Chapter Text
Realistically this conversation wouldn’t have played out while Todoroki was still in high school, at least, in a perfect world. But the world wasn’t perfect, so here he was having this conversation.
“You will bring a plus one to the Gala tomorrow night. You will come.” His father stated, or more-or-less, demanded.
And logically, realistically, truthfully... Todoroki could have done that. He could have.
Any number of girls from Class 1-A alone would have sufficed. Yaoyorozu with her high class and delicate nature would have fit right in; she’d probably been to enough of these things already. Uraraka with her bubbly personality and sweet mannerisms would have sweep even Todoroki’s father off his feet. Maybe even Jiro, who probably would hate the idea of going just as much as Todoroki did and would be great company personality wise.
But his father said nothing about the ‘plus one’ being a girl.
“You want me to bring someone... to a party tomorrow?” Todoroki clarified over the dinner that he did not want to be having with his family right now. He mentally apologized to his siblings, but frankly, nobody wanted to sit at this table with their father at the head.
“That goes for all of you actually. I want to make a good impression on my children’s future partners. The people you bring won’t be set in stone, of course, but you must show the others that you’re not willing to settle with just anyone.” His father huffed. “I expect you, Shoto, to bring a fellow classmate, someone nice from one of those fights I saw during the competition not too long ago.”
“So... anyone?” Todoroki asked again. He wanted the wording to be correct when he got to shove it all in his father’s face the night of the party.
“Yes, for once I’ll respect your decision.”
The comment left a bitter taste in the boy’s mouth, but he pushed it down with his dinner. Not bothering to ask any further questions to specify who and who not to bring.
After dinner he quickly had to gather a tux (or two) to bring back to the dorms because he would not have time to come home before the party. It was a blessing in disguise for what the youngest Todoroki had in mind.
~•*•~
“Bakugo, a word?” Todoroki rushed to the blond’s seat after class, practically trapping him like a wild animal.
The shorter didn’t look to happy about. He didn’t shove past him- which was a good sign- and simply clicked his tongue with a quick “Yeah?”
Todoroki made a gesture for the other to follow, not wanting the others to overhear his plans.
The pair stepped into the halls and Bakugo already looked like his patience was dwindling the second his feet hit the floor.
“Alright, what, Halfie?”
Todoroki ignored the name calling and found some willpower to still gently smile. Bakugo’s face quickly flashed a look of both concern and anger, obviously not liking the implications of the not-so-sweet smile.
“Are you perhaps free tonight?” He asked, not giving anything away.
The blond shrugged, hoisting his bag’s strap higher up on his shoulder. “Mmm, basically. Why? Yah need me for something?”
Todoroki liked that response. “Would you be willing to join me? For a night out, that is.”
Bakugo looked like he was about to choke. “Like ugh- like a date?” He snapped, face turning red from either anger or embarrassment.
Todoroki knew he was going to have to act quick if he wanted to have Bakugo come with him. Without the blond his entire plan wasn’t going to work in the way he wanted. Bakugo was the first and only option for this.
“You can call it whatever you want, but it’s more of a favor than anything.”
That got Bakugo’s attention. He simmered down from embarrassing anger, to a puzzled look. “‘Ight, cut to the chase, Moron. What do you want and what do I get out of if.” He crossed his arms.
“I’m going to be frank with you. There’s a party tonight that I don’t want to go to.” Bakugo looked even more confused. “It’s my father’s doing.”
“Ah.” The other nodded in understanding.
“I have to go- if I didn’t I would never hear the end of it, and that’s not what I want.”
“Soooo, what? You wanna take me?” Bakugo asked, the furrow in his brow seemed to deepen the more Todoroki explained himself.
“Precisely.”
Bakugo squinted, like what the other just said was pure nonsense. “Why?” He asked boldly. “You don’t wanna take legit anyone else to this stupid fucking party? They all already have plans or some shit?”
“No, you were my first choice.”
Bakugo sighed. “Ok, what the fuck, why?”
“I’m gay.”
The blond stared for a moment, blinking slowly, trying to take in the words that just exited the other’s mouth.
“I-.... ok? And?” Bakugo shook his head like that still didn’t matter in the slightest.
“My father is expecting a woman to accompany me. I’ve brought up not liking woman a few times when he’s hinted about arranged marriages, I think he brushed it off as me not liking those woman. I’m tired of it. I want the idea of me being a single, straight bachelor to leave everyone’s minds for good.” Todoroki ran his fingers though his hair. “At this point, I’m just desperate for any reason to stop the ideas of marriage going though my father’s head. I want to live my own life, not the one he expects from me.”
Bakugo pursed his lips. He was well informed of the other’s past; overheard too much of something he probably wasn’t supposed to. And yeah, that was Bakugo’s fault for standing there, listing to the whole thing in the first place. Even if it was just a little bit bad to ease drop, Bakugo at least had some background information of his own that Todoroki most certainly would not supply for his reasoning. Endeavor was a piece of shit. That much was enough for Bakugo to piece together, even if he didn’t have Todoroki’s entire depressing childhood narrative to go off of.
Bakugo wasn’t an idiot either, he could see why bringing a man- maybe not Bakugo himself- but a man regardless because there would be no doubt in the public mind that Todoroki would want to be in a relationship with a woman. And although times have changed, Bakugo was certain some of those high class family’s were still stuck in the Stone Age. If only an handful of those snooty bitches would act the way Bakugo believed they would, then there was no doubt in his mind that they’d want nothing to do with Shoto Todoroki after his gay unveiling at such a high class party.
It might not be the most fleshed out plan but Bakugo could appreciate giving old assholes a little riling up. Chaos was just part of the blond’s brand at this point.
And that’s when it hit him.
“Wait, you just want me because I’m a stereotypical asshole or some shit. You don’t even want me because I am a guy, do you? You just want some rebellious teenager bullshit labeled on you. Well fuck off then, your plan isn’t going to work out if that’s the route you’re taking.” Bakugo brushed him off, turning on his heels to begin walking back to the dorms.
Todoroki grasped his arm, halting him. “No wait! This isn’t to get back at my father for marriage proposals. I am legitimately gay and I have no intention for this to come off as me rebelling against my father. I want everyone to know, including my father, that this is my choice and there’s no changing it. He can’t say no when there’s a room full of people there. He can’t act out in front of everyone there. If he does everyone will know, there’s no other way for the information to be cemented in both his and the public’s heads.” He breathed, holding on tightly to Bakugo’s wrist.
If Todoroki couldn’t do it now he was certain he’d be at least engaged by the end of high school. No joke about it. No matter how much kicking and screaming he did it would all be in vain. His father would find someway to weasel him into some marriage contract. He didn’t want that and the only way to not have that was to completely take Shoto Todoroki off the market.
“So what, you tell a few people you’re gay and word spreads. Then what, huh? You can’t make this a one time thing. You have to prove it, make it certain that is isn’t just some faze because your daddy wants to play matchmaker. You have to be willing to let everyone know what this means, got that?” Bakugo let Todoroki keep a hold of his wrist. “You realize that some people aren’t too nice about this shit, right?”
“I’m aware.” Todoroki gave a hard nod.
“You know that some assholes aren’t gonna like a Pro Hero’s prodigy son being gay, you know that?”
“I’m all too familiar.”
Bakugo shifted his weight between legs. “You’re probably going to be fighting this battle your whole life.” He spike rather softly, or at least how soft the blond’s husky voice would allow him.
“Isn’t that part of being a Hero?” Todoroki offered a small smile, releasing the blond’s wrist.
He nodded back with a smirk. “Yeah, I like the way you think, Halfie.”
A new unspoken friendship had almost immediately blossomed between the two; Todoroki could practically feel it. It could be just because they both mutually had agreed upon a common goal- that perfect world Todoroki had thought so highly about- just something about the conversation lit the pit of the boy’s stomach into a comforting warmth.
Something just seemed so right with the fact that Katsuki had to double-triple check that Shoto was actually willing to go through with all of this. The name calling, the stigma’s, maybe even some real, physical fights. That all would be worth it to allow himself to be free and who he really wanted to be.
A deep, dark part of Todoroki was grateful that some would see this as ‘bad news’. He’d wish for nothing more than for all people to accept gay marriage and everything in between. But a really small (and disgusting) part of him was almost glad that people wouldn’t want to be around the family anymore because he was gay. And yeah, that was probably only the tiny part of him that wanted to get revenge on his father. Sorry Bakugo, this might just be a tiny bit of a revenge plot. At least after he comes out everyone’s true colors will show, that’s most certainly a plus.
“So wait.” Bakugo pulled Todoroki out of his day dream. “You never did answer why me? And what do I get out of this?!”
Maybe it was juvenile to think that Bakugo could look at ease for more than a second. Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers. He spouses it really is only fair to repay the blond for helping him out with such a big task, it’s only right.
“I’m going to be blunt, I overheard your group of friends mention your preferences in partners.”
The blond rolled his eyes, he didn’t seem too mad about the information floating around... unlike others. He didn’t even seem half bothered with Todoroki, or anyone knowing. That was remotely a good sign.
“Yeah, alright, you got me. That still doesn’t answer the last part though.” He sighed.
Todoroki fixes his posture, this part was important. “I want you to know how important this will be for me, I’m asking you because I don’t feel comfortable asking others to get involved when their stories can be misconstrued. I want this to be as authentic as possible. You and I both being gay is very important for this to work. Our statement needs to hold some water if I am to have people fully believe me. I’m sure you’d want the same?”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” The other shrugged. “No wonder you didn’t ask Deku. He’s been drooling over Floaty Bitch since day fucking one.”
Todoroki had to chuckle at that. “See you understand. And of course, for compensation of your time, and for the fact that you too will be wrapped in my drama, I’m willing to do anything.”
“Anything?” Bakugo cocks a brow at that part.
He jolts. “Within reason, but yes, I will do practically anything you ask me to do... be it embarrassing and all.” Todoroki internally cringed at the thought of it.
Bakugo tsk’d. “Don’t worry, idiot. I’m not gonna have you streaking down that halls or make you say something stupid during class. Who the fuck do you take me for?”
“Well, that’s at least a relief.” He smiled. “For a second I was worried.”
“Yeah, I could tell.” Bakugo smirked. “I don’t have anything yet, but yeah, that’s fine.”
Shoto practically bounced where he stood. “Wait, you’ll actually do it? Are you certain?”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t make a big deal, you owe me one?”
“Yes, I’ll most certainly owe you one.”
“Alright, lets do it then.”
Again, something about the warm air blowing through the opened windows of the school and the breeze that carried the smell of the flora from outdoors- or maybe it was the warm glow from the late afternoon sun slowly settling- or rather the remote silence settling through the after hours of class... but something about this moment was truly poetic. Todoroki wishes he could frame this moment; just take a photo to look back on because God only knows tonight would lead to a night of history he’d forever look back on. Even though things might go bad, truthfully Shoto was going in this blind, but even if things did go wrong, something could be said about how safe he felt knowing Katsuki was going to be right with him the whole time.
He’s not sure that whatever Bakugo asks for in return will ever make up for what he’s doing for Todoroki tonight. This is months upon years of self-deprecative worry and maybe just a pinch of internalized homophobia that would all be blasted open by Blasty McSlodes himself. Truly a fitting name.
With a new found confidence in his step, the two set off to Todoroki’s room to get ready for the Gala. This would truly be a night to remember.