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]

Give yourself a little more credit.

[He hasn't even spoken to his mother in all this time.]

[inheritance]

[Todoroki's words are a little surprising to him, making Izuku look up before he can think on it too much. A small smile tugs at his lips a moment later.]

I think you already give me enough credit as it is, Todoroki-kun.

[glaciers]

There's a difference between credit from others others and credit from yourself.

[inheritance]

[He tilts his head toward Todoroki curiously.]

Do you really think it's that important?

[glaciers]

Of course. It's important that you know your own worth.

[inheritance]

[His own worth...? Izuku isn't really sure what that would even be at this point, but he nods slowly, obviously giving Todoroki's words some thought.]

Okay... I'll try my best if you really think I should.

[glaciers]

I think you should. The words that people give you... they don't mean as much as the ones you give yourself.

[inheritance]

[Silence falls again as Izuku nibbles anxiously at his bottom lip.]

I guess that's the problem: I don't really have a lot of words like that to give to myself. Not...right now, anyway. [Sometimes it can be hard to see your worth when you have so many people telling you how worthless you actually are.]

[glaciers]

[He wants to do something for him, but they're definitely not close enough for that.

So he won't. He'll bite his tongue until he sees the shop. It was only a few steps away at this point anyway.]

Here's the noodle house.

[inheritance]

[It's a reasonable decision--truth be told, Izuku wouldn't know how to process it all, even if Todoroki did say something. The noodle house is a perfect distraction, though, and Izuku smiles as they draw closer to it.]

Looks great! [The cheer in his voice is a little forced, but it's to be expected after a talk like that.]

[glaciers]

[They get seated right at the bar and Shouto's asking for his usual.

He comes here... A Lot.

But they do give Midoriya a menu.]

I'm pretty sure everything is good.

gmail ate this notif :(

[inheritance]

[His hands turn the menu around idly, but Izuku's attention is still on Todoroki at the moment.]

You got the soba, right? [Todoroki seems to order that a lot, he guesses just from the way he'd asked for it right away. Izuku gives a little hum of thought before placing the menu down on the table with a smile.] Then...that's what I'll get, too!

rude

[glaciers]

I did.

[It's his favorite so he has it whenever he can.]

Are you sure? Everything's good here.

[But the waitress writes it down and gets started.]

the rudest

[inheritance]

You must like it a lot if you order it so often--that means it's worth trying!

[Still, he's curious, and flips through the menu anyway just to see what else they have to offer.]

The ramen would be nice when the weather's cooler, though. Maybe I'll run into you here one of these days.

[glaciers]

Alright.

[Shouto looks amused, but bites down on his comment. "Why don't I just invite you?" ]

... Right, you're affected by temperatures.

[inheritance]

[Izuku pauses. Slowly puts the menu back down.]

You're not affected by temperatures?

[glaciers]

I auto regulate, so I'm comfortable whatever the temperature is.

[inheritance]

[He props his chin in one hand.] So the only time you have trouble with that is when you're actively using your quirk, huh.

That must be really handy in extreme weathers. Can't get too cold or hot...

[glaciers]

Uraraka likes using me as a space heater. It's pretty useful. The summer months aren't as agonizing as they seem to be for everyone else.

[inheritance]

Lucky. [That's definitely an envious sigh. Is he talking about Uraraka using Todoroki like that or Todoroki's temperature regulation? Who knows.]

Let me guess, your friends use you to cool down during the summer, too?

[glaciers]

[Shouto can't tell.] It's useful.

Mm, yeah. We don't have to use the AC if I'm in the office.

[inheritance]

Your quirk has so many uses even outside of combat. It's so versatile. [Leaning forward slightly.]

I thought as much when you first came in, but... [Actually, even before that, back when they were in school together.] Todoroki-kun, you're really amazing!

[glaciers]

[It's not the first time he's heard that, but somehow Midoriya's comments have more weight.]

Right, I love being the office heater.

[He's joking.]

[inheritance]

[He leans forward earnestly.]

You're not just the heater, you're the air conditioning, too!

[He's trying, and failing, to hide the way his lip twitches with mirth.]

[glaciers]

That is exactly how I want my quirk to be used.