kiss me on the mouth and set me free

Izuku Midoriya had met Hitoshi Shinsou in a dark alleyway. He was being beat up by two of the bullies at his school (whom he called 'Vulture' and 'Rhino Boy', respectively) after classes when walking to the grocery store. They always beat him up for being quirkless, for being privileged, for getting into Yuuei, for his obsession with All Might, and even for stupid things like his green hair or his freckles. Whatever it was, they always found a new thing to hurt him for every day, even if it was ridiculous and quite unheroic of them.

sing me like a choir

And today, they just happened to be hurting him because of his mother, saying that she didn't do anything to help him and that she was terrible. Izuku knew that wasn't true; his mother Inko was a sweet and wonderful woman who helped him through his sadness and kissed his tears away.

Despite wanting to fight, however, his body was littered with gaping cuts and swelling bruises and he couldn't move without having to bite back a scream of agony. Black haziness was rimming his vision, and he was sure that he could only see out of one eye and the other had temporarily lost its vision.

In spite of this, the teens kept on beating him, hurting him until all he could do was take it.

This was it. This was his future; to be hurt mercilessly because of something he couldn't control.

i can be the subject of your dreams

Then a voice was heard.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Izuku couldn't open his mouth to respond that he was being beat up and was just laying there, taking it, so he just groggily glanced over to realize the person was looking at the two bullies, not him.

This person, clearly a male, was tall, with mussed up lavender hair that was long and standing up. He wore the Yuuei uniform, with his blazer unbuttoned and his tie loose, so he should've been easy to identify had it not been for Izuku's blurry one-eyed vision blocking out his ability to distinguish the person properly.

But whoever he was, he was giving Izuku time to calm down and try to let his wounds heal slightly, or at least stop throbbing painfully.

your sickening desire

"None of your business!"

"Yeah, go be creepy somewhere else!"

Apparently, that was all the person needed. His voice took on a cold authoritative tone, and he commanded in a voice that made Izuku shiver, "Apologize to this boy, walk home, and tell your parents 'tadaima' when you arrive to your house."

The bullies, whose eyes were glossy and fogged out, turned to him and said monotonously, "Gomennasai."

As they walked home, Izuku watched as the boy's face morphed from cold and commanding to the neutral tired expression he'd seen before, his own face shell-shocked.

don't you want to see a man up close?

The boy turned to Izuku and knelt beside him.

"Can you hear me?"

Izuku could only nod meekly, for his throat was dry and it'd hurt to speak with the bruises on his chest affecting his lungs.

"Can you speak?"

A shake of the head caused a jolt of pain to race down his spine and elicit a light groan from him, more blood trickling down his chin and cheeks from the corner of his mouth, staining his lips a pale crimson.

The boy sighed and knelt down further, coming so close that Izuku could feel the light ghosting of a breath on his skin, bared from having his shirt torn. And then, as he was moved, he had to bite back a loud wail of pain, which caused his lip to throb and bleed.

It was only when he recovered from this stupor that he realized he was moving. And he could hear the boy's heartbeat.

And the boy was carrying him.

a phoenix in the fire

He wanted to protest, to say that he could walk on his own and he had to be home with the groceries by sundown or his mother would freak out, but he knew he couldn't possibly walk in this condition, so he just let the mystery boy carry him, closing his eyes, for he was too weak to protest then.

so kiss me on the mouth and set me free

He woke up to hear a heart monitor beeping close to his left ear, an IV leaving a dull throb in his arm, and his eyes being flooded by a white-tiled ceiling.

He lifted his head as best he could (which was surprisingly easy) and glanced around, seeing Recovery Girl.

So that was why it was so easy to move.

He'd had his moments with Recovery Girl, seeing as Katsuki often hurt him in physical ways, causing Inko to rush her baby to the hospital to get fixed up.

So yeah, he'd encountered Recovery Girl one too many times for his liking.

He moved his head to see three people waiting in the hospital seats across the room.

A red-eyed Inko with a pile of crumpled tissues in her lap, causing Izuku to drown under a wave of guilt.

A patiently waiting Toshinori comforting her, rubbing her quivering back with his bony skeletal hand.

And, most surprising of all...

A purple haired tall boy with bags under his eyes slumped in the seat and watching him, the same one that had saved him.

He sat up and mumbled groggily, "Mom...?"

At the beckon, Inko's head snapped up, and she all but launched herself onto her boy's body, hugging him tightly. Izuku hugged her back, only then realizing his arms were wrapped up tightly with bandages.

"Izukkun! How could you be so reckless?!" she cried, and Izuku sat through her scolding while hugging her until she was done.

Once she was done, Toshinori had given him a lecture as well. Not as harsh as Inko's, but it was enough to get his point well across to Izuku.

And once hewas done, Izuku patiently awaited the scolding from the mystery boy, seeing as he was nearing the hospital bed and it was making Izuku nervous.

But he didn't need to be, because mystery boy only said a few sentences that had Izuku's heart warming up.

but please don't bite

"I'm Shinsou. I'm attending Yuuei as well. I'm not gonna do this every time. I'm also glad you're okay."

♡♡♡

you can coax the cold right out of me

After Izuku had been discharged, Shinsou had left, now knowing Izuku's name, but not giving any contact information to him. So Izuku had to trust that he'd see Shinsou during passing time between classes at Yuuei.

Still nothing.

But, as usual, fate worked in complicated ways when it came to Izuku.

drape me in your warmth

Izuku had decided to sit on the roof alone for lunch that day, seeing as Ochako was sick from overusing her quirk during a recent villain attack and Tenya had to speak to Momo about the upcoming school festival. Not sports festival, schoolfestival. A festival where all the students of Yuuei would celebrate the anniversary of the school for just that day.

It was a day even Aizawa-sensei could look forward to.

So there he was, eating pork and rice as he sat on a bench, humming softly as he watched the clouds slowly bump into each other across the warmly beaming sky. It was a good day today, and he could let his worries about finding Shinsou dissipate.

He spooned another bite into his mouth as he watched the leaves from trees flow freely through the wind from below when a presence was felt next to him and he heard someone else's breathing instead of his. He glanced over, seeing...

the rapture in the dark puts me at ease

...Shinsou.

After all these weeks of trying to find him, he just...appeared here. If this was all it took to get to see him again, Izuku should've tried this a while ago.

"Hello," he greeted, mouth now empty and lips stretched into a smile.

Shinsou gave a small hum and the slightest flicker of a smile back, and Izuku normally would've been a bit hurt, but after their first encounter, Izuku had figured that that would be the most he got from the lavender-haired boy.

Setting his bento aside, he turned to face the tired boy. "I never see you in our classes. Why is that?"

"I'm gonna transfer to Class 1-A in a week. I'm coming from the General Department," Shinsou replied monotonously. "That short grape kid Mineta got expelled, so Aizawa is letting me join the class."

Izuku's mouth stretched into an understanding 'o'. Mineta had gotten expelled from Yuuei for being a pervert and trying to watch the girls change in the locker room from one of the unoccupied lockers. He had been found out by Jirou hearing his breathing and pointing him out to Aizawa, who demanded his expulsion.

So Shinsou was joining them.

This was ultimately wonderful, huh?

the blind eye of the storm

"That's great!" he smiled brightly.

Shinsou cocked an eyebrow in question. Izuku cleared his throat and clarified, "What I mean is, it's great that you're transferring to the Hero Department. I've wanted to talk to you for a while but could never find you, and now I can talk to you more!"

The lavender-haired boy hesitated, not knowing what to say, and Izuku's smile faltered as he wondered if he'd made the right choice telling Shinsou that.

Finally, after an agonizing five seconds, Shinsou said, "Why do you want to talk to me? I'm 'villain material'."

Izuku tilted his head like a confused puppy, obviously puzzled. "'Villain material'? What do you mean by that?"

Shinsou sighed, leaning back and staring at a particularly interesting ventilation system. "People automatically think I'm evil because of what my quirk is. I can brainwash people if they provide an answer to any question I ask. For example...how are you today, Izuku?"

"Uh- I've been good, how about y-"

let's go for a walk down easy street

All of a sudden, he was in a cold dark room, still in his corporeal body, but seemingly floating around in his mind. He saw himself, eyes glazed over and glossy, seeing what was happening through his eyes.

Shinsou was in front of him, eyes set sternly and voice cold as he said, "Tell me where you plan to go after classes today."

It was like he didn't have a grip on himself, and he was just a bystander, because without his affirmation, his body said, "I plan on going to the convenience store, then going home."

And with that, Shinsou's expression relaxed, and Izuku felt his spirit align with his body once more, his head dizzy and confused.

"Woah...that was weird," he mumbled. "A good weird."

All of a sudden, much to Shinsou's shock, Izuku looked up with the brightest smile ever, rivaling the sun massively. "That was so cool! I feel all dizzy now, but it's okay because I got to see how your quirk worked! It's so cool! You should definitely practice with it, because it could be really useful for battle!"

Shinsou looked at him with shock, his baggy eyes wide and face contorted into surprise instead of his usual neutrality.

But the words soon processed, and Shinsou felt a warm giddy feeling bloom in his chest, suffocating him.

And, for the first time in a very long time, he let a smile slip.

where you can be reborn

Izuku had been delighted to hear that Shinsou had also 'planned' to go to the convenience store and invited him along, to which the purple boy accepted with a smile. He could now protect Izuku from any of the bullies, spend time with him, and possibly get to know what his quirk was.

Izuku, however, seemed more interested in his quirk.

"How many people can you brainwash at once? Does it depend on your mental state or you ability to be authoritative? How long can you hold a mental connection for? What commands do you like to tell?"

Shinsou had soon managed to calm down the beaming boy as they entered the store, although it took quite a bit of effort.

"Y'know, despite what you think, others still think I use my quirk for evil, but I don't. Do you think I do?" he asked, wondering if he could get Izuku to do something for him.

The green boy shook his head, and Shinsou smiled at this as he picked some stuff off of the store's shelves, saying, "Thanks. I don't always use my quirk for evil. At the most, it's to cause mischief, but it's usually pretty tame, as in...um, here; hold my hand, Izuku."

Izuku, not brainwashed since he didn't give a verbal response, was puzzled at this odd request, but took Shinsou's free hand and held it.

Shinsou's hand was warm and calloused, while Izuku's was a bit cold, but still soft. Nonetheless, he liked the new feeling.

Shinsou was clearly flustered, but he didn't take his hand away. He only huffed and went to checkout, saying, "Just so you know...I didn't use my quirk on you."

Izuku only smiled with the brightness of a sun or two and said a few words that had Shinsou's heart melting at how childishly adorable this boy was.

"I know. I just wanted to hold your hand."

i'm pulling on your heart to push my luck

"So, uh...what's your quirk?" Shinsou asked as they walked home together, seeing as Shinsou lived close. And they weren't holding hands anymore, much to Shinsou's relief.

"Oh! I can grow plants out of my body and control them," he replied with a smile. He held up a hand for an example and let a white rose bloom in his palm. Slipping it out of his palm, a bit of skin was torn and fell to the ground, but the small wound patched up quick enough before any bleeding could start.

"That's actually pretty cool," Shinsou hummed. "You could attack enemies with vines and poison ivy and stuff, and you could also create fragrances that could cause villains to pass out. Or you could create barriers of vines. I don't know."

Izuku nodded with a smile, passing the rose from one hand to another. "I've been practicing exuding the fragrances from my flowers. So far, it's powerful, but not enough to make an opponent pass out, just makes them woozy."

Shinsou nodded as he noticed Izuku's house coming up. He pointed it out, and Izuku's smile formed into a childish pout.

"Already? Aw man...well, I'll see you tomorrow, I guess," he shrugged as he broke away from Shinsou.

The boy in question nodded with a barest hint of a smile, and Izuku hesitated for a moment before walking in Shinsou's direction instead of his house.

cause who's got any time for growing up?

Izuku slid the rose carefully into Shinsou's hands, his cold hands chilling Shinsou's warm ones.

"Here. A small gift," he smiled lopsidedly as he withdrew his hands, leaving Shinsou with the pale rose. "See you tomorrow, Shinsou."

He left into his house, leaving Shinsou standing there with a stupidly obvious red flush to his face and a white rose in his hands.

Soon enough, he regained his senses and started his walk home.

so kiss me on the mouth and set me free, but please don't bite

It was only after he plucked the petals to press the flower into his journal that he noticed the small slip of paper with Izuku's number on it.

he's a sunrise dressed like dusk

Izuku could've been in a much better mood the next morning, but his mood wasn't inherently bad.

He'd lost precious sleep over both wondering if giving Shinsou the rose was a good idea and checking his phone constantly for any texts or calls in case Shinsou found the little note with his number on it.

So yeah, he was only functioning on two hours of sleep and three cups of coffee.

It was only when he was ready to leave his house that he got a text from Shinsou, who he immediately added to his contacts with a cute nickname, as he did everybody.

[sleepy lavender boy] hey.

[flower child] hiya! i'm glad you found my note :)

[sleepy lavender boy] ughhh,, u have way too much energy this early

[sleepy lavender boy] and yeah, i did. sorry for replying to you so late.

[flower child] it's okay!

[flower child] and it's all coffee and facades, don't worry :) nobody could possibly function properly this early, i'm just good at hiding it

[sleepy lavender boy] wow.

[sleepy lavender boy] ugh. classes are starting atm. i'll talk to u in class?

[flower child] mhm! see you then shinsou-kun

Izuku didn't get another text from there until just before he entered the classroom. Shinsou had something about him where he'd send texts or show up at the most unusually convenient times.

[sleepy lavender boy] it's hitoshi.

going out, he's getting into something

Walking into the class, he noticed Shinsou's fluffy mound of lavender hair near the back of the classroom.

At the sound of the door opening, Shinsou's head tilted back, and he noticed Izuku, saluting with two fingers, a lighthearted lazy smile painting his face. Izuku smiled and waved, being quick to claim the seat next to him.

"Hiya, Hitosan," he smiled softly. Shinsou gave a grunt and a nod in reply as Aizawa walked in, nodding to Shinsou as he greeted the class, put on a pro hero video, and slumped into his yellow sleeping bag, snoozing away. Izuku shrugged, figuring Aizawa needed the nap, and tuned out the video, having already seen it due to it being played a week ago.

He was doodling in the margins of his notebook to pass the time, and as he traced the messy pencil lines of a tiny shibe, a folded piece of paper landed perfectly on the page, diverting his attention.

he's a moth drawn to a flame

He glanced over to Shinsou's direction, which was where it had come from, and the boy simply nodded. He turned back and opened the note, reading it.

'Meet me outside. I'm bored. - Hitoshi'

He glanced over and nodded, standing up quietly and heading for the exit, ignoring all the weird looks he got as he slid out of the classroom, Shinsou following suit. That would definitely raise some gossip, but it would dissipate quickly, Izuku had learned.

As the two walked down the spindling hallway, Izuku piped up, "Is class that boring to you already? This is just one of Aizawa-sensei's sleepy days."

"I know that, it's just that I've seen that video before and it's boring," he replied nonchalantly as he picked at his nails. Izuku nodded as they walked, going up the stairs to the roof with the other boy in tow.

Once they made it, Izuku gasped in a good breath of fresh air. "Ah...I needed that. The classrooms get so stuffy sometimes when the AC units are broken."

The sun was out too, and it was beaming harshly seeing as it was still the end fragments of summer, so naturally, the two boys both got incredibly hot. Shinsou didn't mind it, seeing as he practically buried himself under a skyscraper of blankets every night no matter the weather, but Izuku apparently did.

He whined at the hot weather and stripped his blazer, rolled up his sleeves, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his undershirt. He fanned himself as he worked to unbutton his third button.

Shinsou averted his view as common courtesy, but he couldn't help his eyes from being magnetized by the sight of Izuku's exposed chest, his skin pale and delicate like milky porcelain, his tie loose and contrasting with his skin, his curls shining under the warm sun, his freckled cheeks hot from summer air-

going in, he's going all or nothing

Wait. No. Bad Shinsou. You're not a pervert. You are not going to be another Mineta.

With that aside, Izuku was still fanning himself, so Shinsou took the other's wrist and dragged him to a bench with shade looming over them. Izuku sighed, sitting down and leaning back, fixing his tie but leaving his blazer tied around his waist and his sleeves rolled up. "That's much better. Thank you, Hitosan."

He hummed in response and sat down next to him. Izuku scooted toward him so their arms were touching a bit, then the green boy gasped.

"How are you so cold in this weather? It's above eighty!" he yelped incredulously. Shinsou only shrugged.

"I'm always cold. I can't remember the last time my skin was warm."

"Agh, I wish I could always be cold," he huffed, pressing his cheek against Shinsou's bicep. "I wouldn't have to suffer like this."

"Y'know, I'd be willing to help you whenever you're overheating."

"Really? Thank you, Hitosan!"

they look so pretty from afar

Once they got back, Shinsou had rested his head in his arms and fallen asleep, and Izuku was still taking notes when a loud slam on his table caused him to look up calmly into the ruby red eyes of Katsuki Bakugou, his friend-turned-rival. They were still friends, it was just that Katsuki was more interested in coming out on top.

"Yes, Kacchan?"

"What's up with you and brain boy, Deku?" he growled harshly, staring Izuku down. The boy in question gave a sigh. Katsuki had never gotten over that childish nickname.

"Nothing. We're friends," he replied calmly. "Now could you please leave? You're burning my desk."

Katsuki growled and stalked away, back to his seat. Shinsou had woken up from the loud bang on the table and had seen the entire exchange.

"He's that first-place guy from the sports festival, right?" Shinsou asked, leaning back in his chair. Izuku nodded. Shinsou nonchalantly remarked, "He seems pretty brash."

"True, but he's still a good friend."

"Whatever you say, Izuku."

like the gates of heaven are open now and my one true love has just waltzed right out

After the bell rang, Izuku was about to join his friends at lunch when Shinsou had approached and asked if Izuku would eat with him on the roof. Izuku had been torn for just a minute before his friends shooed him off, probably happy that Izuku had ventured outside of their little social circle. Izuku shrugged and left with Shinsou, laughing a bit at a (rather dark and self deprecating) joke that Shinsou had made.

The group of friends watched him with a soft smile, happy that Izuku had made a new friend but kind of sad that he wouldn't sit with them that day.

Oh well. It was gonna be fine.

there's one thing about me that you should know; that i can't help from speaking my mind

Izuku, meanwhile, was laughing as Shinsou bumped his hip with his own. He'd come to learn that Shinsou could be a pretty nice guy when you warmed up to him.

It was easy for Izuku to make friends since he was always a bright peppy boy, and although Shinsou was a tough cookie, it turned out he wasn't much different.

there's a dangerous kind of cool about you

Izuku fanned himself quickly as they stepped outside, the summer weather still unrelenting. Shinsou reached over and rested his palm on the other boy's forehead, causing Izuku to sigh in relief and lean into the comforting hand.

"Ahh...your hand is so cold, it's amazing," he breathed out happily, walking to the shade while nuzzling his cheek into Shinsou's hand. Once Izuku got to the shade, he let go of Shinsou's hand, which was a shame. Izuku's skin was baby-soft and delicate, and his freckled cheek was chubby. Shinsou would've liked to squeeze it.

Wait, what?

but he didn't, no, didn't know nothing

Gym came way too soon for Shinsou's liking. He, only joining gym that day, decided to choose a locker next to Izuku's so they could talk while changing, and definitely not because he wanted to see if that trail of cinnamon constellations and pale pallor of skin travelled across all of his body...

Nope, nope, no more, can't catch me, gay thoughts.

Okay, so Shinsou was a teeny bit of a pervert. So what? Half of the guys in 1-A were as well.

Besides, Izuku was definitely a rare piece of eye candy.

now he swims right past his eyes

Stop, Shinsou. Please.

Shinsou cleared his head and focused on slipping out of the uniform pants and not Izuku sliding out of the school uniform shirt and tie and slipping on the rest of the gym uniform, that of which he'd only had the pants on loosely so it revealed the slightest teases of his pale freckled hips. He fumbled to avert his attention to sliding the gym uniform on and sliding on his shoes when he heard a little whine from Izuku. He turned to see the boy in question facing him.

where he didn't, no, didn't find nothing

"Hitosan, could you help me with the zipper?" he asked softly. "It's hard for me to reach, and usually Shoucchan helps me, but he's not here today."

Shinsou nodded and, when Izuku turned, he swallowed thickly at the sight of Izuku's pale and delicate yet muscular body. It was probably feathery soft, and Shinsou could probably feel all the muscle under those slightly feminine curves and crevasses Izuku's back held, and-

Wait, no. Back to the task at hand.

hon, you waste your time on daft pretty boys

He took the zipper and slid it up, watching as durable blue and white fabric concealed the milky white skin. Shinsou did get the chance to brush his fingers just a bit against the skin, and from what he salvaged, it was so smooth, like delicate silk under his fingers.

He withdrew his hands quickly once the zipper was fully done and cleared his throat uncomfortably, standing up.

"Come on, Izuku. We don't want to be late."

"Right!"

all the time in the world for chasing pretty guys

Shinsou had definitely participated in the advanced workout - how else would he catch up to the hero class? - but his attention had been mostly on Izuku and how he was holding up, especially when they sparred with the electricity-powered bo staffs.

He made sure the other was fending well, especially when he was sparring against Katsuki while he fought against this one completely invisible girl, Hagakure Tooru.

got no time to waste on another pretty face

Now, Shinsou knew when to recognize a nice body, male or female (especially male).

He just didn't know where to look for them, if he did.

So that was why he was a little more than shocked when Izuku pulled up the hem of his shirt to wipe his forehead of the thin sheen of sweat on it, revealing a toned torso, more so than should've been allowed for such a small feminine body such as Izuku's.

God, he was getting too far into this.

i don't like you, but you look so pretty from afar

So once gym was over, Shinsou was both thankful that the agonizing torture of watching Izuku's body had ended, but was also disappointed that the perfect view he had of thin layers of sweat upon a perfectly sculpted canvas of milky skin was gone.

He was still able to get a slight peek in the locker room, but he had to be discreet if he wanted to retain Izuku's trust.

He hoped he had at least a small fragment of it.

i despise you; why are you so perfect on the outside?

After classes had ended, Izuku had walked home with Shinsou, chatting about quirks and classmates, but all Shinsou could focus on was how cute his smile looked, how bright his eyes were, how excited he always was.

It was astounding.

got no time to waste on another pretty face

i've met someone that makes me feel seasick

Shinsou knew this behavior wouldn't usually be normal, but he'd had his eye on Izuku since day one. Or, well, day of the sports festival, a year ago.

He'd met Izuku there, and when he had seen the sheer willpower and determination, it had stirred up a blooming in his chest he thought to be long dead.

oh, what a skill to have, what a skill to have

Shinsou could go on for hours at a time listing what he loved about Izuku. It sounded tedious, but he could do it and he would to anyone who would listen.

He knew it was a weird thing, but he couldn't keep denying it or he'd never get over it.

So he'd accepted it, hoping that it would help him come to terms with himself and help him get over it.

Nope, that only made it stronger, so Shinsou had just sighed and, at 2 am under his blankets, accepted what he should've before.

He had a crush on Izuku.

so many skills that make him distinguished, but they're not mine to have

♥♥♥

This was it. This was going to be the beginning of his hero career. He was going to win in the sports festival and rise to the top, or at least somewhere near there.

The little pep talk (and gravitational disruptor boots) his engineering friend Hatsume Mei had given him were useful and he was grateful for them, but he was still nervous as he stepped out into the blindingly bright arena, staring into the eyes of ashort green-haired boy who looked far too young and frail to be here. Nevertheless, the boy wore a determined expression, and his stance was nothing if not completely flawless.

Shinsou wasn't scared of this boy, but looks could deceive.

whenever he looks, i read the nearest paper

As Shinsou readied his stance, he stared into the green boy's eyes, studying him for a split second. He was small and cute, with freckled chubby cheeks, big doe eyes, and a little button nose, all washed over with a milky pale pallor to his skin.

Wait, no, not the time.

He steadied himself and, as the bell rang, he stood up straight and asked a simple question.

"So, Izuku Midoriya...do you think you'll win against me?"

"I don't know, but I won't go ea-"

Shinsou smirked as Izuku went still as steel, eyes glazed and greyed over. He opened his lips to command him when he caught Izuku staring at him. And no, not because Shinsou had control over him, but because he seemed to be observing the other boy. Shinsou withered just a bit under Izuku's calculating gaze, because it seemed like the boy could reap out all of his secrets and lay them out for the world to see.

He couldn't let himself falter, however, because he was on TV and he couldn't show weakness in the name of Yuuei.

but i don't care about the soaps, no, i don't care about them

All of a sudden, Izuku walked toward him, every step calculated and still, his eyes letting Shinsou know he was still in control.

"Stop," Shinsou commanded. Izuku stilled, and as collective murmurs arose in the audience, Shinsou started to walk toward him. He could now see new features that he couldn't see before. He could see thebirthmark on the other's neck, the black roots of his hair blooming out from his neck, and the paler patches of skin on his face and body.

Those few seconds were all Izuku needed.

Shinsou took a small step back when Izuku started to twitch, wobbling and trying to get a hold of himself. Shinsou closed his eyes and tried to enter his calm mental state, where his brainwashing was most effective.

It worked for a little, it did. But it wasn't enough.

though i'm acting like i'm in an eastenders episode

Shinsou had underestimated Izuku's willpower massively. The boy was able to snap out of his trance (much to Shinsou's shock, and it showed) and release vines from his palms, wrapping around Shinsou and throwing him into the air. The boy used those same vines to yank him down, causing Shinsou to hit the ground and pass out from the impact.

A blooming pain seared into his shoulder and side where he had landed, and it took a lot of his wallpower to bite back a loud scream of agony at the blossoming pain, his vision giving him nothing but a musky carmine red.

His fading memory before he blacked out was Izuku, arms bleeding and vines limp on the ground as the announcer Present Mic declared his spot in the second round.

if this is a rom-com, kill the director

He woke up in the infirmary, Recovery Girl at his side. His shoulder and side still held a dull ache, and his eyes struggled to stay open, so he kept them lidded, hoping it would reduce the amount of energy it took to keep them open. It didn't.

Then a soft yet desperate voice filled the air, or at least Shinsou's field of hearing.

"Please, sir, I know he has potential," the voice begged. Shinsou processed it as Izuku's voice, his mind darkening. Why was he talking about Shinsouin a way that wasn't ridicule?

The voice continued to beg. "I know he's supposed to be in Gen Ed, but I also know he has what it takes to make it into the hero course. Please, just give him a chance."

There was a hesitation, and Shinsou could almost hear the puppy dog eyes from across the infirmary. He was halfway through his thoughts of 'it's not gonna work' when he heard a sigh from who he processed to be Toshinori-sensei.

carrots help us see much better in the dark

"Alright. If Aizawa's okay with it, I suppose we can make an arrangement. Young Mineta was already expelled for perverted behavior, so I suppose we can allow Shinsou to fill in that spot. Shouta?"

A grunt came from the tired teacher, and Toshinori-sensei nodded in affirmation. "Very well then. If you truly believe he has potential, we'll give it a try. Your choice seems reasonable for a young student such as you, Young Midoriya."

An excited squeal and 'you won't regret it, Yagi-san!' was the last thing he heard before he passed out again, the lingering memory of Izuku's determined eyes and brave stance despite his disposition fresh in his mind.

don't talk to boys, they'll break your heart

Then when Shinsou had found Izuku on his way to the music store, he'd been quick to help him, but the green-haired boy hadn't seemed to remember him, so he just shrugged it off and played along. Better to not confuse him.

And after Izuku had gotten friendly with him, he'd found himself getting softer and softer until he'd completely fallen for him, smitten.

So when Izuku proclaimed himself Shinsou's best friend with those cute freckled cheeks puffed up with a grin and those eyes shining brighter than a thousand suns, his heart had completely melted into a puddle of warm goo.

and this is my head and this is my spout

And now, with Izuku getting a bit more comfortable with touches and Shinsou getting more flustered with each touch, there was no doubt that Izuku had caught on. Of course he had; he was the brightest, most tactical and analytical student in 1-A, perhaps in their entire grade, or all of Yuuei. He was so observant it was scary, and if Shinsou was his proclaimed 'super-best friend', that meant that he'd take notes on every little detail, and his flustered state and flushed face was less than subtle.

So here he was, in his pink-haired maniacal friend Hatsume's dorm, laying on her bed sideways and complaining about boys with her while she tinkered with her newest baby, a multi-purpose grenade.

"But, like, he's just so innocent and oblivious!" Shinsou whined as he ignored the small explosion of water that emerged from the MPG. "I've started dropping hints, trying to tell him I'm into him in the most subtle ways possible, but it flies above his head! For someone so observant, I don't get how he can miss it."

"Maybe your hints are more of talking monotonously to him," Hatsume shrugged, tossing her now busted wrench aside and grabbing a different one. "You talk to him a bit more than usual, and you are nicer to him than anyone else, but maybe it's because he thinks you guys are friends and he doesn't judge you for your quirk, so you're being nice to him. Maybe he thinks you're just being friendly."

"So what do I do?! It's not like I can walk up to the boy I've liked for a year and tell him, 'hey, I like you and your freckles and your pretty eyes and I wanna go out with you'."

"That's not a bad idea, but he wouldn't like something so upfront. Try hinting at him, but make bolder moves, like holding his hand when you cross the street or something, I don't know."

"At least your little loverboy Iida would appreciate an upfront confession."

"Shut up before I shove my little baby up your arse as a test run."

but they work together; they can't figure anything out

Shinsou and Izuku soon agreed on a daily schedule of running together early in the morning before going to class. They usually met up at Izuku's place, and his mother Inko was the sweetest woman he'd ever met, offering him tea and hospitality, even offering to let him stay for dinner sometime, and Shinsou knew he couldn't worm out of this one no matter what, even if he wanted to.

He really didn't want to.

So while he waited for Izuku to wake up outside of the other's door, not wanting to bother him, he glanced around the room from the open door, raising an intrigued eyebrow at all the All Might memorabilia.

There was certainly a lot, but he noticed that there was also a majority of space-themed walls, other hero merchandise, and a wide arrangement of plants.

He suddenly heard the blare of an alarm and the groans of a tired Izuku as he shut off the alarm. The sound of bones snapping into place could be heard, and Shinsou knocked on the doorframe, peeking in.

"Hey there," he smiled.

Izuku smiled upon seeing Shinsou and said, "Hey. I hope I didn't make you wait long."

"Nah, I just got here."

Izuku nodded and slid into his closet to change out of his T-shirt and pajama pants, changing into leggings and a tank top, a jacket tied around his waist.

Shinsou had to resist the urge to ogle the muscled biceps that were now revealed for him to ravish with his eyes.

so with the angst of a teenage band

As they jogged along the sidewalks of the residential neighborhood, skin bitten lightly by the cold morning air, Shinsou chatted with Izuku a bit, trying to make small talk. He found it easy with Izuku.

"So...do you like anyone, by any chance? As in, romantically?"

Izuku blinked, almost faltering but catching himself. "Odd question...but I might like this one person at our school. I don't know, though; he seems really nice and I like him, but I still need to come to terms with my feelings before I confirm anything."

Shinsou had to bite back the tiny blossom of jealousy that bloomed in his gut as he replied monotonously. Whoever this guy was was pretty damn lucky to have Izuku possibly liking him.

Ten bucks it was that hot 'n cold guy Todoroki.

"Interesting...you certainly have a different perspective on this than most people in the school."

"I guess I do. What about you? Do you have a crush on anyone?"

"...yeah."

"Woah, the Hitoshi Shinsou hindering puppy love for a certain someone? I thought it impossible at first...they must be real special to you if you have a crush on them."

"Yeah...they are real special to me."

"So...any name for me?"

here's another song about a gender i'll never understand

"Not yet, it's not my tea to spill just yet. All I can tell you is that I think you know him pretty well."

Oh, what bittersweet irony.