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“Okay, but marriage and children are two separate things.”
“Why would you get married if you don’t want children?”
“Are you for real? Not everyone who get’s married wants children! Sometimes they just want companionship, or they just love that person very much. But they don’t always have to have children.”
It was a Friday night and many old UA classmates were gathered at a club celebrating Shoji’s hero debut. While many of their friends were on the dance floor or taking shots, Aoyama, Shoji, Ojiro, Toru, Momo and Todoroki were having a heated debate on whether or not heroes should be able to get married.
Ojiro spoke “Listen, ultimately it’s the hero’s decision to get married or not. Marriage isn’t for everyone, but there are definitely people who feel they need to get married and heroes are no exception.”
Toru sighed dramatically “Yes but think about how their spouse might feel about their occupation. It’s dangerous being a hero, can you imagine having a spouse waiting for you to come home, and you never do? That’s why I think if a hero wants to get married, they should only marry other heroes.”
Shoji shook his head “I don’t think that matters so much, if it’s the person’s decision to marry a hero then they should already know what they are getting themselves into, but I’m saying it would be irresponsible for a hero to have kids. The risks they take would be too much if they’re also expected to raise a family.”
Todoroki agreed “I don’t think you can be a hero and have a family. I don’t even think heroes should have a spouse, really.”
Everyone’s eyes were on him, he had that effect on his friends. Though he was a man of few words, when he spoke it demanded all attention. Momo sighed, already knowing his stance on this, they had talked about it before, just once, right before graduation. Knowing that Todoroki wasn’t interested in dating, or interested in getting married made her lose hope back then, and now knowing that he still hasn’t changed his stance gave Momo even more disappointment.
Aoyama spoke up “But Todoroki, you’re father’s a hero!”
“More reason why I believe they shouldn’t raise a family. It’s no secret he wasn’t the best family man. The stress of it drove my mother…into a fragile mental state. My relationship with my siblings... If you decide to become a hero, you should dedicate yourself to that profession. Ultimately you would end up neglecting your real family, causing irreparable damage and trauma.”
Momo shook her head “Your feelings are valid, especially when you’ve experienced this first hand, but I think your words are harsh. You say irreparable, but I know for a fact your father worked to mend the bridges he unintentionally burned, and your family is in a much better place now.”
“That may be so, but it doesn’t erase the pain my family, my mother, felt for 10 years.”
Toru piped up “Momo, how do you feel about this? You’re currently dating someone who isn’t a hero. Do you plan on marrying him?”
Todoroki cringed imperceptibly and Momo blushed “wh-what?! It’s too early to tell!”
Toru pushed it “okay fine but do you plan on getting married?”
“…yes. I’ve witnessed my parent’s marriage growing up and at an early age I decided that it was something I wanted for myself. The easy companionship, the knowledge that someone is waiting for you at home, with a cup of tea and a warm bed, someone to share your troubles and triumphs with…”
Todoroki looked at her intently as Shoji asked “but do you ultimately plan on marrying a hero, or a civilian?”
She faltered under everyone’s gaze “I-I mean I, I haven’t really thought about that…I think I’ll choose whoever it is I love, and who loves me back. If the foundation of the marriage is love, trust, mutual respect, then I think we can overcome any obstacles, even the pressures my profession may put on our relationship. If he’s really the right one for me, he’ll accept me, hero duties and all.”
Toru swooned “That’s so romantic Momo! I can’t wait until you find the right guy!”
Momo looks down and mumbles “Yeah…me neither.”
***
Their conversation was interrupted when Midoriya got into a fight with a partygoer who groped Uraraka. Momo and Shoto went outside to see if they could be any of assistance to Midoriya and Uraraka, but it turns out they had just missed them. They were about to head back to their friends when they saw a police officer with the culprit in custody.
“Officer Goro.”
“Shoto! Creati! I’m glad you’re here. Deku had mentioned you were here with him, he had to go help Uravity get home, but I still have some questions I need answered to fill in my preliminary report. Would you be able to fill in some details?”
They began talking, but it ran longer than they would have preferred with Officer Goro requesting to record some testimonies. Momo ended up texting Jirou to head home with someone, as this would take a while, and by the time they were done speaking to the officer, it was nearly 3am.
“Let me walk you home.”
“Shoto, no, it’s nearly 3am, you should get going to your apartment.”
He shook his head “I can’t possibly go home not knowing whether you got there safe or not. It’s not a far walk anyway, let’s go.” Momo blushed at how forward he was being, but that was nothing new.
They began walking, Momo leaning heavily on his side, almost too tired to hold herself up. She admired the way it felt walking by his side. She had used her quirk to create comfortable flats so that she could change out of her heels, and she marveled at how much he had grown in height over the years. They used to be about the same, and now he was half a foot taller than her, and his height wasn’t the only thing that grew, it was hard to ignore his increase in muscle mass.
“You know, you’ve broken many hearts Shoto.” Turns out Momo wasn’t exactly sober yet, although it’s unclear whether it was from actual alcohol or pure exhaustion.
His eyebrows knit together “I wasn’t aware, if I’ve done so it was unintentional.”
She giggled “Oh I’m sure, it’s not your fault you’re a lady killer.”
He was flabbergasted “I can assure you I have never killed any ladies.”
She full on laughed “no, no, it’s not meant to be taken literally! It’s just…if you don’t plan on ever dating or getting married, many women will be sad.”
“Why would they be sad?”
“Because you’re gorgeous!” Normally she would have blushed, but her exhaustion mixed with her still tipsy mind wasn’t thinking straight.
His eyes went wide “What? I’m not…that.”
“Oh come on, how do you look in a mirror and not realize how sexy you are?!”
His jaw dropped, he was rarely caught off guard but this was absurd “sexy? The only thing I see when I look in the mirror is this big ugly scar, and my freakish white-red hair. Even if women did find that attractive, which I find hard to believe, but even if they did my personality would definitely convince them otherwise. I have the personality of a doorknob and the emotional range of a teaspoon.”
“What?! Who told you those things?!”
“...Bakugou probably.”
Momo growled “He’s one to talk! You are the most handsomest man I’ve ever met! Your scar isn’t ugly, if anything people who don’t know you find it sexy, and those who do see it as a mark of strength! Your hair and eyes are captivating. And you are the sweetest, gentlest man who is just trying his best and you’re the best and if anyone ever tells you any differently, I’ll create a super heavy weight and handcuff it to their ankle so they can’t move until they admit they were wrong!”
Yep, she was definitely still drunk. Or at least, having to stay awake this long made her act drunk, her tired state definitely had the same effects of removing her filter completely.
“Momo, you’re drunk.”
She giggled “Am not, just sleepy. But even if I was, you know what they say, the drunken mind speaks the sober heart.”
He smirked “Is that what they say?”
“Yup!”
He hesitated, not wanting to take advantage of her in this state, but he was curious by nature “and what do you say about your boyfriend?”
“Ayato?! I say he’s a lame-o for not coming tonight. He’s a lame-o in general.”
“Oh really?” He stored that information in his head for another day.
“Let’s just say, if you were open to dating and getting married, I’d dump him in a heartbeat to get with you.”
Todoroki lost his composure and almost choked. “Wh-what?”
“Yup! I told you, you’ve broken many hearts with your stubbornness, mine included.”
Todoroki was stunned into silence. Does Momo really have feelings for me? No, that can’t be, she’s obviously delirious right now. And besides, I already know I won’t get married…right? They reached her apartment building, and even though he was dead tired, he didn’t want to leave her side.
“Do you need me to bring you inside?”
She shook her head sloppily “Noooo-whoops!” she took a step away from him and stumbled until he rushed to catch her.
“Yeah, for once I don’t trust your judgement.”
He pulled her keys into his hand and then picked her up into his arms so that he could carry her to her apartment. She was fast asleep by the time they got there, so he tucked her into bed, and kissed her forehead. Is this what it’s like to take care of a girlfriend? Or a wife?... I kind of like it. Before he could get any more ideas, he left for his own apartment. She woke up the next morning with no recollection of their conversation, only realizing that he had walked her home when she saw a note by her bed, next to a glass of water.
‘Momo,
Hope you had a good night’s rest. I took your keys so I could lock the door behind me, I’ll swing by with breakfast tomorrow morning and return them to you. Drink some water, I’ll see you soon.
Shoto’
As soon as she was up and ready for the day, she heard the front door open and a grin found it’s way on her face as she went to eat breakfast with Shoto.