Work Text:
Shouto rummages through the pages, thousands of words flickering in front of his eyes. Somehow he remembers writing each sentence. Midoriya peers over his shoulder, eyes narrowed as he tries to understand the minuscule scribbling.
“What does it say?”
Shouto frowns. He could see no difference between his writing and a stalker’s secret diary. But Midoriya was staring at him with avid eyes, his lips slightly parted, and Shouto’s heart skips a beat. Unwittingly, he reads the passage aloud, his usually steady voice quivering.
“Like the sun, he pulls me in his orbit, and I find myself incapable of escaping. Like the sun, he glows with a light only he can emit, and his warmth I find myself craving. Like the sun, he blinds me with his smile, and I wish he were mine.”
Shouto hears a faint gasp but he refuses to meet Midoriya’s eyes.
“You wrote this about me?”
Shouto nods, closing his notebook. He startles when Midoriya’s arms embrace him from behind, one of Midoriya’s cheeks pressed against his head. Fingers card through his hair and a soft whisper fills his ears.
“Such a romantic but you don’t have to wish. I am yours.” Before Shouto could have a cardiac arrest from adorableness, Midoriya opens his notebook and points a bullet point. “What’s written?”
“It says actually eats breakfast.”
“Of course I eat breakfast. Everyone does.” Shouto avoids his inquisitive gaze as Midoriya’s arms snake away from him. “Because you don’t?”
Shouto looks down, rubbing the back of his neck. Midoriya sighs, slapping his back with enough force to make Shouto wince. He didn’t think he ever would feel ashamed of skipping the day’s first meal, but Midoriya’s eyes were drilling holes in his head.
“Shouto, breakfast’s the most important meal of the day, surely you know this?”
“I switch between black and red espresso in the morning and I consider this a suitable breakfast.”
“You can’t nourish yourself only with coffee.”
“I thought you already knew I was made of coffee.”
Shouto expects another playful slap but instead Midoriya glances at him with serious eyes. Still, there are creases next to his eyelids that Shouto identifies as lines that wrinkle his face every time Midoriya laughs. The latter maintains a neutral voice, even if he’s suppressing a laugh.
“Don’t tell me you’re coffee because you’re hot.”
“Because you don’t think I am?”
Shouto doesn’t know why he asks him this. Shouto knows he’s not — how can he be when part of his face’s been disfigured? Perhaps he’s seeking for reassurance he doesn’t deserve to have, but he’s come to realise that according to his boyfriend, he deserves everything.
“We talked about this. I love you inside out. Your looks, your soul, they are both beautiful.”
Shouto’s heart flutters. He leans forward, brushing his nose against Midoriya’s. When he pulls back, Midoriya is still giggling, as ticklish as ever.
“Thank you. I am blessed to have you.”
Midoriya brushes off the compliment by insisting, “Why do you think you’re made of coffee? Is it because you’re the first thing I think of in the morning? Or because you’re the one thing that makes my day bearable and that I can’t live without?”
Shouto wonders if Midoriya’s flirting on purpose or doing it unconsciously. Either way, Shouto’s cheeks are afire and his heart, hammering against his rib cage.
“Actually… I’m made of coffee because I’m bitter and people have to change something about me to like me. That’s all I wanted to say.”
Midoriya’s jaw drops but before he can say anything else, a loud voice erupts in the coffee shop.
“Deku, your fucking break is over! Get your ass back to the fucking counter.”
“A second, Kacchan!”
While ‘Kacchan’ vociferates, Midoriya grabs the back of Shouto’s head and draws him close. Their forehead bump together, and green is all Shouto can see.
“I‘m not bitter and I‘m perfect the way I am. Now say it.”
“I love you.”
“That’s not what I said—”
“No, that’s exactly what you said.”
“DEKU!”
Midoriya grimaces, Bakugou’s booming voice ruining the Oxymel’s peaceful atmosphere. After nuzzling his hair as a goodbye kiss, Midoriya rises.
“Leave now or you’ll be late for class.”
“I’ll see you tonight.”
Midoriya grins before he rushes to the counter, Shouto leaving the Oxymel.
If he’s honest with himself, Shouto would admit he’s smiling in return, and his lips are still curled even if he’s left the coffee shop for five minutes.
It’s been three months since they had decided to date each other but Shouto still isn’t sure where they are in their relationship. They still haven’t kissed, even if Uraraka was urging them do so with more intensity with each passing day, instead exchanging Eskimo kisses. A routine was established, with Midoriya spending his breaks by his side and Shouto walking him home when Midoriya was doing a closing shift, like today.
Shouto was content. No, this word doesn’t convey how Midoriya makes him feel, how his heart rate picks up every time their fingers brush, how his cheeks grow hot every time Midoriya smiles, how his lips curl on their own when Midoriya’s around...
Shouto was elated.
He could only hope Midoriya was as well.
“What does the conch symbolise?”
Shouto resists the temptation to hit his head on the table. Instead, he takes a sip of his red espresso and for once, wished it was caffeinated. They’ve been studying at the Oxymel before Midoriya’s afternoon shift, or rather Midoriya was helping him study, for his midterm exam, for two hours without any breaks.
“It’s democracy.”
Midoriya nods, encouraging. “That’s right, but you wrote more things on your card.”
“The conch was first introduced in the story by Piggy to bring order to the island. The one holding the conch had the power to speak. However, this political and civilised system fails to work, which highlights how the situation degenerates to savagery. To represent this, the conch is crushed.”
“That’s great, Todoroki-kun, keep it up!” Midoriya flips another card, holding it in front of him so Shouto can’t see. “Next question. What do the rocks symbolise?”
Shouto gives up and slams his head on the table, groaning, “Why can’t rocks be rocks?”
Midoriya fidgets, reading, “The rocks symbolise—”
“They symbolise nothing,” he interrupts, his voice muffled. “They’re just rocks.”
“They symbolise humanity’s savagery, particularly with Roger.”
“Who cares about Roger? I don’t.”
Midoriya sighs, letting the card fall on the table, discarded. The only reason Shouto was studying in the first place was because Midoriya had insisted to help him. If Shouto had been the one choosing, he would’ve thrown his study cards in the trash bin and taken Midoriya on a date, but here they are, at the Oxymel, with Shouto’s tea gone cold since long.
“If I care about Roger, will you?”
Shouto looks up, emotionless. “Don’t care about Roger. Care about me.”
“I do care about you, that’s why I’m helping you. If you don’t care about Roger, you’ll fail your exam and if you fail your exam, you might end up with failing your entire grade. A failing grade’s forever a stain on your academic journey, so what if future employers see it and decide not to hire you because of it? And what if you end up jobless? All because you don’t care about Roger.”
“That’s a sophism. Who knows, maybe I’ll ace my exam.”
“Todoroki-kun, you’re…” Midoriya shakes his head, yielding, “I think you need a break. I’ll go order something. Do you want anything?”
Shouto suppresses a yawn, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles. “Whatever you take.”
“Chai latte it is, then.”
Shouto has no knowledge of what a chai latte is, but since it’s Midoriya’s pick he knows it’ll be warm and sweet. When he takes a sip, he finds his assumption confirmed. He hums in approval. Across from him, Midoriya radiates.
“I’m glad you like it,” he chirps.
“I can’t dislike anything you pick. Tell me more about this drink.”
Midoriya complies, his features glowing as he rambles about tea leaves, spices, flavours and the best way to froth milk. Shouto doesn’t remember much apart from Midoriya’s zealous speech on the importance of cinnamon not only inside the drink but atop it, as a final touch that leaves an additional sweet taste.
“It’s all about balance,” he concludes. “Each spice has an essential role in the making of chai. For example, black peppercorns balance the sweetness and perfume the pot, but you can’t put too much or it’ll be too spicy. Oh, but did I mention that you can add star anis? It’ll be even sweeter because it’s like liquorice and…”
Shouto smiles, listening to Midoriya reeling off once again. He remembers vaguely, on the first day he saw Midoriya, writing down that Midoriya talks a lot when stressed. He should’ve crossed out the when stressed part. Shouto doesn’t mind. If anything, he likes it because it proves how they’re made for each other since they complement each other.
“Oh no.” Midoriya stops abruptly, putting one hand in front of his mouth. “I’m doing it again.”
Shouto frowns, “What is it?”
“I’m rambling. You should’ve stopped me.”
“Why would I want to stop you when I like listening to you?”
“Even if it’s about tea and coffee?”
Shouto nods, “Especially if it’s about tea and coffee.”
Midoriya’s entire countenance brightens, his back straightening at Shouto’s words then shrinking back as he’s overtaken by self-consciousness. It’s like he’s never been complimented before. Shouto doesn’t understand why he should be the first to compliment him but simultaneously he’s delighted he can claim that he’s the first. He’d like to be Midoriya’s first kiss as well.
“…but I want to hear you talk too,” Midoriya is speaking and Shouto only catches the end of his sentence. “Tell me about tea and coffee.”
“I know nothing about it.”
“But you’re studying to get an English major, surely you can tell me what a chai latte symbolises.”
Shouto eyes Midoriya’s cup, his too filled with the sweet drink, before declaring, “I’m studying literature, not coffee, but for you I can try.”
Midoriya’s head bobs, lips curling in anticipation. Shouto observes the beverage, thinking back on books he’s read and if coffee had ever been used to symbolise something else than bitterness. But then again, he’s staring at chai, which is a brand of tea and not of coffee. He finishes his chai latte in three gulps, searching for words his taste buds would approve of.
“Chai tea, whether latte, sweet or spicy, is a drink meant to soothe the soul. The warmth it provides calms the individual and brings a sensation of peace. Therefore, I think it symbolises a character’s safe haven in times of turbulence, but it can be equally enjoyed in times of happiness.”
Midoriya is leaning in, eyes wide as he listens to Shouto’s interpretation. Shouto pauses, then seized by inspiration, shows Midoriya his empty mug.
“The drink, however, isn’t eternal. No matter how slow the character drinks it, he’ll finish his chai. It symbolises he eventually will have to face reality. However, since it’s full of hardships, the character’s going to come back to his safe haven.”
“But what about the person who drinks chai? What does it mean?”
Shouto sighs, “Midoriya, I’m not a coffee psychic.”
“Oh, I guess you’re right.”
Shouto cocks an eyebrow. Of course he was right. Symbols are found in literature and can be interpreted because of the context in which they are found. Chai, however, can be found in lots of people’s hand, and without any solid background Shouto couldn’t infer much.
Midoriya scrutinises his tea, eyebrows knitted together. Shouto wonders if Midoriya would ever finish it. They lapse into silence, with Midoriya’s eyes still riveted on his mug, and Shouto reading and memorising his study cards.
He’s about to give up studying (again) when Midoriya speaks.
“I want to be your chai.”
Shouto looks up, blinking. “My chai?”
“Yeah. I want to be your safe haven but unlike chai, I’ll be eternal. You won’t have to face any hardships because you’ll have me by your side.”
His heartbeat skyrockets. Who knew talking about symbols and coffee could be turned into the sweetest thing Shouto’s ever heard?
“You’re already my safe haven, Midoriya.” You’re the world to me. “In return, let me be your chai.”
“Your marriage vows are so sweet.”
They look up to Uraraka chortling at them, obviously enjoying how Midoriya hides his face behind his hands. As for Shouto, he’s not sure what happened as his eyes dart between the two baristas.
“Uraraka-chan, don’t say things like that!”
“But Deku, I take my role as Oxymel’s High Priestess really seriously. I am now blessing your union in the name of Saint Arabica, Saint Robusta and the Holy Tea Leaves and hereby declare you—”
“But look at the time!” Midoriya yells, effectively muting Uraraka’s announcement. He leaps on his feet, grabbing their empty mugs. “My shift’s about to start!”
“How about a kiss to seal—?”
“It was nice studying with you, Todoroki-kun! See you!”
And Midoriya dashes across the coffee shop, disappearing in the back store. Uraraka huffs, putting her hands on her hips, as she tuts at Shouto.
“I’m disappointed, Todoroki. I thought you two would’ve kissed already.”
“Midoriya’s not—”
“Midoriya’s been ready for longer than you think. Don’t be fooled by his innocent appearance. He just lacks confidence to do what he wants to do. You, on the other hand, lacks the art of reading between the lines.”
Shouto looks away. They never talk about holding hands, kissing, cuddling and other things normal couples do. Shouto had always assumed it was because Midoriya was shy about it, but according to Uraraka it wasn’t the case. Maybe Midoriya himself had thought Shouto was shy about it. If none dared talking then the vicious circle would never be broken.
If Uraraka’s right, however, then Shouto doesn’t see any reasons why he shouldn’t kiss Midoriya.
“Tomorrow,” Shouto mumbles, realising a second too late he thought aloud.
But Uraraka simply smiles, nodding, “That’s the spirit.”
‘Tomorrow’ doesn’t spare Shouto. He wakes up late, somehow sleeping through the five alarms he had set the night before. He doesn’t have one pair of socks he doesn’t need to wash so he ends up wearing mismatched wool socks. On top of it all, he needs to print the paper he has to hand in for his first class but his printer just decided it would be a good day to breakdown, so he has to rush to college to avoid the crowd of people waiting in line to print their last-minute essay.
Still, he can’t survive the day without his daily shot at the Oxymel.
And today, he needs caffeine.
Shouto almost trips in the stairs in his hurry, sprinting on the street. When he reaches the coffee shop, almost doubled over and wheezing, it’s fortunately quite empty. Midoriya waves at him when he notices him. Midoriya’s smile falters as Shouto approaches, his expression murderous.
“Today’s black, right? I’ll make it real fast.”
Shouto nods, already too exhausted to utter any sound, save for maybe a groan. After paying, he drags himself to the edge of the counter, mindlessly pocketing a few napkins. Uraraka’s staring at him, her eyes flickering from him to Midoriya. Shouto frowns, about to ask her if she needed anything, when he realises…
The kiss.
Midoriya jogs to him, holding his double espresso in a recyclable to-go cup.
“There, there. Drink it up.”
Shouto doesn’t need to be told twice. He downs the coffee, burning his tongue as soon as the liquid fills his mouth. He doesn’t mind the pain since it wakes him up. Slowly but surely, he feels his nerves twitching, waking up as if from hibernation.
In the back, Uraraka’s pointing at Midoriya and him then at her lips. The message couldn’t be clearer, even with half of Shouto’s nerves still slumbering.
“Midoriya, I forgot something in my order.”
“Do you want another cup to go in case one’s not enough?” Midoriya asks, flustered, and pushes a cup in his direction. “I already paid it so just take it.”
“No, it’s a special order. I want a kiss.”
Midoriya gawks at him. “A k-kiss?”
As cute as Midoriya is, Shouto’s late. He leans over the counter, closing the distance between them. Midoriya’s lips are soft and pliant underneath his. They taste of something warm and sweet. Chai latte, his nerves supplies, suddenly alert. His nerves have never been so responsive before.
Shouto doesn’t linger for long and once he pulls back, he clears his throat.
“It’s going to be a regular special order. Do you think you’re up to it?”
“Y-Yeah,” Midoriya squeaks, and behind him Uraraka is doing a thumbs up.
“Good. I’ll see you later. Have a good day.”
Shouto grabs the second cup Midoriya made for him and leaves the Oxymel, the image of Midoriya’s flushed face burning in his mind. He’s still dazed when he reaches the subway station, clutching his cup close to his heart. It’s only when he drinks it that he realises it’s chai latte and that Midoriya had written something on the cup.
Good exam! You don’t need luck ‘cause you’re well-prepared!
I ♡ You!
P.S: Care about Roger pls
Shouto chuckles to himself.
When he finishes the cup, he doesn’t throw it. Instead he rinses it and puts it in his locker. Some have pictures of their loved ones but Shouto has an empty cup of chai latte.
It doesn’t matter what people think. Only Shouto and Midoriya know the symbolism.
And Shouto’s heart belongs entirely to Midoriya.