Notes: I'm glad people enjoyed the first chapter! I hope you enjoy the second. Thanks for the reviews/favs/follows you've all given!

Yaoyorozu practically attacks him the moment Shouto slumps down at his desk, rolling forward with his chair as he clicks his monitor on. It's warm in the office, although Shouto's sure that's a result following the aftermath of warm cheeks, and a quirk that leaves his temperature too high whenever he finds himself blushing.

Shouto knows that she's not asking him for gossip purposes, but he still struggles to keep from turning a dark shade of crimson anyway, as he tries to meet her eyes. He sends a small shiver down his spine – brilliant use of his quirk, definitely, he's not going to over think it, - and says, in what he hopes is his calmest voice, that Midoriya is a good doctor.

"Should I swap over to him then?" Yaoyorozu asks, leaning forward to see him through the small gap of their monitors between their desks. She tilts her head, questioning.

"If you can," Shouto says, in a manner that he hopes will lead the end of the conversation, moving towards the usual conversation of strategies against villains. Instead, Yaoyorozu leans forward, narrows her eyes.

"If I can?"

Shouto glances around the room, notices that his father isn't around so mentioning his biggest arch-nemesis will be alright, and sighs. He says, "he's All-Might's doctor. That means he must have a pretty busy practise, right?"

Yaoyorozu's eyes widen. "Your doctor has All-Might as a patient?"

There is awe there, but also a steady sort of shock. Shouto understands, he feels almost the same – after All-Might had turned to teaching full time, shortly after they'd finished UA high, the man had almost… disappeared from the media. The only time he'd be seen was during classes.

And even since, the man hasn't made an appearance on the news for years, a long enough time to make people think All-Might had left Japan despite U.A's declaration that he's part of the staff.

"It was heavily implied," Shouto says, and he turns away from her to type in his password, readying himself for the world of emails and police reports he'll have to prepare himself to create. He hopes that it'll end the conversation, but still, it continues.

"How did you manage to get All-Might's doctor to volunteer himself to be your doctor?" Yaoyorozu says. Then, within the same breath, "what's the number for his surgery, I'm going to book an appointment."

Shouto sighs again – what is it with him and sighing recently? It's becoming more and more like a habit – before pulling his phone from his pocket and reading the number off.

"Can we stop talking about my doctor now?" Shouto asks, once Yaoyorozu has punched the numbers into her phone. She raises an eyebrow at his tone, but doesn't comment, instead, she simply nods. "Thank you."

Frankly, he just wants to stop thinking about Midoriya before this becomes a problem.

It becomes a problem.

Not at first. For a few days, Shouto is lulled into a false sense of comfort, as he throws himself into his work and puts thoughts of his check up behind him. He's not got the time while he's working to think about anything other than work, and well… Shouto's life is practically just working.

Yaoyorozu ends up switching to Midoriya's clinic, comes into work one day with a raised eyebrow, but says nothing.

(It's frustrating, but Shouto prefers the silence over anything else.)

And that's how the fortnight passes, two blissful weeks of Shouto refusing to think of the slight attraction he'd felt to his doctor, thinking about things that aren't cute and about villains that don't have smiles that feel like sunshine.

It's not until the two weeks are over, that it becomes impossible for Shouto to continue avoiding his own thoughts on the man. Mostly, because the man makes it impossible, walking in to Endeavour's hero agency when the clock hits 9 pm, his doctor's bag over his shoulder as he walks in.

Yaoyorozu raises an eyebrow as the man stops in the gap between their desks, glances at Shouto as if to ask, 'what have you done?', before glancing back at her paperwork.

"Midoriya," Shouto says, turning from his own paperwork to face the man. He tries not to glance at the man's physique – he's in civilian clothes today, and it shows off more muscle than Shouto had not expected to exist – but some things are just impossible. "What're you doing here?"

Midoriya crosses his arms, levels Shouto with a frown and says, "I was on my way back from a villain attack, and I was walking past this agency when I recalled that in the two weeks since our check-up, you didn't book an appointment for those blood tests and vaccinations you need."

Shouto glances around the office – he's lucky that it's mostly empty at this hour. There are people milling about, but there's a significant decline in workers in comparison to those working the day shift.

"I've been busy." Shouto says, although the excuse feels week on his tongue.

Perhaps he should've expected the glare that is aimed towards him, but frankly, it's a surprise. Midoriya narrows emerald eyes at him, purses his lips before shaking his head. He looks, momentarily, like a stern parent showing their disappointment.

The thought is slightly disturbing.

"With what, work?" Shouto nods. "So, what you're telling me, is that you can't carry out the appropriate tests to ensure you remain healthy, because you're too busy overworking yourself?"

When he says it like that, it almost seems bad. He remains quiet, because he can't exactly refute the claim, and he most certainly doesn't want to admit to it. Now, Midoriya turns to Yaoyorozu, offers a cheerful greeting – such a quick change in temperature, how does he do it? – before asking Shouto's typical work schedule.

Yaoyorozu looks conflicted for roughly two seconds, before siding with the doctor. "He normally gets here at seven a.m, and he always leaves after me. I usually finish at 9:30."

At this point, Midoriya narrows his eyes at her as well. He says, "I come in to lecture one client about overworking himself, but it looks like now I'm going to have to lecture you as well."

He pauses, scratches at his cheek for a moment before nodding his head.

"I've decided," the doctor says, "the two of you are going to finish the report you're doing now, and then you're going to come with me."

Shouto blinks. Once, twice and then.

"W-what?"

It's Yaoyorozu who splutters the words, confused. Shouto can't even find the words to question Midoriya, realises it's probably better not to ask questions, and breathes an 'alright'.

"You've been cooped indoors all day," Midoriya says, "bar those two incidents you were mentioned being in on the news, right? It's not healthy, and I'm pretty certain you both know that. Now finish whatever report you're in the middle of, because I'm going to ensure you both actually head home before you burn yourselves out."

The man glances at Shouto, stern expression replaced momentarily with a snort. Oh, hilarious, a pun on his quirk, well done Midoriya. Frankly, Shouto's more exasperated than impressed.

"I don't understand," Yaoyorozu says, "our work schedules are fine."

She receives a tight-lipped smile that practically screams, 'I beg to differ.' And Midoriya shakes his head. He says, "Any shift over twelve hours, is unhealthy and when it's consistent, it's called overworking yourself."

Shouto sends off the email he'd been writing, leans back in his chair and swivels to face the man again. He says, "aren't you overworking yourself then?"

Midoriya pauses. Then, he leans forward, clicks his fingers and says, "it's not overworking yourself if it's a hobby."

Which… is probably the lousiest dismissal Shouto has ever heard in his life. Also – doesn't that assume that Shouto and Yaoyorozu don't enjoy their jobs? Is it true that they're just heroes because it's work rather then…

Another reason, apart from Midoriya's attractiveness, to want to avoid thinking about him. Because it seems like it's not going to be him just thinking about the man himself, but rather, about his whole life as well.

"Right." Shouto says, and jumps when Yaoyorozu slams her pen down on her desk, pushing out from her chair. It's these moments of uncharacteristic dramatic outbursts that break their seriousness, making him glad they're friends.

"I'm done," Yaoyorozu says, and she grabs her jacket from the back of her chair. "I've got some more I'll need to catch up on tomorrow, but I should be able to get it done tomorrow."

Midoriya offers them both a smile. They leave together – making their way down to the nearest station, readying themselves for the train ride home.

"Oh, this is me," Yaoyorozu says when she reaches the ticket barriers to her train. She lives in the opposite direction to Shouto, just outside of the Chiyoda province. Shouto waves a small good bye, and continues towards his own train.

Midoriya follows behind him.

In fact, the man follows him onto the same train, where he promptly takes the seat beside Shouto. He offers him one of the same sunshine smiles he had at his last check up and for a moment Shouto is flushed, embarrassed at such a bright expression being directed at him.

"I guess we live in similar provinces," Midoriya says, and he scratches his cheek. Then, he tilts his head. When he doesn't receive a response, he makes a small noise, mutters something incoherent, before nodding. "You really should book those tests though, you shouldn't take such risks with your health."

Shouto glances at him. He pulls at his sleeve just for something to do, "I really am busy. It just wasn't a priority."

"Your health isn't a priority for you?" Midoriya asks, and it's less happy now, sadder. "Well… what is a priority for you, Todoroki?"

Shouto pauses. He says, "Work is. I guess."

He receives a scrunched-up nose in response. A look of, 'is-that-all', which makes him wonder whether it's really so bad for it to be like that. Because well… That's all Shouto's life is, work. There's not really anything else other than work for him.

"…and?"

"That's it, really." Shouto says. And it sounds more like he's existing than actually living, but… but that's how things have always been. The only reason he's alive is to be a hero, and he is fulfilling that purpose to his best ability. "Just work."

Midoriya is the one who turns away. He glances out of the window, and there is some sort of faraway expression on his face, not sad exactly, but melancholic. He says, "just work, huh? That… Must be such a lonely life to live."

Within seconds though, he turns back, waves his hands in front of his face and chokes an awkward laugh as if his previous words didn't exist. He adds, "sorry, that was rude. I didn't mean it like-"

"It's alright," Shouto says, although the man's words feel almost like a punch. "Don't… worry about it."

"Ah," Midoriya rubs the back of his neck, tilts his head. He says, "to be honest, I'm a bit of a workaholic myself, so it's not like I can say much without acting like a hypocrite. Still, I do think it's important you do something outside of work, else life becomes kind of grey, you know?"

Shouto understands.

It's just… not exactly something he can explain to the man – that his life has been grey for since he can remember. That every-day life seems normal, purely because he's never known any different.

"I suppose." Shouto says. Then, "I'll book my appointments tomorrow, don't worry."

Midoriya smiles.

The following morning, when Yaoyorozu catches him walking from the train into the agency, she glances at him and gives him the same expectant expression as before.

"So?"

Shouto pulls at the cuff of his jacket, glances at her for a second, before turning his attention back to the pavement. It's not even seven a.m, yet the streets are already filled.

"I can't phone the clinic until half seven, so I don't have the appointments yet."

"No, not that," she waves the topic away as if it's not a big deal – which, it probably isn't, but Midoriya had made it into a big deal, which had meant in Shouto's mind it was suddenly a big deal as well. "I want to know how things went after I got on my train."

Shouto squints, he hopes the expression clearly portrays his confusion at the question. He says, "why do you care what happened after you left…?"

"Well," Yaoyorozu says, and she quickens her steps as Shouto's own pace speeds up. Something about her tone of voice makes Shouto certain that he wants to swap this conversation for work. "Midoriya's cute, right?"

Shouto refuses to glance over at her. His face betrays him, heating as he continues to walk. He swallows.

"You think so?"

"Are you seriously going to act like a teenager and deny the fact you find him attractive?" Yaoyorozu asks, and she grabs his arm, stopping him from walking. Shouto briefly considers removing her hand, but decides that she's as his closest, and only, friend, he shouldn't brush her off.

"You're the one acting like a teenager," he says, which isn't much better than brushing her off. Not really. "Asking what happened on the train. We got on, I got off, and then I went home to bed."

"You didn't dispute that you find him attractive."

"Listen," Shouto says, and now he continues walking again. "Midoriya's attractive, yes. But that doesn't mean anything."

"Uh-huh?"

Once again warmth flushes his cheeks, he feels a personal hatred for himself as he realises he can't stop the faint blush, no matter how much he tries.

"Seriously," he says, "nothing will come from this. Just leave it be, alright?"

"Fine," Yaoyorozu groans, heaving her shoulders as if they're suddenly heavy. Shouto refuses to feel guilty.

"And that's your bloods done," Midoriya says, during their following appointment. He turns to his desk, grabs a label for the third vial he's filled for the blood tests. It's another early morning, and Shouto feels a surge of guilt at the fact that he's going to be late into work again.

He hopes his father doesn't notice, he doesn't feel ready for a fight with the man. Any interactions he has with his father are always draining, leaving him with a cold anger that simply simmers.

"How long until the results get back?" Shouto asks.

"It shouldn't take any longer than a few days," Midoriya says. He lifts his hand, three fingers held up. "If you don't get a call within after three days from the clinic, phone us, we'll have them by that point."

Shouto nods, stores the information for later.

"We can start you on your vaccinations today," Midoriya adds, and he places the vial with the others, "your general tetanus shot – you need that one every seven years – and there's another to battle the toxicity of some quirk users. Not typically given out, but it's a requirement for heroes…"

"Sure," Shouto says.

"Give me a second," Midoriya says, standing from his chair, "and I'll get them from the store room."

He leaves without another word, and Shouto finds himself glancing around the room trying to see what kind of person Midoriya is. He's already got a general idea, but really, he's not sure completely. The walls have the typical posters he's grown accustomed to seeing in doctor's practices.

On his desk, there are three photographs. One with a woman Shouto assumes is his mother, the two smiles at the camera, half wrapped in a hug – it's a photo from a phone camera, it's close-up as if Midoriya had decided halfway through a visit that he wanted a picture.

The following is a picture that's yellowing with age. In it, is a small boy Shouto assumes to be Izuku, smiling at the camera with a blonde that looks surprisingly like Bakugou. Shouto deduces from this photograph, and the nickname 'Kacchan', that the two must be childhood friends. It's almost weird to see Bakugou smiling, and for a moment Shouto feels like the photograph is almost bittersweet.

The final photograph is of Midoriya at what Shouto can only imagine is his graduation from medical school. He's smiling at the camera, and on one side is his mother. On his other side, All-Might grins at the camera.

"I'm back," Midoriya says, opening the door. He's holding two vials in his hands, and he places them on the stand by his desk as he grabs two needles from the cupboard on the other side of the room. "I shouldn't keep you for much longer."

Shouto glances at him for a second, before turning back to the photographs. He says, "Bakugou didn't mention you during our time at U.A high."

Midoriya's expression shifts, into something that Shouto can't fully read, before levelling out into another smile. He sits back in his chair, places one of the needles down, before filling the first vaccine into the needle.

"I don't imagine he would have," the doctor says, and he flicks the end of the needle, ensuring there are no air bubbles in the syringe. "As you know, Kacchan isn't more a shouter than a – this might sting a little – that a talker."

As he readies the second vaccination, Shouto asks, "your pictures. All-Might went to your graduation?"

Midoriya waits a second, nods, and then punctures him with another needle, injecting him with the vaccine. He says, "truthfully? All-Might's the only reason I could afford to go to medical school. I wouldn't have been able to afford it, if not for him. So, it wouldn't have felt right to graduate without him present."

Shouto isn't sure how to respond to that, so he doesn't. Instead, he rolls down his sleeve. He says, "you must admire him a lot."

"Oh yes," Midoriya replies, "I wanted to be just like him when I was younger. A hero like you."

It's not until he's leaving the clinic behind that Shouto finds himself wondering what had changed.

His results come back within two days.

In these two days, Shouto comes to the realisation that he wants to know more about Midoriya, wants to learn his history and see him smile more. And it's not love, he doubts it could be after such a little time, but it's an interest he's not felt before and frankly, it's a little distracting.

He doesn't mention it to Yaoyorozu, because it'd only prove her right, something he can't afford to do. So, he remains quiet instead, and dives into his work again despite the previous warning that he works too much.

And maybe when he catches the train back home a little past midnight he wonders why he works too much, when he hates his agency and following his father's footsteps, but he never comes to an answer, so it's all a little useless, if he thinks about it.

Either way, his phone vibrates as he's returning from a villain fight, his hands shaking slightly from the cold, but his core temperature slightly… warmer. Shouto thinks that today would have been a good day for gloves, regardless of it being late spring.

Since he's only on his way back, he retrieves his phone and presses answer. "Hello?"

"Todoroki," the voice is comforting, meaning that it's Midoriya's, "we just got your results back, would you be able to book a follow up appointment within the week?"

"Don't doctors give results back over the phone?" And then, because that seems rude, Shouto adds, "yeah, I'll book an appointment."

"You've still got two other inoculations you need," Midoriya says, and his voice is practically a sigh. A wave of concern fills Shouto's stomach, and he frowns as he notices Yaoyorozu walking back towards the agency having fought alongside him today. "So, I was hoping to give your results back then."

"Oh," Shouto responds. "Yeah, okay, I'll book one."

"You'd better," Midoriya's stern about this at least. Then, his voice turns warm, "anyway, that's all Todoroki, I'll let you get back to work. Don't overwork yourself, alright? Talk later."

"Bye," Shouto murmurs, but by that point, the phone line has gone dead, and Midoriya isn't there to hear.

"Shouto, man, back me up."

Shouto sends a wall of ice towards the villain Kirishima and he are fighting, loops the ice around so that the man they're fighting can't run, and takes a step forward. The villain has a bacterial quirk, something that spreads and strengthens viruses in people. So far, they've managed to quarantine the area, ensuring no more civilians will fall ill.

"Alright," Shouto says, and he feels a little breathless as he steps forward – the man's probably using his quirk on him, trying to wear him out. Well, Shouto isn't going to let him get away. "Now we just need to-"

A wave of nausea spreads through him. Shouto glares.

"Back me up man," Kirishima orders, and he uses his quirk to harden his skin, racing towards the man. He doesn't hesitate, doesn't show any signs of weakness, although, it's most likely that the virus takes longer to spread with his quirk keeping bacteria out.

It's why Kirishima had been called to help take the villain down.

"Sure," Shouto says, steps forward and releases another wave of ice. This time, it creates a barrier in front of the villain, limiting his movements as Kirishima races forward, fist raised.

In his ear, Yaoyorozu reminds him that he's got another eight minutes before they'll have to switch – with this villain's powers, heroes are limited to fifteen minutes of fighting before the risk of infection from the villain becomes too much.

"Now, shatter it," Kirishima shouts, when he's a foot away from the ice barrier keeping the villain in place. Shouto does, although his reaction time is slower than usual, and the ice splinters before it shatters. "Thanks man."

Shouto feels almost ashamed of his own ability, says nothing, and races forwards as well. As Kirishima punches the man, knocking him off guard, Shouto slides forward, grabs the man's arms and restrains him.

As he's doing this, Kirishima has retrieved a pair of handcuffs from his pocket, locks them around the man's wrists.

Shouto coughs. It's a wet sound, that forces the villain to smile up at him.

"Not looking so good," the man smirks, and Shouto would punch him, if he weren't a hero – if this weren't being broadcasted across the news. Instead, he levels the other man with a glare, cooling himself with ice when his body feels almost like it's burning up.

"Shut up," Shouto says, and he pulls him up, tries not to feel too put out when Kirishima takes the man's arm and offers to deal with him while Shouto finds a medic. Shouto feels the overwhelming urge to tell him he doesn't need a medic, he just needs to sit down for a little bit, but he keeps his teeth gritted instead.

He says 'no-comment' to the news reporters, something he's done ever since qualifying as a hero, before stepping back toward Yaoyorozu. She stands as she sees him, having been waiting as his back up, and offers a small smile.

"Great job," she says.

She receives a thin smile in response, which is about as much response Shouto usually gives to things like this. He runs a hand through his hair, thinks about the report on this and how it's going to suck to write out.

"Todoroki!" The voice is loud, and it's quite obviously Midoriya's. And of course, Yaoyorozu looks at him with confusion – why would their doctor come running when they've installed the correct security measures? – tilting her head as he turns to look for the green-haired man. "Todoroki!"

It's not loud enough that the news reporters catch notice, not that they would, they only know Shouto's hero name anyway. But it is a shout that doesn't get drowned out by the noise of the scene.

Seconds later, green hair comes into Shouto's visual field, the man looking slightly frazzled as he races forward. His lips are parted, slightly, as he tries to catch his breath, a bag around his shoulders.

"Midoriya," Shouto frowns, "what're you doing here?"

"You can't fight that man!" Midoriya breathes, after he's come to a stop. He's obviously not seen the news since, seeing as Shouto's already fought the man and he's been captured. "It'd be really bad for your health."

Shouto feels another wave of nausea spread through him, a jolting feeling that makes him feel almost… helpless.

"The man's been arrested Midoriya," Yaoyorozu says, moving to stand beside Shouto, almost as if she's his backup against the doctor, rather than backup against a villain. "Todoroki didn't pass the allotted fifteen minutes during his fight-"

Midoriya looks faintly horrified. "You joined the fight?"

Shouto, not quite understanding what he's done wrong, nods. The movement makes his head throb and he tries not to flinch at the pressure, but he does. The doctor catches the movement with narrowed eyes, leans forward to feel Shouto's temperature and sighs.

"Not good, not good at all," Midoriya mutters, pulling backwards. He places his bag on the floor, unzips it and pulls out a thermometer, forcing Shouto to adapt it. "You shouldn't have fought someone with a quirk that causes illnesses, should have told you that on the phone, but how many of those actually exist?"

Shouto frowns. He hopes his expression will be enough to get the man to respond with what the hell is going on, seeing as he can't exactly talk with a thermometer beneath his tongue.

"Midoriya?" Yaoyorozu, bless her, chooses the perfect moment to ask for some concrete answers, "what're you talking about?"

Midoriya's eyes widen, as if he's only just remembered he's not given a response. He says, "Oh, I can't… confidentiality, I can only tell Todoroki I-"

"Todoroki, do you mind my being present?" Yaoyorozu says, and Shouto shakes his head 'no'. "There, you've got his consent."

"I…" Midoriya nods, "Alright, well… Todoroki has a low white blood cell count, so his immune system has been invariably weakened. Fifteen minutes against that villain would leave him in a sick bed for months. How long were you exposed to his quirk for?"

He grabs the thermometer, pulls it out a swears under his breath.

"About eight or nine minutes?" Shouto responds. And then because both Midoriya and Yaoyorozu are looking at his with concern lining their faces, frowns etched into their foreheads, he adds, "listen, I feel fine."

It's a lie.

Midoriya clearly notices that it's a lie, because he turns the thermometer away, shows his temperature to be at 39°C.

"Fever," Midoriya says, "not fine. Anything over five minutes would be harmful."

"I'm okay."

"No," Midoriya responds, "you're feverish, and you look like you might pass out. You're going to need some antiviral medicine, and, and where do you think you're going?"

Half way through his lecture, Shouto has started making his way towards the subway, readying himself to head back to the agency. When he turns back, even Yaoyorozu looks faintly surprised, the beginnings of irritation blossoming in her expression.

"I have to pick up the medicine later, right?" Shouto asks. Another wave of nausea, mixed now with an exhaustion that seems to wrap around his bones. It's annoying, being ill, but he's not going to let it get the better of him. "So, I'm going back to work until then-"

"You can't go back to work!" Midoriya practically rips through the words, exasperation rolling from his tongue in a mutated version of words. "Listen you… you workaholic, you've got to rest, if you don't you'll wind up in the hospital, what's wrong with you?"

"I've got a lot of work to do," Shouto says, turning back to face the man, "I can't afford to rest."

His father will not let him rest.

It's unsaid, but the words echo in his head, unease spreading through him. There is so much to do, Shouto cannot slack off, not if he's got to meet the expectations Endeavor has placed on his shoulders, a weight he is drowning beneath.

"Oh God," Midoriya says. One look at him shows shadows across his face, forces Shouto to notice that this conversation seems to be draining the life from him. "I didn't think you'd be this headstrong… Okay, looks like I'm going to have to be one of those doctors."

Shouto narrows his eyes. Those doctors?

"Todoroki Shouto," Midoriya says, and he sounds extremely grave over something as nonsensical as a small fever, "I'm rescinding your right to work as a hero until you can prove to me you're at a certain standard of health"

Shouto breathes, narrows his eyes. "Are you even allowed to do that?"

"Yes," Midoriya says, and now he turns to Yaoyorozu. He says, "would you be able to ensure he gets home without passing out? I've got a doctor's note to write out, and deliver."

Shouto's eyes widen, "hey now-"

"Too late Todoroki," Midoriya says, "no working until I say so. I'll have to ask Yaoyorozu to deliver your anti-viral medicine as well… Go home and rest."

"But-"

"You're officially on sick leave Todoroki," and then the bastard winks, practically rubbing it in, "doctor's orders."