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The first time it happened was in Otheon. A senior year celebration trip that reunited Rody with the young man that crashed into his life and turned it on its head. Rody had tried to bury the blooming feelings he had for Izuku Midoriya but keeping in touch over the years hadn't made it easy. And seeing him face to face again had only made those feelings rekindle anew.
The moment he heard his name in that voice and felt those arms wrap around him he knew those feelings never truly went away.
Rody had been planning to get the object of his affection alone. Tell him how he felt. But then he'd seen her . With her soft brown hair and her big brown eyes and her rosy cheeks. Her fingers threaded with Izuku's casually as the group chattered excitedly about their first day in Otheon.
And his heart sank like a rock in the ocean. Ah. Well. How could he compete?
So he shoved those feelings down and did his best to lock them away. And forced a practiced smile while keeping Pino tucked away as best he could. He knew if Izuku spied her there would be no hiding his broken heart.
Class 3-A had an energy that helped keep his mind busy until the rain chased them all back to the hotel to wait it out. And it was there that he'd caught a pair of red eyes watching him as they all loitered around the lobby. He'd barely spoken to Katsuki Bakugo that first time in Otheon. He remembered him being loud and fiery and that was about it. So he didn't know why the young man was watching him now.
Rody stared back with a quizzical smile and watched as Bakugo's eyes flickered to where Izuku was sitting with that pretty brunette close by his side. Then back to Rody who felt his smile falter.
Oh.
And then Bakugo was coming over to stand with him and Rody felt his mind race. He knew didn't he? He knew and what would he do with this information? Rody didn't know nearly enough about the cranky blonde to guess at his motivations or plans. But something he definitely didn't expect was for him to stop in front of him and lean forward and ask;
“Wanna come up to my room until the rain stops?”
Rody frowned. “What?”
“So you don't have to see the lovey dovey pair.” Bakugo replied. “Makes me sick so I'm going to my room. Do you wanna come up too?”
Rody studied Bakugo's face a moment, brow furrowed. And then he nodded. “Sure.”
He followed Bakugo into the elevator and up to the third floor. Down plush carpeted halls toward the room Bakugo was staying in. All the while Rody kept his eyes on Bakugo's back and wondered at why . A question he didn't utter until the door was closed and Bakugo was sprawled on his bed and Rody was sitting next to him watching the other flip through channels.
“The hell do you mean ‘why’?” Red eyes never left the screen.
“It's not like we know each other that well.”
Bakugo scoffed. “I couldn't take watching you moon over him from afar.”
Which… okay fair. But… “You could have just left on your own then. No need to invite me.”
Bakugo clicked his tongue against his teeth and didn't offer anything further. So they fell into silence together as Bakugo settled on a movie. They spent the evening quietly watching them together as the rain poured outside and as it grew late with no sign of stopping, Rody found himself staying the night there.
The rain was gone by morning leaving everything wet and gray and Rody couldn’t help but feel it suited how he felt. But he would have to face the situation anew.
It was day two that he found some insight into the situation. As he went with the UA group around the city he kept stealing glances at Bakugo whenever he thought the blonde might not be watching and occasionally he would catch him looking at Izuku in ways that made it click into place.
So he and Bakugo were the same then. Two young men caught in the spell of Izuku Midoriya. And watching him hold hands with a pretty girl. Neither of them had a shot in hell. And that was why… wasn’t it? Rody was left to stew on that for the day and when everyone retired to the hotel it was Rody who asked; “Can I come up to your room again?”
That was the first time it happened.
Rody knew he was just lonely and feeling bad for himself and that was why he kissed the other. They shared the same feelings for the same guy and it went unspoken between them that they both knew it. It went unspoken between them that they were both thinking of him when they ended up in that bed doing more than watching movies. Not a single word passed between them as Rody shut his eyes and thought of green curls and green eyes and freckles but he knew that the pretty blonde under him was thinking the same.
Two days later, Bakugo left Otheon and Rody figured that was that. A one-night stand between two men trying to sort through their shared feelings for the same person.
Until three years later a mission brought Bakugo back to Otheon with a small team of other heroes. Among them Izuku and the pretty girl that Rody had since learned was name Ochaco Uraraka. They met to catch up over drinks and Rody could see that those two were still as close as ever. Rody thought the distance between them had fully killed those feelings so why did they stir again when Izuku laughed or smiled?
The night ended in Bakugo’s hotel room. A rehash of three years prior and Rody felt a sense of something… strangely comforting in the fact that he wasn’t the only one caught pining after Izuku even all this time later.
That was the second time it happened.
“You… love him too.” Rody gasped out, addressing the elephant in the room. And Bakugo responded by biting his lip so hard Rody tasted blood, cursing. This man was a beast. But that was fine by Rody.
“Shut up. Just… focus on what you’re doing.” Came the terse reply.
And Rody listened. But a part of him was frustrated this time around. They were the ones who could understand each other’s feelings the best in this situation and Bakugo didn’t even want to talk about it. Which… maybe fair? Bakugo probably spent way more time around Izuku and that maybe made it harder to deal with. But…
“Maybe if we talked it out, we’d be able to get past this.” Rody suggested as he lay beside the blonde, head propped on his hand as he watched his chest rise and fall. His free hand reaching out to absently trace the scar in the center of the man’s chest as he remembered the battle with Shigaraki broadcast on live television. Rody remembered the way Bakugo’s body had rolled across the battlefield, limp as a ragdoll. The way he laid there, motionless, a hole in his chest.
God, this man could survive anything.
Bakugo didn’t stop him, but he did glare at Rody.
“Nothing to talk out.”
“You’re so emotionally stunted.”
“It’s not like you’re leaping to tell him how you feel.”
“What would that change? We both see how he is with Uraraka.”
“What would it change to talk about it?” Bakugo fired back as he closed his eyes.
Rody sighed and flopped himself down. “...I guess nothing.”
Another night spent together that led to nothing and Bakugo went back to his life in Japan while Rody stayed in Otheon.
Their next encounter was, in Rody’s opinion, the worst. He was in Japan with an invitation to a wedding. Izuku Midoriya’s. Of course. Seemed like he and Ochaco were really working out. Seeing Izuku in his suit was such a pang to Rody’s heart. This would be the nail in the coffin though, he hoped. He could lay these feelings to rest if the man was married. Right?
Bakugo was fixing Izuku’s tie for him in one of the back rooms and Rody knew with one look that he wasn’t alone. And by now that had become a comfort. They were both idiots. But they weren’t alone in being idiots at least. For whatever that mattered.
“Nervous?” Rody asked as Pino sobbed on his shoulder. He could allow it today. They could be mistaken for happy tears today and that would be acceptable in this situation.
“Very.” Izuku admitted, turning and earning a curse out of Bakugo who grabbed his shoulders and jerked him back around.
“Stop moving, damn you.”
“Sorry, Kacchan…”
“You should know how to do this by now.”
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck. “I know. I know. But I’m grateful. Kacchan can do anything…”
“It’s just tying a tie. It’s not that hard.”
Rody felt bad for Bakugo. He was the best man today as Rody had learned through his texts with Izuku leading up to today. He was going to have to stand right there beside the man. So when Izuku moved away as Todoroki called him over for something, Rody patted the blonde’s arm and gave him a grin. “Hey. After the after party, why don’t you come to my hotel?”
It was usually Bakugo who made the move and Rody was a little unsure but Bakugo studied him for a moment and then nodded. “Yeah. Sure. See you there.”
The wedding was beautiful. The bride was beautiful. The groom was beautiful.
And two men had held their peace, choosing to take their feelings and push them down yet again.
And so… the third time happened in Rody’s hotel room and this time… this time Rody opened his eyes, letting himself stop thinking of green eyes and green hair and freckles. And instead he took in the sight of blonde hair, unruly and sweat damp. Perfect lips that were soft and kissable. Pale skin flushed and glistening.
Red eyes staring back up at him, hazy with pleasure.
Rody’s heart stuttered in his chest when he realized. This was the first time he’d opened his eyes and really looked at the man he’d been spending nights with here and there over the years. And he wondered… have his eyes always been open?
“You…. you’re beautiful.” He gasped out. And damn. Why hadn’t he noticed that before? Was it because the man’s face was usually set in a permanent scowl? Or was it because he was always so busy imagining someone else?
Bakugo slapped a hand over Rody’s mouth and growled out a; “Shut up.”
Rody didn’t know why, but he kissed that palm. The taste on his lips too sweet and burning.
Those beautiful ruby eyes searched Rody’s a moment, confused. And then they closed, head tossed back against the pillows as he came undone.
What a gorgeous sight that Rody had been denying himself.
And for what? To pine after a man who had never looked his way?
The next morning Rody got up and showered and dressed and started gathering his things while Bakugo slept soundly. Then he stepped onto the balcony for a little air, leaning on the railing and looking out over the city. He didn’t know how long he was out there, but eventually he heard the door slide open and Bakugo joined him, wearing just his pants from the night before and nothing else. He stepped up next to Rody and leaned on the railing beside him.
They were silent for a while, just standing together there, looking at nothing, both in their own heads. Rody considered extending his stay. Spending the next couple of days here in this hotel room with this gorgeous man. Getting to know him. It all seemed insane. It’s not like they had anything together except mirrored broken hearts.
“I fly back tonight.” Is what he finally said.
Bakugo hummed in response. Just an indication he’d heard him and nothing else.
So Rody left it at that. Bakugo pushed himself away from the railing and went back in to shower. By the time Rody stepped back in, the other man was gone. So Rody packed up and spent the day watching movies alone until it was time to go to the airport.
There would likely be no more reasons for them to cross paths. And that was on Rody’s mind the whole way to the airport. He was standing in line, waiting to go through security when his phone pinged.
Extend your stay.
Rody stared at the three simple words in there under an unknown number. He knew who it was though. Bakugo must have gotten his number off Izuku. And Rody wondered at why . Why he’d want his number. Why he’d want him to stay.
I’m at the airport right now.
I’m in line for security check.
Rody typed back, frowning.
The little dots popped up that the other was typing back.
So I’ll buy you another ticket when you’re ready to go.
I’ll get you a ride back to my place.
Again, Rody wondered why . He was four people back from security now. Pino chirped on his shoulder and he glanced at her, worrying his lip. And then finally he said… fuck it.
Only if you tell me why I should.
Three people back from security check. He watched those dots dance across the screen.
Two people back from security check.
One person back from security check.
Because I already spent too much time not opening my mouth about what I want. Extend your stay. Come back to my place.
Oh. Rody stared at the text. The gate agent was calling for his attention. Pino was chirping at him from his shoulder. He tightened his grip on his suitcase, holding his phone in the other hand… and he stepped out of line. “Sorry. Sorry. I forgot something.”
He started heading back, away from the gate. His thumb sliding across his phone.
Okay. But you better splurge for a nice ride, Mr Hero.
An hour later he was in Bakugo’s apartment pinning him against the wall and marveling at the sounds he could make this man make. Had he always sounded like that? Rody had never paid attention. His mind had always been on someone else. The evening ended with them sitting together, backs against the wall, catching their breath.
Rody didn’t know what this was. Because his heart was still on the mend. Rebound maybe. But fuck…
“Let me take you to dinner.”
Bakugo turned his head to study him quietly for a moment. “What?”
“Dinner.” Rody repeated. “If I’m extending my stay for… whatever this is, I want to take you to dinner.”
He couldn’t read the look in those eyes that he was sure would be haunting his dreams for the foreseeable future. But the blonde finally nodded. “Fine.”
It was a start anyway. If it wasn’t anything at all, at least Rody would have pursued it. Not left it lay there untouched like he had for so damn long with Izuku. He would never, ever know how that could have ended if he’d taken a leap. Neither of them ever would.
But they would know how this ended.