Love Language

by madam_mess

Summary:

Words of Affirmations, Physical Touch, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, Acts of Service. Fumikage and Mezo do not always speak the same love language. Not everyone does. Tokoyami is not good with physical affection while Shouji is not good with words. Yet somehow they met in the middle.

Five one-shots depicting Fumikage and Mezo's relationship corresponding with the five love languages.

Chapter 1: Physical Touch

Fumikage had grown used to having hands on him.

It took some getting used to, of course. After all, he had never dated anyone before Mezo, so the first time that the Tentacle Hero took Fumikage's hand in his own, he was not sure what to do or how to react. His hand felt awkward in the other man's much larger one. It dwarfed his fingers and made him realize just how small he felt around his best friend.

Tokoyami never considered himself to be a very physical person. In fact, looking back on their relationship, he hardly ever initiated contact with Shouji within their first year of dating. Yet still, he always seemed to find Shouji's hands on him.

A hand on his hip while they both brushed their teeth in the morning.

A hand on his shoulder and another one on his knee as the couple watched a movie together.

And so many hands on him as they kissed, even in the most innocent of times.

Usually, it seemed as though the larger hero did not even realize what he was doing. It was a subconscious action for him. As if there was something inside of him, a carnal desire to keep Tokoyami close. To proudly claim what was his.

With those hands gone now, Fumikage could hardly sleep.

Mezo had been out of town for over three weeks now, with no return in sight. The tentacle hero had been called to aid in disaster relief after a large earthquake on the other side of the country. Things like this happened often, especially since Tentacole had earned a reputation as an incredible search and rescue hero. He was only expected to be gone for a few days originally, but when power in the city would not come back online, and the citizens were left without electricity, heating, or clean water, Mezo opted to stay behind to help in any way that he could.

Fumikage supported his boyfriend’s decision, of course. But as one week turned to two, and the lonely days kept coming, he began to find it harder and harder to not ask for his boyfriend to come home. Though the two talked on the phone often, it was not the same as having Mezo here with him.

Nights were easier than days for Fumikage. He spent all of his time from dusk to dawn on patrol, trying to keep his city safe. It kept his mind off of how much he missed Mezo. But returning to an empty apartment in the morning always reminded him.

It was one of those nights again. Fumikage found himself working alongside his former classmates and pro heroes, Ingenium and Cellophane, to remedy a hostage situation at a nightclub in the middle of the city. Needless to say, it was a long night and when returning to his apartment, the Jet-Black Hero wanted nothing more to get cleaned up and fall asleep.

He steps into his apartment, tired and not bothering to turn on the light as he makes his way through the living room and into the bedroom. He finds himself glancing over at the bathroom door before electing to drop his cloak to the floor and just lay down face first in his bed. He sighs quietly, burying his face in Mezo’s pillow. It does not even smell like the other man anymore. The scent has faded over the past weeks.

He falls asleep quickly and when he dreams, it is of Mezo Shouji. Everything is dark and he cannot see his boyfriend but the many hands running against his sides are a tell-tale sign of the hero’s presence. They work their way under his shirt and knead at the sore muscles there, making Tokoyami let out a tiny, pleased chirp. He can hear Shouji’s soft and deep chuckle somewhere above him.

The bird-like hero has no room for embarrassment in his dream and instead focuses solely on the impossibly large and warm hands running up and down his back and sides. He used to count Mezo’s hands, especially when they first started having sex. He always wanted to know where all six of them were. Now, he just relaxes into their comforting touch. He feels them running all over him, touching his thighs and guiding them apart before tugging down down his pants and underwear ever so slowly.

“Hmm… miss you,” Fumikage mumbles out, surprised by how clear his voice sounds in his daze.

He is met with a familiar feeling on the back of his neck, just below the line of his feathers. Mezo’s mouth. Its warmth seems to spread through the smaller man’s entire body and goes straight to his groin. “I missed you too, Kage,” Mezo whispers against his lover’s neck, mouthing at the sensitive skin ever so gently, being careful of his razor-like teeth.

Fumikage gasps out quietly as a row of those teeth graze gently against the nape of his neck. Shouji knows that he is sensitive there.

“Fumikage, let me take your shirt off. I want to touch all of you”

The dark-feathered man nods his head slightly before opening his eyes. Suddenly the haze in his mind is gone. It’s not a dream anymore. His eyes widen as the midday sun streams in through the curtains of their bedroom. Mezo is kneeling on the bed behind him, hands pressed against every inch of his body.

He rolls beneath the giant of a man, staring up at him with wide eyes.

“Why do you look so surprised?” Mezo asks with a slight smile, reaching down to rest a hand against the side of his boyfriend’s face. “Aren’t you happy to s-”

He cannot even finish his words before the much smaller man is jolting upwards to pull his boyfriend into a death grip of a hug. “You’re back?”

“It would appear so.”

“You’re staying?” Fumikage nuzzles his face into Shouji’s shoulder, eager to get as close to the other man as possible. “Everything is sorted out?”

“It’s sorted out.” Mezo’s many hands grab ahold of Fumikage, pulling his loved one close. “I really missed you. I missed touching you. I was going crazy without you.”

Fumikage’s laugh comes out as a huff of air and he shuts his eyes tight, taking in the smell of Mezo Shouji. “Me too.”

Chapter 2: Words of Affirmation

“Take care, Mezo. I love you. I will see you after the break.”

Three words sent Shouji Mezo over the moon. He had not been looking forward to the Summer break, especially given the fact that he would not be able to see his boyfriend for a month. He and Fumikage had started dating earlier this year and this would be their first extended time apart.

All of the UA students moved out of the dorms for the break and walked together to the train station. They each had different tickets, different ways to go. It was on the train’s boarding platform that Fumikage spoke those words. I love you. Mezo waved goodbye to the shorter student, grinning behind his blue face mask as Fumikage disappeared from his view.

A few of the remaining students at the station seemed to notice his drastic change in attitude but it is not until he took his seat in a different train cart that someone brought it up.

“What’s got you in such a good mood?” Sero’s voice brings the six-armed hero out of his daze. In the past two years, the other students have gotten quite good at reading Shouji’s normally expressionless behavior.

Hanata sits next to the much larger man, grinning up at him. Beside him, Mina Ashido speaks up, eager to join the conversation. “It’s cuz Tokoyami finally confessed to him! I heard it myself earlier!” She always was a bit too nosy when it came to the love lives of her friends. While her persistent prying sometimes led to success, as it had when Momo and Jirou finally started dating, it usually was more annoying than anything else.

“Mina they’ve been together for a while already. It’s not a secret.” Kaminari speaks up. He sits opposite of Shouji. Bakugo is next to lightening quirked teen. His arms are crossed over his chest as he slumps in his seat, holding absolutely still as Kirishima leans on his shoulder. The red head is fast asleep. The five friends had planned a vacation together, sending them in the same direction as Shouji for the start of the break.

“Well yeah!” Mina pipes up again happily, her voice taking on a higher pitch in her excitement. “But he said the “L” word,” she cups a hand at the side of her mouth, whispering out the last words as if it were some kind of secret.

Shouji smiles at the words. The memory is still so vivid in his mind. His stomach has not quite settled from the happiness he felt at those words. It had been the first time Fumikage said them after all. He does not mind the other students discussing the moment so openly in front of him. As Kaminari said, it is no secret that the two are a couple. It actually gives Mezo a sense of pride for others to know of their relationship.

“Aww,” Sero coos with a laugh, “Congrats man.”

“Gross,” Bakugo mutters out through gritted teeth.

“Don’t mind him,” Kaminari tells Mezo with a bright smile. “He’s just bitter because he fucked up that moment with Eijiro.”

“Shut up,” The normally loud teen grits his teeth as he hisses the words out quietly, glancing to the sleeping redhead beside him as if is afraid his boyfriend will wake up. “He won’t let me live it down.”

“What happened?” Mezo asks, looking to Denki, then to Sero and Mina rather than Bakugo for an answer. He normally would not care but his curiosity wins out.

“This guy,” Kaminari begins, having to scoot away from Bakugo as the other blonde shoots him a hard glare. “Kirishima tells him he loves him right? And this guy here just stares at him and then says, ‘okay.’”

The two teens to Shoji's left both laugh at their friend’s impersonation of Bakugo’s voice.

“You’re so lucky he didn’t dump your ass man,” Denki teases with a bright grin through his laughter. "I would have."

“What did you say to Tokoyami?” Mina asks with a big grin, having to talk over the other boys’ bickering.

Mezo’s stomach drops. What did he say?

“I-” He begins before going silent again. Did he say anything? He had been so wrapped up in his own happiness that the thought of reciprocating the phrase had not even occurred to him.

The train cart goes silent and four sets of eyes land on him, waiting for an answer.

“I… didn’t say anything.”

The silence stretches on for a moment before Bakugo finally breaks it. He laughs loudly, causing his boyfriend to jolt awake at his side. “Ha! At least I said something! Tenta-freak didn’t even have anything to say!”

“Hey, cut it out,” Sero reprimands his friend with a frown before looking up to Shoji. “Hey, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Bakugo made the same mistake and he and Ei are still together.”

“What’s going on?” Kirishima asks with a yawn.

“Go back to sleep,” Katsuki tells the redhead sternly, moving an arm around the other man’s shoulder to pull him closer.

Sero is right. Kirishima and Bakugo are closer than ever. But the word mistake echos in his head. Even as the five friends strike up a conversation with one another again, Mezo cannot stop thinking about it. He made a mistake. Will Fumikage forgive him so easily?

Thirty minutes later, the train comes to a stop and Mezo is quick to stand and pick up the duffle bag filled with his few belongings.

“Hey, Shouji, don’t you have a few more stops?” Eijiro calls after him.

Mezo cannot bring himself to respond as he hurries out of the cart, his new destination set in his mind. 

---

 

The sun had set by the time Mezo arrived in Shizuoka Prefecture. And it just a little past seven when he finds himself outside of a small suburban house on the edge of town. It is much different from his own family’s poorly maintained apartment. He ends up staring at the front door for five minutes before approaching. He came this far, afterall. It is too late to turn back.

When he knocks on the door it does not take long for someone to answer. The woman in front of him looks so much like Fumikage. She is short like him and has a thin and slender frame, her head is that of a bird’s, though her feathers are a snowy white. She looks surprised for a moment. Most people do when they first see him. But suddenly, she lets out a series of happy chirps, ones that he has only heard from Fumikage on a couple of occasions. For reasons unknown to him, his boyfriend seems to be embarrassed when he makes any sort of birdlike sound.

“Oh goodness,” the woman coos happily. “You must be Shouji. Please come in.” She steps aside, welcoming a stranger into her home a little too easily. What did she know about him? He wonders how much Fumikage has told his parents. He has not even mentioned his new relationship to his own father, though the conversation never came up.

“Fumi is upstairs. His bedroom is on the left,” She explains, gesturing to the staircase. “I was just finishing up dinner. I’ll set a place for you if you’ll join us.” She does not even wait for an answer before hurrying off to the kitchen again.

Shouji stares after her for a moment before turning to the direction she had pointed. His heart is beating faster than it has in a long time as he climbs the staircase. When he finally pushes Tokoyami’s bedroom door open his heart is hammering away.

The room does not look much different from Fumikage’s dorm at UA, dark walls with even darker decorations. The bird headed man sits on his bed, a book in his hands. When his eyes catch Shouji’s his beak falls open in surprise. “Mezo.” He regains his composure quickly. He always holds such a calm expression. “What are you doing here?”

For the second time today Mezo finds his heart in his throat. No words come out. He never has been good at expressing himself. He often cannot put his feelings into words. It is a problem that Fumikage could not relate too with his almost poetic way of speaking.

“I love you,” He finally says, the words rushing out quickly from behind his mask.

Fumikage still stares at him as if he does not understand. “What?”

“I said… I love you.”

Fumikage sets his book to the side standing up from his bed. “Yes, but what are you doing here?”

Mezo is not sure if he can answer that question himself. “Earlier,” He tries, “You told me you loved me. But I didn’t say it back. But I do… love you I mean.”

Fumikage tilts his head. “I did?” He mutters quietly as if he had forgotten. He waits for Shouji to finish and for the room to go completely silent as he mulls over his boyfriend’s words. Finally, he lets out a laugh, one like Shouji had never heard before. It’s full of happy chirps and snorts. It completely takes Mezo off guard.

He stands in the doorway to the room, dumbfounded. Wide eyes watching his boyfriend’s thin body shakes with happy laughter.

“Mezo, I know that you love me.” Fumikage finally says as he gets himself under control. He approaches his much taller boyfriend, reaching out to take one of his many hands. “You came all the way here to say that?”

All tension leaves Mezo’s shoulders with the touch. “I… Thought that I may have upset you. I didn’t want you to think that-...” He trails off as two thin arms wrap around his waist.

“I wasn’t upset,” Fumikage explains, tilting his bird-like head back to stare up at his boyfriend. “I know that you love me, Mezo. And I know that you are a man of few words. I do not expect you to push yourself for me. That being said, I certainly appreciate the sentiment and return it in full... I love you too, dearest.”

Mezo stares down at his boyfriend, wondering what he did to deserve someone so understanding and kind. Without warning, he leans down to scoop up the smaller man, holding onto him tight with all six arms and burying his face into the soft feathers of Fumikage’s head. He does not say a word.

Notes:

Sorry for the wait! I finally took a break from my multichapter erasermic fic long enough to get back to this! I have the next chapters planned out as well so be on the lookout! Also, if anyone wants to talk Shoutoko with me hit up on tumblr. My username is the same as it is here.

Chapter 3: Acts of Service

Notes:

This one takes place well before Fumikage and Mezo start dating, after the summer training camp arc.

Tokoyami does not even know if he will be welcomed here. After all of the pain he has caused Shouji Mezo, he would not be surprised if the other student turned him away. It is half past eight when Fumikage makes his way to the hospital’s information desk. “Excuse me,” He calls out to the woman at the desk. The waiting room is practically empty and there seems to be only one administrative assistant at the check-in desk. “I came to see someone. I was hoping you could point me to-”

“Visiting hours are over sir,” The woman does not even look up from her computer, typing away at the keyboard. She is an older woman, her dark hair pulled up into a tight bun, graying slightly in a few places.

Fumikage just stares at her, expressionless. Perhaps this is for the best. “Oh,” He says dumbly, though he makes no effort to move. “Well. I brought him something to eat. Can you just make sure he gets it? Please.”

The woman finally looks up from her computer, meeting the raven-headed boy’s deep red eyes. “What is the name?” She asks with a quiet sigh, pushing up a small, understanding smile. She looks like she has had a long day, though Tokoyami doubts that it was worse than his.

He had been held at the police station for investigation after the incident in the forest. He lost control of Dark Shadow and the demon went on a rampage. He had hurt so many people and scared others. If only he had been stronger, he would have been able to get the beast under his control. Thankfully, none of the other students blamed him for his actions and the police deemed that he was no longer a threat. After hours of questioning and waiting around, handcuffed in an interrogation room, he was finally released. His mother tried to dote on him and his father wanted to discuss Dark Shadow’s behavior. The quirk had belonged to his father before he was born but somehow decided to take on another host. If there was anyone who could relate to Fumikage’s struggle, it was his father. But the young student begged that they give him time alone. He had something else important he needed to do.

“Shouji Mezo,” he tells the receptionist, setting the takeout box on the counter in front of him. “He should have been brought in early this morning.”

The woman types away at her computer, looking for the patient in question. She then frowns hard at her screen. “You are not related to Shouji, are you?”

Fumikage stares on at her in silence for a moment. “I am not,” he answers honestly.

The woman frowns at her screen for a moment. She seems to be thinking something over. Her manicured fingernails tap rhythmically at the desk, drumming at it absently for what feels like minutes. Finally, she looks to Fumikage again.

“He has not had any visitors since he arrived… It looks like the nurses called his father but he never came.” The woman stares at the half-bird, then at the box on the counter, then to her screen. Finally, she lets out a quiet sigh. “He shouldn’t have to be alone. He’s in room 433. Take the elevator up and then go down the hall to your right."

Tokoyami feels the tightness in his chest return. He had been so willing to leave the second the woman attempted to turn him away. But it looks like he now has no choice but to go through with things. “Thank you,” he mutters with a small nod before turning in the mentioned direction.

It does not take him long to find Shouji Mezo’s room, though it does take him nearly ten minutes to convince himself that he should go in. He knocks lightly on the door, waiting for a moment for some kind of response.

“You are here to visit Mr. Shouji?” A nurse’s voice brings Fumikage’s attention to a tall and slender man behind him. “You can follow me in. I’m here to give him a quick check-up.”

“Oh,” Fumikage says slowly, taking a step to the side to follow the man in scrubs.

“Shouji, you have a visitor,” The nurse calls as he enters the room, pushing the rolling vitals monitor in front of him.

Mezo and Fumikage’s eyes lock immediately and the bird-headed boy goes completely still not three steps into the room.

The injured man sits up in his bed, eyes almost comically wide at seeing the other student. He looks much better than he did last night and has cleaned up significantly. His injured arm is bandaged up and laying at his side. He is not wearing a shirt or his usual face mask. Fumikage has never seen the other student’s mouth before and he can admit to himself that it is unsettling. It hangs open in surprise, showing off rows of sharp and jagged teeth. It’s far wider than the mouth of an average man, giving him a fearsome appearance.

Shouji brings a large hand up, covering the orifice from view. He does not say a word as the nurse talks to him politely and takes his blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels.

After a moment of hesitation, Fumikage tears his eyes away from the other man and makes his way closer to take a seat beside his hospital bed. He still says nothing, even as the nurse finishes his inspection. “Looks like you’re doing great, Shouji,” The young man says kindly, “I’ll have a doctor come check out that arm in the morning and then we’ll see about getting you discharged.”

It is not until the nurse has left the room that Shouji speaks up. One of his many hands morphs into a mouth. “Can you hand me my mask? It’s on your right.”

Fumikage looks to the countertop beside him, immediately recognizing the familiar blue face mask. He wants to say something. Wants to tell Shouji that he does not need it. That Fumikage did not see anything wrong with his current appearance. But he knows that it is not his place.

Once Shouji has his mask on, he lets his hands drop to his sides.

Fumikage’s beak opens just slightly as he tries to think of how to begin.  But Mezo beats him to it. “You haven’t gotten any sleep? You look tired.”

Red eyes meet black ones before shifting to the side. Fumikage is still ashamed of the pain that he caused the other man. “I haven’t had much time to.” It is partly true but more importantly, he cannot sleep. He refuses to show Dark Shadow any sign of weakness. He wants to keep the demon at bay, locked inside of him and quiet. But it is mentally exhausting to constantly keep his quirk in check.

“I would gladly trade places with you,” Mezo tells the other man, leaning back against the pillows of his elevated bed. “They have not let me even leave this room.” The corners of his eyes crease as he smiles beneath his mask, reminding the feather-headed boy just how kind Mezo is.

“I doubt you would,” Fumikage says with a shake of his head. “I just got back from the police station.” He notices the concern in the other man’s eyes. “I am not being held accountable for my quirk,” he explains, “Though I am not sure if that is a good thing or not… Shouji. I am incredibly sorry for-”

“You do not need to apologize, Tokoyami. My injury was not your fault. You should not blame yourself for an accident. Besides, my mutant based quirk allows me to regenerate my limbs. It will take a few days but in time it will be as if this never happened.”

“It did happen,” Fumikage says quickly, shaking his head and glaring down at his own shoes. “You are being too lenient with me. I lost control of Dark Shadow and my friends paid the price. How can you be so composed after something like this has happened?”

“Tokoyami,” Shouji waits for the small teen to meet his eyes again. “It has already happened. There is nothing we can do to change it. If you want me to accept your apology then I do. But I do not hold any ill will toward you.”

The silence stretches on between them. Somewhere inside of him, he knows that Mezo is right. Though he cannot understand how the larger man can be so forgiving.

“What’s that?” Mezo asks, catching Fumikage’s attention again. One of his arms has morphed into a nose and it stretches over, sniffing at the takeout box in Tokoyami’s lap. “Is that for me?”

Tokoyami let's out a puff of air, grateful for the change in subject. “Its takoyaki,” he says with a nod, “I remember you mentioned once that you like it.” He does not hesitate to hand the box over to the nose shaped appendage, watching as it morphs back into a hand to take the offering.

“I'm surprised you remembered,” the larger man says, grinning at the kind gesture as he opens the box. “I am grateful for the hospital staff here but the cafeteria food has not been very good.”

“I remembered because it is also my mom's favorite.”

“Did she makes these?” Two of Mezo's appendages form mouths. One sets about eating the snack while the other holds conversation.

“Ah, no she did not. I bought these from a vendor on the way here.” He goes quiet, watching Shouji eat before speaking up again. “I will get her to make you some,” he promises. “I know she will not mind. Or perhaps I could get the recipe from her so I can make them for you.”

“That's not necessary. But I will not turn down your offer... Your mother sounds very kind.”

“She is,” Fumikage agrees with a nod. She is very different that he and his father. While the two male Tokoyami's are quiet and antisocial, she is warm and kind, brightening up their household.

Suddenly the smaller boy remembers what the desk assistant told him earlier. “Where is your family, Shouji?” he asks, hoping that it is not inappropriate of him.

The question does not seem to bother his friend. Mezo does not even stop eating. “I live with my dad. But we aren't very close.”

The answer does not fully answer the smaller boy's question. In fact, it only raises several more. What does Should mean by they are not close? What about his mother? Does he have any siblings? It makes Fumikage realize how little he knows about the other student. “Oh,” he says slowly, staring Mezo down. “Well,” he says as he stands, “I should probably get going. It is late and I do not want to keep you up any later.”

“Tokoyami.”

Mezo's outburst takes him by surprise.

“You can stay if you would like. You look tired. I would hate for you to have to travel home in this state.” The bird-headed boy opens his mouth to protest. “And I would not mind the company.”

He shuts his mouth immediately. The receptionist was right. Mezo should not have to be alone after what they had experienced. “Okay,” he says finally, though he knows he will not be able to sleep at all tonight. But Mezo wants him to stay and Fumikage will do anything he can to make things up to the man he had hurt so badly.

Notes:

This one got away from me a bit!! But I had so much fun with this!

Chapter 4: Quality Time

“Tokoyami, are you and Shouji dating?”

The raven-headed boy just stares on at the group of girls over the top of his book. He is sitting on the couch in the common room when Mina and the other girls joined him for the questioning.

The pink girl jumped onto the couch next to him, leaning into his space to ask the question as the rest of the room went silent.

Fumikage just stares at her, beak hanging open in surprise as he tries to figure out where the question is coming from.

“You don’t have to answer that, Tokoyami.” Tsuyu is the next to speak. She sits on the opposite couch, wedged between Uraraka and a floating uniform that could only be Toru Hagakure. Tsu has always been kind to Fumikage and while the two did not spend much time together outside of class, he considers her a good friend.

“Hush!” A voice next to her hisses out from the invisible mouth of Toru.

“We tried to get Tsu to ask you privately over the weekend but she said she wouldn’t!” Mina tells Fumikage. Her words rush out of her mouth quickly, voice taking on a higher pitch in her excitement. “So now you have to answer to all of us!”

“It is not our business.” Tsuyu clearly does not support her friends in their inquisition, though she is not one to put her foot down and stop Mina or Hagakure from their antics.

Fumikage has yet to get a word in, still taken off guard by the nature of Mina’s question. It seems so random to him. Had he done something to give them this impression?

“But we really want to know!”

“They’d just make such a cute couple!”

“Excuse me,” Fumikage finally interrupts the girls. He closes the leather-bound book in his hands, glancing between each of the girls surrounding him. “What makes you think that Shouji and I are-...” He trails off, unable to bring himself to finish the question.

He has not even thought about Shouji this way before. True, he enjoys spending time with the other student. Ever since the incident at the training camp, the two have been nearly inseparable. It started with Fumikage trying to make things up to Shouji. He practically followed the taller man around, trying to do things for him when and where he could. Those first few weeks had been a bit awkward but the two quickly became close friends. He would even go so far as to call Mezo his best friend.

“You guys are always together!” Mina says with a huff, puffing out her cheeks. “Like, always! And you go on dates all the time!”

Fumikage’s feathers ruffle at the mention of going on a date with Shouji. Mina really has things all wrong, he thinks. Sure the two teens went to see movies together. They often went out for dinner when neither felt like cooking. They usually did all of their shopping together. And last weekend the two of them spent the day at the park. They had a picnic and laid about in the sun, reading their own respective books and making small conversation here and there. But none of these outings were dates.

“We don’t-”

“And did you really think that we wouldn’t notice that you spent the night in his room last night?!”

The boy’s face burns at the comment, trying to ignore the implications of her accusation. “It isn’t like that,” Fumikage squawks out before clearing his throat as he tries to compose himself. “We were watching a movie.”

“Until 7 in the morning?!”

“It was a marathon!” He snaps defensively. “And I fell asleep!”

He does not like having to defend himself to these girls. All he can do is tell the truth. He and Shouji had only gotten halfway through the third Nightmare on Elm Street movie before Fumikage begin to doze off. He had watched them all before and so the marathon was mostly to introduce Mezo to more of Fumikage’s favorite movies. He felt bad for falling asleep so early and had been thoroughly embarrassed when he awoke curled up in the other man’s many arms. But the night did not mean anything .

“Methinks the bird doth protest too much!” Mina says with a laugh, not giving up.

A pair of heavy footsteps come up the hallway and all of the girls turn their heads toward the sound.

“Shouji!” The self-proclaimed Alien Queen calls out excitedly, practically crawling over the back of the couch. “Are you and Toko dating?! He won’t tell us!”

Fumikage can feel a headache coming on. It is bad enough that Mina is giving him a hard time, but not she is trying to bother Mezo as well. The taller boy is far too nice to deal with her ramblings. He turns to face Mezo, immediately noticing how wide the student’s eyes have gotten with the question. “You do not have to entertain her,” Fumikage reassures his friend.

Mezo stands in the doorway, frozen in shock for a moment before continuing on toward the kitchen. “I don’t mind if they know that we are,” he says offhandedly.

Fumikage’s red eyes go wide and his beak hangs open.

“Hah! I knew it!” Mina cheers happily, jumping up to stand on the couch. Her fingers are curled into fists and she punches the air in her triumph. “How long have you guys been dating?!” She calls out happily, practically chasing Shouji into the kitchen, eager to get more details on their relationship, followed quickly by Hagakure, her school uniform bouncing after the pink girl and giant.

Fumikage is stunned, sitting on the couch, holding his book tightly in his hands.

“I did not know you two were actually dating,” Tsu finally speaks up again with a tiny ribbit,  addressing her bird-headed friend.

Fumikage cannot explain the way that his stomach churns or why he suddenly feels light headed. “Neither did I.”

Notes:

Thank for reading again! :D One more chapter to go!

Chapter 5: Receiving Gifts

Fumikage always loathed Mezo’s birthday. It makes him feel like a jerk to admit to it but he is never ready for this day of the year.

Every October 30th, Mezo surprises his boyfriend with the most thoughtful gifts. He showers the other hero in affection and he always knows exactly what Fumikage wants. He is a good listener like that. Fumikage can mention wanting something offhandedly and then forget all about it only to receive it three months later wrapped in a pretty bow.

All year Fumikage scrambles for ideas as to what to get Mezo. But when February rolls around, he is still left without a clue.

He knows Mezo does not like material things. When he and Fumikage moved in together after high school, all of Shouji’s belongings had fit into one box, while they spent an entire afternoon unpacking the bird-headed boy’s things. This only made him harder to shop for. The few things that Fumikage did buy his boyfriend would end up stowed on a shelf or sitting at the top of the closet. It was frustrating, to say the least.

And so this year, when February 14th rolled around, Fumikage made a vow to himself that he would block out the entire day to browse the mall for gifts. And so he did. But when 10 pm rolled around, and the last store began to usher him out, he found himself utterly defeated on the bus ride home.

When Fumikage enters his apartment, he does so very quietly. It is already late and he has no clue as to whether his lover will be asleep yet or not. And so he does not bother to turn the lights on, treading through his home silently and into the bedroom. He sheds his jeans and his t-shirt before sliding into their shared bed on his much smaller side.

“You were out late.”

He should have known better than to assume that Mezo would be sleeping already. The giant man could hardly rest without his lover present. “I was out with Tsu,” he responds easily, watching as the giant man turns in bed to face him. Messy hair and tired eyes.

It is not a lie. He had taken Tsuyu along with him, having enjoyed her company but more importantly, her opinions and suggestions. His friend had a way of sharing her thoughts extremely bluntly. While many people see this behavior as odd or rude, Tokoyami appreciates it, especially in situations such as this in which it is needed. She talked Fumikage out of several poor gift ideas, constantly reminding him of Shouji’s minimalist lifestyle and how the younger man might not get any use out of many items.

“How is she?” Mezo speaks through a yawn, instinctively wrapping one set of arms around his smaller lover, cradling him close in his tired state.

“She’s good,” Fumikage says, thinking back on the day. He does not actually remember asking Tsu how she was, having been too anxious and focused on the task at hand.

“That’s good.” The silence stretches on for a long moment and Mezo leans in to press a gentle kiss to the top of his lover’s beak. “I’m going to try to get some rest. I’m pulling a double tomorrow.”

Fumikage nods slightly, closing his eyes and nuzzling into the warmth of his boyfriend’s embrace. But suddenly he sits up completely, eyes wide. “Tomorrow?” The word comes out as an embarrassing squawk and it makes Mezo jolt out of his sleepy state. “You’re patrolling tomorrow?”

“Kage, what’s wrong? Yes, I have to work tomorrow. Isn’t that okay?” Mezo finally sits up as well, locking eyes with the smaller man.

“But-,” Fumikage’s feathers puff up as he tries to come up with some sort of excuse. “It is your birthday tomorrow, is it not?”

Mezo tilts his head to the side as if he is trying to figure out why the date should matter to him. “Yes, I suppose it is. But I did not have anything else planned. Fumikage, what is wrong?”

The smaller man clenches his jaw, averting his eyes from the other. “It’s just,” he begins, feeling the shame build within him. Perhaps it is better to come clean. “I tried really hard today to find a birthday present for you, Mezo. But I was unable to come up with anything that seemed worthy of you. I thought that I could at least make sure that you have a good day tomorrow. I thought I could take you out on a date. Maybe for a hike or to a movie..."

He watches as Mezo’s elongated mouth curves up ever so slightly. His expression turns from one of surprise to one of patience and understanding. “Fumi,” he says gently, reaching out to take a small pale hand in his own. “You did not need to get me anything… And as for my birthday, you know that I did not celebrate the occasion growing up. In all of our years together I have never expected anything special from you on my birthday.”

“I know!” Fumikage surprises himself with the volume of his own voice. “But you always do something amazing for me. I feel… inadequate.” He felt silly saying these things aloud. There is no way that Mezo thinks any less of him for this situation, though it is still a point of worry for him.

“Fumikage. You do not need to be concerned about these things. The greatest gift I have ever received in my life is just your love.”

The words are cheesy and cliche, but they make Fumikage’s face burn.

“You do not need to get me anything or do anything special. As long as I have you I can be happy for the rest of my life. I cannot want anything else, Fumikage.”

The bird-headed boy feels his heart soar at such sweet words. It is a wonder that this man can still make him feel this way after so long. And as Fumikage buries his face in his lover's shoulder, he is content to love this man for the rest of his life.

And then the thought hits him hard.

“Mezo. My eternal love.” He tilts his head back, staring up at the giant man, red eyes blown wide. He had never considered this question before. But suddenly he realizes that he cannot see his life going any other way. “Will you marry me?”

Notes:

The greatest gift of all <3
Thanks so much for reading! Feel free to check out my other BNHA works. I've got a few Shoutoko ones in the making.

Notes:

Thanks for reading! I noticed the lack of Shoutoko content and I wanted to help. Please leave me a review. My tumblr is madam-mess