Work Text:
"You are pathetic." Ochako says, cheerfully.
Shouto glares at her, annoyed at being caught staring at a certain somebody next door. "Thank you for reminding me. Now get back to the customer waiting in there or I'm firing you."
Ochako grins, cheekily saluting. "You wouldn't fire me- who else are you gonna whine about that hot piercer guy to?"
Shouto narrows his eyes. "I don't whine." He says, with a straight face, dignity secure.
Ochako raises an eyebrow, before taking out her phone and pressing a button on the screen, Shouto watching with a sense of incoming dread and insecurity about his secured dignity.
"How is one man this beautiful? There has to be some explanation, right?" Shouto hears his own voice saying back to him from the phone in horror, eyes wide and dignity thoroughly unfettered.
"'Don't whine', my foot. Don't you ever dare try lying to my face again." Ochako said, dryly.
Shouto, because he deserves a singular moment of triumph over his insufferable friend, chucks a paper ball at her.
Contrary to what anybody might say, Shouto doesn't have a staring problem. He is also perfectly fine, thank you for asking.
Not.
His life was going pretty great actually- it's not everyday you get to open a tattoo parlor, have it run successfully and gain a steady income with nobody bothering you, and you managing not to run into problems.
But then. But then.
The nice shop-owner next door had to leave because apparently she had gotten pregnant and her wife had gotten a job somewhere at Chiba. Shouto had been a little sad when she had left, and it wasn't just so he had been getting free groceries from her but because Ms. Tatsuma was genuinely a good person.
Ms. Tatsuma leaving the store had turned out to be Shouto's biggest nightmare manifest, however, because for some reason, a piercing store had to open up there, but wait. The piercing store itself is not his biggest problem.
The store's owner was.
And no, it wasn't because the guy was a douchebag like say, fucking Touya (Shouto is still not going to forget how the asshole made his midline piercing hurt like fuck because he could). No. No, no, the guy in question, one Midoriya Izuku, was a bewilderingly nice person, though said niceness was rather endearing. No, you didn't hear 'endearing' from Shouto.
The problem was....the guy was hot.
Shouto had been walking his way to work one fine morning to open the parlor, fortunately having worn a scarf that cold day, (If not for the scarf, he wouldn't have had even the scrap of dignity he possessed today) and just minding his own business before bumping into someone big.
Said someone was a few inches shorter (take that, annoying siblings), yes, but also. Big.
So when Shouto had rubbed his face and looked down to frown at them uncomfortably enough for standing right smack middle in the street, he...suffice to say, he did not get the chance to frown or glare, and had instead, like a very common simpleton, stared.
The guy was big, as mentioned. It didn't help that he was somehow warm enough to wear a simple t-shirt- granted, there was a fluffy black sweater over said t-shirt, but it also meant that Shouto had to get a nice view of the guy's biceps.
More precisely, tattooed biceps. Very nicely tattooed biceps- Shouto could swear up and down that some of the skin on the arms showed hints of a Viking tattoo, though he couldn't recognize it, given the jacket- yeah, he probably should not be staring.
So it was that Shouto found himself staring at some random stranger's well tattooed and well-endowed biceps at 7 AM on a cold Monday morning, blinking like a fool as he tried looking for words to say to the situation at hand.
"I'm so sorry!" The aforementioned random stranger said, and Shouto only barely registered the apology, given the fact he had been busy discovering that this stranger had the prettiest freckled cheeks he's had the pleasure of seeing.
So. Muscles. Pretty tattoos. Freckles.
Shouto was done for.
"Wha?"
"Oh my god, are you okay?" The stranger asked, eyes wide and looking absolutely horrified.
"I think so." Shouto says simply, blinking stars out of his eyes, rubbing his head. He then properly registers the stranger instead of just ogling him like a freak, noting the distressed expression on his face with surprise.
"I'm okay. Really." Shouto says, tucking his scarf closer around him. It seemed hotter for some reason, and he didn't like knowing why.
"You look really dazed though. I'm so, so sorry- I was just going for a morning jog and returning back here to open up shop?" The stranger is about to say some more, but Shouto then finally regains his brain cells, turning to the left to see a...piercing parlor. The catalogues on the window are a dead giveaway, and Shouto just blinks.
Shouto raises his eyebrows, and looks at the stranger. "You moved in here?"
The stranger stops talking- not that Shouto had been hearing what he had been saying, he notes guiltily, but unfortunately for Shouto, he has to be faced with the most blinding smile in the existence of blinding smiles, and he's friends with Uraraka Ochako.
"Yep! Like I was saying, my friend opened a piercing parlor here, and I work for him? We thought this would be a good place for business, so yeah." The stranger says, and much to Shouto's devastated state of mind, he notes that this guy's freckles turn into little curved crinkled lines when he smiles.
"Oh. I work here- in the tattoo parlor next door. I own it." Shouto cannot but help say dumbly.
The stranger widens his eyes, before grinning again. "Oh, that's amazing! We'd be neighbors then in that case-" he then laughs awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, which, Shouto now notices, also has the hints of a geometric tattoo that is once again hidden by that blasted jacket, but it's a bit more visible on the collarbone (which is also very nice), and Shouto has to admit it's done pretty well.
"I'm sorry I bumped into you and gave you a bad first impression. I'm not this clumsy, usually." The stranger says, holding out a hand for Shouto to shake. Shouto shakes it, noting how warm and comfortable his hold is. Much to his already injured mental state, the hand is also big. And comfy. Did Shouto mention comfy?
"That's okay. I should have looked where I was going too." Shouto says, in a weak attempt of reassurance. The stranger chuckles, shaking his head, and letting go of Shouto's hand.
"Midoriya Izuku. Nice to meet you." Midoriya says, and Shouto nods slowly.
"Todoroki Shouto." What does one say? See you around? "...See you around, then?"
Midoriya's smiles are very, very blinding and very genuine, it takes Shouto aback. "Definitely! Wait, you said you own the tattoo parlor next door?"
Shouto nods slowly, again. "Yeah."
Midoriya gapes a little, in wonder, and he beams. "I'd love to see your work sometime! But uh," Midoriya then looks sheepish again. "I'm probably keeping you from opening the parlor, I'm sorry. Maybe we can meet up during your break? If you want, of course!"
Shouto blinks, a little taken aback once more, before nodding. "Sure. I'm free between 12 and 1. You?"
Midoriya nods excitedly, for someone awake at 7 AM. Then again, Shouto isn't a heavy sleeper either, so he can't really judge. "Same! See you, Todoroki!"
As Shouto watched Midoriya smile and run away to the piercing parlor, he was aware, that he had a problem.
That lunch break turned out to be one of Shouto's best lunch breaks ever.
Midoriya is a very friendly guy- in fact it leaves Shouto absolutely bewildered, because there is no way anybody would be that friendly without a reason, but there is something about Midoriya that screams sincerity; maybe it's the way he excitedly talks about what he does and how he got into piercing in the first place (apparently, his best friend, a fellow tattooist and he worked part-time at a piercing parlor for money once) and how he genuinely takes an interest in Shouto.
It also turned out that Midoriya had two very intricately done tattoo sleeves by the aforementioned best friend, and just as Shouto had guessed, they're all Viking tattoos ("My friend and I might have read way too many Thor comics as kids, so we got into the lore and stuff as we grew." Midoriya explains sheepishly with a pretty blush on his face, chuckling), very well done actually.
Particularly what catches Shouto's eye is the Yggdrasil tattoo delicately covering the entirety of Midoriya's left bicep- er, arm and the geometrical around his neck. Not...because they accentuated the muscled skin even more, of course not, it's just artistic observation.
(He's aware he's full of bullshit, thank you.)
"Your friend did a really good job." Shouto says, finally. Midoriya chuckles easily, putting his jacket back on and causing Shouto to already mourn the loss of the sight of that skin.
"He'd say he's the best, but he'll be happy to listen to the praise, trust me. Enough about me though," Midoriya then sets his forearms on the table with a breathtaking smile, eyes shining. "Tell me about your work."
Shouto would be lying if he said his tongue hadn't gotten itself into a knot. He couldn't talk about himself on a good day, he's now faced with the most handsome stranger turned friend, like that didn't mess up his already impaired social skills. It doesn't help that Midoriya's confidence (or was it ease in socializing? Shouto'll never know) is taking him aback, albeit in a pleasant manner. It's fairly flustering.
Of course, Shouto can recognize that Midoriya himself is a little hesitant to converse, a few tells giving him away, but the bewildering fact is that it isn't stopping him and it only seemed to encourage him to try harder, if the way he's so easy and free with his smiles is any indication.
"You'd think as a tattoo artist, I'd have a lot, but the truth is I don't have as many as you do." Shouto says, causing Midoriya to chuckle a little. Okay, that's good. "There's just the one on my left side..." Shouto says, Midoriya looking interested. It helps, because Shouto's hands don't shake as much when he unzips his sweater and lifts his shirt a little to show the tattoo of a phoenix on his left side, from his neck, covering the whole of the left half of his chest and ending at his hip.
The little gasp of wonder that Midoriya lets out is terribly satisfying.
"My brother asked a friend of his to do it for me, actually-" Shouto remembers how Touya had been grinning down at him with actual affection for once in their lives, as Shouto sat down in the chair, after having run away from his own college graduation ceremony. He then lets go of the shirt, zipping his sweater back on. "-I didn't even know what I wanted to be tattooed on me that day."
Midoriya smiles, eyes shining captivatingly again. "It's really amazing." He says, voice a little hushed, and Shouto fights the urge to preen. He succeeds.
As Ochako peeked into the break room, brown eyes curious and wide before slyly narrowing as Shouto's eyes meet with hers, Shouto knew that he was a dumbass.
Ever since that day, which had been approximately six months ago (at least the first name basis is comforting), Shouto's been a little too...out of the loop, about it, you could say. Ochako calls it being loopy. Natsuo calls it being hilariously lovesick. Fuyumi calls it adorable.
And well, Touya's not exactly big about voicing his opinion on anything remotely close to relationships and the lack thereof, but Shouto's annoyed at his incessant dichotomy of bored eye-rolls and gleeful leers.
Either way, it's not stopping Shouto from dwelling on Izuku when he could, embarrassingly enough. But something about Izuku is so innately comforting, Shouto has learnt in the course of their now formed friendship, that makes him happy. Whether it's Izuku's endearing way of talking excitedly about something he loves for hours on end (of course, Shouto draws the line at astrophysics ramblings directed at Ochako- no, don't ask), Izuku's many different smiles- each of them beautiful (and devastating, let's not forget devastating) in their own way and...
Yes, Shouto has it bad.
Bad.
It's not just that Izuku is (very) easy on the eyes, it's the fact he patiently listens and takes in whatever Shouto has to say- he won't lie, Izuku has that way of making him feel special. It's the way Izuku lets Shouto be, and makes him feel more accepting of himself.
But Shouto knows he's received enough good things in life, so he's just going to let these feelings....fester, probably.
Too bad Izuku himself had other plans....as it turned out.
Shouto doesn't notice Izuku getting handsy until Ochako points it out and once she does, he has no idea what to make of the information.
It's nothing in particular- Izuku's taken to visiting the tattoo parlor every now and then when he doesn't have customers, and sometimes even indulges Shouto when he wants to bounce off ideas about a design or so. Today, Shouto's ruminating over a black-work tattoo a customer's given him the idea for- black-work's pretty easy, but it doesn't provide the satisfaction watercolors do, or maybe that's just him, when Izuku looks over his shoulder.
Shouto already noticed him coming in, of course. It's normal, routine at this point. What isn't normal is the way Izuku leans closer, chin nearly on Shouto's shoulder, a little too close for comfort, wrapping a very strong arm around his shoulders.
"What are you working on?" Izuku asks cheerily, as if nothing is out of the ordinary and his cologne isn't driving Shouto rabid.
It takes Shouto's brain a few seconds to reboot, and when he turns to face Izuku, he's not ready for viewing his friend in a tank top either. Thankfully, by the time Shouto's teetering dangerously close to awkward, he manages to cough out a reply.
"A customer asked me to work on black-work a few days ago, and it's been a while. I'm just....looking up what design they thought would look good, they're coming in this evening." Shouto said, amazed at himself for getting out so many words at once.
Izuku grins. "That so? These designs look pretty good- you got anything in mind? In particular?"
Shouto coughs again. "Yeah. I think this one looks...neat. And more suited to the customer in question." Shouto says, quickly taking out a paper where he sketched out a rather extensive geometric design with flowers coursing in and out of them in a swirl, though honestly, Shouto didn't even know which paper he was taking out because Izuku was too damn close and he didn't want that ending.
"Oh yeah- this does look pretty good! I'd say it's really gorgeous, but all of your designs are, so." Izuku says, smiling so widely his eyes crinkled.
Shouto blinked. Izuku thinks....what?
"Ah. Thank you." Very eloquent there, buddy. "That's really nice of you to say, Izuku."
Needless to say, when Ochako inevitably drops over to tell him there's a customer, Shouto is startled and looks back, only to her smirk at him.
"Ah. I'll have to go. See you later?" Shouto asks, looking up at Izuku, whose arm was still around his damn shoulders.
Izuku shrugs, grinning. "That's okay- this evening maybe? I've got to return the Star Wars comic you lent me last week."
Ah. Comic. Right. Shouto did wonder where his last issue of Darth Vader's hunt for Obi-Wan had gone to; it's not surprising that Izuku has it, considering how many comics they had bartered over the last few days since Rogue One released. "Guess I'll see you this evening once I get my break, then?"
Izuku nods, smile gentler. "Sounds like a plan! See you, Shouto!"
Once Izuku leaves, Shouto exhales loudly, making Ochako tut from the doorway.
"You got it bad." Ochako says, pityingly. Shouto glares at her.
"I have nothing." Shouto says, primly.
Ochako pouts. "Shou, come on, don't insult our friendship like that!" She protests, making Shouto roll his eyes.
"Ah yes. When I tell the truth it's called 'insulting our friendship', but when you get me tickets to a weird gay bar, it's called 'being a beneficiary', huh?" Shouto says, dryly. Ochako giggles with a grin, eyes bright.
"Aw come on- you were twenty one and you still hadn't gone out to a bar. I was being a beneficiary!" Ochako says, even as Shouto's lips twitch to form a grin which quickly dies when his friend points a finger at him.
"But you aren't telling shit- listen, that guy's into you, all right?" Ochako says, narrowing her eyes.
Shouto stares at her before snorting. "Ha ha, very funny. I'll just go to that customer now." He says quickly, ignoring the thumping of his heart at the idea of Izuku liking him back.
"So? That expensive-ass cologne worth it, stupid nerd, or-"
Izuku shrugs with a smirk. "Totally worth it. You're gonna have to suffer with it for the next few months, I'm afraid."
"Fuck you."
Natsuo is smart. It's a given- he's the one who actually graduated med school and was now working as a very successful doctor. It's also how he recognizes Shouto is a smart cookie too.
However, as of today's events, Natsuo can officially diagnose Shouto with the 'fool who cannot recognize flirting even if it hit him in the head' disorder.
Natsuo cares for his little brother- it's why he came over to Shouto's shop in the middle of the day with a homemade bento box (because he had way too much in his fridge in the morning) and is now eating a salad in the other room as Shouto, finished with his lunch, is frowning over some tattoo designs or the other while his new friend slash potential boyfriend is standing next to him in the next room.
It's not as if Natsuo's love life is the most successful, but at least it's stable and existent, which is more than what he can say for the rest of his siblings. But it's a little ridiculous to watch as this new guy successfully makes a move on Shouto while Shouto himself does not notice a thing.
Of course, it's easy to see that his little brother is getting flustered- if Izuku bumps shoulders with Shouto, Shouto's ears turn red. If Izuku praises Shouto, Shouto starts scratching his cheek or he rubs the back of his neck. If Izuku smiles at him, Shouto's cheeks go red.
It's ridiculous.
It also gets downright scandalous when the guy pats Shouto's back, short of slapping his ass, before cheerily waving at Shouto and then leaving. Thank god the kid didn't know Natsuo was right in the other room, otherwise it would have got insanely awkward.
"Are you serious?" Natsuo says loudly, once he's sure the other guy is out, and Shouto jumps a little, turning back to face Natsuo with wide eyes.
"Holy shit- I forgot you were here." Shouto says, still looking like somebody tasered him or something.
"Clearly, otherwise I wouldn't have had to see your crush slapping your ass! While I was eating! Right in front of my salad!" Natsuo protests, face red.
Shouto gawks at him. "What? What the fuck?"
"In front of my salad! I don't know if you know that he wants to get into your pants-" Shouto sputters but Natsuo will not be silenced, no thank you. "-but he does, and so help me, please find a room!"
"Nobody asked you to stay." Shouto grumbles, face furiously red. Natsuo narrows his eyes at his little brother.
"I gave you your food today, you little brat-"
"I'm hardly little-"
"I don't care you're a giant, I don't know what's your deal, but for the love of dear god, stop pining over him, it's stopped being funny."
Shouto scowls at Natsuo, who just snorts and goes back to eating his very well-made salad.
"You slapped his ass?"
"I'm not that disgusting, Hitoshi."
"And he still didn't get the hint?"
"Oh, spare me."
"You're not gonna get to know how that tongue piercing feels like, are you?"
".....Please spare me, Hitoshi."
"Do you like it?" Shouto asks, hoping his nervousness doesn't seep out into his voice.
For a few weeks, he and Izuku have been....flirting with the idea of Shouto giving the latter a back tattoo, and Shouto had been fairly uncertain about it.
But, of course, Izuku had reassured him a hundred and one times very patiently, before Shouto finally settled on expanding and completing the geometrical around Izuku's neck, with a little modifications (Izuku had all but gushed about how good the design was, and Shouto didn't really think his face could handle that much heat. Spoiler alert: it could) in the form of flowers and now here they were, Shouto's hands inked as he uncertainly watched Izuku look at the picture Shouto had taken of the finished tattoo on his back.
It had been a very....trying half hour (or full hour? Shouto certainly hadn't kept track) because not only had the design been complicated, but well....let's just say that Shouto knows how well Izuku going to the gym and jogging every morning pays off, with a single glance at his back muscles. The whole experience had been very...
Actually, now that Shouto remembers it, again, very vividly, he couldn't help but want more, the whole time he had been tattooing Izuku's back.
Yeah no, I'm not going there, Shouto thinks firmly, hands shaking as Izuku turns back to face him. And give his verdict.
"It's amazing." Izuku says softly, eyes shining again, as he looks up at Shouto with an awed smile.
"Thank you, Izuku- I'm glad you like it." Shouto says, genuinely pleased.
"Of course I do! In fact-"
Of course, that's when somebody has to ruin the growing stirring of joy in Shouto's being and replace it with the most virulent annoyance.
"Shouto!"
Shouto turns to the door in shock, before glaring at the soaking wet intruder, none other than Todoroki Touya.
"What the fuck now?" Shouto asks mildly, as Touya closes the door behind him, and then gives him a jeering grin.
"Heya there, little brother. Not really the most friendly greeting."
Shouto looks at Izuku, who seems bewildered, before Shouto mouths 'it's just Touya', making Izuku widen his eyes and nod understandingly. Izuku may not have met Touya officially, but Shouto sure has complained about the man to him.
"I'm not really interested in giving you a friendly greeting, especially when you're narrowly avoiding getting arrested by some police officer." Shouto deadpans, rolling his eyes.
He's aware of Izuku giving them a very awkward look.
Touya huffs. "For the record, he keeps giving me fake speeding tickets-"
"Not interested. There's a hair dryer in here just for you, use that and get the fuck out." Shouto deadpans again, annoyed. Touya raises his eyebrows, before glancing at Izuku, who awkwardly waves at him with a raised brow and a skeptical look on his face. Touya then looks at Shouto, and then at Izuku again, before clutching hold of his stomach and laughing.
"I'm serious- get out of here and die in the rain or go use the damn hairdryer." Shouto bites out, uncomfortable at the way Touya's quickly discerned it.
"S-Sure." Touya wheezes out, shaking his head as he makes his way to the back, Shouto grumbling under his breath.
"So that's Touya." Izuku says curiously, Shouto nodding tiredly.
"Yeah. He's the headache." Shouto says, making Izuku laugh.
"I see he's just like Kacchan for you then, if you don't mind." Shouto stifles a snort at that. If his brother and Bakugou, who Shouto's verbally beat into submission various times by now, ever met, hell would be there to pay.
"He really is." Shouto says, grinning a little.
Izuku laughs, Shouto easing at the sound. It's not that Shouto doesn't love Touya, but well, it's never easy to dismiss the uncertainty and doubts that arise due to his older brother's presence. Having Izuku around helps a bit.
"If I remember, he did your piercings, right?" Izuku says, nodding at the numerous cartilage piercings on Shouto's right ear in question. Shouto nods, glad to talk about something.
"Yeah." He then scowls. "He also made the midline in my tongue hurt extra hard on purpose."
Izuku's lips twitch despite the casual tone. "Seriously?"
"No, don't laugh. It hurt like a bitch, I really hate the fact I got it now." Shouto says, folding his arms, but Izuku's lips are twitching harder now.
Shouto narrows his eyes, even as Izuku holds a knuckle to his mouth to hide his chuckles.
"Izuku, don't you dare laugh." Shouto warns, even though he half feels like smiling himself.
"I wouldn't dare." Izuku says solemnly, shaking his head. Shouto then smiles a little.
"Good." Shouto says, pompously. Izuku finally laughs, holding the headrest of the chair as he does so, and the fact that Shouto can explicitly see how Izuku's tattooed muscles are moving with the movement don't help his poor heart any either. How- how the fuck is this guy so perfect, again? He was kind, a good listener (considering how he listened to every single thing Shouto's told about himself), and so...beautiful.
Shouto exhales loudly, willing himself not to behave the fool, as he lets himself smile.
Izuku then gives him a crooked grin, one that tugs on Shouto's heartstrings. "Well, I was wondering how I'd repay the favor, you know."
Shouto raises an eyebrow, interested. "Oh?"
"I could always give you another piercing if you'd like. No hurting." Izuku teases easily, smile engaging.
Shouto's brain short-circuits again. "Ha ha, very funny. But really, I wouldn't be opposed to getting a piercing from you- but I did want a hip piercing for some time." Shouto says quickly, his mind immediately jumping to the next body part he could get a piercing on. It wasn't that he didn't want a tongue piercing, but the thought of Izuku being that close to his mouth would be...very arousing.
He then kicks himself, hoping he didn't sound rude, but judging by the amusement in Izuku's furtherly crooked grin, which is a little embarrassing and heart stopping for Shouto honestly, he probably didn't.
"That sounds like a solid- dermals are pretty easy to do after all. When, then?"
Shouto's brain short-circuits again and it takes him a moment to process the fact Izuku actually accepted. Well, of course he did, he was the one who offered and out of obligation for Shouto doing a back tattoo on him. He holds his own chin in an effort to steady himself.
"Uh, anytime really. Tomorrow? In the evening? You're more free then." Shouto suggests, through an effort.
Izuku grins broadly. "All right, that's settled. Thanks, Shouto, really."
Shouto blinks, and Izuku chuckles, softening. "For the tattoo. It's gorgeous, really. I'm happy I got it done by you."
Ah. What's he supposed to say to that? Thanks? "...You're welcome. Anytime, really." Shouto says, finally, the full force of Izuku's gentle smile a little too winding for him.
Izuku lets out an amused huff as he takes his shirt from the chair, standing up and putting it on with a little bit of effort. He then smiles at Shouto, nodding at him before leaving. "Thanks again, Shouto! See you tomorrow!" He says, grabbing his umbrella and walking out.
"See you tomorrow- don't get wet!" Shouto says, and Izuku winks at him before walking out, and that gesture alone causes his heartbeat to skyrocket a little.
"I don't know," a slow, rasping, detestable voice from the back drawls, making Shouto's blood boil. "If you're just being oblivious on purpose or if you're seriously that dumb."
"I don't know if you're a dick on purpose- oh wait a minute, I'm not stupid. I know being a dick is practically a part of you by now." Shouto shoots back, glaring at his older brother. Touya just smirks tauntingly, raising a mocking eyebrow, and Shouto counts to ten.
"I honestly thought you guys were making out or something when I got in, what with the guy being shirtless and all." Touya rasps, walking to the door, hand on the handle.
"I didn't know you gave a fuck." Shouto says, coolly.
Touya laughs. "I don't. It's just funny as all hell seeing you struggle with a crush for what, seven months." Touya says with a snicker, dodging the water bottle Shouto tosses at him with a growl.
"At least I'm not getting arrested by the guy I have a crush on." Shouto says nonchalantly.
The glare Touya sends him mutinously is enough for Shouto to smirk broadly.
"What's wrong? Struck a nerve?" Shouto taunts with a raise of his eyebrows, as Touya flips the bird at him before walking out.
The serotonin obtained from getting a rare one over Touya lasts for all of three seconds before he realizes he just consented to getting his hip pierced by Izuku and he throws his head back with a groan.
"This is insane. You're going to have to kiss the guy at this point."
"....I hate to say that you might be on to something here."
"Are you just seriously stalling or-"
"Hey, listen, it's a little hard to flirt with him when he's....like that, okay? Yes, he looks like a supermodel, but he's also a really great person, all right?"
"All right, all right. Don't give me another impassioned speech on his virtues again."
"...Screw you, Hitoshi, honestly."
"I think you'd rather screw Todoroki."
"....Oh shut up."
Shouto probably, kind of gets it at the fourth time. It's a little too blatant that he can't deny that Izuku's been flirting with him. But the funny thing is, Izuku tells him later with a laugh, he hadn't even been trying to flirt with Shouto at the time.
It's right after Shouto gets his hip pierced- the whole experience had been pleasant, really. No annoying feelings had come to torment him this time, and for that, he was pretty happy. But what Izuku tells him gets his gears working.
"It looks good on you, honestly."
They are very simple words, could have been brushed off as polite even, but there's something about the way Izuku says it that causes Shouto's suspicion to go up on the rise- fond, tone a little low, yet sincere all the same.
Shouto doesn't say anything at first, he nods slowly, putting on his shirt, but his words keep ringing in his head like a metronome.
He thinks it looks good on me? And he meant it?
Shouto eyes Izuku, who's wiping up the dermal piercer and gives him a smile when their eyes meet, but Shouto...who took so long to face the obvious till that moment, sees something that he hadn't seen before- desire. And affection.
"Thank you." Shouto says, trying very hard not to let it come out strangled.
Izuku smiles with a shrug, but Shouto's head is spinning.
It really is the simple things. Or maybe Shouto just knows Izuku enough as a friend to recognize when something's changed.
There's no way...
Shouto exhales, an abdominal pulse point beating far too faster for a reason completely unrelated to the fact he just got piercings somewhere there.
"You're overthinking this." Ochako says, patiently.
"Yeah, but what if I'm thinking about this just right?" Shouto says, next day, looking absolutely frazzled- he hadn't slept well last night, owing to a late night phone call with Fuyumi and lots of tossing and turning, and Ochako knows it because she gives him a very pitying look.
"Honey, you didn't even braid your hair right- did you really spend the last night playing a game of 'he likes me, he likes me not'?" Ochako deadpans, and Shouto gives her a withering look.
Sadly, Ochako has received enough of his withering looks for over four years.
"I braided it right. And no, I slept enough, shut up." Shouto grumbles, though his hands instinctively go to his braid, wincing when he finds that it is indeed very loose.
Ochako sighs. "You braided shit. Turn around, I'll fix it up."
Shouto grumbles but acquiesces anyway. It's good enough it's early enough in the morning no sane person would want to saunter over to a tattoo parlor because otherwise, Shouto cannot fathom the look on a customer's face when they see him looking like a demon.
They'd probably lose business- Ochako would whine about not getting money, Tokoyami would just say something confusing or whatever and Kaminari would howl with laughter at the thought of the place losing business because of the owner of said place looked like a hobo.
Not a single one of them would stick up for him. Traitors.
It also doesn't help that the other two (read: Kaminari) have taken to giving him knowing glances (read: hooting) whenever Izuku comes over. Shouto would fire them all if he didn't know that was unfair and anarchical.
"There! Your pretty hair is back to its full glory, and that means you are back to being beautiful." Ochako says cheerfully, patting his shoulders. Shouto huffs, turning back to glance at her cheery smile.
"Ah yes. Thank you so much for your service." Shouto says seriously, bowing his head as Ochako giggles.
"It is but for free, which is to be cherished." Ochako says, patting his head. Shouto smiles, just slightly, and Ochako's humorous grin softens to a gentler smile.
"Come on...I don't see what you have to be so nervous about! Shou, look at me." Ochako says, shifting closer from her seat on the stool and cupping his cheeks forcefully, making him let out a monotonous 'ow'.
"I'm looking." Shouto says, dryly.
Ochako rolls her eyes. "You're a comedian, I know." It makes Shouto grin a little. "Now," Ochako's countenance gentles, and she flicks the tip of his nose. "I understand it seems scary," Shouto stiffens but Ochako continues. "But, hey, Shouto, you try being happy, okay? You're allowed to kiss the guy you're in love with-" and doesn't that make Shouto widen his eyes and look up at Ochako.
"Huh?"
"You're in love silly! I mean, he's easy on the eyes, yeah, I can admit that, but...you seem a lot happier talking to him. It's amazing you know? To see you smile a lot more these days? You love him. And I'm pretty sure he thinks you hung the stars and the moon on the sky-"
Shouto widens his eyes further as Ochako laughs gently.
"-And that's what he looks at you like! When he's not busy flexing his muscles at you or looking at you like you're a full course meal, that is."
"He flexes in front of me?" Shouto can't help but ask, electing to ignore the latter half of the statement, because, please.
"Not very much, but he does do it. Can't not enjoy the view honestly." Ochako says, leering.
"Yeah, no, this conversation is over." Shouto says, though he's smiling.
Ochako just laughs and slaps his arm even as Shouto chuckles to himself as she does so, feeling warmer and more hopeful.
Shouto wishes he could remember every single encouragement Ochako's lovingly given him in the morning when he's faced with Izuku at lunch break again, because Izuku is his usual self- smiling, breathtaking....and now that Shouto is no longer quite oblivious, he can't help but feel a little flurry of anticipation every now and then.
Should he? Should he ask Izuku out, despite how far his feelings have gone?
Maybe I will...Shouto thinks to himself hesitantly, as he watches Izuku laugh about a customer who had been subtly egged on by Shinsou to argue with Bakugou on the type of piercing she had been about to receive.
"It's just- god, you should have seen the look on their faces, Shou- Shouto?"
Shouto blinks, realizing he has been dumbly staring at his ice cream without having given any sort of inflection to indicate his listening. "Ah, no, you were saying?" He says, feeling awkward, under Izuku's concerned gaze.
"You okay? And I don't mean about you not hearing to what I said-" Izuku blinks at him, one hand absently stirring the ice cream in his cup. "-you've been seeming a little off the whole time you've been here. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Ah." Shouto once again finds that his tongue has cheerfully elected to not let him speak another word. He had been wanting a chance, to well, ask Izuku out but now here's one, albeit provided very clumsily and now Shouto finds that he's more than a little flustered.
Deep breaths, Shouto, he can hear Fuyumi whisper comfortingly, and Shouto breathes in and out. Right. He's got this. Even if he can't remember anything Ochako's said to him, bless her. Not that she should know he relies on her that way, she'd be insufferable about it.
"Right...something's been on my mind for a while now, I'm sorry, Izuku." Shouto starts, awkward but meeting Izuku's eyes, unable to help the little glance of the tattoos on Izuku's neck. Oh god, not now, fuck. "But it's just that, I've been thinking about it for a while, and I suppose it's just taken ahold of my mind a lot longer today." Shouto says, trying to reassure Izuku- and it seems to work, because Izuku relaxes back onto his chair, albeit still looking concerned.
"Oh, okay- would you like to tell me about it?" Izuku offers, sincere. Shouto smiles a little.
"Yeah...in fact I've...wanted to tell you, but I couldn't just be-" Shouto inhales again. This is Izuku- he won't judge him for his word choice, so he knows he can say what's on his mind. "-brave enough to do so. I'm not brave about it even now, because I feel like it can ruin our friendship, but I feel like I should tell you, truth be told."
Izuku widens his eyes, looking concerned. Shouto almost wants to laugh at how endearing it is, but he doesn't. "You do know you can tell me whatever, right? It doesn't matter, I value our friendship too much, Shouto. You don't have to be worried."
Shouto's smile softens. "I know. Well, here's to hoping for the best-" He attempts to joke, before exhaling out again. "Izuku, would you go out with me? As...not as friends. I'd love to spend time with you on a date."
Izuku stares at him for a long, hard moment, a moment so seemingly long that Shouto can hear his heart beat deafeningly. Izuku's face then breaks out into a fond smirk.
Shouto's brain betrays him. For the umpteenth time since he's met Izuku.
"God, I've been hoping you'd get a hint, Shouto." Izuku murmurs, and Shouto fails to process the words for a very dire moment.
"Eh?" Shouto dumbly says, blinking at Izuku, who laughs, eyes shining.
"Yes, I'd love to go on a date with you, Shou- I really would." Izuku says, voice low but also happy.
Shouto blinks. "Really?"
"Really, really." Izuku says teasingly, and that's when Shouto's brain patches itself up together again.
"Oh. Oh, okay um-" Words are failing Shouto, because this cannot be real, there's no way life is just simply this good-
"Not convinced?" Izuku asks, smile knowing.
"No." Shouto says, slowly.
Izuku chuckles, leaning over across to kiss Shouto on the cheek. Shouto blinks- a part of him having expected more, considering the fact it took them the better half of months to get here, but the bright glint in Izuku's eyes gives him away and Shouto grunts in protest, leaning over and roughly holding Izuku's face in his hands, pressing his lips to the other's.
And did it feel good, Shouto thought, mind peacefully blank as he focused on nothing but the heady feeling of Izuku casually pulling him closer by wrapping one arm around his waist, close to the small of his back, parting his mouth with a sigh as Izuku's tongue languidly ran over his lips; Shouto's shuddering as the taste of the chocolate ice cream Izuku had been eating just moments earlier and Izuku's stupidly pleasing cologne hit his senses. It was warm, in a way Shouto's dreams couldn't even compare to, eyelids fluttering closed with pleasure at the soft sounds of their kissing, at Izuku humming in approval.
Shouto whines breathlessly a little when he can feel just the barest of pressures against his midline piercing, hearing, feeling the vibrations of Izuku chuckling and deepening the kiss further, causing Shouto to let a breathless little moan into Izuku's mouth. Izuku's free hand tilts Shouto's chin a little downwards, a little demandingly perhaps, but Shouto welcomes it all the same, letting his own hands pull Izuku in closer and tug at the soft curls at the nape, making Izuku gasp, and Shouto smile into the kiss as a result.
And then, all too quickly, Izuku pulls back again, smile enchanting, the barest of spaces between their lips.
"Convinced now?"
Shouto may be a little dazed from the kiss, but he smiles. "I think so, yeah."
Izuku grins, cupping Shouto's face in his very comfortable hands now, fingers dancing with the hair tie. "That's really good to hear. I saw that Into the Spider-Verse might be playing in a theater nearby tomorrow- how's that sound?"
"Perfect." Shouto whispers quietly, so unbelievably happy.