Chapter Text
“Izuku... I... I don't think this will keep working...” His mother began, the two of them sitting at their table for lunch. “There's just not enough money coming in, they might even shut down in the next few weeks...”
“Hey, don't worry mum. I keep saying I can get a part-time job.” Midoriya said, gently putting his hand on his mother's, noticing her tears. “There's this restaurant just a few blocks from here which is hiring. I've been thinking of applying for a few days.”
“I-Izuku?”
“Don't worry about it mum, things are gonna be fine! This job should easily put is in the clear for long enough for you to sort something out.” He said with a comforting smile.
“Oh, Izuku...” She said, walking around the table and hugging him. “I don't know what to say...”
“Mum-”
“They grow up so fast! B-but it's a very posh place, are you sure they'd accept you? You're very young-”
“Actually last time I went there I was approached. They said I was very good at talking to people and would be good for the job. I think if I just turn up and maybe do an interview they'll definitely give me a job.”
After his mother had finally agreed to let him try it, he went to the restaurant to apply later that afternoon, and the manager who'd spoken to him earlier sat him down and asked him a few questions about his lifesyle. In what seemed like just minutes, they had given Izuku an evening job during the week which he would do after school.
His mum burst into tears when he said he'd got the job, and had reminded him that just because he had turned out quirkless doesn't mean that he couldn't be her hero. Midoriya sighed at how corny it all seemed but he was glad to finally get some job experience. Though part of him didn't want to spend his time working, it gave him a sense of fulfilment and maturity.
After school finished up on Monday and Midoriya had come home, he donned his work uniform and made his way out of the door, waving to his mum on the way out.
The air seemed cool and fresh, the sun still shining brightly as he walked down the street. Everything seemed dreamy and beautiful at that moment when someone caught Midoriya's eye. An odd boy with pale and skin and white hair apart from a red patch on the side. It must be something to do with his quirk. Midoriya had overcome his sorrow that he was quirkless. Most people ended up having useless quirks anyway.
His eyes were drawn to the boy – all Midoriya could think was that he looked so... Interesting. So charming, so...
The boy caught him staring, and looked into Midoriya's eyes.
Crap.
Midoriya felt himself slowly turning red, trapped in the awkward situation. He couldn't just walk away, he couldn't look away. Making some kind of gesture would be awkward – some part of him told him to go and talk to the boy but that would just be plain strange. Besides, he had to get to work, even though he was going to be there very early.
He was stuck, in a trance, looking over the boy's features. He was attractive for sure, but that's not important! He just looks interesting! Midoriya insisted, fidgeting with his hands.
The boy on the other end other end of the road smirked
Oh God...
Midoriya was about to try to apologise to the boy before a car loudly drove past the two, disrupting them from the trance. As the car drove off, the boy waved at Midoriya and turned around, walking away.
Madly blushing, Midoriya briskly walked all the way to the restaurant, having recovered by the time he arrived.
After being filled in on everything he needed to know, Midoriya started his job, waiting for someone to arrive, putting on his best smile as his mind kept going back to the person who he'd stared at. That boy probably thought Midoriya was weird. But something was so dazzling about him, he really wanted to know that boy and had no idea why.
As he heard the doors open, he looked up and got ready to walk over to whoever it was-
Midoriya's eyes widened and he practically hid around a corner, pressing himself to the wall. It was him. Looking around, fortunately, no one noticed his strange behaviour as he regained his composure, staying out of his line of sight. He knew he wanted to talk to the boy and this was his only opportunity but he really couldn't just approach him and ask who he was after earlier... Besides, he was at work.
Soon, he realised that everyone else was busy, and it had to be him. He'd been looking at the menu for a while now. If he didn't go and ask what he wanted in the next few seconds, there'd be trouble. Midoriya took a deep breath, slowing his breathing and stood up straight.
You've got this Izuku.
He stepped out and slowly made his way towards the boy, avoiding looking at him as to not be noticed.
“I-is there something you'd like to-” Midoriya began before tripping.
OH GOD. NOT LIKE THIS.
Fortunately he wasn't carrying anything as his notepad and pencil were in his pocket. It seemed like he was going to faceplant the table. In that split second, Midoriya's life flashed before his eyes. Being born, seeing that boy... Well, that's all that came to mind.
As the table approached, he closed his eyes, only to find himself not to hit it.
Opening his eyes in confusion, he found that boy had stood up and caught him with lightning reactions. For a second, Midoriya awkwardly stared at the boy, paralysed in terror as the whole restaurant stared at the two.
Realising his situation, Midoriya stood up, dusting himself off and clearing himself off, already blushing profusely.
“S-sorry-”
“It's fine.” The boy said with a chuckle.
Midoriya stared for another moment. His voice was so smooth. And he wasn't angry.
“W-was there something you wanted to order?” He blurted out, clutching his notepad to his chest with his shoulders hunched trying to hide from the boy.
“Hhhmmmmmmmmmmm...” The boy said. It was very drawn out, and it was very clear that he was just pretending to think. Maybe he was just trying to frustrate Midoriya. He wouldn't blame him after previous events, he'd just have to deal with it. It was part of the job.
“Do you sell water here?”
“Ehm, y-yes, we do.”
“What kind?”
Midoriya stared again at the boy's entertained smirk.
“Em... Still water, spring water... Sparkling... Or you could just get tap water, and th-there's ice too...”
“Can I get a lemon with my water?”
Midoriya could tell the boy was struggling not to laugh and understood that he was joking around but he had no idea why. To get revenge on him?
“Well, we-we do serve lemons as part a part of some meals, b-but you'd probably have to pay for the lemon...”
“Could I please get an order of sparkling lime water with ice and a lemon?” He asked, barely masking his laughter.
Midoriya was only getting more flustered in his confusion. He still hadn't recovered from his fall and felt several eyes on him from around the restaurant.
“Sparkling... Lime water... With ice and lemon?”
“That's correct.”
“Ehm, I'll ask, but we can just get you lemonade if you'd like-”
“Oh, lemonade? I hate lemon!” The boy said, mock offence all over his face.
“W-what?” Midoriya asked, absolutely exasperated and red in the face, almost a whole page in his notepad filled with various water and lemon notes.
“Okay, I'd like to change my order.” The boy said, looking over the menu.
“O-okay...” Midoriya said. After a while, the boy didn't say anything. Midoriya stood awkwardly, unsure whether he should just keep standing there. At least no one was looking at him now. “Should I come back-”
“No no, I'll just be one second.” The boy said, grinning.
Midoriya waited. The boy kept scanning the menu. No one else had turned up so he really had no reason to leave, so he stood beside the boy in his uniform, waiting for whatever he would say next, completely at his mercy. Maybe this was some kind of test the manager had set up for him.
“Can I get uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...” The boy droned. “Some water?”
Midoriya almost laughed.
“S-some water?”
“Yes?”
“Any kind in particular?”
“Hmm. Can you serve me water with a lemon-” the boy began, then finally burst out laughing.
People began to look again, and Midoriya turned red again, furiously scribbling in his notepad.
“Some water with a lemon?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Midoriya stormed off into the kitchen, desperately embarrassed.
“E-excuse me... Someone has just ordered some water with a lemon... W-What do I do - charge for that?”
“Water with a lemon?”
“Yes sir, water with a lemon.”
The cook chuckled, dropping a lemon in a glass he'd filled with tap water.
“Water with a lemon...” He muttered, handing it to Midoriya. “How romantic.” He joked.
“W-what?” Midoriya asked, taken aback.
“Hey, didn't you know? Water with a lemon is a sign of undying love in this restaurant.” The cook continued, noticing quickly Midoriya got flushed.
“W-wh-undying l-love?”
“I'm just kidding ya. Give it to him for free, it's a freaking lemon with some water.”
Midoriya stood there, paralysed for another moment.
“Right... Thanks...”
“Okay sir, I have your water with a le-” Midoriya started, walking up to the table the boy was at before noticing he wasn't there. Some people stared at how he'd walked up to and talked to an empty table.
He screwed his eyes shut, desperately embarrassed.
Why...
He noticed the boy waving at him from another table, having moved. Wait, did he move? Midoriya was 99% sure the boy had moved just to mess with him some more but he wouldn't bring it up.
“S-sorry...” He began. “Here's your water with a lemon.” He said, placing the water next to the boy, now desperate to escape. He noticed the boy survey the water in a strange way and found himself waiting for the boy's next odd comment, unable to leave.
“I asked for lemonade.”
“I'm sorry sir but you didn't-”
“I really did.”
Midoriya's eyes widened as he checked his notes, finding water with lemon written many times, and the showed it to the boy.
“So you're right.” The boy hummed, taking a sip of the water before his eyes went back to Midoriya's notepad. “Hey why does it say that in the corner?”
Midoriya turned the notepad, staring at the corner in terror, noting that he'd scribbled "ask for number?" His eyes widened again as the boy grinned.
“J-just drink the stupid water with a lemon!” He said, redder than a tomato, as he stomped away as the boy continued to laugh.
After the boy left, the rest of the evening continued with various diners laughing and being extremely friendly with poor Midoriya, who was still quite flushed at everything that had happened.
Eventually, the evening ended and the sky was darkening as he made his way home. Apart from that boy, everything went well. They were right, he was fit for the job, but that boy. Despite his blush, Midoriya laughed slightly at everything that had happened. The boy wasn't trying to annoy him. He seemed fond of Midoriya and was entertained by everything, even when Midoriya had tripped and almost fell on him.
Midoriya sighed, wishing he could see the boy again but hesitant in case a disaster like that happened again.
Wait.
Midoriya stopped dead on the street, wondering if that boy would turn up and cause a scene again. Midoriya sighed, unsure what to think. The boy knew he wanted his number now. Surely he would jump to assumptions. It wasn't like that or anything – It wasn't. It was...
With his brow furrowed in confusion, Midoriya walked straight past his flat.
“Izuku! Where are you going?” He heard his mother call.
“O-oh, sorry! I was lost in thought!” He shouted, briskly walking up the stairs.
When he told his mother about how the day had gone, she seemed to jump to assumptions too. Extremely excited for her son, she would inevitably pester him to no end about this new interesting boy he'd talked about.