Just a heads up if ya plan on reading this fic, anything underlined will be a programmed voice (speech aid) Shouto uses to communicate while anything in bold will be sign language! Just to clear up any confusion. Hope you guys enjoy :P - W.E.D.
The coffee shop was bustling around this hour, each seat jam packed with customers as they rushed through those double doors. Todoroki watched as people chatted away, envy bubbling up in his chest. He kept a stoic expression, switching his view towards the large window that replaced the wall at the entrance of the shop.
He's always hated noise, listening to the different tones and grating frequencies of other people's voices as an influx of meaningless words poor out of their mouths. He hated the odd looks of pity and sympathy as people found out he was mute. He hated the shitty father that caused it. To be frank, Todoroki hated a plethora of things, and he also hated to admit it all stemmed from the resentment of others who had the ability to express themselves with words.
Shouto listened idly to a conversation a table or two over as his thoughts broiled in what resembled self-pity and jealousy as a green headed imp had the guts to sit in the opposite booth he'd claimed as his own. Shouto didn't particularly care, as long as he didn't try to socialize. He barely spared his new table mate a glance before letting out a soft sigh and redirecting his heterochromatic eyes back towards the whizzing cars outside.
Todoroki could have sworn he heard the panic rise in the teen sitting adjacent to him as he scrambled to get up. He spared the teen another glance to find him in a deep bow, a very flustered and apologetic expression flashing across his round face.
"I'm so sorry!" He practically squeaked, Todoroki could see the embarrassment flush in the other's cheeks and expressed in his emerald eyes. He noticed the sort of dull, milky quality in them. He practically scrambled for his phone once he realized, his pale fingers typing frantically. "I didn't know you were sitting here! I can find another seat if you want -"
He was cut off by a computerized voice, "It's fine, I don't really mind." The poor kid practically deflated with relief.
"Are you sure? I didn't mean to bother you." He straightened up from his bow, only to start fiddling with his cane.
He was blind.
Todoroki felt empathy for the boy as he began to type out his next response. There was an awkward pause before the robotic voice spoke again. "Go ahead and sit down."
"Thank you." He murmured. There was another pause. "Oh! I'm Izuku Midoriya, it's nice to meet you!" The teen said after remembering his manners.
"Todoroki Shouto." was the monotone response.
Any further conversation was interrupted by a certain explosive blond bursting through the double doors of the shop. Red eyes locked with Shouto's, a grumpy facade on his face as he approached him. "Hey, Half-and-Half! I've been waiting for you at the fucking bus stop for hours only to find out you've been sitting in this shitty coffee shop?" Bakugo was fuming through his ears.
"I'm here every morning," Todoroki deadpanned, giving the blonde an 'Are you serious' expression as he finished signing, picking up his coffee cup to continue sipping at the piping hot liquid.
"I'll beat your sorry ass if you don't remove it off this shitty booth. You'll make us both late for class." Bakugo continued, contradicting himself as he plopped down in the empty space next to Shouto. He sets down his coffee again, his movements jerky as he feigned irritation.
"We still have another half hour, idiot." Todoroki almost smiled as he watched his friend retort with a very mature "who are you calling an idiot, idiot?!" before he heard a meek voice interrupt from the other side of the booth. He looked nervous all over again.
"Uhm, should I leave?" Izuku seemed very uncomfortable around Bakugo, then again everyone was uncomfortable around him until they got to know him with his crude language (which is actually sort of endearing once you realize it's his socially inept way of showing he cares) and explosive attitude. He seemed very confused as well, considering he could only hear half of the conversation.
"Who are you?" Is Bakugo's intelligent response as he bears his sharp, intimidating teeth in an almost possessive manner. Not that Midoriya could see them, he could still hear the irreverent tone in his voice.
Despite his nerves, the green haired teen still managed to present a sweet smile. "I'm Izuku Midoriya." He presents a shaking hand across the table.
The blonde clicked his tongue, turning his head away as he took the offered hand. "The name's Katsuki Bakugo." Todoroki could have sworn he saw pink dusting his friend's cheeks. A small smile quirked the ends of his lips as he thought how uncharacteristic that was of Bakugo, but he supposed people like Midoriya tended to have that effect on others.
One of the workers at the coffee shop waltzes over towards their table, a kind smile on her round face. "Hey, Deku! Here's that hot chocolate you ordered!" Her name badge read 'Ochaco Uraraka.'
Midoriya beamed as he recognized the voice, turning in her general direction. "Thanks Ura!" He held his hand out, and the brunette gently lead his hand towards the warm styrofoam cup. He smiled gratefully before taking a tentative sip of the coca.
The girl - Uraraka, Todoroki mentally amends - redirects her attention towards Todoroki and Bakugo. "Oh, hey! Both of you go to Yuuei don't you? It's good to see familiar faces!" She says cheerfully. "Both me and Deku here go there as well, it's funny we haven't gotten the chance to talk yet." Todoroki only nods in agreement, too lazy to pull out his phone to type another response, nor does he really want her to know he can't voice anything.
Bakugo takes it upon himself to respond for him. "Both me and half-and-half here are majoring in chemistry. Let me guess, you guys are taking those bull shit afternoon classes for literature and art." His response is accompanied by an eye roll, but Todoroki was too familiar with his antics that he didn't bother correcting his rude response.
Uraraka seemed to shrink in on herself a little before replying, "Well, no, I'm a language major. I've already got a few different ones under my belt from high school." She seems to perk up a bit when mentioning her achievements. "I want to be an interpreter so I'm hoping to have three or four languages under my belt before I graduate college."
Todoroki has the sudden urge to test her intelligence. "Do you know sign language?" He made sure to slow down his hand gestures to make what he was saying more clear.
The brunette nodded enthusiastically in response, responding in her own hand signs. "Yes I do! Fluent, actually." Shouto was relieved in a way that there was someone else out there he could communicate easily with, but it didn't show in his expression. He only pushed the side of his thumb against his chest and rolled his fingers, the sign for 'cool.'
"I actually am majoring in art…" Midoriya said sheepishly, not realizing there was a silent conversation going on. Todoroki thought that was an interesting major considering he was blind. Doesn't mean he can't do it, though. There's actually a couple of famous blind artists he knows of, and he briefly wonders if Izuku will be one of them some day.
Before Bakugo can get in another snarky remark, Todoroki points to his wrist to remind the blonde of the time. He nearly jumps out of his seat, grasping for Todoroki's hand as he basically drags him out of the booth. "C'mon man, we're gonna miss the bus. Your fucking voice doesn't have anything to do with your feet, so hurry the hell up!"
Todoroki can hear Uraraka giggle as he's dragged out of the coffee shop. He makes the quick sign for "See you," the brunette returning the sentiment before the bell above the coffee shop door rings at their departure. He didn't think the hand gripping his own was necessary, but he couldn't find it in himself to remove it.
Back in the coffee shop, Uraraka relayed the message to Midoriya, his response a dopey smile. "I hope I get the chance to meet him again soon. He's… interesting."
"Ooh, what's this? Don't tell me you have a crush on Todoroki!" Uraraka teases, bringing a dark blush to Izuku's freckled cheeks.
"It's not like that! I just met him!" The green haired teen defended, pouting. Ura just gave him a knowing look.
"Whatever you say, Deku. I gotta get back to work!" She quickly straightens her apron before patting Izuku on the shoulder as a goodbye. He only sighs and finishes his hot chocolate before departing.
I tried my best when doing research, so I'm sorry if anything isn't accurate. Please let me know if there's something wrong!
Otherwise, I hope you guys liked it. I'll try to update every other Sunday if school doesn't screw me over -.-