Work Text:
For the second time that week, Shouto sighs, and wonders how Yuuei can afford massive stadiums, training grounds the size of cities, the teaching salaries of two to three dozen pro heroes, and yet still not manage to have working vending machines on campus.
"T-Todoroki…kun…?"
Someone calls out to him from behind.
Well, "calls out" may be an exaggeration. Midoriya's voice is quiet, and Shouto almost doesn't hear him at first. Midoriya always talks pretty quietly, actually, Shouto's noticed—thought Shouto hasn't tried to talk to him very much at all. He seems like he might be more animated when he's with the Iida boy, or their other classmate, Uraraka. But in class, and mostly when interacting with the other students, Midoriya is soft-spoken, stammers a lot, shrinks into shyness. Although he seems to be getting better with each passing day.
But still, it's one of the reasons why Shouto was so stunned when Midoriya had shouted—no, screamed, raged at him, in their battle at the sports festival. Shouto is no stranger to people shouting at him. But he'd never felt like someone had been furious not at him, but on his behalf.
They haven't talked since the sports festival, not really. It's been less than a week, and Shouto hasn't quite been sure what to say.
What can he say to someone who'd pried his eyes wide open like that?
"Midoriya," Shouto says, inclining his head. "Morning."
"Ah, y-yeah!" Midoriya says, looking surprised at the greeting. "Good morning! Um…"
He looks apprehensively at the vending machine Shouto is struggling with. Shouto, too, casts it a baleful glance.
"It's the one most conveniently located on my way to class," Shouto says. "But it sticks, sometimes. I always hope it won't, and then…"
"Oh," Midoriya says, and then he makes some kind of squeaking noise, and roots around in his bag before thrusting something under Shouto's nose. "Here!"
It's a can of coffee. Shouto stares at it.
"Why are you giving that to me?" he asks.
"Because… because you wanted coffee, right?" Midoriya says, sounding confused.
"I guess, but you bought that for yourself, didn't you?"
"Well, yeah," Midoriya says, "but I can give it away if I want!"
"I don't have anything to give you back," Shouto says.
"I don't want anything back, though!" Midoriya insists. He reaches out and catches Shouto by the wrist, pushing the coffee into his hand. It's still warm. "I just—want you to have it."
The coffee sits limply in Shouto's palm—he has yet to grasp it, and so Midoriya doesn't let go of it, or Shouto's hand.
"Why," Shouto says, which doesn't really seem like saying enough. "Why are you—why do you want me to have it?"
Midoriya's nose scrunches up, and then he laughs, eyes crinkling at the corners.
Shouto's stomach flip-flops. It occurs to him that he's never seen Midoriya laugh—not directly. He supposes Midoriya probably does, Shouto knows he gets along with their other classmates well, and he seems generally happy. But Shouto has never paid enough attention—he's never seen a reason to pay attention. Until suddenly Midoriya was screaming at him, and the world ignited, and then—ah. He has seen Midoriya smile before.
During their fight, Midoriya did want something in return—back then, he'd asked a lot. He'd wanted the fire; he'd wanted all Shouto had to give. And he'd been ready to take whatever Shouto could throw at him.
So maybe… maybe it's alright not to question this. Shouto curls his hand around the coffee can.
"I don't have a reason," Midoriya says, as he takes it. "I mean, you apparently keep spending your money on a broken vending machine, and I…"
Shouto looks down at the coffee. And you want to help people. I know that already.
"Thanks," he says.
Midoriya waves him off. "Don't mention it. Come on, we're gonna be late, and then Iida…"
Shouto grimaces, imagining the shouting. It is way too early in the morning for that. "Right."
He cracks open the can and takes a sip—not as hot as he usually likes it, and he unconsciously uses his left hand to heat it to the ideal temperature.
"Hey…" Midoriya says, and when Shouto looks back at him, he's staring at Shouto's hand. Then Midoriya smiles and asks, "Wanna eat lunch with us today?"
"Us" probably means Iida, and Uraraka, and maybe Asui. Shouto doesn't know any of them—doesn't know anybody, doesn't know Midoriya, either. Why is on the tip of his tongue again.
Then he nods, and says, "Sure."
Midoriya grins. "Cool."