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“We’ve had a very promising batch of new pro heroes this year!” The anchorwoman effused. “Newcomer Deku has become quite popular despite his slow start to fame and plain appearance. His power-enhancing quirk makes him a big-hitter.”
Todoroki chuckled as he sat on the couch. Iida lifted an arm for him to slip under.
“Despite not having a flashy quirk, Shinsou has proven to have the highest villain capture rate of the new heroes! He may not stand out, but this kid is definitely worth watching. His quirk is mind control! I guess it’s a good thing he decided to be a hero, huh?”
Iida rolled his eyes. He found Shinsou rather level-headed and easy to work with, despite everyone’s insistence that he would be better suited for villainy.
“And the last of today’s round-up is Shouto!”
Todoroki covered his face. “Turn it off.”
Smiling, Iida shook his head. “No, I think I want to watch this part.”
“Give me the remote.” Todoroki reached to grab it from the couch arm on Iida’s opposite side, but the taller man moved it out of his reach. When Todoroki climbed onto his knees and over Iida’s lap, arm outstretched, Iida did his best to keep the device away from him. “Tenya!”
Iida chuckled as the news anchor continued, “He’s the son of Endeavor, so he’s got the hero background. His quirk allows him to create both fire and ice. Not to mention those model looks! He’s so dreamy.” Todoroki sat back on the cushion, hid his face against the back of the couch, and wondered if he could bury himself in a hole somewhere. He wondered how many of their former classmates had seen that.
Iida really wasn’t helping. He ruffled his fingers through Todoroki’s hair. “You’re being cute.”
“How is this cute?” Todoroki muttered. He did have to hand it to himself, though: a couple years ago, this level of embarrassment would probably have left scorch marks on the furniture.
“You are,” Iida insisted to deaf ears. He leaned over to kiss behind Todoroki’s ear, which was red from the severity of his blush. Hero news continued with the newest gossip, but Iida only had eyes for Todoroki. He forced an arm between Todoroki and the couch to wrap his lover in a hug.
Todoroki groaned from the back of his throat. “Why are you torturing me?”
Iida laughed quietly against Todoroki’s shoulder. His lover’s body felt hot all over. “Come on, it’s over. You’ve suffered enough.”
Slowly, Todoroki uncurled. His face reminded Iida of an angry cat—his frown was deep-set and eyes narrowed. The burning red of his face was still adorable, though. Iida cupped his cheek and he leaned into it, not quite assuaged.
“I’m sorry for laughing,” Iida apologized.
Todoroki huffed but shifted to lean his side against Iida’s.
The hero news continued on. “And now we have this week’s hero rankings!”
The rankings flashed on the screen, complete with bold font and bright colors. Todoroki had broken the top five, while Iida trailed behind, barely in the top twenty. His expression dropped. Todoroki could feel the tension snap through Iida’s body as the other man unwound his arms and sat upright.
“The way they rank people is stupid,” Todoroki remarked offhandedly, not hesitating in his critique. “It’s all based on popularity and how marketable a hero is.” He nudged Iida’s shoulder with his head. “Hero work is only a competition if you’re petty enough to value points over helping people.”
Iida knew, for all intents and purposes, that Todoroki spoke the truth. He knew it wasn’t a competition but still, a part of him bristled. Even Bakugou ranked higher than he did, and their former classmate still had an explosive temper. He couldn’t help but compare himself and wonder where he lacked.
“Hey.” Todoroki flicked Iida on the forehead to catch his attention, earning him an indignant look. “You remember that lost kid whose mom you found? Or the old man you carried to the hospital?” When Iida nodded, Todoroki continued, “What about the dog you saved from getting ran over? The owners sent you a card.” Said card featured the dog in question and earned a place on their refrigerator. “Even if the deeds are small, you’re their favorite hero. This isn’t even considering the countless people whose lives you’ve saved. You are an amazing hero, whether or not the world acknowledges it.”
His words floated around in Iida’s head as he took Todoroki’s hand. He was quiet for a heavy moment before finally sighing, “thank you”.
Todoroki kissed his lips lightly. “You’re my hero.” When Iida snorted, he frowned. “You are. I admire you, believe it or not. I feel like I can be brave because of you.”
Iida’s heart felt full. He felt similarly about Todoroki. During a tough battle, he’d think of what the other man would do, what he would say to Iida. He’d think about how desperately he wanted to return home to him. Todoroki gave him strength, even when he wasn’t physically there. It was fulfilling to know that he could help Todoroki in the same way.
Still, coming in that low on the rankings stung. Theirs was an industry that attracted competitive people, after all. He’d just have to try harder. He smirked. Iida Tenya wasn’t a man to back down from a challenge.