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Todoroki doesn’t have a nickname, nor does he really want one. Growing up, his father refused, and still does, to call him by anything other than “Shouto”.
“Those things make you soft. What you should be thinking about is what your hero name will be.” He said sternly every time Todoroki would ask his father why he didn’t have a nickname like his brothers and sister do?
Additionally, he never had any close friends who could’ve given him a friendly nickname.
“Friends will distract you, Shouto. You don’t need them.” His father declared time and time again.
The only thing that came close was his mother used to call him “My Shouto.” He remembers her saying it right before she gave him kisses on his cheeks, his hands, and his eyes. But once she was admitted into the hospital, the showers of kisses and “My Shouto’s” ended.
Many of his friends in class 1-A have nicknames. On the first day of classes, Asui requested that everyone call her “Tsuyu-chan.” At first, Todoroki thought the request to be incredibly strange, but now he can’t picture calling her by any other name.
Kaminari is called “Pikachu” by some of his close friends. Todoroki calls Momo by her first name simply because they’ve known each other for so long. For a while, Aoyama was referred to as “Sparkle Boy” by a good number of kids in class 1-A and class 1-B; but that quickly died down once everyone realized Aoyama was actually considering using that as his hero name.
And Mineta is simply called, “That asshole.”
However, out of all the nicknames that breathe individuality to class 1-A, there was one that grated on his ears like sandpaper.
“Kacchan!” Midoriya whines, rubbing the red spot forming on his forehead, after Bakugou flicks him as he passes by to get to his desk.
At the sound of the nickname, Todoroki stiffens. He knows that Midoriya and Bakugou grew up together- but the fact that Midoriya continues to call his bully by such an affectionate nickname baffles him to no end.
“You should pay more attention next time, Deku!” Bakugou smirks as he pulls out his chair and sits down. He leans back and rests his feet on his desk, making Todoroki’s blood boil.
That’s another nickname Todorki has many mixed feelings about, Deku. While he is glad that Midoriya took ownership of the incredibly slanderous nickname and made it into something positive- he can’t help but cringe every time it leaves Bakugou’s lips. The name devolves back into its hurtful origins and Midoriya still smiles through it.
He’s actually doing it right now. Smiling even though Todoroki can see tears gathering in the corners of his eyes and the red spot beginning to fade from Midoriya’s kneading.
It makes Todoroki sick with resentment towards the mercurial blond.
After classes conclude for the day, Todoroki and Midoriya walk to the dorms to get a head start on their homework. It’s Friday and Midoriya likes to finish up his work early so he can have the rest of the weekend to train and watch old clips of All Might on WatchTube.
As they ride the elevator in silence up to Midoriya’s floor, for some reason, Todoroki can’t help but dwell on the whole “Kacchan” thing.
Friends since childhood be damned, Bakugou doesn’t deserve Midoriya’s kindness and he certainly doesn’t deserve any of Midoriya’s pleasantries. With how poorly Bakugou treats Midoriya, the only thing he deserves is a good punch square between the eyes. Which is something Todoroki would gladly administer at the drop of a hat.
“Is everything okay, Shouto?” Midoriya asks, bringing Todoroki out of his agitation and back to reality inside the small elevator. Hearing his first name actually calms him a little. Calling each other by their first names is something they do when they’re alone- even though there’s a part of Todoroki that wishes they’d do it when they weren’t too.
Todoroki nods and straightens his posture, he didn’t realize he’d been slouching. “Yeah, everything’s alright,” he lies.
Midoriya presses his lips into a think line and narrows his eyes, “I don’t believe you.”
The elevator stops and opens with a bing.
“I’m fine, Izuku. How’s your head doing?” Todoroki says as he steps out of the elevator backwards, trying to change the subject.
Midoriya brings his hand up to his forehead before rushing out of the elevator to catch up to Todoroki, who is surprisingly good at walking backwards. “It’s fine, Kacchan does stuff like that all the time and he didn’t even flick me that hard to be honest. My body is just super bruise-able I guess,” he laughs and scratches the back of his head.
Todoroki hopes his face doesn’t show visible discomfort at Midoriya’s use of Bakugou’s nickname. Usually he’s pretty good at keeping a neutral face, but when Midoriya’s around something just... happens to him. It’s like he’s not himself anymore. His collected exterior is washed away and the only thing left is his unbridled emotions; bared for all to see.
“Why do you still call him that?” The words slip out of Todoroki’s mouth involuntarily and he quickly realizes what he’s done.
Midoriya stops walking and cocks his head to the side, “What do you mean, ‘why do I still call him that?’”
Todoroki stops walking as well and can feel his chest hollow out. His mouth goes dry, so he has to lick his lips before he responds, “Why do you still call Bakugou ‘Kacchan’. He’s not affectionate towards you at all. Why do you call him by such an affectionate name?”
“Is this what was bothering you back in the elevator?” Midoriya asks raising an eyebrow, seeing right through Todoroki like he always does, and gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder to where they just came from.
“That’s not important,” Todoroki dismisses the incredibly correct accusation, “I want to know why.”
Midoriya shoves his hands in his pockets and looks down at the ground and then back at Todoroki and shrugs. “I don’t know? I’ve called him that my entire life, it’s what I’m used to. To me, that’s his name. Does it-” Midoriya falters and bites his lip, “Does it make you uncomfortable when I call him that?”
Todoroki can see puffs of breath coming out of Midoriya’s mouth as he says this; damn his traitor of a quirk. “It’s not that it makes me uncomfortable. I just don’t understand. How- Why- I don’t-,” he groans in frustration, not knowing how to put his feelings into words.
“Do you want me to stop calling him Kacchan?” Midoriya offers which makes Todoroki’s heart sink to his stomach. How can Midoriya be like this? So willing to compromise even though Todoroki is giving him no good reason why he should.
“No, you don’t have to do that.”
“Then what do you want me to do?” Midoriya’s brow furrows. Todoroki thinks he’s getting frustrated too.
“You don’t-”
“Shouto.” Midoriya says sternly.
“Give me a nickname then.” Todoroki blurts out.
Midoriya’s expression melts along with the ice patches of ice forming on the walls of the dormitory hall. “You want me to give you a nickname?” He parrots.
Todoroki nods and chooses his words carefully. “I’m your friend, am I not? I don’t- I don’t want you to just call me Shouto when we’re in private,” he can feel his hands balling into clenched fists as he admits this to Midoriya.
“Do you want me to call you Shouto in public then?” Midoriya walks to Todoroki’s side and looks up at him earnestly. His green eyes are begging for the truth and Todoroki has no choice but to give it to him.
A blush begins to rise up his neck and settles in his cheeks. “No, not really. I want you to come up with something,” he’s held by Midoriya’s gaze, unable to move or speak louder than a whisper.
Midoriya blinks, “Can I have some time to think about it?”
Todoroki tenses and nods again. “Take your time,” he says before turning around to walk towards Midoriya’s room, hiding the scarlet that’s overtaken his pale complection.
--
About a half hour into doing their homework, Midoriya sits up and slams his pencil down in his math textbook. “I’ve got it!” He shouts triumphantly, raising a fist in the air.
Todoroki, who is situated on Midoriya’s bed, stops translating sentences into english, “You got what?”
Midoriya hops to his feet and scrambles to his bed next to Todoroki. He sits on his knees and bounces excitedly, “I know what your nickname is going to be.”
“You do?” Todoroki feels his temperature begin to rise as puts his pencil in his book and closes it. He didn’t think that Midoriya would come up with a nickname so quickly. But then again, it is Midoriya he’s dealing with.
Midroiya nods, “Uh-huh! And it’s a good one!”
“Well, let’s hear it.”
“Okay, just know it’s a work in progress so if you don’t like it, we can change it. But I know you’re going to like it. I’m actually surprised I didn’t come up with it sooner. It’s such an obvious nickname for you!” Midoriya rambles absentmindedly as he does. The corners of Todoroki’s mouth turn up and he can feel his heart beating a little faster.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Todoroki says, giving Midoriya his undivided attention.
“Right! What do you think of Shoucchan?” he says absolutely glowing with pride over his nickname giving abilities.
The way the name rolls off Midoriya’s tongue sends a shiver down Todoroki’s spine. “I really like that name,” he nods and realizes that answer is a complete understatement.
“ Soucchan,” he repeats back to Midoriya, “I really do like it.” He’s never heard a nickname so tender or filled with fondness in his entire life. It warms him from the inside out and covers him more than his mother’s “My Shouto” kisses ever could.
“You mean it!?” Midoriya’s excitement doubles and he’s suddenly hugging Todoroki, who hopes that the other boy can’t hear how loud his heart is hammering in his chest.
“Yeah, I mean it.” He sighs and hugs Midoriya back tightly. Resting his chin on Midoriya’s head, he inhales the smell of mint and citrus, and doesn’t want to ever let go.