It was a beautiful day. The sky was a clear crisp blue, not a cloud in sight. Birds were chirping joyful melodies. Trees wafted in the gentle breeze that carried the sweet aroma of his neighbours flowers. It was warm but not unbearably so.
Even the traffic was calm though Shouto supposed that was because there was little to no traffic. It was the quietest he'd ever seen or heard the city he calls home.
He breathed in the scent of the flowers, letting the calm wash over him as he settled deeper into his balcony chair. Soba his (creatively named) cat curled tighter on his lap and he brought a hand down to scratch behind her ear where she liked it best. Shouto couldn't help but let out a contented sign.
What a truly gorgeous day to die.
Not that Shouto was ill or suicidal. He was quite enjoying his life. He was living outside of his fathers shackles, he had Soba, his friends that he thought of as family and his number seven spot on the National Hero Billboard that he was very proud of. He worked his butt off to get there.
The only thing he was missing was a partner. Though in his defence he was only 26. He had imagined he'd have plenty of time to find someone to take the place of his high school flame that was still simmering.
The person that lit the fire had left him a while ago but he couldn't help but feed it. Where there was light there was hope even if it was metaphorical. It was what he believed. Whatever he had to tell himself he guessed.
Shaking himself from his melancholy – today was not a day for self-pity and regrets – he went back to eating his zaru soba careful not to disturb Soba. If he couldn't enjoy all his favourite things today, well that would be the greatest crime of all.
You see, though Shouto wasn't ill or suicidal he was going to die today. Around midnight, in approximately 12 hours the planet was going to collapse in on itself.
He could take comfort in the fact that his death would be instantaneous or that's what the world's scientists had told everyone at least.
It was morbidly funny. In a world where 80% of the population had a quirk and a decent amount of that percentage were Heroes, no one could do a damned thing to stop this disaster.
There was no use in dwelling on it though. Shouto would be content to spend the rest of his time sitting with his cat, eat his favourite food, soaking in the gorgeous weather, and wait for the end. Quite literally.
Or that was the plan until his peace was shattered with a forceful knock on his door.
Brows furrowed, he glanced down at the peaceful Soba. He really didn't want to disturb her but the end of the world wasn't a reason to forget his manners.
Another hard knock echoed around his apartment. Shouto hadn't realised how the sound travelled in his apartment before, not being able to hear it with all the day to day white noise from outside. But with it all gone every little noise seemed to reverberate through his bones.
Frowning in guilt Shouto gentling prodded Soba into jumping down onto the floor. She gave a disgruntled hiss and glared at him as if he destroyed her world. If only she knew.
Crossing his modest apartment Shouto put his eye to the spyhole in his door. Sucking in a shocked breath at who he saw he stepped back quickly to remove the latch. Fumbling with the doorknob he yanked his door open wide.
"Bakugou?!" He exclaimed. Deep in his heart the simmering flame was fed.
It was if he'd lost control of his quirk; he was rooted to the spot – frozen; his body, his thoughts everything except for the rapid beating of his heart had stilled. It was a miracle the man in front of him couldn't hear it.
Bakugou freaking Katsuki was at his door!
Shouto's paralysis was short-lived when Bakugou's face formed into an all too familiar scowl.
"Aren't you gonna invite me in Shitty Half 'n' Half." Some part of Shouto's brain had rebooted enough for him to take half a step to the side. The gap was large enough for Bakugou to pass him but not without their shoulders brushing. Some part of him expected Bakugou to roughly shove past him with more insults falling from his mouth. But he didn't. In very un-Bakugou fashion, he stepped past gently. When their shoulders did brush, Shouto's simmering flame stuttered and roared back stronger.
His gut clenched. The dark recesses of his brain screaming Not again! We can't put ourselves through this again! Shouto, very calmly told it to shut the fuck up and shoved it back in its box.
After shutting the door once his brain finished rebooting, Shouto turned back to his living room to see Bakugou kneeling on the floor trying to coax Soba over to him.
He could feel the smile on his face, surprising himself. He typically wasn't one to show his emotions so openly. Though he recalled it always being difficult around Bakugou. He always affected him more than anyone else.
He quickly schooled his features back into his natural indifferent expression as Bakugou made to stand.
"This is why I prefer dogs. They want you to love them." The statement was said so off-handily that Shouto didn't know how to respond. Instead he moved to his kitchenette and opened the cupboard labelled 'For Soba' and took down a packet of treats.
Quietly entering Bakugou's space who still hadn't turned to face him, he hesitantly stretched his hand out to grasp Bakugou's wrist. As their skin made contact Bakugou whirled to face him. His eyes narrowed, scowl deepening and he looked ready to wrench his had back and scream profanities as was his typical response to everything. But before he could, Shouto pried open his fingers and poured a small amount of the cat treats onto his now waiting palm.
Bakugou's attention went to his open hand in confusion.
Releasing his wrist, Shouto stepped back. "Try again." He whispered as for some reason he felt that whatever was happening would break if he spoke too loudly.
Crouching down again, this time balancing on his heels Bakugou offered his palm in Soba's direction.
A little nose quivered, ears flicked, and eyes widened. The light pitter patter of paws rang out like gongs in the stillness. Shouto heard Bakugou's low intake of breath as Soba slid right up to him and ate the treats out of his hand.
The flame burned hotter.
Both humans watched in revered silence as the small fluffball finished her treat. Once they were gone Soba ran back to Shouto's chair, made herself comfortable and promptly fell asleep.
"So, cats respond to bribes. Noted." Bakugou stated. It was so casually domestic that naturally Shouto had to break it.
"Bakugou. Why are you here?"
Bakugou stood once more facing him straight away this time. In the back of his mind Shouto faintly noted that he was still taller than the explosive blonde. Though he didn't look explosive in that moment. His (seemingly permanent) scowl was gone, forehead unwrinkled and limbs loose. Shouto couldn't read his expression at all not that it mattered when he was drowning in the rubies that were Bakugou's eyes.
If it somehow turned into a staring contest Shouto would lose in milliseconds from the shear intensity.
"I figured that was obvious Icyhot. The world is fucking ending and we have unfinished business."
Shouto's breath hitched and he knew Bakugou heard it.
His heart seemed to speed up if that were even possible and Shouto had to look away. Bakugou's ruby eyes had turned into fire and Shouto felt that just continuing to look into them would cause him to self-combust.
Not knowing what to do or say he continued to study his carpet. It was a natural cream that Izuku had helped him pick out when he moved in. It appeared fluffy and was surprising easy to hoover and made for a semi-decent mattress when Shouto fell asleep on the sofa and inevitably rolled off.
Just when he started to count the induvial threads, Bakugou let out and long-suffering sigh which Shouto took immense offence to. He'd been suffering far longer in their strange relationship. If he could even call it that.
Again being roughly jolted from his thoughts Shouto found himself being forced to look into Bakugou's eyes by the man himself, his calloused palms lifting his chin.
His hands were softer than he remembered and he was shocked to realise that Bakugou was holding his face gently. Gentle wouldn't have come in the top twenty adjectives if someone asked him to describe Bakugou. Loud, annoying, rude, crass, sure; beautiful, surprising kind, loyal, supportive from Shouto personally but not gentle.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you Candy Cane." Bakugou spat. And there was the rudeness Shouto couldn't help but find endearing.
The walking enigma that was Bakugou Katsuki, the current number five hero. Simultaneously forceful and soft, encouraging and foul. In one word: thought provoking. Okay that was two words but Shouto still stood by it. He'd spent many a night a UA (and any more since) thinking about the blonde; trying in vain to understand him and what he made him feel.
Even thinking about it now Shouto could feel his cheeks heat up and he prayed that they were close enough for Bakugou not to notice.
Wait. When had they gotten that close? Shouto could count his eyelashes and eyebrow hairs if he wanted. It wouldn't be as much of a challenge as the carpet but the carpet didn't make him hazy.
Shouto opened his mouth to demand what Bakugou was doing and found that he was unable to because his lips were occupied. With Bakugou's.
The shock froze him again and just as his brain registered that he should do something Bakugou pulled away.
His lips felt empty. Which was ridiculous, he didn't usually have something attached to them but Shouto had long ago given up on trying to make sense of what Bakugou did to him.
Bakugou stepped back almost unsure which was completely unlike him. Bakugou Katsuki was never unsure of himself. That was basically his entire branding.
A light blush formed over his cheeks making his eyes seemed darker and Shouto was once again knocked for six. Bakugou; showing an emotion other than anger? It had to be the end of the world.
The surprise of that forced Shouto's brain into catching up with what had just happened. If only his mouth caught up as well.
"Y- you, you can't – just – you – kiss – me – and you – and what?" Shouto stumbled struggling to form a coherent thought let alone a sentence. Avoiding Bakugou's eyes once more his own darted around the room as if his furniture would magically tell him what to do.
In his periphery he noticed Bakugou's embarrassment turn into a cocky smirk and that was unacceptable.
Granted Shouto wasn't really any good at emotions, identifying them or feeling them – his shitty father and childhood probably had a lot to do with that – but he liked to believe he got better over the years. So he had no idea what possessed him to lift his hand (his colder left hand) and backhand Bakugou full across the face.
The smack resonated through the room and the stillness that followed was enough to drown in. Shouto started down at his own hand. Was this what phantom limb syndrome was? No, that was something different.
Bakugou blinked up at him stunned from his spot on the floor. Shouto blinked rapidly in his own astonishment. He'd hit Bakugou hard enough for him to fall over?!
His hero brain momentarily took over, analysing how that could have happened. They weren't on Hero duty so naturally Bakugou's usual guard wasn't up. He was likely already somewhat off balance after stepping back – he'd been leaning slightly heavier on his right and that also happened to be the direction Shouto had slapped him in. There was the surprise of it as well. Shouto was probably the last person on Earth Bakugou would expect to hit him across the face.
He realised all of this in the span of a few seconds and under any other circumstance it would be almost comical to see the moment Bakugou register that Shouto had slapped him. In the face. With intent. Even if he himself was surprised that he did it he also knew that he had meant it.
Bakugou had no right to kiss him out of the blue. Especially with their shared history and knowing what he knew.
He was about to tell him so when the blonde recovered. Leaping back onto his feet with a feral grace only Bakugou could possess he grabbed Shouto by the collar of his shirt and shoved him backwards until his back made forceful contact with his wall hard enough for the framed pictures hanging on it to rattle.
If any of them fell and broke there'd be Hell to pay. His mother had gifted him one of them a couple Christmases ago. It was of a winter landscape with the silhouettes of a family having a snowball fight. Something he had never got to do as child so he would admit to having mixed feelings about it but his love for his mother won out thus on the wall it went.
But that was not where his brain should be. He forced himself to refocus on the man in front of him which wasn't hard. He was very much in his personal space boxing him in against the wall, not giving him an option for escape. Shouto was a resourceful Hero though. He could make an escape if he so desired.
Bakugou's raging face filled his vision, his crimson eyes narrowed in anger, forehead crinkled, nostrils flaring, cheeks flushed in rage; not embarrassment this time round. His fist curled tightly in the fabric of his shirt. A shirt that had to be dry-cleaned; not that Bakugou cared and Shouto supposed it didn't really matter anyway, it being the end of the world and all.
The overhead light surrounded Bakugou's spiky locks and Shouto thought off-handily that it made him look vaguely angelic. A very angry, pissed off angel but an angel, nonetheless.
The harsh intake of breath was Shouto's only warning before his demon angel starting yelling profanities in his face. He was glad to hear that Bakugou's range off swear words had grown since high school and he was sure there were several foreign ones mixed in there as well.
He'd heard from Izuku and Kirishima that Bakugou had worked overseas for a few years. Bakugou couldn't even tell him himself that he was leaving the country not that were really in contact much after UA. They only saw each other when they were both forced to class get togethers and even then they barely acknowledged the other's existence let alone spoke.
Which made it even more confusing as to why Bakugou was screaming in his face and undoubtedly disturbing his neighbours. Shouto made a mental note to go an apologise to the elderly woman next door who always insisted on giving him boiled sweets whenever she saw him once Bakugou left.
Chest heaving, Bakugou fell silent apparently having run through all the swears he knew and probably some that he made up on the spot.
"Are you done?" Shouto asked, one eyebrow arching up exasperated. Bakugou huffed once more and released his shirt which Shouto took as a 'yes'. Backing away, the blonde turned on his heel and stomped over to his sofa which he promptly draped himself over. Apparently he was staying.
Shouto leant against the wall not understanding what he was seeing. Why in the world was Bakugou draping himself over his sofa as if he owned it?! Disturbing his well-placed cushions and messing up the blanket that was neatly folded at the end with his feet. Shouto wanted to yell at him to get his feet off his sofa. Did he not understand now hard the blanket was to fold on his own?! Obviously not.
"Tea?" The offer fell out of Shouto's mouth completely involuntarily. Bakugou grumbled to show he had heard but Shouto couldn't remember if that particular grumble meant yes or no.
He filled to kettle with enough water for two cups anyway.
Stony silence reigned in the apartment whilst the kettle boiled. Shouto couldn't help but stare at Bakugou and how natural he looked in Shouto's home. His haven. Five years ago he would have done anything for this exact scenario. So the fact that it was happening now only hurt more.
The click of the kettle startled him and he hoped Bakugou didn't notice his jump as he looked around the living room from his claimed spot.
He quickly made the tea and brought both cups over to the coffee table in the centre of the room. The first time Izuku had seen the apartment he'd been shocked at the lack of traditional Japanese furnishings. Shouto had felt funny about it to begin with but he had done it on purpose to somehow physically show the new chapter of his life. He'd also discovered that he wasn't really there enough to be overly bothered by it, spending even his down time at his agency or with friends.
Placing the cups on the coasters already dotted on the table, Shouto sat himself on the chair opposite the sofa, facing Bakugou. That wasn't the best decision for his heart, being able to see Bakugou in his entirety. Shouto's thoughts betrayed him as all he could think in that moment was how beautiful he was and how he belonged there. We could have bought that sofa together Shouto thought sadly.
Not sure what to do with himself now, Shouto sipped his tea even though it was still much too hot and forgetting that he could cool it down with his quirk. Bakugou swung his legs off the sofa and leant over to reach his cup. His earlier grumble must have been of the 'yes' variety then.
Bakugou took a sip and immediately placed it back down on the table. Not the coaster. Shouto's eye gave an annoyed tic. He could swear that Bakugou did it just because he knew it would annoy him. Resisting the urge to scream Shouto took another passive aggressive sip of his tea glaring slightly over the rim.
Minutes passed with neither man saying anything; sipping their tea purely for something to do.
The stillness of the day outside was starting to be aggravating instead of serene. Just one car horn or siren would have made the room less stifling.
"You gonna make me speak first then Half 'n' Half Bastard." Bakugou's rhetorical question cut in and Shouto was almost relived to have some form of noise instead of just the wall clock mocking him with its steady tick-tock. Almost. He took another passive aggressive sip of tea, his glare meeting Bakugou's this time.
The blonde sighed. "Fine – " Bakugou started before Shouto slammed his tea cup down (on the coaster thank you!) causing some to spill but he really couldn't care less right then. Bakugou's wide eyes filled him with a sick sense of satisfaction. It was good to know he could still surprise his old rival / frenemy.
"Why are you here Bakugou?" He seethed repeating his earlier question. "And give me a real answer this time."
Bakugou placed his own cup on the table – on the coaster – and leant on his hands, elbows on his knees. "Like I said. We have unfinished business. And I want to finish it so to speak." He said it so casually that Shouto didn't even want to try and contain his own anger.
"What unfinished business?!" He practically screamed. "As far as I was aware you were done with me after UA." He added at a lower volume, again conscious of neighbours but making sure his voice didn't lose any of his fury.
The man sat across from him straightened up and a mask of indifference fell across his features. It was a look Shouto knew well. He mastered it years ago.
"I was never done with you Shouto." Bakugou whispered into the air. Hearing his given name leave Bakugou's lips hit him harder than his slap must have. He would have fallen if he wasn't already sat down. He was never entirely sure that Bakugou knew his name. Setting aside the fact that it was his Hero name.
Shouto sputtered at a loss of what to say, his mind still reeling.
Bakugou sighed again and proceeded to list many of Shouto's Hero accomplishments. He even listed ones that hadn't been in the news and ones that he knew he'd done when Bakugou was overseas.
Shouto was shell-shocked. Bakugou had been keeping tabs on him? On some level that made sense. He was competition for the number one spot but it was also him. Shouto couldn't help but think that somewhere deep down inside Bakugou cared. The specific reasons why he didn't know but he did. The flame inside his heart roared. Shouto mentally dumped water on it. He was meant to be angry right now damnit!
"How – why?" Shouto squeaked stopping Bakugou from finishing his list. The blonde quirked an eyebrow and Shouto was a goner. Grated he already was but that definitely sealed it. Bakugou Katsuki had obliterated him with an eyebrow. It transformed his face from anger wrinkles to exasperated… fondness.
"I pay attention to those that interest me." Bakugou provided nonchalantly. Shouto's rising hopes plummeted. He wasn't important to Bakugou then. Anyone which a powerful or unconventional quirk was interesting to Bakugou. He was an obstacle in the way of getting to the top. Even if Bakugou currently ranked above him, he was a threat coming from behind.
"I see." Shouto sullenly replied. He felt like a fool. He'd been keeping tabs on Bakugou as well though now he clearly saw for entirely different reasons.
"Whatever your dumb brain is thinking, stop thinking it." Bakugou ordered roughly. Shouto's eyes jumped back to Bakugou's. He hadn't realised he looked down. In the red orbs there was something he couldn't identify.
Shouto opened his mouth and closed it. He didn't have a clue what to say now. Bakugou sighed yet again and ran a hand through his hair. He seemed to squirm as if he was debating with himself over something.
"I should have said yes alright." He seemed to settle on swallowing his pride and voicing his internal conversation. He wouldn't look at Shouto now and Shouto had no idea to what Bakugou was referring to. Yes to what?
He must have said that out loud as Bakugou looked up irritated.
"You don't remember?" Shouto blinked confused and shrugged. He needed more context then just a question that Bakugou had said no to in past. That made up most of their conversations.
"Oh for fuck's sake." Bakugou grumbled. "At graduation." He spat softly.
Shouto's eyes widened realisation dawning. Was Bakugou referring to what he thought he was?
"When you –" Bakugou made a strange choking sound. He obviously didn't want to say it out loud but Shouto was going to continue to play dumb and force him to say it. "When you asked me out in front of everybody and then asked me to move in with you. You dumb idiot."
Shouto remembered the day well. In was practical engraved in his memory. Izuku should have known Shouto would misinterpret his advice when he told him to 'Go for it Shouto-kun!'. He never said that it would be better to do it alone in private and not at a graduation ceremony with everybody's family present. On stage. Into a microphone. He cringed about it now but at the time he had meant it. He still did.
"Ah." Shouto breathed in response. A beat passed in silence until realisation hit Shouto in the face. He jolted up glad he wasn't holding his tea otherwise it would be decorating his shirt and met Bakugou's eyes instantly.
"Wait. You just said you should have said yes." Shouto wasn't comprehending. What was Bakugou insinuating?
"I was embarrassed and stupid and annoyed at your horrific timing." Bakugou replied blushing. "And then I went overseas and every time I saw you at those stupid reunions – we all fucking work together for fuck's sake we don't need a bloody reunion every month – I would say or do something to push you away until you stopped trying and fuck I just couldn't be upfront about my… feelings."
Bakugou shuddered and a smile rose unbidden to Shouto's face. This was the Bakugou he loved. The one that was awkward, vulnerable and soft. The one that tried. But Shouto's heart was also breaking. Bakugou had years to get to this point. Why was it that he would only face himself when the world was literally going to implode?
"We could have had years together." Shouto whispered to the floor, hands clenching in the fabric of his chair.
Bakugou let out another small sigh and whispered back. "I know."
Neither looked at each other for a few moments as the clock ticked on. Reminding them both of their inescapable fate. Time didn't care about their feelings.
Shouto's sadness morphed into anger again but this anger wasn't rage; it was sad.
"Why now? Why did you wait until now?" Shouto looked up to find Bakugou already looking at him, waiting. Just like Shouto had been waiting for him all these years.
"I couldn't let you die without letting you know someone loves you for you." Shouto's breath hitched, eyes widening.
"Y – you love me." Bakugou smiled and Shouto died inside. He was positive he was the only person in the world that he seen him smile like this and would be the only one ever. The blonde nodded.
"I have since you threw that match in first year. I didn't understand what that feeling was at the time."
Shouto's eyes pricked with tears. "You bastard." He said without heat. "You absolute bastard."
Bakugou's eyes widened but Shouto could tell that he knew he didn't mean it. "I've loved you practically since I met you. You were everything I wasn't and at first I just wanted to be close to you – to be your friend – and then you had to go and make me fall in love with you. You bastard." Shouto couldn't stop his tears then but they weren't sad. They were happy, glad that everything was finally out in the open. Happy that they could enjoy their last moments alive together.
Bakugou opened his arms and Shouto didn't think twice about clambering over the table between them which suddenly felt much too big and inserting himself into Bakugou's embrace like he was meant to be there.
He let Bakugou hold him and he let himself feel his warmth and heartbeat. He was sure Bakugou could feel his.
"Would you have taken my name?" Bakugou whispered into his hair. "When I married you?"
"Yes." Shouto breathed immediately not even having to think about it. He'd fantasied it enough already.
"And I'd force you to let me get more cats."
"Only if I could name them."
Shouto laughed knowing one of them would have ended up being called Lord Explosion Murder or something equally ridiculous but he won't have minded too much.
"And you'd make me zaru soba for my birthday."
"Of course. You'd be banned from the kitchen anyway."
They spent the next few hours talking about everything they would have done if they got together when they should of and everything they would have done in the future. They planed everything from their wedding ceremony to their dream house to climbing the rankings together as a Hero pair.
Even though he knew it wouldn't happen, Shouto let himself dream and they spoke about it all as if they had tomorrow.
Somehow they ended up in the bedroom and Shouto was pretty sure he initiated it but he was too busy appreciating Bakugou's body to care. And Bakugou was definitely into his.
Some time later and Shouto blushed internally thinking about how much later; Shouto got his promised zaru soba made by his boyfriend even though it wasn't his birthday.
"Bakugou – " Shouto started to tell his boyfriend how good the food was but was stopped when he found a finger pressed to his lips.
"Stop that." Bakugou jokingly glared. "You're my boyfriend now and we've already discussed that you're going to take my family name so now you have to call me Katsuki, Shouto."
Shouto's heart stuttered and the fire swelled happy with knowing that it would never be extinguished as it's fuel was now right next to him. He said Baku – Katsuki's name a couple times in his head before he let it slip from his tongue. Each syllable flowed naturally as if he were born to say Katsuki's name aloud always.
Katsuki seemed to like it as much as he did if his shiver and lustful eyes were any indication.
They continued to talk and kiss and just enjoy each other's company until the world outside boomed. A sound not unlike one of Katsuki's explosions.
Shouto unconsciously grasped Katsuki's shirt. Katsuki gripped his hand. Both of their eyes tracked to the clock. 11: 48PM.
It was happening.
Shouto was scared. Of course he was but he was also strangely content. He had lived a good life. He had suffered, he had been joyful and he had loved fiercely. He had Soba. But most of all he had Katsuki. In some way, shape or form he always had Katsuki.
"I'll find you in the next life. Wherever that will be." Katsuki announced stubbornly. "And I won't take my sweet ass time this time."
"I'd appreciate that." Shouto smiled.
And together they watched the world crumble.