Chapter Text
Shouto Todoroki leaned back in his chair, attempting to rub the sleep from his eyes he stretched heavy arms above his head and yawned widely, an annoyed groan escaped from the back of his throat as he sat straight up once again and stared at the too-bright computer screen in front of him. He looked to the corner of the screen and noted the time ‘10:37pm, I should really go to sleep’ he thought to himself. He took one final sip from the glass of herbal tea and stood up from his desk chair, stretching once more to provide some relief to the tight muscles in his back and legs.
He picked up his phone and walked out of the office room, turning off the lights in each room as he passed. Sleepily, he entered his room and threw his phone onto his bed, beginning to undress and change into sleepwear when the sound of his phone informing him of a message caught his attention.
"Please don't be a villain report," he groaned quietly and picked up the small device. Turning it on the small screen came to life, a small notification revealing he had received a text. 'Who's texting me this late at night?' he wondered as he opened up the text. Looking at the name he realized it was Momo who had texted him.
10:40 "You're coming out with me and Jirou tomorrow morning, and I'm not taking no for an answer." -M
Jirou, Todoroki recalled, was Momo's girlfriend. He knew Jirou was in his class back when they were still students at UA high-school. Shouto barely knew the purple haired girl, having seldom spoken to her. The only times they had ever really conversed were times when they were out with Momo due to the fact that they were never much closer than acquaintances. He didn't have a bad relationship with the girl, she seemed to be very nice, but her slightly too laid back lifestyle and habits of playing music much too loud tended to get on Shouto's nerves. But he knew Momo loved Jirou, their relationship having extended all the way back to their final year at UA when they had initially started dating, and Shouto would leave it at that.
Todoroki opened up the chat box to type back his reply and then shut the screen off and tossed the phone at his side, continuing to get ready to sleep.
10:41"Where are we going?" -S
He made his way into the bathroom, flicking on the light he walked to the sink and turned the faucet on, splashing the cold water onto his face and sighing deeply as he let the water drip down and off of his nose and chin. Patting the remaining water off his face he stared into the mirror examining his face. His eyes grazed over the features of his own self, noting the way the slight bags under his eyes seemed to have grown slightly darker once more. 'How did I let myself get this far?' He knew he had been working slightly more than usual, but he couldn't help it what with the recent increase in villain reports. It was to be expected he may be a little more overworked than usual, it wasn't easy being the number 4 hero.
Shouto let his right hand move up to graze lightly over the dark red scar covering the right side of his face. He drew his hand down the blemish, the skin felt rough under his fingers, dark red met pale skin. He continued to stare at the dark scar, faint voices yelled at him from inside his mind. He could hear the sound of his fathers voice, rough and full of anger. Shouto must have done something wrong again. He felt the room begin to close in around him, his own form felt as is it was shrinking down and down till he was nothing more than a small pebble before the monstrous form of a flame-engulfed beast. His throat began to close up as he struggled to breath, the sound of his mothers shrieks as she yelled at him, cursing his existence as she let anger overcome her being before holding down Shouto and attacking her young son. The ever so present light burning of his own fingertips on his face pulled him away from his mind. Shouto turned his head away from the mirror and let his hand fall back to his side, he took a deep breath realizing he had been holding it for a matter of seconds.
He turned back towards the door and exited the bathroom, returning to his large bedroom. Looking out the large windows covering the wall opposite of him, he saw a large portion of Hosu district. He noted calm the city appeared at a time like this. Few cars drove at this hour, small groups of people, most looking to be in their mid to late 20's, roamed the streets. Some were heading into bars or restaurants, while others just walked quietly down the sidewalks. Despite not being able to see many of their faces, they all looked happy. One group of people contained only 5 people, they looked to be about Shouto's age judging by the way they joked around pushing each other, but still appeared to be holding some sort of beverage which Shouto assumed was alcohol of some sort. Two of the young adults in the group were pressed tightly against each other, the taller male had his arm strung around the smaller girls shoulder as she leaned into his side, their steps synching up. They looked so close to him but yet so far away, and they looked so happy.
Shouto had always been much more of an observing, seldom were the times he willingly went out. But it was times like this when he longed to be with someone else, he craved the touch of another person, he wished for the embrace of someone who would just lay with him in the gentle silence of nights like this. It was times like this that he really regretted never opening up to more people in his younger days. Sure he was only 23, but as he aged, the opportunities to meet people lessened in frequency.
Shouto sighed and went to grab his phone to check is Momo had replied. He sat back down on his bed and grabbed the charger near his side table and plugged the cord into the phone. Opening up the device, he returned to his conversation with his friend, noticing he had been away for over 20 minutes and Momo had texted him 3 more times since he had replied to her.
10:43 "It's a small cafe near my apartment, me and Jirou had gone there a few times before and we wanted to meet up before I had to go away to Shigaru for a few days for some work out there. " -M
10:47 "I promise you'll like it, there are cats there" -M Cats? Todoroki reread the line to make sure he had read that correctly.
10:56 "Please just consider it, I want to see you before I go away, we haven't been able to hang out too much lately what with you swamping yourself with so much work, plus a friend of mine told me there is a cat that looks just like you there." -M
Shouto laughed slightly at that last line, imagining a cat, color cut in half with red and white on mirroring halves.
11:03 "And I really don't have a decision in this matter?" -S
He closed the message and went into the news to see if anything interesting had happened today. He knew there were small villain acts every day. Small things such as groups of teens causing a ruckus in the middle of a park, or things such as robberies occasionally hit bigger news outlets. Shouto was thankful that despite the frequency of small acts, things such as murders were seldom in Hosu district. A small part of him remembered the Hero Killer Stain from back when he was still in his first year at UA, having barely passed into the real world of work and heroes, but he pushed that memory back down, not wanting to remember the still fresh image of his classmate Iida sprawled out on the floor, beaten and battered within an inch of his life with the infamous man known only as Stain stood above him, blade ready to push into the young boy below him. Shouto still remembers that he had barely gotten there in time, the only reason he had ever gotten there was because Iida had sent out a text with his location and Todoroki, not knowing if what Iida had sent meant danger, got there as quickly as he could, not wanting to risk letting his classmate get hurt.
11:06 "No you don't <3 I swear it will be fun, just meet me and Jirou there at 9:45 am, It's on the street right across from my apartment, it's not too difficult to miss, there are a lot of plants right outside of it, it's called 'Meow Parlor' I'll see you them" -M
Todoroki smiled at the 'punny' cafe name and typed back a quick reply telling his friend he would be there tomorrow before putting his phone back down beside his bed and turned onto his side to rest. He let himself sink into the soft bed, pulling the covers up over his shoulders he listened quietly to the far away sounds of the streets, the light buzz of city night life soothing him to sleep.
The sound of a high pitched beeping roused Todoroki from his slumber. Bright morning light broke through small holes within clouds that covered the city sky like a blanket, warm rays of heat from the sun shone down onto the bustling city life below.
Shouto groggily turned over and shut off the annoying alarm clock and groaned as his eyes attempted to dilate to become accustomed to the new bright lights around him. He moved his hand over to the bedside table to find his phone. Picking up the small device, he brought it above his face and turned it on to check the time only to find one more message from Momo.
8:05 "Dont forget the cafe today, 9:45! :)" -M
Todoroki rolled his eyes playfully at Momo acting like such a Mom. He knew she cared, it just felt nice that she felt the need to remind him about things so much, of course it's not like he forgets things that often.
8:48 " Ya ya mom I wont forget." -S
Shouto threw the phone next to him and pushed off his bed, running a cold hand through his hair as he stumbled slightly towards the bathroom, still drowsy from having just woken up. He turned the light in his bathroom on as he stepped onto the cool tile, shivering slightly at the temperature change. He shuffled across the floor to the sink and turned the stiff nob, cold water flowed down into the bowl. Todoroki stared at it for a few moments, mind still cloudy from not being fully awake. Shaking his head to wake up he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and splashed some of the water onto his face, he rubbed his face once more, cleaning his face off and then dried the droplets pooling on his nose and chin. After brushing his teeth quickly he went into his room, picking up his phone once more to check how much time he had left. 8:53 He still had at least 20 minutes before he needed to leave, Momos apartment complex was only 15 minutes away by foot.
He opened his message noticing Momo had replied once more to his text.
8:52 "Oh my Shouto Todoroki is that sarcasm I am hearing, did Shouto Todoroki just make a Joke." -M
Shouto smiled at Momo's responce, quickly typing back an equally sarcastic response, hoping to further the small conversation.
8:54 "Oh Me? Sarcastic? Never." -S
Shouto placed the phone back down and headed towards his closet, opening the small room he examined his closet, attempting to find something to wear. Most of his wardrobe consisted of either very formal attire, or workout clothing. Deciding on a comfortable, loose black V neck and plain blue jeans, he grabs a simple button up shirt that is covered in small white dots. He looked himself over once in the mirror deciding it looked good enough. Noting the way his hair had become quite messy, red mixing with white looking like a marble of the two colors, he went to brush his hair out. Taking a deep breath he tried to calm the nerves threatening to spill over into his mind once more. 'Why am I so nervous it's just a simple meeting with Momo and Jirou.'
He sighed and brushed the wrinkles out of his shirt, chucking the nerves up to the fact that typically him going out in public meant people would see him, and when people see him they recognize him, and people recognizing him meant paparazzi, and if there was anything Shouto hated more than most things, it was the paparazzi. The way they swarm and near interrogate you, shouting just to possible get the chance at getting a word from you in hopes of getting some big secret out of you, as if them asking means you'd give them anything they requested. They were like moths to a flame, annoying, loud, rude moths to a flame.
Todoroki returned to his bedroom and picked up the phone still lying there checking to see if he needed to leave yet. Just as he opened his phone he received another text from Momo. Quickly noting that he had about 5 minutes remaining, he opened her message.
9:10 " Someone call the press, Todoroki Shouto has made a joke!" -M
Shouto laughed lightly at the continuation of their joke and turned the phone off, shoving it into his pocket he walked out of his room and through his living room the balcony outside. As he walked out he leaned his arms onto the railing and inhaled deeply the scent of the fresh morning air, despite all of the large buildings and cars around, the air never smelled horribly of pollution, often smelling more like the ocean, a saltiness mixed with the fresh scent of nature due to the small plants he had out on his balcony courtesy of Momo. She had gifted them to him as a moving in present when Shouto had first moved into his apartment 2 years ago. He loved the plants but at times he forgot to water them for long periods of time and Momo had to end up saving them more than once. He tried to take care of them as best as he could be he seldom went out onto his balcony, so often the thought slipped his mind and next thing he knew it had been 3 weeks since he had watered the poor plants.
Shouto let his mind wander for a few more minutes as he stared down at the city below, letting his gaze fall onto whatever caught his eyes attention. He could see the busy traffic of people attempting to get to work, cars moving in slow rhythm with each other as other walked past hastily on the sidewalk. It all seemed so normal and simple to him compared to his often rushed life as a Hero. Sure he was biased to what was harder but even without the first hand experience, comparing the life of having so many citizens entrusted in your hands, to one of simple jobs, working in business, maybe someone down there is a doctor, maybe they're a stay at home parent with 3 kids. Imagining such a normal life both made Shouto's heart ache for something like that, something so calm and normal, but at the same time he knew his place was in Hero work, he would never throw away nearly 20 years of hard work away to live as everyone else.
He pushed away from the railing and drew his phone from his pocket 9:17 'I need to get going' he thought as he went back inside and quickly pulled on a casual pair of black shoes. Mindlessly he grabbed his wallet and keys and left his apartment, deciding to take the stairs rather than an elevator he trotted quickly down the 9 flights to the lobby. As he left the man at the check in desk waved to him offering a small smile as Shouto exited the building, he smiled back at the man and turned to exit, turning left down the sidewalk taking the ever familiar path the his best friends home.
Once he had located Momo's apartment complex he looked around, attempting to find the cafe in question. It's on the street right across from my apartment, it's not too difficult to miss, there are a lot of plants right outside of it, it's called 'Meow Parlor' Todoroki recalled Momo's instructions an walked across the street. Gazing down the sidewalk he saw a glimpse of a leaf near the corner. Shouto made his way down and finally spotted the large array of vegetation outside of a small entrance, a standing sign with a cat doodle on it with the words "Welcome to Meow Parlor" were written next to it. Satisfied he found the location, he pushed open the door and made his way inside.
When he entered the cafe he was greeted with the warm scent of cinnamon and butter that hovered in the air. The cafe was small it appeared, but Shouto assumed it was larger when he noticed the stairway that led to another floor above them. It had a very welcoming air to it, and looked very modern for an establismnet containing so many free-roaming cats. One wall was entirely covered with small structures with different assortments of boxes and bridges and scratching towers. Many different cats were perched on different levels of the wall, some moving throughout the paths while other laid sleepily on boxes and fluffy beds and hammocks strung between the cat-sized buildings.
The Opposing wall was lined with a table stretching across the entirety of the wall, tall chairs lined the wall equal distances apart, with small, fluffy beds laid near each chair. There were many couches and comfortable chairs placed around small tables that had different things upon each one. Some had simple beds or structures for cats to sit in, while others were adorned with structures with strings suspended from them and feathers or fluffy balls at the end of the string for cats to play with. The entire shop just gave off a very comforting feeling.
Slowly Todoroki made his way toward the register at the other end of the shop, looking around the cafe in hopes of spotting Momo or her girlfriend Jirou. But to no avail, he could not see them, the only people he could see in the store were two guys sitting at a couch who were playing with a large, fluffy, tortoise shell cat that looked much more interested in sleeping rather than playing with the two spiky haired men that Shouto could swear looked familiar. Not far away from them sat a Woman with Long brown hair and a man with black short hair slicked back, they appeared to be debating or something judging by the active hand motions the man continuously made.
Shouto sighed and pushed a hand through his hair, moving towards the register and looking over the large assortment of cat-themed pastries.
As he reached the register he stood awkwardly, feeling slightly out of place being all alone currently. He looked over to a door in the corner, assuming it was the kitchen, and saw a flash of green pass by, soon after accompanied by the sound of the door being thrust open by a man adorning the same green colored locks. He came out carrying a large tray of fresh steaming muffins with small cat heads on top. Shoto stared at the man as he walked up to the register not noticing Shouto as he focused entirely on placing the baked goods into the display box.
Had it not been for the fact that Shouto could not speak the that moment in time, he most likely would have spoken up the get the green haired mans attention, but he was struck breathless at the mans appearance. He didn't appear to be too tall most likely only a few inches shorter than Shouto, but then again most people were shorter than Shouto. He looked strong, but still thin and graceful, strong biceps flexed slightly as he shifted the tray of muffins in his arms, placing each one delicately down. He looked the man up and down noting the way those black skinny jeans he wore fit just right around his calfs and thighs, and the way they fit around his butt and oh god Shouto get your head out of the gutter. He wore a dark green turtle neck that was oversized and was just perfect in the way that it only amplified how cute this man was.
When the Man finally noticed Shouto's existence, he jumped slightly, looking shocked Shouto was standing there.
"I'm so sorry I didn't see you there I hope you weren't waiting too long." The man flashed Shouto a bright small as Large green orbs met heterochromic eyes. Shouto stood there gaping slightly at the mans question, trying to formulate a sentance but only being able to let out small nonsensical babbles as his mind would only focus on counting the number of freckles contained on the mans face. Freckles cocked his head to the side slightly and Shouto could feel his heart race quicken at just how damn adorable this man is, my god those curls are godsend there so perfect and all of his freckles must have been placed by angles themself becuase there is no way that someone could look this perfect and-
"Sir?" Freckles looked at Shouto questioningly.
"I-uh-oh-um yes?" The Heterochromic man felt the heat in his face increasing and tried to cool himself down with his quirk.
"I had asked what you wanted to order?" The man said gently.
"Oh, uh just a Latte." Shouto said breathlessly trying to regain some composure.
"And is that all?" Freckles said with a smile.
"Yes." He said looking away from the man. Shouto paid and Freckles moved away from the register to begin making the order. Shouto began to once again get enchanted by the man with the way he moved as he began to shift around grabbing different bottles of liquids, hips swaying every so slightly, calfs flexing as he went up onto his tip-toes to grab something from a shelf above. The way he moved so fluidly, dancing occasionally to the beat of the music playing quietly within the room. Shouto tried to move away but his legs would not let him, planting him firmly in place like he was waiting for something much-too important, his gaze only faltering once the brunette he had spotted once before moved behind the counter and up the Freckles, poking him in the shoulder to get his attention. Shouto took that as his cue to escape and hastily moved to the bathroom, locking the door from inside he sat down on the bench within the small room.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and brought up his messages and quickly sent one out to Momo, hoping she would reply soon.
9:49 "Where are you two? You're five minutes late and I need you rn." -S
He leaned his head back onto the cool concrete wall letting out a sigh of defeat. That was pathetic you probably looked like some creep or something just staring at him like some schoolgirl. Shouto covered his hands with his face and groaned as he laughed at just how ridiculous that actually was. When he heard his phone beep, he immediately opened up the messages, reading what his friend replied.
9:50 "I know were late, i'm sorry, Jirou got caught up getting ready, we'll be there in like 2 minutes, what's wrong?" -M
9:50 "Theres this barista and I just completely embarrassed myself because I didn't respond when he asked what I wanted because I was too busy Counting his freckles."
9:50 "I'm not sure who you're talking about?" -M
9:51 "He's got green curly hair, not super hard too miss, illegally attractive." -S
9:51 "Oh that's Midoriya, ya I understand, he's cute enough to turn me straight, even you didn't turn me straight and you're one of the most attractive people I know." -M
9:51 "MOMO. For your information I am having a rEAL PROBLEM here I mean If it weren't for the fact that I was a little busy trying to calm my quirk I could have SWORN I might have seen him blush or something and dear God Momo that smile could challenge the sun in a battle of brightness and all he had asked me was what I wanted to drink" -S
9:51 "Alright alright lover boy calm down, Me and Jirou will be there in just a few minutes, were leaving my place right now, sit tight." -M
Shouto let out a sigh of relief and stood back up, mentally preparing himself to go back out. He returned his phone to his back pocket and exited the bathroom, walking toward the counter as he saw Midoriya with his drink.
"Oh there you are! I thought maybe you fled the place when I didn't see you." Midoriya laughed as he pushed the cup foreward why are you so cute that laugh could cure disease it's so pure. "One simple Latte for.." Midoriya paused a moment and then looked back up at Shouto. "I don't recall every actually getting your name?" He said as he laughed and raised one eyebrow and Todoroki.
"Oh, its Shouto, Shouto Todoroki." He said to the freckled man.
"Ok, well Shouto, Shouto Todoroki, Here is your Latte." Midoriya said jokingly as he slid the tray towards shouto and then flashed a quick smile before turning around and heading towards a taller man with purple hair and a sly smirk. The Purple haired man said something quietly to Midoriya and then proceeded to laugh as he walked back into the kitchen.
Finally noticing he was staring, Todoroki picked up the tray and then hastily moved away from the counter, opting to sit at a short, two-person couch in the corner or the room. He let himself sink into the comfortable chair just as a small dual colored cat jumped up onto the table where his latte sat. Looking down at the hot drink, todoroki blushed once more, seeing the small cat formed within the foam on top of the steaming drink. Thats unfair Shouto smiled lightly as he pulled the cat forward and began to pet it, letting the cat get comfortable in his lap as Shouto awaited the arrival of his friend.