Archive of Our Own ^beta

"I don't even know why I agreed to this. It's a weeknight!" Tenya Iida, hero name Ingenium, exclaimed to Izuku Midoriya and Shoto Todoroki. It had already been a long week, and the loud bar was one of the last places Iida wanted to be. 

Todoroki looked at him out of the corner of his eye, stating simply: "I guess because Uraraka said she was dragging Yamada-Chan out tonight," before taking a sip of his drink. He fought the smirk that threatened to break out as he watched his friend start to sputter, turning red.

"I haven't any idea what you're talking about!" 

His mind wandered to the short, curvy hero with the short, purple hair. Maybe it was true that the American had, in fact, caught his eye when she moved to Japan to live with her uncle, Hizashi Yamada, and joined their class. Maybe what started as a fascination for an interesting quirk and a unique sense of style turned into much more over the last few years getting to know her. Under the ever-changing hair colors, the combat boots, the pointed ears, studded with small piercings, and mostly dark-colored wardrobe laid an incredibly sweet, wildly smart individual, whose academic prowess ended-up rivaling his own. Perhaps her fiery and passionate streak, which insured people knew she wasn't one to be walked all over, drew him in. It's even possible that, in his eyes, the parts of her which should be his polar opposites, actually seemed to compliment his personality. Sure, these are things he thought. Thought, but never once spoken out loud. 

With a sigh, he turned to see both Todoroki and Midoriya watching him, doubt ringing clear on their faces. 

"How long have you known?" 

Rubbing his chin in thought, Midoriya replied with: "I suppose I noticed it two years ago."

Todoroki cocked one eyebrow at this and asked: "Was it not our second year at UA? I know I wasn't as versed in these things as most, but I was pretty sure..."

"Second year?! There's no way I missed this for three whole years! Nope. I would've noticed," Midoriya argued.

"There were signs."

"Like?"

Todoroki sighed, took another sip, and stated: "Iida is normally straight-forward, matter-of-fact, and un-wavering. Around Yamada-chan, he turns into a blushing, babbling mess. Besides, he stares. I've never seen him stare before-"

"I do not stare" Iida cut him off, hastily, hands chopping through the air.

"You stare. I guess the biggest sign, however, was your reaction to Yamada-Chan dating Shinso." 

Midoriya gaped at the man, "Five years? Five years, and you haven't said anything, Iida? Why?"

"Because, Midoriya, while she may be perfect to me, I understand that women like her don't date men like me. She deserves someone who can keep up with her, someone more carefree, less rigid." 

Both men watched him sadly, surprised by his outburst, by his feelings for her and of himself. Midoriya opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.

"Izu-Kun!" Ochaco Uraraka exclaimed excitedly, seeing her boyfriend and friends, and began hurrying over, arm linked with a shorter woman. Kenzie Yamada, also known as Pro Hero: Shockwave. Iida took this time to look at the differences between the two friends; while Uraraka was the type of person many would assume Iida would fall for, with her tidy brown bob, pink flowy shirt, jeans, and heels, which seemed to match her overly friendly, excitable, and bubbly personality, Iida's eyes couldn't help but fall on Yamada. Her outfit consisted of a purple cropped top under a black fishnet top, ripped jeans, and worn-in black combat boots, topped by a black moto jacket. 

Iida missed the slight blush on Yamada's cheeks as they arrived at the table. Todoroki slid over, making room between himself and Iida for her to sit as Uraraka bounced over to Midoriya and kissed him on the cheek before taking a seat next to him.

"So, how's that going, anyways?" Yamada asked, gesturing to Midoriya and Uraraka. They both blushed slightly, and the brunette giggled, "Really well, actually! We-" Iida had already stopped listening, focusing instead on the woman beside him who was listening intently, with a warm smile, to their friends excitedly talking about their latest date. 'She's always so happy when anything good happens to the people important to her,' Iida thought, warmly, 'It's one of the many things I lo-.' His thoughts were interrupted by a light poke to his ribs, coupled with a slight vibrating feeling he recognized as part of her quirk.

"So, Iida-Kun, anything going on in your love life? Or are you just as alone as Todoroki-Kun and I?" She asked, with a wink and a giggle. 'Why does her giggle have to be so cute? Focus, Tenya! She asked a question.'

"N-no," he stammered, adjusting his glasses, "I mean, I've had offers, but no."

"Tch, and why not?" She admonished the man, "You could probably have your pick of anyone. You're a real catch, y'know." 

'Not anyone, though,' the little voice in the back of his mind rang. 

"If only you took your own words to heart, Yama-Chan," Uraraka called to her friend in a singsong tone. "It isn't like I don't know Kirishima has been trying to set you up. You could always take him up on it since you refuse to do anything about the situation you mentioned." 

Midoriya spoke up, "What situation?" 

"It's nothing, don't worry about it," Yamada quickly said, shutting down that part of the situation. "Besides, Bakugo only mentioned that dating me 'wouldn't be the worst thing,' and Eji jumped on it and has been trying to set me up with him ever since. He's looking too much into it, is all."

"For Bakugo, it's basically a love confession," Todoroki deadpanned. She snorted a laugh before taking a sip of her drink. 

Iida had a calm, unbothered facade, but his brain was going into overdrive. 

'Of course Bakugo is interested.' 

'Why wouldn't he be? She can keep up with his aggressive personality.'

'She probably does like him. He's 'cool,' he has a 'bad-boy' persona.'

'He'd probably be able to keep things interesting.' 

A few drinks and a couple hours later, Iida decided it was time to get back home. Yamada stayed close to Iida's side as they tidied up their table and settled their tabs. "I'm really glad you came out with us tonight, Iida-Kun. It seems like it's been so long since we've been able to hang out."

He looked down at the purple-haired woman with a fond smile, "You're right, I'm sorry it's been so long. I've been keeping up with your expl- I mean, everyone's exploits," Iida felt his face heating up. 

She bounced a bit, excited, "Oh! I've been keeping up with yours, too! You truly are a wonderful hero, Ingenium," she chuckled. When it was time for the five of them to split ways, Yamada gave Iida a tight hug. "Promise we'll hang out again soon? Also, would it kill you to call or text more often?" She asked with a laugh.

The man chuckled, taking in her warmth, her scent, and just how she felt in his arms. 

"I promise." 

Walking away, he knew these feelings would never go. For a split second, he considered just confessing to her, but he knew she would never return his feelings. 

Bonus:

Walking back home with Uraraka, Yamada was deep in thought, a slight, bittersweet smile on her face. Looking at her friend, Uraraka asked the question that had been on her mind for a while now, "So...are you ever going to tell Iida?"

"Maybe..."