Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Shouto couldn’t remember when he found the box or even a time when it wasn’t in his line of sight. The box had looked pretty and for kid-Shouto that had been enough. It was intricately designed with so many swirls painstaking etched into the wood. He did remember the first letter though. It had appeared in the box in a pretty envelope with a stamp only a few days after his eye had been struck with boiling water by his mother. That letter might have been the only thing that made him keep going.

The letter itself was just a lined sheet of paper with a few words scribbled in. Shouto couldn’t understand it, reading, the doctors had said, would be difficult for a week or so. But just the thought of someone outside of his twisted family, talking to him. It meant all the world.

As soon as he could puzzle out the words he had realized that the person who had written it clearly did not believe that anybody would receive and had only done it to appease his own mother.

Shouto read it over a few times picking out details like it was a boy writing the letter and the boy was around his age. He also realized that the boy's quirk was an explosion. Shouto sat down then he found the supplies to write letters, then describing his own life as well as the desire to keep on writing.

Soon there would be a letter in the box every day, and SHouto counted on it. Without fail he would write one back and patiently wait for the next one. He grew up with his only friend, called Katsuki.

***
12 years old

Shouto opened the box feeling the painful aches after finishing a training session with his father. On it though was not a page of ramblings and venting but just a slip of paper. SHouto picked with trembling fingers to find a phone number inside. With a burst of excitement he realized this was Katsuki’s phone number, that they could now finally talk to each other. Shouto picked up his phone and saved the number into his few contacts.

Then he sent out a simple hi.

The response was instantaneous.

Took you long enough halfnhalf.

SHouto snorted softly, he had made the mistake of telling Katsuki that as well as having a half fire half ice quirk, his hair and eyes were also split in two. He hadn’t been able to let it go and took to calling him halfnhalf. Katsuki said it was a nickname but SHouto didn;t understand it, weren’t nicknames supposed to be short?
I want to meet you

This time Shouto nearly dropped his phone. In all their years of talking every single day, neither of them had brought up the topic of meeting each other. Shouto considered it for a moment before saying Alright. He knew meeting strangers wasn’t recommended and that if he was found out, things could go bad very quickly but . . . for all that could be, Shouto was willing to risk it.

On the days leading up to them meeting neither Shut nor Katsuki said much. They made small talk and he could tell it was getting on Katsuki’s nerves but the sheer awkwardness would not . . . as Bakugou would say . . . die.

They did meet though, in a small cafe only a block away from Shouto’s house. SHouto himself arrived 15 minutes early out of sheer excitement but it looked like he had nothing to worry about since Bakugou was already there.

Just looking at him took Shouto’s breath away. He had tanned skin with sculpted muscles and scarlet eyes. His features were set into an angry scowl but he looked stunning all the same. He turned and looked at Shouto, his gaze softening as he drinked in the sight of him.

“Shouto, that you?” All SHouto could do was nod, because his voice was like a symphony and he had waited to hear it for so long. He learned so many things that day like the way Katsuki let off explosions when he got agitated and how this cafe was his favorite place since it served a pastry that was literally made of peppers. Like how he had never shared this place with anyone and that he could not stand Shouto’s fashion choices.

Spending time with the person who Shouto had loved for so long made him feel warm. Even warmer than when he opened a letter or a text from Katsuki. He wondered if this love felt for Katsuki might just be romantic.

***

Age 13

Coming to the cafe afterschool had become an integral part of Shouto’s life. Katsuki always ordered a strawberry milkshake on account of his red hair and ice powers. They always ended up splitting it.

While they were there, they did homework together and told each other about their day. They would bicker until all they finished their homework and then argue some more. The employees joked that they were an old married couple.

Then one day, just before leaving Katsuki pressed their lips together for one breathtaking second before fleeing. Shouto stood still with hands pressed against his lips and all he could think was I love him, I love him, I love him. He kissed him back the next day

After that they spent the entirety of their summer together. Shouto supposed that this was a summer fling. He understood while they were appealing because there was nothing quite like
watching Katsuki smile and laugh and train throughout the summer days without a care.

***

UA

Over the summer he and Katsuki had made a deal that Shouto was determined to uphold- for his sake as much as Katsuki’s. They were not going to acknowledge the fact that they were dating, that theory had met before, or that they were childhood friends.

Shouto liked the privacy and the stolen moments with Katsuki that he had every day. Katsuki did too. He was, however, worried when half way through the year nobody noticed. He was quite sure that he ended up staring at each other and that the little touches they had were noticeable and were reciprocated so why didn’t they notice?

Bringing this with Katsuki led to him laughing his head off, before calling them “Dumb motherfuckers” He supposed they were.

---

The first time they had a fight was after the Sports festival. Even after KAtsuki had gotten kidnaped they hadn’t fought. Rather they had just clung to each other and cried silent scared tears of not being able to stay together.

After the Sports Festival though, animosity from Katsuki hung off of him in waves butShouto would not move on his standpoint.

He wasn’t going to use his fire on him ever. His father had used it on his mother and he had promised not to with Katsuki, not ever. Because if he used his fire on the man he wanted to have children with then was he any better then Endeavor.

Katsuki of course saw it as a pity and they didn’t talk for a week.

It was torture.

It was only when Shouto stuffed down his pride to knock on his door and Katsuki tear up his pride to hug him at the door way were they able to talk again. MInd you, there was a whole lot of sobbing on both sides so Shouto hoped they would be able to talk.

Now if only the rest of class 1-A knew about their relationship.

Chapter Text

Shouto and Midoriya had become quite close as the year went on. There was something inherently sweet about him that reminded Shouto of his mother and although he could listen to Midoriya ramble for hours, he loved Katsuki much, much more. What he felt for Midoriya was the kind of love someone has for their first and best friend, nothing more. Of course this didn’t stop Katsuki from feeling jealous no matter how many times Shouto told him.

Shouto had always hated that Katsuki and Midoriya had such a messed up relationship but there wasn’t too much he could do to fix it except encouraging Katsuki to stop being so aggressive with Midoriya. That never worked.

Shouto had maybe their first serious fight when Midoriya and Bakugou had gone and decided to fight it out. Shouto’s rage was ice cold. (AN: The pun is fully intentional and I do not regret it. ;D ) He had withdrawn completely from Katsuki and avoided Midoriya like his life depended on it. He was good at avoiding people, what with Endeavour but even so he only lasted about five days before Katsuki’s patience snapped.

Katsuki pulled Shouto into his room roughly.
“Dammit Shouto, would you just listen to me?” He hissed as Shouto struggled out of his grip. He narrowed his eyes at him, what could possibly be to him. Shouto had asked time and time again not to fight with Midoriya. Midoriya was his best friend and Shouto didn’t want to lose him, because he knew that if he had to choose between them he would choose Katsuki, he would choose Katsuki every time. And Shouto was fine with the fact that he would choose Katsuki, but why the hell did he have to choose?

“What could you possibly say? How could you possibly come to the conclusion that fighting Midoriya would be the best outcome? All I wanted . . .” Shouto's voice broke because it had been too long since he had been tucked against Katsuki’s chest and he missed Katsuki and his cooking and his smiles and laughter and his kisses and his smell and his drive and him. “All I wanted was my boyfriend and best friend to get along because you two are what I love most in this world. God knows, that the rest of my life is messed up as it is.”

Katsuki’s eyes softened at this and hugged him tighter before pulling down to sit on his bed with him. “ Do you know why I fought with Deku? It was because I needed to see him as he truly is when he’s in battle when he is his truest self. I needed to find out why he’s All Might’s successor and why we were so fucked up. I needed to know a lot of things and the only way I can communicate with him is when we’re fighting. I needed to figure out how to interact with him, for you at the very least. And I did Shouto. We’ll never be best friends like you two, but at the very least we can be comrades, we can fight together.”

Katsuki was breathless when he finished and his eyes were burning. Shouto felt a wave of regret wash over him and felt tears track their way down his face before he was pulling their head together and his lips met and time was lost.

An hour later

“I’m sorry Katsuki, it’s just . . .”

“I know”

“I want to visit my mother and I want you to come.” Katsuki glanced over at him. Katsuki had never particularly liked his mother because of how everything played out between them and Shouto had known this. Katsuki might have hated Endeavour more but he had never truly forgiven Rei.

“Are you sure?”

Shouto drew in a breath. He hadn’t visited his mother in a very long time. Not since she had left for the hospital. He nodded.

“This talk is long overdue.” He glanced at Katsuki, “ Besides who else will walk me down the aisle?” The shade of red he turned was truly magnificent and his palms exploded before the yelling started.

--

The next day Shouto sought Midoriya out before apologizing.

“Oh it’s okay,” Midoriya flustered, waving his hands frantically. He lowered his voice, saying
“To be honest I knew that you two were together and I knew how uncomfortable you must have been. I know I would have been if you and Ochaoko didn’t get along nevermind the . . . history Kaachan and I have. And I still fought with Kaachan.” He said dejectedly. Ochako and him not getting along? Why did that compare?

SHouto put the thought aside, instead focusing on the fact that,
“You knew!?!?” He asked. Midoriya flushed a deep red and waved his hands even more frantically.

“I wasn’t spying or anything but I knew that Kaachan frequented this one cafe with the best pastries so I didn’t usually go but I did just once and I saw him talking and laughing with you and I was in so much shock that I didn’t really catch your face and you were wearing a hat so I couldn’t really reconize your hair either but I did remember the scar and when I saw you I thought it was you bet you and Kaachan acted like you didn’t know each other so that threw me for a loop but then you guys keep looking and touching each other- its not creepy touches just normal brushes that go on to long and so and ohmygodishouldntknowthismuchmaybeIamastalkerTodorokiIamsososorry-” His ramble went on, frankly too long in Shouto’s opinion before he realized he was mumbling. He grinned sheepishly at him and Shouto smiled back gently at him.

“We let ourselves do it because the class didn;t catch on and we’re seeing how long this can go on before they do. Thanks to Midoriya, I need to talk to Katsuki.” With that he sped off.

He pulled Katusli into a kiss in an abandoned corridor and felt that everything was right again.

Chapter Text

Since Midoriya had figured out the fact that Katsuki and he were dating, Shouto thought the urge to scream that Katsuki was his and his alone from the rooftops would fade away.

Spoiler-It did not.

The feeling to tell Midoriya had gone away completely and every once in a while he and Midoriya would talk about relationships and they would have fun with it. He would complain about Katsuki and Midoriya would sympathize in the way only someone dealing with him from childhood could.

Then they would talk about how Midoriya had a crush on Uraraka. At first Shouto hadn’t caught on because who calls feelings crushes. It didn’t make any sense and Shouto would hold his opinion no matter how much Midoriya tried to convince him otherwise.

He still remembered when he told Katsuki that Midoriya had a crush on Uraraka and was too scared to tell her, because she reciprocated.

----

It was supposed to be a study date but the homework had been long forgotten on the floor. Shouto was lying flat on his back trying not to make any noise as Katsuki sucked a hickey.

“Katuski,” Shouto said breathlessly. Katsuki resolutely ignored him and continued sucking on it.

“Katsuki if you continue this it’ll leave a mark.” Shouto warned, Katsuki, if anything, sucked harder. Shouto had learned that sometimes after making out Katsuki liked to leave a few marks on his skin. At first Shouto hadn’t minded it but one day Natsuo had seen it and started in surprise.

Both of them knew it wasn’t a regular old bruise, no this was a love-bite. The utter mortification Shouto had felt had never been rivaled to this day. He had burst into flames and after Natsuo had froze him over he had smirked at him and told him to “have safe sex!” and left. After that Shouto had been careful to pry Katsuki off before he could start on his neck. It hadn’t happened since school had started, but Shouto had a plan for this.

“Midoriya and I had a talk this morning,” he started conversationally. If there was one thing that Katsuki could not stand was when anyone else was brought up during their make out sessions. Midoriya especially. True to Shouto’s prediction Katsuki froze against his skin.

“We were talking about how he had a crush on Uraraka, he wants to tell her but she doesn't feel the same.”

Then Katsuki went hysterical. Katsuki rarely ever let himself laugh this much. He grinned up at Shouto with a wonderfully carefree look on his face.

“Those dumbasses,” he chortled. Shouto shot him a confused look, “What? Katsuki seriously what? Hey!” He just rolled off him and onto the ground to finish his homework.

“You’ll figure it out eventually,” Katsuki chuckled. He suddenly glared and tackled Shouto,
“but never mention shitty Deku when we’re making out again!”

--

That wasn’t the problem now (even if he still hadn’t figured out what Katsuki had meant) no the problem now was that Kaminari was bemoaning his single status to Bakuogu constantly, and was this some weird courting ritual that people did? At this point Shouto would not be surprised.

That wasn’t even the biggest problem, Katsuki worked out- not by himself but with Kirishima. And when he was working out he took it a step further and wore loose tank-tops that had slits that were so big that you basically see his entire chest.

What was even the point of wearing them if it didn’t cover anything. But the bigger problem with that was Kirishima was complimenting Katsuki’s muscles at every given opportunity, When they were doing weights and when they were running and saying how he was so manly and was this some kind of test that Endeavour had designed to test his self-control?

And Katsuki didn’t mind it. Kirishima was probably the one he tolerated the most. He might even like him. As Shouto contemplated this he released a heat wave.

“Todoroki, you uh . . . there’s steam coming out of your ears,” SHouto blinked and realised that the common room had become a sauna. But then he saw that Mina was pressed against Katsuki and was wearing only a sports bra and booty shorts.

He saw RED.

Growing up with both Endeavor and Bakugou, you would have thought the child would become a rage monster.Shoot though, had long realised though that the way to annoy both of them was to be petty. Pettiness always worked. It always gave the satisfaction that Shouto wanted without making him look like a lunatic.

But at this point in time, watching Mina practically drape herself over Katsuki, pettiness abandoned him. So he walked over and picked her up. Grabbing her by the shoulders while she froze still in the same position as before even with nothing to support it. He then took a step and dropped her on the floor space all the way across from him..

Everyone gaped at him
“What, she was violating the pda rule.” He said completely deadpan before looking at Katsuki.
“Spar with me. I’ll use my fire.” At this even Katsuki stared in disbelief at Shouto.

“You would use the fucking fire that you refused to use at the Sports Festival which lost you the chance to take the top spot?” Shouto nodded completely unabashed. “You know what? Fuck you, lets go?” With that they both left behind the stunned remains of Class 1-A excluding Midoriya who just smiled secretively to himself, which only Uraraka noticed.

“ If Todoroki only used his fire against Midoriya after a very heartfelt speech and several broken bones then what does it mean that Todoroki offered Bakugou because he saw Mina was pressed against him?” Ojiro asked.

“HE HAS A CRUSH!!” Mina erupted bouncing up and down.

And that ladies and gentleman was how Class 1-A came to the conclusion that Shouto had his first crush or rather death wish on Katsuki Bakugou.

Chapter Text

AlienQueen: Todorki is staring at Blasty, omg how did we not catch on sooner!?!?

Pikachu: I know right!!!! I caught Kaachan checking Todoroki out too. They’re so oblivious.

RockHaRd: Guys, todoroki keeps glaring at me when Bakubro and I work out.

I’m genuinely worried for safety.

GUYS

AJDS DOSHDOSH DKW

SpidermanWithTape: Welp Kiri died.

Pikachu: F

AlienQueen: F

Invisigirl: F

AuxCordsOnMyEars: F

~ TiMe sKip ~

“ Stop hanging out with Kirishima.” Shouto pouted at Katsuki. “He always goes on and on about how manly you are. I think he has a crush on you.”

“Oh yeah?” Katsuki drew from where he collapsed on Shouto’s bed while Shouto himself resolutely finished his homework at Katsuki’s insistence.

“Yes, people have weird courtine rituals and I’m not going to allow him to try and court you. You are taken. By me.”

At this Katsuki’s smirl slipped into a real smile as he turned away, trying desperately to muffle his laughter into Shouto’s pillows.

Shouto felt his lips tug up at the sound of Kasuki’s laughter even though there was nothing funny about the fact that Kirishima liked Katsuki. Katsuki beckoned him closer, waving his hand.

“Let me tell you something,” he grinned smugly up at him. With his crimson eyes dancing and his face relaxed into the lines of laughter, well, who was Shouto to resist. He leaned towards Katsuki allowing the shorter man to whisper in his ear.

“ Kiri has a crush on Mina you paranoid half-ass.”

Katsuki chortled as two red spots lit up on SHouto’s cheeks.

~ Timeeeeeee Skippppppppp~

Katsuki had seen the devious smiles and smirks that had plagued the class and he was worried about it even though he hid under a mask of anger.

He had also noticed that Deku had refused to make eye contact with him and although Katsuki would have been overjoyed by this fact on any other day, today was different. Because he was hiding a smile. And Deku smiling was not a good thing.

“I think Midoriya smiling is a good thing.” Shouto calmly stated while dodging the various attempts of murder that Katsuki threw at him.

“It’s a bad thing especially since the idiot brigade have made a new group chat that everyone is texting and plotting with about us.” Katsuki said, glancing suspiciously at the door.

They were on break in the middle of periods and Katsuki had gotten Shouto to come to his desk. Granted Shouto didn’t need much persuading but still. THat though wasn’t the problem. THe problem was that as soon as Shouto had reached his desk the class had exchanged equally devious and knowing looks.

“How do you even know that they’re plotting about us, Katsuki? Shouto questioned, rather cutely if Katsuki did say so himself. And he did.

“Because neither you nor I are in the group chat and between the two of us were involved in everything that either the nerd squad or idiot brigade do. But this time everyone except us is in on it and that means it's about us.”

“Oh.” Katsuki glared incredulously at Shouto.

“That's all you have to say?!?!?” Shouto shrugged.

“I can ask Midoriya what it's about if it really bothers you. I’m sure he would n’t mind.”

A smile spread across Katsuki’s face. An evil manic smile that no one except Midoriya and Shouto seemed to catch, which, quite honestly, was probably the class's first mistake.

Or maybe not because the first mistake was most likely even trying to start this under the one and only Katsuki Bakugou’s nose.

~ T i M e S k I p ~

As Midoriya Izuku walked down the hall he was unceremoniously grabbed by the collar and yanked, rather suddenly, into Shouto’s room where Katsuki peered down rather horrifically at him as Shouto was finishing up his conspiracy board about whether or not Shinsou Hitoshi was Aizawa’s secret love child.

It was heavily leaning in the favor that Shinsou was.

“ I’m sorry Midoriya,” Shouto said tonelessly “I could not stop him.” He did not turn away from the board, I’m missing one piece, Shouto thought absentmindedly, But what could it be? If only Katsuki would help. He’s rather good at this.

Katsuki, speaking of, leared down at Midoriya who was sitting down with his knees curled up to his chest, notebook in hand.

“Anything you want to say?” That was when the screaming started.

*****

“Wait, they think that Katsuki and I are ‘mutually pining’?” Shouto puzzled, long since wheeling the board away into some magical corner of the room since Izuku couldn’t see it.

He nodded furiously.

“It was because you were jealous of Mina, and she was the one who started it. Everyone else joined because they thought you guys were pining too, but Kirishima joined because he was scared you would murder him.”

SHouto blushed, stubbornly looking away as Katsuki unabashedly laughed at him.

“Wait,” Katsuki said after finally finishing teasing Shouto, “those morons think we’re pinning, right?”

Izuku scooched as far as possible away from Katsuki.

“We can use this” Katski muttered, rubbing his hands together, “We can use this very well.”

“AlrightIamjustgoingtoleavenowseeyoubye!” Midoriya opened the door and rushed out as Shouto waved goodbye at him halfheartedly. Katsuki didn’t even notice his eyes lighting up dangerously.

“Oh those extras won’t know what hit ‘em.”

Chapter Text

Now Katsuki knew that he was a an asshole. It was an undeniable, unshakable fact.

But this went outside his usual bounds of assholery. This would go on a whole new level. 

He had spent late into the night ways to totally freak the class out and had quickly realised that just treating Shouto as usual would be enough. He kind of felt bad for Kirishima though.

Shout glaring at you was not fun.

So the first thing to do was bring Kirishima in on it.

***

“Wait so you're telling me that you and Todoroki exchanged letters since you were 5, then you exchanged phone numbers and then started dating, and that he only ever glares at me because he feels territorial, and that now you figured out the class has a group chat on trying to get you guys together but you thought you should bring me in on it since I’m your best friend?”

Katsuki nodded, unwilling to look Kirishima in the eye.

“DUDE, that's so manly! I mean you guys have a love story for the ages and I just . . . you finally said . . . ” He trailed looking at Katsuki with dangerously teary eyes and trembling lips.

“OH HELL NO! I AM NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND LET YOU CRY ON ME!”

Katsuki sat there and let Kirishima cry on him. What, best friends have privileges. 

“But bro, why’d you hide it? Most of the people here aren’t straight anyway? I know they would be supportive.” Katsuki sighed and looked away.

“It’s because of Shouto’s piece of shit old man. If he found out, well we’re not sure what would happen. He could probably stop my hero career before I even started it.”

“Oh.” Kirishima gaped stunned and looked completely and thoroughly flabbergasted. It took another minute before he completely processed what Katsuki said, his face quickly turning red with rage. “DUDE, that's so UNMANLY.” 

Katsuki nodded. “As soon as I get off the ground I’ll give him a piece of hell.”

“I’ll help with that, my man. Although, is there nothing else, I know we’re not the best at keeping secrets but we’re not that bad either.”

Actually the reason we didn’t tell any of our friends,” Katsuki spit out the word with as much disgust as he could muster while Kirishima seemed to burst with happiness, '' was because we actually forgot to and it became a second habit to not really show that much affection. Kirishima sweat-dropped and would have face-palmed if Katsuki hadn’t fixed him with a glare.

“But, uh not that I’m not happy that you told me, but you wouldn’t just tell me for no reason.”

At this Katsuki grinned so similar to the ones he wore going into the battlefield.

“Oh believe me there is.”

Kirishima paled comically at just his face.

***

The first action Katsuki would be taking was a relatively safe thing compared to the sheer wickedness that was beholden on his face during random parts of the day. In fact Aizawa-sensei had on several occasions caught Katsuki smiling horrifically with that glint in his eyes and had immediately paled off the little color he had, constrained him with his scarf, and used his quirk and him.

Aizawa then seemed to become ghostlike pale, confused, and filled with regret when he realised Katsuki hadn’t actually done anything and could now be found muttering about problem children at all hours of the day.

Anyway the first thing that Katsuki did was call him Shouto. It was in the middle of class, and everyone had been working on a particularly hard worksheet and as Shouto grew more and more frustrated he started to release a heat wave. The heat wave set of Katsuki’s own quirk which caused him to yell,

“Shouto, shut of your damn quirk.” Now it wasn’t exactly uncommon for Shouto to lose control of his quirk when focused on school and it was Katsuki who called him on it nearly every time but never, never had he called him Shouto.

It was always half-n-half this and icy hot that. The occasional daddy issues would be thrown in every once in a while but that was it. Hell Katsuki never even called Shouto as Todoroki . Several heads snapped up as well as Aizawa who was previously in his caterpillar cocoon, dead to the world.

Iida chopped his hand in the air going on about cursing and being polite, almost as reflex before abruptly stopping, his face taking on the look of someone who had eaten something sour.

“ Oh, sorry Katsuki.” Shouto then promptly went back to the worksheet now noticeably stopping the heat that had been emanating from him. Several other students looked like they were glitching, Iida in particular had been violently twitching and Ururaka mimicking Aizawa’s face of utter horror. Poor Midoriya took turns sending worried looks towards both of them and then shooting a “please-stop-you’ve-broken-them” look towards Shouto who didn’t notice it.

In fact Deku severely doubted that Shouto even knew Katsuki had called him by his first name and he had done it back. 

“You gotta problem four-eyes?” Katsuki smirked, even more pronounced and smug then normal.

“ Bro, you okay?” Kaminari asked cautiously, tensed as if he were going to run at any moment.

“Pikachu, I have never been better.” Kaminari then tried to scramble back but went back too quickly and fell to the ground groaning. Katsuki, if possible, smiled even wider.

***

After spending the rest of class in tense silence with Katsuki still smiling the class practically ran out in an effort to get away from him. When Shouto looked up everyone had already fled except for Katsuki. Even Aizawa had vanished.

As soon as Katsuki had split from Shouto, to get something after telling him not to buy lunch yet, Midoriya joined him walking trembling.

“Todoroki, please, the class is about to riot! You can’t let Kachan continue this, they’ll die. ” He pleaded using his best puppy eyes.

“I’m sure it's not that bad, besides, our classmates are heroes-in-training, I’m sure they’ll put it all together before Katsuki goes ahead with the final step of his plan.” Shouto replied calmly with a nearly indiscernible glint in his eye.

If possible, Midoriya paled even further.

“Todoroki” he gasped but they had already reached the lunch where most of the class was gathered, all standing around one table discussing something in low voices, only stopping when Tsuyu looked up, saw Shouto, and signalled for them to stop. Kirishima sent him a guilty look but the rest of them advanced on him, ready for an interrogation.

At that moment, in a truly Bakugou fashion, Katsuki appeared with two homemade bentos in tow.

“Oi Shouto ,” he purred deviously, “here I made you lunch.” Katsuki handed him the bento looking rather heatedly at Shouto. And with the good kind of heat. Shouto blushed because dammit Katsuki knew that voice and that look always made him flustered.

Usually it led to kisses on the bed or against the door. It did not however include turning around to eat lunch at the Bakusquads usual table, and leaving Shouto with said Bakusquad and the rest of class a blushing, flustered, and turned on mess. 

Shouto stood there for a good minute beforing twirling around and heading to the Dekusquads usual table even if said Dekusquad was still there as well as previously mentioned Bakusquad, and the rest of the class, bar Katsuki. 

***

As the day closed the class had grouped into the common room after sending Midoriya as the sacrifice in keeping both Shouto’s and Katsuki’s attention away from them even as Ururaka tried to convince them that Midoriya did not deserve to die just yet.

“They’re flirting!!! Did you see the bento Balsty made?!?!?!” Mina squealed, bouncing in her seat, her cheeks flushed a pretty pink darker than normal. Not that Sero noticed.

“I know!! And did you hear Bakugou’s voice?!?! So hot, I swear if I didn’t ship TodoBaku I would fall for him myself!” Hakagure said back, matching Mina’s tone, volume, octave, and enthusiasm. 

Ojirou shot a panicked look at Shouji, Kouda, and Satou. All of them shrugged as if to say “Girls are . . . strange” Actually that was Tokoyami whispering in his ear. He offered a solidarity bump glancing at Tsuyu as he did so.

“ And Todoroki, did you see his face?!” Uraraka cooed. “I’ve never, and I mean never seen him look so flustered, he looked like was going to turn into a tomato.” 

“I know !” Yaoyorozu said seeming to now become invested in the conversation as the most of the boys awkwardly stayed quiet with reason including knowing to much and not being able to keep secrets(Kirishima), stuck in horror headspace(Kaminari), general indifference(Ojirou, Shouji, Kouda, Satous, Tokoyami, etc) and literally there to just see everything unfold( Jirou, Sero, and Iida[ but Iida wants to make sure it unfold nicely cause he’s a little angel who just so happens to be uptight])

“Todoroki-kun is usually a very put together individual, it's very strange to see him like this.” The conversation continued in this vein but the author is way too lazy to write it so moving on.

***

MIdoriya had long left the two lovebirds in Bakugou’s room, where as soon as the door shut Shouto slammed Katsuki against the wall and ravished his mouth.

“How dare you,” Shouto gasped in between fierce kisses, “do that to me, with no warning?” Katsuki smirked at him, titling his head up and sucking on Shouto’s bottom lip. 

“You want warnings pretty boy?” He drawled and god if that made Shouto weak at the knees. Katsuki tangled his hand into Shouto’s hair and tugged him closer. Shouto bit his upper lip in retaliation.

“Well get ready for tomorrow Shouto, I’m gonna flirt the absolute shit out of you. And you're gonna flirt right back.”

Anything Shouto said was swallowed in Katsuki’s mouth, but honestly, Shouto wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chapter Text

 True to his word Katsuki had started to become very affectionate the next day without overdoing it. As soon as he had woken up Katsuki had raided his closet picking the most fashionable items of clothing to put together and just generally make himself look hot . 

Skinny jeans? Fitted shirts? Eyeliner that could cut someone? Check, check, and check.

Of course Katsuki couldn’t just leave it like that. No, he had strutted downstairs and made breakfast easily making sure that the entire class saw him. He didn’t even have to make sure that they kept looking at him, no they did that well enough by himself.

He also saw a lot of phones open and fingers typing away furiously, in fact he had been on the brink of yelling at them to silence their phones multiple times but somehow reined himself back in.

Katsuki slid the plate of food onto the counter before him with a flourish before smirking at Jirou who immediately blushed murmuring something about being lesbian to quiet for Katsuki to clearly hear, but that was fine. He could guess just what she had been saying.

Shouto made his way down just as he finished flustering everyone out there, lgbtq or otherwise.

A rather unknown fact was that Shouto was useless in the morning. And that would work in his favor.

Katsuki handed Shouto the plate patting his cheek twice gently before moving on to leave Shouto there blinking owlishly as he tried to put it together just happened.

After a moment he gave up and started eating as the rest of the class lost their minds behind him.

***

THat day during hero studies Katsuki and Shouto partnered together, by choice . All Might had coughed up blood for so long that someone actually fetched Recover Girl. 

Afterward, when the exercise started, which was basically just a two on two tournament, the couple won, which wasn’t entirely unexpected. What was unexpected though was that they had won because Katsuki had listened to Shouto.

He hadn’t jumped in with no regard to his partner as he was prone to do with almost anyone, only Kirishima, Ururaka, and Izuku were occasionally given a chance to persuade him. And with Izuku that chance was literally 1 in a million and included lots of tears, broken bones, and an impassioned speech. Even then it was just when they, and the fate of the world hung in the balance.

THis time though there was no arguments that were dotted with explosions, just a hushed discussion before everyone, consequently, was decimated.

It was a confusing and scary time for Class 1-A.

***

Something that was well-known and largely used in Class 1-A was that Katsuki was a human version of a cat. If he allowed you to touch him- or, god forbid, if he touched you then you were there by instating as one of the “Bakugou-blessed”. The first official person to be blessed was (big surprise) Kirishima.

See Shouto had been out with the Deku Squad that day and Katsuki hadn't been able to cuddle with him in three days. Combined with the fact that the Bakusquad had dragged to the best spot in the common room- the one with the best couch, soft pillows, and the biggest, warmest sun patch- well . . . .

It wasn’t that hard for Katsuki to just lean onto Kirishima, and maybe fall asleep on him. He was from then on teased about it while Kirishima was hailed as both an angel and a monster.

Coincidentally this was when Shouto began to target Kirishima but no one had put together that either way. 

Of course this phenomena didn’t happen often. Katsuki occasionally leaned on KIrishima but that was it, he saved the cuddles for the bedroom where Shouto’s bipolar body was perfect to snuggle against. 

People had tried all sorts of things to be Bakugou-blessed but to no avail. Eventually the class was named as a lost cause. 

That was until Katsuki plopped his head onto Shouto’s lap and curled in on himself. Shouto, to his credit, didn’t even blink  in surprise, instead just shifted to a slightly more comfortable position and threaded his fingers through Katsuki’s surprisingly soft hair. He glanced down and gave a small smile to Katsuki who just nuzzled Shouto’s stomach even more in an effort to keep from seeing his face.

Shouto continued what I as the narrator think is surely a riveting conversation only to find Momo- the Momo - was staring at the two of them utterly gob-smacked. 

“What’s wrong?” Shouto asked, tilting his head, looking utterly adorable and generally innocent.

Momo weakly pointed towards Jirou who was looking on in sympathetic horror.

“I think Kyouka is calling me so I’ll just go now . . .” Momo breathed shakily before making her escape.

Immediately the class grouped around them. 

“It . . . was so intimate, I’ve never seen Shouto look like that before! He was so soft and I think I saw him smiling but . . .” Everyone hung onto her words eagerly, Hagakure and Mina clutching each other as they squealed and everyone in both the Deku Squad and Baku Squad listening on with a kind of muted disbelief.

Midoriya, even though he knew they were dating, and had seen them going on dates since childhood, was probably the most flustered. Everyone expected that from him so he didn’t draw attention to himself. Except for Uraraka that is.

Uraraka had been crushing on Deku for a while now so she noticed what other people didn’t, specifically things that had to do with Izuku.

But she didn’t press instead going along with the class about the two boys obviously mutually pining for each other.

“Guys, why don’t we consider that maybe they're already dating?” Kirishima tried to interject multiple times but each time he threw the idea out all of them would stare at him as if talking to an adorable but naive child.

“They could never, they don’t even know how to feel proper emotion, nevermind realizing they fell in love and got together!” Someone said, Kirishima didn’t know it was all beginning to blur together now. “No, no they’re in the oblivious pining stage and we are going to help them get together!” 

There was a fire in their heart. Kirishima’s heart was filled with resignation.

***

“I don’t think they understand how loud they are, how do you think we’re not going to notice them after they grouped up right in front of us and talk about our emotions!?!?” Katsuki hissed, carefully keeping his voice in order to make sure the things they called classmates didn’t hear them.

“Well it looks like I’m very enamoured with you, who looks like he’s sleeping.” SHouto pointed out fairly. “ Not that I aren’t right now, you look pretty no matter what you're doing.”

Katsuki punched halfheartedly, angling it so that the class couldn’t see it.

“Shut up!!!” He said, his face pink and flustered.

Shouto smiled down at him, truly happy.

Chapter Text

The class had decided, like completely reasonable human beings, I’m sure, that they would first have to gather information. This mainly was just having someone tail the both of them. Hagakure was the chosen one and had made a rather heartwarming if not melodramatic speech after being assigned to her post about doing her best.

Really if it had been about anything else Midoriya would have been impressed.

But this was about Kachan and . . . Todoroki. Who were going to be tailed. Oh dear.

Any color left on Midoriya’s face completely drained and almost collapsed to the expectancy of everyone because multiple people caught him without even stopping their conversations.

Oh, dear

***

Despite Kirishima’s best efforts, the class had sent in the squads to take note of Todoroki and Bakugou public interaction. Hagakure had taken over their private interactions of course.

Was this morally questionable? Yes. Would that stop the next generation of heroes? Hell no!

Now since Bakugou had two spies sowed in with the class he was well aware of what everyone was doing. His sadistic streak had dictated that the best course of action was, of course, to increase the sappiness levels to the point where even Kirishima, who would probably be in on both plans, become confused.

Would it be a pain in his ass? Absolutely. Would the satisfaction be worth it? Of course!

***

It was a well known fact that Katsuki had a penchant for nicknames, even if most of them were mean-spirited, they were an acknowledgement that you existed in his world. Well now that was going to be thrown into the recycle and be made anew.

“Love, can I borrow your Armani sweatshirt?” Katsuki simpered looking at the rest of the class from the corner of his eye. They were all spread out over the common room and several had stopped what they were doing in favor of looking at Katsuki with disbelief.

They then turned to Shouto, because who else could Katsuki be calling, honestly. To his credit Shouto didn’t bat an eye, merely saying a garbled sentence around the big bite of cold soba that Katsuki had made earlier in the day.

When Katsuki had given the sobato Shouto, it had pulled quite a few glances and coos. Of course the smarter classmates hovered around Shouto out of fear that it had been made to . . . poison? Disgust? Destroy any future use of Shouto’s tastebuds? Really just pick one, any of them work.

When Shouto promptly went to the highest circle of cold soba heaven and Katsuki shot each of them smug looks they had nodded their heads, vaguely apologetic. (Excluding Iida who had bowed at the waist and gave a full, formal apology, which Katsuki enjoyed way to much)

But many classmates had put that thought away, using the method that many people had in the Coronavirus pandemic - “let’s forget about it and enjoy ourselves!!”

Now the class was divided yet again - this time between raving over the nickname or the sharing clothes or having an Armani jacket. This was what it meant to make the hard choices.

What the rest of the class didn’t know though was that Katsuki and Shouto had been sharing clothes long before Katsuki had decided to mess with them. See Katsuki’s parents were world famous fashion designers and as a result, Katsuki had become a low/part-time model. He had the physique and face (when he wasn't screwing up), and his quirk even had the added bonus of keeping his face clear. Almost inevitably Katsuki’s casual clothes were made up of designer brands.

Of course as a form of rebellion he had gone out and found the least fashionable clothes without making an utter fool of himself as Mina and Kirishima were prone to do. That didn’t mean Katsuki didn’ have an impeccable taste for fashion. He did.

Which was when Shouto and Katsuki met up a few more times after the first, KAtsuki realized that his boyfriend might have access to the best clothes, but he also had an uncanny knack to make them look bad. Never on him of course, but they . . . didn’t love up to their potential.

This was why KAtsuki had completely taken over Shouto’s wardrobe with minimal resistance. Of course Katsuki had never really gotten over his baggy pants and skull T-shirts, but he had been known to occasionally dress up.

His parents actually did know that he had been communicating with Shouto from a young age, as Mitsuki and Rei had done when they were younger, and had met Shouto upon occasion but had wisely (Masuru’s influence) kept the teasing to a minimum. So they knew just where their son was getting all these clothes and could persuade Katsuki to use them when going to some gathering or other.

Katsuki in fact was heading off to meet up with his parents at a cafe, because contrary to popular belief he did in fact have a close relationship with them and liked to meet up at least once every 2 weeks or so. And when they met up in public Katsuki dressed well, if just to save his own dignity.

Which he had to get to as he would get pretty close to being really late instead of just slightly late in that “I don’t care about this so be glad I made it this early at all” way. He turned on his heel and left, his mission being accomplished.

***

Kirishima on the other hand wasn’t quite so lucky to make his own escape as everyone once again gathered to gossip about the reaction that was going on.

“They’re sharing clothes!” Hagakure fangirled, dramatically throwing herself into Ojiro’s (rather happy) arms.

“He called him Love” Momo exclaimed with hearts in her eyes.

“He had an Armani jacket” Uraraka moped, a cloud of blue surrounding her. Everyone took a minute to cry over rich kids as both Yaoyorozu and Iida didn’t bat an eye instead shooting each other questioning looks.

“Y’know, I think that Bakugou is definitely flirting, but do you think that Todorki even knows?” Jirou questioned. At this Mina nodded.

“I noticed that too! Bakugou makes it really obvious but Shouto is just so oblivious, I don’t think it registers with him.” When many of their classmates considered they too agreed with her assessment.

“Right” Mina rubbed her hands together “ So now we need to help Bakugou get Todoroki to realize that he’s interested. But the question is how to do this?”

At this KIrishima decided that damage control would be the best option.

“Guys I don’t think Bakugou would like that very much. You’d be better off making Todoroki come out of his oblivious hole.” To his horror the class didn’t just heed his warning and back off. No, they took his input as a suggestion and decided that was the best course of action.

“Alright, guys,” Mina said, taking the lead of the class project. That'll be our main objective. Hagakure- keep up your reconnaissance. We’ll need it to say just how far Todoroki is off the deep end. Dekusquad,” she whirled around to look them in the eyes, “ Make sure lots of talks about feelings with Todoroki and try to make him realize his love for Bakugou.”

She spun again taking up a regal pose with her hands on her hips, staring straight ahead.

“Operation TodoBaku is a go.”

Kamnari piped up, “That's great and all, but what are you staring at Mina?”

“YOU RUINED THE MOMENT!”

Chapter Text

“So Todoroki,” Ururaka sidled up to Shouto a catty smirk on her face. He nodded at her in acknowledgement, preoccupied with eating some cold soba that Katsuki had taken to preparing.

“Who would you say is your best friend?” She grinned at him, clearly expecting him to say Katsuki. After all they were arguably the closest between any two people in the class, although most all the teacher and student body (excluding Nazu who was withholding critical info. It had put him on the black list, but he had held firm to the secret) of just how it had come to be. For god's sake they are first names.

Shouto though had correctly guessed what was going through her head, so of course he couldn’t let her win that easily.

Besides, Katsuki was more than just a best friend. Katsuki was his person. He was Shouto’s whole world smushed into a teen with exploding hands and a penchant for swearing. Katsuki was his support system and he was the one who pushed Shouto to be better.

Shouto would never dare to compare him to something as fickle as a friend. So he answered unflinching with the knowledge that he was technically speaking the truth.

He stared into her eyes, with a stoic face and then said in the most deadpan voice he could muster-

“Midoriya”

***

Word had gone around about Shouto declaring that Midoriya was his best friend and on his way to bed he had been accosted by a teary Midoriya who had hugged fiercely, sobbing into his shoulder.

Shouto wasn’t sure whether he would ever feel more awkward than he had at that moment.

He had then proceeded to tell Shouto that he was his best friend too, and that, if he wanted, they could start calling each other by their first names as well.

Needless to say one very slightly petty remark at Uraraka had spiraled. Especially when he had finally gone into his room where Katsuki was waiting.

***

When he finally finished comforting the ecstatic soon-to-be symbol of peace he had been faced with an emotional Katsuki. Nevermind the fact that emotions and Katsuki and Shouto had never been a good thing, but this time Katsuki cooked more hurt than anything.

That was bad. Very bad.

So after many reassurances that Katsuki was the most important (Shouto had figured out early on that Katsuki needed validation and reassurance in order to keep functioning) they had finally cuddled and gone to sleep.

Of course the aftereffects of his answer to Ururaka’s question just couldn’t stop there.

No, now Ururaka kept shooting Shouto suspicious glances, which really wouldn’t have been a problem ordinarily, but she had convinced all the girls of 1-A to the same.

So there poor Shouto sat, a Midoriya- or rather Izuku now, glowing with puppy-like joy, interrogated by most of the Baku-squad (who were arguably the best at gathering info, after all they knew all the gossip and information about Katsuki that no one except for Shouto. Trust him, getting knowledge from Katsuki was like pulling teeth. The only reason SHouto knew as much as he did was because he had been talking to Katsuki since before Katsuki knew how to withhold things), and being glared at by most of the girls.

Shouto repressed the urge to sigh- it came out as an eye twitch which Iida commented on.

Shouto didn’t have enough self-control to stop his sigh this time.

***

Thankfully the scowls stopped when Shouto had dropped a kiss onto the crown of Katsuki’s head purely out of habit. In fact neither of them even realized they had done it until the squeals had caught their attention.

Katsuki waved the spatula he was using threateningly and hollered at them but stayed where he was, unwillingly to leave the kitchen alone with Shouto.

You would think someone who’s entire quirk had to do with fire and ice would learn how not to set the kitchen on fire. You would be wrong. Shouto could and would and had set water on fire.

Granted they had been much younger, it had been one one of the dates that they had gone on. It had been a surprisingly good idea on Shouto’s part. (He had found the idea on an online webpage but Katsuki didn’t need to know that). Shouto had taken them to a cooking class for couples, courtesy of Endeavor’s credit card and Katsuki had been enamoured. Katsuki had cooked up the dishes even better than the chef which the chef predictably didn’t like very much but Shouto . . .

~~~~

“Katsuki is the fire supposed to sit on top of the water?” Shouto asked, tilting his head in honest confusion. Katsuki yelped, turning around.

“What did you do.” He commanded calmly staring at the pot that was on fire. The head chef who was supervising gasped and rushed over when he saw that there was a fire in their area.

He put it out before realizing and checked what exactly had been burning and why the area didn’t even smell like burnt food.

“It’s water,” he gasped.

“What? No, give me that.” Katsuki yanked the pot towards himself and peered inside. “What the hell” he said quietly but with feeling.

Both the chef and Katsuki had agreed on one and only one thing that day. Shouto should never actually cook something.

~~~

But now that Shouto thought about it, the class had never actually seen his cooking and they had been particularly annoying. Shouto nodded decisively he would ask for help cooking- and he could say that it was for Katuski. They would have no choice but to help and he could get back at them for taking up so much of Katsuki’s attention.

He rubbed his hands together, one of Katsuki’s signature grins stretched across his face.

Distantly he wondered if maybe he was spending too much time but then waved it off. Katsuki had been in his life since he was 5 and Shouto still couldn’t get enough. He could never spend too much time with Katsuki

Chapter Text

So the next day Shouto waited until Katsuki went out on his bi-weekly meeting with his parents, mourning the loss of his boyfriend. Almost everyone he needed was there in a happy coincidence.

When he got down he began to take out pots and pans. Not actually starting anything but making enough of a racket to garner attention. Sure enough, both squads and Hagakure wandered over looking at what he was doing.

He used his best face at them, the one that made even Katsuki give in. Immediately everyone was cooing over him, talking over one another and patting him.

“ I want to make Katsuki something- since he always makes me food . . . I thought I could make some for him to.” He glanced up at them, turning up his, as Katsuki said, unbearable face up to 100% and delivered the final blow.

“I just don’t have a taste tester. You’ll all help me won’t you?” He batted his eyes at them as he’d seen some girls do at them. Immediately they all enthusiastically said yes.

“Alright, just go over there I’ll come out with the food for you to test.” They nodded and stumbled over each other, giggling and generally acting happy drunks. Everyone except Midoriya who actually did know just how bad Shouto was at cooking.

“Shouto . . .” Midoriya turned his own puppy-dog eyes on him, but Shouto had explicitly prepared for this scenario.

“Izuku,” he purred, “You won’t test your Best Friends cooking?” He kept his face carefully blank. He had tried practicing a betrayed face in the mirror but . . . it didn’t look great. In fact Katsuki laughed every time he saw it, although that might have to do more with his own sadistic tendencies.

“OF COURSE I WILL!!!!!” Izuku yelled before realizing just what he had signed up for and looking like he wished he could take it back.

***

Several bangs later and one incident where Shouto had run out of the kitchen before realizing that the burning kitchen could be put out with his own ice, the class was finally called to take a seat and prepare for the taste testing.

The aroma from the kitchen smelled surprisingly good and everyone sat in a circle. That’s when Shouto came out with . . . The best description of the food, if it could be called that is burnt chunks of compost.

A collective shudder went through out at the class, more than one hoping to dear God that that wasn’t really the food and that this was just some sort of elaborate prank.

Shouto set a plate down in front of each person sitting and they had the fun experience of realizing that not only was the food burnt as hell, it was also so so soggy.

You could see Hagakure from how hard she was cringing.

“Alright if there are any complaints please do not hesitate to bring them to me, I want to make sure dinner for Katsuki is perfect,”

Shouto clapped his hands,looking inordinately pleased. He wasn’t an idiot, he knew how bad that food looked, even if he had cared more about his creations than he had this time he would be able to realize that that food was inedible. But, Shouto thought, it’s alright, they won’t die. Besides this is a good way to spread my wings in the art of cooking.

***

“It smelled so good . . .” Mina whispered, mourning her hopes for a good meal. “ What happened to it?” She mumbled even quieter than before.

“Oh that was just something called air-color.” Shouto said evidently hearing Mina’s haunted whisper.

At all of the confused looks that were shot towards him at the word air-color, he elaborated.

“ Air-color is something to spray into the air which causes the air to smell like good food.” Shouto said, reading it off the back of the spray can.

“Katsuki says that smell is a big part of taste so I thought that I would make it taste it better by making the air smell better.” The heroes in training collectively sweat-dropped.

“Shouto, it was a good effort . . .” Midoriya said trying to deliver the news but failing when he saw Shouto’s face.

“Won’t you try it?” He pleaded. That was all that was needed for everyone with a plate of food in front of them to promptly shove it into their face. And then spit it out. Those that managed to swallow went violently green and ran to throw it back up, cursing those that were lucky enough to spit it out before it had even reached the throat.

Everyone, Everyone, had absolutely hated the food, which was saying something because Kirishima, who had a stomach of rock and had even hardened his tongue to not taste it, was feeling very sick.

Shouto looked down at his own plate of untouched black soggy lumps.

“They’re just overreacting.”

He noticeably threw it into the trash.

***

When Katsuki came back everyone who had tried the food were partaking in a giant cuddle fest with several large trash cans placed strategically just in case. Many people had had flashbacks and close calls to throwing up again so they were a must need.

“What the fuck” Katsuki groaned looking around.

It was Izuku who spoke first with a tearful wail. “I’m so sorry Kacchan, I should have listened to you no matter how convincing Shouto was. I promise I won’t ever do it again.”

Katsuki reassessed the situation before . . .

“Oh, hell no,” He said frantically going to the kitchen where . . .

It was a mess, everything was burnt, down Katsui’s prized pots and pans, and there chunks of ice everywhere probably from when Shouto had put out the kitchen fire. Just then Shouto came down from fetching blankets, guilted into it by the incapacitated group of teenagers.

Katsuki turned around, his eyes hooded.

“Shouto”

Chapter Text

The next day the entire kitchen had been kitted out courtesy of Endeavor’s credit card and Katsuki had forgiven Shouto as soon as he had seen the footage of them eating Shouto’s “food” so all in all Shouto was good.

Shouto had even convinced the class that he hadn’t done it on purpose.

And unlike most times when the class thought things were settling down only to realise how wrong they were, this time nothing really was happening. Except for the fact that the class was still continuing their quest to get the Shouto and Katsuki together.

In fact it was getting harder to continue passive-aggressively playing the game. Which was their own fault really because real names, pet names, and constant contact was something that the two of them were used to.

Contrary to popular belief (and contrary to Katsuki’s belief) they were a clingy couple. It had been easy to differentiate school and outside-of-school but since the dorms came in, it had become harder.

But they had controlled themselves and limited happiness to dorm rooms, an arrangement that the both of them were fine with.

And then to have a little fun they had decided to blur the line a teensy - tinsy bit. But now they couldn’t stop. Honestly the fact that nobody had figured it out was very concerning.

And to even just talk about their next move or hang out together like before was becoming very hard. In fact privacy for them was becoming an endangered thing despite Kirishima and Midoriya’s best effort.

The realisation that even Shouto was considering yelling at them, well let’s just say that Shouto wondered every day how Katsuki was controlling himself.

Shouto in fact had sat down and told Katsuki that he was planning to talk to them (read: terrify them) about it and that he should join him. Even though stuff like feelings and basic human needs like affection and validation  were still weird. 

Honestly Shouto had no idea about how Katsuki and he had gotten together with so little agony.

But Katsuki was even worse than Shouto and to avoid this talk about feelings , Katsuki had hatched a prank. It had fuck-you written all over it and Shouto (unfortunately) was just fed up enough to indulge his boyfriend.

***

Katsuki called a meeting in his room where both Shouto and him basically lived. Shouto’s own room was nothing more than a storage room and prop. It was kind of sad how unused it was actually. 

Katsuki had created a spreadsheet giving them an outline of what needed to happen and invited Midoriya and Kirishima in. 

Katsuki let loose what was probably the most terrifying cackle ever and sat down.

This was going to be amazing.

Hopefully

***

The plan relied on what Katsuki called “Shouto being an oblivious bastard like always” which Shouto thought was rather unfair since, as Katsuki would say, “ they both had to oblivious bastards” but he hadn’t protested since it was true he had to be a little more (or a lot ) more oblivious.

Act 1

The entire class was in the common room which made it the perfect time to set the trap up.

Everyone was quietly lounging around, Shouto casually being interrogated by the Bakusquad who were in quiet awe of his skill at evading questions. Katsuki had just taken a shower, his hair still wet when he paused at the doorway.

Honestly Shouto knew the moment wasn’t fake, there was something about it that felt real and so, so, so lovely as their eyes met across the room and love shone back in both of them.

 Then as all moments do, it passed and Katsuki initiated step one.

“Shouto,” he said strongly, “go out with me.” It was more of a demand then a question and it had made the entire class go quiet. If Aizawa-sensei had been there he might've been, honest to god been, impressed. 

“Sure,” Shouto replied without missing a beat, “shall we go now? I think there’s a good place open now.” He thanked the gods for having such skill in monotomous faces, because really who else would be able to keep their face straight. Even Katsukihad mirth coming off in waves of his face though no one other than the other two people who were in on TodoBaku and closest to Katsuki were able to tell.

As soon as Shouto had finished his sentence, if possible even the air stilled and everyone couldn’t move, couldn’t say anything, couldn’t even think as the two left.

It was then, and only then that the class exploded into cacophony so loud that even Present Mic told them to tone it down, which was peak hypocrisy right there. Evidently Mic thought so too because he grimaced right after.

Act 2

Of course the entire class had to sneak out and follow them and they were so horrifically bad at it that Katsuki was 99% sure that Aizawa-sensei had seen them and promptly gone back to bed, choosing not to deal with it at all.

The first thing that Katsuki had done was lead them right into what he called delinquent little shits that Katsuki had ruled over since elementary school. They weren’t a gang exactly and they definitely didn’t do anything illegal but it had been fun.

Each year a new crop came in and usually a new leader. The new leader actually knew Katsuki (as Katsuki was a legend) and when Katsuki had asked, th had happily accepted the order to rally the troops and at the very least bother the hell out of Class 1-A.

Not even Deku knew about them and Katsuki was very much looking forward to reviewing the video after getting home.

Meanwhile . . .  he and Shouto would enjoy a nice game of laser tag. And he would enjoy a nice victory. Hehehehe

With the class

Izuku trembled as everyone , class 1-A and the kid’s who had sprung up out of nowhere were engaged in a vicious battle. Neither group would back down and snarls could be seen on every face. A sphere sailed through the air and Izuku just barely dodged the thing.

The leader could be seen at the forefront tossing another sphere just like the one Izuku had dodged up and down. 

They grinned a feral and terrifying grin that had strange likeness to Kacchan’s own manic smirks.

Then all at once, Izuku watched as everyone, heroes or not, absolutely screamed .

“ FOOD FIGHT ”

***

Katsuki and Shouto walked out of the laser tag place, Katsuki laughing and grinning with a smug air about him. Shouto sluggishly walked on beside him, a cloud of blue surrounding him. 

“Hahahaha, this just goes to show you that you can’t beat me at laser tag.” Katsuki cackled.

Shouto pouted even more, “I thought you were exaggerating when you bragged in all your letters and texts and even conversations. Although,” Shouto continued, oblivious to the outraged look Katsuki was sending him, “Your good at so many things, it’s not really a surprise that your good at this too.”

When Shouto looked over at Katsuki was blushing, something that never failed to make him laugh. Unable to help himself, he leaned down and kissed him softly until they were both breathless, love shining between them.

“C’mon, lets get some ice cream.” Shouto said softly, already tugging Katsuki to the ice cream parlor.

“Yeah, yeah” Katsuki muttered, a smile growing on his own lips.

With the class

When they had finally stumbled out of the alleyway, covered in rotten fruit, smelling like they had a bath with a skunk, and grinning so wide that they looked like maniacs almost immediately Class 1-A had been spotted. Or rather scared off by police officers Mina thought, but those were semantics. And besides it hadn’t hurt anyone, except maybe Iida who was looking a little . . . out of it.

Meh, Mina thought carelessly, he’ll be fineeeeeeee.

Now if only they could find the lovebirds on their dateeeeeeee!!!!!

Mina twirled away, mentally scarring some poor innocent civilians, not that she noticed.

***

Shouto was being dragged along at a truly frightening pace. Because he was clinging to something. And that something was Katsuki. Who was propelling himself with a truly frightening speed. Did Shouto mention how frightening this was?

“Why  . . . are we- BLEUGH,” Shouto said, or tried to before a bug flew into his mouth. 

“WHAT” Katsuki yelled over the wind. “SPEAK THE FUCK UP” He roared.

“WHY ARE WE FLYING” Shouto positively hollared which was a new experience since Shouto had never been in a situation quite as . . . ridiculous.

“THERE WERE SOME REPORTERS. WE HAD TO RUN BEFORE THE VULTURES SUNK THEIR FILTHY CLAWS INTO US.” Katsuki said with no small amount of hatred,something that Shouto honestly agreed with. 

Abruptly Katsuki stopped, looking around furiously. “Do you think their gone?” He whisper-yelled.

Shouto slowly stood, rubbing his head from where he banged after crashing into the wall when Katsuki had stopped. He turned and looked Katsuki in the eye, his eyes dead as Aizawa’s.

“If anyone kept up with you after that I would be sincerely stunned.”

Katsuki looked away with a sheepish grin. It turned devious a millisecond later.

He turned around holding his phone to his ear hurriedly speaking.

“Oi, you guys finished with the extras? Oh and did you useless brats manage to film it? Good, you know where they went? Alright here’s what I want you to do . . . Call this number and . . .”

With the class

Kirishima wasn’t sure what he had done to deserve this. He had thought that Bakubro mildly tolerated him. But Bakubro had . . . Had . . . He had sent the reporters after them.

All around them were people with microphones and cameras, all of them were in the middle of asking them so so soo many questions. 

Even Aoyama was overwhelmed and that was saying a lot because Kirishima had never even seen the twinkling guy come even close to being flustered.

WHY BAKUBRO WHY?!?!?!

A woman dressed in a smart suit stepped forward, the camera already angled towards them. An amused smile played on her lips as she pointed the microphone toward the group.

“Could you tell us why you’re covered in rotten fruit?”

***

“You didn’t . . . right Katsuki?” Shouto asked reproachfully even as mirth danced in his eyes. 

Katsuki glanced away, ducking his head into the ice cream cone he was eating. 

“ Pfffft, me? No way . . .” He said easily. “ I would never sic a bunch of reporter on the entire Class.” He looked over and smirked. “ I would just do it on the entire class, as long as I was far far away.” 

Shouto rolled his eyes, an act ruined by his lips twitching upwards in a reluctant smile. 

He took a bite of his strawberry and vanilla swirl, a flavor that Katsuki has originally bought as a joke for him, but had quickly become his favorite ice cream ever. Which was saying something since any ice cream flavor that was ever sold had also shared the number one ice cream spot in his heart along with the rest of its ice cream community.

 He even liked Katsuki's preferred ice cream which was paprika. That had confused him so much. Why would anyone like a flavor that heated up the mouth from a dessert that cooled it down? 

Apparently that person would be Katsuki.

Speaking of Katsuki and his contrary ways. . . 

He was posting pics of the laser tag place they had gone to an hour ago. He furiously posted them onto his social media account and smirked up at Shouto. 

“Why’d you do that?” Shouto asked, leaning in for a soft press of lips. “Now . . They’ll rush to the laser tag . . But we won’t be there.” Katsuki said in between kisses

“We’ll just keep on leaking photos and lead them on a goose chase while we sit safely at the dorm.” He smiled up smugly at Shouto, who licked his lips and rushed home for. . . Less than holy intents. 

With the class

Iida was having a horrible day. First they had started to spy on their good friends, who were engaging in . . . romantic interest. Then they had unlawfully accosted some poor children in a food fight ( who had deserved every piece of rotten food that had flown at them ), class 1-A, heroes in training!!!

After that . . . . They had been reprimanded by a police officer . Truly Iida had never felt quite so ashamed of himself. In fact he had fainted then there, stuttering out apologies. 

And now . . . they were stalking Bakugou’s social media in an effort to find them. Which really wasn’t working but Iida wasn’t think about that. 

We have sinned!!! Iida internally wailed. Maybe outwardly too, he wasn’t lucid enough to tell. 

Act 3

By the time the rest of the class had come back from chasing a non-existant Katsuki and Shouto, the pair had made out, ate dinner, done any leftover homework and sat down in the common room just about to choose a movie. 

To say that class 1-A was in bad state was an understatement. They were covered in rotten fruit/mush that had aged and dried on their skin creating a truly repulsive odor. 

Each and every one of them carried a haunted look in their eyes and kept looking over their soldiers like they expected someone to be trailing after them.

The worst part, Katsuki thought lazily, is that even more their gonna be so nosy. 

He was proved right when Mina raised a foul hand and pointed towards them. Sheet looked like she had a mental break. 

Maybe the social media posts were a bit too much, Katsuki conceded. 

Outwardly though, he merely let out a sadistic chuckle.  

“You look like shit” it wasn’t a question, just a rather mean observation. He glanced up at Shouto who was doing his part, looking slightly concerned which was actually valid since he had no idea what Katsuki had set up. This was how the class was fooled into thinking Shouto was an innocent and oblivious. 

Only Katsuki and Izuku saw what Shouto’s face clearly expressed. Smug, satisfied, and petty. 

Shouto cleared his throat and chanelled some of his curiosity and very very mild concern. 

“What happened to you?” 

Everyone cringed at the statement. Except for, whom we assume is Hagakure, who raised a glove and literally screeched out her question.

“ You first.” At that point even Katsuki was wary of what she might be capable of when this pissed off. 

“We went to a laser tag place and then we got some ice cream. After that we walked around for a bit and came back here to watch a movie and get dinner.” Shouto dead panned, face not even moving a single muscle. 

“It was a very enjoyable friendly outing wasn’t it Katsuki?” Shouto said, his voice even and his face blank, turning to look at him, ignoring the rest of the class who had all gone into various states of shock. 

Katsuki took one look at the class and had to fight hard to keep from laughing. 

“ Yup” he stuttered out a grin stretching out over his face. 

It seemed like the smile was the last straw on an already nightmarish day, because Midoriya promptly fell over, face first into Shouto’s arms. Shouto made a disgusted face but gamely dragged him to the bathroom, to get clean. 

As one the class turned to look at Katsuki, shock and pity were written on their faces. 

Katsuki looked up from the ground his face glowing with triumph. 

“You suckers didn’t really think I would ask Shouto out without using the words romantic date did you? Not to mention doing it in the full view of the class where you would follow us around the entire time we were on the date?” 

He glanced around smile growing even wider, he cackled loud enough to be heard from the main building, getting up and already walking away. 

“ As if”