Caged Bird - BNHA Band AU

[6]

- feel free to listen to the music while you read-

Izuku's eyes peeled open, sunlight causing the boy to close them immediately after. He groaned, rolling onto his stomach before snuggling into the nice warm covers. The cold air of the morning was completely different to where he used to live, although he only lived a few hours away, you'd be amazed at the temperature difference.

A light knock on his door grabbed his attention, "mmmm... what?" He asked sleepily, stumbling over to the door and opening it to show Todoroki. "Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you wanted to go out and eat breakfast, the others didn't want to join me," milk brand boy asked, his eyes filled with an unmistakeable look of hunger and eagerness. "I'm broke," Izuku stated simply before closing the door, but opening it again when another knock sounded. "What?" He said, a slight hint of annoyance, "I can pay for you, I don't want to go alone.." the boy trailed off, a slight hint of desperation filled his expression. Izuku face palmed, "I won't let you do that," he said, beginning to close the door, but sighing as Todoroki stopped it with his hand. "Please come with me, I'm hungry and don't want to cook," he complained, Izuku had no idea Todoroki could be so childish, 'must be an 'I'm hungry' thing,' he thought to himself. "Fine fine, but make sure it's a cheap place, I don't wanna have to pay back over 100 dollars," Izuku gave in, todoroki bowed slightly before heading off to his room, presumably to change.

It was an awkward walk, being out this early was uncommon, so not many people roamed the streets. Although it was peaceful, Izuku regretted not bringing his earplugs, wishing for something, anything to break the silence between the two teens. "Thank you for coming with me," Todoroki sighed to himself, "I start acting like an aloof moron when I'm hungry..." he trailed off, looking down with shame. "And I act like a butthead, we all have our moments," izuku try's to reassure Todoroki, he wasn't sure whether it was working or not due to todoroki's blank expression. "It seems that Bakugo's whole life has been his moment," Izuku laughed at the joke, knowing full well they'd be blown to smithereens if Bakugo had heard him. "He's just angry all the time and I still don't quite understand what's wrong," Todoroki started, "I've asked multiple times, but he'd never tell me what made him angry in the first place." I shrugged, if Todoroki didn't understand Bakugo, than I don't think I will either, "he sure is a roller coaster of pure chaos, would it make him angry if I called him a nickname?" Izuku questioned aloud. Todoroki chuckled evily, "yes, I'm sure it would," both boys spent the rest of the walk brainstorming nicknames for the angry blonde.

"Oh, I got it! Kacchan!" Izuku shouted triumphantly, looking over to see todoroki's expression, which was an evil glare. "We're here," Todoroki pointed to a black and gold shop, the sign read 'Cafe Dobutsu'. Izuku turned to Todoroki, "are you sure, this place looks expensive..." Izuku's eyes were glued to the swirly design of the gold, "don't worry, I love making my father bankrupt," he said a certain glimmer in his eye as he opened the door for the greenette. "I don't know if that's a good thing-" Izuku was cut off by a squeal, making him turn to face a brown haired girl with pink rosey cheeks. "Uh, hello," Izuku greeted hesitantly, he reached his hand out for a hand shake. The girl looked at his hand, then back up at the boy, she took Izuku's hand before pulling him into a tight hug. "Hi! I'm Ochako Uraraka, did you know your freckles are the cutest things and holy crap, your eyes, they're like staring into a forest, hold on a second!" The girl ran off into the back area, to which I assumed was a kitchen. "Iida come look at this- no it isn't another stray- What!? No it isn't a cosplayer again- just shut up and come look!" The girl ran back out, dragging a tall blue haired man out with her.

"Good morning, my name is Iida, Tenya Iida, and you are?" The man- Iida asked. "Hi, I'm Izuku Midoriya and this is Shoto Todoroki!" He said with a bright smile, he whispered something to Uraraka, which made her giggle, "are you two dating?" She asked mischievously, making the poor green haired boy blush, "n-no, we're f-roommates!" Izuku stuttered out, still hesitant to call his roommates his freidnds in case they didn't want to be. "It's nice to meet you, Uraraka, Iida, as Midoriya said, my name is Shoto Todoroki," he started, "I've heard great things about this place, they said you had cats."

Izuku sat at the table they were placed at, twiddling his thumbs nervously as he watched a cat climb into Todoroki's lap. A different variety of animals wandered the store, some in pens, like the puppies in the corner, and others in tanks, like the fish and snakes that filled the spaces in the wall. There were three birds flying around, which made Izuku notice the wooden perches and small houses hanging down from the ceiling. He watched as a small yellow bird flew around his head before landing on his shoulder, making the shorter boy giggle. The bird chirped a few times before waddling around his shoulder and climbing onto his head, it fluffed up and hid inside the boy's curly green hair.

"I like it here, the animals are friendly and hand reared," todoroki explained, petting the black and white cat in his lap. "It's also owned by two friends, so I get a discount," Izuku smiled, watching the animals run around, "it seems like a lot to keep check of..." he mumbled to himself, Todoroki nodded, "they get really busy during lunch, that's why I'd rather visit for breakfast." Izuku looked up from his menu, "why didn't anyone want to go with you?" Todoroki shrugged, "they end up feeling guilty afterwards, last time we went here, I payed for the whole groups meal, now they're scared to join me..?" He looked down at the cat, his answer sounded more like a question, as if he weren't sure wether it was right or not.

"Hey you two! Are you ready to order?" The brunette asked, popping out of nowhere. "I'll have what I usually get, what would you like midoriya?" Izuku looked back down at the menu thoughtfully, mumbling the health benefits of each dish. "Could I get the safari waffles?" He looked up at Todoroki, "you can get any thing you want, my dad won't mind," Izuku looked up at the girl holding a note pad, "then I'll get the safari waffles please."

Uraraka had gone back into the kitchen, leaving the two boys in a peaceful silence. "So, midoriya, do you remember the conversation we had about why you moved into an apartment?" Izuku nodded, the memory of Kirishima, Todoroki and himself sitting on the bed, Izuku explaining his home and family life. "Well I think it's only fair I tell you why I moved in with the others." Izuku smiled reassuringly at the taller boy, "you don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable," todoroki stared into Izuku's green eyes, nodding his head, "I want to tell you though," the smaller boy smiled brighter as Todoroki took a deep breath. "My dad is the number two hero, he also took over that one music company... what's it called... river industries, I think, he wants me to become the number one hero and take over the company," Todoroki snuck a glance at the green haired boy, who had a glimmer of excitement, "to be honest, I've never had that big of an interest in hero's, and I don't want to play the violin like my father wishes, I want to enjoy myself, play the guitar instead." Izuku's bright smile ever so slightly faltered, he gave a comforting grin and nodded for him to continue, "my father became abusive, well, more abusive than usual, my mother was sent to a mental hospital because she poured boiling water on my face, I knew I had to get away from him, so here I am... I guess," Todoroki looked up to meet teary eyes. "Oh I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" Izuku shook his head, wiping the few tears that had fell, "no, no, ofcourse not, I just get very emotional sometimes," Todoroki nodded in understanding. "I'm glad you felt you could trust me, thank you Todoroki."

"Todoroki, midoriya, your food is here," Iida casually placed the plates on the table, exchanging a smile before retreating back into the kitchen. "Let's finish eating before this place gets crowded," Izuku suggests, receiving a nod from the taller boy.