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Chapter Text

"Touya could never surpass him."

Touya heard it as he passed his parents' room. Words that told him he had been tossed away. Words that told him he had been deemed a failure.

When Natsuo was born, he knew his father was trying to find a replacement.

When Shouto was born, even before his quirk manifested, somehow he knew his father had finally gotten his replacement.

He was angry. Angry with his parents for tossing him away. Angry at himself for being jealous of a newborn.

Just because his quirk caused him a bit of pain every time he used it, that didn't mean he was defective. He would train harder and get stronger. He would show them that he wasn't a mistake.

The problem was that he couldn't train at home or at school.

Dad was angry every time he saw Touya using his fire. And Fuyumi, the unsupportive sister that she was, would tattle on everything to their parents.

At school, the teachers would tell him to find another dream. That there was more to his life than being a hero. But gazing into their eyes, Touya knew they thought he was a failure. The Number Two hero's son, whose quirk hurt himself.

His classmates were the same. Talking to him just because of his dad's name. Yet when they thought he wasn't listening, they would whisper behind his back, giggling at his plight.

Stuck in this horrid cycle, Touya could feel his meaning and his worth slipping through the passing time.

No. Touya would need to find another place to train his quirk.

Luckily, there was just the perfect place.

Sekoto Peak was the Himura family's ancestral burial ground.

The Himura family was once nobility. A direct lineage of the most ancient and noble house of Fujiwara. But with the dawn of quirks, the aristocracy had lost its influence. And from his own investigation. One of the conditions for his parents' marriage was to leave Sekoto Peak untouched.

Sekoto Peak was just a few minutes walk from his house. And he knew his father used to train there to escape any watching eyes.

There would be no one to tattle on him. Ha!

Securing a dummy target was also quite easy. His family was rich, and Dad left Mum many credit cards for her to use. He also knew he never checked the spending on them. So after swiping one, he quickly got himself a practice target.

Passing the various burial mounds, Touya soon arrived at the forested part of the mountain. Itching to start, he quickly set up his dummy targets, and with a roar, he sent out a blaze of fire from the palm of his hand, immediately immolating it.

"Um. That quirk is really cool, but can you please not burn down my house?" Said a voice with the obvious hakata ben.

Touya looked up to find a blonde boy flying down from the tree towards him. His bedraggled clothes were quite noticeable, but what caught Touya's eyes most were those beautiful, gigantic red wings.

"Huh, your house?"

Birdboy pointed upwards in reply. Following the direction, Touya looked up to find that there was indeed a gigantic bird nest atop the tree.

"But you can't live here. It's a forest."

Birdboy simply shrugged.

"I've been here for a few months now, it's better than where I used to live."

"Your parents?"

"Gone." Birdboy replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

Touya was at a loss. He felt he'd stepped on a landmine, though birdboy looked rather unconcerned by the fact that his parents were apparently gone. While his parents weren't with him much after having Natsuo and Shouto, at least he had a set.

Silence covered the air as they stared at one another in loss. Only the sound of the burning dummy reverberated between them.

"Um. So, "What are you doing?"

"Training. So I can be a hero."

"C-can I play too?" Birdboy hesitatingly asked.

"It's not a game. But fine."

***

Birdboy turned out to be incredibly useful.

His telekinetically controlled feathers quickly fetch water from the stream to douse any fire Touya made.

It was an amazing quirk. Much better than Touya's own, which hurt him in the process.

The training was somewhat repetitious, and once they settled into a rhythm, boredom set in, and birdboy started talking.

Birdboy didn't talk much at first; his voice was somewhat wary. But as Touya answered his question while he continued to shoot out fire, birdboy became more expressive. Slowly asking about this and that as Touya answered in his grumpy tone.

"That was fun. Will you come again tomorrow?" Birdboy asked.

"Yeah. I will."

The burns on his arms were stinging, but it was nothing if that meant he could be a hero. It was nothing if it meant his dad could be proud of him again.

"I'm Touya. What's your name?"

"Keigo." Birdbiy replied, a small smile on his lips as his wings fluttered.

Touya didn't care what Keigo's deal was. As long as the pretty birdboy was useful in helping him train to be a hero.

***

The moment he started throwing out fire from his arms and hands, Keigo landed beside him.

"Hi Touya. Can I play too?"

"I told you this isn't playing. But sure. Whatever."

Keigo nodded, wings fluttering before the feathers detached themselves, grabbing hold of the various buckets beside the lake and dousing away Touya's flames.

When noon arrived. He ended his attempt at burning down the dummy by sitting down on a nearby rock and taking out his food from his backpack.

He'd been planning to stay all day, so before he trekked up the mountain, he'd gotten several onigiris and karaage.

Only then did he notice Keigo's stare. Birdboy's eyes were wide, and there was a small hint of drool on his lips. When he noticed Touya's gaze, Keigo quickly turned away, blushing as his hands hurried to wipe away his drool.

For someone who was only a year younger than Touya, Keigo was damn small and thin. And that was in comparison to Touya's already short form.

"What do you eat here anyway?"

"There were a lot of fruits." But recently, it's been quite hard to find.

Naturally so, seeing that it was nearing the end of autumn and approaching winter.

"Well… Since you've been such a good helper. We can share."

"R-really?" Keigo shouted, a wide smile on his face as his brilliant wings flapped.

"Y-yeah." Touya stuttered, handing him an onigiri along with the box of karaage.

"Leave some for me, okay?"

***

"Wow! Wow! How is this so good! What is this?" Keigo asked, making chirping bird-like noises as he stuffed himself with kaarage.

Birdboy ended up eating the whole box, looking both disappointed and depressed at the same time.

"I'm sorry, Touya. It was so good, I accidentally ate it all." Keigo whimpered out.

And Touya found he couldn't be annoyed. Not when Keigo's sad face was so funny, a mix between apology and loss as he stared at the now empty box.

"It's fine. It's just karaaage. Newly finished ones are better anyway."

"Better than this? Really?"

"Though you are such a cannibal. Gobbling up your own species like that."

"Can-cannibal? What does that mean?"

"It means someone who eats their own race."

It took birdboy a moment to process the new vocabulary before he started squaking.

"Hey, I'm not a chicken!"

"Could've fooled me." Touya replied, smirking amidst birdboy's outrage.

***

A few days in, Touya noticed Keigo was still wearing the same bedraggled shirt. And now that he had spent more time with birdboy, he realised Keigo smelled.

"Keigo. You do shower, right?"

"Yeah. Of course. In the stream."

"And soap?"

Keigo shrugged, and Touya was filled with a need to tear out his hair.

"What about drinking water?"

"The stream water taste nice?" Keigo answered, a little unsure, perhaps wary of Touya's scrunched face.

What the hell.

Touya had just learned about bacteria and their dangers at school, along with the importance of hygiene. He'd hoped that Keigo's bird mutation would at least neutralize the effects of all the shit he ate and drank.

"Oh my god. Keigo. Seriously, you can't live here! We need to go to the police." Touya shouted, grabbing Keigo's hand as he started dragging.

"P-please. No. I don't wanna go. They'll catch me and put me in prison!" Keigo screamed as he aggressively tugged back. Tears flowed from his eyes.

No, they won't. You're not a villain."

"But I am! My parents committed crimes and were caught. A-and I helped them in those crimes."

A curtain of silence dropped between them. Touya stopped pulling as Keigo stopped struggling.

A hero should report things like these. But this was his friend. The only person who hadn't told him that his dreams couldn't come true.

Keigo probably thought they were playing. But he was the only one who helped Touya towards that goal, believing in him.

Surely he could turn a blind eye.

"D-do you hate me now?" Keigo whimpered out, his wings curling protectively around his body.

"What are you even talking about. Idiot, you're my friend. I don't care!"

"Touya!" Keigo bawled, lunging himself into Touya and hugging him so tightly that his ribs hurt.

"It's okay. Stop crying birdie."

Keigo continued crying.

***

"Anyway. Only drink from the water bottles I brought, okay?"

"Yes Touya."

"And don't keep random fruits too, they might be poisonous."

"Yes Touya."

"And only wash yourself with the water I boiled in those buckets. I'll bring you soap and more clothes tomorrow."

"Yes Touya."

"And shut up, you know you're being annoying."

"Yes Tou-oww" Keigo wailed, still making that annoying smile as Touya pinched him.

"Anyway, type in anything else you need." Touya said, handing Keigo his phone.

"Umm."

"What?"

"I don't know how."

"You don't know what?"

"Read and write?"

God. Damn. It.

***

The next few weeks, rather than training his quirk, Touya spent his time fussing over Keigo so he wouldn't die.

God. Keigo was such a human disaster.

"F-For me?" Keigo had said, his eyes glimmering with tears as Touya handed him the pile of clothes and blankets as if they were treasures.

"Yes. For you. I told you I would bring them yesterday."

"Thank you, Touya." Keigo said as he squished his face into the pile of fabric.

He then brought over sleeping bags, pillows, water purifier, and even a portable toilet. Because if Touya was going to spend long hours here, he needed that sort of civilized equipment. Though it was damn heavy to pull up, thank God for Keigo's fluttery wings that helped with the lifting.

They were, of course, all unknowingly sponsored by Endeavour. If dad was going to skip Touya training and ignore his dreams, it was reasonable for him to be fined.

He also brought his old textbooks, hastily teaching them to Keigo.

Birdboy, who looked much less scruffy after all the soaps and shampoos, smiled as he thanked Touya for his help.

"It's not a big deal." Touya grumpily replied, his face strangely hot, probably from all the heavy lifting.

For the first time since Natsuo was born, Touya felt warm and needed.

***

It turned out well for him as well.

The moment Dad returned from his hero work outside Musutafu, the tattling caretaker immediately told him that Touya had been running off on his own for the past month.

Dad correctly assumed that he was off training his quirk. And without warning, he pulled up Touya's shirt and sleeves.

To find no burn marks. Courtesy of his fussing over Keigo rather than truly training.

"I was just out with a friend." Touya grumbled.

"That's good. Remember, Touya, there's a whole other world beside the hero stuff." His father said, patting him on the shoulder as if he hadn't told Touya continuously that it was Touya's destiny to surpass the number one before. As if he hadn't given Touya such high expectations before his quirk started burning himself.

"Um." Touya nodded, running off, passing Fuyumi and Natsuo, and passing mum holding onto Shouto, the baby who was to replace Touya.

Perhaps in some world, in his desperation, in his despair that no one believed in him, he might have attempted to kill Shouto. The masterpiece that took everything from him.

In this one, he knew at least one person believed in him.

He still couldn't stop his tears from falling.

***

"Touya, are you okay?"

Keigo found him sitting on the stone beside the stream amidst the early winter snowdrops.

"My dad. My dad told me again that I couldn't be a hero. That because my quirk hurts me, I can't be one. B-but if that's the case. If that's the case. Why was I even born?" Touya gasped, rubbing away his tears.

Keigo was silent, moving beside him before he embraced Touya in a hug, his wigs curling the two of them together.

"Fuck your father. I don't think he's right at all. To me. You're the kindest person I've ever met. To me, you, who showed me all these amazing things, is more of a hero than even All Might." Keigo said, squeezing Touya tighter, and Touya couldn't stop himself from clutching back as more tears streamed from his eyes.

"B-but I don't like seeing you hurt either."

"N-no-" No, Touya couldn't take it, couldn't take Keigo telling him the same thing from his dad, mum, or even Fuyumi. That he was better off not using his quirk.

"So why don't you train with just the parts where you don't get burns? Or lower some heat?"

"Huh?"

"Well. I noticed that when you're smoking, your fingertips are always fine. And your feet too."

"Oh."

***

It turned out that Keigo was correct.

After some testing, Touya realised that different areas of his body had varying degrees of heat resistance. His fingers, eyes, feet, hair, and his um, private areas had excellent heat resistance. His palms were quite resistant as well. Though his arms and body were rather useless.

And well. His dad could shoot beams from his fingers in his 'hell spider' attack. So it only made sense that Touya should be able to do it as well.

It was difficult to regulate the temperature in his body, to only focus the rising heat at his fingers. It took weeks before a concentrated beam of heat was released from his finger, piercing a fiery hole in the dummy. Seeing Keigo smile as he whooped at the success was worth every effort.

And as Touya could control his lasers better, they began a game where Keigo sent his feathers flying while Touya attempted to shoot them down with his beams. And as Touya became better at controlling his powers, Keigo was enjoying it more as well, laughing and smirking in challenge as his feather buzzed in the sky.

***

Then Keigo proposed a crazy idea.

That Touya should fly.

His feet were resistant to burns, so he should be able to copy Dad and jet himself into the sky. He'd never attempted to try. But since he already put his trust in Keigo, he might as well go all the way.

Lighting up his feet on fire, he could feel himself floating before he shot off into the air, spinning around in distress before he started falling.

Opening his hands wide in the freefall, he couldn't help but laugh. Certain that he wasn't going to be injured.

"Woah, woah, woah! That's dangerous!" A voice shouted in his ears as his body was hugged to Keigo's, his wings flapping spiritedly to keep them both in the sky.

"Why are you laughing? Couldn't you just try floating first?"

"No."

"Huh?"

"I knew you would catch me." Touya replied.

Keigo went silent before he started laughing as well.

Touya was happy. He hadn't been happy for so long that he thought he'd forgotten how to laugh.

***

A/N

I feel that Touya is a character that when he loves someone, he just goes all out for them. I mean, he put Endeavour is such a pedestal.

So when Keigo was there for him at his worst, helping him and everything. He’s fully ready to return the kindness.

Chapter Text

When Keigo was six, he'd asked Mum if they could sneak out of home, a place too small and cramped for his growing wings.

Perhaps tired of his continuous nagging, she finally relented.

They ended up on a roof of a high-rise. Looking down, their poverty felt so far away. Looking down, everything felt so insignificant.

And looking down, he found Father in an alley, police around the area, probably shouting as they looked for him.

Mum, standing beside him, saw it as well. Her face was panicked and pale.

"Keigo. Help him! Help him!" She screamed, her eyes distant.

He didn't like his father. His father always gave him pain. Perhaps it would be better for him and his mum if Father was gone. But with her screaming beside him. He felt he had no other choice.

Sending a single red feather, looking at the escape routes from above, Keigo guided his father away from the police.

He was rewarded with a hard slap to the face.

"Keigo, you damn brat! I told you not to leave, didn't I?"

"I'm sorry, my wings were cramping-"Before he could finish his explanation, Father kicked him, sending him crashing onto the floor.

"I don't need your useless excuses. But since you helped me. I'll have you know what you helped me with." Father said, a crazed smile on his face before he pulled out a bloody knife from his pocket.

"I killed someone. And since you helped me. You better make yourself useful from now on. You're a child of a villain, committing villainous crimes. If they catch you, it will be prison for you as well!" Father finished, and Keigo felt more trapped, despite his already caged home.

***

Before he could be 'useful,' Father was caught by Endeavour.

Mum refused to talk, wobbling on her knees, staring listlessly at the television.

Uncertain and unsure, hands still grasping the doll his mother got him for his birthday, Keigo sneaked away, flapping his wings as he soared to the skies where troubles disappeared.

Yet he returned to find his home surrounded. His mum was handcuffed by police as she was led away, screaming his father's name.

'You helped me escape. You have a hand in this as well.' Father's words echoed in his ears.

Afraid and unsure, he took to the skies. Clutching the doll close, he flew away, only stopping after his wings felt like heavy bricks.

Looking around, he found himself in a forested mountain. Abundant with fruit trees and a large stream flowing nearby.

After a week, Keigo realised no people or tourist were coming.

He would probably be safe up here.

***

Days soon became weeks before weeks turned into months.

Keigo was safe. His wings had room to stretch, and he had the whole forest to fly around.

It was strange. Keigo always wanted to be away from his father, yet now that he was, he was beyond lonely. He couldn't help but hope for some company.

So when he saw the white-haired boy playing around with his fire quirk, he immediately flew down to greet him.

Touya tried to act cold and uncaring. But his eyes and face revealed everything.

His care wasn't something Keigo was used to. The worry reflecting off those blue eyes made him feel warm despite the cold autumn weather.

Keigo only realised how truly lonely he was after he met Touya.

Touya, who said "it's not a problem," when he brought Keigo clothes, blankets, and all sorts of things.

Touya, who started bringing him food the moment he realised Keigo had been surviving on fruits and random wildlife.

Touya, who looked appalled when he realised Keigo couldn't read or write and immediately brought over books to help him catch up.

Touya was the kindest person Keigo had ever met, a bonfire brighter than any hero he'd seen on TV, a brightness in his otherwise sad life.

His parents had never looked at him with such care. And Keigo feared he might be getting too used to such warmth. Too dependent on it that he might not be able to live without it anymore.

***

Touya cared. Perhaps he even cared a little too much.

Touya, who was always decisive and brave, became fragile whenever his father was involved. And Keigo didn't know what else to do but hug his friend as tears streamed down his usually confident face.

"Why do I even exist?" Touya gasped.

Keigo hugged him tighter. The words reminded him of the cruel things his father used to say as he let out his frustrations on him.

It hurt Keigo that Touya couldn't see his worth. He was Keigo's friend, worth more than anything or anyone.

Touya said that his father was a hero, but a hero wouldn't ignore their children and wouldn't leave them crying as they questioned their worth.

But Keigo didn't know much about family life. To him, mothers were distant and fathers were hurtful.

Perhaps Touya would be happier if Endeavour caught Touya's father as well.

***

Keigo liked being beside Touya, especially so when Winter came.

Touya was warm, always turning his heat up and moving closer to Keigo as if he knew whenever Keigo was cold.

"Birdie. My family will be away until next year. It's going to get colder and colder in the forest. I can be your personal heater in your nest, but I think a bed would be better for us both. And we can decide what to do with the cold here afterward." Touya said as he lay beside Keigo in his nest - now a bundle of branches, blankets and pillows.

"You mean. Leave the forest?"

Keigo had been afraid of leaving the forest, his father's words still haunting him.

He felt a warm sensation on his hand. Looking down, he saw his friend's hand gently grasping his.

"Hey, we can stay here if you want?"

Like how his hands warmed Keigo's, Touya brought warmth and safety to his life. If Touya thought leaving the forest was fine, Keigo would trust him.

***

Apparently, Touya's family was visiting their relatives in Kyoto.

However, Touya, deciding that staying with Keigo would be more fun, heated up his body and faked sickness.

And that resulted in Keigo being led through the gates into the Todoroki mansion.

Keigo knew Touya's family had money - with all the things Touya brought - yet he still couldn't stop himself from gawking in awe as they passed through the walls.

A large Japanese mansion sat nestled among a grove of trees. The surrounding garden was blanketed white with snow. The whole place made him feel like they were in a period drama.

He couldn't stop a hint of envy from rising, but it immediately died as he remembered Touya's tears.

His parents had said that money would make them happy. Yet every day, Touya ran from this grand place to be with Keigo.

Not noticing Keigo's thoughts, Touya grabbed his arm, dragged him inside the house, directly taking him to his room.

The room itself was altogether bigger than his family's shack in Fukuoka. Flame motifs decorated every corner, and many Endeavour figurines stood atop the bookshelf.

He was reminded of when Touya saw Keigo's Endeavour plush when Keigo flew him up to his nest. His friend immediately noted that Keigo had 'good taste' in choosing Endeavour rather than the tacky All Might merch.

Seeing so many Endeavours in Touya's room, Keigo could see why.

***

For someone who wore his emotions on his sleeves, Touya was a damn good actor.

In Touya's words, "I'll just have to play sick for a few days before I get well, and the Reika-baachan will stop checking."

And that was what he did as Keigo hid in his closet.

"Reika-baachan, I'm alright. I just need some rest." Touya gasped out, coughing some more before he continued, "I'll be fine. You should be with your grandchildren during the holiday."

Then immediately after the caretaker left, Touya revived himself, much to Keigo's amazement.

"And that's A-grade acting." His friend smugly announced.

***

"Rise and shine!" Keigo excitedly chirped, flying above Touya as he tugged away his friend's blanket

"Urgh, it's still six. Get back to sleep." Touya groaned, pulling Keigo from the air and tugging him into his arms.

"I'll give you 10 minutes."

"Urgh," Touya grumbled before he covered them both with the blanket.

The days were filled with laughter as they played and trained in the garden.

After tiring themselves out, Touya would order all sorts of food for Keigo to try, even the fishes that Touya hated.

"Why don't you like them?"

"They're creepy."

"Creepy?"

"Yeah. Look at their eyes. It's disgusting." Touya replied, distaste apparent on his face.

"Anyway. This is how you turn it on." Touya said as he showed Keigo how the fancy bath heating worked. Keigo was still embarrassed by the previous day's mishap, where he caused minor flooding when he didn't know how to turn off the fancy taps.

And seeing Keigo's perpetual difficulty in drying his wings, Touya would laugh as he heated up his hands to help dry them. His touch sent summery sensations throughout Keigo's body.

***

Keigo woke up to find Touya missing.

His head snapped up, small sweats of perspiration on his skin as he looked around.

Hearing the clanking sound of plates, Keigo dashed down the stairs to find a giant bowl of golden karaage, its leftover ingredients still lying on the table.

"W-Wha- You weren't supposed to wake up yet!" Touya shouted. His face was redder than usual, smudges of flour still on his cheeks.

"What?"

"Happy Birthday Keigo." Touya finally said. Smiling, he picked up the bowl of chicken and handed it to him.

"Wha- you made this?"

"Y-yeah. I got mum to teach me." Touya replied, his face blushing once more as his hands rubbed his neck. "It wasn't that hard."

So that was where the various knife cuts on his hands were from. Touya was always like this. Always acting unconcerned even though he was the hardest worker Keigo knew.

Keigo popped a piece in his mouth, savouring the fantastic flavours. As Touya said, the warm ones tasted way better than the cooled takeaways.

"Touya, this is the most delicious thing I've ever had. Thank you so much!" Keigo said, his eyes felt damp as he jump-hugged Touya onto the ground.

"S-Stop exaggerating, you overgrown chicken." Was Touya ruffled reply, but he was laughing as he hugged back. "If you like it so much. I'll make it again."

"You're the best."

Keigo had always associated his birthday with pain.

"Why were you even born? This is a disaster!" His father would scream as he hit Keigo harder.

But now, with Touya by his side. He could almost feel the phantom pain disappearing, replaced by something more warm, more gentle.

If this was a dream, then Keigo never wanted to wake up.

***

Even though he was bundled up head to toe, Keigo still shivered as he walked beside Touya up the snowy steps towards Izusan Shrine for Hatsumode.

Touya, noticing Keigo's plight, threw his hand around him, pulling them closer as he heated up his body. "Better?"

"Yeah," Keigo mumbled in the soothing heat as he closed his wings around them. They probably looked like one weird moving red giant feathery ball, but as long as he was warm, Keigo didn't care.

Upon finally reaching the shrine, he clapped his hands twice before the saisen box as he thought about the past year, the happiest time of his life.

He didn't trust in the divine. Didn't even know about them until Touya gave him a history lesson about it. But if they truly exist, he hoped they would grant his wish.

"Please let me be with Touya forever."

***

Tadaa. And here it is. Thank you for the many messages asking me to continue <3

Chapter Text

As the date for his parents’ return approached. Touya decided they had to do something about Keigo’s nest. Keigo was already shivering like a newborn fawn. There was no way he could continue staying in his nest when the temperature was only getting colder.

When they entered the camping equipment store, Touya planned to buy a simple tent with heat insulation.

But the moment Keigo’s eyes saw the gigantic treehouse tent, his friend stood still and stared at it in awe.

Besides the food that Touya cooked, Keigo never asked for anything, so it was up to Touya and Dad’s credit card to provide.

There was one problem. The tent looked so damn hard to build.

And since it was a holiday, the construction staffs were also on leave.

“Hey, we told you to leave-” He heard a staff say before another voice cut in.

“Sorry. I heard you needed help setting up the tent?“ Said a boy much bigger than them both. His cheeks were hollow and his eyes dull. His ruffled clothes and hair somehow reminded Touya of Keigo before Touya taught him hygiene.

Perhaps unnerved by Touya’s stare, the older boy quickly continued. “I can get it done by today. I-I just want some food in return.”

“Sorry, boys. This homeless guy isn’t part of our staff. Just ignore him while we call security-”

“Okay,” Touya told the older boy, ignoring the staff’s shock.

“Thank you so much.” The older boy said, quickly moving to take parts for the gigantic tent from Keigo’s floating wings, smiling even though he was tearing up.

The older boy was called Jin. He probably was also starving, if the continuous rumbles from his stomach were any indication.

So before they went up the mountain. They stopped at a nearby KFC, aka Keigo Fattening Club causing his friend to whoop in joy.

Jin ate like he hadn’t eaten anything in a long time. He probably hadn’t.

And true to his words. Jin was amazing at setting up the tent. His duplication quirk made the word twice as fast. And with only a little help from Keigo’s feathers, they managed to set up the gigantic 4-roomed treehouse within the day.

“Jin-san. Do you have anywhere to stay?” Keigo asked as the sun was setting.

The sound of the wind echoed through the forest for a long moment before Jin heaved a tired sigh.

“No.” He said as he sat down on the forest floor.

He told them how his parents were gone a little too soon. How he dropped out of Middle School, managed to luckily find himself a job, and the events that caused him to lose it. He told them that no landlord wanted to rent him a room, nor were any businesses willing to hire a sixteen years old with a criminal record.

“The tent can fit loads of people. And we have more than enough food in our portable fridge. You can stay here if you want, Jin-san.” Keigo said, smiling at the older boy looking at them with wet eyes.

“R-really?”

“It’s okay right, Touya?” Keigo asked.

“Sure,” Touya mumbled as he huffed out a sigh. He bought the tent for Keigo. If Keigo’s natural kindness made him want to share it, then it was also fine by him.

Jin grabbed both of them in a hug, ignoring Touya’s annoyed “let me go” as Keigo laughed.

Later, Jin was equally appalled to learn that Keigo wasn’t taught reading and writing until he met Touya.

At least Touya got someone to help teach Keigo while he was in school.

***

As usual, it happened because of Keigo.

Touya had gotten phones for Keigo and Jin. One for Keigo so Touya could secretly video call him from school and show him around and one for Jin, in case of emergencies.

They were on their way back when Keigo noticed a scrawny white-haired boy sitting alone in an alley, hands violently scratching himself.

“Hey, are you okay?” Keigo asked, his caring nature seeping through as he approached the boy.

“N-No-” The boy looked up, fear in his eyes as he startled backward.

“Hey, it’s fine. We’re not going to hurt you.“ Keigo said, sending his feathers to fly harmlessly before the boy.

The boy reached out, grasped the feather in his hand, and the feather immediately turned to dust.

Touya understood then. The boy crawled away not because he feared them but because he was afraid for them.

“I didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean to!” The boy sobbed, desperate, as if he was chanting a mantra.

“It’s fine. Calm down. We’ll help.” Keigo reassured, clearly hiding his pained wince when his feather disintegrated. He was such a bleeding heart. Probably why Touya liked him so much.

***

Thankfully, the horrifying decay quirk could be controlled.

After the boy calmed down, they gently asked him to test his quirk on the nearby trash, quickly learning that only after the boy’s five fingers touched something did the quirk activates.

“T-Tenko.” The boy muttered, looking much less crazed after they got him a two-fingered glove. His eyes radiated pure joy as he ran about touching one thing after another, face filled with relief that he wasn’t destroying them anymore.

“Where are your parents?” Touya asked as they left the shop.

He knew it was the wrong thing to say when Tenko immediately froze, his hands moving to scratch himself again.

“I-I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t mean to!” Tenko sobbed, the infernal screeching sound of nails to skin so clearly heard.

And what the fuck. Touya knew who this was. It was on the news last month. The Shimura family that dissapeared last month.

Did Tenko accidentally kill his family?

He looked at Keigo and knew his friend had drawn the same conclusion.

“We have to take him to the police.” He said it the same time when Keigo declared, “We can’t take him to the police.”

“Keigo. This is big. It’s on the news. Everyone thinks he’s dead.”

“And once we do. He’ll be put in prison for something he couldn’t control.”

“We’ll be breaking the law by not reporting this.”

“You’ve already broken the law by not reporting me!”

Touya turned away. Keigo was different. He helped his father out of desperation. It was just like how Touya wanted to please Dad.

“Please, Touya. I want to help.” Keigo pleaded, and he knew it was over. Touya could never win against those brilliant gold eyes.

“Fine. But ask Tenko first what he wants.”

Keigo smiled as Touya huffed in exasperation.

“Thank you.” His friend whispered before he turned to the smaller boy.

“Tenko, do you want to stay with us, or do you want the police to help you?”

“C-c-can I really stay with you?”

***

Keigo didn’t know what to give Touya.

It was always Touya providing him with everything.

He owed so much of his happiness to Touya that he didn’t know how to ever repay his friend. He’d do anything for Touya, even giving up his only treasure.

So as the clock ticked midnight. Keigo knocked on Touya’s bedroom window.

After a few seconds, he was greeted by a groggy Touya. “Keigo, what are you do-”

“Happy Birthday Touya!” Keigo shouted, tackling his friend inside with a tight hug.

“Oh,“ Touya muttered as he returned the gesture. “Thank you, birdie.”

“Your present,“ Keigo said, handing Touya the Endeavour plush, his only treasure.

“B-but this is…Keigo, I can’t take this. It’s from your mum.”

“Just you being my friend is enough. You believing in me already means more than any present.“ Touya continued, attempting to push back his gift.

But Keigo was unrelenting, moving his hands behind his back.

“Seriously?” Touya mumbled, as with an exasperated sigh, he relented. “Fine. It’s mine, but we’ll keep it at your place. It’ll be our treasure, okay?”

“Kay.” Keigo happily chirped, finally taking the plush from Touya. His animalistic side was elated at the word ‘ours.’

The sudden sound of footsteps sent both of them panicking.

Before Keigo knew what was happening, Touya pushed him inside his closet, leaving him peeping through the keyhole.

The door opened and ‘what the fuck’ rang in Keigo’s mind.

There standing at the door was Endeavour in all his pajama-clad glory.

“Touya. Go to bed.”

“I-I was just using the toilet.”

Endeavour only nodded in reply.

“D-dad. It’s my birthday. C-can we train?”

Endeavour’s face scrunched up. “Touya… I thought you’ve given up.”

“How am I supposed to give up? Dad, you told me I was your pride, that I would be the best hero and carry on your legacy! I can’t just pretend none of it even happened.”

“That was before your flames started hurting yourself!”

“It doesn’t any-”

“We’re not discussing this. Go to sleep Touya.” Endeavour declared, slamming the door shut.

Keigo didn’t know what to think. He’d looked up to Endeavour, saw him as a shining beacon who took away his hurtful father. Yet Endeavour was the man who made Touya cry, throwing him away, leaving him feeling like he was nothing. Leaving Touya, his best friend, shivering before the doors, tears sliding down his face.

Keigo pushed himself out of the closet, dashing to Touya’s side, pulling his friend close in a tight embrace.

“Keigo. Why do I even exist? Why must I be such a failure?”

“He’s wrong, Touya. You’re a hero. The best one.”

Touya cried louder onto his shoulder and Keigo didn’t know what to do.

He ended up hugging a crying Touya to sleep before tiredness overtook him.

***

Keigo woke up to Touya’s turquoise eyes gently staring at him.

“Thank you, Keigo. For staying with me.”

“Anything for you.” He replied, finding that he truly meant it. His hand grasped Touya’s, smiling as his friend gave him a light squeeze.

“So. Your dad is Endeavour?”

“Huh? I thought you knew. ‘Todoroki’ is written on the house gate.”

“I always thought his name was Endeavour. I only saw him on TV after all.” Keigo replied, early a chuckle from his friend.

“Anyway. He’s wrong. You’re a hero Touya.“ Keigo repeated his words from last night. Touya’s cheeks turned pink as he turned away.

“I know. You already told me that so many times. It’s embarrassing.”

“I’ll keep on telling you until you believe me!” Keigo chirped, wings happily flapping in reply.

“Idiot,” Touya mumbled, but he was smiling.

“That’s so embarrassing though. I gave a plush of your dad to you!” Keigo moaned and Touya, bad friend that he was, laughed at his expense.

“It is embarrassing. But I like it.” Touya took the plush, hugging it to his chest. And at that moment, Touya’s smile was as bright as the sun.

A knock sounded, followed by Touya’s siblings voices, telling him to come down.

“I’ll See you later, yeah?” Touya said, handing Keigo the doll.

“Yeah.” He replied as he jumped out the window.

Flying back, the doll of his idol in his hand, Keigo’s mind was still a mess.

Endeavour was a hero, yet Enji Todoroki made Touya cry.

Endeavour saved Keigo from his father, yet Enji Todoroki made Touya feel like he was nothing.

Endeavour was a hero. Enji Todoroki wasn’t.

***

When Touya was ten, Shouto’s quirk manifested.

It was at the dining table. Shouto’s small hands played with the pepper bottle, enthusiastically shaking it.

A puff of pepper followed by a loud sneeze, and the dining table was half scorched and half frozen.

He might’ve laughed if he didn’t see the look of pure joy on his father’s face.

And his father, who’d become distant and busy with work after Touya’s quirk mishap, could now suddenly spare time to be home.

Home, where he stayed with the toddler, lighting his hand on fire, laughing as his eyes radiated happiness and pride when the baby did the same.

The same look of joy and pride he used to give Touya. The same time and attention he used to give Touya.

Touya could shoot beams of molten heat from his fingers, redirect them however he wanted, and even fly with his feet as jets.

Yet all that didn’t seem to matter anymore. Not when everything that used to be his was given over to Shouto.

It didn’t matter that his teachers were praising him for how advanced he was. He was never going to be enough next to the masterpiece.

He hated Shouto. Hated his brother for stealing away his dream. Hated his brother for taking away his father’s affection.

He couldn’t stay here. His head was ringing. The sight of his father smiling at Shouto sent his body heating. Any more and he would burn his own brother.

Feeling the wetness in his eyes. Touya ran and ran.

Sobbing alone along the lake until he felt Keigo’s warm embrace.

“Keigo. Why won’t he look at me? How could he just throw me away? Why am I even born?” Touya sobbed harder in his friend’s embrace.

“He’s wrong, Touya. You’re a hero.”

He felt Jin hugging them both. He felt Tenko clutching onto his waist.

***

“Hey, hot stuff. Let’s find something to eat in town.” Keigo said after Touya calmed down somewhat.

“What. Tired of my cooking already?” Touya taunted, his voice still shaking from all the crying.

“No way! Your cooking is the best, especially when you do it with your quirk!” That had been a thing. Training control of his quirk by using it for cooking. Keigo enjoyed it a lot and Touya liked seeing him smile.

“Fuck Endeavour! Touya-nii, you’re a hero. You saved me when no one else did.” Tendo said, still tightly hugging him.

“Yeah, Touya-kun! You’re so much better than that asshole father of yours.” Jin shouted, clearly the origin of Tenko’s vulgar language.

They’d clean up nicely. Touya had encouraged Jin to catch up on his missed school, and he was now taking classes on architecture and construction.

He was good at it too, if the trinkets that continuously popped up were any indication. In the height of summer, Jin had created an electric generator fueled by Touya’s quirk to power their portable air conditioner.

His quirk was beyond helpful too. One Jin could study or tinkle with his creations while the other cared for Tenko.

“Okay. Okay. I get it guys.” Touya snuffed. “Jin-san, that ‘asshole’ is paying for your class you know?”

***

Their peaceful stroll ended with a surrounding crash.

He heard panicked screams before he saw people running, fear apparent in their eyes.

A gigantic toad-like monster was demolishing the nearby neighborhood with its body.

“Let’s go-”

“We’ve gotta help.” Keigo cried as he ran towards the monster, dragging Touya with him.

“Jin-san, take Tenko home!” He shouted.

Despite the absurdity of it all, Touya couldn’t help but grin.

Touya knew he was different from Keigo. Knew that his desire to be a hero stemmed from selfish reasons. He only wanted to protect those who were kind to him. People who he thought were worth protecting.

It differed from Keigo’s inherent goodness, a beacon of kindness who wanted to make everyone smile. Someone who wanted to truly make the world a better place.

Seeing Keigo. Touya wanted to be better. Wanted to be someone worthy of that kindness.

So, with a smile on his lips. He let Keigo drag him towards the monster.

***

A hero team arrived. But like the amateurs they were, their attacks were swallowed up by the villain, giving it the full firepower of the heroes’ attacks.

In a blinding light, the giant toad fired beams of energy in all directions.

Rumble followed the many explosions as the surrounding building crumbled from the attacks.

A hero with a cloud quirk sent his cloud to protect the nearby kids, leaving him wide open to the falling debris.

“Touya!”

“I know!”

Flicking his fingers, ten beams of overheated rays pierced through the air, dicing the large debris into fine bits. A flurry of red feathers worked in tandem with the beams, carrying any leftover wreckage and dragging away people in danger.

And as a final send-off. Touya blasted beams of fire at the overgrown toad, twisting it around the villain in a fiery ring before squeezing it tight, causing the energy it stockpiled to pour from it’s mouth as it screeched in pain.

“Let’s go!”

This time it was Touya who grabbed Keigo as they dashed away, laughing despite the destruction around them.

“We made a great team!” Keigo cheered as they high-fived.

“And Touya, you were super cool and amazing. Cutting all those bricks like fwoosh fwoosh!”

“Not as amazing as you. Without your feathers, we wouldn’t have gotten all those people to safety.”

“Aww, thank you Touya. But my feathers couldn’t have carried all those bricks without you cutting them first.”

“You liar! You could totally do it without me.” Touya laughed, lighting punching his friend.

“No way!” Keigo laughed as he hugged Touya instead. “Anyway, you know what? Who cares what your father says. We just saved a bunch of people. So let’s do it again!”

“Like vigilantes? That’s illegal Keigo.”

“Not if no one knows.”

Jin, the only adult in their group, thought it was a brilliant idea, becoming too enthusiastic.

“If we’re gonna start being vigilantes, we must have a base! Can we cut those trees?” He asked. Touya wondered if Jin was enthusiastic about their hero-in-training activity or the prospect of building the base.

“We’re not vigilantes. We’re heroes in training. And yes, cut down the trees. No one cares. Well, as long as you don’t cut down the tree with Keigo’s nest.”

“This is going to be so much fun!” Keigo chirped.

Chapter Text

“I love you.” Was the only thing Oboro could say, waking up to find Shouta and Hizashi beside his hospital bed.

He’d been knocked out in the after-explosion when the toad villain vomited out its stored power.

But before that, when he was wide open to the fallen debris, his life flashed before his eyes. He knew he was going to die when that large block of the destroyed building neared his head.

Yet instead of dead, a blazing red beam sliced up the concrete before flutters of red feathers carried away any leftover debris.

Being so close to death gave him a new perspective. He could’ve lost it all. Forever regret never confessing. Leave his two dearest friends to mourn a death too early. And so “I love you." Was the only thing he could say.

“You damn idiot!” His friends said. Though they did start dating.

***

The rumours had started by the time they were in their final year.

It was never on camera, the footage recordings always covered up by a red feather.

But the people saved from muggings, helped from hate crimes, and protected from rapes would say it was a beam of light or a flurry of feathers that rescued them.

Then the police would miraculously find assaulters tied up in front of their offices.

And with many similar cases piling up, the renown of these new vigilantes only grew.

Oboro could see why. Clearing up these minor incidents brought little to no reputation, and any pro-hero aiming to top the popularity charts looked elsewhere for crimes. And the people saved from these incidents truly appreciated the help.

Shouta found it unacceptable that pro-heroes overlooked these crimes in favour of the more flashy cases and decided on underground hero work as his work-study.

For Oboro, he only wanted to find his savior.

They didn’t find Oboro’s savior. Instead, they found dirt on the HPSC.

From drug rings to quirk trafficking, the trail somehow leads back to the Hero Commission.

The trails were never obvious. But even though they knew. Without an inside source, without clear documentations, they could do nothing against the goliath that was the HPSC.

Seeing the organisation that was supposedly the pillar of justice engaging in crime, one couldn’t help but question their morality.

And along the way, heroics lost some of its lustre.

***

Two years after their graduation, the vigilantes’ Death Beam and Hawks became household names in Musutafu.

From only stopping crimes in the alley, Death Beam and Hawks started targeting households with domestic violence.

Crimson feathers were found in the room of domestic violence victims. Their apparently violent partner or parent whimpered from burns or piercings as they were dumped before the police station.

The police were initially dubious until all the apparent suspects confessed to being abusive under a truth quirk.

This somehow started the practice where abuse victims would pray to a red feather they found, and according to them, they were soon miraculously helped.

It was great that these people were helped. But seeing the passionate fervours these vigilantes inspired, Shouta couldn’t help but notice the similarities between them and a cult.

According to Hero Weekly, Death Beam and Hawks were becoming more popular than Pro Heroes. Their black ops-like takedown and low property damage garnered much praise. And if people were allowed to vote for them, their ranking would definitely be in the Top Ten.

And only after three years of underground hero work did Shouta finally meet the illusive vigilantes.

They were scouting a warehouse following reports of human trafficking when red beams of lights and feathers blasted past them.

Sudden cries of pain filled the area, and within minutes, red feathers dragged the suspected yakuza out as relief cries of the trafficked victims echoed throughout the place.

“Oh my god. What the fuck.” Oboro’s words perfectly reflected his thoughts.

In the midst of the night, two hooded figures took to the sky. One was jetting himself off by their feet, while the other was flapping a pair of gigantic wings.

Shouta was sure of it. They were the illusive pair, Death Beam and Hawks.

“Oboro.”

“You got it.”

Oboro activated his quirk, lifting them to the air with his cloud, dashing towards the two vigilantes.

But Hawks and Death Beam were too fast, and Shouta knew it would be impossible to catch them once they picked up speed. Coming to a decision, Shouta activated his quirk, immediately killing off the flaming jets.

“Fuck.” The fire user swore as his body started falling.

“Dabi!”

As expected, Hawks, unaffected by Shouta’s quirk, immediately dove down and caught his partner.

Shouta was ready to catch them both with his scarf when a ray of fiery blaze lit up the night sky, and before he knew it, Hawks’ right wing was incinerated. His leftover wing flapping a futile attempt to stop their fall.

“Kei!” Death Beam screamed as they plummeted to the deserted street, Hawks shielding his partner with his body in the crash.

They were on a joint mission, but Endeavour wasn’t supposed to be there. After confirming the trafficked victims, the number Two Hero was only supposed to show up once Shouta submits a request for greater firepower. Firepower that should’ve been aimed towards the yakuza and not these vigilantes.

Death Beam supported Hawks’ passed-out form with his left hand and shoulder, his masked face glaring at Endeavour’s flaring figure as his right fist lit up in flames.

“Endeavour, no!” Shouta shouted, but it was too late.

The older hero was already firing up another attack, and with a roar, he fired Jet Burn.

At the same time, Death Beam screamed in anguish as he released his own fire, the collision causing a blinding light show where the flames crashed.

Equally matched, they were stuck in a fiery deadlock before Death Beam’s fire suddenly turned blue, overpowering Endeavour in a scorching blaze, sending the Number Two hero screaming in pain.

****

A fiery bit of rage boiled through Touya’s skin. It was anger like he never knew.

His own father burned off Keigo’s wing. Wings that took Touya flying, wing that Touya carefully preened, wings that curled and caressed him whenever he cried.

Father prepared another attack, and Touya saw red.

Father took away his dreams, took away his life’s meaning and threw him away.

Keigo was his hope. Someone who had never given up on him. Someone who was always by his side. There was no way Touya was letting him take Keigo.

He would protect Keigo. Protect him from Endeavour, his own father who abandoned him.

Five years after knowing Keigo, Touya trained his flames to be precise and honed them to only be used from his fire-resistant body parts.

But with burning anger in his veins, Father’s teaching of turning up the heat clouded his mind.

A rush of emotions surged through his body as fiery burns seared through his arm.

Touya screamed.

***

Shouta watched in shock as the Number Two Hero was pushed to his knees, steam pouring from his body from severe overheating.

Death Beam wasn’t doing any better.

His right arm was smoking, the smell of burnt flesh clouding the air, even reaching Shouta where he stood.

Despite the burns and fatigues, Death Beam remained standing, holding up Hawks in a stance so gentle, so different from his prior overbearing heat, as they hobbled into a nearby alley.

Death Beam startled backward as Oboro landed before him.

“Hey, we’re not going to hurt you.” Oboro pacified.

“Stay away!” Death Beam screamed. It was a voice too young. And without the adrenaline of the fight clouding his mind, Shouta realised how small Death Beam and Hawks were.

Flashes of blue lit up on the vigilante’s finger before Shouta and Oboro were forced to dodge the unrestrained overheated blue flames.

Taking the opening, Death Beam fired up his boots and shot to the sky. Only to collapse on a nearby roof as he ran out of steam, gasping as he used to body to shield his passed-out partner.

Without any attacks hindering them, Shouta and Oboro easily caught up.

“Hey, we’re not going to hurt you.” Oboro repeated.

“Leave us alone!”

Death Beam’s eyes flared as he shot two beams of overheated rays toward them. Damn it. Thank god they managed to avoid that.

Shouta had enough.

The flames in Death Beam’s eyes and fingers immediately died down. An expression of pure panic emerged from his face as Shouta activated his quirk.

Seizing the confusion, Shouta dashed forward, wrapping the two vigilantes with his capture weapon.

Now that they were in his arms, his suspicions were confirmed. They were clearly children. Probably not even high schoolers. Problem children with crazy control over their quirks, but children nonetheless.

“Let us go, you fuckers!”

They were mouthy too.

Before Death Beam could scream more expletives, Oboro’s cloud spooned all four of them with his cloud, lifting them into the skies.

Death Beam glared at him before he turned his attention to Hawks, tied up beside him, worry evident in his eyes.

“Let us go.” Death demanded, still glaring. “I feel it. Every time you blink, my quirk returns. Let us go now, or I’ll burn you guys to crisp.”

Shouta huffed in exasperation.

“You won’t. Not with your friend tied up and passed out next to you. And don’t think about using your beam. We’ll all be falling to death.”

Death Beam continued scowling, only stopping when Hawks started stirring.

“T-Tou. Are you okay?” The winged boy mumbled, eyes immediately moving to his friend’s arm. “You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine.”

The fire starter was clearly not fine. Beside his pale fingers, red burn rashes littered his right arm.

“That asshole burned your wing. “Death Beam gasped, tears in his eyes as he gazed at Hawk’s once majestic right-wing, reduced to a small stubble.

“It’s okay. He only got the feathers. They’ll grow back.”

They were in their own world. Only noticing Shouta and Oboro when his partner whispered, “Oh my god. They’re so cute.”

Oboro quickly changed his mind, muttering a short “shit” once Hawks’ talon tore through Shouta’s capture weapon, freeing them both.

“Bird problem child, don’t even think of jumping down. You can’t fly with one wing. Fire problem child, you don’t have any energy left either.” Shouta quickly said, seeing the silent conversation between the two problem children.

“Seriously, kids. Calm down. We’re not going to arrest anyone.” Oboro said, continuing after getting two pairs of suspicion-filled gazes in return.” Our mission was to take out that yakuza operation, and you already did it for us. Nice job, by the way.”

Oboro’s smile was addictive, and Shouta could see the two kids turning away to hide their smiles.

“Loud Cloud, don’t encourage vigilantes.”

“If you’re not going to arrest us, why are we still here?”

“Oboro wanted to have a talk with you guys. And after that Endeavour disaster, you kids need patching up.”

Disbelieving looks were still on their faces. But perhaps seeing no current escape routes and realising the mess they just escaped, they quickly fumbled into each other. Hawks checking Death Beam burns as Death fussed about with Hawks’ wings. Hawks’ remaining wings covered the pair as he chirped from his partner’s ministrations.

“Oh my god. They’re so cute. Let’s adopt them. They’ll love Sushi.” Oboro gushed.

“They’re not cats.” Shouta deadpanned.

***

After dragging the masked boys into their apartment and onto the couch, Shouta moved to the pantry, grabbing the required medical equipments.

Coming back to find them chatting with Hizashi.

“Woah, it’s Present Mic.” The winged boy gushed.

“You got that right, listener!” His other boyfriend replied, a broad smile on his face.

Death Beam didn’t look as impressed. His eyes surveyed the room, glaring at everyone but his friend.

“Why the hell are we in your apartment?”

It was a reasonable question. Vigilante or not, bringing one or two into one’s home wasn’t common practice. All Shouta could offer was, “It’s my fault you got hurt. And Present Mic wanted to meet you.”

“Why?”

“We wanted to thank you.”

“Thank us?”

“Yeah. You guys saved my life. Three years ago.” Oboro chimed in.

The two boys stared at Oboro for a few seconds before a glimpse of recognition dawned in their eyes.

“Oh. Oh! It’s the cloud guy from the frog villain!”

“Yeah. You beamed the debris to dust. And your feathers got everyone out of danger. Super amazing!”

Death Beam turned away. But even with his mask covering his face, Shouta could see a glimpse of redness on his cheeks. Finding someone with a quirk so strong yet unused to compliments was strange.

“See. I told you. You’re amazing! “His winged friend repeated, laughing as he got a light jab in return.

“Thanks.” Death Beam mumbled.

“Yeah! We actually started all this after we saved you. “The blonde one cheerfully said, despite his friend’s admonishing, “Hawks!”

***

Despite being the one burned by Endeavour, other than the bruises and scratches from his fall, Hawks was mostly uninjured. On the other hand, Death Beam had red rashes covering his arms and skin charred everywhere besides his fingers.

After applying the burn creams and bandages, Shouta gave the kids strict instructions on treating their wounds.

“We know already!” Death Beam gave a disgruntled cry, but the suspicion in his eyes had lessened considerably.

“So kids, mind telling us why you were at the Warehouse?”

“A lady asked me to help her kidnapped son.”

“Asked you? How?”

The kids looked at one another before nodding.

“Through my feather.” Hawks said.

“Feather? You mean all that cult-like praying actually works?” Oboro shouted, amazement clear on his face.

“Yeah!”

“T-That’s… wow.”

“So that’s how you knew about the abuse victims as well?” Hizashi asked.

“Yeah.”

“And the sudden lasers that attacked them?”

“We put a small camera on the feather, send it in, and Dabi beams them like a mobile game.”

“And you can hear everything from every feather?”

“Not all but Twice-”

“Idiot! “Death Beam cut Hawks off, covering up his mouth.

“But they’re nice.” Hawks mumbled through.

So it wasn’t just these two involved in their vigilantism. Shouta hoped this Twice character was a responsible adult. Two problem children in vigilantism were already giving him a headache.

Also. “Isn’t your name Death Beam?”

Hawks laughed at his question, earning himself a prompt smack from his friend.

“No! I don’t know how Death Beam came. It’s Dabi. Dabi like cremation. Cremate those fuckers.”

***

“Aren’t you gonna tell us to stop?” Dabi asked Shouta as he and Hawks were leaving, his eyes filled with challenge, and Shouta couldn’t help but let out another sigh.

“I should be. But if you didn’t intervene three years ago, Loud Cloud would’ve died. Just…. If you’re going to do something this big again. At least tell us first.”

Dabi looked down, but Shouta could see the slight smile on his face as he nodded. “You’re not so bad.“ He said.

“That meant you’re super cool!” Hawks added before moaning exaggeratedly as he got an elbow from his partner.

Perhaps they were like cats after all.

He hoped they didn’t take his answer as assent for their vigilantism.

Chapter Text

Father was unfortunately home when Touya arrived. His eyes immediately darted to Touya’s still bandaged right arm. 

“Touya, I told you to stop using your quirk!” Father’s face lit up in flames. The same blaze that burned Keigo’s wing. 

“Shut up! Shut up!” Touya screamed. How dare Father shout at him as if he was in the wrong.

“Don’t speak to me that way. I am your father!”

Touya couldn’t help himself from scoffing at the claim.

“Are you? Are you really my father? Do you even see me as your son? Do you even see Fuyumi and Natsuo as your children?”

“Touya, stop this nonsense-”

“I’m not stupid. When my quirk wasn’t enough, you had Natsuo. When his was another ice quirk, you had Shouto. Admit it, if Shouto doesn’t have his fire and ice quirk, you would have tried for another child.” 

Touya let out a crazed laugh, tears brimming as he spouted out their family’s dark truths.

Father’s silence was louder than any acceptance.

“We’re not your little experiments!”  

“Touya-”

“Shut up, shut up! And stay away from me!”

***

Mum was waiting by the door as he was about to leave.

“Touya, you know your dad means well.” She said, as if the stressed dark eye bags below her eyes weren’t evident, as if she didn’t continuously have those distant looks.

Things had been awkward between him and Mum. There was a silent tension between them after Natsuo was born. The strain had grown to a chasm when Shouto’s quirk manifested.

His teeth gritted, his nails nigging into his hands. Seeing his silence, she continued.

“I’m just worried. And so is you father-”

“Worried? You and father? Suddenly caring for us? So much overreaction for a stupid burn on my arm. Will his ranking drops that much if his eldest immolates himself to death?”

“Touya, we do care-”

“Leaving us with the caretakers while you only look after Shouto. Is that what you mean by caring?”

Her silence only encouraged the flaming rage in him to continue. “If you truly care. If you really loved me, you wouldn’t have had Natsuo, wouldn’t have had Shouto! You would’ve believed in me, you would’ve looked at me!” Touya bitterly laughed. “I shouldn’t even be angry at you for only caring about Shouto. He’s your golden ticket to free yourself from this hell after all.”

“Touya.” She weakly whispered.

It was something he shouldn’t say. It was something beyond unkind. It was something Keigo wouldn’t do. But Keigo was kind in a way Touya wasn’t. His words weren’t coated in flaming poison like Touya was.

“It’s funny, but I don’t even blame you. I know about grandma, about them being real poor that they had to sell you off. You had no choice. You’re no different from us failed creations. Just a tool for Endeavour in creating his masterpiece.”

“Tou…ya,” Mum said, eyes widening with shock, her hands fearfully reaching towards him.

He dashed out the door. Wiping away the tears in his eyes as he ran up Sekoto, stuffing his face in the softness of Keigo’s growing wings.

Touya came home to the sound of growing sirens. 

Shouto was crying. A large burn scar on his face.

Mother was admitted to a psychiatric ward.

A banging voice in his head told him it was all his fault.

***

Shouto was crying.

“Get up. You won’t be able to defeat a third-rate villain, let alone All-Might, if you’re down from just a hit like that!” Touya heard their father’s voice inside the training room.

Mum would comfort the masterpiece when he cried. But because of Touya, she wasn’t here now. It was his fault. He would fix it.

He slammed open to door.

Shouto was on the floor, his face full of tears. Endeavour looming above him.

It was a training that Touya was used to. Training that Touya enjoyed and craved, that once upon a time meant his father’s love. Training that Touya finally realised was abuse in disguise.

How could he ever put this man on a pedestal for so long? This man, who threw his children away like used toys. This man who burned Keigo’s wing. How could he allow this to continue when Dabi and Hawks would attack abusers for much less.

Touya saw red.

“Stay away from him!” He screamed. A blast of blue flames propelled from his hands, sending Endeavour crashing into the wall, leaving a sea blue inferno scorching between them.

“You fucking asshole! Hitting children like this, how could you ever see yourself as a hero. If you want to beat All-Might, then do it yourself, don’t force your ambitions onto us. We’re not your toys! Don’t you dare hurt us again, or I’ll fucking report you and your illegal quirk marriage to the police and kill you myself!”

Grabbing the crying Shouto in his arms, he ran out of the training room.

The worst part was that he knew, deep down, he still wanted affection from this man. He still loved his father.

***

As his eldest left the room carrying Shouto in his arms, Enji was left stunned on the floor.

Those haunting blue flames surrounded him. The same blue flame on that night. The same blue glint in those eyes.

His mind reeled.

Touya, the boy who used to wait for him by the door, sleeping in a futon until he returned, had threatened to kill him.

Touya, who was Death Beam, was applauded for catching domestic abusers, who overpowered his flames, had called him out for his abuse. And wasn’t that true? Rei wasn’t here anymore, hospitalized from his obsession.

“Touya-Obocchan! What are you doing?” Enji heard the gardener shouting as he finally exited the room. The smell of burning bombarded his senses.

“Endeavour told me the hero world isn’t for me. So I’m burning it all.” His eldest said, the spite evident in his voice as he slammed his balcony windows shut.

The gardener screamed for a fire extinguisher as he ran about, but all Enji could do was stare at the pyre below Touya’s room. A pyre made by his many figurines and stuffed dolls.

The flames slowly devoured the many Endeavour figurines and toys Touya once loved so dearly. The toys Touya painstakingly collected, limited editions that he’d once begged Enji to get. Toys he got his eldest when they had been close. And Touya had smiled so brightly when he got them, brighter when Enji told him he was his legacy.

He stood stunned. Perhaps he never knew what he had until it was gone. Until he’d accidentally burned it all.

Ashes blowing in the wind as blue flames consumed the toys and memories.

Hauntingly azure blue flames.

***

A/N

It's quite a short update but somehow I feel this needs to be its own chapter.

No. This fic is not an Endeavour Redemption Fic. He reaps what he sows, but in this he's just not as monstrous as in other fics.

Seriously. It’s disgusting what Endeavour did to his kids. Looking at the children’s age difference. He had Natsuo immediately after Touya’s quirk burned himself. And judging from Shouto and Natsuo’s age difference. Once he realised it wasn’t an ice quirk, he tried for Shouto immediately.

Chapter Text

Shouto didn’t understand why he couldn’t go to school. All his siblings were attending school, yet Father said he had to be homeschooled to have more training time.

Shouto didn’t understand why he had to train. Shouto didn’t like training. The training wasn’t fun, and the training hurt.

Mum tried to stop Father, but Father would push her away whenever she did, telling her she didn’t understand the World of Heroes.

Shouto didn’t understand either, but Shouto didn’t want to see her hurt and didn’t want to see her cry. And so he followed Father, swallowing up his hurt and tears.

Fuyumi-nee and Natsu-nii would often come to his room. Help him with his bruises. Sometimes even showed him games on days when Father was away.

Touya-nii never came to his room.

Shouto felt Touya-nii didn’t like him much. Whenever he looked at his eldest brother, Touya-nii would turn away. His longest conversation with Touya-nii was probably “Touya-nii, can you pass me the shoyu?” In which his brother replied with an “Um.”

Shouto didn’t see Touya-nii much. According to their Mum, Touya-nii preferred to play outside with his friends. And according to Fuyumi-nee and Natsu-nii, Mum allowed this since his eldest brother got perfect grades and nothing but praise in school.

Sometimes he got to try the desserts Touya-nii made for Fuyumi-nee or Natsuo-nii. They had to sneak it up to his room so Father wouldn’t know. The macarons were delicious, sweet, and crunchy beyond anything he’d ever eaten. Though it didn’t escape his notice that Touya-nii never made anything for Shouto.

***

Dad was finally away for work.

Shouto walked over to the kitchen, wondering if Mum could make him desserts, when he heard her on the phone.

“-and he’s right. How could I do it? How could I do it to my own children? And Shouto. I….I can’t take care of him anymore. If I raise him now. It’ll be bad.”

“M-mum?” He whispered, her words shocking and confusing.

Her head snapped towards him, her eyes filled with shame and fear.

Shouto froze as she walked towards him, the boiling kettle in her hand still screeching as she poured its boiling content onto his face.

He screamed as hurt seared through his face.

Mum dropped the kettle, ghastly shocked as tears poured from her eyes.

“Ahh! Shouto!” She shrieked. “What have I done? What have I done!” She cried as she hugged him, her hands freezing when she touched his face and activated her quirk.

It was a slight tingle at first before the pain started. A burning chill like nothing he’d ever experienced before everything went black.

***

Mum wasn’t there when he woke up.

“Where’s mum?”

“She hurt you, so I put her in a hospital to keep you safe,” Father replied curtly as if nothing was wrong.

“It’s your fault. She hurt me because of you!” Shouto screamed, frustrated tears filling his eyes.

A glimmer of something was in Father’s eyes before it was gone.

And like nothing had happened. Shouto was back in the training room.

Hurting and hurting until Touya-nii suddenly appeared, sending Father flying with the prettiest blue flames before grabbing Shouto and carrying him to Touya-nii’s room.

“I’m sorry Shouto. I’m sorry I didn’t help you sooner.” Touya nii said, hugging Shouto as they sat on the bedside.

“I-I thought you didn’t like me,” Shouto whispered, and his brother hugged him tighter.

“I’m sorry. I was angry. I was jealous. I promise it’ll be different from now. That asshole won’t hurt you anymore.”

There was a wetness on his shoulder as he hugged back. He didn’t like seeing Touya-nii sad.

“Touya-nii, you said a bad word.”

“It’s okay. He’s a fucker.” Touya-nii said, giving him a tight squeeze before releasing him, wiping away the wetness in his eyes.

Shouto had never been in Touya-nii’s room. Looking around, there were so many Endeavours, from figurines to plush and posters.

“That’s embarrassing.” His brother said, her cheeks reddening as he followed Shouto’s sight.

And Shouto watched in confusion as Touya-nii started grabbing all the Endeavours decorating the room, angrily throwing them out through the window.

“Good riddance!”

Touya-nii scowled as he blasted the thrown pile with a beam of blue, sending it burning in a fiery blaze.

“So..” Touya-nii said, rubbing his neck awkwardly. “Wanna watch something or play some games?”

Shouto nodded. Finally smiling after he beat Touya-nii in Mario Kart, causing his brother to groan dramatically.

He liked this Touya-nii. The Touya-nii who gave him hugs, a brother who laughed and smiled.

He hoped Touya-nii would stay.

***

True to Touya-nii’s words. There was no more training. Father’s looming presence had disappeared, being away on work more often than not.

And like a dream come true. Shouto finally got to go to school.

He even made a friend.

Unfortunately, his other classmates and even the teachers weren’t so nice to Izuku.

Their caretaker, Reika-baachan, was promptly called to school after Shouto punched Katsuki, telling him to stop being a “fucking asshole.”

Touya-nii laughed, giving Shouto a fist bump for a job well done in teaching assholes their place.

Izuku was crying when he knew Shouto would be suspended, blaming himself for being the cause, protesting the suspension by coming to Shouto’s house and refusing to return to school until Shouto was allowed to return.

Luckily, the suspension was quickly lifted when the principal was dragged to the police station by red feathers for his abuse towards his quirkless daughter.

Pro Hero Eraserhead and Loud Cloud turned up, and the school was in full restructuring. Half of their teachers were fired and a no-bullying policy was strictly enforced.

Izuku even took the chance to ask Eraserhead if he could be a hero without a quirk.

“Why would you need a quirk? A hero is simply someone who can’t ignore people in trouble. Heroism comes from your heart, not your quirk.”

His friend immediately started crying, and the smile on his face told Shouto they were tears of joy.

Somehow, Shouto knew it was all his brother’s doing.

***

With both parents away, Touya-nii was more often home, helping all three of them with homework and housework whenever Reika-baachan took a leave. Shouto loved Touya-nii cooking so much that he excused his brother’s stupid talk that hot soba was better than cold soba.

Touya-nii brought his friends over. Mostly Keigo, who always wore an oversized hoodie as if he was hiding something.

Shouto didn’t like Keigo much. Whenever he came, Touya-nii’s eyes would always go to him. He was also useless at cooking, burning everything despite his lack of fire quirk that Touya-nii delegated him to only cutting duty.

He didn’t like that Keigo took away Touya-nii’s attention. But since Touya-nii seemed to like him so much, Shouto was willing to share.

Jin-san also often came over, bringing his siblings, Tenko and Himiko.

Tenko would usually play some online RPG with Natsuo-nii while Himiko played with Izuku and Shouto.

There was also Sako-san, whom Fuyumi was crazy about. Always asking him to show and teach her magic tricks every time he came.

There were bad days. Days when Shouto dreamed.

Dreams where Father appeared like a looming blaze. His eyes filled with rage as his fist neared Shouto.

He woke up screaming.

Touya-nii would appear after a few knocks on his door.

And without requiring any explanation, even on days when Keigo slept over, Touya-nii would gently pull him to his bed, where Keigo drowsily scooted to make space. And with his voice that meant safety to Shouto, his brother would gently talk until Shouto fell asleep.

“Touya-nii, can you tell me a bedtime story?”

Touya-nii’s reply was a dramatic groan.

“Please.”

“Fine. Fine.” His brother mumbled before he started. “Once upon a time, there was a flaming asshole fucker who was too weak to defeat his one-sided rival.”

Shouto saw that Keigo was covering his mouth with his hands attempting to not laugh, his prior drowsiness clearly gone.

“Since the flaming asshole was too weak. He decided that his children would be the ones to defeat Big M, his rival. And seeing a powerful ice princess in the kingdom nearby, he decided on kidnapping her…….”

It was late at night, and tiredness was slowly taking over

“-And with the Flaming Asshole gone. They lived happily ever after.” He heard as sleep overcame him.

***

The large cold mansion he lived in for the first five years of his life had somehow transformed into a funhouse, and Shouto couldn’t be happier.

He only wished Mum could be here as well.

And just like that. Two years passed by like the summer breeze.

***

Crime rate in Musutafu had dropped to a record low.

All this was linked to the new League of Vigilantes.

Perhaps following Death Beam and Hawk’s footsteps, many other vigilantes started throwing captured villains at police stations, an L graffitied to floors and walls.

There were suspicions that Death Beam and Hawks were also part of it, but with the whole group being vigilantes, there was no clarification to be found.

The HPSC clearly didn’t like them but had no way to stop them either.

“They’re just too popular,” Izuku told him when he’d wondered whether the HPSC would take any actions. “If they declare the League as villains, society, at least in Musutafu, would immediately split in two.”

Shouto could see why. Many were impressed by the League’s efficient takedown and low casualties. And rather than dramatic heroics, they targeted crimes that mainstream heroes overlooked. And in some cases, they targeted other heroes too. He could still remember the ex-pro hero ‘Electrophobia’ captured and plastered on the news for co-operating with a yakuza group the League recently took down.

Finally straying from the serious topics. Izuku took his new game, ‘Hero Mission 4,’ from his bag.

“It’s a four players’ game. So maybe we can ask Touya-san and Keigo-san to play?” Izuku asked.

They would normally ask Natsuo-nii and Tenko, but those two were at some game exhibition. Unfortunately, Touya-nii and Keigo were leaving the house as Shouto and Izuku exited the living room.

***

Even though Touya-nii was home more often. There were times when he would just disappear.

It was obvious Keigo knew something about it. After all, Keigo never came when Touya-nii wasn’t at home. And Shouto didn’t like knowing less about his brother when compared to some pigeon.

“Let’s follow them.” He said.

Despite Izuku’s wary face, his friend followed him in his tracking mission.

Touya-nii and Keigo didn’t notice. They’re always like this when they’re with one another. Like they had forgotten that everybody else existed, laughing as they gently nudged each other.

Somehow, they were walking up Sekoto Peak.

But instead of the pathway toward the Himura ancestors’ grave, they diverted and went deeper into the forest.

“Oh… Wow.” They gasped at the sight of the gigantic wooden complex Touya-nii walked into. It even stretched upwards onto the trees forming a treehouse-like section.

And was that Jin-san and Tenko? What were they even doing here?

He got his answer soon enough when Touya-nii walked out of the complex minutes later, donning a black-hooded costume and an eye mask, looking distressed as he talked on the phone. Keigo followed him out soon after. A Keigo with gigantic red wings on his back.

“Oh my god. Shou-chan, your brother is Death Beam and Keigo-san is Hawks.” Izuku whispered in awe, and Shouto couldn’t help but feel a little smug. He truly had the world’s coolest brother.

It irked him a little that Keigo was part of all this. But thinking about it, Death Beam and Hawks had been active for five years. When Shouto was still only two.

And even though he had the world’s coolest brother. Said brother would definitely not let him join because he was too young.

Maybe in three years, he could join. Touya-nii couldn’t use his age as an excuse then, seeing he started at ten.

His musing was cut short by his brother’s words.

“Aizawa-san. Do you know a Shigaraki? My source says he’s selling quirks to the Hero Commission.”

***

A timeskip along with a cliffy >.< 

The once tent has evolved into a giant complex! Tadaaaaa.

Chapter Text

“Another successful takedown from League of Vigilantes. Early this morning, a pile of passed-out people was found in front of Musutafu Central Police Station, the League logo scribbled nearby. After closer inspection, the police found evidence revealing them to be part of a child trafficking ring.

Last month, the League also closed down ‘Sapiens,’ an anti-mutant cult that preaches the killing of people with animal quirks.

‘Sapiens’ had been around for years, yet the Commission did nothing, and many believe this is from the close ties between the cult leader and the Vice President of the Commission.

One cannot help but raise questions about the inner workings of the Hero Commission….”

The news droned on as Touya looked around, wondering how their vigilante activities had reached this point.

He wished he and Keigo could take all the credit. But honestly, it was mostly Jin’s contribution.

Once Jin started training his quirk and once he could clone Touya and Keigo, their activities skyrocketed.

And while Jin’s clones couldn’t take much damage. Touya and Keigo’s fighting styles were all speed and precision, easily allowing them to bypass the limitations.

Their capture numbers probably were higher than even All Might. They might as well be an agency, especially with their giant base of operation.

There were many reasons why the small wooden hut Jin built five years ago transformed into this gargantuan complex.

First was because Jin wanted to train both his quirk and architectural talents.

The Second was because they kept adopting more and more people. Somehow after bringing in Jin and Tenko, they either kept finding people in need or people in need kept finding them.

And with that came the need for more living space. Perfect for Jin, who wanted to train his quirk and architectural skills.

They found Himiko on the streets, kicked out of her home, telling her never to come back “until she stops drinking blood.”

They found Iguchi hiding in an alley from an anti-mutant group after running away from the orphanage his parents left him in.

Sako somehow found them, begging to join their organisation - even though Touya said this wasn’t an organisation or a vigilante club - as he told them how their values aligned with the peerless thief, whoever that was - even though Touya also told him they were not thieves.

Jin brought Kenji back on his trip to the city. And at that point, Touya just gave up. After all, he and Keigo started by bringing in Tenko and Himiko. They couldn’t complain when others started bringing in other tossed-away kids.

They all decided they wanted to help Touya and Keigo in their activities. Though Touya did put his feet down, telling Tenko, Himiko, and the others that they were not joining until they were at least ten.

Tenko then decided they needed a name, and thus the League was born. And alongside it was the custom to sign their work with graffiti.

One may wonder where the money came from. His mother was not there anymore, and neither were the credit cards.

So Much to Sako’s joy. Instead of using Endeavour’s credit cards to fund their operation, They targeted organised crime, from the yakuza to the mafia, then stole their cash.

Fuck the mafia and their children trafficking. If Keigo weren’t there to stop him, he would’ve incinerated them to ashes. Not like anyone would find any evidence.

And thank god they stopped using Endeavour’s credit card. Because the few items, namely a gigantic power generator, would probably notify Endeavour that something strange was happening.

***

Everything was going well until it wasn’t

With both the building in place along with the workforce, Touya and Keigo planned on turning their whole operation into an actual agency once they graduated.

Aizawa-san even agreed, telling them how once they were legalised, they would save him a lot of headaches.

Aizawa-san had helped with Touya and Keigo’s application to UA. They were going to enter together, surprising his burning trashcan of a father - not that he was home much anymore after Touya threatened to kill him - that Touya could enter his alma mater with flying colours.

He was finishing his final year of middle school when it happened.

The problem started with Manami Aiba. Though according to Keigo, the problem started because Touya was too nice.

Touya couldn’t stand bullies. So when he saw Manami bullied and teased because of a single silly love letter, he was enraged, threatening to burn her bullies if they didn’t stop their bullshit.

She rewarded his action with her adoration, along with her stalking.

She was also apparently a genius hacker. Hacking into his phone and accidentally found out about his less-than-legal activities.

Manami’s attempt at repenting somehow equated to appearing before him at Sekoto Peak, declaring her undying love, adoration, and loyalty.

Keigo was not happy about it. Making a vicious shrill like nothing Touya had ever heard, he snatched Touya into his arms, covering them with his wings.

“He’s mine. Back off.” Keigo growled, and Touya felt like fainting from either sheer embarrassment or joy.

Manami probably felt the same. She covered her mouth as she made a breathless scream, her cheeks dusting pink. “Oh my god! Todoroki-senpai. I’ll ship you forever!” She declared. And somehow, still joined their organisation after she ran away, squealing all the way.

“I-aaa-ummm.” Was Keigo’s delayed reaction after everything had occurred. “T-that was. That was my bird thing.” He continued mumbling, hands covering his flushed face.

Touya had no choice but to take action.

“I don’t mind.” He said, fondling Keigo’s wings that were shielding them. “And... If I say, I want to be yours?”

“Wha-” Keigo replied, his mouth opening in shock as his hands fell to his sides. “R-really? Even when I’m not good enough for someone lik-ummpg.”

He shut his insecure friend-boyfriend up by grasping his face and pushing their lips together. A jolt of pain as their teeth clashed, both new to the action before the tension lifted. And like how they did everything together and knew each other so well, even without words, they smiled into the kiss as they found perfection.

It was their first kiss. Yet Touya already knew no one else could compare. No one else could understand him like Keigo.

Their confession wasn’t a grand gesture, but neither was their relationship. Their bond was a gradually growing thing, slow but sure, somehow certain that they would always be together.

They were smiling like idiots for a week. Stealing kisses when no one was watching. Everything seemed so perfect.

Until Manami, matchmaker, stalker, and genius hacker that she was, hacked into the HPSC and found that the various Commission-sponsored orphanages were actually quirk farms, opened to find children with rare and valuable quirks, so they could either be raised as an asset or sold to someone called Shigaraki.

Shigaraki, who apparently had the power to take and give quirks. What the fuck.

***

Keigo was listed as a potential asset in one of the files after the HPSC arrested his parents.

Touya shivered, his hands curling against Keigo’s. If Keigo hadn’t flown away and hadn’t escaped to Sekoto Peak. Would he be cruelly trained in those facilities? Would his name be taken, Reduced to an asset? Just imagining it kindled a flame of rage within him.

What was one supposed to do when the organisation that was supposed to be the pillar holding society was actually the monster devouring it?

There were some police they trusted, but it wouldn’t matter when the majority of them were under the Commission’s thumb.

And going to the Pro-heroes was even more out of the question. The Commission funded their life. It was ridiculous to ask All-Might. The Number Two hero was his father, and he didn’t trust him.

The only heroes they trusted were Eraserhead, Loud Cloud, and Present Mic, and they, unfortunately, didn’t have enough clout or influence on society.

They told Touya the League’s plan would cause massive unrest. But relent as they couldn’t find another option either.

And so, with Manami’s prodigious hacking skills, they broadcasted the Commission’s dirty secrets across the internet and every television channel. Like wildfire, once the fuse was lit, there was no stopping. And perhaps out of good conscience, from Commission’s whistleblowers to smaller contractors to even Pro Heroes, news after news about the Commission started popping up, none of them complimentary.

The Commission immediately declared the League as an S-ranked Criminal Organisation. And deep down, Touya felt a little proud. After all, They got an immediate S-ranked designation. It must be a record or something.

Then before the Commission could start a manhunt. The Commission President died in a fatal headshot. 

Lady Nagant, the number Three hero, appeared before them during their patrol, telling them she was responsible for the President’s death as she handed over more of the Commission’s dirty laundry.

And boy, it was so dirty it could start a pandemic. Beyond children and quirk trafficking. The Commission ran a headhunting ring, killing everyone they deemed a threat to society by whatever fucked up standard they cooked up.

And in their efforts to maintain their facade of peace. They appeased yakuza and criminals. And the Shigaraki guy they had the most dealing with? He was apparently the king of the criminal underworld. And worst was their human experimentation, inhumane beyond any description, done by one Dr. Kyudai Garaki.

Protests erupted across the country like wildfire. Angry people stormed the Commission’s facilities around the country, becoming more enraged when they found training facilities for children at those sites.

The Prime Minister declared a national emergency, shutting down the Hero Commission to appease the public with an immediate promise to renovate the system into a more transparent one.

Maybe. Perhaps maybe. Things were changing for the better.

Yet that night, Sekoto Peak went up in flames.

Chapter Text

Sekoto Peak was burning.

As the white-haired man appeared, a shroud of fear descended upon the mountain like a curtain of darkness. Despite his gentlemanly figure and suit, his presence sent shivers down Touya’s spine.

“To think that a bunch of insignificant worms could undo decades of my work.” The man said, malevolence clear despite his calm baritone. “My failure was in focusing too much on All-Might. So much so that I overlooked you rabbles tearing away my society.” He continued, his quirk barrier effortlessly shielding him from Touya’s flames and Keigo’s feathers.

With a wave of his hand and their secret base was aflamed. The secret base that they all helped build. The secret base that was home when he felt his own wasn’t.

With a roar of fury, he unleashed his flames, forgetting all precision and control, fully intent on burning this monster fucker. And at that moment, the barrier was engulfed in flames, a surprise on the man’s face as he was drowned in the blue inferno.

Keigo cheered until he was blasted away by a flurry of wind.

And out of the inferno, a hand reached Touya’s neck, lifting him above ground. The demon man unharmed.

“Such a powerful quirk. I think I’ll take it.”

“Fuck you!” Touya snarled, spitting onto the man’s face. “Idiot asshole.” He grinned, his body lighting up as he set it burning.

Burning before it started melting.

***

“Eraserhead. It’s Sekoto Peak. We don’t know how much longer we can hold on.”

“Wha-”

Touya cut off the line as he watched his clone kamikazed himself in a scorching pyre.

Despite them being sort of accomplices and knowing their identity, Touya never shared their location with the heroes.

Sekoto Peak was important to them. It was their hideout, their base, their home. But with the situation as it was, with the explosions and burning, heroes were sure to come. Better the ones he trusted most.

He’d always imagined their base burned by his father and not this evil motherfucker.

“Is everyone safe?” He quietly asked Keigo beside him, shocked by the sheer strength of the monster as he quickly wiped away wave after wave of their clone army.

“Yeah. Sako and Kenji are taking care of the children.”

“As soon as Eraserhead arrives. We’ll fuck that asshole up.”

***

The monster was ridiculous. On top of his stupid barriers, his fingers could turn into black spears, not to mention those beams and lightning blasts he released. 

With all the quirks in his hold. This man was probably Shigaraki, the evil puppetmaster behind the Commission’s dirty work.

They were barely holding on, thanks to Jin’s overpowered quirk.

But Touya knew it would not last. The trees around them were either broken or burning. Soon there would be nowhere to hide, and eventually, Jin’s original body would be found.

And so he couldn’t help but let out a wide grin when the asshole suddenly dropped from the air.

Dashing from their hiding place, they attacked in perfect tandem, beams and feathers pierced Shigaraki’s body, eliciting a grunt of pain as he crashed onto the ground.

There were no other chances. It wasn’t the most heroic way, and Aizawa-san might not like it, but killing this man was the only option.

Flaring his fingers, he released his overheated rays, determined to scorch away this living evil.

Only to be blocked by a black tar-like substance emerging from the man’s mouth, expanding and expanding, eclipsing their sights, and with a loud roar, a giant monster emerged.

“Master!” The giant rumbled its roar like thunderclaps, sending the blazing trees crashing as it barrelled towards Eraserhead, Loud Cloud, and Present Mic.

A wall of dirt propelled from the ground, separating them from the heroes.

Shit. Touya thought as he looked up to find Shigaraki donning a wicked grin.

“Well. There you are.”

He beamed at the monster, but the stupid barrier was there again, rendering his attacks useless. Blasts of beams and black spears prevented their effort to fly over the created wall. The continuous sound of crashing from the other side told him Eraserhead’s group was having problems of their own.

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

He should’ve let Jin measure Eraserhead. If they only had one clone of the hero, this demonic man would already be ashes.

While they still have the clones. The only firepower capable of burning through the shields was Touya’s. The problem was when Touya clones focused too much on firepower, they overheated, took too much damage and disappeared.

Jin could clone Tenko. But his quirk required contact, and with the stupid shield intact, there was no way Shigaraki would let himself be touched.

“All-out attack.” He said.

A troubled look made its way onto Keigo’s face. But looking at the situation, it was clear he too couldn’t see any other alternatives.

Keigo and his clones sent their feathers at Shigaraki, holding his airborne self in place, turning him into a ball of blue.

Touya’s clones floated around the sphere, fire surrounding their bodies, and with a flash of blue, released their accumulated heat.

Touya hated this technique. Hated how it was his father’s. Hated how he hurt himself using it. Hated how sad Keigo looked whenever Touya was in pain. Yet, it was undeniably his strongest move.

Raising his own heat higher than any clone would possibly imitate, Touya shot out his own Prominence Burn, illuminating the whole night sky in an explosion of azure.

***

A blaze of blue surrounded him as he opened his eyes.

Keigo was crouched beside him, a worried expression on his face.

“Did we get him?” Touya gasped out, the burns on his skin sending jolts of pain in his every attempt to move.

“A good effort. But otherwise futile.” The nightmarish voice resounded. And from the burning flames, Shigaraki appeared. His clothes were scorched, and light burns marred his skin, yet he was otherwise uninjured.

He was in Keigo’s arms as they dodged the piercing black spears. Keigo’s scorching arms courtesy of Touya’s useless overheated body.

“Keigo, let me go!”

“No! No! I won’t!” Keigo screamed back.

Touya knew Keigo was fast, but with Touya in his arms, hurting him and holding him down, he was bound to be hurt by the monster. His face was a mask of pain every time he dodged, every tight squeeze to keep Touya in his hold a singe to his flesh.

“Please, Keigo. Run “

“No!”

They didn’t have much choice. Not when an air bullet crashed into Keigo’s back and sent them crashing down. Keigo, perfect hero that he was, shielded Touya’s useless body from the impact.

Shigaraki landed. A sinister smile on his face as he walked towards them, like a serpent ready to kill its injured prey.

“How sweet. But don’t worry. You’ll be with each other soon enough. After I take your quirks, of course.”

And Touya screamed as those black tendrils rushed towards Keigo, ready to extract his quirk, the wings that helped Touya soar, those wings that Touya caressed and was equally caressed by.

A storming punch smashed away the nightmarish tendrils before they reached Keigo. And in front of Touya was All Might in his full glory.

This was the man Endeavour couldn’t beat. The man who, in many ways, created Touya. The one who fueled the flames of rivalry that resulted in the quirk marriage.

Touya didn’t like the symbol of peace. Didn’t like how All-Might entire being inspired the toxic belief that heroes could save everyone. Hated that it made the populace lax. Loathed society’s dependence on heroes and was disgusted that everyone left everything to heroes.

He hated a society that only cared about big heroics. Hated that it didn’t care for Jin or Tenko or Kenji. Hated that all the minor crimes and people in need were tossed to the side.

Yet at that moment. When the man said his trademarked “I am here!” Touya couldn’t help but entrust their safety to this man. That feeling of reassurance inspired by the man told him why Endeavour could never surpass him.

***

All Might was winning.

Despite Shigaraki’s arsenal of quirks, All-Might was punching though them like they were nothing.

“All for One, Your reigns end here. United States of Smash!” All-Might shouted as his fist crashed into Shigaraki, sending the man Touya thought was undefeatable crashing into the ground.

“I have always hated your smile. Despises the hope you inspired.” Shigaraki said, still smiling despite the heavy bleeding on his face.

“Always ready to be a perfect symbol of peace. Yet couldn’t even save your dear master.”

A troubled expression crossed All-Might’s.

“Shimura Nana was a weakling. Her hopelessness was an embarrassment. She died in an especially shameful manner. How do I even begin to tell you.”

“Enough!”

Shimura? Wasn’t that Tenko’s surname?

“And, of course. You will know the tragedy that was her family. Her son and his children all disappeared from a single quirk malfunction. Another person you couldn’t save.” A chuckle escaped from Shigaraki’s mouth as he continued. “But, of course, you couldn’t. After all. It was me who planted decay into young Tenko. To show him the despair of hero society. A shame he’s gone too, probably killed in some street by the society you love and protected.”

“M-master’s grandson?” All-Might stumbled. A gap in his defense which Shigaraki capitalized, his enhanced punch ready to pierce through All-Might’s stomach. Would’ve drilled through them if not for the red feathers that pulled All-Might away.

“He’s lying! Tenko’s alive. Tenko Shimura’s still alive!” Touya screamed, pulling All-Might out of his daze.

“You little brats.” Shigaraki sneered, finally an emotion of anger as he glared at them, his hands moving to shoot out black lightning towards their downed form.

But All Might was before them, taking the hit in their stead. Moving forth his body, and with a final thunderous punch, Shigaraki was finally downed.

Downed but clearly not dead.

All Might was too tired to move.

And while Touya couldn’t move his body, he could still move his hands.

Focusing his highest heat onto his index finger. He blasted Shigaraki’s neck with his overheated ray, slicing it off like butter against a hot knife before he incinerated the head.

“That was for Tenko. You motherfucker!” He gasped out.

A complicated expression was on All-Might’s face. He was indeed the epitome of heroism. Even against such a disgusting man, he wasn’t willing to kill.

He was like Keigo. Pure and good in a way Touya and Endeavour could never be.

Not that Touya pondered upon it much. Not when a familiar voice resounded in his ears.

“Touya,” Endeavour said.

***

And we're nearing the endddd >.<

Chapter Text

Three years ago, the moment his eldest blasted him and threatened him with his blues flames, Enji slowly realized how far he’d failed. Failed as a father. Failed as a hero. 

The rage on Touya’s face as he glared. Was this the same face he made towards Rei, towards Shouto?

Had his obsession gone too far that he’d become a monster of his own making?

Rei was in the hospital. Shouto blamed him. And now Touya blamed him too. Threatening him with flames Enji knew could hurt him. Death Beam’s flames.

Until Touya’s quirk started hurting him, Enji was a happy man.

It was the happiest time of his life. His wife, whom he never intended to share camaraderie, was partial to him. His son and daughter loved him, and he them.

Touya was ready to make his dream a reality. So powerful and so young. Smiling as they trained, never complaining about the harshness of it all. Trusting in Enji’s every word, adoring his every action.

The son that would wait for him to come home no matter how late. The son that would congratulate every of his victories. Surprising him with a gift whenever he returned.

The son he tossed away the moment his quirk hurt himself. Telling himself it was better for Touya, telling himself he could always make another successor.

But his other children were not like Touya. Natsuo preferred to pretend he didn’t exist, hiding whenever he appeared, and Shouto looked at him with the same gaze people looked at a villain.

But he’d come too far.

He’d decided Touya’s quirk wasn’t good enough, decided that a quirk that hurt oneself was unsuitable for heroics. He’d thrown his eldest aside and ignored the dream he’d fostered in him. Secretly glad that a problem of his own making was gone when Touya stopped coming home with burns. He’d already hurt and thrown away the son who loved him, who was willing to carry on his legacy.

And so he’d forced Shouto to train. To be the success that Touya couldn’t. So that somehow, the hurt he inflicted on his eldest would matter.

***

But he was shortsighted and wrong.

But Death Beam’s popularity continued to rise, praised for his quick takedowns and quirk proficiency.

That night, when he’d seen the beams, he knew it was a derivative of his Hell Spider. Yet the fine and precise control was something Enji could never dream of achieving.

The moment Death Beam’s flames turned blue and overpowered Enji’s Hellfire, he could only overheat in stunned shock, wondering whose flame could compete with his, said to be the strongest fire quirk.

The moment Touya blasted him and threatened him. He saw the culmination of his own folly.

His eldest son, without help from him, had perfected his quirk and risen to be a vigilante. One so popular it divided the nation and stopped the Commission from declaring him a criminal.

But it was too late. The love and admiration from his son were already gone. He’d lost too much and gained too little.

Even without his intervention, his eldest had turned out well. Turned out to be a hero. Or did he become a hero because Enji didn’t intervene?

He never would’ve told Touya to focus on precision. He would’ve kept telling Touya to increase the heat just so there was enough firepower to surpass All-Might.

Maybe it was best he didn’t intervene. Perhaps it was best for him to stay away. At least it would make the children feel safe, if nothing else. He’d already damaged too many things.

***

Enji came home after the Commission declared the League as criminals.

Yet nothing seemed different. Touya glared and ignored him while Natsuo and Shouto hid away from him. 

As usual, only Fuyumi was talking to him.

But before he could even ponder his son’s safety, the Commission President was murdered as more incriminating evidence about the Commission’s questionable actions emerged, sending society into a panicked frenzy.

He still couldn’t believe it.

He didn’t like the Commission, but it was something all heroes, even All-Might, learned to live with. Yet his son had easily dismantled its overseeing presence within a few weeks.

Enji didn’t know whether he should be shocked or proud.

To quell the growing public unrest, heroes were asked to help the police, and Enji found himself swamped with work.

And deep down. He was secretly glad to have a reason to stay away, away from the home he already ruined.

***

A few weeks after the Commission’s restructuring, a blaze of blue lit up the skies like a miniature blue sun as explosions rang from Sekoto’s Peak.

Blue flames. Touya’s flames.

Enji immediately ran.

A massive wall split the mountain in two, and before his eyes were hundreds of Hawks and Death Beam fighting alongside Eraserhead’s team against a gigantic villain.

They were all agile and could avoid hits, but they couldn’t seem to damage the giant villain either.

Shouting his war cry, he joined the fight.

***

Enji gasped as the giant finally collapsed, the final attack taking everything of him. The same was for Eraserhead and his team.

The deafening sound of victory was soon replaced by the sounds of sirens. Even in the middle of the night, the explosive sound from the fight alone would have notified the authorities.

“Where are Death Beam and Hawks.” He asked as he slowly got to his feet. The army of clones had slowly diminished as the fight continued, fully disappearing with the final attack Enji released,

“The other side of the wall. Fighting Shigaraki.” Loud Cloud replied, struggling to stand from the hit he received to his leg.

Using the last of his strength, he burned through a section of the wall, walking through to find All-Might on his knees.

And his son, full of bruises and burns, unable to move as he lay on his stomach, yet could still decapitate a man and incinerate his head.

He knew his son was a vigilante. But Enji would rather pretend he didn’t see that.

“Touya.” He started.

Touya’s head snapped to him, an expression of shock and fear evident in his eyes.

“Stay away!” His eldest screamed, his finger flickered blue before fizzling out. The last heat beam clearly consumed the last of his energy.

Worried, Enji walked towards his son.

Only through his trained reflexes was he able to burn the red feathers attempting to pierce him, leaving only a makeshift sword-like feather pointing at his throat.

“He told you to stay away!” Said the blonde boy, clearly Hawks from his weapon of choice. Now that he saw his face, Enji realised he wasn’t any older than Touya. The fight clearly took its toll on him from his tired shaking feet and bloodied bruises.

“How dare you burn his feathers. Wasn’t once enough?” Touya screamed from where he lay, his voice filled with anger even when his body collapsed after every attempt to move.

“Touya!”

Hawks immediately dropped his feather sword, dashing towards the passed-out Touya.

“Everyone needs medical attention. Especially those two.” Eraserhead said, walking passed him, and Enji could only nod.

They were quickly swarmed by the medical personnel, the media, and fire fighters.

Everything was loud, people asking one question after another. Yet Touya’s face was the only thing on his mind, his son’s angered screams drowning all others.

His son looked more at ease in the underground hero’s arms than at the mere sight of Endeavour.

He didn’t know what to feel.

***

Enji was by his son’s bedside when he woke.

Touya’s face shifted from confusion to surprise and ended in anger.

“Where’s Keigo?” Touya asked, and before Enji could reply, his son continued shouting. “Don’t take Keigo away from me! He’s the only person that believed in me. You already took everything away from me. My dreams, my reason for living. Don’t take him away from me!”

Tears were flowing from his son’s eyes. Tears that Enji hadn’t seen since the day Touya threatened him. Tears that fell every time he told his son to give up his dream of being a hero.

Did Touya think Enji would take away his friend? That Enji would imprison Hawks?

“When had I turned into such a monster in your eyes.” He whispered.

The uncertainty and fear in Touya’s eyes told him everything.

Kintsugi. Potteries fixed together by gold. No matter how mended or beautiful they become, the cracks would always remain, forever evident and irreversible.

***

“Touya.”

Touya woke to a familiar voice.

He hadn’t seen her for a long time. Had thought she never wanted to see him again. A part of him always told himself he was wholly to blame for her hospitalisation.

‘You’re no different from us failed creations. Just a tool for Endeavour in creating his masterpiece.’  He’d said that to her then. Those harsh words forever haunted his mind. Always afraid that those would be his final words to her.

“Mum, I’m sorry. Sorry for hurting you. Sorry for being cruel.” He realised he was crying. He was in tears as he pushed up his bandaged body to embrace her, grasping her body like a lifeline.

“I’m sorry too, Touya. Sorry for not being a good mother. Sorry for not standing up enough for you and your siblings.” She gasped, her arms clutching onto his body. “I should’ve trusted you. Should’ve helped you reach your goals.”

In each other’s arms, cherishing the warmth and care, finally letting out years of pent-up hurt.

Letting him go, she gave him a soft smile.

“And look at you. Look at how far you’ve come. Saving so many people overlooked by society.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you see all the people outside the hospital? None of them are asking about your father or even All-Might. They’re all asking for Death Beam and Hawks.”

He unfortunately didn’t. He was too busy screaming at Endeavour about Keigo until he collapsed. Also, He felt the need to clarify.

“Mum, It’s Dabi, not Death Beam.”

“Ah.”

“And Hawks? Where’s he?” Touya hoped Endeavour didn’t put his boyfriend in jail because that would be a low move. But Endeavour being Endeavour, one could never guess what shitty stunts he would pull.

“I’m here, Touya.” Keigo’s familiar voice sounded. The voice that always made everything right.

Keigo leaned on his clutch as he stood by the door. Like Touya, his arms and legs were bandaged, but otherwise, he looked fine.

He slowly hobbled to Touya’s bed, laughing as he collapsed onto Touya, gently moving his hands to clasp Touya’s face, pulling them into a kiss.

“Thank god you’re okay. I was so worried.”

“Worried like when you threatened Endeavour? That was so hot. Please do it again. I’ll even give you a reward.” Touya whispered into Keigo’s ear, immediately turning his dumb bird crimson.

“R-reward. T-Touya! Your mum’s still here.”

Aah. He completely forgot that. Too drawn in by Keigo and his touches.

“You’re the one who started kissing,” Touya complained.

Mum didn’t seem to mind, smiling through it all, clearly enjoying their shared embarrassment. Maybe Mum was kind of like Manami.

Still clutching Keigo’s body on his bed, he asked Mum. “And will Keigo be fine? The police won’t try to arrest the League, right?”

“It’ll be fine, Touya. You’ve uncovered Japan’s greatest corruption scandal, after all. Even the Prime Minister is on your side.” Mum assured.

“Oh? All-Might didn’t say anything about me?” A little something about cutting off someone’s head and cremating their remains.

“Nothing but praises. Though he seems very busy with Tenko-kun’s adoption papers.”

***

It was as Mum said. Despite their years of vigilantism, the government didn’t make much of a fuss. He guessed it was probably the lack of mass casualties and death, not counting Shigaraki’s.

There was mass public support when it was revealed that the League saved and adopted many homeless children. The support grew more once they found that Hawks and Dabi - yes, he finally corrected that naming mistake - were children themselves.

And along with the support was the large influx of money when the public realised the League’s base burned down with Sekoto Peak.

Then Mum gifted him the deed for Sekoto Peak on his birthday, telling him it was okay to build a new base over it, twice the size of the old one even.

“Eh. Is that okay? Isn’t taking care of the Himura family’s grave one of the terms for your marriage?”

“Well, since it all burned down. There’s nothing much left to take care of, right?” Mum said before she continued. “Besides. With Japan’s most famous vigilantes on my side. I don’t think my family will protest too much.”

“And Endeavour? Is he fine with it?”

“I don’t see how it’ll matter to him since we’ll be divorcing soon.”

“What-”

***

Though not everything was as he wanted.

While the Prime Minister approved of the League’s proposal to be opened as a Hero Agency, he didn’t approve of Touya and Keigo’s underage heroism, and they were banned from unsupervised heroing until they finished their schooling.

But otherwise, everything was well.

Jin and Sako were given custody of Keigo along with the other children, and the League was rebuilding. The Prime Minister even approved a League abandoned children childcare centre.

It was just rather annoying to be told they couldn’t do what they had been doing for the past six years.

“Touya.”

“Huh?”

“Jin-san will be using his clones to run the agency and do hero activities, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And he’ll be cloning us to do it, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well. No one said we can’t pretend to be clones.” Keigo said, smirking a broad smile that Touya fully reciprocated.

His boyfriend was such an intelligent bird.

***

UA was quite strange.

Though Touya was used to fame, being the son of Endeavour and all. He’d never had classmates running up to him asking for autographs - not counting Manami of course.

Keigo was terrified by all the attention and chose to always stick beside Touya, not that he minded. His boyfriend was rather funny in some ways – one being how he clearly didn’t know how handsome he was.

Aizawa-san, now Aizawa-sensei, also had to derive some special classes since they were breezing through regular exercises at record speed. Six years of field experience did give them an unfair advantage and all.

And since All-Might adopted Tenko, he began seeing the Number One Hero more often, no doubt telling the hero where Tenko’s bad influences were coming from.

“Touya-nii, you should’ve kept his head and let me dust it. He ruined my life!” Tenko complained, and Toshinori-san grimaced.

“Sorry. His body is still there though, maybe we can find it, and you can dust it or do a ritual to send him to eternal hell-”

“No. No. Stop!” Toshinori-san shouted, rushing between Touya and Tenko when he saw his adopted son’s face lit up with inspiration. “There will be no desecration of a corpse. Even if it’s All for One’s.”

“Why?” Tenko moaned.

“Because we’re heroes. And heroes don’t desecrate their enemy’s corpse.”

“Touya-nii burned his head.”

All-Might grimaced but stayed silent. He probably thought that wasn’t heroic, but since Tenko looked up to Touya so much, Toshinori-san couldn’t argue.

“Urgh. Fine. Fine. You’re so boring All-Might.” Tenko rolled his eyes as he turned away, dragging Touya to show him his new games.

Touya couldn’t help but chuckle at All-Might’s downcast expression.

The man sure was a bore and a clear sticker for rules, but seeing how he evidently cared for Tenko, he was clearly miles better than Endeavours.

***

“First of all. Thank you for inviting us here even though we were the reason it closed down, “Touya started, earning many chuckles for his effort.

Somehow, someone saw it appropriate that the League was invited to the reopening of the new Hero Commission. And beyond all expectations, the Prime Minister even asked them to give a speech.

“Keigo’s still not used to big crowds, so it’ll be me speaking.” He said as he nudged his boyfriend beside him.

“In the past months, we’ve been asked many times why we started what we did, so I would like to take this opportunity to explain.”

“Initially, it was an accident. We saw someone in danger and thought we could help, so we did.”

He couldn’t help but smile as he saw Oboro-san dramatically pointing at himself.

“And why we continued? Keigo’s just naturally a nice person who wants to help everyone. For me, I initially continued out of spite. You see, my quirk hurts most of my body, so everyone around me, from my parents to my teachers, discouraged me from being a hero. But luckily, I had Keigo, who believed in me. And so to repay his trust and prove everybody wrong, I trained and trained until I could use it without hurting myself.”

“It changed as we continued.” Touya began again, sucking in a deep breath. “We saw many people ignored by heroes and ignored by society.

As you know, we started targeting minor crimes and domestic violence abusers. Some may ask why we couldn’t leave them to the heroes. The answer is simple. It’s because most heroes don’t care about such crimes. Because our society puts so much importance on the hero ranking that heroes ignore out-of-sight crimes and only focus on taking down villains that will give them publicity.

And because of that. After the villains are captured, the heroes simply leave, not caring about the people those villains left behind. It’s true there are orphanages, but have you seen how children of villains are treated? How stigmatized they are? Most of the time, these people have no way out and ended on the streets without help.

Then there’s the undeniable quirk discrimination in our society. The hate against mutation quirks and the labeling of villainous quirks. Himiko Toga, one of the girls staying at the League was locked out of her home because she drank blood. Blood that she needs to drink because it’s the only thing she can properly digest.

There are more problems than I could list. But to answer the question, we continue because we saw people in need of help. Families were suffering because of an abuser, so we caught the abuser. We saw children abandoned for something beyond their control, and we had the means to give them a home, so we did.

At the core, it really is simple. We saw someone needing help and realised we had the power to help, so we just did.

With the reopening of this new Hero Commission, I sincerely hope our society will evolve to be one where heroism isn’t based on a popularity contest. Where everyone will be equally treated and not overlooked. Where kindness and care are the norm. Thank you.”

The room boomed in thunderous applause as Touya bowed. He felt Keigo gripping his hand in reassurance. He looked up and saw Keigo smiling, tears brimming in his eyes, and Touya couldn’t help but smile back.

As the applause died down, a reporter shouted. “Dabi. Is Hawks your boyfriend?”

Her question caused shock gasps, though Touya was more than happy to answer.

“Yes. He’s my boyfriend. I love him very much. I know he’s very handsome, and his wings are drop-dead gorgeous, but he doesn’t like it when people get handsy, so please don’t, or I’ll have to burn you.” He said, earning another round of laughter, though he spotted All-Might grimacing.

Ah well. Not everyone could appreciate a good joke.

Personally, he would’ve liked to expose Endeavour to the world. To show everyone the Number Two Hero dabbled in illegal quirk marriage. But Mum was already swarmed by the press for her divorce as it was. Besides, Endeavour did give in to all of Mum’s divorce demands.”

The man was speaking to All-Might after the opening event.

“Young Himura-shounen. Endeavour, you must be beyond proud. To have a son so amazing at such a young age. I truly agree with everything you said, and I’ll support you in whatever you do. But please, Himura-shonen, don’t burn anyone.”

Once upon a time, Touya would’ve looked at Endeavour’s face for recognition. Now he realised he simply didn’t give a fuck.

It felt great.

***

By the time they graduated, society was different.

With All-Might supporting the change, the Hero Rankings finally ended. Well, the government-sponsored one at least - he could never rid the country of the Hero’s Best Jeanist Award or any other weird public award on that matter.

It wasn’t perfect. Some people were still being heroes for the fame. But the many problems of society had been raised to the forefront.

The government started sponsoring many initiatives to help with quirk discrimination and families left behind by a villain attack or the villain themselves.

The League became both a Hero Agency and orphanage, renowned for helping abandoned and troubled children.

And by the time he was twenty-four, Touya thought nurturing the next generation was more heroic than any heroism.

***

Touya heard the door opening after he finished tucking the children in bed.

Though ruffled after a day’s work, Keigo’s smile was still as bright as the sun.

“I’m back,” Keigo said, running up to Touya, hugging him in his arms as he spun them around.

“Welcome Home,” Touya replied, laughing at his boyfriend’s antics.

Their home. Home where the heart was. Where you feel safe sleeping at night and waking up in the morning. The place where their story began. Once upon a time on Sekoto Peak.

***

Personally, I feel the best release for Touya is for him to be free of Endeavour. Free of his dad influencing his every decision.

Thank you so much for everyone staying with me until the end of this fic. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. <3

Chapter Text

Happy New Year! Like has been super busy, but hopefully I can write some more Hawksdabi this year. The ending just killed me. Poor Touya kun!!!

Made for me by the amazing https://x.com/Darian821Jai821