hey y'all. Normally I don't put the AN at the beginning of the chapter, but I'll make an exception this once. I've been gone and haven't touched this fic in a year now, but last night I was seized by the urge to reread it after I'd caught up with Ghosts of the Past, a very good fic I recommend to all of you. My life is kinda hectic now (college!), but I've got a plan for Fire and Blood and I intend to see it through, and hopefully into the sequels. I don't watch MHA anymore (aside from rewatching seasons 1-2), but it'll all be fine.
It had been three weeks since the USJ Incident, after three days off from class for everybody to recuperate- -and, Shouto suspected, for the staff to begin investigating just how exactly a small army of villains had managed to teleport into a supposedly secure location. Recovery Girl had managed to put most of the students to rights quickly, especially since few had actually been injured.
Midoriya was still gone, though. According to All Might, he had at least a week of recovery left to do- -even Recovery Girl wasn't a miracle worker on that scale- -and would still be delicate after he was well enough to attend classes again. His absence was mostly noticed in Homeroom, which was temporarily being taught by Present Mic.
And, of course, Shouto felt Midoriya's absence keenly. Mostly at lunch, where he sat with not just Uraraka and Iida, but now Yaoyorozu, Asui, and Kirishima. And sometimes Bakugo, which were his least favorite days.
Today, though, Bakugo was sitting across the cafeteria, glowering at Kaminari over a bowl of rice. Uraraka and Asui were talking, but Uraraka was looking at Shouto and oh god she was talking to him.
"Huh?"
Uraraka giggled and Iida sighed. "Tsu and I were thinking about going to visit Deku after school today. You want in?"
No. My father won't let me. He wants me home for training. Right after school, like always.
Except...Endeavour had never told Shouto to always come straight home. That was just what'd always happened. Maybe he could spin that.
Maybe he didn't care.
"Sure. I'll go."
The rest of the day couldn't pass quickly enough. As soon as the final bell rang, Shouto practically bolted out of class, by his standards at least, to meet up with the others outside. Yaoyorozu and Iida couldn't come, they were busy, but Kirishima, Uraraka, Asui, and Shouto himself could. The four met outside UAs main building and set off, walking downtown to Midoriya and, apparently, Bakugos apartment complex.
As they walked, Uraraka and Asui talked and giggled, while Kirishima ambled along, sometimes jabbing into the conversation to make fun of one of the girls. Shouto, hands in his pockets, walked next to them, alert for signs of Endeavour.
"Todoroki-kun. Earth to Todoroki!"
Shouto shook his head. Kirishima was speaking to him?
"There he is."
The red-haired boy laughed, gently punching Shouto in the arm. "Where do you go when you zone out like that, man?"
Shouto shrugged. "I-I don't know."
Kirishima nodded as thought this made perfect sense. "I feel that. Gets to be a lot, sometimes."
Shoutos brow furrowed. "What does?"
"Everything." Kirishima shrugged. "Sometimes a man's gotta just disconnect, ya know? Think about shit."
"Yeah," Shouto said vaguely, not understanding at all.
"Guys! Catch up!"
Uraraka and Tsu, having overtaken him and Kirishima, turned around and rejoined them.
"Sorry, girls." Kirishima said, puffing his chest out slightly. "Man talk."
"Your fly's undone."
"What? Oh, Jesus..."
With Kirishima awkwardly shuffling behind them, the group made good time across town. They found the complex the Midoriyas and Bakugos lived in and got buzzed in by the doorman, a large, cheerful man with a large, cheerful mustache. He told them the Midoriyas lived on the fifth floor.
After a brief elevator ride and a short walk, the group arrived outside the Midoriyas door. Uraraka knocked.
"Hello?"
The door swung open. Behind it was a woman, middle-aged, short and stout, with dark green-black hair. Definitely Midoriyas mother.
"Hi!" Uraraka said brightly. "Is it okay if we come in and see Izuku? We really miss him at school."
Ms. Midoriya looked over the group briefly, her eyes pausing on Shouto for a minute, before she nodded. "Alright kids, come on in."
The group entered the apartment, and Ms. Midoriya ushered them up the stairs, smiling and laughing.
The apartment was nice, Shouto thought. It looked...comfortable. Lived-in. Endeavour's house was cold, perfectly arranged and cleaned to make it look like a tomb.
They reached the second level of the apartment-a hallway with a bathroom at one end and a bedroom at the other. Uraraka knocked again.
"Hello! Deku!"
From within, Shouto heard grunting and the creak of bed springs. "Oh, hey! Come on in!"
Uraraka smiled at the others and pushed the door open. The group slowly walked in.
Shouto wasn't certain what he thought Midoriyas room would look like, but this was pretty close to it. The ceiling was barely visible, covered in pro-Hero posters and plastic stars. Against one wall was a small desk with a PC and a cactus in a pot on top. The walls were lined with bookshelves and had even more posters on them. Next to the bed on either side were tables- -one with a lamp and several books on it, the other with a record player.
And in the bed, thin, bare chest and arms peeking out from beneath the red-and-gold blankets, was Midoriya Izuku, grinning at them. "Hey guys! I've been missing you so much."
"Hey Deku!" Ururaka said brightly, gently hugging Midoriyas prone form. "How are you?"
"I'm good. Should be back to school soon." Midoriya shrugged. "I've gotten bored laying in bed all day, every day. Recovery Girl only let me get up starting a week ago."
"Damn, bro." Kirishima said, clapping the other boy on the shoulder- -Midoriya winced, but not a lot- -"That's tough."
Asui nodded at Midoriya. "You look a lot better."
"Yeah. I'm just waiting on my internals to be okay before I can leave." Midoriya turnt his gaze on Shouto. His face changed- -his smile shrunk and thinned.
He's so...
so what?
"Hey, Todoroki-kun."
Shouto walked closer to Midoriya.
Just a fist bump. Like normal. Like every day.
Shouto held out his fist. Midoriya smiled and reached his own out, gently bumping it against Shoutos.
That was somehow disappointing.
Shouto held his fist there, against Midoriyas.
Then he moved, bending down, wrapping his arms around Midoriyas thin torso and burying his face in the other boys shoulder. He heard a quiet "Oof!" from Midoriya, and a two-toned "Aww." from the girls. He stayed there for a moment, fearing he'd done something terrible. Then he felt a pair of thin, but strong arms wrap around him and pull him tighter, and Midpriyas hot breath against his neck as he giggled.
"I wasn't expecting that."
Shouto swallowed hard.
"I missed you."
He felt Midoriyas mouth curve into a smile again. "I missed you too, Todoroki-kun."
The pair of them stayed like that for a moment, before Kirishima spoke up. "Hey, uh, I'm all for the love of brothers and men and shit, but y'all should consider getting a room."
Shoutos heart leapt out of his chest. He hastily disengaged from Midoriya, jumping a bit backward. Midoriya laughed. "Kirishima, you're in my room."
Kirishima laughed as well, slinging an arm around Shoutos shoulders and shaking him gently. "Ahhh I'm just kidding."
Midoriya stuck his tongue out at Kirishima, who responded in kind. The group laughed again, Shouto joining awkwardly. Then Midoriya settled back against his pillow. "So...what's happening at school? Tell me everything."
Uraraka and Kirishima launched into a dramatic rendition of the past few weeks. Midoriya laughed along and asked questions. And Shouto caught Asui staring at him.
He raised a red eyebrow at her. What?
Asui shrugged and looked away. Kirishima sat back in the small desk chair he'd commandeered. Shouto, eyes following the motion, saw a clock on the small desk.
5:43 PM
Fuck
His heart started beating wildly. "I, uh, I have to go. My dad wants me home."
Midoriya frowned at him. "Oh, okay. Uh-"
Shouto hastily waved at the group and set off, nearly walking into Ms. Midoriya. "Leaving already?"
"Yeah. Sorry."
His long legs carried him down the hall to the elevator, where he leaned his head against the wall and breathed deeply.
He had lightning in his veins. Fear. Not just of his father's rage, but also...
Midoriya.
Why was he afraid of Midoriya? Why did the thought of him send Shoutos heart and stomach into frantic beating and knots?
Why did Shouto crave his small, private smile?
Why did hugging him feel so right?
Shouto struggled to calm his breathing as the elevator opened and he set out for Endeavour's house.
Uraraka watched Todoroki go, poking her head out into the hallway. Izuku heard his moms voice floating into the room.
"Leaving already?"
The door to the apartment shut a few seconds after. Uraraka sat down on the edge of the bed second before Inko poked her head in. "Is Todoroki okay?"
The foursome looked around. "I think so," Izuku said. "he just had to get home. I think he was here too long and he's gonna be late for something."
His mom frowned. "Hm. Okay." She surveyed the other three. "Any requests for dinner? I was just gonna get some sushi from the place down the street."
"That sounds great, Mrs. Midoriya." Tsu croaked.
"Miss, please."
"Sorry."
"Oh," his mom said, waving a hand, "it's really no big thing. Shushi it is!"
The group watched her turn and walk out, before Uraraka turnt to face Izuku. "So Todoroki is super gay for you, dude."
And that seems like a good place to end the chapter. Y'all are unsatisfied, bad things loom for Shouto, and Izuku is...having a time.
If nobody reviews after a yearlong absence I'm gonna eat a beehive.