Piece of the puzzle, you're my missing part

[inheritance]

[It starts off as a normal day--well, almost normal. If it weren't for Todoroki being horribly sick and missing his classes, then it would've been just like any other day on the UA campus.

Still, his friend's been sick for quite a few days now, and Izuku can't help but worry about him. Once classes are out for the day, Izuku makes a beeline for the dorms, heading up to Todoroki's room and knocking on the door without hesitation.]

Todoroki-kun? It's me. [Hm, the door's unlocked. Izuku opens it as quietly as he can, peering at the lump on the bed when he steps inside.] Are you feeling any better?

Comments

[glaciers]

[Shouto is not feeling any better. It feels even more like he's burning up. Like he's in the middle of one of his training sessions with his father. But now it's the blue flames instead of the proper orange and red.

He kicks off the blanket, it's only making the heat feel worse.

Unfortunately even summoning ice isn't doing anything for him. This is the first time he's ever gotten a a fever this bad.]

Midoriya... I'm not.

[Lying isn't something he does.]

[inheritance]

[In that moment, Izuku appreciates Todoroki's honesty even more. He doesn't want his friend to lie about how he's feeling, when apparently the answer is: pretty terrible.

He sets his bag down on the ground and walks over to Todoroki's bed to crouch beside it.]

There's a nasty flu going around right now. You must've caught it from someone. [There's only a slight pause before Izuku tentatively reaches out to place his hand against Todoroki's forehead.] Oh, wow, you're burning up. [Soft as his voice still is, there's no mistaking the concern that bleeds into it just now.] Want me to bring some food up for you? [Todoroki's in no state to be leaving his room, that much is obvious.]

[glaciers]

[He doesn't want to lay here for whoever knows how long this is going to last. So he'll sit up and hit a wave of dizziness that he can only attribute to the fever. Unhappily, he has to concede that he's just not going to get up today.]

... Something cold?

[He's not sure he could handle anything hot with the way he's feeling.]

[inheritance]

[It's only because Todoroki's so out of it that Izuku allows himself to smooth a hand down his friend's bangs fondly.]

I can do that. Good thing cold soba's your favorite.

[Izuku pushes himself onto his feet.] If you don't mind waiting a little, I'll run to the cafeteria and ask for some.

[glaciers]

[It doesn't quite register in his conscious mind, but he does lean into the touch. It's nice. Midoriya's always kind to him.]

I won't go anywhere.

[It's more like he can't go anywhere at this point. He'd probably faint before he got to the door.

... Wow, he hates it.]

[inheritance]

Okay. I'll be right back.

[True to his word, once Izuku leaves, it doesn't take him too long to hurry back with the soba. It might seem weird, to make the trip just for that, but Todoroki's sick, and Izuku thinks a bit of comfort food could help. Or he hopes it will.]

Todoroki-kun. [Izuku sets the tray down at the table, kneeling down at Todoroki's side again.] Hey. [Todoroki gets a little smile when Izuku sees that he has his attention.] Can you sit up?

[glaciers]

[At least everything is on campus. Midoriya doesn't have to go too far to come back to him. It feels a little bit easier to breathe when Midoirya is there with him, but maybe that's just wishful thinking.

He always seems to make Shouto feel better.]

Yeah, I think I can manage.

[He does it slowly, and while he manages it he still sways like he might just collapse back down.]

[inheritance]

[Izuku hovers at his side the whole time, ready to move if Todoroki actually needs the extra support.]

Here you go. [Carefully, he moves the tray onto Todoroki's lap. The noodles and dipping sauce that had been in to go containers have all been moved to a plate and bowl, along with a pair of chopsticks.]

[glaciers]

[He'll break apart the chopsticks- they're not perfect, so no good luck for him today. That's fine.]

Thanks.

[He likes his futon, but sometimes he wishes he had a headboard. It would be easier to stay standing with something supporting him.]

[inheritance]

[By now, it's common knowledge in class 1-A that Izuku doesn't make rational decisions when he's emotional, and emotional is just one way to describe what Izuku's been for the past week or so. After seeing Todoroki pointedly leave every time they would've been in a room together, and after catching that flu that's been going around, Izuku hasn't exactly been in the best state of mind ever.

Maybe that's why he's sitting on the ground by the stairs now, the simple act of leaving his room and walking down apparently too much for him. It's probably the fever that's making him feel so weak--or actually it might be because he hasn't actually eaten anything in a few days. Either way, Izuku lets his head tilt forward and rest on his arms as he curls up into a miserable ball. With his face flushed and feverish, and his breathing labored, he doesn't think he'll be moving any time soon.]

[glaciers]

[It's better for Shouto if he just keeps some distance. So when Midoriya comes into a room, Shouto quietly takes his leave. Being around somebody who's rejected him so soundly after... Well. Best not to linger.

But when he comes down for lunch and Midoriya sits in a ball, part of him wants to leave. But other part is the one that approaches him. As much as it hurts, Shouto still likes him. Shouto still wants the mating bite, though he knows he shouldn't.

He kneels next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.]

You should be in bed.

[inheritance]

[It takes Izuku a second to even realize that Todoroki's talking to him, and another second or two before he finds the energy to raise his head up.]

Shouto... [His eyes remain unfocused even when he looks in Todoroki's direction. It's not unreasonable to think he might just topple over, even though he's already sitting down.]

[glaciers]

[Midoriya is sick, he shouldn't be here. Shouto shouldn't have stopped. He should leave.

What he does instead is press his cool hand against Midoriay's forehead.]

You should get to bed. Come on.

[Luckily they aren't too far from his door.]

[inheritance]

[The cool touch is a relief from the uncomfortable heat that's sapped away his energy for the last few days. With a soft sigh, Izuku leans into it, eyes fluttering shut.

He makes no effort to move. Whatever Shouto's telling him, it's clearly not registering in his feverish mind.]

[glaciers]

[There's a moment of uncomfortable pause. Did... Midoriya not hear him?]

Can you hear me?

[The fever must be bad. He'll look Midoriya over for a moment before picking him up and nudging his door open. Hopefully it hasn't been locked.]

[inheritance]

[Oh...suddenly he's moving. Izuku lets out an unhappy whine at that, though he quiets down when he turns his head and catches Todoroki's scent that way. It relaxes him almost immediately, and he presses his face into Todoroki's shirt, chasing that comforting scent.

When Shouto nudges Izuku's door open, Izuku's changing scent immediately floods out. While still recognizable, what their classmates had suspected would become a neutral beta scent had become undeniably alpha--suddenly it's obvious what the sickness Izuku has actually is.]

[glaciers]

[He's surrounded by his mate's scent. His alpha, his only. Shouto's not thinking as clearly as he'd like to, instead setting Izuku on the bed and following suit.

This is the scent he always wants to wake up to. This is the alpha he wants to claim him.]

[inheritance]

[It's only been a week since he and Todoroki stopped talking to each other, but Izuku thinks it's possibly one of the worst weeks of his life. Not only has he hurt his best friend--unforgivable in his own eyes--but even after all the sleepless nights of searching, reading as much material as he can find on breaking mate bonds, Izuku comes up empty-handed.

They could fade, with time, of course, but bonds like that could take years to dissolve completely. Knowing this, and remembering how he'd taken that choice from Todoroki makes the guilt eat away at Izuku. There's no way to avoid this any longer. He and Todoroki have to talk--this is all his fault. Even if he can't break the bond, Izuku will have to do whatever he can to make this up to Todoroki. It's...a conversation that Izuku isn't looking forward to, but he has to do it. It wouldn't be right to leave Todoroki to deal with the bond on his own.]

Todoroki-kun, can we talk?

[He sends the message before he can put it off any longer.]

[glaciers]

[ Shouto stares down the message. The last week of avoiding each other hurt, but this time the bonding bite on his neck throbbed. They haven't spoken since the Mistake.

Is he ready for this? No. Do his fingers type anyway? Yes.]

I'm listening.

[inheritance]

[The burst of relief that he gets when he sees that Todoroki responded fades just as quickly as it came.]

In person, I mean.

[This is too important to talk about through text.]

[glaciers]

[It takes him longer to answer that. Talking to Midoriya through the phone? Fine.

Seeing him in person when he clearly doesn't want the bond they've got? More painful than boiling water in his face. If he wants to talk though, it has to be important. Maybe he's found a way to break it off with him. As much as it hurt to be rejected, he doesn't think Midoriya would want to cause more pain.]

When.

[inheritance]

Now, if possible.

[It's better to talk sooner than later, right? They're just lucky that they don't have classes today. Izuku knows that he's fallen behind as it is, and his notes have been terrible... he's pretty sure he's caught Aizawa staring at him disapprovingly, too..

Ugh, yeah, it's going to suck, but it'll be better for them to figure this out before it gets too out of hand.]

[glaciers]

Where? Not your room.

[He doesn't think he can stand being surrounded in Midoriya's scent when he's not even wanted. His heart is longing for something he's not allowed to have. ]

[inheritance]

[Ouch, that hurts. Izuku can't exactly blame him, though.]

That's fine. [It's not, really.] We can go to your room instead.

[glaciers]

[He can't deal with Midoriya's scent. Not yet...]

I'm in my room.