Work Text:
"Midoriya-kun."
Izuku jerks his head around at the sound of the low, quiet voice. The lightly tinted balm his stylist is applying to his lips to give them that ready to be kissed glow for the cameras smears across the side of his face and she swears.
"S-sorry, Hagakure-san!" he stammers, blinking wide, startled eyes at his co-star as he approaches.
He must have already finished with make-up. If it was up to Izuku, he'd just say not to bother. His co-star is beautiful, already—it's no wonder Izuku has to spend double the time in the chair he normally would.
After all, he's going to be on camera next to Japan's number one idol, the Smoldering Ice Prince, Todoroki Shouto.
It's their first day of filming. Izuku has never actually spoken to Todoroki before; they work for different labels, and everyone at Izuku's company keeps reminding him of what a huge chance this is, how lucky he is to be able to act alongside Todoroki (not to mention Uraraka Ochako, another huge fan favorite).
Not only is Todoroki the most popular solo artist in the country, but he's constantly in demand for roles in dramas. Izuku, meanwhile, is one member of a very large group that only just debuted. His face is plain and his voice isn't bad, the fans say; the freckles are cute but he's otherwise forgettable. This might be his one and only shot to catch people's attention—and keep from getting dropped from his label once his contract is up. He definitely, absolutely cannot blow it.
"I… sorry?" Todoroki asks, staring at him, and Izuku realizes he has been rambling most of that under his breath while Hagakure attempts to wipe the glob of lip balm off his face. "I didn't catch that…"
"Sorry!" Izuku shrills. "C-can I help you with something—with anything, Todoroki-san?"
"I wanted to introduce myself," Todoroki tells him. He pauses, then asks, "Are you… alright?"
"I'm completely fine, why do you ask?!" Izuku squeals. "I'm very excited for this opportunity, and of course the chance to work beside you, since you are Japan's best and brightest and honestly even more attractive up close! I never in a million years thought they would cast me in this role, so I very much hope I don't let all of you down to the shame of myself, this production, my entire company—"
"Midoriya!" Torodoki cuts him off, somewhat frantically. "That's… I'm also excited to be working together. Please start breathing again, slowly—"
"I'm sorry," Izuku says again.
"Stop apologizing," Todoroki says. "I'll see you on set, alright? Just… keep breathing, okay?"
Izuku nods, and promptly forgets to follow his advice as soon as Todoroki exits the trailer. That… could probably not have gone much worse. He groans and puts his face in his hands. Hagakure swats at him.
"You're mussing your bangs," she says.
"I'm sorry," Izuku repeats. He hopes he can remember any of his lines, instead of the mantra of apologies running through his head.
Todoroki and Uraraka have already taken their marks for the first scene by the time Izuku arrives. They are veterans, and seeing them together, talking and at ease, makes him even more unspeakably nervous than he already was. They're sitting on a very well lit park bench, and the production assistants lead him to where he's supposed to be like he's a small child, even though he's read the script more times than he can count and knows what it calls for. He can't really blame them.
"Good morning, Midoriya-kun!" Uraraka says cheerfully. Izuku feels his face go up in flames and warbles some sort of greeting that sounds like he's close to tears. She pats him on the shoulder, seemingly unfazed.
It takes some time yet for cameras to get rolling and up to speed, but soon (all too soon), they are calling for quiet on the set. Izuku tries to breathe, breathe; he knows this scene, he's studied it, he can do this.
It's a very silly scene, with his character getting more and more flustered as Todoroki's character, the charming and irreverent leading man, woos Izuku's childhood crush, Uraraka, right out from under his nose. Izuku would feel more sorry for his own character if he didn't feel like it was absolutely deserved. The scene builds up steam until the big comedic moment, when Izuku is supposed to lean in and try to kiss Uraraka on the cheek, only for her to move out of the way, causing him to kiss Todoroki on the cheek instead. Izuku is so nervous that he's sure he's sweated all his make up off anyway. And then comes his cue and he sucks in a deep breath and lurches forward—
Todoroki turns his head at the last moment, which is not in the script, and their lips meet.
Ah, Izuku thinks vaguely, as all thoughts flee from his head, I was right. Todoroki's lips are smooth and soft, but he's not wearing any balm, probably because he's perfect. His lips, also, fit perfectly against Izuku's, and so does his hand, when he brings it up to rest against Izuku's undoubtedly sweaty cheek. But he doesn't pull away in disgust. He strokes his thumb along Izuku's cheekbone and Izuku sighs against his lips, as all his nervousness evaporates for one tiny, golden second.
"CUT!"
Izuku jerks backwards, stunned. Todoroki withdraws his hand slowly, his eyes still looking deep into Izuku's.
"I'm sor—" Izuku starts to say, but Todoroki won't let him.
"Don't," he says softly. He rubs his thumb over his lips contemplatively; they're a little more pink, where Izuku's balm has rubbed off on him. "You're a good kisser, Midoriya."
Izuku's mouth falls open. As Todoroki apologizes to the director, saying he thought it might be good to have a "surprise" take in there, Uraraka looks between them and then steeples the tips of her fingers together, like she knows something Izuku doesn't. Izuku looks at her for guidance, for help or understanding, but she just shakes her head and giggles.
"Let's roll for take two, take two… lights!"
Izuku puts his hand over his chest and takes a deep breath. He feels his heart rate slowing. Todoroki and Uraraka are both smiling at him, and he nods, and actually manages to smile back. He realizes he's not really nervous anymore.
"Camera!"
"Thanks!" he says.
"Anytime," Todoroki says, and Izuku does a double take. By "anytime", does Todoroki mean… kissing?!
"Action!"