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“So it’s confirmed?” Todoroki asked.
Bakugou smirked, holding up three tickets in his hand. “Just got them this morning,” he told the other. He stood in front of Todoroki’s doorway at his family home, as they had agreed upon earlier in the day.
“Shinsou will be excited,” Todoroki said, moving aside to allow the other in.
“Sure hope so,” Bakugou replied, “Haven’t been able to tell him yet.”
“Aren’t you doing this out of order?” Todoroki asked. “He is your mate, but you are telling me before him.” The two of them walked to Todoroki’s room.
Bakugou frowned. The two of them had a whole new understanding between them, a whole new level of closeness and friendship, even if Bakugou was begrudge to admit it aloud. “I’m telling him tonight,” he said, sitting down on the bed, not bothering to ask permission. It was understood between them at this point.
“And Kirishima?” Todoroki asked, sitting beside him.
“Will be going with Deku,” he replied.
“Ah, I hadn’t realized,” Todoroki admitted.
“You two still haven’t talked,” Bakugou sighed.
“That’s not it,” Todoroki told him, “I have spoken to him.”
- - - - - - - - - -
Todoroki knocked on Midoriya’s bedroom door after Inko had let him in. He felt a tension in his stomach, still not entirely sure on what he was going to say to his friend. After a moment he didn’t get the chance to think much more on it with the door opening to reveal Midoriya’s smiling face once he realized he was there.
“Oh, hey Todoroki, I didn’t realize you were coming over,” Midoriya said, inviting him in. “Shinsou’s out with Momo,” he told him, “They’ve been talking about hanging out some time during the summer, apparently. I had no idea, but I’m glad that the rest of 2-A are also so friendly to Shinsou.”
Todoroki nodded, knowing that Momo was wanting to become closer friends with Shinsou.
“So what brings you over?” Midoriya asked, sitting down on the floor, leaning back against the bed.
Todoroki sat down across from him, gathering his thoughts. He opened his mouth to speak, but…
I’ve made you uncomfortable,” Midoriya then said, “Haven’t I.”
“That’s not it,” Todoroki told him. He took Midoriya’s hand and gripped it, tight, but not to bring pain. “I don’t know what I want beyond friendship between us,” he told him, “And I don’t want to leave things in the air, so I’m telling you that I don’t know what I want. Bakugou told me that it might be hard on you and maybe a little confusing, but that I shouldn’t keep you in the dark about it anymore.”
Midoriya watched him as he spoke, never speaking to interrupt. He was always so considerate, always so kind and patient. He was practically perfect, yet Todoroki wasn’t sure if he was perfect for him. He knew that he liked Midoriya, but he didn’t know if he liked him beyond that of a friend. He knew that there was some sort of attraction he felt, but he didn’t understand it. Was he feeling the attraction out of something related to his secondary gender? In his head he could practically hear Bakugou growling at him if that even mattered. His secondary gender didn’t make him, it was just a part of him. All of this, in his mind, was just more proof that he should figure it out before he does enter a potential relationship with Midoriya.
“What I’m saying is that I don’t want to hurt you, Midoriya. I don’t want to get your hopes up and I don’t want to hurt our friendship, but I don’t know if a relationship is something I want,” Todoroki told him. He hated the hurt look that he saw in his friend’s eyes, trying to hide it, but unable to. “I know that you like me,” he told him, “And I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I understand,” Midoriya told him, lip trembling, eyes growing red from the unshed tears that would surely come. Todoroki hated the look, hated that he still hurt Midoriya.
“I just want to be honest with you,” Todoroki told him, holding his hand less tightly, gently cupping it with the other, looking at it as he spoke. “You are an amazing person, an amazing friend and hero.”
“But I’m not what you want,” Midoriya said.
His eyes went wide, shocked to hear the other speak to clearly, so empty, so void of emotion. He looked up from Midoriya’s hands to see that the other had shed tears, but he just looked so empty. “I’m sorry for not being able to understand,” he then said, “Because I desperately want to, I want to be able to give you a clear answer.”
“I-it’s okay,” he finally cracked. Tears fell down his freckled face and it was like a knife gutting Todoroki right open. He wanted to hug him, but he knew that would probably make things worse for Midoriya and that was the last thing he wanted.
“I’m really sorry,” he said again, knowing it wouldn’t help anything, not really, but he said it anyway.
- - - - - - - - - -
“And then I left,” Todoroki told him.
Bakugou looked at him with a stern look, but he didn’t yell. “I guess you didn’t completely fuck up,” he said in an oddly calm tone.
“It didn’t exactly go as I hoped,” Todoroki admitted.
“What did you want?”
“I suppose some clarity,” he said, “and to expect as much was foolish of me.”
“It was,” Bakugou told him, “But, that doesn’t matter much now, does it? You, me, and Shinsou are going to Nabu Island while Deku’s going to Otheon with Kirishima.”
“Oh, Kirishima is going with Midoriya?” Todoroki asked. “Did he not want to go with you?”
“More like I asked him to go with Deku,” Bakugou told him. He sighed. “There is still a bit of tension and Kirishima said he would go visit the kids next time. Not sure when that will be, but I do think it will be easiest. He mentioned not wanting Deku to feel like he was going to be alone on his trip, but I’m pretty sure the nerd asked him to go before any of this.”
“Maybe it will be good for both of them,” Todoroki said, then he realized the name of the city. “Wait, Otheon?”
“That’s right,” Bakugou looked at him carefully, “He’s going to see that extra.”
“Rody,” Todoroki supplied for him.
“Whatever.”
Todoroki remembered the beta from their mission. “They still keep in contact?” Todoroki asked, more to himself than to Bakugou.
“I guess,” Bakugou responded, “And hey, you don’t get to be jealous about this. You made yourself clear to him, right? You don’t want to hurt him and you don’t know what you want. So, let him be. He’s your friend and his happiness matters to you, right?”
“It does,” Todoroki replied, knowing that Bakugou was right. He didn’t want to hurt Midoriya any more than he already had. “Why do I feel jealous?”
“Maybe you like him, but don’t want to be in a relationship,” Bakugou said. “Do you think it has anything to do with your dad?”
“My dad?”
“You said he hated you being an omega, well Deku’s an alpha. Do you think that there is a part of you that sees him as what you should have been?”
“No,” Todoroki said immediately before hesitating after, “Maybe,” he then admitted. “Being an alpha is what my father had wanted for me. But, when I look at Midoriya, I don’t think of him.”
“Good,” Bakugou made a face of disgust, “What I meant was, do you think that you’re jealous of Deku?”
“I don’t think being an alpha ever really mattered to me, to be honest. I didn’t care that I was an omega and it started to make me happier because it pissed my dad off so much,” he smirked at that. “I don’t like or dislike it, it just is.”
“Well, whatever it is, you need to figure it out,” Bakugou told him, “Because carrying on with this jealousy is just going to hurt both of you in the end.”
“You sound like you care,” Todoroki told him.
“Shut up, of course I care,” Bakugou nearly snarled, returning back to the friend that Todoroki was familiar with.
Todoroki found himself smiling at that. It wasn’t that he thought Bakugou didn’t care, it was just a bit humorous to him that the other was so open about it, well, in his own way of being open. “Tell me about them,” he then said.
“About who?” Bakugou snapped.
“About Katsuma and Mahoro,” Todoroki replied.
That got a smirk out of the blond and even maybe a bit of a softer smile. “You saw them,” he said, “They're strong and smart kids. Katsuma is pretty attached to Deku and Mahoro writes to me every so often. They are going to be great when they grow up. They want to get strong, protect each other.”
“I didn’t get to see them much when we were there and I didn’t get to know them like you and Midoriya did,” Todoroki said, “But, it sounds like you are fond of them, as well.”
“Sure,” Bakugou replied, “They’re good kids, I guess. Brats, but good.”
Todoroki chuckled at that. “I don’t think I have ever been very fond of children,” he admitted, “Perhaps Eri is the only exception.”
“What about the brats from the test for our license?” Bakugou asked.
Todoroki shrugged. “They were part of our training, I didn’t feel anything more about them than that.”
“Agreed,” Bakugou replied.
“I think Midoriya would want kids,” Todoroki then said, “And I don’t know if I could ever give them to him.”
“If you don’t want kids, don’t have kids. If you decide you do want to be with the nerd, he wouldn’t force you. We both know he wouldn’t,” Bakugou told him, “And if he ever did, I’d kill him.”
Todoroki felt a tug at his heart. He moved closer to Bakugou and the blond let him lean into him. The comfort he felt from Bakugou wasn’t anything akin to what he would sometimes feel with Midoriya. This was affection in a different sense. A friendship that was nothing more, nothing less, he supposed. Bakugou gave him peace and he actually was helping him figure this out, helping him in ways that Momo couldn’t, giving clarity and direction to his thoughts. He wrapped his arms around the blond and hugged him, letting the stress and tension leak out of his body. The other omega’s scent began to flood into his senses, calming him further. Bakugou had such a strong holds and understanding of his own scent and secondary gender. Todoroki felt a bit jealous. Sure, he could control his scent to nearly make it scentless, but to simply understand himself so well, he did wish he knew that side of himself more. Bakugou knew exactly how to comfort another omega, was great at it, even. The sweet apple cider made him inhale deeper, nuzzling into Bakugou’s shoulder.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” the blond told him, but it didn’t sound like as much of a threat as the blond may have wanted. Besides, he didn’t pull away, instead leaning into Todoroki, as well.
“Kirishima and Shinsou are lucky to have you,” he told him, feeling calm and content just staying there.
“Hell yeah they are,” Bakugou replied, not in a boisterous yell or shout, but in a soft agreement. “I love them both,” he told him, “And it still hurts that I wasn’t there for Shinsou when he needed us.”
“Is that you being jealous?” Todoroki asked, genuinely curious.
“Maybe,” the blond admitted, “But, it also hurts my pride as his mate and as the future Number One Hero.”
Todoroki just hummed against his shoulder. “How are your ears?” he then asked.
“I have my first appointment when we get back,” he told him.
“Good,” Todoroki feeling his throat growl, no purr against Bakugou.
“Pretty comfy, huh,” Bakugou sighed.
“Mmhmm,” he responded easily.
“You’ve never had another omega comfort you,” he observed.
“Never,” Todoroki responded.
“Not even the class rep?”
“Momo didn’t know for a long time,” he replied, “And we have only discussed our secondary genders briefly in the past, but she does try to help.”
“I guess just give me a heads up when you need this,” Bakugou replied, a little gruffly, but genuine.
Todoroki hummed, pulling Bakugou down, so they were both lying back on the bed. He got more comfortable as he cuddled up with the blond. He felt how stiff Bakugou had become from the movement before settling. “Sleepy,” he said against his ear, wanting nothing more than to cocoon himself up, surrounding himself in the calming scent.
Bakugou turned an moved Todoroki’s head in order to sniff his scent gland. “You’re going to go into Heat soon,” he sighed.
“No,” he whined, “Don’t want to, took suppressants.”
“They’re not good for long term use, idiot,” Bakugou snickered.
“Not working well lately,” Todoroki then admitted, curling closer to him.
“Well, you’re going to have to ride this one out on your own,” Bakugou told him, sitting up and prying the other off his arm. “Here,” he then said, taking his shirt off and handing it to him. “I’ll borrow one of yours to leave, just make sure I get it back.”
Todoroki nodded, head feeling heavy and eyes droopy. “I will,” he promised.
Bakugou pat his head, gentle and so unlike the person he presented himself as, before moving towards the door. “Our plane leaves next week, so you’ll be fine then,” he told him, taking his leave after.
Todoroki snuggled up to the shirt, falling to sleep quickly, calmed by the scent of his friend.
***
Bakugou walked to the home of his teachers and Shinsou, Deku lived there, too, but he wasn’t there to see him. Besides, he was pretty sure the nerd was out with his friends and maybe Kirishima. The two had been bonding more after that day and Bakugou was happy for his alpha. He needed to be around the others more, not just he and Shinsou.
The closer he got to the house, the more he knew what he was about to do would probably change how the two of them saw him. He didn’t want to talk about it and he wouldn’t even be talking to Todoroki about it if the other didn’t help him with it so much already.
He knocked on the door, finding Eri opening it for him, a bright smile on her face as she ran to hug him.
“You smell nice,” she told him.
“Thanks,” he snorted, “Do I not smell nice all the time? You telling me I usually stink or something?”
She laughed at that. “You smell like Izu’s friend,” she told him.
“I went to see him earlier,” he told her.
“Are you here to see brother Hito?” she asked.
“You know it,” he ruffled the top of her head, walking past her.
“Hey!” she laughed, hitting him with her little fists, so light and playful. He knew she wasn’t trying to hurt him, he knew that she could hit way harder than that now.
“Don’t make me fight you,” he found himself laughing.
A head poked out of a room and Aizawa watched the two, sighing before going back to whatever he was doing.
“Don’t make me beat you up, Katsu,” she giggled.
She had grown much fonder of him and he kinda liked that, kinda liked it a lot. “Maybe another time,” he told her, “Right now I’m here to see my boyfriend, not beat the snot from his little sister’s nose.”
“Hey, I’m not snotty,” she pouted before huffing. “He’s in his room reading,” she told him.
“Perfect,” he said, going to Shinsou’s door, knocking on it.
The boy opened it fairly quickly, smiling once he saw it was Bakugou there.
“Hey,” he said, letting Bakugou lean in and kiss him on the cheek.
“Little squirt said you were in here reading,” Bakugou said.
Shinsou pulled his boyfriend inside, a smile on his face. “I was reading a self defense book,” he told him.
Bakugou closed the door behind him. “Sexy,” he said, leaning in to kiss Shinsou’s lips this time.
“Did you go see Todoroki?” Shinsou asked.
“Yeah, let him know that the tickets are all ready and that we’re leaving next week,” he said, kissing him again.
“You smell like him,” Shinsou pouted.
“Sorry,” Bakugou said, but he wasn’t going to change anything about it. Todoroki needed him sometimes and Shinsou understood that. Kirishima understood that, too.
“It’s fine,” Shinsou told him, “But, I do want you to smell a little less like him and a little more like me,” he admitted.
“I didn’t come here to make out,” Bakugou stopped him, caressing his cheek, still. “I came here to talk. Kirishima isn’t here, but I want to talk to him about this, too.”
“Should I call him?” Shinsou asked.
“No, I think I want to talk to the two of you separately about this,” he told him. He could see that Shinsou was nervous, could smell it in the air. He kissed him again, wanting to assure him that everything was okay. “I’m going to visit a specialist when we get back from our trip,” he told him. “I’m losing hearing and I want to stop it before it becomes irreversible.”
Shinsou looked at him and Bakugou could see he was scared. “Katsuki,” he whispered.
“I’m going to be fine,” he told him, caressing his cheek, rubbing him with his thumb, desperately wanting it all to be true. “Todoroki’s been helping me find the best, because I’m going to be the best. This isn’t going to stop me and I refuse to let it slow me down.”
Shinsou’s lip trembled, but he didn’t cry.
“Don’t let this change anything,” he told him and this time he felt his own lip tremble.
“Who all knows?” Shinsou asked.
“All Might and Todoroki are the only ones I’ve told,” he said, “But, I’m sure Aizawa knows and maybe Present Mic.”
“When are you going to tell Kirishima?”
“Maybe tonight,” he said, “But, I wanted to tell you alone and I want to tell him alone.”
“I understand,” Shinsou told him, hugging him now.
“Don’t let this make you sad,” he told him, “I’m going to get help.”
He felt Shinsou nod against him.
“Do you want to talk about the trip?” he then asked, wanting to take his mind off of it and suspected Shinsou may want that, as well.
“Sure,” he responded, “Tell me all about these kids that idolize you so much.”
The little chuckle didn’t go unnoticed even if it was muffled. “You brat,” he chuckled, pulling Shinsou away so he could kiss him again. Damn he missed him, missed having him so close all the time. Missed Kirishima being just next door. He kissed him hard, kissed him good, kissed him like there was nothing else in the world between them.
“Mmm,” Shinsou pulled away, “I thought you said you weren’t here to make out.”
“Thought you might want to cover Todoroki’s scent,” he smirked.
“Damn you,” he began rubbing his scent all over his boyfriend, his mate.
Bakugou found himself laughing at that. “You know, Todoroki’s gonna be going with us, so you might have to just get used to his scent on me.”
“I know, but for just a little while longer, can you let me have this?” Shinsou asked.
“Fine,” he conceded, letting Shinsou take him to the bed and scent him like he wanted. He seriously didn’t think that it would be an issue in the future. They all knew that Todoroki wasn’t interested in Bakugou and vice versa, besides that, his mates weren’t really the jealous type when it came to these things. Shinsou hung out with Midoriya a lot, especially with them living together, so he smelt like the other alpha and Midoriya smelt like Shinsou. It wasn’t a problem between them.
“What is Nabu Island like?” Shinsou asked, once he was good and satisfied.
“Just a small beach town,” he told him, “There’s not much to it.”
“And the kids’ parents?” Shinsou asked.
“They don’t have any,” he admitted. He began to pet Shinsou’s hair now that the other had laid down with him.
“Did they,” Shinsou hesitated.
“Yeah,” he told him, “But, I don’t know much of what happened. The towns folk take care of them.”
“I’m glad for that,” Shinsou said.
“Wish there was something I could do,” he admitted, “I’d bring them here, take care of them if I could, but we’re still in school and I don’t know shit about taking care of kids. Isn’t that weird?” He asked, “That I want something like that?”
“I don’t think so,” Shinsou told him, “You want to be a hero, want to protect and save people. You care a lot about those kids and you want to protect them.”
“Really fucks me up when I think about it,” he admits, “That I want to take care of these kids, raise them, but I don’t want to actually have kids of my own.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that, I think,” Shinsou told him.
“I guess so,” Bakugou responded and as far as he was concerned, that was the end of that conversation.
Shinsou seemed to get the message and didn’t say anything more on it. Instead, he just asked questions on the island, about the locals and the food, asked about where they were staying and how long.
“After, we’ll fly to Otheon and meet up with Deku and Kirishima,” he told Shinsou, “Then we will all fly back home.”
“Seems like a real far out flight,” Shinsou pointed out.
“I know it will make Todoroki feel better, even if he is being stubborn about his feelings,” he told him.
Shinsou smiled. “I’m glad that you care about him,” he said.
“Don’t ever tell him,” Bakugou replied.
“My lips are sealed,” Shinsou chuckled, kissing Bakugou’s cheek. “Do you think Rory will feels anything for Midoriya?” he then asked.
Bakugou considered the idea for a moment. He didn’t care to know much about the guy when they had met. The world was in danger and he only cared about saving it, not getting to know Deku’s new friend. “I don’t know,” he decided.
“What is he like?” Shinsou then asked. “Do you approve of him?”
He snorted. “He cares about his siblings and is willing to do some shady things to protect them. I can’t say I’m completely opposed, but I don’t know everything he has done or is capable of doing. He’s on the straight and narrow now, according to Deku, not that I ever asked. That’s how he even got involved in the first place,” he thought about what Izuku told him about how the situation had ended, remembered how there was so much blood. It was on the floor, all over the walls, the guy was lucky to be alive. “He saved Deku,” he told Shinsou, “saved all of us, really. Without him, the devices would have never been stopped.”
“I can’t wait to meet him,” Shinsou said with a smile.
“He’s also really annoying,” he added.
Shinsou laughed at that. He nuzzled closer, breathing in Bakugou’s scent. He could still smell the lingering jasmine, but he found that he didn’t mind as much as he had before.
“When is your next Heat?” Bakugou asked.
“It shouldn’t be for a while,” Shinsou told him, “Why?”
“With this trip coming up, there is a chance that I will have mine,” he admitted. “I just wanted to let you know now before it happens.”
“Do you want me there for it?” Shinsou asked.
Bakugou honestly wasn’t sure. Wasn’t sure if he was ready for anything remotely close to that. He’d never shared his Heat with anybody. “I’ll think about it,” he replied.
“I don’t want to push you for it,” Shinsou then said, “But, if I have mine, I may need help.” He looked nearly ashamed of it.
Bakugou pulled him close. “You let me know if that happens,” he told him.
“I love you,” Shinsou mumbled against his chest.
“Love you, too,” Bakugou told him.
“Are you still mad at Kirishima?” Shinsou asked.
“A bit,” he admitted, “But, I’m getting there.” Laying there, he decided now was as good a time as any to ask. “I don’t get why you were never mad,” he said.
Shinsou didn’t respond at first and Bakugou felt like he had said the wrong thing, like he should have just kept his mouth shut.
Bakugou was about to take back what he said, but…
“I was mad,” he admitted, “and disappointed. I also knew that he wouldn’t have found us. From where we were taken, nobody would have found us. If Dabi hadn’t helped us, we probably would still be there or worse. I am still a little mad at him, too,” he then said, “Because he should have been there for you, he should have stayed by your side and helped you. I love you and I love him and I know that he loves us, I know that you love us, I just want us to be alright.”
“We will be,” he mumbled, wanting to believe it, knowing that he would do everything in his power to make it work.
“How are your ears?” Shinsou then asked, probably trying to change the topic.
“So far, they only hurt when I hear a noise that’s too loud,” he told him. “I suspect that it will only get worse the longer I leave them unchecked.”
“I’m glad you’re going to see someone,” he said.
“I’m probably going to tell Kirishima tomorrow,” he told Shinsou, deciding that tonight might be too much.
“I think that’s a good idea.”
“I don’t want to leave on this trip without him knowing,” Bakugou sighed.
“Hmmm,” Shinsou purred against him, “I need to get a swimsuit,” he told him.
It was the second time today that an omega purred from his touch. He kissed Shinsou’s head. “I love you,” he told him.
Shinsou didn’t say anything about his mate being a little extra loving today, not wanting to ruin it. He was glad to be on the receiving end, but couldn’t help wishing that Kirishima was there, too. He couldn’t lie and say he wasn’t troubled by Bakugou and Kirishima’s sudden distance between each other. It made him sad, sure, and honestly, he wished that the two could just make up and they could all be happy again. He wanted both his mates together, visiting the children that Bakugou had made such an impact on, going to new places, making new memories. On the other hand, he wanted to respect the feelings Bakugou felt and what Kirishima was feeling, so he wouldn’t get involved if he could help it.
“After we graduate,” Bakugou said, “I’m not sure if I want us to immediately move in together,” he then admitted.
Shinsou felt his chest tighten a little bit.
“It’s not that I don’t want to be with you and Kirishima anymore,” he told him, “And I’ve talked to Shitty Hair about it before, I just want to be able to get all my priorities straightened out. I don’t know how else to describe it.”
Shinsou was stiff in his arms. The purring had stopped a bit ago.
“If you’re not okay with that, I understand, but I just want you to know that this is how I feel,” Bakugou told him.
Shinsou felt himself take a breath. “It will be something to get used to,” he told him and it felt robotic once it left him.
Bakugou didn’t apologize, there was really no reason to. Why should he apologize for voicing his wants? It wasn’t just a want, this was something that was important to him. He loved these two people and lying to them would be the exact opposite of what he wants with them. Honesty was really important to him, especially in a relationship such as this.
The tension between them was still there when Bakugou kissed Shinsou’s cheek. It was assurance that Bakugou still loved him, perhaps, but it didn’t exactly fix anything now did it? It was a bandage on a new wound. “It’s going to be okay,” Bakugou said for both of them.
“Yeah,” Shinsou said.
“I’m going to go talk to All Might, okay?”
“Okay,” Shinsou replied.
Bakugou kissed his cheek again and the warmth was gone. The sound of the closing door hit his ears.