numbertwohero | Prismatica Inbox

[ Being a teenager is suffering and only other teenagers can truly understand...and adults who were once teenagers, maybe, but perhaps time has made them forget such things.

Izuku doesn't mind at all because honestly, fashion is not a big thing for Izuku. Given that his favorite kind of shirt is a white shirt with random words on it (up to "pants" and "dress shirt") he honestly thinks most things look nice, unironically. He does smile more visibly and brightly than Shoto, but that's...pretty normal, actually.

If he looks flushed, it's CLEARLY the exercises getting to him. Clearly. ]

No! I haven't even finished my warm ups yet?

[Seriously. It's complicated as heck, even without moonblessings to take I to account, or hero stuff, but at least they can figure it out together. He...might ask Angela some not so subtle questions later, though.

Izuku looks nice, he thinks. Different. Something is different. Or maybe it's just the situation? Whatever it is, the way he smiles and the flush on his cheeks makes Shoto feel warm. This definitely wasn't a bad idea.]

Good. I should do the same--

[And he will, starting with a big stretch, arms wide, followed by a gesture towards the ocean.]

It's really nice out here. Quiet. I like it. I'm glad you could come.

[ The difference might be he's wearing a nice-ish black shirt with blue patterns on it instead of one of his favored atrocities, but it also might be something else.

There's a weird little swoop in his stomach with Todoroki says he's glad, anyway, but Izuku thinks maybe he won't think about it too hard, lest he implode. ]

It is! I should spend more time by the beach...it's a really good training area, too. There's not too much that could be destroyed!

[ Always a plus. ]

[It is a nice shirt. Kind of brings out some of the darker lowlights in Izuku's hair. And maybe that's part of the difference, but...well, maybe it's not all.

He's gonna just ignore the strange feeling in the pit of his stomach as he looks at the other boy out of the corner of his eye. Shoulder stretches next, then hips, and legs...and then a quiet sound that's maybe a little unexpected, a huff of almost laughter.]

That too. I always worry using my powers in a place like this, but it's pretty out of the way. We should be okay for the next hour or so, before people start showing up. Should be enough time to get a few rounds in?

Just don't go easy on me!

[ Both sides, Shoto. Or he'd be disappointed! ]

Do people really come out here to just sort of hang out? It's getting pretty late in the year, after all.

Never.

[There's no hesitation and no question about that, at least. Izuku deserves his all.

The next part is kind of an answer to that question, too.]

You'd be surprised. There's a Prismal who looks like he's part polar bear, he's usually swimming when I get here. And sometimes Grimm and I have to cut one of our training sessions short because there's surfers, or kids looking for shells. I'm getting better with my left side, but I've still got a long way to go.

So does Grimm have some sort of powers, too?

[ As Izuku straightens out of his leg stretches he realizes he has no real idea what Grimm teaches Todoroki. ]

Yeah--he's got a fire ability. He can do things with it even my dad can't.

[He...might sound a little too satisfied about that. Whoops.]

He's taught me a lot. About how to use my quirk, and other stuff, too. Between training with him and my lessons with Dr. Ziegler, I feel better about missing so much class, you know?

Ah...Iida-kun and I were talking about having study groups maybe, to make up for some of that. I've felt terrible just doing only self study...

[ He's certainly not going to judge Todoroki for finding someone other than his father to train with, either. ]

It's great that you're training your other side! It's yours after all.

Yeah, same. I've been trying to keep up with everything, and also learn as much as I can about this place--the history, the culture, if there's anything at all that can help us...let me know if you do that study group?

[The rest of Izuku's words earn him another one of those small, rare smiles from Shoto as he stands, finished with his stretches and shaking his hair out of his eyes.]

I know that now, thanks to you.

[What? It's true.]

[ Shoto looks nice when he smiles...

...wait wait don't get distracted! ]

I think I definitely want to! I'll text the group chat when things are calmer, maybe?

[It's fine, he's definitely not going to notice any distraction. Probably. At least he's not gonna realize the reason, anyway. The smile fades as he blinks, though, then looks mildly...sheepish?]

Right. I keep forgetting we have one of those, sorry. I don't really keep up with the network much, besides checking to make sure everyone's...

[Still around. Still there. The important thing.

He still checks for Uraraka's name every day, and Aizawa too. Just in case.]

Ah...yeah. I check the group daily just to see...

[ That everyone is still there. And not everyone always is... ]

You don't have to apologize, though! I mean, I can always just go over to your place if I need to talk...

[They're both on the same page, at least. It's hard, seeing those names disappear. But he can't help the people who are left if he focuses too hard on the ones they lose. He has to keep facing forward. No matter what.

Squaring his shoulders, Shoto shakes off that sudden heaviness, nodding at Izuku's words.]

Yeah. You know you can always come over. For talking or--not talking.

[If he just needs company. Or hugs. Or whatever. You know.]

So, where do you want to start?

Hm...well, why not just go all out? As long as we avoid any permanent damage it should be fine.

[ There don't have to be any stringent rules here; neither of them are the sort to go overboard and violent when paired off. ]

Sounds good to me. When you're ready--

[It's been a while since he's gotten a chance to push his limits like this. It feels good, honestly; better than good, and fighting against Midoriya really makes him work for every strike he gets in. He's gotten some of that sparring with Bakugou, but this feels more like the two of them pushing each other to be their best selves. It's cooperative, even though it's still a battle.

After they're finished, Shoto takes a seat on a large rock, pulling a towel and a bottle of water from his shoulder bag, wiping sweat away from his face and drinking deeply before offering the bottle to Izuku. They've both depleted a good bit of chroma here, but bright side: the exercise has completely taken away his nerves. If Izuku sits down next to him, he's not going to be at all shy about leaning against him, relying on that contact to start reenergizing them both.]

That was good.

[An understatement, maybe.]

[ It's nice. Izuku likes wearing himself out like this; he's someone whose brain is just always switched on. He's constantly thinking and going through things, always running a thousand miles a minute in his mind. It's exhausting sometimes and he very rarely achieves a state of mental calm.

When he's worn out like this after something, it's sort of a blessing. It's one of those rare times his mind is just blessedly zen and Izuku relaxes back against his hands, sitting on the rock. He takes the offered bottle and drinks some before he speaks, leaning back into Shoto easily... ]

It was...I really need to do this more often.

[ He sounds happier, too. ]

[Shoto sometimes does the same thing, though rarely in the exact way that Izuku does. Still, it's easy to get lost wandering the same circles of thought in his mind, to let himself spiral, and frequently this is the only thing that will snap him out of it: good, thorough physical exercise.

Making a small noise of agreement, Shoto nods, shifting one of his hands to lightly brush the side of Izuku's. More contact means getting their strength back quicker, right?]

Definitely. We should do it again. Maybe we could meet once a week? If you wanted.

[ Suddenly, all the worry and confusion about whether or not this is a date comes rushing back. Does...does Shoto want to hold hands? Does Izuku want to hold hands...? ]

I-I'd like that! I mean...if it's not too much trouble?

It's not. More training would be good. I don't want to get rusty while we're here, and I like training with you.

[Does he want to hold hands? Does Izuku? What are they even doing? He doesn't know. But Angela's words echo through his mind as Izuku stumbles over his own words, and after a moment, he decides might as well. Honesty, right?]

Midoriya. This--it doesn't have to be a date. If that bothers you. It can just be--training. Hanging out. I wouldn't mind if it was, but if you don't want it to be that's fine, too.

[ OH. OKAY. SHOUTO'S JUST GONNA COME OUT AND SAY IT THEN...

Izuku splutters uselessly like the disaster he is for a minute or two. Please hold. And then - ]

N-no! I mean - it...I mean, it doesn't bother...me...

[The spluttering is fine. Kind of expected, honestly; it is Izuku, after all. He's heard the other boy get into that muttering rhythm often enough, or stutter through a flustered response. That's not what's got him sitting there, chewing on his lip, thinking as he looks down at his hand, where his pinky is brushing Izuku's.

What was it Angela had said? He needed to be clear, because if he wasn't up front, maybe the other person wouldn't be confident enough to share their feelings. After a second to consider, he looks up at Izuku, a strangely determined expression on his face, along with a hint of pink that might not just be because of their workout or the cool air.]

It doesn't bother you, or you want it to be? Because those are different, I think. And I guess--I mean.

[Welp. Here goes. Angie, please be right.]

I'd like it to be. But I want you to want it too, and if you don't I want to know that, too. You're my friend, first. No matter what else happens.

[ At least he's not muttering...yet. But that sure is clear. Izuku somehow wasn't expecting this even when he'd been unsure if this was meant to be a date or not. It just seemed...unlikely?

Maybe because romance has always been the furthest thing from his mind, or just always seemed entirely not in the realm of anything likely to happen to him. Not that he thought he wouldn't eventually meet someone, but it had always been such a backburner to hero things that he'd never even considered it. ]

It doesn't bother me! [ He'll tackle the first part first, before turning red (...redder) and looking away a little because sometimes Shouto's direct gaze is maybe too much. ] And I, uh - I don't know much about all...this, but I think...it would be nice?

[In fairness, neither has Shoto. Romance was always the last thing on his mind--and he's not even sure this is romance, exactly. Just...he likes Izuku. He likes being around him. It feels nice, and holding his hand is nice, too, and more often than he'd likely admit he thinks about that time after the fox kidnappings when he'd fallen asleep hugging the other boy.

Maybe that's also one of the things that makes it easier, that it's Izuku. He understands that Shouto's first priority is and always will be being a hero. Helping people. It helps that Izuku feels the same way. And sure, maybe it's a little disappointing that the first thing he asks is met with the answer that's a little more ambivalent, but the rest makes up for it. It would be nice.

Lifting a hand to rub at the back of his neck, he looks away again, definitely a little embarrassed this time.]

I mean, it's not like I know a lot about it, either. I just know I like spending time with you. And if I'm going to try this kind of thing with someone, I'd want to try it with someone I feel comfortable with. So...?

[So maybe it can be???]

[ They're both bad at this, but it's okay. They both sort of understand one another and while Izuku's being accidentally ambivalent, he doesn't feel ambivalently. ]

So...m-maybe the next time we go out it can be a date? That way...

[ They KNOW it's a date. ]

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numbertwohero - 2019-11-30 00:24 (UTC) - Expand

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