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"Todoroki?"
Shouto glanced up at the sound of Midoriya's voice, and then carefully marked his page with one finger. His friend was hovering in the doorway of the common room, phone clutched in one hand and wearing a curious expression, flitting between emotions as if his face couldn't properly interpret the thoughts going through his own mind.
"Hello, Midoriya."
"Hi. Um, just checking, did you post a picture of me eating soba with the caption 'that's hot'?"
Shouto nodded. "Yes."
Midoriya's face instantly flared so red that Shouto would be concerned for his health, had he not seen him blush like this many times before.
"Oh! So that caption wasn't, uh, a joke or something? Like, nobody stole your phone and wrote that?" Midoriya's voice was climbing higher with every word, and Shouto heard a muffled choking noise from Sero, who was sitting at the other end of the sofa, face hidden in his manga.
"No," Shouto said, because it really wasn't a joke. "I wrote it. Because it is true."
Midoriya made a small squawking noise, pressing the back of one hand to his flushed cheek with a soft slap. Shouto hadn't thought it was possible for a person to get any redder, but then, Midoriya was always pushing past limits.
"Right," Midoriya said. "Well, I'm going to go and find Uraraka right now, for absolutely no particular reason at all, okay, see you later-ohmygodhelp!" His last words were whispered as he stumbled out of the room, but were not quiet enough to prevent both Shouto and Sero from hearing him perfectly clearly.
Sero dropped his book, along with any pretense that he hadn't been eavesdropping, and openly stared at Shouto, his trademark grin wider than ever, and his eyes gleaming darkly.
Shouto felt his own lips tug up into a small smile. It was an unfamiliar feeling, but certainly not unwelcome.
"That was cute," he mused.
Sero's sudden cackle was loud and gleeful. "Dude! I think you just broke Midoriya! I'm pretty sure he was so freaked out he didn't even see that I was here!"
Shouto nodded his agreement, feeling pleasantly warm in a way that, for once, had nothing to do with his quirk.
Sero was wiping tears out of his eyes now. "Was that reaction what you were aiming for?" he managed, through aftershocks of laughter.
"No, I really was just being honest." Shouto's smile grew as he thought about Midoriya's cutely flustered reaction, his eyes wide and luminous. "But it's good to know that's what happens."
Sero studied Shouto for a long moment, then waggled his eyebrows and whistled, long and low. "Godspeed, Midoriya," he chuckled, picking his manga back up. "I'm praying for your continued survival."
~
Shouto sat in the circle of his classmates, feeling the gentle brush of Midoriya's shoulder against him on one side, while on the other Kaminari was currently doubled over laughing at something Kirishima had said, occasionally giving Shouto small static shocks.
Shouto felt light-headed, but in a good way; it was like his thoughts were just a millisecond behind the rest of the world, but he didn't really mind. He felt Midoriya nudge him, and looked down at his smiling friend. There were rosy spots of colour high on Midoriya's cheeks, and Shouto wondered idly how long it would take to count the scattered freckles on that pink skin.
"You okay, Todoroki?" Midoriya asked in a whisper that was probably louder than he meant it to be. "You had a bit more to drink than I did!"
"Mm," Shouto said wisely, then thought he should probably say some actual words before Midoriya got worried. "I'm taller than you, though."
Midoriya's laugh had his eyes crinkling with amusement, and Shouto's heart fluttering in his chest.
"That's true!" Midoriya said thoughtfully, leaning against Shouto as he lifted a hand to his chin. "I wonder if I'll get any taller in future? Because All Might is very tall, and maybe that's- agh!"
Shouto watched in bemusement as Midoriya cut himself off with a sudden choke, eyes shooting wide with alarm. He still didn't understand what Midoriya's secret with All Might was, but he hoped that maybe Midoriya would trust him enough to tell him one day.
"Maybe his height is genetic, and as you are his lovechild, you might get taller," Shouto finished with a wise nod.
Midoriya choked again, on a giggle this time, and punched Shouto gently on the arm.
"Oi, Deku! Stop distracting Icyhot, you nerd!" Bakugou roared from across the circle, and they both turned to see the rest of their classmates watching them expectantly. "It's Half n' half's turn to pick, idiots!"
Bakugou sounded as aggressive as ever, but Shouto noted he was letting Kirishima lounge comfortably against him, the spiky-haired boy grinning widely as he practically sprawled in Bakugou's lap.
"Yeah!" Uraraka cried, with a fist in the air. "Truth or dare, Todoroki?"
Shouto considered this carefully. "Truth," he decided eventually, and ignored Bakugou snarling that he was a coward.
Next to Shouto, Midoriya had perked up, and was watching him with bright curiosity, fingers twitching as though they longed for a notebook and pen.
Ashido leaned into the circle, waving her hand energetically. "Oooh! Let me, I have one!" She didn't wait for any potential protests before bulldozing straight ahead. Her dark eyes gleamed as she caught Shouto's gaze. "So, Todoroki, here's your truth question."
She paused dramatically, and everyone quietened. "What's your favourite-"
"Midoriya."
There was a moment of silence, then a small uproar of amusement rippled through the circle. Midoriya looked amused, head cocked to one side like Shouto was speaking a foreign language and he was trying to understand.
Ashido shrieked with laughter, slapping the floor with both hands. "Wait, wait, I didn't even ask you the whole question!"
Shouto shrugged slightly. "Okay."
"Todoroki." Ashido fixed her eyes on him intently. "What is your favourite-"
"Midoriya," Shouto said immediately, and then leaned back on his palms with a pleased smile. He'd never played Truth or Dare before, but he was fairly sure he was acing it.
This time the whole class erupted into laughter, except Bakugou, who just plain erupted.
"Sero, you were totally right, man! He's broken!" Shouto followed Kaminari's gleefully pointing finger, and found that Midoriya had buried his face in both hands. Sero was nodding sagely, eyes closed in a blissful 'I told you so' expression.
"Aw, you've killed Deku!" Uraraka crowed, crawling across to Midoriya and patting him on the head clumsily. She grinned up at Shouto, one eye closed in a lazy wink. "So, Todoroki. Deku is your favourite? Just… favourite, full stop?"
Shouto nodded happily, ignoring the way it made his head spin. "Yes," he said decisively.
A keening sound emitted from Midoriya that was not unlike the whistle of a steam engine, and Shouto watched as his friend slumped forward, face first onto the floor.
"Poor Deku," Uraraka said, with clear delight. "Gone before his time. He was so young."
"Oi, Icyhot!" Bakugou snarled. "Take it back. Deku can't die until we've had a proper fucking fight and I've gotta beat him at full power!"
Shouto just shrugged. "Sorry, I can't do that. It's not possible to take back the truth."
Bakugou gagged dramatically and proceeded to spit and rant about 'disgusting nerds', until Kirishima finally distracted him by leaning up and planting a big, smacking kiss on his cheek, which had most of the class hollering, and had Bakugou blushing almost as red as Midoriya.
Midoriya himself had now curled into an even tighter ball, his hair tickling Shouto's knee, and was making a soft squealing noise that was as high pitched as it was adorable. Uraraka bent over him, but was laughing too hard to be of any real help.
Shouto smiled widely. He liked this game.
~
"Hey, bro!"
Shouto lifted his head quickly at Kirishima's cheerful greeting, one finger flying to his lips in a shushing gesture. The redhead slapped a hand over his sharp mouth obediently, then crept into the room on tiptoes.
"What's going on?" he whispered, and then understanding lit up his face as he finally came to stand in front of the sofa Shouto was sitting on. "Aw, he's sleeping!"
Shouto looked down at Midoriya, who was currently slumped bonelessly against Shouto's left side. They'd been doing some reading for English, but after ten minutes of an unusually quiet common room, the book had slipped from Midoriya's hand as he dozed off, and he'd tilted slowly into Shouto as he relaxed. Every so often, he sighed comfortably and cuddled in slightly closer. Shouto couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so content.
"Yeah," Shouto murmured, moving only his mouth, so as not to disturb his friend. "He's completely out. I think training really wore him down today."
Kirishima's eyes were shining as he smiled broadly at them. "How long has he been there?"
Shouto glanced at the clock on the wall, restraining an automatic shrug. "Just over an hour, I think?"
"Dude! Your arm must be completely dead by now!"
"It is, but I don't mind," Shouto said simply.
Kirishima closed his eyes in a heavenly expression. "That's so manly!" he enthused. "And Midoriya looks so adorable and peaceful, I bet-"
"The fuck did you just say, Shitty Hair?!"
Bakugou had appeared in the doorway, and was glaring dangerously at Kirishima. Shouto frowned at the noisy interruption, but Kirishima was just grinning even more widely.
"Oops," he said cheerfully, completely unrepentant. "Guess that's my cue!"
Giving Shouto a wave, he bounded over to Bakugou and started hustling him away from the common room. Shouto couldn't see them, but he could hear Kirishima's peals of laughter, and Bakugou's very noisy explosions, as they slowly faded into the distance.
"Kacchan?"
Shouto looked down to see Midoriya's eyes blinking open blearily.
"No," Shouto said gently. "Bakugou's gone now, probably to go make out with Kirishima. It's just me, Todoroki."
"Okay," Midoriya said, all soft and sleepy. He looked up at Shouto then, and smiled in a way that had Shouto's heart hammering. "Hello, Todoroki."
"Hello, Midoriya." Shouto still hadn't moved a muscle, wondering if his friend would just stay cuddled up and doze off again.
His faint hopes were dashed, though, as Midoriya yawned widely, rubbed his eyes, and then froze completely.
"Oh my gosh," he whispered, and then shot up, scrambling back from Shouto and waving his hands erratically. "I'm so sorry! I fell asleep on you! You're just so nice and warm on your left side, and I was really tired after class today, and- I'm so sorry!"
That flustered earnestness never got old. Shouto allowed himself a small smile. "Midoriya, stop panicking, I didn't mind," he said, and was pleased when Midoriya did actually calm down a little in response. "In fact, I liked it. You were very cute."
"I was- gah!" Midoriya seemed to short circuit for a second, mouth hanging open, and then he was on his feet and skittering towards the door. "Sorry Todoroki, I, uh, I think I hear Iida calling me!"
Shouto sighed wistfully, already missing the sleepy weight at his side. Maybe if he tired Midoriya out enough during sparring tomorrow, he might fall asleep on him again.
~
Shouto watched Midoriya fall in slow motion, head whipping back from the force of a hit from Ojiro's tail, then rebounding off Kirishima's hardened chest with a thud.
Midoriya crumpled to the floor. Shouto didn’t remember moving, but he was already there, pushing both his classmates away carelessly and dropping to his knees. Ice was already forming on his hand as he reached for Midoriya’s head, hoping to slow any swelling.
“Midoriya?” The name fell out of his mouth without thought, and Shouto felt a sharp sigh of relief leave him as his friend’s eyes fluttered open in response.
“Ow,” Midoriya said breathlessly, a crooked smile on his face. “That one hurt.” His gaze fixed on Shouto, and concern passed over his expression. “Oh, Todoroki, shouldn’t you be in your match still?”
Shouto couldn’t care less about his own fight right now. “Are you okay? Where does it hurt? What’s your name, and can you remember what day it is?”
“Hey, I think he’s alright, Todoroki,” Ojiro said, coming into view on Midoriya’s other side. Both he and Kirishima looked a bit apologetic, but largely unconcerned. “It was a clumsy hit, but not that hard. Sorry about that, Midoriya, I completely misjudged how close you were! You’re okay, though, right?”
Midoriya was currently trying to rub his head, but Shouto had his wrists in a firm grip. “Yeah, I’m fine, don’t worry!” He smiled up at Ojiro, and then met Shouto’s gaze, his green eyes endlessly gentle and reassuring. “I’m okay, Todoroki, really!”
Shouto frowned. Midoriya did seem fine, but he remembered that head wounds could be deceiving, and that concussion was dangerous if it went undetected.
Kirishima reached a large hand down with an apologetic grin. “Here, bro, let’s get you up and-”
“Don’t touch him!”
Three pairs of wide eyes stared at Shouto as he snapped at Kirishima, who recoiled with an uncertain glance at Midoriya.
“I’m going to take you to Recovery Girl myself,” Shouto said to Midoriya, striving for a calmer tone, but not quite managing to thaw the ice out of his voice. “Sorry, but I can’t trust anyone else’s judgement right now, considering they let you get hurt.”
“Todoroki!” Midoriya looked taken aback. “That’s not fair, it wasn’t their fault! Accidents happen all the time.”
“I still don’t like it. I don’t like seeing you hurt.” Shouto said petulantly, and Midoriya’s mouth gaped slightly, like a bewildered, very cute goldfish.
Kirishima chuckled suddenly, straightening up and shooting a grin at Ojiro. “Ah, I get it now! It’s cool, Todoroki, you take Midoriya now. We won’t get in your way, and we’ll let Sensei know where you are!”
“What?” Midoriya frowned. “I don't understa- ahh!”
Shouto, fed up with waiting for other people’s approval, had swept his friend up into his arms and cradled him close. It felt really good. Midoriya was so warm and alive against him, and Shouto felt the tension in his chest start to ease.
“Todoroki! Put me down!”
Shouto let his cheek brush against the soft curls on top of Midoriya’s head, and started walking. “No. I’m taking you to Recovery Girl.”
“But I can walk fine by myself!”
“I know. But I’d prefer to carry you anyway, it feels nice” Shouto said honestly. He wondered whether he should be embarrassed, but couldn’t quite bring himself to bother. It really did feel nice, after all, plus he still was a bit worried about Midoriya having a concussion.
Shouto kept walking steadily, and Midoriya eventually gave up on his protests, going limp in Shouto’s arms. His cheeks slowly grew redder and redder, until he eventually shook his head with a squawk and buried his face in Shouto’s shoulder, flinging one arm around his neck to steady himself.
His warm breath puffed over Shouto’s collarbone, and Shouto couldn’t help the little smile that crept onto his face.
“Hm, maybe I don’t mind you getting hurt, after all,” he said thoughtfully.
“Todoroki!!”
~
"I can't take it anymore!"
"Hm? Can't take what, Deku?" Used to Izuku's outbursts by now, Uraraka didn't look up from her magazine, idly flipping a page.
"Todoroki! I've got to do something. Every time he says something to me I just turn into this embarrassing mess. He's going to figure out how I feel, or lose any respect he might've had for me… or both!" Izuku peered beseechingly over the edge of his bed to where Uraraka was lounging on his rug, kicking her feet in the air as she read.
Uraraka finally looked up, tilting her head thoughtfully. "First of all, I'm pretty sure you could melt into an actual puddle and Todoroki would still respect you! Secondly, it sounds like you just need to balance things out a bit."
Izuku frowned, his curiosity piqued. "Balance things out?"
Uraraka beamed at him, her innocent smile belying the sharp mind that Izuku knew lay beneath. "Yep! You're upset because Todoroki keeps flustering you with his brutal honesty, right? So why don't you give him some of your own honesty, then it won't be so one-sided anymore!"
That was… not the worst idea Izuku had ever heard. The thought of confronting Todoroki was terrifying, of course, but Izuku had never liked backing down from a challenge when it came to the people he cared about. And he definitely cared about Todoroki, a lot.
"You really think that will work?"
Uraraka chuckled, turning back to her magazine. "Deku, I'm pretty sure anything you try with Todoroki would work."
Izuku thought about it for a long minute, squishing an All Might plushie between his hands as he weighed his options. In the end, though, it boiled down to some simple facts: he liked Todoroki, and he desperately didn't want to keep embarrassing himself in front of him, so, therefore, something had to change. Plus, he added as an afterthought, honesty was always the most heroic option. Determination rose up in him, and Izuku felt suddenly charged with energy.
Leaping off the bed, he shoved his phone in his pocket and gave Uraraka a fierce grin. "I'm going to fix things! Right now!"
Her cheers followed him out of the door, and echoed in his head as he found himself hovering outside Todoroki's room. Taking a deep breath, Izuku knocked firmly, mentally gripping onto his resolve.
"Come in, it's open."
Not giving himself a chance to hesitate, Izuku strode in and politely shut the door behind himself. Todoroki was sitting at his low table, a cup of green tea at his elbow, and a book in front of him. He had his bangs pushed back from his eyes with a simple black clip, and looked more casual and relaxed than Izuku had ever seen him before. The smallest uptick of his mouth indicated a smile as he looked up and met Izuku's gaze. Izuku had never seen anything more beautiful in his life.
"Oh, hello Midoriya," Todoroki said, sounding pleased in his own deadpan way.
"Hi!" Izuku crossed the room in a few strides, and immediately knelt right next to Todoroki. Todoroki raised his eyebrows slightly, tilting his head towards Izuku quizzically. "Todoroki, I need to talk to you!"
"Okay, I'm listening."
"You are quite an honest person, right?" Izuku saw a frown starting on Todoroki's brow, and hurried to clarify. "I mean, if you say something, it's usually because you really think it."
"Yes?"
Izuku steeled his nerves. "So, when you said that me eating soba was hot, or that it was cute when I fell asleep on you, or that I…" He swallowed hard. "That I was your favourite… you meant those things, right?"
Todoroki smiled, and gosh he was just so pretty. "Yes, Midoriya, I meant those things."
Izuku's heart skittered like a bunny. "Then, I want to tell you some things that I mean in return!"
"Okay," Todoroki agreed, and shuffled so he was facing Izuku properly, their knees touching. It was just a small point of contact, but warmth still flooded through all of Izuku's limbs. "I'm ready."
Teetering on the cusp of what could be a make or break moment in his most important friendship, Izuku suddenly felt his nerves melt away. Nothing had ever felt more right, or easy, than the truth he was about to give Todoroki from his heart.
"Todoroki, I like you," he said, feeling a joyous smile spread across his face as the words left him. "I like you as a friend, and I like you romantically. I think you're amazing! You're so powerful and strong and clever, but you're also kind, and you're going to be the best hero."
There was a faint dusting of pink on Todoroki's cheekbones, delicate and pretty. "Oh," he said, very quietly.
But Izuku wasn't done yet. He leaned forward intently. "And I think you're beautiful, and adorable, too! And…" Slowly, purposely letting his movements forecast his intentions, Izuku laid one hand on Todoroki's knee, and leaned even closer. Their faces were so close now that he could feel Todoroki's unsteady breath, puffing soft against his own lips.
"... And?" Todoroki whispered, barely audible.
"And," Izuku murmured, watching as Todoroki's pupils dilated. "I'd like to be your boyfriend. And… " He moved a fraction closer. "I'd really like to kiss you."
Todoroki made a strangled noise in his throat, and then there was a small whumpf as his left side ignited.
"Um, Todoroki? You're on fire!" Izuku snatched his hand away before it got burned, knowing that Todoroki would never forgive himself if he was hurt. He hovered anxiously in front of his friend, hands fluttering uselessly around him. "Are you okay?!"
Todoroki was staring at Izuku as if in a daze, but he slowly nodded and lifted his right hand to his flaming shoulder, patting at himself with icy fingers until the flames were smothered.
Izuku watched him carefully, trying to pick up on any of Todoroki's subtle tells. He was hard to read at the best of times, and this dazed look was something Izuku had never seen on him.
"So," Izuku tried, with a hesitant smile. "Was that a good fire or a bad fire?"
"Yes," Todoroki said softly, still staring at him.
Izuku shifted uncomfortably. "Yes it was a good fire, or yes it was a bad fire?"
"No," Todoroki said, and then blinked and shook his head as if trying to clear it. "Yes please, I would like you to be my boyfriend, and yes, I would really like to kiss you too."
"Oh," Izuku breathed. "Good."
A flood of pure joy rushed into him, and suddenly he couldn't move slowly or gently any more. He launched himself at Todoroki, wrapping his arms around his neck and barely managing to cushion the back of his head as they crashed backwards onto the floor.
Todoroki gazed up at him, somewhat winded but smiling the most wonderful smile. His arms wound around Izuku, pulling him down closer, and then Izuku couldn't see his beautiful smile anymore, because they were kissing.
The kiss was soft and tender, just a gentle, chaste press of lips. It was, quite simply, the best thing Izuku had ever experienced. He melted into Todoroki, then pulled back just enough to drop small kisses all over his pretty face until he was laughing softly.
"Thank goodness," Izuku said eventually, after several long, sweet minutes. He rested his face in Todoroki's collarbone. "Now I don't have to die of being flustered every time I'm near you."
Todoroki hummed, running his long, elegant fingers through Izuku's hair. "If you think I'm going to stop flirting with you, I'm afraid you're mistaken."
"Ah," Izuku said, and lifted his head to grin victoriously at his new boyfriend. "But now I'm going to flirt back."
And then he kissed him again, until they were both blushing together.