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I
Ochako thought she had heard most, if not all, of Bakugou’s nicknames (insults, really). The guy was a never ending machine of weird nicknames ever since their first day of classes.
They’re funny mostly, the less insulting one's- like ‘Pikachu’ for Kaminari, or ‘IcyHot’ for Shoto.
Harmless really, the class even at some point started coming up with their own nicknames for Bakugou, to fight back and all that.
Izuku is the one with the most nicknames though, it’s in all honesty, a variation of insults combined
So, Ochako never thought she’d ever hear Bakugou call anyone something that wasn’t insulting or a prominent body characteristic (c’mon, he calls his own mother ‘old hag’, really), it probably physically hurts the guy to even say their actual names.
But she’s proven wrong, on one of their only saturdays where almost all of them have days off from their internships. They planned an outing, just a simple picnic at the park, easy enough for them not to stress too much- they just had to worry about the food and blanket. She’s glad they are doing it, she’s missed spending some quality time with her friend without the exhaustion seeping into her bones and not letting her have more than a one hour long conversation with them after classes
She’s packing some peanuts when Bakugou nudges her shoulder as he makes some bentos for all of them
“Izzy is allergic to peanuts,” he says, not even looking at her, his brows furrowed in concentration as he keeps preparing the food. Ochako stills, the packet of peanuts in hand
“What?” she asks, not sure if she heard him right. Bakugou rolls his eyes, nudging her shoulder again
“I said Deku is allergic to peanuts,” he huffs, frustrated “What are you, deaf?”
Ochako blinks, she’s looking at him as if she’s never seen him before because- what? He just called Izuku-
“You said Izzy. Not Deku,”
Bakugou stops, his cheeks reddening and chopsticks almost falling from his hand as he stirs some rice into a container “I did not! Shut up!”
She can’t help the laugh that bubbles up her throat, she claps a hand over her mouth to stifle it. Not risking Bakugou exploding their lunches
Oh my god, he has cute nicknames for Izuku! she thinks delighted.
She wonders if they’re something new, or maybe old nicknames from when they were little. Either way, it’s cute as heck and he obviously calls him that enough to not think twice about it.
She’s glad that they get along better now. The fights and arguments still happen, but at this point it’d be weird if they didn’t bicker over every single thing. They know that’s probably never gonna change, and at this point it’s entertainment for them, ‘What are Midoriya and Bakugou arguing about today?’ is a common game they play nowadays, honestly. And it’s nice to know that even if they fight, none of them would truly hurt the other- that was a collective fear the class used to have.
Now their only fear is if none of them ever confess and continue with the awkward, oblivious flirting
Shaking her head, she puts the peanuts back in the cabinet, and grabs a bag of banana chips instead. A small smile still on her face as she continues packing all that they need.
II
Mina prides herself on her awareness and observation skills. She’s really good at noticing things most people don’t, even if her friends sometimes joke about her and Denki being the ‘idiots of the group’.
So she thinks that she can tell when two of her friends are being closer than usual- like discretely holding hands under the table when they are studying, or sneaking late into each other’s rooms. Or maybe Momo and Todoroki were being too obvious, but Ochako and Tsuyu hid it well! So yeah, Mina prides herself on the fact that she can tell when two of her friends are dating
But who would believe Midoriya and Katsuki are dating? Those two wouldn’t know feelings even if it punched them in the face- and it did! back in their first year they literally beat each other up. And no, you can’t convince her that there wasn’t some sort of sexual tension or a tiny tinie crush there.
“I’m telling you!” Denki exclaims, throwing his hands up in the air “They’re totally banging!” he’s been trying to convince them that those two emotionally stunted idiots are dating for the past half hour, after barging into Hanta’s room where they were all playing video games
Eijirou snorts, raising his eyebrows and looking at Denki from where he’s laying on the bed with a the new release of the Hero’s World magazine in his hands
“Are you sure you aren’t high again?”
Hanta laughs, almost dropping his controller. Mina smiles and takes advantage of it and beating Hanta’s character
“Yeah dude,” she rolls her eyes “I think I would’ve noticed if they were banging, they’d be the most obvious couple in the entire world”
Denki groans and flops down on the bed, hiding his face against the pillow
“fuck you guys” he mumbles against it
Mina giggles and pumps her fist in the air when the game announces her win. Hanta shoves her as he starts a new game
“I’m gonna go get some snacks, someone else play for me!” she says as she stands up and walks towards the door
seriously, did Denki honestly think that Midoriya and Bakubro could be sneaky? No way! Neither of them could keep a secret like that- the class would in on it the second they made it official
she shakes her head as she’s entering the kitchen but stops when she hears voices
“c’mon Kacchan,” she hears Midoriya say, he sounds a little exasperated, but she can still sense that fondness in his voice when he talks to or about Katsuki “stop being a big baby” he giggles, and Mina momentarily melts at the sound of it. If Midoriya wasn’t so obviously head over heels for Katsuki, she’d probably try to have her chance with him but she’s pretty sure half of class A would
“Uuuhg” Katsuki groans. Mina decides to step a little closer, to see what they are doing “but Deku…” he sounds like he’s pouting but that’s impossible, Bakubro only has two default facial expressions, frowning and grinning like a maniac
She pokes her head through the entrance of the kitchen- and oh my god Bakugou Katsuki is pouting! Mina wants to squeal and take a million pictures, mostly for blackmail, but also proof that Katsuki is (maybe) an actual human being with different emotions
“Kacchan, stop it, I already told you I’m busy” just as Midoriya says that Katsuki drapes himself across his back, arms hugging Midoriya’s shoulders, and Mina is sure that she must be dreaming all of this
“But Zuzu, we barely spent any time together this past weeks” Zuzu!? Oh that’s it, Mina definitely traveled to a different dimension where Bakugou’s actually a nice decent human being and not a scowling angry pomeranian walking on two legs
Midoriya looks pained for a moment, but quickly gives his -boy?-friend a reassuring smile
“we’ll have time for ourselves during the holidays Kacchan. don’t worry” Katsuki buries his head on Deku’s curls, and the other boy seems content with that, pressing himself closer to Katsuki and putting his hands on Katsuki’s arms
Mina takes a deep breath and backs away slowly as to not make any sound. When she’s sure they can’t hear her she turns around and races up the stairs to Hanta’s room.
It’s gonna be a pain to admit it but, Denki was right, those two are definitely banging
III
Momo isn’t really the closest to Bakugou, she likes to think that they are good friends, she probably knows more about him than he’d like, but well, it’s not her fault that Shouto can’t keep his mouth shut at all, obliviously so, he tells her about their friends’ lives without realising there’s some information he shouldn’t really say. But, it’s Shouto she’s talking about, there’s nothing you can do, and it’s very endearing in a way
So yeah, she isn’t the closest, nor the best friend he has, but they are something, and they are gonna be living in the same space for another year, it’s good to get along with the people you share a kitchen and dining room.
As much as she thinks (and hopes) they are good friends, she’s kinda baffled that he would come to her for something like this
“I fucking hate this stupid things but- where do you think I could take Deku on a date?”
This being, relationship advice, of some sort. Listen, just because Shouto and her have a nice thing going on doesn’t mean she’s suddenly an expert on romance. But she’s not gonna turn him down, he’s clearly trying.
“Um, well, I don’t know if my recommendations would be any good,” she taps her cheek a little sheepishly “The places Shouto and I go are a little- eh, expensive”
Shouto and her rarely go on dates nowadays anyways, long gone are their days of being able to go out almost every weekend or after school. Internships taking a toll on them far more than they thought it would
Bakugou huffs, rubbing the back of his neck and shuffling his feet “S’okay, I have money. My parents are designers or whatever”
Momo looks at him for a moment, raising her eyebrows and processing his words
“You mean, you’re rich?”
He blushes, rolling his eyes and sitting on her bed, a scowl on his face, “Yeah that. whatever. Just answer my question”
She falters for a moment, looking at him in disbelief. Bakugou is rich!? How is that none of them know? Jesus, between all of them they probably know a maximum of five things about Bakugou
“Well, what does Midoriya like?” Momo finally asks, sitting in her desk chair and looking at him
“Sweet things,” he answers making a face at the word ‘sweet’ “and cute things”
There’s a few places she can think about that are like that, a little less fancy and more cutesy
“Mhm, okay. I’ll write down some cafés I’ve been to,” she grabs a pen and her notebook from the desk and starts writing down the ones she thinks Midoriya would like. She tries to put the less expensive ones, she knows Midoriya is the type to feel bad if people spend any money on him. A shame Momo thinks, he kinda deserves to be spoiled
“It’s nice that you’re doing this for him, I never would’ve thought of you as the type to go on cute dates, really” she chuckles. she doesn’t have to see it but she’s sure Bakugou is rolling his eyes at her
“Yeah, well, it’s almost our one year anniversary,” he mumbles “wanna do something nice for Zuku y’know”
Momo melts a little in the inside- it’s not often you see Bakugou being so open, specially not with Midoriya.
They really haven’t said anything about their relationship to the rest of the class, Momo just knows because she stumbled upon their make out session in an empty classroom a year ago. They asked not to tell anyone, they weren’t ready to be bombarded with all their questions. She understands, it happened with her and Shouto when they made it official- but, it’s probably more complicated for them, she doesn’t even wanna risk touching the subject. Too delicate.
“Here,” she hands him the piece of paper “You can look them up online and decide”
Bakugou grabs the paper and reads it over once before looking at her, he nods and mutters a thanks under his breath as he leaves the room.
Maybe she’ll ask him how the date went after all.
IV
Hitoshi is getting kinda tired of hospital rooms. Specially hospital rooms where his friends are, he doesn’t know how they manage to always end up injured in some type of way, but he isn’t too thrilled to find out.
He doesn’t believe in curses but maybe that’s what’s happening, Midoriya is just cursed
He sighs and pushes open the door to Midoriya's hospital room. This time he only broke his legs and sprained his wrist. He was lucky really, Recovery girl said that if he had broken his arm it would’ve been bad. Hitoshi can imagine why
“Ah! Shinsou!” Midoriya is on the bed, broken leg resting over some pillows and his sprained wrist on a sling across his shoulder. He’s smiling, way too carefree for someone who just got hospitalized for the third time this month, he’s probably still drugged
“Hey, Mido” he greets him, walking towards the bed and plopping down on the chair next to it “Did someone else come to see you yet?” Hitoshi asks, eyeing the flowers on the table beside the bed
“Oh yeah!” Midoriya giggles- yep, definitely still drugged “Ochako and Tenya came to see me. They scolded me again” his mood changes instantly and he looks down at the blankets as he purses his lips and fiddles with the blanket covering his uninjured leg
Hitoshi snorts, rolling his eyes and patting Midoriya’s good hand and letting it rest there
“Of course they did, we don’t like seeing you hurt” Midoriya looks at him, tears in his eyes ready to fall. God, he gets so sentimental when he’s doped on painkillers. Hitoshi wants to laugh a little, he’s too cute for a seventeen year old, really
“I know, it’s just,” he sniffs, and Hitoshi panics a little, he really can’t dealt with a crying and high Midoriya right now, his day was shitty to start with, some other intern blaming him for their mistake and making have an earful from his boss. and his mood didn’t get any better after he received Uraraka’s text about Midoriya being sent to the hospital again . But he’s here so he might as well be a good friend and comfort him
“Listen, Izu-” he’s cut off by the door opening, a tired looking Bakugou coming through it, still in his hero costume, with a cup of coffee in one hand and his phone in the other, he probably just got out of patrol. He stops when he spots Hitoshi sitting in the chair, his hand still on top of Midoriya’s hand
“What, are you doing here” it’s not much of a question, more a demand, and Hitoshi rolls his eyes, the guy has no tact
“I, came to see Midoriya because I was worried about him” he explains, a little slow, a little bit making fun of Bakugou, and the blond seems to catch it. His brows furrowing and mouth turning into an ugly sneer. He seems like he’s about to say something in response, maybe an insult, probably an insult, when Midoriya finally notices he’s in the room
“Kacchan!” he lifts his good arm up and tries to lift the other, causing him to wince and rub it to ease the pain. Bakugou clicks his tongue and goes over to him, ignoring Hitoshi, who’s standing up and getting ready to leave
“Idiot, don’t do that,” Bakugou says as he sets down the coffee and his phone on the table “How did you even hurt yourself like this again? You’re so useless”
He might imagining it but he thinks Bakugou sounds worried . Hitoshi decides it’s time to leave for good when Bakugou starts rearranging the pillows under Midoriya’s leg and the later starts giggling, clearly delighted with having his friend’s attention
“Sorry Kacchan” Midoriya says, as he holds Bakugou’s hand once he stops moving the pillows
Hitoshi is almost outside the door when he hears Bakugou’s response
“Mh, s’okay just- stop hurting yourself like this Izu…please” the last word is almost a whisper, and Hitoshi thinks that maybe he inhaled some of Midoriya’s pain killers because he just heard Bakugou, the ever grumpy and impolite, not only say ‘please’ but also call Midoriya, ‘ Izu ’.
Maybe he should ask Midoriya if they finally got together after all their awkward flirting
V
Inko likes to believe her son trusts her enough to confide in her with his problems and secrets. Maybe not all of them- there are certainly some things she doesn’t want or isn’t ready to know- but some of them, the most important ones. Like his quirk, and All Might. It took some time but he finally told her, and she’s glad. She’s glad she can be there for her only son, her baby boy, whenever the world is too heavy on his shoulders.
She will always resent Toshinori a little for putting all that burden on Izuku at such a young age, but what’s done is done, and all that's left is to move on and support her son on his path to become a hero.
Even if Inko knows Izuku trusts her with his secrets and problems, there are still things he isn’t willing to share. Like his middle school years, no matter how much she tries, he still won’t talk about them, and that’s fine, she isn’t gonna pressure him into doing things that he doesn't want to do. And talking about his middle school years seem to be a instant conversation killer when she brings it up- She tries to be casual about it, she really does, but her baby it’s just too smart
Don’t get her wrong, she knows some things happened back then, she knows Izuku was being bullied, but what she wants to know the most is to what extent it was. And how much did Katsuki-kun partake in it.
It’s not that she wants to confront Katsuki, she knows he’s changed, she can see it in the way he can’t look at her in the eyes sometimes, the shame of his past actions weighing down on him. She knows it in the way he looks at Izuku now, open affection and awe- like he can’t believe Izuku is really there, still talking to him. It makes her feel warm, to know someone is looking at her son with such love in their eyes, even if the boy denies it, she knows what love looks like. Inko saw it in Masaru and Mitsuki, and she sees it in Izuku and Katsuki
Izuku has yet to tell her the nature of their newfound relationship. Even if she has a suspicion of what it is, she’d still like for him to come to her, to seek her out to talk about it. Inko may not be involved in the Pro Hero world but she knows the fear of losing someone so dear to you, and she doesn’t want Izuku to go through that alone- to think of all the possible ways he could lose his best friend.
She wishes they didn’t even had to worry about that. They are only seventeen, it’s not fair. But the world is never fair and they both learned that a long time ago
She sighs and sits down at the table, warm cup of tea in her hands, helping her in calming all these thoughts she hasn’t been able to shake out of her head for weeks, since Katsuki came to stay over during their Holiday vacations.
Inko had been happy to see them so close again, Izuku clearly looked happier than ever, always glowing with adoration whenever Katsuki talked to him or looked his way. It used to worry her, the way Izuku worshipped the other boy, but now she can see it goes both ways. It’s no longer a dangerous puppy crush, now it’s maybe a little too exciting relationship. And that’s why she told them to leave the door open when they headed to Izuku’s room.
She laughs at the memory of their shocked faces, cheeks and ears completely red. Sometimes she misses the old days, when Izuku was just a baby and she didn’t have to worry about his heroics or what he did in a room alone with his -boy- friend. But it’s okay because her son is happy now, a lot happier than he used to. And that’s all she could ask for
She sips her tea as she watches the light from Izuku’s room turn on, and hears the shuffling of sheets followed by soft footsteps. The boys come into the living room, wearing their pajamas, their hair a little messy but they clearly weren’t sleeping. Inko smiles as she watches them go towards the couch, they don’t notice her as they settle down on it. Katsuki grabbing Izuku’s arm and pulling him to his lap
Inko raises her eyebrows, but says nothing and continues to watch them as Izuku smiles softly at the blond and settles his head on Katsuki’s shoulder as he turns the TV on.
“What do you wanna watch?” Izuku whispers, changing the channels
“hm, whatever you want, bunny” Inko can’t help the smile that overtakes her face, she clamps a hand over her mouth and feels how her chest fills with warmth.
This is what she wants for Izuku, happiness and love, and if Katsuki is the one who gives him that, then that’s how it is, and she’s gonna be there for them when they decide to tell her
There are some things Izuku doesn’t talk about with her yet, but she can wait. She feels it, in her heart, and she hopes that they have more moments like this for the rest of their lives, quiet, tender moments between them. Something Inko used to have, and now her baby gets to know what love feels like. It’s okay if for her it didn’t work out because she knows that it’ll work out for them.
She gets up as quietly as she can, cup of tea still in her hand, and she paddles softly towards the hallway, giving one last glance at the cuddling boys before finally entering her room with a small smile on her face