Work Text:
It's been nine months since Katsuki's relationship with his hot neighbour evolved from blushing after exchanging heys to cooking him a weekly dinner.
Somewhere in-between lied: constantly running into each other doing the laundry, doing konbini runs together, sharing shochu on a rainy day.
Something Katsuki wishes lied in-between: asking Todoroki out. Or vice versa. But preferably the former.
He sees his neighbour now, tie loosened and hair wet from the rain outside. To no one's surprise he manages to pull off the drenched rat look like he's a swimwear model. Ikemen fucker.
"Yo," Katsuki greets. He takes the effort to raise his hand. Word and actions, look at him fuckin' go.
Todoroki- lights up, which is nice but also odd. "Bakugou. I wanted to talk to you."
Katsuki almost drops his keys, but he's not a butterfingered chucklefuck so he doesn't. He puts the key back in his pocket and turns fully so he's facing Todoroki. Good body posture. Eye contact. The full confidence spiel.
He's dying to know where this is going.
"Yeah?" Katsuki asks, nonchalant. He leans against his door. Cool. Casual. Would running a hand through his hair be too much?
What the fuck, Katsuki.
"Yeah," Todoroki says. He thumbs over the cat pin on his messenger bag. "Can I ask you for a favour?"
Katsuki usually hates doing favours. He thinks of his old hag barking him to 'do your mother a favour and throw the fuckin' trash!' or Dunce Face asking him with puppy dog eyes to buy him a burger. Katsuki still hasn't gotten his money back, nor a burger in exchange like he'd been promised (but that was on him, trusting that dumbass).
But this is Todoroki. Hot neighbour extraordinaire, but so much more beyond that.
"What is it?" Katsuki asks first, just in case he's agreeing to selling his soul or whatever the fuck's trendy these days.
"Ah, well..." Todoroki trails off. "How do you feel about plants?"
What.
Plants.
Fuck.
"Love them," Katsuki pulls outta his ass. He quirks his lip up because confidence is key, baby. "Cacti are the shit."
"They are. Shame I don't have any though." Todoroki says, lips twitching. Then, "I'm going on a trip for two weeks. Can you help water my plants?"
It takes a second to connect the dots.
A second too long.
Todoroki straightens, holds his bag tight to his body. "If you're busy, it's alright. I just thought I would ask."
"I can do it," Katsuki says. Fuck. He'll do better than can- he will do it, and he'll do it with gusto. "It's just watering some plants right?"
The corners of Todoroki's mouth tilt up, eyes creased in a soft smile. It's a good look. Everything’s a good look with him. "Just watering some plants."
"Cool."
Cool, cool, cool. Just watering plants. He knows jack shit about plants, but it’ll be fine. He’ll ace this like he aces everything else.
Todoroki smiles again, crinkled eyes sending Katsuki to orbit. Fuck. "Thank you, Bakugou. ...would you like to come in? I just wanted to show you the plants."
How can Katsuki refuse?
He drops off his bag at home before skedaddling the short distance over to Todoroki's. It’s got the exact same layout as his own place, with the exception of the tatami flooring. That and the minimalism throws him back to the Muromachi period, a far cry compared to Katsuki’s more modern style.
It's cozy though, so endearingly Todoroki that he feels right at home. Katsuki lingers his hand on the soft cat blanket as he walks by the couch, following Todoroki to his plants by the window.
"It's pretty straightforward," Todoroki's saying, and Katsuki snaps to attention (to his lips). "This is the mother of thousands plant, but I just call her Soba..."
What.
Katsuki blinks, but Todoroki's already moved on. He's gesturing now, spark to his eyes as he describes their names–given, English, and Latin–and how often to water them. It goes by too fast.
"Would you like me to write down the instructions?" Todoroki asks. He tilts his head, vaguely reminiscent of a cat.
"Nah," Katsuki says, because he’s a cocky shit his memory is fuckin' ace. Even if it's just filled with pretty boy, pretty boy, pretty boy right now. "I got this."
He fuckin' got this. Plants are fairly straightforward, yeah? Water. Sun. Boom bam and it's happy. Katsuki can only wish his happiness relied on those two things, then wonders why it can't.
"So where you headed?" Katsuki asks.
He leans against the couch. Work was tiring as shit and his back aches like he's ninety, not twenty four. QED, he needs his fuckin' leans when he can take em. Todoroki joins him, and they're- close. He inflates his cheeks and breathes out like a deflating pufferfish.
Hot and cute, fuck.
"Okinawa," Todoroki responds. "It's... My brother just got out of rehab, so we're celebrating. Family reunion and all that."
"Oh shit. Congrats."
He's heard all about the brother. How he taught Todoroki how to play the guitar, how he taught what not to fucking do in order to be a law abiding citizen. Duality of man, and all that.
"Your whole family's going then?" Katsuki raises an eyebrow.
"Well. Maybe not all," Todoroki says. Quietly, "just the ones that matter."
Not his father then.
"Sounds fun," Katsuki gets out. "Y'need a break."
He's heard footsteps come back later and later these days, days at the office stretching on and on till the darkest of nights. Todoroki deserves a relaxing holiday.
Todoroki gives a short smile. "Hn."
"Seriously," Katsuki says, and jabs a finger at Todoroki's chest. Firm. Solid. Get a fuckin' grip, man. "You deserve a break. You work too many hours."
The smile turns more genuine, playful. "Says you."
"Yeah, says me," Katsuki puffs up. "That means it's worth listening to. Go enjoy your vacation, and I'll make sure your plants get the best care ever."
.
Todoroki leaves with little fanfare.
He holds a spare key in one hand, small luggage on the other. There’s a little cat keychain on there, dangling back and forth as he absently moves it this way and there.
“Don’t burn down the place,” Todoroki teases.
“You’re the one that started that grease fire,” Katsuki rebuts, hackles raised.
“Hn. Good thing you were there…”
Todoroki holds out the key and drops it in Katsuki’s open palm. “Thanks.”
“Thank you,” Todoroki corrects. His bangs cover his face as his head lowers, rises. He smiles. “Take care, Bakugou. I really appreciate this.”
Katsuki swallows. “Yeah. Have a good trip.”
There’s a little pang (more than his chained heart has felt in a while, at someone's absence) as he watches his neighbour go. He's used to seeing his back, but the sense of aching finality stays with him long after he shuts the door and looks out the window.
Friday evenings were usually spent together, Katsuki cooking them a meal while Todoroki cleaned the dishes. After, a film, or a game. Katsuki has been the undisputed champion of smash, but Todoroki had gotten pretty good at Kirby. Now they wouldn't find out how good until two weeks later. But-
whatever. Whatever. Katsuki slaps his cheeks and gets cooking.
He's done being a pining idiot.
Ei (19:47):
hey man!! drinks tonight?
Katsuki looks at his okonomiyaki still sizzling on the pan, thinks of his plans of eating good fuckin' food and having a good fuckin' time. Alone.
You (19:50):
no
Ei (19:51):
cool! we're meeting at midnight's in two hours
Katsuki ignores it, but thinks of his outfit when he goes to flip the okonomiyaki. His phone buzzes again, and he checks it out of morbid curiosity.
pikachu (19:52)
b there or b ⏹️
Katsuki ignores it.
He eats in peace, then heads out after because like fuck is he gonna be a square.
.
Mina bangs her pint on the high table when she approaches. It sloshes slightly, foam nearly flowing over had she not sipped it. Damnit. She's already halfway tipsy, which is never a good sign.
"We need updates!" She shouts. The chair screeches as she sits. "What's the news on hot neighbour guy?"
"Updates!" Denki cheers, because he's a follower.
Katsuki eyes the Sex on the Beach his friend ordered and grimaces. Drunk Denki is more annoying than usual Denki.
"He's gone," Katsuki says, and takes a shot of his umeshu.
It's good, going down easily. His throat burns nicely, taste of plums coating his gums without being overtly sweet. He asks for another shot, and the bartender nods, taking his empty glass.
He doesn't realize the silence until he looks up, six aghast faces staring back at him. Even Kyouka and Hitoshi have their eyebrows raised, which is- concerning.
"Gone?" Eijioru asks, quiet.
"Oh, baby," Mina consoles. She sidles next to him and starts patting his hair. "I'm sorry. I know how much you-"
"He's gone on a trip," Katsuki cuts in, and feels the (nice) patting turn to a bonk.
"Start with that next time!" Mina fumes. "You had us all worried!"
"Hah?!" Katsuki needs another drink. He sees the bartender pour the umeshu leisurely. Hurry up, he laserbeams. "Like I'd care if he was actually gone."
"I think you'd care," Hitoshi adds. "More than you think."
It's quiet, but all the extras shut up to listen. He's always been an analytical fucker. It makes for good gossip sessions when it's targeted at anyone but Katsuki himself.
"Yeah man," Hanta adds. He's got a shit-eating grin on, fuck. "Remember when you thought he was moving out because you saw him buy boxes?"
"He's tolerable," Katsuki defends. "Like I'd want a perfectly good neighbour to move out, only to be replaced by some shitty extra. The last one was so loud every fuckin' night."
There's a collective oof.
"Good neighbours are hard to come by," Kyouka agrees with a grimace.
"All the more reason to hold onto hot neighbour guy," Denki adds.
"Can you stop calling him that," Katsuki gripes, even though that's the label he has in his head too. Idiot thoughts rub off easier than he thought, fuck. "Anyway. He's on a trip. And he asked me to water his plants while he's gone."
"Oh?" Mina gasps. "He trusts you!"
"Hah?"
"Plants are like, babies, man." Sero says sagely. "He must trust you a lot to take care of them."
"...babies." Katsuki repeats. Fuck. "Aren't they just fuckin'. Water. Sun."
"Blasty, babe..." Mina says. "You do know how to take care of plants, right? You're not gonna murder hot neighbour guy's plants, right? Right?!"
"Right," Katsuki says, and downs his shot in one.
Fuck.
.
The key to Todoroki's apartment is burning his pocket. Katsuki feels the weight, the actual weight of the favour he was asked to carry.
He didn't think this through. Besides help Todoroki, Katsuki didn't really fuckin’ think it through.
But like fuck he's gonna sulk about it.
Katsuki enters the apartment quietly. It’s weird being in his neighbour’s apartment without him. Even though they have many companionable silences, he still feels an unreplaceable emptiness. Todoroki didn’t have to speak to fill a room. His presence was more than enough to make Katsuki- happy.
He flicks a switch, and the light shining on the cat blanket makes the space a little brighter. He walks past it, and stares intently at the plants for a good long while.
Shit.
Katsuki's forgotten the names, subsequent watering instructions with it. He looks at big ass pink leaves in the pot holder, and bites his lip. Fuck. He tries recalling to what Todoroki was saying, but only recounts pretty pink lips moving. Fuck.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
You (16:04)
yo
u like plants right
tape face (16:05)
u know it 😏
You (16:07)
the fuck is this
Photo
tape face (16:07)
well it's not weed
You (16:08)
NO FUCKING SHIT?!
Fuckin' hell. So Hanta’s love for plants wasn’t just a gung ho botanical garden aesthetic. Deeming him a lost cause, Katsuki turns to his phone. He types in descriptions of all the plants on the web, then narrows it down, down, until he's got all the fuckers caught in 4k.
There's instructions for all of them, which is helpful. He writes em down on post it notes, and sticks it to the fronts to help him remember. He also puts it on his phone, adding alarms so he knows which days to go.
He got this. He's fuckin' got this.
Yeah.
.
No.
It's the end of the first week. The first time he came in, they were fine. The second time, they're-
not.
"Why the hell are you droopy, hah?" Katsuki yells. "What the fuck do you have to be sad about?"
He thinks of Todoroki's disappointed baby seal face. Mina’s horrified expression. Hanta’s they're like, babies, man.
Alright. No yelling at the plants.
(Maybe they miss Todoroki too.)
Katsuki heaves a sigh, and puts the watering can down.
"Sorry," he tells the plant. Mother nature is a force to be reckoned with, and who is he to get on her bad side?
There’s another plant that looks like sagging flesh, all limp and sullen.
“I watered you,” Katsuki accuses, and squats down to get eye level with it. He looks at the soil, and yeah, it’s still wet as fuck.
Maybe.
Too wet as fuck.
Fuck.
He feels a buzz in his pocket, and he fishes out his phone. There's a notification from Todoroki, and Katsuki opens it immediately.
Halfie (9:08):
Good morning :-)
How are the plants?
Katsuki debates on asking about the deteriorating state. Then thinks hell no. He’s gonna fix this. He sends the picture from four days ago.
You (9:10):
morning
they're good
Photo
He wonders if Todoroki will mention that it's the exact same photo. But either he doesn't notice, or he's accepted that Katsuki's a shit photographer (lies and slander), because he just writes:
Halfie (9:10):
I'm glad :-)
Thanks again for taking care of them
You (9:12):
ofc
how's the trip?
Halfie (9:13):
Photo
It's a- selfie. He's on a beach, one of those illustrious ones Okinawa has dozens of. But fuck the view, the view is Todoroki wearing an orange unbuttoned shirt, showing plenty of skin. There's a slight blush on his cheeks, but he looks happy and hot- dorky, flashing a peace sign.
Katsuki doesn't know how to reply. He looks at the kanji, then at the emojis he's never used.
You (9:14):
👍
Fuck.
FUCK.
Shitty autofill! Shitty thumb!
Halfie (9:14):
🍆🍆🍆
Hah?
Katsuki puts his phone down, then his face right on the fuzzy cat blanket.
What the fuck.
What the flying fuck.
He lifts his head when his phone buzzes again.
Halfie (9:15):
u his bf?
😏
Oh. He sees what’s going on here, and it’s none of his daydreams.
You (9:15)
neighbour
Halfie (9:16):
that wasn't a no
Sorry, that was my brother
Please ignore the above
You (9:17):
what, am I that bad?
Fuck. He's got no brother to blame for weird texts. He can't blame the plants either.
Halfie is typing...
Halfie (9:19):
Not bad at all
Have to go
Katsuki stares as the green dot turns white, offline. He's filled with the pubescent urge to scream in a pillow.
.
When he walks into the flower store, he's not expecting to see someone he knows.
"Umm hottie alert much," a familiar voice says.
Katsuki turns around, then sees Camie's eyes widen, crinkle.
"Bakubabe!" She gushes. "It's been too long. What a glow up." She catches his enraged expression. "Not that you weren't hot before. But like, mid twenties is a good look, babe!"
Katsuki grunts. "If I knew you worked here..."
Camie just smiles, slinging an arm around his shoulder that he tries violently shrugging off. "You'd have visited sooner, right?"
"Wrong."
She ignores him (rude), a whirlwind storm that takes him by force to the back. "So whatchu looking for? I've never seen you here before."
Katsuki sighs. It's too late to back out now. He's made the twenty minute trek to come here, and he's not so petty to walk another twenty.
"I'm looking for an orchid," Katsuki says. He shows a picture to Camie, whose eyes widen.
"That's a good looking mf," she says. "Never pegged you for a plant guy."
“I’m not,” Katsuki sours. He swipes left, and the droopy shitshow appears. "It's for my neighbour. I ruined his, so I wanna get him a new one."
"Bakubabe doing something nice?" Camie's teasing, but it falls at his expression. "Kidding. I know you're a big softie underneath. For real.”
Katsuki lets his tight expression loosen. He fuckin' knows he can be an asshole. But he's trying. Especially now.
“Looks salvageable though. Just don’t give it any more water,” Camie advises. “Still wanna get one?”
Katsuki sucks in a breath through his teeth- outta relief or tension, or maybe both. Probably both. He looks around, and sees a pretty red one he thinks Todoroki might like. It’d look nice with the white one that’s a sad fuck; candy cane colours and all that.
Midway through ringing in his order, Camie says: "I end in five minutes. Got time to hang?"
Katsuki debates it. He glances at the time, then thinks fuck it.
"Got an hour," Katsuki acquiesces, and her lips curl.
"Cool, cool," she says, and pushes the orchid towards him. "I'll meet you here in a bit."
.
"So." Camie pops a bubble from her gum. "Your neighbour, huh?"
They're sitting on a bench, cars passing by only inches away. Katsuki bites into his taiyaki like a velociraptor.
"Yeah," he says.
"He's either really hot or he's like this super annoying guy you don't wanna piss off," Camie says.
"He's alright," Katsuki admits, which pulls an oho! from Camie.
"Pics."
With a sigh, Katsuki pulls up the latest picture of his neighbour, only to take it back. The selfie had seemed too- personal. He scrolls up and finds a safer photo. It's of the two of them, one that Todoroki wanted to take when they shared a meal together. It was a mundane day, but with Todoroki there, Katsuki remembers every last detail.
"Shit," Camie whistles. "Glow up after glow up."
"Hah?"
"Todoroki, right?"
"What- you know him?"
Katsuki's not sure in what universe Camie and Todoroki could have collided paths. Not in this one, Katsuki had thought.
"Had a class with the guy! Managed to claim the most popular spot next to him," Camie says. There's a fond smile on her face. "Good times."
She looks at the photo some more, then double takes. "Ayo? Shirtless pic?"
Fuck. Katsuki takes the phone back much too late; she's already seen.
"Eggplant emoji," she whistles. "You doing the do?"
"Fuck off," Katsuki grumbles, cheeks flaring. "That was his brother."
"His brother? King, what're you-"
"Not like that!" Fuck. He shows the texts again. "That was his brother, see?"
"Oh dang."
Katsuki buries his face in his hands. Muffled, "yeah. It was awkward as fuck. He hasn't texted me since."
It's quiet, save for the passing traffic. Katsuki looks at Camie, who's still looking at the texts. She looks contemplative, which- alright. As much as it leaves a sour taste on his tongue, maybe she could translate Todoroki texts.
"I think he likes you, king," is all Camie says.
Katsuki’s mouth goes dry. “Right.”
“Nah, seriously! Look at all these signs! And a heckin’ selfie? Shirtless pic? The Todobae I knew would never.”
"People change," Katsuki says. He looks at the light go red, green with a surge of engines.
"Why're you so resistant to the idea?" Camie fires back, easy. "People change. But you're the one whose gotten to know him as him as he is recently. You tell me whether you got something going on."
"We don't- we don't have anything going on.” It’s the admission of defeat that snaps him out of the funk. “But I'd like to."
Camie puts his phone in his lap, and Todoroki's shy smile stares back at him, frozen in time. "Tell him that."
.
Katsuki doesn’t tell Todoroki.
Yet.
He’s never been a fan of texting, and confessing through a screen isn’t how he wants to do it. He wants to do it right. Meaning, spending days pacing thinking of what to do about the orchid that’s still flopping over. Unhappy plants means unhappy Todoroki means why would I want to go out with a plant murderer, Bakugou?
The new orchid seems vibrant beside its raggedy ass conspecific, but Katsuki knows how sentimental Todoroki can get. And he knows too, the new can’t always replace the old. Fuck.
Fuck.
Katsuki enters his neighbour’s apartment and heads straight to the closet. It’s a familiar space, and the past two weeks going in and out have made him grab the watering can like muscle memory. He knows where things are now, which- hell yeah.
The plants seem to be doing better now than when he was a fuckin’ amateur at least. They’re not flagging anymore, and the leaf that had the audacity to turn yellow has recovered back to a shrek green. Katsuki checks the soil for dryness, and waters the ones that have dried up like plums into prunes. Call him the fuckin’ Gordon Ramsay of plants. Hell yeah.
He purposefully avoids looking at the orchid until it’s staring right back at him, upset.
“He’ll be back tomorrow,” Katsuki says. To a plant. Fuck. “Hang in there, y’hear?!”
Fuck. He’s the one who needs to hang in there.
Katsuki sends the usual check-in plant photos, which have saved the flow of their texts. One plant photo and boom bam, happy man. Since they’re doing better, he’s been taking good ass photos- the high quality shit with angles and lighting. Call him the fuckin’ Gordon Ramsay of photos. Yell heah.
You (7:15):
Photo
Photo
Photo
Photo
He feels the buzz before he can quit the app.
Halfie (7:15):
They look happy :-)
You (7:16):
i’m taking care of em so they better be
Halfie (7:16):
I’m sure
Katsuki can’t figure out if it’s sarcasm or not. He thinks of Todoroki’s kindness and his smile and thinks no, then thinks of his deadpan remarks and gossip sessions. Katsuki thinks of addressing this attitude, but gets another text.
Halfie (7:17):
Any plans today? The day is young
You (7:18):
wtf says that
going on a hike
Halfie (7:18):
I do
Sounds fun. Take 📷
You (7:18):
yeah yeah
Halfie (7:18):
We’re going to the beach today
Katsuki blinks. Totally unprompted. But not totally unwelcomed. His thumbs hover over the keyboard, not using the shitty autofill replies.
You (7:19):
wear sunscreen and a hat so you don’t get sunburnt
Halfie (7:20):
Will do
Katsuki (7:20):
enjoy ur last day
or whatever
Halfie (7:20):
Thanks :-) Excited to come back though
I missed you
Ok bye
The green dot goes white. Katsuki stares at the text. I missed you.
You (7:24):
same here
.
There’s three raps on his door. Katsuki tucks himself out of the couch, then ambles to the door at a perfectly reasonable pace of someone who’s excited to see their crush again. He opens the door, and Todoroki’s at the other end.
“Did you wear a hat at all,” Katsuki remarks, because Todoroki’s gotten tan. It’s a nice tan, a slight bronze and not liquid Cheetos. Still. UV rays can fuck you the fuck up.
“I did,” Todoroki has the gall to pout. He unzips his luggage, and pulls out a strawberry bucket hat. He plops it on his head like he’s back on the beach and not home, home, home. “See?”
Katsuki sees.
“Welcome back,” Katsuki offers. “Uh. I fucked up your orchid.”
He doesn’t get the pissed off look he was expecting. Todoroki’s lips quirk up. “I figured. It didn’t show up in any of the pictures at the end of the first week.”
“…ah shit. Yeah.” Katsuki grimaces. “I heard it was still alright though, just- maybe don’t water it for a while. Sorry.”
“Orchids are notorious for being hard to grow,” Todoroki consoles. “It’ll get better. Anyways…”
Todoroki shuffles his feet, then goes back to his luggage again. He takes out a tiny pot, then holds it out carefully.
"What's this?" Katsuki asks.
"You said you liked cacti, so…" Todoroki trails off, grip tightening on the little pot. "It's a succulent. They're very tolerant and hard to kill."
Hard to kill. Katsuki pulls a face, as much as it’s deserved, but Todoroki bulldozes ahead. “Not that you’re bad at it. The plants all look well taken care of. Other than. That.”
Katsuki looks at the little plant. It’s just a- baby. Todoroki trusted him with his, and is now trusting Katsuki to take care of his own. He bites his lip, then heads inside to grab his latest purchase. When he opens the door again, Todoroki looks a bit crestfallen- but his expression brightens again when he sees Katsuki.
“I got ya a plant too,” Katsuki says, and holds it out-
still holding onto it, a while later. Katsuki looks over the plant, only to see Todoroki marvel at it.
“Take it,” Katsuki prompts, and Todoroki just extends the succulent his way.
They exchange plants. Katsuki holds the little succulent with all the delicacy he can muster. It’s a tiny, tiny thing, plump green leaves rising like a star low above the soil.
“Thank you,” Todoroki says, and holds the orchid close to his chest. “It’s beautiful.”
“Reminded me of you,’ Katsuki blurts out, then wants to jump in his freezer until he’s numb to embarrassment. Holy fuck.
Todoroki makes a noise, and bangs shadow his face. There’s a blush dancing across his cheeks though, and Katsuki wonders what if, what if, what if.
And, see. Katsuki doesn't know shit about plants. But he knows Todoroki, he thinks. He does. He thinks back to their texts, their memories, their now. He thinks, he acts-
"Tell me if I'm reading it wrong," Katsuki whispers.
When Katsuki leans in, Todoroki meets him halfway.
His lips are soft. All that time looking, fantasizing, and nothing measures to the real thing. Katsuki winds a hand in Todoroki's hair, and it's silky smooth. There's a keen then, and he smiles in the kiss.
Katsuki moves away first, catches lips chasing his own. He breathes, heart stuttering in his chest as he rests his forehead on Todoroki's.
"About that favour," Katsuki says. He licks his lips, tastes strawberry. "I think I know what I want."
Todoroki tracks all his movements with wide eyes, the flick of the tongue, knee parting his legs wider.
"Yeah?" Todoroki swallows.
"Yeah." Katsuki grins. "Go out with me."
“Hn,” Todoroki hums, and Katsuki’s heart falls a bit. The flow had gone so well, all smiles, all feelings afloat. Then, “I don’t want our relationship to be based off a favour.”
Fuck. Katsuki breathes, “go out with me then.”
Todoroki laughs, breathy and high-pitched and full of nerves. “Ok.”
Katsuki catches Todoroki’s laugh in another kiss, and the smile against his lips is his favourite one to date.
One of many more to come.
fin.