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One thing that Midoriya had observed about Todoroki Shouto was that he was an incredibly sleepy person. And that he was a person who practically lusted after naps, intentionally or not. Shouto could fall asleep practically anywhere, and half the time Midoriya felt an additional weight on his shoulder, it would most likely be Todoroki, sound asleep.
He wasn’t sure if it was insomnia, or the rotten relationship between Shouto and his father plaguing his dreams that kept Todoroki from getting the sleep he needed; but Izuku resolved to get to the bottom of the problem. At some point. Maybe not today though, considering the weight on Izuku’s shoulder presently.
Except, here they were, in the common room of the dorms, with Todoroki sound asleep on Izuku’s shoulder. Shouto’s school books lay strewn across his lap, pencil dangling precariously from his fingers. But he remained asleep, soft breaths tickling Izuku’s neck, his hair brushing just under the other’s chin.
In other words, Midoriya Izuku was stuck.
And he didn’t have the heart to move Todoroki off of his shoulder, either.
“Deku?”
Izuku tore his gaze away from Todoroki’s peaceful, sleeping face when he heard Uraraka call his name, glancing up to meet her eyes. “Shhhh,” Izuku held a finger to his lips and tilted his head to the sound asleep Todoroki on his shoulder. “What’s up, Uraraka?”
A small smile crossed Ochako’s face and she made a vague gesture towards Todoroki and then gave a knowing glance to Izuku. “Is this...normal?” Uraraka had to stifle the giggle that threatened to escape, pressing her knuckles to her lips, eyes looking fondly at the pair snuggled up together on the couch.
Slowly, Izuku turned his gaze to Todoroki again, before smiling fondly himself. “More often than you’d think.” He replied slowly. “I dunno, he’s like a cat. It just sort of… happens. Usually when we’re studying. He sure looks comfortable, huh?”
Uraraka hummed thoughtfully, moving to go and take a seat on the empty couch adjacent to where Shouto and Izuku were situated. “It’s cute!”
“What.” Izuku deadpanned.
“You and Todoroki-kun, of course.” Uraraka waved her hand as if she hadn’t just announced that Izuku and Todoroki, snuggling, was cute. If one could even consider it snuggling. “You’re right, he does look comfortable. Comfortable and content.”
Izuku shrugged, glancing back down at Shouto who had barely even stirred. Slowly, he ran his fingers through the other’s hair, not doing a very good job at hiding his little smile. “I’m glad he trusts me like this. Sleeping is kinda...intimate? I guess? And to think that he trusts me enough or is comfortable enough with me to do this…” Izuku made a vague gesture to Todoroki before shifting them so Shouto’s head was pillowed in his lap and Izuku had motion of his right arm again. “Hand me that blanket, please?”
Uraraka nodded, scooping up one of Momo’s lovingly made blankets that were forever stored in the common room, and handed it over to Izuku. The blanket was taken by Midoriya and carefully laid over Shouto’s pliable form, tucking the other in as best he could. “He likes to cocoon himself in blankets…” Midoriya explained quietly, fingers once more finding themselves carding through Todoroki’s mussed hair.
It took all of Ochako’s willpower not to snap a picture of the intimate sight and share it in the class group chat, despite Todoroki’s (rare) and Midoriya’s (not so rare) presence in it.
The next time that Todoroki found himself snuggled against Izuku, with his head lolled against his shoulder, was in the middle of practical hero training.
Shouto had been paired against Bakugo and had received more than a nasty hit to the head from not only Bakugo’s fist featuring his ridiculous bomb-tools (that’s what Izuku called them, much to Shouto’s amusement) and his ridiculous steel-toed boots (which were the main cause of Shouto’s nauseating headache).
Honestly, it was pure distraction that allowed Bakugo to get those two relentless hits in, and Todoroki internally chastised himself for letting himself get distracted so easily. He knew that the other wasn’t going to pull punches, or kicks for that matter. The nausea was fierce and the pounding in Shouto’s head that came with those hits and his descent to the ground was downright debilitating and Shouto came to regret his distracted fighting that day.
No doubt he was concussed, but despite that probable knowledge, Shouto attempted to get to his feet anyway-- only to be stopped not only by Aizawa, who pressed a kind, but firm hand to his shoulder, easing him back down, but by Midoriya as well.
That boy was going to be the death of him, Shouto decided.
“Todoroki, stay where you are, you look nauseated. No doubt you have a concussion. Midoriya, stay with him and get him somewhere dark and quiet.” Aizawa ordered, keeping his voice low as to not bother Todoroki’s throbbing head more. Todoroki made a move to get up again, but once more, Aizawa pushed him and, getting to his feet himself to go chat with Bakugo.
Whilst Aizawa laid into Bakugo about restraint and the need to learn that he doesn’t need to actually harm his classmates to win, Izuku was leading Shouto to a free wall in the gymnasium to rest against.
It was taking a lot more effort than Shouto realised not to hurl, and he gripped tightly to Midoriya as he staggered alongside the other with uneven steps. The throbbing in his head was damned persistent and his churning stomach wasn’t helping matters along either.
More importantly, Shouto wanted to sleep. But each time his eyes fluttered shut and his movements became more unsteady, Izuku would elbow him in the ribs, dragging a pained hiss from Shouto’s lips.
Looks like his ribs were out of commission too, no thanks to Bakugo.
Shouto’s eyes felt heavy again and he nestled himself a bit closer to Midoriya once he was settled against a wall, head tilted backwards and tilted towards Izuku’s shoulder as he tried to will the nausea and throbbing of his head away. Slowly, he allowed his eyes to drift towards Midoriya, blinking slowly as he watched the other speak and gesture. Shouto wasn’t actually hearing anything of what Izuku was saying, rather he was distracted by the way the other’s mouth moved, how his eyes crinkled on the corners when he smiled…
That had to be the concussion talking.
“Todoroki-kun? Hey, Todoroki-kun…? Shouto?”
Izuku’s voice and the use of his first name dragged Shouto from his dazed thoughts and he jerked himself all too quickly away from Izuku. Grimacing, Shouto glanced to Izuku, lips pulled into a tight line. “What…?”
Visible concern was written on Midoriya’s face and he lifted his hand to check the bruising on Shouto’s temple. It took all of Shouto’s willpower not to shy away from the hand that held his hair back. “You should probably go see Recovery Girl, you’re not looking good at all. Your cheeks are all flushed and you’re more dazed than earlier…”
Todoroki tried to listen to Izuku, he honestly did, but the other was just so damn
distracting.
And anyway, it was Izuku’s fault his cheeks were burning red hot. Not that he was willing to share that information.
“I’m fine…” Shouto managed to stutter out. “I don’t want to bother her with something so trivial like a concussion.”
“Concussions are serious, Todoroki-- and your breaths are wheezy. Do you want to take a minute, drink some water and relax before we go and see Recovery Girl?” Midoriya wasn’t giving Shouto any other options here, and when the other set his mind on something, there was no changing his mind.
Shouto wanted to slam his head into the wall. Why was Izuku so precious? So concerned? So sweet? “It’s just a concussion,” Shouto mumbled lowly. He tried not to catch Izuku’s concerned, bright…
handsome
green eyes. But Shouto failed in that in every way.
“My...eyes?” Came Izuku’s quizzical voice and Shouto wanted to scream. “Yours are nice, too, Todoroki-kun! About 0,67% of the population have heterochromia, you know.”
Mortification wasn’t enough to cover Shouto’s current feelings. And where had Midoriya pulled that fact from? Todoroki silently cursed his foggy mind and his magical inability to keep some of his inner dialogue to himself. Naturally, only the embarrassing thoughts were uttered, not something mundane like if they had hondashi stocked in the common room kitchen so he could make miso soup for a cold and rainy day. And ultimately, hear Midoriya praise his cooking skills and slurp down the soup whilst Shouto got distracted by the other’s eating and his own miso got cold before Shouto could touch it.
Of course that hadn’t happened before. Nope.
Izuku was keeping concerned eyes on him, and when Aizawa wandered over to check on Shouto, who was just staring blankly at the ceiling, Izuku expressed his need to go and see Recovery Girl. Shouto could feel Izuku draw him into his chest and he couldn’t help but nestle into the strong chest of the other.
This was comfortable.
So comfortable that Shouto could just...doze. A small nap wouldn’t hurt, right?
Exhaling out slowly, he allowed his head to fully lull onto Izuku’s shoulder, heterochromatic eyes fluttering shut as he dozed off to sleep. He’d wake up in about ten minutes, Shouto told himself. It was fine.
Next time Shouto’s eyes opened, he was staring at the white ceiling of the infirmary, still nauseated, still with a headache that could take down the most powerful villain or hero alike, and distinctly Izuku-less. This most certainly had been longer than a ten minute cat nap.
Well that sucked. Groaning, Shouto slowly pushed himself up on shaky arms, dragging one hand down his face as he tried to gather his bearings. He must have fallen asleep or passed out against Izuku, and if he had done that, then most certainly Aizawa and Midoriya had dragged his sorry ass to Recovery Girl. Damn. The whole damn class had to have seen that, and that was more than embarrassing.
Shouto’s tongue felt like a wad of cotton in his mouth and he glanced to the side miserably, praying silently that there was a glass of water present to ease his suffering, even just slightly. Instead, he was met with the backs of Izuku and Recovery Girl, chatting away amicably as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in ten years.
Hearing the shift in the infirmary bed, Izuku turned around and almost blinded Shouto with his blinding smile. “Todoroki-kun! You’re awake! God, you had us scared there for a minute when you just passed out on my shoulder! Thank God Aizawa-sensei had let Recovery Girl know ahead of time that you were going to be in for a head injury! You’ve been out for awhile! But, your ribs, too! Kacchan went a bit overboard and really did a number on you, huh? I’m so sorry about him, sometimes he doesn’t-- well, he doesn’t ever really think of repercussions--”
Shouto was getting dizzy simply listening to Izuku ramble. He held a hand up, squeezing his eyes shut in a silent plea for Izuku to cease his ramblings, free hand pressing to his temple.
“Ah, sorry--” Izuku smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. He took a seat in the chair beside Todoroki’s bed and glanced down at his knees before looking back to Shouto. “So how are you feeling?”
Todoroki seemed to debate the question for a moment, rolling his tongue over in his mouth to attempt to formulate words that didn’t sound scratchy and sluggish. “I’m...okay.” Izuku only raised an eyebrow in disbelief and Shouto guiltily continued. “I mean, I feel better than...I did...earlier?”
“Yesterday.” Izuku clarified.
“Yester...day?”
Izuku nodded slowly, reaching over to brush Todoroki’s bangs from his forehead, the other squeezing his eyes shut in shock at feeling Izuku’s tender fingertips against his forehead. It was an unfamiliar, but not unwelcome feeling, Shouto decided, and he almost wanted to lean into the touch. “You’ve been out since around one yesterday-- that’s why I was so worried.”
Heterochromatic eyes slowly blank and Shouto made a silent “oh” before he pulled his lips into a taught line and glanced away for a moment. Before he could open his mouth to apologise for worrying Izuku, the other was speaking again.
“Also, Todoroki-kun, I didn’t know that you wore glasses?”
What. How did Izuku find
that
little fact out?
The other elaborated whenever Shouto tossed a confused look, featuring a classic “oh crap, my corrective vision lenses are nowhere to be found” squint, towards Midoriya. “When Recovery Girl contacted your sister to let her know that you would be staying here overnight? She came and brought you a change of clothes and whatnot-- and she brought you a glasses case and contact case. Your sister is really nice! And she was really worried, so I would let her know you’re...awake. I don’t want to say up and at it, but yeah.” Izuku chuckled nervously at Shouto’s blank expression.
Another silent “oh” from Shouto and he glanced away from Izuku again. Vaguely, Shouto heard Recovery Girl mention that she would be back shortly and to rest up, leaving Shouto and Izuku alone in the room.
Silence settled over the pair and Shouto fidgeted under Izuku’s unwavering glance. “Can…” He grimaced, fuck, this was difficult. “I...erm, ask you a question?” Shouto had no idea
why
he was about to ask this question, but here he was anyway.
Izuku positively beamed. “Shoot!” He chirped, scooching forward in his chair.
Shouto rubbed his temples and sighed before he scooched over as best he could in bed. “Can you… y’know… uhm, your shoulder--” Todoroki made a vague gesture, cursing internally as he felt his cheeks heat up in mild embarrassment at his unvoiced request.
“What about my shoulder? Are you feeling okay, Todoroki-kun? Your face is super red, gosh, I hope it’s not a fever--” Izuku ventured and Shouto wanted to knock himself out against a wall again.
“C’mere?”
Midoriya gave a curious look, glancing down at the now vacant space on the bed. He made a silent gesture and Shouto gave a slow nod as to not aggravate his headache. Hesitantly, Izuku sat down and Todoroki found himself nestling into Izuku’s side, resting his head against the other’s shoulder.
“This is more comfortable,” Shouto murmured against Midoriya’s shoulder. He blamed the concussion for his openness about this, silently praying that Izuku wouldn’t mention it to anyone, keep it between themselves and ultimately, not even think about it past today.
The rigid body next to Shouto finally relaxed and Izuku drew the other into his chest, allowing Shouto to ease himself into Izuku’s tight hold. It was comfortable, relaxing, warm and safe feeling. Shouto couldn’t help but exhale contently as he nuzzled against Izuku, fingers curling into the other’s chest.
Yup. Definitely a side-effect of the concussion. Self-indulgently snuggling into Izuku’s warm...jacked...chest, was one hundred percent a result of his concussion.
Or so that’s what Todoroki told himself mentally. Justification.
“T-Todoroki-kun?” Izuku stammered, placing a hesitant hand on the other’s back. “Uhm--”
“Shouto.”
“What?”
“Call me Shouto.”
Shouto was fairly certain that were it possible, Izuku’s head would’ve exploded off of his body. Whilst the mental image was funny, Shouto’s ribs and throbbing head didn’t necessarily agree with his stifled snicker.
“Tod--er, Shouto, you can, uhm, call me Izuku, too…”
That stuttering tone of Izuku’s was downright adorable and it gave Shouto a nearly irrepressible urge to kiss the other. And another urge to slap himself across the face for such thoughts. “Izuku,” He breathed out slowly, smiling to himself at how the other’s name felt on the tip of his tongue. “Thanks.”
“For what?” Midor-- no, Izuku, whispered, in an attempt to keep his voice down. He wasn’t very successful and Shouto winced against the volume.
“For, you know, bringing me...and what have you,” Shouto pursed his lips, tugging the blanket around him. He wasn’t necessarily cold, persay, but he wanted the security of the blanket cocooned around him.
Izuku smiled, laughing quietly. Shouto repressed a smile as he felt the rumble of laughter against his cheek that was pressed against Izuku’s chest. “Of course! We’re friends, right? That’s what friends do for one another.”
Friends. That was an interesting word. One that Shouto wasn’t necessarily sure applied to their relationship. After all, Shouto took naps on Izuku’s shoulder. He was currently pressed up against to the other, fingers curled into his shirt as if Shouto’s life depended on it. Shouto had more than one thought about kissing the other. Certainly friends didn’t do that. Not even best friends likely had urges about kissing the other, right?
Granted, Shouto didn’t consider himself an expert of this “friend” and “best friend” thing, but he was rather certain, say 99.8% certain, that best friends didn’t have urges to fling themselves onto their counterpart and smooch said counterpart until they were breathless and disheveled.
Maybe Shouto was just an anomaly. It would certainly make sense. His upbringing wasn’t necessarily the most social one or normal one, for that matter.
Shouto shuddered at the thought of his father. He had
no
place in his daydreams about whatever his and Izuku’s relationship was. That was just a stain that didn’t have a right to be there.
“Are you okay?”
Izuku’s voice dragged Shouto out of the inner workings of his mind and he jerked his head up, far too quickly, to look at the other. Suppressing a groan, Shouto nodded and slowly eased his head back against Izuku. “Yeah, sorry. I was just...thinking.”
“About what?”
No one could fault Izuku for being so curious, but right now Shouto wanted to suffocate the other,
lovingly
, with a pillow. He fidgeted uncomfortably against the other, debating on how he wanted to respond. Honesty was the best policy right? “Would… you consider us friends or best friends?”
“Best friends, of course.” Midoriya answered matter-a-factly. “Why do you ask?”
Shouto shrugged. “No reason.”
Amicable silence settled over the pair and Izuku’s fingers slid their way up from Shouto’s back up into his hair, gently scritching at his scalp in a soothing manner. His fingers would rub Shouto’s scalp for a few moments before gently massaging for a bit and then go back to rubbing gently. It was absolute heaven.
The silence remained for a good ten minutes before Izuku piped up as quietly as he could. “Shouto?”
“Mmm?” Shouto had all but fallen asleep, the only thing keeping him awake being his headache and the sharp pain that shot up his side per breath he took due to his ribs.
“What would you do if you thought you loved your best friend? And you had this insatiable urge to just cup their cheeks-- which are super cute, by the way, and kiss them? But you’re unsure of how they would react, especially because their head’s a bit muddled at the moment.”
Subtly certainly wasn’t Izuku’s speciality, and Shouto couldn’t help but smile a little bit at the flush that had spread across Izuku’s cheeks. “I would say to go for it and kiss them. You never know, they might want it too.”
A bit of fear clenched at Shouto’s stomach and his lips twitched a bit in slight anxiety. Midoriya could mean Bakugo. Unlikely, but still. He could me Uraraka. It wasn’t necessarily him, but considering their former topic of conversation, there always was that likelihood that Midoriya could mean Shouto. Right? At least, that’s who Shouto wanted Midoriya to mean.
But all of that was settled when Shouto felt careful, scarred fingers tilt his chin up and chapped, but oddly soft lips touch his own tentatively. “Is this okay?” Midoriya whispered against Shouto’s lips, and Shouto could only nod dumbly and lean further into the kiss.
It was chaste and tentative, but the moment the pair broke apart, Midoriya was leaning back in to kiss Shouto again, Shouto’s arms lifting up to sneak around Izuku’s neck. Todoroki sighed contently into the kiss, his lips parting slightly as he felt Izuku’s tongue against his bottom lip.
If this was what all first kisses were supposed to be like, then Shouto felt as if he had hit the jackpot. Soon, the pair broke apart, panting quietly as they caught their breath. “You haven’t even taken me out on a date yet, Midoriya-
kun
,” Shouto breathed quietly, lips brushing teasingly against Izuku’s own.
“Well, I’m not the one with broken ribs and a severe concussion. Talk to me again when you’re up on your feet, Todoroki-
kun.
” Izuku mocked playfully, brushing some of Shouto’s messy bangs from his face. “Your bedhead is out of control right now.”
“What does this make us?” Shouto asked, tilting his head into Izuku’s hand as it moved to cup his cheek, Izuku’s thumb brushing against his cheek bone.
“It makes one of us bedridden and the other wanting to tuck his boyfriend in and make sure he doesn’t get distracted against Kacchan again.” Boyfriend. The word came easily, to Izuku at least, and Shouto had to smile at that, pressing his chapped lips to the heel of Izuku’s hand.
“This situation is oddly reversed, normally I’m sitting by your bedside,” Shouto mumbled sleepily. “I’d honestly rather it be me than you.” He went silent for a moment, biting at his lip gently. “Boyfriends…”
Izuku huffed a laugh. “Boyfriends. We’re boyfriends, Shouto. As of today, you won’t ever be able get rid of me again.”
“Oh no,” Shouto deadpanned. “Whatever will I do?”
“You’re going to get some sleep, is what you’re going to do. And when you wake up, and your head doesn’t hurt as much and you’re a bit more clear-headed, I’m going to call you my boyfriend again so I can see your reaction. And then, I’m going to kiss you.” Izuku hummed, running his fingers through Shouto’s hair once again. “So lay back and get some sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up next.”
Shouto rose an eyebrow, giving a small smile. “I thought concussed people weren’t supposed to sleep?”
“Are you sassing me?” Midoriya asked, grinning down at Shouto.
“I wouldn’t
dare.”
Came the response and Shouto broke out into a yawn, nestling back down against Izuku's chest. “Alright, I’ll sleep. But if you wake me up every hour to half hour or so, I’m going to be annoyed.”
“It’s whatever Recovery Girl wants when she comes back, now go to sleep, Shouto. I’ll let everyone in class and your sister know that you’re alright.” Izuku kissed Shouto’s temple, tucking the blanket around the other. “Sleep well.”
Shouto smiled, eyes closed as he snuggled into Izuku’s chest. Despite the headache and the sharp pain in his ribs, Shouto never slept better.