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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[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.

[Somehow, Todoroki still isn't put off by how awkward Izuku's being, and Izuku doesn't know whether he should feel relieved or grateful. Maybe both?]

Oh! U-um, here. [Still partially in disbelief, Izuku rattles off his cell phone number for Todoroki.] If you can't come in during regular hours, I don't mind staying later o-or meeting you here earlier...

[Shouto quietly saves it and then sends:

This is Todorki Shouto.]

I don't know when I'll need to come in or if something will come up during a shift.

... I'm sorry if I call when you're asleep, Midoriya.

[He's not expecting the text, jumping in surprise when his phone chimes in his pocket. One look at the text has Izuku smiling at him brightly, like part of him had still been doubting until now.]

I-it's okay! [Izuku quickly reassures him, even as he's saving Todoroki's number to his contacts list.] I'm the one who said you could call any time!

You're free to call me as well.

... Though I'm busy a lot of the time, so I might not pick up until after a shift.

Really...? [Izuku clutches at his phone, looking hopeful.]

W-well, you're doing hero work, so of course you're going to be busy. [He pauses, some of his curiosity returning again.] I never asked, which agency did you end up working at?

Really.

[If Midoriya needs the reassurance, Shouto's going to give it to him.]

Oh.

I'm working at Ingenium right now. My friend is probably going to take it over in two or three years. So I figured it would be a good place to start.

[There's a flash of interest that makes Izuku's face light up.] Really? Wow! I never really got to talk to Iida-kun whilr we were at UA, but it's really impressive that he's going to take over the agency at such a young age.

What about you, Todoroki-kun? Are you planning to open your own agency later on?

Huh. I thought Iida knew everybody.

[More accurately, Shouto knew nobody and the fact Iida knew anybody outside of his class made it seem like they knew the whole school.]

He's a very reliable kind of guy. I'm not surprised he's going to inherit it.

Yeah. But I'm gonna need a lot more experience before I'm comfortable starting one.

Ah, it's not his fault. I kept to myself a lot in school. [The labs and library had been his main haunts, and the students in the hero course had always been busy with their training on top of everything else.

Now that he thinks about it, it's sort of odd that Todoroki hadn't gone to Endeavor's agency. Maybe he and Iida are just that close? Izuku's green eyes study Todoroki intently for a moment.] Mm, starting this way is a good idea, I think. at least you'll know how agencies should be run by the time you want to start one yourself.

I did too. But it's easy to get dragged into Iida's pace.

[Unless he asks Shouto's not going to tell.]

Right. And I've never heard anybody complain about Iida's agency.

I'd like it to be a good experience for whoever I end up working with.

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