[Well, that's alarming?? Izuku, in the middle of attempting to write a certain letter, pushes his chair away and stands up when he hears the door slam open.]
Shou--[Worst case scenarios already begin to flash through his mind when he sees how worked up Shouto is--is it another attack? Does someone need help? That all grinds to a halt when he hears what Shouto actually has to say.] ...eh?
[ Shouto's never been the best with his own emotions. But Izuku's much more in touch with his. If anybody could help it's Izuku, right? ]
I've had a crush on you for at least since you disappeared because of the shadows. I thought it was all just friendship, but then Okuyasu said I freaked out the same way he freaked out when Uraraka went missing. So it's more than just friendship.
[There has to be a mistake. There's no way that Shouto just confessed to him. Even though Ochako's words the day before had encouraged him enough to attempt writing a confession letter--attempt being the keyword here, his numerous attempts have all been scrunched up and left on the desk--Izuku had still been on the fence about telling Shouto at all. It would be better to let the words go unsaid, rather than asking Shouto for something that he most likely can't give him and ruining their friendship, right? At least, that's what he'd thought, up until now.]
You...you do? [He can't help how stunned he sounds and probably looks. This is Shouto they're talking about here! Why on Earth would Shouto like him, of all people?]
[There's no mistake. This is definitely Shouto just confessing his feelings to Izuku. Because while Izuku would be content to pine forever-- Shouto's surer of their friendship. If Izuku said no, then he'd be able to try and let it go. Izuku's more important than whatever feelings he might have.
But not telling him seems like a bad choice. They live together, they see each other every day. Not saying it would be like lying. He can't handle that.]
I do.
[But what is he supposed to do about it? Does Izuku think the same? Or is this a once sided feeling?]
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.]
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.]
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.
7/3
Shouto looks like he's had a very sudden revelation.]
Izuku. Izuku, I have a crush?
[He sounds confused about it. But as far as he knows, it's his first crush.]
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Shou--[Worst case scenarios already begin to flash through his mind when he sees how worked up Shouto is--is it another attack? Does someone need help? That all grinds to a halt when he hears what Shouto actually has to say.] ...eh?
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I've had a crush on you for at least since you disappeared because of the shadows. I thought it was all just friendship, but then Okuyasu said I freaked out the same way he freaked out when Uraraka went missing. So it's more than just friendship.
... I have a crush. On you. Is that okay?
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You...you do? [He can't help how stunned he sounds and probably looks. This is Shouto they're talking about here! Why on Earth would Shouto like him, of all people?]
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But not telling him seems like a bad choice. They live together, they see each other every day. Not saying it would be like lying. He can't handle that.]
I do.
[But what is he supposed to do about it? Does Izuku think the same? Or is this a once sided feeling?]
Izuku... is this okay? Are you okay with me?
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You just...surprised me. [Color seeps into his cheeks again.] I... [He breaks off and covers his face, turning even redder behind his hands.]
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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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