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

[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.

[inheritance]

[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?

[glaciers]

He took being vice class rep really seriously.

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

[inheritance]

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.

[glaciers]

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.

[inheritance]

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.]

[glaciers]

We were with each other for three years.

Aren't you close with Hatsume?

[inheritance]

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.]

[glaciers]

... 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.]

[inheritance]

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.]

[glaciers]

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.

[inheritance]

[It's sweet that Todoroki's trying, even if their schedules make things difficult. That alone brings the smile back to Izuku's face. It means even more now that Todoroki knows he's quirkless and still wants to spend time with him anyway.]

I guess that just means I should change my schedule to match yours. [He's not serious...for the most part.]

[glaciers]

[He knows Midoriya must be joking, but there's a small blush that reaches his cheeks.]

You actually have to meet people though. You can't do something like that.

[inheritance]

I can't? [He asks, grin teasing. It smooths out as he seems to actually consider Todoroki's words seriously, though.]

I wouldn't mind meeting your classmates, though. Iida-kun and Uraraka-san sound like great people.

[glaciers]

You shouldn't. What if somebody needs you in the middle of the day.

They're really friendly. ... I'm lucky I met them when I did. They'd like you too.

[inheritance]

I guess you have a point. [Izuku sighs, feeling a pang of disappointment despite himself.] There isn't much I can do when it's just me and Mei-san right now.

[He can't help but look at Todoroki with a mixture of disbelief and hope.] You really think they would? Even...even if they knew about me? [Izuku trusts Todoroki's judgment, but part of him can't let go of his wariness when he's been let down too many times before.]

[glaciers]

I'm still surprised there are only two of you. This business is in high demand.

[There's something heartbreaking about that. More people should be giving Midoriya a chance. Or maybe he's simply biased. Those big green eyes and those freckles, not to mention Midoriya's arms.]

They're not going to judge you for being quirkless. [And if they do he'll fight them.]

[inheritance]

Trust me, I've tried to convince Mei-san we need more people on staff, but. [He shrugs helplessly.] She doesn't think we need anyone else yet.

[Those are words that Izuku hardly ever hears, and for a second, he has trouble getting the words out.] Okay. [His voice wavers a little, but he's smiling.] I-I'd love to meet them sometime, then. [He'll trust Todoroki's judgment on this one.]</small<

[glaciers]

She must really believe in you two as a duo.

[He's going to protect Midoriya Izuku's smile with his life if it's the last thing he does.]

I think we all have a day off next Sunday. Are you available?

[inheritance]

I think that's part of it. But she's also really stubborn. [Izuku grins. He's learned not to argue with Mei at this point--as stubborn as he can be, she's even moreso.]

Next Sunday? [A tilt of his head as he recalls his schedule.] I usually help Mei-san test out her new tech in the morning, but after that, I should be free!

[glaciers]

That's... a way to put it.

[Poor Iida.]

Then would you like to meet for lunch? ... It's more like breakfast for me.

[inheritance]

[Izuku perks up, then nods all too eagerly.]

Yes! That would work perfectly with the work I'm doing in the morning--ah, are Iida-kun and Uraraka-san going to meet us there, too?