#PROBABLY A YOUNG ABO M/G BEFORE THAT ONE THOUGH

[arainesque]

am i insane or did u make the colour of ur blog like a Teeny bit darker. it looks cute but Something is different... anyway. im back in ur inbox to scream about ur fics Yay. ok lets GO

Matty was awoken by the sound of George’s panting breaths, heavy puffs of air across the skin of his bare chest, where George’s head was resting. His cheek laying heavy against Matty’s sternum, close to his heart in a form of symbolism he’d dissect later. A symbolism he’d attempt to put into an incoherent string of words that no one but George could make sense of. He always did.

first paragraph and it just shot me dead and kicked me in the face. OH MY GOD. "A symbolism he’d attempt to put into an incoherent string of words that no one but George could make sense of." NOBODY TALK TO ME this is GORGEOUS. "heavy puffs of air" also scratches an itch in my brain like just the words and the sounds of them is So Good

George just squirmed in his arms, seemingly still fast asleep and in clear distress. Trying to press himself closer to Matty than what was humanly possible. It was sweltering beneath the covers, George was like a furnace. He traced his fingers down the smooth slope of George’s nose, sweeping under his eyes where the skin was wet from fresh, salty tears.

i just turned into a teardrop. pls. hes having a nightmare everybody be nice to him:((( and this part "He traced his fingers down the smooth slope of George’s nose, sweeping under his eyes where the skin was wet from fresh, salty tears." THAT IS ??!?! AMAZING ?!?! i love the word sweeping so already 10/10 but aaaaaaaaaaaahh. smooth slope of his nose!!!!!! !!! u just . u use words so nicely

Maybe that’s the curse of finding your mate too early in life. He’d always felt George on a level that he couldn’t put into words. Where his head would hurt and he’d feel agitated when George went into heat and they couldn’t be together. Would be smashing up his room and make his mum upset and deep down he’d always known why, but when you’re young it’s hard to put into words. Difficult to rationalise your emotions and sit with them, rather than taking it out on the people (and objects) around you.

DONT SPEAK TO ME NOBODY TALK TO ME 9H MY SIJSHDJW i cant even. explain. im. ondnsjsjshnqn. hes agitated when george isnt with him during his heat OK SO BASICALLY THEIR SOULS ARE CONNECTED AND IM GOING TO DIE dont speak to me. i will explode. no pls like !!!!!!!!!!!! i just cant

Instead it had been meeting a boy that hadn’t necessarily been shy , but he had been quiet. It was intrigue about his mannerisms and the way he’d twirl his hair around his finger. It was George’s scraped knees after falling off his bike and Matty cleaning his wounds. Kissing his skin after applying the pokemon themed plasters over the scrapes on his knees. It was George sleeping next to him in bed. Matty eventually having the courage to cradle George close to his chest.

no because the Quiet But Not Shy thing STUCK w me. like. every day since u posted this chapter ive thought about that line and Omg omg omg it is so !!!!!! like ?!??! omg just like i GET it. one sentence and u described him Perfectly omg omg i cannot deal. pokemon plasters:'))))) kissing his skin before:')))))) courage to cradle him close :'))))))) i need to be taken out back and shot over this

Predestined and divine and easy.

HELLO. THIS oh my god. u literally. ok i say this as a joke a lot but i am 100% serious when i say this. u have a way with words. oh my god. predestined and divine?!?!??! AND EASY?!??!?.!.!.!.?!??!&#*×;#*×*#>[×,×

It had just felt like the right thing to do. And George always blushed so prettily.

in my heart this is a reference to 'first impressions in the past tense' (because everybody knows i am that fic's number one fan) and Omg. blushing:(((((( hes so gentle and sweet and 😭😭😭❤�� im emotional

He hoped the fingers he was running through George’s bleached hair was helping.

is that...is that iliwys george im spotting... (vibrating)

“Oh, George .” Matty said, running a hand down George’s sweaty, trembling back. “I’ll take care of you, I will.”

something about the whole Taking Care thing just kills me in the best way. its so :((((( hes so delicate and trembling and im :(((

“I will- will eventually need you to fuck me.” George said, unable to stop a tiny whine from escaping his plush lips.

i dont know how u make the need to be fucked so sweet but u do and i love it. also the word whine is like the best word ever and im !!!! that it is used here

Matty thinks about the pack of condoms still in the bag of groceries on the kitchen floor.

:') prepared :')

“Don’t care.” George said before pressing his hips a little too firmly into the side of Matty’s hip, causing him to whine. Matty would be lying if he said the hot pressure already sitting deep in his abdomen didn’t turn up even more. Molten lava resting in his lower body, barely managing to be contained. Just on the cusp of uncontrollable. “Want your babies.”

this is so pls. 'molten lava' !!! 'whine' !!! "just on the cusp of uncontrollable" omgomg omg omgomgomg omg. "want your babies" beautiful but also . hot. omgomgomg

George’s responding whimper was nothing less than out of this world. Pained but beautiful. A sound Matty had never heard coming from George, even when he was so deep inside of him that he couldn’t physically get further. Even when George would say it hurt a little, but that it was “so good, keep going” .

i just died. ive been killed. OH!! MY!!! GOD!!!! ho is u jane austen . pls. i have no words im just. in awe

“You have me.” Matty said, firm. No questions to be asked, no doubt. “Always.”

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 OH MY GOD

“I think-” George gasped, tilting his head to press his face into the dip of Matty’s throat. Breathing shakily against Matty’s skin while pushing back against his fingers. “I think I’m gonna come. Please don’t stop.”

he is so delicate :((((((( and desperate :((((( baby :((( he just wants to come :((((((

“ Yes , please-” George's legs started to shake as he whimpered almost pathetically on every exhale, like the noises were violently punched right out of his lungs as Matty redoubled the effort of the circling movements with his fingers. Matty wasn’t even touching him properly. Not really. And George was falling apart completely beneath his touch.

!!!! falling apart completely even though hes barely being touched because he is just So affected by matty !!!!!!!!!! because theyre so !!!!! connected !!!! AAAAAHH!!!!!

George’s eyes started watering, his breath hitching just ever so slightly, almost unnoticeable. But nothing about George could go unnoticed by Matty at this point. He’d never been so hyperfocused on anything in his life as he was on George right now. He saw each and every single one of his eyelashes, the different hues of his lips, the shades of browns and reds and golds of his eyes. The slight irregularities of his breathing pattern and the smallest changes in tone of his scent.

im. dying. "nothing about George could go unnoticed by Matty at this point" HELLO. u write so. wonderfully. lashes!!!! lips!!!! eyes!!!! breathing!!!! scent!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe it was a sickness in itself, loving George too much. Being in love with his eyes and quirks and personality before he fell in lust, and when they actually did have sex it was unlike anything Matty had ever experienced before. Because it was George . Of course it was going to be better. He wasn’t interested in sex if it wasn’t with George, and George was barely conscious by the looks of it. And Matty’s adoration was marginally stronger than his arousal. It shouldn’t be biologically possible, yet here he was. Debating his own feelings rather than giving George what he needed.

HEEELLLLOOOOOOO?????????????? CAN U PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WRITE A BOOK I NEED TO BUY IT this. is so. GORGEOUS. "Being in love with his eyes and quirks and personality before he fell in lust" i need to be shot. my heart cant take this. "It shouldn’t be biologically possible, yet here he was. Debating his own feelings rather than giving George what he needed." this as a concept like the "doing things that are Literally Impossible because of love" is just. 11/10. 12/10. 102982782/10. BEAUTIFUL. GORGEOUS. WONDERFUL. if u were published i would pay all the money i have to buy ur book. "debating his own feelings rather than giving george what he needed" OHMYGOD

How can you love someone so much that it becomes selfish?

THIS LINE PLUS THE NOT SHY BUT QUIET LINE OH MY GOD THEYRE oh my god. ingrained into my mind. like. i just cannot

“Need your knot.” George piped up, ripping Matty’s daydreams and ponderings apart at the seams. A sharp cut from his dreamlike state into reality.

somehow u managed to do it again and go from "sweetest most emotional thing u have ever read" to "this is so insanely hot" and have it work. perfectly. im so !!!!!

The air in the room might as well have been chemically bonded with the one of George’s scent glands, creating a viscous substance with the specific intention to breed . It seeped through Matty’s pores and made his knees buckle with a primal urge to claim .

rereading this paragraph nine times every time i read the fic because it is so. awe inspiring. im. AAAAHH!!!!!

When his body was preparing to breed.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

George’s needy whines didn’t help, especially not the noises he made when Matty’s lips gently grazed the impossibly soft skin of one of his nipples. So soft and so pink, an addictive texture beneath his tongue. So he did it again, and again, licking and sucking the sensitive skin as he pushed George’s boxers down his thighs and crawled between his legs. Letting one of his hands wander down the spasming muscles of his abdomen and the crease of his hip before finally stopping right where George needed him, running his fingers through the slick gathering there. And there was so much he was doubting if George would even feel him slipping inside without any friction.

:((((( hes so desperate :((((( i literally do not know how u convey that though its so impressive like !!! its hot but its gentle at the same time and they dont usually Work but u made it work and im ?!?!??! !!!!

He kissed the bony centre of George’s chest before pulling away to just look at him. He looked wrecked, his hair sticking up in all sorts of directions from tossing his head back and forth against the pillow, his lips were a deep shade of red from biting at them and the pulse in his neck was quick as a hummingbird's wings. Accentuated by the sweat lingering there. Pooling in the dip between his sharp clavicles.

:((( hes so beautiful. i cant see him but u described it so well i might as well be able to. :(((((

Loved how George immediately obliged when Matty told him to “Look at me.”

!!! he does what hes told !!!!!!!!

“What do you need, love?” He said, grinding his hips into George’s. Pressing himself impossibly deeper. “Tell me what you need.”

im so obsessed with how u write matty to still be so nice and so gentle with him even when hes like mid fuck. its so perfect :(((

A circling effect. Pleasure for pleasure.

im getting this tattooed along my hairline like ethel cain INSANITY. THIS IS WONDERFUL

Manipulation, really. Guilt-tripping.

hes so afraid to Want :((((( im emotional

“Knot.” George said, and his voice was thick with the lump forming in his throat, Matty could tell he was emotional before he saw the tears brimming in his eyes. Again. He hated himself for thinking George was beautiful when he cried. For finding an ethereal painful beauty in the wetness clinging to his eyelashes. How it highlighted his cheekbones as they trickled down his face. How the tears accentuated the dip between his clavicles. “Just you.” Simple. “Your babies. Want you in me.”

i cannot cannot cannot get over the way u can make it so hot but then make me tear up like 2 seconds later Pls. tears in his eyes:(( tears accentuating dip between clavicles ?!??!?!? this visual is 1. making me insane and 2. so unbelievably gorgeous ??!?!? "want you in me" !!!!!!!!

He leaned down to kiss George senseless as he slammed into him harshly, basking in the smooth drag of the sweaty undersides of George’s knees rubbing against his shoulders and in the noises escaping George’s lips every time his cock bumped right against his cervix. Bruising it from the force of his thrusts, fucking him harder than he could ever remember doing it before, sweat was dripping down his neck and the sensations were only heightened by the pain of George’s nails scraping his upper back.

!!!!!!!!! bruising it!!!!!!!!!! nails scraping!!!!!!! sweaty undersides of his knees!!!!!!!!!! i am so obsessed with how u write

George and his scent. The strawberry and coconut. The vanilla and sugar. The scent that was so indescribably and so frustratingly George that Matty couldn’t ever possibly get it off his chest. Couldn’t ever put it into a lyric. A scent that would forever be ingrained in his heart as an entity of its own. Never to be let out. Imprinted. Indescribable.

OHMYGOD???!??!?!?! i have no words other than im printing this out and putting it on my wall

Because as he slammed into George one last time, one last hard thrust where their skin met before couldn’t keep going, before he physically and mentally had to stay buried, shaking through the force of his orgasm. Bringing George with him. Sweaty, tangled limbs and his knot swelling and swelling inside of George, but it was more beautiful than anything he’s ever read about.

!!!!!! i just cannot. like theyre so. together. theyre almost one person im so :((((( and even though hes literally actively fucking him hes so sweet:(((

Getting to watch the tears trickle down his face, feel his chest heaving against his own. Being so connected that he never wanted it to end.

!!!!! connected !!!!!!!! pls im just so emotional like theyre so in love !!!!!!!!!!! tears !!!!!!!! trickling !!!!!!!! chest heaving !!!!!!!

Swimming in the depths of George’s soul.

ripping my hair out

Matty couldn’t ever seem to stop marvelling at George. Finding a new mole on his smooth skin every single day. A new undertone to his scent. A new pathway of neurons in his brain.

im gonna hand write this on a piece of paper in like calligraphy and im gonna get it tattooed

Using his unfair advantage of having eyes deep enough to lure Matty into oblivion to distract Matty for a second. If held at gunpoint, Matty would probably say it was his favourite part of George. The closest he’d come to merging them into an entity. The closest he’d come to divinity.

OHMYFUCKINGGOD this is ridiculous u are so amazing. "the closest hed come to divinity" ARE U SERIOUS this is beautiful. merging them into an entity oh good god

“I asked you to.” George said. Quick to comfort. Grounding Matty as if subgenders didn’t exist, as if Matty needed the comfort as much as George did, and maybe it was true. “I know I did.”

theyre so ! connected ! it doesnt matter that theyve got their 'roles' mixed up because they are !!!!! them !!!!!!!! theyre their own thing!!!!!!! aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

Like it was the first time they’d kissed, clumsily at that one house party when they were both a little too drunk.

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 nobody talk

“It’s not about deserving anything.” George said, quick to pull Matty’s head down to capture his lips in a deep, lingering kiss. Just their mouths pressed together, no incentive for progression, no underlying motive other than to just be close. Ground each other. As they pulled away enough to breathe, George spoke again. “Just me loving you. I can’t help it.”

i was gonna say im getting This tattooed instead but im just getting the entire fic actually. this. is so. beautiful. ground each other!!!!!!!! im so:((((

“Do you mean that?” George said, and Matty despised the slight shift of mood. Didn’t ever like the sound of insecurity on George’s tongue. Especially not when it was in the form of doubting their relationship, of Matty's feelings towards him.

the way matty gets so stressed about george feeling bad Oh one day u will kill me dead with ur writing. hes so affected by it :( just the thought that hes insecure Aaaaaahhhh

“You never have to doubt my feelings for you.” He said, not able to resist the scent emitting from George’s throat, just shamelessly burying his nose there for a couple of seconds before pulling away to cradle his jaw in both of his hands. “I loved you even when your hair was past shoulder length.”

IM SICK. i cant describe why i love this but imagine me yelling at the floor or something because thats the closest i can get to an explanation

if it was possible i would give u three thousand million infinity kudos. times twenty. u just. u write so emotionally and u always somehow capture the feeling SO perfectly and i just love it So much :((((( ok ok ok sorry for sending an ask thats like twelve years long but i hope ur day is going nicely and yayayaya !!!!!!!!

HI!!!!! (I think I made it a little darker to suit the new george icon). And also I'm in love with u, to start things off lightly.

I feel like I can never do ur (fucking beautiful elaborate breakdown) reviews any justice. PLEASE know ur legitimately making me the happiest person alive and i love u. (not dramatic, don't even try to send me any divorce papers. we're married now.)

Here's me trying to condense all of the praise I've just read and trying not to blush like George in my fics:

I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN (I re-read my fics through your asks and use it for inspiration, so really u should be credited as a co-author for everything I post jifsjijf.) ALSO: Need to start a fanclub and fic-verse about:

George having nightmares

George's shiny, perfect nose-bridge

YOUNG MATTY/GEORGE (origin story. there's so many possibilities and scenarios. scream at me.)

Desperate needy George (we all love him, right? RIGHT?)

Matty taking care of George

I was so obsessed with the concept of a realism in the a/b/o-verse. Like almost to the point where it's a bit of a turn-off? So I'm glad it came across and I hope it didn't ruin what was supposed to be....hot? Like George's little post-coital dysphoria and talks of birth control. I don't know why, but it felt right to me. Also George just being upset in the aftermath of needing Matty to bed him was sweet to me somehow.

(Just me wanting to make George cry in every single fic ever. Probably.)

ALSO: Ur reference to 'first impressions in the past tense' has me in tears. Subconsciously, I probably had that in mind but it wasn't something I had thought of at the time of writing and u are SO SO right. Baby George not knowing what to do with his feelings and being....a little odd. And Matty being loud and obnoxious and taking George under his wing whether he liked it or not. (obviously he did.). They're so sweet :(. (They're probably my favourite m/g I've ever written).

Feverish, glassy eyed, baby George needs to be cherished. AS DOES Matty who just wants to make things better and overthinks everything to ridiculous degrees. They love each other so much and this is my perfect form of escapism.

THANK U FOR THIS. I LOVE U. (and can't wait for what u post next obviously) ❤️❤️❤️

[unsettledink]

Instead of thirty asks:

So @the-faultofdaedalus had a bunch of posts about ABO and genetics and how things might be able to function and ending up with some really interesting stuff about types beyond alpha/beta/omega (which I will totally end up playing with in a fic at some point because COOL).

And that sparked off a bunch of ABO related thoughts in my head. A... bunch. So I'm putting them all in one hopefully easy to ignore post if you are not into ABO at all. It's probably a little disjointed – none of this is stuff I've thought at length about, just sort of gone BUT WHAT IF??? I tend to veer more into the societal stuff because I know nothing about genetics and if I spend too long thinking about world details I never get anything written, BUT I STILL THINK THEM.

Interestingly enough I used to not be into it much? And I think I'm still not into the older classic stuff – I will literally run from anything that had mpreg in it 99% of the time. I also get really annoyed at the tendency to always make characters of certain builds/ages/attitudes one type.

But I really, really like ABO because of all the opportunities. So many! It's one of those things where you can go as much or as little into the worldbuilding as you want, in pretty much any direction. I think that's just so cool. Pretty much every single one of my ABO's has been a different 'type' of ABO (oh shit how many are there anyway? 10?? Well fuck.).

So!

A lot of this may make even less sense if you haven't read their posts because it's in re: to things they bring up. Also how much do I miss LJ and threaded comments right now? An obscene amount.

Thoughts more along the 'shit genetics can do' side and as you go down they slide more into the cultural/social/mind fuckery stuff:

(Also I know very very little about anything re: genetics.)

what if there's some sort of pattern/color type thing, like color morphs in reptiles, or heat sensitive color points like in cats and such?

uhhh I don't remember if it's like, lizards or fish or something, but the ones that change sex if there isn't enough of the type needed? What if that's a thing certain subtypes could do? Would it be controllable to any degree, or makes things wild in terms of types associating with each other? On the horror end, what if it's something that can be forced?

Hair? Facial hair things?? Body hair things??? Pattern baldness and the like????

ok yes so classic ABO = canine traits. And I've totally seen some different takes but I always want more. What about feline based? Or reptile? Or bird?? Some kind of insect hive/colony type thing????

WHAT IF SOME TYPES FLOURESCE?? and only certain other types can see it and I just find the idea of distinct type markers that only a percentage of the population can see really fascinating. Underground clubs with lights so everyone can see, testing people by shining a light on them, people faking it...

P H O T O S Y N T H E S I Z I N G??? Look I don't know there wasn't much thought associated with that. But like, we already have huge problems when we don't get enough sun, what if it was something even more dramatic and literal? Anyone seen Farscape?

Re: terrible cooks – what if some subtypes straight up can't taste a whole 'taste'? Like – don't have sweet receptors and have all kinds of issues with 'normal' food and wf is up with the other subtypes and their love of desserts??

they also touched on it briefly but seriously, all the even crazier food intolerances and allergies and things that would just be utterly toxic to one group?

re: two nips=1 bb, what if there are large litters but there's something more like an insect hive structure? Or 'pack' communal type thing, a good family has an omega + alpha + other, omega has the litter and the non alpha is able to nurse as well??

POUCHES. Marsupial style or seahorse. Just. Pouches.

multiple sperm donors in one litter and the possibility of not even knowing it, some sort of shenanigans with what types can get who pregnant and carryover from who they had sex with before the person pregnant and people doing this intentionally as a sort of surrogacy thing even?

Literal eggs?? EGGS?? soft shell eggs???

why are omegas so frequently the tiiiiiny ones? (I mean I know why and I don't like it.) But aren't most young bearing larger than males? If omega is for babies, then shouldn't they be built for it? And how might that affect subtypes?

advantages/disadvantages physically due to genetics and 'hidden' beta typing in regard to sports or fine motor skills or art (seeing/hearing more/less than other types?)

maybe the 'alpha voice' stuff could be attributed to some types able to hear different frequencies or tones/sub harmonics or/and alphas/maybe a type betas being able to produce different sounds and why? Vocal cord stuff????

seeing further into either end of the spectrum for certain types? Something creepy advantage heat and fertility/pregnancy related, being able to look and *know* and how that's changed in more modern times – could it be a career? Considered super rude? Hipaa violation?

re: leftover traits – things like third eyelids or shiny at night eye thing for certain types and various cosmetic alterations as those things go in and out of vogue

re: medical variation like blood typing – organs not being compatible or even in different places due to wtf omegas have going on in there

re: dogs are horror to wolves – what if even the nulls are NOT HUMAN. There actually are just like true standard humans and like, aside from genetically there's next to no difference between them and nulls though it's more visible differences with standard vs a/o? Something about the purpose behind omegas because they are the only link that can properly/safely interbreed and/or produce non sterile offspring? Or maybe standard and a/b can mate but they only produce nulls or standards or sterile like mules??

what if a/o ISN'T rare? If that's the norm and betas are the rare ones and sort of seen as residual hanger ons since they don't have whatever advantages omegas/alphas have? After all, what advantage does a beta have over an omega? The societal aspect of risk if all can interbreed and like, does an a risk mating with a b and risk having a null? Or knowing they can only have a b?

Trickier and could come off really poorly, but how might being trans function with so many types and the additional divide of sex/gender/secondary sex? What the hell might hormone therapy or surgery or transition in a scent based society be like??

and intersex? Like especially if you've got limited grasp on genetics and then you have these typed betas who aren't recognized that way, what about the people who don't fit even on that spectrum?

and sexual identities! The possibility of like, some groups being much more likely to lean in one direction or another and some of it due to not understood sub beta types and that complexity. Just the complexity of interest at all with a whole third factor added in!

horror aspect if m/f can be determined before birth but not a/b/o status, if there are actual environmental factors like TSD that could change that and people trying to ensure they have x type? All omegas are allergic to peppermint so if you eat peppermint your whole pregnancy you won't have an omega or some shit. Does an of it work or is it all old wives tales? D: D: D: D: (as much as I really prefer to write ABO's where things are more equal because of it, I read a lot more of the uglier verses where everything is worse)

Bonding???? how could it be an actual physical genetic thing and the differences across types and who can bond with who and why and are only certain types able to initiate/accept it and the whole fascinating culture stuff from THAT

and then the bonds that are of the mental type, either some sort of emotion/pain/thought sensing that's limited or full on sharing, how each type could differ and maybe only certain types could be broken or certain types are able to have them with multiple people/types??

formation of bonds and what environmental factors exist and what genetic and things like forcibly separating before x amount of time is tantamount to torture or ruining a bond that can't be fully stable/broken and fixed?

the scent stuff – beyond the whole 'smell like strawberries/whatever' the stuff about smelling emotional states and types that are able to smell that or not, hormonal based scent changes are super common but also one of the slightly more plausible things? Are certain types with sensitivities to different types of smells prone to go into certain fields because of it?

More scent stuff – things about your scents that are influenced by origin/area growing up in. that you can acquire a 'type' or base of scent that is hard to get rid of or change for a lot of people and is often obvious but indistinct. Like accents? And then the people who are REALLY GOOD at changing it.

i fucking love the typed jewelry trope (lol hit me up for a whole other post JUST about that) and even more when it's not just 'pretty showing off socially' but actually has some sort of biological effect but then why? Weird metal imbalance lol? Typed betas more vulnerable to that as well as full types and cultural stuff about that?

wtf family groups I mean. Possibilities of more than two genetic donors and paternity and custody and filling out demographic info on forms ahahahaha oh god

the whole more sensitive to smells – the hilarity of like, sending strongly scented flowers to an omega as an insult. To one type, that floral delivery is romantic, to another it's a giant 'fuck you' from an ex.

Yes I might have a problem ok.

[broccolianddandelion]

13 Todobaku Fic Recs

I’ve been following the BNHA fandom for approximately two seconds, but within this time Todobaku has become my indisputable OTP. (The evil soul who introduced me to the fandom via her divine artwork (@anatchie) favors Bakudeku, and I feel a little disloyal now, but what can you do?) Over the past months I’ve read a lot of Todobaku. My gift to you is a baker’s dozen of my (admittedly idiosyncratic) favorites, the ones I return to time and again. As always, check out the author’s tags before reading. They’re there for a reason.

The indelicacies of nitroglycerin (T, 50.2K) by yeetin. - “Don’t you think Bakugou is pretty?”

Todoroki looked up, after having apparently caused the untimely deaths of his three friends. Uraraka was doubled over, clutching her throat as bits of food sprayed from her wheezing mouth, Iida had somehow mini-Recipro Bursted his way through the floorboards and was struggling to get back out of the crater, and Midoriya… Midoriya looked like he needed an ambulance. Or an immediate blood transfusion at least, his face was so white.

This fic has one of the most indelible scenes of drunk Todoroki I’ve ever read. A little angsty, a lot funny.

I want to reconcile the violence in my heart (T, 28.1K) by @callalilalma - You had one job, you piece of shit! his brain yells at it. Just pump fucking blood in my veins, don’t fucking give yourself to half and half!

This fic got me fascinated with the idea of Bakugou as an unreliable narrator. I may be halfway done with a remix from Todoroki’s point of view. I’ve probably listened to the Muse song thousands of time by now. (I’m a slow writer.)

i want you (to want me) (T, 18.5K) by shaekspeares - “You know what,” Bakugou exhales angrily, more to himself, and then suddenly is leaning over Todoroki where he sits, arms by his sides and face close to his. “It doesn’t fucking matter. I can think whatever the fuck I want of you. I’m gonna beat you no matter how much better than me you think you are.”

“When you’re not having a tantrum, I actually respect you a lot,” Todoroki corrects. Mainly because he means it, but also because he’s starting to know how to get Bakugou to pull the face he’s pulling now. “You’re an admirable person in some ways.”

“Fucking hell,” Bakugou says, his shoulders sagging and his expression comically disheartened. “I- what’s next? You gonna declare your love for me mid-battle?”

“I don’t think so, no,” Todoroki replies, instinctively, then freezes, thinking about it.

“I’m fucking- going,” Bakugou continues, undeterred and jittery. “Fucking weirdo.”

He hastily grabs his bag and stomps off, and Todoroki sits very still.

Oh, dear.

He thinks he may have missed a few things while redefining his feelings.

One of my favorite characterizations of Todoroki. Hilarious and sweet getting together fic.

Lock and Key (E, WIP) by @autochorystalize - Bakugou made a choked, gravelly noise before croaking out a low, “You can’t be serious.” His fingers ached to blow up everything in the room.

“I’m sorry, young man, but you can’t change reality! This sometimes happens.” Recovery Girl clicked through his file, adding a new symbol in a previously empty slot. - - - A pair of eyes discreetly locked on to an explosive blond plowing his way forward, parting people in his path. He recognized the kid, of course. Anyone in the underbelly of society would recognize him, after the publicity of both UA’s Sports Festival and the events leading up to All Might’s fall. The uniform he was wearing cast away any doubts about the young man’s identity. It was a bit of a surprise that the little firecracker presented as an omega. - - - - - - - - - Or: there are certain types of evil that seemed too distant, archaic violations and perversions that would never actually threaten bright-eyed heroes-in-training in the clean, modern world...but sometimes those evils aren't as distant as one might think.

The fic that changed my mind about abo. The world building is mind blowing. Delves deep into social issues that are all too real. This can be a hard read at times (check the tags) but is absolutely worth it. Also I’m dying for Bakugou and Todoroki to get together.

nothing lingers passively. (E, WIP) by @ii-mo - A faint tickling sensation under the bridge of his nose was all the warning he received before Bakugou gripped the lapels of his uniform and hauled him in. The scent of the Alpha's peaking rut shot through him like a bullet, ricocheting off his insides and settling to quiver at the bottom of his gut, still warm.

Cross- eyed, Todoroki wrinkled his nose where it nearly met his classmate’s. He should have expected that reaction, honestly.

Alpha Bakugou Katsuki is allergic to suppressants, and Todoroki Shouto is a Beta with a grudge. Together they strike a deal that swiftly becomes more than either of them had bargained for.            

As of this writing there is one more chapter left in this story, and I can’t wait to read it. Fascinating take on the biology of alphas and betas.

Proximate Cause (T, 5.3K) by @daddyissuesandgrenadehands - “It seems our dear Bakugou has punched a teacher.” Shockingly, there’s no sarcasm in Nedzu's voice. “Midoriya was involved somehow too, but we aren’t sure how just yet. This is quite serious, as you can imagine.”

Aizawa wouldn’t be opposed to a Nomu slamming his head into the ground a few more times. Maybe one could just come and finish the job for good this time. All he wanted was one freaking day of peace. Goddamit Bakugou.

A serious catalyzing event, yet some of the best wry humor I’ve encountered.

rule 02: stay (M, 23.6K) by @altinsky - The vampire leans in close, expression utterly business-like in its seriousness.

And the last thing Katsuki remembers is the feeling of a tongue touching the bleeding wound at the juncture of his throat, the feeling of inexplicable anger, the fleeting thought of — this guy is so fucking dead — and then, nothing.

(or: katsuki is a vampire hunter who, thanks to a series of misfortunate circumstances and his potent werewolf's blood, somehow ends up striking a deal with the most aggravating vampire in existence)

As I rule I don’t particularly like creature!fics, but this fic, perhaps inspired by the BNHA Halloween art, captivated me. Great use of canonical elements in an AU.

Starting Over From Ground Zero (E, 38.5K) by @xenophonspeaking and HyacinthAtropa - What would their relationship have been like, if Bakugou’s pride hadn’t stood in the way? Would they have been friends, or would things have mostly stayed the same? Would Bakugou have been happier, more open and honest about his feelings and wants and needs as a person? Would he have accepted and even appreciated the comfort others offered him, rather than always keeping people at arm’s-length in an effort to maintain an image of independence and strength?

Todoroki didn’t know.

He didn’t know. But he wanted to.

Abruptly, like a bolt of lightning, he realized he actually had the chance to find out.

(Or: that one where Bakugou has temporary amnesia and Todoroki is tasked with caring for him until his memory returns, but ends up falling in love with the part of Bakugou that Bakugou has always kept hidden away instead.)

For obvious reasons XenophonSpeaks was one of the first Todobaku writers I discovered, and this is one of my two favorite fics from a talented writer. I’ve been pleased, though not surprised, to see its kudos steadily rising over the months. A sweet getting together story, great use of the amnesia trope, hot lovemaking.

then, be mine. (M, 32.5K) by TDRKBKGO - The way things always trucked onwards despite the ruthlessness of it was a constant fucking boulder in Katsuki’s smooth machinery because he had no time. One thing happened after another and he was content, of course - he didn't want to stand still. In fact, that was probably the one thing he couldn't stand the thought of doing. But it meant leaving things behind.

This fic should have hundreds more kudos. I want to write a love letter to this writer, if it wouldn’t be super creepy. One of my favorite tropes — getting back together — angsty, some of the best-written (though not necessarily the smuttiest) smut I’ve read in BNHA.

Tracing the Sharp Edge of You (T, 4.7K) by hellsinki - “Why do you hate Midoriya so much?”

“Why do you fucking ask? Why not just assume?”

Why not just assume? He had tried that, but something just didn’t add up.

“Because it doesn’t fit your profile.”

This is my take on the reason behind Bakugou’s rocky relationship with Deku based on their canonical interactions, set in a soft todobaku narrative. It’s not what you have been reading up in the fandom, but this is what I think could be a very plausible reason. Fair warning: Not exactly Deku-friendly.            

This is a Todobaku fic, but it is actually a fascinating take on Bakugou’s relationship with Midoriya. If you read the comments you can see that a lot of readers didn’t understand (or appreciate) what the writer was doing. A refreshing read that I return to when I want something different.

Without Hesitation (T, 8.2K) by @xenophonspeaking - The first time Bakugou told Todoroki he was in love with him, he thought he’d die.

My other candidate for favorite fic from XenophonSpeaks. This fic makes my angst-loving heart sing, and there are some great ensemble comedic moments.

Yellow Umbrella (G, WIP) by veemon - When Todoroki’s interest finally catches Bakugous attention it may be too late for them to make up.

I adore this fic, and it launched my obsession with manipulative!Midoriya. I eat that shit up now. A rare G-rated abo story. I can’t wait until it updates.

you are my sun. (T, WIP) by TDRKBKGO -  “‘Why’d he have to go and become the Moon’, he said"  Shouto leans forward where he sits in a cherry tree on the verge of springing into full blossom, rubbing his temples.  

“Because he went and became the Sun.”

This fic blew my mind, and it’s breaking my heart that it hasn’t been updated in months. I was speechless when I finished the first chapter. Bakugou’s the sun, and Todoroki’s the moon, and the way the story maps onto canon is extraordinary.