Archive of Our Own ^beta

When Denki prepares to go to his high school reunion, he doesn’t expect the night to go wrong. Or right. Depends on how you look at it, really.

In truth, he’s pretty stoked to be going. He still sees most of his friends, working together in all their hero work. But others from their class, not so much. He kind of misses it, but that’s a part of growing up, he supposes. As he tugs on the collar of his blue button-down he wonders if Midoriya, sorry, Deku will be there too. The dude’s been all over the news lately and was steadily but quickly rising to the top. Denki’s not surprised, but he knows how much Katsuki hates to talk about it. Or even hear it be mentioned. Old rivalries die hard, perhaps?

The venue is, of course, at U.A. But they definitely did not skip out on the decorations, or the food. And there’s alcohol. Denki has to admit it’s kind of weird being inside a high school with alcohol there but hey, he’s not complaining.

“Kaminari!” He hears his name called by a familiar voice and spins around with a smile.

“Kiri! Hey man!” Denki cries and wraps an arm around his friend’s neck. “It’s been, what, two days?”

Kirishima laughs. “Maybe. But at least we’ll see everyone else tonight!”

“Hopefully not everyone. ” Sero adds as he approaches the pair, an easy grin on his face as always. He doesn’t have to say it out loud; it’s an unspoken consensus that there’s one student they’d rather not deal with.

“Come on, my dudes.” Denki links his arms with Kirishima’s and Sero’s. “Let us get some margaritas and mingle with our old classmates!”

There's maybe ten people there, already. They go to talk to Jirou and Kendou after getting the alcohol. Denki’s question is answered when he spots Midoriya by the snack counter. He's talking with Iida, Tokoyami, and Todoroki. And there's… wait, hold on.

“No way!” Denki exclaims, approaching the small group before he can decide this may be a bad idea. “That is not what I think it is.” He points to Midoriya’s left hand.

Midoriya blinks once before he flushes and laughs nervously. “Yeah, it is.” He flashes the ring sitting comfortably on his ring finger. “We got engaged about a month ago.” He motions to Todoroki, standing on his right.

Denki grins a million-watt smile, almost quite literally. “That's great, man! Congrats!”

“Thanks, Kaminari.” Midoriya smiles and Denki notes how despite the shorter haircut he hasn't changed at all. “How have you been with Ojiro?”

Denki’s smile dies down a little bit as he rubs the back of his neck. “Ah, that actually ended a few years ago.” He laughs lightly and neglects to mention he hasn't seen anyone since. At least, no one that stuck.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. That was insensitive of me.”

Denki waves his hands. “Don’t worry about it, mate! It wasn't anything bad, and it was mutual. We're still on good terms.” If you ignore the fact that they pretty much haven't spoken since then. “What about you two, huh? In the love department?” He switches the spotlight over to Iida and Tokoyami. Unfortunately, his brain can't keep with the motion and he's thinking about Mashirao now.

It’d completely slipped his mind that he might actually be here tonight. Suddenly, he’s less stoked to be here. Call him a coward, but he kind of doesn't want to meet the man whose heart he broke.

Okay, so it wasn't really mutual. It was Denki being an irrational mess of anxiety and foolishness. He still remembers Mashirao’s pleading voice, his begging for Denki to not leave. That they’d work it out. But Denki, in his stupid state of self-doubt and panic, left anyway. They'd never talked it out.

He excuses himself from the conversation he's not paying attention to and down the rest of his drink. He finds Sero talking to Hagakure and grabs his arm. “Need more alcohol.” He hisses and drags him to the drink table.

“What's wrong?” Sero furrows his brow. “We’ve only been here for like ten minutes and you're already freaking out?”

“Yeah, well,” He takes a long sip. “I forgot Mashirao might be here…”

Sero’s mouth forms an o in understanding. “Have you guys still not talked-?”

“No.” Denki says miserably. “Class idiot, remember? I changed my number and everything so he couldn't contact me either… What the fuck am I supposed to say?”

“Okay, relax. He may not even come. And if he does,” Sero shrugs. “Maybe it is time to talk to him? It was three years ago, dude.”

Denki feels like he may get sick. “Yeah, but…” He bites his lip. “This fucking sucks.” He groans.

“Do you want to leave, then?”

Denki pauses and looks around at his former classmates. There's definitely a lot more people. He spots Kirishima talking animatedly with Tetsutetsu. Shouji in his huge glory is with a few girls from class B. Denki frowns and looks back at his friend. “Not really…”

“Then relax. I'll be by your side the whole night, how about that?”

Denki smiles a little bit. “Thanks man.”

“We’re friends, dude. Of course.” Sero grins and gives his pal a fist bump.

“Still gonna drink alcohol though.”

<><><><><><><>

Denki notices immediately when his ex-boyfriend arrives. And totally not because he's kept his eyes glued to the entrance the whole time. Nope. He’s visibly nervous and grips Sero’s sleeve in his hand. His friend gives him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Mashirao seems to not have spotted him yet. Denki, despite everything, is a little disappointed. Also immediately angry with himself. The guy looks better than ever ; he still has the same haircut he's had since he was 10 years old, but he looks bigger than when Denki saw him last. Like he’s been working out since then. And the outfit, while it looks amazing on him, definitely had to be picked out by someone else; Mashirao has 0 fashion sense by himself.

Denki tears his eyes away before he can get caught drooling before he realizes Sero is nowhere to be seen. “That rat bastard.” Denki mutters under his breath. He takes off in the opposite direction he saw his ex at-

-only to run smack into him. How the hell- Denki chokes up when Mashirao looks at him. A thousand emotions roll through his head, and he can see the same ones run through those grey eyes; surprise, anger, sadness, relief .

“S-Sorry,” Denki mumbles. “I wasn't paying attention.”

“It's fine.” Mashirao says, and Denki nearly falls into tears at just his voice. “I-” The blonde pauses, rubbing the back of his head like he does when he's nervous or embarrassed. “H-How’ve you been, Denki?”

Denki blinks, a little stunned he’d still use his first name. Though he’s not at all upset about it. “I've been… good. Been good. You?” He wishes he didn't have a newly refreshed drink so he could excuse himself from this terribly awkward situation.

“Fine.” Mashirao nods once. They both fall silent but also don't move. Denki curses himself to hell and back for putting them both in this situation. But hey, if he wasn't sure already, he is now; he’s a complete moron. “Denki, if it's possible, I'd like…” Once again, he pauses. And Denki squeezes his eyes shut. He can't. He doesn't want to hear this now.

“Excuse me, I have to find someone.” He rushes out before he practically runs away. He doesn't physically run into anyone this time, luckily. But he does grab Mina on his way to the hallway.

“Dude, I was in the middle of flirt- why are you crying?” She asks, concern all over her face.

Denki, despite his best attempts, can’t keep the tears from falling. He wipes them from his face as quickly as they come but they just keep coming. “I- I spoke to Mashirao.” He chokes out.

“Woah, really? Like, talk talk, or just conversation talk.”

“Conversation? I guess? But I just… I can't even look at him without freaking the fuck out, what the fuck.” He wipes away more tears and then gulps down the rest of his drink.

“Hey, it’s okay, y’know.” Mina says. She sits on the floor and pulls Denki down to sit with her. “This shit, it happens. It's not all smooth-sailing and fairytale endings, like Midoriya and Todoroki. It's awkward, and it's shitty, and sometimes it just doesn't work out. But you've got to at least try, y’know? If you still want a relationship, anyway. And even if you don’t, you can at least tell him that.”

“Right,” Denki nods. “Only, again, I can't talk to him without freaking out and crying.”

“And? You think that's the worst side of you he's seen?”

“Hey…”

“I'm just saying. You still have feelings for him. And this is the guy that would carry you home when you short-circuited yourself, and would stay up with you for hours just to study. He'd never shut up about you when you weren't there. He did his best to keep up with you and your crazy bullshit, which is a task no one but myself can keep up with, by the way.”

“You're just making me feel worse.” Denki frowns.

“Sorry. My point is, I highly doubt he'd just let a love like that just up and leave without reason.” She shrugs. “It doesn't have to be over. Just tell him you regret it and go with it.”

“It’s not that easy. I just… up and left him one day. Like he’s going to want that mess back in his life. And,” Denki pauses, chewing his lip. “What if it happens again?”

“Then, I guess,” She shrugs. “You won’t make the same mistake again and talk to him about it. Like partners are supposed to do.”

Denki huffs and wipes the leftover tears off his face. “You suck, you know that.”

“Thanks.” Mina grins. “I'm gonna go back to flirting with that cute girl, now. You good?”

“Yeah.” Denki nods. “Yeah, I just… need a minute.”

“Cool.” Mina smiles. “Good luck, Kami.”

“Thanks.” He waves a little as she goes back to the party. He doesn't blame her for wanting to leave. Besides, he’s totally seriously got a lid on this situation now. Nevermind the tears drying on his face.

Mina’s helped get his head on straight. Or straighter, anyway. He knows what he has to and should do. So then why can't his stupid legs move? How come every time he tries to think of what to say, he feels sick all over again? This absolutely fucking sucks, and it sucks even more because he has no one to blame but himself.

He's so caught up in his thoughts he didn't notice the footsteps approaching. Not until the person asks, “Can I sit here?”

Denki doesn't need to raise his head to know who it is, but he does anyway. Mashirao is smiling gently at him; actually fucking smiling at this poor excuse for his ex-boyfriend. Denki doesn't have the heart to send him away. He nods.

Mashirao sits beside him, tail swaying placatingly behind him. Denki goes back to the haven in his arms, afraid if he looks too long he'll get choked up again.

“I’m not mad.” Mashirao says after a silent moment. “About anything. I just… want to know why, Denki. And if you’re okay. ”

Denki can’t help but laugh a little bit. “I up and left you three years ago with no explanation and you want to know if I'm okay?”

“Call me altruistic.” Mashirao shrugs. “Did I do something?”

Denki sighs. He supposes there’s no way out of this now. He unfolds his arm but stares ahead at his feet instead of the man beside him. “No, you didn't do anything. It's the opposite, in fact.”

“What do you-"

“There were some fans talking.” The words come pouring out his mouth, unbidden. He supposes one can only keep it all suppressed for so long. “About me and about how you… had to basically babysit me all of the time, especially after I'd been using my quirk too much. And it's not like I didn't already have stupid thoughts like that before but then it just, I don't know, fermented inside my head. And it was just, you never complained. Not once. Well, maybe when I didn't do my dishes or left the controllers out. But nothing else. And it was, you were… too good for me.” He mumbles the last bit out, struggling to keep more tears away. It's humiliating to even think these things. It's even worse to say it out loud.

“So, you ended it, because you thought you weren't good enough for me? Without even talking to me about it?”

“Yeah.” Denki laughs dryly, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes. “Worst boyfriend of the century award, right?”

“No, Denki. That… I should've noticed something was wrong. And I didn't, I didn't help to make you feel worthy either. I-"

“No, stop.” Denki grabs his wrist. “Stop it. I'm the one that left like that. That changed all my shit so you couldn't talk to me. I internalized it and decided on my own. You didn't- You can't feel responsible, damn it. You didn't do anything wrong.” Now Denki is really crying because the one outcome he did not expect was for Mashirao to blame himself, and that was infinitely times worse than being laughed at or abandoned.

Mashirao smiles. It's a little sad but mostly calming. He gently wipes the tears from Denki’s cheeks with his thumbs. “We were both at fault, then. I should've done more to make you feel better, and you shouldn't have internalized your feelings and left.”

“Okay.” Denki says slowly, his bottom lip sticking out. “I'm still worse though.”

Mashirao laughs softly. “Fair enough.” He stares at Denki for a few moments, just calmly wiping his face. Then he licks his lips nervously. “So… Will you take me back?”

Denki laughs. “You seriously want this mess back in your life? After that shit?”

There's a playful grin on Mashirao’s face as he leans in to kiss him swiftly but gently. “I do.” He half-whispers, forehead resting against Denki’s.

“Three years, and you’d just, have me back? Like that?”

“Denki, am I going to have to beg?”

“No, no.” Denki shakes his head and leans up to kiss him once. “You must be clinically insane , but I'd like to have another chance.”

“Good.” The smile on Mashirao’s face is brighter than Denki has seen all night, and he's not sure exactly how one night can go through so many ups and downs. But as Mashirao stands, taking Denki’s hand and pulling him with him, he can't find the heart to complain.