[When Izuku moved to the town of Inaba, something... strange happened. He can't explain it, but living here for a few weeks now- it's not as quiet as it looks. Still, it's a vast improvement over the city and being Kacchan's punching bag.
It doesn't bother him too much, if he's being honest. He's made friends here, which is as baffling as it is thrilling. Uraraka, Iida, Todoroki... They're people he can rely on and he loves all of them.
They're in the middle of grinding in Todoroki's old dungeon, just him and Todoroki (everyone else had plans), when he feels a weird shiver up his spine.
And he turns to see... himself? Himself with a mocking smile and bright yellow eyes.]
Oh, man. I can't believe a loser like you actually managed to find people who would stick around with him. Everybody knows you're inferior.
[His double's gaze settles on Todoroki, now that Izuku's covering his ears.]
And you! Where do you think you get off looking so handsome, huh? He can barely concentrate on class when you're right there. With those pretty eyes of yours.
[ Living in Inaba is a cage all of its own, sometimes, but it's gotten better recently. Facing yourself is... certainly something, that's for sure, but ever since then, Shouto has been feeling lighter and better about everything in general. He has friends now, instead of people that he just sees at school.
He has a good friend, in Midoriya Izuku, the new kid in town. He's had someone see the worst parts of him, and still want to be around. Even after the literal hell that he'd gone through, dealing with his Shadow after he'd rejected it.
There's no judgment in him when they encounter the others' Shadows, too. Not after what he'd been through, himself, but.
But this.
Shouto can only stare for a little bit, eyebrows raised. He finally finds his words again, brain kickstarting from the "why now? how?" to a different question: ]
[Real, normal Izuku is blushing bright, bright red but not quite ready to cut off his double's annoyed rant.
The shadow steps forward, closer to Shouto and caresses his cheek. Even Izuku's shadow is gentle with Shouto. Shouto's had to deal with so much. Sure he's hitting on him much harder than the actual, almost luminescent Izuku ever would, but every touch is soft and caring.]
Didn't you hear me? I think you're the most handsome boy I've ever met. Everything about you is so striking. You're nothing like little, plain old me. Do you know how hard it is to listen to lectures when you're in front of me?
[ Though he can see Izuku, bright red to the point that the green in his hair and eyes pops even more, Shouto is focused on the Shadow in front of him. He pivots his stance just slightly, bracing one leg back on instinct alone, but there's no attempt to jerk away from the Shadow or to fight him. Because - it's Izuku, who would never hurt him.
The touch does take him off guard, though. It's a combination of the last time a Shadow touched him - his own, grabbing his face and forcing him to look it square in the face, at the flaws that it was bringing to light for Izuku to see, at the past that had burned through him and left him cold - and the words that it's saying.
It's a little overwhelming. But still, Shouto tries to speak. ] Midoriya, you've seen this before. You know that there's nothing wrong with how you feel, what you've hidden, but...
... but how can you find yourself inferior, after everything you've done for us? For me? You say you can't focus because of me, but I don't know how to explain what you've made me feel ever since we first came to this place.
[It's not like real Izuku can be convinced to say anything when his shadow is so endlessly hitting on his crush. Why won't the world swallow him right up?
Shadow Izuku looks delighted at Shouto's words. His touch his still gentle and reverent. Neither version of Izuku would ever do anything to harm the boy they love.]
You know full well that feelings don't make sense. They're not easily changed even when they should. He feels like he's nothing, we feel like we're nothing compared to everyone else.
But you... when you're looking at me, it's like I could do anything. I love you.
[Real Izuku still has his ears covered and he's five seconds away from combustion.]
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Persona 4
It doesn't bother him too much, if he's being honest. He's made friends here, which is as baffling as it is thrilling. Uraraka, Iida, Todoroki... They're people he can rely on and he loves all of them.
They're in the middle of grinding in Todoroki's old dungeon, just him and Todoroki (everyone else had plans), when he feels a weird shiver up his spine.
And he turns to see... himself? Himself with a mocking smile and bright yellow eyes.]
Oh, man. I can't believe a loser like you actually managed to find people who would stick around with him. Everybody knows you're inferior.
[His double's gaze settles on Todoroki, now that Izuku's covering his ears.]
And you! Where do you think you get off looking so handsome, huh? He can barely concentrate on class when you're right there. With those pretty eyes of yours.
no subject
He has a good friend, in Midoriya Izuku, the new kid in town. He's had someone see the worst parts of him, and still want to be around. Even after the literal hell that he'd gone through, dealing with his Shadow after he'd rejected it.
There's no judgment in him when they encounter the others' Shadows, too. Not after what he'd been through, himself, but.
But this.
Shouto can only stare for a little bit, eyebrows raised. He finally finds his words again, brain kickstarting from the "why now? how?" to a different question: ]
Excuse me?
no subject
The shadow steps forward, closer to Shouto and caresses his cheek. Even Izuku's shadow is gentle with Shouto. Shouto's had to deal with so much. Sure he's hitting on him much harder than the actual, almost luminescent Izuku ever would, but every touch is soft and caring.]
Didn't you hear me? I think you're the most handsome boy I've ever met. Everything about you is so striking. You're nothing like little, plain old me. Do you know how hard it is to listen to lectures when you're in front of me?
Do you know how often you're in my dreams?
You're beautiful.
no subject
The touch does take him off guard, though. It's a combination of the last time a Shadow touched him - his own, grabbing his face and forcing him to look it square in the face, at the flaws that it was bringing to light for Izuku to see, at the past that had burned through him and left him cold - and the words that it's saying.
It's a little overwhelming. But still, Shouto tries to speak. ] Midoriya, you've seen this before. You know that there's nothing wrong with how you feel, what you've hidden, but...
... but how can you find yourself inferior, after everything you've done for us? For me? You say you can't focus because of me, but I don't know how to explain what you've made me feel ever since we first came to this place.
no subject
Shadow Izuku looks delighted at Shouto's words. His touch his still gentle and reverent. Neither version of Izuku would ever do anything to harm the boy they love.]
You know full well that feelings don't make sense. They're not easily changed even when they should. He feels like he's nothing, we feel like we're nothing compared to everyone else.
But you... when you're looking at me, it's like I could do anything. I love you.
[Real Izuku still has his ears covered and he's five seconds away from combustion.]