Todoroki Shoto x Y/n

It didn’t take long for him to get used to it.

At first, his glances were careful. Hesitant. Almost as if he was asking permission without words. But after a few weeks, something changed.

Now, after doing something good—helping a classmate, staying calm during training, even quietly organizing supplies—he would glance at you, eyes calm but full of a quiet question.

“…Where’s my reward?” his gaze seemed to say.

You caught it one afternoon after a long training session. He had stayed late to help the first-years with their ice control, and when he walked past you, he stopped. Just enough to look at you, silently waiting.

“Again?” you teased softly, smiling.

He blinked slowly. Just a little nod. Calm. Patient. Expectant. Like a cat waiting for a treat, but somehow… impossibly dignified.

You laughed quietly and reached out. This time, your hand lingered longer on his head, fingers running through his hair slowly, almost indulgently. He leaned into it, chin slightly lifted, and his usual stoic expression softened.

And then, the next time… you decided to up the stakes.

A playful nudge to his cheek.

Shoto froze. For a heartbeat. Then, to your surprise, he didn’t pull away. His eyes flicked up to meet yours, faint pink dusting his cheeks. His lips twitched, trying not to smile, but failing entirely.

“…Is this… allowed?”

“Only if you do good,” you said, grinning.

He blinked at you, then turned his gaze slightly downward, pretending to be modest—but you saw it. The quiet anticipation. The subtle tilt of his head that silently said, I’ll do even better if this is my reward.

And so it became a little game.

The better he behaved, the more you rewarded him. First, gentle pats. Then little cheek nudges. Sometimes, soft squeezes of his shoulder. And eventually… a full hand resting on his cheek, fingers brushing lightly, thumb just grazing the corner of his lips.

He never asked for it. He never demanded. He just… waited. Expected, silently, with that distant but utterly trusting gaze that made your heart skip every single time.

One evening, after he’d helped Uraraka carry heavy equipment back to the dorm, he stood in front of you. Arms at his sides, posture straight, expression calm. But those eyes… those eyes said it all.

“…My reward?”

You smiled and leaned closer, brushing a soft kiss against his cheek. He froze. Just a moment. Then… he relaxed completely, a quiet, contented exhale escaping him.

The faintest, shyest smile appeared, just for you.

And you knew—without a word—that he would do anything, go through any effort, just for that small, soft moment of affection.