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One of the universe’s most fundamental truths was that Bakugou Katsuki loathed Midoriya Izuku.
Izuku knew it. Katsuki knew it. Their classmates knew it. Their teachers knew it. And Katsuki’s UA-mandated therapist definitely fucking knew it.
He had been seeing Dr. Nagata for almost a year and a half now. UA had demanded strongly suggested Katsuki begin counselling to deal with his “near crippling issues of rage” and “trauma” (obviously not his words), at the beginning of 2nd year. Fortunately, Dr Nagata had not been an utter imbecile, and Katsuki had grown to respect her. The sessions had surprisingly helped with his studies. Katsuki was much better at dealing with civilians and working in teams now, which he knew was largely thanks to her advice and strategies.
Truly, Katsuki felt evolved in almost all aspects of his life, with just the one notable exception: the eternal prick in his side, Deku.
In fact, Katsuki’s seething hatred for Deku had been the focus of several of their latest sessions. Since the beginning of their third year, Katsuki found his anger at the other boy reinvigorated. Dr Nagata seemed determined to find out why that was.
“It’s because he’s a fucking menace,” Katsuki griped at his most recent session, “I could list a hundred reasons why I hate the fucking nerd.”
“Then do that.”
“Eh?”
“You should write a list,” Dr Nagata continued, “of the reasons you can identify as to why you dislike Midoriya-san so much.”
“I just told you why,” Katsuki said.
“Did you?” Dr Nagata smirked. She was a bloody menace too. “Regardless, I think writing it down may help you to work through your feelings. After all, hating one of your future colleagues isn’t really the optimal pathway for a pro hero.”
Katsuki gritted his teeth. He’d be damned if Deku held him from reaching the top.
~~~
When he returned to his room later that evening, he dug out an unused notebook from his drawer and scribbled the title Why I Hate Deku on the first page. He quickly jotted down a few major points that came to mind.
- Can never leave any battle uninjured
- Mutters under his breath all the damn time - psychotic
- Acts like a fucking angel but then breaks any and every rule when it suits him
- Stupid fucking broccoli hair
The last dot point felt a little petty, but honest nonetheless. Deku’s hair fell way too far over his face these days; it was a miracle the idiot could see through that mop at all. The mess of it irked Katsuki to no end.
He closed the book, deciding to let the list grow organically. He was certain it wouldn’t be long before the nerd did something to warrant an addendum anyway.
~~~
He was right. Saturday rolled around, and 3A was spending some ‘quality time’ in the park, as if they didn’t spend every single fucking day together. Katsuki had been coerced into joining by the usual suspects (Kirishima and Ashido).
Deku and his gaggle of extras were playing tag, and they were playing it loudly. Deku was wearing some lime green tank top, and matching green shorts, which clashed fucking horribly with his naturally darker, forest green features. He also wore his usual apple-red boots. Fucking absurd. His grating giggle resounded through the park as Round Cheeks dove towards him, slapping him across the back of his legs right before she hit the ground.
Katsuki had to turn away.
When he finally got back to his room, the very first thing he did was tear open the damn notebook.
- His colour scheme
Green atop green wrapped in more green. For as long as Katsuki could remember, the boy had been green personified, with the sole exception of those ghastly crimson shoes. Why the nerd chose that damn colour, when it was so obviously in conflict with everything else he had going on, Katsuki had never understood. Overall, Deku looked like a damn Christmas ornament.
He paused for a second, thinking over his next point. An image of Deku’s arms in that ridiculously revealing tank top today flashed across his mind. He put his pen to paper.
- The scars
Littered all over Deku’s body, mapping out every single self-sacrificing heroic deed, were those horrific scars. The raised skin should have been frightening, a reminder of pain and loss. But no. The markings curled wildly up Deku’s shredded arms like tattoos. Katsuki wasn’t blind. The scars made the jerk look like a fucking action hero. It made his skin crawl to even think about.
Katsuki wrote down his final reason for the day, the one that stood out strongest.
- He’s too loud
Because no matter how far away he was from the other boy, Katsuki could always hear Deku’s laugh, crystal clear, in his ears.
~~~
Monday rolled around and classes commenced as usual. The routine offered Katsuki some peace. Deku had been placed in one of the only seats in the classroom that Katsuki could not see directly. He thanked All Might every day for small victories.
The lunch bell tolled and Katsuki rose to his feet. He meticulously stacked his books up, keen for a good feed after the morning of lessons. He turned towards the door. There stood Deku and IcyHot, hand in hand, the sunshine from the windows silhouetting their figures in the door frame. Katsuki’s books scattered across his desk.
- He’s dating the 2nd most intolerable bastard known to heroics, bested only by himself.
Deku and the fucking half-and-half had hooked up in the break between second and third year and they’d been fucking obnoxious about their newfound coupledom since. Of course, Deku had to go and find the one person who Katsuki struggled to compete with. Like the nerd was yelling at him, hey! Remember me? Look how much higher than you I’ll reach.
~~~
Deku fucking winked at him, “Bring it on Kacchan.”
Katsuki’s body went rigid. Next thing he knew, he was pinned to the training mat. Aizawa noted something down on his clipboard and called for the next pair.
- He fights dirty.
~~~
Deku was pretty much covered head to toe in flour. Round cheeks and IcyHot sat alongside the bench, watching in amusement as Deku flitted about the kitchen.
“Fucking hell, Deku,” Katsuki complained, scanning the space as he wandered into the room, “How the fuck am I supposed to cook in this pigsty?”
He stepped forwards, leaning closer than was probably necessary to Deku, and grabbed the tea towel which lay on the bench beside him. He smirked at the other boy, who just smiled in return.
“Sorry Kacchan! I’ve just put the brownies in the oven, so I’ll help you clean up now.”
“I’ll help you, Izuku,” Todoroki said, slipping off his seat and moving in between Katsuki and Deku.
Katsuki whipped the tea towel back onto the bench. He’d just have takeout tonight.
- Leaves the kitchen a fucking mess
~~~
Katsuki had only one interaction with Deku the next weekend. They’d all but smacked into each other. Katsuki had been trying to get into the elevator to go to his room on the fourth floor, and Deku had been stepping out to enter the common room.
“Oh Kacchan!” Deku chirped, smiling widely, “A couple of us are going to the movies. Do you wanna come?”
“Fuck no.”
“Okay Kacchan!” Deku had long been unphased by Katsuki’s brutal comments. The viridian hero simply sidestepped him and rushed out into the common room, leaving Katsuki alone in the elevator.
- He still uses a stupid fucking nickname for me, but respects everybody else enough to use their full name.
~~~
Deku’s laughter was soft, but undeniably joyous.
Katsuki’s head spun of its own volition, landing on Deku and IcyHot, not even two tables behind him in the library. Green locks were nuzzled against Todoroki’s neck, Deku humming happily beneath them. The dual-quirked bastard barely seemed to notice and was studying away like nothing was amiss. Katsuki grit his teeth; it was so sickeningly one-sided. The fucking least Todoroki could do was reciprocate Deku’s affections-
As if on cue, Todoroki lifted a hand to lazily push through the forest of curls leant against him, before briefly turning to place a kiss against Deku’s forehead.
“Shou-kun,” Deku purred.
Katsuki angrily crossed out the latest entry from his list. The pen moved so violently that it nearly ripped through the paper.
~~~
Katsuki landed with a thump on the concrete. Fuck yeah. His team had destroyed that training exercise. He felt adrenaline rushing through his veins in the midst of the victory.
“Sugoi!”
Instinctually, Katsuki looked for the source of the spirited cry. Deku was rushing towards him. Arms outstretched, and a smile plastered across his face. The guy never had reservations about wearing his heart so clearly on display. Hell, one look at Deku and you could tell how much love the dumb nerd had to offer.
Katsuki felt his arms twitch, ready to steady them both after Deku inevitably leapt forwards. But Deku did not leap, at least not to him. The boy took three quick strides past Katsuki, and threw himself into Todoroki’s awaiting arms.
A frayed knot settled itself in Katsuki’s throat. He was going to choke on it. Aizawa declared the end of class somewhere in the distance, and Katsuki rushed away.
~~~
He slammed the door shut as he reached his room, frantically tearing open his drawer. The notebook lay on the top of the pileup of things in there.
He ripped his pen’s lid off between his teeth, and began to write.
- He’s never looking at me anymore.
He pulled the book back and stared down at it, horrified as the page began to show little creased dots, where stray tears fell onto its pages.
~~~
One of the universe’s most fundamental truths was that Bakugou Katsuki loathed Midoriya Izuku. Turns out, the universe was a fucking liar.