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“Thanks for inviting me out here, Izuku.”
“Oh, definitely,” Izuku says, nodding fervently. He has to take two steps for every one of Shouto’s; he’d been the shorter of the two through highschool, and now, as graduates, that hasn’t changed. “I just thought it was really pretty out today, so…”
Shouto nods and looks up at the cloudy sky as flakes fall around them. It’d snowed hard all night, and even now, flakes flutter through the breeze and add to last night’s storm. The rooftops are covered in it, and Shouto is sure to watch his step lest he slip in a patch of ice on the sidewalk.
“It’s quiet out,” Shouto comments as they continue their aimless journey. “Usually this place is bustling with people…”
Izuku laughs softly, but it sounds a bit forced. “Well, yeah, but I’m pretty sure we’re the only people crazy enough to be out when it’s this cold.”
Shouto would be lying if he said he knew the feeling. While Izuku dons a heavy sweatshirt, gloves, snow boots, scarf, and earmuffs, Shouto can get by with a beanie, a scarf, and a long-sleeved shirt. Even that’s kind of unnecessary, since he has no problem regulating his body temperature, but he likes wearing winter clothes when he can.
“I guess,” Shouto says after a long pause, and the fact that his breath makes a visible cloud in front of his face speaks numbers about the temperature. “Though, if you’re really cold, we could hang out indoors instead.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.” Izuku shakes his head, and a few snowflakes fall from his hair. “I like the snow. I mean, I like the warmth better, but...the snow is nice, too.”
Shouto nods his acknowledgment, turning to face the sidewalk before them. They’re heading further into the city, heading down the sidewalk alongside a beach. The sands are hidden with mounds of deep snow, and the ocean laps against the shoreline, turning it to slush.
Shouto isn’t going to say anything at first; but then he notices a thoughtful, almost concerned look on Izuku’s face, and decides to speak.
“...Something the matter?”
Izuku actually jumps a little, whirling around to look at him. “Oh, sorry,” he says, shaking his head. “I was just lost in thought is all. I’m fine.”
Shouto’s brows furrow, and while Izuku tries looking away again, Shouto doesn’t. “Izuku...it’s really nice that we’re able to meet up and hang out like this. And I’m not upset. I’m enjoying myself. So don’t get the wrong idea, but, I have to know. Why did you call me out here? Really?”
Izuku doesn’t jump this time, but he doesn’t turn to Shouto, either. His feet stop moving. Shouto stops a step or two in front of him and looks back.
“I guess…” Izuku shuffles his foot against the sidewalk, but stops and sighs, pondering. “...Do you...remember how we met?”
This is a curveball if Shouto’s ever seen one. “I mean, of course I do,” Shouto answers, turning to face him fully. “I declared war on you at the sports festival during our first year.”
Izuku’s head snaps up. “T-That’s not what I meant, exactly,” he says quickly, running his hands through his hair. “I mean, like—when we actually met. When we started talking and being friends. After the festival.”
“Oh.”
The weird thing is, Shouto doesn’t remember. Izuku has become such an important, forefront part of his life that he can’t remember a time when he wasn’t actually there. He doesn’t remember the day they officially started talking; he doesn’t remember the day they officially became friends. When he thinks back, tries to remember, Izuku is always there. Like he was always meant to be there.
“...Yeah.” Izuku looks down at his feet again, and as though reading Shouto’s thoughts, he says, “I don’t remember, either.”
Shouto blinks at him. “...Izuku…”
“It’s kind of weird, looking back,” Izuku says, shifting his weight. “We’ve really come far. Both of us. But, especially you.”
Shouto smiles softly, but shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s fair to say,” he says. “We’ve both come a long ways, Izuku.”
“But, like—you smiled just now. You never did that before.”
Shouto’s argument falls from his tongue, and he exhales sharply through his nose. His breath fugs the air in front of him.
Izuku opens his mouth as though to say something else, but he stops several times. Heat rises to his cheeks. “T-This is probably going to sound really dumb and cheesy,” he stammers, turning away and running his hands through his hair, “and it’s really sappy and sentimental and everything, but, like—I-I’m really happy for you, Shouto. I’m really happy for you. And I’m happy that I’ve been able to be a part of it. I’m really happy I’ve been able to be a part of everything, and you’ve made me a better person, too. T-Through all of it.”
Shouto gapes. “Izuku—I—”
“A-And…” Izuku’s cheeks go from pink to dark red. “T-This is really sentimental and cheesy, but—”
He reaches into the pocket of his sweatshirt, and before Shouto even knows what he’s doing, he’s pulled something out of it. It dangles from his hand, sparkling in the rays of sun peeking from between the clouds. Shouto’s eyes widen.
It’s a silver necklace, simply but stunningly designed, and the charm is an equally simple but hard-hitting word.
Forever.
Shouto’s heart clenches. Izuku looks down at his shoes, refusing to meet his eyes.
“L-Like I said, this is probably really dumb,” Izuku gets out, “b-but I really wanted to give you this, s-since I want to keep going like this forever. I wanna keep growing together and bettering each other, just—’forever.’ Forever and ever.”
“Izuku…”
“I-I’m sorry,” Izuku cuts in before he has the chance to say anything else. “You don’t have to wear it if you think it’s too sappy, I just—”
“That’s not it.”
Izuku stops mid-rant, and Shouto reaches into his pocket and fishes something out. Izuku’s eyes widen.
“...I got you one, too,” Shouto says quietly, holding out his hand. “It’s a little different than yours, but…”
Eternity.
Izuku’s eyes are as wide as saucers.
“I feel the same way as you,” Shouto says softly, but genuinely. “Ever since I met you, you’ve done nothing but be my friend. We’ve grown so much together, and we’ve been there for each other so many times. You’ve seen me at my worst, and at my best, and you’re still here through all of it. And, I guess...I want it to go on like this, too. I want to be together for the rest of eternity.”
Izuku stares, and for a seemingly endless while, that’s all he does. Shouto releases a short, breathless laugh.
“I’d pay good money to know exactly what you’re thinking right now.”
Izuku snaps out of it, and he laughs, too, though Shouto can hear tears behind it. “S-Sorry, I just...I-I wasn’t expecting that at all.”
Shouto smiles, then nods towards the necklace in his hand. “Do you mind?”
Izuku shakes his head, and Shouto steps forward and settles the jewelry around Izuku’s neck. The second Shouto steps back, Izuku takes the charm in his free hand and examines it carefully. Then, he lifts his head, beams, and steps toward Shouto. Shouto bows his head—he’s still the taller of the two—and Izuku clasps the necklace behind his neck. Shouto straightens up again and glances down; the word gleams up at him, sparkling, real. A promise.
“Thanks, Izu—”
“Thank you, Sho—”
They stop, stare at each other, then break into a short bout of laughter. Shouto is the first to recover from it, and Izuku follows shortly, inhaling deeply to get his breath back. There’s a long pause before either of them speak.
“...There’s...actually one more thing,” Shouto says quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. “And it’s also very sappy and sentimental.”
Izuku doesn’t blush this time. Instead, he cracks a smile. “Are we just trying to ‘out cheese’ each other now?”
In a moment, Shouto decides he really doesn’t mind. “Sure, why not.”
Izuku’s smile grows, and Shouto steps forward to stand beside him. He pauses, a moment, and when he’s gained his courage, he raises his left hand out in front of them.
“I’m still practicing,” Shouto says, “and I’m not very good at it yet, but…”
He ignites his palm. Flames dance on his hand, bright and hot, but it’s not that simple. Instead of a single, shapeless flame, he conducts the fire into an intricate pattern of twists, straights, symbols; until,
Together.
Izuku’s eyes are blown wide again. His irises reflect the flames.
“Shouto, I—how—”
“It took me weeks to learn how to do this,” Shouto tells him, watching the flames crackle and dance in his hand. “But, you know, I never gave up on it. You’re the person who brought me joy through my flames, Izuku. You’re the only reason I can use them freely now and actually— love them.”
“Is—” Izuku turns to him, blinks, then looks at the fire again. “Is that—is that how it is, really? You—you actually like your left side, now?”
“I do,” Shouto says, nodding. “And it’s all because of you.”
Izuku stares a while longer, and it takes Shouto more time than it should before he notices the tears sliding steadily down Izuku’s cheeks.
“Are you okay?” Shouto asks, concerned. “Was that too dumb? Is—”
“N-No, it’s…” Izuku wipes his eyes with the back of a gloved hand, then smiles tearfully at the flames once more. Together. “It’s...it’s perfect, Shouto. I’m glad—” His voice cracks, and he swallows thickly before trying again. “I’m glad I have you. I’m glad we have each other.”
Shouto smiles, and it’s so wide that it actually hurts his face a little. He winds his right arm around Izuku’s shoulders and draws him closer, and Izuku leans into him.
“Me too, Izuku,” Shouto says, softly but genuinely. “Me too.”
They watch the flames for a long while after. Together.