Chapter Text
It’s either the best or the worst idea; he is not sure which.
Todoroki has been toying with it in his head the whole day, turning it around, examining it from different angles. He’s not selfish, he thinks. There are solid reasons to do it that would benefit everyone. That doesn’t mean his motivations are purely selfless either.
Fact No. 1: he doesn’t want to go alone.
It’s not that he’s afraid of the old man. He’s long past that. But sitting here with his classmates around a lavish Christmas feast, Santa hat on his head, he feels like...well...himself. Like there is someone with solid contours inside, occupying that blurry space that stretches between fire and ice. Someone who knows with some certainty who he is, who he wants to be.
The lively conversation inevitably turns to the internships, questions flying around.
Nobody asks Shouto. Everyone assumes he goes to his father. He hates that people just assume that. He hates that they are right.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s something he has to do. The rational next step. The fight with Tetsutetsu opened his eyes to his own shortcomings - again. His progress with fire is not enough, he has to master it fully, go beyond his limits if he doesn’t want to fall behind. He has so much to learn and there is nobody better to teach him than the Flaming Hero himself. Still, it feels hard to do exactly what the shitty old man wanted him to do. It feels an awful lot like surrender.
Shouto needs a reminder that he’s not doing it for Enji, but for himself. For his mother. For the lives he could save if he became the best version of himself. Accepting his father’s moves is not the same as accepting his legacy. With Midoriya there, it would be easier to keep his head in the game. Those bright green eyes always had a way to pull him out, when that black hole threatened to swallow him whole.
Kirishima’s voice filters through his swirling thoughts. He’s asking Bakogou about Best Jeanist. Todoroki watches the resident powder keg look away with something akin to pain and uncertainty underneath his scowl as he responds, “I don’t know.”
It’s the subdued quality of his voice that draws Todoroki’s attention. With Bakugou, who is always so loud, it’s the quiet that stands out.
Is it possible that he has nowhere to go? After all the internships were sprung upon them by the school rather late.
Todoroki hasn’t really considered Bakugou before, but now he can’t help it. In the past months, they’ve gotten closer, as they spent so much time side-by-side, trying to dig themselves out of their individual holes of failure. The remedial course was a humiliating experience for both of them, but somehow, it was less mortifying this way - that they went through it together. Shouto found solace in Bakugou’s free-flowing anger and irritation - expressing the things he didn’t have the words to say. His unwavering focus, insane drive helped keep his eyes fixed on the target. His overwhelming presence kept him from getting lost in the quagmire of his emotions about his father that already cost him the sport festival and the provisional license exam. Todoroki envies the way Bakugou is so centered in himself.
Watching him argue with Kirishima, trying to swat away Mina and Kaminari who keep chasing him with festive clothing, it seems obvious now. Bakugou should come along too. Todoroki considers him a friend - not that he has a solid idea of friendship. But they spent a lot of time together and they didn’t hate it. They trust each other out there without a question, they have each other’s back, their team-up for their hero-debut even made a splash in the media. If it’s not friendship, it’s something close enough. And friends help each other out.
Plus, the old man will be beyond pissed. That seals it. He’ll ask both of them. It’s not a big deal. If they say no, that’s OK too.
Shouto waits until the crowd thins out in the common room. He keeps his voice purposefully neutral:
“Midoriya. Bakugou. If you have nowhere else to go, do you want to join me as interns of Endeavor?”
He hopes he doesn’t sound too presumptuous.
They both freeze. Bakugou’s forehead knots into a confused, disbelieving scowl, Midoriya’s bright green eyes turn round with surprise.
“Really? Todoroki, that’s...” he blabbers enthusiastically, but Bakugou elbows him with a warning look and a head toss in the direction of the main school building.
Midoriya’s features grow uncertain, his lips pull into a straight line and he nods anxiously. “Riiiiight.”
Shouto watches the weird interplay between them as they are having an entire conversation without words. He knows there is a history between the two, which feels somehow both close and combative, full of tension and something fierce and real.
Something has changed between them lately. The tension has a different quality. They are keeping something from him, Shouto knows this. He may be oblivious and not the best when it comes to reading cues, but he’s not blind. He thinks it has to do with All Might. It stings a little to be left outside.
“So what’s in it for you, Half-n-Half?” Bakugou pierces him with a sharp gaze.
He wouldn’t know how to put it into words, so Todoroki settles for a shrug, “I just thought it may be something you would find interesting. To see the No. 1. Hero Agency up close.”
“That would be really amazing, Todoroki. Endeavor’s solve-rate is unrivaled. And the three of us together…” Midoriya grins enthusiastically.
“Tchk. Shut up, Nerd. That’s the opposite of amazing. You two are literally the most unbearable…” Bakugou huffs because he’s Bakugou. Shouto doesn’t miss the relief underneath the scowl though. The words are sharp, but he hasn’t said no. It actually sounds more like a yes.
“I just need to check something quickly,” Midoriya’s smile is tense, but his voice is warm and sincere. “Can you give us an hour?”
“Sure,” Todoroki nods, relieved that the conversation for now is over and retreats with the pile of dirty dishes in the direction of the kitchen to help Tsu. Taking into account everything, it didn’t go too badly he thinks as he piles the plates into the dishwasher.
Later that night, there is a knock on the door of his dorm-room. It’s Midoriya, standing outside with an apologetic smile.
“Sorry about before. I just came to say that Kacchan and I will join you. Thank you again for the offer. I don’t even know what to say. You are an amazing friend.”
The immense relief Shouto feels takes him by surprise, followed by vague discomfort at the outpouring of gratitude.
“It’s fine. I’ll let Endeavor know.”
Midoriya stays leaning against the door-frame.
“Are you sure about this?”
Shouto hears the concern in his voice. He knows what Midoriya is asking, but he decides to sidestep the question. For better or worse, he made his decision. Second-guessing himself at this stage is useless.
“Yes. I’ve got so much to learn still. And you and Bakugou will be there to remind me that I can’t afford to fall behind,” he adds with a thin smile.
The green gaze remains unwavering. “Right. Of course. You can count on us.”
“I know.”
“Good night.”
After the door closes, Todoroki pulls out his phone.
Some of my friends will join me , he types.
The reply comes almost immediately. These days it always does. Shouto wonders if his father actually stops in the middle of a villain-fight when he hears the ringtone. He doesn’t know what to do with this new-found eagerness. He cannot give Enji what he wants most from Shouto. Not now. Maybe not ever.
Stop being childish, Shouto. We need all the time we can get to focus on your training. Let’s not waste it.
Shouto is not surprised. He expected this much.
Either you let them come or count me out too. I’ve got other options.
It’s true. Plenty of top agencies would be glad to have the son of the No. 1. hero. But they both know where this is ending. Shouto needs to learn flash-fire. Enji wanted to pass his technique onto his precious masterpiece since he made his first flame. They are stuck with each other.
Fine. Have it your way. Your friends can come. But I think you are making a mistake.
Your disapproval is noted.
Shouto clicks the screen shut. He is done with this conversation. There is a bitter taste in his mouth, his ear is buzzing, his stomach feels queasy. He feels like he’s a small child again, pitting his will against his all-powerful father in whatever way he can. Because between training, harsh punishment and constant yelling, spite is all he has. He closes his eyes as a thin layer of frost forms on his right arm. Shouto revels in the cold until his breathing returns to normal.
He doesn’t want to waste more thoughts on his father. Instead, he pulls out a white sheet to write a letter to his mother. He knows she would love to hear about the Christmas party. It makes her happy to know that Shouto is happy, that he has friends now. Fuyumi always teases them that they don’t use emails to communicate like normal people, but they prefer it this way. Shouto can almost feel his mother’s hands over his as he carefully forms the characters. She was just teaching him his first symbols before she was taken to the hospital… As he scribbles the story on the paper about how Yaoyorozu made them each individual festive outfits, the pompom on Shouto’s hat half red, half white like his hair, about Jirou singing Christmas songs, about Eri’s smile, the warm feeling of the evening seeps back into his heart. This life feels real again.
-0-
The bus sent by the school picks them up two days later. Shouto stares out the window, rolling through a sprawling suburb that couldn’t be more different from his own neighborhood of elegant houses nested among perfectly styled Japanese gardens. They stop in front of a non-descript apartment block.
There is a soft smile on Midoriya’s face as he waves back at the round-faced woman standing in the balcony. Shouto feels a sharp pang - it’s a mother-shaped hollow place inside him.
Midoriya greets Shouto bristling with enthusiasm. He can’t wait to start the internship, always so eager for new experiences.
The next stop is barely two minutes away where Bakugou is waiting in front of a town-house, shoulders slightly hunched, hands in his pockets, boots kicking aimlessly at a pebble. The nervous energy never leaves him. Todoroki wonders not for the first time if it’s a side-effect of his quirk.
He climbs aboard with barely a grunt for greeting and despite the bus being full of empty seats, he plops down on the one next to Todoroki without thinking. Shouto doesn’t mind. They have spent so much time together that it has become natural.
Midoriya carries the conversation asking detailed questions about the Endeavor agency. Shouto responds matter-of-factly, as best as he can. It soon becomes obvious that there are many things he doesn’t know. He made it a point not to care about his father’s career.
The topic moves onto the mechanics and different uses of Endeavor’s signature flashfire fist. Midoriya seems to know an impressive amount of obscure details that Todoroki never even bothered to learn about. He launches into a long-winded analysis of a fight from years ago against the Yakuza that Shouto barely remembers.
“It was impressive how he used the terrain, moving the villains into a single group, so he could deliver the last blow at all of them, splitting the fire with incredible precision. I wonder if I could channel my air force similarly?”
“I’m not sure,” Shouto admits. He did everything he could to avoid learning about fire.
Bakugou tch-ks derisively next to him. It must look foolish to them that Shouto has not been using the opportunity of being the son of a top hero to know every little thing about his quirk. Even in a class full of brilliance and ambition, these two have always stood out with a relentless drive that finally shook Shouto out of his own apathy. The irony is not lost on him. The prodigy child, bred to perfection, trained rigorously since infancy is forced to play catch-up.
Shouto knows now that he was a fool, though after much reflection he feels that it was unavoidable in the situation he was in. His father was right about many things, but he was wrong about what mattered most. And the rest of the family paid the price.
The bus comes to a halt and Shouto is surprised to find his old man greeting them in person. Nobody ever accused Todoroki Enji of being friendly. It soon becomes clear however that it’s not about hospitality, but rather intimidation. He bluntly tells Midoriya and Bakugou that they are not welcome. Todoroki feels cold anger rise inside him that the shitty old man would want to embarrass him in front of his friends.
Before he gets a chance to argue, Endeavor is off, in a big blast of flashfire. Shouto knows that it’s a demonstration meant for him - to show what he’s lacking. The old man is petty and vindictive as always. There is no time to seethe about this, as they are off, racing through the ward at neck-breaking speed. Shouto grits his teeth, determined to keep up. He’s never found his ice lacking for mobility, but this time not only Endeavor, but Bakugou and Midoriya are slightly ahead of him, which is an unwelcome development.
He pushes out more ice until his entire right side feels numb with cold. He’ll need to rethink his movement. Just another thing on the daunting list of things he has to do not to fall behind.
When they catch up Endeavor is already fighting the villain who apparently manipulates glass and spouts craziness. Glass-Baddie is not alone, his accomplices are nearby, providing the perfect target to prove Endeavor that the new interns are worth every minute of his time.
One of the villain sidekicks raises a long stick to counter Deku who is gaining on them, foot extended in Shoot Style. Bakugou is right next to him, gauntlets ready to fire. Todoroki halts just a step behind them. The race is on. Adrenaline rushes through him, making his fingertips tingle with excitement. He never gets tired of this feeling. The challenge, the rivalry, the suspense. He has range at his advantage, he could still beat the other two to first contact.
This is a round neither of them wins, however. Something or rather someone incredibly fast comes crashing towards them in a shower of feathers, before the interns can get the first punch it.
Shouto recognizes Hawks as he turns to them with a cheeky smile.
“Sorry. Looks like I was a bit faster than y’all!” Clearly he’s not sorry. More like amused. “Looked like Endeavor might have been in a pinch,” he adds gleefully.
Predictably, Endeavor takes the bait. “Did it look like I was in a pinch?” he yells.
He hates being one-upped by anyone. But especially today, he’s livid that his little show of force is interrupted.
“It sure did, didn’t it Shouto-kun?” Hawks turns to Shouto with a wink.
Shouto can’t help but marvel at the playful way the young rebel manages to rattle Endeavor and make an ally out of Shouto with a single smooth move. His aim is flawless even in this.
“Um… Ah...sure.” Shouto feels himself blush a bit.
He’s awestruck. The internship is off to an exciting start.