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Uraraka is a woman on a mission. Originally, that mission had been to obtain a cup of tea to drink as she studied, but that prerogative has changed to something far more important. Now, she needs to sneak from the kitchen, past the common area, and to a place where she can view the couch without being seen herself, all in the name of securing a photograph. And, most importantly, she must not alert the subject of the photo as to her presence on the ground floor because she can’t afford to replace her phone, and it would be unlikely to survive her being discovered.
She can just make out Midoriya’s tangled mess of hair above the back of the love seat, and she keeps a careful watch on it as she edges around the sitting area, phone in hand. She makes it around the corner of the courtyard windows, courtesy of sock-clad feet, and carefully lines up her shot. The click of the shutter makes her heart stop, and she freezes in place, certain the jig is up. There’s no sound from the sofa, though, and she beats a hasty retreat back to the kitchenette, phone safely back in her pocket, and no one else the wiser. Or so she thinks, until Midoriya’s voice carries over to her, pitched low to avoid disturbing the other person currently on the couch.
“Hey, Uraraka?”
“Um… Yes?”
“Send me a copy?”
Uraraka sighs in relief. “Sure thing, Midoriya. Tell Todoroki I said ‘hi’ when he wakes up, okay?”
“I’ll do that. Good luck studying.”
“Thanks, Midoriya. See you later!” Uraraka takes her tea, and pads quietly to the elevators, smiling to herself over how cute the two of them had looked, cuddled together as Todoroki dozed with his head pillowed on Midoriya’s shoulder.
~*~
Yaoyorozu knows, better than most people in their class, how much work Todoroki puts into his studies both in the classroom and in the training halls. She studies with him often, explaining math to him in exchange for pointers on English, and keeps a supply of his favorite tea in her room for when he stops by for help. The only person who might know more about the struggles Todoroki has with his classwork is Midoriya, who takes notes in class as thoroughly as he does on heroes and quirks. Yaoyorozu sees them quite often, sitting next to one another at one of the dining tables, books spread around them as Midoriya explains one thing or another as Todoroki diligently applies it to his assignments. Midoriya might easily be top of the class if he spent less time helping others get there, Yaoyorozu thinks.
This becomes such a common sight, the two of them together, that when exams roll around she’s shocked to find Todoroki studying on his own, white hair clenched in an aggravated fist as he stares angrily at one of his textbooks. She walks past, and heads to the kitchenette, where Jirou is fixing herself tea and a snack. “Where’s Midoriya?” she asks in a low murmur. “He and Todoroki always study together.”
“He was here earlier,” Jirou tells her, voice just as soft, “but Todoroki told him he wanted to study on his own for a bit. Bakugou was being a shit earlier, saying that Todoroki was riding on Midoriya’s coattails, or some bullshit like that. No one else took him seriously, but I think it got to Todoroki.”
“That is bullshit, who would ever believe…” Yaoyorozu trails off as Midoriya walks into the common room from outside, a takeout bag in one hand and hair even more of a disaster than usual, tossed into a proper tangle by the wind outside. He waves hello to her and Jirou, and walks over to Todoroki, setting the bag down next to him. “I picked up dinner for you, Shou. Cold soba is your favorite, right? Let me know if you need anything else. I’ll be up in my room.”
Todoroki looks up from his book, eyes widened just slightly with surprise and confusion, before it melts into a softer expression. “Thank you, Izuku. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
“Midoriya is good for him,” Jirou observes after the two of them part ways with a quick kiss. Yaoyorozu watches Todoroki set aside his books in favor of food, and agrees wholeheartedly.
~*~
Iida is of the opinion that, if there are rules in place, they are there for a reason, and ought to be respected. He is well aware of how he failed to display this during the incident with Stain, and again when it came to Bakugou’s rescue. But both of those situations, he feels, had some very serious mitigating circumstances. That is no real excuse, but it is certainly worth consideration when judgement is cast on his actions. The same is true, he’s sure, for this current situation. The student handbook clearly outlines the sort of behavior that is allowed and accepted between two students. This includes a section on proper conduct involving public displays of affection.
He knows that not everyone will have read the entire handbook, and accepts that his classmates do not have the same priorities he does, but that doesn’t excuse the way that Todoroki and Midoriya are sitting under one of the trees in the courtyard and breaking just about every one of those aforementioned rules. What does excuse this behavior, and what makes Iida turn a blind eye as he walks away, is the way that Todoroki is smiling when he and Midoriya break apart for air.
~*~
There are many things that Izuku wishes he could do for his boyfriend. He wants to take him to an amusement park, so they can ride a rollercoaster until they get sick. He wants to introduce Shouto to his mother, because he knows she would love him. He wants to let him enjoy the things he’s never been able to indulge in at home: sleeping in on lazy weekends, eating junkfood while staying up all night, and everything else that comes with being their age. The one thing Izuku doesn’t want, and he sometimes feels guilty for not wanting it, is to go back and save Shouto from every blow that Endeavor has laid on him, and every cruelty that was ever done him in the name of “training” when he was young. Izuku doesn’t feel the urge to save Shouto from those things, because he’s already saved himself.
Shouto is here today because of what he’s endured, is stronger for it, and kinder. Izuku admires him for that perseverance. Every time fire flares from Shouto’s hand during training, Izuku feels a swell of pride for the way that Shouto is making that power his own, something to save others and lift them up, instead of putting them down, the way that Endeavor wishes. There are so many things that Shouto does that inspire Izuku to be a better hero, a better person, so many things to thank him for. But Izuku knows that Shouto doesn’t want his thanks, values his friendship more than any honeyed words, so he shows him with his actions.
A nap on the couch, cradling him close to say, “Thank you for being here with me.”
A favorite meal during a stressful time to let him know, “Thank you for trusting me to look after you.”
A kiss in the courtyard, secreted away from the world to tell him, “Thank you for loving me,” just before he whispers, “I love you.”