Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Izuku’s first kiss did not go the way he thought it would, but more on that later. Right now, strange things were afoot with the neighbors. The very hot new neighbors, to clarify, a fact he discovered quite by accident the midnight they moved in.

That in itself was kinda odd, while he thought about it – who moves into suburbia under the cover of darkness? And with the aid of flashlights and a kidnapper van, no less? That could just have been them being considerate enough not to blind the neighbors with a U-Haul and headlights, but it had felt…off. More like a clandestine maneuver.

And Izuku should know, considering he’d promptly stopped arguing with someone wrong on the internet (the Bronze Era All Might misprint was too gonna appreciate, you ninny) to peer closer through a convenient gap in the curtains for a better look. In a neighborhood watch kind of way, of course.

What was intended to satisfy quick curiosity came to a record scratch halt when he took in their builds.

Very, very generous muscle shirts lived up to their name, a light wind enough to draw attention to waists and cargo pants hugging some very superior posteriors. Probably to support those dangerous muscled thighs, Izuku finally closed his mouth, looking around for some kind of muzzle in case the gasp wasn’t just in his head.

He wouldn’t want to distract them from hauling in a trunk large enough to house a human body, after all. Heavy enough, too, from the look of it.

Shadows obscured their faces, but not enough to hide the scowl on the one in the lead as he glanced over his shoulder to bark at his friend(?). Izuku didn’t catch the specifics, but whatever it was didn’t seem to faze Mr. Muscles behind him, judging by the laugh. Deep and pleasant enough. Almost enough to distract from the tribal tattoos running down both of their arms.

“Children,” a newcomer drawled in a tone that had Izuku wanting to go over and help just to stay on this guy’s good side, what presence! “What is taking so long?” The dark-haired man was more slender than his…sons, but that didn’t detract from his intimidation factor one iota.

Izuku watched as they hefted in a few more large boxes and the odd duffel bag before their father/commander/gang leader passed over some kind of packets. Interesting.  One long, measuring look later, he said, “The particulars are in there. Don’t mess this up, or I’m turning you over to Nezu. Good luck.” He glared, already on his way back into the shadows.

“Seriously, sensei? Right for the balls.”

“I feel so loved.”

Maybe they were part of a dojo? Or better yet, a renegade ninja clan? The future was looking up, Izuku reflected as the other two entered the previously unoccupied house that bordered his own. Something finally more exciting than that crazy soccer lady with an agenda had descended on the neighborhood.

He couldn’t wait to share it with Denki, morning couldn’t come soon enough.

***

Oh, it really, really could, Izuku groaned a few hours later, waking to find his blond housemate straddling his legs. Denki was busy waving the note he’d foolishly left on the kitchen counter. It’d seemed like a good idea at the time.

“What do you mean we have hot new neighbors?!”

“’Hot, new, potentially problematic neighbors,’ Denki,” Izuku growled.

Golden eyes blinked at him owlishly, wondering how his friend could be so adorably dense about the things that mattered. “Back to hot, I’m gonna need some details.”

“Well, I’m gonna need some coffee.”

“Already brewing in the kitchen!” Denki sang like the benevolent mastermind he was, moving off his victim to extend a hand, nimbly dodging just in case. “If you behave, I’ll throw in some pancakes.”

“Why did I ever help you pass debate?” Izuku half-whined, consciousness returning fast and against his will. He could already taste that pan-fried goodness.

“Because you’re a sweetheart?” Denki answered the obvious, bouncing his way to the kitchen like someone who’d obnoxiously had more than five hours of sleep. “And because I hooked you up with the server.”

Okay, true. He’d owe Denki forever for the server he now moderated, it was his hobby and sometimes his life.

Izuku, shocker, had been more of a classic nerd when the energetic blond had descended on the tutor lab all those semesters ago wailing for help. The green-haired graduate was still a top-tier nerd, of course, but Denki had taught him the fine art of not always staying in his lane, watching with pride as his protégé grew to rule that domain. So many gamers, dreamers, otakus, and more needed to find their tribe, hence the expansion of Asterius.

And it looked like Denki hadn’t gone rusty with his cross-examination skills, either. Allied with annoying natural charm, Izuku found himself spilling the tea to the blond before he’d even finished his coffee, leaving his now more intrigued housemate to ponder right along with him.

“So you jumped straight to a criminal syndicate?”

Honestly, with a little water and a lot of coffee, it did seem like a bit of a stretch. Perhaps Denki was right, and he should dial it back down to sunny. There was one big upshot of this new development, anyway, he hadn’t seen his friend this cheerful since that cheating ass he’d dated a while back had dipped.

Denki was generous with his heart, and in that case it’d cost him. Izuku thought his fearless friend deserved something of a break. He’d initially figured this housesitting gig for Ochako while she decided what to do with her inheritance was it – but it wouldn’t hurt if said detour came equipped with a side dose of hunk.

“There was a new moon last night, guess that rules out werewolves,” he tuned back in to Denki’s latest theory.

“For now,” Izuku muttered, trying not to dwell on all those muscles. Newly graduated, he and Denki were supposed to be catching their breath before launching into the career phase of their lives, where they could find suitably responsible boyfriends at their leisure. Mr. Angry might be checking off a few boxes – including a hitherto unknown tattoo kink! – but for all he knew, the two neighbors came as a set. Off-limits.

“Vampires then?”

“Any reason you’re hung up on the supernatural?” Izuku grinned tightly, trying to squash the sudden influx of images that conjured.

“First step of the scientific method, compadre,” Denki shrugged airily. “It’s your fault. We could always just cut to the chase and ask to borrow some sugar?”

“Stop waggling your eyebrow at me like that, you look like you destroyed another outlet. And that’s a big no, I have some dignity left.”

***

Put on hold when their people came over that evening, of course, dignity never lasted long when the Izukusquad was in the house.

Case in point, that name. Exactly why was he the de facto leader of this gang of eccentrics? Tsuyu was the picture of teacher responsibility and a DM par excellence. Iida rocked it as an engineer when he wasn’t zooming through conventions with Ochako, and Shouto manned one branch of the family business between bartender gigs. Just ‘cause.

His friend’s ability to mix a mean cocktail explained Izuku’s current casual pose right by the same front window that had started all this fun a few days prior. Master of smooth, nailing it.

“You’re doing it again.”

“What?” An octave higher than he’d intended. Traitor rum.

“’Keeping an eye’ on the neighbors.”

“Abs, Ochako,” he owned with drunken honesty. “Where did they get muscle definition like that?”

“A gym?”

“Pfft.”

“Izuku, my bestie, don’t you think – and hear me out here – it’s a teensy bit possible you’re…”

“Thirsty?”

“Horny?”

“Drooly.”

“Distracted right now?” Ochako laughed to mute her friend’s glare. “Back to the murder at hand, Clue isn’t going to play itself.”

“Though it is contributing to the mood,” he hummed, accepting his consolation jello shot as a bribe. Good for the tongue, bad for deductive reasoning.

“I’m beginning to think you made it all up,” Denki stroked his chin, getting it right the second try. “So far, they’re model citizens. Not a peep – except for whatever destroyed all those pots the other day.”

“Maybe they were taking out a rival who wandered into their kitchen.”

“Not helping, Sho.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, they’re less likely to ‘take out’ the people close to home, it’d draw too much attention from the authorities,” Iida chimed in, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “At least in the movies.”

“I think we’re watching different movies,” Izuku muttered. “Usually, the neighbors are the first to go…after they’ve seen too much.”

“And so are you, Miss Scarlett – in the library with the revolver.”

“Dang it!”

Having sorted out one mystery, Izuku’s next was how to operate the fancy grill on the patio before Iida mercifully took over. Gotta give it to Ochako’s relative, they’d taken good care of the place. The shaded area had a light green roof overhead to shield the comfy lounge chairs and fire pit from the elements, allowing a stress-free view of a rather impressive flower garden in the daytime. Here in early evening, tasteful strings of lights lent the patio a soft glow.

Fragrant and fun, Izuku and Denki’s list of chores included keeping the greenery alive. In the spirit of that, Izuku switched tracks to unfurl the hose, only tripping occasionally in pursuit of his task, he was proud.

“That’d be a lot easier if you could see,” Denki laughed, promptly hiding behind Ochako when Izuku repositioned the spray, his roommate wouldn’t dare. “It is kinda dark over there.”

“You have to move sometime.”

“No, I don’t!”

“You could spray me, kero,” Tsuyu pulled sea-green hair from her neck. The evening had retained a lot of heat from the day, gotta love summer. “Wish your aunt had installed a pool.”

“Or better yet, kept access to theirs,” Iida looked up from his work, fantastic aromas drifting their way. Izuku wasn’t the only one drooling this time. “I remember Gail used to have an arrangement with the people who lived there before, they got on quite well. That’s why there’s a gate connecting the fences.”

“We no longer have a key, sweetie. I’m gonna need that big steak, by the way.”

“That’s Izuku’s line,” Denki couldn’t pass on the opening, emboldened by his own shit-ton of booze, head start, and his friend’s inability to aim at the moment. He hoped.

Reinforced when Izuku’s retaliatory spray went wide, a very generous arc clearing said fence to find a new target. Make that two.

“The fuck?! Someone over there wants to die.”

Well, there were worse ways to meet the new neighbors…right?

***

Izuku’s trademark mumbling began right away, the mortified assailant bowing furiously to menacing victims safely on the other side of the fence. He’d never been so grateful for barriers in his life. “I’m so sorry, I meant to hit someone else - ” (Maybe not better?) “I’ll pay for your dry cleaning or toss over some chocolate, whatever w…”

“I’ll take some of whatever you’re cooking on that grill over there, my dude,” the cheerful voice from the previous night cut in, somehow radiating sunshine in the dark. “That smell has been driving me mad. Hold on, lemme open the gate…”

“Shitty Hair, don’t you dare…”

Click. All eyes followed as the sturdy wooden door swung out, and the owner of the husky voice stepped through.

Huh. For a (potential) murderer, he seemed friendly enough. And cut, oh my word. Izuku prided himself in staying in shape, he had a decent cardio/strength-based routine in his repertoire, but this man looked like he was carved from granite. Though the other’s wide smile pushed him more to cute, however did he manage that? Especially damp as only an errant water hose could make one. And Shitty Hair? What kind of gang name was that? Hard to tell anyway, said hair was covered by some kind of knit cap.

Same for the stalking mixed martial artist guy following him through, obviously spoiling for a fight. The newcomer mean-mugged everyone the second he was through, but since he and his own knit cap were even more damp than the first guy’s, it made him look like an angry wet cat about to go feral. These guys were definitely part of a unit.

Izuku thought now might be a propitious time to drop the hose, scarlet red irises catching the move.

“So you’re the idiot, I take it.”

Rude. And completely unfair that the stranger’s voice was as hot as the man – which was a lot, Izuku needed a fan. Beautiful definition flexed as the other put his hand on his waist, a model-perfect face set off by his scowl.

Oh, he wanted an answer, right. “N-not on purpose!” Izuku laughed nervously, hand moving unconsciously to his nape. “I was trying to hose a snake.”

“Hey!”

“More like a fox, I’m thinking,” the first guy smiled charmingly at an indignant Denki, Izuku watching his friend go immediately offline.

Huh. Maybe this would work out after…

“Don’t even think it, Shitty Hair,” the second one growled, and damn if that didn’t send this cool little shiver down Izuku’s spine. His voice was weirdly…throaty, too. Whoo!

“That’s...an unusual name, gotta say,” Ochako rebooted first, having more experience wrangling a group, she and Tsuyu worked in the same district. “Hi, I’m Ochako, and that’s Iida on the grill.”

“Gentlemen,” Iida acknowledged, concentrating on flipping the steaks as everyone else murmured introductions.

“Oh, that’s not my name,” the stranger grinned, still looking at a flustered Denki. “It’s actually…”

“Shitty…”

“Kiri,” he talked over his partner, ignoring the head thump he earned for the move. “And this is Bakugou.”

“No more,” the second growled again in warning, confirming Izuku’s theory it was custom tuned to take command. “It’ll make this easier.”

What, to dispose of the bodies? Izuku could tell Mr. Angry – Bakugou – was definitely considering it. Bad enough he had those ruby-red eyes, thank the gods he wasn’t a blond on top of all that aggression, Izuku knew his own catnip well enough. I mean the guy could be, though, now that he thought about it, the graduate’s unconscious eye for detail vying for a turn. Some kind of spiky outline was trying to escape from under the…

“They don’t have tattoos,” Shouto deadpanned serenely to Izuku out of nowhere, his host dying a little inside.

“Hah?” Bakugou looked harder in his direction, if that was possible, red eyes narrowing dangerously as Izuku’s green went wide. Even though Shouto was obviously trying to get him killed because he bailed on that one blind date set-up, his insidious friend had a point. The tattoos were gone. Or maybe covered up?

“Shouto bartends on the weekends,” Tsuyu jumped in to rescue like the hero she was. Izuku made a mental note to help with that lifeguard certification she was after, she had earned it. “You seem the type, sorry if that’s a slight.”

“Nah, no worries,” Kiri cut in, now holding a plate piled high with meat, corralling his friend back through the gate. “We get that a lot. Hey, thanks for the grub, maybe we can return the favor later! Good to meet you.”

And they were gone, as quickly as they came. “Yeah, same…” Izuku called as the gate shut closed behind them, lock clicking firmly in place while he and his friends spent a few precious moments blinking in time with the crickets. Fireflies doing their thing.

Though that only lasted so long with this group, of course.

“I’m thinking government agents.”

“No way, Izuku’s pretty sure it’s the mob.”

“Anyone else picking up on werewolf vibes?”

“That’s what I said!”

“Circling back to ninjas…”

Izuku was gonna need a lot more rum for this. And probably some kind of escape plan, while he was at it.

Chapter Text

Weirdly enough, the neighbors became even more elusive after Izuku welcomed them in with a good spray. Giant meat pile of apology and everything! Go figure.

Drunk Izuku found this amusing. Sober Izuku refused to remove his head from under this pillow until his lungs demanded it. How could a person jump beyond mortified? He didn’t know how, but he’d done it, hooray! At that point, his only resolve was to figure out the new neighbors’ routines just so he could throw himself under a bush anytime they went by.

Problem was, they didn’t seem to have any – routines, that is, not bushes -, and that in itself was a feat. Ordinarily, Izuku would respect the clear fuck-off vibes emanating from Bakugou at least, but there was some kind of lure there that would not let go. Could be all the muscl…hustle, all the energy, yes, that!

Or, it could be Denki constantly yelling in his ears. That, too.

“If it’s the witness protection program, shouldn’t they be less obvious?” Izuku watched his roommate cross to the dry erase board the squad had eventually erected to keep track of their theories. Denki jotted that one down in the Legal column.

“Or maybe they’re scoping out someone in the neighborhood already in the program to eliminate them,” Izuku countered with a grin, swiping the marker to add that to the Smooth Criminal side.

Though Denki had a point. The neighbors never seemed to leave the house. The curtains were usually closed – well, except for that one time they burst open to fan out a truly prodigious amount of smoke. A lot of cursing that day, let him tell you! Given all of the kitchen action, maybe they were professional chefs on retreat to design new recipes. If they needed a taste tester, sign Izuku up now.

“Cynic.”

“Any tall, muscled reason you’re hoping for a heart of gold?” Izuku’s smile was knowing and sly, secretly cheering his friend on in any success.

“Am I alone in this?” Denki didn’t have a disingenuous bone in his body, call that blessing or curse. Izuku answered in kind.

“You weren’t the one he called an idiot.”

“True,” his friend conceded. “There’s really no way not to take that personally. It’s a shame, really, your guy had potential.”

“My guy?”

“I have eyes, Izuku.” And so did Bakugou, mark Denki’s words. On the rare occasion he’d turned his attention from the interest in Kiri’s gaze, Mr. Dripping Wet Angry Boy had been looking at Izuku with some heat. And it wasn’t the bad kind, either.

His wonderful friend Izuku was a brain, but it also got in his way. As far as Denki knew, it wasn’t that the green-haired sweetheart had ever been burned in the romance department – he’d just never reached. It was time to change that, he had a really good feeling about this. Those two guys were definitely worth a second – and in Kiri’s case, a thousand – looks.

“We still haven’t ruled out murder husbands.”

“Prove it, and I’ll back you.”

“I don’t want to prove it!”

“Right…point to you there.”

Izuku laughed, petting the tabby that came with the house and earning a good scenting for his trouble. “You man the fort, Denki. I brainstorm better when I run.”

“Aw, c’mon, it’s nighttime! Who runs at night?”

“I also go by konbinis with your favorite snacks when I do.”

“Why are you still here?”

Izuku laughed again, as ever with a warmer heart when Denki was around. Life would be a lot easier if he could just magically fall for his friend, but there’d never been that kind of spark between them. Whatever his best inner self was looking for, it wasn’t blond besties with the soul of a golden retriever – though in the meantime, it sure made the world a less scary place to maneuver. So, cool.

Between that glow and the endorphins, Izuku’s night run was indeed the trick to calm his overexcited mind. After scoring Denki’s tribute in record time, he rounded a corner on his approach back, definitely on top of the world. Nothing was gonna get in his way toni…

Wham.

Except running into a hunky brick wall, apparently. Izuku wouldn’t say he faceplanted, but he didn’t not faceplant, either, so ow.

“Seriously, what is wrong with you?” A very familiar voice growled down at him, gorgeous red eyes glaring like Izuku had just stolen the man’s kitten. Like Izuku, Bakugou was dressed in casual running attire, hair still swept under a knit cap.

Unlike Izuku, his sweat smelled embarrassingly appealing. Something like sandalwood fire with cinnamon-laced drinks, he’d picked up traces of it before. Not that the sweat took away any of his attractiveness one iota, of course, Izuku simultaneously wanted to punch the guy and be used as a footstool, this was completely unfair.

“How is this my fault?” he huffed, picking himself up since Bakugou was busy removing ear buds blasting some kind of music, quickly ceased. “You were just suddenly there.” Stupid hot ninja.

“Bound to happen when you run at night, don’t you think? What are you even doing here while we’re at it, menace?”

That was aggravating on so many levels, let Izuku pick one to unpack. “You’re running at night.”

“But you usually don’t.”

Izuku took a moment to inhale, noting the other’s color heighten with his own. Okay, so he wasn’t the only one paying attention in the neighborhood, guess he had a rival. “Stalker.”

“Hah?”

Whoa. “It was a joke, relax,” Izuku told him, only halfway kidding. He’d never seen someone tense so fast, it suddenly occurred to him that there was no safety net around, and maybe he should book it. “It just worked out that way today. I had a snack run!” he added for good measure, holding up his small package like it was a medal he’d won.

“Uh-huh…” the other eyed him suspiciously, Izuku feeling a strange urge to show him his ID.

“Anyway, you heading back?” Izuku searched around for topics, taking a casual step closer to the nearest porch light. Just in case Bakugou was looking to add the murder in murder husband.

“I run alone,” the other scoffed instead, shooting down an invite that Izuku hadn’t even intended and raising hackles in its place instead. That ass.

“So you won’t mind if I beat you there, then. Ci-ao!”

A fine dusting off line, hah. Or it would’ve been if Izuku’s danger sense hadn’t kicked in, alerting him that the other was now hot on his heels. Unmistakable padding on the pavement, hot breath practically on his neck. Some odd mix of competition and reaction to pursuit lit fire to his instincts, Izuku forgetting everything else to dig deep, pushing tired muscles to the max, plus ultra.

So it was completely aggravating that Bakugou still got there a few seconds first, smugly stalking off to his own porch in victory, middle finger his parting gift. “Only challenge if you can back it up, freckles. Ciao.”

Izuku was gonna kill that jerk.

***

“Lust is a major motivator, Deku,” Lord Explosion clipped in a DM in the chat, unknowingly hitting the bulls-eye dead center.

Izuku had never been so happy for the anonymity of screens, his fluster safely hidden away from the world. He had deliberately not gone into details with his favorite sparring buddy in the chat, but Lord Explosion had an uncanny way of piercing straight to the heart. Usually it ran both ways, but thanks to assholes next door, Izuku was off his game tonight.

“How did you get that out of ‘I want to choke Mr. Muscles’?”

“One, you’re calling the konbini guy Mr. Muscles. Two, you said choke him with your thighs.”

Did he? Thanks a lot, Freudian slip.

“We’re getting off task. The original thread is to focus on villains with a point, so…”

“You always change the topic when you know I’m winning. And stop changing my name to ‘Kacchan’ while we’re at it, administrator, that’s rude.”

Izuku sighed, not that the other could hear it. It was text only, a rule Izuku preferred. A friend had called Lord Explosion ‘Kat’ once, and Izuku hadn’t been about to let that little gem go. Hence the nickname when he was feeling fond or petty.

Lord Explosion must be having his own tough day, though, he usually let Kacchan stay for much longer than that before complaining. It was the unspoken trade for the Deku moniker, Izuku’s badge of honor for surviving Lord Explosion’s aggression when he first blasted into the chat dedicated to all things hero. He’d come in with some…pretty strong opinions.

Even nowadays he was always spoiling for a fight, but Izuku had the skillset to meet him where he was and calm him down again, unable to resist a challenge. With two strong personalities, it’d taken them a while to reach their current “in the trenches together” kinda mindset, but Izuku wouldn’t trade it for the world. Prickly though he may be, Lord Explosion was a kindred spirit. He always had Izuku’s back when trolls and twats entered the server. Didn’t mean the guy couldn’t still be an ass from time to time, of course – what Izuku perceived as writer’s block must be acting up again.

“Not pulling your punches, then. What’s up?”

“A nosy asshole like you, drop it.”

Ouch again, should’ve listened to his first instinct, today was not his day. “Thanks for your input on the article, Lord Explosion, I’ll let you know when we expand past ten.”

Izuku’s fingers were already on the disconnect button when Lord Explosion clapped back first, his ping as usual insistent. Izuku didn’t know how he managed it.

“Deku, wait. I’m just dealing with some complications on my end – sorry for being a dick.”

Aw, Izuku’s forgiving heart melted immediately, it was rare for the other to admit fault.

“Nah, I should’ve read the room, but don’t isolate yourself, okay? Seriously, anything you need an ear for?”

The pause was longer than he liked, but Lord Explosion came through. “Not today, Deku, but thanks. Kacchan out.”

Izuku smiled, likewise logging out and warmed by the distant connection. What a sweetheart when he wanted to be, Lord Explosion better hope that never got out.

***

Emboldened by Izuku’s “success” on the run, Denki felt they could use another squad party on the weekend, and this time invite their favorite new neighbors. Give him credit for bravery, the blond actually squared away his nerves and walked over to knock on the door, day of.

After about a minute of being ignored, Denki began to take this personally, resorting to singing nursery rhymes until he was rewarded with a curse and a blunt “What?!” through the door.

“Oh, hi, you’re in! We’re hosting dinner and a show tonight and wanted to…”

“No.” Just as blunt, followed by what sounded like a whole lot of scuffling and then a pained-sounding Bakugou like he’d just been pinched. “Thank you.”

“Oh,” Denki visibly deflated, dreams of Kiri sightings going up in smoke, he’d had some very vivid dreams here lately. Ex who? Sometimes it just took the real thing showing up to make you realize you’re going to be fine. “Well…if you change your mind…our side of the gate will be open.”

Maybe it was for the best, he decided several cocktails in (Really, Shouto? Plying with top shelf tonight, you rich brat?) (Keep it up.), backed up by a healthy drinking discussion with a squad who’d worked hard all week and earned it. Hijinks eventually spilled over to the patio area, and Iida was pushed yet again in front of the grill. That lure had worked before, it was worth a shot. Or looking at it alternatively if the neighbors shunned them, their loss, more burgers for Denki! Win.

Though he wasn’t the only one having fun.

“No one go near the third bush from the left! ‘Cause…reasons.”

“That’s very specific.”

“How many of those have you had?!”

“Fire it up, Iida. Higher! Higher!!”

“Your firefighter kink is showing, Denki.”

“Sure is!” Denki smiled slyly, ready to tease his all-too-knowing roommate right back. “Like your fascination with muscles and mayhem.” Satisfied when Izuku immediately started spluttering.

“Ooh, do tell!”

“You signed a waiver!”

“Which said not to speak of it except on the 20^th of every month, which, oh look, it is. And was on a piece of notebook paper, which may or may not have been burned.”

“Back to the fire thing,” Izuku muttered.

“C’mon, spiiiilll. In all the years I’ve known him, Izuku’s always been the one keeping others out of trouble. Real trouble, anyway.”

“Don’t worry, he’s still too pure for this world. Though that didn’t keep him from breaking a table in the tutor lab when the captain of the baseball team winked at him on his way out of the door.”

“They weren’t strong tables!”

Ochako eyed her friend with new respect, cackling as she moved by her man, Iida smiling himself as he worked.

“Just sayin’, everyone’s got a thing. For me, it’s someone with the muscles and heart to break down walls – and for our dear Izuku, it’s a thing for capable blonds.”

“So why aren’t you two dating?”

“I said ‘capable,’ my dear Tsuyu.”

Izuku, though blushing enough for six, was too honest to deny it. “I’m going to get you, Denki.”

Danger finally penetrated Denki’s brain as the flames did things to that look in Izuku’s green eyes. “Speaking of the shrubbery…”

“No one was.”

“I said not to go over there!”

“Now, bestie, don’t distract me from my turn to water the plants! That’d be rude!” Like the menace he was, Denki began scampering about to evade Izuku long enough to turn on the hose, aha! He was armed. “Stop it, Izuku, I’m trying to do a good deed, it’s my turn.”

“That’s the suspicious part.”

“Is not!”

“Then pass it over.”

“Instinct tells me no.”

“Does instinct also tell you that you have until the count of five before I tackle you? One, two…”

“That wasn’t five, you big cheater! Give it ba…!”

In an interesting display of athleticism or destiny, both were sprayed and a lot less sober than they should have been when Ochako’s warning shout came a second too late. Startled, the two turned in tandem to both hose the neighbors who’d had the temerity to come through the gate like normal people. Oh, come on!

Their aim – and their agony – were both exquisite. Given their run-in before, it was understandable that Izuku honed in on Bakugou’s narrowed eyes first. One even had an anime twitch going on and everything, wow. If he started running now, he could at least make it to their other neighbor, he and Mrs. Striller had bonded over tea, she’d protect him.

Yup, déjà vu complete…Well, almost. Last time, Bakugou had a cap on that platinum blond hair, free this time to spike in undeniable glory.

That just wasn’t fair!

Looking at the beautiful irate blond, Izuku knew Bakugou was at least 60% sure they’d done it on purpose. Not reassured when that sandalwood scent stalked him, close enough for Izuku to take in his color-matched lashes as Bakugou seized control of the tool and very likely his heart. The man was stunning.

Not that the unexpected bout of hero worship saved Izuku from being on the business end of the nozzle faster than he could blink, red eyes promising retribution.

“Uh…mercy?”

“Not today.” The sheer sexiness of that smirk was far crueler than the torrent that followed, a completely doused Izuku taking in Bakugou’s satisfied cackle, weirdly entranced. “You look like a waterlogged plant, idiot, nice. Where’s the food?”

Izuku and Denki took turns propping each other’s chin up as Bakugou and a red-headed Kiri (how’d he miss that?!) sauntered over to the grill like they owned the place, saying something cordial to Iida. Answering one mystery and beginning two more, typical.

“Denki?”

“Yes, Izuku?”

“I have to add spiky to my list.”

“Me, too.”

Chapter Text

“You guys staying this time?” Ochako wasn’t shy on the quietest of days – much less when Madam Mojito was on the loose. Shouto strikes again.

“Hard to resist an invitation this attractive,” Kiri grinned, showing off some wicked-looking canines as he took a drink from a suddenly dazed Denki. Seeming to approve as the blond’s skin tinted rosy. “I like to leave if I think Bakugou’s spoiling for a fight.”

“He does that a lot, I take it?”

“Yup.”

“Why wou…Oh, the hose thing,” Izuku chuckled self-consciously, attempting to wring out more water. Nope.

“Yeah, ‘the hose thing,’” Bakugou echoed pointedly, watching the damp cloth adhere back to his form.

No doubt looking for a weak point to strike, Izuku huffed, removing the dripping item with aplomb to dry on a plant hook before he stalked off to find a replacement. He’d probably regret that later when his inhibitions resurfaced, but for now, thppptt!

When he returned, the neighbors were already falling into Shouto’s trap, served ‘em right.

“An All Might shirt? Really?” Bakugou smirked as soon as he saw him, red eyes honing in like a laser. “What are you, 12?” He jabbed at the fabric, his other hand scratching behind Tiger’s orange head as the cat licked his fingers clean, feline allegiance secured with some salmon. Izuku had never wanted to be a cat this much in his life.

“Notice you recognized a faded design in 10 seconds flat,” he countered smugly instead, enjoying how the ruby eyes narrowed. He’d fight to the death for that T-shirt, bring it, psycho neighbor.

“It’s hard to miss, freckles. I had one, too, before I hit puberty. But you do you.”

“That…!”

“Already at the nickname stage, how interesting,” Kiri hummed, something in his eyes more serious than his tone. Izuku couldn’t tell if he was warning him off or encouraging it. These guys were hard to read.

“I believe he got there with ‘idiot’ first,” Shouto reminded them, Bakugou not hesitating to glare at his host. Before snatching another rum punch with a kick, of course.

“I like Izuku’s shirt. And we can’t all dress alike,” Tsuyu redirected diplomatically.

She had a point. Sure enough, the guests were again sporting matching cargo pants and combat boots. Dark tank tops, too, though Bakugou’s had some kind of skull pattern printed on the front of his. Charming.

“Eh, you know – hang around each other long enough, and you start to blend.”

“Denki and I don’t,” Izuku countered mildly.

“I noticed,” Kiri agreed, refocusing his full attention on Denki’s lithe form before smiling into his drink.

Izuku had never seen his friend go speechless before, even that time the blond faked laryngitis to get out of a debate. Breathe, buddy.

“Anyway, it comes with the job.”

“Which is?” Shouto smiled evenly, one elegant red brow going up when the neighbors tensed. He might win that bet after all. “I work in the family business, same as Iida. Half these other guys are teachers.”

“Makes sense you’re a teacher,” Bakugou huffed at Izuku with a laugh, amused to watch the shorter man bristle. “You seem the type.”

“Meaning?”

Bakugou glanced at a now serious Ochako and Tsuyu, translating the reason correctly. “It’s not an insult, extras. He’s just more brain than brawn.”

Izuku got it, the blond beefcake found him as attractive as an audit, the jerk didn’t have to be so obvious about it. “Unlike you, then?” He waved a hand between them, Bakugou’s eyes acquiring a glint.

“Speaking of, what do you think we do?” Kiri quizzed with boss-level timing and a grin. Clearly, he really had been Bakugou’s keeper a long time.

“Mob enforcers?” Only Shouto could make that sound logical.

The visitors blinked before Bakugou negated that with a scoff. “Why do I think that was your idea, greenie?”

Izuku didn’t like this guy’s telepathy, it didn’t bode well for future dignity. “My original idea was ninjas for you two, actually, but I guess I’ll have to settle on construction. Probably demolitions.”

That provoked something unexpectedly sharp in the twin eyes staring him down before Kiri laughed disarmingly. Again. “Nailed it, my dude, pardon the pun. Makes for odd hours, but you can’t beat the freedom. Not as important as your job, though.”

“Ochako and Tsuyu are the teachers. Denki and I are…unaffiliated at the moment – newly graduated and set loose on the world.”

“Oh yeah? What field?”

“Business management and grant writing over there,” Denki found his voice in Izuku’s honor. “Electrical engineering for me. Though don’t ask me to give a presentation, I just like the craft.”

“Nice,” Kiri whistled. “That…ties into our work from time to time. I’m not clever enough for all that, college was never my forte.”

“You never know,” Izuku beamed. At least one of the (potential) murderers knew how to make nice. “It’s never too late. Initially I wanted to open my own gaming store, but then I realized that wouldn’t pay the bills, so Denki and I thought we’d start a business together and combine our skill sets. Of course that led into…”

“Breathe, nerd, geez,” Bakugou laughed, Izuku aghast to feel the heat on his skin. Shit, sexy laugh! “Seriously, you look like a strawberry, drink this.”

There were bona fide tingles when the blond’s fingers brushed against his, his bossiness was strangely appealing. Probably why Izuku gulped way too much water like a good boy before he stopped to consider poison.

“And now he’s coughing, great.”

Why was it every time his nemesis neighbor looked his way, Izuku’s clumsy ratcheted up to 11? He’d retaliate as soon as his lungs cooperated.

“Rum punch, Izuku?”

“Ooh, is the garnish edible?”

“This time, yes,” Shouto grinned. “Coming right up.”

“You don’t have the best track record with flowers, freckles, better leave it to the professionals.”

“Never. I will save them.”

“Not if you keep drowning them like that.”

“Oh, you garden?” Bet that helped with hiding the bodies.

“I just get ‘em all the time,” Bakugou glared at him like he was personally insulted.

Mob funerals, Izuku continued, nodding. He was fascinated as the blond’s glare only deepened before he finally trailed off with an eep. Izuku tended to mutter out loud when he was nervous, uh-oh. “Glad someone does.” Figured the jerk was fighting off suitors – if he wasn’t already taken. Izuku sighed.

“Well, since you won the wet T-shirt contest, maybe you should have them,” Kiri scored points with gallant, earning a quick growl from his…friend for the trouble. Bakugou didn’t like sharing the redhead’s attention, check. Though he hadn’t snapped at all the flirting with Denki. Uncheck?

“I won the contest.”

“In your dreams, sparky, that title is mine.”

***

For such a rough start, the evening had wrapped up quite well, Izuku reflected later as he went through his bedtime routine. That included stretching out the kinks and wondering when those two would ever make sense.

Bakugou was possessive like he and Kiri were a couple, but he hadn’t seemed to mind the redhead edging next to Denki when they transferred inside to watch a Heroes documentary Izuku had painstakingly uncovered at an online auction. The TV show was a staple of his childhood, it was a core reason he was the man he was today. What kind of friend would he be if he didn’t share!

And mix business with pleasure, of course, Izuku needed to get his arguments ready for the next time he sparred with Lord Explosion. Halfway through the show he realized he was muttering again, this time from sheer nerdy glory, but the short-tempered blond on his other side was unfazed, his gaze just as intent on the screen.

Probably due to his competitive streak. Bakugou had had the nerve to correct one of his theories at one point, Izuku unaware he’d even been listening. Torn between impressed that someone understood his thought processes and annoyed that the blond offered no proof, Izuku argued back, and half an hour passed before a (losing!) Bakugou huffed, “Die!” before stalking off to his own den next door. Kiri trailed immediately after. Ok-ay.

But it was fun, Izuku had to smile. It had been a while since anyone but Lord Explosion had kept up with him. Maybe there was hope for Angry Boy yet, at least in the faux stranger you have sex dreams about kinda way. Perfectly normal.

Izuku shivered as a light breeze came through his window, reaching over to pull the frame down. His lizard brain prickled without understanding why, his searching green eyes finding nothing amiss. That had been happening a lot lately, maybe it was something in the air.

***

Denki unknowingly agreed, taking a few deep breaths to recenter his mind. That need was nothing new, as his loving squad often teased – but this was the first time it really seemed vital. When the chips were down, Denki came through, he centered – but the redhead and his generous flirtations were throwing him off his game. Now he didn’t know which way to jump.

On the one hand, the dude was criminally(?) good-looking. But though Kiri had been charming to everyone, Denki’s share had seemed much more…deliberate. Fuck yes if the redhead was single – but that was the tipping point, wasn’t it? Kiri lived in that house with Bakugou, but he didn’t act like he was part of a couple. Most of the time. But the way they closed ranks at the first sign of trouble was telling – there was love of some kind there, and Denki needed to know if he was overstepping. No way would he do that to someone on purpose, he knew what it felt like.

Warm showers cleared the mind, even in the first days of summer, so Denki thought he’d better continue this soul-searching by washing away his doubts with the dirt. (Thanks again for that, vengeful bestie.)

Stripping down and stepping in, Denki immediately felt better, a plan of action beginning to take shape. Clearly the resident tanks were content to dance around in the dark, so the blond – as usual – was gonna have to save the day. Just march right up to the most handsome guy Denki had ever laid eyes on and ask for his heart. Or at least for some answers. That was neighborly, right?

The blond sighed, running deft fingers through his hair as he leant back for the spray. Pausing as something whispered he’d better pay attention.

Ah. Yep, those beautiful red eyes staring him down were probably why. So apparently their bathroom window lined up perfectly with the neighbors’ kitchen, good to know. Also that he and Izuku probably should’ve replaced the curtains by now.

It wasn’t deliberate! Denki’s cheeks burned that Kiri might’ve thought it was. The other house had sat empty so long, and they’d just had other things on their minds. Not to mention that up until now, the neighbors’ windows had always been closed, shuttered, or blocked!

Not tonight. Thank fuck he could’ve only flashed the redhead from chest level up, given their window positions. There was some mercy left in the world.

Though…as another minute passed and Kiri made no effort to move, let alone avert his eyes, the last of Denki’s buzz urged on insight he otherwise never would’ve employed. The redhead couldn’t be involved with Bakugou, not like that. Waves of honor rolled off Kiri, he wouldn’t betray a partner, Denki was sure of it.

Armed with that line of reasoning, mischief settled into his frame. A gentleman would’ve looked elsewhere indeed, served Kiri right to look but not touch. Intense red eyes were studying him, one brow lifted in the ghost of a challenge, like the redhead was curious just what Denki planned to do next.

Well, game on, sexy stranger.

Denki had been bold all his life, but the level of daring he pulled off now surprised even him. He laughed softly to himself in answer, turning his back to stretch indolently without a care in the world. It was his turn to hold a few cards – though it wasn’t his own strong hands Denki imagined touching his skin, taking his time with the curves. And then much more, his head going back for the right kind of stress.

Sated and satisfied long minutes later, the blond turned off the water with an arrogance he’d earned, assured of his win and relaxed. Denki set to work drying the top half on display with vigor, humming as he gently worked through his hair. Finally he decided to cast a smug glance back across the way, knowing Kiri must be long gone and defeated.

Or not.

If Kiri’s red eyes were warm before, they were volcanic now. His muscled foe’s breathing was as uneven as his color, Denki’s heart beating fast at the implication. He’d never seen a gaze like that – warning that not only had his challenge been accepted, but they’d settle accounts very soon.

Denki’s mouth went dry, knowing that the other had waited, patient and determined to outlast him. Kiri would get what he wanted, give him time. Denki only hoped he’d be kind.

As if in answer, Kiri nodded, noting Denki’s flushed form with approval, taking his time. Red eyes lingered as they appraised his favorite spots, not missing as the breath caught in his throat. The redhead’s husky laugh drifted over before Denki’s opponent mouthed something soft, closing the dark curtains in his wake. The blond’s staggered brain eventually clocked it as “Later.”

Well, shit, just how strong was that fence, it was suddenly kind of important. Izuku was right, one of these days his daring really was going to get him into trouble. Electricity was just so hard to master!

***

Meanwhile, Izuku was blissfully unaware that his shower had been compromised seen some things the next day as he ran, looking forward to the cooldown. He was in a bit of a time crunch here. Lord Explosion said he’d had one too many late nights recently, but he’d be down for some earlier chats.

It was just as well. This way he wouldn’t run into…

Wham.

Izuku watched as the water bottle he’d just uncapped left its mark on Bakugou’s chest, naturally soaking all the way through. He was delighted to watch his sorta rival actually long exhale at him, it was becoming their thing.

“Now it’s on purpose.”

“It’s not!” Izuku insisted virtuously, waving his hands in time with his pulse. “The first two were just really good…” Bakugou growled. “…Bad timing! Look, I got me, too…though I’m not as wet as the time you sprayed me, I’d like to point out.”

Rewarded for his sass by hot red eyes searing all the way down in their scrutiny, Izuku’s skin going scarlet. Abort, backfire, abort! I said abort!

“What’s your excuse this time, chibi?”

Did he have to lick his lips like that, it was distracting. “You’re only three inches taller,” Izuku bristled, not at all appeased by the grin.

“Paying attention, are we?”

“Besides, this is my time, remember?” Izuku sailed on. “We clearly have an unspoken agreement not to darken the streets at the same time to avoid this little turf war you’re trying to…”

“How can there be two of them?” Bakugou muttered, glowering Izuku into the back of a tree. Ow, point to the oak. “I’m busy later, freckles, calm your tits. I’ll run when I want to.”

“Ah, yes, ninjas never sleep.”

“You would know,” his neighbor retorted, Izuku torn between defense and attack. How’d this guy do it? “Though you had that crossed off on your little board.”

Dang it, Shouto was supposed to stash that thing before the documentary, punishment later. “Well, I added nuclear physicist today in your honor. Definitely the mad kind.”

“Not even close,” Bakugou scoffed, taunting. “But if I were – I would rock it.”

“Construction’s a little tame for you, though,” Izuku ignored him. “You sure Kiri’s not your bodyguard for some nefarious reason?”

“Maybe I’m his bodyguard, ever stopped to consider that?” Bakugou snapped, moving one step closer. At least the way Izuku saw it, pressing back into the tree. “The world’s a dangerous place.”

“You need to relax, scary neighbor. Why don’t you try having a little fun?”

“Last night, Mr. Know-It-All,” his nemesis huffed at him like he was a dragon, Izuku distracted by red eyes slowly stealing his soul. “I hung out with this pad load of nerds, you’d love ‘em.”

“Notice you fit right in.”

“Knowing what I’m talking about doesn’t make me a nerd, nerd.”

“But the speed with which you rattled off all those stats does.” Izuku had never been so glad for quick reflexes, ducking around that beautiful oak to dodge the blond’s hand. He wasn’t so lucky the second time, taking in a barrier that had suddenly appeared on either side of his head, he was so fast! (And had really nice arms – focus!). “That’s a compliment?”

“Then why’re you making it sound like a question?”

This trancelike state Bakugou could induce just by staring at him was either very good or very bad. At this point, they were sharing the same air, Izuku’s pulse a jackrabbit thing.

“You have absolutely no sense of self-preservation, freckles, and it’s beginning to piss me off.”

“Why, because I’m talking to you?” Izuku’s head felt all muddled, he’d just have to blame that on the intriguing kick this guy had to his scent.

“Especially because you’re talking to me,” Bakugou growled right by his ear, Izuku knowing he must have caught the hitch. Sweet death, here he comes. Instead, the blond pushed himself back, Izuku hearing something like “stalker.”

“I am not…”

“Just a pest, then?”

Izuku was going to bite him, mark his words. Bakugou seemed to sense this, cocky grin back in force. On a side note, his neighbor had really nice teeth. “Takes one to know one,” he huffed.

“Wow, you really got me there, greenie.”

He wished the blond’s chuckle didn’t do something to his muscles, but Izuku would have to pack that away for another time, he had a chat to get to. “Anything you can do, I can do better,” he said hotly instead, poking at that annoyingly fine chest. Maybe a little alarmed to see fire immediately flare to life when he did. Obviously hostage negotiator was not a path in his future.

“Name one thing,” the blond snarked, falling into place as Izuku stalked his way back.

“Cooking, judging by all the house fires you’ve had to put out lately.”

“Stalker again – and in your dreams, loser. You have no idea how much I’d own your ass in a kitchen.”

It wasn’t Izuku’s fault he tripped, okay, the sidewalk was uneven right there. At least it distracted him from going to some very fun places in his mind, most of them involving a counter. Ahem. “Bake-off tomorrow if you dare, then.”

“Entries left on the other one’s doorstep, you’re on. That way you can run inside and cry at how badly you lost.”

“Loser owes the winner a favor.”

“Not falling for that trap,” Bakugou eyed him with newborn suspicion, more red flags for the criminal pile. Interesting that’s where the blond’s mind had gone first.

“Fine,” Izuku shrugged, “Bragging rights it is, then, eat my dust.”

“Not gonna…”

“I meant now,” he called gleefully, booking it for the porches with new speed, this time beating the blond there by a hair. Also magnanimously ignoring the blistering string of curses left in his wake when Bakugou marched off to sulk. Sweet victory.

***

“Distraction’s a viable tactic, Kacchan,” Izuku chuckled into the chat, thankfully not where Lord Explosion could hear him. The other – who was more of a hothead than he’d previously suspected – might be nearing the end of his rant. Apparently, some opponent in a game he was playing got him with a sucker punch, and now the world was coming to an end. “What’s life without a little competition, am I right, it’ll keep you on your toes. How did they while we’re at it?” That part had been buried in the lede.

Lord Explosion: “A chink in the armor I’m working on. I’ll put ‘em in their place soon enough.”

"You always do."

Lord Explosion: “Damn straight. Like when I pointed out the flaw in that little retconning theory of yours.”

“Aand he’s back. I’m telling you, that’s not the same version that originally aired, they took out a few lines of dialogue.”

Lord Explosion: “You were 12 when it aired. Got some kind of eidetic memory, Deku?”

“Pretty close when I like something, but no. Still, the scene where All Might’s childhood friend’s doppelganger cousin leads them into the ambush started out with a friend passing All Might a note, whispering cryptically ‘You’re next.’ Not them just wandering willy-nilly into a warehouse ‘cause the cousin said so.”

Lord Explosion: “’Willy-nilly,’ what are you, 50?”

“I read, you savage!”

Lord Explosion: “Anyway, why would they cut the note character, the code aspect alone would open up new levels.”

“I read this article that said the note guy was originally supposed to usher in another faction out for world domination, so they decided to scrap it.”

Lord Explosion: “So even if he was in this alleged version…”

“It’s not alleged!”

Lord Explosion: “…Sounds like they decided to streamline the core plot and cut out the chatter – it’s a missed opportunity, that’s all.”

“But he was so cute, Kacchan! 2D or not, that kind of drive had the makings of a spin-off.”

Lord Explosion: “Oh, you had a crush on the extra, now it all makes sense.”

“Side character, actually, and you would’ve, too, if you’d seen the guy, he…”

Lord Explosion: “Doubt it, I have very particular taste.”

“What do you want, then?”

Lord Explosion: “Someone who won’t stick a knife in my back.”

Ouch. “So, you mean that literally…?”

Lord Explosion: “Draw your own conclusions, Deku. My industry’s cutthroat. Be glad you’re safe over there in la-la land.”

“You’re so petty when you know I have a point. Sounds like you’ve met some pretty bad people if you can’t tell friend from foe, but…if you lose the will, Kacchan, something ugly wins.”

Lord Explosion: “I’ve got my eye on someone, okay, cool it. Provided they don’t annoy me to death first. What’s your gold standard?”

Izuku already knew the answer to that one, it’s why he was doomed to a lifetime alone, at least romantically speaking. Oh well. “Someone who’ll put in as much effort as I will.”

Lord Explosion: “High ask.”

“The best. No regrets.”

Lord Explosion: “Well, rest your pretty head, you’ll find ‘em.”

“That’s assuming I have a pretty head, Kacchan, thank you!”

Lord Explosion: “That’s true, you could be ugly.”

“Hey! Or maybe you’re just deflecting.”

Lord Explosion: “The world’s a scary place, Deku.”

“So everyone keeps telling me.”

Lord Explosion: “Look, your area sounds weird, and you’re far too trusting. I could be anyone while we’re at it, even that sketchy neighbor you told me about.”

“Oh, I wish! That guy is a hottie – total package, though I don’t want to swell his already big head. Seriously, though – he’s very in shape, gotta say smart, funny in a snarky kind of way…though I’m pretty sure he’s unemployed. And his voice…”

Lord Explosion: “Oi, enough already. Though…I really do wish you lived nearby, Deku, then I could kick the guy’s ass for you.”

Aw! This day kept getting better and better, tended to happen when Lord Explosion was around. “Kacchan, my white knight.”

Lord Explosion: “Oi! Speaking of knights…”

***

“What do you mean we’re the Dekusquad now? Who’s been insulting you, I’ll…”

“A friend just gave me the idea, it’s…”

“Was it your dom in the chat?”

“Shouto!”

“His what?”

“Kacchan is not…Oh shit, I forgot the timer, take the brownies out! Now!”

“…And there goes the fire alarm.”

After throwing open a few windows to fan out the smoke, Izuku belatedly realized the flaw in his plan, abort!

Too late. “That’s what I thought, nerd,” Bakugou’s cackle drifted in, Izuku fuming as he caught the scent of pie wafting from the porch. Dang it, that smelled really good. “When you’re done crying, we’ll schedule round two.”

“Rude!”

Chapter Text

So good news, bad news, but now the hot new neighbors actually did have routines.

Izuku couldn’t say he minded all that much, even with Bakugou’s cackle anytime he eked out a minor kitchen victory. Izuku was in new territory here, okay – though he did manage to score a few wins himself. Usually when he dug out Ochako’s great-aunt’s recipe books with the handwritten notes. It was worth all the labor when that dish was returned to his porch scraped free of crumbs. That was part of their tacit tally system – the amount of food left in the dish was the honest appraisal of much the other had enjoyed it. Bakugou won enough times that the professional chef option was gaining considerable ground.

So was their little athletic competition, though that one was definitely more spoken. Izuku never knew he had trash talk in him, but Bakugou pulled it out effortlessly. And however they managed it, both left at the same time these days, diverging along favorite tracks before aligning again at the perfect conjunctions to race for the porch.

Izuku had never felt so homicidal – and alive. And that little crush he now begrudgingly acknowledged wasn’t exactly being stamped out with the teasing and personal tidbits Bakugou let slip during the cooldowns, now conducted for all the world to see.

“You really have a thing for that cap,” Izuku huffed to be petty as he extended. Definitely not because that pale hair glinted just right in the light and he wanted to see it.

“You could learn a lot from my methods,” his nemesis clapped back. Naturally. “Something that wouldn’t make you look like you just clawed your way out of the jungle.”

Ouch. “I didn’t insult you,” Izuku pouted, turning his back for a standing quadriceps stretch. Pivoting as he didn’t quite catch that last bit. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

“I said ‘touch-y,’” Bakugou snarked, turning himself to give Izuku a blessed eyeful of those beautiful glutes, just…wow. “And here I was thinking you could take some pain.”

It was getting kinda scary how much Izuku wanted those hands in his hair, this brute had no idea. “Obviously I can, I’m talking to you.”

The blond’s bark of laughter surprised even him, judging by the pink to his ears. Izuku felt like the king of the world. For one second, anyway. “Touché, you little weasel, but don’t come crawling to me if that ends up biting you in the ass.”

The things Izuku would like Bakugou’s teeth to do to his ass…Why was he like this?! “Maybe one day you’ll tell me why. I haven’t ruled out mob guys working in construction.”

“As if,” Bakugou scoffed. “Clearly I hunt down criminal syndicates, and a pain-in-the-ass sidekick is giving me some trouble.”

“A…what?” Izuku was too busy trying to work out if that was an insult and if he was the sidekick for his usual payback in time.

Probably the plan. “Later, loser,” the smug laugh reached him just before the other’s front door closed.

“Sidekick?”

***

“So, my neighbor is also weird.”

Lord Explosion: “Join the club, Deku – and this is somehow your fault.”

“! Don’t worry, Kacchan, we can take ‘em.”

Lord Explosion: “Obviously. It’s the least you owe me.”

Huh. Lord Explosion was going mellow. Lone wolf batting away collabs was kinda his thing.

“And how may I begin to settle my tab, Great Lord Explosion?”

Lord Explosion: “That better not be sarcasm.”

“No comment.”

Lord Explosion: “You can start by fixing that obvious error you made in the timeline. I reviewed the footage a few days ago – your theory’s full of shit. And it’s contagious, by the way, I’m surrounded by idiots.”

“Am not.”

Lord Explosion: “Am, too.”

“Child. And I reviewed it, too, I’ll have you know. (Whew!) There was no canon assassination attempt.”

Lord Explosion: “I saw the article, Deku, it just wasn’t mentioned in the documentary for some lame reason.”

“Again with this alleged article.”

Lord Explosion: “It’s not alleg…I swear, I’m going to come through these wires and strangle you and that asshole.”

(Maybe not so mellow.)

“Don’t make me part of your little murder schemes. Find me the article, and I’ll take it all back with a grand proclamation. Until then, the timeline stays.”

Lord Explosion: “You’re on, Deku. I’m gonna enjoy this.”

“Dream big, sweet Kacchan.”

Lord Explosion: “That better be sarcasm.”

“No comment.”

***

“So you’ve been suspiciously quiet lately,” Izuku went straight for the kill the third time a spaced-out Denki ignored him calling his name. In the same room. Wouldn’t be a big deal, but there were omelets on the line, priorities.

The blond eeped at a bestie just suddenly there. “I’m cooking here! And quiet how? You were yelling at me yesterday for singing in the shower.”

“I yelled at you for hogging the shower, and it’s valid! You’re in there all the time lately. I mean I appreciate the extra hygiene, but c’mon…”

Denki coughed, turning to avoid those all-too-intelligent eyes picking up on his fast-climbing red. He had his own routine to adhere to these days, okay, as he and Kiri’s little shower tango now upped the ante in scorching. They’d dropped all pretense at coy, staring each other down every time one teased the other to a scarily satisfying finish.

And Denki was motivated to win – there was nothing like drinking in those lovely expressions on Kiri’s face before the redhead joined him in some well-earned bliss. Denki’s mouth watered wondering what his neighbor actually looked like up close, his pulse climbing at the thought. It wasn’t the only thing, either – crap, why hadn’t he worn an apron?!

“Forgive me for staying clean, it’s a strategy. It’s not like you need any extra help attracting the neighbor, you’re doing just fine on your own.” Nailed the save, look at that fluster.

“I’m aggravating him, not attracting him, Denki. Remember him hosing me down? I know I do.”

“Yeah, but he only sprayed you, my dear Izuku. Kinda romantic when you think about it.”

“You’re doing the eyebrow waggling thing again, stop it.” Izuku hip checked him lightly before letting Denki get back to work. Speaking of…”Given any more thought to Shouto’s offer?”

Being a fellow alumnus of the same small town as Izuku and Ochako, Shouto felt his green-haired pal and ideally Denki would complete the work team assembling for their hometown’s bicentennial celebration. As a member of one of the most influential families in the region, Shouto was…encouraged to take a more hands-on approach to help boost the local economy (and his family’s reputation). Especially by big brother Touya, who was more than ready to share their father’s attention already, hurry up and get back here.

Unfortunately for Touya, he’d taught his little brother too well, and the clever evil two-toned bastard sweetheart had more than enough capable allies to send in his stead while he sat back to watch the chaos unfold. That’s fine. Touya would get him next time.

Izuku knew all this, but the assignment was still tempting. It afforded a ton of relevant work experience, a paycheck to replace dwindling savings, and a chance to do all this while bouncing around old stomping grounds. There was just nothing like a small-town burger made by an ancient granny, trust him. Chiyo knew what she was doing.

And since his mom and Yagi were helping Yagi’s island buddy with some research for the summer, Izuku and Denki could stay in the house he grew up in free and clear. He should be jumping at this chance and sending Shouto daily tribute, so was he really hesitating just because of his hotheaded neighbor?

“I know I am,” Denki interjected, it being Izuku’s turn to yelp at a roommate turned psychic. Or he was muttering out loud again, fine. “Well, not the hotheaded part, but definitely the neighbor.”

Well, didn’t this bear some greater scrutiny, he needed to pry his eyes off of Bakugou now and then. Maybe. “That must be some intense backyard flirting, I feel like I’m missing something.”

Oh, his innocent green-haired bestie had no idea. “Kiri’s been sending some seriously strong signals my way, that’s all – I’d kinda like to see where this rabbit hole goes.”

“Well, yeah, I guess,” Izuku nodded, remembering. The redhead did seem to have the power to reboot his friend. His almost-healed, overly trusting friend whom Izuku would certainly commit mayhem over if the neighbor harmed one hair on his head. Kiri better be as good as he seemed.

“You think I’m reading too much into this?” Denki tried to mask it as a tease as he maneuvered their breakfast outside to the patio for a change, a faint humming sound drifting over to catch their attention. It was off-key and a little hesitant, but pleasing in intent, he thought. Lulled for a moment, Denki refocused on the plates, they weren’t the only things precariously balanced. His romantic streak had led him into trouble before, that’s why he leaned on the logic of his friend. Izuku was a safety net that would not fail.

But play it too safe, and Denki would never fly like he was meant to, Izuku owned, sipping his coffee and weighing the odds. “No, you’re definitely reading flirty right,” he agreed, Denki’s instant grin demanding a twin. “But are we sure that it’s focused only on you?” He also remembered how fast the redhead had returned to Bakugou’s side in a gathering.

Denki thought it over and shrugged, giving those metaphysical wings a little stretch. “About as sure I am that you won’t be running alone today either.”

“Oi!”

“I’m mistaken?” The blond inquired politely as he sipped his own tea.

“Shut up and eat your omelet.”

“Will do!”

***

Denki was clearly misreading the signs, Izuku huffed as he stepped out on the porch, deliberately 15 minutes past his usual time just to prove the point. This little infatuation was one-sided, and his bestie knew it. There was no reason to be mean ab…

“Finally,” that sexy voice that had way too much hold over his pulse growled, its owner staring him down while casually extending. “Geez, nerd, some of us actually do things in the evening. Be on time for once.”

Oh, this was a thing now, was it, Izuku narrowed his eyes, not missing the mirth the other instantly acquired. Luckily, he’d finished his warmup routine inside, no problem dusting this beefca…bozo today! He sniffed in what he hoped was casual disdain, a few more high knee raises couldn’t hurt, right, the blond was serious competition. “At least you want a fair win, I’ll give you that.”

“Only one that counts,” the capped blond nodded. “Speaking of, there’s a change to the route today.”

“Since when do…”

“Can’t have you coasting on the tried and true. I’ve a mind to scope out some new paths, nerd, let’s walk it today.”

Izuku blamed that challenging tilt for why he found himself in step with this blond maniac’s plans, reluctantly acknowledging it’d been awhile since he’d varied. Though, really, maybe he was a little too trusting, thinking back to that warehouse episode he’d been debating with Lord Explosion. This guy could be leading them straight to…the park.

Huh. Looks like the local government had landscaped some more, finally adding to that dog run…and sweet holy saliva, they’d brought in food trucks! He really did need to come out and touch grass more, man! Though it was probably a moot point this time around, there was no way his gym rat neighbor was going to walk them straight up to a…crêpes stand?! Holy shit, holy shit, holy…

His unexpected partner straight up laughed, Izuku pinking to realize how much he liked it, startled green meeting a crimson unguarded for once. “Pick your poison, nerd, I’m buying since I dragged us out here. Can’t believe you’re still alive, given your…cooking skills.”

“I can too cook!”

“Then why are you always putting Glasses on the grill?”

“Gla…I put Iida on the grill because he’s good at it, and that little snark’s gonna cost you. Let’s see, what the most expensive crêpe on the menu…”

Bakugou laughed again, Izuku feeling giddy from the power. Or he was dehydrated from the brisk stroll. “Water’s better, but a hot cup of coffee is a massage for your hands, I’ll take one of those, sir!” he chirped merrily at the operator.

“Weirdo.”

“You’re just jealous I thought of it first.”

“Whatever makes you feel better. Hurry up and load up on the carbs.”

“Aha! I knew there was a catch.”

“That gonna stop you?”

“Dream on. I’ll take the sweet and savory options side by side, my good man.”

“Yeah, ‘protein with a kick’ for me.”

Izuku hoarded his unexpected treasure like a dragon and meandered over to a bench, the blond taking a seat beside him. “I didn’t know they added spice to crêpes.”

“You don’t know a lot of things, but that hasn’t stopped you yet.”

“Are you still bitter over the nonexistent article from the other night?”

“It’s not…” Amusedly, Bakugou looked like the was engaging in some sort of therapy breathing before he glared Izuku into a change of topic. Surprisingly, several minutes passed with the usual niceties intact, and between that and eating one of his favorite foods in a warm, green place, his enigmatic neighbor talked more than a few personal details out of him before Izuku drew himself up short.

“Quid pro quo, buster.”

“I’ll think about it. Where’s ‘bum fuck nowhere,’ while we’re at it?”

“Probably right next to whatever cave you and Kiri ventured out of,” Izuku parried their origins, turning to face the other. “Speaking of…”

“Leave him out of it, greenie,” his companion directed with a taste of that original snap, Izuku tense at how much he’d let his guard down.

“Copy that,” he clipped, aiming for distance under the guise of disposing of trash. Surprised when a strong grip fixed around his wrist to keep him in place.

“Wait…Izuku,” the blond said quieter, Izuku’s instincts distracted by the hum of familiar at the edge of his mind, why…”I didn’t mean it like that. C’mon, let’s case the periphery.”

Izuku was gonna have to add sorcerer to the list, no wasn’t even an option. Before he knew it, Bakugou had lured him back to banter, teasing him right into a tree. Though it didn’t escape his notice that the blond was a little too thorough as they completed the sweep, eyeing bushes like they concealed a ballista. “Expecting an ambush?”

That was definitely an assessing look, Izuku raised a brow to see it. “Always. That charming small-town mindset is gonna get you in trouble one of these days.”

“You’ve just met bad people,” Izuku chirped sunnily. “Not all of us…” He stiffened, looking intently over Bakugou’s shoulder, the blond spinning instantly to check.

“Wha-?” Then staring in disbelief as the green-haired nut ran in the opposite direction with his knit cap as a trophy, Bakugou’s wolf grin revved up with his muscles. “You’re dead, shitnerd!”

Izuku wasn’t above using a kind-looking granny on a bench as a shield as he gave it his best with some laps, the lady in question cheering him on. Too bad Bakugou was motivated, finally tackling Izuku into a bush before he yanked his property back from the other’s flailing hand.

“And that’s how you take down a thief, granny.”

“You two are sweet.”

“He definitely is not sweet,” Izuku huffed, trying to leverage himself out of the boxwood, the smirking blond finally leaning down to offer a hand. Izuku hissed, Bakugou promptly turning his arm to suss out why, wincing at the scraped skin.

“We’ll catch you later, granny, this idiot’s in need of medical attention.”

“This idiot’s in need of a hatchet.”

“See what I have to put up with?”

After letting the colossal jerk rinse his hands with cool water and gently clean them, Izuku was off to the konbini with his maaybe-provoked attacker to get some ointment and a bandage.

“How can you not have a gallon bucket of this stuff at home with your record?”

“I only get injured around you,” Izuku glared, not mollified by the other’s condescending grin at his ire like he was a puppy. “Just for that, you wait outside.” Ha! Though the automatic doors did take something out of a slam, Izuku ignoring the blond’s far too perceptive laugh.

Searching green eyes lit on his query, scooping up boxes before heading back to the front to pay. They probably did have the supplies at home, but better to be on the safe side. He didn’t need yet another thing for either Bakugou or Lord Explosion to laugh at him over later in the chat. Wondering why that silent alarm just went klaxon in his head one more time.

He was missing something, what…

“Couldn’t find any hatchets?” the blond grinned, still looking unforgivably unscathed while Izuku took some deep therapy breaths of his own, distracted.

“All out. I’ll just strangle you with the hose.”

“Or your thighs,” Bakugou laughed, halting when Izuku went pale in front of him. “No, I didn’t…It’s something a friend of mine said a while back, he…”

Izuku had never flatlined before, but he thought the sudden terrifying drop to white noise was probably like it. He’d been such an idiot, how could he have missed it? They spoke alike, right down to provoking insights and cadence – even the same cocky words and expressions! No no no…but he knew the threads had come together for a reason, the timing of so many things had to be right. Bakugou was Lord Explosion – was Kacchan – and his memory was as merciless as his mistake.

(“Lust is a major motivator, Deku.”

“How did you get that out of ‘I want to choke Mr. Muscles’?”

“One, you’re calling the konbini guy Mr. Muscles. Two, you said choke him with your thighs.”

Did he? Thanks a lot, Freudian slip.)

(Lord Explosion: “Look, your area sounds weird, and you’re far too trusting. I could be anyone while we’re at it, even that sketchy neighbor you told me about.”

“Oh, I wish! That guy is a hottie – total package, though I don’t want to swell his already big head. Seriously, though – he’s very in shape, gotta say smart, funny in a snarky kind of way…though I’m pretty sure he’s unemployed. And his voice…”

Lord Explosion: “Oi, enough already.)

And SO many more…It’d been so easy to be himself in Asterius, safely shielded while he indulged in his crush, Kacchan rolling his eyes and enduring. The consequences had been light years away in anonymous space – only to stare him down now as very, very real. A volcano of blood surged into his face, Izuku’s blond neighbor likely thinking he’d gone insane.

And maybe he had, he felt so dizzy. Pulling air into his lungs with truly heroic effort, Izuku fidgeted, Bakugou watching as he slowly backed away. “That’s where I know you from, I…” Not reassured when something in the blond’s face darkened fast, did Kacchan know? Oh fuck, he knew, look at those eyes! “Not that it’s bad, I just… I’m gonna…See you later, bye!”

Then he hightailed it for home, leaving his dignity in the dust with his neighbor, Bakugou for once not pursing.

Izuku was pretty sure that wasn’t a win.

***

What was a win was the shower escapade the night prior, Denki grinned to himself, humming happily as he danced around the backyard like the benevolent water fae he was.

At least this little crossroads he found himself at was of the win-win variety. If he stayed while Izuku went back home, Ochako would have someone to watch the house, and he could get more of a read on his chances with Kiri. The only downside would be losing Izuku for a while, but he’d be back after the country adventures, right? Or if he went with his green-haired friend, then another section of the world map in his head would be known, plus Izuku swore by the food. It would also give him breathing space to get a clear take on Kiri without the redhead’s incredible pheromones mucking him about.

Man. If only destiny would give him a sign…

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, hot!” Denki heard a split second before the neighbors’ fire alarm went off thanks to another open kitchen window…which also had familiar columns of black smoke pouring out of it. Well, well.

Just as he was about to search (again) for a crack in the fence for intel, a flaming pie of all things went sailing over the barrier to land way too close to his feet. Startled, Denki jumped back, spraying it and the world on reflex.

“Shit!” This time he recognized the harried voice as Kiri’s, tall red spikes clearing the fence as their owner tried to peer over, in and out of focus as he jumped. “Please tell me you put that out before I set your yard on fire.”

Denki laughed, putting the hose away. “It will trouble us no more. See for yourself, I’ll unlock the bolt.” And done, belatedly realizing that that would mean coming face to face with his crush with no bathroom wall between them as barrier. Wait!

Too late. Kiri had already unlocked it from his side as well, the door opening to let his very touchable walking fantasy through. A kinda damp walking fantasy, crap, that instinct spray might’ve gone a little wide. Again. The neighbors were gonna get a restraining order out on them specific to hoses.

Or not. Denki watched as Kiri’s expression flit through immediate concern about the grass to amused to arriving at the same conclusion he had – alone at last. A suddenly nervous blond swallowed at his grin. “Nice aim…Denki.”

“Haha, yeah, no pie will mess with this house again. Though…why…?”

Kiri’s smile turned sheepish as the redhead rubbed a strong-looking hand at the back of his neck, Denki taking this covert opportunity to scope out his arms. Nice. “Well, I’m sure you’re aware of Bakugou’s expertise in the kitchen by now…”

“Yeah, the battle royale with Izuku has been very entertaining.”

“On both ends,” the other laughed, Denki trying – and failing – not to curl his toes. “Me on the other hand – I’m a bit of a disaster. Every time I try something complicated…I swear I could set water on fire. Bakugou’s kinda banned me from the kitchen for too many attempts. But he’s out right now on his run, so I thought I could sneak in one more try.”

“Yeah?” Denki’s natural curiosity overcame nascent reserve, the blond jogging back to the missile of the moment. “What were you making? That poor thing.”

Kiri laughed again, joining him to peer down at it like they were at a funeral. “I was working on a lemon pie. Got a thing for yellow these days.”

Denki’s mouth went dry at the same time heat shot up his skin, the redhead’s eyes doing that familiar inspection. “Wh-“ he cleared his throat, let’s try that again. “What…”

“I thought I’d bring it over to share with you guys on that plate we borrowed, thought it’d make a good pairing with afternoon tea or something, but as soon as it caught on fire, my brain screamed ‘Water!’ and I booked it for the pool. Chucked it on instinct when the flames got too high.”

Denki laughed at the imagery, Kiri seeming pleased. “Shouldn’t you have picked the sink?”

“Now that you mention it,” Kiri grinned. “Ah well, glad it worked out this way instead.”

Whoo, that climbing heat was here to stay, Denki fanning his face before he knew it, oh kill him now…

“You hot? It’s a good day for the pool to cool down if you want to join me. Since I’m wet anyway,” the redhead teased.

“I think I owe you that much,” Denki hummed. What’s this, a chance to peer into Blondbeard’s backyard while the coast was clear? The blond’s sense of adventure had him through the gate before his brain had time to second-guess. Over the threshold, he catalogued that the neighbors’ yard was remarkably tidy. A lot more spartan than their colorful mess, but as well-maintained as the patio. No supergrill there, though they did have a pool. No wonder the old neighbor set had joined forces – the parties they could have if the gate stayed open…

But he was getting ahead of himself. Belatedly, Denki realized he wasn’t dressed for the occasion and said so.

“Don’t worry about it, dude. You’re wearing shorts, that’s all we need. And let’s face it – water looks good on you,” the other winked.

Yeah, if I don’t short circuit first. Ah, the catnip in the implied dare, Denki just couldn’t resist, peeling off his shirt. “Sure thing, but, uh – aren’t you gonna get yelled at when Bakugou returns? I get the impression you’re breaking the rules.”

“You kinda bring that out in me lately, not gonna lie,” the redhead grinned unashamed, likewise shucking his own to join him in the water. Oh fuck him sideways, Denki was going to have to stay on the other side of the pool from this guy, those muscles would cut him faster than glass.  Though distance apparently wasn’t in his neighbor’s plan, innocent or not, Kiri stayed within touching distance. At least he was gentleman enough not to comment on the whimper. “But we got time. Got the impression he’s gonna be out later with Izuku today.”

“And…you don’t mind?”

That soft smile was promising. “Nah, why would I?”

“That’s a very good question,” Denki muttered. “Don’t want to overstep.”

That sobered the redhead up, Denki watching his enigmatic companion seem to search for the right words. “It’s complicated – but you’re not.” Relief made the blond exhale, red eyes not missing the tell, focused as they were. “So, Denki…if you don’t jog, how do you stay so toned?”

Right for the jugular with a rose, better keep an eye on that tactic, it worked. “Oh, heh, yeah, straight cardio isn’t my thing, I’m more of a calisthenics/yoga kinda guy. Occasional katas with Izuku.”

“Flexible,” Kiri nodded, looking intrigued as something played out in his head. “Nice.”

How could it be this hot in a pool of water, Denki needed to marshal his wits, rebellious as they were. “What about you, then? Haven’t seen you running around the block either.” And he’d been looking.

“Ohh-h,” the other said almost bashfully, like he didn’t have a build others only dreamed of. “I’m more of a strength-based approach. Weights and all that, resistance.”

“I can tell,” Denki grinned, his voice something close to a purr. Satisfying to watch the redhead go offline for once. Nice indeed.

Though he rallied quick, good to know. “So tell me about you, Denki.”

“If you return the favor.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Kiri laughed, red eyes uniquely focused. “How did you come to be here?”

If his neighbor was a snake charmer, he was very good at his job. Between anecdotes of his time spent with Izuku and the university, he managed to coax out details Denki hadn’t planned to share, at least not this soon. Kiri seemed enchanted by the adventures and misadventures alike that made up his life, darkening when the blond let slip pain inflicted by his ex.

“Betrayals are always ugly,” the redhead agreed, for the first time crossing the boundary to touch Denki directly, strong fingers threading through golden hair. “You didn’t deserve that.”

“Thank you,” Denki said sincerely, strangely no longer affected by that moron now long gone. Or maybe he’d just found something much better. “You strike me as the loyal type.”

“Maybe a little too loyal,” Kiri muttered, pushing himself back for some distance while Denki cocked his head to the side. He changed the topic back to hobbies, Denki happy to indulge for a while before he eventually remembered.

“Enough about me, buster, we had a deal.”

“Mind if I beg off for now?” his neighbor asked, eyeing the sky. “Think your bestie’s back, your kitchen light just came on.”

Denki recognized the hint, ignoring a tiny sting. “Why break the trend?” he coolly agreed, hauling himself out to retrieve his shirt.

“Nah, it’s not like that,” Kiri hummed, chewing on his bottom lip for a minute before he made some decision. Denki watched him take a deep breath. “You doing anything tomorrow?”

“No firm plans.”

“Bakugou and I have something we gotta do on Grayson St. around 4. I noticed a coffee shop a block up – meet me there, and I’ll settle the score?”

Apparently tall, red-eyed puppy dogs were also his weakness. Denki found himself nodding, reassured by an immediate grin that brought pink to his skin. A fine time to flee…er, fly to Izuku’s side, he smelled an update in the air.

“Well, well, lookee…”

“Why are you wet?”

***

Sleep – the little he got – did nothing to quiet the chatter in his head. Izuku followed each trail only to get sidelined by another mortification he remembered from the chat. Example, that one tear he’d gone on about hot blond protagonists with the unknowing object of his lust-addled dreams. But it wasn’t just Bakugou’s stacked list of undeniable assets staying his hand here – Lord Explosion had also become one of his best friends.

Where it snuck in, he didn’t know. But Izuku didn’t think he could do without him when the inevitable fallout began. Two for one – or none for all if this reveal went sideways. And how could it not? Both Bakugou and Lord Explosion screamed overarching pride, and neither one would be pleased at having shared so much with Izuku. Yet…

“How many cups of coffee have you had today?”

“None, why?”

Denki looked both amused and alarmed. “’Cause you’re pacing a hole through the floor. Ochako’s gonna charge you for the damage.”

“I’m having an existential crisis here, but, fine, concern duly noted.” Not that he changed the action, just the route, circumventing the bags Izuku had packed the night before. Just his at the moment. Denki was staying put for now, he’d explained his progress with Kiri way too thoroughly the evening before.

“Nah, I get it, man, but you’re overthinking this. Didn’t you lay some groundwork in last night’s chat?” Golden eyes narrowed as Izuku chose just that moment to inspect the wall. “Y’know, like I suggested?” Apparently the paint shade was really fascinating, that big chicken. “Izuku…” he growled.

“I didn’t log on, okay? I couldn’t think of the right words.”

“Even though we wrote them down and practiced.”

“Look, it’s easy for you, Denki! Your neighbor dance is going along swimmingly.”

“Ha ha. Who’s to say yours isn’t, secret identity or not? Kiri thought Baku-boy was making a move.”

“By giving me crêpes and shoving me into a bush, so…maybe?”

“Long marriages have been built on less,” Denki assured him sagely, dodging a towel. “Gonna ditch on your run today, too?”

Izuku at least had the grace to find the floor amazing. This kind of self-discovery wasn’t great. “While I think of what to say, yeah.”

“Then let me help…again. ‘Funny thing, running buddy/serial killer…’”

“That’s not helpful.”

“Well, here’s what is. Come with me to the coffee shop meet today, okay? Bakugou’s supposed to be nearby with Kiri. It’s a neutral space – just stay on the other side of the shop so I can get my flirt on, and talk it out. Problem solved!”

“I…”

“Is he important to you?” Denki asked quietly, shortcutting through layers of defense and distraction with intimidating ease. Careful with his heart, though. When Izuku bled, he bled – the blond had to fix this.

“Which one?”

“Either. Both.”

Izuku already knew. “Yes,” he voiced it aloud, lighter with the answer.

“Then let’s face this head on, bestie, like we always do. No hot criminal ninja boys are gonna get the better of us.”

Izuku had to smile, borrowing a little of his courage. Denki was right – there was only one way forward, and it was through. “I can’t argue with such a smart friend.”

“An ongoing curse.”

“Besides, what’s the worst that could happen, he yells at me in public?”

“We did create a murder husbands entry, though.”

“Not helping, buddy.”

***

“Alright, what in the ass is going on over there?” Denki finally had to ask.

Fears firmly faced and boldly soldiering on, Izuku and Denki had ventured out to the coffee shop – but enjoying it in peace had become something of a challenge. The street was hyper with news crews, a crowd of people, and an emergency vehicle or two making passage kinda tricky. Luckily they’d been on foot, but it didn’t make the whole fracas less surreal.

Or mysterious. None of the other patrons had known what was going on either, but that wasn’t what was putting Denki on edge. So far, he and Izuku were alone in their quest, and they’d been here almost an hour. No Kiri, and certainly no Bakugou. Disappointment was slowly clawing its way to the front, inching past unease.

“Five more minutes?”

“Five more minutes.”

Ten minutes past that, and the two took a collective deep breath. Izuku motioned his head to the door, Denki reluctantly nodding.

“Maybe they saw the crowd and said, ‘Fuck this noise’?” Denki asked in a credible imitation of their neighbor. “Somebody said ‘murder’ when we walked by, I hope I didn’t jinx us.” His laugh sounded weak to his ears, Izuku kindly letting it slide.

Or he was too distracted. “Probably not.”

“You don’t think…”

“We’ll find out in a…well, someone’s home,” Izuku interrupted himself, relief in the soft light coming from the others’ backyard. “Want to…”

“Yeah, I think we should,” Denki nodded immediately, passing with Izuku through their own house to reach the connecting fence. He caught Kiri’s voice, taking turns with Bakugou’s. Alive, whew. But the redhead better have a good reason for leaving them on read, or no more Mr. Nice Denki.

Luckily, he and Kiri had both forgotten to latch the gate the day before, the door was still ajar. He knocked out of habit, Izuku on his heels as he cheerfully called over. “Hey, Kiri, did you notice all those people on the street, that was crazy! We…”

Whatever cheerful nonsense Denki had expected to follow that up with died along with his voice, his brain taking a long moment to catch up when he and Izuku pushed through. It was translating, trying to explain, correct maybe, that couldn’t…The most awful churning began in his gut, something in his chest actually clenched, Izuku just as stunned beside him as both stared at the neighbors alive and well. Vital enough to be pressed flush together as Bakugou’s hand explored the skin under Kiri’s shirt.

Reluctantly, angrily, the blond pulled his mouth from the other’s long enough to snarl at them, Kiri looking kiss-dazedly over. “Beat it, extras, we’re busy. Get out.”

Denki wasn’t sure who made it back first as the two of them blindly followed that order. All this time, his wretched little self had been so eager to get what he wanted, he’d known better and still ignored the signs. He never learned, did he, there’d never been a bigger fool. “I want to go, Izuku, we need to go now.”

His glassy-eyed roommate must be on autopilot, too, he was already on his way to the door, bags in hand. “Don’t you…”

“No,” Denki’s voice was cracking like diamonds, pausing only to secure his phone and a wallet. “Ochako can mail the rest. Let's go.”

A time blink again, and he and Denki were driving, silent tears coursing down the other’s wrecked face, no doubt a mirror for his own. They’d have to pull over somewhere ahead, Izuku felt his hands shaking. Some dreams died with a hammer.

***

Lord Explosion: Deku, you will not believe the day I’ve had, hurry up and get on the chat.

Lord Explosion: …

Lord Explosion: Deku?

Chapter Text

It wasn’t easy being a rock star.

It wasn’t easy nursing a black eye, either, but more on that later.

Oh, there were a lot of perks to the rock star part, at least in the beginning. Playing kick-ass music with your friends, young and fearless in any dive bar or back-alley club you could fury your way into had a way of energizing a person to godlike levels as the crowds and intensity grew. That kind of power – hearing your words echo and reach the far corners of the world like old magic…man, if there was another way to live, Katsuki didn’t know it.

The money didn’t hurt, either, not to mention world-spanning tours. The bigger King Explosion Murder got, however, the more soulless execs with no talent of their own got involved, chipping away at what had made this such a kick. Never-ending, annoying interference all in the name of profits.

If they’d had any other manager but Aizawa, even their raging fire might’ve been tamped out by the rhinos. Their old teacher had been through some shit in his years in the industry, even as pitfalls evolved. Enough to know when to turn to Nezu to loophole their way out of predatory contracts and form their own label under the other’s direction. Then King Explosion Murder was finally free to test their limits.

So too did their fans. Though most were cool and had the good sense to heed respectful boundaries, every now and then others took a less sane approach, claiming a connection that wasn’t there just because they wished it was, absolutely crossing the lines. The fact that the band was easy on the eyes was no doubt a factor.

The worst one called themselves Cab – presumably for cabernet going by their icon and tendency to send laced bottles as a gift. Pushy to the point that legal action had eventually been called for, that troubled individual gone skulking into the night.

That special bit of stress was really the last log on a burnout fire that had been a long time coming. So despite Katsuki’s very vocal objections, Aizawa and Nezu insisted it was time for a break. Reconnect with normal people and remember why they got in this in the first place. Make new music, fall in love, take up hobbies – whatever would bring that growl back to their souls.

Sero and Keigo spread their wings in different directions, opting for time with their families. Loyal Kirishima, however, insisted he’d better stay with Katsuki to keep the fuming blond out of trouble. And though Aizawa put up a token resistance, privately he agreed.

Well, touch grass is what Deku had told him to do in the chat, and Aizawa’s loaner house had plenty of it, so... If things went south, Katsuki knew who to yell at.

Deku. That mysterious pain in the ass had become a lifeline long before this annoying exile to suburbia. No matter how irritated Katsuki was by his team’s interference, however, even he had noticed widening cracks in self-control that shouldn’t be there during the last tour. There were no reserves to buffer, Deku was his only safety net to vent.

After he’d started kicking doors off their hinges and snapping at extras for the stupidest of reasons, he remembered Shitty Hair’s mom when Katsuki teased him over an anime keychain clipped to a backpack. Don’t lose what made you happy when you were a kid, she said, playfully wagging a finger at him with that same blinding grin as her son. It’ll save you later.

So after door jamb #3 got an unhealthy splinter, Bakugou remembered an old episode of Heroes where All Might had also kicked down a reinforced door (bad-ass, by the way) to rescue some kids, and he went searching for fan forums online. A post on Asterius caught his eye with its over-the-top energy and detail. One unsolicited rant later, and he and Deku began this odd, cool competition about who knew more in that realm (clearly Katsuki).

But Deku wouldn’t stay down, and over time, Katsuki kinda loved him for it. As much as you can any anonymous presence on the internet, of course. For all he knew, Deku was some English professor in their 50s, but some of the references he made resonated from the same generation. Either way, Katsuki was pleased he had made a friend who liked him out of his rock star persona, childish(ly sweet) “Kacchan” the price he paid.

They were careful to keep it anonymous, mostly at Katsuki’s behest. He wanted those adorable abundant “Kacchan sugoi!”s to stay genuine, even as he began to wish they could quest together in real life. Ah well. Maybe when he retired.

Back to implied privacy, the setup at Chez Exile was one of the things that finally sold him on this scheme. The house was in a quiet, nondescript little neighborhood, mostly shielded by tall bushy shrubs and small trees, birds either mating or fighting, it was hard to tell. It had a connecting fence to the house next door for old buddy reasons, but the door was secured on both sides by locks, so okay, workable. There was lots of space in the backyard and a pool – not a bad way to sneak in some cardio with resistance training.

But just in case, Kirishima insisted on dragging in boxes of weights along with recording equipment in case brilliance unexpectedly struck. Long shot with all the current strain, but hey, multiple outlets for rage and frustration.

Out of a combination of Katsuki and Aizawa’s paranoia caution, they chose to move in at midnight early one summer night to avoid as much nosy neighbor speculation as possible. Aizawa passed over their cover identities, a mix of implied relationship and vague skill sets that should keep paparazzi and stalkers off their six. And since the two idiots both refused to dye their distinctive hair, Aizawa advised them to at least keep it hidden. Fly fucking close to the radar or else. And if they were good boys, he might have some food delivered.

Bidding their scary sensei farewell, Katsuki caught a flicker of curtains settling into place across the way, deciding to shrug it off for now. So they had an insomniac granny living next door, they’d deal.

***

They did not have an insomniac granny living next door. Katsuki knew this because he had his soul punched out after spotting the green-haired idiot who left his curtains wide open when the blond was moving a box into Kirishima’s room the next day. (Yes, Katsuki insisted on a room trade immediately after that for no good reason, what’s your point?)

The blond always trusted his instincts, and they were screaming that this guy needed a guardian. Hunched over his laptop typing like a madman all hours of the night – keeping the occasional eye on this weirdo was starting to infringe on Katsuki’s sleep schedule, and that had been a big nope for forever.

But – and it was like top secret spies had to drag it out of him – he didn’t not like watching him either, okay? Pacing around his room muttering about something in that too-tight T-shirt – or worse, the time the green-haired man ran around shirtless like he wasn’t flaunting a toned chest and abs. Didn’t he know how dangerous that could be, what kind of small town was this guy from? Anyone could be watching…if they managed to wedge themselves between the two houses and somehow straddled the fence, not the point!

The neighbor’s lack of survival instincts was the reason he was so riled up, okay, this little fascination was perfectly logical! What if it’d been Kirishima across the way? Granted, the redhead had never had so much as a parking ticket to blemish his name, but the clueless sleeping beaut…man didn’t know that! Katsuki was definitely gonna have to keep an eye on this punk, he could drag them all into trouble.

***

Kirishima was happily unaware of his bestie’s crisis, too busy noticing his own striking neighbor when he ventured into the kitchen one night to make a sandwich. Promptly dropping his jaw and the jar as he caught sight of the cutest guy he’d ever seen in his life dancing around in his shower, visible partway through the windows. 

Kirishima’s mom had assured him that love at first sight was definitely a thing, rare or not, and she was right. Watching that cutie sing like he was at a concert, the redhead was charmed. Blonde hair and limber, the dude looked like he was having so much fun, and Kiri wanted in.

But…how to get in? Katsuki had every appearance of doubling down on Aizawa’s caution, so traditional socializing might be a problem. Guess he was gonna have to tackle this nice and subtle.

“Are you aware we have a really hot neighbor?”

Nailed it.

Taking Katsuki’s coughing fit as a positive, Kirishima happily sailed on. “I mean hot hot. Maybe he’s a model.”

“And just how do you know what the neighbor looks like?” Ooh, his bestie was quiet-angry, that was new. Interesting.

“Through the window, of course!” More coughing. “Are you okay?”

“That depends. Know anyone who can dispose of a body?”

“And this is exactly why we said you needed a vacation. His window was wide open, alright, I wasn’t trying to. It’s weird enough I’m crushing on a blond – you’re practically my broth…”

“Blond?”

Kirishima narrowed his eyes. He had a habit of noticing far more than his best friend liked, and this was no exception, picking up on how the other had suddenly relaxed. “As opposed to…? C’mon, you know I’ll keep asking.”

From long experience, Katsuki sighed. “I saw a green-haired nerd geeking out over there, guess there’s more than one oddball on tap.”

Ah man, maybe the cute blond wasn’t single. Welp, only one way to find out! “Be right back.”

Katsuki moved to block, crossing his arms over his chest. “And just where do you think you’re going?”

“Thought I’d be neighborly! Y’know, ask to borrow some sugar or something.”

“Coming on a little strong, don’t you think?”

“That’s the idea! Gotta find out if my cutie’s single.”

“No.”

“No?”

“Think, Shitty Hair. We’re here to lay low, that’s complication enough. And if he’s a fan, our cover’s blown in less than a week. You can be the one to explain it to Aizawa.”

“But…”

“No sugar.”

“Teacher’s pet,” Kirishima huffed, knowing he’d actually be tackled if he tried. He’d just have to table the matter for now, find some kind of workaround as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

***

Happily, that came a few evenings later as he and Katsuki took a break in the backyard to settle the peace (read: settle their nerves after his bandmate shot down his latest attempt to distract himself from the blond next door by learning how to cook. So what if he kept setting things on fire, that’s how you learned!).

It was really the minx in the shower’s fault, anyway, he kept doing it! And Kirishima was willing to bet the sexy display wasn’t even on purpose – still made things wonderfully…hard, though. Especially with a hypervigilant Katsuki on his every move lately, just who was supposed to be watching whom?

The only time the blond wasn’t was when Katsuki sequestered himself off for that server he liked to fight on. Something about a smart-ass nerd and battles to be won – whatever it was animated Katsuki in a way Kirishima hadn’t seen in years. Keep it comin’.

All of the exercise and Bakugou meals in the world couldn’t shake the redhead out of his own funk, however. A state that his roommate at least had the decency to acknowledge and take partial responsibility for. So when the mysterious neighbors had friends over one evening, the blond didn’t fuss for once when his socially deprived friend went out in their own backyard to at least soak up the ambience.

Kirishima sighed. Again. They sounded like his kind of people! Man, exile sucked.

Katsuki was listening, though, Kirishima knew him well enough to spot it. Like how the blond’s well-trained ears were trying to match voices to the figures in his head. Mysterious figures who were arguing over garden work? In the dark?

Curiosity flew right out the window when he picked up on that smell, however! Kirishima was a carnivore at the best of times, much less when someone was obviously a master on the grill and flaunting it to his nose. Katsuki didn’t seem to notice, his eyebrow had quirked up at hearing teasing over who was gonna get the “big steak” followed by what sounded like a chase scene. Look at that, his bestie was grinning, this was grea….

“The fuck?! Someone over there wants to die.”

Kirishima blinked, hosed to the bone just like Katsuki, the spray had come out of nowhere. Well, there were worse ways to meet the new neighbors…right?

Didn’t matter now, it was game on thanks to Katsuki’s usual diplomacy. Though, fair, his bandmate had received more than a busted main and looked like a drenched cat, so maybe a little dramatic huffing was owed – especially if it helped the cause.

“I’m so sorry, I meant to hit someone else,” a frantic voice came over the fence, its cadence going up and down like the person was bowing. “I’ll pay for your dry cleaning or toss over some chocolate, whatever w…”

“I’ll take some of whatever you’re cooking on that grill over there, my dude,” Kirishima cut in immediately, a fast man with an idea. “That smell has been driving me mad. (Also – true.) Hold on, lemme open the gate…”

“Shitty Hair, don’t you dare…”

Oh, he dared. And he was quick enough to make it to the gate first, unlocking that bad boy with the other key Aizawa had sent over before his roommate could stop him.

Click. All eyes followed as the sturdy wooden door swung out, and Kirishima made his way through.

Finally, an up-close view of the object of his fascination, taking in surprised golden eyes as the cute neighbor drank him in in turn. Nice. Clearly, they got each other.

“So you’re the idiot, I take it.”

Wha-? Oh, for fuck’s sake, take his attention off of Katsuki for one second, and the snarling musician was ruining their welcome. Smooth, Bakugou.

Though…the way the blond stared down the adorable green-haired neighbor was very promising. Something had caught Katsuki’s attention, and Kirishima didn’t think it was that hose. The math was beginning to add up to magic, and the redhead was in.

“N-not on purpose!” The other laughed nervously, hand moving unconsciously to his nape. “I was trying to hose a snake.”

“Hey!”

“More like a fox, I’m thinking,” Kirishima grinned at the indignant blond, fascinated to watch his crush’s cheeks bloom like a rose.

Huh. Maybe this would work out after…

“Don’t even think it, Shitty Hair,” Katsuki growled at him, his antsy bandmate again far too late with that demand. Kirishima was already considering a wedding.

“That’s...an unusual name, gotta say,” a brunette rebooted first, proceeding with introductions. Sou ka, there were other people there.

“Oh, that’s not my name,” Kirishima corrected, still smiling over at Denki. Cute name. “It’s actually…”

“Shitty…”

“Kiri,” he talked over his partner, ignoring the head thump he earned for the move. “And this is Bakugou.” Risky move, he knew, if anyone there was into the band scene, but so far they all seemed fairly neutral.

“No more,” his prickly bandmate warned him again, Kirishima knowing to take that one seriously, he’d pushed the blond enough. “It’ll make this easier.” Their eventual exit strategy from suburbia, he supposed, shrugging at all this paranoia. It was really…

Warranted? “They don’t have tattoos,” the two-toned elegant guy piped up, having assessed them at will while they talked. Now that was a little more concerning. He and Katsuki had been rocking some tribal tattoos the night they’d moved in – temporary ones left over from a photo shoot – but how had this guy picked that up from thin air?

“Hah?” Katsuki didn’t like that either, looking harder in the green-haired guy’s direction, red eyes narrowing dangerously as Izuku’s, he believed it was, went wide.

“Shouto bartends on the weekends,” a petite green-haired partygoer jumped in, light on her feet. “You seem the type, sorry if that’s a slight.”

Good enough for now, especially allayed with a plate full of grilled meat goodness courtesy that spectacled maestro. “Nah, no worries,” Kirishima cut in, ushering his testy friend back through the gate, it was time to regroup. “We get that a lot. Hey, thanks for the grub, maybe we can return the favor later! Good to meet you.”

***

That’ll teach Katsuki to be nice, the blond fumed after killing Kirishima’s latest kitchen catastrophe with a fire extinguisher, hosing his devil-may-care roommate for good measure. There he was trying to give the extroverted idiot some proximity to other people, and now he had a name to attach to the green-haired magnet next door, just to add to the pressure. No contact, Shitty Hair, how hard was that?!

Though after clamping down even harder on the exile for a few days afterwards, Katsuki found himself finally relaxing when no paparazzi or stalking fans put in an appearance. The friend group next door hadn’t batted an eye during the introductions, even with Katsuki’s last name dropped. They’d seemed just as bemused as he and Kirishima, so maybe all signs were optimistic? Cautiously?

So much so that Katsuki decided to take up another sidelined hobby and begin running again, he needed to reset his mind. It was a routine he’d always valued, and here was a chance to actually run on real streets as opposed to quarantined private gyms out of the public eye.

Though apparently the universe was testing him, just narrowly missing freckles next door as the annoyingly fit nuisance returned from a similar mission of his own. Katsuki was left to suffer in silence by the living room window as the green-haired neighbor stretched indolently in a cooldown on his own front porch, flexing absolutely fine muscles to the world like he didn’t know what he was doing. The nerve.

After that, he was more careful to map the neighbor’s routines. Just so he could avoid him, of course. Totally not because the guy smiled gently at his cat whenever the little monster wanted some attention, scratching patiently behind an ear until the beast passed out at his feet, leaving Katsuki wishing he was a cat. Or that his nemesis seemed to be a hero to his other neighbors – calling out cheerfully or rushing to help with groceries, completely oblivious to the interested glances checking him out, Katsuki oddly bristling to see it.

Nothing for it but to throw off his own early bedtime routine even more and switch to running later at night. Just as well in a deep cover kinda way, he supposed, even as he couldn’t quite shake whatever was making him restless. That just meant he had to run harder, he grit his teeth, the deep pressure of his feet on the pavement giving endorphin relief. Finally. Working like a…

Wham.

And just as if he had conjured him, Katsuki watched in disbelief as the same cute neighbor he was trying to avoid faceplanted right in front of him after colliding with his chest, one dark corner to blame. That gorgeous ass so close to his hands, what the fuck.

“Seriously, what is wrong with you?” Oh, suave. Still the greenette’s fault.

“How is this my fault?” Izuku unknowingly echoed, the little demon having the audacity to sass back, to Katsuki’s delight. Something light and fun was beginning to bubble under his skin, maybe he was coming down with something. “You were just suddenly there.”

“Bound to happen when you run at night, don’t you think? What are you even doing here while we’re at it, menace?”

“You’re running at night.”

“But you usually don’t.” Crap! Katsuki blamed the sudden collision for being so loose with his words, sure enough Izuku’s quick intelligence had picked up on the slip.

 “Stalker.”

“Hah?” Katsuki exhaled more sharply than he’d intended. That hit too close to home, thanks to recent events. Reminding the musician once again that the sweet-faced neighbor might actually be pulling some kind of long con, they shouldn’t lower their guard...

Seeming to sense his tension, Izuku held up some kind of package to reassure him, Katsuki not missing how the other took a cautious step back. “Anyway, you heading back?” the other’s ramble finally penetrated as some kind of offer.

“I run alone,” Katsuki huffed out on auto, some deep part of himself snarling for making the other lose his appealing grin. Aggravated that his defenses made him a dick. Aggravated that he was aggravated at that. Which is probably why his nemesis got in that dig before he took off.

“So you won’t mind if I beat you there, then. Ci-ao!”

What the fuck? Katsuki was running before he knew it, that quiet muted thrill from before now a primal, passionate thing as he closed the distance to his quarry, not sure what he would do when he got there. He wanted to take him, sink his teeth into this fucking lovely man who wasn’t afraid to challenge. Tired muscles to the max, plus ultra. Good thing, too.

Katsuki shook his head at the mad urge to claim as he seized the victory that was rightfully his, loving the annoyed glare on his opponent’s expressive face as the blond stalked off. That’d keep him going for a while. “Only challenge if you can back it up, freckles. Ciao.”

Okay, there were a few perks to his new routine.

***

That out-of-nowhere high stayed with him as Katsuki drifted into the savagery that was a good fight with Deku on the server. He was happy to distract himself from his own wild instincts by entertaining another of Deku’s rants, this time about some hot guy and a konbini.

“Lust is a major motivator, Deku.” Trust him, Katsuki could relate after that little run-in with Izuku and subsequent porch fantasy just now.

Deku: “How did you get that out of ‘I want to choke Mr. Muscles’?”

“One, you’re calling the konbini guy Mr. Muscles. Two, you said choke him with your thighs.” Again, Katsuki could relate. Fuck, freckles had some thighs, it must be said. He and Deku were syncing up more than usual here lately.

Deku: “We’re getting off task. The original thread is to focus on villains with a point, so…”

“You always change the topic when you know I’m winning. And stop changing my name to ‘Kacchan’ while we’re at it, administrator, that’s rude.” Likewise, Katsuki refused to be sidelined from his goals. He was here in shitty suburbia to do his thing, recharge, and then kick some ass, not develop a hang-up on some extra. Even as that inner voice changed the title to mate.

Deku: “Not pulling your punches, then. What’s up?”

Fuck, Deku always noticed too much, he was sneaky clever like that. A plus when Katsuki needed an ally, but now…“A nosy asshole like you, drop it.”

Deku: “Thanks for your input on the article, Lord Explosion, I’ll let you know when we expand past ten.”

Fuck! Katsuki hadn’t meant to take it out on his friend, all this internal warring was setting him on edge. Well, more than usual. He’d made the mistake of sharing an Eijiro anecdote with Deku some time back, and his online nemesis rival had latched onto it like the gold it was, conjuring up “Kacchan” for his name. Secret that he planned to take to his grave, though – Katsuki actually adored it. He liked this snarky kindred spirit reaching back from the void. Similar enough to sync, different enough to keep it interesting. Something that was only his.

“Deku, wait. I’m just dealing with some complications on my end – sorry for being a dick.”

Thank fuck the other was psychic as usual. He needed Deku now more than ever.

Deku: “Nah, I should’ve read the room, but don’t isolate yourself, okay? Seriously, anything you need an ear for?”

Fucking tempting. Maybe sometime soon – he could use Deku’s insight. The guy was only ever wrong when he argued Heroes with Katsuki. “Not today, Deku, but thanks. Kacchan out.”

Katsuki was smiling as he logged off, recharged as usual after sparring with that pest. Hope that never got out – bad-ass rock stars had a rep. But he was glad Deku was there.

Ah well, he and Kirishima would weather this test, as usual. As long as they steered clear of the ever-enticing neighbors, everything would work out just fine.

Chapter Text

Of course avoiding them would go a lot easier if one of said distractions would stop knocking on the front door. Kirishima was straining more than he had for that steak.

And apparently said steak thought it was okay to sing off-key nursery rhymes at their door as an escalating terror attack. “Fuck, what?!” Katsuki finally growled, anything to make that noise stop.

“Oh, hi, you’re in! We’re hosting dinner and a show tonight and…”

Be tempted into more antics with freckles? Hah, nice try. “No.” An outraged Kirishima lunged past him, and suddenly Katsuki found himself in the most ridiculous looking wrestling match ever before finally pinning Kirishima into place, red spikes sticking out from under his arm. Served him rig…fucking shit, his bandmate knew how to pinch! “Thank you,” he tacked on painfully.

“Oh,” The other did sound really sad, sonofabitch. “Well…if you change your mind…our side of the gate will be open.”

No answer there, just the sound of footsteps moving away. Kirishima shot him a glare before stalking off to his room, Katsuki two-thirds sure he’d done the right thing. It was the other third that bothered him.

None of the usual tricks enticed the redhead out, leaving Katsuki with no distractions as the sound of laughter filtered over a few hours later, the magic of a summer night on full display. Running his fingers through blond hair to tame it (ha), Katsuki finally had to sigh. “Grab your hat, Shitty Hair, I’m thinking it over. Back yard in 5.”

Kirishima made it in 3.

Yet again, the smell of grilled meat kept them company while the friend group next door drank themselves into a festival. (No, he wasn’t jealous. Shut up.) Kirishima, suddenly the poster boy of obedience, kept his mouth shut as he listened to their antics, grinning.

“No one go near the third bush from the left! ‘Cause…reasons.”

“That’s very specific.”

“How many of those have you had?!”

Katsuki had to snort, ignoring the side eye from Kirishima. The redhead’s bestie was beginning to crack – when was the last time the blond had smiled like that?

“Fire it up, Iida. Higher! Higher!!”

“Your firefighter kink is showing, Denki.”

Kirishima’s head snapped back to the fence, what was that?

Katsuki noticed, rolling his eyes with no malice. Someone put a gag in…

“Like your fascination with muscles and mayhem,” Denki clapped to Izuku, who immediately sputtered.

Never mind, keep ‘em talking.

Kirishima noticed it was suddenly okay to eavesdrop.

“C’mon, spiiiilll. In all the years I’ve known him, Izuku’s always been the one keeping others out of trouble. Real trouble, anyway.”

“Don’t worry, he’s still too pure for this world. Though that didn’t keep him from breaking a table in the tutor lab when the captain of the baseball team winked at him on his way out of the door.”

“They weren’t strong tables!”

“Just sayin’, everyone’s got a thing. For me, it’s someone with the muscles and heart to break down walls – and for our dear Izuku, it’s a thing for capable blonds.”

Kirishima exhaled, one eyebrow going up. Katsuki’s crimson eyes were gleaming in the dark, his friend scarily focused.

“So why aren’t you two dating?”

“I said ‘capable,’ my dear Tsuyu.”

He and Katsuki moved before they realized, uncannily on the same track for once. Cunning as new stars aligned. The cute neighbors were single, were they…at least for now. Kirishima’s knit hat followed Katsuki’s to the ground as they reached the gate. Hopefully, Denki also had a redhead kink, it was time to find out.

Well, the blond certainly sounded nimble, there was some sort of chase scene going on over there, couldn’t wait to…

Be doused silly for the second time in a week as he and Katsuki walked through the gate, both blinking the sudden torrent away. Kirishima had to laugh, helped by the horrified looks on the culprits’ faces as they clutched at the hose like it could save them.

Katsuki, meanwhile, took a different approach. He was at least 90% sure that Izuku had done it on purpose, eyeing the shrinking guy balefully. Except for the pink tint to his ears, that was cute. What? Focusing up, the blond wrested control of the weapon. Amped by the danger sense in those lovely green eyes.

“Uh…mercy?”

“Not today.” Retribution probably shouldn’t be so much fun, but Katsuki’s soul had to cackle at his bedraggled foe, now dressed to match. “You look like a waterlogged plant, idiot, nice. Where’s the food?”

Give him credit, it didn’t take Izuku long to gather some fight, and Katsuki was into it. This was just like the push he enjoyed with Deku, nice.

“You guys staying this time?” the brunette from before drunkenly broke the new ice, sipping on what looked like a mojito. There were a lot of options if you made nice with the two-toned weirdo in charge of the bar, don’t mind if they do.

“Hard to resist an invitation this attractive,” Kirishima grinned, eyeing up his flustered blond neighbor as he took a proffered drink. Shitty Hair was in rare form tonight, Katsuki’d have to hose him down himself. “I like to leave if I think Bakugou’s spoiling for a fight.”

“Why wou…Oh, the hose thing,” Izuku chuckled nervously, Katsuki watching him wring out his T-shirt in vain.

“Yeah, ‘the hose thing,’” he echoed pointedly, mirth drying up with his saliva when the green-haired guy actually stripped off in front of Katsuki before flouncing away! Fine, it was just his shirt, but still! If the pest was looking for the upper hand (among other things), he’d found it. Water droplets were just flowing down the guy’s form like they were born to it – that was Katsuki’s job, dammit! Fuck.

Well, well, Kirishima grinned over his drink, watching red climb the back of his bandmate’s neck, was his buddy drooling?! He whistled low by Katsuki’s bristling ear, looking in the same direction as his friend. “I get it,” he hummed cheerfully, fanning the flames. “Izuku's a snack.”

Long practice let him dodge a head butt in time, Kirishima laughing as he gave him some space. He’d seen enough, suspicions confirmed. Now it was time to focus on romancing his own cute neighbor, Denki was looking fine.

Intel flowed as freely as the booze, a happy little buzz allowing instant friendship. It wasn’t hard to encourage the group to spill while keeping carefully mum themselves. Not like anyone noticed anyway – except maybe the too-stoic bartender, but since he kept pouring more liquid chaos like wine, who were they to throw off the vibe. That’s also why Katsuki was grinning like an idiot, to fit in. Right.

It had nothing to do with Ochako regaling them with Izuku stories, the latest about some bakery quest at 5 am.

“That’s when they’re the freshest! Believe me, it’s tried-and-true science.”

“A teenager’s metabolism.”

“Izuku’s still like that. Total sweet tooth. Give that boy a waffle…”

“Or a crêpe.”

“Right, thank you, Tsuyu,” the brunette agreed laughing, Iida propping her up while multitasking on the grill, Kirishima taking notes. “Or a crêpe, and Izuku’s yours for life.”

“At least.”

“An All Might shirt? Really?” Drawn to Izuku like a magnet, Katsuki tried not to panic at another sign of kinship with the guy, the new T-shirt clinging to his frame. Naturally, Katsuki masked it like a pro. “What are you, 12?” Facepalming in his head, Katsuki deflected by spoiling the cat.

“Notice you recognized a faded design in 10 seconds flat,” De-Izuku sassed back.

“It’s hard to miss, freckles. I had one, too, before I hit puberty. But you do you.”

“That…!”

“Already at the nickname stage, how interesting,” Kirishima hummed, Katsuki reminded again how much his friend knew him, glaring. Nicknames came with affection for Katsuki, a tell only his inner circle knew. Great.

“I believe he got there with ‘idiot’ first,” the too-calm bastard lulling them in with the rum punch “rescued” him while likewise defending his friend, what a talent.

“I like Izuku’s shirt. And we can’t all dress alike,” Tsuyu redirected diplomatically.

She had a point. He and Kirishima had fallen into their informal band gear out of habit, they’d better keep an eye on that. Let Shitty Hair explain, then, he was the one that let the wolves in. “Anyway, it comes with the job.”

“Which is?” the bartender smiled evenly, Katsuki unsurprised. This segue was inevitable. “I work in the family business, same as Iida. Half these other guys are teachers.”

“Makes sense you’re a teacher,” he huffed at Izuku with a laugh, amused to watch the shorter man bristle. “You seem the type.”

“Meaning?”

Katsuki glanced around at all the huffing. “It’s not an insult, extras. He’s just more brain than brawn.” They could stop glaring at him already, their ire was misplaced. The rocker hadn’t known what his weakness was before now, but apparently it was fit nerds with an attitude. Izuku just had to be intelligent, too, didn’t he, fuck Katsuki’s life. How many daydreams had he infiltrated already, the blond didn’t fucking know. The point is: daydreams!

And the fire wasn’t stopping anytime soon (yes). “Unlike you, then?” Izuku waved a hand between them, Katsuki’s eyes acquiring a glint.

“Speaking of, what do you think we do?” His red-haired bandmate jumped in curiously.

“Mob enforcers?”

Seriously? Bad-ass, of course, but seriously? “Why do I think that was your idea, greenie?” Bingo, judging by the squirm.

At least Izuku owned it. “My original idea was ninjas for you two, actually, but I guess I’ll have to settle on construction. Probably demolition.”

It was Katsuki’s turn to send all-too-piercing eyes his opponent’s way, he didn’t like that little insight one bit. Before they had enough success in the music industry to feed themselves, they’d had to supplement with their old gig, construction. It was one of the reasons his friends called him Blasty, he had specialized in explosions. (The other being his calm, level-headed approach to life. Ahem.)

Anyway, that was too good of a guess. Katsuki narrowed his eyes, considering. Maybe they were onto something with their original suspicion, and the neighbors were playing some kind of long game…

“Oh yeah? What field?”

“Business management and grant writing over there.” Katsuki tuned back in as Denki pointed at his friend. “Electrical engineering for me. Though don’t ask me to give a presentation, I just like the craft.”

Of course, Izuku’s attention to detail could also just be how the nerd was wired, Katsuki hummed, armed with new information. Right along with mumbling, apparently. Though – oddly – the other’s stream of consciousness was a cool kind of white noise for him.  “Breathe, nerd, geez,” Katsuki laughed, inhaling sharply as their fingertips touched. Wow. Holy…no, nope! Sometimes electric currents just happened!

True to form, the blond covered the urge to flirt by insulting the nerd’s gardening skills, when he was actually impressed by his diligence. Completely coincidentally, Katsuki had managed to find himself in the backyard several times while Izuku went about his yardwork. Absolutely not because the nerd liked to hum while he worked, and Katsuki found it appealing. “Not if you keep drowning them like that.”

“Oh, you garden?” The green-haired gremlin said before mumbling something about Katsuki hiding all the bodies.

Brat. Not yet, but maybe he’d take up the hobby. “I just get ‘em all the time,” the blond glared. Every concert and major event, who knows why. Had he said something about liking roses in some interview along the way? His team usually passed them along to whatever hospital ward was nearby.

“Mob funerals,” he heard Izuku utter under his breath, the neighbor nodding sunnily at him like he hadn’t just called him a felon. If Katsuki was in the mob, he wouldn’t have to deal with annoying executives, what the fuck. He had to smother a grin, not the nerd, when his quarry meeped, realizing he’d said that out loud. “Glad someone does,” his opponent sighed then, leaving the blond incredulous that Izuku wasn’t drowning in flowers. Look at those freckles! Not to mention his ass, I mean, c’mon!

“Well, since you won the wet T-shirt contest, maybe you should have them,” Kirishima had the nerve to correct that first, Katsuki growling at his friend. Stick to your own neighbor, Shitty Hair, the nerd was his.

“I won the contest,” Denki interrupted cheerfully, unknowingly saving the day.

“In your dreams, sparky, that title is mine.”

***

And it only got worse from there.

Guard down enough to accept an invite inside, the first thing Katsuki noticed was some kind of crazy dry erase board in the kitchen. Given that one column had construction workers and the other smooth criminals, it didn’t take long to realize they did have stalker neighbors, but clearly more clueless than cunning. It didn’t hurt that his ego was pleased by the interest, so he let it slide.

The rock star was in such a good mood, he didn’t bat an eye when Kirishima immediately sidled up to Denki for a documentary. He especially lost any protest when of all things, it turned out to be a Hero feature almost impossible to track down, Katsuki had tried! Some punk beat him out at the last online auction, but in Katsuki’s defense, he’d had way too many things going on at the time.

Anyway, this was a chance for valuable intel in his next battle with Deku, so bonus! Izuku was surprisingly well informed, add one more piece of wood to the fire – well, except for defending the documentary as airtight, when it clearly left out the canon assassination attempt so many fans liked to ignore. So Katsuki kindly corrected him – and the nerd had the (sexy) audacity to clap back! Half an hour later, and the battle discussion raged on.

Catching himself just shy of squashing the smart-ass until his rival begged for mercy – absolutely not because he was dying to know what Izuku looked like beneath him – Katsuki drew back and snarled, “Die!” before stalking off to minimum safe distance next door. Psyche officially shaken.

He didn’t get any equilibrium back when he saw Izuku doing that crazy bedtime routine he liked so much – stretching like it wasn’t some kind of lure. Fuck, how had the nerd not caught on fire from how hard Katsuki was staring, the guy’s lizard brain was shit.

Or not. Katsuki moved out of range not a second too soon as green eyes suddenly scanned the space between them, searching like he’d sensed it. The blond ran his hand down his face in the dark, feeling like a prisoner in his own room. Guilty of nothing besides noticing what was there, but still.

Then Izuku smiled that we-got-this smile, and Katsuki’s soul instantly relaxed, reassured. Maybe…maybe these new instincts weren’t wrong, and he and Kirishima were put here for a reason. Priorities began to shift, and the rock star wondered instead how to get an invite to that room.

***

Same thought, different room, and Kirishima was right there with him as he watched Denki punish/reward his soul yet again. He ate every movement up as those quick fingers ran through golden hair across the way, Kirishima staring unashamedly. As before, he did his best to summon up some psychic portal to his will that the blond would magically fall through.

And, finally – it worked. Just like that, Denki looked over. The neighbor’s mouth dropped open as a gorgeous pink streaked across the generous skin on display, regrettably limited to chest level only. Kirishima would have to research how far that betraying heat could go. Goals, right?

The hottest staring match of the century wasn’t stopping anytime soon when Denki got this look. A fey, cunning challenge to the tilt of his head as he regarded Kirishima just out of reach. A come-hither smile and a dare all in one.

Delighted, he watched Denki turn his back, indolently running his hands down his skin since the redhead wouldn’t, lower and firmer with each pass. Was the other really going to go that far, would he…fuck yes, he would.

It would be rude to let the blond dare so much without him, wouldn’t it, so Kirishima happily rose to the occasion, his own hand seeking release. Imagining with each pass of delicious friction that it was Denki working him closer with his mouth. He lost track of everything as power shocks surged under his skin. Kirishima didn’t care that his bandmate could wander into the kitchen like he had every right to, all that mattered was the mess Denki made of his mind. Happier in that moment than he’d been all his life, and the redhead was already a happy guy.

Absurdly satiated, he laughed tiredly when he finally came down to earth, staring furiously at his cocky prey as Denki toweled himself clean. The blond hadn’t been shy with those wonderful little sounds that had drifted, Kirishima would make sure he heard them again.

Though when the other glanced over and gasped, beautiful red betraying him again, Kirishima took his time watching the traces it left. The rock star nodded, knowing Denki understood his meaning – and his intent. Challenge accepted, sexy neighbor. “Later,” he mimed, laughing before he closed the dark curtains for the night.

Game, set, match – and he couldn’t wait for the next round.

***

Katsuki had to get a handle on his sleep schedule again, Deku was beginning to pull ahead in their online debates. Unacceptable! To that end, he negotiated some earlier chats, altering his run schedule to match. Certainly not out of a quiet desire to run into…

Wham.

Katsuki wasn’t even surprised anymore that Izuku had found another way to soak him, long exhaling as water spread across his chest from his rival’s latest mishap, this time courtesy a water bottle. “Now it’s on purpose.”

Naturally this led to more of their own special bickering, previously at a level reached only by Deku. Katsuki finally had to groan at Izuku’s annoyingly on-point observations. “How can there be two of them?” he muttered, predator pleased when the green-haired man backed himself into a tree. “I’m busy later, freckles, calm your tits. I’ll run when I want to.”

“Ah, yes, ninjas never sleep.”

Where had this ninja fixation come from, Katsuki was gonna have to get the story on that eventually. “You would know,” he retorted, “Though you had that crossed off on your little board.”

Ooh, that struck a nerve, it was intensely satisfying to make his cute neighbor blush, Katsuki wanted to bite him. Sink strong teeth into those adorable pouting cheeks and never let go, it’d be so easy…Welp, guess he had cute aggression, it had just never come up before. Great.

“Well, I added nuclear physicist today in your honor. Definitely the mad kind.”

“Not even close,” Katsuki scoffed, taunting. Irresistible to dance so close to the truth. “But if I were – I would rock it.”

Then began their little tango around the tree, Izuku just as deft at dodging as he was with his words. Katsuki dug in to outlast him, though, a dark, lovely satisfaction growing as he managed to cage the little pest against the bark. Badly wanting to give into temptation as he watched Izuku’s pulse jump in dangerous proximity. The way those vivid green eyes knew his soul…“You have absolutely no sense of self-preservation, freckles, and it’s beginning to piss me off.”

“Why, because I’m talking to you?” Izuku tried to counter, coming across as dazed.

Join the club. “Especially because you’re talking to me,” Katsuki growled by his ear, the other not helping with that unguarded little hitch. Playing with fire, freckles, for fuck’s sake. The blond pushed himself back before he crossed lines that he shouldn’t, not yet. Now he was beginning to feel like the stalker.

“I am not…” His too-hot neighbor said in protest. Fuck, he must’ve said that out loud.

Before he could panic, Izuku somehow charmed him into another childish contest, this time focused on cooking. The nerd was doomed. It might’ve been all the attention the green-haired man was giving his chest, but Katsuki’s brain fogged just long enough for the brat to beat him back to the porches by a hair. Sonofabitch!

Ranting about it to Deku only led to valid points about competition and completely invalid points about a Heroes side plot because the other had had a crush. That topic was suddenly relevant.

Deku: “Side character, actually, and you would’ve, too, if you’d seen the guy, he…”

“Doubt it, I have very particular taste.”

Deku: “What do you want, then?”

That was easy, Katsuki thought – your soul, Izuku’s body. To start. “Someone who won’t stick a knife in my back.”

Deku: “…Sounds like you’ve met some pretty bad people if you can’t tell friend from foe, but…if you lose the will, Kacchan, something ugly wins.”

How right he was. Still…Deku had a way of making him want to fight the odds, and Izuku was increasingly worth the effort. “I’ve got my eye on someone, okay, cool it. Provided they don’t annoy me to death first. What’s your gold standard?”

Deku: “Someone who’ll put in as much effort as I will.”

Copy that, Katsuki understood perfectly. After that, their conversation eventually meandered into Deku waxing on about his sexy, provoking neighbor again. Seriously, he and his online spar were really living parallel lives these days.

Deku: “…That guy is a hottie – total package, though I don’t want to swell his already big head. Seriously, though – he’s very in shape, gotta say smart, funny in a snarky kind of way…though I’m pretty sure he’s unemployed. And his voice…”

“Oi, enough already. Though…I really do wish you lived nearby, Deku, then I could kick the guy’s ass for you.” Imagine how cool it’d have been if they’d grown up next door to each other. Still, the offer to defend his friend still stood, the neighbor had better play nice.

***

Which all led to some pretty satisfying cooking competitions with his weirdo crush next door. Most of which Katsuki crushed, of course, except when the green-haired wizard pulled magic out of nowhere with some old-school mouthwatering contenders.

That made up for whatever monstrosities his suspiciously cheerful roommate tried to create. Though as usual, Kirishima was sunnily immune to criticism, turning his insights back to Izuku.

“Still think the neighbors have a hotline to the paparazzi?”

“No,” Katsuki grumbled as he put the finishing touches on a fine peach cobbler, eat it, greenie. “If they’re stalkers, they’re pretty clumsy at it. Though they are actively trying to rope us into some kind of wet T-shirt contest.”

“Like that’s a bad thing?” Kirishima winced when the blond swatted his hand away, he wanted some cobbler! “You hit the crush jackpot, buddy, own it! Instead of being driven to homicidal rage, Izuku’s actually entertained by your rants? At least enough to drag you out of creative limbo, I know you’ve been experimenting with some riffs in there.”

“Shut up, Shitty Hair, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Uh-huh. Like I don’t know that you’ll somehow sync up with Izuku for the daily run, either.”

“Drop dead, Shitty Hair.”

“I love it when I’m right.”

Though the stupid, smug bastard actually was right, Katsuki fumed as he cooled down on the porch after another delightful teasing run together, Izuku busy stretching on his own porch like a siren about to score, fuck.

“You really have a thing for that cap,” his nemesis huffed as he extended.

Don’t remind him. If Katsuki didn’t have a caveat straight from Aizawa, he’d take any chance he could get to tempt Izuku with a “capable blond.” “You could learn a lot from my methods. Something that wouldn’t make you look like you just clawed your way out of the jungle,” he snipped before mentally slapping himself. Again. He’d love to run his fingers through those curls, control that stubborn head.

“I didn’t insult you,” his neighbor justifiably pouted, Katsuki seriously about to combust from that standing quadriceps stretch. Izuku’s perfect ass so close again. “Fuck me,” he muttered painfully, flat out lying when the other caught him in the act. “I said ‘touch-y.’ And here I was thinking you could take some pain.”

Which somehow only led to more flirting – were they flirting? Sometimes the green-haired man gave him what he swore were bedroom eyes. He sure hoped so.

Talking to Deku in the chat strangely continued the vibe. Though before he could ever truly collab with that brat, he needed to fix the same timeline error that Izuku had espoused the other evening. Seriously! Katsuki had seen the article about an admittedly darker villain assassination attempt a long time ago in an All Might fanzine he had as a kid. Unfortunately, his copy had been damaged beyond repair, and there weren’t many remaining copies out there. He was still right.

Welp, Katsuki just fought harder when the chips were down, it was time to make a plan for the rival within reach.

***

“Any reason you’re wearing your nicest athletic gear?” Kirishima smugly inquired, eyeing his suspiciously well-groomed roommate the following day. No need to look at the clock, Katsuki and Izuku were now a well-oiled machine.

“Any reason you’ve been singing in the backyard like a Disney princess?”

“Touché. Go get your man, Kats, you deserve it.”

“Working on it,” Katsuki mumbled, touched. He decided to ignore just this once what looked like the beginnings of a pie. Hope Sparky was up for some eccentric-ass courting rituals.

Starting his warm-up routine on the porch, Katsuki took some long, deep breaths while waiting for Izuku to make his appearance. He could do this, be brave enough to take a chance. He regularly sang in front of packed crowds, for crying out loud, what was one feisty nerd who had the power to stomp on his soul?

Said nerd wasn’t helping his nerves any with the delay. They had a standing appointment by now, where was he?

Fifteen minutes later, and they were back on track. Izuku stepped out, looking not unlike a green-eyed deer frozen by headlights. How could someone make dazed look fucking sexy? “Finally. Geez, nerd, some of us actually do things in the evening. Be on time for once… I’ve a mind to scope out some new paths, let’s walk it today.”

Happily, Izuku was up for the challenge. Heart beating fast for such a low-impact walk, Katsuki led the two of them to the local park. He’d painstakingly mapped it the evening before, sleep schedule forgotten for once. He’d seen posters for a park expansion, loaded with ways to woo his rival. He hoped.

Bingo. Izuku lit up like a beacon when he spotted the crêpes stand, Katsuki laughing unguarded. “Pick your poison, nerd, I’m buying since I dragged us out here. Can’t believe you’re still alive, given your…cooking skills.”

“I can too cook!”

And for all the fact that Izuku reacted to teasing by looking for the most expensive item on the menu, Katsuki felt unexpectedly giddy at this unspoken approval. The neighbor couldn’t be that dense, right? He had to be picking up on signals that the blond no longer had the power to hide.

Whatever. The spell of good company and great food seemed to be working its magic on them both. Katsuki hadn’t felt this relaxed in a long time, and if it helped lull Izuku into sharing more about his life, so much the better. They bantered like they’d been friends for years.

Though both were hardwired for wary, too. “Quid pro quo, buster.”

“I’ll think about it,” Katsuki said seriously, surprised that he meant it. Where’s ‘bum fuck nowhere,’ while we’re at it?”

“Probably right next to whatever cave you and Kiri ventured out of,” Izuku parried with no ill intent, though it drew Katsuki up short all the same, realizing how little he was protecting his friend. “Speaking of…”

“Leave him out of it, greenie.” Shit. Mental slap number three.

“Copy that,” the green-haired man clipped, suddenly frosty. Katsuki moved fast to grip Izuku’s wrist out of instinct he might run away, opting for a gentler approach and a tour of the park. When he wasn’t combing through the bushes for paparazzi, of course, old habits died hard.

Happily, the nerd joined right in, amused and resilient. “Expecting an ambush?”

“Always. That charming small-town mindset is gonna get you in trouble one of these days.”

“You’ve just met bad people,” Izuku chirped sunnily. “Not all of us…” His companion suddenly stiffened, looking intently over Katsuki’s shoulder so he pivoted to check.

Only to find a green-eyed nerd running off with a death wish and his hat. Said dork was booking it, not that the distance would save him. “You’re dead, shitnerd!” And backed that up to tackle his quarry into a bush even after Izuku valiantly used a park granny as a shield.  “And that’s how you take down a thief, granny.”

“You two are sweet,” she said, amused. Katsuki was surprised at the quick jolt to his heart that she thought they were a couple.

Though his other half took a different tack. “He definitely is not sweet,” Izuku hissed as Katsuki pulled him out of the bush, the blond immediately wincing at his neighbor’s scraped skin. Nothing said “date me now” like abrasions.

“We’ll catch you later, granny, this idiot’s in need of medical attention.”

“This idiot’s in need of a hatchet.”

“See what I have to put up with?”

If sweet-talking this guy wouldn’t work, at least Katsuki had the advantage of first aid for hands, calluses didn’t form themselves. A lot more sass and one hike to a konbini later, and the rock star had the satisfaction of watching his rival try to slam an automatic door in his face when the nerd went off to find bandages.

Izuku was gone for maybe five minutes, and Katsuki already missed him. If he needed any other reinforcement that he was far gone on the guy, that would do it. It was time to ask his perfect match for an actual date instead of hiding behind snark.

He opened his mouth to just come out with it when Izuku exited the konbini, the other looking…distracted. “Couldn’t find any hatchets?” Katsuki grinned, red eyes looking for insight.

“All out. I’ll just strangle you with the hose.”

“Or your thighs,” the blond laughed, remembering Deku’s konbini dilemma, halting when Izuku went pale in front of him. Of course he did, talk about bold, shit! “No, I didn’t…It’s something a friend of mine said a while back, he…” Alarmed, Katsuki watched the blood surge into the other’s face, Izuku looked like he was about to faint.

His neighbor fidgeted, Katsuki watching as the other slowly backed away. “That’s where I know you from, I…” Izuku muttered, starstruck, and the blond’s stomach immediately dropped. He knew that look, it was 100% recognition. Somehow, his neighbor had figured out who he was. But how? Something in the konbini, it had to be, Izuku had been so natural before…

His companion babbled something else and took off like he couldn’t get away from Katsuki fast enough. The blond was pretty sure that wasn’t a win.

Face darkening, the rock star slammed his knit cap back into place before stalking inside the building to test a theory. And fuck his life, there it was, front and center in the magazine racks, the newest issue of Buzz had dropped. Katsuki’s own image stared back at him on the cover, meeting glare for glare.

Aizawa had told them that the publication was imminent. Why couldn’t it have waited one more day until he was sure Izuku had chosen him for himself? And why couldn’t the nerd have missed it? Fuck!

Quickly, Katsuki pushed his shades into place and left the way he came, forlorn and angry. Also wondering how to explain to Kirishima they were screwed.

***

A prospect the redhead was not entirely against if it meant he got his hands on Denki in that shower. Kirishima hummed on unawares, hard at work on an offbeat way to woo the blond to his side. Everyone liked pie, right? And it so happened they had a plate to return, that was the gentlemanly thing to do! Ulterior motives and all.

Back to the pie, how hard could it be? Katsuki had a recipe book…though there were a lot of handwritten notes in the margin. Crap, was that a 2 or a 7? Oh, smoke probably wasn’t good.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, hot!” By sheer instinct to save his skin – literally – Kirishima tossed the now flaming pie away from himself. And coincidentally right over the barrier. He was just about to panic about setting his crush’s yard on fire when a now-familiar spray met his torso, and it was damp courage that had him call over.

Success! He went from accidental arson to front and center with the very hottie that had taken his mind, absolutely no barriers between them. Even better, it was obvious that Denki had come to the same conclusion. “Nice aim…Denki.”

With no well-intentioned but interfering besties to get in the way, Kirishima’s flirting knew no bounds. “I was working on a lemon pie. Got a thing for yellow these days.” The blond was so cute when he got flustered like that! “You hot? It’s a good day for the pool to cool down if you want to join me. Since I’m wet anyway,” he teased.

Fantastically, Denki agreed, and finally Kirishima had the neighbor much closer to home. He rather liked the idea of the blond in his den – but they could start with the pool. “Don’t worry about it, dude. You’re wearing shorts, that’s all we need. And let’s face it – water looks good on you,” he winked appreciatively.

Did it ever. Denki was the one playing with fire, taking him up on his offer like that. That lithe, lean body played havoc with his self-control. “Sure thing, but, uh – aren’t you gonna get yelled at when Bakugou returns? I get the impression you’re breaking the rules.”

Yep. Though Kirishima knew his roommate was making his own exception as they spoke. Either way, it didn’t matter, not when Denki whimpered anytime he closed the distance. “You kinda bring that out in me lately, not gonna lie,” the redhead grinned unashamed, likewise shucking his own shirt to join him in the water. “But we got time. Got the impression he’s gonna be out later with Izuku today.”

“And…you don’t mind?”

At the rate Izuku was making Katsuki’s soul breathe? Fuck no. “Nah, why would I?”

“That’s a very good question,” Denki muttered. “Don’t want to overstep.”

That sobered the redhead up. Ah. Made sense the neighbors had wondered about their status, too, people were supposed to. It was frustrating to have such an easy solve at hand but no permission to use it. “It’s complicated – but you’re not.” He watched the blond immediately relax, good call. “So, Denki…if you don’t jog, how do you stay so toned?”

A legitimate question he’d given plenty of thought to…and another fine excuse to scan that torso.

Denki gave as good as he got. Quite a bit of very effective flirting later, and Kirishima thought he’d better steer this conversation into safer waters, coaxing Denki into a bit of a life story. All fun and games until the blond faltered at the mention of a toxic ex.

“Betrayals are always ugly,” the redhead agreed, for the first time crossing the boundary to touch Denki directly, strong fingers threading through golden hair. “You didn’t deserve that.”

The neighbor had a way of making him feel like he did everything right. “Thank you,” Denki said sincerely, looking at him like he was a hero. “You strike me as the loyal type.”

And a blessing and a curse it was, at least right now. “Maybe a little too loyal,” Kirishima muttered, pushing himself back for some distance.

“Enough about me, buster, we had a deal.”

Before he could indulge the blond in a well-earned trade, Denki and Izuku’s light came on across the way. Unless Katsuki had a very successful not-date with Izuku, his own roommate would be back anytime, and he’d rather avoid friction. “Mind if I beg off for now?” he asked, eyeing the sky. “Think your bestie’s back, your kitchen light just came on.”

“Why break the trend?” his neighbor coolly agreed, hauling himself out to retrieve his shirt.

No, fuck that. Kirishima might be a loyal soldier, but he wasn’t losing this new ground with Denki. On the contrary. “Nah, it’s not like that. You doing anything tomorrow?”

“No firm plans.”

He and Katsuki had an appointment the next day at a recording studio that Aizawa had found at his bandmate’s request. Kirishima knew his best friend had found his lifeline – pretty sure it went by the name of Izuku. Either way, for the first time in a long time, Katsuki was gunning for studio time, and Kirishima was in. “Bakugou and I have something we gotta do on Grayson St. around 4. I noticed a coffee shop a block up – meet me there, and I’ll settle the score?”

He was beyond pleased when Denki nodded happily before flee…walking quickly from the scene. Not a bad opportunity to watch that ass as he went.

Shaking his head with a grin, Kirishima headed indoors, where Katsuki was conspicuously not present. Oooh, maybe next door? Chances for a cozy evening with Denki were looking up. Either way, the redhead had to remove all traces of the pie incident from the kitchen stat, he was still on a cooking ban. Given how nicely the evening had gone, though, that risk had certainly been worth it.

“Why are you wet?”

All mirth vanished from his face when he caught sight of Katsuki’s. Uh-oh. “Oh-h, the pool, and – you know -,” he started, gesturing at the dishes. Definitely concerned at the look in the blond’s scarlet eyes. His friend looked…angry and guilty – maybe a little heartbroken, too, what the…

“They know, Shitty Hair.”

“Who knows? Gonna…”

“The neighbors, Eijiro. Izuku clocked me as a member of the band.”

“Wh-how?”

Sifting through his friend’s rant as only Kirishima knew how, he finally drew back, not quite convinced of the need to panic. “Look, even if that is true, it doesn’t mean this is bad.”

“Of course it’s bad! I knew it was a mistake to talk to those two, the wasp nest will be over in minutes.”

“Dude, even if Izuku recognized you…”

“There is no ‘if.’ You didn’t see how fast he ran.” Oh, that was hurt, oh man. Kirishima wasn’t even sure he’d seen that emotion from Katsuki before. It was time to roll up the sleeves, he had work to do.

“Even so, it doesn’t track that he’d run straight to the media. Maybe he’s just flustered, give the dude a minute.” It was a lot of minutes and bestie love later before the blond begrudgingly agreed to sleep on it versus pack their bags. Kirishima was worried despite his front – he hoped Deku would back him up in the chat.

***

Deku did not back him up in the chat, shit. The dude was MIA. And the luck stayed foul. No Deku, and no Izuku in a nice, calming run, Kirishima had to own the growing unease. Instead of the victory their return to the recording studio was supposed to be, Katsuki was now a tense, rigid wire one jolt away from snapping.

Kirishima wasn’t sure how much he was allowed to interfere, but he was of a mind to sneak over and talk to the neighbors if Denki didn’t clear things up at the coffee shop first.

“It’s fine, man,” he smiled with more cheer than he had, trying to reassure himself as much as the blond as they walked to the studio incognito. “It’s just a weird coincidence, everything’s gonna be…”

“Think so, huh?”

Even from the far end of the block, the media circus outside of the studio was impossible to miss. At a glance, Kirishima spotted one news crew and a flash mob of their fans, judging by the shirts and signs with chants of “King Explosion Murder!” reaching their ears.

Luckily, eyes were peeled to the studio, the lead singer and guitarist probably expected to arrive by transport. That was likely all that saved them, the two pivoting immediately to retrace their steps, taking random stops and long turns in shops in case of a tail.

Throughout it all, Katsuki was eerily silent, never a good sign. “Kats…”

“No, Shitty Hair,” the other interrupted, seething, that short fuse about to go off. “The day after Izuku recognizes me, our interim studio gets mobbed? C’mon! They sold us out. But how did they know, it doesn’t…what?”

Kirishima had paled, and Katsuki was too laser focused to miss it. “Well…”

One brief, very tense confession later about his afternoon with Denki, and Kirishima had never seen his bandmate so murderous. “You fucking….”

“I know what it looks like, but he wouldn’t…!”

“Then explain the crowd, you idiot! Well? Tell me how that fucking happened!”

“I…”

“Well?”

“Give me a minute, Kats! Maybe…”

“Think with your brain instead of your dick, Eijiro! I agree they didn’t know us before, but look what happened the second they did!” Katsuki had never known this kind of blistering hurt. Without even trying to speak to him first – like a friend, much less as something hopefully more – Izuku had gone straight to Denki with this new information. And instead of protecting trust he couldn’t believe they’d been stupid enough to forge with them, the broke-ass bitches had sold them out.

A future he’d begun to crave without realizing it had suddenly been ripped away, one-sided and unmistakably cruel.

It was at that awful moment that he picked up on the movement of their shared gate opening, familiar voices coming through. Two-faced bastards still out for more, gloating at their win or playing a game. He’d give them one alright.

Later, he owned that it was some kind of disconnect that pushed him to move, probably building long before they’d met their neighbors. But for now, something primal and pissed would have its revenge, and so he grabbed Kirishima.

Katsuki kissed his startled friend like they were out of a movie, heated and deliberate, pushing him up against the trellis. Beyond satisfied by the horrified looks on the intruders’ faces as he stared them down with malice, the two open-mouthed and silent. “Beat it, extras, we’re busy. Get out.”

And, surprisingly, they did, adrenaline sustaining him before the crash.

He heard Kirishima’s shocked exhale before he turned to face him, the redhead growling before his friend’s fist connected with his face. A feeling like ice water flowed over Katsuki’s skin as he stared up at his towering friend from his place on the ground, he didn’t know Kirishima could make an expression like that.

“Do you know what you just did?!” the redhead seethed, heading for the gate. Enraged and panicked to find it already locked. “I told Denki we weren’t together, now he thinks it was all a big game!”

“He…”

“Didn’t deserve that! Neither of them did! What is wrong with you?! Never mind, and fuck off, Katsuki, I’m going to find him. Don’t touch me,” the other hissed when Katsuki thought to reach for his friend.

And just like that, Kirishima was gone, the sudden quiet more unsettling than his rage.

Long minutes passed with Katsuki preparing arguments about how he was right, even if his execution was admittedly lacking. Muttering that would put…Well, better to be prepared, right, moving on. The blond became unreasonably nervous as the silence continued both here and next door. Kinda odd that the paparazzi hadn’t already come over…

His phone ringing brought Katsuki intense relief, the rock star fumbling to answer it as a pissed Kirishima stalked back into sight. Katsuki put it on speaker, he might need a witness.

“Their car’s gone, and no one’s answering the door. You…”

“Alright, problem children, since I haven’t heard from you, I assume no one’s in jail.” Aizawa’s deep drawl commanded attention, it always did. “Nice job avoiding the ambush at the studio. If no one’s on you by now, it’s safe to assume that was the only information that was leaked. The situation’s been contained, now as to how…”

“We know how,” Katsuki interrupted in attempt at vindication, wincing at the anger on Kirishima’s face. It sucks to be used, Shitty Hair, but at least they got a hit in in return. Hit…fuck, his eye was throbbing. “The Mata Haris next door…”

“Mata Hari’s female, Bakugou, and I already told you the neighbors’ background checks came out clean. No, the link to the press was regrettably internal.”

Another icy shiver ran down his spine, the phone case cracking in his grip. “What do you mean internal?” No amount of self-control could take the strain from Katsuki’s voice now.

“Cab strikes again, only this time using a patsy. A new hire that was not screened as thoroughly as they should have been, Hizashi and I are working on that. This person funneled out the reservation for the studio, and the media naturally went straight in for the kill. Our lawyers are on it, only a matter of…What was that?”

If Katsuki had to guess, it was probably Kirishima destroying the trellis. “You’re sure?”

“Of course I’m sure, it’s me. What…?”

“Just the cat, sensei, everything’s fine. Keep us posted.”

“You don’t have a…”

Katsuki hit disconnect, lunging for his room rather than face Kirishima right now. There was still a chance the neighbors had…but he knew they had not. Probably…right?

A nauseating cocktail was eating through the blond’s guts, he reached blindly to join the server in search of his friend. He needed Deku’s kind support before he crashed along with his pride, he’d tell him everything.

“Deku, you will not believe the day I’ve had, hurry up and get on the chat.”

“…”

“Deku?”

The silence hurt more than his face. Now what was he supposed to do?