Chapter Text
Todoroki has just turned 16, when his father starts to get more aggressive towards him. He believes that it's because the older he gets, the closer he gets to obtaining the throne. Taking control of everything his father has built over the years seems to infuriate the older man more by the second; however, Todoroki feels more determined than ever to be king, just on the small chance that his mother will return upon learning that they are finally safe from his horrid father.
A blow to the face seems to remind Todoroki of the ways his father uses when something seems inadequate. This specific way doesn't happen often, but ever since the disappearance of his mother everything has very much gone down hill. The screaming, the insults, even the sound of his blood dripping onto the wooden floor in his bedroom plays on repeat in his mind as he finally gets his one moment of peace. The way his father is never really made sense to him, especially how his father came to be filled with pure hatred and anger.
He used to ask his mother questions on the topic too. But she never gave him any answers. She would stare down at him, his head laid in her lap, and she would play with his hair absentmindedly as if his father was always on her mind. It was like she felt that if she spoke even one negative word about his father, he'd hear it somehow even if he was on the opposite side of their unnecessarily large castle. Todoroki likes to believe that she left to keep him safe. That one day his mother would come back and save him from this hell on earth.
But she never comes back.
As his father continuously spreads negativity throughout his mind, Todoroki believes there is no way to escape this never-ending life of punishment. However, he still lies awake at night wondering how his mother, out of all people, was able to escape his father's suffocating grasp. Not only does this keep him awake at night but everything except sleep seems to be important to him as of now. He has become a living zombie, and even has hopes that his sleep deprived mind will put an inevitable end to his suffering. Todoroki begins to get lost in his thoughts again but is quickly pulled out by the voice of his father, Enji.
"What have I told you about day-dreaming Shouto," Enji says with a calm voice clearly trying, but failing, to hide his anger. Todoroki looks up into his father's expressionless eyes, "I apologize father, but it didn't seem like I was needed in this point in time." Enji then stands up forcefully, as a result his chair makes a irritating screeching sound as it slides back. Todoroki flinches as the sound echoes throughout their dining room. "You will always be needed no matter where my or anyone else's attention lays, but it seems as if you'll never be worthy enough to listen or to even rule this kingdom, no matter how hard I try to make you the perfect king," Todoroki opens his mouth to respond but his father continues. "You will always be the little boy that cries and clings onto his mother for dear life," Enji whispers, almost too quiet to hear, as he swiftly moves around his pushed out chair; leaving a flustered Todoroki behind.
A woman wearing a light brown dress and slightly stained apron, comes rushing out, obviously hurrying to pick up the dishes left behind by King Enji. As a wave of anger washes over him, he places a hand on her arm before she can disappear behind the doors of the kitchen once again. He moves closer to her so that his mouth is almost a couple inches away from her ear, and starts to speak quietly to make sure his father will never hear what he says next, "why does my father show so much hatred towards me and everything I do." The woman looks frightened and in that moment Todoroki knows she will refuse to answer his question just like the rest of them; however, to his surprise she answers. "Prince Shouto it would be very inappropriate if I answered that question, but I believe your father truly loves you with all his heart," and with that Todoroki released her. She almost sprints away, which makes him immediately regret his choice knowing his father will find out about their little impromptu conversation and inevitably fire the woman.
Finally being alone, Todoroki starts to walk around his home, having nothing else to do since his father has recently taken away his privileges of enjoying the outside world, with the fear that he will attempt to escape his own personal hell. As Todoroki walks further down the main hall, he hears his father talking with another man that he recognizes as his father's right-hand man. "Enji, we have to find her, you promised Rei would be back in the castle by Spring and it has been over 5 weeks since you last saw her," although the man had more to say Enji quickly interrupted him. "I've told you that I have it under control, I have set up a meeting for a highly qualified adventurer to take on our case," Todoroki starts to move away from the door as quietly as he can but now having the knowledge that his mother may soon return, the memories of their time together come crashing in, and he can't control the instant dizziness that takes over him. He feels himself fall to his knees, and as Todoroki begins to lose consciousness he feels two arms wrap around him and hears a gentle voice he doesn't recognize ask him if he's okay. Todoroki didn't know the young man that was now almost cradling him, but he found a great deal of comfort being in the mystery man's arms.
Once Todoroki's eyes shut for the final time releasing him into a blissful sleep like state, the last thing he finds himself thinking about is the young man that came to his rescue and the man's untamed and unnatural dark green hair.