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Izuku’s flower bud protruded from just behind his ear, wrapping around and settling near the top. His mom always said it reminded her of an old bluetooth device, and he had giggled. It remained hidden among his curls, the only difference being it’s slightly brighter green color.
He found comfort in the small bud: the promise of a soulmate, someone who would love him.
Sometimes, when the nights got too hard, when he felt like he couldn’t keep breathing any more, when he couldn’t sleep his way through all the pain, he would reach up and touch it. Remind himself that, supposedly, there was someone out there who would care.
And he fantasized, of course he did, about his soulmate being a pro hero, someone who would sweep in one day and save him from his bullies. But he knew it was wishful thinking. His mate was probably gonna be a ‘quirkless freak’ like him, because life wasn’t fair.
He just hoped his mate wasn’t a villain.
~~
It had been a wild day, for the first day of school. Absolutely terrifying, at first - and he ended up skipping the rest of his morning classes because he broke his finger - but after that it mellowed out. He was sitting with his new-found friends when he heard they were doing English class next, and he wondered who their teacher would be.
He wasn’t surprised in the least when Present Mic walked it, although he was a little starry-eyed because of it. The man had his own radio show and everything, and he used English often when talking. Izuku was star-struck, much like he had been for every other teacher they’d met. (He’d missed Ectoplasm’s math class and almost wanted to cry because of it.)
That, of course, didn’t stop him from meeting the man’s eyes as he looked around the room. Or stop him from feeling his flower blooming above his ear, sudden petals sprouting and pushing aside his hair.
He felt surprise blooming along with it, flowering in his stomach and spreading throughout his body.
What.
Present Mic didn’t notice, eyes already sweeping over the rest of the class, and Izuku saw a flower blooming alongside Mic’s ear.
His stomach dropped at the sudden revelation that he was soulmates with Present Mic and that their flowers were about to bloom in front of the entire class.
“U-uhm--” Izuku raised his hand hesitantly, intending on ‘going to the bathroom’ as his flower bloomed, in a vain attempt to keep his soulmate status from being suddenly revealed to the entire class. His other hand came up, gently cupping the still blooming flower, which was quickly getting out of his control.
Mic either didn’t hear him or was purposely ignoring him, going on with introductions with his normal, high-energy pizzaz. Izuku dropped his hand in favor of covering up the flower, which was much bigger than he previously expected.
The petals were soft under his fingers, oddly shaped and still growing. He had no idea what sort of flower he had gotten, or what it might say about his relationship, but god did he wish it would please stop growing.
Of course the flower bud was on the side that was facing the rest of the class. Of course it decided to burst out of its confines at the most inopportune moment.
Izuku noticed, belatedly, that Mic had somehow positioned himself so that his own flower was facing towards the wall, in such a way that it was unlikely any of the star-struck students would notice it.
And, as great as that was for hiding Mic’s flower, Izuku had the misfortune of being in the seat that would give everyone in class a view of his own.
Abruptly he let go of his flower, feeling like hands were running over his soul, like his very being was being touched. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t not, either. It was like phantom hands running over his skin, there but not really. He could see Mic shifting on his feet, and couldn’t help but wonder if he felt it, too. The flowers were supposed to be a physical manifestation of the soul bond after all, so it would make sense that anything done to the flower would transfer to their, well, souls.
That didn’t stop the fact that the flower was still blooming oh god--
“Yes, little listener?” Mic asked, and his hand flew to the flower instantly, covering it just barely with one hand in an attempt to appear nonchalant. He realized his other hand was in the air, and he gulped, stomach plummeting with anxiety.
“C-Can I g-go to the b-bathroom?” he eked out, noticing the way Mic’s eyes flew to where his flower was, still pressing against his hand. He saw understanding flash through the eye of the pro, before he nodded, quickly enrapturing the class again with his loud voice. Izuku was grateful for the distraction, scurrying out the door faster than he had ever done anything ever.
He knew he could say that he met his soulmate on the way to or from the bathroom, and keep the rest a secret from everyone. It would be an easy enough lie, and he wouldn't have to tell the entire class that his soulmate was their teacher. All the better for Mic probably, considering.
In his distraction, he didn’t even realize he was lost until he turned a corner, bumping into someone else’s chest.
“Whoa, slow down there, kid; what’s the rush?” someone asked, and he felt hands steadying him. He looked up, surprised, to see what must have been a third year, staring down at him with mild concern. His face was open, friendly, and his bright blonde hair shown in the light of the hallway.
Despite his openly friendly personality, Izuku still clammed up. Seeing the strength in his body and the calculating looking in the other’s eye reminded him just a little too much of Aizawa-sensei.
“I-I--” he started, feeling the flower pushing past his hand. The giant yellow bloom appeared in the corner of his eye, and he saw recognition light up in the other boy’s eyes.
“Oh, met your soulmate huh? Well, that’s fun! Where’re you going anyhow? You look a bit lost,” the other boy asked, and Izuku felt like his throat was still clammed up.
“B-bathroom,” he stuttered out, and the other kid nodded.
“Well, it’s this way, just follow me,” the kid said, gesturing for him to follow. He did, resisting the urge to reach up and cover the flower again.
He followed the other student, twisting through hallways and eventually ending up at the bathroom. He thanked him profusely, before slipping inside.
Okay, cool, this was fine, he was fine. He just had to figure this out. Probably after school.
He was not looking forward to that conversation.
~~
It was, of course, not that simple.
He managed to make it back to class and brush it off like he had met his soulmate on the way to the bathroom, making it through the rest of the day with more ease than his anxiety probably made it seem.
That didn’t stop Mic from asking to see him after school, or the anxiety that whirled in his brain for the rest of the day.
It was easy enough to stay behind after the bell rang, no one knowing each other well enough yet to really walk home together.
It was easy to find the teacher's lounge, and slip inside, surprised to find Mic was already waiting for him.
“Hello, Midoriya Izuku, it’s nice to officially meet you,” the pro said, holding out a hand. The yellow lily above his ear seemed to sway happily as Izuku took his hand, shaking it lightly.
“My name’s Yamada Hizashi, and I believe we have a lot to talk about.”