dumbshow | the critically acclaimed open post

[Okay, superfan. Toshinori will buy him an All Might keychain any day now. As for Hizashi... Well, hopefully hanging out with a big All Might fan won't go super terribly for him. That one is very loud and has a radio show, after all.]

When are you going to introduce me properly? [This is kind of a joke, but also, he did run out awkwardly last time...]

[He will scoff and scowl and absolutely put it on his keys, because he really does like this boy.]

Whenever you want. Come by the university soon and follow the sound of screaming.

[From Hizashi, ostensibly, but also maybe from Aizawa, given how much his friend is going to be bugging him about this new romance. The thought of it makes him grimace.]

He's going to try and interrogate you.

[Good, what a sweet boy. Now, Toshinori has already sat for an interview with this menace, but he supposes if Hizashi thinks he's simply some guy, whatever Aizawa told him in the hospital, he has no shield of All Might to defend him.]

Haha! He cares about you! We'll see how much I can answer.

Just prepare for a lot of pointed questions.

[It comes from a place of caring, but honestly, it's exhausting to even think about.]

What about your friends?

They won't ask any questions.

[Gran Torino will, if Gran Torino counts as a friend. But it's going to become obvious pretty soon that Toshinori also has, like, one friend - although it's because he can't really have a secret identity if he still hangs out with all of his friends from school.]

My oldest friend is graduating from the police academy soon, actually, but he's not as... interested [nosy] as your friend.

And he wants to be a cop?

[Just kidding, reporters are the worst when it comes to nosiness. But that makes life a fair bit simpler. He has nothing to hide, not really, but the thought of having to endure a thousand and one questions about himself. Toshinori can tell his police friend what he wants to know, Aizawa thinks, and that will take care of that.

With a yawn he gives up on eating (that was, like, three fries, Aizawa, love yourself) and lies back down on the bed, content for the moment to just watch Toshinori eat.]

Put on the movie.

[Does he have a tv in his room? Hopefully. That would be nice, if Toshinori could watch the film and Aizawa could fall asleep here . . .]

Now, that isn't fair... [Please be nice to his actually normal friend, not everyone can be Hizashi. Not that it's likely they'll ever meet, but just in case, please...!!

Aizawa's eaten like three fries and meanwhile Toshinori has put away a burger and a half, watching him lie down an frowning. Excuse you, he paid for all this food.

He has a TV in his room, but boy,] You're leaving me with all these fries?

Yeah. Eat them.

[He won't throw them out, it's not a waste. But he'd rather a protein pack or some horrible little energy drink, because they all have vices and this is his: a diet that sometimes rivals a video game nerd's.]

What?

[To be fair - eating nothing but fries for dinner was already stupid as shit, like Real Gamer, but it's better than not eating anything.

Toshinori is dangling a couple fries in his face now. Hey. Hey!!]

Eat more.

No. Stop that--

[Babe. Stop. He grimaces and sort of . . . rolls . . . onto his back . . . surely that will stop him.]

I'm fine.

[No, come back here... It's almost as if one of them is seven feet tall and has no problem wiggling fries from any angle, at any distance!! He's here!!!]

Just eat the fries.

No.

[Which is the last he says on it before closing his mouth firmly. What now, Toshinori? What now? Let him not eat in peace, he is tired and he wants to cuddle against his not-boyfriend, let him have these things.]

[But babe... Well, Toshinori will in fact poke his face with a couple fries, but he can only do this for so long before he gives up and just eats them himself. The rest of these, though, he will pointedly leave for Aizawa to finish later. When they're cold, a suitable punishment.

No cuddling, either, not until he gets up and goes to set up his ancient DVD. Aizawa will definitely sleep through most of this, but that's fine. He tidies up most of the trash from dinner before he sits back down, holding his arm out for Aizawa to just crawl right in. Get over here.]

[It's sort of pathetic and entirely illogical that his heart jumps as Toshinori opens his arms like that. Even the mere thought is enough to delight him, it seems, and he has to fight not to scramble over there like an overeager puppy.

Instead, he makes his way over slowly-- in part because of his injuries, but mostly so he doesn't look too eager. A little awkwardly, he hesitates and then rests against him, curling beneath one arm.

He's so warm. Not soft, no, there's not a bit of softness on his body, but there's something appealing about (tentatively, a little awkwardly; intimacy is so much more difficult to fake his way through than flirting and sex) resting his head against his chest. He's hyperaware of where all his limbs are, all the points they're touching and how very, very careful he's being not to shift at all, lest he ruin this.]

This is so old.

[It's not a criticism. It's just an observation, as the music swells and the film begins.]

[It's precious, how quickly Aizawa seems to go back and forth between assertive and flustered. Toshinori is content just to hold him close, one arm wrapped around him and the other free to, you know, gesture nonstop at the screen.

Yes, this movie is old as hell, and he's seen it at least a dozen times, but that doesn't make it any less exciting to him. He runs commentary through it that barely makes sense, referencing things that haven't been shown yet or other movies in the series, things that would make sense if Aizawa wasn't completely brand new to this film.

But it's fine, because Aizawa came over to watch this movie with him despite his injury and thinking whatever he does about it- criticism or not, he definitely doesn't hold it in high as esteem as Toshinori does- and, well, that means something to him. That he's picked a movie about a powerless nobody who comes into a great deal of unbelievable strength and ability is unintentional, honest, and has nothing to do with their brief conversation about quirkless individuals the other day.

If Aizawa dozes off, Toshinori makes no move to wake him up again; he simply settles in to hold him more comfortably while he watches the movie. No one is ever going to eat these fries he paid for...]

[He's young and overworked and exhausted, let him rest. The fries will keep. But though he absolutely dozes off time and again, he does like to listen to that running commentary. He barely understands some of it, but some of it is interesting, and he even asks a question now and again.

It's an interesting plot. Not nearly as interesting to him as it obviously is to Toshinori, but still: interesting. The story sounds like it could come from here and now, and he thinks of their earlier conversation.]

Do you really think a quirkless individual could be a hero?

[He says it abruptly. The movie is at is climax; Aizawa does not seem to care. He's been asleep, or at least dozing, for the past half-hour, so sorry if he scares you, babe.]

I'm not talking about morality. I'm asking you, based on logic: do you truly imagine someone without a quirk could do that?

[Toshinori is engrossed in the climactic scenes of this movie on top of believing Aizawa is still asleep, so he does startle when Aizawa suddenly speaks up. Warn a guy!!

But he answers, anyway, without thinking--] Of course I do.

[Now, listen to his Captain America meta discourse... No; he's quiet for a moment, thinking before he explains.]

Before there were quirks in our world— even before they were so widespread, those without quirks had to get by on their own merits, didn't they? There have always been heroes, even if it took quirks developing for us to turn them into a real profession.

[In a documentary, there would be vintage photos of firefighters and relief workers flashing up behind him when he talks like this, serious and passionate.]

In this day and age, a quirkless individual has it rougher than people with quirks... but simply having a quirk doesn't give a person the will or the drive that it takes to be a hero! Quirks make things easier for us; it's instant gratification in a lot of ways, don't you think? If someone without a quirk had the disposition to take on the evil in the world, and had to work harder than the rest— I think they could do it, as long as they keep their spirits high!

[Anyway, you are missing this awesome scene, babe.]

[He considers this. It's true that drive and motivation are key factors for being a hero. No matter what your quirk is, you have to have the sheer willpower it takes to keep pushing forward no matter what the odds are.

And it's true that people were heroes before quirks. But nor were they up against villains with powers vastly greater than their own.]

You should say all that.

[Captain Rogers is crashing into the ocean and Aizawa is completely ignoring it.]

In public. People still think quirkless people are second class citizens. If you're going to let the media chase after you, you might as well use it for more than one reason. Besides: if All Might of all people says it, people might just listen.

[Hmm, the movie... No, he's listening, he is. For sure.]

Ah-- well, maybe! When I'm taken a little more seriously, you know? As it stands now, they'll paint it as a publicity stunt...

[He doesn't want to be All Might who makes outlandish, crazy statements to get more attention! When his fourth action figure line comes out, then-!! Then people will be more ready to accept his words as worth listening to.]

Mm.

[A vague agreement, and he tips his head up, nuzzling against his jawline. That seems more interesting than this climactic, heartbreaking finale.]

Do you patrol tomorrow?

[Nah, the movie is definitely more interesting-- just kidding, he's almost completely forgotten it's playing the second Aizawa nuzzles against him. He can't just take a day off to cuddle his sort-of-boyfriend, but boy does he want to--]

In the afternoon, yeah.

You should sleep in the bed, then.

[After all, it's only logical. If he's patrolling, he needs his energy, and sleeping on a couch isn't going to give him that. All Might faces dangerous villains almost every day; Aizawa can't in good faith send him out exhausted.

And of course, he himself needs to rest well, because that's the best way to heal an injury. So it's only logical they both sleep in the bed, right?

Absolutely, and he nods to himself, pleased that he can use that as a proper excuse . . . as he lies in bed, dressed in a shirt that keeps falling off his shoulder, cuddling against Toshinori and still aching from the way they'd rocked against each other.]

[Oh-- well, he doesn't need an excuse, but he has the good sense not to tease Aizawa about making one. Sharing his bed is hardly a big deal after the way they'd gone at each other earlier-- or maybe it's a big deal because of that, but either way: Toshinori will gladly cuddle the shit out of him all night. And maybe most of the morning, after he goes for his morning run...]

How generous of you. [okay, a little teasing.] Then I will!

I'm more surprised I didn't have to spend an hour convincing you that my injuries don't need an empty bed.

[Stop teasing him? God.]

[Interesting proposal, but no.]

Your performance was pretty convincing, or I might have insisted otherwise.

[His performance. You know, with no pants, on Toshinori's lap. That performance. Boys who do that can handle sleeping next to someone.]

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