Work Text:
Cold Front, Warm Sparks.
“For she had eyes and chose me.” - William Shakespeare
You simply scrolled past the quote on your phone. You were supposed to study for the latest term coming up but at this point, with how the teachers were acting, you hoped you failed. At least you wouldn't have to come back here again.
UA high! You stood in the hierarchy as an unimportant second year. Eh, whatever, it's fine… UA is known for its award winning, chart topper heroes that the school keeps spitting out. Your brain mutters mockingly, as you bite your pencil to act like you're trying to stay focused.
You sat in the back of the unused library section, on the right, because on the left were the couples, and sadly one time you walked in on two teachers, with some tension, and you’ll just leave it at that, leave it as a dissociative blocked off thing, instead of a memory.
The shelves were thick with bound old history books, pages as thin as leaves, most of the books were feathered at the edges, and with torn pages like a cryptic mystery. Well, no one really read them anymore, so why were they so tattered? You’d never know.
To you, it was calm, quiet, and you could do whatever you wanted, and no one came here like a recurring customer except you. No one's stats in your face, well… you called them stats, but in reality, it was more so a feeling that was always correct.
Drifting off into your own thoughts, your fingers brushing against the grain of the tabletop. Your things sprawled out everywhere, hmm, what book would you find that included that battle? Tilting your head, as you stare at the words on your computer.
Standing up to the shelf, as if trying to intimidate it's too large size you press your fingers again to the old bronze letters in the groove of the shelf underneath the books as if to find the title you needed. Slowly your eyes traveled, as they also widened.
Fuck… its all the way up there.
You tilt your head up, up, up, to meet the thick book you needed. It was matte, deep red, with golden lettering.
“The World Inside Kinsey's Mind - An Insight to the Battle of 63” You could read the lettering just enough to stick your hand up as far as you could, reaching only the lower middle of the spine. Trying to use just your fingers without gripping anything to pull it out.
You look to your right for anything that could help you and then look to-
“AH- What the - owowow!! I dropped that on my- God!” You yelp, bouncing up and down on your foot, making a noise in the quiet library, it was one way to get your book, for it to fall on your toes. You could hear the few people in the library shift at your whining, looking over to where you were- and the guy that scared your soul out of you, you turn around to face him- to give him a piece of your mind for not having manners.
The words die in your throat.
He stared awkwardly, looking at you as if you were a weird creature. You stare at him because… well he was drop dead gorgeous and you hadn't seen him around in your course.
“You scared me…” You start but immediately regret, cheeks turning bright red. Wait- Just because he's a conventionally attractive man doesn't mean he gets a pass for acting like a lunatic!
“Oh, I'm sorry, I was trying to get the book… below the one that… hit you.” He shifted awkwardly, looking away as he simply reached out, grabbing some old history book and pitifully gesturing to it. A hint of guilt on his face, as your eyes dart to the book and then along the scruffy edges of his red and white hair.
Two things you noted, he had candy cane hair, and he was handsome-and tall-andhewasjustsorpretty- before you let yourself dive too deep into the pipeline of conventionally attractive men, you spoke your mind. Not the part that was focusing on how he looked though.
“Well, next time, excuse me before I lose a fight against another book and- I Dunno…” Your words jumble up, as you stop yourself. Then, with a stiff voice, “Lose my other foot.”
The words hum in your head, he was in a humorous mood, his name was-. Todoroni-?... No no… Todoroki. He is very very strong. Although you could already see that- but thank you brain for pointing out the obvious
Then it clicks into your mind.
“You’re not in the hero course are you…?” You suddenly speak up, trapping him in the throes of conversation.
“Yeah, you could say that-...” He says, sharply.
“Have I met you before? In 2-B?” You let out the huff of a laugh at his words; did you have 2-B muscles somewhere?... Anywhere? If so then you haven't met them
“No- no I'm in general studies- it's my instinctual maternal kumbaya feelings- agh! Whatever, it says you're strong- so i just assumed…is it weird I'm calling a stranger strong?” You manage, pausing and turning red once again, losing yourself in the awkward conversation.
His eyes meet yours and a quiet breath traps itself in your chest. He doesn't say anything at first but then… The corners of his lips twitch.
“I don’t think you're weird.”