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Enji Todoroki didn't limit himself to one area during his patrol shifts. He had previously done it for the attention and fame and public appearances, where he could wear a smug, cocky grin when people praised him for taking down a villain. Now, Enji wanted to let everyone see that Endeavor: the number one hero was a different man from Endeavor: the number two hero.
Once or twice he'd get sent to the same area two or even three times consecutively. And one of those areas happened to have a hospital nearby. Enji knew that hospital, in fact he'd been there ten years ago. He internally cringed at the memories it brought.
"What the hell did you do?!" Enji yelled at his wife, who was clutching a crying Shouto and covering his left eye with ice from her quirk. "Let me see him!"
Rei was crying too, smaller, quieter tears. She shook her head at herself. "I- I didn't mean to," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry, Shouto!" Rei buried her face in Shouto's hair.
Enji wasted no time in stomping over to his wife and son, yanking Shouto right out of her arms. He immediately saw that his left side, around his eye, had been burnt. His gaze drifted to the kettle, carelessly knocked onto the kitchen floor. "You hurt my masterpiece," he spat at Rei.
Shouto wiped at a tear falling down his face, just barely touching the burn, and gasped, but didn't cry out. He gazed up at Enji, squaring his little shoulders as if trying to prove he wasn't too affected by the incident. Trying to show Enji he wasn't weak.
Without looking back, Enji grabbed Shouto's hand and pulled him along as he walked away from the kitchen and Rei, who was crying harder now.
Enji didn't pay attention to Shouto's flinching every time he reached out to cover the burn. It would most likely turn into a scar. "Relax," he demanded after Shouto started squirming.
"You won't hurt me, right?" Shouto asked, his eyes pleading and almost hopeful. Enji narrowed his own eyes. Shouto gulped, shrinking away from his father and the question.
"No. She should never have done this to you," Enji said in a harsher voice than he'd intended.
"It really hurt," Shouto admitted. "I'm not going to cry about being hurt this time," he promised, his eys filling with tears that Shouto refused to let fall.
He looked up from his desk in his agency's office, trying to snap himself out of the memory. He quickly realized he'd been absently looking at his schedule for the day for the past minute or so.
Enji sighed. "Damn it," he said to himself, standing up. It was almost time to head out. He looked-- actually looked-- at the paper telling him where he'd be patrolling. He glared at the sheet of paper.
He couldn't object to what was scheduled. After all, he'd specifically asked to have shifts in as many different places as possible. But why, after all the painful memories, on today of all days, did he have to be sent to the area where his wife had been living for the past 10 years?
•••
Enji smiled and nodded to people as he passed. Adults nodded, still hesitant to completely trust the hero Endeavor, but the children were thrilled to see him. Probably because they had no knowledge of who he had been before, Enji thought to himself.
A shy tap on his leg caused Enji to look down. There was a child, six years old at most, looking up at him, smiling in the carefree way children did. The smile brightened when the kid realized he had the full attention of the number one hero.
"Is something wrong?" Enji asked, kneeling down so he was on the same level as the kid. The kid opened his mouth to answer, but then a young woman rushed over.
"What have I told you about running off like that, Taro?" she asked the kid, presumably her son. She sighed. "I'm sorry," she said to Enji.
"It's fine. Do you or your son need help?" He stood back up, and Taro wrapped an arm around his mother's leg.
"We were looking for the hospital in the area," she explained, one hand placed protectively on Taro's head of black hair. "Can you give us directions?"
"My baby sister's in there," Taro said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Mama said we could see her today!"
"Sir?" a nurse asked Enji, who was leaning against the wall outside the delivery room. She gestured for Enji to follow her.
Touya was watching, fascinated, as Rei smiled exhaustedly at the baby in her arms. The nurse motioned for him to come closer. "It's a girl," the nurse said.
He now had a son and a daughter. "Thank you," he said to the nurse. He looked over at his family and Rei, jumpy for some unknown reason, looked away, her gray eyes softening as she looked at her daughter. She didn't lift her eyes to look at Enji even once during his visit.
Was Rei worried he'd do something to her in the hospital? She hadn't even said a single word to him. She looked almost scared to face him.
"Are you alright?" the mother asked, concern written all over her face. Enji nodded and smiled comfortingly at her and Taro. She smiled back. "So do you know where it is?"
"Yes," Enji said, nodding.
"Can you take us? Mama, can Endeavor take us?" Taro begged, pulling on his mother's arm.
"Baby, he's busy," she said. Taro pouted.
"I have some time," Enji offered. "Follow me."
He listened to the mother and son as he led them to the hospital. Taro apparently wanted to be a hero like Enji, but he said his quirk wasn't anything close to as awesome as Enji's Hellflame.
"Anyone can become a hero," Enji told him, and Taro's eyes widened in adoration and happiness. His mother caught Enji's eye and smiled approvingly at him.
The walk took about 10 minutes. Both Taro and his mother waved. "Wait until I tell Kuroko about this when she grows up!" Enji heard Taro say.
He was about to turn around, but he had never been this close to the hospital while patrolling before. Other heroes were in the area, and nothing was stopping him from asking to see Rei.
Shouto had been here. He visited Rei regularly, while all Enji had done was send flowers. For all he knew, those flowers were in Rei's trash can right now, tossed aside because she wanted nothing to do with him.
"You're quiet," Enji observed as he and Rei walked together. Her white hair was short, and her gray eyes were trained on the ground beneath her feet.
Enji knew Rei was powerful. Her ice quirk was the reason Enji had come to see her. If he had any hope of surpassing All Might, he needed a wife who was as strong as possible.
It wasn't like her family could have refused Enji's company. He was well-known as a top hero. He had enough power to make them agree to his marriage to their daughter. "I'm sorry," Rei said. "This is all such a shock, I have no idea what to say." Her voice was soft, unsure.
"Tell me about yourself," Enji suggested. "We're still strangers to one another."
"I like the cold," she said. "I know that's no surprise. You know my quirk." Rei lightly touched a leaf hanging by her head and within seconds it was encased in a thin layer of ice that sparkled in the daylight.
"Yes, but I want to know more than your quirk," Enji said, raising a palm to the leaf. The ice melted off, becoming drops of water in both Enji's and Rei's hands.
"Well, I like those flowers," Rei admitted, her hand dripping onto a blueish-purple flower. The tiny drops looked like diamonds in the light of the sun.
Enji had remembered that detail. He'd tried to be a decent man at first, but every time All Might widened the gap between them, he got angrier. Enji had wanted to be the best. He took out his frustration on them all, Rei, Touya and Shouto mostly.
Rei was in a hospital right in front of him. Touya was still out there, but dead. Shouto almost certainly still hated him.
The only chance he had with any one of those three was Rei. Enji turned and walked into the hospital.
It smelled like cleaning products and hand sanitizer and the usual hospital items. There was a waiting area set up just for any children that came in, with brightly colored chairs and books and some toys that must have been donated. The adults sat in chairs in darker, simpler colors. There was nothing to keep any adults entertained. They either brought their own books, watched their kids, or read outdated magazines the hospital provided.
The first person to see Enji was the woman behind the desk. Then a passing doctor, then some parents in the waiting area. Soon most of the eyes in the immediate vicinity were watching him. At least some parents tried to keep their children from openly staring.
"Are you looking for somebody, sir?" The receptionist asked as he approached the desk.
"Rei Todoroki. Please," Enji said, quickly adding the 'please' at the end.
"You sent her those flowers, right?" The receptionist smiled. "She's keeping them in a vase by a window."
"I'm sorry, but why are you telling me this?" Enji asked. He was grateful Rei was taking care of the flowers, at least.
"I'll let her doctor tell you. Here she comes now." Sure enough, a woman with long pink hair and pink eyes headed towards Enji. "Doctor Kina," the receptionist said, nodding at the doctor.
"I thought it would be Shouto," Doctor Kina said. She looked like she was close to Fuyumi's age-- not that much older than Shouto.
"I know he visits often," Enji said. "I figured I should see her myself." Enji expected to be judged. Rei had been here for ten years; he'd had plenty of opportunities over the last decade. But he only got a kind smile.
"This way," Doctor Kina said, and she started leading Enji to his wife.
"You're Rei's personal doctor?" Enji asked her, just to make conversation.
"I am. I've been taking care of Rei for a few months or so, and she considers me a friend. She's a great woman. So kind." She turned to look back at Enji. "You have no reason to be nervous. Rei's very forgiving. She told me about the flowers you sent and is doing a wonderful job keeping them alive."
"Your colleague said the same thing," Enji said. "I don't understand why."
"You should know she's not upset with you. She knows you're not leaving your family behind, and while she may seem a little anxious, it's nothing to be concerned with." Doctor Kina paused outside a door whose occupant was listed as Rei Todoroki.
"Thank you," Enji said. The doctor smiled reassuringly and lightly knocked on the door.
"Come in," Rei called. Her voice sounded stronger now, but it was still warm and friendly. Just from hearing her voice, Enji knew his wife had changed, but she was still the Rei he knew.... the Rei whose life he'd destroyed.
The door opened. Rei took in the sight of her husband standing there, in his hero costume, and took a step back. She reached out an unblemished hand, as if reaching for Enji. "Hello," she said.
Enji nodded. He cleared his throat. "Rei," he said. Rei met Doctor Kina's eyes and nodded. The doctor smiled in understanding and moved to give them privacy.
"I'm surprised you're here," Rei admitted. She settled on the edge of a bed. "Sit," she said, motioning to the two empty chairs across from the bed. "I saw that you're number one."
Enji cound only nod. Rei added, "You had quite the start. I saw the fight."
"It almost made me sick, seeing that thing. If I'd gone on the way I had, I would have been no better than the creature." He leaned forward in his chair. Rei's eyes widened and she shifted in place. "It's me, isn't it? I'm making you uncomfortable."
"A little. I was scared that you'd show up and I wouldn't be ready. But you're different now. Shouto told me about what you said to him." Rei turned her face towards the window. She looked peaceful, beautiful, with the sun shining on her. "I know you may not believe this, Enji, but I'm proud of you."
"You should hate me. I don't deserve forgiveness." Enji looked down at the floor.
"I believe people can change," Rei said. "If I believe that, I have to believe in second chances. Everybody makes mistakes." Hesitantly, tentatively, Rei reached out and gently held Enji's hand. He could see it made her tense, and tried to pull away, but Rei's grip was stronger than it looked. "You deserve a second chance. Don't doubt yourself," she said with a smile.
"Not everyone is as forgiving as you are," Enji pointed out. "I'm only here with you because I took a mother and her son to meet their new daughter and sibling."
"You still came to see me." Rei looked him right in the eyes. "You're strong. You could have walked away, right?"
"I almost did." Enji didn't deserve the kindness in his wife's eyes.
"But you didn't."
The door opened and Doctor Kina walked in. She smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Rei, but Shouto is here with Midoriya. They got out of class early."
"What is Midoriya doing visiting you?" Enji asked his wife. She stood up, and Enji was careful to give her personal space when he stood up as well.
"He's dating Shouto," Rei explained, then turned back to the doctor. While she spoke to Doctor Kina, Enji remembered the dinner just last week. Shouto, Fuyumi, Natsuo and Midoriya eating together so that Midoriya could meet his boyfriend's siblings.
Enji had wanted to tell Shouto that Dabi, the villain, was his brother Touya. If it hadn't been for Eraserhead, Shouto's teacher, he would have gotten through to his son.
Enji had managed to push all thoughts of Dabi out of his head. Now the urgency was back, the urgency to tell someone. But he went with Doctor Kina when she escorted him out of the hospital.
"This is another exit," she explained when they didn't go back to the front of the hospital. "I know you have a strained relationship with your family. I thought this would cause less drama," she said with a conspiratorial wink.
"Thank you," Enji said. He hoped Rei kept Doctor Kina as her personal doctor, she was clearly someone Rei trusted and seemed to just know how he, and Rei of course, felt. Enji briefly wondered if that was her quirk.
"I know Rei would like to have you visit again. She was glad you showed up." She pushed a door open. "Bye!"
"Goodbye." Enji waved, and left.