Work Text:
2:34 am
Todoroki shot up from the safety of his bed, heart racing. Wide eyes scanned over the dark outlines of his room. He was in his dorm at U.A., not in his childhood home. Midoriya was down the hall from him. Not his father. He kept repeating that until his breathing evened out.
He laid back down, head resting against the warm pillows. As much as he tried, he could not close his eyes. Memories of his mother flooded his mind. When was the last time I saw her? He thought bitterly.
Class was already hard to keep up with. It was his last year, what did he expect. While the workload doubled, his mental strength depleted. Todoroki tried to remember the last time he had time to himself, or a good night's sleep for that matter.
Groaning, he threw the covers off his overheating body, deciding to walk around the dorms until his body begged for sleep.
The rest of the building was peaceful, all of his classmates fast asleep. As he tiptoed down the hall, he could hear Kirishima snoring. It brought a slight smile to Todoroki's lips.
He made his way down the stairs to the common room. As he rounded the corner to the kitchen, he could hear the TV playing in the living room. He peaked his head through the doorway to see if anyone was watching it.
There he found Bakugou sprawled out on the couch, game controller in hand.
“What do you want, half n’ half?” Bakugou asked, eyes never leaving the screen.
Todoroki took in the image of Bakugou's messy hair and dark circles before replying, “I couldn't sleep.” He said simply.
Bakugou sat properly on the couch, then patted the newly available space, “you know how to play?”
“I'm a fast learner.” He mumbled, grabbing a charged controller off the coffee table.
“I'm still gonna kick your ass,” Bakugou said through a low yawn.
The game itself was simple. It was one of Kirishima’s fighting games. The objective was to beat your opponent in three rounds. Having more experience, Bakugou royally kicked his ass during the first match.
The buttons felt unfamiliar underneath the pads of his fingers. Bakugou knew all the secret moves a refused to tell Todoroki how he did it.
Todoroki had a string of luck, and finally won a round completely. He watched his character dance round on the screen, covered blood after she had ripped Bakugou's spine out.
“Don't you think that's a little morbid?” Todoroki asked, setting the controller on the coffee table.
“Nah. Not the terms of the game at least.” Bakugou replied, his controller joining Todoroki's.
Bakugou turned off the game system, then flipped through the channels. He settled on some cop drama without asking Todoroki if that's what he wanted to watch. Not that he cared, that is. His mind was too tired to focus on the passionate scene of two detectives confessing their feelings.
Instead, he focused on the warmth next to him. Todoroki pulled his legs underneath him and rested his head against the back of the couch. Before he knew it, he was falling asleep. His head lolled to the side, slipping off the back of the couch and onto Bakugou's shoulder. If he complained, then Todoroki didn't hear him in his dreams.
--
Last night Bakugou couldn't sleep, so he decided to stay in the common room and play videogames until his brain melted. Instead of enjoying the comfortable silence, Todoroki appeared the doorway. He would have told him to fuck off if it weren't for the fact that he was growing bored of playing by himself.
It wasn't half bad, but he wouldn't admit it out loud. The icing on the cake was when the fuck fell asleep on him. He would have shoved him off, but he noticed that Todoroki hadn't been sleeping that well. He didn't answer questions in class anymore or fight at his full potential during physical training. It wasn't fun having a respectable rival who couldn't focus on said rivalry.
So he let him doze on his shoulder, like the damn gentleman he was. I'll let him sleep for a little bit and then tell him to go back to his room after this episode.
But he never got the chance to wake him up. At some point during the episode, Bakugou's eyelids grew heavy. The show became the least of his worries. His head tilted to the side, resting on top of Todoroki's. Before he knew it, he was out like a light.
That's how he ended up in this damn predicament. Bakugou woke up to the sound of his classmates moving around. When he cracked open his eyes, a phone was shoved in his face. Several giggles filled the room as he tried to wake up.
“What the fuck?” He grumbled, smacking the phone away from him.
“Oh no! He's waking up! Scatter!” He heard Deku’s dumb voice call out.
Bakugou tried to sit up, but a warm weight stopped him. He looked down to see a mess of red and white on his chest.
Last night flashed before his eyes with rage. Todoroki fell asleep on him, and everyone saw.
He pulled himself out from underneath Sleeping Beauty, part of him careful not to disturb him.
Bakugou locked eyes with Kaminari, who was balancing on the coffee table, phone in hand.
“I'm giving you three seconds to leave this room alive.” Bakugou whispered gravely.
The blonde idiot nodded slowly, then darted out of the living without looking back. Behind him, he hear Todoroki groan. Half n’ half was curled up in a ball, mumbling about it being cold. Bakugou ripped a blanket off the loveseat and draped over Todoroki.
Just to shut him up.
He's kinda cute when he sleeps-
Shut the fuck up Katsuki.
Bakugou quickly left to get ready for class. He kept his eyes trained on the floor. Todoroki's soft features appeared in his mind the rest of the day.
--
3:12 am
Todoroki found himself shaking underneath his covers for the nth time in a row. He cupped his hands over his ears to drown out the sound of screams that he could only hear. He held his breath so he wouldn't smell the blood that was only apparent to him.
Today was going so well.
You could focus in class.
What happened?
Todoroki's anxieties ate at him. Suddenly, his room became too small. As fast as his shaky legs could manage, he slipped on his shoes. He needed fresh air.
He managed to get through the back door of the dorm before he noticed someone sitting on top of the communal picnic table. A small orange glow illuminated familiar features.
“I didn't know you smoked.” He said quietly, joining Bakugou on the picnic table.
“I didn't know you were nocturnal.” The blonde shot back. He took another drag from the cigarette.
“Does it help you calm down?” Todoroki wrung his wrists as he stared down at their feet.
“Kind of. Why? You want one?” Bakugou bit back, laughing bitterly.
“..Yeah.” Todoroki looked up at him. He wasn't sure if it was the exhaustion or trying something else to calm him down.
Bakugou didn't retort with anything rude, instead he handed him a cigarette and a lighter. Todoroki took the cigarette, but denied the light. He lit it himself with the lip of his finger.
“Okay, half n’ half. Be a show off.” Bakugou laughed, but it didn't sound degrading.
Todoroki held the cigarette to his lips, breathing in deeply. His lungs repelled the smoke. He coughed roughly, hiding his face in the sleeve of his hoodie.
He felt a warm hand rest on his lower back, “take it slow, Shouto.” He heard another warm laugh come from his side.
He felt a blush crawl up his neck, “shut up,” was the only thing he could manage through his small coughing fit.
“You gotta have something really fucked up going on for you to come out here and bum a smoke off me.” Bakugou commented, stubbing out his cigarette on the table top.
Todoroki watched the smoke roll off his lips, “I haven't been sleeping well.” He sighed. Memories of his horrible nightmares flashing in his mind. He briefly closed his eyes, trying to keep them at bay.
When he opened them, he saw Bakugou staring at him with something close to concern.
“What's wrong? A pea under your mattress?” The blonde jeered, trying to lighten the mood.
Todoroki cracked a smile. It was nice. Feeling the cool night nip at his ears, but the warmth radiating next to him was more than enough to keep him comfortable.
Todoroki breathed out deeply, “I have nightmares… about my childhood.”
Bakugou's face fell. They both knew what his home life was like. Bakugou had witnessed Endeavor’s shitty behavior up close last year at the sports festival.
Todoroki continued to ramble because it felt right to get all of this off his chest, even if his hands did shake.
“For the past couple weeks, I keep waking up in the middle of the night. It's awful. Everything feels so real. The heat, the sound of his voice..” Todoroki's voice began to shake along with his hands. The hand pressed in his back pulled him closer. Two strong arms protected him from the demons of his past.
“You can crash in my room if you want.” Bakugou's voice was unnaturally soft. Todoroki clung to his shoulders, trying to stop the shaking of his own.
--
Bakugou should have kept his mouth shut. But here he was, having the prettiest boy at the U.A. curled up in his bed. He was surprised when Todoroki had agreed to stay in his room, but it was a pleasant surprise.
Todoroki slept on the edge of the bed, giving Bakugou ample room to toss and turn. His hands fidgeted wherever he put them. He wanted to stretch his arms over Todoroki's side, but refrained. The other boy rolled over in his sleep to face Bakugou, who was still painfully awake.
Bakugou studied the messy blend of red and white hair. The gentle pout to his lips as he slept. The soft rise and fall of his his chest.
Careful to not wake Todoroki, Bakugou brushed the hair out of the sleeping boy’s face. His hair was just as soft as it looked.
Stop it Katsuki
You're getting attached
Todoroki shifted under his touch. His face slightly scrunched up. The sight sent a pang right to Bakugou's heart. Bakugou sighed heavily.
Eventually, he thought fuck it and pulled Todoroki flush to his chest. He fell asleep almost instantly.
--
8:40 am
Todoroki sat idly in class, copying down a few notes before the bell rang. As he was scribbling away, a few classmates gathered around his desk. He shared his good mornings with a few friends.
Midoriya cleared his throat, catching Todoroki's attention, “Um, Todoroki, are you and Kaachan a thing?”
Todoroki nearly snapped his pencil in half when he registered what his best friend had said, “what makes you think that?”
Uraraka spoke up, “Well, it's just that we saw you leave Bakugou's room this morning. We didn't want to make any assumptions, but if you two are together, then we're happy for you guys.”
“Yeah! I want you to know that you have our full support.” Midoriya beamed at him.
If you two are together
You have our support
Todoroki smiled at them politely, “Thank you, I'll keep that in mind. But, we’re not dating.”
Their faces fell, disappointment almost apparent.
“Oh, well. I'm sorry.” Uraraka frowned at him.
The final bell rang, summoning both to their seats. Class became a blur. Todoroki couldn't stop mulling over what Uraraka had said.
As soon as they were dismissed, Todoroki left as fast as he possibly could. He spent the rest of the evening caged in his room. He had spent two weeks sleeping next to Bakugou. He had become accustomed to the smell of his sheets. The fact that Bakugou slept shirtless and liked to cuddle, but never said anything about it. The way he'd wake up before Bakugou and pretend to be asleep so he could relish in the warmth of tangled limbs and Bakugou's breath against his neck.
Todoroki sat at his desk, head cradle in his hands. He left his homework unattended to as he picked apart his own repressed feelings.
You like Bakugou Katsuki
You really like Bakugou Katsuki
He let his hands fall to his sides, his head collided with the desk. A disgruntled noise bubbling in his throat. For a man who usually had a plan, he came up short handed. In the midst of his first midlife crisis, his phone buzzes
[Lord Explosion] you comin to my room tonight?
[Half n’ Half] Yes, but I have homework to finish first.
[Lord Explosion] Hurry up. There's a movie I wanna watch.
Todoroki blinked in disbelief at his screen. Bakugou wanted him to come to his room for a movie night. With him. Alone. His heart hammered against his chest at the thought.
[Half n’ Half] I'll do my best to finish up quickly.
Todoroki hastily completed his calculus homework, not caring at the current moment if his answers were correct. He had the rest of the weekend to revise his homework. He clicked off his desk lamp and locked the door behind him.
Bakugou's room was at the end of the hall. There was plenty of time for one his classmates to round the corner of the stairs and catch him going into Bakugou's room, not that it was anyone else's business. He knocked gently, then pushed open the door. Bakugou just started leaving his door unlocked because it “was too much of a damn hassle.”
In the dim dorm room, Bakugou sat on his bed,laptop resting on his lap. He seemed too absorbed into whatever he was looking at to notice Todoroki enter. Todoroki headed straight for Bakugou's bottom dresser drawer. They both found it to be a hassle for Todoroki to transport his clothes back and forth, so he just kept an extra uniform and set of pajamas in his room.
Todoroki peeled his uniform off, and quickly changed into one of Bakugou's old band tees and a pair of sweatpants. The entire time he felt a stare burning into the back of his head. He cocked his head to meet the source of the stare, “what?”
“You're quiet. What's bothering you?” Bakugou asked, voice absent of it's normal bite.
“Nothing. It was just a long day.” He mumbled, climbing on to the bed.
“You're a shitty liar, Todoroki.” Bakugou huffed, setting his laptop on his nightstand.
Todoroki pulled the covers around his shoulders and fiddled with the fabric in attempt to stall. He didn't want to think about the fleeting conversation that he had with Uraraka and Midoriya.
“It's just Midoriya and Uraraka were talking to me today.” Todoroki trailed off. He trained his eyes on one of the many posters slapped on Bakugou's wall. Anxiety churned in his stomach. He could feel Bakugou's stare pick him apart.
“What did those fuckin nerds say? I swear to God if they upset you-” Bakugou's angry tirade was cut off by Todoroki deadpanning.
“They think we're dating.”
There was a palatable silence. The anxiety eating at Todoroki grew from microscopic to enormous. A million different scenarios played through his head.
He's going to kick you out
You're only going to dream about him now
Bakugou Katsuki is going to be your new nightmare
“ Then let those fuckers think whatever they want. It's none their business.” Todoroki glanced over at Bakugou, whose cheeks were burning.
Oh
Another silence fell between them. Todoroki toyed with the hem of the comforter. He was unsure how to feel. Bakugou pressed a button on his laptop, causing the intro of a horror movie to play.
Todoroki's thoughts were too derailed to focus on the suspenseful opening. The temperature in the room dropped noticeably the more Todoroki's thoughts twisted in his mind.
“For fucks sake, Todoroki. Is it bothering you that bad?” Bakugou spat, sitting forward to look at him fully.
“Yes, it is.” Todoroki's hands clutched the comforter for dear life.
“Why?” Bakugou pushed, clearly annoyed with the subject.
Because I like you, idiot
The words were on the top of his tongue. It should have been so easy. His entire personality was blunt. He should have been able to push the words out and not think about it. But, there he was. Hands shaking and vision blurring.
“I like you, Katsuki.” It came out a whisper, barely audible over the screams coming from the computer.
A thousand warning bells must have gone off in Bakugou's mind because he didn't respond right away. The silence seemed like a testimony of his fate. Todoroki quickly threw the covers off his shaking form.
This was a mistake
“I'm sorry. I should go.” Todoroki moved on autopilot. He wrenched the door open faster than intended. The hallway was much warmer than Bakugou’s room. The temperature change almost made him sick. He didn’t want to go back to his room, so he darted down the stairs past Kirishima who said something to him. He couldn't hear him over the sound of the ringing in his ears.
Todoroki made a beeline for the back door. Midoryia, Uraraka, and Iida were playing some card game at the dining table when they noticed him.
“Hey, Todoroki! Want us to deal you in?” Uraraka asked with the brightest smile.
He glanced at her momentarily. The pain must have been evident on his face because she shut her mouth as soon as their eyes met. He slammed the sliding door behind him. The cool autumn evening soothed his burning heart. He sat on top of the picnic table with his face buried in his hands. Tears rolled down his face silently. Todoroki never cried, but here he was. Crying his eyes out over a boy who only cared about the number one hero spot.
He could hear a distinct banging noise, then yelling coming from the common room. Todoroki ignored it. It wasn’t uncommon for his friends to get rowdy during the weekends. He wiped his eyes viciously. He shouldn’t have said anything. The sliding door opened, but Todoroki ignored it. He felt someone stand in front of him. He assumed it was Midoryia checking up on him. When he looked up, he met the gaze of a very bewildered Bakugou.
“Why did you fucking run off?” Bakugou hissed at him. His hands were clenched, probably so they wouldn’t shake in the cold weather.
Todoroki’s mouth went dry, unsure of what to say, “I was scared of what you’d say.”
Bakugou rolled his eyes, “If your dumbass would have stayed a damn minute longer, you would have found out how I felt.”
Mismatched eyes fell back to the scattered leaves on the ground.
“I like you too, Shouto.” Bakugou whispered. His voice soft as the evening wind.
A burning blush rode high on Todoroki’s cheeks. He tried to fathom a response, but came up short. Bakugou placed both of his hands on either of side of Todoroki’s face.
“Don’t say a fucking word, Half n’ half.” He tilted Todoroki’s head back so they were looking at each other. Bakugou closed the distance between them. His lips were soft against Todoroki’s. They moved slowly, giving him enough time to opt of the kiss if he wanted to. Todoroki stood and wrapped his arms Bakugou’s waist, deepening the kiss.
They broke the kiss, but stayed within breathing space of each other, “Not bad for an anxious wreck.” Bakugou jeered softly.
“I’m surprised you even know how to kiss without biting my lips off.” Todoroki hummed with a smile.
“I can bite you if that’s what you’re into.” Bakugou mumbled back,still embarrassed.
--
Dating Todoroki was a trip. When they first had walked into class hand in hand, laughing at a joke that they only understood, the entire class had erupted.
“Finally!” Kirishima hollered.
“Kaminari, you owe me 20 bucks!” Ashido screeched, slapping her desk.
Fucking Deku and Angleface just smiled like the idiots they were. Bakugou threatened to blow the roof off the school if anyone else spoke out. Everyone just laughed at the empty threat and resumed congratulating them. Even though Bakugou would never say it loud, he’d put up with all the teasing in the world if it meant he got to hold Todoroki’s hand proudly.
They spent their nights the same. Todoroki would sneak into his room after lights out like always. Except this time Bakugou got to kiss that bastard breathless and play with his hair shamelessly.
Todoroki’s nightmares still woke him from time to time, but Bakugou was there to bring him back to reality.
“Shouto, calm down. You’re here with me.” Bakugou whispered to him one night after a particularly long panic attack.
Todoroki shook like a wet dog against him. He said something unintelligible against Bakugou’s shoulder. Bakugou never let him go throughout his panic. He wanted Todoroki to know that he was there and didn’t plan on leaving.
Eventually, his breathing evened out, “Thank you, Katsuki. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Shut up. You are more than capable than handling yourself. You just have shit you need to deal with.” Bakugou ran his fingers through Todoroki’s hair.
Todoroki didn’t respond, but rather kissed his shoulder.
“Get some sleep. We have hero training in the morning and I can’t afford having you want to . sleep in.” He kissed the top of Todoroki’s forehead softly.
“You let me do it last week.” Todoroki grumbled.
“Yeah, well now I’m saying no. You have an old man to beat out. So rest up before I do it for you.”
Todoroki smiled up at him, “Goodnight, Katsuki.”
“Night Shouto.”
Even though Bakugou loved being a difficult hardass, he never failed to fall asleep with Todoroki curled up next to him.