Archive of Our Own ^beta

Summer was coming to an end very soon. Bakugou barely got to enjoy it much, with being a new hero, and it wasn't so bad. Now at 21, he really grasped what it was like to be a hero, filling in paperwork and doing reports for every damn thing they had to do on their patrol, but for the most part, it was fun.

Fun if he had to work, long, gruesome hours doing absolutely nothing but walking around all night.

Fun if it meant he barely had time to rest in between shifts and found himself working at night only to work at the ass crack of dawn the next day.

Fun if it meant not seeing his boyfriend for days on end because they sometimes worked opposing shifts.

Well, being a hero had its ups and downs. But anyway. Summer was closing in, and Bakugou had yet to have fun. That's why, when he woke up on a nice Saturday morning, finding his sleeping boyfriend next to him, an idea hit him.

He didn't really want to wake him up at first, too enthralled by how pretty he was when he slept, so he let him be for a short while. But Shouto had a tendency to sleep in if he didn't have to get up for work. Understandable.

Bakugou stayed next to him, searching for something on his phone. The weather was beautiful, it was perfect for going out and spending the day outdoors. They weren't really outdoorsy kind of people, but the weather was too nice to pass up. They could go to a park or even a cafe to sit and talk. Just to enjoy the weather is all. They could even hit up the beach since they haven't done that in a while either. Bakugou was thinking hard. Amidst his thoughts came a message from his best friend, asking him if he was on duty today.

"Hey Bakuski! You off today? Min and I are! So is Denks. I think the higher-ups decided we deserved a break altogether, lol."

The message read out. It was Kirishima. It was funny almost. Of course, they'd all be off on the same day; the higher-ups probably wanted to give them some sort of unspoken holiday.

"Yeah, Shou and I are home. Fucking hilarious that everyone's off too."

He wrote back. He looked towards Shouto, who was still sleeping safely and soundly, feeling himself smile.

"I know!! Denks just told me Sero is free too. You down to hit up the beach?"

Eijiro always reads his mind. It was almost scary how they always had the same ideas.

"Yk, Ei, that's actually a good idea. One of your firsts."

"Hey! I ALWAYS have good ideas!"

Their conversation kept going, Bakugou answering every message that Kirishima sent his way. They scheduled to meet at the beach around 2 p.m. and wanted to spread the news amongst their friends. That gave them plenty of time to get ready. Bakugou had a feeling he'd have to make snacks to bring for everyone, so he thought of getting right down to it.

Once he got out of bed, that is.

He turned off his phone and gently moved closer to his boyfriend, bringing his hands to pass lightly through his hair. He separated the colors softly, making sure they were perfectly even before moving the latter's bangs out of the way. He leaned in all the way and left a small peck on Shouto's forehead, as a way for him to lull him awake. The red and white-haired man stirred slightly, almost turning away from the kiss, and Katsuki knew he was finally waking up.

"Oi. Dumbass. Get up." Bakugou said, his voice barely above a whisper. He doesn't know when this whole domestic thing even started because it was way before they even moved in together. His voice would always soften around Shouto. He would talk to him with so much love and care that it made him sick.

He watched Shouto squint with his eyes closed, preparing to open them. He groaned out of pure fatigue, and Bakugou almost felt bad for not letting him sleep longer.

"...Bright." He spoke, turning over to face the pillow. Bakugou rolled his eyes with a soft chuckle.

"S'the sun. It's telling you to get up cuz we have plans." Bakugou told him. He heard the muffled "Huh?" through the cushion, which made him snort until his boyfriend pressed further.

"We have plans?" Todoroki asked, voice groggy and hoarse, turning his head slowly to look at Bakugou through one open eye. The sight was adorable, to say the least. Bakugou always got that weird, mushy, annoying feeling in his heart when Shouto acted cute like that.

"Yeah. We're going to the beach with our friends. You up for that?" He asked, hand coming to remove a strand of hair that previously fell on the other's forehead.

"The beach?" Shouto blinked his eyes open, finally adjusting to the sunlight being emitted into the room.

"Mm. It's nice as fuck outside. Should be fun." Bakugou told him.

"Hold on, you saying something will be fun is unlike you. Where's the real Katsuki?" Shouto asked, sitting up slightly to look at the blond properly. Bakugou never admitted anything was fun, even if he enjoyed himself. He never even considered the possibility of something ever being fun because that's just who he was. He'd just tag along with a string of curses and insults, but he'd enjoy himself nonetheless. So for him to boldly admit that going to the beach would be amusing was eye-opening.

"Tch. Shut up. The weather's nice as hell. I was thinking about doing something outdoors before Ei hit me up." He said it with an eye roll. Shouto looked at him skeptically, more as a joke than anything, before sinking back down into his pillow for comfort.

"Hm." He hummed. "It does sound fun. Wake me up when we have to go." He smiled, eyes closing once more.

"Hell no. Get the fuck up. We have shit to prepare." Katsuki scoffed. He rolled off the bed after that, going to brush his teeth and wash his face. He could admit it was really early, for Shouto at least, so he let him be, hoping he wouldn't take advantage of that. Now that he was up, he felt excited to go out. It's been a while since they
hung out with their friends outdoors.

The last time they got together, they caught up at a bar, and that was that. Katsuki and Shouto ended up leaving early because Shouto had gotten an unbearable headache and could barely sit upright without groaning in pain. Later, Katsuki found out that the other had been overworking himself, and the day off really made it clear. Shouto fell sick right after, and Katsuki called in from work to take care of him, despite Shouto's protests not to. They haven't really hung out much with their friends since, too busy with their own lives, so today seemed promising.

The blond didn't bother fixing his hair, leaving it down because he knew Shouto liked seeing him like that, and walked down the stairs. In passing, he saw Shouto on his phone and thought it was a step up from how sleepy he was a few minutes ago.

Their little home always made Katsuki smile. It wasn't the biggest, but it was just enough for the two of them, and it was damn near perfect. They decorated it to their hearts' desires, and thanks to Bakugou's amazing sense of style and design and Todoroki's Japanese home-style flare, they created something truly beautiful. And it didn't take that long to do either. They liked to work quickly and efficiently. Even though there were some... questionable design choices, like a cat painting right beside the wall by the stairs and cat mugs in one of the cabinets, Katsuki wouldn't change anything.

He made his way to the kitchen, going to get a head start on breakfast and also maybe bring a snack for his friends to the beach.

Back upstairs, Shouto stretched, his muscles cracking as he did so, as he fought to wake up fully. He couldn't help but sigh, though. He was texting Izuku, and the latter was giving him some concrete advice.

"Another nightmare? Shou, you really need to talk to Kachaan. That's not good." He wrote.

For whatever reason, for the last 3 weeks, Shouto has been having nightmares. And it wasn't the nightmares he had when he first got to UA, no. It was the nightmares he would get after he got there. He'd remember the time he failed at saving Bakugou at Kamino and watched him get taken away right in front of his eyes. And instead of rescuing him, Todoroki and the others never found him again. Sometimes his mind would even downplay his aid and make it seem like he failed to save him. Something in their planning would go wrong, and it was all Shouto's fault.

He doesn't know when he started feeling this unbearable guilt, but he assumes it happened right after he fought Touya and realized how similar their experiences were. Shouto was seen as the saint between the two, but truthfully, they were the same. It's like his nightmare was showing him what it was like to be painted as evil when things were not really his fault. Failing to save Bakugou multiple times and causing people to fail, he wondered if Touya ever felt like a burden when he was alive.

Shouto shook away that thought.

He started questioning his judgment and everything he did as a hero. He didn't want any of those nightmares to become reality for Katsuki or for anyone else he helped or tried to save. He had to think 10 times more when on the battlefield because he was afraid something bad could happen.

But he has nightmares every few nights, and he has yet to even talk to Katsuki about it. He couldn't understand why he was scared to bring it up to him, but he was. As if speaking it into existence would make Katsuki disappear for real.

"I don't want to bother him with all of that. We're already pros; there's no point in going back and thinking about something that happened when we were younger."

"Don't say that! Kachaan would never be bothered! He's a big softie, you know?" Izuku's comment made Shouto smile. It was true, under all that extra anger and smart mouth of his, Bakugou really just wanted the best for himself and for everyone around. He had his ways, of course, but he really cared for all of his friends. He was always a great listener and always offered support in the best way he knew how and tried his best to be the best at comforting.

"This one was bad, though. I couldn't catch him in time; the pros were blaming me, and you never spoke to me again. Understandable." He said. In his dream, they were back in the war, and Bakugou had just run across the field to protect Izuku, but the pain was ten times worse than he remembered it. With the weight of his father, Shouto tried to catch Katsuki in time, but his dad was slowing him down, which caused him to miss the blond's leg by an inch. He heard Midoriya's yells in his mind, which only made him feel worse. He tried to grab the blond but he was falling too fast, and his dad was so damn heavy that he couldn't. He failed. When backup came, everyone was pointing fingers at Shouto, telling him he was the reason Bakugou was in critical condition and that he should've tried harder to grab him. It was stupid thinking about it now. but he really felt awful in that nightmare. Even Midoriya ignored him, never uttering a single word to him. He had done the unforgivable.

"My God, Shou."
"You know that's not what happened. You caught him and kept him safe."

"Yeah. I guess."

"I wish you'd give yourself more credit. You're an amazing hero and an amazing friend, and you make all of us feel safe. Don't let these nightmares question that." Izuku wrote back. Shouto nodded to himself, trying to take his best friend's words into consideration. He was right, he shouldn't let these nightmares determine anything, especially since those events happened so long ago. Everyone was fine. Katsuki was safe, and no one was hurt. He could give himself a little praise. He wrote back to the other, telling him they'd talk more at the beach, and decided it was time to get up.

He could smell whatever Katsuki had made all the way into the room, and it made him hungry. He wondered what meal was waiting for him this time. As he got up to head to the bathroom, he pushed that nightmare deep into his brain. He didn't know when he should bring it up to the blond, but it might be better to do it sooner rather than later.

He took his time in the bathroom, washing his face and brushing his hair before he made his way downstairs. He saw his boyfriend, with his back turned, in the kitchen and took it upon himself to surprise him. He walked quietly behind him and wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug, his head resting against his shoulder.

"Good morning." He smiled. Katsuki scoffed.

"Bout time your lazy ass got up. Your breakfast should be cold by now, damn." The blond grumbled, ignoring the human leech behind him.

"It's fine. What are you doing now?" Todoroki peered over the blond's shoulder, noticing cut-up bread and cheese.

"Snacks. For the assholes." He said, referring to their friends. He was making them something to munch on at the beach. He really was so thoughtful.

Todoroki hummed.

"Can I help?" he asked.

"Fuck no!" Bakugou's answer came way too quickly, and Shouto couldn't help but giggle. He knew how the blond felt about his cooking techniques, so he didn't even try to question it. "Go eat. And fucking get off me while you're at it." He spat, no real bite to his words. The blond could feel shouto's lips press into his skin as he pouted, which only prompted another scoff out of him.

"What'd you make?" Shouto asked, slowly unwrapping himself from the blond.

"Mm." Katsuki didn't say anything, just pointed his head in the direction of the neatly placed plate on the counter. Shouto bit back a smile as he saw the perfectly stacked pancakes and syrup placed right next to it. Maybe he had the best partner in the world because pancakes were his favorite meal. "Better fucking enjoy it." He heard beside him. He let out a small huff, his smile only growing.

"I will," he said. He made a move to walk away, but Katsuki spoke up again.

"Oh and dumbass," he started.

"Wha-" Before Shouto finished his sentence, he was being yanked towards Katsuki. The blond planted a gentle kiss on his lips, catching Shouto completely off guard.
"Mornin'." Katsuki whispered on his lips.

It generally took a lot for either of them to blush. They didn't do many couple-y things with each other, simply enjoying each other's presence and company. They would talk like they've always done before and act the same way that they did in high school. Not much had changed when they started dating except for the fact that they got to call each other their "boyfriend."

However, there were some times, just like this, when Katsuki would do something that'd make Shouto turn to mush. It was always so embarrassing to admit, and it made the blond incredibly smug. Kissing was new territory for the both of them, but Shouto realized he liked kissing Katsuki more than anything in this life. If he could throw away his dream of being the best hero in the world just to have Katsuki kiss him soft and tenderly like that every day, then he would.

He could feel how his neck and ears started to burn, and Bakugou laughed, feeling victorious after making Todoroki blush. It was such a small gesture, but the impact was crazy. He didn't say anything, simply going to grab his plate and sit at the table. His heart rate had also picked up which he always found a little confusing. They'd been dating for 2 and a half years, and the effect that Bakugou still had on him was scary. As he sat down, he could see the smirk Katsuki had on his face, and it only made him feel more embarrassed.

While the other was occupied, the events of Shouto's nightmares started prodding at his brain again. Just looking at Katsuki, thinking about how he hadn't told him about it made him feel slightly sick. They didn't keep things from each other, so this was new.

Once done with his snacks, Bakugou joined his boyfriend at the table. He had his own plate of food and began eating.
Shouto ate in silence while Katsuki told him about his last patrol. He could barely hear or understand what the latter was talking about as the memories from his nightmare played in his mind over and over again. He didn't think this one would affect him that much considering he's had plenty of others in the past and he was able to act normal, but this one just scared him the most. Bakugou had caught on immediately to the shift in his demeanor, asking him if he was okay, but Todoroki just lied. He told him he still felt a little tired. He knew Bakugou wasn't stupid and would pick up on that dumb fib, but he also wasn't heartless. So he dropped it.

Shouto knew the lie would bite him in the ass, though.

Once the meal was done, Todoroki opted to wash the dishes while Bakugou went upstairs to start packing things they'd need. He made a mental list of everything he and Shouto used when they used to go to the school pool and tossed everything in the same bag. While looking for more items, his phone vibrated in his pocket, and he picked it up and saw a message by Kirishima.

"Hey Kats, do you have sunscreen? Min and I flipped the house upside down, and we couldn't find ours. It's okay if you don't!" It read out.

"Yeah dw." He answered back. Sue him for being a little dry.

"Hey hey! What happened to the cheerful energy from before?" Eijiro texted back.

"I was never cheerful."

"Yeah yeah. But no, honestly. You good? Something happen?" Eijiro said. Bakugou cursed himself for even letting the redhead read him like this.

"Shou's being distant. It's like he's hiding something. Just can't figure out what." Katsuki texted back. Maybe it was just because it was Kirishima, but Bakugou never opened up so quickly to his friends. It always took some extra prying from others (not Shouto though) to get him to explain himself. With Kirishima, it was different. All he had to do was give him a look, and he was spilling everything to him.

"Aw, what? Well, he's a naturally quiet person. Maybe he's just preparing himself for the beach...?"

"Ei. You know him as much as I do. The guy has that look in his eye. Same one he had when we were in HS after the fucking war. Like he's scared of something. I wish he'd just tell me what it is." Katsuki wrote. He sighed out loud, thinking back to how his eyes were empty when he was eating downstairs. It pissed him off. He wished he could just help him out so he didn't have to make that gut-wrenching face anymore. With one hand, he started grabbing a change of clothes and his swim trunks and laid them on the bed before another message popped up.

"Yikes. I hope he's okay! And yeah, I do know him. I know that he'll talk to you and tell you what's wrong really, really soon! Todobro just likes to test how much he can handle. Kind of like you. Don't beat yourself up over it. He's probably just trying to piece some things together." Eijiro wrote back. Katsuki rolled his eyes.

"The personal jab was not necessary."

"Sorry ♡ But honestly. He'll tell you soon. I just know it!"

"Fucking whatever. It's hot as shit. The beach was definitely the best idea." Katsuki changed the subject. Even if he'd open up to Kirishima, he didn't say he liked staying open for too long. He had his pride to keep up.

"Hahah. I swear. Min is so excited. I'll see you soon. Don't worry too much!"

"Die."

Bakugou clicked off his phone, shoved it back in his pocket, and got back to folding his clothes. He opted for cleaning their room since they had time to waste, so he started by making the bed that Shouto almost always left undone. He fixed the millions of pillows they "had to have" and placed the blanket neatly on the mattress. He heard the door open behind him and acknowledged the other.

"Cleaning already?" he asked.

"Killing time. Besides," he paused, turning around to look at Shouto fully. "You always leave the bed uncovered." He said. Shoufo rolled his eyes.

"Well, I was coming back this time."

"Mhm."

Bakugou went back to freshen up the room while Todoroki stayed and watched, keeping him company, offering no type of help whatsoever. The blond didn't mind, though.

Later, they went to do their own thing, separating for a short while, with Shouto probably reading a book and Katsuki watching something on his phone. It felt really good to have this kind of luxury right now, just being home with his partner but enjoying some quality alone time. It wasn't until Katsuki saw the time passing by that he decided to take a shower. It might’ve been a useless decision considering he'd have to shower again later from all the sandy beach water, but he didn't care. He took off his shirt and heard the door creak behind him.

"Hey Kat, which one do you think I should-oh" Shouto walked through the door, holding two different pairs of swim trunks, before stopping dead in his tracks. He's seen Katsuki shirtless. countless times, but it never ceased to amaze him how good he looked. His back muscle was so well defined, and so were his arms.

"Hm? Whaddya say?" Katsuki turned around, exposing his well-toned abs to his lover.

"Which... is better." Shouto barely asked properly, holding up his blue and red swimsuits for Katsuki to decide.

"Does it matter?" The blond crossed his arms, looking at Shouto skeptically. Todoroki almost didn't pick up on the comment, almost too distracted.

"Yes, it matters! Pick." He said it again. Katsuki rolled his eyes, walking up to Shouto. He grabbed the blue one and chucked it on top of the bag he was bringing to the beach and yanked the red one to put it away.

"Does that answer your question?” Katsuki scoffed, going back to preparing for his shower. "Hurry up and pack some shit, halfie. We don't have all day."

"Hard to focus." Todoroki stared some more, which made Bakugou bark out a laugh.

"Try harder." Bakugou snorted. "I'm going to shower. All your shit better be packed and ready when I'm done."

Todoroki simply hummed, watching his very attractive boyfriend walk towards the bathroom. Shouto wondered when Katsuki got so toned and hot. It was almost scary.

He packed lightly, not really needing to bring much since he could dry himself off, but still brought a towel because he knew the other would yell at him if he didn't. He threw on his swim trunks, feeling that the blue was a nice choice, and decided to throw on one of Katsuki's loose shirts. He looked at himself in the mirror before sitting down on his phone.

He saw a message that he had missed 13 minutes ago, and it was a picture of Midoriya and Ochacho at a convenience store with poorly done disguises. He wrote underneath, "Snack run for you guys!" which Shouto thought was really cute.

He spent some more time on his phone, just waiting until it was time to leave. It wasn't long before Katsuki came out of the shower, pleasantly surprised to find everything neatly packed and ready to go. Shouto stayed on the phone, scrolling and texting someone if they texted him first, just keeping Katsuki company.

"Ah shit, babe, I forgot to put the sandwiches away. Could you just put them in something?" Bakugou said, a towel wrapped securely around his waist. Shouto found it hard not to admire him. He looked really good.

"Whatever you say." He smiled. Bakugou rolled his eyes before speaking up again.

"And don't fucking eat any." He added. Shouto frowned.

"I won't," he said before he made his way back downstairs. The blond shook his head fondly before he went to get ready himself. He was so glad they didn't have to dress up for where they were going and kind of felt glad he didn't have to put much thought into what he was wearing because he'd be shirtless for the most part. He dried his hair thoroughly, making sure his spikes came back before putting on the rest of his outfit.

"Did you have sunscreen?" Shouto asked after walking back into the room and sitting on the bed.

"Tch. It's in the bag. We'll do it later." He answered, too lazy to dig for it right now. He checked the time and realized they still had a bit of time before they had to leave, so they sat together and fell into light conversation. After a while of just talking about work-related stuff, it felt good to just be in each other's presence, talking about more general, fun stuff.

They spoke for 15 minutes before deciding it was best to leave. The drive wasn't that far but it was a good enough distance, and Bakugou liked being early. With one last look at the house, they were off.
--
Finally, at the beach, Bakugou left some of their things in the car and only took what was necessary. Shouto was already beaming with excitement just standing close to the sand. It's been a while since they've enjoyed this beautiful weather at a place like this, and his happiness was evident. Once Katsuki grabbed everything; he took hold of Shouto's hand and pulled him along onto the sand, where he saw beach chairs lined up.

"This is where I'll be staying." Todoroki chuckled as they set their things down on the chairs. Bakugou gave his boyfriend a weird look.

"I didn't drive here for you to just stay on the chair the whole time, loser. You better get in the water." He spat, placing the towel on his own chair. Shouto giggled, finally sitting down. It was early, and their friends had a tendency to arrive late, but neither of them complained. Bakugou sat down next and pulled out the sunscreen. It was a crucial step when going to the beach, especially since Bakugou was prone to getting sunburnt. He took off his shirt, going to apply sunscreen first before he thought of doing it for his boyfriend. He sat on the side of the beach chair, leaving a little room in front of him, and gestured for Todoroki to sit in front of him. The red and white-haired man didn't argue, instead moving to sit right between his thighs.

"Take off." He said quietly, referring to the shirt Shouto had on. When he did, the latter felt lips press right into his neck and shoulder, then down to his back.

"Kat!" Shouto exclaimed, covering his neck with his hand. The blond liked doing that, kissing him when he least expected it. It made him smile seeing his boyfriend's reaction. Shouto had a nice back anyway, and Katsuki could barely resist kissing him. He was insanely beautiful, and the sunlight just accentuated every nice thing about his body.

Instead of staring, Katsuki got to work on applying sunscreen to him. He took a small amount, passing it over every muscle of his back. He was almost in awe at how well-defined Shouto's back was but kept quiet. He was so gentle with him, almost making Todoroki lean back and just falling asleep right there. His hands were usually always so rough, but they would turn into the softest, gentlest things whenever they were on Shouto.

Being comfortable with each other came with a lot of hanging out and discussions. Todoroki wasn't big on physical touch, and neither was Bakugou. So it took some time. They had started out slowly when they were in their second year of high school, just sitting next to each other, strictly as friends. They never did more than that. Things only changed when Todoroki started having 'bad dreams" in the middle of the year.

He was always so close to everyone in the classroom, but his only thought after having a nightmare was going to see Midoriya or Bakugou, but Izuku was busy that day. He didn't really know what to say when he got to Katsuki's dorm. He just sort of... knocked and waited till the door opened, and when it did, silence fell over the both of them. Katsuki started cursing, telling him it was way past 'visiting hours' and that he wanted to get to bed. However, when he didn't get a smart-mouthed response like 'This is not a hospital' or some bull like that, he knew something was up.

That night was the first time they ever hugged. Todoroki didn't know how to talk about his dream properly, and Bakugou had to piece some things together, but he understood in the end. He knew his family had fallen apart, and it was taking a toll on him. They didn't do physical stuff, but in that situation, anyone could use a hug.

After that, things changed. They were more open with each other, hung out more, and sat together at lunch. Little things. Baby steps. It wasn't until their third year, when Bakugou realized he had a crush on the idiot, that they got more physical. Bakugou would touch his hair, sometimes ruffling it when he was annoyed rather than blasting him. Todoroki would touch his arm or leg whenever he was talking. He would also occasionally play with his finger whenever they were sat next to each other, watching a movie with the class. Bakugou would also rest a hand on the other's thigh if they were close enough. It was always just small things.

The confession didn't come until they officially graduated and became pros. At that point, they were already comfortable with each other. They knew a lot about one another, so the relationship wasn't as awkward as they expected it to be. Physical touch turned into something they craved rather than it being an embarrassing chore. Bakugou hated admitting it, but he always wanted Todoroki close to him just so he could hold his hand or any part of him really.

Now, sitting on this chair with the most amazing view of the water ever, Todoroki felt at ease, almost forgetting what had been eating at him since he woke up. He let himself be rubbed with sunscreen, eyes closing with the way Bakugou was so soft with him. His boyfriend applied the sunscreen to his back, giving him a quick massage, and then moved on to his arms. Being this gentle was a crime, honestly. Bakugou took his time, he didn't even seem to care if anyone walked in from behind him. It's like he'd continue his work regardless. When he moved onto Todoroki's chest, the latter rested back against him. His hands moved slowly, rubbing the sunscreen carefully down his chest and torso. He was extremely focused. Shouto's whole body felt relaxed. Being taken care of was also such a good feeling. From behind him, he heard, or more like felt Bakugou chuckle. His eyes shot open immediately, looking back at him to figure out what he was laughing at.

"Enjoying this, are you?" He smiled, hands not stopping once. Shouto rolled his eyes playfully, turning back to rest against him again. He didn't answer right away, simply enjoying how calm and safe he felt with Katsuki basically engulfing him. "I need to do your legs t-"

"I love you." He finally said. Bakugou closed his mouth, and his hands stopped moving. It's not like they haven't said it to each other before. It's not like this was new, but it always made Katsuki freeze for a split second. Something about Shouto admitting his love out loud always made his heart stutter like an idiot.

"Yeah, I know." He said, moving to grab the sunscreen again. Shouto turned to him, looking at him directly in the eyes.

"Say it back." He said. Katsuki eyed him weirdly.

"What? Fuck no. I don't hafta say embarrassing shit!" He exclaimed. Todoroki knew Katsuki didn't like being mushy and vulnerable if he didn't need to be, and it only came with being so comfortable and understanding with another, so he never thought anything of it. But right now, he wanted to be greedy. He wanted to hear Katsuki say those three little words just for fun, even if he knew the other loved him so much.

"Say it!" He pushed a little bit. Katsuki rolled his eyes, pushing the other off the seat so he could stop staring at him.

"Shut up. I'm not saying it. You're so lame." Bakugou spat. Todoroki stood up this time, as a way not to be completely thrown off the chair. "Give me your leg so I can get this shit over with, dumbass." The blond said again. He squeezed a generous amount of sunscreen into his hand, waiting for Shouto to prop one leg in front of him. Todoroki did put a leg up, but instead of leaving it there, he wrapped it around Bakugou's waist, sitting on him. He knew they'd have to reposition themselves and that he could potentially fall off, but Katsuki loved him, and he wouldn't let that happen. He skillfully grabbed onto him with one hand and fixed his position on the chair so Todoroki could sit comfortably before groaning.

"You're so annoying, oh my god." He said again. Shouto smiled, looking down at him.

"Not moving until I hear it." He said. Bakugou rolled his eyes, already used to his antics.

" M'not fucking saying it, so get off already. I have shit in my hand." Bakugou didn't put up a fight to even shove him off, which he could easily do, so Todoroki decided to go further. He took the sunscreen that was already in his boyfriend's hands and started rubbing some down his chest. He did it slowly, passing his hands on strong shoulders and pecs before applying some to the blond's arm. Katsuki just stared at him. Even if he was insanely annoyed right now, Shouto looked pretty all focused on his task. Bakugou would have been mesmerized had the latter not been sitting on him where he had to focus on keeping him from falling off. Shouto looked at him again, a smile playing on his lips.

"Oh fuck off." Katsuki mumbled. He let Shouto finish his chest and used his own hand to rub the excess sunscreen on his boyfriend's thigh. Once completely gone, his other hand came to wrap around his waist.

"Are you going to say it?" Shouto asked, arms coming to rest on Katsuki's shoulders. Katsuki squeezed his hip as another "no," and Shouto just dropped it.

"You piss me off." The blond said, not even staring at Shouto but rather at his lips. He looked at them very subtly, and Shouto had to really distinguish the two looks, but he could tell. He let out a small chuckle, leaning into him more.

"I know," he said. Right as the words left him, Bakugou was kissing him. It was harder than the one they shared that morning but still soft. He could tell it was saying, 'You know I love you, stop annoying me,' and he found it sort of funny. At one point, Katsuki's hand let go of his waist and went to cup Todoroki's face. He deepened the kiss slightly, almost trying to make a statement, telling him that he loved him more than anything. Their lips were dancing together tenderly, and Shouto felt his heart explode with emotion. Katsuki never half-assed anything he did, so he made sure this kiss was special. They would've kept going had it not been for their loud-ass friends approaching suddenly.

"Woah! Seems like they're already having fun." Kirishima said, laughing at them with his girlfriend.

"Right!?" Mina laughed next to him. Bakugou pulled away from Todoroki just to give the two of them an annoyed look.

"Shut the hell up." He spat, pressing another soft kiss to Shouto's lips. The latter chuckled, slowly peeling himself away from his boyfriend so he could sit properly on his own chair.

"Were you here long?" Kirishima asked, placing his and Mina's bags on a different chair.

"Not re-"

"Of course they were Eiji. They got so bored they started making out!" Mina laughed. Eijiro laughed too but stopped once he noticed the small explosions emitting from the blond's palm.

"Anyway!" He started, changing the subject before Bakugou got mad. "Denks, Kyoka and Sero should be here soon!" Eijiro said. Katsuki didn't really care, too upset that the kiss he shared with Shouto ended too quickly for his liking. He turned to look at him again and noticed he was applying the sunscreen to his face and legs.

"Chaco and Deku are coming too!" Mina exclaimed.

"Tch. Why do I have to spend my day off with that idiot." Bakugou scoffed Shouto gave him a weird look before speaking up again.

"You spent your whole life with him. You'd think you'd be a little used to it by now." He said. Mina and Kirishima burst out laughing, giving Shouto praise for his joke, while Katsuki turned to him in annoyance.

"I'll fucking murder you." He growled.

The group just giggled. The two men helped Kirishima and Mina set up their things around, and made light conversation to pass the time. Since Todoroki was barely any help, Bakugou applied the rest of the sunscreen to himself and handed the bottle to Eijieo once he was done.

It wasn't long before the rest of their friend group arrived. Everyone seemed joyful and excited, and Denki was even ready to jump in the water immediately. Deku and Ochaco brought many snacks, like chips, drinks, candy, and all, and left them on an open chair in case anyone wanted to take anything. Sero conversed with Eijiro and Mina while he unpacked some of his stuff, and Kyoka tried to hold back Denki from jumping directly into the sea.

"Wait, idiot! We have to wait till everyone's ready!"

"The water looks so cool!"

After a bit more preparation, everyone was finally ready to tackle the water. Everyone but Shouto.

"You're really not coming in Shou?" Eijiro asked hands clasped tightly with Mina's own as they made their way to the water.

"Not right now. I'll just enjoy the view." Shouto said, looking right in Katsuki's direction. The couple looked at where Shouto was staring and couldn't help but giggle.

"Well whatever, dude. Hopefully, you join us soon. Enjoy your private show." Eiji winked and continued his walk with Mina. Todoroki saw Denki run in like a child, and Kyoka had to find Ochaco as a way to calm down from how stupid he was. Bakugou's yelling was heard across the sea, which made Todoroki giggle slightly.

"Hey stranger." He heard behind him. He recognized who it was.

"Hello." Was all he said. Midoriya took the seat right next to him, facing him. He knew he wanted to ask him about his nightmares face-to-face but Shouto didn't really feel up for it.

"How are things with Kachaan?" Izuku asked.

"I haven't said anything yet. I think he's onto me, though." Todoroki thought back to his little slip-up in the kitchen and how Katsuki obviously noticed the shift in his demeanor, which made things a little more complicated.

"Kachaan's very smart. He knows when something bothers you, but he's not going to know the details unless you explain it to him." Izuku told him. Shouto knew that. He knew hiding this thing would only eat at him for a long time until it got increasingly unbearable. He couldn't do that. He watched his boyfriend have fun with those around him and could see him laugh, and he felt kind of guilty for hiding his feelings from him. Katsuki was extremely reliable. Shouto entrusted him with his life, so he couldn't understand why this was so hard for him.

"I know." He replied back. He needed to get over everything and just talk to him immediately.

"Izu!!" The two heard from afar. It was Ochaco waving at her boyfriend, inviting him into the water.

"Oh! That's my cue! Don't think too hard and come join us in the water!" Midoriya ran away, going for a kiss with Ochaco before the two ran into the water. Todoroki let his eyes wander, and he saw Bakugou again, literally attempting to drown Eijiro. It was all in great fun, though. Shouto admired Katsuki from his seat, thinking he looked extra good in the water. He smiled to himself, thinking about the kiss they shared earlier, and the tips of his ears got hot. He really and truly loved Katsuki with his whole heart, which is why he couldn't understand why he couldn't just tell him what was going on in his mind.

After a few minutes of play fighting his friends, Katsuki ended up coming out just to stand in front of Shouto. They stared at each other, as if seeing each other for the first time, and Shouto just smiled at him.

"Dumbass."

"Katsuki."

"Get in the fucking water." Katsuki spat. He shook his hair and passed his fingers through it to ring out some of the excess liquid, not realizing some of it was landing on Shouto. When he looked down, he noticed the water dripping from his boyfriend's face and he snorted.
"I think I got enough, actually." Shouto said, wiping his face with his bare hand, flinging the water off.

"Shit, my bad." He laughed. He held out his hand for Shouto to grab, and when he did, the blond pulled him to his feet instantly, not in the mood for more protests.

"You're cold." Shouto complained as they moved on the sand.

"Yeah, no shit. And you shouldn't be talking. Damn half-and-half idiot." Bakugou mumbled the last part, but Todoroki still heard it and giggled. Once they got in the sea, Katsuki walked in first, walking right where water would come up over his knees. It was cold at first, but Shouto took the time to get used to it, walking in slowly, and adjusting to the temperature of it. Being that his body also went by temperature thanks to his quirk, it helped him heat up quicker but not quickly enough. He felt a splash right in the middle of his chest and torso and flinched. He saw Katsuki smirking in front of him and sighed.

"Stop-" Before even saying anything, Katsuki sent a bigger splash his way, this time, the water splashing on his face. Shouto's lips pressed into a solid line, almost like he was annoyed, and Katsuki was enjoying this. That asshole.

"Come on, icyhot! Hurry up!" He called, being loud on purpose just to annoy him. He sent tiny splashes towards his legs to get him to come in.

"Enough, stop doing tha-" Before he could even finish his sentence, he felt a generous amount of water land from his head to his shoulders, and he knew Katsuki had to have used his quirk to even make that work. His entire body was now soaking wet, and his hair was sticking to him. Bakugou laughed smugly on the side, enjoying the annoyed side of his boyfriend.

"My hand slipped." He said. Shouto groaned, walking in the water completely.

"You're such an ass." He said, walking past the blond, the water rising up his body as he walked in more.

"Got you in the water, didn't I? It's my specialty." Katsuki said smugly. Shouto just ignored him, going to swim close to his friends.

Once used to the water, everyone seemed to be having a great time. They played various water-based games like water polo and maybe used their quirks to their advantage, but they all had fun. Shouto had even used his ice to create makeshift boats (they weren't really boats) for everyone to sit on and float around. It was honestly such a beautiful day, and the sun was smiling. Some of the guys decided they wanted to race like they did in high school, this time not using their quirks.

They got started all the way at the shore, and whoever touched Shouto's gand first was the winner. He was at a big distance, and the girls were on either side of him so they could determine the winner. From the shore, Jirou started the countdown, and on "1," everyone started swimming. Honestly, if someone had blinked, they would've missed the entire race because everyone was moving extremely fast. Denki fell behind quickly, and Sero shortly after, and it was mostly between Bakugou and Midoriya. Kirishima kept up a good fight, but Bakugou and Midoriya took this way too seriously. The girls were cheering, which only prompted the boys' competitiveness.

At the speed they were going, Shouto wasn't sure they'd even tap his hand, but he knew them. He's trained with those two his whole high school life. They were reckless but precise. They were neck and neck, but when it came down to it, both Ochaco and Mina saw how Bakugou beat Midoriya by a second. The blond made his win a big one and rubbed it in the other's face, splashing him with water to make fun of him. It was all fun, and everyone praised Midoriya for giving it his all.

They ended up going back to the shore for a quick snack break too. Bakugou walked to his car to get the sandwiches while Ochaco gave out snacks like a mother would give out candy at Halloween. They sat together and ate, talking about their lives as pros and some different instances that happened during their shifts. They even went back and talked about some stuff in high school, focusing the attention on Kirishima and Mina.

"Remember when they got together! It was so funny!!" Denki had laughed with Sero.

"Hey! Let's not talk about it." Eijiro became beet red, and Mina hugged his arm to comfort him.

"The confession was super manly, dude!" Denki laughed, remembering how Kirishima had brought Mina outside, littered the ground with flower petals, and held up her favorite flowers in the middle of it. In the middle of his little speech to get her to go out with him, he stumbled on a damn pebble (fitting.) and fell over. It was so embarrassing, and Mina ran up to him to make sure he was okay. As if to add to how embarrassing everything already was, Aizawa had walked around the corner, looking at his state, and told him they had to get to bed and clean up the yard. He was so embarrassed, and Mina couldn't even properly answer this the morning after.

"Cut it out!" Kirishima had to hide his face.

"Oh guys stop! It was so cute." Mina chuckled, holding Eijiro's head close to her.

"Cute, sure. Funny? Definitely." Sero giggled.

"Leave him alone!"

After a while of laughing and making fun of Kirishima, they moved on to everyone's relationships. They talked about Denki and Jirou, how they got together, and the same thing with Ochaco and Izuku. When it got to Todoroki and Bakugou, they kept their jokes at a minimum because everything about their relationship was perfect. Right down to the confession. They did things differently, almost.

"You guys are cool, though! There's no embarrassing story." Kirishima brought up. The group nodded.

"Careful, you might stroke his ego." Todoroki said, munching on a cookie, staring right at the blond. Everyone chuckled, watching Katsuki roll his eyes and send something towards Shouto.

"No, but it's true! Kachaan wasn't all mushy and lovey like the rest of us, but he knew he liked you." Izuku said. Bakugou clicked his tongue.

"Why the fuck are we talking about this right now?" He said. The group argued that it was only fair since they brought up everyone else's relationship and theirs was the only one they haven't touched on yet.

"You started liking him in third year, right? I feel like we all gained feelings for each other third year." Mina laughed. Katsuki nodded, not wanting to add more to the conversation. They agreed with Mina's statement, talking about how they matured the most in their last year of high school. Shouto smiled, taking a sip out of his drink before Sero spoke up next to him.

"Did Roki tell you he had a crush on you in second year?" He said. Shouto choked on the drink, spitting some of it out in shock, and coughed a few times to clear his airways. The group gasped, almost cartoon-like, and Katsuki's eyes went wide.

"He what?" He asked, quietly. Ochaco and Mina exploded with questions, and Shouto wanted to run away. He deliberately let himself get colder before he froze Sero's entire body to the chair.

"Ow, my hand!"

"Shou! You liked Kachaan in second year?" Izuku asked. Shouto was too busy trying to make sure Sero never uttered a single word ever again to even pay attention. Katsuki almost didn't want to admit that that made him giddy inside. His heart may have jolted and skipped a beat knowing that Shouto was pining longer and he had to bite back a smile. Really?

He came back to reality and saw his friends hounding his boyfriend down, and he shook his head.

"Oi, stop asking questions. You're going to bother him." He spoke up. Shouto locked eyes with him as a sort of thank you, but Katsuki sent him a wink to let him know he still found this amusing. Shouto would have to make Sero pay him back.

The latter slowly broke free from his ice and felt a chill run up his spine. He shivered, seeking comfort in the chair, and Todoroki couldn't feel bad.

"Maybe that'll teach you not to tell everyone my business." He said to him. Sero chuckled, still shivering, and apologized, no real sincerity in his tone.

"Shouto's really scary, huh?" Ochaco spoke up next to Deku.

"The fucking scariest." Bakugou whispered to himself.

After their little conversations and teasing, they went on to do little activities with each other. Kirishima, Mina, Kaminari, Jirou, and Sero walked down the beach a little, finding a volleyball net right in the middle of the sand. They decided they should play a friendly match of the sport, so Mina went to ask for a ball in the cabin that was there. Sero decided to referee while both couples played against one another.

Back by the chairs, Shouto and Ochaco sat and talked while Katsuki and Izuku fought over who could build the best sand castle. Such children, those two.

It was a beautiful day, honestly. Shouto couldn't help but just stare up at the sky from time to time, enjoying the beauty of it. It was so clear, and it wasn't that hot. He doesn't even remember the last time he had this much fun, so he wanted to soak up every minute before he had to go back to work.

"Babe! Who's is best?" He heard it all of a sudden. Ochaco giggled, looking at each castle carefully.

"Better answer truthfully round face." Bakugou commented. The girl rolled her eyes with a big grin.

"Zu's castle looks a little better!" She said. Bakugou scoffed, arguing that she was just saying that because she was dating the nerd, but Ochaco denied it and said it was because Bakugou's own was too simple.

"Halfie!" Bakugou half yelled.

"Hm?"

"Shou! Which castle looks better? Mines?" Izuku paused dramatically, pointing at his castle to try and entice Shouto to pick him. "Or Kachaan's." He finally said, looking distastefully at the blond's creation. He found this amusing almost. He looked between their castles, picking the winner.

"Katsuki's." He answered. He could see the grin form on Bakugou's lips which made him smile.

"That's my halfie. Always had good taste, huh?" Katsuki said smugly.

"He's just saying that because he knows you'll get mad!" Izuku protested.

"The fuck are you saying?" Bakugou growled, almost getting up so he could talk to Izuku properly.

"Don't fight!" Ochaco's words were left on deaf ears as both heroes got up and started fighting. Obviously, it wasn't real, and they weren't really trying to hurt each other, but a little friendly brawl wouldn't hurt anybody.

"Ugh! They're so childish!" Ochaco said again, unintentionally leaning closer to Shouto's warm side to keep warm. He huffed in agreement, only watching Katsuki the whole time.

Not long after, everyone regrouped and decided to take a dip in the ocean one last time before they packed up and left. Katsuki decided to sit this one out while Shouto enjoyed his time with the others. The blond watched him, worry taking over him as he thought about earlier, how he went all quiet and his mind seemed to be far away. It pissed him off, not knowing what that meant or why Shouto was down. Thinking about all of that was beginning to make his head hurt, and he just wanted to grab Shouto and ask him what was up. He knew the latter wasn't like that, though. He needed to tell him without pressure.

From behind him, Kirishima held up two cold drinks and walked towards his best friend. He pressed one of them slightly to the blond's neck, who shrieked in shock and anger and sent an explosion his way. Kirishima expertly activated his hardening to reduce the damage and laughed.

"Woah! Dude!!"

"The fuck is wrong with you!? That shit's cold as hell." Bakugou spat, grabbing the juice from his friend and opening it immediately.

"Sorry, sorry. Thought it'd be funny." Kirishima took a seat next to his friend on another chair and reclined back in his seat, opening his own drink. Katsuki scoffed, eyes darting across the ocean to find Shouto again. Kirishima looked in front too, waving at Mina, who somehow caught his attention. "Shou talk to you yet?" Eijiro said after a while of silence. Katsuki let out a long, deep sigh, which was an answer in itself before saying something else.

"Hasn't said shit. It's driving me mad." Bakugou said again. Kirishima nodded.

"He will."

Katsuki knew that. He and Shouto have barely kept things from each other since they even started dating. They always found each other in the end and always tried to help each other out. So he knew getting upset over it wasn't going to do anything, but he couldn't help it. Eijiro sat with him for a while, in case he wanted to vent something out, but Bakugou had nothing else to say. He simply stared at his beauty of a boyfriend, wondering what was gnawing at his brain today. After making sure Katsuki was okay, Eijiro got up, going to find Mina in the water. He took a giant dive inside, splashing everyone in the air, which made their friends giggle. Katsuki, who was watching attentively, could see the smile Shouto tried and failed to suppress.

The day steadily progressed, and the sun had dimmed slightly. After hours of countless laughs, and fun activities, everyone was getting tired. It was almost 5 pm, and the group decided it was time to call it a day. It was pretty early, but they were pros now! They couldn't hang out till late at night like they used to. Everyone started packing up and throwing on clothes, putting their things away in separate bags. Everyone but Todoroki and Bakugou.

"You guys staying here for real?" Denki asked, throwing on a shirt. Bakugou grunted in response. He sat on the beach chair, just staring at Shouto, who decided to be the spokesperson of the two.

"We don't live far. We just want to enjoy the view a little longer." He said.

"They just want alone time so they can make out again!" Mina called from behind.

"Shut up!" Bakugou glared at her. The rest of them laughed as well and finished packing. They all headed to their respective vehicles, bidding Shouto and Katsuki goodbye. The two of them watched the cars drive away before they turned to each other again.

"Hey," Bakugou smirked.

"Hi." Todoroki smiled at him too. "I want to go back in the water." He said.

"Lead the way." Was all Bakugou said. They didn't need to exchange any words right now. Shouto simply grabbed the blond's hand and walked towards the shore and stopped right where the water would touch their toes just to take it all in. Katsuki didn't say anything. He didn't make a snarky comment or tell him to get on with it. He just let him be, enjoying the water on his feet as well. He could tell it was a way of preparing himself for something, like he was going to tell the blond what's been bothering him all day. So he just stood there, with him, until they got deeper into the ocean.

Finally completely in the water, alone, Katsuki didn't mind being a little more touchy. He had no problems displaying affection when the others were around, but he felt slightly more comfortable when it was just him and Shouto. The half-and-half man didn't mind it either, always welcoming any touch Katsuki had to offer. Any touch to his waist or even down his back or on his shoulder, Shouto didn't mind any of it.

They swam around for a while and splashed each other like kids, enjoying themselves. The sun was starting to set more, but it was still bright outside, and the sky was beautiful. The different hues of blue and pink really melded together and created such beautiful scenery. Shouto was in awe. He wished he could've just taken a picture of it right now.

Katsuki came up behind him, arms wrapping around his waist and chin placed right on his shoulder. They were able to stand on the sand where they were, so it wasn't difficult at all.

"It's so beautiful." Shouto whispered. Katsuki nodded. The words "You're beautiful." danced on his tongue, but he didn't want to seem like a sappy loser, so he kept quiet. It was nice, though. Everything about being here with Shouto was amazing.

Standing there together just made Shouto feel slightly guilty about not being 100 percent truthful with his partner. He hated that feeling, so he decided to just get everything over with.

"I need to tell you something." He started with. He could feel Katsuki's head turn on his shoulder to look at him, and he swallowed. Katsuki almost immediately picked up on the serious tone.

“Sup?" He asked. It was lighthearted. Shouto could tell Katsuki was trying to hide his concern, acting nonchalantly.

"You know already, don't you?" Shouto sighed.

"Know what? Gotta give me more than that halfie." Katsuki said. The aftermath of a wave splashed next to them, and the water moved next to them. Shouto picked some up in his hand, letting it fall through his fingers, to stall maybe. The water was nice and warm at this hour. He felt the gentle squeeze of his boyfriend, quietly telling him to just spit it out.

"You know I've been hiding something from you." He finally said. Katsuki didn't move. Shouto was sure maybe he was too quiet, but Katsuki simply chuckled. He laughed, and it made Shouto's head snap toward him.

"Of course I know that. S'been driving me fucking crazy, not knowing why you're so down all the time." He said. Shouto sighed.

"Sorry." He apologized. Nervous habit.

"Nah. None of that. What's going on, Shou? You know I suck at this "word" shit, but I hate when you're all distant and guarded." Katsuki said. Shouto felt himself smile slightly.

"Didn't mean to be. It's just..." He trailed off, sentence unfinished.

"... Just what?" Katsuki pressed forward a little. Shouto chewed on his lip, thinking over his words before deciding to just rip off the bandage.

"I've been having nightmares recently." He started with. Katsuki raised his head off the other's shoulder, and concern washed over him.

"Fuck. Again?"

"Mm. They've been pretty bad. They've woken me up out of my sleep before. I just... never said anything." Shouto sighed. Katsuki's gut twisted. Shouto's nightmares were always so bad on him, and it was always hard for him to cope with them, no matter what they were about. The ones he had in high school kept him awake for multiple nights, and he would sometimes fall asleep in class. Yaoyorozu used to have to cover for him sometimes, and their entire class worried about the red and white-haired teen. Katsuki wonders if they are on the same level now as they were back then.

"Shit dude. Why didn't you tell me?" Katsuki sighed just thinking of how much pain Todoroki had to have been in the last few weeks, dealing with everything on his own.

"Izuku said I should've, but I just-"

"Wait, you told fucking Deku?" Katsuki was in disbelief, maybe. So much for Sbouto dealing with things alone. He told Deku before he told him. Katsuki didn't like getting angry with Shouto because they could argue for hours, but he felt a little ticked off that Izuku knew something this big before he did.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just- I couldn't bring myself to tell you."

"Dude, I'm your boyfriend. You could tell me anything. Why would you tell damn Deku?" He was annoyed but not angry. If Shouto was able to confide in his best friend, then obviously that was okay. He just wished... He came to Katsuki first.

"Because..." Shouto exhaled. "The nightmares were about you. Me losing you. Failing to catch you, letting you slip out of my grasp, you dying. I didn't want to think of that. And I didn't want to worry you." Shouto spat, getting it off his chest.

The realization finally set in, and Katsuki stopped all his movements. Everything sort of clicked into place and made sense. Shouto was guarded for some reason. His nightmares scared him.

With the arms still wrapped firmly around the other's waist, he spun him around so they were face to face. Shouto didn't really want to look at the blond, just staring behind him at the slight waves.

"You should've started with that, dumbass." Katsuki said, no bite to his words. Shouto inhaled, finally making eye contact.

"Easier said than done."

Katsuki grabbed one of Shouto's hands and held it, the action making the other shift his focus to his own hand.

"I wish you'd give yourself some more credit." Bakugou started with. He knew ever since their first year, Shouto had taken on the responsibility of being the best at everything ever since his family's dynamic changed. He would overthink things and replay how he acted during certain missions to see if he could've done things better. He never really had to voice it either; Bakugou could just tell.

"Izu said the same thing. I don't know what you guys are talking about." Todoroki sighed.

"This hand has saved me so many times, idiot. Sometimes I can't believe it's yours." Katsuki said. Shouto pouted.

"What's that supposed to mean...?" He asked.

"What it means, dumbass, is that you're fucking strong and smart. You're quick on your feet, and you know how to make shit work. You're fucking meticulous with your job, and you make everything damn near perfect. You put everyone at ease, and you piss me off at how good you are at this damn job." Katsuki spoke with such confidence and assertiveness that the others maybe believed him. Katsuki never lied about things like this, so he knew what he was saying wasn't just to make him feel better.

Katsuki squeezed Shouto's hands to comfort him before continuing. "You've never let anyone fall, and you won't. You're trustworthy like that. You never slipped up when it came to catching me, and I'm still here asshole. I'm fine." He finished. Shouto let out a breath he wasn't even aware of.

"I can't stop my thoughts."

"That's normal. We all have those thoughts. The only thing that matters is how you act on em and dwelling and worrying about them is not the way to go about it." Katsuki finished his sentence with a poke to Shouto's shoulder. "You're an amazing hero, Shou. Just gotta work on the few social cues, but..." Katsuki trailed off. Shouto rolled his eyes but moved to say something else.

"But what if-?"

"Oi. You're not gonna live the rest of your life on "What ifs," are you? Cause I'll tell you right now, if you are, I'll beat your ass." Katsuki didn't want to hear anything.

"I'm scared of losing you." Shouto finally said. He felt like he was all over the place, but Katsuki never flinched once. He was so worried about telling the blond what he was hiding that he didn't think about how he would go about it. Everything just sort of got jumbled together.

He even sounded worried, like Katsuki would let himself be killed that easily now that he had a bigger reason to live for. The blond let go of his hand, slowly sliding it up his arm to rest on his shoulder, staring at him with so much love, it'd make himself sick.

" 'm not going anywhere." He said, voice low and quiet. Shouto looked at him again, acknowledging that.

"No, I know, but... It's like I believe it, but my brain doesn't. My family fell apart, and right now, I don't know how any of them are doing. I just... don't want to lose you, too."

"Swear halfie, you think so much." Katsuki said, pulling Shouto into a tight hug. It was starting to get darker, and the water was calming down. The sky was being reflected on the waves as the two of them stood incredibly still. "You're not gonna lose me. You're strong and skilled as fuck. Whatever happens in those nightmares is not reality and is just your conscious playing sick tricks on you. Those thoughts are normal. Just means you're a good person. Means you want to protect me as hard as you can. S'kinda cute." Bakugou chuckled and received a very weak hit on the chest.

Todoroki felt seen and heard. For weeks, he's been having all of these different thoughts and dreams, and he struggled even talking about it, but Bakugou hit every point and helped break down his problems. It would take a lot more for him to feel completely better, but it was a start.

"I love you, dumbass. Not saying it again." Katsuki said. Shouto chuckled his first laugh since their conversation, which made Katsuki's own smile grow.

"Yeah? How much?" Shouto wanted to be annoying. Now that he felt a little better, he was coming back to his old self. Katsuki, however, didn't let his plans fall through.

"Not as much as you, you know, since you liked me in second year and all." He said, smugly. Shouto scoffed, groaned, and pushed Katsuki off him all at the same time in annoyance.

"I knew that'd get to your head!" He said, splashing water on the blond, numerous times. Katsuki snorted, reciprocating his energy, and they found themselves having a water fight. It was refreshing after that serious talk. Katsuki teased him a bit more, trying to hear how much the younger really liked him back in their high school days, but all he received was water to his face.

When they finally calmed down, Katsuki swam close to Shouto again, enjoying the view with him. He could see the faint smile on his lips, which made pride swell in his chest.

"Feeling okay?" He asked. Shouto stared up at the sky one last time, going to find Katsuki's hand to hold. He breathed out, letting all his problems wash away in the ocean before turning to look at Katsuki.

"I'm okay." He said. The blond smiled, placing a disgustingly soft kiss on Shouto's temple and bringing him in for a side hug.

"Yeah, you better be." He said, earning a slight chuckle.

They slowly made their way out of the water and decided to milk every second of this moment before they had to go back to work the next day. They squeezed together on the beach chair, limbs tangled with each other as they stared at the sun. Shouto felt happier now that he wasn't hiding anything from the blond and he felt more relaxed and free.

It felt good hearing that Katsuki wasn't going anywhere and that he had trust in him. It was almost relieving. He knew he'd have to work on building his confidence back but having the blond by his side would make things a lot easier. He was grateful for him.