"I'm tellin' you, bro," Kirishima said, arm slung over Katsuki's shoulder as the oppressive mid-summer sun beat down on them, "You'd love Fat Gum. He's, like, the best boss ever. You wouldn't regret it."
Katsuki slid a simmering look Kirishima's way and drank deep from the punch in his cup.
"Like I'd wanna spend every fuckin' day of my life with you two chuckleheads."
"Well, you gotta work for someone strong," Kirishima said. "I can't believe you of all people haven't decided."
Katsuki couldn't believe it either.
The indecision which had taken hold of him the past two months was driving him up the wall. His parents' house was inundated with mailed offers, country-wide, and even some out of country. He was, as he had ever been in his life, wanted and appreciated everywhere. He'd fucking expected that, hadn't he? He was first in his class, wasn't he? He could do whatever the hell he wanted, couldn't he?
So why did he feel stuck in stone, like those nightmares where you're running in a panic but moving inches at a time?
He'd gone so far as to consider working within Endeavor's Office. It was strong, maybe the strongest. But then there was Todoroki. And as much as they no longer wanted each other's heads stuffed and mounted on the wall above their fireplace, Katsuki would rather be dead and buried than be paired up with him long term. Without Deku to act as a buffer between – and, hell, just to translate between them – there was no chance.
Without Deku...
Katsuki snarled and shrugged off his friend's arm.
"Lay the fuck off, shark mouth, I'll decide what's the best of the best." He finished his punch and frowned down into the cup. "I just can't choose 'cause I'm obviously the one who everyone wants on their team."
"I feel like that's probably inaccurate," Todoroki said, wandering up to them and taking a sip from a water bottle. "You're a terror with teamwork."
"I'm better than some people," Katsuki said, deciding not to rise to the bait, considering he was attending his own graduation party in his parents' back yard. His mom would tear him a new asshole.
He glanced briefly at Deku, who huddled at the end of the yard, deep in conversation with Aizawa. Deku's hands flew as he articulated. Deku had one of those rubberband headband things on, his hair having grown a bit longer and more unkempt in the past year. Katsuki sometimes wondered if Deku realized he was growing out his hair to emulate All Might's style, or if it was on purpose. Either way, he looked dumb. And distracting.
Todoroki flicked a look over his shoulder, his mouth quirked as he levelly met Katsuki's gaze.
"Nevermind. You're not as bad. He's a good leader, but as a follower he –"
"Sucks," Katsuki said. "He sucks ass."
"Does he now?" Todoroki said, his eyebrows raising.
Katsuki paused, felt his face go up in flame. He lunged, snatching Todoroki's collar in his fist.
"WHAT THE FUCK'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN, YOU PERVERTED FUCK? I'LL –"
"Aand we're getting something to drink," Kirishima said, laughing as he hooked his thick arm around Katsuki's neck and physically dragged him to the food table and ice coolers.
Breathing hard and shallow, suppressing his rage with every ounce of three years' acquired willpower, Katsukui ladled more punch into his cup, guzzled the entire thing in one go, and poured another.
Kirishima patted his back, chuckling.
"Man, you really let him get to you."
"You know what the fuck he was talking about."
