Chapter Text
[1]
Class 1-A has a mandatory tutoring schedule that alternates between the top students in the class that they’ve been doing since halfway through their first year. to help those who don’t know how to study not regret that they can’t study on their own, while simultaneously helping those who are tutoring make sure they are understanding the work.
“Hey, Katsuki. I stole my dad’s card let’s go to the restaurant you like and go wild again.” Todoroki calls from across the common room, which is a mistake on his end, because instead of Bakugou’s reply, he hears multiple people across the vicinity of the room screech, “Again?”
It was on the mandatory Thursday session that the class sat around the common room – not the communal dining area because too many people complained about getting hungry – books out as Momo explains some important Chemistry things, which she hopes everyone is taking in. Well, not now. Might as well take a water break. “Everyone take 15.”
Todoroki is at a loss of words, not wanting to share his somewhat secretive dates with Bakugou – he knows Bakugou would share this train of thought. He stares at them with a blank look turning to Bakugou only to realize that he didn’t hear what was said. He pulls out his phone shooting Bakugou a quick text asking if he took out his hearing aid, resulting in the blonde glancing up at him before signing that he didn’t want to hear the background noise of the extras due to a headache.
With the noise level that’s coming from their classmates, Todoroki is surprised that Bakugou opted to stay down here to do his homework. It’s not his day to hold the tutoring session, so he has no reason to be here, especially if he has a headache bad enough to make him take out his aid.
Makes sense, Todoroki decides to sign instead of type. I was saying I stole my dad’s credit card again, wanna go to that restaurant?
You had me at ‘stole credit card’. We should ask Aizawa first though, we do not want a repeat of last time.
Yeah, definitely not. Let’s go.
Bakugou starts packing his books in reply, and Todoroki takes that as his queue to do the same. They were gone before anyone could ask what was happening.
“Did anyone know Todoroki could sign?” Denki turns to Midoriya as if he held all the answers but the greenette was too stunned into silence to realize the question, even though open to all, was aimed at him.
Denki stared on. He wants answers. The resident explodo boy only started using sign language as a means of communication halfway through their first year. Back then only he and Midoriya could sign comfortably, and the rest of the class tried learning but Denki was under the impression that all of them gave up within the first month. Don’t get him wrong they did try. And they would have probably would have succeeded – no, he can't lie, they didn’t have the brain capacity to practice as long as Yaomomo and Iida did, so let's face it they would never have been able to do it by themselves; and, sad to say, that’s why they didn’t. At least that’s what he thought.
Besides class prez and vice prez doing their duties of giving every student a voice, it was only Midoriya and, since the beginning of the school year, Shinsou who could hold a conversation with Bakugou when the world got too loud and he takes his aid out.
That leaves them with the question: how did they miss this? And when did Todoroki and Bakugou get close enough that Bakugou willingly hangs out with him alone?
Shinsou plops down next to Denki. Only late to the mandatory session because self-care is more important than education. “Why’s everyone so quiet? Isn’t this supposed to be a tutoring session?”
Denki not much a fan of answering a question with a question does just that out of exasperation, “Did you know Todoroki could sign?”
“Yes,” Shinsou answers slowly, looking around the room and noticing all the eyes on him also interested in the answer as if it were a trick question. “We practice together almost every day. Why?”
Denki shook his head, “Unbelievable, you’re horrible.”
“Not cool, Shinbro.” Kirishima frowned, starting a chorus of approval from the Bakusquad.
“Seriously, what did I do?”
“Vital information, dude, vital.” Sero offers, but it only makes Shinsou more confused.
By the time Momo is clapping her hands together in a call for attention saying she’s just going over one more thing then she’ll release them for dinner, he decides he doesn’t want to know.
[2]
It's not uncommon for them to have school on Saturdays. Though what is unusual is the little excursion Aizawa-sensei informed them to prepare for. A hike. Bakugou loves hikes. He knows exactly what to pack as he has been doing hikes on his own since he was eight. But he knows that, even though Todoroki has accompanied him to some of his escapades, he doesn’t necessarily like waking up that early. And with the Bakusquad down in Sero’s room for a ‘necessary sleepover’ (Mina’s words, which he’d normally argue with, but didn’t want to be part of the whole sleepover thing – he needs his eight hours of sleep before a hike, especially one Aizawa is taking them on – so he said nothing), they were bound to be making a raucous. So when Todoroki pops his head in Bakugou’s dorm room, pouting, Bakugou wordlessly moved over, holding the blanket open for him.
Todoroki strides in, looking happier than he had been moments ago, placing his packed bag on the floor and his change of clothes on the desk next to Bakugou’s, wasting no time in flopping down on Bakugou, “Hi.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Bakugou says half-heartedly, unable to hold back the goofy smile on his face, “Get in, we have got an early and long day tomorrow.”
Todoroki shifted properly into the bed, into Bakugou’s arms, burying his head in his neck, mumbling, “Don’t remind me.”
“Okay, I won't remind you.” He combed his hand through candy-cane-coloured hair, kissing the crown of his head. “G’night, Shou.”
Todoroki’s reply is lost to the sound of soft snores.
***
Bakugou worries that he wouldn’t be able to wake the next morning, bringing a steaming cup of freshly made coffee from the kitchen to bribe him to get ready, but when he makes it back to his dorm room he is surprised to be greeted by the image of a sleepy Todoroki dressed and putting on his hiking boots.
“I brought you some coffee,” Bakugou says putting the coffee on the dresser so that he would be able to help Todoroki tie his shoes.
“I thought you left without me.”
Bakugou laughs at the whiny tone in Todoroki’s voice, “Do you actually believe that I would do that?”
“No.” Todoroki sips on the coffee, “But you weren’t here and that’s what my brain came up with.”
Bakugou pulls Todoroki in for a comforting hug. “Come on the rest of the extras are already down eating breakfast.” Grabbing their bags in one hand, pulling Todoroki along in the other.
***
When they got off the bus Bakugou was pleased to see that it was one of the trails he enjoys doing. He probably knew this trail better than he knew himself.
Ten minutes into the trail and Todoroki keeps bumping into him. He refused to leave Bakugou’s side after getting separated on the bus. Whereas Todoroki had it easy and got to sleep next to Shinsou, Bakugou had to listen to Deku and dunce face’s constant chatter (though with the way Todoroki is walking with his eyes closed, it almost looks as if he had to endure it).
Behind Bakugou, Shitty Hair and Racoon Eyes behind him betting on how long it’ll take for him to explode on Todoroki in the typical blasty fashion of his. Imagine their surprise when instead he wraps Todoroki’s arms around his waist, as Todoroki rests his head on Bakugou’s shoulder. No explosions, no murder threats. Just two boys walking together. Extremely closely. Nothing to see here.
“I hate waking up early,” Todoroki complains.
“I know, Shou, but it's not that long until we’re there.”
“You're lying. Don’t play with me. We just got here.”
“Okay, okay. We’ve got two hours and fifteen minutes of walking if we keep at this pace.”
“Can we shorten that time?”
“Not really, since we’re leading the group and Aizawa would kill me if I run off.” Bakugou can feel rather than see Todoroki’s pout. “Want me to carry you until you feel more awake?”
Todoroki shakes his head. “I can't do that to you.”
“It's not like I can easily carry three times your weight or anything.”
“Katsuki.”
“Don’t ‘Katsuki’ me. You're clearly not feeling this yet. I can do this trail in my sleep, but this is your second time coming here, I can't let you do this half-conscious. Let me do this for you, please.”
Todoroki gives in and tries his best to ignore the whispers, under the pretense of it coming from the trees around him.
[3]
Saturday nights are class bonding nights.
Nights where Bakugou is even more strict than usual on his ‘bedtime’. As he shares the kitchen with Sato, slaving over the foods he offers to make to make up for the fact that he turns in early, Todoroki comes in looking a little spooked. “What’s wrong, Shou?”
“Could you stay a little later tonight? I feel like I’m gonna need you to be there to get through the night.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Todoroki asks, coming to stand next to Bakugou.
“Yeah, you know all you need to do is ask.” He leans up to press a kiss on Todoroki’s temple.
“So you’ll stay for both movies?” Todoroki is hopeful, but he still sounds unsure, feeling like he is pushing his luck.
“Yeah. Though I’m not apologizing for the demon you’ll end up dealing with tomorrow.” he lifts a spoon of broth to Todoroki’s lips, who nods to say it tastes good.
“Why don’t you sleep in, you deserve it.”
“Internal clock won't allow it,” Bakugou grumbles, not the first time he has had to explain this. “I’m done in the kitchen now if you need the space, Sugar boy.” Taking Todoroki’s hand in his, they take route to the common room where some of their classmates have already gathered. Todoroki leads them to the general area the Bakusquad was, plopping down next to Kaminari, their joint hands pulling Bakugou down next to him. Bakugou only lets go of Todoroki’s hand to sign: Taking out my aid now gonna try and nap before the chaos begins, to which Todoroki’s only reply is to open his arms. Bakugou complies, slotting his body between the space of Todoroki’s arms.
Todoroki can’t even be mad that Bakugou left him with the brunt of questions.
“So Roki,” Sero starts, what he thinks is smooth and not hinting start, “You and Bakugou?”
He tilts his head in confusion, “Bakugou and I what?”
“You like him, right?” Mina eggs on.
Todoroki frowns, “Of course I do, why else would I spend so much time with him?”
“Are you going to ask him on a date?” Denki blurts out the question on everyone’s mind.
Todoroki’s frown only deepens. “Why would I need to do that?”
“Cause you like him.” Kirishima offers.
“I like you guys should I also ask you guys on a date?” At this point Todoroki has only felt confusion in this conversation. The sighs of exasperation and splattered laughter he receives from his question only solidifies his confusion.
Before he could ask why that was funny, he feels a poke on his shoulder. Midoriya and Uraraka were at his side, Uraraka waves as Midoriya says sheepishly, “Sorry to interrupt, guys. We just wanted to know if we could steal Todoroki from you for a bit – or until the movie starts – if you don’t mind.” A chorus of not minding circles the group. “So, you’ll come, Shouchan? The squad misses you.”
“I’d love to Midoriya, but I’d rather not move right now.” Bakugou only just fell asleep, and he has already got to deal with a cranky Bakugou tomorrow, Todoroki does not want that to come sooner than it has to by waking him up after five whole minutes of sleep.
“Can you at least sit with us for the movie, we feel like we don’t see you anymore,” Uraraka pouts.
Todoroki looks down at Bakugou, he knows his going to regret it but he still agrees reluctantly.
***
His regret comes sooner than he would like to admit.
Todoroki knows Kaminari and Jirou picked horror movies. That’s the reason why he wants Bakugou to stay for the duration of both of them. Though with him sitting squished between Midoriya and Shinsou, and Bakugou on his usual spot closest to the common room’s exit on the opposite side of the room, he doesn’t see how Bakugou being here will help him.
The panic attack comes with no surprise.
Even as his breath becomes more and more shallow – as he becomes frozen with fear – he can’t seem to focus (or is he focusing too much?) on his breathing.
He doesn’t know when his head fell to his knees, or when Bakugou took Uraraka’s place by his feet. All knows is Bakugou is there. Brushing his hair out of his face, switching from counting his breaths and counting five things he can see, back to counting his breaths, to counting four things Todoroki can feel, a breath of relief escapes from Bakugou’s lips as Todoroki chimes in when Bakugou cant name the remaining two things he feels. They continue this pattern until he can comfortably breathe on his own.
It’s only then that he notices the lights were turned on, and the movie no longer echoed around the room. His classmates that surrounded him what felt like seconds ago now all spaced out the room all casting him looks of worry. “I’m sorry –“
“Don’t fucking apologise, Shouto,” Bakugou says, looking as if he were holding back tears of relief. “You knew something like this could have happened, that’s why you asked me to stay, right?”
Bakugou doesn’t yell, which scares Todoroki more than his outbursts.
Tongue feeling heavy in his mouth, so he nods in reply.
Bakugou sighs, carding his fingers through red and white strands. “You should have told me.” Todoroki hears the unspoken ‘I’d have fought to have to be closer to you’ but says nothing. “You’re going to be the death of me, I swear. Come on.”
“Where are we going?” Todoroki manages to croak, as Bakugou helps him to his feet.
“We’re going to get some snacks and watch some Disney movies in my room.”
It’s only after they left the room that spell the class was under broke. “What just happened?”
“I don’t know what just happened, but I do know what we gotta do.” Kaminari offers.
“And what’s that Denki?” Mina asks.
“Start a betting pool on when they’ll start dating.”
[4]
“As you should know by now in the novel Life of Pi there are two possible stories, Mina name the story the detectives that question Pi believe.”
As this mandatory Tuesday sessions goes, Bakugou being the host asks questions to make sure the class understands what he has been explaining to make sure he is not wasting his time on extras that he could use prepping for the test Present Mic had been hinting at.
Mina fumble before answering, “That there weren’t any animals on the lifeboat?”
“Right, and why doesn’t this add up Shinsou?”
“Because there were claw marks in and around said lifeboat.” He answers confidently.
Bakugou nods, eyes landing on Todoroki who signs: I’m hungry. Bakugou doesn’t physically react to what was said and calls on Denki to answer his next question, who surprisingly answers correctly first try.
He turns away from the group before passing around booklets, “The handout that’s being passed around is filled with quotes that could be useful, themes touched on in the book thoroughly explained and possible essay questions and how to tackle them. We’ll meet again in next week where we’ll touch on the mysterious carnivorous island again, and for those who have questions we’ll go over them then. That’s all you’re getting from me today.”
“Already? Its only been an hour,” Midoriya points out.
“Not everyone sleep til the sun comes up their ass, Deku.” Bakugou exits the common room to make some food for a hungry fool. Its not long before he places a serving of cold soba in front of Todoroki, who brightens up at the sight of his favourite dish.
“Exactly what I needed right now. Thank you, Katsuki.”
Bakugou huffs. Shinsou smirks up at him to which Bakugou signs: Shut up, before retreating to his room.
[5]
“What was that?” Bakugou shouts in pure Bakugou fashion. Todoroki doesn’t bother to reply and continues to walk toward the rest of the class. “You were supposed to cover me.”
“I was covering you.”
“From the other side of the building?” so frustrated that he signs a sarcastic: Clearly.
Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want me to hold your hand? I got busy Bakugou, you cant expect everything to go according to plan. Mock missions are supposed to be as unpredictable as real life situations.
You think I don’t know that, IcyHot? It’s called communication, I thought you were getting better at it. I guess I was wrong.
As if youre any better. If you weren’t such a bad friend-
Oh now I’M a bad friend.
You are-
Well, then if you just got over your daddy issues-
Right cause you weren’t the one encouraging me to be an asshole to him-
Yeah, but you know what the funny thing is? I don’t recall us being friends to begin with.
Was this all a joke to you?
News flash, Todoroki, I don’t think you realise, I am Bakugou fucking Katsuki. All I know how to do is hurt people and you were just another person to add to that list.
Midoriya gasps, “No, he didn’t.”
Bakugou knows its far too late to take back those words when he sees the first tear roll down Todoroki’s cheek, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t regret saying them. “Wait, Shouto- I didn’t mean-“
“Now I know where we stand.”
Todoroki flees, leaving Bakugou to the sound of heart-shattering.
[ 1 ]
Over the next few weeks the class tries to get them to talk but neither would budge. They have resorted to drastic measures hoping to get them to at least be in the same room without the air being tense. Nothing has worked so far but they haven’t lost spirits yet.
On the other hand, Bakugou feels terrible. It doesn’t help that the extras keep bringing up what happened between him and Todoroki and he certainly cant deal with the looks Yaoyozuro and Shinsou give him when they think hes not looking.
What he desperately needs is a break to get rid of the sinking feeling in his stomach – to get away from this unnecessary drama – which is why he fills out a permission slip to go home for the weekend.
Bakugou is no coward but he cant shove aside the want to be alone. He is not running away, no. It will be good for his frame of mind that’s all.
Even with everyone steering clear – knowing anything said to him would lead to an explosion to the head, after he blew up at Iida for no apparent reason – he still hadn’t had a chance to let go the way he wants to, and the only place he knows he’ll be able to breathe again is back home.
True to his thoughts its only when he threw himself head down on his bed that he allows himself to be drowned with the tears his been keeping in whole week.
Its his dad that comes up to his room with a tub of ice-cream, soothing him without knowing the reason for his tears, which is something he has only experienced with his dad.
“You know, Katsuki,” Masuru starts, “When your mom and I met, I was your age. Everyone said we weren’t good for each other.”
“Yeah,” Bakugou sniffles, “’Cause mom is so explosive and you take everything she dishes out with a smile. Pretty toxic if you ask me.”
Masuru nods, smiling at the air as he recalls memories of his younger days. “That’s what people thought.” He wipes the last of his son’s tears. “We ended up having this huge fight, I was stuck doing something I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life doing because of my parents, and your mom tried telling me I wouldn’t be stuck if I just spoke to them – lets just say that conversation did not end well, and I was heartbroken – your mother more than me, which is why she tried ended up courting me as an apology of some sorts and to let me know she was still interested in me without pressuring me into something.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I’m trying to say, don’t give up on Todoroki cause you will regret it one day and it will be too late by then.” He said thoughtfully. “Better to try and make it work now than live a life of regret, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
***
Bakugou spent the rest of the weekend with his dad brainstorming ideas to clean up the mess he made. Not once did his dad ask what happened, but the hag keeps pestering them (emphasising on he needs to fix things fast cause she likes the peppermint stick boy).
When he returns to the dorms Sunday afternoon, hands full of carrier bags, he is glad to see the common room area empty. He did not want to deal with the inevitable questions of those extras.
Bakugou just lets his guard down while making his way up the stairs, and doesn’t hear the steady click clack of heels getting closer until its too late. “Whoa, Bakugou,” gasps an excited Momo, stopping in front of the landing door leading to Bakugou’s floor. “Are you courting someone?”
“Is it that obvious?” he blurts.
“Yeah,” she answers. Bakugou sighs embarrassed. “Only because ive never known you to have a sweet tooth.” She gestures to the packages from a well-known bakery.
“I didn’t know I came across that way,” Bakugou pauses, thinking over his next few words before saying, “But, yes. I have decided to court someone.”
“I’m sure you’ll make him very happy.”
“At least one of us believes in me,” he mutters walking away.
***
When Bakugou stops in front of Todoroki’s desk as their lunch break starts Monday morning, he noticed that the class cleared out faster than usual. Strange. “Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” He expects Todoroki to ignore him and walk away but hes glad he doesn’t.
“What do you want to say?”
“Here.” Although Bakugou didn’t bother to hide the box in his hand Todoroki still seems surprised when he passes it to him.
Shaking the box curiosity eating at him, he asks, “What is it?”
“Open it.” Todoroki has no physical reaction to finding the gold studded earrings he had been eyeing when they went on their last date before the incident. “I know you wanted it, though I didn’t know if you still wanted to do what you said that day.” Bakugou had been referring to when Todoroki said he wanted to pierce his ears like Bakugou so that they could share earrings. Bakugou has three sequenced holes doting along his right ear, Todoroki jokingly said he’d pierce his left in the same way so that they could match and the other earring of each pair would be worn too. Also that it would be cute and it would remind them of each other. “I thought it would be nice getting you your first pair, no matter who you share it with.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you, Bakugou, though if you don’t mind I’d like to go to lunch now.”
Bakugou’s nerves took the wheel at that moment and he just nodded in reply, watching Todoroki stride to the door.
The door didn’t open no matter how much he pulled on it. “It’s locked.”
What they didn’t realize is that the class took matters into their own hands. Though it didn’t go exactly the way they had planned, they had successfully locked them in class.
“Did you plan this?” Todoroki accused.
“No why- I only wanted to give you those,” Bakugou splattered.
“True.” Todoroki agreed. “Now I’ve got nothing to eat.”
Bakugou offers to share the katsudon his dad made and Todoroki accepts. They sit at Bakugou’s desk – eating and conversing lightly, which is the class found them at the end of lunch.
“Finally,” Mina squealed.
“So it was you that locked us in here?” Bakugou immediately accused Mina.
“It was Denki’s idea,” she squeaked.
“Don’t blame me! Midobro got the key.”
“Whatever,” Bakugou dismissed. “Don’t do shit like that again.”
An amused sound escapes Todoroki’s lips, “What, that’s all? No explosions, no death threats?”
“Zip it, Icyhot. If it weren’t for me you’d be starving.”
Todoroki smirks before saying, “If it weren’t for your dad-“ But doesn’t get to finish because in walked Aizawa, everyone were in their seats except the two of them.
Aizawa takes one look at the smile on Todoroki’s face, smirks into his scarf, and says, “Pay up.”
Groans sound around the room as practically the whole class excluding Tokoyami and Shouji starts handing Aizawa money.
Bakugou doesn’t ask.
***
It goes like that for the rest of the week.
Bakugou randomly hands Todoroki very thought-out gifts as their relationship starts growing past the point it was before. They finally decided to put a label on their relationship too. Bakugou wants to scream it across the rooftop but also wants to keep it to himself.
He does neither.