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It has to be some kind of mistake. He heard the reporter wrong.
"That's right, folks! The flame hero Endeavor has just been arrested and taken into custody!"
It has to be wrong.
"After an investigation spanning several years and countless charges that were inevitably dropped, the truth has come out at last!"
Surely they won't say it on live television.
"A villain going by the name of Dabi has revealed himself to be Ryou Todoroki, a boy who went missing ages ago. Minutes ago he confessed that Enji Todoroki, better knows as the number two hero Endeavor, abused his wife and children for years! The severe scars on his neck and arms are more than enough to sate the courts."
The other anchor gasps. "Those poor children!"
"They're all grown now so we're allowed to release this information. In fact, the budding hero Frostfire is none other than the youngest Todoroki!"
His world seems to freeze. The people who were cheering and applauding only minutes before grow silent. Then the whispers and furtive glances begin.
What kind of hero...? Isn't he unstable from all that? He shouldn't be allowed to be a hero if his father was like that.
It's suffocating. He knows his patrol isn't to be over for at least a few hours but he can't handle the staring. There are other heroes around the city who can keep an eye on things. He needs to get away.
The apartment door opens and he smiles. "Shoucchan, you're home early~! I saw how you saved that family today. It was incredible!"
Silence. The look in his eyes is one Izuku hasn't seen in years and he knows.
"...You saw it too?"
"How dare they," are the first words out of his mouth, more of a growl than anything.
"Shoucchan, he's just a reporter doing his job. He didn't mean anything by it–"
"He ruined my career."
"It's not that bad," he offers, taking the other boy's mask.
"You didn't hear the things they were saying. Asking if I should be a hero at all... Doubting all my accomplishments... Questioning my sanity and my skill... All because of him."
He's never seen him this upset before. He's reaching levels of anger that rival Katsuki's and that's a terrifying thought.
"Just come eat and we can talk about it later. I'm sure the reporter will apologize if we explain things to the station."
He changes into civilian clothes but makes no move to join Izuku at the table. He takes it as an invitation and sits next to him on the bed.
"It's going to be okay," he says, rubbing small circles on his back. "We're going to work through this. You've already accomplished so much."
"You don't get it!" he snaps. "Nothing's over. I've accomplished nothing. I've been living this nightmare for nearly fifteen years. It doesn't end."
He draws back at the tone. "Shouto," he asks carefully, "what did your father do to you?"
"I've always been nothing but a tool to him. What do you do when you want to strengthen something?"
"Work it until it gets stronger..."
"Surely such a great analyst sees the correlation."
The faint scars littering his body suddenly make sense.
"And of course it wasn't just me. I was the fourth attempt after the first three failed. I grew up quickly and learned not to question the cuts and scrapes that never seemed to heal, even though Fuyumi and Ryou didn't leave the house or play with anyone. I stayed silent the first time I entered the training hall and noticed the blood on the floor. By the time I thought to ask about it mine had joined."
His body is shaking and Izuku can't tell if he's crying or laughing.
"I watched my father deface Ryou," he admits, his voice trembling. "I was fourteen years old when he came in the kitchen and nearly burnt his throat away."
"Shouto–"
He finally looks over and there are tears in his eyes. "He told me killing him would be kinder than his original plan for him. Every night I hear those words in my head. Every time I close my eyes I see him waiting to spar, waiting to take out his anger on me and do it again when I healed."
"I..."
"While my wounds healed he'd constantly remind me of how weak I was, and how disappointing it was that I couldn't last a single match against him. Eventually I learned to just accept the punishment in whatever form it took and move on. It worked for the others, more or less." His voice breaks at the end and the tears finally fall.
There are no words that can make the situation better in the slightest, so he decides words aren't worth it. Izuku wraps his arms around the other boy and the sudden movement pushes them back. Shouto's head is pressed against his chest and he can feel the boy's sobs rocking his body.
This is the first time he's seen him cry, Izuku realizes. He gently combs through his hair with his fingers. "It's okay," he murmurs. "I'm here."
They lay like that for awhile. Eventually Shouto quiets down and his breathing is even again. Izuku is worried he's fallen asleep but a gentle laugh seems to travel through him.
"Thank you," he whispers, and it sounds an awful lot like I love you.