Work Text:
Somehow, being invited to Hakodate with Shinso and Kaminari felt like a happy coincidence. It all felt too perfect— everything fell right into place. Izuku was sure if he didn’t seize the opportunity now, it would never come again.
Coincidentally, Hakodate was the only city close enough to Hokkaido with a library that owned the exact book he was looking for. Tribal legends— tales from the past. Mostly fairytales, he thought. But still… he couldn’t help but to be curious. It was in his nature, truly.
Something about Hokkaido— about its people— was strange. Something about the Aizawa family, more specifically, had Izuku believing that maybe these fairytales, so they seem, might not be as fictional as people think. Maybe it was dumb, but he had to know. He needed answers.
They arrived at Hakodate by five with the way Shinso drove. The plan was to see a movie, and window shop— and, according to Kaminari, there was supposed to be a great Italian restaurant nearby that they could eat at later in the evening. Izuku was fine with whatever— as long as he got to visit the library.
As soon as Shinso found parking, Izuku took his opportunity for a way to escape… so to speak.
“Do you guys mind if I run an errand? I’ll meet you inside, promise.”
“Sure. Just don’t get lost.” Shinso saluted, towing Kaminari into the theater without so much as a second glance.
Izuku was pleasantly surprised. That had been much easier than he expected. He realized then that he’d been expecting a Toshinori-esque reply. Overbearingly protective and nervous. His friends weren’t his dad— simple.
Izuku heaved a satisfied breath and followed the directions on his phone towards the library, finding it quick enough. Even without his phone, he probably would have found it just fine on his own. It stood out amongst the more modernized stores sitting on either side of it. The library had a warm feel to it when he entered, welcoming— though alluding at the same time. Like there was something he didn’t know.
Though, now that he really thought about that sentiment, there was plenty he didn’t know.
By the time he exited the library, book in hand, the sun had already begun setting in the west. He’d browsed for longer than he intended. With a small frown, he hoped Shinso and Kaminari wouldn’t mind. He’d be with them soon enough, anyway.
The streets of Hakodate looked a bit different in the late afternoon sun. It was a bit harder to tell where exactly he was going. Though, truly, it couldn’t be that hard to find the theater. If he really needed to, he’d just use his phone for directions. Izuku’s anxious heart calmed a bit at his own solution. He nearly laughed at himself then. It was silly of him to get worked up so quickly— that too was also just in his nature.
“It’s a cop,” a voice whispered behind him.
Izuku’s feet paused, glancing over his shoulder curiously. No cop. In fact, the darkened street was completely empty.
He swallowed slowly, tightening his grip around his bag before picking up the pace down the sidewalk, watching the pavement as he did so.
It was dark now, the city completely obscured, and Izuku had no idea where he was. When he bothered to look back up from the pavement, he found himself on a sidewalk leading past the backs of several gray warehouses, padlocked for the night. He wandered far past the part of Hakodate that guests were meant to see.
And now, he truly was anxious— solutions aside. Even if he used his phone for directions now, the walk back would take at least twenty minutes. Izuku paused and sucked his lips into his mouth, glancing around for any signs of civilization. He’d ask for directions, despite his anxious nature— he was that desperate. The wind picked up, a sharp gust blowing right through him, reminding him of how he stupidly decided to leave his jacket in Shinso’s car.
“Hey, pig.” A woman’s voice called sharply from behind him.
Izuku jumped at the sound, turning quickly and unceremoniously meeting eyes with a pale, dark haired woman. Behind her were two tall, bald men.
Dread inked into his stomach.
“Excuse me?” He stumbled out, slightly out of breath. She was glaring right at him intensely— as if he’d done something to offend her. “Are you— I’m sorry, are you talking to me?”
“ Sorry ?” The woman repeated, mocking. The trio continued walking toward him, and on instinct he began inching back. “What’re you sorry for, huh?”
Izuku flinched at her aggressive tone. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about, Miss. Do I know you from s-somewhere?” He wanted to placate her. She seemed angry at something, and anger often made people do stupid things.
The woman pursed her lips as if contemplating his words. Maybe she was. One of the men spoke before she could.
“Aren’t you gonna call for backup, Officer?”
Izuku had to glance behind himself again— truly confused at that word they continued throwing around. Officer. It took him an embarrassingly long while to realize it was him. They were talking about him.
Izuku shook his head back and forth mechanically, tightening his fingers around his bag. “I… I think you’ve got the wrong p-person, I’m sorry. I’m not a police officer.”
“Right.” The woman scoffed, coming back to life all of a sudden. “And I suppose you didn’t see anything either, right, Officer?”
“No,” Izuku immediately agreed, looking for a way out. Maybe this was it. “I-I didn’t see anything, I promise.” As he continued to back away, his heel caught onto something, stabbing his skin with not much force.
A barbed fence.
Izuku’s hands stuck out at his sides, flailing, trying to catch his balance. One of the men reacted instantly.
He pointed the tip of a sleek handgun right at him.
Izuku flinched violently, hunching into himself as if he had already been shot. Seeing the gun was enough to feel like he had been. It glinted menacingly in the moonlight— taunting him. The air knocked right out of his chest, a desperate sob wracking his body.
“W-Wait—! Please !” He pleaded, hopefully loud enough for a passerby to hear. Nobody seemed to be out and about in this part of town— especially at this time of day. He was starting to understand why that was. “I-I’m not a cop. M-My name is Midoriya Izuku. I-I’m a junior in high school in—!”
“Do you think we’re stupid?” The woman growled, her teeth gnashed. She stepped closer until Izuku’s back hit the fence. She gripped his chin, hard . Izuku yelped, the surprise worse than the pain. “You think your plainclothes getup actually tricked us?”
“P-Please,” Izuku insisted, tears pathetically building at the corners of his eyes. He was begging for his life at this point. A life that was no longer guaranteed a future. He didn’t want to die. Not here. Not like this. “I p-promise, I’m not a cop. Y-You can check for a badge— o-or a gun. Just please don’t k-kill me.”
The other man, the one without a gun, laughed. “We oughta keep him. He’s cute.”
Izuku whimpered, the tears in his eyes dribbling down the sides of his cheeks. He was so scared. He was terrified. He wanted his dad. He wanted to go home to his bed.
In a last attempt to bargain for his life, Izuku offered any of his belongings. Anything for his life.
“M-My wallets in my back pocket— i-if you want it. Th-There’s not much in it, but y-you can return this b-book and get the money back.”
The trio seemed to find his pleading highly amusing. Their laughing sent a coil of dread down his stomach. He was going to throw up.
“Well, if we’re gonna keep him, we might as well keep this quiet.” The woman purred, finally letting go of Izuku’s face and taking a single step backwards.
The man without the gun held a broken piece of metal pipe in his hands. Izuku’s eyelashes fluttered, his breath coming in trembling successions.
“ Please ,” He pleaded to the ground. This was truly it. He couldn’t outrun a bullet. This was it.
Car headlights suddenly screeched around the corner, the car nearly hitting the man with the gun, forcing him to jump out of the way.
A silver Volvo.
“Get in now.” A voice commanded.
Immediately, Izuku knew he would be safe. That voice, that car— and the fear that had once suffocated him had vanished. He dove straight into the passenger seat, gripping tightly onto himself. Izuku could feel himself wanting to hyperventilate.
Todoroki slipped into the drivers seat, the line of his body taut and tight. He drove quickly— it almost felt illegal how fast he was going and how recklessly he was doing it. Even then, Izuku felt safe.
“Are you okay?” Todoroki suddenly asked, his voice hoarse and his fingers tight around the steering wheel. His gaze remained on the road ahead of them.
Izuku swallowed thickly, and nodded quickly, hoping to be reassuring. “I— yes, I think so. Th-Thank you.”
“Did they touch you?”
Yes. But not in the way he was probably thinking. Thankfully.
“N-No. You showed up before they could.”
Todoroki’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. He did not seem as reassured as Izuku was hoping he would be.
“Are… are you okay?” Izuku whispered, watching him from his peripheral.
“No,” Todoroki answered surprisingly honest, suddenly parallel parking right in front of the theater Izuku promised he would meet his friends at. Izuku kept his questions to himself— deciding it was not in his best interest to interrogate the person who’d just saved his life. Todoroki cut the engine and sat very still in his seat before speaking again. “I’m sorry, Midoriya.”
Izuku balked, the shock forcing his head in his direction. “Wh— sorry? Why are you sorry?”
“I should have—“ He started angrily, before shutting his eyes and inhaling a long and restrained breath. He opened his eyes again, glancing at him, pained. “I should have gotten there sooner. I’m sorry.”
Izuku shook his head, ducking his head slightly, becoming aware of how awful he must look. He could feel the stickiness of tears on his cheeks— and Todoroki had just gotten a face full of it.
Izuku flushed, and Todoroki shifted.
“I-I’m surprised you were even there at all.” He murmured. “How did you—?”
A sharp knock came from his window. Izuku startled, turning his back towards Todoroki, and nearly falling on top of him in the process.
“It’s your friends. They’re worried.” He aided, unlocking the door and allowing Izuku to step out. He did so, sluggishly.
Shinso and Kaminari nearly tackled him to the ground as soon as his feet touched the pavement.
“Midoriya— dude ! Not cool!” Kaminari cried, his eyes red. Izuku’s chest ached with guilt.
“I-I’m so sorry, guys.” He apologized softly, hugging himself to protect his skin against the harsh wind. “I got lost on my way back, I didn’t mean to worry you.”
They were worried enough as it was. Telling them the truth might actually prompt them to tell Izuku’s father— and that was something he absolutely did not need.
“Who are you with?” Shinso inquired, curiosity abiding the concern.
As if on cue, Todoroki stepped out of the vehicle, making his presence known. Kaminari made a sound like he was punched in the gut— and Shinso positively froze, his eyes widening to the size of dinner plates. Izuku swallowed uncomfortably. He knew how utterly strange this must seem.
“I’m sorry for keeping Midoriya. We got talking and forgot the time.” Todoroki lied, smooth and concise. Even Izuku almost believed him.
Kaminari spluttered, dismissing his apology with a wave of his hand. “Dude, d-don’t even worry about it. B-But, uh, we should get going.” He grabbed onto Shinso’s arm and pulled him tightly against his side. “I’ve got an early curfew.” Was his excuse, which Izuku knew for a fact, was a lie.
Kaminari shot him a not-so-secretive wink and Izuku nearly expired right there on the sidewalk.
“So, then you two wouldn’t mind if I took Midoriya out to dinner? I’d like to ensure he got something to eat.” Todoroki said, his voice still completely smooth. Izuku whipped his head in his direction, his cheeks burning.
Shinso spoke then. “N-No, you two go ahead. I’m gonna drive Denki home. Um, see you tomorrow, Midoriya, Todoroki.”
Todoroki nodded in their direction, watching them until they skirted off down the street back in the direction of Hokkaido.
Izuku shivered with anticipation— and from the weather. The wind was really starting to pick up. He missed his jacket— and it was already long gone.
A bulky fabric draped over his shoulders suddenly, engulfing him entirely. Izuku glanced up, his eyes meeting a pair of perfectly mismatched ones.
“That should do.” Todoroki noted mostly to himself. Izuku was wearing his jacket. And it was cold. Almost as if nobody had been wearing it at all. Todoroki smiled, small and light. “Shall we?” He prompted, opening the passenger side for him.
Izuku’s face burned again. He knew he had to be bright red. How embarrassing.
He nodded quickly, binding the jacket tighter around his shoulders before slipping back into the passenger seat.
This should be interesting.