Work Text:
Tamaki Amajiki hated hero galas.
Hate was perhaps a strong word.
Tamaki disliked hero galas. Intensely.
With considerable passion. Actually… No. Hate was fine. Tamaki hated hero galas.
"Amajiki!"
He stopped.
Turned. Smiled. At least… He hoped it was a smile.
A journalist approached.
"Could we get a quick comment?"
Tamaki's stomach sank.
"About..."
"Your agency's recent rescue
operation."
"Oh."
There were approximately eight cameras behind her.
Tamaki considered permeating through the floor.
Unfortunately...
That would probably become a
headline.
SUNEATER FLEES INTERVIEW THROUGH FLOOR
Mirio would frame it.
Tamaki swallowed.
"Sure."
The cameras moved closer.
“Wonderful.”
Three minutes.
That was all.
Three minutes of questions.
He'd fought villains for longer.
Nearly died for longer.
Three minutes should have been easy.
It wasn't.
"Your team rescued seventeen civilians."
"How do you feel about the response?"
Tamaki stared.
How did he feel?.Happy? Relieved? Tired? Hungry?
Currently terrified of the microphone approximately twelve centimetres from his face?
"Um..."
Great start.
"We..."
His brain emptied.
Every word he'd ever learned disappeared.
"We did our jobs."
Terrible.
The journalist smiled.
"Very humble."
No. Not humble. Panicking. Another question. Then another. Tamaki answered. Somehow.
Eventually...
"Thank you, Suneater."
"Thank you."
Why was he thanking her?
He didn't know.
He escaped.
Mirio caught him ten seconds later.
"That went well!"
Tamaki stared.
"I said twelve words."
"Good twelve words."
"One of them was 'um.'"
"Excellent um."
Tamaki looked towards the nearest wall.
Mirio grabbed his shoulders.
"No."
"I didn't do anything."
"You were looking at the wall."
"I can look at walls."
"Not like that."
Nejire appeared.
"Tamaki!"
Tamaki sighed.
"Hi."
"There's food!"
"Okay."
"And Endeavor's here."
"Okay."
"And Hawks."
"Okay."
"And Deku!"
Tamaki glanced up.
Nejire grinned.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Tamaki frowned.
He followed her gaze.
Across the room...
Izuku Midoriya was trapped.
There was no other word for it.
Three journalists.
Two agency representatives.
A hero Tamaki vaguely recognised.
And an elderly woman who appeared to be telling him a very long story.
Izuku was smiling.
Nodding.
Listening.
Actually listening.
Of course he was.
Deku.
One of the most famous heroes in Japan.
Probably the world.
The boy who had once been a nervous first-year following Mirio around during an internship.
Now… Well. Deku.
Tamaki still found that strange.
Izuku caught his eye.
Tamaki froze.
Izuku smiled.
Raised one hand.
Tamaki hesitated.
Then raised his own.
Tiny wave.
Izuku's smile widened.
Tamaki immediately looked away.
Nejire was staring.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Twenty minutes later… Tamaki had reached capacity. Completely. Conversation. Noise. Music. Lights.
People touching his arm to get his attention. Questions. Photographs. More questions. Someone had asked him what his favourite seafood was.
Tamaki had panicked and said chicken.
He needed to leave.
Mirio was talking to an agency director.
Nejire was dancing.
Tamaki slipped away. Nobody noticed.
Good.
Hallway.
Quiet.
Better.
Another hallway.
Even quieter.
Perfect.
He found a stairwell. Opened the door. Sat. Silence. Tamaki breathed out.
Finally. No music. No cameras. No questions. No expectations.
Just… Stairs.
Tamaki liked stairs.
Stairs didn't ask about his five-year career plan.
Five minutes passed. Maybe ten.
He didn't care.
The door opened.
Tamaki's shoulders tensed.
Please not Mirio.
He loved Mirio.
Deeply.
But Mirio would try to help.
Helping would involve talking.
Possibly hugging.
Tamaki wasn't ready.
"Tamaki?"
Oh. Worse. Midoriya.
Izuku stood in the doorway.
Tamaki immediately sat straighter.
"Sorry."
Izuku blinked.
"For what?"
"I..."
Tamaki looked around.
Why had he apologised?
"This is probably..."
He gestured vaguely.
"...Your stairwell."
Izuku stared.
Then laughed softly.
"I don't own a stairwell."
"Right."
Tamaki wanted to disappear.
Izuku remained near the door.
He didn't approach.
"Are you okay?"
Tamaki's automatic answer appeared.
"Yeah."
Izuku looked at him.
Tamaki prepared for the follow-up.
Are you sure?
What's wrong?
Do you want to talk?
Instead...
Izuku nodded.
"Okay."
Tamaki blinked.
Izuku looked at the stairs.
Then back at him.
"Can I sit here?"
Tamaki stared.
"...Why?"
Izuku immediately panicked.
"I don't have to!"
"No."
"I mean-"
Tamaki swallowed.
"You can."
"Oh."
Izuku smiled.
"Thanks."
He sat. Not beside Tamaki. One step below. Slightly to the side. Enough space.
Tamaki noticed.
Silence.
Tamaki waited. Izuku would talk. Obviously. Midoriya talked. A lot. Especially about Quirks. Or heroes. Or strategy. Or anything he found remotely interesting. Which was most things.
Thirty seconds.
Nothing.
One minute.
Nothing.
Two.
Still nothing.
Tamaki glanced at him.
Izuku was looking at his phone. Quietly.
Tamaki looked away.
Five minutes.
The silence wasn't awkward. That was… Unexpected. Eventually...
Izuku put his phone away.
Tamaki tensed slightly.
Here it came.
Conversation. Izuku leaned back against the railing. Said nothing.
Tamaki frowned.
Another few minutes.
"...Aren't you going to ask?"
Izuku looked over.
"Ask what?"
"Why I'm here."
Izuku blinked.
"Oh."
He thought.
"Do you want me to?"
Tamaki stared.
"...No."
"Okay."
And that was apparently that.
Tamaki looked down at his hands.
"You don't have to stay."
"I know."
"There's a party."
"I know."
"People probably want to talk to you."
Izuku's expression became mildly horrified.
"That's actually why I'm here."
Tamaki blinked.
"What?"
Izuku sighed.
"Someone asked me about hero infrastructure funding."
Tamaki waited.
"I answered."
"Then somebody else disagreed."
"Oh."
"Then another person joined."
Tamaki's mouth twitched.
Izuku continued.
"Then someone asked me whether heroes should have more input in urban planning."
"Do you think they should?"
"Yes."
Tamaki blinked.
Izuku looked horrified.
"That's how it started!"
A laugh escaped. Tiny. But real.
Izuku smiled.
Tamaki looked away.
"Sorry."
"For laughing?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Tamaki didn't know.
Izuku smiled.
"It's funny."
"It wasn't at the time."
"But now..."
He considered.
"...A little funny."
Tamaki smiled faintly. Silence returned.
Easy again. Eventually...
Tamaki asked
"How did you find me?"
Izuku's face changed.
Guilty.
Tamaki immediately became suspicious.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Midoriya."
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck.
"I noticed you leave."
Tamaki stared.
"You noticed?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Izuku blinked.
Tamaki immediately regretted asking.
Obviously Midoriya noticed.
He noticed everything. Quirks. People. Danger.
Tamaki wasn't special.
"Sorry."
"There you go again."
Tamaki looked at him.
"What?"
"Apologising."
Tamaki frowned.
"I don't do that."
Izuku stared.
Tamaki sighed.
"...Okay."
Izuku smiled.
"I noticed because I was looking at you."
Tamaki's brain stopped. Completely.
Izuku apparently realised how that sounded.
His eyes widened.
"Not like-"
Tamaki's face heated.
"I mean, I wasn't staring!"
"I just saw you earlier and then I looked over again and you weren't there, and Mirio was still talking to someone, so I thought maybe you wanted some space, but then I thought maybe I should check, except checking might defeat the point of you wanting space, so I waited, but then I started wondering if you were okay and-"
Tamaki stared.
Izuku stopped.
His face was red.
"...Sorry."
Tamaki blinked.
"There you go again."
Izuku froze.
Tamaki's mouth twitched.
Izuku laughed.
Something loosened. Just slightly.
Tamaki looked at him.
"You were looking at me?"
Izuku's face warmed again.
"Not..."
He sighed.
"Yes."
Tamaki's stomach did something strange. He ignored it. Another silence. Longer. Comfortable.
Eventually the stairwell door opened.
Mirio appeared.
"There you are!"
Tamaki closed his eyes.
Mirio stopped.
Looked at Tamaki.
Looked at Izuku.
Looked at the stairs.
"Oh."
Izuku smiled.
"Hey."
Mirio's eyes narrowed. Not suspicious. Interested.
Tamaki knew that face.
He hated that face.
"Everything okay?"
Mirio asked.
Tamaki nodded.
"Yeah."
Mirio looked at Izuku. Izuku nodded too.
"We're hiding."
Mirio grinned.
"Together?"
Tamaki's eyes narrowed.
"Mirio."
"What?"
"Go away."
Mirio looked delighted.
"Absolutely."
That was worse. Mirio disappeared. The door closed.
Tamaki sighed.
"He's going to be annoying."
Izuku laughed.
"Probably."
"He'll ask questions."
"Definitely."
"He'll make assumptions."
Izuku looked at him.
"What assumptions?"
Tamaki froze.
"...Nothing."
Izuku frowned.
Tamaki stared straight ahead.
Five minutes later….Nejire found them.
"THERE YOU ARE!"
Tamaki flinched.
Nejire stopped.
Looked at Tamaki.
Looked at Izuku.
Then smiled.
Tamaki's soul left his body.
"Oh."
"No."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
"I was going to ask if you wanted cake."
Tamaki stared.
"...Cake?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
She looked at Izuku.
"You too."
Izuku smiled.
"Sure."
Nejire disappeared.
Tamaki stared after her.
"That was suspicious."
"Very."
Eventually….They returned. Together.
That was apparently a mistake.
Mirio saw them. Smiled. Tamaki ignored him.
Nejire saw them. Smiled. Tamaki ignored her too.
Izuku stayed beside him. Not constantly. He spoke to other people. Took photographs. Answered questions.
But every so often… He returned.
No announcement. Just appeared beside Tamaki. Sometimes spoke. Sometimes didn't.
Tamaki noticed every time.
Near the end of the night… Tamaki was standing by a window. Izuku appeared.
"Hey."
"Hi."
"Doing okay?"
Tamaki considered.
Actually considered.
"Yeah."
"Better."
Izuku smiled.
Tamaki's stomach did the strange thing again.
Izuku held up a plate.
"Cake?"
Tamaki looked.
Chocolate.
"Nejire said there was cake."
"There was."
"You saved me some?"
Izuku blinked.
"Yeah."
Why did that feel important? It shouldn't. It was cake. People saved cake for people. Normal.
Tamaki took it.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Izuku stood beside him.
Silence. Again. Easy. Tamaki ate. Izuku watched the room.
"Midoriya?"
"Hm?"
"How are you doing that?"
Izuku looked over.
"Doing what?"
Tamaki gestured between them.
"This."
Izuku frowned.
"Standing?"
"No."
Tamaki struggled.
"Not talking."
Izuku blinked.
Then laughed.
"I can be quiet."
Tamaki stared.
"I've met you."
Izuku looked offended.
"I can!"
"You muttered through an entire briefing
once."
"I had observations."
"You had seventeen pages of observations."
"They were useful!"
"They were colour-coded."
"That makes them easier to read!"
Tamaki laughed. Actually laughed.
Izuku stared. Tamaki noticed.
His laughter stopped.
"What?"
Izuku smiled.
"Nothing."
Tamaki's face warmed.
Izuku looked towards the room.
"I don't know."
Tamaki waited.
Izuku shrugged.
"I don't feel like I need to talk."
"With you."
Tamaki stared. Izuku's cheeks became faintly pink.
"Not because I don't want to talk to you!"
"I just mean..."
He searched.
"The quiet isn't uncomfortable."
Tamaki looked down at his cake.
"No."
"It isn't."
That strange feeling again. Warmer now. The gala ended. Finally. Tamaki survived. Barely.
Outside… Mirio stretched.
"Food?"
Nejire immediately agreed.
Tamaki considered going home.
Then Izuku appeared beside him.
"Coming?"
Tamaki looked at him.
He should say no.
He was exhausted. Social battery empty. He wanted his bed.
But… Izuku was going.
And somehow… That changed the calculation.
"...Okay."
Mirio's eyebrows rose. Tamaki saw.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You don't need to."
They found somewhere nearby.
Mirio and Nejire did most of the talking.
Obviously. Izuku occasionally joined. Tamaki mostly listened.
And… It was fine. Better than fine.
Because Izuku sat beside him. Not opposite. Beside.
Their arms occasionally touched.
Tamaki noticed.
Every time.
At one point… Mirio told a terrible joke.
Izuku groaned.
Nejire laughed.
Tamaki looked at Izuku. Izuku looked back. Their eyes met. Same thought. That was awful. Neither said it. They didn't need to.
Tamaki smiled.
Izuku smiled back.
Later… Walking towards the station.
Mirio and Nejire were ahead. Talking.
Tamaki and Izuku followed. Quiet.
Izuku shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Tonight was exhausting."
Tamaki looked over.
"You seemed fine."
Izuku laughed.
"I wasn't."
"Oh."
"That's why I came looking for you."
Tamaki blinked.
Izuku continued.
"I figured if you were hiding..."
He smiled.
"...Maybe I could hide too."
Tamaki looked ahead.
Something warm settled in his chest.
They reached the station.
Different trains.
Mirio and Nejire went ahead.
Izuku stopped.
"Goodnight."
Tamaki nodded.
"Night."
Izuku turned.
Tamaki watched him.
"Midoriya."
Izuku looked back.
Tamaki almost lost his nerve.
Almost.
"If..."
He swallowed.
"If there's another one of these."
"Gala?"
"Yeah."
Izuku smiled.
"Unfortunately there will be."
Tamaki nodded.
Then…
"You can..."
Words.
Why were words so difficult?
"...Sit with me again."
Izuku's expression softened.
"Yeah?"
Tamaki nodded.
"Yeah."
Izuku smiled.
"I'd like that."
He walked away.
Tamaki stood still.
Mirio appeared beside him.
Tamaki nearly screamed.
"How long have you been there?"
"Long enough."
"Go away."
Mirio grinned.
"So-"
"No."
"Midoriya-"
"No."
"You-"
"No."
Mirio laughed.
Tamaki walked towards the platform. Mirio followed.
"He's cute."
Tamaki stopped.
Turned. His face warm.
"I didn't say that."
Mirio's grin became enormous.
Tamaki realised his mistake.
"Oh no."
"You didn't disagree."
"Mirio."
"You think Midoriya's cute."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
Tamaki walked faster. Mirio followed.
That night… Tamaki lay in bed. Dark room. Quiet. Perfect.
Normally… His favourite part of any social event was this. After.
When everyone was gone.
When nobody needed anything.
When he could finally be alone.
Except tonight… He kept thinking about a stairwell.
About Midoriya sitting one step below him.
Not asking. Not pushing. Not trying to fill the silence.
Just… There.
His phone buzzed.
Tamaki looked.
Midoriya: Thanks for letting me hide with you tonight.
Tamaki stared.
Then typed.
Tamaki: Thanks for finding me.
He almost deleted it.
Didn't.
Sent.
Three dots appeared.
Midoriya: Anytime.
Tamaki smiled.
Then another message.
Midoriya: Also thanks for not telling
anyone I hid from a conversation about urban planning.
Tamaki laughed quietly.
Tamaki: Your secret is safe.
Midoriya: Heroically protected.
Tamaki smiled.
Silence returned.
Except… It felt different now.
Because Tamaki realised something.
He liked being alone. He needed being alone. There was nothing wrong with that. But apparently...
There was one person who could sit beside him… Say nothing… Ask nothing… Expect nothing… And somehow not disturb the quiet at all.
Tamaki stared at Midoriya's last message.
Smiled.
Then put his phone down. Maybe being alone… And being with Midoriya...
Didn't have to feel all that different.
The next gala happened six weeks later.
Tamaki lasted forty-seven minutes.
Personal best.
He answered questions. Took photographs. Spoke to sponsors.
Listened to Nejire explain something about marine biology to a hero who clearly hadn't asked. Mirio disappeared into a crowd. Tamaki survived. Forty-seven minutes.
Then… Enough.
He slipped away.
Same routine. Hallway. Corner. Stairwell. Quiet.
Tamaki sat.
Breathed.
Better.
Three minutes later… The door opened.
Tamaki looked up. Izuku. Of course.
Izuku stopped.
"Oh."
Tamaki stared.
Izuku smiled.
"Hi."
"Hi."
A pause.
"Can I sit here?"
Tamaki's chest did something stupid.
He ignored it.
"Yeah."
Izuku sat.
Same place.
One step below.
Slightly to the side.
Tamaki noticed that too.
He remembered.
Of course he remembered.
Silence. Easy. Five minutes.
Izuku checked his phone.
Tamaki stared at the wall.
Neither spoke.
Eventually…
"Urban planning?"
Tamaki asked. Izuku looked up. Then laughed.
"No."
"Good."
"Tax policy."
Tamaki stared.
Izuku stared back.
"That's worse."
"So much worse."
Tamaki smiled. Silence again.
Ten minutes later… Izuku's shoulder touched Tamaki's knee.
Accidentally. Izuku immediately shifted.
"Sorry."
Tamaki looked down.
"It's fine."
Izuku nodded.
For some reason… Tamaki wished he hadn't moved.
That was… Concerning.
They stayed for twenty-three minutes.
Then returned.
Together. Again.
Mirio saw them. Again.
His smile became unbearable. Again.
"Don't."
Tamaki said.
Mirio hadn't spoken.
"I didn't say anything."
"You're thinking."
"Am I not allowed?"
"Not like that."
Izuku looked between them.
"What's happening?"
"Nothing."
Mirio said.
Tamaki said simultaneously.
"Nothing."
Izuku frowned.
"Okay."
Mirio stared at Tamaki. Tamaki looked away. That should have been it. Gala tradition.
Occasional. Specific. Except… It
spread.
A week later...
Tamaki was eating lunch alone on the agency roof. The door opened. Izuku appeared. Tamaki blinked.
"What are you doing here?"
Izuku stopped.
"I..."
He looked around.
"Visiting?"
Tamaki stared.
"This isn't your agency."
"I know."
"Why are you visiting the roof?"
Izuku's face warmed.
"I was downstairs."
"Why?"
"I had a meeting."
"Oh."
That made sense.
Then Izuku added:
"It ended forty minutes ago."
Tamaki stared.
That made less sense.
Izuku looked suddenly nervous.
"I can go."
Tamaki's answer came too quickly.
"No."
Both froze. Tamaki looked away.
"I mean..."
He swallowed.
"You can stay."
Izuku smiled.
"Okay."
He sat beside him.
Not one step below this time. Beside.
Tamaki looked at his lunch.
Izuku looked at the skyline.
Silence. Five minutes. Ten. Tamaki ate.
Izuku occasionally checked his phone.
At some point… Their shoulders touched. Neither moved.
Tamaki's heart beat slightly faster.
Ridiculous. It was a shoulder.
Everyone had shoulders. Usually two.
Nothing special.
Izuku sighed.
Tamaki looked over.
"Tired?"
"A little."
"Bad meeting?"
"No."
"Just long."
Tamaki nodded.
Silence.
"Did you eat?"
Tamaki asked.
Izuku froze.
Tamaki narrowed his eyes.
"Midoriya."
"I was going to."
"When?"
"Eventually."
"That's not a time."
Izuku smiled sheepishly.
Tamaki sighed.
Then pushed half his sandwich towards him.
Izuku stared.
"No."
"Eat."
"That's yours."
"I have another."
"You should eat both."
"I brought too much."
That was a lie.
Izuku seemed to know.
He didn't call him on it.
Instead he just said.
"Thanks."
Izuku ate.
Tamaki looked away.
Something about feeding Midoriya felt...
Nice. Dangerously nice.
Two days later...
Tamaki received a message.
Midoriya: Are you busy?
Tamaki stared.
Tamaki: No.
Three dots.
Midoriya: Can I come sit with you?
Tamaki's heart stopped.
Not:
Want to get food?
Not:
Want to train?
Not:
Can we talk?
Just...
Can I come sit with you?
Tamaki swallowed.
Tamaki: Yeah.
Tamaki: You can stay.
Twenty minutes later… Izuku arrived. No reason. No gala. No meeting. No bad day.
He simply… Came.
Tamaki made tea.
Izuku sat on the sofa.
Tamaki sat at the other end.
Television off.
Neither suggested turning it on.
Silence. Comfortable.
Eventually… Izuku pulled out a notebook.
Tamaki glanced over.
"Work?"
"Kind of."
"What?"
"Quirk analysis."
Of course.
Tamaki smiled.
Izuku noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You did the face."
"What face?"
"The..."
Izuku mimicked a tiny smile.
Tamaki stared.
"I don't look like that."
"You do."
"No."
"You absolutely do."
Tamaki looked away.
Izuku laughed.
Another ten minutes.
Izuku muttered. Quietly.
Tamaki listened. Apparently...
Midoriya's muttering didn't count as noise.
That was another concerning
development.
Eventually…
"Tamaki?"
"Hm?"
"Can I ask you something?"
Tamaki tensed.
Izuku noticed.
Immediately.
"You don't have to answer."
That helped. Slightly.
"What?"
Izuku looked at his notebook.
"Do I annoy you?"
Tamaki blinked.
"What?"
Izuku's face warmed.
"I talk a lot."
"Sometimes."
"I mutter."
"A lot."
"I know."
Izuku laughed nervously.
"And you like quiet."
Tamaki waited.
"So..."
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck.
"Does it bother you when I'm here?"
Tamaki stared.
The answer was obvious. No.
But Tamaki's brain immediately created twelve additional questions.
Why was Midoriya asking?
Had Tamaki made him feel unwelcome?
Had he been too quiet?
Should he have talked more?
Did Midoriya regret coming?
Was this… Stop.
"No."
Izuku looked up.
Tamaki swallowed.
"You don't bother me."
"Oh."
Izuku smiled.
"Good."
Tamaki's heart jumped.
Then… Because apparently he was feeling reckless.
"I like when you're here."
Izuku froze.
Tamaki immediately regretted existing.
"I mean-"
His face heated.
"You're..."
Words. Words would be excellent.
"...Quiet."
Izuku stared.
Tamaki wanted to permeate into the earth's core.
"Not that you're always quiet."
"Obviously."
"You talk."
"A lot."
"But..."
Tamaki looked down.
"It's not..."
He struggled.
"...Loud."
Izuku's expression softened.
"I think I understand."
Tamaki looked at him.
"You do?"
"Yeah."
Izuku smiled.
"You don't make the quiet feel like something I need to fix."
Tamaki stared. That. Exactly that. Tamaki nodded.
"You don't either."
Neither spoke.
Neither needed to.
Later… Izuku fell asleep.
Tamaki noticed because the muttering stopped.
He looked over. Izuku's notebook rested against his chest. Head tilted sideways. Eyes closed. Tamaki stared.
He should wake him.
Midoriya probably had somewhere to be. Work. Home. Anything.
Tamaki reached over.
Stopped. Izuku looked… Peaceful. Very peaceful.
Tamaki lowered his hand.
Twenty minutes passed.
Tamaki read.
Izuku slept.
Eventually… Izuku shifted. His head tipped. Landed against Tamaki's shoulder. Tamaki stopped breathing. Completely.
No.
Absolutely not.
This was… This was too much.
Tamaki stared straight ahead.
Izuku breathed softly beside him.
Warm. Heavy. Close.
Tamaki's heart attempted to escape through his ribs.
Move. Easy. Just move.
Izuku would wake.
Apologise. Done.
Tamaki didn't move.
Five minutes. Ten. Fifteen.
His arm was going numb.
He still didn't move.
The door opened.
Mirio walked in.
Tamaki's eyes widened. Mirio stopped.
Saw Izuku. Saw Tamaki.
Saw Izuku asleep on Tamaki's shoulder.
Mirio's face transformed.
Tamaki immediately raised one finger.
“Don't.”
Mirio's grin became enormous.
Tamaki mouthed. “Go away.”
Mirio pulled out his phone.
Tamaki's eyes widened.
“Don't you dare.”
Mirio took a photograph.
Tamaki looked murderous.
Mirio silently disappeared.
Thirty seconds later… Tamaki's phone buzzed. He carefully checked.
Mirio: adorable
Tamaki typed with one hand.
Tamaki: delete it
Mirio: no
Tamaki: mirio
Mirio: you could move
Tamaki froze.
He looked at Izuku.
Then at the message.
Three dots appeared.
Mirio: but you don't want to
Tamaki's face heated. He put his phone away. Mirio was dead to him.
Izuku woke twenty minutes later. Slowly.
"Hm..."
Tamaki stared straight ahead. Izuku shifted. Realised. His head snapped up.
"Oh!"
Tamaki immediately missed the weight.
"I'M SORRY."
"It's fine."
"I fell asleep on you!"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you wake me?"
Tamaki froze. Because… He didn't want to. Terrible answer. Dangerous answer.
So…
"You looked tired."
Izuku stared. Then smiled. Tamaki looked away.
"What time is it?"
Tamaki checked.
"Almost seven."
Izuku's eyes widened.
"I slept for an hour?!"
"About that."
"Oh no."
He grabbed his phone.
Then stopped.
"...I didn't have anywhere to be."
Tamaki blinked.
"Oh."
Izuku looked at him.
Then smiled.
"So..."
He settled back. Not against Tamaki. Unfortunately.
"I can stay?"
Tamaki's chest warmed.
"Yeah."
"You can stay."
They ordered food.
Ate on the sofa.
Izuku talked more now. Tamaki listened.
Occasionally answered. Sometimes they laughed. Sometimes silence returned.
It never felt strange.
At nine… Izuku finally stood.
"I should go."
Tamaki nodded.
"Yeah."
Neither moved towards the door.
Five seconds. Ten.
Izuku laughed awkwardly.
"I really should."
"Probably."
Still nothing.
Eventually… Tamaki stood.
Walked him out.
At the door.
"Thanks."
Izuku said.
"For what?"
"Today."
Tamaki frowned.
"We didn't do anything."
Izuku smiled.
"I know."
That warmth again.
Izuku put on his shoes.
"Can we do nothing again sometime?"
Tamaki looked at him.
His heart did something stupid.
"Yeah."
"Okay."
Izuku smiled.
"Goodnight."
"Night."
Door closed.
Tamaki leaned against it.
Breathed. Then his phone buzzed.
Mirio: soooooooo
Tamaki closed his eyes.
Tamaki: I hate you
Mirio: you love me
Tamaki: currently debatable
Mirio: you let midoriya sleep on you for an hour
Tamaki stared.
Tamaki: he was tired
Mirio: mhmm
Tamaki: stop
Three dots.
Mirio: you like him
Tamaki stopped.
No. No, he didn't.
He liked Midoriya. Obviously. As a person. As a hero. As a friend. He liked talking to him. He liked not talking to him. He liked when Midoriya came to find him. He liked when Midoriya sat beside him. He liked when their shoulders touched. He liked sharing food with him.
He'd let him sleep on his shoulder until his arm went numb.
He'd- Oh.
Tamaki stared at the screen.
Mirio sent another message.
Mirio: tamaki?
Tamaki typed.
Deleted.
Typed again.
Tamaki: oh no
Mirio responded immediately.
Mirio: THERE IT IS
Tamaki groaned.
Across the city… Izuku was on the train home. He stared out the window. Thinking. About nothing. About Tamaki. Mostly Tamaki.
His phone buzzed.
Uraraka.
Ochaco: How was your day off?
Izuku smiled.
Izuku: Good.
Then:
Izuku: I spent it with Tamaki.
Three dots.
Ochaco: oh?
Izuku frowned.
Izuku: What?
Ochaco: nothing
Izuku stared.
Why did everyone say that?
He put his phone away.
Thought about Tamaki.
The tea. The silence. The sandwich earlier that week. Falling asleep. Waking against his shoulder.
You can stay.
Izuku smiled.
He liked that. A lot.
He'd spent years surrounded by people he loved. Friends. Family. Heroes.
People he would happily spend hours with.
But this was… Different.
With Tamaki… He didn't need an activity. Didn't need a reason.
Didn't even need conversation. He could simply be there.
Izuku rested his head against the train window.
Smiled.
Maybe that was why he kept finding excuses to see him. Meetings. Lunch. Galas.
Except… Today there hadn't been an excuse.
He'd simply asked.
Can I come sit with you?
And Tamaki had said yes.
Izuku's smile softened.
His stomach fluttered.
He froze.
No. Wait. What was-
He thought about Tamaki smiling. Tamaki laughing. Tamaki quietly pushing half a sandwich towards him. Tamaki's shoulder beneath his cheek.
Tamaki saying:
I like when you're here.
Izuku's face heated.
Oh.
"No."
A passenger looked over.
Izuku immediately stared at the floor.
"Sorry."
He pulled out his phone.
Opened Tamaki's messages.
Read them.
Why? No idea. Then...
A new message appeared.
Tamaki: You left your notebook.
Izuku stared.
He had.
Of course he had.
Izuku: Sorry! I'll get it tomorrow.
Three dots.
Tamaki: Okay.
Tamaki: You can stay again if you want.
Izuku's heart jumped. Hard. His face warmed. He stared at the message.
And finally… Finally...
Izuku Midoriya realised that maybe he'd stopped seeking out quiet some time ago.
Maybe...
He'd started seeking out Tamaki.
He typed:
Izuku: I'd like that.
Sent.
Then he leaned back.
Covered his face with both hands.
Because apparently… This was happening.
Meanwhile… Tamaki stared at Izuku's reply.
Smiled.
Then immediately remembered Mirio's message.
You like him.
Tamaki buried his face in a cushion.
He was doomed. Absolutely doomed.
Because there was one enormous problem with falling for Izuku Midoriya.
Tamaki thought Midoriya was incredible.
Brave. Kind. Powerful. Famous. Loved.
The sort of person who could have anyone.
And Tamaki was… Tamaki.
There was absolutely no chance
Midoriya could feel the same way.
Across the city… Izuku was having precisely the same thought.
Tamaki was one of the Big Three.
Brilliant. Powerful. Kind. Experienced.
Someone Izuku had admired since he was sixteen.
There was absolutely no chance Tamaki could feel the same way.
Mirio received two messages within eleven minutes.
Tamaki: I think I like Midoriya.
Midoriya: Can I ask you something about Tamaki?
Mirio stared at his phone. Slowly...Very slowly…
He lowered his head onto the table.
Nejire looked over.
"What?"
Mirio sighed.
"I'm surrounded by idiots."
His phone buzzed again.
Midoriya: Is he seeing anyone?
Mirio closed his eyes. Nejire leaned over. Read the message. Her eyes widened.
"Oh."
Mirio pointed at her.
"No."
"But-"
"No."
Her grin appeared.
"Mirio."
"Nejire."
"We have to help them."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because..."
Mirio looked at the two conversations.
Then smiled.
"...They need to figure this one out themselves."
Nejire stared.
"That's surprisingly mature."
"Thank you."
Mirio picked up his phone.
Mirio → Midoriya: No. Why?
Mirio grinned.
Nejire stared.
"You lasted four seconds."
"I tried.”
Mirio Togata had made a mistake. A small one. Technically.
He had responded to Midoriya's message with:
Why?
This had been a mistake because
Midoriya actually answered.
At length.
Midoriya: No specific reason.
Mirio stared.
Then another message appeared.
Midoriya: I was just wondering.
Then…
Midoriya: Because we’ve been spending more time together lately.
Then…
Midoriya: And I like spending time with him.
Then…
Midoriya: Obviously I like Tamaki
generally.
Then…
Midoriya: He’s incredible.
Mirio smiled.
Here we go.
Midoriya: He’s one of the strongest
heroes I know and his Quirk is amazing and he’s really thoughtful even when people don’t notice and he always knows when I need to slow down and he’s really easy to be around and-
Mirio leaned back.
Nejire looked over.
"Still going?"
"Yep."
Three dots.
Then…
Midoriya: I think I might like him.
Mirio smiled.
There it was.
Then…
Midoriya: Romantically.
Mirio's smile widened.
Then…
Midoriya: But obviously there’s no chance he feels the same way.
Mirio's smile disappeared.
He stared.
Nejire leaned over again.
Read it.
Then slowly looked at Mirio.
"...Oh."
Mirio closed his eyes.
"Yep."
Meanwhile...
Tamaki was having the exact same
crisis.
In person.
Which was worse.
He sat on Mirio's sofa.
Hands around a mug.
Staring into tea that had gone cold twenty minutes ago.
Mirio sat opposite.
Nejire had been asked to leave.
She had refused.
So now she sat on the floor.
Pretending not to listen. Badly. Tamaki sighed.
"I shouldn't have said anything."
Mirio stared.
"You told me you like Midoriya."
"Exactly."
"That's what friends are for."
Tamaki looked horrified.
"No."
"...No?"
"Friends are for not knowing things."
Mirio blinked.
Nejire snorted.
Tamaki looked at her.
"I thought you weren't listening."
"I'm not."
"You laughed."
"Coincidence."
Mirio leaned forward.
"So you like him."
Tamaki looked away.
"...Yeah."
"Okay."
"That's it?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know."
"Something helpful."
Mirio thought.
"Ask him out."
Tamaki stared.
"That's the least helpful thing you've ever said."
"Not true."
"I once told you to fight a villain by pretending to be unconscious."
"That worked."
"By accident."
"Still worked."
Tamaki groaned.
Mirio softened.
"Why not ask him?"
Tamaki looked at the mug.
"Because..."
He stopped. Words again. Mirio waited. Tamaki sighed.
"He's Midoriya."
Mirio stared.
"Correct."
"No."
Tamaki frowned.
"You know what I mean."
"I genuinely don't."
"He's..."
Tamaki gestured vaguely.
"Midoriya."
Mirio looked at Nejire. She shrugged. Tamaki continued.
"He's brave."
"Kind."
"Ridiculously powerful."
"Everyone likes him."
"He's famous."
"He's good with people."
Mirio raised an eyebrow.
"Midoriya?"
Tamaki nodded.
Mirio thought about Izuku fleeing a conversation about tax policy.
"...Sure."
Tamaki ignored him.
"He could date..."
He struggled.
"...Anyone."
Mirio stared.
Tamaki looked down.
"Why would he choose me?"
Mirio's expression changed.
The joke disappeared.
"Tamaki."
Tamaki immediately regretted the question.
"Forget it."
"No."
"Mirio."
"No."
He leaned forward.
"You don't get to do that."
Tamaki frowned.
"Do what?"
"Talk about yourself like you're some consolation prize."
Tamaki went quiet.
Mirio continued.
"You're one of the best heroes I know."
"You're kind."
“You care about people."
"You notice things."
"You worked your ass off for everything you have."
"And..."
He smiled.
"You're funny."
Tamaki stared.
"No."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You made Midoriya laugh for five straight minutes last week."
"That was because you fell down the stairs."
"Still counts."
Nejire nodded.
"Very funny."
Tamaki looked betrayed.
Mirio smiled.
"And more importantly..."
"Midoriya likes being around you."
Tamaki froze.
Mirio immediately realised he'd gone too far.
Tamaki looked up.
"...What?"
Mirio's brain screamed.
Nejire's eyes widened.
Mirio recovered. Barely.
"I mean..."
"He keeps coming to see you."
Tamaki stared.
"He likes spending time with you."
"As a friend."
"Possibly."
Tamaki's expression fell.
Mirio internally punched himself.
Excellent. Great work.
Tamaki took another sip of cold tea.
Made a face.
Nejire finally abandoned pretending.
"Tamaki."
He looked at her.
"Maybe stop deciding what Midoriya
feels for him."
Tamaki blinked.
"What?"
She smiled.
"You know how you feel."
"That's your part."
"What he feels is his."
Tamaki stared.
Then looked away.
"...I hate when you're sensible."
"I know."
Across the city… Izuku was receiving similar advice. From Uraraka.
"You should ask him."
Izuku looked horrified.
"Ochaco."
"What?"
"I can't just ask Tamaki out."
"Why?"
"Because..."
Izuku gestured.
"Tamaki."
Uraraka stared.
"Yes."
"No, I mean-"
"He's incredible."
"Right."
"Strong."
"Right."
"Experienced."
"Right."
"Really kind."
"Right."
"And..."
Izuku's cheeks warmed.
"He's..."
Uraraka waited.
Izuku looked away.
"...Cute."
Her smile became dangerous.
Izuku immediately regretted everything.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You're thinking."
"Apparently everybody says that now."
Izuku sighed.
"He could be with anyone."
Uraraka tilted her head.
"So?"
"So why would he..."
He pointed at himself.
"...Want me?"
Uraraka stared. Then laughed. Izuku looked offended.
"That's not funny."
"I'm sorry."
She wasn't.
"It's just..."
She wiped one eye.
"You two are unbelievable."
Izuku frowned.
"What?"
"You think Tamaki's too good for you."
"Yeah."
"And I would bet money Tamaki thinks you're too good for him."
Izuku froze.
"What?"
Uraraka smiled.
"Just a theory."
Izuku stared.
His heart started beating faster.
"Do you..."
He swallowed.
"...Know something?"
Uraraka's smile became innocent.
"No."
That was suspicious. Very suspicious.
That evening… Izuku went to Tamaki's apartment. For his notebook. That was the reason. Technically.
Tamaki opened the door. Izuku smiled.
"Hi."
Tamaki's heart immediately betrayed him.
"...Hi."
Izuku stepped inside.
Tamaki moved aside.
They were both nervous.
Neither realised the other was nervous.
This was inefficient.
Tamaki handed him the notebook.
"Here."
"Thanks."
Izuku took it.
Their fingers brushed.
Both froze. Again.
This was becoming a problem. Izuku held the notebook..Could leave. Should leave.
Instead:
"Can I stay?"
Tamaki looked up. His chest warmed.
"Yeah."
Then softer…
"You can stay."
Izuku smiled.
They sat.
Same sofa.
Different ends. Tea. Quiet.
Except...The quiet wasn't easy today.
Not completely.
There were too many thoughts sitting between them.
Izuku looked at Tamaki.
Tamaki looked away.
Tamaki looked at Izuku.
Izuku looked down.
This continued for several minutes.
Eventually… Tamaki spoke.
"Midoriya."
"Yeah?"
"Do you..."
He stopped.
Izuku waited.
Tamaki's courage evaporated.
"...Want more tea?"
Izuku blinked.
"Oh."
"Sure."
Tamaki stood too fast.
Nearly walked into the table.
Izuku stared.
Tamaki escaped into the kitchen.
Izuku looked at the notebook.
Then whispered…
"...Coward."
He meant himself.
Tamaki stood in the kitchen.
Hands gripping the counter.
Breathe. Just ask. Simple.Do you want to go out sometime?
No. Terrible. Too direct.
Maybe: Would you like to get food?
They already did that.
Would you like to get food romantically?
Absolutely not.
Tamaki closed his eyes. He was doomed. He returned.
Tea.
Sat.
Izuku took it.
"Thanks."
Tamaki nodded.
Silence.
Then Izuku spoke.
"Tamaki?"
Tamaki looked over.
Izuku's face was faintly pink.
"Do you want to do something
Saturday?"
Tamaki's heart stopped.
"...What?"
Izuku immediately panicked.
"Not anything specific!"
"Just..."
"Something."
"Like we usually do."
"Except maybe not nothing."
"Unless you want to do nothing."
"Nothing is fine."
"I like doing nothing with you."
Tamaki stared.
Izuku realised.
Face reddened further.
"That sounded..."
Tamaki's mouth twitched.
"Yeah."
Izuku covered his face.
"Sorry."
Tamaki laughed.
Tiny.
Izuku smiled.
There.
That helped.
Tamaki swallowed.
"Saturday's good."
Izuku lowered his hands.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"What do you want to do?"
Tamaki thought.
Then… Something brave. Very brave.
Possibly stupid.
"You choose."
Izuku blinked.
"Me?"
Tamaki nodded.
"I trust you."
That hit Izuku harder than it should have..His face warmed.
"Okay."
Saturday.
Izuku chose a quiet botanical café.
Of course he researched it..Outdoor seating. Low noise. Not usually crowded. Good food. Minimal chance of journalists. Perfect.
Tamaki arrived.
Saw Izuku.
Stopped.
Izuku wore a green jumper.
Dark trousers.
Casual.
Tamaki stared.
Izuku noticed.
"Everything okay?"
Tamaki looked away.
"Yeah."
Very convincing.
Izuku looked at Tamaki.
Black sweater.
Hair slightly neater than usual.
He looked… Cute. Again.
Izuku's stomach flipped.
Right. This was definitely happening.
They sat outside. Ordered.
Conversation came slowly.
Then easier.
Hero work. Mirio. Nejire. Food.
Tamaki explained why he hated aubergine.
Izuku listened like it was classified intelligence.
Eventually… Tamaki smiled.
Izuku stared. Tamaki noticed.
"What?"
Izuku froze.
"Nothing."
Tamaki raised an eyebrow.
Izuku sighed.
"You're..."
He stopped.
Tamaki waited.
Izuku's face reddened.
"... Ypou have a nice smile."
Silence.
Tamaki stopped functioning.
Completely.
Izuku immediately panicked.
"I mean everyone has a smile."
"Obviously."
"And yours is one of them."
Terrible.
"Not just one of them!"
Worse.
"I mean it's particularly nice!"
Tamaki's face was bright red now.
Izuku covered his eyes.
"I should stop."
Tamaki whispered:
"...Thanks."
Izuku lowered his hands.
Tamaki looked away.
"I like yours too."
Izuku froze.
Now both were red.
Excellent. Food arrived. Saved by sandwiches.
Later… They walked. Quiet street.
Shoulders almost touching. Izuku's heart hammered. Tamaki's too. Neither knew.
"Midoriya."
"Yeah?"
Tamaki stopped walking.
Izuku stopped too.
Tamaki stared at the pavement.
"I need to say something."
Izuku's heart jumped.
"Okay."
Tamaki swallowed.
Then immediately:
"I think you're incredible."
Izuku blinked.
"...What?"
Tamaki's face turned red.
That wasn't how he'd planned to begin.
Too late.
"You..."
He struggled.
"You're kind."
"And brave."
"And..."
He looked genuinely miserable.
"...You make quiet feel easy."
Izuku stared.
Tamaki continued.
"I like when you're around."
"I think about you when you're not."
"I..."
His voice got smaller.
"... Like you."
There.
Izuku's brain stopped.
Tamaki looked down.
"I know you probably don't—"
"I do."
Tamaki froze.
Izuku's eyes widened.
He'd said it immediately. Good. No taking it back.
"I do."
Tamaki slowly looked up.
"...What?"
Izuku's cheeks warmed.
"I like you too."
Tamaki stared.
"No."
Izuku blinked.
"No?"
"I mean-"
Tamaki looked horrified.
"Not no."
"Just..."
He pointed vaguely at Izuku.
"Why?"
Izuku's mouth fell open.
"Why?"
"You could..."
Tamaki stopped.
Izuku suddenly understood.
And laughed.
Tamaki frowned.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because I asked Ochaco almost
exactly the same thing."
Tamaki stared.
"...What?"
Izuku smiled.
"I thought there was no chance you'd like me."
Tamaki looked completely baffled.
"You're Midoriya."
Izuku laughed.
"You're Tamaki."
Silence.
Then both realised.
"Oh."
Tamaki whispered.
Izuku smiled.
"Yeah."
They stood there.
Two incredibly capable professional heroes.
Unable to progress beyond that.
"So..."
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck.
"Do you want to..."
Tamaki waited.
"... Date?"
Tamaki's face warmed.
"Yeah."
"If you do."
"I do."
"Okay."
"Okay."
Silence. But easy again.
Finally. They resumed walking. Closer.
Their hands brushed. Both noticed. Neither moved. Again. Then Izuku quietly held out his hand.
Tamaki stared.
"Is this okay?"
Izuku asked.
Tamaki looked at him.
No pressure.
Just an offer.
He smiled.
"Yeah."
He took it.
Their fingers intertwined. Tamaki's heart went insane. Izuku's did too. They walked like that.
No conversation. None needed. At the station...
They stopped. Tamaki looked at their hands.
Then at Izuku.
"So..."
"Saturday was..."
Izuku smiled.
"A date?"
Tamaki's cheeks warmed.
"I guess."
Izuku laughed.
"Next Saturday?"
Tamaki nodded.
"Yeah."
"You can..."
He hesitated.
Izuku waited.
"... Stay again after."
Izuku's expression softened.
"I'd like that."
They released hands reluctantly.
Izuku stepped towards his train.
Then turned.
"Tamaki."
"Yeah?"
Izuku smiled.
"Your smile really is nice."
Tamaki's face turned bright red.
Izuku immediately boarded before
Tamaki could answer.
The doors closed.
Tamaki stared through the glass.
Izuku waved.
Tamaki slowly raised one hand.
Then smiled.
His phone buzzed.
Mirio.
Mirio: how was saturday?
Tamaki stared.
Then typed:
Tamaki: we're dating
Three dots disappeared.
Returned.
Then:
Mirio: WHAT
Tamaki blinked.
Another:
Mirio: YOU ACTUALLY DID IT????
Tamaki smiled.
Tamaki: yeah
Then:
Mirio: I AM SO PROUD OF YOU
Tamaki rolled his eyes.
Still smiling.
Across the city… Izuku messaged Uraraka.
Izuku: You were right.
She replied:
Ochaco: I KNOW
Izuku frowned.
Izuku: How did you respond that fast?
Ochaco: Because I was waiting
Izuku laughed. That evening… Tamaki sat alone. Quiet apartment. Perfect. Except… Something was different.
He looked at the other side of the sofa.
Empty.
Then smiled.
Because now he knew something he hadn't known before.
He still loved being alone.
Still needed quiet.
Still needed space.
But there was one person whose presence didn't take any of that away.
Someone he could invite into the silence.
Someone who could sit beside him and make being together feel just as peaceful as being alone.
His phone buzzed.
Midoriya: Can I come sit with you tomorrow?
Tamaki smiled.
No hesitation.
Tamaki: Yeah.
Tamaki: You can stay.
Dating Izuku Midoriya was… Quiet.
Tamaki hadn't expected that. Not because Midoriya was loud.
Not exactly.
He talked. Muttered. Analysed. Asked questions. Filled notebooks. Sometimes all at once.
But dating him… Was quiet. In the important ways. There was no pressure.
No constant messaging. No expectation that every silence had to be filled.
Sometimes they met and barely spoke for an hour.
Tamaki liked that. A lot.
Midoriya: Long day?
Tamaki stared at the message.
Tamaki: Yeah.
Three dots.
Midoriya: Want company?
Tamaki smiled.
Tamaki: Yeah.
Tamaki: You can stay.
Twenty-five minutes later...
Knock.
Tamaki opened the door.
Izuku stood there.
Takeaway bag.
Two drinks.
Notebook under one arm.
"Hi."
Tamaki stepped aside.
"...Hi."
Izuku smiled.
"Food."
"Good."
They ate on the sofa.
Izuku talked about a rescue. Tamaki listened. Then Izuku stopped talking.
Tamaki looked over.
"Tired?"
Izuku nodded.
"Little."
"You can sleep."
Izuku blinked.
"Here?"
Tamaki immediately regretted the offer.
Too intimate?
Too much?
Too-
"Yeah."
Izuku smiled.
"I'd like that."
Tamaki's heart jumped.
Twenty minutes later… Izuku was asleep. Head against Tamaki's shoulder. Again.
Tamaki looked down.
This time...
No panic.
No frozen posture.
No Mirio taking photographs.
Just warmth.
Tamaki smiled.
His phone buzzed.
Mirio. Of course.
Mirio: how's boyfriend life
Tamaki stared.
Then slowly took a picture.
Not of Izuku's face.
Just their joined shoulders.
Izuku asleep.
Sent.
Mirio responded instantly.
Mirio: OH MY GOD
Tamaki muted him.
Izuku woke later.
Blinking.
"...Sorry."
Tamaki shook his head.
"You don't have to apologise."
Izuku smiled sleepily.
"Right."
Then… He didn't move.
Tamaki noticed. Izuku noticed Tamaki noticing.
Both went pink.
"...Comfortable?"
Tamaki asked.
Izuku nodded.
"Yeah."
Tamaki looked away.
"...You can stay."
Izuku's smile softened.
"I know."
That sentence had become their thing.
Not deliberately.
But… There it was. You can stay.
At Tamaki's apartment.
On rooftops.
In stairwells.
After patrol.
After dinner.
After silence.
Every time… An invitation.
Sometimes Izuku said it too.
Tamaki had a terrible day. Nothing dramatic.
Just… Too much.
Interviews. Noise. Crowds. Questions.
He got home. Sat in the dark.
Then his phone buzzed.
Izuku: Want to come over?
Tamaki stared.
Then typed:
Tamaki: Maybe.
Three dots.
Izuku: You can stay.
Tamaki closed his eyes.
Smiled.
He went.
Izuku opened the door.
Didn't hug him.
Didn't ask questions.
Just stepped aside.
Tamaki entered.
Shoes off.
Sat.
Izuku made tea.
Then sat beside him.
Quiet.
After twenty minutes… Tamaki leaned against him. Izuku froze. Then relaxed.
Tamaki's head rested lightly against his shoulder.
Izuku smiled. No comment.
Thank God.
Eventually…
"Better?"
Tamaki nodded.
"Yeah."
"Good."
Silence again.
Perfect.
Their first proper date happened two weeks later.
At least… Proper in the sense that they deliberately called it one.
Izuku picked a small aquarium.
Tamaki approved immediately.
Dark. Quiet. No large crowds on weekday evenings. Fish. Ideal.
They walked through blue-lit tunnels.
Tamaki stopped at almost every tank.
Izuku noticed.
"You like this."
Tamaki nodded.
"A lot."
Izuku smiled.
"Good."
Tamaki stared at a huge ray gliding overhead.
Izuku stared at Tamaki.
Then realised.
Looked away.
Too late.
Tamaki noticed.
"What?"
Izuku went red.
"Nothing."
Tamaki raised an eyebrow.
Izuku sighed.
"You're..."
He hesitated.
Tamaki waited.
"Cute when you're interested in something."
Tamaki stopped functioning. Completely. Izuku immediately regretted speaking.
"I mean-"
"No."
Tamaki swallowed.
"Don't take it back."
Izuku froze.
Then smiled.
"I won't."
Tamaki looked away.
Face burning.
"...Okay."
Later… They sat near a jellyfish tank.
Blue light. Slow movement. Quiet.
Tamaki loved it. Izuku did too.
Mostly because Tamaki was there.
Their hands rested beside each other.
Close. Tamaki looked down.
Then… Moved his hand. Their fingers touched. Izuku looked over. Tamaki didn't.
He simply turned his palm. Open.
Izuku smiled.
Took it.
They sat holding hands.
No words. No need.
Eventually… Tamaki spoke.
"Midoriya."
"Hm?"
Tamaki hesitated.
Then…
"Can I call you Izuku?"
Izuku's expression softened immediately.
"Yeah."
Tamaki's cheeks warmed.
"...Izuku."
Izuku smiled.
"Tamaki."
That did something worse.
Tamaki looked away.
Izuku laughed softly.
They stayed until closing.
Outside...
Night air.
Quiet street.
Hands still joined.
Izuku looked at him.
"Good date?"
Tamaki nodded.
"Yeah."
"Really good."
Izuku smiled.
They reached Tamaki's building.
Stopped. Neither let go. Tamaki looked at the door. Then Izuku.
"So..."
Izuku smiled nervously.
"So."
Silence.
Tamaki knew what he wanted.
That was the problem.
He also knew there was absolutely no chance he could say it.
His heart was pounding.
Izuku looked equally nervous. Which helped. Slightly.
Izuku swallowed.
"Can I..."
Stopped.
Tamaki waited.
"Can I kiss you?"
Tamaki's brain shut down. Words.
Need words. Any word. Say yes. Simple.
Tamaki opened his mouth.
Nothing.
Izuku immediately panicked.
"Sorry."
"No pressure."
"We don't have to."
"I shouldn't have-”
Tamaki grabbed his sleeve.
Izuku stopped.
Tamaki's face was burning.
"...Yes."
Izuku blinked.
"Yes?"
Tamaki nodded.
"Please."
Izuku smiled. Small. Nervous. He stepped closer. Slowly.
Tamaki's heart tried to escape.
Then...
Their lips met. Soft. Brief. Warm.
Tamaki froze for half a second.
Then relaxed.
His fingers tightened around Izuku's sleeve.
Izuku's hand rested lightly against
Tamaki's arm.
No rush.
No pressure.
Just… A kiss.
They parted.
Tamaki stared.
Izuku stared back.
Both red.
"...Oh."
Izuku laughed softly.
Tamaki looked away.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Izuku smiled.
"You just said 'oh.'"
Tamaki covered his face.
"Don't."
"Sorry."
Tamaki lowered his hands.
"You apologise too much."
Izuku blinked.
Then laughed.
"Fair."
Silence.
Then Izuku asked:
"Can I do that again?"
Tamaki looked at him.
His embarrassment didn't disappear.
But… He smiled.
"Yeah."
Second kiss. Longer. Still gentle.
Tamaki's hand moved from Izuku's sleeve to his wrist.
Izuku smiled against his lips.
Tamaki noticed.
His own lips curved too.
When they separated...
Izuku rested his forehead lightly against his.
Tamaki closed his eyes. This was… Nice. Very nice.
Then Izuku whispered:
"Stay?"
Tamaki opened his eyes.
"What?"
Izuku's face warmed.
"I mean..."
He laughed nervously.
"I'm supposed to be the one leaving."
Tamaki smiled.
"Yeah."
"So..."
Izuku looked at him.
"Can I stay a little longer?"
Tamaki's chest tightened.
Good. Warm. Easy.
He unlocked the door.
Stepped inside.
Held it open.
"...Yeah."
"You can stay."
They ended up on the sofa.
Obviously.
Tea. Quiet. Tamaki's head against Izuku's shoulder. Izuku's hand in his.
No television. No music. Just them.
At some point… Izuku started muttering. Tamaki smiled.
"What?"
Izuku stopped.
"Sorry."
"No."
Tamaki looked at him.
"Keep going."
Izuku blinked.
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
So Izuku continued. Something about rescue equipment. Tamaki listened.
Not because he cared about structural support design. Mostly.
But because Izuku's voice felt… Comforting. Part of the quiet now.
Eventually… Tamaki spoke.
"I thought dating would be harder."
Izuku stopped.
"What?"
Tamaki immediately regretted phrasing.
"I mean..."
He looked away.
"Not with you."
"Just..."
"Being around someone this much."
Izuku waited.
Tamaki swallowed.
"I thought I'd get tired."
"Need space."
"Want to be alone."
Izuku's expression softened.
"You still can."
Tamaki looked at him.
"Anytime."
"If you need space, tell me."
"If you want to be alone, that's okay."
"No guilt."
"No pressure."
Tamaki stared.
That was exactly why it worked.
He smiled.
"I know."
Izuku squeezed his hand.
"Good."
Tamaki hesitated.
"But..."
Izuku waited.
"I don't really feel like I need space from you."
Izuku froze.
Tamaki's face heated. There. Too much.
He looked away.
"I mean-"
Izuku kissed his cheek.
Tamaki stopped. Completely.
Izuku smiled.
"Thank you."
Tamaki stared.
"For what?"
"For saying that."
Tamaki's heart jumped.
He leaned slightly closer.
Izuku's arm went around him.
Tamaki settled.
Quiet again.
Weeks passed.
They learned each other. Izuku learned when Tamaki actually wanted conversation. Tamaki learned when Izuku's muttering meant excitement and when it meant stress. Izuku learned not to surprise him with crowded places.
Tamaki learned Izuku forgot meals whenever he got focused.
Tamaki started carrying snacks.
Izuku pretended not to notice.
Mirio was unbearable.
Naturally.
"So."
Tamaki sighed.
"No."
Mirio grinned.
"How's Midoriya?"
"Fine."
"How's dating?"
"Fine."
"Kissing?"
Tamaki turned red.
Mirio's eyes widened.
"OH."
"Go away."
"YOU HAVE."
"Mirio."
"YOU'VE KISSED."
"I hate you."
Mirio hugged him.
Tamaki reluctantly tolerated it.
Then Mirio leaned back.
Smile softening.
"You happy?"
Tamaki stopped.
Simple question.
He thought.
Then smiled.
"Yeah."
Mirio's expression softened.
"Good."
Tamaki nodded.
"Really happy."
That evening… Izuku came over.
No plan. No date. No reason.
Tamaki opened the door. Izuku smiled.
Izuku stepped inside.
Tamaki closed the door. They sat. Izuku one end. Tamaki the other. For approximately ten seconds. Then Tamaki moved closer.
Izuku smiled. Tamaki rested against him. Their hands intertwined. No conversation. No expectation. Just quiet.
After a while...
Izuku whispered.
"Tamaki?"
"Hm?"
"You okay?"
Tamaki thought.
Then smiled.
"Yeah."
Izuku looked down.
Tamaki looked up.
"Really."
Izuku smiled.
"Good."
Tamaki closed his eyes.
Izuku's thumb moved gently over his
knuckles.
Safe. Comfortable. Easy.
Tamaki had spent most of his life assuming being comfortable meant being alone.
No eyes. No expectations. No noise. Just himself. He still needed that sometimes. Always would.
But Izuku had taught him something unexpected. Quiet wasn't necessarily the absence of another person.
Sometimes… Quiet was someone sitting beside you without asking anything.
Someone who didn't require performance. Someone who let you speak when you wanted. Stay silent when you didn't.
Someone whose presence didn't take anything from you.
Izuku shifted.
"Should I go?"
Tamaki opened his eyes.
He looked at him.
Then shook his head.
"No."
Izuku smiled.
Tamaki squeezed his hand.
"Stay a while."
Izuku's expression softened.
"Okay."
He leaned closer.
Kissed Tamaki's forehead.
"I'll stay."
Tamaki smiled.
And for once… There was nothing else he needed to say.