[A smile tugs at his lips, realizing Dextera's already accepted the notebook in a way, even if he doesn't realize it yet.]
It was mine...that means it's up to me if I want to give it away, right? I have some more notebooks I can use. And I think... you need it more than I do.
[Izuku smiles at him hopefully.] Will you take it? I-I know you're probably used to getting your point across another way, but words are...important. [A few heartfelt words can change someone's entire perspective. He should know.] If you have this, you'll have a backup...another way to communicate when you feel there's something that needs to be said.
[ dextera breathes slowly, deeply, his grip tightening around the notebook and pen. if izuku has others... and he really doesn’t mind it...
it’s a nice, thoughtful gift that dextera never expected to receive, especially in the wake of all of this that’s happened in the forest. his chest tightens, tears brimming in his eyes, and he nods as he quickly writes something else down with a few of those tears hitting the paper. ]
dextera shakes his head, trying to assure izuku that it's nothing wrong, it's nothing he did—this just happens sometimes, and the extremity of emotion that he's felt in the past couple days is too much for his weak heart.
he takes a deep breath, but even writing is hard when he's feeling so many feelings. ]
[Izuku sniffles at Dextera's wordless reassurance and then the dam breaks. Somehow, they both ended up standing here, tears leaking out of their eyes. It's nothing new, for anyone who knows Izuku, but it's been a while since someone else has cried with him like this.
But!! It looks like Dextera's trying to tell him something? All Izuku can do now is just wait for him to get his message across. He just has to be patient.]
[ this is... so sad. this is so sad, and so pathetic, that they’re both standing here crying over a notebook.
of course, it’s a little more than just a notebook—they’ve both been dealing with a lot, in their own ways, and crying now is a great catharsis for all that, but this certainly was the catalyst.
hand shaking, he manages to write out something after all. ]
There are so many things I want to say.
This means everything to me.
[ and he goes back to meaningfully underline his thank you, where izuku can see it. ]
[This is..so much more than Izuku had expected. Part of him had wondered if he was being silly as he walked over to Dextera's house, if the notebook would be well received at all.
And now, here they are, crying together.]
Y-you're welcome. [Izuku wipes the tears away with the back of his hand and beams.] I was really hoping it would be useful to you.
[ dextera cries often, out of pain, but crying from happiness or relief is still a new one to him—he closes his eyes, forcing himself to inhale deeply as if that can dry his tears from the inside out. he’s fine. they’re both fine.
izuku is a good kid, and dextera nods in response to his statement. it will be useful—he can tell that already. ]
I hope I can repay you.
[ and then, he folds it closed, not wanting to waste the pages. the pen is slid onto the coil of the notebook, and he sighs, touching the cover. ]
[ friends? is that what they are? acquaintances, surely—but perhaps they’ve had enough interactions by now to be friends. this notebook sealed the deal, and dextera finds that his eyes are brimming with tears all over again.
he looks away, fingers tightening on the notebook. he wants to repay izuku, but... friends... ]
[Seeing the fresh tears in Dextera's eyes makes Izuku step forward, lifting a hand uncertainly, like he isn't sure what he's supposed to do to help.]
U-unless you don't what to be? [It's still so uncertain to him, sometimes, when it comes to friendship. Just because there are people who don't mind being around him now doesn't mean that he should just assume others would be the same. Izuku wants it, of course, but he doesn't want to burden Dextera if that feeling isn't reciprocated.]
[ dextera absolutely, definitely wants to be friends. how could he turn down such an earnest question? he’s new to friendship too, but he’s learned that it can be good. it doesn’t have to hurt or be scary, to get close to people.
so he nods, quickly, taking izuku’s hand insistently to express just how much he wants to see this friendship blossom. ]
[It's a surprise when Dextera takes Izuku's hand in his, but rather than pulling away, Izuku simply tightens his hold. They're holding hands! That means they're definitely friends now.]
Friends. [Izuku says out loud, smiling gently at Dextera.] So don't worry about repaying me or anything. As long as you like it and think it's useful, that's all that matters.
[ friends. there's a long pause where dextera doesn't seem to do anything, or even react with his face to that statement... and then he relaxes slowly, without letting go. then, even more slowly than that, a shy smile comes to his face.
he nods once again, and closes his eyes in silent acceptance. ]
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It was mine...that means it's up to me if I want to give it away, right? I have some more notebooks I can use. And I think... you need it more than I do.
[Izuku smiles at him hopefully.] Will you take it? I-I know you're probably used to getting your point across another way, but words are...important. [A few heartfelt words can change someone's entire perspective. He should know.] If you have this, you'll have a backup...another way to communicate when you feel there's something that needs to be said.
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[ dextera breathes slowly, deeply, his grip tightening around the notebook and pen. if izuku has others... and he really doesn’t mind it...
it’s a nice, thoughtful gift that dextera never expected to receive, especially in the wake of all of this that’s happened in the forest. his chest tightens, tears brimming in his eyes, and he nods as he quickly writes something else down with a few of those tears hitting the paper. ]
Thank you.
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[As soon as the tears start falling, Izuku panics and begins tearing up himself in response. He can't help it!] Please don't cry!
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dextera shakes his head, trying to assure izuku that it's nothing wrong, it's nothing he did—this just happens sometimes, and the extremity of emotion that he's felt in the past couple days is too much for his weak heart.
he takes a deep breath, but even writing is hard when he's feeling so many feelings. ]
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But!! It looks like Dextera's trying to tell him something? All Izuku can do now is just wait for him to get his message across. He just has to be patient.]
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of course, it’s a little more than just a notebook—they’ve both been dealing with a lot, in their own ways, and crying now is a great catharsis for all that, but this certainly was the catalyst.
hand shaking, he manages to write out something after all. ]
There are so many things I want to say.
This means everything to me.
[ and he goes back to meaningfully underline his thank you, where izuku can see it. ]
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And now, here they are, crying together.]
Y-you're welcome. [Izuku wipes the tears away with the back of his hand and beams.] I was really hoping it would be useful to you.
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izuku is a good kid, and dextera nods in response to his statement. it will be useful—he can tell that already. ]
I hope I can repay you.
[ and then, he folds it closed, not wanting to waste the pages. the pen is slid onto the coil of the notebook, and he sighs, touching the cover. ]
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It's a gift--you don't have to repay me for it. Helping each other is what friends do.
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[ friends? is that what they are? acquaintances, surely—but perhaps they’ve had enough interactions by now to be friends. this notebook sealed the deal, and dextera finds that his eyes are brimming with tears all over again.
he looks away, fingers tightening on the notebook. he wants to repay izuku, but... friends... ]
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U-unless you don't what to be? [It's still so uncertain to him, sometimes, when it comes to friendship. Just because there are people who don't mind being around him now doesn't mean that he should just assume others would be the same. Izuku wants it, of course, but he doesn't want to burden Dextera if that feeling isn't reciprocated.]
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so he nods, quickly, taking izuku’s hand insistently to express just how much he wants to see this friendship blossom. ]
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Friends. [Izuku says out loud, smiling gently at Dextera.] So don't worry about repaying me or anything. As long as you like it and think it's useful, that's all that matters.
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[ friends. there's a long pause where dextera doesn't seem to do anything, or even react with his face to that statement... and then he relaxes slowly, without letting go. then, even more slowly than that, a shy smile comes to his face.
he nods once again, and closes his eyes in silent acceptance. ]