"I can't believe you gave him two black eyes before I could."
Izuku slid a wavering, uncertain smile toward Todoroki and prayed for the both of them that Kacchan didn't hear from the lunch table behind their backs. Only yesterday, Izuku hand been helping his classmates clean up Kacchan's blood from the hallway, apologizing profusely and ignoring eye contact.
Iida choked on his food and swallowed quickly, his eyes a little manic.
"Todoroki, you shouldn't wish harm on your fellow classmate and hero! Teamwork, a good attitude, and –"
"You could have picked worse, though," Todoroki said quietly, almost lost to the clatter of the cafeteria. He poked at his udon with his chopsticks and flicked a glance to Izuku's blank expression. "Probably."
"You –" Izuku blinked, then lit up, delighted. That was as good an acceptance as he'd ever get from Todoroki. In fact, that was almost praise, considering their previous active dislike for each other. "Thanks."
"So, you two are a thing now?" Ochako said, drinking from a juice box. "Like, dating? What did he say to you in that elevator? Oh my gosh, I can't even imagine hearing Bakugou say something romant-"
"He was bleeding all over himself and yelled at me the majority of the time," Deku said with a half laugh, poking at the remainder of his meal. He didn't want to divulge too much now that he understood and realized he needed to respect Kacchan's need for privacy. He didn't want people seeing his own bedroom, let alone his heart. "I just – I mean. I heard what I needed to hear."
"Oh my gosh," Ochako said, scrunching up her hands and face as she squeaked. "I can't believe you two – so cute!"
"Uhhh." Deku flicked a look away and ruffled the back of his hair anxiously.
Cute was literally the last way he would describe he and Kacchan.
Dysfunctional? Struggling? A rollercoaster where every person on board was also on fire?
And... maybe a little cute. Kacchan had moments. Sometimes.
Iida cleared his throat, pushing his glasses up as he went serious.
"I must admit that I would have been surprised to hear myself say this two years ago, but I am fully confident that Bakugou now has your best interests in his heart."
Izuku frowned and studied his friend.
"What do you mean?"
"I couldn't help overhearing in the hallway –"
"You had your ear pressed up against the stairwell door the same as all of us," Todoroki said, deadpan.
"I couldn't help overhearing in the hallway what Bakugou said to you in the heat of the moment, and I find myself in deep agreement that you would benefit from depending on us more."
"Oh," Izuku said, his face heating up in embarrassment as he dropped his gaze to his food. "Yeah."
"Not just as friends," Ochako said kindly, reaching across the table to fluff his hair. "But as heroes, you know?"
"You taught me that," Iida said, smiling. "Years ago. I still keep that with me."
"Me too," Todoroki said. "We're a team. Even that asshole."
Izuku sputtered a laugh, relief flooding through him as he shifted to grin at Todoroki.
"He grows on you."
"Oh my god, I fucking hope not."
"Speaking of heroes," Ochako said, her eyes lighting up as she propped her elbows on the table and her chin upon her fists. "Who's been hired before official graduation? Have you heard?"
