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Monoma Neito had never expected his popularity to actually rise and soar after his fabulous and amazing quirk helped save all of Japan. Soon, his days at U.A. were filled with opportunities and internships that truly helped him reach his true potential. It was truly magical for the Phantom Thief. He was getting paired up with heroes he’d always wanted to work with, working on improving the length of his quirk, getting to experience new quirks on his journey toward being one of the greatest heroes Japan had ever known. It was blissful! It was everything he’s ever wanted!
“Are you going through your accomplishments again?”
His reminiscing was cut short by his roommate and occasional partner in crime fighting, Shinsou Hitoshi. He’s met with strong lilac irises with a deep purple head of hair to match, along with a bored but knowing expression. The blond shakes himself from his thoughts and readjusts to his surroundings. He’s sitting at the island in the kitchen of the apartment he shares with Shinsou, as said man makes some dinner on a day off. Before Monoma is his open laptop, blue light shining in his face as he thinks over his life. Sure, he’s only 28 but it’s been a strange yet fulfilling life! Maybe someone in his future will want to know; and what’s wrong with writing about yourself so you don’t forget a thing?
“I’ll have you know,” he begins, “I’m typing it out to make sure I don’t forget anything. You may never know what can happen! Tomorrow is never promised, dear Shinsou.”
The man in front of him rolls his eyes with a tinge of pink coating the top of his ears and turns back to the stove. “Yeah yeah, just don’t forget (Y/n) is coming over soon for dinner.”
Monoma’s fingers stop typing as he feels his confidence waver a bit. “She is? I completely forgot! It’s cause we’re all working together for an upcoming mission, correct?”
Shinsou nods as he continues to make dinner. “The least you can do is set the table.”
The blond slowly nods, getting up from the island and grabbing his laptop as he heads back into his room. His heart is beating a mile a minute, his memories of early hero and sidekick work coming to mind. She is a dear friend of the twosome as they all worked as sidekicks at the same agency. She was everything he ever wanted in a person and then some. She never thought of him as pompous or over the top or full of himself. She accepted him for everything he is, attitude and all. It made him confused whenever he was alone with her and he found no words to say, no witty comebacks or anything. She really had captured his heart unknowingly.
Which is why he has been keeping his distance from you outside of work so he can focus on being the best hero without any distractions.
Shinsou was also very aware of this, partially why he had invited you over in the first place. He was overtly aware of his roommate’s feelings for you and wanted to help push the process along. The purple haired male was also close with you too, enjoying being around you as much as the blond. He was also getting tired of his jovial roommate getting depressed whenever rumors of you would surface regarding your dating life or seeing how well you work with particular heroes. Monoma would never admit it, so maybe the brainwashing hero would have to interfere. And interfere he did. He may have asked his sensei specifically for you to work with them in this mission not just only for your quirk but so then he can stop hearing his roommate mope and groan about you all the time. And maybe, just maybe, he could figure out just what is going on in his own heart.
As you approach your friends’ apartment, butterflies began to make a home in your stomach. Just why was your heart beating out of its cage so intensely? It couldn’t be because of Shinsou, could it? You barely knew of him or the blond, only meeting with your jobs and slowly building a strong relationship with them. But something about them always made you at ease yet wanting to strive to be better. And those ocean-like hues you’ve found yourself drifting off to sleep too every night? Or were they purple? Both? His words of encouragement whispering on repeat in your ear as you daydream during patrol? Surely those don’t mean anything at all as your palms clam up upon exiting the elevator. Each step matches the pounding of your heart from either nervousness or excitement, you’re not sure. Once in front of their door, you rasp against it loud enough for them to hear.
The door is thrown open and you’re met with mystical blue eyes and a faltering smile.
“S-so soon! My dear Shinsou didn’t tell me you were coming so early! P-please,” he steps aside from the doorway, “come in.”
You don’t pick up on his nervousness as you remove your shoes and put on some slippers. The lingering smell of dinner wafts through your nostrils and you hum happily. Unaware of your surroundings, you miss the way two separate pairs of eyes stare at your small grin and find themselves trying to hide their growing blushes. Monoma is quick to approach you once more, “let me take your jacket for you.”
The little gesture of kindness has your shoulders shivering as his fingertips graze across your skin, his breath tickling the hairs on the back of your neck. “You’re not too cold are you? Can’t have my guest feeling uncomfortable.”
“And yet you make me uncomfortable 24/7”
You giggle at Shinsou’s sarcastic comment and their interaction as the blond behind you huffs and places your jacket in a closet. The two continue to banter back and forth as you situate yourself. You take note that the decor is equal parts Shinsou and Monoma; a strange combination yet it works. It’s inviting to you. Their voices raise as you reach the kitchen and take a seat near their kitchen island. You lift your nose in the air, humming hungrily, “Mmm it smells so good in here. I didn’t know you cooked, Shinsou!”
You miss the way he falters in his stance as he finishes up your meal. “Between the two of us,” he starts with a low rumble and getting closer to whisper in your ear, “one of us has to.”
The two of you snicker together which turns into full blown laughter. Monoma scoffs at the two of you and insists that he knows how to cook, claiming you’ll have to come again to have him cook. You rest your chin in your palm and hold his stare. “I’d like that a lot, actually.”
His eyes go wide and his overconfident exterior drops momentarily from your response. Very rarely is he at a loss for words, however these occupancies have been increasing lately. Due to certain people of course but he’s not talking. His eyebrows relax at seeing you and his roommate conversing as if you’ve been best friends for years. There’s a peace to this, he bemuses to himself, a peace he wouldn’t mind having for a long time. Perhaps he should write this in his early memoir—
Oh?
Did he just witness their hands touching in a way that just friends don’t do? And why did that make him ecstatic yet full of jealousy at the same time? What should he do?
“Time for us to eat, yes? (Y/n), I hope you admire the way I procured our best silverware and plates on our beautifully set table!”
You’re shaken out of your stupor and rush of heat to your cheeks as you and Shinsou turn to Monoma’s ridiculous announcement. The purple haired man quickly removes his hand and mutters under his breath before gathering the food and placing it on the table. A slight awkwardness occurs when both men come to help you sit, reaching for your chair at the same time. Two sets of eyes widen and mumbled words are shared before you ease the tension and sit for yourself.
Dinner goes by without a hitch, comfortable yet fun conversation between the three of you. Happy smiles and full stomachs shared by all three of you as the meal ends. You push back in your seat and move to get up. “Since you cooked Shinsou, why don’t I help with the dishes? It’s the least I can do.”
Both men pause from collecting the dishes on the table, shrugging together. “Uh, sure,” Shinsou questions as he sits back down briefly. “You don’t have to do that.”
Monoma interrupts and attempts to grab at your plate, unaware of his fingers making contact with yours. “No, you’re our guest! You shouldn’t have to do that.”
“You barely do it regularly,” Shinsou quietly quips.
“How rude—“
“Guys it’s fine,” you interfere with a raised voice. “I don’t mind. But uh,” your eyes find purple ones and your pupils widen unexpectedly. “Could you show me where everything is?”
You didn’t have to turn to your right to know that Monoma was slightly perturbed by not having alone time with you. He begrudgingly let go of the plate in your hand. “I’ll just grab the dessert wine then,” he said with defeat in his tone as he walks away to his own room. The two of you stay there briefly before getting up and gathering the plates. As you approach the sink and start washing alongside Shinsou, your mind is reeling and running with an array of thoughts. Apparently, so was his.
“Shinsou—“
“You should’ve asked—“
You both stop what you’re doing and share a hearty laugh, the dishes partially forgotten. Once the two of you have calmed back down, he motions for you to begin as you hand him a clean dish.
“I’m not sure how to tell you this but I… I wanna talk about Nei- er I mean Monoma.”
He smiles kindly and nods for you to continue. You breathe deeply and press on. “I don’t want to come off as presumptuous but…
“What’s your relationship with him?”
Your heartbeat increases upon asking him and your breathing has gotten heavier. Out of the corner of your eye, you catch him with a slight blush and fidgety fingers. He lets out a sigh. “See that’s funny, I was gonna ask you the same thing.” He has a toothy grin and a hand placed on the back of his neck. His relaxed form moves away from the sink and toward the fridge. “The way you two look at each other, I thought he’d never look at me like that.”
“Like what?” You step a little closer to him and he also closes the distance. His voice is low and soft.
“Like you’re the king of his heart.”
You feel goosebumps rise along your skin, chest pumping with anxiety and something else you’re not sure of. You stride closer toward him, like you’re being pulled by a magnet. His hand that once was on his neck in nervousness now has fallen and is resting on your forearm. Your hands find purchase on his biceps as you look up to him. “And what does that make you?”
Shinsou shuts his eyes and rests his forebears against yours, your breaths mingling together. The world around you has disappeared and there’s just you and the man in front of you in a situation that you didn’t think would happen. Only in dreams had you thought this would happen. “A knight in the shadows, wanting the best for the people he cares about most.” His hand cups your face with intent to kiss your lips but the two of you pull away.
You’re first to break the silence. “Can’t we all be happy? Together?”
Before Shinsou could properly respond, Monoma returns from his room where he keeps his best wines. His eyes held a tint of red and were slightly swollen. The confusion on his face molds into hurt as he sees the dishes undone and the close proximity between two people he’s been harboring feelings for stare back at him. He scoffs and steps back. “Just what in the world is going on here?! Shinsou, you know how I feel for her. How could you?!”
Both of you separate further from each other. Without thinking, you rush up to the blond and pull him into a quick kiss to shut him up. Lilac eyes enlarge at the scene before him. He licks at his bottom lip when he sees his roommates hands rest on your waist and pull you closer into his fit body. You’ve also relaxed into the kiss as you melt into his touch. When the need for air becomes eminent, you break away reluctantly. An adorable blush comes to the blonds cheeks, his fingers touching his lips. “I’m confused! Weren’t you just about to kiss Hitoshi?! Just what is the meaning of all of thi- mmph?!”
Shinsou took a page out of your book and silences the befuddled man with his own lips, caging his face with his coarse hands. Shinsou presses his hips into the unassuming blond as he deepens the kiss, giving a soft and low groan before pulling away panting. Ocean eyes blink slowly, transition from the purple haired man in front of him and you. “Someone tell me what’s happening. I,” he struggles for the right words. “Were the two of you planning this?”
You quickly shake your head adamantly. “No! I mean, I was hoping to tell you my feelings or at least try to tonight! But I felt guilty cause I-I knew I also have feelings for Hitoshi and I didn’t think having feelings for my co-workers was okay and—“
Monoma places a finger over your lips to stop your rambling. He beams a confident and cocky smile toward you as he replaces his finger with his thumb, cupping your face. It’s almost as if he’s stolen the vigor you had as you find yourself getting flustered. “My dearest, you didn’t have to do all of this. Have my advances not been obvious toward you? I could’ve sworn,” he swipes his thumb across your parted lips, “I was doing my best to make you mine. Perhaps my flirtations with my own roommate made things difficult.” He’s about to kiss you when he snaps his head toward his roommate.
“And you,” he begins, “how long have you had feelings for her? And for me too? Come closer.”
With the dynamic between the three of you shifted, Shinsou blindly follows Monoma’s orders and approaches him. His hand is encompassed by the blonds free one and a chaste kiss upon the back of his hand. “I,” he stutters, “from the second time we had a mission together. She saved me from an attacker and took care of me.
“And I’ve had feelings for you since our last year at U.A.”
With his confession in the air, the three of you begin to chuckle, growing into a roar of laughter. You all fall onto the kitchen floor, backs resting against some drawers. You place your head in the crook of Monoma’s shoulder and mingle your fingers with Shinsou’s. You’re the first to break the silence. “We’re all pretty dumb aren’t we?”
Hitoshi hums beside you as his thumb rubs on the back of your hand. He lifts it to his mouth for a small kiss. Neito snickers and lays his head back with a deep sigh. “But now, I can claim that I, Monoma Neito, am the king of your hearts.” Two sets of eyes widen as you lightly punch Neito’s side. “I may have overheard you two.”
“I thought I was the king,” you mumble out.
“We can all be kings! That’s preferred, honestly.”
“Heh,” Hitoshi breathes, “and you still couldn’t tell the both of us had feelings for you. Some king you are.”
You laugh with him and you feel the blond beside you stiffen before giving him a ‘hmph’. The three of you continue to sit in comfortable silence as the feelings settle and what appears to be your reality is no longer a fantasy. Mutual thoughts are shared in the quiet of the kitchen as a wave of tiredness begins to hit you. It wasn’t from the intense emotions, but from the satisfaction, love, and care that has finally been unearthed.