Chapter Text
“Bakugou!” Todoroki called. “I need help with my makeup!”
“Gimme a fucking second!” Katsuki bellowed. He was putting eyeliner on a very fidgety Eijirou. The asshole couldn’t sit still to save his life and Katsuki hated it. “Can you stop?”
“Sorry,” Eijirou said, “it’s just weird and kinda cold and like wet.”
“Yeah, it’s liquid eyeliner, I’m literally putting ink on your eyelids,” Katsuki ground out slowly, “so if you want it to look acceptable, shut your goddamn trap.” Eijirou’s lips pulled up into a grin, but he managed to control himself long enough for Katsuki to finish. “Alright, you’re good. IcyHot, the fuck are you?”
Todoroki was sitting next to fucking Iida of all people and Katsuki really did not need to see Iida in makeup right now. He was pretty, because of course he was, with blush and highlighter high on his cheeks and his eyes lined gold and shimmery blue shadow on his lids and his lips shiny and pink with lipgloss. Todoroki looked downright fucking plain next to him.
“I can’t exactly cover my scar,” Todoroki said, “and I refuse to. But can you help with the rest of it?” Katsuki nodded and pulled out the eyeshadow palette from the makeup bag he’d been given an hour ago. Between him, Mina, Ponytail, and Hagakure, they had twenty whole students to go through, including themselves.
Katsuki had done his and Deku’s makeup before they’d even left his room that morning. He had some basic makeup stuff in his room (and by basic he meant a single palette, eyeliner, lipstick, concealer, and a way too dark blush they’d layered very lightly on their cheeks) that they used. But everyone else? Mess.
Katsuki got to work best he could on Todoroki. He didn’t have any contour with him, just a bronzer that he hoped wouldn’t make Todoroki’s cheeks look weird and muddy and some highlighter. Todoroki’s eye on this side was gray, too, so Katsuki just slapped a smokey eye on him and gave him a very sharp wing. Just for shits and giggles, Katsuki added some highlighter to the tip of Todoroki’s nose when he finished.
“I hate it, thanks,” Todoroki said blandly, staring at himself in his phone camera.
“Go die,” Katsuki said, putting his things back into his bag.
“Kill me yourself,” Todoroki said, putting away his phone. Iida sighed.
“You two have that conversation every three minutes,” he said, “you know there are different exchanges that you could have instead.”
“This is our thing,” Todoroki said, leaning over to bump Iida’s shoulder with his own, “I am told that having a thing specific to you and a friend is good for morale.”
“Fucking - morale? Really?” Katsuki rolled his eyes. Todoroki just nodded. “Just fucking say friendship, you nerd.”
“Iida! Momo!” Came the sharp voice of Jirou from across the room. “People are starting to show up!”
“We’ll start letting them in a half hour till,” Ponytail called back, “so like ten minutes from now.”
“Why are they arriving so late for?” Katsuki said quietly. His mother usually made him arrive at places way too early. Todoroki and Iida just shrugged. “Ugh, whatever. Who’s letting them in?”
“It should be me and Yaoyorozu as the class reps,” Iida said.
“No, you both go up really early,” Katsuki said, turning to look out over the room. Who here didn’t have to go up early and could easily change into their first outfit? “It should be Dunce Face and Earlobes.” They could throw on a hoodie and look normal, even with their makeup.
“Kaminari! Jirou!” Iida called. The two were standing together, talking in a corner. They looked up. “Will you two be the ones to let everyone in?”
“Ok!” Kaminari called.
“Put on hoodies to hide your clothes!” Katsuki ordered. He got a thumbs up from them both before they went back to their conversation. Was it just him, or were they staring at Ponytail? That couldn’t bode well. “Does anyone else need makeup done?”
There was a chorus of nos. Katsuki took off the bag, hurrying to set it aside with the others on a spare table. There were a couple tables here behind the stage, mostly filled with carefully ironed clothing ready to be changed into. Some people, like Iida, could hide their second outfit under their first, and so did that. Some people, like Aoyama, couldn’t.
Aoyama looked like he was gonna throw up. That was a disaster in the making.
Katsuki jogged over. “The fuck’s up?”
“Stomach ache,” Aoyama said, arms around his stomach like they usually were during quirk training. Katsuki glanced around - no one else seemed to notice or care, which, fuck them for that. Katsuki really didn’t want to give him a peptalk.
“You’ve walked before,” Katsuki said. Aoyama nodded.
“But I wasn’t first!” Aoyama said.
“No, I’m first,” Katsuki said, “I have to go out there and give a speech I wrote three days ago and memorized this morning.” He’d actually memorized it last night with Izuku’s help, but saying that probably wouldn’t help much. “Then you get to waltz out there and smile and take all the glory for starting the show, but I’m the bitch who gets the ball rolling. So stop wasting your own time and stop being nervous.”
“Your pep talks always leave something to be desired, my friend,” Aoyama said, but he was already straightening up. “You think I look fabulous, right?” He swirled, showing off his white, sparkly dress.
“You’d probably make my mom jealous, sparkling so fucking much,” Katsuki said. Aoyama beamed at him.
“You think?” He said, smoothing down the dress. “I like how it turned out. There’s a lot of sequins. It has a certain flair to it.”
“Yeah, blindness,” Katsuki said. Aoyama laughed, patting his shoulder. “Hey, stupid question. Is it ok to refer to you as a guy?”
“I don’t care what you refer to me as,” Aoyama said with a little shrug, “I don't have a gender. I’m secure enough in myself that it doesn’t matter to me what you refer to me with. And before you go ask Tokoyami, he’s not ready to change pronouns yet. I’m sure he’ll let everyone know when he’s ready to do so.”
“Cool,” Katsuki said, determinedly not looking at him.
“You’re a good friend,” Aoyama said, “now, I’ll stop taking up your time.” Katsuki rolled his eyes and stepped away, scanning his classmates again. Jirou and Kaminari were gone, and now that he was listening he could hear people beginning to gather in the rest of the gym. There was a local news station there, already set up, as well as the same people who film and broadcast the sports festival every year.
Katsuki had to go out and speak in front of the whole world. Which was fine. He’d done it before.
But it was a little different going up on a podium and announcing his upcoming victory and another altogether to go stand on that stage and literally just fucking monologue.
Izuku appeared at his side, carrying Eri. “Hey, Kacchan.”
“Hi, Izuku,” Katsuki said. Izuku had been saying hi to him every few minutes all morning, just to hear his name from Katsuki’s lips. “Hey, Eri.”
“Mr. Explosions,” Eri said seriously. Katsuki blinked, but shrugged.
“That’s accurate,” he said, “can’t fault you for it.” Eri smiled and hid her face in Izuku’s neck.
“You nervous about going up, Eri?” Izuku asked her sweetly.
“I’m not nervous!” Eri said, straightening up. “Lemillion and you will be there. And so will Eraser!” Izuku nodded. She grinned at him. “I don’t have to be nervous with you all here. So I’m ok.”
“That’s really sweet of you, Eri,” Izukusaid, leaning closer slowly to press his face against the side of her head. “You’re a good kid.” She puffed out her chest, chin lifting and cheeks puffing out with the force of her smile. Izuku glanced over at Katsuki. “Doing ok?”
“Of course,” he said. Izuku smiled.
“I’m surprised you actually look put together,” Izuku said, “like, Kacchan, you’re wearing skinny jeans.”
“They’re for Best Jeanist,” Katsuki said quietly, “I asked him to watch over us and promised I’d wear jeans today.” Izuku blinked at him. Then his face melted into a shit eating grin. “Oh, no,
no,
shut your face, Izu. Literally shut the fuck up.”
“Language!” Izuku said laughing. “Keep cussing and I’m gonna have to take Eri and go!”
“Good, go, get gone,” Katsuki said. He sucked in a deep breath. Izuku scurried away, laughing and flipping Katsuki off where Eri couldn’t see it. “Fucking dumb-dumb.”
--
Katsuki glanced around the curtain. It was almost time to go out, according to Jirou there was no one else waiting outside. She and Kaminari and Mr. Aizawa were still out there, and would be until the show started. Katsuki was fucking nervous.
But he also felt fucking great. He and Izuku were ok. Mina and Eijirou were still his friends. The show was about to get done, and so far it was going great. There’d been no major problems, unlike with the culture festival last year when Izuku had run off to get more rope and then came back like ten minutes before the show started.
And then next week was midterms, which he wasn’t too worried about in all honesty. He’d done a great deal of studying, even with his responsibilities towards the fashion show. Most of that studying was, admittedly, in the form of reteaching a good amount of the shit they’d learned over the trimester to Kirishima and Kaminari. Both of them were the type to study last minute and usually didn’t have as good a grasp on things as Katsuki did.
But that was fine, they were doing fine. Katsuki had been steadily learning how to cater to the both of them. Like Kirishima was fine being yelled at, but Kaminari worked better when he was getting encouraged gently. And Kirishima had a little trouble with diagrams, but Kaminari was more likely to understand them faster than a paragraph of text.
Izuku was squatting not too far away from where Katsuki stood, Eri jumping up and down and chatting about whatever it was little girls chatting about. Izuku looked thoroughly invested in the conversation.
Most of the class was lining up. Katsuki was at the head of the line, because he’d have to go out in a couple minutes.
Katsuki resisted the urge to peek out again. What was he, a fifth grader putting on a school production? He was better than this. Whenever Jirou and Kaminari got back, he’d go out. He had a microphone with him. Present Mic had shown up for an hour or so earlier to help set up all the audio stuff and hand over a mic with specific instructions not to yell into it.
It hurt that Present Mic literally felt the need to say that, but Katsuki got it. He was a loud person. His mom was a loud person.
But Katsuki’s dad was pretty calm and quiet for the most part. Katsuki would just have to emulate him for a while. Which was fine. He could do that.
“Hey,” Iida said, walking over to him. The other leaders joined them within a couple seconds, Iida carefully pulling them a couple steps from the line. “So, are we good to go?”
“We’re as good as we’re gonna get on my front,” Katsuki said, “my team’s done, aside from clean up at the end.”
“Decorations are up, clothes are put on correctly, makeup’s on, we’re good here,” Asui said.
“Finance was done like a week ago,” Sero said, rubbing at his arm. “So there’s nothing much we can do.”
“The media’s already here,” Ponytail said, “they’re gonna get ready to film soon enough. And we’ll all have to go talk with them afterwards. I’m worried about Todoroki, because he owes them a favor now, but it is what it is. Iida?”
“Everything’s been checked and double checked,” Iida said, “so really all we can do now is continue to petition the Commission for the right to sell our merch. Otherwise, we’re all good. Alright.”
“Kyouka and Kaminari should be back soon,” Ponytail said, “and then we have to start the show.”
“I have to start the show,” Katsuki said, “you guys are fine.” They all kinda smiled at him. Katsuki glared. “What?”
“Nothing,” Sero said, grinning. Katsuki’s palms started popping dangerously. “No, seriously bro, it’s nothing.”
“I’ve been thinking,” Asui said, “that maybe we should give everyone a speech or something. Like a pep talk. Since we haven’t done that already. It feels weird to just start without one.” Katsuki nodded. “But I also can’t think of anything to say.”
“God, I felt that,” Sero said.
“What is there to say?” Iida said. “We all know what’s going on here. We’ve all practiced for weeks now.”
“If you want me to pull something out of my ass, I can do it,” Katsuki said, making the others laugh. “No, no, really, lemme at it. I’ll give such a riveting speech, you’ll all be fucking crying from inspiration, just watch me.”
“Then maybe we shouldn’t,” Ponytail said, giggling, “otherwise we’ll mess up our makeup and have to scramble to get it done again.” Movement caught Katsuki’s eye. He leaned to the side, catching sight of Kaminari and Jirou hurrying to their place in line, stripping off their hoodies and checking to make sure their outfits were still in place. Mr. Aizawa was behind them.
“They’re back,” Asui said. Ponytail glanced around the other leaders, looking suddenly ten times more nervous than she had a minute ago. She grabbed Asui’s hand.
“Everyone,” Mr. Aizawa said, catching the attention of the entire class. Everyone fell silent, drifting closer to him like moths to a flame. “Keep an eye on each other out there. Remember, you’re not just doing this for the money. You’re doing this for each other and yourselves - so have fun. If that means you try and trip each other up on the catwalk, do it. Just catch yourself in a roll when you fall, and come back up smiling.” He made careful eye contact with everyone. “I’ll be watching you from back here. Do your best.”
“Yes sir!”
Everyone hurried back into their places, a new excitement on their faces. Ponytail no longer looked so nervous as she stepped into line with Uraraka and Asui. Katsuki watched the lights dim under the curtail. He glanced back to see Mr. Aizawa’s eyes on him. He nodded. Katsuki turned back to the curtain, flicking on the mic. With a deep breath, he stepped outside.
--
The crowd was silent, which Katsuki was not used to at all. Wasn’t there usually like a low rumbling of talking, even when they were supposed to be quiet? But whatever, Katsuki was sure he could work with this.
“Good afternoon,” Katsuki said, straightening his shoulders. He walked out onto the catwalk, just to be dramatic. During the rest of the show, he’d stand to the side of the stage and pretend he belonged there.
“For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Katsuki Bakugou, aka Provisional Hero Ground Zero.” And wow it was one thing to whisper the name to Best Jeanist, and another thing entirely to just say it like it was natural. Katsuki hadn’t even sent in the application to change his hero name yet.
There was a whoop from the crowd - Katsuki could recognize his mother’s voice anywhere. He grinned and continued.
“As part of our hero training, UA requires the hero course to take on a joint community service project with the business course in our second year. The idea is that we get a greater understanding and appreciation not only for our communities, but for the people we’ll have to work alongside as heroes.
“In the past, UA’s hero course has held fundraisers for local businesses, helped build parks, cleaned the streets, and organized food and clothing drives. This year, Class 2B actually decided to take a step towards the revitalization of Musutafu’s art movement. They’ve bought and designated spaces on several streets in the downtown area for artists to create art and bring our city to life. I’d recommend checking it out, I’ve heard there are already murals going up.
“My class, on the other hand, decided we wanted to raise money for charities. We all have social issues we feel strongly about. For example, I grew up with someone who didn’t have a quirk. Seeing the things he had to go through because of that shaped how I see the world. I plan on continuing to advocate for the protection and support of the quirkless as I debut as a Pro Hero and get further in my career.
“However, my class is extremely close knit - I’m sure everyone here knows the basics, so I’ll spare you the gorey details on what we’ve been through in the last year. So we chose to tackle this project as a team.
“Unfortunately, we’re all kids,” Katsuki said, rolling his eyes to the laughter of the crowd. “So the Commission refused to let us sell our own merch. So we came together with the help of four business course friends to create a brand under my name, and the Heroes of Tomorrow line was born.
“Every article of clothing available on the website will donate a portion of the profits to the charities and organizations we trust. As of right now, everything you see modeled for you today will be available online. Not a single member of my class intends to shut down the line after we finish here, so please subscribe to the email service so we can keep you updated on new products.
“If you see something you like, don’t be shy, go buy it,” Katsuki finished with, backing off the catwalk and heading for the side of the stage, “support us, and support our local charities and organizations. That being said, enjoy the show!”
Aoyama practically burst from behind the curtain, beaming in the most unprofessional manner possible. He did a spin in the first couple steps, the sequins on his dress throwing light onto the stage. He caught Katsuki’s eyes for a bare second, smile widening, before he started down the catwalk.
--
When Eijirou was passing Asui on the way back, she tried to catch him with her tongue. Eijirou ducked under it, laughing as Asui pouted her way up to the front of the catwalk.
--
Todoroki and Sero had a really quick mock battle as they passed each other, Todoroki burning the little strips of tape Sero threw at him, icing the floor just a bit to try and trip Sero up. Katsuki had to break character and cover the mic to yell at him for fucking up the stage, the audience laughing at them.
--
Jirou literally took Ponytail by the hands and fucking twirled her like they were in the middle of a dance. Katsuki rolled his eyes. When would they just get together already?
--
Mina and Eijirou spent the whole time passing each other doing finger guns. They both also did finger guns at Katsuki, and he’d had to scramble to return them because there was no way he was leaving his best friends hanging on national television.
--
Thank fuck for whoever set up the harsh lighting - Iida’s muscles under that rash guard. . . and he seemed to be very aware of what he looked like, flexing at the end of the catwalk, confidence lining his shoulders and golden eyeliner making his eyes pop behind his glasses.
Katsuki could barely keep his eyes off the flex of his muscles as he walked back. Iida sent him a little, sheepish smile as Katsuki announced Mineta. Katsuki grinned at him.
--
“BRAT!”
Katsuki’s mom’s voice ripped through the crowd, catching a lot of peoples’ attention. Katsuki broke away from the conversation he was listening in on.
“WHAT DO YOU WANT, YOU HAG?” Katsuki bellowed back.
His mom slammed into him and if it wasn’t for Katsuki being used to his mother’s sneak attack hugs, they would’ve went down. Katsuki clung to her. He’d missed her - even though they called almost every week, he hadn’t been home in months. Katsuki pulled away first, cursing up a blue streak as she tried to plant a kiss on his cheek. She was wearing lipstick - Katsuki would rather die than let her get a kiss in.
“Hey, Katsuki,” his dad said, coming up behind Mom. Katsuki beamed and tackle hugged him the same way his mom just did to him. Dad took a half step back, laughing. “Hey, sorry I haven’t been able to call this week.”
“That’s fine,” Katsuki said, voice muffled against his dad’s chest, “you’re here now.” His dad made a soft noise, surprisingly audible over the hubbub of people meeting each other and students advertising their clothes and Tetsutetsu wrestling Eijirou nearby. His dad ran a hand through Katsuki’s hair. Katsuki pulled away first and said, “did you like the show?”
“Yeah, I liked it a lot,” Dad said with that gentle smile of his. “You guys did good up there.”
“I’m about to buy literally everything with your name on it,” Mom said, throwing an arm around Katsuki’s shoulders and tugging him close. “Also, Ground Zero? That’s your name now?”
“Yeah, you got a fucking problem with it?” Katsuki said, trying to wrestle out of her grip. She wasn’t stronger than him - if Katsuki really wanted out, he had no doubt that he’d be able to get out. But this was his mom, he literally couldn’t hit her back. So he was severely handicapped here and she was using that to her advantage.
“It’s just so edgy,” she complained, “why couldn’t you have picked something nice, like that Uravity girl. Speaking of her, I wouldn’t be mad if you brought a girl like her home. She looked nice.” Katsuki made a very realistic choking noise. She let go of him in surprise and Katsuki immediately moved to hide behind his dad.
“She’s just a classmate,” Katsuki said, glaring at his mom, “and besides, Izuku’s into her.” Speak of the fucking devil, Katsuki made eye contact with the nerd through the crowd.
“Are you shitting me?” Mom said, voice suddenly all soft and quiet. Katsuki blinked at her, half stepping out to reach for her.
“You ok?” He asked.
“Did you just call him Izuku?” She said. Katsuki blinked, then flushed an angry red.
“Shut the hell up, what do you fucking know,” Katsuki said, but then Izuku was on them, eyes bright and smile wide, accompanied by his mom.
“Mitsuki Auntie! Masaru Uncle! It’s been forever!” Izuku fucking chirped. Mom immediately lit up and bowled Izuku over in a hug. Inko Auntie moved to Katsuki’s side in the commotion that caused.
“Izuku says you apologized,” she said.
“I did,” Katsuki said, “and he accepted it. So we’re good on that front.”
“That’s good,” she said, “and Izuku also tells me that you have a crush on that Iida boy. Ingenium II, I think you called him in the show.” Katsuki winced.
“Izuku crushes on Uraraka,” Katsuki tattled. Inko Auntie laughed.
“Thanks,” she said, “I’ll be sure to embarrass him in front of her.” Katsuki snorted. Inko Auntie turned to face him, warm smile on her face. “Oh, I missed seeing your smile. You always had that unpleasant growly look on your face as a kid.”
“Hey, that’s just how I smile!” Katsuki protested as she pulled him into a hug. “That’s literally just how I smile, Inko Auntie, ask fuc- I mean, ask anyone!” She pulled back, still smiling.
“And you’re taller than me now,” she said, “that’s unsettling.” Katsuki groaned and rolled his eyes, but let her fuss over his (non existent) acne and messy hair.
--
“Yall didn’t fucking suck,” Katsuki shouted to the class once the gym emptied out. “Now help me clean up.” Laughter rippled through the class.
--
“Froppy!” Kaminari called from the other side of the gym. “We get to keep our clothes, right?”
“Go for it, ribbit!”
--
“IF YOU DON’T STOP EATING THE LEFTOVER REFRESHMENTS AND START FUCKING MOPPING LIKE YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO, I’M GOING TO MURDER YOU MYSELF!”
“You can’t stop me.”
“GO DIE!”
“Kill me yourself.”
--
“You didn’t have to stay out with me,” Katsuki told Iida as they walked back to Heights Alliance, the sunset painting the skies in brilliant oranges and pinks and yellows. “All those other assholes left ages ago.”
“I just thought,” Iida said, then hesitated. He stopped in the middle of the path. Katsuki continued past him. Then he stopped and half turned towards Iida. What was he doing, standing there in the sunlight like a movie protagonist?
“The fuck? You good?” Katsuki said. Iida squared his shoulders and raised his head to look Katsuki in the eye. He hadn’t wiped off his makeup yet, the gold of his eyeliner glimmering in the light of the setting sun.
“This entire time, you’ve been the one making an effort,” Iida said. Katsuki blinked.
“What?”
“I’m sorry, Katsuki,” Iida said, “I haven’t been entirely open about my intentions.” And wow, that sounded ominous as fuck. Katsuki turned to face Iida head on, bracing himself for whatever it was that Iida was going to say. He hoped it wasn’t bad or like. Really terrible. He also hoped that it wouldn’t take long to say it - this was a public, well used path. They would be interrupted eventually.
“What do you mean?” Katsuki asked, voice pitched low and dangerous.
“I’ve had a crush on you for a little while now,” Iida said and Katsuki nearly fell over right there, “and instead of being open about it, like you’ve been open about your affection for me, I’ve kept it quiet. So. I wanted to confess to you. I really, really like you. And if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to take you out on a date sometime.”
“Oh,” Katsuki said, a slow smile stretching across his lips. He was sure it looked a little feral, but Iida was starting to smile again as well, the tension leaving his shoulders. “Yeah, alright, Pretty Boy. Take me out.”
“After midterms, though,” Iida said. Katsuki shrugged. “And, uh, if it’s alright, may I call you by name in front of our classmates?”
“Go for it,” Katsuki said. Tenya took a couple steps forward so he was standing right in front of Katsuki. He was still wearing that stupid rash guard that showed off his arms and his pecs and Katsuki took half a second to just admire how good he looked, towering over him, muscles almost too big for his clothes.
“Does that make us boyfriends?” Tenya said. Katsuki raised an eyebrow and Tenya coughed, cheeks going red. “What I mean to say is, can I kiss you?”
“Oh my god,” Katsuki said through a surprised little laugh, “just fucking do it, you nerd.” Tenya laughed, but leaned down to softly press his lips against Katsuki’s.
It wasn’t a very good kiss, their teeth clacked and their noses bumped into each other and Katsuki kept his eyes open the entire time, somehow still stunned that Tenya Iida himself was kissing him, but something in Katsuki’s chest settled at the contact. And when they pulled away, Tenya’s face was redder than red and the sun was making him glow and the hand that wasn’t placed lightly on Katsuki’s hip was chopping wildly at the air next to them.
Katsuki laughed and pulled him in for another kiss.
--
Change contact name to Tenya ?
[ Yes /No]
Contact name changed to
Tenya
.