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"Dekiru, you don't need to-"
"We're on break right? I'll be right back I swear."
"No, I need to come with you."
"Okay!"
Rumi was used to following a routine with her patrol. But… things had changed when Izuku Midoriya was introduced to her life. She still remembered when she first saw him.
Kicking ass in the Sports Festival. Earning First Place for himself and making Rumi oddly proud of him considering he was one of the few people that were even willing to approach her.
Now, here she was, crouched on the edge of a roof, one arm short, and Midoriya jumping off the roof into a nearby ice cream shop to grab a snack. It almost made her want to laugh at him. Just imagine the looks on the Store Owner's faces. Dekiru, only in his second year of UA just walks in followed by the number 5 Hero.
Well, waiting was for cowards. So Miruko jumped after him, landing neatly on the sidewalk. She followed after him, entering the shop with ease. Miruko of course got a lot of stares. The noticeable stump drew a few glances. But mainly people were pulling out phones and video taping the fact that Miruko herself was in this ice cream shop.
The shop was simple. Just a handful of tables on either side of the entrance. An ordering desk at the front with several dozen ice cream flavors on display. Everything was cold, and Miruko found that she preferred the warm outdoors. The floors were tiled and everything was colored with this rainbow aesthetic that Rumi found she didn't really mind.
"Umm. What do you have for Hero inspired flavors?"
And of course, Midoriya was at the front of the line, gently asking the woman handling the orders for something as simple as Hero flavors. He was standing up straight, not stuttering at all. Rumi smiled wide, stepping forward towards him, her metal boots making small thuds on the floor. Luckily, nobody else was in line. So Miruko just walked up to him and wrapped her good arm around his neck, putting him into a headlock. Izuku didn't even seem to mind. He just laughed. He was almost taller than Rumi herself was now. So she had to do all she could to even the scale between them.
"Y-Yes sir. Any and all Hero Flavors we have on this menu here." The woman was nervous. But she was doing a good job offering Dekiru a proper service.
Midoriya took the menu gently, standing up straight but still leaning sideways into her. Because of course he was. Miruko smiled over at the green haired boy as he hummed, flipping through the menu. It was interesting, seeing him fly right by the All Might themed foodstuff. Normally that would hold his attention the most. But ever since he interned with her a year ago, ever since Miruko tore that stupid hood off his costume… he always seemed to move away from All Might more and more.
"Can I have one of these?" Midoriya hands the menu back, pointing at a specific Sundae.
"You want a Crescent Moon Choco Sundae?" The Waitress gave a nervous glance at Miruko as she said this. Midoriya of course nodded with glee. But Miruko's face was burning.
Of COURSE he grabbed the food based on her. Which really she had no problems with. She probably would have felt jealous if he grabbed anything else. So this worked wonderfully. She felt that warm sensation in her belly again, one she had never felt before meeting Izuku, and one that she seemed to almost chase with a need.
"Yes Ma'am. One Choco Sundae please. And uhh… put a top over it please? I'm taking it to go."
The Waitress nods eagerly as she goes about making the requested meal. Leaving Izuku to simply lean on Miruko's good side. She looked over at him… how relaxed he looked. He had grown in his time with her, and it always amazed her just how eager he seemed to be to be near her.
Though Miruko couldn't be much better. She was the one with the racing heart and wide smile. She didn't even mind all the camera flashes she heard going off behind her.
Minutes pass, then Izuku is handed his Sundae. He smiles so wide. As if he was just given something priceless. He reaches into his pocket to pay…
"Oh no! Please! It's on the house!" The Waitress insists, waving her hands back and forth as she rejected the money. But Miruko wasn't having any of that.
She reached into one of her metal panels on her right side of her leotard. Popping it open and extracting her wallet. She placed a handful of tens on the counter and put it back. The process was slow and difficult, Miruko only having one arm and all. But Midoriya was patient, letting her do what she needed to. Which she was thankful for. She didn't like being treated like an invalid just because she lost an arm- she was better than that.
"Here. I'm not a fan of charity. I'm just a Hero. I still gotta pay for things. Thanks for the food." Miruko tried her best to smile at the waitress, who took the money with shaky hands. Then Izuku and Miruko turned to leave, walking away and out the door.
"Did you really have to order that?" Miruko says, referencing the sundae in Izuku's hands.
Midoriya simply smiled as he placed the Sundae on his belt. Which worked well. Apparently the cup was fairly sturdy.
"Of course I did. Now come on! Race you!"
Izuku flared his Quirk right up to 10%, leaping up and clearing the building in one fell swoop. Miruko chuckled at him.
"Brat."
Then she too jumped, clearing the first four floors before she grabbed on with her hand, yanking herself up for a grip and leaping the last three floors. She landed easily, sitting on the concrete edge of the roof while Izuku did the same.
They arranged themselves quickly. Izuku sitting next to Miruko as he uncapped his cold treat and grabbed the spoon he was also given. Miruko watched him eat with a thoughtful look on her face.
Rumi was unfamiliar with love.
It was never something she had ever considered as a Hero. All she had put her time into was climbing the ladder. Which, while fun at first, quickly lost it's shine when she reached the height of it all. Number 5 was fine for her. She had all the security she could ask for. And true to form, she loved her job. But it was always missing something. People always thought she was scary. Children avoided her at parks. Nobody really asked for her autograph in the streets.
She was lonely, even if she hated to admit it.
Then Izuku came rolling into her life, making her break her 'No Team-Ups' rule within the span of a day. He interested her, made her excited to teach someone. Added that extra flare to her life. She still remembered how excited she acted the week leading up to his internship. Miruko felt more fired up to clean her office than she had in her entire life. She wanted to make sure everything was perfect.
And it was. Izuku got there, and they both taught each other plenty of things. Miruko taught izuku how to be confident and control his power. And he… he taught her what having an equal felt like.
"Are you hungry?"
Miruko was snapped out of her reverie by Izuku, who was staring at her in open concern. Miruko shook her head before smiling at him.
"Naw, just thinking about your first internship. You've come a long way since then."
Izuku chuckles, nervously rubbing his head as he blushed.
"No… I'm only here because of you Rumi. You've done a lot for me."
And didn't that just make her heart beat faster. She still remembered the first time he called her Rumi. And when they agreed to be on a first name basis. And… that really did make her happy. Seeing him acknowledge her as both a hero AND her own person. That was something a lot of people failed to see. Sure, she was Miruko. But she was also Rumi. And Izuku understood that.
"You've done a lot for me too Izuku. Including helping me get used to this arm thing. And… I know we don't mention it… but the first few months were rough."
Nothing more had to be said. Izuku simply accepted the praise, even if he didn't think he deserved it. Izuku had cried the hardest when he saw Miruko's injuries after the raid. He had tried to keep it together too. He tried so hard. But it was horrifying to him, seeing someone he held up so high get hurt so badly. But that was all behind them. Miruko was handling everything just fine. The stump wasn't even that bad. But of course, izuku applied for a permanent side kick position at Miruko's Agency. Which she accepted, much to the media's dismay.
"I try my hardest Rumi… that's what matters right? Trying your best?" He gave her a nervous smile, which she returned by ruffling his hair with her good hand.
"Damn straight. Now, are you almost done?"
Izuku shook his head, then grabbed his spoon again. Except this time, instead of feeding himself, he offered the glob of ice cream to Miruko herself. Miruko narrowed her eyes at Izuku.
"Kid, I'm not-"
"When was the last time you ate today?"
"I don't need to answer that." Miruko challenged.
A challenge that fell flat when Miruko's stomach growled loudly. She blushed, but still didn't accept the food.
"I'm fine Izuku. I can feed myself."
"I know." And the way he said that. With the most gentle smile as he gave Miruko this look. One that made her know that he meant every word he was saying and all he wanted was to make her feel better.
She could never say no to that. But she could act mad about it. She reached over, grabbing Izuku by his costume and dragging him into her lap. She placed her head on his shoulder and mumbled.
"You better not tell anyone else of this."
Izuku gave Miruko the spoon again, chuckling as she angrily took a bite.
"Wouldn't dream of it Rumi."
Rumi swishes the chocolate ice cream around her mouth for a second before she swallows. It actually tasted great. She always did have a sweet spot for chocolate. She wrapped her one good arm around Izuku's waist, holding him close as they both dangled their legs off the building. Izuku watched the streets as he fed Miruko, making sure to listen closely for when she swallowed so he could offer another bite. It was a bit odd, feeding Miruko over his shoulder. But she met him halfway to make it easier.
And that really was a nice way to sum up their entire relationship wasn't it? No matter what Rumi threw at him, Izuku always met her halfway. Be it in combat, in conversation, or in life. Even as far back as that single internship, Miruko never expected to have to treat Izuku like a child. And in return, Izuku never treated her as more than she was. Miruko never got that God-Like worship that All Might used to receive. And she was fine with that. Rumi preferred to see themselves as equals, despite her official position placing her above him.
"More please." Rumi asked politely, feeling pretty good all things considered.
She didn't plan to be eating Ice Cream for her Patrol break. But here she was. And it was a pretty nice way to be spending her time. Especially as Izuku offered her another bite. She took the large bite of ice cream before she buried her face in Izuku's hair.
What were they?
If anyone asked, they were work partners. But to them… they left it all undefined. They worked together, slept together, ate together, watched TV together, and basically lived together. They never really considered how they made the other feel. Though they never denied anything either. When it came down to it. They were just… together.
Rumi never tried to figure out what the warm feeling in her chest was. Even if she had a good idea of what it could be. And she knew that Izuku felt much the same way. He had never hid anything. Much like her he just never confirmed anything. So… what should she do?
"More Please." Rumi was again offered another bite of ice cream, Izuku taking his own bite shortly after. They didn't even care that they were sharing a spoon.
They just… did.
Miruko swallowed what she had been offered. Then, she leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to Izuku's cheek. He seemed to pause, his eyes widening. Miruko simply held him, letting him process.
"More please."
Rumi smiled as Izuku snapped out of his trance.
He didn't ask questions.
He didn't ask what they were now.
He already knew. They were simple. Floating with whatever they had. And a kiss on the cheek was bound to happen every now and then.
He did offer her another bite though.
And Rumi was too happy to even care about all the people taking pictures of their impromptu lunch break.