Chapter Text
The cold air filled his lungs like ice water, seeping throughout his chest, freezing him from the inside out. The wind brushed past his lips, almost flirting as it continued on its way, twisting through his long green locks, eventually finding itself once again as empty as before the boy rushed past. His legs began pumping, quivering from the sudden shock of the cold, aching for more movement.
Leaning from side to side, he shook his hands and arms out in an attempt to loosen the tightness. Aching for relief from the tingling numbness at his fingertips, a bottle of water and a pair of blue, yellow, red and white skate guards decorated with the large bold print “ ALL MIGHT “ loosely clasped in his cold grip.
He almost choked on a laugh of relief the moment his first edge cut into the ice. The movement was like breathing.
Sliding into a graceful stop, the green-haired boy placed his stuff down. After adjusting his vest in the plexiglass, ( and desperately trying to push his unkempt hair from his eyes), he began to warm up.
Midoriya Izuku had started skating at the ripe age of four years old. His neighbor, a small, feisty, little boy had brought him once on a playdate of theirs. Intent to prove just how cool ( quite literally) he was, he dragged Izuku to the ice arena a couple weeks after he moved into the apartment down the street. The moment Izuku’s little booted feet touched the ice, he was smitten.
And not just with the ice, although he probably got more action with it than anyone else.
Not that he’s ever wanted to do anything with anyone else.
Well, there was one person—
—Izuku thrust his arms in front of him in a desperate attempt to stay upright as his toe caught in the ice, nearly tripping him into the solid board.
He heard a soft chuckle behind him and turned indignantly to be met with a smirking Todoroki Shoto. He raised an eyebrow.
“ Your cheeks are red.” He placed his guards and water down next to Izuku’s.
Izuku’s blush deepened, “ Y-yea, it sure is cold today..”
Todoroki let out a clipped snort. He turned away quickly, clearing his throat and turning to face his friend, trying again.
“ Good, Good Morning Shoto!” Waving and beaming up at his friend, Izuku could’ve lit up the entirety of Tokyo with that smile. But of course, no one wants to see the sun at 4:45 in the morning on a Tuesday, especially when they’re Shoto and ( as Shoto does) stayed up ‘til 3 am the night before.
Shoto averted his gaze, instead pulling a pair of gloves out of his own pockets and putting them on his own hands as he began to skate his laps, Izuku by his side.
“ Izuku.”
“ hmm?” Izuku asked as he began skating his warm up laps.
Todoroki grabbed his arm and reeled him back to the wall, staring intently as if he was looking for something, “ How’s your head?” He settled for instead.
Izuku’s smile wavered slightly as he leaned against the wall, the cold seeping in through his vest and jacket, settling in a pit at the bottom of his stomach. He had fallen on one of his higher jumps a couple of weeks ago and gotten a concussion. In fact, he was still salty about the fact that it had been a triple loop, one of his easier, favorite jumps. Now that he was finally cleared to do anything other than lay in a bed all day, today was the first day Izuku was back to practicing at the rink.
“ I’m okay, it wasn’t anything bad—just got told not to push myself too hard again.”
Shoto sent him a sideways glance, “ I remember what happened last time.”
Izuku’s face glowed red as he recalled Shoto half-dragging him off the ice after he tried to skate three sessions and then coach his regular scheduled classes, all in one day. “ Yea, I’m still sorry about that—“
“ Don’t be,” Shoto interrupted him, bouncing on his knees to gain feeling back in his toes, “ just be more careful.”
Izuku’s 1,000,000 watt smile nearly blinded Shoto, “ Hai.”
Shoto nodded slightly, considering wearing sunglasses to his next practice, before sliding away to continue his warm up and meet his coach. Just like Izuku should be doing. He shouldn’t be wasting this much time talking to his friends when every limited moment on the ice costs so much. Besides, his body ached from all the time spent limited to the couch. He wanted to get his blood pumping—to feel that breath-less wonder of cold wind rushing against his face. He wanted to spin and jump and launch himself in the air not knowing exactly how hard he was going to come down. He wanted to feel the cadence of edges taking over. He wanted his body to go on autopilot. To perform his program and feel the younger skaters balk in admiration from the side-lines.
He just really wanted to skate again.
He shook his hands, bounced on his knees and ankles to feel the pressure against his boot, and like a jet, he was off.
Izuku’s coach always got him started with footwork—it got his ankles and knees warmed up and was just repetitive enough. It allowed him to get lost in his mind without getting lost in thought.
There was always a small voice in his head, well, more like an instinct, warning him of other skaters' proximity—to look out for that extended free leg, or the kid doing backwards spirals. The constant movement kept him on his toes. It was almost something he looked forward to when he wasn’t at the rink.
He sank into his edges, feeling the pull of his hips, the set, and the point where his body just clicked into the right place. His edge caught slightly, alerting him to bend his knees more. Maybe he should get his blades sharpened soon. Right now though; he was just enjoying the feel of the ice. The way his edges caught just right—how his body sunk into his boots.
He was enjoying skating—not just enjoying it, relishing it. Loving it. and it was so nice and amazing and perfect... up until his coach called him over.
Izuku blinked. He hadn’t even noticed Yagi-sensei climb into the hockey box. The frail, bony man beckoned him over, leaning over the board to get a better look at his edges. He switched his gaze to Izuku’s face as he came closer.
“ My boy, how is your head?”
Izuku bowed slightly as he came to a stop in front of his instructor, “ It’s fine, the doctor just told me to take it easy for a bit. “
“ That’s wonderful news! Now, Young Midoriya, all you have to do is listen and take it easy.”
Izuku opened his mouth to argue, but Yagi-Sensei simply held up a hand and waited. Izuku’s mouth came to a close.
“ I understand that you want to do your best, and your ambitions are a result of that. You are one of my first students: your ambitions and work ethic are among the most admirable traits you possess—it’s what drew me to you at such a young age; however, if you keep up your self-destructive tendencies, you’re going to deteriorate and end up...well,” Yagi-sensei gestured at himself with a sad smile, “ just like me.”
Izuku opened and closed his mouth once more before wetting his tongue, finally preparing to speak—only to be cut off by Yagi-sensei once more.
“ Yes Young Midoriya, I know you want to be just like me, but I don’t want you to be like me. You must be better. If you keep hurting yourself like this, you’ll never make it past nationals.”
Izuku sulked slightly, “ Hai.”
Yagi-senses sighed and drew his hand across his tired, bony face. “ Now, let me see your footwork again—don't fall out of your rocker this time.”
Izuku opened and closed his mouth helplessly. He wanted to argue, to ask for jumps and spins, but who was his to talk back to his coach of 7 years, let alone, the Olympic Gold-medal Champion, Yagi Toshinori.
“ Hai,” he mumbled before skating to his place and pushing into his intro steps.
He could already feel the joy from earlier dripping along with his sweat, escaping in every puff of air, draining with every push he took.
Today was going to be a long day.
——————————————————————————————-
The sunrise bathed him in a lovely orange glow as he walked home. Opening the door, he tossed his bag onto the floor at the same time as he took his shoes, placing them in his getabako.
“ I’m home!” He cheerfully called to his empty house, knowing full well his mom had already gone off to work the early shift.
He trudged his way up the stairs, peeling off his sticky clothes, pulling out his phone to text his mom that he was back home; safe and sound. Whatever that meant.
He hopped into the shower, comforted by the peace drilled into his back by the hot water.
The day continued on as normal, well as normal as far as Izuku’s days went; he was homeschooled throughout most of his childhood, but he would be transferring to a school in the next semester. This was why the dreaded early morning practices were necessary—no more sleeping in until 10 like he used to. He had to practice for when the summer was over and he’d have actual things to do during the day.
It was honestly much more exhausting to wake up so much earlier, go to school, and then still have work in the evening. He was already dead on his feet.
Speaking of which, Izuku was due for his daily nap. Curling up in his bed with his Winnie the Pooh plush ( a gift from Yagi-sensei after his last Olympic competition when he first started coaching Izuku), he set his alarm and went to bed.
Hours later, he awoke to the melody of All Might’s Nationals Program’s music: his personal favorite.
He pulled himself out of bed, checking his face in the mirror. Coming to the conclusion that his face is presentable and his hair was not, he placed some clips to pin his overgrown bangs out of his eyes. He texted a quick chat to Uraraka Ochako, his best friend.
Space Girl🚀
Hey Ochako
Green Bean🪴
You finally awake? My shift just started and Iida’s already on my ass
Izuku laughed a little, deciding to tease Ochako about the manager she had a MASSIVE crush on, but was absolutely loath to admit to.
Space Girl🚀
Would you prefer he be on his knees instead??
Green Bean🪴
Shut up :/
seen 1 minute ago
Get here in five, I’ll buy you a coffee from the vending machine
Space Girl🚀
Ochako, you're a lifesaver 🥺
Green Bean🪴
I know, see you in five 😙
Izuku pulled on a pair of black slacks, and his trademark red sneakers. Grabbing his jacket and skate bag, he ran outside the door.
“ I’ll be home by six!” he shouted at the empty house.
The walls let out a mournful creak in response, the life drained and running along with the green-haired mess hopping down the street.
——————————————————————————————-
Izuku made it there with a minute to spare, the promise of the delicious vending machine coffee too much for him to pass up. His shift didn’t start for another half-hour, but he was glad to sit with Ochako in the sports shop, watching as she helped customers try skates on, purchase classes, and meander through skating gear.
He found himself leaning on the counter, cup of warm coffee in hand, hockey puck passing between his toes and ochako’s every time she passed by. The puck was a remnant of a game they had started to play when they had first started working together. Iida would join them occasionally as he passed the counter to his office but, most of the time it was Tsuyu who would play. She was suspiciously good at kicking pucks.
Iida passed the pair, his skate partner nowhere to be seen. Giving Izuku a nod as he passed, sliding the puck to Izuku’s foot. Izuku kicked it a little too hard, causing the puck to end up under the counter. Letting out a slightly exasperated groan, Ochako bent down to pick it up, pausing a moment to check something in the glass case in front of her intently, before standing slowly. This was one of the only times Ochako didn’t embarrass herself in front of Iida too much.
A shame, since Izuku really enjoyed the embarrassment coming off both of them in waves. Usually, Ochako would make at least three attempts to seductively pose every shift he was there, at least as far as Izuku could tell.
He felt a smirk pull at the corner of his mouth as he brought his coffee to his lips.
Iida cleared his throat and continued on his merry way, his eyes pulled from Ochako by Izuku’s obnoxious sipping noise. Unintended result, but amusing either way.
Would those two idiots just get together already?
A tapping noise on the window drew their attention. Izuku couldn’t see from his angle, but muffled noises of anger were coming through the glass. Ochako leaned forward, sliding the window open.
“ Hi! How can I—“
“ Ya seen ‘Zawa-Sensei around here? He said to be here by 3:30, and sure enough here I am—got here fucking early and everything—and it’s been fucking 30 minutes and I still haven’t seem him.”
Izuku inhaled his coffee, choking. He knew that voice, he knew—
“ Okay look, I get it you coaches all feel entitled, but you don’t get to come here, bang on my window, and then demand—“
The voice cut her off.
“ Is that him choking back there? I’ll fucking show him, that bastard—“ Izuku could only assume the strangled noises were the man’s desperate attempts to get in through the small window. His wheezing got louder as he crouched down on the other side of the counter.
“ No! Aizawa-Sensei isn’t here! He doesn’t get here ‘til 5:30! What the hell is wrong with you?!” Ochako retorted, slamming the window on the man’s fingers and placing her hands on her hips. The man hissed at the closed window, glaring holes into Ochako’s face.
The man made a few angry gestures as he grabbed for his phone. He pulled it up and went through his text messages, steam practically coming off his form. He scrolled for a moment, nearly breaking the phone in his grip before, grinning in triumph, he reached to shove the phone against the glass but something caught his eye. He pulled the phone close to his face, reading for a moment. His face fell in disgust, realizing his mistake.
Izuku gasped as he tried to stop choking, watching the whole situation from the floor, still unable to see the face on the other side.
The man knocked on the window twice, a begrudgingly apologetic look on his face. Ochako suspiciously opened the window just a crack, so she could hear what the man was saying.
“ ‘m sorry, didn’t realize I’d read that wrong. Should’ve brought my shitty fuckin’ glasses. Can ya buzz me in? I’ll go put my skates on in the locker rooms. Since I’m already here, might as well skate a couple o’ laps before classes start. And can you tell ‘zawa -Sensei I’m here already when he gets here?”
Izuku blinked at the sudden shift in the man’s tone. He was still gasping and red-faced but no longer choking on the coffee he had inhaled. So much for a good time chilling with Ochako.
He could see the hesitation in Ochako’s face while she debated locking the entitled asshole out. He could almost hear her internal struggle, before, finally, she pressed the buzzer with a small sigh. The door swung open with a flourish, a grunted “thanks,” escaping with the wind inside the building.
Izuku sat up as Ochako glanced at him, worry etched in her features.
“ Are you okay? Did that man scare you—“
“ O...Ochako..”
“ What’s wrong? Do you want me to track him down and kick his ass cause I will, I’ll call management to complain about him right now—“ Izuku stilled her hand as it reached for the phone on the counter, taking the opportunity to place his coffee down at the same time.
“ No, no it’s not that. I, uh,” he swallowed, “ I think that was..I think that was him.”
Ochako’s eyes widened as she took in the information he was telling her. Her jaw dropped, “Him?? Are you sure?”
Izuku nodded, his throat bobbing with the motion, “ Yea... yea I think so.”
Ochako slammed the window open, leaning through it to see if she could get a glance at the man walking to their locker rooms. Izuku quickly pulled her back inside.
“ Ochako! He doesn’t know I’m here! He probably doesn’t even remember me—I haven’t seen him since we were seven, we haven’t seen each other in a decade, I don’t even know what he’s like anymore! Sure I hear him on the phone whenever his mom forces him to say hi to my mom, but I don’t even know if he still plays hockey—or why he’s even here!”
Ochako quirked a brow up at him. He opened and closed his mouth, “ Oh god, what if they put us in the same classes? Ochako! I have to ice monitor right now, what if he sees me? What if he recognized me!”
Ochako glanced at his coaching jacket, “ In that ugly thing? Who couldn’t.”
“ Ochako!”
She smiled and pulled him into a quick hug, “Okay, okay, calm down. You didn’t even see him, he might not even be your guy, just some asshole who sounds like him. Look, just be yourself okay? Don’t panic—you’ll be fine... all you’re doing is just skating around a bit! Some fun times! Also, remember not to push yourself, you’re still recovering from that concussion. Just do what you normally do, and you’ll be okay, okay?”
Izuku took a few deep breaths, trying not to panic, “ Okay, okay.”
He paused for a moment, just breathing, holding onto Ochako’s steadying stance. He blinked as a question bubbled past his lips, “ Can I put my skates on in here?”
Ochako laughed and rolled her eyes, “ Sure, Izuku.”
Izuku liked it when Ochako laughed; her permanently pink cheeks always seemed to glow with the effect. He smiled in response.
“ Just don’t fall off the counter putting your skates on again,” Ochako admonished, pulling out the paperwork she had to do while she waited for the next customer.
Izuku groaned as he pulled his skates out of his bag, “ ‘chako! That was one time!”
Ochako’s laughed, a smirk tugging at her lip, “ It actually happened twice.”
She mocked him, pushing some of her hair behind her ear as she did. Izuku groaned again as he pulled his shoes off, Ochako’s teasing putting him more at peace than anything else.
By the time he had his skates pulled on and tied, he had nearly forgotten about the whole fiasco.
Nearly.