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Hitoshi aims up his shot, hand moving back and forth as he narrows in on his target.
He lets the piece of popcorn go, watching as it cuts through the air until it hits Izuku's cheek.
Izuku startles, dropping his phone into his lap where it lands right on top of the piece of popcorn. Turning, expression morphed with confusion and a slight tinge of bemusement, Izuku looks at Hitoshi.
Before he can ask about it, Hitoshi speaks first.
"Stop picking up your phone," Hitoshi demands, picking up another piece and lazily throwing it at Izuku like he's some kind of poorly-performing court jester. "I know this movie isn't the most riveting, but you've literally just missed the great big confession between the two main characters. You would usually be crying right about now, and now I'm deprived of my usual entertainment when I suffer through these movies."
"You love them too," Izuku replies, sticking out his tongue petulantly. But then his expression twists into something more guilty, and the teasing atmosphere is lost as Izuku's remorse comes front and centre. It's pretty damn unfair that the most powerful guy in any room can easily get away with cold-blooded murder from his pout alone. He's too powerful in literally every regard, so Hitoshi throws another piece of popcorn at him to humble him. "Hey!"
Hitoshi shrugs. "Stop giving me the puppy dog eyes. Jesus, hero, I'm asking why you're not crying over the confession scene, I'm not asking why you murdered my family."
"Sorry," Izuku still winces. "I— it's not because I'm not invested or anything like that. And I— oh, god, I don't want you thinking I don't enjoy our movie nights. Because they're literally the highlight of my week. That— okay, that sounds kind of like a lot, but. It's true, and I need you to understand that it's not because I don't enjoy our time together, because I really, really do, and-"
"You're spiralling," Hitoshi sighs, picking up the remote and pausing the movie completely. "Seriously, Midoriya, chill. Do I look genuinely pissed off to you? Or offended? I would be if I thought you were being rude to me on purpose and you were hiding the fact you didn't want to do our usual movie night. But I'm not, because I know you enjoy movie nights and I'm secure in our friendship together." The word friendship is simultaneously the best and worst word he says in that sentence, and his heart does a funny little leap with it and it trips him up for a second. He loses the momentum he was carrying, so he finishes his statement with a half-hearted: "So... chill, alright?"
Izuku blows out a big breath. "Okay. I'm so chill."
"No the fuck you're not," Hitoshi retorts with a laugh. "You're literally the least chill I've seen in a while."
Izuku buries his head into his hands. "Shit. I'm sorry."
Hitoshi's got his legs sprawled across the couch, but he reaches a little further to knock his foot into Izuku's thigh. "Hey. It's cool. Just... A bit strange to see you like this. You good?"
"So good," Izuku mutters, not at all convincingly into his hands. "So, so good."
Hitoshi knocks his foot again. "Midoriya. What's up with you?"
"Everything's so fine," Izuku groans.
Hitoshi snorts. "You are the worst person I have ever met at bullshitting."
Izuku drops his head back, looking up at the ceiling.
Hitoshi, with the bowl cradled in his lap, feels awkward for the first time in a very long time. They have been doing this a while — ever since the dorms, it was study sessions, and then when they graduated, it became patrol and information exchange, which became movie nights.
He got rid of the awkward feeling after about maybe the fourth or fifth hang-out, so it's been a long, long while.
"Do you... want me to go home?" Hitoshi tentatively asks, the uncertainty an unfamiliar feeling inside of him that he doesn't quite know what to do with. Usually, their movie nights are always more or less the same — bickering over what to watch, only to settle on something that Izuku has picked that Hitoshi pretends to be dismayed over, and then they make commentary through the movie until Izuku inevitably ends up in tears over the confession scene in love stories. At that point, Hitoshi gently teases him, but always makes sure there are tissues close by for him.
Tonight has gone entirely off-script, and Hitoshi isn't quite sure what to do with that now.
Izuku blanches. "No!"
He says it rushed and desperate, and though the panic makes Hitoshi almost feel bad, the relief is even larger. He settles back into the couch.
"Alright," he cuts in before Izuku can devolve into ramblings again. He believes him, because Izuku truly is terrible at lying (One for All aside, but even that had its moments), and he'd rather not let Izuku linger on his despondent emotions.
"Alright?" Izuku echoes in disbelief.
Hitoshi shrugs. "Yeah. Alright."
Izuku throws himself forward, leaning into Hitoshi's space with wide eyes. "Not alright, actually. I'm sorry. I just— something went kind of wrong on a job today, and Kacchan said he's handling it, but— ugh. I'm sorry. I'm meant to be clocked off, but..."
"A hero doesn't really get to clock off," Hitoshi muses, lips tilting up. "I get it. You know I do."
"I know," Izuku groans, covering his face again with his hands. "But I really try to be— you know, present, with you. Because I really like our time together. I don't know. I think I'm just high-strung today. I'm sorry."
"Hey," Hitoshi says, tampering down the urge to throw another popcorn kernel at him. "You know I get it. Don't worry about it."
"I'm going to worry about it," Izuku sighs, glancing at the television. "God, I'm sorry. I haven't been paying this any attention, and Kacchan has been fine, and it's not like I don't trust him to handle it, I guess I'm just worried, and..."
He trails off, realising he's rambling again, and digs his face back into his palms as he lets out a muted scream.
"It's natural to be worried," Hitoshi offers, this time digging his toes in a little to Izuku's thighs. "Even when it comes to someone like Bakugou. But you know he's got it handled, and if they really needed you, it's not going to come through a message on your personal phone."
Izuku stares at the phone on his lap like he's just realising the truth of Hitoshi's words.
"Fuck," Izuku breathes out.
Hitoshi snorts. "Such a charming and comprehensive sentence by our number one graduate."
"Shut up," Izuku groans. "Ugh. I don't know why I'm being like this tonight. I'm sorry."
Hitoshi shrugs again. "Seriously, not a big deal. And you don't have to, but... you know you can talk to me about it, right?"
"I'm... trying to remind myself, yeah," Izuku mutters. Hitoshi is glad — Izuku's honesty is a welcome thing, and though he sucks at lying, he usually avoids topics so that he can skirt right around the lies themselves. For someone who's bad at keeping secrets, he's able to avoid answering questions like a slippery fish swimming down the stream. He's way, way too good at it — and so for him to be answering head-on, it means he trusts Hitoshi to handle the answers.
Izuku is bouncing with a type of energy, like it's coiled up tightly inside of him with no release, like he's backed into a corner with nowhere to go. Hitoshi doesn't like the feeling of it, so he decides to press a little further than he usually would.
It's clear Izuku needs a release, needs to talk to someone, and Hitoshi decides to make the leap.
"Well, the movie is kind of a bust, so..." Hitoshi gestures to the screen. "And it doesn't have to be about whatever you're checking your phone about, but... why don't you try to talk? Just talk to me. That's all. About anything you want."
"Not even about the job today?" Izuku questions.
"I told you, whatever you want. If you want to talk about the job, you know I'll listen to that. But I'll listen to anything else you want to talk about, too," Hitoshi offers.
Izuku glances at the paused screen, taking in the details of the image in front of him, before he turns back to Hitoshi after a quiet minute or so. "Are you sure? You know what I'm like... once I start, I don't really stop."
Izuku sounds embarrassed, and Hitoshi deems this moment enough to throw another popcorn kernel at him.
"I do know you, so I know what I'm asking for. I don't mind. Seriously, Midoriya," Hitoshi replies.
Izuku still looks a little nervous, so Hitoshi sighs.
"Do you want me to start? I'll tell you about last night's job," Hitoshi offers. Izuku lights up a little, so Hitoshi takes it as his go-ahead and launches into the story of his mission last night. Izuku starts to unwind during it, no longer as drawn into himself, leaning into Hitoshi's space like he's drawn to do so with every word. It makes Hitoshi's heart thump so loudly, but he forces it down and tells himself to focus, not wanting to interrupt the trance he's managed to pull Izuku into.
He's used to it, at least. Pushing down his feelings like this. It's a familiar feeling if nothing else, and he takes some kind of comfort in it as he talks to Izuku.
Izuku is bright and beaming, and even like this — when he's worn down and tired and paranoid, he's still beautiful. Still all-powerful, all-kind, the very reason Hitoshi's heart skips and creates an odd rhythm in his chest. Whatever Izuku is willing to share and show to him, Hitoshi is glad to take it all.
Hitoshi winds up his story, and Izuku is more engaged than ever, launching into twenty different questions about it all. Hitoshi answers them with the kind of detail Izuku demands from him, but admittedly rushes through them, because he wants to understand what it is that's gotten Izuku so wound up tonight.
When Izuku is finally satisfied with all the answers and details he can pry, he settles back on the couch. He's taken to pinching the material of the couch between his fingers, plucking at it as he thinks over what to say now.
"It doesn't have to be about the job," Hitoshi reminds him.
Izuku groans. "It's kind of all I'm thinking about."
Hitoshi sits up a little straighter, angling himself so he can nudge Izuku with his shoulder. "I can tell."
The teasing works to make Izuku's lips tilt up in amusement, but it drops pretty quickly.
"I found a lost kid," Izuku says, picking up the phone again and flipping it over and over again. "I wanted to stay and help them find their guardian, but they were just so... nervous around me, I think? They wouldn't respond to me whenever I tried to ask them something. I had the police with me, so they took over, but I told them to update me if they manage to find the kid's guardian. I'm just waiting around for some news, I guess. Sorry."
Hitoshi stares for a moment at Izuku, working through his words.
"Did the kid look like they're being taken care of?" Hitoshi tentatively asks.
Izuku nods, and Hitoshi lets out a breath of relief.
"Yeah," Izuku says. "New school bag, new shoes, neat hair. They just got displaced from the fight, I think. We had to section off a large area today from the villain and I think the kid just got stuck. I'm sure their guardian was around, but... they wouldn't respond to me at all, so... I couldn't help find them."
Okay, so that's better than what the situation could be. Izuku's not stressing about the fact that the kid might not have a guardian at all. Izuku's heart is big, and he'd care to make sure the kid got reunited back with their guardian, but it seems like it's weighing a little more heavily on Izuku than something like this usually does.
It's likely that the kid will be able to find their guardian, especially with the police already having taken over — it just might be a little later in the night, once everything has settled down.
He narrows his eyes as something clicks in the back of his mind.
"Wait, do you think the kid was scared of you?" He asks, almost in disbelief.
Izuku shrinks into the couch, confirming Hitoshi's suspicions.
"I used Blackwhip to stabilise some falling debris," Izuku says, fingers resuming their plucking of the poor couch. "It was dark, and the sound of it crashing together was really loud. I think I spooked them, and... yeah. I don't know. I just want to make sure they're reunited back with their guardian safely."
Izuku's taking it hard. Hitoshi knows why — because after everything settled down with One for All, and Izuku returned back to U.A., he declared solemnly that he'd never let people be scared of him like they were when he was prowling the streets alone during that period. Since then, Izuku has always worked to be a bright, shining beacon of hope and smiles — Hitoshi knows what Izuku had been like, but it's hard to match that vision with the hero that Izuku has become now.
Even with his extreme levels of power, Izuku always makes sure that he never scares any of the civilians. Never again, he promised, and he's done well to stick with it.
It's been a long, long time since a civilian has been scared of Izuku. It's a feeling Izuku has clearly never forgotten, but it seems to be hitting him hard now that he thinks he's made someone feel that way.
"They were a lost kid," Hitoshi points out. "Of course they're scared. But, dude, I really don't think it was because of you."
Izuku shakes his head. "They wouldn't speak to me after I dealt with the scene. They just— kept shaking their head."
"Mute?" Hitoshi suggests.
"No. I heard them speak to a police officer," Izuku sighs. "They were just scared of me. And I... I feel so bad about that. They went through something traumatic, and I think I only made it all worse."
Ah, Hitoshi realises, he wants to apologise to the kid. He doesn't want to become a scary memory.
Hitoshi groans, rubbing his face with his hands. "Jeez, Midoriya. I don't know. I honestly entirely doubt it."
If not even Izuku's presence could reassure or comfort that kid, then Hitoshi doesn't believe anything would have made the kid somehow less scared in that case. They likely weren't scared of Izuku at all — not personally, really, but their terror was probably just all-encompassing about the entire situation.
"They seemed so scared..." Izuku trails off, checking his phone again for any notification. It seems like there's still nothing, as Izuku's mouth twists in displeasure, and he puts it back down again.
"I'm sure they'll find their guardians tonight," Hitoshi eases. "And we can look at getting into contact with them tomorrow, if they're comfortable with that. How about it?"
"What if they don't find their guardian tonight?" Izuku questions, frowning again. "Maybe I should have gone looking for their guardian instead..."
Hitoshi leans over to flick Izuku on the forehead. "Hey. You have a stupid amount of power and abilities, but we both know you're not really suited for search-and-find. Your skills lie elsewhere. Like, everywhere else. It's kind of ridiculous, actually."
Izuku is still frowning despite Hitoshi's attempt at a compliment. Hitoshi sighs, putting down the bowl of popcorn.
"Alright, come on. No sulking on movie nights," he declares, folding his arms.
"It's not-"
"Up! Let's go, hurry up," Hitoshi demands, already walking out of the room and to the front door.
Izuku follows him in a daze. "Um. Where?"
"To the mart," Hitoshi replies, jerking his thumb back at the door in demonstration. "You didn't provide ice cream. So we need to fix that."
Izuku's head whips back and forth between the television to Hitoshi, whiplashed emotionally and physically now. "Um. I have-"
"Nope! We're walking to the mart, come on," Hitoshi declares, giving Izuku no choice but to hurry out of his own apartment and follow him. Izuku stumbles after him, shoelaces hardly tied, so Hitoshi does stop and gives him the chance to tie them up before he continues out of the apartment block.
It's clear that being stuck in his own apartment is just going to make Izuku's thoughts go round and round in circles, so he aims to get him out and give him some fresh air. The sudden plan also means Izuku is on the back foot here, his thoughts hopefully caught up with just trying to follow Hitoshi rather than anything else.
The mart is close by, and they're admittedly regulars when they're having a movie night, so the clerk gives them a friendly wave but otherwise leaves them be. Hitoshi heads straight for the freezer full of ice creams and desserts, while Izuku hovers close but doesn't reach for anything, mind unfortunately already drifting.
Hitoshi sighs and tugs out the one he knows Izuku likes, shoving it into his chest. And then he picks up another and does the same.
"Um," Izuku says, suddenly snapping back to attention, panicking as he realises he's holding two ice creams and is about to be holding a third. "Um, one is fine!"
"You're eating two," Hitoshi responds, because Izuku's appetite is never-ending and he hadn't eaten any of the popcorn, ignoring Izuku's little yelp of mild panic. Izuku doesn't really have a chance against him though, and Hitoshi pays for their items and passes Izuku the bag after taking out his own ice cream.
Usually, they'd head back to the apartment and watch something else, but Hitoshi pulls them down at a table outside. He starts to unwrap his ice cream, and Izuku copies him after just a moment. There aren't many people out on the street, and those that glance in their direction leave them be even if recognition flashes in their eyes.
It's nice and peaceful, and Izuku's tension is slowly melting from his frame. Hitoshi's happy to sit in silence because it seems to be working, but they're interrupted by Izuku's phone buzzing with a message.
Izuku startles, and then hurriedly pulls it out. Emergencies are saved for calls, but Izuku still treats the message like an urgent matter. He opens up the message, just as it buzzes with another notification, and Hitoshi watches as his face goes through a series of expressions: relief, surprise, and then his eyes go wide and a watery sheen suddenly appears over them. He doesn't look upset, so Hitoshi isn't too worried, but his heart still thumps.
"Oh no," Hitoshi says, reminding Izuku he's not alone in case he doesn't want Hitoshi to see his reaction to this. But Izuku just presses his lips together and holds out the phone for Hitoshi to take.
Curious and confused by the motion, Hitoshi reaches out to hold it. On the screen, there is a message from a police officer that Hitoshi has run into a couple of times. Izuku is a lot closer to those on the force, but Hitoshi knows this one to be a good man.
There's a photo of a small child, tucked into the arms of a woman, both of them with tears on their faces but wide smiles for the camera. The message attached to it reads "found the kid's mother!"
And then, below this photo, there is another. It's of a piece of paper with the precinct's logo imprinted on the bottom and a child's writing scribbled over it. Likely something the kid drew while waiting for them to find his mother.
On it, the message reads: "Hero Deku! You are my hero! I am sorry for being nervs nervu nerve (a neater piece of handwriting gently correcting it above to read 'nervous') to talk to you! i am a big fan. thank you!"
Another message comes through as Hitoshi is reading the child's message. The police officer is passing along the message that the mother and child would like to meet Izuku tomorrow, if he wants to do that. Hitoshi smiles to himself, passing the phone back over.
"See?" He sees, nudging Izuku's leg with his foot. "They weren't scared at all. They were just a big fan. I can't believe you, the biggest fanboy to exist, didn't recognise that."
Izuku takes the phone back, reading over the message that's come through, and the tears look dangerously close to falling as he sighs with relief, quickly typing back a message.
"I really thought I scared them!" Izuku whines, but there's a large smile on his face now, all of that earlier stress dissipating completely.
"You're terrifying in plenty of ways, Midoriya, but this isn't one of them. Or, not anymore," he corrects.
Izuku slumps down with relief, only jolting up when the ice cream starts to melt on his hands. He licks it, just enough to stop it from dripping further, but otherwise seems preoccupied.
"Hey," he says, looking at Hitoshi hopefully. "Are you busy tomorrow?"
Hitoshi shakes his head. He has a patrol that's somewhere closer to the next morning, but otherwise, tomorrow is just a household task catch-up day for him. It takes him a second to understand why Izuku is asking, however. "Do you want me to come?"
"I... I would, yeah," Izuku says, and it looks like his cheeks are going red ever so slightly.
"Then I'll come," Hitoshi replies easily. Izuku's complexion goes a little brighter in colour. Hitoshi's stomach swoops, and he thinks maybe, maybe, maybe—
Hitoshi decides to take another leap tonight, and he puts his hand down on the table, keeping his palm up. Casual enough that Izuku can pretend to ignore it, and it won't be that awkward other than Hitoshi silently suffering in rejection, or—
Izuku's hand slips over the table and into Hitoshi's.
Maybe, indeed.