Archive of Our Own

Izuku really tries not to get severely hurt, he really does, but his body has never been good at listening to logic. It reacts first, thinks later, and by the time his brain catches up, it’s already too late to undo anything. So when the sharp crack of wood splitting cuts through the air and a tree begins to tip, Izuku doesn’t hesitate

There’s a woman frozen beneath it, eyes wide, groceries spilling from her arms. Izuku’s feet are already moving. One second he’s watching, the next he’s there, shoving her out of the way with just enough force to send her stumbling onto the pavement

And then

Sharp, crushing, and pain

The world tilts violently as something massive slams into his side, the impact knocking the air from his lungs in a broken gasp. There’s a sickening crack, he’s not sure if it’s the tree or something in his own body and for a brief moment, everything goes quiet except for the ringing in his ears

He knows it’s a bad habit. Knows he should be more careful, more strategic, less reckless

But he’s a hero, so screw him

He wakes up in a hospital bed, the familiar scent hitting him before anything else.The kind of smell that clings to your lungs and reminds you exactly where you are. The overhead lights are blinding, harsh against his sensitive eyes, and Izuku lets out a weak groan, squinting as he tries to lift a hand to shield his face. Even that small movement feels heavy, like his limbs don’t quite belong to him yet

He attempts to sit up out of habit because he should be fine, because he always tells himself he’s fine but a sharp protest from his ribs stops him short, forcing a strained breath past his lips

Right. Not fine

The soft click of the door pulls his attention, and Izuku blinks rapidly, vision still adjusting as a figure steps inside. A nurse- a pretty one. Izuku’s brain, traitorous as ever, latches onto that detail immediately

“About time you woke up,” the nurse says

Izuku nods quickly, maybe too quickly, wincing faintly at the motion. The nurse scoffs under his breath, already moving closer, clipboard in hand as he checks the monitors “A woman came in earlier. Said you saved her from a falling tree.”

There’s a pause, the faint beeping of machines filling the silence

Izuku should probably respond by saying something humble, something reassuring but all he can do is stare. The man standing beside him almost doesn’t feel real

Ash blond hair, slightly messy like he ran a hand through it one too many times during a long shift. Sharp red eyes that flicker with quiet irritation, though not entirely unkind. There’s a small mole near the corner of his eye, subtle but impossible to ignore once noticed. His features are sharp, high cheekbones, clean skin, a jawline that looks like it can cut

He looks… unreal

Like something out of one of Izuku’s daydreams, one of the softer ones he never admits to having. For a split second, Izuku genuinely wonders if he’s still unconscious.

The nurse seems to notice the staring. “Quit starin’, weirdo.” Their eyes meet properly this time, and something in Izuku’s chest jolts. Not pain, well, maybe a little- but something else entirely. Embarrassment hits just as fast, flooding his face with heat

The nurse clicks his tongue, already looking away like Izuku isn’t worth the effort. He steps back slightly, putting a bit of distance between them.

“Ah-sorry! I’m just, um…” Izuku stumbles over the words, hands fidgeting weakly against the thin hospital blanket. His thoughts tangle over each other, tripping and falling in the worst way possible

The nurse doesn’t care. Or at least, he pretends not to. He rolls his eyes, clearly unimpressed. “I’ll be back in a few to bring you some food.” And just like that, he’s gone

Izuku sinks back into the bed, staring up at the ceiling for a moment before his gaze drifts down to the blanket covering him. His fingers pick at the fabric absentmindedly, smoothing out wrinkles 

His mom should be here soon. She’s his emergency contact, she always is. The thought is comforting, he misses his mom

Still, his eyes flicker toward the door, just for a second. Then to the window, where the sun is slowly beginning to dip, painting the sky in soft oranges and fading golds. Time has passed, more than he expected

The door opens again

Izuku perks up instantly, a small, involuntary spark of anticipation lighting up his expression but it’s not the nurse. It’s his mom. The spark dims before he can stop it

She notices. Of course she does. She always does. “Sorry, sweetie,” Inko says gently, stepping into the room with a warm, familiar smile. She moves to his side, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead, her hand lingering there for just a moment longer than necessary. “Were you waiting for someone else?”

Izuku panics. “N-no! No one, I’m waiting on the nurse, that’s all!” The words come out too fast, too forced, and he immediately tries to recover with a sheepish smile. “Kinda hungry,” he adds, the lie slipping out easier than it should

Inko hums softly, though there’s a knowing look in her eyes as she settles into the chair beside his bed. “Ah, okay.” The chair creaks faintly under her weight, the sound oddly loud in the quiet room. Izuku shifts slightly, wincing when something in his side pulls wrong

They fall into conversation easily, like they always do after something like this. It’s familiar. She asks about the rescue, about what happened, about why he thought it was a good idea to throw himself into danger like that

Izuku scratches at his cheek, avoiding her eyes. He explains it simply. And just like every other time- “I just think you have to be more careful, Izuku. You give me a heart attack almost every day.” Her voice isn’t angry. It never is. It’s soft, threaded with worry that’s been building for years

Izuku sighs, shoulders slumping the tiniest bit. He picks at the edge of the blanket again, eyes dropping to his lap. “I know, mom.” He does know. That’s the problem. He knows, and he still does it anyway

There’s a pause, heavy but not uncomfortable. Just filled with everything that doesn’t need to be said anymore.

The door opens again. Izuku’s head lifts immediately, too fast, too hopeful and there he is, the nurse

He steps inside with a tray balanced in one hand. His expression is the same as before- stern, borderline annoyed but there’s a kind of focus in his eyes that makes it hard to look away

Izuku’s gaze follows him without permission. Bakugo sets the tray down on the small rolling table with a soft clatter, adjusting it into place before finally glancing at Izuku

“Let’s get you to a comfortable position, okay?” His tone isn’t exactly gentle, but it’s not harsh either, just… straightforward. Before Izuku can even respond, Bakugo reaches over and presses a button on the side of the bed

There’s a low mechanical whir as the bed begins to lift, tilting upward slowly. Izuku tenses at the movement, breath catching slightly when his ribs protest, but he bites it back

Inko immediately moves to help, fussing over him in the way only she can. She fluffs the pillows behind his back, adjusting them carefully so he has something soft to lean against. 

“There we go,” she murmurs, more to herself than anyone else. Izuku lets himself sink into the support, shoulders relaxing just a little as the pressure eases

“Thank you so much- what’s your name, sweetie?” Izuku’s eyes snap to his mom, a flicker of panic crossing his face. He hadn’t even thought to ask

Bakugo pauses for half a second, like the question caught him off guard- barely. “Bakugo.” Short. Simple. He gives a curt nod, like that’s all the information they’re getting

Izuku repeats it silently in his head. Bakugo. It fits him somehow

“Thank you so much, Bakugo,” Inko says warmly, reaching out without hesitation to take his hand in both of hers.

Bakugo freezes. For a split second, his composure cracks, his red eyes widening just a fraction, shoulders going stiff like he wasn’t expecting the contact at all

Then it’s gone

Bakugo recovers almost instantly, posture straightening as he carefully, carefully pulls his hand back “It’s nothing. I’m just doing my job, ma’am.” His voice is clipped again

“Call me Inko, sweetie,” she insists, smiling up at him with that same gentle warmth she gives everyone.

Bakugo hesitates. “...ok” 

“What’s the report about Izuku?” Inko asks

Izuku shifts slightly at the attention, suddenly very aware of himself, of the hospital gown, of the way his hair is probably a mess

Bakugo doesn’t look at her right away. His eyes linger on Izuku for a second longer than necessary. Then he exhales softly through his nose and answers “He should be fine. Just a couple of cracked ribs,” he says, flipping through the chart briefly before snapping it shut. “But someone with a healing quirk came in and fixed it for the most part.”

There’s a pause.

Bakugo’s gaze slides back to Izuku, more direct this time “You’re very reckless, aren’t you.”

Izuku feels his face warm under the weight of it, the bluntness catching him off guard even though it really shouldn’t. He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly, shoulders pulling in just a bit. “Guilty,” he admits, offering a small, shy smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes

“You should be more careful,” he says, arms crossing over his chest in one smooth motion. The movement pulls the fabric of his scrubs just enough to make Izuku’s brain short-circuit for a second. “I’ve seen videos of you not taking care of yourself. Always throwing yourself into danger like you’ve got something to prove.”

Izuku blinks

Wait- 

His brain latches onto one specific part of that sentence, ignoring literally everything else. “A-are you a fan?” The question slips out before he can stop it

Inko makes a small noise beside him, something between a stifled laugh and disbelief but Izuku doesn’t look at her. He’s too busy staring at Bakugo

Bakugo huffs, the corner of his mouth twitching upward into something that’s not quite a smile, not quite a smirk. “You’re too reckless for me,” he admits

Izuku’s heart does something weird in his chest “I guess I have to fix that then,” Izuku says before he can overthink it, the words coming out a little more confident than he feels. His green eyes lift, meeting Bakugo’s properly this time. “For you to like me.”

Bakugo’s lips twitch again, just barely, like he’s fighting off a reaction he doesn’t want to show. His red eyes narrow slightly. “Sure, hero.”

The nickname lands somewhere warm in Izuku’s chest

Bakugo turns on his heel, already heading toward the door like the conversation is over, like he didn’t just completely derail Izuku’s ability to think straight. Izuku watches him go, eyes trailing after him without even trying to hide it this time

But just before he steps out, Bakugo pauses. He doesn’t turn fully, just tilts his head enough to glance back over his shoulder, profile sharp against the hallway light. “If I see you in the next month,” he says, voice steady, “you go down to the bottom of my list.”

Izuku blinks, processing that for half a second and then grins. “Deal!” he calls out immediately, a little too eager, a little too loud.

The door shuts with a soft click behind Bakugo, leaving the room quieter than before

Izuku lets out a small breath he didn’t realize he was holding, a quiet chuckle bubbling up from his chest despite the faint ache that comes with it. His fingers curl slightly into the blanket again

His mom coughs. Izuku stiffens

Slowly, he turns his head to look at her. Inko is watching him, not just watching, smiling. That knowing, gentle, slightly teasing smile that immediately sets off alarms in his brain “I see why you were waiting for the nurse.”

Izuku’s entire face goes up in flames. “Mom!” he squeals, voice pitching higher than he’d like as he flails slightly, only to immediately regret it when his ribs protest. “I wasn’t-! That’s not-!”

“It’s okay Izuku” Inko pats his head, “I won’t tell him” she snickers, Izuku groans into his hands 

Not even a week later, Izuku is back at the hospital. He really didn’t mean for this to happen again. It wasn’t even anything dramatic this time, well, not on purpose. One second he was in the middle of patrol, trying to keep track of civilians and damage control at the same time, and the next he got distracted, just for a second, and a villain took the opportunity

Izuku remembers the force of it more than anything else. The way his body lifted off the ground like he weighed nothing, the rush of wind in his ears as he was thrown across what felt like half the city. The impact had been rough, but not devastating. He’d landed, rolled, forced himself back up like he always does

He could’ve kept going. He would’ve kept going. But then Todoroki showed up, calm and efficient as ever, ice pinning the villain down before Izuku could even properly reorient himself

And then came the lecture

“I’m telling you, I’m fine,” Izuku mutters for what feels like the tenth time, frowning up at the ceiling as the stretcher wheels squeak beneath him. The hospital lights pass overhead in a blur, too bright, too familiar. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“Better safe than sorry,” Todoroki replies evenly from somewhere beside him, completely unmoved before leaving to finish off his patrol

Izuku sighs, letting his head tilt slightly to the side. He knows arguing is useless. Still, that doesn’t mean he has to like it.

He’s placed into a room not long after, the routine almost identical to last time. The same white walls, the same quiet hum of machines, the same feeling of being stuck somewhere he doesn’t quite belong

Izuku sits on the edge of the bed this time instead of lying down, arms crossed loosely as he swings one leg just slightly, restless energy buzzing under his skin. He’s already planning how fast he can get out of here

The door opens and of course it’s him

Bakugo walks in with a clipboard in hand, eyes already locked onto Izuku like he knew exactly what he’d find. There’s no surprise on his face. No confusion. Just a flat, unimpressed look that somehow feels worse than anything else

“I thought we agreed that I wouldn’t see you for the next month.”

Izuku immediately straightens. “I’m fine, but my friend made me come here!” he blurts out, the words tumbling over each other as he gestures vaguely, like Todoroki is still there to back him up. “Please don’t count this.”

Bakugo doesn’t even hesitate. “Too bad. You’re officially at the bottom of my favorite hero list.” He shifts his weight, one hand settling on his hip as he looks Izuku over like he’s personally offended by his existence. “I even prefer icy hot over you, and that says a lot.”

Izuku blinks. “Icy hot?” he repeats, tilting his head slightly, confusion flickering across his face. “You don’t like Todoroki?”

Genuine curiosity laces his voice. In his mind, Todoroki is… well, Todoroki. Reliable. Strong. A good person. Hard not to like

Bakugo scoffs. “Nah. He’s fuckin’ annoying.” The words are blunt, immediate, like he didn’t even have to think about it

Izuku opens his mouth to argue, he wants to argue but the words die in his throat as Bakugo moves closer. Closer than before

Izuku’s breath catches slightly, his body going just a little still as Bakugo reaches over to check the machine beside him. The steady beeping fills the space between them, suddenly much louder than it was before

Bakugo scribbles something down on his clipboard, then sets it aside without much thought

And then he grabs Izuku’s arm. It’s firm but not rough, fingers wrapping around his forearm as he applies a small amount of pressure, testing, assessing

“Does it hurt when I do that?”

Izuku’s brain short-circuits. “N-no? Not really,” he stammers, the words coming out uneven, distracted, because Bakugo is touching him. His hand is warm. Strong

And then the machine starts beeping faster.

Izuku freezes, his eyes snap toward it in horror as the steady rhythm picks up, betraying him instantly. His gaze lifts back up, Bakugo is already looking at him. There’s something different in his expression now

“Are you nervous, hero?” he asks, voice almost innocent, like he doesn’t already know the answer. His eyelashes flutter slightly when he blinks, the motion subtle but somehow distracting.

The machine beeps louder. Faster

Izuku’s entire face burns and then Bakugo laughs. Not just a small chuckle- a full, unrestrained cackle that fills the room, sharp and bright and entirely unfair. Izuku wants to disappear. He clamps his mouth shut, too embarrassed to even try defending himself, forcing his gaze anywhere but Bakugo’s face. The ceiling. The wall. The stupid machine that’s still betraying him

Calm down, he tells himself desperately. Calm down, calm down

He takes a slow breath in. Then another

Gradually, the beeping steadies

Izuku swallows, shoulders still tense, acutely aware that Bakugo is still right there, still close, still probably watching him struggle to get himself under control

“I’m messing with you.” Bakugo steps back.  “So don’t worry.” His tone is casual as he grabs his clipboard again and scribbles something down

Izuku blinks, still trying to catch up, his body slowly relaxing now that Bakugo isn’t hovering right over him. His heart rate is finally starting to settle into something normal

“R-right,” he mutters under his breath

Bakugo doesn’t respond. He just finishes writing, gives Izuku one last look and then turns toward the door and just like that, he’s gone

Izuku exhales, running a hand through his hair, tugging lightly at the strands as if that’ll somehow ground him. His thoughts are all over the place, bouncing between that was embarrassing and he said he was messing with me and why does he keep calling me hero like that?

He barely has time to process anything before the door opens again

Bakugo’s back. This time, he’s holding a bottle of water. “I figured you were thirsty.” The words are simple, almost offhand, but there’s something in the gesture that makes Izuku pause

“Oh- thanks,” Izuku says quickly, taking the bottle from him. Their fingers brush for half a second, and Izuku pretends not to notice, immediately focusing on twisting the cap open instead. He takes a long gulp, longer than necessary, mostly to give himself something to do, something to avoid looking directly at Bakugo again. The cool water helps, at least a little, easing the dryness in his throat

Bakugo, meanwhile, pulls a chair over without asking and drops into it beside the bed like he belongs there. Izuku lowers the bottle slowly, glancing at him from the corner of his eye

“So,,” Bakugo starts, leaning back slightly in the chair, one arm resting lazily against the side. “What made you come in this time?”

“Got distracted…” he admits, voice quieter now, a little sheepish as he looks down at the bottle in his hands. His fingers fidget with the label, peeling at the corner absentmindedly

He braces himself. Waits for the lecture. The scolding. The you need to be more careful speech he’s heard a thousand times from a thousand different people

But it doesn’t come

Bakugo grunts

Izuku glances up, confused

“When was the last time you ate?” The question hits him completely out of nowhere

“Uhh…” Izuku stalls, blinking as he tries to think back. His brain scrambles through the day- patrol, the villain, getting thrown, Todoroki…somewhere in there, food should’ve been eaten, right?

“I didn’t eat lunch…” he admits slowly, frowning a little as he tries harder to remember. “Oh- uh, I had a banana for breakfast.”

There’s a beat of silence

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” Bakugo drags a hand down his face, fingers pressing into his forehead like he’s physically trying to process that information

Izuku flinches slightly, shoulders pulling in, but there’s no real bite behind Bakugo’s frustration, just disbelief. “You heroes really need to learn how to take care of yourselves better.”

Izuku lets out a small, awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck again. “Trust me, I try,” he says, a little defensive but mostly honest. “But I’m not a good cook.” It’s a weak excuse, he knows it is

Bakugo doesn’t respond right away. He just sits there for a moment, quiet, eyes fixed somewhere ahead like he’s thinking. Actually thinking

Izuku watches him carefully, curiosity creeping in despite himself

Then Bakugo suddenly leans forward, grabbing his notepad again. He writes something down quickly before tearing the page off with a sharp motion. “I finish my shift in about an hour.”

Izuku blinks. “Okay…?” He takes the paper slowly, glancing down at it

It’s a number

Bakugo’s number

Izuku’s brain short-circuits. He looks back up, completely lost now, words failing him for maybe the first time in his life

Bakugo clicks his tongue, clearly irritated by the confusion “Fuckin’-text me or whatever,” he says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “If you want, you can come over to my place and I’ll cook something.”

Izuku freezes

His fingers tighten slightly around the paper, like if he loosens his grip it might disappear and this whole thing will turn out to be something he imagined

Bakugo shifts in his seat, suddenly looking anywhere but directly at him, like he regrets saying it or at least doesn’t want to deal with whatever reaction comes next

“Yes!”

The word bursts out of him before he can stop it, higher and louder than he intended, his voice cracking halfway through. Heat rushes up his neck and spreads across his face, burning like fire. He coughs awkwardly, trying to cover it up, waving his hands like that’ll make it any less obvious. “Uh, yes. I- uh-I would love to go. If you don’t mind.” His eyes dart away for a split second, landing on the edge of the bed, on the floor, anywhere

Bakugo doesn’t even flinch, doesn’t look particularly impressed. If anything, he clicks his tongue in mild annoyance, like Izuku’s little outburst is more of a nuisance than a victory. “I wouldn’t have asked if I did mind, dumbass.” His voice is rough

Bakugo stands, clipboard tucked under one arm, and Izuku’s attention follows every movement. The way his shoulders shift, the deliberate tilt of his head, the slight ease in his posture that somehow makes him look taller. “You should be released in less than an hour, so… I’ll see you?”

Izuku swallows hard, throat dry, and nods. “Mhm,” he murmurs, the word barely leaving his lips but somehow feeling like a promise, a lifeline, a declaration all at once. The door swings open as the nurse enters, briefly breaking the tension, and Bakugo slips past without another word, moving into the hallway

As soon as the door clicks shut, Izuku exhales so loudly it feels like he’s letting the weight of the world out of his lungs. He leans back into the pillows, letting his hands rest on the blanket, and finally allows himself to feel it, the giddiness swelling in his chest, the jittery warmth crawling up from his stomach and making his fingers tingle. His lips twitch into a grin he can’t quite hide, and he lets out another soft, almost inaudible sigh

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knows it’s only been a few minutes since Bakugo gave him the invitation, but it already feels like an eternity in the best way, like the world has slowed down just enough for him to savor the fact that the man he’s been thinking about nonstop actually wants to see him. He presses the paper with Bakugo’s number to his chest for a fraction of a second, the edges of it digging lightly into his fingers, and he can’t help but imagine what it would feel like when he finally gets to go over to that apartment, when he finally gets to see Bakugo outside of the sterile, clinical setting of a hospital room

He’s floating somewhere between embarrassment and pure, unfiltered joy, and the corner of his mouth twitches upward, refusing to stop, because for the first time in a long while, Izuku can’t stop himself from feeling like maybe, just maybe, things are finally going his way

For the next couple of months, Izuku found himself falling into a rhythm he hadn’t even realized he wanted. It wasn’t dramatic, and it wasn’t necessarily romantic but it was perfect in its own quiet, effortless way. Every hangout, every small interaction, felt like uncovering a new layer of someone. And Bakugo… Bakugo was endlessly fascinating. There was a sharpness to him, a blunt honesty that sometimes left Izuku reeling, but underneath that edge, there were these small, human quirks that made him utterly approachable and completely captivating at the same time

Izuku had learned so much about him. The fact that he was an only child, just like Izuku himself, made him feel strangely connected, like they shared some unspoken understanding of what it meant to navigate the world without siblings. Bakugo’s love for spicy foods made for some unexpectedly fun nights of trying dishes that left Izuku gasping and sweating while Bakugo casually munched away, unfazed. Hiking and surfing were his escapes, and watching Bakugo’s face light up when he talked about the ocean or the feeling of being above the treetops made Izuku want to do everything in his power to see him happy. And reading, Bakugo’s taste in books was surprisingly eclectic, ranging from dry technical manuals to gripping thrillers, which gave Izuku endless material for teasing or discussion

And then there was Princess Explosion, or Princess for short, Bakugo’s dog. A tiny bundle of energy with a stubborn streak to rival her owner, who somehow managed to worm her way into Izuku’s heart almost immediately. It was hard not to smile when Bakugo’s usually sharp expression softened just slightly as he talked about her, the way his voice lowered in affection whenever he said her name

Some things had truly surprised Izuku. Bakugo had a circle of friends he was surprisingly close with, Kirishima, Denki, Mina, and Sero. Apparently, they had met years ago when Bakugo first became a nurse, helping Kirishima through some sort of medical mishap. Hearing Bakugo casually recount memories of those days, the teasing and bickering between them, the inside jokes he carried over the years- it was like seeing an entirely different side of him, one that wasn’t guarded, one that could just be

But the absolute best thing, the thing that left Izuku smiling long after they parted ways, was discovering that Bakugo was a huge All Might fan. Not just casually interested, but obsessed in the way Izuku himself had been when he was younger. Watching an All Might movie together had been… magical, in a way he didn’t expect. They’d argued over favorite scenes, debated hero tactics, laughed at the ridiculousness of some moments, and lingered long after the credits rolled talking about everything and nothing all at once. Those small, shared moments were hands down the highlight of Izuku’s day, every day

Now, Izuku was standing in front of his mirror, straightening the collar of his shirt for the third time, double checking his jeans, and running a hand through his hair like it might magically make him look cooler. Bakugo’s birthday was today, and Izuku had been planning for weeks, asking what, if anything, Bakugo had planned. When Bakugo had casually mentioned that Kirishima wanted to host a small gathering at his place, he’d also said, in his own gruff way, that Izuku was welcome to come, basically telling him he wanted him there, whether he meant to or not

Izuku felt that familiar flutter in his chest at the thought, a mix of excitement and nerves. He adjusted his shirt one last time, grabbed the carefully wrapped gifts, each one selected with Bakugo in mind, and took a deep breath. Everything about today had to be just right

With a final glance in the mirror, Izuku slung his bag over his shoulder, gifts safely tucked inside, and headed for the door

Before he knew it, Izuku’s hand was raised, hesitating for just a moment before knocking on Bakugo’s door. His knuckles barely made a sound against the wood before the door swung open and instead of Bakugo, there was Denki, bright and grinning like the sun had personally decided to visit

“Yo! Midoriya, I’m glad you can make it!” Denki practically lunged forward, pulling Izuku into a quick, warm hug. He returned the hug, smiling, feeling just a little of his tension ease

“Where’s Kacchan?” Izuku asked, stepping inside and brushing imaginary lint from his jeans. His eyes darted around, taking in the cozy chaos of Bakugo’s apartment, the scattered snacks, music faint in the background, the faint smell of homey comfort mixed with something uniquely Bakugo

“Ah, the birthday boy’s getting ready,” Denki said, a teasing wink accompanying his words. Izuku blinked, confused, and Denki laughed softly before leaving him to step further into the apartment

The rest of the group greeted him warmly. Kirishima’s familiar grin, Sero’s enthusiastic wave, Mina’s mischievous smirk, all of them made him feel immediately welcomed. He returned hugs all around, grateful for the comfort of friends’ familiarity in the whirlwind of his nerves. When Mina squeezed him tightly, giving him a conspiratorial wink, his heart skipped a beat. They all fell into easy conversation, chatting idly while they waited for Bakugo to emerge

But all the chatter did little to quiet the growing anxiety twisting in Izuku’s stomach. What if Bakugo wasn’t okay with this? What if he’d changed his mind and didn’t want him here anymore? The thought made him shift from foot to foot, glancing toward the closed bedroom door as if he could read Bakugo’s mood through the wood

“-roki asked me to- holy shit!” Sero’s voice suddenly cut through the small bubble of conversation. His eyes went wide, and his words carried that mixture of surprise and awe that made Izuku’s own head whip around

Izuku’s eyes widened

Bakugo had stepped out of the bedroom

And Izuku froze

Bakugo’s presence was magnetic, impossible to ignore. He was wearing a cropped shirt that clung to his body just enough to reveal defined abs, the muscles flexing slightly as he moved. Baggy cargo pants hung low on his hips, casual but somehow accentuating the contrast of his toned upper body. Izuku’s stomach lurched violently, heat rushing through him in a way that made him acutely aware of every nerve ending at once

His gaze instinctively traveled upward, following the lines of Bakugo’s chest, shoulders, and neck, and finally rested on his face. There, Izuku noticed subtle but striking details he hadn’t expected: dark eyeliner underscored Bakugo’s sharp eyes, and his lips were painted a deep, almost dramatic shade of lipstick that made his expression fierce and alluring at once

“Oh my god, you look like a total babe!” Mina squealed from behind him, her excitement practically shaking the room

Izuku couldn’t even respond. He was frozen in place, eyes wide, stomach twisting, and cheeks burning. His brain froze somewhere between holy shit and Bakugo actually looks incredible. Every detail, the eyeliner, the lipstick, the confidence in the way he carried himself, hit Izuku like a wave, leaving him dizzy and utterly captivated

He couldn’t look away and for a moment, he didn’t want to, but Bakugo notices

Of course he does

Izuku isn’t exactly subtle, frozen in place like that, staring like he’s just seen something life changing because, honestly, it kind of feels like he has. Their eyes meet across the room, and for a split second, everything else fades into the background. The chatter, the music, even Mina’s excited rambling, it all dulls into something distant

Bakugo gives him a small nod. Casual. Like this is normal. Like he doesn’t look like that. “Hey, nerd.”

Izuku’s brain trips over itself trying to respond. “H-hey, Kacchan,” he stammers, voice just slightly higher than usual, betraying him immediately. He swallows, forcing himself to hold Bakugo’s gaze for at least another second. “You look great.”

It’s an understatement. A massive one. But it’s the best he can do without completely embarrassing himself

“Thanks.” Bakugo’s response is short, almost clipped, but there’s something off about it- something quieter. He rubs his arms briefly, like he’s suddenly aware of himself under the attention, before looking away and moving further into the room

Izuku watches him go

Bakugo drops down onto the couch between Sero and Denki, stretching out. The movement makes his shirt ride up more and Izuku has to physically stop himself from staring too hard

This is dangerous.

Because Bakugo doesn’t just look good, he looks like something out of Izuku’s worst (best) fantasies, and now he’s sitting right across from him like it’s nothing

“So, Izuku, how’s patrol going so far?” Mina’s voice cuts through his thoughts, pulling him back before he completely spirals

“Oh- uh, it’s been fine,” Izuku says quickly, blinking as he shifts his attention to her. He tries to ground himself, tries to sound normal. “I’ve mostly been patrolling with Todoroki and Iida.”

Even as he speaks, his eyes betray him. They flicker back to Bakugo  just for a second, then back to Mina, then back again 

“Mmm, I heard you’ll be going on a week-long trip. Is that true?” Mina asks, leaning forward with interest, clearly invested in the conversation

“Yep, leaving on Friday,” Izuku replies, nodding slightly. His gaze drifts again, this time lingering

Bakugo is laughing at something Sero said, head tilted back slightly, shoulders relaxed. It’s not a loud laugh, not over the top. The kind of laugh Izuku doesn’t get to see all the time

And it does something unpleasant to his chest. Jealousy creeps in before he can stop it, settling low in his stomach like a weight because Bakugo looks… happy. Comfortable. Surrounded by his friends, fully engaged, not even glancing in Izuku’s direction

There he is, looking unfairly pretty, completely magnetic and none of that attention is on Izuku

“That’s a bummer,” Mina sighs, pulling him back again

Izuku turns to her, forcing a small smile onto his face “I guess… but I’m kinda looking forward to relaxing and hanging out with my mom,” he says, shrugging lightly. His voice softens at the mention of her 

Mina immediately melts. “Aww, that’s so cute!” she coos, reaching over to pinch his cheeks without hesitation

Izuku lets out a small, startled noise, face scrunching up as he laughs awkwardly, trying to gently pull away. “Mina-”

But she’s already moving on, attention caught by something else across the room, leaving Izuku alone on the couch

The noise of the party continues around him, laughter, overlapping conversations, the occasional clink of cups but it all feels a little distant now

Izuku sits there awkwardly, hands resting on his knees, fingers fidgeting with the fabric of his jeans. His eyes flick up again, almost involuntarily, landing on Bakugo across the room

He wants to go over, he really wants to go over. But at the same time- he stays exactly where he is because he knows himself, knows that if he gets too close, if Bakugo looks at him like that again, talks to him, Izuku is going to combust

Izuku practically escapes to the kitchen, he doesn’t even try to make it look casual but he needs something to ground himself before he does something embarrassing

He heads straight for the fridge, pulling it open a little too fast, relief washing over him when he sees it stocked. Of course it is, Kirishima wouldn’t let a party happen without drinks

“Thank god…” Izuku mutters under his breath. He grabs a beer without thinking too much about it, shuts the fridge, and leans back against the counter. The cool surface presses against his spine, grounding him slightly as he cracks the bottle open and taking a huge sip

It’s exactly what he needs. “Fuck…” He drags a hand down his face, fingers pressing into his eyes for a second as he exhales slowly

Get it together.

“Everything okay, Deku?”

Izuku’s entire body jolts. His head snaps toward the doorway so fast it almost hurts, eyes widening as he locks onto the familiar figure leaning lazily against the frame.

Of course it’s Bakugo.

He’s just… standing there. Watching him. Like he’s been there longer than Izuku realized

“I-I’m fine, Kacchan!” Izuku blurts out immediately, straightening up too fast. He lifts the beer slightly, like it’s proof of something. “Just wanted to get a drink.”

Smooth. Real smooth.

Bakugo doesn’t look convinced, he pushes himself off the doorframe slowly, like he’s in no rush at all, and starts walking toward him. Each step is measured, deliberate, the soft sound of his boots against the floor somehow too loud in the quiet kitchen

Izuku’s grip tightens slightly around the bottle

“Do you…” Bakugo starts, voice quieter now, less sharp than usual.“…not like what I’m wearing?”

Izuku’s breath catches before he can even process the question

“Wha-” The word dies in Izuku’s throat as Bakugo gets closer. His pulse spikes instantly

“Do you think it’s too… scandalizing?” Bakugo stops when they’re practically toe to toe. There’s barely any space between them now

Izuku can see everything up close- the sharp line of his jaw, the smudged eyeliner, the dark shade of his lips, the way his shirt sits just right against his body. It’s overwhelming in a way that makes Izuku’s brain stall completely.

His back presses further into the counter, like he can create distance that way, but there’s nowhere to go. There’s nothing for him to do but stare

And oh, he does

Izuku’s gaze drifts without permission, tracing the line of Bakugo’s shoulders, the cut of his collarbones, the strip of skin revealed by the cropped shirt. It’s not even intentional at this point, his eyes just go, pulled in like gravity has shifted and centered itself entirely around him

And somewhere in the middle of that spiraling, overwhelming moment- A thought slips in

I want to touch Kacchan

It hits him out of nowhere, sudden and startling in its clarity, and Izuku’s breath stutters like he’s been caught doing something he shouldn’t. His fingers twitch at his sides, like they’re already considering it, already betraying him before he can shut the idea down

“You can touch me if you want.”

Izuku freezes

His head snaps up, eyes wide, heart slamming so hard it almost hurts. For a second, he genuinely wonders if he said that out loud, if he somehow embarrassed himself that badly but Bakugo is looking at him, like he knows exactly what he just did to Izuku’s brain

Izuku swallows hard. Slowly, almost cautiously, his gaze drops, just for a second, to Bakugo’s waist. Then back up

Bakugo doesn’t move. Doesn’t take it back. He’s serious. The realization sends a rush of heat through Izuku’s entire body, settling somewhere deep in his chest and making it hard to think, hard to breathe, hard to do anything except stand there

His hands lift before he can overthink it. They land on Bakugo’s waist, light at first, like he’s testing the reality of it, like he expects this to disappear if he presses too hard

Izuku’s breath catches. His grip tightens just slightly, not enough to pull, just enough to confirm that this is actually happening. That Bakugo is letting him do this

Bakugo’s reaction is immediate. His arms come up, wrapping around Izuku’s shoulders with an ease that feels almost practiced, pulling him in closer, closing what little distance was left between them

Izuku stiffens for half a second, startled by the sudden shift, but he doesn’t pull away

“Yeah,” Bakugo murmurs, voice low, right by his ear now. There’s something almost amused in it, something knowing. “Knew you were a little freak.”

Izuku’s entire body feels too warm, too aware, his thoughts scrambling to keep up with the moment as his hands remain where they are, fingers curling slightly against Bakugo’s sides

He doesn’t know what he’s doing, but he doesn’t want to stop

At first, they move carefully, like he’s still testing boundaries, still unsure of how far he’s allowed to go but when Bakugo doesn’t pull away, doesn’t correct him, doesn’t even react, something in Izuku loosens

His palms slide along Bakugo’s waist, slow and tentative at first, then a little more sure, a little more curious. The motion is absentminded and intentional all at once, like he’s caught between thinking and feeling and choosing feeling every time. His fingers press slightly, tracing the shape of him, dipping lower than they probably should, low enough that Izuku knows he’s pushing it. But Bakugo doesn’t stop him, doesn’t say a word. That silence says everything

“Kacchan…” Izuku’s voice comes out softer than he expects, almost breathless. “You’re so perfect… and pretty.” It’s quiet, but not quiet enough to miss, Bakugo hears it

Izuku knows he does

“Yeah?” 

There’s a shift in the air. Izuku lifts his head just enough to catch the grin spreading across Bakugo’s face. The kind of expression that makes his stomach flip and his pulse spike all over again

“Do you want to show me how pretty and perfect I look?”

The question hits him straight in the chest. Izuku doesn’t even hesitate.

“Mhm,” he nods quickly, like he’s afraid the opportunity might disappear if he doesn’t answer fast enough. His grip tightens just slightly, his whole body leaning in without thinking

He wants a lot of things, too many things and all of them center around Bakugo

“Great.” And just like that Bakugo pulls away

The sudden distance is jarring, almost disorienting. One second he’s right there, close enough to feel, to touch, to breathe in and the next, there’s space. Izuku’s hands fall back to his sides automatically, like they don’t know where to go without Bakugo there

“Be good,” Bakugo says, voice lighter now . “And maybe I’ll let you… later. After everyone leaves.”

His brain takes a second to catch up and when it does, heat floods his entire body all over again, stronger this time, deeper, settling somewhere he can’t ignore. He just stands there, staring, trying to process the words, the tone, the implication

Bakugo watches him for a second longer, like he’s enjoying the reaction, before turning like it’s nothing and like that, he heads back toward the living room, leaving Izuku alone in the kitchen

“Fuck…” Izuku lets out a long, heavy groan, dropping his head back for a second as he stares up at the ceiling. His hand drags down his face again, slower this time

He doesn’t know if he can wait all night. “You can do it, Izuku,” he mutters under his breath, barely audible. “Just be good and Bakugo is going to reward you.”

The words sit weirdly in his chest, embarrassing and thrilling all at once but he clings to them anyway. It’s the only thing keeping him from completely losing it

The next couple of hours drag in the worst way possible. Conversations blur together, laughter rings in his ears without really sticking, and no matter how hard he tries to focus on anything else, his attention keeps snapping back to Bakugo

Izuku tries to act normal. He really does, but it’s hard when his thoughts keep circling back to later

Kirishima is the last to grab his things, stretching his arms over his head as he announces it’s getting late. Mina follows not long after, practically glowing with energy

“Have fun, you two,” she sings, throwing them a wink that makes Izuku’s stomach drop and flip all at once

Izuku nearly chokes. “M-Mina-!” he starts, but she’s already out the door, laughing as Kirishima pulls her along. The door closes behind them with a soft click.

He feels it immediately, the shift in atmosphere, the way the air suddenly feels heavier. His nerves spike all over again, crawling up his spine and settling somewhere uncomfortable in his chest

Because now it’s just them

And now Izuku is nervous- really nervous

It hits him all at once, a realization that makes his stomach twist. He’s never done this before, never kissed anyone. Never gotten close to anything like this. It’s not something he ever prioritized, never something he even thought about seriously. Growing up, it was always about being a hero, about getting stronger, about proving himself. Everything else came second

But then Bakugo came into his life and everything shifted. Now here he is, alone, with him and Bakugo wants to kiss him-maybe more

Izuku’s brain starts spiraling

“Let me help you clean,” he blurts out suddenly, his voice cracking just slightly as he stands too fast, already reaching for the cups on the table

He needs something to do. Anything to keep his hands busy, his mind from completely short-circuiting

“Oof-” The world tilts, one second he’s standing, the next he’s sitting back on the couch, eyes wide, completely caught off guard

Bakugo stands in front of him, hands on his hips, looking down at him like he just did something obvious “I’ll clean tomorrow,” he says simply

And before Izuku can even respond, Bakugo moves and sits- not next him but on him

Izuku’s entire body locks up

“W-wait- I-uhm-” his hands come up immediately, hovering awkwardly in the air. His face burns, heat spreading so fast it makes his head spin

Bakugo settles comfortably in his lap like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “You know,” he starts, voice low, almost amused, “you’re pretty shy for such a hot shot of a hero.”

Izuku swallows hard, the motion slow and visible, like even that takes effort now. His hands hover awkwardly before finally settling against Bakugo’s sides

“I’ve never dated before,” he admits, the words coming out quieter than he intended, almost sheepish as they hang in the air between them. He’s such a loser

“Really?” Bakugo’s tone isn’t mocking. If anything, there’s a hint of surprise there

“Sadly, yeah,” Izuku shrugs, the movement a bit stiff with Bakugo sitting on him like this. His gaze drops for a second before flickering back up

“Is there a reason why you never looked for a girlfriend or boyfriend?” Bakugo leans closer as he speaks, and Izuku’s breath catches immediately, his spine straightening without meaning to. The proximity alone is enough to make his thoughts scatter again

“A man like you…” Bakugo continues, voice dipping slightly, “you must’ve had people throwing themselves at you left and right.”

“I-I guess…” Izuku gulps, his throat suddenly dry again despite the drink from earlier. His eyes stay locked on Bakugo now, unable to look away as the distance between them shrinks more and more

And then Bakugo presses a kiss to the corner of his lips. Izuku’s breath stutters, hands tightening just slightly where they rest, his mind going completely blank for a second

“But there were many things,” Izuku manages to continue, voice uneven now. “Like time-”

Another kiss, this time on his cheek. Softer. Lingering just a fraction longer. Izuku’s eyes flutter for a second, his thoughts unraveling piece by piece as warmth spreads across his face

“And!” his voice cracks, higher now, breath catching again as Bakugo’s lips brush against his jaw. “Not really interested at that point in my life”

Bakugo doesn’t stop. His kisses trail, unhurried, from Izuku’s jaw down to the side of his neck, then back up again

Izuku tries to keep talking, he really does. He rambles about training, about goals, about how being a hero always came first, about how he never thought he’d care about this kind of thing but his words start to blur together, losing structure as his focus slips further and further away because Bakugo is still there, kissing him and Izuku is barely holding it together

By the time he finishes explaining, if it can even be called that,  Bakugo pulls back just slightly, just enough for Izuku to see his face again. “Guess I’ll be your first,” Bakugo says

Izuku’s heart pounds so hard it feels like it might burst. He doesn’t even get the chance to respond before Bakugo leans in again and kisses him, properly this time 

Bakugo’s hand comes up almost immediately, fingers sliding into the back of Izuku’s hair, threading through the curls like he belongs there. The touch is firm, grounding, sendinp a sharp chill down Izuku’s spine anyway, the kind that makes his breath hitch and his entire body react before his mind can catch up

Izuku kisses him back

At first, he’s unsure but that doesn’t last long. Not with Bakugo like this, close and responsive. His hands tighten at Bakugo’s waist, fingers pressing in as he pulls him closer

There’s a soft and low sound and it takes Izuku a second to realize it came from Bakugo. A quiet moan, barely contained.It hits Izuku harder than anything else so far. His head spins, warmth flooding through him so fast it almost makes him dizzy. He feels like he’s floating, like the ground beneath him doesn’t exist anymore, like everything has narrowed down to this, this moment, this feeling, this person

It’s too muc and not enough at the same time

He doesn’t know how much more he can take, how far this is going to go, but one thing is painfully clear- He doesn’t want to stop, Bakugo is too addicting

Izuku shifts, his hands slide as he adjusts their positions. There’s a brief break in rhythm as he maneuvers them, but he doesn’t pull away completely

Bakugo ends up on his back against the couch, hair slightly mussed, lips parted, eyes sharp but a little unfocused

And Izuku is above him, close enough to feel his breath.

He doesn’t waste a second, his mouth drops from Bakugo’s lips to his neck, pressing kisses there, figuring out what makes him react

Bakugo gasps. “I-Izuku-”

The sound of his name like that does something to him. Izuku exhales softly against his skin, his lips brushing just under his jaw before trailing lower again

“So hot, so so hot,” he murmurs, the words slipping out without thought

Bakugo’s hands come up then, pressing against Izuku’s chest, not harsh, not pushing him away entirely, just enough to create a bit of space

Izuku pauses, pulling back just enough to look at him, confusion flickering across his face. Did he push too much? Is Bakugo changing his mind?

Bakugo meets his gaze, steady despite everything, like he’s completely aware of what he’s about to say. “I’m not topping, by the way.”

Izuku blinks

“Mm,” he hums softly, something shifting in his expression, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips now. “Well, I planned on topping anyways.”

Before Bakugo can respond Izuku leans back in, kissing him again

The sun spills through the window in soft, warm streaks, landing right across Izuku’s face and pulling him out of sleep little by little. He squints, eyes fluttering open as he adjusts to the light, his body still half sunk into the comfort of the couch. Everything feels warm, loose, pleasantly sore in a way that makes him very aware of what happened the night before

His mind hasn’t fully caught up yet, but his body remembers. Izuku’s eyes land on Bakugo, he’s turned away, back facing him, hair slightly messy and sticking up. The sight alone makes something soft bloom in Izuku’s chest, something quiet and warm that settles deep and lingers

Izuku’s arm is already wrapped around Bakugo’s waist, pulling him closer with a gentle squeeze, fitting himself against him like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Bakugo’s warmth seeps into him instantly, grounding and comforting all at once. Izuku leans in, pressing a small, soft kiss to his shoulder. Bakugo shifts under his touch, a low hum leaving him as he moves, rolling over until he’s facing Izuku. His eyes are half lidded, still heavy with sleep, but there’s a familiar sharpness there too

“Mornin’, nerd.”

Izuku smiles immediately. “Good morning, Kacchan.”

Bakugo leans in just enough to press a quick kiss to his cheek before pulling away, already pushing himself up from where he’d been lying. The movement is a little stiff, a little slower than usual. “Fuck-” The hiss is quiet but noticeable

Izuku’s brows knit together as he watches Bakugo sit up fully, his hands immediately going to his lower back, pressing there as he stretches slightly. “You really went all out last night,” Bakugo mutters, standing up with a slight wince before straightening. Izuku’s face heats instantly

He shifts, propping himself up on one elbow, his other hand coming up to rest against his forehead as he watches him. “I’m sorry,” he says, though it comes out softer than it should, not nearly as apologetic as the words suggest

Bakugo snorts. “Tch- you aren’t sorry,” he shoots back immediately, not even sparing him a glance as he reaches down to grab Izuku’s shirt from the floor. “You were totally enjoying it.”

Izuku lets out a small laugh, the sound low and warm as he watches Bakugo pull the shirt over his head. “You caught me,” he admits easily and he doesn’t look away

Bakugo moves around the room, getting fully dressed. Izuku’s gaze lingers, longer than it should

Bakugo then notices, he turns, sharp and sudden, catching Izuku in the act without hesitation. His arms cross over his chest, expression unimpressed but just a little knowing. “Stop fuckin’ staring at my ass,” he snaps, “and get the fuck up.”

Izuku freezes for half a second, then laughs, the sound soft and a little breathless. “Sorry, sorry,” he murmurs, pushing himself up fully. His body protests just a little, but it only makes the memory of last night real

He walks right up behind Bakugo, closing the space between them like it’s nothing, arms slipping easily around his waist. It feels natural now, too natural for something that only started hours ago. His cheek brushes lightly against Bakugo’s shoulder as he leans in, pressing small, lingering kisses just behind his ear

“Do you want to go for a second round?” Izuku murmurs, voice low, playful, his hold tightening just slightly as he nudges Bakugo closer

“You horny freak!” Bakugo’s reaction is immediate, a sharp grunt leaving him as he reaches back, grabbing Izuku’s wrist and pulling him off. “Give me a break, we went through multiple rounds last night. My back is fucking killing me.”

Izuku pouts. “Okay…” he whines, dragging the word out as he lets himself be pushed back. His arms fall to his sides reluctantly, like they don’t want to let go just yet. “…maybe tonight?”

Bakugo clicks his tongue, clearly annoyed. “Fine.” He turns to face Izuku properly now, eyes dragging over him. “And for the love of god,” Bakugo adds, voice flat, “please put some clothes on.”

Izuku glances down. Oh. “Right.” He laughs awkwardly under his breath, turning to gather his clothes, movements a little rushed now that he’s aware. He pulls everything on quickly, still smiling to himself like he can’t quite believe any of this 

He hears Bakugo leave the room, the faint sound of footsteps heading down the hall, and Izuku is quick to follow, shoving his socks on as he goes. “Kacchan-”

“Hm?”

“Can I be your boyfriend?” The question slips out so easily it almost surprises him, but he doesn’t take it back. They step into the bathroom together, the light flicking on as Bakugo grabs his toothbrush like this is just another morning, like Izuku didn’t just drop something huge

Izuku waits and waits. Trying not to overthink it

“Yeah, you damn nerd,” Bakugo answers finally, like it’s obvious, like Izuku should’ve already known. “We fucked, so you better hope we’re in a relationship now.”

Izuku’s heart soars. He watches, almost dazed, as Bakugo splashes water onto his face, running his hands through his hair before moving into what looks like a full routine—bottles, creams, steps Izuku doesn’t even begin to understand

And he just… stares.

Because Bakugo is everything, even like this. Half-awake, slightly grumpy, focused on something as simple as skincare, he’s still the most captivating person Izuku has ever seen. Izuku leans in without thinking, resting his head against Bakugo’s shoulder, his arm wrapping loosely around his waist again.

“I will-later,” he mumbles when Bakugo tells him to start his own routine. “Right now, I wanna watch Kacchan.”

Bakugo rolls his eyes but he doesn’t move away. Just keeps going, like this is fine, like Izuku being attached to him like this is something he’s already used to

Izuku smiles softly, watching their reflection in the mirror. Watching him, his boyfriend. The word settles in his chest, warm and steady and right. He presses a small kiss to Bakugo’s cheek.Then another

“You’re so clingy,” Bakugo complains, though there’s no real heat behind it

Izuku just hums quietly, tightening his hold just a little because yeah he is and he knows Bakugo doesn’t actually mind