~Midoriya's POV~
It's been just over a week since Kacchan came to be interviewed and ended up nearly killing Shoto. At first, they both had looked really injured but once they'd showered and Chiyo rebandaged their wounds, it was clear just how one-sided their fight had actually been.
As my memories slowly come back to me, I can't say I'm surprised that Kacchan was able to overpower Shoto so easily; he was always strong, good at fighting, and never, ever, lost. But I think that Shoto was unnerved by what happened, especially since Kacchan really did intend to kill him—and would have if Chiyo hadn't intervened as quickly as she did.
He tries to hide it though, at least around me. Shoto doesn't want me to worry but I've had the injuries that he has now and know how badly they hurt and how scary it is to get them. I don't think Shoto is scared of Kacchan like I was of my last Master, but he's always tense around him.
I've always been selfish. My last Master told me so all the time and I'm proving him right by keeping Kacchan as my friend when Shoto has to leave for work. Neither of them is pleased with the arrangement but they downplay how uncomfortable they are to make me happy...
I'm not happy though and that makes me an even worse person. Shoto and Kacchan are doing their best to put their mutual hatred aside and all I can think about is how much I want them to get along.
I love them both so much… Getting to spend time with each of them makes me feel whole for the first time in my life. All I want to do is make them happy, but I can't when they want to get rid of one another.
They're like two apex predators forced into the same territory; the very existence of the other is a threat that can't ever be ignored. And it's all my fault because I can't let go of either of them.
Chiyo asked me what was wrong when she came in to give me my bi-weekly checkup this morning, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her. For as different as they are, Kacchan and Shoto are both very headstrong people, and I don't think anything will change how they feel about each other. There's nothing she can do to make the situation any better so I don't see any reason to upset her too.
She didn't push me to answer, which was a relief. Instead, she told me that Shoto had gotten home really late last night and still had work left to do, but that he'd come by my room to visit me tonight for sure.
I wonder if Shoto will ask me how my first day alone with Kacchan went and what I should say if he does. He's so kind and considerate, always wanting to make sure I'm comfortable and having fun… But I know it will bother him if I'm completely honest about how awesome it was to spend time with Kacchan again. Even after all these years, it's like nothing has changed between us; he's still my best friend.
I can't lie to Shoto though either, he deserves better than that from me. Maybe there's a way to talk about what we did and how Kacchan promised to teach me how to read big kid books that won't make Shoto upset. I don't know… I guess I'll just have to keep thinking about it…
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"Sit." Chiyo orders, glaring at Todoroki and Bakugo with frustration and authority. The two did as they were told, side-eying each other with blame for what they knew was going to be a vicious scolding.
The old woman scoffed at their behavior, wondering how it was possible that such bright, successful individuals could act so childish. "In case you haven't figured out why I insisted we have this sit down, I'll lay it out for you. Your attitudes towards one another must change or at least be better concealed than they have been."
Once again, they glared at each other accusingly, as though they weren't both at fault. The hatred between them was palpable, lightning zapping between them as they each refused to back down and accept culpability.
"How disgraceful," Chiyo hissed with a shake of her head. "You two claim to love Izuku and promised him that he'd never be hurt again, yet he's in pain at this very moment because neither of you is willing to let go of your pride."
The old woman cracked her cane into the polished floor menacingly when Bakugo and Todoroki both snapped their attention back to her, panicked and poised to speak. They both clacked their teeth shut from the act though, looking rather pitiful as they slowly and guiltily sat back in their seats.
"All that boy cares about is making you both happy and no matter what he does, he upsets at least one of you. Have you even stopped to think what that's doing to his mind?" Chiyo questioned hotly. "Or do you simply not care that he's heading for a breakdown over your petty measuring contest?"
Chiyo knew that Bakugo and Todoroki did care and they had thought about how their actions would affect Midoriya; that's why they'd agreed to a tenuous truce in the first place. But it wasn't enough and they needed to realize that before it was too late.
"With your respective backgrounds, both of you should know how hypersensitive Izuku is to the temperaments of everyone around him. His very survival depended on reading his 'Master's' emotional state and doing everything in his power to make him happy. Chiyo stated, staring down her nose at the increasingly small men sitting across from her. "And you fools are so obvious about your hatred for one another that someone who'd lost all five of their senses could tell."
The old woman continued examining Bakugo and Todoroki, noting their shame but also their uncertainty. Both commanded unnatural control over their feelings and actions, but they seemingly lost all discipline when it came to Midoriya.
They cared far too much for him to completely repress their distrust and misgivings about each other. Todoroki feared that Bakugo would manage to convince Midoriya that he was a bad person and wasn't safe, or simply steal him away. Bakugo, in turn, wholeheartedly believed that Todoroki was a true danger to his long-lost friend and feared what could happen to Midoriya in the future.
Unfortunately, neither of their concerns was completely unfounded. Bakugo certainly had an unusual amount of pull over Midoriya's mind and had enough high-profile connections to successfully 'kidnap' him from Todoroki. But in fairness to Bakugo, Todoroki had initially intended to kill Midoriya and Chiyo honestly couldn't say if his total obsession with the young man would end at some point.
With a heavy, stress-filled sigh, Chiyo shook her head with disappointment, sadness seeping into her expression. "That young man is tearing himself apart trying to find some way to keep you both in his life without upsetting either of you, but he isn't the problem here. You are. Unless you want to be the reason his fragile mind snaps, I suggest you come to an understanding."
Chiyo turned and began hobbling out, leaving the two thoroughly shamed men to ruminate over her words. She paused just before exiting the room, giving them a final stern look. "If I hear a single sound other than words coming from this room, I'll taser you both. You will not have another death match in front of Izuku, am I clear?"
Dejected and angry, Todoroki and Bakugo nodded that they understood. Chiyo was right and if they really cared for Midoriya, then they had to make this work.
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"You tried to kill him," Bakugo stated darkly, starting the conversation after an uncomfortably long silence following Chiyo's exit. "Deku told me about how you fucking straggled him before changing your mind and bringing him back here."
Todoroki's jaw was nearly locked it was clenched so tightly, remembering that night and how it felt to have Midoriya's delicate neck jerking beneath his fingers. He loved killing people, especially when he got to take his time and feel the life slipping out of his victims. Had it not been Midoriya he'd been strangling, it would have been a particularly exhilarating memory.
"Obviously, he's still alive," Todoroki eventually responded tersely.
Bakugo narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "Fuck you. I saw those pictures and how close you got to going through with it. Serial killers don't just spontaneously stop murdering people."
"I never said I had any intention of stopping," Todoroki quipped back. "In regards to Izuku, I didn't have it out for him specifically, he just happened to be a loose end that needed to be tied up. I decided against killing him and swore that I would never hurt him and by extension, you. I've done nothing to suggest that I'd go back on my word."
Barely keeping his temper in check, Bakugo held in a snarl. Midoriya wasn't some fucking piece of string—some 'loose end'. He was a person and the kindest, most gentle, good-natured soul Bakugo had ever met.
Still, Todoroki had so far done as he'd promised. From the night he whisked Midoriya away, he'd taken superb care of him and though it was dangerously strained at times, he'd been civil with Bakugo as well.
But Bakugo knew that Todoroki's mind wasn't normal and he couldn't be certain that something wouldn't set him off in the future. And of course, murder wasn't the only concern Bakugo had. "Yeah, and I suppose your change of heart had nothing to do with how badly you want Deku for yourself, right asshole?"
Todoroki's temple bulged in flustered anger. "I'm not a rapist, you bastard. If I have sex with Izuku, it will be because he wants to have sex with me."
"I know you're not that stupid, Todoroki. Deku doesn't even know what sex is!" Bakugo retorted equally as hotly, finally shifting in his chair to face his employer. "He doesn't even know there's an option to say 'no' and even if he did, he wouldn't dare say it to you. In what world would you and Deku fucking be anything other than sexual assault?"
Todoroki also twisted, glaring the blonde down. "I just told you I'd never do something with Izuku that he doesn't want to do."
"Are you deliberately being dense? You heard the old bag. Deku is watching you closely and would do anything to make you happy." Bakugo argued. "If Deku gets it in his head that you want to fuck him, he'll convince himself it's what he wants too, even if he actually doesn't."
Todoroki couldn't deny that, but he also couldn't give up the slight hope that Midoriya would want to be with him on a physical level. It wasn't as if he expected to be intimate anytime soon, but someday…
"You're supposed to be his protector, right? Give Deku the sex talk and explain consent." Todoroki suggested, though rather bitterly. "Then will you be satisfied that I'm not taking advantage of him?"
Bakugo narrowed his eyes, not liking the idea. Anything regarding sex was taboo when it came to Deku; he was severely traumatized by what had been done to him. No matter how he phrased it, there would be no way to avoid the psychological turmoil it would cause.
Even if by some miracle Bakugo managed to explain what those horrific 'games' had been to Midoriya, consent was another, arguably more difficult subject to broach. Midoriya was naive and psychologically stunted, but he wasn't stupid. He'd know the only reason Bakugo would bring up such a delicate topic would be because it had to do with Todoroki. In fact, no matter who talked to Midoriya about being able to say 'no' to adult activities, he'd come to the inevitable conclusion that it was because Todoroki wanted sex.
"Absolutely not." He growled. "Deku isn't ready to know what that sick bastard did to him and I'm not going to help him realize that you want to do that shit to him either."
"Sick bastards; Plural." Todoroki corrected; his anger temporarily redirected towards the 'friends' Midoriya had mentioned Shigaraki had brought to see him. "Shigaraki loaned him out."
Bakugo's face darkened further than it had during their altercation, ears burning red as he curled his fingers into tight fists until they cracked ominously. "Who?"
"I don't know yet," Todoroki responded honestly. "It's not like Shigaraki kept stellar records or anything and I didn't want to press Izuku for information."
Bakugo sat back in his chair, still tense but irritation also shifting away from their situation. It was fairly evident that Todoroki fully intended on killing the people who'd assaulted Midoriya, something that Bakugo couldn't say he was against."
It didn't solve the very real concerns they both held about each other, but a partnership of sorts could help build trust or at least be a distraction for the time being. "Give me what you have so far and I'll send it to my contacts. Once they find the bastards, they're all yours."
Todoroki quirked an eyebrow but seemed to understand his employees' motivations. Bakugo certainly would have better luck tracking criminals than he did, especially since he had friends who could devote extreme time and dedication to the pursuit that he didn't have right then.
"Very well."