Truce
*Katsudon: Consisting of rice and breaded pork ribs, katsudon is said to be Izuku’s favorite dish.
*Genkan: Traditional entrance to Japanese homes where they keep shoes.
- - -
After the reencounter with his ex boss, Izuku saw himself having to hide some things from his roommate lately; the bicolor made a fuss again when he found out that Izuku went out to lunch with Bakugou, but was relieved to know that nothing happened between them and that Midoriya was actually taking things slow. At least the greenette learned about how the process of forgiveness works, but he had to hide from his friend that he’d be joining Kacchan on a fashion show that Friday night.
Todoroki left from work at 6PM, Izuku just had to tell him where he’d be at when he was to leave the house so that he wouldn’t have to deal with “disturbances”, in case Todoroki wanted to ruin his plans somehow, Izuku wanted to go to that show more than anything after all.
It was weird to see that whole overprotection coming from the bicolor; especially given the fact that he tried to flirt with Izuku in the past, the greenette started to doubt his friend’s intentions.
At that point, all Todoroki knew was that his friend and his old boss had been texting each other, which was the only guarantee that they weren’t going out together, but it’s not like that wouldn’t happen again sooner or later and he knew that all too well, and that’s what worried him the most.
If the bicolor could reveal the truth to his friend, it might be easier to make him avoid Bakugou, but maybe that meant that Todoroki himself could no longer have Midoriya in his life, which was the last thing he wanted. The greenette had no idea of how grateful he was.
The much awaited day has come, Izuku was so excited he was dressed and ready at 5PM. Even though he didn’t know if he could trust Katsuki’s word to keep the promise, even though the blonde’s presence was still uncalled for due to past experiences, that was an event to which he’d really like to attend.
At 5:30PM, the chauffeur pulled in as promised; Izuku got in the car as if drove up to the fashion show and pulled out his phone to text Todoroki about where he would be at and held himself back; maybe he shouldn’t tell the bicolor the exact place, he’d get an easy access to an event of the kind and might try to sabotage it. The greenette then thought about the most probable excuse.
Hi, Todoroki! Sorry about telling you at the last minute. Iida and Uraraka invited me over for dinner, so I’ll be back a bit late tonight.
Not too long after, a reply buzzed on his phone.
You’re hanging out without me? :(
Izuku sweated heavily as he thought about a plausible explanation.
Oh, is just that Iida made katsudon* and I didn’t want it to get cold. ’^^ We’ll play games and watch movies afterwards, so I may take a while to be back.
Oh, right. Can I show up around, when I’m back from work then?
The greenette’s heart beat like a drum, he was running out of excuses.
I don’t know… did they text you about it, too?
No… Do you not want me there?
No, Todoroki! That’s not it!
Midoriya…
You’re not lying to me, are you?
Caught in the act. Izuku’s fingers hovered over the smartphone’s keyboard, not knowing how to respond, that was when the bicolor realized what that was about.
You’re going to see Bakugou, aren’t you?
Izuku did not reply, he just gulped as his friend resumed typing.
You know I don’t support that.
I don’t need you to support me, Todoroki.
I’m just trying to protect you, you know that.
I know! But you also need to let me make my own decisions.
What if he disappoints you again or worse?
Then I’ll let you rub it in my face for the rest of our lives.
Will you really wait for it to happen to back away from him?
How can you be so sure?
You see what he did once, aren’t you being a little too gullible?
I’m sorry, Todoroki, but I believe that people can change.
But not that fast.
That conversation was growing more hostile by the moment and was getting them nowhere, Izuku then decided to put an end to it.
I’m sorry, Todoroki, I’ll call you if I need anything. I’ll be back later.
The greenette didn’t wait for a reply, he just turned off his phone and leaned back on the seat. That evening would’ve started better without an argument with his friend.
Making it to the place, Izuku thanked the chauffeur as he left the car and stared in awe at the event’s magnitude. There were several people and many famous faces he never dreamed to see from up close, he felt out of place even before getting in.
He walked around the place in search of Kacchan, looking shyly at his surroundings; many people ignored his presence, some others eyed him as if saying “what are you doing here?”. Sure, Izuku wasn’t really known in the fashion industry and was all by himself. He felt so overwhelmed he thought of turning away to leave but, just as he spun around, he saw those familiar scarlet orbs facing him back.
“Wah-chan!” He exclaimed in surprise.
The blonde one smiled at him. “Were you thinking to escape?”
Izuku lowered his eyes in embarrassment. “I was looking for you.”
“It’s good that I found you, then.”
“Sure…” Izuku answered slowly.
Before he could notice, Izuku was taking a good look at Katsuki from head to toe; his dark suit matched him well and his combed-back hair with a spiky tuft at front complemented his elegant look. Would it be wrong to think he looks good?
“Huh?” Bakugou mumbled confusedly.
“Huh?” Midoriya mumbled back.
The blonde smiled again. “Don’t worry, Izuku… you’re looking really good too.”
His freckled face felt warm, he didn’t notice he said that out loud…
“Let’s get going?” Kacchan took the lead and guided Izuku through the place with a hand on his back. The greenette felt a bit bothered by the sudden proximity, but did not protest.
They walked by the paparazzi on the red carpet, those who insisted for Bakugou to pose for them; he agreed to it out of bad will, pulling Izuku along to pose alongside him despite his protests.
They were all confused to see that new face and started to question them as the cameras flashed all around.
“Who’s that, mister Bakugou?” One of the photographers asked.
Katsuki turned to the greenette beside him with a serene smile. “A dear friend.”
Izuku eyed him silently.
“And what’s the name of your friend?” Another photographer asked curiously.
Katsuki smiled at Izuku, giving him the chance to speak.
“Oh… Izuku Midoriya!” The greenette replied.
The paparazzi then bombarded him with questions, wanting to know more about that new face.
“Are you a new employee of Bakugou’s? What do you do in Ichiban?”
“Are you a new model?”
“Who made your suit?”
Katsuki just spoke up to get rid of them. “Go away, you bunch of vultures! That’s none of your business!”
The paparazzi looked shocked for a moment until Katsuki guided the greenette away from there as the cameras flashed behind them.
The blonde seemed to be in a hurry, Izuku didn’t know where he was taking him; they stopped to talk with some fashion designers and models on the way who called up to Bakugou and paid little to no attention to the greenette accompanying him, even though he was amazed to see those people from up close for the first time.
They made it to the stage and Izuku admired the place in awe, that was his first time watching a live fashion show.
“Do you like it?” Kacchan’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Are you kidding? It’s what I’ve always dreamed of, since I was a little kid.”
The blonde smiled at his honesty. “Good, I’m glad to make your dream come true.”
Izuku blushed slightly, until something came up to him. “Hey, Kacchan… how did you get into the fashion industry?”
The blonde seemed to be surprised by his question. “It’s family business… My dad was a fashion designer and my mom, a seamstress. The company was also my dad’s.”
“I see… you’re taking over their business. Are they retired, then?”
“My mom is, my dad passed away long ago.”
“Oh… I’m sorry about that.” Izuku said with a frown.
“No problem, it’s really been a long while, we got over that. Come on, let’s go sit.” He said pulling the greenette up to the best seats in front of the stage. “But tell me… what about your parents?”
“Oh…” Izuku eyed him surprised; for the first time he was showing interest. “My parents are business workers, my mom has always supported my dream to become a fashion designer, my dad finds it weird… I haven't seen him since I was four, when he left to work in the States.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“No problem, I don’t even remember what he looks like anymore. You can’t miss someone who’s never been around, you know?” Izuku scratched his neck awkwardly.
“But don’t you miss a father figure?”
“Not really, my mom is everything I could ask for!”
Bakugou smiled softly. “She must be a wonderful woman, then.”
“She is.”
Suddenly, their conversation was cut short by two figures taking the free seats next to Katsuki.
“Hello, Bakugou.”
The blonde eyed them annoyed. “Shimura, I see you brought your secretary.”
“Of course I did! Himiko’s my right hand.” Tenko laughed.
“I bet she really is…” Bakugou said sarcastically. “Do you need to stay here?”
The black-haired man raised a brow at him. “What? I figured you’d be here and came to look for you, can’t we spend some time between friends?”
“Sure but, in case you haven’t noticed, I already got company.” Bakugou said impatiently, the other two stretched their necks to the greenette beside him.
“In that case, forgive me for cutting in.” Tenko smiled as he got up. “Let’s go, Himiko.”
The blonde woman stared at Izuku with a piercing gaze before complying, he looked too focused on his phone to notice; Toga simply gave up on getting his attention and followed her boss away from there.
Katsuki huffed impatiently before turning back to Izuku to apologize, that was when he noticed the sad look on his face.
“I’m sorry about that, Izuku… those people are really hard to control.”
“Hm?” The greenette mumbled, not quite catching that. “O-oh! No problem, I was just… thinking.”
He said that last part in a melancholic tone, that was when Bakugou noticed he should at least show some concern. The blonde cleaned his throat. “What is it, then?”
“I’m worried about Todoroki.” He answered slowly.
Katsuki couldn’t help the sting of jealousy at the mentioned name. “Oh, yeah…?”
His disappointed tone didn’t go unnoticed.
“I-is just that…! We argued on my way here…” The greenette explained.
The blonde one eyed him curiously. “Wanna tell me what happened?”
“Well… Todoroki’s always been a great friend, you know? But sometimes he gets a little overprotective and that can be invasive… He found out we’ve been talking and didn’t like the idea…”
“I can imagine why… You can’t say he doesn’t have a point.” The blonde said in regret.
“N-not that that’s important right now! It’s just… I know I’m being gullible, but it’s just the way I am, you know? I believe that everybody deserves a second chance, and that includes you, Kacchan.”
Katsuki smiled softly. “Thank you for trusting me.”
“Is okay.” Izuku smiled in return. “By the way, are we gonna stay here until the show begins? There are very few people.”
Bakugou shrugged. “I was never a big fan of crowds and that snobbish people begging for my attention all the time is suffocating, you know? Besides, my attention is all yours tonight.”
Izuku felt his face burn at those words. “I-I see…”
“But, if you want to meet the models, I can introduce you.”
“Oh, no! No… I guess… it’s better this way… No one here knows me since I’m not actually famous, I don’t wanna bother.”
“That doesn’t make you less important.” Katsuki said in all seriousness, Izuku smiled at him. “But anyway… I’d like to meet that friend of yours, Todoroki.”
“I could introduce you, anyday.”
“That’d be perfect.” Katsuki smiled maliciously, Izuku wasn’t sure why, though. He just really wanted those two to settle themselves out so that he didn’t need to go out on Todoroki’s back anymore.
Little by little, everyone took their seats and the show finally began. Izuku was amazed to see the models live, they were all breathtaking. The small one constantly mumbled to himself, taking mental notes, a custom that captivated Katsuki since they first met. The Incubus answered some of Izuku’s questions every so often during the show; in the end, it all went on better than they expected.
At the end, everyone gathered around to talk some more after the show, some of the most well-known and highly prestiged faces of Japan and even some other countries were there; Katsuki figured that being surrounded by highly-ranked people could intimidate Izuku - he was right -, but he explained to the greenette that he’d need to stay and socialize even that against his own will, after all, that was an annoying part of the process that the blonde couldn’t control, for the most he’d like to.
Although they couldn’t stay together at all times throughout the event, they both had more fun than they hoped for; Katsuki had forgotten how nice it is to talk to Izuku and vice versa.
“Mister Bakugou! Can we have a word in private?” A tall, brunette man asked suddenly, his mask got Izuku wondering if he could maybe have a cold.
“Oh, well…” Katsuki turned to the greenette by his side.
“It’s alright, Kacchan.” Izuku tranquilized him.
Still hesitant, Bakugou turned and followed the man up to a corner, leaving Izuku by himself; not long after, someone went up to him.
“Hello, Izuku.” That voice made chills run down his spine. “It’s weird seeing you around here, I thought you quit your job.”
“Oh… Toga. Yeah, I did… but Kacchan invited me to the show as friends.”
“‘Kacchan’?” The blonde one quirked a confused brow.
“O-oh! Katsuki…”
“I see… You two have been getting a lot closer, huh? I don’t like that.” Even before Izuku could ask her about the last part, Toga was already changing subjects. “So? How’d you like the show?”
“It was amazing, I never thought I’d be able to see one from up close.” He said with a large smile.
“Really?” Toga smiled maliciously. “I noticed how much you’re interested in fashion, that’s weird coming from a guy.”
“Uh, well…”
“But, you know… I’m really more interested to see you without clothes.”
Izuku bit his tongue and stepped back, Toga was dangerously close, only she couldn't try anything before they heard someone’s call.
“Hey!” Bakugou’s thundering voice boomed through the place. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Kacchan?!”
“Yes, you are. Could you give us some-?”
“No, actually… we’re done.” Izuku cut off the blonde woman.
The greenette ignored her as he joined Kacchan again, the Incubus himself glared at Himiko with a piercing gaze as they backed away, leaving her watching Izuku part with Katsuki, outraged by the scene.
“Did you finish the businesses you had with that man?” Izuku asked him as they walked.
“Chisaki? No, but I saw Toga approaching and thought I should cut in.” Katsuki retorted impatiently.
“I see… thanks for that.”
“No problem, Izuku… it makes me relieved you want nothing to do with her.”
“Why would I?”
They both stopped pacing to talk.
“I don’t know, I just…”
Izuku smiled in understanding. “Kacchan… are you jealous, by any chance?”
Katsuki bit his tongue so as not to curse. “Why are you implying that?” He asked, annoyed.
“Well… you were the one who told me to stay away from her for starters. I didn’t understand why at first, but it’s just what makes more sense for me.”
Katsuki eyed the floor awkwardly. “So what if it is?”
Izuku smiled softly. “I must say I’m flattered, but we’re still in the process, right?” He said to Katsuki’s contempt. “But I want you to know that… right now, I can say we can start over as friends.”
The blonde stared at him in shock. “Thank you, Izuku.”
The greenette’s smile grew. “Hey… can you tell me where the bathroom is?” He fidgeted uncomfortably.
“Huh…?”
Katsuki insisted to accompany him, he wouldn’t let that Himiko bitch get near him again; as he waited on the outside of the men’s restroom, a familiar face approached.
“Hello, Bakugou, it’s been a while.” She said flirtatiously.
“Utsushimi?” The blonde man quirked a brow.
Camie laughed like a schoolgirl. “You remember me.”
“Of course… we’re business partners after all.” Katsuki said apathetically, much to the lady’s deception.
“Is that all you remember?”
“Well, I must confess I remember some other stuff, as well…”
“Hmpf… I was thinking… would you like to go on another date with me?” She invited.
His answer was immediate. “Oh, no. I…” Bakugou bit his tongue. He didn’t know why he said that, it got out automatically.
“‘No’...? Why?” Camie sounded almost offended.
“I got something more serious.” Bakugou said plainly.
“Oh… Well… good luck with her, then.” She said disappointed.
He wouldn’t confess that he was lying or that he was going out with another man, he just wanted to keep the relationship he was now building with Izuku, either way, Camie left even before he had time to say anything else, although he’d rather stay silent. Soon after, he heard the men’s restroom’s door open, revealing the greenette himself.
“Are you finished?” Bakugou asked him.
“‘You got something more serious’?” Izuku changed subjects, talking slowly.
Bakugou was surprised, he didn’t know Izuku had been listening behind the door. “That wasn’t serious, okay? I just didn’t want her to-”
Izuku eyed him curiously as Bakugou cut himself off.
“Didn’t want her to what?” The greenette insisted.
“I didn’t want her to ruin everything.” Katsuki confessed to his surprise.
“I see… Thank you for that.” Izuku blushed awkwardly.
Bakugou shrugged. “It’s the least I could do.”
“I just don’t know if I forgive you enough to try and start over, you should know that.” Izuku raised a brow.
“I know, and I respect that.”
They both smiled at each other and went back to enjoy the party until they decided to call it a night and went back to their respective homes. It was nicer than they expected, they really enjoyed each other’s company; Izuku couldn’t be more thankful for Kacchan to be trying to make it up for him, even after everything.
As he made it to his destination, the greenette thanked the chauffeur and took a deep breath before facing Todoroki; he checked his phone on his way home, the bicolor tried to call and even texted several hostile messages to him.
Passing through the genkan*, Izuku saw the light on in the living room and knew that that was where Todoroki waited for him, so he decided to face the bicolor at once instead of going up to put on his pajamas and sleep, he’d be just delaying the inevitable after all.
He walked slowly with uncertain steps until meeting the pair of heterochromatic eyes piercing him from afar.
“So you finally decided to show up…” The bicolor got up from the couch to start his speech. “What gave into you to let him get close to you, Midoriya…? Sometimes it looks like you like to suffer, I can’t understand how you can be innocent to the point of letting people take advantage of you like that!” Izuku winced, it was rare to see his friend work himself up like that. “I’m trying to warn you to protect you, but you never listen…! You have no idea of how lucky you are for that Bakugou guy not taking advantage of you again, or worse!”
When he seemed to have finished, Izuku’s eyes watered up before he could speak, a sight that only made the bicolor regret for raising his tone.
“I-I… am sorry, Todoroki.” The greenette sobbed. “I really am at a crossroad here… I want to give Kacchan another chance, but I also don’t want to disappoint you, you’re my friend after all.”
Those words only made the bicolor feel bad about himself. He approached and touched the greenette’s shoulder affectionately. “I’m sorry, Midoriya… I didn’t notice I was putting so much pressure onto you. I didn’t think you were having such a hard time deciding, we’ve all seen what he did to you after all.”
“I know! But… I can’t explain why I wanna forgive him so much either.” Izuku sniffled. “Ever since I met him, I can’t help but have all these confusing feelings… I don’t know if I’ll give him a second chance, if that makes you more relieved, but I still want Kacchan to be a part of my life.”
His heterochromatic eyes widened, he didn’t think of that possibility before and felt stupid for such. “Well… if you want to get close to him so badly, I guess all I can do is get used to the idea… but I still want to meet him personally to be sure.”
Izuku sniffled. “He said he’d like to meet you too, we could set a date.”
“That’d make me more relieved.”
They both exchanged smiles and held each other in a friendly hug; they felt relieved to go to sleep without that thought to torment them.
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