Chapter Text
Izuku’s vibrating with nerves as he paces back and forth across the room, his hands moving wildly as he rambles on and on and on… He’s sure that Kacchan has completely checked out of this conversation, but Izuku still needs to talk about it with someone. Anyone. And Iida’s already heard enough about it that he’s stopped answering his calls.
“He’s so– So pretty, and kind, and warm–” Izuku goes on, cut off suddenly by Kacchan’s drawn-out groan in frustration. “What– What! What is that noise about!”
“You have fucking said all this already!” Kacchan grunts angrily, sitting up from where he’d been lying on Izuku’s bed. He pulls the pillow from behind his head and hurls it at Izuku, who is unfortunate enough to be so used to this behaviour that he just lets it hit him square in the face and tumble him to the floor. “You keep going in circles! Every two seconds you veer off into something new and then you always come back to saying ‘and he’s so pretty, he was so nice, I want to suck his half-hot, half-cold dick–’ I’ve had enough! Get to the fucking point!”
Izuku sighs, clutching the pillow and curling up on the carpet. “He gave me his number, and asked me out on a date on Saturday,” he explains, rolling the fabric of the pillowcase between his thumb and forefinger. “We’ve messaged once so far, but I’m just— I’ve never done this before.”
The bed squeaks and shifts as Kacchan climbs down to the foot of it, poking his head over the edge to peer down at Izuku on the floor. “I’ve spent every day since I met All Might working to get where I am,” he goes on, and Kacchan nods along. “I’m grateful, obviously, but I started literally from scratch. I didn’t even have a firm grip on my Quirk. I didn’t even have more than just one quirk at the time. I had to work hard to adapt myself for it, and I had to work even harder to use it effectively and finally get me to number one.”
“After I was already number one–” Kacchan chimes in, all offended. Izuku rolls his eyes.
“Yes, after you were already number one,” he mutters, “it’s just us here, Kacchan, stop trying to measure next to me and listen.”
“Just making sure you remember,” Kacchan replies, half-grinning like an asshole. He dutifully quiets down, though, and waves his hand for Izuku to keep talking. Izuku hugs the pillow tighter.
“Between getting One for All, going to U.A, training, and then becoming a hero–” Izuku goes on. “–not to mention all the time it took to get us back on good terms. It’s a lot. I haven’t had time for anything else. Ochako had a crush on me back in school and I never even clued in because I just didn’t have the time to entertain that part of life. And now I have plenty of time, but no practice, and this guy was–”
Izuku stops, feeling his face warm with embarrassment. “He was incredible. He’s beautiful, and wonderful with his kids. He’s so gentle and encouraging. He has amazing handwriting, too,” he says. He ignores how Kacchan scoffs a little at him. “I really want him to like me. But I feel like he’s gotten… ideas about who I am based on my heroism. And that’s not me. Not all of me. I worry that I’ll go on this date, and this awesome guy will see Izuku and not Deku, and I’ll have to realise that maybe I’m better at being a hero than a partner.”
There’s a moment of quiet. Then Kacchan slides off the bed, laying on the floor next to Izuku. “I think half your problem is thinking that you were supposed to start ‘practising’ back when I did,” he starts. “You’re right. You started completely from scratch when becoming a hero. It’s why I rocketed ahead of you– Because I already had a Quirk and years of practice using it. It’s the same science here- I started dating in school, and now I have an awesome girlfriend that I’d rather die than lose. I got my practice in.”
“That’s what I just said,” Izuku huffs. Kacchan frowns.
“No– You said you suck at dating or whatever because you haven’t practiced,” he scolds, “you actually don’t suck at it because you haven’t even fucking tried it, dipshit. Look, this teacher sounds fine, and I’m sure you want this to go well, but you need to try. This is your practice. You don’t wanna see it that way because you wanna nail it on the first go– But you won’t nail it, or fail it, if you don’t give an honest effort. You have to start before you decide you wanna stop.”
Izuku smiles, letting go of the pillow to reach for him. Kacchan immediately moves to get up and away, but Izuku’s arms are wrapped around him before he can go. He presses his face to Kacchan’s, squeezing him until he finally relaxes and hugs him back.
“I see why Kyouka likes you,” Izuku coos, nuzzling Kacchan even as he grumbles in response. “You can be such a sweetheart when you try.”
“I’ll rip your heart out and pour sugar on it, that’ll teach you about ‘sweetheart’, ” Kacchan huffs.
-
Izuku rolls back and forth from his side, to his back, to his other side, and then back to his back. No matter which way he turns himself, he keeps looking towards his phone sitting on the nightstand.
It’s almost as if he’s aching for it. Like his hand is going numb, ready to fall off his body, if he doesn’t use it to reach out and grab his phone. But he can’t. He told himself he wouldn’t. Kacchan told him not to, and Kacchan is usually right about these things.
But Izuku really wants to message Todoroki. Really badly. They’ve only spoken once through text, just to confirm each other’s numbers and say a quick hello. No more conversation than that. Kacchan told him to be cool - message him in a day or two to make conversation and confirm their date. Kacchan said he shouldn’t ‘follow his compulsion to be clingy’ which is a whole lot of talk coming from him.
So Izuku is struggling. Staring at his phone and doing nothing more. He wants to do more, but is putting in the willpower to listen to Kacchan and not do anything.
Except that his phone is somehow already in his hand and he’s already laying on his back, his phone only a breath away from his face, already opening his and Todoroki’s very short chat logs.
You: Hello! This is Midoriya, from earlier today. Just texting to confirm your number. It was a pleasure to meet you this afternoon.
Todoroki Shouto: Evening, Midoriya. I remember you :) It’s good to hear from you, and it was a pleasure to meet you, too. I hope to hear from you again soon.
Izuku’s breathing irregulates as his heart spikes with anxiety. He hasn’t even started typing yet and he’s feeling pressured and unwell. Should he be getting this nervous just about texting someone? That seems a little ridiculous. He hates this. He should be more confident. That’s how most people get far in these situations.
‘I hope to hear from you again soon.’ Izuku feels warm all over just reading it back again. Should he take that at face value? Should he text him back now? It would feel rude not to. If he makes Todoroki wait a day or any longer, he might give the impression that he doesn’t reciprocate wanting to speak soon. But if he does reply too soon, does that make Izuku look desperate? He feels pretty desperate, but Todoroki is…nice. Really nice. That should be something Izuku’s allowed to get desperate about.
He sucks in a breath of confidence, tapping to bring up the keyboard on his screen. He types ‘ I know it’s fairly soon’ and then immediately deletes it. He shouldn’t tell Todoroki that he’s contemplated the time it’s taken him to respond. He tries ‘I was wondering what your plans might be for Saturday’ and then deletes it again. Maybe he should come up with his own plans for Saturday. Todoroki suggested the time, so Izuku should come up with an itinerary.
Or should Izuku leave that to Todoroki, too? Todoroki offered the date in the first place, he might have plans in mind. Or is he expecting Midoriya to come up with something? Maybe that’s why he told Izuku he wanted to hear from him - to hear about what his plans are for their date. Why is this so difficult to decipher? How did Kacchan manage to go through this multiple times before he finally ‘fessed up to Kyouka?
He supposes that Kacchan might just be better at this than him. With his practice , and all. Kacchan probably had this same struggle with talking to people romantically at first, he’s sure of it.
He types ‘I wish I knew how to do this’ then deletes it. He does, though. He wishes there was a comprehensive book on the steps to take in this situation specifically, when someone who is already completely out of your league asks you out because they like your celebrity persona, but in actuality you’re kind of a dork. He should ask Iida - Iida knows a lot about where to find educational material.
He’s about to just give up and put his phone back on the nightstand, when a bubble pops up in the chat. Izuku squints at it for a second, because usually the bubbles with the dots doesn’t appear when he’s typing–
Only that Izuku is not typing. The bubble appears out of Todoroki’s side of the screen. Todoroki is typing. Izuku can see Todoroki typing.
Which means that if Todoroki also opened their chat a couple of minutes ago, he definitely saw Midoriya typing and is likely about to ask why. Izuku doesn’t have an answer, and he really should think of one quickly before Todoroki manages to send the question.
Todoroki Shouto: Hello, how are you?
Izuku blinks at the message once it’s on the screen. ‘How are you?’ That’s all? Izuku types in a response, this time with a lot less overthinking.
You: I’m okay! How are you?
Todoroki Shouto: Fine.
I’m sorry if I’m interrupting you. I understand hero work can be time-consuming.
Izuku almost bursts out in laughter just reading that. Todoroki is so worried about taking up his time, meanwhile Izuku is wasting his own time worrying about how to make conversation with Todoroki. Izuku rolls onto his side more comfortably as he begins to reply.
You: Don’t worry about it! I only had a morning patrol today, then saw a friend. My days are not as busy as one would think.
I was actually about to message you!
Todoroki Shouto: Oh? What about?
You: I’m not sure. I was struggling with how to start the conversation.
Todoroki Shouto: Do I intimidate you, Midoriya?
Oh boy. Izuku feels a weird thrill up his back and his face turns warm.
You: A little…
Not in a bad way, I promise. I’ve just never been given someone’s number before. It’s a new experience.
Todoroki Shouto: Never?
I find that hard to believe, hero.
Izuku feels like he’s being teased somehow and it’s making him melt into his mattress. His breathing hitches a little, and he clears his throat to try and stop it as if anyone’s here to watch him get embarrassed. Hero. Something about being called that makes him so…
He can’t describe it. He thinks if he tried that he’d be hospitalised. It’s oddly intense, the way Todoroki makes him feel.
You: I swear!
I know I said my days aren’t that busy, but before now I didn’t have time for meeting people. It was kind of a miracle that I even met you. It’s an even bigger miracle that you gave me your number.
I’m making myself sound a little pathetic, I’m sorry.
Todoroki Shouto: Not at all, I understand.
It was my first time giving someone my number, if that eases your nerves.
I’m very new to this, too. I haven’t dated anyone since I graduated. Teaching takes up a lot of time.
Izuku feels this… wave of relief rush down his body, and he relaxes significantly. With how easily Todoroki gave over his number, and just how pretty he is, it’s easy for Izuku to think that Todoroki must be used to this. That he’s always being flirted with much more expertly than Izuku is attempting, and has a plethora of options available to him. That’s probably still true, but it relieves Izuku to realise that Todoroki doesn’t quite know that. That he’s as clueless as Izuku is.
That makes him feel much better. He should’ve texted Todoroki hours ago. He’ll never listen to Kacchan again.
You: That’s actually very relieving. I thought that I was too new to this and that your expectations of me would be too high.
Not that they shouldn’t be! I still want to impress you.
Todoroki Shouto: The number one hero putting in the effort to impress me? I’m very flattered :)
You already impress me as it is. You aren’t number one for no reason, of course.
He sucks in a breath, a pit forming in his stomach. He was relieved to know that Todoroki is just as new to this area as him, but Todoroki is still a civilian. He still only knows Izuku through the reference of his hero persona– Of Deku. Of course, he is Deku, but he’s more than that, too. So much more. Too much more, perhaps.
He wants Todoroki to know Izuku. Todoroki may only want Deku. That might be something that Izuku is just going to have to get over. Something that comes with the territory of being a big name.
He hesitates for a moment before replying, despite the anxiety that wells up in his chest.
You: Of course. But I’m trying to impress you, in particular.
I mean, I hope I can.
Todoroki Shouto: You’ll just have to prove yourself on Saturday, if you’re still up for it.
You: Yes. Very much so.
Where would you want to go? There’s a cafe near my agency that my brother says is very good.
Todoroki Shouto: You have a brother?
You: Yes but also no. He’s not biologically or even legally my brother. He’s a childhood friend I’ve grown up with like a brother.
Todoroki Shouto: Ah, right. Great Explosion Murder God: Dynamight.
You: He’s very proud of himself.
He should be, he’s a great hero. But he has an ego problem.
Todoroki Shouto: I can tell.
I have brothers. They’re biologically related to me, but I think you may have a better relationship with Dynamight than I do with my brothers.
You: Oh?
Todoroki Shouto: It’s a long, complicated family history.
But a cafe date sounds nice.
You: Oh yes! I can make that happen.
I’ll get the details tomorrow and send them through for you.
Have a good night, Todoroki.
Todoroki Shouto: You too, Midoriya. I look forward to seeing you.
Izuku drops his phone onto the nightstand, rolling onto his back to stare up at the ceiling for a long moment as he evens out his breathing. He’s sure that went as well as it possibly could’ve. He thinks he’s doing things right. As Izuku. As himself.
He doesn’t want to get worked up over it. He really doesn’t. He wants to see this as practice, and that being entirely himself will help. He wants to be himself.
But he wasn’t lying when he told Todoroki that he wanted to impress him. Being the number one hero is impressive– Being Deku is impressive. It’s what drew Todoroki to him in the first place. It’s why he’s able to experience this. He wants to be himself, but maybe embracing being Deku will help with that. Maybe his hero persona will help him to pull someone like Todoroki closer.
Maybe if Todoroki likes Deku more, Izuku has to let that happen. Has to embrace it.
He screws his eyes shut, physically shaking his head like he’s trying to shake the thoughts from it. He shouldn’t overthink like this. He and Todoroki have set a date. He should focus on that, and that alone. He has a date with a beautiful man who is attracted to him. That’s a win. He’ll take that small one for now.