Chapter Text
Midoriya had been thinking about Bakugo’s compliments all morning.
Which was a problem.
Because Bakugo’s compliments were weird.
Extremely weird.
“You’re persistent.”
“You’re annoying.”
“Your hair is shitty.”
“You’re nice to look at.”
“You’re pretty.”
“You’re cute.”
Somehow, every single one of them made Midoriya’s heart beat faster.
Especially the last two.
He was sitting at his desk, trying to finish his homework, when his phone buzzed.
Kacchan: Common room.
Midoriya blinked.
He looked at the time.
9:47 PM.
Deku: Why?
The reply came almost immediately.
Kacchan: Just come down here.
Midoriya smiled.
Deku: Okay.
He quickly finished the sentence he was writing and headed downstairs.
The common room was empty.
Again.
Bakugo was standing near the window.
He turned when Midoriya walked in.
“Took you long enough.”
“I got distracted.”
“Obviously.”
Midoriya smiled.
“What did you want?”
Bakugo didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he walked over and sat on the couch.
Midoriya sat beside him.
“You’re quiet,” Midoriya said.
“I’m thinking.”
“That’s dangerous.”
Bakugo glared at him.
“Keep talking and I’ll leave.”
Midoriya laughed.
“Sorry.”
Bakugo sighed.
Then he looked at him.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said yesterday.”
Midoriya tilted his head.
“What did I say?”
“That I’m bad at compliments.”
Midoriya smiled.
“You are.”
“Shut up.”
“But you’re getting better.”
“I don’t need to get better.”
Midoriya raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
Bakugo crossed his arms.
“I know exactly what I’m doing.”
Midoriya laughed.
“You called Kirishima less annoying as a compliment.”
“He was less annoying.”
“You called Todoroki weird.”
“He is weird.”
“You called me a mess.”
“You were a mess.”
Midoriya started laughing.
Bakugo looked offended.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re laughing at me.”
“I just think it’s funny.”
“Whatever.”
Midoriya smiled.
“But you always mean what you say.”
Bakugo went quiet.
“Yeah.”
“That makes them good compliments.”
Bakugo looked at him.
“You really think so?”
Midoriya nodded.
“Yeah.”
Bakugo stared at him for a moment.
Then he reached over and took Midoriya’s hand.
Midoriya’s breath caught.
Bakugo looked down at their hands.
“You know what my favorite thing about you is?”
Midoriya’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“You don’t quit.”
Midoriya smiled.
“I’ve heard that one before.”
“I’m not done.”
“Oh.”
Bakugo looked at him.
“You don’t quit when things get hard.”
His grip tightened slightly.
“You don’t quit when people tell you you’re weak.”
Midoriya’s smile faded into something softer.
“You don’t quit when you’re scared.”
Midoriya swallowed.
“And you don’t quit on people.”
Bakugo’s voice became quieter.
“Not even when they don’t deserve it.”
Midoriya’s eyes started to sting.
“Kacchan…”
“So yeah.”
Bakugo looked away.
“That’s probably my favorite thing about you.”
Midoriya squeezed his hand.
“That’s a really good compliment.”
“Told you.”
Midoriya laughed softly.
Then he leaned closer.
“My turn.”
Bakugo raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“I have a compliment for you.”
Bakugo looked suspicious.
“Go ahead.”
Midoriya smiled.
“You’re passionate.”
Bakugo blinked.
“You care about everything you do.”
He continued.
“You work harder than anyone I’ve ever met.”
Bakugo’s expression softened.
“You push yourself because you want to be better.”
Midoriya smiled.
“And even though you pretend you don’t care…”
Bakugo looked away.
“…you care a lot.”
Bakugo was silent.
Midoriya tilted his head.
“Did I do okay?”
Bakugo nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Then Bakugo looked at him.
“You’re still a nerd.”
Midoriya laughed.
“There it is.”
“And you’re still annoying.”
“Of course.”
“And your hair still looks stupid.”
Midoriya grinned.
“Obviously.”
Bakugo smiled.
“But…”
He leaned closer.
“I like all of it.”
Midoriya’s heart skipped.
“All of what?”
“You.”
Midoriya froze.
Bakugo’s face turned red.
“I like you, dumbass.”
For once, Midoriya didn’t know what to say.
He stared at Bakugo.
Bakugo’s ears were completely red now.
“Well?”
Midoriya smiled.
“I like you too.”
Bakugo exhaled.
“Good.”
They sat there quietly for a moment.
Then Midoriya smiled.
“So…”
“What?”
“I think that was your best compliment yet.”
Bakugo scoffed.
“Obviously.”
Midoriya laughed.
“You really think you’re good at this.”
“I am.”
“You’re terrible.”
“I just told you I like you!”
“Yeah, but you called me a dumbass right after!”
“You are one!”
Midoriya laughed harder.
Bakugo shook his head.
“You’re impossible.”
Midoriya rested his head against Bakugo’s shoulder.
“And you like me anyway.”
Bakugo looked down at him.
“Yeah.”
He paused.
“I really do.”
Midoriya smiled.
And maybe Bakugo’s compliments would never be normal.
Maybe he’d always call people weird, annoying, loud, stubborn, or stupid.
Maybe he’d always somehow insult someone while trying to make them feel better.
But Midoriya knew something now.
Bakugo didn’t need perfect words.
Because whenever he gave a compliment, he meant every single word.
And honestly?
That was the best compliment of all.