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lenathy · 7 months ago

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Deku’s Guide to Accidentally Dating your Enemy: An Irritating Bargain

Fandom: My Hero Academia

Pairing: Midoriya Izuku/Bakugo Katzuki

Word count: 5,750

When Bakugo steps in to help Izuku out of a situation, neither of them imagine they’d be accidentally thrown into a relationship. Now they have to keep up their facade. The question is; Can they?

AO3

A Fake Dating, University, no quirks AU

CW!: Some creep mildly harasses Izuku in this chapter

Chapter One

“Are you coming to Denki’s place on Friday?” Ochako said out of nowhere.

They were in the university library where Izuku was up to his ears in books. He had an essay due next week. In his mind, he had to know everything about his chosen subject matter by later tonight. Locking himself in his room, the only contact being his housemates coming in to leave food and water on his desk silently whilst he worked. Making sure he didn’t neglect his bodily functions in favour of working. If they put food in his vicinity he would eventually eat it because it was there for him to see. He was forever grateful that his friends kept him alive.

So here he was, four books laid open before him and a few piles next to him as he ferociously wrote in his notebook for this class.

Izuku looked up at Ochako who was typing on her phone as she looked at him expectantly.

“Huh? What’s happening on Friday?” He honestly had no idea what was happening or whether it had been brought up to him before now. He had an overwhelming feeling that he probably should know what was going on by the look on her face which screamed ‘Seriously?’.

“You’re literally in the group chat.” She waved her phone in front of his face so that he could read what was on it.

The title read, “Sick ass party ppl” with a bunch of emojis. It looked like there were a lot of members in the group. The memory of being added to the group chat came to him in a flash. The memory of when he muted it because he was overwhelmed by the vast amount of messages and notifications he was getting also came to mind. ‘Ah’. He’d wiped it from his memory whilst he had been prepping for his essay. The reading he was doing right now was overkill but it wouldn’t hurt, right?

Right?!

Anyway, the party had completely been wiped from his brain until just this second. He really had to do this essay. He planned to have it done by at least Thursday, which was a few days away now. The 3 weeks of reading he put on himself to plan his essays around would surely help. He’d have it done by Friday that’s for sure.

He had been mumbling under his breath as he weighed up his options. Typical of him but his friends didn’t mind but it left all of his thoughts out in the open. Ochako was looking at him with a polite smile waiting for him to respond to her question. She knew that he preferred people not mentioning his muttering and pretending he just didn’t do it at all. He was grateful that all of his friends understood this so he didn't have to be embarrassed.

“I’ll be there!” He finally responded by handing her phone back to her.

“Great! We can all go together!” She says enthusiastically with a bigger smile than before, going back to texting on her phone. He assumed she was making his coming known to the group chat to confirm with their hosts. “Iida said he wanted to sit this one out but that he’d join the next game night we have over there. Shouto is coming with us though!” She says as she types.

He nods, going back to writing his notes in silence as she keeps him quiet company for the time being.

The next two days consisted of him being locked at his desk, eyes glued to his computer as he typed. There were moments he had to be ripped away to use the bathroom, anything else he needed his housemates brought to him, careful not to disturb him as they left plates of food on the empty part of his desk that didn't have any notes or paper on it. They also filled up his water bottle for him to ensure he was hydrated. Later they came in to take the empty plates out for him.

He was done.

Every time he finished an essay or project he had this weight lifted off of his shoulders. Like he could finally breathe after weeks of stress, now he had a couple of days to kill before the next one he had to worry about. Thank God. Not that he was religious.

He stretched out in his chair immediately smelling the stench radiating off of him. Gross... he stretched out after being a hermit for two days during which he stayed in the same clothes and didn’t shower or put on deodorant. He breathed in deeply.

K.O’d.

The smell hit him like a tonne of bricks and he fell backwards on his chair. He always had a flair for dramatics. Accepting his fate, he let himself hit the ground with a loud thud.

Well, this is where he will live from now on. This was his place in the world. Who was he to argue with the great beyond?

His door flew open suddenly, Iida, Shouto and Ochako breathing heavily as they barged in, basically falling themselves. He simply looked up with a smile.

“Hey guys!”

“Don’t fucking ‘hey guys’ us we thought you died or passed out or- what the fuck Izuku!” Ochako yelled frantically.

Iida looked at her shocked, flailing his hand in front of him.

“Ochako please refrain from using such language!”

“It’s 3 am right now and we heard a huge bang come from your room. We thought you passed out from exhaustion,” Shouto added to Ochako’s outburst.

Now that Izuku looked them over they were all in their sleepwear. Oops.

“Ah- So sorry guys! I just finished my essay and I leant back on my chair too far. Well, you can guess the rest.” He explained, “Wait, did you say 3 am? What day is it?”

“Thursday, don’t worry you have plenty of time to catch up on sleep and shower before tomorrow.” Ochako says, “Get up off the floor and go do your thing. We’re very proud of you for finishing your essay but it is 3 am, Jesus Christ I am pooped.” She says with a yawn, she waves at him and retreats out of the room.

“Goodnight Izuku!” Iida says with a nod of his head, “Very well done for finishing your essay. You worked really hard for this one!” He smiles with a thumbs up.

“Well done Midoriya,” Shouto says with a small smile as he leaves with Iida leaving Izuku alone in his room, who decided to sleep.

Friday came quickly, having slept through all of Thursday through Friday morning. When he decided to finally shower and partake in some self-care, like changing into clean clothes and making himself something to eat.

So here he was chowing down on his cereal.

“He lives!” A voice from the kitchen doorway says. Izuku turns his head to see which of his friends are here to bless his day with their presence. Ochako!

“Hey! Yeah- finally up, moving and ready for the day!” He laughs as she comes in to sit in her spot on the counter. She sat here whenever Izuku, Iida or Shouto were in here so she could talk to them without being in the way.

“That's good! Are you prepared to get your party on later?” She asks moving her shoulders up and down, a move many probably would call dancing. It makes him let out a light chuckle, nodding in response.

“Of course! Denki always makes sure we all have fun and we haven't seen them in a while so I'm looking forward to it!”

Ochako nods in agreement, “Have you got an outfit picked out yet?”

“Not yet I was gonna pick something later.”

“Oh no no, we're going up there right now because if I leave it up to you you're going to just do it last minute.” She says jumping off of the counter. “Come on!”

Finding clothes and putting them on should not take more than thirty minutes.

Yet, here they were. Two hours deep into a search on what he should wear. TWO HOURS. It turned into Shouto sitting in his desk chair giving his opinions too whilst Ochako went from sitting on the end of his bed to rummaging through his clothes to asking Shouto if she could raid his closet too. He declined and she respected his privacy whilst invading Izuku's personal space whilst she tugged and ruffled things on his person. Izuku hated thinking too hard about things like clothes when he thought too much about everything all of the time. His essays, his interactions, his friendships, his family. The list goes on and on and on. It was annoying but the last thing on his mind was what he was wearing. Sure he liked dressing nice for events but this seemed too excessive even for him.

God he hated his life.

“Do you really need to be touching my hair so much?”

“If we want to see what vibe we’re going for when I style your hair later! This is an important part of the process Izuku!” She says simply as she did something else to his hair. It was a little hard to make his ruffles look neat but pretty easy to make it look intentionally messy. According to Ochako that was. Apparently, intentionally messy and unintentionally mess was a thing but that just kind of went over his head as his friend worked around him while she went on her spiel about hairstyles and clothes and something about how it was always a nice finishing touch to an outfit to style your hair as it brings the ‘outfit together’. Whatever that means.

This was going to be another long couple of hours.

Surprisingly they got to Denki's house on time despite the FIVE hours that it took for Ochako to decide what to dress Izuku in. He felt like a pampered show dog. In the end she did a pretty good job. His mullet was styled into loose curls that were made to look intentionally messy. Again he didn't know what that meant but alas she and Shouto said he looked good. Still he thought it was a bit much for it to have taken five hours to decide on it.

The outfit that had been decided was a pair of his ripped, light blue skinny jeans, he had nice legs so Ochako said he should show them off with tightly fitted jeans. She raided Iida's closet in the end for his shirt. Which ended up landing on a loose fitting vest that had larger holes for his arms, so from the side people could see his torso. He was told he'd be irresistible when people saw him in the chosen outfit which he supposed was nice. He really just wanted to hang out with friends but Ochako is someone who enjoys romance and matching all of her friends up.

It was not the first time that she had tried to set him up with someone. She meant well and was just trying to be a good friend to him, and help him find happiness. He did think that she went over the top sometimes.

Izuku figured that she was just bored, perhaps finished her TV shows and wanted something exciting. Like setting her friends up as a wing-woman. She did understand boundaries after some mishaps of overstepping but she was a lot better these days.

When they got to Denki’s house they were met with people outside drinking various things, some were dancing to the music blasting from the house, others were just talking.

It had quite a big garden for a student house, and Izuku was the first to comment on how good of a deal Denki got on this place. It was a big detached house, that had a great Wi-Fi connection no matter the weather. Plus a front and back garden. The cherry on top was that this place cost the same amount he and his housemates were paying. He was jealous, to say the least. They got the best deal in housing and Izuku didn’t blame them for throwing a party to show it off. There was plenty of room.

As they walked into the house Izuku made a note that it seemed like they were earlier than most, considering that they could still roam around the house without a crowd of sweaty bodies stopping them in their tracks. That is typically how Denki’s parties went. That was also around the time Izuku’s buzz would be helping him not want to rip his hair out from the amount of people. Though he wasn't planning on drinking too much tonight after the last time he was here. Denki was a bad influence.

Making their way to the kitchen, bag of drinks in hand they bumped into a few familiar faces, Ochako being left behind to discuss something with her fellow classmate. Something about their most recent assignment.

As Shouto and Izuku crossed the threshold of the kitchen, they walked in on Denki and Kirishima laughing at the expense of one of their friends.

Just as Izuku was about to speak a red pair of eyes made eye contact with his stopping him in his tracks.

Bakugo Katsuki.

Someone with whom his relationship wasn't the best. From childhood friends to middle school bullies. Once in high school Izuku got to the point where he started retorting to some of the vicious words spouting from the blond's mouth. Katsuki was almost impressed. Now they were in University and ran in the same friend groups, so they were civil often with some back and forth. At least there wasn't as much tension as when they had been younger.

Still, though, that didn't mean they were ever happy to see each other.

Which they weren't.

“Deku.” He sneered.

“Kacchan,” Izuku replied with the same energy.

“You've shrunk.”

“Your heads gotten bigger.” He retorts without missing a beat.

Katsuki's eyebrow twitched, amused almost. If he was amused he didn't say anything, just took a swig of his drink he had in hand, giving a grunt that sounded kind of like ‘shitty Deku’ pushing past Izuku through the door. With not a single look back at the blond he smiled at his friends, ready to catch up with those he hadn’t seen for a while.

Izuku didn't like drinking too much, usually he just nursed his first drink most of the night, swapping it out for a non-alcoholic soft drink. That didn't stop him from enjoying himself though. He liked hanging out and dancing with his friends mostly on nights like these.

He loved dancing. The way he could just let go of any tension and move without being embarrassed because everyone else was too drunk to care.

At some point he needed to break away from his friends to use the bathroom, pushing past a lot of drunk people on his way. He also kept getting stopped by people who he'd been briefly introduced to in the past.

God he just wanted to piss. Not on Denki's floor so he had to cut all of the interactions short. Making a mental note to stop past on his way back from the bathroom to have a proper conversation. That would have to wait though, his bladder was practically screaming at him.

After getting past the thick of the crowd he was finally at the stairs and he let out the biggest sigh of relief he could manage as he jogged up them. He saw the door to the bathroom open as he came around the corner and silently thanked the gods that he got here before he pissed himself.

As he was about to shut the door behind himself he heard a thump and the door wasn't closing. Weird. He looked down and saw a foot wedged preventing him to close it. Even weirder. He opened it and saw a taller guy, oh—

It was someone from his class who he's spoken to a few times. He's made a few eyebrow raising remarks towards him in the past but nothing Izuku took note of or too seriously. They were the kind of comments slimy men said trying to flirt with women.

"Midoriya!" His voice came out loud and excited. His breath heavily smelled of alcohol.

"Ah- Uh can I help you?" He was trying to work out what he may want.

"I've been watching you allll night." Creepy but okay. "In class-" anything else that was coming out of his mouth fell on deaf ears.

'What on earth is this guys name?'

"Izukuuu, I'm trying to talk to youuu~" He stumbles closer, making Izuku step back into the bathroom on instinct.

"Sorry! You seem very nice and maybe we can talk more when you're sober?" He says with a small smile.

Izuku breathed out a small panicked laugh, holding both hands up as the creepy guy took another step forward, making Izuku step backwards, back hitting a wall behind him.

“Come on, Izuku~” He slurred, movements sloppy. “I've been so good to you. All I'm asking for is one night.” He reached out to grab Izuku's wrist.

“Who said you could put your grubby hands on him fucker?” a gruff voice demanded from behind them and in a flash a hand was grabbing the slimy wrist that was trying to grab him.

He recognised that voice. For some reason not even knowing who the voice was from gave him a lot of relief already. Probably because no matter who it was they were saving him from whatever this freak was trying to do.

“Who the fuck are you? His boyfriend?” Before Izuku knew what was happening the guy in front of him was being pulled away from him in one swift motion and all he could do was stand there in silence and watch.

“So what if I am Extra?” Izuku blinked. ‘Extra’. He blinked again. Looking up he saw the back of a spikey blonde as he got in between them both.

The creep scoffs. “You're his boyfriend?”

“Yeah and who the fuck are you?”

The next time the creep laughs it's in a way that would convey he was literally shitting his pants.

“Look buddy, I'll just be on my way. This doesn't need to go any further.”

“I asked you a fucking question. Who are you?”

“Kacchan, let him go.” Izukus's voice came out a little quieter than he would have wanted but he had his hand on the blonde's shoulder. He felt his body tense under his touch but Katzuki opened his hand and the creep wasted no time escaping the room.

There was a silence that surrounded them. It wasn't uncomfortable but it was definitely tense after the altercation.

Izuku opened his mouth to say thank you but the other interrupted as per usual.

“Did you even piss?”

Blinking slowly the smaller one just looked at the blond.

What kind of question is that? He was shaken up and that was the first question that just came to mind. He wanted to say but he didn’t.

Instead, he said;

“Huh? What-”

“You came in here to use the shitter- did you piss before fuckknuckle came in?” Eloquent as always.

“Ah- no-”

“Piss.”

Izuku just stands there staring at the back of the bathroom door after Katzuki leaves the room. Whatthefuckwhatthefuckwhatthefuck.

What even was that?!

That didn’t feel real in the slightest. From getting harassed to Kacchan coming to his aid and now he was in his friends' bathroom having a crisis. Story of his life. What the hell was he going to say to that guy in their next lecture? Was he going to spread this around? What was he meant to tell his friends?

Great now he is pacing instead of pissing.

Kacchan was probably just.. Doing him a solid. Of course! That was absolutely the reason! Why else would he say something so absurd?

They hadn’t had a conversation one-on-one, in something stupid like 10-plus years ago when their friendship came to a drastic halt. He still wasn’t even sure why anymore. Katsuki went through a stage of bullying him to not talking to him at all and when they went to the same University, making friends with the same people their relationship was just civil, never saying more than a few retorts to each other in their hangouts.

Now… he’s stuck up for him against someone he didn’t even know.

Maybe he was thinking too much about it. It could literally just be Katsuki being nice. He knows if the roles were reversed he would have done the same and stepped in.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“J-just a minute!!” he hadn’t realised how long he had been in the bathroom for. He was sure Ochako was worried about him taking so long but then again she might have seen some other friends to catch up with by now.

Finally he got chance to pee and it was the best piss of his life.

Opening the door he gave a quick apology to whoever was waiting as he walked past them.

How could he be in the bathroom that long and only just piss? That was embarrassing. They probably thought he was people having sex. He really had to figure out how to get himself to stop his brain from going at a million miles per second when anything small happened to him.

As he was turning around the corner he was stopped by someone grabbing his arm. Looking up he expected the same creep as before but he was met with crimson eyes peering down at him. Oh.

“I’m taking you home,” Katsuki says simply.

There’s a pause as Deku blinks slowly.

“I can’t just leave I have-”

“Text them.” That was a good point he could just text them... Why didn’t he think of that?

He nods as he follows Katsuki out of the house, pushing past drunk and tipsy people in the hallways. He was getting knocked around by the sheer amount of bodies that had turned up to the party. There was a moment that he was sure he was about to lose Katsuki in the crowd and as if he read his mind his wrist was grabbed by the other as they moved.

The cold air hit him as soon as they were outside the party. Honestly, it was refreshing. His wrist had been let go of as soon as they got through the door. He assumed that was because he wasn’t at risk of getting lost in the crowd.

Katsuki was already making his way to his car at a fast pace that Deku had to jog to catch up with him.

“What’s going on? How much did you have to drink? Can you even drive right now?” Izuku asks nervously as he follows along.

Katsuki just grunted, “I haven’t drunk anything idiot. Why else would I offer to take you home?” He opened the driver's side of the car pausing as he looked at Izuku who had the most baffled look on his face. “Fuckin- just get in the stupid car Deku.”

He didn’t need to be told again, there was a look in the other’s eyes that Izuku couldn’t quite pinpoint but he relented and got in the car.

Streetlights past them by as they drove down the street. The air in the car felt a lot thicker than the air outside. It almost was unbearable as they sat there in silence. They haven’t been alone since they were kids. What was he even meant to say?

Katsuki was the one who spoke first. Which was the second biggest relief of the night that he brought Izuku.

“So who was that Extra?”

Never mind. All he feels is dread. Curses.

“Ah- Uh- No one really!” He says, “ He’s just this guy on my course. I don't even know his name.”

Katsuki was staring ahead as he drove, the lights from the city lighting up his face. He almost looked ethereal from this angle. In retrospect, it could just be the dark making him look this way to Izuku but if he was being honest he knows Katsuki is attractive to basically anyone with eyes. Well, until he opened his mouth.

“Just some guy huh?” He hums, eyes still locked ahead of him. “It certainly didn’t seem that way. Does that fucker often act all handsy with you without your permission?”

“N- No! That was literally the first time Kacchan.” He didn’t look like he believed him so Izuku doubled down. “okay, he’s a little weird! But that isn’t a bad thing! I mean sure, he like spam messages me sometimes and sits a bit too close- okay it- it does sound bad.”

“Yeah, no shit Deku. If a red flag was humanised it’d be that slimy fuck. How long has this been going on for?”

“About 6 months.”

“You let it go on for six fucking months? Does round face know?”

Izuku shook his head sheepishly, “I didn’t want to worry her.”

“Fucking stupid,” Katsuki says through gritted teeth. “You're fucking stupid, Deku.”

There were a few moments where neither of them spoke.

“Thank you for stepping in. I’m sorry that you had to go that far though.”

“What?”

“With- I mean, when you said you were my… boyfriend? You didn’t have to say that but thank you it really helped.”

“Oh. That.” Katsuki grumbled.

“Hey don’t worry! I can explain to people that we’re not dating if he does tell anyone! I know that's probably the last thing you'd want-”

“Actually..” Katsuki cut him off mid-thought. There were a few beats of silence, it seemed he was heavily debating on his next words but he continued anyway. “What happens if it gets back to shit for brains that you aren’t taken? What would stop him from pulling another stunt like he did tonight in the future?”

Oh.

That was a good question. Izuku would hope it wouldn’t come to that but he was almost in a lot of trouble in that bathroom tonight.

“I have a family event soon. The hag wants me to bring a partner to introduce to everyone. This..” Izuku wasn’t sure where this train of thought was going but Katsuki looked almost worried about saying any of the words that were threatening to spill out of his mouth. That really wasn’t like Kasuki, he was always the first to say exactly what was on his mind and not care about taking any consequences. “.. listen, we don’t fucking like each other, to be frank. I think you’re a useless nerd and your voice grinds my fucking ears off.” He says as a matter of fact. “However, I did you a favour, saying I was your boyfriend to get that slimy fucker off your back.”

“You want me to come to your family event as your boyfriend to get Auntie off your back?”

“The hag fucking likes you or some shit. I don’t know. Forget it. It’s fucking stupid.”

There were another few moments of silence, Izuku could tell Katsuki was getting a bit antsy. He always got a little fidgety when he was unsure or nervous, not that it happened often but he remembered what Katsuki was like when they were kids just before he feigned confidence in an activity. He remembers the distinct way the blond picked at his hands, shifting his weight from side to side before they tried the monkey bars for the first time. Right now he was biting the inside of his cheek and started shifting in his seat whilst he drove. Nothing much but it was noticeable to Izuku. He never wanted to look scared in front of him but he could always tell in the micro-ways that Katsuki held himself in those moments.

He took a breath before he spoke his next words carefully.

“I think this arrangement could work,” Izuku states. Katsuki took his eyes off driving to look at him for a split second almost flabbergasted.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I mean it wouldn’t really be hurting anyone and I guess we’d both be benefiting from it in our own ways…” Izuku trailed off. “I can’t really say what our friends will think but if we’re going to do this it has to be believable.” He says, “As you said ‘we don’t fucking like each other’ so to make this look believable we have to convince our friends too. It might get back to ‘shit for brains’ if we don’t.”

Katsuki nods, “I fucking hate to agree with you. Shitty hair can’t keep his mouth shut to save his sad fucking life.”

“This’ll seem really out of nowhere to everyone..” Izuku hums to himself as he thought of a reasonable explanation to say to his friends. “Would they really believe that we’ve been in a secret relationship for years and have been trying to keep up a facade by hating each other so openly?”

The blond considered this momentarily, “It isn’t a stupid idea. You're still a fucking idiot though.”

“Yeah, yeah I’ll take that one.” Izuku laughed sarcastically.

“Maybe they’ll believe that I took pity on you for being a fuckin’ sad loser no one else would date.”

“Or maybe they’ll think you’re too hot-headed you can’t find anyone else to put up with your bullshit.”

“Touché.” Izuku could swear there was a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he spoke. However, it was difficult to tell in the lighting of the street lights and passing cars.

"How are we going to play this?" He asks, "because I don't know if we can just say that we just got past our differences can we?"

"I don't see why not. Who cares if they believe it, it's our word against theirs idiot." Bakugo had a point. "What are they going to say? That we're not together? That makes them shitty friends."

That would make them shitty friends.

"I don't know how you can just do that."

Bakugo just grunted in response as he took a left.

"Have that kind of i don't care attitude." He says, " You've always had that."

Bakugo shrugs, "I don't see why I should waste energy on worrying over shit I can't control."

Izuku hums, turning to watch the traffic in front of them. "So what will consist of our 'relationship'?"

"What?"

"Well I feel like there should be some ground rules." He states as a matter of fact, "This will have to be believable, we will have to act like a couple like holding hands and affection. Will you, leader of the 'I hate Deku Club' and co-captain of hating love and affection, be able to do that with me?"

Bakugo brings the car to a stop outside of his house, "We don't have to plan every little thing idiot." He says crossing his arms over his chest, giving Izuku a glare. "When it gets to it we'll cross the bridge alright? The next game night is next week. Maybe let the shitty extras know before then."

Bakugo gets his phone out, clicks some buttons and holds it in front of them after turning on the light in the car. He sees that it's on the selfie camera and looks at him puzzled.

"Fuckin- come 'ere." He uses his free arm to wrap it around Izuku, pulling him closer to him. "Smile, nerd."

He snaps a few pictures in between Izuku's confusion but he smiles wide for the camera, tilting his head towards Katsuki. He changed his expression halfway through one of the photos and stuck his tongue out making the other scowl.

After the pictures were taken the blond moved away from him, typing some more.

"I've sent them to you, change your background and I'll change mine." He says, eyes still glued to his phone as he tapped. Izuku was still staring at him, a little wide eyed. "What nerd? Is this not what couples do? Change the phone background?"

"Well yes-"

"What's your problem then?"

"Nothing!"

"Then stop staring at me like a creep. You should put a heart next to my name or something too." Katsuki grumbled. "Now get out."

"Okay, I'll text you later Kacchan." He says getting out of the car with a small smile.

"Bye nerd." Is what Izuku heard before he shut the car door behind himself.

He made his way up to his door, giving Bakugo a wave as he drove away. He turned the key in the lock. Iida often felt safer locking the door when his housemates were out, which he understood. It did get a little creepy when you were by yourself. The house was still and dark, he figured Iida was asleep already which wasn't uncommon. He did like his routines and a full 8 hour sleep schedule. Which Izuku couldn't fault him for.

Sighing, he locked the door behind him before he made his way up to his room. Flopping on his bed after kicking his shoes off he opened his phone, Ochako hadn't responded to his text about leaving the party but Shouto had just sent a thumbs up emoji.

Clicking back, he opened the messages from Bakugo. They hadn't texted much just quick updates about where each group of friends was if they were hanging out. Other than that it was bare. Now opening the messages he was greeted with the photos they had took less than 10 minutes ago. They did kind of look like a couple.

He smiled as he scrolled through them, he landed on the photo where he was told to smile. It was a nice picture and Bakugo was also giving a small smile which was rare to see, if he wasn't smiling in triumph his face fell on a scowl. Which wasn't the most attractive face he could be pulling but Izuku figured it's still won him women over the years. Ochako mentioned something about girls loving bad boys and Bakugo looking like one. Now he's realising she was probably saying that because she is also attracted to him in some way.

He decided that this was going to be his lock screen.

Izuku figured he should probably change Katsuki's name whilst he was on their chat. Like he told him too before he left the car.

'Kacchan🧡'

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lenathy · 7 months ago

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I am best friend hello and i love it (ignore the time that has passed for it is a social construct)

Meeting Him Twice

Word count: 4,760

This is a commission for my best friend, they came to me with the trope; a time traveller and an immortal keep meeting, immortal catches the time Traveller up on what they missed. (I will forever love sandman for giving us this trope)

But they wanted the history Merlin catches the doctor up with weird historical events! I only have one in here but they loved it and gave me permission to post!

Ao3

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Merlin woke up today thinking it would be a simple one, a day where absolutely nothing weird happens. Merlin was also an idiot and there was absolutely something weird happening in Camelot because of course it was.

He’d started his day as he usually would, getting breakfast for his royal arse. Which was the easy bit, the harder part was waking him up to do his duties but when Knights came knocking at the door frantically saying that there has been word of some form of a beast in the outer villages terrorising his people then you bet your cotton socks the King will practically leap out of his bed to make merlin put his clothes on. In all his bravery you’d think he’d want to get dressed himself to save his people but alas if it was one more job he could give Merlin he’d do it, you could always count on that.

Next thing he knew they were on horses racing their way to the outer villages to get to the bottom of whatever was going on.

On the way there he was sure he heard some form of weird groaning sound. It was peculiar and nothing like he'd ever heard before. Strange.. very strange.

"Stop being a girl, Merlin." He heard Arthur say pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Did you not hear that?"

"What?"

"Never mind." He shook his head. "Must be hearing things."

Arthur shrugged and kept looking ahead as the village came into sight.

Of course, when they got out there the village was in shambles. Roofs were burnt and injured people on every road, Gauis was sent for but for now, Merlin was instructed to help any way he could. At this point, he knew quite a lot and was able to help more than he could 3 or 4 years ago.

When he was finishing up treating an older man's wounds he had gotten from whatever had attacked his village he heard footsteps coming from behind him.

"Excuse me!"

Turning he saw a man with silly-looking clothes coming straight towards him, hands clasped as he smiled, Merlin returned the smile despite thinking he was odd.

"Can I ask you a question?" The man asked, looking between him and the man he had just finished helping.

“Of course, what is it that you’re wanting to know, my friend?” He smiled, wiping his hand on a cloth he had.

“Where am I?”

Odd question, it took Merlin a moment to realise he was being serious. Well.. this isn’t as odd as his average day honestly. People can get lost in these woods, hell he’s done it a few times, who is he to judge?

“Well, you’re in the outskirts of Camelot.” He answers, “where have you travelled from?”

The stranger opens his clasped hands, “ohhh Camelot! Haven’t travelled ‘ere before but always wanted to! Lotsa legends!”

“I wish you had found it in better circumstances, we’re having a bit of trouble at the minute,” Merlin admitted.

The man scrunched his face up, “trouble? What kind of trouble?”

“Ah we’re not sure we think some form of.. *magic* creature has been attacking the village people,” his voice was hushed when he said the word magic.

The man's face didn’t seem to change from the scrunched expression as if he didn’t believe him.

“The king is here to investigate himself, it usually is something along those lines.” The man seemed to perk up a little bit at that.

“King Arthur?” He said, it seemed there was an excited gleam in his eyes and Merlin nodded. “Oh blimey! Always wanted to meet the greatest king to ever live!” Merlin tilted his head a bit confused at the wording. How could this stranger know such a thing? How could he know about Arthur's destiny? Also, why is he referring to it like it had already happened? He had a lot of questions about the odd man but he couldn’t ask any of them in time before he heard Arthur shout his name from halfway across the village.

“MERLIN”

He sighed at the interruption, “well that’s my cue, it was nice meeting you, uh-”

“Call me The Doctor.” The man- The Doctor answers with a smile.

“Doctor,” Merlin repeated, he would say it was a strange name to go by but Merlin had met many people who just went by the name of their profession rather than telling them their actual name. Probably to let people know they’d be happy to help them if needed. Though Merlin would not go around calling himself Wizard or Sorcerer. He was about to say something else but again was interrupted by another shout, more impatient this time.

“I really have to go, I hope you enjoy your stay here!” He said out of habit as he waved running off in the direction of his King's voice.

A little while after they were in the middle of the woods, a few feet from where the village is, facing the creature dead on. Arthur had his sword raised pointing it at the red beast who looked like nothing Merlin had ever seen before. Even Gaius hadn’t had anything in his books or any ideas on who Merlin could visit to ask how to stop it. It was rare that Gaius had nothing to contribute that would help Merlin help Arthur believe he did all the work.

Just as Arthur went to swing his sword the creature's tail swung and hit Arthur in the stomach, knocking him into a tree which then knocked him out. Typical. Absolutely typical. Not that he should have expected anything more than Arthur, the greatest king to ever live, the king to unite all of Albion being knocked out yet again by something throwing him or launching him at a tree.

He didn’t have much time to be annoyed before the creature had locked on to him. On instinct he raised his hand, eyes glowing gold and the creature went launching itself giving Merlin more time to think of what to do. While he still was lost for an idea but he couldn't keep throwing four-legged red reptiles into trees, Arthur was an oaf and an oaf that would wake up eventually and see his magic. Then what would he do? Get executed? He’d rather not risk it. So he had to think of something and fast before that happened. Then all of a sudden the creature got caught in a trap, falling from the tree above and onto the creature, it looked odd though. Where the brown ropes should be it was blue and not rope at all, he didn’t know the word, it could have been magic in all honesty with all the blue almost lightning coming from it. His gut told him it wasn’t, he would have been able to feel the magic, and it wasn’t any kind of sorcery.

Then he heard victory shouting, and a blur running out from behind the trees. When it came into view it was the strange man from earlier.

“Now that’s what I call a trap!” He said, not paying any mind to Merlin as he looked over the creature, “don’t suppose you get this a lot but can I just say you are magnificent.” He said with a wide grin, “sorry about the trap ol’ girl, it’s the only way I could get you to listen without having me for breakfast. I know I look scrumptious but I am all bones and chin. My chin could scratch up all your throat, and then where would you be? A sore throat and no way home.” The creature made a noise in response, supposedly agreeing with him. “Exactly! Now, what do you say I get you home? Just need my ship and I can get you safely back, ey? How does that sound?” He hummed stroking her snout as best he could with the trap, “Next question is how did you get here..?”

That’s when what Merlin assumed was a squirrel ran behind him, causing the leaves to rustle which alerted The Doctor and he turned to look in his direction. He thought he’d be mad but he just gave a cheeky grin.

“Ahh yes! I almost forgot you were ‘ere, too busy coddling over this one,” He used a thumb to gesture over his shoulder as he stood and faced Merlin, giving the creature one last look of fondness. “Loved the trick you did with the flying thing. Wasn’t the nicest thing to do, she’s gonna hold a grudge against you but yowza it was cool- Sorry.” He said turning quickly hands up and flapping about as he apologised to the creature. “I mean really, how did you do it? Was there a rope or something involved?”

“You… aren’t from around here are you Doctor?” Is all he could muster.

“Well spotted! No wonder you’re his adviser! Very clever, you are! What makes you say so?” He clapped his hands together again. Does he do that often?

“Well.. you uh, know what this creature is, used a weird trap to capture it and talk to her like you can understand what she’s saying, you have strange clothes, and you use strange words that I have never even heard of. It seems like you use sorcery but it does not seem like that’s what it is.” He said, voice unsure. “What are you?”

“I’m The Doctor, what are you?”

“I know who you are, I asked what you are,” Merlin repeated.

“An alien, your turn beardy.” The Doctor says before his eyebrows shot up as if he was having a moment of realisation, he reached up a hand to gesture a beard on himself then his hands shot up in excitement, "no- yes- hang on- you don't have a beard- you're not an old wizard- you're young, I mean look at you looking after a young king Arthur- this is not how you’re depicted. You’re a story! A fairytale! No- no- a Legend! That.. is.. impressive, and that’s coming from me, the oldest thing on this planet other than trees but I mean you're young, it's said you have magic but is it some form of software- why are you on this planet in the first place. Are you an alien? Another Auton duplicate? No scrap that, that would be completely rubbish. Bonkers Doctor. You can’t be anything of the sort, I scanned you when we met you’re human-" Merlin cut him off.

"I don't know what you're on about, Doctor whoever you are. I'm just.. Merlin. What do you mean, 'not how I'm depicted?"

"Ah- shouldn't have said that-" He was cut off again, this time by the creature making what Merlin thought was an impatient grunt. "Right, yes- almost forgot, I have to go get a blue box hidden behind a tree give me just a moment." And with that he was off again, leaving Merlin and the creature alone. He gave it a little wave and it just grumbled.

"Sorry about the throwing you thing." He said earning another grunt from the creature, this time it seemed like reluctant forgiveness.

Then suddenly he heard the strange noises he thought he heard earlier.. and then as the weird man said a blue box appeared on top of the creature. It was like it just faded into existence and the creature faded out of it.

'Police..?' Merlin thought, reading the exterior of the box.

That's when the door opened and The Doctor was standing in its doorway.

"You do have sorcery?!" The young wizard asked, confused, he was certain that this was not sorcery; he would have felt it in the ground, heard it in the trees. This was foreign, something he’s never felt before. All he knew was it gave a feeling of being alive.

"No- well I guess that's what it probably looks like, I forget which time period knows what or another believe in. It all gets jumbled up, all wibbly wobbly I suppose."

"Who.. are you?" He couldn't help but ask again, bewildered by the man's words and magic… box.

"I told you, I'm The Doctor, Merlin."

"But what does that mean?"

"I don't have time to explain anything now. I have a red beastie to return to her world. I can't promise you'll see me again but keep an eye out, ey?" The Doctor had a large grin on his face, gave a thumbs up and promptly shut the door behind him

Just as it had appeared the box disappeared again with the same groaning noise and of course this was when his royal arse decided to come to. He sighed, preparing himself to give a long explanation of how Arthur defeated it.

The next time he would meet The Doctor was centuries after Camelot and Albion were forgotten. England left in its place. A mere legend told to children as a story passed on from generation to generation, started by the man himself as he travelled from place to place, meeting new people and then their ancestors, seeing their resemblance. He told the story of King Arthur, the greatest king to ever live, his Knights of the round table, his love for Gwen, his horrid father and loving heartbroken sister who felt she had no choice but to succumb to the evil magic, the betrayal of Mordred and his loyal Sorcerer Merlin. He never missed a detail, maybe he exaggerated bits but he never lied about that time. Then he watched his story evolve around him, turning him into an old man, the court Sorcerer.

It was nice seeing the world and people evolve around him, but it was also heartbreaking seeing people die over and over again. He was stagnant whilst the world was always moving around him. People blew away like sand and he was the storm come to disturb the peace creating sandstorms and tidal waves. He tried not to get involved for the most part but there were some cases where he just couldn’t help himself. In doing so he left his mark on the lives of everyone he would meet and they would remember him in legend.

If Arthur could see him now he’d wonder what on earth they were talking about, how he was just an idiot. Oh, what he wouldn’t give to just be called an idiot by his Arthur again.

Yet here he was coming back to the same lakeside, waiting for the king to one day return. He’d been disheartened a few times and started to lose hope as to whether Arthur would come back, but he got out of his sulk every time, being reminded that he will one day return.

He’d been walking through the streets of Elizabethan London when he heard a commotion coming from down one of the alleys, instinct said to chase it but his head said the smart thing to do was to keep his head down. Of course, Merlin being Merlin he ran after the noise, bumping into someone as he turned a corner. He heard a grunt as they bumped heads.

“I’m so very sorry-” He started as he rubbed his forehead, looking at his victim and his eyes widened. “Doctor? What are you doing here?” The same man, in the same ridiculous clothes, bow tie and suspenders stood in front of him rubbing his head all the same. He looked like he hadn't aged a day, though he shouldn't be one to judge neither did he.

“Merlin! Oh hello! I didn’t expect to see you here! How are you here? Never mind I’ll get back to that-Usually do- I really must dash.” Then he was off again, as quick as he arrived.

Merlin sighed to himself, then realised The Doctor must have been running to the same sounds of screams that he was and then after a quick internal debate he ran after him.

“Doctor!”

Next thing he knew he was running with The Doctor, and then he was sitting in a bar with him talking, catching up.

“And you’ve been protecting him all this time? Blimey, I knew someone who waited 2 thousand years for his wife, well fiance at that point, and he was a centurion, and she was in a box and the world was ending. Well a whole different reality actually- but that doesn't even amount to how long you've been waiting."

"I don't like to compare pain Doctor." Merlin shook his head and then smiled. "It'll be worth it when I see his stupid face again. I forget that sometimes and then something as silly as drumsticks remind me of him. I miss him every day but he is prophesied to return when Albion needs him most. You would have thought the black death would have stirred him but never mind that I suppose, he always was fashionably late." He gave a laugh, looking to see The Doctor staring at him with big sad eyes. "What?"

"I knew you were remarkable when I met you all those years ago. How old are you now?" He asked.

"Goodness, I haven't thought about that question in a long time. Over about six thousand years old now I'd reckon."

"Bloomin' heck you're older than me." The Doctor let out a hearty laugh.

"No matter how old I get I will always feel like that same boy who walked into Camelot all those years ago. I have had to use ageing spells so people couldn't tell I wasn't ageing though."

"Oh! Still got the magic then? Have you been magicing people? What’s that like?"

Merlin let out a laugh and shook his head.

“I haven’t used it on anyone in a long time. It’s mainly just to disguise myself these days. It feels like a relief when I do, I have pent up energy that builds up when I haven’t used magic in a while. It sort of gets grumpy with me and doesn’t work right and plays up.” It was frustrating when it happened but he understood how his magic would feel betrayed.

“Sounds like the TARDIS, moody one she is. Couldn’t get anywhere without her though, well.. literally.” He says raising his invisible eyebrows and pulling a face like he shouldn’t have called the TARDIS, whatever that was, moody. It was much like the face he had pulled all those years ago. When he had slipped up that he’d be a legend one day, he didn’t think much of it until he had lived and heard the legends spoken by other people.

“Is she how you knew I’d be just a myth one day?” He asked inquisitively.

“She is.. How are you finding all of this then? Being a legend.” He gave a profound smile.

“When I stop to think about it it’s strange to say the least, I never thought that people would one day actually know i was a wizard. I thought life would just go on and no one would remember me. Of course I knew they’d remember Arthur, he was the greatest king to ever live and with all these people passing down his stories from generation to generation is astonishing. However they just think I'm some dodgery old man that helped guide him.” He let out a small laugh as tears threatened to well up in his eyes. “I watched everyone I loved die… but their stories are still told years after their death and I think that’s what keeps me from going mad. Hearing kids talk about them, playing games in the streets. It’s nice not to forget and I don't think I'd ever wish to.”

The Doctor gave an understanding nod.

“How has watching the world change around you been?”

“Well it’s been eventful, but you probably know that already.”

“Oh trust me things haven’t gotten nearly as eventful as they will be yet.”

“Really? Because i lived through the dancing plague recently in France and let me tell you that was eventful. People danced for weeks! No music, just sickness and dancing, I was one of the physicians that had to help through that. It wasn’t easy but it was over in a couple of months, which felt longer than it was.”

“Oh I heard all about that, what were your theories?” The Doctor folded his arms, smiling intently as he listened.

“Well.. uh- i first thought it was magic but magic hasn’t been performed by anyone since my time. There have been some, not many but they all died out years and years ago.” He said scratching the back of his neck as he continued, “but it didn’t feel like magic in the slightest. I was born with magic, it is everything I am and everything I'll be, it is my very soul, I know what it feels like when it’s around me.” He explains, “I was trained to be a physician, so medicine and diseases are also something I’ve dealt with and can identify. I remember thinking it was peculiar, I thought it could have been some sort of poisoning from their food but it was a mass event so I'm not so sure. I checked the food myself and they were fine."

The Doctor smiled, impressed. Merlin also smiled while talking. He hadn't had someone to listen like this to his medical theories and magic in years and years. It was nice to say the least.

"It was stress induced mass hysteria, weird ol thing it was. Never was there myself though I do love a good dance.” The Doctor said moving his arms in a way that could have been a dance if it didn’t look so weird.

“Can I ask you a question?" The Doctor nodded in response, urging him to go on. "How is it that you're here, looking not a day older than when I saw you the first time?"

The Doctor seemed to hesitate before answering. "I travel through time, to different worlds than this one." He said leaving forward on the table with a knowing smile. "You could.. Come with me?"

Merlin was taken aback by this, travelling in time? Surely that wasn't possible. Though for some reason he felt like he could trust The Doctor, that he was in fact telling the truth. He could see Arthur again? But what would happen if he saw his younger self as well? It's not as if he could put on a disguise that he's younger self wouldn't know about. He wouldn't want to leave Arthur alone if he were to rise again…

"I don't think I could. I don't want to leave Arthur, he needs me."

The Doctor nodded in understanding leaning back in his seat. "Of course, it was silly of me to suggest that. Though could I show you something?"

He furrowed his brow, confused as to what The Doctor was wanting to show him but he nodded regardless.

They were back in front of his tardis, it still looked like the exact same blue box that he saw disappeared and appeared all those years ago.

“You’re wanting to show me your disappearing tardis again?”

“Oi, don't say that like you're not impressed,” He adjusts his tie with a frown, “But i want to show you something inside.” He says giving him a smile as he opens the door, showing Merlin the interior of his ship.

Blinking, Merlin stepped forward unsure, he could see a whole room inside but crammed into a box. It was most unusual, though he wouldn’t expect any less from The Doctor. He looked at him again, The Doctor just nodded with his arms crossed giving him the go ahead to enter. Stepping inside was surreal, he could feel she was alive immediately, humming as he continued walking towards what seemed to be how he controlled her. 'How could there be more rooms in here…' he thought, spotting the steps and other doorways seemingly going off to a corridor. Everywhere he looked was even more magnificent than the last that he didn't actually know where to look. So much was happening in one room. This was a different kind of alive he thought as he slowly raised a hand to the side of the round thing in the centre, feeling an almost hum come from her.

"She's wonderful Doctor." He said looking at The Doctor who was still in the doorway letting him have his reaction.

"You didn't notice it." He said pointing to the doorway and then back inside the room.

"Didn't notice what?"

"Well people who come in here always point out that it's bigger on the inside! You-" He pointed at him, "just came in here and completely ignored the obvious." He stated, a smile spreading across his face. "You are quite special aren't you Merlin. Right-" Suddenly he was on the move, hands clapping together and he started whizzing around the centre of the room, pulling levers and pushing buttons, turning wheels. The whole room shook and Merlin went flying into the railing and he let out a grunt as his back hit it. It was almost like an earthquake and that noise, the same noise he heard all those years ago, he heard it again but it was so much louder.

Then it stopped.

He was on the ground, arm in the air as his hand had been clinging on. It was silent other than the low hum of the engines.

“What on earth was that?” He asked out of breath and laughed. It was surreal. Hilarious even. He could have been inside an earthquake for all he knew. If this was how all modes of transport were where The Doctor is from then he can't wait for the future to come.

He looked at The Doctor who was already at the doors, smiling at Merlin.

"Come on, slowpoke, you're not grey yet." He laughed.

Merlin got up from where he had been on the tardis floor, almost tripping over as he moved over to The Doctor in an excited hurry.

"Ready?"

Merlin nodded despite being a bit terrified. He had no idea what was going to be on the other side of those doors but whatever it was The Doctor was excited.

His mouth hung open as The Doctor opened the door. It revealed the earth and the dark of night around them. It was beautiful. In all his time on his planet looking up at the stars he never thought he'd be up here on the other side.

It all looked so big and for once he felt so small in the universe. He used to having this big destiny, all this power but… in comparison to all of this? He was just a little speck on a planet somewhere not all that important.

"He'll come back one day Merlin I promise." It brought him out of his thought process.

"I wanted to show you that there's so many possibilities, and so so much to come. You guys are progressing, slowly right now granted but don't let that waver your faith, one day you'll be out here yourselves and that will be something. The universe isn't ready for you humans. There's going to be a time the world needs Arthur again and let me tell you, he'll rejoin you and it'll be like not a day went by since you started waiting. It'll be worth the wait I promise." The Doctor says in clear earnest.

Merlin let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and laughed a sad chuckle, a tear rolling down his face.

"Thank you, Doctor. It really is beautiful." He says, looking back towards the earth below. It would be a joy if Arthur got to see this one day. He'd love to be the one to show him though he didn't know whether he was to return soon or much much later in his time on earth.

They just stared out into the stars until Merlin was ready to go back home. Their goodbye was not as hurried as the last time they met each other but this time they ended their time together with a hug and a smile. The Doctor told him to keep himself out of trouble like that was ever going to happen. So they laughed and waved each other off. Merlin watched as the TARDIS disappeared once again and he wondered if he would one day cross paths with The Doctor again but that remains to be seen.

"Till the next time, Doctor."

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