levi's.

Levi snorts in reply. "I'm hardly a minimalist, I just don't accumulate needless things."

"You only own one bowl, one plate, and one mug."

You've known Levi since college, and you're fairly certain he has the same amount of possessions filling the entirety of his one-bedroom apartment that he did in his one-room dorm a decade prior. Probably the same ones, too.

"That way no one ever tries to come over for meals, it's clever."

"It's spartan."

There's a light thump on the other side of your door, and you wonder what it may have been.

"Didn't you ever read those Marie Kondo books?" Levi's voice is impossibly close now, like he's got his forehead pressed to your door. The thump makes a little more sense.

You laugh a bit to yourself as you imagine the way he's slumped against the expanse of wood, long-dressed in his suit and ready to go where you've taken your time getting ready. It's not your fault Levi showed up thirty minutes earlier than he said he would to pick you up for the company party your shared workplace was throwing that evening--though you should have expected it, given he's never been tardy to anything in the entire time the two of you had been friends.

"Can't say I did," you reply as you cross your bedroom, leaning over in your mirror to get one last close-up look at your face. You run your thumbnail against the edge of your bottom lip where your gloss was slightly ill-applied. "Why do you ask?"

"S'all that," Levi sighs, "'spark joy' bullshit. Don't keep things in your space if they don't make you happy or whatever."

You smile at your own reflection, eyes flickering to the image of your bedroom door you can see in the glass.

"And what if all my 'junk' makes me happy?"

There's some shuffling, and a moment later Levi mutters: "How can an issue of a magazine from 2010 make you happy?"

You suspect he's plucked an old copy of some fashion magazine off the stack resting on the bookshelf beside your door. You've actually been meaning to throw those away for a while, but you don't tell him that.

"How can you manage to not find happiness in anything?"

"That's not true," he argues.

"Oh yeah?" you counter, adjusting the way your necklace is resting against your collarbones. "Name something that you keep around just because it makes you happy."

"My kettle."

"Nope," you answer immediately, grabbing your purse off the end of your bed and heading towards the door, "that serves a practical, utilitarian purpose. I mean something useless that you just like. Just something you think is pretty."

You grasp the handle and pull it open, and you take Levi by surprise--he barely catches himself with a hand on either side of the door frame to keep from crashing into you.

There's a little pink mark at the centre of his brow where he'd been leaning against the door, and his eyes are wide.

"You ready to go?" you ask him, tucking your bag under your arm.

He's frozen, his expression still a little taken aback.

"What?" you ask him, suddenly self conscious. Your hands tug at the material of your dress nervously. "Should I change?"

"No," he says, soft but sure. "You look... fine."

Your face pinches.

"Fine?"

"Nice," Levi corrects himself, finally looking away. He fiddles with the stack of magazines he'd been complaining about moments prior. "You look nice."

"Wow, Ackerman, with compliments like that it's shocking that you have to take your best friend as your date to the company party and not one of the countless women I'm sure are knocking at your door."

Levi narrows his eyes, tossing you a withering look.

"You're the one who said we should go together."

"That's because I want to blackout at the open bar, and you're the only person I know who turns down a drink on the corporate dollar," you say with a bright smile.

Levi tuts in annoyance, crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes wandering away from you again. "Charming."

A beat of silence passes.

Levi sucks in a little breath.

"You."

"Pardon?" you ask, and not even because he said it so quietly you barely understood him, but because it doesn't quite make sense.

"Something I keep around just because I like it," Levi says, his eyes fixed so intently on the outdated magazine stack that you're surprised the pages don't burst into flames. "Just because it makes me happy..."

Your heart stutters in its rhythm, a sudden weakness in your knees you can't chalk up to the height of your heels as easily as you may have liked to.

"...Just because it's pretty."

You swallow thickly.

His eyes meet yours.

The time and space between the two of you is thick and sweet like honey, and you wade through it slowly as you fight to find your words. You swear you can almost taste it as your tongue peeks out to moisten your already glossy lips.

"We should probably go," you say quietly, reaching out to adjust the lapel of Levi's suit. If your touch lingers a moment longer than it ought to, if your fingers brush against him in a way that friends' shouldn't, neither of you says anything about it.

Levi nods and clears his throat, taking the slightest step away from you towards your front door. "We gotta get you back before midnight after all, Cinderella."

You blink, a little confused, a little dazed, a little bit of a head rush still clouding your thoughts.

"The mice, remember?" Levi offers when he sees your curious look, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Oh," you laugh, letting your head hang as you nod slightly. "Right."

The two of you make your way down to the parking lot outside of your apartment building towards Levi's car, and you watch as the lights flash when he unlocks it.

"I've got two mugs, by the way," Levi says as he pulls the driver's side door open, and you pause with your hand on the handle of your own. He looks at you over the roof of his car, his eyes suddenly firmer than you'd seen them all night. More insistent. More sure.

You tilt your head, confused.

He ducks down to slide into his seat, but not before calling back to you one last time:

But your curiosity was finally answered when you came back home from work, and there they, or rather he, the neighbor who you always wonder about. He was tall, lanky even, his dark circles were dark enough for you to understand the unshaven stubbles. You then saw the little child beside him, holding onto his black shirt. She was wearing the cutest pink dress, and you can’t help but coo at how cute she looks. Awkwardly, you walk slowly to your door, trying not to startle your neighbor.

He was fumbling his key holes whilst holding onto two bags of groceries. You could hear him grunting in frustration as he jams the key inside, finally, and with a quick sigh of relief, he opens the door. Truly, it seems like lady luck is frowning upon your neighbor when the paper bag ripped, and his groceries were rolling all over the floor. Seeing that, you quickly jump to action by picking up the rolling groceries, and then quickly went to the man to give him it.

The long-haired man eyes bore into yours as he mutters a thanks. You give him a curt nod as you were turning around to go back to your apartment, you saw the state of his apartment, and gasps. Like a huge, embarrassing¸ gasp, and that alerted the man. Your eyes fumble around at the clothes strewn all over, the toys here and there, and there was a distinct smell. You frowned at the condition of his home, and the thought of him housing a child there makes the frown deeper. You know what those condition means; he has his hands full on everything.

“Are you okay?”. You blurted out the question before your mind could think.  The man stare into you as his eyes were filled with contemplation. He sighed, looking down while shrugging as he answers.

“Just… parenthood’s kinda tough.” You see, Aizawa is not one to just air out his personal problems, but ever since he found out he actually have a kid with his ex, and his crazy ex put the child for adoption, his life has been in constant hurry. You nodded in understanding as you ask again.

“Do you need any help? I can help you out, no biggie.” You utter with a warm smile, as you flash the little child a smile to. She adorably, hid behind her father while holding onto his shirt. Aizawa contemplates whether he should take up the offer, but he truly, he doesn’t really have much option. Trying to juggle his demanding work, and the appearance of his new child has put a huge toll on him physically and mentally.

And so Aizawa nodded, his head fall, feeling sudden embarrassment from the situation. He then saw a hand popping out, and as he looks back up, he saw your bright smile.

“The name’s (Y/n)! It’s very nice to meet you neighbor”. He blinked at you, as a smirk grows on his face. He extends his hand out, clasping yours for a hand shake.

“Aizawa Shouta. The little kid is Eri.” You grin, and crouch down, leveling with Eri.

“Hi Eri, can I be your friend?”. You said, extending your hand to hers. Eri looked at you with curiosity in her mind, then she looks up to Aizawa. Aizawa rubs her head, and nodded. Eri then look back at you, and with the cutest smile you have ever seen, she clasps your hand, and whispers a yes.

After the brief introduction, you told Aizawa that you’re going to place your things back at home before going to his, which he understands. You quickly went back to your apartment, and put down your things. As you were running out, you decided to change into a comfy pair of pants so it’ll be easier for you to move around. You then knock Aizawa’s door, and was greeted by Aizawa himself, as he welcomes you in.

“Sorry the house is a bit messy.” You chuckle, and pat his back two times. “That’s why I'm here Aizawa.” He smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

You rolled up your sleeves, as you scan your surroundings, making mental notes on what to do, and where to start. You then ask Aizawa where the cleaning products are, in which he shows, and help you out by taking the products, and items you needed.

“So, what can I do to help-”. You put out a finger in front of him, shushing him. You place your hands on his shoulders, and turn him around, pushing him to his child.

“You and Eri should both take a bath, I’ll handle everything.”

“But-”       

“No buts Mr. Aizawa, go and relax for once, okay?”. You give him a huge grin but Aizawa hesitated on letting you do all the work. You give him a stare down, and after a while of your little staring contest, he sighed in defeat, and went over to Eri to ask her if she wants to take a bath together. Eri who has been watching the bickering, thought that her father needs some time of his own, and she is already a big girl. She rejected her father, and told her that she’ll take her own shower. Aizawa sigh in defeat again, as he nodded and went over to his own room.

“Eri, do you want me to give you a bath instead?”. Eri glance at you, twiddling them hem of her dress. You smiled, and crouched down closer to Eri as you whisper.

“How about you clean up the toys in your room, and then after I finish cleaning up around the house, I’ll help you with a bath, how’s that sound?”. Eri give you a big smile as she rushes to her room. You smile softly, as you stood up. The first thing you start with was to look into the fridge to figure out what to cook. You then saw some ground meat, and place them in a big bowl with water, so it can dethaw. You then begin to pick up the clothes scatter around the house, and then chuck them into the washer machine. After that, you pick up everything else that was on the floor, which was mainly Eri’s toys, and start sweeping, and mopping the apartment.

 You then spray some anti-bacteria everywhere, and spray some scented freshener afterwards. Once you were done with the living room, you quickly went back to the kitchen. You wash all the dishes, and wipe down the counter tops, and the dining table. After that, you were going to begin your cooking when you hear tiny footsteps coming towards you.

“I finished cleaning my room!”. Eri announced excitedly, as you pat her head.

“Thank you Eri! I’m gonna start with dinner real quick, and then I’ll help you with your bath okay?”. Eri nodded vigorously as she stood beside you, asking if there’s anything she can help you with. You were going to refuse but the eager look on her face made you melt. You then asked her to help you with setting up the table which she quickly obliges.

You start with washing the rice, and cooking it in the rice cooker. After that you begin chopping up all the needed ingredients for you to make the hamburger steak. You heard kids love eating it, and so after scanning through the recipe, you quickly start with your cooking. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and you managed to finish cooking in under 20 minutes.

As you were serving the food at the dining table, Aizawa came out of his room with wet hair, white long sleeve, and black pants. He glances at the clock on the wall, and realized so much time has passed. He didn’t mean to take so long, but he finally could tidy up his own room, and take a long bath. He then approaches you, looking at you tinkering around the kitchen, and thought, how comfortable this feels. You upon seeing the approaching man, smile at Aizawa as he nodded, and then glance at her daughter, who haven’t shower.

“Eri, I thought you were going to take a shower?”. Aizawa ask as he close the distance between him, and his daughter.

“Ah sorry Aizawa, I asked her if she wants me to give her a bath, and she agrees, soooo…”. Aizawa frowned at the idea but Eri quickly held onto his shirt, giving him her best puppy eyes. It seems like Aizawa is losing to everyone today as he sighs again, for so many times already.

“Well since dinner is done, might as well eat first, and then you can take a bath, okay?” Eri nodded happily, as she went to her seat on the dining table.

“Aizawa, it will be alright if I join the both of you for dinner, right?”. You ask with a sheepish grin.

“Of course, you have help out, if anything, I should be the one cooking.” You told him that its okay, and they should start dinner.

“This taste amazing!!”. Eri exclaimed as Aizawa agrees. His heart swell at how nice you are, to help a complete stranger. It almost made him wary, but he cast away those doubts when he saw how gentle you are with Eri.

“So where do you work Aizawa?”. You ask after some minutes eating in silence.

“I’m a teacher at U.A actually.

“Woah! that’s amazing Aizawa. That was my dream school but, hehe, I didn’t pass the examination.” Aizawa nodded in understanding as he asks you.

“How about you? Where do you work?”.

“I actually work as a human resource manager in one of these hotels.” The both of you then went on with your conversations, asking each other about the most random things, serious stuff here and there.

For a while, Aizawa realize that he has actually been craving this, surprisingly. Aizawa have always been an introvert, but he always has Hizashi to talk too, but ever since he has Eri, he has been keeping it a secret, and avoiding Hizashi. It’s surprising to Aizawa that he wanted to relax like this, have someone to talk to. Not only that, it’s so easy to talk to you, and your presence feels so warm to him.

“I’ll do the dishes, don’t worry. You promised Eri right?”. You nodded with a smile, as you picked up Eri, giggling with her all the way to her room. Aizawa could only shakes his head at your antics, as he cleans up the dishes. He admits, he finally could have a little breather. The house look, feel, and smell clean. The dinner you made were so good, and he is truly grateful that he, and Eri could finally have some home cooking after a while.

After finishing up, he then went to Eri’s bedroom, hearing laughter from the bathroom, and saw you washing her head, making weird shapes with Eri’s hair. He then observes the both of you quietly, leaning his body on the door frame, as you told her to close her eyes, and hold her breath, as you wash away the shampoo in her head.

“Good job Eri! You’re so amazing!”. Eri grins at you, as she saw her father.

“Papa!”. Eri shouted, as Aizawa went over, and held onto her hand, giving it a squeeze.

“Did you have fun princess?”. She nodded, as you went over to take a towel, to help her out of the tub.

Aizawa then went out of the bathroom, to give the two of you space. He was sitting down on one of the dining table chairs, waiting for the both of you, when only you came out.

“Where’s Eri?”.

“She said, she’s sleepy, so she’s going to sleep first”. Suddenly the both of you were quiet, and you break the silence first.

“I think I should go-”.

“Sit down first please, I want to talk with you.” He said, as you nodded and sit down in front of him. It was silence again, Aizawa was looking down at his fingers, and then back at you.

“Thank you… thank you so much for all of this.” Aizawa gestures around the apartment, and places his hand back on top of the table. He contemplates again whether it will be alright to talk to you about his condition, but you beat him to it.

“Did something happen?”. Aizawa gave you a questioning look, as you stare into his eyes, and continue.

“Well, you know how paper thin the walls can be right? So, I realized that you have been coming home a lot, and then I heard the sound of your child crying so I have been worried actually…”. You admit, as Aizawa slowly nod.

“Well, everything happened. I broke up with my ex-wife a long time ago, and I found out that I actually have a child with her” Aizawa sighs, rubbing his face as he continues. “Turns out that crazy bitch put my child up for adoption because she wants to fucking party, and fuck around”.

You hissed at his words, and frowned. How could someone just left such a beautiful child all alone. Your heart bleeds for Eri, and Aizawa who just found out.

“So, I brought her back, and turns out Eri have a lot of traumas… The first few months she always wakes up screaming from her nightmares. Sometimes she’s scared of me, but I have been trying to build her trust on me. But you guess it, it was not easy”. You were observing Aizawa as he speaks, and you notice his weak shoulders caving in, and the tired look before came again. You felt bad for him, it’s such a turn of events for him. You slowly place your hand on his trembling ones, lightly squeezing it.

Aizawa slowly looks up, noticing your worried look, and reluctantly, he squeezes your hand back. Then it was silence again, as the both of you savor each other’s presence. You were the one to break the silence again, as you say.

“Well, Aizawa, I don’t mind coming over to help you once in a while. Besides I really like Eri, she’s an adorable kid.”

“I could never ask for such things again (y/n). What you have done today was more than enough.” Aizawa said, his face twisting in discomfort.

You shake your head, smiling, and squeezing his hand again. “Please, I don’t really mind. If anything, it’s such a delight for me to talk to Eri, and well, you.” You said, a light blush spreads through your cheek.

Aizawa smirks at your remark as he chuckles. “Well then (y/n), I can’t possibly say no now”. You look up immediately in glee, as you give him the biggest grin.

“I think I should go now Aizawa, it’s pretty late already.” He nodded, walking you to the door. As you were outside, you turn around facing Aizawa again. He was smiling down at you, as you took one of his hands, and squeezes it again.

“Take care Aizawa. See you later”. You whisper, giving him a soft smile, as Aizawa nod, giving your hand a slight rub before you went off to your own place. Aizawa was smiling like an idiot, he felt stupid for smiling over some whispers, and hand squeezes. As Aizawa turn around after closing the door, he saw Eri standing there with a grin on her face.

“Papa likes (y/n)”. She exclaimed as Aizawa chuckles, and nodded. He pulls up Eri into her arms, bringing her back to her room.

“I think you’re rubbing off on them,” he states casually, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. His left hand swirls the red wine you poured earlier, teasing it up the rim but never spilling over. “You spend a lot of time with them; it’s only natural. Rei spent 10 minutes yesterday meticulously separating her food on her plate before eating dinner last night,” Shouto offers, nodding his head at your own plate in front of you. A pretty blush stains your cheeks at his observation, you didn’t even notice you had that habit. 

You always knew Shouto was keen, ever-aware of the things around him. And though it was simple— your food, for Christ’s sake— a heat filled your body at the fact that he takes note of you. He watches, catalogues. You fiddle with your necklace as you search for something to say, but before any words can leave your mouth, Shouto chimes in again. “Yumi started doing that, too,” he says, and you notice the corners of his mouth are upturned ever so slightly.

“I’m glad you’re getting along with them so well,” he admits, suddenly standing to clear the table. As he takes your plates to the kitchen sink, you stand to follow him. “It’s taken a while to find someone who suits the twins,” he continues, stacking the dishes in the sink for later, walking over to lean against your side of the counter. “I haven’t figured out what it is just yet, but there’s something about you that makes you fit into my home.” My life, Shouto thinks, but he leaves that part out. 

God, since when did he talk so much? You shouldn’t have poured that wine— for either of you, because for as talkative as Shouto seems to be tonight, you can’t help but find yourself tongue-tied. His heady cologne swirls around you, and his thick forearms holding his weight against marble countertops leaves you swaying where you stand. “W-well, I’m just doing my job,” you stutter, “Your daughters are so sweet. It’d be hard not to love them.” 

He smiles at that, forever fond of his kids. “I’m not so sure,” he says, shifting his weight to shuffle closer to you, cornering you into the space between the cabinet and the fridge. “You treat this arrangement like more than just a job most days. How would you explain making a candle-lit dinner for me tonight, hmm?”

“It’s Father’s Day, y’know? And you’ve been getting home later and later the past two weeks,” you admit, bashfully scratching at the back of your neck, “I thought I’d do something nice for you.”

Shouto tilts his head at your response, letting the space between you shrink. “You’re not telling me everything,” he says. He’s straightforward, and he’s got a lightness in his eyes that charms you.

“This seems hardly professional, Todoroki,” you claim, though you both know your efforts are futile. Your shallow breaths and starry eyes tell Shouto everything he needs to know to move forward. He may be a bit dense, but Todoroki Shouto is not an idiot. He sees the way you look at him; the way you stick around a bit longer even after he comes home; the way you leave hot chamomile tea on the counter for when he gets out of the shower; the way you say goodnight to his girls before you finally leave for the night, nevermind they’re already fast asleep.

He sees it all, and he knows what it means for him— to him. “I told you to stop calling me that.”

“That’s besides the point, Shouto.” Your breath catches on his name, and though you’ll choose to ignore it, the man before you takes note (like he does with everything you do). “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” you sigh. “Just— your kids mean a lot to me… and you do, too. I don’t want to throw anything off course just because of some dinner and a bottle of wine.” Pressing your hand against his chest, you reiterate, “Things are good now. Shouldn't we keep it that way?

”So you admit there is a course?”

“What— what course?”

“You said that you don’t want to throw anything off course. So you think there’s a course.”

“You know what I m—“

“If you think there’s a course, then you think there’s some sort of end goal here. But if there isn’t any course, then—“

“Of course there’s a course!” you shout. Shouto raises his brows and a smile twitches upon his lips, his stare urging you to go on. Asshole. His eye contact is making you flighty, so you peel away from him, sighing out deep. “There wasn’t supposed to be a course. They give me a run for my money, but your girls are absolute angels. And so are you. But Rei and Yumi come first. I don’t know much, but I know it hasn’t been long since their mom left; I don’t want to scare them. Or impose myself into their lives where I may not be wanted. That isn’t fair to them.”

“You—” he cuts himself off with a gentle excitement. “Everything you just said… You take them into consideration, you put them above everything else. God, that is why I like you so much. You already understand what I have to keep explaining to so many people: Rei and Yumi are my daughters. There is no separate Todoroki Shouto that you can date and then ignore the fact that I’m a father. That’s why I’m initiating here.”

“Shouto.”

“I’m not saying I want you to be their mother,” he says. “But I know how I feel about you,” with a gentle sigh, Shouto takes a hold of your wrist. “You say you care about us. Well, we care about you too… especially the girls. You don’t hear them go on and on about you when you leave. I thought they were getting too attached in the beginning. But then I noticed I was the one getting pulled in,” he smiles softly. Shouto crowds in, bracketing his arms around you, palms resting beside you on the countertop. “Children are impressionable, afterall.”

His smile is alluring, and you can blame everything on the way it made you dizzy for the next words you spoke. “We can try it,” you shyly admit. “We don’t have to tell anyone… just see how it goes.”

“Would you be okay with that?” Shouto asks, and you can hear the way he holds his breath. There’s a fire behind his eyes, yet he waits patiently, with all the calmness of the ocean. 

“Yeah. Yes, I think so.”

As if the sun finally began to peek from behind the clouds, Todoroki grins. “You think so? Hmm, is there anything I can do to make you sound more confident in that?”

“I have a couple ideas.”

“Enlighten me.”

Your palm grazes his chest, sliding its way up to the back of his neck to play with the short hairs at the base. He’s close, so close your cheeks burn in his proximity, and your skin jumps at the soft contact of his lips brushing yours. “Back to bed,” he says, and his volume startles you out of the soft atmosphere surrounding you. Puzzled, you attempt to peek behind him, but he shakes his head at you. Todoroki doesn’t move as he speaks… it’s unnecessary to get his point across. “I know you’re there,” he huffs with all the bemusement only a parent could hold. “Bed. Now.”

Your answer comes to you as a short gasp and a frantic shh! before two sets of tiny feet scramble back to the twins’ shared bedroom. 

“So nosy,” he mutters, focusing back on you, “I’m sure you know by now that Rei drags her sister into everything.” Todoroki smiles when he hears you laugh, and he hopes to hear it again and again. “Where were we?”

“Oh, I believe you were waiting to be enlightened,” you joke, fingers trailing up and down the back of his neck. 

“I’m still waiting.” Todoroki leans into your space, soft lips brushing yours once more. And you don’t give him the time to sass you anymore, pressing your mouth against his.

It’s soft at first, hesitant. But when Shouto’s shoulders drop and his hand squeezes at your hip, you melt into him. You pull at his neck, pressing closer and harder and all it makes the kiss all that much sweeter. His lips tug up at the corners when you sigh, pleased with your relief at finally getting to kiss him. 

He pulls away first, reveling in the soft flutter of your eyes as they open. “This has been a long time coming, hasn’t it?” Shouto asks.

“I think so,” you whisper, smoothing your palms over his shoulders and down his arms, catching your breath. 

“We need to work on more confident answers from you. C’mere,” he beckons softly, tilting your chin up to capture you once more.

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