Chapter Text
There are not enough words in the world to describe just how beautiful Todoroki Rei is.
Izuku stands by his statement ever since that time he stood in Todoroki’s room, gazing at a photograph that did little to capture her beauty.
She and Todoroki share the same smile.
It’s soft and subtle, but genuine and overflowing with love.
A hand presses upon the curve of his spine and Izuku jolts a bit. Todoroki lets out a chuckle through his nose like the traitor he is and gives Izuku a reassuring push. Izuku gulps, tongue numb in his dry mouth. His teeth pick at the sensitive flesh of his chapped lips, and Todoroki pinches Izuku’s love handles as both a way to tell him to stop and a way to calm him down.
“You must be Midoriya-kun.” Todoroki Rei’s eyes are warm as she smiles that small smile at him. Izuku nods feverently, making her release a laugh that’s as light as a snowflake. “Do I make you nervous?” Her head tilts to the side, a playful smirk stretching her lips.
Izuku almost laughs. “You and Todo— uh, you and Shouto are a lot alike,” he manages, shooting a glare at Todoroki, who had pinched his skin once again.
She giggles. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not.”
“Mom…” Todoroki mumbles underneath his breath.
Dismissively, her eyes roll before she gestures for the two of them to come closer. “Don’t tell me you two are going to stand there all day.”
“Y-yes ma'am!” Izuku sputters, nearly tripping on his own feet as he hurries over to her. She raises an eyebrow. Heat pours down his neck and across his shoulders as she continues to peer at him through her long lashes, cloudy eyes studying him the same way Todoroki has done in the past.
As if it were a reflex, Izuku bows down at the waist, fixating on his beaten red shoes.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you!” he practically shouts as a thin layer of sweat begins to pearl across his forehead.
“What did I tell you?”
Izuku isn’t exactly sure who Todoroki is asking, but his questions are answered when his mother snickers. The fire underneath his cheeks burns even hotter than before as Todoroki’s rare laughter fills Izuku’s ears, mixing in with his mother’s harmoniously.
Izuku stands up straight, pouting. “What did you tell her?”
Todoroki simply shrugs. “Nothing that isn’t true.”
“He’s told me nothing but good things, Izuku-kun — do you mind if I call you Izuku-kun?”
The blush on his cheeks darken as Izuku shakes his head. “Not at all, ma’am!”
Her smile grows a bit. “You don’t have to be so formal with me, Izuku-kun. I’m fine with you addressing me by my given name.”
Izuku’s jaw drops. “I-I couldn’t—”
“Oh, but I insist,” she cuts in teasingly. “After all, it’s only fair since you’re allowing me to call you by your given name, don’t you think?”
Unconsciously, Izuku looks over at Todoroki, silently asking permission. In response, Todoroki shrugs a shoulder while shooting his mother a smile that’s so quick Izuku isn’t even sure if it really happened or if he had just imagined it.
Gulping down the lump that had formed in his throat, Izuku chokes out, “It’s an honor to meet you, Rei-san.”
She nods, pleased at the sound of her name. “I’m the one who’s honored here,” she says. “With how much Shouto talks about you, it feels as if I already know you.” A lighthearted giggle escapes her as Todoroki’s cheeks glow.
“Mom—”
Todoroki’s mother waves a hand at him. “Shouto, let me tease you a little. At least I’m not as bad as Natsuo.”
“Who isn’t as bad as me?”
Izuku startles at the voice, spinning around and coming face to face with a brick wall. Said brick wall looks down and grins widely, an expression that doesn’t exactly match the rest of his frame.
“Yo! You must be… Midoriya? You’re the guy that has Shouto acting like he’s in one of those shoujo manga that Fuyumi’s obsessed with, right?” He snickers.
“I am not obsessed with them, jerk,” another voice comments. The owner of the voice walks up from behind the other before proceeding to thwack him on the back of the head. “And stop embarrassing them, Natsuo! This is Shouto’s first boyfriend; be nice.”
“I think you might be embarrassing him the most out of everyone, Fuyumi,” Todoroki’s mother jokes.
“All three of you are terrible,” Todoroki deadpans.
Natsuo’s fingers find their way into Izuku’s messy hair, giving it a gentle ruffle. “It’s good to finally meet you, Midoriya. You can call me Natsuo, and this here is Fuyumi.” He uses his free arm to wrap it over the girl’s shoulders.
“I’m happy to meet you both as well!” Izuku beams. “Shouto has told me a lot about you.”
Fuyumi blows a raspberry. “All bad things, I assume.”
“That’s not true,” Todoroki cuts in. “I would never say anything bad about you, nee-san.”
Natsuo frowns. “I see how it is.” He looks down at Izuku and nods his head in Todoroki’s direction. “Are you sure you wanna stay with this guy? You seem like a nice kid. I’m sure you could do much better.”
“You three…” Todoroki’s mother sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. “Izuku-kun, I apologize for them. They weren’t able to tease each other much when they were children, so I guess they’re making up for lost time.”
There’s an undertone of sadness, regret, and pain in her words and it makes Izuku’s stomach drop. He must’ve not been the only one who noticed because the others also fall silent. The air surrounding them becomes a little bit harder to breathe and Izuku can feel his heartbeat in his ears.
He steals a glance at Todoroki and his heart cracks. Todoroki’s eyes look like the calm before the storm, dark clouds magnetizing closer to each other until they collide to create chaos. Before the first strike of thunder can hit, Izuku hooks his pinky with Todoroki’s. It’s a small gesture, but it’s enough to anchor Todoroki and bring him back down to earth.
Those eyes that Izuku has come to love so much stare down at their interlocked pinkies, a visible weight lifting off his shoulders. Todoroki tugs at Izuku’s pinky to bring him closer and presses his lips upon his temple, an unspoken ‘thank you’ hanging between them.
“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry,” Todoroki’s mother says, breaking the tense and quiet atmosphere. “I didn’t mean— I’m sorry about that.”
Natsuo scratches the back of his neck. “You have nothing to apologize for, mom. It’s the truth.”
She manages a tiny smile and runs her fingers through her hair, eyes fixating on Izuku. “Hearing the three of them talk like this is actually… heartwarming, in a strange way.”
Izuku blinks, and then the corners of his lips tug up, stretching his freckles. “It is,” he answers quietly as Todoroki nuzzles his nose in his curls.
“I’ve never seen Shouto so affectionate,” Fuyumi says with a giggle. Her eyes soften as she looks at Izuku through her glasses. “You two seem very happy together.”
Natsuo places his hand on Izuku’s shoulder and gives it a firm squeeze. “I’d like to thank you for making my little brother as happy as you do,” he says. “I hope you continue doing that for as long as possible.”
“Nii-san—”
“As long as Shouto will have me,” Izuku interrupts, keeping his attention on Natsuo, “I’ll be here.”
A broad grin grows across Natsuo’s face. “I’ll be counting on you.”
Izuku returns the smile. “I won’t let you down.”
The anxiety and panic Izuku initially felt begins to melt away as the family banter makes its way back into the conversation, easing the tension in Izuku’s shoulders. His pinky stays hooked with Todoroki’s, acting as each other’s pillar of support. Todoroki lets his lips brush over the shell of Izuku’s ear every now and then, and it never fails to make Izuku shiver.
“Izuku-kun.” A voice coaxes. He looks over at Todoroki’s mother and she gestures for him to come closer. He obliges, a sense of loss washing over him as he releases Todoroki’s pinky. He holds himself back from shaking his head at how ridiculous it is. Izuku is in so deep with Todoroki that it scares him. “Izuku-kun,” she repeats, reaching out for his hand.
He lets her take his hand into her own. Todoroki Rei’s fingers are cold, but offer him a sense of warmth as they delicately trace over his knuckles. As she looks up at him through her long lashes, Izuku nearly gasps aloud when he notices her tear-filled eyes. She sniffles, placing one of her hands underneath Izuku’s and the other one on top.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “Thank you for making my son able to smile again. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” A few tears escape when she blinks. Izuku can feel his own eyes begin to sting as well. “You saved him. Thank you.”
It takes everything for Izuku not to collapse to the ground and burst into tears right along with her. Instead, he places his free hand on top of hers and lets his eyelids flutter shut. He can feel a tear trace his cheek, but he ignores it.
“Your son,” Izuku starts, giving her hand a squeeze, “saved me. He saves me everyday,” he rasps. “You have an amazing son. Thank you for bringing him into this world. Thank you.”
Todoroki’s mother sniffles again and gives Izuku a watery smile. “Take care of him.”
Izuku nods. “I will. I promise.”
The two of them stay there for another hour or so when the nurse knocks on the door, letting them all know that visiting hours will be ending soon. They say goodbye to Todoroki’s mother and to his siblings before making their way out of the hospital.
“Sorry,” Todoroki mutters after Izuku suggests grabbing dinner somewhere before they head back to U.A. Izuku raises an eyebrow in confusion and tilts his head, waiting for Todoroki to elaborate. “They can be a lot.”
Izuku can’t help but chuckle a little. “You’re only saying that because you haven’t met my mom yet. Just you wait.”
Todoroki smiles at that. “I look forward to it.”
“Ah!” Izuku stops walking, which makes Todoroki stop as well, due to their tangled fingers. “I… I just realized that I never told you…”
Now it’s Todoroki’s turn to be confused. “Hm? Told me what?”
“You and your mom,” Izuku starts, taking a step closer to Todoroki, “have the same smile.”
Gradients of red and pink wash over Todoroki’s entire face. The sight alone makes Izuku’s cheeks grow warm until they’re both wearing matching shades of blush.
“Thank you, Izuku.” Todoroki dips his head down to plant a chaste kiss upon the tip of Izuku’s nose. Izuku wrinkles it in reply and Todoroki huffs out a laugh before repeating the action, but on his lips this time around. “Thank you.”
“H-happy to be of service,” he mumbles.
“Service? Am I your boss?”
Izuku rolls his eyes, shoving Todoroki away and releasing his hand. “Bully,” he teases as he starts to walk again. A burger place that doesn’t seem to be too crowded catches his eye and he points over at it, looking at Todoroki over his shoulder. “Wanna go there?”
Todoroki shrugs, grabbing Izuku’s hand in his once again, almost unconsciously. It’s as if it’s as simple as breathing for Todoroki, and the theory alone makes Izuku’s heart swell. “I’ll go wherever you want to go. I don’t really mind where it is.”
“Oh yeah?” Izuku smirks. “What if I wanted to go to a place where arrows rained down from the sky? Would you follow me there?”
He shrugs again. “I would judge you,” he intones, “but, if it’s where you wanted to go, then I would go.”
Izuku blinks owlishly at him. “Seriously?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” Todoroki questions as they walk into the burger place. They follow the host that greets them, thankful that she brings them to a window booth, secluded from everyone else in the restaurant. “Do you think I would be able to go on knowing you’re surrounded by… raining arrows?”
“Mm. That makes sense.” Izuku grins. “I guess I’m not that surprised. I would do the same.”
“I know you would,” Todoroki says. “You would do it for anyone.”
Izuku’s smile falters. “Shou—”
“What’re you gonna get?”
Realizing this probably isn’t the best place to express his worry, Izuku defeatedly exhales and returns his focus back to the menu. “Mmmm… I kind of want the hamburger with the fried egg, but the karaage burger looks good too…” He purses his lips.
“I’ll get the karaage burger,” Todoroki interrupts Izuku’s internal food war. “You get the egg hamburger. We can each have half of one.”
Izuku’s eyes light up. “Good idea— ah, but, is that what you want? Do you want something else? I don’t want you to feel obligated to get something just because I can’t decide on one thing—”
Todoroki reaches across the table and pulls Izuku’s menu down so they’re looking at each other properly. “Izuku. I suggested the idea because it’s what I want to do. Do you want to do that, or is there something else you want?”
He softens and lets his menu rest on the table. “That sounds good, Shouto.”
The corner of Todoroki’s lips twitch upwards for a moment. “Good.”
They order their food along with a plate of fries for the both of them, spending the next hour and a half reaching over the table to steal bites off of each other’s plates and talking about anything and everything. For Izuku, it’s scary how easy it is to lose track of time when he’s with Todoroki. It doesn’t give him enough time to cherish the small moments, like this one.
With that thought in mind, Izuku maneuvers his hand around the plate of fries and mess of napkins until his fingers find Todoroki’s. He wiggles his hand underneath the others before flexing his fingers up, letting them slot in between the empty spaces.
Todoroki’s breath hitches and he visibly swallows as Izuku tightens his grip. “Today was a good day,” Izuku whispers.
Todoroki hums. “It was.”
“You make me happy, Shouto,” Izuku whispers under his breath. “Thank you.”
“Thanking me implies that you’re the only one that benefits from us being together,” Todoroki answers. “Earlier… you told my mother that I saved you.”
“I did.”
“Do you really mean that?”
“Shou…” Izuku bites his lower lip, trying to convey through his eyes just how much Todoroki means to him. Words will never be enough, for there are not enough words in the world to even begin to describe how important Todoroki is to Izuku. “You’re my hero.”
Todoroki gapes. “Wha—”
“Here’s your check!” The voice of the waitress makes the two of them jump back, hands losing each other on the way. “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you.” She grins. “Was everything to your liking?” she questions as she begins to collect the plates off the table.
Coughing into his fist, Todoroki mutters a gravely, “Everything was fine.”
“Thank you very much!” Izuku bows his head.
Todoroki hands her the money due before Izuku can even blink, making him frown in disapproval. Once they make their way to the bus station and hop onto the one that’ll take them back to U.A., Izuku crosses his arms over his chest and grumbles lowly, “You didn’t have to pay for me.”
“I know,” Todoroki replies. “It’s the least I could do though after today.”
“Why are you acting as if you owed me something?”
“It’s not like that.” Todoroki rubs the back of his neck. “I meant… I guess it was just my way of thanking you for today. I know you’re going to say that I don’t need to thank you, but I’m going to do it anyway. Thank you for today, Izuku.”
Izuku, of course, opens his mouth to rebuttal, but Todoroki’s soft eyes and tiny smile yank the oxygen straight from his lungs, causing him to just make this weird hybrid of a whimper and a wheeze. Todoroki furrows his brows together in both confusion and concern, so Izuku simply sighs and rests his head upon Todoroki’s inviting shoulder.
“And thank you for having me, Shouto.” He lets his eyelids flutter shut, biting back a grin as Todoroki laces their fingers together, and lets his tiredness finally settle in. “Wake me up when it’s our stop?” Izuku asks through a yawn.
“No. I’m just going to abandon you on the train.” Todoroki chuckles lowly, resting his own head on top of Izuku’s.
“Bully.”
Todoroki hums and Izuku can practically hear the smirk. “I’ll wake you up. Get some rest.”
Izuku stifles another yawn and nods as he snuggles into the warmth that radiates from Todoroki’s body. “Goodnight, Shouto.”
Another light huff of laughter leaves him. “Goodnight, Izuku.”
Forty minutes or so pass by when Todoroki gently shakes Izuku awake. Izuku lets out a small groan in response, burying his face further into the other’s collarbone. “Don’t wanna…” he mumbles against Todoroki’s warm skin.
“Too bad,” Todoroki intones before hoisiting Izuku up along with him. Their hands are still laced together, Izuku notices, as Todoroki leads him off the train and they begin to make their way back to U.A. “Izuku.”
“Hm? What is it?”
Todoroki eyes go dark and Izuku feels his grip tighten on his hand. “I’m sorry.”
Izuku knits his eyebrows. “Huh? What are you apologizing for?”
“I was the one that sent out my location.” Todoroki’s voice trembles. Izuku doesn’t like it one bit. “If I hadn’t done that, then you would’ve never…” He fades off, rubbing his free hand over his face. “If I had been stronger and if I hadn’t let myself get so emotional, then you never would’ve gotten dragged into all of this.”
Izuku shakes his head, unsure if he’s actually hearing what’s coming out of Todoroki’s mouth. “I don’t get it.”
“What don’t you get?” Todoroki snaps. Izuku widens his eyes at the sudden change in tone, causing Todoroki to mirror his expression. A flash if something Izuku can’t pinpoint clouds the taller boy’s eyes as he turns his head away. “Sorry about that.”
“You’re apologizing for a lot of things that don’t require an apology, Shouto.” Izuku chances a smile.
“You heard what the Hero Killer said, didn’t you?” Todoroki grimaces. “You…” He takes a look at their surroundings, which makes Izuku realize that they had already arrived at U.A.
Izuku mirrors his actions and runs his thumb across Todoroki’s knuckles. “Do you want to talk somewhere else?”
Nodding in response, Todoroki gives Izuku’s hand a tug and leads him back to his dorm room in silence. Izuku can feel his palm start to sweat and Todoroki probably feels it too, but neither of them make any move to let go of the other.
Once they’re inside Todoroki’s room, Izuku shuts the door behind him and rests his back against it. He pulls at Todoroki’s hand to bring him closer until their foreheads are touching, Todoroki’s free hand next to Izuku’s face, pressed flat against the wooden door.
The right side of Izuku’s lips curl into a faint smirk. “I think this is my first kabedon ,” he teases. “I feel like I’m in a shoujo manga.”
Despite Izuku’s attempt at lightening the mood, Todoroki’s eyes stay dark. “Izuku… are you sure about this?”
“Sure about what?”
Todoroki lets his eyes shut, a dragged out exhale fogging over Izuku’s face. Izuku wiggles his fingers in Todoroki’s hand, a hint of a smile crossing over Todoroki’s features at the small gesture.
“Am I sure about what, Shouto?” Izuku coaxes.
“About… being with me?” Todoroki strains. Izuku’s eyebrows angle down, nose wrinkling and lips pursing with distaste. “What I was saying before, about the Hero Killer… you heard what he said, didn’t you? About what Shigaraki wanted to do with you? How he wanted to use you as… bait.” A cringe wracks through Todoroki’s body.
“And you protected me from that happening,” Izuku counters.
“There wouldn’t be anything to protect you from if we weren’t together in the first place,” Todoroki seethes through clenched teeth.
The words that leave Todoroki’s mouth make Izuku’s spine go rigid. His heart leaps into his throat and his eyes burn. He bites down on his tongue, trying to force back any tears from escaping, but the pain doesn’t stop. Izuku knows Todoroki wants to be with him; he’s fully confident in that. He knows that, but he also knows that if it meant keeping Izuku safe, Todoroki would leave him. If Izuku’s life is on the line, Todoroki would cut ties in a heartbeat. And that’s the part that hurts.
It hurts because—
“Shouto,” Izuku chokes. Todoroki’s eyes snap open at the sound of his broken voice, his free hand moving off the door to cradle Izuku’s jaw. He catches a tear on the pad of his thumb as Izuku leans into his palm. “I can’t imagine a pain worse than a life without you in it,” he whispers, voice shaking.
“But—”
“So, if you want to protect me, then be with me.” Izuku bumps their noses together. “Stay with me. That’s how you can protect me from getting hurt. Just… stay with me.”
Silence settles over them, but then Todoroki scoffs lightly and shakes his head. “You are insufferable.”
Izuku giggles. “I mean, you have said that I always dive headfirst into dan—”
Todoroki swallows the rest of his words and Izuku lets him. Izuku absolutely melts as Todoroki releases Izuku’s hand and face only to wrap his arms around his torso. Izuku’s hands involuntarily move to rest over Todoroki’s chest, searching until he feels the familiar thumb against his palm. He feels Todoroki’s heartbeat quicken, each beat sending a jolt through his nerves.
Todoroki separates them, but Izuku’s lips follow, as if to silently say, “Come back.”
Izuku’s fingers dig into the fabric of Todoroki’s shirt. “More,” he mumbles. Peeking up at Todoroki through his lashes, Izuku pushes up on his tippy toes just enough to brush his lips over Todoroki’s. “More,” he repeats.
Neither of them has ever been good at denying the other, so Todoroki obliges to Izuku’s request, capturing his lips with his own once again. Izuku groans into the other’s mouth as Todoroki’s hands slide underneath the hem of his shirt, tracing the curvature of his spine. A shudder runs through him at the feel of Todoroki’s cold fingers against his bare skin, but it is far from unpleasant.
Izuku combs his fingers through Todoroki’s annoyingly silky hair. He tugs gently at the hair right above his nape and Todoroki rewards him with the most beautiful sound.
The skin covering his body grows unbearably hot. Arousal coils in his gut as Todoroki’s nails drag across his shoulder blades. Izuku can hardly breathe. Todoroki is his lifeline, keeping him afloat as the intense current drags him deeper and further from the shore.
“Not enough,” Izuku manages in between kisses. “It’s not enough,” he says again, trying to pull Todoroki even closer than he already is. “Shouto…”
Todoroki’s breathing is ragged as he gazes down at Izuku with so much adoration and affection that Izuku’s knees nearly give out on him. “Izuku.” God , he really loves how his name sounds when it’s Todoroki saying it. “Izuku—”
“I need you,” Izuku says, voice low and breathy. “All of you.”
Todoroki’s Adam’s apple bobs along the length of his throat and Izuku has this overwhelming desire to press his lips against it. “You have me,” he answers.
Izuku cracks a wobbly smile. “And you have me.”
Todoroki leans in, mouths barely touching as he mumbles, “Stay here tonight.” Izuku answers by erasing the small distance between them, hands against Todoroki’s chest again as he pushes the both of them further into the room.