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Hawks watched as Enji stood stoically, glaring out at the stage as All Might gave his ‘Goodbye Speech’, his smaller body curved under the weight of responsibility and the belief that his injury was letting down those he had vowed to protect, and had spent his life doing so. The sadness of the room was like a palpable blanket across the room.
Hawks watched from behind and to the side of Endeavor and watched as the larger man listened to the speech, and the emotions that stoically didn’t work their way into his gaze. The smaller blond laid a hand on Endeavor’s shoulder and the older man jumped slightly, barely sparing a glance at Hawks.
“What.”
Hawks grabbed the shoulder of Endeavor’s jacket, pulling the man to him slightly and gaining his attention.
The flame hero pulled his shoulder out of the smaller man’s grasp, his face heating slightly before he turned to the smaller blond man, his eyes shiny, “What is it Hawks.”
Hawks met Endeavor’s eyes, making the older hero freeze in his spot, eyes riveted to the fierce look, “Look, I know.”
Endeavor looked confused for a moment, his eyes slipping over to All Might on the stage before meeting Hawks gaze again, “What do-”
“I know you and All Might had problems, entirely on your end. I know you hate and regret it know and that all your wasted years eat at you. It doesn’t always have to be that way. He can be your friend now, he’s no longer anyone’s competition. And Enji,” Hawks leaned forward and lightly touched the flame hero’s cheek, “You can take this moment to be honest with not just yourself, but with everyone who’s now counting on you. You need to say it, and All Might needs to hear it.”
Enji stared for a moment, struck in his spot before the roaring applause of the audience pulled him out and turned to the stage to see All Might bowing one last time to the audience before he began to walk off stage,m right toward Endeavor.
Before he could fully think it through Enji was moving forward onto the stage and meeting All Might halfway there.
He stopped in front of All Might, in full view of the audience, looking into the face of the man who’s back he had always chased, the man he had sacrificed every moment of decency and hope for.
All Might stayed frozen in his spot before confusion slid onto his face, “Endeavor-”
Todoroki Enji bent himself at the waist in front of All Might, hands stiff at his sides.
“Enji-”
“Thank you.” Enji’s voice rang out in the silence of the crowded hall, the only sound left the clicking of camera shutters.
“For all that you have done, for guiding us all, for being our number one hero.” Enji took a deep breath and looked up to All Might, meeting the older man’s startled gaze, “And for always giving me a goal to work towards. For all that you have done and sacrificed for us all. Thank you.”
The crowd watched in stunned silence as All Might pulled at Endeavor’s shoulder and pulled the larger man into a hug.
The large group of people roared into an applause louder than before, covering the quiet words of Toshinori, “Thank you for this. You are truly worthy of being our number one. I cannot wait to see your excellence.”
The two men parted as the MC introduced Japan’s Number One Hero, Endeavor, to give his speech.
Toshinori watched from the wings as Japan’s number two hero stood by his side.
He occasionally glanced over to see the winged hero watching rapturously as Endeavor gave a speech, his wings twitching and fluttering at every laugh, every moment Endeavor seemed to find his footing with the crowd.
Toshinori smiled to himself, knowing his legacy of safety and heroism was in good hands.