Hands, put your empty hands in mine

[inheritance]

[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?

Comments

[glaciers]

[Shouto abandons his cart. There's much more pressing things to deal with when a villain attempts to kidnap a child. But faster than he can react, a vigilante does. There's a smokescreen preventing him from properly seeing what's going on.

But with this much distraction, Shouto can at least ice the villain to the floor. The weapon was just a baseball bat. He can't do much distance fighting with something like that. Not unless he could use a form of telekineses.

For now though, the villain can't move from his current position. ]

[inheritance]

Who did that???! [The villain gives a shout of frustration when he realizes he's lost the kid, and he can't move his feet for some reason. He squints and waves his hand in an attempt to dispel the smoke.] Hey! I asked you a question!! [He punctuates the words with a swing of his bat, sending bottles from the nearby shelf flying to the floor. The customers scream as the glass shatters next to them.

Realizing he isn't going to get anywhere, the villain grunts as he begins to smack at the ice around his feet with his bat. Before he can escape, though, Houou rushes forward and knocks him out with a well-aimed uppercut to the jaw. When the villain crumples to a heap on the ground, Houou tugs the bat out of his hands--he might be unconscious now, but it's better to be safe than sorry in case he does wake up. Then, as he's looking through his tool belt, Houhou realizes something with a jolt of annoyance.]

Which one of you trapped him with the ice? I need your help restraining him. [Houou asks the closest group of civilians. Inwardly, he's kicking himself for forgetting to restock his tool belt with rope. It's a mistake he can't afford to make again, no matter how busy he and Mei are.]

[glaciers]

[ Heroes might rest, but villains never do. He presses a button on his phone to alert his agency about the situation, before focusing.

Shouto takes a step towards the vigilante. Stopping people from heroism isn't his job. So he figures he can help with this. ]

What do you need?

[ He doesn't have rope on him. But a recycling bin probably will. ]

[inheritance]

[With his attention on the villain for now, Houou doesn't look up at whoever's volunteered themselves just yet. Even if the voice is making something in his mind ping with recognition.]

Your ice quirk--is it safe to keep him trapped until the police show up? [He pauses. While it's safe to assume the authorities have been called already, he should check anyway.] Did anyone notify the police already?

[glaciers]

It'll keep him from moving, but it's dangerous to leave him in ice for too long. Is there rope?

[ They're in a grocery store, so maybe not. Zip ties are far more likely.

And strangely this guy's voice is familiar. Though he can't place it. ]

I did. They should be here in fifteen or so minutes.

[inheritance]

[Houou bites back a sigh. He'd thought as much, but it was worth asking anyway.]

Check the recycling bins outside. There should be something we can use. [In the meantime, he's just going to quickly check the villain for any hidden weapons. He's never telling Mei that he jumped into a fight unprepared; she'd never let him live it down.]

[glaciers]

[ isn't it weird for anybody fighting villains to not be properly prepared for subduing. Whatever.

Shouto gives a nod before finding some rope outside and coming back. He'll hold it out to the vigilante. ]

So, what do I call you?

[inheritance]

Thanks. I--[Finally, Houou glances his way as he takes the rope.

And promptly freezes (pun not intended). It's Todoroki. No wonder his voice had sounded so familiar! Houou quickly turns back to the villain, suddenly glad for the way his mouth guard keeps part of his face hidden. Otherwise, he'd have a hard time explaining the way his face is turning red.]

It's...Houou. [Houhou says, struggling to keep his voice even. It's a little hard not to fumble as he ties the villain's hands and legs up, when he's thinking about how Todoroki had seen him making an idiot of himself just now. Of all the days to be caught unprepared, why the one when one of the newest, most competent heroes is around to watch?]

[glaciers]

[ Houou... he's sure he hasn't heard of a hero with that name. So his gut reaction of vigilante is correct. But it's not like this guy's used his quirk so Aizawa would probably just... let him do whatever. And if it's Aizawa's then he's probably right. ]

Houou.

Todoroki Shouto. [ Or, more commonly, just Shouto, his hero name. ]

[inheritance]

I know. [Houou replies, and immediately wants to kick himself. Where has all of his common sense gone?]

I...I mean, your hair. It's really distinctive. [That was really lame. Also this is the worst day ever.]

[glaciers]

... It is.

[He feels a little silly for introducing himself now. Todoroki Shouto, son of Endeavor, a newbie on the rise.

Everything about him stands out.]

[inheritance]

[Oh no, did he offend him somehow? He hopes not. Even if he's supposed to be keeping his distance right now because Todoroki's an actual hero with a license, whereas he's a vigilante, he likes Todoroki. And there's no reason to be rude just because he has a secret identity to protect.

...probably. He can practically hear Aizawa's exasperated sigh.]

Th-that's not exactly a bad thing. [He says cautiously as he tests the knots on the villain's restraints, just to keep his hands busy.]

[glaciers]

Mm.

[If he thinks so? He feels rude when he doesn't at least introduce himself.

Whatever, it doesn't seem like Houou's actually annoyed by it. He can work with that.]

You didn't use your quirk, right?

[Because he'd need to do something if he did. But otherwise, he can just let Houou go.]

[inheritance]

Well. No. [There's suddenly a cold sort of anxiety gripping at his chest. Had he judged the situation wrong? He doesn't want to be turned in when he just began his vigilante work.

He swallows and eyes Todoroki warily, hoping the shaking in his hands isn't too visible.]

My quirk... [I don't have one. It would be too easy to track him down if he said that, with the Quirkless being so rare nowadays. Thankfully, he has an answer prepared.] It was judged as unfit for heroics, so I don't use it.

[glaciers]

Ah. Good.

[Shouto does pay attention to Houou, but he's not staring down his hands.]

Then I don't have to do anything. You're not breaking any laws.

[inheritance]

[There's no hiding the sigh of relief that escapes him. His teacher's reassurances had held out in the end; heroes might sneer and look down on him for being unlicensed, but he'd be left alone for the most part, as long as he didn't use a quirk. Houou hadn't had a reason to doubt Aizawa, but he'd worried all the same.]

Thanks. [He says quietly, perking up when he sees the flashing police car lights outside.] The police are here--I'll leave the villain for them to deal with.

[glaciers]

[Shouto doesn't really have anything against vigilantes in and of themselves. It's just he has to be fussy about the law as a registered hero. It would be bad if he let somebody do something illegal on his watch.

But since this guy isn't using his quirk, he can keep on working.

He leans into Houou, so he's the only person who can hear him.]

You should probably go. I don't care, but the police might.

[inheritance]

[Close!! Too close!! Houou thinks frantically when Todoroki's suddenly leaning right into his personal space. He'll never admit it, but as flustered as he gets over Todoroki's proximity, he nearly misses what the hero's trying to tell him.]

Ah! You're right. [His voice manages to stay a whisper, but it's a very enthusiastic whisper all the same. He's working on it.] I'll--I'll be heading off, then. [With one last look between the villain and Todoroki, Houou quickly slips out the door before the police can question him.

That should've been the end of it, but Houou still finds himself lingering near the store instead of continuing his patrol. Even though he tells himself he's just sticking around to see the villain be taken into custody, he isn't sure he's convincing even himself.]

[glaciers]

[... Cute.

That' probably shouldn't be in his thoughts when he's talking to somebody doing something questionably legal. But he's enthusiastic about helping people and he was on the scene faster than any hero could get there. It's hard to hold being a vigilante against him.

Once he gets his groceries for the night he'll come out and find Houou... still standing out there.

He supposes the police won't do anything as long as Houou isn't rowdy.]

... You stayed?

[inheritance]

[Houhou shoots a nervous look at the police cars and the officers still checking inside the crime scene. Thankfully, he's been able to avoid catching their attention by blending into the crowd, but he doesn't know how long his luck is going to hold.]

Um. [Even though he'd been so sure he had to stay, Houhou's now wondering if it was a good idea after all. He feels a little tongue-tied now that Todoroki's put him on the spot.] I just wanted to make sure everything went smoothly, that's all.

[glaciers]

[ Shouto takes a moment to study Houou carefully. He can't place him at all, but there's something about him... ]

Do you not trust the police? Or did you think I couldn't handle the rest of it?

[inheritance]

[Houhou's eyes widen in horror. That's basically the opposite of what Todoroki to think!] Wha--no! That's not it at all!

[He hesitates, before grudgingly explaining.] Ah, it's just the first time I've worked with a hero since I started...doing this. [Houhou had kept a fairly accurate map of the nearby heroes' usual patrol routes with the help of his notes, and managed to stay out of their way.] I was just curious. About you.

[glaciers]

... I usually don't patrol this area. It's just close to my apartment.

[He gives Houou a slow blink at that explanation.]

What about me?

[inheritance]

[He tilts his head.] It's...nothing bad.

I just thought I'd have a lot more trouble convincing heroes to let me off the hook if I ran into them. [He pauses, then continues quietly.] I guess I was wondering...why you didn't really say anything.

[glaciers]

... Do you want me to?

[ What a confusing guy, honestly. ]

Aizawa wouldn't turn you in for this, so I won't either. Besides, there's nothing wrong with wanting to be a hero.