Resplendent petals, beguiling existence. The rose I'd found was magnificently large. Despite knowing it wouldn't last long, I let it take root in a place special to me.

Stupid, so stupid.

Perfect petals, sweet appeal. The rose I'd claimed had actually claimed me. Although aware of the thorns, I held it close to me and wouldn't let go.

Cheerful mistakes again.

Oh, but don't forget to water it. I poured everything into a special drink for that lovely, lovely rose. It drank it all up, and maybe I was seeing things, but it seemed more lively after that. Even with the oxygen it gave, I knew it was just an obligation. Well, maybe if I watered it just right, I could claim it and make it last.

Lovely reasons, lovely reasons… A mutualistic relationship. Cause and effect seeping down and crawling up from the soil.

Foolish, just foolish.

Wilting petals, foul duplicity. The rose I'd nurtured was rotting away. I wanted to save it, but my touch was only killing it slowly.

Lies, all lies.

Transient hopes resided within the thorns. Did it always have so many thorns? Barren and sickly, the rose was deteriorating. Even though I knew it never cared about me, I was attached. I couldn't let go. It hurt. The harder I clung to it, the deeper the thorns perforated my skin. I just wanted to reach through the thorns and save what was left of that alluring rose. But I couldn't understand.

Hey, but why?

I don't think I can save it. Neither of us can save the other. We're powerless fools. Providing to gain, the karma's going to aggregate. But I still come back to water you.

You're still here, tantalizing my mind with your saccharine words. I fell for your sweet aroma, your pulchritudinous petals, and the way it felt like you cared about me. But I can't resist.

We'll both keep drinking tonight. We'll walk upon this agonizing road of thorns together until we both wither away. But this time, I'll have to remind myself that your lips are laced with poison.

I always knew, yet…

I need you.

. . .

Midoriya's senses had been heightened by his train of thought, but they swiftly dissolved into the familiar, overwhelming sensation of superficial bliss as his lips jostled with Todoroki's.

I always get lost in this feeling, but that's your goal, isn't it? You're just telling me everything I want to hear—everything I need to hear. You know that I know that. Somehow, we just don't care. Even if it's always fake, at what point is it then all too real?

"I love you, Izuku," Todoroki whispered under his breath as he snuggled up with Midoriya into the sheets of their bed.

But you don't. Even so, I…

Midoriya awkwardly shifted his position as he curled his arms around Todoroki. "I love you too." He paused for a moment. "Shouto? Why are there so many thorns around your heart?" He planted a kiss on Todoroki's chest while silently relishing the fact that Todoroki's heart was beating at all.

"I could ask you the same thing," Todoroki murmured.

"I fell into your trap. I know you don't love me. But I think I figured out something I was never supposed to know."

"Hm?"

"You're the same as me. It doesn't matter if it isn't love. For now…we need each other. Otherwise, we're nothing. We can't stay like this forever. I know you'll never care about me, so please…let me help you so we can be free from this cycle of keeping each other alive. We're both falling apart. We're dying slowly like this. We're so used to the pain, and we just give each other advice, but neither of us follow the advice we give or receive. So, tell me how I can save you, because all I'm doing by trying to help you is… I'm just killing you, aren't I? My touch just speeds up the process."

Todoroki was silent for a few seconds. "I guess you're right. Maybe the thorns are a defense mechanism. I know you knew I never loved you from the beginning. Izuku, if I'm a plant with thorns, if our love is a plant with thorns, or if my heart is a plant with thorns, then tell me why you still took me."

"I…"

I wanted to brighten my life a little, even if it was all fake and fleeting. I just needed someone to be there for me before I gave in. I wanted to die, so…I wanted a reason to live. Slitting my wrists seemed like an easy escape.

Todoroki gently twined his lips with Midoriya's again before sighing, "We're both just rotting roses clinging onto each other for survival—the benefits, rather. I don't think either of us is trying to survive off of each other anymore. I don't think either of us wants to survive anymore, but we're used to this agonizing lifestyle. Izuku, would I be wrong to say we both want to die?" Reluctantly, Midoriya shook his head. "All we know is that we can benefit by staying together, even if it kills us both. Izuku? Would you rather we continue to use each other while breaking ourselves until we've both finally wilted together, or do you think we're rotten to the point where it would be better if we ended all of our fruitless struggles together?"

A/N:
i literally have no idea what i just wrote. disappointment—that's what. but interpret the last line as you will.