It took Izuku longer than he'd imagined it would to calm the other two down, although he eventually managed it by pointing out that All Might is completely retired and not in a place to say such a thing to any other child. It probably also helped that he promised them that he was in therapy and had managed to work through the issues left by that day with said therapist.
"I promise," he said with a small smile, "Abe-San is very good at making me see and deal with self defeating thoughts and behaviors, and making me realize that I'm not at fault for how other people behave and deal with me." Having people care about him like this was a trip, honestly.
His mother had cared, of course, but Inko had been a single mother raising a Quirkless child on a nurse's salary. She hadn't had the time or energy to invest herself in every aspect of his life, and Izuku had hidden a lot from her as well, trying to keep her stress levels down at home. His father had fucked off to America shortly after he'd been diagnosed Quirkless, and had stopped sending even a paltry amount of money after he'd turned fifteen, so Izuku had been invested in making sure that he gave his mother the least amount of stress possible.
"That's good," Shouta said, finally giving up the fight on getting permission to throttle All Might. For now. "Therapy is a good tool to make sure that you have the coping mechanisms you need." He glanced pointedly at his student. "And therapy is a necessity of life for Pro Heroes, especially those going Underground. We deal with a lot of shit Limelight Heroes don't have to, and we need to make sure we process it and let it go the best we can."
Hitoshi sighed. "Your point has been made and accepted," he said drily. "Izu cried when I said I didn't want to have a set therapist because he was so worried about my mental health, so I gave in gracefully."
"That was giving in gracefully?" Izuku asked curiously. "I'd really hate to see you give in ungracefully then, because that was a nightmare. I haven't had to fight you for so long on something since I convinced you to wait until the Sports Festival to punch Bakugou in the face."
Hitoshi smirked, but Shouta looked slightly concerned. "I did notice that after your first year you had a special dislike for Bakugou. Is there something going on there that I need to be concerned about?"
Answering for Hitoshi, Izuku shrugged slightly as he said, "He and I used to be friends when we were little, until I was diagnosed, and then it sort of broke down. People say that your friends can make your bitterest enemies, and that's definitely not a lie-there was a lot of anger between the two of us. Hitoshi decided that Bakugou needed to have his ass kicked after I explained why he seemed to hate me so much." He smiled faintly. "But Bakugou apologized after we graduated, so all in all I'm OK with how things are now between us."
Namely, the fact that there was nothing between them anymore. The lingering affection and desire for Bakugou's friendship had been squashed by his therapy appointments and Abe-San's pointed comments about the signs of abusive relationships. And the frequent reminders that it wasn't only romantic relationships that could be abusive.
"The only reason he apologized was because you turned out to be very attractive and he wants to tap that ass," Hitoshi said flatly, before offering a slightly mischievous smirk. "I can't tell you how amused I am that you practically pretend he doesn't exist now, because he is bitter ."
Izuku noticed from the corner of his eye how Shouta's mouth tightened slightly and his muscles tensed. It was curious, but he ignored that for now as he grimaced faintly and said, "Really? That's sort of horrifying, actually. He may have apologized, and I do appreciate it, but there's way too much bad blood for anything but hate-fucking, and that's never really been my cup of tea." He wrinkled his nose. "You think me disappearing into the Underground agencies ended that? Out of sight, out of mind and all that?"
After all, the blonde hadn't attempted to contact Izuku since their graduation, much to his relief.
"Ha, no," Hitoshi snorted at the thought. "From what Todoroki has said-and he's a taciturn bastard, so this is pieced together from the little I got from him-he's gotten a little obsessed with you now, actually, since you've disappeared. He thinks you're hiding from him."
"That's not good," Shouta murmured, tapping a finger on his thigh as he considered that. Bakugou had always had a laser focus, and this sounded like it was heading towards the extreme end of that.
"No," Izuku agreed irritably. "Ideas on how to nip this in the bud before it becomes a problem I have to deal with?" For all Bakugou had tormented him when they were kids, he was doing well as a hero now, and Izuku didn't want to ruin that. That didn't mean he wouldn't, if things continued on the path they were now, but he didn't want to. Most days, anyways.
Besides, Izuku was an analyst for an Underground Agency and Bakugou was on the road to being a Top 50 Hero within the next few years. It would take more effort than Izuku wanted to expend currently to ruin his life. It still didn't mean that he wouldn't, but if he could avoid having to it would be ideal.
Hitoshi looked thoughtful. "Maybe if you were dating someone he'd see you were unavailable and back off?" He offered uncertainly. "I don't know for sure if he would or not, but he always seemed respectful enough in school with the people who told him they were already dating someone." Not always with people who just said that they weren't interested though, which was probably something he should have mentioned to someone during school. But things had been rocky there for a while, and there had always seemed to be something else to worry about.
"That could work," Izuku murmured. "But I don't really have anyone to pull out of my pocket, so to speak, on that. There have been a few people who've asked me out, but I'm not interested and I don't want to replace Bakugou with someone who could be an even bigger problem, you know?"
"Yeah, I get that," Hitoshi agreed. "I'd offer, but..." He trailed off, flushing slightly and darting a quick, almost shy look at Shouta that concerned the older man. If Hitoshi had a crush on him, that would also need to be nipped in the bud immediately, because that would not be conducive to the mentorship they had going.
The green haired teen rolled his eyes affectionately. "Yes Toshi, I'm well aware of the weird on again-off again relationship you have going on with Todoroki. If he doesn't agree that the two of you need to define shit soon, I'm staging an intervention and I don't give a damn what Endeavor has to say," he added grumpily.
Shouta paused, but ultimately dismissed that. His students' relationship wasn't any of his business as long as it didn't affect his work as a hero, and so far the two times Shouto and Hitoshi had worked together they'd been completely professional. "You may be better served considering an established Pro Hero," he began slowly. "One that Bakugou already respects, or is at least wary of."
"Sure, but the only Pro Hero I know that Bakugou also knows enough about to be concerned about
is you," he pointed out, "So I don't know that that would work either."
Hitoshi burst out laughing at the sheer confusion that crossed his mentor's face then. "Izu, Sensei is offering to fake date you to keep Bakugou off your back."
"Oh!" Izuku flushed. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I did not realize that's where you were going with that."
After waiting for a moment, Shouta asked, "Did you not realize because you're just completely opposed to the idea, or do you need more time to think about it?" He asked. "I understand that even pretending to be in a relationship with an Underground Hero is something you may need to think on."
Oh, he absolutely should think about it. Izuku knows that like he knows his own name. Well, to be honest he knows that he should just say no. Putting that much temptation right in front of himself was not going to turn out well. But he also knows himself far too well, which is why he's entirely unsurprised to hear himself say, without meaning to, "No, I don't need to think about it. I'd be grateful to you if you'd be willing to pretend to date me for a while, at least long enough to get Bakugou off of my back."
Hitoshi, the traitor, looks like he's living for this. Shouta, on the other hand, is smiling like he won an argument, which is odd, considering Izuku hadn't really argued against it at all once he'd realized what was being offered. "Of course," Shouta murmured, that same smile still playing around the corners of his mouth. "At least until Bakugou ceases to be an annoyance."
Something about that sentence seems off to Izuku, but he dismissed it. He had bigger things to worry about than odd word choices. "I already have your number from the group chat, so if you're OK with it I'll text you later and we can work out the details?"
"That sounds fine," Shouta agreed, glancing at the clock and grimacing. "Unfortunately, I have to go now, but text me and we'll go from there," he said.
Izuku nodded, echoing his expression at the clock. "Yeah, I'm hoping to get another few hours of sleep before I have to get up and run some errands, so I'll text you later tonight or tomorrow probably."
"That works." A stern expression was leveled at Izuku then. "Don't forget, if you're going to be working over, let me know."
His eyebrow wanted to creep up, but Izuku kept control of his facial expression by the skin of his teeth, and instead just hummed, smiling at the suspicious look leveled at him. He didn't care to be dictated to, but they certainly didn't have time to go over that now. "We'll talk later," he promised, before shooting a look at Hitoshi. "You heading out too?"
"Yeah," he agreed, "I'm hoping to catch a few hours of sleep too, actually, before my patrol. I got stuck with an early evening patrol, unfortunately."
"Gross," Izuku muttered, wrinkling his nose. He was all too aware of how irritating those patrols were, because the heroes who worked them typically ended up stuck with the paperwork left from the night before. And too few of the heroes actually left the notes they should about the patrols and villain captures so the paperwork could be completed, so hunting down grumpy Underground Pro's was the name of the game there. Izuku had been stuck with that particular duty a few times already, and he would rather avoid it if at all possible.
The three of them went their separate ways, and Izuku promptly passed out once he reached his
apartment. Of course, when one speaks of the devil he appears, so when Izuku woke up a few hours later, it was to texts from Bakugou, for the first time since they'd graduated and Bakugou had apologized. He didn't have Bakugou's number saved in his phone any longer-he hadn't for years at this point actually, but it was pretty obvious who the text messages were from.
Unknown Number: Oi, nerd, you want to get dinner or something?
Unknown Number: Nerd, I'm waiting for a fucking response.
Unknown Number: Fucking answer me Deku, before I come find you.
Izuku grimaced. That was not ideal. He glanced at the time stamp and saw that the most recent message had been sent about ten minutes ago.
Izuku: Sorry Bakugou, I'm pretty busy tonight.
He sighed and reluctantly entered the information in his contacts, amusing himself by putting a frowny face emoji by Bakugou's name.
Bakugou: Since when do you call me by my fucking last name nerd?
Izuku: Since I accepted the fact that we're not friends, and calling you by a nickname is inappropriate. Also, you literally told me to stop calling you Kachan?
Bakugou: Whatever. Dinner doesn't have to be tonight, I can wait until you have time.
He groaned. Of course Bakugou was going to be persistent about it. Why would he accept a brush off gracefully when he could make Izuku's life harder by not doing so? Well, he had hoped to avoid using Shouta's offer, but apparently it was going to be necessary.
Izuku: I'd have to ask my boyfriend, I don't know if he'd be comfortable with that.
Bakugou: Since when do you have a fucking boyfriend?
Izuku: It's a relatively recent development.
Bakugou: Whoever it is can't be as good as I would be to you. Who the fuck is it?
Izuku stared at his phone in blank disbelief. "Right," he muttered to himself. "Yeah, they wouldn't be as good to me as a guy who tormented me for years. What the actual fuck?"
Izuku: You actually know him! Your old homeroom teacher. Bakugou: You'd rather date the fucking hobo than me? Bullshit. Izuku: Bakugou, don't insult Shouta.
He was surprised to find he was honestly angry about it, but after a moment of consideration it made sense. Shouta had been very kind to him, and obviously cared about him, given that he'd offered to fake date him when he'd realized how uncomfortable just the thought of Bakugou's interest was making him.
Bakugou: What the fuck ever Deku, I'll show you that I'm the better choice.
Izuku scowled, but hesitated just as he was about to delete the entire frustrating conversation. Shouta may want to see it, he realized, so he huffed as he swiped out of the conversation and
started a new one with Shouta.
Izuku: As a heads up, Bakugou just texted me asking me out to dinner.
He'd expected Shouta to be busy, so he was surprised to receive a reply just a few minutes later.
Shouta: I hope you let him know that your boyfriend wouldn't be too pleased about that.
Izuku: I did, actually, let him know I'd have to ask my boyfriend about that and that he wouldn't be too pleased about it.
Shouta: I suppose it's too much to hope that he let it go after that?
Izuku: Of course it is. He was shocked when I named you as my boyfriend, and he seemed pretty determined to 'prove' to me that he'd be a better boyfriend.
Shouta: I'm actually pretty fucking offended by that. I treat my partners very well, certainly better than Bakugou would.
Izuku: I wouldn't worry about it. Hopefully a few more refusals and him seeing that we're 'dating' for a while will just have him let it go.
Shouta: I'd like to see the texts. If you don't mind.
Izuku: I figured you would. I have it saved, want me to forward it to you?
Shouta: No, are you working tonight?
Izuku: Nope, I'm off, thankfully. I got an extra day off since I worked so far over yesterday.
Shouta: If you don't have plans, we can meet for dinner and I'll look at the messages during dinner?
Izuku smiled and agreed, and they quickly finalized their plans over text message. He dropped his phone and let out a strangled groan, rubbing his hands over his face. "This is such a bad idea," he muttered to himself. He wanted this to be real so badly. He wanted to actually be going out to dinner with the older man, he wanted that hint of jealousy he saw in the text messages to be real. "Fuck."
Still, he had things he needed to get done before they had dinner, so he put everything to the back of his mind-making a mental note to discuss everything with Abe-San at their next session-and went to run his errands he had to handle that day. Following his routine soothed Izuku a little bit, enough so that by the time dinner came around he was mostly calm.
Of course, every ounce of calm he'd managed to accumulate was destroyed when Shouta greeted him with a brief, almost chaste slide of his lips against Izuku's. His wide eyes met Shouta's, and the older man murmured, "Bakugou is here, back right corner."
Izuku is smart, and he's worked long enough now with Underground Heroes that he knows to not immediately swing his gaze towards the indicated section. Instead, he smiled up at Shouta, soft and sweet and maybe not pretending as much as he'd like to say he was, and threaded their fingers together.
They quietly began making their way towards their table, and at this point Izuku was able to scan the entire restaurant. He was careful to not pay any special attention to the back right corner, but
while scanning the entire restaurant he did catch sight of Bakugou, who was scowling and looked furious, red eyes locked on the two of them.
"Well," Izuku murmured after they'd been seated, "That's unfortunate and a little bit concerning."
Shouta's eyes narrowed. "I made it clear that I was going on a date tonight here, but I wasn't expecting him to actually come here as well."
Tipping his head the the side, he considered their earlier conversation. "I'm wondering," Izuku began thoughtfully, "If he was expecting to be able to provide proof that you were cheating on me, since I'd told him I was busy tonight but didn't mention we were going on a date."
Jaw clenching, Shouta ground out, "I have never cheated on an intimate partner in my life, and I sure as hell wouldn't start with you."
Izuku's breath caught at the honest anger in his voice, and after a brief moment of hesitation he reached over the table and gently smoothed his own hand over Shouta's clenched fist. The hand under his tensed more for a second, and then it relaxed and opened, turning over to curl his fingers over Izuku's. "I know," he said quietly, wondering at how angry the other man was at the thought of cheating on Izuku. "I wouldn't ever think you would cheat on someone."
"It's important that you don't think I would ever cheat on you ," Shouta clarified, his fingers tightening briefly around Izuku's.
Izuku's breath stuttered slightly, but before he could even begin to think of a response to that- would it be cheating when they're not actually dating?-Bakugou decided to make his presence known.
"I thought you were too fucking busy to get dinner," the blonde snapped, red eyes narrowed furiously.
Shouta's face was blank and his voice cool as he responded, "Izuku was too busy to get dinner with you ." The pointed response had small explosions going off in Bakugou's hands, and Izuku couldn't help the way that his shoulders tensed and his grip on Shouta's hand tightened. He may have accepted Bakugou's apology, but his explosions would always make his skin burn and fear sit at the back of his throat.
"Bakugou, Shouta and I are dating," he tried offering gently. "I'm always going to be too busy to get dinner with you, because when I do have time I'll be getting dinner with him." Izuku offered a small, tense smile. "I'm sure you understand."
Bakugou sneered. "Yeah, I understand that your fucking boyfriend ," he spat out the word mockingly, "Doesn't trust you enough to let you get dinner with me." He smirked then. "Obviously he knows that if you went out with me you'd leave him immediately. I told you Deku, I'll prove that I'm the better option for you. You'll realize it soon enough." The blonde sauntered off, his mood completely flipped from when he'd stormed up to the table.
Izuku stared after him blankly for a long moment, before he flushed and tried to release Shouta's hand when he flexed it. Shouta arched an eyebrow before curling his fingers more firmly around Izuku's hand. "I just needed you to loosen your grip a little," he said evenly. Then, "Why does he call you Deku?"
He flinched slightly at the name coming from Shouta's lips. "It's a misreading of my name," Izuku murmured after a moment. "Bakugou gave it to me after I was diagnosed as Quirkless, because he
said having no Quirk made me useless."
Shouta hummed, his dark eyes made even darker by anger. "And these?" He used his free hand to trace over the faint starburst scars scattered on Izuku's arms. "Did these come from Bakugou as well?"
Izuku's next breath was shaky as he nodded. "Yes, he would discharge his Quirk close to me when we were younger. To be fair to him," he added, "I don't know that he ever realized he scarred me. He didn't tend to pay me that much attention once he was done with me."
"I don't feel like being fair to him," Shouta said flatly. "He hurt you, and now that he wants you he expects you to just, what, ignore it?"
Sighing, Izuku shrugged. "I guess? I don't really know. I'm not interested, and I wish he'd just accept that and leave me alone." He frowned. "I'm sorry to have dragged you into this," he apologized tiredly. "It's unfair to you to make you deal with all of the history between the two of us."
The older man narrowed his eyes. "I offered," he reminded Izuku sharply. "I wouldn't have offered to help you if I wasn't willing to deal with the issues between the two of you. I'll admit that I didn't expect everything that you've told me, but you didn't drag me into anything." He waved off Izuku's attempts at protest. "Are you OK with showing me the messages he sent you earlier?"
Giving up his attempts to protest for now, Izuku agreed, handing over his phone after selecting the correct message thread.
"It's weird," Izuku said quietly. "I thought that mentioning you would make him back off, but it's like it had the opposite effect."
Scrolling through the messages, Shouta frowned. "I think we might have miscalculated by using me," he admitted. "He was exceptionally arrogant when he was younger, so I made a point of cutting his ego down to size, and I also made a point of making it clear that his Quirk wasn't the end all be all of Hero work. I did a lot of the heavy lifting on that for the other teachers as well, since I could just Erase his Quirk if he got out of hand." He grimaced. "Taking you from me is probably the only way he could prove himself 'better' than me at this point, given that I work Underground and he's about as Limelight as they get."
Izuku snorted. "His ego definitely needed puncturing, so good job on that. As for proving himself better than you, well." Izuku shrugged. "I don't know that it would have made a difference who I chose if that's the case, because he's always been invested in being the best." He sighed then. "He's always gotten what he wanted, so me telling him no and meaning it must be unusual, to say the least."
Well," Shouta said mildly, "He's not going to get you, so he'd better get used to it." He glared at Izuku's phone. "I don't like how he talks to you." That glare shifted to Izuku then. "And I don't like that you didn't tell him to stop speaking to you like that." His expression softened then. "But I do appreciate you defending me, so thank you for that."
Izuku flushed. "You've been more than kind to me Shouta, and he had no reason to speak about you like that." He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. "I don't know that I have many options about how he speaks to me, given how he speaks to everyone , but I'll speak to Abe-San and see if we can't come up with a script of sorts to help me put some boundaries in place."
"That's all I can ask," Shouta murmured, handing Izuku back his phone. "Now, let's order and talk about something other than Bakugou."