Work Text:
It was raining heavily in the city that morning. Shouta looked at the trees outside the window that swaying in the cold wind, with the raindrops falling heavily against the window glass. Hardly anyone was out in this chilly December, especially on a Saturday.
Shouta looked at the cup of coffee in his hand then set it down on the table. He looked down at his leg. The prosthetic leg had been in place there for about a couple of years, a permanent injury he had been forced to get during the Great War against the League of Villains.
“Shouta, why haven't you eaten your breakfast yet?” Toshinori's voice made Shouta raise his eyes and stare at the man standing across the room. He looked worried as he approached him and asked softly, “the menu doesn’t meet your expectations?”
Shouta eyed the rice bowl, a grilled mackerel, a small serving of pickled radish, and a bowl of miso soup that Toshinori had prepared for him on the table. It was a classic Japanese breakfast menu that he always preferred, while Toshinori opted for lighter menus such as fruit smoothies or mashed potatoes due to his health and physical condition—missing a stomach. Shouta shook his head slowly. “Everything you make is always to my taste, Toshinori. Never worry about that,” he said.
“Well, aren’t you hungry yet?” Toshinori tilted his head, “it’s getting cold but I would heat it up for you, if you want.”
“No, it’s not like that. I just thought of something,” Shouta sighed as if he was carrying a heavy burden. He gestured at Toshinori by waving his prosthetic leg and drawing the tall man's attention to it. He was wearing shorts, so the metal leg was very obvious. “I'm still not used to this and it feels a bit sore.”
Toshinori immediately held Shouta’s shoulders and looked at his leg. His expression was calm, but Shouta could see a slight frown in the centre of his forehead, then he knelt in front of him and gently pressed his hands on several places on his leg with his eyebrows furrowing deeper. Toshinori's thin lips parted and his tone was serious as he said, “usually large scars can still be a little painful after a few years—like mine. Which part hurts? This part?”
Shouta did not answer. He stared at Toshinori who was watching and examining his leg.
Toshinori's whole attention was put on it for a while until he mumbled and shook his head, slowly stood up again. “Maybe we should get you checked out by a doctor? I can call my doctor or we can ask if they can recommend a good one for you," he walked over to the table to pick up his mobile phone, but Shouta quickly stopped him.
“It's not that bad, Toshi,” Shouta grabbed Toshinori's arm. They stared each other's eyes in silence for a brief moment, then Shouta shook his head and continued in a reassuring tone, “it's just a twinge in the joints from the cold, not the kind of pain you need to worry about. Overall, I'm fine, just…”
Shouta's words stopped in the middle and he seemed to be reluctant to go on. Toshinori looked at him and waited for him patiently to continue. Shouta's hands twitched and he tried to give some gestures like he wanted to describe something but it seemed too complicated. He finally sighed. “Sometimes, I still lose my balance and fall. My movements are limited—they shouldn't be, because this prosthetic is supposed to follow the structure of the human leg. They say it's the best invention, don't they, Toshinori? But sometimes I feel like I can't move it the way I want to. Jumping, turning, flipping in the air, I can't do it as I used to. Even climbing stairs... Yesterday…”
Shouta's voice began to falter as if he had a lot to say and needed to get it all out in one breath. He swallowed hard before continuing, “yesterday... The lift was down for too long and I thought it would be faster to take the stairs, so I took them one by one and suddenly…” He stopped abruptly, spread his arms and shook his head, looking helpless, then his voice choked and broke. “I fell—”
Toshinori brought him in a hug without words. He wrapped his whole arms around Shouta's body, pressing their bodies together until they could feel the warmth of each other's. Leaning down slightly, he patted Shouta's back slowly, as if lulling a child to sleep, while his other hand buried Shouta's face in his chest, his fingers were running through the man's black hair which was silkier than it looked.
“Oh, Shouta…” Toshinori whispered while still gently stroking Shouta's back. “So the bruise on your hand because you fell from the stairs yesterday?”
“You compressed the bruise with warm towel last night while I was asleep, didn't you?” Shouta's voice sank into Toshinori's chest. He paused briefly, then continued, “the students saved me yesterday during the battle drill where I was supposed to save Jirou... Who was almost crushed by the building. When my legs suddenly became heavy and I couldn't move fast enough, I ended up being the one they saved. I always told them not to get in the way of their missions, in a firm, a harsh tone even, but I ended up doing that myself. Ironic, isn't it?" He chuckled. "What did they think when they saw that? Their teacher is merely bluffing.”
“How could they think like that about you?” Toshinori shook his head, still hugging Shouta. “It’s impossible.”
Shouta refuted Toshinori's words. “Who knows? Even now, when I take off my shoes or when we train on the field, people’s eyes still follow me. They stare at my prosthetic leg as if it's the strangest thing in the world. I remember you reprimanding them and telling them to stop staring at me.”
“They stopped after that, didn't they?” Toshinori hugged Shouta's shoulders a little tighter when he felt his back stiffen slightly.
Shouta was silent for a moment before he replied in a slightly hoarse voice, “Yes... But only when you're with me.”
“Shouta…” Toshinori hushed, his eyes glinted with sadness for him. “I'm so sorry, Shouta.”
Shouta shook his head. “That should be my words. I also know that I've been really annoying lately, haven't I? You must be so irritated and tired of dealing with me, Toshinori. I almost always scold you for everything you do these days, even though I know you're trying to make me feel better,” he smiled bitterly. “I ignored your messages, I didn't eat the lunch you had prepared for me—for all sorts of reasons. I nagged, became short-tempered, scolded people, swore, yelled at students, and I even tossed the clothes you gave me that time when I came home in the snow and you wanted to help me change, but I just... I kicked them away and said I didn't like the clothes you gave me... I was very, very…” his voice suddenly choked and broke at the end. “Sorry… I’m so sorry, Toshinori. I regretted it right after that, very much. And I’m afraid you will leave me one day because I… I am too much to handle. I’m even tired of myself.”
Toshinori was silent. He knew this was Shouta’s weakest point which hurt him the most. But then, he smiled gently and stroked Shouta's shoulder, whispering, “I understand, Shouta. I feel you, I know you very well. You’re feeling down and frustrated, and it must be tough for you these days. But let me tell you something, I wouldn't have given up and left you anyway—if that's what you were afraid of all this time—just because you tossed your shirt at my face, I knew that was unintentional and I got it, just thought you had a bad day. You kissed me and said sorry later in the night when you thought I was slumbering."
"Huh? You knew that?" Shouta stunned.
Toshinori chuckled. "We have faced the ups and downs of this life together, and surely this time as well. You know very much that our love is not that shallow, right?”
Shouta took a long breath and let it out slowly. He stared at Toshinori with a surprised expression, then he blinked and looked down in the distance as if he was thinking or imagining something. “Well, I've been feeling very sick lately. Like… I’m the worst human ever to exist in this world and don't deserve anything or anyone. Everything I do feels wrong and I always get upset, especially when my legs don't cooperate well, I feel helpless, useless even. Can you imagine how frustrating that is?” He bit his lip and clucked his tongue. As he continued, his tone became slightly raised suddenly. “Toshi, my power is no longer optimal, I often trip over my own feet when walking. My eyes... I can't use this one eye either—I'm half blind! I’m scared of what would happen, sometimes. It may feel strange to hear me complain like this, but it makes sense to be unreasonable once in a while, right?”
“Being vulnerable is fine. It meant that you have been strong all this time. We're human after all,” Toshinori gently tucked Shouta's hair behind his ear, then cupped his cheek. His expression softened and his lips smiled, seemingly reassuring. “When we don’t know what life may bring, I think to be afraid is a common reaction. But know that I will always be with you through that, we walk in this together.”
Shouta stared at him. “Had All Might felt afraid too sometimes?”
Toshinori smiled, “Oh, he had always been afraid. That’s why he always puts on that stupid smile, to reassure people but mostly himself that everything’s gonna be alright. He was even afraid when found out his tea got cold because he forgot he had made it in the first place,” he shrugged with a playful smile, then leaned in closer to Shouta’s face. “You must be really tired these days, kitten?"
Shouta's face blushed at hearing his favourite nickname and Toshinori chuckled. He took Shouta's hand and squeezed it gently before walking over to the TV table while Shouta just looked at him from where he stood.
Toshinori squatted down in front of the TV, turned on the music player and scrolled through the playlist. When he found the one he wanted, he touched the play button on the screen. Then the soft, gentle sounds of the piano filled their home, mingling with the sound of the rain outside.
Shouta frowned slightly, looking confused. His eyes followed Toshinori who walked back to his place in front of him. He gave a questioning look while Toshinori's eyes lit up.
“ Didn't know that I'd fall so hard
Then my feet left the ground
Gravity don't make no sense when you're around”
A long, thin but still well-muscled hand was extended in front of Shouta. He stared at Toshinori's open hand, then looked at the man with bewilderment. Toshinori moved his fingers as if to tell Shouta to take his hand.
“I come up against myself when
Demons in my head get loud
I don't know how you do it, but you turn them down”
Shouta placed his hand on Toshinori's hand and he clasped it. Toshinori raised his eyebrows and smiled brightly, looking pleased. He moved closer to Shouta and took Shouta's other hand, guiding him to his shoulder as he whispered, "put your hand on my shoulder and..." Toshinori slid his hand around Shouta's waist, hugging it gently but firmly. “Relax, and follow my movements. Let's loosen up your legs.”
“I slip and wonder who I'd be
If I never found you and you never found me
Well, I don't wanna see”
Calum Scott's soothing voice from the music player had almost reached the chorus when Toshinori pulled Shouta closer to him and began to lead him to step forward, then swinging to the right, to the left, then to step backward. They were slowly dancing to the tempo of the song. Shouta gasped while trying to follow Toshinori's movements with a confused look.
“Toshi…” Shouta muttered as he followed Toshinori's steps. Both moved to the right, to the left and then Toshinori spun him around.
“So won't you give me tonight
And the rest of your life?
I wanna have it all with you
I wanna have it all with you”
A blush crept across Shouta's cheeks. He quickly looked down and swallowed, looking embarrassed. Toshinori smiled softly, then pulled his hand from Shouta's waist while raising his another arm that still clasping Shouta's hand. Shouta looked at him in confusion.
“Turn around, kitten," Toshinori said. He gestured for Shouta to turn around, there was an odd glint in his eyes that made Shouta hesitate to follow his order. Toshinori said again in a more reassuring tone, "underarm spin, baby. Do it like you're dancing—we are, aren't we?”
“And when you open your eyes
I'll be there by your side
I wanna have it all with you
I wanna have it all with you”
Shouta blinked, then hesitantly began to spin in place with one hand was being raised in Toshinori's clutch and with a flushed face. His movement was stiff, but Toshinori seemed content to see it. “Very good, kitten," Toshinori smiled with his eyes sparkling, then he grabbed Shouta's waist again and pulled him close.
“'Cause your love is biblical
Biblical, it's biblical”
Then they resumed their dance. Toshinori swayed to the left and then to the right, while Shouta swayed to the right and then to the left. Toshinori chuckled as their feet collided several times. He looked down and said in a caring tone as he guided him. "Shouta, look at my feet and we'll move together. Forward to the right first, then left... Downward to right again, left… Slow down, just listen and keep up with the song’s beat. Well, very good. Now we turn around. Oh, you're learning fast, kitten! I'm proud of you.”
“If you ever go to pieces
Fall between thе thunder clouds
I will put you back together, I won't let you down”
“I slip and wonder what I'd do
If you never found me and I never found you
I don't know what I'd do”
Toshinori chuckled at Shouta's sheepish expression. He lowered his head and whispered, “your bashfulness is endearing to see. It looks like your face is already very toasty, huh? Adorable.”
“Don't tease me, you old man,” Shouta muttered, looking away from Toshinori's gaze as they continued their slow dance.
“But you enjoy being teased by this old man. Your neck, face and ears will turn red like they've been baked by the summer sun when I tease you,” Toshinori leaned in close and said again. “When we make love, every time I whisper words of love or cheeky teasing in your ear, your body would instantly tremble, tense up, and then under there... That tight thing of yours would squeeze me even more…”
“Keep it PG-15, Toshinori dear,” Shouta interrupted in a warning tone but sounded a little helpless. Toshinori's babbling made his face much redder now, and it was too obvious to deny. “You are so quick when it comes to bed,” he grumbled.
Toshinori laughed, then straightened his back and nodded, trying to hold back a smile. “All right, I'll stop teasing you—for now. Your face is so red, I'm afraid you're going to explode.”
Shouta snorted, then suddenly he gasped loudly and let out a strangled yelp as Toshinori cupped his waist and lifted his body until his feet were high enough off the floor, then he spun them both around while lifting Shouta. Reflexively, Shouta's hands gripped Toshinori's shoulders tightly enough to keep himself upright.
“Toshi—”
“I'm here, don't worry,” Toshinori whispered, smiling softly while staring at Shouta above him.
“So won't you give me tonight
And the rest of your life?
I wanna have it all with you
I wanna have it all with you”
“And when you open your eyes
I'll be there by your side
I wanna have it all with you
I wanna have it all with you”
Shouta gulped and gradually seemed to calm down. Toshinori lowered him slowly while still holding his waist gently yet steadily until Shouta's feet touched the floor again. Then he led him in a slow dance again. He grinned. “You did great, kitten.”
“Just tell me before you do it again,” Shouta hissed.
Toshinori chuckled. “Oh, we'll do it again, kitten. Our moves will be a level higher.”
Shouta's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't give a comment. He let Toshinori guide him with the dance. They stepped forward, moved to the right, to the left, stepped backwards again, and then spun around. Then Toshinori lifted his body again and spun like before. Shouta was still surprised yet quickly adjusted.
“I wanna have it all
I wanna have it all
I wanna have it, I wanna have it all
'Cause your love is biblical
It's biblical, it's biblical”
“Hey Toshi, is this a waltz?” Shouta could not bear to ask. "It feels like we're spinning too much."
Toshinori smiled mischievously. “At first, yes, but then I moved as I pleased. Because what? I just want to enjoy this song with you, dancing however I want, without any step rules. Just enjoy our moment,” he laughed and then added, “I also like to spin you around, I like to pick you up and carry you around. Don't you like it when you're high above, like flying?”
Shouta half snorted, half laughed. “I knew it. And you also move quicker than the tempo of the song—haakh!” His words were cut short when Toshinori lifted him again, this time a little higher than before, then he spun both of their bodies around, leaving Shouta breathless. Shouta hugged Toshinori’s neck and wrapped his legs tightly around his waist.
“So won't you give me tonight
And the rest of your life?
I wanna have it all with you
I wanna have it all with you”
They embraced each other in this kind of position for a while. Toshinori hugged Shouta's back, then he felt Shouta's back tremble. As the shaking increased, Toshinori looked at Shouta and heard his gasp. Toshinori's expression changed to concern and he whispered, “hey, kitten, are you alright? Did I accidentally hurt you when I picked you up earlier?”
“So come on and give me tonight
And the rest of your life
I wanna have it all with you
I wanna have it all with you”
Shouta pulled away from the embrace and stared at Toshinori. His eyes scanned Shouta's face: there were no tears, no sobs, just eyes that curved higher and higher as his lips smiled wider and wider, revealing a row of teeth. Shouta smiled, giggled even, then laughed.
Toshinori gazed at the scene before him as he held Shouta in his arms. Shouta chuckled and patted the tip of Toshinori's nose. “Your face looks stupid.”
Toshinori snapped out of his daze and shook his head hastily, then chuckled along. He brought his face closer to Shouta, smiled broadly. “You're smiling at last, Shouta. Oh kitten, I love you so much. I promise to make you smile like that every day.”
Shouta paused to stare at Toshinori, his lips still curled in a sweet smile. He opened his lips and said, “I have been smiling every day, you know. It may not show on my face, but my heart is always smiling. As long as you're around, I'm happy—you bring me joy, Toshinori.”
“Ah Shouta... Don't make me kiss you into the night,” Toshinori shook his head and kissed Shouta's cheekbone, the cut under his eye, then the lid of his blind eye, then the other eye, nose, cheek, temple, and forehead, showering Shouta's face with kisses.
Shouta laughed even more, his eyes squinted in response to Toshinori's kisses. He seemed a little overwhelmed when Toshonori didn't stop kissing him.
While still being showered with kisses and catching his breath between laughing, Shouta said, “Okay, okay, All Might, I understand. I do love you too. Thanks for trying to cheer me up and asking me to dance.”
“Do you feel better now?” Toshinori pulled away slightly from Shouta's face and finally stopped kissing him.
Shouta opened his eyes and looked softly at Toshinori. His hand came up, and stroked Toshinori's long bangs with his fingers delicately, pulling the bangs away from his face and tucking them behind his ears. Then he cupped Toshinori's face, kissed his lips gently, and pulled away a little, kept their tips of lips touched slightly. “Never felt better than when we’re together.”
“And when you open your eyes
I'll be there by your side
I wanna have it all with you
I wanna have it all with you”
“That's very sweet of you,” Toshinori said in English and chuckled. He hugged Shouta as the man wrapped his arms around his neck. “You've worked incredibly hard all these years, Shouta. You are amazing in your heart out to the surface, have anyone ever told you that? I'm so proud of you.”
Shouta buried his face in the crook of Toshinori's neck, took a deep breath, inhaled Toshinori's scent and smiled. The two of them cuddled in a standing position for a while until the song ended and something furry brushed gently against Toshinori's leg, making him gasp softly and look down.
“Oh, you want to join in the cuddling, too, Haru?” Toshinori smiled broadly at the sight of their Maine Coon cat circling him and rubbing its cheek against his leg. Toshinori chuckled. "She always asks to be cuddled when she sees us cuddling.”
Shouta broke free of Toshinori's embrace and climbed down from his body. He smiled thinly with an interested look at Haru, who was whirling and meowing softly around them. Shouta chuckled and bent down to pick her up. “She'll be seven months old next month. You grow up so fast, Hum?” He stroked and combed the cat's grey fur with his fingers.
“Oh, look at her behaviour, she's so spoiled for you, Shouta,” Toshinori chuckled at their cat, who snuggled comfortably against Shouta. “Haru always competes with me for your hugs.”
Shouta smiled as he watched the grey cat snuggle up to his neck. “But you spoil her more than I do. You always overfeed her and give her treats,” then he gently scratched behind Haru's ear, making the cat purred even more pleasantly. Shouta laughed at her reaction.
Toshinori watched the scene with an affectionate gaze. He couldn't resist taking his mobile phone from the table and taking a picture of Shouta with Haru in his arms. When he saw the picture on the screen, Toshinori grinned with satisfaction and could not look away from the real scene in front of his eyes.
He never could.
“'Cause your love is biblical
It's biblical, it's biblical”
“Let’s go to Roppongi Hills to see the Christmas tree this evening,” Toshinori suggested with an excited smile. “We bring Haru, too.”
Shouta smiled faintly and talked to Haru as he was cradling her in his arms. “Heard that, Haru? We’re gonna see the Christmas tree. Are you happy?”
Haru purred and snuggled in Shouta’s chest, and Shouta couldn’t help but chuckle, then he raised his gaze and met Toshinori's eyes.
“Thank you, Toshinori,” Shouta said quietly with pure sincerity in his dark eyes.