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Endeavor had lost it.
Considering all that he had done, this sort of reaction shouldn't be a surprise. Everyone available was brought in, but there's a reason he had been named number one after All Might's retirement. The top heroes that had shown up were no match, maybe they could have been if more had come. But there were those that couldn’t bring themselves to face an ally on the battlefield.
Midoriya thought they were cowards.
What else could he think as he watched the root of everything stride forward? He couldn’t see Todoroki’s face, but he watched the hard line of his shoulders curve to his clenched fists. Saw that while each step was purposeful, they were full of hesitation as well.
He’d always admired his friend for being brave enough to confront anything. However, this was something entirely different. Todoroki was not marching forward because he chose to, he was doing it because he had to. He was there because no one else could bring themselves to face the wall of flames engulfing their superior. So, who else to send but a child.
Midoriya grit his teeth. He didn’t care about their reasoning or logic, he cared that the battlefield held not just a father and son, but a father and a child. How much of Todoroki’s life could even be considered a childhood at this point? Did anyone else even realize? Did they care? Or was his friend going to be forced to follow orders until he finally broke from the stress of it? Midoriya couldn’t watch that happen. He’d seen Todoroki’s face with many different emotions, but never the one that flooded him as he agreed to help.
As Todoroki came to a stop a stillness seemed to overtake everything. The eerie freeze had Midoriya's stomach churning. He heard Todoroki's voice but he couldn't make out the words. He fought his way closer despite everyone's attempts to pull him back.
All Might had always told him that "meddling when you don't need to" is the essence of being a hero. He wondered if that extended into meddling when you SHOULDN'T. His thoughts raced as he repeated to himself all the reasons he shouldn't interfere. But he couldn't get Todoroki's face out of his head. He looked like he was asking for help. His feet would not be deterred in their mission to get closer. He would hold himself back as long as he could, but something deep down was telling him that he would have to interfere eventually.
"-is going too far! You have to stop!" Midoriya caught the end of Todoroki's desperate plea to his father. His senses screamed at him that his friend shouldn't sound like that.
"Stop? Why should I?" Endeavor boomed back. A mirthless laugh followed. "Why should I stop when there's nothing left for me? When you've taken it all?" Midoriya saw Todoroki stiffen as the words had their intended effect.
"I-"
"You?! You what? I don't want your apologies. You've given me enough trouble without them." Endeavor's voice was full of hurt. Midoriya dug his nails into his palms. He was still trying to manipulate his son after all this?
"Dad, please." Todoroki's voice was still pleading, but it had gotten softer.
"I've given you everything, Shouto. A home, training, opportunities, a legacy to fulfill. And in return, you give me this? Crying abuse, tricking everyone into pitying you? Ruining the empire I was going to share with you."
Todoroki's face was broken as he replied, "I didn't want an empire, I wanted a father."
"Drop this act, Shouto! I am the one who raised you into what you are now! Where would you be without my training, eh? You would be weak and useless."
"Is there anything wrong with that?" He replied dazedly. Endeavor's eyebrows furrowed.
"Being a hero. It's always been my dream. I wanted to protect mom and my siblings and... and you. I want to help people because they all have a purpose, because no one is useless. Some of them may be weak, that's why it's our job to protect them. Without them, we would be useless too." Todoroki's voice became stronger with every word. His posture straightened back out.
"I don't want admiration or a legacy. I want to save people, like people have saved me." His eyes flashed to Midoriya so quickly, at first he thought he must have imagined it.
"Shouto-" Endeavor tried to cut in.
"Endeavor." Midoriya had had enough. "It's time for you to stop this." He walked to stand by Todoroki's side, eyeing the way the flames heightened in response to his words.
"You. You're the one who's been "saving" my son and ruining my work." Endeavor's focus on him made Midoriya's knees weak, but he kept his composure.
"Fathers don't work their children to exhaustion or injure them in the name of "sparring". As far as I'm concerned an abuser is no father, let alone a hero." Midoriya spat back. The small part of his mind still scolding him for getting involved went quiet when he saw the grateful look Todoroki was giving him.
"This power show won't make the situation go away, Dad. Just stop. Please." Todoroki's voice still begged.
"I'm out of options. You and your friend have ruined me." Midoriya had no clue the word "friend" could be said so disdainfully.
"This-" Todoroki gestured around them, "isn't an option!" Endeavor glared.
"I'm done with this conversation. Show me, Shouto. Show me the strength this path is giving you."
Endeavor raised a hand towards his son. Todoroki flinched.
Midoriya shoved his friend behind him desperately.
"Please don't do this!" He yelled.
He felt Todoroki shaking behind him.
"I do not tolerate weakness."
He reached towards the pair. Midoriya felt himself being shoved away. He screamed desperately trying to reach Todoroki in time, but nothing happened.
Father and son stood face to face, but Todoroki was unscathed. Endeavor let out a low growl.
"Eraser."
In an instant, Midoriya felt himself wrapped in something tightly and then pulled forward. He stood next to Todoroki behind their teacher.
"I would appreciate if you would step away from my students." Aizawa's voice was calm and relaxed, his hair lifted into the air. Endeavor stood in shock.
"Now, would someone competent please restrain the former number one hero while he is indisposed."
For a beat, no one moved.
Midoriya turned around only to see a blur of yellow and black rushing forward.
Present Mic ran past the three mumbling angrily the whole way. Midoriya couldn't tell if the mumbling was about the crowd, Endeavor, or both.
Within minutes Endeavor was restrained and taken away from the scene. Todoroki stood numbly the whole time, but tears began to stream down his face. Midoriya bit his lip before reaching out and grasping his friend's hand tightly. He felt it grasp back tightly as if afraid to let go. He probably was. Aizawa spared them a glance before turning to address the crowd of heroes before them.
"The job of a hero is to leap into action. I hope you all take time to reconsider what happened today and feel ashamed for your cowardice. The world doesn't need any more lousy heroes." He began to walk away before turning one last time.
"Oh, and think twice before involving my students in an incident like this again." His voice was even, but his hair flew upwards as his quirk flared to life once more, a threat lingering in the air. He softened slightly as he turned back towards the two still gripping hands.
"Are you hurt at all?"
"No, sir," Midoriya answered for both of them.
"Good, come with me." Aizawa lead them around the crowd towards Present Mic who was waiting by a car. He still looked angry, but it disappeared when he saw the trio coming towards him. He sighed in relief.
"Let's get you two back home."
The car ride was silent. Todoroki had not let go of Midoriya's hand, but his tears had slowed down. Midoriya was desperate to talk to him, hear audible reassurance that his friend would be alright, but he knew better than to try until they were alone. Luckily, it wasn't long before they arrived at the dorms.
"The other students have been sent home due to the recent events," Aizawa reassured as he lead them inside. He sat them both down on the couch in the common area before kneeling in front of them to be eye level.
"Todoroki."
The boy didn't look up at his name so Aizawa gave a light tap to his knee. His eyes finally raised to meet his teacher's.
"Good job holding your ground. I'm proud of you. That being said, you shouldn't have been forced into that situation. If it ever happens again, call me first." His tone was stern.
Todoroki hesitated before nodding and letting out the quietest, "Thank you, sir."
Aizawa nodded, satisfied.
"Same goes to you, Midoriya."
"Y-yes, sir!" Midoriya stumbled out.
"Now, I have to go make a few calls. Mic is outside, if you need anything call him in. Try to calm down some while I'm gone." And with that, the two were left alone.
"Midoriya..." Todoroki began. Midoriya didn't rush him.
"I'm sorry." He said after a moment.
"You don't have anything to apologize for," Midoriya replied easily. Todoroki frowned, clearly not agreeing with the statement.
"If anything, I should be sorry for butting in."
"No, no, I needed the help," Todoroki reassured him quickly, giving a light squeeze to the hand he was still holding.
"I was so sure that I could do it alone, but..." He trailed off slightly before continuing.
"But even though I hate him and I know he won't get better, I wanted to believe he would so badly." Midoriya watched his eyebrows furrow, resisting the urge to soothe it away.
"I think that's pretty normal," Midoriya said after a moment. Todoroki glanced at him warily.
"Wanting a good family is common, so it only makes sense that you'd want him to be good too," Midoriya explained.
"He's done so much to us though. I should've been able to hold myself together in front of him. Not beg and plead." He sighed.
"Todoroki, your reaction was natural. And despite those feelings, you stood up for yourself against him and what he did to you. What you said and how you feel may not make you happy, but you overcame things today that would make a lot of other people crumble before getting the chance too." Midoriya moved his free hand up to rest on Todoroki's cheek.
"I'm proud to call someone like that my friend."
Todoroki's face was unguarded, open for Midoriya to read. It was full of many things that gripped onto his heart almost painfully. Midoriya watched as another tear gathered itself together and slid down his friend's face. Wordlessly, Midoriya moved to open his arms, a silent offer. Todoroki immediately buried himself in his arms, sobs coming free and unrestrained. They were no longer held back by crowds or threats of weakness, they simply were.
Midoriya held his friend as best he could. He knew that this would happen at some point. He knew from the moment the idea of reporting Endeavor came up. Now that it was here, Midoriya found himself calm. These tears were not a sign he was broken, they were a sign he was recovering. So, Midoriya held him and waited and as they finally died down, his friend pulled away and looked to him.
"Midoriya. Thank you for saving me again."
"Thank you for saving yourself."
Todoroki's eyes shone as he looked at him. His hands came up to rest on either side of Midoriya's face.
"I think I'm in love with you." He said, a hint of amazement in his voice. Midoriya felt his heart clench.
"I think I'm in love with you too." He whispered back and when Todoroki leaned in he found himself leaning in as well. And as always, they met somewhere in the middle, both helping each other cross the distance.
When he pulled back and saw the amazement he felt mirrored on Todoroki's face, he couldn't help but think they were going to make it.
Together.