Trouble's Coming (SeroDeku)

chapter 10

Sero was the one to text to meet up this time around. Izuku's stomach was tying itself into a million knots as he kept rereading the short and clipped message. It was so unlike the other messages they had exchanged, all full of banter and sappy comments. He had half the mind to delete it after it was read, it didn't belong among the treasured messages.

As slowly as Izuku could move without making it too obvious he was stalling, he headed off for their rooftop. He wasn't sure what to expect once he made it, but he was bracing himself for the worst. He was bracing himself for yelling, insults, declarations of misplaced trust and disappointment. He was bracing for a break up.

Imagine his surprise when he was engulfed into a firm hug as soon as his feet hit the roof. "Hanta?" he asked softly, holding onto the other boy just as tightly.

"You scared the shit out of me today," Sero said, squeezing once more before releasing his hold. He didn't back off though, staying right in front of Izuku. "What the hell was that?"

And there was the question Izuku didn't know how to answer.

His eyes were wide and misty as he looked up at his concerned boyfriend. "Are you... Do you hate me?" his voice was choked, but he had to ask. He needed to know the answer, no matter how much it might hurt.

Sero's face softened as he gently cradled Izuku's. "Lightning bug, I could never."

"But- but your classmate, I- I hurt her and-" His confessions were going to go tumbling right out of his mouth. He wasn't thinking properly, the only thought on his mind being to come clean to the boy in front of him.

Sero quickly shushed him, wiping a few tears that had managed to fall from his green eyes. "Tsu's fine, okay? Barely even had a bruise, we talked about it on the bus. She said that for a villain, you were remarkably careful with her."

Izuku gulped, staring up at Sero with dulled awe.

"I saw you, Iz. I know what you did wasn't voluntary. I don't hate you and I'm not even mad. At least not at you. The jackass calling you a dog on the other hand..." he suggestively trailed off, causing Izuku to snort.

"You've gotten better, tape boy, but don't get ahead of yourself," Izuku teased, before sniffling quietly.

"Oh, ouch, love." Sero faked a grimace at Izuku's words.

Izuku's heart stuttered at the pet name. It was new and he thought it meant so much more than just a casual nickname.

Sero picked up on it, the way he seemed to freeze. The black haired boy went to open his mouth, but Izuku cut him off. Whatever it was he was going to say... Izuku wasn't sure he was ready to hear it. Not yet.

"Hanta, I'm going to tell you something, and I'm only doing it because I'm sure UA staff have already figured it out and you'll find out sooner or later anyway, okay?" he rushed out, redirecting the conversation.

Sero shut his mouth and nodded for him to continue.

Izuku took a deep breath and recited the lie he'd spent the past few hours coming up with (not that it was entirely a lie to begin with). "There's a traitor at UA. That's how my father and Shigaraki found out about your field trip."

Sero blinked down at him, ever so slowly taking in the new information.

"I can't tell you who, but you have to promise me to be careful. Trust absolutely no one. I don't care if they're the nicest, friendliest, most innocent person on the planet, you don't trust them, okay? Promise me, Hanta." Izuku was pleading, pleading for him to realize the double meanings behind his words. To take his words to heart so much he stopped trusting Izuku, stopped telling him bits and pieces of his school life.