Notes: Hello all! This is my first BakuDeku fan fiction. Along with my first fan fiction in a very very long time (I haven't written one in nearly ten years back when fan was the only real resource of goods). I have had this idea in my head for a while and I started writing it tonight to just get it out on the page. Here is the introduction and I hope that you all like it! I'm a big fan of love triangles and such and I have a weak spot for innocent character meets bad boy. This story will contain Kai x Izuku and Izuku x Katsuki.

[Cross posted on A03]

Interlude – The Sweetest

Izuku can remember the first time he called Katsuki the nickname that soon defined their relationship. The word has formed on his tongue in the sweetest way and the reaction he had gotten from his childhood friend only reaffirmed how much he wanted to continue using the label.

8 years earlier

"Stop it Kacchan that tickles!" Izuku giggled, sprawled out on Katsuki's bedroom floor. Green curls were wildly spread out covering his flushed face and burst of laughter escaped past pearly white teeth. The older boy had been hovering above him, ruthlessly tickling him. Golden locks where gently outlined by the artificial lights in the small room in an angelic way while his t-shirt loosely fell forward.

Eyes holding eye orbs widened by a fraction and the boy in question stopped his attack on the one below him. "What did you just call me?" he whispered, barely heard.

Izuku looked up at his best friend in fear that he had did something wrong. He hadn't mean to call the other boy by that name, but it just kind of…slipped out.

"Kacchan? I think I just…called you Kaachan." There was a beat of silence between them as Katsuki stared down in confusion at the green haired boy below him. The silence had only really lasted a couple of seconds, but it was a couple of seconds too long to pump Izuku full of anxiety and cause him to retract his statement, "B-But if you don't like that we can pretend it never happened!" he stuttered, starting to sit upward.

The blonde boy pushed him back down, resting his hand against the chest below him. Izuku's heart started racing quickly. He knew he always felt weird around his friend, and he also knew this was abnormal. All the other boys in the class were talking about girls…and he couldn't stop thinking about his best friend.

"You…you can call me that. I like it." Izuku stared in bewilderment as his best friend shyly turned his head away, attempting to hide a blush.

"R-Really? Are you sure?" he pressed.

"Yeah, I'm positive. I like it." And in that moment when Katsuki turned his head around and gave Izuku the softest smile, the greenette could have sworn his heart flew to cloud nine. This was perfect. This moment was perfect. "and now you're going to face the wrath of LORD EXPLOSION MURDER!" fingers quickly found their way back to tickling the younger boy with a vengeance and both boys couldn't have been happier.

Present

Izuku kept his head down as he walked through the crowded high school hallway. The white and blue checkered tiles moved in slow motion underneath his red sneakers as he kept his gaze pointed downward. His backpack felt heavy against his frame. He wanted nothing more than to feel invisible. Those memories kept coming back to him over and over recently. That was years ago, when he and Bakugou were nine years old. It wasn't like that anymore.

Now it was the start of senior year of high school. His classmates were talking about moving out of town to big name colleges and universities while he was stuck thinking about how much he was so horribly infatuated with a boy who hated his guts…and how he had to start another year and endure Bakugou's aggression.

Sometimes he wishes he could go back in time and never call him that name, but Izuku shook his head. He shouldn't dwell on such thoughts. That was then—

"Watch where the fuck your going loser." His thought was cut short as he collided with a strong muscled back. The thick gruffy voice sliced directly through his thoughts throwing him off guard. He opened his mouth for an automatic reply without much thought,

"O-Oh I'm sorry Kaccha—"

"And watch your fucking mouth too! What the fuck did I say about calling me that?! Eh!?" Izuku stiffed in his place as the larger boy rounded on him, giving him full view of his snarling face. The shorter boy though couldn't help but gaze at the beautiful features that were twisted with annoyance. He knew Bakugou would never physically touch him, no he was too repulsed by Izuku for that. But Bakugou had no issue railing into him verbally.

"Sorry Bakugou…it slipped out." He whispered softly just enough for Bakugou to hear. He tilted his head down again to look away from the blonde in front of him but out of the corner of his eye he could see select people slowly down to observe the two of them. Great. Just great. He thought bitterly.

A beat of silence happened between them. When Bakugou didn't move Izuku was got nervous and looked up at the older guy. Just like all those years ago his hair was framed by the cream-colored lights in the hallway giving him this strange angelic air. Completely opposite to his actual nature.

"…whatever just stay away from me, freakin' nerd." And with that he left.

Izuku shakily released a breath he wasn't aware he was holding and let the air fill his lungs. His thoughts unwilling traveled back to that time in his bedroom, 8 years ago again. But this time there was more of a bitter taste to it. He couldn't stay stuck on Bakugou any longer. He needed to move on.

Because that was then, and this is now.

Chapter One – The Closest

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"Izuku, over here!" The boy in question raised his head searching for the person who had just spoken his name. Green eyes carefully scanned over the many hustling figures in the crowded cafeteria looking for a particular brown head of hair.

A large smile broke out over his face when he finally found his best friend Ochako sitting with Tenya, her boyfriend. The two other students were in the same grade as him and Bakugou, however unlike most students in their grade, they were the only other students he was close after everything with Bakugou had happened.

At the beginning of freshman year, Izuku had spent most of his time around his childhood best friend and he could start to feel something change between them. It was a slow and gradual shift. Soon locking eyes with Bakugou sent his stomach into knots. Watching him excel in gym class made a strong sense of warmth rush to taboo regions of his body, giving him a sensation that he hadn't experienced before.

But because the blonde was so good at sports that naturally made people flock to him, and they were very unsavory people if you asked Izuku's opinion. They started to steal away Bakugou's time and soon after that Bakugou started acting distant around him.

It's not like he wasn't athletic, no it was quite the opposite. Izuku was always neck in neck with Bakugou in sports. Mainly it was because there was always a pull that he couldn't explain. He just wanted to impress the other boy, make Bakugou see him in the same light that he sees Bakugou in.

Because of this he was lean and a fast runner with a small frame. This allowed him to excel in endurance activities. He and Bakugou always used to push each other, trying to one up each other. However, because Bakugou was mainly pure muscle on muscle he was better suited for the contact sports everyone loved, like football and the occasional rugby tussle.

Those were sports that attracted pretty, soft spoken girls in short skirts. Along with large, close minded boys who weren't afraid of anything that could have possibly been overstepping the normal, hetero interaction between two guys. So, when these people started to hover around Bakugou after he joined the football team, they got drift of the once precious nickname Izuku used to call Bakugou.

"Did that fag just call you Kacchan? What the hell dude?"

"That sounds like a name you give to a girlfriend or like your bitch."

"I knew that skinny punk probably had a thing for Katsuki."

After those judgements were passed over and over again Bakugou made a very clear statement for Izuku to stay away from him. Because Izuku cared for his friend, and also because he himself wasn't too sure what was happening to his heart every time spoke to Bakugou, Izuku took the hint and left him alone. The distance would be good. It would be good for both of them. But he just didn't expect the aggression that would come with it.

Soon the silly nickname 'Deku' Bakugou had given him all those years ago transformed into an angry slur the football team would throw at him. And whatever the football team did, so did their girlfriends…and their girlfriend's friends…and their friend's friends. Now, majority of the students did not harass him, but the rumors were intense enough in such a small high school for it to be enough to have people keep their distance from him.

Expect for Tenya and Ochako.

Which brings Izuku to now, as he sits down at the table with his two best friends. The two people who have been there with him through it all and mature enough to be able to ignore all the nasty things teenagers can say about each other.

"Izuku! So lovely for you to join us for lunch, are you excited for senior year?" Tenya asked excitedly. He was chomping down on a neatly made sandwich that was delicately wrapped in plastic in one hand and in the other softly holding the brown-haired girl's hand.

"I am actually, or at least I'm excited as I can be." Izuku half chuckled, taking a seat from across the other two. "I'm a little sad this is the last year I'll be on the cross-country team, but I want to make sure I beat my personal best this year!"

"That a great goal Izuku! Maybe if you do you could get noticed by some recruiters for college scholarships," Ochako readily agreed, her eyes beamed with happiness for her friend as they chatted.

"That's the goal! Hopefully I get to go to Yuuei, the same University coach Toshinori went to! That would be amazing!" The greenette nodded with enthusiasm thinking about the idea. Coach Toshinori was his hero: an ex-athlete from their hometown who was multifaceted in pretty much every sport and had obtained several gold medals in the Olympics for the country. Who would not like him?

"Well, well. This is unsurprising. Look at the fag thirsting over his gym coach." Of course, that group wouldn't. Izuku raised his head upward, glaring at the group of passing boys decorated in football jerseys. They glared down at the trio without mercy. The pack was composed of a lot of broad shoulder pretty boys Izuku never bothered to learn the names of. But he could pick out maybe three: Kosei, Tetsutetsu, and Kac—Bakugou.

Kosei was his main tormentor. The red head has taken it upon himself to be the defender of Bakugou's heterosexuality and he saw the smaller green haired boy as a threat to that. Tetsutetsu backed him up relentlessly and Bakugou…well, he just let it happen.

"Oh my GOD! Will you meatheads just back off? We're doing nothing to you guys!" Ochako cut in yelling at the group of football jocks walking up to their table. Her small frame radiated with fierceness coupled with a heated gaze.

The group vibrated with laughter, save one blond...which was, new? "Oh please," Kosei began. He stopped walked right as they came upon the group's table, holding his lunch tray close to him and his face sporting a disgusted look. "I was just putting little Izuku here in his place. Stop drooling over men who are clearly straight. Or better yet? Start to act like a man and actually go out with a girl."

Izuku 'tch'ed under his breath. This was old news, old bullying. He had already endured three years of this and it was quickly getting old. His eyes scanned over the group to show that he wasn't afraid but he stopped when he locked eyes with Bakugou. Red orbs gazed back with a contemplative look and the blond pursed his lips. Suddenly his confidence wavered and was replaced with a nervous feeling that he couldn't quite put his finger on, so he took the safe route and looked away. Why was he looking at me like that?

Kosei leaned in closely to Izuku, invading his space hoping to intimidate the younger one, "Just remember, overstep your boundary and we'll fucking throw you out like the trash you are." The red head sneered, and with that he turned, leading the group onward to sit down with their jock counterparts.

A thick silent tension was all that was left at the table until a large exclamation erupted from the tiny girl's mouth, "I freakin' HATE those guys Izu! It is literally senior year and they have nothing better to do right now?"

"Calm down, love. This situation is out of our control. The best we can do is just ignore them. They have yet to actually physically harm any of us so…the best course of action is always to be the better person." Tenya offered, trying to comfort the group. Izuku couldn't tell if his friend was saying that because he believed that or if because he wished it to be true.

"Yeah, I agree with Tenya as much as it does suck, I really want this year to be good, y'know?" Izuku gave a weak smile as he looked down at his plate of food. A picture of Bakugou's face quickly flashed in his mind. Why do I always get nervous around him…do I actually like him? I shouldn't. It should be the exact opposite.

"I just don't think it's right for them to shame Izuku for his possible sexuality!"

"It's okay Ochako, I don't even know if I'm gay, or straight for that matter. So, their words don't really hold anything over me. Their insults say much more about their character than it does mine. It's okay…" Izuku spoke softly, trying to convince himself as well.

Ochako groaned and shook her head, "It just isn't right Izuku."

"Yeah, I know."

Later that day Izuku walked into his senior English class, he scanned the room of excited seniors for a familiar face and was only greeted with Bakugou's. He groaned to himself, of course something like this would happen. When he went to look for a seat everyone seemed to already cliqued up in their normal groups. Most of the seats were either filled with a body or reserved with a wrinkly sweater or backpack.

He noticed the only seat that was completely free was one that was stationed directly between the window and Bakugou. He really didn't want to do this. As he was scanning for a new possible escape route he noticed a strange guy stationed way in the corner. His hair was duo toned of winter white and deep red. He had heterochromia eyes that were gazed off to the side looking out the window.

It was a new guy.

A transfer? Senior year. That was rare. Izuku briefly seriously considered asking him to switch seats, and take the empty seat next to the explosive blonde, but that would be too obvious, and the track runner wasn't going to place that much attention on himself.

Reluctantly, Izuku walked over to the empty seat next to Bakugou and kept his head down, avoiding all eye contact as he placed his bag on the ground. His skin started to prickle as he could feel those eyes—eyes that hated him so much—on his skin. Why does he keep looking at me? When he finally got situated in his seat he stole a side glance at the boy next to him and was surprised to see Bakugou looking back at him with a blank face mixed with slight confusion, but nothing was said.

All attention was turned to the front of the class when a loud thud echoed through the room. A man with midnight black hair stood in front with dark circles deep set into his face, it was Mr. Aizawa, basked in all his sarcastic glory, "Alright class, settle in and be quiet. Get ready to start learning."

When green eyes traced their way back to the football player next to him all he saw was Bakugou looking downwards at his notebook ready to get started to take notes. Sighing to himself Izuku just hoped that this seating arrangement wouldn't cause him any grief.

"Izuku! Are you gonna come over tonight? Tenya and I are gonna sit down and do our semester planning together so we can try to optimize making senior year absolutely great!" The brunette giggled gleefully clutching onto her boyfriend's arm

"Oh, I wish I could Ochako-chan, I promised my mom I would go to the store and pick up some grocery for the month. She hurt her hand so I'm trying to be a good son haha," Scratching behind his head Izuku looked down at the pavement, he really did want to go with his friends and do their annual tradition of looking over all their syllabus. "B-But how about we do it the day after tomorrow neh? My mom is hosting dinner tomorrow, so I can't until then, but I would be so down!"

"Okay that works!" Ochako nodded in agreement, "Text me when you get home safely okay?"

"I'll be fine! I promise you!" Izuku exclaimed. Really, he would but the shorter brunette was just always concerned for him walking by himself when he had a bad run in sophomore year with a couple of his bullies. Luckily for him, he was a track star. So, he just successfully out ran them and got away. He was good at running away, like he does with most of his problems.

"I know you will but pleasseeee just text me okay?"

"Okay, okay that's fine!" Putting his hands up in defeat Izuku agreed and they all collectively laughed. Shuffling backwards and smiling he exclaimed, "See you guys tomorrow!" and with that they said their final goodbyes.

By the time Izuku got to the store the sun was beaming down onto his back and he was regretting his decision to wear his favorite oversized Yuuei University crew neck to school, but he wanted to start the year off right so why not wear what his goal was to get him in the correct mentality?

Pushing open the glass doors Izuku was greeted by a familiar redhead, Kirishima Eijiro. Bakugou's new best friend. Izuku had no real qualms with Kirishima. The firetruck redhead was always indifferent to him during the school day and never bothered to part take in the collectively football bullying. He just wanted to play football, hang out with his girlfriend Mina, and help his family out with the store they owned in town. On the latter aspect he loved seeing Izuku because the green haired kid and his mother were loyal customers to the shop.

"Hey there Izuku!"

"Hey Kirishima. How are you doing today?" Izuku gave a weak smile. He wanted to like Kirishima, he really really did. But he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy towards him. He was so close to Bakugou so effortlessly, all because he fit into an arch-type that Izuku himself would never be able to fill.

"Heh, I'm doing great little guy! Just got fresh new imports today so you came at the right time, lemme know whenever you're ready to check out."

"Okay, for sure. I'll let you know." And with that Izuku gathered up all that he needed with the list that his mother gave him. Once he finished shopping he carefully placed all the food in the two floral pastel tote bags his mother had given to him and walked out the store.

This was the normal routine: chit chat with Kirishima, get the food, make sure he doesn't break the eggs and then head back home on his normal route. However, when he stepped outside the store he was greeted with three mysterious figures that he wasn't expecting to see.

They all seemed to be about in their mid-twenties, one was an average height woman with blonde hair that was throw up into two messy buns on either side of her head. She had metallic gold eyes that seemed to pierce through the other man she was standing next to. This guy stood above average height with shoulder length bleak grey hair. His posture was hunched over as he pushed his back against the wall trying to look interested in what the shorter female was talking about.

And lastly was a tall slim guy with deep black hair that was accompanied with broad shoulders. He sported an olive-green jacket that was trimmed in plush black fur. The sunlight caught his hair in a way that showed off a hidden undertone of deep red that contrasted with his piercing gold eyes. His attention was fully fixed on whatever the woman was saying. Slowly he brought his left hand up to his mouth, revealing the cigarette Izuku didn't notice before.

Izuku gulped as something in him raced as he watched the raven-haired man slowly drag the cigarette up to his mouth, but before he could put it in he stopped short of his pink chapped lips. Confused at the halt Izuku looked upward at the rest of the man's face only find metallic eyes staring directly back at him.

Blush aggressively rolled over Izuku's face turning him a brilliant shade of pink. Flustered, Izuku turned away quickly and started walking with a quick step. Oh god he just saw me oogling him. Oh god, oh god, I need to go home, hopefully I don't see him again but then again, I have never seen him before or his friends for that matter. Hopefully this is the last time—

"Oi. Kid." A deep baritone voice rang out, gripping Izuku's core and stopping him in his place. Nervously Izuku turned around and made eye contact with the dark toned man behind him. "What are you looking at?"

"O-Oh I'm so sorry I didn't mean to stare at you guys, it's j-just that I've never seen you before and I come here rather frequently, but that's not to say that you haven't either I'm sure I've probably just missed you at some point in time, and really you're allowed to go anywhere you want it's just me being nosy and I'm so sorry for stari—" The trio burst into a loud laughter causing Izuku to trail off in his rambling, but his ministrations were stopped completely when the black haired man walked forward into his space and Izuku's senses were completely gripped with the smell of cigarettes and a citrus fruit like…oranges?

"You talk a lot. Nervous habit of yours to ramble?" A deep chuckle vibrated in the man's chest as he smirked, looming over Izuku and the shorter man couldn't help but gulp. Something about this guy screamed danger but something else was happening that Izuku wasn't too sure of.

"Y-Yeah it is…I'm sorry. I've been trying to work on that. I ramble and stutter when I get nervous…" He mumbled deciding to look away from the raven man in front of him.

"It's no problem. You apologize way too much, eh? What's your name?" Radiant eyes locked onto him and never let go. They scanned his form up and down slowly as if he was assessing his prey before the kill.

"I-it's, um, Izuku." That familiar heat rushed over Izuku again. The same heat he always felt with Kacc—No. Bakugou . It was the almost the same feeling. Did this mean—

"Well Izuku , I'm Kai." The voice was low, and it reached down into Izuku. Never in all his seventeen years of living did Izuku ever think that someone could say his name so sinfully. It felt like Kai coated his name in poison, and there was an itch to hear more for reasons Izuku wasn't going to admit out loud.

"Kai is a nice n-name." he offered and immediately felt like hitting himself. What was he doing ? He should be walking home. Not conversing with a guy who was clearly significantly older than him.

"Well, It does sound nice when you say it."

Pause.

Blink.

"O-Oh."

"And that's a nice sound too," Smirk. "Are you from around here?"

Before Izuku could answer back, there was a loud cough and the spell was immediately broken. Izuku looked around the figure in front of him to see the other two twenty something year olds looking irritated by the exchange between Kai and Izuku.

"Kai you can flirt later," The grey-haired man yelled out at the duo, irritated. "We got a job to do."

"Heh, you know Kai, always trying to get his dick wet."

"Shut up both of you," Kai gritted out from between his teeth. He half turned his body to look over his shoulder at his friends, glaring at their rude remarks. With a hum he turned his attention back to the small man in front of him. "Hand me your phone."

"M-Mine? Why?"

Kai did nothing but smirk as he held out his hand, "Because, like they said we have a job to get started on, but I don't want this conversation to end. Do you?"

Did he? Did he want this conversation to stop? He should just really take the grocery that he bought and walk away from this gang. They were all was super suspicious, and what they were doing just showing up in town like this? However, for reasons Izuku wasn't ready to admit, he slowly just shook his head.

"No. I don't." Reaching down into his, Izuku handed over his lime green phone with just an ounce of regret. The bunny phone charm dangled, seemingly showing off his innocence as he punched in his pass code for the man.

"Cute keychain. Kind of looks like you."

"T-Thanks. It's my favorite."

There was a text exchanged and just like that, the rest of Izuku's senior year was sealed, weather he knew it or not.

"Alright curly, I'll talk to you later. Keep an eye out for me." And with that the man gave him a predatory gaze, roaming his eyes over his body once more and started to step away.

When Izuku finally snapped out of his hypnotized state, he glanced down at his phone and there was a single new thread in his messages.

[Kai Chi]: I've always had a thing for cute guys with curls.

The next day came quickly for Izuku. He had spent all night texting Kai, whose full name he learned was Kai Chisaki after Izuku begged to give it to him for 'safety reasons'. But much to his dismay he couldn't located the other male anywhere on social media. He was clean from the internet. Which only fueled his curiosity more when talking with him.

He learned that Kai was twenty two years old, he had already finished college with a degree in chemistry, and his senior research was based on the assembly and disassembly of matter. When Izuku asked him what his job was now the man became very vague saying that he helps 'keep a balance' which prompted Izuku to retract asking any more questions about, but that didn't stop the older man from continuing on asking him questions.

[Kai Chi]: What are you doing later tonight?

Izuku blushed as he flipped his phone face down on his desk. He had also learned that Kai was a multi-texter and didn't really care about the 'no double texting' rule that he had heard so much about. He was sitting in his senior english course and his phone had not stopped buzzing since he came in.

Buzz. Buzz.

Curiosity took the best of him and he grabbed his phone and held it down onto his lap so that it would be out of view from other people.

[Kai Chi]: Would you want to watch a movie together? I'll even bring snacks

The green haired boy bit his lip. He knew exactly what watch a movie together meant. Kai had made it no secret that he was interested in Izuku.

[You]: What movie would we watch?

[Kai Chi]: Anything you want. What's your favorite genre?

[Kai Chi]: I'm a big fan of horror but I imagine that you're not into *that* type of danger are you?

The levels of suggestive that was sent a chill up Izuku's spine and he squirmed gingerly in his seat and glanced around briefly out of guilt. He was shocked to see when he looked up red orbs staring directly at him.

"Oi, loser. Who are you texting?"

Pause. Blink. Wha—

"Did you hear me or not? Who are you texting?" Bakugou gritted from beneath his breath, trying not to be heard by the teacher that was currently lecturing.

"Why do you care?" Izuku questioned genuinely in a soft voice.

"Because that annoying buzzing is getting on my nerves, I can't focus! Tell round face and her lame-o boyfriend that you guys can fucking chat later."

Owch. Of course.

Buzz. Buzz .

[Kai Chi]: I promise I don't bite unless asked.

"Fucking turn it on silent Deku!"

That was all it took to send a soft pang echoing in Izuku's heart. Deku . That goddamn nickname. Doing what he was told, he put the phone away and on silent not wanting to provoke Bakugou any further than he feels like he already has.

He wasn't too sure about hanging out with Kai alone anyways. Something inside of him wavered while the other part of him wanted to explore further into what Kai could possibly have to offer him.

"Good God. Finally," The angry blonde huffed and rolled his eyes. "I'll see you later tonight." Bakugou mumbled, finally turning his attention back to the black haired teacher.

Oh yeah, tonight.

He had almost forgotten.

The rest of the day went uneventful. After saying his goodbyes to his two friends Izuku found himself in the locker room after school getting dressed for cross country practice. This was the day he looking forward to, impressing coach Toshinori and getting into Yuuei with a sports scholarship. That's all that he really wanted out of this year outside of hanging out with Tenya and Ochako.

He walked out into the warm summer climate and made his way towards the the field dressed in their school's gym uniform. Izuku waited patiently on the track field practicing doing leg stretches before getting started. As he zoned out idle chatter around him started to flutter in at a high frequency as the other athletes started coming out onto the field.

"Dude, did you hear Kirishima's family store got robbed last night?"

"Yeah I heard! That's so crazy, they didn't even catch the guys who did it. It was weird though, his family wouldn't give a description of the thugs who did it."

"Really? That's so suspicious…"

"It think it means that they were probably threatened. So fucking scary right?"

"When did stuff like that start happening?"

That is weird. Izuku thought to himself as he ease dropped. He had gone to the store mid day and it was scary to think there was a robbery that occur no more than a few hours later that night. He made a mental note to ask Kirishima if he was okay at sometime if he saw him.

While in the middle of lifting his left leg backwards for a final stretch a figure slowly approached out of the corner of his eye and instinctively Izuku turned his head only to be greeted with a tall slim boy. It's him! The new guy. Izuku thought in wonder as he locked eyes on the new comer. He was dressed in the school's all blue and white uniform as well and stood still as if waiting for instruction.

Something pulled his feet to turn around and start to introduce himself, "Hi there, I'm Izuku!" he beamed at the new guy. Slowly one brown eye and one icey blue one cut their way at him and assessed him accordingly. "Are you, um, trying out for the team? I've been on the team for a long time heh, it's really exciting to see a new face!" Izuku gave a goofy grin hoping that it'd break the ice.

The boy in front of him gave an almost inaudible grunt but soon replied, "Yeah I am, nice to meet you. I'm Todoroki."

"Cool, what made you want to try out for cross country?" Izuku beamed.

"I've always enjoyed running. I'm hoping to also try out for track when the season comes around."

"Ah sweet! So you're like me, heh, I do both as well. It's a good balance for after school stuff. Do you do any other sports?"

But before Todoroki could answer a wave of Indistinctive whispering started up around them and Izuku's ear twitched as he picked up on the conversation of a group of people not to far off from where him and the multicolored boy where.

"Wow he's really grasping for people to like him at this point."

"Shit if I were him, I would be overjoyed for a new guy to come to school as well. I mean it's not like anyone really talks to him."

The air around him suddenly felt stuffy and Izuku stiffened. He knew the other boy probably heard that, it's not like the other members were being quiet. It's not that his teammates hated him, they just...followed suit like everyone else. Consumed with embarrassment Izuku turned away from the other boy, scratching behind his head.

"W-well it was nice meeting you, I'll see you on the track." and with that he walked away, not giving Todoroki any leeway to interject. Unbeknownst to him, as his back was turned he missed the softened look that covered the pale boy's face.

Ever since they were kids, Katsuki and Izuku have been having dinners together with their moms, who by fate (or curse) , were best of friends. Mitsuki took to Inko like a big sister when they first moved into the neighborhood and they two were so ecstatic when their sons became easy friends.

The two older women found it adorable how their sons played together and exchanged the nicknames of Kacchan and Deku so freely between each other, but their hearts were simultaneously broken when they noticed the drift between the two boys.

Izuku withdrew from his mom, not giving too many details on why and he never explained the bullying. He didn't really want his mom to know they were calling him a fag, out of all things. Likewise, Katsuki never explained to his mom what was going on. He didn't want his mom to know that he hadn't stopped the other kids from calling Izuku a fag...out of all things. So came a silent treaty between the now distant friends that they would try their best to act normal anytime their parents wanted to get together and have their normal dinners.

Which brings Izuku to this uncomfortable moment in his life: sitting next to his old childhood friend and across the small table from their parents with his phone blowing up non-stop. He had taken it off silent after leaving english class and but conversation with Kai had put him on edge.

[Kai Chi]: I can tell you're shy but I promise you I won't do anything you won't like

[Kai Chi]: If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable you can leave at any moment you like, I'm not a creep in that sense, I won't force you to do anything

[Kai Chi]: I just want to get to know the cute curly haired guy who caught my attention outside of the store

[You]: I just really don't feel comfortable hanging out with someone I barely know alone...that's all I'm sorry

[Kai Chi]: Well, ask me any question you want. Get to know me better

[You]: Why are you so interested in me, I just don't get it.

[Kai Chi]: Well. In case you haven't looked in the mirror recently I find you adorable. You have perfect green eyes that caught my attention the second we looked at each other. And from what I can tell, you're intelligent. Not too many people like that now a days, so I feel the need to explore more

[Kai Chi]: I hope that was enough of an explanation for you. Please feel free to ask me anything else

"Izuku, sweetie who are you texting?"

Emerald eyes snapped upwards in mild surprise as he looked around. Three sets of eyes were locked onto him, two looked curious and the last pair looked extremely annoyed. He quickly turned his phone face down.

"Er, no one mom!"

"C'mon Izuku, I asked you a question. It is impolite not to answer…"

"Well, w-we got a new transfer today and I was just texting him the information about track season and such…" he mumbled looked away. Izuku was taken back by how easy that lie slipped off his tongue. Then again it's not like he could tell his mom he was texting some twenty two year old he met outside of the grocery store and may or may not be interested in hanging out with the man.

"Oh that's wonderful! A new friend?"

Lightly laughing Izuku answered, "Yeah maybe!"

"What's his name?" Inko beamed. She seemed so happy at the prospect that Izuku could be having a new friend in his life.

"Uh, I think he told me it was Todoroki? He seemed really nice."

"Aw that's good, maybe you should invite him over sometime!"

"Mom, that's rather a big jump don't you think?" The curly haired teenager's face slowly as he looked back down at his phone as it buzzed again, but before he could check the text a loud voice next to him spoke up.

"Tch, put your phone away. It's rude to text at the table." Katsuki grumbled. Red eyes pierced into the boy next to him burning with an emotions that Izuku could not place. He has never been good at reading the other boy anyways so he really doesn't know why he even tries.

"You were texting at the table last time though, it's not that big of a deal." Izuku responded, irritated.

"Well I was texting about important stuff, and my phone also wasn't getting blown up like that."

"It's the same thing—"

"Katsuki does make a point Izuku," Inko interjected and Mitsuki nodded in agreement while shoveling food into her mouth. "Maybe we should have a no phones at the table rule from now on? Especially if you're getting so popular." His mother giggled and Mitsuki joined in teasing him.

"Of course he's getting popular! Look at that cute frame. He's finally filling out!"

"I-I'm not that popular I swear!" Izuku laughed trying to fake-defend himself from the motherly attacks. Then his phone buzzed again and green eyes trailed down to his lap unaware of the red pair next to him that looked down as well.

[Kai Chi]: If you don't feel comfortable with a private hangout we can just go somewhere public like an actual movie theater, maybe even call it a date?

Before the curly teen would register the text Katsuki's voice whispered harshly, "Who the fu—"

"I-I, uh, please excuse me to the bathroom!" Izuku jumped up. Heat rose to his face and he immediately decided it was time for him to get a couple of minutes of breathing room. The two women's faces paused with confusion and watched as Izuku left the dining room without much else of an explanation.

"While you're up sweetie can you check on the fudge? It's on the stove!" Inko shouted after her son.

Izuku walked around the corner and instead of heading towards the bathroom he wondered into the kitchen and rested his hands against the ledge of the countertop. The sweet smell of chocolate filled his nose as he glanced up at the stove. The pot of hot fudge was resting against a hot flame and cooking slowly. He closed his eyes briefly and let out a shaky breath he wasn't aware that he was holding. Taking out his phone, Izuku looked down at the most recent text he had received from the mysterious stranger.

Maybe even call it a date.

At first he thought that Kai just wanted a one and done but if he wanted to call something like this a date, could that mean Kai wanted more? Was Izuku even ready to go down that road? Was he even sure that he was gay? Years of taunting from the same squad of bullies about him being small, and a twink left Izuku with a residue resentment about his own sexual orientation. But, he was clearly interested in Kai...right?

His mind supplied an image of Bakugou. Soft blonde hair and red eyes seemed to glow in his mind.

Ah, fuck.

A pair of footsteps came up from behind him and Izuku turned around quickly hiding his phone behind his back. When he was fully face forward he was met with angry, accusing eyes. The other teen stood about three feet away from him. Suddenly Izuku found it hard to breath.

"Why are you acting so strange, and why do you keep texting," Bakugou paused, frustrated. His hand made a gesture to the air in front of him as he continued, "Whoever that is who clearly doesn't have a damn life."

"Again, Bakugou, why do you care?" Izuku bristled. Kai did have a life. He was basically a grown man.

"I don't care," the angry blonde grounded out from between his teeth. "It's just distracting! First class, now when we're supposed to be eating."

"I can text whoever I please whenever I please."

"Is it the new guy you're texting or are you lying?"

"I am texting Todoroki!" Lie . Maybe Bakugou could see right through him? Izuku has never been good at lying, but in this case he had to lie to keep this consistent. It's not that it mattered, nor was it any of Bakugou's business who he was texting frankly. But he wasn't about to trust the blond, especially when he's been acting so... weird towards him since school started.

"Why are you interrogating me like this? I thought you didn't want to be associated with me?"

Bakugou stepped closer.

"I don't."

"Then go back to the dining room! I just needed a moment to myself." Izuku tried to reason. The football player's words were so clearly laced with hate and Izuku just wanted to be left alone. Izuku looked down pushing his body back against the counter trying to put some space between them.

However when he looked back up he found the Bakugou towering over him, invading his personal space, his musky cologne overpowering the smell of chocolate in his senses. Red eyes were locked onto green ones and the blond's face was twisted with irritation and...something else? A heat swelled within Izuku and his heart started racing. He quickly looked away, pushing himself off the counter to try to go around the other only to be surprised when a muscular arm trapped him.

Was he going to hit him? Here? In his own house?

"W-what are you doing?" Izuku questioned, looking wearly at Bakugou. Suddenly all the anger that was present on the other's face was gone and replace with a look of exhaustion.

"Dammit...why is it so hard to talk to you like a normal fucking person." Well . Izuku could think of a couple of reasons. Three years worth of reasons.

"Just let me go...it's going to look weird if we're gone too long." Izuku mumbled softly. The heat that had blossomed in his chest was starting to spread to other parts of his body, and it only seemed to accelerate with Bakugou so close. He couldn't do this. He couldn't.

There was a long groan from the boy above him and suddenly he was enveloped in body heat. The weight was a heavy against him, making the small of his back dig into the sharp counter of the kitchen. Izuku hissed as an arm snaked its way around his body pulling him in close and the other hand cupped his face pulling it to face the handsome features he has been avoiding thinking about.

Just like that soft lips were pressed against his and everything seemed to melt together. Bakugou pressed into the kiss first softly then with a franticness and he pulled the smaller boy closer to him as if he was going to disappear and suddenly Izuku's thoughts all suddenly made sense. This all made sense.

He hesitant reached up and gripped onto blond locks as the taller boy moved against his body, taking the lead. A confident tongue slipped past his lips drawing a gasp from Izuku and just like that they were lost in each other. Years of tension floated away, melting into a release of heat and desperation.

Izuku squeezed his eyes shut as his body was manhandled and flipped into the nearest wall. Katsuki used his arms to reach down under him and in one motion hoisted him up and grind down on him, pressing a soft moan out of Izuku who suddenly felt completely out of control.

And it felt good .

A spark of hope ignited in his chest and all thoughts of Kai flew out the window. This was what he wanted, and from the looks of it, it's what Katsuki wanted too. All the answers he wanted all these years. For Katsuki just to talk to him, look at him, notice him...kiss him.

Lips found their way down to his neck and Izuku was gone, just like that. His arms were thrown around broad shoulders as he grasped as the fabric that was covering them for support as the blond gave a particularly hard grind against him.

"O-oh," He breathed out shakily, completely enticed in the moment. "Kacchan…"

...and with that, the spell was broken. The warm body pressed against his was gone and Izuku found himself stumbling against a cold, white kitchen wall, confused. "Huh…?" He looked up only to see the board back of Katsuki's shoulders, raking his hand through his ask golden locks.

"Damnit."

An unwelcome silence snaked its way into the space between them and Izuku felt cold. Too cold.

"We...er...are you okay?"

"Shut up." Katsuki rounded on him angry, but that anger instantly dissolved into a confused, sad expression that Izuku has never seen before. "That wasn't supposed to go that far...I just...I just meant to talk to you. I don't know where that came from."

"W-Well...I think I like you too Kacchan if you want to talk about it. I've been having a lot of thoughts about—"

"I'm not fucking gay Izuku."

"Seriously? What we just did wasn't exactly straight."

"You just don't get it! You never have! I'm not like you, I'm not okay with being called a fairy or twink. I have a goddamn reputation. God, I can't just…"

"Have you just...been keeping this in?" Izuku furrowed his brow. If Katsuki liked him all this time why didn't he say something? You don't kiss people like that for nothing.

"Yes! Like you're suppose to!"

"Kacchan that's not healthy."

"Neither is being an isolated freak."

Izuku's back straightened at that. That's what this was all about.

"Fuck...FUCK! It wasn't supposed to go like this! Dammit, this is all your fault. With your stupid ass texting and looking sad and shit all day."

"My fault? But, you kissed me?" Izuku gaped. He moved closer to his childhood friend in hopes of calming him down. Katsuki started to pace back and forth in front of the stove, hand gripping his hair. Izuku approached the blond and slowly reached out to lightly touch his friend's shoulder, "W-we can talk it out, or like, try to figure something out Kaccha—"

"Quit calling me FUCKING KACCHAN!"

In a quick flash, a strong arm reached out and pushed Izuku in chest. He stumbled backward in shock, his arms automatically reaching behind him to steady himself. An ear piercing scream ripped its way through his body as his right hand landed on the scorching surface of the hot stove. Izuku stumbled to the floor clutching his hand, trying to stop the pain from spreading, but it spread without mercy and his thoughts started to race as his vision blurred from tears.

What happened? He was just kissing me? What did I do wrong? I guess he doesn't want me...that was just a fluke. Did I really, actually think it would be that easy to get him back in my life? Much less have him like me like that . I turned out to be everything he hates. Everything they hate. You're so stupid Izuku. So stupid. Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid—

"Shit, Izuku are you okay?" Katsuki kneeled down, heavy with regret. "I didn't mean to do that." He reached out slowly towards the curly one in a hesitant fashion but the second he touched the other to try to help him Izuku flinched away from him.

"Don't touch me." Izuku didn't look up. He kept his head down and his body curled onto him, clutching his injured hand tight against his chest. "Please, just...just leave me alone."

There was a beat of silence before Katsuki stood up and walked out. Leaving Izuku alone with all of his thoughts and emotions. Once the pain turned into a numb sensation he pulled out his phone. Tears dropped down one by one onto the luminescent screen as he typed out his response back to Kai.

[You]: Okay, let's call it a date

Well that was a doozy. Lemme know what you think through comments and reviews :) the story can be found on A03 under my same name as well for when the adult scenes become more heavy. I don't want to risk violations.