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[glaciers]

Shouto Todoroki | Blue | #57A7C5

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[inheritance]

[Izuku crouches down beside him, noticeably being careful about his injured side.]

You're not...? [The confusion lingers for a second longer, and then comprehension sinks in. His eyes widen.] When you said you were staying here, you didn't mean just for tonight.

[It's not a question.]

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I'm not.

[Because clearly that answers everything.]

And I didn't. I'm moving in.

[inheritance]

[He sinks all the way down to the floor this time.]

Todoroki-kun...you don't have to do that just to keep an eye on me, you know. [Izuku says weakly, still overcome by surprise.]

[glaciers]

I want to.

[Also he feels like somebody from home should be keeping tabs on Midoriya.]

[inheritance]

[Izuku draws his knees up to his chest, studying Todoroki quietly. He can't even really blame Todoroki for wanting to keep an eye on him at this point. Becoming a hero who could alleviate worries intead of causing it, like he'd told Togata--he's not even close to reaching his goal.]

Would this really make you feel better?

[glaciers]

Yes.

[Because at least if they lived together, Shouto could make sure nothing happened to Midoriya in the middle of the night. He doesn't mind being a nightlight to keep the shadows away.]

We're friends. I want to help.

[inheritance]

[One hand runs through his unruly hair, even as Izuku smiles a bit helplessly. When Todoroki puts it that way, he can't really say no, can he?]

Okay...but only if you're really sure about this! [Izuku leans forward, looking Todoroki in the eyes.] And if you decide you want to move back to your own place at any point, you don't have to force yourself to stay here. Promise?

[glaciers]

I'm sure.

[Shouto meets Midoriya's eyes with his own mismatched gaze.]

My best friend lives here. Why would I want to leave?

[inheritance]

[Oh. Izuku's breath hitches at those words. Best friend. Though it's been more and more obvious to Izuku how much he's come to rely on Todoroki lately, it's another thing to hear Todoroki lay it out so simply. To hear that Todoroki feels that new closeness, too.

To his horror, he feels a prickling heat in his eyes that he's all too familiar with. Hurriedly, he ducks his head and swipes at his eyes as the tears well up.]

[glaciers]

[He said it in text before, but it's something different to say it in his own voice. His face starts to slowly go pink, but he shoves his own emotions to the side when he realizes Midoriya's starting to cry.

His own eyes start to go wide as he realizes he has no idea what he should be doing here. The obvious route would be a hug or some kind of physical comfort, but are they close enough for that? Would Midoriya accept that from him?

The thought of getting rejected makes something squirm deep in his belly, so he stops himself.]

I... I'm sorry?

[It sounds weak even to his own ears, but he doesn't know what he's supposed to be apologizing for.]

[inheritance]

[That only makes Izuku duck his head even more, shoulders shaking just a little as he does so. A weird, choked off laugh escapes him before he can stop it.]

Y-you don't have to apologize for anything, Todoroki-kun. [With his emotions already keyed up, and exhaustion still sitting heavily in his bones despite all his pretenses, it was incredibly easy for the tears to leak out.

When he finally looks back up, though, he's smiling, eyes still bright with those tears and emotion.] It's not a bad thing, I'm just really happy.

[glaciers]

[He still feels like he ought to. He just made his best friend (his best friend!!) cry on complete accident. But thinking about it a little further, he's always been quick to cry, hasn't he? After everything that's happened it makes sense that there would be too many emotions to process.

He just put down the final straw. Probably. Understanding Midoriya is not an exact science (yet).]

I told you before... Even heroes cry sometimes.

[He can at least offer the words, even if he's not comfortable offering more than that yet.]

If you have to, then let it out.

[inheritance]

[Another soft, choked up laugh--Izuku seems to have taken Todoroki's words to heart, though, letting the tears fall freely rather than wiping them away immediately.]

I remember. Back when the others and I were still at our internships. [The internship where so many things had gone wrong...those are darker thoughts that he doesn't want to dwell on now. Izuku wraps his arms around his knees before resting his chin there.] It feels like you've been giving me a lot of advice lately.

[glaciers]

[ He thinks Midoriya probably just needs the catharsis of crying out his emotions. It's been a full few weeks here in this abandoned city.

There's a long moment of hesitation, where he reaches his hand out and draws it back before gingerly placing it on Midoriya's shoulder. That's fine, isn't it? ]

Aizawa-sensei and All Might-sensei aren't here. So somebody needs to give you some.

... I'm just grateful it's helping. I don't always know if I am.

[inheritance]

[His eyes widen. It's the second time Todoroki's surprised him in the past hour. Though the both of them are used to grabbing one another when faced with danger, Izuku's never seen Todoroki reach out like this outside of a fight. Though the same hesitation's reflected in his eyes now, he still covers Todoroki's hand with his own, letting that touch convey his gratitude.]

You're helping a lot, Todoroki-kun. I promise you are.

[He gives those quiet words some time to sink in. Then the corner of his lips tug up in a flash of amusement.] Does this mean I should call you Todoroki-sensei?

[glaciers]

[And just like that Shouto's tenseness is melted away. His worry over touch, his worry if he's helping. It's all fine. His hand stays exactly where it is, clasped over Midoriya's shoulder and under his hand.

Shouto's face goes into it's perfect straight-man mask:]

Todoroki is fine.

[inheritance]

[Izuku pauses, then stares at him, eyes searching his face for something.]

...I can't tell if you're joking or not.

[Your poker face is too good!!]

[glaciers]

Call me Todoroki.

[Shouto's pokerface is still right there.]

[inheritance]

[Izuku thinks he's serious.]

Okay. Todoroki-ku-- [He bites his lip, fighting off the habit.] Todoroki.

[glaciers]

[His expression melts into something more laid back.]

Thank you.

[inheritance]

[Izuku blinks at him in confusion.]

You're...thanking me? For what?

[glaciers]

For calling me by my name. You use honorifics for everybody else.

[inheritance]

Well...you did ask.

[Izuku shifts, feeling oddly bashful. It's habit for him to use honorifics--he's always used them for his classmates. In a way, removing them now feels like a confirmation of the step he and Todoroki have taken in their friendship.]

[glaciers]

[ It's funny it takes until now that Shouto wonders something that's important. ]

... Are you going to be comfortable without the honorific?

[inheritance]

I don't mind! [Izuku stammers out immediately.]

I-it just might take me a little while to get used to leaving it out.