Adrenaline

Chapter 7// Friends

Izuku ran from place to place, reminiscing about his childhood. Shoto couldn't help but crack a smile at Izuku's antics. Finally Izuku got to a place beside the swings, and his smile dropped. His eyes darkened, before he got a brilliant idea.

"We should go to my and Kacchan's secret base!" Izuku threw his arms into the air, his smile brightened. Shoto couldn't refuse. Izuku practically ran there, Shoto dragging behind.

Both of them crawled into the hideout, in reality it was just a tree whose bushes circled all around it, you just had to push the leaves aside and it was hollow inside, save for a few branches. There was All Might merchandise everywhere, a shovel, gloves, and an old phone.

"Wooah it looks just like we left it!" Izuku sat in awe. Shoto smiled at how Izuku's hair blended into the tree's leaves. Shoto made himself comfortable, his hand brushing against a book. He reached for it, and read the cover. Notes for the future book no.1 in messy hiragana. Izuku looked back, seeing the book. "There it is!" Izuku found a place near Shoto to sit, and he flipped open the book.

All Might
Quirk seems to be a power enhancer, 7'3" never seen in public outside of hero form
-if he works out, would he be more powerful or is the quirk his max strength?
-what is his actual power?
-What would happen if he lost his power?

"Ehhh that's so embarrassing!" Izuku covered his face. "From the messy grammar and the amount of questions!" Izuku muttered through his arms. Shoto stared at Izuku, he took notes on heroes?

"Deku?" A gruff voice came from outside the tree. Izuku froze, it can't be... he'd never come here. The person's footsteps sounded, and they were getting closer.

"Todoroki, sorry to cut this short, you need to go." Izuku whispered, hoping to whatever God there is that Katsuki didn't hear him. Shoto just sat confused. "Come here, there's another exit in the back." Izuku shifted to the opposite of where he heard the footsteps, they were gone now.

Izuku crawled through the opening, once fully out of the hideout he helped Shoto get to his feet. Izuku couldn't face Katsuki, not now. Not with someone he deemed a friend, what would Shoto think of him if he saw how weak and powerless he was?

"Let's go." Izuku pulled Shoto to his feet, kept a hold of Todoroki's sleeve. "Kacchan wi-"

"I'll what?" Katsuki walked around the tree. "Find you?" Katsuki barked out. Izuku froze, and Shoto just stared.

"Kach-" Izuku started off, he didn't know how to start this. The atmosphere was awkward. Katsuki grabbed Izuku, dragging him off into an alley.

"What the fuck?!" Katsuki shouted. "You- you ffucker!" Katsuki dragged out the word, as if he wasn't sure he was supposed to say it. In reality Katsuki wanted to thank Izuku for helping him in need, but his anger and pride got in the way. And Izuku was avoiding him, how else was he supposed to react?

"I didn't mean to- I" Izuku stuttered out an explanation, but without knowing what he did wrong it made apologizing harder. Katsuki shoved izuku's head into the wall.

"Just. . . shut up." Katsuki huffed out. Izuku knew as soon as Katsuki spoke, Katsuki's emotions conflicted, Katsuki was confused. Izuku didn't know what to do. Izuku looked back at Shoto.

"I... need to go. Sorry Kacchan." Izuku drawed his sentence out, not sure if it was the right thing to say. With that, Izuku ran to Shoto and they both walked out of the park. Katsuki was left standing there.

Why? Why am I chasing after you now?

---

"Sorry Todoroki, I didn't realize Kacchan would be there." Izuku sighed out, the gloomy expression not resting well on his usual smiling face. "Well, I should get home. Goodbye!" Izuku almost ran away then and there, but he stopped mid jog.

Izuku turned, ran back, his phone in hand this whole time. "Uh can I get your number, just in case you ever uh- wanna hang out again!" Shoto took Izuku's phone, and punched his number in. "Wahh! Thank you!" Izuku teared up, he felt happy.

Izuku wiped his eyes with his sleeve, Shoto patted Izuku's back after a few seconds. Izuku put a hand out. "I'm fine, thank you Todoroki." Izuku choked out. "Thank you." Izuku repeated, almost as if not believing this was true.

"You- you can call me Shoto." Shoto looked away, embarrassed. "I've never liked my last name anywa-" Shoto was engulfed in a hug. It made him feel uncomfortable, but if it made Izuku feel better he'd put up with it. Izuku on the other hand, a hug smothered him in warmth. Not the burning kind either, not the kind of warmth that hurts.

"You can call me Izuku." Izuku muttered into Shoto's shoulder. It was a second later that Izuku realized how stiff Shoto was. Izuku quickly let go of him and jumped back. "Sorry, I didn't-" Izuku stuttered out. "I uh- I'm very clingy." Shoto couldn't judge Izuku, he found with his family he was clingy too. He clung to people's arms or would grab onto their sleeves. He never figured out if it was because he was abandoned by his mom and brother. Rei thinks he has abandonment issues. But hugs were out of the question, they suffocated him, patronized him.

"Shoto..." Izuku had a slight smile that rested on his face, a glossy trail followed the path his tears took. But no more tears flooded his eyes. "Thank you." Shoto smirked, and they both parted ways.

---

One Shoto got home a light buzz came from his jacket pocket. He fished out his phone, and looked at the notification.

Unknown
000-000-0000

Hey Shoto! It's me Izuku :p

Shoto couldn't help but smile. His first friend, the only person he had in his contacts that isn't for protection business or his family. Shoto opened his keyboard.

You
Hello Izuku. :)

Shoto shoved his phone in his pocket, going to greet Rei and Natsuo. As soon as he walked into the kitchen Rei patted him on the head.

"My baby bro finally got a friend?" She pondered. "You came home late, and as soon as you got home you texted them." Rei smiled, clearing Shoto's questions up. Shoto flushed, had he been so obvious? His guard was down, he was inattentive because of his glee.

"Come sit down, let's talk." Rei grabbed the soba, setting it on the dinner table.

///
These chapters were abouut developing relationships between both Shoto and Izuku. Next chapter will get into more vigilante deku, sorry for the delay in uploads!