Hesitant Lovers in a Triangle [Kiri x Baku x Deku]

[NicTheDjinn]

His breath trembles as he locks eyes with piercing red hues, feeling hands sliding up over his biceps, through his hair before feeling nails drag across his skin. It stings, but it's a good kind of sting. A sting that makes his toes curl and his muscles tense, brows furrowing.


He drops down to bury his face into the blond's shoulder, arms sliding down underneath him, hips rocking slow. He feels tight, warm and wet, and he could get addicted to the feeling. He never wanted to let go, never wanted to leave this moment and face the reality. He knew deep down that this was a dream, that this was just his fantasy, that he could never have what he wanted.


"Katsuki--" he exhales, and he feels strong thighs squeeze around his waist, muscles clenching around his cock. "I love you so much." He gasps, and he's being pushed back, which he complies and looks down in a look of concern. But… Katsuki is grinning, trailing fingers over his jaw, which he leans into.



"Love you too, you idiot."




Red eyes snap open as he inhales sharply. He sits up with his heart pounding and sweat coating his skin. He winces as he shifts, he already knows he's came in his basketball shorts, the fabric sticky. Still though.. His hand grips the front of his shirt as his breath trembles, eyes blinking away wet tears. He's never been so filled with such longing before. He never realized how much it could hurt, wanting someone he couldn't have. He didn't think he would be so upset with how things were going, but it seemed just the opposite.


Eijiro doesn't know how they did it, but Bakugo and Midoriya were in a relationship, as strange as it was to see. He was happy for them! Or… he tried to be. But every kiss, every act of PDA he saw between them, it… had him feeling jealous. Jealous that Midoriya could feel the affection and love that Bakugo gave, that he could enjoy the intimacy. He could occasionally hear them whenever they decided to go to Bakugo's room.. they never seemed to have any qualms about trying to stay quiet.



Sometimes… he imagined himself as being the one to touch Katsuki in such a way.


With a heavy heart, he dragged himself out of bed to clean himself up and change. It was a bit after midnight, everyone was probably asleep. But…



He finds himself in front of Bakugo's door before he realizes what he was doing, red hair not styled and falling freely, now sporting some Crimson Riot sweats. Swallowing thickly, he knocks on the door. But, he quickly shakes his head and turns to quickly head back, but the door opens before he could take a step away. Was Bakugo not asleep like he had thought?

Oh


It's Midoriya.

Of course it was.

It always is.

He can't seem to remember a time without Midoriya around since the two had gotten together.


His eyes widen, and his heart lurches in his throat. The question of what was up goes past deaf ears as he looks over Midoriya's shoulder to see Katsuki laying in bed, on his phone. He looks back to Deku, chokes out a "Sorry--" before turning back and ducking back into his dorm, tears spilling over. One hand clamps over his mouth as he sinks down against his door, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Why did he have to be there? Why couldn't he ever have a chance to talk to Katsuki alone?


He just… wanted to tell him how he really felt...

.....

Izuku honestly never thought he'd be so lucky to be where he is now-- being at UA, being a 3rd year at the prestigious school, but also having Katsuki be so close to him, after so long. After so much conflict, painful feelings, turning into a more healthy rivalry, then.... Passion. Izuku still can't pinpoint when his feelings of admiration became genuine love, but he was so my happy his feelings were reciprocated. Admittedly, he was a bit oblivious to how others saw the pair together, how it would effect some of his classmates.... Or, namely one, at least.

Sure, he knew Katsuki and Eijiro were great friends in their first year, and thinking back, Izuku had felt a bit jealous of that for a long while. Kirishima was able to hang out with his childhood friend more easily than he was able to, but.... Well, if he had to think about it, he and Katsuki were spending more time together alone than Kirishima was able to. It left a bit of an uncomfortable feeling in his chest at times, his insecurities giving him horrible possibilities in his head. Thoughts of the possibility that he could lose Katsuki to someone else, like he had already when they were so young, but to the fact he didn't have a quirk of his own, while Katsuki did. Izuku knew it was stupid to worry-- for all of Katsuki's rough nature and attitude, he'd never hurt Izuku!! He'd never betray him!!

Still, those anxious thoughts always resurfaced eventually, especially whenever he'd see how Eijiro would look at Katsuki, when he thought no one else would see. The greenette couldn't tell if it was wishing to have more time as bros, or something deeper, and he didn't want to risk ruining potentially two good relationships. Sure, there was a fairly reasonable possibility that Eijiro had feelings for Katsuki, but.... Izuku hoped that wasnt the case.

Unfortunately, after a fairly comfortable evening with Katsuki, studying and talking late, then.... Well, being close, he was greeted with a face he hadn't expected after midnight at Katsuki's door. The look on the other's face made his stomach sour somewhat, but he had tried to ask what was up, only for the other to apologize and run off. He tried to call the other back, only for the other to disappear down the hallway, and that anxious feeling began to gnaw at his heart again. 'Eijiro was hoping I wasn't here, wasn't he? Why?' He stared down the dark hallway, his blood chilling as the negative possibilities began to mount in his mind, against his best attempts to reason them away.

'Eijiro wants Katsuki, or something worse is happening--' 'But I've been with Katsuki far too much to allow anything to slip--' Izuku shook his head roughly with a shaking breath, trying to call down. 'Katsuki would never hurt me. He'd never betray me like that.... We've come too far for him to be so cruel as to do that to me.' After a few deep breaths, he glanced back to the blonde, biting his lip. Should he adress this potential problem? Is he reading into things too much? He didn't know who he should talk to about this-- he didn't know how Katsuki would react.

.... But, he did know they had both agreed to be honest to the best if their ability with each other over serious matters like this, and a part of Izuku didn't want to ask anyone else for advice right now. He closed the door behind him, before heading to Katsuki's bed, and sitting next to him. "Hey.... I-I think we need to talk. I...." How was he supposed to say he thinks Kirishima is into Katsuki a lot more than he let on? ".... Its about Kirishima. To be clear, I'm not telling you to stop being his friend or anything--" He specified quickly, "I just.... Have you noticed him acting.... Different? I've seen him looking at you more, and.... He was just at the door, and.... He seemed upset I was here." The greenette began to worry at the hem of the shirt Katsuki gave him, his throat growing tight. "I-I'm not questioning your loyalty, I'm not-- I just.... I just want to know how you feel about him. I'm probably overreacting--" Great, now his eyes are welling with tears. "I-its stupid-- I'm stupid--" he let out another, tighter shaky breath, before holding his face in his hands. "I-I'm sorry, I just-- it's been nagging at me for a while, a-and I have to know.... I-I know you wouldnt hurt me-- but.... But I can't just ignore what I'm seeing, and shrug it off anymore. I-I love you, and I'm scared of losing you...." He hiccuped, feeling horrible.

[NicTheDjinn]

His relationship with Izuku had been a rollercoaster at best, swelling to them being best friends, plummetting to bitter enemies (at least on his end), swooping up to equally bitter rivals, dropping as things boiled over, then finally they'd been back on the rise. They had their little drops every now and then, but it seemed they'd leveled out more and things were only getting better between them. Katsuki still had his rough way of speaking, but by now, Midoriya had finally learned to understand what he was saying and not focus on the words that actually left his mouth.

If he'd been told how happy he would be dating the greenette, he would have never believed it, but here they were. They were getting close to their second-year anniversary and still going strong. Honestly? What was more surprising than the fact that he'd been in a relationship for that long was *who* it was with. The rest of the class had been floored when they'd gotten together and he understood why. He hadn't missed the signs filtering in from his redheaded best friend, but... Nothing had come of it.

Honestly, it had been a rather hilariously public affair too. They'd been in the middle of class, Bakugou and Midoriya had been pitted against each other. The sparring match ended with them both battered, bruised, bloody, and the collateral damage they'd caused was completely unacceptable. They were tired, in pain, and breathless as they grappled, close enough to be sharing the same breath. Their eyes had locked as they glared in determination at each other. Then Izuku's expression had sort of softened, mind having clearly gotten distracted by his own thoughts. He was about to scold him back to attention when the nerd just sort of wistfully sighed an 'I love you' at him.

They both froze in shock, the greenette looking mortified. A smirk pulled at the blond's lips then and he leaned in suddenly, smashing their lips rather painfully together. The rough and (though he wouldn't admit it) clumsy kiss was short, breaking so he could reply. "I know..." And without warning, he shatters their moment by exploiting the shock he'd induced and turning the tables on their fight, finally pinning the smaller teen to the ground. At the whine that he'd cheated, he'd cackled, not slowing down as he proudly walked back to join their classmates. "All's fair in love and war and this was both!" They'd gone on their first date that same day. The rest, as they say, is history.

Tonight was fairly typical for them at this point. They'd had a study session, had a nice talk, things escalated, and now it was time for sleep. What he hadn't realized was that his moaning had actually inspired a bit of a dream for his poor neighbor. When there was a knock on his door, he'd seriously considered ignoring it, but Izuku was too polite. The other quickly dressed and answered the door, leaving Bakugou to glare at the brightness of his phone to check the time. Fuck. It was past midnight. Who the hell would be knocking on his door at---he didn't have to wait long for his answer. It was a hell of a lot more in answer than he expected.

The opener of 'we need to talk' was not what he wanted to hear, but he took it seriously anyway. The sleepy blond shuffled up into a sitting position, a pleasant shutter skittering down his spine as he did. Alright so maybe he hadn't completely recovered from what they'd been doing earlier. Focus. Your doofus is upset.

Focus he did and his heart sunk at his words. Shit. He'd been hoping with all of him that he really had been wrong and that Kirishima was just the oblivious 'hold hands and kiss your bros on the cheek' kind of himbo. The kind that's super comfortable with affection society dictated they shouldn't be comfortable with. He just seemed like that kind of guy and when all the little hints of possible romantic feelings hadn't gone anywhere, he'd assumed he'd read too far into it, particularly when his behavior didn't change after he and Midoriya had gotten together. Sure there was a reaction right off, but he'd assumed it was the fear of their friendship taking a back seat. He'd actually worked very hard to divide his attention between them so he wouldn't feel left out, but... Shit... He'd really been hoping he'd read that wrong...

"You're not stupid. Babe, come'ere..." He slurred, still shaking off the last of his post-orgasm sleepiness. "I'm not cheating on you. Never have and never would." He reached out a hand, trying to coax him back into bed for a cuddle. "If... If this is what I think it is, I've known he had a thing for me since first year, but... Nothing ever happened. I got real mixed signals with him always calling me his bro, but also doing things that could be flirting. It never went anywhere and then when you and I got together, he just kept doing it so I thought that's just how he was. At least I'd hoped that's all it was at that point. Fuck..." He looked at the wall they shared, heart aching at the thought of the pain that might be just out of sight. He must have been coming here to talk.

He decided he would make sure his boyfriend was alright first then go deal with whatever mess his assumption may have caused. "Talk to me. I want to make sure we're okay." He urged with surprising gentleness, making it clear just how serious he was taking it all.

[Sorry_guys]

Kirishima honestly didn't know what the hell was wrong with him. Katsuki was with Midoriya, it would make sense that they were together all the time, that they would want to spend as much time together as possible outside of school. Time that they could do whatever they wanted with. It made sense, and Kirishima hated the jealousy he felt for his friend. His friends. Midoriya was his friend too, even if part of him held a resentment toward the teen in how he had been so easily able to get Katsuki to like him back. Though from the brief mentions of their history, there was no way he would have been able to compete with that, that he'd be able to make up for all that time and be able to provide as much love and affection as years worth of knowing one another. Even through their hate for one another at one point, the two had managed to come out of it together and happy.

Kirishima was struggling to stifle the sobs, hands shaking as he did his best to wipe away the tears that didn't want to stop. He struggled to just breathe, eventually starting to hiccup from being unable to control his sobbing. He hated himself, hated how he had gotten so close to confessing to Katsuki, to potentially breaking up the two even if they belonged together.

Forcing himself to stand, he slips on his crocs and grabs his pillow and blanket, sniffling and hiccupping still as he makes his way out of his dorm once again, but hurrying to the elevators. He leaves his phone behind, forgetting it in the rush to get out of his dorm and away from Katsuki and Midoriya, wanting to distance himself from the two for a while as he figured things out with himself, with his feelings and with everything else on his mind. He needed to spend the night with another friend, with Mina, to see if she can help him calm down and talk some sense into him. He didn't want to be a burden on her but she was the only friend he could think of going to about this sort of thing, Kaminari and Sero would provide bad advice or something equally bad, and he just needed this to be kept secret for now.

Thankfully, Mina accepts him in, albeit tiredly. She's concerned as soon as she realizes how upset he is, though, and doesn't hesitate to allow him to cuddle her tight and finally, finally, sob into her shirt as she gently pet his hair. He rambles about how he just felt so awful about wanting Katsuki to himself, about wishing he and Midoriya didn't work out. But they were his friends and he wanted to be happy for them, he didn't want to actually hurt them like his subconscious did. She just gently pet his hair and allowed him to ramble on about his feelings, quietly reassuring him, but he was hardly able to listen to her. He was so emotionally exhausted that it didn't take too long for him to pass out completely, and Mina was left to gently wipe his face with a few tissues, only to angrily send messages to Katsuki right after.

'You and Kirishima need to talk ASAP. WITHOUT Deku around! He's really upset and you guys need to work things out. He just came to me bawling about you!'

'I don't know what you did but you need to get this sorted out before things get worse. I don't want you two to stop being friends.'

'He's asleep in my dorm so you'll have to talk to him tomorrow or something.'

[LovelyBones]

When Katsuki had coaxed him to bed, Izuku didnt hesitate, needing his boyfriend to hold him, make him feel safe and happy again. Sure, it would be a hot minute, considering the circumstances, but once he was in the other's arms, hearing Katsuki explain what was going on, or at least what he thought it was, the greenette couldn't hear a hint of a lie anywhere in the other's voice. It was a great comfort, hearing Katsuki promise he hadn't cheated, and never would, and he felt bad that he'd allowed such anxieties to plague him for so long. It was stupid-- but now, now they were being put to rest, as they should be.

"I-I'm sorry, I just.... Some part of me felt threatened by him for no reason, and then I became paranoid, seeing patterns.... I was scared...." Izuku hiccuped, before tuckingnhis head into Katsuki's shoulder, holding him closer. "I-it took so long for us to get here.... I don't w-want to lose what we have, y-you know?" He sniffled, his stomach in knots over the guilt he had for doubting Katsuki, even if it was involuntary. Thank gods that his boyfriend was so understanding, at least for him. Riddled with anxiety, damn near constantly, even with all of the support and help he's recieved.

"I just.... I-I don't know what to do, think about Eijiro and his feelings for you.... I-I know it's selfish to think, but.... B-but you're mine, and.... And I feel threatened, even I know its stupid and wrong ti feel that way. H-he's our friend, and.... And I don't want him to be pushed away, I don't, I just.... I don't know what to do. I-I love you, Katsuki.... And if Eijiro loves you too, w-we need to figure this out." He breathed shakily, clinging to the blinde more s he tried to ground himself, avoid an unneccessary and ill-timed anxiety attack.

When Katsuki's phone out up with Mina's tone, he felt his throat tighten, but he was able to reasonably guess why she was texting Katsuki at thus hour. "K-Kaachan.... Y-you should talk to him, okay? Y-you two were close for so long, and.... And I probably looked like I was stealing you from him.... I wouldn't give up what we have, n-never in a million years.... But he's hurting, too." He whispered, his head beginning to pound from how hard he'd been crying, and with how late it was. "W-we should sleep.... W-we have class tomorrow.... But.... You'll tell me what's going on, right? I-I'll wait for you, a-after you talk it out with Kirishima, okay?"

[NicTheDjinn]

Wrapping the greenette up in his arms, he held him close, pressing kisses to his temple as he vented to him. "You're not stupid... I'd been hoping I had read things wrong, but it looks like he *does* have a thing for me." He hesitated then, contemplating then deciding against it, at least for now. He was getting ahead of himself and he didn't want to upset his boyfriend more than he already was. He needed to work collateral damage for right now.

Gently he cupped his boyfriend's face, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his lips before speaking again. "I love you... I... I know I don't say it enough, but I do. You know I do. I'm not gonna leave you for anyone, not even him." He wrapped him back up in a hug again, jumping just a bit when his phone went off. Mina? Shit... If Eijirou had been willing to wake Mina up in the middle of the night, he must *really* be upset. The cute text-sound that she'd 'forced' him to have on his phone for her felt like the final very adorable nail in the coffin.

Continuing to hold his boyfriend with one arm, he reached out to pick up his phone, unlocking it with one hand and squinting at the too-bright screen to read the equally too bright and definitely angry pink text. It didn't happen often, but sometimes he really wished he'd be wrong... The messages contradicted each other too. 'ASAP' and 'tomorrow' didn't get along. Fuck it... There was no way he could just sleep at this point.

"We are close." He corrected, putting his phone down again and giving his boyfriend one more kiss before untangling himself and getting up. "Try to get some sleep, if you can." He urged, starting to pull on some fresh underwear and a pair of sweats. "I'm not leaving you, okay? The text made it clear he doesn't want you there when I talk to him and I can't sleep, but I won't leave you for him. I... I need to try to smooth things out with him. I don't want to lose him either, Deku... I'm going to do what I can to salvage this." He placed his phone in his pocket to make sure that Izuku could text him if he needed to.

Pulling on a loose-fitting skull shirt, he slipped his bare feet into house slippers and finally left his dorm and into the dim nighttime lighting of the hall. His heart felt heavy as he went over to the elevator, called it, and got in. He took it to the first floor only to get out and get right back into the elevator for the girl's side of the dorm. A short walk later and he was standing outside of Mina's dorm. The urge to turn around and go back to his dorm hit him then, but he resisted, taking a deep calming breath before pulling out his phone.

"Open the door, Racoon Eyes."

If the door should open, the pink girl would find a very tired blond standing there. The exhaustion was far more than physical and it showed. He lacked his characteristic scowl and instead wore something much more appropriate. Hurt, regret, even some of his anxiety was showing. The only thing missing was the tears. Those he shared with an extremely short list of people and she wasn't one of them.

[cryptidchalupa]

The long stretch between the message and the door actually opening dragged out long enough that it likely came across as her outright ignoring him. And boy, did she really want to. If only it were possible.

The sliver of open space soon birthed into a quick glance into her entire dorm room, before swiftly disappearing as she stepped out and closed it nearly all the way behind her. Invading the hall with him, looking every bit more and more like a pissed off mother hen. Only pink. And in the least intimidating pajamas known to man. Like hell she was going to have this conversation in her room, while Eijiro was sleeping finally. Even if he somehow took up all the space yet none of it on her bed, and had delayed her response by being a relative deadweight, she was a far cry away from waking him up now.

"What part of tomorrow went right over your head?" The lack of pity in her tone should have been enough with the low whisper-yelling. Furious was a way to put it. She paired it with a shoo-ing motion of her hands, please just leave, dropping them across her chest in a tight crisscross fold after. "You're so bullheaded. Go back to your room. Sleep on it."

Her anger dwindled down a little, the harsher parts of annoyance dampened against his kicked puppy expression. She hadn't been entirely moved by it, not after having one of her best friends break down into jagged little pieces in her arms. Especially someone as usually put together and confident as Kirishima. It absolutely broke her heart to see him so torn up and feeling so small when he was anything but.

"I mean it Baku--"

"Mina, it's alright."

She whipped around at the exhausted, almost dull voice behind them. Seeing the door open much farther than she had left it, and Kirishima filling the gap. Damnit. She turned fully to him, one hand reaching for the door, and the other like she was going to usher him back into the sanctuary her room was currently, but he gently brushed her off. Meeting her confused expression with a watery, tired smile. He was sure he looked as lifeless as he felt, his limbs were heavy and his face hurt.

"I mean it, it's okay. Thank you. Can you give us a minute?"

It clearly took some effort, but red rimmed, puffy eyes landed on the blond. He tried to keep his emotions in check, this was a hot mess. He felt Mina carefully step around him, clearly hesitating but respectful enough to just let the inevitable happen. The door closed with a soft click and just like that they were alone in the hallway. And Kirishima desperately whished for the floor to open up and swallow him whole so he wouldn't have to hear what he knew in his gut was coming. Just the thought of it made fresh, acid-burn hot tears prick at the back of his eyes and he dropped his gaze to the floor to avoid letting it spill. He'd done enough crying, it was time to man up a little and hold it together. He could at least seem composed while Katsuki put him in his place and stomped the rest of his heart into the hard floor.

"Let's get this over with, I'm really tired." Dismissive, sure. But at the same time honest. It was very late, he had just poured everything out against Mina's t-shirt, and slept for about half an hour at best. Tired didn't even scratch the surface of that, but maybe if he was lucky enough it would dull the initial blow. What else would he have bothered to come all the way over here to do? Apologize? He highly doubted that. Besides, Katsuki had nothing to apologize for. At all. He was the one all caught up in his feelings, this was his fault. The most the blond ever did was just date someone he wanted to date. There wasn't some law against that, as much as that darker part of him wished. Stop that. That's awful. Izuku was a friend, not an obstacle.

[LovelyBones]

"I-I'll try.... but if I can't, I'll be waiting here, okay?" He gave Katsuki a tearful smile, and laid down slowly so as not to hurt himself, and watched as the blonde dressed himself, and headed out to find Eijiro, get this sorted. Izuku hoped things would work out between the three of them, that they could be back to a better normal, free of painful feelings hiding beneath the surface. But, Izuku had a feeling deep down that things won't be the same, now that everything seems to have been brought into the open. He wanted Eijiro to be happy, but he seems so dead-set on Katsuki-- his boyfriend --and Izuku hated how he felt.... threatened, even with Katsuki's assurances, his promises that he wouldn't leave him for the redhead.

He hated feeling like Eijiro would be a threat to his happiness, after years and years of struggling to just be friends with the blonde again, when Eijiro had befriended the blonde within their first week in UA. Izuku had been painfully jealous then, hurt that it was so easy for a stranger to befriend the one person he held dear, despite everything they had been through together. It hurt, feeling so alone even as he began to make his own band of friends. It wasn't the same, but it helped to ease the betrayal he felt in his heart, ease the pain.

.... He couldn't sleep, and he didn't know when Katsuki had left exactly, and he didn't want to look at the time, for fear his anxiety would spike, make him sick. He needed someone to talk to-- he can't lay there in the dark and be expected to not be plagued by more what-ifs, more ugly feelings born by the events from earlier in the night. He pulled out his phone and looked up the one person he knew he could talk to without judgement, as well as be impartial, and possibly the second opinion would shut up the anxiety and doubt in his brain long enough for him to sleep.

Midoriya to Todoroki:

-hey, are you up?
-i need your input on something
-it's about Kirishima and Kaachan
-and no, Kaachan isnt cheating, but Kirishima came knocking at Kaachan's door, and was upset when I answered
answered
-I think he was hoping I wouldn't be there
-and after talking with Kaachan, we're thinking he was trying to come over to confess
-kaachan promised me he wouldn't leave me for Kirishima but...
-kirishima had become his best friend without even trying our first year
-how do I know he won't be able to take Kaachan away somehow?
-i feel gross
-kirishima is our FRIEND and
-i feel gross thinking he'd take Kaachan away after everything
-kirishima probably thinks I stole Kaachan from him too
-what am I supposed to do?
-am I freaking out over nothing?

God, he hoped he would get an answer, but he also felt bad about bombarding Todoroki like this.... but he had to do something he was making himself ill with worry at this rate.

[NicTheDjinn]

Shit... She wasn't going to answer. He actually had his phone out and was about to shoot her another message when the door suddenly popped open and then shut, bringing the hallway's population up to two. He tried not to feel awkward about slipping his phone back into the pocket of his pants and felt like he hadn't quite managed. Whatever, that's not what's important right now. Unfortunately for them both, though he'd gotten better over the years, he still had a temper that flared up fairly easily.

"You also said 'ASAP'. How the fuck is tomorrow as soon as possible? And you think for a fucking second that I'm gonna be able to sleep? He's been my best friend since first year, I can't just go to sleep knowing he's this upset! Mina, please..." It wasn't often that he pleaded with anyone, even his friends, but this was too important to give up on. Unfortunately, she could be just as stubborn as he was and she was rather protective of their faux redhead. Before she could finish insisting and he, in turn, insisted on staying, the door gently swung open without their notice.

The voice that broke off their whisper argument made his heart feel like it had frozen over. He wanted to tell himself that it was just sleep in his voice, but he knew that not enough time had passed for something like that. As he gently shooed their pink friend back into her own room, Katsuki got the chance to get a good look at him and he looked so much worse than he sounded... When he finally spoke to Bakugou directly, it felt almost like he'd been physically struck. This was his fault. He'd done this to their ever-patient and ever-positive ray of sunshine. This was his doing.

"Ei, I..." He caught himself then, hesitating. No. Not 'Ei'. He didn't feel like he had the right to use his first name, let alone a shortening of it. "Kirishima... I didn't realize, no... No that's not true... I thought I knew how you felt, but... You were so nice to everyone and you never said anything so I started to doubt myself. I thought that I was reading too much into it, that... That you didn't want me and were just being nice to the class asshole because that's what you do. I... I hadn't had a real friend since I was like... Four! I couldn't take rejection like that, not from you so... I kept how I felt to myself. Convinced myself you were just nice to me like everyone else." Shit... His throat felt tight and his eyes burned a little. He couldn't let himself cry though, not with Mina just inside.

...

Todoroki, as per usual when his friends didn't keep him up, had gone to his room for the night early. He'd made himself some nice, warm tea to drink as he listened to calming ambiance, then tucked himself into his futon for the night. He'd been peacefully sleeping when his phone's text message sound, specifically the one he'd assigned to Midoriya, went off. Repeatedly. He grumbled softly as he pulled his charging phone over and squinted at the screen as it lit up. Oh good. It wasn't anything really important, just relationship troubles. Still, if Midoriya was messaging him this much at... Ugh, 12:45am, then clearly this was important to him. Rather than text back and forth, he simply pressed the call button and laid his phone on the pillow and then allowed his cheek to rest on that.

"Mmnn... Moshi, moshi..." His voice was deeper and rumbly with sleep, but thankfully didn't sound annoyed. However, he was tired so he'd like to get this over with as soon as possible while still making sure that his dearest friend was alright. He was sleepy, not heartless. He licked his lips before continuing to speak.

"So I read all your messages. I don't think it's unnatural to worry about a situation like this." He yawned, unable to help himself. "Sorry... Anyway, it's understandable that both you and Kirishima-kun would be upset. If he was going over there to confess then he still has unresolved feelings and obviously you have feelings of your own. You're both afraid of losing Bakugou and I would assume both of you want him." He sniffed, getting a little more comfortable on his futon.

"Bakugou is a really loyal guy and cares more than he usually lets on so, if you both have feelings for him and he feels the same way, why not just share?" The question was so very casually tossed out there too. Leave it to the guy with a rather weak grasp of social norms to so easily come up with what would be an obvious solution if it weren't for society's view of poly relationships.

[cryptidchalupa]

There was something in the way Katsuki corrected himself that he was positive was going to haunt him for a very long time. Hearing his family name rather than his given made his stomach clench so hard he felt physically ill. If it was at all possible to feel the coloring drain from one's skin he was experiencing it. Oh god this was it.

His throat seized up and it felt like trying to swallow around jagged rocks, and in retrospect it was likely his quirk going haywire on the inside in response to the emotional turmoil. Why did that hurt so bad? He would have preferred the blond to just deck him in the jaw. He was so stuck on it, he almost didn't hear him around the rushing noise in his ears. Was he going to actually be sick?

He had to stand there and just take it, try and absorb it all into his brain and process it. It didn't help. Now it felt even more like his fault for not making it more clear, or just saying something to begin with. It would have saved so much pain, or at least he could pretend to think so.

"Bakugou," and that was actual bile he tasted for a second just... that felt wrong. Even if he called him that most of the time, especially around others. Right now it felt wrong. "I adore you. You're very important and special to me, you always have been." He sucked in a shuddering breath, to calm his nerves a little and continue. He may as well spill everything, right down to the core, since it felt like the one and only time he would get the chance. Maybe, if he was lucky, it would bring closure. "I-I mean you've helped me so much, just like Amajiki-senpai and Fat Gum and... and it's different with you...you're... you."

He ran a hand through his bangs, cringing at just how off he felt. He had taken a shower earlier and now it felt like he hadn't at all.

"And listen, I get it. I do. I still want to be friends at least because I know I cannot... I can't do any of this without you. But I don't know how long I can pretend like it doesn't hurt, you know? And I know I have absolutely no right to even be hurt about it. I've l-liked you since day one, I have. I can admit defeat." There it was out. He could spare him details about the butterflies and warm and fuzzies. And how he really couldn't admit defeat, but he would swallow his pride and deal with it... for him. It couldn't compete with the childhood friend's to lovers Katsuki was literally living out. It was the perfect trope for him to actually find himself in the heart of, just like one of his romance novels. "I'm... I'm happy you're happy, I am. I'm just not..." the rest of it caught, of all the things he couldn't say after telling him he did in fact like him, he just couldn't say he was essentially jealous. The rocks were back in his throat, ironic considering, and he couldn't look at him if it was anything but the other's feet. He just couldn't. Just put an end to it.

[LovelyBones]

Izuku wasn't expecting Shoto to call, but he was glad his friend had, as the others voice was soothing for the nerves. He listened to everything the bi-colored young man had said, suggested, and for once, the other's lasck of social awareness had struck gold. Why hadn't he thought of that? Why didn't the option of a polyamorous relationship come to mind before? Maybe it was his insecurity blocking him, but regardless, really, it seemed like the best idea!! "Y-you really think that would work, Todoroki? I mean.... Kirishima is a really nice guy, too, but.... I don't know if he would be on board, too.... It wouldn't hurt to try though, right?" He asked, soon sitting up in Katsuki's bed, his heart racing with anxiety and determination. "I-I'll have them come over, and we'll talk about it!! Tonight!!" And without waiting for any possible objections, he hung up, and without hesitation, shot off a text to his boyfriend, who was surely at Kirishima's location.

Izuku to Kaachan:

-kaachan I talked to Todoroki
Todoroki
-I want you to come back
-asap
-bring kirishima
-we all need to talk

Short, and to the point, Izuku had accomplished his task, unaware that in his anxious and honestly exhausted state, his texts may seem oddly grave and threatening. Of course, word can only express so much, and Izuku wanted to be clear and straight to the point for fear of miscommunication. Except the short string of messages seemed far more dire and nerve-wracking than intended, most likely, for the blonde and redhead. Izuku had left the phone on the bed as he began to pace, working on what he'd say to propose to both young men, in the hopes of a happy ending between the three of them.

The radio silence surely wasn't going to help either young man until they got there, huh? Izuku really needs to explain things better before ignoring his phone, even if it is to prepare for such a big topic between his boyfriend and a friend he truly did hold dear.