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Shoto Had learned very quickly how to sleep with another body in his bed.
It had started in the second year at U.A. Denki had always been teased by the rest in the class over his peculiar habits of falling asleep while studying and in the oddest of places. Whether that be Ojiros tail or Shotos... everything. The first time it happened Shoto was unsure what to do the moment he felt the other boys head on land on his left shoulder so he had stayed sat up against the wall and slept there with the other boy. Denki, for his part apologized profusely the next morning, Shoto found he didn't mind it so much. The rest of the class soon found his left side to be *The* napping spot, whether it be in the middle of break from training, or a studying session run long or even in winter when Tokoyami would practically glue himself to his left side. Shoto found he couldn't despise his left as he once had. Not when all his friends found so much comfort in it.
Years later, finally a Pro and he had purchased his own home. The house was small but it would fit at least two occupants. Shoto had only needed it for one purpose. One person alone. Ex-villans couldnt just live anywhere. More often then not he would wake up in the night to find that one person stroking his hair as he slept, soft apologys falling from scarred lips.
Shoto had grown very accustomed to sharing his bed, it kept Touya's nightmares at bay.
Shoto let the morning light pry his eyes open, a head of forest green hair greeting him. Shoto felt himself curl around his friend ever so slightly as he recalled the previous nights events. Izuku had barely any ability to speak on the phone. Mumbling about something and sounding very much like he was having a panic attack. Shoto had only been able to make out one thing in the sea of words Izuku was throwing at him... 'I left him'
The words were spoke with so much anguish Shoto felt his own heart clench as he begged his friend to tell him where he was, Izuku didn't seem to understand what Shoto was asking so he instead instructed the other man to come to him.
The wait had been agonizing, not sure if Izuku was okay or if he could even find his way here. Shoto had several times put his shoes on to go out searching but Touya stopped him with light reassurance. 'If that kid could handle AFO he can handle finding his way here.' The words did little to calm his nerves but they did keep him from leaving. Finally settling on pacing his front window, watching for any sign of Izuku.
He finally saw it. Green hair made almost black by the moon light, one small duffel bag slung carelessly over his shoulder. No blood, nothing broken only the glazed look in his eyes told Shoto he was in distress.
Shoto breathed out a sigh of relief and hurried to the door only to find Izuku on his knees with tears falling in waves down his cheeks. Shoto felt his heart clench once again and could only kneel down to his friend and wrap him in a hug. Shoto tried desperately to whisper soothing things as Izuku only wept harder into his left side.
Shoto wasn't sure exactly how long they must have been out there. It must have been a small while at least because he felt a familiar rough hand sooth down his back. "Get him inside I'll grab his things."
Shoto could only nod as he lifted the other boy with ease.
Now in the soft morning light Shoto pressed his left side just that much closer to Izuku. Shoto sat there, content to watch Izuku sleep as the mornings soft glow slowly turned in the bright glaring light of day. Izuku stirred in his arms, a soft smile appearing for a moment until he blurrily opened his eyes and saw Shoto above him. His face morphed from simple confusion to utter despair in seconds and the tears came flooding back with a vengeance.
Shoto could only hold his friend as he wept, mourning something Shoto could only guess at. It seemed ages passed before Izuku pulled away and sat up wiping his eyes furiously. Shoto sat up with him. "I'm sorry I don't know why- I mean I shouldn't have come bothering you- you don't ne-"
"You will not apologize for something that is not your fault." Shoto interrupted. He could stand to his bestfriend in so much pain and putting himself through even more just for asking for help.
Izuku laughed through his tears "But it is my fault. I left him."
"And I know you well enough to know whatever happened or whatever you did, it was for the best." Shoto reached out and let his right hand wipe away some Izuku's tears, unsure if the other would want to be confined in a hug.
Izuku leaned into the touch and sighed, "It has to be."
They didn't speak for a moment too long before Izuku was pushing his way back into Shoto's arms and Shoto gladly gave in.
Shoto watched as Izuku fell back into a restless sleep.
___________________________________
Shoto wasn't sure when he had fallen asleep, only when he felt a body slowing untangling itself for him did he open his eyes fully. Izuku gazed at him with widened eyes, some unnamed emotion on his face that Shoto wasn't sure he had ever seen him show.
"I'm sorry I tried not to wake you." He said in a rush.
Shoto felt his brow furrow as Izuku tensed up as if preparing himself for a fight. "Dont say sorry, I should be awake anyway." Izuku opened his mouth as if to say something only to be interrupted by a harsh knocking at Shotos bedroom door.
"You two gonna sleep the day away and not eat or drink anything?" Touya's gravely voice called out though he didn't open the door, one of his few good qualities. He never over stepped.
Izuku's stomach growled loudly at the mention of food and his face turned cherry red. Touya could be heard lowly chuckling from the other side. "Foods on the table Living-disaster and friend." His footsteps faded in the direction of his own room and Shoto didn't speak until he heard the door closed.
"Come on, let's eat and then we can talk."
Izuku nodded, face still red as he silently followed behind.
As they sat, plates already set and waiting to be eaten, Izuku looked up and cleared his throat. "So... living-disaster? "
Shoto couldn't help but smirk at the query.
"I bought this house specifically so Touya could finish his sentence here. I was, less then knowledgeable on how to manage a house myself."
Izuku only tilted his head in the way that told Shoto to continue, ever curious eyes searching endlessly.
"I almost burned the kitchen down nine times in the first three days." Shoto turned his attention soley to his food to hide his amusement as Izuku choked on his food.
"We lived in the dorms for most of U.A. how did nothing like that ever happen then?" Izuku managed to force out through stifled laughter and light coughing.
"I never cooked anything. If you recall Bakugo was mainly the person who cooked for us all." His words, light-hearted as they were had Izuku going stock still, all humor leaving his face being replaced by a solemn look of resignation.
Shoto felt himself going stiff as well. It seemed the mere mention of the other man had Izuku crumbling back into the state he had been in the night before. Shoto felt at a loss. Usually Bakugo was the one topic he knew was safe. Among all the missions and villans and sacrifice Izuku made for the world, things he would never speak of, Bakugo was the one thing he freely discussed. Shoto knows he may not be the most intuitive of his friends but even he could tell just from that reaction alone, whatever happened, Bakugo was to blame.
"You know you can tell me anything." Shoto was not one for subtlety.
"If it's about Bakugo," Shoto trailed off unsure of how to properly tell Izuku he could trust him. "Whatever you tell me now is in confidence."
Izuku only shrugged but didn't speak. Instead of trying to pry for information like Ochako or Denki he simply let Izuku be knowing the other would begin when he's ready. They finished their meal in silence only broken when Izuku finally put down his chopsticks and placed his head in his hands.
"I'm such a moron. All this time I thought it ment- I thought i- we- I dont even understand! Three years and nothing! He wouldn't allow it! I even lied to my own mother for him! I lied to everyone for him! And the worst part is he went about his life like *normal*." His shouts grew increasingly wobbly and Shoto didn't hesitate to rush to his side and pull Izuku into a hug. Izuku let out a few weak sobs.
Shoto tried his best to whisper words of comfort but they felt hollow even to himself as he realized the meaning behind those words and it seemed Izuku didn't have many tears left.
"I wasnt allowed to do any of that. And I was the idiot who believed him when he said he would try. Every single time." The misery in Izuku's voice had Shoto's own anger rising, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
"Your not an idiot. Your hopeful." Shoto stated, feeling in that moment so useless. What kind of hero can't even help his friends? What kind of hero feels a sick sense of relief at his friend crying his heart out to him over leaving someone? Especially when that someone was his world for the better part of 2 decades.
Izuku didn't say anything and only buried himself further into Shoto's side.
_____________
Shoto groaned at the bright sun blinding him into awareness. He turned over to his left and was confused as to why he expected to find someone their. Oh wait, Izuku. Izuku was supposed to be there. After their 'talk' (more like Izuku needed a good long cry) Shoto had carried the other man back to his room where they sat mostly in silence, with Shoto every now and then trying to give his friend some words of comfort.
He was unsure of when he had fallen asleep, but as he stopped and listened he could hear soft shuffling coming from the kitchen.
With maybe a tad bit of dramatics, Shoto forced himself up and walked towards the sound. Touya stood at the stove, the steady crackle of breakfast made only out-of-place by the fire extinguisher that sat comically close by and seemed to have been used. Walking in, a quick glance around the room found Izuku looking at him with wide eyes and face as red as Shoto's hair. Did his shirt always have that hole in it?
"I can hear the cogs turning in your head kid." Touya called to get his attention. "Cabbage patch over here thought he'd do us a favor, by almost setting the house fire." Touya's words came out gruff but by the note of humor had Shoto chuckling in realization. "You tried to cook?"
Izuku somehow turned three shades redder then before.
"I so sorry I just- I thought I could do something and I mean I'm not usually this bad at cooking I used to help my mother when she would-" Izuku looked anywhere but either brother, his mumbling growing faster and more indecipherable by the minute.
"Hey kid I said stop apologizing. Foods still edible so you did better then the living-disaster. " To Izuku it must have sounded like an indifferent dismissal but Shoto had known his brother long enough now to able to hear the sincerity and attempt at humor in his voice. He understood it well. They both had inherited the same dry humor.
Izuku looked at Shoto with a tentative expression. Shoto smiled back, "It's a compliment trust me."
Izuku still seemed nervous but the tension in his shoulders dropped significantly as Touya turned and begun asking Izuku to set the table. The small tasked putting Izuku at ease.
They ate in a comfortable silence, Shoto keeping a watchful eye. Izuku seemed to be in a much better state of mind then the previous day and nights. He was glad for that, Shoto didn't think he could handle watching his ~~Izuku~~ friend cry his heart out for another full day.
As they finished Izuku jumped up exclaiming he would clean up since he almost ruined breakfast, though he was cut short by the very pointed look Touya threw his way.
"You two can go tend to the garden and leave me in peace, besides I can do it faster on my own."
Izuku looked ready to protest but a sharp, "Dont argue with me." Spoken to both of them had the men quite and nodding. Curious and slightly suspicious Shoto asked Izuku to wait for him by the back door.
"He's a guest, guests don't do house work." Shoto said plainly.
"That's why he's doing yard work. Besides doing something will keep his mind occupied. Letting him sit around and think will lead to crying and that will only give the house mold." Touya didn't even look up from the dishes and he didnt have to meet eyes to know the look he would find.
Shoto felt answers become clear. Touya was a lot of things, but uncaring, though he tried was simply not one of them.
Izuku was happy enough doing the small tasks Shoto could think to give him. Diligently pulling weeds and replacing small bricks that Shoto could never figure out where they went. They worked at a slow pace filling the silence with easy banter that Shoto didn't realize he had been missing. Eventually Izuku pointed out the mystery plates and glasses sat just outside the door. Shoto chuckled to himself, yes uncaring was definitely not one of them.
They ate under the shade tree and the small peace between them shattered when a phone came flying their heads. Shoto only catching it out of pure instinct.
"If your not gonna take it with you have the decency to put it on mute!" Touyas raspy voice straining to yell.
Izuku blinked in a bewildered daze. "I take it your getting calls?"
The phone in question rung before Shoto could give him a answer. Hitting accept Shoto placed the phone on speaker
"Finally! You answered!" Denki's loud voice cracked through the speaker from stress use of his quirk. Shoto could hear someone, Sero maybe, yelling in the background. "Oh my God man everyone has been trying to get ahold of you all day! Listen have you seen Deku? Apparently he never showed up for patrol yesterday? I'm not sure but everyone's been freaking out and then it got worse when you weren't answering and we just-"
With each word Izuku's face dropped into a look of panic.
"No he's-" Izuku had grabbed the phone before he could finish. "Denki I'm so sorry!"
"Midobro! Dude! You had us worried sick! Iida and Ururaka have been out looking for you since this morning! What happened?!" Denki's voice seemed to radiate relief.
"My phone must have died! I didn't realize- I should have payed attention- Look tell everyone I'm fine I just- I to-took a personal day? I was just, going through something. I'm safe but I- I didn't mean for this I'm so sorry!" Tears sprang up and Shoto regretted answering the call.
"Sorry? Dude why would you be sorry we thought a villan got you! The fact that your safe and with Todobro is a huge relief!" Denki let a breathless chuckle, his obvious joy makeing him sound like a child being told they were getting a sweet.
"I mean i- it wasn't cool of me to make you guys so worried I ju- I didnt think with K-Kaa- with Katsuki- I mean-I wasn't thinking. I just wanted a moment to- but that's no excuse for-" This time it was Seros voice that came through the speaker, much lower then Denki's but just as relieved.
"Midoriya dude, calm down. We dont care why you disappeared. We just care that care your safe. You don't gotta explain nothing, just as long as your not alone and just to be clear SAFE! And since we know you've been Todoroki this whole time everything's okay." Izuku's eyes, still brimed with tears grew wide at Sero's words, almost unbelieving.
"Yeah! We're your friends man! SAFETY SQUAD GOTTA STAY SAFE TOO!" Both Denki and Sero yelled the last line and Shoto could tell Izuku was being hit with the same wave of nostalgia at the small reference to the days the were newly Pros and would escort the girls around the club districts. (Though no one had to know how many times one of them had been drugged by ravenous fangirls)
Izuku could only muster a whispered 'yeah' in response as a tentative smile claimed his face. They two said their goodbyes bidding Shoto to watch over their now silently crying friend and Shoto watched as Izuku let his small smile grow until he was laughing openly.
Shoto couldn't help but feel a bit of emotional whiplash as his Izuku wept and laughed looking both miserable and relieved.
A twisted expression of joy and loss that it seemed the man himself wasn't sure of what to do with.
"Are you okay?" His confusion must have been plain on his face, after a while Izuku forced himself to calm down.
"I think so? I didn't expect- well I don't what I expected really." Izuku's smile stayed in place and though the sadness was still there he looked lighter somehow.
"You're surprised they were worried?"
"I'm surprised they cared."
Shoto furrowed his brow. "They're our friends, why would they not care?"
"I guess I just always thought of them as- His friends. I just didn't really think they would worry about me." His tears had dried and Shoto, though still a little lost was glad his Izuku's smile seemed to be fixed a little more securely to his face again.
"He never defined you or your friends. Mutual or other wise." Shoto hoped his words made sense. It felt right.
Izuku look up at then, a familiar glimmer of light shining once again in his eyes. "Your right." He laughed again and Shoto decided that was what angels music must sound like.
Shoto was very glad he took that call.