Chapter Text
Izuku is normally super careful. His friends even call him the mom of the group—he makes sure to ask four times if everyone has what they need. So why is it that the one day he wakes up later than normal and ends up rushing out the door, the heavens decide it should rain? Not even a sprinkle. A full-on downpour that he has no chance of hiding from.
It wouldn’t be a problem for his friends, but as a merman, while a couple of drops here or there would be fine, his clothes being soaked with rain was not. Seconds later they poofed away altogether, leaving Izuku in his merfolk form.
He groaned as he did his best not to cry in frustration. He was definitely going to be late for class now. Not one to give up, he grabbed his bag and opened it. If could just grab his phone he could text his friends. Maybe if he’s got any luck today, Shoto’s free and can use his salamander fire to help Izuku speed up his transformation so he can attend class.
But soon enough, Izuku is convinced that the gods are really upset with him. His phone is absent from his bag and bitterly, he thinks it must be home with his umbrella.
With that realization came the regret of choosing to take this path to get to class. He’d come across it when he’d been exploring the campus for running paths. It was pretty and it would take him to the building so he could sneak in the back without all the people loitering around the front. The problem now was—hardly anyone ever used the path.
Not only was he going to miss his class, but with the looks of the sky, there was a chance he’d be trapped here for hours until the rain subsided and he could transform back.
He allowed a few frustrated tears to slide down his face with the raindrops as he stared up at the sky.
Crack .
His head snapped towards the sound as he wondered what else could possibly go wrong this morning.
Katsuki didn’t like the rain. It made him cold and tired and turned his already short temper into a hairpin trigger. So when his friends happily chatted as they exited the classroom, he sped up his pace to break away before they noticed. He wanted to go to his dorm where there was no one to bug him and he could shield himself from the awful weather until his next class.
He decided he’d take the forest path back to the dorms. It was longer since it opened on the opposite end of the dormitories than he needed, but it made up for it with two factors.
The first was the scenery. Katsuki loved to spend his time outdoors—it was one of the few places he could feel calm. He liked the sounds of the wind through the branches, the smell of the earth, and the vibrant colors as the light shone through the leaves.
The second—which was particularly appealing today—was that it was secluded and people rarely used it. It meant that his walk to the dorms could be peaceful without the bothersome eyes of others or people trying to talk to him.
Well, that had been the plan, anyway.
Instead, about a quarter-way through his walk, he saw something in the path ahead. As he got closer, he saw it was a man—a merman, to be exact. He was sitting in the center of the path, his tail folded against him as the rain poured down.
Katsuki’s immediate thought was that the man was an idiot. What else could he be called when he let himself get rained on to the point of transforming even as a grown-ass adult?
He kept walking, planning to just pass the fool who had gotten himself into the situation. But as he got closer—close enough to notice the man’s features—he found himself pausing.
The first thing that caught his eye was the freckles that decorated each and every inch of the tanned skin. They thinned around his waist and became especially heavy around his shoulders. They climbed up his neck, disappearing underneath dark green curls that were weighed down by the rain yet still stuck out every which way. The desire to smooth the chaotic curls urged him forward without thought.
Crack .
He flinched the second he felt the twig snap beneath his weight. The merman startled—reeling around to look at him and nearly knocking Katsuki’s breath from his chest.
If he thought the freckles adorning the man’s back were attractive, then the dusting over his cheekbones was like fine art. Above those full cheeks were deep emerald eyes—wide with surprise and framed by long lashes that drops of water clung to like crystals.
“Um… Hi?” A soft voice rang out through the sound of the rainfall drawing Katsuki’s eyes down to full pink lips as the man’s tongue shot out, flicking across his bottom lip.
Katsuki tried to focus, but despite his best efforts, the trails of freckles lead his eyes down the man’s neck and to his chest—and holy shit. He looked scrawny from afar but up close he was anything but. Unlike Katsuki, who was all bulky muscle, this man had a lithe but obviously powerful form.
Katsuki bit the inside of his cheek at the unwanted course of thought. Yeah, the merman was pretty— and hot , his mind supplied—but that had nothing to do with him.
He grunted as he tightened his hold on his umbrella, realizing he needed to respond.
“What kinda idiot you have to be to not check the fuckin’ weather report?” He shot out, falling into his normal behavior.
“I always do! I—I was just running late and left it at home.”
Katsuki rolled his eyes at the excuse.
“So you decided to keep going and got soaked then thought ‘Hey, I already turned into a fish so why not enjoy the weather’?” He questioned, an eyebrow quirked up.
The man flushed across his cheeks and Katsuki thought that it was a view worth seeing.
“No! I was going to call my friend to come help me but…” he drifted off as he looked away, crossing his arms over his chest as his cheeks puffed out.
“But?” Katsuki questioned.
“I don’t have my phone either.” He admitted.
Katsuki was surprised this guy hadn’t been kidnapped by humans and tested on with how much of a disaster he was. He debated for a moment before deciding to walk closer—now shielding the man from the rain with his umbrella.
He would just walk away, but the rain wasn’t stopping anytime soon, and he doubted the guppy was going to get lucky with a second person coming down this path today. He might be an asshole, but even he has limits.
“Here,” he said as he pulled his phone from his pocket, “You can use mine.”
He held out the device to the merman, who only looked up at him sheepishly.
“I don’t know their numbers without my phone.”
“For fuck’s sake.”
Katsuki blamed the rain sapping his energy as to why he didn’t go on a tirade about the stupidity of the situation.
“Where do you need to go? I’ll…help.” The phrase felt strange coming out of his mouth.
Katsuki wasn’t a fucking boy scout. He felt no desire to help every single idiot he came across. He would even acknowledge a large portion of his conversations consisted of ‘fuck’ and ‘off’—so the offer felt strange. A moment later, the feeling of discomfort was eased by the way the emerald eyes under him lit up like he’d offered the world.
“Really, you mean it? You’re amazing!”
Katsuki grimaced at the over-the-top praise—his heckles raising as he thought the man was mocking him. But his face held no malice, just sincere thanks.
“What’s your name, by the way? I’m Midoriya Izuku. You can call me by my first name if you’d like!” the merman—Izuku—asked.
“Bakugo Katsuki.” he answered after briefly being distracted by the speed at which Izuku spoke.
“Nice to meet you, Kacchan.” Izuku blushed as he spewed the ridiculous nickname.
Katsuki was going to raise hell about the name but Izuku continued on without giving him a chance.
“Um, if you don’t mind, could you take me to my class? It’s not far! I’d really appreciate it!”
Katsuki wondered if the idiot was aware of the effect he could have on someone as he looked up and asked with his big doe eyes all hopeful.
“Yeah, fine, you nerd. Let’s get you to class.” Katsuki was about to grab Izuku’s bag off the ground before he realized Izuku would be shirtless until he was dry.
The thought of other people staring at the freckles that danced across his chest and stomach didn’t sit well with Katsuki. He unzipped his sweatshirt and tugged it off one arm at a time while holding the umbrella as Izuku watched. Once it was off, he tossed it onto Izuku’s head, earning a squawk of surprise from him.
“Wear that.” Katsuki demanded as he looked away—not trusting that his face wouldn’t give something away.
“R—really? You don’t mind me borrowing this?” Izuku asked.
“Better than me carrying a half-naked guppy around.” Katsuki said.
He hoped that Izuku wouldn’t figure out it was just an excuse.
“Oh!” Izuku’s voice came out like a squeak as he quickly tugged the sweatshirt on. “I didn’t even think of that. Sorry!”
Katsuki bent down to grab Izuku’s book bag and tossed it over his shoulder with his own. When he looked up to instruct Izuku to take the umbrella from him, he felt his heart skip at the sight of Izuku in his sweatshirt. It was too big for him and clung to one shoulder, almost slipping off the other. It was fucking cute.
Katsuki shoved the umbrella towards Izuku’s hands, suppressing the groan of frustration at the thoughts that popped into his mind uninvited.
“Here.”
Izuku complied silently, holding the umbrella up as he flexed out his tail. Katsuki slid one hand under the joint in Izuku’s tail and the other positioned at the small of his back where the skin met scales.
Katsuki found the sensation of the scales under his fingers fascinating. He had anticipated that the scales would be slimy like a fish—instead, they felt smooth like polished stone.
He easily lifted Izuku—suddenly glad that he liked to deadlift in the gym. Izuku gasped and his free hand buried itself into Katsuki’s t-shirt as he clung to it for dear life.
“Relax. I’m not gonna drop you, nerd. I’m not some damn weakling.” He lifted Izuku a little higher to prove it.
“Sorry! I just—you’re really strong. The tail makes me pretty heavy. I was just shocked you could pick me up so easily.” He babbled as he stared at his hand holding the umbrella.
Katsuki felt a swell of pride at Izuku’s praise. He was complimented often, but they usually annoyed him—they were given with the desire to receive something in turn. But as compliments spilled out of Izuku’s mouth, they seemed to come out simply because they crossed his mind.
“Oi! Nerd!” He stopped Izuku as he descended into unintelligible mumbling.
“You gonna tell me where your class is, or are you trying to get me to carry you around all day?”
His teasing remark was rewarded with a dark flush on Izuku’s face as he stuttered out a response.
“Ah! I—I got distracted. I’m so sorry. My class in Callisto Hall.”
“Oh, and keep in mind you owe me one now.”
Not noticing Katsuki had only been joking, Izuku replied sincerely, “Of course!”
With a smirk on his face, Katsuki took off back the way he had come, thinking about what exactly he would ask for.
Katsuki Bakugo. He was a sort of legend around campus—Infamous for being a hothead with a viscous mouth. People weren’t sure if his deadly aura was a product of his personality or being a hell-hound.
Ironically, the thought Izuku had when he first saw Katsuki across the room had been that he was angelic—tall and muscular, with his blond hair like a halo around the chiseled features of his face. But all thoughts of him being akin to an angel were washed away when he saw his glowing red eyes—intensely focused and they looked like they could see right through a person. They matched well with the confident smirk that curved his lips.
Izuku changed his mind then. If Katsuki was an angel, he was a fallen one—created to draw people to sin.
Izuku found his mind occasionally wandering to the man he’d never even spoken to. He could empathize with the girls on the campus who would follow Katsuki around, hoping he might look their way. Izuku himself had imagined what it might be like to talk with him—not that he’d ever admit it. But Katsuki was like a campus celebrity—Izuku knew they were in different worlds and they’d likely never have a reason to speak.
So imagine his shock when—on the worst day he’s had in years—the person to find him trapped in the rain was none other than Katsuki. Izuku’s heart pounded violently in his chest as those glowing red eyes looked him over, nothing given away by his unchanging expression.
Even more surprising than meeting him was when Katsuki offered to help Izuku. From all the accounts he’d heard about Katsuki, he didn’t like people and regularly went out of his way to avoid unnecessary interactions.
Izuku tried not to let the offer make him feel special. Katsuki had probably just taken pity on the weirdo who got himself trapped in the rain. That didn’t stop Izuku from basking in the warmth and smell of Katsuki’s sweatshirt when it was tossed to him.
Nor did it stop his heart from rattling in his chest when Katsuki scooped him into his arms like he weighed nothing. He swore to himself he would engrave this moment into his brain.
He wondered if he should be thanking the heavens instead of cursing them.
Their walk to the building was short—which Izuku simultaneously felt grateful for and resented. He would love to spend more time—even forever—in Katsuki’s arms, but he couldn’t deny that the attention it brought made him uncomfortable. The prying eyes of students who were hungry for new gossip cut into him like a blade.
He looked up to see Katsuki’s reaction but found he looked entirely unbothered by the attention. Maybe it was because he drew attention wherever he went that he was able to ignore it so easily. Izuku directed Katsuki through the halls to where his class was. He felt his anxiety build as they approached the doors.
He wouldn’t be in trouble for being late since he had good reason. In a school that accommodates so many species, they had a high tolerance for unforeseen accidents. However, that didn’t mean it would be any less embarrassing that he had to be rescued from his own forgetfulness. He also knew his teacher would likely chew him out plenty after class.
Katsuki opened the door with his shoulder while he carefully maneuvered Izuku’s tail into the room without it hitting anything. When Izuku glanced around, the eyes of his classmates were glued to them. His face started to burn, and he was sure he was glowing red with embarrassment.
A sigh pulled his eyes to the front where his teacher Aizawa stood with a disinterested look on his face, arms crossed.
“Great. The problem children have met. I’m sure that’s not going to make my life more difficult.” His tone was sarcastic as he rubbed between his eyes and pointed to the area where Izuku’s friends sat.
“Ha? Why are you giving me a hard time?” Katsuki grumbled with no bite as he carried Izuku over to where he’d been directed.
Izuku peeked through his hands after attempting to hide from Aizawa’s stare. His friends looked relieved to see him. Then they looked between Katsuki and him with a thousand silent questions he knew he would have to answer later.
Aizawa clapped his hands to get the class’s attention. “All right enough. Back to work, all of you, before I add to the assignment.”
Izuku could hear a couple of disappointed comments before everyone returned to their tasks.
Katsuki leaned down and placed Izuku in the chair. Izuku tucked his tail in so Katsuki wouldn’t trip as he stood back up. He then slid Izuku’s book bag off his shoulder and put it on the ground.
“There. Keep an umbrella in your bag next time, nerd.” He said as he poked one of Izuku’s freckled cheeks.
Izuku pouted as he thought about how he normally always had an extra. He really wasn’t entirely hopeless, despite what today might suggest.
He handed over Katsuki’s umbrella and as he was about to thank him yet again, he realized he was still wearing his sweatshirt.
“Oh wait,” He said as he reached for the zipper at his throat and started to pull it down. His hand was stopped just as the zipper moved beneath his collarbone.
“Stop.” Katsuki spat before pulling his hand away to run it through his blond spikes. “Just—keep it for now.” He looked off to the side as he spoke, and Izuku wondered if he was annoyed.
“Are you sure?” He had already inconvenienced Katsuki enough. But his excitement at getting to keep the jacket a little longer won over his guilt and he didn’t press it further.
“Yeah, ‘sides you owe me a favor. So just give it back then.” Katsuki shot him a mischievous grin that Izuku thought had to be illegal.
“O—okay.” That was all he managed to say as Katsuki turned away.
“Later Nerd.”
And with that, he was gone.
The next five minutes were spent explaining to Ochaco, Tenya, and Tsuyu how his morning had unraveled to lead him to this. They worked on the project for half an hour after that. By the end, they’d gotten a good portion of the work done and Izuku had regained his legs. Even with his shirt back, he didn’t take off Katsuki’s jacket—if anyone asked, he decided to insist he was cold.
When class ended, Ochaco caught Izuku’s elbow before he went to speak with Aizawa.
“I messaged Todoroki, and he’s going to bring you an umbrella! Just sit tight when you finish with Aizawa!” She smiled brightly at Izuku, her delicate fairy wings fluttering behind her as she did.
“Thank you Ochaco. You are the best!” He gave her a quick hug before he headed over to Aizawa to hear the lecture that he often received.