Izuku doesn't flinch. He sits and keeps that hand right where it is, determined and steadfast. He can feel that chill down his spine. The way his hairs stand on end. But he's already read this situation for what it is.
"That's always a possibility for a hero. Dying." He replies as this creature--the 'real' Hikaru that's taken over the body in front of him--does it's best to intimidate him. He's being tested. Hikaru is afraid. Of what he can only guess at. He imagines maybe because there are people who react unkindly to his appearance. Or maybe as simple as being rejected for what he is. "That doesn't change that I want to save people. So I'll keep reaching out and trying. And I made you a promise. I still don't think you're disgusting."
If he touches Izuku he stands the risk of mixing him, of taking away his ability to see whatever comes after death's death. So as Izuku reaches out, Hikaru reforms the body's hand, sews it together again in front of him to perfection to take the man's hand in return.
By the time he's back together there's tears in his eyes as the last of him trails in through said eye and he comes to a stop, settling his head on Izuku's shoulder. "Even if-" He says in a soft whisper. "Even if I ain't human, ain't even the guy I say I am?" His words are wet, they're careful and he's not so far from those tears escaping his eyes.
Izuku watches him pull himself back together and offers a little smile when his hand is taken. He gives it a squeeze. Tries to give the reassurance he feels when someone holds his hand.
And when that head comes down on his shoulder, his free hand comes up to touch the back of Hikaru's head in a way he hopes is comforting. He can hear that waiver and knows but doesn't comment on it.
"I don't think any of that is disgusting." He repeats. "The person you are is someone who's important to me."
The hand squeeze makes him feel better in the way that it makes it worse, finally he doesn't have to feel so alone or like he has no outlet and has to be in 'on' mode at all points here. Even home he could casually talk to Yoshiki about whatever came to his mind. Be it things from Hikaru's mind or his own thoughts. He couldn't not talk to Izuku before but now it's not going to be just things he has to silently just be confused about. Or alone in dealing with.
"Thank you, Nii-san." He says, turning his head to just lay it on the man's shoulder. "I won't make you regret trusting me." Even if sometimes he wonders if Yoshiki does.
Izuku once told him if he needed him, his door was always open. That certainly hasn't changed. Izuku will still look after him even if he's actually some eldritch being that can take care of himself just fine.
"I believe that." Hikaru, he's sure, could kill him. He will stand there with him and hold him while he works through whatever big feelings he's having. There's no rush. "You can come to me for anything and I'll always do my best to help you. I promise that."
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Date: 2025-11-24 05:07 am (UTC)"That's always a possibility for a hero. Dying." He replies as this creature--the 'real' Hikaru that's taken over the body in front of him--does it's best to intimidate him. He's being tested. Hikaru is afraid. Of what he can only guess at. He imagines maybe because there are people who react unkindly to his appearance. Or maybe as simple as being rejected for what he is. "That doesn't change that I want to save people. So I'll keep reaching out and trying. And I made you a promise. I still don't think you're disgusting."
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Date: 2025-11-25 09:44 pm (UTC)If he touches Izuku he stands the risk of mixing him, of taking away his ability to see whatever comes after death's death. So as Izuku reaches out, Hikaru reforms the body's hand, sews it together again in front of him to perfection to take the man's hand in return.
By the time he's back together there's tears in his eyes as the last of him trails in through said eye and he comes to a stop, settling his head on Izuku's shoulder. "Even if-" He says in a soft whisper. "Even if I ain't human, ain't even the guy I say I am?" His words are wet, they're careful and he's not so far from those tears escaping his eyes.
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Date: 2025-11-26 01:34 am (UTC)And when that head comes down on his shoulder, his free hand comes up to touch the back of Hikaru's head in a way he hopes is comforting. He can hear that waiver and knows but doesn't comment on it.
"I don't think any of that is disgusting." He repeats. "The person you are is someone who's important to me."
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Date: 2025-11-27 05:30 am (UTC)"Thank you, Nii-san." He says, turning his head to just lay it on the man's shoulder. "I won't make you regret trusting me." Even if sometimes he wonders if Yoshiki does.
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Date: 2025-11-27 03:05 pm (UTC)"I believe that." Hikaru, he's sure, could kill him. He will stand there with him and hold him while he works through whatever big feelings he's having. There's no rush. "You can come to me for anything and I'll always do my best to help you. I promise that."