The Taste of Coffee

by SamWise96

Summary:

In a world full of all kinds of soulmate bonds, Todoroki Shoto and Midoriya Izuku are graced with soul habits. Every morning Todoroki wakes up and makes coffee for someone he's never met, and every night Midoriya goes to bed in a freezing room longing for someone who's never there.

Unexplainable to others, and to even themselves, they developed habits that are supposed to make sense when they finally get to meet the person that they are meant for. But what happens when you can't find the person you're meant for? What happens when you do?

If you love acts of service, this one is for you.

Shoto woke up five minutes before his alarm went off. When he saw the time, he forced his body to stay still and closed his eyes again. Maybe, just maybe, he could fall back asleep, squeeze out a couple of extra minutes of sleep. It would make all the difference. It would be worth it. 

 

His alarm went off. 

 

It had not been worth it, now, he was even more groggy than when he had woken up the first time. With a sigh, he kicked off his covers and got ready for the day. The sun wasn’t even up yet. 

 

He wiped sleep from the corners of his eyes as he opened the kitchen cabinet and pulled down his coffee grinder. He had bought a new bean to try, but today didn’t feel like a day he should try something new. He fell back to two old favorites, ground the beans, and mixed them to the exact ratio. He took a second to inhale the familiar, comforting smell.

 

As the coffee brewed, he cleaned up his mess, putting away the extra coffee he had made for another morning if he was running late. He grabbed Natsuo’s coffee mug from the cabinet and the travel mug with sakura flowers. 

 

“Only one pot today?” Natuso wandered in, no doubt lured by the smell. He was barely awake.

 

Shoto hummed softly in confirmation. 

 

“No chance of you leaving me the whole thing is there? I had a late shift and my next shift starts in…” He glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Four hours.”

 

“I promised that I would bring some to a friend.” Shoto poured the rest of the coffee into the travel mug.

 

Natuso sipped from his mug even though it was much too hot. “Ah, tastes so good.”

 

“How can you taste anything when you burn your tongue?”

 

“Shhh.” Natuso dropped his head over his mug and breathed deeply. “Don’t ruin the moment.”

 

Shoto shook his head and grabbed his bag. “Will you be back in time for dinner or should I just get take out?”

 

“Take out.”

 

“Okay. Have a good day at work.”

 

“Bye, baby brother.”

 

…

 

Shoto browsed through different coffee makers on his laptop. He already had the standard drip and a french press. Natsuo hinted that he wanted an espresso machine, but Shoto thought that was a little excessive. That, and they didn’t have much space in their kitchen anyway. 

 

What he really wanted to buy was a siphon coffee maker, but they came in so many different styles and none of them were cheap. He would have to wait for one to go on sale. There were several blogs that said it could produce the best tasting coffee, and that’s what he wanted to make. 

 

“Momo, why are we here so early?” Jirou whined. 

 

“Because this was the best time that worked for all of our schedules.” Momo answered.

 

Shoto held up the travel mug of coffee which Momo took and handed it to Jirou.

 

“Thank you, and good morning, Shoto.” Momo said, setting her and her girlfriend’s things down on the table. The library was empty at this time of morning and it had been easy to secure a table big enough for them, but also enough space to spread out.

 

Jirou took a hearty sip. “You should just quit school and open a cafe. Your talent is wasted here.”

 

Shoto shook his head. He had had this conversation several times before with Jirou. “I have no interest in making coffee for other people.”

 

“Then why do you bring me coffee?”

 

“Because Momo asked me to, and it would go to waste if someone didn’t drink it.”

 

“Why do you go through all the extra steps? You told me once, the urge could be satisfied by using instant coffee in a pretimed coffee maker.” Momo asked.

 

“Yeah, for someone who says he’s not interested in finding his soulmate, all of your actions point to the opposite.” Jirou added.

 

“I don’t care about finding my soulmate. I care about finishing my degree.” Shoto said.

 

“And you’re googling coffee makers, and making special blends of coffee, and waking up an hour earlier to do it all. Yeah, buddy, I believe you.” Jirou snorted and drank more coffee.

 

Shoto didn’t have any way to refute her. 

 

She and Momo were one of the lucky ones that had a simple, straight forward connection. From where he was sitting across the table, he could read the words on the inside of Jirou’s wrist ‘I love this song!’ He knew Momo had a different, yet matching phrase that read ‘I wrote it about the day I would meet my soulmate.'   

 

First words that turned gold when spoken. Their connection didn’t interfere with their everyday lives. Shoto envied them. He was stuck with one of the more uncommon connections: soul habits. When he turned fifteen, he woke up with the urge to make coffee every morning, even though he hated coffee. But not his soulmate. 

 

Nothing bad happened, exactly, if Shoto refused to make coffee, but he felt off for the rest of the day. Like he had forgotten something important. Like an itch he couldn’t scratch. Some days he woke up with the urge to make one pot of coffee. Sometimes he needed to make two. It was whatever he sensed his soulmate needed at the time. 

 

He couldn’t explain it to anyone else how he knew how much to make, no more than he could explain the urge to make coffee that he didn’t drink. It was just somehow he knew that his soulmate hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, and they insisted on being a morning person regardless. 

 

Shoto hated to do things by half measures. He could make it easier on himself by using instant coffee in a regular coffee machine, but he felt like he was cheating his soulmate. No, he wasn’t actively searching for his soulmate, but if he ever found them, he wanted to be able to serve them a good cup of coffee, even if that’s all they ever got out of their meeting.

 

So, every morning, he got up to make coffee. When he had free time from his classes and was in the mood, he would research the coffee making process, buy different beans, try different brew methods, and test out his creations on his family and friends. Even though drinking coffee in the morning wasn’t his habit, the act of creating it was. It relaxed him in a way nothing else could.

 

“You know, I think Iida has a friend that also has soul habits.” Jirou said.

 

“No, thank you.” Shoto minimized the browser where he had tabs dedicated to his research.

 

“Come on, let’s get started on research.” Momo steered the conversation away from the topic of soulmates.

 

“It’s the first day of classes, we don’t have research projects yet.” Jirou complained.

 

“We don’t yet.”

…

 

Izuku sneezed and shoved his hands under his arms. He didn’t remember what being warm felt like.

 

“If you get snot on my hoodie, I will shove this sketchbook so far up your ass.” Kacchan threatened.

 

“Man, Midoribro, you’ve got me freezing just looking at you.” Kirishima added his violently red, puffy coat on the clothing pile that was Midoriya. 

 

“Thanks, Kirishima.” Izuku did his best to suppress another shiver.

 

“Shitty hair, hold up those swatches.” Kacchan growled.

 

“It’s ‘Shitty hair, hold up those swatches, please.’”

 

The blond ground out something that might have sounded like please, but Izuku didn’t think so. Kirishima held up the two fabric swatches, as Kacchan eyed them like the fabric had personally offended him.

 

Izuku sneezed again and sighed. “Who needs their room to be fifty-seven degrees to sleep at night?”

 

“Most doctors recommend that you keep it cool at night to sleep better.” Kirishima said.

 

“It’s the middle of winter.” Izuku protested.

 

“Yeah, that’s true.”

 

“Why don’t you just sleep with more blankets or get a heated one, Dipshit.”

 

“Aw, Kacchan you do care.” Izuku sniffled.

 

Izuku got a glimpse of a detailed waistcoat as one of Bakugo’s extra sketchbooks nearly took his head off.

 

“But to answer your question, I can’t afford a heated blanket when I’m paying for my insane electric bill.”

 

“Speaking of soulmates, sort of, how did that mixer go?” Kirishima asked, draping a different fabric over his shoulder.

 

“Eh, it went okay.” Izuku answered.

 

“You didn’t meet The One?” 

 

“Of course he didn’t meet the one, or else we would have heard about it.” Bakugo grumbled.

 

“I thought he could have,” Kirishima protested, “The boy’s freezing over there.”

 

“Nah, I think they must have gone to bed hot. Workout followed by a hot shower, so they dropped the temperature a little lower than normal. It happens from time to time, so I wouldn’t call this getting more intense. Plus, I’ve read that when other people get closer to the one they’re supposed to be with, they develop more habits.”

 

“More habits? One isn’t enough?”

 

“How else is he supposed to figure out who his soulmate is?” Bakugo manhandled Kirishima into a different position and adjusted the fabric accordingly.

 

“I still don’t really get it,” Kirishima complained.

 

“What Kacchan means is, that my connection isn’t as straightforward as yours and his is. Seeing color when you touch for the first time is pretty obvious. Whereas, a whole bunch of people probably sleep in cool temperatures. It doesn’t exactly help you pinpoint a soulmate. With more habits and a greater intensity, it becomes easier to narrow down who it is. In theory anyway.”

 

“That kind of sucks. Your soulmate is trying to give you a cold and you don’t know what’s coming next.”

 

“It’s not so bad. I like to think of it sort of like the acts of service love language. When you love someone you like to do little things to help make their day better, like being willing to sleep in colder temperatures. My body is more ahead of it than my mind is.”

 

Kirishima hummed in thought. “I guess, it wouldn’t matter so much when you find your soulmate. They could keep you warm at night.”

 

Izuku sputtered and turned bright red.

 

“I didn’t mean it like that! But that works, too.”

 

“Don’t you have class to get to, Deku.”

 

“Oh crap, you’re right!”

 

…

 

“I’m just saying, a person’s preconceived notions of another person affects their relationships, even before they officially meet. Take a look at Pride and Prejudice for example.”

 

“Uh huh,” Shinso drawled.

 

“Would you say there have been studies on just that thing? Backed up with statistics and quantifiable data?” Izuku jiggled his foot while he talked.

 

“Midoriya, I must ask you to sit still,” Iida reprimanded. He hefted the smaller boy up higher on his back. “You’re likely to aggravate your ankle.”

 

“Sorry, Iida-kun. But I’m fine, you really don’t have to carry me. I only twisted my ankle a little.”

 

“I’m walking you to the library and that’s final. Going down the stairs while you were reading blueprints, honestly, Midoriya. You’re lucky your injury isn’t worse.” 

 

Izuku refrained from saying he had worse. He knew Iida well enough to know how that conversation would go.

 

“Anyway,” Izuku prompted Shinso.

 

“I’m sure there have been studies on prejudice before. No, I haven’t read all of them.”

 

“But there are studies! So, what you could do for your final project is look at a person’s preconceived notions of their soulmate and look how they match up when they actually meet their soulmate. How does that affect their relationship? How many of them click instantly? How many are repelled because they built up a different idea of that person in their head?”

 

“I think that all soulmates click, Midoriya. That’s kind of the point.” Shinso pointed to the yellow band with the black stripe running through it on his wrist. A purple one had appeared when he met his soulmate Kaminari Denki in a general psychology course their second year. 

 

“Still, not everyone chooses to marry their soulmates. Some stay friends.” He protested.

 

Izuku snapped his mouth shut and glanced at Iida.

 

“I wonder if there are cases where someone hates their soulmate. Rejecting them completely.” Iida wondered as he walked Izuku over to the couch that he usually claimed.

 

“I’m sure it happens,” Shinso said carefully, “But almost everyone I have come across has been in a romantic relationship with their soulmate. And even then, Midoriya’s right, most people have a good relationship with their soulmate, even if they stay friends.”

 

“Isn’t it sad, to think of someone rejecting half of their soul?” Iida sighed.

 

“It is.” Izuku quietly agreed. “But I don’t think that’s what will happen to you.”

 

Iida nodded but he was quickly distracted by one of the most beautiful men that Izuku had ever laid eyes on. “Hello, Todoroki.”

 

Todoroki lifted his eyes up from a textbook. “Hey, Iida.”

 

Iida crouched down so Izuku could climb off his back and settle on the couch. Iida checked his watch. “You need to sit here for an hour at least, before you get back on your feet.”

 

Izuku gave him a nod. 

 

“Shinso, how long do you plan on being here?” Iida asked.

 

“About another thirty minutes until Denki gets out of his night class.”

 

Iida looked back to Izuku. He gave his friend his best smile, but it just made Iida frown. He turned to the beautiful boy.

 

“Todoroki, how long are you planning on studying at the library?”

 

“About an hour?” He answered.

 

“If it’s no trouble, can I ask you to watch Midoriya and make sure he doesn’t get up before you leave? He injured his ankle, and needs to rest it.”

 

“Iida-kun!” Izuku protested. 

 

“Yeah, it’s not a problem.”

 

“Thank you, I’ve got to get going. I told Uraraka and Asui that I would help them study for a math quiz. Good night!” Iida waved at them all and left, but not before stopping three times to make sure that Izuku hadn’t moved from his spot.

 

When Iida was out of sight, Izuku buried his face into his hands and groaned. “I can’t believe I said that. I should think before I speak.”

 

“You didn’t completely put your foot in your mouth, but yeah, I wouldn’t have brought up soulmates in front of Iida.” Shinso said.

 

“I bet it’s hard for him to see his soulmate in love with another person. And Iida-kun is so nice, that he willingly puts himself in the position to help Uraraka, even if it hurts him.”

 

“The whole situation is too much. If I were him, I would want distance.” Shinso rested his head on the back of the couch. “Does Uraraka know?”

 

“Yeah, they have soul bands too. It’s kind of hard not to notice. I’ve talked to Uraraka about it and she feels so torn between them. She loves Tsu so much, but she feels like there’s a part of her that should be dating Iida, since they’re soulmates. And it’s not like she doesn’t love Iida, and she feels like she could come to love him in a romantic way, but she can’t just throw away what she has with Tsu.”

 

Shinso looked thoughtfully at the ceiling for a long time. “Your friend group is complicated, Midoriya.”

 

“Don’t I know it.” Izuku sighed. 

 

“Maybe they could all three date?”

 

Izuku hummed, “That’s for them to figure out if that’s what they want. Like I said, Uraraka isn’t in love with Iida, not romantically, and Iida is keeping his distance out of respect for Uraraka’s feelings.”

 

Izuku stretched out, propping his foot on the armrest and using Shinso’s lap as a pillow. “What did it feel like when you met Kaminari?”

 

“You’ll find out when you meet your own soulmate.”

 

“Aw, Shinso, don’t be like that. I wanna know.” Izuku whined.

 

“Don’t you have homework?”

 

“I’ll do it after you leave, promise. Come on, Shinso, tell me the story.” 

 

“You and your puppy dog eyes. Good thing I’m a cat person.”

 

“Shinso!”

 

“Shh, we’re in the library.”

 

“Crap, sorry.” Izuku whispered, throwing a glance over at Todoroki. It was very hard not to keep looking at him, but if he looked over too many times, Shinso would catch on and give him hell. He didn’t need another thing to be teased over this week.

 

Todoroki, for his part, didn’t even seem to be paying them any attention. He had his headphones in and was intently studying something on his laptop. Occasionally, writing a note. The textbooks next to him all seemed to be about art and museums. Izuku wondered how he and Iida had met, considering Iida was a business major and all.

 

Izuku was snapped out of his musing by Shinso’s sigh. “I don’t know how to explain it, Izuku. I’ll probably sound dumb, but it felt like I was shocked when I touched him for the first time. Like he woke me up with his dumb smile or something.”

 

“That’s not dumb.” Izuku shook his head for emphasis.

 

“We were partnered up for a project and one thing led to another. We both were single, so we thought, ‘hey, why not.’ It’s not really rocket science how we got together. Or even that romantic.”

 

“But you’re still together and we’re in our final semesters. So, whatever you guys are doing, it must work! Do you still feel a spark when you touch him?”

 

“I’m going to gag if you get any cheesier. Put your heart eyes away.”

 

“You’re not even looking at me!”

 

“It’s for my own health.” Shinso covered his eyes for emphasis.

 

“Yeah, whatever. You avoided my question.”

 

“I’m not telling you that.”

 

“You totally do!”

 

Shinso pushed Izuku off of his lap and stood up. “I’m going.”

 

“It’s not even time to pick him up yet!”

 

“I can wait outside of his class.”

 

“Wait, Shinso. I have one more question!”

 

“No, Midoriya.” 

 

Shinso sounded exasperated, but Izuku knew that he hadn’t well and truly hit Shinso’s buttons. Shinso was only a bit embarrassed. He didn’t feel any guilt when he asked, “Do you know what Kaminari felt when he first met you?”

 

He didn’t think Shinso was going to answer, just to be a bit of a jerk. 

 

“He said he liked my voice. When I spoke to him, everything got quiet.” Shinso looked impassive when he said it, but he wouldn’t meet Izuku’s eyes, and the tips of his ears looked a little too pink for sitting indoors.

 

Izuku smiled. He loved hearing soulmate stories. He would never get tired of them. Maybe he should have been a Sociology major like Shinso so he could study all about the connection. 

 

“I’m so happy for you, Hitoshi.”

 

“Sap.”

 

Shinso left without looking back, but Izuku saw that his ears were definitely more pink than they had been a minute ago. It was a good day when he could fluster one of his unflappable friends. Izuku felt like he had won something.

 

Obediently, Izuku opened his math textbook, now that Shinso had left. He propped the book against his slightly elevated thighs, using his backpack as a pillow to keep his head up. His calculator lay on his chest. He had done homework like this thousands of times on this couch. He expected to fall easily into the routine of solving problems, but it was dark and he was sleepy. His mind kept wandering to everything but the numbers in front of him. 

 

He glanced at the time on his phone and found that he hadn’t gotten one math problem finished in nearly thirty minutes. His hour of sitting was almost up, and then he could go back to his room and go to sleep early. He could do his homework in the morning.

 

Izuku nibbled on the end of his pencil. He should at least get one problem done, or his guilt would eat him alive. He set to work scribbling down numbers to the first problem, when his pencil snapped. 

 

He sat up and looked at the broken tip. He looked across the room where the electric pencil sharpener sat. How many times had he made that journey without thinking? He gauged the distance with his eyes, he was always very good with working with spaces. He couldn’t walk, but maybe he could hop? It would take him about twenty-nine or thirty strides, so that would be how many hops?

 

Something poked him in the arm. Izuku broke off from his train of thought and looked at the mechanical pencil and then at the man holding it out to him.

 

“Don’t jump over there. Iida will chew me out if you hurt your ankle. Just take my pencil.” Todoroki said. 

 

Izuku dropped his hand from his mouth, realizing too late that he had been processing out loud again.

 

“Aren’t you using it?”

 

Todoroki held up his other hand that had a pen resting between his fingers.

 

Izuku took the pencil. He recognized the brand, but only because he and Ochako had made fun of how expensive it was at the stationary store. They had wondered who would waste money on such a thing. Apparently pretty boys named Todoroki who also studied in the library.

 

“Thank you.” Izuku blurted out when he realized he had taken it and had been staring at Todoroki in silence.

 

Todoroki nodded and turned back to his own notes.

 

Izuku got about halfway through the problem before he was distracted again. He glanced at Todoroki from under his hair, thankful that he hadn’t gotten it cut recently so that it hung in his face. He was staring at his computer screen but his eyes were a million miles away. Izuku kept glancing at him in short bursts, until he realized it was probably safe to stare. Todoroki wasn’t coming back to Earth anytime soon.

 

The man was striking. His features were delicate, but by no means conveying fragility. He’d only seen heterochromia in animals, to see two-toned eyes on a person was fascinating. He wondered if the split hair was dyed, or did it have something to do with his eye condition. He wasn’t a Biology major, but he could ask Tsu. Marine Biology was close enough, right?

 

He was a little surprised to not have seen the guy around before, even in passing. He knew the campus was big, but it wasn’t that big. And if he knew Iida, then why hadn’t Izuku run into him sooner. Maybe he was a transfer?

 

“How do you know Iida-kun?” Izuku asked without thinking. 

 

Todoroki blinked and looked at Izuku. “Pardon?”

 

Izuku repeated his question, much quieter this time, now that his embarrassment had caught up. Todoroki was really, really pretty.

 

“He was my math tutor last semester.”

 

Izuku thought back to if Iida had mentioned that before. He vaguely remembered Iida having to tutor a person once a week, but he was all about confidentiality and hadn’t given a name. However, he did mention–

 

“Were you the guy who did all of your math homework in pen?”

 

“That would probably be me, yeah.”

 

Izuku couldn’t help it. He laughed. “Oh man, it drove Iida crazy. Especially, because you would make so many errors.”

 

“Math isn’t my strong suit.” Todoroki rubbed the back of his neck.

 

“Oh, I didn’t mean to embarrass you! He never said that you were a bad student. Iida would never do that! We just thought it was funny how he couldn’t get you to use a pencil.”

 

“I don’t write heavy enough in pencil.” Todoroki shrugged.

 

“I’m surprised that we haven’t met before now. My name is Midoriya Izuku, Engineering and Math Double major.”

 

Izuku leaned off the couch and offered his hand. Todoroki gently took it. His hands were surprisingly very warm, almost hot. It felt good down to Izuku’s bones. 

 

“Todoroki Shoto. Art History major and double minor in Literature and Art.”

 

“I guess that’s why I’ve never seen you around before.” Izuku laughed. “We’re on two different sides of the education spectrum.”

 

Todoroki hummed.

 

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Todoroki-kun. I hope that we can become good friends.” Izuku smiled.

 

Todoroki blinked rapidly for a moment. He must be tired too.

 

“Me too.” He answered.

 

…

 

Shoto didn’t have class until noon on Wednesdays meaning he still got to the library by ten in the morning. He didn’t really see the point in hanging around his empty apartment. At least, hanging out alone in the library seemed a little less sad.

 

He nodded to the library director. He knew most of the staff by sight, if not by name at this point. He spent almost all of his free time between here and the art building. 

 

He put the two travel mugs on his usual table. He had made two pots of strong coffee this morning. He wasn’t sure what his soulmate had been up to, but clearly they weren’t taking the best care of themselves. 

 

At times like this, Shoto almost wished he knew who his soulmate was so he could take them by the shoulders and ask them why they needed this ungodly amount of caffeine in the morning. Even in his head, he sounded more fondly exasperated than stern.

 

He shook his head. He shouldn’t be falling in love with the idea of a stranger with bad habits. But still he wished he knew who they were so he could pawn off some of this coffee. Shoto had left one pot for Natsuo but he didn’t know what to do with the two cups he brought. 

 

“Good morning, Todoroki.” 

 

Shoto turned towards Iida and gave him a small nod.

 

“Do you mind if I sit with you?”

 

“Not at all,” Shoto replied, “Do you want some coffee?”

 

“Your soulmate didn’t get enough sleep again?”

 

Shoto shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

 

Iida sat across from Shoto and shook his head at the offered coffee. “I’ve got orange juice.”

 

Shoto’s phone buzzed. Momo declined the coffee, but Jirou said she would be by in a few minutes to pick up one of the mugs for herself.

 

“One down and one to go.”

 

Todoroki yawned and covered his mouth. He had stayed up too late watching the news.

 

“Why don’t you drink it, Todoroki?”

 

Shoto wrinkled his nose. “Caffeine makes me cranky, according to my family,”

 

They lapsed into silence as Iida pulled out some work he had to do. Shoto had gotten all of his work done that needed to be done because he lacked a social life. It was another reason that Shoto liked to hang out in the library. He would have to share his table and sometimes got pulled into random study groups. That’s how he met other people. 

 

Shoto idly scrolled on his phone. Jirou picked up her coffee. Shoto still had an hour until his class. He propped his hand on his chin and looked at the pink band that was barely showing underneath Iida’s watch. 

 

He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, well that wasn’t exactly true. Shoto blamed Natuso for picking up the bad habit. It was a game that they played over dinner, to see who had heard the craziest things, him at school or Natsuo at the hospital. Shoto liked the game because he wasn’t a very interesting person, so it gave him something to talk about.

 

He wouldn’t tell Natsuo about Iida. It was too personal, but Shoto was kind of glad that he overheard. It helped him place some of Iida's strange actions and strained facial expressions. He had met Uraraka once last semester when Iida was tutoring him. She looked like a nice person. 

 

It just went to show how simple, and how very complicated being a human was. Relationships would never be perfect. Soulmate bonds included.

 

“You okay, Todoroki?” Iida asked.

 

Shoto returned to the present. “Sorry, zoned out.”

 

He hoped that he hadn’t been caught staring at the soul band.

 

“That’s okay. I only wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.”

 

Iida looked down at the coffee. “I don’t like to meddle when it comes to soulmates, but I know someone that also has soul habits.”

 

“I’m not looking to find them, Iida.”

 

Iida sighed and gave Shoto a melancholy smile that made a lot more sense knowing what he now knew. “I understand.”

 

“Kacchan, give me my drink back!”

 

“No.”

 

“Guys, guys remember we’re in a library.”

 

Midoriya and two others rounded the corner. A guy with spiky blond hair had his hand on Midoriya’s face, pushing him away from the can he held in his other hand.

 

“How many of these have you had?” He asked Midoriya.

 

“I haven’t had any yet. I just bought it.”

 

“Midoribro, you know those things aren’t good for you. You gave yourself heart palpitations last year.” A Redhead with even spiker hair said.

 

“It was finals, Kirishima!”

 

That seemed to make the blond even angrier. He took the untouched energy drink and threw it in the trash can.

 

“Kacchan!” Midoriya gasped. 

 

“That’s what you get for staying up too late, stupid.” Kacchan stalked off.

 

“Maybe try a coffee?” Kirishima offered gently. Trying to comfort Midoriya as he was walking backwards to keep up with Kacchan.

 

“But I spent the last of my budget on that drink.” Midoriya wailed.

 

Midoriya looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, bed hair, slumped posture. His fingers were anxiously braiding the tassels at the end of his scarf. He stared at the trash can, and it was clear to anyone that he was seriously debating about diving in.

 

Iida looked at Shoto meaningfully. He pointed to the coffee. Shoto nodded, what else could he do?

 

“Midoriya. Todoroki made extra coffee if you want it.” Iida offered.

 

Midoriya looked at them, not quite comprehending. “Huh?”

 

Todoroki held out the mug. “Coffee. You can have it.”

 

The simple words seemed to break through to him. He took a step forward, his hands outstretched. “Coffee?”

 

Todoroki put it into his hands. He hadn’t noticed the scars or the warped knuckles yesterday. 

 

With his fingers firmly clasped around it, Izuku stared at Todoroki. “I can have this?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Todoroki was maybe expecting a thank you. He was totally unprepared for Midoriya bursting into tears. Luckily, Iida knew what to do because Shoto did not have a clue.

 

He handed Midoriya a pack of tissues to mop up his tears.

 

“You’re my hero, Todoroki-kun!” Izuku grabbed his hand and squeezed.

 

“It’s just coffee.” Shoto managed to choke around his embarrassment. 

 

“It’s more than just coffee. It’s life. It’s energy. It’s-It’s.”

 

“Midoriya, you’re going to be late for your next class.” Iida warned.

 

“Crap!” He squeaked and let go of Shoto’s hand. “Bye Iida-kun, bye Todoroki-kun. Love you, bye-bye.”

 

“Did he?”

 

Iida nodded, “He does that when he’s sleep deprived. He has zero filter.”

 

Shoto nodded.

 

“Are you blushing?” Iida laughed.

 

Shoto covered his face and muttered that he wasn’t.

 

…

 

Izuku tripped going down the steps at the front of the library. The coffee flew out of his hands.

 

“No!”

 

…

 

When he arrived four minutes late to his English class, Ochako gave him a look filled with concern.

 

“Are you okay, Deku-kun?”

 

“I want someone to push me into oncoming traffic.” He whispered.

 

“English please, Midoriya.” The Professor Mic called out.

 

“Yes, sorry.” He replied in English. “Ochako, could you please end my miserable existence in the quickest way possible.”

 

“Very good. Midoriya.”

 

“Thank you, Professor.”

 

…

 

The first thing Izuku did after his classes was fall face first in his bed and sleep for several hours. He woke up disoriented to see that it was dark outside, but he felt a lot better.

 

Izuku grabbed a granola bar, it wasn’t a substitute for real food, but he wanted to try and give Todoroki back his mug. He wasn’t sure if he was still on campus, but he had no other place to look besides the library. 

 

He supposed he could text Iida and ask. Or ask Iida to text Todoroki. Or ask Iida to give Izuku Todoroki’s contact info. He shoved the last of the granola bar into his mouth as he thought. That last idea was probably a little creepy, he reasoned. 

 

He was still chewing when Todoroki saw him. He was sitting at the table he had been sitting at this morning and the night before. 

 

“Hey.” Todoroki said. 

 

Izuku gave him a wave and bobbed his head side to side as if that would help him chew quicker. 

 

He put a hand in front of his mouth when he could speak, “Sorry, mouth was full. I skipped dinner.”

 

“Oh,” Todoroki started to rifle through his bag. “I think I have some crackers.”

 

“No, no! That’s okay. I can’t take all of your things.” Izuku waved his hands frantically. 

 

Todoroki paused and looked at him. The concerned crease between his eyes was cute. “You sure?”

 

“Yeah, yeah.” The silence stretched out as Izuku stayed standing and Todoroki stayed sitting.

 

“Do… you want to sit?” Todoroki asked.

 

“I don’t want to bother you. I was going to go to the dining hall. See you later!”

 

Izuku made it to the front doors of the library before he remembered the travel mug in his bag. He covered his face with both of his hands and groaned. God, he would look stupid walking back there after that awkward display. Maybe Izuku could just bring the mug another day, save himself the embarrassment. But he didn’t know if he would find Todoroki again so soon. Yeah, he had been at the library two nights in a row, but who was to say that was his usual routine. It was the beginning of the semester, people’s schedules always changed as they settled into something more comfortable.

 

One of the librarians shushed him. 

 

Red-faced, Izuku apologized and walked back to the table that Todoroki sat. He wished the ground would swallow him whole. Todoroki was at least nice enough not to appear too befuddled by his sudden reappearance.

 

“I came to give you back your travel mug. Then I forgot about it. And then I remembered at the door.” Izuku unzipped his backpack and set it on the table. “I accidentally dropped it. I’m so sorry, it got a dent in it. I can replace it.”

 

Izuku started to run what was left of this month’s budget in his head. Maybe if he skipped a meal?

 

“It’s fine. I’m actually surprised you returned it.” Todoroki tossed it in his bag without so much as a glance at it.

 

“Really? Aren’t they kind of expensive?”

 

“Jirou has started a collection out of all the mugs she’s taken from me. She probably has a post on her instagram or something. I’m really used to buying several a week.”

 

“Several a week?” Izuku wheezed. Todoroki had to be rich.

 

“I come from a wealthy family.” He blushed.

 

Izuku slapped a hand over his mouth. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

 

“It’s okay. I’d rather you say it to my face than behind my back.”

 

Izuku rubbed his face and laughed. “Every time I’ve met you I’ve made some sort of idiot out of myself. First, I had twisted my ankle. Then, I cried over coffee. Now this.”

 

“Did you like the coffee?” Todoroki asked.

 

He was trying to look nonchalant in the way that people did when they really did care about someone else’s opinion. Izuku didn’t have the heart to tell him that he never tasted the coffee.

 

“It was great. I’ve never had better coffee.”

 

A complicated look passed over Todoroki’s face. He looked pleased and sad, but it was hard for Izuku to get a good read. Todoroki had rather neutral facial expressions, so Izuku had to rely on his gut instinct. 

 

“You’re probably only saying that because you were that sleep deprived. But thank you anyway.” As an afterthought, Todoroki graced him with a small smile.

 

“Sounds like you make a lot of coffee if you’re keeping your other friend supplied a couple times a week. Plus, the coffee you gave me. Do you often make a lot of it? I wouldn’t peg you for a coffee kind of person.”

 

“I’m not sure what a coffee person looks like.”

 

“Like me.” Izuku grinned.

 

That got another small smile out of Todoroki. “You’re right. I don’t drink coffee. It’s more of a habit to make it.”

 

“Todoroki-kun do you have soul habits?” Izuku put his hands on the table and leaned forward. “I mean, I noticed that your wrists are bare so soul bands are out, and most likely soul words. But it’s possible you have a less visible one. I was just curious. I love to hear about soulmate bonds!”

 

“Yeah, I have soul habits. It’s, um, making coffee.” Todoroki politely coughed into his fist.

 

“I have soul habits too! My soulmate likes to sleep in a really cold room, and it sucks because sometimes it's so cold that I can’t sleep or I end up catching a cold if I go to bed with my hair wet.” Izuku sat down across from Todoroki and pulled out his notebook that he had dedicated to soulmates.

 

“That sounds troublesome.”

 

“It can be, but I’m most concerned with how am I ever going to tell who’s my soulmate? Will they walk into the room and it turns warm or what? That also means that specific requirements have to be met. Like why would I be taking a person to my room at night anyway? Can you tell who your soulmate is or isn’t?”

 

Todoroki was quiet for a long time. Izuku was almost ready to retract everything he said, he had probably overshared with this guy who he had seen three times in two days, when he spoke, “I feel kind of disappointed when people drink my coffee. It’s like I’m holding my breath, only to be let down. So, I guess if my soulmate drinks my coffee, I won’t feel like that.”

 

Izuku put his thumb to his lip in thought. He didn’t want to say the wrong thing. On one hand, it was nice that his habit gave him a clear path to find his soulmate, but on the other, Todooroki seemed deeply sad. Living with that constant, however slight, disappointment everyday had to take its toll.

 

“Can I have your contact information?” Todoroki asked, startling Izuku.

 

“You want my contact information?” 

 

“If that’s alright. If you’d rather not, I understand.”

 

Izuku shook his head. 

 

Todoroki gave him a curt nod. “Okay.”

 

When Todoroki put his phone away, Izuku realized what he had unconsciously done.

 

“Wait, no! I wasn’t shaking my head to mean no.” Izuku fumbled for his phone, nearly dropping it twice.

 

Todoroki looked perplexed.

 

“I was surprised. Why would you want my number?” His voice trailed off.

 

“Just in case I’ve made extra coffee and you might want some.”

 

Izuku handed his phone over and watched Todoroki put in his contact info. When he got it back, he noticed that he had put a coffee emoji next to his name. Todoroki didn’t seem like an emoji person; it made the gesture extra cute.

 

“You’ll be like my very own coffee dealer.” Izuku rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. “That sounded a lot better in my head.”

 

Todoroki gifted him a third smile. “You would be surprised how difficult it is to give out extra coffee on a college campus sometimes.”

 

“Really?”

 

Izuku forgot about going to the dining hall and stayed to talk with Todoroki. He made sure that he got the details of his habit correct in his notebook, but the conversation just continued on after that. It was only when the library had closed and Izuku was halfway to his dorm that he remembered.

 

“Crap! I forgot to wash it!”

 

…

 

“Todoroki-kun, what do you hope that your soulmate will be like?” Midoriya asked. He had his head laying on his arm, while he waited for Todoroki to finish looking over his literature paper. 

 

Over the past couple of weeks, Shoto had found himself in the company of Midoriya. They often swapped homework to peer review. Midoriya would help Todoroki with any math based things, and Shoto would look over Midoriya’s papers.

 

He thought that he had gotten to know Midoriya pretty well, but he was still surprised how easily he brought up the topic of soulmates. Usually, people kind of considered it a forbidden thing to talk about. Or maybe that was just Shoto’s formal upbringing. When he got to college, it had been a culture shock how easily everyone talked about sex. So, maybe it was just Shoto.

 

Midoriya continued on, used to Shoto’s long pauses, “I’m asking to get information for Shinso’s project.”

 

“He’s doing the soulmate thing you suggested?” Shoto crossed out a whole paragraph, only leaving one line. Brevity was a skill that his friend did not possess. 

 

Midoriya leaned over to glance at his paper. He wrinkled his nose at all of the red pen. Izuku leaned back in his seat and started to braid the tassels of his scarf. “Yeah. He’s almost done with gathering data, but he needs a little more.”

 

“Shouldn’t l fill out a paper or something? Isn’t there a procedure?”

 

“Well, yeah.” Midoriya blushed a little, likely embarrassed that a humanities major was calling a STEM major out on gathering data. Shoto had taken his fair share of surveys for Psychology and Sociology majors.  

 

“Just say that you want to know what I think about my soulmate. You don’t need to have an excuse.”

 

Midoriya continued to get redder. “You’re so blunt, Todoroki-kun. Isn’t it weird to just come out and ask that?”

 

“When has that ever stopped you from asking about soulmates?”

 

Midoriya sputtered and covered his face with his scarf. “But I was thinking about Shinso’s project. And, and you’re avoiding my question!”

 

Shoto smiled a little. He liked getting Midoriya a little worked up. “I don’t have any expectations for my soulmate.”

 

“None?” Midoriya sat up in shock, “None at all?

 

Shoto shrugged, “I’m not really interested in finding my soulmate. I don’t think about them.”

 

Midoriya laid his head directly on the table. His eyebrows were furrowed and he had his fingers pressed to his lips in thought. Shoto went back to marking Midoriya's paper, not bothered by the occasional mumble that escaped his friend. 

 

When he was finished Shoto passed the paper back. Midoriya took it and flipped through the pages. He thought they had moved on from the subject when Midoriya spoke again. “So there’s not one thing that you hope that your soulmate has?”

 

Shoto sighed. Midoriya called Shoto blunt like it could be a bad thing. Shoto could say the same when it came to Midoriya persistence. He wouldn’t let something drop once he set his mind to it, like a snapping turtle, he wouldn’t let it go.

 

“Kind.”

 

“You want your soulmate to be kind?” Midoriya clarified.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Don’t you think you’re setting your expectations a little low?”

 

“The opposite, actually.”

 

Shoto was dead serious. He stared at Midoriya, attempting to convey just how serious he was. Midoriya’s eyes softened, and Shoto felt his heart skip a beat at the tender expression that crossed his face. 

 

“Okay.” He whispered. Midoriya didn’t ask why. He didn’t push for more information. Shoto would have told him, if he asked, but he was glad that he didn’t.

 

Shoto yawned. It wasn’t even that late, but he was more than a little tired.

 

“Sleepy?” Midoriya changed the subject.

 

“Yeah,” Shoto paused for a second. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to share this, but if anyone would understand, Midoriya would. “I didn’t want to say anything about it before, because I wasn’t certain. But I think I’ve picked up a new habit?”

 

Midoriya perked up, already reaching for his notebook. His fingers twitched impatiently, as he tried to sound calm. “Oh, really?”

 

Shoto snorted. “You’re bad at hiding your excitement.”

 

“This isn’t about me, it’s about you. But well I’ve had a new habit start too, and I didn’t want to say anything. Not that I’m trying to take away from your announcement.”

 

“You’re not.” Shoto cut in.

 

Midoriya continued, “You tell me yours first and I’ll tell you mine.”

 

Shoto good naturedly rolled his eyes and didn’t fight the smile on his face. Midoriya made talking about soulmates fun, a topic that he never thought would be possible.

 

“It’s nothing special, I promise you. My soulmate likes to watch the news late at night. I’m not good at sleeping with the tv on.”

 

“Is it the noise or the light that bothers you?”

 

“Both. When I do manage to fall asleep it’s only for a short time. Then I’m annoyed that I have to turn the tv off.”

 

“That sucks.” Midoriya hummed. “So what do you think that this tells you about your soulmate?”

 

“Midoriya.” Shoto sighed.

 

“Sorry.” Midoriya didn’t sound sorry.

 

“What’s your habit?” Shoto asked before Midoriya could try and push about expectations again.

 

“Oh, uh.” Midoriya blushed and fiddled with the end of his scarf again. “It’s actually this.”

 

He held up the braided end of his scarf with a small laugh. “I braid hair now? I got the urge to do something with my fingers. It took me a while to figure it out, actually, just because I got the urge to do it, didn’t mean I knew how to braid. So it was a bunch of knotted messes for several days.”

 

“I noticed that you had been doing that, but I figured it was an anxiety thing.” Shoto said.

 

“I started braiding the tassels as practice, to get the feel of things. Ochako and Tsu let me braid their hair now that I’ve got the hang of it. It’s usually right before bed, they say that me playing with their hair feels good, and helps them go to sleep? Funny how we can’t play with our own hair.” Midoriya ran a crooked hand through his own curls. 

 

“Anyway, it’s not an everyday thing that I want to do. It’s more of, how do I explain it, more of the urge to learn a skill, but a skill I had no reason to want to know how to do. But I started practicing and it kind of turned into a thing that helped with my anxiety. Sort of like you making coffee. Not that I’m saying that you’re anxious! Actually, you’re the exact opposite!”

 

“I get what you mean.” Shoto said. “It’s soothing. It’s nice. And believe it or not, I get anxious too. I am human.”

 

“Math tests don’t count.”

 

“Do you get anxious about math tests?”

 

“Well, no.”

 

“You’re not human.”

 

“Todoroki-kun!” Midoriya squawked. 

 

The pencil that he chucked found it’s mark against Shoto’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

 

“You won’t use it.” Midoriya held out his hand.

 

“I can change my mind.” Shoto said, but he was already putting back the pencil into his outstretched palm. His fingers brushed lightly on a callous.

 

Midoriya looked thoughtfully at his palm. “Your hands are warm.”

 

“Warm hands, cold heart?”

 

Midoriya shook his head. “Warm hands, warm heart.”

 

Shoto turned his head away, but he didn’t think he was successful in hiding his blush.

 

…

 

Todoroki sighed as he looked over the measurements of his floorplans. Izuku thought it was cute. 

 

“I don’t want your help. I should be able to do this.” Todoroki grumbled.

 

“I didn’t say anything.” Izuku said with a grin.

 

Todoroki threw him an accusatory look before he went back to his math. Like Izuku, and every other graduating senior, Todoroki was working on his final project.

 

Todoroki’s phone buzzed on the table, and he dropped his head in his hands, concentration once again broken. “Who is it?”

 

Izuku leaned over and looked at the incoming text. “Kacchan.”

 

“I’m not answering him.” Todoroki grumbled.

 

“He’ll just call you until you pick up.”

 

“Why didn’t you warn me he was so difficult to work with?” The look he gave Izuku reminded him of a kicked puppy.

 

“You didn’t gather that from meeting him?”

 

It was inevitable that Izuku’s separate friends would meet, especially his childhood friend, and the person that was quickly becoming one of his most important persons. The meeting had gone better than Izuku expected.

 

Kacchan had stared at Todoroki for an uncomfortably long time, and Todoroki had stared at him right back. Kacchan looked once at Izuku, rolled his eyes, flashed a look of annoyance to Kirishima that Izuku didn’t really understand, and then looked back at Todoroki.

 

Kacchan crossed his arms and said, “I need an extra model for my project.” 

 

“He’s a fashion major,” Izuku supplied.

 

“Hey, man, remember what we talked about when it comes to asking for things?” Kirishima nudged his boyfriend, “You’ve got to actually ask.”

 

“You’re going to be my model.” Kacchan bit out.

 

“Nope, that’s not it either.” Kirishima sighed.

 

Todoroki crossed his arms, mirroring Kacchan. “You’ll help me with my final project.”

 

“Uh, Todoroki-kun, that wasn’t a question either?” Izuku mumbled. His eyes darted back and forth between his newest friend and his oldest friend. If he knew anything about Kacchan, it was that he never liked being ordered around.

 

Kacchan narrowed his eyes and grunted. He reached into his back pocket and threw his business card at Todoroki’s chest. “We’ll talk about the details later.”

 

Kirishima and Izuku looked at each other in surprise. Kirishima offered a small shrug, maybe Kacchan was mellowing with age. 

 

Todoroki picked up the card from where it had fallen on the floor, “He’s still in college. Why does he have a business card?”

 

And that had been the start of their collaborative final project. With both of them being artistic majors, it took hardly any string pulling to get their professors to accept their proposal. Together, they would piece together an exhibit on the influence of historic Japanese clothing and costumes on modern clothing. 

 

Todoroki would be pulling together the exhibit, securing items from the school’s own sizable private collection for costumes, petitioning to borrow other costumes from other galleries from what they lacked. Together, Todoroki and Kacchan, would do the research. Kacchan would recreate an outfit or two for the past, make some pieces to represent today’s fashion, and then make some of his own designs to represent the future. 

 

In exchange, Todoroki would model some of the clothes and have his picture taken for Kacchan’s portfolio.

 

It was honestly an ambitious project to complete in a couple of months, and both of them had been working hard for months. There were only a couple of weeks left. 

 

“I shouldn’t have left the specifics of the floor plans until last minute,” Todoroki complained. “I don’t think we’ll have the space to do what I want to do. It’s way too late to try and book another space.”

 

He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. His phone buzzed again.

 

Izuku glanced at the phone again. “He wants to talk about the little cards that go next to the pieces.”

 

“I told him he has enough on his plate, and I would handle those.” Todoroki grabbed up his phone and got up to call Kacchan.

 

Izuku plucked the empty travel mug up from the table and rolled it between his hands to keep from commandeering the floor plans. This was probably the fifth cup of coffee that Todoroki had given him, and Izuku hadn’t gotten a chance to drink any of them.

 

The first one he dropped, the second and third had been stolen by Shinso and Kacchan. The fourth one he had completely forgotten about, until he remembered it two weeks later and had to crawl under his bed to find it. Izuku was too afraid to open that mug, so he trashed it and got a new one. The fifth one he had given to Aizawa. His professor honestly looked like he was going to pass out in his welding demonstration, and someone had to save the man’s life. 

 

Aizawa drank it, but didn’t show any inclination whether he liked it or not. Shinso and Kacchan had both said it was some of the best coffee that they had ever had. Izuku had secretly hoped that Aizawa would give him a little extra credit or something on a test. He didn’t. His English teacher, Present Mic on the other hand, gave him extra points on his latest quiz. Now, there wasn’t time to unpack all of that.

 

Izuku just really, really wanted to try Todoroki’s coffee, but he couldn’t admit to him that he hadn’t tried it not once, not twice, but five times. He had been lying this whole time telling Todoroki how good it was, well not exactly, always lying, he would use Kacchan’s and Shinso’s reactions, but he had lied. 

 

Todoroki slumped back down at the table and tossed his phone in his bag.

 

“How’d it go?”

 

Todoroki grunted and glared down at the floor plans. 

 

Izuku pushed the paper away. “I think you could use a little break.”

 

“I just had a break.” Todoroki snapped.

 

It wasn’t the first time that he had seen Todoroki get like this. He always pushed himself so hard and pushed himself to produce work that was no less than perfect. Izuku knew where he was coming from, he also set unrealistic expectations for himself. Izuku tended to mumble and worry, and Todoroki would get impatient and short tempered. 

 

He knew that Todoroki would regret snapping. Izuku could see his expression starting to turn apologetic.

 

“What do you want to do with your Art History degree, Todoroki-kun?” Izuku tapped his finger on the back of Todoroki’s hand.

 

“Like how am I going to make money?” Todoroki sounded weary.

 

“No, like why did you pick to work in museums? You could do other things like teach or uh…” Izuku scratched at his nose. He didn’t really know what an Art History major could do. 

 

“Like why did you choose this path? I guess that is what I’m trying to ask. What drives you?”

 

Todoroki stared at him looking a little lost.

 

“Has no one asked you that before?”

 

He shook his head.

 

Sometimes, it was best to lead by example. “So for instance, I had a really hard time narrowing down my major. There are so many subsections of Engineering to choose from, and I want to do everything.” 

 

Todoroki smiled.

 

“There are like five main fields and a lot of specializations under them. You’ve got Civil, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrial. I suck at chemistry so Chemical Engineering was out. Industrial doesn’t interest me.” Izuku held up all five of his fingers and dropped two.

 

“I liked Electrical, because well computers and tech are going to be around for a while. But I wanted to work with something bigger than microchips. Not to say that I don’t try to pick up extra classes on the subject when I can, but..” Izuku dropped another finger.

 

“Civil, building things for the public. Bridges, tunnels, roads, you get the idea. Or Mechanical, like conceiving an idea and making a machine to do it. I’ve always really, really wanted to help people. Civil Engineers are unsung heroes. We couldn’t get much done without them, and they’re not really in the spotlight. I didn’t mind that. Doing good for the sake of doing good. It’s kind of heroic.”

 

Todoroki had his head resting in his hand. He was listening to every word. He always listened to everything Izuku said.

 

“But god, did I hate planning bridges. Hated it so, so much.”

 

Todoroki threw his head back and laughed, smothering his smile with his hand, before he got too loud.

 

Izuku giggled. “I picked Mechanical Engineering because it made my brain feel good. I love trying to apply math to problems and make things work, the more difficult, the more impossible, the better. Nothing beats the feeling when I’m holding something I made in my head in my hands, you know?”

 

“Maybe you should have picked fashion.” Todoroki teased.

 

“The older I get, the more I realize that I have in common with Kacchan. It’s honestly horrifying and kind of makes some of his childhood behavior make sense. You ever hated someone because they were too much like you?”

 

“Um, no. I’ve hated someone that I was afraid of becoming.”

 

Izuku wanted to know more but this didn’t seem like the time to ask. “You saw similarities, though, between you and that person. It’s kind of similar.”

 

He waved off the side conversation, it wasn’t the point he wanted to get at. “Anyway, I picked Mechanical Engineering because it made sense for me. It made me feel good. I still need to figure out what I want to specialize in but I’m getting off topic again.

 

“I don’t mind.” Todoroki said.

 

Todoroki absently tidied up his papers.

 

“I kind of stumbled into Art History. I didn’t come to college with any major specifically in mind except for what I didn’t want to do. I didn’t want to be in politics, didn’t want to be a lawyer, didn’t want to be a doctor, or engineer or something that would make my father proud. I took an Art History class for a credit and found that I liked it.”

 

Izuku nodded, he knew a bit about Todoroki’s strained relationship with his father. He knew he didn’t see his mother often, and that he lived with his brother.

 

“You can do a couple of things besides being a teacher.” Todoroki’s face didn’t change, but his tone was teasing, “I thought about archival work. I like the idea that you’re saving things that were precious to someone once. I don’t have the best relationship with my family, and the few good memories I have are from when I was really young.”

 

Todoroki’s voice grew softer. Izuku leaned over the table to get closer. “I wished that I had something…” his long fingers grasped at air, “I wish that I could preserve those good memories with anything, a card, a letter, a jacket. Anything that I did have associated with those moments is long gone now. And I wanted to protect the memories and feelings of others.”

 

“It sounds like a good motivation to me.” Izuku whispered.

 

Todoroki smiled but it was sad, “I would have been chasing after something that I couldn’t achieve. In time, I’m afraid that it would have made me jaded and bitter. I would be focused on the wrong thing.”

 

“Some of the good memories I had with my mother and siblings were at museums. My mother loved art, and it was one of the few things she was allowed to indulge in occasionally. She said that art shows peoples’ true feelings. It was their way of being heard. I didn’t get it when I was little, but I do now. I want to create spaces where people can tell their feelings, where people can see those feelings, and where people can have happy memories together.”

 

Todoroki met Izuku’s eyes. “Are you crying?”

 

“Shut up,” Izuku covered his eyes with his sleeves. “You can’t sound like a tragic protagonist and expect the audience not to cry!”

 

Todoroki wormed a pack of tissues into Izuku’s hand. “Okay, how about this: I would be a terrible Archivist because I would want to keep everything, even things that aren’t ‘important’.”

 

Izuku wiped his eyes. “I didn’t take you for a hoarder, Todoroki-kun.”

 

He shrugged and leaned in close. “I want to work in museums because I like to look at beautiful things.”

 

Todoroki ran his thumb gently under Izuku’s eyes, and Izuku felt his heart stop.

 

“You’ve got an eyelash.”

 

Izuku squawked and batted Todoroki’s hand away. If Todoroki was looking at Izuku fondly, then that was his imagination.

 

“You should let me help with your floorplan. I’m pretty good at working with spaces, if I do say so, and if it won’t fit, then I can make it fit.”

 

Todoroki sighed and passed the page over.

 

…

 

Today was not Shoto’s day. Due to scheduling issues, their exhibit had been open for three weeks now, but they hadn’t officially had the ‘opening’ where their professors and peers could come and officially judge. It was the last day of finals, the last time slot that could have possibly been picked. 

 

That should make it easier right? None of their schoolmates would show up because they surely had to be tired from their own finals. They should be headed on the next train home. 

 

Wrong. 

 

Bakugo, his name fell off of Shoto’s lips like a curse for the past month, had come up with the idea to have an interactive exhibit/fashion show. They would have models wear the outfits at certain times of the day and talk to viewers, explaining the costume's significance instead of reading the nice little cards that Shoto had worked hard on. It was a great idea, except for the fact that their models had a final at this time. It was now Shoto, Kirishima, Bakugo, and a couple of first years that Bakugo had threatened wearing the clothes. 

 

Naturally, most of their classmates wanted to come and see them in costume. He might pretend not to hear, but even Shoto couldn’t ignore that he was the one who was the reason that a crowd had formed outside the doors.

 

Shoto hated to be stared at. Hated public speaking. Could he do it? Yes. But he felt like he was about to crawl out of his skin. 

 

He paced the floor glaring at the large turntable on the floor. Sweet, blessed Midoriya had come up with the idea. It could show off several outfits without taking up half of the space. But sometime in the night, it stopped working. Even if he wasn’t dressed in this silly haori and kimono, he wouldn’t even begin to know how to fix it. 

 

Shoto tried to take a deep breath. It wasn’t really the final nerves that were getting to him. He had overslept after yesterday’s math final, and had forgotten to make coffee. Stupid, stupid soul habit.

 

“I’m here!” Midoriya ran into the room. “Am I late?”

 

“No, but if you were you were, you would have ruined the performance!” Bakugo snapped.

 

Midoriya waved him off, no harm had been done. His eyes met Shoto’s before trailing up and down at least twice. His cheeks rosy from his run, didn’t go away.

 

“You look good. Really good. Super traditional.” Midoriya’s eyes linger on his chest.

 

Shoto tugged at the front trying to keep it respectfully closed. The kimono barely fit, and showed too much of his chest because it was meant for a different model, but there was no time to make another. “The damn thing doesn’t fit.”

 

Midoriya bobbed his head and smiled. Shoto was about to ask him what was so funny when Midoriya put both of his hands on Shoto’s cheeks. His hands were rough, but Shoto found his touch grounding.

 

“I don’t want to do this. I agreed to a photoshoot, not a live show. The kimono doesn’t fit. The turntable isn’t working. I haven’t eaten lunch. I’m tired. I think I failed that math final.” Shoto always ended up spilling his guts to Midoriya. 

 

Midoriya nodded and hummed sympathetically. His thumbs gently stroked Shoto’s face.

 

“I forgot to make coffee this morning.” Shoto sighed and dropped his head lower.

 

Midoriya adjusted his grip, one of his hands drifting to idly play with some of Shoto’s hair. “That sucks.” He said it with the quiet meaning that only others with soul habits understood.

 

He didn’t pull away, letting Shoto bask in his pity party and the wonderful comfort that came with it. If Midoriya kept playing with his hair, Shoto would definitely melt. The moment didn’t last nearly long enough, before Midoriya angled Shoto’s face to look directly at him.

 

“You didn’t fail your math test. You always think you do, but you don’t. Argue with your track record if you want to argue. The show is one hour and then I’ll take you out to celebrate. We’ll get food. If you want, I’ll walk you straight home afterwards so you can sleep. How’s that?”

 

“And the turntable?” Shoto mumbled.

 

“What kind of Engineer do you take me for? I built it, I can fix it, no problem.” Midoriya kicked the tool bag sitting at his feet. “If I can’t, well, I’ll sit underneath it the whole time and turn it by hand.”

 

“I wouldn’t make you do that.”

 

“Kacchan would.”

 

Shoto smiled, and it felt like the first time he smiled all day. Midoriya grinned back at him and squeezed his cheeks.

 

“Get your hands off of my model before you get his face greasy, you simp!” Kacchan snapped.

 

Midoryia’s blush came back and he laughed, regrettably letting go of Shoto’s face. He reached down and grabbed his bag and the screwdriver sitting on top of it. He gave it a little wave. “Better get to work.”

 

Shoto never had the urge to kiss someone so badly in his life.

 

…

 

Shoto hadn’t lived before this night. If he could turn his memories into physical things, this night would be one of them. To an outsider it was nothing special, just two guys walking on the sidewalk with a bag between them. They argued over who should carry it until they came to the agreement that one would hold one handle and the other would hold the other. Spring air made the night warm, the breeze was in their hair. Shoto had never felt more alive.

 

Bakugo and Shoto hadn’t gotten their official grades, but they both knew that they had passed. Bakugo had offered to take them all out to dinner at some fancy restaurant, but Shoto and Midoriya had declined. Instead, they had stopped at several convenience stores, grabbing whatever snacks caught their eyes. They stopped at street food vendors and the liquor store. The bag between them was ready to rip if they added one more thing to it. 

 

They had already split a bottle of wine between them while they walked. Shoto’s head felt delightfully light, but he still had his wits about him. He didn’t even try to hide his staring from Midoriya, as he kept his eyes glued to his friend as he talked. 

 

Twice, Midoriya had to tug Shoto out of the way of pedestrians, because he wasn’t looking where he was going. Shoto couldn’t help it. This was the end of everything. There would be no more meet ups at the library. No more talking about classes. There was still the graduation ceremony and after that, there was a good chance that he would never see Midoriya again.

 

His heart squeezed uncomfortably in his chest. It wasn’t fair that he only got to have Midoriya in his life for the last semester of their last year. Why couldn’t they have met earlier? Why didn’t the gods or fates or whoever, give him more time with Midoriya. 

 

Shoto opened a can of beer and took a drink. Would it have been better if he had never met Midoriya at all? Then he wouldn’t have to deal with this heavy emotion in his chest. He wouldn’t be dreading the seconds until the eventual goodbye came. 

 

The thought and the beer sat sour in his mouth. He passed the beer over to Midoriya, who drank it without batting an eye. 

 

“Did you see Ochako, Tsu, and Tenya holding hands at the exhibit?” Midoriya asked.

 

“I did. Are they all together now?”

 

“They’re giving it a shot. Time’s run out with school. They needed to make a decision. Tenya told me that they’re going to get an apartment together and see how it goes.”

 

“Do you think it will work?” Shoto asked.

 

“I’m not sure. Both Tsu and Tenya love Ochako. I think they could put aside any differences if there are any. I’m curious to see if everyone falls in love with everyone. It would be a nice ending wouldn’t it?”

 

“Has anyone told you, you’re a hopeless romantic?” Shoto said.

 

Izuku grinned and stepped closer to bump his shoulder against Shoto’s arm. “I shouldn’t be speculating on my friend’s relationships. It’s really none of my business.”

 

“So you don’t think that Bakugo and Kirishima are going to be the first ones to get married?”

 

“No, it’s going to be Shinso and Denki, but they’re going to do it in a quiet way, no ceremony, just go to the courthouse. And Kacchan is going to be so mad that he wasn’t the first one to get married. Especially when he and Kirishima have been together since high school, and Shinso and Denki only met in college.”

 

Shoto chuckled at the absolute certainty in Midoriya’s voice. He talked as ifit had already happened, and Shoto didn’t doubt that it would play out exactly like that.

 

“Do you think Momo and Jirou will get married?”

 

Shoto hummed. “They will, but I don’t think it will be until a few years. They’re the kind of couple to take things slow.”

 

“I wonder when I’ll meet my soulmate.” Midoriya murmured. 

 

Todoroki’s chest ached. He hated to hear the quiet longing in Midoriya’s voice. He didn’t miss the meaningful look that Midoriya tossed his way. 

 

They had talked about it once before, very briefly, about the possibility of them being soulmates, but their habits didn’t match up. Sure, Midoriya liked to watch the news late, but he watched the news all the time. Shoto didn’t think he slept with the temperature low, like Midoriya described, but even if he did, they still had two habits that didn’t match up. 

 

Shoto never wanted his hair braided. That most likely pointed to Midoriya’s soulmate being a girl, or at least a guy with really long hair anyway. Shoto’s was still about the same length he had kept it at in high school. 

 

And then there was the coffee. His stomach always dropped in disappointment whenever Midoriya drank his coffee. 

 

“Your soulmate will be lucky to have you, Midoriya.” Shoto kept his eyes ahead of him.

 

“I just know when I meet them, I’ll be head over heels for them. I know that there won’t be another person for me. I want to marry them.” Midoriya had his head tilted back looking at the streetlights, but his eyes were really looking at a future only he could see. There was a soft smile on his lips.

 

He looked over at Shoto, when he realized he had stopped walking. Shoto couldn’t get his legs to move, he felt frozen to the spot. The look on Midoriya’s face, he had seen it before, when he was very, very young. Before everything went very, very wrong. 

 

“Todoroki-kun?”

 

What if someone took that look off of Midoriya’s face? What if, somewhere, Todoroki’s soulmate looked like Midoriya, and Todoroki, one day, took that look off of their face? Who would protect them?

 

“Todoroki-kun?” Midoriya whispered. He had taken the bag out of Shoto’s hand, and with his other, gently reached up and wiped a stray tear off of his cheek. “What’s wrong?”

 

“I’m afraid.” Shoto swallowed. Midoriya’s touch helped, but it was still hard to get the words out.

 

Midoriya looked around for a threat, stepping defensively closer to Shoto. 

 

“I’m going to hurt my soulmate.”

 

Midoriya's eyes widened. “Why would you think that?”

 

“My mother and my father were soulmates. All she wanted to do was make him happy, to have a happy soulmate, have a happy family. She was like you, so in love that she tried to do everything to make it work. But he-” Shoto worked his jaw and took a deep breath.

 

“He made her miserable. He twisted her around his finger because he thought that's what soulmates did. If the person was made for you, then they should be able to handle everything.”

 

Midoriya shook his head.

 

Shoto laughed, a short, sharp sound. He didn’t know why he laughed. He rubbed at the edge of his scar self-consciously. “A-And one day she snapped.”

 

He rubbed harder at the scar, before he realized what he was doing and stuffed his hands into his pocket. He looked at his feet instead of Midoriya. “She’s in… she’s doing better now. My siblings and I visit her and keep our father away from her.”

 

When he dared to look up at Midoriya, his eyebrows were knitted together in confusion. “But you’re not him, Todoroki-kun.”

 

Shoto didn’t know where to begin to explain how he was very much like his father.

 

“You’re so full of love and kindness, Todoroki-kun. You wake up every morning to make your soulmate coffee. You watch the news late at night even when you hate it. You worry about your soulmate even when you haven’t met them yet. You know what your father did was absolutely wrong. Soulmates are halves of a whole, but they are their own person. They don’t exist to complete the other. To serve one another. They exist to love each other and make each other better.”

 

“I’m not…”

 

Izuku smiled, “You’ll never hurt your soulmate like your father hurt your mother. I promise.”

 

Shoto looked down at the bag Izuku was holding. He could trust Midoriya, if he couldn’t trust himself, couldn’t he? He gently touched one of the scars on his right hand. “What if your soulmate hurts you?”

 

“They won’t.”

 

He gave Midoriya a skeptical look.

 

“Did I ever tell you how I got these scars?”

 

Shoto shook his head. He had never asked, because he hated to get that question himself.

 

“When I was a little kid, I loved my best friend so much. Maybe even more than I loved the idea of having a soulmate. My best friend was always told that he was the best, that he could do anything. It gave him a bit of an ego. One day he tripped and fell and I offered a hand. He couldn’t accept that someone he viewed as weaker than him, could help him. I don’t entirely get it myself, but it made sense in his little kid head. I don’t think it helped that we were too similar to each other, but yet so different. We were mirrors. I could’ve been him. He could have been me. He didn’t like that. My best friend became my worst bully.” Midoriya smiled as he talked. He had long made peace with the events in his past.

 

“I chased and chased after him, not understanding. Thinking that I could win his friendship, his love, his respect. But I couldn’t. Then one day he said… it doesn’t matter what he said. What matters is that it opened my eyes to my own self worth. I deserved friendship. I deserved respect. I deserved love. I deserved a place in this world. I wasn’t going to let anyone determine my worth.”

 

“The next time he pushed me, I hit him. I hit everyone who tried to bully me, and broke my hand a couple of times.” Midoriya grinned and sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

 

Shoto stared at Midoriya, trying to piece the nicest person to ever walk the Earth with the piece of the boy who broke his hand fighting his bullies. He tilted his head. He could see the possibility.

 

“So, what I’m saying is, I won’t let anyone hurt me.” He grabbed Shoto’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “And sometimes beating the crap out of your childhood best friend turned bully, turns them back into your friend again.”

 

Shoto shook his head, at a loss of what to say. A clock in a window displayed said it was nearly eleven.

 

“It’s getting late. Let’s go back to my place and eat.” Shoto said. 

 

…

 

Izuku opened his eyes and stared at Todoroki’s sleeping face. The braid that Izuku had done earlier was already coming undone. He gently pushed a lock of mixed red and white hair out of his face. 

 

They had fallen asleep on the couch after staying up until three eating and drinking. He smiled fondly at the memories of Shoto gradually becoming more and more comfortable touching Izuku as the night went on. How he got so excited to explain how he made coffee, and how much he really, really wanted a siphon coffee maker. 

 

Todoroki only had himself fooled when he said that he never thought about his soulmate. It was clear to anyone that heard him talk about coffee, how much he loved his soulmate. Izuku couldn’t help but be jealous.

 

They ended the night with Todoroki laying on top of Izuku on the couch, while Izuku watched the news and braided Todoroki’s hair. He was out like a light.

 

Izuku was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to sleep, because Todoroki and his brother kept their apartment frigid, but once he had dozed off, the cold hadn’t bothered him. Sure, his toes were a little cold, but that was because he had kicked off the blanket that Todoroki had put over them sometime in the night. The rest of his body was pleasantly warm. 

 

Izuku snuggled closer to Todoroki, who was a literal space heater with how much heat he put out. 

 

Blue and grey eyes fluttered open and eventually found focus on Izuku.

 

“Want some coffee?” 

 

“Please.”

 

Todoroki closed his eyes, and Izuku thought he had gone back to sleep. After a moment, Todoroki pushed himself off the couch and shuffled to the kitchen. Izuku let himself stare at the way his shirt had ridden up to reveal the small of his back and his waist.

 

“You’re missing a sock, Todoroki-kun.”

 

Todoroki looked down and shrugged. “Happens. What kind of coffee do you want?”

 

“Whatever you want to make me.”

 

Todoroki stared at Izuku with a serious look on his face, the braid coming undone only taking away some of the gravity of his stare. He turned back to the cabinet. 

 

Izuku wrapped the blanket around himself and settled at the counter.

 

“I didn’t know you wanted a siphon coffee maker so badly.”

 

“I didn’t know you watched the news to fall asleep.” Todoroki picked out a bag, but ended up putting it back.

 

“When I lived at home, I would wait up until my dad got back from working a late shift, and we’d watch the news together. It was more of his habit than mine.”

 

Todoroki nodded to show that he was listening.

 

“You know, my parents aren’t soulmates. Both of their soulmates died. Like the guy who was my birth father was my mom’s soulmate, but he died when I was one. And my dad never got to meet his soulmate. One day the band on his wrist just disappeared.” Todoroki had shared a lot of personal things and Izuku felt that it was only fair to return the gesture.

 

“I’m, um, sorry for your loss.”

 

Izuku shook his head. “I don’t remember him. My dad is my dad, and that’s all that matters.”

 

He watched Todoroki settle on a bean and start to grind it. Todoroki must have felt Izuku watching him, because he met his eyes and gave him a soft, awkward smile. 

 

Izuku returned the smile and rested his chin on his arms. All Todoroki wanted in his soulmate was someone kind. All Izuku wanted for his soulmate was Shoto Todoroki. It wasn’t fair how over the months, every time Izuku imagined his soulmate, he became more and more like Todoroki. 

 

He discreetly wiped a tear from his eye. His heart ached to share this domestic moment, but not to have it everyday for the rest of his life. Izuku had thought that Todoroki could be his soulmate, but it could also be wishful thinking. Their habits have increased since they met each other, but Izuku did go to a lot of soul habit mixers and each semester brought new people into their classes, into their proximity. Perhaps it could have been one of them. 

 

Part of the reason Izuku had told Todoroki the story of his parents was because they were perfectly happy and in love with each other, despite not being each other’s soulmates. It could be possible that Todoroki and Izuku could have that kind of ending too, even if they weren’t each other’s soulmates. 

 

Izuku flipped a receipt from last night over. He always worked out his problems best with his hands.

 

“Do you have a pencil?”

 

Todoroki reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small mechanical pencil. 

 

“You were carrying that in your back pocket?”

 

“Yeah. You like to do work in pencil, so I figured that I would start carrying one on me, just in case.”

 

Izuku gingerly took the pencil. “I can make you a siphon coffee maker.”

 

“It’s just a pencil, Midoriya.”

 

Izuku got up and walked around the other side of the counter, measuring the space with his eyes. “No, no I can do it. You said you were worried about having enough space on your counter. I can make a custom size.”

 

He started scribbling the picture as Shoto had described the night before. Izuku didn’t look up until Todoroki put a mint green mug down in front of him.

 

Izuku leaned over it and inhaled deeply. It smelled so good. He would finally, finally get the chance to try some of Todoroki’s coffee.

 

A deep rich flavor filled his mouth. He savored the taste and swallowed slowly, getting a hint of chocolate at the end. His toes curled in pleasure. It was the best coffee he had ever had in his life.

 

There came the sound of shattering glass, and Izuku whirled around to see what was wrong. Todoroki had dropped a mug, his hands still slack and outstretched as he stared at Izuku.

 

“I don’t understand.” Todoroki stepped forward.

 

“Todoroki-kun, the glass!” Izuku tried to stop him, but Todoroki continued on heedlessly.

 

He shook his head, dazed. “It doesn’t matter.”

 

Izuku nearly dropped his mug when Todoroki pulled Izuku’s face towards his own and kissed him.

 

Despite the burning passion Izuku had seen in Todoroki’s eyes, the kiss was soft and sweet. 

 

It was too, too short.

 

“You’re my soulmate, Izuku.” Shoto breathed.

 

“I-I am?” Izuku whispered. He could hardly process what Shoto was saying. These were the words that he had been wanting to hear for so long. 

 

“Yeah, who else would Shoto kiss in our kitchen over coffee.” Someone said.

 

Izuku sprang back with a yelp, nearly dropping his coffee.

 

“Way to ruin the moment, Natsuo.” Shoto sighed. 

 

“Way to ruin my favorite coffee mug.” Natsuo pointed the shattered mug on the ground. “Is there any more coffee?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Can you get me some?”

 

Shoto shook his head. “It’s Izuku’s. You have to ask him.”

 

Izuku’s breath hitched at the fondness that laced his soulmate’s voice. His soulmate . He couldn’t believe it. Izuku handed his mug to Natsuo.

 

“Thanks.” He took a sip. “Nice hair by the way, Shoto. Haven’t seen that look on you in a long time.”

 

“What do you mean?” Shoto asked. He was already pouring Izuku another cup of coffee.

 

“You don’t remember? I guess that makes sense, you were really little and it was before the accident. Mom and Fuyumi used to put you to sleep by braiding your hair. Speaking of sleep. Next time you two fall asleep on the couch, get your own blanket. I’m not your nanny.” With that Natsuo left the kitchen.

 

Izuku brought his fingers up to his lip. “Past habits. Shoto-kun’s hair… me watching the news… Present habits… coffee… sleeping in the cold. And I didn’t get cold last night because… What about future habits? I need to write this down…” His brain was firing on all cylinders. He was making connections as quickly as thoughts formed. It felt wonderful. Izuku dropped his hand and stared at Shoto. 

 

Shoto gave him another shy, awkward smile, his cheeks were pink. He was holding Izuku’s new cup of coffee.

 

“I need to…” Izuku grabbed Shoto’s face and kissed him. He walked them back up against the counter, being mindful of the floor. He heard the clatter of the mug on the counter, and Shoto had his arms around him, kissing him back just as passionately. This kiss was nothing like their first kiss, but it made Izuku’s soul feel the same. He felt respected. He felt loved. He felt like he was finally home after a long trip.

 

He broke away to catch his breath, “I’m making you a siphon coffee maker for our wedding.”

 

He clapped his hand over his mouth as soon as the horror washed over him. Even with your soulmate there was such a thing as coming on too strong. 

 

Shoto removed his hand and lightly kissed his lips. “Don’t know if I want to wait that long. Engagement present?”

 

Izuku clung to him tighter in relief. “How about a “finding your soulmate” present?” He kissed Shoto back.

 

Izuku, with his hands on Shoto’s chest, could feel him hum. “I change my mind. Let’s get married today.” Shoto nosed Izuku’s ear and kissed his jaw. 

 

“We can’t today. I need to tell my mom.” It was hard to protest, let alone pay attention with the way Shoto was holding him.

 

“Tomorrow then.”

 

Izuku pulled back and looked at Shoto. Izuku felt like his whole world was crumbling and being recreated with Shoto’s touch, but he still could think clearly. Was Shoto being swept up in the euphoria of finding his soulmate or was he being serious?

 

Even if he had only known his soulmate for an instant, he knew that Shoto was serious. Shoto’s eyes were gentle and full of so much love.

 

“It’ll make Kacchan mad.”

 

“Even better.”

 

Izuku laughed and kissed Shoto again. Their lips and their tongues lingered. 

 

“You know,” Shoto said, “I think I’m acquiring a taste for coffee.”

Bonus conversation rated M for mature:

[Takes place before Izuku drinks the coffee]

 

“You said the news was more of your father’s habit, than it was yours?” Todoroki asked.

 

“Yeah, I mean it kind of became my habit, but it was his first.”

 

“Mmm maybe I’m your father’s soulmate. Does he like coffee?”

 

Izuku laughed and shook his head. Todoroki leaned across the counter, there was a wicked look in his eye.

 

“He does, doesn’t he? Maybe that means your father and I should get married, and then I’ll be your dad too.” 

 

Izuku’s mouth fell open in astonishment. He knew that Todoroki was teasing, he could read the way that he was trying to hide his smile at the corner of his mouth. But for a split second the idea of calling Todoroki “daddy” entered his head.

 

He felt his face heat up. He didn’t think he was into that. No, he wouldn’t let himself be into that. “You’re not allowed to break up my parent’s perfectly happy marriage!”

 

“Shame.” Todoroki turned away and Izuku heard him chuckle as he started to heat up the water. 

 

Notes:

This is my attempt to give a slight refresh to the usual soulmate fics. I wanted to do something with soulmates that I haven't seen before, and I've think I've nailed it.

I've become to author I've never wanted to be, and this was one of three WIPS I had going on at once. I try to only do one at a time, but the idea was too good not to do, and I needed a break from my mermaid AU.

Thank you again for reading, and as always I love to hear from ya'll. I have a twitter now if anyone wants to go over and say hello.

Fun fact: I do not drink coffee and I had to look up what an Engineer does and had to look up jobs for Art History majors, so if anything is wrong, oh well.