Chapter Text
Izuku is not sure how he and Shouto ended up in dating relationship. He had never thought about wanting to be in romantic relationship with Shouto before.
Sure, they live together in an apartment, cuddle together while watching tv on a couch, and even sleep together, especially if any of them were in need of comfort from a nightmare or from some bad experiences from work, but all their routine is pretty much platonic and has been the norm for the both of them since UA.
He had never thought to kiss Shouto nor noticed his heart beating faster whenever Shouto is near him, much unlike like how books and movies would usually describe a ‘crush’. Whenever he is around Shouto, it's always the feeling of calmness, save, trust and warmth that lingers around him that he felt.
His friends, his mom, All Might and Aizawa-sensei does give him a warm and welcoming feel, but somehow, Shouto has biggest effect on him; he trusts Shouto the most. He likes it when they have a cuddling session, as Shouto would pat his head slowly and softly, letting him drown in his warmth, and in return, Izuku would do the same to Shouto.
Izuku is not sure when he started having crush on Shouto. But he realized it after Uraraka, Ashido, and Tsuyu asked him about what type of person he wants to date, since he has reach age 25. In honesty, Izuku replied to them that he never had any interest in anyone, nor has anyone caught his attention yet. He had also mentioned that he don't want to burden anyone, especially since the person he would live together with would be filled with quietness. They can communicate with sign language, but would that be enough for his partner?
Izuku didn't tell them this, but he do think that most people may not want to spend of their life with a deaf person. Sure, he is the honorable Deaf Hero Deku who inspires disabled people to become a hero, but that still wouldn't be enough nor fair to his partner who date or marry him. Even today, no matter how friendly his friends and co-workers are, he still feels that he is not perfect enough; even today, he still feel a bit insecure about himself.
In response to Izuku's answer, Uraraka and Ashido moved frantically with their arms, signing and trying to cheer him up, telling him that it's not true, that he is really cute, and plus, some people may have crush on him because he looks cool, and how they and all their classmates still love him.
After Uraraka and Ashido tried to cheer him up, Tsuyu suddenly asked him, "What do you think about Todoroki-kun?"
Izuku signed back, "What do you mean by that?"
"Both of you still live together ever since we graduated from UA, and he had never once look unhappy when the shift is over. I noticed that he usually looks unhappy back at UA when the school session had ended"
"Both of you still live together without any problems, right?" Tsuyu added another question.
Izuku nodded his head. "Shouto-kun always talk to me and he never had problem with our conversations."
Tsuyu nodded with smile on her face, approving of Izuku's answer.
"Todoroki-kun is good looking person, are you sure you never had crush on him? The other girls would do anything to live under the same roof as him." Tsuyu smiled at her final question.
"W-Wh-What are you talking about Tsuyu-san? Why are you s-suddenly asking that? Sure, Shouto-kun is cool and good looking person, and we live together, but I never had crush on him??" Izuku arms moved so frantically and fast that it was pretty much hard to catch what he was saying. Plus how semi-red his face is.
"What do you think if he starts dating with someone and then gets married?" Ashido suddenly asked a question, after she laughed at Izuku's latest response.
"That... I guess I should be happy for him?" Izuku replied with a strange hesitant look he was never aware of.
Yes, he should be happy for Shouto-kun. Anyone who is able to be Shouto's lover is really lucky. Shouto is kind, gentle, warm and a really patience person. Anyone would be very happy to be with him. In return, that person would make Shouto be the happiest man alive.
Although Shouto-kun will had to leave their apartment after he married to someone, at least Shouto-kun would be happy. Yes, he should be happy for Shouto's sake....
In the future, if Shouto got married, he will take all his belongings and leave this apartment. Shouto would give Izuku one more gentle smile filled with warmth as he said "Goodbye".
They could meet again after work, but everything wouldn't be the same. Shouto wouldn't have time for him and their old routine. Shouto would have a new home, and more importantly, a lover who he'd need to give all his warmth to.
That final thought had made his heart feel melancholic right then and there.
On his way back to their apartment, that thought filled his mind, and somehow it made his heart hurt.
Ah, Izuku need a cuddle from Shouto after he reach their apartment.
To Izuku's wish, Shouto is already in their apartment, patting two of their cats. Shouto welcomed him, "Welcome back." with a smile that make Izuku feel warm inside him every time he's home.
"I'm home", with that Izuku walk fast toward Shouto and hug him tight. Really tight.
Shouto, without question, warped his arms around Izuku.
Ah, Izuku would miss this. He'd miss Shouto's warmth around him. He'd miss Shouto's head pats that Izuku received . He'd miss Shouto's comfort. He'd miss Shouto's gentle smile. Finally, he'd miss their mundane, daily conversations.
Izuku didn't realize he's in love toward Shouto until that fateful conversation with Uraraka, Ashido, and Tsuyu. Does it sound laughable? The fact he suddenly realize he's in love toward his best friend because of that one conversation with his friends. Isn't he selfish? How he want to keep all Shouto's warmth only to himself. Does it sound hilarious? That sometimes he think his "love" toward Shouto is just fake. He only want Shouto's warmth, keeping Shouto like an object only to comfort him. Comforting him when had a bad day. Comforting him when he failed to save someone because he still a fucking deaf to hear cried for help. Comforting him in his useless childhood nightmare where he still remember and hear those voices when he was bullied and teased. Yes, keeping and using Shouto to make him feel better.
Yes, he is selfish. Midoriya Izuku is a selfish and useless person. And Todoroki Shouto didn't deserve someone so pitiful as him. Todoroki Shouto didn't deserve to always need comfort him. But Shouto always willingly to comfort him even how hard sometimes Izuku try to hide he have bad day or nightmare when he feel didn't want to troubled Shouto with his petty problem.
His own thought is killing himself, but he still as always treasure their days together even it's mundane normal day without fighting villain.
On that day, Izuku cried on Shouto's chest. With a worried expression, Shouto asked what was wrong. But Izuku didn't explain why he was crying and what was making him sad. Instead, he stayed quiet and stayed on Shouto's chest for the entire night.
***
Izuku wasn't sure how he and Shouto started dating. It's..such a strange starter how they ended up talking about it.
It's started out when Endeavor kept on bothering Shouto for days and weeks with text messages and failed calls. He wouldn't stop until Shouto blocked his number. Izuku had used one of Mei's gadgets to spy on Endeavor, allowing Shouto to go miles whenever Endeavor tried to visit his son during his work or a rescue mission. Izuku's job was to cover up Shouto's tracks whenever he escaped. Good job on bothering the hero, Endeavor.
They both knew why Endeavor was so desperate to try to talk to Shouto: He was setting up another arranged marriage meeting.
At the first meeting, Shouto rejected the candidate fiance's parents right away, claiming that he wasn't suitable for their daughter. He asked that they would give their daughter true happiness, that she deserved better than all this pointless matchmaking.
Of course, Shouto received a big bruise on his check not too long after. It took all of Izuku's restraint to not try to Detroit Smash Endeavor. He swears he would have almost arrived at that burning trash's mansion if it wasn't for for Shouto. Somehow he was able to catch up with Izuku and freeze half of his body trying to calm him down.
The meetings didn't stop. There was a second one, then a third one, then a fourth one. Each one ended with Shouto rejecting the candidate's parents. Those times, however, Izuku was hiding right behind the meeting room's door, ready to grab Shouto before Endeavor could harm him. Well, they didn't leave right away. Izuku couldn't help but send Endeavor flying into the wall with a flick of his finger, proceeded by him bridal carrying Shouto away from the mansion with his One for all.
"I know you'll disagree with me on about this, but why do you keep rejecting them?" Izuku asked. He and Shouto were enjoying a peaceful day in their living room. Endeavor's presence hadn't been felt in weeks. Izuku just figured the trash had given up on the candidates.
"What's with this question?" Shouto responded.
"I know you think this whole matchmaking deal is wrong, but I think anyone would be the happiest person on Earth if they married you. You are not like Endeavor at all, so naturally you wouldn't even harm them. You're also great interacting with kids. I'm sure you'll be a great father." Izuku answered.
"I know I won't be like Endeavor, but I keep rejecting them because I know I wouldn't be enough for the wife chosen for me." Shouto explained, turning away from Izuku and staring intently at the floor
"To suddenly be married to someone I've never met is strange... " Shouto continued, "Will I be able to open up to them? Will I be able to love them? What if I don't end up loving them? I may care for them but never romantically. I don't think they deserve that kind of treatment. It won't be enough for them."
"I know back then I was closed off to our classmates, but I was able to open up to them and get along with them. Surely, we both know who I opened up to the most and feel most comfortable with." Shouto looked up towards Izuku, their eyes meeting.
"The person I feel most comfortable with is you." Shouto end his explanation.
Both of them were quite for a few minutes, Izuku still in shock. He can't see his own face right now, but he's pretty sure it's as red as Shouto's hair right now. Izuku could feel the heat rise up, his cheeks and ears getting warmer and warmer.
"I...I see.." Izuku signed slowly, hesitantly .
"I'm....I.." Izuku didn't know what to reply. He's happy? Glad? Honored? Which one?
Suddenly, he felt a gentle pat on top of his head. Shouto was looking at him, smiling softly with those lovable, caring eyes. Izuku smiled back and leaned towards Shouto, letting Shouto to continue to pat his head. The two of them ended up staying on the couch for hours.
Later that night, Izuku decided to have a talk with Shouto.
"A few months ago, a few of our friends asked me if I was interested in dating anyone. To be honest, I didn't think anyone would want to date me. I'm sure no one would like a quiet partner like me. Of course, except for you and our friends. But sometimes, sometimes I wonder if I am perfect enough? Will I be a burden to them?" As soon as he finished explaining, Izuku gripped his hands together.
"If they think that you're a burden and don't like you for who you are," Shouto countered, "then I think that they don't deserve to be with you."
"You always do your best to help anyone in trouble, always putting on your brightest smile, yet you always try to hide your burdens and pain when something goes wrong. You, Midoriya Izuku, are a great hero, but also a human with flaws. If someone dates you only because they see the "Hero Deku" while rejecting your flaws, then I think that they don't deserve you.”
"I never, not even once thought that you're a burden to me."
Izuku noticed Shouto's lips moving as he signed. Shouto looked at Izuku sincerely.
"I'm always here, ready to comfort you." Shouto gently smiled.
Izuku's heart is bursting. It explodes with happiness and relief. So he cried. He cried so hard his tears were flowing down his cheeks and onto the floor. He's pretty sure he's filling the room with his crying sounds.
Shouto hugged him tight, warping Izuku up in his warmth, not even care the tears dampened his shirt.
After several minutes, Izuku stopped crying. They released one another, Izuku going to wash his face and Shouto going to change his shirt.
As soon as Izuku dried his face, he grabbed Shouto's hand, dragging both of them to Shouto's room. He laid on Shouto's bed. Smiling brightly, he spread out his arms, inviting to lay on top of him.
"Can I...your forehead" Shouto asked as permission.
Izuku, still smiling, nodded.
Shouto kissed Izuku's forehead softly, who in return kissed Shouto's.
"Izuku" Shoto said. Well, Izuku assumed he said that. He couldn't hear what Shoto was saying, but he can read his lips.
"Shou-chan" Izuku attempted. Shouto smiled in response. While Izuku preferred not to speak, he did occasionally, but only around people whom he truly trusted. Shouto was one of the privileged few who he spoke around.
***
Both Izuku and Shouto don't know how they ended up in a romantic relationship together. It's always been a normal routine for them. Their dates are usually normal activities for them, sometimes going to cafes, sometimes going to amusement parks. (although both of them agree that amusement parks are much more fun with their friends).
Holding hands, cuddling, and sleeping together is still a normal routine for them. The only new thing is kissing, which is a very pleasant addition. Shouto likes to kiss Izuku's scarred right hand. A lot. Izuku likes to kiss Shoto's forehead and the scar on his left eye.