Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Izuku’s day followed its normal pattern. He woke up, went on a run before getting ready for school, had breakfast with his mom, and waited on his best friend to make their way to school. 

Izuku and Bakugou had been friends since they were in diapers. Inko and Mitsuki had been best friends since high school, so the boys grew up together. Their friendship was the natural progression of their relationship since they had spent such a long time together. There was that rough patch in middle school where Kacchan had bullied him for his disabilities but they were past that. He had been working on his anger and inferiority complex. Katsuki had also been going to therapy since the start of high school. It was a lot better for them in their second year. Even if Kacchan didn’t really hang out with him at school.

School went by normally. Izuku was ignored by his peers, for the most part, because he was social suicide apparently. He survived his classes and he went to the library after classes to help tutor other students before making his way to the front of the school to wait for his best friend.

Katsuki was standing there, wringing his hands nervously.

“Hey, Kacchan!” Izuku shouted and ran to meet his friend, “How was your day?”

“It was alright.

“Then why do you look so nervous?”

"I'm not nervous, what are you talking about?" Bakugou said, deflecting.

"Kacchan, I've known you since we were babies. I know your mannerisms. What's wrong?"

Katsuki was starting to look like a cornered animal. He knew Midoriya wouldn't drop the topic easily unless Bakugou wanted him to. But he didn't really want to. His feelings were eating at him and he would prefer to get the confession over with. So without thinking he blurted out, "I like you, you shitty nerd."

“You like  me ?” He asked, “Like romantically?”

“Is it not connecting in your head? Yes, I like you romantically, idiot.”

“Oh, I never expected that,” Midoriya mumbled quietly, still trying to process it. 

“I mean I’m pretty sure I like you too,” He finally responded, loud enough for Bakugo to hear.

“What do you mean ‘pretty sure’?” Bakugou asked. It wasn't clear that he was nervous but Midoriya had known him for their whole lives, he knew his friend was scared of being rejected.

“Well, I never thought I’d be talking about the crush I’ve had on you since we started high school. So I’m a little stunned,” Midoriya responded, giving his friend a moment to let what he had said sink in.

“Wait, since we started high school? You’ve had a crush on me for a year and a half now?”

“Wow, he can do basic math. He really is a keeper,” Izuku teased.

“Shut up nerd. I’m just surprised I never noticed.”

“So am I, dumbass. I wasn’t subtle about it. Are you sure you actually like me or are you just not used to emotions?” Izuku asked, his confidence fleeing as quickly as it arrived.

“Yeah, dumbass, I’m sure I like you. Stop doubting yourself and me.”

The two continued walking home, discussing how they wanted to proceed with their relationship. It was hard because they were in two different social circles and didn’t really talk at school. It would feel weird to be openly dating. On top of that, Bakugou wasn’t ready to be open about his queerness, even though he wasn’t sure about a label. 

Midoriya understood his friend’s concerns and fears. They agreed to keep everything on the down-low for the time being. Both understood that they were still teens and there was a good chance they would not last anyway.

Both of their moms figured out pretty quickly that they were dating and were supportive of the two. 

Their situation wasn't ideal for Izuku, he wasn't the type to love quietly but he would push through for Bakugou. His childhood friend had even said he would be more comfortable being open about their relationship in university. Especially because they had planned on going to the same university. 

So Izuku decided he would keep his relationship quiet and be vague about who his partner was. It was worth the discomfort for him.

Izuku was used to sitting alone at lunch. Going to school with the same people for so long means your peers don't let go of things easily. They remember how relentless the bullying in middle school was from Bakugou and figured it was easier to just not be around him. It made lunch lonely but Izuku was used to it.

 This is why he was surprised to see someone sitting across from him. Izuku had never seen him around the school before, which explained the purple-haired student in front of him. "If you care about your social status, I suggest sitting somewhere else," Izuku said simply. He did not let the hope that someone might not care to seep in. 

"It's my last year before university, at a new school. Why would I care?" The teen responded.

"Well, in that case, Midoriya Izuku," he said, extending his hand.

"Shinsou Hitoshi, pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Izuku nodded then turned back to the book he was reading, figuring that Shinsou wouldn’t care since he had been reading before he sat down. But Midoriya couldn't focus on his book, so he asked, "What brings you to Aldera High School?"

"My dads moved, I joined. Here I am.”

The response was short and sweet, Izuku appreciated that

“Why is it social suicide to be friends with you, Midoriya?” Shinsou asked bluntly.

“Ex-bully, current boyfriend. In Middle school, he bullied me because he wasn’t ready to deal with his feelings for me. My disability and neurodivergence made me an easy target. My peers joined in and he didn’t stop them. Once we got to high school he stopped, but the others didn’t and he just stood by and let it happen. It ended after our first year but the impact has stayed. ‘Don’t sit with the useless nerd if you want a social life' ’.”

“I know what that’s like. Chronic migraines and severe anxiety with the tendency to go nonverbal tend to lead to some form of bullying,” Shinsou shared, hoping Midoriya wouldn’t immediately change his opinion of him.

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that, I know it’s hard,” Izuku said, eyes showing that he genuinely cared.

“Yeah. I do want to ask, why are you dating him?”

“I don’t know, I like him, he likes me, and he has changed since then. He does keep anyone from bullying me. He even admitted it was mostly performative. Emotions are complicated, my dude.”

“You got me there. But you definitely deserve better than your old bully,” Shinsou said, honest. 

The conversation came to a natural end there but Midoriya kept turning it over in his head like a pig on a spit. The purple-haired teen barely knew Izuku and yet he seemed to want the best for him. 

Midoriya was unaware that his new friend was texting his dads about his first friend at this school. He also shared that his friend probably needs some therapy. His dad was responding in the group chat that he needs to stop adopting strays while his papa was trying to get him to bring the kid over for dinner. Lunch was dismissed and Shinsou pocketed his phone to head back to class.

Chapter Text

Midoriya’s day ended as it normally did; with him standing outside his school waiting for Kacchan to join him on their walk home. The farther the boys got from the school, the closer they drifted together. Eventually, they were holding hands and Izuku was leaning on his partner’s shoulder. The two boys talked about their days and their plans for the future. 

Katsuki’s dream was to be a professional chef and own a restaurant. He had always carried a passion for food and cooking. It came from his dad, similar to how the passion that took him through life came from his mother. Anyone who knew the family could see how the pair had influenced their son. 

Izuku wanted to teach, specifically high schoolers, inspire the young minds of tomorrow, and offer the support he needed in school. His passion for helping others came from his mother, Inko. She was a well-known lawyer who fought for those who didn’t have a voice. She had grown up without a voice because of her family’s status in society. So she fought to change that. Izuku doesn’t have the support he needs in high school or a trusted adult so he was going to become that. 

The two separated on their different streets and finished their walks home.  

Midoriya arrived home, planning to follow his routine of grabbing the mail and working on homework until his mom got home. Except when he checked the mail, he saw a letter addressed to him from UA, his first choice university. He texted his mom, asking if she wanted to be there when he opened it, then texted Kacchan that he had gotten his letter from UA.

Kacchan responded first saying he had gotten his letter and he was accepted. His mom was next, saying he could open it and she couldn’t wait to hear if he got accepted or not.

Midoriya stared at his letter from his dream university, aware it held his future in it. Somehow, he was able to open the letter and read it with shaking hands. Almost immediately after he finished he called his best friend.

“I got in!”

“I knew you would nerd.”

“But I didn’t know that, so let me be excited dumbass.”

“Fine. I’m proud of you, I know how hard it was for you to apply,” Bakugo admitted reluctantly.

“Aww, thank you Kacchan. I’ll see you later alright?” 

“Yeah, sounds good.”

Izuku hung up the call and decided to get a start on his homework if he could get the motivation to. 

4:30 rolled around and Izuku's work-induced trance broke as he realized their door was being opened to reveal his mom. She looked a little tired but overall excited to see her son. Laying her stuff down and removing her shoes, she walked over to the dining room table to hug Izuku.

“Hey Mom, how was work?”

“It was good, did you get in?” She asked, hopeful.

“Well, you see, they had a lot of applicants to sort through,” Izuku started, wanting to tease his mom a bit before saying, “But they accepted me.”

Her expression changed almost instantly from upset and ready to comfort to pride upon hearing the news. “That’s amazing honey, I knew you would get in.”

“Yeah, I am really proud of myself for getting in.”

“You should be. How would you feel about a celebration dinner next weekend, we can invite the Bakugo family?”

“That sounds great, could I invite my new friend from school?” Izuku asked, hopeful.

“My baby has a new friend too. This really calls for a celebration,” Inko said, trademark Midoriya tears gathering in her eyes.

Izuku smiled, glad his mom was proud of him. He continued trying to finish his homework while she started dinner. He was hoping to go to the park with Kacchan after dinner and hang out for a bit. That was their go-to date spot, grab ice cream from a vendor and walk around and talk to each other.

Izuku hated that he couldn’t be open about his relationship with Katsuki but also understood why the teen wasn’t comfortable with it. His anger and frustration with the situation weren’t as important as the joy he felt about finally being with Katsuki. Izuku knew he would suffer so much more if it meant he was with someone who cared about him, so he shoved down his discontentment and unhappiness about the situation. He had gotten accepted into his dream college, alongside his boyfriend, he had a boyfriend who also happened to be his childhood best friend, and he had made a new friend for the first time since middle school. There were lots of positives to celebrate, so he shouldn’t focus on the negatives.

Bakugo arrived at the park and found Izuku in their normal spot. He stared at the green-haired boy he had been friends with all his life, who decided to date him despite everything. Despite Bakugo bullying him in middle school because he didn’t know how to handle his bigger feelings.  Therapy had definitely helped with that aspect.  How willing Midoriya was to keep their relationship a secret in high school because of Katsuki’s fear of how his friends would react.  And his own doubts about his identity’s validity. 

Hey brain, can you stop?

He really did care for Izuku, he wasn’t overly affectionate or great at saying it, but he did. He showed it in always buying their ice cream, despite Izuku’s insistence, and being the cook for their weekly dinners together. He really hoped Izuku saw the gestures for what they were, Katsuki sharing his true feelings.

Izuku’s smile was already blinding but upon seeing his partner, it seemed to almost draw all light to it. It was blinding and beautiful, just like Izuku. Katsuki smiled in response, not nearly as bright but still full of joy and affection. He offered his arm to Izuku and they began to walk around the park, enjoying the warm evening. 

Conversations flowed easily between them. Midoriya told Bakugo about Shinso and Bakugo listened to his excited ramblings. They talked about the celebration dinner and their futures. Bakugo shared he would be willing to be more open about their relationship in university, something he hoped he wouldn’t go back on. Katsuki really did care about Izuku and he wanted to show the world. He was just scared of what the world would say.

The rest of their date went by. The two boys partook in their normal antics and teasing, including Izuku challenging Katsuki to race to the swings. Izuku won, which left his boyfriend pushing him on the swings first. It had been a lovely night for the two of them. Bakugou walked a smiling Izuku home before making his way home, smile equally wide.