inheritance | IC Inbox

Of course I am! [The words burst out of him a little too loudly. He can't help it, though! When Shouto asks him a question like that, how else is he supposed to respond?]

You just...surprised me. [Color seeps into his cheeks again.] I... [He breaks off and covers his face, turning even redder behind his hands.]

[It's fine, it's okay. Izuku has no reason to lie about this, especially because Shouto's feelings are all about him. Shouto doesn't think Izuku would lie to make him feel better, so the stress he hasn't noticed he's been holding slowly drains out of him. For now, he'll take a seat next to his crush.

His crush. It's strange to realize that's what all those feelings were building up to.]

It was a surprise to me too.

I didn't realize for a long time.

I...I like you, too. [Even muffled by his hands, the words feel clumsy on his tongue, unprepared as he was to actually say them. He's only had a couples days to actually process and accept these feelings, afterall. There's a reason he had decided to write a letter instead.]

I haven't known for long either. [Izuku ducks his head, voice soft as he admits this. Finally, he lowers his hands. His face is still as red as before, and though Shouto's confession (???!) makes his heart beat faster and makes him happy, the incredulity still lingers.] I guess I didn't think you'd, um, f-feel the same way.

[He'd take Izuku's hand, but Izuku seems like he's using them. It's obvious he's embarrassed and Shouto doesn't want to force him out of it, not yet. All of this is so new, he's unsure and unsteady too.

But he did want to say it. Maybe it's his own obliviousness that makes him surprised that Izuku likes him back. Or maybe somewhere buried deep he didn't deserve it.]

Then... we're together?

[That's how it is, right? They both like each other. Izuku's been nothing but good for him and with him. Of course Shouto would adore him.]

... Why wouldn't I?

You mean....d-dating? [It's embarrassing, the way he trips over that word. Small wonder that he does, though. Friendship is already new and precious enough to him--and sometimes Izuku still can't believe that he has so many people who actually seem to care about him now. And if friendship had felt like a miracle already, then dating, having someone who liked him romantically seemed completely out of reach.

Shouto's words are a lot to take in, though Izuku tries his best to put together a coherent response.] If you...really want us to be, then... I-I'd like that. [He tries not to look too hopeful.] I mean...I'm just me. I'm nothing special.

[Are you sure this isn't a mistake, his expression seems to ask. After years upon years of being told that he's esentially worthless, Izuku has a hard time believing that someone could want him that way.]

Yeah. I want that. [Shouto says what he means when it comes to things like this. He doesn't tend to overthink anything. When it's something important, when he actually has strong enough feelings, it's easier to just get them off his chest.

So he stares, confused, when Izuku says he's not special.

He'll put his hands on Izuku's shoulders before moving them up to his cheeks, gently making sure Izuku's looking at him instead of glancing away.]

I fell for you because you're you. Who said you weren't special? You're the most amazing person I've ever met. You're my hero.

[There's no way to hide the way Shouto's words make him tremble just a little, especially when they're accompanied with a touch that gentle.]

Shouto... [Tears well up in his eyes and then spill over. He reaches up, putting his hands over Shouto's for a moment. And then with a soft little sob, he surges forward and flings his arms around Shouto, pressing his face into Shouto's shoulder.]

[Shouto, as usual, ends up startled. He never expects Izuku to cry when he's being honest, but the hug tells him he didn't say the wrong thing. While he's thoughtless with most people, saying whatever comes to mind, he doesn't want to hurt his boyfriend. (They're boyfriends!)

He's stiff for a moment before gradually wrapping his arms around Izuku.]

You're amazing, Izuku. I wouldn't want to date you unless you're you. So... Think of yourself a better.

I'll try... [The truth is, Izuku doesn't know how to. It's become almost second nature to doubt himself and his abilities; Though Izuku knows that he's more determined than most people--he has to be in order to push himself to catch up with everyone else--more often than not, he can't see his own potential. Even so, hearing Shouto say all those positive things at once touches something in him--the part of him that still needs to hear that someone else believes in him, too.

Izuku tucks his face against Shouto's neck, relaxing into the embrace.] Thank you, Shouto.

[The only thing Shouto doubts about Izuku is his ability to keep himself safe. He hums softly, carding his fingers through Izuku's hair. Comforting still isn't his strong suit, but he can try.

He'll always work hard for Izuku.]

You're welcome. I'll say it whenever you need to hear it. It'll never make it less true.

... Can I call you my boyfriend?

[It doesn't seem real, that Shouto's willing to do all this for him. Still, if there's anything that Izuku can believe, it's that Shouto means what he says, and that's perhaps what convinces Izuku in the end. He trusts Shouto.

Izuku pulls away, wiping his tears away with the back of his hand. Then, he smiles.] Only if I can do the same!

[ As long as Izuku's willing to believe him, that's the important part. So he reaches, taking Izuku's hands in his, lightly gripping them. ]

Of course you can.

[It's the giddiness, maybe, from actually having his feelings reciprocated when he'd expected the opposite, that spurs him into action. Izuku leans in and kisses Shouto's cheek, in the same spot that he had done when he was influenced by the flirt potion.]

T-to make up for last time. [Izuku stammers out before covering his rapidly reddening face again. It had bothered him before, that he hadn't been able to keep his responses genuine that time, but this time, it's for real!]

[ His face is rapidly heating up. A few sparks escape his left side as he gently rests his hand on the spot.

Ah, but if they're doing that... Then he'll kiss Izuku's forehead. ] Same thing.

[As soon as he feels the kiss, Izuku just blushes even harder, the color spreading down his neck and even up to his ears.]

You have to warn me when you do that!!

[Even though he had kissed Shouto without warning, too.]

[Izuku blushing has always been endearing.]

So you're allowed to kiss me but I have to tell you? That doesn't seem fair.

[Called out??? Izuku gasps.]

I...I didn't mean it that way!! It's just, you surprised me and surprise kisses are just...really ... [He trails off, pressing his hands to his cheeks now. Words are hard when you're flustered!!]

You can kiss me when you want to!! [Okay, that was way louder than he had actually intended to be, and it's right then that Izuku gives up explaining altogether. Don't mind him just resting (aka hiding) his burning face against Shouto's shoulder again.]

[Called right out. Like Izuku didn't just give him a surprise kiss.

But Shouto looks very pleased. So he's allowed to kiss Izuku whenever he'd like? Then he'll kiss the top of his head.]

Then I will. I'd like to kiss you a lot.

[Izuku's hand curls in Shouto's shirt, as he stays right where he is, refusing to lift his head just yet. This is...a lot to process, and Shouto isn't giving him a chance to recover at all.]

You keep saying things like that when I'm not prepared.

[It's not good for his heart!!]

[He's perfectly willing to stay like this for as long as Izuku would like. An armful of Izuku is very nice.]

I don't know how to prepare you for them.

I don't either... [How does one even prepare for something like this??

What he does know is that--]

I'm really happy, Shouto. [And stunned that all of this just happened, but mostly happy!] Being with you makes me really happy.

[Shouto's just happy. He was fully prepared to just drop his feelings in a box and pretend they didn't exist. But first he had to tell Izuku about it, it's not fair to him to not know.

Instead, he just hugs Izuku closer, kissing the top of his head again.]

I'm really happy too. I didn't expect you to feel the same way.

You didn't? [Slowly, Izuku relaxes, and he circles his arms loosely around Shouto's waist.

He remembers then, how Shouto had needed verbal confirmation about being best friends just a little while ago, too. Maybe...this is the same?]

Of course I feel the same way. You're amazing. [Izuku hopes that he can convince Shouto of this with his words, too.]

[There are some things Shouto will assume, his own strength, his ability to fight. When it comes to interpersonal things- he's not practiced enough to feel comfortable assuming.

Hearing Izuku say they're best friends, that Izuku feels the same way- that's reassuring. Because it's Izuku Shouto believes him. They've got no reason to lie to each other.]

I just wanted to tell you so you'd know. If you wanted me to move out...

[He would if Izuku asked.]

[Izuku shakes his head slightly, unwilling to pull away from him this time.]

I don't want you to move out. Stay. Please.

[The last few words are spoken softly. It's only because Izuku's fairly certain that Shouto wants to stay, too, that he allows himself to utter these selfish thoughts.]

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