The floodgates had been opened. Neither Midoriya nor Todoroki could stop touching each other whenever there was a chance. And there was always a chance for hand holding. But it quickly grew into other forms of public affection (even though sometimes it was just the two of them). Todoroki played with Midoriya's hair, wrapping the curls around his finger and enjoying how they bounced.

He may have once buried his face in it and murmured 'fluffy' but if Midoriya's giggle was any indication, he didn't mind it. Midoriya liked to touch Todoroki's hair too. Sometimes giving him little twists or braids just so he could see the red and white mix. He was like a handsome candy cane man.

"Candy cane man?", Todoroki turned his head slightly from the book he'd been reading.

"Did I just say that out loud?" Midoriya had been so distracted it had just slipped from his lips.

"You were singing it", Todoroki grinned.

"Oh my god."

Fortunately, Todoroki found that little slip adorable so that moment of humiliation didn't stop him from being interested. Although there was a moment when Midoriya had feared he had crossed a line.

They were sitting in the park they had helped to clean during the summer, Midoriya with his back against a tree and Todoroki with his head in Midoriya's lap. Todoroki's eyes had been closed but he could clearly tell when it was no longer the wind moving his hair but Midoriya's fingers. It was a familiar touch at this point. It was comforting. But his eyes snapped out when that touch moved to his scar.

He stiffened like a plank of wood and felt Midoriya freeze as well. Their eyes met, his own searching Midoriya for any intent. Midoriya swallowed before making the next move. His hand caressed the mark. His gaze turned soft and loving and Todoroki felt his own eyes prick with tears.

Todoroki needed Midoriya in his life. That much was certain. And he intended to make it official. Apparently, his way of thinking had been obvious, because Uraraka and Bakugou called him out one day and the way they sat across from him at one of the picnic tables in the park. The weather was officially chilly now and all three were dressed appropriately for the fall climate.

It had him wondering just why they were meeting outdoors.

"You and Deku look like you're getting serious, so it's time for us to get serious too", Bakugou said, confirming that this was in fact a sort of shovel talk.

"Of course, we'll support you and Deku-kun's relationship. You're both our friends", Uraraka said, smiling wide. "But Deku-kun's like a brother to us."

Bakugou crossed his arms. "So, if you turn him to a blubbering mess because of some dumb shit you pulled-"

"You'll beat me up?", Todoroki asked, raising a brow. He knew Bakugou could be brash and aggressive and had quite the impressive quirk for fighting, but Todoroki figured he could take him in a brawl.

"Not me. Her."

Uraraka reached over and picked a rock up from the ground. Suddenly her face turned to the expression Todoroki had only seen on her when watching a wrestling match. She let out a grunt and the rock cracked in her palm. Todoroki's eyes widened and kept a mental note to never cross her.

"So, this is life now?", Bakugou pointed his question at their two resident lovebirds.

Their group sat around the coffee table at Shinsou's home and currently Midoriya's seat was Todoroki's lap. No one had said anything until Bakguou had spoken up.

"I think it's cute!", Uraraka said. "You two are so open with each other."

"And you must admit, it does save seating space", Iida reasoned.

Bakugou rolled his eyes but said nothing more and they got started with today's game. Shinsou took a sip of the tea Iida had made for them all and cleared his throat before beginning.

You continue on your journey to end the reign of terror caused by the king of the fire elves. You wake up in your campsite and your Glaive of Warning gives you the first bad omen of the day

'You will regret today'

"Well that's not at all ominous", Midoriya said.

"Why'd you nerds make me take this stupid thing anyway?", Bakugou asked, having half a mind to melt the thing down to something useful.

"It's a weapon that gives warnings", Iida began to explain. "How could it not have worth?"

"Because all its warnings are about stupid shit! I roll to chuck this thing."

2. You lightly toss the glaive and it hits a rubber tree, slamming back into your face.

"Motherfuc-"

"Language. You got a baby now", Uraraka reminded him, though she was definitely laughing at his expense.

"Right", Bakugou rubbed his face and looked to the dragon's egg sitting in the campfire that stayed alight from Todoroki's Eternal Flame.

"Let's get this show on the road", Midoriya said, excited for their adventure to continue. His and Todoroki's relationship was going great both in the game and out. Their characters were currently engaged and he had a feeling the real Todoroki was going to ask him to make it official soon. Things were looking up.

And then they started going downhill.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!", Midoriya cried after his tenth consecutive bad roll. His highlights of the day were insulting a bartender who decided to poison the group's drinks, losing their map as they searched a swamp for the antidote, and inadvertently getting Uraraka engaged to the Spider King.

"Does this king have anything to do with the spider monsters we've killed so far?", Bakugou asked.

"You have previously killed his younger brother and his son", Shinsou answered.

"Shit."

"Hey! You've got baby now!", Uraraka shouted from her seat next to the Spider King who was really just a... giant...spider...furry legs, multiple eyes and all. He also had a crown and had given Uraraka a cobweb ring that she couldn't remove.

"Can we really attack a king in his throne room? He hasn't done anything wrong", Midoriya said.

"Besides forcefully trying to marry our friend", Iida pointed out.

"As a prince, I'm not sure if I can get involved in regicide", Todoroki said. "It could become a diplomatic incident."

"Stop making BS up", Bakugou said.

"If we're considering the political backlash from this, we should consult with a member of a royal family for those who side with beasts", Iida decided. And Todoroki, as a prince from the more-human-than-animal elves wouldn't do.

"I'm not calling him up", Bakugou immediately refused, already knowing what they would suggest.

Midoriya held up the dice threateningly, which at this point was a real danger. "Either I get us in some crazy situation with this roll, or I do something mundane with it so you can use your turn to call your boyfriend to help us."

"And have him think I can't take care of our unborn child? Screw that", Bakugou said, acknowledging the egg for the first time without someone else needing to and not acknowledging the boyfriend comment.

"I won't think you're irresponsible", Kirishima said, speaking up for the first time in a while.

When Bakugou didn't reply, Midoriya took a deep breath. He still had one item up his sleeve that might save them. Or make things exponentially worse. Still, the outcome had to be better than whatever would happen if he tried to kill a king during an engagement party while he was surrounded by countless creepy-crawly guards.

"I roll to use my transport cube", Midoriya said. It was an item that could teleport one, some, or all of the party members anywhere in the world. It was completely and totally random. And after all that had happened, it was their last resort. Midoriya took another breath before rolling. Everyone watched the die fell onto the table.

3. You alone are transported away from the Spider King's throne room and into a different country altogether.

"Sucks for Deku but works for us", Bakugou said. At least for now, any bad rolls Midoriya had wouldn't directly effect the rest of them.

"Speak for yourself", Todoroki argued, wrapping his arms around Midoriya's waist.

"I've gotta agree with Kacchan", Midoriya said while relaxing in Todoroki's hold. "Maybe my luck will change while I'm away from you guys."

The others spent their turns trying to maneuver the situation with the Spider King, culminating in Bakugou finally summoning his dragon boyfriend to act as a mediator. It felt strange for Kirishima, considering he was a new edition, but everyone had welcomed him warmly and he took to the game rather quickly. Meanwhile, Midoriya found out he was in the realm of the fire elves.

Being that it was the land of Todoroki's father, who they were still trying to overthrow, Todoroki had advised him to lay low until they could rejoin. Midoriya had agreed. So naturally the dice disagreed and made sure he got no higher than 4 and thus while the others were able to call off Uraraka's engagement, walk out without incident, and leave the egg with a babysitter, Midoriya not only ran into the royal guard, but was taken straight to the king, blabbed about his engagement to the prince, and was thrown in a volcano dungeon that sapped his energy.

"Today is not my day", Midoriya said, thumping his head against the table while Todoroki rubbed his back.

"I'm calling in a favor", Todoroki said when it was his turn, resulting in a collective gasp. Well, collective excluding Bakugou and Shinsou. Kirishima gasped although he wasn't entirely sure why.

"What does that mean?", Kirishima asked.

"It means that he can use someone established as part of his past to provide assistance for a few rolls", Bakugou said.

"Are you sure you want to do that? Considering his luck today, it might not help. Plus, it has to be someone who would plausibly be in the area at the time and given your history...", Shinsou reminded him.

"I'm sure. I call upon the aid of my older brother, the rogue", Todoroki said before taking his roll.

18. Your brother walks right up to the cell holding your fiance. He immediately notices the betrothal wreath and offers to break him out of the dungeon.

Just then, Iida's cell phone began to buzz. He picked it up before turning off the alarm he had set.

"That is all for today. We've played for three hours and we have school tomorrow", he said.

Uraraka stood and did some stretches. "Today was fun! Well, except for you", she gave Midoriya an apologetic look.

"No, it was still fun for me." Midoriya got up out of Todoroki's lap. He was interested in interacting with the brother of his fiance and seeing how things would turn out.

"Maybe you'll have better luck next time", Kirishima grinned.

"Maybe." At least he was luckier in real life. Midoriya had no complaints about that.

They all packed up their things and said their goodbyes to Shinsou as they left his home and then to the rest as they all parted on their different directions for home. Before they could split however, Todoroki took Midoriya's hand and kissed it, promising to see him soon. He felt ridiculous for getting flustered, of course they would see each other soon, they had school tomorrow.

But he blushed nevertheless.