Chapter Text
Tenya became a part of Mei and Izuku’s little world rather fast. He got Sai’s permission to come around after school, and he did. He sat in the lab quietly at the very least twice a week, asking questions cautiously and offering small stories and anecdotes. He wasn’t as quick to friendship as Izuku and Mei were with each other, but he joined the group quite fast.
“Your birthday is next Friday, right Izuku?” He asked as they were sitting in the park, watching little kids play Heroes and Villains.
“Yeah, I can’t believe you remembered? Why?” Izuku smiled brightly, watching the kids running away. They spread all around, some running in circles and some just running in a straight line, as far as possible. Some even hid, trying to keep their distance.
“Ocean day is on Monday, and I was wondering… would you two like to join us? My family is going to the beach, and I was wondering if you’d want to come with. I know we’ve only known each other for a month or so, and this might not be the most appropriate, but…” Tenya seemed a bit embarrassed by the suggestion, but Izuku and Mei seemed to wear matching grins.
“I’d love to come! I’ll have to ask my mum, but I’m sure she’ll say yes! Is it really okay? I wouldn’t want to intrude or anything, and it’s a family thing, right? Maybe it’s better I don’t… I’ll probably be awkward and unrelated and…” Izuku’s grin slowly faded as his anxiety took the wheel, and he started thinking about all the ways this could go wrong.
“No, It’s not a problem at all. We would be there together, and my family really wants to meet you.” Tenya looked at him intensely. He really wanted both Izuku and Mei to join.
“Well, I can’t go. I’m going with mum to visit my uncle. We don’t like him, but he has a cool beach house and mum says it’s important to stay in touch with family, or whatever. I personally think she’s just using it as an excuse to use his stuff and annoy him.” Mei rolled her eyes, stretching. “But you should totally go, Izuku! I bet your mum would be fine with that. She doesn’t like going to the beach too much, right? This way you get to enjoy Ocean day, and your mum gets some rest.” She smiled, tinkering with something Izuku recognised to be one of her electric prank-buzzers,
“I guess you’re right… but are you sure it’s okay, Tenya? I don’t want to impose or anything…” He fiddled with his hands.
“I’m perfectly sure! I asked my parents, and they said they’d love to have you around!” Tenya assured, arms chopping through the air. Izuku smiled fondly at that, then nodded.
“Okay. If you’re sure. Now, want to-” Izuku paused when he heard the commotion in the park, as the kids caught up to the ‘villain’.
“We caught you now, villain! And you know what we do with villain scum like that, right?” One of the kids, who was clearly the leader of the pack, stood over another kid on the ground.
“Mikkun, i-it’s not funny anymore! Stop this!” The kid on the floor said, scared, scrambling to his feet. He was pushed back down.
“Did we say you can get up, villain?” Another kid asked, laughing. Some of the kids in the group joined in the teasing and shoving, but some looked clearly uncomfortable. When they tried to stop their friends though, they’ve been called cowards. Izuku got up to get involved. His legs were shaking, but he couldn’t let this slide.
“They’re just kids, dammit. Stop being so afraid of everything!” He thought, stepping forward. Tenya followed him, frowning deeply.
“Izuku, maybe we shouldn’t… their parents will separate them.” He said hesitantly. But Izuku knew better. He knew that their parents won’t come to stop them. That even if these kids are caught, they’ll get no more than a slap on the wrist, if anything.
“I have to.” He said, stepping forward again and opening his mouth to call out to the kids.
“It’s not very nice of you to pick on someone like that.” Before Izuku could step in and get involved, someone else did. A tall, blond man, his body gaunt but his bright blue eyes shining. He was wearing wide, oversized clothes, and Izuku realised, to his horror, that this was indeed All Might. His hero, who told him that he can’t be one.
“What are you gonna do, old man?” The kid leading the so called game asked, trying to test his strength.
“Nothing much. I’m just saying, I don’t think your parents would be happy to hear you’re acting in such an unheroic way. You were playing Heroes and Villains, right? This is no way for a hero to act.” He chided them gently, patient. The tormentors were all focused on him now, no longer surrounding the boy on the ground, who was sniffling in pain. Izuku ran to his side, kneeling down.
“Are you okay?” He asked softly, apologising when the kids jumped. He was startled by Izuku’s presence. When he realised he wasn’t going to get hurt, he nodded, wiping his tears. “Okay. That’s good. I saw they were shoving you around, did you get hurt? I have some band-aids and bandages on me.” Izuku smiled confidently, reassuring and friendly, and the kid showed him a scraped knee. He got his water bottle.
“Are you alright, my boy?” All Might asked, as the kids finally left. He coughed a little as he knelt, and Izuku could see streaks of blood on his hand that he was quick to wipe.
“I’m fine, mister.” The kid said shyly, glancing at Izuku and then at Tenya and Mei, who were approaching quickly.
“Thank you very much, sir! we were concerned, but we didn’t really know what to do.” Tenya bowed his head down formally, arms chopping around. Mei rolled her eyes.
“Izuku did. That’s the hero thing to do, right? Get involved?” She asked as Izuku finished putting a bandaid on the kid’s knee.
“There, all done! What’s your name?” Izuku’s smile didn’t fade.
“Koizumi Atsushi, sir.” The kid said his name with all the seriousness of a young child relaying information to an adult, and Izuku realised that to this kid, he might as well be an adult. It was a strange thought.
“No need to call me sir, Atsushi-kun! I’m Midoriya Izuku, and It’s really nice to meet you!” Izuku chuckled, helping the kid back to his feet.
“Thanks for the help!” He waved, then ran off to a woman who seemed to be his mother. Only then did Izuku’s smile fade a little.
“You did good for this kid young Midoriya. He needed that smile.” All Might turned to Izuku with a small, almost apologetic smile.
“W-well, it was nothing, really. I’m just… really tired of kids bullying other kids. No one deserves this.” Izuku rubbed the back of his head, avoiding eye contact with the hero. He didn’t know if he can take it.
“You two know each other?” Mei asked, curious, and Izuku’s brain scrambled for an excuse.
“Young Midoriya helped me with something, a few months back I’m pretty sick, and he helped me out. I owe you a great thanks, young man. I’m glad I could find you and thank you, even if it’s a bit late.” All Might turned to him, coughing again (this time into a napkin he pulled from his pocket).
“I-it’s really nothing, sir. I didn’t really do anything.” Izuku still avoided his eyes, lowering his head. “Thank you for stepping in for Atsushi-kun. Most adults wouldn’t.” He said earnestly. He really was thankful. Izuku never saw an adult interfere when something like that happened, to him or to anyone else, not even once.
“It’s a shame, really. I really do hope there will be more people like you in the world, young Midoriya. Well, I have to leave. Have a good day, you three.” And Just like that, All Might walked away. Izuku couldn’t take that interaction out of his head for a long time.
When Ocean Day came, Izuku met Tenya in the train station. They talked on the way to his home, just chatting about anything and nothing at all. When they arrived at the house, Izuku looked up nervously.
“Your house is… really big.” He noted, nervous. It was almost easy to forget that Tenya’s family was pretty rich, being third generation heroes and all that. He went to a fancy private school, and lived in a big house, and went to charity galas with his brother every now and then.
“Is that all you’re taking?” Iida tensei stepped from behind them, smiling at Izuku.
“I-I think so, Iida-san. Thank you for having me!” Izuku bowed his head down a little, and Tensei laughed, ruffling his hair familiarly.
“Didn’t Tenya tell you? Mum and dad are stoked. Tenya never brought friends around, so now that he’s finally feeling comfortable enough to bring a friend over? That’s a cause for celebration!” Tenya waved his hands.
“Nii-san, please! It’s embarrassing…” He was blushing, and Izuku chuckled.
“Two months ago I didn’t bring friends over either. You should hear the things my mum told Mei when she came over for the first time. This is pretty tame.” He put a hand on Tenya’s shoulder comfortingly, his smile blinding. Tenya couldn’t take his eyes off of it, but truly, he hasn’t been able to take his eyes off of Izuku in a long time.
After the mandatory introductions with Tenya’s parents came the drive to the beach. Mariko and Tenrou asked him questions about his studies, and Tensei even joined with actual knowledge.
“My teenage rebellion was declaring I want to study Support instead of going into heroics.” He explained when Izuku asked where all the knowledge was from. “Sai helped me out with that, even though it didn’t amount to anything in the end. But I do have some general knowledge, and it helped me a few times.” He smiled fondly at Izuku and Tenya.
“We’re here, boys. Come on, get out and help us take everything out of the car.” Tenrou called, and the three in the back got out to help. It was a hot, sunny day, and swimming in the sea was a delight. Izuku watched as Tensei and Tenya raced to the water, before running after them. They swam, and threw mud-balls, and ate together (Izuku discovered that Iida Tenrou is a great cook), and just enjoyed a sunny day appreciating the ocean and each other’s company.
“You didn’t mention you were a skirmish-chaser!” Tensei laughed. Mariko’s face wore a small frown.
“It’s not a good hobby, Midoriya-kun. It’s dangerous to go around following villain fights. You could easily get hurt, standing around and watching. I saw plenty of skirmish chasers almost get taken hostage or crushed under falling debris.” She said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
“I know, ma’am. I didn’t do it in months. I don’t have time to chase fights when I’m trying to build a water-pistol without the instructions.” Izuku smiled shyly, and Tenrou chuckled.
“It’s good that you found something you’re good at that you enjoy. Not a lot of people manage to do that in life, so finding something you’re passionate about is pretty important. Say, did you ever think about going into heroics?” He asked, calm and smiling. Since they came, Tenrou did everything to make Izuku feel welcome and wanted, and Izuku appreciated it greatly. He couldn’t imagine how it would’ve been if the entire trip had to be formal and tense. But this question did cool down his excitement considerably, and Tenya noticed that.
“Izuku, There’s something I want to show you, if you will. I saw it earlier, when we were racing, and I think you’d like it.” He jumped in, smiling, and turned to Tenrou. “I’m sorry, father, but it has to be now before it gets dark.” He helped Izuku to his feet and lead him away.
“Thanks.” Izuku said shyly. “You didn’t… you didn’t have to pull me out of there. I could answer him.” He walked side by side with Tenya, their hands brushing together every now and then.
“I know. But it made you upset, and I want this to be a good time for you. Besides, there really was something I wanted to show you.” The taller boy smiled, red eyes gleaming in the orange light of the sun. Something about all this, the scene and the light and Tenya’s gentle calm made Izuku’s heart flutter. It did that a bit too often when they were around each other.
“Lead the way then.” He smiled, following Tenya. They reached a pretty secluded spot of the beach, when Tenya stopped.
“This is it.” They climbed on top of a large rock, sitting at the top to watch the sun set. It was quiet, only the sound of the waves and the seagulls and the distant calls of children playing rising in their ears. “You know… There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you. It’s… well, I’m worried that you might… not like what I have to say.” Tenya’s eyes were cast down to his hands, as his entire body moved like he was uncomfortable. Izuku could feel his anxiety rising.
“I-I promise, whatever it is, I can handle it. If it’s something I did I’m really, really-” Tenya cut in with a confused look.
“You didn’t… Izuku, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m sorry if I made you feel like you did. it’s just… Izuku, I… I admire you. I think you are a wonderful person. You are kind, and clever, and passionate beyond belief, and I aspire to be like you in so many ways. And I… I’ve been having these… feelings. I wasn’t sure at first, because I never felt anything like that, but… Izuku, I think I’ve fallen for you. I just ask that it won’t change what… what we have now. Because you are my dear friend, and I… I can’t stand to lose you over something like that. I can manage my feelings, but I can’t… I can’t afford to lose my friend.” Tenya’s voice broke toward the end, soft as a whisper.
Izuku was shocked. No one was ever in love with him. No one really saw him as someone to admire, or look up to. He was just… Izuku. Just quirkless, plain-looking Izuku. He’s been tricked before, pranked with a confession letter only to be mocked and humiliated. But Tenya wasn’t like that. He wasn’t the kind of person to use someone’s feelings against them. So Izuku gathered his courage, leaning his head on Tenya’s shoulder and taking his hand.
“I… to be honest, I don’t know what I’m feeling, but… I know I like being around you, and it’s in a different way than I like being around Mei. I think you’re amazing, and strong, and smart, and talented, and...good. I think you’re good, Tenya. I think these feelings might be… might be love. Would you…” Izuku’s face was as red as the sunset, and he swallowed thickly. “Would you like to go out with me?” He asked nervously. It was ridiculous, being so nervous when Tenya was the one to confess to him first, but it didn’t stop Izuku’s ears from burning and his heart from beating rapidly..
“Do you.. do you really mean that?” Tenya’s shock made Izuku realise he didn’t expect his feelings reciprocated. But the smile that spread on his face later, it made Izuku’s stomach turn and heart flutter. “I would… I would like that a lot, Izuku.” He was blushing, and so was Izuku, who returned his head to Tenya’s shoulder. Tenya, in turn, wrapped an arm around Izuku, and leaned his head on his. They sat there and watched the sunset in silence, filled with new feelings neither of them could truly process yet. In a few minutes they would have to climb down and go back before Tenya’s parents would start worrying. They would pack their things and go back home, say goodbye and go to sleep in their beds. But for now, with the salt on their lips and the red sunset warming their skin (and oh god, how Izuku loved the colour red!), there was no place they preferred being than right there and then.