A Communication Error - Part 6

Okay sorry here's the real one, I thought it was funnier to post the last scene on its own

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[Part 5]

“Midoriya, a moment?”

Katsuki paused in packing his bag up, eyes shifting to watch Iida hover over the nerd’s desk

“Of course! What’s up?”

“I was thinking about that group project for history class, and I hoped you and I could work together on it, this time.”

“Me? Really?”

“Yes. I was thinking about it, and I decided I’d like to have you on my team. Not just because you’re smart, though of course you are, but because I think you’d make it more... interesting.”

Katsuki felt his eye begin to twitch. Admittedly, Iida’s attempt was even stupider than most of the ones he’d seen recently, but it was very on brand for him, Katsuki supposed. At least he was being subtle. Kind of.

“Do you mind, Kacchan?”

Katsuki bristled, slowly turning around to look, to see the apologetic expression on Izuku’s face.

“I know we always work together lately,” Izuku said. “I wouldn’t want to let you down!”

“Why would I care?” Katsuki snorted. “Do what you want, losers. You’re not gonna beat me anyway.”

“It’s not a competition, Bakugou,” Iida said calmly.

“People only say that when they know they’re gonna lose.”

He stood up sharply, slinging his bag over his shoulder, and taking a quick glance around the room. Kirishima would have been the obvious choice, someone bearable to work with who wouldn’t say no, but Katsuki would end up doing the entire project himself, if they paired up. Ashido was generally an option too, and was more inclined to actually help out, but she was whispering and giggling with Uraraka again, and Katsuki didn’t want to get himself involved with that bullshit. And Kaminari, of course, was a non-starter if Katsuki wanted a good grade. Sero, then, maybe. Or Jirou, if she wasn’t already buddied up with Yaoyorozu.

“Bakugou.”

Katsuki whirled around, scowling when he found a scarred face and mismatched eyes right up in his face. He looked impassive as ever, not a hint of an emotion in his entire damn body, and that always infuriated Katsuki – he hated not knowing where he stood with people.

“Whadda you want, halfie?”

“Be my partner.”

Katsuki froze. Hadn’t he just been hitting on Izuku?

“Excuse me?”

“For the project,” Todoroki clarified. “That Iida was talking about.”

Oh.

“Why the hell would I want to work with you?” Katsuki demanded, admittedly a little relieved.

“Because we’re friends?” Todoroki suggested, ignoring the way Katsuki glared at him for it. “And you know I care about my grades.”

Well. That was true, he supposed. Todoroki always put in the effort to work hard and study a lot, to do a good job of his assignments, where many of their classmates did not. He supposed there were worse options, even if it was gonna kill him to spend so much time with the jerk.

“Fine, whatever,” Katsuki agreed, looking away. “If you need my help that badly.”

Todoroki snorted, and Katsuki was actually a little impressed by it – he’d never heard the asshole laugh before, and even if it wasn’t quite the same thing, he was surprised to hear... something. Even if it was supposed to be at Katsuki’s expense.

“My room?” Todoroki offered. “It’ll be quiet.”

As much as he didn’t want to go to Todoroki’s room, it was marginally better than taking Todoroki to his, and even that was preferable to trying to work in the common room. Maybe Todoroki wouldn’t be so bad to work with, after all.

“If you try to hit on me, I’m leaving,” Katsuki said, starting toward the classroom door.

“Why would I do that?”

Katsuki gave him a pointed look over his shoulder, eyes darting across to Izuku briefly, and Todoroki actually blushed.

“I’ll be over at six,” Katsuki said, by way of a farewell. “Have your shit ready.”

“Will do.”

He headed back to the dorms to escape, to get himself some solid alone time before he had to go put up with the halfie asshole, only stopping in the kitchen to cook himself a quick dinner to retreat with. The rest of the class began funnelling in quickly, and Katsuki worked a little faster, in the hopes of avoiding some of the stupidity that was no doubt coming his way.

“I was thinking we could get dinner and have a chat about our project ideas,” Iida was saying, when he and Izuku trailed in – last, Katsuki couldn’t help but notice. “My parents sent me some money last week to go out and get a nice meal, I thought maybe you’d join me?”

“That’s really nice of you!” Izuku gushed. “I wouldn’t want you to waste it on me, though!”

“It wouldn’t be a waste. I’d like nothing more than to share it with you.”

“Aww, you’re so sweet!”

Katsuki really couldn’t believe that Izuku still wasn’t getting it. He’d known Izuku was oblivious, obviously – that had always been a point of amusement, in that past – but he hadn’t realised how bad it was, until the recent antics had started. Maybe he needed to have a word with Izuku about it after all, needed to set him straight and make him reject the others properly, for their own sake.

When six o’clock came, Katsuki reluctantly made his way over to Todoroki’s room, knocking and waiting for the ‘come in’ before he turned the handle. Inside, Todoroki sat on his tatami flooring, shirt cast aside, positioned just right to make sure his shoulders and chest would be on display.

Katsuki turned around, walking straight back out the door.

“Okay, come back,” Todoroki called after him. “I’m putting a shirt on.”

Warily, Katsuki looked back through the doorway, narrowing his eyes as he watched Todoroki pull a white t-shirt over his head.

“I just had to test it,” he said solemnly. “To make sure my intent was clear.”

“If you ever use me as your fucking flirting guinea pig again, I am going to call your father and tell him you want to spend a week on holiday with him in a remote cabin where there’s nothing to do but talk and bond.”

Todoroki cringed, but nodded his understanding.

“I didn’t know you’d take it that poorly. I apologise.”

“You’re so fucking lucky I want a good grade on this project.”

[Part 7]