Friday February 14, 2020 7:17 pm

Todoroki and Midoriya made their way to catch the train, ice cream in hand. As Midoriya devoured his cone, he caught Todoroki looking at him from the corner of his eye and suddenly felt self-conscious. He stopped eating and gave Todoroki a half-smile, "I may have gotten carried away."

Todoroki gave him a full smile in return, "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I've enjoyed everything tonight so far, "Midoriya admitted.

"As have I," Todoroki stated before looking down at his hands.

Midoriya found that the closer they got to the train, the less he wanted to continue on to the arcade. He wanted to find a quiet place where he could talk to Todoroki and take in everything that he could. He didn't know why, but when he found something interesting he always felt the need to study it. He wanted to know every last detail that he could about it and he would get almost obsessive until he felt satisfied that he got enough information, "Is it okay if I changed my mind about the arcade?"

Todoroki stopped walking, his ice cream now gone and his hands in his pockets, "You don't want to finish the date?"

Midoriya snapped around, "That's not what I meant! Of course I want to finish the date! I just don't want to go to the arcade! I should have been more clear! I'm so sorry!"

"I see," Todoroki stated as he let out a sigh. "What else did you have in mind?"

"Uh… I'm not sure. I just know that I've liked talking to you and if we go to the arcade we won't get to do that as much." He became quiet for only a few seconds, "I was hoping you would have an idea."

"So you want to be alone?" Todoroki asked, his expression completely devoid of emotion.

Midoriya blushed a bright shade of red, "Uh. Yes. I guess that's what I'm saying."

Todoroki turned on his heel and started walking to the East of where they had currently been walking, "Then let's head this way. It's only a 10 minute walk from here."

Midoriya had several questions about where they were going but decided to keep them to himself as he followed just behind Todoroki. A short time later they were standing in front of a small, ornate building of white and gold with small red and yellow embellishments. It was unique in architecture compared to all of the other buildings around it. It was beautiful but looked as if it had been built by someone who was good at what they were doing, but certainly not a professional.

"What is this place?" Midoriya asked while he took in the sight in front of him.

"This is my home," Todoroki simply walked up to the door and pulled out a key. Once the door was open he motioned for Midoriya to follow in after him, "Or at least it will be. Are you coming?"

Midoriya nodded his head and stepped through the threshold. The inside of the home was not unlike the outside. The floor was solid mahogany and the walls used the same color scheme as the outside. There was beautiful hand-carved wooden furniture decorating each room but it was difficult to see because the electric was off. Todoroki walked over to the far wall and lit several candles before taking a seat on a low-to-the-ground couch towards the center of the floor. Midoriya wanted to ask several questions but kept them locked in his head as he walked across the room towards Todoroki. He took the seat on the opposite side of the couch from Todoroki so there was a cushion between them. Midoriya's hands lay in his lap as he fiddled with the hem of his t-shirt. He found that being alone with Todoroki in this beautiful, mysterious setting surrounded by candlelight made him very nervous. He hadn't expected their date to become so romantic.

Todoroki cleared his throat quietly, "You're lost in thought again, I see."

Midoriya chuckled, "Mostly I'm just wondering where we are."

"I told you."

"Vaguely."

The room fell quiet and Midoriya started to think he wouldn't get an answer, "Do you remember how I told you that my father forced my mother into a Quirk Marriage?"

Midoriya nodded his head as he watched Todoroki's expression become increasingly stern.

"When my parents were first married, my father was determined to find something to force her to fall in love with him. She fought him at every turn and eventually he left her. It was only for a summer but she thought it was forever. She told me once that it was one of the happiest times of her life. When he came back her heart was broken because she knew that meant the marriage would continue and she would be stuck with him until whatever children they had were grown. When he brought her here to show her what he had built for her all she could do was cry. He called her unappreciative, took her home, beat and raped her, and 9 months later I was born. My mother was so disgusted by this place that when she was sent away, she left the keys in my room with a letter explaining that she wanted me to have it because this house is the reason I was born and as much as she hated this place, she loved me. She said 'this home gave me you and for that I will always be grateful.' I only come here when I really miss her. I've never brought anyone else here or even told anyone about it. I trust that you can keep this between us."

Todoroki looked over at Midoriya who smiled shyly and scooted closer to Todoroki on the couch. He reached out and put a hand on Todoroki's shoulder, "Of course."

Todoroki looked to the ground, "I don't only come here when I miss my mother. Sometimes I come here when I'm angry with my father. I know it's probably wrong, but when he behaves the way we all know that he does, I come here to remind myself that I don't have to be just like him. This building reminds me that even though my father is not a good man, he can create good things."

Midoriya continued to rub Todoroki's shoulder and back as he saw him getting more emotional.

"This home is the only good thing my father has ever made."

"That isn't true," Midoriya slipped out quietly before he could think. Todoroki turned to face him and Midoriya felt his body stiffen. "I mean – I just meant – he made you."

The two found themselves searching the face of the other for signs of how they were feeling. Todoroki hoped Midoriya couldn't see the rush of pride that he felt in response to his statement. Midoriya hoped Todoroki couldn't see the embarrassment. Each of them prayed that the attraction wasn't washing across their features.

Midoriya's mind started to wander back to his worries from before the date started. Should he hold Todoroki's hand? Should he lean in to kiss him? Should he pull away before he made him uncomfortable? Before he had the opportunity to answer his own questions he saw Todoroki leaning away from him, "I think maybe we should head back to the dorms. We wouldn't want you to get put on house arrest again."

Midoriya chuckled as he stood up a little too quickly, "That's crazy! That's what I was thinking too!"

Midoriya turned to walk off and almost ran head first into the wall. Todoroki put a hand on Midoriya's shoulder from behind and held it firmly to keep him from running into the wall, "Midoriya, be careful."

"Heh heh, right. Sorry," Midoriya said as he opened the front door and walked out. He could hear Todoroki locking the door and lightly jogging to catch up with him. He hadn't realized how quickly he was moving until then.

"Is everything okay, Midoriya?"

"Yes!" Midoriya said a little higher pitched than he had anticipated. "Of course!"

"You are still a terrible liar, Midoriya," Todoroki asserted for the second time that night. "You aren't having a good time, are you?"

Midoriya was taken aback. He was so worried that Todoroki would catch on to his feelings that he may have acted a little too disinterested. He stopped walking and turned around, the dorms now behind him by only a few blocks, "I have enjoyed everything tonight. I told you, I've never been on a date before. I'm not entirely sure what is and isn't appropriate here. Especially since this isn't a real date for you."

"It isn't a real date for me?" Todoroki asked confused. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"I mean," Midoriya hesitated before completely exploding with emotion. "I mean how could this possible be a real date to you? You only agreed to go on this date when Mineta needed us to do so to go on a date of his own. When I was back in that room thinking about kissing you, you pulled away as if the thought was disgusting to you. And – and do you even like men in that way? Could this possibly be a real date to you if you don't even like men in that way?"

Todoroki lowered his head before taking a step closer to Midoriya and taking one of his hands, "I didn't agree to anything for Mineta. He is my classmate and I respect his abilities but he creeps me out. I agreed to this date because even the worst case scenario would be getting to spend a night with one of my closest friends. I wasn't disgusted by the idea of kissing you. I had no idea you were even considering it. And as far as my sexual orientation I – well I have no idea."

Midoriya looked up into Todoroki's eyes as he took a breath before he continued speaking, "Midoriya, I have spent my entire life so focused on training and winning and hating my father that I have never even noticed anyone of any gender and I've certainly never considered dating them. I honestly have never thought that I could have romantic feelings for anyone." Midoriya felt himself tearing up and was about to turn away when Todoroki added, "Until you."

Midoriya's breath got caught in his throat and before he had a second to contemplate his actions, he pulled Todoroki closer to him with the hand he was already holding until their chests were touching and their lips were mere centimeters apart. Midoriya closed his eyes and brushed his lips against Todoroki's. He could feel the distinct difference in temperature from one side of his lips to the other. When he stopped to notice it, he could feel the same difference in temperature across Todoroki's chest as it pressed against his own. He melted into the feeling and before he knew what was happening Todoroki closed the very minimal distance between their lips and they were each wrapped up in their first kiss. It was sloppy and unrehearsed as most first kisses were, but Midoriya thought it was perfect. He loved the feeling of Todoroki's bitter cold and burning hot lips. He loved the taste of his tongue. He loved the feeling of their fingers intertwined. He hated how quickly it was over when they both pulled away. The stood there staring at each other for a moment, each with the same goofy grin spread across their face.

"What are you two doing just standing here when curfew is in half an hour?" Iida said as he and Yaoyorozu walked up to them hand in hand.

Yaoyorozu looked down and saw that Midoriya and Todoroki were also holding hands and that they were both starting to turn a deep shade of pink which caused her to stifle a squeal of delight and invite the two to walk back with her and Iida. They each talked about their dates as they walked back to the dorms, hand-in-hand with their respective dates. They discussed how they thought the dates went for the others and had this question answered for one couple sooner than they had expected. As soon as they walked through the entrance to the dorm courtyard they saw Uraraka and Bakugo exchanging a chaste kiss. Yaoyorozu whistled at them and they broke apart. When Bakugo looked over and saw everyone standing there he began to yell, "Why are you all just standing there watching us?! Were your own dates so boring that you had to come back here and watch ours?! You're all pathetic."

Uraraka rolled her eyes and led Bakugo inside by the wrist. Yaoyorozu and Iida followed them inside shortly after leaving only Midoriya and Todoroki standing in the courtyard. Midoriya turned to Todoroki, "Before we get rushed inside and asked a million questions, I just wanted to say Happy Valentine's Day, Shoto." Though his face was a deep shade of red, Midoriya stood on his tiptoes and gave Todoroki one last, goodnight kiss before they turned to head inside.