Chapter Text
Standing before the entrance of UA High, Katsuki realizes he made a big fucking mistake.
Logically, he knows his parents already spoke with his teachers and received approval, but his chest tightens nonetheless. An unwanted mantra of what if, what if, what if marches in the forefront of his mind.
He glances back, hoping the old hag is still there so he can tell her to take the shitty dog back. She isn’t.
Katsuki looks down at the black German shepherd sitting beside him. The mutt— Arlo, his brain insists—stares back at him, amber eyes watching him intently as if trying to analyze every micro expression Katsuki makes. It’s unnerving, Katsuki decides with a scoff. The trainer had said Arlo’s level of focus was admirable and made him “very attentive to his handler.” Katsuki hates it.
Arlo’s unwavering gaze feels overbearing. Katsuki looks away. How fucking embarrassing is it to lose a staring contest to a dumb dog.
“I hope you aren’t planning to stay out there all day,” the familiar baritone of his teacher remarks drily.
Katsuki scowls, a retort dancing on the tip of his tongue, but he bites his cheek and swallows down the words. He’s already given his teacher enough trouble with this whole service dog thing, the least he can do is shut up. He trudges through the gate, Arlo at his heels, to stand in front of Aizawa.
Aizawa doesn’t pay much attention to Arlo, which Katsuki is thankful for. “Do you have everything you need for him with you?”
“Of course I do,” Katsuki says, raising the bag of Arlo’s things. “I’m not fucking irresponsible.”
His teacher didn’t comment on his language, but Katsuki doesn’t miss the way one eyebrow rose. “I never said you were. I trust you will be entirely responsible for his upkeep. For sanitary reasons, you will have to keep him well groomed. Does he have a vest or identification?”
Katsuki tightens his grip on the lead and recites what the trainer had told him multiple times during the matching process, “He’s not required to wear a vest. I have one, but I don’t see the point of him wearing it now if we’re in the dorms.” Truthfully, Katsuki hates the idea of dragging the mutt around while it's wearing a goddamn vest that reads in bright, bold letters “SERVICE DOG.” It will only call more unwanted attention to them and the last thing Katsuki wants is to deal with extras asking about the dog.
Aizawa nods. “Very well.” He heads towards the dorm, only looking back to ensure Katsuki was following. “Would you prefer to address your class or have me take care of it?”
“I don’t care,” Katsuki says, “do what you want. It’s not like he’s staying forever.”
Ideally, Katsuki wants to sneak up to his room without any of the damn extras noticing and pretend he doesn’t have a mandated shadow following him around for the week. His chest burns the closer the dorm building gets, another reminder of why he has to put up with the dog in the first place. Because he freaks out over stupid shit and can’t get himself under control.
His hands shake against his will. He shoves his free hand into his pocket so no one knows he’s weak. The jackhammer thump of his heart against his ribs makes him breathless, lungs squeezing too tightly. He wants to retreat to his room, but that would make him a coward and Katsuki isn’t a fucking coward.
A cold nose nudges his hand insistently. Katsuki almost snaps at the dog to leave him the hell alone, on edge and stressed. Arlo changes tactics and shoves his face against his palm, huffing obnoxiously until Katsuki gently scratches his chin.
Needy little shit.
Katsuki shuffles inside the building after Aizawa, gut tightening in knots when he sees all the extras in the common room.
They stare in surprise.
“Holy crap, is that a dog?!” Dunce Face breaks the silence with his loud ass exclamation.
All at once, everyone starts talking, chattering over each other and standing up from their spots on the couches. Katsuki grimaces, already over this and ready to go to his room.
“Oh, it’s so cute !”
“I didn’t know you had a dog, Kacchan!”
“Dogs are not permitted on campus nor in the—”
“Wait, we can bring pets?”
Aizawa’s hair raises threateningly, eyes flashing red. “Everyone, quiet.”
A hush settles over the room.
“As you can see, we have a new addition to our class—”
“Temporary,” Katsuki reminds him.
Aizawa continues, unphased. “He has a job to do. When he is working, no one will be distracting him—pretend he’s not there. This won’t be the only time you will be encountering working animals as heroes so handle yourselves professionally. Do not let his presence distract you from your classes. If Bakugou wants to answer your questions, he can.”
Warning finished, Aizawa walks off, leaving Katsuki to the vultures.
Thanks Teach , he thinks bitterly.
“Hey man, welcome back,” Kirishima says. “Looks like you had a busy weekend.”
He’s trying so hard not to stare at Arlo, it’s almost comical. Shitty Hair seems like he’s moments away from gushing over the dog, a childlike gleam in his eyes whenever he glances at Arlo.
Katsuki grunts in agreement. “Something like that.”
Four-Eyes chops his arm rhythmically. “I wasn’t aware you needed an assistance dog, Bakugou. If you need anything, let me know. As class representative, it is my duty to help my fellow classmates.”
He rolls his eyes, but is relieved Four-Eyes didn’t hound him for details.
“Assistance dog?” Echoed Invisibitch. “Why do you need one?”
Katsuki bristles. “None of your damn business!” God, these extras were so nosy.
“Come on, Kacchan,” Sparky whines, “at least tell us the his name.”
He hesitates, wondering if this will backfire on him later. “Arlo,” he mutters.
The girls coo. Katsuki glares, willing them to shut up, but they don’t mind and giggle excitedly among themselves.
“Maybe we should leave Kacchan alone and let Arlo get settled without crowding him. New environments tend to be very stressful for dogs and meeting new people probably adds to that. Although, crowds shouldn’t be an issue if he’s been desensitized and trained for…”
“Deku,” Round Face says, “you’re muttering.”
Startling, Deku panics, hands fluttering wildly as useless apologies tumble from his mouth.
“Shut up, Deku,” Katsuki growls. “And all you extras, too! This isn’t some damn petting zoo, I’m out of here.”
He ignores the cries of protest and stomps towards the elevator. Arlo follows dutifully, not in the least bit bothered by the noise. The swivel of his ears are the only indication that he is even aware the other extras are there.
It’s quiet in the elevator, a welcomed change from the busy atmosphere of the common room. Now that he’s had a moment to himself, he wonders if he should’ve properly introduced the dog to everyone. Would it be unfair if he doesn’t let Arlo explore the dorms right away? He’s not sure.
He’s a working dog. He’s not a pet.
But he’s still a dog.
Katsuki was told that Arlo wouldn’t and shouldn’t be on duty all hours of the day and would still need breaks and time to unwind to just be a dog. Did meeting the rest of Katsuki’s class count? It’s not like Arlo’s going to stay in his room the whole time. That would be unfair.
The elevator dings.
Does he even have time for this? What if the dog gets in the way of his studies? Or his hero courses? Damnit, this is why he hated the idea in the first place. He hadn’t bothered asking the trainers about the dorm situation and now he regrets it. Does Arlo get free reign? Does Katsuki have to watch him the whole time? Will he just follow Katsuki around like he’s been doing so far?
He’s brought out of his thoughts when Arlo nudges him.
Katsuki hates it even more. He can’t even think without the damn mutt insisting he’s overwhelmed. He’s not .
“Go on,” Katsuki says after he’s unlocked his door and taken off Arlo’s leash. Arlo wags his tail and goes around, sniffing carefully. Katsuki dumps the bag out on his bed to sort through it while the mutt explores every nook and cranny of the room.
UA has been accommodating, Katsuki begrudgingly admits. There’s a large wooden crate tucked neatly into the far corner of his room. It’s a custom sized crate, made just for Arlo, and matches perfectly with Katsuki’s furniture, a very dark brown, almost black. The top is sturdy and level. It almost looks like a nightstand—just very big. Katsuki decides Arlo’s things can stay on top of the crate to save space.
He makes four piles: toys, gear, essentials, and paperwork.
Why the hell does this dog have four different leashes? There’s the black leather one Katsuki had been using all day; a slip lead that was used during all those training classes; another leather leash, but a lot thinner than the other (can it even hold up to such a large dog? Arlo was by no means small); and some weird lead is less than a foot long. He probably won’t be using all of them in the next two weeks.
Two collars are added to the pile, along with Arlo’s vest and a couple Velcro patches if he wants to change them out.
The bag of food looks awkward on top of the crate so Katsuki moves to the floor. Immediately, Arlo appears and pokes at it excitedly.
Katsuki gently shoves his face away. “Oi! Get your nose outta there!”
Arlo eyes him skeptically.
Then slowly cranes his neck out towards the bag.
“Don’t.” Katsuki’s eye twitches.
The mutt unhinges his jaws like a fucking snake, all while holding direct eye contact with Katsuki, and very slowly, very deliberately starts to close his mouth over the corner of the bag.
Katsuki gawks. The bastard was doing it on purpose . “Arlo, no .”
With a huff, Arlo pulls away from the bag as if he didn’t try to get into it in the first place and lays down heavily, elbows thumping on the ground as he seems to become one with the floor.
That is… the most dramatic thing he’s seen the dog do. It’s almost like he’s pouting. But dogs don’t do that. Right ? He wouldn’t know, he’s never been around many dogs besides the ones he sees while out and about.
Katsuki goes back to moving Arlo’s things, carefully stepping around the dog, who’s trying his hardest to become a floor mat.
By the time Katsuki finishes, Arlo has recovered from his great tragedy. He shifts so that he’s lounging, rolled on one hip, and watches Katsuki with those intelligent amber eyes.
“Come here,” Katsuki coaxes, shaking a bag of treats.
He definitely doesn’t feel bad for upsetting him earlier. Absolutely not.
Arlo rises quickly and sits in front of him, tail thumping the ground. He seems to have forgotten about his earlier misgivings. Katsuki hands him a treat, cringing at the amount of slobber on his hand. Arlo happily takes a second treat and licks Katsuki’s fingers for any crumbs he might’ve missed.
Katsuki makes a face. “Here,” he says as he gingerly wipes his hand on Arlo’s fur, “you can take this back.”
The dog grins up at him happily, unbothered. He shuffles closer to rest his head on Katsuki’s lap.
Sighing, Katsuki fights the warmth that flares in his chest. Arlo looks up at him with those damn puppy eyes.
He doesn’t want this.
He doesn’t need a shitty dog.
Arlo paws at his leg when it starts bouncing. Katsuki stills.
He’s so fucking weak.
Katsuki strokes Arlo’s head, unable to stop the smile that grows when the dog melts into his touch.