima closed his textbook and put his pencil aside. “I can walk you home. Normally I’d offer you a ride, but this is close enough to my apartment that I didn’t bring my motorbike.”

“That’s fucking stupid if you live— your what ?”

“What?” Kirishima looked like he’d said something perfectly normal. “It’s an adventure bike, I got it second hand and my friends and I got it running again!”

“Didn’t know you could do that.” Katsuki tried not to betray anything with his face. Repair work looked difficult, and the mental image made him feel almost sick, but if sickness gave you energy.

“Yeah, well, I had to learn. Except for the wiring, Denki handled that. Hanta wanted to use tape to fix the saddle, I had to stop them.”

“Fucking tape ?” Katsuki didn’t know much about this, but what the fuck.

“I know, right? They try to use tape for everything!”

Katsuki chuckled. Against his better judgment, he wanted to know more. About the bike, about Kirishima’s friend group, about all the stories he had. “How long did it take you to fix?”

Kirishima beamed and started talking again.

The next time Katsuki checked his watch was when all the tables around them had been cleared and he made eye contact with an irritated waiter. Fuck. “Has it really been half a damn hour?”

“Time flies when you’re having fun?” There was a glint in Kirishima’s eyes.

“Fuck you.”

“You won’t like my reply to that, so I’ll shut up.”

Katsuki’s face heated in embarrassment. He hit Kirishima over the head, hard. “Move, Shitty Hair.”

Somehow Kirishima didn’t even flinch. “Yes, sir.”

Kirishima had paid as they’d gotten their drinks, so they left right after. They stopped in front of the restaurant, and for the first time that night, he looked bashful. “Thanks so much, Bakugou! I think I get most of the nomenclature now, and I never would’ve hoped that I'd do it so fast! I’ll see you, uh...”

“In a few days,” Katsuki said, his tone more secure than he felt. “I told you it’d be fine.”

“Still, you were great!”

Katsuki’s face felt hot again . Oh, for fuck’s sake. “Obviously.”

He turned around and left after they said their goodbyes and he repeated that he didn’t need to be walked home when he lived all the way across town. 

He didn’t have to catch the last train, but it was still one of the last ones, and that hadn’t happened to Katsuki in years. 

He spent the entire ride thinking about Kirishima, alternating between envy of his life and seemingly close friend group, pride that he’d gotten him to understand the first part of the textbook so fast, and a weird need to text him every time he saw something even remotely interesting. The ad on the wall of his station was written in red and orange. Kirishima liked those colors.

Katsuki took a picture of it, ruthlessly mocked himself for it, and deleted it before he could send it. He’d really forgotten how to have friends. 

Izuku sat at his desk chewing on the end of his pencil. He stared down at the paper in front of him. Several redesigns later and his new hero was still not shaping up to be what he wanted. He had ideas of him being this mysterious and suave antihero with a tragic past who’d come in and out of their lives to help them defeat the villains. He tried again this time he gave the hero long hair that hung in his face. 

“Damn,” Izuku muttered, erasing part of his face. It just didn’t look right no matter what he did. 

He checked the clock on the wall. It was already past nine. Kacchan had been gone for a few hours. Was he okay? They were studying. That could take a while. But the anxiety bubble in his chest wouldn’t go away. This was normal. Kacchan was just helping a kid get good grades. This wasn’t a big deal! Kacchan said it himself. Izuku should just relax. Well... Maybe just one text. 

He grabbed his phone only for it to vibrate in his hand. He just got a text. Was it from Kacchan? No. It was from Todoroki. 

I just read the first All Might volume. So far I like the tone. However, I could do with less ‘sexy’ shots of the female characters. But I see why you like it so much. 

Izuku’s stomach flipped. Todoroki was reading All Might? Already? That was kind of touching. He typed out a reply. Oh yeah, don’t worry that gets better as the series goes along. Apparently, his editor made him do it to try and sell more copies early on. He stops pretty soon. 

He leaned back in his chair. Todoroki texted him! About All Might! It kind of made him feel like a teenager again. He shook the feeling off and pulled up Kacchan’s contact but before he could start typing he heard the front door open. Izuku perked up. Kacchan was home! He left his office and ran down the stairs “Hey Kacchan!” 

“Hey,” Kacchan said. He stood by the door and kicked off his boots before coming into the main room.

“How was tutoring?” 

“Fine,” he said and sat down on the couch with a groan. “He’s not as stupid as he looks. When he actually buckles down he does good work.” He crossed his arms “He’s got a long way to go though.” 

Izuku sat on the couch next to him and wrapped his arm around his shoulders. “That’s good. It’s really sweet of you to do this.” Even if it made Izuku’s insides squirm. “What made you decide to, anyway?” 

Kacchan shrugged, leaning into Izuku. “Dunno. He just had this stupid sad puppy dog look on his face. I didn’t want to see the kid fail.” 

Okay, that was pretty sweet. It made Izuku’s heart squeeze. He pictured Kacchan staring down at a scrawny young barista who needed help. That wasn’t so scary. “You’re so cute,” he told his husband. 

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I’m tired.” He squeezed his eyes shut. Kacchan really was so cute. He couldn’t help himself. He wanted to cuddle, kiss, and squeeze him. 

“Hey,” Izuku whispered. “If you want I can carry you to bed.” He let his voice drop down low. “I can make you feel better if you want.” 

Kacchan shook his head and stood up from the couch. “Not in the mood. I’m fuckin’ exhausted. Got a headache going over the same problems over and over again. I’m gonna take some ibuprofen, a shower, then go the fuck to sleep.” 

Izuku’s heart fell. “Y-yeah okay. I’m probably gonna stay up for a bit anyway.” He stood up. “I’m gonna head back up to my studio. Come say goodnight before you go to bed.” 

“‘Kay,” Kacchan yelled from the kitchen. 

He shook his head and walked back upstairs. He sat back down at his desk and checked his phone. He had two more texts from Todoroki. 

Oh good. 

And then. 

Volume two is incredible so far. The villain All for One is so intriguing. Does Stars and Stripes stay around? I like her too.

Izuku smiled. All Might talk would be the perfect pick-me-up. She does! She’s one of my favorite characters too. Her character arc is amazing. 

He put his phone down, several emotions swirling inside him. He was happy to have a potential new friend in Todoroki. Worries about Kacchan and this faceless barista. But Kacchan was right. He shouldn’t stand in his way of making friends. Instead, he should focus on things he can do. He turned to his computer and pulled up Google. He should try and spice up their romance. 

“I wonder...” he started to type but stopped “I can’t do this it’s too embarrassing-” he mumbled and pulled up an incognito tab. “Much better.” 

He googled strap-ons. 

It’s something that’s been on his mind for a while now. He and Kacchan had talked on and off about one for a while. Izuku was very in favor of it, but he just hadn’t gotten around to it. But maybe a change like this in the bedroom was exactly what they needed. Plus, Izuku wouldn’t mind being the one being taken care of for once.

“Holy woah-” he mumbled, staring at them on screen. There were tons of different types. He did spot a bright orange one that didn’t look too big. “I could take that one...” he said. “Add to cart.” He smiled, feeling better. Once it came he could seduce his husband. That would bring them closer together!

His phone buzzed again. He excitedly picked it up. Another text from Todoroki. It was a picture of a famous early All Might panel. He was that far already? Under the picture was Todoroki’s message. 

Thank you for encouraging me to read this. Sorry if I’m bothering you so late at night.

Izuku giggled. It was sweet seeing Todoroki enjoy it so much. He leaned back in his chair to draft up a reply. Of course! And no no don’t worry. I sleep all weird hours from work. Besides, I love talking to you about this! :) 

He tried to get back to drawing but he kept getting distracted by texting. He stayed up late with hardly any work done.

Chapter Text

Katsuki gave in with alarming ease.

The next day, he took a picture of the tinted glass bottle he was going to use for the quality control of a drug and sent it to Kirishima. This is benzene dissolved in chloroform. How was the solvent made and why is benzene soluble in it?

It was okay that he texted him, because he’d only done it to test Kirishima’s knowledge. It had nothing to do with the fact that he’d been meaning to talk to him since last night.

He moved on with his experiment and the response came back ten minutes later. It was correct, at least as far as the reaction went. It wasn’t like he expected Kirishima to know how the actual factory process went. You better not have checked your textbook.

Of course not!!! Scout’s honor.

Katsuki snorted. You would have been a scout.

I wasn’t, I just like saying that.

Katsuki didn’t know what to reply, so he left it at that and went back to the actual job he had to do. He wasn’t thinking of something else to say. If he wanted to go to their shelf of actives, it wasn’t to send more pictures. He just wanted to have them on his desk in case he needed them later. Even though he knew his schedule for the day and he knew he didn’t really need any of them.

Fifteen minutes later, Kirishima texted him again. Are you free in two days?

He typed a quick affirmative.

Izuku always overslept on his first day home after working. He never slept that well at the station so he always made up for it his first night home. When he finally rolled out of bed it was past 11 o’clock. He sighed and made his way downstairs to eat and do some chores. 

The house felt empty. 

The kitchen was a little messy. Kacchan must have left work in a hurry. “He could have asked for help,” he said to himself. The dirty pan was in the sink with food stuck to it. He sighed and set it up to soak before he reached into the fridge to grab his lunch. His favorite meal of the day was always Kacchan’s bento he made him. But, there were two matching bento boxes. One green, one orange. “Uh oh,” he said and picked up the orange one. 

Izuku checked the time. If he left now, he could bring Kacchan his bento. He put it on the counter and ran from the room to quickly freshen up and get changed. Once presentable enough, he grabbed the bentos and dashed to the car. “Coming, Kacchan!” 

The drive from the house to Kacchan’s work wasn’t too far. Especially outside of rush hour. He parked in the guest parking and made his way into the building. He knew the way up to Kacchan’s lab. 

He wasn’t stopped on his way up. He recognized a few people and gave friendly waves before making his way to the lab. He knocked on the door “Kacchan—” he called before he let himself inside. “Kacchan?” 

The lab was almost empty aside from one person. Todoroki stood in the room wearing a lab coat and a pair of safety goggles. He paused what he was doing looking up at Izuku “Midoriya?” he asked. He pulled his goggles up pushing them into his hair like a headband. “What are you doing here?” 

He held up the orange bento bag. “Kacchan forgot his lunch. I came to bring it to him!” 

“Ah, I see. He was complaining about that all morning,” Todoroki said. He stepped away from his workstation. “Unfortunately, you just missed him. He left to go to the coffee shop a few minutes ago.” 

Izuku’s shoulders slumped. “What?” he asked. “Aw, man, and I came all the way here.” He looked down at the bento. “I was kind of hoping to see him too. He didn’t wake me up to say goodbye. I even brought mine so we could have lunch together... How come you’re here? I thought you went to the coffee shop together?” That meant Kacchan was there, alone? 

“Usually,” Todoroki said. “Couldn’t today. I was busy but I just finished up. I thought I’d have to skip lunch.” 

“Oh no,” Izuku said. “Why don’t you have my bento then?” He held up the other green one. “Kacchan makes one every day. I’ll just buy something on the way home.” 

“Are you sure?” he asked. “I don’t want to take food from you. But if you’re sure. We can eat in the breakroom. Bakugou shouldn’t be too long.”

He perked up at once. “Really? Okay!”

“Here, let me take this off and wash my hands.” Once Todoroki was ready they left the lab and walked to the breakroom. It was empty. “I guess everyone went out for lunch today.” He sat down and motioned for Izuku to sit across from him. 

“Yeah, I’m shocked with how empty it is today.” He leaned forward on the table. 

He shrugged and opened Izuku’s bento. “Let’s see, what am I having? I’ll be honest I haven’t had a bento lunch since I was in high school. My sister used to make them for me.” He looked down, “Oh, katsudon.” 

“Katsudon is my favorite!” Izuku explained, “Kacchan has the second-best katsudon in the world, only after my mom.” He smiled. “It’s sweet that your sister made you lunches.” 

He shrugged and dug into his lunch. “This isn’t bad,” he said. “Yeah, she was always really motherly. Our mom wasn’t... around. But I was just her practice anyway. She’s really into those decorative bentos now for her kids. She’ll do stuff like cut fruit into stars and hearts. Or make their vegetables into little animals.” 

“Aw,” Izuku cooed. He could picture himself and Kacchan making bentos together for their future kids. “That’s super sweet. How old are your nieces or nephews?” 

“Nieces,” Todoroki explained. “Hanako is seven and Kaori is five. They’re good kids. I’ve been trying to spend more time with them. My sister Fuyumi and her wife have been glad for the extra babysitting.” 

It was a sweet mental image. Todoroki playing with two little girls. He was so even-tempered and deadpan that it was probably funny when he talked to them. “I bet you’re the fun uncle.” 

Todoroki chuckled. “I dunno about that. Natsuo, my brother, might have me beat.” 

“You have a brother too?” Izuku asked. “How many siblings do you have?” 

“Um,” Todoroki paused. “There’s four of us. But we haven’t seen Touya in a long time. He fell into a bad crowd a few years back. Honestly, none of us know if he’s even alive.” He said it so nonchalantly. 

Izuku frowned. “Sorry to hear that.” 

“Don’t worry about it. It was a long time ago.” 

His mom wasn’t around, his father was controlling, and he had a missing brother? Todoroki really was like someone out of a manga. He didn’t want to pry but it made him want to learn more about him. Before he could stop himself he blurted out, “What happened?” 

Todoroki shrugged. “I’m not super sure. Touya was still in high school so I was young. I might not even have been home but he got into a huge fight with our father. I think he’d been getting into a lot of fights and his grades were slipping. Just... a lot of stuff. After the fight, he just left and we never saw him again. My father doesn’t like talking about it so I never got any details.” 

“I’m sorry to hear that.” 

“Like I said it was a long time ago so don’t worry about it.” He took another bite of food. “You said Bakugou makes you a bento like this every day?” 

He nodded. “Yep! He started doing it when he first moved in with me and my mom in high school. He just kept doing it after that.” 

“He moved in while you were still in high school?” he asked. 

“Yeah, but there were extenuating circumstances. We weren’t even dating at the time.” 

“Really?” he asked. “I know you guys got married pretty young though, right? How long have you known each other?” 

Izuku tried to think back. “Pretty much our whole lives. Our moms used to be best friends. I can’t remember a time before Kacchan.” He remembered being little kids running around their small town together. “We were best friends. I think I loved him before I even knew what love was. He was it for me.” 

Todoroki’s face remained impassive. “I see,” he said. “Childhood friends to lovers. Did you date before him?”

“Me? Oh no. Are you kidding? I was such a dork in high school. If I didn’t have Kacchan I’d probably be a basement-dwelling weirdo!” He laughed. “Who else would be interested in someone like me?” 

“Hmm... You’d be surprised. You are a lot more charming than you give yourself credit for. I’m sure you’d have to beat people off you with a stick if you were single.” 

Before Izuku could say something in response, the door to the break room opened. “Oi, Icyhot, have you seen my—” Kacchan stood in the door. He scanned the room, his eyes landing on Izuku. “Deku? The fuck are you doing here?” 

Izuku smiled and jumped out of his seat “I brought you your lunch!” he said, holding up the bento. “But Todoroki-san said you went to buy lunch.” 

“Dammit, Deku, I could have used that like an hour ago.” He rolled his eyes and walked over to the table. “You didn’t have to come all the way out here.” 

“Sorry. I woke up and saw you didn’t have it so I ran out of the house as fast as I could.” He rubbed the back of his head. 

Todoroki put his chopsticks down with a clank. “You could say thank you, you know. Your husband drove all the way out here just to bring it to you.” He glared at Kacchan. “You should be nicer to him.” 

Kacchan rolled his eyes. “Fuck off, he knows what I mean.” He did look down at Izuku. “...Thanks.” 

“Any time Kacchan!” he said. “I’m glad I came out here. Todoroki-san needed lunch so I gave him mine. It wasn’t a fruitless endeavor!” He gave Todoroki a bright smile. “I was still useful!” 

“Yeah yeah, you’re his hero.” Kacchan turned back to Todoroki. “Hurry up. There’s a lot of work to do.” 

“I’m just about done anyway.” He took the last bite of food and closed the bento. “Thanks for letting me have this, Midoriya. It brightened my day.” He rewarded Izuku with a small smile. 

It was cute. Too cute in the way that made Izuku’s palms sweaty and his heart rate pick up. 

“A-anytime!” Izuku said, taking the box from him. He shook off the pleasant feeling in his chest. “Kacchan do you want to keep your bento or should I take it home?” 

“Take it home. Since you gave Icyhot yours, you can have mine.” 

Izuku smiled. “Really?” 

“Yeah, dumbass. I make you a bento because I want you to eat. So eat it.”

“Aw, best husband ever!” Izuku got up on his tip toes and pressed a chaste kiss on his lips. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?” 

Kacchan nodded. “I’ll see you tonight, nerd.” He ruffled Izuku’s hair. “Now get out, I have work to do.” 

Izuku giggled at the display of affection. He turned to wave at Todoroki. “I’ll see you around Todoroki-san!” 

Todoroki’s face was a blank mask. He hummed. “Yeah... See you.” He excused himself past them. “I’ll wait for you in the lab, Bakugou.” His voice was icy. 

“Who pissed in his Cheerios?” Kacchan asked. “Whatever. Bye, Deku.” He gave Izuku one last kiss before he left the room. 

“Bye,” Izuku mumbled. For some reason, he felt sad.

Kirishima’s exam was on a Wednesday, and Katsuki was more on edge than usual all day on Thursday waiting for the results. He even almost broke a test tube, which hadn’t happened to him since university.

He knew that this had been Kirishima’s only real life plan, and though failing one class didn’t have to mean he’d drop out, Katsuki was worried. It’d definitely delay his graduation. Plus, how would he ever take the final-year neurology classes without knowing organic chemistry?

That wasn’t Katsuki’s problem, but he’d kind of made it be. He felt personally responsible now.

The first text he got made him flinch, and when he saw that it was just an ad from his mobile company he unsubscribed from them on the spot. He didn’t want to see their texts anyway. If it was that important they’d send mail too.

Around mid-morning, he got another text. He forced himself to be calm.

This one was from Kirishima.  

We just got our results back! I passed!!!

Katsuki couldn’t help the smile taking over his face. He was so relieved. He’d have bet on Kirishima passing if anyone had asked him, but he’d still been scared something had happened. He typed out a quick reply. What’d you get?

His phone vibrated twice in quick succession.

Ninety!!!!! 

I can’t believe it, this is crazy! Aizawa SMILED AT ME WHEN HE GAVE ME THE EXAM BACK

The responding Good job he sent got Katsuki a row of enthusiastic emojis. He could picture the look on Kirishima’s face when he’d seen the result, and it made him feel warm inside. Actually—

He put his phone in his pocket and knocked on Hakamada’s door. “I’m taking lunch early,” he said. “I'll be back in half an hour.”

“Go ahead, Bakugou,” the guy said. He adjusted the obnoxiously large belt on his jeans. Katsuki had never understood his fashion sense, but he was a fair supervisor, so he kind of liked him.  

Todoroki gave him a weird look as he left. He was weird to Katsuki sometimes, and it had gotten worse lately. He wondered what that was about.

Katsuki walked over in two minutes. He nodded to Kirishima when he entered the cafe, and his friend waved from behind the counter. His smile grew warmer, less stuck in place, his eyes on Katsuki even as he finished serving the customer in front of him, and Katsuki responded with a quick one of his own.

He waited at a table as Kirishima called something out to a corpulent blond man, then he walked over to him.

“Bakugou, hi!”

Katsuki stood up to say something, but he didn’t have the chance— Kirishima pulled him into a hug, awkward with the chair in the way and tight and smelling like coffee. Katsuki’s hands were frozen. Should he hug him back? Push him off? He wanted to get closer. The pin on Kirishima’s apron scratched his shoulder, and he wanted to lean into it, to push their bodies closer until it dug into his skin.

Just as he moved to respond, Kirishima pulled away. “Thank you so much, man! I really can’t believe it. I owe you.”

Katsuki tensed. He hated that word so much. “You don’t owe me shit! I offered to help you and you got better ‘cause you fucking can.”

“You can’t stop me from thanking you! Plus, you let me buy you coffee.”

“It’s coffee .” Katsuki felt stupid. Of course Kirishima had just meant it in a normal, I-wanna-do-something-nice-for-you way. His mind had immediately gone to assuming that was why he was being so friendly, but it wasn’t. It couldn’t be. He’d seen Kirishima talk to others. He’d been nice before they’d ever met alone.

“And as long as Fat lets me, I’ll get it for you.”

Katsuki snorted. “You call your employer Fat ? And you still have a job?”

 “He insists on it, man! I thought it was weird too, but he likes it, that’s why he named the shop that way.”

“It is weird. Everyone here’s weird, must be why they hired you.”

Kirishima laughed, the sound low and muffled, as he pushed Katsuki’s hand off the table. He slapped his friend’s shoulder in retaliation and rolled his eyes when Kirishima gave him the fakest puppy face he’d ever seen. “You started it, asshole.”

“You got me there.” Kirishima hesitated. “So, uh, I’ve been meaning to ask—You wanna keep hanging out after this?” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, looking like he was anticipating a hit.

The warm glow inside Katsuki flickered and disappeared. A lot of their friendship had almost seemed too good to be true. “What kinda dumbass question is that?!” he yelled. He hoped his tone conveyed what it needed to.

It did. “Awesome! Just figured I’d ask, y’know?”

Katsuki smacked his arm. “Don’t pull that shit on me again.”

“I won’t!” Kirishima still looked a bit shy, the apples of his cheeks dusted red. Katsuki’s hands felt restless. He wanted to do something , but he didn’t know what. “Okay, then….it’s my birthday next Tuesday, and we’re gonna have a small gathering at my apartment. I’d like it if you could come. You can meet everyone else, and I promise it’s gonna be fun! No need to bring anything, of course.”

“How many people?” Katsuki asked, like he hadn’t made his decision right away. He felt like his throat would close up if he tried to say no.

“Around ten. Not a fan of crowds?”

Katsuki made a face and Kirishima smiled again. He had a lot of smiles, Katsuki had learned over the past few weeks. This one was gentle. “You’ll get along, I’m sure of it. Mina and Denki really wanna meet you. They said, and I quote, that they have no idea who’d put up with me and Chemistry for that long. “

“I need to know who the fuck can fix all the circuits in your building and somehow fail intro Physics.” 

“See, it’ll be great!” Kirishima hit his fists together in that stupid little gesture of his.

“Fine.”

“Perfect! Tuesday at seven, I’ll text you the address. Well, if you ask me it’s gonna take till seven thirty for everyone to show up, but seven’s the official time.”

“I’ll be there.” Katsuki made a quick note on his phone. He didn’t think he’d forget, but he didn’t want to take any risks. “Do you have anything to eat, by the way?”

“Aww, Bakugou! Were you in a rush?”

Against his own will, Katsuki’s face felt warm. He’d really been having a problem with embarrassment lately. “Shut up! What, you think I wanted you to fail?”

“Of course not!” Kirishima’s smile was almost shy. “Come up front.”

They walked up to the counter, and Kirishima pointed to a sandwich. “You’d love this one. Spicy chicken.” 

He’d remembered. Of course he had, not like he was shutting off his damn ears when Katsuki was talking, but still.

“Whatever,” he said. 

Kirishima smiled again, this one his default enthusiastic one. After he put the panini in the oven and made him a caramel latte, he turned back toward Katsuki. “Thanks for dropping by! I’d take lunch with you, but I’m off pretty early today. Fat let me have a few minutes ‘cause he’s nice like that.”

“Get back to work then, you lazy bitch.”

“We’re free now! You know, since it’s not lunch hour yet.”

“Fuck you, I’m leaving.”

The laughter was evident in Kirishima’s voice. “See you later, Bakugou!”

Chapter Text

It was a Friday night. Everything was going according to his plan to inject some much-needed romance into his and Kacchan’s love life. He’d been feeling distant lately. Usually, that meant they needed some time to reconnect! Being married is hard. It’s easy to forget the romance of it all. But, they both had the night off, no work the next day, and a certain something Izuku ordered arrived that afternoon. With it stored in his sock drawer, he knew he’d be set. 

Izuku spent the whole day getting ready. He took extra time to make sure he looked good. He was sure to shave, he knew Kacchan liked him best when he had no stubble. He used the fancy curl cream Uraraka bought him to get his hair to behave. He even picked out the perfect outfit. A t-shirt reading ‘date night’, a deep green open button-up over it and a pair of jeans that Kacchan said made his butt look good. 

He was not going to fuck this up. 

Just as he put the finishing touches on himself when he heard the front door open. He grinned and made his way down the steps “Welcome home, Kacchan!” he called. He stepped into the living room. Kacchan stood at the door, taking off his shoes. “How was work?” 

“Same as always,” he said and pulled his coat off. “They piss me off there. Half of them don’t know how to do their jobs right.” He sighed and walked toward the couch, and flopped into it. “I’m just glad to be the fuck out of there.” 

Izuku’s stomach twisted. Would Kacchan want to go out? “I’m sorry you had a rough day.” He walked over and sat on the edge of the couch. “Um... But I was thinking you know what we haven’t done in a while?” 

Kacchan didn’t look up “What?” he asked, his voice muffled by a pillow he had his face buried into. 

“A date night.” He gripped at the edge of the couch. 

“...Yeah, it has been a minute.” 

“I planned one. For tonight. As a surprise. If you wanna go on a date with me.” It was funny. He felt like he was sixteen again approaching Kacchan in the halls of their old high school. Back when he would go between ignoring him and calling him names with the other cheerleaders. But that was then. This was now. Izuku was his husband. He was silly for being so nervous. “I made reservations at your favorite place.”

Kacchan lifted his head and looked back at Izuku. His face was unreadable but it was clear he was thinking it over. Izuku’s heart hammered in his chest. “Okay.” He sat up with a small groan. “Save your fuckin’ puppy dog eyes. I’m gonna shower.” 

Relief hit Izuku so hard that he nearly flopped back into the couch himself. “You got some time!” he said with a smile. 

He grunted in response and left the room to shower. 

Izuku was so happy. A date night with Kacchan! He was going to make sure this was the most romantic night Kacchan had had in a while. He’d woo him and make sure Kacchan fell a little in love with him all over again. That was important! He had to keep the spark alive. 

He glanced down at his outfit. Kacchan hadn’t noticed he was dressed up. Should he change? Or was Kacchan just tired from work? Izuku shook his head. It didn’t matter. He had all night to make magic happen between them. 

Izuku was so full after dinner. They had just eaten at Kacchan’s favorite hot pot restaurant. Even if the hot pot was a little too spicy for him, Kacchan loved the super hot flavors and Izuku was more than willing to suffer a little for his happiness. The hot pot restaurant was located in a downtown shopping area. Their next date activity was just a short walk from the restaurant through the shopping district to a small park with a lake. 

The low sparkling lights of the different shops and the hustle and bustle of it all was kind of romantic. So far, their date has been going great! Izuku had high hopes for the rest of it. Especially his next romantic surprise. 

“After Baldy cleaned up the mess, our boss came in and dressed him down for it,” Kacchan said finishing his story. “It was fuckin’ hilarious.” 

Izuku giggled. “Aw, poor Yoarashi-san. I bet it was an accident.” He looked down at Kacchan’s hand hanging between them. He thought about taking it but Kacchan hated public displays of affection. He understood why. Still wished he could hold his hand. 

“Yeah, the first three times maybe!” He glanced around as they walked. “What is this ‘surprise’ anyway?” he asked. 

“You’ll see! It’s just a little further. We’re running a little early so if you want to look around the shops that’s fine by me.” 

He shrugged “Sure. I’ve been meaning to go shopping anyway. That kid I told you about? The one I tutored? Apparently his birthday is soon. He invited me out with his little college friends. I figure if I’m gonna go I should bring a gift or somethin’ right?” 

“Sure!” Izuku said with a smile. “I can help.” He elbowed Kacchan gently. “You and this college boy must get along well if you want to buy him a gift. I mean you did just help him pass a test for free.” He laughed a little. “Who are you and what have you done with my Kacchan?” 

“Shut it,” Kacchan barked, but it had no real bite. “I just don’t wanna come across like a dick showing up to a birthday party without a gift.” 

“Since when do you care about not looking like a dick?” Izuku asked. “I thought that was your whole thing. You being your authentic self.” 

He rolled his eyes “Yeah well, look what that got me. Twenty-eight and all my ‘friends’ are your friends. I’m... You know. Trying here.” 

Izuku stopped walking. “Kacchan, I had no idea you were feeling this lonely,” he said. “I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t start,” he said. “I’m fine. I just- Look. Can we not make a big deal out of this and you just help me buy a present for Kirishima?”

He nodded “Of course.” He reached down, not caring they were in public at all. Kacchan never openly asked for help like this. Izuku would do everything in his power to make Kacchan happy and give him support. He took Kacchan’s hand, squeezing it. “Tell me about this guy! What does he like?” 

“Um...” Kacchan thought for a moment. “I think he mentioned Crimson Riot once?” 

Izuku wrinkled his nose. In his personal opinion, Crimson Riot was a cheap All Might rip-off that focused too much on action and melodrama. It hammered home what ‘being a man’ meant. But hey, he wasn’t one to judge. “Okay! Let’s look for some Crimson Riot stuff!” 

They got lucky. The first store they walked into had the perfect gift for Kirishima. At least, according to Kacchan. It was in a big display of a sporting goods store. A Crimson Riot motorcycle helmet. 

“He rides a motorcycle?” Izuku asked as Kacchan came out of the store, the helmet’s box in a large bag. 

“I dunno. He said adventure bike that he goes off-roading with,” Kacchan said. “Gimme the keys. I’m gonna run and put this in the car. We still making good time for your ‘romantic’ surprise?” 

Izuku checked his phone. “Yeah. We should make it in plenty of time. Want me to wait here?” he asked and fished his car keys out of his pocket. 

“Yeah, stay put. Don’t wander off to look at some All Might figures or something. Last thing I need is to track you down in this crowded mess.” Kacchan took the keys from him. “...Thanks. I know this is a date night. I-” his face scrunched up. It was cute. “I appreciate you cheering me on. And shit.” 

His heart melted a little. “Of course, Kacchan. I’d do anything for you.” 

“I know.” He looked around and made sure no one was watching before he pressed a quick kiss to Izuku’s cheek and ran off toward the car. 

He watched him go, his insides fluttering. He reached up to where Kacchan kissed him and smiled. This romantic night out was working! He wanted to cheer right there in the street. Instead, he pushed himself against the wall of the store to wait for Kacchan. He pulled out his phone to pass the time. 

He had a text from Todoroki. He grinned quickly pulling the message up. 

I’m in the middle of the Kamino arc. I think I’m a different person now. 

Izuku gasped. He was that far already? Damn, he was tearing through the series! He started a reply. Oh shoot! That’s my favorite!!! I was in middle school when that was coming out. When chapter 422 dropped. I bawled like a baby. 

His reply came at once. All Might is amazing. The character I mean. I always liked him but I don’t think I understood him until now. He’s not just strong and brave. He’s kind. Even at the cost of himself.

A second text came. 

It's funny. He reminds me of you.

He stared at the message for a long moment. He could feel his face heating up. Todoroki was way too nice to him. He tried to think of something to say back but all his thoughts were gone. Just a strange light and airy feeling. He didn’t hate it. 

You think? 

Yeah. I do. You’re a hero too, you know. Firefighter and all that. I mean we met by you risking your life to save mine.

Oh right. He had done that. That’s a hero’s job! He replied, smiling down at his phone. 

“The fuck are you grinning at?” Kacchan asked suddenly at Izuku’s side. 

He squeaked, nearly dropping his phone “Oh- uh- nothing! That was fast! Ready for your romantic surprise?” he asked, putting his phone away at once. 

“No, I figured we’d stand here and stare lovingly into each other’s eyes all fuckin’ night.” 

“I mean, we could!” 

“Dammit Deku, take me to your surprise already!” 

He laughed and took Kacchan by the hand. “Follow me!” he said and led him down the bustling streets. 

The park was lit up with lanterns. They wrapped around the entire place, down to the docks on the lake. Izuku led Kacchan by the hand down to the docks. It wasn’t too crowded, but there were people getting in and out of swan boats from the docks. “I thought a little trip around the lake at night would be romantic,” Izuku said. “We can look at the stars!” 

Kacchan blinked a few times at the boats. “It’s cold as fuck.” 

“It’s not that bad.” Izuku walked up to one of the workers at the dock. “Hi, I had a reservation for a two-man swan boat,” he told the worker. “Under Midoriya.” 

The worker checked a list “Yep! Your boat just arrived. Number 7 it’s right down there. You have an hour out on the lake but you can come back at any time.” 

“Thank you!” Izuku said, tugging Kacchan down the dock, feeling it sway under their feet. Number 7 was tied up to the dock. Izuku held it steady. “You first Kacchan.” 

He grumbled “Don’t need help-” but he did step onto the boat. He turned to Izuku and held out his hand “C’mere,” he said. “Your clumsy ass will probably fall if you’re not careful.” 

Izuku’s heart fluttered. He gladly took Kacchan’s hand and hopped into the boat. It was small, with two molded plastic seats. In front of each seat was a pair of pedals, and in the center a small steering wheel. They sat down, Kacchan taking the wheel, and they began to pedal away from the dock. They pulled out toward the middle of the lake away from the other boats. The stars seemed brighter here. Their reflections danced across the top of the water. 

“Oh wow,” Izuku said looking up into the sky. “The stars look so bright! Can you see any constellations?” 

Kacchan leaned back and looked up. “Orion, because that’s Orion’s belt,” he said pointing to three stars close together. “And then that’s Sirus, so that’s Canis Major.” He pointed to a bright star. 

“It’s so pretty,” Izuku said leaning closer to Kacchan. “You can’t see them like this from the house. Wish we could. Like when we were kids.” 

“That’s what happens when you live in a city. Back in that backwater town of course you could see stars. No light pollution.” Kacchan’s voice turned icy. 

“Yeah,” Izuku mumbled. “Sometimes I still miss it. Not for the people there,” he said at once. His mother moved out of that town around the same time they did so there was no reason for them to ever go back. “I just miss that small-town feeling. Running in the woods when we were little kids. Catching bugs, and looking at the stars.” 

Kacchan shrugged. “I wasn’t allowed to catch bugs.” 

“You still did.” 

He laughed, “Yeah. I’d show that old hag and she’s screech at me. Whine and cry about bugs and how my dresses were dirty.” He snorted at the thought.

Izuku laughed “Remember the time we found a frog? Your mom was so mad.” 

“Oh fuck yeah, I do. She made us sit in a corner and my old man had to put the frog back. It was worth it just to see the look on her face.” He smiled before it quickly fell. “She never got why I liked that shit.” 

He reached over and placed a hand on Kacchan’s knee. “It’s her loss,” he whispered. “She doesn’t deserve to see the man you’ve become.” 

Kacchan didn’t say anything else about it. They sat there in silence, floating along the top of the lake looking up at the stars. Soon, Izuku began to shiver. Kacchan rolled his eyes but wrapped his arm around his shoulder “You dumbass,” he told him. “I told you it was fuckin’ cold.” 

“S-sorry,” Izuku said with a laugh. He pushed closer to Kacchan, snuggling into him. “We can go back to shore.” 

“Nah,” he said. “In a bit. The stars are nice. I’m enjoying ‘em.” 

“So you liked my romantic surprise?” Izuku asked hopefully.

He shrugged. “It doesn’t suck.” 

That was high praise. Izuku giggled and leaned his head into Kacchan’s shoulder. For the first time in a while, everything felt okay. Izuku wasn’t lonely, or bored. He wasn’t worried about the future, Kacchan growing tired of him, or anything at all. He was content. They were happy, together. 

This would be the last time.

When they got home, it was late. Izuku was tired but not necessarily ready for bed. So far their date night had been a slam dunk. He felt closer to Kacchan than he had in a long time. 

They were getting ready for bed. Kacchan was in the bathroom brushing his teeth. Izuku stood alone in the bedroom changing out of his clothes. Well. He wasn’t changing exactly. He’d stripped down to his boxers. When he reached into the dresser it wasn’t to pull out pajamas, but instead the brand new orange prosthetic and a bottle of lube. 

He was nervous. Would Kacchan hate this? Would he find this off-putting or degrading? Maybe he should have gotten flesh-colored. So many thoughts were floating around his head as he stared at the strap. He could hear his heartbeat in his head. The water in the bathroom stopped. He yelped and hid the strap under the pillow and jumped onto the bed. 

Kacchan came out of the bathroom and turned off the light behind him. “We’re almost out of toothpaste,” he said, making his way to the bed. He laid back with a groan. 

Izuku bit his lip and crawled toward his husband “Tonight was really nice,” he said, lying down next to him. He put his head on Kacchan’s pec. “I felt really close to you. Did you have a good night?” 

“Mhmm,” Kacchan said lazily. “Not a bad time at all.” 

He placed a hand on his chest, rubbing him slowly. “We should have a date night more often,” Izuku said. “I like hanging out with you.” 

“Yeah, sure.” Kacchan yawned, his eyes slipping closed. He looked content. 

Izuku kissed the side of his jaw, his voice dropping down low “I do have... one more surprise.” 

Kacchan’s eyes snapped open. He sat up so fast he knocked Izuku off him. “What kind of ‘surprise?’” he asked, eyeing Izuku up and down. 

“Um...” his stomach twisted “Y-you know. I thought we could t-try something new in bed?” His voice came out small and squeaky. 

He glared down at Izuku. “You were just buttering me up all night?” 

“No no-” Izuku tried to explain. “I just thought we could use a date night. You know, talking, cuddling, um... M-making love.” 

“God dammit-” Kacchan growled. “Should have known-” he cut himself off. “Deku I’m tired. I worked all day- fuck. Why does every romantic night or comfortable moment have to mean sex for you?”

White hot shame exploded in his insides. Tears sprang to his eyes “I-I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it like that!” He grabbed at the covers, suddenly feeling exposed. “I just- I did all this to feel close to you! That’s all I want... It’s all I ever want!” 

“Isn’t going out and talking close enough?” Kacchan asked. “Why can’t a dinner just be a dinner? Why is it always a fuckin’ lead-up to you trying to fuck me?” He turned his head away “Why is this shit transactional to you?” 

“No!” Izuku said. “It’s not! I’m not looking for a service or a favor! I just want intimacy! Skinship!” 

“Bullshit,” Kacchan rolled his eyes. “You wanna stick your dick in something so you try and buy it with fancy dinners and boat rides.” 

Anger flashed through Izuku. Why was Kacchan assuming the worst of him? Did he not trust him? Why did he always fight when Izuku just wanted to feel close to him? Why was he guilt-tripped every time he wanted to feel loved? Now, he was pissed. He grabbed the strap from under the pillow. “I bought a strap-on!” Izuku cried. He held up the plastic phallus. “I bought a strap-on so you could make love to me. Because I noticed you don’t seem to enjoy sex as much anymore. Because I just- I want you to have a good time! I want you to feel good. But-” his shoulders slumped as he cried. “You never want to do anything like this. You never want me. It’s like you’re not even attracted to me!” 

Kacchan stopped at once. His eyes grew wide. “I-” his voice got caught in his throat.

Izuku couldn’t stop the tears. He began to cry harder, sobbing as he sucked in breaths to get his words out. “It’s not even about the sex- I could care less if we never had sex again! I just want to feel some kind of want from you! You hardly even wanna hold my hand!” He grabbed at his chest and looked up at his husband. “Katsuki, I love you so much. I just want to feel it back.” 

Kacchan stared down at him. His entire face had turned deathly pale. “Izuku,” he whispered. “I-” his voice cracked. He stared in silence for a long time before his eyes refocused with determination. He grabbed Izuku by the cheeks and swooped down for a kiss. 

His lips were soft against Izuku’s. His hands felt so warm on his face. He melted into the kiss, his shoulders slumping. After a moment, he pulled back. 

“I’m sorry,” Kacchan whispered. “I’ve just been stressed. Work... You know. I took it out on you. I um-” he swallowed before he looked Izuku in the eyes. “I do want you. I’m just shit at showing it. Always have been.” 

He sighed leaning into his hands. “I know...” he whispered. “I’m sorry. You know I’m not just with you for sex, right? I want you to know that. It’s not your body I love about you. It’s your soul.”

Kacchan’s hands moved over his neck and down his shoulders. “You’re too...” he sighed and shook his head. “Take off your boxers.” It was an order. 

“What?” Izuku asked, taken aback. “No Kacchan it’s fine. You said no. I don’t want you to have sex with me just because you feel bad.” 

“I’m not,” Kacchan said. “I do love you. You should feel it. It’s what married people do. Make each other feel loved. Right now I’m failing at it.” He pulled Izuku down to the bed so he was leaning over Kacchan. “Seriously-” he bit his lip. “Make l-” he shook his head “Have sex with me. I want you to.” 

Izuku sighed. Kacchan was clearly just trying to make him happy. This was wrong. They shouldn’t have sex right now. Izuku went to tell him that but Kacchan’s hand reached up, running along his chest. The skin-to-skin touch sent shivers down Izuku’s spine. 

Maybe Kacchan wasn’t lying. Maybe he did want it? 

Either way, Izuku couldn’t resist it when he asked. 

 “Okay,” he whispered. He leaned down and kissed Kacchan sweetly. “I promise I’ll make love to you. I want you to feel good.” 

“So get to it,” Kacchan barked. “Fuck me.” 

“I mean, if you’d rather be more in control you could-” 

“Not tonight,” Kacchan said. “I’m not...” He opened and closed his mouth a few times. “I don’t want to be surprised with it. Give me a little bit.” 

Izuku took his hand. “Of course. As much as you need. I want to make you happy and I thought it might.”

“We’ll play around with it another time but right now I just want you to fuck me.” 

He nodded and pressed another kiss to his lips. He pulled off his underwear as Kacchan slipped out of the rest of his clothes. The places their bare skin touched felt so warm. When Izuku reached down Kacchan’s pussy felt soft under his fingers. “Mmm,” he moaned against Kacchan’s lips. “I also bought lube.” 

“I’m wet enough,” Kacchan insisted. “Quit pawing at me, and put it in.” 

He obeyed. Being inside his husband felt incredible. Touching him, squeezing him- it all felt good. But being enveloped by him made Izuku’s arms weak. He thrust slowly, taking his time with him. “I love you,” Izuku whispered. “I’ve loved you since I met you. I’ll always, love you.”

Kacchan gripped at the back of his hair. “Ngh-” he grunted in his ear. “Fuck, Izuku-” he moaned. 

Izuku didn’t last long. He pulled out and Kacchan grabbed his cock, jerking it off until he came onto Kacchan’s hip. Izuku melted at once falling onto his chest. “Oh god...” he whispered. His mind felt hazy. He was sleepy. He felt warm. 

“Hey-” Kacchan pushed him off. “You’re smearing cum everywhere-” he sighed. “Fuck.” He sat up out of bed and grabbed a few tissues wiping himself off. “Dammit.” 

“Sorry,” Izuku said. His mind cleared at once. He wanted to cuddle. But Kacchan pulled away. His stomach twisted. “Here, come back and I’ll-” 

“It’s fine,” Kacchan grabbed his boxers off the floor. “I’m gonna shower. I feel all sweaty and sticky now.” 

Izuku pulled himself up. “O-oh. Okay.” He bit his lip. “I’ll uh... Clean up.” 

“Thanks.” He left the room and closed the bathroom door behind him. 

All that loving feeling was gone. The room felt colder, the sheets less inviting. He stood up. “It’s fine,” he told himself. “That was good. We talked about it. He apologized. You’re fine.” So why did he feel so empty?

He sat down on the bed and grabbed his phone. What time even was it?

He had another text from Todoroki. I finished the Kamino arc. I have a lot of thoughts. It was sent several hours ago. 

“Shit,” Izuku mumbled before he sent a reply. Yeah! Kamino is great! Sorry, it took me so long to respond. 

Don’t worry, Todoroki replied a moment later. I was reading all evening anyway. I was just about to go to bed. 

Oh man! That’s a lot of All Might. 

Yes, it’s very good. I’ll likely be thinking about it all night. 

He chuckled staring down at his phone. He felt a little better, talking about this. If you want we can talk about your Thoughts on it.

Not tonight, but maybe sometime this week? We could meet up for lunch again. I’ll buy again. 

Izuku frowned. His heart stuttered in his chest. He shouldn’t go to another lunch. That felt weird. Then again, this was Kacchan’s work friend. Maybe he should get to know him more? Besides, it’s just nerd talk and lunch. He glanced at the door. He could hear Kacchan’s shower. He wouldn’t mind. 

Sure! We’ll figure something out

Sounds good.

He smiled down at his phone, feeling much better. 

Chapter Text

This was fucking stupid.

For the fifth time in the past hour, Katsuki considered pulling out his phone and texting Kirishima that he’d suddenly gotten sick or something. Was it too much that he’s gotten him the helmet? Would Kirishima’s friends think it was weird that he was older than them? Would he open his mouth and they’d decide he didn’t belong there? That was fucking ridiculous. He wasn’t in high school anymore.

Since he’d offered to help Kirishima with his exam he’d felt off-balance. Scared that one day his friend would look at him and ask himself why the fuck they even hung out. Angry at himself that it’d hurt if he did.

Katsuki ran a hand through his hair and forced himself to stop thinking.

He arrived in time at the address he’d been given and called the intercom.  The corner of the box was chipped off. There were names scribbled over the wall with hearts over them, and the building in general was old but cozy, a ten minutes’ walk from the university. The door clicked and Katsuki walked in.

When he got to the right floor he could vaguely hear music coming from one of the doors. The welcome mat was pink and glittery. To be expected, from what he’d heard about Ashido and knew about Kirishima.

When Katsuki knocked, he was the one to open the door.  “Hi, Bakugou! You made it!” His hair was down, reaching his shoulders, and it somehow made him softer.  It wasn’t bad. Katsuki had the inexplicable urge to check if it was as soft as it looked.

“Shut up, idiot, of course I did.” He walked in and looked around. There were two doors at each end of the hallway, both with something written on them. A third door was closer to them, to what he assumed was the living room by the noise. There was a calendar on the wall in front of him with a lot of red writing in it. 

Today’s date had balloons drawn on. “Seriously?”

“Don’t ask me, Denki did it.” It fit the atmosphere in the house, though, and Katsuki didn’t hate it.

He made eye contact with Kirishima and pushed his hand out to give him the gift, resisting the urge to look away.

“Aww, I told you you didn’t have to—oh my God.” Kirishima opened the bag, his eyes growing wide. “Where did you even find that? That’s amazing! I can’t believe you remembered, that’s perfect, I’m—” He was so excited he legitimately looked like he’d start crying. 

 A proud smirk took over Katsuki’s face. I didn’t have to, but it made you happy, didn’t it?  

“Come help me put it away and then we’ll go to the others.” 

After he took off his shoes, Kirishima guided Katsuki through the hallway, past the living room that had flickering lights and loud music. The door had Eijirou written on it in red cursive, he could tell now. He opened it and Katsuki almost started laughing. The walls were covered in a mix of posters of shirtless men, some of a few bands Katsuki only recognized vaguely, and anatomy diagrams. There was a bookshelf above his bed where he had the manga collection he’d told Katsuki about. The spines spelled Crimson Riot together, and though Katsuki couldn’t imagine himself caring, he wanted to ask more about it. 

“This room could literally not be any gayer,” he said, walking in.

“I’m sure it could if I really tried.” Kirishima frowned and faked concentration. “I could add a BL poster there, above the desk. It’d fit pretty well.”

Katsuki laughed. “You’re ridiculous.” He got closer. “What do you even do with a punching bag in your damn room? Don’t you have a gym?”

“It’s more convenient.” Kirishima acted like that was a normal response, too. He unboxed the helmet quickly and hung it by the straps, next to a black one he already had and a pair of gloves. “One last thing, before we go back,” he said. 

“Yeah?”

“Wanna ride back with me? Unless you came by car, it should be faster.” He rubbed the back of his head in that nervous gesture Katsuki recognized by now. “No big deal if it’s too much, but you seemed curious, and now I have helmets for both of us! I asked you now so I know not to drink.”

He hadn’t realized he’d been that obvious. It sounded interesting, feeling the wind and the rev of the engine, plus Kirishima always talked about it like it was the best thing he’d ever experienced. But—

“I’m not making you stay sober on your damn birthday.”

“Done, we’re riding back.” Kirishima slung an arm over Katsuki’s shoulder, guiding him to the door. “Don’t look at me like that! I don’t really feel like drinking right now anyway, so I’m not losing anything.”

Katsuki was a little too dazed by the sudden contact to reply, so his silence passed as agreement. They walked into the living room. A group of people were sitting on the couch and the chairs around it. The light was off, and the room was lit up by fairy lights. A blond guy with a dyed lightning bolt was on the floor in front of it, looking up at a girl with teal green hair to show her something on the TV screen. He was holding a glass of something bright purple.

“Bakugou!” A girl with dark skin and bright pink hair exclaimed from the couch. That had to be— “I’ve heard so much about you! I’m Ashido Mina.” 

“Like I didn’t know that, Pinky.” He willed his face into what he hoped was a friendly expression.

Ashido laughed and shuffled away from a guy who looked like Kirishima printed in black and white to let him sit down. “A little more, bro,” Kirishima said, making space for Katsuki by his side. 

The couch was still cramped enough with five people on it that their legs were pressed against each other. Katsuki could’ve pushed himself against the armrest, but he didn’t. 

“This is Bakugou Katsuki,” Kirishima said. There was an influx of names and nice to meet you s in response that was kind of hard to keep track of, but Katsuki was amused to see how much Kaminari and Sero matched the way Kirishima had described them. 

“We were playing Jackbox,” he said. “It’s too late to join this one, but I can show you how to play.”

“Do I look like I need your help, Shitty Hair?”

“Do you want me to lie?” Kirishima dodged when Katsuki tried to hit him over the head. “I’m just saying, you don’t look like you play Trivia Murder Party every day.”

“Hagakure died,” Sero deadpanned. 

“I was distracted!”

“Tough luck,” Kendou said, leaning back into her boyfriend’s legs. “You should’ve known the answers well like I did.”

Katsuki got the time to look up how to join a game, because of course Kirishima had been right, and he joined the one that started next.  He regretted it immediately. “How the fuck am I supposed to know the name of Barbie’s dog?”

“How do you not know that?”

“I passed all my classes when I was in college, Pikachu.”

“That’s so rude!” Kaminari turned toward them. “Eiji, what’d you tell him? I trusted you.”

“Payback for the hair dye thing.”

Kaminari laughed and Ashido visibly struggled not to join him. “You know what, okay.”

A few more people walked in later: a tall guy who’d apparently shared a class with Kirishima, the green-haired girl’s boyfriend Ojirou, and a girl with purple hair in a style that Katsuki actually found cool. Kirishima got up to welcome each one of them, but every time he went back he sat next to Katsuki.

It didn’t feel like pity, either, like he was doing it because Katsuki was new. There was never even a hint that there was somewhere else he’d rather be. When he laughed, he leaned in closer, and when Katsuki lost he held him down from asking Tetsutetsu for a real fight.

They all talked casually between rounds of whatever game the majority voted on each time.

“Hey, bro,” Tetsutetsu said, nudging Kirishima. “Why didn’t you invite Tsubaraba?”

“They stopped seeing each other,” Ashido said. She looked like she was anticipating something hilarious, and Katsuki was kind of annoyed. Kirishima hadn’t said anything about that to him .

Tetsutetsu frowned. “Why?”

“He was so nice .” Kirishima frowned. “Like, all the time.”

“ And ?”

Kirishima’s cheeks were dusted with red. “You don’t get it!” 

“You’re an idiot. We all make fun of him for it,” Tetsutetsu said, turning to Katsuki. “You gotta help us, bro.”

“You really don’t,” Kirishima said, the flush still evident on his face. “There’s a lot I could be telling Kendou, man, I’d be careful if I were you.”

“Oh?” She perked up, frowning at Kirishima.

“Nothing serious, but you might not see him the same way after.”

Katsuki didn’t respond, because he couldn’t think of a single thing he wanted to do less than to make fun of Kirishima’s love life. What even were his fucking standards, anyway? There was no way he didn’t have half the guys on campus falling at his feet, so he must’ve been really strict. How nice was too nice? Who the fuck complained that people weren’t rude enough?

His train of thought was cut off by the door to the room opening. He should probably thank whoever had done it.

The tall guy—Satou?—was holding a tray with a red-frosted cake on it, topped with candles that spelled twenty-two. Behind him, Hagakure had popped a champagne bottle and Ojirou was gathering plastic cups to pour it into. 

They sang Happy Birthday. Katsuki refused to participate, even more so when Kaminari tried to get him to do it by singing closer and closer to him the more he shut up. Jirou had a great singing voice, though.

Kirishima sang with them, because of course he did.

The cake was surprisingly good, vanilla and strawberry,  and Katsuki was kind of impressed to hear that Satou had baked it himself. He seemed embarrassed by all the compliments he was getting.

“Mina,” Kirishima said, clearly trying to change the subject. “How was your competition this weekend?”

“Could’ve been better,” Hagakure said. “I almost fell.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure you were very manly anyway!”

“Thanks.” Hagakure laughed. “If I didn’t know that was a compliment, I’d be offended.”

“We still got third place, but we should definitely change our routine. Actually—”  Ashido dictated to her phone to pull up a video and handed it to Hagakure. “We should do that one next time, I read the choreography.”

“I can’t even do a handstand,” Hagakure whined. “You want me to pull that off?”

Before he could think it through, Katsuki intervened, “It’s not like it’s hard. I did that all the damn time when I was in cheer.”

“That’s so cool!” Kaminari said.

Ashido perked up. “I haven’t met a cheerleader in so long! We need to go dancing together, you guys are always so good at it!”

“Don’t call me that!” Katsuki yelled. Ashido froze, her spoon halfway to her mouth.

Fuck. He’d been doing so well too.

“I don’t like it,” he said. He turned his glass around in his hand. “It—it makes me uncomfortable.”

“Oh, sorry, babe, won’t happen again!” The tension melted off Ashido’s face, and Katsuki felt like he could breathe again. “So you won’t show me your old routines?”

“Like I fucking remember them.”

“That’s fair, you’re like fifty,” Kaminari intervened.

“Fuck off, I’m twenty-eight!”

The conversation didn’t finish until Katsuki promised to go dancing with her soon. After that, everyone was done with the cake, and some of them went away to set up a game Katsuki had never heard of, that involved a lot of alcohol. Kirishima and Sero went as spectators. Katsuki joined a card game with Hagakure, Ojirou, and Kendou, and the only thing that kept him from dying of boredom was the fact that he was winning.

Sometime later, Katsuki went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. He opened a cabinet and was startled when he heard someone else walk in. 

It was Kaminari. He leaned against the wall opposite from Katsuki in an exaggerated relaxed pose that made him think he wouldn’t enjoy whatever the weirdo had to say.

“So you used to do cheer,” he said. There was something in his voice that Katsuki couldn’t quite pick up, hidden behind his easy smile.

Katsuki tensed up. “Got a fucking problem with it, Pikachu?”

“It was ballet, for me.” He took a sip of his drink. “But my parents didn’t make me continue when I transitioned.”

Oh.

Kaminari continued,“Sorry if that’s too much, I just had to— me too. You were so mad at Mina I assumed it’s something like this, y’know?”

Katsuki gave him a long look as he filled his glass. The last time he’d been in this situation had been with Todoroki, who’d looked so thrilled to find another gay guy. He understood the sentiment more now.

“I tried to continue,” he said. “Cheer team dropped me around when I got kicked out of my house.” He’d missed them and he hadn’t, right after. He hadn’t enjoyed stringing guys along like the rest of them had, but the team spent all their time together. He’d lost it all at once.

Kaminari gasped. “I’m—”

“Can it! I don’t need your damn pity.” He looked upset, most likely with himself, and Katsuki didn’t like it. “It was a long time ago.”

“I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“It’s whatever.”

“Hey.” Kaminari grabbed his elbow, and Katsuki pushed him off. His smile didn’t even waver. He briefly reminded Katsuki of Kirishima. “I think Tetsu’s playing beer pong with Jirou in the hallway. You any good?”

“I’m the fucking best,” Katsuki said, knowing he’d never played before in his life.

Turns out, that did have an impact on how good he was at it. Testu and Jirou had nothing against filling half their cups with juice, but they still beat them the first two times they played. Kaminari started making fun of him, and Katsuki barely held back from shoving his face into the table. He mainly did because it was too close to admitting he was the reason they’d lost.

Around eleven, everyone started leaving. Hagakure and Ojirou were first, because they were traveling home the next day, and Satou was next, saying that he had work the next morning. Tetsutetsu did a stupid, elaborate salute with Kirishima before he left with his girlfriend, and it was so ridiculous it made Katsuki laugh. 

It occurred to him when Sero went to take the trash that everyone who was left in the apartment was part of Kirishima’s closest friends, so he should probably be leaving soon. There was no way he counted as part of them. Should he ask Kirishima to go? He felt out of place, but weirdly enough no one else seemed to care.

“Can you pass me any plate that’s on the table, babe?” Ashido called out, snapping him out of his reverie. A quick glance around showed that she was, in fact, talking to Katsuki.

He supposed it made sense to help with the cleaning, so he did as she’d asked and followed her to the kitchen. “Where’s Kirishima?” he asked.

Kaminari was waiting for them there, in front of the open fridge. “Walking Jirou home, I think? Or was that Tetsu? No. I don’t know.”

“Is that a fucking houseplant?” Katsuki asked, feeling like he was going to have an aneurysm. He put the plate in the sink.

“Duh.”

“Why are you putting it in the damn fridge?” Katsuki stepped forward and snatched it out of Kaminari’s hand. “Sit the fuck down. You’re drunk.”

“He’s putting what where ?” Ashido asked, barely holding back a laugh.

Kaminari shrugged, unrepentant, but he sat down. On the floor. “Eiji said it needs humidity.”

“That’s not what he meant!”

“Ashido,” Katsuki said. He’d kill someone if he had to listen through more nonsense. “Where does this shit go?”

“Next to the other one, in the hallway. Thanks, Bakugou!”

After he put the plant back, they started washing the dishes together. Katsuki did the actual washing since he could see the food, and touching it wasn’t something Ashido wanted to do, while she dried them and put them where they belonged. Their kitchen was well organized. It made sense, he supposed, since Ashido needed to know exactly where everything would be.

A few minutes in, she turned to him like she’d just remembered something. “You’re married, right? How was your wedding?”

“Backyard. We eloped.”

“Ooh, I bet that’s a story!”

Katsuki shrugged, then he remembered that wasn’t useful. “Why the fuck do you care?”

“Maybe I need tips from the only married person I know.” There was a teasing spark in her smile, but she seemed serious. Hopeful. It hit Katsuki that he probably had to be the one to make her feel like her future marriage wouldn’t suck.

“He proposed in our favorite hiking spot,” he said. The memory was fond. He hadn’t been sure he wouldn’t just grow into loving Izuku, at the time, and it had been a day full of hope. Right before they could finally leave their hometown. “You can feel the ring, I don’t care. Lab diamond.” 

“ Of course you got proposed to.” Ashido grabbed his hand and traced over his ring finger, ignoring Katsuki’s indignant response. “It’s really cool. A little too simple, but I guess it makes sense you wouldn’t want what I’d get.”

“Can I take your hand too?” Kaminari said. When Katsuki slapped his arm, he raised his hands in surrender. “I’m kidding!”

“You’ll get your horrendous fucking rose gold and you’ll love it,” Katsuki said to Ashido.

She let go of his hand, smiling softly. “Thanks.”

The door to the apartment opened and Kirishima walked in. “Wow, you’re almost finished.”

“Wild thing to say after we just cleaned your place for free,” Sero said, standing in the doorway to the living room. They’d been putting the chairs back in their places after they’d finished taking the trash.

“Sorry, sorry!” Kirishima said, lifting his hands in mock surrender. “Thanks for everything you did, Hanta. Everyone else, too.”

“Is that all I am to you?” Ashido said, her voice so dramatic that Katsuki wanted to laugh.

“Of course not—”

“You said it, Shitty Hair.”

“See, he’s on our side!” Ashido grabbed Katsuki’s arm. He pushed her off, holding back a laugh.

“Bakugou!”

“Wait, I almost forgot,” Kaminari said. He jumped, looking at Kirishima. “We have something for you!” 

“I told you guys not to do anything!”

“Shut up,” Sero said, and those words alone lifted them considerably in Katsuki’s eyes. They tapped Ashido’s hand and she dashed to her room, coming back with what looked like a small notebook.

It was a photo album. She handed it to Kirishima, whose smile had turned shaky. 

“Open it,” she said, and Kirishima listened, and they all sat down at the kitchen table.

“This means so much, guys,” he said. “I can’t believe you had them developed, that’s so manly of you!”

“I told you he’d like it,” Ashido said. She tried to nudge Sero, but she missed and almost hit the table.

On the first page, a teenage version of her that looked shockingly like she did now was hugging a boy with black hair that went into his eyes. They were both smiling. The boy’s warm red eyes were so strikingly familiar that Katsuki had to turn around. Kirishima looked at him with measured dread.

“You didn’t tell me you used to have emo hair,” Katsuki said, struggling not to laugh. Or draw him closer.

Kirishima buried his head in his hands. “Mina!” He hissed. “Was that one really necessary?”

“Of course it was. I’ll never let that go.”

‘ Great .”

There were more young photos of just the two of them, one at their middle school graduation and one while they were getting ice cream with a taller boy that was resting his arm on Kirishima’s shoulder. In the next photo, from high school, his hair was red and his forehead was stained with the dye. It was so endearing it made Katsuki want to punch something.

“I forgot we took this one,” Kirishima said, running a hand over an image of himself, Ashido, and Tetsutetsu moving a bunch of boxes.

“Oh, that’s from the night we met you,” Sero said, pointing at the one after that. It was a selfie, where they were playing Mario Kart with Kaminari and Kirishima. Ashido was in the background, looking exhausted.

“How’d that happen?” Katsuki asked.

“To understand that, you gotta know that Denki and Hanta live right above us,” Kirishima said. “Like, Denki’s room is above Mina’s and Hanta’s is above mine. The floors aren’t that thick either.”

“This is gonna be so stupid,” Katsuki said.

Kaminari shrugged. “Sometimes you just get the zoomies.”

“The fuck is wrong with you?”

“We don’t know, man,” Sero said. “We found him like that.”

“Anyway, it’s two in the morning and Mina has an exam at ten and it sounds like someone’s building furniture above us, so I thought the manly thing to do would be to go ask them to be a little more quiet.” 

“An hour passes, and I figure either he’s dead or they’re his new best friends, and I can’t go to sleep if I don’t know which one.”

“And that’s when we took that,” Kaminari finished.

“Should’ve never doubted you, you’re friends with half the campus.” Ashido’s voice was fond. “It’s uncanny.”

There were a lot of pictures of them together and some of Kirishima alone. The four of them ice skating. Him in a lab coat, holding a scalpel and looking slightly uncomfortable with the rat on the table behind him. Matching party clothes in a larger group, with some people that Katsuki didn’t recognize. Sero and Kirishima dancing at a party, two pairs of sunglasses half fallen off their faces. Ashido driving Kirishima’s motorcycle.

Katsuki should’ve felt weird, probably, with how everyone at the table was bantering and reminiscing about things he hadn’t been around for, but he didn’t. When he chimed in on occasion, it felt natural. 

Plus, Kirishima just looked so happy that it was hard to hate being there.

They got to the last page and he closed the album, holding a hand over it like it’d go away if he didn’t.

“Stop being so sappy,” Sero said. “It’s just a gift.”

That must’ve been Kirishima’s last straw, because he stood up and pulled Sero into a hug, then Kaminari, then Ashido. “Thanks so much.”

“You’re all disgusting,” Katsuki said. “I’ll get cavities if I stay here any longer.”

Kirishima tilted his head to the side and pushed his chair closer to Katsuki’s. “I know what we need,” he said.

“The hell are you talking about?”

“Take a picture of us.” Kirishima gestured around the table. “All of us. We don’t have any pictures together, Bakugou.” 

“Plus we need Denki’s face right now on paper,” Sero said, smirking.

“Hey!”

“Whatever,” Katsuki said. He had no idea how Kirishima had gotten to this conclusion, but he didn’t hate it. He opened his phone and turned the camera to selfie mode, then he lifted his hand. Kirishima threw his arms around Katsuki and Kaminari. It was starting to become a habit. “Soy Sauce Face, get here.” He waited. “Like that. Pinky, you’re covering their face, move to the right.” 

“We have names, Blasty,” Sero said.

“The explosion was a one-time thing, asshole!” He’d told them when they were playing Jackbox, and now he was regretting it.

“Smile!” Kaminari said, leaning forward onto Ashido dangerously. 

“Don’t tell me what to do!” Katsuki snapped. Kirishima laughed, making Kaminari and Ashido giggle, and Sero’s annoyed face melted into something warm. Katsuki pressed his screen to take the photo. 

His stomach felt like it was filled with hyperactive butterflies, and he almost didn’t want to look at his own face in the picture. It’d show too much.

Kirishima grabbed his phone and added three new contacts, then he sent the picture to everyone. Katsuki let him.

Some time later, Kaminari had fallen asleep, and Sero was explaining to Ashido in detail why someone named Setsuna and someone named Komori in their constitutional law class had stopped speaking to each other. The story involved too many people Katsuki didn’t know, so he’d tuned it out.

When he looked over at Kirishima, he found that his eyes were on Katsuki already.

Kirishima nudged him with his elbow and leaned in to whisper to him. “You wanna go soon?” 

The warmth of his breath made a shiver run down Katsuki’s spine. “I should,” he whispered back. To say he wanted to would’ve been a lie.

Chapter Text

Kirishima grabbed his keys and both helmets, then Katsuki said his goodbyes and they got out of the building. Katsuki followed his friend to a motorbike with red accents.

“Soooo.” Kirishima drew out the word, making no move to hand Katsuki the helmet. “What did you think?”

“You and Pinky suck at decorating so much I think you could kill a designer by making him walk into your apartment.”

“Shut up, man, it looks great!” Kirishima grinned, unphased. “Did you like it?”

An unwelcome wave of affection washed over Katsuki. “It wasn't— it was nice. Kinda weird.”

“How so?”

“Pinky wants to hang out this weekend, Metal guy wants to see if I can do a pull-up—fuck him, of course, I can— and Pikachu and I—” Should he say it? He trusted that Kirishima wouldn’t react badly, but it felt like too much all at once. “—we have a lot in common,” he finished. “Tape Fucker’s a bitch, but they’re a bitch to you too.”

Kirishima’s smile dropped a little. He leaned forward onto the bike. “I mean, you don’t have to actually do any of that if you don’t want to, it’s not binding.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t want to, I said it’s weird !” Katsuki said, barely keeping his voice down. He didn’t know what to do with any of this.

“Oh,” Kirishima said, frowning. “Weird how?”

“Don’t make me say it, asshole!”

“Okay, I’ll take a guess. I think you didn’t expect them to actually like you, and that makes no sense. They had a good impression of you already from what I’d told them, and then they met you and it got confirmed.”  He was staring into Katsuki’s eyes like was trying to make him understand.

It was humiliating. He hadn’t meant to show that it mattered to him, on Kirishima’s fucking birthday of all days, and he really hadn’t meant for something in his chest to unknot when he heard that.

“You don’t have to say that.” He aimed for a casual tone. He didn’t think it worked. “Shut up.”

“I’m serious! Honestly, I was worried you wouldn’t like them .”

“That’s stupid.”

“Well, I could say the same thing! Of course, they do, Bakugou.”

Katsuki knocked Kirishima’s shoulder and didn’t fight the smile taking over his face. His friend seemed to understand how overwhelmed he was, and he changed the subject easily. 

He stepped back and slapped a hand over the motorcycle’s seat. “Have you ever ridden one before?”

“Yeah, every day to work. Do I look like I’ve fucking done that?”

Kirishima chuckled. “Okay then, lemme teach you how to be a backpack!”

“How to what ?”

“It’s a term for the person riding behind. You’re gonna be my backpack.”

Katsuki’s face felt warm. It was stupid, but it sounded endearing. The my made him jittery. “Don’t call me that!”

“Okay, okay.” He lifted his hands in surrender. “Ground rules. When I lean, you have to lean with me. If you don’t, it’ll mess with the balance and it’s not gonna be good.” Kirishima touched a rectangular piece in front of the rider’s seat. “That’s the tank. You’re, uh, you’re gonna need to have your arms around me when I ride, but I’d appreciate it if you could brace yourself on the tank when I brake. It takes a lot of strength to hold both of us.”

You have a lot of strength , Katsuki wanted to say, but that’d be weird and it’d imply that he wouldn’t do it. “Anything else?”

“I might not hear you over the helmet and stuff, so if you’re really uncomfortable tap my shoulder three times and I’ll stop as soon as I can.” Kirishima rubbed the back of his head nervously. “I don’t think you need this one, but I always say it, so—if you’re gonna lean your head on me that’s okay, but please pick a side and stick to it, don’t move back and forth.”

“ Exactly what I was gonna do, Kirishima,” Katsuki said, making him blush with embarrassment. But maybe—it’d be cold, right? He wouldn’t lean on him, but they’ll need to be close together.

“One last thing. You’ll hate this one.” Kirishima held two fingers out with his hand low by his side. “This is how riders wave to each other. It means Be safe . Not everyone waves, but I try to do it as much as I can!”

“I can’t fucking believe you.”

“Told you you’d hate it.” Kirishima had a hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh. “I think it’s sweet.” Finally, he handed Katsuki his old helmet, still smiling. “Do you know how to wear it?”

“I’m not fucking stupid!” Katsuki yelled. He didn’t, but how hard could it be?

The answer was, kind of. He tried to pull it over his head and lost himself in the straps, so he took it off and tried again. This time it worked.

Kirishima stepped closer. “Lemme check that.”

“Like hell.”

“C’mon, Bakugou.” Kirishima grabbed the straps of the helmet, tugging them down and effectively silencing him. When he ran a hand over the buckle, Katsuki’s breath caught in his chest. His hand could cover his entire neck. It’d be rough, with the way his fingers felt, calloused where they met his palm.

What the fuck was he thinking? Why was that relevant?

“It’s good, you did well,” Kirishima said, his voice low. Katsuki could’ve sworn he felt the words like a shock to his nerves. “I’ll get on first.” He took the pegs down. “Use those for your legs.”

Katsuki heard the words, but they didn’t register over his heartbeat.

“You can touch me, I don’t mind,” Kirishima said, and Katsuki knew what he meant, goddamn it, but it made his entire body feel on edge. Why did he have to be this way when he never had before? Why was his face heating up? 

Kirishima was putting his helmet on, unaffected, because everything was fucking normal and Katsuki was losing his mind for no reason.

Fuck that. He wasn’t a coward. He swung a leg around the bike, pulling himself up by holding onto Kirishima’s shoulders and keeping himself from thinking about anything . 

It was easy to lock his arms around Kirishima’s waist. It didn’t make his hands sweaty. 

It wasn’t like he wanted this. He’d fall off if he didn’t do it.

“Don’t go easy on me,” he said. 

He regretted it immediately. He could feel the engine come alive, and as soon as they took off it hit him that there was nothing protecting him in case something happened except maybe the helmet. His hands tightened around Kirishima’s jacket on reflex. Maybe he was imagining it, but he could feel his body heat through all the layers of their clothing, and it made him feel safe. They were alone together.

He didn’t release his grip until they reached the first stoplight. 

“You good, Bakugou?” Kirishima’s voice was muffled, but he could still hear it. He unclenched one of his hands to give a thumbs up.

The stoplight turned green. The bike started back before he could cling onto Kirishima like he had before.

Slowly, he registered everything around him. His fingers felt like they’d freeze off soon, and his entire face was stinging. He felt so free. Like he could either fly or crash any second, but he trusted Kirishima with his life. 

They turned a corner, leaning to the right at the same time, and Katsuki finally understood. The fear was what made it special. What made Kirishima, whose life had been changed by an accident, feel in control again.

The two of them moved the bike, together and only together. 

All the cars that drove by seemed slow and inefficient. They couldn’t feel the wind, so they knew nothing about the road.

Katsuki knew that was stupid. He drove pretty regularly, and he always made it where he needed. It felt nothing like this, though.

They passed by some other idiot on a motorcycle when they were around halfway. Kirishima waved, she waved back, and goddammit, Katsuki thought it was sweet too. He hated what that said about him. Something about Kirishima’s happiness made him want to give everything a chance, just so they could do it together.

His arms were around Kirishima for the last portion of the ride, but they were looser. He almost felt like they were a single person. He loved everything about it. The danger, the closeness, the speed.

When they got to his and Izuku’s house, he almost wanted to lie and say it was the wrong address.

At the last minute, he remembered to brace himself against the tank. Kirishima parked in front of the house and waited for Katsuki to dismount before he did.

Katsuki jumped off. “That was awesome!” he said, his smile so wide it felt like it’d split his face.

Kirishima’s eyes lit up in response. “Really?”

“Why the fuck would I be lying?”

“You know—” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “It doesn’t matter, actually.”

Katsuki leaned in closer, trapping Kirishima between him and the bike. “Spit it out.”

“Well, uh, sometimes people ask for a ride ‘cause they think that’s the way to impress me and it doesn’t go great, so I guess I don’t tend to expect much. I’m so happy you like it though, man! We could go again anytime you want!”

Katsuki’s mind conjured the image of a guy cuddling up to Kirishima on the bike. Leaning his head on his shoulder—that had to happen if he’d warned Katsuki. It made him want to punch something.

He was better than those extras that couldn’t even deal with a little speed bump. Not that it mattered.

“So I didn’t impress you?” he said, his tone sarcastic. He backed off just enough that it let Kirishima get away from the bike.

He nudged Katsuki’s shoulder.“What’d impress me coming from you would be if you did the wave.”

“If I do your goddamn wave, will you take me off-roading?”

Kirishima chuckled. “Try it out next time.”

“Are you fucking serious?”

“Bakugou, I thought you could tell I’d do it anyway. You’re the best backpack I’ve ever had, and this stuff’s more fun when you’re with someone.” His face turned serious, something so pleased in his eyes that it had almost made Katsuki’s knees weak.

“I’m not your fucking backpack!” he yelled, his face burning.

“As long as you’re riding with me, yes you are.” 

“If I’m the one riding, would that make you my backpack?”

“I mean, sure, but you need a license for that.” Kirishima’s eyes grew more serious., scanning Katsuki’s face. “You liked it that much?”

“Don’t be stupid.” 

Something must’ve been permanently fucked up in Katsuki’s brain, because he wanted nothing more than to find the easiest way to get one just so he could say the same thing. To call him his , even as a joke.

Kirishima laughed, and then it got quiet. Katsuki was starting to become aware that they’d been standing there for a while. He probably looked weird. “Hey,” he said. “Happy birthday.”

The smile that earned him was probably the softest he’d ever seen on Kirishima.

“Thanks,” he said. He leaned in and pulled Katsuki into a hug, and this time he didn’t hesitate to hug him back. They were the same height, almost exactly. He smelled like leather and vaguely like some kind of cologne, and Katsuki never wanted it to end. 

It did far too soon. 

As Katsuki walked up to his house, he could hear the sound of the engine fading in the distance.

Izuku kept checking the time. He had work tomorrow, so he should probably go to bed soon but he was just so nervous. Where was Kacchan? He supposed it wasn’t that late, in the grand scheme of things but Kacchan normally went to bed early! Then again, he was off tomorrow. Izuku’s stomach just hurt thinking about all of this. 

He sat alone in the living room, the TV was on but he wasn’t paying attention to it. He kept glancing at the clock, then at the door. He would just wait until Kacchan came home, and then go to bed. That’s it. 

He heard the roar of an engine. It was loud enough to make Izuku sit up straight on the couch. He stood up and walked to the big window next to the front door and peeked outside. 

There was a motorcycle stopped out front of the house with two people on it. One of them was wearing a familiar-looking red bike helmet. Kirishima. Izuku crouched down to watch without being seen. The people on the bike got off, the one in the red helmet kicked the kickstand up and they took off their bike helmets. 

Kacchan was the one who had been on the back of the bike. The other one must be Kirishima. Izuku narrowed his eyes trying to get a good look at the man. 

He was good-looking. Tall, with red hair that hung around his shoulders. He was dressed casually in a leather jacket. Kid his ass. Kirishima was a brick house! This was the guy Kacchan had been spending all his time with? The one he’d dropped a pretty penny to buy a motorcycle helmet for?? Fuck. 

They were talking. It looked like Kirshima was laughing a lot. Izuku tried to look at their body language but it was hard to tell in the dark. They kept talking. They probably stood out there for another five minutes. From the outside, it looked like they’d just come back from a date and didn’t want to leave each other yet!

Don’t project! A small part of Izuku’s brain scolded. Kirishima probably just offered to drive him home. Kacchan did take the train. But still, it was annoying. Should he go out there? Say something? Should he meet this Kirishima guy? 

They hugged. 

WHAT THE HELL? 

Izuku stood up so fast the blood rushed to his head and he became dizzy. He shook it off and went to open the door but he could see the shadow of Kacchan coming up alone. Izuku just sat back down and waited. 

A moment later the door opened. Kacchan stepped inside and started to kick off his shoes. 

“Did you have fun?” Izuku asked, trying to keep his voice calm. He had no real reason to be upset, and yet. 

“Huh?” Kacchan asked as if he had just noticed Izuku was there. His face was pink and flushed. Izuku wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or something else.“Yeah, it was fine.” He walked into the living room proper. “Didn’t think you’d still be up.” 

Izuku shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to wait for you. So... Good time.” 

“Yeah, it was. Kirishima’s friends are okay. Fun. You know.” He bit back a small smile.

“Was that Kirishima just now?” he asked, pointing to the door. 

Kacchan rolled his eyes. “Yes, it was. He drove me home. Faster than taking a train.” He narrowed his eyes at Izuku “You good? Something piss you off?” 

He shook his head and stood. “Nope. I’m fine. Just tired. I’m glad you’re home safe. I was a little worried.” He crossed his arms. “But you’re home now so I guess I’ll just go to bed.” He didn’t move. He had more things to say but was unsure how to say them, or if he even should say them. “I want to meet him, I think. If Kirishima is this good of a friend, I mean.” 

“I mean, sure I guess. If you want to.” 

“I do want to,” Izuku insisted. 

“Okay? Fine. You can meet him.”

“Good.” 

Kacchan shook his head. “Why are you acting so weird?” he asked. 

Izuku frowned. “I’m acting weird?” He bit his lip. “You’re the one acting weird. You hugged him.” 

His face turned pink.“So what?” he asked, crossing his arms. “You were watching me? Even then- you hug your friends all the time. Besides, he hugged me. I didn’t hug him.” 

“Yeah, I do! I hug everyone. You never hug people. You barely hug me, and we’re married.” He had to beg for even little signs of affection but Kirishima got hugs? 

“Why are you so against me making friends?” Kacchan asked. “Why is it that when for the first time since high school I have people who actually want to talk to me, not because I’m your spouse, but because they like me, you hate it so much?” 

Shame hit Izuku hard. “S–sorry,” he mumbled. “Sorry. I don’t know. Sorry...” he rubbed the back of his head “I dunno. It’s just weird seeing you do that. Seeing you be so friendly. I dunno why it made me feel so... Sorry.” 

“It’s whatever but you gotta knock it off. I’m allowed to talk to people. Fuck,” he groaned. “I’m gonna get something to drink. You should go to bed. It’s late. You have work tomorrow.” 

A clear dismissal. Izuku shook his head. “R–right. I should. I’m sorry. I just-” he shook his head. “I don’t know why I’m so worked up. I’m jealous.” 

Kacchan sighed. “It’s... It’s whatever. Just stop. You don’t have any reason to be. You should fuckin’ trust me. Not cry as soon as I talk to someone you didn’t get to meet and pre-approve.” 

“I-I know... I’m... I dunno. Sorry. I’ll uh... I—” he couldn’t form words. Kacchan was right. He was always right. He was being stupid. Kacchan hadn’t had a lot of friends. Not since High school when most of them turned their back on him. He deserved this. “I really am sorry.” 

Kacchan sighed. “It’s fine, nerd,” his shoulders relaxed. “It’s just a sore spot.” 

“Right...” Izuku mumbled. “I’m glad you had a good time.” 

“...Thanks.” 

Izuku passed his husband. “Night,” he said softly. 

Kacchan rolled his eyes and grabbed Izuku, pulled him close, and kissed the top of his head. “Stop lookin’ so sad. You’re fine.” 

He smiled. “Th–thanks Kacchan. I’ll be gone when you wake up, okay?” 

“I’ll see you in a few days then.” 

“Okay. Night. Love you—” Izuku kissed him before he went to leave the room.

“Night.” Kacchan sat down in his grave, watching the TV. 

Izuku waved and left to go up the stairs. He knew he was being crazy but... He still felt bad about all of this.

Chapter Text

Izuku woke up tired. He’d only gotten a few hours at best. He sat up slowly in bed, groaning in pain. “Ugh...” he mumbled. He had to get up and shower to leave for work but every bone in his body felt heavy. He glanced to the side. Kacchan was sound asleep. 

Last night kept playing around in his head. Their fight. He replayed what he said. Why is it that when for the first time since high school I have people who actually want to talk to me, not because I’m your spouse, but because they like me, you hate it so much? Was that why this made Izuku so uncomfortable? Most of the people they saw were in their lives because of Izuku. All their friends were Izuku’s friends. The family they saw? Izuku’s mother. 

Kacchan didn’t even see his parents. He had no friends. 

He felt like crying. He was so awful. Of course, Kacchan wanted to make friends with these people. Izuku needed to stop being so self-conscious and not stand in his way! 

He shook his head and went about getting ready for the day. After he was showered and clean, he checked his phone. He had a work email from the fire station’s captain, Sasaki Mirai.

Sent at 3:45 AM

Header: Halloween!

Reminder to the station that our annual Halloween community event is coming up. During the evening we will be inviting families to come to the station for games, drinks, and snacks. Your own families are welcome. We will need the extra help.

Izuku smiled. He loved the annual Halloween event. Seeing all the kids in their cute costumes. It made him so happy. Kacchan usually helped out too! He usually hosted one of the little games they had all the kids play. He couldn’t wait to tell Kacchan it was coming again. Plus, he did want to give him one more kiss before he left. 

He walked back into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. “Kacchan,” Izuku whispered sweetly. “Hey...” 

Kacchan groaned before his eyes fluttered open. “What?” he asked. 

“I’m going to work,” Izuku said, gently pushing the hair out of Kacchan’s eyes. “I wanted to say goodbye properly.” 

“Mmm...” Kacchan grunted. “Fine.” He sat up and kissed Izuku. He tasted like morning breath. “See ya in a few days nerd.” He flopped back down into the bed. “Lemme fuckin’ sleep. I’m tired.” 

He giggled “I will, I will.” He tucked Kacchan into bed. “I love you so much. I’m really sorry about last night.” 

“Forget it,” Kacchan said. “It’s fine. Just get to work.” 

“I’m going, but! I got an email! Halloween event at work again. Gotta be ready for it.” 

“Mhmm...” Kacchan mumbled half asleep. 

Izuku chuckled. “We’ll talk about it later. Bye, Kacchan.” He kissed him on the head and left the room. 

“Any reason we’re here and not in the break room?”

“We should write a paper together. In a refereed journal.” Katsuki opened the door to Fatgum’s and they walked to an empty table. There weren’t many. “I could do it by myself, but some of your recent results would go well with my shit.”

He didn’t answer Todoroki’s question, but in Katsuki’s defense he didn’t feel like doing that.

“You’re right, we could combine them and get a higher chance of publishing.”

Katsuki put his jacket on one of the chairs.“Stop repeating my ideas back to me!”

“On the other hand, if we work separately I won’t have to deal with this.” 

“Fuck off, you don’t mean that.”

“No, I do think it’s worth putting up with you in order to publish.”

Katsuki scoffed, used to his attitude by now. “I’ll go get coffee, maybe you’ll find some decency till I come back.”

“Get mine too and we have a deal.”

“Fine.” As much as Todoroki got on his nerves, Katsuki wasn’t gonna say no. His only joint publications had been with Tsunagu, and Todoroki wasn’t doing the same work they both were.

The last time he’d texted Kirishima had been two hours ago, but he still looked just as happy as Katsuki felt that they were meeting again. 

“Blasty!” he said, smiling ear to ear.

“Stop calling me that, asshole!”

 “Okay, okay. Hi, Bakugou, it’s nice to see you.” He exaggerated the politeness in his tone, almost like he was talking to a superior.

Katsuki didn’t smile, but it was a close thing. “Whatever.”

“The usual?”

“I’m getting Todoroki’s too.”

“Right, um—” Kirishima hesitated, then he laughed. “Oh, wait, I remember! Pickup’s—”

“At the end of the counter. You act like I haven’t been here before.”

“Have you? You’re kinda easy to forget.”

“Fuck off!”

Kirishima came by a few minutes later with their orders. He handed them to Katsuki and leaned onto the pickup table. “So, how’s your day going?”

“Weird. Why the fuck is Pikachu sending us all lewds?”

“ What ?” Kirishima quickly checked his phone. “Oh, I think that’s his Halloween costume.”

“That’s batshit.”

“I mean, I think this year’s the first time my costume’s gonna have a shirt since high school, so he’d just laugh if I said something.”

Katsuki almost choked on air. "Where’d you even find that many ideas? Besides the pirate bullshit?”

“Internet, mostly. I was a dragon two years ago, Mina helped with the body paint!”

Katsuki’s imagination provided him with an image of Kirishima shirtless, with scales painted on. He hated it. His heart raced the way it did when he hated something, at least. He hadn’t been aware he had something against dragons.

He dismissed the thought. “So are you gonna be SharkBoy this year or what?”

“Surprise! Wait, actually—”

“Kirishima!” the blue-haired employee yelled over the sound of the coffee machine. He immediately looked shocked with himself. “You promised,” he said, this time in a normal tone.

“Yes, Amajiki, I’m sorry. I’ll take the front!” He turned to Katsuki again. “I gotta go but anyway, we’re throwing a Halloween party. It’s gonna be way larger than last time, but now you know us, plus you’ll get to see my costume! You do have to bring your own, though, or I’m not letting you in. You’ll have to talk to us from the hallway.”

Katsuki snorted and almost agreed, then he thought about it again. No.

Why the fuck had he said yes to Izuku that morning without question? 

“Kirishima, I—”

“Oh.” His face fell, and Katsuki wanted to punch himself for being the cause of it. “That was kinda stupid of me. You have other plans?”

“I don’t know,” Katsuki said.

Kirishima smiled. “Well, keep me posted! You can decide last minute, we’ll always have a spot for you, but it’s okay if you can’t!” He waved goodbye and hurried to switch with Amajiki. For a few seconds, Katsuki just stared at him, ignoring the steaming cups in his hands. 

I don’t know.

What the fuck had he been thinking? He did know. He’ll have to go talk to kids with Deku and pretend he didn’t want to be with Kirishima and the others. It’d be weird to just not show up. He didn’t even mind it too much normally, so it wasn’t like he had a real excuse.

He’d just spent a few hours with Kirishima yesterday. 

Why did he already want to spend more time together? Did it feel the same way for his friend, since he’d invited Katsuki, or was it just what he’d do with anyone else?

He watched Kirishima greet a tall, handsome man, and one of his hands tightened around his cup until the guy’s girlfriend joined him and Katsuki realized that he looked like some loser in a busy cafe who couldn’t handle his friend liking other people too.

He got back and slammed both coffees on the table, spilling some of his own. “What the fuck ever.” He grabbed a bundle of napkins and started cleaning it aggressively.

“You okay?” Todoroki asked. He grabbed his own cup.

“Peachy,” Katsuki growled.

“That’s an obvious lie.”

He was so done with everything. “Why don’t you fuck off, Icyhot?”

“What did Kirishima want?”

“Him and the rest of our friends—”

“I thought you didn’t do friends.” Todoroki’s slight smile was very punchable. He took a sip of his coffee, unbothered.

“Him and the other fucking weirdos in our groupchat are putting on a Halloween party. He asked if I’m gonna go and I said I’d think about it, but I know I can’t, so now I have to tell him and that sucks.”

“Well, why can’t you?”

“Gotta be Deku’s arm candy at some fire station event. Community outreach. Happens every year.” Katsuki finally tried his caramel latte. It was good, but not enough to make him feel better.

“And that’s…a bad thing, to you.” Todoroki’s face did something Katsuki could only describe as a grimace before coming back to normal.

“I never said that. It’s fine.” He opened his laptop and pulled up a table, trying to concentrate. “It’s fine . Anyway, enough of that shit. I talked to Jeanist about publishing soon.”

Todoroki drank some of his coffee. “You’re serious about that.”

“Of course I am! ” Katsuki yelled.

Todoroki flinched. It must’ve been louder than Katsuki had intended. “You know,” he said slowly. “I don’t think you're actually done talking about Halloween.”

Katsuki sighed. The titration volumes didn’t make much sense to him right then, so might as well. “Not like I can fuckin’ do anything about it. I said I’d be there. I was there last time.”

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“You got a bridge to sell me too?” He almost laughed.

“Midoriya is—seems like a kind person. He’d understand if you talked about it.” Todoroki’s face was open, almost reverent, and Katsuki realized he was right.

He hadn’t been wrong when he’d told Katsuki to thank him, either. Deku had clearly appreciated it. Sure, he had some hangups because he didn’t know Kirishima and didn’t get that that was just how he was, but he’d be nice if they talked about it.

“That’s surprisingly helpful.”

Izuku came home feeling like the dead. He kicked his shoes off at the door and tore his jacket off before walking to the couch and falling face-first into it. It was still early. Kacchan was at work but Izuku had just gotten home from his forty-eight-hour shift. “Ugggh...” he groaned into the throw pillow. 

Work had been terrible the past two days. No major fires but a lot of nonsense runs. Because when people called for emergency services, fire trucks had to go too even if they weren’t needed. The only fire he had to put out during his shift was a small one in a microwave inside a tiny convenience store. But it was all just so tiring. He slept like garbage. He just wanted to curl up in bed with his husband and drink lots of warm cocoa. 

But Kacchan wouldn’t be home for several more hours. 

Izuku was alone. 

He sat up from the couch. His body creaked and groaned in protest. “No use in wasting the day,” he muttered. 

He took a long hot bath. The showers at work had terrible water pressure and never made Izuku feel truly clean. Not like his own bath at home. The warm water relieved some of his aches and pains. He dressed in clean comfy house clothes and made his way into his study. 

His setup was exactly as he left it. He pulled out his sketchbook and started to sketch as a warm-up. His hands seemed to move on their own, sketching outlines and shapes. Soon, he was staring at his newest character. 

Entropy. 

He thought it was fitting. An anti-hero who could use fire and ice. Sauve and stupidly handsome. He’d make a great secondary character after his Wonder Duo. Izuku still felt a little weird with how much the man resembled Todoroki but he just had such striking features it was impossible not to draw inspiration from him! If Izuku’s manga ever got off the ground he was sure Entropy would be a fan favorite for sure. 

On the next page he began to sketch up his Wonder Duo in a fun pose when his phone dinged on the desk next to him. He set his pencil down and picked his phone up. Speak of the devil. A text from Todoroki. 

It was an image. “Huh?” Izuku opened it. 

The picture was of a green paste. It looked a little odd but Izuku read the message under it. As a test, I adjusted Bakugou and I’s relaxant balm. It’s a little too tingly like this, but it turned this great shade of green. It reminded me of you. It doesn’t show up well in the picture but it’s almost the same shade as your eyes. 

He looked back at the picture. It was a lovely shade of green. “...Are my eyes that pretty?” 

Todoroki was so nice. He was always so sweet to Izuku. Too sweet. If Izuku didn’t know better, he’d almost suspect Todoroki was flirting with him. But that was stupid. There was no way. Todoroki was out of Izuku’s league. The only reason Izuku was with Kacchan was because he was persistent and lucky. No, Todoroki was just a kind person. That’s all. 

Kind, thoughtful, handsome...

Izuku shook his head. “Stop that,” he muttered to himself. “You are the luckiest man on the planet. You are married to the Bakugou Katsuki. You are satisfied.” 

Something inside Izuku’s chest twisted at the thought. 

He stood from his desk. “Maybe I’ll take a nap instead.” He couldn’t focus. He just wanted Kacchan to come home. He didn’t want to be alone with his thoughts anymore. 

Izuku woke up to the sound of the front door closing downstairs. He sat up out of bed slowly, his mind still hazy from sleep. He could hear footsteps downstairs. Kacchan was home! 

He jumped out of bed and fluffed his hair as he made his way downstairs. He felt like a dog whose master had just come home but he didn’t care. “Kacchan!” he called excitedly and bounced into the living room. “You’re home!” 

Kacchan was in the kitchen. He had just tossed his used bento box into the sink. “Hey,” he said simply. 

He bounced over to his husband before he tackled him into a hug. “I missed you!” he cried. It was always the hardest when he was gone for work. 

“Ack—” Kacchan cried out, nearly slipping in the kitchen but Izuku had good reflexes. He caught Kacchan and held him up. “Dammit Deku!” he complained. “Are you trying to kill me?” 

“Sorry!” he cooed, not feeling sorry at all. He stood Kacchan up right before helping himself to a quick kiss. “I just missed you like crazy.”

His husband rolled his eyes. “Yeah yeah, missed you too. Now let go of me I’m trying to unwind.” 

He let go. “How was work?” He pulled himself up to sit on the counter kicking his feet happily. 

“Fine,” Kacchan said and went about the kitchen to find something small to eat. “Icyhot made a fuckin’ mess at work today.” 

“He sent me a picture of some paste he made.”

“Did he?” he asked before shaking his head. “Did he tell you it made the entire lab stink for the rest of the day? No, I bet he didn’t.” He sighed. “Whatever. How was yours?” 

Izuku shrugged. “Same old. Put out a microwave fire. Had to scold a kid about letting his cat out of the house. But we did do some prep work for the Halloween event. I even got my costume!” 

Kacchan’s face hardened. It was subtle, but Izuku didn’t miss it. “About that,” he began. 

“What’s wrong?” He jumped off the counter.

“I went to the coffee shop today, the one Kirishima works at, and while I was there he invited me to his Halloween party. I want to go.” 

It felt like someone had just poured ice water down Izuku’s shirt. “Huh?” he asked. “But we have the event. You always go and— and—” 

“I know.” Kacchan crossed his arms. “But I like these people. I want to get in with their friend group more. They’re—” he sighed. “I just want to go to the Halloween party. I think it would be good for me.” 

Izuku wanted to argue. “Why can’t you go to the next party? They’re college students. They probably have them all the time. I just don’t see why it has to be now.” He paused, his mind dwelling on something Kacchan said. “What do you mean it would be good for you?” 

“Um...” Kacchan bit his lip and looked away from Izuku. “One of his friends. Kaminari. He’s trans. Just like me.” 

“Oh.” 

Guilt and shame twisted inside Izuku. “That’s really... I mean—” he shook his head. “I’m glad. That’s...” He tried to string words together. “Kacchan, I didn’t know that.” 

He shrugged. “I really want to get to know them. I want to be their friend. Me, just me. I haven’t had this in a long time and...” He shook his head. “It’s whatever. They’re college kids. There will be more parties.” 

Izuku placed a hand on his arm. “I guess going to one event alone wouldn’t kill me,” Izuku said, forcing himself to smile. “I’m sorry. I reacted selfishly. Of course I always want you with me but if this is what you want, go have fun at Kirishima’s.” 

“You sure?” Kacchan asked. 

“Mhmm! I think you should. You’re right. You need friends that aren’t me. You deserve it.” Kacchan deserved the world, in actuality. “I’ll be fine.” 

Kacchan actually smiled. It was such a rare sight and usually it took his breath away. This one made him nervous. “Thank you,” he said, grabbing Izuku by the shoulders. “Deku, I don’t usually say mushy shit but I fuckin’ love you.” 

The nervous feeling disappeared. “Aw, I love you too. No need to thank me. It’s what ya do, you know? We make compromises.” 

“You know, I love it when you make compromises.”  His demeanor changed, his voice dropping low and husky. 

“Y-yeah?” he asked, a little taken aback. 

He nodded and placed a hand on Izuku’s chest. It felt so warm through the thin material of his t-shirt. “Mhmm. I’m feeling very appreciative of my darling husband. In fact, if you want...” his hand slowly pushed down his stomach to the hem of his sweatpants. “I could show you just how appreciative I am.”  

Normally, Izuku would simply agree without question. “This party must mean a lot to you.” 

“I want to repay you. You’re so fuckin’ nice Izuku.” Izuku’s toes curled in his socks at the use of his given name. “I’m happy I married such a good man.” Kacchan’s warm hand dipped into his pants, rubbing against his skin. 

All rational thought was thrown out of Izuku’s mind. “I am?” he asked. 

Kacchan dropped to his knees in front of him, looking up at Izuku through his eyelashes. “Yes,” he purred and pressed a kiss to the front of his sweatpants. “You’re so good.” 

A few minutes later, Izuku gripped the counter behind him, his sweatpants around his ankles, as he came into Kacchan’s warm mouth. All thoughts of Halloween were forced out of his mind. All he could think about was how good Kacchan felt. 

“Oh god—” Izuku whined. 

Kacchan pulled off his cock with a wet pop. “Felt good?” 

“Y-yeah...” Izuku mumbled still in his post-orgasm bliss.  

“Good. It’s my job to make you feel good. Now clean yourself up. I’m gonna change and put on an All Might movie.” 

“O-okay!” Izuku said happily. “Sounds great.” 

Kacchan pressed a quick kiss to his lips before he headed to the archway out. He looked back at Izuku. “Thanks again. This uh... Means a lot.” He left the kitchen. 

Now alone and pantless rational thought came back to Izuku. 

His husband was going to Kirishima’s Halloween party. He tried to shake off the horrible inadequate feeling in his stomach. He tried not to picture the broad-shouldered man who dropped Kacchan off a few nights ago. He didn’t want to think about Kacchan in his house in a cute costume. 

“Get it together Izuku...” he muttered to himself and picked up his pants off the ground. He had a loving husband who was about to get into some adorable comfy clothes and curl up on the couch next to him and watch some silly anime movies. 

Izuku was lucky. 

Chapter Text

He was still upset that Kacchan wasn’t coming to the Halloween event at the station. 

Don’t get him wrong, he was glad Kacchan was pursuing new friendships but there was a tiny part of Izuku that wanted him to be by his side. If Izuku weren’t working, he’d love to go with Kacchan to his party too! But he was stuck, and Kacchan made his choice. Izuku had to respect that. 

Izuku was already at work. He got there that morning to start his shift and help set up. By the evening the front of the station was decorated and the back was ready and cleared to get in and out of in a hurry later. Izuku pinned up the last of the little bat banners he was in charge of hanging. Once he was done, he checked the time. “Oh, Kacchan is gonna be leaving soon.” He frowned “Togata-kun, I’m gonna step out and take a call,” he told his coworker.

“That’s fine, man! I think we’re just about done here anyway,” Togata said. 

He smiled and stepped outside, phone in hand. He pulled up Kacchan’s contact and called. It rang a few times before-

“What?” Kacchan barked into the phone. 

 “Sorry, am I bugging you?” Izuku asked. 

“You’re fine. I’m just stressed out. I can’t find the stupid ears for my costume,” Kacchan said, his voice softening. 

“Did you check in the bedroom? I think I saw something in there really early before I left. You’re going as a werewolf, right?” he asked, leaning back on the wall. 

He heard Kacchan groan and the sound of loud footsteps. “The fuck were they doing here? Ugh, whatever. Okay, I think I’m set then.”

“I wanna see! I bet you look super cute.” He brought his phone in front of his face and requested to make it a video call. 

“You’re ridiculous,” Kacchan complained but accepted the request. Izuku was right. Kacchan looked adorable. His outfit wasn’t super revealing, a simple tank top, oversized jacket, gray wolf ears, and a red collar. “Happy now?” 

Izuku giggled, pulling the phone closer to his face. “Yes! Ahh, I wish I were there in person. I’d give you all kinds of kisses all over your face! The collar is a funny touch. A collared werewolf!” He dropped his voice low to not be heard. “Maybe you can show me the ears, tail, and collar by themselves when I come home in a few days.” 

Kacchan rolled his eyes. “Pervert. I gotta get going. I gotta catch a train.” 

“I hope you have fun. You know, you could stop here on your way? I think Togata’s husband is coming by for a little while. Iida and Mei are gonna bring the new baby for the first time too! And you could—” 

“Deku, I don’t have time to stop. I told you that.” 

His heart fell. “S-sorry, I just—it’s fine. Text me when you get there and then when you get home just so I know you’re safe. Halloween can get crazy, you know?” he laughed but it sounded fake. “I’ll see you in a few days when I get off work. I love you.” 

 “Love you too, nerd. I’ll text you.” He hung up. 

Izuku stood there staring at his phone. “Right...” He sighed and leaned his head against the brick of the building. He had a small twisty nervous feeling in his stomach as he pictured his husband partying with Kirishima. All he could picture was the handsome man in the leather jacket who let Kacchan ride his bike home. It sort of made him feel inadequate. He almost looked into getting a motorcycle of his own, but that would be pathetic, even for him. 

Why was he so worked up? It was a party. A college house party. He had no reason to be upset. Sure, he wished Kacchan would come by his work but this was fine. Right? He could handle himself. It wasn’t a big deal. 

He shook his head. He should just go back in, get his little costume on, wait for the kids, and pray tonight wasn’t that busy. Izuku pushed himself away from the wall and turned toward the door when he heard someone call out to him.

 “Midoriya?” 

Izuku turned. Todoroki was standing on the path leading up to the front of the station. He was dressed in black pants, a white puffy shirt with a black and red vest, and a long black cape. He was even wearing fake fangs. He looked good. It made Izuku’s stomach flutter. He didn’t hate the feeling.“Todoroki-san?” Izuku asked. “I like your vampire costume.” His eyes wandered up and down his lithe body. The black pants clung to him making his legs look miles long. “You look really good.”

 “Thank you—”

 “Uncle Shouto!” a little girl cried barreling into the back of his legs. She was cute, wearing a pink and purple tutu with fairy wings and a tiara. Her long light brown hair was thrown up into a bun but it already had stray pieces hanging around her face. “Mommy said you walk too fast!” 

Todoroki blinked down at the little girl. “What?” before he could say anything else a woman appeared around the bend. She was very pretty with long white hair tossed up in a lazy ponytail. She wore a simple witch costume and a pair of glasses. She carried another little girl in her arms. She was dressed in a dinosaur onesie. 

“Shouto!” the woman called. “Seriously, I asked you to help me unload the car.” She sighed, stopping just short of him. “Can you at least hold Kaori?” 

Izuku looked between the woman and Todoroki. Then, he remembered the names. “Oh!” he said. “Is this your sister, Todoroki-san?” 

“Yes-” 

“You know this guy?” the woman asked before her eyes widened “OH!” her annoyed expression softened. “I see what’s going on.” She smiled, her eyes glittering. “Are you the man who saved Shouto’s life?” 

“YOU DID?” the little girl in the tutu and wings, who was currently trying to climb Todoroki’s leg asked. 

His face flushed. “Y-yes but it’s not a big deal! It’s my job. Firefighter and all that. Were you guys here for the event? We have games and candy inside—” 

“I WANT CANDY!” the girl yelled before she barreled into the fire station. 

“Hanako!” Todoroki’s sister sighed. “Hold her.” She handed Todoroki the other girl and ran after her daughter. 

Todoroki stood there, holding his niece looking rather like he’d just been through a hurricane. “Hello, Midoriya,” he said again. “Sorry that got so crazy.” 

He shook his head. “No no it’s fine! I’m surprised to see you here.” He smiled and approached him. “So, if that was your sister and Hanako, does that make this Kaori?” 

Kaori was a sweet little girl with jet-black hair and dark eyes. She had her little onesie hood up. She buried her face into Todoroki’s chest refusing to look at Izuku. “She’s shy,” Todoroki said. “She doesn’t normally cling to me this much.” 

Izuku chuckled. “That’s okay. I don’t mind shy at all. What are you guys doing here though?” 

“I saw online there was a Halloween event. My sister Fuyumi lives very close by. Her wife is working tonight so she wanted some extra help with the kids, so I suggested we bring them here,” Todoroki explained. “I guess this is your station, huh?” 

He nodded and led them inside. “This is mine! Come on, I’ll show you around! Oh, let me grab my costume I’ll be right back!” He fled the main room up to the sleeping quarters. His costume was laid out on his bed. It was a simple poncho with a hood. He threw it on over his uniform and pulled up the hood. Now, he was a cute ghost! 

When Izuku came back downstairs there was already a small crowd. They got busy fast. Togata was starting to lead the kids in a game. A few of the other firefighters were talking to parents. 

“Oh man,” Izuku mumbled looking around the room for Todoroki. Hanako had joined Togata and the other kids for a game. Fuyumi was talking to their captain, Sasaki Mirai, and Todoroki was on the other side of the room, still holding his niece. 

Izuku headed right for him. “Kaori,” Todoroki told his niece. “It’s okay. You can go play with the other kids if you want to.” 

She shook her head and pressed her face into Todoroki’s chest. “Is she alright?” Izuku asked. 

Todoroki sighed before looking down at Izuku. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it, turning his face away. “She’s just shy. I think maybe this is a lot of her.” 

Izuku grinned. “Follow me. We can go into one of the garages. Kaori, do you want to see a real firetruck?” he asked. 

For the first time, the little girl lifted her head and gave Izuku a suspicious look. He smiled at her. She seemed to mull over his offer before she gave a tiny nod, then hid her face away again. “Think that might be the best answer you’ll get from her.” 

“Come on,” he said and led Todoroki away from the growing chaos. He brought them back into the garage area where they had a large firetruck waiting at the ready. They could still hear the event in the front room but it was much more peaceful in here. “Check it out, a real fire truck!” 

Kaori lifted her head again, looking up. Her eyes got big as she looked at the truck. “Oh...” 

Izuku grinned. “They always love the fire truck.” He walked to the side door and opened it, revealing the stairs leading up to it. “Want to get inside?” 

She nodded and looked up at Todoroki expectantly. He sighed and walked right up to the truck. He put her on the seat and they watched her grab the steering wheel. “Is this okay?” 

“It’s off,” Izuku explained. “She’s fine.” 

Kaori seemed much happier playing at the helm of the fire truck. “She might want to do this a while,” he explained. “She uh... takes after me, it seems.” He leaned against the side of the truck. “It looks like you guys had a great turnout already. And it just started.” 

Izuku nodded. “Yeah! Halloween is an important night. We like to make space for the community and get together with our families to make something fun for the kids. Though I’m sure we’ll be busy later with actual emergencies. Depends honestly.” He sighed. “I meant to ask, but your costume is so cool! Those fangs look really high quality.” 

“I did go a little hard, didn’t I?” he asked. “I was trying to impress the girls.” He motioned to Kaori who kept playing with the wheel of the truck. “So, I spared no expense. Besides, I can reuse them.” He opened his mouth, showing off the fangs. 

He giggled. “Yeah, for the next time you need to dress up as a vampire.” Izuku tried not to imagine them sinking into his neck. And yet, the image of Todoroki holding him still and leaving dark bite marks up and down Izuku’s neck filled his mind. He shivered.

“Exactly.” Todoroki gave him a tiny smile. “Where’s Bakugou?” 

“Not here,” he explained. “Kacchan had a party to go to instead.” Now that he thought about it, he should have heard from him by now. 

Todoroki raised a brow at him. “He went to a different party? When you’re here?” 

“Yeah, um—” He went to explain it was Kirishima’s party. But Izuku found he couldn’t speak the words. A small part of him felt embarrassed that his husband would rather go to a college party than be with Izuku at a big social event. “It’s not like this is anything special.”

He shook his head. “Still, that’s a little inconsiderate of him.” 

 “Huh? Oh no, it’s fine—” Izuku protested. “We don’t have to go to every party together. Plus I’m here, and he’s trying to make his own friends—” 

“I mean he could have stopped by,” Todoroki said. “Isn’t this only going on until nine? Then you close to the public. He could have come and seen all the hard work you were doing before going to the party.” 

If Izuku were being honest with himself, he wanted that too. “I uh... I guess so.” He bit his lip. “It’s not a big deal though. I just want him to be happy, you know? So if that means he goes to a different party so be it. Anything for him.” 

Todoroki frowned and leaned down close. “Wasn’t it you who told me that if you spend all your time making other people happy at your own expense you’d just make yourself miserable?” 

The words cut through Izuku. “I- That’s—This is entirely different. I’m not miserable. I’m mildly disappointed. Plus, it’s different when you’re married. You make compromises. You go to different parties sometimes.” 

“I suppose. Sorry, I overstepped.” 

“It’s fine, Todoroki-san, I know you didn’t mean any harm by it.” 

“For what it’s worth,” Todoroki’s voice had dropped down low, into a deep husky tone. He leaned down into Izuku’s space and placed a hand on his hip. “If I was your husband, I wouldn’t let you out of my sight. Especially when you’re wearing a cute little ghost costume.” 

He couldn’t quite feel Todoroki touch through all the thick layers of his clothes. It was like being touched by a ghost, but it still sent sparks up his spine. Todoroki thought he looked cute? His entire face turned bright red. “Um...” he tried to find words but his brain was almost fuzzy. A single compliment and Izuku felt like a teenager trying to work up the courage to approach the cheerleaders all over again. “You think I look cute?” 

“Extremely.”

Izuku giggled. He couldn’t help himself. “You look great too. Vampires are sex—cool.”

 “Means a lot, coming from you. You shouldn’t be so nice to me...” He hummed. “Bakugou should be more careful. Someone might steal you away if he doesn’t keep an eye on you.”

“Th-that’s sweet of you to say.” 

He shrugged. “I just think it’s proper,” he said, turning his face away, a ghost of a smirk on his lips. “You deserve a husband who stands by you.” He put his hand down. Izuku didn’t allow himself to miss it.

“I appreciate the sentiment. But it’s fine. Kacchan and I work because we’re just as good as separate people as we are a unit, you know?” He smiled. “I can survive one work event without him.” 

Todoroki hummed. “That’s nice. But,” he leaned closer. Izuku could smell his cologne. It smelled like fresh mint. “Tell you what, I’ll take his place tonight. So if there’s a way I can help out with the event, let me know.” 

Izuku chuckled. “Thanks for the offer. I might actually take you up on it!” He looked back into the truck. Kaori was still pretending to drive the truck. She seemed to make very deliberate movements. It was cute. “She seems to be enjoying herself.” 

He looked in. “Yeah. Like I said, she might want to do this for a while.” 

“It’s fine,” Izuku said. “Besides that just means we get time to talk! I’ve been really enjoying watching you read All Might for the first time. It’s like I get to read it all over again.” 

“I’ve been enjoying it. In a way, it’s been healing. I always wanted to read stuff like that as a kid so I’m glad I get to now.” He chuckled. “Though I do feel like I get odd looks in the shonen section of the bookstore.” 

"Yeah! Your pursuing happiness thing! Don’t let people judge you. There’s no age limits on All Might.” Izuku was no stranger to odd looks. “Just because it’s not ‘normal’ doesn’t mean it’s bad. Don’t let that get between you and doing what you want.” 

He made another sound that was something like a laugh. “Thanks, I won’t. I promise. Once I decide I want something, not much deters me. Though I do hope that quality of mine doesn’t get me in trouble.” 

Izuku smiled and shook his head. “That’s admirable though. You stick to your guns. You’re passionate.” 

Todoroki hummed. “I like that. I’m not used to being seen as passionate. Most people see me as too ‘cool’.” 

"I can see why,” he said honestly. “But I think that’s a very shallow read of your personality. You can be hard to read, but it’s clear— at least to me— that you care deeply about a lot of things. I mean you took your sister and your nieces out. You’re obviously passionate about your family.” 

“...Thank you, that’s really—” 

“Can we go back to see Hana-chan and Mommy?” Kaori asked suddenly. “I miss Mommy.” 

Izuku’s heart squeezed at Kaori’s little voice asking so sweetly. “Of course we can!” Izuku said. “Come on, I’ll take you guys back!” He held out his hand for the little girl. She took it and let him pull her out onto the floor. She kept a hold of his hand. It felt so small in his. Then, Kaori reached up and grabbed Todoroki’s hand. 

“Thanks for letting her come in here for a while,” Todoroki said. 

“No problem!” He led them back, gently swinging his hand. Kaori swung her hand with him. It was so cute. 

Once they made it back to the main room, the party was in full swing. Kids were playing some game in the middle of the room and parents were hugging the walls. Kaori let go of Izuku and Todoroki and rushed to her sister’s side. Hanako gladly took her sister’s hand. 

“She looks happy,” Todoroki said softly. “I’m glad I brought them.” 

“Me too!” Izuku said. “Plus I got to see you too!” 

Todoroki’s nose turned pink. “You’re happy to see me?” he asked, his voice turning soft. 

 “Of course. You’re my friend!” 

 “...Right.” 

“Midoriya-kun, there you are!” A voice cut through the crowd. Iida appeared holding something bundled up in his arms, his wife Mei right behind him. “I’ve been looking for you since I got here. And hello, Todoroki-san!” 

Izuku grinned. “Hi Iida-kun! Oh my god, is that the baby???” he squealed. 

Iida smiled, brighter than Izuku had ever seen him. “This is my son, Tensei.” 

 “I still think Hephaestus would have been better,” Mei teased. “But look at our baby, Midoriya! He’s the best baby ever!” 

He leaned over to look at the baby in Iida’s arms. He was still in that tiny newborn phase. “Oh he’s so cute,” he cooed. “Hi Tensei-tan. It’s so good to meet you.” 

Beside him, Todoroki leaned in to see as well. “He is cute,” he said. “Congratulations.” 

“Thank you,” Iida said, looking down at his son with a look of pure joy. Mei leaned into him smiling down at their baby. 

As happy as he was, Izuku was jealous. He wanted that. He wanted a baby. He glanced at all the kids playing in the middle of the room. Hanako in her little tutu and Kaori in her dinosaur onesie. He wanted a child. He pictured a kid of his own. He’d take them out into the woods to hunt for bugs. He’d read bedtime stories, buy cute little pajamas, and watch the same silly movies over and over again. He’d make sure that child felt loved no matter who they grew up to be. 

But Kacchan always avoided the subject of kids. Izuku mostly understood. He did. That didn’t mean it still didn’t hurt.

Speaking of... Izuku still hadn’t heard from him.  

"Here, I’ll let you guys keep making your rounds! I’m gonna step out for a minute anyway.” 

“Oh, alright! Come on, I don’t think Togata-kun has seen him yet,” Iida said to his wife. 

Izuku waved. “I’ll be back in a bit,” he told Todoroki. 

 “...Alright,” Todoroki said. 

He forced himself to smile and stepped out of the room. The temperature outside had dropped dramatically. 

 “What is wrong with you?” he asked himself. A question he’d been asking himself more and more lately. He walked along the station wall to the back. It was quiet here. More private. He leaned against the wall and looked up into the sky. 

He could just make out the moon peaking between the clouds. Not a star in the sky. It was too bright here in the city. 

He pulled his phone out of his pocket. Kacchan hadn’t texted him. It made his stomach twist. He tried to imagine what Kacchan must be doing right now. Was he having a good time? Was he drinking? He didn’t usually drink in front of people he didn’t know so probably not. The deepest darkest corners of Izuku’s mind kept running away with crazy ideas. He knew he was being stupid. Izuku just wanted this night to be over. He wanted to go home. He wanted to make sure Kacchan was okay. 

“Just... make sure he’s there...” he mumbled and dialed Kacchan’s number. The phone rang, and rang, and rang. Each ring made Izuku’s heart sink lower.

“This is Bakugou Katsuki. Leave a message. Keep it short.”  

“H-hi Kacchan!” he said. “Sorry to bother you while you’re at the party. I just wanted to check-in. Make sure you were okay. Um, things are going great here. Iida brought the baby. He’s adorable. I guess call me back when you can. I love you. I mean it, I really love you.” He hung up the phone.

Tears welled in his eyes. It was stupid. Why was he crying? It was one party. He had no right to be upset. He shouldn't be crying. 

“D-dammit...” he mumbled. “You’re being crazy... this isn’t a big deal...” So why was he so upset? Why did he have such a bad feeling about all of this? Was he that crazy? He felt like he was losing his mind. He was horrible. Kacchan deserved friends and Izuku was evil for not feeling right about them. 

Not feeling right about Kirishima. 

“Midoriya?”

Izuku looked up. Todoroki had come outside. He frowned, his arms at his sides, his hands balled into tight fists. “O-oh hi... what are you doing out here?” he asked. 

“You were taking a while. I came to check on you.” He approached and reached out a hand, stopping just short of Izuku. 

“I-I’m fine!” He forced himself to smile. “I’m just—allergies you know—”

“Midoriya.” Todoroki placed a hand on his shoulder. He was so warm. “You don’t have to hide your emotions. If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t make you but don’t lie to me. You’re clearly upset.”

Izuku let the facade drop. He began to cry harder. “It’s stupid. I’m just being dumb and jealous—” he was always so stupid. “I’m stupid.”

“That’s a terrible thing to say about yourself.” Todoroki cupped his face for a moment then quickly moved his hand to his other shoulder. “You’re not stupid at all. I’m sure whatever has you upset is perfectly reasonable.” 

“It’s really not...” 

“Try me.” 

He sighed and looked down at his silly ghost costume. “I’m just upset.” More tears began to flow. “I’m sad Kacchan’s not here. I’m jealous he’d rather be with Kirishima. I keep having these awful thoughts. Something about this just makes me feel sick and I know I’m just being insecure and paranoid.” Now that he started talking, it seemed he couldn’t stop. “Because of course I trust Kacchan but I can’t help but feel like something awful is going to happen. Which is stupid.” 

Todoroki listened quietly, his brows knitted in concern. “Midoriya, I’m going to be honest with you. That doesn’t sound crazy at all.” 

He looked up at Todoroki, his eyes wide. “R-really?”

“Not even a little. You’re completely entitled to feeling sad that your partner of almost a decade chose a new friend over standing by your side. Yes, he deserves time to be his own person, but you’re allowed to feel any way you like.” He gave Izuku’s shoulders a comforting squeeze. “As for Bakugou and Kirishima, speaking as someone who’s seen them interact, they—” he cut himself off. He seemed to be searching for the right words. “It’s clear they get along and have a natural rapport. But I don’t think you have any reason to worry. Bakugou doesn’t seem like the type to cheat. At least from what I’ve seen. It’s clear he loves you. But I understand having doubts. It's normal. Being worried just means you care. It doesn’t make you a bad guy. Besides, he really should have come tonight. A good partner would. I would have.”

Pure relief washed over Izuku’s body. His shoulders sagged. “T-Todoroki-san!” he cried. “Thank you—” before he could help himself he threw his arms around him and buried his face in his chest. “Thank you so much!” He was getting Todoroki’s costume wet but he found he didn’t care. 

Todoroki froze. He inhaled slowly. Izuku could feel his heart pounding in his chest. This was inappropriate. He should pull back-

Todoroki wrapped his arms around Izuku tightly. He pulled him in close, and squeezed. It felt good. He almost felt lightheaded from how nice it felt to simply be held. His nose was filled with Todoroki’s fresh minty cologne. Izuku didn’t want to let go. He couldn’t stop crying. 

“I’m sorry you’re here crying all on your own,” Todoroki whispered. “You deserve to be treated better.” 

Izuku laughed a little, the tears finally tapering off. “That’s sweet to say.” 

“Just saying what I think. You’re a wonderful and amazing person. If Bakugou can’t see that, that’s his problem.” He leaned down and whispered against the shell of his ear. “You deserve a partner who appreciates you.” Izuku could feel his breath ghosting along the shell of his ear. It made his knees feel weak. 

“T-Todoroki-san...” he breathed out. 

“If you were min—”

“Midoriya!” A voice called. 

They both pulled back, jumping apart. Izuku’s heart rate spiked. 

“There you are, man!” Togata cried. He’d just rounded the corner. He hadn’t seen them hugging. “Come on, the costume parade is about to start. The kids look so cute! I figured you didn’t want to miss it.” 

“Y-yeah!” He stammered. “I’ll be right there!” 

Togata grinned. “Hurry!” he said before turning and going back inside. 

“We should go in,” Izuku said, wiping his eyes. “You don’t wanna miss your nieces.”

“Right.” Todoroki went to leave but stopped. “Listen, if you ever need someone to talk to about all this, feel free to call me any time. Day or night. I’ll listen.” 

Izuku felt like crying again. He really was a wreck. “Th-thanks Todoroki-san. You’re such a kind person, you know that?”

“...I’m really not, but thanks.” He stopped one more time. “And stop calling me ‘san.’ You don’t need to be so formal with me.” 

“Todoroki-kun then!” 

Todoroki rolled his eyes. “Come on.” Together, they went back inside to enjoy the event. 

Chapter Text

Honestly, Katsuki could’ve probably swung by Izuku’s work event. He could’ve made about half of it without being late to Kirishima’s. He would’ve still needed to explain why he was leaving early, but it would’ve been different. 

Kirishima and their friends were meeting early to set up and hang out, and that was the time he’d given Izuku. 

It sucked, probably, but he didn’t want to go. He didn’t want to be around Izuku when kids were present, less so the older they got. He could see the sparkle in his husband’s eyes and he couldn’t deal with it. Pregnancy was the one line he wouldn’t cross, though, not even for Izuku—it made him sick, and beyond that it was exactly what she would’ve wanted for her precious daughter . Even the thought of adopting made him uneasy. 

What made his need to be away even worse was that lately he’d been feeling like he’d take any excuse to spend more time with Kirishima that didn’t make him seem like a creep. It was like an addiction.

Katsuki got there on time, knocked, and he could immediately hear muffled voices through the door. He couldn’t make them out until they got closer.

He should have texted Izuku that he arrived, but he wanted to say hi first.

“So should we visit you guys in the hallway or?” Sero snickered, Kaminari echoing their laugh.

The door opened. “See, I told you he’d do it!” Kirishima’s eyes darted up and down Katsuki. “Hi! Your ears are, uh—” His cheeks started to grow red.

“What the fuck are you wearing?”

He was in a damn skirt. Katsuki took a deep breath.

It was short, way above his knees, and he was also wearing brown boots almost to his shins. It was like he wanted everyone to be staring at his thighs. He had a red hood tied by the base of his neck, a white shirt, and a red corset. The fabric spilled over where the corset tightened around his shirt. Something about it made Katsuki’s face warm.

Red Riding Hood, he realized belatedly. Ridiculous.

“Do you like it?”

Katsuki didn’t trust himself to reply, so he turned away.

“Wait, you’re matching!” Sero said. They were wearing what Katsuki could only describe as a slutty mummy costume. “Is it on purpose?”

They were matching. How’d that story go, again? Katsuki supposedly wanted to sink his teeth into Kirishima. 

A weird, overwhelming feeling rushed over him.

It was hot like annoyance, but not exactly. He wanted to grab Kirishima and push him into something and make him regret having worn that. He wanted to see him helpless.

Weird. He’d never wanted to channel his anger that way before. 

He wasn’t even sure what it meant. Normally he just wanted the person he was angry with to give up and leave him the fuck alone.

“What’s Bakugou?” Ashido asked. They all walked to the living room. 

It looked like a tornado had hit it with the piles of decorations on the couch and the half-hung fairy lights. 

“Werewolf,” Katsuki replied, trying not to look at Kirishima. “What’re you with those horns?”

“A demon!”

Huh. That made sense. “Your makeup must’ve taken a shit ton of time.” Her face was perfectly contoured, and she had a deep smokey eye that reminded Katsuki of a raccoon. He kept that one to himself.

“That’s why I have Eiji and Hanta.”

“I was there too!” Kaminari pouted. He was in the costume from the pictures he’d been sending: a cat suit so tight Katsuki bet it’ll rip open later. He doubted Kaminari would mind.

“You spent two hours on your own eyeliner.” 

“That’s embarrassing, Dunce Face.”

“Well, anyway,” he said. He grabbed a pile of ribbons and shoved them into Katsuki’s hands. “You can’t bitch at me if you aren’t helping out.”

“Fuck off, you don’t even live here.”

“What, and you do?” 

Katsuki had no real answer to that, so he scoffed and helped Kirishima put up the rest of the lights, holding them up while his friend taped them to the wall. They tied ribbons where the string met the wall. To make it appropriate, Sero started hanging fake cobwebs in the free spaces. Ashido was in charge of setting out the snacks.

They took an inefficient amount of time to get it all done. When Katsuki tried to let them know, the others laughed, but they listened to his instructions. They weren’t afraid. Or actually annoyed. He wondered if he’d ever get used to it.

When Sero put down the last fake spider, Kirishima and Kaminari went to the kitchen.

Kirishima filled a hot pink drink shaker with ice and handed it to Sero before he went back to help his friend. “Let’s get ready!”

“What am I making?” Sero yelled.

The two returned with shot glasses and a normal cup. Kaminari glanced at Katsuki. “Four brain damage shots and let me just find—”

“Five.”

Kaminari raised an eyebrow. “I thought you didn’t drink.”

“I never said that!” Katsuki put his hands in his jacket pockets with more force than necessary. They were all looking at him. “I think it’s weird to drink with random extras around. I don’t wanna be friendly with someone I wouldn’t say shit to sober. Plus— nevermind.” He couldn’t afford to be too open about his emotions in general. Especially to Izuku. 

Right now, though, his only hesitation was that he knew he wouldn’t be able to ride back with his friend, but they could do that later. They will.

“Is this your roundabout way of saying you trust us?” Kirishima smiled widely and slung an arm over his shoulder. The red cape draped over both of them. Katsuki resisted the urge to hug him too.

“Fuck off.”

“I hate that that made me emotional,” Sero said, sounding genuinely annoyed.

“Just make five and shut up.”

“ You’re welcome .” They poured something into the shaker over the ice and closed it.

“Whatever. Thanks.”

Sero poured the shots, then they added something else on top to make it cloudy and weird. Kaminari raised his glass.  “To being hot and making bad decisions.” 

They all laughed. Katsuki followed the others’ gestures, and the drink tasted surprisingly good.

Ashido told her phone to take a photo of all of them when they took a second round. 

Ten minutes later, Katsuki’s head was pleasantly warm and fuzzy. Not enough to make him lose it, but enough that he almost forgot to open the door to the living room before he walked out.

Kirishima was right behind him. “You okay, Bakugou?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s just two drinks.”

“Just checking in!” He put a hand over Katsuki’s arm. “Be careful, though, you might get drunk faster if you aren’t used to it.”

“I can take care of myself, Red.”

Kirishima smiled. The contrast between his sharp teeth and cute costume made Katsuki restless. “That’s a new one. It’s not even an insult.”

“I mean, if you’d rather I insulted you, that's fine by me.”

They both laughed.

“She was totally feeling me, dude!” Kaminari said. The girl he was talking about had just left them after he’d tried to ask for her number. Katsuki couldn’t help but laugh a little at his expense. 

“She thought you were gay.”

“Man,” Kaminari whined. “Why do girls always think that?”

“Either dodge the catsuit or tell them, loser.” Katsuki took a sip of whatever fruity drink Sero had made him. He’d somehow ended up alone with Kaminari after he’d danced with Ashido and Hagakure, and while it was entertaining to watch him hit on everyone he met it was becoming repetitive. “Have you seen Kirishima?”

Kaminari knocked his shoulder into Katsuki’s. “I’m starting to think you guys would die if you didn’t talk for ten minutes.”

“Fuck off.” 

“I think he went to the kitchen with Tetsu. Have fun!”

“You have fun getting rejected,” Katsuki replied. 

He found Kirishima where Kaminari had said he would, with a small group of people. They got comments on their matching costumes again. It was kind of weird, since Tetsu and Kendou were matching too, but it made Katsuki happy. 

He’d always assumed he’d have to put up with Izuku romantically to feel like he belonged somewhere, and now he was watching everyone around him just accept that he and Kirishima went together even if they didn’t know how exactly. Watched Kirishima smile in response, not even suggesting that he didn’t want it. 

They went back to the living room. He didn’t know what was happening. Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt, and Kirishima was a terrible dancer, and Katsuki wanted his hands on him. 

“You’re stupid,” he said. “Do you even know how to dance?”

“Does it matter?” Kirishima smiled. The pink of the blinking lights reflected in his eyes.

Katsuki scoffed. “Shut up and pay attention.”

“Sure.”

Katsuki grabbed one of his hands and put it over his shoulder. Kirishima was standing still and flexible, letting him take the lead entirely, and something about it made a warm shiver run down Katsuki’s side. He put Kirishima’s other hand over his waist, holding it in place for a second too long.

He let go and led Kirishima into a simple rhythm.

When Katsuki spun him, his skirt twirled and it made him smile. It was so cute that Katsuki was overwhelmed by the need to hug him.

 “I shouldn’t be surprised you’re amazing at this too.”

Katsuki scoffed. “You’re being stupid.” Despite himself, he could feel blood rush into his cheeks. 

Kirishima smiled and they kept dancing together, even after the song ended. He tried to take the lead, and he wasn’t doing that terribly.

Someone tapped Katsuki’s shoulder. They were too close, pushed into him by everyone else around them, and he only relaxed when he realized it was Sero. They opened their hand to show what looked like a hybrid between a pen and an USB stick. “Want some?”

“I’ll take it,” Kirishima said. He didn’t let go of Katsuki.

“What’s that?”

“Weed.” Sero walked toward the couch and the other three followed. 

Katsuki should’ve been angrier than he was. He should’ve been furious. As it stood, he wasn’t even sure that he’d say no.

There were some other people on the couch, and none of them stood up when they got there. Ashido and Sero sat down, then Kaminari and Kirishima.  Katsuki realized quickly that there wasn’t enough room for him too. That was fine. He’d just stand.

He looked down at Kirishima and he got another idea.

“This okay?” he asked, sitting down across Kirishima’s legs. He nodded, looking away. It had taken Katsuki a while, but he got it now. He could just be touchy with his friend if he wanted to. It was kinda weird that he did, but whatever. He felt warm all over.

Kirishima took a drag of the pen and held it out to Katsuki. 

He’d been ambivalent about it before, but when he saw that the end of it was glistening in the low light he didn’t hesitate to take it. It tasted weird. He coughed into his elbow.

Sero took it away. “Here, this way.” They took a hit and held it in, only breathing out a few seconds later.

“I can do it better, Soy Sauce Face!”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” they said with a shit-eating grin. Katsuki did get it better the second time, and he made sure to flip them off. The five of them got a comfortable rotation.

Katsuki leaned back into Kirishima to relieve some of the tension in his back. Hot, unexpected tingles ran up his spine where they touched. When Kirishima took the pen next, Katsuki couldn’t help but stare at him. At the way his lips opened around it. How soft they looked, how they’d feel on—

Katsuki shivered.

He didn’t feel in control of his body or his mind.

His dick hurt . It was so fucking weird. He didn’t know what to think, and being so close to Kirishima just made it worse the more they touched. 

He ground down against his thigh, moving slowly enough that it wouldn’t be noticeable. There was just one layer of clothing between them, and that was driving Katsuki fucking insane. The noise of the party was static in his ears. He barely held back a moan, closing his eyes against the sudden pleasure. 

It wasn’t like anything he’d done before. Katsuki only really got off as an afterthought.

He got lost in the feeling too easily. Kirishima’s chest was warm against his back, and Katsuki could faintly smell his cologne. He wanted to get closer, but he didn’t even know what that would mean. 

Kirishima pulled down on the chain on Katsuki’s collar. Hard.

“Behave.”

That made everything so much worse. Katsuki choked on a sound in the back of his throat. He stopped moving. 

Some sick, twisted part of him wanted Kirishima to tell him he was doing well, holding back despite how much he needed it. At least they were still touching.

Katsuki wasn’t sure if the weed made him feel anything, but he lost track of time after that. 

His head was spinning. He knew he danced some more, both with his friends and with people he’d never met before. He took off his jacket at some point, and Kirishima took off his shirt and corset. When he tried to argue that it was the same thing, Katsuki just laughed. Random couples were making out throughout the room. A group of people were taking shots together.

Katsuki was standing in a corner talking to Kirishima, listening to him say something about one of the guys in the group. Apparently they used to talk a year ago or something. Katuski was angry to hear about it at first until he heard the full story, then he was mad at the guy exclusively.

“And then—wait, look to your left.”  Kirishima pointed at something and Katsuki followed.

Ashido and Sero were dancing very closely, to the point that their entire bodies were touching. She had a knee between their legs. “Are they—”

Sero leaned down and kissed her. That answered that.

“Oh my god.” Kirishima’s eyes widened.

“Did you think this was gonna happen?”

“I mean, something was there, but—” Kirishima hesitated. Katsuki hadn’t even noticed that, so he had nothing to add. “I didn’t know if she’d go for it. She wasn’t sure last time we talked.”

They stood there for a few more seconds, swaying to the music, before Kirishima pulled away.

“I think I gotta go be a good friend,” he said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Sure.”

Katsuki watched Kirishima walk for a few seconds until he realized he wasn’t alone. A guy in a half-assed zombie costume had taken his friend’s place, a little too close for comfort. He had space. This was unnecessary.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

Katsuki gave it, and he answered with his own, which Katsuki proceeded to forget immediately. Whatever. If he had a reason to care, he’d ask later.

“So, who do you know here?”

“I’m friends with Kirishima and Ashido,” Katsuki said.

“That’s cool! I’m in Tetsutetsu’s math class,” the extra volunteered, despite the fact that Katsuki hadn't asked him back on purpose. He wasn’t sure if he was being hit on, and he didn’t particularly want to find out. 

The guy leaned in closer and touched Katsuki’s costume ears. “They're cute, baby.” Well, that cleared up that question. Fucking great. Disgust rolled through him so intensely that he felt like he might throw up.

“ Excuse me?”

The guy laughed. His breath smelled like vodka. “Hey, hey, chill out, gorgeous.”

The word gorgeous alone would have made him recoil. “Leave me the fuck alone!” Katsuki slapped his arm away. 

The guy opened his mouth to protest again when a hand slipped over Katsuki’s lower back. He tensed up and looked behind himself only to realize it was Kirishima. More of those weird tingles ran down his body. He leaned into the touch.

“We were just going to the kitchen.” Kirishima’s voice was low. “Isn’t that right, Katsuki?”

The guy backed away. “Sorry, I didn’t know—”

“Of course, Eijirou .” He’d meant it as a joke, but when Eijirou’s breath caught audibly he swore he’d never call him anything else. This was fun. Whatever weird tingle he’d felt when Eijirou had said his first name in that tone was mutual.

 Katsuki followed him into the hallway, not looking back for a second.

“I—” Eijirou leaned onto a wall. “I’m gonna get some water. You need some too.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

Eijirou’s red eyes still hadn’t gotten to their usual warmth, and when Katsuki said that they became molten. He closed one of his fists around the frilly edge of his skirt. “It’ll help,” he said in that same low voice. Katsuki wondered what he’d meant to say instead. 

He listened to him without question.

Eijirou’d been right, which was annoying: the water did make some of the dizziness go away. Katsuki was still far from sober, but he was less likely to stumble on the way back to the living room.

“Mina said it’s all good.”

“Still gonna be awkward as fuck,” Katsuki said. He blinked, trying to find the kitchen door.

“I guess. We’ll see what they’ll say tomorrow.” Eijirou took a look at him and slid a hand around over his lower back again. “We’re done.”

“Hm?”

“We’re not partying anymore. You aren’t sober enough, and the fucking—the assholes whoever invited, because I sure didn’t—they don’t care.”

Katsuki wasn’t sure what he meant, but his hand was so warm, and he looked angry , and it made that weird need from earlier come back. He wanted to be closer, close enough to make it go away. He followed Eijirou to his room and waited for him to close the door.

Away from the noise outside, Katsuki’s head felt like it was filled with cotton. He was happy, terrifyingly so. 

They sat down on Eijirou’s bed. He must’ve been more drunk than he let on, because he swayed to the side, leaning on Katsuki’s shoulder. “Sorry, bro.”

“Shut up.” 

He didn’t get it. Katsuki wanted him closer . He grabbed his shoulders and pushed him down, until his head was in Katsuki’s lap and it finally felt comfortable. Before Eijirou could say anything, Katsuki put a hand over his head to hold him down. “You look tired.”

“I’m gonna pass out soon.”

“Need me to do anything?”

Eijirou closed his eyes and smiled ever so slightly. “You’re worse than I am.” He smoothed down his skirt, drawing Katsuki’s attention to his legs. Fuck. He could crush something with them. Katsuki really didn’t need that mental image. “Gimme five minutes and I’ll figure out what to do.”

He’d been sweating. His hair was starting to fall out of his usual spikes, and Katsuki wanted to touch it. He thought for a second that he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t remember why and that had to mean it wasn’t important. 

“It’s not as soft as I thought,” he said, running his fingers through a section. “Who the fuck uses that much hair gel?” He tried to untangle it.

Eijirou’s eyes shot open. “Don’t—don’t pull it!” His voice was breathy. Katsuki liked it. 

“You had no problem pulling my collar.”

Eijirou groaned, running a hand over his face. “And I shouldn’t have done that, so stop it.”

Katsuki had no idea what he meant, but he knew he agreed. Eijirou shouldn’t have done that. For reasons. 

He ran his fingers through his friend’s hair again, more gently this time. His forehead was damp, and it should’ve been gross, but Katsuki couldn’t care less. Eijirou relaxed under him. He even pushed his head into Katsuki’s hand when he stopped. 

Katsuki swayed and let himself slump forward. He braced himself on Eijirou’s shoulder, blinked, and realized they were close enough that their noses were almost touching.

Their eyes met.

Eijirou’s were warm, filled with barely contained emotion.

“Katsuki,” he whispered. “What are we doing?” His breath smelled like liquor. If you asked Katsuki his own last name, he would’ve gotten it wrong.

“I don’t know,” he said, his voice coming out softer than he expected. He felt like he had to whisper.

Eijirou sat up, his face inches from Katsuki. “Seriously, because— Katsuki, what are we doing?”

He felt more confused now. “What?”

Eijirou blinked. “Oh my god. How drunk are you?”

“Am I supposed to fuckin’ measure it? Yes.”

Eijirou chuckled and Katsuki could feel the vibration in his thighs. His fingers slipped over Eijirou’s bare shoulders. He dug his hands in, making him choke on his next breath, and it didn’t feel like enough. Katsuki felt like he was on the brink of something he’d never recover from.

The red in Eijirou’s eyes was half lost, swallowed by something Katsuki couldn’t quite describe, but he knew he wanted to see again and again.

Then Eijirou buried his head in hands and the moment was gone. He stood up from Katsuki’s lap, swaying a little and leaning onto his shoulder. “How are you getting home?” When Katsuki didn’t answer, he continued. “You gotta call your husband.”

Katsuki felt like he’d been dunked in cold water.

“Fuck no.” Why would Eijirou want Izuku there? He had Katsuki. 

“I—” Eijirou opened his phone. “It’s four in the morning. The last subway was like three hours ago, and I can’t drive.”

“So let me sleep here.” Katsuki smiled, satisfied, and tried to drag him back into his lap. Annoyingly, Eijirou wasn’t having it.

“You have to at least ask him if he can pick you up.”

“Do you not want me here, is that it?”

“Katsuki.” His eyes were surprisingly sober. “I do want you here, and if your husband can’t come I’ll sleep on the couch—” Eijirou scrunched his nose. Katsuki couldn’t blame him, that couch had seen things. “—but you’re drunk and this isn’t…I don’t know.”

“I’m not calling him.”

“Then I will!” He slid a hand into Katsuki’s pocket and took his phone out before he could even realize anything had happened.

“Give me my phone back, you bitch!” Katsuki tumbled forward, trying to pry it out of his hand, and if everything didn’t feel like it was spinning maybe he would’ve been more successful. As it was, Eijirou grabbed his hand and used his thumb to open it. 

Katsuki blinked. He realized the position he was in, and suddenly he didn’t mind as much. He was straddling Eijirou’s legs. It wasn’t close enough, though, and he was getting sleepy, so he moved closer.

Eijirou cursed in a low tone and pressed the call button.

Chapter Text

Ring. 

Ring.

Ring—

Izuku grabbed his phone and silenced it at once. It was still ringing but the noise had been cut off. Moving hurt he was so exhausted. After they closed the event the calls started coming in. It was almost comical. They had to put out a small bonfire at a Halloween party and he himself went on three different emergency call runs just because it was mandatory that an ambulance, police unit, and fire unit report to emergency calls. He’d only fallen asleep an hour ago. 

He checked his phone. It was so bright in the darkness of the room that it blinded him for a moment. Kacchan was calling him. 

Wait, it was past four in the morning. Why was Kacchan calling him? 

Immediately the worst possibilities slammed into Izuku’s brain. It was an emergency. He shot up onto his knees suddenly wide awake. He answered. “Kacchan? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, um, hi.” It was a voice Izuku had never heard before. What the hell was going on??? “Is this Bakugou’s husband Izuku?” 

His heart was pounding in his chest. “Yes?” he asked. His mouth felt dry. He swallowed hard. “Is Katsuki okay? Who is this?” 

“Yeah, no, Bakugou’s fine! He’s right here next to me. This is Kirishima Eijirou. Bakugou’s friend? He’s here at my place and we’ve all had a lot to drink so he really doesn’t have a ride home so—” 

“Dekuuuu!” Kacchan yelled through the phone. He sounded further away than Kirishima. “I wanna sleep over at Eijirou’s.” 

Time slowed down. Kacchan sounded trashed. He was drunk out of his mind and wanted to sleep at Kirishima’s house? “What?” Izuku asked. This was insane. “No! What the hell—” he stood up from his bed. “No, I’ll come pick him up.” 

“Oh cool! I can text you my address and— Hey wait, Katsuki, hold on—” It sounded like a small shuffle. “Hahaha! Katsuki, that tickles, wait-”

Something dark stirred inside Izuku. 

“Deku!” Kacchan yelled into the phone. “I wanna sleep over!” 

He was so loud so suddenly Izuku had to pull the phone away from his ear. Eijirou. Katsuki. Given names? They were using given names? He was going to be sick. He grabbed his pants off the floor and started to pull them off. “Yes. Address. Right now. I am on my way.” 

“Give that back—” Kirishima must have grabbed the phone. “Awesome. I’ll text you as soon as I can. We’ll wait up for you! In the meantime, I’ll keep him awake.” 

Izuku bet he’d like to. 

He was fucking angry. “Great!” Izuku yelled despite himself. He cringed and lowered his voice. “Great,” he said, more quietly this time. 

“Cool! See you in a bit then!” Kirishima hung up. 

He stared down at his phone in disbelief. He pocketed it and went to grab his shoes and his coat. He walked out of the dorms trying not to disturb anyone still asleep. He made his way downstairs and walked to the break room. 

Togata was the only one awake. It must be his turn on watch. He looked up as Izuku entered the room. “Hey, Midoriya—woah are you alright?” 

Izuku shook his head. “I’m really sorry,” he said. “I have to go. I’m having a family emergency.” 

He stood up from the break table at once. “Oh shoot. Is everything alright— wait sorry. No, just go. Take the rest of your shift off. I hope everything ends up okay.” 

“Thanks. I’ll um— I’ll come back for the rest of my stuff later but I have to go right now. I’ll uh... I’ll keep you posted.” He left the room and grabbed his coat and keys. 

The entire drive, Izuku was tense. He sped up half the way there, happy the streets were so empty this late at night. He got a little lost trying to find Kirishima’s apartment in the complex but he parked his car, found the right building, and marched up to his floor. 

He found the right apartment number and knocked on the door hard. A moment later the door swung open. 

A young man with blond hair stood on the other side. He was cute, in a way. More pressingly he was wearing a tight black bodysuit, a pair of cat ears that were slightly askew, smudged cat makeup, and a long tail. He leaned on the door frame, his eyes rolling up and down Izuku’s body. He was still in uniform. “Hey, there Mr. Firefighter.” He licked his lips, clearly intoxicated. “You’re so hot you should... Put yourself out. Yeah!”

“Where is my husband?” Izuku asked, completely bulldozing him. 

“Oh, hey!” Behind the blond, a familiar-looking man stepped out. Kirishima, Izuku realized. He’d only seen him from a distance before. Izuku paled at the sight of him. He was almost naked. Shirtless with only a tiny skirt around his waist. To make matters worse he was good-looking. Tall, broad. Things Izuku was not. It made his stomach churn. “Izuku, right?” 

He stepped into the apartment. “Why don’t we stick with Midoriya,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “Where is my husband—” 

“Eiiiiijirou!” Kacchan cried. He came out of the hallway and flung himself onto Kirishima’s back, wrapping his arms around one of Kirishima’s and hung off him. He looked disheveled. His jacket was gone and his shirt was rumpled. “You walked away.” 

What the actual fuck was going on? Kacchan was shit-faced! He was clingy and— fuck! Izuku was so pissed. He couldn’t even form normal rational thoughts he was so pissed. His hands clenched into tight fists. He had to get Kacchan the fuck out of there before Izuku did something he’d regret.

Kirishima gently pushed Kacchan off and motioned at Izuku. “Hey Katsuki, look who’s here to get you!” He used a soft sing-song voice. Like the way you’d talk to a child. 

Kacchan turned to face Izuku. “Deku?” he asked. “Why are you here? I told you I was sleepin’ over. Stupid Deku...” he grumbled and laid his head on Kirishima’s bare shoulder. 

He had to bite his tongue so hard he drew blood. Izuku’s entire body felt tight. Like a piece of twine pulled so taught it would snap at any moment. “Kacchan,” he growled. “Get over here. Right now. It’s time to go home.” 

“Ugh fine!” Kacchan let Kirishima go and openly pouted. He walked over to Izuku. “This is stupid. You shouldn’t tell me what to do.” 

Kirishima smiled and followed behind Kacchan. “See you next time, dude!” He ruffled Kacchan’s hair affectionately. 

“Byeee!” Kacchan said and turned to walk but his legs gave out from under him. He stumbled. 

Izuku caught him at once. “Okay, I’ve had enough of this.” He didn’t say a word to Kirishima or the catsuit boy. He picked his husband up in a fireman’s carry and walked out the door. 

Kacchan leaned over his shoulder. “I’ll call!” 

They didn’t say a word on the walk back to the car. He didn’t fight when Izuku buckled him into the car. Even if he did, Izuku probably couldn’t hear him. All he could hear was the blood rushing through his head. He was so angry. He was surprised they didn’t crash on the way home. It was like he was in a trance. 

He parked the car in the driveway and got out. He slammed the car door shut so hard the sound echoed through the quiet neighborhood. He walked around to the other door and grabbed Kacchan out of the seat and picked him up. He flopped into Izuku like a dead fish. 

Kacchan didn’t weigh a lot but Izuku was so tired it felt like he was carrying something three times his weight. He walked up to their door and tried to fumble with their keys. “Dammit—” he grunted and gently moved to hold Kacchan with one arm as he unlocked the house. 

“...You’re strong,” Kacchan muttered. 

“Yeah,” Izuku grunted out. He made his way into the house and closed the door behind him, locking it. He didn’t bother to kick off his shoes. He walked through the house and up the stairs to their bedroom. He almost threw Kacchan onto the bed. 

He bounced a little as he hit the mattress. His ears had somehow managed to stay on the whole ride home. “Mmm,” Kacchan grunted. “Our bed is so comfy. You gotta try this shit.” 

“Mhmm.” Izuku couldn’t speak. He got down on his knees and pulled Kacchan’s shoes off and tossed them to the other side of the room. He stood up and moved his hands up to undo the collar around Kacchan’s neck. 

“Do ya like it?” he asked. 

“What?” Izuku asked, stopping in his tracks. 

Kacchan managed to sit up. “My collar. I asked if ya liked it. You were asking to see me in it and the ears earlier. So... You wanna?” 

“Are you seriously asking to have sex right now?” Izuku asked in disgust. 

He giggled. “I think I’m horny,” he said. “I wanna do it. Do me, Deku.” He gave Izuku a cheeky grin. 

Izuku shook his head, physically recoiling. “I cannot fucking believe you right now.” Then, he did something for the first time in their marriage. “No. Go to bed, Kacchan. You are drunk out of your mind.” 

“Boo,” Kacchan grumbled but laid back down in the bed. “I fuck you drunk. Whatever.” He grabbed a pillow and turned on his side. 

He shook his head and turned his back on Kacchan. “I can’t— fuck.” He left the room and closed the door behind him. He was shaking. He needed to calm down. He walked back downstairs. 

Izuku’s head was swimming. All he could picture was Kacchan hanging off Kirishima. Giggling all the while. Calling him Eijirou. He felt like he was going insane. What was going on with Kacchan? Why was he doing this? Was he unhappy? Was Izuku that horrible of a husband that he drove Kacchan to do something like this? He just didn’t understand. 

He sat down on the couch and stared off into space. His thoughts turned aimless. Less fixated on a certain point and more on the same little half-thoughts over and over again. His mind was running in circles. 

Izuku didn’t sleep that night. 

When Katsuki woke up, his head hurt like a bitch.

He immediately closed his eyes again. The light made everything worse. 

Slowly, he started remembering how he’d ended up back home. Izuku, dragging him away. Eijirou—was he still Eijirou to him in the daylight?—telling him he had to call his husband. The way they’d spent the night by each other’s side. The more details he tried to remember, the worse it hurt. He opened his eyes one more damn time.

He needed to take something for his head, maybe drink some water, and then he could text his friends and see what they thought. 

He passed the living room on the way to the kitchen. Izuku was on the couch, staring into his own lap like he was in a trance. Had he been there all night? That couldn’t be healthy. He’d have to see what was wrong later.

“Morning,” Katsuki said. His voice sounded weird, even to his own ears. 

Izuku didn’t look up from his lap. “Morning,” he said briskly. “So. You want to do this now, or after you shower?” 

“The fuck do we have to do?”

“I dunno Kacchan, what the fuck do you think?” He stood up and faced Katsuki for the first time. He looked terrible, with dark bags under his eyes. He sounded mad. It was a little alarming; Izuku rarely got angry. “You want to explain why you got so shit-faced at a college party that I had to leave work to come get you?” 

“You didn’t have to leave work. I could’ve slept there, it would’ve been fucking fine.” Katsuki blinked to clear his eyesight. 

He walked into the kitchen, opened the container on the counter, and took two ibuprofen pills.

Izuku followed after him and stopped in the doorway of their kitchen. “No? I didn’t? Are you sure? Because when I showed up to get you, you were all over him! Giggling and hugging his arm. Calling him Eijirou.” He spat the name out with disgust. 

“What did you think was gonna happen?” The anger cleared Katsuki’s head slightly. “The least you could do is come out and fuckin’ say it.”

“You want me to say it?” he asked. “Okay! Fine! I’ll say it. If I hadn’t come to pick you up last night you would have jumped right into Kirishima’s bed. Or wait, I’m sorry. Eiiiiijirou’s bed.” 

“You act like using given names is this grand fucking declaration! People do it all the time. It started as a joke and it stuck. I didn’t think it’d be a big deal, but I guess I should’ve called you to ask for permission!” Katsuki rolled his eyes. This wasn’t how he’d thought he’d spend his morning.

Izuku grabbed at his hair. “It’s not just about the given names, Kacchan! It’s about the fact that I found you drunk out of your mind draped over a half-naked man! That’s what I care about! Did that start out as a joke too?” He groaned. “Dammit! It looked like if I had shown up five minutes later you’d be taking off his skirt too!”  

Katsuki wasn’t stupid. He knew Izuku’s eyes lingered, a lot, and he thought it was disgusting that he seemed to see everyone that way. Katsuki’d never had anyone think of him as being like that . It sent a shiver of repulsion down his spine.

“Do you really think I’m that kinda degenerate? You think I see my friends and think how much I wanna sleep with them?” Katsuki’s voice was rising steadily. “You think I’d do that to you after eleven damn years ?” He pointed at Izuku, full-on yelling now. “I’m not like you. You think I don’t notice you staring at Uraraka when we go to the beach and she’s wearing a bikini? And you don’t see me getting butthurt and insecure about it when you do!” 

“Don’t you try and turn this around on me!” Izuku yelled. “Don’t you dare! This is nothing like that. I don’t whine about wanting to sleep over! I don’t hang off her half-fucking-naked!”

“And if you wanted to sleep over at hers, I wouldn’t say shit, because that’s a normal thing to do!”

Izuku shook his head in disbelief. “Wow. Wow! Okay. You want to talk about normal and not normal? Because you know what’s not normal? A man pushing thirty hanging out with a bunch of college kids!” 

“What does that have to do—”

“I mean, seriously, Kacchan. Drinking until four in the morning? You hardly drink at all. Why are you so fixated on these people anyway? Does it feel good being a ‘cool kid’ again? Is it a mid-life crisis? Are you that unhappy? Or are you just immature and can’t make friends your own age?” 

Katsuki felt like he’d been punched in the face. His eyes stung, but he didn’t want to give Izuku the satisfaction of crying. “Like you ever fucking care that I’m unhappy.” His voice broke a little and he hated himself for it.

For a moment, Katsuki wasn’t sure if Izuku was going to say anything back. His face went blank. He stood there, staring at him for a long moment before—

“How dare you,” Izuku’s voice dropped to a whisper. “How fucking dare you. Katsuki, the only thing I’m ever looking for is your happiness. I have spent my ENTIRE LIFE dedicating myself to making you happy. I spent my twenties working my ass off so you could go to college. I worked overtime to afford hormones for you. I gave up so much so you could be happy. Don’t you ever say I don’t care about your happiness. Don’t you ever go there.” 

Katsuki froze. “I—I shouldn’t have said that.” 

“You really shouldn’t have,” he snapped. 

“...Sorry.”

Izuku turned his head away. He was still tense, as if he were about to start throwing things. But he didn’t move. “Kacchan, this can’t happen again. Something needs to change. Or—” he sighed. “Or— I dunno! But I can’t do this. You need to set boundaries with Kirishima.” 

“I actually don’t get what your problem is with him.” When Izuku’s mouth set into a frown, Katsuki continued. “I’m not arguing just to argue. To me it seems fine.”

“Are you serious right now?” he asked. “Do you honestly not see a problem with anything that’s been going on? Kacchan, ever since you met this guy, you’ve been acting differently. You’re not an affectionate person and suddenly you’re all over this guy you just met! How would you feel if I changed out of nowhere and was spending all my time with someone I just met? If you saw me cuddling up to another half-naked man whining and talking about sleeping over with him!” 

Katsuki paused to think.

If Izuku was doing that, it’d mean he was into this hypothetical other man. It’d have to. People didn’t just change out of nowhere for people they didn’t care about, and being touchy like that would mean flirting to damn near everyone. Not to Katsuki, because why the fuck would he be flirting , and not to Kirishima, because he actually was like that, but he understood Izuku’s assumption now.

Too bad correcting it would mean admitting he’d never been into anyone in that way, Izuku included.

“Oh. I didn’t realize how that looks.”

“You didn’t ‘realize’?” Izuku asked. “Unbelievable. I can’t—” he sighed and shook his head. “Whatever. Whatever! Believe whatever you want. But yes. It looks like you wanted to fuck him. That’s my problem. I had a bad feeling about Kirishima from the start. You’ve been so weird and shady about him. I’m not putting up with it. I never ask you for stuff like this but Katsuki... I’m begging you, stop seeing him. Please. For me.” 

“You want me to ditch all my new friends, just like that?”

Izuku groaned. “Kacchan...” He shook his head. “Fine. Whatever. I get it. This guy is the center of all your new friends. At least promise me you won’t be alone with him. Because right now I feel like I can’t trust you.”

God. Izuku really did think Katsuki would jump Kirishima’s fucking bones at the first opportunity like some kind of animal. There was nothing he could say, though, so he nodded. “Fine.” He didn’t like the idea at all. “What’s it gonna take for you to trust that I’m not attracted to him?”

“I don’t know!” Izuku yelled. “This isn’t like a parent grounding their child. You’re not earning back privileges! I’m your husband and I’m telling you your weird relationship with Kirishima is making me uncomfortable! I’m just asking you to respect me enough for once in your life to just not be alone with one person! Is that okay?” The corners of his eyes grew wet as he finally began to cry. “Can you do that?” His voice broke. “P-please?” 

Katsuki looked away. “I’ll do it, you don’t have to cry about it!” Izuku was so serious, so affected by what he’d done, that his own resolve was faltering. 

“Thank you,” Izuku said softly. “I’m... I’m gonna go shower. Then I gotta get out of the house for a while. I can’t be here right now.” He turned his back on Katsuki. “I dunno when I’ll be home. Maybe I’ll just go to the gym or something.”

“Fine, whatever.” 

“...Whatever.” Izuku left the room. 

While he was showering, Katsuki put together something to eat and poured himself a glass of water. He was lucky enough that he didn’t feel like he’d throw up any time soon. The prep work came to him automatically and gave him time to calm down. 

He’d be okay.

Izuku would too, with time. It was all going to be fine.

Maybe Katsuki would never feel that connection again, but— no. He was thinking exactly like an immature freak who couldn’t make friends his own age.

The front door shut behind Izuku. Neither of them said goodbye.

Katsuki forced himself to eat. 

He felt bad in so many different ways he wasn’t sure he’d even be able to list them, but he fixated on the one thing he had some control over. He’d have to let Kirishima know that they couldn’t meet anymore. It was nauseating. Everything about Kirishima was so sweet he couldn’t stand that he’d have to hurt him. He set out to do it in the nicest way possible, even if it wasn’t how Izuku would’ve wanted it.

In some fucked up sense, the fact that Katsuki knew it’d hurt him was comforting, because it meant neither Izuku nor Katsuki had been entirely right about how people saw him.

Someone like Kirishima really enjoyed his company without having known him his whole life.

Enough of that shit or he’d tear up again. He dialled Kirishima’s number and the phone rang three times before he responded. “You awake?” 

“Ka—Bakugou!” Kirishima’s voice was raspy with sleep. So he didn’t know which name to use either. “Just woke up. Did you get home okay last night? I was worried.”

“Fine. Well, depends what you mean by that.” Katsuki chuckled humorlessly. “Listen, we need to talk.”

“I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

“No!” Katsuki cleared his voice. It kinda hurt. “No. You didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t think you did.”

“Oh. Okay, but still—”

“Shut up,” Katsuki said decisively. His face felt hot with shame. Had Kirishima seen it the same way as Izuku? Had he been disgusted? He had a vague memory of being pushed off his friend, but everything was really fuzzy toward the end of the party.

They’d both wanted to stay together before that, though. He was sure of it. Plus Kirishima had hugged him before. He did that with his other friends too. Katsuki hated Deku for putting the doubt in his head.

“This is gonna be a weird call then.”

Katsuki’s lips twitched into a half-smile. “I’m talking to you after all.” He clenched his hand around one of his chopsticks. “Hey, can you meet me soon?”

“When?”

“Like an hour, the park by the diner?”

Kirishima sounded confused, but he simply replied with, “Sure.”

“Okay.”

Katsuki stood up. Time to get ready to end his favourite friendship. Kind of. 

Chapter Text

Katsuki gripped the subway safety bar so hard his knuckles turned white.

Izuku had seemed so sure that he and Kirishima were like that. It was making him doubt himself. He’d never even considered the possibility before, but did he see him that way? Was he into him? 

What did romantic attraction even fucking mean? Katsuki was drawn to Kirishima, he was happy when they were together, he wanted to see him succeed. Wanted to be there by his side to see it. It was different from how he felt about Izuku, more desperate, but that could very easily be because of all the bad blood there. He loved Izuku like a friend. Sometimes it was hard not to resent him for their relationship, and he knew that was unfair but that didn’t make it any less true. What he felt for Kirishima could easily be a version of his closeness to Izuku where there hadn’t been any transactions. He didn’t feel the same way for Kaminari, but they just weren’t as close. Maybe he would eventually. The warmth was there.

Katsuki sighed. He’d never understood how it was supposed to feel. He just knew he’d never gotten what his old friends had meant when they’d talked about crushes. Whenever he heard about romantic attraction it sounded like some kind of mania.

Okay then. That all made no sense. Did he want him? Would he have ‘taken off his skirt too’, like Izuku had put it?

He tried to picture doing the same thing he always did with Izuku, but with Kirishima instead. Lying there and taking it for the minimum required amount of time. The familiar unease that rolled through him was comforting. Of course it wasn’t any different.

He hated that he’d let one argument get to him to the point that he was questioning his sexuality.

But— he had felt strange. Out of his body, restless, almost angry. An unwanted image popped into his head. Kirishima’s eyes, dark and fixated on his own, his face flushed with arousal. Katsuki, pushing him down just to see how he’d react. The unease wasn’t there anymore, replaced by something hot and demanding.

Was that attraction? How the fuck would he even know? Would it matter if it was?

Katsuki wasn’t about to change his whole sense of self over a weird thought he’d had because of Izuku’s accusations.

It couldn’t be anything but a fluke. It was one time, if it even was anything. 

He’d let himself get distracted from the real problem—what the fuck was he about to tell Kirishima?

Hey, my husband thinks we need chaperones now ?  

If you need anything, don’t count on me ? 

Surprise, I hope you didn’t actually wanna spend time with me ?

He got off the subway, nowhere closer to an answer. He was about to do something he hated and thought completely unnecessary, and hurt Kirishima with it on top of everything. 

Katsuki imagined his red, cat-like eyes filled with sadness, and it made him want to kill someone.

Did he really have to do this? He knew better than Izuku. He could just say he had and stop mentioning Kirishima to him. Except—

I’m just asking you to respect me enough for once in your life to just not be alone with one person!

That made him feel terrible. Had he really not shown his husband respect? He’d never seen it that way. At the same time, Deku didn’t get it, and that was the fundamental problem here. They couldn’t actually talk about it. 

Should Katsuki agree, then? Probably. But Kirishima really did matter to him. He wasn’t a just . He wasn’t something to throw around however Izuku saw fit.

By the time he got to the park, he still didn’t know and his head was starting to hurt again. Kirishima was waiting for him on a bench near the entrance, looking a little worse for wear. The ends of his hair were wet, like he’d just gotten out of the shower, and the collar of his shirt was halfway down. 

“You okay, dude? Did something happen?” he asked, as soon as Katsuki sat down next to him.

“Fine, it’s not like that.” Avoiding the conversation would help, at least for a little bit. “Anyone die since last night?”

“The house is kinda still a mess, but I’ll deal with that later. Mina wasn’t home when I left, so her and Hanta are either amazing or horrible.” Kirishima frowned. “Denki slept on the couch. Oh, by the way—he wanted to say sorry for hitting on your husband. He was scared to text you about it.”

Katsuki scoffed and pulled out his phone. 

“What are you doing?”

“Telling him that he’s pathetic.” When Kirishima opened his mouth to protest, Katsuki cut him off. “I don’t care that he is. I just think he should know.” He replied right away, with an emoji sticking its tongue out.

“You guys really are getting along.” Kirishima smiled. 

The now-familiar affection that filled Katsuki’s chest only lasted a second. He was being seen for who he was, for what he actually meant when he did things, and that was terrible. It gave him something to lose.

“You sure you’re okay? You look sad.”

“I spent all fucking morning arguing, what do you think?” Not the full truth, but not a lie.

“I’m sorry.”

“I told you to stop apologizing!”

“Okay, then is there anything I can do to help? We can talk about it.”

He was just like that , honey-sweet. Katsuki couldn’t have dealt with someone who made him feel this warm anyway. He should be glad he had to do this.

We shouldn’t meet alone anymore.  

It wasn’t hard. Just a few words. He could do this.

“Kirishima—”

He put a hand on top of Katsuki’s arm, slowly, like he didn’t know if he could. “You can call me Eijirou. Everyone else does and I—I want you to. We’re friends. I like it when you do.”

Fuck.

Katsuki couldn’t do this. To hell with whatever Deku thought. He’d die trying to get those words out of his mouth.

“Izuku thinks I’ll cheat on him with you. I managed to get him to let me talk to everyone together, but he draws the line at just the two of us alone.”

Eijirou drew his hand back like he’d been burnt. “Then why’d you call me here? It’s not manly to ignore what he said.”

“You’re on his side?” Katsuki spat. “Why’d you even come if you think I’d try that shit?”

“Hey, no. I’m not on anyone’s side. I just—” Eijirou rubbed the back of his head nervously. “I’d probably say that too if I was him. I’d hate me. I mean I can get pretty touchy-feely with my friends, I’ve definitely given people the wrong idea before, so I can’t blame him for thinking we could be into each other if he doesn’t know me well.”

Katsuki shook his head. Eijirou didn’t know. He couldn’t know. 

“Well, I’m usually not ‘touchy-feely’, but I’m not attracted to you. I’m not attracted to anyone at all, so Deku really doesn’t have anything to worry about.” 

Eijirou frowned for a moment but quickly put it back to a neutral expression. “Woah, okay, cool. So I guess you’re demi or something?” he asked. 

“Um... No. I’m not. I’m pretty sure the term is aroace.” 

If his frantic shame-fuelled internet searches from ten years ago were anything to go by.

Eijirou’s eyebrows rose almost all the way up to his hairline. “Wait, wait, but you’re married. Aren’t you attracted to your husband? Don’t you love him?” 

“Not romantically.” It felt liberating to say that out loud. He felt lighter. He’d assumed he’d never get to share it with anyone. Looking at Eijirou’s still-shocked face, he quickly added, “Don’t tell anyone that shit or I’ll kill you.”

“Bakugou—”

“Katsuki.”

 “Okay.” Eijirou smiled ever so slightly. It went away fast. “Sorry, but why the hell are you still married?”

“Fuck, how much time do you have?”

Eijirou’s eyes softened. “For you? All of it.”

If being known was a drug, Katsuki was already addicted. He wanted to tell him everything. Plus, why wouldn’t he? What would Eijirou do, tell Izuku? 

“You know what? Fine.” He hesitated, thinking of a place to start. “For any of this to make sense, you have to know that I’m trans.”

“Oh? What should I call you?”

“What?” No way. Katsuki bit back a laugh. “I’m a trans man , you idiot! And not that it’s any of your business, but my name was always Katsuki.”

The way Eijirou was looking at him hadn’t changed one bit. Despite himself, something inside Katsuki relaxed. He hadn’t even realized he’d been scared.

“Thanks for telling me.”

“Shut up, it’s whatever. Anyway—when Izuku and I met he thought I was a girl.”

Izuku drove around in circles for a while before he stopped at a convenience store. He bought a cheap cup noodle meal and sat in his car eating it. He was so exhausted and angry. How did Kacchan think any of last night was okay? Did he seriously not get why his relationship with Kirishima was inappropriate? It looked like they were about to sleep together!

...What if he had before? 

Kacchan could have lied about the birthday. Maybe they were alone then too? He shook his head and took a large bite of noddle. Kacchan wouldn’t do that. Right? Then again... It was obvious he was attracted to Kirishima at least after last night with the way he was hanging off him.

Was it though? Kacchan did seem to be genuinely shocked that Izuku was upset. Maybe Izuku was reading this all wrong. Kirishima didn’t act like Kacchan was doing anything unusual.  Was... was he overreacting? Maybe this wasn’t that big of a deal. Was he being insecure? He usually was. Kacchan generally knew better about these kinds of things. 

No! He shouldn’t think like that. Besides, even if Kacchan didn’t have feelings for him it still made Izuku upset. He should try and be considerate because he’s his partner! But how would Izuku feel if Kacchan asked him to cut off a new friend? What would he do if Kacchan wanted to cut contact with Todoroki? 

He’d hate to do something like that. 

Izuku felt so torn up about all this. He needed to talk to someone about this. To make sure he wasn’t being crazy. Iida was immediately out. He had a newborn to take care of. Izuku would be damned if he bothered him with his problems right now. Uraraka was out too. Ever since she and her girlfriend Toga moved in together it was a lot harder to hang out. Mostly because Toga sort of freaked Izuku out. He supposed he could ask to meet her alone but he didn’t want to have to explain why. Shinsou wasn’t a bad choice though. He could be a tad apathetic but maybe that was what Izuku needed. Then, he remembered something.

“Listen, if you ever need someone to talk to about all this, feel free to call me any time. Day or night. I’ll listen.” 

He put his noodles down and pulled out his phone. He made a call. 

“Hello? Midoriya? I thought you were working today.” Todoroki picked up on the second ring.

“...I left work. Um, are you doing anything right now?” 

“I’m free. Are you alright? You sound distressed.” 

Izuku let out a shaky breath. “No, um... I’m not okay right now. C-can we meet up?” 

“I’ll text you my address now,” Todoroki said. “Come right over. Text me when you’re here and I’ll come down for you.” 

“Okay. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” Izuku hung up the phone without saying goodbye properly. It didn’t matter. Todoroki’s text came a moment later. He plugged it into his G.P.S. It was less than a ten-minute drive. Izuku put his car in gear and left the parking lot. 

The drive to Todoroki’s wasn’t long. He felt like he was in a trance. He followed the G.P.S. to a fancy apartment complex. He parked his car and texted Todoroki that he was there. He got a reply at once. 

I called the front desk to say I was expecting a guest. Just tell them you’re Midoriya Izuku and you’re here to see me. They’ll let you take the elevator up to the 46th floor. I’m room 467.

Izuku stared up at the tall building. He’d seen it a few times while driving around in downtown Musutafu. “Todoroki-kun lives so fancy...” he muttered before he made his way inside. The lobby was white and pristine with a large hanging light fixture serving as art. He walked around it to the front desk. “I’m here to see Todoroki Shouto?” he said, unsure. “I’m Midoriya Izuku.” 

The woman at the front desk eyed Izuku suspiciously. He must look like garbage. “I see... Todoroki-sama did say he was expecting you. You can take the elevator over there.” She motioned down the left hall. 

“Thank you.” Izuku gave a quick bow and walked to the elevator. There was an attendant who called it for him and hit the proper button before sending Izuku up alone. The elevator shot through the first forty floors so fast that his stomach flipped. It slowed down and reached floor 46. 

He left the elevator with jelly legs and walked down the hall to door 467. He knocked. 

A moment later the door opened. “Hey,” Todoroki said once he appeared. “Come on in. You look exhausted.” He took Izuku by the hand and pulled him inside. “Take off your shoes I have guest slippers and I put a pot of tea on.” 

Izuku nodded and kicked off his sneakers and graciously accepted the slippers. He followed Todoroki into the apartment proper. “...Woah,” Izuku marveled looking around. Todoroki’s apartment looked like it was out of the movies. It was huge with tall ceilings. One wall was almost all window floor to ceiling. In the middle of the apartment was a large glass fireplace. 

“Sit,” Todoroki ordered, motioning at one of the cream-colored couches. He walked past Izuku into the kitchen. 

He walked over to the couch and sat down. “This place is amazing,” he said. 

“Thanks.” Todoroki appeared holding two white mugs of tea. “Here, let that steep a few minutes.” He put them down on the small coffee table and sat next to Izuku on the couch. “So, what’s going on?” 

Where should he even begin? He opened his mouth to speak but just the thought made his stomach twist. “I feel like I’m going crazy,” he finally squeaked out. His eyes teared up. 

Todoroki scooted closer. “What do you mean?” he asked. 

“L-last night...” he began. “Last night I got a call at four in the morning. It was Kirishima. Kacchan was so drunk that he was either going to spend the night there or need a ride home. And I couldn’t let him sleep there. I just couldn’t. It felt... I dunno.” 

“Wait, what?” he asked, his eyes growing wide. “Bakugou called you at four in the morning for a drunk pick-up? Why was he that drunk? I mean I suppose it was Halloween but getting that drunk without a ride is just irresponsible.” 

“I thought the same thing! Is it weird I didn’t just let him sleep over though?” 

Todoroki shook his head. “Not at all. I wouldn’t want my partner to sleep at someone else’s place. Especially not intoxicated.” 

Izuku let out a sigh of relief. “There was more to it too! It sounded like they were being giggly and flirty on the phone.” 

“Definitely not letting my partner sleep there then. So, what happened next? You were at work right?” 

“I left work. I wouldn’t have been able to handle being there knowing about Kacchan. I picked him up but when I got there Kirishima came out in nothing but a skirt and Kacchan kept hanging off his arm and saying how much he wanted to sleep over!” 

“He what?” 

“Then I took him home,” Izuku went on,  his words getting faster together and jumbled. “And when we got home he wanted to be intimate, which is pretty unlike him, but I told him no because he was drunk out of his mind. Then this morning we got into the biggest fight of our marriage because he didn’t think he did anything wrong! In the end, I told him to set some boundaries with Kirishima and not be alone with him but now I feel like that might have been the wrong call. Because what if I just made Kacchan end one of his first real friendships in a long time for no reason? What if I’m crazy? Kacchan really didn’t see the big deal and he’s so—” 

Todoroki took his hands, stopping Izuku in his tracks. “You didn’t do a thing wrong. You’re talking about setting pretty normal boundaries. Asking your partner to not be alone with someone because it makes you uncomfortable is a standard request. And I think you have ample reason. If I saw a partner of mine hanging off a half-naked man... I’d go ballistic.” 

“You would?” Izuku asked, relief settling along his shoulders. He wasn’t crazy. 

“Yeah. That crosses so many lines. And to do it in front of you. He’s doubling down that he did nothing wrong too?” 

He nodded. 

“Ugh. That’s terrible. Though, something you mentioned. You said it was ‘unlike’ Bakugou to want to be intimate with you?” 

Izuku’s face burned red with shame. He turned his face away from Todoroki. “...Yeah,” he whispered. “Kacchan um... I guess I’m...” He tried to think of how to put it. I’m inadequate. Kacchan is so unattracted to me that he has to get himself horny looking at someone way better than me just to have sex. “I dunno. Kacchan and I aren’t very... active.” 

Todoroki’s posture changed. “No?” he asked. “I’m sorry if this is a sore spot but that seems surprising to me.” 

He shrugged. “It’s not for lack of me trying. I dunno... Kacchan just has a lower sex drive than I do.” 

“You’re unsatisfied.” 

“I wouldn’t say that,” Izuku said quickly. “I have to be satisfied. It’s... It’s Kacchan.” 

“So?” Todoroki leaned in closer. He was wearing his cologne again. The smell of it made Izuku shiver. “I honestly don’t get that sometimes. You’re so kind and sweet. He doesn’t appreciate you at all. He’s leaving you unsatisfied. Not just sexually. If you’re asking for my opinion, you can do better than Bakugou.” 

“I really can’t,” Izuku said. “Even if I could...” he shook his head. Todoroki didn’t understand. Loving Kacchan was a lifelong endeavor. He’d been on this path too long to give up now. “Kacchan is Kacchan. You know? I’ve loved him for so long and...” 

Todoroki frowned. “How did he manage to snag you as a husband anyway? You mentioned that you were childhood friends but did he keep you under his thumb for that long?” 

Izuku shook his head “No, it’s not like that. I’m the one that chased him.” He was always chasing Kacchan. “I’ve loved Kacchan since... I’m not sure. I can’t remember not loving him. Some of my first memories are of loving Kacchan.” 

“Tell me about it,” Todoroki said. “I won’t understand unless you do.” 

“Right... Well, when I was little Kacchan and I used to play together.” 

He remembered back to being a child. Back before Izuku knew exactly who Kacchan was. He didn’t tell Todoroki about that part. The message was the same. 

The doorbell rang. Izuku had been waiting by the door ever since Mama told him Kacchan was coming over to play. He bolted to the door and opened it all on his own. “Hi Kacchan!” Izuku exclaimed. 

Kacchan stood on the doorstep with her mother. Kacchan was wearing a powder blue dress with matching bows in her hair. Bakugou-san smiled at Izuku, wearing a matching blue top. They usually matched. “Hello Izuku-kun. Look at you, being the man of the house. Answering the door.” 

Izuku beamed. “I’m just so happy! Kacchan is here!” 

Mama appeared behind Izuku. “Izuku, I told you not to answer the door by yourself. You’re too little.” 

“Aw come Inko, it was sweet,” Bakugou-san cooed. “You’ve got a good strong boy there.” 

“Well here, come on in!” Mama invited them both inside. “I just put on a pot of tea.” 

Kacchan followed her mother inside but didn’t take off her shoes. “Hey Izuku, I wanna play outside.” 

Izuku grinned. “Okay! Mama fixed the swing so we can see who can jump the furthest again!”

“Yeah!” 

“Huh?” Bakugou-san said. “Katsuki, if you go out there you better not get a spot of dirt on that dress. It’s brand new!” 

“I won’t,” Kacchan said before whispering, “Hag.” 

Bakugou-san patted her head gently before she turned to Izuku. “Izuku-kun you better take good care of Katsuki out there. Okay?” 

“Okay!” Izuku said. 

Kacchan grabbed Izuku by the hand. “Come on!” she snapped and dragged Izuku through the house and out the back door into the yard. As soon as they were outside Kacchan pulled the bows out of her hair and shoved them into the little pockets of her dress. “I wanna play All Might.”

Izuku’s eyes got wide with excitement. “Yeah! Can I be All Might?”

“No. I’m All Might,” Kacchan insisted. 

He blinked “Huh? But you’re a girl. All Might’s a boy.” 

“So?” she asked defiantly. She got into Izuku’s face. “All Might is tough and I’m tougher than you. So I should be All Might.”

He couldn’t argue with that logic. Kacchan was super strong. She always won when they wrestled. But still, “I love All Might though! Can we both be All Might?” 

Kacchan seemed to consider the offer. “I guess so. But how can there be two All Mights?” 

“Um... I’m a clone!”

“That’s perfect!” Kacchan said, and then she smiled. 

Her smile made Izuku’s stomach flutter. He wanted her to smile at him like that all the time. He took her hand. “Let’s go, All Might!”

“Follow me, All Might!” She gripped his hand tight and pulled him along. Izuku went happily. 

“When we were little, things were easy. I loved him. Always. We were close. Best friends. Then... I dunno. Something with him changed. I’m not sure why. But... things were bad,” Izuku explained. 

“Tell me about it,” Todoroki said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I’ll listen.” 

Katsuki’s dress was wet, but he didn’t care. It was the old hag deserved anyway. 

He pushed himself up, ready to get back to beating the bad guys with Izuku. After all, All Might wouldn’t let something like falling into a river get to him.

“Are you alright?”

Izuku was standing over him, smiling with his hand outstretched.

The illusion in Katsuki’s head shattered. Of course, Izuku hadn’t taken him seriously. Of course, he thought he was the one who’d actually do the saving, while Katsuki was his glorified damsel in distress.

“That has to sound stupid now,” Katsuki said. He would’ve hated the conversation if he hadn’t been so worried about Eijirou’s reaction, but that added stress was making it unbearable.

“I mean, Katsuki, you were four . If everyone had just started telling me I’m a girl I would’ve lost my shit too.”

“That’s not the same!”

“It’s not,” Eijirou agreed. “But only because of how people tend to assume.”

The fact that he genuinely seemed to believe that was fucking with Katsuki’s head. 

He wasn’t a fan of people liking him in that way, but he didn’t care that Eijirou had asked him out. In fact, it almost made him happy in hindsight. The more he thought about it the more he was sure that this was why. Eijirou was obsessed with masculinity. He saw Katsuki the same way he had always seen himself. It hadn’t even changed after he’d come out to him.

“You’re weird,” he said, unsure how to convey that. Or if he should at all.

Eijirou shrugged. “What happened after that?”

“I couldn’t handle it, not from Izuku too. It was like a betrayal. I expected it from— from her , but I didn’t think Izuku would. I was four and I thought he was my best friend. At the time I didn’t know what was wrong, but something was , something always had been, and I kinda—” He shoved a hand in his pocket. “I took it out on him. I started bullying him.”

“Why would you do that?”  

Of course this was what’d actually phase Eijirou. He ’d never be that immature.

“I don’t know.” No. That wasn’t good enough. He did know. “ It sucks, but I thought…if I made him feel weaker than me and if I made myself feel stronger, it wouldn’t matter. His opinion wouldn’t mean shit anymore.

“Obviously that didn’t fucking work. It didn’t make me feel right, and I just hurt someone who couldn’t have known any better. I apologized later, but I shouldn’t have done it in the first place.” 

Eijirou’s eyes were soft, filled with understanding once again. “I can’t say I fully get what you mean, but you really seem to regret it. I’m sure Midoriya forgave you. You aren’t defined by who you were when you were a teenager.”

“He did forgive me, I think, but it’s not just that. He’s done so much for me, and I—” Katsuki cut himself off. He didn’t like thinking about this stuff. Izuku had said it that morning, after all: he’d sacrificed so much for him, and this was how Katsuki had treated him their whole life.

“You think you owe him,” Eijirou said.

“I don’t think anything. I do owe him. I haven’t even gotten to that part yet.”

“I’m listening.”

Katsuki grimaced. “When we started high school the old hag signed me up for cheer tryouts. I was the fucking best, and for a few years everyone liked me. I spent all my time with the team. I was stupid enough to think Tsubasa and Kariage were actually my friends, like Deku used to be. Honestly— I think everyone liked how rude I was.”

“Except Midoriya, I assume.” Eijirou’s tone was light, almost teasing.

“It’s fucked up to say, but not really. He was always in love with me.” Katsuki looked away, trying not to seem too disgusted. With himself, with Izuku, with everyone they used to know. “I still think he was kinda into it. You know, like those cheap porn flicks with mean cheerleaders?”

“You’re asking me ?” Right. He wouldn’t have been into that Katsuki. Then Eijirou frowned. “Wait, is that why you got so mad when Mina mentioned it?”

“Bad memories, yeah. Anyway, I—I started to realize I’d always hate that everyone saw me as a girl. Nothing made it better. It just kept hurting worse and worse. I started to hate that I was making Izuku hurt too, but—it had spiraled. We all did it together.” 

“He just started bullying you out of nowhere?” Todoroki asked. 

“I mean... basically. But he had a lot going on. Stuff I didn’t find out about for years.” He sighed. “But no matter how mean he was to me, I still loved him. If anything it got worse as we got older.” 

Todoroki leaned in with interest. “What do you mean, worse?” he asked. 

“I dunno...” he whispered. “I just thought about him all the time. I wished we were close like we used to be. Every now and then it would seem like we were almost close again. For a moment. Then—” he sighed. “I dunno. He’d go back on it and be horrible to me.” 

Beside him, Todoroki exhaled and leaned back into his seat. “I see.” 

“The worst was the first time I confessed my feelings. It’s... it’s not a happy memory.”

“I’ll listen as long as you need me to.” 

Izuku smiled at his friend. He reached down and squeezed Todoroki’s knee. “Kacchan was really popular in high school.” 

Izuku sat under a tree in the schoolyard. In his lap, he had his sketchbook open. He kept looking up from his sketchbook to watch his muse. 

Kacchan was with the other cheerleaders. They were practicing. Kacchan was in the front of the group leading the others through a simple cheer. She’d clap her pom poms together and kick her leg high into the air. 

He went back to his sketch. On the paper, Kacchan was wearing her cheer uniform, her leg up in the air. Less of a cheerleader kick and more like a superhero kicking a villain. It was great anatomy and form practice. 

Plus the view was great. Kacchan looked pretty in her uniform. Then again Kacchan would look amazing in a potato sack. His pencil stopped moving as he watched. 

The cheerleaders had stopped for a moment to get water. One of them poked Kacchan on the side. She was giggling. She pointed across the field to Izuku. Kacchan looked over, her eyes meeting Izuku’s. She frowned. 

He should move. He went to get up but Kacchan and the other cheerleaders were already approaching him. “Oi, Deku!” she called. “What are you doing, watching us like that, you little creep?” 

“N-nothing. Just homework. It’s a nice day and—-and—”

Kacchan snatched his sketchbook. She stared at the image for a long moment. “This is beyond weird.” She laughed “You’re gross! This is almost an upskirt shot of me. That’s disgusting.” 

One of the other cheerleaders took the sketchbook. “Oh my god, Deku wants Bakugou-chan!”

“That’s so funny! Bakugou-chan is out of your league.” 

They laughed. 

“I told you to stop calling me ‘chan’,” Kacchan snapped as she took the sketchbook back. “What other hentai have you been drawing?” She flipped through the book. Izuku jumped to his feet but Kacchan pushed him back. She was stronger than he was. “This is a lot of All Might. Figures.” She turned the page. “Oh my god, is this supposed to be you?” she asked. She showed everyone his original superhero character. “That’s pathetic!”

“Give it back!” he begged. He was crying. “Kacchan please—” 

She held it back. “Crying already? You’re a man, Deku. Men don’t cry. You look stupid, sobbing over some cartoons.” She flipped back to the page of her and ripped it and a few of its neighboring pages from the book. She threw the sketchbook on the ground then tore the pages she’d pulled out in half. “There. Don’t ever draw me again. Freak.” She turned back to her friends. “Come on, I’m done. I wanna get the fuck out of the uniform and go home.” 

The other cheerleaders followed her back to the school, all of them giggling. 

Izuku dropped down to his knees. He picked up the torn pieces of the pages trying to fit them together. “D-dammit.” He whispered. He couldn’t stop crying. 

“He destroyed your art?” Todoroki asked. “That’s horrible.” 

“Kacchan did all kinds of stuff. Push and kick and... called me horrible names. He started calling me Deku . But that’s fine now. I wear Deku with a badge of honor.”

“I’ve wondered about that. Deku...”

“It means useless.”

“What????”

Izuku shrugged. “We were kids. Like I said, I don’t blame Kacchan. Not for this. I’m just telling you so you understand why I love him.”

“You did say this was your confession.” 

“It was.” 

He stayed in that same spot for a long time. Izuku tried to gather up all the torn pieces at first but soon grew too frustrated. He ended up just crying. 

“You’re still out here crying?” Kacchan was back. She’d changed into her school uniform to go home. 

“...why do you care?” Izuku asked. 

“I don’t. I just saw you over here bawling like a baby. Just walked by. That’s all.” 

“So keep walking.” His voice was harsh.

Kacchan walked closer “Come on, you’re this upset over some drawings? I like All Might too but—” she sighed. “Get up. I’ll buy you a new sketchbook. Will that make you stop crying?”

“Stop it,” Izuku snapped. “Why do you always do this? You’re horrible to me and then almost nice then right back to being horrible!” He stood up and rounded on her. “You do these awful things and then-” 

She frowned and took a step back from him. “You’re freaking me out, Deku.”

“You know what the really sick part is, Kacchan?” he asked. “No matter how terrible you are to me I can’t help myself. I still love you.” 

He hadn’t meant to say that. 

Izuku covered his mouth with his hands. 

Kacchan’s eyes went wide before she glared. “You really are gross. It sounds like you fucking get off on it.” She turned her nose away. “Fuck off. I’m not about to be your sexy cheerleader. Keep your ‘love’ to yourself.” 

“I don’t care if you’re a cheerleader!” he yelled. “It's not about that! I’m not looking for a pretty mean girl, I love Kacchan! You’re strong, and brave, and funny! You could kick my ass and you’re the only person that gets better grades than me. You get how cool All Might is! You’re amazing and talented. And you’re still kind, somewhere in there. Sometimes I hope that’s why you’re nice to me when people aren’t looking. But that’s why I love you! Not because you wear a short skirt or look pretty with your hair done! If anything it’s better when it’s wild and unkempt!” 

Kacchan stopped. Several emotions flashed across her face before she placed a hand on her hips. “You think you love me that much?” She leaned down into his face. “Would you love me if I were a man?”

“Yes!” Izuku said at once. “Kacchan, it’s not your body I love. I love your soul!” 

“Okay.” She checked the time on her phone. “Okay. Okay! Come on.” 

“Huh?”

She grabbed him by the wrist. “Come on,” she repeated, dragging him off. 

“Where are we going?” 

“My place. My parents won’t be home for another few hours.” 

Izuku’s heart rate picked up. “Wh-what are we going to do?”

“I want to...” Kacchan hummed. “I want to try something.”

“He took you home? You confessed your love for him and he took you home?”

Izuku nodded. “Then um... Then we... well. We had our first time.” 

“Oh...” 

“The cheer team and I, we talked about boys all the time.” Those memories weren't as bad, just confusing. “You know, when they asked me who I liked I’d just roll dice in my head from the ones I knew were supposed to be hot.”

“No way, I did that too with the girls!”

“I’m sure you were the worst actor anyone’s ever seen.”

“I’d defend myself, but you’re right.” Eijirou smiled bashfully. “Did you come out to them later?”

“No. We don’t talk. I’ll get to that. But I told you, you’re the only one who knows.”

“That’s— me ?

“I know it’s a lot. We’re in a damn park, if you wanna leave you can just get up.”

“That’s stupid. I gave you my tragic backstory the third time we met and you're still here.” Eijrou looked offended. 

Katsuki realized that his near-permanent fear of Eijirou pulling the rug out from under him was an insult to him. By telling him Katsuki thought he’d be abandoned he was accusing Eijirou of being the kind of person who did that.

“I asked you,” he said, trying to keep his voice even.

“So did I! In fact, I’m asking right now. What happened next, Katsuki?”

He had a way of getting under Katsuki’s skin, with his earnest voice and stupid concentrated face.

“Everyone was talking about sex. Fuck it, we were seventeen. I’d never done it, and I was curious. I figured once I tried it I’d get why they were all so insane about it, but I didn’t want to get with a random guy who had a thing for cheerleaders and only liked me ‘cause I was a girl.”

Eijirou’s eyes widened. “So when he confessed—”

“I didn’t know if I liked him back. That shit made no sense. Still doesn’t.” Even more so lately. “But I thought I’d give fucking him a try.”

Their first kiss was clumsy and wet, but it was charming in its own way. If he’d imagined it, that was how he would’ve imagined Deku would kiss. Something about it was almost endearing.

“I-I can’t believe I’m kissing you, Kacchan.”

Katsuki smirked. “You’re still a loser.”

Deku smiled back, his eyes shiny with unshed tears. He looked happier than Katsuki had ever seen him.

They took their clothes off fast, their hands wandering over each other’s bodies. Deku tried to unhook Katsuki’s bra three times before he laughed and did it himself. 

It was nice so far. He felt closer to Deku, and he could admit to himself that he’d missed it. Deku pushed him onto his back on the bed, his arms shaking with the effort and emotion. They kissed again, this time started by Katsuki. Their tongues touched, wet and weirdly elastic, and he pushed Deku’s mouth off.

Deku grabbed himself in his hand—shit, he looked really into this—and aligned himself, before slowly pushing in.

Katsuki breathed in when he did. He stilled, waiting, and frowned when he realized that he was in all the way.

That was it?

He swallowed the urge to ask that out loud. There was no way this was what everyone else was always talking about. It felt vaguely nice, sure, but so did other things and you didn’t have to get naked for them.

Deku clearly disagreed. His eyes were still wet, shining, reverent.

“You’re the most beautiful girl in the world,” he whispered as he started to move.

Katsuki’s stomach dropped. 

What the fuck had he been thinking? Maybe Deku didn't love him because he was a girl, but he still saw him as one. Was it too late to say stop?

When his hands made their way over Katsuki’s chest, Deku looked like he’d fucking died and gone to heaven. He squeezed, and it didn’t feel like anything but pressure. Why did he look so damn entranced?

Something clicked inside Katsuki’s head.

That was what Deku saw when he looked at him, when he imagined fucking him or whatever he did when he was jerking off. That was what all of them saw. It wasn’t just off-hand locker room jokes. That was what the boys saw when they looked at the cheer team, that was what his uniform was meant to emphasise, and oh fuck everyone was actually looking, actually thinking of that—

Katsuki wanted to push Deku off. Wanted to go back in time so he never realized just how sick it made him that they all saw him as a girl.

He couldn’t move.

Time lost meaning to Katsuki after that, but realistically it couldn’t have been too long. His head was stuck in an ever-louder chorus of ‘wrong’. He tried rehearsing Chemistry formulas to distract himself, and it helped a little.

He was aware enough to be thankful that Deku pulled out when his thrusts got shaky.

“I love you,” Deku stuttered out as he came. They were both still for a heartbeat.

“You should go,” Katsuki said. His voice felt like it belonged to someone else.

“W-what?”

“I said get the fuck out of here before I make you!”

There wasn’t any arguing after that, though Deku cried the whole time he put his clothes back on. 

As soon as he left, Katsuki started crying too. He wasn’t sure whether he ever stopped or he simply passed out from exhaustion later. 

He showered three times that day, but nothing made him see himself the way he had before.

“I hated it because I’m trans, but I didn’t like it because I don’t like sex.”

“Wait, and then you guys got together?” Eijirou looked worried .

“No. I—” Katsuki’s voice cracked. His eyes were starting to water. He tried not to think about that day if he had a choice, but sometimes it popped into his head anyway. Every time it did during sex, he almost felt out of his own body, like he wanted to push Izuku off but couldn’t. 

Eijirou put a hand over his and squeezed, the gentle warmth bringing him back to his senses. “This okay?”

“Yeah. Don’t stop touching me just ‘cause I told you that, I won’t fucking break!”

“I didn’t wanna make you upset.” Eijirou’s voice was still gentle. “We can stop talking now. There’s a place nearby that has great hot chocolate.” 

“No, that’s it with that.” Katsuki intertwined their fingers to tether himself to the moment. To Eijirou. “I couldn’t do it, so I told him to fuck off and that I wasn’t interested.” He used his other hand to dry his eyes.

“So...” Todoroki began. “You confess your love to him, you lose your virginities together, then he dumps you?” 

Izuku shrugged. “Yep. My first real heartbreak. I cried on and off for days.” 

He wrapped his arm around Izuku’s shoulder. “That must have been horrible.” Todoroki was warm and his deep minty scent clung to Izuku. He felt safe here. “That’s cruel.” 

“I don’t blame him,” Izuku said at once. He leaned deeper into Todoroki. “He had a lot going on.” 

“What could possibly be going on for him to treat you like this?” Todoroki asked. “To do something like that to you... To you of all people—” he stopped himself and shook his head. “I don’t get him.” 

“His mother was what was going on. She... She had a lot of expectations of what Kacchan should have been. They didn’t match up with the person Kacchan actually is. So they butted heads. A lot. And then... Kacchan came out to her.”

Katsuki had gotten used to the feeling of wrongness over the years. It went with him everywhere, like a fire alarm he couldn’t turn off, but it was bearable. If he tried hard enough, it was just background.

Since he’d hooked up with Izuku, though, everything had changed.

He’d started wearing two sports bras one on top of the other just so he could make himself leave home. It was starting to fuck with his breathing. Every time he got close to a mirror he was reminded that it didn’t do enough.

His hair had grown long with time, and he’d never been the biggest fan of that, but now he wanted to tear it off.

Maybe—He gathered it in his hand tightly and pulled it back, then looked at himself. 

This was pathetic. 

He had no idea what he’d expected. He looked like a girl with her hair put up.

He hit the mirror, hard enough that it cracked around his fist but didn’t break. “Ah, shit!” His knuckles were bleeding. Red was gathering in the gashes and dripping down to the floor. He wiped it on his shirt, distracted.

There was a muffled shout from downstairs that he couldn’t care less about.

He had to fix it. Right now. He didn’t know how, but if he looked like that for one more second he’d do something drastic. 

His eyes darted around the room and landed on the large pair of scissors on the desk.

His hands were trembling too much for it to be anything but the choppy mess it turned into, but he felt so much lighter when he was done. 

His door was kicked open. “Katsuki, is everything okay, that was loud—What the fuck did you do to your hair? Is that BLOOD?” His mother stepped in, looking horrified.

“Leave me alone! This has nothing to do with you!”

She walked closer and grabbed a handful of his hair, running her fingers through the choppy ends. “Katsuki, you have practice tomorrow. What the fuck were you thinking? You’re gonna look like an idiot!” She yelled. Seeing that he wasn’t responsive, she switched to a curt, determined tone. “As soon as it opens, we’re going to the salon to fix this. I won’t let my daughter go out there and make a fool of me.”

That did it. “I’m not your daughter!” 

He looked into her eyes, red and confused and so much like his it hurt. He stood up and pushed past her, out of the bathroom.

“What does that even mean?”she yelled, following him.

Katsuki stilled. He responded with what he’d always known to be true, in the back of his heart. “I’m trans. I’m a man.”

“No the hell you aren’t!” 

What had he expected, honestly? A hug? She saw Katsuki as a weird fucking extension of her.“Fuck you, you old hag!” he yelled. He closed his eyes, trying to keep his anger down. Maybe he could make her understand.

“I’m not gonna sit here and take your disrespect!”

They were yelling in the hallway at this point, and Katsuki’s dad poked his head out from the bedroom door. He muffled a yawn. “What is it, dear? Is she okay?”

“She’s fucking insane is what she is!” Mitsuki gestured wildly toward him. “Look what she’s done to her hair! She doesn’t even wanna fix it! She told me she’s a damn boy right now.”

 Masaru walked over, his hands raised in a placating gesture. “It’s not like we can make her.” He looked over at Katsuki, frowned a little, then stopped himself. “Why doesn’t she get a pixie cut if she doesn’t want long hair?”

Oh, Katsuki’d just about had it. “It’s not about the hair, it’s about the fact that I’m a man! Are you both morons?”

Mitsuki opened her mouth, but Masaru put a hand over her arm and spoke instead.“Okay, so explain to us what you want. What does that mean to you?”

It wasn’t acceptance, not exactly, but Katsuki still wanted to hold onto him and cry.

“I want you to treat me like you had a son instead.”He started speaking more rapidly. “I wanna stop doing cheer with the girls. Wear boy clothes. Go to a barber and get a normal haircut. Ideally, call me he and—”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Mitsuki yelled.

“Yeah, that’s a little—”

“Katsuki, what is wrong with you? Did you hit your head?” She faked a shudder. “Can you imagine, if you did all of that? You’d be talk of the town. What would your friends think? What would MY friends think?”

“Why would I care what your friends think? Figure it the fuck out.” He balled his hands into fists. “You’ve made me act like a girl since before I remember! Did I EVER seem like I wanted it?”

“Oh, now you’re making me the fucking villain? I took care of you for seventeen damn years, and that’s what I get for it.”

“I’m not making you anything. I’m ASKING you to let me be a man!”

Mitsuki stilled. Then, slowly, an icy smile spread over her face. “You know what? Fine. You wanna be a man? Go be a man!” She pointed to the door. Something about her demeanor showed how serious she was. “Unless, of course, you can tell you’re being stupid and you aren’t one.”

Masaru paled. Katsuki looked him in the eyes. “You can’t let her do that!”

He grimaced, but he didn’t respond.

“What’s it gonna be, Katsuki? You’re making us all stay awake for your nonsense.”

Katsuki knew the answer right away.

He hesitated just enough to try to make eye contact with his father again. Masaru looked away. Somehow that stung more than anything else either of them had done that night.

“When you wake up, don’t try to call me!” the hag said.

Katsuki shut the door like it’d hurt her when it closed.

He only stopped walking when he couldn’t see the window light anymore.

“He just sat there ?”

“He always just sat there.” Except— Katsuki closed his eyes at the unwelcome memory. “Not always, I guess.”

Katsuki was eleven. 

His birthday had sucked. It had been frilly and over the top and hadn’t had any of the things he actually liked, besides his friends.

There was a gentle knock at his bedroom door. Too gentle to be the old hag. 

“Come in!”

Masaru opened the door. “I—” He looked lost. He often looked lost when they talked. Katsuki didn’t know what to do with it. In a different world, he’d tell him there was no reason to be.“I didn’t catch you for long today. Happy birthday.”

He left a birthday card on the desk, in front of Katsuki. It was the cheesiest, most commercial version of an All Might card he could’ve possibly gotten.

Katsuki’s voice trembled. “Thanks.”

“But he still let her kick you out,” Eijirou said, voice tight.

“Yeah, well, can’t have it all.”

“You deserved to have someone stick up for you, though. I’m sorry.”

“I did. Well, not at first. The first thing I did was call my friends. Those fucking bitches—” Katsuki’s blood still boiled thinking of them after all these years. “Kariage told me she wouldn’t let me stay with her because my haircut was lame . Tsubasu just said she was busy. ‘s what I got for talking to those vapid bimbos in the first place, I guess.” He tightened his hand around Eijirou’s. “I still wonder, sometimes, if it was just that I was that unlikeable.”

“I’m starting to think you’re right, man. Maybe some people really are stupid extras.”

Katsuki almost smiled. Something about Eijirou, about his hand, about the way he was talking, was keeping him from sinking all the way down.

“It really hit me when she hung up, though. It was night. To anyone passing by I was a teenage girl who just needed someone to take her off the street. It was dark, and I was alone, and I knew there was only one place I could go.”

Izuku was home alone when it happened. Mom was at work. There was a knock at the door. It was loud and persistent. He left his spot on the couch and walked to the door. The person on the other side banged on it. “I’m coming,” he muttered to himself and opened the door. 

Kacchan stood on the doormat. She looked terrible with swollen eyes and chopped-up hair. “D-Deku,” she cried. “I... I need help.” 

He jumped into action at once. “Anything,” he said and held out his hand to her. “Come on, come inside. What happened?” 

She hesitated, but she took his hand. “I...” she started. Her face scrunched up. “I um... Do you remember something you told me? Wh-when you told me you loved me?” she asked. 

“I told you a lot of things,” he said and closed the door behind her. He pulled her into the kitchen and went to find his tea kettle.

“Y-you said, um...” she stayed at the entrance to the kitchen. “You said you would love me, even if I were a man.” 

“Yeah,” Izuku said at once. “I did.” He pulled the kettle out of the cupboard and walked to the sink. 

“Well, I am.” 

He dropped the kettle. It clanged to the floor, the sound echoing through the whole room. Izuku’s eyes got wide as he absorbed exactly what Kacchan was saying. “You are?” he asked. 

Kacchan kept his gaze. “I am. I told my mother and she kicked me out. I... I didn’t know where else to go.” 

Anger flashed through Izuku at once. “She what?” he asked. “That’s horrible!” He crossed the room to Kacchan and took his hands. “I’ll call my mom. We have a spare futon. She won’t mind if you stay here.”

“...You’ll let me stay here?” he asked. “After everything? Even though I was a bitch and I said I didn’t want to date you and I’m—” 

“Of course!” Izuku cried, cutting him off. “Kacchan, I told you. I love you. I want to keep you safe and happy no matter what. No matter what you do to me, or who you are, or even what I call you. It’s not conditional.” 

Kacchan’s eyes got wide. He stared at Izuku for a long time as a fresh round of tears flowed down his face. “Izuku...” he whispered and tackled him in a hug. He buried his face into the crook of Izuku’s neck and sobbed. “Thank you- you’re my hero right now thank you so much...”

Sparks shot up Izuku’s spine. His brain felt like it was flooded with soda bubbles. This was better than their first kiss. Better than their first time. It was amazing. He hugged Kacchan back, squeezing him tight. “Tell you what,” Izuku whispered. “Why don’t we have some tea, you can borrow some of my clothes and I’ll grab a pair of scissors. We can try and cut your hair into something that suits you more. We’ll make you feel like you. Forget everyone else.” 

He squeezed Izuku harder, sobbing into him. Izuku felt light.  

“I can’t even begin to explain what that felt like,” Izuku said. “Kacchan was there. He wanted me. He wanted my help! He was... He was my Kacchan.” He smiled at the fond memory. “I know that was the hardest day of Kacchan’s life, and I feel so guilty because... Because it was one of the best days of mine.” 

Todoroki listened intently. “Because he needed your help?” 

He shook his head. “No, because... Because that was the day Kacchan fell for me back.” 

Izuku grabbed a damp washcloth and ran it over Katsuki’s knuckles. It stung. The water in the bowl he was holding had turned a pale pink.

“Okay, that’s done.” Izuku picked up the washcloth and opened a drawer to pull out a set of band-aids. He also grabbed scissors from the counter.

Katsuki chuckled involuntarily. “All Might?”

“You know me.” He put two across Katsuki’s knuckles. They were blue, with red and yellow accents.

“I like them.” 

“Yeah, well, I’m glad.” Izuku rubbed his hands together. He looked uncertain. He must’ve been shocked to see Katsuki being so nice to him, and that made his stomach flip with guilt.

He tried to make it better. “When’d you learn to cut hair, anyway?”

“I didn’t.” Izuku picked up the scissors, smiling once again at the distraction.

“Great.”

“It's kinda me or nothing right now. Stay still, Kacchan.” He held two strands against each other and cut the longer one down to match the shorter. “We can go to a proper—to a barber tomorrow.”

Katsuki’s breath hitched. Izuku really understood. A barber, not a salon. “Whatever, nerd.”

Izuku worked patiently, first on the left side and then the right.  He wasn’t trained, clearly, but he was doing much better than Katsuki had in his dysphoria-fuelled episode. 

When he was done, he was smiling widely. “What do you think, Kacchan?”

Katsuki dared to look at himself dead-on. He’d been stealing glances here and there before.

He watched his own eyes widen in disbelief.

He was wearing Izuku’s clothes, with the baggiest hoodie they’d found on top. His hair actually looked like a men’s haircut. His face was relaxed. He looked… like himself.

Finally.

He couldn’t control the smile that took over his face.

“De-Izuku.” He watched his friend’s eyes light up in the mirror. “Thanks.”

Katsuki turned around. His eyes were wet with unshed tears. He was so viscerally happy it almost hurt.

“It’s nothing. I did it because I love you.”

They were close, he realized. Close enough that their noses almost touched now that they were facing each other. 

Izuku’s eyes darted to his lips. 

Katsuki’s fluttered shut.

When Izuku kissed him, he returned it just as desperately.

It was nothing like their first kiss. It was slow and hard, trying to make sense of emotions too large for either of them. When they parted, Katsuki felt like he was floating. He was himself, and he had someone by his side.

“I love you, too.”

“Now I’m confused.”

“I really thought I loved him for the next…two weeks? Everything was so much better. Every time I looked at him, I was hit by this wave of— I don’t know. ‘You gave me a shot at life.’ I was so happy that everything was perfect. I wasn’t dysphoric during sex as badly and now I could tell him if I was, so it was fine, but I never really got the hype. And… most of our dates felt like friends hanging out. When they didn’t, it was weird. I was confused too.” 

“Did anything happen after those weeks?”

“Nothing in particular. It just built up.” If he could, Katsuki would take back the bullying in a heartbeat. But if he had a button that erased one thing in his life, it’d probably be that realization. “He told me he always had a crush on me, and I’d never had one in general. He kept bringing that up…that he loved me for my soul. Still does sometimes. I guess I just—I didn’t get what he meant by that.”

“That is a very romantic thing to say.” 

“Right.” Was Izuku winning him over, too? Katsuki couldn't stand the thought that Eijirou would prefer him. Everyone did.

His face must’ve betrayed him. 

“Sorry, no, I didn’t mean it that way! I’m just trying to see his side too.” Of course Eijirou would. “I understand why you’d think you liked him. It’s normal to have your emotions heightened when you’re in situations like that. He was kind when no one else was.”

If there was one word Katsuki hadn’t thought he’d hear from Eijirou today, it was normal . He relaxed slightly against the bench. “He went so far out of his way too. He never called me she again, you know? Not once. After I told him.”

“I would…hope so?”

“It’s not just that, you moron!” Katsuki slapped his shoulder with his free hand. “He helped me apply to college when I didn’t know how I’d even get my documents. He was kind all the way. His mom treated me like her kid. How many people would do that for their high school bully?”

Eijirou frowned. “So earlier, when you were saying you owed him—”

“It’s not even just this. The more we stayed together, the more things he did for me. It’s different now, I guess—" Katsuki made more than him now, but it wasn’t like that repaid anything.Some things couldn’t be bought back. “—but he got a job right out of high school so I could go to college. I couldn’t break up with him . At any point. It would’ve made me the most fucking ungrateful person that ever lived. So I figured…” Katsuki squeezed his eyes shut. “If it wasn’t Deku, it couldn’t be anyone, so I might as well just do it. I’d never fall in love and he’d get to have his Kacchan.”

“Katsuki, that must be so difficult for you.”

His eyes shot open. “That’s the last fucking thing I thought you’d say.”

“What were you expecting?”

“I don’t know. How much of a selfish asshole I am.”

Eijirou squeezed his hand, looking like he was on the verge of crying. “Never. I couldn’t imagine—ten years? I lasted a month.”

Sometimes Katsuki wondered if Eijirou was just a figment of his imagination. There was no way someone was alive who actually understood him. Except his imagination would’ve probably come up with someone who knew when to put on a shirt.

“You’re not missing out. It gets harder with time.”

“I cried, for like... several minutes after he kissed me,” Izuku said. “It was just so— so— magical.” He sighed at the fond memory. Then, something inside his stomach twisted uncomfortably. “I can’t remember the last time he kissed me that passionately. It used to be so... easy. We were best friends first so falling in love was easy. It hasn’t felt easy in a long time. Kacchan he just... he pulled away.”

Todoroki didn’t respond for a long moment.  He kept his eyes on Izuku and opened his mouth, only to close it again. Finally, he spoke. “I see,” he said simply. “You did so much for him and he—” 

“Hey,” Izuku said, cutting him off. “It’s not like that. It doesn’t matter what I did for him. I love him. I took him in because I love him and it’s the right thing to do. No matter what, I was going to take care of Kacchan. It’s my job.” 

“...I see,” he mumbled. “So you got married after?” 

“Yeah. We were nineteen when we got married. We finished high school and moved to the city. I got a job to support us and then we got married because... Kacchan was the only person I ever wanted. We’re soulmates. Why wait? So we got married in my mom’s backyard and that was that.” 

He shifted next to Izuku. It was clear the gears inside Todoroki’s mind were turning. “What about you?” he asked finally. 

Izuku blinked. “What about me?” 

“When I took you to lunch, you mentioned something. You said you always wanted to be a firefighter because you couldn’t be a hero. But it was that or an artist. And that you couldn’t be an artist.” 

“Oh...” Izuku fidgeted in his seat. “That’s not a big deal though. Even if I didn’t have Kacchan to support art school would have been a bad choice. Like yeah, I’d love to have gone and worked in the comic industry but it’s so competitive. I wouldn’t have made it.” 

He met Izuku’s gaze and for a moment he felt paralyzed by his eyes. Todoroki really had the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen. It wasn’t just their unusual color but they were so intense they sent chills down his spine. They were superhuman. Then, Todoroki said something that rocked Izuku to his core. Something so simple he never stopped to consider it before. 

“But you didn’t get to try.” 

Huh. 

“I never thought about that before.” 

Todoroki chuckled softly. It was a musical little hum of a laugh that Izuku immediately wanted to hear more of. “Of course, you didn’t,” he said. “You’re too—” he shook his head. “You’re too you. You’re a selfless person constantly putting other people first and never stopping once to think about what you want or need.” He placed his hand over Izuku’s in his lap. “You’re allowed to go after the things you want.” 

“...Huh,” he whispered. “I can, can’t I? Kacchan always goes after what he wants.” He was still pissed. The image of Kacchan grabbing Kirishima’s naked chest still danced in the back of Izuku’s mind. “Maybe I should. But even then I have no idea what I want.” Or what he was allowed to want. 

“That’s something you’ll have to figure out for yourself. But I’m always here to bounce ideas off.” 

Izuku smiled, leaning closer to him. “Glad to have you.” 

Chapter Text

“What do you mean, harder with time?”

Katsuki scoffed. “Do I strike you as a good actor, Eijirou?”

“Oh my god.” He laughed in disbelief. “Not at all. You’re so open with your feelings all the time that it’s kinda shocking there’s so much about you that people don’t know. I mean, I don’t take all your words at face value, but I feel like I can always tell when you’re upset and stuff.”

“I guess that makes sense.” 

“It’s why I— why I wanted to talk to you in the first place. You were smiling like you couldn’t help it.” Eijirou knocked his shoulder into his. “Besides, you just told me your entire life story, so I know I’m right.”

Katsuki’s face heated. That was so far off from his opinion of himself that he wanted to reject it immediately. It was an uncomfortable idea. That Eijirou saw something else when he looked at him, something that was worth it.

Which one had been first? Had Eijirou understood him and that had made Katsuki want to show more of himself? Had he been open with Eijirou and that had made him want to know more?

Did it matter?

“Shut up,” he said, looking away. “You don’t know shit.”

“See, I know you didn’t mean that .” Eijirou’s teasing face turned serious. “Okay, but that must make it worse. He’s known you your whole life. He has to get you better than I do, and if he does then…”

“Then I break his fucking heart and this whole thing’s a waste of everyone’s time. You think I don’t know that? I know exactly how much is banking on me getting this shit right.” He’d never thought someone other than Izuku would actually be there for him, and it was making him weak. He should’ve stopped talking. “It was easier at first. But maybe I am like you said I am. Maybe it’s just incompetence. Nothing’s ever enough . It’s not like I get a day off. He told me a few weeks ago that we haven’t had a date night in a while, and he was right, and I was—I hadn’t kept track. I fucking should’ve. I’m getting worse.”

Eijirou grimaced.

Katsuki rejected the instinct to assume it was directed against him. He’d started to learn that it never was. “Can I tell you something fucked up?”

“You mean, something else that’s fucked up?”

“You’re exaggerating.” Katsuki felt like he was fraying around the edges. “Sometimes I think he can tell. That I don’t like it.”

“Just so we’re clear, you’re talking about sex?” Eijirou’s voice was serious, his hand tight around Katsuki’s.

“Not just about that. And it’s not whatever the fuck’s in your head right now with the face you’re making. If I ever said no he’d stop. Forget I said anything.” 

“No,” Eijirou said firmly. “Why’d you say it?”

“Feels that way sometimes. It’s so fucking stupid— I don’t know why I’m not just better at it!” His voice raised. “I could be a good husband to him if I wasn’t this fucking weak. He shouldn’t know.”

“Katsuki—”

He interrupted. “There has to be a way! I just don’t know it for some godforsaken reason. I’m just like this .”

“You’re not weak, you’re just human. I don’t think there’s anyone who could keep this up that long.” There was a weird note in Eijirou’s voice.

“Don’t act like you know that!”

“But I do know what it’s like. The pressure to ignore your gut feeling and just go through with it.” 

Katsuki’s breath caught. He could’ve used those exact words. 

Eijirou continued, “It’s not the same, obviously, but I told you I dated Mina for a little bit, and I just— I used to feel the same way, you know? Why couldn’t I just be a little bi? That would’ve fixed everything. I realized when were dating, too.” Eijirou ran his free hand through his hair. “I wondered for a while if I should’ve just tried harder, but now I’m sure I was right not to.”

“How’d you break up?” Katsuki asked quietly.

“We had this frozen yogurt shop we kept going on dates to after school. She just asked me one day if I’d rather go as friends instead and I started crying. We talked it out. She was nice. Maybe nicer than I deserved.”

“You’re still friends.”

“For what it’s worth, she says I’m a better friend than I was a boyfriend, and like—she’s right. I love her, but when we were dating I was always in my head about us and it made everything weird.”

Could Katsuki have been a good friend to Izuku, had this not all been what it was? The thought was surprisingly comforting.

“How is you having dated not making it fucking weird?”

“I dunno, man. It wasn’t a long time and we were friends before. It still took a while for it to be the same.” He smiled sadly. “But it actually is okay now. I helped her ask her first girlfriend out. She can probably list all the guys I slept with. We spent hours talking about her and Hanta last week.”

“That’s…” Sweet. Perfect. A dream. “I knew there was a reason I didn’t hate her.”

“I’ll tell her you said that.”

“Is she cool with me knowing all this shit?”

“I have blanket permission to share if I know the other person’s not gonna be a dick. If anything, now you can joke about it with us.”

Katsuki’s face relaxed into a small smile. “You’re so fucking weird.”

“I’ve stopped taking that as an insult weeks ago.”

They sat on the bench holding hands in comfortable silence for a few seconds. Katsuki was lost in thought. Everything was becoming too much. He’d come here to tell Eijirou they’d have to back off from each other, and now here they were. 

What would Izuku think if he saw them now? 

Eijirou broke the moment. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before he found his words. “I—are you sure you should stay married?”

“You gonna start judging me now, or what?”

“No, you just…don’t sound happy, man.”

Their argument from that morning flashed through Katsuki’s mind. The way Izuku’s voice had dropped. The way he’d just listed everything. “He did so much to make me happy.” 

“That’s…So what are you gonna do?”

“I’ll figure something out. I can, I know I can.” His vision was blurry. “I promised myself I’d pay him back. I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks!”

“Okay, then.” Eijirou’s face was level. “If you’re that sure, I won’t insist.”

“Thanks.” 

“Does that mean…he clearly doesn’t like you hanging out with me. He looked like he was gonna kill someone last night, not that I blame him.” Eijirou let his fingers go limp around Katsuki’s hand. He wanted so badly to pretend he didn’t get the hint, but it wasn’t like he needed it anymore. He let go. “So does that mean we can’t hang out alone? How does that work?”

“You gonna tell him or what? I won’t.”

Eijirou looked like it hurt him to talk.“Katsuki, we can’t—” 

“It’s not like that!” He rushed to explain. “ Last night was…different. I was drunk. We both were. He needs a do-over with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you dense or just pretending? I mean that if he meets you when you’re both sober and you have a shirt on it’ll be different. He’ll know it’s fine.”

“I very much doubt that.”

“Well, you’re wrong,” Katsuki said decisively. “Who the fuck wouldn’t like you?”

Eijirou’s cheeks bloomed a pretty, warm shade of red.

Todoroki was a great listener. He simply absorbed everything Izuku had to say about their past. 

“So... Yeah. That’s how Kacchan and I ended up together,” Izuku finished his tale and leaned back in the couch. Todoroki’s fancy apartment felt warm. Izuku hadn’t really told people most of the details of his Kacchan’s relationship. Part of him was embarrassed by how obsessed he was with Kacchan when they were little. That it was almost pathetic how much he’d been willing to take but at the same end... he’d happily take it all over again.  “I spent all that time chasing him and...” He grabbed at his face. “And now he’s spending all his time with someone younger and hotter—” 

“Hey,” Todoroki interrupted. “It’s okay.” 

“Do you think he’ll leave me?” Izuku asked. “Maybe I shouldn’t have yelled so much at him this morning. I’m just so tired and sad and lonely all the time.” 

He moved to sit closer to Izuku and cupped his face in his hands. Todoroki’s hands were warm and soft against his cheeks. “Midoriya,” Todoroki said again. “It will be alright. No matter what Bakugou does. But for what it’s worth I don’t think he’ll leave you. Based on the story you just told me, he must know that you’re an incredible man and an amazing husband. He’d be an idiot to leave you. Especially for a college-aged barista.” 

Izuku stared at Todoroki. The look on his face was so intense. He spoke with conviction and confidence. He believed every word he said. And he said Izuku was amazing. It felt almost true. “...Why are you so nice to me?” Izuku asked. He was crying again. “I don’t get it. People aren’t ever nice to me.” 

“Because,” Todoroki said. “You deserve kindness. Because you gave me kindness. Midoriya I don’t think you understand the kind of life I lived before you saved me and opened my eyes.” 

He shook his head. “No...” Todoroki had just listened to his tale. So—“Tell me?” 

Todoroki dropped his hands. “It’s not a nice story.” 

Izuku took one of Shouto’s hands and squeezed it. “I’ll listen.” 

“Okay...” Todoroki took a deep breath. “My parents were an arranged marriage. My father founded his company with a small loan from his father. He was able to build it quickly. He decided he wanted to make his legacy and arranged himself a marriage with a business partner’s daughter as part of a deal. My mother was young, barely eighteen, and forced into a wedding with a man she did not know. My father was abusive toward her, as well as us.” 

He thought back to the man at the fire. 

“SHOUTO!!!” the broad-shouldered man from earlier yelled. “Shouto there you are!” he grabbed the handsome man from Izuku “You’re okay!” the man began to cry holding his son “I’m so glad—” he hugged him tightly. 

He seemed genuinely happy to have Shouto alive. Things were obviously complicated there. 

“Growing up, he drilled into all of our heads that one of us would take over the company and the rest of us would support that sibling. You said something about Bakugou that stuck out to me. About expectations. My father also had expectations for the kind of person I’d be. He had expectations for all of us. My mother included. When we didn’t meet those expectations we were met with violence.” 

Izuku squeezed his hand. “Todoroki-kun...” 

He shook his head. “It’s okay. I’m glad I can talk about this with someone. Midoriya, did I ever tell you how I got the scar on my face?” 

“No.” 

“When I was a child, I was seen as gifted. I was able to do my older siblings' homework. I just had an innate understanding of math and numbers. So my father put all his eggs in my basket. He decided from the age of four I was his most likely candidate to take over. It shifted the dynamic of our house. Before that, it was my dad and my brother and then the rest of the house. Suddenly, it was my father and me. I hated it. He was ruthless. My mother tried to help, to let me have time to be a child. He didn’t take kindly to that.” Todoroki leaned his head back, staring up at the ceiling. “He beat her.” 

Izuku’s heart shattered. He pulled Todoroki’s hand to his chest as if to soothe him. “That’s horrible.” 

“She became withdrawn. He beat her almost daily. I’m sure he did worse things to her behind closed doors but... One day I found her in the kitchen, crying to her mother. She said she couldn’t raise me anymore. That I was too unsightly. I looked too much like him. She was making tea and when she saw me standing there she broke. She poured boiling water on the left side of my face.” 

He couldn’t help himself. Izuku jumped onto his knees and grabbed Todoroki into a hug. “Oh Todoroki-kun, that’s—” he closed his eyes and squeezed. 

Todoroki rubbed his back, gently pulling Izuku closer until he was straddling his knee. “It’s okay, I told you this was a long time ago.” He had Izuku sit on his knee. “After that things changed. She was sent away to a hospital. My brother Touya who had already been lashing out got worse. He fell into a bad crowd. He started skipping school and doing drugs. I know he and my father fought. I know Touya left in the middle of the night. I haven’t seen him in years.” He rubbed up and down Izuku’s spine almost hypnotically. “I miss him. I just wanted his attention and he never wanted anything to do with me.” 

“So... I guess that’s why you became a chemist? Because of your father?” He moved off his knee and sat on the couch next to him. 

“In part. I like chemistry. I do want to make a difference in the world with it. I had resigned myself to be his doll in order to shield Fuyumi and Natsuo. If I had run like Touya or broken like my mother he would have turned his sights on them. But... You changed that. I want to make myself happy. Besides Fuyumi and Natsuo are established now. Fuyumi has a wife and two children and Natsuo is a doctor. They’re happy. It’s my turn.” He gave Izuku a sweet smile. “In a way, I’m glad that fire happened. My life is mine now. I’m not tied to my father, and I’m not engaged to someone I don’t love.” 

Izuku sat up straighter. “Right! You mentioned that before. How did you end up engaged?” 

“It was an arranged marriage,” Todoroki explained. “Some business deal. When I told her she was relieved too. She’s a nice person, you met her, actually. Your friend Iida’s party.” 

He thought back. “Oh! The pretty girl with the black hair? That was your fiance?” 

“Yes. She and I are still good friends.” 

“That’s nice,” Izuku said. “I’m glad you have friends. That you’re happy. You deserve it Todoroki-kun.”

“So do you,” he said in return. “You deserve everything you want.”

He laughed. It was a hollow sound. “I have no idea what I want. I just... I just don’t want to feel alone in my own marriage anymore. I want Kacchan to care as much as I do. I want to feel wanted.” As he talked, his eyes stung with tears. “Is that too much to ask? To feel like my husband likes me?”

Todoroki bit his lip. “It’s not. It’s not too much at all.” He turned to face Izuku properly. “It’s the bare minimum, actually.” 

Izuku sighed leaning closer to Todoroki. He smelled good. “I know he loves me,” he whispered. “Somewhere deep in there. He has all these little tells. Secret half smiles just for me, a bento every day, and he’s always looking out for me. But when he looked at Kirishima he just seemed so soft. He never looked at me like that. Not once. So... What does that mean? I just don’t understand. I didn’t even recognize him last night. That wasn’t the man I married.” 

“You said he was drunk.” 

“He was drunk out of his mind! He couldn’t walk. Kacchan hardly drinks. Maybe one or two if he’s feeling comfortable. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drunk before. At least not for a long time and certainly never like that!” Izuku sighed. “I can’t decide if I’m more worried for him or more angry at him.” 

“Both is an option,” Todoroki said. “You can always have both.” 

“Ugh... What am I gonna do?” he asked. “Is this just going to hang over our relationship until one of us dies? Is he going to resent me? Do I care? I think I do... I don’t want him to be unhappy. I love him. And if he’s really close with this Kirishima guy... Do I just take it?” 

Todoroki moved his hand to rub his shoulder. “You can’t be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t put you first. That’s what it is, right? Being each other’s number one? If Bakugou is your top person, and you’re not his...” 

“Yeah... Yeah!” Izuku said. “I’m his husband. Not Kirishima. I need him to put me first.” 

“At least.” 

“Yeah! It’s...” 

“The bare minimum,” Todoroki finished. “If he can’t give you that, then he shouldn’t get you at all.” 

Izuku turned to him. “Huh? Like... What?” 

Todoroki shrugged. “I’m just saying if he can’t give you something simple like putting you above a friend or just making you feel loved...” He stopped, clearly trying to pick his words carefully. “I know you spent so long wanting him. Trying to be with him. And you’re almost ten years into this relationship, but there has to be a point where you ask yourself. Are you happy?” 

“Of course-” 

“Midoriya,” Todoroki said, his voice turning low and serious. “Are you happy?”

He stopped. The question took him off guard. Was he happy? He... he was right? Except no, he wasn’t. He was miserable. He was alone so much and he had to beg for scraps of attention from the man who vowed to honor and love him just as he vowed in return. “...I’m not happy.”

“Seek your happiness. In whatever form it takes.” 

Izuku considered it. What did his happiness look like? “I...” He looked down at his hand. “I...” He tried to think. He imagined a small hand taking his. A child. Would that solve his problems? No, but it was a nice thought. He imagined Kacchan taking his hand. Kacchan who wanted him. That would be wonderful. “Maybe Kacchan and I should do some couple’s counseling.” 

“Midoriya, can I be honest with you?” 

He blinked. “Hmm? Of course, you can.” 

“It’s not nice.” 

“Just say it.” 

Todoroki reached down and took his hand. “I think Bakugou treats you like garbage. Based on everything I’ve seen and the things you’ve said. He literally calls you useless. He’s kinder to me than he is to you. And he’s certainly kinder to Kirishima. The more I see the more pissed off I get at him. You’re such a wonderful and kind person so to see your husband treat you like this? It’s maddening. You deserve better.” 

He stared at Todoroki, his face turning pink. “I... I dunno...” 

“I’m not going to tell you what to do. It’s your life. Maybe you should take your own advice though and live it for yourself.” 

Izuku gulped. “...I don’t know who I’d be if I wasn’t chasing Kacchan.” 

“You could find out.” Todoroki took his hand and lifted it to his face. “Your hand has all these scars on it. Is that from your work?” 

“Y-yeah?” Izuku said, a little thrown by the change of subject. 

He hummed. “You give so much of yourself to other people. I think if you could, you’d give someone your beating heart out of your chest.” He moved his hand to look at his palm. “I wish I could give something back to you.” 

Izuku felt like he could cry again. “T-Todoroki-kun...” 

“I just wish you saw yourself the way I see you.”

“...How do you see me?” 

Todoroki smiled, and it sort of took Izuku’s breath away. “I see a hero.” He kissed the center of Izuku’s palm. He closed Izuku’s hand into a fist. “You’re more than that even. You’re... Like sunlight, you know? Bright and warm... Unobtainable.” 

“Huh?” Izuku asked. 

“Nothing.” Todoroki shook his head. “So, what are you going to do now? About Bakugou?” 

Izuku shrugged and took his hand back. His mind was swirling, heavy with thoughts. “I guess I go back to Kacchan. And we talk.” 

“Okay. If you ever need someone else to talk to though, I will be right here.” 

He smiled. “Same to you. Not just about All Might or my marital issues either. Thank you so much for letting me talk about all of this. I’ll try to take your advice to heart.” He laid the hand Todoroki kissed over his chest. He could feel the spot his lips were. It burned but in a good way. 

“Want me to walk you out?” he asked and stood. 

“Y-yeah!” Izuku stood as well. Something shifted between him and Todoroki. 

He liked it. 

When Katsuki got home, none of the lights were on. Izuku was still out wherever he’d gone. Who the fuck spent that many hours at the gym? Then again, Katsuki’d rather see him after he’d worked through that built-up aggression.

He settled down on the couch in front of his laptop, too distracted to follow the methodology in the paper he was trying to read.

The more he thought about it, the more sense it made to him to do as he’d said that morning. It was just a few weeks. There was no point in actually not meeting Eijirou if he was going to make it all work later. He didn’t love the idea of lying to Izuku, but as long as he didn’t hurt him everything would be okay. He didn’t have to find out.

Plus, Eijirou had been so…kind. So different from what he was used to from others. He couldn’t give that up because Izuku was being weird.

Their fight hadn’t even been a real fucking conversation. What could he have said to Izuku’s reminder of what he’d sacrificed? There was no compromise. He’d cave every time Izuku brought that up. Fundamentally, Katsuki was arguing for the sake of it, and he won arguments because Izuku let him. Even if he didn’t realize that. All the power Katsuki had was made up, only there because Izuku wasn’t used to standing up to him.

It was driving him insane. He’d needed things before, but he’d never wanted something so badly, and Izuku didn’t want to let him have it.

The front door opened. Katsuki closed the file he’d been pretending to focus on.

“Hey,” he said. They needed to talk.

Izuku took his shoes off. He didn’t look as mad as he’d been that morning, but it was like he’d barely heard Katsuki. His mind seemed to be somewhere far away. “Hm?” He spared Katsuki a glance, walking inside.

“I did it. I told him.”

That got Izuku’s attention. He sat down on the couch and looked at Katsuki expectantly. “How’d it go?”

Fuck Izuku and his fake fucking concerned look. Katsuki had preferred the honest anger from that morning.

“He took it well because he’s a good friend and he understands my husband is a jealous asshole,” he spat.

Anger flashed over Izuku’s face. “I’m so glad Eijirou took it well.”

“Are we seriously doing the first name thing again?”

Izuku sighed. “I was jealous, but don’t think I’m being unreasonable here. You were inappropriate with him.” 

“Then why didn’t you just tell me to back off ? This is the first friend I’ve made on my own since high school, but I would have pulled back a little if you told me to. Now you’re making me cut him off almost entirely.”

“I’m sorry. Maybe we can talk about it again later.” He really did look sorry, too. Insufferable. “I just want to be your number one. You’re my number one. We’re married, we should be each other’s first priority. I want you to put me before Kirishima.” He glanced at Katsuki and continued before he could talk back. “Look, I don't want to fight anymore.”

Katsuki drew his legs to his chest, curling around himself. He hadn’t felt this defeated in a long time. 

“Believe it or not, I actually don’t like fighting with you.”

Izuku’s eyes softened.“I love you so much. We’re gonna work through this.” He took both of Katsuki’s hands in his, looking straight into his eyes. “As long as we both love each other we’ll be fine.” 

Just what he’d needed to hear. 

Katsuki squeezed his hands weakly. “Yeah.”

He knew they had to work to become okay again, him especially, but he couldn’t muster the energy to start. Didn’t know where, either. Something had shifted between them, and Katsuki for the first time thought it wouldn’t be as simple as Izuku and Eijirou getting along.

“I’ll give you some space to calm down. I know this wasn’t easy.” Izuku leaned in and kissed him briefly. Katsuki bit back a stupid, angry response. He knew somewhere in the back of his mind that it hadn’t been easy for Izuku either. He’d seen the dark circles under eyes. He couldn’t help thinking it was his own fault for thinking so low of Katsuki, though.

Izuku got up and went to the bedroom, and Katsuki watched him leave.

This didn’t feel at all like it was over.

Chapter Text

Izuku stared down at his sketchbook. It was a scene where Entropy and Deku met secretly in an alley. He’d decided that Entropy was a vigilante who Dynamight was determined to arrest, but Deku wanted to work with Entropy, giving their relationship an interesting forbidden friendship dynamic. The image had Entropy leaning over Deku in the tight alley. He couldn’t help but draw a little flush on his nose. 

So here’s the thing. Izuku was not an idiot. He knew what he felt. He’d known it from the start. He’d been desperately trying to pretend he wasn’t, but it was obvious after the other day. 

He had a crush on Todoroki. 

Todoroki might feel the same. Normally he’d find the idea laughable but after Sunday... Todoroki had kissed his palm. He’d said so many sweet things too! Something had sparked between him and Todoroki. The real question was:

What should he do?

The answer was obvious, right? He couldn’t hang out with Todoroki anymore. Not one-on-one at least. Izuku had asked that of Kacchan, so he should give the same back. He didn’t feel the need to sit Todoroki down and explain any of this. That would only cause issues. Besides, he wasn’t even sure if Todoroki actually liked him. So, he’d simply pull back. They could text once in a while but he couldn’t go back to Todoroki’s fancy apartment. It would be dangerous. So until his fleeting crush faded, he’d simply be a good husband and keep his distance.

His phone buzzed on the desk next to him. He briefly wondered if that was Todoroki. The horrible part of him hoped it was. He picked up the phone and checked the message. 

It was from Shinsou. 

Izuku’s shoulders slumped. 

No! This was good! He shouldn’t be talking to Todoroki right now anyway. Besides, he hadn’t spoken to Shinsou much. But that was usual for Shinsou. He’d vanish for weeks at a time only to come back with an interesting tale or two. He opened the message. 

Are you home right now?

Before Izuku could reply another message came in.

Your car is in your driveway so I’m going to say yes. I’m coming in. 

Izuku stood up. “Dammit, Shinsou-kun... I’m not even showered.” He sighed, closed his sketchbook, and ran down the steps. He found Shinsou already in his house taking off his shoes. “That was locked!” 

“I have a key,” Shinsou said, holding up a spare key. “You gave it to me when you and Bakugou went on vacation to Hawaii like three years ago.” 

“You were supposed to give that back!” 

Shinsou shrugged. “Anyway, sorry I fell off the face of the earth. Had a business trip in China. Was a whole thing.” Izuku wasn’t exactly sure what Shinsou did for a living. When asked Shinsou usually said ‘I have a way of getting people to agree to things. My company likes that.’ But he did know he made a lot more than he let on and that his job kept him very busy. “But that’s not all. Landed the day after Halloween and went on Grindr. Midoriya, it’s been three days and I’ve seen this guy all three days.” 

“...Okay?” Izuku asked with a smile. “Sit down, I'll make tea and you can tell me about this guy.” 

“No, Midoriya, you don’t get it.” He followed Izuku into the kitchen. “He’s dumb. He’s blonde. And he’s cute as fuck.” He fumbled his phone out of his pocket. “Midoriya, look at him! He’s a dumb little college boy!” 

Izuku had had quite enough of those, thank you. 

He took the phone to look at the picture Shinsou had pulled up. “Let’s see,” he said with a roll of his eyes. The boy in the picture was pretty cute if Izuku were being honest with himself. Blonde, with yellow eyes and a lithe body. In the picture, he was dressed in a cat Halloween costume—

Wait a damn minute. 

“I know this guy,” Izuku said at once.

“What?” Shinsou asked, leaning over and taking his phone back. “How the fuck do you know Denki?” 

Izuku hesitated. How much should he tell Shinsou? He had told Todoroki but that had been a heat-of-the-moment situation. This was someone who actually knew all of their friends. But at the same time, maybe Shinsou and his connection to this ‘Denki’ could be useful? “He’s one of Kacchan’s new friends,” he explained. “I met him on Halloween actually. I had to pick Kacchan up. He was wearing the cat costume then.”

“Bakugou has friends?” Shinsou asked. “I thought he didn’t do those.”

“He does now,” Izuku said. “I haven’t really met them, only in passing. I just recognized the costume. I’ll be honest though they didn’t exactly leave a great impression on me.” He went about putting on a kettle of tea. “I had to leave work to give Kacchan a ride home.” 

Shinsou’s eyebrows rose up almost to his hairline. “Oh shit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bakugou drink before.” He leaned on the counter. “Is there trouble in paradise?” 

“...I dunno,” Izuku shrugged. “Things are... Fine? Definitely not normal.”

He frowned. “Do you want to like... Talk about it?” 

Izuku shook his head. “Not really. It’s a lot. More than just me leaving work. Don’t worry about it. You were all excited to tell me about your new boy. So tell me. He’s not the one of Kacchan’s friends I’m not pleased with. He seemed...” He trailed off, trying to find the word to describe him. He’d been drunk and hit on Izuku. “Nice.” 

Shinsou nodded and looked down at his phone. “Yeah, he is nice.” His lips curled up into a soft smile. Izuku knew that face. 

“Shinsou-kun,” he grinned and poked his friend. “You look like you might be falling for this guy.” 

“Huh? No, nonono...” He shook his head and put his phone away. “Nothing like that. Denki is cute and a great time, but I met him three days ago. I’ve seen him in person like... Three times.” 

Izuku grinned. “So? Love doesn’t care if it’s been ten years or ten seconds. It can strike a moment’s notice. Besides, I said falling in love. Not in love. There’s a difference. Falling means it’s not complete yet.” 

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever think what you want.” His phone buzzed in his pocket. 

“Was that him?”

“...I don’t know.” 

“You can check it.” 

“...No,” Shinsou said and narrowed his eyes. 

Izuku laughed as the kettle went off. He was pretty sure the moment he turned his back Shinsou was texting again. “So when’s the next time you’re gonna see him?” 

“Tonight,” Shinsou said. “I’m taking him out to a fancy dinner then I figured we could go back to my place or something.” 

“Already?” 

“He’s been there already...” Shinsou mumbled. 

He sighed and rolled his eyes. He poured himself and Shinsou a cup of tea. “I’m surprised you can even sit down with that cupid arrow in your butt.” 

“You’re not gonna be able to sit with my foot up your ass in a minute here.” 

Izuku laughed and walked back to the living room. “So,” he said sitting on the couch. “Have you met his friends yet?” 

“Nah,” Shinsou said, sitting next to him and taking his mug. “Not yet. He talks about them a lot though. Says he wants me to meet them all soon.” He took a long sip. “So I will soon.”

“Cool, cool...” He trailed off. “If you do end up hanging out with them, and Kacchan happens to be there, can you keep an eye on something for me?” 

“...Are you asking me to spy on Bakugou?” 

He shook his head “No, no not spy. I don’t want you to like dig into their relationship dynamics. I just...” He felt so slimy. “I just want you to watch a little. Kacchan has this friend in the group and he...” He tried to find the words for it. “They’re close. Really close. I just think if someone who wasn’t me and knew Kacchan outside of their group saw them interact—” He cut himself off trying to think of the right words. “I just need to know if I’m being insane and paranoid.” 

“Oh, I see. You need a third party to tell if your husband is flirting with another man or not. Yeah, I can do that.” 

Izuku’s shoulders slumped with relief. “Really? You don’t think I’m being insane or clingy or—” 

“Eh, maybe? I don’t know the whole situation and I won’t pry but this clearly means a lot to you. You’re a great friend so yeah. I’ll do it.” 

“You’re the best, you know that?” 

“I know,” he said with a smirk. “So, wanna hear about my date plans for the night?” 

“Yes!” Izuku exclaimed, leaning closer to his friend. 

Katsuki’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He hadn’t put his gloves on yet since he was a few minutes early to work, so he checked it. He had a pretty good idea who it would be.

He’d texted Eijirou on the subway that morning. Two guys across from Katsuki had been playing fucking scrabble on the seats, and he’d needed to send him a picture. He’d gotten a string of emojis in response and Eijirou had taken that as permission to tell him every damn thing that happened to him. It was annoying. Maybe Katsuki had meant it that way.

He had two unread texts.

I tried to save her a donut, but they were already gone from rush hour

She seemed so saddd

Katsuki rolled his eyes. It was the regular’s damn fault for waking up late. She’ll be fucking fine. He tried to imagine having to spend his morning with Eijirou and sent another text right after. I don’t know how blue hair doesn’t kick your ass.

Why would he do that?:(  

You’re a ray of fucking sunshine. It’s 9 am. Stop it.

I’m not!!

Katsuki smiled at his phone. Eijirou’s face must’ve been all indignant. Maybe he was blushing a little, he was very easy to fluster. Name one genuine pet peeve you have. 

Full beams on the road

Stop doing that, I can’t see you after

Eijirou double-texted a lot. Hell, he quadruple-texted pretty often. What was weird was that Katsuki double-texted him pretty often too.

His smile was still on his face as he replied.

I’m not sure I count that. Not petty enough.

A few minutes passed without a response, and Katsuki was about to let Eijirou know that he’d won when his phone vibrated again.

When customers ask me what MY favourite is and then order the exact opposite

That good enough for you? 

He could almost picture the fake annoyance on his face. Sure. What is it, though?

Black, with a lot of sugar

Huh. That’s unexpected. Now he knew what to get Eijirou if he—what the fuck was wrong with him. Was that weird? That was kinda weird.

His internal panic was interrupted by Todoroki walking into the lab. They had two minutes until their shift started. Katsuki got up, texted Eijirou that he had to go work on a synthesis, and found a pair of latex gloves.

He ignored the intense look Todoroki gave him as he pocketed his phone again.

His coworker had been avoiding him for the past few days, and Katsuki wasn’t sure why. Sometimes he could’ve even sworn he’d seen his coworker glare at him, and he hadn’t taken his break at the same time as Katsuki since before Halloween. 

He watched warily as Todoroki put on his lab goggles. They were supposed to work together today. Todoroki’d been perfecting the first step of six in the synthesis of diclofenac sodium, and Katsuki had been experimenting with a new strategy for batch processing. It had been working fine so far, and they’d asked their boss for the lab time to test everything together.

That had all happened before Todoroki had apparently been replaced by a body double that hated Katsuki for no fucking discernable reason.

“Morning, asshole,” he said. He got a vague grunt in response. “I got the sodium bicarbonate for your thing. I think my coil reactor’s a little better, so you can use it, but get the toluene first.”

“Do you not get tired of telling people what to do?” That didn’t feel like banter, somehow. Something about his face.

“Fuck me for trying to get this ready.”

Todoroki ignored him. He pointed to an Erlenmeyer flask. “You have to mix the aniline and chloroacetic acid.”

“Fine.”

Todoroki rolled his eyes.

If he didn’t actually look tired today, Katsuki would’ve snapped back more. 

“I’m gonna write down the temperature,” Katsuki said a few hours later. They were over halfway done with the process. This step was less objective than all the others before. “A hundred twenty-five.”

“Didn’t expect you to pay attention, but I already did that.” Todoroki pointed to a notepad he had.

“We should both—”

“I’m sure you care so much about the measurement accuracy, Bakugou.”

Katsuki would’ve snapped back, but he didn’t even know what to say. “The fuck’s wrong with you today?”

“Just noticing things.”

“What could you possibly be noticing about my damn note-taking?”

Todoroki refused to respond. Katsuki felt like he would explode soon.

They reached the end of the protocol like that, in snappy and uncoordinated moves, trying to mock each other at every step. Katsuki still didn’t know why, but he wasn’t going to let himself be trampled over for no reason.

It was two in the afternoon when they finally got to purifying their compound.

There were three refluxes involved before they could finish that step of the project. For the first one, Katsuki took his lunch break in their break room. Alone. Todoroki took the second one, leaving Katsuki alone in the lab. 

He took off his gloves and propped his goggles on his forehead.

Eijirou had sent him a photo of a Shiba Inu he’d seen on campus and Katsuki replied something vaguely positive to it. The text was from a few hours ago.

He wondered what Eijirou was doing. What was his class schedule? Would it be weird to ask for it? Probably.

He didn’t understand anything about his own feelings: he was so curious it almost made him sick. He wanted to know everything there was to know about his friend’s life. How long did people take to reply to texts normally? He needed to get a grip. He was at work .

His phone vibrated, making him react immediately. It was Sero, with a stupid meme that actually almost made him smile. There was no twinge of disappointment in his stomach. Katsuki reacted and made a mental note to find something weird to send them back later. 

To avoid becoming embarrassed with how pathetically he was acting, he opened his laptop and started typing up more detailed procedure notes, then he transcribed the notes Icyhot had been so fucking mad he was taking.

“It’s done,” his coworker said. He must’ve snuck up behind Katsuki.

“How’s it look?”

“Come see it yourself.” His voice was dripping with contempt.

“Okay, that’s fucking it.” Katsuki stood up, closed the mechanism for the reflux and threw his metal stirring spoon into the sink. “Will you stop looking at me like I killed your damn puppy?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

Katsuki made a face.“Are you that mad about sharing academic credit? You can redo my work and do it worse if you wanna be a dick about it. No one’s making you collaborate.”

“ What ?”

“Could’ve sworn you’re actually competent. It’s a damn shame that you don’t get how this works.” Figures that the first work friend he’d tried to make was actually an asshole who didn’t do joint experiments.

Todoroki’s icy mask dropped, for the first time that day. He actually looked surprised. “You have it all wrong, Bakugou. I’m not upset about sharing credit—who does that?”

“Then fucking tell me what’s going on.”

“Didn’t know you’re in favor of actually talking about your feelings.” 

“What’re you talking about?” Why did he look so self-satisfied? What the actual fuck was going on? “How the fuck would you know?”

Todoroki had a weird, deer-in-the-headlights look. He rubbed his thumb and pointer together, bowing his head down. “Sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”

“Spill right now or I’m going to Tsunagu and tell him about today. I bet he’d love to hear it all.” Katsuki crossed his arms. 

Todoroki didn’t put up a fight. He still looked nervous. It made Katsuki almost regret the intimidation.

“It’s a family problem. I’d rather not talk about it.”

Well, that explained the past few days and the aggression. Him not wanting to talk was kind of unexpected, with how much he’d shared with Katsuki when they’d just met, but there was probably a good reason for the change. Some kind of secret involved. 

Still, Katsuki remembered the way he’d finally felt like he could breathe again after talking to Eijirou.

He wasn’t about to hold Todoroki’s damn hand, but—

“You know.” He coughed, trying to hide his embarrassment. “Maybe I—you never know who could help you and with what. Maybe I could know what you mean. If you want. Don’t make it weird.”  

Todoroki’s eyes flashed with what he could only describe as pure hatred for a second. Katsuki knew it wasn’t directed at him, but it still sent a chill down his spine.

“No, thank you.” He was rubbing his fingers again. Everything about the interaction made Katsuki think there was something very important he was missing. He brushed the feeling off. It had to be just that Todoroki dealt with stress by being rude. It wasn’t like Katsuki of all people could hold it against him.

“You know where to fucking find me.”

Todoroki’s voice was emotionless. “Let’s just get this over with. I think the reflux is done.”

A few hours later, they were standing in front of a small container of white crystals. Todoroki set the scale properly and measured the weight, then read it out loud to Katsuki.

He plugged the number into a calculator quickly. “Forty-percent yield on your step.”

“That’ll do. And yours worked out just fine.” Todoroki nodded. “That’s all good, then. We’ll talk about the next steps with verifying later.”

He seemed in a hurry to get out. As he was leaving, he nearly threw his lab coat on the hanger at the entrance. That was unlike him. Katsuki hoped either that his family problem would turn out okay or that he’d cut them off so he didn’t have to deal with whatever was happening. He’d really seemed to hate his father last they’d talked about it.

Katsuki stopped thinking about Todoroki after that. It wasn’t like he could do much to help anyway.

On the way back, Eijirou asked him how the synthesis went, and Katsuki responded with two paragraphs’ worth of details.

Izuku sat on the couch with his eyes on the TV. Kacchan was off somewhere else in the house. Things between them were still awkward. The fight from Halloween felt so huge. Yeah, they’d made up, but everything still felt wrong. He kept his eyes on the TV as the weather person pointed at the greenscreen. 

“It’ll cool down this weekend so be sure to bust out your winter coats! Other than the chill, the sky will be clear and sunny all through the week.” 

How could he even begin to fix what was wrong between him and Kacchan? He’d promised to not spend time with Kirishima alone. Izuku felt guilty about it, but they needed to focus on each other and this marriage. Not anyone else. Kacchan was his number one, and he should be Kacchan’s number one. That was how it was in a partnership, right? You stood by your partner. 

“That’s it for the weather. Back to you, Yamada-kun!” 

“Brr! I can’t believe it’s getting that cold this early in November! Hopefully it’ll warm up. Next up, we have some breaking news.” 

He should look into a couple’s counselor. It was obvious he and Kacchan had a problem communicating. If Izuku was too horrible of a husband to realize that Kacchan was this unhappy, he had some serious work to do. Togata at work had mentioned going with his husband to see a therapist once. Maybe he could ask about it without giving away that he and Kacchan were having issues? 

“The police have finally apprehended a suspect in the Endeavor Pharmaceutical fire from a few weeks ago.” 

Izuku sat up, all other thoughts out of his head. “What?” he asked aloud. 

“Thirty-three-year-old Todoroki Touya, the eldest son of the C.E.O. Todoroki Enji, was taken into police custody this afternoon.” The image on the TV showed a mugshot of a man with black hair and bright blue eyes. He was covered in piercings and tattoos, and he was smirking. “He has openly admitted to doing the crime.” 

There was no way! Todoroki’s brother? He’d started the fire? Did Todoroki know? He must by now, right? Todoroki had said he hadn’t seen him in years! 

“I miss him. I just wanted his attention and he never wanted anything to do with me.” 

He grabbed his phone off the coffee table and pulled up Todoroki’s number. He dialed at once. 

Todoroki answered after three rings. “H-hello?” His voice sounded wrecked. “Midoriya?” 

“Hi,” Izuku said. “I’m sorry if I’m bothering you I was watching the news and—” 

“Yeah,” Todoroki cut him off. “I know. Touya. I found out less than an hour ago. I’m... I dunno. I’m just pacing my apartment. I’ve been ignoring my family's calls. I almost ignored your call.” 

He was alone? “Are you okay?” Izuku asked at once. 

Todoroki hesitated. “Not really,” he confessed. “I’m... I’m not. I feel like I’m going insane. This is so much. I didn’t even know the fire was an arson until yesterday— I’m— I don’t know. I’m all over the place. I can’t handle my siblings or fuck— I cannot be near my father right now. He’s been texting me nonstop. I’m about to block his number.” 

His mind was made up. “I’ll be there in a half hour,” Izuku said and rushed to get his keys and coat. “You need someone. If your family is too much for you right now then—I’ll be there!” 

“Midoriya, you don’t have to—” 

“Are you kidding?” Izuku asked. “I do. You were there for me. Let me be there for you.” 

“...Okay.” 

Izuku smiled softly. “I’ll be there soon.” 

“Thank you,” Todoroki whispered. His voice cracked. “I’ll see you soon.” 

“See you soon,” Izuku said and hung up. He ran from the living room and up the stairs to their bedroom. “Kacchan,” Izuku called. 

Kacchan poked his head out of the bedroom. “What?” he asked. 

“I’m—” Izuku stopped. What was he going to say? Hey, I’m going to your coworker’s house to comfort him. That sounded bad. It wasn’t though! But Kacchan might read him the riot act if he knew Izuku was going to be alone with another man after Izuku had just freaked out about that same thing with him. “I’m going to the station. Got to help Togata-senpai with some paperwork. He said it can’t wait for my next shift.” 

“What? That’s fucking stupid. How long will he need you for?” 

“Dunno,” Izuku said. “Probably a few hours. If anything changes I’ll let you know.” 

Kacchan sighed. “Yeah, okay. I’m making something to eat soon. You want me to leave leftovers for you?” 

“Nah,” Izuku said and started down the stairs. “I’ll feed myself, don’t worry about me. I’ll be back later. Love you,” he said. 

“Love you too.” 

Izuku didn’t look back. He grabbed his coat and shoes and out the door he went. Todoroki needed him. Izuku would always answer a call for help. 

Chapter Text

He texted Todoroki as soon as he got to the apartment complex. They let him into the elevator right away. He practically fell up to Todoroki’s floor and darted right to his door. Izuku didn’t even have to knock before the door swung open. 

Todoroki was red-faced from crying. His hair was a mess and he was wearing old house clothes. “Hi,” he whispered. “You really didn’t have to come—” 

Izuku rushed forward, wrapping his arms around Todoroki’s chest. “It’s okay,” he told him. “You know why? Because I am here.” He quoted All Might right at him. 

“I—” Todoroki sighed and leaned into Izuku. He wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled him in close. “Midoriya... I don’t know what I’m gonna do...” 

He hugged Todoroki tight. “Right now, nothing. I’m here for a while. We can drink, and eat food that’s not good for us. We can talk about it, or about nothing. Whatever you want, Todoroki-kun. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you smile.” 

“This is enough,” he whispered, squeezing Izuku.

“Come on,” he pulled back and cupped Todoroki’s cheek. “Let me in properly. I’ll make you dinner.” 

Todoroki nodded and moved aside for Izuku to come in. Izuku kicked off his sneakers. “You don’t need to make me anything. I’m not hungry. I just want some wine.” He walked back over to his couch before he turned back to Izuku. “I can get you a glass.” 

“Sure,” Izuku said, sitting on the couch. The TV was on, playing the news. It wasn’t the Touya story anymore but something else. “Mind if I change this?” 

“Go ahead,” Todoroki called from the kitchen. 

It was a smart TV similar to the one he and Kacchan had in their living room. He was easily able to find a streaming service that had All Might on it. He didn’t plan for them to actively watch it, but it was a good comfort show in Izuku’s opinion. But no matter what it was better background noise than the news. He found a random episode and turned it on low. 

Todoroki came back with a wine glass. “All Might?” 

“Background noise,” Izuku said quickly. “So. Do you want to talk about it?” 

“What’s there to talk about?” He poured Izuku a glass before topping off his own. “My brother tried to kill me and my father. He admitted it. The police said... They said he was proud of himself.” He took a long drink, downing half his glass. “I don’t understand at all.” 

Izuku scooted closer. He wrapped an arm around Todoroki and rubbed his back soothingly. “I’m so sorry,” Izuku whispered. “I couldn’t begin to imagine how you feel.” 

“The only good thing I can say about it is he’s not dead. I used to have nightmares about getting a call to come identify his body.” He sighed. “What in the world made him do this?” 

“I dunno,” he said. “I don’t think it’s something you’ll ever be able to make sense of, even if he told you. Your brother must be a really troubled person.”

Todoroki rolled his eyes. “Obviously, he burnt down a building. It’s a miracle no one died. I was the only one who didn’t make it out on my own... Had I died, he would have killed me.” He shook his head. “The only reason I’m not dead is because you saved me.” 

“Good thing too,” Izuku cooed. 

On the table, Todoroki’s phone buzzed again. “I should just turn that fucking thing off.” He picked it up. “...My mom’s calling me.” 

Izuku frowned. “You don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to. But if you do, I can leave the room.” 

He shook his head and rejected the call. “I can’t do it. Not right now.” 

“Here,” Izuku took his phone. “You know what? The world can wait.” He turned it off. “It’s you and me right now.” 

“...I like that,” Todoroki whispered. “Thank you for coming. You didn’t have to.” 

“Huh?” Izuku smiled. “Yes, I did. You’re my friend. I want to be there to support you.” He took a long sip of his own wine. “Mmm, this is good wine.”

“I like wine,” Todoroki said simply. “Usually I savor them more but—” he finished his glass. “The last thing I want to be is sober right now.” 

Izuku looked down at his glass. “Well, then let’s get drunk. I’m not expected home for a few hours and I can sober up quick.” He finished his glass. “Do you have anything other than wine?” 

“Some sake, maybe some soju.”

He snorted “You drink soju???” He couldn’t help but giggle. “That’s such an old man's drink.” 

Todoroki rolled his eyes. “Do you want some, or not?” 

“Yes please!” Izuku cried sitting up more on the couch. Todoroki took their glasses away. He came back a moment later with two bottles. He uncapped one and handed it to Izuku. “I couldn’t even tell you the last time I had soju.” 

“My father used to drink it a lot at business parties. Unfortunately, I grew a taste for it.”

Soju wasn’t Izuku’s favorite but the novelty had him excited. “Mmm, that’s not bad! Smoother than I remembered.” 

“It’s why I like it,” Todoroki said. 

The next hour or so went like this. The two of them drinking and talking about nothing. Todoroki stopped crying, but his face only got more flushed the more he drank. Izuku wouldn’t call himself drunk but he probably shouldn’t drive. 

He finished Todoroki’s last bottle of soju. “Mmm, okay. I’m gonna cut myself off. Any more than that and I’ll end up sleeping on your couch.” 

Todoroki hummed, leaning into Izuku. “You wouldn’t have to sleep there.” He laid his arm across the back of the couch. His breath smelled like wine but it wasn’t bad. Maybe a little fruity. “You could sleep in my bed.” 

“I wouldn’t want to kick you out of your bed!” Izuku giggled, poking his side. 

“Nah,” he whispered. He pressed close until their sides were snug against each other. “My bed is very big.” He moved his hand to push Izuku to face him. “We could share. I’ve never... shared a bed before though so you might have to teach me.” 

Suddenly Izuku felt very sober, yet somehow more drunk than before. His entire face burned bright red. This was dangerous. He should put a stop to this. But Todoroki had just captured Izuku’s attention. “Wait, do you mean you’ve never had sex before? You’re a virgin?” 

“Mhmm,” Todoroki hummed. “I told you I just came out. I was deep in the closet. So I didn’t sleep with women because I didn’t want to. And I didn’t sleep with men because I couldn’t. So here I am, almost twenty-six and I’m still a virgin.” 

Chills ran down Izuku’s back. “Y-yeah?” he asked. His throat felt dry. “I mean... I’ve only ever been with Kacchan so. You know. Not exactly an expert here either.” 

“I’m sure you’d be more than satisfactory,” he whispered, his breath ghosting along the shell of Izuku’s ear. 

Izuku pulled back from him. “Todoroki-kun, this is um—” he tried to find the words. “You’re a really wonderful person. I really like spending time with you but... I’m married.” 

Todoroki sighed “I know.” He pulled back. “I know, trust me. It’s not fair. Not fair at all. You give me this new lease on life, I find you again, and you’re married.” 

“Wait—” Izuku gently touched his arm. “What do you mean you found me?” 

“After you saved my life,” he said, turning back to Izuku. His eyes were sharp and focused on Izuku. “You were all I could think about. I thought you vanished forever. An angel I’d never see again and then... There you were. At that party. I thought the universe was finally being kind to me but then Bakugou—” he spat the name out. “Bakugou swaggered on over flashing his ring. He may as well have pulled my heart out and stomped on it.”

“T-Todoroki-kun...? What are you saying?” He needed him to say it. To be direct. To leave no room for Izuku’s brain to cloud his words with doubt. 

He grabbed Izuku by the shoulders. “Midoriya, I want you.” 

The words were like a shot of heroin right into his arm. His eyes got wide. 

“I was fine wanting you from afar, but after everything I’ve seen. The things Bakugou has done to you... My brother almost killed me so believe me when I say this life is too short to spend it making other people happy! Bakugou doesn’t deserve you! You shouldn’t be with him. You should be with me!” 

Emotions bubbled inside Izuku’s chest. A swirl of conflicting feelings so intense he couldn’t think. It was as if the entire world had vanished and it was just him and Todoroki. And Todoroki wanted him. He wanted him. 

Izuku lunged at him, wrapping his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 

Sparks shot up Izuku’s spine. Todoroki’s lips were soft and warm. He wrapped his arms around Izuku’s waist and pulled him into his lap. Izuku tilted his head, deepening their kiss. Todoroki fell back. “Mm—” he whined against his lips. Heat rolled through Izuku’s body. 

He couldn’t remember the last time he was kissed like this. The kisses he and Kacchan usually shared, while sweet, usually felt like something they did because it was required of them. Licking his way into Todoroki’s mouth was fun. He tasted like alcohol but Izuku found he liked the taste. His tongue was soft as it rubbed against Izuku. His hands on his back were warm through his clothes. Izuku longed to feel him on his bare skin. Everything about Todoroki was warm and inviting. Izuku wanted more. 

Kacchan’s face popped into his mind. The soft look he’d get in his eyes when they’d spot each other across a room.

Izuku pulled back with a wet pop, a thin strand of drool connecting their lips. “What am I doing?” 

Todoroki looked punch drunk. He giggled, his nose turning pink. “You’re doing what you want,” he told Izuku, giving his hips a squeeze. 

He shook his head. “No, no this is so wrong. I shouldn’t...” 

Todoroki leaned up and kissed him again. His lips were so soft. “Who said? Your husband? Because he doesn’t exactly have a leg to stand on.” He ran his fingers through Izuku’s hair. “He’s been smiling at his phone a lot lately. So if you’re not texting him...” He rubbed his hands up to Izuku’s natural waist. 

“He is?” Izuku asked as his eyes went wide. “I mean... That could mean anything, right?” 

“...It could,” Todoroki said. “Forget him. At least right now forget everything. I know you want me too.” Todoroki’s eyes glanced down. He moved one of his hands to run over the front of Izuku’s jeans. “You’re hard.” 

Izuku groaned, unconsciously thrusting his hips into Todoroki’s warm hand. The friction felt amazing. Todoroki was right. Izuku wanted him so badly. But what about Kacchan? He couldn’t just cheat on him. No matter how good Todoroki looked lying under him with kiss-swollen lips. “This is wrong,” he said. “You shouldn’t be touching me.” 

Todoroki stared at him for a long moment before he smirked. “Okay. I can work with that.” He sat up pushing Izuku up until he was sitting on his lap. He could feel something poking him. “How about I show you how much I want you? No touching required. Unless you want to.” 

“Sh-show me?” 

He pushed Izuku off him and stood up. “I’ll do all the work. You can just sit back and enjoy the show.” 

This was bad. This was so bad. Izuku should run. Todoroki was so nice and soooo pretty but Izuku couldn’t do this. He should go home to his husband and-

“O-okay...” he whispered, because Izuku is weak. Todoroki wanted him. He wanted to see how badly. Izuku wasn’t used to being wanted. He deserved it. Just this once, right? “Okay. I’ll watch.” 

“Come on,” Todoroki tugged him toward his bedroom. 

As they walked, Izuku pulled out his phone and pulled up Kacchan’s number. He sent a quick text. 

I have to stay at work tonight. They need some extra hands since Iida is out on paternal leave. I’ll be home tomorrow!

He pocketed his phone, not even caring if Kacchan messaged him back or not. 

Todoroki’s bedroom was dark and smelled like incense. It was cooler in here than the rest of the apartment. One wall was almost entirely windows that looked down over the rest of the city. It was traditional and cozy. “Sit there,” Todoroki said, pointing to a small armchair in the room. It was next to a large bookcase. 

Izuku obeyed. “What are you going to do?” 

He hummed, reached into his bedside table, and pulled something out of it. “I told you. I’m going to show you exactly how much I want you.” He tossed what he was holding onto the bed and started to tug on the hem of his sweater. Todoroki’s body was as perfect as his face. His skin was pale and smooth. Part of Izuku wanted to get out of this chair and put his hands all over Todoroki just to see if he was as soft as he looked. He stopped, his hinges hovering over the hem of his jeans. “Keep your eyes on me.” 

Izuku couldn’t look away if he wanted to. 

Todoroki unbuttoned his pants slowly and pushed them all the way down to the floor. Now he was left in a pair of dark boxer briefs. Todoroki’s cock was hard, the tip of it dribbling precum out and soaking through the material leaving a dark wet spot. Izuku sort of wanted to get on his knees and suck on it. 

“Do you want these to come off?” Todoroki asked, toying with the hem exposing the V of his hips and a delicious red and white happy trail.

“Y-yes.” Izuku’s voice sounded foreign to his own ears. Broken and wrecked already. 

It only seemed to make Todoroki more pleased with himself. He pulled the boxers down and let them drop to his ankles before he daintily stepped out of them. Todoroki’s body really was perfect. He looked almost unreal. Perfect pink nipples against pale skin. His cock was hard and weeping with a flushed head. (Once again Izuku found his mouth watering at the sight.) He was like something out of a porn film. 

“Do you like what you see?” Todoroki asked. He turned around to grab something off the bed. His butt was on the smaller side but it was honestly just so cute? Izuku wanted to spread his cheeks and taste. 

“Mhmm-” He choked out. He had to adjust his pants in the chair. “I thought you were going to show me how much you wanted me?” 

“I am,” Todoroki picked up the thing he’d dropped on the bed. It was a small dildo.  “This is what I use when I think about you.” 

Izuku rolled his hips, bucking into nothing. “Oh fuck,” he whispered. Todoroki thought about him while he masturbated? Izuku felt like he could cum in his pants. 

He hummed and kissed the tip of the toy. “Just pretend this is you,” he said before he laid himself on the bed. He propped himself up to give Izuku a good view and spread his legs. His cock lay against his stomach, still dripping. With his legs spread Izuku could see his pink hole. He picked up a bottle of lube from the side table and first poured it all over the toy. Izuku watched with bated breath as Todoroki pressed the tip to his hole. “Nngh—” he grunted as the head pushed in. “It stings, it’s a little big for me...” he pressed it in further. “Ah! I like it though...” 

It was hypnotic. Watching the toy disappear into what had to be a warm tight heaven. Izuku’s cock was throbbing in his pants. “It feels good?” 

“Mhmm— oooh yeah,” Todoroki moaned as he pushed the toy the rest of the way in. His legs shook as he began to pump the toy in and out of him slowly. “I wish this were you fucking me,” he said. “I want you so bad, Midoriya.” 

Izuku bit his lip to keep himself from moaning. Todoroki was too hot. He felt like he was a fine piece of thread being pulled taut.“I wanna see you feel good,” Izuku said. 

Todoroki wrapped one hand around his own cock, the other moving the toy. “Y-yeah? I wanna make you feel good. I want you so much...” Todoroki whined. He tried angling the toy a few different ways. “Nngh, fuck... Dammit—” He tried again. He stroked his cock faster, smearing the precum but he was whining in frustration. 

“Wh-what’s wrong?” Izuku asked. 

“I c-can’t reach my prostate...” Todoroki whined. “Usually I cum so hard when I touch it but I can’t get it at this angle.” He licked his lips, his sharp eyes meeting Izuku. “I need help or I’ll never cum.” It was so cute watching him struggle. 

“You can do it,” Izuku encouraged. “I know you can.” 

He whined and lifted his hips up. “Mid- Izuku. Help me. Please, I want you so bad...” 

The thread holding Izuku’s sanity together snapped. 

He pounced onto the bed, leaning over Todoroki. “Shh,” he told him. He leaned down and kissed Todoroki again. “I’ll help.” He shooed his hands away and took over. He pulled the toy from Todoroki slowly. 

“W-wait...” Todoroki whined. His hole clenched around nothing. “I wanna be full.” 

“I know,” Izuku assured. He picked up the bottle of lube and poured some over two of his fingers. He’d never fingered someone like this before. Kacchan had... A different set of equipment but Izuku had fingered himself a handful of times. Recently more. He knew what he was doing at least in the technical sense. “I got you.” He pushed Todoroki’s legs back and pushed both fingers into him at once. 

“A-ahh!” Todoroki cried out, his toes curling. “Oh my god— it feels so... Fuck!” 

He was so loud. Kacchan was hardly this loud during sex. Izuku wanted to hear more noises. He pushed his fingers in slowly. If he was being too fast or too rough Todoroki didn’t seem to mind. If anything he liked it. He shoved his fingers into the knuckle. “You’re so warm and soft inside,” he marveled. 

Todoroki’s tongue was hanging out of his mouth. “Ahh... Izuku—” he begged. “It’s so much.” 

“Bad or good?” he asked, reaching up with his free hand to stroke Todoroki’s cock. He went slow, twisting his wrist the way he did when he jerked off. It seemed to work. 

“Goooood!” Todoroki cried. “More!” 

Izuku nodded and pushed his fingers in, curling them. He was searching. Every part of Todoroki felt so warm and soft. He really wanted to put his cock inside. He knew it would feel so good. He curled his finger again and—

“Oh!” Todoroki cried, his eyes going wide. “Right there!” 

He pushed and rubbed into the spongey spot. “That feel good?” he asked, his voice going softer and lower. 

“Uh-huh! More!” he begged. 

“Anything.” Izuku curled his fingers up, rubbing hard as he stroked Todoroki’s throbbing cock. “You can cum if you want. I wanna see. You said you’d show much you want me so... Show me.” 

Todoroki’s legs were shaking. His entire chest and face had turned bright pink. His cock was practically drooling precum. “Oooh fuck ohhh fuckkkk-” Todoroki’s eyes rolled up into the back of his head. “I’m gonna—” 

He pressed into his prostate hard. 

“Oooh! Izukuuuu!” he whined, cum shooting from the tip of his cock and splattering over his chest. Todoroki flopped back, panting hard. Izuku quickly pulled out.

Todoroki lay there, his body still pink, as he panted. He looked just as good in post-orgasmic bliss. “Not done...” he muttered. 

“Huh—” Izuku yelped as Todoroki grabbed him. He pushed Izuku on his back and straddled his waist. “T-Todoroki-kun?” 

“I want you,” Todoroki repeated. “I want you so bad and I’ve waited for so long. Please... Please, Izuku, let me have you. Just this once. I’ll do anything. Please. You can do anything you want to me just... Just do something.” 

He stared up at Todoroki. He could feel his cock throbbing in his pants. This was wrong. Izuku was married! He should—

But he’d done so much already. If Izuku went home now Kacchan would still be mad. He’d already ruined everything, shouldn’t he at least get off? 

“Okay,” Izuku affirmed. “I want you too. You’re so hot. I can’t believe you want me...” 

Todoroki sighed in relief. He practically tore Izuku’s shirt off him. “How could I not?” he asked. “Look at you. Perfect body...” He pushed Izuku back and ran his hands down his chest and over his pecs. “You’re so...” he bit his lip as he gently pinched one of Izuku’s nipples. “Cute,” he murmured. 

Watching Todoroki explore was almost as good as watching him masturbate. His soft hands roamed Izuku’s chest before finding their way to the hem of his pants. Izuku lifted his hips so Todoroki could pull them and his boxers off with one pull. 

His cock popped up. Izuku hissed as the air touched him. He felt like he could cum if Todoroki breathed on his dick too hard. “S-slow down...” Izuku mumbled. “Let me calm down, I’ll cum right away.” 

“I don’t care,” Todoroki said. He licked his lips at Izuku’s erection. He wrapped his long lithe fingers around it and gave it a slow stroke. 

“Ooooh—” Izuku’s eyes rolled back as his vision blacked out around the edges. It took everything in him to calm down. He wouldn’t cum that fast. He took a long breath. 

“Can I put it in?” Todoroki asked, already moving to straddle Izuku’s hips again. 

He was nodding before he even fully comprehended the question. 

Todoroki hummed softly and moved himself over Izuku’s cock. “Good,” he whispered. “I’ve been dreaming about this—” Izuku’s cock was kissing the soft ring of Todoroki’s ass. It was so soft and wet. “Since I met you.” He sat down, pushing the head inside. 

His insides were maddeningly tight. It was almost too much. Izuku’s balls seized up. He was barely able to hold himself back from cumming. “Oh fuck—” Izuku whispered. 

“Mmm...” Todoroki let go and moved his hands to rest on Izuku’s chest. He used it as leverage to slowly sit himself on Izuku’s cock. “More,” he whined as he took Izuku balls deep. “Mmmm, you’re so big. It hurts... it hurts good?” he asked. He rolled his hips, his ass clenching around him. He bounced on his dick slowly. It was too good. Izuku couldn’t remember the last time he’d had his cock ridden like this. 

He really did want Izuku, didn’t he? 

Izuku sat up, his eyes watering. “God—” he mumbled softly. “Todo- Shouto!” he cried out the name that had been dancing on his tongue since the fire. 

Saying his name had Shouto gasping. “Izuku—” he whined. He moved his hands to wrap his arms around Izuku’s neck. Izuku’s hands went to his hips. “Izuku— You’re so good,” Shouto whispered. “I want you cock deeper.” 

He nodded, trying to roll his hips the best he could. “Anything-” he told Shouto. “Anything for you.” 

“Kiss me—” he begged, moving in closer. 

Izuku kissed him. Their mouths slotted together perfectly. They were connected. Izuku’s insides coiled up tight. He felt like he was going to explode. He pushed Shouto onto his back. “Mmm—” he moaned against his lips. 

The world seemed hazy. All that mattered was right here and now. Him and Shouto. Passion unlike anything Izuku had ever experienced seemed to explode out of him. Izuku had known desire. But to be desired in return? It was more than he could handle. 

He was crying as his hips thrust into Shouto’s tight wet heat. 

Shouto pulled back, one of his hands cupping Izuku’s cheek. “Why are you crying?” he asked. 

“C-can’t help it. Overwhelmed,” Izuku admitted. He grabbed Shouto’s hips harder. “Not a bad thing.” He thrust himself in deep, his cock nudging something in Shouto. 

“Oh yo-ooou!” he cut himself off with a loud moan. “R-right there holy shit!” 

Izuku did not need to be told twice. He grabbed his hips and thrust into him. He fucked Shouto until his legs began to shake with exertion. Shouto wrapped his own around Izuku’s hips one of his arms reaching around to claw down his back. “Nnng—” Izuku groaned and bit into his neck. He bit down hard. 

“Ah!” he cried as Izuku bit down. Shouto came around his cock. He could tell by the pathetic whine Izuku swallowed up. Cum splattered across their stomachs. Izuku couldn’t help himself from cumming. The way Shouto’s body quivered around him was too much. 

It was the most intense orgasm of his life. His muscles seized up. It was almost painful. For several long moments, he was there on the edge of cumming before he came. “Ooooh—” he groaned as cum poured out of him.

Cumming inside wasn’t something Izuku ever got to do. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to go back. 

He flopped on top of Shouto feeling boneless. “Fuuuck...” he mumbled and pulled out of him. He laid on him feeling light-headed in all the best ways.  

Shouto hummed and pulled him closer. “That was amazing...” he whispered. 

“Mhmm—” Izuku said. He felt so fuzzy and good. He was sleepy. “You’re amazing.” He kissed Shouto again. Time seemed irrelevant. Quite frankly everything that wasn’t Shouto felt unimportant. Izuku was happy. He was wanted. He was sated. 

They fell asleep like that in Shouto’s bed. The world be damned.

Chapter Text

Katsuki put down the book he’d started. It was kinda weird anyway. Why would they want to fuck each other if they were enemies? If you asked him, that was just a skill issue. 

Sero would be proud of him for that one.

He glanced at the red and blue clock on the wall. Huh, it was getting late. He turned on his phone and saw a notification with Izuku’s contact photo displayed on the screen.

I have to stay at work tonight. They need some extra hands since Iida is out on paternal leave. I’ll be home tomorrow!

Katsuki sent him back a thumbs-up emoji.

What kind of paperwork did he have that couldn’t wait until his next damn shift? Katsuki could remember maybe one time that that had happened before, and it had been after a fire that had decimated three buildings. Nothing of that magnitude had happened lately, as far as he knew.

Whatever. It wasn’t like Izuku would lie to him about it. He was the better person between them, the one who wasn’t immature and off-putting. He’d never do anything shady like that.

Katsuki was sure he’d hear all about whatever had happened tomorrow, so there was no point thinking about it now.

His phone vibrated in his hand. Eijirou had sent him a photo. He was smiling at the camera obnoxiously, holding what looked like a large rolled-up poster, and he’d captioned it something about being done with his team project for a communications class.

Katsuki saved the photo and asked him when he’d have to present. The 17th, apparently.

He frowned at his phone. He was home alone, and he would be for the night. He was bored. His heart was racing for some weird reason as he pictured Eijirou thinking of telling him the second something happened, even something as mundane as his project.

Katsuki was too lazy to type. That was it. Before he could second-guess himself, he pressed the call button. 

It only rang once. “Katsuki?” Fuck, he sounded confused.

“That is my name, yeah.”

“We were just talking—”

His ears felt warm. Would he ever stop embarrassing the shit out of himself in front of Eijirou? “You’re so fucking annoying, Ei—”

“Why’d you call? Wait, are you like— you know, one of those older people who can’t use technology—”

“Fuck off!”

“I didn’t hear a no.” The laughter was evident in Eijirou’s voice.

“I know more about technology than you, fuckhead. I do my own graphs for everything. I know how to code.”

“Oh my god, why?”

“I don’t know, I was bored.”

“So you learned how to code ?”

“It’s not like it’s hard.” Katsuki shrugged, even though Eijirou couldn’t see it. He had a lot of time to kill when he wasn’t working. “Took me a few weeks when I was younger, but now I can and that’s why you’re worse at tech than me.”

“You got me there. I wanted to make fun of you for calling instead of texting, but you’re so amazing! I feel like every time I find out something about you, it’s even more—”

“Shut up.” Katsuki felt like his heart would beat out of his chest soon. He couldn’t bear it. “And I can text, if you want. If it makes you less annoying.”

“No,” Eijirou said quietly. “I think I like it more this way.”

Me too . It was more convenient, sure, but Katsuki could admit now that he just really liked hearing Eijirou’s voice. He found every inflection in it endearing. It settled something inside him that kind of hurt when they were apart.

“You still there?” Eijirou said. Katsuki could make out the sound of the wind in the speaker.

“Course I’m still here, you idiot! Are you going somewhere or what’s that noise?”

“Yeah! Anatomy class. It’s in ten minutes, but I gotta get across campus.”

That was when a normal person would’ve hung up. When Katsuki would’ve hung up, had he been talking to anyone else. He looked for something to ask instead.“Does it suck as much as organic chem?”

“No, I actually like it! We’ve done a bunch of dissections, and that took a while to get used to, but I don’t mind now.”

“Sounds gross.”

“Well, a little. Smells weird.” Eijirou said hi to some people passing by; then he returned to Katsuki. “Right now we’re revising for the exam next week, though.”

“You didn’t seem like you were studying today.” Not that they’d met, but they talked a lot.

“Yeah, well, I’m starting tomorrow. I don’t wanna hear the judgment, man; I was busy.”

“Should’ve fucking told me.” A pang of guilt shot through Katsuki’s stomach. Halloween had been just a few days ago, and there was no way their conversation hadn’t affected Eijirou.

“Sure. Sorry, Katsuki, you’re on your own after the disaster last night; I’m busy procrastinating.” 

“I—”

“Don’t start. I told you, I always have time for you.”  Eijirou’s tone was firm. 

Katsuki barely kept himself from sulking openly, especially after the way he’d said that. “Except now till next week, I assume.”

“... you can come hang out with me if you want. Is that what you’re saying? Sometimes I can’t tell.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes. “Like you need an excuse not to focus.”

“Low blow, man! I’m perfectly capable of studying with you there. We can just meet next week if you don’t—”

“No,” Katsuki spoke over him. That wasn’t gonna happen. It had been a few days since they’d met already. “I have shit to do too. Maybe if you finish your shitty studying, I’ll let you show me that movie you keep yapping about.”

“You’d watch it with me?” Fuck, Katsuki could see the stars in his eyes.

“Is that what I fucking said or not?”

Eijirou laughed. Neither of them hung up on the way, and he got to his class one minute late.

The sunlight cascaded through the window and into Izuku’s eyes. His eyes fluttered open slowly and the room came into focus. It took him a few moments to realize that this was not his bedroom. He sat up in a panic looking around the room. He was in Todoroki’s bedroom. That’s right. He’d come over last night. They’d gotten drunk. He’d slept here. 

He slept with Todoroki. 

Dread washed over Izuku like an ice-cold wave. 

He’d cheated on his husband. How could he do that? Why had he slept with Todoroki??? He walked back through the events of last night. Todoroki had been so sweet... He had wanted Izuku. He shook his head, shaking the thought away. No! He was wrong! 

After all the shit he gave to Kacchan about seeing Kirishima, here Izuku was actually cheating on him. This was a mistake. He needed to get home right now and tell Kacchan everything. He needed to get on his knees and beg. He couldn’t lose him. 

Izuku looked to the other side of the futon. He was alone in the bed. Where had Todoroki gone? He needed to tell him last night had ben a mistake. That they couldn’t do this again. 

He pulled himself out of the futon and grabbed his jeans off the floor. He pulled them on and his t-shirt. He left the bedroom “Todoroki-kun?” he called. 

“In here,” Todoroki called from the living room. 

Izuku walked out of the hall. Todoroki was wearing a house robe, sitting on the couch. The TV was on, playing the news. Todoroki sat there, nursing a mug of tea. He kept his eyes on the TV. It showed Todoroki Touya’s mugshot again. 

“Todoroki Touya, the eldest son of C.E.O Todoroki Enji was arrested yesterday after confessing to burning down the main office building of Endeavor Industries.” 

Right. The entire reason Izuku had come over. Todoroki’s face was blank as he watched the TV. “Hey,” Izuku said, approaching the couch. “I um...” What should he do? He needed to go home. He couldn’t be around Todoroki anymore but Todoroki couldn’t be left alone like this! “You okay?” 

He shrugged. “No, yes? I don’t know. I’m sad. But at the same time what am I supposed to do?” he sighed and turned off the TV. “I can’t watch that right now. I’m just...” he trailed off, clearly trying to put his thoughts together. “Last night was a lot.” 

“Yeah,” Izuku mumbled, leaning on the back of the couch. “It was... It was a mis—” 

“A mistake, I know,” Shouto said. “You can’t ever see me again, and you’re going to come clean to your husband and work things out with him. I’ve been thinking about this since I woke up.” 

Izuku walked around to sit on the couch properly. “...What else am I supposed to do?” he asked. “He’s my husband.” 

“I know,” Todoroki said again. He wouldn’t look at Izuku. He kept looking at the off TV. “I stand by what I said last night though. You shouldn’t be with Bakugou. You’re miserable.” 

“I’m not—” 

“Izuku,” Todoroki turned his sharp gaze onto him. “If you were happy last night wouldn’t have happened. But I also know you’re the type to try and stay with him to work things out.” He took a long sip of his tea. “Do whatever you want.” 

He frowned and looked down at his lap. “...I’m sorry,” Izuku whispered. “This is a mess and it’s all my fault—” 

“It’s not,” he cut him off. “I was there. I asked you. I’m the one who made an ass of myself getting sloppy drunk and begging you to fuck me.” He looked away. “But I don’t regret it. Even if this is where this—” he motioned between them. “Ends, then I can at least say I had you for a night. I can be happy with that.” He didn’t sound happy. 

“Todoroki-kun, you’re a wonderful person. If things were different...” He sighed. What could he say to make this better? Nothing. He shouldn’t say anything at all. “I don’t know.” 

“I’m a wonderful person but you’re married. You won’t leave Bakugou because of your past with him and you spent all this time chasing him and you can’t give it up no matter how miserable you are. You’re too stubborn to give up.” He sighed. “It’s actually one of the things I like about you. You don’t give up.” 

Izuku frowned. “I...” He was miserable. But he could fix things with Kacchan, couldn’t he? He had to try. He’d never forgive himself if he let things end with him. He was in too deep. “I have to.” 

“I know,” Todoroki said simply. “It’s just who you are. I knew that. I hoped... I hoped things could be different. But they won’t be.” 

He stood up. “I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be,” Todoroki stood up and turned to him. “I told you, I have no regrets. I wouldn’t do anything differently.” He stepped into Izuku’s space. “Don’t delete my number. I won’t bother you but I’ll be here.” 

Izuku’s eyes got wide. “What?” he asked. “What do you mean?” 

“I mean I’ll be right here,” he said. He put a hand on Izuku’s chest. “I told you. I want you. In whatever way you can give. If I’m yours, or just someone you call when Bakugou leaves you wanting. I don’t care. I’ll take whatever of your time you can give me.” 

It took Izuku a moment to absorb exactly what Todoroki was getting at. “...What?” he asked again. “Todoroki-kun that’s not—” 

Todoroki cut him off with a soft chaste kiss. “Shh,” he told Izuku. “I don’t care. I don’t care if it’s right or healthy. I told you, I’m pursuing my happiness. Even if I can only have it in short doses. Or never again. I don’t care at all. I’ll just be... here. You’re the first thing I ever wanted for myself, so I’ll take you in any form.” 

“You deserve better,” Izuku whispered. “You deserve someone who can give you the world.” 

He laughed. His laugh was soft and quiet. Barely a laugh at all. “I don’t care,” he said simply. “The heart wants what it wants.” He reached between them, took Izuku’s hand, and pulled it up to his chest, laying it right over his heart. “It’s already broken, so I don’t mind if you keep breaking it. I’ll let you do it over and over again if you want.”

It made Izuku want to cry. “Todoroki-kun...” 

“Go home, Izuku. I gotta handle some stuff with my family anyway. I can’t avoid them forever.” He glanced at the TV. “Got a lot to do now that Touya’s been found.” 

“...Okay,” Izuku whispered. “I’ll um, go. We’ll... I’ll call in a few days. Even though this can’t happen again I still care.” 

He nodded. “Yeah, I get it. If things change with Touya I’ll... Let you know. Goodbye, Izuku.” 

“Bye, Shouto,” Izuku whispered. He took a step back from Todoroki before he turned and left the apartment. 

He didn’t cry until he got to his car. 

“What’ll it take to get you back to your fucking studying?” Katsuki glared at Eijirou, whose smile widened in response. 

He had been doing pretty well until they’d had lunch—takeout, because Eijirou had unironically suggested adding protein powder to their leftover soy sauce to make something— but after that he’d constantly seemed distracted. Not that Katsuki really blamed him. He’d considered becoming a doctor, and what had stopped him had been exactly the prospect of memorizing anatomy like that.

Eijirou pushed his chair closer to his bed, which Katsuki was currently sitting on, and looked over his shoulder to his laptop. “You read that for fun?”

“I volunteer to peer review papers.” He gestured at the screen with disdain. “Some of them aren’t worth the battery power, let alone my time, but it’s cool overall. Keeps me up to date and all.”

 “Do you have to be up to date, or do you just like it?”

“Both.” Another part of himself that he could only show to Eijirou, because like hell he’d let Izuku know he cared about that. He had to be happy. And he was.  “If—When I go back into academia, I’m gonna need it.”

“If you could do it right now—” Eijirou hesitated. “Do you know who you’d work with?”

That was dangerous thinking.

There was a clear answer, though. Katsuki went to his saved link folder. “Rumi Usagiyama.” He went through a quick run-down of her publications and why her impact metrics were better than they looked at first glance. Eijirou watched him as Katsuki let himself get more heated than anyone should over something like that. 

He looked…captivated, almost. There was no way he found this that interesting.

“But she doesn’t take students anyway,” Katsuki finished. “Hasn’t in decades.”

“She’d take you .” Eijirou grinned, his eyes still trained on Katsuki’s face. “If she didn’t, you’d go to her lectures every day until she either did or kicked you out.”

“Thanks for believing in me, asshole!”

“I do! I said she would.”

He looked so sincere. Katsuki let himself indulge in the fantasy, just for a few minutes. He rolled his eyes. “I’d have to get an apartment for one around here. It’d fucking suck. The walls would be stained and shit.”

Eijirou smiled, more subdued than usual. He didn’t break the illusion. “You’d paint them over. We’d help you move in.” 

“None of you would leave me the fuck alone.”

“You’d come over by yourself and tell us you ran out of salt and we’d pretend you actually did.”

Katsuki lunged to hit him and Eijirou dodged easily, pushing his chair away from the bed.

“But that’s not gonna happen soon,” he said, suddenly looking sad. Like he was yearning for that life on Katsuki’s behalf.

“It’s not a big deal.” Thanks for giving me someone I can say that to. “Wanna see what this asshole wrote instead of a conclusion?”

“How bad can it be?” Eijirou turned the chair and leaned on the backrest, comfortably at Katsuki’s side.

“You wouldn’t believe it.”

“It just doesn’t stick.” Eijirou closed his notebook and slammed it on the desk. “I’m gonna have to quit school and move to America.”

“Shut up! Of course, it doesn’t,” Katsuki said, looking up from his own notes. “You’re a visual learner. Maybe kinesthetic, I’m not sure, but you’re not good with lists like those.”

“I’m what?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself!”

Eijirou raised his hands in mock surrender. “I just…you look so certain, man. I guess you did teach me for a while, but—”

“Stop guessing, idiot, I’m right.”

“But what do I do then? If I don’t pass this, I’ll never get to work with patients. It’s not like I can make it not be a list just because I suck at it.”

“You’ll fucking pass. That’s a threat.” Katsuki turned to face him more fully. “What helped you before?”

“We have this one human model in our class, the teacher calls her Mai—”

“What the fuck.”

“ Anyway , she’s labeled and all. Every nerve and vein and stuff. It’s a really cool replica, man, you should see it! And it makes sense, because I can see all the organs where they’d be on a body.” He frowned. “One time, Mina let me label her muscles with post-it notes, and that helped too.”

Katsuki couldn’t help chuckling at the mental image. “Yeah, well—” Suddenly, he had an idea. He lifted his arm in a clear invitation. “As long as it’s not permanent, you can do whatever.”

“Are you serious?”

“Dead.”

“This one gets off with soap and water,” Eijirou said, holding up a marker from his desk. “Don’t ask me how I know.” 

Katsuki snorted. “You’re a bunch of idiots.”

It all felt more real when Eijirou got closer, looking right into Katsuki’s eyes as he lifted a hand up to his shoulder. 

“Okay.” Eijirou ran his fingers over Katsuki’s skin, starting at his collarbone and moving to the side across his bicep. The fabric of his shirt got pushed with his hand. “That’s your axillary artery. It branches out in your arm into—” He looked to the side at his textbook and opened the marker. He pushed Katsuki’s shirt to the side fully, then traced over the path with a dotted line. “—subscapular and—”

Katsuki couldn’t breathe. Eijirou was holding onto his shoulder more firmly to stabilize himself, and he felt the touch burn into him like a brand. 

Had his skin always been this fucking sensitive? Eijirou moved his hand up toward his neck, saying something to himself, and Katsuki nearly shivered from that alone.

“That’s your median nerve, and the brachial artery’s behind it—” Eijirou drew two lines in different fonts, his demeanour growing more and more steady. He turned Katsuki’s arm to finish them. He knew it didn’t work that way, but it felt like every single nerve felt Eijirou’s touch.

“Is it helping?” he asked after Eijirou was done with his upper arm. He kept his voice level as much as he could.

Eijirou pulled back and checked with his textbook again.

“It makes so much more sense like this. I think you’re right about the visual stuff, honestly—it’s kinda weird that I didn’t even know that about myself.” He smiled nervously. “You really pay attention to me, man.”

Katsuki didn’t know what to say. He did, didn’t he? “Stop being so mushy.” He pointed to a random line near his bicep. “What’s that one?”

Eijirou barely hesitated. “Ulnar nerve.” He checked with the textbook and shot Katsuki a smile when he saw that he was right.

“Told you you’ll pass.”

Eijirou smiled. He finished the rest of Katsuki’s arm, touching exactly as much as he needed to get the lines right. Only when he got to the end did his hand linger around Katsuki’s shoulder, but he dropped it so fast it was like Katsuki had imagined that.

“Okay, well, thanks a lot, that really helped. I guess I gotta—” He looked a little disappointed. He’d probably gotten used to seeing everything clearly.

Katsuki couldn’t stand it.

He grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head before he could think of anything else. Eijirou’s eyes widened with shock. 

“What’re you—”

Katsuki touched the left side of his chest. He could feel his own frantic heartbeat against his fingertips. “I don’t remember how it goes— main one’s the aorta, right? Then there’s the, what’re they called, there’s fucking two of them—”

“Inferior and superior vena cava,” Eijirou said. His voice was low. He took his eyes off Katsuki after a few moments, looking to the side. 

“Draw them on.”

Eijirou’s face was flushed a sweet shade of pink. “Are you serious?”

“Are you stupid?”

Eijirou hesitated, glancing from Katsuki to the textbook and back. He was still holding his marker. For the millionth time, Katsuki felt like the biggest loser on the planet. What if Eijirou just thought he was being weird?

He leaned back in. “Thanks, Katsuki.”

Eijirou held his shoulder, his hand hovering as he traced what he told Katsuki was his pulmonary vein. 

He was taking such good care not to touch his chest, and part of Katsuki couldn’t help but wonder if it was off-putting to him, if he minded the scars. 

“You’re being way too kind to me.”

“Like I’m gonna let you fail.” It came out with none of the bite he’d wanted.

“I wouldn’t fail —”

“It’s not like I mind.” Katsuki frowned when Eijirou traced another line, still not touching him. “I’m not made of fucking glass, you know.”

Eijirou breathed out shakily. He relaxed, letting his palm brush Katsuki’s skin as his wrist moved. “I’m just gonna draw one of these, you have one between each pair of ribs.” 

Katsuki made a vaguely approving sound in response. He hadn’t really understood the words. The barely-there touch was killing him, more than if Eijirou had been rough with him.

Then Eijirou’s hands drifted down, one of them slipping across Katsuki’s side as the other traced a line down from his heart. He let it rest on Katsuki’s hip.

Eijirou kneeled as he continued, stopping the line around his belly button. He split it into two, gliding the marker until he reached Katsuki’s waistband. “Then it branches down into the iliac artery.”

He looked up, and Katsuki was struck by just how beautiful Eijirou looked on his knees. He fought the urge to rub his legs together. Oh fuck, he needed something, anything. He was so wet he could fucking feel it.

“I’m almost done with this part,” Eijirou said. His voice was cheerful, almost too much so.

What would it take to get him to drop the act? 

Katsuki didn’t know what he was thinking. He was frustrated in a way he’d never been before, and he wanted to make Eijirou feel it. Take one of those stupid warm hands that held onto his hips and just—

He needed to distract himself. 

Eijirou was finishing a dotted line that went around his hips. He pulled back and mumbled something about the artery going behind the nerve, then he leaned back in. He pushed Katsuki back, holding onto him to keep him from falling over. 

Katsuki would bet it wasn’t even a strain for him. He could probably hold his entire weight just like that, with his arms.

He couldn’t help the way he gasped at the feeling.

Eijirou’s fingers tightened around his hip, smudging the drawn-on nerve that circled them. Katsuki hoped his fingerprints would stay there forever. He couldn’t breathe. Eijirou looked up at him through his lashes. 

His eyes were really fucking pretty, cherry-red, and filled with a smoldering heat Katsuki wanted to drown in.

Eijirou licked his lips.

They wouldn’t be soft, Katsuki decided. They had little marks on each side from his sharp teeth that would make them just a bit rough, and they were glistening in the artificial light. It’d be a maddening mix of textures. It’d be the best thing he’d ever felt.

Katsuki slowly lifted his hand from his side, trying not to dwell on the way it trembled. He needed to know. To touch, just once, just out of curiosity.

Eijirou pulled back, didn’t let him, but his eyes were still full of that heat that made him breathless.

There was a knock on the bedroom door. Katsuki dropped his hand, startled.

“Eiji! Are you home?” Another knock, then another. Eijirou didn’t answer, his eyebrows creased as he blinked a few times too quickly. It was unfairly cute. 

“Oh, come on.” A third, less intense knock. “...I really wanted to talk to you,” Ashido said quietly.

A few emotions flashed across Eijirou’s face in quick succession before he yelled, “Come in!”

The door opened right after and he rushed to greet Ashido. She was wearing brightly colored street clothes, still holding her purse on one arm, and she looked like she hadn’t slept. 

“Mina! I’m glad you came. It’s great!” He hugged her quickly. Katsuki couldn’t read his face. “It’s a good thing you did.”

She stepped inside, frowning. “Repeat that anymore and I’ll think you want me dead or something.”

“No, no! I mean it, I’m glad you came!” He smiled, this time as friendly as usual.  “Katsuki’s sitting down on your left. I have the chair.”

She threw herself on the bed dramatically, face down. 

Katsuki felt naked all of a sudden, despite knowing that she couldn’t see him. His skin felt too tight for his body, too sensitive. He reached for his shirt and turned it back over; then he pulled it over his head.

Of course, she heard the fabric rustling. “Bakugou, are you getting dressed?” She pushed herself up on her elbows. “What on Earth did I interrupt?”

“It’s not like that!” Katsuki yelled.

Eijirou’s face was so red it was actually funny. “He’s just helping me study!”

“Helping you—” She laughed. “Oh, you mean like the post-it muscle thing we did?”

“Something like that.” Eijirou closed his textbook, carefully not looking in Katsuki’s direction. “What’s going on? You sounded stressed.”

“Hanta asked me to meet tonight.”

“And?” Eijirou asked gently.

She grabbed one of Eijirou’s pillows and hugged it to her chest. She hesitated, clearly looking for words. “What if I ask them out, and it goes the same way it always does?”

“What does that mean?” Katsuki asked.

“I dated a lot of my friends. I keep thinking it’s gonna be what I’m looking for, and it always falls apart within two months. You know Kendou?”

“Orange hair, likes punching stuff, dating the tin can guy?”

Ashido smiled. “Yeah, her. We were together before she got with Tetsu. I don’t know, it’s stupid—it was great then it just wasn’t. It didn’t feel right. I got with Jirou after and it literally lasted a week. I’m not doing that to Hanta.”

“It’s not the same! You’ve known each other for years; if you still want them, then it’s not like that.”

“I don’t know…”

“I still think you should do it.”

“Maybe I wanna hear from the married guy, not the guy with ten failed relationships that I know of.”

Katsuki and Eijirou exchanged a glance, then Eijirou said, “You come into my room—”

“You know I didn’t mean—”

Ashido threw a pillow in his direction and missed.

Katsuki zoned out, watching them bicker with clearly fond smiles on their faces. His chest still burned with the ghost of Eijirou’s touch. He was so wet it was physically uncomfortable, but it wasn’t like he could ask for spare clothes. Not that they’d fit anyway, Eijirou was built like—

What the actual fuck was wrong with Katsuki, and how did he stop it?

“Blasty!” Ashido said loudly. He hated that his brain responded to the nickname enough that she caught his attention. 

“What?”

“What do I do? How do I know?”

He almost laughed. “I’m the worst possible person to ask.”

“What do you mean?” She tilted her head to the side in a gesture startlingly similar to Eijirou’s. Katsuki glanced up to find his friend looking straight at him, an unspoken question in his eyes.

“We’re not doing that shit right now. Just believe me.”

“I just told you all that!” She actually looked offended, and Katsuki could understand why.

“I said not right now .”

“Fine,” she said. “Still though, what do you think I should do?”

All Katsuki could think of from his own experience was, “How sure are you that you want them right now?”

“Like, a hundred.”

“How sure were you before, with the others?”

“...it wasn’t the same.”

He was relieved. She and Sero had seemed so close at the party, and there was something about how their personalities contrasted that worked. “Then stop being stupid.”

She smiled fondly, putting a hand over Katsuki’s shoulder. “Babe, that’s actually good advice, I think.”

His cheeks heated. “Fuck off, like I didn’t know that.” He didn’t want Ashido to fail. He’d grown fond of her and her bubbly energy and the way they got along. Even without Eijirou, he’d be happy to be her friend.

If Izuku met her, would he think the same? Would he see how Sero was relaxed and kind of an asshole, but cared about them all the same? 

Would he still insist that he and Eijirou couldn’t meet?

“As the guy with ten failed relationships that you don’t wanna hear from —”

Ashido rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on.”

“I think you should go for it. You’ve been thinking about it enough that you’ll regret it if you don’t. It’s the manly thing to do!”

“That’s why I can’t just ask you, you always say that! What if it goes badly?”

“You talk to them. Every step. More than you want to.” He looked at Ashido so intensely it was like he was seeing through her.

That was good advice, probably. The exact opposite of what Katsuki and Izuku always did, and Eijirou knew that, but it hadn’t felt directed. It had been more honest than that. More personal. It was how Eijirou himself would want to be treated. 

“I should do that, huh?” she said.

“We both told you the same thing, Pinky, you just don’t wanna listen.”

“Oh, shut up.” She hit Katsuki’s shoulder, and he responded in kind. “I’m gonna go out with Tooru soon. Were you guys gonna keep studying?”

“Ei.” The nickname just slipped out. It felt natural. Katsuki opened his phone and pulled up a diagram. “What are the veins that drain into the axillary?”

“Subscapular, circumflex humeral, lateral thoracic, thoracoacromial—” Katsuki put his fingers up one by one as his friend spoke. Eijirou frowned, hesitating. “ —and cephalic. Am I missing any?”

“No.”

Eijirou grinned. “Does that mean you’ll still watch that Crismon Riot movie with me?”

“No, I was asking just to make you think that and then I was gonna say no.”

Ashido got off the bed. “Well, I’m definitely not putting up with Eiji and Crismon Riot.” She reached for his head and ruffled his hair, pulling some strands out of the half-updo. “Count me out.”

“You’re being mean!” 

When Izuku got home, the house was empty. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. His phone had died overnight so the first thing he did was plug his phone in. While it got enough charge to start he made himself a coffee.

He couldn’t believe himself. His mind still felt hazy. He cheated on his husband. On Kacchan. Did Kacchan already know somehow? Was that why he wasn’t here? No, how could he? But then why was he not here? Izuku had a suspicion but he hoped he was wrong. 

His phone dinged. Izuku nearly dropped his coffee mug and ran to it. He picked it up and checked his messages at once. He had two notifications, both from Kacchan. One was just a thumbs up to his last message where Izuku lied about his location last night, but there was another from this morning. 

Hey, hanging out with my friends today. I should be home for dinner. I’ll text you if I stay later. 

Izuku’s heart fell. He was with his friends. That meant he was with Kirishima. Probably others as well but he was still around him. Anger flashed through Izuku but he stomped on the feeling. He had no room to be upset. He had been the one to cheat. He was the unfaithful one. But still, his stomach twisted unpleasantly as he stared at the message. Part of Izuku wanted to call Kacchan and tell him to come home. Their talk was an emergency.

No. Izuku should let him have some peace with his friends before he told him. Izuku could wait a few hours. The sick dread feeling rolled through him as he imagined telling the love of his life what he’d done. This mistake he made. 

Images of last night flashed through his head. The way Todoroki moaned as he rode him. The way he begged for Izuku. He wanted Izuku. Izuku would be lying if he said he didn’t want Todoroki back. The man was stunning. He was kind and charming... He made Izuku feel desired in ways he’d never felt before. Not even with Kacchan. Todoroki made him feel special. 

“Stop it,” he muttered to himself as he picked up his coffee mug. “You’re terrible. You’re married.” He took his phone and charger up with him to his office and set himself up at his computer. 

He had to figure out how to tell Kacchan. He had all day to find the right words; if there were right words at all. Another day... Alone. 

He hated being alone. But he deserved it. He was a disgusting pervert who put getting off over his marriage. He was a selfish prick who didn’t deserve either Kacchan or Todoroki. Kacchan was probably going to leave him. Izuku would deserve it. 

Tears stung in the corner of his eyes. “D-dammit...” he mumbled. He began to cry at his desk. He couldn’t live without Kacchan. He needed him. Izuku’s entire life had been dedicated to chasing him and now he’d ruined everything. He was going to lose everything he fought so hard for. “Fuck!” Izuku stood from his desk so hard the chair was knocked over. “I don’t want to lose him. I can’t—” The idea of being without him was too much to bear. 

Izuku left the office. His mind was too hazy to focus. He went to their bedroom and stopped just short of their bed. He still smelled of sex and Todoroki’s cologne. 

He needed a shower, then Izuku would sleep until Kacchan came home.

When Izuku woke up next, it was to the sound of the front door closing. Kacchan was home. For a brief moment he was happy. Then the dread settled over him. Kacchan was home. Izuku pulled himself out of the bed and started to make his way downstairs. 

He found Kacchan humming to himself in the kitchen. He had the fridge open, looking inside. “Hey,” he greeted, his voice almost cheerful. “What do you want for dinner? I’m fucking starved.”

“H-hey,” Izuku greeted. “Um... Anything is fine. I’m not super hungry.” He pulled on the end of his shirt. “So um, I gotta—”

Kacchan opened a drawer in the fridge. “Man, we don't have shit in this house. Our fridge looks as barren as Ei and Ashido’s.” He closed the door. “Those assholes had us order out for lunch because they can’t cook. I hate ordering out too much but I don’t have the energy to go to the store.”

Ei.

Something about the casual nickname set something off in Izuku. Kirishima got a cute little nickname like Ei, but Izuku was saddled with Deku? Izuku was useless, but Kirishima was Ei? 

It didn’t matter. Izuku still had to say this. 

“Kacchan, I really—”

“Do you want Akira’s?” Kacchan asked. He wasn’t listening to Izuku at all. Kacchan was so wrapped up in his own bliss from hanging out with Kirishima all day. Here Izuku was trying not to cry and Kacchan hadn’t noticed at all.

“He’s been smiling at his phone a lot lately.”

No, stop that! Izuku was the one who cheated. He had to tell Kacchan. 

“Akira’s sounds great,” he said, trying to keep his voice from straining. “I’ll even pick it up.” 

He had to tell Kacchan. 

“Cool. Works for me. I’ll call. You can take some cash from my wallet.” Kacchan walked past him out of the kitchen. 

He had to tell Kacchan. 

“I want Katsudon!” Izuku called after him. 

He had to tell Kacchan.

Eventually.

Chapter Text

Izuku seemed a little out of it for the rest of the evening. To be fair, it wasn’t like Katsuki could focus on him, so maybe he was just fine. They both went to sleep early.

Well, Izuku went to sleep. Every time Katsuki closed his eyes, he could feel the ghost of Eijirou’s touch on his skin. 

He’d showered after they’d eaten, making sure to scrub all the ink off, but now he almost wished he hadn’t.

His mind was stuck on the same damn image—Ei, on his knees, looking up at him like he wanted to ruin him. 

It would’ve taken so little to get him to touch Katsuki more. He could’ve touched his legs in the same way, ran his fingers softly over Katsuki’s thighs while holding onto his hips. Talked about whatever in that beautiful, low voice while Katsuki tried not to lose it.

What would Eijirou have done if he had moaned?

Looked at him all disgusted and kicked him out of his house, probably. 

At best, he would’ve told him it was okay and stopped touching him. Fine, that one sounded more like Eijirou. But Katsuki was so warm all over, and his mind was slipping into that desperate space he’d only felt before on Halloween, so he let himself pretend.

He let himself think that Eijirou would’ve run those ever-so-slightly rough lips across his chest and down his stomach, would’ve made him feel just how sharp his teeth were. Fuck. The heat in Katsuki’s body settled low until he could feel himself start leaking, his dick filling out and pressing against the cotton seam of his pants.

He just needed to get it out of his system.

He really shouldn’t be doing this, thinking about Eijirou as he slid his hand under the waistband of his pants, but he was so far gone already.

Izuku would never know, and neither would Eijirou. It’d be his only real secret.

He gasped when he ran a finger across the seam of his lips. He’d rarely had problems getting wet, but this was just too damn much. The shame only made him burn hotter.

His mind was fixated on Eijirou, looking into his eyes as he took him into his warm, wet mouth.

He slipped two fingers inside himself, letting himself feel the slight stretch as he circled the tip of his cock with his thumb. He was so fucking sensitive it made his legs spasm, and he could almost hear Eijirou soothing him, speaking against his inner thigh. Licking over him slowly to get him used to the pleasure.

Katsuki spread some of the wetness over himself to ease the glide as he pressed down more firmly. He had to bite his lip to hold down a gasp.  He wondered how Eijirou would react if he bucked his hips into his face, looking into those pretty red eyes as they welled up with tears.

He didn’t know anything about Eijirou in bed, of course, he didn’t, but in Katsuki’s imagination, he liked it. Got off on it. Moaned against Katsuki, so desperately that he could feel the vibration in his dick.

Little pulses of pleasure sparked in his veins, making him arch his back and push into his hand.

Katsuki was never loud unintentionally, but now his body was refusing to listen to him. His mind was so hazy and he just—all he could think of was Eijirou. 

Sucking him into his mouth, holding onto his hips, letting Katsuki fuck his face.

He bit back a needy, fucked out sound.

This was terrible. Izuku would hear him, and he’d have questions .

He brought his other hand to his lips and licked over two fingers, then slid them into his mouth. His eyes closed automatically. 

The fantasy shifted. He pictured Eijirou with him, using his hands instead— his fingers were bigger, two would feel like three, fuck — and he curled his fingers to touch his g-spot. Slick was dripping out of him so much that he needed to press harder to feel any friction. 

It was so fucking embarrassing, but he couldn’t help it.

He thought of Eijirou above him, holding himself up with one arm, whispering into his ear as he touched him. Telling he was doing a good job, calling him beautiful when he couldn’t hold back his moans—

Katsuki sucked on the fingers in his mouth. What would Eijirou think if he saw him like that? Would he get that look in his eyes? Would he tell him to take them out, to be as loud as he needed to be? 

Fuck. He rubbed tighter circles with his thumb, thrusting against his g-spot with his fingers. He focused on imagining Eijirou’s hand on him, warm and calloused, and slick dripped down his fingers onto the sheets.

He was so close—

He choked back a moan when his dick started to pulse against his hand. Fuck, why couldn’t he just be quiet — Ei could shut him up.

Could kiss him through it, sweet at first then desperate and sloppy as Katsuki got closer. Could lick into his mouth as he came.

Focused on that, on the idea of Eijirou’s lips on his, the tension in his body snapped. He came long and hard against his fingers, riding them until the aftershocks subsided. 

When he pulled them out, the wet sound was so loud to his ears that he jumped upright to check that he hadn’t woken Izuku up. 

His husband looked like he was still sleeping. Okay. He was sweating, and it didn’t look like he was dreaming happy dreams, but the last thing Katsuki could deal with right then was waking him up to comfort him.

What was that?

Katsuki couldn’t fucking believe himself. He got off so rarely, especially alone—a voice in his head that sounded suspiciously like Eijirou’s told him to be honest about the associations he had and how they stopped him. When he did do it, he never thought about anyone like that. Ever. 

He wasn’t—he wasn’t needy like that.

Was he?

Izuku’s angry face flashed in his mind. Kacchan, ever since you met this guy, you’ve been acting differently. You’re not an affectionate person and suddenly you’re all over this guy you just met!

The weird, butterfly-like feeling he’d gotten on the motorcycle ride. 

Fuck, the memory was hazy, but hadn’t Eijirou had to physically stop Katsuki from rubbing against him like an animal on Halloween?

Izuku again, this time gently disappointed. I was jealous, but don’t think I’m being unreasonable here. You were inappropriate with him.

And finally yesterday, when Katsuki hadn’t thought twice of getting half naked so Eijirou could touch him more. Sure, he hadn’t wanted to see him upset, but where had Katsuki’s usual aversion to touch been then? 

He just didn’t have it, with Eijirou. He had this unreasonable and painful craving instead.

Well, that was the worst possible thing for Izuku to ever be right about.

Izuku slept terribly. His dreams were hazy and blurry, tipping into nightmares. But he couldn’t remember a thing when he woke up. His eyes felt heavy and swollen. He forced himself out of bed. The other side was empty. Kacchan must be up. Izuku sighed, got himself ready for the day, and went downstairs. 

“Kacchan?” Izuku called as he stepped out into the living room. 

Kacchan was sitting on the couch watching TV as he typed something out on his phone. “Mornin’,” Kacchan said without looking up. 

“Morning,” Izuku replied. Something twisted in his stomach as he eyed Kacchan’s phone. “What are you up to?”

“Watching TV. Texting a friend.” 

A friend? “O-oh yeah?” he asked, trying to keep his voice even. He had no room to be angry with Kacchan, no matter who he was talking to.

His husband rolled his eyes. “Relax, idiot, it’s Ashido. She’s just filling me in on her situation with Sero.” 

Izuku blinked “Wait... Who are they?” He assumed they were Kirishima’s friends. Kacchan had briefly mentioned this Ashido person yesterday, but other than that he had no idea what he was talking about. 

“My friends,” Kacchan explained. “Huh. They are my friends... Anyway, Ashido is Kirishima’s roommate, and Sero lives on the floor above them with Kaminari. The four of them are the core friend group. But Ashido and Sero are kind of a thing? But not really.” 

Kacchan sounded almost excited talking about his friends. It was sweet in ways that made Izuku’s heart clench. He sat on the couch next to him. “Yeah? Tell me about it.” 

“They slept with each other on Halloween, and she freaked out about it, then she wasn’t sure whether to ask them out for a while, and now I think she just did. Apparently it’s been a long time coming. I couldn’t really tell when we first met, but what the fuck do I know.”

Izuku nodded along. “That’s nice,” he said. “So, are they dating now?” 

“Unclear,” he said. “Here.” He scooted closer to Izuku and showed him the messages on his phone. 

OKAY!!!! I did it. I asked them out. They said yes. 

Yeah, I figured they would.

We’re gonna go for dinner. Just the two of us. I’m not sure where we should go. What do you think?

Why the fuck are you asking me?

Bakubabeeee help a girl out!!! You’re married! Where do you and your husband go?

Izuku smiled at the exchange. “You should tell her our date spot,” he said. “The place with the spicy curry you like.” 

He hummed, “Fine, I will.” He typed out the name of the place and hit send. 

“Think they’ll get together?”

“I don’t know,” Kacchan said. “They suit each other, so probably. They’re just being stupid.” 

They settled into a mostly comfortable silence. Izuku’s mind was still turning. How could he bring up what he did with Todoroki? The longer he waited the worse it was going to be. Should he just rip the bandage off now? Kacchan opens up about his friend group and Izuku hits him with Oh by the way, I cheated on you after giving you all that shit about Kirishima. 

God, he really was the worst. He was the world’s biggest hypocrite. Kacchan was going to kill him, and Izuku would deserve it. Was there a way to make this better? A way to soften this blow? 

“Hey,” Izuku said. “I’ve been thinking. About the Kirishima thing.” 

Kacchan muted the TV. Something about his face looked uncertain. “What about it?” 

“I think I might have overreacted,” Izuku started. “I mean, a little. And um. Maybe I was too quick to judge. I mean, I don’t know anything about these people.” 

“That’s what I’ve been saying,” Kacchan said. The sudden tension in his position drained. “We can fix that. I’ve been thinking about this anyway. They’re nice. You’d probably really like them. So... Why don’t you meet them? I’ll invite them to the house. Are you working next weekend?” 

“No,” Izuku said. “I’m off. But yeah, sure. I’ll meet them.” 

He grinned, turning back to the TV. “I think you have this weird image of them in your head. You called them ‘cool kids’. They aren’t. Eijirou used to be an emo kid, bangs and all. Kaminari’s in a band with one of his goth friends. Ashido’s a competitive dancer, and it means a lot to her. Sero’s the only business student without a stick up their ass. They’re genuine people. Maybe they come off that way because Eijirou could befriend a fucking rock if you gave him a few hours.”

Izuku forced himself to smile. “I promise I’ll give them a fair shake. I think I was just so tired when I met them.” This could be good! Izuku could show he’s willing to compromise. If he made Kacchan happy enough, maybe when Izuku finally worked up the courage to tell him he wouldn't be as angry. He was a little sore that Kacchan was so pumped about him meeting Eijirou, but Izuku forced himself to let go. He was the cheater here, not Kacchan. Izuku was just going to grin and bear this. 

He had to, for the sake of his marriage. 

Kacchan picked his phone up. “I’ll say something in the groupchat. Hopefully fuckin’ Kaminari answers. He’s been falling off the map for hours at a time lately.” 

Izuku chuckled, “I know why, actually.” 

“Eh? How the fuck do you know?” 

“Because Shinsou-kun showed me a picture of his new boyfriend, and I think it was your friend. Denki, right?” 

Kacchan’s eyes got wide. “What the fuck? How did they meet? Is that why he’s suddenly got new jewelry and clothes and a new phone— Holy shit. He’s Shinsou’s sugar baby.” 

“I think Shinsou-kun is in love,” Izuku said in a sing-song voice. “I think we’re gonna end up going to their wedding.” 

“Yeah, right. I’ll believe it when I see it. Shinsou doesn’t seem the type to settle down.” 

“Oh yeah? Wanna bet on it?” 

Kacchan raised a brow. “You’re fucking on.” 

“A thousand yen that we’re at their wedding within five years.” 

“Deal.” 

“I’m going to Fatgum’s, if you want to join.”

An olive branch.

Todoroki took off his lab coat slowly, then put on a scarf and his trenchcoat. Clearly waiting for Katsuki. He’d been decently kind the whole day while they were working, too.

“Sure,” Katsuki said with measured dread. He put down the test tube he was holding and started getting ready.

They made some small talk on the way, but Katsuki was distracted. He got more and more anxious the closer they got to the café. If Todoroki noticed it, he was too polite to say anything.

How do you face your closest friend knowing that you jerked off to them? Even worse, how do you face your closest friend who thinks you’re asexual when they’re some fucked up sort of exception to the rule? When you’re married ?

“You go order,” he told Todoroki as they walked in. “I’ll get a table.”

His coworker raised an eyebrow, but he went up to the register, where Eijirou greeted him with his usual enthusiasm. He hadn’t seen Katsuki yet.

His hair was in that half bun again, and Katsuki knew he was probably annoyed he hadn’t had the time to gel it, but it made him even more frustratingly attractive. It was the perfect length to pull, and he’d seemed so into it at the party—Katsuki wished he could remember the sounds he’d made better. 

His face burned. That was his friend. He was in public. 

Did other people feel like this all the time?

Was this how Deku felt toward nearly everyone? Shit. Maybe Katsuki had been too harsh with him.

He turned away and looked around the semi-crowded room until he found an empty table in the back, near a wall. Not wanting to think about that anymore, he opened his laptop and pulled up a paper from a few weeks ago.

A few minutes later, just as he’d finished skimming the introduction and conclusion, Todoroki came back.

“You can go pick it up.” He sat down across from Katsuki and took off his jacket. He didn’t look angry now, either, his features fixed in a slightly melancholic expression as he toyed with his scarf.

He probably thought he was doing Katsuki a favour by letting him talk to Eijirou.

He couldn’t say no without looking like a lunatic.

“Sure, if you’re too lazy.”

He stood up and Eijirou finally spotted him, giving him a wave and smiling at him from across the room. Katsuki’s heart sped up. He smiled and hoped there was nothing weird showing on his face.

Fuck, he needed to get it together right now . 

He sat by the pick-up spot, propping himself against the table with his arms. A brunette girl nearby gave him a weird look and he scowled at her in kind. If she had something to get she could just use the other side of the table.

Ei walked over to him with the drinks and set them down in front of him. This time it looked like a girl was handling the front, instead of the long-suffering guy with blue hair.

“How’s your weekend been?” Eijirou smiled, like a sudden beam of sunlight.

Katsuki’s brain malfunctioned.

“Did you get your teeth sharpened or are they just like that?” he blurted out.

Eijirou visibly did a double take. “What? Uh, they’re just like that.” He laughed nervously. “I get comments sometimes, but they’re generally—in a different context—not that I mind! You can ask me anything, I was just—”

Katsuki wondered if he’d actually have a heart attack soon. What the fuck was that, he’d actually scared his friend, and what did Eijirou even mean by ‘a different context’?

Why would anyone be—oh.

“Just get back to work and leave me alone,” he snapped, turning away.

Eijirou leaned forward and put a hand over Katsuki’s arm. His eyes were warm, almost worried. “Are you okay, man?”

“Tired.”

“Is everything okay? Did you and Midoriya argue or something?”

“No, I—” Katsuki hated himself so damn much. “Just didn’t sleep well. It’s fucking fine.”

Eijirou frowned. “If you say so.” He took his hand away. “I saw your text from Saturday, in the groupchat.”

“And you said you’d come.”

“I did.” There was something weird in Eijirou’s voice. 

Katsuki was relieved that the conversation finally distracted him enough that his behaviour could pass for a normal person’s. It would’ve been horrible if his condition had been permanent.

“Any problem, Red?”

“Can I be honest?”

“Aren’t you always lecturing us about communication and shit?”

“Right.” Ei scratched the back of his head nervously. “Well, I’m sure Midoriya’s really nice, and I’m sure he’s kind to you, but I’m scared I’ll just look at him and think—you know.”

The concerned look in his eyes when he’d heard everything flashed through Katsuki’s head. It made his insides squirmy. He wasn’t hurt. Eijirou had no reason to act like his marriage was some kind of real source of pain. Whatever sucked in it was his fault.

“I told you it’s not a big deal, so fucking stop it,” he said, glaring.

“Are you trying to convince me? Because you’re doing a really bad job, Katsuki.”

He was defenseless against the honest, caring look. “I talked to him about you. All of you. He was trying to get it, I could tell he was.”

“It’s not my job to be upset with him if you aren’t.” Eijirou very much did seem like he was anyway. There was a tension in his jaw that looked almost painful. “And I guess you aren’t even supposed to be talking to me right now.”

“But if it goes well that’ll be in the past.”

Eijirou relaxed, still far from his usual sunshine smile. “Would that make you feel better?”

“Wouldn’t it make you feel better?”

“You don’t have to—”

“Shut up.”

“It would,” Eijirou said quietly.

“Me too. So I’ll see you this weekend.” He smirked. “And I’ll call you soon, I have some shit to tell you.” He wondered what Eijirou would think of Shinsou.

“My last class ends at six!”

Eijirou waved goodbye and Katsuki flipped him off before he headed back to their table. 

Okay. He’d survived.

Maybe next time he’d act less like a teenage boy who’d just discovered his own dick. The thought was so strangely affirming that he wanted to laugh.

He sat down and closed his laptop. The screen had shut down from inactivity anyway.

Todoroki had taken off his scarf. Now that Katsuki was focusing on him, he noticed that there were two almost identical, reddish-purple marks at the base of his throat. A third one disappeared under the collar of his shirt.

He chuckled. “Is that why you’re less of an asshole now, Icyhot? Got laid over the weekend?”

“I didn’t realize it’d be that obvious.” He pulled his collar up, but he smiled ever so slightly, like he was proud of it.

“You don’t have to act like you’re a monk, I don’t give a shit.”

Katsuki took a sip of his coffee. He was almost convinced that would be the end of it when Todoroki looked at him and spoke again. “I did…have a meeting with someone.”

“Is that what we call it nowadays?”

“I’m sure you don’t want me to go into detail.”

“Pretty sure they can fire you for that, too,” Katsuki said, smirking.

“In any case, I wouldn’t want to share it with you either.” He scrunched his nose in mock disgust. They fell into a comfortable silence, like they used to before last week.

What’s it like? Katsuki wanted to ask. So good you let him bruise you up like that? 

He couldn’t help the curiosity. He’d never get to fuck someone he actually wanted, and that was fine. He didn’t need it. Until yesterday he’d thought sex he wanted didn’t even exist. Even thinking about it was so selfish he was disgusted with himself for it, but…what was it like?

Eijirou’s skin would look so fucking pretty marked up.

Katsuki’s throat felt dry. He took a sip of his coffee again, then said, “So, do you have a boyfriend now or what?”

“Not exactly.” Todoroki smiled slightly, a fond look in his eyes. “I really like him, and I know he likes me back, but he’s not ready to commit. I’m sure he’ll come around, though.”

“That’s presumptuous.”

“I can’t be sure, obviously. I still think it’s worth trying.” He drank some of his own coffee. “Plus, it’s not actually his fault that he can’t.”

As much as he hated it, Katsuki’s heart kind of hurt for his annoying coworker. He’d been through a lot, and Katsuki didn’t even know the first of it, but what he’d told him at first about his father had been concerningly relatable. Todoroki wasn’t him. Maybe it wasn’t the same. Still, Katsuki felt almost…protective over the idea that he’d been hurt.

“You’re insufferable, but I bet you’d make a decent boyfriend. If he doesn't, it's his loss.”

“Thank you, I guess.” He smiled honestly for a second, but looked away when they made eye contact. Todoroki looked like a different person when he smiled. 

Katsuki pushed, now even more curious. “So, any idea what the problem is?”

“He doesn’t think he’s allowed to be happy.”

Well, that was stupid as fuck. Why would someone not allow himself to be happy if he wanted something that much? It wasn’t like this mystery guy was in a position like Katsuki’s.

“For the sake of you not moping around, let’s hope he comes to his senses.”

“That’s helpful, Bakugou.” Todoroki moved his cup around on its plate. “It’s still not great feeling this way about someone I can’t have.”

“It’s not.” Katsuki wasn’t sure what his voice did, but he didn’t like it.

“You wouldn’t know, I assume.”

“Of course I wouldn’t, you bastard!” He snapped. “Is that how you react every time someone’s polite to you? Should I have told you it’s actually easy as fuck?”

“Is this what you call polite, Bakugou?”

Katsuki replied with some half-hearted insult. He shook the feeling that Todoroki knew something he didn’t, painfully aware that it wasn’t the first time he’d had it.

The fact that his first instinct was to text Eijirou about it to get his opinion made Katsuki feel even more like an open book. He hated himself for it.

The days when Kacchan was at work and Izuku was left home alone were the worst. Especially when he hated himself. He didn’t get out of bed until after one in the afternoon. He didn’t have the energy to shower or eat. All he did was drink coffee with too much sugar in it before he sat down at his desk simply because he didn’t know what to do with himself. 

He stared down at all his sketches. His mind felt like static. Izuku couldn’t focus on anything other than the feeling of dread in his stomach. 

“Dammit...” he muttered to himself and picked up a pencil. He needed to do something. He needed to draw. 

He took the paper and started to draw. He couldn’t get out more than a few half sketches. Meaningless forms and lines that looked like garbage, unwilling to look anything like he wanted. Nothing more than scribbles.

“What’s even the goddamn point?” he asked himself. His life as he knew it was going to end. He could do what he could to make Kacchan happy. To convince him to stay. Izuku had worked so hard. It felt like it was getting harder to maintain the things he’d sought after his whole life. He wanted to be loved. By Kacchan. He wanted to protect Kacchan. Protecting Kacchan was like... his whole purpose. It was his job. 

And he cheated on him. 

Why had he done something so stupid? He was the luckiest man in the world. He was married to Bakugou Katsuki and he went and ruined everything. Kacchan was everything he wanted. So... Why?

Because Todoroki was everything Izuku needed. 

Todoroki was kind. He was so soft and sweet with Izuku. He made Izuku feel cared about. It certainly helped that Todoroki was the most beautiful creature to walk the face of the earth. The night they shared together was like something out of Izuku's wildest wet dreams. 

He whined and lifted his hips up. “Mid— Izuku . Help me. Please, I want you so bad...”

His dick twitched in interest. 

“Stop it,” he scolded himself. He had Kacchan. He had the perfect man. Kacchan and his sweet, soft face. The way he felt wrapped around Izuku. The soft noises he made. He thought back to the last time they had sex—

Wait.

When was the last time they’d had sex? 

Before Halloween, Kacchan had blown him, but he couldn’t quite remember the last time they’d had real sex. Huh.

That didn’t matter! Izuku mentally scolded himself. Sex was secondary. But it wasn’t even about that. It wasn’t about getting off. It was about intimacy. It was about feeling loved. Being wanted. Kacchan never felt like he wanted Izuku, while Todoroki had begged Izuku. He’d been desperate for him. 

Part of him wished he could have both. Kacchan and the life they had built together, and Todoroki with his soft, comforting voice. For a moment, he indulged in the fantasy.

“I’m home!” Izuku would call, coming through the door. 

Kacchan would come out of the kitchen holding a tray of food. “Izuku, I’m so glad to see you.” 

Shouto could come around the corner with a drink in hand. “Hello Izuku.” 

They would meet him at the same time, each planting a sweet kiss on his lips. “We missed you so much!” 

He would be the center of someone’s world, for once. 

“I missed him more!” Kacchan could complain, holding onto one of Izuku’s arms. 

“I assure you,” Shouto would say, his voice smooth and smug. “I missed him far more than you.” He took Izuku’s arm. 

“Nuh-uh! I missed him more!” 

“Incorrect.” 

“He’s mine first—” 

“And now he’s mine too—” 

“Boys!” Izuku cried, freeing his arms and wrapping them around their waists. He could pull them both flush to his sides. “There’s no need to fight. I’m not worth it.” 

Shouto and Kacchan both gasped. “Not worth it? You’re our whole world,” Shouto would soothe his fears. 

“Yeah, dummy,” Kacchan whispered. “You’re our hero.” He smirked. “If you want, we could show you just how much we love you.” 

Izuku grinned. “Yes, please.” 

They would take him to the bedroom, undress, and push Izuku to the bed. 

But here in the bedroom, Kacchan had vanished. Shouto was the only one with him. The one in his lap kissing Izuku stupid. The one who Izuku got to be inside. The one who cried and whined, riding his cock all night long. Just Izuku and Shouto. 

“I love you, Izuku...” Shouto would whisper. Izuku would love it.

He shook his head. His cock was rock hard in his pajama pants. “I need a shower,” he mumbled and stood from the desk. He needed to clear his head. He needed this meet-up with Kirishima and the others to come and go so he could confess to his crimes. He needed to earn Kacchan again. 

Even if his mind kept drifting to mismatched eyes. 

Chapter Text

It was almost cute watching Kacchan fuss around the house. Usually Izuku would admire his husband’s dedication to making sure everyone had a good time. It was one of the reasons he loved him. Kacchan’s love was invisible. It hid in warm meals and freshly fluffed pillows. Izuku just wished it wasn’t for him.

Before you say anything, yes. Izuku was very aware he had no leg to stand on when it came to jealousy. Most of the reason he was doing this was to make Kacchan happy before Izuku ruined their entire marriage. But watching his husband work so hard because of another man... It was hard. 

“Okay, I think that’s it,” Kacchan said, coming out of the bathroom. “You made sure to replace all the trash bags, right?”

“Yep. Everything is ready to go.” 

“I’m gonna freshen up then,” Kacchan said, checking the time. 

Izuku blinked. “You look perfect,” he said and crossed the room to his husband. “Your hair looks nice. Softer than usual.” 

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Just double-check everything. Make sure the food is out right and there’s nothing sitting out. I want everything to be perfect.”

“It will be,” Izuku said with a smile. “I promise. I want to get to know all your friends.” 

Kacchan’s phone dinged in his back pocket. He pulled it out. “Shit, they’re almost here. Kirishima said they just got off the train.” He started running around the house to check on everything. “Remember, Ashido is blind, so try to keep the floors clear. And don’t misgender Sero. They use they/them pronouns, but they present masc a lot. Or Kaminari, for that matter. Just be respectful.”

He frowned at the presumption that he would. “I won’t misgender anyone. Also, when am I not respectful?” He followed Kacchan into the kitchen. 

Kacchan checked on the food in the oven. It smelled good. “I know, just reminding you. This group is very queer. More than you’re used to.” 

“More than I’m used to—Kacchan, I’m literally a man married to another man!”

“I know, but I’m telling you, it’s different. They’re this nerdy little queer group. It’s really important to me that you like them.” He hesitated. “And that they like you. So just. You know. Be Deku. Turn your sunshine routine up to eleven.”

Okay, that was kind of sweet. “Okay. I can be sunshine.” He tried to ignore the feelings in his chest. The way Kacchan talked about their type of queerness and his insistence that Izuku wouldn’t understand... It was like he forgot Izuku was queer too. For a moment, Izuku wondered if it was because Kacchan was still presenting as a woman when he first confessed his feelings. Still, he was definitely attracted to men. He found Kacchan very attractive! Maybe more so now that he oozed masculinity and confidence. 

He ignored the brief flash of mismatched eyes in his mind.

Izuku was most assuredly queer. Actually, if Izuku put aside his jealousy toward Kirishima, this group sounded like fun. His own little group of queers was nothing like this. Uraraka and her girlfriend were still in their honeymoon phase and hard to pin down. Shinsou had been hard to talk to before this with how busy he kept himself, doubly so now that he had a boyfriend. Asui had always been more Uraraka’s friend, and Iida was straight. 

Before their talk could continue, the doorbell rang. “Shit—” Kacchan cursed. He ran from the kitchen. Izuku followed him to the door. “Just be cool!” he whisper-shouted at Izuku before he opened the door. “Hey, there you assholes are.” 

Kacchan’s friend group certainly was interesting looking. Kirishima stood in the front of the group, a bottle of some kind of alcohol in hand. He was dressed in a brightly colored button-up shirt. The front of his hair was spiked up. Next to him was a pretty girl with dark skin and dyed pink curls. Izuku figured that was Ashido. Behind them stood two more people. Kaminari was easy to recognize from his encounter on Halloween and the pictures Shinsou showed him. The last one must be Sero. Sero was good-looking and wore what Izuku could only describe as a stoner’s hoodie. 

“Hi,” Kirishima waved with his free hand. He gave them both a nervous smile. 

“Come in,” Kacchan said and moved aside to let them. “It’s too fuckin’ cold out.” 

Izuku held out his hands “Here, let me take your coats. I’ll go hang them up.” He took their jackets and walked toward their closet as Kirishima approached Kacchan, holding up the bottle. 

“I brought some wine. It felt more appropriate. Is that weird?” he asked. Izuku narrowed his eyes at the bottle. He was pretty sure the last thing that they needed was drinks, but he wasn’t about to ruin the mood by saying anything and being petty. 

Kacchan rolled his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, it is, but this looks pretty good.” He read the label. “Combustion?” he asked. “Why the fuck did you buy a wine called combustion?” 

“It reminded me of you,” Kirishima said. 

“Yeah, Blasty,” Kaminari teased as he plopped himself onto the couch. 

“Shut it. Anyway,” he motioned to Izuku to come over. “This is my husband. Izuku, but I call him Deku. If any of you call him Deku, I’ll kill you.” 

Izuku smiled and waved at them all. He felt a little flutter in his chest at Kacchan’s words. He wrapped an arm around his waist. “It’s great to formally meet you all. You can call me Midoriya if you prefer.” 

“Yeah,” Kirishima said, eyeing the spot Izuku touched Kacchan. “I’ll stick with that.” 

He tried not to feel smug. He really tried. He couldn’t help it. He squeezed Kacchan closer. Kacchan allowed the affection but only for a moment before gently knocking Izuku off. “Anyway, Kaminari, Ashido, Sero, and—” he motioned at Kirishima. “You’ve met Kirishima.”

Did he ever.

“Alright, I’m gonna uncork this. Come on Ei,” he had Kirishima follow him into the kitchen to pour the glasses. “Make yourselves at home.” He and Kirishima vanished into the next room.

Izuku sat on one of the couches. Ashido and Sero sat together on one side of the couch, with Kaminari on the side closer to Izuku. He looked around their living room. “Aw, is that you and Bakubabe on your wedding?” Kaminari asked, pointing to their wedding portrait. 

“Yeah,” he said, smiling fondly at it. “It was a little wedding in my mom’s backyard. It was just her, us, and actually, Shinsou.” 

Kaminari blinked several times. Even Sero and Ashido perked up with interest. “Wait like, my Shinsou?”

“He’s one of my best friends,” Izuku explained. 

“Small world,” Sero said. “Maybe you can tell us more about Denki’s mysterious new sugar daddy other than ‘he’s soooo daddy’.” 

“You haven’t met him yet?” Izuku asked. 

Kaminari flushed bright red. “No, Hito-tan is so busy. It hasn’t worked out to meet up yet. But I want to! You guys are gonna love him. I swear.” 

“You said that about your last boyfriend,” Ashido said with a laugh. “He was an ass.” 

“Shinsou-kun is also an ass,” Izuku admitted. “But he’s a great guy. He’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was really there for me during a lot of hard times. When Kacchan was in college, and we were trying to find a consistent place to live, Shinsou-kun was such a big help. He’s half the reason we have this house. His aunt does real estate, so he hooked us up.” 

“See! Hito-tan is the sweetest.” 

“He’s also a big dork; don’t let him fool you. I met him on an All Might forum. His discord profile picture is still Eraser Head.” 

The three of them laughed. “Oh, that’s great,” Kaminari said. “I was just thinking what to get him for Christmas. I was gonna go with something cat related, but if I could find something cat related and Eraser Head...” He grinned. 

Izuku chuckled. “You’ll have him on one knee by New Year.” As he talked, he glanced at the kitchen arch. Kacchan and Kirishima were taking a while. It made him nervous. This entire evening made him feel weird.

So far, Kaminari seemed very sweet. Sero and Ashido were still closed off so it was hard to get a read on them, and Kirishima... Izuku wasn’t sure what to make of him at all yet. He’d hardly had a moment to talk to him. Kacchan had swept him away. Why? What were they talking about? Izuku felt itchy and paranoid. He wanted to check on them, but that would be crazy. Why did he feel so crazy?

“Okay,” Kacchan said, coming back into the room. “The food is gonna be a bit longer, so what the hell are we doing in the meantime?” Kirishima was right behind him, holding a half-empty glass of wine. 

Sero pulled a box out of their hoodie pocket. “I brought some Cards Against Humanity.” 

“Huh?” Izuku asked. “How um—” he glanced at Ashido, unsure how to put it.

“Sero got them special for my birthday a while ago,” Ashido said. “They have braille under each card. I play slower, but I can still play.” 

“Oh, that’s really sweet.” He stood up. “Then yeah. I haven’t played that game in a minute! I get really embarrassed every time, though.” 

Kacchan laughed as they walked to the dining room. “Yeah, he looks like a fuckin’ strawberry. So don’t hold back when it’s his turn. Make him read dirty shit out loud.” 

Izuku whined. “Please go easy on me!” he begged. This was going well. With an easy game like this, maybe this evening could actually go well! No matter what, his goal was to make Kacchan happy. 

All he had to do was survive the night without making a complete ass of himself. That should be easy, right? 

Sero laughed and looked over the cards in front of them. They pulled out one of them and lifted it up, twirling it between two fingers.

“I gotta give it to this one,” they said.

“I fucking knew it.” Katsuki smirked and held out his hand. “Give it here.”

“Kacchan’s doing better than I thought.” 

He laughed and shoved Izuku’s shoulder. “I’m kicking your ass, you mean.”

His husband smiled, leaning in closer for a hug that lingered more than Katsuki would’ve preferred. “Until I kick yours next round!” Izuku watched Sero split up cards between everyone else so they could reach them more easily. “The next one after this. You decide now.”

“Bring it the fuck on.” He picked a black card. “What ended my last relationship?” He read out loud, then put the card on the table.

Katsuki watched everyone around him read over their cards and try to choose. Kaminari smiled to himself before he slid one down first. Izuku was next, with a glance at Katsuki.  

Everything was going shockingly well so far. No one had done anything actually weird, no matter how ridiculous the situation was. Izuku was a little tense, but it was a far cry from the sheer rage he’d had on his face every time they discussed Katsuki’s friends. Every time before last week, at least. 

Something must’ve changed. Whatever. Probably just time. More important was that if Katsuki managed to keep it that way, maybe even get him to relax completely, they’d all get what they wanted. 

He’d been careful not to full-on stare at Eijirou or anything like that too. Attraction didn't have to mean anything more than just that.

Every time he stole a glance his friend looked a little off, but he’d warned Katsuki that this would be hard for him. He was doing fine.

That was great. In retrospect, a dysfunction that Katsuki had noticed in himself was that he couldn’t stand seeing Eijirou upset.

When everyone was done, Katsuki shuffled the cards in his hand and pulled off the top one.“Okay, let’s see why my non-existent relationship ended.” 

“Estrogen,” he read. He held back an amused sound. That had to be Kaminari’s.

“My ugly face and bad personality.” Katsuki put the card down. “Alright, who the fuck—”

“He’s really proving it wrong,” Sero fake whispered to Ashido.

Everyone chuckled, even Izuku. Great. That was what Kastuki got for putting them all in a room together.

“A much younger woman,” Katsuki read  next. He snorted, looking at Kaminari again. “Unlike other people at this table, I don’t have a thing for age differences.”

“That one literally can’t be mine, why are you laughing at me?”

“Because it’s easy,” Sero deadpanned. By Katsuki’s side, Izuku chuckled. He actually looked happy, like something in him had unwound a little. Whatever they were doing, it was working.

“Just get to the next one,” Kaminari said.

“A threesome with my wife and All Might.” This time Katsuki actually laughed. “Yeah, that’ll do it.”

He picked up the last card. He read it to himself first. 

Old People Smell

It seemed so stupid. But it was true. There wasn’t a smell worse in Katsuki’s eyes. Old Man Smell in particular made him cringe and gag. He had faint memories of his mother’s father putting him on his lap when he was very small. The smell made him want to gag even then.

He used to joke all the time with Izuku that if he ever got that old man smell he would divorce him in a heartbeat. So to see the specific answer there... he couldn’t help it. 

Katsuki laughed harder than he had in a while. Maybe because it had taken him so off guard. He could barely speak “O-old man smell!” He laughed. 

Almost everyone looked at him like he had three heads. “Is it that funny?” Sero asked. 

“To me? Yes.” 

When he was done laughing, Katsuki motioned to that card. Izuku grabbed it quickly, with an amused “Thanks, Kacchan”.

“That’s almost cheating.” Kaminari rolled his eyes with an exaggerated motion. “You guys know each other best.”

“We’re soulmates . We get along so well that we finish each other’s senten—” He gave Katsuki an expectant, teasing look.

“Not doing that, Deku. No chance.” 

“Worth a shot.” Izuku laughed. He slid an arm around Katsuki again.

When Katsuki looked up, Eijirou was staring at his own hands, visibly put off. Katsuki frowned. Was he the kind of person who just needed to win? That didn’t sound right.

“Looks like we have to impress Midoriya now,” Kaminari said as they all drew a card.

They stopped talking. Katsuki picked his own card quickly, then he looked across the table again. Eijirou had his phone open, and he nudged Ashido with it over the table.

She tilted her head to the side. “Did someone text you, Eiji?”

“Yea—”

“No, they didn’t,”  Katsuki said easily. “You still have that loud ass ringtone, right? The one you set off in lecture? I think you’re misreading the time again.”

For the first time since they’d met, Eijirou looked at Katsuki with real annoyance. It hurt more than he could’ve anticipated. 

He put his phone back in his pocket and wiped his expression clear. “I guess I was. Sorry.”

“Hate when that happens,” Izuku said. Why did his face look like that? Was he smug ?

Katsuki didn’t fully get what was happening, but he hated it. Izuku’s tone wasn’t actually kind, and he could tell it was getting to Eijirou.

He tried to ignore everything and continue.

Izuku’s hand tightened around his waist. Katsuki felt like he was suffocating.

When they all went to draw cards again, Eijirou didn’t even move. Only when Kaminari joked about him cheating so he could reach Izuku’s score did he get a card. He apologized. Twice.

That was fucking it.

“We need a break,” Katsuki said. He pulled away from Deku’s hold.“Pikachu, can you pour the drinks? Eijirou and I are gonna go check on the food.”

“Sure thing, dude.”

“You are?” Izuku’s voice came out a little wrong.

“We are?”

“It’s like none of you can understand a simple sentence. Yeah, that’s what I fucking said!” Katsuki rolled his eyes. He left the dining room, looking behind to check that Eijirou was following him.

Ashido’s smile widened for a fraction of a second. She nudged Sero, who nodded like they’d lost a mock argument. When Katsuki looked again her face was back to normal, and he almost wondered if he’d imagined it.

Eijirou’s face was unreadable on the short walk there. He leaned against a wall by the door. 

“So should I open the oven or?” 

Katsuki stepped in front of him, trapping him against the wall. “To hell with the food,” he said. “I turned it off a while ago, it’s there to stay warm. Something’s wrong with you.”

“That’s a rude thing to say to someone, Katsuki.” He smiled, but his eyes weren’t in it. It looked terrible.

“Don’t give me that shit! What happened?”

“Nothing. I’m just a little out of it, that’s all.” Eijirou tried for an encouraging expression.

“No, you’re not. I’m not an idiot, I can tell it’s because of Deku.” Eijirou turned his head away, and Katsuki pointed at him with his finger. “I’m gonna lock you in this damn room until you talk, don’t test me.”

“Katsuki, it’s a kitchen. I have a few months in me, there’s tap water right there.”

“You’re so fucking insufferable.” 

“You said—”

“ Eijirou .”

“Fine, okay, okay. Threatening me into taking kindness is the most you thing you’ve ever done, actually.” Eijirou smiled for a moment, then stared at the floor like he expected to burn a hole into it. “You know that feeling when you’re stuck in place and you really need to run? I get that sometimes. Riding helps. But now I didn’t know what to do and you could all tell and Midoriya wanted it, I know, and he’s not even actually being rude—” He looked so ashamed.

Oh, Katsuki hated Izuku.

“I don’t want you stuck here having to be nice. Can we go back?” 

This wasn’t working, but like hell was Katsuki letting it go. Plus, he felt so much better alone with Eijirou, even with the awkwardness between them now.

“Maybe I wanted outta there too, did you think of that? You think I’m into that spectacle?” He snapped.

“...I’d imagine you aren’t, no.”

“Eijirou,” he started. “I don’t like public displays of affection. Not romantic ones… not with Deku. We’ve talked about it.” Boy, had they talked about it. Katsuki’s best was inadequate, but Izuku was nice about it most of the time. “He knows. He's doing it exclusively to make a point to you.”

Eijirou’s eyes focused. “Oh my god, are you okay?” 

He did much better with other people’s problems than his own. Katsuki did better with Eijirou’s, too.

“It isn’t a big deal. Besides, what can I do, say no to all of it?” He laughed. “This has to work somehow.”

“Fuck, Katsuki, I’m so sorry. I just got so—you’re the person I talk to the most, and I think of you so much, and I felt like next to Midoriya I didn’t matter to you at all. I should’ve thought about it more.”

“If that were you who would’ve won, Ashido or I? Can you tell?”

“I think—I understand now. Probably her.” He smiled shakily. “I’m sorry, I really am. It’s like I couldn’t keep any of what we talked about in mind because I was so—”

“Stupid,” Katsuki finished. He took Eijirou’s face in his hands. He didn’t let himself linger on how soft the skin felt against his. “I don’t like feeling like I’m betraying Deku, even knowing we’re not how he thinks. I don’t like sneaking around. But the reason we’re here is because I know you don’t wanna act that way. Sure, maybe I hoped you’d get along, but it was secondary.”

“You really cared that much about what I’d think?” Eijirou’s eyes were wide. Pretty and shining.

“You’re the person I talk to the most too, you dumbass!” Katsuki almost yelled. The thought that he wouldn’t pissed him off to no end. “You know more about me than literally any other soul alive. How can you even be insecure about this?”

“With enough effort, you can be insecure about anything.”

“Well, don’t make it a habit! Do I have to beat it into you?”

Eijirou laughed. He pushed his head closer into one of Katsuki’s hands, and Katsuki had to stomp on the urge to take him in his arms fully. “Please don’t,” he said.

“Then don’t make me. You’re so—it’s scary, seeing you so closed off. I hate it. Just talk to me sooner.”

“Okay. Same goes to you, not that you need it.” Eijirou smiled softly. “How are you actually better at this than I am?”

Things had been going well. At least, Izuku thought things were going well. He was trying to be nice. Trying to be normal. Was he a little more touchy with Kacchan than normal? Maybe. But holding onto Kacchan was the only thing he could think to do. He felt like his life was spiraling out of control at the best of times, and here he was playing a card game with the guy he was afraid was going to steal his husband. 

That is, if Izuku hadn’t already ruined everything himself, but what was he to do? 

He buckled down and tried to be charming. He really thought it was working until—

“We need a break,” Kacchan said. He pulled away from Izuku’s grip as if he were breaking free of chains. “Pikachu, can you pour the drinks? Eijirou and I are gonna go check on the food.”

“Sure thing, dude,” Kaminari said, already standing up.

Why did Kacchan need Kirishima in the kitchen? Alarm bells were going off in his head. Why did no one else think this is weird?

Maybe Izuku had gone too far. He had been rude to Kirishima all night. He couldn’t help it. Kirishima just got under his skin. Poked and prodded at every single one of Izuku’s insecurities. It wasn’t his fault but...

“You are?” he asked, his voice breaking on his lips. It still hurt. 

“We are?” Kirishima asked as if he were surprised. 

“It’s like none of you can understand a simple sentence. Yeah, that’s what I fucking said!” Kacchan said. He marched to the kitchen, glancing behind him as Kirishima followed.

Then, across the table, Ashido smirked. She gently nudged Sero with her elbow. They nodded along before rubbing her arm. A confirmation. 

A sick feeling of dread washed over Izuku. They were Kirishima’s friends. As Kacchan explained it, Kirishima and Ashido were very close. They lived together. They were this super close friend group. And here she was, smirking that Kacchan took Kirishima into the other room. 

They were cheering Kirishima on. They knew Kirishima wanted Kacchan and they were helping him. Suddenly Izuku couldn’t breathe. He was surrounded by people who were actively looking to end his marriage. The only one who seemed oblivious was Kaminari but the other two were in on it. 

They were doing this in his own home, too.

“Denki, stop looking at my hand,” Sero complained as Kaminari poured them a drink. 

“I’m not! Mina, tell them I’m not!” 

“I have no idea what you’re doing, so leave me out of it.” 

Wait, he needed to calm down. He was being paranoid. If anyone in this house had actively taken steps to end his marriage, it was him. But he couldn’t ignore that little smirk. She knew something. 

He eyed the entry to the kitchen. He couldn’t hear anything. What were they doing in there? What were they talking about? His mind conjured images of Kirishima grabbing Kacchan by the hips and whispering things to him. Kissing him. Bending him over on the counter and—

Izuku stood up. “You know, I bet they need help. Kacchan went a little overboard with how much he made.” 

“Eiji can help just fine,” Ashido said. “If they need help, they’ll say something.” 

“I’m the host, I should help.” He made his way around the table and into the kitchen.

Izuku's heart pounded as he silently walked in.

“Please don’t,” Kirishima said, his voice soft. Kacchan cupped his face in his hands. Their faces looked soft. This looked... Intimate.

“Then don’t make me. You’re so—it’s scary, seeing you so closed off. I hate it. Just talk to me sooner.” Kacchan’s voice was fond. Sweeter than when he talked to Izuku.

“Okay. Same goes to you, not that you need it.” Kirishima smiled. “How are you actually better at this than I am?”

He wanted to vomit. This was somehow worse than just finding them kissing. Kacchan looked happy. He looked far happier with Kirishima than ever with Izuku. He opened his mouth to talk. To say something. But nothing came out. He choked on his words. 

Kacchan saw him from the corner of his eye. “Deku?” he asked, dropping Kirishima’s face. 

“Oh h-hey!” Kirishima said, taking a step back from Kacchan. 

“Food’s almost done. Just waiting for it to—” Kacchan started. 

Izuku expected himself to cry. He didn’t. He expected sadness to overtake him. For him to fall to the ground and sob as his life imploded. But he didn’t. Something else filled Izuku instead. 

Rage. 

“What were you doing?” he asked, his voice unusually calm. 

“Waiting for the food—” 

“Kacchan, what were you doing holding his face in your hands?” he asked. “You knew what I meant.”

His sharp words seemed to take Kacchan by surprise. “Comforting him,” he said finally. 

“Um... Maybe I should go wait out with the others?” Kirishima said, eying the entry way that Izuku blocked. 

“No, no,” Izuku said, holding up his hands. “Actually, you know what? It’s fine. You help Kacchan. Kacchan, go ahead and comfort him. No need to stop because your husband walked in!” He smiled, but he knew he must look and sound insane. It was like his body was on autopilot. “Or you know what? Here. I’ll leave. That way you two can wait for the food, all you want! No need to feel awkward with Deku around.” 

“What is your problem?” Kacchan asked as Izuku turned to leave “Deku—” 

Izuku laughed. “I don’t have one Kacchan! No problems here!” he said and walked out of the kitchen. 

“Deku!” Kacchan yelled, following him out into the dining room. 

The other three sitting at the table looked up as they entered the room. “What’s going on?” Kaminari asked. 

“Nothing!” Izuku said, “Nothing at all. Sorry guys, I have to leave. Work called,” he lied, trying to keep his voice even. “You know how it is. But please, feel free to stay.” He marched to the front of the house and grabbed his sneakers. 

“Deku, what the fuck are you doing?” Kacchan asked. “Why are you just—” 

“Kacchan,” Izuku said quietly. He glanced behind Kacchan. The others were watching. He pulled him close to whisper in his ear. “I can’t do this. Not in our home. Not—” he shook his head. “Just... Just go back to your friends.” 

Kacchan glared down at him. “Fine,” he said. “Fine, do whatever you fucking want.” 

“...You too,” Izuku said before he grabbed his coat, and without looking back, he left. 

It wasn’t until he got into his car that he pulled out his phone. He pulled up a contact and hit call. It rang twice before—

“Midoriya?” Todoroki asked through the phone. “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you again.” 

“Yeah, well,” Izuku said, his voice breaking as tears finally started welling in his eyes. “Things change. Um... Are you home right now? I’m sorry...” 

“I am. I was just about to start making dinner but I can order something for both of us.” 

“I’m on my way.” 

Katsuki could count on one hand the amount of times he’d been so utterly humiliated in his life. He’d become the kind of guy who argued with his partner in front of his friends. Worse, he’d become the kind of guy who didn’t even argue back when his partner went off on him in front of his friends.

Fuck, Eijirou must’ve felt even worse now. Ashido had asked him for advice because he was married. She’d never make that mistake again, that was for sure. And what reason did Kaminari and Sero even have to keep talking to him after this shit?

He stepped back into the dining room and stood in the doorway, unsure what to say.

“Something tells me work didn’t call,” Sero broke the silence, their voice sarcastic.

“Be nice,” Eijirou snapped.

“You should make sure you never set off a fire alarm again, Eiji. I don’t wanna go to your funeral.”

“C’mon, Hanta,” Kaminari intervened. “He’d save him from a burning building . Maybe if it was like, half burning he wouldn’t.”

“Maybe he shouldn’t. This going to shit is all my fault. Every time I think I can hold back my feelings—”

“Shut up!” Katsuki and Ashido said together. They both smiled when they realized.

She got up and Katsuki stepped closer to her, then she put a hand on his arm. “You know, Bakugou, when I met you I felt a little like you were trying to give off bad vibes and you couldn’t. It was kinda funny. Midoriya’s the opposite.”

Sero raised an eyebrow. “Like, he tries to make you like him but he just can’t?” 

“Exactly!”

“Mina, that’s—” Eijirou started.

“Don’t—” Katsuki tried too.

She waved them off. “I’ll tell you guys what I know happened, and you can stop me when I’m wrong.” She pulled her hand off Katsuki and counted on her brightly manicured fingers. “Midoriya doesn’t like Eiji because of Halloween. He said you should somehow magically meet us without being alone with him.  He then decided to stop being a controlling bitch—”

“Mina!”

“— and give Eiji a shot. He invited the rest of us because we’re Bakugou’s friends. Then he went out of his way to make Eiji feel bad, and when Bakugou tried to make it better he left.”

“Woah, woah,” Kaminari intervened. “I knew like, a third of that. What?”

“You told her?” Katsuki asked Eijirou.

“Before we came, only what’s directly about me.” 

“Fine.”

“Which is so unfair, by the way!” Ashido said. “He was so scretive with it, and you’ve sent me so many mixed signals about being married.”

Katsuki was still reeling with how much everyone here seemed to care about each other. It seemed like he was included in it now.

She was right. He had sent mixed signals, and when he thought about it Katsuki didn’t mind her knowing a little more. Especially with the position Izuku had put him in. “Okay, fine. You can’t have a fucking private life in this house, I guess. That’s…basically what happened, yeah.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I—I really didn’t fucking mean for this to happen. I know you expected a normal evening. I hoped it’ll all be fine and—he promised it would. I guess I just set him off because I was being too nice.” Katsuki could feel his voice begin to crack. Fuck his habit of crying when he was frustrated.

Ashido’s hand was back on his arm, rubbing up and down comfortingly. It was sweet. 

Not like with Izuku, when he felt bad about it feeling platonic, and not like with Eijirou when he felt the opposite. Just sweet.

Kaminari frowned. “You’re telling me Hito-tan’s best friend hates Eijirou ?”

“Here’s the thing,” Sero said. “Between this random slightly weird man and Eiji, assuming there’s no murder involved I know who I’m with. But Bakugou, that’s your husband.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Katsuki yelled.

Kaminari’s eyes widened. “You look like you’re gonna cry.”

“Shut the fuck up!”

“Dude. I don’t know, I think I get where Midoriya’s coming from, but—he knows you, and he just left you like this. You said he promised this’d go well.” Kaminari hesitated, like he’d just realized something. “Damn, you even admitted to all of us that you care. This must’ve really hurt you.”

“Do I gotta sit through a therapy session with you for this to be over?” Katsuki had relaxed, the knots in his chest loosening. He’d humiliated himself, and no one seemed to actually judge him for it beside himself.

“Yeah.” Kaminari smiled. “And after that I’m making us friendship bracelets.”

“You’re insane.”

“It’s mandatory, Bakugou.”

“...Katsuki. Goes for all of you.”

Chapter Text

Izuku was let into Todoroki’s apartment building without a second glance. He took the elevator up to his floor and walked to the door. His mind felt hazy. He felt like he was going to be sick. He was so disappointed in himself. His vision was blurred with tears. He stood there in front of Todoroki’s door. This was a bad idea. Izuku knew what would happen if he went in there. 

But he needed this. He needed to feel wanted. To feel almost loved. He needed someone to care about him more than anyone else. He needed to feel like someone’s number one. Was that so terrible? 

He knocked. 

Todoroki opened the door a moment later. “Hey,” he said. His voice was low and melodic. It was comforting. “What happened?” he asked. 

Izuku shook his head. Tears were streaming down his face as he threw himself into Todoroki’s arms. He couldn’t find words. He melted into him, sobbing into his neck. “I-” he tried to say. Todoroki would probably find what he did as gross as he did. He couldn’t even get the words out of his mouth. 

“Come on,” Todoroki whispered. He pulled Izuku into his apartment and closed the door behind them. He wrapped one arm firmly around his lower waist. It felt like a lifeline to Izuku. “Take off your shoes. I just had food delivered. Katsudon. Your favorite.” 

He was too good. Izuku let out a choked sob as he gripped Todoroki harder. He was too good for Izuku. Izuku was trash. Garbage. Useless. Worthless. “I-I’m s-sorry...” Izuku whispered. 

“You don’t have any reason to be,” Todoroki said. He wrapped his other arm around him and pulled Izuku tightly to his chest. “Not to me.” 

“I l-left before. I came back because things are terrible and—” he squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m so sorry...”

Todoroki shook his head. “I get it. I told you last week I understood. That I would be okay with any kind of relationship with you.” He pulled back and cupped Izuku’s face in his hands, his own expression softening. “Your eyes look so green when you cry.”

The tenderness in which Todoroki touched him had Izuku’s heart clenching. He gripped his chest, fresh tears spilling down his face. “I’m a terrible person,” he whispered. 

“I know that’s not true,” Todoroki said. “I mean it. Take off your shoes and come eat some Katsudon. Tell me what happened.” He pushed a strand of hair behind his ear. “If you want me to go first, I can tell you the updates on Touya. There isn’t much yet, but misery loves company.”

Another wave of guilt rolled through Izuku’s stomach. He’d selfishly come here looking for sympathy. Todoroki was still suffering. Izuku had been so caught up in his own guilt about them sleeping together that he nearly forgot Todoroki was in the middle of a tragedy. He really was the worst. “P-please! Tell me anything.” He pulled his shoes off and followed Todoroki into the apartment. 

“It’s not much, I told you,” Todoroki said, leading him to the dining room. There were two to-go containers on the table already.  “His trial date isn’t even set yet.”

He sat at the table across from Todoroki, wiping his tears with the palm of his hand. “Yeah, that can take a while sometimes,” Izuku said. “Have you talked to him?”

“I tried. He didn’t want to see any of us. Well. Almost none of us,” he said and split his chopsticks apart. “He let my father see him.”

Izuku’s eyes got wide. “Really? That’s shocking. I thought your dad was the whole reason he left in the first place?” 

Todoroki shrugged. “I dunno what he’s thinking. Something happened to him. He’s not the same person who walked out of our house. But I was so young then. Maybe he was always like this, and I never knew.” He took a bite of his food. “Fuyumi and Natsuo are torn up.” 

“How are you feeling about it?” 

“...I’m not sure. I’m happy he’s alive. I just wish I knew why he did this. Did he only target our father? Did he know I was in the building? Was it a stunt, or was it an attempt at our lives? There are so many questions about it, but at the same time, it almost doesn’t feel real. It’s like something that happened to someone else. Like an episode of All Might.” 

“Actually, in All Might, there was an arc where—” Izuku cut himself off and shook his head rapidly. “Not important. Sorry.” He shoved a large bite of food into his mouth to keep himself from saying anything more humiliating. 

Todoroki chuckled softly under his breath. “No, maybe not. But thank you, I needed a laugh. So, tell me, what happened? It must be something big to have you come here.” 

More guilt rolled through Izuku. “I dunno,” he whispered. “It wasn’t great, but... I think I overreacted.” 

“You don’t strike me as the type to overreact. At least not without other things bubbling under the surface. Tell me about it; I can try to be impartial. Though you know my bias about the situation.” 

“Well, um... So I haven’t told Kacchan about—” he motioned between them with his chopsticks. “What happened. Then we ended up floating the idea of me meeting his friends. Kirishima and the bunch. I thought... Oh, this sounds horrible when I say it out loud.” He closed his eyes. “I thought that if I met them and it went well, it would make Kacchan happy. And it would show him I’m trying to extend an olive branch about this whole Kirishima situation. That it would...” he tried to find the right words. “Soften the blow.” 

“You were buttering him up, so when you dropped the bomb that you cheated on him after yelling at him about cheating, you came off looking better.” Todoroki’s voice was flat as he assessed the situation. 

Izuku flinched at the harsh words. “I mean. I... yeah. That’s what I did.” 

Todoroki nodded along. “I see.” 

“I know, I’m horrible.” 

“Maybe a little,” he agreed. “But I think a lot of people would have done something similar in your situation. I don’t think you’re a bad person for doing something like that, though. I mean, not really, anyway. It was a human reaction. I’ve said and done things in order to get the outcome I wanted. I think everyone has. We all have darkness in us.” 

His stomach twisted at the thought. Was there darkness like that in Izuku? Of course, there was. He usually kept it bottled up tight. “I feel like I’m becoming a worse person.” 

“Me too,” Todoroki confessed. “I slept with a married man.” 

“...Do you regret it?” 

“No,” he said simply. “I could never regret a moment with you.” 

Izuku’s entire face flushed bright red. “I uh...” For a moment, he wanted to say he didn’t regret it either. But he did. But then again, he kept thinking about it. Part of him hoped it would happen again. Part of him didn’t. He didn’t know how he felt. 

Todoroki moved on from the topic. “So, you said it blew up in your face? I imagine that’s why you’re here.” 

“Yeah... A bit of an understatement, really.” He picked at his katsudon. “Um, at first, things were going really well. I thought. I liked most of his friends fine. Turns out one knows a really good friend of mine, so that was nice. I was definitely being...” he frowned at the memory. “Clingy. Maybe a little rude to Kirishima.” 

“How so?” Todoroki asked, tilting his head. 

“I was just possessive of Kacchan. I wanted to make a point. He’s my husband. He’s mine, and I’m his. And that’s... that’s how it should be. And I wanted Kirishima to know that. So I was acting maybe too-” 

“You were a dick because you were showing your husband affection?” Todoroki asked. 

Izuku shook his head. “It’s more than that. I was just flat-out rude to him. I didn’t really talk to him at all. The whole point was me trying to be kinder to him. To show Kacchan—” he sighed. “In the end, it turned into a one-sided dick-measuring contest. That I lost.” He could feel the tears coming again. “Kirishima got upset. Rightly so-” 

“Upset you were loving your partner, yes.” 

“Stop that,” Izuku said. “I told you I was being a jackass to him.” 

“Sorry.” 

He sighed and tried to regather his thoughts. “Anyway, Kacchan took him into the kitchen. That’s where it all went sideways. Because I noticed Kirishima’s one friend- Ashido. She got this look on her face. This nasty little smirk. I don’t think she knew she was even doing it. Or she did but caught herself. But she just looked so satisfied. And I realized all of those people...” he took a deep breath. “That they were all rooting for my marriage to fall apart.” 

Todoroki’s face fell. “Oh.” 

“Because it’s obvious Kirishima likes Kacchan. Everyone is a little attracted to him. His personality can be a bit hard to swallow unless you have the right temperament, but he’s stunning. And Kirishima seems to have the right temperament. Maybe more so than me. And all his friends do, too. They were just so... I dunno, before that moment, I thought they were fun. Nice. Sunny almost. The type of people Kacchan needs. They make him happy. And he makes them happy. But that smirk—” he squeezed his eyes shut. Ashido’s face filled his mind. “I realized they would have all been happier if I wasn’t there. But Kacchan was going to be in my corner right? He should be. I’m his husband. So I got up, and I went into the kitchen and—” he broke off. It was hard to get the words out. 

“It’s okay,” Todoroki said, reaching across the table and laying his hand over Izuku’s. “Take your time.” 

“I don’t know what happened before I walked in. But Kacchan was holding Kirishima’s face in his hands. It wasn’t even just that thought. They were looking at each other with this softness. Kacchan never looks at me like that. I realized that... Maybe he’d be happier, too, if I wasn’t there. And it just broke me. I stormed out. I couldn’t sit there surrounded by those people who were all waiting for me to fail. So they could take the person I gave up everything for.” he was crying harder than ever. He dropped his chopsticks and covered his face with his hands. “I made this big scene-” he hiccuped on a sob. “I humiliated Kacchan. I made things so much worse. I don’t know if he could ever forgive me.”

Todoroki squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry you went through that.” 

“We were supposed to be partners. And I know I fucked that up too. I can’t stop making mistakes. I just want to be a good partner to him. And I want him to be a good one back. Before this- way before any of this. Before I met you and he met Kirishima... It felt like Kacchan and I were in a boat. I was paddling with everything I had. But he was only using one paddle. And now it’s like he’s not trying at all. And I’m so tired of paddling by myself.” 

“I hope you don’t think I’m being selfish when I ask this, but have you ever considered leaving? Aside from what happened with us, this relationship sounds like it’s doing you, and honestly him, more harm than good.” Todoroki frowned. 

For a brief moment, Izuku considered. Could he divorce Kacchan? 

His stomach twisted at the thought. “I’d be divorced before thirty,” he whispered to himself. That sounded horrible. “Our lives have been intertwined for over ten years. We’ve been married for nine—” It was more than that. “Kacchan and I have been in each other’s lives for well— all of our lives.” Izuku’s entire life had been about Kacchan. About making him happy. About simply having him. “I don’t know. I don’t know if I could do it. I have no idea who I am if I’m not Kacchan’s husband.” 

“You could find out.” 

He shook his head. “I don’t know. I can’t give up. I can’t—” he started crying again. “This is all too much.” Breathing was hard. He sucked in a breath. “I can’t—” What would his mother say if she knew? What would their friends think? He and Kacchan were supposed to be soulmates. Izuku hadn’t tried every fix yet. He could still save this. Save them! Right? 

All that work, and for what? If he gave up on Kacchan, then all his suffering would have been for nothing. He was supposed to save Kacchan and live happily ever after. 

  “I can’t—” he gasped.

“Hey—” Todoroki stood out of the chair and moved around the table. He knelt beside Izuku and took his hand. “Hey, shh, it’s okay.” 

Izuku’s vision was hazy with tears. “I can’t—” 

Todoroki pulled him to his feet. “Maybe you should lay down,” he said and gently tugged him into the living room. He sat down and pulled Izuku to lay on the couch with his head in Todoroki’s lap. “You’re okay,” he told Izuku. “Nothing is happening right now.” He pushed the hair off of Izuku’s face. “You’re safe with me.” 

The lights in Todoroki’s apartment were soft and warm. It gave the entire room a gentle glow. The light bounced off his pale skin, turning it almost gold. Todoroki’s expression was soft, and his touch was gentle. He combed his smooth, long fingers through his curls. All the tension in Izuku’s body melted away. 

“...Sorry,” Izuku whispered. “I’m a mess.” 

“Me too,” Todoroki confessed. 

“Tell me more about your brother,” he whispered. “If you want to.” 

“I don’t. Well. Not because I don’t want to.” His hand trailed down the side of Izuku’s face to his jaw. “It’s because there’s not much for me to even say. I don’t know anything about him other than what I already told you. He was this person who I never got to see. All my memories of him are hazy. I’m not even sure if half of them are real or not. He left when I was eight.  I know I wanted him to like me. I mean, who doesn’t want their older brother to like them.” 

Izuku hummed softly. “You know, that really sounds like this arc from All Might. I thought about this when we met at Iida’s party, but you’re like someone out of a manga.” 

“...I am?” 

“Mhmm,” Izuku babbled. “You’re gorgeous, intelligent, and you even have a tragic backstory. I was so inspired by you I made a whole character for Deku based on you.” 

Todoroki’s eyes went wide for a moment, and then he seemed confused before finally—

He laughed. 

He laughed loud and hard. He tossed his head back he was howling with laughter. His normally too-perfect face was crinkled as he strained with laughter. He snorted he was laughing so hard. “Sorry—” Todoroki choked out. “I’m not laughing at you! I promise it’s just—” He covered his face with his hand. “I really do have a tragic backstory, huh?” He kept laughing, his breathing becoming labored.

It was the most beautiful sight Izuku had ever seen. 

He lay there, his head in Todoroki’s lap as he ugly laughed. It was so sweet. So endearing. Izuku sat up at once. “Paper,” he whispered. “I need a paper and pencil. Hell, I can do it with a pen-” he jumped up off the couch, looking around. 

Todoroki stopped laughing “Huh?”

“I need paper!” Izuku insisted. “Right now.” 

“I might have some in my office?” he stood up as well. “Why?” 

“Just get the paper!” 

He nodded and left the room. He returned a moment later with a small stack of papers and a mechanical pencil. “Midoriya, what are you—” 

Izuku took the paper from him. He grabbed a large enough book off the coffee table and sat himself on the couch. “Sit,” he ordered. “And laugh.” 

“I can’t laugh on command very well.” 

“Or at least smile.” He turned back to the paper and started sketching out the basic details. 

Todoroki leaned forward. “What are you doing?” 

“You have one of the most adorable laughing faces I’ve ever seen. I have to draw it.” Izuku didn’t look up from his paper. His mind was trying to recall every detail. All the lights and the shadows of Todoroki’s face. He couldn’t quite do it justice with a hasty sketch on printer paper and a crummy pencil, but he had to try. He wanted that look immortalized. 

He hadn’t felt this inspired in years. 

“What?” Todoroki asked again. 

“Shh, you’ll see.” They sat there in silence for several minutes. Izuku sketched away, almost in a trance-like state. Todoroki was his muse. He finished the sketch in record time. It wasn’t perfect, but that was sort of why he liked it so much. He flipped it around and showed him his work. “Here,” he said. “That’s why.” 

Todoroki stared at his art for a long moment. His eyes were blown wide. Slowly, he reached his hand up to the scar around his left eye. “...Is that how you see me?” 

“Yeah,” Izuku said. “As best as I could capture you.”

“I look beautiful.” 

“Todoroki-kun, you are.” He put the art down. “You sound like you didn’t know.” 

He shrugged. “I dunno. Big ugly scar, weird hair... But you made me look. Nice.” 

“Have you ever seen a beautiful sunset?” Izuku asked. “You know, one that’s just so amazing. The colors look perfect. The way the light bounces off the clouds or off the water. It just turns into this amazing spray of pinks and oranges. It’s so perfect that you think, ‘Oh my god, I have to take a picture!’ So you pull out your phone, and you take one. And you look at it, and you get disappointed because the picture doesn’t do it justice. But you post it on social media anyway. And people comment, and they say, ‘Wow, that looks beautiful!’ and you want to tell them no! You don’t even get it. It was way more stunning in person. No photo or drawing could ever hope to compare.” 

“...Yes?” 

“That. That’s what this picture is. It looks nice, but it’s not like seeing it in real life.” He laughed and shook his head. “You know, I never thought about it before, but everyone has seen a beautiful sunset. Just not the sun.” 

Todoroki stared at him for a long moment. “You’re not fair,” he whispered. “You know how badly I want you but can’t have you. Then you say something like that?” He moved to lean over Izuku, placing his hand on the arm of the couch boxing him in. “What am I supposed to do? Not swoon?”

He gulped, hugging the papers to his chest. “I...” Izuku tried to say. “Um, I mean, you—you still want me? After everything?”

“I told you, I’m okay with anything you’ll give me. But don’t tease me. Don’t make my heart pound out of my chest unless you plan on doing something about it. It’s not fair.” 

Before Izuku could formulate an answer, his phone dinged. Todoroki backed off as Izuku pulled his phone out of his pocket. “...It’s a text from Kacchan.” he opened the message. 

Are you coming back tonight? 

Todoroki read the message. He looked at Izuku and tilted his head. “Are you going home?” 

Izuku had a choice. He could go back to Kacchan. Grovel at his knees and beg him for forgiveness. Things keep going as they are. Izuku would watch Kacchan grow closer to another man, but at least his conscience would be clear aside from his one transgression. Or, Izuku could stay here. Todoroki would whisper kind things into his ear, and Izuku could feel almost happy. He could get a wonderful glimpse of Todoroki panting under him. 

He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. He wasn’t sure if his marriage was over or not. He had to do something, but Izuku didn’t have the strength. He was too beaten down. He decided to not decide. He just wanted to feel good right now. He’d deal with Kacchan tomorrow. 

Izuku sent his reply. 

No. 

“I’m glad you’re staying,” Todoroki whispered. He took Izuku’s phone from him and tossed it aside. “I’ll be honest; I wasn’t sure if I could let you leave at this point.” 

Izuku let out a hollow laugh. “Todoroki-kun... I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with Kacchan.” 

“I get it,” he said and put a finger under Izuku’s chin and forced him to look up. “I told you, I’m okay with anything. I’m just glad I get you at all. In any form.” 

They stared at each other for a long moment. Todoroki needed this. His life was just as fucked up as Izuku’s. They needed each other. It wasn’t about love; it was about relief. He knew Todoroki wanted more, but if he was certain he could take anything Izuku could give... Then, Izuku would give what he could. 

“It’s not much,” Izuku whispered, leaning up toward Todoroki. 

“I’m not used to much,” he said back. “But I assure you, this is plenty.” 

Todoroki was the first one to make contact. Their lips met, and Izuku’s worries washed away. It was funny, Todoroki seemed to have that effect on him. Izuku’s mind went quiet when he was around. His lips were soft. Softer than he remembered. 

Izuku reached a hand up and cupped the back of Todoroki’s head. It made him whimper against his lips. Arousal rolled through Izuku’s stomach. Todoroki was so sweet. He would do anything Izuku asked, wouldn’t he? Izuku was used to bargains and pushback. To ask and be told no over and over again. But Todoroki didn’t even seem to have No in his vocabulary. 

Izuku would have to be gentle with him. Todoroki was such a kind person. He’d try his best not to take advantage. 

They broke apart. “Bedroom?” Todoroki asked. 

“Bedroom,” Izuku affirmed. 

He let Todoroki lead him back into that cool, dark room. “Sit,” Todoroki ordered, pointing at his futon. He started to unbutton his shirt, revealing his smooth, pale skin. 

Izuku sat, staring up at Todoroki in awe as he stripped out of his clothes. “...you’re stunning,” Izuku whispered. 

Todoroki’s face flushed a soft pink. It extended down his neck to his chest. “I’m nothing much.” 

“I disagree.” He got up on his knees and placed his hands on Todoroki’s hips. “Todo-” he cut himself off. “Shouto, you’re beautiful.” 

Shouto laid his hands over Izuku’s. “You’re too kind.”

“I’m really not.” He pulled Shouto into the bed with him. The two of them fell back into the bed. Shouto was laid over top of Izuku. They stared at each other for a moment before Shouto kissed him again. Shouto tasted sweeter this time. 

He licked his way into his mouth, resting a hand on the small of Shouto’s back and pulling his hips closer. They ground against each other. Shouto was hard. Cute. That was Izuku’s first thought. 

He pushed Shouto over, getting between his legs. Izuku sat up and pulled his shirt up and over his head. Shouto lifted his hands and ran them over Izuku’s chest. “Your body is so firm,” he whispered. “I just want to keep touching you.” He squeezed Izuku’s pec before he rubbed his nipple. 

“Ah—” Izuku let out a small gasp. “That’s sensitive.” 

“They’re cute.” 

“My nipples are cute?” He asked, sure his face had turned bright pink. 

Shouto nodded and began to roll one with his thumb. The teasing pleasure sent shocks down Izuku’s back to his cock. It started to throb in his boxers. “I wanna taste one.” 

“Maybe another time—” Izuku pushed his face down.“It’s too sensitive. It feels like too much and not enough.” 

Undeterred, Shouto wrapped his legs around Izuku and pulled him closer. The bulges in their pants rubbed against each other. It made Izuku’s legs tremble. “Take your pants off,” Shouto ordered. 

It was a tumble of clothes, but Izuku managed to pull his pants and boxers off. “Yours too,” he told Shouto and grabbed the waist of his jeans. With one firm tug, he pulled them halfway down his thighs. “Here—” Izuku grabbed Shouto’s legs and pushed them back. He tore his pants off before he grabbed ahold of his ankles and spread his legs open. 

Shouto was a sight to behold. Pale and bathed in the silvery lights. His legs seemed to go on for days. His body was fit and toned yet still lithe. Izuku wanted to put his mouth over all of it. Shouto stared up at him with a look Izuku could only describe as reverence. It made his entire body shudder. “Kiss me,” Shouto ordered. He broke his legs from Izuku’s grip and wrapped them back around his waist. 

He fell to his hands and knees, slotted between Shouto’s legs. Shouto wrapped his arms around his neck and pulled him down. Izuku went willingly. Their kiss was slow and languid. Shouto moved one of his arms to caress down Izuku’s back. 

Every spot his hand touched made goosebumps rise across Izuku’s skin. His tongue was cold. But Izuku liked it. Kissing him felt good. Addicting maybe. He was so soft and inviting. 

Izuku leaned into him more, their chests pressed together and their cocks brushing each other. 

Sparks lit up in Izuku’s brain. He was being touched. He wanted to melt into Shouto. He rolled his hips, his needy cock seeking friction. It was funny. He felt like a teenager again. Every touch was like a match lit across his nerves in all the best ways. 

Best of all, it was intimate. He felt safe. Cared for. Shouto’s hands were smooth and cool to the touch, and Izuku never wanted him to stop. 

This is what he’d been missing. Intimacy. 

They parted, both of them panting. “Wow,” Izuku whispered. 

Shouto looked debauched. His face was flushed, his hair was messy, and his lips were kiss-swollen and pink. His pink tongue hung out of his mouth as he panted. “More,” he begged quietly. “Izuku, please kiss me again.” 

“At this rate, I won’t be able to put it in.” Izuku laughed at himself. “I feel like if you touch me, I’ll burst.” 

Taking this as a challenge, Shouto reached under and wrapped his long fingers around Izuku’s cock. “You’re dripping a lot of precum.” 

“Nngh—” Izuku screwed his eyes closed. “Stop, wait wait—” he begged. “Shouto, please, I told you I’m really worked up!” 

“It’s okay,” Shouto whispered. He adjusted their position, his own cock brushing up against Izuku’s. “Me too. We can just do this. I just want to feel close to you.” 

Tears welled up in Izuku’s eyes. He couldn’t help himself. “That’s all I want...” he whispered. “I just want to be touched gently...” 

Shouto’s other arm wrapped around Izuku. He pulled him close like a hug. “I’ve got you,” he told Izuku. “Just move your hips. I got this.” 

Izuku nodded and began to roll his hips. Here he was, getting this hot and heavy over some grinding and kissing. He was just so worked up. Shouto didn’t seem to mind at all, either. Kacchan would probably have laughed at him. He still would have helped Izuku, but he definitely would have laughed. Shouto wasn’t laughing. He was understanding. He was sweet. Soft. Kind. Inviting. He wanted Izuku to be happy. That was all. 

He kissed Shouto as he ground against him. He felt so connected to him. Every spot their bodies touched felt like they were burning and freezing. He wanted to melt into Shouto. He wanted to stay just like this forever. 

Shouto came first. He must have been feeling as overwhelmed as Izuku. Shouto’s warm cum splattered over Shouto’s hands. It was hot. It threw Izuku over the edge. 

“Ah, Shouto—” he hissed. His vision whited out. The orgasm ripped through his body so hard his legs gave out from under him. He smacked into Shouto’s chest. 

He lay there in post-orgasmic bliss for what felt like several hours. 

Finally, Izuku pushed himself off Shouto and fell onto the futon next to him. “I think I died for a moment,” he admitted. 

“Mmm...” Shouto seemed to be half dead himself. He looked fucked out. 

Izuku chuckled and grabbed the box of tissues from his bedside table. “I’ll clean up,” he whispered. It didn’t take long. He tossed the mess of tissues into the little waist basket. 

“Izuku,” Shouto grunted. He grabbed Izuku from behind and pulled him closer. “I need... I need—” 

“Skin?” Izuku asked, turning in his grasp so they faced each other.

His eyes lit up. “Yeah, skin.” He pressed himself against Izuku. It felt amazing. Shouto seemed to enjoy it. He relaxed into his arms. “Stay like this. Forever, maybe.” 

He giggled and lay down. “Okay. We’ll stay like this.”

They fell asleep in each other’s arms. 

Chapter Text

Katsuki had sat down. He was looking around at the serious expressions on his friends’ faces. The urge to kick them out, to lash out at them for something they hadn’t done, was strong in his head. He managed to ignore it. 

He was so mad at Deku, he had been even before he’d decided to leave, but deep down Katsuki knew it was on him too. Something about Eijirou disarmed him completely. It must’ve been obvious how easy it was for him to treat Eijirou like he was special, and how much he struggled to do the same for Deku.

On top of that, he didn’t know how to deal with this new version of his husband at all. It was almost scary.

“So where do you think he went?” Mina asked. 

“No idea.”

“And you aren’t worried?”

“Worried?” Katsuki laughed bitterly. “Why the fuck would I be worried?”

“C’mon, don’t make me say it.” She looked serious. Like the implication wasn’t the most ridiculous thing she’d ever said in her life.

“Watch it, Pinky! I'm mad at him, I don’t wanna be mad at you too.”

Before Katsuki could get much angrier, Eijirou intervened, putting a hand over her arm. “This isn’t helping, Mina.” She rolled her eyes.

Katsuki could see it in how she was acting, that she saw it as some kind of betrayal. She’d had expectations of their marriage and they’d been broken. Worse, broken by Izuku hurting her best friend. 

He had to do something about it. The guilt at that idea was overwhelming him. “You want me to tell you shit? Fine. It’s my fault.”

“Katsu—” Denki started. 

“I’m not complaining, it just fucking is. It’s because I’m—” The words felt wrong. He rephrased it. “—because I married him knowing I was aroace.” He ignored the various sounds of surprise that got him. “I definitely lean repulsed, and I think he’s just not happy with us in general. He’s really fucking mad about Eijirou.” He raised a hand to stop Denki from speaking up. “I’m not getting into why we got married. It’s—too complicated. We’d be here all night. What you need to know is that he was always kind to me, and I chose to do it.”

“So he’s nice to your other friends, just not Eiji?” Hanta asked. They looked like they were honestly trying to understand.

“I—” Katsuki didn’t know how to answer that one at all. He couldn’t just say that he’d been a lonely loser for ten years.

“Wait, guys, rewind for a second.” Mina frowned. “He doesn’t know that, right? And you said you lean repulsed? Can he not tell?” Like she could with Eijirou, Katsuki filled in. 

That didn’t dim his anger.

“Are you asking what I think you’re fucking asking?”

He didn’t have time to get angrier before Denki piped up, his face suddenly serious. “Is that why you looked like he was trying to strangle you when he hugged you?”

“You could tell?” Katsuki could feel his own voice breaking a little. 

Even Hanta looked disturbed. Mina was still mad. Katsuki looked to Eijirou for an out, but he looked away. The message was clear. I told you I think that too.

“You need to leave him, babe,” Mina said at last. “Like, yesterday. You hate it, and assuming we care what he thinks he’s not happy about it either. ”

“Think about it this way, he could find someone who likes him back!” Denki added. 

Katsuki’s blood boiled. “And who the fuck asked you, huh?” He yelled. “I invite you into my house and you give me a speech about how I’m not good enough? The door’s right there, bastard!”

“Woah. That is not at all what I meant.”

Eijirou put a hand over Katsuki’s arm, holding him down. It was like he could sense that Katsuki was about to lose it completely. He really liked these people, more than he’d liked anyone in a while, but having his deepest insecurities discussed like it was nothing was making him feel like a powder keg. “Look, it’s super manly why you’re doing this. We know it’s hard to manage. But Denki didn’t mean that you’re incapable, he just meant it’d make you both happy.”

He leaned into Eijirou, just a little. It was stupid, but it helped.  “I’ve been doing this for ten damn years! Stay in your lane. If you wanna go talk to him, be my guest.”

“I didn’t say that.” Denki frowned. “Look, I won’t say anything to Hito-tan. I think you should reconsider it, but it’s not like I know the details. You’re my friend, not Midoriya, and he didn’t seem to care how you were feeling at all.”

“Even if you were being an asshole to him, I don’t see how it’s my business.” Hanta smirked. “You’re an asshole to all of us 24/7, and he did it first at least today.”

“Why don’t you suck my dick?”

“I thought you said you aren’t into—”

“Oh my god,” Denki interrupted. “Can we be serious for five minutes?”

“No,” Eijirou said, a slight smile on his lips. He let go of Katsuki. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“Well,” Mina piped up. “If that’s all done, do you wanna just play by ourselves? Or should we be more quiet or something, Blasty?”

“I don’t care. Sounds good.” Katsuki was so happy for the distraction he wanted to hug her. 

“Did you actually make food, or was that all a cover?” Denki asked, his tone almost pleading.

“Just say you’re hungry like a normal person!”

A few hours later, Katsuki felt much better. Sure, everything still burned a little in his mind, but he wasn’t in any danger of punching anyone. He’d had fun with his friends, actually, after Deku had left. Eijirou was back to being his loud, happy self despite the slight awkwardness that lingered in his posture, and that made Katsuki content to just be there with him.

It was starting to get late. They’d stopped playing, and now Mina was telling Hanta about a class she had that apparently required business formal clothes. Eijirou was next to them on the couch, a small distance away. He hadn’t spoken in a while, but he didn’t seem to mind. They were in their little bubble, and it was kind of sweet to see how Hanta was looking at her like she’d hung the moon. Even Katsuki could see it now.

Denki was sitting on the floor, texting someone. Probably his sugar daddy.

Katsuki opened his own phone. It was around ten, and Izuku hadn’t shown any sign of life.

He sighed, then sent a quick Are you coming back tonight? 

The response came back a few minutes later. 

“He said he won’t be back tonight.” Katsuki tried to keep his voice level.

Mina pulled away from where she’d been leaning against Hanta’s shoulder. She frowned. “Babe, I won’t ask again, but that’s weird .”

“Would you want us to stay with you?” Eijirou asked. He looked at Katsuki so softly .

“So, not to be that guy, but I kinda just promised I’d go to an event tomorrow morning.” Denki’s eyes were too full of concern, just like Eijirou’s. “Are you gonna be okay alone?”

“What kinda question is that?” Katsuki yelled. “Of course I will. I’m twenty-fucking-eight, you’re acting like I’m a toddler!”

“But it’d make you feel better.” 

Katsuki opened his mouth again to tell Eijirou he was wrong. That he was the stronger one, that he could put up with whatever he has to do in this marriage when it was required. He couldn’t get a single word out. 

He imagined being alone in the apartment, the light of his friends’ presence gone, and a hole opened in his stomach. It hurt.

Eijirou, as always, read his face immediately. “Okay. I’m staying.”

Hanta gave Katsuki an apologetic look. “Sorry, man, but I have work tomorrow morning. My internship won’t wait for anyone.”

Mina hesitated for just a second too long before she took a similar expression and said, “I’m meeting Kendou soon, actually. Sorry, Katsuki, but feel free to text me any time!”

“Wait, you are?”

“Yeah! I told you this morning. It’s like you don’t even listen to me, Eiji.”

He frowned.“I don’t—Nevermind. We’ll see you later, then?”

Katsuki stood up and walked with them to the door, Eijirou closely behind him. “Wish you didn’t have to see that shitshow,” he said, as they were putting on their coats.

Hanta leaned in and ruffled his hair. “Don’t worry, dude, we don’t care.”

Katsuki was waiting for Eijirou to finish showering. Even through the haze of What the fuck do I do with Deku? he was so, so aware of the distance between them. It hurt. He tried to ignore it. It was such a huge weakness to have.

Should he draw a line, though? 

It wasn’t like Izuku to be so mean to someone, but then again he’d alway been insecure about Eijirou. Rightly so. The idea of pretending this hadn’t happened made Katsuki angry regardless. Izuku had the right to yell, to insinuate that Katsuki’d missed being the mean bully he was in high school, to ask if he was unhappy just to hurt him and not to check in, and then to change his mind just because he’d felt like it. Katsuki surely had the right to be mad he’d hurt Eijirou after he promised not to. 

If this was all a transaction, if this was all because of how kind Izuku was, then—

The door to the bathroom opened. Eijirou stepped out, wearing a pair of Katsuki’s baggy sweatpants. 

Katsuki took one look at the water dripping from his hair down his bare torso, then he turned away like he’d been shot.

His brain froze, and he desperately yelled at himself that now wasn’t the fucking time. Managing to get off the bed, he opened the first drawer he saw and tossed Eijirou a shirt that looked like it’d fit, hitting him square in the face.

He deserved it. That asshole.

Eijirou took it with a laugh and put it on. It was still a little tight on his chest. For fuck’s sake. At least he hadn’t given him one of Izuku’s or it would’ve been too short.

He walked up to Katsuki, standing in front of the bed and looking down at him. “So, should I stay here till you fall asleep and then go?”

“What?” Katsuki frowned. “No. You’re sleeping here, next to me. Sit down.”

“Midoriya would kill me.”

Katsuki laughed. “I’d like to see him try.” He rolled his eyes. “You look stupid just standing there. I told you to sit down, not to fuck me raw.”

“Don’t say that !” He sat down on the edge of the bed, still visibly suspicious.

“Didn’t know you were so sensitive.” Katsuki smirked, then he leaned back into his pillow. “I keep thinking about it. If Deku tells me not to see you again, maybe I should go find a lawyer.”

Eijirou frowned. He looked like he didn’t want to speak but he was forcing himself. “We can just—”

“Let me have this.”

“What do you mean?”

“A line in the sand.” He grabbed a handful of the bedsheet, twisting it so hard he thought it’d break. “You know how most arguments go, with us? He asks for something, I say no, and if he asks again I just…stop. I can’t fucking remember— after Halloween is the one time I tried to insist, and he brought up everything he did for me, and I just—maybe I should have one. A limit.”  He told himself he had one with pregnancy, but he avoided the conversation so much that he knew he didn’t really.

“Jesus. Every time I hear that I just—I wish I could take you away from him.” He scratched the back of his head nervously. “That’s weird to say, sorry.”

So do I.

Katsuki scoffed. “How many times do I gotta tell you to stop exaggerating? I’m fine. I’m sure he doesn’t like dealing with my rage fits either.”

“Will you stop saying that ?”

The second time that Eijirou had ever looked upset with him, both in one day. Katsuki was doing so well.

“Stop saying what?” He raised his voice back.

“You’re always like this. I can’t be unhappy, because he did so much for me. It’s not a big deal that I have to do that. So what if I can’t apply for a PhD? It’s okay that I’m sad, because I’m sometimes rude too.” He got more and more into it. One of his fists was clenched. “Katsuki, it’s nauseating . The one time you actually wanna do something about it is because it’s not about you.”

“Because you don’t owe Deku anything!” Katsuki full-on yelled, his vision getting blurry. “He’s a stranger to you!”

“Relationships aren’t about keeping score like that! Even if you didn’t have a job now, even if he had supported you all along, even if you’d never done anything at all for him you’d still be allowed to be unhappy.”

Eijirou really looked like he meant that, and maybe in some ideal world that’d be true, but those were just principles. Realistically, Katsuki knew that people couldn’t do that. People needed to earn kindness. He scoffed, then said more quietly, “That sounds fucking terrible for him.”

“Look, I’m sorry, but that’s his problem!” He hadn’t unclenched his hand. “Why are we always thinking about him? I have no ill will for him, I hope he’s happy, but can we talk about you for once?”

“I don’t…” Katsuki hesitated. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“It’s not about what I want, either! Where do you see yourself in ten years, Katsuki? When you’re forty?”

Katsuki just looked at him. He hated thinking like that. What would all this look like in ten years? 

“Deku and I are struggling already. I— before we met today, I was thinking about how to fix it, but I have no fucking clue. Where do I even start?”

“Do you start at all?” Eijirou asked tensely.

“I told myself I’d—”

“And you said you’d break that so you could meet me! Why not just break it for yourself? Figure out the kindest way to go about it. Be gentle.”

“Ei.” He looked into his eyes, trying to put at least a tenth of all he was feeling into it. “For ten years, all we fucking had was each other. He’s family. He did so much for me and I was such an asshole and— I can’t do it. Not for me.”

Eijirou’s anger melted immediately. He got even closer, taking one of Katsuki’s hands in both of his. “I’m sorry if that was too harsh. I’m just worried for you, but don’t—it’s not an ultimatum. You have all the time in the world. You have me. I’m here for you.”

“Thanks,” Katsuki mumbled. In an effort to distract both of them from his feelings, he smirked. “He’s probably gonna ask for it anyway. He was so fucking mad at me.”

“I’m so—”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Fine, fine.” He smiled, slightly embarrassed. “So should I just—should I take his side of the bed?”

Katsuki shrugged. “It’s not like he’s here.”

“You’re ruthless.”

“I’m honest . You said that.” He watched Eijirou lean back. “Wait.” Katsuki took out his own pillow and handed it to him. “Take this one. Your dye stains, I’ve seen what yours looks like.” 

Maybe when you leave mine will smell like you.

Eijirou’s face fell a little, but he did as Katsuki had asked. 

“I’m sorry,” Katsuki said. He immediately wished he hadn’t done anything. 

“It’s okay,” Eijirou responded. After a look at Katsuki, he slung an arm over his shoulder, pulling him into his side. “It really is. You’re being kinder to me than anyone would in your position. I understand. I wouldn’t want Midoriya to—to confront you over this either.”

For a moment, Katsuki didn’t move. He looked up into Eijirou’s eyes, letting the warmth and safety wash over him. He nodded weakly.

“Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”

“How close—” Katsuki licked his lips nervously. “How close would you let me get?”

He could see the resolve in Eijirou’s stiff posture falter. He didn’t speak for a moment too long, almost making Katsuki think he’d leave, then he leaned back and opened his arms. “Come here. Anything you want.”

Katsuki wondered if he could ask Eijirou for a kiss the same way. If he could beg.

He buried his face in his friend’s chest, until none of his problems seemed real anymore. The faded scent of cologne made something in his chest settle, and he glued their bodies together as tightly as he could. It was stupid. He was sure Eijirou’s legs felt weird, but he couldn’t let go.

Eijirou’s heart was racing. Katsuki could feel the rhythm under his cheek, and for a second he felt it echo perfectly in his own chest.

He tightened his arms around Katsuki. “It’s okay, sunshine.”

“Are you making fun of me ?” That actually hurt, what the fuck.

“What? No! I just think of you that way.  You’re the brightest part of my day.”

There was no way he was real.

“Can you just—” Katsuki’s voice did a strange, weirdly vulnerable thing. He hated the yearning that had filled him a few weeks ago and hadn’t let go. He hated Deku. He hated everything that wasn’t Eijirou. “Can you talk to me?”

“Until you fall asleep?” Eijirou ran a hand through his hair gently. “Of course I can. About what?”

Katsuki melted into the touch. “Anything.”

He fell asleep very soon after, to a story about Eijirou’s younger sister’s last cello recital told in his favourite voice in the world.

When Katsuki woke up, he was actually rested. He felt legs intertwined with his, a chest pushed up against his own, and he almost tensed before he realized he wasn’t with Izuku. The scent was different. The hair against his shoulder was soft and it wasn’t as curly.

Without thinking, Katsuki pushed himself closer. 

One of Eijirou’s thighs was trapped between his legs, and they were facing each other, holding each other tight. Katsuki’s head was leaning against Eijirou’s collarbones.

“Morning,” Eijirou said. 

His voice was rough first thing in the morning, almost scratchy. 

Katsuki could eat him alive.

He kept his eyes closed, stubbornly pretending they didn’t have to get away from each other yet. This was his marital bed, and he couldn’t care less about it. Besides, it wasn’t like Izuku had come home anyway. They would’ve known if he had.

“Oh, you’re still asleep.” Eijirou had lowered his voice. He pushed his head closer into the crook of Katsuki’s neck. 

His lips almost touched Katsuki’s skin. The distance burned, and Katsuki pushed himself even closer. 

His hips knocked into Eijirou’s stomach, the soft part of Katsuki’s upper thigh rubbing against him. He was hard, hot against Katsuki’s skin even through the clothing.

Fuck.

It didn’t mean anything, he knew that, it was morning, but— Eijirou’s breath hitched.

Katsuki wanted to shove him onto his back fully. Ride him nice and slow, make him pant into his mouth, finally mark him up like he ached to.

He wondered if Eijirou would get too into it, after a bit. If he’d grab him and fuck him properly, meeting him in the middle. If he’d tell him how good he felt—

He honest-to-god almost whimpered at the thought. 

He was surrounded by Eijirou, by his scent and his soft skin and his strong arms. Katsuki couldn’t handle it.

“I’m gonna have to go, sunshine,” Eijirou said quietly. He hugged him tighter for a moment, then tried to pull his leg away from Katsuki.

He didn’t expect an answer. That was just how he talked to Katsuki when he thought he couldn’t hear him. 

Katsuki was a horrible person. He wanted to grab him tight and get as close to him as he possibly could to another person.Never let him go. He’d never thought of Izuku like that, and if anything now he was even further from it than he’d been before. 

There was another thought that had been annoying him lately. Eijirou had wanted him, at least when they’d met. Maybe somehow it had stayed the same after he’d gotten to know him. Maybe he could have this.

But that’d mean to drag Eijirou down with him. It would mean that if he changed his mind or misinterpreted something, he’d hurt him . That was unacceptable.

Katsuki kept his eyes closed, loosened the hold of his legs, and didn’t react when Eijirou pushed himself up in the bed, away from him.

He didn’t move for a few moments. The mattress was sunken in where he propped himself up on his arms. 

He leaned in closer, until Katsuki could feel his warm breath on his face, and he pressed his lips to his forehead in a quick, chaste kiss.

Maybe Katsuki’d been imagining it all wrong. They felt soft.

His chest constricted, overwhelmed by affection. He needed to pull him closer so badly that his hands spasmed, clenched into fists under the bed sheet.

Then Eijirou pulled away and left the room, and everything was cold again.

It was so warm and pleasant in the morning that Izuku didn’t want to get out of bed. His face was buried into something firm and smooth. He lifted his head to look where he was. He sat up in Shouto’s futon. Shouto was still asleep under him. Izuku’s insides twisted. On the one hand, this bed was so comfortable. He could curl right back into Shouto’s arms and sleep forever. But Izuku needed to go home. 

“Shouto,” he whispered as he gently nudged him with his hand. 

“Mmm?” Shouto mumbled, barely awake. “A little longer—” he grabbed Izuku and pulled him down into the bed. 

Izuku chuckled as he found himself back in Shouto’s arms. “Come on, I gotta get going.” 

Shouto grumbled and pulled him deeper into his arms. “No,” he whined. “Stay. Forever.” 

“As nice as that sounds,” Izuku sat up again. “I have to go.” 

Shouto’s grip on him loosened as he sat up as well. “I know,” he said, his voice turning soft and sad. “I wish I could keep you.” 

“...I’m sorry,” Izuku whispered. “I really like you. A lot. But I’m married. And I keep letting this happen...” he was a terrible person. “I should go. I have to talk to Kacchan. Figure out what we want to do. Where we go. If there’s even anywhere for us to go.”  

“Will you come back?” 

The question took Izuku by surprise. “I—” he shouldn’t. He should cut Shouto off. But as he looked into those intense eyes, the words left Izuku’s lips without permission. “Yes. Yes, I promise I’ll see you again.” 

Shouto smiled, and it was so beautiful it made his heart clench. He reached up and rubbed his hand up Izuku’s arm. “I want to give you everything you need. Just call me. Any time. I’ll be here.” 

He was so open. So trusting with Izuku. Shouto didn’t care what he did to him. He would be here even if Izuku hurt him. Izuku had to try and keep Shouto’s heart intact. “I won’t waste your time.” 

“Nothing with you is a waste,” he leaned in close until his lips brushed against Izuku’s ear. “Even if I’m someone you can only see at night. I’d happily be your secret.” 

The words sent a shiver down Izuku’s spine. He pulled back to look at Shouto properly. He lifted his hands and cupped his face. “I don’t know what’s going to happen when I go home,” he whispered. “But we will figure something out.” He pressed a sweet kiss to his lips. 

Shouto kissed back eagerly. He was so sweet. It made Izuku’s insides flutter. They pulled back. “I’ll wait for you,” he promised. 

“I won’t make you wait long,” Izuku promised in return. He stood up from the futon. “I’ll let you know how my talk with Kacchan goes.” 

“I look forward to the call.” 

When Izuku parked the car in front of the house, his adrenaline spiked to a fever pitch. He was dreading this conversation. This could be the last one of his marriage. Izuku would not let that happen. While he did want to see Shouto again, at least for now, Kacchan was his world. He needed this. He needed Kacchan to stay. He wasn’t sure what he’d be without Kacchan. 

So Izuku would do and say anything to keep him. Even things that hurt. 

Kirishima’s face floated in his mind. 

Even that. 

As he walked up the walkway toward the front door, his heart was pounding in his chest. He half expected to find the house empty of Kacchan’s things and divorce papers on the table. But when he let himself inside, Kacchan’s boots were still there. His coat was still on the rack. His keys and wallet were on the little table by the door. Kacchan was home. 

“I’m back,” Izuku called into the house. 

Kacchan came out of the kitchen, nursing a mug of coffee. “Glad you can grace me with your presence.” He sipped on the mug. “So,” he began and walked to the couch. “You wanna do this now or later?” he asked, using Izuku’s words from their last fight.

At least he wanted to talk. Izuku sat on their free chair, playing with the hem of his shirt. “...Now, please,” he whispered. 

“Where the fuck were you last night?” 

“Hotel,” Izuku lied. 

Kacchan rolled his eyes. “Whatever... So, do you want to explain to me what the fuck was up with that scene you pulled last night?” 

He tried to keep the anger out of his voice. “I... Just. Kacchan, seeing the way you were touching him last night upset me. And I... I got overwhelmed.” Before Kacchan could respond, Izuku cut him off. “I’m sorry. I overreacted. What I did last night was beyond inappropriate. I humiliated you in front of your friends. I’m so sorry, Kacchan,” he tried to keep his tears back but he was always horrible at that. “There’s no excuse. I was wrong. I’ll do anything to make it right.” 

This was clearly not what Kacchan was expecting. “...What?” he asked. 

Izuku looked his husband in the eye. “I mean it. I want to make this right. I want to be a better partner for you. I think... You can see Kirishima any time you want to. I shouldn’t have asked you not to see him just because of my feelings. He’s your friend. The first friend you made in a long time. And I took that from you.” He wiped at his eyes with his palms. “I’m so so so sorry Kacchan. I’m a mess, and I’m stupid, and I—” he shook his head. He tried to get his thoughts back together. “I’ll apologize to your friends for making them uncomfortable. I’ll do anything you want. Kacchan, I love you. I love our life together. I will do anything to keep it.” 

I’d happily be your secret.

Almost anything.

Kacchan stared at him for a long moment. “...You’re okay with me seeing Eijirou?”

Okay wasn’t the word Izuku would use. “Anything to make you happy,” he said instead. “How I feel doesn’t matter. I have to get over it.” He was betraying Kacchan. This was the only thing he could think to do to make it right. “I want you to be happy more than anything.” Somehow, Izuku still felt like he meant it.  

“...Huh.” He turned his head away. Kacchan cupped the side of his own face, his eyes wide. After a moment, he closed them tightly as if making up his mind. 

Fresh tears spilled down Izuku’s cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Kacchan.” He dropped out of the chair and walked to Kacchan. He dropped to his knees in front of him. “I was such an asshole. You didn’t deserve that. I’m so sorry. I just—” his lips kept flapping. “I’ve been so miserable. For a while now. And I think I projected a lot of my feelings onto Kirishima. That I would be happy if you didn’t see him.” 

“Deku, get off the ground,” Kacchan stood up and grabbed Izuku by the upper arms. He grunted as he forced Izuku to his feet. He held him up. Izuku was pretty sure he’d collapse if Kacchan wasn’t holding him. “Will you stop blubbering for two seconds?” he asked. 

Izuku sniffled loudly. “O-okay...” 

“Okay. Now listen to me. Can you listen instead of doing your stupid little Deku mumble?” 

He nodded. 

Kacchan sighed. “It’s whatever. My friends stayed for a while after you left. They calmed me down. So you didn’t affect my relationship with any of them. If anything, it brought us all closer. But they do kinda hate your guts.” 

“I hate me too,” Izuku said in a small voice. “So I get it.”

“Will you shut the fuck up? I’m trying to comfort you.” 

“...By telling me your friends hate me?” Izuku asked. 

Kacchan’s face turned red with anger as he began to shake Izuku. “I told you to be quiet, nerd! I’m getting there, damn!” He stopped shaking Izuku and held him still. “Listen, you fucked up last night. But I fucked up at Halloween. We’re a couple of fuck-ups. Am I angry? Yes. Very. But... If you’re as serious as you seem about making up for this, then...” he seemed to be considering his words. “We’ll be fine.” 

The relief that hit Izuku was so powerful his knees buckled. He tackled Kacchan into a hug. “Thank you!” he cried. 

“Ugh—” Kacchan grunted. “Deku, you’re heavy—” 

“Sorry!” Izuku pulled back. “Sorry, sorry!” 

“Deku!” Kacchan yelled. “Relax!” he grabbed Izuku and forced him to sit on the couch. “You’re freaking me out.” 

“Sorry,” Izuku said again. “I’m a wreck.” 

He sat on the couch next to him. “Yeah, I noticed.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “...So, something you said in your mumble mess earlier. You’ve been unhappy?” 

Oh. Izuku had said that, hadn’t he? He wasn’t sure if he meant to or not. “Oh, um... It’s just. It’s nothing. Honestly.” 

“Deku,” Kacchan warned. “Spit it out.” 

He shrugged. “I... I dunno. I guess... I guess I’ve just been feeling down lately. The days when you’re at work and I’m home alone. Uh...” he tried to put his feelings into words. “I just feel lonely. But it’s more than lonely. I’m sad, but it’s not just sad either. I try to work on my art but that doesn’t feel good either. Nothing really does? I just feel...” He searched for the right word. “Empty.” 

Kacchan knitted his brows. “Empty?” 

“Yeah,” Izuku said. “Empty is probably the best word for it. I don’t like being alone. I don’t like it when it’s just me and my thoughts.” 

“You said you hate yourself,” Kacchan pointed out. 

“Um... Yeah,” he admitted. 

He stared at Izuku for a moment before he asked, “Why?” 

“...I dunno,” he said. Because I’m a terrible person. Because I’m cheating on you. Because I’m going to do it again. Because I’m a hypocrite. Because I’m the worst person probably ever? “I just do. Maybe because... I’m not the person I thought I should be.” 

Kacchan bit his lip in thought. “You could have told me sooner,” he said. 

“Sorry,” Izuku whispered again. 

“Stop saying that.” He smacked Izuku’s arm. “Deku, what you’re describing sounds like depression.” 

“Depression?” Izuku asked. “I’m not-” Kacchan glared at him, stopping him from protesting further. “Okay... Maybe? So what if I am?” 

He groaned. “So what? Deku, if you think you’re depressed, you should do something about it. Talk to a professional. Or change your life to make you less depressed. If you’re unhappy, what would make you happy instead?” 

What would make Izuku happy? He wasn’t sure. Having a partner who felt like they cared, maybe. Being a father? He’s always wanted kids. The idea of holding a bundle of joy all his own with Kacchan made his heart feel happy. But now was not the right time for a child. He couldn’t have a child to make him happy. He should have a child when he is happy. 

“That’s not a big deal though. Even if I didn’t have Kacchan to support art school would have been a bad choice. Like yeah, I’d love to have gone and worked in the comic industry but it’s so competitive. I wouldn’t have made it.” 

“But you didn’t get to try.” 

“Art school,” Izuku said finally. 

Kacchan’s eyebrows rose to his hairline. “Art school? Okay. So look into art school.” 

“What?” Izuku asked. “Just like that?” 

“Yeah? We have the money. You could cut back at work. You’d have time for classes. I’d support you. You supported me. I could finally pay you back for when I was in school.” 

Izuku frowned. “Pay me back? Kacchan, you don’t owe me anything. I supported you because I love you. Not because I was looking for you to pay for me to go to art school later.” 

He shrugged. “Whatever, just look into it. And a therapist.” 

“...Okay. I will.” He scooted closer to Kacchan. “So... Um. What about us?” 

“What about us?” 

“Are we okay?” Izuku asked. 

Kacchan considered for a long moment. “I’m still angry,” he said finally. “But if you promise me that you’ll stop freaking out when I hang out with Eijirou and the others, and you promise to find a therapist... I’ll forgive you.” 

“Done,” Izuku said at once. “Anything. And I mean it. I’ll apologize to your friends. I don’t mind if they hate me. I just want you to be happy.” 

“If it helps, Denki and Eijirou don’t hate you. I’m not sure if Hanta does but Mina definitely does, so they’ll say they do. But Denki and Ei? Nah.” 

That was shocking. And almost annoying. “Kirishima doesn’t hate me?” he asked. Why was he so forgiving? Why was he so kind? Why was he everything Izuku wasn’t? 

“No. He doesn’t. He felt guilty.” 

He and Izuku had that in common, at least. 

“Oh...” 

Kacchan stood up from the couch. “My coffee got cold...” he sighed. “Deku, just promise me no more freakouts. I told you, I hate fighting with you. Especially over this.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been so crazy,” Izuku mumbled. “I just... I felt like I was losing you. But I’m starting to think I’m just pushing you away.” 

“So stop,” Kacchan said simply. “I’m married to you for a reason. I’m not going anywhere. So just fucking trust me, would you?” 

“I will,” Izuku promised. 

“Good.” He leaned down and pressed a quick, chaste kiss to Izuku’s lip. “Now get up. You’re making me breakfast.” 

“Yes, Kacchan!” Izuku cried, jumping to his feet. “Anything you want!” 

“Pancakes,” he decided. “With little fuckin’ chocolate chips.” 

Izuku ran toward the kitchen. “Yes, sir!” 

Maybe, just maybe, things would be okay. 

But probably not.

Chapter Text

Eijirou was in the business library with Tetsutetsu, supposedly working on a group project. A guy nearby was loudly talking to his partner about how his IT business would become the next member of FAANG, and some people were standing across from them writing something that looked like a foreign language. Tetsu was flipping through his textbook, looking for a definition. He himself was at a dead end with the online searches he’d been making.

Eijirou’s phone rang, snapping him from his reverie.

He should really listen to Katsuki and change that ringtone. Or at least learn to put his phone on silent when he was in the library. He shot the girl sitting across from him and Tetsu an apologetic look and answered. 

He couldn’t not , honestly. Not with the contact photo flashing on the screen. Eijirou found it absolutely adorable that Katsuki tended to call rather than text.

“Hi! I can’t really talk right now, is it urgent?”

“Then why’d you answer, idiot? ” The insult sounded half-hearted. There was something concerningly tired in Katsuki’s voice, and he generally asked if Eijirou was free before he called. “Anyway. Can you meet me any time today? If you can’t I’ll text you, I guess.”

Eijirou went through his schedule in his head, avoiding Tetsu’s curious stare.“Are you free in like two hours?”

“Sure.” The relief was palpable. Eijirou’s heart ached for him, no matter how much he’d chosen this.

“I’ll come near you. I’ll text you a place. You don’t have to do anything, you sound exhausted.”

“I can take the damn subway!”

He wouldn’t do it for himself. He didn’t think he was worth being taken care of, but—

“Well, I don’t want you to,” Eijirou said. “It’ll upset me if you do anything tiring.”

“Fine, you weirdo.”

“If you can, go make yourself some tea.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Katsuki grumbled. Like a kitten.

“Sure. See you later!” 

He hung up.

Eijirou opened a map on his phone and put in Katsuki’s address, then checked for cafés nearby. He didn’t have to look up to feel that Tetsu was staring at him like he’d gone insane.

“Who was that ?”

“Oh, it was Katsuki.” He tried to keep anything too damning from his voice, so he didn’t have to have this conversation in the library of all places. Maybe, just a little bit, he was avoiding it entirely with anyone who wasn’t Mina, Denki, or Hanta.

Tetsu didn’t get or didn’t want to get the memo. “Katsuki? I keep hearing that name, bro, Ashido keeps talking about them to Itsuka. Who’s that?”

Eijirou laughed despite himself. It had all happened fast, hadn’t it? “Bakugou.”

“That really explains it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Tetsu smiled knowingly. “The way you talk to him. When we met I thought he was your new boyfriend for a while there.”

The thought made a warm, terrible flush spread over Eijirou’s face. “Wait, why?”

“Well, I brought up your ex and tried to make a joke and he looked like he was considering the benefits of buying a recreational nuke.”

“He always—”

“Oh, he always looks a bit like that, right? That’s funny, because I was literally joking with him about you being into rude guys.”

Eijirou rubbed a hand over his cheek, covering his eye. He should really either stop talking about this or stop being such an open book with everyone.

“He’s in our friend group now!” He protested. Katsuki didn’t see it that way. Most likely. “And it’s not just that, c’mon!” 

“No, I know, you want them kind on the inside like we’re in Disney.” He looked at Eijirou like he was trying to read his mind. “So you and Mina call this guy Katsuki after two months of talking? I’m not that close to you, what?”

Eijirou finally took his hand off his face. “I love you, man! Do you feel like we don’t talk enough?”

“Gah, Eiji, stop it! Listen to what I’m actually saying. I thought the homoerotic friendship denial thing was over years ago!”

The girl across from them had leaned forward, openly staring. Eijirou blushed again and lowered his voice even more. “Can we do this later, maybe?”

“Depends. What did he want?”

Eijirou sighed, opened a note on his phone and typed He argued with his husband this morning and wants to talk to me about it .

“He what ?” Tetsu almost yelled. “He’s married, he had a fight with his husband, and he’s calling you ? And you’re gonna go meet him?”

The girl’s jaw dropped. Eijirou buried his head in his hands and kicked Tetsu’s shin with a little too much force. “...yeah.”

His friend’s eyes were wide open, shocked.

“I can’t believe it. Kirishima Eijirou, a homewrecker. Are we in a mirror universe?”

He was being overdramatic, clearly, but Eijirou saw the real emotion behind it. He’d never done anything like this. He was the one who always told Denki not to get involved with that girl, because she was actually trouble and not just in a fun way, or the one who stayed sober so no one did anything too bad for themselves or others.

“I’m not—” Eijirou cut himself off.

He wasn’t a homewrecker. When it felt like they could kiss or like they were getting too inappropriate, Eijirou always pulled away. 

That…didn’t sound right.

“Ugh, it’s complicated. Can we finish the presentation in the next hour, please?”

Katsuki did have a mug of tea when he got to the little bistro he’d found. He looked a little worse for wear, but calm. He was wearing a hoodie with a skull on it that had probably been black a few years before. Eijirou waved, ordered at the counter, and walked up to him. He took the seat opposite Katsuki’s.

“Hey.”

“Took you long enough,” Katsuki grumbled.

“I’ll have you know Tetsu and I had to hurry so I could come here this fast.”

“You don’t have to—”

“You know how I feel about that.”

Katsuki didn’t exactly smile, but his face relaxed a fraction. Eijirou wanted to take a picture of that exact moment and set it as his background on everything he owned.

Tetsu’s words came back into his mind. Eijirou looked away at one of the nearby tables.

“Oh, that fruit sando looks good! My mom used to make the strawberry ones when I was in middle school.” He smiled a little. “Sorry, just got nostalgic. I kinda miss her.”

“Do you go home often?”

“Every month or so? But I call them as much as I can.”

Katsuki’s face was like a summer storm, cloudy and unreadable. When he spoke, he was soft. Sunlight in the eye of the storm. “Masaru used to make us all nama chocolate. The old hag was always the one to cook, and she taught me too, obviously — but he did that and she let him.”

“Do you make that one?”

“No.” Katsuki looked off to the side, like he was far away. “Maybe I should. I modified all her recipes anyway. Made them spicier.”

Eijirou laughed a little. “I’m sure yours are better. You were amazing yesterday.”

Katsuki smiled the way he always did when he got a compliment— it was so beautiful. It came naturally to Eijirou to talk about him that way, but if it hadn’t, he would’ve done it anyway just for that.

Then his face fell. “About that.”

Eijirou leaned forward. “Yeah?”

“I talked to Deku this morning. He said it’s okay if we meet. He even offered to apologize to all of you.” Katsuki cut him off before Eijirou could respond. “I said no. I know you’d just feel bad if that happened. But I guess that’s it. We’re still together.”

That explained why Katsuki had sounded so damn tired the whole time. He always did when he was talking about his marriage issues. 

Midoriya’s face flashed through Eijirou’s mind, so calm it was unnatural. His eyes, fracturing from the inside.

“Kacchan, what were you doing holding his face in your hands?”

 “And you think he’s actually okay with that?”

“What do you want me to do , Eijirou? I can’t change his mind for him.” His hand wrapped around the stirring spoon, his knuckles white.

“I didn’t mean it that way, but you know what I’m gonna say to that. And I think you know I’m right.”

Katsuki looked like he’d swallowed an entire lemon. “Yeah, well, never mind on that shit. He wants to go to art school. I’ll help him through it.” Something in his voice was relieved despite it all.

“You want to. So it feels like you did it back,” Eijirou said. “He didn’t do it earlier because of you, so now you’ll stop yourself from being happy in return.”

“Do you want a medal or something? That was fucking obvious.”

“You know how bad that is for both of you, right?”

Honestly, Eijirou had no idea how they’d deal with four more years of this. At first, when Katsuki had told him their entire story, he’d assumed they were happily roommates who had trouble with dating sometimes. Meeting them together had lifted that veil. No matter how much Katsuki said he acted to make Midoriya happy, which Eijirou was sure he did, it wasn’t working. On top of that, he was miserable too.

Eijirou looked down. If he stopped talking to Katsuki, maybe that’d give them a chance. 

He was still so weak .

“Well, what do you suggest if you’re so damn good at relationships and all?”

“Do you owe him financially?”

Katsuki laughed. “Are you serious? University’s free. How much do you think medicine is with insurance? The problem is having somewhere to live. And someone with you.”

“Then do that,” Eijirou said. He knew it wouldn’t work, but he had to say it. “Set something up for him.”

“Right. Sorry you’re depressed, Deku; here’s the details to the bank account.”

“I mean…maybe don’t put it like that?”

“You’re ridiculous. I don’t know why I’m not just beating your ass every time you suggest shit like this.” Katsuki’s face was actually guarded. Eijirou had developed an instinct for how much he could push, and he’d gotten to the limit. 

It made sense to him. People pushed him too far all the time. Just because Katsuki was different in how he expressed it didn’t mean it wasn’t worth learning his language. Eijirou liked it, almost. It made him feel special, and Katsuki had learned his language back.

He leaned forward and put a hand over one of Katsuki’s. “Sorry, I know. I just want to see you happy.”

“Stop worrying so much for me!” He was open again, and that was all Eijirou could ask him for.

Eijirou shot a quick text to Denki and sighed to himself as he ventured to knock on Mina’s door. It had had a scarf on it since he’d come home an hour ago.

“I really need to talk to you,” he said as he knocked a second time. He waited a few seconds as muffled voices came from the other side, leaning against the wall.

Hanta was the one who opened the door. Their shirt was put on wrong, the buttons mismatched, and there was a spot on their collarbone that was getting redder by the minute. Eijirou gave them an apologetic smile, but he walked in.

“Hi! What’s going on?” Mina said from her spot on the bed.

Eijirou sat down on the fluffy striped rug, fighting the urge to bury his face in it and scream. “Guys, I think I’m about to do something really stupid.”

“What else is new?”

“Thanks, Hanta. I can always count on you to kick me when I’m down.”

They sat down next to Mina, sliding an arm around her waist. “Of course. You okay, dude?”

“Kinda. I called Denki over, by the way. It’s about Katsuki. I need advice.”

Mina frowned, suddenly more serious. “Did his bitch husband do something?”

“I mean— not really, but they’re staying together, and I don’t know what to think. Also, please stop calling him that.”

“Where?” she asked.

“By the desk, I’m sitting down.”

She pushed off Hanta, walked up to the desk, and knelt down. Eijirou took one of her hands to turn her the right way; then she grabbed both of his shoulders tightly. “I get why you’re being nice, but I don’t like him.”

“He’s in a tough position, Mina.”

“Oh really? Must be so weird being with someone whose sexuality doesn’t include you. I wouldn’t know.”

Hanta snorted.

Eijirou tried to speak. “I’m so—” 

“No. Eiji, I literally couldn’t see your face, and I could tell you weren’t fully comfortable,” Mina said, cutting him off. 

He suppressed the twinge of guilt. That wasn’t what she wanted. “And that was so sweet of you. Thank you, really, I’m so happy to have you in my life.” He put a hand over one of hers and squeezed. “But it’s not like Katsuki goes around talking to everyone about how amazing men are! That doesn’t make sense, Midoriya’s a man, but you know what I mean.”

“No, he goes around giving you special treatment in everything.”

“But—”

She looked more serious. “Look, it hurts. In the moment, it really does. But I think Midoriya should’ve known and stopped anyway. He got confronted with a problem in their relationship and he just ran away gods know where, and I can’t even ask that because Katsuki’s gonna get mad.”

It was easy for her to say. Easier, at least. They’d been together so much less, when they were so much younger. What did two months have on ten years? 

But Eijirou of all people couldn’t tell her she hadn’t had it that bad.

“I…I don’t agree,” he said instead, as carefully as he could. “It was on Katsuki to tell him, but he didn’t because he wanted him not to know. I do think Midoriya should be better with boundaries, if that makes sense. I don’t like seeing Katsuki hurt.” 

“Wouldn’t that just be the same thing over time?”

“I guess. Maybe.”

She opened her mouth to continue, but the door to the room opened at the same time. Denki walked in and pointed fingerguns at Eijirou. “You called, bro?” He was in street clothes, obviously having not had time to stop by home to leave his large backpack.

“Yeah.” Eijirou sighed and waited for Denki to sit down, splayed across the bed with his legs in Hanta’s lap. “It’s about last night.”

Denki perked up. “It’s about time you guys included me in talks about them.”

“It wasn’t on purpose! Sorry. It just all happened so fast, and you were away.”

“Hmph.” Denki took on an exaggeratedly serious face. “Okay then. Apology accepted. What’s up?”

Eijirou took a few moments to gather his thoughts, rubbing the back of his neck. “I think— I think I’m the problem in their relationship, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Okay then, let’s hear it. I’m not sure why you think that, beyond that, it seemed that way last night.”

“Eiji’s kinda right,” Mina said.

“Katsuki was always really nice to me. Like, he’s nice to a lot of people if you look past how he expresses it, but you know— he was a little nicer even than that to me. I don’t wanna look into it. That’s slimy. He implied it was platonic so I just accepted it. I liked him a lot no matter in what way, so I invited him over to meet you guys and he fit right in.”

“Okay, I knew all that.” Denki had his face in his hands, supporting it with his elbows. He was paying full attention.

“Halloween was…weird. I don’t know how much you saw. He was so touchy, and I—honestly, it felt like I could’ve kissed him. Hell, it felt like he would’ve kissed me if I didn’t stop it.”

“Why do you have to be like that? You make the rest of us look like shit.” Hanta rolled their eyes.

“I don’t know, I’m kind of an asshole here. I can’t stop.” Eijirou looked away so he didn’t see any more of their reactions. “Anyway! I didn’t know anything about his marriage then, so I assumed it was just…you know, I’m younger and I have a motorcycle? Plus we basically met because I hit on him.”

“You what ?” Denki said.

“Oh, you guys were spared the rant about the gorgeous guy at the coffee shop, but oh God, Mina, he’s married, why didn’t I check his hand, I have to—”

“Shut up!” Eijirou felt his face flush. 

“Keep going, I wanna know,” Denki said, his eyes twinkling with laughter.

“I didn’t want to be like that. I was always very into him, and before that, I’d assumed it’s just another unrequited thing, but I wasn’t about to have a drunk one-night-stand with a married guy. It made me a little sad, the next day. That he’d do that, that he just saw me that way.” Eijirou smiled. “But he didn’t! We met up, and he told me what he told you guys last night. He said Midoriya didn’t want us meeting alone, but he knew he wasn’t into me, so we could just do it anyway until he convinced him.”

“That’s it with that, I assume,” Hanta said. Their face wasn’t sarcastic at all for once.

“Well, not really, we’ll get there. So anyway, I said yes. I assumed I was just projecting onto him ‘cause I was that into him. He’s a little touch starved, too.”

Denki did a double take. “ Katsuki ?”

“I mean, not—” Not with Midoriya , Eijirou was about to say. Only with me when it’s that intimate, if I think about it . “Never mind. The point is that I assumed he knew himself better than I do, and I still kinda think that, but— I don’t know. I feel terrible doubting him, but at the same time, how many times can you almost kiss someone platonically?”

“Zero, actually,” Mina said. 

“Unless you agree otherwise!” Denki smiled. “I’d make out with you platonically, bestie.”

“Back off,” Hanta said, and Denki started laughing. “Plus, this is about Katsuki, and I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t. Are you sure, though?”

“That’s the thing, no. I’m not sure at all. It’s kind of insane to even think about it—that I’m that special to someone, but sometimes it looks like that’s the only explanation. That’s what last night was about, right? He didn’t treat Midoriya romantically enough, but—”

“He had no problem when it was you,” Denki finished. “Sure, I can see it. That’s a lot to handle, Eiji, I’m sorry. ”

“But maybe we’re just really good friends, and I have it all wrong.”

“I think I lean that one. I mean, you heard him, he sounded sure.”

“Thanks, Hanta!” Eijirou smiled a little, to show that he meant it. “When I woke up this morning in his arms and wearing his clothes, it threw me off a little, but—”

“Wait, back up. When you did what?”

Denki laughed. “I feel like someday you’ll come here and say he confessed to you and you don’t know if he meant it as a friend.”

“I’m not that oblivious!” Eijirou protested. “I’m just taking him at face value. Imagine if I misinterpreted him by accident. Like that one time he took off his shirt and just looked at me, but he meant to help me with—”

“Taking back my previous statement,” Hanta said. “You guys are basically together right now.”

Eijirou wasn’t sure what, if anything, he could even reply to that one.

Eijirou managed to take lunch off when Katsuki came to the coffee shop on Monday without the half-and-half guy. He rarely had long enough shifts to warrant it, but one of his classes had been called off for a conference. Plus, Fat was so nice to him and Amajiki whenever they asked for anything.

They were alone at a table, half-hidden by a pillar from the rest of the customers.

Katsuki slammed a grey metal box on the table and slid it across, until it was in front of Eijirou. Then he took out a second orange one and opened it with a sensible amount of force.

Eijirou frowned, but he opened (what he assumed was) his too. As soon as he did, his eyes got blurry. “Really?”

“Don’t look into it. I had leftover strawberries.”

“And you made—this?” His voice actually broke a little.

“Eijirou.” Katsuki looked at him like he was slow, holding his chopsticks casually. “It’s bread, strawberries, and cream. How long do you think it took me to make it?”

Eijirou’s heart clenched so strongly that he was actually worried about it for a second. “I don’t even know what to say, man. I—you’re just so unfair, you know? Why do you have to be so perfect with everything?”

“That’s stupid.” Katsuki’s face was red. Alarmingly, that made him even more perfect.

Eijirou wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take.

He could see it.

Sitting Katsuki down and explaining to him that they needed to set some boundaries with each other. Ignoring his own heart and doing the right thing, if there even was such a concept as the right thing at this point.

He could see Katsuki’s face shut down into that angry grimace that didn’t hide his true emotions as much as he clearly thought it did.

He’d say yes. Eijirou knew he would. They’d try to be normal friends, along with everyone else, and they’d slowly drift apart.

Katsuki would let himself think he didn’t deserve anything again. He’d let whatever part of him told him he was worthless win.

Midoriya would be happy to see it all end, and he’d go back to being miserable a few weeks later.

Maybe Eijirou had become a terrible, unchivalrous person too, but he couldn’t sit around and watch that.

He’d die regretting this if he didn’t try.

Eijirou didn’t have a real plan beyond just letting himself do some of the things he’d always dreamed about, with Katsuki.

He knew he was on a tightrope. 

He had to make sure he wasn’t making Katsuki uncomfortable, obviously. Anything even slightly sexual was out of the question; they’d only do that if Katsuki himself asked. He went much smaller. The next time he was in charge of the baked goods, he let himself think of Katsuki like he always did and let himself actually do what he wanted.

When he got out of work, he visited the pharmaceutical company nearby and asked for Bakugou Katsuki at the front desk. He didn’t text beforehand. If Katsuki couldn’t come, he’d just go home and it’d be understandable.

The door opened soon after.

Katsuki had a light blue shirt on under his lab coat. He looked—proper. His hair was pushed out of his eyes with his lab goggles, and he was frowning, clearly angry that he’d been interrupted. Eijirou couldn’t look away, but he probably should for his own health.

“What do you want— Oh. Eijirou.” His expression visibly brightened. 

Eijirou walked up to him. Cleared his voice, still not ready to look at Katsuki like this, not when he seemed so fond on top of everything. “I got you this.” He held his hand out.

There was a short pause.

“Is that because I got you that the other day?” Katsuki’s face hardened. It wasn’t his everyday scowl, that one was kinda cute. “I thought we were past this, Ei. You never owe me anything. Ever.”

“What? No! No, no, not at all!”

“Don’t fucking coddle me—”

“I’m not, I promise! It has nothing to do with that. I just saw the chili flakes, and I thought of you, so I added them to our regular stuff—”

Katsuki’s look was still guarded. Eijirou realized he was acting like an idiot with his hand stretched out like that, so he pulled it back.

He needed to fix this, and fast. He didn’t want Katsuki to put any walls between them.

“Do you wanna split it?”

That worked, at least a little. Katsuki nodded. They both sat down on a bench nearby, and Eijirou turned toward him fully.

“I know it’s a lot to ask, and I don’t expect you to change right away or anything, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t keep track of what we did for each other at all.”

Katsuki didn’t reply for a long time. He was staring straight at Eijirou, analytical, tracking every movement he made. It should’ve been stressful, but Eijirou knew what was happening. He smiled.

Finally, Katsuki’s gaze relaxed. His eyes shone like he was about to start crying. “I can try.”

Eijirou’s reaction was necessary.

He pulled Katsuki into a hug, short and affectionate and smelling a little weird like whatever chemicals Katsuki had been working with.

They spent the next five minutes together, talking about how their days had gone. Katsuki mentioned something about his coworker acting weird talking about his new fling and Eijirou laughed.

When the time was up, he waved goodbye and left.

That hadn’t done much.

It had told Eijirou that he loved Katsuki and that Katsuki really cared for him back, but he’d already known that. He was glad it had happened, regardless.

The next attempt wasn’t really an attempt at all, but it was the last. 

Eijirou was next to Katsuki in his own bed, holding a handout from his cell biology class in his hands and doing a really bad job of actually reading it. They weren’t actually touching. They hadn’t the whole day, and it hurt Eijirou like he imagined a phantom limb would, but he kept away. 

“It’s getting cold soon,” he said, glancing outside the window.

Katsuki made a soft sound of agreement, but he didn’t look away from his screen. He was frowning at something.

Eijirou had tried to read one of his papers recently, just so he could ask him about it and see his eyes light up, but he hadn’t managed to understand everything. He’d have to ask one of his friends in Pharmacy some things. Regardless, he couldn’t really blame Katsuki for looking so annoyed.

“I guess I’ll have to stop riding soon.”

“Really?” Katsuki asked. He moved closer, just a fraction of an inch, until they still weren’t touching, but Eijirou’s body could feel the heat from his across his entire leg. It made goosebumps rise over his spine.

“Yeah, if it gets too cold, it loses grip, and it’s dangerous. Plus, I can’t really deal with the snow.”

Katsuki reached out, his hand tentatively splayed over the middle of Eijirou’s thigh. He’d stopped glancing at him. He was so focused on his laptop that it didn’t even look like he knew he was doing it. “It’s shitty of you to break your promises, you know. You said you’d take me again.” 

“I didn’t say it’d be now.”

Katsuki rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I know what you mean, anyway. I used to go hiking a while ago, and it always sucked when it got too cold for it.”

“Wait, have you been around here?”

“Eight years ago?”

Eijirou desperately told himself he was strong enough to pay attention despite the way Katsuki was touching him. He didn’t mean it that way. He didn’t. “Why?”

“Don’t know. Got distracted. I didn’t leave the house much when I wasn’t with Deku.”

“Oh. You should. Now that you do.” His decision not to touch first right then was really hurting Eijirou.

“Yeah,” Katsuki agreed.

He tightened his hand around the outer part of his thigh and pulled , until Eijirou’s legs were over his, and he was halfway into his lap.

“Do you mind?” Eijirou asked with a small laugh. It was cute if he pointedly didn’t think about Katsuki’s hands tensing up, splayed over his skin.

“Oh.” Katsuki finally looked at him. His face turned a sweet, lovely pink, and he almost seemed angry with himself. “Stop letting me. I didn’t notice.”

“It’s–it’s okay.” 

That was what he’d been wondering all along—if he was the only one who felt the gravity between them. Eijirou couldn’t help the feeling that his relationship with Katsuki was at its most honest in the lingering touches they shared.

Katsuki looked so content , now. His ever-present frown had faded into something tranquil.

His lips looked so soft, ever so slightly parted.

Eijirou still wasn’t sure, he wouldn’t be until Katsuki said it out loud himself, but he was sure enough that he wanted to do something about it. He was pretty sure at this point he’d die if he didn’t.

He opened the door to his and Mina’s apartment, pressing the handle with his elbow. “I’m home! Just went shopping, and I found some of your jelly things. The raspberry ones.”

She opened her door and walked into the kitchen. She leaned against the counter. “Thanks, babe!”

Eijirou hummed, distracted. He put away the vegetables fast, then laughed when he pulled a box out of the large bag. “I thought we ran out of eggs, but we hadn’t. I guess now we have twenty eggs, which—”

“That’s fine. What did you say one was, seven grams of protein?”

“You remember that?”

She laughed. “You severely underestimate how much you talk about it. Don’t worry, I don’t mind.”

“You know what, fair enough.”

They fell into a comfortable silence as he put away the noodles he’d bought, then opened the fridge to put in the butter and threw away a very old container of leftovers. He hadn’t even known that one was there.

When he was done, he started washing a handful of vegetables. “Do you want egg fried rice?” She said yes, so he added some more. “Hey, Mina?”

“Yeah?”

“If I tried to get with Katsuki right now would you still be my friend?”

She frowned. “Are you serious? I’d thank you. I was scared you wouldn’t .”

“Why are you so happy with this?”

“ Because ,” she said. “He’s literally exactly everything you’ve ever wanted, and you guys get along so well. And I can tell how happy you both are together. I used to ask him about Midoriya like that was a love story to see, but—it’s not. You two are.”

“I’m just worried, you know?” He admitted. “What if I confess and it ruins everything?”

“Eiji, look at me.”

“How would you know—” He dodged an elbow to his chest. “Fine, fine! I’m looking. What’s up?”

“I promise you that both you and Katsuki will be okay. Even if you have to break-up-but-not-break-up because you’re definitely just friends. You respect each other so much.”

“But I don’t want you guys to split—”

“We won’t.” She looked so sure. “ I won’t. If he doesn’t like you that’s okay.  If he chooses to stay with Midoriya and he likes you back, I’d understand why he did. I wouldn’t hold it against him, and I wouldn’t just toss him away. Who do you think I am?”

“I know, sorry.” Eijirou was so lucky to be friends with her. He put down everything he was holding and white-knuckled the kitchen counter. “Can you promise me one more thing?”

She smiled. “Probably. What?”

“If I—If this is what happens. The second one.  Please don’t let me do it anyway, even if he stays.”

“Do you think it’s the most likely?”

He hesitated. It was a thought he hated, but one he had every time Katsuki’s face appeared in his mind. “Mina, I…I can’t think I’m special like that. He keeps talking to me like I am, but—”

“Oh, no, babe—” Her eyes squinted with sympathy.

“I shouldn’t be telling you this, but—that night, he said he’d do it. If he had to do it to see me. He said he can’t do it for himself, but he would for me.”

He turned back to the vegetables at last and got out a knife, so he didn’t have to think about that again. He focused on making the shreds as uniform as possible.

“I can’t believe you. We’re worried for nothing . He literally said it out loud himself.” She reached up and flicked his forehead. “But if it helps, I promise. I won’t leave on purpose again like I did that night with the argument. I’ll even go out of my way to stay.”

“Thanks—wait, you did what ?”

They were in Eijirou’s room again when he looked up from his work and down at Katsuki, who had his head in his lap.

“Hey, sunshine.”

Katsuki smiled, like he couldn’t help it. “Yeah?”

“You wanna see that hiking trail again?”

Chapter Text

It started with a fire. 

Shouto was dying. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. The smoke had seeped into his lungs. His mind felt hazy. Shouto was going to die. And what did he have to show for it? A fiance he did not love, a father who, no matter what was never proud of him, and a family he barely spoke to. And now he was going to die. 

He couldn’t even bring himself to care.

 “Hey,” a voice whispered to Shouto. A warm hand laid over his back. Shouto found himself pushed to lie on his back. “Are you awake?” 

Shouto’s eyes snapped open. He stared up at his savior. The room was so hazy with smoke. Shouto’s eyes burned, but he forced himself to focus. Something was leaning over him. It was huge and hulking with its face covered. An angel, perhaps? Described as something beyond comprehension. No, that wasn’t right. Even in this state, his brain connected the dots. A firefighter. A—

“...Hero?” Shouto whispered. 

“Don’t call me that yet,” the hero joked. He grabbed into a bridal carry. Shouto felt secure and safe. “You’re going to be fine. I’m here now.” He carried him to the window. “This is going to be scary, but we have to get out of here.” 

His lungs were still burning. “Am I going to die?” 

“No,” the hero promised. “You’re not. I’ve got you.” 

Shouto believed him. For the first time in his life, he felt protected. That things were going to be okay. 

“Shouto, what do you think?” Fuyumi asked, pulling Shouto out of his thoughts. The three of them sat around Fuyumi’s kitchen table. Natsuo and Fuyumi were staring at him expectantly. 

“Huh?” Shouto asked. He looked up from his phone. He’d been watching the newsreel about the fire on YouTube. 

His sister sighed. “I asked what you think about the lawyer. Dad wants to pay for one, but we don’t think Touya will go for it.” 

“I know he won’t,” Natsuo said simply. “I don’t get why he wants to, though. Touya tried to kill him! And Shouto. I still don’t get why he did that, either. We don’t see him for twenty years, and he shows up and burns Dad’s work down? What the hell?” 

Shouto looked between his siblings and shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think I care.” Every time he tried to think about Touya, he felt sick. It was hard to reconcile that the teenage boy who Shouto longed to spend time with as a child, who left in the middle of the night when Shouto was only a child, was the same man they showed on TV. The one who looked like a hardened criminal. Who admitted to the crime with a smile. “I don’t want anything to do with it.” 

Natsuo gaped at him. “Don’t want anything to do with it? Shouto, this is our family. You almost died because of it. You know you’ll have to go to court and testify—” 

“Why?” Shouto asked. “I don’t know anything more than anyone else who was there. What are they going to ask me? What is he like? Why did he do it? Because I don’t know. I don’t know anything about him. And I’m not interested in reliving, almost dying to a judge.” 

His brother rolled his eyes. “But Shouto, you might not have a choice! If the police deem your testimony necessary—” 

“Then they can show up at my house and force me. But I’m not going willingly.” 

“But he’s our brother!” Natsuo yelled. “This has to be a mistake. Something must have happened to him to-” 

“He’s your brother,” Shouto snapped. “I barely remember him. All he is to me is a few faint memories and the guy who burnt my work down.” 

Natsou placed his hands on the table. “Shouto, you can’t—” 

“Natsuo, he said he doesn’t want to!” Fuyumi yelled. “He’s right. Shouto nearly died. Had it not been for that firefighter, he would have. He can make any decision about this he wants.” 

“But it’s obvious Touya is suffering from some mental breakdown! We have to help him. Shouto, you don’t get it. You were too young, but Dad was horrible to Touya.” 

“He was shitty to me too, but you don’t see me burning down buildings.” He stood up from the table. “I don’t know what I want to do about Touya. I don’t. Maybe I’ll change my mind but the last thing I need is someone telling me what I should or shouldn’t do for the sake of family.” He turned to his sister. “Thanks for inviting me over. But I’m gonna go.” 

Fuyumi stood up “I understand. Thanks for—” 

“You’re a coward,” Natsuo spat. 

She spun around. “Natsuo!” Fuyumi yelled. 

He was, wasn’t he? But Shouto couldn’t bring himself to care. He didn’t dignify his brother with a response and simply left the room. 

Rumi, Fuyumi’s wife, was in the living room. She and the girls were watching the TV with the volume turned up. “You okay?” Rumi asked. 

“I’m heading out,” Shouto said, grabbing his shoes. 

Fuyumi followed Shouto out of the dining room. “Shouto, I’m sorry about him,” she said quickly. “Natsuo and Touya were close when we were younger. They shared a room and—” she shook her head. “Look just... Call me tomorrow.” 

He grabbed his coat. “...I will.” 

“Say goodnight to your uncle, girls,” Fuyumi told her daughter. 

Hanako and Kaori sat up from the couch. Kaori kept close to Rumi’s side but waved at Shouto. Hanako jumped down and gave Shouto a hug around his hips. “Bye, Uncle Shouto. Love you!” 

Shouto patted her head gently. “Love you too,” he said softly. He nodded at Kaori. “Both of you.” He stepped back from his niece “I’ll see you later, Fuyumi.” He grabbed his keys from his pocket and walked out of the door. 

He could feel his sister’s eyes on him until he got into the car. 

Shouto kicked his shoes off at the door before he walked into his quiet apartment. He turned on the lights, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He hated fighting with his family. It was why he rarely talked to them. It always ended in a fight. He understood what Natsuo was trying to say. He didn’t want to see Touya go to jail either, but the thought of having to get up and testify? It made Shouto feel sick. 

He collapsed onto his couch, heaving a heavy sigh as he closed his eyes. This was all such a mess. The only thing in Shouto’s life that was at all bearable was Izuku. He was the reason Shouto had a reason to live, after all. 

“But it's your life; I get not wanting to disappoint your parents. But trust me, if you make yourself miserable to make them happy, you’ll just be miserable. Go after what you want. Life is short.”

Shouto had never allowed himself to want. He had expectations to fulfill for others. He was the last attempt. He was the prodigy. The genius. The legacy. An extension of his father. Nothing more than something to parrot his beliefs and lifestyle. It seemed so silly that he never saw himself as a real person before. That it only took simple words from a simple man. 

But Izuku wasn’t a simple man. 

He was good. He was kind. He poured himself into everything he set out to do. He was like the sun made into a person. He saved Shouto. He was funny. He was charming. He was handsome. 

He was an amazing lover. 

Shouto was in love. He’d been in love from the start. From the moment he’d looked up at his hero in that burning building. Luckily, fate had brought Izuku to Shouto again. 

Well. Mostly. 

His phone buzzed in his pocket. He grumbled and pulled it out. Yaoyorozu was calling him. He wasn’t sure if he was in the mood to talk to her right now. All this thinking about his past had him feeling down. Yaoyorozu, while a good friend now, was his past. 

She was his ex-fiancée. 

“Hey,” Shouto said into the phone. 

“Ah, Todoroki-san! I’m glad I caught you.” Yaoyorozu said. “I was wondering if you had any plans this weekend.” 

“I dunno. My free time is pretty up in the air.” Did Izuku have off? Would he be able to sneak away back to Shouto for a while? He’d hate to be busy on the off chance he could. “Why?” 

Yaoyorozu hummed softly. She seemed like she was in a good mood. “I met someone,” she confessed. “She’s amazing. We met in this little record shop and—” she cut herself off. “We’ve been dating for a while, and she wants to meet my friends. And you’re my only real friend. So I want you to meet her!”

That was very sweet, actually. “I’m happy for you,” he said honestly. “I’ll see if we can meet up. I’d love to meet her.” 

“Okay! Let me know . Oh, I think that’s her now, hold on—” He heard some shuffling and Yaoyorozu call out, “Kyoka, I’ll be down in a second! Sorry, I thought she was going to be a little longer. I have to go. But seriously, text me!” 

“I will,” he said and hung up. 

He stared down at his phone. He wished he could have told her he found someone. That they could have a double date. But until Izuku left, he was forced to be a secret. Shouto didn’t mind too much. It was better to be his secret than nothing at all. Part of him just wanted to tell Yaoyorozu because she had unknowingly helped Shouto find Izuku. 

After the fire, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever see his hero again. He had elected to just improve his life and hope. He broke the engagement, which Yaoyorozu had been happy to do. She was in a similar predicament. A lesbian being pressured to marry a man. Izuku’s influence on Shouto bettered her life, too. They remained friends. Then, a few weeks ago, at the end of August, she invited Shouto. 

They had been getting lunch. Yaoyorozu had gotten a text on her phone. When she read it, her eyebrows rose to her hairline. “Oh, that’s interesting,” she said. 

Shouto looked up from his noodles. “Hmm?” 

“An old friend from school and I recently reconnected. He just invited me to his birthday party.” 

“That’s nice,” Shouto responded before taking a large bite of noodles. 

“I feel a little nervous to go. I won’t know anyone there but him and his wife.” She smiled and gave Shouto a knowing look. “Todoroki-san, you’re not doing anything this weekend, are you?” 

Shouto sighed. “I don’t think so. But I don’t want to go to a party where I won’t know anyone either. I don’t like parties even when I know everyone.” 

“Please?” she begged, giving Shouto big puppy dog eyes. “Come on, Iida-san is nice! I think you’ll get along.” 

Iida? The name sounded familiar. Shouto wracked his brain to remember where he would have heard it. It dawned on him almost at once. The fire. The firefighter. His hero. The handsome one. While he was saving Shouto, he called to someone else below on the ground. “Iida!” he yelled “Tarp! I found him but the path back is blocked!” Was this Iida the same Iida? It wasn’t the most common name. But... 

“Fine,” Shouto said. It was a slim chance. But he’d be a fool not to try. Worst case, he’d have a lousy night supporting his friend. Best case, he’d find his hero. “But you owe me.” 

Perhaps he was the one who owed Yaoyorozu. He’d make the time to meet her girlfriend. 

It was getting late. He should go to bed. But Shouto didn’t want to go to bed alone with his thoughts. Twisty thoughts of Touya, his family, and all the horrible things were still dancing around the edge of Shouto’s mind. He needed a distraction. 

He needed love. 

Shouto pulled himself off the couch and walked to his bedroom. He stripped out of his clothes and searched the top drawer of his dresser. He pulled out a green pair of lacey panties. He’d felt so slimy when he bought them. But pulling them on felt exciting. He adjusted them on his body until he was satisfied. 

He looked good. The panties hugged his hips nicely. He picked up his phone again and took a picture of himself in the mirror. Then, he sent the image to his favorite person. 

Image. 

What do you think? I saw these in the store the other day and thought of you. 

It didn’t take long to get his reply. 

Omg!!! Shouto, those are almost see-through! >///< They look cute on you. 

Shouto smiled at Izuku’s little emoticon. He could picture his lover’s face right now. Izuku was probably lying on the couch looking at his phone, his face bright pink. He wondered if Bakugou could see him. Were they next to each other? Either way it seemed Shouto had Izuku’s attention now. 

Do you want me to take them off? He texted Izuku. 

...If I say yes, will you send me a picture of you naked? I think I’ll die. You’re so sexy. 

He smirked at Izuku’s reply. Was he hard? Would he jerk off to the image? Bakugou certainly wasn’t going to help him get off, so Shouto had to do his best. But Shouto could be cruel. 

How about you take them off me yourself? Are you off tomorrow? 

Izuku didn’t reply at first. Shouto sat down on his futon, staring at the message. It had the read receipt next to it. But Izuku wasn’t replying yet. He must be busy. Bakugou must be distracting him somehow. 

A few minutes passed of Shouto sitting there in nothing but panties that were a little too small staring at his phone. Finally, three little bubbles popped up, and began to type. A moment later, he was rewarded. 

I am. I don’t go back in until Wednesday. Why? Don’t you work tomorrow? 

Shouto replied at once. There’s a love hotel a few blocks away from my work. Can I see you on my lunch break? I can’t wait for the weekend to see you again. 

It was another, smaller pause before Izuku replied again. I can! I want to see you too. Sorry, I’m slow to reply. Kacchan keeps asking me about grocery shopping. 

Shouto smiled at the message. Of course. Izuku was desperate to get to him. Bakugou was keeping him busy with trivial things. But Shouto would rescue Izuku just like Izuku rescued him. 

You can take these panties off me tomorrow then. 

Then, to be sweet, Shouto took another picture of himself. This time over the shoulder so Izuku could see his butt. 

>////< Shouto ur killing meeee.

How badly am I killing you? 

It was another few minutes. Long enough that Shouto laid back on his futon and began to doomscroll on his phone, still wearing nothing but those stupid panties. But he was rewarded with his patience. Izuku sent an image. Shouto sat up in surprise and opened it at once. 

The image was a P.O.V. shot. Izuku was holding his phone down at his opened pants. His cock was out and hard. It was clear he was standing in a bathroom by the lighting. His cock looked red on the tip. Under the image was a text. 

This is what you do to me, baby. 

Arousal pushed through Shouto’s body. He had Izuku turned on! He had made him hard. The sheer pride was enough to make him half-hard in his panties. He licked his lips and turned to lay on his back. He adjusted the panties to pull tightly on his bulge and took a picture of it. He sent it to Izuku. 

You make me just as crazy. 

I can’t wait to see you tomorrow, Shouto. 

Shouto couldn’t wait either. 

The morning felt like it was lasting forever. Shouto could barely focus on his work, his eyes drifting to the clock whenever he wasn’t watching the beaker on the lab counter. The stupid green panties kept rolling and folding over in his pants. It was humiliating that he had to keep adjusting them. His mind was all over the place. It was so bad he missed the reaction he was looking for. 

“Fuck,” Shouto mumbled. He grabbed the beaker and dumped it in the sink before furiously washing it out. “Have to start all over again.” He went to grab something to dry it, but taking one step to the right had the panties rolling down again. “Fuck!” he cried, putting the beaker down and fixing his panties. He sighed as he readjusted his pants. 

“What’s got your panties in a twist?” Bakugou asked from the door to the lab. 

He could feel himself blushing in embarrassment. “Nothing,” he said at once. He didn’t need to be caught in a position like that. Least of all by Bakugou. “Just distracted.” 

“Get it together. I have good news. That journal we submitted our work to? They reviewed it and are going to publish it in the spring.” 

Shouto turned to face Bakugou properly. “Really? That is good news.” It was likely going to be their one and only publication together. A shame. Bakugou did make for a good work partner. But Shouto doubted he’d be in favor of working with him once Shouto succeeded in seducing his husband away. “That’s not far away.” 

“Yeah, well, they’re excited about it. We should celebrate. You free this weekend?” 

“No,” Shouto said at once. “I’m going out with some friends.” He just found his time to see Yaoyorozu. He had zero interest in going out with Bakugou. 

“Damn. It’ll have to wait, then. I’m going away for a few days next weekend.” 

Shouto hadn’t heard about Izuku going away. He would have told him if he was, right? “You and your husband?” 

Bakugou’s ears turned red as a soft look hit his face. “Nah, friend thing.” 

“Oh.” Did Izuku know? Either way was good for Shouto. He did the math in his head of Izuku’s schedule. He’d have that weekend off. Shouto could take some time off to have a romantic weekend with him. Try and put the final nail in this sham of a relationship. If Bakugou was stooping so low as to go away without his husband, then Shouto had a real shot. Especially if he was going away with who Shouto suspected. “Is there something wrong with you and Midoriya?” 

“No,” Bakugou said quickly. “We’re fine. I mean. You know. We’re fine.” Shouto knew first hand they were anything but fine. “It’s not important. What is important is we are getting published. Before Christmas, you’re buying me a beer.”

“Sure, sure...” Shouto mumbled. He glanced at the clock. “It’s about lunch, I’m gonna clean up and clock out.” 

“Same, I was just on my way. You wanna get coffee?” 

And watch Bakugou flirt with his own affair partner? No, thank you. Besides... “No, I can’t. I have a lunch date.” 

Bakugou whistled. “Hickey guy again? Damn, good for you. Go get him.” 

It was comical. Absurd to the highest degree. “Trust me, I will.” Another shame. Bakugou could have been a good, supportive friend. Too bad he’d accidentally married and mistreated Shouto’s soulmate. “See you later.” He pulled his lab coat off and passed Bakugou on his way out of the lab. 

“If you come back limping, I’m gonna laugh!” Bakugou called after him. 

Shouto hoped he did. 

When Shouto agreed to come to this party, he had done so on the off chance he’d see his hero. Find that man who changed his life forever. It had been the longest of long shots, based on a family name. So when he got to the party and saw that head of green curls and those broad shoulders, the world slowed down. 

Shouto barely said his hellos to the host before he made a dive for his soulmate. He had to see his face to be sure.“Hey,” Shouto said, trying to reach out. 

The man turned around. Big, wide, and green eyes met his. He was better looking than Shouto remembered. Everything about his face was soft and cute. His nose and cheeks were dusted in freckles. Shouto wanted to kiss every single one. His lips were plush and round. After he was done kissing the freckles, he’d kiss those lips. His eyes quickly moved over his body. His hero was dressed in baggy clothes but he could see the muscle hiding just under it. He wanted to get on his knees and worship this Adonis.

“H-hi!” he squeaked out, his face turning more pink by the moment. It was adorable.

“Do you remember me?” he asked “I was hoping I’d get a chance to see you again.” He hoped he did. He stepped closer into the man’s space“I made an ass of myself, and I didn’t get a chance to thank you for saving my life. I didn’t even get your name.” 

He held up his hands and shook his head “Oh, uh! I’m Midoriya Izuku, but it’s okay, you don’t have to thank me! It’s my job. All Might wouldn’t ask for thanks—” Shouto wasn’t sure who All Might was, but it was cute seeing him look so flustered. 

“Still.” Shouto bowed his head down low. “Thank you for saving my life.” He stood up properly, ready to take his shot at happiness. “Can I buy you dinner as a thank you?” 

Midoriya shook his head, taking a step back from him. “I don’t think you need to do that—” 

“At least let me do something,” Shouto couldn’t let this slip away. He had to have him. He would do anything. “Please?” 

“Todoroki?” A familiar voice asked. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Bakugou, his coworker, appeared. He walked right up to Midoriya, leaning toward him. 

“You know him?” Both he and Midoriya asked. 

Bakugou folded his arms over his chest, looking at Midoriya.“Yeah, Todoroki is a new hire at my job. How do you two know each other?” He glanced back at Shouto, raising a brow. They must be friends. This could be very good. He could get closer to Midoriya through Bakugou!

“Midoriya saved my life,” Shouto said, holding his hand over his chest. “It’s amazing he’s here. I’m trying to buy him a meal as a thank you.” 

He turned to face Midoriya“Oh?” he asked.“What the fuck Deku, let the guy buy you lunch.” 

Shouto almost smiled. Bakugou was already acting as a wingman. This was going great!

“W-what?” Midoriya asked, his eyes wide.

“Don’t listen to my idiot husband; he’d love a free lunch. One less bento to pack,” Bakugou laughed, elbowing Midoriya as he laughed. 

Just like that, all the air was snuffed out of the room.“Husband?” he asked, his throat dry. 

“Nine years, I told you.” He flashed Shouto his wedding band. 

He felt ill. The universe was cruel. It had always been cruel to Shouto. It would always be cruel to Shouto. Here was his soulmate, looking cute and sweet and yet he was taken. Forever out of Shouto’s grasp. Just like everything he’d ever dared to want. 

Why did he bother wanting? Shouto opened his mouth to say something so to not look like a fool standing there as his heart was shattered on the carpet. He shouldn’t have come. It would have been better not knowing. He still had to say something. Anything at all. 

“Oh.”  

That had been what he’d thought at the time. That never meeting Izuku, always left to wonder, would have been better. Shouto, as he so often was, was wrong. 

“Oh fuck,” he moaned, his hand grabbing onto green curls. “Izuku, your mouth feels so fucking good.” 

Shouto looked down at Izuku. Izuku was on his knees in front of him, eagerly sucking his cock. His big green eyes were rolling back into his head as he seemed to savor the taste of Shouto’s skin. “Mmm...” he moaned around his cock, his wet tongue sliding back and forth on the underside of Shouto’s cock. 

It was going to make him cum.

They were in a ratty love hotel room. Shouto was leaning against the wall by the door. His dress shirt had been unbuttoned and was half sliding off his shoulder. His pants were around his ankles, and those stupid fucking green panties were taught around his knees. Izuku was still fully dressed in front of him, with Shouto’s cock fully sheathed inside his tight throat. “Please, please-” Shouto begged. 

Izuku pulled back to breathe. Shouto whined at the loss, his head lolling back and hitting the hard wall. “Sorry,” Izuku said. “Your cock is so big it’s hard to breathe when you’re deep.” 

“You don’t have to take it so deep,” Shouto mumbled. 

“Eh? No way. I like making you feel good.” He kissed the head of Shouto’s cock. “You’re so cute when you’re feeling good.” 

Sparks shot up his back. He was cute? Didn’t Izuku know he was the cute one? “You’re impossible.” 

Izuku grinned. “Maybe.” He took the head back into his mouth, sucking on the tip and swirling his tongue.

Months ago, Shouto had been so sure meeting Izuku and finding out he was married would break him. That he’d be better off never meeting him at all. Better off, dust and ash in the ruins of his father’s old office. But seeing Izuku moaning around his cock, calling him cute as if Shouto was worth anything at all? Even if they crashed and burned after this, it would have been worth it. 

He took Shouto all the way to the hilt. Pleasure coursed through Shouto as his hips bucked into his mouth. “Izuku, Izuku please!” he begged. “I’m so close.” 

Izuku moaned around him, his hands resting on Shouto’s hips as he encouraged him to thrust. “Mmm! Mmm...” 

Shouto gripped his hair hard as his orgasm hit. “Ooooohh...” he whined as he shot cum right down Izuku’s throat. Izuku, for his part, only moaned as he swallowed it all. “Fuck...” Shouto was boneless. He nearly collapsed. 

But Izuku, ever the gentleman, was on his feet in a moment. He caught Shouto, letting him lean his weight onto him. “I got you,” he promised. 

He stretched his arms above his head before gently laying them around Izuku’s shoulders. “My hero,” he teased. “Keeping me from falling after you sucked my brains out.” 

“That’s me!” he teased right back. “How much time do you have for your break?” 

Shouto checked the time. “I have another twenty minutes before I need to leave.” 

Izuku sighed. “That’s not a lot. I wanna fuck you so bad.” 

“So do it.” He cupped Izuku’s cheek with one hand. “Fuck me hard enough, and I might consider taking a half day.” He moved his hand to tuck hair behind Izuku’s ear. 

“Challenge accepted!” He picked Shouto up and carried him to the heart-shaped bed. Once he dropped him on it, he pulled his pants off and reached for the panties still around Shouto’s knees. “These really are so cute...” he mumbled. 

“You can keep them,” Shouto declared as Izuku pulled them off. “They refused to stay on. I’ll just go commando the rest of the day.” 

Izuku whined as he stashed the panties into his jeans’ back pocket. “How is that hotter?” he asked. He pushed Shouto’s legs back to look at him properly. “Fuck. Yeah, you’re not going back to work.” 

Shouto rolled his eyes. “I should call out then. Grab my phone. It’s in my pocket.” 

He cheered in victory and dropped Shouto’s legs. He grabbed his pants and pulled his phone out before tossing it to Shouto. Shouto went to text his boss but noticed he had a text from Bakugou. It was just the link to the journal they were going to be published in. But, it reminded Shouto. “So, next weekend. Do you want me to take off? I can take off on Friday and make it a long weekend with you.” 

“Take off?” Izuku asked. “I mean, I am off, but any special reason?” 

Did he not know? “You know... Next weekend.” 

Izuku furrowed his brows together. “What?” 

He didn’t. Bakugou was going away and hadn’t told Izuku? Shouto opened his mouth to tell him, but he wasn’t sure on the details other than Bakugou was going away. “...I’d ask your husband. I don’t have all the details but you should mention next weekend to him.” 

A dark look crossed Izuku’s face. “...Okay,” he said. “I will.”

“Don’t think about it right now,” Shouto said. “It’s you and me right now.  He can have you later. But now, you’re mine.” He spread his legs invitingly. “So pay attention.” 

“Right,” Izuku said. His face softened as he crawled over Shouto. “I’m yours.” 

For now. Izuku was his for now. But, if things kept going the way they were, Izuku would be his forever. 

Perhaps as soon as next weekend.

Chapter Text

There were few things in this world that Izuku hated. He hated homophobes and transphobes, he hated Crimson Riot, and most of all, Izuku hated grocery shopping. 

The market was always loud and full of people pushing past him. If you didn’t make eye contact with someone, they simply pretended that you didn’t exist. Kacchan always gave him a list of ultra-specific items that the store never seemed to have. Or at least have them in a place that made sense. If he didn’t get everything on the list, Kacchan usually chewed him out and called him an idiot. 

Which, to be fair, he was. But that wasn’t always related to his inability to grocery shop. 

He stared at the aisle of spices. Kacchan said he wanted a particular kind of paprika, but all the paprika looked the same to Izuku. He looked down at the list and then back at the spices. “Like half of them have green labels, Kacchan,” he muttered to himself. He hated this. He could be at home. He could be drawing. He could be asking Kacchan what ‘next weekend’ was. He could be in a hotel room with Shouto...

“Deku-kun?” A voice said behind him. 

Izuku nearly dropped his basket in surprise. He turned on his heel and met a familiar face. “Uraraka-san!” he cried. “Hey!” 

“Hi!” she cried before throwing her arms around him in greeting. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever! You haven’t replied in the group chat in ages.” 

He laughed a little. “Sorry, I’ve been busy.” 

She shook her head. “Don’t worry! I get it. Iida-kun has been super hard to pin down since Ten-tan was born. Have you met the baby yet? He’s so cute.” 

“Only once, he brought him to the station for Halloween. He was a very cute baby.” 

“I know, right? Himi-chan and I are actually gonna babysit for him and Mei this weekend. I’m so excited! Himi-chan is a little nervous, but she has such a way with kids. I think she’s gonna do great!” She leaned in closer to whisper to Izuku. “It’ll be kind of exciting to ‘play house’ you know? See if she likes the idea of being a mom. We’ve talked about it before, but getting a sort of trial run? I’m so excited.” 

Izuku nodded his head along. “Oh wow, I didn’t know you two were that serious. Thinking about kids already?” 

“I mean, it’s still a ways off,” Uraraka said at once, her face turning pink. “But I just can’t help but get excited about the future with her. Marriage and kids...” she trailed off. “I dunno. I love where we are right now, but when I think about where things are going to go, I feel happy! I don’t wanna skip steps, but I can still watch my girlfriend hold a baby and pretend it’s ours. Just for a few hours.” 

There was something about that that gave Izuku pause. Excitement for the future... Was he excited about the future? What did his future even hold, anyway? Art school? Did that make him happy? 

“I’m happy for you,” Izuku said honestly. 

Uraraka smiled. “I’ll probably take a bunch of pictures and send them to the group chat, so you better look at them!” 

“I will!” Izuku promised. 

“And you better hang out with us soon! We’re gonna try and all get together after the new year. Himi-chan and I are gonna host. Promise me you’ll come.” 

He nodded. “I promise, by then, things should settle down for me.” He’d find a new rhythm in his double life. Or cut one entirely. 

Uraraka lightly punched his arm. “I’ll see you around! Seriously, I will, right?” 

“Of course,” Izuku said. She waved before trotting off, leaving Izuku alone with his thoughts. 

What future did he have to look forward to? Uraraka had Toga. Shinsou had Kaminari. Iida had his family. What did Izuku have? A husband who he loved but was betraying, and a lover who adored him that Izuku wasn’t sure what he felt for at all besides good butterfly feelings. 

Art school? 

Paid for by the man he was betraying. Why did Izuku ask for that? It had seemed like a good idea at the time. 

Izuku turned back to the paprika on the shelf. He grabbed one with a green label. “I hope I’m making the right call...” 

He unpacked the groceries into the kitchen, shoving the spices into the back of the cabinet. If he shoved all his problems to the back of the cabinet, he wouldn’t have to think about them. His mind was still spinning after his encounter with Uraraka. 

What did Izuku want, really? The longer he waited to answer that question, the worse things were going to get. He couldn’t keep everything in the back of the cabinet forever. He had to make a choice, sooner or later. Maybe not everything at once, but...

What would Deku do? The hero. He’d do the right thing. He’d break things off with Shouto and fix his marriage. He’d come clean. Actually, he’d never have gotten into this position to begin with. Izuku shook his head. Life wasn’t a comic book. Besides, Kacchan wasn’t some innocent victim in this. He had his thing with Kirishima. 

“I thought I heard the door,” Kacchan said from the entrance to the kitchen. “Did you get everything on the list?” 

“I think so,” Izuku said. “Ran into Uraraka at the store.” 

“Yeah? How are she and Fangs?” 

Izuku chuckled at the nickname. “They’re doing great. Sounds like they’re really getting serious.” 

“Good for them.” He walked to the fridge and opened it, looking at the contents as if checking Izuku’s work. 

He watched him, his mind a mess of emotions and thoughts. He and Kacchan barely spoke over the last few days. Shouto’s words still rang through his mind. Kacchan had plans next weekend that he wasn’t telling him. Shouto was quickly taking up all the empty spots in Izuku’s mind. Kacchan was so focused on Kirishima and his wants. Yet here they were, standing in a kitchen, not looking at each other, making small talk about people either of them hardly saw anymore. 

I just can’t help but get excited about the future with her.

What did their future hold? Would things between them magically get better once Izuku went to art school? Would he stop feeling so awful when he saw Kacchan with his friends? Would he break things off with Shouto? 

“Kacchan,” Izuku said after a moment. “Where do you see yourself in five years?” 

His husband looked up from the fridge before closing it. “I dunno. Probably right here. Same shit, different day. What brought this on?” 

“Something Uraraka said. Just... I dunno. Just thinking about the future.” 

“Well, at least for you, things will be different. In five years, you’ll be out of school.” 

“...Right.” Izuku looked down at the tile floor of their kitchen. “Um, about that. I don’t... I don’t think I want to go.” 

Kacchan turned to face him properly. “I thought you wanted that? That you were ‘denied’ it because you worked so I could go to school?” 

“I did! I... I do. I dunno. I just—” he sighed. “I don’t think it will make anything better. I think I would just be running away from my problems.” 

“Like?”

He gave a noncommittal shrug. The fact I’m cheating on you. That I hate myself for it. I hate that we’re drifting apart, and I only seem to make it worse. 

Kacchan sighed. “Fine. Okay. If you don’t want to talk, whatever.”

“Why do you sound mad?” Izuku asked. “Did you want me to?”

“I just—” he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know. It felt like maybe I could finally pay you back. That we could be even. That you would stop holding the fact that you ‘gave up everything’ over my head.”

Izuku looked up, his eyes wide. “...I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“Didn’t mean to? Whatever. It’s fine.” It didn’t sound fine. “I should get dinner started.”

“Do you want me to cook tonight?” Izuku asked. As if dinner could make up for it all. “I’ll go Plus Ultra.” 

“I’d rather eat garbage. But you can help prep, if you’re desperate to feel useful. Get out a knife and start cutting some onions.” He pointed to the knife block.

Izuku whined. “Kacchan, I’ll cry! My tear ducts are overly sensitive.” 

“Now!” he barked, but a small smile played on the edges of his lips. 

He took the small smile as a victory. He grabbed the onions and the cutting board as Kacchan got chicken out. They both prepared in silence. Cutting the onions made his eyes water. “Kacchan,” Izuku said very quietly. “I’m sorry. I um... For making you feel bad about supporting you through college. It was my choice to do it. I shouldn’t have made you feel like garbage about it. I’m sorry.” 

Kacchan paused from cutting the meat. “...thanks.” His voice came out so quietly that Izuku had to strain to hear him. He turned his head to look at him, his eyes narrowing on the cutting board. “You suck at chopping. Smaller! Dice those onions.” 

“But Kacchan—” he cried. 

“Smaller!” 

For a moment, things felt almost normal. 

Katsuki frowned at the piece of paper they were holding. He yanked it from Denki’s hand and redid the spherical integral by himself. His eyes were starting to hurt, so he blinked a few times to get them wet again. It didn’t really work. “There. Felt like I lost my damn brain cells for a bit.”

“Do you see how I feel now? You’ve known this for years!”

Katsuki balled up another empty paper and tossed it in Denki’s general direction. “I’m an organic chemist, dipshit! Why the fuck would I know electromagnetism? I learned your shit last night.”

“Oh.”

He’d needed a distraction, and Denki had happened to ask him for help at the same time. That didn’t mean Katsuki wouldn’t be a bit of an asshole about it. “Yeah, oh . Now will you—”

His friend glanced at his face and frowned. “You look like you haven’t slept.”

“That would be ‘cause I haven’t. Get back to that problem set or I’ll give you reason to concentrate.”

“...do you wanna talk about it?”

Katsuki was quiet for a few moments.

He didn’t want to talk about it, because on principle talking about anything made him weak. He did, because he knew how helpful it was since he’d started opening up to Eijirou. He didn’t, because he couldn’t put Denki in the position of knowing everything.

He glared at the paper and finally put it down. “Do you ever think you should have a second backup life? I mean—fuck it, this one’s gone, next one’s gonna work out.”

“Katsuki, what the hell ? No, I don’t think that. I’m twenty-one.” Denki’s eyes were wide. “You’re twenty-eight. If you want it to work out, just do it.”

“You don’t know why I’m doing what I’m doing.”

“I don’t. And I think if you wanted me to know you’d just say it.” He frowned, staring at Katsuki’s face like he'd be able to read everything on it. He hesitated. “Okay, I really wanna ask you something, but to be clear I don’t like—expect a certain answer. If you don’t wanna tell me or if it's exactly like you said before, I’m sorry—”

“What’re you talking about? You’re freaking me out.”