Hot-Headed (Now also a podfic on spotify!)

Chapter 8

Midoriya Izuku

"Deku."

Midoriya Izuku froze as he heard his nickname growled a few paces behind him.

Kacchan. Was he already going to be hurling insults and trying to start arguments so soon? It was Sunday, the day before the first day of the new school year. Their third year. It was move-in day and he was coming in to get his room assignment before bringing all of his belongings in.

"Kacchan," Midoriya responded warmly, yet warily, turning around to face him, "What can I do for you?"

"What can I do for you? Gimme a break, idiot," Bakugo mocked, rolling his eyes. He took a measured step toward Midoriya, "It's the last year of school and I decided, fuck it."

He paused for a second, looking like he was frustratedly getting some thoughts together.

Midoriya furrowed his brows in confusion, "Uhhh I'm not quite-"

Bakugo cut him off. "I used to think you were weak, useless, nothing, quirkless Deku. You showed me up pretty bad in first year, I'll give you that. You might have even surpassed me, I don't know, I doubt it though," he scoffed. That probably pained him to say.

He took a few more steps toward Midoriya, his voice getting a little lower with more of an edge, "You've won so fucking much since we came to this school, you scum. You keep fucking getting all the attention, all the accolades when it should've been me. I hated that shit. Still kinda do, but I sucked it up. That's what happens when All Might chooses you as his successor, I guess. Doors just magically open for you."

It was at this point Midoriya thought Kacchan might be trying to make amends in his own weird way. Maybe try to sew a friendship from a rivalry that had been treacherous and even brutal at times. He swallowed hard, not wanting to interrupt in case anything he did would scare him off.

But, then he kept talking.

"But there's one thing that's always bugged me, right in the very back of my mind, Deku," he said tapping a finger to his head, "Something I can't get past. So I decided, fuck it. This year is my year."

Midoriya's shoulders tensed a bit at this. So this wasn't going to be a pleasant exchange afterall...

"You've had her for, what, pretty much the last two years?" Kacchan asked. His scarlet eyes digging into Midoriya's emerald ones.

Midoriya frowned. "Wha? Who?" he asked, more cautious than ever.

"Oh you fucking know who, Deku," Kacchan smirked momentarily before receding back into a scowl. "She keeps giving you those big doe eyes and following you around like a puppy. She thinks she's not obvious. Keh," he scoffed again.

Alarm bells were sounding in Midoriya's head. He felt himself start sweating. What exactly was Kacchan trying to say here?

"You've known," Kacchan continued, "You've known since first fucking year. I know, because everybody knows. And what have you done about it? This chick so obviously tripping over herself for you. You've done nothing. Not acknowledged her, not returned her feelings, not turned her down. Nothing. Just strung her along and let her keep being pathetic. For you."

Midoriya stared at the ground, his entire body going rigid. Something inside of him was going numb. He felt bombarded and defensive. But... Bakugo was right. He'd known for a long time Uraraka, had feelings for him and had been trying to hide it really really badly.

"Well, not anymore, motherfucker," Bakugo snapped, "I'm taking her now. I'm gonna show her what a real man can be like. And you won't win this time, Deku."