Chapter Text
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Recommended Music: Remnant: FTA Theme:
Shoto Todoroki was born to be a weapon. A masterpiece of genetics, although not altered that way, just through random chance. The mixing of genetics between his parents. That was what he had been told by his father as soon as he was capable of understanding. He was born to be the number one hero, to contest Allmight, to be an extension of his father's legacy. He was born to house incontestable power, that of the hottest flames and the coldest ice. It was a blessing in the eyes off others... the few that saw him, anyway, but his only worldly experience made him certain of a different outlook: it was nothing but a curse. And it seemed to follow him, as a haunting shadow. Everytime he was introduced, he was recombined only as the spawn of that man. He always seethed inside when he heard the comparison. So much so that he would hide the evidence of his connection under thick ice. It wasn't too cold for him, as he was resistant to both extremes. Today was supposed to be quirk training... but the villains that invaded had other ideas. They brutalized their teachers, and separated the students. However, that was actually a blessing, as it allowed them to go all out.
It was then that it happened. The dual haired boy was teleported. Something had to have gone wrong, however, as he wasn't in the USJ anymore. As soon as the fog enveloped him, he blacked out.
Thunder woke him up. He felt the wind blow quickly as he stirred. He heard the crashing of waves, and lightning flashed in the sky as it started to rain. As soon as his mind gained consciousness, he saw that he was laying on the ground... next to an unconscious girl with red hair. She wore a long sleeved soft green shirt, with matching scarf and pants, and her boots were brown, utilitarian, and made for mountain climbing. Getting to his feet, he ached all over. Kneeling down, he examined the tan girl for injuries. Seeing that there wasn't any, he poked her cheek.
It was then that she stirred from unconsciousness as well. Then she opened her eyes and panicked. Screaming bloody murder as she scrambled away, her cry was only met with the passive face of Shoto. He tilted his head and sat down beneath the cover extending from the building. The rain was getting harder, so he did the logical thing and stayed in shelter, watching her as she realized he wasn't a threat, then laughed off the whole thing. It was then when she started to speak in English.
Now, Todoroki knew English. His father drilled many skills into him in order to be the best weapon he could be, and being able to understand English was a must. So, he could understand her slight southern drawl easily enough.
"Sorry 'bout that! You startled me... At least you're good, right?"
He nodded. While he understood English... speaking it wasn't his strong suit. Since his father stressed it was important to understand, he failed to impart how equally important it was to speak.
Still, he listened to the redhead, her clearly a bit worried for her new... friend's sake. Although he didn't particularly care for her in the moment, as the only nearby human, he'd tolerate her... eccentricates, for the moment. "Ah, right, my name's Sophia! You?"
"Shoto."
Smiling, she was very relieved to hear his voice, even if it wasn't quite what she expected. "Ah, so you can speak! Good. So, uh, I kind of crashed my boat around here... so... do y'know where we are?"
Shoto shook his head.
"Damn... no worries, though! I'm sure there are other people nearby..." It was then that the rain really let loose, and she quickly got under cover as well. Shivering, she waited under cover with him for the rain to pass. Under normal circumstances, he'd never use the bastard's fire... but when she sneezed, he figured he had to. At least to help the only other person here from getting sick. She looked at him quizzically as he raised the hand next to her up and sparked a small flame. It was much weaker than he was used to. Either this place is messing with my quirk, or I need to practice... He stopped himself from going down this track. She looked at him in amazement, her silver eyes effectively sparkling as she held her cold hands up to it, taking in its warmth. "Wow... how did you do that?!"
Has she never heard of a quirk before?
When he didn't respond, she filled the silence: "I get it. You're not the talkative type. That's cool." She calmed down a little, before telling him earnestly: "Thank you."
He nodded gently, smiling slightly. He decided to try to speak. "Don't speak... well... can... understand..."
Her eyes met his, and she nodded. "Right. Gotcha. That makes a lot of sense." She looked up around where they were. "Perhaps it might be best to get inside the building? We are rather in the open." Shoto nodded and followed Sophia as she entered the ruined building. She looked around the decrepit room, breaking apart some crates with her sword. It seemed to just be made of sharpened metal. Can that thing go against quirk users? As she worked, the ginger brought all the wood remnants to the center of the room. "Here. Use your magic to light it up! It'll keep us warm all night."
He nodded, and used his weakened quirk to do so. The kindling soon caught fire, and the rest of the campfire followed soon after. Still shivering, the redhead rubbed her hands in front of the flame. "Thanks for your help. I'd probably be much worse off if you didn't find me. I can't imagine what I'd do if some bad guy found me or..."
There was a flash of lightning and thunder to interrupt her statement. But that's not what stopped her speech. Instead, there was a figure at the door. It was humanoid, but hard to make out. However, she still remained tense when they walked into the room. They wore a hood, gas mask, and trenchcoat. That wasn't the alarming part. What was, was the pistol they aimed at the redhead. It was hard to make out if it was a man or woman due to the attire.
Sophia, harsh this time, asked, "Who are you?" It was clear that she was used to this to a degree. Something Shoto definitely wasn't, but hid well under his mask of stoicism.
The stranger's voice confirmed it was a girl. Young, by the sounds of it, and with a familiar sounding accent, "My name is not important. I just need a place by the fire."
The redhead relaxed. "If that's all you want, go ahead. We don't mind, right?" She looked at Shoto, who nodded, not taking his gaze from the gun until she lowered it.
"Good, you two are reasonable."
Shoto wanted to ask: And reasonable means pointing a gun at strangers? But he kept his mouth closed. Not just because it'd be rude, but also because he didn't quite know how to pronounce some of the words in English.
"I am! And so is... Shoto, right?"
He nodded, but still kept an uncertain eye on her.
"Don't worry about him, he's quiet, but he understands us completely."
She looked at him warily, but then looked into the fire instead. "Can you be sure?"
"Well, he found me knocked out, and didn't do anything, so... there's that."
"I see." Her respect towards the boy rose slightly, but she was still wary of both of them. "Why are you here?"
"I'm on an adventure to stop the root once and for all! I know it has something to do with that tower on the atoll out there..." She gestured, and they could make out a lighthouse-like structure far away, separated by water, but clear as day when lightning flashed. So that's her goal...
"What about him?"
He thought about it for a long moment. After all, this was something that was predetermined before arriving... wherever he was now. What did he want to do? He was a weapon without purpose, far from home. This place didn't have quirks, or Sophia wouldn't have reacted that way. And the way his acted... well, it was almost as if it was suppressed. "Lost. No purpose."
That satisfied her answer for now. It was then that they both noticed what he was wearing. In a survival situation, it was not ideal. It was too bright, too distinctive. And it didn't offer much protection. The redhead didn't want to pry, but the other did. "So... what's with the getup?"
"Hard... explain. Was... uniform. Before... lost." He tried his best to be clear, vague, and concise with the English that he knew.
They seemed to understand. Sophie reiterated. "So, that is your normal attire before you got lost and now are alone? That's rough. But I'm sure you will be alright. After all, I'll help! There's bound to be people nearby..."
The stranger nodded. "There is. I heard about them from a wise man in the city. That way." She pointed the direction she came. "Have supplies. Can work with them."
The redhead made a fist and pulled it down, in a gesture similar to a pulling action, before extending her arm out in celebration. "Hell yeah!"
Shoto smiled, amused at the antics, while the stranger just looked at her... strangely. "Is she always like this?"
The boy spoke, slightly amused at the redhead's antics. While he had no love for her, at this point, she was definitely endearing in a way. They were in the same boat together, after all, no need to be hostile. "Yes."
"How?"
He shrugged, and the stranger shook her head in disbelief. It was then that Sophia yawned, before leaning back into the wall and closing her eyes. As she fell asleep, gravity pulled her into resting against the boy. He didn't mind it, surprisingly. The stranger looked between the two of them. "You certainly trust each other."
"Sophia... naive. Trusting. Kind." That kind of person had been missing from his life for a long time, and now that she was here... it made it difficult to want to leave her behind.
The stranger nodded in agreement, "That she is... I'm sorry about pointing the gun at you. It was just a precaution."
He nodded, and buried the hatchet. This was not a time to create discord between people. Clearly something here was very, very wrong, and they'd need to work together. "That's fine."
Seeing that he could still stay awake, she hesitantly placed her rifle next to where she sat, then laid down onto the ground, and closed her eyes. She must be used to sleeping on the ground. I'll keep watch, then...
But he was lying to himself as he fell asleep soon after, his eyelids heavy from the warp here. Wherever here is, anyway...