[ oh! dextera, too, raises his hand to return the greeting, and just as he does, izuku manages to slot himself into the space for a hug. he stops, surprised.
why…?
but it’s not at all unwelcome, after everything that’s happened. things have calmed down a little bit, but izuku’s zest for life is infectious. he lowers the hand that had been primed for a greeting, and curls it around izuku’s back for a moment in a return embrace.
[ they’re playing a game? dextera trusts izuku so much, and it’s a good thing izuku isn’t the type to break that trust. a different person might take advantage of the fact that dextera nods, and immediately complies by closing his eyes and offering out his hands, palm-up. ]
…
[ he is curious what it’s going to be, though, and there’s a visible struggle on his face not to peek. ]
[With a smile, Izuku places something soft in Dextera's hands.]
Okay, you can look now! [It's a sheep plush! Round and slightly lopsided, but with the six little legs and horns and the cat tail, it's very much recognizable as the invisible sheep that he and Izuku had found in the forest last time. The material it's made of is all grey, so it'll probably end up looking...interesting once the colors return, but that's part of the fun, right? (Is it, though.)
Meanwhile, Izuku watches Dex anxiously, waiting for some kind of reaction.]
Um, I know it's not...super well made, but it's the first time I've made something like this...
[ admittedly, dextera doesn’t understand what he’s looking at immediately. it doesn’t seem like any creature he’s ever seen before, but as he rubs his thumbs over the legs and down the tail, his expression brightens with recognition. ]
—!
[ it’s The One That Got Away… which means, of course, there are layers to this gift that dextera is deeply, impossibly grateful for. he switches the plush to one hand, just so he can sign excitedly. ]
[A laugh lights up his face when Dextera gets it.]
Yeah! I was just thinking...you seemed so disappointed when we couldn't bring it back with us. It's not as good as the real thing, but it can be a stand-in until we find it again!
[To be honest, Izuku doesn't know how likely that is, but at least Dex will have something to remember the sheep by now.]
[ dextera shakes his head, quickly. he doesn’t want to hear izuku deprecating this adorable little thing he managed to create. now that dextera knows what it is, he can recognize all the lovingly-rendered features, even if this sheep is going to most certainly be an incredible rainbow assortment when all its colors get restored. ]
I love it.
[ a sign that’s easy to interpret, since it involves a gesture to his heart. ]
[ dextera shakes his head. a quest reward, he thinks, but the only other person he’s seen with something like it is guren. at first, he didn’t think anything of it except being happy that they matched, but now…
maybe the town always knew. ]
I don’t know.
[ a little smile crosses his face, when he realizes why izuku might be asking, though. ]
he wasn’t ever embarrassed to own it, because for a long time, he didn’t even realize that guren had it—now, it just feels like a nice reminder of how close they’ve become.
carefully picking the embroidery off the shelf, he offers it to izuku, and places the sheep next to the space. ]
dextera’s ears burn, a flush creeping up his neck, but izuku’s guess isn’t wrong. they’ve been together for a couple weeks now, if dextera counts from the moment of their first kiss.
he nods, but he seems pleased, even in his embarrassment. ]
[ dextera shakes his head. they weren’t doing anything scandalous, so it was fine—they were just cuddling, and dextera was also fast asleep, so he only caught a moment of it when izuku first saw them. ]
I understand. That’s why I was there.
[ he knew immediately something was wrong because the town’s gift let him know—but just cuddling for the sake of cuddling also wouldn’t have been bad. ]
The town… connected us. [ he doesn’t really know how to explain this in words that are easy to follow. the more complicated the sentiment, the harder it is to sign, and it’s not like he’s an expert or anything. ] I knew when he was in trouble. So I came.
[ it was extremely stressful at the time, to have his beloved feather suddenly turn the blood-red of guren’s text color, but now he can appreciate it for what it was—a warning, possibly of guren alone. it’s for the best that he’ll never know the other person it would have changed for. ]
…heh. [ dextera expression warms. ] I should thank #FFFFFF.
[ spelled in sign as 6F, because writing out all six Fs sounds like a pain. ]
["Smitten" is a good look on Dex, if Izuku's honest. Well, any kind of happiness is a good look on him.]
I think you do. [After all, things had gotten better once they started talking to each other again after their fight.] Besides, Ichinose-sensei doesn't seem like the kind of person who would stick around if he didn't want to. He's with you because he likes being with you.
[ no… now he’s going to get shy. his cheeks are pleasantly flushed, and his shoulders seem a little straighter with how much more confident in himself guren’s love makes him. ]
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why…?
but it’s not at all unwelcome, after everything that’s happened. things have calmed down a little bit, but izuku’s zest for life is infectious. he lowers the hand that had been primed for a greeting, and curls it around izuku’s back for a moment in a return embrace.
hello. this is so warm. ]
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Oh yeah! [Brightening up, Izuku reaches into his bag and pulls something out...but holds it behind his back to hide it.]
I told you I had something for you. Close your eyes! And hold out your hands. [No peeking!]
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…
[ he is curious what it’s going to be, though, and there’s a visible struggle on his face not to peek. ]
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Okay, you can look now! [It's a sheep plush! Round and slightly lopsided, but with the six little legs and horns and the cat tail, it's very much recognizable as the invisible sheep that he and Izuku had found in the forest last time. The material it's made of is all grey, so it'll probably end up looking...interesting once the colors return, but that's part of the fun, right? (Is it, though.)
Meanwhile, Izuku watches Dex anxiously, waiting for some kind of reaction.]
Um, I know it's not...super well made, but it's the first time I've made something like this...
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—!
[ it’s The One That Got Away… which means, of course, there are layers to this gift that dextera is deeply, impossibly grateful for. he switches the plush to one hand, just so he can sign excitedly. ]
The sheep!
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Yeah! I was just thinking...you seemed so disappointed when we couldn't bring it back with us. It's not as good as the real thing, but it can be a stand-in until we find it again!
[To be honest, Izuku doesn't know how likely that is, but at least Dex will have something to remember the sheep by now.]
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I love it.
[ a sign that’s easy to interpret, since it involves a gesture to his heart. ]
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Really? [His hands twist together as he studies Dextera's face again. And then... a soft sigh of relief.] Then...I'm glad.
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Thank you.
[ accompanied by a smile, and then he motions for izuku to follow him upstairs—he’s going to put it next to the embroidery! ]
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He pauses when he sees the embroidery, though.]
Oh... where did you get this from, Dextera-san?
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maybe the town always knew. ]
I don’t know.
[ a little smile crosses his face, when he realizes why izuku might be asking, though. ]
Guren, too… right?
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He was kind of embarrassed when I saw his, though. Can I see it?
[He reaches for the embroidery, looking at Dex for permission before he even touches it.]
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he wasn’t ever embarrassed to own it, because for a long time, he didn’t even realize that guren had it—now, it just feels like a nice reminder of how close they’ve become.
carefully picking the embroidery off the shelf, he offers it to izuku, and places the sheep next to the space. ]
Here.
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Oh, that reminds me. You and sensei... you're together now, right?
[Still smiling, Izuku looks up and tilts his head at Dextera questioningly.]
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dextera’s ears burn, a flush creeping up his neck, but izuku’s guess isn’t wrong. they’ve been together for a couple weeks now, if dextera counts from the moment of their first kiss.
he nods, but he seems pleased, even in his embarrassment. ]
You… saw us.
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Y-yeah, I did. I'm so sorry about that, by the way! I just wanted to make sure sensei was okay after what happened in the forest.
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I understand. That’s why I was there.
[ he knew immediately something was wrong because the town’s gift let him know—but just cuddling for the sake of cuddling also wouldn’t have been bad. ]
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Oh yeah, it makes sense that sensei would have told you about the trip beforehand. Were you waiting for him that whole time?
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The town… connected us. [ he doesn’t really know how to explain this in words that are easy to follow. the more complicated the sentiment, the harder it is to sign, and it’s not like he’s an expert or anything. ] I knew when he was in trouble. So I came.
[ it’s all very romantic. ]
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That's... really sweet! The town knew that you two cared about each other and made sure you would know when one of you was in trouble!
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…heh. [ dextera expression warms. ] I should thank #FFFFFF.
[ spelled in sign as 6F, because writing out all six Fs sounds like a pain. ]
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[It's nice to see Dextera so relaxed--Izuku smiles at him just as warmly in return.]
I'm really happy for you and sensei. You two deserve to be happy.
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He means… a lot to me. [ dextera nods. that’s the best way to put it. ] I hope I can make him happy, too.
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I think you do. [After all, things had gotten better once they started talking to each other again after their fight.] Besides, Ichinose-sensei doesn't seem like the kind of person who would stick around if he didn't want to. He's with you because he likes being with you.
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Don’t let him hear that.
[ he’ll get embarrassed! ]
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