Chapter Text
UA Dorm, Musutafu, Japan, 2015
The night was silent, except for Izuku’s steady breath against Shōto’s chest.
The older teen’s lips stretched in a shy smile and he buried his face into the messy green locks, inhaling the scent of his sleeping boyfriend.
He squeezed him tighter as he let out a yawn.
He had had a feeling that introducing Izuku to his father wouldn’t go well.
(And of course it hadn’t, because Endeavor had been Endeavor.)
- SHŌTO! How come I wasn’t aware you were seeing someone?!
Izuku had straightened up in a jump under the redhead’s smoldering blue glare.
The hero-in-training had turned to Shōto as he had felt himself beginning to hyperventilate, both from pure admiration and gut-clenching stress — probably because he was facing All Might’s eternal rival, the Flame Hero Endeavor, the new N°1 who, for everyone else than Shōto, was utterly terrifying.
(And still, back then he didn’t even have that nasty scar barring half of his face.)
- ...Err, Todoroki-kun, I’ll wait for you outside, okay!
The latter had nodded before diving his mismatched eyes into his father’s burning ones.
- You’re pathetic, he had calmly retorted. Don’t act like you care about anything else than my control over my left side.
The flames dancing around Endeavor’s face had burned hotter and brighter as he had muffled a sigh which had sounded fake to his son’s ears.
He had opened his mouth to speak again but Shōto hadn’t let him.
- You know what, whatever. Yes, I am dating Midoriya Izuku. I like him because he’s loyal, he’s kind, he doesn’t judge people by appearances and he’ll never let me down. He’s everything you hate, since he actually cares about people’s feelings and not just their Quirks and brutal strength, he doesn’t have a stupidly oversized ego and he believes in me. As a person. Ah, and he’s so strong that whatever you do, Deku will surpass All Might and become a better N°1 than you on all counts. Bye.
Then, Shōto had moved to catch up with Izuku, but in a snap Endeavor’s too-hot hand had grabbed his wrist.
The redhead's facial expression had shifted into something unreadable as his son had met his glare again.
Then he had opened his mouth, but several seconds had passed before he made a sound.
Shōto had raised an unimpressed brow, calmly staring back at Endeavor.
The older man had finally let go of the teen’s wrist and crossed his arms, keeping both fists clenched.
His blazing facial hair had burned even brighter, his eyes disappearing in the dancing flames.
- Keep away from a N°1 Hero. Nothing hurts more than their betrayal.
And he had left.
Shōto snapped out of his flashback and his fingertips brushed the many freckles adorning Izuku’s face.
He scoffed.
Endeavor was an absolute jerk who only knew how to hurt.
Tōya was gone because of him.
Shōto has been isolated from his other two siblings, as his father they were no more than failed experiments whereas Shōto’s fire and ice Quirks made him valuable.
And the young man could still hear his mother’s screams and cries in his nightmares.
What kind of people would ever want to “get close“ to such a loathsome N°1…?!
Endeavor’s words made no sense.
As he sunk deeper into the pillow, Shōto’s half-shut eyes distractedly scanned the wall of Izuku’s bedroom.
From the closest poster, All Might shot the teen his never-faltering ‘I Am Here!’ grin, almost making him forget about Endeavor’s bullshit.
Shōto closed his eyes.
...And they snapped open again, as the craziest theory ever made its way into his troubled mind.
~
Izuku woke up in a start when he felt Shōto straighten up.
He rubbed his eyes with a yawn and raised an interrogative look at him.
- ...Mmh...? ...What is it, Todoroki-kun?
Any track of sleep instantly vanished from his green eyes as he spotted his boyfriend’s undecipherable expression.
Izuku threw back the covers and sat up facing him.
Had he had a nightmare again?
“No, that’s not it“, he mentally corrected himself, while proceeding to analyze Shōto’s state. “He’s not sweating, or panting, and he doesn’t seem in shock.”
He studied the older teen’s face and his stance.
“He’s looking at me funny… wait, no, it’s not me he’s looking at, it’s-”
Izuku followed his eyes and looked to the wall.
“Who’s behind this wall, again? Ah, nobody, that’s the stairs. Has Todoroki-kun heard some unusual noise or something?”
His heart started beating faster as he listened closely, already preparing himself for an eventual attack of the dorms.
However his reflections shattered to pieces when Shōto’s mismatched eyes settled on him.
- Midoriya, I think I’ve just realized something very troubling, the fire and ice wielder blurted out.
His boyfriend lost what little patience he still had, and straight out began to shake Shōto like a plum tree with a frustrated scowl.
- What is it, then? Is something wrong?!
The older teen rubbed his temples, which only resulted in worrying Izuku even more.
- Just spit it out already, you’re scaring the hell out of me right now!!
- …Well. I know it’s gonna sound absurd, but I think my father...
- Endeavor? What’s he done this time?!
- ... he and All Might dated. Or something.
There was a blank.
Then Izuku blinked at Shōto as if he had just grown a second nose.
- WHAT-
The latter snorted.
He scratched his hair and looked to the All Might poster above their heads.
- Yeah, you’re right, it’s another one my stupid theories. Actually, the more I think about it, the less sense it makes-
- No offense, but… just where did you get such an idea?! Izuku asked, his furrowed brows showing he was already trying to picture the two top heroes standing less than ten feet apart without the Flame Hero plotting to roast the Symbol of Peace like a plain chicken. I mean, Endeavor has made it pretty clear that he hates All Might’s guts… right?
- Yeah I know, but the other day he said something weird. The day I introduced you to him.
The green-haired boy’s eyes settled back on him.
Shōto got uneasy and felt his left side heat up under the intense gaze of those big emerald orbs.
He was forced to look away, or he’d sure catch fire again. (It was high time he gained better control over that stupid fire Quirk, it was getting more and more annoying!)
- No need. I must have misunderstood.
- Oh come on! Izuku insisted. Just tell me, then we’ll see about it.
Shōto sighed and repeated his father’s words.
Tapping his chin, Izuku remained silent for a while as he thought.
Then he shook his head.
- Mmh, maybe he was just referring to All Might's retirement. ‘Betrayal’ sure is a strong word, but from what I know, Endeavor has been working his butt off to surpass him for decades. So All Might retiring out of nowhere and leaving him the N°1 spot by default sure must have hurt his pride!
- Oh yeah, he’s always had a serious pride problem, Shōto mumbled, rolling his eyes. You’re right, my theory was stupid. His heart must be completely stunted or something. He can try to make all the amends he wants, there’s nothing to love in him. He’s just evil, and PATHETIC.
He dropped on his back into the futon, dragging Izuku down with him.
- Anyway. I could spend all night rambling about all the reasons why I hate my father. His so-called redemption is a lie. I don’t wanna have anything to do with him.
The younger teen felt a sweat drop rolling down his neck from embarrassment.
- ...Yeah, well I have to admit he does have a long way to go! he yawned. And I don’t really see what he may have in common with All Might, apart from their rivalry for the N°1 spot?
Shōto let out an agreeing “mmh”, before burying his face into the green locks and falling asleep.
Izuku wasn’t as lucky.
Shit.
Now his brain wouldn’t let go of the idea of something between Endeavor and All Might.