What a damn hero - Part 2

This fic is a commission for Goddessofthe world! It will be a oneshot eventually but I'm still tweaking the rest, so here's part two!

If you're interested in commission info, click here! (also remember top-tier supporters get a prompt request, just send me a message!)

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“I met the nicest guy at work,” Ochako insisted, “you would like him so much!”

“You're sweet, but really, I'm not interested,” Izuku shook his head, smiling awkwardly. “Thank you though, I'll let you know if things change.”

“He really is nice,” Tsuyu croaked, making Izuku cringe a little. “I know Ochako-chan gets carried away, but I think you'd like him.”

“You won't even go on one double-date with us to see what you think? I promise it'll be fun!”

“Really, thank you, but I’m not-”

“But why?”

Izuku heard his own words too late, his brief moment of panic twisting his tongue into a big ball of stupid, sputtering out:

“I have a boyfriend.”

“What?!” Ochako shrieked, thumping her hands on the table and leaning in close. “Why didn't you tell me?!”

It was his default response on the street or in bars, if anyone approached him. He'd never expected it to slip out in front of his friends but apparently panic-induced stupidity was just a part of his damn life.

“I-It's new?” he offered pathetically, flooding red and twitching nervously beneath the table-top. “I, um, d-didn't want to jinx it?”

“Who is he?! Where did you meet?! Is he cute?!”

“Really cute!” Izuku nodded frantically. “We met online!”

“Show me!”

With that little voice in the back of his mind tormenting him once again, he found himself opening the unnamed folder in his phone gallery, tapping on an innocent picture taken in bed, rubbing at his sleepy eyes as he peered up at the camera. Nervously he held it out, and both the girls squeaked when they saw, babbling inaudible nonsense that Izuku couldn't begin to decipher.

“You did so good!” Ochako praised, reaching across the table to ruffle his messy hair. “I'm so proud of you, Izuku! When do we get to meet him?!”

“H-huh?”

“If this pretty dude is the guy my best friend is gonna marry, I've gotta meet him and approve him first!”

“Who said anything about marriage?!”

“Make it happen, Izuku!” she clapped her hands excitedly, beaming from ear to ear. “I'm so happy you finally have someone! You always seem so lonely, you know? He's gonna be so good for you, I'm sure of it!”

Throughout the rest of their lunch, Izuku felt a heavy guilt weighing down his stomach, eating away at him from the inside. He was so stupid, he had to come clean, but they were so happy for him, and he would have to go out with their stranger from work if he 'fessed up now. Maybe he could just pretend they broke up in a few days. That would give him at least a week of mourning before he had to deal with their matchmaking again, right?

He dug his phone from his pocket when they ordered dessert, contemplating. They'd been talking every night for the better part of the week, and as well as hearing all the amazing hero stories from his patrols, he'd also started to get to know the guy a little better. He'd known from reading his posts that they shared a lot of interests, but it was kind of unbelievable to him that Ground Zero actually enjoyed his company enough to keep talking to him.

Or maybe it was pity, that was always an option.

The last message had been around eight thirty the night prior, a familiar one that he got once a night without fail, though he kind of hated it every time.

BakuKatsu: Alright Quirkless, time for me to go. Shit to do, villains to beat up, sleep to get. G'night.

It'sZuku: Sweet dreams!! I hope you have the best sleep ever!!

He barely heard the gushing praises that were falling from his friends’ mouths, too busy staring at his screen and mentally kicking himself.

It'sZuku: I did something really stupid, and I promise I'll fix it, but um... I might have told my friends I had a boyfriend. By accident, that is!! And, um, showed them your photo?

BakuKatsu: Of course you did, fuckin' nerd.

It'sZuku: I know!! I'm so stupid!! T_T But now they're telling me to bring you on a DATE and I can't figure out how to tell them!!

BakuKatsu: Alright nerd, you're lucky I'm in a good mood. I gotta see this shitshow for myself. What's your name again?

It'sZuku: Um, it's Izuku, what do you mean “see it”?

Izuku froze when his phone began to ring, green eyes growing wide. Ochako and Tsuyu saw it in his face immediately, garbling excited nonsense and gesturing toward the phone. Even they seemed surprised, though, when Izuku didn't raise the phone to his ear. Instead he hit the connect button and smiled awkwardly, waving at the screen.

“H-hey,” he squeaked. “That, um, that was quick.”

“Had a spare five minutes before work,” he snorted. "You still at lunch, nerd?"

"Yeah!"

“Where are these friends of yours?”

Ochako squealed, almost tripping over her chair as she tried to stand, but Izuku just turned around to show their excited faces behind him.

“Turn your phone, nerd,” the deep voice demanded. “None of this portrait video shit, you hear me?”

“S-Sorry!” he squeaked, turning it quickly so all three of them would fit comfortably on the screen, their tiny faces fitting in the corner, a gorgeous face and crimson eyes taking up the rest. “Um, this is Uraraka Ochako, and that's Asui Tsuyu.”

He pointed at each of them in turn, and thankfully they managed to keep their mouths shut as they waved, waiting for the handsome piece of ass with a rough voice to speak again.

“Bakugou Katsuki,” he offered, and Izuku realised it might have been the first time he'd ever heard the man's full name. “Deku has told me a lot about you.”

Ochako's smile shrunk a little in her confusion, but Izuku just choked out a nervous laugh.

“I keep telling you, it's Izuku,” he complained, his smile wobbly.

“Nah, Deku suits you better,” Katsuki smirked. “Got something to say about it, Quirkless?”

Izuku was right, the word held a strange fondness – even Ochako and Tsuyu could hear it, staying quiet when they would normally jump to his defence.

“Alright, Kacchan,” Izuku answered, in a moment of boldness. “Deku it is.”

Katsuki snorted, but didn't complain, and finally Izuku glanced over at his friends, who had remained strangely silent throughout.

“Bakugou,” Tsuyu repeated. “I know that name.”

“I went to U.A.,” Katsuki answered knowingly. “Won a couple of Sports Festivals.”

“That's right!” Ochako thumped her fist on the table in triumph. “I remember! It was Bakugou-senpai versus Kirishima-senpai, the ultimate festival final! There was no one in our first year stadium, they were too busy watching you third years!”

“Yeah?” Katsuki asked flatly. “Me and Shitty Hair were a big deal? Huh.”

“Like you didn't know that, Kacchan,” Izuku teased. “What's with the fake modesty?”

“Like I care about crowds,” Katsuki snorted. “You two still heroes, then? Figures that Deku'd only let heroes in his life, fuckin' nerd.”

“We are! You must be too, right? I thought you'd be all over the news by now! Did you get injured or something?”

“Nah, just try to keep work and personal life separate,” he shrugged. “Speaking of which-”

An alarm clock went off behind him, and somehow Izuku was amused to know that he had a separate device for it, rather than use his phone like the rest of them.

“Gotta take off, duty calls. You take care of my Deku, you hear me?”

“Of course, Bakugou-senpai! Work hard!”

“Kisses, Deku.”

The voice was so demanding, the smirk so alluring, that Izuku found himself complying despite the blush spreading across his freckled cheeks. He raised a trembling hand and blew a kiss at the camera, watching Katsuki mime catching it and tucking it in his pocket.

“Later, nerd. Nice meeting you two.”

“Take care, Kacchan, but also kick butt!”

“I always do.”

The screen went black, and Izuku fell silent, staring at it in utter disbelief. Not only had Katsuki played along, he had gone all out for Izuku's sake.

What a damn hero.

“He's so cute!” Ochako praised, grabbing Izuku's arm in her delight. “I'm so proud, Izuku! I’m sorry I ever doubted you!”

“Y-Yeah, thank you. Um, I need to get back to work too, I'm sorry. It was nice seeing you both!”

With last hugs and farewells exchanged, he pulled his blazer back on, setting a brisk pace toward the office building. By the time he fell into his worn-out desk chair he had stopped trembling, but still he was wide-eyed and blank with confusion.

It'sZuku: Thank you so much, you're my hero.

BakuKatsu: Damn right I am.