Title: three fishes in a tank

Summary: Due to the tragic and early demise of his flat, Todoroki has no other choice but to temporarily move in with Midoriya and Uraraka. And, one thing leading to another, never manages to leave. Midoriya/Uraraka/Todoroki domestic fluff.

Disclaimers: BNHA isn't mine. Chapter titles come from 'Till then my windows ache' from Pablo Neruda. Betaed by KarmaHope

V. Ending

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After years of besotted staring, Shouto considers himself a Midoriya connoisseur of sorts. Reading other people is still incredibly hard for him, but at least his best friend is somewhat of an open book to his eyes. Shouto has figured out there are two types of Anxious Midoriya. The usual stressed Midoriya, babbling nervously and looking anywhere but at the person he's talking to, and the other one. A quiet Midoriya, so anxious his soul has practically left his body and ascended to another plane of existence.

It's this Midoriya, standing next to an equally nervous Uraraka, who greets him back from his walk.

"What's going on?" Shouto says, immediately alert to the potential threat. "You two look weird."

"Oh, nothing!" Midoriya denies. "It's just...W-we need to talk to you."

Dread settles in his stomach at the seriousness of his tone. Well. Shouto knew it was only a matter of time before they asked him to move out. He let himself be fooled for a few weeks, but deep down, he knew it wouldn't last. Good things never did. Not for him. "Okay."

"Okay, okay," Midoriya echoes, smiling awkwardly. "W-would you mind sitting? It's… gonna take a while."

A while. Great. Shouto would appreciate if they could put an end to his misery as fast as possible. No need to drag out this painful moment any longer than necessary. He sits nonetheless, his limbs tense with apprehension. His hands rest on his lap without shaking, he notices with thankful relief. That's something, at least.

Midoriya sits on the other side, Uraraka quietly taking her place between them.

"Alright. So. Before we start, I just want you to know you're not obliged to accept."

Shouto blinks. This is a very odd way to open the conversation. Perhaps Shouto isn't going to get kicked out after all. "Noted."

"Just get it over with, Deku-kun," Uraraka says with fond exasperation at her flustered boyfriend. "You're making poor Todoroki nervous."

"I'm trying!" Deku hisses, before rummaging through the pockets of his jacket and dropping what looks like a necklace in front of Shouto.

Shouto looks down bemusedly, then turns his head to stare at the familiar chain hanging around Uraraka's throat.

The locket appeared on Uraraka's neck exactly three days before their graduation. Shouto remembers it clear as day. She kept touching it, rolling the smooth metal between her fingers. She looked unusually grave that day, Midoriya hovering anxiously at her side. It made no sense. Midoriya gave her a gift. She should have been happy.

As far as Shouto knows, she's never removed it since. He hasn't seen her without the locket hanging by her neck, safely tucked under her shirt. Sometimes Midoriya's eyes stray towards it, and he looks sorrowful. As if he feels guilty she has to carry it.

Shouto didn't ask. Shouto never asks. But he watches, and he doesn't forget.

That's why he knows the locket Midoriya put in front of him is the perfect replica of the one around Uraraka's neck. "What's this?"

"It's… a locket. For you. If you accept it." Midoriya explains, rather uselessly. Shouto has eyes. "With...withmyhairinside."

His what.

"I'm sorry, I believe I misheard." Shouto deadpans. "Did you say you put your hair inside a necklace?"

"You're terrible at this, Deku-kun." Uraraka shakes her head as Midoriya turns red with embarrassment. "Just. Start at the beginning?"

Midoriya laughs curtly. "The beginning? I don't even know… okay. The beginning. It starts with a boy who wanted to be a hero."

It starts with a boy who wanted to be a hero, but sadly, had no Quirk to rely on. Not even a Quirk useless for heroics, no quirk at all. But the boy wanted nonetheless. Shouto knows firsthand that the heart cares little for the limitation of the body or the circumstances.

It starts with a man exhausted after decades of constant fighting, drained and worn out, looking for a successor to pass his burden to. It starts with a woman with a heart of gold and a smile full of hope, found dead in a dark alley. It starts with a man who needed the power to defeat his wicked brother.

It starts with a Quirk stronger than any other. A Quirk built with the will of the previous owners, passed down from hero to hero, until it was given to Midoriya.

One for All.

"Todoroki-kun," Midoriya says at the end of his story, sounding drained and worried. "Are you okay? I know it's a lot at once…"

"I'm processing," Shouto replies truthfully. "Give me a minute, please."

A given Quirk. That Midoriya inherited from All Might. To fight an evil all-powerful villain. It sounds absolutely preposterous, yet explains so much. All the pieces of the puzzle Shouto has been avoiding looking at out of respect for his friend's privacy are right there, just under his nose.

The way Bakugou acted at the beginning, as if Midoriya had stabbed him in the back. The fact Midoriya couldn't seem to control his own Quirk at all back in their first year at UA. How All Might looked at his student. Shouto wasn't so far off the mark when he assumed Midoriya was All Might's son. He was. Not by something as hazardous as blood, but by choice.

"If I get this right," Shouto carefully adds, "this locket contains your power."

"Sort of." Midoriya bites his bottom lip. "It contains my DNA, with the 'intent' to transmit my power, if that makes sense. You can't just steal One for All by taking my DNA. I have to mean it."

"But in theory, if someone ate the hair in there, they would get your Quirk."

"Eventually, yeah. It's a progressive process actually, I didn't get my Quirk all at once…"

"Deku-kun," Ochako cuts in, interrupting her boyfriend mid-rant. "What Todoroki wants to know is why you're giving it to him."

Yes. That's exactly what Shouto wants to know. Because he has no idea why Midoriya is telling him his big secret now, and even less why he seems to intent to put his biggest weakness around Shouto's neck. Did something happen? Is Midoriya in danger? Is he sick?

"Oh. It's a safeguard. In case something happens to me." In case he dies. "The locket will only open to you. If someone else tries, it will self-destruct. I have a friend in support who… never mind, it doesn't really matter. As I said, you don't have to accept. It's a huge responsibility, I know."

Shouto looks down at the little piece of metal containing Midoriya's most important possession. He turns to Uraraka. "You have it, too."

She smiles sadly, pulling out her own necklace. "Yep. Since we got out of UA. All for One is dead, but. Just to be sure. Deku-kun was worried his Quirk would disappear with him."

Which makes sense. Uraraka is the love of his life. She deserves that honor.

Shouto doesn't.

"Don't look so confused," Uraraka pats his shoulder gently, sparks of amusement blooming in the warm brown of her eyes. "Two safeguards are better than one. If Deku-kun is attacked and doesn't manage to get away, it's possible I could die as well."

The thought of a world without Uraraka or Midoriya in it is too terrifying to even imagine. He feels sick at the prospect. If he was the only one left, he wouldn't be able to function. He would just lay on the ground and wait to die. After he destroyed whoever did this to them and burnt everything they hold dear to the ground. Then, he would crumble and never get back up.

Perhaps his father had a point claiming love was nothing but a weakness. Shouto has spent his entire childhood after his mother disappeared building walls around himself. To keep his father's words and bitter spite from touching him. To keep everyone away, including his siblings. But most of all, to keep his own feelings at bay. If he allowed his sadness, his grief to reach him, he would drown in it.

And so he lived like this for ten years, locked up in a fortress of his own doing. Until a boy with green eyes and yellow determination slammed through Shouto's precious walls, wrecking his defenses and razing his certitudes to the ground.

It's your power, isn't it?

His fortress was never the same after that. The walls were breached beyond repair, leaving Shouto uncomfortably exposed. Midoriya had made his way through, and he somehow never left. His presence filled the cold corridors of Shouto's fortress with sunshine warmth and fuzzy happiness. With self-consciousness, doubt and despair, too.

Uraraka didn't enter the same way Midoriya did. She sneaked in quietly, secretly, leaking through the walls so slowly Shouto failed to noticed until his castle had flooded beneath the stream.

They live inside of him now, and there is nothing he can do about it.

"Why me?"

Uraraka crawls toward him, her brown eyes twirling with intensity. If Shouto's soul is a fortress, Uraraka's is nothing short of a galaxy. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, why me? Iida is your friend too. He's trustworthy." He's not a wreck like Shouto is. He'll do his duty and carry on Midoriya's legacy if the worst happens. "Or Asui." She's the most reliable and reasonable person Shouto knows. She would know what to do.

Shouto looks down on his lap, closes his eyes for a second. He needs to get a fucking grip on himself. Midoriya is counting on him. When he raises his head, Midoriya is so close he can smell his shampoo. Pomegranate. Shouto would know, he bought it.

"Is it so hard to conceive I would trust you with this? Above anyone else but Ochako?" Midoriya whispers. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before but…"

"It's not that. I… don't think I'm the best person to choose. Asui and Iida are more reliable." Shouto admits, before he has an epiphany. "Wait. Bakugou knows, doesn't he?"

Uraraka snorts as Midoriya exhales, chagrined at the question. "Yes. He does. Not the point though. I don't understand why you think you're not reliable. It's fine if you don't want to do it, I completely get it, but that's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in my life. Of course you're reliable, Shouto! There is nothing I wouldn't trust you with."

The absolute faith in his voice wrecks Shouto to the core. Five years later, and he still hasn't figured out how to protect himself from Midoriya's merciless kindness. "You need someone who will be able to carry on your legacy after your death. I'm not that person."

He's too weak, too attached, too dependant on their warmth.

"Todoroki." Uraraka cuts in before Midoriya can protest. "You don't understand. Previous owners of One For All leave shards of themselves in the Quirk. If Deku dies, a part of him will keep on living through the next owner."

Oh. That… changes things. The idea of selfishly keeping Midoriya within himself is tempting. So tempting.

"I trust Tsu and Iida-kun. And Kacchan, sort of." Midoriya adds. His eyes are green, so green, the same color as the moss growing on Shouto's walls. "But I don't love them the way I love you."

The way I love you. Midoriya flinches as if Shouto burnt him, his mouth wide open with panic. The way I love you.

"Oh my god. I didn't mean… I didn't mean to say it like that!" He hisses, mortified at the unplanned profession of love.

Ochako laughs hysterically, little bells twinkling despite the heaviness of the conversation. "Deku-kun, you're a mess! We had a plan! That's why I told we should have started with that, you fool."

The way I love you.

"B-but Todoroki needed to know what he was signing up for! It wouldn't be fair otherwise!" Midoriya flounders, avoiding Shouto's glare. "I'm sorry."

All in all, Shouto considers himself to have a pretty high stress threshold. He's very good at compartmentalizing in the moment, and refraining from his feelings for a short period of time. It's the after that wrecks him. High stress, however, is something he can deal with. He just has not to allow himself to feel.

"When you say you… love me, do you mean romantically?" He says tonelessly, as if he were merely inquiring about the weather.

"I-I'm… I don't… Yeah. Yeah, I do." Midoriya eventually manages to answer. "I do. I love you. I didn't mean to drop that on you like this."

Midoriya loves him. Midoriya. Loves. Him. His sad, pathetic feelings are somehow reciprocated. Overwhelmed can't even begin to describe how Shouto feels right now.

"And you're okay with that?" He turns toward the significant other of the man who literally just confessed to him after asking him to carry his DNA.

Uraraka beams. "Yep. It was my idea, actually."

"What was?"

"Oh. Us. Together. Us three, I mean. As an item. It's called poly…"

"I know what polyamory is," Todoroki interrupts her mid-panicked explanation.

Yaoyorozu sent him links to internet websites on alternative forms of sexuality. She thought he might need it. He told her she was mad. Joke's on him. He should have learnt his lesson by now. She always knows better.

Midoriya clamps a hand over his shoulder comfortingly. "Hey. Hey, Todoroki-kun, it's okay. It's okay if you don't feel the same way. It's really odd, I know. And a lot at once. Please, please don't hate us."

Shouto snorts at the absurd idea. Hate Midoriya? As if he ever could. "I don't hate you. I just need a moment."

Uraraka's fingers brush over his cheek. "You're crying."

Is he? Oh. That's embarrassing. "I'm sorry. I'm not upset, I swear. I'm not. I don't even know why I'm crying."

Except he does. His heart is swelling under their touches, his fortress drowning under their affection. Here he lays, his soul exposed to their eyes, words spilling uncontrollably from his traitorous mouth.

Shouto takes a leap of faith.

"I love you. Both of you. I didn't mean to but it just happened. So please, please don't ask me to live without you. Because I know I can't."

"Oh, Todoroki."

Midoriya swallows him in his embrace, Uraraka folding around them. Shouto fades inside the cocoon of their tenderness.

His walls are crumbling, and he lets them.

.

There is a new knowledge within Ochako. Yesterday, she did not know the taste of Todoroki's mouth, did not know the softness of his lips wrapped around hers. Yesterday, she did not know the sounds he makes when she caresses his hair. Yesterday, she did not know what it felt like to be sure, absolutely sure, that her strange feelings were reciprocated.

Now she does. Soon, she'll know the weight of his body and the feeling of his skin rubbing blissfully against hers. But not now. Now, she drinks her coffee, sunshine warming her back and sweet memories sending waves of giddiness through her spine.

It's early, ridiculously early. Her boys are still sleeping, as they ought to. Usually Ochako is the one who clings to her bed while Deku wakes early as fuck. Today though, she feels too restless. She sneaked out of their bed at dawn, slipping underneath Deku's arm and stepping over Todoroki's leg.

"Good morning."

Ochako flinches at the sudden noise and relaxes when she recognizes Todoroki standing by the door. She always forgets how quiet he is until he sneaks up on her by accident. Again. "Oh, good morning. Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts, haha!"

She watches him pad around the kitchen, anxiously looking for signs of regret. Todoroki looks more confused and lost than anything, but reading him is as hard as decoding ancient manuscripts. "Are you… really okay with this? Me, I mean. I know you've been in love with Deku forever, but…"

Todoroki wordlessly bends over her, pressing his lips to her left cheek, where she knows the patch of red is. She used to hate those ridiculous round marks, as a teen. "I've been wanting to do that for a while. I am allowed to now, aren't I, Uraraka?"

A surge of happiness rises within her, submerging her self-doubt entirely. "Yes. Definitely. Please do. And you should call me by my name. If you want to, that is."

Ochako is a grown-ass woman, not a floundering teenage girl on the verge of fainting each time a pretty boy looks in her vague direction. Why can't she act like it when he's smiling at her like this?

"Hm, I suppose it is absurd to hold onto formalities, considering the situation," Todoroki muses out loud as he fills the kettle with water. "I'll try. Call me Shouto as well."

Shouto. Shouto. Fuck this, she really is a swooning teenage girl. "Did you sleep well, Shouto?"

He hums in agreement. "I did. I'm half convinced you want me around for the sole purpose of throwing me into Midoriya's clutches."

She almost chokes on her coffee. "I mean. You're not wrong, eheh. He's a cuddler, and I like to have my space. You don't mind though, do you?"

"No. I don't. It's… nice."

The kettle whistles. Ochako sips on her cup as Todoroki mechanically finishes preparing his tea. She sustains on coffee, he'll perish without his daily pot of tea. Deku drinks everything that passes under his nose. It's a match made in heaven.

It's pretty odd, considering she remembers Todoroki couldn't even stand the smell of tea back in school. Another Todoroki thing she learnt not to question.

"There is something we need to talk about," Ochako says when he sits down in front of her. "About… us. And the consequences."

"I'm listening."

Of course he is. Todoroki always listens. Ochako feels bad ruining their blissful morning, but it needs to be clarified. "People won't like this. Deku thinks it will be okay but you and I, we both know it won't be that simple."

Media backlash is no joke. Todoroki, who lived under the starlight since his birth, knows the consequences of a less than stellar reputation for heroes. If they don't get public opinion on their side, they can lose everything.

Todoroki tilts his head to the side. "Hm. Frankly, I assumed you would want to keep my existence a secret."

"It's impossible to keep your existence a secret, Shouto-kun." Ochako giggles at the ridiculousness of the notion. "Everyone knows who you are."

"You know that's not what I meant."

Yeah, she knows what he meant. It would indeed be easier for everyone involved to just pretend Todoroki is a good friend of the family. She could live like that, at least for a little while, and so could Todoroki. But Deku? One secret is enough for him. He can't handle another, especially since he won't be able to stop himself from gushing about his adorable and strong boyfriend. Ochako knows how he is.

"Is that what you want?" She asks softly.

"I'm fine either way." Todoroki shrugs, drinking his burning hot tea without a moment of hesitation. Elemental Quirks sure are convenient. "I'm just happy you want to be with me at all. Also, I've been thinking. I'll take the locket."

"You will?" Ochako echoes, astonished. He seemed so crushed by the prospect yesterday. Ochako can relate. She's been there before. "You don't have to."

"I know. You said so. Repeatedly." He deadpans before smiling softly. Before he moved in, Ochako would have never guessed Todoroki could smile like that. "You've been carrying this on your own for a while, haven't you?"

She has. She loves that necklace as much as she hates it. Sometimes, it's a physical reminder of Deku's love and trust. Sometimes, it's a burden choking her under the pressure. "Eheh, I'm used to carrying stuff. It's okay."

"It would be easier if there were two of us, though."

She smiles. "Yeah. It would."

"Then it's settled," he says like it's evident.

And so it's settled. Deku wakes up two hours later to find them watching kids TV shows, matching lockets around their necks. He cries at the sight, because he wouldn't be Deku if he didn't cry all the time. What a wimp. Ochako loves him and his overactive lacrimal ducts so much.

.

.

The house is located only ten minutes by foot from where Izuku's mom lives, right next to the stationary store where he used to buy his notebooks. Izuku never questioned Toshinori for his odd choice of residence. There are still things Izuku doesn't dare to ask Toshinori, despite the passing years.

He passes through the small garden in front of the house, smiling at the blooming gardenia and brightful camelia. Toshinori gave him an extensive tour last time he visited, too long ago. Izuku always means to come back sooner, but time is in short supply for him. Toshinori understands, of course. He acts as if each minute Izuku can spare for him is a personal blessing.

He deserves better than that. Izuku is such an ungrateful son-student. Student.

"Izuku, my boy." Toshinori beams widely as he opens the door. "I'm so happy to see you! Come in, come in!"

"Hello Toshinori-san." He smiles back awkwardly. "Sorry for the unexpected visit."

"Nonsense, nonsense, you're always welcome here. How many time do I have to tell you?"

Izuku chuckles, sitting to remove his shoes. He accepts the pair of guest slippers gratefully. "One time more, apparently. Oh. Wait. I know that smell!"

If Izuku isn't mistaken, and he rarely is, the scent coming from the kitchen is his mother's katsudon. He would recognize it anywhere.

"Ah, err, your mother visited for lunch?" His mentor rubs the back of his long neck sheepishly. "This is Midoriya Day for me, haha!"

Izuku stores that information in the back of his mind and firmly decides not to question it. The strange relationship between his mom and mentor is something akin to weird kinks to him: he knows it exists somewhere, in theory he doesn't mind but he'd rather not think about it, thank you very much. As long as it makes them happy, he's okay with that. He just wants to keep not knowing the details.

"Something you wish to talk to me about, Izuku?" Toshinori rests his bony hand on his shoulder. "You seem… concerned."

Izuku smiles. He might as well be an open book to All Might. "Yeah."

"Alright, let's sit, my boy. I'll make us tea."

Izuku complies easily, taking a seat near the window. Toshinori really does love his garden, doesn't he? There are plenty of gardening books in the shelves, among cooking books and novels. Something else they have in common, Izuku can't help but preen internally at the thought.

Toshinori's other source of reading material seems to be hero magazines, unsurprisingly. Half of them feature him on the front, he quickly realizes, mortified and elated at the same time. The other half covers his former classmates. It's adorable of Toshinori to keep track of their success like this, like a proud parent showing off his children.

In a way, Izuku is even worse. Every single article even remotely mentioning Ochako or Shouto has been carefully cut out and lovingly preserved in his notebooks. Long before he realized his feelings for Shouto anything more than pure and platonic. It's kind of sad when he puts it like that.

"There we go." Toshinori puts a ancient-looking tea set on the table.

Izuku accepts the offered cup with a smile and takes a deep breath. Tangerine flavored. His favorite, and incidentally his mother's.

"So. What is that you wanted to talk to me about?" Toshinori asks after they both take a careful sip.

"One for All," Izuku sighs. When is it not about the gift he inherited from All Might? "I told Shouto about it."

Toshinori doesn't react badly to the news. He barely reacts at all, actually. "I see. How did young Todoroki take it?"

"Well. Well enough." Izuku says, still astonished himself. He decides he might as well go all in, since he's already there anyway. "We're together now. Ochako, Shouto and I. R-Romantically."

A moment of silence. Izuku doesn't allow himself to curl up in embarrassment. He's not ashamed. The arrangement is certainly… unorthodox, but he's not repentant about it in the least. Shouto is nothing to be ashamed of.

"Pardon me, my boy," Toshinori eventually replies, sounding more perplexed by the declaration than anything. "Am I to understand you were not romantically involved with young Todoroki before?"

Oh, dear Lord. Now he wants to die of mortification. "What? No! Why would you think that?"

"Well, I don't know, perhaps because you speak of young Todoroki as much as young Uraraka? Because he's lived with you for months? I'm sorry for assuming, but your mother and I…"

"My mother!" Izuku echoes, horrified beyond measure. "Y-You two gossip about my love life?"

"I-I wouldn't say gossip," his mentor chuckles. "We are merely concerned. You work so hard, and I know I have no room to make judgement on that, but… I worry nonetheless. You seemed so much happier since Todoroki moved in, so we thought… it doesn't matter. I apologize for the invasion to your privacy, Izuku. We meant no harm."

"Oh no, I know you didn't." Izuku shakes his head. "It's just… I can't believe it took me so long to take a hint."

Toshinori smiles gently. Izuku has grown to love those more than All Might's bright beams. "Matters of the heart are often more confusing than anything else."

Ain't that the truth. Not for the first time, Izuku wonders if Toshinori had Ochakos or Shoutos in his life, at some point. He's not sure he hopes he did or not. Because it would mean he lost them, and the thought is unbearable.

"I'm very happy for you, Izuku." The man he would call his father if he dared clamps his skinny hand around Izuku's arm. "And I'm always delighted of your visits. That being said, you do know you don't have to justify yourself to me about the decision you make regarding One For All anymore?"

Izuku winces at the reminder. He does know. In theory. He just can't help feeling like One For All doesn't truly belong to him alone. It's unthinkable to assume he knows better than All Might.

"It's your Quirk. Your power. I trust you with it."

His chest is tight with emotion. He's going to burst into tears, he just knows it. "I-I won't disappoint you, Toshinori-san!"

"You never do. I'm so, so proud of you, Izuku."

Izuku can't be blamed for sobbing hysterically over his tea. It's too much at once. First Shouto, then this. His life is so full of blessings he doesn't deserve. He won't ever stop trying his goddamn best to be worth them. Never.

.

.

The second Shouto walks into the bar, he knows the next hours are going to be a festival of embarrassing moments. Heroes are everywhere, by the counter, sitting around the long table improvised in the middle of the bar, playing darts or babyfoot. What seems like the entirety of his former high school class cheers loudly and raise their drinks when he opens the door.

There is a bright red banner proudly displayed on the wall. It says 'Fucking Finally' in tacky gold letters, with the addition of little hearts and stars, plus what Shouto is pretty sure is a dick disguised a bouquet.

He's been here for less than a minute and he wants out already.

"Oi, Todoroki!"

"There he is, the man of the day!"

"The Man Who Got Laid."

"Lord of the Pining!"

"Conqueror of the Angst."

"Grand Master of the Not So Unrequited Love Forbidden Technique."

"Aha, guys, drop it. You're going to end up frozen."

"Worth it, Sero. Worth it. A true meme lord must suffer for his art."

"We'll talk about it after you know what it feels like to turn into a giant ice cube, Kaminari."

Shouto wordlessly turns on his heels. Jirou, standing in front of door, smirks at him, clearly unbothered by the fact he's towering over her. She dragged him into this trap, and now she's blocking his only chance of escape. Well. There are still the windows. They're only on the second floor. He's jumped from higher buildings before.

"Just a drink between colleagues after work, right?" He deadpans. "You traitor."

"Technically, it's the truth. There are drinks and colleagues here," Jirou gestures at the animated crowd of intoxicated heroes. "I told no lies."

"Huhu, no running away, Shouto." He recognizes Ochako's voice as she slides her arm under his from behind. "We're a team now. If Deku and I must suffer, so should you."

Shouto tilts his head sideways. He can't help but smile at the mischievous grin stretched on her lips. It's been weeks since they started dating, officially dating at least, but Shouto still gets ridiculous giddy just at the sight of his boyfriend and girlfriend. "You knew about this?"

"Nope! I got ambushed as you were. I shall not forget that betrayal."

"They made me do it, Uraraka-san!" Iida protests from where he's sitting on the bench, Ashido's legs spread on his lap stopping from standing up to defend his honor. "I apologized for the deception already!"

"Hmm, sounds fake to me," Ochako says loudly, before she turns toward Shouto. "Anyway. We should probably go rescue Deku before he spills embarrassing stories."

"I always miss the funny stuff," Jirou bemoans as she bypasses them, confident in the fact Shouto won't escape with Ochako's arm locked around his. She's right, and Shouto isn't happy about it.

His colleague and back-stabber walks toward the left side of the long table, where Yaoyorozu, Tokoyami, Kouda and Sato are sitting. His boss and best friend smiles brightly at him when her eyes meet his. He's pretty sure she's the responsible for this, if not the instigator then at the very least the organizator. She looks so happy of herself Shouto can't even gather the willpower to be angry at her.

On the side, Shoji, Ojirou, Shinsou and a shaking dress Shouto assumes is Hagakure are playing darts. Considering the way she screeches, the invisible woman seems to be winning. None of the other players appear upset by their loss. Shinsou rolls his eyes at him behind Ojiro's back, as if Shouto is responsible for this nonsense.

The last group, spread between the counter and the right end of the table is composed of the so-called Baku Squad, plus Iida and Izuku. The two men are surrounded by cackling former classmates, Kaminari by Izuku's right and Sero by Iida's left. Ashido lays on top of their laps, most likely to prevent any attempt to escape, and keeps on pouring drinks for Izuku. To Shouto's surprise, Bakugou is here too, grumbling on his stool and pretending not to give a fuck about what is happening behind his back. Kirishima, leaning against the counter next to Bakugou, cheerfully waves at Shouto and Ochako.

So, basically everyone from their former class but Tsuyu, Aoyama and Mineta made it to this gathering. Which, considering their respective schedules, is quite the feat.

"How drunk is he?" Shouto asks, amused by the telling pink glow on Izuku's cheeks.

"Tipsy, I'd say," Ochako answers. "Mina has been working hard to get him wasted. I only got here five minutes ago. It's damage control time, partner."

Shouto snorts at the fake grimness of her tone. Out of the three, Ochako is the most likely to actually enjoy this ambush disguised as a 'surprise party'. "I'm ready, partner."

He silently congratulates himself when she laughs at his dry reply. Kaminari, Sero, Ashido and Kirishima cheer when he and Ochako approach their end of the table. Izuku's eyes brighten visibly when he spots them, forest green gleaming like afternoon grass. "Shouto!"

"Hey," Shouto says in greeting, sliding on the bench on the other side of the table. "How many drinks did you have?"

Shouto's boyfriend chuckles sheepishly at the question. "I forgot. So probably too many."

Ashido clicks her tongue in disapproval. "There is no such a thing as 'too many,' Midori-chan! There, have another."

Ochako suddenly leans over the table and snatches the glass before Izuku can grab it. "If you want to get Deku drunk, Mina, you're responsible for taking care of him when he's wasted. Have fun scrubbing his puke out of the carpet."

"That happened once, you're unfair," Izuku mumbles defensively as the others burst out laughing. "Once, and you're never letting it go."

"Never."

"How are you enjoying your congratulation party, Todoroki?" Sero asks, sounding as amused by the situation as usual.

"Is that what this is?" Shouto says skeptically.

"Yep, Congratulations For Fucking Finally Getting Laid Party." Kaminari fakes sweeping a tear on the corner of his eye. "I'm so proud of you guys."

Shouto takes a sip of his beer. "I see. I'll have to remember to throw you one if you do get laid one day."

His retort wakes a wave of whistles, laughers and dramatic gasps. It also manages to distract everyone from the initial matter, which was the point. Shouto doesn't throw shade aimlessly. He throws shade for a purpose.

"Oh my god, that sass. Kaminari my dude, you got owned."

"Todoroki, you're absolutely savage."

"Need some salve for that burn, hun?"

"Oi, I get laid all the time!" Kaminari screeches in protest. "It's not because I don't have a boyfriend and a girlfriend that my sex life is non-existent, you greedy bastard. I think I liked you better when you were pining and insecure."

Shouto shrugs with apparent indifference. He's not sure what to make of that remark. Did everyone know of his massive crush on Midoriya, but were too nice to say anything? Seems unlikely. Hopefully Kaminari is just faking it.

"Get used to it," Ochako grins as she leans her shoulder against his arm. "Because New Shouto is here to stay."

"That's my man," Izuku says dreamingly, which proves he's drunker than they initially estimated.

The entirety of the Baku Squad makes 'awww' noises at the display of affection, except Bakugou who mimics throwing up. Shouto is astonished he's still here and not yelling about Shitty Deku, Half'n'Half Bastard, and Fucking Round Face being disgusting. Most likely Kirishima's influence. That man is a nothing short of a god.

The rest of the evening passes relatively smoothly. Ochako and Shouto keep stealing Izuku's drinks, and end up more buzzed than their boyfriend. Especially Shouto. For some unfair reason, Ochako has more alcohol resistance than Izuku and Shouto combined. She mostly uses that power for evil, as expected.

They move from group to group, playing poker with the Baku Squad (Ochako destroys everyone), then playing darts (Izuku destroys everyone). At some point, Shoji pats Shouto's head, shoulder and back at the same time, telling him with dignified emotion how happy he is for them all. Shouto had no idea the man cared so much, but it's very nice to hear.

He's very happy for himself as well.

"Todoroki-kun!" Yaoyorozu says. "Are you having fun?"

Shouto blinks bemusedly at her. He doesn't quite remember when he sat next to her, but he's proud of his past self. Yaoyorozu is a great person, and a great friend, even though she's a bit nosy. He should tell her that more. Actually he's going to do so right now.

"Yaoyorozu. You're a great person, and a great friend, even though you're a bit nosy."

Ochako almost spits back her drink as Jirou cries actual tears of laughter. Izuku grumbles something that sounds like, "Who's wasted and saying embarrassing stuff now?" Which is ridiculous, because Shouto doesn't need to be drunk to say embarrassing stuff. His sober self does that very well on his own.

"Thanks? I can't deny that, to be honest," Yaoyorozu laughs good-naturedly. "I have a gift for you!"

Jirou laughs again. "Oh my god, I can't wait to see his face."

That can't be good, Shouto thinks as he glares the prettily wrapped box Yaoyorozu put on the table. Whatever has Jirou cackling like that means more embarrassment for him. At this point, he can't be bothered to give a fuck, frankly. He crossed that bridge four drinks ago.

"Ooooh!" Ochako weights the box, shaking it softly. "I think I know what it is, eheh. Open it, open it!"

Shouto does so, revealing a classy box underneath the gift wrapping. He removes the lid and sighs at the content. Betrayed by his own kin. It's not cute, not cute at all.

"Thanks, I hate it."

"Oh my god," Izuku says as he grabs the half-red, half-white shark plushie. "I love it. Yaoyorozu-san, you're the absolute best."

"Thank you, Midoriya-san! I made it myself!" Yaoyorozu claps her hands together without a hint of shame.

"That's the greatest thing to ever come out of your fat cells," Ochako very seriously tells her while she steals the plushie from Izuku's embrace. "Shourko, my son, is it you? Are you finally back from the war?"

If Jirou keeps on laughing like that, Shouto won't be surprised if she breaks a rib or two. He sighs and resigns himself to a lifetime of mockery.

"It's missing something," Shouto declares. "Ochako, where are your sharpies?"

"What, why? Oh my god." Her face clears with understanding. She holds the plushie protectively against her chest. "You're not going to draw a scar on his face! Seriously, Shouto!"

"You want the Shouto Plushie, you get the Shouto plushie. I'm all for the accuracy."

"Noooooo! Deku-kun, don't let him!"

"Sorry Ocha, but Shouto has a point." Izuku shrugs. "Shourko will look cool! All the other sharks will be so jealous of how handsome he is."

Shouto snorts at that. Only Izuku would say that the ugly patch of red could do anything to make his face more agreeable to look at. Shouto is aware he's generally aesthetically pleasing, but that scar will never stop being hideous.

"No, Deku's right," Ochako says decidedly. "Go ahead, Shouto-kun."

"I'm dying," Jirou moans between hysterical cackles, her head shaking over the table.

Yaoyorozu smiles gracefully over her glass of wine. "Then perish."

'Shourko' does end up with a red drawing over its left eye. Ochako and Izuku spend the rest of the time until the taxi arrives showing it off to everyone not yet passed out, cooing proudly over their 'prettiest boy.'

It's very embarrassing. Shouto loves every second of it.

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"I love you guys. So, so much," Izuku moans contently against Shouto's collarbone.

Somewhere above his head, Ochako snorts. "Yeah okay, but did you remember to buy fish food?"

Shouto smiles to himself as Izuku pouts to their girlfriend. "Ochako, why are ruining the mood like this?"

"That's a no, isn't it? I told you four times yesterday! Four!"

Her hand passes over his face to land on Izuku's shoulder and pinches the flecked skin. It's physically painful not to laugh outright at the expression of pure indignation on his boyfriend's face. "Ochako."

"Deku-kun," she mockingly mimics his tone. "Good luck explaining to Shouto-kun why his fish starved to death."

Izuku turns his head up, staring straight at Shouto's face. "They're not going to die. They're not. Fish are super resilient."

"Since when?"

"I bought fish food." Shouto declares, taking pity on Izuku.

"My hero." He kisses Shouto's neck.

"One of those days, I'm going to elope with Shouto-kun. Just watch me." Ochako deadpans as she runs her fingers on his scalp.

"Never going to happen, he would never leave Deku, Uravity and Entropy behind!"

"We would take the children with us, obviously." Ochako puffs. "You can't be trusted with them."

"Nooooo! I can be trusted! Shouto, don't listen to her!"

Shouto is twenty-one and there are three fishes swimming in his tank, three fishes sleeping in his bed, and three fishes living between his walls.

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Alright, that's it for this fic! I hope you guys liked it!