Izuku spent every night next week at Bakugo's. The green-haired vixen worried more than once if he was imposing himself, but in truth, Izuku was what made the apartment feel like home. Little by little, Izuku brought over his textbooks and manga and clothes until most of his belongings were at Bakugo's. To anyone else, it would've looked like clutter. Miscellaneous stacks of manga books in random places. Everywhere from the kitchen counter to the living room to the edge of the bathroom sink. But it felt like little Izuku crumbs, leaving a trail of his whereabouts.

It turned out Izuku couldn't cook to save his life but the morning he tried making tamagoyaki and set off the smoke alarm, a well of joy sprung up in Bakugo, as opposed to annoyance. It was further proof that Izuku was there and within arm's reach. Despite Izuku almost burning the apartment down, the countless stubbed toes from his books everywhere, and his mercurial mood swings, Bakugo had been in better spirits that week than he'd ever been in his entire life. He even smiled a few times at work, alarming the rest of his coworkers.

It was obvious to everyone that Bakugo had officially fallen completely head over heels.

Which was why the guys were stunned when Izuku started gushing about the new apartment he was looking at as they sipped cocktails in High Rise's Martini Bar, Bottoms Up.

"I'd have to ride the elevator two floors up to reach the lounge area and one floor to the parking garage but that's not bad. It's on the smaller side, but since it's just me it doesn't have to be super big - "

" - Hey, Izuku, would you mind if we talked to Bakugo for a minute?" Sero asked.

Bakugo hadn't said a word during the entire conversation, and he looked notably crestfallen compared to his demeanor in the past few days. "I'll be right up," he said solemnly. "I'm beat anyway."

Izuku kissed Bakugo's cheek and gave his arm a squeeze. "Okay."

The blonde watched his boyfriend go, obvious longing in his gaze.

The second he disappeared into the elevator, the guys took their chance.

"Why is Izuku talking about getting his own place?" Kirishima asked with a raised brow. "I thought you guys were doing great."

"We are," Bakugo said dejectedly.

"Yeah, we thought he moved in with you," Shoto stated, confused. "All his stuff's at your place, right?"

"He didn't move it there on purpose, it kind of just...accumulated," Bakugo admitted, staring down into his lager.

"Do you want him to get his own place?" Sero asked.

Bakugo snarled as his beer turned to cement in his stomach. "I don't know! It's not up to me!"

Kirishima shook Bakugo's arm gently. "I've known you forever, man, and I've never seen you this happy. You gotta change his mind."

"If you want him to stay, then tell him," Shoto said.

Bakugo stood up, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Staying with me wasn't a planned thing. It just kept happening. He's just doing it because he didn't wanna be with his shitty parents."

Sero laughed. "Oh my god, don't tell me you actually believe that."

"He's smitten, bro. Just like you," Kiri said.

"And if you think about it...your honey bunny is technically homeless," Sero pointed out.

Bakugo growled. "STOP CALLING HIM THAT!"

"It's true though," Shoto said. "You love him, right? You can't just abandon him. He needs you."

"This is all you've gotta do," Kirishima said, getting up and clearing his throat. "Izuku - "

" - Wait wait wait I wanna be Izuku," Kaminari said excitedly, leaping out of his bar stool. "Oh no!" he exclaimed in a damsel's voice, "I have found myself homeless and stricken with squalor!"

"Never fear, my adorable cinnamon roll," Kiri said in a macho voice, "I am here to save you!"

Kaminari fell theatrically into Kiri's arms as the redhead caught him effortlessly.

"I will carry you off to my abode and we shall live there happily together!" Kiri exclaimed, carrying Kaminari bridal-style.

Kaminari cleared his throat and looked at Bakugo. "That's what you're supposed to say," he said in his normal voice.

"That's so romantic," Shoto said.

Sero accidentally spat out his lemon vodka as he was overcome with a fit of snickers.

Bakugo glared at all four of them. "If he wanted to stay with me he would've said so."

Kirishima shrugged, laying Kaminari back down onto his feet. "I dunno. Maybe he's just looking for a new place because he thinks you want him to leave."

"Have you tried talking to him about it?" Shoto asked.

Bakugo gritted his teeth. "What makes you guys experts in this crap anyway?!"

Sero recovered, holding back more laughter. "Every single one of us besides you has been in a committed relationship for over a year," he answered.

Bakugo shot a glare at Shoto. "Even you, half-and-half?"

Shoto nodded, drinking his sparkling water. "I've been dating Yaoyarozu."

"Who?"

"Zales," Sero answered.

"Hey, guys!" Keigo called as he walked hand in hand with Dabi into the lounge. "What are you all doing here?"

Bakugo flushed red. "What are you doing here?!"

"We live here," Dabi said simply. He let go of Keigo's hand to walk up to kaminari and ruffle his hair. "Hey, kid. How's it going?"

Kaminari grinned. "Good. Just hanging with the guys."

"I see." Once his eyes landed on Shoto, he gave him a head nod. "Hey, Nugget."

Shoto glared back over the rim of his drink.

Bakugo gawked at them in disbelief. "You...live here?!"

"You didn't know that?" Sero asked.

"WHY DO YOU KNOW THAT?!"

"Cuz I live here too."

"YOU WHAT?!"

"Oh wow. Small world," Keigo said with a grin. "We should all check out your place, Bakugo - "

" - GO TO HELL!" he declared as he stomped towards the elevators.

~.~

Bakugo burst through the door and slammed it behind him, shaking with frustration.

Izuku had been curled up on the couch reading one of his manga books. "Katsuki?"

"Why the hell are you looking for a new apartment?!"

His eyes widened as he blinked with surprise. "Because...I can't stay with my mother anymore."

"Well, who the hell do you think is gonna move all this crap?!" Bakugo asked. "Because it isn't me! If you were gonna take all this to a new place you shouldn't have brought it here in the first place! It's gonna be a hassle to move all this damn clutter and pack it into boxes and if you're living in the building you have any idea how many elevator trips - "

" - you want me to keep my stuff here?" Izuku asked with sparkly eyes.

Bakugo snarled, crossing his arms. "If you're leaving I'm not helping you move!"

A smile spread on Izuku's face. "Are you...asking me to move in with you?"

"What?! No!" he declared, blushing.

Izuku put down his book and leaped off the sofa. "You are."

"No," Bakugo said, more subdued.

"Yes," Izuku breathed, throwing himself into Bakugo's arms.

"No! I just said - "

" - I mean yes, I'll move in with you."

Bakugo melted as Izuku pulled his face down to kiss him. After a long, passionate make-out, Izuku laughed softly and said, "I've been waiting for you to ask me all week."

The blonde hugged the shorter boy close to him, relieved. "Then why - "

" - You never said anything. But I wanted to stay close to you, so I've been looking for a place in High Rise. I'm so happy. I was afraid you didn't like having me here all the time. You lived alone for so long, I thought - "

He trailed off when he saw unshed tears in Bakugo's eyes as he gazed down at him.

He didn't have the words. Yes, he thought. I was alone. It was hell. It was so cold and empty and quiet. Too quiet. There were all sorts of sounds in his apartment now. Izuku's humming as he studied. The crisp, dry sound of pages turning as he read. His laughter when he saw something funny on tv. The music he played while he did dishes.

He couldn't go back to the ways things were before. Before his life had love and color and light.

Before Izuku.

"You sure I can stay?" he asked softly, wiping away Bakugo's tears with his thumbs.

The blonde swallowed, pressing his forehead against Izuku's. "I don't care," he whispered brokenly. "Stay as long as you want." Stay forever.

Izuku wrapped his arms around Bakugo's neck and kissed him.

They both pulled apart when they heard a sniffle.

Standing at the front door were the guys. Keigo had a hand over his mouth as tears streamed down his face. Kirishima grinned happily. Dabi had his phone out, taking a picture. Shoto's face turned red.

"Soulmates," Keigo sobbed.

"Way to go, man!" Kiri exclaimed excitedly.

"I ship you," Shoto declared with a neutral expression in monotone.

"Get it, bro," Sero encouraged drunkenly.

"He's such a tsundere," Kaminari mumbled, shaking his head.

"A what?" Dabi asked.

"It's a thing in anime when - " he sighed. "Nevermind."