Chapter Text
Todoroki had begged Bakugo. He didn't care if anyone else knew. Midoriya was his best friend, and he was someone close to Bakugo. And it had been long enough. Bakugo and Todoroki had passed their three year anniversary and barely five friends between the two of them knew of their relationship. Everyone else only knew them as roommates.
Bakugo refused for the nth time.
"That stupid Deku is the last person I wanna tell." Bakugo had scoffed. Bakugo said he didn't care about Midoriya. They were still all fighting for the top, and as recent grads (albeit 2 years out), they had a LONG way to go. Bakugo had already secured the number one spot for New Heroes, but he claimed that wasn't real. He wanted to win in the major leagues. Todoroki had to agree. He had gotten top three, but they weren't anywhere near the veteran heroes.
Todoroki yielded on one condition: they tell Midoriya before their fourth year begins. Bakugo agreed.
A couple months later, Bakugo and Midoriya were on a mission together. A mission that quickly went south. It should have been an easy sting operation. The moment the money left the villain's hands, the heroes would rush in and help with detainment. Todoroki wasn't even needed for the operation, but he watched all the updates live. It was always harder to watch Bakugo from the couch than on the field.
News came in: the villains had quirk enhancing drugs. It's a complete knockoff with too many complications, but it gave the villains an edge. The results are explosive and even the news casters are having difficulty making out shapes in the smoke and flying debris. Radios are briefly down, and Todoroki was on his feet in the living room. He wasn't sure what he was planning but sitting stored up too much energy.
Heroes Dynamight and Deku were last seen emerging from underground when the building fell. No signs of movement in the rubble and no radio ins on their location above ground. Todoroki's eyes flickered to the front door. Was this his cue to go?
Search and rescue were quick and efficient.. Dynamight and Deku had to be rescued under rubble, their bodies torn apart. Deku, who had been found a couple blocks over, fell to his knees when Dynamight didn't open his eyes right away. Blood was rushing from Dynamight's head when he was found.
Tears fell freely until Bakugo stirred. Deku, in his relief and excitement, kissed Bakugo on the field, arms tight around the dazed hero.
The press caught every second, every moment. There was no stopping it...no cuts after production. The mission was broadcasted live. It's on every station before Deku and Dynamight can pull away.
Todoroki was worlds away, the kiss between Dynamight and Deku still flashing on the TV. Different angles are displayed, and the commentary was fast and excited.
Was this why Bakugo was insistent on not telling Midoriya? Todoroki scanned through the past 3 years. Bakugo never showed any indication he was mending his awkward relationship with Midoriya, and Bakugo never showed signs of cheating and remorse.
He wanted to believe that it was a lie, but the desperate kiss shared between Midoriya and Bakugo was undeniably recorded for the world.
Todoroki didn't need to flip the channel to know it would be the top conversation for all news stations.
[Two UA alumni embrace after a fight gone wrong]
[Heroes Dynamight and Deku's antagonistic public relationship actually hiding romance!]
[10 ways Dynamight and Deku showed us they were together before actually showing us]
[HERO DYNAMIGHT AND HERO DEKU BOTH OUT AS GAY HEROES]
And on and on it went.
Todoroki didn't meant to scroll. But after he checked his social media, he couldn't stop. After hours, he finally got a text from his boyfriend.
Bakugo : im OK. he kissed me. We'll talk soon.
Todoroki froze. Was this supposed to be reassurance or the beginning of a break up?
It wasn't until 2 days later that Bakugo was discharged home with careful instructions in wound care, not that he needed the reminder. Injuries and care were all part of the job.
Todoroki came home to see Bakugo on the couch, dozing off. His pain meds were hard at work.
Todoroki sat next to his boyfriend and lamented the fresh wounds. All part of the job, but it didn't get easier when it was someone he loved. With the movement of the couch shifting, Bakugo opened his eyes slowly.
He blinked a couple times before reaching out to hold Todoroki's hand.
"Hey." Bakugo said. Todoroki rolled his eyes.
"Are we gonna talk about it?" Todoroki hoped Bakugo would say no. That it wouldn't happen again so there was nothing to say.
But the guilt that crossed Bakugo drugged face was enough for Todoroki to pull his hand back.
"Can't right now." Bakugo barely sat himself up. Todoroki nodded. All of Bakugo's words were slurred, and he looked one more blink away from falling asleep again.
Todoroki checked Bakugo's bandages for any loose ends and was satisfied by the tight wrapping.
"You didn't want to sleep in bed?" Todoroki grabbed a blanket from off the ground. Bakugo grunted as he settled back into the couch.
"Blood...on sheets." Bakugo hummed at the warmth of Todoroki's body heating the blanket.
"And the couch?" Todoroki almost smiled.
"Meh. Wanted to see you." Bakugo admitted. He wanted to make sure he woke to see Todoroki as soon as possible. Todoroki nodded.
"G'night." Todoroki said and Bakugo responded with a snore.
The next morning Todoroki checked in on Bakugo and saw the meds and glass of water on the coffee table. Todoroki checked and yes, it was pain meds. Todoroki knew they wouldn't be able to talk before he had to head into work.
They could talk afterwards. Todoroki had taken the week off to take care of Bakugo. Today was just to finish up mission reports and attend a meeting to discuss the response the company would take to Dynamight and Deku's scandal.
The news was already trying to take statements from all the other UA grads.
Todoroki had questions in his dms but chose to ignore them. And the glaring obvious silence from Midoriya was the worst part.
Midoriya didn't know before the kiss. Todoroki didn't know if he knew now and was just lying low. Todoroki knew in his head he should act dumb and text Midoriya to ask. Or maybe he could confront Midoriya, but it hurt too much.
What Todoroki didn't expect was the reporters waiting outside of his agency. He hadn't expected the media response to be so uncontrollable. Relationships happened all the time with celebrities. Maybe a little more rare with heroes, but the news never had a hard time trying to pair people up.
Camera lenses flashed the sun in Todoroki's eyes. Loud questions pounded against his head, amplifying the ones he himself had.
How long did you know?
Is this why Bakugo didn't tell Midoriya?
What do you think?
Is Bakugo going to break it off?
Was their fighting just a cover?
Was it?? Did they actually get along?
All Shouto said was: "I would like to protect my friends' privacy as much as I protect the public. Please wait on official statements from them."
And he, more than gently, pushed the front door.
Inside, Sero Hanta was waiting, one of the few friends who knew Todoroki and Bakugo were dating.
"What the fuck is going on?" Sero hissed, walking alongside Todoroki.
Todoroki shook his head, and Sero threw his hands up and ran it through his black hair.
"What did Blasty say?" Sero followed Todoroki to his desk.
"He's been sleeping. Meds are making him loopy." Todoroki fired up his computer.
Sero put his hand on Todoroki's screen. "Hey, dude. Why're you even here? You need to talk with Bakugo first! He promised he'd talk to you."
Todoroki looked at Sero with a million questions. Who did Bakugo promise? And why? What did Sero know, and why was Todoroki in the dark? He had to guess it was precisely because he didn't talk to Bakugo....but Bakugo could barely say words.
Todoroki shook his head. "Well, he didn't so you tell me. What do I need to know?"
Sero looked at him with a slack jaw. No sounds came from him for a couple of moments.
"Todoroki, I can't." Sero's face was absolutely crestfallen. Todoroki bit his lips down to stop them from trembling. Okay, fine. The meeting in an hour will reveal the agency's decision.
When Sero realizes that Todoroki would wait it out, Sero sighed and buried his face in his hands.
"I'll tell you, but you have to promise to skip the meeting later. I'll make an excuse for you. Let them know you already heard it. Todoroki, you really should have stayed home."
Todoroki thought about it. He didn't like to skip out on his responsibilities. He didn't like the fact that Bakugo's immediate future would be discussed without him. Though, looking at Sero's response, a decision had already been made.
"Promise," Todoroki said.
Sero took a deep breath. "The two agencies agreed the best course of action is for Bakugo and Midoriya to fake a relationship."
Todoroki's stomach sank and launched to his throat simultaneously.
"Just until this blows over! They need to control the narrative and are already a couple days behind because of their hospitalization." Sero eyed Todoroki. "There are some critics saying Deku sexually assaulted Dynamight by kissing him when he was down."
Todoroki didn't think it could get worse. He didn't know what made him feel more sick: the possibility that Bakugo cheated or the fact that Midoriya forced himself onto Bakugo.
Sero seemed to think the same way. "It's a bad situation and one you don't need to be present for."
Todoroki nodded dumbly. "I'll...go talk to Bakugo."
Sero nodded encouragingly. "Go. We'll take care of it here."
Todoroki took the hidden exit out from the agency so he isn't bombed with any more questions. And now that he knows what Midoriya and Bakugo are planning to do...he wanted to see the press even less.
When Todoroki re-entered his home, Bakugo was still passed out on the couch.
Todoroki sighed and sank to the ground next to his boyfriend. He ran his eyes around the heavy bandages around Bakugo's head. Todoroki didn't even know if Bakugo had a concussion.
As if sensing Todoroki's distraught, Bakugo's brows knit together, frown deepening.
Todoroki held Bakugo's worn hands and pressed his lips on the knuckles. His head rest on the couch next to Bakugo's and Todoroki fell asleep watching his boyfriend.
Bakugo woke up confused and only slightly in pain. He guessed that the pain would come back as the pain killers wore off.
He registered a body at his head and smiled when he saw Todoroki's soft sleeping face. Bakugo traced a hand across his cheek and into his red hair. Todoroki stirred and blinked awake.
Bakugo was keenly aware of the tension already set between them. Bakugo tried to sit up and grimaced when pain shot down the back of his head.
Todoroki's face quickly turned horrified and Bakugo's heart dropped.
"I'm home." Bakugo whispered. Todoroki nodded, eyes already filling with tears. Bakugo opened his arms and Todoroki gently hugged Bakugo.
"This was too close of a call. What the fuck, Katsuki?" Todoroki gasped in between stifled sobs.
Bakugo grinned at Todoroki's potty mouth. "I know. You say that every fucking time."
Todoroki pulled away quickly. "Obviously Midoriya thought so too this time!"
The world froze. Todoroki hadn't meant to throw the issue out like this. Bakugo's grin melted into a deep scowl, and Todoroki hoped it was due to his distaste for Midoriya.
"That fucking broccoli wannabe." Bakugo growled, and his fist turned white with anger.
"Did--" Todoroki stopped himself. He looked down. He had wanted to ask if Bakugo wanted the kiss. But Todoroki didn't think he could stomach either answer.
Fuck, he needed to ask. The other question. He needed to know.
"Are you seeing him?"
Bakugo's rage left his body with a whoosh and was replaced with anguish.
"Shouto, what the fuck? I'm not a cheater! That kiss was nothing to me. That fucking nerd is no one important. You know that!" Bakugo shifted to get up, but his head kept throbbing.
Todoroki paused to gather his thoughts. Bakugo's anger however kept boiling.
"I can't believe you doubted me. That's why you asked, right? You've told me how shitty your mom felt when you dad cheated. How shitty it made you feel. Why would I do that?"
Todoroki shook his head. "You wouldn't. I-- why would Midoriya kiss you? Does he like you?" And suddenly a new fear buried itself. Would Bakugo choose Midoriya over Todoroki?
Bakugo shrugged. "They sent us away so quickly. We haven't had much privacy to talk."
Todoroki bristled. "But enough time to plan a fake relationship?"
Bakugo groaned. He had wanted a lazy weekend with Todoroki after this mission. With every passing moment, it got worse
Todoroki flushed with anger. "So it's true. What in the world were you thinking? And the PR managers agreed to it? Katsuki, are you serious?"
Bakugo grit his teeth and pressed his palms flat against his thighs. "I was THINKING of how to minimize the publicity. They'll forget about this. People date and break up all the time, especially with the demand of hero work." Bakugo continued, "that stupid Deku and I will pretend to be close for a few weeks and then pull apart. The fans will pretty much be the indicator of when Deku and I should break for the news to be least interesting. I hate this as much as you, Shouto."
Todoroki took some strength in that. Bakugo really was still on rocky grounds with Midoriya.
"What do they know about us?" Todoroki asked.
Bakugo hesitated. "Nothing..."
What.
"Nothing?" Todoroki repeated, trying to find a different answer in Bakugo's face. Bakugo was telling the truth.
"What? How?"
"I wasn't about to make shit more complicated! And what if someone sold the truth?" Bakugo didn't know if this headache was due to his injuries or this fight.
Todoroki looked at Bakugo with a stormy expression. "No, I meant how could you do this to me?"
Bakugo blanched. "What do you mean? I thought you'd understand! I thought you would be smart about this and understand this is the best plan."
Todoroki shook his head in disbelief. "Now that we know what'll happen when two heroes come out as a gay couple, are we gonna be public? After all this shit blows over?"
Bakugo couldn't answer right away. He liked having his privacy. He liked that Todoroki was just his and that no one pried. It's what they agreed on as they debuted.
"I thought dating meant I was important to you...but if you can fake date Midoriya, does it really mean anything?"
Bakugo shot Todoroki a panicked looked. "Of course it fucking means something! And you just said fake dating! Deku means shit to me. You. You mean the world to me, Shouto. You're real. This is real. Please."
Bakugo wondered if this was where Todoroki gets tired of Bakugo. If this was the first of the final straws. Something as stupid as the press and Deku. But Todoroki's expression softened.
"Hey, I love you. And only you. I'm sorry about all this shit." Bakugo tried again and succeeded when Todoroki leaned in.
"Midoriya doesn't even know how much he actually messed things up." Todoroki noted, and Bakugo sighed.
"Still the ever shit head."
Todoroki huffed, trying to mask a laugh. "Will you talk to him?"
Bakugo said, "yes, I gotta. He dragged me into whatever this is and I get to make his life miserable now."
Todoroki smiled. "I think with the ranking competitions, you always make his life kind of miserable."
Bakugo scoffed. "As if. He looked so happy when I finally beat him AND you. Stupid nerd doesn't care about the rankings."
Todoroki felt his lips tug into a wider smile. "Not in the way you care. Heard he launched himself into video research and chatted Mei Hatsume's ear off."
Bakugo didn't seem to listen, and Todoroki was fine knowing that Midoriya cared to match Bakugo's challenge.
It was in a way that Todoroki was slightly afraid to join. He had seen first hand how competition and the drive for glory could warp a man...and a family. Todoroki knew he wanted to be better and possibly the best. But he couldn't help but fear that he was still more his father than his mother. That he would be consumed again by something other than a hero's creed. So Todoroki let the challenge simmer right at the top so he could easily let go of his emotions if it ran too hot.
"I'll figure it out. Nothing will get between us, okay? I won't let it." Bakugo promised, and Todoroki felt the twisted darkness in his heart loosen.
Whatever Midoriya's reason was didn't matter because Bakugo chose Todoroki. And he would continue to choose Todoroki.