tw: cheating

-

Izuku thinks he can't possibly be so lucky as to have a boyfriend like Katsuki. The man is brilliant, talented and drop dead gorgeous.

He still can't believe Katsuki came back after a horrendously awkward first encounter.

He'd been buying a special edition manga volume sold only by the store Izuku worked at.

And Izuku, in a burst of terrible unprofessionalism, had launched into an excited ramble about the current arc and how All Might was proving himself as the Symbol of Peace-

Only to notice a very impatient glare being levelled his way.

He thought he'd lost a customer for life, but strangely, Katsuki had returned.

Then given him his number.

And now...

Now Izuku was going to fancy restaurants every weekend, and fancier hotels after.

He and Katsuki had long, passionate nights, arguing over the nuances of All Might's character and what heroism meant.

Oh, and sex. Lots of sex. Much better than any hookup he's had at university, that's for sure.

Enough that he's debated calling in sick after some marathons.

Katsuki is prickly as hell and stubborn as anything, but Izuku enjoys dishing it right back. He can be stubborn too!

His mother is cautious, and tells him to be, but they both know he's the type to go all-in. Maybe that's what he likes so much about Katsuki. He's the same.

Katsuki has asked him to keep it private: he runs his own company and prefers his privacy and keeping his personal life out of the spotlight.

Izuku agrees, keeping the details to himself when speaking with his friends. The only person that knows Katsuki's name is his Mom.

Other than that, it was almost too good to be true. Katsuki was planning a vacation for the two of them: Izuku had never been out of the country and he wanted to change that. He couldn't believe it.

He should've listened to his mother.

He'd woken in the early hours of the morning to an empty bed and Katsuki talking in the other room. He was clearly trying to be quiet, but Izuku could tell he was angry.

Maybe he wanted to comfort him, or give him a reason to come back to bed. That's why he got up.

But when he got to the door, he paused.

'-told you, it'll be soon, what? Yes, he's fucking here.'

A beat.

'You think I'm stupid? I'm not in the pent- fuck off, I know!'

Izuku was quite cold. He wanted to go to bed.

'A month, alright? You happy? A month, then I'll end it.'

'No- what the fuck, no, I'm not- no, I don't- he's just a good fuck- get off my case, asshole!'

He wishes he hadn't woken up.

'Yeah, well that's you, isn't it? No one knows about us. Made sure of it. So fuck off.'

Izuku steps back and goes back to bed.

He pretends to be fast asleep when Katsuki- Bakugou finally returns, huffing.

Climbs into bed next to him. Izuku represses a shiver when an arm snakes around his waist.

He doesn't sleep. Can't sleep.

After Bakugou drops him off to class in the morning, Izuku blocks his number.

Izuku doesn't cry until he drags himself home and sees his suitcase sitting next to his clothes rack, waiting for the trip he'd never take.

Bakugou had bought him the luggage, a matching set of hard-shelled suitcases to replace Izuku's trusty duffel bag and backpack combo.

It was the same kind he used, except in a bright, minty green rather than Bakugou's preferred black.

Izuku sinks to his knees next to it and bursts into noisy tears. He's always been a messy crier, got it from his mother: big, splashy tears and sniffly, snotty noses.

He's got tears all over his favourite All Might shirt, an empty suitcase and an emptier chest. What is he even meant to do with it? He can never use it now. Can't wear the nicer shoes, can't use the weird fancy skin cream Bakugou insisted on buying for his 'dry-ass skin.'

It's too sickening. Was he the... the secret boyfriend? Was he- was he a /side piece?/

He was always a thinker, always watching, analysing, ruminating, but why, why did he not put it together?

Because... he explained things away... that's why...

He noticed, but dismissed it...

If he ran his own business, who cared that he had a boyfriend? That was separate, private. It shouldn't have mattered. And he knew Izuku was comfortable keeping it quiet, he didn't want to advertise. He just wanted to tell some people...

But it had to be a secret, didn't it?

It explained why Bakugou's schedule was so... particular. There were certain days and times he'd be unreachable. Sometimes his phone would be off. Izuku thought he was busy, that's all.

And why he'd sometimes suddenly cancel spending time together, explanation always 'work shit'

Why his apartment felt so... impersonal.

All he had there were some files, a laptop, and rooms that didn't feel lived in. It was too clean, too still, even for fastidious Bakugou.

No photos, no leftovers in the fridge, no old products in the bathroom.

Izuku feels sick at the thought he was just using it as a place to get laid and watch anime with the stupidest boyfriend ever.

All this time...

Izuku bursts into tears again.

When his phone buzzes, he ignores it.

When it buzzes again, he remembers he blocked Bakugou.

It's Ochako. It was coming up on a weekend...

'Heeey! Izuku!'

Izuku coughs wetly, weakly croaking, 'Hi, Ochako-san...'

Ochako latches on immediately.

'What's wrong? Are you crying? Are you okay?'

He needs to tell someone, and his Mom would only be as sad as he was.

'I split up with my boyfriend,' he blurts, knowing he's invited a maelstrom upon his head.

'Split- with WHO?' Ochako shrieks through the phone, 'Midoriya Izuku!'

Fresh tears wobble out and he noisily sobs.

'Oh, Izu-kun! Don't worry! You're at home, right?'

'Y-yes...'

'Then you stay put!' she commands, already bustling around, 'I'll be right over! With ice cream!'

He tries to smile, but the suitcase is right there, mocking. A trip with his... his...

'And I expect all the details! So I can punch him if he gets too close to you!'

Ochako doesn't just bring ice cream. She brings the cheapest bottle of vodka she can find and several boxes of tissues.

Izuku feels increasingly like an idiot as he talks (blubbers) about his so-called relationship with Katsuki. He'd been such a fool.

Ochako sits next to him and listens, rubbing circles into his back. They eat the ice cream straight out of the tub and mix the vodka with orange juice.

'I'm such an idiot,' Izuku says, sniffling and scooping up ice cream. Ochako hands him a few more tissues.

'No you're not.'

'I am!' Izuku wails, lip wobbling, 'I was so blind!'

'No you- hmm, okay, maybe a little,' Ochako says, as kindly as she can, 'but it's not your fault he's a manipulative asshole.'

'I made it so easy,' Izuku says miserably, rolling his scoop around, 'because I'm so stupid...'

'No!' Ochako says, frowning, 'he's probably done this heaps of times!'

Izuku bursts into fresh tears and she tries to backtrack.

'I just mean- he's good at it, that's all! He's a dick!'

'He s-said I w-was just a 'g-good f-fuck'...!'

Ochako's expression twists into outrage.

'That ASSHOLE!' she says, punching the floor, 'what a fucking jerk!'

She hugs him, squeezing tight.

'I'm glad you're not with him anymore,' she says, 'he doesn't deserve you.'

'I c-couldn't even c-confront him,' Izuku says, 'I j-just blocked his number...'

'He doesn't deserve your time! Or an explanation! He's the asshole!'

Izuku tries to hold back, but tears run down his cheeks.

'I t-thought he really liked me...'

He hiccups.

'Why didn't he like me...?'

Ochako keeps her arms around him.

'I'm sorry, Izu-kun.'

The night dissolves into a blur of crying, Ochako flipping between comforting Izuku and raging about Bakugou, lots of ice cream and vodka slowly draining.

Izuku wakes, squeezed on the couch with Ochako, bottle empty and head pounding.

Wait... so is the door...

'Urgh, who is that?' Ochako grumbles, glaring at the door.

They slowly start to untangle from their cuddle-sleep-pile, both wincing at the morning light striping through the blinds.

'Are you in there or what, Deku?!'

Both of them freeze. Ochako whips her head around.

Then she visibly winces and holds her head.

'Deku! Answer the fucking door!'

Her eyes narrow. She wobbles to her feet. Izuku hurriedly blocks her.

'That him?' she says, face determined.

'We'll wait for him to leave!' he whispers.

The thumps get louder.

'DEKU! GET UP!'

Ochako looks both angry and incredulous, mixed up with the muddled pain of hangover.

'This is the guy you liked?' she whispers, nose scrunched in disgust.

'... yes,' Izuku mutters.

His phone starts to ring. They both jump again.

'I know you're in there, Deku!'

'Oh no!' Izuku squeaks, grabbing his phone off the floor. The number is unknown.

'Did he get a new phone?' he mumbles, unpleasant squirming in his chest.

'Open the- fuck off!'

There's other voices outside now, beginning to argue.

'None of your business, asshole!'

'I think the neighbours are pissed,' Ochako says with a smirk.

'Oh my god,' Izuku croaks. Bakugou is shouting at his neighbours. What if the police are called? Why was he even here? Izuku just made things simple for him by leaving.

What if he was here to threaten him?

To not tell anyone about their 'relationship'?

Izuku wasn't spiteful enough to spread it around everywhere, but he was done keeping it a secret.

'Stay here,' he says, shuffling to the door. Ochako huffs, but stays put.

'If he tries anything, I'm swinging, Izu-kun.'

All Izuku wants is to take an aspirin, climb into bed and sleep another 6 hours.

He wants to go back before he knew anything and was living in blissful ignorance.

But then he'd get dumped a month from now anyway, after a wonderful vacation no less. This was better.

That doesn't mean he's ready to open the door.

'Go back to your shitty apartments, assholes!'

Ochako makes a strangled noise behind him.

He clicks open the lock and slowly turns the handle-

Ochako jumps next to him when the door is shoved open.

Bakugou is flipping off the hallway as he stomps in and slams the door behind him.

'What the fuck, Deku-'

Izuku thinks it's unfair, how put together Bakugou looks in the morning. He's in his stupid expensive business suit, his glare tight and displeased.

'Who the fuck's that?'

Izuku really wishes he'd had some water.

'My friend, Uraraka Ochako,' he croaks. Bakugou's lip curls, eyes flicking up and down, before he visibly dismisses her.

Izuku can feel the anger flaring up next to him.

'That why you blocked me, asshole?'

'Excuse you-' Ochako starts, but Izuku puts his arm out. Bakugou takes in the room: empty ice cream container, glasses and bottle, the rumpled couch.

'Friend, sure,' he sneers.

'That's rich!' Ochako spits. Izuku can feel her vibrating with fury. Bakugou's amusement dissipates.

'This has nothing to do with you,' he says, nostrils flaring, 'fuck off.'

'Izuku's my friend,' Ochako says, jutting out her chin, 'you fuck off!'

'Guys,' Izuku says weakly.

'Never heard of you,' Bakugou says spitefully.

'Bet you never asked!' Ochako spits back.

Oh, this was a bad idea. He shouldn't have opened the door. Let Bakugou get the police called on him.

'Fuck, she's annoying,' Bakugou says, glaring at Izuku again, 'we need to talk so get her out.'

That was a mistake on his part. Izuku's protective switch is quickly flipped.

'Don't talk about Ochako like that,' Izuku says, frowning, 'and you're the one that needs to get out.'

Bakugou steps closer. His eyes are narrowed, lips thinning.

'The hell is going on with you?' he hisses, 'first I can't contact you, now you won't even talk to me?'

'There's nothing to t-talk about,' Izuku says, not nearly as confidently as he'd like.

'The hell there isn't!' Bakugou snaps back, 'why didn't you answer your door? Why'd you block my number? What did I fucking do, Deku?'

Ochako scoffs. Izuku wishes he could be as angry.

But he's suddenly holding back tears, heat rushing up his face. He needs to bite his lips to stop a pathetic sob.

Katsu- Bakugou has seen him cry before, but Izuku has never been so upset around him. He's never wanted to curl into a ball and cry his heart out.

His head hurts so badly and he just wants to be alone.

He's not looking directly at Bakugou, he can't bear it, but he can see the man moving, reaching out a hand-

Ochako steps in between them, blocking it.

'Get out of the way,' Bakugou says in a low, gritted tone.

'You're going to leave right now,' Ochako says, hands balling into fists.

'This is between me and Deku.'

'He already said he doesn't want to talk to you!'

'Doesn't matter if he doesn't want to, we /need/ to talk!'

'I'm not surprised /you/ don't care about what Izuku wants!'

Their voices get louder and louder, Bakugou getting right into Ochako's space. He might be taller, but Izuku's seen her face many an aggressive asshole and not budge.

'This isn't any of your fucking business!'

'It is when my best friend is hurt by a complete asshole!'

'You know nothing about us, bitch.'

'And that's just how you wanted it! Using Izuku like a puppet! Controlling him!'

'I don't have to listen to this bullshit from some nobody extra,' Bakugou roars, 'fuck off!'

Izuku flinches when Bakugou tries to grab him.

/THWACK!/

Bakugou shouts in surprise, staggering away from them both, hand hovering over his cheek. It's slowly turning a ruddy red.

Ochako swings back into a fighting stance, fists raised.

'Did you just /fucking punch me?!/' Bakugou says in a deadly hiss.

'Come near Izuku and I'll do it again!' Ochako shouts.

Bakugou's face cycles with several emotions: shock, disbelief, disgust, before settling on cold fury.

'You think a poor extra like you can take a fucking swing at /me?/' he says, voice almost breathy with outrage, '/me?/'

An uneasy thrill runs down Izuku's spine.

'I just did, you cheating piece of shit,' Ochako hisses back.

Bakugou's eyes widen, the colour draining from his face. The punch mark stands out against the ghostly white of his skin.

He tries to meet Izuku's eyes, but Izuku refuses.

He feels like he's going to be sick. The room is wobbly around him.

'Deku, fuck, I can explain-'

'I don't want to hear it,' Izuku croaks. He'd heard quite enough that night.

Bakugou grips at his own sleeves, knuckles going white.

'Get out,' Ochako says, pointing at the door.

Ochako tells him to sell the luggage. They scour his apartment, piling up the smaller gifts Bakugou gave him over the months.

The nice chocolates sitting in his pantry were polished off, the shirts folded up for donation. He didn't know where he'd wear such nice shoes again.

He feels bad about wasting expensive face cream. Ochako puts some on and admits it feels nice.

Izuku tells her to keep it.

The only thing he keeps is a small keychain of All Might's head. Bakugou bought some gachapon during a date after Izuku kept mentioning exclusive prizes.

Bakugou got a Miruko keychain and Izuku was thrilled to get the rare All Might one.

He did offer to trade, seeing as Bakugou bought them, but Bakugou had looked.... offended at the suggestion.

'If I wanted All Might so bad, I'd buy the whole machine, Deku. You keep it.'

He liked his All Might too much to give it up. Besides, he only felt a tiny pang when looking at it.

And that would go away one day. It has to.

They both choke when they start investigating the price of the luggage.

'It's /how much?/' Ochako splutters.

She eyes the luggage warily.

'There was a carry-on, too,' Izuku says faintly. 160 thousand yen for /one/ bag? And... 100 thousand for the carry-on?

'At least you'll get something out of dating that asshole,' Ochako says, weakly patting his shoulder, 'lots of rent money...'

He's not ready for her to leave, but they both have hangovers to sleep off before work and class tomorrow.

Izuku lies in bed. The bags are stuffed into his tiny closet.

He doesn't understand.

Doesn't understand Bakugou, never had. What was the point of it all?

Sickened by the money, at the idea that he was some sort of sugar baby /mistress/ without even realising it.

He wonders if Bakugou's... partner, wife (?!), knows. If they ever guessed. Businessmen could be away for a long time without scrutiny.

They should know.

They should, but...

... no one would believe he was clueless. Even if he could find them, what would they do to him?

It was cowardly, yes, and he hates it. But this... this isn't his fault. He had no idea! He doesn't want to be the- the- the shit-stirring slut!

They'll think he's just trying to break the relationship up, trying to seduce the rich businessman to be with /him/ instead.

Izuku knows he won't be able to handle it, being dragged through Bakugou's business, leaving pieces of his heart behind. He can't do it.

He wakes up for work with a terrible headache and worse heartache.

Feeling queasy, he calls work and tells them he feels unwell. He makes simple breakfast and falls back into bed after eating.

He's slipping into sleep when his phone buzzes. Buzzes again. Again. Again...

Unknown Number. The preview starts 'Deku'.

He should delete the messages and block the number.

...

When has he been smart when it comes to Bakugou?

'Deku

Fine. Ignore me Whatever

Having that phoncall with you there was ffucking stupid I GET IT

Go f uck yourself

ASSHOLE'