Checkmate (ShinDeku)

22

The past week had been indescribable in all the ways that mattered. 

He could try to recall all the little moments, the spare looks, and stolen smiles. The way Hitoshi would "stumble across" Izuku's apartment building after Tsu had left. Every second was different and complicated, something even Izuku couldn't put into words. 

And now, with the evening sun filtering through the curtains, a golden glow splashing across half of Hitoshi's jaw and eye, it was ineffable. He looked ironically angelic, like nothing but that light could touch him. 

Except for Izuku.

Izuku was far better than any light.

He walked over, wrapping his arms around Hitoshi's waist in the way he'd always wanted to but couldn't with the invisible barrier of friendship being broken. He smiled, pressing himself closer and placing the side of his face on his chest, he could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady.

"If you keep breaking into my apartment like this I'm gonna have to get new locks," Izuku warned, tone light and joking. This hadn't been the first time Hitoshi had magically appeared in his apartment, not that he minded, their stolen time together was the thing he looked forward to most.

The steady thrums of Hitoshi's heart sped up as Izuku spoke. 

"Don't worry," Izuku laughed softly, "It will be the frail kind that are really easy to break."

Strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him impossibly closer. It might have been unnerving once, to know the strength of that hold. But now it just felt safe. 

"I love the sound of your voice," Hitoshi murmured, low and barely loud enough for Izuku to hear.

Who didn't love Izuku's voice? Or Izuku for that matter? Well, Shigaraki probably didn't....or the entire commission....and the whole Tokoyami actually liking any of them was still under review. Their loss, Izuku was a fucking joy to be around. 

He pushed away from Hitoshi gently, rolling his eyes, "Don't go all Hallmark Romance on me now," Izuku warned, waving his finger disapprovingly. 

"A Disney Romance then?" Hitoshi offered, leaning back on the counter in such a casual manner you would think it was his apartment and not Izuku's that he'd just snuck into. Lavender eyes glimmered, impossibly bright, they almost didn't seem real.

Izuku snorted. "Yeah, we're a real Disney couple. Singing songs about our feelings and talking to woodland creatures." Although the idea of I-must-be-in-charge-of-everything-always Hitoshi asking a nearby squirrel which way his true love went was something Izuku wouldn't mind seeing. Scratch that- he'd pay good money to see that.

Hitoshi surveyed him, stare blazing as he looked him up and down. It was as if Izuku could feel the intensity of it on his skin, tingles rising wherever Hitoshi looked.

"Now that I think about it, maybe it would be best if we held off on anything where a wicked witch could take you or there was any possible way for you to get yourself into trouble," Hitoshi stated casually, his lips turning up in a crooked smile.

"I would not be defeated so easily," Izuku defended, crossing his arms over his chest. He knew the gesture was childish but it was hard to hold himself back when his honor was coming into question. "I would be the best damn prince Disney ever had."

"Oh really?" Hitoshi challenged, his eyes glinting dangerously. He took a confident step forward, forcing Izuku back. 

The action should have reminded Izuku of before, of when trust and love didn't go hand in hand. But Izuku had stopped thinking of Hitoshi as the villain long before their reunion. Something in all the little moments had come together to form something big, something that couldn't be broken between them.