Steam flowed from under the bathroom door and into the room. The heat made Izuku stuffy. There really was nothing too interesting on the news, save for a few short clips of lesser known heroes every now and then. The news anchor smiled as he conversed with his cohost. They were talking about the newer heroes who've recently grown in the popularity ranks. A good ninety nine percent he had no clue existed until now.
Their quirks looked really interesting from what he was shown. There were two that stuck out like sore thumbs in their brief interviews: Mt. Lady and Kami Woods. They seemed to know each other considering how they speak to one another, despite their opposing personalities. One was very social, grabbing your attention, considering how she uses her quirk. Meanwhile, Kami held his tongue while also projecting his best at all times. For some reason there was a sense of déjà vu.
The TV cut back to the station, focusing on the host who was cracking a joke. He was rather handsome, maybe that was why he was the host. Unattractive people were less popular. Izuku thought back to Shoto who was without a doubt very popular. "-and the rumor circling these heroes," Izuku looked back up to the TV.
"What do you think about this new evidence, Circe'?" The man had moved from the news table to a white chair for the interview.
The camera cut to a woman sitting on a white couch. She had long purple locks that made her outfit pop. She wore a matching black crop top and pencil skirt that had gold embroidery and shapes sown in. It gave her a regal look that spewed gossip.
The camera zoomed in, showing off her charming golden irises. The text at the bottom of the screen told the viewer who she was and what she did. Apparently Circe' is a well-known gossip enthusiast with a show and magazine company of her own. As she explained her theory between Kami woods and Mt. Lady, she moved her gloved hands to emphasize her point. The host seemed to be drinking her in with every point she made. He looked like a sailor lost to a siren.
Izuku was rather interested in the interview; after all, all knowledge is good knowledge. His mind ran with questions and theories beyond them being a couple. He wanted to know more. Not just about them, but about every hero he hasn't indulged in yet. Izuku was vibrating with excitement.
Izuku stood up and began searching the room for some spare paper when he heard mumbling from inside the bathroom. Being as curious as he was, Izuku placed his ear to the door. Only the sound of running water could be made out causing him to pout. He turned his head to the nearby chair that displayed Shoto's clean clothes and towel.
Izuku giggled. "Shoto's so forgetful." His hands picked up the neatly folded clothes and knocked on the door. No answer. He knocked once more, being met with nothing again. This time he quietly opened the door, placed the towel on the toilet seat and the clothes on the counter, and wrote out a little message on the foggy mirror.
Shoto seemed to be too deep in thought to notice him, so he left without saying anything. Izuku's face was warm with a blush as he paced around the room. There was a startling knock on the entry door that paused Izuku's transition into a beet. He walked over to the door and saw a small pile of letters being slid under the door.
He picked them up and looked at each of their covers. 'Izuku Midoriya', 'Shoto Todoroki', 'Izuku Midoriya', and one that had neither Izuku's nor Shoto's name on the front. There was only a bold 'CONFIDENTIAL' in red.
The bold letters put him on edge. It didn't seem to be for him since it didn't have his name on it, but his curiosity was far too strong to just give it back. So instead of opening it right away, he placed it at the bottom of the pile and opened the first one.
"Dear Izuku Midoriya, we are pleased to report your official discharge from the XXX hospital. This letter is being given to you under the impression that this information is not yet known to you: You will be housed in a secure location given your situation which therefore leads us to give custody to U.A. U.A. is popular and well known hero-in-training school with funds supplied by the government. With this new knowledge, understand that you will be transitioning there within the next 24 hours. We wish you well. -XXX hospital staff"
The letter was typed much like the signature, but he wasn't focused on that. There was more excitement in his 'transition' as the hospital phrased it. Izuku observed the other three letters before he heard the water turn off. Izuku hurriedly hid the 'CONFIDENTIAL' letter under his pillow. There was a new feeling of guilt blossoming in his gut. All Shoto has ever been is honest, and now Izuku is hiding secret letters under his pillow. He really did feel bad and was about to remove it when the bathroom door opened.
"Shoto!" Izuku rushed to smile. He didn't think Shoto saw the dishonesty in his smile so he continued talking. "I have some good news." Izuku picked up the opened letter and showed it off with genuine happiness. Shoto seemed to smile as well.
Shoto continued drying off his hair as he sat next to him. There was a look in Shoto's eyes that said 'what's got you so happy?'
"I'm being discharged tomorrow!" Shoto looked even more excited than Izuku. His smile widened and he began telling Izuku all about campus. It would be a first, going somewhere so huge. According to Shoto, everything he would need was there and a large variety of buildings with different uses.
Shoto went on to tell Izuku that he would be there if he ever needed him, which made him feel cared for. Izuku found that this was a great opportunity, not just to be near Shoto, but to find out more about the three years' worth of heroes he missed. None the less, he was happy Shoto was going to be there every step of the way. "Thanks, Sho. That really makes me happy."
Shoto continued telling stories of his experience at UA so far before Izuku remembered there was a letter for him.
"Ah, Shoto? I forgot to say but there's a letter for you." The duel haired man looked at him curiously. Izuku took that as him saying 'can I see it?'. He handed the letter over before he began opening his own.
"Dearest Izuku Midoriya, I understand that you will be moving locations to UA. I'm proud of you for being so brave on this difficult road to recovery and I'd like to let you know that you'll still be seeing me for our sessions when I visit you or you'll be given a check-up by the famed Recovery Girl. Just remember that I'm always on your side and here if you need me.
In case you ever need to contact me, my phone number is ###-###-####. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you ever feel anxious, panicky, or if you just want to talk.
Best wishes, Dr. Kazue."
Izuku found the letter reassuring despite how anxious he is around people. Once he finished he glanced over to Shoto he was reading the last words. "What did your letter say?" Izuku asked.
"Just stuff about class and the work I missed." Shoto smiled. "And you?"
Izuku put the letter back in the envelope, placing it on the table. "Just Dr. Kazue." Shoto made an 'oh' sound. Shoto hugged him, obviously comfortable. Izuku giggled, "I need to take a shower, Sho."
He only groaned in response as if to say 'but I'm comfy.' Izuku squeezed Shoto tighter before letting go completely. "I won't take long, I promise. Why don't you pick out a movie for us to watch? It's going to be out last night in the hospital after all."
Shoto nodded in agreement, face pushed into the mattress. Izuku laughed even harder. "You're so silly, Sho." He picked up a towel and clean clothes, shutting the bathroom door and starting the water.
Water felt nice, as always. He soothingly scrubbed his hair clean and the grime off his body. Before running away, he rarely had this option. Not because he wasn't allowed to shower, but because Tomu- Shigaraki always wanted to do it for him. It was never calming or enjoyable. It was always rough and rushed that often led to his hair being jerked violently. He was glad he could do it for himself now. It made the experience much more…relaxing.
Just as promised though, Izuku made quick work of cleaning off so he could watch a movie with Sho before it got too late. Copying Shoto, he let the towel hang on his shoulders to catch the leftover droplets of water. Shoto noticed and his face made a small blush appear.
Although the movie was interesting, the two were much more drained than they first believed. Both of them had leaned on the other and fell asleep, waiting for the next day.
When the sun brightly shone through the window, Izuku slowly opened his eyes. He smiled taking in the sight of Shoto asleep. He looked so peaceful.
With an early start to his inevitable move, he began 'packing'. Of course there wasn't much he had to begin with aside from a couple pairs of "comfort clothes" the hospital provided. The staff had placed a small grey duffle bag on the doorknob for Izuku to find. He began folding the boring colors and placing them at the bottom. Izuku paused halfway and glanced back to his bed.
The ominous envelope should still be under his pillow from the previous evening. Shoto was still asleep, so maybe he could sneak it into the bag and stuff it under everything else.
Izuku made his way over and did just that. The envelope made a heavy ball form in his stomach, despite its light weight and business oriented style. He shook off the thoughts and zipped the duffle bag closed.
He looked around to admire the room one last time. It had been a few weeks since he was first brought here (or woke up here with no memory of how). Despite the depressing reason he was brought here in the first place, he did have quite a few good memories.
Most everything he remembers from here, had something to do with Shoto in one way or another. After his body had slept what he normally would in two months back with Tomur- Shigaraki, he remembers having late night chats with Shoto at length about whatever. He had learned so many things about the ice user during the time. A good chunk was personal.
Izuku mainly kept his memories to himself except when the doctors or his therapist asked. It wasn't something he was exactly comfortable with at the moment.
But with all the positive things, came something else. Most nights he would have nightmares that would drown him in black pools of ink that dripped from his captor's mouth. If he believed in dreams being symbolic, maybe he would've looked more into it. But that was the least of his concerns. It became so frequent that the doctors prescribed him some sleeping pills (he would have to work up to the heavy duty ones with time).
Izuku tried his best to avoid taking showers or baths especially. Not that he liked being dirty, but showering meant he was alone with his thoughts. Taking a bath was the worst though. The one or two times he'd taken one, was immediately followed by a panic attack.
His memories were like a rubber duck floating to the surface. It was more vivid with the 'aid' of water, but he could remember this much: He would be in a cold basement (or at least he thought it was a basement), Tomu- Shigaraki would be holding him down by the neck, one finger elevated, while Izuku's hands were chained to his back.
He chained Izuku to the concrete floor to keep him still in his kneeling position. The sinister grin on his captor was one of the most prominent features he remembered while his head was dunked into a container of water repeatedly. He would be held under until Izuku thought he was going to pass out, only to be roughly pulled back last minute.
He can still hear the echo of his voice as he hacked the water out of his lungs. After a while of these… activities, Izuku remembers throwing up leftover water he had swallowed along with whatever bile was laying in his stomach.
It wasn't a happy thought. But at least he could proudly say things had gotten significantly better as of late. Now he wasn't even trapped with his captor! He was happy. So much so that he wouldn't try anything that would jeopardize the feeling.
A small groan pulled his attention from packing. Shoto had cracked open his eyes a smidge and smiled with his sparkling white teeth. "Morning, Zuku." He glanced at the bag, "You already ready?" Izuku nodded excitedly. "Guess I should start getting ready as well." He hopped up and stretched.
The time passed by quickly while the two waited to be escorted out. When it finally came, Izuku insisted that he could carry his own bag, too afraid that someone might go looking through it.
A black car drove up to the front of the hospital. One of who Izuku guessed to be the teachers opened the car door for them. "We're going to be following close by, so don't be afraid to holler at us if you need anything." A young woman with shiny raven/purplish hair smiled. "If you have any questions, feel free to annoy Shota over there." She gestured to the driver with long black hair. He looked… familiar?
The door slammed shut, startling Izuku. The cars then began driving off.
"I didn't know you'd be taking us back, Mr. Aizawa." Shoto spoke. Ah! Now Izuku remembered. He was that teacher that accompanied Bakugou to the room that one time.
"Yep." He replied curtly. "Midoriya, I'm going to be in charge of you from today onwards per the principal's orders. I know this is a little sudden, but I was only informed this a couple days ago. Is there anything you'd prefer me calling you since we'll be seeing a lot of each other?"
Izuku thought for a moment. "Um. I can't think of anything right now. B-but if I do I'll be sure to tell you."
Aizawa hummed in response, driving the rest of the way in silence. Soon enough the large U.A. building came into view, shocking Izuku with more size than he imagined. It was amazing! And he was going to be living here? He was so excited!
Shoto quietly smirked next to Izuku as the greenette stuck himself to the window at the view. This was going to be interesting.