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“Tokyo, what time is it?” Izuku asked breathily to the A.I in his ear, while simultaneously tailing after a car thief; because of course someone decided to steal a car today of all days.
“ It is currently ten fifty-three in the morning. ” Tokyo replied readily.
Izuku cursed loudly, the sound of his voice drowned out by incoming traffic. “I’m going to be late! Shoto’s going to kill me.”
“ Yes, you’re probably right. ” Tokyo droned her agreement.
Izuku growled his annoyance, choosing to ignore her in favor of putting all his attention onto the situation at hand.
He really had meant to get straight on the bus that morning. He’d even promised Shoto as much. Because today was a very, very important day. Today was March twelve; his and Shoto’s graduation day. He literally could not miss it.
But just as he was about to actually board the bus, the hair on his arm rose and a faint ringing in his ears made him freeze. An elderly woman hobbled around the corner of the sidewalk, announcing to everyone within a mile radius of her that her car had been stolen. And, not even a second later, that same stolen car sped right past the bus and took two red lights, nearly hitting a child and her mother.
And Izuku couldn’t just ignore that, could he? Not when he knew he could do something about it. And so there he was, an hour later, still chasing after the idiot who chose to steal an elderly woman’s car on the morning of March twelfth— Izuku’s and Shoto’s set graduation date.
Surely, his boyfriend would understand once he got the chance to explain.
“ Izuku, your cell. ” Tokyo advised, flashing the contact I.D in front of his eyes. It was Shoto. Oh, it was Shoto. Izuku smiled, then froze, realizing where he was and where he wasn’t .
Oh .
He swore again. Stress gave him the vocabulary of his childhood friend, he feared.
“U-Um, answer it please.” He stammered, shooting a web to the roof of a car, and squatting on it so that he at least sounded discernible.
“ Izu— Izuku? ”
Izuku muted the call for a moment.
“Tokyo, activate autopilot.”
“ Activating autopilot. ”
“Shoto—! Hey. Hi, um. I’m sorry, I know I’m running a bit late.” Izuku chuckled dryly, the suit's eyes tracking the stolen car while he squinted his own shut in apprehension.
“ A bit late, my foot, Izuku. You should’ve been here an hour ago. Where are you? ”
Izuku briefly glanced at a street sign. “Um, Kiowa street— Tenaya street— Sakura street. I-I’m everywhere, haha . B-But I promise, five minutes— ten minutes tops!”
Three police cars rounded the corner of the street up ahead, creating a sort of man-made roadblock in front of the assailant to prevent him from getting any further.
Izuku slid a hand down his face in silent agony.
Where had they been an hour ago?
“ Are those sirens? ” Shoto asked, sounding like he already knew the answer.
“…No.”
“ Izuku .”
“No! No sirens! Just stuck in some traffic. I’ll be there, I promise!”
He heard Shoto sigh from the other end of the call. “ Okay. Okay, fine. But… please, hurry. I’m going up soon, and I need you here. ”
Izuku’s heart swelled behind his rib cage. The reaction to that nervous confession was almost instant. He stuck a web to the nearest building and headed straight for U.A. Shoto needed him.
“I’ll be right there. I promise.” He said, before ending the call and willing himself to get to the ceremony faster.
In the weeks leading up to graduation, Shoto had expressed his anxiety about making his valedictorian speech and how he was contemplating passing it down to Kacchan— Izuku’s childhood friend who had also been in the running for the title. It was Izuku who had convinced him not to. It was the promise that he would be there in the crowd that convinced Shoto to agree to do it.
So, it went without question really. Izuku absolutely could not miss this for the world.
He swung down into U.A’s arena, hiding out in one of the tunnels where he proceeded to plop his scrappy yellow backpack onto the ground and strip himself of his ridiculously tight costume, trading it for a loose fitting black cap and gown.
“…time is luck. So don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Because even if we fall short, what better way is there to live?”
Shit, he’d missed it.
Izuku sighed harshly and quickly ran into the line leading up to the stage where Principal Nezu was handing out their diplomas, hoping to any deity that was looking down on him that nobody noticed his absence.
“Kaminari Denki.. Kirishima Eijiro.. Koda Koji.. Midoriya Izuku,”
Izuku smiled nervously, taking the three steps up the stage before bowing to Principal Nezu and taking his diploma in his hands.
Shoto stood in the middle of the stage, shaking the hand of Koda before turning to Izuku, his hand outstretched with a fond smile.
Izuku grinned, and grabbed his hand, tugging him down an inch before wrapping an arm around his neck and kissing him like his life depended on it. Shoto snorted into his mouth, kissing him back as best as he could with their caps in the way. He would have to try this again later.
Their classmates wolf whistled and cheered, laughing at the very public display of affection. Izuku wasn’t normally so forward, but today was special, and because of that he was feeling a little braver than usual. Based on the rosieness of his cheeks, he didn’t think Shoto had any complaints.
“Oh, Izuku!” Mom cried, crushing him into a hug the moment the ceremony was over. “I’m so proud of you, baby.”
Izuku chuckled, squirming when she began pressing kisses to his cheeks.
“Thanks, mom. Here. That’s for you.” He teased her, showing off his diploma with a smile.
“Oh, let me get a picture, come on.” She urged, pulling out her phone and squinting down at the screen, snapping a few photos.
Izuku looked into the camera for all of five seconds before his eyes drifted off to a brightly colored head of red and white hair. Shoto was standing feet away from him, chatting quietly with his own family, an older sister and two older brothers. Izuku was supposed to be meeting them today. Gosh— he was nervous.
“Oh, go ahead.” Mom giggled, gesturing over to Shoto.
Izuku blinked, looking back over to her, his cheeks reddening at being caught so blatantly staring at his boyfriend.
“What?” He muttered, jumping when an arm looped around his shoulders, pulling him into a tight hug. “O-Oh—!”
“Hi,” Shoto said, clumsily kissing his ear.
Izuku flushed as if he hadn’t kissed him in front of all their peers just fifteen minutes earlier, and hugged him back after a stunned moment. “H-Hey.”
“I need a picture of you two, come on, fix yourselves!” Mom urged, taking out her phone once again.
Shoto chuckled at Izuku’s embarrassed whine, and detached himself from his neck, keeping an arm around Izuku’s shoulders as they both smiled for the camera.
“Alright, I’ll leave you two alone. I’m going to go talk to Fuyumi-san.” Mom giggled, pinching Izuku’s cheek as she walked by them.
“It was good seeing you.” Shoto waved, bowing politely.
Izuku all but collapsed into his side as soon as his mother was thoroughly distracted by Shoto’s older sister, hugging him close.
“Hello, again.” He said.
Shoto hummed, pulling away from the embrace just a little. Izuku smiled, not being able to help it. His eyes traveled up and down his boyfriends gown-clad body slowly. Shoto seemed to catch on quite quickly.
“Are you… checking me out?” He muttered, his eyes a little wide and his cheeks a little pinker than before.
Izuku shrugged, unabashed and unashamed. “You look really cute in a cap and gown. Seriously, I mean it.” He insisted when Shoto grumbled out his disagreement.
“You look cute, too.” He mumbled, lifting Izuku’s collar slightly. “Maybe a little wrinkled, but cute.”
Izuku snorted. “Thanks.”
“Oh, I forgot I wanted to ask.” Shoto said, pulling out his phone from his jeans he was wearing underneath his gown. He tapped the screen for a moment before flashing it towards Izuku, who froze in his spot at the image being displayed to him. “Did your traffic jam have anything to do with a stolen car, and an hour-long pursuit?”
Izuku chuckled indignantly, placing his palm over the screen and lowering it before anyone else could see.
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Shoto frowned, pocketing the phone.
Izuku sighed, absolutely hating himself for putting that look on his boyfriend's face. “I didn’t know what else to do. You were about to do your speech, and I didn’t want to make you more nervous. I’m sorry. Really.”
Shoto squinted at him conspiringly. Something about that look somehow gave Izuku the impression that this would not be the last time this was brought up. He supposed he deserved it.
“Shoto! Come take a picture!” Fuyumi called, waving him over.
Shoto nodded at her, before turning back to Izuku, looping his arms around his neck getting close enough to his face that their noses brushed.
“You’re coming to Tanakaya’s later, right? To meet my brothers?” Shoto asked, fiddling with the curls resting at the nape of his neck.
Izuku nodded, smiling his reassurance. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Shoto snorted. “It’s at eight o’clock, don’t be late please.”
“I won’t be.” Izuku grinned, closing the distance between them for a short moment.
“And I’m going to do my speech for you. I know you missed it.”
Shit.
Izuku smiled nervously. He should’ve expected Shoto to notice. Nothing went by him. “You’d better. I want to hear it over and over again, all night long.”
Shoto kissed him again, holding him close for a moment before breaking apart. “Okay. I’ll see you later.”
Izuku nodded, begrudgingly letting him go. “Love you.” He called as he walked away, giggling to himself when Shoto nearly tripped over his own feet at those two simple words.
That particular development in their relationship was still fairly new. So new, they’d made a sort of game out of it. Because saying I love you was so overwhelming, the only way they were able to say it was when they weren’t looking at each other. And because Izuku had said it the very, very first time, Shoto only thought it was fair that they took turns sharing the burden of saying such intense words.
It was weird, definitely. But it was so unique to them. And Izuku found that he absolutely adored it.
[…]
“Izuku, did you make sure to brush your hair before we left?”
His mothers fretting had reminded him so much of Tokyo he nearly told her to power off. He’d have a hard time trying to explain that.
He gently brushed her hands away from his hair, sending her a tight lipped smile to suppress his building annoyance.
Well— he wasn’t so much annoyed , just extremely nervous— borderline anxious, which was feeding into his irritation which would then lead him to get into an argument with his mother before they even stepped foot into the restaurant where he was supposed to meet Shoto’s family. Izuku exhaled sharply.
Cause and effect was a sure thing.
“Oh, I see them. Oh, gosh, I’m nervous.” His mother sighed, fanning herself quickly with her hands.
Izuku chuckled, opening the door to the restaurant for the both of them. “Shouldn’t I be the one who’s nervous?”
“Oh, hush you. These could be my future in-laws I’m meeting.” She tutted while Izuku squawked, waving politely when Fuyumi called them over to their table.
“Good evening Midoriya-san, Izuku-kun. I’m so glad you were both able to join us.” Fuyumi greeted, offering the chair next to her to his mother, who took it gratefully.
Izuku, predictably, sat next to Shoto on one side, his least scary looking older brother to his other.
“Hello, again.” Shoto whispered over to him while his mother and Fuyumi got to talking.
Izuku smiled, reaching for his hand under the table. “Hi. You look cute.” He complimented, appreciating the way his shirt clung to his upper body.
Compared to Izuku, Shoto wasn’t very muscular. Not that he cared for his physique at all. He wasn’t dating Shoto for his body. It wasn’t what attracted him in the first place— in fact it was probably for the complete opposite reason. Shoto was attractively intelligent. The way he spoke, the way he held himself was so embarrassingly attractive to Izuku. However, the first time they were… (quote, unquote) intimate with each other, and Izuku reached to shuck off Shoto’s shirt, he insisted on keeping it on. Izuku didn’t push him for an explanation, but after they had both been… satisfied, Shoto expressed to him that because he was so skinny compared to Izuku, he was afraid he wouldn’t find him attractive anymore. And, wow, was that the biggest load of crap he ever heard.
Shoto was as close to perfection as anyone could ever possibly get. And he made sure to relay that to him every chance he got.
Shoto rolled his eyes despite the rosy tint to his cheeks. “You always say that.”
“Because it’s always true.”
“What are you two whispering about?” A new voice joined, raspy and slightly withered.
Izuku squeaked, jumping in his seat. Shoto frowned, glaring at who Izuku knew as Touya, who was sitting on Shoto’s other side.
“It’s rude to interrupt people when they’re having a conversation.” His boyfriend informed icily.
“Awe, come on, Sho! Where’s your sense of humor? Nii-san was just messing around.” Natsuo, Shoto’s other older brother snorted.
Somehow, Izuku felt that them being sandwiched by his two older brothers was nothing short of a coincidence.
“S-So—!” Fuyumi interjected before things could escalate. Izuku glanced away from Shoto’s scowl, their hands remained busy interlocked under the table. “Izuku-kun, Shoto tells me you’re planning on majoring in a science? Any specific one you’ve decided?”
Izuku blinked at the sudden question, quickly side glancing at Shoto who was suddenly very focused on the tabletop.
“U-Um, biophysics probably. I’m really interested in that sort of thing.” He smiled sheepishly when Fuyumi figuratively applauded him with praise.
Natsuo whistled lowly, leaning back in his chair leisurely. “Damn, you have to be, like, crazy smart to want to do that. I bet you gave Shoto a run for his money for valedictorian, right?”
“He did.” Shoto agreed readily, meanwhile Izuku spluttered.
“Not at all! Shoto excels in everything he puts his mind to. I’m only really good at science.” Izuku chuckled, scratching the nape of his neck timidly.
“No you’re not.” Shoto pouted. “You passed with all A’s. You were third in line for valedictorian. You’re not just good at science. You’re amazing.”
Izuku stared at him for a moment, not having expected him to redirect his self-deprecating thoughts elsewhere in front of their families. There was never a moment Shoto made him feel anything less than good. He supposed he appreciated the fact that the constant support didn’t stop even when people were around. That had to mean something.
“Awe, Sho, you’re such a good boyfriend!” Touya cooed, throwing his arm around his youngest brother, practically smothering him into his chest.
Shoto squeezed his hand underneath the table. And Izuku squeezed back, a permanent smile on his face for the rest of dinner.
In that moment, he wished he had an I love you to spend.
[…]
“Get him home safe, Izuku-kun!” Fuyumi called from her car, Touya in the passenger seat, and Natsuo and his mother in the backseat, waving from their windows.
“I will, I promise!” He nodded, clasping Shoto’s hand in his, the two of them waving goodbye until she disappeared behind the corner of the street.
“I wish I had a car to drive you home in.” Izuku said offhandedly, their hands swinging between them as they began walking in the direction of Shoto’s apartment.
“If you had a car, we wouldn’t be able to hold hands like this.” Shoto pointed out, entirely and endearingly serious.
Izuku smiled fondly, squeezing his hand just because he could. “I guess you’re right. I could always just swing you home, too.”
Shoto hummed in distaste. After the first time, he had been quite vocal about his dislike of Izuku's form of transportation, despite requesting that very same thing from him once upon a time.
“Actually, that reminds me…” Shoto said, glancing away from the sidewalk and over to Izuku, who raised his eyebrows in silent question. “Um, about today. I… I don’t want us to be that kind of couple that hides things from each other. And I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this all day, but I didn’t know how to bring it up.”
Izuku stopped walking altogether, his face severe. “Of course. What is it? You can tell me anything, you know that.”
Shoto nodded, his mouth twisting awkwardly. “Yes, I know. It’s… It’s just… I really wanted you to be there for my speech, Izuku. That was the only thing I asked from you today. For you to be on time to see my speech, and you weren’t there. A-And— I’m not blaming— I don’t… I just… I don’t want to make you feel like you have to choose.”
Izuku’s heart felt like it was breaking watching Shoto struggle with downplaying his own feelings so as to not hurt Izuku’s. It was awful. And it was all because of him .
“No, Shoto, you’re right.” He interjected gently, cupping the side of his face with his free hand. Shoto watched him with anxiety-ridden eyes. “I wasn’t there, and I’m sorry. I promise I’ll make it up to you. Hey— you know what, why don’t I take you out tomorrow? Are you free?”
Shoto blinked, his eyes widening. “Um, yeah, but you don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.” Izuku stated firmly, leaning up a little to kiss him square on the mouth. “I really, really want to. You deserve it.”
Shoto flushed. “I just… want you, you know. I don’t need you to take me on a date, I just want to feel like you still… want me.”
Izuku balked, the admittance practically stabbing him in the heart.
“Of course I still want you!” He gasped, letting go of Shoto’s hand in favor of cupping both sides of his face in complete hysteria. He was well aware that he was making a scene in the middle of an empty sidewalk, but he felt this was justified. “Shoto, I will always want you.”
Shoto smiled a tiny smile, and reached up with a palm, suddenly covering Izuku’s eyes, blinding him.
“I love you.”
Izuku’s breath hitched, his face burning. Shoto brought his hand down, his own face a rosy pink shade.
“I want to spend mine already.” He joked, his voice slightly trembling from the short moment they shared. His entire body seemed to be shaking. It never failed to overwhelm him, hearing Shoto say those three words to him.
Shoto chuckled, pecking him on the lips quickly, once, twice, three times. “Save it for tomorrow. You’re taking me out, right?”
Izuku blinked, then grinned, nodding in his excitement. “Absolutely! It’s gonna be great, I promise.”
Shoto smiled, taking his hand in his once more.
“I’m counting on it.”
[…]
Izuku might be in very, very big trouble. Unless he could apprehend an armed robber in under twenty minutes, he was absolutely screwed.
Prior to his current situation, in the peacefulness of his own room, he promised to himself that he would not let anything get in the way of him being punctual to a date he invited Shoto on. And at first, yeah, he was almost sure he’d make it to the restaurant in time. He’d even texted Shoto that he was on his way just to make it more real for him.
But then, that familiar dreaded tingle rang in his ears, quickly alerting him of a nearby danger. Izuku wanted to ignore it. The police could handle it— all he had to do was call the police and leave the scene before they could stop him for questioning. But the convenience store was right there. And the assailant had a gun. He couldn’t just wait . He couldn’t sit back and do nothing when he knew he could do something.
Izuku ran behind a dumpster parked in a nearby alleyway, and dropped his backpack onto the dingy ground. He knew he practically enabled himself to do these things, bringing his backpack with him wherever he went, but it was really just insurance. Just in case. It couldn’t be helped that every time he stepped out of his apartment somebody needed him.
Once suited up, Tokyo quickly powered on and gave her two cents as she always seemed to do despite being a literal computer.
“ Don’t you have a date in ten minutes? ”
Izuku cursed under his mask, waving at a few civilians that shouted his name in excitement as he ran towards the convenience store.
“This won’t take long.” He promised more to himself than he did her.
“ Wouldn’t you rather me call the police? ”
Izuku pushed through the convenience store doors, pulling the assailant's attention off of the sobbing cashier and onto him.
“Five minutes, Tokyo. This will take five minutes.” He said before shooting a web onto the guy's face, blinding him.
“Get out of here!” Izuku advised the crying woman standing behind the register. The man had a weapon, and a deadly one at that.
Just as he yelled at the woman to run, the man blindly shot three bullets at the ceiling of the store, his yelling muffled by the web. The woman screeched as she ran through the exit, a few bystanders surrounding her when she made it out safely. With civilians out of the way, Izuku could get to work on the idiot who decided to rob a convenience store at eight o’clock at night. Izuku ducked out of the man’s way, and kicked the gun out of his hand, sending it skidding towards the fridges in the back.
The man’s arms flailed, blindly reaching for anything he could grab on to.
Izuku scoffed at the downright pathetic display.
“Next time you want to rob an innocent elderly woman, you remember this, and think twice about the choices you make.” He advised solemnly before sticking the man’s ankles together with a web, effectively knocking him over onto the ground.
Izuku flipped him onto his stomach, manually grabbing both of his arms and pinning his wrists to the middle of his back before shooting another one of his webs to immobilize him even further.
“ The authorities are on their way .” Tokyo informed, a second later police sirens blared from a few streets down.
“Thanks, Tokyo.” Izuku exhaled a sharp sigh, leaving the man behind in favor of checking on the crowd of civilians dawdling outside the store, peering in through the windows.
“Is everyone alright? Nobody’s hurt?” He asked, looking around the group, scanning for any signs of blood or injury.
“We’re fine, thanks to you!” The elderly woman exclaimed, the others expressing their agreements.
Izuku smiled sheepishly, waving off their praise. “Just doing my job.” He shrugged shyly, and began walking backwards towards the alleyway. “The police will be here soon, make sure to give them your statements. And be safe!”
The crowd continued to yell their thanks as he swung away, carefully ducking into the alleyway once again, before he hastily began stripping himself out of his costume.
“Tokyo, any texts from Shoto?” He asked while simultaneously buckling his belt around his jeans.
“ Three new texts from Shoto. Would you like me to read them out loud for you? ”
“Uh, yes, please.” He mumbled, debating whether or not he should tie his shoes or tuck the laces under his foot to give him some extra time.
“ Text from: Shoto. Sent at eight-twelve pm. Are you almost here? ”
Izuku gulped anxiously, tussling his hair in hopes that it looked fine before slinging his backpack over his shoulders and booking it out of the alleyway, heading straight for the restaurant he asked Shoto to meet him at.
“Text from: Shoto. Sent at eight-twenty two pm. Where are you? They’re asking for my order, but I asked them to wait. Please hurry. ”
Shit. Izuku pushed his legs to their fullest extent. He wasn’t too late. He couldn’t be.
“ Text from: Shoto. Sent at eight-thirty seven. I’m going home. Thanks for dinner. ”
Izuku cursed, and checked the time on his phone. Eight forty-three. Shoto couldn’t have gotten far. He still had time to fix this.
By the time Izuku found him, Shoto was already halfway back to his apartment, his hands shoved in his coat pockets and his head ducked low. Izuku jogged up behind him, his heart beating erratically in his chest; from nerves or exertion, he had no idea.
“Shoto, I’m— I’m so sorry. I lost track of time, but I promise I was—“
“You promise?” Shoto echoed back to him weakly, abruptly stopping in the middle of the sidewalk to really look at him. Izuku’s face fell. Shoto was… “Just like you promised you’d make it on time to my birthday party? Or when you had to leave mid-date because someone was in trouble, and you promised you’d be right back? Or— or what about that time you promised you’d make it to see my speech at graduation? Remember that?”
Shoto’s voice trembled and petered out towards the end of his sentence. Izuku hardly felt like he was breathing. What had he done?
“Izuku, I understand that your job is to help people. You’re Spider-Man, and I love that. I really, really love that. But I’m not dating Spider-Man, I’m dating you.”
Izuku’s eyes clouded over. What had he done ?
Shoto shook his head, his eyes stubbornly acquainted with the ground. “We’re on two different paths right now, Izuku. So… so if you aren’t willing to commit to this relationship the way I am, then m-maybe we should—“
“ No ,” Izuku whispered suddenly, unable to stop himself from interrupting. He couldn’t even bear to hear those words. He knew exactly what was coming. Izuku shook his head and took a step towards him. Tears tracked down his cheeks, his entire body trembling. “Please— please , Shoto. I don’t— I don’t want to lose you. I’ll— I can do better, I’ll be better.”
Shoto sniffled, his face crumpling and his chin dimpling with ill concealed sobs.
“Izuku, I don’t want you to have to choose between me or Spider-Man. That isn’t fair to you, o-or me. I don’t want to be put in that position.”
Izuku wiped his eyes with the heels of his palms, angry at himself for thinking he had any right to be crying when he had been the one who hurt Shoto.
“What can I do? Wh-What do you need me to do? I’ll do it. Please, Shoto. Please, just give me another chance.” He whispered frantically, tentatively taking his hand in his own, relaxing only slightly when he didn’t pull away.
Shoto sighed, and he sounded so tired. It broke Izuku’s heart to know he was the cause of that.
“All I need is you. I need you to be here. I need to know that you still want this.”
Izuku nodded rapidly, realizing all too late what Shoto had truly meant when he said the same thing yesterday. He was awful.
“Give me another chance. I won’t let you down. I swear, I’ll do better.” He croaked, brushing his thumbs over and across Shoto’s knuckles.
Shoto only sighed again, his shoulders sagging from their tense position. “Okay.” Was all he offered, but it was enough for now. It was enough to keep Izuku from crying anymore until he at least got back to his apartment.
“C-Can I walk you home?” He asked, dreading the answer, fearing rejection.
Shoto offered a silent nod and nothing more. Izuku was content to maintain the silence. He feared he’d only make things worse by talking. And Shoto didn’t really seem like he was in the mood to deal with his nervous mumbling— or with him in general. Their hands were the only thing keeping them connected, and that terrified him more than anything. He hadn’t realized how easy it was to lose someone you loved. He’d taken advantage of Shoto, and nearly suffered the consequences because of it.
If Shoto chose to break up with him, it would be entirely his fault. And he could blame nobody but himself.
Izuku walked him all the way back to his apartment, disturbed by the silent departure. Shoto hadn’t even done so much as look at him before entering the complex. He couldn’t just leave it at that. He refused to.
Izuku ran around the side of the building where Shoto’s room was visible, and attached one of his web mechanisms to his wrist before shooting a single web to that familiar fire escape. He launched himself into the air, landing on the rusty lift with a muted thump.
Shoto was already in his room by the time he rapped his knuckles on the glass of the window, startling him a fraction based on the way his shoulders jumped an inch into the air.
He froze at the sight of him, then, seemingly instinctively, walked over to the window and cracked it open all the way, as if he were inviting him in. He knew, at the moment, that he wasn’t. And it killed him.
Impulsively, Izuku leaned into the room and kissed him. It was quick, and short, but he needed to know he could at least still do this. Shoto didn’t push him away, and that was enough.
“I’m sorry.” He whispered tremulously, his eyes still closed, and his forehead pressed against Shoto’s. “I love you.”
“I know.” He replied, his voice hoarse and tired. “I love you, too.”
Izuku nodded weakly, feeling as if he didn’t even deserve to hear those words in his voice. He backed away from the window, readying his web mechanism.
“I’ll see you?” The end of his sentence lilting up in question from nerves.
“You’ll see me.” Shoto affirmed softly, offering a weak smile and nothing more. That was enough.
It was enough for now.
[…]
“So,” Ochako prompted, spinning around in Izuku’s desk chair after both her and Tenya entered his room upon his urgent text message inviting them over. “What’s up?”
Tenya nodded, looking over to Izuku with a serious frown on his face. “Yes, is something the matter, Izuku?”
Izuku gulped, his eyes unable to stay in one place for very long. “I need your guys’ advice on something important.”
“College?” Tenya asked, folding his arms over his chest.
“No, not— it’s not anything like that.”
Ochako hummed, squinting at him conspicuously, pausing in her spinning. “This is about Todoroki-kun, isn’t it?”
Izuku sighed in defeat, falling backwards onto his bed. “Guys, I really, really screwed up.”
“What happened? Wait— did you guys break up?!” Ochako gasped, scandalized, suddenly standing from her seat. Tenya’s expression matched that of hers.
“No!” Izuku insisted immediately, hastily leaning up on his elbows. “I didn’t— well, actually, he almost broke up with me. I did something terrible. ”
Tenya frowned. “Terrible as in how? I’m sure it wasn’t too bad.”
Ochako hummed her disagreement. “I don’t know. It’d have to be something pretty bad for Todoroki-kun to want to break up with you. You guys are disgustingly in love with each other. What happened?”
Izuku sighed, letting his elbow fall back to his sides, sprawling out on his mattress once again.
“I keep prioritizing Spider-Man over him.” He muttered, glaring holes into his ceiling. “I didn’t even know I was doing it until he told me. I felt so stupid.”
“What do you mean, you keep prioritizing Spider-Man over him?” Tenya asked, sounding genuinely confused. “You were Spider-Man before you two were dating. Isn’t it a bit unfair of him to want you to choose?”
Ochako gasped before he could defend his boyfriend’s name.
“Tenya-kun, how could you say that? Put yourself in Todoroki-kun’s shoes. How would you feel if your significant other blew you off every chance they got?”
Izuku winced at her brutal honesty. Though, he supposed it was true.
“Shoto’s not making me choose, Tenya-kun. He was going to break up with me just so that I didn’t have to make that decision myself. And Ochako’s right. I’ve been a horrible boyfriend.” He whispered, heart wrenching when Shoto’s tear stricken face briefly flashed in his head.
Tenya hummed hesitantly. “So… what did you need our advice on? It seems you have it all figured out.”
Izuku frowned, sitting up on his bed, and dangling his legs off the edge of it. “I don’t know what to do to make it up to him. I broke so many promises, and I still managed to convince him I deserve another chance. I don’t want to screw this up again. I can’t— I can’t lose him.”
Ochako quickly joined him on the bed, throwing a friendly arm around his shoulder and nearly putting him in a headlock from how tightly she was squeezing him.
“Well, first of all, get rid of that attitude! You haven’t lost him, yet, Izuku. Stop acting like you have.” She tutted, squeezing him once more before releasing him from her grip. Izuku sucked in a grateful breath of air. “I have a plan so romantic, so thoughtful, Todoroki-kun will be all over you by the end of it! Just follow my lead.”
Tenya shot him a look.
Izuku was beginning to think asking her wasn’t such a good idea.
[…]
Izuku had elected to wait a few days before inviting Shoto on a date via text message. He wanted to give them both some time to cool down and collect their thoughts— immediately taking him out when things were still so tense didn’t feel right. Shoto seemed reluctant to agree at first, once again stating that he didn’t need Izuku to take him out on a date to show him he loved him.
But Izuku was nothing if not stubborn. And their date was set in stone. March seventeenth, at nine o’clock in the evening. And Izuku was definitely going to be there. He sort of had to be for this plan to work.
He waited for Shoto outside his apartment complex, jittery and nervous. This was either going to work like magic, or fail miserably.
Shoto pushed past the glass doors of the complex not even a minute later, stunning as ever, especially under the moonlight.
Izuku opened his mouth to tell him as much, but wheezed out all the air in his lungs when Shoto rammed into him, practically crushing him into a tight hug.
“Hi,” He whispered, holding him from around his neck.
Izuku blinked, taken aback. He hadn’t expected such a greeting. He felt he didn’t deserve it. But this was nice. Izuku hugged him back from around his waist, holding him close. This was perfect.
“Hello.” He said, pulling away from the embrace just a little, Shoto following his movements. They kissed for a brief moment, and Izuku all but melted. He loved this. “Are you ready to go on the most romantic date ever ?”
Shoto snorted, his eyes squinting. “I suppose. Where are we going?”
Izuku grinned boyishly. “Up.”
Shoto blinked, then frowned. “U-Up?”
“Hold on tight.” He advised, pointing his wrist to the water tank sitting on top of the apartment building’s roof, and curling an arm around Shoto’s waist.
“ W-Wait —!”
Izuku launched them both into the air, Shoto yelping close to his ear as he hid his face in the crook of his neck.
Izuku landed them safely onto the rooftop, his eyes weary as he stared out at the scene he and Ochako had set up a few hours prior.
“You can look now,” he giggled, patting the small of Shoto’s back when he still hadn’t relinquished his tight grip from around his neck.
Shoto pulled away quickly, his eyes meeting Izuku’s for a moment, before they blinked towards the display that awaited them both. Izuku could feel his breath hitch, watching closely as his eyes widened the tiniest fraction.
His eyelashes fluttered, looking back to Izuku, his mouth opening and closing, seemingly lost on any and all words.
“Did you… do this?” He whispered breathily, taking a hesitant step forward.
Izuku giggled timidly. Ochako had given him the idea, but the decor was all him. In the middle of the rooftop was a table for two, decorated with a single candle at the center of it, and a lone rose sitting right beside it in a skinny glass vase. A candlelit dinner under the night sky. Ochako complained that the decorations were too simple, but he knew Shoto. This was just the right amount.
“Ochako gave me the idea, but I did set this up, yeah.” He chuckled sheepishly, scratching behind his ear. “Do you like it?”
Shoto turned to him, indignant. “Do I like it?” He echoed, then turned back to the display. “Izuku— this is… it’s amazing.”
Izuku smiled, endeared. “I’m glad you think so.” He said, taking his hand in his and leading him over to the table, letting go of his hand only to pull his chair out for him.
Shoto snorted his thanks, his cheeks rosy pink. Izuku joined him across the table, and gestured to Ochako.
“Good evening, sirs, I’m… Pochacco. I’ll be your waiter today.” The girl greeted, adorning a fake mustache she picked up at the party store and insisted she wore while bringing them their food.
Izuku all but face palmed. Shoto chuckled.
“Unfortunately for you both, there’s only one thing on the menu. Chef!” She yelled, clapping her hands together twice.
Tenya bursted through the roof's main entrance, rolling out a cart with two plates covered with silver domes— another one of Ochako’s brilliant ideas.
“Your dinner,” The girl announced, dramatically revealing what sat underneath the domes. “Soba, from Todoroki-kun’s favorite restaurant! Enjoy!”
As the two of them left, Shoto gaped down at his food, then at Izuku, who was smiling in delight at his reaction.
“You got Tanakaya’s?”
Izuku’s smile widened. “I did. But this isn’t the only surprise.”
“There’s more after this?”
“Yup.” He grinned. “It took me a while to put it all together, but I think you’ll like it.”
Shoto pouted. “I can’t believe you expect me to eat after telling me something like that.”
Izuku giggled, stubbornly digging into his own plate of food while Shoto begged him for hints about the next surprise. Because truthfully, if he didn’t have anything to stop him, he would’ve spoiled the entire thing for him. He’d do anything Shoto asked him, he felt.
[…]
Dinner went smoothly. They spoke about everything and absolutely nothing all at once. Conversations with Shoto were never boring, and they never felt forced. Everything with him felt so absolutely natural.
The second they finished, however, Shoto was practically bouncing in his seat, his curiosity so pent up over the course of their dinner he could hardly sit still.
“The suspense is killing me, Izuku.” He pouted petulantly, squeezing his hand from across the table. “Tell me what it is or I might die.”
Izuku snorted at his dramatics, and stood from the table, taking Shoto along with him. “Please, no dying. Fuyumi-san would be heartbroken.” He laughed when all Shoto did was groan.
“If you really want to know what it is, hold onto me.”
Shoto balked, staring at his face, probably trying to discern if he was joking or not. He wasn’t.
“Is it really safe to go swinging on a full stomach? You’re not worried you’ll throw up?” Shoto huffed, wrapping his arms tightly around Izuku’s neck, despite the obvious distaste laced in his voice.
Izuku shrugged, unfazed by his concern, and hooked his arm around Shoto’s waist again. “I’ve done it before. If you really feel like you might, just aim it down.” He teased.
“That’s not funny—!”
Izuku began his running start, taking Shoto along with him, who was sputtering out incoherencies at the sudden change of pace. Izuku led them to the very end of the building, and dropped them both off the edge, free falling for all of three seconds before shooting a web to the nearest building and launching them high into the air.
Shoto clung onto him for dear life, his words coming out stammered and wheezed from the abrupt drop. Izuku would definitely pay for that later.
He swung them through the city, and towards the harbor, grinning when his surprise came into sight. Izuku shot out a final web onto a water tower with the perfect view, his chest heaving from the adrenaline. He looked sideways at Shoto, who had his face practically embedded into his neck.
Izuku kissed his temple. “We’re here.”
Shoto’s body practically creaked as he shifted out of the position he seemed cemented in. “N-Next time you take me out on your webs, let me get on your back.”
Izuku frowned. Truthfully, he’d thought about that the first time he ever took Shoto swinging with him in a context where he wasn’t hurt. But he really, really loved to be able to hold Shoto by his waist.
“Was it that bad?” Izuku asked, smiling sheepishly when Shoto shot him a look.
“You literally threw us off a roof. If we’re doing that again, I’m getting on your back.” He insisted with a serious pout.
Izuku kissed him, and held him by his waist, unable to help himself. He was so endearing, he wasn’t even sure if he knew what he was doing.
“Okay. You win.” He snorted after they broke up. “Now look that way.”
Shoto frowned, slowly looping his arms around Izuku’s neck.
“What way?”
“The bridge.”
Shoto blinked at him, then turned his head halfway. His eyes squinted over at the bridge, and Izuku could tell by the way his eyes were moving, he had seen it. A huge, maybe a little cheesy— definitely a little idiotic I love you message webbed out in huge letters across the bridge’s columns. Izuku went through four web mechanisms to get it absolutely perfect.
Shoto went rigid in his arms, his cheeks suddenly bright red and his eyes wider than they’d ever been.
“Izuku— oh my gosh.” He whispered pitchily, bowing his head, thoroughly overwhelmed.
“Do you like it?” Izuku grinned, pulling him closer. “Do you know what it says?”
Shoto snorted, slightly hysteric, his cheeks still a bright red. “Actually, no, I couldn’t make it out.” He shrugged, his voice breathy and light.
“It says I love you.” Izuku smiled, thumping their foreheads together, and shutting his eyes. “Because I love you. And no offense, but you’re wrong.”
Shoto kissed the tip of his nose. “Wrong about what?”
Izuku sighed, leaning up to catch his mouth with his own, holding him there for a moment.
“About us being on different paths. We’re not on different paths, because you are my path. And you’re always going to be my path. I want you, forever, Shoto. There’s nothing in this world I want more than you.”
He meant every word. There had never been a moment where he was so honest about his feelings about anything. Shoto made him want to scream from every rooftop in Japan how much he loved him. Only he did that.
“How am I supposed to top this?” Shoto warbled, smiling despite the flow of tears dripping down his cheeks. Izuku wiped them away with his knuckles, his own eyes growing misty. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, you know.”
Izuku kissed him hard, and he could feel how their lips trembled in sync. He was so in love with him. And there was nothing on this planet he loved more than this; than Shoto.
“You ready to go home?” He whispered after a brief moment of them just existing in each other’s presence.
Shoto shot him a wry look. “Not really.” He muttered, looking off to the side. “Can I get on your back this time?”
Izuku laughed, smothering his cheeks with kisses.
“If you insist. Here.” He turned his back to him, smiling when Shoto slowly wrapped his arms around his neck and shoulders. Izuku kissed both of his hands, and tossed a grin over his shoulder.
“Ready?”
Shoto grimaced.
“No,”
“Alright!”
As Izuku swung them back to Shoto’s apartment, he couldn’t help but to think about what their future together held. He couldn’t imagine a life without Shoto. And after being threatened by that very same prospect, he knew that was exactly what he didn’t want.
There were few things Izuku knew for sure. Things changed over time, and that was fine.
But there was one thing he knew for certain.
If he had to choose between being Spider-Man and loving Shoto… he’d choose Shoto. It would always be Shoto.