Chapter Text
Bakugo sends him a couple of messages explaining he'll be busy with the interviews for the magazines and some late night shows, but that they'll see each other in a few days.
Maybe I can come pay you a visit tomorrow night. I already fucking miss you.
Izuku grabs his own shirt tightly, right where his heart is, and doesn't allow himself to feel glad about that kind of text. He needs to be realistic about the situation, not behave like a delusional twelve-year-old with their first crush.
Better take that time for yourself and rest. You need to sleep well, Kacchan. Besides, I'll be busy with essays and projects.
Biting his bottom lip, Izuku watches with anxiety as those three dots appear and disappear a couple of times. He wonders why is taking Bakugo so long to write a response.
If that's what you want.
Izuku doesn't know how to answer to that, so he doesn't. The truth is that he wants to have a few days for himself, to make sure he's not developing feelings for the rock star. It'd be better for him if he doesn't see him for a while.
This time is different. He has no idea why with his other partners he wasn't so hesitant about giving it a try. Not that Bakugo has asked him out (he probably doesn't want to), but the truth is that he's nervous just thinking about the possibility.
He buries his head in his pillow, making sure he doesn't wake Rody up. Izuku wants to cry, but he doesn't, he swallows his fears and sadness until his throat hurts.
Even if Bakugo likes him more than a friend... Izuku is not sure is that kind of affection is because somehow he's inspiring him to write new songs. What if he finishes his part of the album and realizes that Izuku is not a good match for him? Those feelings will probably vanish as soon as he writes the last song.
Or maybe he's being an idiot and Bakugo only wants him as a friend.
He doesn't know how long it takes for him to finally fall asleep, but it certainly feels like an eternity.
***
Feeling the need to hear his mother's voice, Izuku calls her the next day; they talk about the usual: Izuku's projects, his friends (he purposely omits that he met a rock star and probably has a crush on him) and he asks about his mother's day at work.
But Midoriya Inko always can tell when something's happening to her son.
"Are you alright, Izuku? You sound... a bit down."
"I..." he considers lying to her for a moment, but instead chooses to tell her he'd like to talk about it in person. "Spring break is coming soon. I'll pay you a visit then and I'll tell you all bout it."
"I can't wait to see you, Izuku." She says, although she still sounds worried, but she has always been respectful of her son's wishes so she doesn't push it. "I'll make you katsudon."
The mere word makes him think about that first day with Bakugo.
"Actually, this time I want curry."
"Oh, sure," his mother sounds confused, and he doesn't blame her; katsudon has always been his favorite dish, he never says 'No' whenever someone offers him some.
Just an hour later, he finds himself in the library, trying to focus on his essay, but it's difficult because he's so tired and emotional at the moment.
"Wow, you look terrible."
"Thanks, Uraraka."
She sits at the same table and leaves her backpack on the seat next to her. The girl leans over to touch his forehead.
"No, I mean seriously. Are you okay? Did you sleep well?"
She's not going to like that the answer to those questions is 'No', so he just shakes his head.
"You should talk to him."
"He's busy at the moment. Lots of interviews." He replies, knowing exactly whom his friend is talking about.
Uraraka rolls her eyes, before pinching the bridge of her nose. No matter how irritated she seems, Izuku can tell she's more concerned about him than anything else.
"Fine. Let's do something productive then. We have essays to write."
They work in silence, which Izuku appreciates. He manages to distract himself for a couple of hours. But then, just as Uraraka rises from her seat to stretch, he can't help but take his phone to check social media.
He's not sure why he keeps doing that; it's not like he's going to read something different from what he has before. A lot of people tag him under tweets about the band now, others ask him questions about Dynamight; Kaminari tags him in a post he makes about Bakugo looking gloomy during the interview they had that day, and the fans had gone wild under that tweet.
Some of the fans talk about Izuku as if he's a disposable thing Bakugo will forget about as soon as he gets what he wants, and others say they look good together. Izuku quirks his brows in surprise and embarrassment when he realizes he already has a scary number of people calling themselves Midoriya's simps or the muse's simps.
He scolds himself for doing exactly the opposite of what he planned to do: which was keep his mind clear and far away from Bakugo Katsuki.
At last, he checks his inbox only to realize that an account with Todoroki's handle has sent him a message. His surprise and confusion only grow when he finds out that it's Todoroki's real Twitter account.
I'm sorry for contacting you like this, but I forgot to ask for your number the other day.
"What? What is it?" Always curious, Uraraka moves behind him and peeks over his shoulder. "Wait! Is it really the Ice Prince?"
"Yes, and I think he needs a friend," he mumbles before writing his phone number. In seconds, he gets a text.
It startles the two college students.
Hi, Midoriya. This is Todoroki, you just gave me your number.
"I didn't know he was so awkward."
"He had a difficult childhood, Uraraka. Be nice!"
"It's not like he can hear me!"
So how the muse thing works? Can you help me after you are done with Bakugo?
Actually, I don't know exactly how that works either. He just claimed one day that I was his muse and that's it. We just hang out.
Can I hang out with you?
"I told you he just needed a friend!"
Of course! Where do you want to go?
I'm not sure, I always get recognized easily when I go out; I get anxious when there's a huge crowd.
This time, even Uraraka makes a sad expression after reading the text.
"Tell him to come to the University as covered as possible! I have an idea!"
"Makeup?"
"Yeah and a few hairsprays to change the color of his hair temporarily! I have a friend who can turn herself into any person she wants. She's very talented!"
"The same friend you have a huge crush on?" Actually, Izuku is not entirely sure about that, but he's heard her talk about Toga a lot for her to consider the other girl just a friend.
His suspicious are confirmed when the brunette turns into a very deep shade of red and hits him on the shoulder.
"Shut up, this is not about me! We're gonna help the Ice Prince have a normal day for once in his life!"
Izuku nods, not able to hide the smile on his face as he texts Todoroki back. He's glad to have a friend like Uraraka; she's such a kind and caring person.
***
"Ready to turn into the hottest goth boy alive?"
Todoroki looks in confusion at the blond girl; Toga has a unique personality that has caused her to have a few problems with people of her age. She's often misunderstood, but Izuku is happy she found them; a group of friends that are also weird in different ways and can see her real self.
"That'll help you not to get recognized on the streets," Izuku says gently, putting a hand on the singer's shoulder as encouragement. "If you don't want to change your appearance that's fine too."
"I want to be able to hang out with friends in peace." He looks at Toga through the mirror in front of him and nods at her. "Do it."
Izuku still remembers that Todoroki arrived looking like a drug dealer from an American movie; the hoodie was too big for him and there was no point on wearing a scarf around his face in that weather, it was even worse considering he was also wearing sunglasses.
However, it kinda worked because none of the people around could imagine that a famous singer would ever let themselves be seen in public wearing... that.
Of course, they're in Izuku's room, which means Rody is there too. He's honestly considering buying him something as an apology for everything he's made him go through these days.
"I can't believe the Ice prince is here! If someone else found out-"
"That's precisely what we don't want," Uraraka cuts him off, closing the door behind her.
"Oh, right, sorry!"
After that, they all work tirelessly; Toga is really talented and knows how to guide the others, even the ones who know nothing about makeup and clothing.
After a few hours, Todoroki is unrecognizable. The scar on his face is gone, his hair is completely black now and he's wearing a pair of lenses to turn the color of his eyes into a very common light brown.
He's wearing heavy, dark boots that only make him look taller than he already is. It's like he's an elf from the Lord of the Rings and Izuku suddenly turned into a hobbit.
Looking happily at his strange, unfamiliar reflection, Todoroki turns around to thank everyone, but especially Toga, he even offers to pay her.
"Nonsense! I love doing this, it's so much fun!" Toga assures him, smiling to the point that everyone can see her sharp teeth. "Besides, it was a special favor for Ochako, I'd do anything for her!"
It's fun to watch his best friend turn into a flustered mess, especially since it's usually Izuku the one who reacts like that.
"Uhh..." It seems like Uraraka is struggling to say something in return, and when it looks like she's about to find the right words, Toga winks at her and she turns bright red again.
Izuku finally takes pity on her.
"Where do you want to go, Todoroki?"
"Let's go to the mall."
All of them go. The people there don't bother to even glance at Todoroki, well, some of them do, but that's only because he looks hot.
Exploring the shopping center with Todoroki is like taking a child for the first time. He's fascinated by every single thing, and has no idea what's expensive and what is not. He was born into a rich family, and considering his father's controlling behavior, he probably never had the chance to go out and buy stuff on his own.
Despite them refusing payment, Todoroki still buys something for each one, well, Izuku gets slightly more than the others, but his new friend is so excited he doesn't even question it.
They have lunch there and they go to see a movie about super heroes. Uraraka and Toga sit next to each other, and Izuku in the middle of Rody and Todoroki.
It's late when they get out of the theater; Todoroki thanks them all again and gives Izuku a hug so tight he easily lifts him a few inches from the ground.
"I'm glad you had fun today, Todoroki, but we have to go back to the University."
He nods in response, but doesn't move an inch.
"And in order to do that I need you to let go of me first."
"Oh! Right, sorry!"
Rody rolls his eyes, as Toga gives Todoroki instructions on how to take off all the make up and the temporary hair dye when he gets home.
"I hope to see you soon, Midoriya and everyone else!"
Izuku goes back to his room, feeling more at ease after having something else to focus on for an entire day. Besides, he truly enjoys helping people.
But it seems the universe doesn't plan on giving him an uneventful day anytime soon. Because the next morning Uraraka texts him to meet her in the library.
It's a wise choice 'cause even though the students keep looking at him every now and then, they can't approach him to talk or freak out because the librarian likes silence and she's very scary.,
"What is it?" He leans closer to the brunette so he doesn't have to raise his voice.
Uraraka sighs before turning her phone around and showing him a picture of himself with Todoroki at the mall. He's hugging him.
"Did someone recognize him?"
"No, they took the picture because of you! You're Dynamight's muse, remember?"
She's right; the caption is clearly about him and everyone is referring to Todoroki as the hot goth Midoriya has been seen with.
He has the bad feeling that the photo is going to cause him trouble.