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Izuku doesn’t always listen to live radio talks while he’s out on patrol, but when he does, it’s always because of Shouto. Yes, they live together and see each other practically every day (there are always those times when their schedules are on complete opposite ends of the clock), but Shouto is Izuku’s best friend so it stands to reason that he would support him in any way he could. And that includes viewership in exclusive interviews. If anyone—Ochako—were to ask if it has anything to do with the fact that he has been pining for Shouto since they graduated from high school, Izuku would obviously tell them—her—that he has no such feelings towards his friend. You know, like a liar.
Ochako keeps telling him they’ve actually been dating for years, he just doesn’t realise it, and each time, he brushes her off with an exaggerated roll of his eyes and reinforcement that she’s ridiculous for even suggesting it. The thing is, despite the fact that he and Shouto are undeniably close, Izuku had never gathered the courage to go the extra mile and tell him how he feels. Part of that has to do with their line of work and with Izuku’s own standing in the Hero world, but it’s also in no small part due to his fear of messing up a really good thing. He doesn’t want to make things awkward between them when he feels so comfortable around Shouto.
Still, he doesn’t deny himself the pleasure of admiring him from afar, at least, and today is just one of the many examples of how he does it. Besides, things have been rather calm in the city these days, and Izuku only has one earbud in, his communications device still active in the other and ready to alert him to any emergencies that may arise. As he leaps from building to building, Izuku listens intently to Shouto’s smooth voice with a smile playing at his lips as he imagines the little pout he gets whenever he has to think about what to say.
Until very recently, Shouto hadn’t actually been allowed to give interviews without his PR person present, given his bluntness and overall aloof demeanour—Izuku had always found it rather endearing, to be honest, and he is sure the fans would feel the same, but it is what it is. So, Izuku is excited to hear his friend live, for once, without someone talking in his ear and feeding him ‘the right answer’ to whatever question may be thrown at him. He’s been doing great so far, in Izuku’s totally unbiased opinion, and he is already looking forward to the slew of cat pictures he’s going to get in the mail after revealing to the world that he is, in fact, very fond of kittens.
When the interview takes a turn for the slightly more personal, Izuku really isn’t surprised. People are interested in popular Pros’ lives in much the same way they want to know all about their favourite movie stars or musicians. And Shouto is undeniably beautiful, a heartthrob, if you will, and all of his fans are just itching to know his preferences so they can create all sorts of fantasies inside their heads. Izuku can’t really judge, all things considered, seeing as he pauses for a heartbeat at the sound of the next question out of the host’s mouth.
“So, Todoroki-san, what would you say would be your ideal type for a partner?”
In retrospect, Izuku should have probably waited to hear the answer before taking his next leap, but then again, he really didn’t expect to hear what Shouto says next, the fond smile evident in his voice and throwing him for even more of a loop.
“That’s easy. Hero Deku.”
To say that he was so shocked he missed his landing would be the understatement of the century. As it stands, Izuku ungracefully faceplants a stop sign when he trips on his own two feet the moment they hit the concrete down below, cutting off a loud curse as soon as he notices children watching him and instead dips into a crouch with a muffled shriek. His face turns all shades of read from both embarrassment and holding back multiple screams, some of them of joy, others of mild pain, most of them of complete and utter disbelief.
Unable to keep himself together, let alone keep listening to whatever the interviewer or Shouto say next, Izuku immediately tears the earbud out, already feeling his phone blowing up in his pocket with gods know how many texts. Smiling sheepishly at any civilians looking at him funny, Izuku casually takes his phone out of his pocket, rubbing the bridge of his nose when he sees Ochako’s name flashing right above his own PR agent’s, his mother’s and also Rei’s. Sucking in a deep breath and bracing himself for whatever’s to come, Izuku looks through the texts.
[Ochako 02:43pm]
Told ya. You owe me dinner now.
[Akagi Kazuha 02:44pm]
Please call me at your earliest convenience. We need to talk about your relationship with Todoroki-san.
[Mom 02:44pm]
Midoriya Izuku, why am I finding out that you and Shouto-kun are together through the news?
[Todoroki Rei 02:47pm]
Congratulations on the announcement! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･ﾟI was wondering when you would tell people.
So, apparently, Shouto’s mother gets to know about his supposed relationship before he does. Lovely.
Not even knowing how to respond to any of it right now, Izuku simply locks his phone and moves on to rubbing at his temples now. It takes about thirty seconds for everything to fully sink in, and as soon as Izuku gets a notice through his comms to get to the agency as soon as possible, he starts towards it as fast as his legs can take him, already sensing a myriad of cameras pointing his way.
After a quick talk with his PR agent and apologising profusely for something he is as much at a loss about as everyone around him, he is glad to be sent home where, if his extensive knowledge of Shouto’s schedule is correct—which it definitely is—, the reason for his turmoil should be lounging on the couch. That is, if he isn’t dealing with the backlash of what he decided to just announce to the world without any sort of previous warning.
And, because the universe is fair like that, when he steps through the door to their shared apartment, there he is, completely carefree as he eats a bowl of cereal while watching some cartoon on TV.
“Oh, hey Izuku. You’re home early.”
“Don’t you ‘hey Izuku’ me! This is how you decide to confess your feelings for me?! Through live radio?!”
“Confess?”
“Well, what do you call announcing to the whole of Japan that I’m apparently your type other than that?”
“Apparently?” Izuku throws his hands up in frustration, staring incredulously as Shouto narrows his eyes at him, brow furrowing with confusion. “She asked what my type of partner was. What was I supposed to do? Lie?”
“Yes! I mean—No? What do you even mean by that?” Izuku squeaks, his face so hot he almost worries he might actually spontaneously combust.
“Okay, so apparently everyone keeps saying I shouldn’t have done that. But I mean, it’s been years, whoever doesn’t see it is surely blind.”
Izuku blinks stupidly. “S-see what?”
“That we love each other.” Shouto deadpans and Izuku splutters, covering his face with his arms.
“Oh my god, you can’t just—how can you just—” He trails off into another shriek, turning his back to Shouto and curling in on himself.
“Wait… you actually didn’t know? Haven’t we been dating for a while? We even live together.”
“B-b-b-but we don’t—We don’t even share a room or a-any—what do you mean we’ve been dating for a while?!”
“I keep taking you out to dates.”
“I thought those were friendly outings!”
“Just the two of us? To romantic dimly lit restaurants with really expensive food? And that one time we went into the Tunnel of Love at the fair?”
“I didn’t—I thought that was just stuff you liked and—you never told me, Shouto-kun!” Izuku whines, facing his friend again.
Shouto purses his lips. “I thought it went without saying.” He shrugs, taking another spoonful of cereal to his mouth then speaking around the food. “I mean, we cuddle all the time, and even if we don’t share a room, I’ve slept with you plenty of times. We tell each other everything, cook meals for each other… The only thing we haven’t really done is kiss but I just thought you weren’t interested since you never asked.”
“Oh my god…” Izuku covers his mouth, feeling even more blood rushing to his cheeks. “We’ve totally been dating.”
“Well, yeah.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t notice.”
“And people call me dense.” Shouto snorts and Izuku points a very accusing finger at his face.
“Oh no, you don’t get off that easy! You should have told me!”
“I asked you to move in with me and you said yes.”
“That is not the same as saying ‘Izuku, I like you as more than a friend’!”
“I could have sworn I did.” Shouto hums thoughtfully, then shrugs once again before taking more cereal into his mouth. “Sorry. Well, you know now. Are things changing between us?”
“Well, I mean…” Izuku grumbles, gnawing on his bottom lip in a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. “You could kind of make up for all the time I spent pining for you without needing to, for one.”
“That seems fair.”
His apparent boyfriend crosses his arms over his chest after placing his bowl on the coffee table, leaning against the back of the couch as he tilts his head cutely. God damn it, he has no right to look that charming when he has just completely turned his entire world upside down. Izuku is sure his heart is actively beating itself into an early grave and Shouto looks like the picture of perfect calm.
“What do you suggest?”
“You mentioned that we haven’t kissed yet.” Izuku whispers shyly, clearing his throat and nonchalantly kicking at the air.
Raising a fiery eyebrow at him, Shouto lets a corner of his mouth quirk upwards for a split second. “That can be arranged, if you want.”
“I don’t want it, Shouto-kun. I demand it.”
“Fair enough.”
“Damn right, it is.” Izuku huffs, stomping all the way across the room and pulling Shouto up by the collar.