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Shouji Mezou trusts Yaoyorozu Momo.
Although he was a man of few words, in each of his actions he demonstrated it.
Following her plans to the letter, no questions asked. Shouji wasn’t afraid of risking his life for one of his classmates and if Yaoyorozu told him to jump off a bridge then he would, because being her, she surely would have some plan to make everything go well in the end.
And it's because he trusted her, that he followed her every word. But the situation had changed so suddenly that Shouji didn't realize the moment he made a mistake and she had to cover it up, leaving them both trapped in one of Ground Beta’s rooms.
They tried to get out, but to no avail. Apart from the iron doors, all exits were frozen by an extremely thick layer of ice.
"Todoroki-san really showed off with this one, huh" Yaoyorozu sighed as she sat down on the floor next to him "It's good that this is an exercise, if it was in real life then the villains wouldn't wait for us."
He heard her voice, but couldn't meet her eyes. Shouji's mind disconnected the moment he realized it.
"Tentacole? Are you alright?"
She was so kind it almost hurt. He couldn't face her.
He heard her move in front of him. He felt her touch his silver hair gently.
"Shouji-san?"
Concern dripping from her voice and he, as big as he was, wrapped his six arms around himself unable to fully look at what expression she might have.
"...Please don't look at me"
One of his limbs turned into a mouth and exclaimed in a small voice. Because from Yaoyorozu, of all people, he couldn't bear to receive hate from her.
His mask had been teared in the process by Dark Shadow in that stupid mistake he had made, leaving behind little blue chunks dangling from his neck. He wanted to ask Yaoyorozu if she could make him another one, but his throat seemed to be tied in a tight knot. Shouji wasn't used to feeling like this. So small, vulnerable. Usually it was the complete opposite.
Yaoyorozu kept lacing her fingers through his silver hair, caressing gently while he hesitated.
"Shouji-san" He didn't know if it was from the cold coming through the door or not, but a shiver ran through his body "Can you tell me what's wrong?"
She was always so sweet. So kind. So understandable. It was hard to avoid the subject when someone like her was by his side.
"My mask"
It was all he could say. This part of him, as hidden as it always was, made him wonder why it came out so easily in front of her. He considered her his friend, even if they didn't talk that much. He trusted her. But he didn’t understand where the comfort he felt came from despite the vulnerability of the situation.
"…Please don’t hate me"
Simply, Shouji didn't want to be the cause of anyone's sadness. Much less of Yaoyorozu’s, whom he held in such high regard.
"I could never hate a gentleman like you"
His cheeks started to heat up the moment she said it. He closed his eyes when he felt Yaoyorozu's hands so gently caress his hair and the touch his arms, signaling him to make way for her and Mezou did so; untangling and dropping his six limbs to the sides of his body, still with his head down feeling completely exposed before her in a way he had never been.
"Shouji-san" Her honey voice was too sweet for him "Could you look at me?"
A sigh escaped his lips. The real ones. There was no way he could deny her when she asked so gently, he didn't even know if he wanted to do so.
Slowly, he lifted his head. Her figure seemed to belong between his legs and Shouji realized he was still taller than Yaoyorozu even when seating. His black eyes met hers. Mezou expected to see tears, disgust, even hate. He prepared himself for it.
But all he found was a warm gaze accompanied by a gentle smile.
Yaoyorozu Momo understood. Of course she understood. If you thought about it, they were both quite mature compared to the rest of their peers and it was difficult for them to indulge in emotional urges like this.
He felt a bit embarrassed about it.
After a few moments in silent admiration, Shouji blurted out the same words that had been said to him long ago.
"...I look like a monster"
"That's a complete lie" Yaoyorozu countered immediately, with total assurance and underlying kindness, as if she were affirming to a child that the sky is not going to fall.
“You look like my classmate, one of the strongest and kindest people I know. You look like someone who aspires to be a great hero, someone I can trust… ” She bit her lip for a second, clearly embarrassed after having processed what she said. And the hand that rested on his hair nervously diverted to his cheek "... I would say, you look quite handsome"
A shy smile played on Yaoyorozu's lips as her face turned a lovely crimson and Mezou felt his heart pound at the sight, his own face bursting with color as her words etched into his head, knowing that he would never be able to forget them.
He couldn't take his eyes off her. Yaoyorozu was always beautiful, but this embarrassed expression she was wearing was quickly becoming his favorite one.
"Shouji-san, If- If you’ll allow me?"
With a shaky tone, he didn't know what she wanted to do. However, he trusted her too much to refuse. Shouji slowly nodded and his breath hitched in his throat as Momo gently placed both hands on the sides of his cheeks.
Her beautiful face approaches his from below.
His senses have always been more developed than normal, but now he suddenly feels hypersensitive; he can hear every little breath that escapes her, see every flicker of her long lashes, feel every moment in which she so painfully slow approaches.
Momo’s soft lips rest on his nose for seconds as long as they are incredibly short when they part.
He doesn’t know if she is shaking from the shame or from the degrees of temperature that dropped around them, but the face of the heroine in front of him is burning and without waiting, she buries her face in his chest.
And he who is used to leader Yaoyorozu can't help but think that as much as she can be utterly cool, she’s also undoubtedly cute.
A light laugh fills the space between them as Shouji wraps his arms around her waist, earning an adorable sound of surprise as she returns the hug and Mezou buries his head in her neck, smelling the sweat on her skin from battle and the floral scent that her luscious hair gives off.
"Yaoyorozu"
It feels weird to speak through his mouth, the one in his face. He usually occupies one of his limbs, but with her, Mezou feels that there’s no need.
"Y-Yes, Shouji-san?"
Her nerves are adorable and a little contagious, a big smile that is secretly flustered takes over his face.
"I won’t let you go".
He announces both figuratively and literally, hoping with all his heart that he wasn't wrong in what he was thinking, holding her a little tighter against him, enjoying the hug just in case it was the last.
This was his way of protecting her from the cold and also… He was beginning to like way too much feeling her so close to him; her shaky breaths, the racing of her heart, the warmth of her soft body radiating over him.
Shouji was not someone who wished for too much, but right now, he wanted everything she could offer him. Yaoyorozu laughed softly and he wished he could hear that joyous sound forever.
"I know you won’t"
She murmured to his surprise, settling into his arms to give him a sweet kiss on his cheek.
And at that moment, even without the mask, Shouji is undoubtedly happy.
***
The front door opens and Shouji Mezou opens his eyes to see Tokoyami walk through the door as Todoroki unfreezes what remains of ice on the walls.
They both look into each other's eyes and even Dark Shadow seems to not know what to say to the position in which he has found them.
It's not like Shouji was bothered or uncomfortable, Yaoyorozu had simply fallen asleep at some point in his arms. Of course, not without first making him a mask for his comfort once his companions returned for them.
Shouji stood up from where he was sitting, having enough strength to not let go of Yaoyorozu at any time.
Todoroki walked through the door after finishing his work and the three looked at each other in silence.
"This revelry shall be kept in the darkness"
Tokoyami said calmly and the three of them nodded at the same time, a silent agreement forming between them as they left the room as Momo slept happily in Shouji's arms without knowing anything, having already done more than enough for him.