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Katsuki didn’t always hate winter. When he was a kid, he enjoyed going out, having snow fights, building the tallest snowmen, and ice-skating every now and then. He was always sensitive to the cold, but even after his quirk manifested it wasn’t something layers upon layers of sweaters couldn’t fix. It wasn’t until he realised the cold was detrimental to his quirk that he began loathing it.
And speaking of cold, it was fucking freezing out here.
Winter was full in storm, and Christmas was just around the corner. The bunch of morons he begrudgingly calls friends now had suggested going shopping for gifts, and what was supposed to be a quick visit to the mall, suddenly became a class excursion to the local fair.
Somehow, and Bakugou cannot find any other explanation but him mellowing down after two years of knowing the idiots (though he'll never admit that), they had convinced him of going out with them.
Mina would say that it was because Todoroki had asked him to come along, but he’ll admit to that even less so. He doesn’t waste time asking himself how she found out. Apparently, everyone had been pretty aware of the massive crush he harboured for the pretty bastard before even he figured it out. The only person who doesn’t seem to know, is the bastard himself. A good thing, too, because Todoroki doesn't seem to have any other interest in him beyond the friendship he pushed for over the years, and as much as it pains him, he’d rather not lose that because of his stupid feelings.
But even if Mina’s assumption had been right, he still has no intentions of staying in this place for much longer. He felt a shudder and took another sip of the hot coffee he was drinking. Fuck, was it cold. He tried to get closer to the heater he was standing next to, and glanced around in the hope of escaping before anyone tries to stop him; He could see all his classmates roaming around, some going into the candy stores, other had gone to the sleigh rides, but most of them were queueing to get into the ice rink.
He saw everyone tying their boots, and making their way inside. Most of them were wobbling around, waving their arms or holding onto something to stop from falling. Some seemed very skilled, like Ashido — no surprise there. Others fell immediately on their asses, like Kaminari —no surprise there either. What did surprise him, though, was seeing the one person he thought would be skating circles around everyone watching his friends with that cute dumb look of confusion on his face from outside of the rink.
He must have felt Bakugou’s own confused eyes on him, because he turned to look at him and started making his way toward where he was standing.
“You’re not trying to flee yet?” asked Todoroki once he reached his side, donning that stupid smirk and damn it, the owners of this stall should buy a new heater because it felt like nothing compared to how warm Todoroki was making him feel by just standing next to him. Was he using his quirk? He must be using it.
I don’t flee from anything, Half-and-Half,” He grumbled, shaking the cup he was holding in his hands, trying to check how much coffee he had left, “Why aren’t you skating with the rest? I thought Elsa of all people would’ve loved to be down there,” he mocked, sipping the last of his coffee.
“I told you to stop calling me that,” said Todoroki, rolling his eyes, “And it looks fun, but I don’t really know how to do that.”
Wait, what? Surely he heard wrong, although he doesn’t think his explosions have affected his hearing that much yet.
“Come again?”
“I don’t know how to ice skate,” Responded Todoroki, shrugging his shoulders, as if it was nothing. As if he hadn’t just said the stupidest, most ironic thing Bakugou has heard in his life.
“You mean to tell me,” he said slowly, making sure the candy cane bastard understood every word he was saying, "that you, YOU don’t know how to ice skate? You with the ice quirk? You literally fight while moving on ice?!” He probably sounds hysterical by now, but it doesn’t matter. He needs to get his frustration across.
“I don’t really skate through it, though. I just slide,” He explained, mimicking with his fingers the movement his legs make.
This is it. This is where his heart had decided to put his affections in.
“Agh, Todoroki, give me a fucking break!” Exclaimed Bakugou.
“Well, I never really—” he said, stopping to thank the person dressed with the fair’s jacket who came to give both a flyer about some light show they’ll have in a couple of minutes, “I never really got the chance to try,” He concluded, grabbing Bakugou’s hand to take the crumpled paper cup in a manner that would normally make his heart explode, where it not for the fact that he was too distracted thinking of what he had just heard, “Where did you buy this? I want one, too.”
He pointed at the coffee shop, and Todoroki bolted before he could get another word in.
He should be laughing, really. The guy who can create ice and ska—slide on it to move through both land and air, didn’t know how to skate! It should be funny. Just one more thing to add to the walking paradox that was the Icy-Hot bastard, but it was making feel kind of sad instead.
He felt angry, too. Todoroki was never allowed to try using his quirk to do something fun, that was more like it.
At what time does this park close again? Probably after the show, he thought, looking at the flyer they were given earlier. Good. He still has like an hour and a half, at least.
He raised his head to look for that bicoloured hair, but only found Kirishima’s instead.
“Hey, man! I thought I saw Todoroki with you,” said his friend with a smirk, elbowing his side. Bakugou pointed with his thumb over his shoulders. He could see the rest of his classmates leaving the rink and making their way toward the centre of the park, “Anyway, we are gonna go watch the show. Catch up with us once he comes back!” He yelled, waving at him and running up to the others.
Yeah, right. He’s not going to waste his time watching some buildings light up. He was on a mission now.
Todoroki returned from the shop just on time, holding what seemed to be one of those cold strawberry monstrosities he enjoys so much. Only he would ask for something like that during this fucking weather, he thought as he made his way toward him.
“Where did everyone go?” He asked, looking around.
“To watch the show. Let’s go,” Said Bakugou before grabbing Todoroki's arm that was not holding his drink, and pulling him along.
“I think we’re going to wrong way,” Commented Todoroki, but continued following Bakugou, letting himself be dragged to wherever the blond wanted.
They stopped once they reached their destination, and Todoroki looked puzzled as Bakugou asked for two pairs of boots, and paid for an hour on the rink.
“I told you I don’t know how to do it, ” Said Todoroki as Bakugou handed him his boots and took away his strawberry abomination.
“Look, there’s just so much irony I can take. The first lesson is free. You’ll have to pay me for the rest.”
Todoroki’s expression looked surprised for a split second, before he smirked the same way he does when Bakugou challenges him in battle.
“I thought you hated this.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do it. We’re fixing this,” Said the blond while tying his own boots. It’s true that he hasn’t done this in a while, but it’s got to be the same principle as riding a bicycle.
Bakugou made his way inside, feeling a bit unstable at first, but regaining his balance once he took a couple of steps on the ice. Todoroki, on the other hand, was holding onto the rail, his legs trembling, hitting the ice with the tips of the blades, chipping it off with each step he took. He was putting up a brave face, though he seemed very lost too. Bakugou couldn’t help but smile. The bastard looked very dumb, but very cute at the same time.
“All right, Icy-Hot, make your way over here,” He skated close to where Todoroki was standing, but not close enough. And Todoroki, this improved version who doesn't back down from a challenge that he likes so much, let go of the rail, and tried to move over to where he was standing. Bakugou watched in mirth, how he moved with his arms outstretched and small steps. His first steps were steady, though little by little, his body would bend a bit more with every new step until he almost fell on his face had he not put his hands in front of him on time.
“Don’t laugh!” he said, trying to stand up, “I’m sure you weren’t that good your first time, either”.
“Mmm, as far as I recall, I didn’t fall the first time my old-man taught me how to skate,” He said as he reached out his hand to help the other stand up. He felt Todoroki holding his hand tightly, especially after he starting letting go, “Let go of my hand, Half-and-Half. You ain’t learning shit like that.”
“I just can’t… seem… to keep my balance with these things.”
“Try to bend your knees. It’ll help with that,” Bakugou started explaining, demonstrating how to do it. Todoroki wobbled his arms, as he tried to copy him, "Don’t separate your feet that much! Try to keep one just slightly in front of the other as you move. Slightly, Todoroki! I said slightly!” He yelled as Todoroki fell on his belly and slid a couple of metres away.
He skated toward Todoroki, laughing his ass off. Really, watching Todoroki, who’s normally so skilful, who moves so gracefully on the ice on the regular, lying spread eagle with his long limbs on what was supposed to be his element, face first, was both funny as it was cruel.
“You seriously can’t be that bad at this, Icy-Hot,” Said the blond as he crouched in front of him.
“You’re the one who’s a terrible teacher,” Todoroki refused to look him in the eye.
“You didn’t hurt your pretty face now, did ya?” He might have been trying to escape his eyes, but he couldn’t really hide the pout and the blush he was sporting, which did things to Katsuki’s heart, but it was probably out of the embarrassment of failing at something he should be good at, rather than because of his comment, “Honestly,” he said as he reached for Todoroki’s hand, “It can’t be that different from what you normally do.”
“My boots have pikes, for starters. Not blades.”
“Didn’t take you for one to resort to excuses,” Smirked the shorter one after hauling the other up.
“No. That’s you when we’re having this weather,” Responded Todoroki with a teasing smile, and no matter how pretty and charming he looked, he wasn’t going to take any of that slander.
“Asshole. See if you can get yourself outta here, then,” He said smirking, letting the other’s hands go, though Todoroki latched onto him almost immediately.
“I was just kidding. Don’t leave. You promised me an entire free lesson.”
“I didn’t promise shit,” He grumbled, but made no further attempts to leave. He blushed when he realised Todoroki made no attempts to let go of his hands either, but he could blame that on the cold, thankfully, “Let’s give this one last try.”
He turned his body and started moving. He wasn’t as good skating backwards, but he could pull Todoroki along this way. Their movement was probably clunky, but Todoroki was smiling and holding his hands tightly, so it didn’t matter. They had the rink pretty much to themselves, and for a minute he felt like he was in one of those romcoms the idiot brigade made him watch all the time, but for once he didn’t care. He was smiling, too.
Besides, when will he get a chance like this again?
“Okay, I think I want to try on my own again,” Said Todoroki after a few laps around the rink.
“Fine. Try to finish at least one lap without falling on your ass,” He said, letting go of the other. “Remember to keep your feet turned out.”
He watched as Todoroki skated in front of him. He wasn’t great by any means, but he was doing so much better now than when they started. Nothing a little practice couldn’t fix. Ice was really the bastard’s element. It was honestly unfair that he hadn’t tried this before, and Bakugou felt the both of them had righted a wrong in the universe.
“Hey!” Yelled the guy in charge of the rink, “you guys have only five minutes left!”
Todoroki started making his way toward him, a bit too fast, actually.
“Hey, Todoroki, stop!”
“You didn’t tell me how!” he said as he went back to his wobbling.
“Drag one of your foot behind the other. Wait, no! Why the fuck are you going faster?!”
Todoroki tried to put his arms out in front of him, but it was too late. He crashed right into Bakugou, sending the two of them down and sliding across the ice.
His backside hurt like a motherfucker. And lying on the ice was making the cold creep into his already hurt bones. Todoroki instead, had his head resting on his chest, his body trembling.
“Hey, Icy-Hot, are you okay?” He asked worriedly. The last thing he wanted was to make the other cry. But Todoroki just started laughing as he pushed his arms up to raise half of his body, and when he lifted his face, Bakugou could see that pretty smile and the mirthful look in his eyes full on display.
“I told you, you’re a terrible teacher.”
He felt warm all over, and this time he didn’t think the taller one was using his quirk.
“Get off me, bastard, you’re heavy,” He said, trying to push the other away, but he wouldn't budge. Todoroki’s laugh had died down, but the content look on his face still remained. He couldn’t stop staring. It was quite a sight to behold, the look of genuine happiness lighting up the otherʼs face, so much so, that the light show they had over there could not compare.
“I can’t believe I hadn’t done this before. I had fun, thank you,” He was looking at Bakugou with such sweet eyes, and such a bright smile, and Katsuki couldn’t help but fix his own eyes on Todoroki’s pretty face and pink lips and oh, fuck, things were getting dangerous. But also, maybe this was the moment he needed. It wouldn’t be difficult, not in this position. He could always apologise later for his audacity, “If you’re going to keep staring at my mouth, you can just kiss me, you know?”
He pushed Todoroki off, and stood up fast, wobbling a bit himself, but he thinks he’s allowed to do that after what he just heard.
“What did you say?”
“Was I wrong?” he asked, not meeting his eyes once again, though he could still see his face perfectly clear. Gone was the smile and instead it was replaced by a sad and confused look, “Uraraka said that you liked me, and I’ve been waiting for you to say something, but you haven’t, and so today… I thought… I apologise for assuming. It won’t happen again.” He said, and used his quirk to help steady himself.
“Wait,” he said, grabbing Todoroki’s elbow before he got too far, “You like me too?” He asked incredulous, and Todoroki nodded. All this time thinking he could lose their friendship that he has come to treasure so much, too afraid to do something, and turns out the bastard was waiting for him to make a move, “How was I supposed to know?!”
“I thought I was being very obvious?”
Bakugou thinks of their day, the blushes, the teasing, the fact that he could’ve used his quirk at any given moment but preferred to hold onto Katsuki’s hands. Ha. Maybe a little.
But before he could continue questioning himself, Todoroki gave a decisive little sigh, dragged him by the arm he was being held with, and kissed him squarely on the mouth. Bakugou had been too surprised at first, but soon kissed him back with so much intensity that it sent both flying to the floor once again.
His knees hurt this time, and the ice felt incredibly cold sneaking into his gloves, but he was laughing this time, too. Annoyed at being taken down twice in less than five minutes, but he was extremely content to really care about it. Todoroki, the cheeky bastard, was smiling too, slithering his arms around Bakugou’s neck to pull him down, and Katsuki braced his body with one hand, and cupped his face with the other before he kissed him again in a way that would leave no doubt of what he felt for this idiot.
Todoroki made a pleased little sound in the back of his throat, opened his mouth a bit wider, and Katsuki could still taste the faint flavour of the strawberry aberration he had been drinking earlier, but Todoroki’s lips were just as sweet, and he could honestly get addicted to this.
“Hey guys, your time is ov— Hey! No making out on the rink! Third time this week, seriously…”
They separated when they heard the guy leaving, and both made their way out with furious blushes when they returned the equipment. They were just leaving the stall when they saw their class representative approaching.
“I’ve been looking for you guys! The show was over a couple of minutes ago. Everyone’s waiting at the entrance to get back to the dorms,” Chastised Iida.
They followed their classmate out, and once he felt that four-eyes wasn’t paying attention to them anymore, Todoroki grabbed his hand again, reminding Bakugou that he hadn’t actually felt that cold while they were together.
“I was thinking, if I get better at this, maybe I can incorporate blades into my costume's boots,” Said Todoroki pensively as they walked behind everyone else.
“Pfft. Not a bad idea, but you’ll have to practice a lot before you let go of your pikes.”
“Hm. True,” He said, smiling at him, “You did offer to give me more lessons, so I think that’s covered.”
“I also did say that you’ll have to pay for those.”
“Oh, don’t you worry. I'll think of something,” Said Todoroki, holding onto Bakugou's hand just a bit more tightly.