Friday February 14, 2020 6:26 pm
Midoriya had never given sexuality much thought. He knew that he was attracted to other men and that knowledge had always been his own private information. Had he been attracted to women he wouldn't go out announcing it to the world so he always thought that he was simply being private, not ashamed. However, sitting in a restaurant surrounded by people who were staring at him while he was on a Valentine's Date with another man admittedly made him feel very uncomfortable. He didn't want it to feel that way, and he attempted to shove those feelings aside so he could enjoy his date, but they kept bubbling back to the surface. Why did he feel this way? Todoroki was a person he should feel honored to be out with and part of him did feel that way, so why did he also feel sick to his stomach wondering what everyone was thinking of them?
"Midoriya, you've barely touched your food. Is everything alright?" Todoroki asked, pulling him out of his thoughts.
He faked a laugh, "What? Yes! Everything is great! I'm sorry. I got a little lost in my thoughts there. I do that a lot." He apologized.
"I've noticed," Todoroki stated simply. "What are you thinking about when you do that?"
Midoriya knew he couldn't tell him what he was thinking about this time and for some reason he was drawing a blank to come up with something else that he thinks about when he pulls himself into a trance like that. While he was racking his brain for anything to offer as an answer, Todoroki turned his attention back to his food, "You don't have to tell me."
"No!" Midoriya yelled as he placed his hand on Todoroki's arm and squeezed slightly, "I mean, no. I want to tell you. I'm just really nervous right now and I'm having trouble controlling my thoughts."
Midoriya hadn't meant to be so honest. A blush grew across his face as he let go of Todoroki's arm and turned back to his food, "Usually I am thinking about how to be a better hero. I dissect villains' and pro heroes' fighting styles and determine what I can integrate into my own fighting style and how I can quickly find my opponents' weaknesses using strategies they have used. Since I haven't had my quirk all my life, I worry that I'm never going to fully master it so I put a lot of energy into using more than just my quirk to be a good hero."
When Midoriya brought his gaze back to Todoroki he found that he was already staring at him, "Being a hero is about a lot more than just being a hero to you, isn't it?"
Midoriya sighed, "Yes. I don't tell many people this, but growing up I was certain that I would never have a quirk. It was a disappointment to say the least. I didn't want my mom to feel that kind of disappointment as well so I studied everything I could think of so I could become a hero without using a quirk and make her proud of me. I just want to be the kind of person that can make people proud and keep people safe."
"Is that what you were thinking about just now?" Todoroki questioned. "Were you thinking about being a good hero?"
Midoriya looked up at Todoroki, being sure not to make direct eye contact, "Not exactly."
"So what exactly were you thinking about, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Well," Midoriya started before forcing himself to look into Todoroki's eyes, "I was thinking about you. In a sense."
Todoroki appeared surprised, "In a sense? What about me?"
Midoriya lowed his head and started eating again, "I don't know. The way you make me feel, I guess."
"And how do I make you feel?"
"I- I don't know," He answered honestly. "Good mostly. Nervous sometimes. Comfortable usually. Although right now I am a little uncomfortable."
"Because of me?"
"No!" Midoriya yelled again. "I mean, no. Not because of you. Not really. It's just – Todoroki, people are looking at us. Does that not make you uncomfortable?"
"I hadn't really noticed," Todoroki shrugged as he went back to eating his meal.
"You hadn't noticed?! How had you not noticed?!"
Todoroki shrugged again, "I tend to focus my attention on one thing at a time unless I sense that there is danger around and I need to adjust my focus. I'm not focused on them right now. I have no reason to be."
Midoriya felt guilty for letting himself get so distracted by outside entities when he should be focusing all of his energy on his date. The two finished their meal and Todoroki sat the money on the table, "Are you ready for dessert."
Midoriya lit up, "I'd love dessert!"