The Red String | S. Todoroki x reader

Chapter 7

I lay, strewn out across the couch. My belly was so full from tonight's dinner and i can barely move.
"You're so good at cooking, Bakugo. What a secret talent"
"Thank you for the food Bakugo!" All the girls compliment him before sitting down with me on our side of the dorm.
In reply, he just shouts "DIE!" which we've all learned to take as a compliment now.

"so" Mina starts "Tell me about Shoto Todoroki"
I gasp and sit up, glaring at her "shhh did you check who was near????" I glance around the dorm, looking out for anyone who wasn't meant to hear. Luckily no one else is around.
"L/N likes Todoroki?" Uraraka questions, eyes lighting up.

"I do not. Don't listen to Mina" i groan and roll my eyes, laying back down.
"Admit it, you think he's hot at least"

I whine and cover my face because i knew i had begun to blush. All the girls teased me gently before urging me to talk more.

"There's nothing to talk about" i assure them. I mean, i wasn't lying. I don't know what i'd tell them.

"Speaking of" Jirou nudges me slightly as the boy we've just been talking about is opposite us in the kitchen, hesitantly filling the kettle up with water.
"You should go talk to him, i know its probably weird right now but maybe you could sort out the argument?" Mina suggests.
Tsu pushes me up and out of my seat, attempting to get me to talk to him but i refuse.

"Todoroki!!!" Mina shouts at him from across the room.
"What the fuck" i say under my breath.
"L/N wants to have a tea can you fill the water up for two please"
"fucks sake" i mumble before shamefully walking over towards the kitchen area.

"Hey" he says calmly.
"Hi" my own voice slightly cracking as i reply, which makes me slap a hand over my mouth. He only chuckles in response.
"what one you want?" he opens the top cabinet, reaching for the tea bags.
"just a normal tea, please, i'm not the herbal type"
I watch him grab the box. His side profile is so beautiful.
Passing the box to me, he becomes aware of my line of view "what? something on my face"
"no, not at all, sorry" I chew the skin around my nail, to avoid looking at him. It's a nervous habit of mine and i really need to get rid of it.

"I'd like to talk to you." He says bluntly which makes me look up at him.
I squeeze an "okay" out of my chest.
He peers over towards where the girls are sat and sees that they're watching us. He hums and flicks on the kettle.

As the boiling noise gets louder he whispers "in private." which almost makes me have a heart attack but also makes me overwhelmingly flustered.

Uh oh, i'm going to have to explain why i was avoiding him for so long... I knew it was coming at some point though, let's be honest. I just don't have a good explanation.

"Sure?" i place a teabag into my mug and walk over to the fridge,
"You need milk?" i turn to ask him.
"Yeah. Please."
Unreadable.

I take it from the door and shut the fridge, placing the carton down on the counter.

When the sound of the kettle had stopped we both reached for it at the same time, our hands brushing together for a short but blissful moment.

"Sorry" we both say quietly.
"You first" he looks me in the eye as if he's trying to read me as usual.
I feel flustered yet AGAIN and pour the water into my mug, chewing my lip while doing so.
I then hand it to Todoroki, who's still watching me.

Hot.
Mysterious.
Gentle.

WHAT?

I clear my throat as i stir a small splash of milk into my tea.

Could this get any more awkward?

"Thanks for boiling the kettle?" i thank him for no reason, not sure what else to say.
He does his simple nod after putting the milk back in the fridge and walks away.

I finally release the breath i didn't even notice i was holding and walk back over to the girls.

"Oh my god i'm crushing so hard" I admit to them all and they all laugh, knowingly.

"What was happening over there" Yaoyorozu raises her brows suggestively.
"He wants to speak to me... in private" i blush slightly... out of nervousness, i guess?
They all squeal.
"But first who's gonna have this tea?" i giggle, placing it down on the coffee table.

*****

I can't fucking sleep.
I've tried, believe me. I just can't.

I groan and sit up. How do i make myself tired? I look at the clock. 2:24am.
Waking up in less than 6 hours.

Standing up, i make my way over to the joint balcony our floor shares and swing the door open. Maybe i just need fresh air.

I peer over the view, you can see most of the city since UA is on top of the hill. Hell, i can even see my house from here.

I miss my dad, i hope he's doing well.

"Hi."
His sudden voice makes me jump out of my skin.
"What the fuck?"
"Sleepless nights are pretty hard to enjoy when they're lonely. I figured we could both do with company." He says completely detached.
I shrug "I guess"
"Besides, I want to talk."
"Ok... talk." I say smugly.

He takes my hand and walks us into my room.
"Girls room" i mimic his blank face and nonchalant way of speaking in an attempt to annoy him, provoke any emotion, if you will.
"Ok" he shuts the door and invites himself to sit on my desk chair, bringing his knees up to his chest.

Why does he make me feel this way?

"You are sad." he states.
"I'm- huh?? Wait you're talking to me because you think i'm sad?"

"Precisely" I wait patiently to hear him speak again "why?" he asks simply.

"well i'm not sad so i can't give a reason" i shrug and play with the hem of my pyjamas.
It's silent for a while, so i meet his eyes again.
His gaze doesn't seem to falter.

He doesn't say anything, he just looks at me, looks straight through me. Through the guard i put up and through the false smile i put on.

How can i be completely transparent to him yet he seems like a complete wall in everyone's presence? My confidence begins to waver as he reads every emotion, even the ones i've concealed.