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]

[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?

[inheritance]

[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.

[inheritance]

[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. ]

[inheritance]

[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.

[inheritance]

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.

[inheritance]

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.

[inheritance]

[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.

[inheritance]

[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.

[glaciers]

[As soon as Izuku's pressing his face into his shoulder Shouto hums soothingly, rubbing his back. It feels so much better to be around him again, like Shouto's finally settling back into his skin.]

I'll want you for as long as I live.

[inheritance]

You... [Comfortable as he is curling into Shouto like this, Izuku pulls away to look at him.] You really mean that?

[No one's ever said something like that to him before. Despite gaining some confidence, and having friends that he trusts now, Izuku can't help but think this is too good to be true.]

[glaciers]

Have I ever said something I didn't mean?

[ He'd love to live the rest of his life at Izuku's side. Vaguely he wonders if he needs to find a pair of rings.]

[inheritance]

...I guess not. [He studies Shouto's face carefully, like he needs to see the confirmation somehow.]

It's just a little hard to believe you'd want me. [That anyone would want him. Slowly, he lifts a hand and cups Shouto's cheek gently, the lightest of touches.]

[glaciers]

[ As Izuku's hand reaches his face, Shouto's eyes close in contentment. Thoughtlessly, he tilts his head into the touch. ]

You've always been kind to me. You believe me. You make me a better person just by knowing you.

[inheritance]

Shouto... [His lip trembles with the weight of his emotions, made all the heavier by the terrible week he's had. With a tiny sob, Izuku throws his arms around Shouto again.]

You're giving me too much credit. Of course I believe in you. Why wouldn't I?

[glaciers]

Izuku.

[He runs his fingers through the mess of hair and presses a kiss against his skin.]

A lot of people would say I'm just my father. It... means a lot that you didn't.

[inheritance]

[It shouldn't surprise him, when he knows what happened between Shouto and Yoarashi during the license exam, and yet it still does that people can believe that.]

They must not be looking very hard if they can say that. [Izuku presses his hand flat against Shouto's back, rubbing a soothing circle there.] You're not like him at all.

[Maybe Izuku can say that because he has knowledge that other people don't, but he knows he's not the only one who sees how much Shouto has changed since letting go of his anger.]

[glaciers]

[For most of his life, he'd had the shadow of his father hovering over him. An ghost that was impossible to dispel. Even now Shouto has trouble with his past. But... it always seems like Izuku is there to help him out of his own self-destructive mindset.

Still, he wonders.]

I hope you're right.

[inheritance]

[Though Izuku has very little confidence when it comes to himself, he has an abundance of it when it involves his friends. He pulls away just a little, a tiny frown on his face. When he cups Shouto's cheek with his hand, it's to keep him from looking away from his eyes.]

I know I'm right. [Izuku says softly, but firmly. If Shouto won't believe in himself, then Izuku will, enough to make up for it.]

[glaciers]

[He still wonders. All those years ago, when his mother said his left half looked like his father. His power is own, but that doesn't change where it came from.

But it's hard to disagree with Izuku when the full force of his gaze is on him and he can't make himself look away.]

Why is it that I always want to believe you?