[There's hero work, and then there's the fact that he doesn't quite have enough to cover all his bills just yet. He's a new hero and one that didn't start at an already establish agency. So bills? They can hurt.
Which is exactly how he found himself working part-time at a flower shop.
[ Bills are hell - even Shouto can say that, though thankfully he still has the funds that his father's been putting into an account for him for years now. Eventually he's going to transfer them all to his own account, but that'll be when he's better established.
So that makes it kind of hilarious to him, in a way, that he's using his old man's money for this. ]
My old man's recovering from an injury, but being an asshole about - honestly, everything. [ Blunt as ever. ] How do I say "fuck you" in flower?
[ Ever since he and his mother started growing closer again, Shouto's ferociously protective of her. The smallest slight against her out of Endeavor's mouth, and he's on a warpath of spite. ]
[Ah, suddenly everything makes a whole lot more sense.
He hasn't been working here long, but he's a quick study and he knows exactly what flowers go into that kind of bouquet. Though it was mostly so he didn't accidentally put them into some poor unsuspecting bride's wedding bouquet.
Izuku's no fan of Shouto's father either so it doesn't take him too long to whip together a small arrangement.]
The geraniums mean stupidity, the foxglove is insincerity, meadowsweet is uselessness, yellow carnations are you have disappointed me, and orange lilies are hatred.
[It's a surprisingly pretty bunch of flowers- if you don't know any of their meanings.]
[ While there's some sort of irony in going to him about this - because while he doesn't like Endeavor, he doesn't go out of his way to tell people he doesn't like them - he knows, without a doubt, that he'll be able to help him. He's always been able to figure things out pretty quickly, and Shouto relies on that.
And, of course, he comes through for him.
He watches him with his mismatched eyes, leaning on the counter as Izuku works. Because it's almost - calming. Being in his company always manages to make him feel a little more at ease, whether they're facing down a villain or Shouto's hidden temper rears its head.
(His left side stops radiating so much heat, actually.) ]
[He works quickly, but there's a lot of flowers and the arrangement is part of the presentation. Stuff that his bosses have quickly impressed upon him- that these bouquets need to look nice, no matter what they're for.
He's used to having Todoroki's eyes on him, though usually it's during battle. They do watch out for each other whenever they're fighting the same villain, after all. He does note that the shop seems to get a little less hot, but he figures being away from his dad is part of that.
It doesn't take him too long to wrap it all up and hold it out to Todoroki.]
[ As he folds his arms on the counter, slowly easing into something less irritable - both because of Midoriya's familiar presence, and because he's nowhere near Endeavor right now - Shouto lets his shoulders slump as the temperature returns to normal. He's a poor judge of temperature, but he can usually tell when he's affecting it.
Best to not wilt the flowers, probably.
Eyes down on Izuku's hands, and considering the one that he'd damaged in their fight what feels like forever ago, he reaches out to take the flowers. ]
He probably won't know what it means, but some of his visitors might and that's good enough for me. Thanks, Midoriya.
[He glances over every once in a while, checking on his customer and friend. It's good to see him relaxing, little by little.
If Shouto brought it up again, he'd say the damage had nothing to do with Shouto, and everything to do with how reckless he was when he first started using his quirk.]
Of course, Todoroki-kun. [He's always on your side, especially when it comes to Endeavor.] You're always welcome to come in, you know. Even if you don't need flowers.
[ There's still the running joke of Shouto being cursed, even if there hasn't been an incident relating to someone getting a hand injury around him for a while. But he does find the urge, sometimes, to reach out and take the hand. See just what he'd done, close up.
That would... probably be weird? He's not sure. Even after all these years since the sports festival, and Izuku reaching out to him like he had, he's still kind of bad at people sometimes. ]
I probably will while the old man's around more often. [ grump grump grump ] My mother's been doing better recently, I don't want to bring his bullshit to visits with her.
[Handcrusher Todoroki- Izuku still thinks that was a joke. But if Shouto did take his hand, he probably wouldn't pull away.
He nods, as he cleans off the table he used to make the bouquet. There's no need to stress out his mother, but Izuku can always be there for him if he needs to vent]
I understand. I'm here Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 am to four.
[ He wasn't joking, anyways. But at least he can still watch Izuku use his hands without trouble, and Iida's arm has mostly recovered, too. He doesn't get the urge to take Iida's hand, though, which is probably telling.
Turning the bouquet back and forth, Shouto narrows his eyes as he commits the meaning of the flowers to memory. He might not be able to identify them, at least specifically by name, but he'll remember the meanings. ]
If you don't mind, and your boss doesn't either, then I can bring you lunch or something when you work. [ But he hums a confirmation, looking at him. ] I remember.
[If he ever wants a lesson on flowers, he knows who to call.]
I wouldn't mind that at all. I'll ask my boss when she comes in.
You should come over some time. It'd be nice to have a guest. [And well, after you live in dorms with your classmates, sometimes your own apartment feels a little too lonely.
[ He might consider it. He could even bring it to his mother - she'd like that. ]
Let me know. [ Shouto nods, easy. That settles that. And the offer is one that causes him to relax a little more, no more temperature discrepancies, everything nice and mild like it's supposed to be. ]
I'd like that. [ A pause, then a question: ] How's it working out for you? Living in an apartment, I mean. I've been thinking about how I need to move out...
[He settles himself back behind the counter to continue their conversation.]
Of course, Todoroki-kun.
Living in the apartment? It not a big place, but it's nice. I love my mom, but it was a long commute to work each day. The bills are more than I would have expected, but it's the first time I've ever really lived alone, you know? It was always either the dorms or home.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
these starters are just nonstop
Which is exactly how he found himself working part-time at a flower shop.
Imagine his surprise when Todoroki storms in and slams a $20 on the counter.]
Todoroki-kun? Did... Did you need a bouquet?
[It can't be for something nice considering the face he's making.]
I love this
So that makes it kind of hilarious to him, in a way, that he's using his old man's money for this. ]
My old man's recovering from an injury, but being an asshole about - honestly, everything. [ Blunt as ever. ] How do I say "fuck you" in flower?
[ Ever since he and his mother started growing closer again, Shouto's ferociously protective of her. The smallest slight against her out of Endeavor's mouth, and he's on a warpath of spite. ]
same
He hasn't been working here long, but he's a quick study and he knows exactly what flowers go into that kind of bouquet. Though it was mostly so he didn't accidentally put them into some poor unsuspecting bride's wedding bouquet.
Izuku's no fan of Shouto's father either so it doesn't take him too long to whip together a small arrangement.]
The geraniums mean stupidity, the foxglove is insincerity, meadowsweet is uselessness, yellow carnations are you have disappointed me, and orange lilies are hatred.
[It's a surprisingly pretty bunch of flowers- if you don't know any of their meanings.]
no subject
And, of course, he comes through for him.
He watches him with his mismatched eyes, leaning on the counter as Izuku works. Because it's almost - calming. Being in his company always manages to make him feel a little more at ease, whether they're facing down a villain or Shouto's hidden temper rears its head.
(His left side stops radiating so much heat, actually.) ]
That... is very succinct, actually.
no subject
He's used to having Todoroki's eyes on him, though usually it's during battle. They do watch out for each other whenever they're fighting the same villain, after all. He does note that the shop seems to get a little less hot, but he figures being away from his dad is part of that.
It doesn't take him too long to wrap it all up and hold it out to Todoroki.]
I'm glad I could help.
no subject
Best to not wilt the flowers, probably.
Eyes down on Izuku's hands, and considering the one that he'd damaged in their fight what feels like forever ago, he reaches out to take the flowers. ]
He probably won't know what it means, but some of his visitors might and that's good enough for me. Thanks, Midoriya.
no subject
If Shouto brought it up again, he'd say the damage had nothing to do with Shouto, and everything to do with how reckless he was when he first started using his quirk.]
Of course, Todoroki-kun. [He's always on your side, especially when it comes to Endeavor.] You're always welcome to come in, you know. Even if you don't need flowers.
no subject
That would... probably be weird? He's not sure. Even after all these years since the sports festival, and Izuku reaching out to him like he had, he's still kind of bad at people sometimes. ]
I probably will while the old man's around more often. [ grump grump grump ] My mother's been doing better recently, I don't want to bring his bullshit to visits with her.
no subject
He nods, as he cleans off the table he used to make the bouquet. There's no need to stress out his mother, but Izuku can always be there for him if he needs to vent]
I understand. I'm here Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 am to four.
You still remember where my apartment is, right?
no subject
Turning the bouquet back and forth, Shouto narrows his eyes as he commits the meaning of the flowers to memory. He might not be able to identify them, at least specifically by name, but he'll remember the meanings. ]
If you don't mind, and your boss doesn't either, then I can bring you lunch or something when you work. [ But he hums a confirmation, looking at him. ] I remember.
no subject
I wouldn't mind that at all. I'll ask my boss when she comes in.
You should come over some time. It'd be nice to have a guest. [And well, after you live in dorms with your classmates, sometimes your own apartment feels a little too lonely.
Plus they could get dinner together on occasion.]
no subject
Let me know. [ Shouto nods, easy. That settles that. And the offer is one that causes him to relax a little more, no more temperature discrepancies, everything nice and mild like it's supposed to be. ]
I'd like that. [ A pause, then a question: ] How's it working out for you? Living in an apartment, I mean. I've been thinking about how I need to move out...
no subject
Of course, Todoroki-kun.
Living in the apartment? It not a big place, but it's nice. I love my mom, but it was a long commute to work each day. The bills are more than I would have expected, but it's the first time I've ever really lived alone, you know? It was always either the dorms or home.