S T R A Y shipping meme

Taking in strays is, all in all, an understandable vice. The dips in between their ribs, those large and forlorn eyes, they can help you forget the claws and the teeth and the danger lurking beneath fur. But the habit's a knife edge; your efforts may not be rewarded with kindness (animal instincts aren't discretionary) and you may get bit despite what you've overlooked. A stray doesn't care about pity. All it can know is survival.
These warnings apply to strays of the more human(oid) sort, too.
But what may even more perilous with this type than any drawn blood is what you can get when they grow to trust you. You can earn their undying loyalty...or their love. Either from such a wild thing is a precarious path to go down, if you allow yourself to do it.
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PROMPTS
- ғɪɴᴅɪɴɢ — Who's that? They're no ordinary passersby! Were they in an accident? Are they foreign? ...should you approach them?
- ʀᴀɪɴ, ʀᴀɪɴ, ɢᴏ ᴀᴡᴀʏ — The elements make this night no time to sleep out of doors.
- ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ — Cuts, broken bones, injuries all of sorts...you have to stitch them back up, then make sure they don't get any
- ɢᴏᴏᴅ ɢᴜᴇsᴛ — It's all you can do to show gratitude to the person who took you in. Fix them a meal, care for their house, whatever you can do once you're able.
- ʙᴀᴅ ɢᴜᴇsᴛ — FUCK THIS PERSON AND FUCK THEIR COUCH. You didn't ask to be brought here. Let them clean up after you, you don't even care.
- ᴡʜᴏ ᴀᴍ ɪ? — How you got into this situation is a mystery. Even more of a mystery is your identity, and why the person you were would be so displaced.
- sᴇʟғʟᴇssɴᴇss —
- ʟᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ — If you've been injured badly enough or can't remember all too well, you might have to relearn a good deal. Luckily, you have a helping hand.
- sᴄᴀʀs — Scars from the encounter that lead you here or scars from prior, you don't want them to see either. You still have your secrets to keep.
- sᴛᴜʙʙᴏʀɴ — Ugh, your house guest is so stubborn! They always get up when they should be resting, have the worst habits, and completely disrespect your home! You'll get to them, one way or another. Or you'll throw them out. You don't want to, but you will.
- ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛ — Bad memories or nightmares wreck you; your host and nurse comes to your side unexpectedly.
- ᴄᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴄʟᴀsʜ — The person who's taken you in is from a different culture or lifestyle than you, and adapting is harder than you thought.
- ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ғᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ — Think learning about a new culture is hard? Try being a different species. Can you keep your little eccentricities at bay for the good of your station?
- ᴊᴇᴀʟᴏᴜsʏ — Now that your emotions towards your caretaker/host/jailer are softening, you're finding yourself unusually jealous of those in their life who were close to them before.
- ɴᴇᴡ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴠɪᴛɪᴇs — You never thought you'd have fun after all that's happened, yet such simple gestures as a picnic or a movie make all the difference.
- ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ — You love them, this person who's taken you in or this person you've found. It's not a pity or a thankfulness, it's love, and you know that now. What you choose to do with this information is
- ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ — Suddenly, the person who's been so nice to you finds out that the two of you have a history. You killed their loved ones or caused something terrible. How can they forgive you?
- ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ — So much has been done for you. The least you can do in return for the one who helped you at your lowest is make sure they never have such a low point.
- ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴋɴᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ — Anyone in the way of getting to you will be destroyed, and that includes the person you're staying with.
- ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇᴍ — You've been given a home, maybe which you've never had before. You don't want to leave.
- ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ — Not only are you living with them, but you're starting a proper life with them.
- ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟ — All secrets are laid out on the table. You've decided to tell about your past and what lead you here.
- ʀᴇᴠᴜʟsɪᴏɴ — What you've done and who you are is so heinous, they want nothing more to do. You're to leave their home and leave them alone.
- ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ — It doesn't matter what they've done. You've opened your home and your heart to them, and nothing's changed.
- ᴘᴀʀᴛɪɴɢ — All things must come to an end. No matter what you feel for each other, it's time to leave. Hopefully, you'll see each other again.
- ʜᴀᴘᴘɪʟʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ — Come what may, you've decided to stay at your new home with the person you love. Now, it's safe enough to do so.
- ᴡɪʟᴅᴄᴀʀᴅ
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A fan letter? [He wasn't expecting that and it shows in the little way his eyes widen and how he just parrots the phrase back for a moment.] That's- [Not that there was anything strange about a fan letter. It wouldn't be like the kind that he'd gotten upset over. Still, it would be wrong to say he was uninterested. The idea, despite feeling stupid, did quickly latch itself to his thoughts.]
What would you say in a letter that you wouldn't say to my face? [It's a question in both literal and rhetorical sense. As much as there was a divide between them, he doesn't see any reason why All Might should be bashful saying anything about his own actions. That does bring up a burning curiosity that there might be a reason, though.]
It would be a waste of time. [he pulls his hand back, now, and brings it up to his neck despite the fact there's no capture cloth hanging there to be messed with.] ... I wouldn't stop you from doing it, though. [There it is, the absolute worst way in the world to say he's interested, he'd like to read that, the Aizawa Special of expressing only mild disdain instead of intense disdain.]
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Besides, there's plenty that's easier to say in a letter.
[He chuckles to himself, picturing the thought of hunkering down and scribbling out a legitimate fan letter. Him, himself! He had never really thought to do such a thing in his life, despite having an interest in heroics at a pretty young age. He puts the fan mail back into his drawers, safe and sound, and looks over at Aizawa with a small and confident smirk.]
Just watch -- any day, you'll suddenly come across one. A bunch of your favorite nonsense from a grateful fan.
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Is that so. [There it is again, that slightest quirk upwards of his lip, a barely imperceptible smile. Whatever the content of the letter, he'd probably be a bit happy. He'd have to make sure that, when that letter found its way to him, he read it somewhere out of the way. There were too many people in his life that, if they saw a sincere smile out of him, would worry for his mental and emotional health. When he speaks again it's a bit quicker than his more thoughtful, shorter sentences.]
Well, if you're going to waste your time writing it, please don't make it a waste of my time to read. Specific examples, proper handwriting, sincerity... If it's too generic, I'll just throw it out, you know. [he won't, he wouldn't, but the idea of it certainly matches his image when he was just trying to get rid of All Might's]
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You can depend on me! Why?
Because I have plenty of sincerity and good marks from writing class!
[Save yourself, Aizawa. But time will indeed pass since this incident with the fanmail -- quite a bit of time, actually! Days, perhaps weeks, and the thought will likely vanish from the man's mind with the distance between. But Aizawa will suddenly find, as All Might leaves for personal business in the morning, an envelope leaning against the unlit candle on the dining table in the apartment.
TO ERASERHEAD, it says on the front, with a few cat stickers on the front and back.]
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[That was how he thought about it, himself, though. And besides, there were plenty of other places to clean and pry. He could just end up organizing the ex-Number 1 Hero's closet or something.]
[Then, there is is. The presence near the candle makes him smirk a bit, like, ah good, it was conveniently placed to be burned. Not that the thought seriously crossed his mind. He picks it up and turns the envelope over in his hands, stopping to rub his thumb over one of the cat stickers. It's not like he ever intended to hide his interest in them. He just maybe feels a bit silly having that interest so blatantly indulged.]
[... Well, if it was left for him, he should read it before the other gets back. And it's just most efficient to read it right after he's found it. It's not like he's particularly excited to read it or anything. Why would anyone ever assume that.]
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this is the cutest thing i've ever seen
["In a way, you've made me a little better of a person." He wants to feel more happy about that. He wants to feel that bit of pleased embarrassment that, just maybe, he was somehow noticed even the year of his debut. He never wanted that, of course, and figured it was impossible with people like Kayama, Hizashi, and Tensei all coming out on the scene at the same time. He wants to be pleased that his diligence, in some way, inspired someone so great, someone his senior. Except for the fact that All Might pushing himself Plus Ultra had resulted in the deterioration of his health, forced retirement, and a legacy that inspired a new breed of villain. Couldn't he inspire more than that?]
[... maybe that was key to it. All Might was certainly in another place where he could be uncertain about the future. He still needed to see people keeping the pace, but- maybe it was a chance to do more. While he'd chosen to stay here mainly for his own selfish reasons, maybe he could make even the smallest change in how the other saw him. How to try and change it was a multiheaded hydra of a problem, along with what exactly he wanted... but it was an opportunity.]
[He flips the letter back closed, taking care to not put excessive pressure on the creases. He'd keep it. There will be a small note placed in return that says:]
["Thank you for your support. A proper letter to follow."]
he does his best
But when he sees the small note where his letter used to be, he feels some strangely worrying anticipation. What if it's a sour note? He can imagine Aizawa placing a written explanation of how he burned the letter into ash or something more morbid, though he likes to think his unlikely roommate is kinder than most people realize.
A sigh of relief, and then a smile, as he reads the message.
Aaah. I'd always support you, my friend.
Heroes need to stick together, right?]
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[So, Aizawa sticks around. He's as busy as ever but whatever free time he has, he spends at the other's apartment. He rarely gets home before the other but he's usually up early. Now, did he sleep and wake up earlier or is he just awake? Who knows. There's at least a presence in the morning. The presence is a way of caring, as is the way that, slowly, over time, Aizawa seems to lose some of his hesitance to use touch. When he needs the other's attention, he'll touch his shoulder or tap in a way that could only be done through layers of awkwardness before. It's still Aizawa, in which the reasons he does it can seem distant, perplexing, or maybe malicious, but it's definitely there.]
[And the letter. Ugh, the letter. It's not a problem of putting words to paper. It's a problem of there being too many words. He never even lets the drafts make it inside the house. Once or twice he even went up to the rooftop to work on it while All Might was sleeping. When he's finally settled on something that sums it up, he knows two things: one, he absolutely has to give it to All Might and get a response and two, he wants to be nowhere nearby when the other reads it.]
[So, there's really only one time to give it. So, he waits. At some point, he realizes he's spent a solid two months leeching off All Might's good will. Which means the topic is brought up, without fanfare, one night, in-between the two of them exchanging commentary on some TV show.]
Ah, right. [he turns his attention from the screen] I'll be moving back tomorrow.
[It's about as sudden and abrupt when he asked to stay. And at an earlier point, he might have just turned back and left it at that. His gaze holds, instead, like looking for any reaction. He'd made up his mind about what he was doing, logically he shouldn't need any incentive or disincentive, and yet...]
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He is surprisingly -- surprised. Caught off guard, looking over with a slight widening of the eyes, a raise of the eyebrows. It's hard to say what it means at first -- pleasant surprise? Disappointment? He stares back until he realizes he's staring and offers a brighter smile instead.]
Finally, huh? That's... good! That's good.
[He looks at the television.]
I'm sure you've missed having your own personal space, aha, ha...
[Just a little laugh, there. Not really an All Might sort of roar of laughter, but Toshinori Yagi isn't really All Might anymore, now is he? Not like he used to be.
He still smiles even when he doesn't feel like it, though.]
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I'm sure you've missed not having your belongings tampered with. [There's a sort of self-deprecating grin as he turns back to the TV. He was an invasive, gloomy houseguest. He could come or go as he wanted. Any time he wanted space he could stay late at work, go to a cat cafe, or just spend time on rooftops in the city. He's been perfectly fine with this. It's so like All Might to phrase it as if he must be glad to go.]
It's not like I brought many belongings to start with, so you don't need to worry about any of that. [as if he'd let the other carry anything for him] ... I'd like you to see me off, though. So, tomorrow. After school.
[He's just sort of counting on the other not having plans.]
... We can walk back here together, first.
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[He rubs the back of his neck with a heady hand. Really, he's...
disappointed. And he feels ridiculous for it. It's a good thing -- a great thing!! -- for Aizawa to get his home back. And really, he's just as secretive a person as Aizawa can be sometimes, too, so feeling self-conscious taking his medications or eating or working on school material would be good, right? And they work together. It's not like Aizawa's vanishing out of his life for good or anything.
He gives Aizawa a pat on the shoulder.]
But I enjoyed having you here, my man! I'll be more than happy to walk with you.
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Ah, good. [It's sort of quiet, vague, unsure of which part of the line he's referring to. There's a little pause, a small glance from the screen to the other then back. He puts his hand back down, to his lap.]
I've enjoyed it, too. [He doesn't say it with a big smile, he doesn't make eye contact while he says it. There's that small gesture where he- slumps a bit- and if his capture cloth was on, it would inch up to cover his face a bit. He doesn't have that defense but the gesture is still ingrained in him. He's being honest.]
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Maybe we should have a goodbye dinner, then!
[He sounds SUPER SHOUNEN ABOUT IT.
Even though it's... just dinner. But also not!
They don't really have dinner together like that -- which is fair, because he literally can't stomach larger, more logical meals thanks to his lack of a place to keep it all -- but hey! Small portions, a real dinner, that sounds great, right? Not just him with granola and yogurt or eggs and smoothies.]
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[There's a moment where Aizawa looks a bit startled by the suggestion, startled enough to look back at the other. He'd made up his mind about what he was doing. He'd set a mental list of what he needed to do. He shouldn't spend any longer, he shouldn't linger, he shouldn't-]
Alright. [His mistake was looking. He was normally one to be able to shut down anyone's good mood with some rational, logical, killjoy excuse. Still, seeing that excitement for something as simple as a dinner... He realizes, sort of hopelessly, that he can't deny All Might's smile. When did that happen? He must be losing his touch. He turns back away, shoulders hunching a bit again in that embarrassed gesture.]
I'm fine with that. [He's already said he enjoyed something once this conversation, he can't just do it twice.]
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He is suddenly standing up with newfound zeal, punching the air.]
Alright, then! Or -- All Might then!!
I'll make us a real dinner...! [He's already wandering off toward the kitchen -- maybe because the faster he can get his thoughts away from Aizawa leaving the apartment (why is this a troubling thought) and on being a chef, huh?? Aizawa may find, surprisingly enough, that despite Toshinori's constant small and fast meals, he can actually be quite the chef; the place fills with nice homely smells within the hour.
Like, a big real meal, too. He's not cutting corners.
He won't be able to indulge like Aizawa will be able to, but who cares?
It's a special occasion.]
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[That moment of flat, dull, judgement is just that, though, a moment. For a while he stays on the couch, still taking in details of some show he realizes he really doesn't care about without someone to watch with him. And at some point, as the good smell begins to waft through the area, he's back to his usual hovering. He doesn't hover in the kitchen, that would just make him a nuisance. Instead he's just at the corner of awareness, like he tended to do while in the apartment. It's just less of a gloomy cloud of a presence and a bit more comfortable.]
[He might even look a bit fond.]
You look like one of those parents that make elaborate lunch boxes. [It's teasing but then meaning's there. He looks surprisingly natural in the kitchen for a seven-foot-tall skeleton man. If Aizawa had those kinds of memories of home, it'd definitely remind him. As it stands, he's got not point of reference, but right now he can easily imagine Toshinori cutting up apples to resemble rabbits or something equally cute, pointless, and sentimental.]
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He's finishing some odd mixture of western and eastern food, fish and rice and a sort of stew.
He clarifies, because it's very important:]
I do make elaborate boxed lunches.
[And ties them neatly with different patterned handkerchiefs. He kind of regrets not doing something like that for Aizawa, actually; some bento boxes. That'd be nice, right? Maybe he'll do that now that he's leaving.... Never too late to be a good friend.]
I'll have to make you one! For tomorrow.
I'm going to have a... lot of leftovers, I think.
[THERE IS SO MUCH. FOR TWO PEOPLE. ONE LACKING A STOMACH.
TOO MUCH.]
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[... And isn't this way too much food? Aizawa's not going to turn down free food but the amount does start to dawn on him as ridiculous. Even with a boxed lunch of leftovers, he was probably going to have to insist on taking some home with him. Otherwise it was going to sit sadly, unable to be diminished by tiny portions, until it went bad.]
[Still, as someone who's spent a solid decade making and eating single-person meals, he's flummoxed by it... but doesn't hate it.]
If it's just leftovers, that's fine with me. Don't waste time with elaborate or anything, I'm not your child. [The translation being: Yes, please. Along with a pointed note. Since he had mentioned parents, now he was being offered one, and- well, some part of him feels the need to pointedly insist there's no familial feelings here.]
[It'd be easier if any time he'd asked about the other's age hadn't been met with pointed, canned laughter. Not that an answer was going to change how he felt at this point.]
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[... He's gonna do it isn't he. He's gonna make them all cute, just to be a sassy asshole.
But more to the point! Time and effort produce food! How startling. He's a little unsure about seasoning because he doesn't know Aizawa that well just yet to know what he likes but--!! Oh, just get it over with, All Might, you were a mighty hero once; you can might your way through setting the table. He's carefully putting out all kinds of dishes and little soup bowls, rubbing the back of his head after a moment with a little sheepish grin, mumbling to himself--]
Aaa... I haven't used these dishes in a long time...
[WHAT THE HELL, CHEF GORDON ALMIGHT.]
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It's nice they get to be used again.
[... Then, after a pause, like it's still so against his nature to just let an innocuous statement go without some small barb,]
But was that really a reason to fill all of them? [There were enough portions here- theoretically, Toshinori could make lunch boxes for several staff members. Not that Aizawa wants that, of course. He wants one for himself and himself alone. Even if that makes it an anomaly he has to explain.]
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Celebration for your living space finally being livable again!
[He wags some chopsticks at him, as if to maestro his reply. Honestly, he's more than happy to spend money on more food, because he's gonna have to shop tomorrow; he makes a pretty decent salary as a hero, obviously -- in fact, perhaps he has more money than he knows what to do with -- but he's always been, in reality, a fairly straight-forward and simple person. It's why this apartment is so sparse. Warm and well-kept, but nothing is particularly lavish for the Number One Hero.
He offers Aizawa some chopsticks as well as he moves to sit.]
Sometimes you really should just take it in and enjoy the moment, you know.
Itadakimasu, as we say!
no subject
[... Maybe he's overthinking it. It's just an excuse to celebrate. He'll settle down at the table, chopsticks in hand. He can't help but add,]
I get it, you're just that excited to see me go. [with that kind of toothy smirk he has when he's either intending to hurt feelings or just messing around. Who can really tell, some days.]
Itadakimasu. [Then it's time to eat. When left to his own devices, Aizawa made small, single-serving kind of meals. That didn't mean he wasn't capable of eating a lot when the opportunity presented itself, though. Plus Ultra.]
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[He's indignant, but only mildly so; he's well-aware of what a little shit Shouta Aizawa can be. The letters being discovered and the conversation that followed hadn't been their first little disagreement. Funnily, he doesn't find it nearly so nail-biting when Aizawa is polar opposite of him now; he knows that the man... doesn't hate him. Is here not just because he tolerates him. He hadn't wanted to make the aura sappy by proclaiming how happy he is to have a steady friend in his life again -- but he sure finds himself happy to be sitting here with him, eating and enjoying the other's company.
Maybe it had been lonelier in this apartment than he remembers.
Or maybe the reason he can't remember being lonely here is because he had avoided being alone too much in this place... A hero who always smiles can't develop anymore reasons to frown, can he? He can't help but beam a little bit as he eats, too.
... He doesn't eat much, but he enjoys letting Aizawa work on the fruits of his labor.
That's fine enough by him.
By the time he's moving to clean up, he can't help but speak what's lingering on his mind.]
... Um. You're always welcome to come here any time, by the way.
It's not a particularly eventful place, but I don't mind... visitors...
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