Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When he’s out of the lobby of his building he unlocks his phone, scrolling through his texts aimlessly in hopes someone invited him somewhere earlier. Unfortunately, he comes up short, gnawing on the inside of his mouth as his stomach whines with hunger. I didn’t get to finish dinner, but now I’m not ready for a full meal. He looks back down at his messages and contemplates which friend would most likely be available to hang on such short notice.

Kacchan: Read at 5:40 pm. 

He pouts, wishing that he and his partner were on better terms. Despite having his phone number and texting him daily, the blonde never reacts to them and only ever sends him a message regarding work. Just as he’s about to put his phone away after staring at it for far longer than any sane individual when it buzzes.

Kacchan: Attachment: 1 Image. 

His face lights up, thumbs moving quickly to open the picture. It’s a meme, one of the freckled hero himself. It’s a picture taken from a battle earlier that day where he had slipped off the ledge accidentally, the shot a perfect still of his “oh my god I’m falling” expression. His eyes are wide, his eyebrows furled, and his mouth is slightly ajar in a silent scream. There’s no caption, nothing other than a screenshot of his zoomed-in face fills all corners of the photo and the quality is somewhat grainy.

To anyone else, it’s embarrassing - perhaps insulting even and insignificant. To Izuku, it’s the kindling he needs to light a fire on their friendship outside of work. He’s hearting the image and dialing his partner before he can even think. It rings a few times, enough that the younger hero thinks he may even let it go to voicemail until finally, the phone line opens up on the other side. 

“Deku?” Comes the annoyed huff on the other end. Midoriya practically squeals, exclaiming his crush’s name loudly and rambling about the picture that was sent to him. There’s some shuffling and then a groan farther away from the phone, causing him to stop talking immediately. 

Is someone there with Kacchan? 

His heart stops beating. How can he have someone over there right now? Are they close? Are they intimate? Oh no. Oh no no no no. No! Kacchan asked me to be exclusive! He said he doesn’t like to share! Wouldn’t that mean he wouldn’t be shared, either? Technically he never said that he wouldn’t sleep with other people, and he is a stickler about his health, but-

A shout. “This is why I don’t do this shit!”

“See man, I told you! All you have to do is like a text or send one back every once in a while - that’s how friendships work, Bakubro. Midobro couldn’t wait to talk to you!”

Oh.

“Kirishima?” Midoriya asks hesitantly. There’s a holler and a click of teeth, then a nickname that unsoundly belongs to the red-haired man. His heart resumes its normal function and a soft sigh escapes through his nose. “Oh, good. I was hoping it wouldn’t be uh…someone else,” he relays. “What are you two up to?”

There’s some background noise, indecipherable, then the mic is shoved closer to Kirishima’s voice. “Bakubro and I were just shooting the shit, playing some pool. I have to force my way into his apartment sometimes, otherwise, I feel like I’ll never see him again. He’s terrible at friendships, you know bro? Anyway, we were just diving deep about his personal relationships and how he needs to show he cares a little more, then we were talking about how you two were meshing at work and I basically told him he needs to send you a text now and again so that you don’t think he hates you. Essentially, I’m his emotional coach,” he can hear the other beaming through the phone.

 “Ah, I see,” he giggles ingeniously. Does he know about us? “W-Well, I don’t want to interrupt your bro time, so I’ll catch up with Kacchan later. I was just, um…so excited that he texted me back for the first time that I couldn’t wait to call in case he was having a medical emergency or something,” he laughs mildly. “A-Anyway, I hope you two have a great night!” He stutters with his hand clenched tightly against his phone. Despite his statement, he wishes nothing but to talk more to his partner, to see him - to forget about his argument with Todoroki. 

Another shuffle and some heavy footsteps against tile. “You’re a shittier liar than Shitty Hair is,” Bakugo chides. “You good?” He asks, voice slightly strained. “You’re usually with that Fire-and-Ice fuck on Wednesdays.” 

A gasp, then a snuffed laugh. “That’s a new one. Yeah, isn’t Wednesday night your date night or something? I remember you mentioning that to me once when you were assigned an on-call shift,” Kirishima chimes in.

Deku chews on his already-raw lip again. “Ah yeah, it is, but…” he pauses, blinking away tears of anxiety. “He had a family emergency and we couldn’t finish dinner, so I left. I figured I would just try my luck with each of my friends to see if anyone was free for dessert or something, but I can see you two are already occupied, so I’ll let you go now,” he finishes through clenched teeth. 

Please don’t let me go. Please want me, please need me. I don’t care if it’s just one way - let me occupy your space for a little while.

There’s some cursing and what the greenette imagines is some type of struggle for the communication device, the redhead's voice coming through clearer out of the pair. “You’re good bro! Hey, listen - how about I cut you a deal? If you can tell me who Bakubro’s sneaky link is, I’ll let you steal him from me tonight. What do you say, Midobro?”

The air is sucked from his lungs; he doesn’t know. A smile spreads across his face and his cheeks warm. “Sneaky link?” He asks feigning ignorance.

There’s a distant roar and then a muffled slam. “Y-Yeah!” Kirishima says, voice struggling. “Can you believe he found someone worthy enough to keep long-term? I thought as his best bro I would be the first person to know who it was, but instead, I just kept facing decline after decline to go out and I got the message myself! He is refusing to tell me who it is, though, and I can’t…agh!” He grunts, and then there’s a large clash as the phone clatters to the ground. Midoriya can hear it bounce and flip a few times, then some pained moans farther away.

I hope Kacchan didn’t break his nose.

His chest warms as his anxieties are relieved; Bakugo is being exclusive, too. A huff. “Fuck out of my sex life, Shitty Hair. Deku, do you need something? I have to go kick Red Hot’s ass,” he growls and shouts something indiscriminately at the other in the background.

His good spirit wanes and he lacks the confidence needed to pursue his original plan, which was to get the fuck out of Todoroki’s penthouse and spend the night at Kacchan’s. How is he supposed to mention that now that Kirishima is there? Kacchan messaged him first, sure, but apparently with a push from his best friend. Did he even want to? Would he do it again? Is he bothering him?

Thankfully, the redhead saves him from making a decision. “Yo, Midobro! Why don’t you just come hang with us? Bakubro and I don’t- agh!” He hears a thud then a yelp, and his cheeks are straining with his attempts to not laugh out loud. Although Kacchan hasn’t officially asked, Midoryia’s feet begin to carry him in the direction of the blonde’s apartment. He hears the beginning of an argument between the two, Kirishima unable to get a proper word in over feral Bakugo’s hollering. In the end, what he last hears is the redhead. “Just come!”

A brisk fifteen-minute walk later Deku arrives, knocking on the door gingerly. Kirishima is quick to answer the door, beaming and waving him in with a beer in his hand. “What’s popping, Midobro? Come on in!” He steps aside to allow the greenette in and ducks when a rogue shoe comes flying his way. Midoriya balks and retreats into the kitchen pronto to avoid any projectiles.

The redhead stands back up without hesitation, taking a sip from his beer and pointing to the fridge nearby. “Help yourself to whatever man; you’ve been here before, right? I’m pretty sure you were here for his surprise twenty-second birthday party,” he asks and heads to sit on the bar stool off of the kitchen island. Deku nods and rubs his hands together anxiously as he searches for the blonde. 

He finds him in the living room, hands in his pockets as they make eye contact. He nods once in acknowledgment, jerking his chin up. “Sup, nerd,” he mumbles. Is Kacchan nervous?

Kirishima groans loudly. “Sorry man, he’s being a sour puss because I keep bugging him about his secret lover. Anyway, what’s up with you man? You and Bakubro have been killing it lately; I wouldn’t be surprised if your rankings jump again,” he smiles around the mouth of his beer, taking a sip.

The greenette grins, lips tight as he thinks of his most recent argument with Todoroki. “Yeah. Things have been great,” he says flatly. He spots Kacchan’s red eyes swirling with curiosity, dissecting him, so Midoriya decides to continue to avoid suspicion. “Kacchan’s a really excellent partner - I think anyone would be lucky to work with him. He doesn’t hesitate or overthink when it comes down to it, you know?” He blushes.

Bakugo scoffs, strolling over to the fridge and grabbing two glass bottles. “Whatever,” he grumbled, cheeks pink. He slams the door shut and cracks the top of the two bottles with the opener on the fridge, then passes one to Deku. “Here, nerd - you look like you could use it.”

Midoriya murmurs his thanks, sniffing the light beer before taking a sip. It has a mild flavor yet it’s strong - perfect for the mood he’s in. “So, you guys were playing pool? I didn’t know there was a pool table here,” he redirects.

Kirishima nods as he swallows the last of his beer, standing to get another. “Yeah, on the top floor! They have table tennis and a coffee bar and stuff, so we were up there just shooting the shit. I was snooping through his phone trying to figure out who the mystery girl is when I realized you’ve been texting him for months and he doesn’t answer you back, so I decided to help him out.” He grabs another beer from the fridge and clinks his glass against the shorter man’s in a toast.

Anxiety thrums in his chest as they approach that conversation. “Oh, yeah that’s just how Kacchan is I guess,” he chuckles nervously and takes another large gulp of his beer. “Kacchan and I don’t really talk about stuff like that.” It’s not a complete lie; he and his partner don’t talk about sex or his past hookups. 

The redhead looks between them with an incredulous stare on his face. “What? You guys have been friends for like, five ever - you’re telling me that he hasn’t told you yet?” He slaps his hand on the blonde’s shoulder, squeezing tightly. “Look, here’s the scoop: when we were at the club celebrating your new ranks, there was this hot chick all over Bakubro, right? But all of a sudden, he decides he’s not interested and leaves. Weird, right? So I give him some space, and when we spar next, I see these crazy scratches on his back, and that’s when I knew he was banging someone seriously. Then- “ 

He’s interrupted by Kacchan who knocks back his beer and slams it on the stone countertop aggressively. “Quit it, Shitty Hair; Deku doesn’t wanna hear that shit.” He tosses the bottle into the recycling and shoves his best friend aside to grab another. “Keep him the fuck out of it, alright?” He gravels.

The redhead frowns, placing his drink down gently to open his arms in exasperation. “Aye man, what’s the big deal? Midobro and I rarely get a chance to talk if it’s not work-related, especially not if you’re around, so what’s the harm? He wants to know, too, right?” His bright eyes flicker to green ones, eyebrows raised in hopes that he’ll agree.

Midoriya opens his mouth and fidgets with the bottle as he thinks of a response, but Bakugo doesn’t give him the chance to answer. “No, he doesn’t. Back the fuck off, Kiri - I’m not saying that again,” his voice drops, glaring daggers through him. 

Something bubbles within Izuku as he finishes his beer, gripping it tightly as he straightens his back. “I can answer for myself, Kacchan.” He sets the empty glass on the counter behind him.

Those red eyes are burning through him after the words leave his mouth, narrowing as they look him over. He feels naked under his gaze, completely taken apart, yet his fury continues to simmer the longer he stares. His jaw clenches and his lips turn into a sneer. “Really? You sure it’s not gonna be another bullshit lie about how you’re okay with it when you’re really not, or is that shit just reserved for when you’re hanging out with that prince bitch or when you don’t feel like answering me?”

Deku’s in his face the next second with his hands clenched in the front of his shirt. He’s livid, more at the truth in that sentence rather than the way it was said, and all the blonde is doing is riling him up further. The anger builds increasingly inside him, hot and bubbling in his blood. “Don’t act like you know everything about me when you can’t even be bothered to text me back on the regular, Kacchan,” he says coldly.

He sees Kirishima approaching them from the corner of his eyes with hands out in an attempt to pacify the situation. “Hey hey hey bros, let’s just take a step back and-“

Bakugo sucks his teeth, tilting his chin up to look down at the greenette. “Oh yeah?  So what, you’re gonna pretend that you weren’t looking for an excuse to get away from him for the night?” Eijiro stills beside them, eyes shifting between them nervously. Deku swallows harshly and his brows to maintain his aggressive expression. If anything, Bakugo looks aloof as he continues, taking a quick sip of his drink without breaking their eye contact. “Trouble in paradise again , Deku?” He mocks, teeth bared as he leans into the minimal space between them.

The tension shifts and Izuku blinks in shock, hands loosening slightly at their proximity. He’s mocking me but it feels different. There’s no way he would act this way in front of Kirishima, right? He frowns and pushes him back, hands clenched back at his sides as he watches Kacchan stumble back. “Why act like you care, Kacchan? All you do is mock me and my relationship. I thought we were making some progress together, but maybe I was wrong. Clearly, I’m the only one who cares about rebuilding our friendship after all this time,” he bites, shaking with emotion.

Why is this upsetting me so much? Is it because his best friend is here? Is it because of what Todoroki said? Am I being ridiculous? Why doesn’t Kacchan ever play fair? Why doesn’t he talk to me?

Eijiro steps into the space between them and faces the blonde, arms fully extended on either side of him. “Guys, why don’t we have a seat and talk through this when we’re calmer,” he recommends and spares a glance back at Midoriya before refocusing on his best friend. “You two have been getting along great so let’s look at it from another angle.”

Those ruby irises never leave his, boring through him over Kirishima’s tall locks. He steps forward, his face morphing as he continues to fuel their dispute. “Mock you? No, I don’t mock you - I’m mocking that sorry boyfriend of yours. How many times have I seen that look he gives you when he doesn’t like something you do? Yeah, Deku, maybe I don’t sit down and listen to your petty troubles every day and cottle your emotions like some of your other friends, but you do know that I was his partner for years, right? You think I don’t know jackshit about you but I know you better than you know yourself sometimes.”

Bakugo steps closer and Kirishima holds his arms out in front to prevent him from walking closer, inching back. “Bakugo-” the redhead starts.

He lets out a sob that sounds more like a yell. “Yeah, I do know that he was your partner for a while. Do you know what he had to say about you the whole time? Spoiler alert: it wasn’t anything great. You think that he’s sorry? Well, Kacchan, at least he’s been there for me since high school; where have you been?” He cries with tears thick at the corners of his eyes. The blonde is quiet, nostrils flaring as he holds himself together. 

The frog in his throat is loose and the dam is flowing freely, words dribbling from his lips uncontrollably. “Do you know how many times I’ve had to defend you to him, to everyone we know, simply because you refuse to treat me like a friend or even just a colleague?” He continues at a softer volume with clipped words. “You’re so prideful that you don’t even see how badly I want to be recognized by you. I chased after you my whole life, and when you came around at UA and apologized to me, when you brought me back to the dorms, I thought things would be different from there on out. But then,” he pauses and breathes shakily as he tries to control himself. “But then you kept your distance until we graduated. You wished me good luck, you came to dinner at my mom’s, and then you vanished from my life!” He exclaims.

Kirishima is doing the best he can by forcing Katsuki back to create some extra room between them and minimize the escalation. He ignores the look the redhead throws him, pleading for them to stop. Midoriya straightens his back and squares his shoulders, letting his tears fall as he confronts his childhood friend. “Where were you when All Might died?” His voice cracks, the other two men freezing in place. The greenette can see the tension in Kacchan’s neck and the discomfort he bears, the open wound that still bleeds, yet he doesn’t care and presses on. “Where were you, Kacchan? Where were you when I needed you the most?

“You call Todoroki every name you can think of, you tease me about him and our dates and his wealth all the time, but do you know who was helping me keep it together when they lowered his casket into the ground?” He swallows, voice shattered and chest heaving. “It wasn’t you. It wasn’t Ochako or Kirishima, it wasn’t Kaminari or Tsuyu, and it wasn’t you. Out of everyone, Todoroki is the only person who was by my side when I fell apart,” he cries, wiping his eyes with the back of his hoodie.

He expects their argument to be over, to have won, to have hit home or altered the course of their relationship for the foreseeable future in that one instant, but what comes next is something he’s unprepared for. 

“Why don’t you ask your boyfriend where I was that day?” The blonde replies bluntly, not a hint of aggression in his tone.

The world stops spinning.

Kirishima curses under his breath and runs his hands through his hair. “Bro, this is not good. Midoriya, why don’t we-”

“What does that mean?” Deku whispers, breath stolen from his lungs. Kirishima is looking back at him with a mixed expression on his face, mouth twisted with concern. He sees guilt in those wide eyes and for a moment, Izuku shifts his attention to the other hero. “What does he mean, Kirishima?” he says slowly while accentuating every syllable.

Red Riot gulps and puts his hands above his head in surrender, mouth opening and closing repeatedly. As his panic swells Midoriya finds that his anger has evaporated, fear taking its place and sinking deep within him. Kirishima won’t meet his eyes, shoulders shrinking dejectedly as he turns to his best friend for help.

“Yeah, I’m a piece of shit for not reaching out to you all these years. Before and after All Might died I could’ve been there and I wasn’t, so I’ll take the blame for that. Funny enough, I can’t think of a time you reached out to me once we graduated though, or bothered to talk to me one-on-one and tell me you have an issue with me,” Bakugo snickers, sweat beading down his forearms as he controls his temper.

The greenette shakes his head. “Don’t pin this back on me and change the subject. What the fuck do you mean?” He curses, voice breaking with desperation.

Bakugo groans. “Half-and-Half approached me after graduation and told me to stay the fuck away from you,” he gruffs. Midoriya’s chest grows tight, pupils tiny as he stares between the two of them. Kirishima’s arms fall and cross at his chest with a sullen face. “Was it on me to fucking listen to him? Yeah. Did he make me feel like the scum of the Earth and convinced me that staying away from you was for the best? Also yeah. I mean, fuck Deku, you’ve turned out pretty well so far.”

The blonde drops his head for a moment and rubs at the back of his neck. “I came to your house the night the news broke about All Might, and of course, that two-toned fuck was there. He answered the door and told me that I would only make things worse and to stay out of your life, to not come to the funeral or ask you about him. Of course, he couldn’t keep me from showing up, but…fuck!” He shouts and slams his hand down on the counter. “How would it look if I shit on your boyfriend when your fucking mentor just died, huh?” He hollers, voice thundering around them.

He can’t breathe. His chest is struggling to keep up with him as he reels, turning away from the other two men and chewing his tongue. He can’t bring himself to say anything, thoughts caught in his throat. He has to, though; he has to know the truth.

“Is it true, Kirishima?” He mumbles, his voice hoarse. “Did you know about this?” He questions.

The redhead’s silence is telling enough but it’s unacceptable, and the greenette lets it go on until the hardened hero gives him a proper response. “I… we…” he starts and stops. “It was a hard time for everyone, Midobro, and the history between you and Bakubro was messy enough that we all just thought-”

“Get out,” Deku whispers, niceties temporarily forgotten. He can’t bother to look at either of them, bottom lip glued between his teeth. “Please, Kirishima; just go,” he exhales. To his surprise, the redhead can’t leave quick enough, keys already in hand and feet chasing the door before he can follow up. Once the door clicks closed, he’s raring to go.

Todoroki kept Kacchan from him. 

He remembers the day the news broke about Toshinori. He remembers feeling beyond devastated yet having to finish his shift and given time off to grieve since he was listed as his next of kin. He remembers Todoroki taking him home and caring for him for a few days, stepping away once or twice to answer the door. He remembers receiving gifts, cards, flowers, and chocolates, and he remembers how disappointed he was when Kacchan’s name was not among them. He had asked about everyone, especially Kacchan, and his boyfriend had never once mentioned him.

More than mad, he feels hurt, and his heart shatters. All these years he thought that his childhood friend, his bully, his crush, and his rival all combined in one had just blatantly ignored him. This whole time he had never thought to reach out to the other hero for fear of being rejected, for being told off, for risking damaging their relationship any further. He starts to sob uncontrollably and his hands move to cover his face, stomach flipping.

Some of his darkest days were the ones following the Symbol of Peace’s death. Todoroki was a good comfort at his side and catered to his every need, but there were things that even he didn’t know and memories that could only be shared with one other person. There were so many moments shared between him and his ultimate rival that involved his mentor, the only father figure he could count on, and he recalled too many personal conversations with the man about the blonde to ignore him completely. 

Was Kacchan all alone, too? He had attempted to reach out during what was no doubt one of the worst moments of his life and had the door shut in his face abruptly; was he hurting, too?

Bakugo is there for him before his knees fall, strong arms around him as he grows too weak to support himself. The taller man sinks down with him as he goes to the tiled floor of the kitchen. Then, he’s sobbing violently into his chest, tears and snot soaking the blonde’s sweatshirt. “‘M sorry Kacchan, I’m s-so sorry,” he wails, hiccuping after every breath. The taller man sighs through his nose, one hand rubbing tenderly at his scalp and the other rubbing into his back. “I thought… I thought K-Kacchan hated me again,” he reveals through cries. “I thought Kacchan never wanted to s-see me again because I didn’t choose to work at the same agency.”

The blonde rests his head atop Deku’s, inhaling and exhaling deeply. “Shut up, nerd,” he mumbles, voice breaking at the end. “Stop talking for once.”

Midoriya shakes his head and beats his fists lightly on his chest. “I wanted to be with Kacchan when they buried him,” comes next, barely audible. Bakugo curses and sniffs. “The only other person from UA who All Might trained, who k-knew his secrets just like me,” he whimpers, heart pouring as he reopens that old wound. “I needed the Kacchan who s-stayed up with me for twelve hours to watch every single All Might movie b-because I was scared he wouldn’t make it out of the hospital when we were five! He never came h-home, Kacchan!”

There’s a sniffle and then a growl. “Deku please stop talking, okay?” His voice cracks. “He’s already six feet under.”

Deku doesn’t stop crying for a long while after that, and his rival doesn’t let him go.

Eventually, there are no more tears left to cry and Deku’s eyes are puffy enough to weigh his lids down, so he withdraws from Kacchan and looks up at him through his watery vision. The blonde’s eyes are rimmed with pink and his pupils are reddened. His eyes are as deep as the ocean, swimming with emotion. Izuku understands this look, the one where you temporarily reveal the gaping hole left inside you when someone close dies. This is the look that Kacchan gave him when apologizing, the one he gave when he was asking him to come back. 

It’s loss and it’s love. For who? Deku doesn’t know, but all he can do is imagine it’s for their mentor.

Midoriya feels sleepy drunk looking at him, head hazy from the mental exhaustion. He’s hit with deja vu and suddenly he’s leaning up on his knees to connect their lips. For a moment, Kacchan is kissing back, chin angling their mouths more precisely to intensify the kiss. It’s short-lived and he pulls back two seconds later, arms leaving the greenette’s back. “Deku-“

He kisses him again, just a quick peck this time. “I know. Just for tonight,” he asks. He leans in for another chaste kiss but presses harder than before. “Just so that I don’t have to remember how lonely it felt for a while,” he pleads.

The blonde grips his hips with both hands roughly before pinning him to the ground and leaning over him. He reconnects their mouths hastily and clashes lips against teeth. He digs his thumbs into his hip bones hard enough to bruise, Midoriya moaning into his mouth. “Kacchan,” he sighs, tongue darting out between them.

Bakugo meets it with his and pushes into his mouth greedily, one hand reaching up to grip in his hair. The kiss is passionate and sloppy, saliva smearing between them the harder they kiss. The blonde is rubbing circles in his scalp and at his hip, sucking away at his mouth hungrily. 

It’s aggressive and noncommittal, starved and aching. Passion stirs in his belly and travels to his groin, warming his body up. Deku grabs onto his neck, thumbs rubbing the underside of his jaw. Kacchan’s hand snakes under his shirt and rub along the length of his torso until he reaches his shoulder. He tugs upward and the greenette follows his lead, temporarily letting go of him to remove his shirt and sweatshirt. Scarred hands tug at Bakugo’s clothing, urging him to remove the same articles of clothing in one fluid motion so they can smush their lips together again. 

Midoirya runs his hands along the muscles of his shoulders and back, fingers tracing each cut of muscle tenderly. Kacchan’s relentless with his tongue, licking along every crevice and cavity in his mouth as if to remember how it feels. He doesn’t mind, reciprocating his intensity and kissing back just as hard as he’s able. He feels like crying although there are no tears left, heart gaping and weeping with emotion. “Kacchan,” he croaks. “My Kacchan,” he murmurs on the other’s lips, barely audible between them. “Please don’t leave me alone again,” he whimpers. “All Might wanted us to stick together, remember?”

The blonde is shaking his head, leaving his mouth to trail kisses up his cheek and down the side of his jaw. “I’m here. I’m your fucking partner, Deku; I’m not going anywhere unless you tell me to,” Bakugo replies, voice husky. The blonde retreats and sits back on his heels as he removes the rest of Izuku’s clothing. He lifts his hips the best he’s able to speed it along, sitting up with him to tug at the waistband of his pants. Kacchan lets himself be undressed without a complaint, shifting his weight between either knee as he raises them one at a time to take off his joggers. 

They grow hungrier the longer they kiss, their make-out session turning into a competition as they nip and suck at each other’s lips. Bakugo’s hand is back at the nape of his neck and grabbing a fistful of forest green hair, tugging back to draw a small moan from the younger man. They’re moving back to their first position and then his bare back is hitting the cool tile floor, pulling a shiver from him. Kacchan gives his abused lips some rest as he turns his attention to the rest of him, vigilant with teeth as he sucks hickey after hickey into his jawline, neck, throat, chest - anywhere he can reach. Deku mewls underneath him, the pressure eliciting small noises from him as his cock grows painfully hard.

The blonde draws his body closer to him, virtually laying atop him as he slithers down and sucks bruises into his freckled skin further downward with each movement. He lets go of his hair to grip his thighs, fingers digging into the plump flesh haughtily. He mixes in quick pecks along his abdomen and in the cut of his hips, licking languidly at the sensitive skin there and drawing a long moan from the man beneath. He skirts around his erection and sinks his teeth into his inner thigh, drawing a yelp from him.

Katsuki leaves distinct bite marks with red and purple colors around the imprints of his teeth. Midoriya bites the back of his hand to muffle some of the noise, one arm sliding back to support him in a half-upright position. He’s mesmerized by crimson as the blonde laps the excess saliva he’s left behind, his mouth traveling to the soft skin of his pelvis above his hard member. The greenette’s breath hitches, pupils blown as they take in the picture before him.

Kacchan has never gotten on his knees for him.

It’s never been something Deku felt he was entitled to, considering their agreement. Kacchan doesn’t let him spend the night, doesn’t kiss him or cuddle him, and doesn’t ever lick farther down his body than his nipples. It’s never bothered him before - he’s been taking all that his rival would give him, but now that he’s there, inches away from the head of his dick, Midoriya can’t think about anything else.

The house is devoid of any noise aside from the sounds they make, and if his heartbeat wasn’t drumming so loudly in his ears, it might have bothered him earlier. Bakugo’s mouth is typically vile during sex, shedding insults and crude statements at every available opportunity. Tonight, however, he’s quiet, not even a groan escaping from him. Once his hot tongue licks flatly up the length of him, Deku tries to take his place and fill in the silence.

“K-Kacchan,” He moans, unable to tear his eyes from that familiar shade of vermillion. The blonde’s irises are fixed solely on his as he works up his cock, plopping sloppy kisses up his length and coupling it with a swirl of his tongue around the tip. “I’m sorry,” he apologizes, guilt swelling in his ribcage. This time, it’s not for cheating, but for abandoning him in a similar fashion. Kacchan doesn’t react, expression cool and hazy as he takes the head into his mouth.

He could almost come from that feeling alone, nevermind the image of Katsuki fucking Bakugo with his lips wrapped around his cock. “Oh my god,” he whimpers, squirming lightly beneath him. One of those strong hands moves to pin his hip back to the floor, thumb pressing against the skin where a fresh bruise is blooming. Deku gets the memo and holds himself still as he sucks in the whole of his hardness.

Although the explosive hero is in a more submission position, he’s still the one in control, his rough hold and intense gaze asserting his dominance and reminding Izuku that he’s able to pull away at any time. Once he starts moving vertically he tears his eyes away, head tilting back and lids falling closed as small tears bubble at his inner corners. How can I have anything left to cry after tonight?  

He’s not going to last with the way that his partner sucks him off, messy and sopping wet. It’s the first blowjob he’s ever received and it feels better than he could have imagined, moans coming quicker as he nears his finish. He’s been mumbling his name for minutes, incoherent praise spewing from him. “Kacchan so good”, “Kacchan’s amazing”, “Kacchan feels so good”, “Kacchan, Kacchan, Kacchan”.

His cock is throbbing with warning as he gets ready to come. He gently bucks his hips, urging the blonde to move. His response is to press down on his hip harder, effectively pinning him back in place. “Kacchan, I’m gonna c-come,” he stutters, eyes flittering open to stare down at him. He meets his stare dead-on, eyes sparkling with challenge. The look is enough to push him over the edge and the next minute, he’s coming into Kacchan’s mouth, moans spilling from him like water.

The guilt washes from him as his semen is drained, his hand marked with his own teeth as he bites down during the height of his orgasm. Once the high is gone and he comes back down, he waits expectantly for Bakugo to pull off of him. He doesn’t swallow once his lips leave, sucking the last of his come before pulling off with a wet plop. He wipes the excess fluids from the exterior of his mouth with the back of his hand, and Deku is sorely reminded of another reason to feel guilty.

Kacchan is only doing this because he feels bad for him. Kacchan is only kissing him, giving him a blowjob, and littering him with claiming bites because he dug back open the wounds All Might’s passing left on both of them. Fuck. I’m such a shitty human being. It’s not enough to take advantage of Todoroki’s kindness, but now Kacchan, too, he reprimands himself mentally. Todoroki has been taking advantage of your kindness for years, his evil subconscious replies. Deku can’t find it in him to come up with an excuse for his own negativity. 

The blonde towers back over him, one hand moving to tighten in his hair and the other at his chin. He forces his head back and slightly parts his mouth with a thumb, his other fingers clenching at the junction of his jaw. His pupils have that blown-out, sex-ridden look that overtakes Bakugo whenever he has an intense desire, and his mouth is shut but his jaw isn’t closed all the way and… what? Did he already spit? He connects their lips together in a closed-mouth kiss, holding it for a couple of seconds before applying pressure to his chin and parting his mouth further. Mildly confused but aroused at the display of control, Midoriya lets his jaw fall open without struggle, tongue darting out automatically expecting to meet the other’s.

What he does not expect is the salty tang of his semen as it trickles down his tongue, eyes popping open in shock. Kacchan’s eyes are alight with mischief as he swaps with him, their tongues dancing together and mingling saliva and come. The act is so erotic that Midoirya’s erection stirs once more and he’s moaning heavily, relishing the smoky taste of Kacchan’s mouth and the slippery texture of his seed. His mouth is almost full when the blonde recedes and uses his leverage to close it, fingers clenching at the hinge of his jaw when his command comes.

“Swallow.”

Izuku swallows his come obediently, boner fully hard once more as the blonde licks his lips in approval. He surges with lust and jumps up, pushing his partner onto his back. He straddles him eagerly, hands pressing onto his chest as he claims his mouth again, swapping what residue is left between them. The blonde lets out a long groan, nipping at his bottom lip hungrily and grabbing his ass with both hands and kneading into them assertively. He wastes no time before sliding two digits between his cheeks, the pads of his fingers rubbing against that sensitive area. 

“Kacchan,” he manages, pulling back to breathe. His chest is heaving and his arms are shaking with anticipation, pressing back into his fingers wantonly. “Need you,” he begs, leaning back in to lay a barrage of open-mouthed kisses down his neck and over his pecs. He feels a light pressure at his entrance which puckers with excitement, a soft whine escaping him as he sucks hickeys of his own into the hard muscles below. “Please.”

“Fuck,” Bakugo curses and removes the hand from his left cleft to rummage in their clothes strewn aside haphazardly earlier. The tips of his fingers encircle his hole teasingly while he searches for the bottle of lube they’ve almost completely used up, freeing it from his pants pocket indignantly. He pops the top open with one hand expertly, reaching behind them and coating his fingers liberally before flinging the bottle elsewhere without care. He starts with two fingers off-rip, plunging deep into his tight entrance with one motion. “You’re always so ready for me,” he gravels.

Deku mewls and reunites their tongues then lowers his hips in a mock attempt to ride him. Bakugo adds a third finger following his maneuver, scissoring him immediately and stretching him quickly. There’s a slight burn from the action that the greenette is more than used to by now, but after a few pushes and pulls he’s had enough, ready to be filled properly by his crush. He bears down on his fingers, pulling a curse from the blonde in recognition before he pulls them out swiftly.

Midoriya is hovering just above Kacchan’s hardened member once his hand withdraws and they settle on his hips, using his chest as leverage to hold himself up. Once he can clearly feel the small opening of his tip aligned under him he puts enough space between their faces that they can make eye contact, noses touching. He gives him a quick peck before lowering onto his cock, moaning once he bottoms out. Bakugo’s hand is in his hair, forcing their mouths together again as they stay for a minute.

This sex feels different.

Tears are brimming again and growing steadily as he begins to move. The blonde’s hands are loosely guiding him as their pace starts, slow and deep and he’s so full. A few tears leak down his face, dregs of whatever hasn’t already exited his system, and his heart is brimming with love. This isn’t fucking or their usual hook-ups, this isn’t anything like the first or last time they had sex; this is love.

Midoriya feels loved.

It tears him apart and he can’t deal with it, pulling away to bury his head in the crook of his partner’s neck. Their chests are touching this way, impossibly close, so Bakugo shifts until his arms are wrapped around the middle of his back and his legs are hiked to give him leverage. The blonde thrusts up into him leisurely, kissing the top of his head and ears down to his damp cheeks. 

“He tried to pull me away from you,” he cries into his neck, rocking his hips in tune with Kacchan’s thrusts. When he hits his prostate it’s not as back-breaking as it usually feels due to the tenderness of their motions, but all the same, it’s blinding and hot, sparking every nerve in his body and curling his toes. It’s not as punctual but more intense, dragging along his insides for an extended period and tightening that coil in his gut simultaneously.

“He asked me ah,” he moans. “When I would finally leave you behind.”

He thrusts up into him roughly, attacking those bundles of nerves relentlessly. “Fuck him,” he growls. He sinks his canines into the soft skin of his throat beneath his jaw, a habitual favorite of his, and bites until it stings. Deku cries, voice wobbly as he’s thoroughly fucked. “Whose cock are you warming at night, hm?” He patronizes, panting into the shell of his ear.

Deku nods, inadvertently nuzzling into him with his second orgasm building rapidly. “Kacchan’s,” he replies breathlessly.

“Damn straight,” he groans into his neck, hiking his legs up higher to fuck into him deeper. While he maintains their deliberate pace, the new angle pushes the head of his dick closer against his prostate and forces his vision black. He can’t think, can’t breathe, can’t feel anything other than Kacchan’s body and lips against his. There are no words or noises that can encapsulate how he’s feeling as he’s handled, so Midoriya gives up trying.  

That familiar tug in his gut warns him of his incoming orgasm, so he pulls his head from its hiding place and drags his swollen lips back to Bakugo’s. He accepts him easily, opening up to tongue him lazily. “I was hoping Kacchan would call me,” he keens. “I wanted to be with you tonight after he made me ah- defend you.” There’s a sharp thrust akin to the aggression he’s normally used to and he gasps loudly in response, unable to ignore the tightness in his core any longer. “Kacchan, I’m gonna come,” he whines.

His partner kisses him chastely and nudges his chin with his nose. “Come with me, Deku,” he whispers, voice low and sinful. As if I could say no, he thinks briefly before nodding, hands finding their function and cupping either side of the blonde’s face. There’s a brief period where their breaths are comingling in synchrony among the minute space between them, air hot and heavy around them as Bakugo thrusts up into him and Deku lowers his hips in time to meet him. 

Midoriya’s body betrays him before he can react, his ass clenching around Katsuki’s member as he’s fucked through his second orgasm. “Kacchan,” he wails, resting his forehead against his rival’s. His whole body shivers as it’s ripped from him. “Kacchan,” he repeats as his head starts leaking. “ Katsuki! ”

This must push the other over the edge because he’s being filled with his come a second later, Bakugo crashing their mouths together, teeth-gnashing and tongues chasing. He repeats his name as he comes, eyes aching with the need to cry but no tears left for him to do so. The blonde curses and moans gutturally as he stills inside him. “Fuck, Izuku,” he responds breathily, squeezing him closer if at all possible.

It’s a beautiful moment, the seconds where their feelings become one and they’re breathing is in sync. He’s never felt closer to another person, physically and emotionally, not even with Todoroki, and a sobering thought comes to him at the tail end of their moment.

He’s in love with Kacchan.

He’s frozen as they come down from their high, unable to remove himself from atop his rival even as he grows soft inside him. Thankfully, Kacchan seems just unlikely to move, arms dropping from his back and moving to drape across his face while his breathing evens out. He doesn’t complain the longer the greenette lays on him nor does he make a comment of any kind, simply allowing him to occupy his space for a much longer time than he’s used to.

Is this what love feels like?

“You should just dive off the rooftop!”

They’re moving vertically when the blonde has recovered enough, cradling him as he forces them to sit upright. Those strong arms are wrapped tightly around his back once again, unruly spikes tickling his chin as Bakugo rests his head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Izuku,” he murmurs. Deku hugs him back loosely, afraid if he squeezes too tight he will shatter the bubble they’re in. “I’m sorry I stayed away, that I wasn’t there for you when All Might passed,” his voice cracks. He breathes in deeply, chest expanding against his. He exhales into his neck, turning his head further into him. “I don’t know how to not be who I am.”

“My body just moved on its own.”

“Why do you have to be different?” He answers, leaning his head against his rival’s. The blonde holds him tighter, making breathing difficult but not impossible.

If this isn’t love, Deku it’s sure what is, but…

“Are you gonna stay with him?” 

His heart drops. His mouth opens hesitantly, words failing him as he thinks about what to do. He can’t fathom seeing his boyfriend for the time being and doesn’t even want to hold a conversation with him for fear of what he might say. Knowing this, he has to confront him and hear it directly from the source. He wants to know the reason why, deserves to know why. His lack of a response is enough for Kacchan and he’s withdrawing soon after, raising him enough to pull out of him completely. “Kacchan, wait-”

His semen is already cooling as it dribbles out of him. “Whatever,” he huffs, his typically-hard expression set back in place. “It’s your dumbass fault if you decide to be with him after all this shit. What do I give a fuck? We’re not even friends, right?” He’s unscrambling their bodies and is moving to run away when Deku grabs a hold of his wrists, begging him to stay.

“Kacchan, wait!” The blonde tugs in the opposite direction, hips raising to push him off. Midoriya sighs, locking his legs around his slim waist to tie him down. “It’s not that simple, and you know it. I don’t know if I can stay with him, but I can’t just pretend we haven’t spent the last six years together, okay?” He pulls his wrists closer to him, huffing in his face. “Can we not talk about it right now?” 

Bakugo settles a bit, pausing his movements to look into emerald eyes. Their foreheads bump together, and Deku lets his lashes fall closed as their breaths combine again. “You gave me tonight, you remember?” He kisses him tenderly, slowly, and without tongue. “So let’s go to bed and have the night; let me worry about all the other shit tomorrow when I have to.” The blonde is still for a few seconds, nudging their noses together and joining their lips again in answer.

Deku spends the night in Katsuki’s bed and kisses him to sleep for that one night.

The next morning comes with a heavy rain. It mirrors his emotions when he comes to, wrapped in black cotton sheets and enveloped with the heavy scent of cinnamon and cedar. The space next to him is warm where his partner must’ve laid not long ago, eyes scanning the room for him but coming up short. He untangles himself from the sheets and rolls out of the king bed, feet pattering lightly against the hardwood as he crosses the room.

Nature calls, beckoning him to the bathroom before he can travel too far. After he’s used the restroom and washed his face, he ventures into the hall connecting the bedroom into the kitchen and foyer. He finds Kacchan in the kitchen shaking up a protein shake, eyes trained on his phone as he scrolls aimlessly. Deku’s phone is charging on the island near the wall, the screen lighting up as he enters. 

“Morning, Kacchan,” he hums as he moves to grab his mobile, frowning at all of the notifications he has. He turns his attention back to the blonde, head tilting quizzically. “Aren’t you always preaching the importance of a ‘proper breakfast’ to me?”

Kacchan snorts, popping the top off of his blender bottle annoyingly. “Yeah, because you need to eat real food, and not just that fast food shit you and Half-and-Half buy.” He tilts it to his lips and downs half of it in one go, grunting as he swallows it down. “I overslept.”

This draws his attention back to his phone and he shrieks when he notices the time. “Oh, shit! Our shift starts in an hour!” He drops his phone onto the counter haphazardly, running back to the bedroom and stepping out of his boxers on the way. He ignores the cackle behind him and jumps into the shower as quickly as he’s able.

In record time he’s able to clean himself, eat something, and get dressed enough to be presentable for the public. His body is obscenely littered with hickies and bruises, so he convinces Bakugo to lend him one of his official merchandise sweaters that have a neck covering mirroring his costume. 

They walk to the agency together, although Midoriya ends up sprinting ahead at the last minute to get out of the public eye. Bakugo isn’t treating him any differently, perhaps insulting him a little less than normal, but he’s missing that warmth he garnered last night. That was temporary, he reminds himself. He hauls ass to Revelation, swearing her to secrecy and begging her to break up the popped blood vessel to disperse the marks on his body. When he’s clean he races up to the locker room, eager to get out of last night’s clothes and on with his day.

Thank goodness Todoroki’s shift has already started. He’s literally the last person I want to talk to right now.

Karma has some humor as he enters the locker space, Bakugo’s sweater in the crook of his arm. “Kacchan, here! Take your sweater back, I already-” he starts, scanning for those familiar red eyes when he catches sight of his boyfriend (?) seated at the bench in front of his locker. His face falls and his arms go slack, feet glued to his spot on the floor. “Todoroki,” he mumbles.

Shoto stands at attention, eyes glazing over him and stopping short at the clothing in his arms. “Midoriya, where have you been?” He asks, lips downturned in a small sneer. Disappointed.

That look is enough to rile his anger from last night, freeing him from his position and pushing him forward. He bypasses him and beelines his partner, shoving the sweater into his arms. The blonde quirks an eyebrow at him, eyes bouncing over to his ex-partner briefly. “At Kacchan’s house,” he deadpans, frowning at the blonde before turning back to go to his locker. 

Thankfully, Todoroki steps aside to allow Midoriya space to open his locker, grabbing his uniform and setting it on the bench nearby. He starts undressing, removing his shirt without a spare glance at the other hero. “Bakugo’s house?” he repeats in disbelief. “What, are you two friends now or something?” He asks incredulously.

“We’re not even friends, right?”

He balls his shirt up and throws it into his locker with more force than necessary, hand gripping the door to his locker tightly. “Yes, Todoroki, we are.” He trains his gaze on his boyfriend’s face, locking eyes with him. “Kirishima was hanging out at his place when you interrupted our dinner last night. He invited me over, we drank a few beers and hung out until I passed out on the sofa,” he lies expertly, tone even as he stares at the other expressionless. “What, am I not allowed to?”

Todoroki sighs through his nose, eyes cold as they stay on his. “Are you serious?” He exhales. Midoriya doesn’t answer, facing away from him to finish undressing to change into his uniform. When he’s met with silence, the dual-haired man scoffs lightly, following it with a hum. “Are you still coming over for dinner tonight?”

Midoriya has one leg in his costume as he rolls his eyes. “No, Todoroki, I’m not.” He shifts his weight to put the other leg in, wiggling around to position it properly. “I thought you would’ve got the memo that I don’t want to see you right now.”

A pale hand grabs his wrist, halting him from pushing his arm through and pausing his morning routine. “Why not?” He panics, question breathy. His hold lessens as heterochromatic eyes travel to where his partner is suited and waiting on the opposing wall, brows knitting together. “Is it because of him ?”

Bakugo’s locker slams in the background. “Fuck this shit. Deku, I’ll be waiting for you outside,” the blonde offers as he pushes off the wall and heads to the door.

“Seriously, Todoroki?” Deku exclaims in disbelief. He shakes the hand off of his wrist to finish dressing. “After our argument, you still think Kacchan is the reason I’m upset with you?”

Kacchan’s almost to the door when Todoroki raises his voice. “Why else would you be? Bakugo’s always the reason why you’re upset, Midoriya; I was trying to tell you this last night!”

Deku’s had enough of dancing around the elephant in the room (one of them, anyway), shoving the last of his civilian clothing in his locker and shutting it closed with a thud. “Kacchan, stay,” he says coldly. “Did you threaten Kacchan to stay away from me?” He yells, nostrils flaring as he attempts to contain himself. Todoroki pauses, lips sealed tightly as he looks between the hero duo. “Don’t you dare lie to me right now, Todoroki, or I’ll never speak to you again,” the greenette warns.

Todoroki swirls his tongue around his mouth, jaw clenching as he prepares to answer. “Yes,” he stated flatly, and Deku’s world crashes all over again. Tears spring to his eyes as he digests the answer, gaze shifting up to the ceiling. “But I did it because it’s what you needed, Midoriya,” he rationalizes, taking a step toward the smaller man.

“Don’t,” comes his warning, the word clipped with anger. He looks his boyfriend over, scanning his features for any sign of guilt or accountability. When he doesn’t find any, he merely shakes his head and kneels to tighten his boots. “You’re incredible. I can’t believe you, Todoroki! When did you decide that you know what’s best for me over myself?” He bites, stomping his one foot into place. 

“Deku, two-minute warning,” Bakugo grumbles, hands in his pockets as he leans against the door. He finishes tying up his other boot, pressing the button on the side to lock his laces in place and harden them from miscellaneous perils. 

He stands and faces away from his boyfriend, walking around the long side of the bench to take his exit. “Todoroki, I need a break.” He states plainly, not meeting anyone’s eyes as he stomps toward his partner.

Shoto grabs his wrist again , yanking him back away from the blonde. “You don’t mean that,” Todoroki pleads. “Come over for dinner like you promised and-“

The last of his self-control snaps, Deku activating OFA to fling his hand off of his wrist and grab a fistful of his ex’s collar. “Did you or did you not turn Kacchan away, without telling me , the night All Might died?” His voice chilling. 

Todoroki’s eyes are wide in disbelief, mouth downturned. “Are you really choosing him over me?” He asks, and that sentence brings clarity to the situation. 

Todoroki doesn’t think he’s wrong.

Before he can act on impulse there’s a hand at the crook of his elbow holding back his punch. “Deku,” comes the familiar draw of his partner, his tone gentle but assertive. “Let’s go.”

He deactivates his quirk and lets go of his ex faster than he can blink, shrugging off his friend’s grip to give him one final glare. “I love you, Todoroki, and these past six years have been great but you misled me and lied to my face!” He begins to turn away, feet angled outwardly. “How many times did I ask you about Kacchan when I was grieving? Even now, you don’t think that you’re wrong, so how can I trust you again?” He turns completely, marching in step with his partner to head to their sector. 

“He’s a bad influence, Midoriya! He’s already changed you and you don’t even see it!” He calls after him, snarling as the door shuts closed. 

Midoriya squeezes Bakugo’s arm as he does his best not to fall apart. 

He finds himself spending a lot of time at Kacchan’s house following their argument. 

His own apartment is too quiet when he returns that night, dodging call after call from his ex or Ochako or some other friend. He doesn’t feel like talking to anyone or getting out of bed, ridden with his sorrows and questioning every aspect of his life. 

Todoroki manipulated him. Maybe not in the way that some couples do, but still did it all the same. He should be mad, happy even, that he found out who he truly is. So why does he feel so sad?

Shoto was the complete package: wealthy, good-looking, polite, even-tempered, talented; everything that a man could dream for. The loss of the future he had concocted years ago is harder to accept than the actual broken relationship, and he wails into his pillow for hours on end as he thinks of all their time spent together, now wasted. 

Who is he kidding? Their relationship was doomed the minute he came to the sound of Kacchan’s voice over the phone. He knew then that he wouldn’t be able to overcome Todoroki’s asexuality, no matter how much he loved him. He pictures himself in an alternate reality happily married to his ex, living in his penthouse apartment, and working in a popular sector as the number three number four ranked hero, and-

Todoroki never once mentioned marriage.

This sends him full sail into another crying fit, snot decorating his sheets liberally and his face puffy. Was he living a fantasy this whole time? This life bouncing between his partner and his possible ex would never have been sustainable, right? There would’ve been no way to convince him that there was a middle ground, that he could love both of them equally, differently, that what he had with Kacchan was purely physical and-

I’m in love with Kacchan.

He can be free, if he wishes.

He can be Kacchan unapologetically. He doesn’t have to hide his feelings or have Revelation heal the marks the blonde leaves behind. He can sleep with Kacchan, kiss him, hug him, and love him without holding any reservations. 

Except that Kacchan has never given him an inkling of the days he feels the same. The blonde could reject him, distance himself, cut him off completely, and never talk to him again. He’s better off leaving their arrangement as is; fuckbuddies. If he can’t risk sharing his feelings, then at least he can stay close to Kacchan and keep him in his life this way - even if the blonde may never return his feelings. 

Was Todoroki right? Is he better off settling for him and forgetting about his childhood friend? 

Somehow, that hurts the worst, and Midoriya sobs uncontrollably into the open air of his bedroom. He’s crying so loudly that he doesn’t hear his window open, so when his best friend’s deep baritone echoes through the room, he jolts in surprise. “Ah, fuck.”

He locks onto his partner’s crouched figure sliding through his window, his hoodie obscuring the top half of his head. “K-Kacchan!” He cries, crawling to the opposite side of his bed on his knees needily. He wipes his snot away with the back of his sleeve as easily as he’s able, arm drenched when he pulls away.

The blonde sets down a white plastic bag before fully stepping in and shutting the window. “You shouldn’t leave your windows unlocked, idiot,” he chastises, flipping back his hood and taking in the state of his room. “You really went over the deep end, huh?”

He sniffs the last of his tears away, using the end of his ruined long sleeve to wipe his face and seem somewhat presentable. “Kacchan, that’s a little unfair to say to someone who just blew up a six-year-long relationship,” he pouts, sitting back on his heels.

Bakugo picks up the bag he brought and strolls past him into the rest of his small apartment, sneakers sounding against the cheap floors loudly. “Jeez Deku, this is your apartment? Come out of the room and eat,” he calls to him, plastic rustling in the background.

“I’m not hungry,” he complains as he finds his footing, stepping out of bed clumsily and following after his partner. “And why did you come through the window?” He sniffles. His stomach growls audibly as the aroma of his favorite food wafts around him. “Oh my god, did you make katsudon?” His mouth is salivating as he approaches the kitchen, standing at the end of the counter and rubbing the crust from his eyes.

Katsuki hums, plating some food for them and maneuvering around his kitchen as if he had been there a million times before. “I knocked on the door but you were too busy crying to hear me. I had a feeling you would be wallowing in your self-pity for a little while, skipping dinner and shit, so I made extra,” he rationalizes, expression a little withdrawn. Once the food is plated he slides one across the counter to Deku, then a pair of chopsticks, and finally a tall glass of water. “Eat, nerd, before you fuck up my ranking because of malnutrition and dehydration.”

They stand and eat at the kitchen counter together, the blonde pointedly ignoring the greenette as he starts crying mid-meal. Todoroki never made me katsudon. Does he even love me at all? He must have said it aloud because the blonde snorts and rolls his eyes. “That’s the wrong way to approach this shit. I’m sure that two-toned bitch loves you in his own fucked up way, but you can’t sit here and second-guess every moment of your pathetic life because it didn’t work out.”

Deku gapes at him, tears falling as he takes the insult. “Kacchan, you’re being mean again!” He cries dramatically, shoving the rest of his rice in his mouth quickly. He tries to speak again but his mouth is full, resulting in a mumbled gibberish that has his partner grunting with disgust.

“Oh for fuck’s sake, you’re not a baby, Deku! Chew your food first!”

That’s how it starts. 

They finish dinner and he lets Izuku cry for a while. Once they’re done, Bakugo forces him to shower while he cleans up, they watch something on TV or play his Xbox until it’s nearing the blonde’s mandated bedtime. He tells Deku there’s breakfast in the fridge and goes home.

He’s there every night that week and over the weekend until Midoriya feels like he can go a whole night without sobbing. He doesn’t offer his opinion on the matter and surprisingly, keeps his negative thoughts about Todoroki to himself. He’s forced to go out and buy groceries, “one from every food group you dumb idiot”, then is forced to call back all of his friends and cry some more with Bakugo deep cleans his crappy apartment.

He has, all-in-all, a great week. He’s going through the worst emotional turmoil of his life, but somehow, he earns Kacchan’s attention every day. He feels devastated but less and less every day as he repairs the friendship he’s yearned for for years. To his surprise, Kacchan seems just as content to hang with him; he doesn’t even mock him when he acts immature or starts another crying fit.

His schedule changes. 

He can’t get enough of Kacchan. He manages to mostly avoid Todoroki at work, thankful for a larger agency finally, his performance improving the stronger their partnership gets. Afterward, he and Kacchan spar for a few hours until they’re sore or jog if their muscles need rest, head to one of their apartments to eat Bakugo’s cooking, and hang out until bedtime. 

He feels like he’s six again, ready to take on the world with his best friend at his side. Except that now, he finds himself split open underneath his partner each night, and although it’s probably not healthy, he feels a little less lonely each time.

Two weeks after the big argument, he and Bakugo distance themselves a little as he gets better. They still hang out multiple times a week, but they start to hang out with other friends again. Their sex is just as invigorating as it was the first time, rough and raw and hungry. True to his word they don’t kiss and neither of them spend the night, although Midoriya fights himself from asking. It’s almost as if nothing has happened, like they’re still sneaking around and keeping themselves quiet.

There are small changes, however. 

He’s usually not ‘shitty Deku’ when he’s called. Although their lips don’t meet, Bakugo insists on littering him with marks of passion each time they fuck - the one time he bothered to count, he paled when he passed thirty. His dirty talk is just as vulgar as ever, but the tone has changed.

“Look how pretty you take me, Deku.”

“Can’t get enough of you. Who else can fuck you like this, hm?”

“This ass was made for me. Do y’know how long I’ve wanted to ruin you?”

“You look so good split open on my cock.”

“You’re my little slut, aren’t you? Be a good boy, Deku.”

“I’ll make sure I fuck you hard enough you forget about anyone else.”

Those statements have his mind reeling. Sometimes, the things Kacchan does confuse him, too.

There are moments when they’re spent and coming down from their high after finishing Bakugo holds onto him longer than he used to. There are times when he wipes his tears away after being overstimulated, when he pulls him into his lap and wraps his arms around him, when he makes Deku come two, three, four times a night (although that last one was only once) before he finishes himself.

Things change in other ways, too. The way they bicker changes - it turns into playful teasing and humorous taunts that leave both of them smiling instead of aggravating one another. Their partnership at work gets stronger and more vigilant, and every day is a brand new challenge that Deku looks forward to. He’s getting stronger and more tactful as he spars with the blonde, healthier as he eats Kacchan’s balanced meals more often than fast food. He and Kacchan can actually be called best friends, sharing their secret All Might collections and recalling his best moments when they’re feeling up to it. They play every game Midoriya has wanted but hasn’t had the time for, they watch every hero documentary that Todoroki found boring and repetitive, and overall, they learn how to be best friends again. He apologizes to Kirishima and gets closer to a few of his friends, and for the first time in forever, his heart is full of love.

Something is bothering him, however, tickling the back of his mind and making him uneasy. What could be wrong? Oh, right; he still technically has a boyfriend.

Things get increasingly more complex once he’s forced to address the elephant of their relationship, more like a mammoth in light of things. Almost a month later, Shoto finds him in the middle of a sparring session with Kacchan after their morning shift, ignoring the “room in use” sign in favor of bargaining in. They’re altering one of their strongest duo-moves, one where Deku wraps Blackwhip around Bakugo’s waist and combos it with a mixture of both of their quirks to propel the blonde forward for a lightning-fast attack; it doesn’t hurt that it’s a recent fan favorite, as well. 

The sound of the automatic door unlocking and sliding open startles the two of them enough that Midoriya accidentally ends up launching Bakugo a tad harder than intended, the smoke from his partner’s explosions billowing around them larger than normal. “Dammit Deku, I don’t like breaking my bones like you do, you crazy fuck!” He growls as he picks himself up from the spot he landed. Red eyes are ablaze as they search through the smoke for the intruder. “Who the fuck is it?” He demands.

Midoriya wipes the sweat from his brow, bent over with his hands on his knees as he retracts his quirks. “Can I help you? Kacchan and I are in the middle of-” his voice catches the instant he makes eye contact with Todoroki, body going rigid as he forces himself to stand up straight. “Todoroki,” he breathes, deflating as the adrenaline starts to leave his body.

The air is thick as he hears Bakugo’s boots thud against the floor toward them. “You don’t know how to read, Half-and-Half?” He snickers, spitting to the side in a show of his disapproval. “We’re busy.”

He can see the muscles in his boyfriend’s jaw clench. “I need to talk to Midoriya.”

Before the greenette can answer, Kacchan has his chest puffed out and is strolling up to the other hero, invading his personal space to sneer down at him. “Yeah, and I wish you would get the memo and get the fuck out of my life, but somehow you always find a way to insert yourself in it.”

Deku steps up next to him and tugs him back by his elbow, the blonde barely moving an inch. “Kacchan, it’s alright. We’ve done a lot of work today, anyway; let’s table it for Sunday.” Bakugo doesn’t budge, vermillion eyes narrowing until eventually he comes to a decision, sucking his teeth and storming off. He bumps his shoulder into Todoroki’s aggressively on the way out, hands already moving to remove some of his gear as he exits the sparring room. 

Once he’s gone, Midoriya’s anxiety spikes, fingers fidgeting with the seams of his gloves. Thankfully, Todoroki speaks first. “Midoriya, how are you?” Comes his gentle tone, the familiarity striking a chord within the shorter man and quickening his heartbeat.

Deku nods solemnly, lip caught between his teeth briefly. “I’ve been good. Well, honestly not that good but good enough considering I found out that my boyfriend has been lying to me for the entirety of our relationship a few weeks ago,” he chuckles awkwardly, eyes darkening as he recalls their last argument. Aren’t you hypocritical?

Todoroki clears his throat and shuffles his weight between his feet. “Midoriya, I’m sorry. I know nothing can erase what I’ve done, and I’ve had a lot of time to think about where I went wrong. I know that we can’t move past our differences or reconcile things until I own up to that first.” He runs a hand through his hair, fluffing his bangs back nervously. 

Midoriya takes a step back, bewildered. “‘Move past our differences’, ‘reconcile things’? Todoroki,” he tries not to laugh. “We took a break almost a month ago. Don’t you think you’ve had more than enough time to think about what went wrong and attempt to fix it? What made you decide after all this time that now is when you want to make an effort?”

“I miss you, Midoriya,” he admits, tone soft and aching. The way he says his name plays with Deku’s heart unfairly, squeezing it erratically. “The longer I go without you the more I realize how indebted I am to you, to the life we planned to have together. I’ve been watching you excel and grow without me, and I started to get jealous; why didn’t you ever look that happy when we were together?” 

Todoroki won’t meet his eyes, looking down at his feet. “I was trying to keep you from him all this time because I was afraid of your bond. I thought that if I forced him out of your life, your grief and all of the things tying you down would go with him, but since he’s returned, you’ve been nothing but radiant. I was juggling how to approach you for weeks, planning a way to bring you back without keeping him in the picture, but…” he pauses, licking his lips. 

“I recognize that you need him in your life. I can’t keep you from him, shouldn’t keep you from him, but I want to return to our normal routines, together . I truly believe we can achieve all of our goals and live a comfortable life just like we planned, so I’m willing to find the middle ground where we both can occupy your time.”

His brows furrow, lips twisting with confusion. “I don’t understand. You don’t get to choose who my friends are, Todoroki, so what does it matter if Kacchan is my best friend? If you knew the day we broke up that I wasn’t going to unfriend Kacchan just to be with you, what’s the point you’re trying to make? What’s different now, other than you understanding boundaries?” He asks, exasperated. He removes a glove to run a hand through his hair. “Todoroki, I don’t know if I want to get back together with you,” he says plainly. 

Shoto looks away to fiddle with his watch. “I know,” he exhales through his nose. “I know that with him back in your life things won’t be the same, but Midoriya…” he pauses briefly, licking the inside of his mouth. “I love you, Izuku,” he admits. Midoriya is stunned into silence, his mouth slightly ajar as his boyfriend continues. “I love you and I know I haven’t always been open with my feelings this way, but I want to change that moving forward. I want to do more of the things you want to do and spend more valuable time together. I’m not asking for you to force your feelings for me, but I am asking for another chance.”

Midoriya puffs his cheeks and lets out a heavy sigh, hand tugging at his bangs uncertainly. “I…” he hesitates, mouth dry and tongue like lead as he thinks of a response. He can’t give himself back up to Todoroki, can he? He can’t allow himself to be fooled again, to be played a fool for a second time, but… he never treated me poorly, even though he betrayed my trust. “I don’t know, Todo.”

Mismatched brows furrow in confusion. “Is there someone else, Midoriya?” He asks quietly.

Yes, is what he should say. Yes, there is. He’s six foot, light blonde, explosive and irritable and sexy and he will never love me back but I let him use me like a rag doll because I have no self-worth and will never find anyone better. Also, he just came back into my life after x amount of years and now we’re closer than ever, so I can’t tell him how I feel else I want to jeopardize the reason we started arguing in the first place.

The opposite comes out of his mouth instead. This seems to settle something within the other hero,  a mild impassivity overcoming his features. “Then let’s give this another shot. We’ve spent the past six years together, Midoriya - I think we owe it to ourselves to try and see if we can work past this. If after a little while you still feel uncertain, or you find someone else, then you just tell me and we’ll address it then. Okay?”

Midoriya hates himself for nodding in agreeance, resigned to acceptance after being confronted with guilt; how can he lie and cheat, tell Todoroki there is no one else when there is? How can he come up with a valid enough excuse as to why he doesn’t want to be with the other anymore? When his boyfriend pulls him in for a gentle hug, a part of him feels like he’s signed off on his own demise.

Isn’t this what you wanted? To feel loved, to be wanted? To be needed?

“I don’t have to tell you that these are unhealthy behaviors, do I, Midoriya?” His therapist announces, face neutral as she sits in her chair across from him. He shakes his head, shame resting heavily on his shoulders. “Why did you feel compelled to agree to get back with Todoroki, and how did Kacchan take it?”

He sighs, slinking back into the lounge chair. “Kacchan wasn’t happy, of course. He didn’t say that explicitly, but I just…know,” he trails, biting the inside of his cheek. “I think that my moral compass is out of wack. Maybe a part of me believes that by staying with him, I won’t ever have to confront my feelings for Kacchan and I can still have him for as long as this goes on. Maybe part of me thinks that I’m tipping the scale for him, that a piece of my infidelity can be bartered away in exchange for continuing a relationship with him. I don't know,” he finishes with a grunt.

Yuna shifts in her seat. “Would it be so dreadful if you let him know how you feel? What if he feels the same?” She questions, pen tapping erratically. 

He shakes his head. “What if. Wouldn’t he have made a move by now if he did? Todoroki was out of the picture for almost a whole month, yet Kacchan didn’t give me any indication that he wanted more from me, that he wanted something more for us; I’m plenty happy keeping what little friendship I have earned with him.”

She tilts her head. “Are you still sleeping with him?” Midoriya frowns.

How can he not?

“I can’t tell you how to live your life. Therapy is an outlet, a safe space to speak your mind freely and come to conclusions on your own with some guided periods of introspection. What I do want to have you work on is pinpointing what it is that attracts you to Kacchan? What attracts you to Todoroki? Who do you think can provide you both?”

The rest of their session is rather uneventful, and the greenette is in a soured mood for the rest of his day. His schedule adjusts so that he can see Todoroki again, although not nearly as much as he used to, and most of his time is spent either in his boyfriend’s house or at Kacchan’s. A regular Wednesday reverts back to their designated date day, and his partner is extra irritable because of it. He and Bakugo don’t even have sex after their shift is over, Midoriya quiet as they change out of their costumes. “What the fuck has crawled up your ass and died today, nerd?” Comes the familiar gruff tone nearby.

He slams his locker shut as he wraps his towel around his waist and heads to the showers. “Nothing.” He’s almost into the other room when he notices his partner isn’t following. “You aren’t going to shower?” He scorns. 

Bakugo is dressed down in some running shorts, a tank top, and a black baseball hat. “I’m going for a run,” comes the expected reply - a new Wednesday evening activity that the blonde found to like when he decided to get back with Todoroki. “I’ll shower after.”

Midoriya frowns. “Kirisihima’s surprise party is tonight. Did you forget?”

The blonde scoffs. “No. It doesn’t take me eight hours to get ready for a party, unlike someone else; I’ll be fine,” he finishes as he closes his locker, heading out without another glance in his direction.

“How does Kacchan feel about it?”

I’ll give you two guesses, Yuna.

To some degree, being back together with his boyfriend is welcome. It’s a familiar, homely, reliable; he knows he won’t die alone or without comfort. Todoroki is still gentle and affectionate in many ways Katsuki isn’t, and it's times when they’re cuddling on the couch watching something on TV on Sunday mornings that Deku can say he enjoys it. However, there’s a disconnect between them most days, since Todoroki doesn’t like talking about Kacchan and all Deku wants to do is talk about him - how their day went, what villains they faced, what he and his partner did, how the blonde’s improved, what new collectible he has that he shoved in his face, what Kacchan made for lunch that tasted beyond phenomenal, and on and on.

As a result, there’s a wall between them that they haven’t been able to completely tear down in the couple of months they’ve been back together. 

He’s rushing to get home and put himself together a little before heading to Kaminari’s place for the surprise party. It takes him way longer than he’d like to admit, but once he’s done, he’s got a small air of confidence around him. He’s got a little mouse in his hair to accentuate his texture and hold down his frizz by the time he’s done, clad in black, four-inch inseam shorts that showcase his monstrous legs, a mint-green long sleeve, and of course, his red high-tops. He has his present in hand when his boyfriend picks him up, leaning against the private car for him as he leaves the lobby of his building. 

Todoroki is smiling wholesomely as he approaches, stepping aside to open the back door for him to enter. He’s dressed in slacks and a patterned button-down, simple yet just enough for a party. Midorita flushes as he plops down in his seat, suddenly feeling underdressed. “Do you think I look too… plain?” He asks, his voice tinged with concern.

Todoroki shuffles in next to him, closing the door for them and nodding for their driver to take off. “Not at all,” he denies. “Actually, I’ve been waiting to tell you how beautiful you look in those shorts.” The greenette blushes lightly and grins. He thanks him sheepishly, turning his attention to the present he spots at their feet. The two of them get to talking about what they each got their friend for his birthday, and at some point, Todoroki’s hand finds its way into his.

It feels nice, he thinks.

They’re among the first ones to arrive at the party, everyone buzzing with excitement as they finish the final decorations for the surprise. Seeing his friends and spending some time around his old classmates, everyone working in tandem to appease one of their friends, lifts his sour mood and helps ease some of the tensions from his shoulders. The punch helps, too, although he sips lightly to avoid embarrassing himself too much. It’s almost the top of the hour when everyone’s told to get down and hide, Ochako shutting the lights off energetically.

He refrains from reacting when his boyfriend’s hand rests on his thigh as they squat next to one another.

“-bro, I am so ready to get shit-faced tonight. That new chick at work has been dodging me like a mother fucker; I even bought her flowers, and she threw them in the trash! What kind of-”

“Surprise!” Everyone yells as Kirishima and Bakugo enter the foyer of the apartment, Ochako flipping the lights on with glee. Everyone’s crowding the redhead to give him a communal hug, his sensitive friend tearing up as he receives everyone’s love. 

“Awww, no way! This is so manly, bro!” He exclaims, pulling Bakugo in to join in the group hug. Once the initial excitement wears down the music starts, Kirishima grabs a drink, then makes his way around the room to see all of his friends. Midoriya stays near Todoroki as he waits to wish his friend a happy birthday, but there’s a lull in time when he gets caught up talking to Kaminari where green eyes can flitter over to another man in the room. When he finds him, ruby eyes are already staring at him intensely. 

Kacchan is unfairly gorgeous. His hair is tame and perfectly fluffy, a fresh undercut highlighting his sharp jaw. He’s got a decorative slice in his eyebrow that Midoriya loves , his piercings are shining brightly, and he’s dressed impeccably in khaki, ankle-cut chinos, black sneakers, and a casual navy polo that’s been left unbuttoned. The shirt is exposing enough that the greenette can just make out the shape of his collarbone, eyes tracing the faint outline of a hickey nearby.

Shit.

Cool fingers are threading through his again, pulling him back from his distraction. He turns his attention back to his boyfriend, now chatting idly with Iida. He’s been so touchy tonight already. Deku pretends to join in the conversation, nodding and smiling where appropriate as the two heroes talk animatedly about something. His leg starts bouncing after a little while, itching to go and chat with his best friend. It’s bad enough as it is that he has to separate those two parts of himself entirely, fuckbuddies or not, and it’s only made worse when there’s an event that all three of them have to be at. 

Luckily, Ochako joins them shortly after. “Hey, you two!” She giggles, pulling both of them in for a big hug. Midoriya smiles warmly, welcoming her eagerly. “It’s so nice to see everyone again! I can’t believe you two almost broke up, you know; Iida wouldn’t shut up about it for weeks!  What happened?” She pries.

Deku laughs uncomfortably, taking a large sip of his drink in response. Todoroki smiles warmly and squeezes his hand tightly. “We had a disagreement about something and took some time apart to work on ourselves. I think it was for the better, don’t you, Midoriya?” He turns to him, eyes searching his. 

“Yeah,” he chuckles sheepishly, smiling the best he can to appease his boyfriend. His gut is wrenching, fighting his response, but he pushes that feeling down into the far recesses of his mind. He inhales quickly. “How are things at your agency, Ochako, Iida? I hear things are really heating up in your area,” he sidebars.

Ochako waves dismissively although the engine man looks like he could talk for a mile. “Psh, enough about me; we didn’t even get to talk that much when you made your new rank! How have things been working with Bakugo? You guys look really in sync!”

Relief floods his system at the opportunity to talk about Kacchan in front of Todoroki. He relaxes, his hand loosening within his boyfriend’s hold. “Things are going really great!” He beams, doing his best to smile widely. “It’s really awesome to be able to work alongside someone without having to worry about outpacing them or accidentally breaking their body if I smash them too hard,” he giggles. “We’re actually creating a new combo move right now if you can keep that a secret, so I’m excited to test its capabilities out in battle!”

Then, there’s a rough hand on the top of his head. “Oi, you spilling our secrets? We’re not even close to ready to talk about that shit yet,” Kacchan butts in, ruffling his hair lightly.

The tension is palatable. Next to him, Todoroki tenses, forearm flexing as he avoids squeezing his hand. Midoriya pulls away from him instantly, his hand moving to smooth his hair. “Kacchan, I spent an hour fixing my hair!” He whines, pouting sensitively. “And I wouldn’t have to keep so many secrets if you talked to our friends more. Right, Ochako?”

Ochako nods in agreement, chin jutting with a ‘hmph’! “Midoriya’s right, Bakugo. I thought we all were much closer when we graduated, but you barely ever remember to text any of us! The most I hear about you is from Midoriya, Kirishima, or the news! Right, Kiri?” She turns her head, calling out to the redhead.

Across the room, the birthday boy’s spiky hair jerks up, nodding in their direction and heading over. The blonde snorts and rolls his shoulders. “That’s because I’m spending all my time grinding to be number one, unlike all of your lazy-asses who have time to text and post all day,” he chides.

Kirishima wraps his arms around his best friend and Ochako aggressively, jerking the two of them roughly in a familiar way. “Hey, it’s my best buds! Are we talking about how unworthy the rest of us are to walk on the same plane as Great Murder Explosion God Dynamight?” He boasts, eyebrows waggling to the group.

Midoriya doesn’t expect the snort that comes from his boyfriend on the left.  He turns to look at him incredulously, surprised by his behavior. His eyes are twinkling with amusement as he shrugs. “Imagine being unlucky enough to do your internship with him, then be chosen as his ‘unworthy’ partner for three years,” Todoroki comments.

Ochako frowns, her brown eyes flittering over to Deku’s to gauge his reaction. His face remains neutral as he swallows uncomfortably, taking a hearty drink from his glass. “Midoriya seems to be getting along with him just fine Todoroki, right?” She pushes, brows narrowing as she starts to pick them apart. Another person I have trouble hiding anything from - great.

It’s not his boyfriend who answers, however. “Are you kidding?” Kirishima boists. “Every time I want to chill with Bakubro, he’s already hanging out with Midobro. These two are like, super best bros.” He fakes a cry, sniffling dramatically, pinching his nose, and turning his head away from the blonde. “I’m getting a little jealous that he’s taking my best bro!”

Katsuki sucks his teeth, shoving the redhead lightly. “Oh stuff it, Shitty Hair. You’re just jealous because I broke the top ten before you did,” he teases, a smirk decorating his face. Kirishima gapes, the rest of the group laughing earnestly as they watch them bicker. It helps to ease some of the tension from the atmosphere, and Midoriya is beyond thankful. Thankful enough that he even squeezes back when Todoroki holds his hand again. 

It’s only an issue when he and Kirishima start roughhousing, the blonde putting him into a chokehold and spouting some obscenities. Ochako gasps, hands pulling at the collar of the blonde’s shirt excitedly. “Woah, so the rumors are true, then!” All eyes are on his partner then, Bakugo flinching away from her touch and letting the birthday boy go. 

“Huh? Oh!” The redhead smiles as he pats his shoulder, leaning his head to the side and poking at the bruise near his collarbone. “Yeah, it’s definitely true,” he grins, not even flinching as the blonde smacks his hand away. 

Then, everyone can’t stop staring at the hickey on the hollow of his neck, including Midoriya. Iida, bless his heart, has to ask for clarification on the rumor, and then Ochako won’t shut up. “I can’t believe you haven’t heard!” She hisses, holding her hands out and clearing her throat. “Okay, so Kirishima told me that Bakugo was being weird and all of a sudden, he stops going out with us. Odd, right? Then there’s a whole new fan page dedicated to pointing out all of the random bruises spotted on him during fights. Then the tabloids pick it up, and images of scratch marks and hickeys and all types of stuff are exposed, so there’s a rumor circulating that mister everyone-but-me-sucks-ass is secretly dating someone.”

Iida is humming in acknowledgement, adjusting his glasses. Kirishima pipes in, adding fuel to the fire. “Yeah! And like, he won’t even tell me who it is! He’s been keeping it under wraps. Midobro, you work with him everyday - who do you think it is? I’m sure you see much worse in the locker room,” he waggles his eyebrows at his friends, dodging as the blonde goes to chop him on the head. 

Suddenly, all eyes are on him. He blushes nervously, flinching away from his boyfriend’s touch and gulping harshly. “Um, I don’t know?” He chuckles nervously, watching as he swirls the remaining punch around the inside of his cup. “Kacchan and I don’t really talk about stuff like that,” he replies lamely, hiding behind his cup as he brings it to his lips to take a drink.

Kirishima and Ochako deflate visibly, the two of them chattering back and forth about one thing or another as proof of the rumor. Midoriya drinks to calm his nerves, sighting into his cup as he effectively steers away from that conversation… again. “All right, the next person who decides to gossip about my sex life is getting an explosion to the face,” Bakugo bites at the group, eliciting a couple of giggles. He makes direct eye contact with Deku as he says it, eyes swirling with mischief.

They only hold it for a few seconds, just over the lip of his cup until the message is clear. You owe me. When he turns his attention back to the rest of the group, everyone’s moved on to other sidebar conversations. Except Ochako, who is watching him intently. He feels caught, embarrassed, and he clears his throat to go get more punch. 

The party is actually a much-needed distraction. Deku ends up getting just the right amount of drunk: blissfully unaware of his general anxieties but still largely in control of himself. The induced mental freedom does open up his brain to avenues he typically doesn’t explore, especially his impulses, so when Todoroki goes to the restroom and leaves Izuku alone for a few minutes, his feet naturally carry him to where Kirishima and Bakugo are.

“Kirishima, happy birthday!” He giggles, cheeks a light pink from the flush of alcohol. Red Riot beams, pulling him into a big hug and thanking him. He’s sloshed, but he’s always been a fun drunk so the greenette doesn’t mind; it’s his party, after all. 

“Hey Midobro, thanks! I’m really glad you could make it!” He pulls back, grabbing onto the back of the blonde’s collar to pull him in close to their conversation. “Hey, I know it was forever ago, but I wanted to say I’m sorry to the both of you for…you know,” he whispers unsuccessfully, his voice way louder than it should be due to his intoxication.

Bakugo snickers. “You don’t gotta apologize. I’m the one who started shit,” he murmurs, looking Deku over. His eyes linger on the expanse of the freckled hero’s thighs, pleasantly on display due to the shorter inseam. Deku hums his appreciation at the attention, carefully disguising it as a response to his friend.

“No, I should be sorry. Kirishima, you didn’t do anything wrong - it was just a hard conversation.” His emerald eyes trace the hard lines of muscles tugging at the edges of the short sleeves on his polo, resting over that spot on the small of his neck with the hickey. “Which we’re over with. Right, Kacchan?” He giggles, tipping back his cup to down a quarter of it. 

The blonde has had a few drinks throughout the night, not really the type to drink too much but indulging in celebration of his best friend. The tips of his ears are red, however hard he attempts to conceal it, a tell-tale sign that he’s drunk. Must’ve been the beer pong; Sero is a menace. 

Someone else grabs Kirishima’s attention, the redhead chasing after another story or a round of shots, leaving the pair alone for the first time that evening. Neither of them speak up, content to enjoy the silence and ambience of the party from their corner of the room. “I’m sorry to Kacchan, too,” Midoriya mumbles and leans against the wall.

Bakugo’s brows furrow together and his lips twist. “For what, nerd?” He huffs, the insult sounding more endearing than his own name. 

Deku says nothing, smiling at the ceiling and enjoying the various colors reflect off of the white expanse. “Because,” he finally manages, words spilling out of a sloppily. He watches his boyfriend come back from the bathroom, smile faltering as the other spots him.  He’s dragged away by Ochako and Iida to help Yaouorozu get down from the ceiling, stuck by glue she created, with only one helpless shrug of his shoulders. Midoriya offers a small smile in acknowledgement.

His shoulders sag when he’s out of sight, exhaling through his nose to drink another quarter of his cup. “Cause of that ,” he mumbles into the plastic. Because you have to deal with him not liking you, because we have to split our time, because I would rather be here with you. 

There’s a hot breath against the shell of his ear. “You owe me,” he rasps huskily, tone dripping with lust and dominance. It sends a delightful shiver down his back, all the way to his toes, and he’s following his partner through the apartment without a second thought. 

He knows it’s risky, beyond sketchy, and fucking stupid, but he’s craving the attention Kacchan can give him, the attention Kacchan will give him. He loves to be praised, to be complimented, and drunk Deku likes it a hundred times more. 

They don’t even make it all the way down the hall before the blonde has him pinned against the way, a knee between his legs. “Someone’s eager,” Bakugo teases, canines glinting as he smirks devilishly. He’s kissing the expanse of his throat before long, hands roaming up the sides of the greenette’s body hungrily. 

He bites his lip, fisting a hand in his spiky locks to control himself. “N-Not on my, ah, neck, Kacchan,” he asks quietly, doing his best to not sound too eager. His hands are lifting him by his ass the next second, thumbs rubbing up against the muscles exposed by his more revealing shorts. They hike up past the edge of his boxers, revealing more skin. 

Kacchan is licking and sucking at the outer part of his left ear. “You’re such a fucking tease , y’know that?” Deku shivers and kisses up the side of his neck, nipping gently in his favorite places but not hard enough to make. Bakugo growls low in his throat and sucks on the cartilage viscerally. “Giving me those big, fuck-me eyes all night, yeah?” He asks as he pulls back,

God I love it when he’s drunk, Midoriya thinks, remembering the cup is his hand and moving to finish it.  The blonde stops it before it can reach his mouth, eyes glinting with trouble. “You like that shit, Deku?” He purrs, opening his mouth to down the rest of his drink instead. He holds it in his mouth, doesn’t swallow, and swats the cup to the ground and moves one hand to pry his chin down and back. “You remember, yeah? Swallow. ”

Midoriya almost creams himself at the command. 

This isn’t technically a kiss, but it’s more than just a peck on the lips. It’s open-mouthed, sloppy, wet, and needy as the blonde lets the drink from his mouth pour into Izuku’s, using it as an excuse to lick up the underside of his tongue in the process. The greenette is thankful for it as he swallows down his moan along with the alcohol, his shorts tenting with his arousal. 

We shouldn’t be doing this. We shouldn’t be doing this here - anyone could walk in. Todoroki could walk in. What if he sees us?

“What if, hm?” Bakugo hums, licking a strip up the underside of his jaw. Deku fights to stifle his noises, lips loose from the recent alcohol he’s added to his bloodstream - he’s definitely drunk. Kacchan is kissing at a sensitive spot behind his ear and jaw, sucking recklessly as his hands move to slide under his shirt and pet his abs. “You don’t want him to see how pretty you look under me?” He taunts. 

Midoriya lolls his head to the side and arches into him, his growing erection just barely brushing against the blonde’s hard body. When he unlatches from behind his ear, the younger hero moves his attention to the hickey on his collarbone, attacking it and sucking greedily. Bakugo hisses lightly and moves his fingers to run across a nipple aggressively. 

Something is warning him, telling him to stop. His intuition is screaming at him, telling him to at least get in another room and shut the door, but Bakugo’s lips and hands are shutting his intuition up faster than he can protest.  

Bakugo is pushing his mouth off a few seconds later to attack that spot behind his ear again, grinding up into him lightly. “Do y’know how tempting you are with these fucking thighs?” He grabs them bruisingly tight. “You'll be a good boy for me, Deku, yeah?” He lifts his shirt until it’s over his chest, Bakugo moving to mark the skin there. He whimpers and tightens his fist in his partner’s locks. “Let me borrow that tight little hole for tonight,” he grunts.

Deku is aching, eyes hazy with lust as his partner teases him. Things are progressing quickly, hands moving to belts and inside of boxers, until his Danger Sense is alerting him with a mild notification. He freezes, pushing Katsuki back by the shoulders and looking around wildly. “K-Kacchan,” he shushes, forcing the other to stop his ventures.

There’s no one, nothing, no matter how hard he looks. It was nothing, he tries to tell himself, but his body knows better. Danger Sense usually will only respond to malice or ill intent, but sometimes, it can be affected by emotions of anxiety, stress, anger, air hatred. With the mild effect, Deku assumes it’s the latter, meaning that someone could have seen them.

They’ve been caught. 

Bakugo tries to continue their previous actions, grunting in annoyance, but the mood has been killed by one of his quirks and now the greenette can’t think. “Kacchan, someone saw us,” he tries, ripping his legs away from his touch to stand back on his two feet. 

His partner frowns, staring down at him wildly before sucking his teeth and withdrawing. “I think it’s just your big dumb brain, Deku,” he sighs, retreating regardless and moving to fix his clothes. “What a buzzkill,” he mumbles under his breath. 

Deku rolls his eyes, anxiety spiking. He works quickly to fix his shorts and shirt, attempting the best he can to smooth his hair back down. “Yeah yeah, not like you won’t have your way later,” he chides. There’s a small silence filled with the rustle of clothing, and once they’re presentable, Midoriya steps a few paces to the sides. “What if someone really did see us, Kacchan?” He asks softly, teeth gnawing at his lower lip.

The blonde snorts. “What if, Deku?” Midoriya sighs and walks back to the rest of the party first,  eyes scanning around every corner for a sign that someone saw them. He doesn’t see anyone, and by the time he’s back in the main room, Todoroki and the rest of that group are returning as well with Yaoyorozu in tow. He smiles and walks up to them, asking what they’re doing and trying his best to act natural.

Ochako’s eyes won’t leave him the rest of the night. 

They head back to Todoroki’s house that night, Deku a little too drunk to get home by himself safely. He’s not wasted but close after drinking more following his…whatever, with Kacchan. Bad idea, that’s what it was. His boyfriend is really affectionate after the two drinks he’s had, and when they waltz in his living room, he’s spinning him around playfully. 

He’s giggling madly, focusing all his efforts on coordinating his steps as they dance. At least I don’t think he saw us. Todoroki pulls him into a hug, rubbing his back gently as the rock and sway together. “Midoriya, did you have a good time tonight?” He asks quietly, exhaling softly in his ear. The greenette nods gingerly, smiling to himself. He did have a great time at the party, even after the mini fiasco. 

His boyfriend starts kissing his forehead lightly, hugging him tightly as they dance in the living room. Deku allows it, the comfort much needed in the face of the anxieties he’s faced tonight. Truth be told, this is what kept him with Todoroki for as long as they were. While he can’t satisfy the sexual part of him, his gentleness and affection he gives him makes up a small part of what he can’t get from Kacchan. 

God, I’m deplorable. 

It’s been a while since they’ve been this way, but the alcohol in his blood coaxes him closer. Maybe I can have them both. Maybe there is a way, he tries to justify mentally. Todoroki cups his cheek tenderly and raises his head, mismatched eyes staring at him lovingly. “I love you, Izuku,” he tells him, searching his face for an answer.

I’m in love with Kacchan. Do I still love you?

Instead of answering, he tilts his chin to give him a chaste kiss on the lips. His boyfriend leans into it, rubbing the tops of his cheeks sweetly. The greenette stops swaying, melting into his arms at the warmth of his lips. They’re kissing innocently but with purpose, and for the first time in months, Deku remembers why he and Todoroki got together in the first place. 

For once, his thoughts are quiet. 

The chime of the shorter hero’s phone interrupts both of them. Deku pulls back and turns his head down to glance at the notification, ensuring it’s not urgent so he can return his attention to Todoroki. It’s Ochako, and he would’ve deemed it unimportant if he wasn’t so confused.

“I’m sorry.” Is all the text says. Sorry? For what? 

Todoroki’s cold thumb pressing into the bruised skin behind the small of his ear, poking at the mark that Kacchan left him earlier. Izuku pauses, gaze trained on his phone and as the taller hero stops petting him. “Midoriya, what’s this?” He asks flatly.

When he pockets his phone and looks at him, Shoto’s face is impassive and expressionless. “Dunno,” he hums innocently, praying that the other can’t see the fear he holds. Todoroki sighs heavily through his nose, stepping back to lift the edge of his shirt until it bunches at his neck. He gasps, blushing wildly as he thinks of the marks that have been left there. 

He’s been caught. 

“So it is true then,” his boyfriend starts, dropping his shirt quickly and pulling away from him. “You’re sleeping with him.”

 Midoriya can’t meet his eyes, head reeling from the wash of emotions he’s forced to overcome. “W-What?” He asks dumbly, hoping he can work his way out of this somehow. No, oh my god not right now. Please. 

Shoto puffs a breath, expression hard and jaw set as he looks him over. “Ochako told me that she thought she saw you two at the party, but she wasn’t sure. She told me that she saw you two leave his house together the morning after we fought, that some fan caught it and was sharing it as part of the rumors, but I…” he exhales, covering his mouth with his hand for a moment.

Deku’s suddenly a lot more sober, cracking the knuckles of his hands anxiously. “Todoroki, it’s not what you think,” he tries, forcing his breathing to come under control. 

He looks at him pointedly. “Then what is it?” Midoriya’s mouth is dry, his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and preventing him from answering. “You know, I believed her when she told me.” Emerald eyes snap to his, wide with fear and confusion. “I thought that although it really sucks to come in second place to Bakugo of all people, I did this to us, to you. I pushed you to him, made it easy for him to swoop in and recover the pieces. So I said fine, if they slept together when we were on a break you know what? I’ll get past it,”

He swallows around the lump in his throat, stomach churning unpleasantly. “I thought we were doing better. I thought that if we were back together again, if I didn’t hold you back from seeing him, then you wouldn’t feel the need to go back to him.” Todoroki turns away from him briefly, a hand coming to rub at the back of his neck. “Am I really all that bad?”

“I’m sorry.”  

Deku puts two and two together rather slowly, but eventually, his inebriated brain works the pieces into place. Ochako saw them, she told Todoroki, and all he did was give him the proof. “Todoroki, no,” he whispers, voice tight. “It’s not you, okay? I…fuck,” he curses clumsily. “You’ve been nothing but sweet to me, Todo.”

“Midoriya, you know he won’t ever love you back.” His words are akin to a glass of ice water being poured over him. He’s frozen entirely, heart and mouth stopping as he digests what he tells him. “You’ve been pining after him your whole life, with or without the bullying, and he’s never responded to your advances. I’m not the only person who has eyes and can see how you feel for him, and if he hasn’t addressed your feelings by now, what makes you think he ever will?” Todoroki huffs, breaking their conversation to take some deep breaths. “Have you told him how you feel or have you avoided it because you know that I’m right, that he doesn’t have the capacity to love you back?”

Midoriya wants to start crying again, but his eyes are dry. This is what has felt wrong, hasn’t it? As fulfilled and as healed as he’s felt lately, as much love as he’s been receiving from Kacchan it’s never the type of love he’s craving. Every time they come together, eat together, finish one of his favorite movies, or attempt to cook together, he’s holding back from screaming how he feels for fear that he’ll be rejected.

Todoroki is right, isn’t he? Kacchan hasn’t ever shown love interest in anyone aside from sex, let alone his partner who has been warming his bed for months now. He’s risked his life for him, taken hit after hit in his protection, saved him, fought with him, cooked for him, hugged him, kissed him, and came inside of him, yet he’s never once told Midoriya he’s felt any differently.

If he confesses and tells Kacchan he loves him, their friendship might be over for good, because the blonde doesn’t “do” affection and attachments. Losing Kacchan altogether is worse than holding a one-sided love because at least if he’s feeling hurt, he can still pop up at his house in the middle of the night to forget about his pain. Without him, Deku might really be lost.

He knew that Kacchan would never give him what he gave, yet after taking a break from his boyfriend, he held out some hope that their relationship could bloom into something more. Months later, here I am…

Suddenly, Shoto is grabbing a hold of his left hand, clasping both of his around it. “Midoriya, I can love you without any reservations. You don’t have to worry about someone who might never accept your advances or acknowledge your feelings, because I already do. ” He shakes his head, a sad smile decorating his face. “I love you, Izuku,” he starts, Deku staring wide-eyed as he gets down on one knee. Oh no. “We’ve been together for a long time. So long that I almost forgot, we weren’t already married,” he chuckles nervously. “I will do anything to have you in my life entirely. I’m not asking you to stay away from Bakugo or to change your feelings about him. I know that there are parts of our relationship that we struggled with before that, but I can’t envision a future that doesn’t have you in it.” He licks his lips and meets his gaze, holding it for a few seconds. 

“Marry me, Izuku Midoriya.”

He’s at Kacchan’s apartment far past his scheduled bedtime, but the blonde answers the door regardless. He’s pushing past his partner before the door can open all the way, ripping off his shirt hastily. “Deku, what the fuck?” the blonde gruffs, voice groggy with sleep. He shuts the door, locks it, and runs a hand through his hair as he faces him. 

Deku’s undressing down to his boxers in lieu of a response. When he’s almost bare save for his bottoms he reaches for the blonde’s shorts, tugging at the waistband desperately. “Fuck me, Kacchan - right now,” he begs, palming over his soft length through the fabric. 

Katsuki was already shirtless when he came to the door, so Deku kisses his chest in a stronger effort to persuade him. The blonde is gripping his shoulders and gently pushing him back before he can force his shorts off. “What the fuck happened?” He asks. The greenette puts his forehead on his chest, hands laying flat against his abdomen as he does his best to remain calm. “Don’t start this baby shit again, Deku; I’ve seen you take down five men at once,” he adds for clarity.

He shuts his eyes tight enough to see stars, palms sweaty as he prepares himself for the conversation ahead. “Ochako saw us,” he clarifies, sighing heavily. “She told Todoroki, and he saw the marks you left on me - I don’t want to talk about it.” He does his best to deflect and reroute their conversation into the bedroom by trailing an index finger down the blonde’s happy trail, swirling at the baby hairs there. 

He feels the muscles under his hands flex as they tense, Bakugo adjusting so that his hands rest on Midoriya’s waist. “So you came running here to beg me to fuck you? What the hell did he even say to you, huh?” He sucks his teeth, hands gripping his waist intently. “Do you want me to go kick his ass into next Tuesday for you?”

“He proposed to me, Kacchan,” Midoriya reveals, both hands hooking into his waistband and gripping tightly. “He said he knew we were sleeping together before and asked me to marry him.” For a minute, Katsuki is silent and unmoving. Then, he’s forcing the smaller hero’s hands out of his waistline and holding them tightly at his chest, the movement jerking his head off of his chest so that he can stare directly into blazing red eyes.

“What?” He asks, breathless and seething. His jaw clenches when his partner refuses to repeat the sentence, brows narrowing intensely. “Deku, are you being serious?” He rasps in disbelief. Midoriya nods, expression downcast. Here it comes. Bakugo doesn’t let him go but does lessen his hold, arms dropping a tad to make them both more comfortable. His tone is quiet and reserved with the next question. “What did you say?”

“Todoroki, you can’t just ask me that right now!” He exclaims, turning away from him and ripping his hands-free. 

Behind him, his boyfriend stands back on both feet. “Why not? What better time is there than right now?” He clears his throat. “We’ve been together for six years and I never proposed to you; what better way is there to profess my love to you? To show you that you don’t need anyone else?”

Deku spins around as slowly as he’s able to stare at him. “I don’t know, but not like this,” he whines, hands splayed at his side. “We can’t just pick up where we left off like nothing has happened. Todo, I don’t even know how I feel about you right now.”

His eyebrows fall. “You don’t love me?”

Midoriya refrains from rolling his eyes, puffing out his chest as he exhales. “Of course, I love you, Todoroki; I can’t just erase my feelings for you because you hurt me and abused my trust, but it’s more than that. Love isn’t enough sometimes, and-”

“It’s because of him, isn’t it?” He interrupts, arms crossing his chest. “You love him more than me?”

Deku opens his mouth and closes it promptly, swallowing harshly as he tries to formulate an answer. “No,” he stutters, cheeks warming as he lies. 

Todoroki sighs. “Is it that imaginable for you to think of us, married, living together? Spending the rest of our lives in peace?” Deku shakes his head, a frog growing in his throat as he paints him a picture. “Okay, Midoriya, I get it. It was unpredictable and sudden of me to spring this on you, so I’ll give you some time to think about it.”

“I can’t,” Midoriya chokes, throat throbbing as panic swells in his chest. “I can’t marry you, Todoroki. You asked me to choose between Kacchan and you before, and even though you say I can have you both you know that I can’t, that Kacchan won’t allow it,” he briefs, biting the inside of his cheek until he draws blood. 

Shoto walks toward him, stopping a couple of feet short. “If you tell him you love him and he feels the same, I’ll back off,” he bargains, green eyes snapping up to him. “If he accepts your feelings and you two decide to work it out, I’ll leave you alone. But,” he rests a hand on his shoulder. “Promise me we’ll try to work things out if he says no. I’ll pick up the pieces, I’ll change what I need to, and we don’t have to get married until you say so, but I think we owe it to ourselves to give it our all, don’t you?”

“I love you,” he murmurs, cheeks flushing as he avoids meeting the blonde’s eyes. 

Bakugo’s grasp goes slack. “What?” He pants. “That’s what you told him?” He asks hesitantly, accentuating every syllable. 

Emerald eyes lock on to those rubies that feel like home, his heart breaking as he spills his guts. “I love you , Kacchan,” he dedicates, shifting so that he can thread his fingers through the blondes. “I told him that I love you,” he mumbles, taking in the wide-eyed look his partner wears. 

He watches his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows and looks Deku up and down, eyes softening as they review the marks he’s left on his pale skin. When they lock gazes again, the softness is gone, replaced by the guarded expression he wears on the job. “You can’t love me, Deku,” he gravels just loud enough for the other to hear.

His heart is bleeding and his chest is caving in at the rejection. Todoroki knew this would happen. He feels slighted, cheated, guilty, embarrassed - every emotion possible. It’s similar to discovering that his boyfriend of years had been lying to him, only worse, because he’s only had a few months with Kacchan and now he’s going to lose them all. “But I do,” is all he manages, voice wavering as he fights back tears. All I do is cry.

Bakugo lets his hands go and steps back. “What do you want from me?” He rasps, hands slack at his side. “What do you expect me to say to that, Deku? Fuck.”

The greenette draws in a shaky breath, laughing to himself as it all comes crashing down. “What do you think I want you to say, Kacchan? When someone confesses to you, there are only two ways to approach that conversation.”

Kacchan curses and puts his hands on his hips, stepping away from his partner a few feet. Izuku’s skin is tingling with anxiety as he waits, his fingers going numb as his breathing quickens. “I don’t know,” the blonde mumbles, head hanging low. 

The greenette tries to practice his breathing exercises as he stands and waits for a proper answer, patience wearing thin as his anxiety spirals out of control. “That’s not good enough,” he quivers.

“I don’t know, Deku!” Bakugo roars, hands clenching at his side as he paces back over to him. “I don’t fucking know, okay?”

He doesn’t feel like himself when he speaks up. “Then I’m going to say yes,” he replies cooly, eyes hollow as they look back at him. “I’m going to say yes because he apologized, told me he was wrong, and promised me he would never keep me from my friends again; including you.” His voice breaks as he finishes, mouth dry as he tries not to shake.

“Really?” Bakugo scoffs. “You’re gonna marry that asshole after he mocked you and me, after he lied and deceived you?”

Deku groans. “What did I do to him, Kacchan? Did I not cheat on him, with you of all people?” His voice raises, hands shaking as he holds them out in front of him for emphasis. “You don’t have any problem banging me but the second a little feelings get involved you suddenly don’t know what to do? He’s not stupid, Kacchan, he saw the marks on me and you tonight! Fuck, there’s even a picture circulating on the internet of us leaving your house together in the morning after I found out about it!” He hollers, chest heaving as he defends himself. “He’s even willing to let me continue fucking you if it means that I’ll marry him!” 

“And you would be happy to tie the knot with that spineless fuck knowing he can’t give you what you want?” The blonde yells back at him, hand pointed away from him.

Deku steps into his personal space, shoving him back by his chest in a fit of emotion. “Happier than spending my time loving someone who can’t love me back!” He cries, eyes glossy as he holds himself back. Bakugo is stunned into silence, jaw clenching and unclenching rhythmically. “You think I’ve ever felt as comfortable with Todoroki as I feel with you?” His voice cracks, tears building. He shoves him back again, harder this time. “You think I like how much my body and heart respond to you when you wouldn’t even text me back?” He shoves him again. “You think I like having to choose between being loved or being wanted, huh?” He shoves him into the wall, hands pushing against his shoulders as he unleashes his emotions. “Am I supposed to wait around forever, hoping that you might change your mind but with no guarantee?” He deflates. “Am I supposed to lie to our friends about who the ‘lucky girl’ is that’s been warming your bed forever?”

Bakugo wipes his eyes with the pad of his thumb, face impassive as he takes him in. “I don’t know how to love people, Deku,” he murmurs somberly. “I didn’t want to kiss you because I didn’t want to lead you on. I’m aggressive and blunt, short-tempered and exact - I’m just an asshole. I can’t change who I am, and I don't know how to love you.”

Midoriya lets him go and retreats, hands to himself as he steps back. “Then you know what my choice is,” he resigns, backing away toward the front door. “I’m sorry, Kacchan, but I can’t do this anymore,” he wavers, tears wobbling in his tear ducts. “I can’t separate how I feel for you from…whatever this is,” he waves around, sniffling lightly. 

The blonde is pulling him back in for a hug, biceps squishing him to his chest. “Deku,” comes his deep baritone in his ear. “Stay,” he offers. The greenette starts crying, tears falling unwillingly as he shakes his head. “Let me have you, just for tonight. You can sleep in my bed, cry on my pillow, eat all of my food - I don’t care, just stay ,” he begs, voice cracking as he squeezes him tighter. 

Deku sobs openly, hugging him back with all his might. “Kacchan, I love you,” he wails, burying his head into his neck. “I love you so much it hurts.” Katsuki shushes him, a hand moving to run through his hair tenderly. He shakes his head again and hiccups. “I don’t care if you’re mean or abrasive. I knew you would never love me back yet I couldn’t leave, I couldn’t stay away from you. You make me feel so wanted, so needed, and now that we’re friends again my life has never been better,” he chokes. “We’re perfect on the field together, Kacchan! I’ve never been a better hero than with you by my side. You know how to cook my favorite meal and which All Might movie is my favorite. You know I’m a crybaby and probably a freak but you let me in anyway. I don’t have to tell you what I need, you just take one look at me and you know !” 

“Deku,” Bakugo croaks. “Deku, you can’t love me. I bullied you for years, I tormented you, told you to jump off the fucking roof,” he stifles back a cry. “I’ve made fun of you and your friends, mocked you, hurt you - you can’t.”

Scarred hands untangle themselves until they’re pressed against the old scars on the blonde’s side. “I love you more than I love myself, Kacchan. You’re my favorite hero,” he kisses into his neck. “Dependable, reliable, smart, cunning, selfless, and beautiful Kacchan,” he kisses between each word. 

They hold each other for the next few minutes, Deku mumbling softly into his tan skin as he gears up for his next words. “Let me go, Kacchan.” The blonde doesn’t budge as he tries to pull back, arms firmly holding him in place. “Kacchan, you have to let me go,” he tears.

“Fuck you,” Bakugo spits, resting his head atop his. “I can’t let you go.”

A weak whimper leaves Midoriya. “If you can’t love me, Kacchan, then you have to let me go,” he says firmly. Suddenly he’s being picked up and carried, those strong hands grabbing his thighs with ferocity. “Kacchan, stop,” he says meekly as he pulls his head back from its resting place in the crook of his neck. His partner ignores him, carrying them down the hall to his bedroom. “Kacchan, please,” he pleads. “You’re making this impossible.”

“Fuck you.” Kacchan deposits him on the bed roughly, his body bouncing off the mattress lightly. He’s on top of him the next second, pinning his hands up above his head. Bakugo starts at his favorite spot under his jaw, kissing down his neck hungrily. 

Deku squirms under him, pushing up against him in an attempt to free himself. “Kacchan,” he turns his head away from the blonde as his kisses don’t relent. “We can’t,” he whines and sniffles. “Please don’t, just let me go.”

Bakugo switches his grip to only one hand pinning him down, the other guiding down his body until it grabs a hold of his ass. Midoriya lets out an involuntary moan, biting his bottom lip as the blonde’s erection drives into his thigh. “No,” he growls and bites down on the small of his neck.

Izuku bites down a whimper and shuts his eyes tightly. “Kacchan, stop it,” he attempts again. His partner grinds into him lewdly, drawing a shaky moan from him. “I can’t,” he pushes up against his hand, the task more difficult now that he’s held with his hands bunched. He ends up grinding up by accident, cheeks flushing. 

“If I let you go, how do I know you’ll come back, huh?” The blonde taunts. His voice is dark and hoarse and his tone sends a shiver down Midoriya’s spine. “How do I know you won’t leave me with a shitty letter and take off again, huh?” He gravels, his hand moving to rub the front of his pants over his growing boner. 

The greenette sobs, chest burning as he panics. He’s talking about when I left UA. “Not fair. I can’t, ah, pretend I don’t love you,” he cries. His member is growing fast, his head fuzzy as the blood travels downward. “I deserve to be loved, Kacchan.”

Bakugo is shimming his pants off, tossing them to the side, and fumbling around before removing his boxers, leaving him completely exposed. Deku bucks into him, bending his legs as best as he can to get leverage to push him off. “Isn’t this enough?” His rival husks, licking up his neck sensually and nipping at his Adam’s Apple.

Midoriya moans softly against his best interests. “N-No, Kacchan, it’s more than just this,” he turns his head to the other side, pushing his mouth back, and presses up against him with his hips.

Kacchan is leaning up for just a second to grab the lube from his discarded pants, rutting their lower bodies together as he does. There’s the pop of the plastic bottle cap, some shifting, and then those rough fingers are splitting him open two at a time. “K-Kacchan! Stop!” He begs, cock twitching despite his words. 

He’s thrusting his fingers in and out of him vigorously as he bites down and sucks haughtily at his freckled shoulder. When he releases, he’s groaning into his ear and curling his fingers upward. “More than making you fall apart in my hands?” Deku moans embarrassingly loud, precome beading at his tip. He licks up his shoulder to his jaw, pressing light kisses at the juncture. He adds a third finger, splitting him open with a scissoring motion repeatedly. “More than making you come multiple times a night?”

The dirty talk is only worsening his situation, punching into the coil in his gut and bringing him to the cusp of an orgasm. I can’t, I can’t come like this. I can’t come for him again or I’ll never leave. “Please,” he moans, biting his bottom lip.

Bakugo places a kiss at the corner of his mouth, pushing his fingers aggressively deep inside until he slams against his prostate. Deku screams, hips lifting off the bed as they try to back out. “I know you like the back of my hand, Izuku.” He pulls out and pushes back in rapidly, targeting his sensitive spot to make him scream again. “I know you better than you know yourself.”

Midoriya is squeezing his thighs around him as hard as he’s able, hoping his build will provide him with an advantage. The blonde’s stronger upper body overpowers him at his hands and inside him, keeping him pinned regardless. “I don’t want you,” the greenette lies, crying meekly. 

His lips are on his. “Liar,” Kacchan murmurs against his mouth, licking his lower lip provocatively. “You don’t want anyone but me; you’re molded just for my cock,” he whispers, withdrawing his fingers to pull as much of his shorts and boxers down as he’s able. 

When four digits plunge into him next and strike his prostate borderline painfully, he comes, his seed spilling between them embarrassingly. “Stop, Kacchan,” he wails, hips jerking in betrayal. 

He withdraws to free his cock from its confines and nibbles on his lip. “This is what you asked me for, remember, Deku?” The greenette can’t fight against him as he breaches the first ring, the familiar stretch pulling at the band in his stomach and stirring his libido again. It’s not as pleasurable as possible because he’s short on lube, but the drag of his member pushing in him to the hilt turns him on more. “I told you I wasn’t nice, yet you begged me for it.”

When he’s balls deep inside, he forces his cock to twitch, brushing up against his prostate gently. “What more can I give you? Is this what you need?” He kisses him passionately, his lips wet and hot as they press into him. Midoriya wants to fight back, wants to tell him to get off and that he doesn’t want him again, but how can he when his heart is singing? Kacchan is kissing him with more fervor than ever. Kacchan is holding him down against his bed, refusing to let him go. Kacchan made him come, Kacchan is inside of him and it feels like home.

He’s pulling all of the way out as he devours his lips, overtaking him with his tongue and licking sloppily. He slams into him with reckless abandon, punching that bundle of nerves again. Deku pulls his head back and arches into him and moans, a mix of pleasure and pain as he’s desecrated. Bakugo sucks violently at his neck, overwhelming the greenette with touch. 

“If I let you go,” he drawls. “Whose gonna pound you like this?” He pulls out again and thrusts back in just as aggressively, ripping another broken moan from him. “Whose gonna make you your favorite dinner and beat your ass at Hero Combat then fuck you till you can’t keep your eyes open, hah?” He moans into his ear, picking up his pace.

His left hand is gripping his ass cheek intently again. “K-Kacchan,” he cries, choking on his tears. “Kacchan please,” he begs. “D-Don’t make this harder for me.”

Bakugo is marking his chest and shoulders without candor as he fucks into him. “There’s no one else who can use you like this,” he moves to wrap a hand around his forgotten member, pumping it slowly as he moves in and out of him. Deku mewls, chest unbearably tight as he fights with himself. “Who else can have your back like me,” he clamps his canines into his collarbone, drawing blood. He pulls back and laps at the pearls of blood there. “Who else can deal with your crybaby attitude and your shitty mumbling.”

Shame fills him and the coil in his gut tightens rapidly. No, I can’t come again! I can’t, I can’t. Oh god, please, Kacchan fucks me so good. No! Wait, oh my god I can’t think. Finally, the blonde pulls his mouth back from his torso, crashing their mouths back together and moving against him hungrily. “You think Todoroki will make you happier than you are right now?” He chides against his lips with a hard thrust, forcing Deku’s breath from his lungs and making him see stars. “He’ll never be able to make you come on his cock this way, he’ll never know how much of a freak you are,” he accentuates with another hard thrust. 

Midoriya can’t breathe. His ass is sore already and his cock is throbbing painfully under his partner’s grasp. Moan after moan spills from him like a waterfall the closer he gets to his second orgasm, the pleasure white-hot as it burns through him. “ You’re mine, ” Kacchan growls into him, abusing his bottom lip between his teeth. 

He shakes his head, forcing their mouths apart. “You can’t say that,” he says hoarsely. “If you c-can’t you love me, Kacchan, I-I’m not yours-” his voice hitches as the blonde withdraws his hand from his erection, fumbles around in the sheets next to them, and then that hand is at his throat and squeezing lightly.

Emerald eyes snap to him as he’s manhandled, searching for an answer in those ruby irises. Bakugo straightens a little higher, fingers applying steady pressure around his throat as he pounds into him. His eyes are dark and hazy with lust, but his brows are furrowed with mild concern and his lips are slightly parted. He’s teetering on the edge of his orgasm as they lock gazes, time stalling the longer they maintain their eye contact.

“I know you were listening that night I fucked that girl from the club.” Deku feels like throwing up, legs loosening around him as his resolve grows weak. No. No. No. No! No no no I can’t do this! A grin splits his face and he leans back in, far enough to look down on him but not close enough to kiss. “You touched yourself to the sound of my voice until you creamed your shorts, hm?” He squeezes his throat tighter, blocking some of his airway.

Midoriya closes his eyes, doing his best to shrink away from him as he denies it. “N-No!” He’s so overwhelmed he feels himself withdrawing mentally, his head light as he’s choked. Unfortunately, it turns him on further, bringing him to the cusp of his orgasm the longer his hand holds his neck. “Kacchan, no!”

“ Liar, ” he growls, hips halting once he’s enveloped fully inside of him. His lips move to the shell of his ear, licking at it teasingly. “You don’t mumble in your sleep.” He increases his grip around his neck, the pressure enough to make his body tingle with the lack of oxygen. “I lied to you when we were kids to make you feel like shit about falling asleep on me, nerd, ” he taunts lowly into his ear. He feels like he’s hit his funny bone repeatedly the harder he chokes him, his cock angry as he does his best not to come. “You don’t make a sound when you sleep, you faking pervert.”

With one final adjustment that has his vision going dark at the edges and makes his head feel like he’s in the stars, Deku comes again, screaming hoarsely as it's pulled from him unwillingly. Kacchan knew! Kacchan knew this whole time! I was doomed from the start! Somehow, he knows this is his punishment, that this partially unwarranted sex session is his doing, his payment for being unfaithful to his ex. His punishment has him squealing and shaking underneath his best friend, his crush, his rival, his love, his childhood friend, and his heart.

“You look at him like you would die without him.” Todoroki had told him earlier in the day.

Isn’t that the truth?

Bakugo withdraws his hand from his throat, replacing his fingers with light pecks on either side. He’s wiping the tears from one of his large eyes, cupping his face gently as he starts to move inside him. Deku can’t stop crying, even when he feels there are no tears left, his mouth shut tightly as he tries to keep whatever bits of his sanity he has left. I can’t live without Kacchan. Why can’t he love me? Why can’t I stay here forever? Why couldn’t I be happy with Todoroki? Why? Why? Why?

“I love the way I feel inside you,” the blonde murmurs into his cheek, kissing lightly as he slows his pace. Those painful thrusts shift into long, pleasureful ones, sweat collecting at his hairline as he rocks into him sweetly. “I love the way you take me, the way you ah, can’t control yourself around me,” he continues, nuzzling their noses together and thumbing at the corners of his lashes. “I love how strong and capable you are, how you never back down from a fight.”

His heart feels like it’s going to explode. This can’t be happening right now. “Kacchan, don’t-”

He shuts him up with a kiss. “I love your modesty and your tenacity. I love how you know everything about nothing and all these little facts that no one gives a shit about,” he closes their mouths together again wetly. His hips are rolling into him deeply, passionately, and although he’s not abusing his hole like he typically would, Deku feels more pleasure than he ever has. “I love having you by my side. I love cooking for you, baking with you, and watching the second All Might film multiple times a week until we get sick of it.”

His thumb messes with his eyelids until the greenette has to open them. When he does, he thinks he might’ve actually died and gone to heaven because Kacchan has tears in the corner of his eyes and looks at him like he might disappear from underneath him at any moment. Deku brings their foreheads together so that their noses touch, nuzzling against his lovingly and choking down a sob. “I love you, Katsuki,” he weeps.

He pulls out until just the tip of his dick remains inside him, stretching him out as their lips meet and slide together. “Isn’t this enough?” Bakugo’s voice breaks. He shuts his eyes and sighs shakily through his nose. “I don’t deserve you. I don’t deserve your time, your love, your lust. I’m a piece of shit, a fucking asshole, a reckless hero, and a self-centered dick.” He takes a deep breath. “I love your freckles, your big, creepy eyes, your tiny nose, your strong legs, your fat ass, your stupid hair, your-”

I love you.

Izuku kisses him like it's for the first time again. He touches his lips tentatively against Kacchan’s soft ones, barely meeting before he pushes forward and parts his slightly. The blonde stops talking and releases his hold on the greenette’s hands so that he can properly cup both sides of his face. His thumb rubs gingerly at his cheeks, his nose, and the corners of their mouths as Deku invites his tongue inside. When they make out this time it’s like fireworks set off in his chest, their tongues dancing with one another expertly.

Deku wraps his legs around his partner and his arms around his neck, squeezing down on his cock as permission to keep going. Bakugo obliges, resuming his pace and fucking into him lovingly. Their feelings are one, their hearts beat together and their breaths are in sync as they make love. The room is filled with the heavy smell of their sex and Kacchan’s sweat as they grow closer to their finish, mouths never straying too far from one another in the process.

“Izuku,” the blonde moans into his parted mouth, pace quickening with need. Deku nuzzles against his nose, nodding in understanding, and kisses him deeply.

“Katsuki,” he calls. “Katsuki, come in me.” The blonde groans, slotting their tongues together as his hips begin to stutter. “I’m yours, Kacchan. I love you, I’m yours,” and then Bakugo is coming into him, hands fisting into the sheets beside him as his cock empties. Deku comes again although there’s not much left in his spent body, his scarred hands fisting in spiky locks painfully tight.

Kacchan loves him.

It takes a few minutes for their bodies to calm down and their breathing to even out as they come down, bodies tangled as they wait for it. Bakugo rolls over to his side, chest heaving as his arms cover his face. Deku doesn’t want to move but he can feel just how much the blonde came inside him,  already leaking from him liberally, and he doesn’t want to sleep without sheets tonight. He forces himself to sit up and onto his knees, fumbling around in the sheets until he finds his boxers. He wipes what he can with his underwear, tossing them aside until he can get up properly. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots his phone where it lay forgotten to the side, screen lit up. He grabs it curiously, brows twisted in confusion until he realizes what has happened.

He’s somehow accidentally called Todoroki, who hasn’t hung up, and who has been listening to them for the past x amount of minutes. “Oh no,” he pales, hanging up as quickly as he’s able and throwing his phone across the room. “Oh my god, no.” He’s flinging himself on top of his partner the next second, pulling his arms away from his face. “Kacchan!”

He finds a knowing grin plastered across the blonde’s face when he reveals him. “What, nerd? You butt dial someone?” He teases, cheeks pink with his after-sex glow.

Midoriya short-circuits, face flushed red in embarrassment. “ You! ” He pounds his chest playfully, ass sore as he adjusts himself. He avoids wincing in favor of biting the inside of his cheek, brows furrowed disapprovingly.

“Consider it payback, nerd. At least he got the memo that you’re no longer interested,” Katsuki haunts as he sits up, placing a sloppy kiss on his lips and skirting his fingers along the small of his back. “I’m never letting you out of my fucking sight again.”

He has a hell of a lot of shit to deal with in the morning, starting with Ochako. In the meantime, he’ll enjoy the space he shares with Bakugo. 

“I love you, Kacchan.”