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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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.

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.

[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.

[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.

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?

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...

... 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.

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.

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.]

[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.

[ 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?

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

What happened to make him say that?

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.

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.]

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.

[The confirmation only makes him laugh again.] That doesn't surprise me. I saw him scold younger students who were running in the hallway once, and he kept gesturing like that the whole time.

[He tilts his head.] You mentioned someone else at the agency--Uraraka?

He took being vice class rep really seriously.

Yeah. You probably know her as Uravity. She's a sweet person. Very driven.

I think that's a good thing, though. It means he was really suited for the role.

[Izuku immediately brightens with understanding.] Oh, Uravity! That's right, you were all in the same class. It makes sense that you'd know each other.

He really was. Him and Creati were both good picks for that role.

Tsukuyomi is also cool, but we aren't working at the same place, so I don't see him as often.

It sounds like you were all pretty good friends.

[There's an undercurrent of wistfulness in his voice this time, even though Izuku's still smiling gently.]

We were with each other for three years.

Aren't you close with Hatsume?

Yeah. I always kind of wished our class was a lot closer, though. Mei-san, um, had this habit of disappearing into her own world and didn't really pay attention to others. [A nicer way to say that she didn't care for company when she had work to do, basically.] And then there's me...

[He trails off with a shrug. It's not much of a surprise for him, that he'd be left out even if he's not in the hero course.]

... Do you have people to spend time with outside of work hours?

[Why does he care this much about Midoriya? They haven't known each other for that long.]

Just Mei-san. [He smiles awkwardly.]

Ah, it's not that I'm not grateful to have Mei-san as a friend! I wouldn't have gotten where I am now without her. [The way his shoulders curl in on themselves giving away his discomfort. Of course he's grateful--she's his only friend. But as much as he wants to deny it, it's lonely, not having someone else to go to when she becomes consumed by her work.]

I'd say come hang out with me. But our schedules conflict so much.

... I think Iida follows your schedule though. He'd like you.

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