Chapter Text
Early spring was a time of new beginnings, and new beginnings came with new people to ruin your life.
“Fuyumi, are you out of the bathroom yet? Natsuo is gonna pee himself…again.” Touya drawled, giving an unamused look at the waddling elementary schooler. “Hurry up if you can-”
A large spike of ice crunched under the door and a frustrated huff came from behind. Then, a few bottles were heard being knocked over along with some shuffling, then Fuyumi peaked her head out from inside. Her hair was a frizzy mess and her eyes were red and puffy, unfortunately her glasses did little to hide it.
“Touya…” Fuyumi sobbed, grabbing her older brother's shirt and tugging. His work shirt, god, why did he have to have such annoying siblings. “He did it again, I shouldn’t have given him another chance.”
“Natsuo, the bathroom’s yours.” Touya called, bringing his sister into a hug. When did he get stuck with their problems again? “You’re too good for him anyway, Yumi, last time he was here I’m pretty sure I saw him eating his toe nails.” A complete lie, but anything to get his sister out of whatever heartbreak she was going through.
Fuyumi pushed herself away, a disgusted look on her face, “He did what?!”
Touya couldn’t help but smirk, watching his sister loudly whine about how gross it was and how she almost kissed him. Too much detail. He didn’t need to know.
“Yeah, boys are gross and you live with four of them,” Touya grabbed his sister by the shoulders and turned her around to face the kitchen, “Now let your frustrations out by making breakfast and please actually cook it thoroughly this time.”
Touya didn’t stay long and barely managed to dodge the icicle aiming way too close to his face. Natsuo ran past them both, efficiently distracting the only sister they had and Touya took that opportunity to run away.
He ran far, all the way to the back of their large home to where the youngest sibling was still asleep. It was the quietest room in the house for the little guy, but it was a shame he had to live so far.
“Sho!” Touya called, opening the door to his little brother's room, noticing right away the blankets were still messy and piled on the bed. A mop of red and white hair was plastered on the oversized pillow, one blue eye and one black eye glaring at him from the sheets. “Baby brother, I’ve come to wake you up! Rise and shine!”
“Go ‘way,” Shoto grumbled, pulling the blankets back over his head. “M’ sleepin’,”
Touya just rolled his eyes. Of course the little guy was sleepy, he had spent all night watching an All Might documentary cartoon in his room. Their maids were careless and didn’t make sure to regulate his TV intake and of course, Shoto had no regulations of his own. The spoiled kid.
“Hmm, I guess there’s no awake Shoto Todoroki’s in here, what should I do?” Touya pondered aloud, spinning around the room until his knees hit the side of his younger brother’s mattress. “Who will I bring to the daycare with me? Maybe I should bring Fuyumi or Natsuo instead?” The small bundle under the blanket perked up. “I think they enjoy playing Heroes with Izuku and Katsuki a lot more than Sho does…”
In an instant the blanket was thrown across the room, his baby brother jumping on the bed with fever excitement.
“Bring me, bring me!” Shoto cried, hands balled in fists and a stoic look still on his face as he jumped off his bed, running out of the room before Touya could joke a no. “Yumi! Natsu! Do not say yes to Touya-” the sound drifted away as his younger brother reached another part of the house.
Touya couldn’t help but giggle under his breath. His little siblings were too much sometimes, but they never failed to cheer him up.
As he regained control of himself, he met eyes with the large man standing outside his little brother's door. Dark red hair that used to be like his and an intense gaze, one used to be filled with admiration, then anger, and finally.
“Touya.”
“Enji.”
The two looked at each other for a long moment before the older man broke first, a small almost unnoticeable smile on his face. Most of his facial hair was growing to an unusual length due to the stress of his job and not caring for himself. His clothes from sleeping were a mess, just his usual workout attire. There was some sweat, he must’ve been training early.
“If you even think or breathe a word about training to Shoto today, I will make sure every press in the area hears about it and I have a lot of photographic blackmail in the folder.” Touya warned, eyes straining into his fathers. “Today is his first day back to daycare, don’t ruin it.”
His father nodded, mutely wiping off his smile, before going to the kitchen where mostly everyone was gathered.
Fuyumi had made a large breakfast in the traditional sense, making sure that there was utensils and plates for everyone. She had a big grin on her face when the two other men came from the training hall area. “Dad!” Natsuo looked up, an unamused stare on his face that rivaled all but Touya’s. “Look! I made all the favorites.”
Endeavor nodded, that small annoying smile that irked Touya to no end emerged again. “Thank you, Fuyumi, it looks good.”
Shoto had already begun chewing in his food, a separate bowl of food prepared beforehand. He didn’t spare his father a glance who sat at the end of the table, just picked at his food nervously. They hadn’t been able to get the poor boy to recover since that day, but at least all of them were trying now.
Touya took a seat across Shoto, Fuyumi across from Natsuo. The other end of the table was empty and no one bothered to look there.
They ate in relative silence besides the usual “how was training” “good” and “how is school” “good”. It didn’t used to be like this, calm and peaceful, beforehand there was an array of issues. Yelling behind closed doors, sounds of slapping and Shoto crying, not being there to comfort his family when mom would start sobbing and breaking…
Enji might’ve had a harsh weight to bear but Touya wasn’t no saint either. He was the eldest, if the man in the house turned out to be a piece of shit that meant he had to step up. And he hadn’t. Not when they needed him to.
His mom… Well, he missed her. They all did.
“Touya…” Fuyumi’s voice made the older one flinch, looking up to his sister. Her eyes looked so much like mom’s. “It’s getting late, didn’t you need to set up early?”
“Oh yeah, that’s right, daycare.” Touya mumbled, stuffing another bite of food in his mouth before sitting up. “Sho, finish eating, Natsuo-” The other brother glared at him, defensively shoving another bite in his mouth. “Don’t bother Fuyumi when she brings you to school, if I hear you giving her a tough time again I’m taking away the switch.” A loud huff followed by a “fine” sealed away Touya’s worries.
Enji remained quiet in the affair, chomping down on his own breakfast. He didn’t bother himself with these kinds of things anymore, he knew he wasn’t welcomed and quite frankly, that was smart of him.
“Alright, Fuyumi when you get back can you make dinner? Also, don't worry about the dishes, I'll get to them later.” Touya said, grabbing his coat from the closet along with Shoto’s. “Make sure the house is locked and-” This time he grabbed his brother, shrugging on the coat for him. Then he took a large breath of air he needed.
“Dad,” The words felt like knives from his throat, but it was the only way he could ask the man a favor and for him to say yes. “Pick up Natsuo from volleyball practice today, it ends too late for Fuyumi to go out while it’s dark.”
A small grunt of agreement was all Touya got but he’ll take it. Worse comes to worse- if his shitty dad did forget (it’s likely he won’t) he still had last year’s photos of Enji struggling with a young Shoto throwing up and he would use it as blackmail.
“Okay, bye everyone,” Touya called, picking up Shoto in his arms to prepare to absolutely deck it to the daycare. “Call me if you need anything,” then promptly shut the door behind him.
Shoto looked at him with his heavy winter coat covering almost his entire face. Still, his voice held excitement.
“Ultra fast?” He asked, making Touya snicker.
“Heck yeah.”
They made it in time before most of the parents came to drop off their kids. Touya was absolutely heaving up his breakfast as he took a moment to lean on his knees, gasping for air. It didn’t help that his lungs were unpractically burnt to a crisp. He had the x-rays to prove so.
Shoto, who squirmed out of his hold, ran to the daycare entrance to go say hi to everyone. He’d probably start crying soon when he realized Izuku and Katsuki actually arrive after them. He was too tired to care. It was the same every monday.
“Ugh, stupid brat.” Touya laughed, gasping in air. God he was so out of shape, and he wanted to be a hero? Sounded like a silly dream now, but maybe that was a good thing. “I’m not dealing with his temper tantrum.”
The door to the daycare opened and Touya was half expecting it to be Tenko but instead, he was greeted with someone he had never seen before. Which was unusual, as most kids here were regulars. Any new kids he also would’ve heard about or Tenko would’ve texted him. His eyes narrowed, watching the suspicious man like a hawk.
His hair was a blonde mess shoved back, golden eyes that didn’t appear too human, along with a blonde scruff scratching at his jaw. He was dressed in a tan coat, matched behind him were two crimson wings that looked to be a size taller than he was. Then, the way his eyes were hidden behind sunshine yellow glasses, a dark look on his face that didn’t sit right with Touya. Something was up with this guy and he knew it.
“Hey-” Touya growled, trying to sound intimidating despite the fact he was hunched over and panting like a dog. “What are you doing here? I don’t recognize you.”
The man turned to him, an equally untrusting expression on his face. Then, it was quickly masked by a grand smile, dripping with so much fake that it had Touya squirming to pull it off of him. Was this guy some sort of con artist?
“I could ask you the same thing, hunched over at a daycare like that, you some kind of trouble maker?” The man purred, sounding almost playful if it weren’t for the fact his wings began to bristle. “Wanna take a walk with me to the nearest station?”
What was this guy's problem?
“Huh?!” Touya practically screeched, mouth agape at the audacity this oversized chicken had. “Are you implying I’m some kind of weirdo?”
“Yeah, actually, It’s hard not to when you’re behaving like one.” The man looked him up and down, the expression souring into his facade. “You look like a runaway, you’re clothes are messy and I’d maybe invest in some better…conditioner.”
Conditioner? The bird had no right to speak with his mangled nest of hair. Touya did glance down at his white shirt though where Shoto’s muddy shoes were hitting the side of him when he took some fast corners. He scratched the back of his neck, cause the man wasn’t too wrong about his clothes being messy.
“Maybe you should give me a recommendation since your hair is so…” Touya looked up where the hairs were poking towards the sky, not bothering to stop the huff of laughter. “What’s the word? Lively?”
Before the man could counter back with something equally as insulting, the daycare door opened again and this time, finally, it was someone Touya knew. Although that happiness was quickly burned away by the face of Tenko glaring at him. He might be considered late on the clock now, dammit.
“Touya, you got one minute to sign in, you’re welcome,” Tenko seethed, then looked at the man. “Hawks, I promise to take good care of your little brother so you can leave without threatening the staff.”
The man, Hawks, flushed at this as he looked at Touya with a bit of embarrassment. As much as Touya wanted to flaunt and goat and take back his pride as someone who wasn’t a weirdo but a very responsible adult who had a job and not a wife (he was the wife) but a life. Full of kids. And a job he was about to be late for.
“Dammit,” Touya ran inside, rushing to where his boss stood with a little name sheet reading Mr. Compress on his front. It was large enough so the little kids could see what was written. As he was standing with an attendance sheet, he looked at Touya, chuckling a bit, then signed a check mark.
Safe!
“Shoto is in the play area with the other early bird.” Mr. Compress explained, jotting down a few notes. “A new guardian signed him up today and since one of the other kids was taken out of the program, I decided how could it hurt? Plus, the brother is also a hero-” Touya raised a brow and ignored the rest of Compress' babbling, looking at the play area where his little brother was playing blocks with a shy looking toddler.
The kid had the face of a raven it seemed, the rest of his body much human-like. His eyes were a dark red, sort of like Tenko’s, and that made Touya chuckle in his head.
At least the two seem to be warming up to each other, working together to create some sort of castle. They weren’t fighting for the blocks like Katsuki would or crying about what goes where like Tenya. He’d take the quietness for as long as he could and god knew he needed it.
Tenko returned a moment later, exhaustion on his brow while he sipped his coffee. A pink mug with white cats on the front, the mop of black hair almost covering his piercing red eyes.
“These heroes and their kids, either their overprotective nut-cases or they don’t give a damn about them.” Tenko grumbled, pulling out a to-do list for the day. “Where’s the children?”
Touya stuck a thumb to where his brother and the little kid were playing, a teasing grin tugging at his face. “Playing blocks. Why? Gonna go join them?”
Tenko glared.
“No, I need to sort out the snacks for today so you’ll do that for me.”
“Snacks?” Touya tilted his head, “Why’re you doing that- that’s my job. I don’t get paid enough to deal with Shoto before everyone gets here.”
“Yeah well, the jobs are getting switched up,” Tenko pulled a bag from his pocket. “Little bird child has special medicine I was entrusted with and he needs to take it during snack time so his quirk doesn’t get out of hand. You get it, don’t you?”
Unfortunately, he did get it. Especially as an arsonist in a daycare, where kids wouldn’t stop tugging his hair or screaming in his ear. Obviously had to take quirk minimizers.
“Alright, fine, whatever,” Touya grumbled, taking another look at the playing kids. He still had time. “Tenko, you’re still up for this weekend, right? You know you don’t have to-”
“Shuddap, if that signing means the number 6 hero is gonna be there then I’m still fu-” Compress shot the two of them a dirty look. “...flipping going, those tickets were expensive and I need to see Mirko.”
Touya gave him a quirked brow, an amused grin fluttering to his lips. “You know she won’t remember you from the last time we went right?”
The Hero Billboard Chart JP event was occurring this weekend and of course, the Todoroki family was expected to go to support their “father”. However, Touya didn’t enjoy watching his dad say some minimal shit while the crowd cheered. Though he did enjoy the grumpy face he’d make when All Might made him look like an underground hero. That he enjoyed immensely.
So to make it more bearable he decided to bring Tenko with him last year. The red eyed man wasn’t a big fan of heroes but he did really admire Mirko (he had posters in his room that he forgot to hide when Touya came over during their highschool years) and he absolutely loved Touya Todoroki after giving him free tickets. He made sure to remind Touya about his appreciation about once a month.
This year it was harder to get free one’s because of a supposed up-and-coming “hotshot” hero so they had to settle on discounts. Even then, the prices were no joke.
“Izuku’s here!” Compress announced before a green haired boy practically runs straight away to the play corner, a loud laugh on his lips.
“Sho!” Izuku cheered, bear hugging his little brother and the two of them went toppling over. “Guess what! Guess what!”
Ah, it was gonna be loud now.
“Well, there goes the peaceful part of the morning,” Tenko sips his coffee and hums, walking back towards the kitchen area. “Have fun keeping them busy, and I hope they don’t start crying on you. I hear it’s flu season.”
Touya rolls his eyes but makes his way to the kid corner, they can’t be that bad in the morning…
Touya had a new appreciation for Tenko and dealing with the kids in the morning. He thought getting Shoto ready in the morning was awful enough but dealing with Katsuki and Izuku arguing and bickering over which hero they wanted to be was just downright exhausting. Then adding all the kids getting into the argument, Himiko trying to cut Ochako’s hair, Denki and Eijiro fighting over stencils. He had Tenko laughing at him when he had to put Shoto and Katsuki in the time-out corner.
They brought the toddlers around the snack table so they could have breakfast and of course Katsuki tried to steal some of the snacks. Mina did steal some snacks, which started a chain reaction of crying and stealing. Mina was put in time-out.
Touya and Tenko brought the group down to read, Compress cleaning up the mess from the toddlers, and of course the gross kids weren’t listening. It started to make Tenko annoyed, which wasn’t that easy.
Yea, Tenko had a bad temper, but he knew had to control himself majority of the time.
Fumikage kept trying to talk about his cool big brother but it pissed off Katsuki because he couldn't hear (the kid had hard of hearing) and made it everyone’s problem. So Touya had to sit the blonde firecracker down and have a talk about “nice words” versus “hurtful” ones.
Finally, Finally, they manage to settle all the kids down for nap time after lunch. All of them were in their blankets fast asleep except one.
Scratches was already out on break so it was Touya’s responsibility to help the child. It wasn't too surprising, the kid was new after all. He was warming up to everyone but Fumikage was still a new student in a new environment. So it wasn’t any surprise when he came walking up to Touya and said “I can’t sleep”.
“Oh?” Touya crouched down to the kids level, internally begging to have his lunch already. “What’s wrong?”
“Uhm, my shadow keeps talking and he doesn’t wanna sleep. He keeps saying mean things, too.” Fumikage shuffled where he stood, nervously looking behind him where the yellow eyes peered back. A very bird-like shadow greeted him. Ugh. “Usually Kei makes him quiet but he isn’t here…”
Touya glared at the shadow, and boy did that shadow not enjoy that. Loud rumbling could be heard and Fumikage’s hands twitched.
“Alright, well, what does…Kei do to make him quiet?” Touya asks, looking back at the anxious and sleepy almost ready to start a crying-fest looking toddler. “I’m sure we can agree on something.”
“He usually sings to Dark Shadow…”
Fuck. Well, he wasn’t a singer, that's for sure. His vocal cords were burnt up as it was and every time he tried to sing to Shoto the toddler cried at him to stop. That was fun when Shoto had nightmares and tried to sleep in his bed though.
“Anything else?” Touya tried.
“... Sometimes he gives me sleep candy.”
Melatonin. Now, Touya wasn’t above giving Shoto or Natsuo some if they were really messing into his bed time, but Fumikage wasn’t his little brother and he didn’t want to get in trouble for letting a kid get into the medicine drawer. He also wouldn’t give a random kid medicine even if he was sick, not without the parents consent.
That was a lawsuit waiting to happen.
“Alright, what lullabies you feelin’ today kid,” Touya groaned, getting up from the floor and walking the toddler back to his sleeping area. “I know about most of them so treat it like a radio-station.”
Fumikage got back into the bed, the shadow awkwardly curling around him like some sort of snake. The toddler thought for a moment, trying to think of all the lullabies his brother probably sang to him. Most likely a better singer too. But then the shadow spoke, surprising Touya.
“Somewhere over the rainbow.” The shadow stated firmly, yellow eyes staring through his soul.
“Alright, one amazing lullaby coming up.” Touya murmured sarcastically, clearing his throat once. “Don’t complain about the vocals though, I’m a little rusty.”
The toddler nodded, and promptly closed his eyes. Unfortunately the shadow didn’t follow, waiting expectantly up at Touya like he was at some sort of concert. But dancing and singing in a dark room would end up with him on the floor along with a broken ankle. He didn’t have money for that right now but it did sound better than singing.
“Somewhere…over the rainbow…”
Touya begins, throat humming with resistance from the disuse. Before he was basically burned alive, he enjoyed singing sometimes. Low whistles and a tune here or there, but it became less enjoyable when he hated the sound of his voice.
“Way up high…”
The shadow’s eyes closed and began to relax on the pillow. It made Touya a bit surprised, wondering how anyone could relax with his voice so scratchy. Maybe Kei or whatever was a worse singer.
“There’s a land that I heard of…”
Huh, he didn’t hate this too much. It was nice to sing without being judged for his voice. Having almost no one around made it better, finally sinking in to himself and allowing himself to sing without a care.
“Once in a lullaby…”
The rest of the day went smoothly after that.
Touya had gotten some shit from Compress for hearing him sing and Tenko was thankfully not around or he would’ve never heard the end of it. Fumikage was passed out by the time he was done so he had enough time to eat his lunch while the rest of the kids slept.
After nap time they spent the rest of the day outside. Kids running around everywhere and trying to get themselves in trouble. It was around sunset when they moved to the front of the building to play so their parents could just come in and pick them up easily.
Compress was sitting on the bench with the sign out sheet, Momo nervously asking for him to show her a magic trick. Tenko was helping some kids with an intense hopscotch match that looked almost too complicated for any 5 year old and Touya was stuck playing Heroes vs Villains with the little brats.
Of course he was the Villian.
“The Villain has Tsuyu! We have to help her!” Izuku cried, pointing at Touya who was just sitting on the grass while the frog girl messed with the mud on the ground. “Don’t worry, I am here!”
“That’s not the part you’re supposed to say!” Katsuki whined, Izuku easily laughing loud enough over even the blonde’s deafening screaming. “Villain, don’t you move!”
Touya rolled his eyes. “I’m pretty sure a Villain isn’t gonna listen to a hero.”
Shoto tried to get the group together for a “meeting” but quickly tripped over his sneakers and fell to the ground. One down for the Villian. Touya tried his best not to smile as his brother shakily got up, attempting to balance on his feet.
“He has psychic abilities and tripped me-” Shoto stated firmly.
Touya smirked at that when a hand tapped his shoulder. He looked over to see Fumikage looking rather nervous. The bird was chipper earlier, but it seems his nervousness came back to him. Ever since nap time it was like the child decided Touya was his new big bro or something. Which, sure, he didn’t mind but the kid needed to make friends with the other toddlers.
“Can I play as the Villain too?” he asked, causing Katsuki to boo very loudly from the side. Touya shot the brat a look before he quieted down with a huff.
“Sorry, you have to be at least my height to be a Villain,” Touya shrugged as if it was the rules, but took a quick sneak peek to the toddlers still trying to figure out their game plan. “I’m sure those three could use the extra help though, maybe they need another hero to come up with a game plan.”
“Yeah, ribbit,” Tsuyu said from her mud, picking up a beetle. “They haven’t moved since forever ago. I’m still waiting to be saved.”
“O-oh well… Do you want me to save you?” Fumikage asked nervously.
“Hey, she’s supposed to be the victim!” Katsuki yelled, pointing a finger at the green haired girl. “We can’t save her without defeating the villain!”
“Also Ochako won’t be the citizen anymore after Katsuki destroyed her drawing.” Shoto admitted shamelessly. “She’s still mad I think.”
“Shut up!” Katsuki blushed, stomping on the ground. “It was an accident!”
“You should still apologize Kacchan…” Izuku mumbled and that sent the explosion boy into another fit.
“Do you wanna catch some bugs with me, ribbit?” Tsuyu questioned, poking at her chin. “I wanna see some beetles.”
“Yeah, uhm yes.” Fumikage smiled, looking away bashfully. “Maybe there’s some under the rocks.” That makes Tsuyu smile and sit up, walking away with the bird as they went to find some bugs.
Touya enjoyed it when the kids got along, making everything so much easier. It was no doubt Fumikage would warm up here just fine.
“Great, now we don’t have a citizen again.” Katsuki huffed, while Izuku attempted to console him by offering to be the citizen but no-you can’t because “who will be Endeavor?” “wait I thought you were Endeavor” “No I’m All Might!” “But I thought I was All Might!”
Before Touya had to come up with some random Villain scenario to calm them, Himiko came running up to him and gave him a big hug.
“I’m leaving now, Touya, but I’ll be back tomorrow!” Himiko practically yelled in his ear, but he couldn't stop his grin. “Jin says to call him though, when you get the chance, okay bye bye!” Then she ran off without explaining much more.
For some reason this was the best part about working there, seeing them all go back to their home and families. Most of the kids here had some seemingly caring parents and those who didn’t…well, they would be back tomorrow. And tomorrow was a new day.
One by one, parents came to pick up their kids. Check in with Compress, say hi to Tenko or Touya, then take their child and leave.
Finally, it was just Shoto and Fumikage again. He had Shoto sleeping in his lap with his finger balled into fists just like when he was a baby. Touya couldn’t help but smile sadly, brushing the kids' bangs out of his face. His little brother was growing up so fast, as were his other siblings. How much longer did he have until they were all grown up? Until they didn’t need him anymore?
“Touya?” Fumikage was sitting next to him, poking around the grass like Tsuyu was doing earlier. “Your piercings and tattoos are really cool, how did you get them?”
Tattoos? He had piercings in his ears to piss off his dad but hadn’t gotten a tattoo quite yet. Although a tattoo would’ve been next on his bucket list. Then he remembered his face, the scars lining his skin from scorches of fire. It was a pink blemish on his face that was slightly discolored from the rest of his body, but definitely not a tattoo.
“Did it myself.” Touya admitted, snickering to himself. Both, actually, he did to himself.
“Did it hurt?”
“Yeah,” Compress was filling out some documents while Tenko cleared up the yard. They had about an hour left to clean up and then get home. Shoto would probably stay asleep for it once Touya brought him inside. “Hurts a whole bunch, like really bad, so don’t even think about copying me.”
“Hm, fine.” Fumikage huffed, and Touya couldn’t help but smile as the toddler laid himself on the ground and closed his eyes.
It was peaceful like this and Touya took the moment to enjoy the wind in his face. He closed his eyes and leaned back onto the grass. Spring was still a bit chilly but he enjoyed the approach of summer. He could hear the birds chirping above along with gentle cries from the bugs. The weight of Shoto on his leg meant the little rascal wasn’t getting into trouble, and he didn’t need to bother Tenko with clean-up since he was still on “watch duty”.
The weather was beautiful. Maybe he’d bring his siblings to a festival this year, since Fuyumi really liked the pink blossoms. It’d also be the first year without mom joining them for any.
His mother loved bringing them all to a festival every season. It was the few times they could get out of the house and just enjoy the breeze. The first time she dragged him to a winter festival without dad knowing, he had been so mad. He was supposed to be training, not wasting time in the snow.
“If you train too hard, you’re gonna get white hair like me.” She had joked, the kindest and most loving smile Touya remembered. He didn’t wanna go back then. But now, he’d give everything to see that festival with her again.
Anything to see her again.
Ugh. He needed to stop with the sad tormenting of his heart. If he saw his mom again, she’d want him to be smiling. Even if he looked like an idiot. Because Fuyumi, Natsuo, Shoto, they were expecting a lot from him and he didn’t want to let his mother down.
“Touya, take care of them…” She had said the night she left, burned hands close to her chest. “I need to leave for a little while… I can’t keep watching you…” Then like a burning photograph, it disappeared from his dreams. It was best to forget those painful memories anyway.
“Taking an afternoon nap?” A voice called, making Touya blearily open his eyes. The sun was too bright, but above him was a face. One he didn’t recognize at first. “Hey I’m surprised, Fumi doesn’t usually sleep this easily.”
Oh right, he was at the daycare...
Did he accidentally fall asleep? There was no way, it had to have only been a few minutes. Sure he was reckless but no kid got out of his eyesight ever. He turned over and saw the raven headed kid curled to his side, passed out asleep. He looked to his other side and yep, sure enough, his little brother passed out too. God, his head hurt.
“Did you check out with Sako,” Touya rasped, flinching at the way his voice cracked. He needed water.
“Yep, getting ready to high tail it out of here, just needed to grab the little one beforehand.” What was the mans name again? Their interaction from earlier was just stupid arguing, he couldn’t remember what his name was. Crow? Dove? Wren?
“Yeah, right,” Touya sat up and every muscle seemed to pop. His back was about to be a wreck tomorrow and it was only monday. He took a glance at Fumikage before doing the normal run down when parents left.
“Fumikage is adapting well, he made friends with some of the kids like Shoto here. Also one of the girls, Tsuyu. The class really likes him and he hasn’t had any issues with eating or playing with the others…” Touya glanced at the sky in deep thought, tone lazy from his nap. “He has some issues sleeping because of his quirk, but this is a foreign place to him so he’ll probably get used to it soon, and Tenko gave him his medicine…” What else was there? He wasn’t sure. “Great kid overall, better behaved than majority of them.”
When Touya looked back at the bird man it was like being carved up like a pumpkin. His eyes were piercing, taking in everything he said. He couldn’t help but flinch, frown deepening on his face.
“That’s good.” The man said simply, leaning over to pick up the sleeping toddler. “Thanks for everything.”
What an asshole. It was his job to be the daycare’s number one jerk, not some washed up bird. However much he wanted to call the chicken out, it was drowned out by Shoto stirring awake in his lap.
“No problem,” Touya mumbled, refusing to look into the man's eye. “Have a good afternoon Mr. Squawk.” It sounded right that time.
Mr. Squawk spun around from where he had his back facing Touya, a shocked expression on his face quickly melting into a very concerning smile. What was this guy and his fake ass expressions? It was freaking him out…
“Hawks,” Hawks clarified, his smile widening but his eyes were anything but happy, “Please make sure not to forget that again…” He looked down at Touya’s name plate before his face went pale, the smile dropped to a frowned gape. “Uh…. Todo…Todoroki… You- You’re- Are you one of Endeavor's kids?”
Oh. What a mess. Was this another one of Endeavors fanboys or something?
Touya grabbed the sleeping Shoto into his arms, holding his younger brother to his chest as he offered Hawks the most shit eating grin he could manage. He left the bird flabbergasted behind him as he returned to the daycare. The fake grin quickly slipped off his face.
So what if he was a Todoroki? That’s all it took to get the bird's feathers ruffled into submission? What a drag. Wasn’t that guy supposed to be like a hero or something?
There was a small pin needle of excitement poking at Touya’s chest though. At least he managed to wipe that stupid fake expression off the man’s face. And it was strange but he kinda wanted to do it again. He wondered for a moment.
What kind of expression is he gonna make tomorrow?