Chapter Text
Midoriya returned to his dorm and slammed the door behind him. He starred inside his room, at the All Might figures, the blankets, the clock, the posters, all screaming the name of the world’s greatest hero. All staring at him, his supposed successor.
But he wasn’t All Might’s successor.
“Coward.” He said softly to himself. Now the tears came, they came hard. He tried to stifle the sobs, but it was useless. The sobs came out, announcing his pain to anyone listening.
That’s when a knock came.
“Midoriya?” Shinsou called in.
Midoriya looked toward the door. Though he was only a few feet from it, the door seemed miles away.
He sniffled and cleared his throat, “What is it?”
“Are you okay?” Shinsou’s monotone voice did sound more concerned than usual, though it’s difficult to tell.
Midoriya took a few steps and opened the door, revealing his red puffy eyes, “Yeah, I’m fine, was just watching a sad movie.”
Shinsou rose an eyebrow, “Okay, you sure you’re alright?”
Midoriya gave the best fake smile that he could, “Yep, all fine.”
Shinsou nodded, “Alright.” He then turned and went back to his room.
Midoriya sighed and shut his door. He plopped himself down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. His eyelids felt heavy. His body wanted to sleep, but his brain wouldn’t allow it.
OoO
Back in the locker room, Todoroki still looked shocked. He hadn’t moved for the past ten minutes. There was a ringing sound in his ears that he was trying to ignore.
The sudden bang of door opening was more difficult to ignore, and Todoroki shot up to his feet.
“God damn garbage duty. Always when I can’t…” Bakugou stopped muttering when he saw Todoroki standing there, “What the fuck are you still doing here half-and-half? Go to bed.”
Todoroki looked at him, and nodded, “Yes, okay.”
Bakugou raised an eyebrow at him, “Not even rolling your eyes? What happened? Girlfriend break up with you?”
Todoroki looked at him, his anger rising suddenly, “Just leave me alone you arrogant prick.”
Bakugou blinked at him, not used to seeing him genuinely angry, “Okay, struck a nerve. Got it.”
Todoroki scowled and left.
Bakugou rolled his eyes as he collected the trash. Then, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out and saw the name, ‘Brainwash’ pop up.
“What the fuck? What does he want?”
He opened the text and it read: Bakugou, could you check on Midoriya? He’s not well and I know you two talk. At least you were tonight. This is Shinsou by the way.
Bakugou’s face became more confused, but then he started doing the math.
“Oh fuck.” Trash duty would have to wait, this is more important.
Bakugou ran up the staircase and in no time was in front of Midoriya’s door.
“Deku, open up.” Bakugou ordered.
There was no response.
“Deku, I know you’re awake. Just open the door.” Bakugou stated.
Still no response.
Bakugou looked down, “I know what happened with Todoroki.”
There was a sudden shifting sound inside. That got Midoriya’s attention.
“Well, not the details, but I can guess what happened.” Bakugou explained.
Light footsteps sounded off from inside.
“Listen, Dek…Izuku. Whatever happened is your business, and it doesn’t matter much to me. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass for your love life. But I made a mistake a while back, and I’ve regretted it ever since. If you’re closing yourself off because of something that happened in middle school, it won’t happen again.” Bakugou surprised even himself with that speech.
The door cracked open, and Bakugou could see how puffy and red Midoriya’s normally bright eyes were.
“What are you talking about?” Midoriya asked.
Bakugou hesitated. He and Midoriya were just starting to become okay again, and he didn’t want to jeopardize that. But one of Midoriya’s All Might posters caught his eye. ‘Truth and Justice’ it said. Bakugou nodded, “I’m the one who outed Tosumara.”
Midoriya’s eyes widened, “What?”
Bakugou’s face looked down in shame, “I was stupid, and he humiliated me. I did one of the dumbest things I ever did. I took a picture while you two were sucking face and posted it.”
Midoriya blinked at him, “So…so you’re the reason…he moved away?”
Bakugou took a deep breath, “Yes.”
Midoriya clenched his fist, “Bastard.”
“Yes.” Bakugou looked up, just as Midoriya’s fist was approaching his face.
Bakugou ducked out of the way before the knuckles made contact.
“Bastard!” Midoriya yelled.
Bakugou quickly pulled out his phone and typed something to a chat, “Izuku, I’m more than willing to fight you, but could we please choose a better spot than the middle of the hallway?”
Midoriya shook his head, “For the past year I blamed myself. I thought I ruined his life. You think I care about being in trouble?”
Bakugou got in a defensive stance.
“This is for Tosumara.” Midoriya said simply.
Bakugou watched as Midoriya charged down the hall at him. He didn’t use his quirk, he was probably too tired to, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t fast.
Bakugou jumped and did a flip over Midoriya, who in turn quickly turned around and grabbed Bakugou’s arm and threw him over his shoulder.
Midoriya looked down at Bakugou as he didn’t try to get up.
“Come on, up on your feet.” Midoriya said.
Bakugou blinked, “No.”
Midoriya looked at him, “I thought you liked a good fight. Get up!”
“No.” Bakugou said, “This isn’t a fight. It’s punishment.”
Midoriya blinked at him, “What?”
Bakugou closed his eyes, “I fucked up. I did something awful to you. Actually, many awful things. I deserve to be punished.”
Midoriya blinked at him as he stood over him.
“Go on then.” Bakugou said, “Get the justice you deserve.”
Midoriya looked down at him and down at his hands, “I…I…”
Midoriya thought back to the training lessons, the hours of work, fighting villains, fighting monsters. The scars from those feats covered his body, but these scars, these hands were different. They represented his saving of a life. Saving Todoroki from destruction. He had to fight him to make him realize how to forgive himself.
How many scars would it take for him to forgive Bakugou?
Midoriya fell to his knees and looked at Bakugou, “Katsuki. I forgive you.”
Bakugou rolled over and sat down in front of Midoriya, eyes turned downward.
“I don’t deserve it.” Bakugou stated.
“Maybe not. But if I don’t forgive, I’ll just be filled with this hatred. I don’t want that.” Midoriya looked down.
Bakugou nodded, “Thank you. You’re a good person Izuku.”
Midoriya sniffed as tears started again, “I don’t feel like one. I hurt Todoroki, and he…”
Bakugou shook his head, “He will be fine. Half and half’s strong. Don’t fucking tell him I said that.”
Midoriya looked down, “He confessed his feelings for me, and I rejected him.”
Bakugou nodded understandably, “Do you have feelings for him?”
Midoriya nodded.
“Well, just tell him that.” Bakugou suggested.
Midoriya looked at him with wide eyes, “But I’m not sure if I’m just using him as a…well…a rebound.”
Bakugou nodded, “Okay. Just tell him you need more time to think about it.” Bakugou suddenly paused and looked up slightly, “Sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for.”
Midoriya looked slightly confused but nodded, before looking up and seeing Sero run down the stairs.
“Sorry dude, I just got your text! Something wrong?” Sero said, gasping for breath.
Bakugou chuckled, “Nah, Deku just needed to blow off steam, I just wanted you around if things got too extreme.”
Midoriya shook his head, “You really thought you would need Sero to restrain me?”
Bakugou rolled his eyes, “Not restrain you, but I figured you’d be less likely to beat him up.”
Sero looked offended, “I could restrain Mido!”
Bakugou scoffed, “Yeah, for about three seconds before he breaks free of your elbow paper.”
Midoriya cringed, “Can we please not call it elbow paper? That creeps me out.”
Bakugou shrugged, “Okay, Sero’s arm secretion.”
Both Sero and Midoriya retched at that.
OoO
Midoriya stood outside Todoroki’s room, staring at the door. He had gotten there about five minutes ago but couldn’t seem to give himself the final push to knock.
Luckily, or maybe unfortunately, he didn’t have to. Todoroki’s door opened on its own.
Todoroki paused at the surprise of seeing Midoriya, clad in his sleep shirt, literally labeled, ‘sleep shirt’, standing before him.
Midoriya blinked at Todoroki. He looked tired, eyes red and puffy, just as Midoriya’s were a few moments ago.
Todoroki shifted his weight slightly, standing up straighter so he didn’t appear so weak, “Do…do you need something?”
Midoriya blinked. At that moment, the pep talk Bakugou gave him left his mind. He felt as small and helpless as he did before, “Umm…yeah…umm…I wanted to…umm…”
Todoroki blinked at him, “Would you like to come in?”
Midoriya blushed slightly, “Umm…well…I wouldn’t want to keep you from whatever you were going out for…”
“Tea.” Todoroki said simply, “My throat hurts from…” It hurt from sobbing, but Todoroki couldn’t admit that, “…a cold coming on.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Midoriya said politely, “I hope you feel better.”
“Thank you.”
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“Do you want to join me for some tea?” Todoroki asked.
Midoriya’s eyes shifted to Todoroki’s feet. He was wearing All Might slippers. That made Midoriya smile, “Umm…yeah…why not?”
Todoroki closed his door behind him and walked toward the elevator, with Midoriya trailing behind.
The elevator ride down continued the awkward silence. Midoriya had to break it, it was getting unbearable.
“You ever feel bad about taking the elevator at night?” Midoriya asked.
Todoroki blinked at him, “Not really. Is this a power saving thing?”
“No, I mean for Shoji. He hears everything, it’s gotta be annoying in the middle of the night.” Midoriya observed.
Todoroki shook his head, “No, Tokoyami told me Shoji sleeps through everything. He’s from the city. He hears loud things all the time.”
Midoriya nodded, “Oh, yeah, that…wait…how’d Tokoyami know?”
Todoroki looked at him, “Tokoyami is dating Shoji.”
Midoriya blinked at him, “Really?”
“Yeah, since the USJ fight.” Todoroki added.
“Huh.” Midoriya was processing this. With Tokoyami and Shoji, Kaminari and Shinsou, and Kirishima and Bakugou (that one’s still unconfirmed, but Midoriya figured they get together any day now), it seemed 1-A was ripe with queerness.
Once they made it to the kitchen, Todoroki started boiling water.
Midoriya sat in one of the stools, the same stool Todoroki sat in after Midoriya’s fight with Bakugou. Todoroki had been so kind to him, so open and understanding. He had to make this right. He had to.
“So listen, about earlier…” He began as Todoroki kept his back to him.
“Oh, yeah, that.” Todoroki said, trying to sound unemotional, but there was a clear edge to his voice.
“I was…You just surprised me, and I…I wasn’t really…um…in the right headspace?” Midoriya justified.
Todoroki turned to Midoriya only so far as his scared eye was visible, “It’s fine Mido. I got the message.”
Midoriya’s eyes widened, “No! No! I don’t think you do! I was very flattered, but…well…you see…I had this other friend in middle school…”
Todoroki turned fully to face Midoriya, looking confused, “I thought you said you weren’t interested in Bakugou.”
Midoriya blushed deep red, “No! Not Kachan! Someone else!”
“Oh. You already have a significant other?” Todoroki asked.
“No! Well, I did, but…he…he went away.” Midoriya said.
Todoroki nodded, “I see.”
Midoriya nodded, “But it was recent. Only a year ago…which I know isn’t super recent, but…it is to me.”
Todoroki nodded, “I see. So your no stands.”
“I didn’t say no.” Midoriya responded.
“You said no ten times.”
“It wasn’t ten times!” Midoriya said.
“It felt like it.” Todoroki mumbled.
Midoriya stood up and walked to the other side of the island, facing Todoroki, “I was saying no to…the memory…I guess?”
Todoroki blinked, “I don’t understand.”
Midoriya looked down, and started pacing, as he did when he was nervous, “He didn’t leave because he wanted to, he left because he was outed.”
Todoroki looked confused, “Why would that matter?”
“’Roki, you went to a nice, private school. Things are rough in public school. Especially for those who don’t live up to the norm. The bullies were…” Midoriya closed his eyes.
Todoroki nodded, “I see.”
“I already lost one friend because I took our relationship too far. I don’t want that to happen to you.” Midoriya said.
Todoroki walked toward him, “Don’t I get a say in that?”
Midoriya looked up at him, “Of course. But, am I really worth all that ridicule? All that bullying? All that…”
Todoroki reached up and ran his hand through Midoriya’s hair, “You are to me.”
Midoriya blinked at him, feeling tears starting to fill his eyes.
“Am I worth that to you?” Todoroki asked.
Midoriya looked him in the eyes, “Yes.”
Todoroki looked down at him and leaned down.
Midoriya allowed his eyes to close.
Their lips met briefly. A short, tender kiss.
Todoroki pulled away and turned around, walking toward the stove.
Midoriya’s eyes fluttered open, looking confused, “What…’Roki…”
Todoroki turned the burner off and put his water of to the side, “I didn’t want it all to boil off.”
Midoriya blinked at him, “Aren’t we going to make out? We just got together.”
Todoroki blinked at him, “Oh, I guess that is something people do…”
Midoriya started laughing, “I thought I was the awkward one!”
Todoroki shook his head, “Between the two of us, you’re the socially competent one.”
Midoriya smiled, “I guess we’re in big trouble then!”
“Eh, we’ll figure it out. Now, where were we?”
Midoriya let out a short chuckle as their lips met again. This time, for a bit longer.