A Thank You
Shoto's work schedule varies quite a bit but outside that he keeps a pretty steady routine. Every morning he runs at least two miles, then goes to the gym, rotating what he works out. When he leaves the gym he goes to a café, reads the news and messages friends. Goes to home or work depending on the schedule that day. In the evening he practices cooking a dish from a cookbook gifted by Momo, but usually ending up ordering takeout. After dinner he makes a phone call, to his mother, brother or sister depending on who is scheduled that day. On Sundays his visits his family, on Wednesdays he visits Touya, and Friday he goes out with friends.
Shoto loves his routines. That's why it's so upsetting that a ritual has crept in that he cannot seem to shake. Everytime he goes to sleep, whether it's a nap or for bed he pictures those green eyes. If that was not bad enough, he chants in his head De-ku, De-ku, over and over like a lullaby.
It had been a week since the incident and he could not seem to shake this new habit. Honestly Shoto was not even sure what this person looked like outside of green. Here he was though, acting like a weirdo.
Shoto pulls his phone out, but instead of dialing a family member he calls Mina. It only rings once before the bright voice answers.
"ROKI!" She squeals through the speaker. "Its been so long!"
"Its been 2 days since I saw you." Shoto reminds her. She sighs dramatically.
"Its been so long since you called me, you like never call." Mina retorts, he can hear others in the background.
"Uh yeah I guess that's true. Listen are you alone?"
"Is this work stuff?" Mina asks sounding a bit sad.
"Kinda, not really. I just need advice." Shoto replies hoping she will go away from whoever she's with. She mercifully seems to take the hint, as he hears a door open and close.
"Okay, I am alone now. What's up?"
"I responded to a call, and got kinda messed up," Shoto starts but Mina cuts in.
"The hallucinogens guy? Are you having PTSD?"
"No, I don't think so. More like. Well, so the civilian there tried to help me and now everytime I try to sleep I see his eyes?" Shoto's words are a jumble and a long beat of silence follows.
"Mina?"
"Yeah, I'm here. The incident says the guy wasn't hurt. So, I am going to try and be gentle with this next part, are you attracted to him?" Mina asks.
"I don't think so but I also do not really remember him. Just his eyes. I just want to know why it's happening." Shoto responds and he hears Mina hum a little.
"I have a theory. Well two theories. One you have taken care of people always, that's our job, having it flipped felt nice. It might just feel reassuring that someone wanted to look out for you." Mina explains and Shoto has to admit its a good theory of not perfect.
"What's the second theory?" Shoto asks when she does not immediately continue.
"You are attracted to him, but you just don't remember anything cause of the haze. Like a soul mate glimpsed from across a rainy street." Mina says cheekily.
"Goodbye Mina. Thank you for the first theory." Shoto replies hanging up.
Mina's theory makes sense, Shoto assures himself. It was comforting to know a member of the public cared for his safety, just as he cares for theirs. Nothing more.
____________________________________________
Shoto assures himself the next day that the reason he's at the university is totally to thank the civilian. Not to test if he's attracted to them, just to thank them. The nerves he bubbling up are because of any human interaction nothing else. He's here to thank someone for being kind.
It's his day off, so he figures it's the appropriate time to thank someone. He looks over his outfit again, he asked Ochaco for help with it, explaining he wanted to thank someone. The way she smiled, and asked no questions made him suspicious that Mina had filled her in already. He had to admit though he looked pretty good, in lightly worn out jeans, a subtly patterned button down (that she had insisted he not button all the way up), and comfortable canvas sneakers. She even styled his hair so the red and white mingled together a bit.
Shoto is walking into the building when a thought occurrs to him however. What if this person was not here today? It's not like they live in this building. He is not even sure their name is Deku, that just what Bakugou called them once.
He stands frozen at just inside the door wondering how he could get so dumb when a voice from beside him calls out.
"What are you doing here?" The voice is not unkind, just confused. Shoto turns, and there, walking down a flight of stairs is the figure. A short, curly haired man with large green eyes, freckles dotting every inch of his face.
Maybe Mina was right, not entirely, but this person is oddly appealing. The way every part of them is like a brushstroke on a work of art.
"You okay, Cocytus?" The man asks gently now standing in front of him.
"Shoto," is all he manages at first. So he takes in breath. "I mean you can call me Shoto. I just came to say thank you for trying to help me the other day."
"Ah. Well I wasn't fast enough sadly. You still felt the effects apparently."
"Is your name Deku?" Shoto blurts out. The mood entirely shifts.
"No, it's not. That's something Kac- Kasuki used to call me as a mean joke."
"Oh. That's too bad." Shoto replies. "Not shocking, but too bad."
"Why?"
"Well, cause I thought Deku was a really cute name." Shoto answers shrugging. "So what is your name?"
"Iz-Izuku Mid-Midoriya" Midoriya stammers out blushing. "Why would you think anything about Deku is cute?"
"I don't know, it just was, to me." Suddenly feeling like an awkward teenager again Shoto decides to try and different subject.
"What did those men want anyways?" He asks and Midoriya frowns.
"They don't like my current project. Someone published a list of current projects and mine was on there. It's not a huge deal. It's how to make life safer for children when quirks are becoming stronger." Then Midoriya is off, talking so fast Shoto can barely keep up. The passion he has though has Shoto hanging from every word.
"So with quirks becoming stronger the world is much more violiatale, especially when children often can't control them yet. My idea is instead of constantly telling kids that have strong quirks to go nuts, to have quirk coaches in classrooms to help them manage not hurting their classmates on accidents or through bullying. We should also have systems in place for when kids get overstimulated and are out of control, like quirk suppressant blankets, like a weighted blanket that calms a quirk down. So kids aren't put in cuffs but also don't become afraid of their emotions.
"I also think quirk class should be a part of daily school activities. Kids without quirks can be taught other skills, like analysis, coding, or first aid. Kids with quirks can be taught how to better maintain and control their quirks. Some schools already do this but it's not required so many don't.
"Those assholes didn't care for my ideas. Saying that 'nature would weed out the weak' like that's a valid excuse for traumatizing kids. When we could just help them. They tried to confront me in the hall, but I ducked and a window was smashed, luckily that specific door needs a key card. Then you arrived. I'm sorry you were hurt." Midoriya intakes a breath, and Shoto realizes his eyes are brimming with tears. Before he knows what he's doing, Shoto takes a hand and thumbs away a tear gently.
"Its okay, it's my job. I'm glad you're fine. I think your ideas sound amazing." He means it too. He's not thought about it since first year how strong kids quirks are becoming. Midoriya is right though, these ideas could help kids not hurt each other or themselves. Midoriya has gone very still and Shoto realizes he has not moved his hand away. He drops it quickly and laughs awkwardly.
"Its well known I'm not good with the public. Sorry for touching you." Shoto says feeling his ears go red. "I hope to see you again, Midoriya." Shoto turns and walks away.
It's only once he is off campus does he think about the fact that he should have asked for Midoriya's number or something. Midoriya is probably the most interesting person Shoto has ever met and he did not even remember to get a way to contact him again. He touched him without permission. He probably made him so uncomfortable. Shoto sighs as he walks home. He knows Mina will be calling him later to grill him and all he can tell her is that Shoto Todoroki is a fool.