Work Text:
“What’re your plans for Valentine’s Day, Shouto?”
Shouto pauses with a mouth full of cereal and milk, looking over at Natsuo in panic. He swallows his food and wipes his mouth clean before glaring at his big brother as if he’s insulted him in some way.
“No plans.” He grunts out. It’s not a surprise, Shouto’s been single since before he became a pro-hero. “Why do you ask, nii san?”
“Hmm?” Natsuo hums, twirling his spoon around in his bowl, sloshing the cereal around and making a dull noise. “Nothing, I just thought that this year, you might have made plans with a certain someone.”
There’s a clatter when Shouto all but throws his cutlery away. It’s suddenly a little chilly in the room and it’s not because of the climate. It’s not hard to figure out what Natsuo’s intentions are. Shouto knows exactly what he’s suggesting. Or rather, Shouto knows exactly who he’s suggesting.
“Nii chan,” Shouto’s voice is low and mostly expressionless, but anyone even slightly familiar with him would be able to detect the undertone of annoyance. “How many times do I have to tell you that Bakugou and I aren’t like that?”
“I mean--” Natsuo starts coughing, milk coming out of his nostrils, the sight half disgusting half hilarious. He thumps his chest and coughs to clear his throat. “I know that. You’re not dating now, but you could be dating if you would just man up and ask him out.”
“And why would I man up and ask him out?” Shouto sighs, tone mocking, waving his spoon in the air. “We’re just colleagues.”
“Just colleagues my ass.”
“Nii chan!”
“You know I’m right!” Natsuo slams his fists on the table, rattling the plates and cutlery. It’s a good thing they’re the only ones home or their father would make a huge ruckus about table manners.
“Fine then.” Natsuo clears his throat, gathering his utensils and slowly rising up. “So you’ll be okay with that explosion boy being someone else’s valentine? Are you saying you’re okay with that, little bro?”
Shouto swallows harshly, his mind clouding with images of Bakugou smiling and walking hand in hand with a faceless man. A small fire burns in the pit of his stomach, he wonders if it’s because he’s having breakfast so late. But he knows that’s probably not it.
“What do you suggest I do then?” Shouto whispers, voice soft and melancholy. His lips curl down the smallest degree. “He doesn’t like me that way, nii chan. He doesn’t see me as a man. He just-- He’s not interested.”
“Oh, Shouto.” Natsuo walks around and places his hand on Shouto’s shoulders, rubbing gently. “You gotta tell him how you feel. Take a shot, little bro.”
Shouto smiles back. He picks up his spoon and goes back to his cereal, pretending like he hasn’t completely lost his appetite.
*****
“You signed up for the Hero Association Valentines Auction?” Eijiro blinks, peeling off his mask and relaxing into the couch. They’ve just returned from a mission, both of them exhausted but also equal parts exhilarated by a hard-earned victory. His eyebrows are raised in concern and Katsuki doesn’t care enough to pursue it.
“Yeah, Shitty Hair,” Katsuki grunts out, throwing his legs up and massaging his knees. “I thought it’d be nice for a change. My popularity ranking ain’t that great. Maybe this silly stunt will give it that much-needed push.” He scoffs, kneading the underside of his calf in circular motions to relax the worn-out muscles. “Besides, the proceeds go to charity. Good cause and all.”
“You’re such a sap, Bakugou,” Eijirou coos, reaching out to tussle Katsuki’s hair. His hands are immediately swatted away and he yelps in pain. But then again, it’s Katsuki, violence is his response to everything. Eijiro hisses, rubbing his hands and blowing on them to alleviate the slight sting. “But uh--” He clears his throat, looking up at Katsuki from under his lashes. “Did you tell Todoroki?”
“Huh?” Katsuki’s frowning, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. “Why do I gotta tell that Half-and-Half bastard anything?”
“Oh, Bakugou--”
“What’s that you wanna tell me, Bakugou?”
Eijirou’s eyes widen when Shouto appears out of nowhere, casually taking a seat beside Katsuki. He leans into his side, hands immediately on Katsuki’s shoulders, pressing into his flesh, despite his protests. But the thing is, Katsuki doesn’t really ever object as much to Shouto’s touch, he’s not as hostile as he is with everyone else.
“Nothing, Half-and-Half.” Katsuki starts off on a snarky tone, but his voice breaks on a sigh when Shouto kneads into a particularly stiff muscle. “It’s just this thing. ”
“What kinda thing?” Shouto’s looking at Eijirou now, eyes a little icy. But then, maybe Eijirou’s just imagining that. Sometimes, he wonders if he’s reading too much into what’s going on between these two. But then again, even Denki and Sero seem to think the same way.
“Bakugou here was just telling me how he signed up for the Hero Academy Valentine’s Auction.” Eijirou manages to speak before Katsuki starts whining. He’d probably hit him too if it wasn’t for the fact that Shouto has a firm grip on his shoulders.
“What’s that?” Shouto frowns. Or does he? It’s hard to tell with a poker face like that. But Katsuki winces, spitting out a disgruntled ‘ ow, be gentler, moron’ so there is a possibility that Shouto is less than unaffected.
“It’s this thing where people-- civilians and heroes alike-- can auction for a night’s date with one of the heroes.” Eijirou watches bemusedly as Shouto’s face gets clouded with something dark. Katsuki curses again as Shouto increases pressure on his shoulders.
“Oh?” Shouto’s voice is soft, barely audible. But it’s sharper than the shards of ice he conjures from his hand. It’s safe to say he’s definitely not pleased. “You signed up for that, Bakugou?”
“Hell yeah I did, Half-and-Half!” Katsuki growls, shrugging away from Shouto’s grip. “The proceeds go towards building a new civilian shelter for victims. It’s a great fucking cause! Now, would you just let me go already? What’s with you?”
“Nothing.” Shouto leans back, eyes glinting dangerously. “That’s great. Have--” He clears his throat before slowly rising to his feet. “Have fun, Bakugou.”
Katsuki yells something along the lines of ‘ I don’t need you to tell me that, Half-and-Half!” but Eijirou’s not listening. He’s too transfixed on the way Shouto’s hands clench into fists at his side as he retreats.
******
It’s nerve-wracking waiting to go up on that stage. Katsuki swallows his spit, straightening his tie and grumbling to himself about how stuffy it feels in his suit. The hall is packed with at least a hundred people. They all look wealthy beyond compare, mostly older women with sparkly diamond earrings and pearl necklaces. And middle-aged men who look a lot like Endeavour. Katsuki swallows, he wants to bid for himself and get the hell away from here.
“Next up is our very own, Explosion hero, Dynamight!”
Katsuki shakes himself, walking out onto the stage on wobbly knees. The applause is deafening, launching a ringing sound in his eardrums. They’re still announcing factoids about him, his hobbies, his pet peeves, what he looks for in a partner. It’s absolutely mortifying. Truth be told, he’s never been on a date before. Always too preoccupied with busting villains and being number one since before he can remember. This is going to be his first fucking date. How ironic.
“Let’s start the bidding at JP¥ 200,000.” The auctioneer says. Katsuki’s eyebrows go up. That’s a lot of money for a single date, he thinks. “We see an offer from Table Number 2! Going once-- A counter offer from Table 13! Going at JP¥ 250,000!”
Katsuki’s jaw drops to the floor. His heart pounds as he whips his head from one side of the hall to the other. The bid keeps skyrocketing, in tune with his pulse. It’s crazy how people are willing to spend so much money just to take him out. He almost feels a bit concerned about what they expect from him.
“500,000.”
Katsuki whips his head towards the familiar voice, a gasp slipping from his lips. It’s Shouto. Katsuki’s eyes widen as he tries to make sense of what’s happening. Shouto’s at the auction? Bidding half a million yen for a date with him? What the fuck is going on?
“550,000.” It’s another familiar voice. Katsuki’s going to have a heart attack at this rate. He blinks as he takes in Izuku’s sheepish smile. Where the fuck does that Deku even have the money to throw around this way? It’s ludicrous!
“600,000.” Shouto raises his card, glaring at the stage as if he’s personally offended that someone else would dare to contest him this way. There’s a fire crackling in his eyes, Katsuki can see it all the way from where he stands. It causes a similar flame to bloom in his chest. That’s odd, why does it feel as if he likes Shouto’s attention?
“I raise my bid to 750,000.” Izuku’s grinning broad and smug, waving his card about in the air. It’s a mind-boggling number. He doesn’t think anyone else has offered so much in the previous bids. It should be flattering really. But for some reason, Katsuki is disappointed. Not because it’s Izuku-- no, that’s annoying too, now that he thinks about it. But because it’s not Shouto. The whole feeling is odd. And it makes him question a ton of things with respect to his relationship with Shouto that he’d much rather stay oblivious to.
“JP¥ 750,000 going once. JP¥ 750,000 going twice--”
“One million.”
“What the fuck--” Katsuki splutters out, staring straight into Shouto’s eyes. Heat rises up his neck all the way to his cheeks and then to his ears. There’s a similar heat in his chest where his heart squeezes itself over and over. It’s too much, he feels like he’s going to pass out. But is it weird that he feels giddy too?
“One million going once. One million going twice. One million going thrice. Sold! To Table number 9, Todoroki Shouto, for JP¥ one million! That was the highest bid of the night, ladies and gentlemen!”
A booming applause wracks through the hall, but the sounds fade out under Bakugou’s racing heartbeat. It’s like all the people dissolve into the background and there’s only Shouto, sitting in a crowd of grey, eyes glinting enticingly.
*****
“Ya didn’t have to bid for me, you know?” Katsuki digs into his steak, chewing way too obnoxiously. “If ya wanted to help out the charity, ya should’ve just auctioned yourself too, Icy Hot! That way we would’ve made even more money together.”
Shouto sighs, reaching out and gently wiping the sauce that stains Katsuki’s chin. Katsuki blinks, looking up with wide glossy eyes, mouth hanging open with unchewed food spilling out. It should be disgusting. But it’s not. Even like this, Shouto still wants to kiss him, he’s so fucking whipped it’s not even funny anymore.
“I didn’t want to help with the charity though.” He says carefully. He looks straight into Katsuki’s eyes, trying to hold his gaze. Katsuki hasn’t looked at him even once since the whole deal was struck. He’s been looking at his feet the whole while. It’s infuriating. Not to mention nerve-wracking.
“Huh?” Katsuki finally looks up, brows screwed together in confusion. “If not for the charity, why’d you come to the auction then?”
Shouto takes a deep shaky inhale, clearing his throat before he coughs weakly into his fist. Katsuki’s still staring at him, unamused. Things are moving so fast. But everything’s been in slow motion until this moment, so Shouto is going to charge ahead and take his shot.
“I came for you.” Shouto’s eardrums pound with nerves, watching as Katsuki’s eyes widen dramatically. “I came because I wanted to spend Valentine’s with you, Bakugou.”
Katsuki opens and closes his mouth like a fish gaping out of water, eyes flitting here and there in confusion. He looks as if he’s having a panic attack, hands clenched tight, jaw tighter. Is this a mistake? Did Shouto make a mistake? Should he have just watched from the sidelines like always?
“You didn’t have to pay a million bucks to have dinner with me, Half-and-Half.” Bakugou scoffs, reaching for his glass of water. “I get that your ass was lonely, but you should’ve called Kirishima or Sero or someone. Deku even. You didn’t have to waste your money on me--”
“I didn’t bid for you ‘cause I was lonely and bitter, Bakugou.” Shouto sighs, running his palm down his face. “I--” He chuckles, leaning his head against the wall before looking back at Katsuki. “I like you, Bakugou. I want to be your valentine. And your boyfriend. And your lover. And--” Shouto sighs. “ Everything . I want to be your everything because I like you.”
“Todoroki--” Katsuki’s face is flushed red, his eyes glossed over. He’s beautiful this way, all flustered and frightened. Shouto is so in love. “Todoroki, you’re gonna make me misunderstand--” Katsuki groans, tugging at his hair in annoyance. “I’m gonna make me think you’re in love with me or something. Fuck--”
“But I am,” Shouto whispers, heart at his sleeve. He reaches over and gently tugs Katsuki’s hands and interlaces their fingers together. The lack of resistance is equal parts relieving but also concerning. “Bakugou? Do you like me too? Do you think that you can come to like me at some point if you let yourself?”
“Oh fuck--” Katsuki squeaks out in panic. “This is fucking nuts, Todoroki. You like me? Why didn’t you just ask me out like a normal person instead of dropping a fortune on a fucking auction?”
“Bakugou,” Shouto grunts out, pressing onto Katsuki’s hand. He sighs, looking beseechingly into Katsuki’s eyes. “You didn’t answer me. Is this okay?”
Katsuki’s eyebrows are screwed together, he looks like he’s weighing the odds, like he’s conflicted. “Okay,” he whispers at last. And it’s like Shouto can finally breathe again. He exhales slow and loud, shoulders slumping in relief. Katsuki said yes.
“I guess you’re easy enough to get along with.” Katsuki’s voice is high pitched, he’s embarrassed. It’s fucking cute. “And you’re easy on the eyes and all that. Our schedules match, more or less, so that’s there too.”
Shouto grins, rubbing his thumb along Katsuki’s wrist in slow circles. He’s so happy, his chest feels warm and light. This is the best valentine’s day of his life.
“Besides, you spent a whole fucking million on me,” Katsuki grumbles, ears still red with embarrassment. “Better make it worth your money.”
“It’s not my money,” Shouto raises his eyebrow in amusement. He knows that Katsuki’s just being a tsundere at this point. “It’s my dad’s. So who cares about that. The only thing I care about is you.”
Katsuki makes a strangled noise at that, his hand twitching under Shouto’s. He laughs out loud, reaching over and cupping a bashful Katsuki’s face. Ah, he’s wanted to do this for so long.
“Just for the record, how far can the million take me tonight?”
“Shut up, Half-and-Half! I’ll fucking kill you!”
Fin
