Chapter Text
Sero hadn’t planned to bother Todoroki that night, but he flew through the latest manga he’d borrowed, and was itching to find out what happened next. He knocked lightly at the door.
Todoroki hadn’t been expecting visitors, which usually wouldn’t be a big deal if someone decided to knock. However, tonight he wasn’t okay. Endeavor had called, seemingly just to remind him that his failures in the provisional licensing exam reflected badly on his father. As if he didn’t already know. Speaking to his father always elicited anger and a tinge of fear that would never go away. He was on edge when the quiet knock came and almost jumped out of his skin. He paused for a moment, to see if whoever was outside of his door might think he wasn’t there and leave, but the knock came again, followed by the voice of his next-door neighbor.
“Hey Todoroki, you in there? Just wanted to return that manga I borrowed and maybe…uh, borrow another one?” Sero said sheepishly. He didn’t want to admit he’d finished too quick, but he was at his friend’s door so there wasn’t really any denying it. He waited a few moments more before deciding maybe the other boy wasn’t there. However, as he started to move away the door cracked open. Todoroki looked…off. Sero didn’t know what it was, but Todoroki clearly wasn’t in the mood for visitors. He gave a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his head. “Oh geez, you look tired. Sorry for bothering you I’ll just come back later.” He was about to turn and walk away but the other boy’s voice stopped him.
“It’s fine, come in.” Sero turned back obediently and walked inside, feeling stupid for being so awkward. He stepped into the room, handing the other boy the manga in his hands
“I read it faster than I anticipated,” Sero laughed “you know how good books are.” Todoroki nodded knowingly and moved to his shelf to pick up the next volume. He knew he was being strange because despite Sero usually overcompensating for Todoroki’s lack of emotions, he seemed particularly nervous this time. He had also noted Sero’s comment about him seeming tired. It wasn’t like him to bring that up unless it meant something. He handed the next volume to Sero, who read the cover and skimmed the pages, eyes lighting up. “Dude thank you!” he grinned genuinely “I can’t believe I’d never read this series before you brought it up to me.”
“It wasn’t a very popular one. Usually unless you’re a bit obsessed most people only stick to well-known series.” Todoroki replied. He was glad to have found a friend that appreciated his semi-obsession with manga instead of finding it strange or childish. It was one of the few childish things he allowed himself to engage with because of his lack of a childhood. As he thought about it, his expression changed slightly. It was undetectable to most, but Sero noticed.
“Hey dude, mind if I read this here with you? I’d love to have someone to talk to about it as I’m reading instead of holding all my opinions in my brain til we see each other next.” He smiled. Todoroki thought on it for a bit. As much as he didn’t want to let anyone into his shit, Sero was already here. So, he pulled out a chair for his friend and sat on the floor, grabbing anything to read so he could pretend not to be so caught up in his head. They sat in silence for a while, Sero wondered what it would take to get Todoroki to open up about what was bothering him. He knew it wasn’t his business, but he also knew Todoroki allowed him to stay, so maybe it was okay to poke…or maybe he should let Todoroki take the lead.
Todoroki tried to read, but he’d read the one he picked out a billion times before. He knew the plot forward and backward, and his anxieties were winning over his desire to appear functional. His leg bounced, he bit at his nails, clutched tightly at the book, and even with the amount of control he had over his quirk, he could feel his emotions making it go haywire. Sero accidentally had become so engrossed that he didn’t notice anything off until he heard a quiet but panicked
“Oh no” come from Todoroki’s side of the room. He looked up from his book and saw Todoroki’s own book, half frozen on one side, and smoking lightly on the other side. Sero raised an eyebrow as he watched his friend regain control of the situation. When Todoroki finally looked up, he jumped, almost like he’d forgotten Sero was there. Sero’s brow furrowed.
“Are you alright?” he asked, eyes refusing to break their gaze on Todoroki. The other boy desperately tried to look anywhere that was not at Sero. He didn’t want to broach it. He wanted to keep playing at normal, Sero didn’t need to know what was behind the curtain. He had hidden it decently for this long, (unless you count the sports festival…where he turned Sero into a human ice sculpture), no one needed to know how fucked his life was. Sero was still waiting for a response, but Todoroki couldn’t provide an answer. If he did, Sero would leave, would think he was too messed up to continue being around, would think Todoroki was the pathetic child his father thought he was. He still hadn’t responded. The room was cooling down. Maybe if Todoroki encased himself in ice, Sero would get the message. But before he could attempt that, his friend was at his side. Not touching him, not saying anything, just…there.
Sero had moved without thinking. It was the classic hero origin story according to what All Might had told them all. He knew better to touch someone having a panic attack without their permission, so he sat near Todoroki, to let him know that he was there, and he wasn’t leaving. Todoroki stiffened at first, but without warning, leaned his shoulder into Sero. Finally getting any kind of response, Sero asked quietly “how can I help?” this prompted contemplative silence from his friend for a moment, before Todoroki finally responded.
“…Stay here, please.” He seemed to continue thinking for a moment, before pointing to a cabinet “there’s also tea in the cupboard over there, it sometimes helps.” Sero nodded, standing up and bringing over a tea set and a blanket. He tried looking around for something to heat the water with, and Todoroki could hear him opening and closing cabinets before saying a bit louder, “I don’t own anything to heat water with.” The opening and closing of the cabinets stopped and there was silence for a moment before he heard Sero let out a quiet
“Ooooh…that makes sense.” This elicited a short laugh from Todoroki. He returned, pulling a pillow off the floor and sitting with his friend on the floor. Todoroki quietly heated the water, but he knew if someone didn’t speak soon, he’d start getting antsy again. Sero seemed to read his mind as he watched the process of the tea-making. “what now?”
“Just talk to me about anything.” Todoroki hated how pathetic he sounded. He knew he needed a distraction, but he had always handled this alone. Despite knowing he needed the help and accepting it, he now regretted how weak he was being.
“Maybe we should talk about what’s going on? Distractions are all well and good, but it doesn’t really help alleviate any real issues.” Sero knew it was a long shot, and didn’t expect a direct answer, but he couldn’t leave this just hanging in the air without trying to approach it. Maybe it was because he had already admitted weakness, but Todoroki decided he didn’t mind letting Sero in at that moment. He explained where his mind was at as they sipped the tea. Sero nodded and listened. He couldn’t relate, but he knew one thing he could say. “Your father isn’t here. He can keep trying to control your life but Todoroki,” at this moment Todoroki’s eyes met Sero’s, and he was fully aware of how close they had gotten., shoulder to shoulder, now intently watching one another. “You’re your own man. You choose your own path.”
The words resonated with Todoroki. They reverberated through his skull. It wasn’t some big revelation, it wasn’t “it’s your power,” it was just, a statement. He knew his power was his own and only he could make it something untouchable to his father, he knew this. But Todoroki still struggled with it like anyone else. But here, in his room so late at night, someone wasn’t saying a word about his power. They were saying something about him. And that someone was looking into his eyes with such intensity, he had no choice but to accept it as a new truth about the world. They stayed like that for a few moments, in a trance. The sound of a door closing in the hall broke their gaze as they both looked towards the hallway. As both boys returned to reality, there was a definitive change in the air. It was similar in nature but…heavier, more intimate. Sero’s phone dinged and he looked down to check it, shoulder shifting a bit off Todoroki’s as he looked at the screen, eyebrows raising.
“What is it?” Todoroki asked, shifting his shoulder completely off Sero’s, also taking note of the lack of anxiety permeating the air. The other boy sheepishly scratched the back of his head, nonchalant grin returning to his face.
“I…may have forgotten I promised Kaminari we’d hang out tonight. He found a bad movie he wanted to watch with the rest of the squad. But I don’t want to leave unless you’re okay.” Despite his grin, his eyes remained serious. Todoroki didn’t want him to leave, mostly because he wanted to explore whatever had just changed in the mood of the room, but he knew he was okay now. So, he nodded.
“I’m alright. Thank you for being here.” He smiled slightly. Sero nodded and returned the smile, finally standing up to head out.
“If you ever need a friend, I’m a few steps and a knock at the door away.” He jerked a thumb to the direction of his door and picked up the manga. “Night, Roki”
“Night.” Todoroki had begun standing up as well, clearing the teapot and cups and tossing the blanket he had onto his bed as the door closed behind Sero, a new, unexplained feeling sticking in his chest.
Sero knew something was different when he walked out of the room. It wasn’t just that he had viewed a new side of his neighbor, either. Sero knew what he felt, but it wasn’t the time to explore that just yet. He knew something had changed, and it was that maybe…He had feelings for Todoroki…