This is for day two of Dr. Lessy's shindeku week. The prompt today was Childhood Friends! You can find her at koogi123 on ao3.

"You stupid fucker, you think you can get away with messing with everyone's brains? Well, not me! You think you're so high and mighty. Well, I've got news for you-" Kacchan popped his quirk. Even in its early stages it could cause minor damage.

It was a sunny morning on the playground and it seemed like four-year-old Kacchan wanted to bully some kids until they were crying on the wood chips. He had brought Izuku, Kiyoshi, and Asa with him to torment children.

Izuku didn't approve of Kacchan taunting other kids, it wasn't very hero-like. If he was being a meanie they surely couldn't become heroes together.

Kacchan had acquired his quirk four months ago, Izuku was still waiting on his. It had only been about two months since his birthday so there was no need for him to be worried yet. Kacchan had started to get impatient though, so he called him a Deku. Izuku knew it was a joke, but it hurt. He didn't have the guts to tell him to stop.

As soon as Kacchan kicked the purple-haired boy, Izuku's body went on autopilot. He jumped in front of the lavender hair boy who had tears running down his face and he was looking at Izuku in wonder.

"Kacchan, stop! You're hurting him!" Izuku said, hoping Kacchan would hear him out.

Kacchan just rolled his eyes though, "Stupid Deku, that's the point! He's a villain! If you wanna be a hero, you gotta kill villains."

Izuku knew this was untrue. Heroes don't kill, they capture. They were punished for killing somebody on purpose.

Izuku frowned and looked at the boy, "He doesn't look like a villain."

"Quirkless and idiotic? The gods must really hate you!" Kacchan cackled. "He doesn't have to look like a villain, his quirk is mind controlling! The moment you let your guard down he'll take control."

He looked at the sniffling purplette behind him. "Is that true? Do you mind control people with evil intentions?"

The purple haired kid stuttered out, "N-no, I wanna be a hero, j-just like you!"

Izuku lit up. He held out his hand for the purplette to take a hold of. "See, Kacchan! Nothing to worry about, he's perfectly safe to be around."

Kacchan snorted, "Yeah right. Whatever, Deku. Don't follow us."

With that, Kacchan and his friends (read: servants) walked away, leaving Izuku alone with the purplette.

"Are you okay?" Izuku asked, concerned.

"Y-yeah, thanks for saving me…" the other said, still holding Izuku's hand after he grabbed it to get up.

"It's fine! All in a day's work for a hero! So, do you have a name?" Izuku joked.

"Yeah," the boy said blandly.

"What is it?" Izuku probed.

"Oh, right. Hitoshi. Sorry." The boy said, blushing from embarrassment.

Izuku giggled, "It's fine."

Hitoshi stared at him for a while then said, "You have a beautiful laugh."

It was Izuku's turn to blush, "Th-thanks, I guess."

Hitoshi hummed, "And a weird name. What kind of parents names their child Deku?"

Izuku looks ashamed, "No, that's not my name. I'm Izuku. Kacchan just calls me that because I don't have a quirk yet."

Hitoshi brightens visibly, "That's alright! Why don't I protect you until you get your quirk? You saved me from 'Kacchan' and his lackeys."

Izuku smiled slightly, "Sure."

"Let's be friends," Hitoshi suggested.

And this is how their forever bond started.

Half a year later, Hitoshi and Izuku were playing at Hitoshi's house. They had settled on playing royal kingdom. Their current problem: who is going to be the princess and who will be the prince.

"Hitooo, I wanna be the prince!" Izuku whined.

"But the prince always saves the princess and I said I'd protect you until you got your quirk!" Hitoshi argued back. "How will we get married?"

Izuku pouted. That's when one of Hitoshi's dads -Hizashi- walked in carrying a tray of cookies. He smirked, "You could always just not get married, little listeners. That's what your father and I did. And look, we're just as happy as any other couples. We even have a perfect little son." Hizashi kneeled down and pinched Hitoshi's cheeks with love.

Hitoshi giggled and playfully hit Hizashi's hands, "St-stop." His words were garbled by his laughter.

Shota looked down on the scene with fondness in his eyes. He was leaning against the doorframe, his hair tied up in a loose bun.

Izuku thought Hitoshi was so cool. He has two dads. Izuku didn't even have one! Well, he did, but he had left a few months ago when Izuku was announced officially quirkless. But Izuku still had his mum, so he was happy! Not only did Hitoshi just have two awesome dads, they were both pro heroes! Hitoshi was amazing.

Izuku hoped Hitoshi stayed amazing and didn't start being mean like Kacchan. Izuku had stopped hanging out with him after Shota had found him being bullied by Kacchan. Shota had told him that was bad and he could end up getting hurt. Hitoshi didn't want Izuku getting hurt.

Shota and Hizashi left Izuku and Hitoshi with the cookies and told them they could continue playing. Soon after, they were laughing and having fun telling stories about how they were going to be the best heroes ever! Izuku would be the first quirkless hero and Hitoshi would not let the mean comments about his quirk get to him. They would together be the Symbol of Perseverance.

"Izuku, papa was right, we can both be the princes! We can beat the dragons together, then we'll get married like they do in all the books." Hitoshi says excitedly.

So that's what they did and they were happy. Nothing in life could affect them.

"Hey, Deku, still don't have that quirk yet?" Bakugou taunts.

Hitoshi rolled his eyes. Bakugou had interrupted his peaceful walk with Izuku to school. They were holding hands for 'safety reasons'. He turned to face the explosive blonde, "That's a stupid question, I think it would be all over the school if Izuku suddenly got a quirk. Not that he needs one, he's perfect just the way he is." He squeezes Izuku's hand while he says the last part. Izuku gives him a tired smile, but Hitoshi doesn't mind, at least it was real, not fake. That would be concerning. Besides, Hitoshi doesn't like Izuku's strained customer service ones.

Bakugou growls, "I see you're still friends with this mind control freak, Deku."

Hitoshi yawned, "Old news. Gods, Katsuki. It's been, what? Six years? I don't think we're gonna suddenly stop being friends. Or has your brain simply not caught up yet?" Izuku laughs at the last remark and Hitoshi smirks at Bakugou.

They were in fifth grade now and Bakugou was still salty that Izuku ditched him for 'the mind control freak'. Izuku doesn't know that though. Hitoshi had picked up on it years ago, he rather enjoyed rubbing it in Bakugou's face that he gets Izuku and Bakugou doesn't. Bakugou deserved it, Izuku was a treasure to behold and Bakugou had wasted it on petty verbal stabs.

Bakugou seems lost on what to say next, but just mutters, "Whatever," then promptly leaves.

Hitoshi mentally bathes in his victory. Then Izuku taps his shoulder, grabbing his attention.

Izuku is decked out in winter gear. A puffy coat, a fluffy scarf Shota had gifted him for his birthday, jeans, earmuffs, and his trademark red shoes. His cheeks are splatter painted with brown freckles -like patterns of constellations, Hitoshi often thinks- they were tinted with red from the cold. He slightly shivers from the cold despite being covered head to toe with cold weather gear. Honestly, Hitoshi thought Izuku was beautiful.

"Yeah, Zuzu?" He said.

"Um, do you wanna go out to get some dinner with me after school then catch a movie?" Izuku sounded nervous, but he really had no reason. He acted like Hitoshi would kick him to the ground, laugh, then run off leaving him in the cold. Such little faith in me, Hitoshi thinks. He's a little offended, to be completely honest. They had spent more than half a decade building their relationship.

Hitoshi smiled, "Of course, Zuku."

Izuku was about to respond, but he suddenly tripped over a rock and started to fall. His hand was ripped from Hitoshi's by gravity. Hitoshi fortunately had tiger-like reflexes and caught his best friend. Then because apparently they are in a romance novel, their faces are so close. Hitoshi was holding Izuku in his arms to prevent him from falling. Both their faces turn bright red and they look away, stuttering apologies. Suddenly, Hitoshi understands where all those rumors that say he and Izuku are dating come from. They aren't completely untrue, Hitoshi has a slight crush on Izuku.

Hitoshi straightens both of them so they're standing upright then let's Izuku go. As soon as he has his hands free, he scratches the back of his neck in embarrassment, still avoiding eye contact.

Hitoshi stutters out, "Oh, uh, s-sorry-"

Izuku waves his hands frantically, "No, no, it's my fault-"

Hitoshi is offended by that comment and gasps dramatically, "No, Izuku! It's not your fault! In fact, where's that stupid rock?"

Izuku laughs. They start to come back to their normal lighthearted selves.

"Ah, found it. Watch this Izuku," Hitoshi said. Before doing anything, he made sure Izuku was watching, then he punted the rock. They watch it fly far away then inevitably land. "Take that rock!" Hitoshi yells, cupping his mouth for effect.

Then both combust into fits of giggles, no longer awkward and blushy.

These moments are what Hitoshi likes best about their friendship.

It was a few months until the examination to get into UA. Izuku had put them both on a strict training schedule. Hitoshi was glad Izuku wouldn't let up even if he gave kitten eyes because Hitoshi probably wouldn't feel nearly as ready for the examination as he did now.

Izuku also had them studying together on every subject. Even if it seemed useless. You never know with the UA test. They could choose to do anything from quirk history to baking. That's why it's best to be ready.

Together. Him and Izuku did everything together and it was magnificent.

It didn't help that neither of his dads refused to tell the pair anything about the tests.

Izuku and Hitoshi were currently at the gym working on upper body strength like weight lifting, pull-ups, and sit-ups.

Under normal circumstances, this would be medium hardness, -depends what mood Zuku is in-, but unfortunately (or fortunately) Hitoshi has had one big ass crush on his best friend for years now. Izuku looked hot as fuck working out. His sweat made his clothes stick to his body. It outlined his abdominal muscles. Hitoshi badly wanted to lick them for some reason? Was this normal? Hitoshi doesn't know, he's never had a crush before.

Hitoshi was on his hundredth pull-up and sweating buckets when he heard an overly excited voice say, "Hi, I'm Kirishima Eijiro, I see you are exercising, that's so manly. I assume it's for a hero school? Or maybe not? Which school are you trying for? Doesn't matter, what's your name? My friend over here's name is Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu. We're training for UA together. We're the best of bros. Would you like to join us?" That is too many questions in one breath in Hitoshi's humble opinion.

He glanced over to the person who had said that. He was fairly surprised when he saw this 'Kirishima' person was talking to his Izuku. He narrowed his eyes. He would be over there in a flash if they tried anything.

Izuku responded, "Oh, um, my name is Midoriya Izuku. I'm actually, I'm here with my friend-"

"Really? That's awesome, bro! They're free to join too! Hey! Get over here Midobro's friend!" Kirishima exclaimed.

Hitoshi rolled his eyes. This person was the opposite of the kind of person Hitoshi liked to hang out with. Maybe Hitoshi could convince Izuku to ditch. The more Hitoshi thought about it though, the more Hitoshi was convinced that would never happen. Izuku has this thing where he has to make friends with everything and everyone.

Izuku made eye contact with him then started blushing for some reason. Maybe his feelings for the greenette were returned? Hitoshi shoved that thought away for later.

He dropped down from the bar and wiped his hands on his shorts. He combed through his hair once with his hand in order to straighten it. He then proceeded to shove his hands in his pockets.

He walked up to the trio and in greeting said, "''Sup."

Kirishima smiled at him then he raised his hand in the air for a high five. After a few awkward seconds it became apparent to the redhead that Hitoshi wasn't going to slap the hand he coughed into his fist then lowered the hand. "Right. As I was saying, this is-"

"HI, I'M TETSUTETSU TETSUTETSU, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" Tetsutetsu yelled. A few gym members gave them looks.

"Shinsou." He responded. "What do you guys need? We're not here to make friends. We're here to train. So if you're not serious about getting into UA, just stop. The world doesn't need anymore useless heroes." Hitoshi said, sounding bored.

Izuku pouted at him, "Hitoshi, don't be rude. They're just trying to be nice. To answer your question from before, yes, we'd love to train with you."

"Wait-" Hitoshi said, only to get interrupted.

Kirishima grinned, "That's awesome! We were just about to go on a run!"

"I never said-" Hitoshi tried again.

"Let's go then!" Izuku said, grabbing Kirishima's hand. Izuku smirked at Hitoshi. Tetsutetsu gave him a sympathetic look.

Hitoshi wasn't going to lie. It made him a bit jealous to see that. He knew that's what Izuku was trying to do though, based on that mischievous smirk.

Minutes following, Kirishima, Tetsutetsu, Izuku, and Hitoshi were running down the empty streets of their city at night.

The sky was a bluish purple and the stars shine bright, despite the city a few towns down. The neighborhood they were in was quaint. It's roads were made of cobblestone and lanterns lit their path. Few cars were parked on the sides of the road. Crickets sang their lullaby to anybody who would listen. As the four of them ran, their ragged breaths split the peace of the night.

"Hey-" gasp,"I have an idea," Kirishima huffed for air. They had been running for a solid ten minutes now. Occasionally one of the four would attempt to make amiable conversation.

"Hmm?" Hitoshi hummed in response, not even tired. Izuku had made them do worse than this. Those two were wimps.

"Why don't we-" gasp, "play tag?" Kirishima suggested.

"Ooo, great idea, Ei!" Tetsutetsu said, interest piqued. Kirishima and Tetsutetsu high fived. Hitoshi smiled at their open display of platonic love for each other. It made him feel warm inside.

"Okay, if that's fine with you, Hito?" Izuku said, looking over to his lavender-haired friend.

Hitoshi hummed, "Mm, sure, anything for you, Zuzu."

A blush was barely visible in the almost non-existent night light.

"Aww, do we have a cute couple on our hands?" Tetsutetsu teased.

Izuku's whole face turned red, "N-no, we're just friends."

Kirishima joined in on the teasing, "Oh? Just like Marinette and Adrien?"

Both of them were looking away from each other, faces bright red.

"St-stop!" Izuku squeaked. Tetsutetsu and Kirishima laughed at their embarrassment.

For a few minutes they were silent, enjoying each other's presence. It was quiet, save for the song of the crickets, chirping on and on to a melody only they knew. The steady thumps of their shoes on the pavement echoed throughout the town.

"I suppose we should start then?" Izuku said, breaking the silence.

"Yup," Hitoshi agreed.

"Everybody separate, I'll be it first," Kirishima offered.

Kirishima gave them a ten second head start and within seconds, Hitoshi was alone. He decided the best tactic was to get a high vantage point. He could scope them all out and escape with ease. One problem with this, he would be in plain sight of everyone.

He ran past houses and finally he found one with a staircase to the roof. He quickly dashed up the stairs. When he reached the garden he found a garden.

Sandbox-like structures were filled with healthy dirt and bursting with life. The colors mixed beautifully. The purples with the pinks, reds, and yellows. It was clear whoever owned them cared very deeply about them. Making it seem more magical, there were fireflies flying slowly around the garden. It looked magnificent.

"TAG, you're it!" Kirishima yelled, violently ripping Hitoshi away from his stupor.

"Goddammit," he heard the distinct voice of Tetsutetsu curse. Which means Tetsutetsu was it now. Good to know. Now he just had to avoid Tetsutetsu and find Izuku.

No, he wasn't planning on stalking his best friend.

Careful to avoid harming the plants, he silently ran rooftop to rooftop, jumping like a professional parkourist. Somehow, he spotted a flash of green hair running through the shadows. He chased after Izuku, trying to be as stealthy as possible.

Then he spotted Tetsutetsu, which really wasn't that hard considering he sounded and looked like a whole out of tune band holding flashlights at night. A really fast orchestra. He was heading right for Izuku. Izuku wasn't doing shit about it.

Now, Hitoshi knew he wasn't required to do anything about this, but he felt a deep sense of protection for Izuku. Also he wanted to have bragging rights to say him and Izuku never got tagged.

So for a moment, Hitoshi turned into Spider-Man. At practically the speed of light, he grabbed a hose that was lying on the flat roof. He held onto the middle of the rope-like contraption and jumped off the roof. In midair, he contorted himself and the rope so the room would catch onto the plant hanger. How did he know this would be here? Well, it was on every single house. Easy. When the hose hung itself over the plant hanger, the momentum had him bouncing. For a moment, he thought he would fall. But no.

His head miraculously cleared itself in time for Izuku to run straight into him. It happened in slow motion. Hitoshi put out one arm to grab the greenette as he hung upside down, hanging onto the hose and plant hanger for dear life. Tetsutetsu and Izuku passed each other at the exact same time. Hitoshi grabbed Izuku with one arm and lifted him. Tetsutetsu passed them both. Time went back to normal.

They breathed deeply and caught their breath. The pair stared into each other's eyes. Hitoshi was still holding Izuku around the waist upside-down. Their faces were mere inches apart. Finally, when they caught their breath, Hitoshi said, "I saved you."

Izuku smirked, "My hero." He kissed Hitoshi on the nose and the purple-haired boy turned tomato red. And it wasn't from hanging upside down for five minutes, though, that might have helped. "Thank you."

"Uh, you're welcome," Hitoshi responded.

"And one more thing," Izuku said.

Hitoshi sucked in a breath, "Yeah?"

"You're it."

"Why are you dragging me to the roof? We're not committing lover's suicide, are we?" Izuku asked, joking, but slightly concerned.

"Um, no, but… close." Hitoshi said, not looking at the greenette.

Hitoshi had interrupted Izuku's studying with Uraraka and Iida, asking to speak with him on the roof a few minutes earlier. That's why Hitoshi was currently holding Izuku's hand tightly while dragging him up a staircase leading to the roof.

"What," Izuku blanked.

"You asked," Hitoshi said, unworriedly.

"B-but I'm not ready to commit suicide and-and-" Izuku stammered, trying to pry his hand away from Hitoshi in a panic.

"Chill, Zuku, we're not committing suicide," Hitoshi said, eyes set on the rapidly approaching door in front of them.

"O-okay, good. Then what are we-" Izuku said, but got cut off by Hitoshi slamming open a door.

"Welcome," Hitoshi said, taking his hand out of Izuku's. He gestured widely to the railing offed area. He took a few steps back. He smiled brightly, "to the roof!"

It was a sunny day. The sky was a deep blue and there were a few stray, puffy cumulus clouds. Birds were chirping and all that cliché shit.

"Um, that's wonderful, Toshi, but what are we doing up here exactly?" Izuku asked.

Hitoshi walked back up to Izuku. He took both of his hands in his own. Hitoshi stared deeply and lovingly into Izuku's emerald orbs. "Actually, Zuku, I wanna ask you something very important."

Izuku's eyes widened in hope.

"Now, if you don't return my feelings, that's alright! We can just pretend this never happened. I just wanted to make that clear before I started. Actually, nevermind, let's just go back downstairs and-" Hitoshi rambled scratching the back of his neck.

Izuku giggled and covered Hitoshi's mouth with his hands. "Looks like you picked up my mumbling habit. I couldn't understand half of that. Just tell me what you were going to say. Don't be nervous, it's just me." Izuku smiled warmly and removed his hands from Hitoshi's mouth.

Hitoshi blushed lightly and mumbled, "That's exactly why I'm nervous." Hitoshi gathered his courage and cleared his throat, "Izuku Midoriya, I love you, will you do me the honor of being my boyfriend?"

Izuku's face lit up, "Only if you will be my boyfriend."

Hitoshi nodded happily.

They looked each other in the eyes and came to a mutual understanding. They both slowly leaned in, and gently, their lips met. Their hands were still clasped together in-between their bodies. Warmth spread through their beings and the only thing that mattered was each other and the fact that they were in love. The kiss was soft, loving, and sweet. Just like Izuku, Hitoshi thought.

The two were in love, you see, and nothing could ever break their bond.

Class 1-A had a school break and Izuku and Hitoshi decided to go back to their hometown to visit Izuku's mum. Hitoshi's dads came along too. They were friends with Ms. Midoriya due to their sons having an inseparable bond. There was a field of flowers not far from their houses. So two days into their break, they biked to the flower field.

It was a spectacular sight, that field. It was all the colors of spring. Blue, pink, yellow. Bees buzzed around happily. Willow trees were scattered around the field. Few people visited this area due to it being far from civilization, but Izuku and Hitoshi thought it was worth the bike ride. The view was beautiful. It wasn't noisy, perfect.

There wasn't a bike rack so the couple gently set their bikes on the ground, careful not to damage them. No one was around to steal them. Hand-in-hand, they ran through the field laughing. They collapsed onto the flowers. In sync, they rolled onto their sides to face each other. They stared into each other's eyes lovingly.

"I love you," Izuku stated simply.

Hitoshi hummed a response, "I love you too."

Suddenly, Hitoshi sat up. He sat next to Izuku's head with his feet tucked under him.

Izuku looked at Hitoshi with curiosity, "What are you doing?"

Hitoshi just hummed and patted his thighs. "Put your head on my lap," he said.

Izuku looked at him with confusion, but obliged quickly with complete trust. Hitoshi immediately started carding a hand through the green curls of his partner. Hitoshi hummed a melody Izuku vaguely remembered from his childhood.

Izuku's eyes fluttered closed, not quite asleep, but just enjoying this rare moment of peace. Just him and his boyfriend. It was times like these that were Izuku's favorite. Izuku felt he was in serene bliss.

Izuku didn't notice when Hitoshi stopped brushing his hair. He didn't know how much time had passed, -seconds, minutes, an hour- but his eyes startled open when Hitoshi tapped his shoulder. His heart calmed when he saw it was his Hitoshi and a sense of security and warmth swept over him. He smiled, completely enamored by the boy before him.

He got up and settled in the same position Hitoshi was in. He stared deeply into his lover's eyes and they stared back with the same intensity and love. Izuku was about to go in for a kiss when Hitoshi put a hand over his mouth, effectively stopping the greenette in his tracks. Izuku pouted cutely and licked the other's hand.

"H-hey!" Hitoshi stuttered, pulling away his hand, blushing a bit. Izuku grinned. It always made him happy that he still managed to make the other blush after ten years of being by Hitoshi's side.

Izuku noticed Hitoshi had a hand behind his back, blocking something from Izuku's view. "What are you hiding, Toshi?" Izuku purred.

Hitoshi's face turned completely red. Izuku had discovered months ago that this happened whenever Izuku made his voice do that. Izuku was ready to take full advantage of that.

"Sit still and maybe you'll see," Hitoshi said, face still beet red and avoiding eye contact.

"Yes, sir," Izuku promptly went completely still and puffed his cheeks out to emphasize the fact that he was holding his breath.

Hitoshi laughed, looking at Izuku again, "You don't have to hold your breath, Zuku."

Izuku let out a huge breath of air that was exaggerated extraordinarily. Hitoshi's laughter doubled, Izuku joined him, finally, when it calmed down, Hitoshi cleared his throat, "I want to give this to you because you are my perfect and beautiful prince."

Hitoshi pulled a flower crown from behind his back and placed it on Izuku's green curls gently. Hitoshi kissed Izuku on the forehead.

Izuke gasped when Hitoshi pulled away from the forehead kiss and he pressed a firm kiss on Hitoshi's cheek.

"Forever and always, my love. I'll always be yours and I hope you'll be mine for eternity. I'm happy we found each other." Izuku said.