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[A smart idea. Most people aren't nearly as observant and logical as him, but surely even ordinary people could put two and two together if they saw that photo.

Still.]

Just stealing it isn't going to work. You're going to get in trouble.

[Hmm.]

Why not ask for it? Pretend you want to frame it at home or something.

Well, everyone's gone home already.

[A beat. Wait.] I wasn't planning on stealing anything! I would never!

[He's goddamn All Might, little sassy boy!! He won't fall into a life of crime, starting with the petty theft of an old picture!!!]

[SETTLE DOWN, his expression says, unimpressed and with one eyebrow raised.]

So what was your plan?

[No!!! Boy!!]

I— was working on that at my own pace! And then you turned up. [Which isn't some kind of backwards accusation, just, he was in the process before he was interrupted and then had his secret identity smashed.]

By the way, we should... talk.

[About smashing his secret identity!!]

So you had no idea what you were going to do.

[JUST SAYING, that's about the long and short of it. But that last question . . . he hates his stupid, pathetic, emotional mind for immediately jumping to the wrong conclusion.

We should talk, Toshinori says, and for a split-second, nothing more, he thinks all the ways he'd want that to go. We should talk, because I've secretly liked you since I saw you too, now do you want to go make out in some abandoned classroom?

Stupid. Stupid and illogical, and he dismisses it the instant it forms. he wants to talk about his identity, but there's really nothing to talk about. He's not going to blab.]

. . . sure.

Haha! I don't dislike that honesty, but you don't have to drive it home.

[He knows, he knows. Now, as for having a talk with him, it's so lucky Toshinori came back to the display case, making him close enough to put his arm around Aizawa's shoulders again. Not that he's particularly suspicious of the boy-- but he's already darted away once, and this time it's actually important. He isn't trying to be menacing, but his hold around Aizawa is, hm, tighter this time. More firm.

Not quite "make out in an abandoned classroom" firm, but "taking this sassy boy to an abandoned classroom" firm, sure. Now let's go.]

Now then, there really is something familiar about you! Are you sure we haven't met before? What's your hero name?

. . . Eraserhead.

[The name still sounds foreign. Not bad, necessarily, but like it belongs to some other person. He'd used it in his internship, and it had taken him a solid day to realize that people were trying to get his attention when they called for Eraserhead to do this and that.

That isn't how they know each other, but far be it for Aizawa to admit that. Let him think they met on the field somewhere.

The classroom Toshinori leads them to is just that: a classroom, unused and empty. There's chalkmarks still on the board, and a stack of things on the teacher's desk. They've got a fair bit of time to themselves, given classes have already ended, but nor are they totally secure.

Not that it matters.]

I'm not going to tell anyone.

Of course, [Toshinori says, and he says like he does believe him, but he also knows that taking the kid at his word when he's a total stranger would be completely naive of him. So! They're going to have to not be strangers.

He shifts a stack of papers out of the way on the desk and leans back against it, looking over at Aizawa. Eraserhead... Eraserhead... He's heard the name before; probably on the hero circuit, when internships were the big thing and none of the other pros could stop bragging about their interns to him, specifically, because he pointedly did not have any-- but there's something else.

Ah-- he snaps his fingers.] You know Present Mic, don't you? I did that interview for that little show of his, and everyone told me it was a waste of time to do anything at a local student radio station... [He's waving his hands like these details are the ones that will jog Aizawa's memory, despite the fact that he most definitely was not on the radio with All Might. Oh well.] When I asked him about his name, he said he picked yours, too. Unless there's another Eraserhead out there.

[Tell him about your only friend, The Loud Boy.]

No, that's me.

[Of course he remembers that interview. Hizashi had been screaming about it for weeks-- less because it was All Might (although that, too, had been a factor; he's just as dazzled by the newest, brightest star as anyone) and more because someone so big had actually agreed to come on his show. It had been an incredible boost in both ratings and credibility, and Hizashi had already gotten several more offers than he would have otherwise.

Aizawa wonders if Toshinori realizes what effect he'd had. He wonders if he even thinks about stuff like that, or if he just wanders around in a blinding daze, rescuing others, unaware of what he leaves in his trail, both good and bad.]

He's good at that kind of thing. That . . . playing to the public and all. Not that it matters-- I don't exactly want to be in the spotlight.

[Unlike you goes unspoken.]

But you do. And you don't want people to know who you were before-- why?

[Toshinori thinks about it-- to a point. He's doing all this for a very specific reason, and it isn't as if he hasn't dealt with the negative ripple effects of his actions already; pros who have been at it longer, angry about the new wonder boy stealing their spotlight; villains doing things they might not have done just to test him, all kinds of great things.

But has he thought about Present Mic's little radio show between then and now? Not really, no. He looks toward the window, considering how much actual honesty Eraserhead needs about his long term goals.

Well, why not.]

The country wants me in the spotlight, if we're being specific. They need someone to look toward for safety and comfort, and... that's me. Or it's going to be!

[Any day now! He's getting there.]

And that can't happen if you're too human. You'll slip up . . . or at least, Toshinori will. Someone will take some remark wrong or twist your words, or you'll just have an off night.

But if you keep your identity a secret, you only have to be perfect for a certain amount of time.

[It makes sense, and he nods.]

You don't think you're setting yourself up as a target?

[Oh--he gets it. That's a nice change! Even those who agree with him, like Gran Torino, caution him often about being too extreme. Someone actually confirming that he's not totally crazy is a nice change.]

As All Might? Of course I am. Who's going to rely on All Might if he's too afraid to take any risks?

That's not what I mean. I mean . . .

[What does he mean? He takes a moment to organize his thoughts, a small frown on his face. Finally:]

If you become a symbol, famous, you can't do a lot of hero work. You can't go underground or in disguise. You can't infiltrate crime rings. All you can do is fight those who attack in public, and the more you do, the more people are going to want to see you fall. Villains are going to see you as a challenge to be conquered-- an easy way to gain notoriety and fame.

What makes you think that's the most efficient way to solve the problems of this world?

[Hm. That's... astute. Toshinori looks away from the window, brow furrowed. He's thought about these things, sure--]

I know I can't save everyone. But people need somewhere to look when the going gets tough— someone who represents all the work heroes do for the world.

[And, look--] I know how it sounds. Plenty of pros have made it clear they aren't interested in humoring me, but they aren't the ones I'm trying to convince. If I save as many people as possible in front of as many people as possible, sooner or later it's going to work!

[He's solemn when he says this, then he perks up again. Is he going to-- yes, he's posing, fists in the air.]

Besides, I'm undefeated so far!

[It sounds like an idealistic and wildly unrealistic dream, but Aizawa can't say he doesn't see where Toshinori is coming from. People do need symbols. Regular heroes have wins and losses, but more than that: they have families, press interviews, trivia facts, blood types and favorite foods and dislikes . . . they're human, and thus people know they can and will fail. It's just a matter of effort, and so there's always a tiny bit of doubt in the back of people's minds.

But a symbol is different. A symbol is something to look at even when things are at their darkest, because they represent the glimmer of hope that things will inevitably improve. A symbol is unfailing and unflappable, roughed up but never beaten, always confident things will turn out the way he wants them to.

Always smiling, because things will be okay now that he's here.

It's admirable, and he feels his cheeks heat up as he stares at him. Ridiculous, he thinks, this boy is utterly ridiculous, but the same spark of heroism that had inspired Aizawa to come here stands up and cheers. No wonder everyone's in love with him, he thinks, and then, with the most absurd flare of jealousy, wonders how many people the miraculous All Might has flirted with.

Not slept with, at least. A symbol can't have something so human and filthy as sex.]

You've only been out of school a few years. Can you really say you'll never suffer a loss?

[Of course not. No quirk, however incredible, is undefeatable. A moment, and he adds waspishly:]

Stop posing.

[He's not going to stop posing. He affects another, different pose, actually-- turning so Aizawa can enjoy his profile. So no, he will not!!]

I can't— but I made a promise to myself and the world that if I'm on the scene, I'll save as many people as I can. I'm not shaken that easily!

[He has that going for him, at least. Being larger than life comes easily to him, conveniently enough, so it's all a matter of turning it on and off when it's needed. Just like his quirk, fittingly, but that's a secret he'll keep close to his chest for as long as he needs to. He worries more than he lets on but a symbol doesn't worry, so it's Toshinori who runs himself ragged training so that All Might's rescues can go off without a hitch.

Still, it feels good right now to talk to someone who knows his secret. This boy simply talks to him, without falling at his feet or scolding him for taking it too far-- he's missed this kind of frank conversation.

That said... "you've only been out of school a few years"? Figuring him out as All Might is easy to explain, he saw the photograph, but he knows Toshinori Yagi, too? Toshinori looks at him, dropping his arms to put his hands on his hips, and really puts his back into remembering.

Hmm. Well, the kid is blushing, and if you shrunk him a few inches and made his face a little rounder, his body less lean - everyone looks more like a child before they start at UA - then--]

We have met, haven't we? You gave me that same look last time!

[Later tonight, when he replays this conversation with a quiet agony, he'll realize his mistake. He'll learn a lesson about carelessness and lying, or at least he'll begin to learn it, and maybe someday this will all pay off in a spectacular way.

For now, though, there is only embarrassment, agonized in the way it can only be when you're a teenager.]

I didn't-- there isn't a look, I'm just looking at you.

[Now he's learning about Toshinori Yagi's dazzling smile, without guile or that hint of plastering it on for the camera. He leans toward Aizawa a little, not taking any steps closer to him, but he's so tall he hardly needs to. He is here!]

Hahaha, you certainly are! [It's-- cute? Oh, it is, it's adorable-- good to know.] What's your name?

[He is too much in his space, but though he dearly wants to, Aizawa doesn't lean back. He stands his ground, scowling sourly, hating his stupid traitorous skin for still being heated. This wouldn't happen if he could just hide behind his hair, that would be so much easier--]

Aizawa Shouta.

[He says it like a challenge, which is in no small part a response to that smile.]

[And Toshinori is somehow delighted by this response, although he isn't so oblivious that he can't tell Aizawa is uncomfortable. Still, he lingers there a moment longer before straightening back up, folding his arms and looking Aizawa up and down. Does he need to be so obvious...? No, but here they are.]

Well, Aizawa, my man-- you already know who I am. [heartthrob smile.jpg] I didn't think too many people would remember me from my days as a student.

[Stop, he wants to tell him, because his poor little heart can't understand what's happening. Is he being mocked? Yes, of course, he thinks at first, because that's the natural reaction. Aizawa isn't that popular (somewhat because of his bizarre quirk, somewhat because he doesn't know how to socialize, somewhat because he simply doesn't believe in not being blunt and harsh), and so what few flirtations he's gotten have been jokes and dares.

(Not all of them, actually, but he doesn't know that).

But Toshinori, while annoying and overbearing, doesn't seem the sort to be cruel. He's popular and loud and bright, but if he was malicious, he wouldn't serve as much of a symbol of peace. But that doesn't make sense, because if he follows that logic, then it means that Toshinori is being genuine as he looks him up and down and beams that way over at him.

And why would he do that?

Surely he has his pick of people who are like him. Even as Toshinori, a normal civilian, he must have people who trail after him. So why not pick one of them? Aizawa is . . . not exactly a great partner. He has one friend, and that friendship only works because Hizashi simply overrides his blunt irritability with his own forceful personality. He's rude and anti-social and, while not actually ugly, certainly doesn't put much effort into his appearance.

So he squints at him, trying to determine what's happening, and hates that there's a part of him that simply shivers and melts at that smile being aimed his way.]

I don't see why. You made enough of a spectacle of yourself even back then.

[Oh, very nice. Defensive sarcasm towards the man he has a crush on, that's a great way to go.]

. . . stop looking at me like that.

[The thing is, Toshinori knows that look. Starstruck and infatuated with him, he sees it enough times a day to have it memorized and politely edge away from it each time. Sure, he'll smile and wink and dazzle the crowd, but it's not often that someone looks at him like this and he wants them to keep doing it.

And he's decided he wants Aizawa Shouta to like him. Not just with the frustrated attraction he apparently has- it's overt- but with something more. His quirk and his passion to succeed have made him a sensation even since his first year at UA, so the way Aizawa challenges him even subtly is something he wants more of.

And if he combed his hair he'd be a real knockout, but Toshinori still thinks he's cute.]

Like what?

[Now this is just actual flirting.]

[Hey, if Toshinori could just wind up and kill him with One For All, that'd be great. Just fantastic. Bit of a shame about Eraserhead's short career, but right now he'd prefer death to this.]

You know what. Like--

[Like he's actually trying to flirt with him, like that's at all a realistic possibility. But also: like perhaps he's just humoring him. He stands there with his arms at his side and his eyes sparkling, and maybe it's unconscious, but he looks like he does in the press. He looks like All Might, posing with his hips angled and his chest puffed out.]

Like you're posing for a camera.

[Heroes have to be brave, after all, and that doesn't just mean against villains. He won't just fluster and mumble or giggle like others. With a scowl Aizawa starts unwinding the strip of cloth around his neck. It looks damn stupid atop his uniform, but the only way to get used to it is to practice constantly.

Besides: it's going to pay off in a moment.]

I'm not the press. If you want to-- to-- if you're going to talk to me, talk to me.

[Quick as a whip, the cloth snaps out, impossibly stiff as it winds around Toshinori's arm. Aizawa jerks his hand, and here he comes, stumbling out of that stupid pose, as a feeling of deep satisfaction rises up within Aizawa.]

Edited 2018-06-18 22:48 (UTC)

[All Might is rarely taken by surprise. It's part of the package: always prepared, always smiling, always ready to perform a few miraculous heroics and save the day. He's been caught off guard once or twice, sure, but it's rare.

Toshinori, on the other hand, is taken by surprise all the time. He lets his guard drop in his everyday life, when he's just a civilian hanging around doing ordinary things and talking to ordinary people. He's let his guard drop even more, standing here with Aizawa, and that's... his own fault; he's allowed himself to get wrapped up in this conversation and look! Now he's wrapped up in something else!

So one moment he's giving Aizawa that look, sparkling and bright, and the next his eyes widen and he stumbles forward, throwing out his free arm to catch himself before he crashes into Aizawa and sends them both sprawling. It leaves him little choice of support to grab onto besides the student desk behind Aizawa, and he's yanked down to almost eye level--

Well. Well. He blinks a few times, which is all the fluster he's going to allow himself for onf clever trick. His eyes search Aizawa's face for a moment, then tear away to glance down at the cloth around his arm.]

That's handy. [Hmm.] I was talking to you.

[He hadn't actually intended for him to come so close. Just stumble a little, get off-kilter, startle him out of that patented I-Am-Here All Might pose and smile. And sure, he got his wish, but--

--but here's Toshinori, only an inch away, earnest blue eyes and blond hair hanging in his face, faint freckles and his breath smelling of something sweet. For a moment Aizawa has the most absurd idea to lean forward and close the distance between them, or even better, use his weapon to have Toshinori close the gap, but--

No. Embarrassment and uncertainty fill him, and within a moment the capture cloth has released his arm.]

You were posing. You've been posing for most of this conversation.

[They're still close, he thinks, the desk is digging into his back, he's certain his cheeks have gone permanently red, and yet he doesn't move a muscle, for fear he might ruin things and drive Toshinori away.]

And you were smiling like I was about to take your picture. I'm not. You're not him here. You're just Toshinori.

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