Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

May was a curious month, filled with both rainstorms and sunny hot days alike. Some days were an even combination of both. During one of May's days, Toshinori met someone special.

He remembers the odd day clearly.

He was walking home from work, an umbrella in hand, deep puddles splashing under his boots, and setting sun blinding him so he kept his eyes on the pavement. It was a rainy week and the sun finally came out. Sudden heat made the air unbearably humid and hot at the same time.

Toshinori was walking a familiar sidewalk from work to home. He had no need to look up and get his trail of thought lost. Yagi was about to enter the building and take an elevator up all the way to his floor when from the corner of his eye, he saw someone moving.

Moving in more precisely.

Well, at least attempting to, judging from how the stranger tried to grab a million things too many at once. Bonus, he was doing that all on his own.

Yagi didn't think too much and went up to the man. His mouth was open and he already had an offer of help formed, and it was at the tip of his tongue when the man took a giant step back crashing into him and dropping all he held. Toshinori choked on words and did his best to steady the stranger. Well, this is awkward.

The stranger grits his teeth and turns around to face Toshinori - face was a hard feature of Yagi to find apparently, since the stranger, like many people, had trouble finding his face thanks to Yagi's height. Usually, it was amusing. Not right now.

"Oh shit! I'm sorry!" Yagi speaks up first trying to not break out into a chuckle. The stranger made such a funny face, going from upset to surprise. Toshinori released the stranger's arms and dug his nails into palms doing his best to not laugh. He shouldn't be amused. He shouldn't.

"Watch your step." The way the stranger pouted looking directly into Yagi's eyes, was all too an everyday thing and silly.

"Sorry, again. I was just going to ask if you need help but looks like I just added you trouble!" Yagi gave an apologetic smile, raising one of his hands to rub his neck sheepishly. "Please allow me to fix up my screw up!"

"I..." The man blinked slowly, stranger's tired eyes were mesmerizing, in both good and bad ways. The stranger's eyes were dark; very dark, and bloodshot, and tired, and resembled, for some reason, a predator... but they were so human at the same time. "...don't really need help..." The newcomer has added after a short pause. "...those are the last things I have to bring up..." The man takes a step to the side and then squats down to gather his belongings. Yet another mesmerizing thing - he had black long hair tied in a loose bun.

Toshinori, stop looking before it becomes weird.

"Well, that's a bit too much for one trip." Toshinori squatted and picked up some of the mess, thankfully, nothing was damaged. The poor weather left many huge puddles with dirty water everywhere. "Frankly, I intended helping either way!"

"So, no matter my consent, huh?" The stranger hummed with his lip slightly twitching, those almost black eyes looked away from Toshinori as he picked up three heavy boxes. This time Yagi allowed himself to smile holding a few things himself.

"I'm a nosy man, sorry." For a moment he wondered how the stranger could actually believe he could make it all one trip. It wasn't much, but holy shit, it was heavy.

Together they walked inside the building in silence. They walked to the elevator, one of them pressed the button, they waited for it to come down. It was such a pretty afternoon, but Toshinori felt too tired to go out, all he wanted to do was to help this stranger and go to rest.

"You... got a name?" It was the stranger this time who instigated the talking, which was surprising, as he didn't seem to be the type for that.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm Toshinori Yagi." Toshinori was slightly startled by the sound of the man's voice. That wasn't exactly the sound he expected while waiting for an elevator. Not that it was unwanted. Yagi liked meeting and talking to people, the social butterfly he was.

"Aizawa Shouta," Aizawa uttered quietly, barely audible. The lift arrived and the two walked in.

"Oh, we live on the same floor." Yagi mused seeing the number by the button Aizawa pressed.

"What a coincidence indeed," Shouta mumbled, it sounded as if he was a bit upset. It made Toshinori slightly wish to retain any form of response. "...if so, then a fair warning... sometimes I get pretty... loud when I can't sleep..." The black hair fell in Aizawa's face, his bun falling apart really messily. Shouta couldn't do much with his hands full but huff angrily at the tickling strands.

"Fair warning... I see. It's alright." Yagi spoke under his breath, not sure if Shouta could hear him, probably could and has though. The soft tug when the elevator stopped and shuffle of the opening door was the only thing that could be heard in the silence that fell. "I mean, I doubt you can match my previous neighbors. They left some big shoes to fill."

Plus it wasn't like Toshinori himself got lot of sleep at cold or rainy nights.

"I doubt I will disappoint you." Shouta joked. The man shifted the boxes to hold them on one arm as he searched for the key to the apartment.

"We'll see. We'll see." Toshinori mused, frankly, Shouta left a pretty first good impression. The blonde watched the man finally get a hold of his keys and open the door. He disappeared for a short moment behind the doors, then he returned for whatever Yagi was holding.

"...thank you." The man said timidly, the doors just an inch away from being completely closed.

"My pleasure. See you around, Aizawa-kun." It felt slightly odd that he didn't get to see the face of the person he was talking to.

"...don't get used to seeing me." Toshinori couldn't help his immediate thought of the man as extreme introvert as the door fell shut. And as if it was a chore, Shouta didn't forget to add: "Bye."

"Well, from what I noticed, we're neighbors." Yagi mumbled moving to his door which was literally three steps away (for a person his height). "We're bound to trip into each other."

Aizawa was a quiet neighbor, or just absent whenever Yagi was present.

It was quite easy to forget he was there. Previous neighbors hadn't allowed themselves to be forgotten for a fucking second, which thankfully eventually got them thrown out.

Toshinori worked long shifts as a police officer. His work was fairly peaceful and boring, crimes thankfully didn't happen as often as in the USA. The work consisted of usual matters, such as: patrolling streets sometimes at day, sometimes at night, resolving conflicts when one invaded other's property, stopping streetfights, occasionally helping secure some ground that had shooting happening there, dragging some kids into mandatory schooling (sometimes he had to confiscate some alcohol and cigarettes from them and contact their parents) - basically, protecting civilians and serving the community. It was at least eight hours with weekends off (sometimes). Yagi usually was keen on just going to bed and had hardly the energy to remember something he cares little about, so a small event allowed him to recall that he, in fact, has a new neighbor.

A simple, small mistake.

Aizawa had visitors who mistook the numbers of the apartments.

It was a quick and pretty smooth reminder. The man that made the mistake was polite and apologized quickly before going to the right door. Yagi heard through thin wall loud and cheerful voice of presumably Aizawa's friend - all clear and that was slightly disturbing and muffled rough voice definitely belonging to Aizawa.

Toshinori was a respectful person, so out of usual decency, he set his mind on something else - like chores. The man has made up his mind on what he will take care of first and proceeded then with tiding up, the whole place was pretty unkempt.

"Shouta, you hadn't fucking said your neighbor was hot."

The blonde police officer hadn't expected that coming and choked on his spit upon that remark. He just froze in the spot in slight disbelief.

All right, moving on-

"He probably heard you," Shouta's voice was followed with a knock on the other side of the wall. "Thin walls."

"Oh, SORRY SHOUTA'S NEIGHBOR IF I MADE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE!"

"Jesus Christ, Hizashi! Shut up!" Yagi couldn't approve more, even if he wouldn't word it that way.

Ugh. Was all Toshinori could think of at the moment. He was embarrassed and he had to move away as far as possible, to not hear anything more that wasn't his business.

"Sorry, sorry." Hizashi answered with laughter.

"You're not wrong though." Shouta answered. Toshinori has definitely had enough and made a run for the bathroom.

"Your type, eh? Do you got it bad?" Hizashi basically chirped, but Yagi wouldn't hear this.

Later on, Toshinori believed he had severly overreacted. Perhaps due to not being called attractive for a longer while and cutting himself off those kinds of relationships. For some reason, ever since hearing that bit of conversation between the two men, he couldn't stop noticing Aizawa. Oddly, he was being watched back.

 It started with little things.

Like, small fifteen seconds long talks in the elevator about little things such as "do you like to read?", that went up from there to talking for half hour under their apartments, exchanging teases and remarks (that were on verge of rudeness at Aizawa's end) to regularly exchanging greetings and goodbyes.

Aizawa often was a sarcastic and snarky man, Toshinori noticed that, it was hard to miss with the fact that whenever tried to talk about some senseless things like weather, Shouta would make a sharp, quick and icy cold response. Toshinori could swear that Aizawa was in disbelief when he kept prying and trying to contact him.

He just... he just had to find a topic Aizawa would be interested in not scoffing at. At least not immediately. It wasn't that hard and either way, Aizawa was an enjoyable company.

Then they happened to pass each other a lot more.

They even fell into a comfortable routine.

In the morning, when Toshinori was off to work (or a few times back from it), Shouta was usually getting out to jog or a walk. One could tell which by the outfit the black-haired man was wearing. They never talked in the mornings aside from a simple "hello", neither of them was a morning person. They both liked coffee though, so they would silently walk together to the cafe and separate ways.
Not ideal social interaction, but it was satisfying and it was a soothing good morning start.

In the later hours, they happened to talk a lot more.

But despite how they have gotten along, there was this barrier between them that Aizawa really didn't seem to be comfortable crossing. It filled Toshinori with confusion but he wouldn't press it. How long has it been since they know each other? Two weeks? Almost three? It wouldn't surprise him if Aizawa simply didn't trust him fully to let himself go out anywhere. Besides, he also doesn't know this man all that well.

Yagi proposed once to Aizawa that they go out to get some food together, but Aizawa declined, saying he's going to be busy with his job in a few days and he has to prepare.

Toshinori didn't think much of it.

Until Aizawa disappeared.

Utterly, completely disappeared.

Just like that.

He was vaguely concerned, but Aizawa did mention his work coming up, and Toshinori hadn't exactly known what was that Aizawa was doing for a living, perhaps if he would ask the man for a phone he would be worried less because that way, Shouta could actually contact him. Not that he owes Yagi anything.

He doesn't.

But that didn't change that through the three days Shouta was completely gone, Yagi has been very nervous.

Three whole days passed in complete silence and... this... odd emptiness that Aizawa left behind.

Sure he had his own life to keep together, he had work to do, he had friends he talked with (so far they don't know of Aizawa, yet)... but whenever the "more important" things are forgotten, the question popped up, "what if...?" and there he would insert a bad scenario there. He was getting paranoid.

Then, just like that, he came back.

Though... he looked manhandled.

The first he saw Aizawa back, he was about to press the button to go up to the floor where he had his apartment, then Shouta just walked into the hall. The black-haired man carried few bags and his typically tied up hair was loose. It was tangled and seemed pretty dirty, but its purpose was surely to cover a bit of Aizawa's face. The man had an awfully big and dark bruise covering about half of his face. Aside to that, he could briefly make a notice out of his long-sleeved shirt having bandages poke out.

Toshinori froze and Aizawa did so too. He saw Yagi and seemed to go from idleness to shock. He quickly made a turn and hurried away to take the stairs. Yagi hadn't gotten the chance to react anyhow since someone was calling the elevator up and the doors closed.

Somehow, by the time Yagi gotten up to the floor, Aizawa was already locked inside of his apartment.

Toshinori didn't know how to react, even if he should react anyhow.

He stood outside the elevator, watching the neighbor door to his. He came up close and wanted to knock, but... something made him halt his hand.

Maybe he should give Aizawa time to settle back in the pace. That must've been a hell of a trip...

The next few times they meet eye to eye, goes very similarly. Yagi hoped for the things to go back to the way they were. He hoped to return to the comfortable routine, but to do that, he would probably have to catch Aizawa and talk to him, which turned out to be a task he wasn't looking forward to.

Aizawa was dodging him effortlessly, which was quite easy since they barely knew each other.

It was frustrating, the time passed but Aizawa still would rather run all the way up taking stairs than ride the same elevator that Toshinori was in.

Shamefully, Toshinori has even attempted to physically stop Aizawa and talk to him, but the look the man gave him when Yagi grabbed his wrist made his heart sink. Shouta was so terrified. Why would he be...?

Toshinori figured, he had done something... wronged Aizawa somehow and decided to stop his ridiculous pinning.

Right, how could he believe that anyone would want to talk to a skeleton like him?

Embarrassed and cursing himself out, Toshinori Yagi simply let go of Aizawa and disappeared. Even with his height roughly over 7ft, Toshinori knew too how to disappear from sight.

Chapter Text

It's almost been a month since Shouta started to live in the apartment next to Toshinori Yagi. During that time so many things have happened. Nothing too exciting, nor new for the man... just... things.

By things, he meant Yagi and his own weird pull towards that man. He presumed it was because ever since he moved in, Yagi has been very kind to him and tried to earn his friendship. Even when Aizawa turned him down.

Yagi just kept prying and that left Shouta quite stunned, but he's been there and done that, so he knew how this was going to end. He knew. Possibly, all too well. He had many bad experiences.

Aizawa knew that it was going to be short - their acquaintance, obviously, so... he allowed himself to enjoy it while it lasted. Perhaps a little bit too much... Most likely too much.

And that has been his problem ever since he bumped into Yagi for the first time.

He let himself enjoy too much.

There were plenty of reasons why Shouta shouldn't. The one that mattered the most was the fact that he was literally a monster. He was an endangerment to all that lives around him - his family, his friends, his superiors... that's why he was sent away and watched from afar. He couldn't be trusted. Here Aizawa is less likely to deal damage to others and himself.

Here, in this small calm town, where he doesn't know anyone, with a giant forest nearby to disappear in for a few days - he's less dangerous. When the deed was done, he could calmly search for a way out of the woods, to return to his apartment and wait for another month to pass. Between his shift, he could try to scare people in his life away. The only way he knew how to keep his friends safe.

He attempted to strain the bonds that kept the bridges between himself and people - to no surprise of his, it didn't work out. Aizawa would often end up doing some senseless things instead.

Out of all people that frequently appeared by his side, only Hizashi and Nemuri weren't afraid, and obviously, the people who weren't aware of how much of a danger he is just by existing. He doubts that either of his friends is fully sane. Just by interacting with him they're trying their luck. That also works the other way around - he doubts his own sanity for staying near them, he's aware of how badly he can hurt, even murder, a person, and yet he still carelessly (anxiously) meddles with the crowds and doesn't hesitate to act as if he were human.

Aizawa knew how shameless he was, and he hated himself for that.

Shouta could live without interacting with people who led casual lives. It was safer for him and those people. He was just bad luck charm for all of them.

Why was he so attracted to people then?

Perhaps, he just fed off the kindness he was granted with if he acted just right. Maybe, he liked being pathetically adored by strangers. Like a stray dog.

Toshinori was a great man, but he was... he was a man who lived a relatively peaceful life and Shouta hardly wished to set havoc upon him. Toshinori was just too kind for Aizawa to ever wish him harm, quite opposite in fact. He must be protected. Protected, loved, appreciated.

He felt very embarrassed just by thinking that. Shouta acted like a teenager with a crush, and he knew it, perhaps the antics were caused by the phenomenon of missing out on that part of being a teen when he was in that age.

The conclusions of being lovesick of sorts, came from Aizawa constantly catching himself focusing on the thin walls, trying to figure out whether Yagi is in the apartment or not.

He missed him and that was just so fucking embarrassing. He really was acting like a mutt.

He missed all the little things that just made his whole day a lot better. The way Toshinori respected whenever Shouta wasn't in the mood to talk in the morning and still proceeded to get coffee with him every day, all the times he was just there talking and asking about such normal things that Aizawa lacked and yearned for, all the times he mindlessly rambled and Shouta found himself entertained and endeared. He'd blame it on the lack of company.

He'd blame it on his instincts.

And maybe that was it. Just his instincts speaking through him, but-...

Yeah, probably, yes, most likely... it was definitely his damned instincts that made him so much different from a regular human. It was surely some canine instinct that was behind this ridiculous attachment to Yagi, as well as the goddamned pain in his heart when he saw the hurt in Yagi's eyes.

Yagi reached for Aizawa when he was trying to avoid the taller man again. He's done that ever since the black-haired man came back from being gone. Shouta hadn't expected to get caught and just a few days prior, he hadn't quite had things go his way during and after his... transformation. He had plenty of paranoia in himself and accidentally let it slip when Toshinori caught him - so freaking gently - by his wrist.

His breathing halted, painful old memories of what left him in such scarred body and poor emotional state had flooded his mind, and he turned around to desperately pry the hand off of himself knowing it was futile.

But it was only Toshinori.

Wild fear was gone in almost an instant, but Toshinori - a calming, soft, cunning, astonishing and wonderful man - already averted his eyes, apologized and began to evade Shouta. Fuck, that hurt. That stung. Really, really bad. Even thinking about the situation made Aizawa flustered again.

Toshinori didn't deserve to be hurt but that's what Shouta did to people.

He's glad that aside from Hizashi nobody even knew Toshinori existed. He was swarmed with feelings he was used to ignoring since the kindness was always cut short, but that fucking... that fucking acquaintance lasted much longer than he was used to and he quickly found himself wanting more. He wanted more affection and that fucking scared him. Aizawa should count himself lucky that Hizashi hadn't known how much his neighbor matters to him. How bad he had it for the other man. No matter how weird it was. He would be in some deep shit if that was the case.

First things first though.

Aizawa wasn't a man, at that note, he was hardly a man at all. Aizawa had been born with a curse that he inherited from his father. A condition called lycanthropia, or more simply, he was a werewolf. Every few weeks his instincts went crazy and so did the body. A wave of wild hunger washed through his body and for a few days he was wandering around, hunting. During his last transformation - two weeks prior - he managed to inform Hunters on time. He was picked up and transported to a controlled environment where he could run around and hunt. However, there occurred an issue after a few days, when he was meant to return home.

One of the newer werewolves - basically, still a kid - turned, in a place filled with helpless people. Kids always have troubles noticing the signs of oncoming transmutation, especially the ones who were bitten and not born with the curse. More recently there are more people bitten and turned werewolves than born. Lycanthropy wasn't reversible, but luckily, the victims were reduced.

Aizawa knew plenty of different werewolves - some were bitten, some were born with the curse - but they had a few things in common. For example, the memories from the hunt were like vivid nightmares or dreams, depended on his prey and how much time has he spent in the forest unspotted by anyone. Aizawa never tried to look too deeply into them, they made him confused and dizzy. Another thing that many werewolves had in common was instincts, pretty good orientation skills, heightened strength, regeneration and reading people's intentions from their eyes. Perhaps this was a mind trick, since most of the werewolves, whether intentionally or not, planted fear in the hearts of people.

Being a werewolf came with a social cost, in return, it gave some pretty amazing abilities. Not that Aizawa wouldn't trade that for being an average human, but it came quite handy when Aizawa had to restrain a teenage werewolf that was far from its full size, holding down an adult werewolf would be impossible in human form with only minor bruises as a price. He was very lucky. That bruising that came stayed a little longer, but nobody except him was harmed, the kid was put to sleep and then released in the same controlled environment. Before Aizawa knew it, when the tranquilizer wore off, he was made into the kid's babysitter and had to stay a little longer.

When Shouta returned, he took a little moment to realize that he has bruised half of his face, and Toshinori will most likely going to ask about it. He had no idea how to excuse it, so he found an easier way - avoiding him - but he found his stomach twist and flip whenever he saw the other man. By now, the face returned to its normal color and not a sign was left behind that would've indicated he hurt his face. Maddeningly, Yagi was out of reach and mind still empty of excuses.

He just tried to go about his life, tied his hair back up (Toshinori said his hair was very beautiful and that mattered to him, unlike dozens other compliments of his hair, this one mattered), resumed in reading a book (a book that Toshinori recommended), watching a movie (Toshinori liked foreign cinema), training and volunteering to teach some young kids self-defense techniques (Toshinori mentioned he was doing something like that annually, but this year he couldn't)... could he just go about his day without fucking once thinking about Yagi?

Shouta at this point found himself unable to get a good rest. He just sat with his back against the thin wall at 4 AM listening for any indication that Yagi was home, holding a can of some cheap trashy juice in hand.

By all means, Aizawa thought this was creepy, and that should be occupied with getting something done or shopping, or asking if there are any assignments he can do for the Hunters, but he just sat there. A bit numb, a bit tired, a bit indifferent.

Why was he both resenting himself for leading it all to the point that he was sitting there and for the fact that he cared enough to sit down by his door and listen for Yagi's footsteps like a dog waiting for the owner to come back?

Like hell, he knew.

But there he fucking was.

Like a goddamned fool.

Mustering the little willpower he had when on sleeping meds, lovesick and confused, he slowly stood up, crushing the can and heading towards kitchen to clean it. Aizawa was most likely to stop halfway to sit down and lay his head on the table and fall asleep.

He paused.

Footsteps.

If he had a tail, he'd be fucking wagging it.

(But since it wasn't this time of the month, he didn't have one.)

He wants to throw the doors open, but he stops dead in his tracks still facing the kitchen. Shouta remembers and his excitement dies down as soon as it appears. His guilt, his pride, and his shame stop him. Shouta halts his breathing as he listened to Toshinori opening his door and walking into his apartment. He's talking on the phone with someone.

Aizawa can't fucking believe how quick his heart is racing.

Aizawa wasn't acting out of some stupid second nature no matter how hard he tried to pretend that's how it was, he was not. He was a werewolf, yes, but he acted just like a human with a regular moral compass would. Shouta avoided it at all costs, but he was lovesick, he was fucking enamored with Yagi.

Aizawa was jogging around the neighborhood like he did every morning. He has done so for around three hours with two fifteen-minutes long breaks to eat some trash candy bars he called "breakfast" and use the public restroom. The three-hour long run should give him around 30 kilometers. If the distance has mattered at all, to him it was just... a walk. Even if that walk made him pretty tired and sweaty, and overall gross. Shouta wasn't a fan of what everyone called a "healthy lifestyle", he just felt overall better after spending some time jogging around. It was a habit that took a lot of time to install in his indifferent attitude, but Nemuri was relentless and Aizawa, at that point in time, would do anything to get rid of her.

And the only way proposed was that he would go out daily to jog. Another requirement was to take photos as proof that he at least left the apartment for a second. To his surprise, he found himself enjoying it. It sort of made him hazy. Sort of... happy.

Something... like drugs are supposed to make you feel. Light-headed and brave... right? How would he know, he never took drugs!

He wouldn't admit it though. Nemuri already had too many things to gloat about, she didn't need another one.

Shouta did his best to blend in crowds, but he always felt as if he was being watched and it filled him with uneasiness. The rational part of him said that he's as plain as he can be. Claws were taken care of every month, the fangs kept hidden thanks to keeping his head low and not opening mouth often, and as for the hair that was astonishingly fast at growing back wasn't something people were allowed to notice about him since he hadn't contacted with anyone much.

He felt like he stood out despite having the exact same external appearance as any other human could have. He's running and so is dozen of other people before going back home and preparing for the job.

But subconsciously Aizawa knew that his gut was twisting and turning because he didn't feel like he deserved this peaceful life.

On the way home, he found a couple of group of kids running to school and other hiding behind shop buildings smoking cigarettes or just talking about ditching school not quite certain yet if they will or won't do that. He ignored them, as always, it's just that age - he told himself turning a blind eye - and completely not his business. Shouta went into store and purchase of small groceries before heading straight to home.

The building he lived in was seven stories tall, with garden on the rooftop and basement which was for the most part only used by the owner as storage and dump for broken electronics and trash meant for recycling. The intended use of the basement was to do laundry there with slight raise to the rent so the people wouldn't have to buy their own or take long trips to the laundromats that weren't common in this small area. There might be two or three, but no more and the queues are almost famous for their length. Out of fourteen dryers and washing machines, only three were occupied by the building's residents, the rest was used by the hospital that didn't pay for using them.

Aizawa went to the basement to get his clothes and then back up to the first floor to wait for the elevator. Since Toshinori returned at 4 AM this morning from his shift, there was no way he is going to be awake now, at 7 AM. Therefore, Aizawa didn't hesitate to go in and take the lift instead of stairs this time.

Shouta couldn't ease up though. His calves and thighs were tense and restless after all this running, but not only that. He spent too much time with Toshinori in this elevator past month. The whirring sound and weird twist in his gut whenever the elevator moved were almost soothing and he almost could imagine one of those silent moments he shared with Toshinori when they went out together to get some morning coffee.

His cheeks burned with shame at the thought.

He's so fucking awkward it's unbelievable.

"Taking the elevator now, huh?" Was the first thing he heard spoken to him that day. Taken aback he took a few steps back only to hit the elevator wall. He was very startled by Yagi's face and voice. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"

"Wha- what are you doing up?!" Shouta's voice rose in pitch slightly from the heart attack he just experienced. After the heart attack, the organ dropped to the stomach and then raced into his throat, tightening it, and he could fucking feel that he was becoming redder.

"Well, I thought it was my shift now!" Yagi spoke with a usual cheerful demeanor, it was slightly tainted by weariness. It was impossible to not notice that Toshinori's police uniform - usually neat and spotless, as well as the hairstyle - was right now... well, in short, the blond looked like a wreck.

The shorter man regained some of his composure and made sure to lower his voice back to normal before he spoke again.

"You're an idiot..." Fuck, are those really the first words he told Yagi after all this time?

"Yeah," The taller man chuckled with slight blush appearing on his cheeks. "I finished at 4AM and yet at 7AM was ready for another round!" Toshinori said as casual as he could be, unlike some people. At moments like these, Shouta wished he had interacted with humans more, that way, he wouldn't be so easily embarrassed and awkward. "And there I was wondering why I poured salt into my tea! I even got off at the wrong level of the building!"

"Don't pass out here, you need to get into bed on your own." Shouta retorted as he tried to pass by Toshinori who was getting into the elevator.

"Where are you going? We live on the same floor," the blond called out. "I'd know this is the wrong floor." He joked, but the voice lacked in honesty and playfulness. It came out flat.

Aizawa lost his footing when he felt a light tug on his sweaty shirt. He looked over his shoulder at the taller man, who quickly released him.

"Please...bear with me for the few seconds," Toshinori asked and then averted his eyes, contemplating his sanity. "...sorry." His hand has returned to his side, but the nervousness had it start to fidget with his tie, unsure whether to pull it off or tighten it.

God, this was so uncomfortable.

To Shouta's own surprise, he has followed Toshinori's request and stepped back inside.

It was tense and quiet.

The doors seemed to take forever to close, and the elevator - forever to start moving again.

Shouta's brain was racing through a million thoughts, many of them repeated. They followed the same pattern - they attempted to explain why his heart was beating so fast. Did he smell bad? Oh God, he was sweaty and gross now. He must smell awful. Is he going to be judged for what he has in this freaking see-through bag of groceries?

Aizawa's brain seemed for the first few moments to forget all the logic he used to go about every day. It took a little moment, but Shouta has reached more logical conclusions.

"I'm sorry," Yagi continued, feeling somewhat emboldened now, "that I made you uncomfortable..." His big hand left the poor battered tie and traveled a bit higher to rest on the side of his neck. It must've been flushed crimson with all the embarrassment he felt right now. "...And if I seemed forceful...it was never my intention-"

"You made me uncomfortable?" Aizawa questioned, surprised that Toshinori would even think that. Rather than to slowly begin to despise him and his awkward ways... he felt guilty? Just how little did he really know about feelings and how others can interpret situations? "When?" In this small moment, he felt his awkwardness subside. He should be the one apologizing to Yagi for avoiding him.

"Ah- well... that time when I grabbed you by the arm... you were... frightened. I just..." Yagi stumbled through words slowly starting to feel disoriented in the conversation and his relationship with the shorter, and presumably younger, man.

"Ah-!" Shouta let out a short strangled noise that made Toshinori look at him, bemused he made eye contact with the other man. "Ah! Haha- pfft! Sorry!" Aizawa was laughing. He was tried to restrain himself, that's why the noise came out so choked up.

This strangled pretty laugh sounded very awkward. Aizawa bid goodbye to what he called rational and raised his hands up to his flustered face to cover it as he turned away from Yagi, he giggled into them.

God, was he a huge fool.

"I'm just a fucking mess and I suck at this." The hands moved further up to pull back his hair that has fallen in his face from the loose ponytail. "I'm sorry." The taller blond man could only wonder why did the shorter one find it funny. "I claim that I don't care, but fuck, I am a mess." He might regret it, but right now, it doesn't matter as he looks up - his onyx eyes meet diamond ones. "If you ever made me uncomfortable I'm most likely thankful for it!"

"What...?" Toshinori felt his blood freeze as his heart sank, all the blood that didn't go cold, rushed up to his face and heated up.

A soft noise announced that the two arrived at their floor.

"Don't ask!" Aizawa said quickly walking out and into his apartment, while Yagi was frozen in spot, the black-haired man swiftly opened his door and walked in shouting only one more thing before they closed. "Have good dreams!"

Okay, now Toshinori was very confused.

He really should get back into his bed.

Chapter Text

(sleepy boy)

Toshinori woke up in the early afternoon.

For a moment he lied still, bemused about where he is and what is exactly happening.

Ah, that's right.

He's at "home".

In a city that is almost completely isolated from the rest of the country. Such a little city.

He has work today.

Perhaps, he will meet some of his friends on during the shift.

Yeah, most likely.

When he will walk into the workplace, he'll catch Tsukauchi getting ready to leave home. After exchanging greetings, Naomasa will start talking about something ridiculous his younger sister - Makoto - has thought up and done with her college friends. It will be on verge of legal, so as any older brother would, Naomasa will sound very worried. Then, Naomasa will ask for confirmation of their plans to drag Hitomi out for a few drinks. Toshinori will confirm with a bright smile and a vigorous nod. The weekend plans to force their friend in going out, came from pure worry about their workaholic Yorushin, of course.

Later, when Yagi himself will be getting out of the station, Hitomi will come in, unexpecting of Sunday ambush. They will bump into each other, exchange a "hello", and Yorushin will start tossing some random facts or fractions of an article he read before preparing himself for the work. Yagi, most likely, won't know anything about the article and while going home, he will look it up on the internet.

Maybe this time, it will turn out that it was a prank. Yorushin wasn't the type of person to make jokes like that, but there is a slim chance he knows that Toshinori will check either way and use that to trick him.

There's always a chance that the routine will change.

He lived in the same lonely apartment for a few years, but it never felt like home. He almost knew every inch of the flat, but it still felt... odd. Honestly, no place felt like home to Toshinori, not since... not since he lost the one person that made him feel at home in the first place.

Him, the abandoned and unwanted bastard, raised by shouts and flying bottles. And bruises.

He felt like a visitor. An annoying waste of space. Everywhere. At all times.

He's gotten used to the feeling, but it wasn't a pleasant one.

At times, he managed to forget. It happened during those pleasant fleeting moments, when all that mattered, was to have fun.

And then she took him in and he felt safe. Wanted. Loved.

He felt warm.

Toshinori stretched on the soft mattress sighing a little. He didn't quite want to get up just yet. Not when he was so warm.

Toshinori wiped his hands with a kitchen towel, feeling pretty proud of himself for not putting off doing the dishes for later this time. Yagi threw the towel at the counter and proceeded to move to the bathroom.

He quickly washed his face, tied his hair up (his temporary boss always complained about him leaving his bangs out of the short ponytail - "you look sloppy!" she said. He, on the other hand, found it silly and thought it made him look more approachable. Especially now, that he looked like a skeleton. Naomasa didn't think it was funny and always tried to convince him to tie  all of his hair  up) and brushed his teeth, then he got dressed for the job.

A blue shirt, black tie, a vest, and dark pants to complete the look.

Now, that everything was taken care off, it was the time to take the medicine. This part of the morning routine always ended with him feeling very self-conscious. He strongly resented it.

With a bit of hesitation, Toshinori reached for the cabinet with medicine and pulled out a few (mostly) orange bottles. Slowly, with a few seconds long breaks to take a sip of water, he took one or two of each kind, as prescripted.

The quiet of his apartment rang in his ears as he eventually felt very self-conscious. His hand went over rough edges of his scars, careful to avoid the soft tissue that was healing. It hurt severely when irritated. Well, that happens when you take a death blow and somehow survive it.

When was the last time he willingly looked into a mirror?

The blond went out of the bathroom to grab a bag with the things he might need while on the duty. But his thoughts were elsewhere. He wondered about his loneliness.

He was so pathetic. 

Wasn't it good that someone, as broken as him, was alone?

No family nor... lover to fret over his pain and injuries meant no one was being hurt by him. Nobody got worried when he gets shot twice in his stomach. Nobody got to worry over his sudden weight drop.

Everyone - friends, co-workers, neighbors - they were all satisfied with "oh, I'm getting better, I think the doctor's exaggerating my recovery, but who am I to complain!" while during every colder night that happened once in a while, he was unable to sleep due to the pain chewing his gut.

How many times has he fallen asleep sobbing softly from the pain? Even from before he got this heinous injury?

He didn't know why he pretended to be alright in front of the people he called friends.

Guess old habits die hard.

 "Why the long face?" Startled by the voice and the way it ripped him out of his thoughts, Toshinori nearly spilled his tea on himself. The shock was short-lived as Yagi whipped his head around to look at his friend with a bright smile. 

"Tsukauchi-kun!" He called out feeling the hot tea slightly burning his fingers through the paper cup, so he changed the hold. "Good evening!" The short-haired brunette only gave him a small smile and incoherent mumble as an answer to his greeting. He must've just finished his shift. Toshinori understood - he wasn't the nicest one after a long shift either. The taller man began fidgeting with his cup of tea. "Frankly, I should be asking you this," He added after a longer period of silence.

"With me? Everything's fine, just the boss has me take full eight hours and adds six on top of that since Yorushin's not coming in today." Tsukauchi seemed to be pondering whether to purchase coffee. "I get four hours to nap and then I have to get back to work." Knowing Naomasa for a while, Yagi was prepared for the other man to use his Lie Detecting abilities (which got him the reputation of the Human Polygraph) and interrogate until the truth came out. Usually, the biggest problem with Yagi was, that he didn't have any idea why he was feeling down.

He was aware if he could pin the problem, he could rest easier.

"Now you tell me why  you  have the sour face."

"It's a long story..." Maybe it had something to do with his confusion regarding Aizawa...? "I don't want to take the time off your sleep you need." Toshinori appealed towards his friend's desire to rest before another few hours of work. He'd rather be interrogated with little-sleep-Naomasa rather than no-sleep-Naomasa.

"Hey Toshi, you can talk to me." Toshinori's coworker spoke in a weary and calm tone. "I won't judge you. I saw some weird stuff, so I doubt you can surprise me." Yagi only smiled and nodded before drinking more of his tea. He knew that Naomasa would stick around unless there came up a task to do or a topic was changed - and strongly hinted that the current was for later.

"...what happened so Yorushin can't come in today? I thought he never missed a day before." The tall blond asked. He was mildly interested and concerned - Hitomi was a workaholic and very private on top of that, he was good at making a person feel nosy by showing basic concern for his habits, or maybe that was just Toshinori.

"I don't know, I'll ask him as soon as I see him." That was strange.

If Toshinori didn't know better, he'd say Naomasa just lied to him.

After that, silence fell between the two and Yagi's coworker left pretty quickly.

Shouta hated looking back. Especially on past mistakes.

He has made poor decisions for various reasons and hurt people a lot. Because of that, he didn't trust himself much in any sort of relationship. He's looked back at his dumb actions and fraternizing with Toshinori was becoming one of them and could just become the  worst .

He also couldn't help but see the  parallels.

An innocent human with a pair of bright blue eyes and a big smile - a spotless ray of sunshine - holding out a hand to him offering him what he yearns for but cannot have.

What changed were the surroundings and the nature of a relationship. His and Nemuri's friendship was from the beginning platonic, this was different.

He wanted something else from this relationship he had with Yagi, but he was afraid to act on this desire. He was concerned with how the sunflower viewed him and was concerned for him and his safety, the last of the important things he was worried about was that Hizashi and Nemuri were going to give him a headache.

There were also other things he didn't want his friends to know. For example, the fact this isn't the first romantic relationship he's in, but most likely the first that will be a healthy one, if he doesn't screw this up.

Shouta wanted to be careful and not rush anything, but he knew the pace he put on wasn't going to do either.

Chapter Text

The weather truly was a tricky bitch. Especially during summertime in Japan.

Toshinori anticipated a heatwave back in June. Well, the heatwave came, but it was July already. Now that the summer hots finally came, Toshinori was certain that they would stick around until very late autumn. July came around and unlike June, it raged boiling and merciless.

He was so glad for having a working AC in his workplace. The sun was burning everything and anything that dared to peek outside - now he experienced one of the perks of light-duty. The fact he didn't have to go out in the streets to patrol in that full set uniform was rapturous. Just the thought of walking around in long sleeves in full sun was horrid. There was an incident or two of people passing out from the heat, but overall, the afternoon transitioning to evening and then the night was calm.

The desk job was just as tiring and time-consuming, but it was the only thing he could do what with his scar tissue still healing. All-day long, Yagi thought about the abhorrent stacks of papers that needed to be read, filled, documented and sent forward. It seemed like when he went through one, a new one appeared. He was so busy that he didn’t have time to discern anything unusual - not that something jaw-dropping happened, but Naomasa left earlier than supposed and in an apparent rush. Before Yagi knew it, it was 3 AM, which meant he stayed a "tad" overtime. He left notice of the overtime hours and went home. The temperature dropped significantly, but he wasn't too chilly yet.

Yagi wasn't troubled as he walked the dark, long, empty pavements back to his apartment complex. He knew the way well and doubted anything would happen at this hour. It was roughly 4 AM, the time of the night where almost everyone slept. Additionally, it meant that the sun would rise in half an hour or so. He remembered how strange it was to fall asleep under the rising sun for the first time after a long shift as a police officer. Right now, that was an everyday arrangement.

All the way home, he didn't witness a single soul.

No wonder - he was awake at an inhuman hour - and even if someone was awake, they surely were keeping it within the confines of their home.
The man couldn't quite remember how long he’d been walking when he floundered into his apartment. He wasn't even sure if he had taken the elevator. Luckily, despite the exhaustion he felt after all the hard brain work, he remembered to shut and lock the door.

He couldn’t recall how he preserved any strength to get dressed in the sleepwear before he passed out.

Aizawa woke up while the air was still fresh from the night's chill. With a grunt, he rolled off the mattress, still tangled in the blanket that he refused to let go of. The man had no idea why the pillow was on the floor and the covers curled at his feet, but the blanket had stayed draped as he fell asleep with it. The cool air fading a bit after the dawn gave the man knew it was time to turn on the fans before the inevitable heat arrived and turned the apartment into an oven.

Ignoring the fact he was turning all the fans to keep himself cool, the man draped his fluffy blanket over his shoulders and went into the kitchen to "obtain morning nutrition", as his sleepy haze made him forget the word "eat" and "breakfast". He didn't wake up fully until he’d had a shower, but his mind was technically awoken halfway through the humble breakfast he made.

The man ate little compared to his usual breakfast. He wasn't really hungry, which should be concerning for a werewolf in a general. Aizawa lost appetite when he recalled the yesterday's 7 AM run-in with Yagi Toshinori. He pushed away from the plate, leaning his elbows on the table and hiding his face in his palms.

Even when Yagi was extremely messy, he was still charming and very beautiful, still capable of making Shouta lose his mind with one smile. The thought alone had him blushing like a lovesick teenager.

"Oh fuck." He cursed under his breath. Shouta tried to not replay the awkward dialogue that went down between him and sleep-deprived blonde. It was so unnecessary, but his brain did it anyway. "I... really... Did I have to say these things?"

God. He's so fucking awkward.

It wasn't the first time he thought it, and it wouldn't be the last.

Aizawa gave up on breakfast and left the table. Traveling to the bathroom was a bit hard with his body half-awake. While his mind was on the topic of awkward encounters it ended up going to his embarrassing life moments.

Really. He did not need to recall that one time he gave in Nemuri's weird ideas willingly.

When he finally got rid of sleepwear and went under the shower, his brain toned down. Turning the knob, the back of his neck met with cold water that slowly turned warm. Aizawa let his ebony hair down - how did he manage to fall asleep in that ponytail? It was very uncomfortable! - he let out a sigh, relaxing a bit more rubbing his scalp.

After about half an hour, he was fully awake and refreshed.

Standing in the mirror, he determined he - temporarily - looked pretty good. In his opinion at least -he didn't care what other people thought of him.

The man quickly dried himself and threw on clothes. Then he proceeded to pick up his blanket and move to the living room, where he created a "nest" for reading time.

He flopped onto the pile, ready to reach out for another book or the one he just began reading - he didn't know yet - when he felt like something was missing. A part of the morning ritual was not done. He curled up pondering what he might have done wrong.

He lacked some good coffee.

Of course.

Shouta despised instant coffee, but he hadn't acquired a coffee machine just yet... so the only option was to get out of the apartment and get some in a coffee shop. It was laughable to think how it was a thing just a few weeks ago, to go out in the morning and get a cup with Yagi. They hadn't managed to go together every morning, but frequent enough for it to become a routine. It was a bit too early, but he couldn't help but feel a bit... hopeful, to see Yagi when he put on shoes.

Aizawa locked the door and then walked down a familiar street in the direction of the cafe. He was in a pretty good mood despite the weariness.

He thought about how often he visited said coffee shop.

Shouta huffed out a laugh to himself, My order will likely be realized before I even manage to get to the register. He should be wary of becoming a caffeine addict.

When Aizawa arrived at the establishment, some people were enjoying a drink and something sweet outside, as it was not that hot yet. Better now than in the heat. He just passed them by, not paying another thought. They didn't matter. When he walked in, though, he froze and felt his heart skip a beat. Goddammit. It was hard not to spot Toshinori. He was fucking 7ft tall.

He looked great in his police uniform, but definitely better in something casual. The difference was, Yagi was never in a rush when he was dressed normally... it was just more appealing to Shouta.

Aizawa was always careful when talking to, well, anyone. He always controlled, what emotions and experiences he shared, what he kept hidden, but all the apprehensiveness disappeared into thin air when he looked at Toshinori. His head went completely blank and the fact he spoke at all was a miracle in itself. He could forget how to breathe when looking at Yagi.

Shouta's wishes were granted, and while he should be happy to see Toshinori, he wanted to run and hide. Badly. He was not prepared- shit, he never would be. His head cleared - he could see nothing but the blonde man, then it all fell into chaos.

Toshinori turned his head and smiled at Shouta. Fuck. His heartbeat was way too fast. Definitely.

"Oh, Aizawa-kun! Fancy meeting you here!" The blond seemed as tired as when Shouta saw him yesterday.

Shit. His hair is so messy, it looks so soft and... adorable. Did he even sleep at all since the last time I've seen him?

"Hi." He uttered walking across the small coffee shop to stand in the line behind Yagi. Is this the best I can do? Shouta thought gruffly.

"Still before morning coffee, huh?" He wasn't a morning person. He got out of bed at random hours with irregular sleep and varying moods, that was true, but right now, he was fully awake, and everything but nervousness has faded away. Toshinori left him a mess.

"Obviously." Aizawa rolled his shoulders awkwardly. Shit. "Why else would I be here?" Fuck.

"I suppose so, sorry that was pretty dumb." Yagi let out a nervous chuckle and rubbed his neck tensely. Toshinori's expression reminded Aizawa of how their relationship began and where it was now. Aizawa didn't expect it would go this far. He didn't expect to stand face to face with the man, head over heels and almost stuttering. He'd faced off beings four times as powerful as he was, but he was just... helpless.

"It's... nice to see you again too." God, he felt so gross for not being able to control his reactions. Any other time, he'd be fine talking to another person - another man.

"Hm?" Yagi looked at him dumbfounded.

"Nothing," Shouta said quickly suddenly finding his nails interesting. Weren't they a bit too long?

"Sorry, I did hear it, just didn't register." Yagi let out another nervous laugh. For all the sacred tears of Chaos, what the fuck is doing the person in front of them? "Thank you."

"Idiot!" Aizawa huffed out, Yagi only responded with yet another small laugh. Shouta felt some weight get lifted off his knotted stomach.

The small smile on his lips was short-lived though. It died down when Toshinori's turn to place an order came and the blonde ordered two coffees.

The first one was exactly how Aizawa would have it in the grumpy mornings, and the second one was Yagi's regular order. Shouta wouldn't admit that he knew how Toshinori liked his coffee. He shouldn't think too much about it, but it just... shook him a bit.

He wasn't the only one watching Yagi very closely.

"Come on, we're holding up the line," Yagi said stepping to the side with an unwavering smile tugging on Shouta's arm. Aizawa followed him as his thoughts raced. We are? We? He... remembered my preferences? What? No, it means nothing. It's nothing.

"I could order one myself," Aizawa said, fingers fidgeting. The nervousness that left, filled him again. He went back and forth, not being able to decide between wanting to say a million things and saying nothing at all.

"Sure you could, but it saved you some time, right?" Well, that was rational, but Shouta was still confused. Sure, this felt nice, but why the hell would Toshinori do that? Was he looking too deep into things? "I hope I didn't get anything wrong." He knew Yagi's kindness and this wasn't it. This was more than just kindness and consideration.

They went over the same routine for weeks before. Yagi always waited for Shouta to order and receive his coffee, all the while entertaining both of them with small talk. This was stepping out of the bounds of mutual respect they showed to each other.

If he knew the right words to what he felt and what was going on, would he be able to say them?

Did he even deserve to say them?

He shouldn't act on this... impulse.

Yagi will only get hurt.

They all did.

"No... you remembered right..." He mumbled raising his hands to his face to rub the burning cheeks, trying to contain himself. Aizawa knew a few people he could compare Yagi to. He had a family. He had friends. Those were people he truly cared about and wanted to leave him, so he can't hurt them any more than he already has.

"I'm sorry, did I offend you?" Mother of Life, no. "My sincere apologies, I didn't mean to, Aizawa-kun. I-" Please, stop looking so desperate to please me. Don't give me hope.

"It's not it." He had one past lover. "You didn't have to." He wasn't a good one. He looked bad from all the angles compared to Toshinori who liked overstepping... their friendship bonds. Yagi was far kinder and considerate than he has ever been.

"Yes?" The hesitant note in the taller man's tone just tied Aizawa's knot in the stomach tighter.

"But you did." Fuck, I love this man. This is bad. It was one thing to realize it in safe confines of home, but completely different in front of the man he adored so much.

It was only coffee, but he couldn't wrap his head around it.

It was as if Aizawa couldn't wrap his head around it.

Toshinori couldn't crack this man. Whenever he believed he figured out what Aizawa wanted, the man distanced himself.

Aizawa was... an odd man, but not unpleasant. Extremely intriguing at the very least. Fun to be with... Pretty good-looking.

Chapter Text

"You remembered."

They are friends at best.

Toshinori tells himself handing Aizawa his coffee. But even that... was too far-fetched... probably.

At his end, it was just as nice standing in front of the shop taking a sip of the coffee with a smile with his quiet neighbor as his normal outing with friends. 

"Well, for a month we went here together nearly every morning, how do you say it, "only logical" I could recite it from the top of my head!"

"It's been a while," Aizawa stated quietly into the paper cup. He was adamant it was for the best. He's proven to be untrustworthy to himself years ago. His hair was swept into a messy bun threatening to fall apart, Yagi couldn't look away.

"It has." Toshinori wished they could get together to do something, filling with the free time he had with anything other than work would be a blessing. He wanted to plan an outing that would sit right with Aizawa's schedule. Aizawa Shouta was an intriguing man, but he'd understand if the other didn't find him as appealing. Toshinori kept a close eye on the man, he observed his habits of silence, distance, and late-night fumbling. Damn the thin wall on the corridor...

Well, the current timing was better than any other. Yagi wasn't that keen on falling asleep at the moment - the pain was building up and so were the nightmares. Not exactly the best conditions for him to rest, he planned to push his caffeine intake to the limit today.

His--  their  order of coffee was up already, warm in their hands and better to talk about it now before Shouta slips away again.

The rooftop of their apartment had plenty of space to fiddle with, especially for a simple conversation. And it was quite a sight too.

"If you aren't busy, I know a nice place where we could talk." Toshinori inquired politely but bit fidgety.

"Does it have shade?" Aizawa put on his lazy smirk that was warmer than the cup in Toshinori's hands. 

"Certainly." His smile grew wider.

"Well, it'll probably be better than standing and harming this business with my face." Toshinori saw nothing wrong with it.

"I find your face quite pleasant." He stated, soon got flustered, but wouldn't take it back. That would be rude and dishonest.

"Peculiar taste, dare I say, Yagi-san," Aizawa responded taking a long sip from his coffee, which should still be hot. Very hot.

"Now, there's no need to be this official, Aizawa-kun."

"Mhmm. Whaddya want me to call you then?"

"What are you comfortable with?"

They exchanged stupid questions and short answers like that, it was a very odd small talk. One not knowing how to ask his questions properly, the other dreading them.

"What, your bedroom?" Aizawa teased noticing them taking a long route back to the apartment building, the cups growing lighter with their conversation, still awkward and vaguely about nothing. It was aplenty different from the first few times Toshinori exchanged pleasantries with Shouta because the dark-haired man shot them down... Now he wanted to engage and it was as exciting as... mind-erasing. His damn head was blank. It was nice, but also stressful.

"As much as I appreciate the offer, dinner seems to be in the first order." Oh, despite being brain-fried, he can respond to snide comments. He's spent a lot of time with Naomasa and Yorushin. Not once he's seen them lose their cool. It was a default setting now after thousands of banters. "I'd thought of taking it a bit further up though."

"You're stupid." Aizawa turned red, rising the collar of his shirt to hide his face. Very adorable response from someone who's just a taste of his own medicine. And as fun, as was the reply, for a moment, Toshinori was afraid the man was going to hit the emergency button and climb out of the elevator's emergency exit. "Only logical" that he assumed it, he's done something of that sort before... kind of. Thankfully, that didn't happen and the man busied himself burying his face in his shirt.

Taking the stairs to avoid him would be a bit different from escaping from a moving elevator. His brain truly is fried.

"Sadly, I'd have to agree. My light duty speaks for itself."

"Hm?"

"I did something rather foolish and still am curing of it." It caused the conversation to pause for a moment, he got a worried look and just smiled. "My doctor's thesis though is that my stupidity is incurable."

"Sounds in character for you." Aizawa's hand reached out for Yagi missed the other man. The dark-haired man shoved it into his pocket, taking another sip to discover he finished the cup. Fuck.

"Certainly was!" Toshinori chuckled and the silence fell on them, but less heavy than before. Still tense.

"I didn't know rooftop was available for tenants." Toshinori wondered if Aizawa only had black clothes, it would be murder in summer.

"It is, and it's one of my favorite places." With that, they exited the elevator, went up some stairs, and opened the door to the rooftop. It was a few meters each direction, filled with pots of various plants, from small trees to flower bushes. 

"It's alright," Aizawa said, but he looked... thrilled by all the green life that was on the roof. His eyes had stars in them at that moment. It was endearing.

"Are you interested in gardening?"

"My mother had a garden in the first home, she used me for labor when I messed up as much as misplaced a speck of dirt, so I've learned." There was something bashful but passionate about admitting that. Oh, dear. Toshinori pleaded with the gods for Aizawa to talk to him with an expression like that more often. "I've taken a job around a flower shop actually."

"I imagine you fit right in."

"Oh, for sure." The man snorted sarcastically. "Be honest, I look like I'm feral." It was a tag no werewolf would've wanted. It was used for those too aggressive and untrustworthy, prone to spread their curse to others. Someone who was better off put down. Aizawa earned that name. He was ruining the mood with his internal gloom.
Ah, wait. Toshinori didn't know. Not about the meaning behind feral, not about him being a werewolf, not even about that time he started avoiding him... He didn't know anything about Aizawa that would've mattered. It would be for the best. Don't be selfish Aizawa.

"I mean it."

"Mhm," He hummed looking around the rooftop, the sunshine smile blinding him. "Are any of these yours?" He changed the topic, the paper cup in his hand folded and shoved into his pocket to be disposed of later.

"Peonies over there and there. Anything else couldn't handle me." Toshinori answered pointing out the few huge peonies pots the rooftop, the larger flowers were kept closer to the edges. Must've been to shield partially from the wind. Aizawa judged peonies to be a fairly cute choice of flowers.

"What, not even aloe?" Maybe Toshinori poured too much water and they'd just rotten. "Cactus?"

"Only peonies, everything else got drowned or dried no matter how much I followed the guides." The blond chuckled. "I guess I don't have the green thumb."

"How's that possible?" Aizawa could've had a clue, but was not going to share it. "I know a few people who'd get incredibly upset. Not sure whether they'd cry over it or rage." He pondered out loud. Dryads were sensitive when it came to nature, obviously, but Izuku would've melted into incoherent sobbing while any other would-be sharpening a sickle. Scary thought.

"Your mother?"

"Someone far more invested in plants, but close enough." One would think his mother was not human. Crazy woman.

And then, there was silence. All fidgety and tense.
 

Toshinori weighed his options, his possible questions. Are we friends? Are you in trouble - can I help you somehow? All those bruises - what were they? Or simply... Did you finish that recommendation list I gave you? Most of them regarded information he wasn't entitled to knowing, as far as it was established they were neighbors at best.

Aizawa's nails bit into heels of his palms.

What he planned to do-- say was going to be stupid.

So stupid.

But honest.

 
"I like you." He begun, it caught the blond off guard. His black hair was a mess, clothes loose, and in ridiculous, contrasting colors, and face from cheeks to ears pink. Eyes avoided contact, bashful.

He was beautiful, Toshinori realized not for the first time. Oh, dear.

"I don't know how to deal with it," Shouta admitted his hands started rubbing together as if he was cold. He wanted to be clear at least once in his life. Instincts and emotions contradicted daily. "And I have pulled stupid stunts. And I will." Shouta's voice faltered, his throat felt dry like a desert. "And it's dumb of me to do this... to try, but... Yagi, I want to... spend time with you." He wanted to say more, but he didn't want to be looked at like he was crazy. "This is how I feel."

This was inappropriate enough.

"Aizawa..." The wind blew into Toshinori's face disturbing him ever so slightly. Oh.  Oh.  His throat turned to desert, chest compressed under deep-sea-like pressure, and cheeks flared up in feverish heat. "This was probably the longest sentence you've said to me." What is he supposed to say back?

"Possibly." They exchanged a dry chuckle.

"I look forward to being your friend." This sounded awkward. Ugh, they were putting on a soap opera. Someone shoot him one more time, preferably his forehead. "Glad we got that cleared up!"

"Ugh, this is so official." Aizawa shoved his hands into pockets, turning his head away from Toshinori's face.

"You set the tone!" Toshinori chuckled in response, nudging Aizawa.

"Mhmm, I suck at this." The black-haired man wanted the topic to change. "I can see you fibbing, what you want to know?" He noticed the blond was always walking on eggshells around him. He knew that it was because of the wrestling incident. He wrestled a teenage werewolf and luckily got out unscathed save for a few bruises, but they were nothing. He suspected - from all the soap operas he'd seen with Hizashi (no, he doesn't care it's not a soap opera, everything on TV is soap opera to him) - that Toshinori either thought of him as someone to save or as someone who's not in the best place. If he wasn't pathetic, would anyone pay attention to him?

"It's none of my business." Sure, why are you sticking your nose in anyways then? Aizawa wanted to roll his eyes, that's what it was. Pity. It always has been pity.

His heartbeat drops to normal. Of course, it's pity. He can play Sherlock Holmes and deduce what Toshinori's pitying him for now. Well, since they'd settled that they're on speaking terms again as friends, Toshinori might want to know why they weren't speaking in the first place. Time to resolve one issue before moving to another one... or creating more.

"Do you want to know why was I all that bruised and beaten that one time?" He didn't need pity, he wanted attention though, which was confusing. He was a stupid mutt after all... He can see the man fumble to reassure him, but Shouta shuts him up. "It's fine."

He paused for a moment, was this for dramatic effect? Perhaps. You can't prove him anything. "I wrestled."

"W... wrestle-wait what?" Toshinori was not expecting that, god forbid he asks for clarification like a normal person. Was Aizawa a boxer of some sort? Traveling and fighting... it would fit... Yagi can tell Aizawa's a very strong man... "Hm, well now I feel silly for wanting to ask for my book back." The blond joked sheepishly. 

Aizawa's taken the job of a florist though... so probably retiring.

The man just chuckled at Toshinori's expression. 

"Eh, the kid had a bad day ahead, I just made sure he didn't kill anyone."

"...now nothing makes sense again." Toshinori sighed, and Aizawa only chuckled. "I do hope you're pranking me."

"Oh, for sure. I'm setting you up." The man rolled his eyes. "Do I look like one for jokes?"

"Maybe."