Tōya spends the next few minutes just holding Izuku, his fingers carding through the teen's messy green hair to soothe him, even though Tsukauchi is waiting for them. The Detective can wait just a bit longer for all that Tōya cares, as Izuku's well-being—be it physical or emotional—is his utmost priority, and surely the Detective will understand. Even if he doesn't, unlikely as that is, Tōya doesn't give a damn.
"We should probably hurry up," Izuku mumbles out, voice thick, and he tries to pull away. Tōya doesn't let him.
"Not yet," he says in a hushed tone as he cards his fingers through Izuku's hair one last time before bringing them to rest at the nape of his neck. "Just let me hold you for a little bit longer, Izuku."
"You can hold me after we get cleaned up," Izuku reminds him but doesn't try to pull away from him again. Instead, he presses in closer to Tōya and returns the embrace, his head neatly tucking underneath Tōya's chin.
"Yeah," Tōya murmurs half-heartedly, and he presses a kiss into Izuku's hair before he forces himself to let go of the teen. It's even more difficult to take a step backward, which makes Izuku relinquish the hold he has on him in turn, but he takes that step and musters up what he hopes is a reassuring smile. It honestly feels more brittle than it does reassuring, but Izuku returns it with one of his brighter smiles that has Tōya feeling relieved. They will get through this and be all the stronger for it once everything is said and done.
"I'll go first," Izuku says softly, his gaze lowering a little so that he's peeking at Tōya through his lashes, and then he turns to head for the door that leads into the showers, his cheeks mottling with a blush.
Tōya watches him go and waits for the sound of the water turning on in the next room before he moves to take off the rest of his clothes. He doesn't leave them in a neat little pile like Izuku had and instead burns them in his hand with a carefully controlled flame. Aside from the boots, which are sturdy enough to endure the flames and heat from his Quirk, the clothes really aren't worth keeping. They are little more than a reminder of his time spent on the streets, and that is well behind him now.
He follows after Izuku once he is done incinerating the tattered garments, his gaze immediately seeking out the teen's form as he steps into the shower room. He finds Izuku seated at one of the many pairs of faucets, a bucket underneath the hot one and filling up with water while the teen is in the process of lathering himself up with soap and shampoo. He looks away after a few seconds of unabashed staring at his soulmate and casts his gaze around the shower room to find a couple more buckets with soap, shampoo, and some clean wash towels to his immediate right.
Tōya nabs a bucket, soap, shampoo, and towel for himself then makes his way over to the pair of faucets next to the ones Izuku is using. His mouth automatically curls up into a grin when the teen glances at him and then quickly away, Izuku's sudden bout of what he presumes to be shyness somewhat amusing and quite endearing, as he takes a seat on the provided stool. He positions his bucket underneath the faucet for hot water, the soap and shampoo placed on the floor between his feet, and he turns on the faucet.
"So what else do I need to know about soulmates?" Izuku asks, drawing Tōya's gaze back to him. He's still lathering himself up with the soap and shampoo, and his gaze is pointedly fixed on his bucket, which is nearly filled to the brim by now.
"Well, we can't be forcibly separated, at least not without good cause, but I…" Tōya starts to explain, but his voice breaks before he can finish. Maybe it's because he can't fathom hurting Izuku and simply can't bring himself to even say it, but it's apparent that he doesn't need to say it from the look that Izuku gives him. Much like when Izuku had told him that he is nothing like his father barely even an hour ago. "You'll be considered an adult now that we've recognized each other as soulmates," he adds once he regains his voice, at which Izuku looks thoughtful while he picks up his bucket and raises it to dump it over his head.
"I'm assuming it's for legal purposes and that it ties into why we can't be forcibly separated," Izuku half-mumbles as he sets the bucket back under the faucet to let it refill and then wipes at his face with the back of his arm.
"And it makes us equals in our relationship, though others might not see it that way considering the difference between our ages," Tōya says in a soft tone, his gaze finally returning to his own bucket still filling with hot water. "But it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks because they're not you. You are my equal, Izuku, and all of the important decisions that we have to make from here on out we will make together."
"So, if I was against something, like say I don't want you murdering Bakugō for how he had treated me in the past…" Izuku trails off, not needing to finish the question for Tōya at all, at which Tōya gives an exasperated huff.
"I promise not to murder Bakugō for how he treated you in the past," he all but grumbles out, hoping that Izuku won't make him promise not to murder Bakugō for any future offenses, of which he is certain there will be more of. He avoids looking at Izuku again and picks up his bucket to dump it over his head so he can start washing up, all while the weight of Izuku's gaze remains on him.