Work Text:
1.
A soft yellow-tinted haze filled the view of a houses living room. The room was decorated with some balloons and a string of letters spelling ‘happy birthday’ on one wall. A young Izuku, hair a tuff of green fluff and blush red cheeks full of freckles, was seated at a table with a brightly wrapped present in front of him. He bounced up and down on his seat, full of excitement. His dad and Mom sat in front of his at the table. His mother had her long green hair tied up with a small cone party hat on and held a camera.
“Ok Izuku, you can open your present now.” The moment she said that the little body ripped into the paper to show a box. He threw off the top to reveal a mess of blue white and yellow. He picked it up and it fell into the shape of a onesie with All Might's costume printed on it. The little boy held up his gift, wide-eyed and completely stunned.
His Mom focused on her camera on him laughing. “You can put it on,” She said.
All the little toddler could do was nodded and his Dad got up to help him into his new pajamas.
“Now you're All Might!” His father said. He grinned as he poked his son in the stomach and proclaimed “and I’m a villain!” He turned and started to fake running away.
The toddler's eyes sparkled. “I’ll catch you!” They ran around the room going around the coach and circling the coffee table.
“Hey now, time to stop playing. It's time for cake!” His mom said as she walked into the joint living space with a small chocolate cake.
“You’ve caught me!” His Dad said stopping and turning to his son. “Or have I caught you.” He picked up the giggling child and set him in his seat at the kitchen table. There were four candles stuck haphazardly in the cake that had a poorly written ‘happy birthday’ on it in white frosting.
His Dad grabbed the camera on the table and pointed it toward Izuku. His parents broke out into the happy birthday song as his mom carefully light the candles. “Ok, do you have your wish ready?” She asked.
He shook his head up and down, almost bouncing out of his seat in his excitement. “I want to be a hero like All Might.”
His Mom laughed. “Don’t say your wish out load or it won’t come true! Now, blow out your candles!”
He took a deep breath puffing out his chest and blowing out the small flames. As they left off small trails of smoke he had thought of another wish if he had already ruined his first one; he wished to save the world!
2.
The sky was a dime, cold grey, the suns its last rays of light blocked by a downpour of rain. He listened to the sound of the cascade crashing on the roof of the convenience store he was held up in. He watched it fall while listlessly flipping through a random magazine he had picked up.
“Shoto.” He jumped almost dropping his magazine. He looked over and a confused Izuku.
“You spooked me.” He said. Izuku was looking at the magazine in his hands.
“I didn't know you liked homes and gardens, planning to change up your room?” He asked with a sly grin. Shoto closed the magazine and placed it back on the rack.
“I’m planning my summer garden. I have to start planting squash to have some for fall.” He said with a blank face.
Izuku let out a little laugh, the sound lifting Shotos soul. “Seriously though, we should head back to the dorms. It’s really coming down outside.” He walked down the aisle, lined with magazines and different candies. “I’m going to get an umbrella, did you find what you were looking for?” He asked picking up a cheap foldable umbrella.
Shoto began to sweat. He looked around for anything that might have some important for their stopping in. In his utter brilliance, he picked up the home and gardens magazine again. “I don’t think they have it so, I’ll just get this?” It came out more of a question. He cursed himself. He shifted his feet under Izuku’s gaze.
“Ok then,” he said, obviously not convinced. He walked to the counter.
Todoroki quickly checked the time on his phone and saw that he was supposed to keep Izkuk out of the dorms for another haft hour.
The whole class was planning a big surprise birthday party for Izuku. It was sort of class tradition. Of course, Mina and Hagakure were at the head of the group but surprisingly Iida had given the whole endeavor his approval and took a leading roll in planning. Being Izukus boyfriend they thought that Shoto would be able to get Izuku out of the dorm for a few hours while they set everything up. The problem is that Shoto had never planned their dates and had absolutely no idea what to do. So here they ended up, in a corner convenience store walking the racks of assorted goods for twenty minutes. He had actually planned a nice outing to this little farmers market but with the chance of rain they canceled it last minute and forced Shoto to come up with convoluted reasons for stopping into random shops on their way back to the dorms.
He quickly typed out a message letting Mina know they were on their way back.
‘omg you useless gay, give me ten minutes for the cake’ The message ended with a mad emoji.
On his way up to the counter, Shoto also grabbed a cheap umbrella. The two paid for their things and left. The doors opened and they were hit with a huge gust of wind sending with it a tide of raindrops. Izuku’s and Shoto's little umbrellas strained under the storm. They walked the empty streets. Izuku hunched under his umbrella. Shoto just held his, excepting that it was doing little to stop the downpour. They were close to the school gates when a car came by and hit the gutter sending a wave of water right at Shoto. They stopped walking. Shoto stood in shock. Izuku covered his mouth against his laugh. Shoto loved the pure pink of Izukus cheeks and the fun in his eyes. He smiled and jumped in the large puddle swelling up over the gutter. Water splashed onto Izukus legs and he jumped back.
“Hey!” He yelled, still laughing.
Shoto kicked water at Izuku again. He laughed. “Serves you right.”
Izuku jumped into the little gutter river, making a big splash. Water seeped into their shoes and soaked their pants but they didn’t care as they chased each other around. They had discarded their poor, broken umbrellas and let the rain soak through their clothes.
With the last kick at Shoto Izuku sobered up a bit. “We should really get back to school.”
“What, are you admitting defeat?”
“Of course not, you're obviously more wet than me so I win.” Izuku grabbed his wrecked umbrella and took off. “The first one to the dorm wins!” He yelled over his shoulder.
“That’s cheating!” Shoto yelled back, before taking off after him.
They ran to school. During their fight, the grey clouds had dimmed and the streetlights had light up.
Izuku made it first, with his head start. He looked back to see Shoto just turning into the gate. Shoto walked to Izuku and tried to covertly send a text to Mina before catching up to him. “I win.” Izuku bragged. Shoto stuck his tongue out at him and grabbed the handle opening the door.
“SURPRISE!” Everyone yelled jumping out from behind the furniture in the common room. They were all off count so it came more of a jumble and Uraraka lost her balance jumping up from behind the table and tripped into Jiro who then fell onto Momo.
Izuku shook his head with a small smile. “I knew you guys would pull something like-“
“SURPRISE!” Came a yell from right beside him. Izuku jumped and immediately went into a defensive position before calming down. The whole room burst into laughter as “It’s me! I told it would work.” She said as Ojio brought her a pair of matching pink and white shirt and skirt.
Hand over his heart He said. “You guy trying to kill me.”
Mina was the first to recover heading over to them. “Thanks, Todoroki, we had just enough time. We set up a bunch of games and stuff for your party!”
Izuku started to go red. “You guys didn’t have to do all this for me. ” He looked around, the common room was decorated with balloons, everyone was wearing a party hat and there was a huge tiered cake on one of the tables.
“Oh shush up Deku, of course, we did! With everything you’ve done for us, it’s the least we can do.” Uraraka said lifting himself off Jiro.
“Besides, parties are mandatory in this dorm.” She proclaimed.
“Well thank you, guys! This is more than I could ask for.” He said.
“Before we start the party I think it’s prudent for you two to changes clothes. You’re wet and we wouldn’t want you to catch a cold.” Iids said.
Izuku looked down at his soaked clothes and sheepishly rubbed his wet hair. “You're right, me and Shoto will be back in a second.” He grabbed Shoto and dragged him to the elevator. After the doors closed he pulled Shoto in for a kiss, his lips chapped and cold, but so perfect.
“Where did?” Shoto asked after he pulled back. He was happy to kiss him finally but he was confused about the sudden attack.
Izuku looked at him with a soft smile and gentle eyes, an expression he saved purely for Shoto. “I was just thinking about this being my first birthday with you. I enjoyed our convenience store date.”
Shoto pouted at him. “Hey, I tried.”
“I love you.” As the door opened he pulled him in for a long kiss.
“We should change, I really want to eat Shato's cake!”
3.
Shoto freated around the small apartment. He dusted the bookshelves in the living room space of the one-room apartment. The tv was on in the background. A news reporter was going over a villain attack. The perpetrator was trying to rob a bank but was heroicly stopped by up and coming hero Deku. He felt the familiar tug of worry for him that came with the territory of the kind of work they did. He stayed focused though. He finished the cleaning and went on to decorating. He tied balloons in the colors of all might on the coffee table and almost fell off the chair he was using to try to hang the banner saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY in large colorful letters. He put it over their sliding screen door out onto the small balcony. It was crooked and threatening to fall at the smallest breath. He stood back to check his work. He heard the beep of the timer and moved to the small kitchen against the wall next to the door. He got the pork slices from the oven. There was a puff of air revealed deep brown crust. He frowned at the meat but checked the clock and knew that he didn't have enough time to try again. He didn’t have too much time to lament on his failure as he heard a key enter the lock on the door. He stepped out of the kitchen to face the door. Shoto’s stomach was in knots as the door opened to relieve a ragid looking face. Izuku looked bone tired. He shuffled into the house taking off his shoes before he looked at his surrounds.
“Welcome home,” Shoto said, studying Izuku’s face for his reaction.
Izuku took a moment to take in the balloons and the banner and felt warmth fill his chest. His fatigue was lifted as was his spirit.
Shoto had on his worried frown, Izuku’s silence making him second-guess himself. “I know you said that you didn’t want a party but I just thought that maybe something small would-“
Izuku stepped to Shoto and pulled his down for a soft kiss. “I love it.” He said pulling away, keeping his face close. “I’m really happy.” He kissed him again, harder this time. Izuku gently brought a hand up to cup Shoto’s face and Shoto ran his hand through his fluffy hair.
Shoto broke the kiss. He leaned his forehead against Izuku’s. “I made food, we should eat before it goes cold.” With a chaste kiss, he pulled away, heading for the messy kitchen. Izuku sat at their small wooden table in one of the two mismatched chairs.
Shoto placed one of the bowls in front of Izuku and one in front of himself. He lowered himself onto the hardwood of the seat. Izuku looked down at the food. It was pork cutlet bowl in front of him, his favorite. It was messy and looked sad with its stringy meat and too much rice threatening to fall onto the freshly polished table. He smiled as he picked up his chopsticks.
“You really didn’t have to do this.” Shoto’s smile threatened to fall into one of his frowns where he overthought. “But I’m so glad that you did. Thank you so much for the food!” With the explanation, he stuffed a large ball into his mouth. The rice was hard and undercooked and the meat was tough and overcooked but he ate it all because every bite was filled with Shoto’s love.
Shoto knew he’d fucked up the food from the first taste but Izuku was eating it without a problem so he felt at ease, his heart expanding in his chest.
Izuku ate a bit of rice that had stuck to his face. Shoto got up and took their plates. Izuku went to get up too but he waved at him to stay seated.
He placed the bowls into the sink and turned to the fridge. “I also have a cake, if you want dessert. Don’t worry I didn’t make it.”
Izuku chucked, “I have room for some more.”
Shoto removed the cake from its packaging and placed it in front of Izuku and stuck a candle in the middle of it. It was small and had chocolate frosting with decorations around the rim.
Izuku raised an eyebrow. “A candle too?”
Shoto focused on lighting it, “what's a cake without a candle, now wait.” Izuku watched amused as he positioned himself in front of him and the burning candle phone in hand. He held the phone up. “Ok, I’ll start now!, He clicked the video button and started singing. “Happy birthday to you!”
Izuku burst into laughter at Shoto’s terrible rendition of the song, he was practically tone deaf. His face flushed in embarrassment, knowing all the comments from his friends when this was posted.
“Happy birthday dear Izuku, Happy birthday to you!” He reached the end of the song and Izuku blew out the fire, leaving a black tip with small smolders of orange.
Shoto uploaded the video to his private twitter and placed his phone in his pocket. “So, what did you wish for?”
“If I tell you it won’t come true.” He said with a grin so big it threated to slit and eyes sparkling in that beautiful way when he’d stared back at him when he first confessed.
Shoto let out a little laugh. “That’s an old wives tale. Please?” He asked.
Izuku tried to pout but he couldn’t drop his smile. He got up and moved to fall into Shotot’s embraced. “I wished that we’d grow old together. I love you Shoto.” His voice was soft and Shoto melted.
“I love you too. Forever.”
4.
Shoto straightened his tie walking to the restaurant.
“Excuse me, are you Shoto” He heard a voice from his left. Damn, he was already late and now he had to run into some fans. He loved them but sometimes he really hated the attention.
He faced two young women. “Yes I am, and what can I do for you?”
One of the women stepped forward. “We are so sorry to bother you but can we get a picture?” She asked quickly, her words squished together. If he wasn’t already use to speed talking from Izuku he wouldn’t have understood her. She and her friend looked so nervous so Shoto put on his best smile
“Of course.” Like lightening the girls got on either side of him and snapped a selfy.
“Thank you so much!” They said both clearly excited.
“You have a safe night,” Shoto said before heading off to his destination. He glanced at his watch and quickened his pace. He was going to be late. It wasn’t his fault. He had caught a few petty crimes and had to document them, that paperwork takes time. Finally, the restaurant was in view. It was packed. People in full formal wear crowded around the front.
He wormed his way through the crowd, waving at the people who called out to him and ented the restaurant. It was bright, white light hitting the waving crystal installations that hung from the ceiling, letting out a beautiful shimmer effect. The inside was large, a span of full tables distracting him for a moment until he approached the hostess. Before he could speak she had already started walking. “Midoriya, table for 4 correct.” She said.
In the corner booth were Izuku, Mis Midoriya, All Might, and his mom. Izuku was speaking to All Might while Mis Midoriya and his mom looked around at the scenery.
“Here you are.” The hostess said handing him a menu as he slipped into a velvet-covered seat across from Izuku next to his mom.
He opened his mouth to speak but Shoto cut him off. “I’m so sorry I’m late, work ran over.”
“Oh, that alright dear, we haven’t waited very long.” Mis Midoriya said waving her hand with a smile. “I’m just incredibly flattered that you had set this up. I thought I misheard you when you told me we were coming here. I mean, this is one of the most upscale places in the city.”
He gave her his best charming smile, but with his face, it probably came off as looking a bit pained. “It’s a special occasion.”
Izuku had been giving him the stink eye, intrigued. “I think this is a little much for a regular day.”
Shoto had been a bit worried about planning this outing but Izuku’s expression confirmed that this was a good decision.
Mis Midoriya turned on her son. “your birthday is special. Do you have any idea what I went through for you to be here now because-“
Shoto zoned out of their conversation then. A pull at his sleeve had him look to his mom. Her eyes had a faint brightness in them, her silver hair in an updo held together by a pin he had given her some years before. She smiled at him. “Thank you for inviting me. I’m very excited.”
He laid his hand on her hand on the polished wood table. “I’m so glad you were able to come. I’m nervous.” He said quietly.
“You have nothing to worry about.”
“- and when I was finally able to take you home it-“
“Mom!” Mis Midoriya paused. “I’m sorry, I know you went through a lot and I’m glad to be celebrating my birthday.”
Mis Midoriya smiled, “I’m glad.”
“Excuse me, are you ready to order?” Their waiter had come to them and none of them had focused on what to get. All three of them, with the exception of Rei, quickly skimmed the menu.
They rattled off their orders and the water took their menus when he left.
"I’m so happy my boy is all grown up” Mis Midoriya had started weeping, her eyes like waterfalls.
“Mom, you don’t have to cry.”
“I remember when you were just a little boy, running around wanting to be a hero, and here you are as the number one just like you wanted and I’m just such a proud mother. You’ve grown so much I just.” Mis Midoriya got choked up and Izuku wrapped his arms around her, his large frame enveloping her.
“It’s ok mom. I only got this far with your love and support.”
He pulled back and Mis Midoriya wiped her eyes with one of the tablecloths. “I haven’t seen you get so emotional about my birthday before, is something wrong?”
Everyone at the table froze as he passed his gaze over all of them. Shoto thought for sure that they had been found out till Mis Midoriya spoke again, tears dried.
“Nothings wrong honey!”
Rie spoke quietly. “Age tends to make one sentimental.”
There was a pause broken by their waiter bringing them their food.
They all dug into their respective plates, mating chit-chat between bites.
“Give me a bit of that,” Shoto said, chopsticks already on Izukus plate, grabbing a piece of his meat. He went in for a second seal but was nocked away.
“Hey, if you wanted it you should have ordered it.”
“You already had so I didn’t need to. Sharing is caring you know.”
Both mothers and broke into laughter at their son's banter. All Might's laugh came out as more of a cough.
The couple bickered and they all spoke about an assortment of things. Most of their conversation was catching up. Hero work was around a very demanding job that one never truly clocks out of. They were both sorry to be seeing their mothers and All Might as much as they would like to.
They had finished up their plates, everyone but All Might and Rie had picked clean plates.
“Well, I have to say that this was actually really nice. I love you all and I’m glad that we all met up, though I still think the restaurant is a bit much.”
“Midoriya my boy, thank you for having us on your birthday!” All Might said.
He started to search the floor for a waiter. “Let's get the check and-“
“Wait for a miniate dear, we haven’t had dessert yet.” Mis Midoriya padded her son's arm.
“If you guys want dessert than we can get some, is their a…” He trailed off, eyes watching the waiters gather. Fear gripped his heart. Shoto was also gripped with fear but for a different reason.
“Shoto, please tell me you didn’t.”
“Did what?” He asked innocently with a shit-eating grin.
Izuku just looked over at him with an exhausted and betrayed look. Shoto held back his laughter as the waiters stood in front of their table.
“Happy birthday to you~” the waiters sang as a chocolate cake was placed in front of him. Izuku didn’t see it. He had buried his face in his hands but his ears were red. The restaurant had considered Shotos request a bit strange but it was worth watching how embarrassed Izuku was.
“Happy birthday dear Mister Misdoriya, happy birthday to you.” This scene had grabbed the attention of the tables around them and they broke out into applause.
“How could you betray me like this,” Izuku said as he finally lifted his head. Shoto and the others at the table sat tall withheld breathes as Izuku looked at the cake. “Well, the cake looks- wait.” He reached over and grabbed the little box that was placed on a piece of plastic on the cake.
“Shoto, really? I said you didn’t have to get me anything.” Izuku said, though his bright eyes and told a different story.
“Just open it,” Shoto said and moved out of his chair. Izuku watched him stand confused until he opened the box.
Immediately Izukus whole face light up in shock and he watched, mouth hanging open as Shoto got on one knee.
“Midoriya Izuku, we have been together for a long time. You are the reason I am the person I am today. When you came into my life you brought light where I could only see darkness, you brought kindness when I’d only known harshness. You reminded me of who I am. I will try every day of my life to give you the gifts that you have given me. We have been together for a long time now and I want to always be with you. For the rest of my life. Will you marry me?”
During the spectacle, the whole restaurant had turned its focus on them. Everyone in the entire restaurant held their breath.
Tears gathered and fell from Izukus eyes. He placed the box down and nodded, unable to speak before simply throwing himself at Shoto. There on the floor, he kissed him. “I will, I will marry you. I love you so much Shoto.”
“I love you too, forever.”
The restaurant exploded into a cacophony of applause, multiple people visibly recording them. Neither cared as they got back in their seats.
Shoto put the band, a silver ring with a line of small diamonds embedded in a wave around it on Izukus shaking hand.
“Oh, my babies getting married!” Mis Midoriya broke down into tears and tried to wrap her arms around her son in a bone-crushing hug.
“Congratulations my boy!” All Might said, his sunken face in a large smile.
“I’m so happy for you.” His mother said quietly next to him. She gave him a gentle smile.
“Thank you for being here.” He said, taking his moms hand and giving it a squeeze.
“You all knew, didn’t you. All of you are on my shit list for conspiring against me.” Izuku chocked out.
“How about we have some cake,” Shoto said to the table. That caught everyone's attention and everyone got a piece.
After finishing their portions Mis Midoriya looked at her watch. “Oh it’s so late, we should be going and giving the couple some time alone.”
Shoto sent a short message from his watch. “The people from the hospital will be here shortly mom,” he said, though his mother had started to zone out.
After everyone had left it was just the two of them. They ate the rest of the rather large cake and drank well into the night, not paying attention to the other tables emptying. They were one of the last to leave. They got into a cab to take them home. Izkuk was resting his head on Shotos shoulder eyes closed and playing with his ring. “Shoto. I always knew. The way you looked at me, all the way back at the sports festival, from across the field. I really love you, and now I will forever.”
5,
“I remember how hungover you were the next morning. You kept drinking even though you knew you were such a lightweight. I brought you water and medicine. It was a good thing you’d taken off patrol. You know, we never did finish that leftover cake.” Todoroki trailed off looking at the tombstone in front of him. The start and end date bellow his beloveds name mocked him with there short spacing. He watched the haft-melted candle burn on the chocolate cupcake he’d set before the stone. The flame danced about, looking so alive in a place so dead.
Todoroki sat on the warm concrete. He leaned back on his hands that went over little rocks making painful impressions. He gazed at the sky, a beautiful blue with fluffy bubbly clouds drifting away. The hot summer sun beat down on him and he felt its warmth on his skin.
“Izuku.” He felt his lungs expand and contract with every breath. “Are you here, somewhere up there? Or right in front of me.” The clouds and sky blurred and he felt tears leak from the corners on his eyes and closed them. He thought to himself that he must be getting old as he seems to be sentimental.
“I know where you are, always with me somewhere, at least in my memories.”
After a moment he straightened up and dried the corners of his eyes. He smiled at the stone that stood proudly in front of him. “Happy thirty-fifth birthday, Izuku.” He blew out the mostly melted candle. “I love you, forever.”