mixingbowl | Try to believe walking down the lonesome road

Try to believe walking down the lonesome road

[With the start of their internships fast approaching, it's no wonder a good portion of the students in 1-A are too excited to properly concentrate during class. Aizawa, picking up on their lack of focus, eventually ends the class a few minutes early with a tired, exasperated sigh. Izuku grins guiltily at their teacher's retreating back. He can't exactly blame his classmates for distracted like this--picking their hero names and their first internship is pretty exciting. And a big step toward being pros.

Fidgeting with the bandages on his hands, Izuku turns in his seat and just happens to catch Todoroki's eyes. There's the barest flicker of hesitation before Izuku offers up a cheerful smile.] Todoroki-kun, have you already decided where you're going for your internship?

[The classroom's already emptying out, but there's no real need to hurry out like everyone else is. Besides, Izuku hasn't really gotten a chance to talk to Todoroki since the festival. Remembering how subdued Todoroki was during the medal ceremony has made it difficult for him to shake away his concerns. So Izuku gathers up his books slowly and waits for an answer.]

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[So much for calming down. The moment Izuku realizes what he's seeing, his mouth falls open slightly in shock and he freezes in place.

Todoroki's... laughing? Up until now, even his smiles have been considered rare enough for Izuku to treasure every one he's managed to draw out of him. He's never seen Todoroki look this way before--and well, it's a good look on him.

Izuku tries not to stare so obviously (and fails), while deciding that odd stuttering feeling in his chest is just happiness at Todoroki being so comfortable with them now.]

[He does eventually realize that the laughs have slipped out of him and he collects himself after a few moments. His face is red as he looks away, covering his mouth. It's been so long since he's felt comfortable enough to laugh like that.

An apology probably isn't needed for this, he thinks. But he's so embarrassed.]

Aw, no! [Izuku protests before he can stop himself.] Why are you stopping yourself like that?

[He reaches over, fingers curling lightly around Todoroki's wrist as he tries to tug Todoroki's hand away from his mouth. It's a little dismaying that Todoroki would try to hide when he has such a nice smile and laugh.]

[He lets Midoriya pull his hand away, but there's a blush that's incredibly rare on Shouto's face. It's different from the one with the cake, and more pure embarrassment about how easily he showed his emotions.

His father... well, he's not here right now. But weakness is something he has to be careful about.]

[Izuku stares, still holding onto Todoroki's wrist. Laughing is a good thing--why is Todoroki acting like this? Then, it hits him.]

Todoroki-ku... um, Todoroki. [He tilts his head, the words coming out slowly, carefully.] Are you embarrassed?

[He lets out a small puff of water vapor- he's been icing the inside of his mouth to get rid of the blush. With that sort of reaction, he's certain it's very obvious the answer to that question is a very loud yes.]

[That's easy enough to puzzle out, even if it continues to baffle him.]

Is it really that bad? I...I thought it was nice, that you laughed. [We rarely get to see you this happy, he means. Izuku's brows start to draw together in concern.]

I'm... Not used to being this open.

[ The reason why just hangs between them for a moment. At home any weakness was punished with worse training than usual. So he built up his walls.

But around Midoriya they all come down. ]

[So that's what it was. Izuku smiles at him again, absently running his thumb over the pulse point in Todoroki's wrist in a reassuring manner.]

We're your friends. It's okay to be as open as you want when you're with us. [You can trust us. You can trust me.]

[His heart stutters in his chest- he's almost certain of it. The way Midoriya touches him so easily and reassures him with contact like that.

It takes a moment, but his eyes flutter closed and the tension slowly drains out of him. Midoriya is here. He's surrounded by his friends. This is the safest place he could be.]

... It might... take me a while.

[Years and years of Endeavor- that's something he still needs to overcome. And maybe in small ways like this first.]

That's okay. [Uraraka and Iida, having been relatively quiet so far as this played out, quickly chip in with their agreements.

"It's okay, Todoroki-kun!! Just like Deku-kun said, we're here for you." Uraraka thrusts one fist forward in an enthusiastic mock-punch. "We'll fight anyone who disagrees!!"

"Uraraka-kun, that's against the rules!" Iida cries out in shock.

Izuku, for his part, just ends up grinning at them and Todoroki in turns. Then, he leans in toward Todoroki as Uraraka and Iida bicker on the other side of the table.] See? None of us mind if you need some time to get used to it. [A pause.] It...it took me a little while, too.

[That's right. Midoriya didn't have friends before UA. Shouto doesn't understand why. There's so much warmth around Midoriya- he's never met a person so kind.

Shouto doesn't move away from him or pull his hand back as he looks over at his-- their friends. Midoriya's closer to him now and he doesn't think twice before leaning in. ]

... Thank you.

[Heat prickles at his face when Izuku realizes just how close they've ended up being. This time, though, he stays where he is instead of moving away. There's a point he needs to make here.]

What did I say about thanking me? [He teases Todoroki lightly, ignoring the way his pulse begins to pick up in response to their proximity.]

[His eyes flick down to Midoriya's lips before he can question it. And he keeps looking at them- what is he doing? Again a dusting of pink covers his cheeks.]

Mm... It's hard when you do so much.

[Is it? Blinking in surprise, Izuku shakes his head.] It's not that much.

Um. [Izuku says, eloquently, a beat later when he notices Todoroki's staring at him intently.] Todoroki...?

[ Maybe it just feels like a lot to him. He just doesn't have that much experience to work from. No matter how he words that in his mind it's a little too sad to say.

His gaze gets pulled up to Izuku's eyes once he's called for. ]

Midoriya. [ There's a softness in his voice he wasn't expecting. ]

[Todoroki saying his last name isn't usually something worth noting --except this time it is. The softer way it's spoken this time makes Izuku's eyes widen slightly.]

Yes? [He asks, hesitant to raise his voice any higher than what it's at right now. There's a strange sort of feeling in the air between them now, and Izuku isn't sure what to make of it.] I-is something wrong?

[ Did he say something strange? He says his friend's name all the time. But he doesn't say it in the quiet hushed tone. He doesn't say it like a secret present- not usually. ]

Nothing.

[Izuku smiles at him uncertainly, still feeling a bit off-kilter from this whole exchange.] If you're sure....?

[Oh. Right then, Izuku realizes he's still holding onto Todoroki's wrist. He lets go slowly, feeling an odd kind of reluctance as he does.]

I am. We should finish eating, the next class is soon.

[ The temptation to chase after Midoriya's hand is a new and strange thing. Better not to think of it too much. ]

Oh--right! [Still flustered and confused, Izuku digs into his soba with renewed enthusiasm.

What could all of this mean? It feels as if something's changed between him and Todoroki, but...it doesn't feel bad, exactly.]

[Something has changed, but since it doesn't feel uncomfortable he'll chalk it up to something he doesn't have to stress out about.

Shouto resumes his own lunch, sneaking little glances of Midoriya now and then.]

[Though Izuku's trying not to watch Todoroki too obviously, their eyes still end up meeting at one point.

Izuku startles, blushes, and quickly goes back to his food.]

[His left side is heating up from the embarrassment and he has to cover his shoulder in a thin layer of ice before he bursts into flames.]

[It's almost a relief when the lunch period reaches its end, and the students begin heading back to their classrooms.

Izuku chances another look over at Todoroki as they put their trays away, having felt the heat from Todoroki's side during their meal.] Okay?

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