Steady Scorch

Just Once

Chapter Summary:

Of course I will. I'd do anything for you, you dumbass. I'm yours, in every way you'll have me.

Midoriya is getting married and he wants Bakugo to be his best man.

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Bakugou isn't sure exactly when he and Midoriya become friends again. He's been hurling insults at Midoriya since they were children, the malice behind them varying over the years. As a child, he'd meant no harm; his harsh words had been little more than a way to push the odd anger that welled up within him when complimented by Midoriya out of his system. Then he'd grown older and angrier, and he'd started to spit disparaging words at Midoriya with intentional venom and barbs. He'd wanted to hurt the boy and he knew he'd succeeded at times (a fact he wasn't proud of).

It wasn't until his third and final year at Yuuei that he finally understood why Midoriya drove him so crazy. The realization had come quickly, practically smacking him in the face with the obviousness of it. Midoriya had walked into a classroom hand-in-hand with Todoroki, and Bakugou's heart had exploded. He'd jolted in his seat, gripping the wooden desk tightly in both of his hands as he tried his best to keep from loosing his composure, and then he'd realized.

Soon after that, his harsh insults had lost most of their bite. Midoriya had noticed almost immediately, and before Bakugou could realize what was happening he was twenty-four and they'd moved from bitter enemies to indifferent acquaintances to friends to best friends. Midoriya had latched onto Bakugou with all of his burning intensity, manhandling his way into Bakuguo's locked-up heart and taking it hostage in his scarred hands.

And Bakugou loved it, as much as he loathed to admit it to himself. He loved being Midoriya's best friend even though it caused him to fall even more deeply and hopelessly in love with him than he'd already been. Day in and day out he got to see Midoriya's sunny smile and hear his warm laughter-not to mention getting to fight side-by-side with him as All Might's sidekicks. The fact that Midoriya was willing to forgive him for all that he'd done in the past was more than Bakugou knew he deserved, but being his closest friend? It was as if he'd been given a second chance at happiness-not that he'd ever tell Midoriya that. Damn nerd cried enough as it was.

The only problem?

Todoroki Shouto.

In many ways, Bakugou appreciated Todoroki. He was an excellent fighter and an incredibly diligent Hero, and for that Bakugou admired him. But he was also Midoriya's boyfriend of six years, and the two were completely and sickeningly in love with each other. This, Bakugou supposed, was his punishment; he knew there had to be a catch when he and Midoriya started to grow closer to each other once again, and there had. In order to be friends with Midoriya, Bakugou would have to endure relationship talk and mushy-gushy stories and disgusting public displays of affection.

And as much as Bakugou told himself it didn't bother him, reminded himself that he didn't get to be jealous or angry that Midoriya was with someone else after all he'd put him through, it still ached. It felt as if there was a part of him missing, a gaping wound in his chest that could only be healed by the press Midoriya's lips against his. Bakugou was fairly certain that Todoroki was aware of his feelings, but there seemed to be a silent agreement between the two never to mention it. To do so would put Midoriya in an impossible position and do immeasurable harm to him; something neither of them wanted, seeing as they were both desperately in love with him.