Chapter Text
"You were great out there today, Yagi" David said to him. It was meant to be encouraging, but he had said the same thing for the past week. It wasn't as impactful when repeated so often. Was Yagi really doing 'great'? Was he doing his job as All Might to the best of his ability? was All Might great?
Yagi didn't know.
"Just as always." Yagi replied, subdued.
David knew, he always did. Usually, he never asked. They both had great respect for the other.
It had been a week of this same situation though, so David felt the need to speak up. Address the situation. "Yagi, All Might is a great hero." He said softly with a smile, he dropped the eye contact after he finished his statement. Like he was embarrassed or slightly nervous.
Yagi couldn't tell what he was thinking, he was never good at social interactions. Everyone seemed to understand each other, he always felt left out. He didn't want to misunderstand David's intentions, not this time. "David-" he started then stopped himself, as David put a hand on his chest. What was on his mind?
"You can't keep doing this Yagi..." David's voice was barely above a whisper. Yagi was confused. Did David want him to stop being a hero? to give up on his dream of helping others? That didn't seem right. Yagi wished he was better at social cues or could interpret the vague meanings in the subtle shifts of Davids soft spoken voice. He was at a loss.
All Might looked down at David's hand on his chest, it felt so right. It grounded him, like nothing else in the world could. Like no one else in the world could. It felt like everything was focused on this moment, on the two of them. Yagi smiled and gently put his hand on top of David's cradling it to his chest. He smiled down at their united hands.
David's breath hitched. Yagi looked down at him, confused. "David.." He wanted to ask what was wrong until he saw the look on his face. Yagi may be dense socially, but no one can misinterpret the intense emotions that danced in David's eyes. The unfiltered anguish, the stressful biting of his lips, the shaking of his hand despite being caressed in-between Yagi's own body.
Yagi took a deep breath, to calm down and focus on David. Clearly David needing saving from something more than petty thieves or villains. All Might, no, Yagi Toshinori would save his closest friend.
David's hand shifted as Yagi's chest moved with the strong heaves of breath. He could feel the strength of Yagi's breath. His stamina was overwhelming, just like the rest of him. David would be consumed if he continued to bask in the light of his hero, yet he wants to nonetheless. All Might would be the birth of a new era. David will support his hero, as a shield protects a knight.
"David." Yagi's gentle voice coaxed David from his musings, somewhere among his intense concentration. All Might, no, Yagi had started looking down at him with something close to affection. David blinked a few times. That couldn't be right, why would All Might have affection for David? He must be misreading the signals of Yagi's intensity of his gaze.
"I'm a hero." Yagi's gentle declaration comforted David. Heroes cared for others, clearly All Might saw him as the same civilian he saved all those months ago. That was all it was.
"You are." David responded, because it was true. It was a fact. He saw how the affirmation of his words made All Might's smile fuller. His Yagi slowly stopped intensifying his smile, it became more real. Genuine.
"Despite your concerns, I will keep doing this. Hero work is what heroes do." All Might explained. "Heroes save people." He smiled as he looked longingly into David's eyes. "That includes you."
David was stunned. Yagi, no, All Might had said similar sweet things before, but they had never been this close in proximity. There was an added layer of tension to the atmosphere. Where was this going to take them? Are they ready to take the plunge? ah. David couldn't do it.
All Might was destined to be a great hero, all David could hope to be in relation is a good supporting inventor. Hopefully even the best he could be. The Best Friend.
"All Might." He whispered pathetically as he stared into those loving eyes. He couldn't take it; he closed his eyes shut and shook his head slightly. "I can't."
Yagi was confused. David usually only called him by his hero name when out on the field. Clearly Yagi was missing some type of social cue, like usual. He couldn't let his incompetence stop him. Heros work past their disadvantages to win and save others.
All Might, no, Yagi will save his friend David, not the Shield. They may be their own type of heroes, but together just between them. They can be themselves, best friends.
He looks at David's closed off expression. How he's forcing his eyes closed unable to bare the tension in their situation. He's hurting himself, not just physically, but emotionally. It hurt Yagi's heart to see his friend in such anguish. He had to do something, not as the hero All Might, but as David Shield's best friend and close confident, Yagi Toshinori.
He brought the hand, that wasn't cradling David's to his chest, to caress David's cheek. David flinched at the contact, yet his eyes opened and the tension from before was replaced with surprise. David's eyes widened in what Yagi believed to be disbelief. "Yagi-" That wouldn't do. Yagi thought, not while we're this close and finding peace within each other.
"Call me Toshinori." Yagi corrected him. Yagi and him had come to an agreement that Toshinori would use David's first name, by American customs, and David would use Yagi, per Japanese customs. That's a reason both of them were comfortable with each other. They were easily able to come to agreements whenever a problem, or even slight discomfort like terms of address, arose. They were synchronized, and unified. Together, the best of friends.
Yagi, no Toshinori wanted to cross that line. That thin boundary that kept their friendship from going further. David couldn't handle that, his hero wanted to be closer to him. He didn't know what to say, his lips parted in surprise as he stared up at Toshinori in wonder. What did he see in him?
"David?" Toshinori asked gently. David seemed confused, but he wasn't overly stressed anymore. Progress seemed to have been made. That was a good thing. Toshinori could deal with whatever came next, together with him. They were a team.
"Toshi-" David choked on the name. Like he said it reflexively and had to stop himself in surprise. Toshinori was confused yet deeply amused by the pretty flush that filled David's cheeks. He wanted to see more of it.
"Toshi.. huh?" David squirmed under the amusement of his idol, his best friend, his hero. He kicked himself internally, why had he accidentally given Toshinori a nickname. That was so rude of him. He had just been so surprised that Toshinori had finally given him, David Shield, the right to use his first name. It was so intimate that David has surprised himself when he started saying it instinctively upon given the permission. Now All Might surely thought he was stupid. Their business partnership would break, and they'd be basically strangers. David's heart pounded, he couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let his hero slip away. He needed him.
"Sorry!" David yelled as he tried to pull away from All Might. His hero held strong on the David's hand against Yagi's solid chest. He succeeded in removing All Might's hand from his dirty face, yet Yagi still held onto his arm, David couldn't understand why. Didn't he just commit a grave offense, he insulted All Might's first name. Whenever it was spoken, it should be said with its full glory. It didn't even deserve to be uttered by his unworthy lips. David bit his bottom lip hard as he stared up at All Might, his hero.
He felt like crying and begging for forgiveness. He would defile himself before Yagi without a second thought. All Might deserved to be worshipped, by better people than David. How could they ever be on the same level. The were too different, two different people.
His legs felt weak. David wanted to get on his knees and beg in a way he knew All Might would understand. Hoped Yagi would understand. As he uncounsciously started to lower himself before his savior, All Might, no Yagi stopped him.
"What are you doing?" Toshinori was baffled. David looked resigned, down in a way Toshinori had never seen in him before. His eyes looked up at him, All Might, in such a way that he'd only seen by hero worshippers. What was David thinking?
When his eyes had that strong intense devotion, it left Toshinori stunned to his core. Those eyes seemed to praise him so highly, in a way he had never felt before. He was overwhelmed by the stare, the way David seemed to be hanging his life on All Might's whim. Like David lived to serve him.
It made Toshinori sick to his core. He and David were equals. Business partners.
Business partners don't look at each other like that. Men don't look at each other like that. Something was seriously wrong.
"David.." The air felt heavy, and Yagi couldn't figure out why. All Might needed to save his closest friend. Determination filled him. He firmly grabbed both of David's shoulders to force eye contact.
"Have you been hit by a quirk?" It made the most sense. Why else would David be acting so unlike himself? Something must have happened. The easiest explanation was a villain's quirk. That way All Might could save David and beat up whoever dared hurt his partner.
David was dazed. A quirk? was that the reason behind these intense feelings? It couldn't be. His unconditional devotion to All Might had to be his own, it couldn't be artificial. He didn't want to doubt his feelings more than he already had. It was all just too much. The feelings he'd been bottling up are breaking him, he needs to let All Might know. He needs to be saved. He needs a hero.
"No." David said firmly with strength he didn't have. "You're denying my feelings by assuming that." He felt deeply hurt that All Might, his hero would do such a thing. Even if it might not be his fault. Villains are harder to beat down than emotions. Inventions are easier to make sense of, than the intangible fluttering of his chest.
"You're hurting our friendship." David concluded. It felt right, harsh but true. They were both hurting themselves by beating around the bush instead of fighting the unknown beast that raged inside them. It was only growing stronger and if not dealt with, their partnership, their friendship would crumble leaving only dust in its wake. They needed to do this. They needed to work through this together, like they always do.
"All- no." David shook his head. David didn't need a hero to save him, them. They needed to work on it together. As friends. Two friends talking about how they felt about each other.
"Toshi." David called out to his friend. Deliberately using the nickname he had accidentally given before. It seemed to make Toshi happy, the tension bleed out of his shoulders. His previously firm, tight hold on David's own shoulders softened into a gentle comfort. This is right. This is his closest friend Toshi, not his heroic idol All Might. This was his most vulnerable self, his true self, that only David had the pleasure of seeing.
"Dave" Toshi responded with his own nickname. This wasn't the first time Toshi had used such a nickname, nor was he the only one who had called David that. Still, Dave felt that it was unique. Unique to them, it was theirs.
"We need to talk." Toshi felt out of his depth by those words that firmly left previously uncertain lips. Toshi would normally love listening to Dave talk. Their conversations going too deep into technical terms for Toshi to reliably understand yet loving their talks regardless. Dave always looks so radiant when discussing his passion. When he is David Shield the aspiring inventor, not just David, All Might's inventor. There's always an optimistic light burning in him, that Toshi loves to warm himself with, to feel full of Dave's light. Toshi finds himself lost in Dave's blinding light yet comforted all the same.
Toshi agrees they need to talk, but the way Dave said it leaves him feeling unprepared and anxious. What if they part their separate ways for good?
Can All Might stand strong without David Shield? Yes. Can Yagi be without David? Maybe. Can Toshi exist without Dave? Not Likely.
They need to come to a mutual understanding, like they always do. Will it be as easy as their more mundane disagreements? unlikely. Will they benefit in the long run from more healthy communication? definitely.
With that in mind, Toshi agrees.
Dave starts their discussion. He decides to start small and state the basic facts of their relationship. They can work from there.
"You are a hero, Toshi and I'm an inventor." He says because it's true. "We're in a strictly business partnership."
"We are." Toshi says immediately. There's no question about any of that. It's good to have a starting common ground.
"You saved me, Toshi." Dave says softly looking up at All Might with a smile. "Thank you."
Now David has thanked All Might multiple times for saving him, as he has been saved multiple times. Despite not always understanding social cues, Toshi knew what Dave meant. He's not thanking his hero All Might, not really.
"You're welcome, Dave." Toshi's smile becomes more genuine, despite not completely understanding where Dave's leading this conversation. He trusts his best friend, his closest friend. Even if it makes him temporarily uncomfortable, it will be worth it as their friendship will be stronger. He can do this.
They're not All Might and David Shield, the Hero-Inventor Duo. They're Toshi and Dave. Best friends.
"I would do it again." He comforts because he would. He will, they both know.
There's words between them that don't need to be spoken aloud. Their matching gentle smiles as they hold each other's arms. David blinks, almost lovingly at him. Leaving Yagi confused.
"Let's have dinner." David says pulling away, clearly finished with their short affirmations.
He turns away and starts walking away from the entrance of their current apartment and taking off his shoes. A comfort from Japan, that Dave had easily indulged in, without complaint, when visiting Yagi's apartment. He started doing out of habit, quickly, so it was no surprise that he would do so in the entrance of Yagi's apartment.
The problem was he had never done so when Yagi was standing behind him stunned. As they would both take off their shoes together when lightly chatting about mundane topics. It was usually a comfort to Yagi to take off their work personas together and hang out as friends. They got to be their most vulnerable without judgement. It was therapeutic, he was sure David thought the same.
Yagi couldn't think of his friend like this. It was so wrong, but he couldn't stop himself from staring as David bent at the waist right in front of him to reach down. It was only a second before he bent down completely to untie his shoes.
But, Yagi's eyes wandered as his Dave bent in front of him. How comfortable Dave must feel, to be so vulnerable before Toshi? To allow him a full view of his most intimate part of himself.
Toshi couldn't stop his thoughts from going straight to cloud nine. The things he could indulge in if Dave just let him. He probably would let him too. All Might was David's hero afterall. He could use him....
It was barbaric. It was villainy. He couldn't allow himself to be so sinful.
He let out a deep breath through his nose. Think of how David would feel if he had a mindreading quirk. All Might had taken hero course training specifically to combat mental quirks like that. Focus on the mission. Wait, he didn't have a mission.
"Toshi." Dave called him after he had finally taken off his own shoes and neatly organized them. He looked softly at him.
"Dave.." Toshi let his voice trail off. Those impure thoughts lingered as he heard the new nickname on Dave's lips and saw Dave look at him like that. So domestically, they practically both lived in Yagi's apartment anyway. Why did it feel so much more intimate than usual?
They were just friends. Remember All Might, you are a hero. Save David, even if it's from yourself. That's your mission.
"You didn't take off your shoes yet." David softly observed. Looking down at Yagi's feet.
Indeed, Toshi had been too distracted by whatever Dave did. He was mesmerized and forgot completely about himself.
"I did." Toshi agreed, because it was true.
Dave looked at him with a smile. "Well, we can't have that can we?" He teased slightly; he loved how dense his best friend was sometimes. How could he forget to take off his shoes upon coming home, when he'd been doing it his entire life?
Toshi was so flustered by the tone of Dave's voice that he didn't even notice what was happening until he looked down and Dave was kneeling at his feet. The imagery did thinks to Toshi, things he was sure he hated, and he hated himself for that.
"I'll help you, hero" My hero, David thought yet left unsaid. He delicately brought his expert hands undoing the knots of Yagi's shoelaces with ease only someone skilled with their hands could pull off.
He wanted to help his hero, All Might, in whatever way he could. This time however, he wanted to help Toshi. It's a simple act, taking care of the small inconveniences of another. Those little acts of kindness can have unexpected positive returns.
"Ah- Dave" Toshi said in surprise as Dave gently lifted his foot and slid his right shoe off his foot. It felt weirdly comforting to have Dave's hand gently guiding his feet. Like an unacknowledged support finally was visible to Toshi.
Dave seemingly ignored his awkward indignance. As he served Toshi, which was weird to even think about.
Toshinori had been an orphan for as long as he could remember. While he had lived in an orphanage, those workers had never done something as meangingful as display themself for Toshi the way Dave was doing currently. Toshi would never have servants and had always hated the idea of extremely devoted fans, yet Dave serving him at his feet just felt right. In a such a way that nothing else would ever be the same.
Something in the friendship, their relationship had changed for Toshi. He's not sure what it is yet. He will find out.
As Dave comforted Toshi's left foot and guided it out of its shoe, Toshi had a strong urge and decided to act on it. His hand moved before he could really think, he had a bad habit of doing before thinking. He patted Dave's head and rustled his hair.
"Thanks Dave" His voice came out rougher than he had intended. Dave seemed okay with it, so Toshi continued. "That was very nice of you." That was good too, Toshi had the need to praise him more. He couldn't just say anything weird about how talented he was with his hands, that might make them both uncomfortable. He chose the safe option. He thought it would feel right. It didn't.
"You're a good friend." Dave went still. He still had his hand on Toshi's foot as he was guiding it to stand on the ground again. Toshi, no, Yagi hadn't just said that did he?
Dave didn't understand why he was upset. Yagi is a good friend, Dave should be happy that he feels the same way.
He doesn't feel the same way, though. That's the problem.