Notes: In which the absolute least likely person is the one to bring up sex.
(I think we're still as G-rated as a fic including Bakugo can be though, don't worry.)

This is Where I Belong
Chapter 4

Shoto knew that something must have happened the moment Midoriya arrived at the Endeavor Agency, tripping over his own feet and face perpetually flushed.

"Huh? Oh yeah, Rody got a phone today!" the green-haired boy explained as he changed into his hero costume, after Shoto asked. "Or, well, I guess he got it yesterday if you take time zones into account, but it was technically still today if you're going by Japan time, but I guess it's probably easier to just say it was a few hours ago, and all that really matters is that he texted me and now I have him in my contacts, so—"

"All right," Shoto said, easily brushing off the rambling. "That's good, but are you still—"

"Oh, nah, don't worry about it," Midoirya quickly cut in, his blush reddening just slightly alongside an embarrassed laugh. "I've... still got some things to figure out, but it's all stuff that I need to work through on my own. Sorry to worry you, but I can't ask for someone else's help with this."

Shoto hesitated, but nodded his assent. "All right, if you say so."

Finally affixing his gloves, Midoriya gave him a brilliant grin. "I do really appreciate that you want to help, Todoroki-kun. I promise that if there's anything else I need advice on, I'll ask right away."

And that was that. True to his word, Midoirya's focus and overall condition seemed to improve greatly over the following few days; he was concentrating in class again, and, save for some bumpy spots during their hectic Saturday evening patrol, he was quickly returning to normal at work study assignments, too. From what Shoto could see, his friend was well on his way to shedding his anxiety over the situation and coming to terms with his feelings.

If Shoto were completely honest with himself, he'd acknowledge that he was, perhaps, a little bit jealous. And it was a bit lonely that he wasn't even needed for input anymore. But this wasn't about him. All that mattered was that Midoriya was Midoriya.

As it stood, Shoto was more than content to see Midoirya enthusiastically sharing his analysis of battle strategy and quirk usage with anyone who would listen again, even if Burnin's ever-present grin betrayed just the slightest bemusement as the freckled boy pelted her with suggestions.

Shoto chuckled as he turned to leave the sidekicks' office, leaving Midoirya to his end-of-day routine. Instead, he headed to the gym to pick up a water thermos he had forgotten there. As soon as he entered, though, he was met by the sound of dull punches and heavy breathing, as well as the distinctive burnt but slightly sweet smell of nitroglycerin.

He didn't say anything at first, quickly locating his thermos and picking it up, but hesitated when he turned to leave, deciding instead to peek around the row of lockers. As he suspected, Bakugo was at the workout bags, punching one with as much strength as he could muster, sweat flying and with each jab.

He contemplated leaving without even offering his friend a greeting—Bakugo was clearly still in a bad mood, just as he had been since returning from Otheon—but on the other hand, it had been quite a while since he last had a proper conversation with the blond. Shoto still didn't even know why Bakugo was so annoyed about something that didn't involve him; he was always immediately blown off if he so much as hinted towards the subject.

Deciding that it wouldn't do any harm to try asking yet again, Shoto stepped around the lockers and cleared his throat to ensure his presence was known. "Hey, Bakugo?"

"If it's about Deku and Birdbrain I don't want to hear it."

"Ah... okay." Shoto shrugged, leaning against the lockers casually, but after a moment of thought he decided to speak up again. "You know you have to hear things you don't like sometimes, though."

"I'm telling you to shut up, Half-and-Half."

Shoto obediently went quiet again, watching Bakugo as he punched out his frustrations, seething. Left jab, right cross, left hook... Frowning, Shoto studied the angry flex and ease of Bakugo's back muscles before suddenly it clicked. "Are you in love with Midoriya too?"

"THE FUCK?!" The explosion Bakugo unleashed reduced the punching bag to little more than tattered leather, sand spilling onto the floor like an hourglass; Shoto knew those bags were specially made to resist flames, but apparently the added force of an explosion was too much to handle. "Who the HELL would like that nerd?!"

"Rody. And Uraraka." And me, Shoto added silently.

"Well I don't, so don't lump me in with them." Bakugo huffed and gave one last punch to the sad-looking sandbag before stepping back and slouching onto a nearby bench. "So even you picked up on Round Face, huh?"

He didn't exactly notice it himself, but Shoto chose not to mention that. "Asui said that everyone knows, except Midoriya."

"Yeah, probably. Maybe not Dunce Face, but he's an idiot." Bakugo clicked his tongue before picking his water bottle off the floor and taking a long swig.

Shoto watched his friend thoughtfully. "So if you don't like Midoriya, why are you so angry about all this? I think you might even be more irritable than usual."

"None of your fucking business."

Shoto only stared at the blond, silent and even; he knew Bakugo well enough to know that if he wanted to talk, he would talk, but if he didn't then there wasn't much Shoto could say to force it.

The crackling sound of plastic echoed off the tile floor as Bakugo squeezed his water bottle, growling. "He's just so fucking blind, it pisses me off."

"Oh?"

"I've known him since we were brats, all right?" Bakugo paused to empty the last of his water bottle before continuing. "I could tell at the first fucking glance what was going on. He's even dumber than I thought if he still doesn't see it for himself."

Shoto tilted his head. "I see. I think Midoriya's getting there now, though."

"Didn't ask, don't care." He crumpled the empty PET bottle and threw it across the room, hard.

"Don't litter. Pick that up."

"Fuck you. Pick it up yourself, that's your price for making me talk about this." Bakugo stood, huffing. "If he's finally just realizing it now, it's taken him goddamn long enough. They were making gross gushy eyes at each other ever since Craid."

Shoto watched Bakugo pack up for a moment before those words fully registered. "Wait, since Craid? That's the first time you and I ever met Rody. You've known for that long?"

Bakugo scoffed and hefted his bag over his shoulder. "Said I knew at a glance, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but I didn't think you actually meant—"

"And I was done talking about this before we even started. So fuck off and leave me alone already." Before Shoto could formulate a response, the irritable blond had unnecessarily shoved him on his way towards the exit. "I'm going back now."

"Ah, wait a second," Shoto called, quickly jogging to pick up the bottle and dispose of it properly. "I'll go with you. And we should see if Mido—"

"Why the hell should we all go home together?!"

"Because we're all going to the same place?"

"I don't give a shit! Find your own way home!"

"But we're taking the same train—"

"Fuck off, we're not friends!"

Shoto was right; it was only a few days later that Midoriya seemed to at least somewhat come to a decision. And Midoriya had been telling the truth, too: he did ask for advice again when he was ready.

"Um," Midoirya said lowly, almost drowned out by the clatter of hundreds of utensils echoing throughout the lunchroom, "so, quick question. Do you think it's okay to start a relationship while we're still training...?"

What Shoto hadn't anticipated was that there would be more in attendance during the discussion. He hadn't even considered that the subject would come up with both Iida and Uraraka around.

Sensing that the two on the opposite side of the table had frozen in place, Shoto quickly cast his gaze over to Uraraka. What was Midoirya doing, bringing this up with her?!

Everyone knows, except Midoriya, he recalled, and he fought back a groan. Of course. He wasn't being purposefully, uncharacteristically cruel, he just didn't know.

If the girl's face had betrayed some other emotion initially, though, she had masterfully covered it up before Shoto could see. "What? Deku-kun, do you have a crush?!" Uraraka asked, leaning over her own lunch tray with a conspiratorial grin.

"Ah— no, well..." Midoriya lifted his arms to cover his reddening face, attempting to escape her prodding. "I mean... yeah, I'm pretty sure I do..."

"Who is it?!"

"It's certainly nothing to be ashamed of at our age," Iida added helpfully.

"Y-yeah, I know, I just..." Midoriya fiddled with his chopsticks, letting them cross uselessly as his face went redder, and then he glanced sideways up at Shoto, apparently reluctant to elaborate on his own.

"It's Rody," Shoto said plainly.

"The kid from Otheon!" Uraraka gasped. "No wonder you were so happy when he texted you! Todoroki-kun, you knew?!"

"Did I really look that happy...?" Midoirya asked weakly, but the question went ignored.

"Ah... yeah. I was... well, I wasn't right there when Rody asked him out, but..."

"He asked you out first?!" Uraraka nearly exploded, bursting with girlish excitement.

Iida frowned thoughtfully. "So this confession occurred in Otheon? That would be at least three weeks ago at this point..."

"Right," Midoirya confirmed, gaze firmly focused on his pork katsu.

"Have you been dating in secret this whole time, then?" Uraraka pushed.

"No," Shoto cut in, "he's been trying to figure out how to respond."

"Leaving the other party without a proper answer for three whole weeks?! That's hardly responsible of you..."

Uraraka gave Iida a friendly shove. "Oh, leave him be! It's not that easy to figure these things out, you know?! Especially when we're all so busy with hero training..."

"Exactly," Midoriya sighed, and Shoto couldn't be sure if his friend had completely missed the rueful timbre in Uraraka's tone, or if Shoto himself was only projecting. "That's why I just... I mean, I've pretty much come to realize that I... like him back, too," he said, his voice gradually falling to nearly a whisper, before picking up again. "I just don't know if... it's right to agree to a relationship. I'm busy with training and everything right now, and, well... it's not like my safety is ever completely guaranteed either..."

All four quieted for a moment in the face of such a somber thought.

"That's... a logical consideration to make," Iida said finally. "It's not a decision to make lightly, in our case."

"Well, it's not like that danger ever really goes away, you know?" Uraraka said gently. "And we'll keep on training even after going pro, too. Whether we're still students or not, a relationship is going to have the same road bumps regardless."

"I guess you're right," Midoriya mumbled.

Suddenly, Iida slapped a hand against his own chest. "And it's foolish to suggest that heroes should always avoid relationships for such a reason! If that were true, I myself would have never come to exist!" He paused for a moment, considering. "Of course, in your case, I suppose biological children aren't exactly in the cards..."

Todoroki choked on air, an action mirrored by Midoirya, who flushed even darker. "I-Iida-kun, that's not... I'm not even thinking about—!"

Uraraka had devolved into giggles, dropping her own chopsticks when the force of her laughter prevented her from keeping hold of them. "Oh my gosh, Iida-kun, I can't believe you...!"

"What? It's only the natural course of most long-term relationships!"

"Stop, stop, please just stop!" Midoirya begged, waving his hands across the lunch table. "I'm not thinking that far ahead at all! I'm just worried about whether it's possible to do without neglecting my studies or the relationship or both...!"

Something clicked in Shoto's head all of a sudden. "But it would be a long-distance relationship, right?"

Midoriya brought his flailing arms to a pause and blinked up at him owlishly. "Long-distance...?"

"That's right!" Uraraka clapped her hands together, and Shoto eyed her carefully, wondering why she was being so encouraging throughout this entire conversation. Not that he had much room to speak himself... "If he's in Otheon, then it's only to be expected that the two of you literally can't get distracted by going on dates and the like."

"Wouldn't that be so much more difficult, though?" Iida pondered.

"Maybe, but in our case it might even be the best option for Deku-kun. If they both go into it understanding that time differences and other commitments will be hurdles that they have to overcome, then it might work out just fine?"

"That is true... It may even be easier, psychologically, than having to sacrifice time with a partner that you can physically see every day..."

Shoto glanced at Midoriya, who was engaged in a staring contest with his katsu again, tapping his fingers on the edge of his tray. "So... you think it's okay if I try dating Rody...?"

Uraraka grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. "Absolutely! If it's something you really want, then why not?"

Finally, for the first time since breaching the subject, Midoriya gave a small smile. "I guess... yeah. I'll give it a try."

"But answer him soon!" Iida cut in, chopping his arm with insistent vigor. "You've kept him waiting quite long enough, haven't you?!"

Midoirya laughed, hands raised defensively. "I mean, he hasn't directly brought it up again or anything, so..."

"Is he not being merely considerate of you, then? It's high time you take his own feelings into account!"

Smiling gently, Uraraka stood up then, picking her tray up from the table. "Well, I'll leave you boys to this. I have some things I want to take care of before afternoon classes."

"Oh!" Midoriya turned to her, smiling. "I don't want to keep you, then! Thanks for everything, Uraraka-san!"

"Oh come on," she laughed, "what are friends for? I'll see you later, guys!"

As Uraraka passed around the table, Shoto noted that at least half of her lunch was still on her tray, and the uneasy feeling only intensified. "Ah... I think I'll excuse myself here, too," he said, standing up. "Midoirya, Iida, I'll see you later."

The two other boys bade him farewell, and Shoto quickly headed towards the dishware return window, catching up with Uraraka as she dumped the remainder of her lunch. "Uraraka?" he said cautiously.

"Hmm?" She turned to him as she placed her tray and dishes on the return window, smiling. "What's up?"

"Are you all right?"

She laughed, taking a step back to give Shoto access to the return window. "Of course I'm all right! Why wouldn't I be?"

Shoto placed down his own dishware, studying her face carefully. He wasn't always good at reading people, but something about that smile didn't seem genuine. "Can we talk somewhere for a bit?" he suggested.

"Well, okay, but not for too long," she agreed, clasping her hands behind her back as she led the way to the exit. "I really do have some things to take care of, you know."

Following the brunette girl out of the lunch room and into the hallways, they eventually found a quiet corner of a stairwell that seemed to be secluded enough.

Uraraka turned to smile up at him. "So what's up, Todoroki-kun?"

Shoto hesitated, floundering for a moment as he tried to decide how to proceed, but eventually settled on a simple, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Jeez, really, what is this all about?" She gave him a good-natured punch on the shoulder, laughing. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you like Midoirya, don't you? Yet you have no problem with him dating Rody?"

Uraraka's smile faded then, her cheeks turning a bashful shade of pink as she looked down at the floor. "...Jeez. Why does everyone assume that I like—"

"But it's true, isn't it?"

Uraraka was silent, frowning down at her slippers as she kicked idly at the floor. Finally she sighed, but didn't look back up. "I just want to see people smile, you know?"

"Smile?"

"Yup. That's what's most important. Not just the civilians we protect, either. I want to see the heroes smile, too. And I want to see Deku-kun smile." She paused again before continuing in an almost inaudible voice. "But I guess I did kind of wish that he would smile with me."

"Uraraka..."

She finally looked up at him again with an obviously forced grin. "You know, I thought it would be okay if I waited for things to calm down. Deku-kun's right, we're all so busy with training, I guess I kinda took it for granted that no one else would ask him out first!"

Shoto wasn't sure how to respond to that. "Rody isn't training to be a hero."

"Well that would do it!" Uraraka gave a hollow, humorless laugh. "Now I've just gone and missed my chance, huh?"

"Yeah."

She chuckled, crossing her arms in mock offense. "It kinda hurts for you to agree with me on that, you know?"

"Ah," Shoto shook his head, flustered. "No, I didn't mean... I wasn't agreeing in regards to you, I was..." He trailed off, unsure exactly what he was trying to say.

Uraraka leaned in and peered up at him carefully, clear brown eyes boring into his own heterochromatic ones, and all of a sudden an air of understanding seemed to be exchanged between them. "...I think I get it," she said softly, stepping back again with a gentle smile. "Thanks for coming to talk to me, Todoroki-kun."

Shoto scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh... you're welcome."

"I really do have to go now, though, so..." She gave a friendly wave and turned to head down the stairs. "I'll talk to you later!"

She hadn't made it more than five steps before Shoto thought to speak up. "Uraraka, are you sure you're okay?"

She stopped, then looked up at him over her shoulder, grinning brightly. "I will be!"

That still didn't sit entirely right with Shoto, and he called out again as she reached the lower landing. "Can I at least walk you to—"

"Don't follow me," she cut in, not bothering to turn around this time; her tone was flat and stern, completely devoid of cheer. "Seriously, I have some things to take care of. By myself. So don't follow me, please."

Shoto studied her carefully, taking in the set of her shoulders; the tension in her back; the way that her fists, clenched at her sides, trembled just slightly. Yes... she needed some time alone. "All right," he said softly. "Take care of yourself, Uraraka."

"...You too, Todoroki-kun," she muttered before turning down the next flight of stairs, her head bowed so that her bangs obscured her face, and for a while Shoto just stood there, long after her footsteps had faded into silence, almost wishing that he could go to his own dorm room for a cry, too.

Notes: Is this fic slow burn? It seems ridiculous to call it such when literally the first thing in the first chapter was the love confession but really, should this be tagged as a slow burn?

Also, Todo, stop ending your chapters on a sad note! :(