The First Argument

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The three of them bickered a lot, but it was rare for them to properly argue. Todoroki could count the times on one hand.


The first time was probably Bakugou's and Kirishima's worst fight yet.

Todoroki doesn't really know what happened out there exactly, neither of them told him and he's never asked. He felt it was a moment the two would rather forget.

...

"WHY THE FUCK WERE YOU THERE YOU DUMB SHIT YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!"
Bakugou was currently screaming at Kirishima who'd barely signed the papers for his release from hospital. It was a scare – the doctors said he was lucky – a couple centimetres deeper and he would've had to go into emergency surgery. Bakugou has been pacing in the waiting room stewing for about 3 hours whilst Todoroki raided the vending machines.

"Bakugou please. Not now. Let's just talk when we get home." Kirishima had chosen not to stay the night at the hospital – he looked exhausted – his voice cracking with every word.

"NO WE'RE FUCKING TALKING ABOUT THIS NOW. DO THINK IM FUCKING WEAK I CA-"
Todoroki didn't know what to do. Kirishima was staring at the floor, fists clenched as Bakugou spat curses in his face.
He should get Bakugou to calm down right?

"-N TAKE CARE OF MYSELF SHITTY HAIR" No chance of that happening.

"Bakugou I wasn't just gonna stand there and let-"
There were tears in his eyes.
Todoroki felt like he missed an important episode. He could only awkwardly stand aside, hoping too many other people weren't watching. It's not like he wasn't close with the other two - yet he felt there was a big difference in their relationships.
Some things just weren't any of his business.

"I COULD HAVE TAKEN IT. I FUCKING TOLD YOU TO BACK OFF AND YOU DIDN'T LIS-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP BAKUGOU. JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
Todoroki had never heard Kirishima shout like that - tears streaming down his face he turned on his heel and walked out of the entrance door. Bakugou stood there frozen in a state of shock.
This is probably the part where he should step in.

"Bakugou-"

"Shut the fuck up, scarface" Bakugou shouldered past him, nearly knocking him off his feet.

Well done Todoroki...

...

Todoroki decided to visit Kirishima first.

It had been a few hours since they'd gotten back to the apartment and he'd finally worked up the courage to attempt some kind of cheering up.
He was the worst at both giving and receiving any kind of empathy (thanks dad), hence was terribly awkward at these kind of conversations.

He decided to order Kirishima's favourite pizza, the multi-meat supreme. The red head hadn't left his room since the fight – probably avoiding Bakugou who had also been holed up his room. He can't of eaten much.
Taking a deep breath, Todoroki knocked.

"Is that you Todoroki?"
Kirishima sounded tired...
"Yes it is me. Can I come in? I have... pizza?" Todoroki mumbled, awkwardly.
"P-pizza? You can come in..."

Once he entered, it was pretty obvious Kirishima had been crying his eyes out, there was a large pile of tissues surrounding the "Shouto merch" bin (He didn't even know he sold merch with his face on a bin until Bakugou bought it as a joke saying he was "trash"). His eyes were puffy too – it probably wasn't the right moment but Todoroki couldn't help but think he looked weirdly cute.

"...You actually got me pizza?"

"I think this one is your favour-"
Todoroki stood there in shock as Kirishima suddenly burst into tears.

"A-ah is it not your favourite? I'm sorry I-" Todoroki stepped backwards, planning on running out of the door and forgetting this ever happened.

"Wait! I'm sorry Todoroki- that is my favourite I'm just... really happy you finally came and you even brought pizza and I'm so fucking hungry." Kirishima quickly jumped up, wobbling over with tears still running down his cheeks to take the pizza out of his hands. Todoroki still stood there paused – racking his completely socially unaware brain to step the fuck up and tell him what he's supposed to do now.

"Please, can you just.. stay for a while? I'll share my pizza?" Kirishima gestured to the other side of bed, glancing up at him with those puppy dog eyes.

How could he possibly say no.

...

They didn't end up talking about the fight. They talked about silly things... like how Todoroki genuinely thought for 3 years that Kirishima's hair was naturally red and was utterly shocked when he first saw him with plastic gloves and box dye in the bathroom. They talked about whether water was wet (it depends if you're using wet as a verb, adjective or noun) . They even talked about brushing their teeth - Kirishima has to get a new brush every month - Shouto flosses a little too regularly.

They talked for what felt like hours but also seconds and Todoroki learnt that Kirishima was someone who liked people around when he was upset – a complete opposite coping mechanism to himself. It was a little hard to understand yet he's always been a good listener so he tried his best.

He wasn't sure when it started, yet at some point Kirishima had managed to cuddle up to his side in bed, falling asleep nuzzling into his shoulder.
He felt... happy.

...

Todoroki had a clearer plan for cheering up Bakugou. Once he was certain Kirishima was deep asleep, he snuck out to enter Bakugou's room.
He didn't bother knocking.

"Fuck off." Bakugou was at his computer, typing the keys so hard Todoroki swore they were going to snap and pop off. There was also a new hole in the wall.
Bye bye deposit...

"Fight me."
Bakugou slowly turned in his chair, giving the 'I'm letting you have 3 seconds to run before I come and snap your neck' glare.

"Fucking. What?"

"Let's go to the training hall. I want to fight." Todoroki held his gaze. Back in UA, Bakugou suffered a lot with pent up anger, he remembers the time he sparred the blonde the first time he failed a mock exam 2nd year. He had a black eye for about 2 weeks. But the marks were worth it - Bakugou seemed a lot calmer after that day.

Silently, Bakugou stood from his chair, walking straight towards him.
Oh shit is he actually going to break my neck?
"Let's fucking go then."

...

They must have been fighting for hours. Bakugou was being rougher than usual and Todoroki was pretty sure he lost a couple ribs with that last jab. Although, they were both nearing their limits, neither were backing down. Bakugou ran at him, fist flying towards his face but he caught it – just. Only to be kicked in the side of the head - stars pricking the edges of his vision. As he stumbled he kicked the side of Bakugou's knee – bringing him down with him. With a loud thump, Todoroki had a large, rock solid Bakugou on top of him.
He was winded, aching and sore.
Bakugou wasn't moving either.

It was silent for a few tense seconds.
If Todoroki wasn't battered and bruised, he would rolled them over - pinning the blonde down and declaring victory.
Right now though... He just hoped the battle was over.

"Sorry."
Bakugou must have smacked him pretty hard, he's hallucinating the other apologising.
There was a sudden flick on his face. Bakugou was now sitting on his abdomen - did he just black out?

"Oi, I fucking said sorry."
Maybe he hit Bakugou's  head too hard.

"I was the one who pulled you dow-"

"Not that. For calling you scarface earlier." Bakugou wasn't looking at him now. Turning his head away from him.
Todoroki could admit he always saw that half of him as "unsightly". In his later years he realised he subconsciously turned his head in photos to hide it. That side was all the worst parts of him – and he had to admit "scarface" kind of hurt. He never said it – he didn't think he even showed it.

They stayed in silence for a while. Bakugou rolled off him to lay beside him, shoulders touching. Todoroki didn't ask Bakugou if he wanted to 'talk' – he felt like him and Bakugou were very similar in that sense – emotions, feelings were complicated and annoying.

It was easier to pretend there's nothing there.

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