Work Text:
Hizashi Yamada had a problem.
Well, not really a problem per say, but it still annoyed him a bit. To say he was popular would be a severe understatement. His face — and more importantly his voice — was well-known throughout Japan as the energetic Present Mic, radio show host and pro hero. He'd even done a few advertisements for various products, from headphones to hair gel, as well as being featured in magazines from time to time. His radio station was one of the most popular in the country, and his social media was filled with people asking him questions or sending him art they made.
It was nice, being fawned over and adored like that, but he really just wanted some peace and quiet...
Hizashi doesn't usually consider himself a quiet person in any way. He never had been, ever since he was a child. He doubted his fans even thought he could be quiet, even if he tried, always needing to move and do something. But sometimes he does enjoy it, the rare quiet moment with a book or watching some American movie that he'd seen a million times already. He sometimes enjoyed taking his time when it came to simple things, like doing his hair, or cooking a meal, both making sure it was done right and enjoying the familiarity of the task. However, he almost never had time for things like that, always rushing around to get things done or just wanting to hurry through it and get to what he needed to do.
As such, the voice hero can't remember that last time he had a free hour in his schedule, let alone a full day, so it comes as a surprise when he realizes he doesn't have anything planned for the coming Sunday. No interviews, no photo shoots, no meetings, not even a patrol. A full day completely free to do what he wanted, without anything to interrupt or cut things short. Hizashi tells himself that that's the reason he'd been so excited to ask Shouta to lunch the week before, heart hammering in his chest when he got a simple “Yeah, sure, sounds like fun” from the raven haired hero. Tells himself that the eagerness that flooded him as he was getting off the train was because he hadn't hung out with the erasure hero outside of work in what felt like centuries. That the flutter in his chest when he sees Aizawa standing outside the station on his phone, waiting for him, was just his imagination.
But, in the back of his mind, he knew that he was lying to himself... Pushing down the jitters that he got whenever he saw that little smirk Aizawa gave when he was happy or thought something was funny. Ignoring the way the raven's voice sounded like the most beautiful music Hizashi had ever heard. Stopping himself from making a move because why would Shouta ever feel the same way about him? He wasn't the other man's type, and he knew it. So, he kept his feelings to himself as he walked over and smiled when the erasure hero looked up at him.
“Hey there Sho.” He said easily, stopping about a foot away from the other man. “Watching cat videos while you wait for me?” The question wasn't uncommon, as the raven's love for cats was something Hizashi teased Aizawa about frequently.
Either way, he still got an eye roll as the raven put his phone away. “No. Midoriya was asking when a project was due.” He explained, looking the blond over. It sent a shiver down the voice hero's spine that he had to suppress. “It's been a while since I've seen you in casual clothes. I almost forgot what you looked like with your hair down. You should have it like that more often.”
“And risk my fans recognizing me on the streets? Yeah right! I have a bubble man, and I'd like for it to be respected when I'm off duty.” Hizashi said with a laugh, resting his arm on Aizawa's shoulder with a grin. “Besides, I know you don't like crowds, and I wouldn't forgive myself if I put you through that.”
Aizawa smiled back at him. “Thanks. Did you pick a place, or were you expecting me to do all the work?” The raven teased, and Hizashi huffed in mock annoyance.
“Of course I know where we're going!” He protested, removing himself from the other. “It's actually not far. It's a little diner that just opened, but they already have some amazing reviews for the food. I figured we could try it out and give them some good exposure if it really is good.” Hizashi explained, already starting to walk with Aizawa besides him. The raven just nodded, looking around aimlessly as they traveled to their destination.
They were there within a few minutes, stepping through the doors and being greeted by warmth and the smell of something that made Hizashi's mouth water. A hostess at the waiting booth smiled at them both as they walked further in. “Hello there, welcome to the Mockingbird Diner.” She said, reaching for some menus. “Will it be just the two of you this afternoon?”
“Yes, thank you.” Aizawa said, shoving his hands into his pockets as his posture relaxed. It was refreshing to see, especially after everything that had happened since the beginning of the year. Hizashi followed the woman alongside the raven, sitting down at the table they were brought to.
“If you'll wait just a few minutes, someone will be with you shortly.” She told them, setting down their menus before walking off to go back to the waiting booth.
Aizawa sat across from the blond, settling into his seat before looking over the menu quickly. “Hmm, some of these things sound good...” He muttered absently, flipping to the next page.
“Don't they?” Hizashi asked excitedly, looking at his own menu. “Like I said, even though it's new, this place already has rave reviews.” He looked over the items listed, honestly wanting to try just about everything.
Suddenly, a man with pale red hair stopped next to the table with a smile. “Hello, my name is Hiroshi, and I'll be your server today!” The man said, pulling out a little notepad and flipping it open. “Have you two love birds decided what you'd like to drink yet?”
Hizashi's face went beet red. “O-Oh, we're not... W-We're just friends...” He stammered out, and the man's own expression turned embarrassed.
“Oh my god, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have assumed, that's totally my bad.” The red head said apologetically, ears going almost the same shade as his hair. “I am so sorry. Do you two know what you'd like to drink?”
“Just a water, if you don't mind.”
“Same here, thanks!”
Hiroshi nodded, writing it down and heading off with an bashful look. The voice hero watched as he walked over to one of the other servers, looking thoroughly embarrassed as he whispered something to her. She seemed to laugh, clapping him on the shoulder while saying something the blond couldn't make out.
“You good?” Aizawa asked, drawing Hizashi's attention back to him. He just gave a nod, and the raven looked back at his menu with a hum of acceptance. “What do you think you're gonna get?”
The blond looked back at his menu, taking a deep breath to steady himself while his face burned. “Um... The chicken potstickers sound good.” He answered, glancing up again. “W-What about you?”
“I might have the miso ramen.” The erasure hero said, turning back to the first page of the menu. “I'm not sure though, there are a few things that sound good.”
They sat there quietly for a bit before Hiroshi returned with their drinks, taking their orders and dashing off again. They sat there awkwardly then, no menus to pretend to look at in order to avoid conversation.
“That guy made a good point, y'know.” Aizawa stated suddenly, stirring his drink absently. “You'd think you'd spend your one day off in forever with a significant other or something. Why spend it with me?” He asked as he looked at Hizashi, and the blond had to do everything in his power to stop his face from flushing again.
Instead, the voice hero swallowed, leaning against the table. “Well, I don't really have a 'special someone' at the moment. And we haven't hung out like this in a long ass time anyway.” He told the raven haired hero, really hoping that the excuse held up.
It didn't...
“You're really not seeing anyone right now?” Aizawa asked instead, almost sounding surprised and something else that Hizashi couldn't quite place. “With how many fans you have, you'd think someone would want to date you.”
That made the blond bite his lip, giving a little nod. Should he tell him? Would it ruin everything? What would- No, he couldn't tell him. “Nah, there's no one I'm interested in.” Hizashi paused, sighing a little. “Well... There is someone I'm interested in, but they don't like me that way.”
“Oh? Do I know them?” Aizawa asked, because of course he did, and the voice hero regretted saying anything. “I could find out for you, if you wanted.”
“N-No, it's fine.” He said quickly, reaching up and running a hand through his hair. “But yeah, it... It is someone you know... And they're out of my league anyway, so I'm not going to bother.” God, he was saying too much, needed to shut up already before he-
“I think you should message them.” The raven haired man said, taking a sip of his drink as he looked out at the rest of the diner. “What's the worst that could happen? That they say no? Hell, I'll write it out for you if you're too nervous.” Aizawa said, setting down his glass and holding out his hand. Hizashi froze, staring at the erasure hero with wide eyes. Was he serious?
Judging by the look on his face, he very much was...
So, the blond hesitantly took out his phone, unlocking it and handing it to Shouta. The raven tapped it a few times before looking at Hizashi. “Ready whenever you are.” He said, thumbs held over the screen. Hizashi nodded, biting his lip. He was really doing this...
“I mean, you can start with a simple hello, obviously.” The voice hero joked, watching Aizawa write out the beginning of the probable end. Taking a deep breath, Hizashi started talking. “Okay... I-I know this is kinda sudden, but I have something to tell you that I've wanted to get something off my chest for a long time. I...” The blond looked at the erasure hero, who was tapping away at his phone. “I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you... I have been since high school, and I've just been too scared to tell you. And I know you probably don't like me back, but I just need to get this out so that maybe I can finally get over it and move on. Even if you don't feel the same, even if this makes things uncomfortable between us, and we stop being friends because of this, I wanted to tell you because I just can't deny it anymore. Even if I should...”
Hizashi wanted — needed — to stop. To stop before he said something that he regretted and gave everything away. To snatch his phone away from the raven's hands and run off before he could say anything else, but he just couldn't now. His mouth was running on auto-pilot, and he couldn't shut up if he tried. “I've been chasing after you for years, and I know that I'll never be able to catch you. I know you're probably way out of my league, and you'd never even consider someone like me who's the exact opposite of the kind of person and hero that you are, but I can't help it. I've been in love with you ever since you kicked my ass the sports festival. Ever since we sat in that little cafe after school and I saw you really smile for the first time. Ever since-”
“Hizashi...” Aizawa interrupted suddenly. His voice was hesitant, and the blond realized he was staring at him with that same expression he couldn't read. Oh god, his heart was pounding, the sound deafening in his ears as the silence between them stretched on for what felt like forever. Hizashi saw the raven haired hero shift slightly, swallow, before speaking again. “You... You're talking about me, aren't you?”
Hizashi's mouth went dry as shame flooded his system. He was right, this had been an awful idea. He wanted to run, to disappear, to stop existing, but Aizawa's eyes held him down like a vice, and he forced himself to open his mouth again. “M-Maybe..?” He mumbled, looking away from the man who'd been his best friend for over fifteen years now. “I'm fucking dumb, I know, and I'm sorry. You don't feel that way about me, and I knew that, but I just couldn't stop myself from falling for you, and if you don't want to be friends now because it makes things weird then I totally understa-”
“Will you shut your mouth for two seconds?” Aizawa asked a bit sharply, and the voice hero's mouth snapped shut in shock. He's angry... Of course he is. Who wouldn't be in this situation? The raven brought a hand up and ran it through his hair, looking away. “Yeah, you're an idiot. But don't go making assumptions about other people's feelings. Especially when they've thought about you in the same way for the last fifteen years.” The last bit was mumbled, like the erasure hero was embarrassed to say-
Wait...
Oh...
Oh...
“You... You what?” Hizashi asked, awestruck. He pinched his leg under the table, but didn't wake up from what absolutely had to be a dream. “Are you...” The blond couldn't even finish the sentence brain trying to put together what he just heard.
“In love with you?” Aizawa finished for him, glancing up again. His cheeks were a light shade of pink now, and the voice hero's heart had to have skipped a beat. “Yeah... Ever since we first became friends... But you were always so popular, even in school, I just assumed you were too far out of my league to ever hope of reaching.” The raven paused, giving a sad chuckle. “Guess we're both idiots, huh?”
Hizashi bit his lip, looking down at his lap. “Yeah... I guess so...” He muttered staring at his clasped hands. Why had he been so blind? So many things made sense, now that he thought back on it. Aizawa was the quiet type, hating rowdiness and crowds, but he never minded being by the voice hero. He always agreed to hang out, even if Hizashi was in his hero uniform and got bombarded with fans. Even when he was yelling and being his usual energetic self, the raven haired hero would just smile or roll his eyes a little.
“Hey...” Aizawa said softly, dragging the blond out of his thoughts as he looked at him. “Do you... I mean... We're already here... We could...”
Hizashi almost wanted to laugh. The raven was almost never at a loss for words like this, and it made him smile. “Make this a date?” He finished this time, and Aizawa gave a hesitant nod. It was cute, how shy he was being right now, and the voice hero just couldn't resist the little laugh that broke free of his chest. “I think I'd like that...” He murmured back, earning him a soft smile that he knew he would move mountains to see again.
But then again, now he didn't have to...