Chapter Text
The bathroom at Quiet Riot Ink wasn't particularly romantic.
Fluorescent lights, black tile, a mirror with a crack in the corner that no one had bothered to fix, and the faint smell of industrial soap mixed with whatever citrus air freshener Ashido had impulse-bought last week.
But none of that mattered.
Not when Todoroki was pressed back against the sink, hands gripping the edge of the counter, heart racing so fast he was pretty sure it was visible through his shirt.
Not when Bakugo was standing in front of him, one hand braced on the counter beside his hip, the other cupping his jaw, tilting his face up just how he wanted it.
Not when they were kissing like they'd been apart for weeks instead of twenty minutes.
"We shouldn't be doing this," Todoroki whispered against Bakugo's mouth, even as his fingers curled into the front of Bakugo's shirt, pulling him closer.
Bakugo smirked, pulling back just enough to look at him. "Yeah? Then why aren't you stopping me?"
Todoroki's face flushed pink. "I—"
Bakugo kissed him again before he could finish.
Todoroki made a soft sound in the back of his throat, head tilting back as Bakugo's hand slid from his jaw to the back of his neck, fingers threading through his hair.
It had been like this for the past week and a half—ever since they'd made it official.
Neither of them could keep their hands off each other.
Stolen kisses between clients. Bakugo's hand on Todoroki's lower back as he passed behind him. Todoroki's fingers brushing Bakugo's when he handed him supplies.
And when they had a few minutes alone—like now, during lunch when the shop was blessedly empty—they took full advantage.
Bakugo pulled back slightly, breathing hard, forehead resting against Todoroki's. "You're so fucking pretty," he murmured.
Todoroki's blush deepened. "Stop saying that."
"Why? It's true." Bakugo's hand slid down to Todoroki's waist, thumb brushing under the hem of his shirt. "You know how hard it is to focus on work when you're sitting three feet away from me looking like that?"
Todoroki let out a shaky breath. "Sorry."
"Don't be sorry, stupid." Bakugo kissed him again, slower this time. "You just exist and I lose my mind."
Todoroki's hands came up to grip Bakugo's shoulders, and he kissed him back with everything he had—soft and just a little too eager.
Bakugo groaned against his mouth, the hand on his waist tightening, pulling him closer.
Todoroki's back arched slightly off the counter, and Bakugo took the opportunity to kiss down his jaw, his neck, teeth grazing lightly over his pulse point.
Todoroki gasped, fingers digging into Bakugo's shoulders. "Bakugo—"
"Katsuki," Bakugo corrected against his skin. "Call me Katsuki."
Todoroki's breath hitched. "Katsuki—"
Bakugo pulled back just enough to look at him, eyes dark and focused. "Say it again."
Todoroki flushed even deeper. "Katsuki."
Bakugo's grin was absolutely wicked. "Fuck, I love that."
He kissed him again—harder this time, more demanding—and Todoroki melted into it, hands sliding up into Bakugo's hair, tugging gently.
Bakugo made a low sound in his throat, and his hand slid higher under Todoroki's shirt, palm warm against his ribs.
Todoroki shivered, arching into the touch, and Bakugo pulled him even closer, pressing him back against the counter until there was no space left between them.
They were so lost in each other that they didn't hear the footsteps approaching.
Didn't hear the door handle rattle.
Didn't hear anything until—
BANG BANG BANG
"Put your damn clothes on, I gotta pee!"
Todoroki jerked back so fast he nearly hit his head on the mirror.
Bakugo groaned, dropping his forehead to Todoroki's shoulder.
Ashido's voice came through the door, sing-song and absolutely delighted. "I know you two are in there! I can hear the sexual tension from out here!"
Todoroki covered his face with both hands. "Oh my god."
Bakugo straightened up, running a hand through his hair. "Give us a sec, you perv!"
"Take your time!" Ashido called back. "But like, also hurry up because I really have to pee!"
Bakugo turned back to Todoroki, who was still hiding behind his hands, face bright red.
"Hey," Bakugo said softly, pulling Todoroki's hands away. "You okay?"
Todoroki nodded, mortified.
Bakugo snorted. "Babe. She's been catching us all week. Its fine."
"I know, but—" Todoroki groaned. "This is so embarrassing."
Bakugo leaned in and kissed him one more time—quick and sweet. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed."
Todoroki just shook his head, but he was smiling now.
Bakugo stepped back, straightening his shirt and running a hand through his hair one more time. "Alright. Let's face the firing squad."
Todoroki took a deep breath, smoothing down his own shirt and trying very hard to look normal.
Bakugo unlocked the door and pulled it open.
Ashido was standing there, arms crossed, grinning like the Cheshire cat. "Well, well, well."
"Don't start," Bakugo muttered, brushing past her.
"Oh, I'm starting," Ashido said, but she was already pushing past him into the bathroom. "You two are disgusting, by the way. In the best way possible."
Todoroki, still standing by the sink, flushed even deeper.
Ashido paused, glancing back at him. "Also, your lips are swollen. Just a heads up."
Todoroki made a strangled noise and immediately covered his mouth.
Ashido cackled and shut the door.
*
Bakugo was leaning against the front desk when Todoroki finally emerged from the back room, face still pink, avoiding eye contact with everyone.
Kirishima looked up from his sketchbook, grinning. "You good, man?"
Todoroki nodded quickly. "Fine."
"Uh-huh." Kirishima's grin widened. "Your shirt's on backwards."
Todoroki looked down.
It wasn't.
Kirishima burst out laughing. "Gotcha. Try to relax, dude."
Todoroki glared at him—or at least tried to. It came out more like a pout.
Bakugo pushed off the desk and slung an arm around Todoroki's waist, pulling him close. "Leave him alone, Red."
"I'm just teasing," Kirishima said, still grinning. "You two are really bad at being subtle."
"We're not trying to be subtle," Bakugo said.
Todoroki buried his face in Bakugo's shoulder. "Can we please stop talking about it?"
"Sorry. You big softie," Bakugo murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.
Ashido emerged from the bathroom a moment later, wiping her hands on her jeans. "Alright, lovebirds. Break it up. We've got clients coming in ten minutes."
Bakugo reluctantly let go of Todoroki, who immediately missed the warmth.
But before he could step away, Bakugo caught his hand and squeezed it once. "Later," he murmured.
Todoroki nodded, heart still racing. "Later."
And as they went back to their stations—Bakugo smirking, Todoroki still blushing, Ashido and Kirishima exchanging knowing looks—the shop settled back into its usual rhythm.
*
"Alright, alright," Ashido said, bouncing on her heels as she locked the front door at the end of the work day. "Who's ready for some after-hours ink?"
Kirishima grinned, already setting up his station. "You sure you wanna do this, dude?"
"Yep!" Ashido spun around dramatically. "Tonight's the night. I can feel it. The stars have aligned."
Todoroki, who was wiping down his workstation, smiled softly. "Where are you getting it?"
"Shoulder," Ashido said, patting the spot. "Something small and cute. With a little UFO maybe? I haven't decided yet."
Bakugo snorted from across the room. "You never decide until the last second. So annoying for your artist."
"Oh please, Ki is never annoyed by me. Also, that's called spontaneity, Kugo. You should try it sometime."
"The fuck? I'm hella spontaneous."
Kirishima laughed. "Bro, you meal prep like, ten days in advance."
Bakugo flipped him off, but he was grinning.
Todoroki finished cleaning his station and moved toward the front, intending to grab his bag and maybe just sit quietly while the others worked.
But before he could get far, Bakugo caught his wrist.
"Where ya going?" Bakugo asked, tugging him closer.
Todoroki stared at him. "I was just—"
"Sit with me," Bakugo said, pulling Todoroki down into his lap before he could protest.
Todoroki let out a soft, surprised noise, face immediately flushing pink. "Baku—"
"Relax," Bakugo murmured, wrapping his arms around Todoroki's waist and settling him more comfortably. "We're fine."
Todoroki's heart was racing, but he didn't move. He just sat there, stiff and flustered, trying very hard to look normal.
Ashido glanced over and grinned. "Aww, you two are so cute."
"Shut up," Bakugo muttered, but his hands tightened slightly on Todoroki's hips.
Kirishima was already sketching out the design on a piece of paper, tongue poking out slightly in concentration. "Okay, so—alien head, big eyes, little UFO hovering above it. Sound good?"
Ashido leaned over to look. "Perfect. Make the UFO sparkly."
"Sparkly?"
"You heard me."
Kirishima laughed. "Yes, ma'am. Anything you want."
Ashido stared at him, smirking a little. "That... was kinda hot."
*
Ten minutes later, Ashido was sitting sideways in the tattoo chair, shoulder exposed, while Kirishima carefully applied the stencil.
"You nervous?" Kirishima asked, pressing the paper down gently.
Ashido snorted. "Please. I'm not afraid of you, big guy. I've got plenty of tattoos."
"Yeah, but I've never tattooed you before."
"True." Ashido tilted her head, watching him work. "No pressure or anything, but if you fuck this up, I'm telling everyone you cried during The Notebook."
Kirishima's eyes went wide. "Aw, dude. I told you that in confidence."
Bakugo barked out a laugh from across the room. "You cried during The Notebook?"
"Shut up, you know I love a good romance movie." Kirishima protested, face turning red.
Todoroki, still perched in Bakugo's lap, smiled softly. "I cried during that movie too."
Kirishima pointed at him triumphantly. "See? Todo gets it."
Bakugo rolled his eyes but didn't say anything.
His hands were still resting on Todoroki's hips, thumbs brushing slow, absentminded circles against his sides.
Todoroki was hyperaware of every touch, but it was… nice.
It made him feel less like he had to shrink into the background and more like he was actually part of the group.
Kirishima peeled the stencil back, revealing a crisp purple outline. "Looks good. You ready?"
Ashido nodded. "Let's do this."
Kirishima took a few seconds to prep his machine, and leaned in.
The needle buzzed to life, and he started on the first line.
Ashido didn't even flinch.
Kirishima glanced up at her, surprised. "You're not gonna react at all?"
"Nope." Ashido grinned. "Told you."
"Damn." Kirishima shook his head, grinning. "Just when I thought you couldn't get any cooler."
He worked in silence for a few minutes, steady and focused.
Ashido watched him, eyebrows slowly raising. "Are you always this gentle?"
Kirishima glanced up at her again. "What?"
"Sorry, just surprised. You're like—" Ashido gestured vaguely at his arms. "You're built. You look like you could bench press a car. How are you not heavy-handed?"
Kirishima laughed. "I don't know. I just… try not to be?"
"It's freaking me out a little," Ashido said, but she was smiling. "In a good way. This barely even hurts."
"Good," Kirishima said, still focused on the lines. "That's the goal."
Bakugo snorted. "She's just saying that because she's got the hots for you, dude."
Ashido's head whipped around. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"I do not have a crush on Kirishima. He wishes."
Kirishima's hand stuttered slightly. "Wait, what?"
Bakugo smirked. "You're blushing, Mina."
"I am not—" Ashido paused, then groaned. "All three of you are hot, am I not allowed to appreciate nice things?"
Kirishima was bright red now, staring down at his machine. "So anyway…"
Todoroki, who had been watching the whole exchange with wide eyes, glanced back at Bakugo. "You're terrible."
"I know." Bakugo leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to the side of Todoroki's neck. "She started it though, she did it to us first."
Todoroki flushed, ducking his head. "I guess."
Ashido groaned again. "Yes I did, and you are so welcome, you ungrateful ass. I hate all of you."
"No you don't," Bakugo said lazily.
"…No, I don't," Ashido admitted. "Shoto's an angel. He deserves better than to be lumped in with you."
Bakugo scoffed, looking genuinely offended for a second.
Kirishima was still bright red, but he was smiling now too. "For the record," he said quietly, "I think you're hot too, Mina."
Ashido peeked at him through her fingers. "Really?"
"Yeah."
She grinned. "Okay. That's cute. You're forgiven."
*
The rest of the session passed in comfortable chaos.
Kirishima finished the alien, added the sparkly UFO (with actual glitter ink, because of course), and wrapped it up with a satisfied grin.
Ashido immediately took seven photos and posted one to the shop's Instagram page with the caption: got inked by the gentlest giant alive 💕👽
Kirishima turned even redder when he saw that.
Bakugo and Todoroki stayed exactly where they were—Todoroki still in Bakugo's lap, Bakugo's arms still wrapped loosely around his waist.
At some point, Todoroki had relaxed completely, leaning back against Bakugo's chest, one hand resting on Bakugo's forearm.
He wasn't even thinking about it anymore. Bakugo just made him feel so comfortable.
Ashido noticed, of course.
She caught Todoroki's eye and smirked at him. She whispered, "smitten."
Todoroki flushed but didn't deny it.
Because he was.
Completely, hopelessly smitten.
And judging by the way Bakugo's grip tightened slightly on his hips, the feeling was mutual.
*
By the time they finally locked up the shop and headed out into the cool night air, it was well past midnight.
Ashido and Kirishima walked ahead, bickering good-naturedly about whether or not glitter ink was considered "professional."
Bakugo and Todoroki trailed behind, hands brushing as they walked.
"You okay?" Bakugo asked quietly.
Todoroki nodded. "Yeah. Tonight was kinda nice."
"Yeah." Bakugo glanced at him, smirking. "You seemed more relaxed than usual."
Todoroki flushed. "I think it's because you wouldn't let me leave your lap."
Bakugo shrugged. "Worked, didn't it?"
Todoroki smiled softly. "Yeah. It did."
Bakugo reached over and laced their fingers together.
And they kept walking, hands linked, the city quiet around them.
Just the four of them.
A weird little found family.
And Todoroki wouldn't trade it for anything.
***