Chapter Text
Shouto remembers being surrounded by music for as long as he can think back to his childhood.
He remembers endless vocal lessons, followed by cruel piano lessons, violin rehearsals, choir practice, and the little time on the weekends taken up by dad’s extra lessons.
So it’s safe to say Shouto didn’t need to even enter into a music college before his debut at the ripe age of fifteen under his dad’s very own music company.
It seemed as if life had carved a path all for Shouto to frolic over. Sponsorships from here, brand deals over there, collaborators flooding his inbox, and whatnot. It all seemed a little too easy, and Shouto quickly realised the industry's true nature.
Brands signing up under his last name, collaborators more interested in getting features and views rather than actually wanting to work with him, and sponsors chasing after the audience under his company. Not Shouto, Todoroki’s.
It was exhausting. Following someone else’s beat. Having to keep up with another’s tempo with little to no consideration for his own thoughts over the end product. He was just the face of it all, the performer.
So right after his four-year contract under Enji’s company came to an end, Shouto abruptly wiped his name clean from the company’s tracks. Sending a curt but formal email to his father about making his own in the industry as a solo artist, not a face to sell deals for his money-hungry company.
Serving at a big company for years came with its endless benefits of knowing a lot of people from all kinds of ventures.
One of them comes in clutch with the music gods shining down on Shouto in the form of Momo. The best manager slash friend Shouto could’ve gained from being in the industry since childhood.
Momo was one of the people Shouto met in piano lessons, even being in the same choir group through middle school, and keeping in touch with her throughout his contract under Enji’s company. Since Momo’s family was one of his sponsors, him and Momo were pretty close from the get go.
In fact, Momo was one of the people who’d heavily supported and even encouraged him to find his own way. The first person who’d told him to get up off his ass and write some music after his first week of unemployment. She was ruthless but a blessing if anything.
She’d personally provided Shouto with the funds to thrive as an artist. Introducing him to other people in the field to help him out— one such being Jirou, his current musical director also incharge of the main instruments.
He still remembers the pub she used to play at, how Shouto was instantly hooked on by her unique style, her smooth voice and her guitar skills, later finding out she played a whole variety of things Shouto had never even heard of.
Another person Shouto had sought out was Izuku. He came across his tiktok page when Momo sent him the link where the boy would post compositions and various covers. Shouto decided Izuku was way too talented to be working under someone like him when the other boy could easily make a living with his own music.
Surprisingly enough, all it took was one single “hey” for Izuku to outright volunteer to compose for Shouto— claiming he’d been following him since he’d just debuted and been a sucker for his live performances. Safe to say, Shouto was more than flattered.
In fact, they’d just riled down from their first tour around the country and Shouto was more than ecstatic to be performing his debut album in front of such a large audience who had been dying to hear him.
It was funny how the pop industry worked— fast paced, quick to pick up trends, and almost as quick to move on from them.
Shouto was more than fortunate to find his small fanbase growing into a community in only a month of releasing his newest pop album. He wasn’t even expecting anyone to care.
It’s not like Shouto had given much time to promote his stuff unlike the rest of his team who’d gone out of their way to post his stuff, putting out sneak peaks to build curiosity amongst the people who were still following Shouto even after he’d left from the whole corporate scene, but keep it lowkey enough so as to not overwhelm Shouto.
But god, the feedback was overwhelming all by itself.
To not only receive praise about the song but having people pick apart tiny details and double meanings behind the lyrics, the symbolism he’d thought would be overlooked by the upbeat, cheery music in the background.
And the fangirls— now that was a whole another discussion.
Shouto noticed that people were particularly fond of his, “charming yet mysterious pretty boy aura” and even more obsessed with his “heavenly voice blessed by the gates of heaven themselves” (?!)
Safe to say, Shouto was more than overwhelmed by the attention he was receiving.
Their tour hadn’t been that long since they didn’t expect the turn up they received but god, was it exhausting. Having to perform in front of a crowd wasn’t entirely new to Shouto but the blinding difference between his audience was obvious.
Still, their small team was celebrating their wrap up over at Shouto’s penthouse.
He could see Momo and Jirou near the kitchen laughing and no doubt discussing some gossip about the production team while making everyone’s drinks.
Shouto was listening to Izuku talk about the latest video some apparently famous vocal coach posted about Shouto’s voice and his incredible breathwork, Shouto isn’t paying much attention honestly.
As fun as the tour has been he’s dead tired. Not physically but socially and mentally.
Izuku, ever the perceptive guy recognised the low battery signal on Shouto’s social capacity blaring on top of his forehead and took it on himself to single handedly entertain Keigo for the night because heaven knows if the man spoke another word to Shouto he’d break down on the spot.
Shouto’s not even sure exactly why Keigo even agreed to be the sole composer for Shouto— not that he’s complaining. He’d spent almost a decade as Hawks working under Enji’s name and has one of the most streamed bangers with his name written all over it. No doubt, has some great brand deals waiting for him. Shouto can’t help but feel that Hawks is only with them to fuck around, have a chance to enjoy music, have fun with it instead of forcing it into a big corporate suit and selling it to people— much like Shouto himself.
But despite being ever grateful for Hawks’ more than top notch skills, he’s respectfully tired of all the shit he had to deal with while on tour with the man, one month, every breathing second with the blond was enough to drive anyone much less Shouto insane.
“Yo, Midoriya!—“ Jirou’s voice cuts through the soft music playing through the speakers like a blade as she and Momo make their way towards the sitting area with the drinks (thank god). “Did ‘ya see who’s performing in our city this weekend?”
She wiggles her eyebrow excitedly at the green head, getting comfortable on the carpet while wrapping herself with a fuzzy blanket.
“Ah… I’m not sure actually, haven’t gotten a chance to scroll through my page in a while with all the tour drama”
Momo slides a drink to Shouto, a carbonated clear liquid he’s pretty sure is vodka and ginger ale confirming his suspicions with a sip that soothes his way down his throat. He relaxes back into the couch while offering a thankful smile to the black-haired girl.
“Dude, you gotta catch up like seriously” she rolls her eyes while taking a sip from her beer can, “the whole doofus biradge are performing near the central stadium this weekend”
In the blink of an eye Izuku’s sitting straighter than ever, eyes wide and unblinking as his mouth gapes open. Jirou only hums and nods her head as if to say ‘exactly’.
Shouto’s about to ask who when Izuku all but howls—
“No way! We have to go, im gonna ask them for tickets now!” He pulls out his phone from the crack of the sofa and begins furiously swiping through it.
“Already ahead of ‘ya man. Got us all floor tickets from the main man himself” she says while shoving her phone screen in front of Izuku’s face to show him something that has Izuku looking like he’s about to gift the purple head the moon itself.
“So….are you guys going to explain who or is this some…” keigo motions vaguely between the two with his hand, drawing a sip from his can of beer “inside lore or whatever”
Izuku finally turns to him with sparkles in his eyes. “Shouto, we’re taking you to a concert this weekend, okay? Trust me, you’re gonna love it”
Even momo nods in agreement, “yeah it’s definitely something you’d enjoy”
Shouto only quirks an eyebrow at the lot for further elaboration.
“Y’know that band we used to be part of before, right?” Jirou begins.
Shouto looks up for a moment then nods when he gets what the girl is getting at.
“Okay so basically, the drummer— DynaMight, I don’t think you’re familiar with him but he’s coming to perform his show here and let me tell you, his shows are insane. Like must watch”
“Oh, that spiky guy!” Hawks finally perks up from the beanbag he was sprawled onto, “man he’s one hell of a performer, I’ve seen some clips from his concerts”
Hawks moves closer to momo and jirou on the floor to show them videos of last night’s concert while the two girls pull the device closer to watch in amazement.
“Don’t worry, our whole group is going to be there you’re gonna love them” Izuku gives him an assuring smile but Shouto’s brain is still catching up to the “spiky drummer” thing while he gives a non-committal hum.
Ironically enough, concerts or practically any place with a lot of people aren’t really his scene. He’d much rather spend his well deserved weekend rest at home lathered in face masks and greasy food.
But when Momo shows him some firework bit from the tour, it doesn’t seem bad. He can definitely understand the hype around it but still…
He gives out a drawn out sigh as forefeit, lying back onto the cushions.
A little after midnight Shouto’s bidding his farewell to the little group now huddled near the floor, binging through a whole album of live performances.
As fun as it had been Shouto feels like he’s been up since the past month and his bed is very dearly calling to him from across the room.
Even while getting dressed into some comfortable pajamas, leaving the top in favour of getting under his blankets— Shouto’s mind is still bugging at him.
He’s aware of his team member’s past and what they used to do before joining the group, especially Jirou and Izuku since they used to be part of a band with their college friends. It started off as a hobby but quickly got serious with all the attraction they started gaining and neither of the just-turned-legal lot were ready to handle all the pressure and load. They ended up disbanding within half an year— not because of any bad blood, of course.
Though, Shouto has definitely heard of a DynaMight.
It wouldn’t seem like it but Shouto’s an avid enjoyer of hip-hop. He loves the power and energy behind every art but hip hop is something he never got into. Mostly because of his control freak of a father who’d have a heart attack if Shouto ever missed a single class god forbid indulging into such “low class genres” as he would say.
He opens up his phone, the screen too bright in the dull room and straining Shouto’s eyes but nonetheless, Shouto quickly opens instagram, searching up what he thinks should be correct and—
Ah, yes.
#DynaTour20XX
The hashtag has about thousands of videos, photos and clips of a concert. Lights flashing across the stadium— not the kind that’d send you into an epileptic shock, but very thoroughly organised purple and orange lighting up the sky. Smoke machines fogging up the stage, cheers and hoots throws across, all in the anticipation for…
“Don’t hold back on me Tokyo! I wanna hear you scream your hearts out tonight!”
Golden locks catch Shouto’s eyes from behind the fog, squinting for a better view as the man moves closer into the lights— pale milky skin fills the screen as the camera very apparently zooms into glistening toned abs— then upto a sharp cut jawline, a snarky smirk across the mouth with teeth made to pierce skin glinting.
As the camera zooms out the figure comes into clear view.
Shouto’s breath stops as he takes into view the entirety of the man.
Good lord.
Cropped black jacket, collars lined with blood red fur beneath which there’s an exposed expanse of a broad chest— muscles carved out of marble itself and lower…. Chains hugging that narrow waist like a warm embrace and even lower—
Shouto has to hold back a groan.
Two black strings sit on his hips from under the pants— twisting and turning as the man walks around the stage, shouting out to the crowd to hype them up, his baggy pants lowering just slightly from the movement revealing that sliver of V going down, down—
The video goes black as it comes to an end and Shouto has to sit there and stare dumbfounded at his own face staring back at him.
He shuts his phone off and drags the covers over his head.
Fuck—
That was…
DynaMight. Rapper.
Of course Shouto has heard of him—
Has had sponsors mention to him— “a bold voice would be nice, say….like DynaMight’s?” —How come Shouto never paid attention?
He pushes the covers down when it gets too hot under the blankets for his own sake.
Maybe it’s the alcohol playing tricks but if this is DynaMight from a screen in a concert 20 feet away then—
Shouto doesn’t even wanna know what it’d be like in flesh.
Suddenly, he’s twitchy at the thought of the concert. And the fact he’s a drummer too? Shouto can basically imagine the guy sitting in front of the drum set, ruling over his very own throne, sticks in hand and—
And he’s imagining a man in the middle of the night.
God. He needs some sleep.
.
In the blink of an eye, weekend rolls around. Shouto was so not ready.
Like literally.
He doesn’t try stifling the yawn that pours out his mouth and only covers it with a hand when Jirou shoots him a very angry glare.
“Why do you only have coats it’s not even winter!” She points out by tugging at the sleeve of a gray blazer hanging in his closet.
Shouto shrugs, his body already ready to get cozy under the sheets instead of in a crowd of sweaty men.
He hears a groan from the other girl in the room, “Shouto, no offense but your wardrobe is horrid how do you ever pick clothes?”
He turns his head to the brunette, pouting. “I have stylists for events or concerts. I don’t see the need to buy anything else, plus— I mostly wear baggy shirts on the usual so…”
Ochaco looks at him with an expression that screams ‘im judging but let’s move on’
“Yeah, well you can’t go to the concert in jorts and a mcr shirt” Jirou drawls, opening shelves and throwing garments out of the way to look for something.
Shouto looks down at his clothing then to Izuku sitting cozily beside him scrolling through his phone. “Do I look ugly?”
He honestly thought it wouldn’t be such a big deal. Apparently DynaMight’s concerts are what they call the shit and there’s a certain way you need to dress for it. Shouto never knew concert dress codes were this serious.
Izuku looks up at him, looking down at his outfit and thinks about the question for a moment, a finger to his chin.
“Um, no?” He replies cooly and Shouto nods at him then turns back to Jirou and now Ochaco who are both set on emptying his closet out.
“It’s not you! You’d look good in anything but you need to follow the dress code” Ochaco states while pointing to her and Jirou’s outfits, both dressed in black leather outfits, boots and belts.
Shouto sighs in surrender.
He’s well versed with the dress code. Has seen concert clips to know the whole vibe of the place and how the people who attend usually look straight from the 90s catalogue.
Shouto does not fit the box.
It’s a little too…edgy to say the least. Even for his preference. Shouto’s well over his emo phase from middle school and would much rather be in something more comfortable knowing he’s going to be out all night.
When Ochaco finally pulls something out, Jirou thinks for a moment and must deem it as good enough because she sighs and goes to fetch accessories and a jacket to pair along with.
After what seems like an hour almost, Shouto’s staring at himself draped with a brown leather jacket he’d gotten from a fashion show last year, a plain white T-shirt underneath they pulled out from somewhere in his closet stretched across his torso.
Shouto did feel a little offended when they switched his jorts out for a pair of blue fades jeans, “burnin’ these as soon as we’re back” but he can’t complain. The outfit is comfortable enough and also somehow goes in with the whole dark gangster theme with a silver chain around his neck.
“Alright! That’s good. Remind us to take you shopping next week because god knows how you survive with that wardrobe” Jirou tuts before exiting to tell everybody else they’re leaving.
By everybody it’s just Momo and Ochaco because Keigo decided he had some urgent work to get to at the list second. Urge work being drinks at the strip club apparently, but hey, he’s probably having more fun out there than Shouto will tonight. Possibly.
Shouto glances one last time towards his reflection, releasing a breath he didn’t know he was holding. His shoulders drop and he wipes his clammy hands on his jeans.
“You look great” Izuku comments from behind and Shouto smiles at him when they make eye contact in the mirror.
Tonight is going to drain his social battery, that he is sure of. Which already isn’t a lot to begin with but looking at the bustling crowd and the huge stage in front of them, he can tell he wasn’t made for this.
The minute they entered through the security gates, he understood why Jirou had insisted they reach the venue fifteen minutes before the start. Despite having front row tickets, the place was flocked with people.
Everybody dripping in spikes and chains, outfits wrapped around them like this was fashion week and not a concert.
“Come on, you don’t want to miss your spot!” Izuku grabs his wrist, pulling him upto the barricades, almost slamming against it in the process.
Shouto barely had time to catch his breath before Ochaco jumped at him from behind, grabbing hard at his shoulders.
“You’ll lift me up to get pictures won’t you?” She smiles at him innocently.
Shouto’s pretty sure he’s known her for long enough to know the girl is anything but innocent but he’ll still give the benefit of the doubt with a smile and a nod.
A countdown shows on the large screen on stage, blasting some song in the background Shouto’s sure he’s heard before but can’t name. Not when the crowd goes insane with it.
Howls and cheers already being thrown at the dim lit stage.
It’s— nice, actually. Shouto never got to be part of such a rowdy crowd. Every concert he’d gotten the chance to go to was more or less, solemn or just not Shouto’s vibe.
This though, this is a nice change.
He can feel the vibration thrumming through his veins, upto his ribs shaking him from the very core.
God, he’s missed this. Even though he just finished tour, he can’t not admit. It’s a nice feeling.
“Oh, oh— It’s starting! He’s starting early” Jirou starts from beside, already pulling out her phone to record.
“It’s so like Bakugou to be early to his own concert” Ochaco snorts and Izuku only smiles in agreement.
Shouto doesn’t know what to expect when—
Lights flash on.
Bright, white beams glaring right at the centre of the stage as the countdown ticks down to the last numbers.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1….,
Boom
A blast.
Like literally—
There’s a moment of stillness where everybody’s holding their breath. Only for a moment.
The second there’s smoke pouring out onto the stage and a silhouette of a very familiar shape, everybody loses their shit.
Around them yells and screams can be heard like it’s a mass shooting.
He eyes a girl next to him who’s almost in tears screeching “DynaMight samaaaa!” At the top of her lungs.
Shouto would be uncomfortable with all the different noises. If only all his five senses weren’t zoned onto one singular thing.
There, on the stage.
Yeah. He gets why this guy’s worshipped by his fangirls.
He’s really no lesser than a god on that stage. Shoutos thoughts surprise him too. His pulse rattling with something that he can’t name as he looks up at the stage. The moving figure walking closer and closer. Anticipation building a pit of anxiety into his stomach.
And then. Then the man talks.
No, actually— he yells.
Somehow louder than a stadium of twenty five thousand people screaming cold murder at once. DynaMight screams, amplified further by the speakers all around.
“Wassup, Osaka! Let me hear you make some real fucking noise!”
Shouto cringes with the way the crowd around him screeches. Their poor vocal cords.
But god, he really can’t judge them cuz— yeah same.
DynaMight takes a bottle of champagne that seemingly appeared out of nowhere— rips the cork open with his bare teeth. Sharp canines wrapping around the top almost endearingly and rips it out with a pop! That echoes into the microphone and spits it somewhere off to the side. He walks the remaining steps closer to the elongated bridge of the stage at front.
And then.
There. On the stage, DynaMight douses his body with the liquid.
Shouto can’t help but groan out loud. Thankfully the music starts up right at that moment, masking his moment of weakness from his friends’ ears.
The man’s body— pale broad expanse of his abs and chest, dripping with champagne. Drooling into the crevices of his well-carved muscles. Down the ridges of his hip bones.
The barrier in front of them rattles and shakes and they must be made of titanium for not having been ripped out by now with the way the girls beside him pull and throw themselves at it.
He’s no better than them.
He can hear his friends screaming and hooting. Cameras zoning on the man.
It’s useless though. No camera could ever come close to the real thing.
The blond surely surely knows what he’s doing. It’s obvious with the way he cocks a mean smirk. Sticks his tongue out, suggestively licking a stripe from the middle of the now half empty bottle of champagne, all the way to the opening, and gulps a few sips down.
His adam’s apple bobbing with each drink.
A few drops escape and drip down to his chin, some sliding down his throat and sharp jawline.
The music itself is almost drowned out until the crowd starts screaming out—
“I wanted you to know, that I am ready to go
Heartbeat, my heartbeat”
That’s when Shouto starts paying attention to the actual concert.
Shit, barely three minutes into the concert and he’s already losing his mind.
Maybe it was the pre-gaming they did on their ride over the place that has Shouto so out of it. “Not everybody has hundreds to spare every night we have to be strategic with our liquor!”
The music flows nicely around them. The tunes soft and melodies aided by the crowd singing. It’s, really nice actually. Soothing and sweet.
DynaMight hasn’t actually started singing yet, still moving around the stage hyping everybody up with hoots and greetings.
Until
The song completely changes. The beat drops and the bass hightens tenfolds, speakers bursting with it.
Shouto almost jumps. But then DynaMight starts singing.
And fuck, Shouto can tell it’s live audio. So clearly. Because he can hear the deep breathing and the roughness bouncing off each word as the man walks and jumps around.
The verse changes and he’s rapping.
And god, his voice—
It’s equally as impressive how the crowd doesn’t even skip. Singing along each and every word.
Shouto is completely, utterly entranced. So fucking moved by the whole presentation.
“You enjoying?” Izuku asks, jumping up and down to the beat. Grinning from eye to eye.
Shouto smiles, “yeah it’s— I get what you guys mean now. Totally”
Izuku giggles and turns back to the stage, singing along every word.
“I’m a ghost and you know this,
It’s why we broke in the first place
Cause—“
Sweet like honey, DynaMight’s voice flows into the mic. Completely changes his vocals 360° somehow going from yelling to completely smooth and grounding.
Shouto hasn’t heard many rappers be able to pull off vocals this well so he’s thoroughly impressed.
“I wanted you to know, that I am ready to go
Heartbeat, my heartbeat”
He starts bobbing his head and swaying, hand in hand with Ochaco between him and Izuku. She too screeching at the top of her lungs.
“I wanted you to know, whenever you are around
Can’t speak
I can’t speak”
A really good rapper. Is what shouto concludes by the end verse. And equally as good performer too.
You can tell from all the way here when an artist really enjoys their art and it’s obvious how much fun DynaMight is having. If the way he jumps around and screams says anything. Laughing and cackling in between most lyrics when he sees some fan in the crowd do something stupid or reads an out of pocket sign board somebody has.
His eyes sparkle and crinkle every time he turns the mic to the crowd, grinning wide, flashing all white pearly teeth when the crowd goes impossibly louder, yelling each line word for word.
“So we’re done?
This the real shit?
We used to hold hands like field trips
I’m a jerk but your dude is a real dick
I read his posts on your wall and i feel sick”
Shouto blinks when he feels tears welling up in his eyes after being fixed onto vanilla white skin for a moment too long.
He shakes his head. Back to earth.
He doesn’t even know the guy and he’s basically worshiping him like a fan.
DynaMight comes to the very edge of the stage, squatting down with the mic to his lips.
“Ayo, fuck this
Are we dating? Are we fucking?
Are we bestfriends?
Are we something in between that?”
His gaze washes over to their area. Shouto must be gone so past reality and he’s so sure he’s delusional at this point. Because he swears the blond just looked right at him.
“I wish we never fucked and I mean that”
If Shouto’s heart wasn’t already going on lap six hundred, he’s convinced it’s fully stopped working when he hears DynaMight chuckle low and gravely into the mic.
The music behind stops, beats slowed and it’s only DynaMight’s voice.
“But not really
You say the nastiest shit in bed and it’s fucking awesome”
He stays sitting there for a while as the song ends. Practically vibrating with the high he’s on. A cocky grin waiting to hear the praises thrown at him.
It’s only then that Shouto’s attention is brought to the fact that they have a huge screen on stage which displays different views of people in the crowd. Cameras zooming in on people— some dancing, some screaming, some jumping up and down while the camera focuses onto their sign.
Then he sees familiar faces.
Oh, it’s them.
The crowd from the back hoots. Somehow impossibly louder. Some people behind them jump around trying to get into frame.
This catches DynaMight’s gaze as it draws from the screen down to their group.
Jirou frantically waves at him, Izuku jumping and flailing his arms. Ochaco is too busy posing, pulling Momo into the camera’s view with Shouto.
DynaMight takes one look at them. Rolls his eyes, a playful smile on his lips clearly directed to them.
“Ugh, who invited you nerds?” His rough voice growls out.
Jirou unceremoniously points the middle finger right toward the camera, which very efficiently switches povs right that moment. This draws a cackle from the man on stage.
Shouto smiles at the casual interaction.
Then the man looks right at shouto. Perhaps for the second time tonight if Shouto wasn’t delusional the first. Dead into his eyes, his face going blank and panting as the crowd screams and cheers at the back.
Shouto’s world stops moving. He’s sure this is what all those movies on ‘love at first sight’ must want to convey. Shouto doesn’t move.
Except his arm doesn’t get the memo.
He’s waving at the guy. Shouto can feel his face heating, not just from the warm weather.
DynaMight furrows his eyebrows. Eyes squinting as he looks more closely at Shouto.
Shouto’s too late to decipher that the expression means he’s scowling at him until he’s completely ignored by the blond and instead is reading what must be the huge sign the girls beside him are holding up.
The girls in question are practically jumping over the barrier, screaming. They have a huge pink poster. Where and when that spawned, Shouto has no clue.
‘After party in my mouth?’
DynaMight snorts at the pretentious wordings all done in sparkly bold letters with hearts stuck all over. Laughing loudly into the mic before he shakes his head mouthing a “no thanks” to the girls.
This— to no one’s surprise, drives them crazy. As if DynaMight just agreed to take them to a hotel room right after. Jumping up and down yelling variations of “i love you DynaMight!”
It’s pathetic that Shouto feels even a tad bit upset at the fact they managed to get his attention.
He huffs and turns to his friends while DynaMight does some more crowd work.
“So, what’cha think? Sick, right?” Jirou asks.
Shouto doesn’t miss a beat, “Yeah. It’s nice. I need to listen to his songs more”
“Oh you should! I’m surprised you haven’t already heard of him. His old albums were all big hits when they came out” Izuku begins and delves into a whole rant about Kacchan’s debut and discography.
Shouto doesn’t bother asking about the name, neither does he mention the fact that he does know who DynaMight is and spent half the week searching and looking up things about him.
The next song soon starts and Shouto’s got his eyes fixed onto the prize. Maybe tonight wasn’t going to be that bad.
The concert is supposed to be roughly two hours. Momo had told him so.
DynaMight clearly doesn’t play by the rules.
Even if the rules include the staff disconnecting his microphone from the speakers because even then DynaMight simply asks his very enthusiastic audience to sing louder.
It’s been half an hour over two hours and the man is still going on. Stretching crowd work and intermissions over an hour between songs.
Usually fans bash these kinda artists. DynaMight isn’t one of them, clearly.
With the way the crowd’s seemingly never ending energy is going on by end performances, its clear they knew what they were in for. DynaMight doesn’t disappoint either. His intermissions are fun. Entertaining almost.
Momo had warned him beforehand about the performer’s tendency to go over his usual timings.
Shouto thought him starting half an hour early was the most its gonna be. Oh how wrong he was.
Shouto won’t look a gift horse in the mouth though. (Or however the saying goes)
“Alright, you guys. As fun this has be this is gonna be the last song. I don’t think they’re letting me back here again so you better make this last one memorable, alright?
The crowd cheers and hoots, already readying their phones and cameras for fancams and what not.
Shouto stands up straighter too.
The beat begins, intro flowing through the speakers and buzzing through Shouto’s feet, shaking him to his core.
“So…” DynaMight’s voice drawls over the music.
“This a famous one, huh?” The crowd screams in response, clearly excited.
Must be a fan favourite. Shouto’s pretty sure he’s heard this beat too.
DynaMight’s voice starts filtering every other thought in Shouto’s head, blissfully making him stop thinking all together.
Maybe he’s enjoying this too much.
.
Shouto looks around at the dispersing crowd. The ground slowly and slowly getting emptier as people call for rides back home.
Except them.
“Are we not going back?” Shouto asks Izuku when they’re in the washroom. Izuku using his wet hands to fix his hair, trying to tame the frizziness after a whopping three hours of jumping and dancing.
Izuku looks at him, a soft smile on his lips, “no. A little change of plans”
Oh no. That’s never a good thing.
The green-head rips a paper towel out of the dispenser, indicating Shouto to follow him out.
“We’re heading out with the gang! Well, not gang— but um, you know, everybody. We’re just waiting for them to clear out the backstage and then we’ll go catch up”
Izuku anxiously smiles, already knowing Shouto’s at the end of his social battery.
He rubs a soothing hand up and down his arm, nonetheless in quiet apology.
Shouto sighs, guess the night’s just starting.
“Hey! You guys, over here!” A familiar voice yells out.
Shouto looks up and finds a familiar blonde hair practically hopping towards them with a huge grin plastered across his face. Beside him, a red head and a girl with big puffy pink hair drawl hand in hand.
Previous band mates. Yes, Shouto’s heard of them.
Met them a few times too while passing by.
Enough to know their respective personalities and how the three’s combined energy could fuel the entirety of Japan itself.
They’re nice people though so he bows to them politely.
Only to be drawn in a side hug by the redhead. Kirishima.
“Hi, bro how’s it going? Heard you just wrapped up your first tour, i wanna hear all about it!” He shakes him by the shoulders.
Shouto smiles, “of course”
He greets the rest of them with small talks and polite smiles.
Mina, the pink hair girl compliments his outfit, going on about his hair, his eyes, his complexion until Shouto’s thoroughly vibrating from embarrassment with all the focus on him.
She laughs wholeheartedly, slapping him on the back.
Shouto tries returning her smile, holding back the urge to wince and rub at the spot that’s surely going to bruise by tomorrow.
“So, where’s the man of the hour then? The one we’re actually here for” Ochaco curiously points out.
Wait. What?
Kaminari pouts at her, “rude. But anyway, he’s in the changing room. Probably cleaning up and putting on some real clothes. He said to wait for him out here so, probably—“
“Kacchan!” Izuku all but jumps, scaring the soul out of Shouto’s body.
And then Shouto looks up. At him.
It’s either the gods fucking with him or making up for all the bad days they’d made Shouto see throughout his life.
Somehow, DynaMight looks hotter with a shirt on.
“Ugh, enough out of you already” the taller blond grumbles in annoyance but it’s clearly a front with the way he headlocks Izuku and frizzles the hair Izuku had just tried petting down. The other boy doesn’t seem to mind though.
The rest of the group greet him with alliterations of “great performance!” “Real sexy, dude” (the latter being Kaminari only).
Even Shouto throws in a few yeah’s and nods to not seem awkward. The waterfall in his pits has another story to tell.
“Yeah, yeah, heard it before” he mutters, cheeks filling up with just a hint of colour as he finally lets Izuku out of his hold and shoves past him. “So are we going? I expect to be treated for all my efforts, yeah?”
Ochaco and Jirou fuss over him about being too cocky for his own good. Though Shouto thinks he’s got every right to be so with a face like that.
“Oh come on, after a set like that? You should be treating us boom-boom boy” Jirou grins.
DynaMight rolls his eyes before his gaze turns to Shouto. And then beside him. Then back to him. And they stay there.
Shouto swears somebody just played the violin with the arteries of his heart.
“Oh— I completely forgot!” Izuku jumps in to save the day. Mostly saving Shouto from hypertension. “This is Shouto, the artist we’re working under currently. And this is momo, Shouto’s manager”
Izuku then turns to Shouto, “Shouto-kun, momo, this is Ka— Bakugou. Our old bandmate and my childhood friend”
He hears the other— Bakugou, scoff “more like childhood captive”
He ignores the kacchan! Thrown at him to turn to Shouto. Then speaks to momo, “thanks for coming to the show”
“What’d ya think?” He smirks lazily, elbow resting on the redhead next to him scrolling through his phone, probably calling for a ride to wherever they’re heading.
“Hm? oh the show. It was really great. Shouto in particular enjoyed it a lot” Momo speaks up.
Shouto whips his head up, towards momo.
Shouto loves Momo, no doubt, without her he’d be fending off the sidewalk, but god does he wish the earth would open up to eat her whole right about now and subsequently electrocute him along with it.
Crimson red eyes pierce through his own with a single glance, eyebrows raised. They look at him up and down, making Shouto suddenly aware of his dry throat.
“Nice jacket” Bakugou says with a grin that’s all toothy and no bits polite.
“thanks, it’s from a—” is all Shouto gets out before the other man turns around to the group. “Oh okay”
“Are we leaving or what”
Kirishima throws an arm around broad shoulders, shaking him side to side pulling an array of annoyed expletives from the blonde’s mouth.
Izuku might be saying something to him but Shouto’s eyes are stuck on one thing. Particularly, Bakugou’s back.
The shirt laying on him is plain black. Or so he thought. The back, however is a whole different story.
It’s cut out in certain areas making it look like a skull with peeks of milky white skin and muscles twitching and moving with every step. Shouto moves his palm to cover his mouth— just in case he might actually be drooling.
God, get a grip.
“—kay?”
Back to earth, “huh? Sorry, what was that?” Shouto turns to the smaller boy beside him, looking up at him with unspoken concern and parts teasing.
Shouto can’t decipher what that look means and it scares him. Mostly because Izuku can be scary when he really wants to be.
Izuku giggles before turning and moving to the group moving ahead, “I said, we’re heading to Kirishima’s place”
Shouto doesn’t need to be told twice to follow.
“Oh, I thought we were going somewhere else” Izuku raises a brow at him.
“You want to go outside?”
Shouto shivers at the bare suggestion, “no”
Izuku laughs loudly, pulling a glance from the blond boy in front of them.
Shouto stares back, completely entrapped by the gaze. Holds the eye contact until the other man scoffs and whips his head back, disappearing inside a sleek grey car.
.