Under pressure

Chapter 17

After another lecture from recovery girl, she was sent on her way with a few bandages, off to wait for the next match to begin, when she bumped into the boy who could just not seem to leave her mind, Todoroki.

Her mind blanked for a second, her heart swelled for only a moment, barely even noticeable to her, but inevitably she knew what it meant.

"Hey Todoroki"

He looked at her, glancing at her bandages wrapped up her arm, the ones on her hands, and lastly, the one on her cheek. He glanced at her eyes and seemed to ponder for a moment,

'Is he okay?'

But (Y/n) didn't dare to say a word and she just observed him, finally, he ever so slightly brushed the back of his hand against the back of hers, and reversly intertwined their fingers so lightly that even the slightest movement would break the contact. So when he began to walk away she mindlessly followed him.

From right now to the semifinals was about half an hour, and up until the last minutes he could, Todoroki planned to spend with (Y/n).

They walked down the hallway where she was planned to enter the arena in hope to avoid endeavor, and managed to find a secluded little corner.

"Im sorry"

She glanced up at him and made eye contact with the boy, but refused to let go of his hand.

"Why?"

He thought about it, trying to decide the best words to use in this situation.

"For keeping you in the dark about so many things, I-"

He took a deep breath, not being able to bare looking into her eyes.

"I just wish I was the one to tell you about this, everything, instead you had to find out other ways and for that, I apologize"

She looked at him, and breathed a sigh of relief and released a smile. She adjusted her hand to be properly holding his and began to speak softly to him, an eminent raspy time in her voice from the previous fight, but it was the most comforting sound he had ever listened to.

"Hey, there is no reason for you to be apologizing, if any thing the universe should be saying sorry to you"

He tilted his head down, slightly embarrassed for whatever reason. He glanced at the floor, finding comfort in its unmoving state when his heart caught in his throat when (Y/n) cupped his cheek softly and he gazed at her. Her smile was as sweet as honey and voice as soothing as lavender he listened to both her, and his heart for which he could hear.

"I would imagine that it feels quite violating to have your secrets shared like that, and I'm sorry that it happened like that. You deserve your own privacy, and above all else, don't feel like you need some grand gesture to tell me things"

She stroked his cheek with her thumb before continuing.

"Im not offended in any way for you not telling me about who your father is or your fire, you were under no obligation to tell me in the first place, so finding out this way, to be honest I feel bad for knowing"

With that last line she tilted her head and let out a small laugh to try and reassure him, it seemed to work and she felt a small pressure on her hand when he leaned into her touch.

"You're so important to me Todoroki, and you don't need to tell me anything you don't want to. We have all the time in the world, and Im willing to wait and then to listen if or when you are ready, okay?"

She saw him break out into a smile and his eyes crinkled so slightly at her words, he squeezed her hand and she was expecting him to say a quick "okay" or even a nod, but instead he decided to make her heart sore.

"It's Shoto... to you"

He really is beautiful.

"Alright, Shoto it is then"

He looked in her eyes and felt more content than he had ever been, he could have kissed her right there.

He could have looked up at the clock to check the time but her eyes were much more intriguing. He could have continued to hold her hand but her waist seemed a far better place to rest his hand on. He could have continued to lean into her palm but opted to break the contact, putting her jaw into his other hand, leaning in, and giving her a gentle peck on the forehead. A return to the affection given earlier in the day.

When he pulled back, he looked directly into her eyes, the eyes that in a few minutes would be starting at him cockily, in the middle of the arena.

All thoughts of comforting the other were gone, and we're instead filled with battle moves they were going to use to beat the person a cross from them.

"No holding back Shoto"

"I wouldn't dream of it (Y/n)"