Chapter Text
Todoroki shoots up, out of his bed, almost falling over the edge. He doesn't remember much, but he hasn't slept in days so he assumes that his need for sleep was the cause of him passing out. He starts to look around and realizes he isn't in his own room; however, he does recognize it. Todoroki believes it is one of the many guest bedrooms that are located throughout the castle. As he starts to leave the room he's not so familiar with, Todoroki hears his father's voice. Enji's voice is muffled but Todoroki can tell he is talking to someone that may have some importance to him or his family. He lifts himself up off of the edge of the bed, and forces his weak legs to walk towards the door. He freezes as his hand grips onto the doorknob, attempting to get the courage to walk out. Just as Todoroki gets ready to open the door his father begins to scream, which leaves him on the floor cradling himself trying to calm himself. But as he searches his mind for a place of peace, he sees a young man.
And in that moment, he remembers everything.
The green-haired boy, who had saved him when he was all alone with no relief in sight. But who was he? What was he doing in the castle and how did he get in? Although Todoroki had more important and pressing matters to focus on, he couldn't help but think about how the rest of the boy looks. As Todoroki begins to search his mind for the smallest details that could help locate his mystery man, he gets a very displeasing memory in return. The sounds of his father's screams fill his empty subconscious, and there seems to be no escape.
He runs through the dark hallways that are very similar to the castle's hallways now, but something eerie lingers throughout them. It could be fear or death but as of now Todoroki knows it is leaving him in a state only his father can put him in. The halls are never-ending. But Todoroki stops in his tracks, as he passes his childhood room, and he comes across himself. However, this version of him is younger. Then he gets hit with the realization that this is the night that his mom disappeared or escaped this nightmare of a castle. He enters the pitch black room that is barely lit by the moon above them, and walks towards the younger boy that is himself. He peers above the boy's head and pure shock covers Todoroki's face as he watches his mother slip into the darkness of the woods. He's not sure if he blocked this memory out of his head, but seeing his mom for the first time in years even if it is in his head, leaves him stuck in a state of awe. Tears slowly roll down his cheek as he whispers "Mom."
In that moment, Todoroki is pulled out of his past and brought to his hellish present by the sound of a door slamming shut. He quickly turns the doorknob his hand had been on for who knows how long, and peeks out into the hallway cautiously. That's when he sees his savior. The man in question is facing away from Todoroki, but from what he can see the young man has a strong build but surprisingly he seems quite small. Todoroki starts to stare but the man he believes is his makeshift knight in shining armor begins to turn around. Before Todoroki can get a glimpse of the boy's face his father's door opens and that causes him to hide behind the door, protecting him from the gaze of his father, once again.
Trying to eavesdrop onto the conversation taking place in the hallway, Todoroki hears his father's voice. "Midoriya, come here." Midoriya responds, sounding more boyish than one would believe from getting a look at the amount of muscle the boy holds, "yes, King Enji." Then to Todoroki's disappointment Enji begins to talk again. "My colleague and I have decided that we would like to hire you, but on one condition." His voice deepening slightly, Midoriya speaks again "anything for you my king." "You shall receive payment after your success of bringing my wife home, and if you do not succeed you will be granted immediate exile." Todoroki can hear the smirk in his father's tone of voice, obviously feeling pleased with his unfair ultimatum and to Todoroki's surprise Midoriya answers without hesitation.
"Fair enough, I take your deal King Enji."
Todoroki feels a twinge in his chest after hearing the response of the obviously dedicated young man he has yet to be officially introduced to, but yet he still fears for Midoriya's well being. Getting lost in his thoughts once again, he is fully pulled out of his so called "dreamland" by the door he's been standing in front of being opened forcefully, therefore knocking him off his feet. He opens his eyes to see his father towering over him, glaring at him with eyes filled with anger and hatred. "I do not approve of this behavior you have been showing Shouto, no one enjoys being spied on." Todoroki's mouth begins to open and close like a fish out of water, but for some reason he can't find a good enough response to give his father in this moment. However, as always Enji finds no problem in responding for his son. "Get up," his father growls almost animal-like. But Todoroki stays still, remaining in his position on the floor. "Get up I said," his father says with more passion this time. Todoroki gets up off the spotless clean floor, only to be smacked across the face and lose his footing once more, ending back in the same spot he just left leaving the once spotless floor tainted with droplets of his blood. Enji begins to talk again, leaving Todoroki to hope this is the last time he hears his father's voice today, "now if you ever disrespect me again for as long as I am alive, I will not hesitate to put you with the rest of the people that have betrayed and disrespected me." Enji then storms out of the room, letting his threat linger in the air repeating over and over in Todoroki's head. Then a softer voice comes into play, and he looks up to meet sincere green eyes filled with concern.
"Uh, are you okay?"