Chapter Text
ACT 1 opening scene
The sun beats down on the training grounds, the heat tangible in the air. Class 1-A has finally called for a break, and while some students immediately drop onto the grass in exhaustion, others—like Katsuki—are still vibrating with leftover adrenaline.
Which is exactly why he immediately rounds on Todoroki the second they’re both within range.
"What the fuck was that, IcyHot?"
Todoroki, stoic as ever, tilts his head. "What do you mean?"
"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN." Katsuki wipes sweat from his forehead, still scowling. "You were supposed to fucking cover me, and instead, you froze the ground under my feet like a dumbass."
Todoroki blinks. "I was limiting mobility. It worked."
"FOR THEM, MAYBE. NOT FOR ME." Katsuki’s eye twitches. "You think I got fucking skates on? What part of your dumbass brain thought it was a good idea to make the battlefield a goddamn ice rink? DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SWEAT IT TAKES TO STAY AIRBORNE THAT FUCKING LONG."
Todoroki takes a slow sip from his water bottle. "I thought you were adaptable."
Katsuki's brain stutters a second too long, then he actually growls.
"FUCK OFF, ICYHOT, YOU HALF-AND-HALF BASTARD."
And that’s when Kaminari, who has been listening with increasing amusement, decides to open his dumbass mouth.
"Hey, Bakugou," he says casually, twisting off the cap of his water bottle. "Why do you call him IcyHot?"
Katsuki, too tired to think, barely glances at Kaminari before answering, "Because he’s icy and hot."
Silence.
A deep, unnatural silence.
Kirishima, mid-sip of his drink, chokes.
Mina’s entire body freezes like she’s just been hit by Shinsou’s quirk.
Sero’s eyes widen. "Wait a minute—"
Midoriya, fucking Midoriya, stops stretching, eyes darting back and forth like he’s analyzing game footage.
Todoroki, mid-sip of water, straight-up short-circuits, his brain: Wait, what. Hot?
For one glorious second, the world holds its breath.
Then:
"Shut the fuck up, it’s a normal nickname!" Katsuki barks, suddenly aware of what the hell just left his mouth.
It is NOT normal, he KNOWS it's not normal. He will DENY EVERYTHING.
Todoroki still hasn’t moved.
Still holding his water bottle.
Still staring at Katsuki like he just rewrote the laws of physics, because Katsuki thinks he is hot.
And then, slowly—way too fucking slowly—his ears turn pink.
Kirishima opens his mouth.
Kaminari’s face is already splitting into an evil grin.
Mina’s eyes are sparkling with dangerous, dangerous energy.
Katsuki’s survival instincts are picking up full fucking throttle.
"DON’T. FUCKING. SAY IT."
"Say what?" Kaminari teases, practically vibrating with unholy energy.
"ANY OF IT. I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE ALL THINKING. STOP IT. IT'S A COMPLETELY OBJECTIVE OBSERVATION."
Sero leans in. "You think he’s hot?"
Katsuki’s brain: ABORT. ABORT. ABORT.
"I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP."
GODDAMN IT I CANNOT EVEN DENY IT. WHAT THE FUCK, SELF.
Act 1 scene 2
Later that night.
It isn’t that Katsuki is avoiding people.
He just likes the quiet.
That’s all.
The rooftop of Heights Alliance has been his go-to escape since moving into the dorms. It’s high enough to block out the background noise of the world, and for once in his goddamn life, nobody expects anything from him here.
He exhales, leaning back against the concrete ledge, eyes tracing the stars. The air is cool but not cold, the distant hum of the city filling the space without demanding attention.
Then the door creaks open.
Katsuki doesn’t have to look to know who it is.
THAT IS VERY TELLING KATSUKI.
Todoroki’s steps are too fucking quiet for someone his size, but Katsuki recognizes them anyway. The steady, even rhythm of someone who never rushes.
For a second, Todoroki just stands there.
Then, without a word, he walks over and sits beside Katsuki. GOD DONT BRING IT UP ICYHOT. DONT BRING IT UP.
Not too close. Not too far.
They don’t talk.
They just sit.
KATSUKI BRAIN: OKAY. OKAY. I CAN SURVIVE THIS. I can. Survive. This. Just look at the stars. Just look at the sky. Just don't look at the candy cane.
The silence settles. Not awkward. Just… there.
Todoroki's brain: He is attracted to me. And. I am also attracted to him. Huh. We should... Talk? Or something?
A long time passes before Todoroki finally speaks. His voice is quiet, almost hesitant.
“Do you come up here often?” he means I WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU.
Katsuki scoffs. “Yeah, so?” IMMEDIATELY DEFENSIVE.
“Just asking.”
Katsuki exhales through his nose, but the corner of his mouth twitches. Not quite a smile. Not quite not.
The silence returns, but it feels different this time.
Lighter.
Katsuki watches the stars. Todoroki watches him.
Eventually, Todoroki speaks again, voice softer this time.
“It’s nice up here.”
Katsuki doesn’t reply.
But he also doesn’t move.
Act 1 Scene 3
TODOROKI ASKING MIDORIYA WHAT HE WOULD DO IF HE WANTED TO GET SOMEONE TO NOTICE HIM IN A ROMANTIC WAY AND THE ANSWER IS "INTENSE EMOTIONAL VULNERABILITY."
MIDORIYA: "WAIT, BUT YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT KACCHAN ARE-"
TODOROKI: ALREADY GONE.
MIDORIYA: "I'M GOING TO BE MURDERED."