numbertwohero | Prismatica Inbox

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. ]

Y-yeah.

[A very uncommon thing, coming from Shoto: the slight stutter as he agrees with what Izuku says. Listen, this is kind of nervewracking, even for someone like him.]

Yeah, that makes sense. So, next time, we can make it a date.

--Do you want to get breakfast?

[Not as a date! Just...he's kind of starving okay, training always takes a lot out of him, and even moreso here. Also, this is hard work!]

Ummm - yes, actually. I'm really hungry...

[ His quirk takes up a lot of energy. ]

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