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]

You're a good person. And good support staff... [ Shouto closes his eyes and considers all of that... And halfway falls asleep. It was a busy night.

His head nods a bit and he starts trying to sleep. ]

[inheritance]

How can you be so certain when you've only just met me? [Izuku asks hesitantly, both stunned that Todoroki would think so highly of him already, and a little afraid he'll lose that regard when Todoroki gets to know him better.]

You--[He cuts off, blinking. Is Todoroki...sleeping?]

[glaciers]

[ It's been a long couple of days at work. And usually by this time Shouto's tucked himself in bed and collapsed.

He didn't even know he could fall asleep standing, but here he is.

Starting to snore. ]

[inheritance]

[This is...actually kind of impressive? Izuku has no idea how Todoroki is staying upright like that when he's asleep, but he think it must be a really useful skill to have.]

Todoroki-kun...you should've rescheduled if you were feeling this tired.

[It's said quietly to avoid waking the hero up. Izuku looks around, wondering what he should do. Technically, the most reasonable option would be to wake Todoroki up and send him home, but Izuku doesn't have the heart to do it. On the other hand, he can't leave Todoroki standing here like this, when he could fall and injure himself.

Ignoring how his cheeks start to flush, Izuku tilts Todoroki backward as carefully as he can until he can scoop him up in his arms. Hopefully, Todoroki doesn't wake up...!]

[glaciers]

[ He didn't realize he was quite this exhausted.

But he does start to wake up, eyes slowly opening when he realizes he's being moved. It's nice, being in somebody's arms like this, but he should say something, right? ]

Midoriya?

[ He didn't know he was this strong. ]

[inheritance]

T-t-t-todoroki-kun! [Oh my god, he's going to die. No, wait, he can't do that when he's still carrying Todoroki.]

I was just! You fell asleep! S-so then I thought I should move you somewhere else. [The words rush out of him in his panic, jumbling all together.]

[glaciers]

Mm... You're stronger than you look.

[ And then Shouto falls back asleep. Maybe with some luck he'll think this is all a dream. ]

[inheritance]

That's--um, I just-- [It's just as well that Todoroki dozes off again, because Izuku has no idea what he would've even said.

Slowly, he shuffles back toward the main office and deposits the hero on the couch there. Then, he grabs the All Might themed blanket from the storage closet to cover Todoroki with. There! It's only when he's sure Todoroki's nice and comfortable that Izuku finally returns to his desk. His shoulders sag in relief, feeling like he's just lost about 5 years of his life.] Maybe he won't remember this...

[And, well, if he's a bit distracted while working that day because he's sneaking looks at Todoroki every so often, there's no one in the room to call him out on it.]

[glaciers]

[Shouto doesn't think he's that stressful to deal with, but Midoriya seems to be easily stressed? He'd like to know him a bit better.

But later. Because right now he's properly fallen asleep on the couch. He doesn't wake up until around 11:30, where he looks groggily around the office.

... This is not his house. This is not his couch.

Where is he?]

[inheritance]

[Though Izuku's finally gotten sucked into his work, scribbling busily away in his notebook, movement from the couch catches his attention.]

Ah, you're awake! [He smiles and sets his pencil down.] Are you feeling better now?

[glaciers]

I... Fell asleep?

[ He must have, for Midoriya to say something like that.]

I feel refreshed. Sorry about that. I didn't think I was that tired.

[inheritance]

You did! [Izuku grins, leaning forward.] While you were standing up and everything, I was really impressed.

[Then, abruptly he shakes his head and tries his best to look stern instead.] I don't mind that you rested here, but you should really take better care of yourself, Todoroki-kun.

[glaciers]

[He blushes in embarrassment. It's odd to get scolded like this, that's usually Fuyumi or his mother's job.]

I... didn't realize how tired I was. I usually take better care of myself than today.

[inheritance]

[Immediately, Izuku's expression softens.]

I-I'm not trying to make you feel bad, Todoroki-kun. Hero work is tiring--you know you can always reschedule with us if you can't make it here. Or... [He pauses.] You can always come here if you need a play to rest for a while, too.

[glaciers]

Mm... It's kind of nice to be worried over. But I'll try not to do it too often.

[ Shouto takes a moment to consider the offer. ]

Are you sure? Aren't you usually busy in the office, Midoriya?

[inheritance]

Sometimes we have longer meetings, but most of our clients just let us know the details ahead of time and drop off whatever equipment needs to be fixed or upgraded.

So you can stop by if you want to. [He worries at his bottom lip.] I-if you don't already have a place to go, I mean. I know you and Iida-kun are friends, so it'd make sense if you'd be more comfortable going back to the Ingenium agency instead...

[glaciers]

... Ah. I don't really want to fall asleep at work. [While people are allowed to, he feels a little weird falling asleep at his work station. Besides, he just had one of the best naps on Midoriya's couch.]

I'd like to visit more often if you're sure you don't mind.

[inheritance]

Aha, I guess that's true. [Todoroki seems pretty serious and dedicated to his work--it would be weird for him to sleep at work like that...

Izuku blinks, surprised. Then, he beams.]

O-of course I don't mine! Mei-san's usually in the lab, so I don't think she'll mind either.

[glaciers]

Then I guess... I'll be here more often. I'll try to stop by after work. I can hang out for a little while after I've napped.

[because if he's being honest, he did want to know Midoriya better. With their conflicting schedules, this seems like the best way.]

[inheritance]

[Izuku ducks his head now, looking incredibly pleased.]

It'd be nice to have the company. I bet you have a lot of interesting stories to tell about Iida-kun and everyone else working at the agency, too.

[glaciers]

[ He'd really love to see Midoriya that happy more often. The only way he's going to see that is if he visits whenever he can. ]

Uraraka and Iida would say they're being their normal selves. Have you ever heard Iida yell about respecting furniture?

[inheritance]

Respecting furniture? [There's laughter in his voice as he sits back in his chair.]

What happened to make him say that?

[glaciers]

One of our classmates was sitting on a desk with his feet on the chair. He started yelling about how our upperclassmen used those desks and how they're being disrespectful by not sitting properly.

... He's very serious about those kinds of things.

[inheritance]

Really? [Oh, Iida. Even if Izuku doesn't know him all that well, he feels like he can imagine the scene pretty clearly just from the glimpses he's gotten during their high school years.]

Was he making those um, hand gestures the whole time? [Izuku chops his hand through the air to demonstrate--it's a movement that Iida's classmates would have recognized immediately.]

[glaciers]

Mmhmm, he complained every time somebody sat like that too. I mean, it didn't stop anyone, but he kept doing it.

The choppy hand gestures? Yes. He still does them now, actually. Especially when he's worried.