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All eyes seemed to be on him as he entered the classroom late. Even Aizawa stopped droning on and was staring so hard he was afraid his quirk was being erased as he walked to his seat.
"Is everything alright?" Yaoyorozu asked quietly.
"Of course."
"But you're limping and–"
"I'm fine. I accidentally kicked something on my way out the door."
"If you two are done talking," Aizawa interrupted, "we were in the middle of explaining today's exercise when you showed up, Mr. Todoroki. All of you, gym uniforms. Now."
Everyone shot out of their seats and he was left clumsily getting to his feet, trailing behind them. Only Midoriya hung back. "Did something happen, Todoroki-kun? Your fingers are all bandaged!"
"Everything is fine."
"Are you sure? If there's an issue I'm sure Aizawa-sensei would–"
"This isn't the time for idle chatter," their teacher said darkly, appearing behind them. "Get changed or I'm having you run laps. Then you can participate in today's exercise."
They nodded and hurried to the locker room, which had emptied. He was struggling to unbutton his blazer with trembling fingers when Midoriya stepped in, getting the last of them.
"Thanks," he muttered, face burning. How weak he was, to need help undressing like a child.
It was only as the air stung his exposed back did he remember why he was bandaged in the first place but it was too late. Midoriya was staring at the burns and scratches with his mouth hanging open and eyes wide.
"Todoroki-kun," he breathed. "What happened?"
He hurriedly zipped his jacket. "It's nothing. Let's go before Aizawa-sensei makes good on his threat."
"That's not nothing! Tell him you can't participate because you're hurt!"
"That's not an option," he said lowly, pushing past the younger boy.
"Todoroki-kun!"
He ignored the searing pain as the fabric rubbed against his skin and joined the rest of his class, staying away from Midoriya.
"–obstacle course in teams of four. We've got a minefield similar to the sports festival, weights you'll be carrying over a short distance, and a climbing wall at the end. Use your quirks however you want but you have to at least touch all the elements. You can't just fly to the top. I'm looking at you, Bakugou."
"Shut the hell up! That was only once!"
The mere thought of climbing had his legs threatening to give out. He was so tired.
"Team one is Aoyama, Ojiro, Shouji, and Hagakure."
It was by what row you sat in. He wouldn't be with Midoriya. But that meant–
"You're looking pale," Yaoyorozu said. "Are you sure everything is fine?"
He didn't respond, instead looking at the obstacles just beyond the gate. He could see the wall and swallowed thickly. He had to do it. His father would never let him hear the end of it if he failed.
"First runners, in position!" Aizawa barked. "And... Go!"
Iida took off, to nobody's surprise. He cleared the minefield and left explosions in his wake. Uraraka attempted to float herself across but didn't have enough momentum and was struggling in place. Asui cleared it in a few jumps while Ashido and Aoyama struggled among the cloud of dust.
Shouto knew he'd be going second to last. If he created an ice path he wouldn't have to worry about the mines and Yaoyorozu would have an advantage on her turn. As for the weights...
A buzzer sounded and Iida could be made out in the distance. Uraraka was right behind him and promptly leaned over the edge as she hit the button. Midoriya winced.
"Second runners, get in position."
He had a strategy, or as much as he was going to come up with. He barely paid attention as the second and third groups went.
"Fourth runners, in position."
He was against Shouji, Jirou, Sero, and Tokoyami. It would definitely be a challenge.
"Go!"
He planted his foot and ice covered most of the field. It was an advantage for the others but he didn't have time to worry about that. He reached the weights second and tried to lift it with great difficulty. How do they expect those of us without strength quirks to do this? he wondered. He made another ice track and slid it along, watching as Shouji took the lead with ease.
I won't lose like this.
With adrenaline fueling him he made it to the wall only behind Shouji, who was struggling to find enough handholds. As he started to climb his body protested but he pushed himself forward.
Left leg. Right hand. Right leg–
He scrambled for purchase as his leg gave out and was left hanging, nothing within reach.
"I won't lose this," he growled. "Not again!"
Sero swung past him and the buzzer sounded, Tokoyami only a second later.
He tried to make an ice ledge by his leg but his hands just couldn't hold on. He fell back and hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of him. All he could focus on was how badly his back stung as he lay there, and how he couldn't suck in enough air.
The last thing he saw was Aizawa and Yaoyorozu standing over him before his vision finally faded.
He woke up in Recovery Girl's office, unsure what time it was or what had happened. The last thing he remembered was gym and falling off the wall–
His breath came in short gasps and the Youthful Heroine herself made her way over. "You had a nasty fall there. I was worried you'd bumped your head a bit too hard."
"I'm... I'm fine."
"You most certainly are not. The others might think you're in here for your gym stunt but I saw those marks on your back. Those aren't normal injuries, Todoroki."
"I was practicing my quirk and it got out of control."
"Why do you insist on protecting him?"
His heart seemed to stop. "I don't know what you're–"
"The staff knows a lot more than you think. Did it never occur to you why we started holding weekend training sessions? I have my work cut out for me as it is and don't need my weekends eaten up too! You needed a reason to get out of the house and we needed a way to keep an eye on you."
"You did it... for me?"
"There were other reasons, of course, but you were a big part of it. We can't stand up to your father directly. You know that better than anyone. Now I'm going to ask you again: why do you insist on protecting him?"
"...Nobody can stand up to him. What good does it do if people know anyway?"
She sighed and shook her head. "You might get some help instead of dealing with things on your own. Speaking of, someone's been waiting to see you since they brought you down here. Even after school ended, in fact."
"Who–"
"He's awake," she called.
Midoriya thanked her and hurried in. "Todoroki-kun!"
"You... waited for me."
"I was so worried! Aizawa still made us finish the course and I placed second against Kacchan but that's not important. What happened? And don't tell me nothing because nothing doesn't make you pass out!"
"...Training," he said at last. "Things went... poorly."
"Who were you fighting that burned you like that?!"
He didn't answer and Izuku looked hurt. "You don't trust me?"
"No, that's not it. It's... complicated."
"You boys can go back and forth all you like," Recovery Girl said, "but the day is over and I need that bed back."
"Come to my house," Izuku said immediately. "My mom has been begging to meet you anyway. Please, Todoroki-kun."
He glanced at his arm, wrapped in gauze with purple bruises and fading burns underneath. If he didn't have to go home to that–
He slipped his sneakers back on. "Lead the way."
Inko Midoriya thought she was prepared for anything after her seemingly quirkless son manifested a quirk unlike hers or her husband's.
She wasn't prepared to find a boy she'd only seen on TV sitting at her kitchen table with his shirt off and his skin marked with bruises.
He got up and bowed to her. "Good evening, Midoriya-sama."
"...Good evening."
So many questions ran through her head. What was his name again? Why is he so beat up? Isn't he the one who fought Izuku in the finals? Where is that boy?
Her son decided to show himself in that moment, coming down the stairs with a first aid kit under his arm.
"Mom!"
"Izuku," she said carefully, "who is this?"
"Shouto Todoroki," the older boy interrupted. "Your son and I are classmates... and friends."
"It's lovely to finally meet you, Shouto. You were amazing in the sports festival."
"...Thank you."
"Mo-om," Izuku whined. "I was in the middle of something!"
"That's the wrong medicine," she scolded. "It might help in the moment but he'll wake up tomorrow in even more pain. Just let me do this!"
"No way! He's my friend–"
"And you're going to hurt him!"
She took the kit from him and hurried upstairs, returning a moment later with the right one. Izuku simply accepted his fate and sat down, resting his head on his hands. "Only gets like this when I try to do something," he grumbled.
Shouto turned to say something but only a gasp escaped him as the burn cream was slathered on his arm.
"Sorry about that. It's a bit cold but it'll definitely help."
He wasn't going to admit it was the sudden warmth of her hands that shocked him so badly.
"Todoroki," she mused. "Where have I heard that name before?"
"I-It's a common name!" Izuku stammered. "Surely you're thinking of someone else–"
"No, the flame hero Endeavor is a Todoroki, isn't he?"
"Yes, my father is very popular."
"Well, you probably know that Izuku and I are more All Might fans."
"As am I," he admitted.
"Alright, turn around so I can get your back."
"Mom, I really think it's better if I–!"
Her smile disappeared as Shouto did as he was told and she saw the angry red marks for the first time. "You poor child," she whispered. "What did this to you?"
"I was training."
"Is this... Is this what Yuuei has you doing?"
"Of course not," he assured her. "Yuuei would never intentionally put its students in harms way. These are from... something else."
She worked in silence after that, her head down and all lightheartedness gone. Even Izuku was quiet, tracing the grain of the table.
"These burns weren't an accident," she said as she finished.
It wasn't a question and he didn't offer an answer.
"Did someone at home do this?"
"Yes."
"Your father."
"...Yes."
"Izuku, run upstairs and get him something to wear," she said quietly. "He can't be comfortable in that uniform and you two are probably about the same size."
The boy darted to his room and she sighed. "Why?"
"My father is a prideful man who values status and reputation above all else. The Todoroki name is something to be upheld at all costs. I came home with a less than satisfactory grade and he... taught me a lesson, I suppose."
"...My husband can breathe fire. I know what burns look like, and... there were others that had healed but not faded."
"Yes, my father is a hard man to please. Normally he takes care of the timing so all traces will be gone by the time I'm in school again but he was careless this–"
He was cut off as she pulled him close, arms wrapped around him in the first hug he'd gotten in ages. He slowly returned the gesture.
"You don't deserve any of this," she whispered.
Izuku came downstairs then with a pair of sweatpants and a tee shirt, both with All Might's logo somewhere on them. He cleared his throat and the two pulled apart, Inko wiping at her eyes.
"The bathroom is down the hall if you want to change."
Shouto took the clothes and gave a mumbled "Thank you."
Izuku sat across from his mother. "I know you're a hugger, but him too?"
"You'll understand when you're older."
He emerged a minute later and the younger boy tried not to laugh. "Yellow really isn't your color, is it?"
"I'm more concerned that the pants don't reach my ankles..."
"Why you–! You're not that much taller than me!"
Inko smiled. "Would you like to stay for dinner? It's rather late but we haven't eaten yet."
"Ah, I couldn't intrude. My father is expecting me anyway, and–"
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air and Izuku cleared his throat. "I'll walk him down the street."
"You're welcome here any time, Shouto."
"Thank you for your hospitality."
"Sorry about that," the younger boy said as they got outside. "She can be a bit overbearing and emotional."
"No, it's sweet."
"I guess. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? You can just give me the clothes back whenever. Or burn them, since your dad won't like that. Mom says I have too many in the first place," he said with a laugh.
As he turned back Shouto paused. "Izuku!"
"Huh?"
"...Thank your mom again for me."
"Sure. What for?"
"For reminding me I'm not alone."