AN: I don't own MHA
Have you ever been I love?
He wandered aimlessly yet, no one would look at him. They all ignored him. For so long. Occasionally, someone would give a passing glace but that was it. A glance. A second of kind acknowledgement then back to ignoring his existence. He wasn't sure why that happened. Was it punished for the crimes he did? He didn't mean to. Honestly. He was just scared. But what kind of excuse was that? He still did something horrible. A forever stain on his person.
Then they appeared. Like a hero in his dying hour. A hand reached out of him. It was so small. So strange with Its crusty purple textures. Yet so kind. Then there was him. A boy with stunning turquoise eyes. He had the same purple marks only more pronounced. There was something about him that caught Tenko's complete attention. Even when they insulated him. Then that boy took him out of that alleyway where he was left to rot. No one ever did that for him. So, he continued watching. Soon falling. The boy was just too bright to ever look away.
That's why.
"You got to help me!" Tenko screeched. In his hands were two near-identical shirts only with slight colour differences. In fact, the boy was ankle deep by a sea of scattered clothes. With some pairs of shoes to add to the messy pile.
The boy came running to All Might yesterday since he was staying at their apartment that day. After that embarrassment of a confession and receiving a date invite, he raced to his room. Locking himself in, whether it was excitement or embarrassment he stayed in bed for the rest of the night. Trying to calm his heart. It was only then in the morning did he realised the date was that afternoon and had no idea what to wear. This led him to dig out his new wardrobe trying out every combination possible. While presenting it to the only person currently available. All Might.
"You look good in everything, Tenko," the hero complimented. His eyes were more focused on the growing mess. He knew he brought a lot of things for the child but he never thought it was this much.
"I want to look more than just good." He groaned. This date was very important to him. It was Touya for crying out loud. His first hero and crush. He can't have this go burn into shame. "Have you ever gone on date before?"
All Might laughed awkwardly at the question. "A couple, but never anything too serious." Dating was something completely out of his element. Hero work always took priority from any personal relationships, so he never really had a girlfriend. Let alone a boyfriend in Tenko's case. He honestly didn't have time to process it when the boy pounced at him. Saying he needed help for his date with the eldest Todoroki son. Not that he minded it was just a surprise to process so early in the morning. He decided not to question things and roll with the punches. "I pretty much wore whatever felt comfortable."
"You're hopeless." Tenko groaned pulling at his hair. He didn't have time for this. Then a realisation popped in his mind, "Mr Arata. He was married so he got to know something." He quickly grabbed his phone and dialled for his saving grace. "Hello? I really need your help, Mr Arata. I'm going on a date..."
The second they said that line the call went dead. Confused, Tenko looked at the screen only to see that the call was forcedly disconnected. Why? He couldn't be sure. Even All Might was confused as he gazed at the screen wondering what could have happened. The child was tempted to call again but there was no need.
Suddenly, the doors to the balcony swung open with a bang. It was almost like a horror movie come to life. All that was missing was the thunder and rain. Although, the man's natural scars helped elevate the horror. Almost predatory, the figure walked into the apartment with the confidence and grace of a lion on the hut. Their piercing blue eyes stared at the child who summoned him. An unusual weapon brandished in their hands. It was a shovel. A very clean shovel that oddly made the scene more terrifying as it begged to be dirtied. With what? Leave that to your imagination.
"Who do I need to give the shovel talk to," Arata hissed darkly. His deep voice chilled their bones as he raised the shovel. Ready to make a grave.
"Uh…Touya?"
Instantly the darkness around him dimmed. His eyes wandered to the shovel as he let the new information set in. "That complicates things."
With Arata a little calmer, and not looking like he was ready to bury a body, Tenko explained his situation to him. Arata simply listened following along with the child's words. The man wouldn't say he was surprised by this development. They secretly knew of their boy's little crush and chose to be a bystander. Getting involved in such affairs was unnecessary if the boy didn't want any help. Now it's different.
Soon the child reached their current dilemma. "What did you usually wear when you went on dates."
"Whatever felt comfortable," he replied plainly much to the child's dismay.
"Seriously!"
Analysing the child, Arata wondered why they seemed so stressed over something as simple as choosing an outfit. All they needed to choose something appropriate for the venue assigned date. Something as common as an outing to the movies shouldn't be too hard. "You seem to be overcomplicated things."
"You don't get it!" The child yelled back frustrated by both his parents' lack of seemly care. "This date is really important to me. I want to impress him."
Humming, Arata scooped up the child and sat them down on his lap. The child didn't appreciate it since they acted huffily. With folded arms, a hunched back and pouty lips. "Let me tell you a story," Arata started while stoking away the child's anger.
It was a simple story. Back when his beloved was still alive. One day he was going shopping with their shared friend. He didn't have any personal opinion on clothes. Styles and tends all seemed meaningless. Only coming since he was forced to. At some point in the trip, he mentioned to her that he was going on a date with Sai the next day. She instantly got excited and played dress-up doll with him. It was an exhausting experience, but they soon settled on a look. It got him a lot of odd looks from the crowd around them. He thought nothing of it and trusted in his friend's sense of style.
What it ended up being was a galactic style coloured shirt. With flying space cats on tacos. Random but it didn't end there. They also picked out a pair of neon lime, skin-tight trousers. Decorated with rainbow rhinestones. Unicorn horn shoes. Then to top it all off a zebra fedora. I hindsight the laughing audiences was a warning sign. Despite that he wore the ridiculous outfit.
Sai loved it. He thought it was the funniest thing he had ever seen. Went back to the same store and got himself a matching stupid outfit. With minor changes here and there. Like a galaxy dog shirt with hotdogs instead of tacos and hot pink pants. Then tied it together with a laughing face bow tie. They both looked stupid and had a blast that day.
"I failed to notice the following day was April fool's day. Kaina must have been playing a joke on me. Still, it was a fun day even if everyone else was laughing at us." Arata said with a short laugh.
Tenko was laughed too. He really needed a picture of that, but it still did help with his current situation. "So, what? I wear a stupid T-shirt?"
"I think what Darewell is trying to say is. So long as you have fun doesn't matter what you were." All Might explained hold back his own laugher. That must have been quite the sight. "Just be you, and if he doesn't like that. Then it's his loss."
Tenko wasn't completely convinced, but when he looked at the mess he made. Maybe he was overthinking things. It was just a movie, and he wasn't sure if Touya was taking this seriously. Still, it would be fun regardless. Sighing, he calmly pieced together an outfit. A simple black long sleeve striped t-shirt he liked with a horror movie villain. It felt right given he was going to watch a horror movie. All that was left was some of faded jeans and a pair of black and white sneakers. The child then hugged his adopted family before waving goodbye, "Wish me luck."
Then boy shut behind the door. Leaving the older men in a very awkward position. Complete and utter silence. With no blade to cut the tension firmly between them.
All Might look to the other. It was really hard to keep up his usual smiley persona when he was alone with that man. Still, this might be a good opportunity. Get to know each other more. Break the 50 feet ice wall that was wedged between them. "So…since you're here. Do you want to…"
The hero never got the chance to finish. The second he started to speak Arata marched back to where he came from. His shovel still firmly in hand. The hero could do nothing, but watch the man jump onto the balcony railing and fly off. They never even said hello. Let alone a simple goodbye.
"…I should have seen that coming"
Meanwhile in the Todoroki house.
"I'm going out," Touya called, peeking into his father's home office. He was already dressed in his best in skinny jeans and red sneakers. Most of his scars were hidden by a zip-up cotton hoodie and navy shirt with the words cool dude printed on like slice marks. As an attempt to hide his other scars he hid his eyes behind a pair of oversize shades. He hadn't been conscious of them before, but it felt a little necessary this time.
"Another date?" Enji questioned while sorting his weekly paperwork. "I would have thought you'd need time to recover after the last girl."
That's right he hasn't explained the whole scenario. He said he was going on a date again but never said who. Might as well get it out of the way now than hide it. "It's a boy this time, dad."
At that second, Enji's hands stopped working. It took him a second, but he understood the implications of those words. Although, how to reach was another story. His head turned to his son who sheepishly looked back at him. It could have said many combinations of words but the ones that ended up coming from his mouth were: "I…didn't know."
Nervously, the boy chuckled. "You mad?" His hands sweating in his pockets.
"No…no. How could I be mad." Then Enji dropped everything he was doing and walked right to his son. He held the boy tightly. He wasn't mad. A little shocked but not mad. "Are you sure about this?" He questioned not entirely sure what else to say.
"Honestly. Not exactly." The boy admitted. "He's cute. Really cute. So much cuter than that two-face lying bitch." While his father wasn't up in arms about him possibly coming out, he looked ready to burn the back of his head for saying that word. Luckily, Izuku wasn't around to hear. "I don't hate the idea of going out with him. I kind of like it, but I still think girls are cute. So, this is kind of confusing it." Those were his honest feelings. It's all a little confusing but he didn't hate it. Call this an exploration, but he wanted to see where this path lead. Who knows? Maybe he'll feel less confused and let his heart fall. "I want to give it a shot at least."
Enji listened carefully to his son's confession. Let it all sink in for himself. It was a lot to take in. "If that's how you feel. I'll respect your decision," he swore with a nod. Then his signature stern look came in as he waged a finger at the boy. "Still, boy or girl I expect you to show them respect."
Touya nodded in an almost mocking bow, "I'll be the perfect gentlemen." The boy was about to leave, but a new question came to mind. It was a simple question. One he had been wounding about for much longer than he liked to admit. "Hey, dad. Have you ever been in love?"
The sudden question formed ice crystals in the man's blood. He never thought he'd ever heard such a question.
"I know you never really loved mom, but have you ever left that way before?" Touya continued to push.
For some reason, his son's question hurt. It was a numbing almost shameful type of hurt. Looking back after all these years. After all those struggles, he couldn't think of a single moment where he felt a romantic attraction to anyone. He was always too busy improving himself. In his studies. In his training. Things like romance. Even something as small as a little crush. They were all insignificant compared to his ambition. Looked back one had to wonder: was it worth it?
"No. I can't say I have."
Somehow Touya couldn't be shocked by the response. It was easy to see he never loved his mother with how unaffectionate he was. The closest thing he has seen the man love was his little brother. And to himself if only to a lesser degree… He forced a smile on. "Guess I can't ask you for dating advice. Well better get going. Can't have Tenko waiting for me."
Enji nodded. He doubted he'd be much help in terms of romances. Then it finally hit him who his son was dating. It was like a surprise wake-up call slap. "Tenko!"
"See you later dad," Touya teases as he dashed out the door. Leaving his father to process that he was dating his rival's adoptive son. Or he could see it as dating his currently closest friend adoptive son. Both were true which somehow made it more confusing. What is this reality?
Sighting, Enji dropped his head. What else could he do? Not like he could stop the boy, he never could. They're as headstrong as he was. He then opened a side draw at his desk. It was a little hidden compartment that held a secret stash of treats. Just encase he needed a sweet pick me up, and boy he needed one. While his hand searched, he stumbled upon something that shouldn't be there. Smooth and thin.
Curiously, he took the mystery object out and found a familiar green envelop. A letter he received from a fan. He forgot he put that there. His fingers played with the edge as he remembered the heartfelt contents inside. He had to read it again. The words formed a smile form over his lips. For some reason this always manged to lift his spirits up. "I wonder if they got my reply."
"Hey. Didn't keep you too long I hope." Touya greeted as he jogged up to his friend/kind of boyfriend waiting at the entrance of the movie theatre. They looked cute standing there in goth-like clothing, but still looked so shy. Hands together as they glanced from side to side. Like a lost puppy. "You look good."
Tenko turtled his neck in. "Thanks. You too." Then he noticed the shades. They looked cool like his date's shirt suggested but completely out of place. "Ditch the glasses those," he gently demanded as he forced the thing off. "You can't see the movie with these, and I like looking at your eyes."
Somehow that was enough to get Touya to change to red. There wasn't any need to hide things from Tenko. He had already seen his face countless times. Somehow, they liked what they saw. Scars and all. "Ah well, I guess we can go in. I already played for the tickets."
"Then I'll pay for snacks." Tenko offered while unconsciously wrapping his arms around Touya's. It took him a good few second to realise how embarrassing it was. Given how close the two of them were. When it hit him, he quickly let go and took a step back. "Sorry. Force of habit," he explained bowing in apology. He didn't want to make things weird or make his date uncomfortable by being clingy.
Luckily for him, Touya didn't mind at all. "It's cool man," He chuckled. Then he snaked an arm around his friend hips pulling them closer to their chest. He watched their ears burn from the closeness. It was adorable pink. "You're always cuddling up to me anyway so what's the harm."
Tenko's throat suddenly felt dry like his skin and that's saying a lot. Maybe he was feeling hot. A long-sleeved shirt wasn't the best of ideas. "We show get going." The boys then entered the theatre hand in hand.
AN: well, that was fun. Short but sweet. And it seems I have a guest comment so…
S43M1 – thanks. while I'm not a fan of this pairing it flowed well in the context of this AU. Although my overall plan for they may get pitch forks sent to my direction.
Now I noticed quite a few of you wondering about Izuku getting the talk. While I can't really fit it in here's a short of how I mange it to go down. In the most crack because possible.
Izuku: Arata sensei, what does the birds and the bees mean?
Arata: you're a little young to know that phase.
Izuku: Touya said I should as you or father about it.
Arata: I see. Well, if you really want to know I could give you a simplified version.
Izuku: yes please.
Arata: it's a phrase for the act of sexual reproduction. To simplify: baby making.
Izuku: Baby making?
Arata: yes, you see when a man and a woman…
Enji: (Cuts in and covers Arata mouth) what do you think you're doing!
Arata: HUMMAMNAMM!
Enji: Izuku forget anything you heard. You're too young to know anything of this.
Izuku: but Touya tried to make a baby with Tenko.
Enji …what?
Arata: Humm?
Later…
Enji: explain yourselves.
Arata: it better be a good.
Touya: I swear this is a big misunderstanding.
Tenko: we didn't do anything!
All Might: …I feel like I'm missing some context.