Teachers Pet

Is This Love?

Todoroki POV

Katsuki had always been gentle before. I knew that now. But I liked it. Even though, when I woke up, I felt incredibly sore. Parts of me ached in a way that was just painful, but most of it was a good ache. It made me feel...happy? I felt owned by him. His arm was wrapped possessively around my waist and his head was resting in the crook of my neck.

It made me smile, that even in sleep, Katsuki held on tightly. Like maybe he didn't want to let go. I didn't want him to let go either. I knew our age difference bothered him sometimes, and the fact that he was my teacher, but those things didn't matter to me. He was the first person to make me feel safe and this overwheleming emotion since my mother died. I hadn't had this sense of security in years. I liked it. And I liked how he overwelmed my senses.

I'd do anything to keep this feeling. I'd be anything he wanted. He was my rock. I wanted to be his. He should be able to come to me anytime he had problems, and know that I'd be there for him. I wanted him to know that I'd help him any way that I could. That I'd be there for him no matter what. My heart was bursting with feeling, so much it almost hurt. What was this ache in my chest?

Katsuki made me happy. That much I knew. He also made me feel safe. But it wasn't the same feeling I'd had for my mother. It was the same, yet different. It was more. He stirred in his sleep, and his grip tightened around my waist. I loved how tightly he was holding me. Oh! Was that what I was feeling? Was I in love with my teacher? My whole body flushed with warmth at the thought. So that's how that felt. I, Shoto Todoroki, was in love with Katsuki Bakugou.

A smile stretched across my face. It was freeing to finally understand what I was feeling. Maybe I'd been in love with him from the start? When he first walked into the classroom, I knew something was different. I never would have guessed I'd be in love with him. Not that I had any experience with that. I'd never been in love before. It was probably best to keep it to myself for awhile. I didn't think that was something he'd want to hear from me. We hadn't been together long enough. So no, I wouldn't tell him. But I could show him.

Just then, Katsuki sighed then rolled away, stretching. I rolled over and watched the muscles play on his chest and stomach. They rippled and tightened with his stretch. I was momentarily mesmerized by the display. I heard him chuckle, and immediately my gaze rose to his. His crimson eyes shone with mirth as he leaned forward and placed a kiss to my forehead.

"Well good morning."

I smiled. My skin felt like it was bursting with my newfound feelings, and I barely stopped myself from blurting out my confession. Instead, I leaned forward and kissed him. It was a sweet kiss, barely a brush of our lips, but it still sent warmth flooding through me. I pulled away and looked into his eyes. His hand lifted and cupped my jaw, thumb sliding across my lower lip.

"What's going on with you, Shoto?"

"What do you mean?"

"I noticed at the hospital you were kind of... mopey, I guess. I meant to ask you last night, but well, we got a little carried away."

I didn't know what to say. Mostly, I was just afraid of losing him. But I didn't want him to know how insecure I was feeling. It made me feel like I wasn't good enough. I wasn't confident enough, or old enough. I couldn't give him kids. I didn't understand why he was with me. And because I didn't understand, I didn't know what to do to keep it that way. I'd been trained all my life for fighting and being a hero. But I had no clue how to deal with this.

The goal was to get him to love me, but I didn't know how to accomplish that. I didn't tell him any of that, though. And luckily, I didn't have to come up with a convincing lie. His phone rang, saving me from having to answer. From his half of the conversation I gathered that it had something to do with hero work. He hung up with a grimace and turned back to me.

"I have to go. I'll drop you off at UA first though. I have to go to another city. There's a villain targeting the heroes there and they don't have anyone who can stop him."

He was leaving? I was worried because I didn't want him to get hurt. But I'd never interfere with his hero work. It was important to him and he was good at it. I knew he was strong and capable. Emotions were so confusing. I got dressed as quickly as I could.

"I'm not sure how long this will take. But I'll keep in touch. And when I get back, we're going to have a talk."

"Ok. Be careful."

Katsuki gave me a confident smirk before we rushed down to the car. The drive to UA was quick. Before I got out of the car, he gave me a lingering kiss. I watched him drive away, with a heavy heart. Maybe I should have told him I loved him? I didn't know. I hoped he would be ok and that he would defeat the villain quickly and come back.

While he was gone, I went to class like normal. It just wasn't the same. It didn't feel right' without him there. Momo told me I was acting lovesick. Was that a thing? I wasn't sure. All I knew was that I missed him and our nightly talks just weren't the same. He made sure to call every day while he was gone. After two weeks he stopped calling. I became volatile. Little things started to set me off. There were a few small fires and an accidental freezing. I was losing control, and I didn't know how to take it back. After a month, I'd given up hope.

It was during a training exercise that I lost control completely. I'd iced half the arena and fire was running rampant on the other half. People were screaming and running. Someone was calling my name, but I couldn't understand. What did any of this matter? What was a world, without him in it? I could feel tears leaking from my eyes, only to freeze on one side and evaporate on the other. Then out of the darkness, I heard a voice I thought I'd never hear again.

"What the fuck is going on here? Haven't you learned control by now?"