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Okay, so, maybe running away hadn’t been the brightest idea.
Sure, his father was a piece of shit. Sure, his life kind of sucked ass. No one wants to live where they’re beaten every day. No one wants to hear how a toddler is better at breathing. It makes sense, on paper.
But, maybe, just maybe, staying in the hospital was the smarter decision.
Not that it mattered too much now. Here he was, on the street, dirty and bleeding and lost. He had nowhere to go, and he was so hungry and in so much pain. He should have thought this through better. Was being free from his father really worth all of this? Was it worth running away with a half set broken arm and half healed burn scars all over his body? Right now, Touya wasn’t so sure.
Maybe…maybe he had been overreacting. His dad had said it was an accident. He said that he didn’t mean to set fire to the shed while Touya was inside. It was old, and falling apart, and he wanted it off the property. It wasn’t his fault that he didn’t know it was his son’s favorite hiding spot. Especially because he’d purposefully kept it a secret, after all.
So, maybe he had been a bit too hasty. But it was too late to turn back now. He would be in so much trouble if he went back home, and his siblings would be disappointed in him. He was supposed to be the big brother, to set an example of how to be good for his siblings. Instead, he got into more trouble than all of them combined. Sometimes he wished he was more like Natsuo—ignored, invisible.
His stomach growled again as he rethought that wish. He was invisible now, and it wasn’t great at all. He wished someone, anyone, would pay attention to him. Help him. He was so hungry and tired, and that was all Touya could think about as he dropped to the ground, shaking, behind a dumpster that didn’t smell as bad as some of the others he’d found. It was dark, and he was scared. No one would help him, but he didn’t know what would happen if they did. People weren’t nice for free, even he knew that much.
Still, everything was better in the daylight.
***
When he woke up, Touya was so, so comfortable. He was warm, and the pillow beneath his head felt like a cloud. He was almost so comfortable that he forgot he’d fallen asleep on pavement behind a dumpster. Almost .
Slowly, as not to jostle any of the injuries he knew he still had, he sat up in the large bed and looked around. The room was nice, if not bare. The bed was large, and there was a furniture set that matched. The closet was empty, save for a few shirts and pairs of pants. It was simple. Nice. Touya wished that his own house looked like this. His father always used his money to buy décor that was auspicious at best.
His burns had been rebandaged and there was a cast on his arm where he’d only had a sling before. He didn’t know how it had gotten there, or how he had slept through it, but he was glad for it. He had been scared of the doctors in the hospital his father paid off, and he was grateful he didn’t have to meet the ones that did this.
Touya was just thinking of making his way out of the bed when there was a soft knock on the door. He cleared his throat before giving a scratchy, equally soft, “Come in?”
The door opened all the way and, in the entryway, stood a boy about Touya’s age with dark hair and red eyes. His skin was a little dry, and he had a scar on his lip and a little mark underneath his mouth. He looked tired, but relieved. The longer he stared, the more Touya felt his cheeks heating up. The boy was…cute. And he wouldn’t stop looking at him.
“You’re up,” he stated, breaking the silence. Touya gave him a nod in response, still too shy to speak. “Are you feeling better?” Another nod was his response. “Do you want to come eat lunch? It’s almost noon.” Another nod, as Touya gingerly made his way out of the bed to the boy’s side. He was still nervous, a little scared, but he seemed so confident. He made Touya feel safe.
He liked concentrating on the boy. When he focused on him, the way his dark hair curled a bit at the ends, the way the fabric of his dark hoodie felt in his hands as he held onto the back of it as he was led through the house, he wasn’t overwhelmed by the new place he found himself in. Focusing on the boy stopped him from focusing on his fear of new places and new people. He was a grounding anchor and Touya was not inclined to let go anytime soon.
The house they walked through was similar to the room he’d woken up in. Large, but simple. It was clear that whoever owned it had money, but unlike his father, they didn’t use it to show off how much they had. Touya wasn’t a fool; he knew expensive things when he saw them. But where his father made sure that the things he bought bore large and gaudy labels to tell everyone how well-off he is, the things in this home seemed to be purchased with intention. They were simplistic, useful, made to last.
Eventually the two made their way into the kitchen. The boy Touya had been clinging to made his way over to an intercom on the wall, pressing the little button and waiting for the click before speaking, ever so politely. “Kurogiri? Can we have some lunch please? My new friend just woke up.” He heard whoever was on the other side confirm his request with an “Of course, Young Master.” Then, they were off again to what looked like a casual dining room.
Once they settled in to wait for lunch, the boy turned to him. “My name is Tomura Shigaraki. What’s yours?” Touya fiddled with his hands, looking down. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to say his name. Shigaraki seemed nice, but he didn’t want to tell him he was a Todoroki. He didn’t want to leave this house, and he didn’t want to have to go back to his father.
He was scared his new friend would press, but he didn’t, instead just shrugging his shoulders and saying, “It’s cool if you don’t want to tell me. I never wanted to tell anyone my old name either. You should make up a new, cooler name! So I have something to call you!”
Shigaraki’s eyes sparkled at the prospect and Touya really didn’t want to disappoint him. The boy was so nice, and he seemed really cool. So, he thought for a bit before deciding. “Dabi,” he declared. “You can call me Dabi.”
His new friend grinned at him as a man, dressed quite sharply in a vest, with hair so fluffy Touya thought it resembled a cloud, walked in holding two steaming bowls of ramen. On cue, Touya’s stomach grumbled, making the man chuckle and Shigaraki snicker. He was embarrassed and he felt his cheeks flush, but that didn’t stop him from digging in as soon as the bowl was sat before him. He was really, really, hungry.
The food was delicious, and he and Shigaraki talked a lot while they ate. It was weird getting used to being called Dabi, but Touya liked the way it rolled off of Shigaraki’s tongue. It made him feel like he’d passed some kind of test every time the boy used the name. They talked about everything—video games especially, but school and music and shows too. They had a lot in common, which was nice. All of Touya’s siblings thought his favorite things were silly. That he should spend more time learning about his dad’s business instead. He never understood why; everyone knew his dad was just going to give the company to Shoto anyways.
Once their bowls were long empty, Touya noticed a change in Shigaraki. He wanted to know what was wrong with his new friend, so he asked. The boy bit his chapped lip for a while, before responding. “I think we have to go talk to my dad now. He said he would take care of you, but only if he got to talk to you when you woke up. I hope that’s ok?”
Touya felt a pit form in his stomach. Was Shigaraki’s dad just as mean as his? He seemed so much happier, but he looked scared for Touya to meet him. Still, he didn’t want to get his new friend in trouble, so he put on the brave face he used any time his dad made him go to the office and nodded his head, telling Shigaraki to lead the way.
Once they reached his dad’s office, Touya was surprised to see Shigaraki run directly into his arms and hug him, laughing and grinning as the, frankly, large, man ruffled his son’s dark locks. He then turned to Touya with a smile that didn’t seem nearly as intimidating as he expected. The man was definitely an imposing figure, but he didn’t seem to direct that imposition on either boy. It was…strange. Unfamiliar. There was a look behind his eyes that made Touya shiver. It was like he could see right through him.
“Tomura, my son. Could you give me a moment alone with your friend?” Shigaraki looked back and forth between the two, confused for a moment, before shrugging and making his way out of the office, the door clicking shut behind him. Suddenly, all of Touya’s nerves were rising to the surface once again. The man placed his chin in his hands, scrutinizing Touya in a way that made him feel bare and vulnerable. He felt tears start to prickle at his eyes before the man sighed.
“So, it would seem you aren’t dead after all, little Touya Todoroki.”
***
Enji Todoroki was a tired man. He had worked his entire life to prove himself—to show the world he was the best. He had built Endeavor Corp. from the ground up. His business practices were cut-throat. He was a shark among men, going after whatever he could grab and never relinquishing his newly acquired prizes.
But now, he is old, and tired. He had tried so hard to get it through his children’s heads that they were born for greatness, to continue on his legacy. He had hoped his first born would be ripe for the position, but it became clear early on that he didn’t have the constitution for it. Enji had no desire to watch his life’s work crash and burn in the hands of his weak son. He wouldn’t allow it. It didn’t matter how many times he tried to beat the lessons into the boy, he simply wouldn’t take them to heart. His grades were always too low. His etiquette was improper. He was hopeless.
Natsuo was simply a second son. Completely average. Nothing to write home about, but at least the boy stayed out of trouble. Then came Shoto. Perfect Shoto. Born with the personality and the smarts that were necessary to do well in the world Enji had inserted himself into. Unfortunately, it was not traditional to pass a business onto a third son. In fact, it was practically unheard of, and would spell eternal misfortune for Endeavor if he were to do so when Touya was still around.
So. he’d done what needed to be done to save everything he’d worked for. He never intended to actually hurt Touya, he had simply planned to stage the fire and then lock him away from prying eyes for the rest of his life. But, when the boy had been inside the building, Enji hesitated to save him. He did eventually, taking him to the hospital to be treated in secret—only leaking the things that would help his cause to the media. Then, Touya finally did something useful by disappearing. Enji probably should have been distraught to know his teenage son had escaped such a high security hospital win with such serious injuries, but he couldn’t bring himself to be upset when he got the outcome he wanted and didn’t even have to actually care for his first born.
Enji was happy, for a while, thinking he’d finally gotten everything he had ever wanted. Then, Shoto and Natsuo both began acting out. He’d never been so disobeyed before. He threatened to cut them both off and when he did, they had the audacity to laugh in face. Strangely, when he went through with his threat, they didn’t seem affected at all, simply continuing on with their lifestyles.
Then Rei divorced him. He had no idea how she managed to hire such a high-profile lawyer. She had no money of her own—he’d made sure of it when he placed every cent of her trust in his own accounts the day she received it. Yet, by the end of the proceedings, she’d taken half of everything he had and all three of his children. He was lost. He had no one to pass his legacy on to, and no one to come home to at night.
This might have made a normal man rethink his life choices. Made him reconsider what exactly brought him to such a desolate place in life. Not Enji Todoroki. No, it just pissed him off. He blamed everyone else for his shortcomings, and in short order decided the best way to gain back everything he’d lost was to go harder, be meaner. After his divorce, he increased the size of Endeavor Corp. four times. He’d hoped the promise of wealth and riches would be enough to convince Shoto to come back, to take on the task Enji had conceived him for specifically.
He never did, but Enji had been so consumed with trying to convince him that he didn’t notice the shares of Endeavor slowly but surely being bought right underneath his nose. Which is what brought him here, to this little office on the outskirts of Tokyo. It was old, simple. Enji didn’t understand how someone who bought the majority of his stakeholders out could pick such a pathetic place to conduct business, but he knew he had to pretend not to be disgusted. If he didn’t want to lose his company, he had to turn on the charm.
He walked into the office and a bubbly girl with twin buns led him back to a meeting room. Sitting at the head of a table was a man far younger than Enji had expected to see. He had white, long hair and sharp red eyes that clocked him as soon as he entered the room. He tried to fight the shiver that worked its way down his spine and did his best to ignore the sweat beading on his forehead. Cautiously, he made his way to the chair the man gestured to, waiting for him to begin.
“Thank you for meeting me, Todoroki. I do hope we can make this meeting quick. My name is Tomura Shigaraki, and I will be taking over Endeavor Corp.”
Enji blanched at that, fear giving way to rage. “My company is not up for sale,” he grit out through clenched teeth. His anger only grew at the widening smirk that lit up Shigaraki’s face.
“Oh, there seems to be a misunderstanding,” he said. It was placating, like he was talking to a child. “I was not requesting that you sell me Endeavor Corp., I was informing you that it was already mine, well, my husband’s. You’re just here as a formality…and because he has always had a flair for the dramatic.” The man shrugged, a fond smile on his face. “What can I say? I have always enjoyed indulging him.”
Enji couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Just who do you think you are, boy ?” he spat out. He didn’t care how many shares this child had bought. He wasn’t getting everything he’d worked so hard for to give away . Especially not to some house husband that likely didn’t know the first thing about running a business.
Shigaraki sighed, rubbing his forehead in annoyance before snapping his fingers. Papers, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, were suddenly in front of Enji. “I told you, Todoroki. I already own Endeavor Corp. I own every share except your own. I am the Board. I am the Chairman. I am the Executive Officer. I make all decisions regarding Endeavor. The only vote that matters is mine . You have no say in this. You are being ousted.”
Enji paled as he read through the paperwork that confirmed everything Shigaraki had just said. At some point, when he was working his ass off, his company had been bought from underneath him. It was completely legal, and there was no way for him to fight it. His whole life, everything he had worked for, gone in the blink of an eye to a brat. He wanted to knock the smug look off of Shigaraki’s face, but he was too in shock to be able to move.
“You know,” Tomura began. “Don’t look too glum, Todoroki. Endeavor will be in good hands. My husband grew up with the best training and went to the best business school in the country. He earned his accolades working for my father’s company. Maybe you’ve heard of it? All for One Enterprises?”
Enji went green, finally realizing why the name Shigaraki sounded so familiar. All for One was the most feared man in Japan. Yes, he was a business mogul, but it was an open secret that he also controlled much of the underground. He was not a man you wanted to cross, and Enji had just been yelling at his heir.
Seemingly oblivious to Enji’s inner turmoil, or at least uncaring, Tomura continued. “Anyway, he’s quite smart. Very business savvy if I do say so myself. Even better, he’s quite a good leader. I think it’s because he knows what it is to struggle. He has quite the back story—” Shigaraki was cut off by a ghost from Enji’s past sauntering through the door, sending him a smirk before leaning down to peck Tomura on the lips.
“It is quite the story, isn’t it love?” he asked Tomura, but he was looking right at Enji. Cerulean eyes, identical to his own glaring back at him. “My father was an abusive piece of shit. He tried to burn me alive, and when that failed, he lied and told everyone I was dead anyways. Fortunately, I was able to run away from him, right into the arms of my husband and his very generous father.”
There was a moment of silence before Enji hit the floor, completely unconscious. Touya and Tomura stared at him for a moment before sharing another kiss and getting up, stepping around the body on the floor. Tomura tapped on Toga’s desk, getting her attention, and ordering her to make sure Todoroki was out of his office before the day was done. Then he led his husband out to their car as they made their way to their weekly lunch with his father and Touya’s family.
“Happy anniversary love,” he grinned, kissing his husband’s scarred hand.
“I love you, Tomura,” was his response.