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Nerve wracking, that is the only word to supply the emotion that Aizawa Shouta— a seasoned underground pro-hero who has fought countless villains including the League and lived— feels right now and yet it is entirely not enough. Because how do you describe the literal earthquake going on inside his chest. Aizawa has gone through an hour of inhales and exhales and still can’t make his move? In another context, it is perfectly reasonable to be nervous when who you are up against is the respected Symbol of Peace, Yagi Toshinori may have retired but decades of experience don’t just vanish, All Might will always be All Might.
Except the scenario isn’t in the battle field not even a sparring practice. The scenario is Aizawa Shouta at his desk across Yagi’s at the teacher’s faculty room, Aizawa has been staring (trying not too but fails) at his coworker for what has been an hour trying to form an idea on how to ask out the retired hero to the summer festival happening tomorrow. Sincerely, he would rather be at the battlefield.
In a few minutes his colleague’s cellphone will sound an alarm to signal the end of their day (they used to be able to do more overtime but Nezu has forbidden it as Aizawa and Yagi some people don’t know when to go home which results to overwork and inefficiency) which means he has to make his move before Yagi starts packing up his things.
Others may view this to be simple and easy, to Aizawa the answer to his question can very much result to him baring his heart only to end in rejection which to him apparently equals almost death.
One more exhale and then…
You know what, fuck this let’s get it over with.
“Yagi-san?”
“Ah Aizawa-kun, done for the day?” Yagi looks up at him with his usual cheery smile.
Aizawa merely gives a grunt to say yes. The truth is he didn’t have left over work to finish, he made sure to finish it all early with frightening speed just so he could focus on asking out the older hero.
“Good for you, well I’m still a bit stuck so go on ahead.”
“Do you need help?” Another inhale.
“No no, No need for that. All that’s left is encoding their grades anyway. Having large hands means having large fingers, and they aren’t really helpful on the keyboard.”
“That sounds like you need help.” He’s stalling, he knows he’s stalling.
”No, no, I insist. You should leave ahead, Aizawa, it’s the weekend, I’m sure you’d like to catch up on your sleep. I’ll be fine, I’ll be done soon.” Yagi gives a slight chuckle and goes back to face his monitor.
Another exhale “Speaking of weekends, The festival tomorrow… I heard from the students it quite near here this year.”
“Hmm… well yes but I don’t think it’s any danger, there are heroes stationed there anyways and as a lot of our students are going as well even some of UA’s teachers are asigned too I believe. Are you as well?”
“No, I’m free this weekend. You?”
“I don’t think they would want to station a retired pro-hero, Aizawa-kun.”
Here goes…
“No, I meant if you were free tomorrow, I was thinking we could go together?”
“To the festival?” Yagi looks up questioningly at the man in front of him.
“Yes” Aizawa tries to non-obviously swallow the lump in his throat.
“Oh! I would love to, it has been quite a while since I’ve been to one. Thank you for the invite.” Yagi answers with excitement in his voice. Aizawa didn’t think Yagi’s eyes could glow brighter but he does believe it just did.
Aizawa tries not to sigh with relief. “Good, I’ll see you then. 6PM?”
Yagi replies with an enthusiastic ”I’ll be there”.
Aizawa who would now like to now melt in the privacy of his dorm room, exits as quickly as possible while keeping his act of a logical and rational man. If there’s a teeny tiny skip to his step as he walks down the halls, well no one will ever know.
“HE SAID YES!!!”
The day of the festival, the underground hero waits outside the entrance of the festival, they agree to meet each other at the festival’s entrance. He wonders if he should have waited by the UA entrance but that would mean students giving him questioning looks. Aizawa never really cared for appearances but he’s not fooling anyone as one look at him and everyone would know the gruff and rough teacher with a marshmallow heart actually put an effort for tonight’s appearance.
He shaved, he actually wears casual clothes opting out his hero uniform for some black slacks and a simple black v-neck shirt with the sleeves folded up to his elbows. Most of all, his hair is tied up in a half ponytail with some face framing bangs left on the side untucked. He even leaves home the utility belt and the scarf, but he has his blade or two hidden on him because in no world will Aizawa leave his residence without at least one weapon on him always. So now he’s right here, opting for leaning on a lamp post waiting for the older man just outside the entrance of the festival.
Truthfully, he’s been standing here for 20 minutes not because Yagi’s late but because he’s nerves(?) excitement(?) got the better of him and made him make sure he wouldn’t let the retired hero wait for him, so now he’s the one waiting. Aizawa was never late but he’s normally never early either. He always arrives right on the dot. never a minute before or after.
Will Yagi think it weird? Will he notice?
Before Aizawa could get lost in his intrusive thoughts, a tall sunflower of a Man waves his hands at him to catch his attention. Aizawa thanks his training of always schooling his expression no matter what for not reacting when he saw how beautiful Yagi looked as he approached him. It was merely a simple navy blue yakata, with a black outer layer for the cold night breeze , but the former no.1’s hair was tied and held up as best as it can by a gold traditional pin, leaving his bangs framing his face. To Aizawa, he looked effortlessly beautiful, he always is, so he honestly shouldn’t be so surprised— he is anyways.
"Aizawa-kun, your already here. I told myself I wouldn't make you wait…” Yagi pauses and somewhat stares at hero in front of him before he blinks more than once and continues “…but I guess I still did." Yagi greets with a low shy chuckle, a palm on that long slender neck.
Snapping himself back to reality with Yagi right in front of him. "No, It’s fine. You didn't make me wait at all. I was merely early" waayyy too early. "You don't need to feel bad."
“Then I shouldn’t make you wait any longer, shall we head in? Or are we also waiting for Yamada-kun here?”
“Yama— Hizashi? He’s coming?” Aizawa suppresses an eyebrow twitch.
“Yes? I mean I know Kayama-kun can’t join us as she has patrol tonight at heights alliance, but I remembered that Yamada-kun wasn’t, and as far as I know he doesn’t have his usual patrol duty either—“
“He cancelled.” Aizawa blurts out and like a splash of cold water he realizes something…
Yagi Toshinori doesn’t see this as a date.
So before this blows up in his face he makes up an excuse. “Right, yeah almost forgot to say, he messaged saying he can’t go, had a last minute thing he needed to do for his radio show, he said.” He makes up in a so not awkward and obviously an on the spot made up excuse manner.
“Oh, well then it’s just us… I guess?”
“Does that bother you?” He asks, cowardly not looking at Yagi, afraid to be disappointed by the answer.
“Oh of course not, I’m glad I can spend the festival with a good friend like you, Aizawa.”
Ahh.
“Let’s head in then, shall we?”
Aizawa can only nod and follow
I’m a friend… well what else was I supposed to be at least he didn’t call me a colleague.
Beneath Aizawa’s ever cool facade he’s on the verge of a breakdown. Cause apparently while he spent the 1st half of his day panicking on his appearance for his date, his supposed date doesn’t even think THIS IS A DATE.
Really this could only be his fault, cause apparently one has to specify and include the actual word date and maybe specify “with romantic intention” to get it across the retired No.1 Hero that he was invited to a literal romantic date, the oblivious self sacrificing idiot.
A quick glance shows Yagi enjoying the scenery of the festival oblivious to the underground hero who’s two steps behind him, trying to inhale exhale through his frustration on the oblivious former no.1 Hero.
Okay, the day isn’t over. I can still turn this around, Yagi hasn’t rejected me (because apparently to Yagi, I haven’t asked at all).
One more deep inhale
Aizawa pulls out his phone and sends a quick text to Hizashi.
Black Cat:
“If you truly see me as your best friend since high school and wanna see me happy and finally pursue an actual relationship, then you’ll do me a favor of NOT going to the summer festival.”
Cockatoo:
“SHOUTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!”
“👍🏼👍🏼”
“I’ll be pestering you for details soon”
Black Cat:
“Soon… if it works out.”
Cockatoo:
”It will.”
And then exhale.
“Is something the matter?” Yagi asks when he spots him on the phone. He’s already holding a bitten candied apple which was coincidentally somewhat angled towards him, so he took the opportunity and bit on it as well.
“Too sweet for my taste but let’s get one for Eri as well.” Says Aizawa with the corner of his lips showing a hint of a smile.
Yagi was shocked with the other man’s actions and reacted a split second late “Ahh you’re right, Eri deserves a sweet treat after she’s done so well with her quirk training lately”
They go around the festival admiring the lights and the scenery, even trying out the games, Yagi is amazingly good at the shooting games which shouldn’t be surprising but he’s shocked all the same. Yagi’s hands are now filled with three stuffed animals (one white cat, one green bunny, and one black cat) he actually already won five but he gave away the other two to two kids he saw along the way and has decided to give Eri the other three.
“Why don’t you try as well Aizawa? It’s no fun if I’m the only one playing.”
“Sure why not, but why don’t you decide on what I’ll play”
“Oh? You wanna e challenged?”
Aizawa only shrugs.
“Game on.” Yagi looks around to check what’d be a good challenge for Aizawa and his eyes finally stop on one and points at it. “Hmmm. That one. You game?”
Aizawa follows where his finger is pointed at and grins. They make their way to the High Striker game. “If you wanted a show of strength, we could’ve sparred in the school gym you know”
“You’re stalling Aizawa, if you’re scared you can’t do it, I won’t judge. You’re the one who told me to pick.” Yagi taunts. “Plus how could you possibly spar with a retired old man like me, that wouldn’t be fair now, would it?” Yagi continues to tease.
Aizawa burst out a singular indignant laugh “Retired? Yes. Old? Sure, whatever you say. Unfair? Who are you trying to fool, All Might-san?”
“Well… I never said it would be unfair for me, you know.” Yagi says so innocently with a smile on his face.
“Okay you’re on Yagi. Do I get anything if I ring the bell on top?” Aizawa challenges.
“Okay sure, I’ll grant you whatever you want if you can do it.”
“Deal.” Aizawa pays the guy in charge and steps up to position, holds the mallet by the handle, inhales once and swings hard.
DING!!
Aizawa grins as he hears the bell and exhales. When he turns, Yagi is happily clapping for him with a proud(?) fond(?) smile on his lips like he knew Aizawa would be able to do it no questions asked.
“You knew I could do it.” Aizawa states rather than questions.
“Well it’s you.” All Might utters like it’s obvious. “Raw brute strength might not be your forte but, I’m pretty sure those toned arms you hide beneath your loose tattered long sleeved hero costume aren’t just for show, or am I wrong? and wouldn’t it be a bit embarrassing for a pro hero to not be able to do such a simple trick?” Yagi teases fondly.
“I didn’t know Mr. No.1 Hero, All Might-san noticed my toned arms” Aizawa teases back just to see the retired no.1 sport a blush and look away.
Yagi coughs, avoiding the statement all together. “Anyways…I never said you couldn’t” and then… Yagi meets his eye.
Ahh there it is again… those eyes.
Despite having to look up to actually meet Yagi’s eyes he has never actual felt small, he looks at you as an equal no matter what. Yagi has a way of making one feel seen in a way no one else does, when Yagi looks at you with those eyes it feels like floating freely in the ocean and yet there is no fear of drowning.
“Congrats Bud. Here’s your prize.” The guys in charge of the game interrupts making them fall out of whatever trance they were just in. The man holds out a stuffed yellow bunny half his size.
“Ahh… thanks.” Aizawa has no choice but to accept it.
“Well, you win. What wish am I granting?”
“Why agree to the bet if you knew I was gonna win then?”
“I was always prepared to grant you anything you wished for anyways.” Yagi merely shrugs.
Stupid fucking feelings I refuse to act like high school boy with a crush. He grabs at his collar forgetting he doesn’t have his scarf to hide the heat he feels rushing to his cheeks, so instead he turns away and coughs into his fist. Truthfully, only one Yagi Toshinori can really make him act this way.
“Hmm, I’ll cash in my wish when I think of one.” He walks back to the guy in charge and request for some string that they usually use to hang the plushies on the wall. He uses the string to tie the huge stuffed bunny on his back like a backpack. He already won it anyways might as well keep it. As he finishes keeping it secure on his waist Yagi calls his name.
“Aizawa-kun!”
And just as he looks up he sees Yagi take a picture of both of them with Yagi’s three plushies and Aizawa with his giant bunny behind him on his phone.
“I don’t mind you taking a picture but that better not get into our student’s hands or you’ll face the same consequences as mic when he thought posting a drunk pic of me on my birthday was funny.” Let’s just say no one could find Present Mic until evening when Aizawa finally let him down from the tree he was dangling from.
Yagi hands on chest, tone full of sarcasm merely replies with “Oh I wouldn’t dare.” He knows it’s hard to actually intimidate the former no.1 but having a giant stuffed bunny on his back isn’t helping either. The months of Yagi being awkward and intimidated of him are long gone, and he really doesn’t mind.
As they walk around once more they come by the food stalls area, getting hungry himself Aizawa’s about to ask what the other wants to eat but sees how Yagi has a regretful expression as he stares at the food.
“Yagi.” He calls the taller man’s attention.
“Yeah?” As soon as Yagi faces the underground hero, that wistful look on his face is gone as if it was never there.
“I’m getting hungry, why don’t you find us a place to settle while I get us some food? Here. I’ll leave him to you for now.” Aizawa asks while handing the giant plushie to the taller man.
“Oh sure, let me take him. But uhm…” Yagi hesitates which makes Aizawa look at him questioningly. “You don’t have to get me anything, I’m not all that hungry.”
As expected… Aizawa can merely sigh.
10 mins later Aizawa spots Yagi in an area with some tables and chairs. The view is endearing, Yagi seats across the giant stuffed bunny sat on a chair. Yagi has somehow positioned the three other plushies in a position as if being hugged by the giant plushie while everyone is being secured on the chair with the same string he used earlier. Best part, Yagi is staring hard with his furrowed brows at the plushies like they did him wrong, like he has questions and they’ll give him answers.
“Enjoying their company?” Aizawa tried to tease while he places the plate of Yakisoba, a baked potato, one tuna onigiri, and another plate of takoyaki on the table.
“Not as much without you.” Yagi automatically replies with a smile on his face which lags Aizawa’s brain a bit. “I’m sorry, we should’ve sat down for you to eat much earlier. I didn’t mean to make you starve.” Yagi worries as he sees the spread of food brought on the table.
“This is for the both of us.”
“Oh, I’m grateful Aizawa-kun but I can’t eat—“ Yagi tries to reject.
“Yes, you can actually, recovery girl said your diet doesn’t ban you from eating much but just to watch out for the salty and oily kinds on a regular basis” Aizawa reasons as he takes his seat in front of Yagi while slightly pushing their plushies’ chair slightly to the side. “So I asked for the Yakisoba to be lightly seasoned, the baked potato to be plain, the onigiri to not be spicy, and I’m pretty sure one or two pieces of takoyaki is fine on a day like this.”
“Recovery girl told you!?” If one can see Yagi’s brows, Aizawa is sure they’re bunched up right now.
“I asked.” Aizawa says before Yagi can become upset at sweet old recovery girl who he pestered for weeks before she spilled (Recovery girl wouldn’t have said anything at all if she didn’t want too, she knows and trusts why the underground hero is so concerned for the retired no.1. She just wanted to give Aizawa a bit of a hard time, honestly.)
“You did!?” If Aizawa was a lesser hero and didn’t know who was in front of him he may have been intimidated by how Yagi’s voice turned stern and low. He’s learned by observation that Yagi, who’s had to keep a lot of secrets through his life is sensitive when it comes to his privacy so the reaction isn’t shocking in any way but it also doesn’t take away the reminder that the man in front of him is the same person who held the title of “Symbol of Peace” and “No. 1 Hero” for decades. Of course, the idea that that same man of title would hurt him is non-existent.
Still wouldn’t be good to upset him though, so he explains. No lies. “Not about the specifics, nothing about your injury either… just the need to know parts. Like your diet, and your medication schedule, mainly just to make sure you took them on time. I didn’t ask what it is or what it’s for unless it’s the type one needs to look out for, the type you should be taking based on the situation -like pain meds. I didn’t and wont ask about what they are either, that’s between you and your doctors. Don’t be mad at Recovery girl, she really didn’t disclose details about your injury, she just told me what to look out for. I apologize if you feel like I— No— I did invade your privacy but—”
“Why? why go through the trouble?”
“Because you don’t eat… and we see the days where your coughing gets worse, you know. Everyone— I worry about you. I know it might seem like I’m crossing boundaries, but you are the one who told Midoriya that it is a Hero’s job to meddle, last I check my hero license is still pretty valid.”
Yagi chuckles. “Using my own teachings against me. I’d be a fool to go against you. But still, you—”
“You owe me a wish right? Well now I’m cashing it in. So eat with me?” Aizawa holds out a piece of takoyaki in front Yagi’s mouth.
Yagi eyes the takoyaki offered to him and then Aizawa and then back at the takoyaki, his eyes flitting back and forth as if what the latter isn’t a mere piece of takoyaki as if searching for an answer to his own questions. It shows in his bold blue eyes, all the years of believing that he’s not worth it… that no one else cares enough to learn his needs or make the effort for those needs, so until Yagi can see with his own eyes that he’s wrong Aizawa meets those blue irises head on with his yellow ones. Aizawa doesn’t know if he Yagi finds what he’s looking for but takes it as a win anyway when the former no.1 sighs and finally takes a bite of the takoyaki.
They keep up conversation as they eat or even as they finish eating but aren’t quite ready to stand back up yet. Conversation was natural, there’s pauses but none were awkward. They talk and talk about anything and everything, small stories from the past, experiences as heroes, debating what should’ve been done in a situation instead, arguments about the hero society— sometimes they agree with each other some they let it come to a truce, and of course they circle back to UA and the students.
It’s easy, Aizawa muses, somehow it’s always been easy to just relax and let the tenseness in his shoulders ease a little when with Yagi. He’s wary of his surroundings and his senses are still on alert for any trouble that may happen but thats the usual for all pros, there is no turning off the routine check of surroundings and fastest exits, thats drilled into all of them like muscle memory— even Yagi is the same despite being retired. Yet with Yagi, there’s a sense of security, not one that makes him let his guard down but instead one where he makes it feel like you’re never alone and he’ll always have your back.
All Might was always an image of reassurance for both civilians and co-heroes alike. Having him there meant everything was gonna turn out alright in the end. At some point though after learning of the former no.1’s two forms the more experienced teacher has associated the bulk to mean there’s a fight to be ready for while the leaner form meant a sense of peace and normalcy. Ironic isn’t it? Decades of that huge form being the symbol of peace yet what calms Aizawa’s mind from a fighting stance is Yagi Toshinori’s smaller form.
They came around to talking about the 1st years’ finals last semester and how Aizawa most definitely took it easy on some of the students’ practicals.
“Your’re always too kind Aizawa-kun”
“I’m really not—“
“Aizawa-san? Oh my, it is you!” A sudden voice from behind the black haired teacher called out disrupting the earlier conversation.
The voice comes from a middle aged tall red haired man and when he faces the owner of the voice Aizawa recognizes who it is that is coming up to them. “Ahh Kotaro-san, right?”
“You remember me, that’s good it would’ve been embarrassing for me if you hadn’t, after all we did go on that date together.” The man now remembered as Kotaro.
“Date?” Yagi voice slips as if he hadn’t meant to ask out loud.
“Oh my bad was I interrupting your…” the red haired individual doesn’t finish his question, doesn’t label it as a date as if it would be impossible that someone like Aizawa could be on a date with someone like Yagi. And just as the underground pro-hero wanted to say ‘yes, this is a date and yes, he is interrupting’, Yagi answers too quickly to Aizawa’s disappointment.
“Oh no, no, no.” was three NOs really necessary. “We’re just two friends enjoying the nice summer festival.” friends. right sure… “Actually, we’re just colleagues enjoying a bit of the long summer weekend” now that hurts like a twisted blade to the gut.
“I see, then would it be okay to sit with you guys, i’m actually with some friends but they haven’t arrived yet so i have to wait for them” ‘Kotaro’ was already moving to remove their plushies to take that seat. Aizawa starts seething inside and wants to say no and tell him to shoo off where he came from but again Yagi beats him to it and unimaginably it gets worse.
“Oh actually here take my seat, I wanted to actually get a drink for myself anyways” Yagi already standing and ‘Kotaro’ no shame whatsoever takes the seat. “You guys want anything?”
Before he can even get a word in the guy who replaced Yagi in his seat already answers with an “Nope, we’re good.” not even bothering to look at Yagi and sweet, kind, always so damn polite respectful Yagi merely smiles and nods.
So Yagi leaves, too quickly, before Aizawa’s brain can stop from lagging like an old computer that when his own mind finally catches up to what the hell just happened, Yagi is no longer within his eyesight which is weird cause the drink stalls are right there and should be completely visible from where he is.
“Wasn’t that a great save, pro hero-san?” The red haired breathes out all smug and proud of himself
“What?” He glares not even trying to school his expression, if this man has the nerve to interrupt his date with Yagi then he deserves the consequences of his ire.
“What’s with the eyes? I just saved you from that old guy right there, didn’t I?”
“Saved me?”
“Yeah, it must’ve been annoying to be going around the festival with that guy, right? Gosh, he looks like one push and he’ll tip over, am I right?”
“Shut up”
“Huh?”
“I’m telling you to stop speaking, the mere fact that you can’t understand shouldn’t surprise me when you can’t even read the situation around you. I was a little out of it earlier because my date was all of sudden trying to get away because you scared him off, but to clarify YES. This is a date” even if Toshinori doesn’t know it yet “and you ARE a very annoying interruption.”
“You’re kidding right? You’re telling me you actually like that guy? If you’re embarrassed or trying to look kind because I saw you with him you really don’t have to.”
“Didn’t I tell you to shut up? There was no saving happening here, what this is, is you interrupting a nice time with someone I actually like spending time with unlike whatever ‘date’ you believe we had. So while I’m asking nicely GET. OUT. of my date’s seat, it’s taken.”
“Tch, and here I was trying to be nice” the red haired humphs while whispering under his breath.
Aizawa ignores him in favor of calling his previous company’s phone.
click.
“Where are you?”
“Oh Aizawa, i told you, just around buying drinks?”
“Where are you?”
“Uhm…”
“Tell me where you are.”
“By the shooting games”
“Don’t move.” And the underground hero sprints.
“Why’d you leave?” Aizawa finally spots and catches up to Yagi as he grabs his arm, trying to catch his breath more from the adrenaline of his frustrations than the running.
“Oh. well, didn't you want to catch up with him?” Yagi reasons as if it was plain and simple. It’s quite not.
Aizawa looks at him with frustration and confusion. “Why would I want to do that?”
inhale, exhale
“You said you two went out on a date.” Yagi answers as if it solves the greatest mysteries.
“Yes, Nemuri set me up on a blind date with him like a month ago.”
inhale
“Yes, then shouldn't you want to catch up?” Yagi becomes confused of their situation.
“Yagi.” Aizawa utters his name the same way he does with his students when they’ve done something and he wants to avoid losing all his patience.
exhale
“Aizawa...-kun? Have I said something wrong?” The well experienced but rather oblivious ex-hero asks with slight tilt of the head.s
“That blind date was a month ago, if I wanted to go on a second date with him that would have happened a month ago. If I wanted to be dating him I wouldn't be here right now. If I wanted something out of a person I barely even remembered I wouldn't be here… with YOU.”
“Why are you here with me? No actually, don't answer that.”before Aizawa could speak the older man adds, “He seemed like a nice person. Why didn't a second meeting ever happen?”
Aizawa takes in a breath ”Because if there was one thing I remember about that date is that throughout it, all that was on my mind was a certain blond idiot who now wants to leave me with another man while we were on OUR date-“
“Date? This is a date?”
“IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, but then you start spewing stuff about how it’s nice to spend the festival out with a FRIEND. Friend this, friend that. —“ and without releasing a breath Aizawa starts to spiral letting out all his frustrations.
“Uhm-”
“You and your oblivious head apparently doesn’t think I asked you out on a date, because one CLEARLY sees me as the type of the person who invites FRIENDS.— “
“Aizawa-kun…”
“You KNOW my friends, I don’t invite them to anything, they drag me with them whether it be against my will,—“
“Aizawa—”
“—then again maybe it was MY fault for not clarifying. But HEY, the night’s not over and you were still there so I thought that maybe I could still turn things around and finally tell you how for months I’ve been crushing on you because of ANNOYING STUPID FEELINGS that would not and will not go away. But then you run the moment another man approaches me.”
“Crush? Feelings?” Yagi utters even unbelieving of his own ears.
Wide eyed, Aizawa finally realizes what he just blurted out. “SHIT, shit, shit, shit, FUCKING SHIT. This is your fault, Toshinori. AGHHHHHHH!!! This was NOT how it was supposed to go. SEE! this is what you do to me I am a logical and rational man who is calm and level-headed even when I was against the League of Villains, suddenly all that goes out the fucking window just cause YOU’RE near.”
“My fault? O-kay then how was it supposed to go?”
“I DON’T KNOW! But not like this, Not with me just blurting it all out, God knows how much of a romantic you are and I don’t believe anyone could describe this as romantic.” The younger hero tries to catch his breath. He leans his forehead on Yagi’s chest and with a calmer voice he adds. “ I wanted to take you somewhere quiet with a beautiful view of the night sky where we could watch the fireworks. I wanted to hold your hand. I wanted to look you in the eyes and tell you how beautiful they are— how beautiful YOU are. And then finally tell you how much I care for you Yagi Toshinori. Tell you how I’d be yours and I wan’t to stay by your side if you’ll have me.”
Yagi breathes the underground hero’s name so soft like a prayer. “Shouta, would you look at me, please.” Shouta finally looks up and meets Toshinori’s gaze. A gaze that searches for lies beneath the other’s words, but could only see truth. So he questions reality. “You’re telling the truth?”
Aizawa couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “After all I just blurted out, you can still ask that? I don’t lie, Yagi, not when there’s no purpose behind it.”
“I know that, but I also have self-image issues so when the person who you’ve been trying to conceal your feelings for since last year suddenly tells you they feel the same way your first instinct is to doubt it. Cause your afraid that all this is a dream and the next moment you wake and all this vanishes. Shouta, you have no idea how much I’ve dreamed of this only to wake up in disappointment.”
Aizawa’s expression turns soft, “This is real, Yagi-san. I’m real. These feeling even more so.” He reassures the retired hero.”Like how you’ve always reassured people with your presence—” Aizawa with one hand holds one of Yagi’s hands guides it to his heart while the other hand cups the latter’s cheek and says ”I assure you, I am Here” He says it so genuinely that the retired symbol of peace can only melt.
Yagi leans onto the touch as a drop of tear falls from his eyes which the other softly wipes away.
“I’m old, injured, and my medicine cabinet can pass for a pharmacy, and that’s just the physical mess, is this really what you want?”
“YOU are what I want and whatever baggage you think you come with can come along, because I want all of it, so show me everything you got”
“So what does this mean?”
“It could mean anything you want… actually no. I’ve learned my lesson, with you I have the need to specify.” Aizawa scoffs “The label can come later, but let me clarify… we are NOT just friends or just colleagues now. I wish to be yours, which means from this moment on everything I do for you or with you is me trying to win your affection.” Aizawa rests his forehead on Yagi’s chest where his heart should be.
“And if I say you’ve already won it? My ‘affections’?”
“If I have done so, then so be it. That doesn’t mean I’ll just stop…” Aizawa looks up to meet Yagi’s blue eyes. “I’ve told you… I’m not kind Toshinori, I’m selfish. If you say I’m yours and you mine then I will spend every waking hour making sure you don’t change your mind.”
“And you say you’re no romantic”
“Well I guess you’ve rubbed off on me”
After a few minutes of just breathing together, they go back to their table where their plushie children were waiting for them to watch the fireworks all while hands are entangled sitting side by side.
And if they share a goodnight kiss before they separate for the night, only they need know.
(and maybe Yamada cause Aizawa promised details).
Bonus:
“I did… at some point, think that maybe it was a date. But then it felt impossible in my case so I brushed it off.”
“Tchh… and they call me blunt… guess I just have to be more direct with you, don’t I?”