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Todoroki isn't actually sure how this came about, but it isn't like he's opposed to the development just yet.
A bench seats the three of them— the three of them entailing him, Uraraka, and Midoriya. They're on either side of him, each holding one of his hands for a reason Todoroki isn't yet privy to either. Uraraka's on his left clasping his left hand. He isn't sure if her hand is warm, or if it's just the generally warmer climates on that side of his body. A determined expression covers her face, even as she tries to force a smile. Midoriya is somewhat in the same predicament on his right side. Even if his right hand is colder than his left, Todoroki can tell Midoriya's hand is cold. Midoriya's fidgeting doesn't look like it's helping much on that aspect. Though Todoroki wonders if it has anything to do with it.
"So, um, Todoroki-kun?" Uraraka meets his eyes and smiles reassuringly at him. Todoroki isn't really sure why. He's not particularly worried. Just slightly confused. "Here me—us out to the end, ok? Don't..." Uraraka shakes her head, her hair briefly flying with the motion. She's back to looking at him, eyes wide and full of plead. "Just hear us out, alright?"
"Please," Midoriya adds, though it sounds more like a squeak than anything else.
Todoroki doesn't have anything urgent enough to dismiss this conversation Uraraka/Midoriya want to have. He does, however, feel like it's already started without him being particularly aware of it, and it mildly irks him.
"What is it?" He asks. He thinks that's a good way to steer the conversation: getting right to the point without any bushwalking.
Uraraka's smile is still there, though Todoroki think there's something a little off about it now. Midoriya's hand is starting to get warmer in his right hand, so Todoroki cools over that side of him again.
"Todoroki-kun," Midoriya begins, and Todoroki turns from Uraraka to him. Midoriya is now less fidgety and much more determined. Todoroki isn't sure if it's a precursor to a fight or not.
"Have you ever... have you ever heard of polygamous relationships?"
Todoroki understands the concept, but he has no idea what this has to do with Midoriya's determined eyes or the added tightness around his left hand on Uraraka's part. He thought they were going to ask for a practice match or something.
"Yes," he answers truthfully. He has no idea why this is important.
"Have you ever—" he turns back to Uraraka, who's taken back the string of conversation with a determination he's sure she inherited from Midoriya, "—wanted to be in one?"
The haziness around this situation grows thicker in Todoroki's mind. He doesn't understand why their asking him this question. Are they testing him? Is this some new type of psychological test they're trying out on him to test his wits? Or is it just some trend Todoroki should be aware of it but still hasn't gotten to yet? He's getting pissed off. Why are they holding his hands and talking in circles like this? Didn't he already initiate he didn't want that?
He has to be missing something here. There must be something in their hands, in their question, that he just isn't getting. He has to access this better.
They're holding his hands, which is something they've never done before. They both look nervous, which is something he's used to seeing in the both of them. They asked him if he ever wanted to be in a polygamous relationship, which astounds him in a way, since he can barely imagine himself in a relationship with one person, let alone two—
Two people. There are two people holding his hands, which is a very relationship-like gesture, asking him if he's ever wanted to be in a polygamous relationship.
The previously thick fog around the situation dissipates rather quickly. Todoroki feels... very embarrassed.
"Ow!" Both Uraraka and Midoriya cry out at the same time, pulling their hands from his grasp. Uraraka flicks her wrist several times, her hand an irritated pink. Midoriya rubs his hands together, as if trying to match the pink Uraraka is attempting to rid herself. They look at each other, a bit surprised, and then something like an understanding comes to pass between them.
They switch sides, so a cold hand goes into Todoroki's warm one, and a warm hand claps his colder one. They sigh in relief at the same time. Todoroki's a little more willingly for them to hold his hands this time around, if only to undo his slight blunder over his control, though the revelation rearing its head in his mind isn't helping his focus much.
"I'm sorry, Todoroki-kun! I didn't mean to startle you!" Uraraka is quick to say, eyeing him worriedly as their clasped hand lay on her lap. Todoroki is still feeling a little too embarrassed to look at her, but then he turns to Midoriya, who has an even more earnest expression on his face as their clasped hands lay on the wood between them.
Todoroki doesn't want any of them saying anything else that will make him feel any more embarrassed. "Sorry," he says quickly. "I was... taken aback." He examines the hands in his carefully before mentally cursing. He really is cursed. At least the damage isn't too severe this time around. Although, the precursor this time isn't something he could have possibly prepared for.
"I..." It's too much to ask a answer of him now. He has to let it stew and crackle properly first. " I need to think about it." He holds up both of their hands with his, a gesture to show them and himself he knows what the real query is here. "The question."
They both blink. Uraraka laughs a bit and rubs the back of her head with her free hand, her face a bit pink. In contrast, Midoriya's face floods bright red, and he seems at a loss of words, which is a very unMidoriya-like thing. There's something of a downward take to his features though that has Todoroki feeling a bit down himself.
"Alright!" Uraraka jumps up off the bench with vigor. She pulls Midoriya up, and he stumbles to right himself beside her. Todoroki feels uncomfortable being the only one seated between them now, but Uraraka pins him with a determined smile he isn't sure how to place. "That's ok! Think about as much as you want, Todoroki-kun."
Midoriya looks like he wants to say something more, but Uraraka smiles gently his way and squeezes his hand. "Come on, Deku-kun. Let's... let's give him some time."
Midoriya looks back at him once before letting Uraraka drag him away.
Todoroki watches them go, watches their clasped hands disappear as the feel of their hands in his continue to linger and spark against his skin. He looks down at his hands and studies them. They look exactly like they've always looked, and feel exactly like they always feel. One too warm. One too cold. Just like always.
They don't look like they've been held by two calloused hands, one a pinch softer than the other. His right hand doesn't look it was held by another kind firm one. His left hand doesn't look like it was held by a clammy twitchy. His right hand and his left hand don't at all like they've just shared each other's experiences, either.
They don't at all feel like they've just been held by two people who just claimed they liked him.
He feels... happy about that. Happy that he's grown into something great enough to be admired and maybe even loved by someone. He's glad his father wasn't able to take that away from him, even if he isn't sure how to feel about Uraraka and Midoriya's proposition.
He clasps his hands together, just like he's checking his answers after a particularly difficult math formula. It should be the same. It's the same components going into a equation Todoroki isn't sure how to solve yet even if he's seen the answer. Same predicament. A cold hand in a warm one, and a warm hand in a cold one. Two hands. Two different temperatures. Yet somehow it just doesn't feel the same at all.
He stares out again at the path Midoriya and Uraraka left from.
He needs to think about it some more.