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a room lit too bright. white walls. it's an empty feeling at first until it hits and you're screaming. burning face. enveloping heat. it feels as tho the world is darkening around you, only leaving you and the heat. you scream out.
Todoroki startles awake, a scream caught in his throat. He clutches his left eye, looking around violently. There's a light on and it casts gloomy shadows across the dark walls. It smells like fire and someone is talking fast and quiet. His eyes and throat burn as he shakily racks in air to his lungs. He sits there a moment trying to control his breathing. It doesn't settle down and he makes a fist. His hands are shaking too. It looks like he activatd his quirk in his sleep and destroyed his sheets. "Shouto," a quiet voice says. Shit.
"Midoriya," he says calmly, looking up to meet the boy. He's shaking noticably, tears threatening to spilll from his eyes. Todoroki almost lets ut a whine, wanting to comfort him in that moment. "I'm sorry." Midoriya huffs a small laugh and shakes his head. He looks at Todoroki a moment, eyes scanning over him with a smll frown.
It seems Midoriya has deemed it safe enough to return to Todoroki's side because he sits down next to him and outstretches a shaky hand. Todoroki stares as hs hand as he laces theirs together. With a reassuring squeeze, Todoroki looks directly into Midoriya's eyes.
"Shouto."
The name makes him stiffen for second, breath caught in his throat. He looks away and sucks in a shaky breath. "I'm assuming you'll want to know what woke me up?" Todoroki makes no attempt to look back at Midoriya.
"Only if you want to, okay? If talking about it only hurts you more then I don't want to push you." Another reassuring squeeze. Todoroki doesn't move and Midoriya doesn't make any attempt to do anything. Time stands still for a few moments, only the sound of harsh breathing filling the room. Finally, a sigh and Todoroki looks back at Midoriya.
"Itzuki," two breathes are heard, one quick inhale and the other a long sigh, "let's go for a drive." Todoroki stands up then, dragging Midoriya with him. He follows him silently. He always will.
They make their way through the small house and out the door. They share a silent look as they get in the car. Midoriya knows Todoroki prefers a comfortable silence and he's willing to give him anything he needs in the moment. They drive in silence, lights whizzing by them.
"What time is it?" Todoroki has his hands on the wheel, gripping so hard his knuchles are almost white. He keeps his steely gaze forward. Midoriya fumbles for his phone, looking at it blankly for a moment before focusing. "3:45," he says quickly, letting out a deep breath.
Todoroki has a habit of running away. He slips between the cracks of reality sometimes. Midoriya doesn't dare ask what he does while he's away but whatever it is clearly helps and that's all that matters.
"The park," Todoroki whispers when they stop at a red light. "We're going to the park."
"How did you-"
"I've known you a long time, Izuki." The light turn green and the moment is lost. Silence envelops the car again as they drive. Eventually, after what feels like an eternity, they stop. There's a park. It has small swing sets and a slide. Nothing impressive.
Todoroki stops the car and gets out, leaving Midoriya to fumble behind him. They make their way to the swing set and sit on it, quietly swaying.
"Endeavor, my father," Todoroki starts, "he would hit our mother. He would hit all of them, my siblings and mom." Todoroki looks down at his hands and curse. There are flames licking his fingers. "I would come to this park when they went to bed, just to be out of the house. I think they all knew and never said anything." A small huff escapes him as he smiles sadly.
"When this accident happened, my father made sure it was almost impossible for me to sneak out. I would try still but I would..." He trails off, looking into the distance. "I didn't have an easy childhood, you know that. It's not easy dealing with all the scars I've been left with. If it ever becomes too much for you, I understand if you want to leave."
Midoriya looks at Todoroki with his eyebrows furrowed. A sudden understanding hits him. "Shouto," he whispers, making the boy look at hiim. "I'm never going to leave you. Not because of this."
Todoroki shakes his head and sighs. "Nothing is ever certain. You don't know."
"We might not be certain of tomorrow, but I am certain about right now. And I want to stay here, right next to you. We can't be so focused on the future or the past that we forget to cherish the present."
A silence stretches between them. Todoroki nods, biting his lips. He looks up at Midoriya, a plea in his tear filled eyes. Midoriya reaches out and holds his hand. Right now, in the present, they were together. And that was enough for both of them.