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fandom-monium · 7 years ago

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In Your Eyes - Episode 2

Soulmates - Heterochromatic Eyes AU: In which the soulmate system isn’t everything it seems and Shouto could be the only one who sees it.

Previously in Episode 1

Something about you pulls at Shouto’s heartstrings almost painfully and his eyes widen, pupils dilating.

Walking up to Inasa, your voice is calm as you begin to scold him. “Inasa, you should be more careful. I get you’re hot-blooded and all, but you need to chill. You get hurt over the littlest things.” You sigh, pulling out bandages and antiseptic from your bag. You begin to tend to his wounds before reaching the stadium.

“Sorry, (Last Name)-chan. I’ll try to be more careful,” Inasa promises. He pats your head, grinning wider.

You swat his hand away and frown. “Don’t try. You will be more careful and stop being so extra all the time. Seriously, I can’t keep patching you up for dumb things like bowing.”

Your eyes don’t meet. Hell, you didn’t even look at him, but the way his heart pounds like a drum says it all. Heat creeps up his neck slowly. His heartstrings feel like they’re being pulled and he almost groans as his chest aches, but it’s unlike any time he’s been injured. It’s more urgent.

Shouto decides he doesn’t like you.

During the exam introduction, Shouto keeps an eye out for a familiar head of (hair color) hair but finds nothing. He's not interested in you or anything. More like curious about your quirk is all. How can it effect him at long range? Is it some type of heartbeat amplifier like Jirou's? That would explain why he heard his heart pound in his ears at your presence. It must be powerful if it can affect him with such distance. At that, Shouto deems you a dangerous opponent, prompting him to avoid any Shiketsu students.

He dismisses the disappointment when he doesn't see you during the first trial.

But it isn't till over half way through the second trial he sees you again.

Shouto grimaces. Gang Orca is right in front of him. Yet he can't land a decent attack because Inasa keeps distracting him with words. Stupid, unnecessary words. Every time he attacks, Inasa does too and they cancel each other out, missing their targets. It only fuels his irritation and serves to further distract him. Shouto grits his teeth, trying to concentrate on Gang Orca.

Inasa spouts some bullshit about his relations with Endeavor or something. Shouto doesn't care. All he wants right now is to pass this trial, but he can't with Inasa yapping in his ear. Shouto and Inasa exchange a few unkind words before they attack at the same time again.

As expected, the heat makes the wind rise, but this time the wind carries the fire towards Shindou. Still paralyzed, he struggles to avoid from the nearing flames.

Midoriya and you choose to jump in at that moment.

Midoriya grabs Shindou by his vest and vaults away from the flames ."What the hell-"

"-are you doing!?" You finish for him, landing in front of Shouto and Inasa. In a single motion, you raise your arms in a defensive block. Walls instantly rise from the earth. One by one, thick slabs of rock surround Gang Orca in towers. You've caged them in a stone enclosure, preventing Gang Orca and his henchmen from nearing the casualties for now.

"(Last Name)-chan, you're here!" Inasa notes.

(Last Name). Shouto stares at you in shock, his gaze switching between Midoriya and you. Your tense back faces him as you scan the walls you've built. There's a loud banging coming from the other side, and the walls rumble. They're trying to break through.

Shouto openly gawks, his heart jump starting again. God, there’s your damn quirk again. He shakes his himself out of his stupor, not wanting to show your effect on him. What the hell is this?

He glances at Midoriya, who is dragging Shindou away. His self-destructive friend seemed unaffected by your quirk, despite being in close proximity with you. Maybe you were purposely targeting him?

But you pay no attention to Shouto, turning to glare at Inasa. "I just told you to stop being extra, and what do you do? You get extra, you idiot. You have a bone to pick with someone, do it after the exam. This isn't the time for dramatic dialogue. What's more important here, saving lives or fighting with fellow heroes?"

You're right, Shouto thinks, ignoring the pain in his chest. As his heartstrings pull towards you, he looks at the battlefield. Debris and broken earth lay at his feet, and the sounds of screams and battle cries echo through the stadium. Other examinees carry casualties out of broken buildings and piles of rubble.

Shouto's here with one purpose. To pass the Hero License Exam. He has to set aside his differences with Inasa for now, so he can do his part. Protect the citizens and divert the villains away from them. He accepts that he can't simply get passed his issues with his father. He can't forget about them just like that. Inasa is right. He became what he hated. It's his fault that this happened, and he wants to make things right.

Then Inasa and him are paralyzed by Gang Orca's Sonic Wave attack, his body limp in his large hand.

A distance away from you, part of the wall crumbles into a doorway and like a broken dam it floods with Gang Orca's henchmen. You yell back to Midoriya while he drags Shindou closer to the casualty site. "They're coming!"

Have to think fast. You turn back, slamming your palms into the ground at the same moment Shindou does. The ground under Gang Orca's henchmen breaks, catching them in the violent torrent of rock as Shindou sends a shock wave into the floor. Then the earth quakes and rumbles at your command. It splits apart into a dark chasm. Gang Orca's henchmen fall in.

"Now then," Gang Orca drops Shouto's body. He begins walking away. "Guess I'll finish the wind-user off and give my boys a hand over there."

Hitting the ground, Shouto knows he's competed with Inasa with no purpose. He's shown no cooperation. He can't become a hero like this. He hopes Inasa's thinking the same thing. Their eyes meet. No words spoken.

Shouto's fire and Inasa's wind roar to life.

The wind lifts the flames as they planned. It swirls and traps Gang Orca in a raging inferno.

"A prison made of fire and wind, a nice idea. If I was the average villain, I might give up, or cry. Or maybe beg for forgiveness," Gang Orca comments, pouring a large water bottle over his head. "However, the moment you attacked me, I had already worked out my next move. What if that wasn't the case?" A shock wave disperses the wind and fire. He bellows, "Well? What do you have planned next?"

Nothing, damn it. Shouto grits his teeth, his face pressing into the hard earth. The jagged stones dig into his cheek. He tries to regain control of his paralyzed body.

Using the smoke screen above to hide, Midoriya comes to the rescue and drops an axe kick on Gang Orca. Gang Orca blocks with his arm as you follow up. You step in front of Shouto in a defensive stance before you stomp your front foot. A chunk of rock 20 times bigger than you shoots up from the earth and floats in front of you at the ready. In a swift motion, you hurdle it at Gang Orca, forcing him to push Midoriya off and dive away. You don't stop there. You outstretch your arms, palms facing the ground. The earth quakes and like the waves of the ocean, the ground begins to move. You hands tremble before clenching into fists.

Like the Red Sea, the ground under Gang Orca's feet part, and he's swallowed into the earth.

.......

The Hero License exam is over, and changed in their school uniforms, Class 1-A returns to the center of the stadium for their scores.

Everyone passes except Bakugou and Todoroki.

"Hurry up, dumbass." Shouto hears a familiar voice command. Then a deep, exasperated groan.

"Todoroki!"

Shouto turns to see Inasa and you walking over him. His heart jumps to his throat and suddenly, he can’t breath. He hopes it’s not because of Inasa because he’s had enough of his shit.

Inasa pauses a couple feet in front of him, but you shoot Inasa a glare. You shove him closer towards Shouto.

"I'll wait for you," you tell Inasa walking off to join the rest of Shiketsu Academy. With your fading presence, his heart calms and Shouto breaths a sigh of relief.

Inasa towers over him and stares for a moment, face showing no hostility. Then he slams his head into the ground in the lowest, most odd bow Shouto's ever seen. Inasa apologizes for making him fail the exam.

Shouto's taken aback by his change in demeanor towards him, but he doesn't accept it. He reasons with Inasa that it was him who basically made them fail without even realizing it and thanks him for helping him. He’s realized some important things about himself.

When his friends find out he didn't pass and comfort him (except Mineta, that bastard), Shouto and Inasa share a brief silence. It's not uncomfortable, although Inasa is still bowing awkwardly.

By sun down, everyone leaves the stadium. Class 1-A of Yuuei Academy wait for their bus to arrive, and even the Shiketsu Academy class lingers with them, waiting for their own. There's no hostility anymore, more of an acknowledgement, of each other's presence or strength? Who knows. Shiketsu's bus arrives first and they board.

As Shouto watches your back disappear through the bus' double doors, he realizes he forgot to thank you for earlier.

He wonders why his chest aches as he watches you leave.

.......

It's the middle of summer vacation when Shouto sees you again. It's the hottest day of the season. The sun beats down on the earth, yet the sky is clear blue as if everyone’s not suffering. If you tried you can see the heat waves in the distance. The summer weather prompts him to wear shorts and a cotton button up shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He leaves the top buttons unbuttoned. He knows he could just use his quirk to save himself from the heat, and he does, but his hair still sticks to the back of his neck.

Shouto waits for his friends to arrive in the mall plaza. Friends. Such a new term to him. It feels like forever since he last had—oh wait. He didn't have friends till now. Thanks, Dad of the Year, for the amazing childhood.

"Ah, Todoroki-san!"

Oh no.

Shouto turns to see you making your way through the crowd towards him. And yet again, his heart leaps into his throat and he almost chokes. Your goddamn quirk again. You adjust the dark sunglasses over your eyes, smiling and waving at him like you've known each other forever. Ugh, too bright. He rubs his eyes before facing you again. "(Last Name)-san, it's been a while." He cringes at his hoarse voice.

If you noticed, you don’t mention it. "Yeah, haven't seen each other since the Hero License Exams," You respond, halting in front of him. You gaze at him attentively. "Oh, how'd you do? Inasa told me that you didn't pass because of him. I'm sorry for the way he treated you."

Shouto sees his reflection in your tinted lenses. You're close. Too close. He shoves his hands into his pockets and takes a small step back, making it look like he's just relaxing. He's far from relaxed. His heart pounds just like when he first saw you. But he refuses to give you the satisfaction of letting you know of your Quirk's affect on him right now.

"You have nothing to apologize for. I passed the retake anyway," Shouto answers, his voice casual. He internally congratulates himself.

Your smile widens. "Thank goodness."

"And you, what are you doing here?" Shouto asks, swallowing. He hopes you don’t notice his chest heaving.

"I'm just grocery shopping." You lift up two large, reusable bags. Shouto blinks. They look heavy as they strain from its contents weight, but you carry them like feathers. You put them on the floor.

He raises an eyebrow at you. "Right, so, aren't you a bit far from Shiketsu Academy?"

"I'm just visiting family here. What about you?" You grin, crossing your arms over your chest. You lean in. Shouto leans back. “Are you on a date?"

"No," He answers too fast. He ignores the warmth that spreads across his face. His heartbeat roars in his ears and he groans inwardly. The summer weather was getting to him, wasn't it?

You giggle, "I'm just kidding. No need to get all defensive."

"For your information," Shouto sighs. "I'm waiting for my friends. We're supposed to hang out today."

"Ah, I see," You bend down to pick up your bags, "I'll leave you to it then."

Shouto isn't sure what made him say it. He could have just let you leave, but no. He had to open his mouth. He usually thinks more rationally. This is a new low. "Here, let me help." Shouto's fingers brush against yours, and he nearly drops the bag.

You chuckle and thank him.

Well, no turning back now. He fumbles with the (heavy, shit, how strong are you?) bag and clears his throat, "So, where do you want me to carry these?"

"Right! Um, I'm actually not done with shopping yet—"

"I'll walk with you then," Shouto suggests before he realizes it. He wants to slap himself. Better yet, ice his mouth shut before he spouts more ideas.

You gaze at him with uncertainty. "Todoroki-san, you don't have to."

Curse summer. The weather was making him act out of character. It has to be. Shouto shakes his head as his head rushes to find an answer. "My friends aren't here yet anyway, and it's... it’s the least I can do to repay you."

You raise an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For protecting Inasa and I during the License Exam."

You stare at him, taken aback. "I didn't think you'd remember that," You admit, scratching the back of your neck.

"How can I forget? You were amazing going up against Gang Orca," Shouto states as-a-matter-of factly. What else can he say? It was the truth. He shrugs. "I didn't get the chance to thank you at the time. Might as well make up for it now."

"I appreciate it, Todoroki-san." You flush, facing turning pink. From the heat? Maybe, but Shouto feels something bloom in his chest. Why and what? He doesn’t know, and he doesn’t like it.

He can tell your eyes crinkle behind your sunglasses as you smile. He wishes he brought his own. You're going to blind him at this rate. He opts to look ahead.

"Shouto."

"Huh?" Your eyes widen in surprise.

He isn't sure what made him say it. He has no idea where the stupid, foolish idea came from, but Shouto gathers the courage to glance at you. "Just call me Shouto," he repeats.

"O-okay! Then you can call me (First Name)." You flush deeper and smile, wider than before and—damnit. Shouto turns away again. He feels his face warm up. Before it shows in his face, he uses his Quirk to cool his body temperature.

You shiver. "Brr. Why's it so cold all of a sudden?"

"No idea," Shouto replies nonchalantly. "So, where to next, (First Name)?" His lips twitch upwards. He likes the way your name rolls off his tongue—wait—no he doesn't. He presses his lips into a thin line.

You blink, as if you forgot what you were doing. "Oh, yeah, I need to get—"

.......

Subconsciously, you both lean into each other as you began chatting. Neither of you notice the small group of teens hiding behind a corner nearby, watching the whole interaction between you two.

"As expected of our strongest," Yaoyorozu gawks, a hand over her mouth as she blushes.

Next to her, Kaminari stares, eyes wide. "Todoroki, you sly dog."

"Shut up, Idiot," Jirou snaps, kneeling on the ground. Her Earphone Jack is plugged into the floor. "I'm trying to listen."

"Todoroki, you're truly manly, helping someone in need," Kirishima praises, tearing up. He sniffs and wipes the tear away.

Mina cheers as she jumps up and down, "You go, Todoroki!"

"It's so nice to see him take an interest in someone," Uraraka comments. She claps her hands together. "Maybe he'll open up more."

"Half n' Half actually has balls. Didn't think he had it in him," Bakugou sneers, crossing his arms over his chest.

Uraraka smacks his shoulder. "Bakugou, don't say that!"

The blond puts up his fists in an offensive stance. "Hah? You wanna fight, Uraraka?"

The teens shush Bakugou in unison before turning back to spy on Todoroki and you. Bakugou shuts his mouth. He huffs, grudgingly joining them.

Iida shakes his head. "Shameful. Just shameful. You should be be more respectful to Todoroki's privacy," He says as he peeks around the corner like the rest of them.

Midoriya sweat drops, watching his friends (and Bakugou) huddle at the corner. Fidgeting, he suggests, "Guys, this is wrong. We should just give them privacy."

"Who the fuck asked you, Deku?" Bakugou bellows, making the boy flinch.

His yell echos through the plaza, attracting people's attention. The group of teens curse.

.......

Like most of the people in the plaza, Shouto and you look up in the direction where the scream came from. He spots several heads of familiar hair peeking behind a corner not far from you. They shift and move as if they were being shoved. Shouto sighs and his brow furrows.

You laugh, "I suppose those are your 'friends'?"

Shouto nods, his face solemn. "Unfortunately, yes," he glares at the heads bobbing behind the corner.

"Well, wouldn't want to keep them waiting," You advise, taking the bag from his hand.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine," You wave him off. "Thanks for trying to help. I'll talk to you later. Bye, Shouto."

"Yeah, bye," Shouto says. He doesn't notice the hint of disappointment in his tone.

You walk off, waving goodbye. Shouto returns the gesture as he watches you till your back disappears in the crowd. Then he grimaces, turning to walk to where his friends are hiding.

As he nears them, Shouto hears someone instruct, "Quick, act natural!"

He turns the corner and finds his friends in the most awkward positions he's ever seen them in. Yaoyorozu is posing a like a model. Whistling a tune, Uraraka and Mina lean against the wall looking anything but casual. Kaminari and Jirou are pretending to try on women's clothes in the open shop next to them while Kirishima struggles to restrain Bakugou from leaping away. Iida and Midoriya stand in the clear, ashamed.

"Hey, Todoroki-san," Midoriya greets him, shifting his weight foot to foot.

Steam rolls off Shouto in clouds as he tries to remain calm.

He's far from it.

"Eh? Is it getting hot in here?"

"Wait, wait, we can explain!"

"Todoroki-san, using Quirks in public is illegal!"

"So, did you get their number?"

Something in Shouto snaps.

"Ahhhhh! Too cold! Too cold!"

"Hot! Hot!"

"The hell, Half n' Half!?"

Shouto's friends spend the rest of the day trying to gain his forgiveness. Then he realizes.

He didn't get your number.

Damn it.

.......

Episode 3 NOW AVAILABLE!!

Hope you enjoyed! Finally, some interaction between Shouto and the reader.

I honestly don’t fully understand how school schedules work in Japan. They have school during summer?? Can someone explain it to me?

If you have any suggestions, ask box open or pm me?

Check out my one shots

#todoroki shouto x reader #shouto todoroki x reader #shoto todoroki x reader #todoroki shoto x reader #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #shouto todoroki #todoroki shouto #shoto todoroki #todoroki shoto #my writing #soulmate au #soulmate alternate universe #mini series #Shouto #todoroki #shoto x reader

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fictionallyattractive · 7 years ago

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Kids Just Gotta Have Fun

[Fandom: My Hero Academia.] [Rated: M - Mostly for Harsh Language and Alcohol Antics] [College AU] [Pairings: Izuku Midoriya/Shoto Todoroki + Katsuki Bakugou/Eijirou Kirishima + Other Minor Pairings and Dates]

Can Also Be Read Here On AO3! ♥

Chapter 1: One Of the Cool Kids

Izuku realized almost instantly that this was a mistake. This crowded, woozy, place was a bad choice. The music that was too loud- the voices that were too stoned, too crude to be heard was a poor decision blasting like techno over speakers he wove away from in a hypnotized step.

The furniture was a blockade he could barely avoid then; his arms felt bruised from the bumping. His legs almost felt more numb than his stomach sucking out the poison of his drink swirling around where his hand clasped solidly in the heave of his sudden breath.

That drink was his second mistake after showing up here in this distorted group of peers all taking on new, seemingly, wilder masks of themselves.

But he could still taste that bitterness on his tongue. Something that wasn't among the berry and the tangy soda water as he abandoned the last cup by the mantle and sat as far as he could from the noise boosting the chaos induced from the bit of alcohol Izuku couldn't wash away from his already hazed thoughts.

Maybe some part of him came to make friends. The party was like an invitation to meet and greet with whoever he wanted; it was supposed to be that chance for Izuku to finally make that move from quiet "nerd" to a kid who actually made an impact.

That perfectly timed blow to the social world that would make checking his accounts worth the while when he tried not to doze off in English class.

The only faces he could see were those he'd never seen a day in his life. But why would he? They were from another college, some local gig he'd only heard of in side chatter and brochures he passed by through the main halls of his own campus suddenly brimming with the likes of their class.

What he did know about them was that they weren't like his own friends. They weren't Ochako Uraraka dancing almost surrounded by her best friends with that gleaming grin taken over with ethereal happiness when she moved.

No, they had Camie, a streak of whimsy whose mouth ran like a motor when dunked in the punch Izuku tossed away. A blonde with a defined interest in companionship who should have been someone Izuku would have liked.

Unfortunately, he was frozen. His legs wouldn't work now when they flopped out on the nearest sofa and gave in. Honestly, he felt as though he'd been betrayed by everything. His own emotions were fried between longing to just dance and let go- to celebrate the unknown and kick back another drink like Yo Shindo who hid insults under compliments in a snide grin only his classmates could enjoy.

They were just college students. He had no reason to fear them like snakes, spiders, like creatures of complete darkness that watched as Izuku tried to shut his mind and mouth before feeling vomit edge down the shaft of his throat harshly in an acidic bile Camie alluded to with a quizzical expression.

Her drink was gestured toward him in place of her hand, eyes narrowed kindly as Izuku listened to her question ring out. "Are you okay?"

Actually no, he wanted to explain, clutching back the desire to purge the dizziness and the useless anxiety. But he had a feeling all that would come up was lunch and the bottle of water he'd guzzled just before opening the door to this thriving location.

And, if it mattered at all, Izuku just wanted to get out before everything came out. The twirl of emotions, of his insides, of the urge to bail out of there like the Flash if his system were half paralyzed and half awe-struck by the watchful eyes of mysterious peers all content to be sipping liquor straight out of a glass bowl Izuku dodged just as heels slammed the wood floor and dashed from his seat.

Camie stepped aside gracefully, her smile appearing as soon as the green-haired student booked it from under her gaze with his fingers spread across his lips ready to burst when he didn't even know where to run for.

"Bathroom to the right, I think!" Her voice called, but he was probably out of reach of even her booming voice lilting back to the rest if her crew when Izuku was buried out of sight and out of mind in the corner of the dancefloor next to those he knew well enough to feel a little more at ease.

"Whoa- not on me, please!" Hanta Sera cried as he flinched away from his friend when Izuku's hand dropped from his jawline suddenly. While the urge to let it out faded he still felt like shit.

Like it was lurking under his gut, paining him with the misery of deep breaths just as his lingering classmates observed when he slumped to the wall, and held it back once more just to say something back.

"I'm good," He lied, one hand brushing away the touch that Hanta offered as the other braced himself to the wall. "I think I need some sleep or at least a bathroom very soon-"

"Next door on your right," Denki Kaminari spoke up, clinging back from the fear of being the target of bile. Still, his face brought comfort. A sharp grin, jagged hair that formed black and blond spikes his hands could course through crudely if he tried.

"I think I'll be okay for now," Came the weak response Izuku consoled him with, attempting to force back that glazed look of clamminess in his face and skin. It all felt kind of gross and yet exhilarating at one time; it was thrilling yet disgusting- that somehow surging feeling in his veins causing Izuku to crank out a single smile back to his friends. "Unless you want to hang around and see."

Denki dramatically pushed his body to the wall in a laugh. "Don't do it, I swear to god-"

"I won't!"

Izuku pondered, maybe it wasn't that bad. Maybe those random kids just weren't his cup of tea- they just weren't capable of understanding what it was like hoping someone would just find the time and will to talk to him instead of him doing all the talking.

His heart was racing, yet his brain wasn't working on hyper drive anymore. Maybe the upperclassmen were right when they said he needed to cut loose and find what it meant to let go- to have the time of his life before he was graduating with piss poor grades and it didn't quite work out for him like he'd hoped.

Like a fall-back plan that only a drop-out could come up with, he thought, or someone like Minoru Mineta who only dreamed he would ever study like the rest of them and make it big. He'd think something like a wild party would make paying thousands of dollars worthwhile.

But, the thing was, Izuku hated that plan. The one that said his memories would last forever when they didn't even last the minute, the hour- the second he was damn near wasted after even just a few more sips of coaxing.

Hanta could do it. He could take the taste like a champion unlike Izuku would have ever seen! Frankly, he was proud of the guy. The dark hair being pushed back over his forehead as he chugged it, setting the cup aside in a bow as Denki and someone else applauded- a blur in Izuku's fragmented state that couldn't even focus on a face anymore.

There was a crew in the corner playing a couple of games creeping on the border of inappropriate. Tangled lips, bumped noses played around a bottle with their cellphones snapping pics of good hookups Izuku was too shy to join.

He'd never been kissed- never been touched like the dancers around Kyoka Jirou making her feel like the last girl alive in the midst of heated drops and beats blasting under her sneakers Izuku had to watch or see it all.

He couldn't dance either. And he could never dance like them with hips in such a circular motion- arms clinging to one another til his breath was lost among the gaping guys who had to move along or be caught dead.

There was confusion- his tipsy stare losing its impressions as he stumbled more so thank walked among his classmates. They were just faces now. They were just another person in the mass of body heat and breathy, slurred, sound.

But he could still hear the sounds.

Chanting, a roaring battle of tones and arguing shouts that butted against each other like horns in every screeching challenge they gave.

He just didn't know how it started. How it came to this sequence of threats and harsh words.

Something Izuku could still see? That Inasa Yoarashi was at least a couple inches taller than Shoto Todoroki and staring down at him like the barrel of a gun trained on his scarred face. His menacing words minced like tiny knives- wrenching a painful insult into the face of Izuku's classmate mercilessly.

Inasa didn't need to think about it. He hated the kid, and he hated him for making him have to hate him- making him waste his time standing like there a statue when Inasa was prepared for the first shot to be taken.

Shoto had his fist drawn; his teeth were gnashed together tight as Izuku recalled hurdling between the gathering crowd of lifted voices for one reason- something he forgot as he bee-lined through the hallway and felt his heels dig into the wood just to watch how white hands were shoved into Shoto's chest and tried to knock him back.

"Go on," Inasa snapped. "Hit me like the hero you are."

Shoto was ready to try, but his form stayed frozen even in the heat of the situation consuming him.

Not that Yo would have let him fall. He just shoved him back in, tossing away the reasoning to stop it all before it really began- but he was just another drunken teenager screaming "Fight!" at the top of his lungs into the circle of punches soon to be thrown as they all watched.

He could hear Momo Yaoyorozu crying out to stop them- her panic evident. Minoru wanted to see how it played out- his excitement building like bricks the way Izuku's heavy chest and stomach felt when he let his own voice ring out, but it seemed to mean almost nothing.

"Stop it," Izuku felt his lips exclaim, or so he thought. Maybe it was just a mumble. Perhaps no one even heard him say a thing as his arms began forcing open a hole in the crowd before him, watching it all go down like a ship in the debris when Shoto Todorki's head turned acutely from the way Inasa swung.

"Stop it-"

"Hey, Izuku!" Someone cried, gasping aloud as their shout was drowned upon dozens of other exclamations and groans sounding through the herd.

"How dumb are you?" Someone asked loudly when it all halted abruptly when the floor was all that Izuku felt under his palms and his cheek thudding hard with his heartbeat that made everyone sound so far away.

He'd honest to god been punched so many times before that he would have thought he would have learned to expect it. But they just never stopped throbbing. Never started making him reconsider the things he did before diving face-first into a brawl that wound up getting him smacked down brutally into the floor at his friends' feet as they divided to help him up.

"You would rather just let your friend take the hit than fight back," Inasa snickered as his back turned from Shoto, ignoring how the UA students fussed over Izuku like herded cattle. Izuku heard him say it, grinding his teeth as his eye felt like it bled from its socket when his expression twitched.

Even though it was just the alcohol, for the most part. It was just the thrill of the situation that drove him to become some idiotic hero whose face was growing twice the size of a balloon- he just wanted to feel like he hadn't done something so intensely dumb at that second when the party was over.

Mostly because Toshinori Yagi and Shota Aizawa, a couple of pretty pissed off teachers looming over the scene said so.

"Scrape him off the floor," Mr. Aizawa demanded with a sigh. His bloodshot eyes stared jaggedly over to Camie and Yo who began gathering their things as they prepared to depart. "And everyone get out."

Too bad Izuku didn't remember much more than that.

Waking up after that was just a little worse. It was a pinch of humiliation mixed with a hefty amount of swelling pressing into the pillow he turned toward in a miserable groan. It felt like it throbbed to the touch, his fingers sliding away as they threaded into emerald green of his hair.

The sound of the alarm next to his head was a nuisance, the burden of his classes weighing his body deeper into the mattress as though he were being sucked into its grasp. But he could hardly find the energy to move, the will to search for the droning sound blaring close to his ear as Izuku felt everything shriek with pain at once.

His head, his stomach, his face that despised his every movement even when drawing the pillow across his jaw like an ice pack that only soothed its scorching agony for just a moment when dragging his legs over the edge of the bed creaking on his cautious steps.

One step closer to a sight he'd never get out of his brain- one that paralyzed his entire body just grazing its dreadful scene in the reflection. Even when dim, it was obvious.

The blackened flesh that plastered his jaw, the bruised complexion of his cheek widened like the rounded shape of a fist he could still feel planting into the side of his face. Like he could still act out his dramatic failure by flopping onto the floor- that's how fresh it felt- how it looked when he dared lean in closer to inspect its damage.

Severe enough that he cringed, rubbing his nape awkwardly as excuses ran rampant through his mind. But who would believe them?

With his phone running off the hook with notifications he was positive not a single soul would think he ran into a bathroom door or suffered some unfortunate baseball accident. Not when everyone who knew him had seen his hundreds of superhero posters and collections of manga- not really one for sports after all.

If he learned anything from that one, incredibly strange incident, it was that he acted stupid, drank himself stupid, and, now of all things, wound up looking stupid with the trophy of Inasa Yoarashi swelling out to be traced by his finger like a tumour stretching out of his face.

But that's just what he got for playing it off cool.

Chasing the pills with coffee made it a little better. Katsuki Bakugou only felt his best when not slumped over his homework hungover; his ideal morning right now fading back like a dream when he thought about grasping the sheets of his bed, forgetting the exams like his end of the nightmare was over.

The pills dulled the headache at least, and the coffee made him feel like he'd slept more than the three hours after being cast out of the main building like trash for winding up tipsy and out of his mind like the rest of them.

Losers.

And he wasn't one of them; not a wimp that couldn't force out thoughtless ideals on paper for his essay due in a day as it formed on his notebook aimlessly. It meant nothing. His mind sloshing out garbage with ease as he leaned against his wrist, pressing into his temple as the pressure still canned his process painfully.

He swore it felt too warm outside anyway- hard to focus even when shucking the Varsity jacket absorbing more sunlight than needed in the autumn breeze sucking all his concentration like sap.

Maybe it was all a blatant trap. Distractions engulfing the green in masses, all staring down at their phones like they had been apart of the reel of last night's gamble. The events posted on every site available to their mindless devices displaying every angle of the students no one got to see.

Not when they were losing their damn minds over a few tastes of alcohol slipped in like a phantom drug to their drinks. Just a bunch of idiots lost to the devices of mind games and slurred behaviour that made Katsuki's teeth grind.

Because he was among those idiots.

Hell, he couldn't handle the liquor either. It made him want to gag- the taste so bitter it made him choke- its dizziness still lingering as it preyed on his weakness. It played him like the fool he was and made him into the kind of spineless creature he refused to become.

And the chance that any of those cameras saw that mocked him. It destroyed him as his fingers stretched tighter around his pencil with efforts to think back to the passage he scanned with a hefty sigh.

Did he even give a fuck about poetry? Did any of these lines mean anything but nonsense to him?

The answer was no, but it wasn't like he focused on them enough to find any meaning. He wanted to think about watching Shoto Todoroki getting served with something well-deserved. At least, that's what Katsuki thought of it.

Watching Inasa hover him, bark at him like a mad dog with his hands shoving him, pushing him down a few notches while Katsuki joined the crowd and just begged them to fight it out. It was the right thing to do. Stupid as all hell, but it felt right.

Shoto could take the hit, and he got to see him battered like yesterday's hero with pleasure. Win-win, and it made Katsuki smirk just recalling it. One of the only things he could remember really since he was so out of it after that chugging contest with his friends that it all blacked out.

Roses are red, violets are blue, if I hated anyone it'd be fucking you.

Now that was poetry, he teased in his mind, humming in victory as it made his eyes roll. He'd do any kind of procrastinating to avoid this shit right now.

He'd even talk to the one guy he almost couldn't stand the most. A lie, true, but it was one of those pride things weaved into his skull as his hand slammed down on his textbook when he raised his voice across the green as a body passed. Their vivid hair stood out among the bland colour scheme of the outdoors.

"What the fuck are you doing, dumbass?"

Eijiro Kirishima paused roughly, face packed with a defensive bewilderment as his body seemed to stiffen at the call. He was dressed somehow well for the morning after the night of their ruined lives.

Matching jacket with the varsity patch, rugged jeans gashed at the knees sluggishly moving closer with the toss of his bag along the seat opposite of Katsuki Bakugou whose vision narrowed on the lack of gel in his friend's hair.

Rival, he corrected daftly.

"You never wear your hair like that," He commented, snubbing him altogether as Eijiro tried to smile and wave his way through the confrontation. "It's fucking weird."

"When it's down?" The red-head asked curiously, smoothing his fingers at the back of his head where the loose ponytail looped around his fingers that seemed to shake even as he let them fall away from the holder. "I-I didn't have the energy to style it, bro."

"Since when do you do anything?" He asked, referring to their athletics, hinting subtly at the last few attempts of training together where Katsuki wound up besting him at a few repetitions of exercises before Eijiro was passing up weights and push-ups for breathers.

Sly as he was, Katsuki knew it no longer hurt Eijiro to be poked fun at- not by Katsuki who never meant a damn thing he said by default. At least, not when he knew it was the only guy who trusted him enough to say they were friends.

Friends who bickered, playfully insulted one another- made sure they really felt the burn when they pushed each other to the brink of insanity and athletics.

But being Katsuki's friend was like playing with fire. It looked cool- a stunning mark on the reputation that scarred and left him feeling a little singed as soon as he saw the blond's mouth open in another rebuttal.

He always had something witty to say, and Eijiro just wasn't quick enough on the draw yet to top him.

"Says the guy in the hoodie and sweatpants,"

"Did you mean, my usual attire?" Katsuki quipped, head tilting as his coffee was chugged back before being cast aside into the nearest trash can.

"You dressed up for the party yesterday-"

"That's a damn lie,"

Ripped jeans and a black tank top definitely cut the edge of dressing up, yes, but it was enough to say that the red-head wasn't foolish for noticing the gap in difference.

"I want poetry to fucking die- spill the answers before I ruin your day." Katsuki finally cut to the point of calling his Rival over just as he drummed his fingertips on his textbook impatiently.

Not that Eijiro had any time to actually read their homework very thoroughly himself seeing as his night left him drained- his emotions tipping scales as he felt sweat beading on the back of his skin when Katsuki huffed out a breath that pushed wisps of thin blond over his nose.

Sharp teeth hesitated to speak, lips drawn over a few syllables as he thought carefully before speaking on his swift, poor, decision. "You just wanted to talk about our homework?"

"I don't really want to talk to you any other time, so yeah?" His voice tilted to a question for a moment before watching his friend form a sarcastic smirk. "Your lazy ass did your homework, right?"

"You always steal my answers!"

A wave of comforting whimsy washed over the dorky athlete, his deep exhale lurking under a thrum of anxiety that slowly slipped back into the confines of his joyful expression when Katsuki gestured needily for the binder Eijiro pulled from his bag. And it was ripped out of his grasp before he could argue- watching as the pages were flipped knowingly to the right section- by memory.

A display of the frequency that Katsuki Bakugou didn't do his homework like he said when he began scanning the chicken-scratch writing for keywords he could sprinkle into his own essay without remorse.

"I'll actually do this shit when I'm not hungover,"

The red-head's hand concealed a yawn as he nodded. "Yeah, Mr. Toshinori says the punch we drank was spiked- don't know who did it though."

"Why would we?" Katsuki scoffed.

"'Dunno? Cameras?" He leaned his chin onto the picnic table as he tried scrolling through his phone absently to ease the tension from the rest of his gut at long last. "What do you remember?"

His fingers stopped on the keys of his typing, reluctant to have asked as his lips moved without reason- his eyes snapping shut as he heard the table creak and his friend mutter something foul.

"A fucking pathetic fight, I guess? Me chugging a shit drink that tasted like puke? What else you wanna know?"

Eijiro shrugged, snickering as he rebuked "Your snapchat?"

Katsuki's eyes rolled, but he slid his cellphone to the willing poetry donator after unlocking the device's screen for him.

"Send me anything weird, and you're dead."

"What defines as weird?"

Eijiro watched as he added the name read off the user screen, the notification appearing on Katsuki's phone as he sent it through and let his trembling hand hold it momentarily.

Katsuki flipped his book closed, the binder he borrowed being forced back into Eijiro's grasp as he recollected his cellphone with a grunt.

They both started to stand, the table almost being shifted aside as the red-head's graceless attempts to jolt out of its reach were almost rushed. He was instantaneous to react, his face crudely forming a grin as he tried to end the conversation with a fist bump- or a handshake-

Katsuki could hardly tell as awkwardly formed as it was.

And, either way, he didn't care. It was an invitation to grab him by the knuckle and squeeze so hard it made the guy gasp, his heels driven off their stance as Katsuki drove his shoulder into Eijiro brutally until he was knocked off his feet and to the grass with a groan of slight pain when his stomach argued with the strike nastily.

It was a game they played. A weird strength test that made them somehow feel a little more manly the less it hurt to be tossed into nearby lockers and walls.

A guy thing, Eijiro liked to explain, but no one could make sense of his pleasure in being almost bullied by Katsuki who watched him struggle to stand for a second as his breath coughed out raggedly and his fingers raked the earth for support.

It was just like that. Katsuki was an aggressive guy, and he had an oddly aggressive way of greeting and saying goodbye to his friends who stood to wave him off.

"See ya later," Eijiro called out, watching as Katsuki did nothing to answer him back even after hearing him. But that was best.

Eijiro clung to his phone, sweat on his palm making it hard to hold it tight as it felt like it would slide out of his touch at any second.

He could see the message ghosting his notifications as a warning he didn't want to answer yet- his heart shadowed in anxiety again as he felt his teeth bite hard to his lip.

[Best Bro - (Sent 04:02 am) - I don't think you should even ask him about it yet. It's Katsuki, and Katsuki is, well, Katsuki.]

His fingers began typing back swiftly, breath held as he slumped back against the picnic table, glancing to see Katsuki off by the main building as he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, then replied.

[You - (Sent 11:18 am) - He doesn't even remember anything!! D: ]

#bnha #mha #my hero academia #Kids just gotta have fun #todoroki x izuku #Midoriya Izuku #todoroki shouto #katsuki bakugou #kirishima eijirou #yoarashi inasa #sero hanta #kaminari denki #jirou kyouka #momo yaoyorozu #uraraka ochako #iida tenya #shinsou hitoshi

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