mixingbowl | Hands, put your empty hands in mine

Hands, put your empty hands in mine

[It's only been a month since he and Mei opened up their own business, a month since graduating, and yet, the orders are already starting to pile up. Izuku supposes, he shouldn't be so surprised, with the reputation Mei built up for herself while they were in UA. Even in a Support Course as rigorous as their high school's, Mei quickly proved herself to be one of the best and brightest.

And then there's him. While Izuku knows he's no slouch when it comes to analyzing a hero's weaknesses and strengths, he also knows that he'd gotten lucky when he found a business partner and friend in Mei. Shaking his head, Izuku throws himself into his work to dispel those thoughts. Things had turned out alright in the end; that's what actually matters.]

Hooooold on, I'll be right with you. [Izuku calls, distracted, when he hears the front door open. A few more strokes of his pencil and--done! Finished with another design sketch, Izuku sets his notebook aside and stands up, looking up at them for the first time. He pauses, not even managing to get a greeting out.] ...Todoroki-kun?

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[Yes, he thinks he'll have a very good partnership with Midoriya. If he's willing to work with him without any judgement, this is the support person he wants to work with for the rest of his hero career.]

I think something to help control the direction would be useful. I can come in after my night shifts and test out whatever you guys have on hand.

[Immediately, Izuku makes a grab for his notebook, flipping to a blank page before he starts scribbling furiously.]

Direction of the flames, gotcha. Maybe something to even suppress the flames at certain points could be possible, limiting that power to only the hand and foot would certainly result in a lot more control and accuracy, not to mention reduce the damage done to clothes--oh, but we're going to be switching the fiber in the hero costume, so that won't be as much of an issue from now anyway. Then, there's the sensors that we should find a way to attach to the fabric...

[...judging by his enthusiasm as he jots down the ideas coming to him, it doesn't look like Izuku's going to be stopping any time soon.]

[Shouto lets him talk and pulls over a chair, looking over Midoriya's notes.]

Sensors would be useful. I think the thermostat that works with the temperature control vest could use an upgrade too. I only used to need it for heating myself up, but that's going to need to cool me down too.

Ah, I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be too presumptuous! [Izuku almost drops his pen in his haste to apologize.]

It's...it's a habit of mine, I tend to talk a lot. [He bites his lip, looking extremely contrite.] I should be asking you if there's anything else you wanted to add--it's your costume.

I'm not used to working with support staff this closely.

[Shouto has no idea why Midoriya's apologizing like this. At least he's saying something instead of completely redoing the design on his own.]

We can at least test your ideas to see if they work.

[Izuku blinks, straightening up cautiously.] You really don't mind? Sometimes people don't like it when we make too too many suggestions about their costume upgrades.

[On one hand, Izuku sort of understands. Hero costumes are incredibly important and sometimes personal; he wouldn't be surprised if some heroes-in-training he'd worked with before had had certain designs in mind since they were kids--like him. On the other, Izuku thinks it's a little ridiculous that they don't want him and Mei to do their jobs.]

I don't.

[He doesn't know nearly as much about support items as Midoriya or Hatsume. And Shouto needs help with his left side.]

I'll let you know if I hate something.

Works for me. [Now that he's been reassured Todoroki doesn't mind, Izuku smiles a little easier as he takes up his scribbling again.]

So, sensors! Mei-san would probably suggest starting off with just one to monitor your status, but we can always change it to two types of sensors--one for each of your quirks--if we have to later on.

That should take care of any difficulties you're having with your fire quirk right now.... [Izuku tilts his head.] Was there anything else you wanted to add in? Since we're already working on your costume anyway.

I can get very bad frostbite from overusing my ice-side. I also tend to favor it because a lot of the work I do is in the city, and I don't want to start a fire.

I'd also like better traction on my boots. I almost slipped a few days ago.

... Maybe it got worn down.

[His pen taps unhappily against the paper as he peers at Todoroki's right hand, apparently checking for signs of said frostbite.]

Maybe some kind of first aid--oh, you have some in those capsules on your belt. [Izuku hums thoughtfully.] There's not a lot you can do about the frostbite until you're out of immediate danger, but we can add some gel for burns in the meantime.

...and we'll fix up your boots, too.

[His hand is hardly frozen now.]

Maybe some kind of warming glove? I can project ice out of my jumpsuit without any problem. But I don't know how complicated that sort of thing would be.

It'll give Mei-san something to play around with, at least. [Izuku smiles as he jots that down.]

She's the tech expert around here. If anyone can figure out a way to make that work, it's her.

Mm. She's part of why I chose your business for my items.

You two seem to work well together.

She's really talented, isn't she? [Nothing could stop Izuku from beaming proudly at his friend's accomplishments.]

We make a decent team--I got lucky when I got paired with her for a class project. All I do is analyze quirks. [He gives a self-deprecating sort of chuckle.] Um, she's the one who handles all the difficult stuff.

[ Cute. Endearing. It's a nice smile and he'd love to see it more. ]

Being able to analyze a quirk and know what their strengths and weaknesses are is a skill few people have. Especially at the level you have.

Give yourself more credit.

You think so? [There's no hiding the way his cheeks turn a bit pink at the unexpected compliment.]

I-it's been a hobby of mine since elementary school. Not as impressive as a quirk like yours, but Mei-san thinks it's useful...

Why would I say it if I didn't?

It's a useful hobby. Most people don't put as much thought into quirks as you do. I think it's really impressive.

[Sometimes people say things they don't mean, Izuku thinks. He's learned to expect disappointment, but he still he can't help feeling hopeful that things might change. Rather than saying all that, though, Izuku simply shrugs helplessly.]

Oh. [Staring at Todoroki in disbelief doesn't yield any answers--if anything, he looks completely sincere. Not that Izuku can get a good read on him when they've just met.]

...thank you. [Izuku says softly. Todoroki's so much stronger than 99% of his middle school, and yet here he is, more cordial toward him than they'd ever been.] You're probably one of the few who think so.

[ Too much work to keep a lie up, is his first thought if Midoriya ever asked him about it. The truth is always the easiest response. ]

Then they're blind or ignorant. Information is one of the most important things a hero needs to be successful.

I hope we work together for a long time.

[The blush only grows in intensity, and Izuku gives into the desire to hide partially behind his notebook. This kind of attention--he's not used to it at all. Before this, only Mei's ever shown this much interest in him. But to hear those words from Todoroki, who's been in the spotlight since his first year, is something else altogether.]

I--I hope we do, too. [It's entirely sincere. Not that he minds their other customers, but with Todoroki being as kind as he is, Izuku knows he wouldn't mind seeing him around more often. It's nice, not being looked down on.] You're welcome to come in whenever you'd like, if you need anything else worked on.

[It's very strange to note just how much he enjoys how red Midoriya gets. Is that rude of him? But he didn't say anything rude, right? Just his own feelings. And his feelings have made Midoriya blush.]

... Thank you.

I might be in at weird hours. My work schedule hasn't solidified yet.

How often are you here?

[Why can't he stop blushing?? It hasn't been this bad since he was first approached by the girls in his UA class--not that most of them bothered to stick around after they realized he was Quirkless.]

Um, I'm here most of the day. Mei-san and I both usually leave around 7...sometimes she sticks around for longer if she needs more time in her lab, though. [Izuku clutches the notebook even tighter.] You said weird hours... like when?

Nights, early mornings, sometimes late evenings.

[Hm, sounds like they don't overlap that much.]

Should I just leave a message somewhere?

Ah... our schedules are sort of opposite of each other. [He shouldn't feel so disappointed, but it's so rare to find someone who genuinely appreciates what he does, even without knowing what his quirk is (or isn't, in this case).]

I can give you my number! [Izuku's eyes widen with horror when he realizes what he just blurted out. What is he doing??] I...I mean, it's. Um. T-the easiest way to get a hold of each other. I think? [He says weakly, avoiding Todoroki's eyes for fear of embarrassing himself further.]

[He doesn't realize what that sounds like because he's not generally aware of most people

But he'll pull out his cell phone and look at Midoriya, waiting for the number.]

That's what I hear. I have my coworker's numbers saved.

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