Work Text:
He was so dizzy. He didn’t even drink anything that strong. Ochako got him to do a shot but he just had water the rest of the night. Finals week was over so they went drinking. Well, Ochako, Tsuyu, Kirishima, and Bakugou drank. Izuku was the self designated sober one. He needed to make sure his friends didn’t do something stupid if they got too drunk. Bakugou most likely tried to fight at least three people, but he couldn’t remember much.
He had gone to the bathroom and picked up his water and he remembered getting really tipsy. Had he taken somebody else’s drink? Was there something in it?
“Ah! You’re awake!” Somebody said. They were loud and Izuku couldn’t help his flinch.
“Who-?” Izuku started but his stomach turned over and he closed his mouth.
“I’m Iida Tenya! You were with me last night right before you fell asleep. It seems you had drank too much-”
“Too much water doesn’t do this”, Izuku muttered.
There was a pause before Iida was stepping away from the couch Izuku was on. He came back into view with water and saltine crackers. He wiggled his nose to push his glasses up and Izuku quickly looked away so Iida wouldn’t see his blush.
“I have taken care of many drugged people in my college stay so please don’t be afraid to tell me what happened. I know it can be scary to be drugged but it is something that comes with drinking now, sadly.”
“I’m fine. I’ll call my friend and have her come take me to my apartment.”
“Nonsense! You can barely sit up. I will keep you here until the effects wear off and then I will notify Ms. Uraka that you are fit to go home with us. I have contacted her as she called you last night, a lot.” Iida’s face fell slightly as he said, “I know it was rude to answer your phone but I felt it best to give people your address so they knew where you were and you were fine. I meant no harm.”
“What even happened?” Izuku struggled to sit up and Iida swooped down to support him.
“Well, I was coming out of the library because I was returning books I used for my studies. There were a few parties in dorms around the library so people were drunk all over but you had made it so far as my dorm building. I got concerned because you seemed more off balance than was normal so I helped you inside and you fell unconscious almost as soon as I started helping you walk!”
Izuku really felt his face flame in embarrassment. It wasn’t his fault but he had burdened Iida more than he should’ve.
“Thank you...for everything. I am so sorry for intruding I just went to the bathroom and next thing I know I almost fell over ten minutes after I finished my water.”
“It is truly understandable!” Iida boomed again, clapping Izuku on the shoulder. There was a slight edge to his voice. “Some people are monsters in parties. I just hope nobody else was hurt after you left the party!”
“Yeah”, Izuku said, feeling his head becoming less fuzzy. “What do you major in?”
“I wish to be an engineer! My family has a big line of very successful ones and I hope to be added to that.” Iida looked over, smiling big and bright. “What are you studying yourself?”
“Well, it’s not that impressive next to engineering.” Izuku couldn’t help but mutter. “But I want to be a kinesiologist…”
“I’m not quite well versed in that science! Please, I’m intrigued!”
Izuku, even in his muddled, nausea ridden state, perked up immediately. He launched into what kinesiology was (the study of movement in regards to human and animal like beings) before cycling into his career path of ergonomics (the way furniture is designed to help the human body). The entire way through Iida listened intently, nodding along and asking questions occasionally. It took him going through the name’s meaning for him to finally stutter to a stop.
He felt hot, staring at his lap and fiddling with his nails. He always did this. People constantly got after him, insulting him usually if it was Bakugou, for talking too much. He just couldn’t help it. He hunched his shoulders as he finally sputtered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have rattled on so much; I know it’s boring but-”
“But you love it! How could it be boring when you explain it so well!” Iida was smiling, looking excited. “You have a passion for what you’re studying, nothing to apologize over. But you should be calling your friend soon so it is good you stopped when you did! I could’ve listened for as long as you talked but alas, you need to get home at some point!”
“I-I...Yeah, you’re right. Is it alright if i use the bathroom?”
Iida flew up immediately, guiding Izuku with a flourish of his arm to the door off the main room. Izuku smiled, a little sheepishly, as he stepped through, closing the door softly. He looked at his phone that he had grabbed when he stood up and saw 15 missed calls from his four friends. He felt a twinge of guilt at the thought of them worrying so much.
He dialed Ochako, waiting only two rings before the line clicked and somebody yelled, “What happened!”
Izuku flinched, fumbling his phone for a second. “Nothing! I’m fine! Somebody roofied me though. I went to the bathroom and they got something in my water. I wasn’t hurt or anything! I promise.”
“I was so worried! Tsuyu saw you leave but we lost you when we got caught in a crowd of people. They were trying to hit on us and even us saying we were dating didn’t make them stop.” Ochako sighed. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yeah I’m fine. I woke up in a stranger’s house so that was slightly jarring but...he’s really nice.” Izuku’s voice turned soft, his voice trailing off.
“Ooo, does our friend Deku have feelings for this stranger?”
“W-What, no, Ochako don’t you-Of course I don’t.”
“That’s some hard denial.” Tsuyu said in the back.
He heard a ‘shh!’ and some laughter.
“Am I on speaker phone?”
“What! Of course not!” Ochako said but she snorted, giving it away. “Okay they all wanted to hear what happened, okay? I was peer pressured into it.”
“I forgive you”, Izuku said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “Iida, the man that helped me, said he answered one of your calls and gave you his address?”
“Oh yeah! He said he lived on campus; two dorm buildings down from the library. He’ll meet us at the front doors with you because I want to meet this mysterious stranger that has our Deku smitten.”
“Ochako, take me off speaker phone before I hang up and don’t come home.” Izuku said, more seriously.
“Alright, what’s up? I’m in another room out of earshot so spill.”
“Should I...get his number” Izuku breathed the last part, scared Iida could hear him in such a small apartment.
“Um, absolutely. You have to take him on a date if he saved you from sleeping in a ditch.”
“I should, shouldn’t I. I-Is it too forward?”
“Yes but some guys like that. And believe me, I researched the guy and he’s had a past boyfriend. You’re safe to ask him out.”
Izuku breathed out deeper than he meant to. That was good news. And he was excited. Iida was cute and he seemed polite. Ochako chirped out a quick goodbye before Izuku processed it and soon he was standing, staring at the fluorescent white tile.
He was going to do this. He could do this, it’s not like he’d hurt him or anything. He was nice; the worst he would do is say no.
So Izuku marched out to the main room again, smiling gently up at Iida. He was on the couch, flipping through a text book. It was one for biology, Izuku noticed, as he had one with the same pictures. He walked forward, sitting on the couch again, perched on the very edge.
“Hello again!” Iida greeted cheerfully. “I was just looking through an old biology textbook to see what it had to say about kinesiology! What you said intrigued me immensely.”
“It did?”
“Of course, you talk about it with such passion that I was enthralled.”
“Oh, well...I was thinking and….I need to take you out sometime. As, ugh, a thank you! It doesn’t have to be a date or anything because of course you don’t have to date me or anything. I just thought it would be a good repayment to take you to a movie or a restaurant.”
Iida stayed quiet and Izuku looked up, fearful that he had gone too far. Iida was a very deep pink though, cleaning his glasses frantically. Izuku looked at the ground, his leg bouncing faster and faster.
Soon though, Iida cleared his throat, put his glasses back on, and said, “It’s a date. I assume you offer because you also are interested in men so I hope you don’t mind me saying that I’m open to dating you.”
Izuku giggled nervously, his hand pulling at his button up’s collar. “I don’t mind at all.”