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

[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. ]

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[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.

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I'll be right over.

[And Izuku keeps his word, forcing himself to make the short walk between his and Todoroki's room as soon as he sends the text. It still takes him an embarrassing handful of seconds to work up the courage and knock on the door.]

[glaciers]

[Shouto might be trying to mentally prepare for Midoriya to arrive, but it's different when he knows it's going to be both of them alone. In his room.

He didn't think this through either. While he gets up immediately he hovers awkwardly at the door for a full minute before pulling it open.]

Midoirya.

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Todoroki-kun... [Izuku knows that he hasn't really slept or looked after himself all week, and that he looks it. He doesn't really care, though.

Even knowing that the rift between them now is his fault, Izuku can't help but miss the easy familiarity that they'd had before this entire mess.]

[glaciers]

[Shouto also looks like he hasn't been sleeping well. How could he when his alpha Midoriya wanted nothing to do with him.

So instead of answering, he steps back and waits for him to step in. Shouto's doing his best to keep his poker face on, and is doing a great job of that.]

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[The guilt just continues to pile on. Not only has he ruined things for Todoroki, his actions have impacted his mate--no, his friend's health negatively, too.

Izuku steps into the room, tension practically rolling off of him.]

I...I've been doing some research. On bonds. [Izuku's hands curl into fists at his sides.] You said last time, that I should try figuring out how to break it.

[glaciers]

[He wants to step closer and hug the stress away, but he doesn't think that would be welcome.

First of all, that's not what Shouto said. "If you don't want me that much, find a way to break the bond."]

Found your answer?

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[Izuku flinches, bowing his head slightly.]

Not...exactly. All the sources I looked at said there's no immediate way to break a bond. I'm...I'm really sorry, Todoroki-kun.

[Sorry that you're stuck with the bond, with him.]

[glaciers]

[Sorry that Midoriya is stuck with him. Shouto's sure Midoriya doesn't want him now.

He looks away for a while before he focuses back on Midoriya.]

... What do you want to do about it?

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[and this is the hardest part. The words come haltingly, uncertainly.]

I...know I'm not your first choice, and I'm probably the last person you'd want as your mate right now. I know that you didn't exactly have a say in this. But...I want to make it up to you somehow. I'd be willing to...try...if you are. I don't want you to be stuck with a bond and have nothing come of it, Todoroki-kun. You deserve so much more than that.

[Izuku's trembling as he says all this, but he just can't stop. Rejection isn't something new to him, far from it, but coming from someone like Todoroki, someone he's grown to care about so much, would be a thousand times worse than any other rejection he's faced before. Still, Izuku owes it to him to be as honest as possible. He'll just have to deal with things as they come, whatever happens after this.]

[glaciers]

[Shouto's expression stays entirely blank for a while as Midoriya speaks. Though now it's easy to see the way his friend seems to shake at the words.

He wanted Midoriya to be his alpha. Midoriya was kind to him, he believed him during the sports festival. Ever since then he's been everything Shouto ever wanted in a friend.

Does he want to admit that? It makes him more vulnerable. But... he's already vulnerable, isn't he?]

I should've said that. I know you didn't want me, and you gave the bounding bite because you... were in rut. [He's hugging himself, arms around his own shoulders.] But... I wanted you to be my alpha.

I'm sorry you're stuck with me. I'm sure you wanted somebody else.

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[Of all the things Izuku had prepared himself to hear, those words are definitely not it. He whips his head up in his shock.]

You...you wanted me to be your alpha?

[He must've heard that wrong. There's no way that Todoroki would've actually wanted him even before all this.]

[glaciers]

Yeah. Even before you presented as one.

[ When Shouto presents and all his hazy thoughts were focused on Midoriya, he wanted it. But he wanted it before too. Maybe not as mates, just... Boyfriends. ]

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[All of a sudden, it feels like his legs are going to give out under him. Izuku slides down to the floor, feeling an odd mix of confusion and hope.]

I thought you hated me when I gave you the bond bite. [Shakily, he runs a hand through his hair.] You should hate me for it.

[glaciers]

[ Shouto sinks to the floor with him. Was... Was it really just that they didn't understand where the other was coming from? ]

I've never hated you. I can't hate you.

I thought you didn't want me.

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I do! [The denial bursts out of him, too loud after the quiet words that they've exchanging so far. Izuku covers his face, slowly turning red.]

I...I do want you. [Too much, probably. Though, hearing that Todoroki doesn't hate him after all sends a rush of relief through him.] I felt like I'd just forced you into everything. That... first time, you were in heat. And this time, I gave you the bite when I was in rut. [Izuku looks at him, a watery sheen in his eyes.] I should've had better control.

[glaciers]

[ He was wanted. All this time he thought Midoriya hated him and wanted anybody else instead. No. He was wrong this whole time. They wanted each other from the beginning.

Tears don't come to his eyes but he feels like so much stress has been lifted off his chest. ]

You didn't force me into anything I didn't want. I wanted to be your mate. I wanted you to be mine.

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Shou--[He bites his lip.] Todoroki-kun, that doesn't mean I wasn't in the wrong.

[He got lucky this time. Things shouldn't have worked out so cleanly--Izuku's still stunned that they worked out at all, frankly--and Izuku knows that he shouldn't let himself off the hook. As a hero-in-training, he needs to own up to the mistakes he's made.

Izuku doesn't reach for Todoroki, but he does give him a hopeful look.] Will you... let me make it up to you?

[glaciers]

I should've left when I realized you were in rut. It's not all on you.

[ If Midoriya is going to pull that "it's all my fault" thing, Shouto just won't let him. ]

You don't have anything to apologize for. But... I missed being with you.

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[The tears were already threatening to fall before, but hearing that Todoroki missed him immediately tips the scales. Before he knows it, Izuku shudders and just lets himself cry.]

I really missed you, too.

[Even if he thinks Todoroki is being too easy on him, there's no words for how relieved he is that he isn't losing Todoroki afterall.]

[glaciers]

[The pull of his omega instincts has him wrapping Midoriya into a hug, nuzzling against him and pressing his lips to the top of Midoriya's head.]

Don't leave me alone again. I hated it. I hated being away from you.

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[After a week of no contact, not seeing each other, having Todoroki so close immediately eases the tension he'd been holding in himself all this time. Izuku wraps his arms around Todoroki, pressing his face into Todoroki's shoulder. The scent, so dear and familiar, washes over him with each breath and puts him at ease.]

I won't, Shouto. I won't. I'll be here for you as long as you'll have me.