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Keigo was waiting in line for the food truck. He tapped his foot on the pavement. The lady before him was taking forever to order. After fifteen minutes the woman finally decided to not order and just leave.
“I swear. People,” Keigo whispered. He looked at the woman inside the truck. “Sup, Alex. I need the usual, please.”
She nodded. “Of course, Hawks.” After putting his nachos in a box, she looked at the hero. “Extra cheese, right?”
Keigo nodded. “Yep, extra cheese for the grumpy one. And like three small bags of hot sauce too.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna put five because last time he wouldn’t stop complaining.”
“Good idea.” Hawks checked his phone and sighed. “You know, Alex, I only left for what, thirty minutes? And Mister Blue Flames is already complaining.”
“Yeah, but you like him, right?”
The hero snorted. “Unfortunately.”
Alex laughed and gave Hawks his meals. After he paid, Keigo flew and met up with the most annoying person he knew (who is also happened to be the love of his life): Touya Todoroki.
Touya was finishing some reports when he arrived on the roof.
“Here, lunch for his majesty!”
Touya rolled his eyes with a smile “Thanks, Chicken. I hope you thought about getting the hot sauces this time.”
Keigo gasped and put his hand on his chest. “Of course I did! Someone as hot as me always thinks about the hot sauces!”
Touya titled his head. “Did you try to be funny? Again?”
Keigo gasped even more and wiped a fake tear from his eye. “You’re breaking my heart, dear.”
“Yeah, right. Now give me my food.”
Keigo gave Touya a box full of nachos and cheese and threw him 5 small packets of hot sauces. After he sat next to his boyfriend, Keigo pulled out the box of chicken wings for himself.
While eating his fourth chicken wing Keigo felt someone watching him. He turned his head and saw Touya, gaze fixed and eyebrows raised.
“What?”
“Okay, first, swallow before speaking. It's disgusting. And second, could you be considered a cannibal?”
“You already asked that last night. I don’t know and I don’t care.”
Keigo ate another chicken wing as Touya laughed. “You’re freaking unbearable, I swear!”
Keigo loved the sound of Touya’s laughter. He still remembered the first time he heard it. He and Touya met at UA during their first year, both in class 1-A. Keigo tried to be friends with him the second he heard Touya’s last name. The blond had been Endeavor’s number one fan since he was a toddler.
Over the next few months the two of them became close, and Keigo loved telling anyone who’d listen that he, not anybody else, was Touya’s best friend.
Touya never talked about his dad when they hung out. Keigo didn’t push it. He always thought it was just because Touya was shy or embarrassed.
One day, after the Sports Festival where Touya came in second place, he came to school wearing a long sleeve shirt. It was weird, considering the fact that it was June and Touya always complained about the heat. Hawks also saw the way Touya flinched from sudden movements or shouting.
Keigo recognized the signs he knew too well.
The next day, during lunch, Hawks built up some courage and asked Touya while they both sat on the roof.
“Does your dad hurt you?”
Touya shrugged. “Does it matter? Second place is the biggest loser, right?”
“Yeah it matters. It fucking matters, Touya. You don’t deserve that.”
Touya laughed with resigned sadness. “Yeah, right.”
Keigo vowed to himself that Touya would never laugh like that again. Not on his watch.
The next week was Hero Week. The teachers had put posters of the top five heroes all around the school. Keigo had made it his personal mission to draw silly faces on every single one of Endeavor’s forty-five posters.
Touya had laughed so much he cried.
That was the moment Keigo realized he had fallen in love with Touya Todoroki.
And of course Touya became his new favorite hero of all time.
Keigo was snapped out of his daydream by the sound of Touya’s phone ringing.
Touya took it out and sighed at the screen “Seriously, Natsuo knows I’m patrolling with you. If that fucking kid call me for something stupid again I’m gonna scream!”
“Maybe it’s Shouto?”
Touya looked at him. “Shouto is four, fuckhead. How can he unlock Nat’s phone and call me?”
“You know,” Keigo took a sip of his coffee, “kids these days can do anything with technology.”
“I swear you’re weird.” Touya picked up the call and put his phone to his ear. “Nats, I swear to-”
Keigo stole a nacho from Touya’s box and looked at his boyfriend who suddenly stopped speaking. Touya was pale as a sheet.
The blond hero couldn't hear anything but a young voice talking quickly, obviously panicked. Maybe Natsuo couldn’t find his console again. Could he hear someone banging at a door?
Oh god, is that a baby crying? Is Shouto crying?
Touya looked at Keigo.
“Bring me home. Now.”
———
Touya couldn’t think.
“Can’t you fly faster?”
Keigo was flying as fast as he could. “I can, but if I do the speed will hurt you!”
“I don’t care!”
Natsuo had hung up just after they started flying. Touya clutched this phone in his hand.
“Please, be fine. Please.”
When they arrived at the Todoroki house Touya ran inside before Hawks landed properly.
“Touya! Wait! What’s going on?”
Touya didn't know what was happening either. The only thing he knew was that he thought Mom was safe.
Apparently, he was wrong.
When they entered the house Touya heard someone screaming. “Natsuo, open the door!”
Keigo, who was breathing heavily, whispered “Is that your mom?”
Touya swallowed and started running again. Natsuo said that he locked himself in the bathroom with Shouto. He found their mom banging on the door.
“Natsuo, open the door! Shouto needs me! Natsuo!"
“Mom.”
Touya saw her mom turn and face him. She calmed down in a moment. Something was wrong. Something was really wrong.
“Mom, what’s going on?”
Rei smiled weakly. “Hi Touya, sweetie. I didn’t know you were coming. Is Hawks with you?” She wiped her hands on her apron. “I was making tea if you want some.”
“Where are the boys, Mom?”
“They’re in the bathroom. Natsuo took Shouto to the bathroom but Shouto needs me, Touya. Shouto needs his mommy.”
Touya hated this conversation. It seemed too much like the hostage situation he dealt with at the bank last week. The hostage taker was an employee who snapped because of the pressure. They’d ended up in a mental hospital.
He just hoped this time wouldn’t end the same way.
“Mom, do you think you could let me talk to Natsuo?”
Rei smiled. “Of course, Touya.” She frowned. “I really don’t understand why Natsuo took Shouto away from me. Everything was fine. I was just trying to clean his face.”
Touya swallowed. “Clean his face of what?”
“You know,” Rei tilted her head, “from your father’s quirk. He was starting to look too much like him. I had to clean it off.”
Fucking hell. Natsuo was right. Mom had lost her mind.
Keigo whispered, “what the hell?”
“Mom, let me try, okay?” Touya took a step closer to the door. He had to get his little brothers out of this house yesterday. “How about you go into the living room with Hawks? You could drink tea together, right? Maybe Hawks could tell you about our last mission,” he shot a look at his boyfriend, “at the bank in Fukuoka.”
Keigo nodded. He understood the message.
Rei smiled. “That would be wonderful. Hawks, dear, would you come help me with the kettle please?”
Hawks grinned. “Of course, Mrs. Todoroki. ”
Touya walked to the bathroom door once he was sure their mom was out of the way. He used the secret code they’d developed so that Natsuo knew it was safe to open the door. Fuyumi came up with the code when she was five and Touya was six. When Natsuo was old enough they taught it to him. Neither of their parents knew it.
Right then Touya was so happy they’d never taught it to their mother.
Touya heard the lock turning and quickly stepped in the room. He locked it again for more security and turned to see his little brother.
Natsuo was heavily breathing and holded a hairbrush like it was a weapon.
“Mom. She’s like dad. Mom’s like dad.”
For Touya their father was the monster back home. Now his baby brothers are going to have nightmares because of their mother.
Touya kneeled and cupped Natsuo’s face. “Where’s Shouto?”
“In the bathtub. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do.”
“It’s okay, you did everything right. You’re very brave, okay?”
Natsuo nodded with a sob in his throat. Touya kissed his forehead and went to the bathtub.
Shouto was curled up on himself, clutching his face. His cries were far too silent for Touya’s peace of mind.
“Shouto? Shou, it’s me, Touya. I’m going to pick you up, okay baby?”
Shouto didn’t respond or move. Touya picked him up and the four year old whimpered.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, Shouto, it’s me. It’s Touya. You’re safe, baby.”
“Touya,” Shouto sobbed, “Touya it hurts. It hurts so much.”
Touya holded Shouto onto his lap. “I need to see your face, baby. Can you show me your face?”
Shouto removed his hands and Touya saw his baby brother’s face. It was bright red.
It looked like a burn. Touya through the burn didn’t look like their dad’s flames injuries. The man knew when to stop before the injuries became too visible, and he knew that the number two hero was at his agency right now.
Shouto started sobbing again “It hurt Touya. It hurt so much. Please make it stop.”
Touya pulled the four year old close to his chest “It’s okay Shouto. It’s going to be okay, I promise.”
Touya knew he needed to get Shouto to the hospital as soon as possible.
He turned to Natsuo. “Nats, can you tell me what happened again, but slowly this time?”
The twelve year old bit his lip. “I don’t know. I was playing video games in my room and then,” he swallowed a sob, “and then I heard Shouto scream so I ran to the kitchen. I saw Mom holding the kettle and Shouto was screaming and crying and holding his face. And, and…”
Touya knelt down. “Nats, breathe buddy, it’s okay. Just breathe. You’re doing great, baby.”
Natsuo nodded and took a deep breath. “Mom, she, she looked like dad, Touya. Like when he was training you or Shouto. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Touya.” Natsuo started crying. “I know I should have protected Shouto. It’s my job but I thought, I thought mom was safe.”
Touya felt his heart break.
It wasn’t fair.
It wasn’t fair at all.
“Nats, I need you to listen to me, okay? You did everything you could. You got Shouto to safety and called me. You did great, okay baby?”
Natsuo nodded in tears. “I’m so sorry Touya.”
Touya grabbed Natsuo with his free arm and pulled him against his chest. “It’s okay Nats. It’s going to be okay.” He kissed his white hair. “We need to leave the bathroom, okay? I need to get Shouto to the hospital.”
Natsuo clenched his fist around Touya’s jacket. “Don’t leave me here. Please.”
“Never.” He kissed his little brother’s hair. “I’m taking you both. You think you can walk?”
Natsuo nodded.
Touya adjusted his grip on Shouto. “I’m going to unlock the door and we are going to leave the house. Ready?”
Natsuo nodded and wiped his nose with his sleeve.
Touya looked at Shouto. “You ready too?”
Shouto was holding his face again and whispered “please.”
Touya kissed his forehead and looked back at Natsuo. “I’m leaving the room first. You stay behind me and hold my shirt so I know you’re close. Keigo is distracting mom so we need to be very quiet, okay?”
Natsuo nodded furiously. “Okay.”
Touya unlocked the door and felt Natsuo’s hand on the bottom of his shirt. Shouto curled up against his chest even more as if he was trying to hide from the world. Or maybe just from their mom.
Touya adjusted his grip on Shouto one more time and started walking carefully through the hallway. He hoped their last minute plan was working. He needed Keigo to keep their mom's attention long enough that he could leave the house with the boys.
Touya passed the kitchen and their parent’s room. His hold on his baby brother became tighter as Touya realized he wouldn’t have time to get Shouto’s binky or Natsuo’s favorite video games. He didn’t know if he’d have the opportunity to get them any time soon.
They passed the living room quickly. Natsuo’s hold on Touya's shirt became tighter. Touya walked slowly but he realized too late that he put his foot on the wrong floorboard. The one who creaked.
“What was that?”
Touya stopped breathing. He felt his little brothers tense at their mother’s voice. He could hear his heart beating too fast. Touya had never been so ready to just grab Natsuo by his shirt and run out of the house.
“Nothing, Mrs. Todoroki. It’s just the wind. How about you tell me more stories about Touya?”
“Sure, I’d love to.”
Touya moved and started walking quietly again. They passed two more rooms and the young pro hero saw the front door and thought the nightmare was nearly over.
“Touya? What are you doing?”
He was wrong.
Again.
Touya turned to face their mother and put Natsuo behind him.
“I’m taking Shouto to the hospital.”
Rei frowned. “Why? Shouto doesn’t need to go to the hospital. He only needs me.”
The four year old whimpered.
“Mom, Shouto is hurt. He needs to see a doctor.”
“Touya, I appreciated what you’ve done, sweetie, but I can handle it okay?” Rei opened her arms. “Give me back Shouto. Please.” She stepped towards them.
Natsuo sobbed and glued himself onto Touya’s legs. Shouto started crying again. Touya took a step back. Soon they would be blocked by the front door.
“Mom. Shouto is burned. He –”
“Shouto is not burned!” Rei slammed her foot down on the floor, making everyone flinch. “I just cleaned off his face. He’s maybe a little red, but he’s okay. I just need to put ice on it and he’ll be fine. My baby will be fine. He won’t look like your father anymore.”
Touya took another step back and steadied his grip on his brother. “Mom, you can’t put ice on a burn. It’s going to hurt Shouto even more!”
“But I need to cure him! I want to cure Shouto! You don’t understand Touya. My baby is starting to look too much like him. I need to fix him. I need to fix Shouto!”
“Mom, you trust me, right?”
Rei nodded. “Of course, sweetie.”
“Then trust me, okay? I’m going to bring Shouto to the hospital and he’ll be fine. I’ll make sure he doesn’t turn into dad. Okay?”
“Okay. Does Natsuo have to come with you too? I want him to stay with me.”
The twelve year old whimpered and clenched his fist around his big brother’s pant leg.
Touya used his free hand to pull him even closer. “Yeah, I need him to come with me.”
“Okay. If you’re sure, Touya. But you’re bringing them back to me after it’s done, right?” Rei smiled at the end as if the whole situation was just fucking normal.
She was acting like Touya was bringing his little brothers to the park and not the hospital because one of them had a second degree burn on his face.
Touya tried to smile too. “Of course. I promise.”
Rei looked at him. Touya felt his mom could see his soul and felt his lies.
“Are you promising me that like you promised to come back home? Because you lied about that. Are you lying to your mother again, Touya?”
“No, Mom, I’m not lying.”
The boys sobbed. Touya felt like he was the worst brother to say that out loud. To let them think he would bring them back to the house where their parents hurt them. To let them think Touya would abandon them. Again.
Touya would never let their parents hurt his siblings again. Not while he still stood.
Rei smiled again. “Okay. I trust you, Touya.”
Touya felt like a terrible son, letting their mom think everything would be fine. Letting her think she would see her sons again. Letting her think she could touch or hug them again. But if he had to lie in order to protect his siblings, Touya would do it gladly.
“Thank you, mom.”
Touya opened the door, still facing their mother. First lesson at UA: never turn your back on an enemy. Even if it’s your own mother.
Natsuo was the first outside, followed by Touya, who was still holding Shouto. Hawks followed, closing the door behind him.
“You’re leaving too, Hawks? But dear, we didn't finish our tea.”
Keigo used his fake media smile. “I’m deeply sorry, Mrs Todoroki, but you know our Touya. He could get lost in his own apartment.”
Rei chuckled. “Of course. Thank you for taking care of him. Touya? Please bring the boys back before dinner. You know your father doesn’t like it when you and your siblings aren’t ready for dinner on time. You wouldn’t want to make your father angry, right Touya?”
Touya felt a shiver run down his spine. “Of course.”
Rei smiled and nodded. “See you later, boys. Have a good time with your brother.”
She closed the door and Hawks joined Touya. “What’s the situation?”
“Shouto has a burn on his face. I think it’s second degree, maybe worse.”
“Shit.” Hawks gently tapped Shouto's shoulder. “Hey, buddy. It’s me, Keigo. Touya’s boyfriend. You remember me?”
The little boy nodded.
Keigo smiled. “Great. You think you could let me see your face for just a second, baby flame?”
Shouto moved his hand from his face. “Keigo… It hurts. It hurts so much.”
Keigo carefully took the four year old’s chin so that he could get a better look at the burn. “I’m so sorry, little one. Don’t worry, Touya and I are going to make it okay, alright?”
Shouto nodded and curled back against Touya’s chest.
“What’s the plan?”
Touya adjusted Shouto on his hip again. “You can’t lift the four of us, right?”
“No, I can’t.”
“Please,” Natsuo wiped his tears, “please don’t leave me.”
Keigo kneeled and cupped Natsuo’s face. “We’re never leaving you here. Never. I promise.”
“But Touya said he was going to bring us back.”
Touya knelt too. “I lied. Okay baby? I lied because otherwise I didn’t think mom was gonna let us leave. I’ll do everything I can so that you and Shouto can stay with me. Now Hawks can’t carry all of us, and I need to bring Shouto to the hospital. So Keigo is going to bring you to Fuyumi’s place, okay?”
Touya knew it would have been faster to have Keigo take Shouto to the hospital, but he was afraid the medical staff wouldn’t have understood the situation. They could have called Endeavor.
Natsuo sobbed. “I want to stay with you.”
“And so do I, but I don’t know how long we’re going to be at the hospital. I’d prefer if you stayed with Fuyumi. I’ll keep you updated through Hawks, okay?”
Natsuo nodded.
Touya wiped his tears. “Hey, mini-me, everything will be fine. I promise.”
Keigo took Natsuo in his arms. “Ready, buddy?”
He nodded again and looked at his big brother. “Everything will be fine?”
Touya smiled. “Everything will be fine.”
After Keigo left, Touya looked at Shouto. “We’re going to leave too, okay?”
“You can fly?”
“No, sorry buddy. But I stole mom’s keys on our way out. We’re going to take her car.”
Shouto sobbed. “And you’re gonna take the pain away?”
“Yeah.” Touya kissed his forehead. “I’m going to take the pain away.”
———
Touya was right, the medical staff would never’ve let Shouto in with Keigo. When they arrived he had to show his identity papers and his pro hero card to prove he was really Shouto’s big brother and that he needed to stay with him.
After he finished talking to the doctor, Touya came back to the hospital room with his arms behind his back.
Shouto was lying down. He seemed so small in the massive white bed. The four year old had his face covered in bandages.
Touya got closer to the cot and sat on it. “Hey, baby. How’re you feeling?”
“I’m tired.”
“That’s normal.” Touya brushed his white and red hair. “You should take a nap, okay? I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Shouto moved under the blanket. “I don’t have my binky.”
“I know, I’m sorry, but I have a surprise for you.”
Shouto’s eyes widened. “A surprise?”
Touya hummed. He pulled it out from behind his back.
Shouto gasped. “All Might!”
Touya smiled, “Yeah, the hospital had an All Might plushie and I thought you would like it. Does it make you happy?”
Touya hoped All Might was still Shouto’s favorite hero. Kids had a tendency to change their opinions so fast at that age.
Shouto took the plushie but gave it back a minute later “Thank you so much, Touya. But I can’t keep it.”
“Why not?”
“Dad won’t like it. He’s gonna be mad.”
Touya swallowed.
Fucking hell.
“Don’t worry about that, okay baby? I’ll handle dad.” Touya brushed the four year old's hair again. “Now, how about you try to sleep, okay?”
“Touya?”
“Yes, little one?”
Touya could see Shouto wanted to ask something but he wasn’t sure of himself.
“You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“Anything?”
“Yeah, anything.”
Shouto whispered. “Okay. Can you come home? I miss you. And I’ll do everything I can to be the best younger brother ever for you. I’ll train every day. I’ll be silent and I won’t cry, even if something hurts. I’ll do anything. Please, come home Touya.”
Touya had never felt so angry in his life. So, Natsuo was right. Endeavor was training Shouto. He had promised we wouldn’t.
He’d lied.
Again.
“Shou, I’m sorry, but I’m not coming home.”
Shouto started crying again. “I’m sorry, Touya! I don’t know what I did but I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Please, please forgive me Touya! I’ll do anything!”
Shouto was starting to hyperventilate. Touya took his baby brother in his arms. “Baby, calm down, okay?” He kissed his forehead. “You didn’t do anything, baby. It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault, sweetheart.”
“Dad said it’s my fault!”
“It’s not. He lied, I promise.”
“You're lying!” Shouto sobbed and tried to push Touya away. “You promise things all the time, but you lie!”
“I”m not lying! Not to you or Natsuo or Fuyumi. I would never lie to you. Please, believe me. Shouto, I’m not lying.”
Touya moved Shouto in his arms to have a better hold on him and started rocking him back and forth. “Shouto, please breathe with me. In and out. In and out, just like that. You’re doing great, baby.”
Shouto copied his big brother and started to calm down. “Please, Touya. Don’t leave me again.”
Touya bit his bottom lip. “I’m going to try to get guardianship of you and Natsuo.”
“What does that mean?”
“That means that you and Natsuo would live with me and Keigo. And that you’ll never train again.”
Shouto frowned. “But I have too. I have to train, because if I don’t Dad is going to be mad and mean and he’s going to hurt me and mommy again.”
Touya felt his heart break. He kissed Shouto’s hair, “He won’t train you ever again. I’ll do everything in my power so that you can live with me.””
Touya heard a knock and saw Keigo at the door. The blond hero made a sign to meet him outside the room.
“I have to go see Keigo, but I promise I’m coming back.”
“Touya, please–”
A loud noise can be heard and Touya turned his head to the door and started hearing a voice he knew too well. He looked back at his baby brother and saw Shouto crying again.
“Touya, I’m scared.”
“It’s okay. I’m here and he won’t hurt you. Never again.”
Touya kissed his baby brother's head and went out of the room. Endeavor, in full hero costume, was walking forward like a man on a mission.
“Where’s Shouto?”
Touya crossed his arms. “He’s resting, so keep your voice down.”
“Don’t think you can give me an order, son.”
Endeavor made a move toward the hospital door but Keigo stood in front of it.
“You think you can keep me from going in, boy?”
Keigo smirked. “You can try if you’re sure about yourself, number two.”
Endeavor bellowed and the fire around his face grew hotter.
Hawks snorted. “Be careful, number two. We wouldn't want you setting off the fire alarm in a hospital.”
Endeavor look at Touya “Tell him to move.”
“I won’t,” Touya responded. “I want guardianship of Shouto and Natsuo.”
Endeavor glanced at his oldest son. “You can keep Natsuo, I don’t care. But I’m taking Shouto back.”
“No. I’m taking both of them.”
“Shouto is finally making progress in training, Touya. You can’t decide to stop that just because your mother snapped.”
“Mom burned Shouto’s face because she lost her mind. And that was because of you, damn it! Because of all of your fucking obsessions! And training? Fucking seriously? Shouto’s four! His only worry should be when he’s going to the park or if he can watch cartoons or if he can convince you to let him eat ice cream for dessert. He shouldn’t give a damn about how big his flames and ice are or how many push ups he can do!”
“My obsession, as you call it, is only to make Shouto number one,” Endeavor responded, “I don’t want him to be a failure, like you. Being number one is my priority, Touya.”
“Shouto is my priority!” Touya clenched his fist. “Natsuo is my priority. Fuyumi is my priority. My goddamn siblings are my priority, not my hero ranking!”
Endeavor snorted. “Your siblings are your priority, huh? When was the last time you came home, Touya? Or the last time you saw your siblings?”
“It’s not because I didn't come home that I didn't see my siblings. And don’t act like you’re not the one who forced me to leave home just because I didn’t want to train anymore.”
“Sir?”
The two young heroes turned their heads to see Shouto’s pediatrician.
“I’m sorry, Endeavor, Sir, but you need to leave. You’re disturbing the kids.”
Endeavor didn’t bother to look at the pediatrician or respond. “Don’t think this is over, Touya. No judge is going to agree to let you and another pro hero living in a small apartment get custody of two kids. Especially not when I’m the other option.”
Touya shrugged. “Depends. What if I show them all the proof I’ve gathered about your abuse toward me, my siblings, and mom? Also, what do you think the fucking media are going to do if I gave them those same documents?”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
“Try me.”
Endeavor look at Touya. Touya had never felt so confident in his life. He’d backed his files up on four different hard drives and left them in the hands of those he trusted. Touya knew Endeavor had no choice but to agree if he wanted to keep his reputation sound.
“We’ll talk about this again in the future.”
“You’re leaving so easily?”
Endeavor looked at Touya like he was five and asking for a hug. “I have better and more important things to do then stay here.”
Endeavor turned back around and left the pediatric ward.
Touya left out the breath he was holding. He ran his hand through his hair.
Keigo came closet to Touya. “More important than staying with his son? What a dipshit. You okay, babe?”
Touya looked at his boyfriend. “I just blackmailed my dad. Yeah, I’m totally fine.”
Keigo smiled. “Okay. So what’s the plan, honey? Guardianship?”
“Sorry I didn’t talk to you about it, but yeah. Guardianship. If I can get it.”
“Don’t apologize.” Hawks took Touya’s hand and kissed his knuckles. “I would die or destroy the world for any of the Todoroki kids.”
Touya snorted.
Keigo planted a kiss on his cheek. “But seriously, how are we going to get custody?”
“I was thinking I could call Eraserhead. There’s a rumor that he and Present Mic adopted a kid with purple hair around Shouto’s age. Maybe they could help us with the papers.”
“I’m sorry to say this, but the number one asshole in the world is kinda right. We have a tiny apartment.”
Touya shrugged. “We can find something bigger. And in the meantime Shouto can take the spare room and Natsuo can have our room and we can crash on the pull-out couch.”
“What about Fuyumi? Maybe she can take in one of the boys.”
Touya shook his head. “No, Fuyumi is studying super hard to get her degree. And she barely has enough money for herself. We’re taking the boys. We’ll find a better place soon. I’m making sure of it.”
“Okay,” Keigo nodded. “I trust you.” He kissed his cheek again. “We’re going to be kick-ass guardians.”
Touya snorted. “You think so?”
“Yeah.” Keigo stole another kiss. “The best of the world.” He smiled and was about to add something when Shouto’s door opened. The four year old peaked his head out. “Touya? Is everything alright?”
Touya put his fists on his hips. “What are you doing out of bed?”
“I wanted to see if you were okay.”
Keigo smiled, took the little boy's hand, and guided him back into the room. “Everything is fine, little flame. Come on, we're going back to bed.” Touya followed after them and closed the door.
Keigo picked up Shouto and put him back on the bed. “Touya’s all good. Now how about you take a nap?”
“I’m not tired.” Shouto yawned. “I’m really not.”
Keigo chuckled. “Sure. How about I read you a story? Would you like that?”
Shouto was unsure. “Dad says I’m too old for stories.”
Keigo rolled his eyes “Nonsense. No one’s too old for stories. Right, Touya?”
Shouto turned to look at his brother.
Touya smiled. “Kei’ is right. I love listening to stories. Especially from Keigo.”
Touya sat to Shouto’s right while Keigo took a children’s book of the shelf and brought it over. “Here, I think I found something.” The blond hero placed himself on the little boy’s left. “So, once upon a time…”
Keigo started reading the book and Touya cuddled his baby brother. He could feel Shouto falling asleep against his side.
Touya knew that today was just the beginning of a very long journey. Between the papers and his parents, the next few weeks were going to be hard for everyone. But he was ready. He was a pro hero, but most importantly he was a big brother. Fuyumi, Natsuo, and Shouto were always his number one priorities.
He was ready to do anything to have his little brothers’ guardianship and ensure their safety. He’d even fight Japan’s number two hero.
Touya wasn’t sure of a lot of things, but he was sure that Keigo, the love of his life, was right. They were going to be the best guardians in the world.