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Recently, there’s been a dog scampering around campus. Deku learns that it’s an adult male Pomeranian with a cream-colored coat and deep red eyes. Sometimes he’ll beg for food in the kitchen or scrape his nails against the door to be let outside, but that’s usually the worst of it. Aside from barking at anyone who gets too close, he’s relatively harmless.
He doesn’t wear a collar and isn’t microchipped so nobody knows who he belongs to. The students adore him too much to let him roam the streets anyway. The canine also seems to have a slight inclination towards Deku. He’s the only one who can pet him without getting his finger bitten off, which he found strange but also kind of funny.
The budding hero designates the name Dynamight for the little guy due to his feisty, borderline aggressive behavior. He does notice, however, that Kacchan is never present at the same time as the dog. Is he allergic? Or maybe he’s not fond of animals? Either way, the situation entailed spending more time with his fluffy companion who made for surprisingly good company. Whether it be relaxing on the couch, playing tug of war with some rope, or simply stroking his soft fur while his other arm flexes a dumbbell.
***
As soon as Deku catches wind that he’s been accepted for an internship at Endeavor’s agency, he clamors to find Kacchan and deliver the wonderful news. He searches the entire property, but his friend is nowhere to be found. The last place he checks is the elder’s dorm. Not wanting to invade his privacy, he knocks on the slightly ajar door.
No response.
Tentatively, he enters the room and sees Dynamight napping peacefully on Kacchan’s bed. Deku’s gasp causes the canine’s ears to perk. He wakes up and yawns, stretching his short limbs.
“Um, I don’t think you’re allowed in here, buddy.” Deku sits on the edge of the mattress, twitching nervously.
The Pomeranian chuffs, its scarlet eyes narrowing as if to say, ‘are you stupid?’
Deku stares inquisitively at the dog until his brain nearly explodes from the revelation.
“Kacchan?!”
Dynamight barks happily and digs his paws into the sheets. He perches on his hind legs, letting his pink tongue slide out of his mouth. Stunned, Deku cards a hand through his dark green locks. It did explain a lot circumstantially. He wonders why he didn’t connect the dots faster.
“Wow, this is…a lot to absorb. How—when did it happen?”
Dynamight gives a shake of the head and Deku recognizes he’s speaking to a dog.
“Right. You can’t talk. Hmm, I can try guessing and you can give me a signal to indicate if my assumption is correct.”
The canine pants and wags his tail. Deku giggles at the spectacle.
“Let’s see. Was it a villain’s quirk?”
A yip.
“Is it permanent?”
A grunt.
“Oh, thank goodness. I was worried for a second. Do you know when it will wear off?”
A whimper.
“That’s okay. I’m sure you’ll return to normal soon.”
Dynamight shuffles over and deposits on Deku’s lap. The boy smiles and scratches his head.
“Hey, you like belly rubs?”
He growls. Deku chuckles.
“Message received.”
***
The time for Class 1-A to choose their hero titles has descended and the students are beyond ecstatic. Deku already knows what his will be. After all, Kacchan imparted the nickname. Even if it was intended to be an insult, it eventually morphed into a special epithet that brought them closer together.
Shoto and Iida stuck with their original names, but for everyone else, this is a pivotal moment that defines the rest of their careers as heroes. The moniker would be shouted from the lungs of needy citizens and doting fans. Plastered on magazine covers and printed on various articles of merchandise.
Everyone chimes in with something that suites their personalities and attributes to their quirks. Of course, you have Kacchan spieling an oh-so-humble-
“Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight!”
Deku glances up from his journal, emerald eyes alert.
“Perhaps we can eliminate the first four words,” Midnight suggests awkwardly.
“Hah?! What’s wrong with it?!”
Kirishima and Kaminari tease Kacchan about its violent connotation and being a mouth full while the eldest continues to protest vehemently. Deku blushes a bit, realizing that he inadvertently inspired the idea and that Kacchan does harbor a sentimental side.
***
“Has anyone seen that adorable puppy lately?” Ochako asks while helping set the table.
“Maybe he’s hiding. The poor thing seems pretty shy,” Momo adds, carrying a stack of ceramic plates.
Mineta scoffs.
“Shy? Yeah right.” He waves his band-aid wrapped thumb. “Look what that thing did to me!”
“For you? It was probably warranted,” Tsu claps back.
Mineta huffs and crosses his arms.
“…Better not give me rabies,” he mutters.
The girls snicker and finish meal preparations. Kacchan, who’s taken charge of sweeping the floor, grimaces at his fellow classmates.
“You idiots. I am the damn dog.”
They all snap their heads in unison at Kacchan, skepticism and confusion etched across their faces.
“Bro, are you pranking us right now?” Kaminari blinks.
The blond clutches the broom tightly and grits his teeth.
“I was fighting a villain and their quirk was Species Transformation. They zapped me and turned me into a mutt. I can’t control the shifts and I don’t know when it will wear off. It’s fucking annoying.”
A mute pause engulfs the room before the whole class erupts into laughter. They start bombarding him with ludicrous questions such as:
“Can you see in black and white?”
“Do you pee on fire hydrants?”
“How far can you reach back there?”
Kacchan slams his fist on the counter.
“Shut the hell up, extras! I’ll blow all of you to pieces!”
They dismiss his empty threats, having adapted to them by now. Everyone enjoys their food, engaging in casual chatter. Deku and Kacchan sit beside each other and the younger can’t help but notice how endearing he looks when he eats. Cheeks puffed out as he chews, expression neutral, yet soberly concentrated. This is one of the rare instances where he actually seems at peace.
Their knees brush under the table and suddenly the temperature in the room increases. Deku shovels spoonfuls of rice into his mouth, trying to ignore the roiling pit in his stomach. Kacchan observes him, raising an eyebrow.
“What’s your problem, nerd?”
Deku bristles.
“N-nothing. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me,” he sputters, freckled face flushing a brilliant shade of strawberry.
Kacchan rolls his eyes and resumes slurping his noodles nonchalantly. Deku acknowledges that he has a lot to ruminate on regarding this groundbreaking discovery.
***
Deku is awoken around 8am by a heavy weight on his chest. Literally. The boy rubs his eyes and squints to see Dynamight standing on top of him, making a noise between a groan and a whine.
“What is it, Kacchan?” he mumbles in a raspy voice.
Dynamight barks twice and stomps his paws into the blanket. He seems hyper. Virtually desperate.
“You need to go outside?”
The Pomeranian twirls in his spot excitedly. Deku sits up, stretches as the dog bolts to the door and waits rather impatiently, yapping for him to hurry.
“Okay, I’m coming,” he chuckles.
Deku slides the glass door open and Dynamight bolts into the yard to do his business. The autumn air is crisp and there’s a slight breeze, causing him to shudder. He waddles into the kitchen to brew himself a cup of hot tea. He barely savors the taste when a small bark nearly makes him drop his mug. Dynamight is at his feet, tilting his head and licking his lips. Deku kneels down and scratches the canine’s ears.
“Hungry?”
Dynamight swishes his feathered tail back and forth in confirmation. Deku pours him a bowl of cereal and places it on the floor. Immediately, the Pomeranian dives in, munching contently and lapping up the milk.
Deku plops down next to him in a cross-legged position. His memory recalls last week when he practically ogled Kacchan doing something mundane as indulging his appetite. How it occurred to him that he’s most definitely developing a crush on his childhood best friend. It’s bizarre to think that this spunky creature in front of him was the same person in a different body.
Deku reminds himself of the period where he wasn’t aware Kacchan was the dog. He remembers kissing him, cuddling him, spilling his private thoughts to him and suddenly he grows embarrassed. Kacchan knows about the skeletons in his closet and it’s a tough pill to swallow.
What if he exposes him, or blackmails him into doing his bidding? No, he’s not that cruel. Besides, he kept All Might’s secret for months which couldn’t have been easy. But, what if all the affection he’s been showing makes Kacchan uncomfortable? He would tell him, right?
Deku’s mind is in shambles and he feels a headache surfacing. He excuses himself and retires to his quarters, requesting Dynamight not to follow him.
***
The majority of Class 1-A figured out that Kacchan wanted to be left alone, but the select few (AKA Kirishima and Kaminari) were way too nosy to drop the subject.
“Has it ever happened in public?” Kirishima asks.
Poor Kacchan just wants to exercise in peace and these pests are interrogating him like a witness at a crime scene. He answers in the middle of performing pull-ups.
“Once. I can always tell when I’m about to change. My skin gets itchy and my vision blurs so I’m able to find cover before anyone sees me.”
“So you basically run around naked,” Kaminari snorts.
“You’re disgusting,” Kacchan hisses.
Kirishima’s smile is so wide, it nearly cracks his face.
“Ever had the urge to sniff someone else’s butt?”
Both boys doubled over in laughter, leaning on each other for stability. Kacchan pounded his fist into his palm, releasing a puff of smoke.
“No, but I sure as hell have the urge to kick both of yours.”
He chased them out the door, yelling obscenities, the duo half-cackling half-howling like a pair of giddy schoolgirls.
***
Shoto enters the room decked out in All Might posters where Deku is tucked in bed reading a superhero comic book. His eyes flick to meet the other’s.
“Todoroki. What’s up?”
The heterochromatic male sinks onto the mattress. His expression is more sullen than usual.
“You’re avoiding Bakugo.”
It’s more of a statement than an inquiry. Deku opens his mouth to surely deny the accusation, but Shoto raises a hand, interrupting him.
“You barely hang out with the group anymore. You scurry away every time he comes around. You jump at every chance to leave whether it’s training, shopping for groceries, or volunteering to assist Mr. Aizawa with paperwork.” He slicks back his two-toned hair. “I can tell it’s bothering him. It’s not hard to read a dog’s emotions.”
Deku hangs his head in shame.
“I guess I have been isolating myself,” he confesses.
Shoto nods in understanding.
“Midoriya, I know the situation will require some adjusting, but it’s not Bakugo’s fault. Just talk to him, okay?”
Deku smiles, grateful for Shoto’s guidance.
***
Dynamight is napping on the couch. A perfect opportunity for Deku to ease back into their muddled relationship. He occupies the vacant seat next to the Pomeranian whose eyes quickly peel open when he feels the cushion dip. He lifts his head and gives Deku the thousand-yard stare. The latter rubs his arm sheepishly.
“Heh. I deserve that. I’m sorry for neglecting you. Truce?” He holds out his palm.
Dynamight licks it then pads over to him, resting his chin on the other’s thigh. Deku exhales in relief, petting the dog’s beige fur like nothing went wrong.
***
One evening on patrol, Deku notices how quiet Kacchan is. He’s usually rattling off his plans to smite the next villain that dares cross his path or raving about another student failing to surpass him during training. The silence was tangible, and Deku could sense that Kacchan’s thoughts were swirling and uninvited.
“Why am I the only one allowed to pet you?”
Kacchan’s blazing eyes darted to the other. “What?”
“As a dog, I mean. You get hostile when approached by everyone except me.”
He stuffs his hands into his pockets and hunches his shoulders.
“It’s humiliating enough being cursed with this switching bullshit. I don’t trust any of those morons not to manhandle me or talk to me like I’m a fucking baby.” He touches his own neck bashfully. “You’re the only person who doesn’t treat me differently.”
Deku gapes. Kacchan specifically included the word ‘trust’ in his explanation and the faint shade of pink tinting his cheeks didn’t help either. Could he possibly feel the same? Or was he grasping at straws, feeding his own delusions based on misinterpreted signals?
Deku demonstrated his appreciation by wrapping his arms around Kacchan’s torso. The elder’s response died in his throat. He froze a few seconds before the cogs in his cranium started working again and he gently pushed the younger aside.
“Get off, dummy. Someone might snap a picture and think we’re dating or some shit.”
Heat rises to Deku’s face, sparks igniting in his chest. His imagination runs rampant at the prospect of becoming Kacchan’s boyfriend. That excitement quickly erodes to disappointment as he doubts the blond’s feelings are reciprocal. A guy can dream, he reckons.
***
Dynamight has adopted this strange new habit where he nibbles on Deku’s arm or neck with his front teeth. After browsing the internet, Deku found that this common pattern is defined as ‘corn cobbing,’ and that it was actually a gesture of affinity. It always siphons a giggle out of him, especially because he’s ticklish. Kacchan would bathe in acid before admitting it, but the sound of Deku’s infectious laughter absolutely melts his heart.
***
Winter break commences and all the students are forced to stay inside due to adverse weather conditions and snow piled 6 inches high. Dynamight proclaimed himself as Deku’s personal heater, curled up on the younger’s chest while he plays Candy Crush on his phone. It’s cozy, and safe, and sorta sweet. Deku can’t envision a more optimal scenario.
Deku puts down the device and starts stroking Dynamight’s soft fur. He’s so warm and his steady breaths have a calming effect on the younger’s body. He doesn’t even remember drifting off to sleep.
***
Dawn arrives and when Deku emerges from a dreamless slumber, the sight in front of him almost sends him into cardiac arrest. Kacchan, human and completely nude, lying in the exact position as the previous night.
What.
The.
HECK?!
Slowly, deliberately, Deku attempts to wiggle free. Kacchan groans and squeezes him tighter, trapping him in his embrace. He gulps. There’s no escaping now. He wonders if the elder can hear his racing pulse and rapid breathing. He feels something hard poking his abdomen.
Oh god. Kacchan has morning wood.
At this point, Deku just wants to evaporate. The elder’s ironclad grip holds him in place and there’s nothing he can do. His raging teenage hormones prevent his mind from falling into the forbidden gutter. His tummy starts doing somersaults and a pressure builds in his shorts.
No, no, no, bad timing, bad timing!
Deku squirms again, his crotch accidentally grazing the fabric of his boxers. It fires a shockwave of pleasure along his spine and he stifles a moan. Kacchan stirs and murmurs the younger’s first name in his sleep. Painfully aroused and low on ideas, Deku leans forward and plants a kiss on Kacchan’s parted lips.
The blond’s eyelids flutter open. Barely conscious, he offers a lazy smile then rolls onto his side, facing the wall. Deku slithers out of bed and beelines for the bathroom to handle his ‘problem.’
***
The rest of the day passes in a daze for Deku. He frequently zones out, can’t focus on anything, and his psyche is locked in autopilot mode. He’s too distracted by the kiss to think about anything else. An unsolicited advance to escape a compromised predicament. He brings his fingers to his lips, still tingling with the ghost of Kacchan’s. Guilt floods his body. There is no excuse for what he did.
Deku formulates that their next conversation would proceed one of two ways; Kacchan gets pissed and berates him for kissing him without his consent; or the silent treatment. Both equally unfavorable.
On cue, Kacchan appears dressed in his gym uniform and a towel draped over his shoulder.
“Oi, nerd. You look like you’re about to faint.”
Deku jumps, his eyes wandering everywhere except the other’s face. Kacchan grabs two waters from the fridge and tosses one to him.
“Drink that,” he commanded.
Deku chugs the entire bottle in three large swigs. He didn’t realize how parched he was.
“Thanks,” he whispers.
Kacchan hummed, taking a sip of his own beverage.
“So, the effects from that dumb villain’s quirk subsided. I won’t be transforming into a mutt anymore. Thank fuck.”
Deku felt conflicted. He is happy that Kacchan wouldn’t be miserable anymore, but he also relished in all the snuggle sessions they shared when he was a dog. He knows they should discuss what transpired earlier, but he’s too afraid to bring it up. Hurling himself into danger, battling evil, risking his life to save people, yet confronting his own feelings is the scariest thing in the world.
“By the way,” Kacchan begins.
Deku is petrified.
Oh god, here it comes. He’s going to hate me forever. Izuku, you’re such a nimrod! Why did you have to go and ruin our friendship-
It only takes Kacchan a single step to cup his jaw and connecting their lips together for Deku’s brain to cease functioning completely. His body imitates a statue, not daring to move a muscle. Kacchan pulls back, satisfied with the other’s priceless reaction.
“Next time, brush your damn teeth first. You have awful morning breath.”