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Todoroki limped into his apartment. His side exploded in pain, and he hissed. He removed the top of his hero costume and clenched his teeth as he removed his undershirt. The pain in his side spread, rattling his bones.
Bracing against the wall, he removed his boots, then his pants, leaving a trail of clothes to the bedroom. Todoroki sighed as the hot water cascaded down his body, washing away the sweat and dirt.
Once clean and dry, he put on a pair of baggy blue lounge shirts and a white V-neck T-shirt, one that didn’t rub. Shoto used his quirk and pressed a cold hand to the wound.
"Shit,” he sighed.
The fact that he struggled so much on something so dumb twisted in his gut. He should have seen that attack coming. If he weren’t so focused on the guy with the scissor quirk, he would have been prepared for the bear. Todoroki was strong, but he didn’t have super strength. Normally, he was better at using fire to keep enemies off him.
The villains destroyed two convenience stores because he’d been careless.
Todoroki got a pot of tea going. He heard his phone buzz and ignored it. He didn’t want to hear the headlines. Number four messes up and lets villains destroy a city block. A heavy breath escaped his lips.
Moving through his cabinet, he pulled out a small black kettle, a gift from his mom, and a tin of black tea, a gift from Yaoyorozu. He preferred green to the stronger and more bitter black, but having the tea reminded him of her. It had been a few days since they had talked. She was one of his best friends, although recently he’d been thinking about her differently.
He wondered how the curve of her jaw would feel against his cheek, her full, plump lips, and onyx eyes enchanting as a night’s sky. It disgusted him to think about it. Yaoyorozu was a strong and beautiful woman, so much more than a piece of meat to be gawked at. She’d gone on many rants and expressed in interviews many times that her costume made her quirk function as effortlessly as possible. She wasn’t looking to be a symbol of femininity and sexuality, but the media had made her one.
Todoroki was not proud to admit that his eyes had begun to linger. Not simply the way her hips swayed, or her chest bounced. She was elegance personified, wrapped in a rather alluring red bow. He recognized that any feelings he harbored stemmed from her brilliant mind and her selfless nature. Todoroki pressed the bridge of his nose, pushing the thoughts from his mind.
Todoroki made the tea and brought the kettle and a small cup to his seat in the living room. His side exploded when he sat down, and he added more cold to his right hand.
"Fucking idiot.”
His phone vibrated.
Todoroki pulled his phone from his pocket and saw Yaoyorozu on the caller ID. His heart began to beat faster. He swallowed.
"Yaoyorozu?”
"Todoroki,” she said brightly.
"I’ve said it many times. You can call me Shoto. It is my hero name.”
"Not until you call me Momo.”
Todoroki scoffed.
"Okay, Momo.”
"Shoto.”
His heart warmed hearing his first name on her lips.
"I just wanted to say congratulations on your successful stop with those three villains. They say all three had powerful quirks. One was a heteromorph with insane strength. He took out two buildings with one punch.”
Yeah, I was the debris.
"They’re saying it was a successful takedown?”
"Yes. It’s all over social media. Number four hero saves town from villains. You look very heroic in the photo, worn down, but heroic.”
There was a sparkle in her voice that made his chest warm.
"I see.”
"Shoto, are you okay?”
"Yeah. I’m fine,” he lied.
"You didn’t get hurt, did you?”
She was always so concerned about others.
"It’s nothing. Just a few bruised ribs.”
One is definitely broken.
“Shoto, did you go to the hospital? Did you get medical attention? Have you eaten?”
“Calm down. You sound like Midoriya.”
She sighed. “I . . . I can’t help it. I worry . . . about you.”
Todoroki blushed. The heat on his cheeks felt strange; the pounding in his chest stranger.
"I . . . also care for your well-being. Thank you, Yaoyorozu.”
"Momo.”
"Apologies. Slip of the tongue.”
"I could come over. If you were injured. I’d like to dress your wounds, and maybe I could make you dinner so you can rest.”
"That is very generous, but unnecessary.”
"I want to. Please.”
"If you insist.”
"I do.”
He scoffed.
"You have my address; just buzz my room when you get here.”
"I look forward to seeing you.”
"Yeah. Thank you, Momo.”
"See you soon.”
The line went dead, and Todoroki found his ears ringing; the silence of the room deafening.
“This is a bad idea.”
Yaoyorozu arrived about an hour later. Todoroki took the time to pick up and put on jeans.
"It’s good to see you, Shoto,” Momo said.
His heart almost skipped a beat looking at her. Her hair wasn’t in its usual ponytail. It was down and cut short, stopping at her shoulders. Her onyx eyes seemed to sparkle. She wore a white blouse with a long red skirt. Beautiful didn’t come close to describing her.
He swallowed and invited her in.
"Can I get you something to drink? I have the tea you got me. I think I have a wine around here, too.”
"Tea would be great. I brought wine for dinner. I know soba is your favorite, but I think that’s a meal even you can manage, so I figured I’d make something a little beyond your skill level.”
Todoroki scoffed.
"I trust you.”
She smiled at him, and his heart skipped.
Todoroki made tea and watched as Yaoyorozu worked through her cooking with the same refined precision she did everything. Her methodical nature and detail-oriented mind were among the many things he loved about her.
He passed her a cup of tea. She took a sip, and her eyes lit up, making his heart skip.
"Delicious. Thank you.”
"Thank you . . . for making dinner.”
"Of course. It’s nice . . .” she added diced vegetables to the large pot, which sizzed, and a sweet smell entered the air. “To cook for someone. I’ve had maids and chefs most of my life. It’s nice to do something for someone. It’s different from being a hero, but the little things matter just as much.”
"I understand. I’m not much of a cook.”
"I know, but there were many ways you’ve helped the rest of us at UA.” She smiled. “Me most of all.” She stirred. “I . . . I never told you how much I appreciate you for saving me during our finals first year. Knowing that you believed in me. It’s one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me.”
“I’m grateful I was able to help. You are amazing, Yaoyorozu.”
She added more ingredients, a blend of spices and sauces. Their savory aroma filled the apartment. He had smelled nothing that good since the last time he was at his sister’s, which was over a month ago. He needed to book a time to see her again, but he was busy being a hero.
"Thank you. You’re amazing too, Number Four.”
He scoffed.
"It’s just a number.”
“What you did today shows how strong you are.”
His fist clenched.
"Not strong enough.”
"What do you mean?”
She looked at him with concern on her face, making his chest tighten. He looked away.
"The news is . . . wrong. I . . . they painted me as a hero. That I was unstoppable. I’m not. I got hurt. I’m not All Might. I’m not my dad. Hell, Bakugou would have fared better against those three.”
"I don’t understand.”
"I wasn’t fast enough, so people got hurt. I’m the reason there was so much damage. They tossed me around like a rag doll. Yeah, I won, but it wasn’t . . . like how they say.”
"It’s fine. It’s social media. It’s the internet. They’re going to paint the heroes in the best light. Everyone does. Our lives are so much more complex than what fucking Instagram says.”
His eyes widened.
"What?”
"I’ve never heard you swear.”
She shrugged. “Maybe too much time with Bakugou, or maybe I just don’t care anymore.”
"You are amazing.”
She stirred.
"You shouldn’t blame yourself or feel a need to live up to the unrealistic expectations of the internet. We’re heroes; we do what we can, we save people at all costs, but we’re still human. We’re not invincible.” She sighed. “We know that best of all. Everyone we lost in the war.”
Todoroki stood next to her and rested his hand on her back before he knew what happened.
"I understand.”
"I—” she cut herself off when she turned. They were so close that their noses almost touched.
Todoroki knew he should pull away, but he couldn’t. He saw her full, glistening lips, then she sparkled in her dark eyes. He didn’t know who moved first; he didn’t care. They pressed their lips together.
Todoroki slid his hand up to cup her cheek. She parted her lips with a breath, letting his slot into place with hers. It was better than he had imagined it would be. Her lips were soft, tasted like cherries and home.
Then she touched his side, and he pulled away, biting back a hiss.
"Oh, I’m so sorry.”
"It’s fine,” he winced. He took a breath and looked back at her, holding his side with a cold hand. “Better than fine. I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”
She blushed.
"Me too.”
Todoroki stepped closer.
“Momo?” he waited for her to look at him. “What do you say to calling this a date?”
She blushed again, then smiled, making his heart skip.
"I’d love that.”
He smiled back at her. He watched her cook and felt the anxiety wash away. Nothing else mattered. Not the stretched truths of social media, not the guilt that once ached in his gut, nor the pain on his side. The only thing that mattered was that he was there with her.