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.
[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!
[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!]
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.]
[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.
[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.
[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...
[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.]
[It's not fair, that just hearing it makes his heart beat a little faster. (Even though he said it first!) He still can't believe that any of this happened.]
You have really bad timing, Shouto. [There's a smile in his voice.] I was just writing....a letter to you when you showed up so suddenly.
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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.]
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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.
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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.]
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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.
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Izuku tucks his face against Shouto's neck, relaxing into the embrace.] Thank you, Shouto.
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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?
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Izuku pulls away, wiping his tears away with the back of his hand. Then, he smiles.] Only if I can do the same!
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Of course you can.
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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!]
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Ah, but if they're doing that... Then he'll kiss Izuku's forehead. ] Same thing.
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You have to warn me when you do that!!
[Even though he had kissed Shouto without warning, too.]
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So you're allowed to kiss me but I have to tell you? That doesn't seem fair.
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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.]
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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.
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You keep saying things like that when I'm not prepared.
[It's not good for his heart!!]
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I don't know how to prepare you for them.
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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.
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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.
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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.]
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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.]
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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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I wouldn't leave unless you asked me to. I like you too much to leave you alone here.
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Then... I guess you're stuck here. With me. [A second later, he adds shyly--] Boyfriend.
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Ooohhh! It's nice when Izuku says it. So he'll say it right back.]
My boyfriend. I'm not stuck if I want to be here.
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You have really bad timing, Shouto. [There's a smile in his voice.] I was just writing....a letter to you when you showed up so suddenly.
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