Chapter Text
Midoriya Izuku can recall with startling clarity the moment he first met Todoroki Shouto.
The embers from the former house still smoldered, the breeze sending up ash into the sky only to silently fall back to the earth and coat everything it sees in the dark. The fire hadn’t been large, only requiring two engines at the scene. Thankfully, only the kitchen and front room were destroyed. Judging from the yelling and screaming coming from the couple on the front lawn, the husband is now banned from ever stepping foot in the kitchen again.
Izuku was busy disconnecting the hydrant hose from the engine, one arm holding his weight on the hydrant while the other pulled at the hose when he saw him. Jacket missing, revealing ripped arms glistening with sweat standing before rows of drained-out hoses as he rolls one up to put back onto his engine. Strong muscles ripple as he hoists heavy equipment back on the engine. He bends over to pick up part of the hose and Izuku gasps. Izuku remembers not understanding how one could look so beautiful under the dingy streetlight. How strong yet delicate one can look. He doesn’t know how he missed him earlier, but now he wouldn’t ever think of looking away.
Wow, Izuku thought. He has no right to be hotter than this fire. Maybe I am the one burning up. I think I’m in lo-
Precisely at that moment was when Todoroki Shouto glanced right at him and Izuku has a second to think oh my god his eyes–before his hand slips from the hydrant and his face met the top in a bloody explosion of pain and agony before his vision fades to black.
He wakes up back in the firehouse with an ice pack resting on his nose. Uraraka has already sent pictures to Bakugou. Izuku doesn’t speak to her for three days.
Okay, so maybe he hadn’t actually met Todoroki Shouto. But to him, it was close enough and despite him wishing for the opposite, he knows he won’t see Todoroki that often unless they’re on the same fire, which doesn’t happen often. Izuku has accepted this fate.
But that was two years ago. And now Todoroki Shouto is standing right in front of him and Izuku hasn’t said a word yet in the four minutes they’ve been standing there.
Get it together Izuku!
“Hi! Sorry, hi-” Izuku stumbles. “You’re- you’re Todoroki, right? Our new engineer?”
Todoroki doesn’t look impressed. Crap. “Yes, like I’ve already said. On the A shift.”
Way to blow your second impression. “Right! Straight to the point, I see how you are! Uh,” Izuku looks to the side and awkwardly taps the engine door next to him. “This is our engine, Engine 1. You’ll be well acquainted with her very soon. Kirishima can help with that too. She handles pretty differently from other engines and I don’t know why, but I can help you when we first take it out for a spin. You should already know all the daily checks but just in case I can go over it with yo-”
“Captain,” Todoroki interrupts. Izuku screams inside. “You don’t have to go into that much detail. You can just show me around and I can figure it out.”
Izuku puts on his best I’m-sorry-I-talk-so-much smile. “Right! In that case, let’s just–yeah.”
Izuku leads Todoroki through his side of the garage, where the repair equipment is, where the poles are, cleaning supplies, captain’s quarters, the works. They move to the opposite side of the garage, where the massive ladder truck sits peacefully.
“Here’s Truck 1, we go on quite a few calls with them and share the house with them.”
“Who’s on Truck 1?” Todoroki quirks an eyebrow at Izuku’s aghast look.
“You don’t know?” Izuku hasn’t met a single firefighter who doesn’t know who is on Truck 1’s A shift, if only to avoid them. Todoroki either must avoid learning anyone’s names and faces or is completely oblivious to the world.
Todoroki grimaces. “I didn’t join this profession to make friends.”
Ah, the first one, Izuku thinks. But he does find it odd. “How did you survive 48-hour shifts your entire career with no friends?” he asks. He knows Todoroki has a reputation for being intensely serious on the job and kind of cold. Even Battalion Chief Aizawa came up to him and warned him about it. But this bad?
Todoroki shrugs. “Don’t need them.”
Izuku decides if he cannot be anything more to this boy, he will at least be a friend.
Izuku beams. “Well, I think you’re gonna love them! And the people on our crew too! We’ve all known each other for years now, but you’ll fit right in! And they’re all super nice!”
Izuku bumps Todoroki’s shoulder. Todoroki stares at the spot where their arms met. Not a touchy-feely guy, disappointing but I will live.
They walk to the staircase that leads to the second floor. Izuku shows him the locker rooms and waits outside the door for him to put his stuff away before showing him the beds.
“This bed is for you! I must warn you that Iida does like to snore as loud as the fire engine, so everyone has these complimentary earplugs.” He hands them to Todoroki, who accepts with a face of amusement. SUCCESS.
“Do you guys use the gym often?” Todoroki asks and Izuku’s mind is immediately flooded with the unwanted images of Todoroki flexing in a mirror, being able to watch him do squats and sweat and watch his magnificently toned arms do their job-
Izuku uses all of his willpower to save those sinful images for later use. “Yes! We’re all fitness fanatics here, part of the job and all. I’d be happy to show you around in that area in a bit!” VERY happy to.
Todoroki nods and smiles at him. Izuku feels his heart grow an extra size larger. Izuku thinks for a moment and leads them towards the kitchen instead. “I want you to meet all the guys first. Their home is usually the kitchen!”
Izuku could picture it now. He imagined a nice, welcoming scene for Todoroki, developing rapport with his new crewmates and establishing Izuku as a caring but firm leader. Todoroki will be so impressed and love his friends. He in fact told his crew beforehand to be on their best behavior for Todoroki so they don’t make him regret his life choices.
What he did not account for was the pure menace that was Bakugou Katsuki.
Izuku leads Todoroki into a kitchen on fire.
“Um,” Todoroki pointed at the stove, which was making popping sounds and had a smoldering pan stuck to the ceiling above. “I think you should get that looked at.”
Izuku only feels partly shocked until his eyes took in more of the scene and eventually his face devolves into a look of resignation. Kaminari was screaming and jumping up and down, his sleeve on fire. Sero was filming with his phone and struggling to contain his laughter so the video wouldn’t be as shaky. Kirishima had just barely grabbed the fire extinguisher and sprayed the man as much as possible while also screaming. The perpetrator, Bakugou Katsuki, was laid back on the bench, laughing his ass off.
Iida and Uraraka were on the opposite side of the table, engrossed in their phones. Iida looked like he wanted to explode.
“Iida! Uraraka!” Izuku marched up to them. “Why are you doing nothing about this crisis going on!?”
“That is not my problem,” Uraraka says. She looks up, deadpan. “Not my crew.”
Izuku glances at Iida. “Why is your face all scrunched up like that?”
Uraraka sports an evil grin before Iida can even speak a word. “I told him he couldn’t get up to help because we needed to be on our best behavior for Todoroki’s arrival.” She snickers as a single tear leaves Iida’s eye.
Todoroki decides to walk up then, pointing at the other side of the kitchen. “Is that?”
“Truck 1? Yep, that’s their crew.” Uraraka has another shit-eating grin. “The Bakusquad.”
Hands slam on the table as Bakugou stands up and jabs a finger in their direction. “Quit calling us that damn Roundface! And you!” He points at Todoroki. Izuku feels the color drain from his face. “Quit looking at me like that you candy cane stain!”
Izuku gasps. “Kacchan! He is my brand new engineer! Stop that!”
“Yeah Kacchan!” Kamanari butts in, arm draping over Bakugou with his sleeve still smoking. “The guy has been here like two minutes and you’re already hazing him!”
“It’s true,” Kirishima says when Bakugou looks like he was about to open his mouth. “You didn’t even let him be introduced to us. That was rude.”
Bakugou looks pissed but knows he can’t argue with him. He resorts to glaring at Todoroki from across the table.
Kirishima looks at them. “Sorry about that, he forgot today was your first day, even though I told him you’d be coming. I’m Truck 1A’s engineer! Nice to meet you!”
Todoroki goes around learning everyone else’s names, giving them a slight nod. His eyes widened slightly when he learned that Bakugou was the captain of Truck 1, to which Bakugou gives a wicked grin but thankfully says nothing.
Todoroki follows Izuku out of the kitchen to the rec room where Izuku decides to plop on a beanbag and let out all the air in his body until he deflates completely. Todoroki watches.
“So,” Todoroki starts. “Captain, do you mind explaining why there was a fire inside the firehouse?”
Izuku deflates even more. Perhaps if he deflates enough, he can sink into the beanbag and never come out again. “Truck 1 loves to prank each other. Kacchan loves fireworks. Check under every pan before you start cooking by the way.”
Todoroki's eyes widen but he huffs in agreement. He stands awkwardly, looking unsure of what to do.
Izuku thinks for a moment. “You don’t have to call me Captain by the way. Midoriya would be great!”
Todoroki’s eyes widen but he doesn’t comment. Does he have a red tint to his cheeks? Izuku fails to pay too much attention because suddenly he folds his arms and Izuku is reminded very much of his emerging arm fixation because his forearms looked so toned–
His thoughts are interrupted by a piercing tone that echoes throughout the firehouse, flashing red lights illuminating their faces. Izuku waits a moment to hear which crew will be dispatched.
A crackle over the intercoms. “Engine 1, Truck 1, structure fire…” and that’s all Izuku needs to hear before he bolts to the firepole. He can hear Truck 1 screaming “Ashido!!” at the intercom before a resounding slap is echoed down the hallway and Bakugou barks at them to get in the truck. Izuku reaches the pole, grabbing it with both hands.
He glances back at Todoroki, a smile on his lips. “Ever use one of these bad boys before?”
Todoroki takes a couple steps forward until he’s right beside Izuku, before returning a grin of his own and placing a hand right above Izuku’s on the pole. Their fingers brush. Izuku can feel his breath puff on his face as he says “I’m very experienced with a pole.”
The shiver that ran down his back and the feelings of his hands so close to Todoroki’s was indescribable because what does that even mean but it is also not a good time to submit to any of these thoughts. He blushes so hard it actually hurts before jumping and sliding down the pole. Todoroki lands neatly soon after. Izuku can hear Kacchan screaming at his crew to hurry up as Kirishima flicks on the truck lights. Kaminari and Sero snicker to themselves for some unknown and probably dangerous reason.
Izuku turns to find Todoroki gone, already in the driver’s seat. Uraraka is frantically pulling on gear and Izuku figures he should do the same, throwing on boots and tossing the rest at his feet in the passenger side before climbing on.
Izuku can finally see why Todoroki had a reputation for being intense. He can finally watch him in his element, already inputting the address into the computer and turning on the headsets. Izuku puts his on and waits impatiently for Uraraka in the backseat to get in, Iida already being strapped in for at least a few minutes now.
Todoroki scoffs. “Anyday now, please.” Uraraka looks up and just smiles pleasantly, but Izuku can tell she is intimidated. We can start a fan club at this rate.
When all is strapped in, Todoroki rockets the engine into the road, sirens blazing. Kirishima can be seen careening his truck around the corner ahead of them, Bakugou in the passenger seat amping himself up with fist pumps out the window.
Izuku is content just fascinated watching Todoroki drive. Notices the stern look on his face. The sweat already dripping over a scar on the left side of his face. How his hands grab the wheel. Izuku almost forgets he has his own job to do, radioing over to headquarters that his engine was being dispatched and typing on the computer. But not once does his eyes stray from Todoroki.
He knows this is bad. He crushes very easily. Typically they blow over after a couple of weeks. The novelty wears off and he’ll fall out of it. He’ll just indulge himself now. Only for a little while.
Todoroki glances over and flashes a grin before focusing back on the road. Izuku shatters. He will get over this crush he must.
That is until he hears a giggle over the headset. Followed by a snicker, and more giggling. He turns around, frowning. Uraraka and Iida are staring right at him, Uraraka wiggling her eyebrows while Iida wears a look of approval.
Oh no. His friends easily found out. He’s starting to think his crush on Todoroki Shouto won’t blow over as easily as he thought.
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Truck 1A’s cabin is rocked violently to the side as Kirishima flings the truck around another corner.
“Jeez Kiri!” Kaminari exclaims while rubbing his head. “Who taught you how to drive?”
“I did,” Katsuki turns his head around agonizingly slowly until he’s gazing right into Kaminari’s eyes, smiling wide. There’s no emotion behind his eyes. “Isn’t he amazing?”
Kaminari freezes like a deer in headlights and tries to think of an answer that won’t get his head chewed off. Thankfully, Kirishima answers for him.
“Awww, thank you babe,” Kirishima grabs Katsuki’s hand and brings it to his lips, throwing Katsuki’s focus to him and freeing Kaminari from his gaze. Katsuki can see him sending a silent prayer thanking the gods while Sero pats his back, but decides to not pursue as he has something much better to place his focus on.
“Thoughts on the new hire?” Kirishima asks, pointedly looking at Katsuki. “You kind of ruined Midoriya’s mojo there.”
Katsuki lied. He actually hates Eijirou. “I don’t care.”
Kirishima gives him a stern look. “You have to make it up to him. You know how he gets. He’s only that frantic to make a good impression if someone catches his eye and you kind of ruined it.”
“It’s not my fault Deku can't man up and do something about it.” Kirishima swerves around traffic, rubbing Katsuki’s hand in apology that makes his cold heart melt. Which causes him to come up with an amazing idea. Grinning, he looks over at Kirishima and proclaims, “I think I know exactly how we can make it up to him.”
Kirishima raises an eyebrow. “We?”
Katsuki lets loose a hysterical laugh. “Yes,” Gears turn frantically in his head as it all comes together. “You’ll see.”
Katsuki spots thick, black smoke coming from around the corner, and sure enough, as they turn they see an apartment building ablaze.
Kirishima turns to Katsuki, who looks at him and grins. “Let’s go kick some ass.”