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“We’ve been spotted.”
Iida made to turn his head and look for anyone staring at them or pointing their phones to take a picture, but Todoroki squeezed his hand.
“Don’t,” he chided, gentled with a smile. “Ignore them. Tonight, it’s just us.”
Sighing, Iida relaxed into his chair but didn’t take his hand back from Todoroki. He was right. They hadn’t been on a date in months, it felt like, unless working a mission together counted. Hero work was time consuming and tiring. In the event they had the same evening off, it was usually spent watching a movie on the couch and the both of them asleep before it even ended.
When Iida found out they would have a rare entire day off together, he called to reserve a table at a restaurant Todoroki had expressed interest in. Of course, that conversation had been months prior, so Todoroki was surprised that Iida remembered. (“I pay attention when you speak,” Iida had said simply, as if someone giving their full attention to a conversation wasn’t a scarcity.)
Iida wouldn’t allow social media to ruin their date. “How has work been?”
“Busy,” Todoroki grinned sheepishly. “We finally busted that drug ring two days ago. You remember Undercover, the hero with the face-changing abilities? She had to, well, go undercover for months before she could find their warehouse.”
Iida nodded. “I saw the news coverage. I’d never gotten to ask you about the raid.” He frowned. “They said a hero was injured?”
Todoroki grimaced. He pulled his hand away and sat back in his seat. “Kafka. He can turn parts of his body into insects that he can keep a mental link with. He was using his insects for reconnaissance. Unfortunately, a sentry found his physical body when his mind was elsewhere, and they knocked him out. He’ll be okay. He’s new with a chip on his shoulder, so I think his pride hurts worse than his head.”
“Poor kid.” Iida remembered what it was like to have something to prove—sometimes he still did. Sometimes, he felt like he was still playing catch up to their former classmates. But he was his own man, had made his own name, and that realization had lifted a weight off his shoulders.
“Excuse me,” a man interrupted them. “Will you both sign this?” He held out a pen and small notebook to them. “My kids are big fans of you both.”
“Yes, of course.” Iida forced a smile. It was something that came surprisingly easy, now. A part of him was annoyed about the interruption of their evening, but part of a hero’s job was to interact with the public, and they had an approachable image to maintain. He signed the page and handed the pen to Todoroki.
“Thank you so much!” The man bowed excitedly and returned to his table, where he spoke excitedly to his companion.
They had a moment’s peace as their food came. They ate between snippets of conversation and Iida felt himself falling for Todoroki all over again as the evening continued. He’d never stopped loving him, but in this setting, it was as if they were newly dating again. He relearned his lover’s wit. He memorized every little quirk, every action. Todoroki’s glances sent butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He wanted to kiss him.
“Oh yeah,” he remembered suddenly as conversation naturally lulled, “Tensei wanted to thank you for the series you recommended. He just began the second book.”
Todoroki smiled. “Glad he enjoyed it! We have a few more I think he’d like.” Iida could never understand their fascination with post-apocalyptic dystopias, but at least it gave the two something to bond over. His family liked Todoroki.
“Excuse me, excuse me, sorry!” Two young women hovered nearby, one holding her phone against her chest. “Can we get a picture?”
“Sure,” Todoroki allowed. They blushed. When it became clear that they wanted a selfie, he suggested, “Tenya, your arms are longer, why don’t you take the phone?”
Iida held the phone out as they all crowded close together. The girl closest to him was trembling with excitement. When they all fit neatly into the frame, smiling, he took the picture.
“Best friends!” One of the girls exclaimed as the photo snapped. If only she knew. Iida handed the phone back to its owner. She giggled. “Thank you, Ingenium!”
“We’re so sorry for bothering you!” Her friend bowed. They walked away, giggling and shoving each other playfully. “Send it to me right now!”
Iida and Todoroki stared at each other across the table, sighing in tandem.
“We’re heroes.” Todoroki shrugged good-naturedly. Heroes never got a break. They knew both knew that they lived under microscopes, grew up in hero families that dealt with the constant attention.
They finished their meal and waved down a waiter for their check. Iida checked his phone while they waited. He blinked in surprise to see a text from Uraraka.
Uraraka: Hey, you and Todoroki are attracting social media attention ;)
Iida clicked a link that Uraraka supplied and saw a candid shot of the two of them at that very table, probably taken not long after they first sat down. It was likely the person that Todoroki had mentioned earlier. People commented on how friendly the two heroes seemed. Some speculated on their relationship. Iida wondered how any person’s personal life could be so interesting to so many people.
“What’s up?” Todoroki asked, leaning onto the table.
Iida chuckled. “Sometimes I dislike the Internet.”
Todoroki huffed a short laugh.
When the check came, Iida took it, making a point not to let Todoroki see it. They could split bills evenly any other time, but he’d been the one to ask Todoroki out and he wanted to treat his lover. Todoroki pouted but Iida held firm. “Next time,” he assured. Hopefully “next time” would be sooner, rather than later.
They left the restaurant and began walking towards the station. Before long, they noticed people with their phones pointed at them. Iida looked down at Todoroki and moved to put a more appropriate distance between them. Todoroki stopped him, taking his hand and squeezing. Iida stared at him questioningly, mouth beginning to open. When Todoroki tugged him closer again, he laced their fingers together. They walked hand-in-hand, arms swinging between them, like any other couple. They could almost feel normal.
When they reached the station, Iida had a thought. He stopped and turned to Todoroki. They were out in the open where everyone could see them. “Shouto, may I kiss you?”
Todoroki cocked his head. Iida hadn’t asked that since their first kiss. “Here?”
Iida wanted to declare to the world that they were in a relationship, that they were in love. He loved Todoroki, and he didn’t care who knew. The people who mattered already knew. “Here.”
Todoroki’s mismatched, beautiful eyes softened as he smiled. He came closer and stood on his tiptoes, throwing his arms around Iida’s neck and kissing him. When their lips parted, Iida pressed his forehead to Todoroki’s.
“I love you,” he murmured. He could say it a thousand times and it wouldn’t be enough. He needed to say it every day for the rest of their lives. Todoroki continued to amaze him.
Shuffling into his pocket, Todoroki pulled out his phone and turned on the camera. He held it out and snapped a picture of the two of them. It made Iida smile. They weren’t two heroes posing for a picture with fans. They weren’t two friends taking a selfie to commemorate a day’s events. They were a couple taking a picture for no other reason than that they wanted to.
“Think I should post it on my official Instagram? I’ll caption it ‘Date Night’.”
“No.” Iida shook his head. “This one is ours.” He glanced around. “Besides, I think there will be plenty of pictures floating around soon enough. You have quite the fanbase.”
Todoroki didn’t acknowledge any bystanders. “So do you.” He lightly flicked Iida’s forehead. It was one of those affectionate things that Iida was pleased to find out Todoroki did. He feigned annoyance as pleasure welled in his belly. Todoroki continued, “I don’t need fans, I just need you.”
Iida kissed him again, wanted to kiss him over and over again. “Let’s go home,” he suggested. He took Todoroki’s hand again and they entered the train station together.