❛ 14 ─── EX. ༉‧₊˚✧

" PLEASE- STOP APOLOGIZING. "

ᝰ

"i'm not doing this."

"yes you are. we both are." todoroki rolled his eyes, typing on his phone with a frown set on his face. it'd been two days since his conversation with izuku- and true to his word, he was giving both you and todoroki your space.

which only made it harder to have this conversation. he genuinely believed he did something wrong- and it made todoroki's skin crawl and heart ache with an undescribable amount of pain and guilt.

"this should be a private conversation," you groaned, looking over todoroki's shoulder. "you know? from bro to bro? a best friend thing, why the fuck do i have to be here-"

"l/n," todoroki sighed in irritation, setting his phone aside, "you know why you have to be here. you can sleep with whoever you want, i understand that. but right now, we're talking about the situation and trying to set things right with our friend."

you stared at him for a second. eyes slightly narrowing as if wanting to counter his words. you couldn't. you settled for sighing and cooperating, "okay, sorry- i'm sorry," you shifted, "did he reply yet?"

you were just as nervous as todoroki. if not, more nervous. izuku was the kindest person you knew. upsetting him and imagining him being upset with you was just... not a good feeling.

you didn't want to deal with that.

todoroki looked back at his phone and shook his head, "no... he hasn't read it yet, either. he's probably studying- his phone distracts him, so he just plays music and only keeps his notifications from all might on."

"he used to keep his notifications from me on, too." you said quietly with a small smile before quickly reaching over and entwining your fingers with his, "todoroki. i understand how you're feeling- at least a little. it's gonna be okay...? i think... maybe. i don't know..."

it was your attempt at comforting him. something you weren't very good at. clearly. todoroki seemed to understand your efforts, however.

he swallowed and gave you a soft nod, before looking down at his phone. "he may be really set on giving us our space... i think we'll just... corner him and tell him tomorrow?"

you nodded, "yeah... he gets like this, so we'll have to force him to hear us out." you sat up straighter and moved closer to todoroki as a sudden thought- or urge, rather, intruded your thoughts. "hey. can i kiss you right now?" at todoroki's expression, you laughed and shook your head, "not for like... sex or anything. i just... i want to kiss you. and you don't have to, i just..."

todoroki lifted a hand to caress the side of your face, pressing his lips to yours, softer than all previous times the two of you have kissed. you could feel him frown against your face, like he was conflicted, lips moving slowly and carefully, as if savouring the moment.

a lot of times, you felt like touch and intimacy was one of the best ways to comfort and feel comforted. hugging, touching, skin... your fingers reached up to tug in his loose hairs. he pulled you closer, fingers pressing into your waist-

and then, you both were quickly pulling away at the sound of todoroki's door opening.

todoroki took one glance in the direction of the noise and his heart stopped, locking his eyes with midoriya, who let out a quiet "oh," and quickly shut the door.

todoroki stood from the bed, swinging his door open just in time to grab midoriya's wrist before he could get away, "izuku-"

"i-i'm sorry for interrupting," midoriya said, back facing todoroki, shoulders shaking. "i'm sorry, when you didn't answer my text, i just came over and i knocked, but i was so scared i guess it was quiet and you didn't hear me, but i just walked in and i didn't mean to, i should've just waited for confirmation or knocked again i'm sorry-"

"izuku, please- stop apologizing," todoroki bit his lip, tightening his hold on midoriya. he wasn't the one who should be apologizing. "please... turn around so we can talk about... about eveything. it's- why i texted you in the first place, i should be apologizing. so just-"

midoriya took a breath and shook his head, "n-no... i don't want to."

"izuku-"

"i said no," midoriya snatched himself away from todoroki, finally facing him with his messy, flushed face. his lashes were wet, face stained and lips quivering. he shook his head, "i-i don't want to talk to you, okay? can you please take a second to understand what i'm feeling right now? please just- just stop and think about the situation, considering everything, and tell me if you think i want to have a conversation with you right now. tell me."

todoroki took a step back, "you don't."

"i don't." midoriya's breath stuttered and he choked on a cry, more tears wetting his red cheeks. "leave me alone for a moment. let me breathe before you try to shove whatever explanation you have for this down my throat." midoriya closed his eyes like what he said pained him. "i'm sorry, i didn't mean to be mean about it. shouto, i- i promise i'll listen to what you have to say with an open mind. just... just not right now, okay?"

todoroki nodded silently, chewing on his bottom lip as he watched midoriya turn the hall in a rush to his room.

that was very anticlimactic.