Chapter Text
Katsuki stands up straight, suddenly paying closer attention to the score board in front of him.
Todoroki Shouto.
Todoroki.
The first time he heard the Todoroki name, it was shouted excitedly, his childhood friend on the cusp of a new life. “Kacchan, I’m going to be Todoroki Izuku now! Isn’t that cool?!”
The last time Katsuki heard the Todoroki name, it was whispered over the dining table, with his mother sighing sadly and his father stroking her hair.
He pushed as much as a 10 years old kid could. It was to no avail. His parents left the house wearing black mourning clothes and came back with tear stained faces.
Now, Katsuki narrows his eyes at the alpha with two toned hair that bears the Todoroki name. Ordinarily, he would be sizing him up for getting such a high score on the quirk apprehension test that Aizawa dropped on them.
However, his mind is on other things: on old puzzles and curiosities of his childhood, on his best friend who suddenly stopped talking to him 5 years ago.
“You. Todoroki, right?”
The boy looks at him with a blank face, expression cold and empty. “Yes.”
“Do you know anyone named Izuku? Todoroki Izuku?”
He sees it. He’s done this enough times to be able to find these telling reactions. For a split second, the icy facade cracks to reveal recognition and alarmingly, the alpha tenses, his scent tinged with anxiety.
“No. No I don’t.”
You fucking liar, Katsuki thinks. For someone that gives off unapproachable and unflappable vibes, it seems pretty easy to rattle Todoroki. He doesn’t push it immediately though.
Todoroki Shouto is a new well of information. And if he’s being completely honest, he is his only lead. Katsuki will carefully suck him dry.
***
The rest of the school day passes by in a blur as Katsuki tries to get a handle on his rioting emotions. It’s been years… years since he’s properly thought and strategized on this. He manages to keep his emotions under control, going through the school day without any hiccups or alpha flare ups.
When he gets home, he beelines for his room, nearly sprinting from the urgency within. Dropping to his knees, he unearths the box containing all the information he has on Deku from under his bed. There is a thin film of dust over it from the last time he touched it: 3 years ago when he gave up in a fit of frustration and lack of information.
He also opens his computer to the file he’d been working on at the time. It’s a missing person’s profile, self made and detailing one Todoroki Izuku.
He is breathing carefully as he sifts through everything, trying to re-familiarize himself with information that he once knew like the back of his hands. Is he ashamed for stopping? Very. Deku was his best friend. How could he abandon him so easily?
The logical part of his brain reminds him that he did all he could. That he was just 12, he didn’t have the resources nor leads that are suddenly available now.
He brushes over the data his younger self compiled, fingers lightly brushing a picture of young Deku.
Name: Todoroki Izuku. Formerly known as Midoriya Izuku.
Quirk: None.
Gender: Male, Beta
Age last seen: 7 years old
Age last contacted: 10 years old
Family & related History: Single mother. Father abandoned family (presumed dead). Mother married Enji Todoroki at age 7. Moved away but kept in contact. Mother passed away at age 10. No further contact.
Katsuki winces. How much tragedy can one person experience in their life? He looks over his neat writing, turning a page to reveal all his previous attempts. He can remember them all so clearly even without his younger self detailing each thing with careful hands and poorly hidden tears.
///Flashback///
“What do you mean you’re moving away?!” Katsuki shouted, annoyed that Deku looked so over the moon.
“My new Dad has a really big house! He’s a hero, you know? Kacchan don’t worry, I asked Mom and she said we can visit and you can visit and we can play together all the time!” The beta pranced around the playground, green curls flipping about and eyes wide with excitement.
Katsuki hated it. He hated it so much. How could Deku move away?! They’re not supposed to be apart: they’re a pack, a team, best friends! He wanted to cry but instead he grabbed the smaller boy, bringing him close.
“But what if he’s mean? What if you never get to visit me? How will we be a hero team then?!”
Deku tilted his head to the side, bright smile never leaving his face. “That’s not possible Kacchan! We’re gonna be the greatest hero team!”
It made Katsuki want to cry harder. All his alpha senses were screaming at him, telling him not to let Deku go, Deku was his friend, his neighbor; Deku didn’t need a big house far away, Deku had him!
So, he pulled the beta closer to him, pressing the pre-pubescent scent glands on their necks together. It sent a wave of calmness over him as their scents mixed, Deku’s warm tea tree scent oil blending with his caramelized sugar one.
They stood there together for what felt like hours, enjoying the little peaceful bubble formed from their scenting. It was not their first time scenting, but it would be the last.
For Deku moved away the next day and Katsuki’s instincts were proven correct.
//////
Out of sight, out of mind they said. For most young kids, it was like that. But not Katsuki. Katsuki wanted to go see his friend, wanted to go drown in his scent and play with him in the forest. He asked... over and over he asked; the answers were always different but with the same meaning.
“Ah, Katsuki, they’re still getting settled into that neighborhood. Give Izuku a chance to settle in.”
“Aunty Inko said they’re going out this weekend. Maybe the next one?”
“Don’t you have homework Katsuki? When you’re done we’ll talk about it.”
The only saving grace was that he got the chance to chat with Deku over the phone. Hearing the beta’s soft voice soothed his inner alpha immensely.
He was always asking “Are you okay Deku?”
“Why can’t I come visit you?”
“Talk to me Deku! Ask you mom if I can come or if you can come!”
And then, even the calls started slowing down. Suddenly, Deku was hardly ever available to talk to him. Even when they spoke, the beta never spoke about his home life, choosing to ask about Katsuki’s instead. It was weird. Katsuki thought that Deku would be very chatty since he was with a real life hero. He was unprepared for the cautious pauses before a reply to his questions or for the outright ignorance of some others.
The only solid indication that set off all of Katsuki’s bullshit instincts was when he was 9. A new All Might action figure was released and Katsuki immediately acquired it. Once that was done, he harassed his mom to call Aunty Inko so he could speak with Deku.
It took a few weeks but he eventually got his way. Talking to Deku was always a struggle since he had to go through the adults. Why couldn’t Deku just have his own phone like other kids?
“Deku, have you played with the new All Might figure yet?! It’s so cool isn’t it? And it comes with a limited edition card.”
There was a thick silence over the line that confused Katsuki. This was Deku. Deku should be gushing over the new figure, telling Katsuki the manufacturing history and all the weird nerdy stuff that Deku always knew.
The beta’s voice was weak when he replied. “I-I didn’t know it came out.”
What.
How?
“What do you-”
And the dam broke, Deku’s voice sobbing and begging him.
“Kacchan, he doesn’t let me talk about All Might, or set up my posters or buy the toys. I hate it here, everyone hates me and he’s mean. Kacchan, I want to come back, I really want to come back.”
Katsuki hated it when Deku cried. It made his chest hurt and he always scented the boy non-stop till every pesky tear vanished and he could smile again. The fact that he couldn’t do that made his alpha restless. All his young instincts wanted Deku close by, sated and happy.
“Deku. Tell me where you live.” Katsuki commanded, making up his mind to bring his Deku back.
“I-I don’t even know. I haven’t left the compound in 2 years Kacchan. I-”
In the background, Katsuki heard a door slam open and Deku immediately changed his tone, sounding as if not a single part of the prior conversation happened.
“I love it here. Yes, you should come visit me. It’s really great here! The yard is traditional and everything smells… really nice.”
Katsuki had never felt so afraid in his life. The switch was too sudden, too sharp. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was scared of though. All he knew was, he had to get Deku back. He had to bring him back. He had to.
Later that day, he voiced his concerns to his parents.
“Honey, are you sure? Inko says they’re fine though. Endeavor is just a really private hero.”
“Deku is in trouble! I can feel it.”
His parents looked at each other worriedly before looking at him. “Okay, honey, we’ll ask her again. Try to relax.”
Later that week, his parents told him that Endeavor himself asked them to stop interfering with his wife’s private life. That there was nothing they could do. That they were sure Izuku would be okay, he was just adjusting.
Bullshit.
//////
Katsuki was determined. He did his research, followed the trail of breadcrumbs Deku left him from all their calls. Only a certain area of their city had the big traditional houses that Deku described and even fewer of them had the incredible shrubbery that produced fragrant flowers.
Katsuki didn’t know how many bells he rang, how many times he got turned away at the fancy gates and how many times his “Does Mr. Todoroki live here?” got answered with a firm “No”.
He didn’t care either. He was doing this for Deku. He would find Deku, and they would play together, and he would bring him back home with him. Clearly, the boy wasn’t having fun now and Katsuki’s alpha decided that his friend must always be happy so that was unacceptable.
Day after day, after school and before homework, he combed that district. Katsuki was headstrong and tenacious. Deku had to be there somewhere. Nothing else would be acceptable.
His stubbornness paid off for one day, he hit the jackpot. As he pushed the bell at the lavish front gate, a crisp voice over the speaker replied, “Todoroki Household. Identify yourself.”
Elation filled him and he nearly set off his quirk. In his most professional voice, he spoke, “My name is Bakugou Katsuki. I’m here to play with Todoroki.”
“Okay, please wait while we verify you.”
The All Might actions figures were burning a hole in his school bag. Soon. Soon he would be able to hold Deku’s hand and scent him to stop his tears. Then they would sneak back to Katsuki’s house and Katsuki would provide for him, like a good alpha would.
“Which Todoroki are you here for?”
The crisp voice knocked him out of his daydream.
“Izuku.”
There was a pause. “You have the wrong house. That person doesn’t live here. Goodbye.”
“What? No! It has to be here! Can you check again?!”
“Look kid, go home.”
No amount of pleading and raging could open the massive gates. Katsuki eyed the walls and wondered if he could somehow sneak in. They were high and lined with pointy bars but Katsuki was fairly certain he could manage somehow.
He tried. His quirk was barely powerful enough to propel him and he didn’t have enough strength in his shoulder to support his full weight. All he succeeded in doing was creating noisy explosions with a lot of smoke and little firepower.
As expected, he got caught and the security called the police on him after a thorough scolding. Riding in the back of a police car was a surreal experience. Even if they didn’t put him in cuffs, he still felt like a criminal for trying to break into someone’s home.
To his horror, his parents showed up at the station to pick him up. To call them angry was an understatement. His mother was furious while his father had a look of utter disappointment in his eyes.
“We raised him better than this.” His father assured the police officers in charge of the case. He was forced to provide a written apology for the Todoroki family before being grounded for 3 months. He was only permitted to go to school and come straight home: no camping trips, no arcades and definitely no phone privileges.
He didn’t get to talk to Deku until one odd day where, for once, the boy called first.
They had the usual conversation were Deku pretended to be okay while Katsuki tried to pry more information from him.
Until suddenly, Deku’s entire manner changed, voice serious as if someone just stepped out. “My mom is dying Kacchan. It’s his fault, it has to be. He killed his old wife too, you know? And his children are all so unhappy. Kacchan. If she dies, I don’t know what will happen to me. No one cares about me and-”
“I care about you Deku. If anything happens, I swear I’ll protect you.”
“Kacchan…” Deku’s voice was so sad and worn out, it pierced right through Katsuki’s heart. They just reached double digits. They shouldn’t be having this conversation.
Katsuki didn’t like where the signs were pointing. It made his chest heavy and he was suddenly terrified.
“Deku, call the police. Tell them everything. Maybe they’ll let you come live with me.”
There was silence. Then, “Oh wow, Kacchan, that’s so nice! I’m so happy you’re still getting top grades! I’m home-schooled now so I’m not really competing with anyone, hahaha.”
Katsuki hated how that fake cheer made him feel. He wanted to run to Deku’s side and do something. He wanted to figure out exactly what was wrong. It didn’t make sense. Why would anyone not want to love and protect Deku?
A few months later, Aunty Inko died and suddenly, everything felt more real.
//////
Her death kicked everything into high gear. He swore that he would protect Deku. How could he protect him if he didn’t know where he was?
He tried to visit the Todoroki household again, but got turned away. Sneaking in proved futile (again) and this time, his family was threatened with a lawsuit, and he was threatened with juvenile jail. He was grounded for half a year afterwards, his allowance cut down to the barest minimum. Calling child protection services yielded no results. He had no proof of any misconduct, he was basically 11, there was no point.
He threw himself into his hero training and research. What kind of hero couldn’t find his own best friend?! He followed Endeavor’s career ruthlessly, combed through everything with a fine toothpick. He went to the city registry and tried to access birth, death and marriage records (he got turned away, but he snuck in and got caught anyways). The security guard let him off with a warning but Katsuki was quickly understanding that the law wasn’t going to help him find Deku. Nevertheless, he persisted.
Before he knew it, over a year had passed and he had accomplished nothing. He had nothing. No Deku, no proof that Deku wasn’t happy, no way to get in touch with Deku. Nothing. He called the police and tried to file a missing person’s report. He got scolded for trying to play pranks on the police. Then, his previous misdemeanors were brought up and his future as a hero was threatened.
Katsuki couldn’t think of anything he hadn’t tried. Carefully, he took notes, gathered all his ‘evidence’, wrote down everything he could remember from his and Deku’s conversations… he did everything but everywhere around him, he found insurmountable walls.
He failed. He couldn’t keep his promise and protect Deku. It hurt. And he cried so hard. He started getting very aggressive in school, even beyond the usual alpha posturing.
He soon got suspended for starting a playground brawl that ended up with several other little alphas with broken bones. He was trying to prove he was the best alpha even though he couldn’t protect his pack.
When the guidance counsellor poked at his flimsy walls, he tried to explain his search for Deku to her. The reaction was immediate. His parents were called into the school: they had found the source of his problems.
They were wrong. Caring about Deku wasn’t a problem. Wanting to be near him wasn’t unnatural. Desiring his safety and comfort was something a good alpha would do. Who had the right to decide that Katsuki caring about a beta like this was strange?
His parents tried to pull every trick in the book to get him to stop his obsessive search. They tried to get him to see ‘reason’. To stop insulting Inko’s memory. To consider the fact that Endeavor has already threatened their family with a lawsuit if he keeps on pursuing this. They might as well have been speaking to the walls.
“Izuku is fine. Did you ever consider that he doesn’t want to be friends with you anymore?”
Bullshit. Deku was his best friend.
But there was only so much Katsuki could do. Spending his days poring over the research provided no new information. He felt completely inadequate and unworthy. He was a failure, couldn’t even protect his beta.
So one day, in a fit of frustrated rage, he shoved all his research into a box and banished it under his bed. He had to become a hero, someone even stronger than Endeavor so that he would be able to find his beta, Deku. A hero wouldn’t sit down and let his life pass by.
So, Katsuki shifted his priorities and the hunt for Deku was waylaid.
///End of Flashback///
***
Todoroki is definitely not the average kid.
The alpha has too much skill with his ice and fire quirks, although he seems a bit reluctant or perhaps vengeful when he uses the fire one. He moves like he has been trained all his life and that sets off a lot of questions in Katsuki’s mind.
Katsuki doesn’t truly pursue the answers to those questions. He has already created his master plan to get Deku back. His long term goal is to get his beta back within his reach. In order to achieve that, he has formulated a series of short term goals to make him feel like he’s making progress.
The current short term goal is to befriend Todoroki. Why? He has to get into the Todoroki household, sneak around and perhaps find out where they’re hiding Deku. they are his closest link… his only lead actually. It that doesn’t pan out, Katsuki isn’t sure what would work.
It truly makes no sense to him. Why marry Aunty Inko, only to kill her off? Why keep a quirkless beta hidden away? What value does Deku have that the Todorokis would go as far as threatening lawsuits to keep Katsuki away?
He doesn’t know. He’d like to find out if it gives him a clue about finding where they’re keeping Deku. He would honestly do anything if it means he can protect Deku like he foolishly promised. He would even go out of his way to speak to the other young alpha.
The snag is: Todoroki is already suspicious of him.
Perhaps being so upfront with him on the first day wasn’t a good idea. The alpha avoids Katsuki like he’s got rabies and simply ignores him when he tries to bring up casual conversation.
It’s really frustrating. It feels like he is twelve all over again, facing walls all around except this wall is befriending another alpha.
He doesn’t truly understand how he will forge a friendship with him. According to the internet, two alphas can be friends if they have common interests or they work together constantly. Katsuki doubts he will ever have a common interest with Todoroki though, so he tries to be around the other alpha as much as he can in a non-creepy way.
Todoroki barely interacts with anyone else in the class either, so it’s not like it’s just him. He takes that as consolation, still trying to find any opportunity to befriend him if the opportunity presents itself.
The opportunity presents itself, gift wrapped and tied with a pretty bow: USJ.
***
(a/n: I will not be rewriting the entire USJ arc for this. If I don’t mention it, assume it proceeded as canon.)
There is steam and dust billowing around the central plaza as Katsuki stares at the Nomu-shaped hole in the dome ceiling. All Might. The man is such a powerhouse, a true hero who can win against anything. His heart is still racing and breath still short from watching the incredible battle.
His eyes travel to the remaining villains as they cower away from All Might’s stern form.
The one with hands all over starts to sprint towards All Might’s form and he tenses up. However, that isn’t the issue. It’s the Mist fucker. The guy is trying to slip in behind Hands.
Katsuki’s mind flashes to how the Nomu and the Mist nearly succeeded in ripping All Might apart. On his own, the Mist guy is nothing but combined with others, his power seems to multiply exponentially. Without Todoroki’s quick reaction, Katsuki isn’t sure how All Might would have gotten out of that pinch. It’s his turn to look out for his hero.
So, Katsuki takes action, blasting forward, eyes set on the Mist guy. From the corner of his eyes, he can see Todoroki moving as well. Fucking killjoy.
Gunshots ring out, startling him over the sound of his explosions. The Mist fucker acts fast, managing to dodge Katsuki’s flying body and collect Hands at the same time. They warp away quickly and suddenly, there is a huge burst of steam.
Katsuki sees it. He’s not fucking blind and he’s not even drunk or anything, but he doesn’t believe his eyes. All Might…
Beside him, Todoroki is also staring, eyes wide as dinner plates.
From across the plaza, Kirishima tries to move to them but a cement wall is formed, suddenly cutting All Might out of their line of sight.
“Move to the exit. We will handle it from here.” Cementoss says, pointing in the entrance direction.
Katsuki feels shaken. He was okay fighting villains, blasting out explosions like he was born to do… but the sight of All Might as an emaciated old man… It’s chilling.
***
“Oi, Half and Half. Come with me.” Katsuki growls, indicating the empty hallway behind him..
The other alpha bristled at the clearly commanding tone. He ignores Katsuki and continues his journey forward.
“I saw it too, you know. You’re not fucking crazy. Or we’re both fucking crazy.”
That stops Todoroki in his tracks. The boy tilts his head, before turning to face Katsuki.
“By it… you mean All Might, right?” His voice is quiet. Katsuki feels his heart rate pickup with a feeling he can’t place. He hasn’t been able to get All Might’s form out of his head and the prospect of talking about it with someone else has him a bit enthusiastic.
Katsuki grunts in reply and indicates the empty hallway behind him again. This time, Todoroki follows.
They end up in a random restroom. Katsuki kicks in each stall door to ensure they’re alone. The sound of the doors smacking against the walls soothes something in him as he prepares his mind for what they’re about to discuss.
“So… what the fuck do you think that was?” Katsuki asks, once he is satisfied with their privacy.
Clear grey and piercing blue eyes regard him with a calculating gaze. “What do you think it was?”
Katsuki grits his teeth. So Todoroki knows how to play the information game. It’s not like Katsuki has anything to hide about this topic but he wants to know what’s going on in Todoroki’s icyhot brain.
“Clearly, All Might is sick. Those crappy villains kept yapping about him being weaker or some shit. They were right.”
Todoroki keeps quiet for a while before speaking. “True. They seemed certain they could take him. And after seeing him like that, I’m not sure they’re wrong anymore.”
“Shit, even I could take him like that. He looked like he’d crumble with the next breeze.”
Todoroki gives him a deadpan look. “Bakugou, I highly doubt that.”
“HAH?!”
“Shut up. He might be sick but he’s the Symbol of Peace for a reason.”
Katsuki wants to rage at Todoroki for speaking so dismissively to him. He can feel his body subtly releasing aggressive pheromones and he tries to stop it. This isn’t the time, not the place.
“How long… how long has he been like this? Do you think anyone else knows?” He asks instead.
“And how the hell am I supposed to know that?”
“You’re Endeavor’s son. Doesn’t your dad tell you shit? Father-son bonding and all.”
The look Todoroki gives him is so full of rage and disgust, Katsuki isn’t sure how to react. It’s startling, a complete change from the icy disdain of before. Instinctively, he snarls, releasing his own pheromones to compete with the other alpha’s. Todoroki’s scent is usually a crisp pine. Now, it reeks of burning pine cones, reminding Katsuki of all the bonfires he makes while mountain climbing with his parents or solo.
“Don’t talk about that man!” Todoroki hisses.
“What’s the big deal? Just fucking ask him.” His own mounting rage makes it hard for him to interpret what’s right in front of him.
“Don’t talk about what you don’t know Bakugou. It makes you look like a fucking idiot.” Todoroki slams a flaming fist against the mirror. It splinters and cracks, falling to pieces and littering the air with a film of dust.
Katsuki’s hands spark up with his quirk but it quickly dies down when he registers the look on Todoroki’s face. The boy is staring at the shattered silver glass with an expression Katsuki has never seen on him before, hand clutched to his chest. It is horror, fear and a desperate sort of regret.
His pine scent has never been easier to read. There is nothing as strange nor as startling as a distressed alpha’s scent.
“Oi,” Katsuki starts, taking a step towards him. His school shoes crunch the broken glass and Todoroki’s wild eyes turn to him. It’s like shutters closing over a window. The boy’s expression flattens instantly and he straightens from the protective curl he’d been in.
“I have to go.” The boy stalks away, not even wincing in pain from his bleeding hand. Katsuki watches him go. There is something jarringly familiar about the sudden shift in emotions.
Todoroki…
Perhaps, Deku isn’t the only Todoroki in need of help.