Work Text:
It was a snowy day.
Snowflakes dropped gently on Midoriya's shoulders. He clutched his satchel that carried his camera and stared at the familiar house just a few meters away from him. It was a prodigious traditional Japanese house with an old and heavy history in its walls. Midoriya had only been inside it a few times throughout the years to visit his old mentor. Many believe that his mentor walks through the shoji doors of this home in solitude.
Those close to the man, like Midoriya, knew to expect one more person roaming those halls.
Midoriya walked to the front gate and rang the doorbell, its modernity seemed out of place next to an intricate—practically ancestral—gate. The doorbell rung three times before the sound of the intercom interrupted it.
"You're here earlier than I expected," a cheery voice spoke. "Let me open the gate for you!"
The hefty gates opened remotely and the house became even more grandeur. Midoriya now saw the perfectly trimmed garden with multiple maple trees, elegantly dark branches reaching for the sky and a spotless slated pathway dusted with snow, that led to the dark double doors.
One of the doors slid open and a slim man with ashen blonde locks came into view. He wore a black cotton sweater over a loose white dress shirt, and black pants. Of course, Midoriya knew exactly who he was.
"Nice to see you Haw—I mean Commissioner Takami," Midoriya awkwardly greeted with a bow. The blonde man chuckled and lifted his right hand.
"No need to be so formal, Midoriya. You can call me Keigo," the former number two hero stated. "After all these years, I am still getting used to it but it is my name, isn't it?"
Keigo flashed his wide grin—the one famously loved by everyone, but Midoriya knew it didn't reach his eyes. Before Midoriya could respond, Keigo stepped aside and gestured for Midoriya to enter.
He took off his shoes by the entrance and stepped further into the house. Midoriya scanned around his immediate area and noticed a difference since the last few times he visited. The layout remained mainly the same, but the walls had more life to them. Family pictures and art portraits adorned the what was once barren walls. The genkan had several colorful shoes that definitely belonged to Keigo. The hanger had several coats, long and small, belonging to the two former heroes that lived here. There was a small cabinet to the side where Midoriya noticed two watches, some shiny trinkets, and what seemed like a Shouto key-chain. One half of it had an iceberg and the other half was a flame.
Keigo stood beside Midoriya and noticed he was eyeing the key-chain.
"He won't admit it, but he loves collecting small merch of Shouto," Keigo explained, "he's becoming a big softie." Midoriya looked back at him and observed how Keigo's eyes softened when talking about the former number one. Midoriya smiled and sighed gently.
"He's probably really proud of Shouto," Midoriya commented. "Does…Shouto visit?"
He knows Shouto visits, since Shouto himself told him during one of their outings. He doesn't know much about how it goes, given Shouto's bluntness most of the time. Midoriya just hoped he hadn't asked a tough question.
Keigo nodded. "He comes when he has time. Obviously, I see him a lot more given my job, but he still manages to come with Fuyumi for dinner."
Midoriya smiled widely. "I'm glad to hear that!"
Keigo huffed a laugh. "Well, I know you're here for him so let me take you quickly." Midoriya nodded and followed Keigo through the long hallway. Midoriya took in the scenery at the center of the Todoroki house. There was a spacious garden, the plants mostly blanketed in snow but well kept even during the harsh season. A handmade koi pond enriched the garden with a small ornate bridge sat atop its waters.
"Tokoyami mentioned you have been doing this picture project," Keigo informed him as they walked. "So I wasn't too surprised when you called about this."
The mention of his old classmate brought a smile to Midoriya's face. "Yes, I spoke to him a few weeks ago about it. I actually have been meaning to take a photo of you both since I know you join him during patrols."
Keigo's pace slowed down; almost as if he was contemplating something.
"I wouldn't say I'm actively joining him on patrols," Keigo admitted. "More like we meet on a high rooftop and I see him…fly."
Keigo almost whispered the last word, and even if Midoriya can't see Keigo's face, he knows Keigo isn't smiling this time. Midoriya looked down at the wooden floor and knew he wanted to comfort a former hero he admired. If anyone knows the pain of losing their quirk—it would be Midoriya.
Currently, Keigo is the Commissioner of the Heroes Public Safety Commission. It's an important role in this modern age of heroes, where it isn't much about organizing missions to capture villains, but more about rebuilding affected communities and guiding heroes towards other goals such as quirk counseling. Keigo does it with the energy of a bright sun and a wide smile. He has helped communities affected by the war, changed how heroes are recognized for their work, and started several campaigns aiming at helping civilians with difficult quirks. He has accomplished all of those great things, but Midoriya knows Keigo misses his wings and the sky.
Yet, Midoriya knows Keigo would always choose to lose his wings than ever lose Tsukuyomi.
"The provisional license exam is next week," Keigo mentioned, stopping in front of a door at the end of the hallway and placing his hand on the door handle without opening it. He looked back at Midoriya with a gentle expression. "Tokoyami will help me with it and then we will do some light patrols together. You're free to join if you want."
"Of course! That will be a perfect time for a picture," Midoriya replied enthusiastically. Keigo nodded and winked before sliding the door open. Midoriya entered a vast, naturally-lit kitchen with an impressive island in the middle filled with fruits in a basket and some freshly cleaned pots. At the right side of the kitchen was a small wooden table with a view of the center garden.
Beside the table sat Enji Todoroki, wearing a dark blue yukata, gazing at the peaceful snowy garden. He was facing away from Midoriya, focused only on the falling snow.
"Midoriya came to see you," Keigo gleefully announced, making his way to the kitchen. He gestured at Midoriya with his head to approach his old mentor.
His old mentor. Endeavor. Never has there been a more polarizing hero. With flames that can protect and destroy at the same time. A haunting blaze hungry for life that no matter what occurred; that blaze was too stubborn to die.
Yet, beside Midoriya wasn't Endeavor. It was Enji Todoroki, a retired hero with scars that reached far beneath him. A man still at war with himself. A man who wears his shames and regrets like a tattoo.
Midoriya sees the wrinkles of age on Enji's face, the subtle pink with vibrant red hair strands, and sharp turquoise eyes gazing at him.
"Is that so?" Enji spoke, his deep voice still intimidating Midoriya after all these years. Though, his tone wasn't firm or hoarse as Midoriya was used to during his mentorship with Endeavor.
"Yes, Mr. Todoroki," Midoriya began, "I have been taking pictures of people who have been important to me."
Enji raised an eyebrow. "Pictures…of people…important to you?"
The old man said it slowly, as if trying to decipher a secret code through it. Midoriya grinned and nodded.
"Yes. You were my mentor and I wouldn't have become stronger if it weren't for you."
Enji huffed lightly, placing his left arm on the table. "You became strong through your own hard work, Midoriya. You didn't need me."
Midoriya furrowed his brows and shook his head. "I disagree. I didn't know how to balance or use my moves at the same time. You helped me learn how to use them as if they were instinct. You not only pushed me to improve, but also Dynamight and Shouto. Maybe they won't admit it, but I saw it. So, when I tell you that I became stronger because of you—I mean it."
Enji's eyes widened and he sat there with his mouth agape. A few seconds passed before he glanced down at the table with heavy eyes.
"I was just preparing you for the inevitable war. I'm not a good mentor…or a good man, Midoriya. Plus my face…these scars…"
"Just let your old intern do his little project, love". Keigo interrupted Enji's plaintive speech, walking towards the older man with a can of iced coffee. Enji squinted his eyes in annoyance, but he didn't reply back to the blonde man. Midoriya inferred that Mr. Todoroki was used to Keigo's antics.
Keigo stood before Enji and extended his left arm with the can of iced coffee. "Here. They finally restocked our favorite coffee."
"It's cold outside," Enji said matter-of-factly, making Keigo roll his eyes.
"So the man with a quirk called Hellflame can't regulate his own body heat?"
Enji sputtered incomprehensible words and blinked quickly a few times. "It's not that simple with internal heat—whatever, just give me that!" Enji said, opting to not argue with the blonde man. Keigo beamed, and Midoriya could see a faint light in his eyes, like the sun appearing after a gloomy, rainy day.
Keigo leaned down and pressed a kiss to Enji's forehead. It was so quick and like second nature for the couple. Keigo whispered a few words to Enji, but Midoriya couldn't decipher the words. Keigo then straightened up and slowly walked back to the kitchen.
Midoriya then saw it. A calm, soft smile and turquoise eyes filled with devoted adoration. A man in an internal war with himself, finally, has a moment of peace, and it only took him seeing the sun.
It was as if Midoriya wasn't present in the room—and that's how he knew it was the perfect moment. He quickly grabbed his camera and took the picture he came for in the first place.
The flash of the camera was instant, which made Enji focus back his attention to Midoriya. Enji didn't mention anything, and from the blush creeping up his cheeks, he likely knows that the picture showed him smiling at Keigo.
There was a time when Midoriya might have felt apologetic for his old mentor's embarrassment, but this time it is different. He has a picture of his old mentor with a second of peace after all that has happened. A picture of a man atoning for his past actions in a rare moment of intimacy with someone who would stay beside him through it all.
A picture of Endeavor: a man who refuses to give up.
After that moment, Midoriya kept conversing with Enji and Keigo about his role as a teacher. Enji provided some training tips that could be useful for Midoriya's students and also mentioned his charity work with Toshinori. Keigo offered Midoriya to stay for dinner, but the green-haired man refused. He informed them that he had dinner plans with the Tenya brothers.
Midoriya bowed to his old mentor at the end of it all. Enji smiled for the second time that afternoon. "It was nice seeing you again, Midoriya." were his parting words before Keigo guided him to the front door.
At the grand double doors once more, Midoriya bowed at Keigo and walked a few steps outside before Keigo stopped him. Midoriya noticed an absence of the charming and smiling eyes that the Commissioner is known for. Keigo's eyes were large and glossy, his lips parted, and his hand hesitant to fully reach out to Midoriya.
"I just wanted to say," Keigo began, his tone devoid of playfulness. "He seemed pretty happy with your visit. I guess…just remember you can come visit when you want…or have time." Keigo finished weakly, pulling back his arm from Midoriya and clinging to the door.
Midoriya's eyes widened, unaccustomed to seeing Keigo vulnerable. Midoriya quickly composed himself and nodded feverishly. "Of course! I will let you know when I come to visit."
Keigo's eyes gleamed and the blonde man nodded before gently closing the door. Midoriya chuckled lightly before stepping out of the front gate of the Todoroki house.
A bird and a flame—a phoenix. What a couple.
Midoriya thought about the caption for the picture once he finished his album. He recalls the tender way Keigo brought the drink to Enji. A simple gesture yet it showed the bond between the two former heroes. Midoriya isn't super poetic when it comes to romance, so he decided on an easy but powerful caption. One that includes a certain blonde man out of frame.
'Hawks is so thoughtful.'