The Hellish Todorokis

by LexiConway

Summary:

When he was 14, Touya Todoroki burned to death at Sekoto Peak. Three years later, he woke up in a strange facility with one goal in mind - to get home. But when he finally escapes and makes it back to the Todoroki Estate, he walks into a nightmare he’s all too familiar with. One look at the terror written all over his baby brother’s face and he knows - he has to save him. Even if it kills him.

 

Or: what would happen if Dabi's reason to live wasn't to get revenge against his father, but to save his brother's future instead?

Chapter 1

The first sound Touya hears after waking up is a consistent beep. He opens his eyes to bright fluorescent lights, squinting until his eyes adjust. Turning his head, he finds the source of the noise - a heartbeat monitor. Am I in a hospital? He looks down at the plain blanket draped over him, before bringing his hands up to his face. He lets out a startled gasp when he sees the skin grafts cutting both of his palms in half - his fingers showing healthy skin while the rest of his arm is a light purple. Burn scars. He hears his heartbeat speed up on the machine next to him. 

What happened? The last thing I remember is Sekoto Peak. Did I pass out? How am I alive?

He carefully sits up and swings his legs over the bed, pausing for a moment when his head starts to spin. Taking a deep breath, he rips the IV out of his arm and disconnects all the sensors from his body, then unplugs the monitor from the wall when it won’t stop making noise. 

Willing himself to stand, he steadies himself with one hand on the bed as he finds his balance. Carefully, he walks towards the door, hoping it’s a way out and not just another room. I have to get home. Dad will be looking for me. He walks down the corridors, studying the layout as he goes, taking in all the possible exit points. He needs to stay alert in case he has to make it out of here quickly. He wishes he had looked around the room first for supplies. There was no guarantee he’d be back there if things went bad.

Hearing faint chatter from up ahead, he follows the noise and peers into the window of a room housing a dozen or so children, all looking on as a man with a flower, or maybe a sun, as a face talks animatedly to the group. As Touya opens the door, the chatter stops, all the occupants turning to look at him with wide eyes.

“Sleepyhead’s finally awake!” one of the girls calls.

“W-where am I?” Is that my voice? Why does it sound so different? Touya brings his hand up to his throat, unsure. His voice had a raspy tone to it that he had never noticed before. As if his throat was dry or he had been coughing, but it didn’t feel any different.

He listens on with growing horror as the girl tells him he was ‘home’. That he had been asleep for three years and they had all been waiting for him to wake up and join them. No. No no no. That can’t be true. This isn’t my home. My home is with Dad and Fuyumi and Natsuo and Shouto. This isn’t home. I need to get back. They must be looking for me.

He backs towards the door, shaking his head frantically. “No. I need to go home. I need to leave.”

“Oh! We can’t let you do that, buddy,” the guy with the sun face says cheerfully, moving towards him with a placating hand up in front of him. “Why don’t you just calm down and - “

“NO!” he screams, his breathing picking up as he starts to panic. “I’m going home. Don’t come any closer!” He could feel his flames rushing to the surface, feeding off of his emotions. He had felt the same happen at Sekoto - he had gotten so emotional that his flames had consumed him. He needed to control it this time. He had to control it enough to get out of here.

He lets out another lick of flames in warning, stopping the sun guy from coming any closer. He continues to back out of the room into the hallway. As the door closes, he turns and runs back towards the room he woke up in. He could hear the sun guy yelling at him to stop from behind him, but he didn't dare turn around and look. He swings out an arm behind him, sending out his flames. He hopes it’s enough to discourage anyone from following him.

He doesn’t stop until he gets back to the room, closing the door and ramming a chair underneath the handle. He looks around frantically for supplies. Anything he could use once he left. He finds an empty duffle bag and starts stuffing it full of medical supplies and a pair of scrubs he finds hanging in the closet.

He startles as banging comes from the direction of the door. He could see the sun guy and two other men dressed in all black trying to get in. He looks around the room once more, shoving the blanket he’d been covered with in the bag as well, before looking back towards the men.

“I’m warning you! Let me leave or else!”

“We just want to talk, Touya. Please, don’t resist.” More pounding on the door as they try to break through.

They weren’t going to let him leave. He could tell by the way they braced themselves for a fight. They were going to do whatever it took to make him comply. There was no other way. He grits his teeth, putting his arms out in front of him and calling his flames to the surface. The flames burst towards the door at record speed, the orange turning to blue as Touya concentrates all his efforts on increasing the heat. The banging on the door stops as it goes up in flames, the glass being blown out by the intensity. In its place, Touya hears screams. He doesn’t let up, ignoring the pain shooting through his hands, until the screams start to die out. When it goes silent, he pulls back his flames, cautiously moving towards the doorway before stepping out. Three charred bodies lay in the hallway, all facing away from the room as if they had tried to run.

Touya swallows down the bile in his throat. He had done what he had to do. What he had to do to survive. He looks away quickly before the image fully soaks into his mind and starts walking towards the door with an ‘exit’ sign above it. He looks back once before slipping out, but the hallway is eerily quiet, just the gentle crackling of blue flames as they start to creep up the walls and spread. Entering the alleyway on the side of the building, he takes in a breath of the cool night air and starts jogging. He has to get home.

 

***********************************

 

Walking up to the gate, the estate looks just the way he remembers. The traditional Japanese architecture stands proud against the modernity of the rest of the neighborhood. The high wall runs along the entire border. Prying eyes can’t see in and the prisoners inside can’t get out. Touya takes a deep breath, holding onto hope that things have changed. They can’t be the same as they were before. Three years is plenty of time to fix things, right?

He slowly swings open the front gate, trying to keep his steps light. He wants to surprise everyone. He can’t wait to see the joy on Natsuo’s face when he sees him. Or the look of pride in his dad’s eyes when he realizes Touya was strong enough to survive. Or the awe in Shouto’s eyes as he realizes his big brother came back for him.

His relationship with Sho had always been testy. Touya could admit that, at first, he was insanely jealous of and self-conscious about his brother. He was the same with Fuyumi and Natsuo at first, since he wanted to be Endeavor’s successor and no one else, but that had died down when they both got ice quirks. They were defective, like him, but neither had fire, so dad never took the time to actually train them. His fire, however, was special. His fire was powerful. Even without his mother's ice, dad said he could make a great hero that could surpass him one day. 

But then Shouto came along, and when it was confirmed that he had both fire and ice at age three, Touya had been inconsolable. The moment they came home from the doctors, Enji told Touya he wouldn’t be training him anymore. That he’d find someone else to do it, but that he couldn’t be bothered now that Shouto needed him. That Shouto would be taking his place since he had ‘more potential’. At that moment, Touya thought he hated Shouto. The boy who had taken away Touya’s dream, just from being born. He had lashed out, trying to burn his baby brother, and his parents kept them apart after that.

It didn't take long for Touya to realize how wrong he was. He saw the burn marks littering Shouto’s tiny body. The bruises and cuts and swollen eyes whenever he came out of the training room, swaying unsteadily behind Enji as he was led to his room. Touya’s training had been rough but nothing like that. He heard Shouto cry every night behind the closed door of his room and felt his heart break in two. He saw the fear in his brother’s eyes and realized that none of what happened was Shouto’s fault. He wasn’t the enemy; he was a victim. He didn’t want what was happening to him. He didn’t want to be Endeavor’s successor. He hadn’t wanted to take Touya’s place.

So, Touya started training again, trying to do his best to control his quirk and increase his flames. Maybe, if he could impress Endeavor, he would train Touya instead and give Shouto a break. Maybe, if he could prove that he had what it takes to be the hero his father had trained him to be, his brother would have an easier time.

Then, one day, he burst into his dad’s office, finally ready to show off his power. He had increased his heat enough to make blue flames. Not only could he make them, but he could also hold the heat consistently. He had only seen Endeavor do that in short bursts, and he was always winded afterwards. He was finally ready to prove he could take Shouto’s place. He excitedly bounced from one foot to the other, imploring his Father to come to Sekoto Peak with him, like old times, because he had a surprise. It had taken a lot to convince him, but finally his father had snapped, telling him he’d be there, before shooing him out of the office.

But that night, Endeavor never showed. As Touya sat there waiting, he realized he had failed. He couldn’t keep his baby brother safe. He couldn’t be a hero. He couldn’t be anything other than a failure. All the hard work he’d put in, all the burns on his arms and stomach from training, all for nothing. His failure, his guilt, his loneliness all built up inside him until he caught fire and -

A loud roar coming from inside the house pulls Touya from those memories. With shaky fingers, he reaches up to the front door and pulls it open, exhaling sharply as he steps inside the familiar space. The loud noises are coming from the training area. Keeping quiet, he walks down the hallway towards the sounds, checking each room as he passes. Everything looks as though he had left yesterday. As if the entire house was put into a time capsule and left there for him to find.

He pauses when he comes to the door of his room, his hand reaching up to push the door open as another loud boom sounds from down the hall, drawing his attention again. He decides to leave his room for now and keeps making his way towards the noise. As he gets closer, he can see the door of the training room cracked open.

His breath catches in his throat as he takes in the scene in front of him. Shouto is hunched in a corner, cowering with tears streaming down his face, as a furious Enji stands above him, flames on full display. Several pieces of equipment tossed around the room are up in flames, casting an orange glow. He stays hidden behind the door, watching his brother whimper with fear as he covers his head with his tiny arms. Nothing has changed. Shouto is still being abused in the name of training, Enji is still abusing his child in the name of surpassing All Might, and Touya is standing there helpless. The fear in his brother’s eyes is the same as it was three years ago. Just like this house, nothing has changed. His death wasn’t enough to change his father's insatiable greed. 

A sharp feeling of betrayal and resentment slices at his gut. Underneath it all, he feels a quiet rage growing hotter and hotter. He was stupid to think that his death would matter. Not to his father. Nothing mattered to his father except for power. Power he was now forcing onto Shouto. Power that would destroy everything he touched. Including his baby brother.

Touya turns back and strides purposefully towards his room before quickly ducking inside and closing the door. He tries to control his breathing as blue flames flicker on the tips of his fingers. He should just leave and never come back. He could find another way to bring Enji down. He didn’t have the strength or experience to fight him now and hope to win. He should save that fight for later.

A light pattering of footsteps sounds, coming down the hall from the training room. Pressing up against the wall, he holds his breath as they pass, a muffled sniffling following them into the room next door. Shouto’s room. In the distance, he hears the front door slam. Endeavor must be leaving for his patrol. Touya’s at least glad that schedule hasn’t changed in the past three years. It means he has a few hours before he’ll be back home. Putting his ear to the wall connecting the two rooms, he can hear Shouto crying, growing louder as the minutes pass by.

He looks around at his old room, truly taking in how much it hasn’t changed in the last three years. It was as if he never left. Did they even notice I was gone? With Shouto still crying in the background, he starts to form a plan in his head. There’s no guarantee it will work, but he has to try. His life has to mean something, and this is his last chance to make things right. 

He goes to his closet, pulling out the large camping backpack he kept in there, and starts filling it with the supplies he took from the hospital. After those are all packed, he quietly walks to the dresser to find some extra clothes, but quickly realizes he’s grown out of most of it. He’ll just have to buy some later. He finds a baggy shirt and some pants that had been too big for him when he left and slips those on, thankful when they actually fit somewhat comfortably. He shoves on a pair of shoes and his old, baggy winter coat from the back of the closet. I guess being in a coma for so long doesn’t really allow you to grow that much. Searching through the drawer, he finds the sock he had filled with money from the meager allowance Endeavor had given him, and stuffs it in the bottom of the backpack. He leaves all his toys and personal items behind. He has no use for those anymore.

Quietly, he slips out of the bedroom, before gently pulling open the door to Shouto’s room. His baby brother is curled up on his futon, face buried in the pillow while sobs rack his small body. His heart shatters as he takes in the burn marks and bruises on his arms and legs. His resolve grows as he hears the boy muttering to himself. 

“I don’t want to be like dad. I don’t want to be a hero that hurts people.” Touya closes the door behind him before taking a cautious step forward. “I wish Touya was here. Why’d he have to leave? I hate it here. Natsuo and Fuyumi don’t understand.” 

Touya swallows the lump in his throat before taking another step forward. He clears his throat and Shouto’s head pops up, eyes wide with surprise and fear at the intruder. He scrambles up and pushes himself into the corner when he sees Touya standing there awkwardly, not sure what to say next.

“Hey, Sho,” he decides, giving his brother an awkward smile. Shouto’s eyes get impossibly wider, and he shakes his head in disbelief. “T-Touya-nii?”

One small nod is all it takes for him to leap up from the futon and launch himself into Touya’s arms. Touya struggles to catch him, caught off guard by his affection, before putting his arms around the sobbing boy. “Shhh, it’s okay, Sho. I’m here. Just breathe, you’re okay,” he coos at him, hoping to calm him down. His hand comes up to pet his dual-colored hair as the boy continues crying. He feels his own eyes grow wet with tears.

“H-how? Y-you’re supposed to be d-dead!” Shouto cries out, burying his face further into Touya’s chest. He pulls away slightly and can see Shouto’s eyes studying the skin graft peeking out from the collar of his shirt. “W-what happened?”

“It’s a long story. We don’t have time right now, but I survived, and I came back for you, Sho. I couldn’t leave you here alone.”

“B-but when dad sees you - “ Touya kneels down to his level. “Dad won’t know. Listen Shouto, I’m leaving.” He pauses at the look of rejection on his brother’s face. “And I want you to come with me.”

Shouto’s eyes shoot up, searching his face for any sign that he’s lying. He glances at the backpack laying near the door before his mismatched eyes shoot back to Touya’s vibrant blue ones. “Come with you? Where?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m getting you out of here, Sho. We’ll find somewhere, I promise. But it’ll be somewhere far away from father. Somewhere he can’t hurt you. Do you want that?” Touya studies his brother’s face intently. His sad eyes light up at the seriousness on Touya’s face. He violently nods his head, determination taking over his features.

“Okay. You need to pack. Quickly. We need to leave as soon as possible. Do you have a backpack you can use?” Shouto wipes his face with his sleeve and runs over to his closet and pulls out a backpack similar to his own, except smaller. “Okay. Can you pack some clothes in there? Make sure you get some of everything. Pack anything else you might need but only essentials. We can buy everything else once we’re somewhere safe.” He steps towards the door.

“Wait! Where are you going?” Shouto calls out frantically.

“I need to grab something from dad’s office,” Touya turns and steps towards him, grabbing his arms and kneeling in front of him. “I promise, I’m not leaving this house without you. Okay?” Shouto nods hesitantly. “Hurry up and pack. I’ll be back in a minute.”

He leaves the room as Shouto starts pulling his drawers open, stuffing clothes in the pack. Walking into his dad’s office, he heads straight for the massive safe he knows he keeps in the back of the closet. It’s fireproof, but it’s also made to hold up against Enji’s flames, not Touya's. He smirks to himself. Good thing my flames are hotter. He concentrates all his energy onto the lock until it starts melting, glowing blue from the heat. He grits his teeth as the skin on his hand starts tingling. 

Careful to keep his flames controlled, he watches the lock melt off until he’s able to pull the door open. Inside, large stacks of money lay unharmed. It had just been a hunch, but Enji had always kept a significant amount of money in his office, ‘just in case’ something happened. Well, something happened, and its name was Touya. He grabs it all, stuffing it into his pockets and carrying the rest in his arms as he leaves his dad’s office, not bothering to close the safe or the door, and shuffles back to Shouto’s room.

Shouto was sitting on the futon, backpack stuffed, a look of awe on his face as Touya walked in, as if he still couldn’t believe what was happening. Touya unzips his backpack, stuffing all the money inside, thankful when it all fits with some room to spare. He looks towards Shouto with a soft smile, “Do you have everything you need?” Shouto nods enthusiastically.

Touya grabs the boy’s winter coat and hat from the hooks on the wall before tossing them over. “Put these on, it’s cold out. Plus, your hair is, uh, pretty recognizable right now.” Shouto hurriedly puts on his coat and shoves the hat on his head, a couple loose strands of hair stubbornly sticking out. Touya walks over and brushes them underneath, so they aren’t as noticeable, before zipping up his coat. “Ready to go?” Shouto nods again, picking up his backpack and pulling on the straps, before taking Touya’s outstretched hand.

Touya leads Shouto out the back gate to the side street, since it was less noticeable than leaving out the front gate. Plus, there would be less of a chance of running into Endeavor or one of their other siblings. Touya feels a twinge of guilt at not waiting to see Fuyumi or Natsuo, but there was no time. There was no guarantee that Endeavor wouldn’t come home early from patrol, and he had to get Shouto as far away as possible before they found out he was missing. His siblings would be fine, though. Enji had always ignored them. He wasn’t interested in training their quirks, and Touya doubted he would start now.

Shouto jogs along at Touya’s side, trying to keep up as the boy pulls him farther from the estate. “Touya-nii, you’re so fast!” he whines.

“I know, Sho. But we gotta hurry. Just until we get to the train station, okay?” He keeps his voice calm, eyes scanning their surroundings cautiously. The train station was only a few blocks away. Once they got there, they had options. They could disappear. Shouto must have understood, because his steps grew steadier, and his face scrunched in determination. A ghost of a smile graces Touya’s lips at how adorable he was.

They finally make it to the station and Touya leads them straight to the departures board. Where could we go? There were plenty of options, but he didn’t want to risk a large city like Tokyo, since it also had a high saturation of pro heroes that would be after them once word got out that Shouto was missing. They had to go far enough away that they wouldn’t accidentally run into Endeavor or heroes that Endeavor might work with. He runs down the list of trains leaving within the next hour. Fukuoka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hosu? He glanced at the train schedule. The next train was going towards Fukuoka. Hmmm…that’s about six hours away. Far enough from Enji and not big enough to be swarmed with pro heroes. Mind made up, he pulls Shouto along to the kiosk and purchases their two one-way tickets.

When the train arrives, Touya boards with Shouto in tow and finds their private cabin. Thank you, Enji, for your hospitality. He sets their backpacks aside and helps Shouto out of his coat, reminding the boy to keep the hat on until they get somewhere safe. He can see the boy is exhausted, his eyes are drooping and he’s swaying on his feet. “Come on bud, lay down and get some rest.” He pats the bed and gestures at him to lay down. Shouto looks at him, unsure. “I’m not going anywhere, Sho. I promise. I’ll be right here when you wake up,” he appeases him softly, resting a hand on his head.

Seemingly happy with that answer, he lays down on the bed, pulling the blanket over himself until just his eyes are peaking out. When Touya goes to move over to his own bed, Shouto’s arm shoots out, his tiny hand grabbing his wrist. “No, stay. Please.” He looks up at Touya with fearful eyes. Touya responds by scooting him over and laying down next to him, one arm pillowing his head and the other curling around the boy. “Sleep, Sho. I’m here,” he whispers as he watches his little eyes flutter closed.

 

***********************************

 

With an hour left until they reach their destination, Touya stares up at the ceiling of their cabin, reeling over the last 24 hours. He had slept for a couple hours but that’s all his body would allow. Maybe it was the fact that he had been asleep for the last three years, but he just wasn’t tired like he probably should be. Shouto, on the other hand, was still sleeping like a rock. The boy’s chubby hands clung to Touya’s sweatshirt; face buried into his chest as he slept. There had been a couple times where the boy would whimper or clutch at him harder, but thankfully Touya had been able to just rub his back and shush him back to sleep.

He examines his brother, currently curled up to his chest. His face was still familiar, the ugly red scar from his mother standing out on the left side of his face, but he had lost some of his 'baby' features since Touya had last seen him. He had his mother's soft eyes, delicate eyelashes fluttering softly as he slept. His hair was still cut right down the middle, his right half white and his left half red. Touya thought back to his own hair, now a stark white, not a single strand of red to be found. When his white had first started showing, he had hated it. Enji had hated it and accused the boy of dying it. Now, he was thankful for his mother's genetics. He was already cursed with Enji's eyes. He didn't want his hair color too. He sighs, rubbing a hand over his face carefully, not wanting to wake up Sho. 

Laying his head back to stare at the ceiling of the cabin, he goes over the next steps in his head for the thousandth time since waking up. Shelter, food, water, disguises. He needed to do something about Shouto’s hair. Not to mention those damn eyes. He wondered how hard it would be to get colored contacts without drawing suspicion. With the way Shouto looks now, there’s nowhere they’d be able to go in Japan without everyone knowing exactly who’s kid he was, especially once news broke out. If the news hadn’t broken already. It had been almost six hours since they left the estate. On that note, he also needed to get a phone, if not for anything else, then just to stay updated.

Half an hour before their stop, he shakes Shouto awake. The kid had the audacity to look grumpy, which Touya thought was hilariously adorable. He’s sitting with his arms crossed on the bed, looking offended that his sleep had been interrupted. “We’re almost there, cranky pants. Make sure all your stuff is packed up.”

“I’m not cranky pants,” Shouto mutters, his lip pulling into a pout.

“Yeah, yeah, sure you aren’t,” Touya sasses back, rolling his eyes. He helps Sho put his coat on again, fixes the hat so his hair was hidden, and makes sure everything is packed away again. When their stop is called, he grabs Shouto’s tiny hand, pulling him out to the platform and into a new city and a new life.

Chapter 2

Summary:

Touya just being the best big brother there ever was

Notes:

Just a reminder going into this: Shouto is 8 years old at this time in the story. That being said, I know some of his mannerisms, actions, and behaviors are probably a little "immature" for his age under normal circumstances. But please remember, this kid has been socially and emotionally neglected for the majority of his life, and he has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to his emotional maturity. He's never had the chance to be a kid, so we're exploring that development before he can grow into himself :)

With the help of an older lady at the customer service center of the train station, Touya anxiously pulls Shouto along towards a hotel not too far away. After seeing the ‘breaking news’ alert light up the news bulletin as they got off the train, Shouto had kept his head bowed, hiding slightly behind Touya while crushing his hand in an iron grip. The kid was smart enough to know what would happen if he was recognized. Shouto’s face was everywhere . Every street corner, every electronic billboard, every screen they passed by. Of course it was, there’s no way Endeavour would let his little masterpiece go without a fight.

Paranoia presses in on him from all sides. He feels the stares of those that pass them by, eyes assessing, judging, accusing. Suffocating him with their intensity. Hushed whispers float on the breeze, flitting from one person to the other as they weave through the crowd. ‘Did you see the news? How terrible. What kind of monster would take a child? Poor boy, he’s probably so scared. Don’t worry, the heroes will rescue him. His father must be so worried. What a tragedy.’ Clutching Shouto’s hand tighter, Touya quickens his pace. He lets out a shaky breath of relief when he sees the hotel in the distance.

Before going in, he picks Shouto up, instructing the boy to keep his eyes closed and act like he’s sleeping. To his credit, he’s a pretty good actor for someone so young. With his head slumped against his shoulder, face hidden in the crook of his neck, Touya walks in and pays for a suite-style room for a week in cash, before thanking the receptionist and taking the room key. The hotel itself was nothing special. The dark green carpet looked worn and frayed in some areas and there were some scuffs on the walls that needed to be painted over, but it was in a nicer part of town and catered to business travelers, and they couldn’t be picky. It was a roof over their heads.

It was just temporary anyways. He would have to start looking right away for something more permanent. The money he had taken from Endeavor should give them a couple months to live off of, if they were careful, so he’d have to find somewhere relatively cheap to stretch that as long as possible. At 17, he wasn’t sure what kind of job he’d be able to get, especially without any form of ID, and he needed to make sure Shouto had everything he needed. He didn’t take him out of a shitty situation just to put him into another shitty situation. He would make sure Shouto was happy and healthy. He would give him the life he deserved. Even if it killed him.

After finding their room and swiping the key card, he kicks open the door to a spacious suite. There’s a small kitchenette with a mini fridge, microwave, sink, and a double burner cooktop. Beyond that is a living space with a small kitchen table, a floral-patterned couch and a TV. To the left are two doors, one leading into a bathroom and the other into a spacious bedroom with two double beds.

Touya looks down at Shouto to see him staring at the room in awe. This is probably the first time Shouto’s ever seen a hotel room, let alone been out of the estate besides doctor’s visits. Even then, the doctors usually came to the house. Enji liked to keep his little prodigy locked away from the world, and it’s easier to ignore the bruises when you’re paid to look the other way.

He forces a smile onto his face, masking his frustration. “What do you think, Sho?” Shouto takes a timid step into the space, looking around in wonder. “Is this where we’re gonna live?”

Touya shakes his head. “No, we’re just staying here for now. But we’re safe here, okay?” He picks up the backpack that Shouto had discarded on the floor before helping the boy out of his coat and hat, hanging them on the hooks by the door. He looks back to see Shouto playing with his hands nervously, his mouth wobbling. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

A tear rolls down his cheek. “W-what if they find us? I don’t want to go back, nii-san! I won’t go back,” he cries. Touya crouches and lets the boy wrap his arms around his neck, softly crying into his shirt.

“Shhh, it’s okay.” He rubs circles into Shouto’s back. “I promised you he would never hurt you again, remember?” He feels a soft nod against his shoulder as confirmation. “I meant it. No matter what, I’ll make sure you’re safe. I’ll make sure he can never hurt you again.” He tightens his hold on him, crushing him to his chest. “You never have to go back there as long as I’m still breathing.”

Touya continues to soothe him, changing his position to kneel on the floor in order to alleviate the pressure on his back. Shouto stays pressed into him, soaking his shirt in tears and wrinkling the fabric as he fists it in his hands. He gradually feels his brother loosen his hold, the cries turning into sniffles as he relaxes in his arms. He presses a kiss to the top of his head.

“Why don’t we find something to watch on TV? Sound good?” Touya asks softly. Shouto nods, shuffling towards the couch awkwardly, eyes puffy and red. When’s the last time he was allowed to just sit and watch cartoons like a normal kid?

Touya turns on the TV and shuffles through the channels, quickly passing by the news stations, before settling on some All Might cartoon. Shouto’s eyes widened. “How about this?”

“I’m allowed to watch All Might?” Shouto questions shakily, looking at Touya for confirmation. Touya reaches over and ruffles his hair. “From now on, you can watch whatever you want, buddy.” Shouto smiles hesitantly at him before looking back at the TV, an excited gleam shining in his eyes as the fight scene plays out. Touya smiles fondly at the boy before turning back to pick up their backpacks and deposit them in the bedroom.

Once out of Shouto’s sight, Touya lets himself slump forward onto the bed, tears wetting the comforter. He just needed a moment before he had to go back to being strong for his brother. Just one moment to bury the emotions that had been piling up since he woke up in that hospital bed. He silently cried, hands over his mouth to muffle the sound. He cried for the death of his old life, for the men he burned during his escape, for the home that hadn’t changed, for his brother’s suffering that he couldn’t stop. He cried out all the rage and frustration and sadness and neglect that had been festering in him since he was a child. He cried until his body was out of tears. Only then did he pull himself up, wipe his eyes, and force himself to focus back on the present. It wasn’t just him now. He had a purpose, someone who was counting on him. He couldn’t fail again. He couldn’t let Shouto down. My brother, my responsibility.  

Picking up the backpacks from the floor, he wearily empties out the contents of both onto the bed, putting away the clothes Shouto packed in the dresser. As he does, he takes stock of what he packed, so he can make a list of things he’ll need to pick up. All in all, the kid did a pretty good job. Probably a better job than Touya would’ve done at his age. Of course he would be good at following directions like the dutiful little hero Enji trained him to be. He could use some extra pairs of socks and underwear but should be fine with everything else he brought for now. Maybe another pair of shoes too, since all he had were the clunky boots Touya had shoved on him before leaving. They were good for the cold, but he’d need something else once the weather starts to warm up.

Finding a notebook and pen on top of one of the nightstands, he starts making a list. Food, socks and underwear (S), shoes (S+T), change of clothes (T), hair dye, colored contacts (?), burner phone, toys for Shouto?

Next, Touya lays out the stacks of money he had taken from the office. A little over 500,000 yen. He barks out a laugh. Enji was going to be pissed. He wondered what his dad thought when he saw the safe melted open. As far as he knows, Touya is dead, so there’d be no reason for him to think he’d been the one to do it. Did he think it was Shouto? Or was he blaming a villain? They hadn’t gone into specifics on the news besides the fact that Shouto was missing. Of course Endeavour wouldn’t want anyone to know someone could just break into the number two hero’s house and rob him dry as well. Pocketing a stack of the cash and locking the rest of it in the hotel safe, he rips the shopping list from the notebook before slipping it in his pocket and walking out to the main room.

Touya kneels in between Shouto and the TV, much to Shouto’s disappointment from the way he pouts at his brother. “Hey, Sho. I need to ask you an important question, okay? Then you can go back to watching your show.” Shouto just stares at him impassively, stealing peaks at the TV behind him. “I need you to wait here while I go out and get some supplies for us. Can you do that for me?”

Fear flashes through his eyes. “Y-you’re leaving?” He moves to grab Touya’s hand.

“Just for a little bit. There are some things we need but I can’t risk taking you with me. There’s a lot of people looking for you right now.” Shouto whines, gripping his hand harder in an attempt to make him stay. “Sho, look at me.” His mismatched eyes find Touya’s. “I will be back soon. I will always come back for you.”

He can see Shouto’s eyes glisten with unshed tears, his smile wobbling dangerously, but the boy nods and bows his head, letting go of Touya’s hand. Touya rests his hand on top of his head, petting his hair back gently, pushing his bangs out of his eyes. “I love you, Sho. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he conveys softly.

“Love you too, Touya-nii,” Shouto grumbles, pulling his knees to his chest and resting his chin on top, focusing his eyes back on the cartoon.

As Touya walks to the door, he looks over his shoulder. “Don’t open the door for anyone. I’ll use my key to get in. If you hear anyone else knocking, go hide in the bedroom closet and wait for me. Okay?” He sees Shouto nod before he steps out into the hallway, checking the door twice once he hears it click to make sure that it’s locked.

 

***********************************

 

Getting directions from the hotel receptionist, he walks to the shopping center a few blocks over. Once there, he beelines for the clothing section, figuring it’d be easiest to get that out of the way first. He finds some extra socks and underwear for Shouto, throwing some in for himself as well. Turning to a clearance rack, he sifts through the items carelessly. Fashion held no interest to him. Their wardrobes had always been controlled as kids anyways. Everything they had was always plain, utilitarian, boring. Guess old habits die hard, he thinks as he throws a couple pairs of plain black ripped jeans, a few plain black and white t-shirts, and a black zip up hoodie with studs along the hood and sleeves in the cart. Good enough for now.

Passing by the shoes section, he sees a pair or black and red light up sneakers that would fit Shouto perfectly, and he smiles as he adds them to the growing pile. He’s curious if Shouto will like them or not. His entire life up to this point had been chosen for him, and Endeavour definitely didn’t let Shouto have something as ‘childish’ as light up shoes. Childish possessions were not becoming of a hero. Eye roll. Finding a plain black pair of combat boots for himself, he leaves the clothing section and makes his way over to the toys.

He avoids the Endeavor section completely, stopping once he gets to the All Might merch. Of course, it was the largest section out of all of them. Sucks to suck, daddy dearest. Remembering the way his eyes lit up seeing the number one hero on TV, he decides to get an All Might action figure and a plushie to start. He’s not even sure if Shouto would know of any other heroes. All Might was the hero he had secretly idolized when Enji wasn’t looking, but all other heroes were ‘unworthy’ of their admiration. Touya makes a mental note to introduce Shouto to other heroes when he gets the chance. The whole hero thing left a bad taste in his mouth personally, but he didn’t want to trample his little brother’s dream of becoming one if that’s something he still wanted to do, and the kid needed some new role models.

Once everything is paid for and stuffed into his backpack, thank god he had the sense to bring it, he leaves and continues on until he finds another shop that looks to sell hair and makeup products. He ends up asking for some help from the lady there, since he has no idea what he’s doing. In the end, he grabs a few boxes of black hair dye, some green contacts for Shouto, and copper-colored contacts for himself. He thought about getting gray contacts for Shouto, since he would only need to wear one at a time so they would last longer, but the kid already had Rei’s eye shape. Giving the kid two gray eyes would be a dead giveaway that he was related to his mother. At the last minute, he stops at the makeup section as an idea forms in his head. The red scar covering the left side of Shouto’s face is obviously very recognizable. He asks the lady what she’d recommend for covering a tattoo, making up some excuse about his job not allowing them, before grabbing the recommended concealer and setting spray.

After snagging a cheap phone from a vendor nearby, he stops at a grocery store to stock up on some food. He tries to get food that looks nutritious, grabbing some fresh vegetables and fruits, but he has no idea how to actually cook. After mom left, Fuyumi did the majority of the cooking with Natsuo helping her. Or at least trying to. He remembers how Natsuo was always pretty heavy-handed when it came to adding spices to his dishes. Once he got in trouble with Endeavor for ‘messing up Shouto’s diet’, he wasn’t allowed in the kitchen anymore. Focusing back on the task at hand, he realizes he's not sure how well stocked the kitchen is back at the hotel. He probably should have checked that beforehand. But he manages to grab some soba cups, instant-noodles, and ingredients for an easy fried rice dish. That would have to do for now. He could come back later. He had enough to at least get them through the first few days.

Walking back with a backpack full of goods and a bag hanging at his side with some groceries that wouldn’t fit, he takes stock of the neighborhood around them. There are some dilapidated buildings in the distance, but the main street is filled with small shops and restaurants. A few couples leisurely stroll along between the businessmen hastily making their ways home from work. Loud whoops and banter from a nearby bar break up the noise of bustling traffic and gentle chattering of the crowds moving past him. 

On the street corners, a few food carts are selling yakitori and some ramen dishes. The smells make Touya’s mouth water. When his stomach rumbles, he realizes he hasn’t actually eaten since he woke up almost 48 hours ago. Stopping by one of the carts, he gets two orders of yakitori, carefully placing the wrapped package in the bag, before hurrying on towards the hotel.

 

***********************************

 

Stopping outside their door, Touya pats his pockets before finding the key, pausing to listen for any sounds inside. He can hear the muted noise from the TV, but he doesn’t hear anything else. A laugh sounds out from a room a few doors down, and he hurries to open the door before anyone else enters the hallway. As soon as the door shuts behind him, he’s hit with a wall of ice, encasing him completely up to his neck. He looks up at his brother in shock, who’s watching him with wide, terrified eyes.

“Uh, Sho. A little help here?” Shouto scrambles over to him, extending his left hand and Touya watches as the ice starts quickly melting away. He marvels at the boy’s control at such a young age. Even now, Touya could barely control his flames, especially if emotional or startled. His flames had always been wild, a beast with a mind of its own, devouring anything in its path. He feels a wave of pride crash over him as he thaws out.

“S-sorry, I’m so sorry, Touya-nii! I didn’t mean to!” he frantically cries. Tears are welling up in his eyes and Touya can see the terror written on his face. His body curls into itself defensively, head bowed and shoulders hunched. He thinks I’m going to get mad at him. He’s used to being beaten when he makes mistakes. Touya swallows down the simmering rage that threatens to bring his flames to the surface. He couldn’t let his brother see that, especially not now. He wouldn’t let his cursed fire be a source of fear.

Touya kneels down, taking a deep breath in and letting it back out before attempting to speak. He tries to make his voice as soft as possible. “It’s okay, bud. I should’ve said something before just opening the door. I’m just glad you can defend yourself.” 

Shouto gives him a shaky smile. “You’re not mad?” His shoulders relax, tension slowly leaving his body.

“Of course not,” he gives the boy a tender smile before standing back up and moving to put the bags on the small kitchen table, “I got you something!” He pulls out the yakitori, grimacing when he realizes it’s probably cold now. “We can warm them up,” he adds when he sees Shouto frown guiltily at the soggy package. Thankfully, the rest of the groceries in the bag are fine.

As Shouto sits at the table eating his food, Touya starts putting everything away, filling the small fridge and finding an empty cabinet for the dry goods. He inspects the rest of the kitchen to find a couple small pots, a frying pan, an electric rice cooker, and an electric kettle. He pushes the kettle to the very back of the cabinet where it’ll stay out of sight. He’s not sure if Shouto would have a negative reaction to it, since he left home right after that incident, but he’d rather not find out. He also finds a cabinet with some plastic plates, cups, and some silverware. Not a lot to go on, but they’d make it work. He fills one of the cups with water before extending it to Shouto, who gladly accepts it and gulps it down.

After they’re both done eating, Touya moves on to the contents of his backpack. He takes out the hair products, contacts, and makeup and drops them on the table. Next, he pulls out the All Might merch, and hears an excited squeak from Shouto, his eyes brightening instantly. “I-is that for me?” He appears hopeful, a soft blush crawling up his cheeks.

“Of course! Isn’t he your favorite?” Shouto offers him a shy nod, clutching his hands to his chest. Touya recognizes the gesture as him trying to refrain from reaching out and grabbing them. He thinks back on the state of Shouto’s room before they left. If he hadn’t known any better, he would’ve never thought it was a kid's room at all. He wonders briefly if this is the first toy Shouto’s ever received. He thrusts them in his direction. “Come on, take them.”

Shouto hesitantly reaches his arms out, clutching the toys before pulling the plushie to his chest and burying his face in it, softly giggling to himself. Freaking adorable. He’s glad he seems to have made the right choice.

When he shows Shouto his new shoes, the boy’s face scrunches up as he inspects them, turning them over to try and figure out where the light is coming from. “Why are there lights?”

“Because it’s fun,” Touya shrugs. “Here, put them on. You’ll see.” He helps the boy with the shoes, tying them for him before setting him down on the ground. “Now walk around and see what happens.” Shouto takes a tentative few steps, lips parting slightly with a gasp when the bottoms start lighting up every time his foot hits the ground. His head snaps up and he stares at Touya with wide eyes. Touya beams at him and encourages him to continue. Shouto beams back and starts jumping around the room, giggling with glee as the shoes continue lighting up. Touya clears his throat, dislodging the lump of emotion building up as he watches his little brother have fun . Probably for the first time in his life, he’s allowed to be a kid. Touya might not have much to offer him, but at least he can offer him this. Maybe that’ll be enough.

Notes:

Oh, Touya, how I love you. I tried to throw in some emotional turmoil with him because, let's be honest, he's been through A LOT in a very short amount of time. I will say, so far, we've only really scratched the surface. He was forced to grow up very quickly and takes his responsibilities very seriously, so he's going to struggle with those emotions a lot going forward. He tends to act strong, especially in front of his brother, he's got a lot of traumas to work through going forward. We'll see a lot of that in upcoming chapters so fair warning.

Also, the image of Shouto jumping around giggling in his little light up shoes is just too adorable, and lives rent free in my head. Probably my favorite scene so far. I would die for this child, your honor.

Chapter 3

Summary:

The boys get a makeover and find a place to call home.

Notes:

FYI going forward: this story mainly takes place in Fukuoka, but we'll be introducing places & characters that may not canonically be from that area. We're just going to pretend everything's all in the same place to make the story easier. Just go along with it. Canon doesn't live here anyways. :)

A light wind blows through, carrying embers through the trees. Fire crackles and violently dances all around him, taunting him with its heat. 

“I failed. I’m not enough. Why can’t I be enough?” he cries. “Why won’t he look at me?” A heavy ball of shame and grief is growing inside his gut, threatening to consume him. He can’t hold it in any longer. It itches under his skin, desperately trying to find an escape.

Flames shoot out of his eyes, drying his tears before they can spill over, and out of his mouth, consuming his cries. The orange flames mix with flickers of blue until they’re overtaken. The heat keeps rising and rising. The tingle against his skin grows into a blinding pain. He hears his skin start to sizzle and a scream bubbles out of his throat. “Stop! Please stop! It hurts! It’s too much! Please, help!”

The flames continue to rise from his body and increase in heat. He writhes in pain, trying to pat out the flames. As his vision blurs, he notices the stream up ahead, weakly staggering over and falling into the shallow water. Steam rises from his body, flames finally extinguishing.

As his vision darkens and he fights to stay conscious, he sees the outline of a man walk through the flames. The man extends a hand, reaching out to him - 

Touya bolts up, gulping down air as his heart races in his chest. Where am I? The dim light of a streetlamp outside cuts through the space between the curtains, giving just enough light to study his surroundings. That’s right, the hotel room. The alarm clock on the nightstand to his right reads 3:25 AM. He clenches the blanket in his hands, closing his eyes briefly as he focuses on taking deep breaths.

He hears a whimper from the space next to him. Looking down, he sees Shouto’s face crumple up, hands gripping the pillow under his head. He reaches over and lightly brushes his bangs, damp with sweat, from his forehead. He had put Shouto in the other bed after he fell asleep on the couch, but he had woken up crying not long after and begged Touya to let him sleep with him. Of course he could never say no to that.

Laying back down, he pulls Shouto to his side and rubs circles into his back, whispering soothing words until the crease between his brows smooths out and his body relaxes back into sleep. Staring up at the ceiling, he recalls the nightmare that had woken him up. He recognized Sekoto Peak and remembered the agonizing pain he had been in before losing consciousness that night. But the man. He didn’t remember a man being there. He had been alone. Unless…had Enji showed up? That didn’t make any sense though. If he had found him, he would’ve taken him home. So, if not his father, then who? Was it even a memory, or was his imagination just making stuff up?

It’s just my imagination. I’m just stressed out and mentally exhausted. That’s it. I just need rest. He forces the nightmare out of his mind, letting sleep overtake him again.

 

***********************************

 

The next morning, Touya cuts up some fruit and waits for the miso soup to warm up for breakfast while his brother jumps around the living room, still wearing the light up shoes, singing along to the All Might theme song playing on the TV. Touya shakes his head affectionately, smiling to himself. It had taken forever to get him to take those damn shoes off last night. Touya ended up bribing him with a movie night in exchange. The little brat had grumbled the entire time, crossing his little arms and refusing to look at him for the first half of the movie. By the time his eyes were drooping closed, however, he was snuggled into Touya’s side, hands grasping at his shirt like it was an anchor.

“Sho, come eat. We’ve got stuff to do.” Touya sets the bowls on the table and pulls out the chair for his brother, who hops over and plops himself down on the seat, feet swinging beneath him happily. He turns around to clean up the kitchen, eating as he goes. He needs to make a list of some breakfast foods to pick up next time they’re out. Shouto needs something more substantial in the mornings, but he’s so out of his element that that’s all he could figure out how to make at the time.

He hears his brother jump down from the chair and pad over towards the sink with his empty bowls. “All done, kiddo?” Shouto nods and makes an affirmative sound. “Okay, now we gotta do something about your hair.”

Shouto lifts his hand to his head and pulls at a strand of his hair, head tilting to the side. “My hair?”

“Yup,” Touya calls over his shoulder as he walks towards the bathroom. Shouto follows behind. “We need to make it a different color, so dad can’t find us. Understand?”

Shouto pouts but nods. “Even the white part?” Touya gives him a sad smile before grabbing the box of hair dye, reading the instructions on the back. “Yeah buddy, even the white part.”

“Oh.”

Touya looks over to see Shouto’s head bowed, shoulders hunched. Kneeling down, he lifts the boy's chin. “Hey, none of that.” Touya wipes a couple stray tears from his cheeks. “I’m gonna dye my hair too, so we’ll match!”

Shouto wipes his eyes with the back of his hand, sniffling. “Really?” Touya nods and presses a kiss to his forehead. Shouto stiffens for a second but doesn’t pull away. Baby steps, but we’ll get there.

“You wanna help me do mine first?” Touya holds up the bottle of dye solution and a pair of gloves that’ll most definitely be too big on the boy. Shouto looks unsure, hesitantly reaching out for the gloves before looking at them strangely. “But I don’t know how.”

“I’ll show you. Here,” Touya helps him pull the gloves over his hands before handing him the bottle, “Just squeeze a little bit at a time on top of my head, then use your other hand to spread it around. You just have to make sure all the hair is covered, okay?” He sits cross-legged on the bathroom floor in front of Shouto so he can reach his hair.

Shouto gives his brother a determined nod, brows scrunching and his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth in concentration. He cautiously squeezes the bottle, giggling when the liquid starts to cover Touya’s head. “Remember, make sure it’s all covered.” He nods, his other hand coming up to pat the mixture through Touya’s white locks.

A few minutes and a little bit of a mess later, Touya inspects the job in the mirror, fixing a few small sections near his ears that Shouto missed before giving the boy a thumbs up. Shouto looks extremely proud of himself, a wide smile plastered across his face as he takes in his handiwork. The white hairs are already turning darker by the minute. He should have plenty of time to do Shouto’s hair before he has to wash it out.

Once he’s done with that and his hair is washed, he quickly towels it dry so it’s not dripping in his face before turning to the mirror. The contrast with his black hair makes his blue eyes even more vibrant. It’s too bad he can’t keep it like that. He actually likes how the colors look together. He reels back at the thought, remembering his mother’s words. Touya reminds me so much of his father. I can’t look at those eyes without seeing him.

Clearing his throat and dispelling the bitter memory, he turns to Shouto, who’s concentrating really hard on not itching his head after being reminded ten times already and staring at his reflection in the mirror. Touya carefully checks a few spots on his head, making sure the dye has had a chance to properly set on both sides of his hair, before nodding in approval.

Picking Shouto up, he sets him on the vanity and tells him to lay back, carefully guiding his head under the sink. He could let him shower and try to wash it out that way, but he’s afraid he won’t be able to get it all out properly if left alone. He slowly washes out the mixture, mindful not to let the water get in Sho’s eyes. Once everything is rinsed out, he turns off the water and wraps the boy's head in a towel before helping him sit up. “Ready to see how you look?”

The trust Shouto has in his eyes when he nods at Touya makes his heart clench. Even after three years apart, Shouto trusted him so readily from the start, as if no time had gone by at all. As if just yesterday, Touya was sneaking into his room to re-bandage his wounds and wipe the tears from his face after a particularly rough training session. As if he hadn’t just up and abandoned him. If the roles were reversed, he’s not sure he would be as gracious. His brother was just too pure for this world. After everything he had been through in his eight years of life, he was still so damn good and trusting. Enji didn’t deserve him. No one did. 

He unwraps his hair from the towel, tousling it dry and running his fingers through it until it sits right. He helps Shouto turn so he can see himself in the mirror, and watches his eyes grow wide, darting back and forth between his hair and Touya’s.

“Touya-nii! We do match!” he squeals, jumping up and down from where he sits on the vanity. Touya chuckles, picking him up to set him down on the floor. He picks up the towels and hangs them on the rack to dry. Shouto stands on his tiptoes, peeking into the mirror in fascination.

“Come here, brat. We’re not done.” Shouto huffs and turns toward him with his arms crossed. He grabs the box of contacts, popping off two of the individual packets and carefully opening them on the counter. “Listen, here’s what’s gonna happen. You need to hold your eyes open for just a second while I put these in place, okay?” He lifts the circular shaped contact onto his finger, showing it to Shouto, who tilts his head and looks at it curiously.

“What is that thing?”

“It’s called a contact. It’s gonna make your eyes a different color.”

“Is it gonna hurt?” Shouto impulsively takes a step back, stopping when Touya gently takes his wrist with his other hand. “No, it won’t hurt. It’ll just feel weird for a second. You’ll get used to it though. I promise.” Shouto still looks unconvinced. “I’m gonna wear them too.” That does the trick. Touya smirks. Little copycat. 

Shouto steps forward and nods, hand coming up to hold his eye open. Touya carefully sets the contact on his eye and tells Shouto to blink. A small tear falls on his cheek from the excess solution. “How does that feel?” Shouto blinks a few more times before answering. “Okay, I think.” They quickly put in the second contact, Touya giving Shouto a high five once both are in. In the mirror, Shouto would be completely unrecognizable if it weren’t for the burn mark covering his left side. Touya quickly puts his contacts in, glancing in the mirror to see the clash of copper and black, before grabbing the concealer and setting spray.

He hesitates for a minute, studying Shouto’s face in the mirror, second guessing his idea to cover the scar. Was it really something they would be able to keep up? He had hoped this would be a permanent move. He thought of applying it every day, making sure it didn’t rub off, what would happen if Shouto made friends. What would they do if his friends came over for sleepovers? Or if he went to his friend's and something happened to wash it off? Would they be okay without covering it? He slowly sets the makeup back down on the counter. Maybe they should leave that just in case they need to change their appearances again.

Touya nudges Shouto towards the bathroom door. “Go pick out some clothes and change so we can get going.” Shouto runs off into the bedroom and Touya cleans up the bathroom, throwing away the trash and scrubbing all the little leftover specks of dye from the sink. He takes a second to soak in his reflection staring back at him from the mirror. The black hair and copper eyes erase all traces of his lineage. He’s no longer a Todoroki. I’ll never be him. 

When he walks out of the bathroom, Shouto is sitting on the couch in a pair of dark pants and an All Might shirt, with his light up shoes on and his All Might plush crushed to his chest. Touya smiles before ducking into the bedroom, quickly changing into some black jeans and a white t-shirt, throwing his hoodie on over top.

“Ready?” he asks as he heads out of the bedroom, attention on his phone. He had found a couple different complexes in the area that were within their budget and had been texting back and forth with a few of the landlords about apartments they had available right away. Hopefully they wouldn’t have to go through all of them, but they at least had options. Shouto shuffles off the couch reluctantly, grabbing his brother’s outstretched hand. “We’ll be back soon, I promise,” he reassures when he sees Shouto looking back at the plush longingly.

 

***********************************

 

Touya is trying really hard to extinguish the frustration and hopelessness flowing through him as they walk away from the third apartment complex with nothing to show for it. Each time, the property managers had brushed him off immediately, asking him how a ‘young kid’ like himself could afford an apartment on his own. He tried reasoning with them but backed off when the wariness morphed into concern. The type of concern that could lead to the cops or child protective services being called. He was desperate, but not desperate enough to risk Shouto being taken from him.

Sighing as he looks up the next address, he feels Shouto lean against his leg. The poor kid must be exhausted, walking alongside Touya as they parade around the city. Pulling up the map on his phone, he kneels down and grabs him under his arms, hoisting him up on his hip.

“Shhh,” he soothes as Shouto grumbles about being able to walk on his own, “you’re obviously tired, so let me carry you for a bit. Then it’ll be your turn to carry me,” he jokes, trying to lighten the mood. Shouto lets out a muffled giggle into the crook of his neck. “You’re silly, Touya-nii.”

By the time the next apartment building is in sight, his arms ache from carrying the extra weight. He nudges the side of Shouto’s head with his own, shaking him out of a light sleep. “We’re here, buddy. Can you walk?” Shouto nods and Touya sets him down, grabbing his hand as the boy sleepily leans against his leg.

“Just a little bit longer and then we can go back, okay?” He squeezes Shouto’s hand and walks them to the property manager’s office. He straightens himself, taking a deep breath before knocking. He hears a muffled voice telling them to come in from the other side before he opens the door and steps into the room.

An older man sits at a worn looking desk, papers stacked haphazardly over the top. The room smells musty, with a hint of cigar smoke wafting through the air. He looks up at them as they enter, eyes crinkling and his mustache lifting with his kind smile. His wire-framed glasses are sitting halfway down his nose, and his dark hair is peppered through with gray. “Hi there, how can I help you boys?”

Touya takes a few steps into the office, pulling Shouto along with him. Shouto hides behind his pant leg, hands tightening around the bottom of Touya’s hoodie, with one eye peeking out to stare at the man. “Hi, I spoke with you over the phone earlier. About the apartment you have available…” he pauses, nervously running his hand through his hair.

“Ah yes!” The man stands up from the desk, grunting as he stretches his stiff joints. “I apologize, these old bones give me trouble sometimes.” He glances at the boys, a gentle look in his eyes. “My name’s Akio Yamaguchi, I’m the property manager here. So would you like to see the place?”

What? He’s not going to write me off? The shock must show on his face because the man chuckles softly, jolting Touya back to reality. “Yes, sir. Thank you.” Akio just hums in acknowledgement and steps around the boys, lifting a key off the rack by the door. Touya follows after, gently pulling Shouto along at his side, as they climb the stairs to the third floor and stop outside a white door marked ‘303’.

“So, how old are you, kid?” Akio asks casually, as he jiggles the key in the lock and opens the door to the apartment.

“Eighteen,” Touya answers quickly. He can feel the man’s stare as his gaze darts from Touya to Shouto, but he decides to ignore it and takes in his surroundings instead. The entryway leads to a decent sized living area with a small kitchen across from it. The living area looks fully furnished with a couch, armchair, some built-in bookcases, and a TV hanging on the wall. On the outside wall, there’s a sliding glass door that leads to a small balcony. The kitchen is a little bigger than the one at the hotel, with a full-sized fridge and oven. Against one wall sits a wooden table with four chairs, a vase of fresh flowers decorating the top.

“Eighteen, huh? A little young to be raising a kid, don’t you think?”

“No,” he grits out defensively, clenching his fist at his side. 

The man snorts. “Relax kid, I’m not saying you can’t. Just curious about who I might be renting to is all.”

He relaxes, shoulders drooping. “Sorry,” he mumbles, “I just haven’t had much luck so far.”

“Hmmm. What I want to know is why you need an apartment? Don’t you kids have someone to look after you?”

Touya shakes his head, brows furrowing. “No sir. Our parents died in a house fire and we have no other family...” his voice drifted off. He hated lying but he had no choice. It wasn’t too far from the truth anyways. He would be 18 soon and his parents might as well be dead as far as they were concerned. His mother had been mentally checked out most of his life before she had been carted off to the hospital, and Enji could drop dead at any moment for all he cared. As for other family…he thought of Natsuo and Fuyumi for a split second, guilt coiling in his gut, before chasing them out of his mind.

Akio narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Please. He’s all I have left and I can’t lose him. I can take care of him.” Touya tries to appeal to the kindness he had seen in the man’s eyes when they had first walked in, hoping it’s enough to convince him. To his relief, the man’s eyes soften.

“Well, you seem like a good kid, and the boy obviously cares for you very much,” he says, gesturing to Shouto, who’s clinging onto Touya’s pant leg for dear life with wide, green eyes. Akio continues into the apartment, walking down the hallway towards three closed doors, before jerking his head in a signal to follow. “The apartment is fully furnished. There’s two bedrooms and one bathroom.” He opens the closed doors as he drones on. “Rent’s due on the first of the month and includes all utilities.”

Touya peaks into the bedrooms as he listens. Each one is simple, a basic twin sized bed along the wall, with a matching nightstand and dresser. Windows look out onto the courtyard below and he can see a playground across the street. “There are a few kids your brother’s age that live in the complex so I’m sure he’ll be able to make some friends. We’re in the Aldera school district when you get around to enrolling him.” Touya nods absentmindedly. He hadn’t thought about Shouto’s schooling, but he supposed he had to figure something out soon. The kid couldn’t just sit in the apartment all day, especially once he found a job. Not only did he need an education, but he needed to be socialized as well. Endeavor sure as hell wouldn’t let him play with other kids, so it was now his job to make sure he could.

“So? You want it?” 

Touya whirls around, not convinced he heard that correctly. “Y-you’ll rent to us?”

“Like I said, you seem like a good kid, and I’m not in the business of breaking up families.” He pauses to glance at Shouto thoughtfully. “I’ll be keeping an eye on you, though. If you’re ever in a situation where you can’t make rent, come to me first. I might have a few odd jobs around here that you can help out with in exchange. Better than you going and finding trouble just to make ends meet.”

“Thank you, sir.” He bows his head to hide the tears welling up in his eyes. “W-we’ll take it.”

Akio reaches out, patting his shoulder gently. “Come on then. I’ll get you some forms to fill out. If you can bring them back by the end of the day tomorrow, it’s yours.”

 

***********************************

 

Touya sits at the kitchen table tapping his pen against the paper while Shouto plays with his action figures on the floor. They had stopped at the store on their way back to the hotel and Touya let his brother pick one out as a reward for being so well behaved and patient. He decided on an Edgeshot one because he ‘liked his look’. 

The forms sitting in front of him that he’s supposed to fill out for the apartment are simple in theory, but he’s still stuck on the first line - occupant names. Obviously, writing down Touya and Shouto Todoroki is out of the question. Whatever he put down here had to be permanent though, if they wanted to keep up appearances and make a life here long-term.

For a family name, he had put down Tameda. It had been the family name of a kid he knew back in elementary school. He was pretty sure the kid just followed him around because he and his little brother were huge fans of his father, but whatever. It was a name that would never tip anyone off to the boys, so it worked. As for first names…

“Hey, small fry.” He moves his leg when Shouto kicks at him playfully, “I need your help.”

Shouto climbs onto the chair next to him and leans over the table, inspecting the paper. “My help? With what?”

“I want you to pick out a name for me.”

Shouto giggles. “You have a name, Touya-nii.” 

Touya tickles his side. “I know that, brat. I need another one. You do too. If we tell people our real names, it’ll be easier for dad to find us.”

He watches the boy’s brows scrunch in concentration as he hums. “I like…Seika.”

Touya chuckles and ignites blue sparks in his palm. “How’d you come up with that one, huh?” He could admit it fit him, with the kanji being read as ‘blue flame’, but could he really not think of anything else? I suppose creativity wasn’t high on Enji’s list of priorities when it came to training his masterpiece. Shouto frowned at him, clearly offended. “You’re the one that asked for help. I like it.”

“Fine. Seika it is.” He writes it down on the form. “What about you, bud? What do you want your name to be?”

“You pick!”

He studied Shouto as he thought. It had to be something that would fit him. He smiled as he wrote a name on the paper. Shouto leaned over to read the kanji. “Hotaru?”

“Mhmm.” He leaned over and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. “My little firefly.”

Notes:

Just a warning: a lot of my knowledge on Japanese culture comes from anime, so please forgive me if there's anything I get wrong or miss. Feel free to comment if that happens. I'm not opposed to going back and making edits if it makes the story better.

Thank you all for reading! The next chapter we'll be meeting some new friends and may feature a bit of a time skip. <3

Chapter 4

Summary:

New friends, new identities, and a new job.

“Sho, get your dirty laundry together and bring it to my room, please,” Touya shouts distractedly, brows furrowed as he hunches over his phone, reading an online recipe for a chicken curry dish. 

In the week they’ve been moved into the apartment, he’s been getting better at cooking. At least he thinks he is. It was hard with how sparse their kitchen was. Mr. Yamaguchi had let them sift through a bunch of stuff that a previous tenant in another unit had left behind, but it still wasn’t much. He ended up breaking down and buying a cheap rice cooker and a couple pots and pans a few days ago. Hopefully they wouldn’t have to worry about making their money last for long and could splurge on some things they needed after his job interview tomorrow.

As he slowly adds spices to the pot, the doorbell rings. Shouto’s head pops out of his bedroom, and they lock eyes. Touya nods to him and Shouto darts back into his room and closes the door. Touya lowers the heat on the stove and checks on the rice, giving Shouto some time to hide himself in the closet, before walking towards the entryway. Taking a deep breath and shaking out his hands nervously, he plants a smile on his face and opens the door.

Standing in the hallway is a kind looking woman with shoulder-length dark green hair, holding a plate of what looks like sweet rice cakes. Touya looks down to see a young boy, his eyes and hair just a shade lighter than his mother’s, peeking out from behind her skirt. “H-hi. Can I help you?”

“Hi there!” Her voice is kind and warm. “My name is Inko Midoriya, and this is my son Izuku.” The boy gives Touya a shy smile. “I heard we had a new tenant in the building and wanted to welcome you!” She extends the plate towards Touya with an expectant smile. He takes it, awkwardly holding it out in front of him.

“Oh. Um, thank you. That’s very kind of you. I’m Seika Tameda, it’s nice to meet you.” He looks down at the boy and notices his All Might shirt. “Are you an All Might fan?”

The boy’s eyes light up and his mother chuckles when he nods his head wildly. “Oh, don’t get this one started on All Might. Izuku is his biggest fan, right honey?” 

“He’s my favorite!”

Touya smiles. “He’s my brother’s favorite too.” He opens the door wider. “Would you like to come in? I was just finishing up dinner if you’d like to stay and eat with us.”

“We couldn’t possibly intrude like that...”

“It’s not an intrusion at all. I just, uh, can’t promise it’s going to taste the best. I’m kind of new at the whole cooking thing.” He grins sheepishly, a hand coming up to scratch the back of his neck.

Inko smiles, her kind eyes crinkling with warmth. “Okay, but only if you let me help.”

“Deal.” He gestures for them to come inside before leading them to the living room. “Excuse me while I go get my brother and put these away,” he says, lifting the plate in his hands. After setting the plate down on the counter, he walks over to Shouto’s bedroom and taps twice, pauses, then taps once more. Their signal for ‘all clear’. “Hotaru! There’s someone here who wants to meet you.”

He hears the closet door open and some shuffling before the knob turns. His brother peeks his head out cautiously, brows furrowed. “They want to meet me?” Touya nods reassuringly. “It’s okay, come on.” He can see the uncertainty in Shouto’s eyes, but he lets him pull him out of his room and lead him down the hall.

Back in the living room, Izuku tilts his head curiously at Shouto as he peeks out from behind Touya’s pant leg. Shouto loosens his grip on his hand when he sees the All Might shirt. He looks up to him, as if asking for his permission. Touya gives him a small smile. He hesitantly comes out from behind his pant leg, his eyes scanning the new boy.

“Hi. I’m Izuku,” the green-haired boy gives him a wide grin. “What’s your name?”

“Hotaru,” Shouto mumbles, his eyes moving between the boy’s face and his shirt. “D-do you like All Might?”

Izuku’s eyes light up instantly. “He’s the best!” He jumps up and down excitedly, clenching his little fists in front of him. “He’s the greatest hero ever and when I grow up, I want to be just like him!” Shouto giggles shyly at his enthusiasm. Touya frowns as he notices Inko’s strained smile at the boy’s statement.

“Hotaru, why don’t you take Izuku to your room and show him your toys?”

The boys run off to Shouto’s room, Izuku still chattering about the hero. Inko stands up from her spot on the couch and smiles warmly at Touya. “Okay, chef. What do you need me to do?” She follows him into the kitchen.

“Well, I’m trying to make curry. I was just adding the spices so I don’t think there should be much left to do besides maybe taste testing it, if you’d like to be my judge?”

“Of course, dear!” Touya finishes adding the spices from the recipe and stirs. Inko patiently gives him advice and pointers on what to add to improve the flavor. As they cook, she tells him all about the neighborhood, her job as a nurse at the local hospital, and her son, who seems to be her favorite topic. Touya finds himself drawn to her bubbly personality and kind demeanor. He imagines Inko is the perfect example of what a mother should be like. 

He feels a brief pang of guilt at the thought of his own mother. He knew she had tried her best, given the circumstances, but she still left them alone in that house. She still let that monster destroy their family and had done nothing to stop it. That was something he wasn’t able to forgive her for at the moment. There was one thing that was still bothering him about Inko though…

“I, uh, I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t seem too excited when Izuku mentioned he wanted to be like All Might when he grew up.” He notices Inko tense up next to him. “Is there a reason for that?” She sighs, hanging her head. “I’m sorry! That’s rude of me. I didn’t mean - “

“No, it’s okay dear. It’s just…” she glances at Shouto’s bedroom door, “when Izuku was five we found out he doesn’t have a quirk, and I know how difficult being a hero is even with a good quirk. I just don’t want him to be disappointed if it doesn’t work out.”

Touya stirs the food silently, brows furrowing. Quirkless, huh? It was rare, but it still happened. Inko was right that it would be extremely difficult, but wasn’t that maybe a good thing? He thought of his father. He had tried creating the perfect weapon, the perfect quirk, because he thought that would be enough to surpass All Might, to become the number one hero. But anyone could be born with a powerful quirk. That doesn’t make them a good hero. Endeavor was living proof of that.

Touya clears his throat. “Having a license or a fancy quirk doesn’t make you a hero, your attitude does. I think whether he has a quirk or not shouldn’t matter as long as his heart is in the right place.” He pauses, willing his voice to stay even. He remembered all the training he and Shouto had been put through over the years. The countless bruises and burns and broken bones, all in the name of being the best hero. Their childhoods had been stripped from them, and they’d never be able to get that time back. All to be their father’s ideal hero. “There are too many people that become heroes for the wrong reasons. Maybe society needs someone quirkless to show us what a real hero is like. Someone who can achieve their dreams against all odds.”

So yeah, he might not like heroes or have the best experiences with them, but he wasn’t about to crush a kid’s dream of becoming one. Enji had done that to him when Shouto’s quirk first came in, and he remembered how awful it felt. No kid deserved that. If Izuku and Shouto and any other kid wanted to become a hero, he’d just do his best to make sure they’d be the right kind of hero. That would be his contribution to society, to a better future.

When he turns to look back at Inko, he notices Izuku peeking out from Shouto’s bedroom. He has tears welling in his eyes and gives Touya a shaky smile. Touya just winks at him and smiles back before turning away.

 

***********************************

 

Touya steps into the dimly lit bar, squinting as his eyes adjust to the drastic change in lighting. Cigarette smoke permeates the air, gathering in soft clouds. A few haggard looking men sit at the bar, being served by someone with a swirling purple mass for a face, dressed in a tuxedo. At one of the booths near the back, an older looking man with longer gray hair and glasses waves at him. He takes the cigar out of his mouth and gestures at Touya to sit as he walks over.

“Giran?” 

“And you must be Seika.” The broker studies him before sliding over an envelope. “Everything you asked for. As far as payment goes…”

Touya pulls out an envelope from his pants pocket. “I have it all here.”

“You know, kid,” Giran takes the envelope, opening it and leafing through the bills, “I’m always looking for talent if you ever need the cash flow.”

“What makes you think I need your help?” Touya opens the envelope to study the contents.

The broker shrugs. “Call it intuition.” He takes out a business card and slides it across the table. “Just in case.”

Touya hesitates for a second before reaching out and taking the card, putting it in the envelope with everything else. He gets up from the booth, muttering a goodbye before walking out. Once outside, he inhales a large lungful of clean air and looks down at the envelope. Inside is a set of new government-issued IDs and birth certificates with their new identities. It had cost him almost a full month’s rent, but it was worth it. He could always take Akio up on his offer to do some odd jobs around the apartment to replenish their savings.

He slips the envelope in his jacket pocket and checks his phone. He had a bit of time before his job interview, but he decides to take a shortcut through an alleyway so he can get there early. Even the thought of being late has always given him anxiety. He was deep in thought about what he had to get done next - nail this interview, pick up some ingredients for dinner, call the school on monday to enroll Shouto - that he didn’t see the three men stepping in front of him, blocking his path.

“Hey, boys,” the one with a baseball bat leaning on his shoulder calls out, “look what we’ve got here.” The one to his left starts to circle around him, blowing smoke from his cigar in his face, and Touya realizes too late that they had him effectively boxed in. His hand twitches, ready to release his quirk. He was still nervous to use it. Both because he hasn’t used it since that night in the hospital and he was afraid of not being able to control it, and because he was paranoid that word of a blue flame user would somehow tie him back to Endeavor. His dad had never seen his flames turn blue before, but it didn’t mean it wouldn’t raise alarms.

“Back off!” he warns. The guys just laugh, closing in on him. He turns to keep all three of them in his vision, which puts him up against one of the alleyway walls with nowhere to go.

“A feisty one, huh?” the guy in the middle taunts, displaying a mouthful of yellow teeth as he flashes him a manic grin.

“Let’s see whatcha got, tough guy,” the one on his right jeers. He drops his cigar on the ground and snuffs it out with his foot.

Right when he pulls his quirk to the surface, blue flames licking at the tips of his fingers in warning, the men suddenly fly back, hitting the opposite wall with a thud. Touya furrows his brow. Small red feathers seem to be pinning them to the wall. 

“What the hell?!” one of them cries out.

“Three on one seems a bit unfair, don’t you think?” Touya looks up to see large red wings hovering in the alleyway above them. They’re attached to a boy that looks to be around his age, maybe even younger. He lands between him and the men, wings fully outstretched. Even with his smaller stature, the display is intimidating, and it looks like he knows it. His windswept blonde hair is kept out of his eyes by a black headband, and he’s dressed in an all-black jumpsuit, complete with black combat boots and black leather gloves, with ‘HPSC’ printed over his right pec. The Commission. This isn’t good. His golden eyes are framed by black marks, the lines accentuating his slim nose and high cheekbones. He’s… pretty.

He peers at Touya for a moment, looking him up and down. “You okay? The police are already on their way so you’re safe now.” He gives him a packaged smile. Touya can’t help but roll his eyes. Definitely a hero.

“I don’t need your help. And aren’t you a little young to be playing hero?” he spits out. Inside, alarms are going off. He needs to leave. He can’t be having a hero take an interest in him, even if said hero is nice to look at.

“I just got my license, thank you very much.” The bird looks personally offended. “And you know, most people are grateful when I save their lives.” He crosses his arms and his wings fluff up. Touya doesn’t know much about bird behavior, but it looks like something a bird would do if they were annoyed. Behind him, the boy’s feathers were still holding the three men to the wall, even as they tried to squirm away.

“Well, I’m not like most people.” Touya turns to walk away. “I can take care of myself,” he calls over his shoulder. He whirls around when a hand suddenly grips his shoulder. Reflexes kicking in, he grabs onto the kid’s jumpsuit near his throat.

“Whoa there, no need to get handsy.” The gold in his eyes contract as his pupils dilate. Oh. It makes him look like a predator that’s just found prey. “You haven’t even given me your name.”

“Neither have you.” He curses himself as his voice comes out softer than he intended. The bird takes a step further into his personal space and his stomach flips. He instinctively takes a step back, letting go of the jumpsuit.

“Oh! My name’s Hawks.” He smiles so brightly it makes Touya want to punch him in his stupid, perfect face. “Your turn.”

“Pass. Now let me go. I’m already going to be late.” He looks at his phone. If he left now, he’d have to run to make it to the interview on time.

“Don’t you want to stay and give your statement to the police?”

“That’s what you’re here for,” Touya smirks and takes a few steps backwards, making sure Hawks doesn’t follow him, before turning to leave the alley, “ hero. ”

“I’ll get that name someday, hot stuff!” Hawks calls after him. Touya should probably be concerned that the kid saw his quirk, however briefly, but he can’t help as his lips curl up into a smile. In your dreams, birdie.

 

***********************************

 

He made it to the flower shop with a minute to spare, though it turned out he had nothing to worry about. Ms. Nakamura, the owner, was a sweet old lady who just chuckled and waved him in when he showed up out of breath and muttering an apology. She had thick glasses that sat on the tip of her nose and her long white hair was pulled into a bun at the back of her head. Her hands were calloused and dirt stained her fingernails.

She took him through the shop, explaining the different types of services they provided from creating custom arrangements to selling potted plants. She owned the shop with her husband and has been doing business for over 30 years. One of their employees had just started medical school, so they were looking for someone to help them out during the weekdays. 

Out back of the shop, they had two greenhouses set up. A shed with a mound of dirt and wheelbarrow sat between them. Various pots and gardening equipment sat haphazardly around the space. The greenhouses themselves were kept humid and warm, vibrant colors blooming all around them. He could smell the sweet, fruity scent of jasmine and the honey-vanilla fragrance of hydrangea. Between the warm environment and the sweet scents surrounding them, Touya found himself being lulled into a peaceful calm.

So yeah, the paradox behind the idea of someone like him working in a flower shop didn’t escape him. He could set every single plant in here on fire, turning them to ash in literal seconds, with just a flip of a switch. He wasn’t made for delicate things like floral arrangements and plant care. But maybe he could reinvent himself into something that was more than destructive heat and suffocating failure. He imagined what Enji would think if he could see his oldest son selling flowers from a small mom and pop shop. He might actually combust on the spot. He had been told all his life that the Todoroki family was special . Working as a florist would be so far beneath him. Just that thought made Touya want the job even more.

“We would like you to start Monday if that’s doable. If you could come in at 8 AM, I can train you on some floral arrangements before we open at 10. Does that work?”

“Yes ma’am! That would be great.” Touya bows. “Thank you!”

As he says his goodbyes and walks out of the shop, Touya calls Inko to let her know he’d be home soon. After dinner last night, Touya had mentioned his interview, and she had offered to watch Shouto so he wouldn’t have to worry about him being alone. It helped that he and Izuku got along like they had known each other their entire lives. Inko was grateful, since apparently Izuku’s been having a hard time with the other kids at school. It was sad to think of a kid being bullied just because he didn’t have a quirk. He had to make sure Shouto keeps an eye on him once he starts school. Both of them could use a friend, and he wouldn’t let his brother become a bully. Having one in the family is more than enough.

Notes:

Oh Inko, what a saint you are. My favorite adoptive mother.

Also, yes, Hawks and Touya have officially met. Let's just say they're going to be getting on each other's nerves quiteee a bit going forward. ;)

Thank you all for reading! I appreciate every single one of you! <3

Chapter 5

Summary:

Some serious conversations, Touya finds his groove, and the hunt for the missing Todoroki kid heats up.

Notes:

Y’all, I might have written the first draft of this chapter in like an hour LOL. I’m not sure why, but the vision just came to me and I ran with it.

Also, I apologize if the spacing between chapters is inconsistent. I’m terrible at keeping track of word count so some chapters might be super long and some might be super short. It just is what it is. I cut things off when it feels right, not based on how many words I have written.

Touya knocks twice on the door. A feminine voice calls out from inside before the handle turns and it opens. Inko wipes her hands on her apron, staring expectantly at him, an excited gleam in her eyes. “Well, how’d it go!?”

“I start Monday.” He gets the wind knocked out of him and steps back with a huff as Inko barrels into him, wrapping him in a tight hug.

“That’s amazing, dear!” Touya awkwardly stands with his arms pinned to his sides, muscles tensing up automatically. He never really had the chance as a child to warm up to physical touch. Of course, Inko was all hugs and hand pats and motherly touches, so it was a shock to his system in some ways, but he knew it was just her way of showing she cared.

He chuckles nervously and she backs up, sensing his discomfort. “Oh, forgive me. I’m just so happy for you and Hotaru!”

His face softens. “Thank you, Inko. How was he?” He walks into the entryway when she waves him in, calling out to where the boys are playing in Izuku’s room. 

“Hotaru? He’s always such a sweetheart! So well behaved.” He nods, inspecting the home as he waits.

The Midoriya’s apartment is similar to their own. At least as far as layout and furnishings go. There are a lot more personal touches though. Framed pictures of Izuku in different stages of life line the walls and the smell of incense wafts in from the living area. The herbal and spicy tones of cedarwood and white sage tickle his nose.  Fresh cut flowers sit in a vase on the coffee table and worn books line the built-in shelves. It feels like a proper home. Warm and inviting. 

When the boys enter the room, the look on Shouto’s face has him concerned. The corners of his mouth are drawn downwards, his eyebrows pinched together. He had been excited to spend time with his new friend when Touya dropped him off, but now he seems dejected and sullen.

“Did you boys want to stay for dinner? I’m making katsudon! It’s Izuku’s favorite.” The green-haired boy jumps up and down with excitement.

“I think we should be getting home. It’s been a long day. Thank you for the invitation, though!” He softly pats the top of Shouto’s head as the boy comes and leans up against him silently, hand fisting the bottom of his hoodie. Something’s definitely bothering him, he hasn’t been this clingy since those first few nights.

If Inko senses that anything is off, she doesn’t show it. “Of course! You boys take care!” As they head out the door, Shouto only gives Izuku a small smile when he calls out a goodbye. They trudge down the stairs to their apartment on the third floor. Walking through the door, Touya throws the keys onto the small table in the entryway while kicking off his shoes and flipping the light switch. He reaches out an arm to stop Shouto as he tries to escape to his room.

“Hold up, Sho. What’s wrong?” Shouto keeps his head bowed as he shrugs. “I can’t help if you don’t talk to me.”

“Just tired.”

“Bullshit,” Touya keeps his arm on him as he kneels in front of him. “Shouto, look at me.” He stays silent until Shouto lifts his head enough to look up at him through his lashes. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Shouto just shrugs again. Touya takes a deep breath, drawing from his absurdly shallow pool of patience. He never knew what to do when Shouto went silent on him. The kid had a tendency to lock his emotions away whenever they were ‘too much’ and Touya just wasn’t suited to be the one to drag those emotions out. It went against his nature, his training. They were taught to be tough, to not show weakness. If they cried, they were beaten harder. If they complained, they trained for longer. After a while, they both learned that it was better to stay silent and do as they were told. It was a habit that Touya was hoping to break Shouto from, but he could only do so much at a time. 

He sighs and drops from his knees to sit on the floor, leaning back against the hallway wall. He pats the ground next to him. Shouto takes the hint and hesitantly sits criss-crossed next to him, playing with his hands in his lap. “I’ve got all night, buddy. So whenever you’re ready…” he leaves it open. Part of him is itching to break the growing silence, to demand an answer, but he stops himself. He has to let Shouto come to him, to decide when he’s comfortable enough to talk. Touya can faintly hear the sound of a television from one of the apartments around them. Somewhere outside, a dog barks.

“Izuku said he wants to be a hero.” Shouto’s voice is so quiet that Touya barely catches it. 

“Oh yeah?” Shouto nods. “Well, what’s wrong with that?”

“He…he said that being a hero means you’re a good person. That heroes save people.”

Ah. Okay. So that’s where this is going. “He’s right.” Shouto’s head snaps up. He clearly wasn’t expecting that to be his answer. Maybe he hasn’t been as subtle as he thought about his distaste for heroes.

“But…”

“But dad isn’t a good person that saves people?” Shouto nods again, blinking back at Touya with wide eyes. Touya looks up at the ceiling, gathering his thoughts. “Some people call themselves heroes but don’t act heroic. Like dad. But not everyone is like that.” He tilts his head toward Shouto, studying him. The boy looks like he’s working through something in his head. Like there’s a puzzle in front of him that he’s trying to figure out. “Do you want to be a hero, Shouto?”

Shouto pulls his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arm around them. His chin rests on his knees, brows furrowed in thought. “I don’t want to be like dad. I don’t want to hurt people.”

Touya leans over, gently knocking his shoulder against the boy’s. “Then be like All Might. You think he’s a good hero, don’t you?”

Shouto nods confidently. “He’s the best hero.” His voice is stronger now, life leaking back into his sad eyes.

“Then be like him.”

 

***********************************

 

In the faint glow of a desk lamp, Shota Aizawa pours over the file in front of him, frowning as he reads through the existing case notes that had just been sent over at his request. It was going on three weeks since the missing Todoroki boy was last seen. In the span of four hours, while the hero was out on patrol, Shouto had disappeared from his room and Endeavor’s home office had been broken into and vandalized.

There was a lot about this case that didn’t make sense to Shota. First off, why wait three weeks to get him involved? He had made quite a name for himself in the underground as a hero that specialized in locating and retrieving missing children. He had even worked with the Endeavor Hero Agency before, so the pro should know how efficient and effective Eraserhead was at his job. But, until now, Endeavor had investigated the case by himself, with the help of his sidekicks at the agency. Problem was, his sidekicks specialized more in brute force rather than investigating missing persons cases, so it wasn’t surprising that they hadn’t gotten far. Instead, precious time had been wasted. Finding missing kids alive, let alone at all, after this much time had passed was, unfortunately, uncommon. If he had to guess, Endeavor’s ego had taken a hit, which was why it took him so long to ask for outside help. 

Another detail that gave him pause were the pictures of Shouto’s room that had been included in the file. It didn’t look like a typical ransacking or kidnapping. The bedding was left alone, nothing overturned, and it was still relatively clean. There were no signs of a struggle. All he could see out of place were the drawers of the dresser where the kid’s clothes were kept, and the closet door being ajar. If he didn’t know any better, he would say it looked more like the room of someone who ran away. The vandalization of the office, on the other hand, looked personal. Almost like the target had been Endeavor, not Shouto. Maybe I’ll learn something during the interviews tomorrow.

His phone rings. Ah, speak of the devil. “Tsukauchi. Are we all set for tomorrow?”

“Well, actually, he’s changed his mind.”

“What?! What do you mean he’s changed his mind?” He brings his hand up to massage at his temple. 

“He said he doesn’t want the other children involved. That we’d have to make do with the information we have.”

He sighs. It’s too late and he’s too tired for this. “Understood. Well, thanks for letting me know, Tsukauchi. Keep me updated.”

“Will do. Get some sleep, Eraser.”

He hangs up the phone, groaning in frustration, dropping his head into his hands. What the hell am I missing? Why am I getting a bad feeling about this?

A hand grips his shoulder, gently squeezing, and a fresh cup of coffee is placed in front of him. “You should take a break.” He brings his head up and wraps his hands around the warm mug, the gold ring on his finger glinting in the soft light. He really was lucky to have Hizashi by his side. Over the years, they had fine tuned their relationship to the point where they didn’t even have to speak to know what the other needed. His husband was always there to support him no matter what.

“Yeah, I know.” Steam slowly rises from the coffee, sending the rich aroma wafting towards his nose. Strong and bitter, just the way he liked it. “Just a few more minutes.” He glances up, tipping his head back for a quick kiss.

“I’m holding you to that.” Hizashi returns the kiss before turning back towards the bedroom and disappearing through the doorway..

Shota takes a large sip from the coffee and runs through the timeline again. They had four hours to work with. If they didn’t want to be found, chances are they would have headed to the train station straight from the scene. If they were still in the city, someone would have seen them by now. The nearest station was ten or so blocks from the estate.

He shuffles through the notes and picks up a list of departures from the station that night. He highlights the trains that would have left during that time frame. Fukuoka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hosu, Tokyo. His fingers absentmindedly tap on the table as he thinks. He crosses off Tokyo right away. There’s no way anyone trying to hide a kid would try disappearing there. There were too many informants, too many underground heroes working with criminal organizations, and an over-saturation of limelight heroes. No one there would be stupid enough to kidnap the number two hero’s youngest son. They wouldn’t be able to hide him without someone running their mouth to the wrong person. Kyoto and Nagoya were also larger cities with similar levels of available intel. He drops them to the bottom of the list to be investigated later. That left Fukuoka and Hosu. It wasn’t much, but it was something. It was a start.

He unlocks his phone, typing out quick emails to some heroes he knows in both cities to ask for assistance. They could at least start canvassing until he had a chance to join them. He glances at the picture attached to the case file. A younger Shouto with his heterochromatic eyes and dual-colored hair stares back at him with a blank expression on his face. I’m going to save you, Shouto. I promise.

His phone pings when a new email notification comes in.

          From: Hawks

          To: Eraserhead

          Re: Todoroki Case  

          On it! I’ll let you know if I find anything.

Shota had only met Hawks once before and hasn’t had the chance to work with the kid since he was newly licensed, but he was probably the best asset Shota had in the Fukuoka area. The rookie was fast, maybe too fast, if his performance over these past six months was anything to go by, and his relationship with the Commission could give him access to resources they wouldn’t have otherwise. He feels a little lighter as he swipes out of the email app and pockets the phone.

Glancing at the clock, he stands up from the table and organizes his notes into a neat pile, slipping the manila folder into his bag. He’ll continue looking through them tomorrow. He did promise his husband he’d only be a few minutes, after all.

 

***********************************

 

Another week goes by as the Tameda household falls into a quiet rhythm. Touya starts his job at the flower shop and finds out that he’s actually really good at creating floral arrangements. He learns what flowers complement each other, how to use greenery to direct focus onto a central piece, and how to build a color profile to bring pieces together. According to Ms. Nakamura, he’s a natural. He even finds that he enjoys it, letting all of his thoughts and worries and stresses go as he weaves some greenery into the vase to make the color of the cream and pink flowers pop vibrantly. When he’s surrounded by sweet, earthy, honeyed aromas, he’s in his own little bubble. The outside world doesn’t exist as he works, humming along to the radio by his side.

Shouto continues to spend time at the Midoriyas. He and Izuku are thick as thieves at this point, the boy’s insecurities about heroes from the other day all but forgotten. Inko has even made a habit of stopping at the apartment to grab Shouto until his shift is done if he’s been left alone. He’ll never be able to repay the woman back for all that she’s done. He wonders what he did in a past life to deserve such kindness. They would be lost without her.

At least Shouto starts school next week, so he won’t be left alone as often. In the same class as Izuku, thankfully. His face had lit up when Touya told him, jumping around the living room excitedly. ‘ Really? I get to go to school with Zuku?!’ Of course they had a serious talk about keeping his quirk hidden and what information he could tell people, but that didn’t kill the spark in his eyes. It made Touya happy to see. The boy deserved to have a normal childhood, and this was just one part of it. 

That’s not to say the week hasn’t had its ups and downs. They had to go shopping to pick up some school supplies for his first day. Shouto was so excited when he found a Present Mic backpack after discovering his radio show last week. He thought the hero was ‘so cool’. But going out in public with Shouto brought up the topic he’d been trying to avoid since the night they left home. It started as Shouto became aware of the side glances and whispers that were thrown their way walking down the street. Touya always tried to keep as much of his body covered as possible, usually opting to leave his hood up, not wanting to draw attention. This particular day, he had left his head uncovered, and because of this, the scars running down his throat were much more visible. 

He himself didn’t care much about what people had to say. They could look all they wanted. The weight of strangers’ opinions meant nothing to him. However, what made him bristle was when those glances became wary, like they were just waiting for him to cause trouble. As if his disfigured body meant he was a bad person by default. Already found guilty of crimes that hadn’t yet been committed. 

Thankfully, Inko was a saint and would never in a million years judge him based on his scars and had just doted on him more. Akio had just pulled up his shirt to reveal a nasty scar running across his stomach, telling him they should compare stories sometime. 

The first day he showed up to work at the floral shop, he had been nervous as hell to wear the embroidered t-shirt Ms. Nakamura had given him as part of his ‘uniform’. There was no hiding behind the long sleeves of his hoodie, arms on full display. He had been half expecting to be told to go home, that they weren’t interested in employing him anymore. Ms. Nakamura, after telling him to call her Hana because they were ‘all family here’, had just looked him up and down once and told him what needed stocked before they opened for the day. Case closed. So yeah, he was pretty blessed to have people in his corner that didn’t look at his scars with the same hatred he sometimes found himself staring into the mirror with. 

The one person who he hadn’t addressed it with, funny enough, was his brother. Touya chalked it up to all the life changes they had been undergoing in the last couple weeks, but he should’ve known the question would come up at some point. It was when those whispers started that he noticed Shouto’s eyes flitting from the people passing by to the scars around his throat, his face set in a deep frown. The rest of the day, he was quiet and withdrawn.

As soon as they got back home and closed the door, the tense silence broke. “Touya-nii?” Shouto’s voice was soft and uncertain, like he wasn’t sure how to broach the subject. 

“Yeah?” Touya feels a nervous tension overtake him, threatening to snap him in two. He couldn’t take it if his baby brother was disgusted by him or lost admiration for him because of his scars. Up until now, Shouto had only looked at him like he was his knight in shining armor, and if that was the closest Touya could ever be to becoming a hero, he’d be happy. The threat of that dynamic changing was enough for him to break out in a cold sweat, heart jackhammering in his chest. 

“What happened to you?”

His eyes burn with the need to cry at how broken Shouto’s voice sounds. It was excruciating, just like that first night when he had cried at the hotel, as if his tear ducts had to be reopened to let the moisture escape. He could feel them threatening to rip open again. It was just more proof that his body would never be the same. Touya sighs, leading Shouto to the couch. 

He sits down next to him, leaning back against the cushions, and tells him everything. How he had been training extra hard because he wanted to help lift some of Shouto’s burden. How he asked Endeavor to meet him at Sekoto Peak when his blue flames manifested but their father never showed. How the fire grew so hot and out of control that it couldn’t be stopped and devoured him whole. How he had woken up three years later in a strange place, hooked up to machines and pieced together with someone else's skin. How he escaped to come home and made the decision to steal him away. Every nasty, bloody detail and complicated feeling that went along with his life story. 

The only part he doesn’t tell him is that he can sometimes feel a burning pain under his skin, like his organs are still on fire. How his body is always sore, like it’s fighting him to stay upright, and how, if anything, it’s getting worse. Almost as if his body is punishing him for daring to come back to life after it had accepted death. That’s not something Shouto needs to worry about right now.

By the end, Shouto’s eyes are swollen and red, tears soaking Touya’s shirt after he wrapped his arms around him in a vice grip. Touya just pulls him close and rubs his back in soothing circles. “I’m sorry.” He hears Shouto sniffle against his side. “It’s all my fault.”

“Hey,” he exclaims sternly. “We’re not gonna do that. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was your fault. So stop crying, you brat.” He pinches Shouto’s side, right where he knows he’s ticklish.

“Nooo! Touya, stop it!” Shouto whines as he tries to squirm away from the onslaught. “You’re such a jerk!” He lets out a wet laugh, even as he attempts to act upset. 

“Got you to stop, didn’t I?” He chuckles as Shouto sticks his bottom lip out in a pout. “I should be the one crying anyways, walking around looking like a Halloween decoration.” The younger boy makes a fist and hits him right in the arm, hard. “Ow! What the hell was that for?!”

“You’re being stupid.” Shouto says it so matter of fact, like there’s no room for negotiation, that Touya can’t help but snort. 

“Oh yeah? Why’s that, oh wise one?”

“Halloween decorations are scary and you’re not scary. You’re my brother and you saved me.” Shouto juts his chin out with a serious expression. “I think you look like a badass.”

Touya gives him a cheeky grin, cocking an eyebrow. “A badass, huh? And where’d you learn that language?” He reaches out an arm and ruffles his hair playfully.

“From you.” Shouto sticks out his tongue and jumps off the couch as Touya goes for his sides again.

“Hey, come back here!” Touya jumps up, chasing him around the living room, wiggling his fingers menacingly. “I’m gonna get you now!” Shouto lets out a squeal, throwing one of the pillows from the couch at him before darting towards his room.

When Touya corners Shouto and tickles him until tears are streaming down his cheeks, he’s hit with a feeling of overwhelming happiness. Turns out there was nothing for him to worry about after all.

 

***********************************

 

Friday rolls around and Touya is back at Floral Fusion finishing up a large order for a local hero agency opening. Gag. What kind of tool needs this many arrangements just for an agency opening? Touya had been to openings before with his father, but most of those he remembered had been pretty low key. This one , however, seemed to be a lot more extravagant. You’d think the guy was the Emperor of Japan or something. But hey, if some loser hero wanted to pay him to put some flowers in vases for him, he’d gladly take the money. 

He hadn’t even taken a look at the order details when he got in. Hana had just gestured over to the waiting vases and told him that the color scheme was red and yellow. Touya adds a few red Asiatic lilies to the vase in front of him, filling out the rest of the space with some vine ivy and yellow geraniums. He smiles contently as he pauses to inspect the finished product.

The bell rings as someone walks into the shop. Touya continues his work, knowing Hana will help them out since she’s up front at the register. He only has a few finishing touches to do anyways, inspecting each of the forty, yes forty , arrangements in front of him to make sure they’re all good to go for their scheduled pick up in a few minutes.

“Well, well, well,” an annoyingly upbeat voice chirps. “Fancy seeing you here, hot stuff.” Touya’s head snaps up, eyes locking with a familiar piercing gold.

Notes:

Ugh, the way I just want to hug Touya and tell him it’s all going to be okay. But really, I can’t promise him that because Eraserhead isn’t playing around. I promise our boys will be okay though…eventually.

Also, I said Hawks was going to be a problem, I just didn’t specify what kind. I wonder what will happen when he realizes his hot stuff might be the person he’s looking for.

As always, thank you all for reading! You’re all amazing and I appreciate every single one of you! <3

Chapter 6

Summary:

Hawks learns something new, Shouto goes to school, and Aizawa gets a lead.

“Well, well, well. Fancy seeing you here, hot stuff.”

Touya’s entire body tenses up as he takes in the sight of the hero in front of him. He has on baggy khaki pants and a matching fur-lined khaki jacket, with the same black boots and gloves from the other day. Under his jacket he’s wearing a black compression shirt with a gold pattern and a belt with an ‘H’ on the buckle. On his head are a pair of yellow and black headphones, partially keeping his ash blond hair held back. As Touya stares, the bird smirks, pushing his visor up from his eyes. “Like what you see?”

Touya can feel the blush creeping up his face as he’s caught looking. He schools his expression. “You look ridiculous.” He looks behind Hawks to see Hana raise an eyebrow at him. He rolls his eyes. Fine, I’ll play nice. “Sorry, sir . I meant to say, ‘What can I help you with?’” He pastes on the sweetest smile he can and bats his eyelashes, knowing the hero can see just how fake it is. Hana just shakes her head and walks back into the storage room, leaving him to deal with this mess.

“Well, since you’re being so nice and accommodating , I’m here to pick up an order, hot stuff.” One side of Hawks’s mouth curls up as he looks him up and down. To his credit, he doesn’t seem thrown off by the burns lining Touya’s arms and throat. He still has that teasing glint in his eye that he had the last time they interacted, his pupils dilating slightly. It makes Touya a little nervous, the hair on the healthy skin left on his arms standing on end. No one’s really taken an interest in him since he and Shouto have been on the run, and it’s a good thing, really. He doesn’t have the time or energy to reciprocate anything right now, and it was too much of a risk bringing anyone around Shouto anyways. But Hawks was so forward, so bold, and it made him feel like every wall he built would inevitably come crashing down by his hands. It was unnerving. “Beautiful,” the bird murmurs, “the flowers, I mean.”

Touya scoffs. “Pro hero turned designated delivery boy, huh?” He tries to distract himself by picking up one of the boxes of vases, handing it over to Hawks’ waiting arms. He hides his flinch when their fingers brush, a jolt of static electricity traveling up his arm.

“Not at all. Just figured I should be the one to pick them up since they’re for me.”

Touya pauses in the middle of picking up another box. “For you?” He frowns and reaches for the order form on the table, just then noticing the name at the top, in big bold letters. Hawks Hero Agency. You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me. “It’s your agency?” He looks the hero up and down in disbelief. There’s no way someone as young as him had the money and connections to start up their own agency already. It took some pros decades to work up to that point, and he’s supposed to believe that Hawks had done it when he even said he had just gotten his license? Yeah. Okay. There had to be some mistake.

Hawks shrugs, mouth pulling into a smug grin. “What can I say? I work hard.” Touya picks up a box with a roll of his eyes. “Impressive,” he mutters sarcastically, totally not impressed. Okay, let’s say he does have his own agency. So what? Maybe he’s even attractive and seems into him even with the scars. Doesn’t matter. He’s still a hero, and that’s a hard pass. No exceptions. He starts following Hawks to a waiting van parked outside to load everything up. 

“Impressive enough to get your name?”

“Smooth, but no.” He turns back to the store to grab another box, not waiting to see if Hawks follows.

“It was worth a shot.” Why the hell did his voice have to be so damn cheery? No one should ever be that happy all the time. It was suspicious as hell. “So how long have you worked here?”

“A week.”

“Any family?”

“Yes.”

“Are they as charming as you?”

He can’t contain the laugh that bubbles out of him at that one. “Oh birdy, you have no idea.”

The questions continue as they bring box after box out to the truck. Touya shuts him down every time, but Hawks takes it in stride. Touya’s one word answers and snarky comments roll right off his skin, and that stupid smile never leaves his stupid face.

When they finally load the last box into the van and head back inside to run his card for the order, Hana’s at the register. Touya takes the opportunity to escape to his workbench near the back, cleaning up the area of flower clippings and excess greenery. He lines up some new vases, making notes on what flowers he wants to use for the next order. When Hawks turns to leave the store, he breathes a sigh of relief. That is, until the hero turns back to them one last time.

“Thank you for your help, Ms. Nakamura and…” He leaves it open, looking at him in question. Touya glares back, not giving in. Like hell he…

“You can call me Hana, and this is Seika.” The betrayal. He can’t believe this. Sweet old lady my ass, the woman’s a devil. Touya’s eyes throw daggers her way, which she pointedly ignores, smiling politely at the hero. As if she didn’t just thrust a knife straight into his back. See if I ever stop to get you tea on the way to work again, you old hag.

“Seika.” Hawks repeats it slowly, like he’s testing it out, and goddamn it shouldn’t sound that smooth. The way it rolls off his tongue should be illegal. He’s pretty sure his brain shuts down for a second. I wonder how Touya would sound. No, don’t you dare go there.

Hawks interrupts his internal identity crisis with a blinding smile. “Well, thanks again, Hana and Seika. I’m sure you’ll be seeing me around.” With a quick wave, he’s out the door. 

Hana gives him a smug look before fucking off to the back, probably to plot more mayhem and destruction. Touya turns back towards the workbench, staring at his notes with a huff. For the first time since he started working here, he can’t concentrate on the flowers in front of him.

 

***********************************

 

When Monday morning rolls around and it’s time for Shouto’s first day of school, Touya helps him tie up his light-up shoes and put his backpack on over his winter coat. He then slips his combat boots on, pulls the hood over his head, and grabs the keys off the side table. “You ready, kid?”

Shouto nods, worrying his lip nervously with his teeth. Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door. Touya opens it to find Izuku on the other side, decked out with his All Might backpack and a beaming smile aimed right at his brother. “Hotaru! Mama said I could walk with you guys!”

Touya rolls his eyes fondly as Shouto’s face lights up instantly at the sight of his friend. He closes and locks the door behind him as the two boys walk towards the stairwell, lost in their own little world. They walk the six blocks to the school with Touya following behind like their own designated guard dog. It’s not until they get onto school grounds does Shouto look back at him with a hint of uncertainty.

“Well, what are you waiting for, punk?” He gives him a tight smile, masking his own nerves. So much could happen with Shouto going to school. He could accidentally let something slip about his past, his quirk could be set off, someone could recognize him from his scar. 

Touya had slipped a burner phone in his backpack with his number programmed in for emergencies, but what happened during the day was still wildly out of his control. Even if Shouto called him, he couldn’t guarantee he’d make it in time to do anything anyways. He had to trust his brother to take care of himself though. He couldn’t just hide him away in the apartment all day for the rest of his life.

Shouto darts forward, wrapping his arms around him and burying his head in his side. The younger boy loosens up enough for him to kneel at his level before returning the hug. Touya’s arms tighten around him, one hand cupping the back of his head. He murmurs softly in his ear, too low for anyone else to hear, “You’ll be okay, Shouto. Go have fun with Izuku. I’ll be here to pick you up later.” He lets him go, wiping a stray tear from the boy’s cheek and placing a soft kiss on his forehead. “I love you.”

Shouto wipes his eyes with his sleeve. “I love you too, Touya-nii.” He turns reluctantly to walk back to Izuku, who’s waiting at the entrance patiently. Before going into the building, he looks back and gives Touya one last wave. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Touya waves back and watches him disappear before he makes his way down the street. He needs to get started on the day’s orders before the shop opens. Hopefully it’s just the distraction he needs.

 

***********************************

 

At the end of the school day, Touya waits outside the building, leaning up against the brick half wall that lines the sidewalk, scrolling through the news on his phone. There were still some stories of Shouto’s disappearance circulating, but plenty of other big stories were now taking up space thanks to the public’s short attention span. Old stories wouldn’t bring in views, and soon enough, Shouto’s case would join the thousands of other missing kids who had been forgotten about and would never be talked about on the newscycle again. Sure, he felt bad using a broken system to his advantage, but it was working and that’s all that mattered to him.

The bell rings and students start pouring out of the school. He sees Izuku’s shock of green hair first. Shouto scans the crowd before locking eyes with Touya and pulls Izuku towards him. Touya frowns when he notices another boy with spiky blond hair following the pair, scowling with his hands in his pockets. The boy keeps looking Shouto up and down as he and Izuku talk animatedly.

“Seika!” Shouto leaves Izuku to run the last few feet, wrapping his arms around Touya.

“Hey buddy, how was it?” He pats him on the back. Izuku is standing back now, talking softly to the blond, who huffs and looks the other way. What the hell is this kid’s problem?

“It was amazing! Ogame sensei is super nice and we got to play outside!” He reaches for Touya’s hand. Touya takes it, walking over to the other two boys.

“Hi, Izuku. Who’s your friend?” Izuku nervously rubs the back of his neck, glancing at the blond boy warily.

“Oi, idiot. The nerd’s not my damn friend.” The kid glares at him, fists clenched at his sides. 

“Kacchan!” Izuku chastises, grabbing his arm when this ‘Kacchan’ kid goes to step forward.

Touya really has to stop himself from rolling his eyes. The kid’s clearly got some issues and he just doesn’t have the patience for this shit today. “For someone who isn’t Izuku’s friend you seem to be pretty attached to him,” he snarks back, a smug grin creeping up his face when the boy scowls harder at him. “Careful Kacchan , if you’re not nice to your ‘friend’, someone else might steal him from you.” He makes a point to look between his brother and Izuku. From the way Kacchan narrows his eyes, he gets the hint.

“My name’s Bakugo. Now are we walking or what?” Bakugo stalks past him and the other two boys, only looking back to make sure they’re following. Izuku looks like he’s about to apologize for his friend’s behavior, but stops when Touya just shakes his head at him. 

Shouto watches the whole exchange tense at his brother’s side. Touya knows he’s still struggling with social situations, especially when those situations have even a hint of confrontation. It’s like he’s always expecting the tension to snap and for someone to go out of control, and people with aggressive personalities just make him all the more nervous. It was understandable given everything he had gone through with Enji. Touya squeezes his hand, giving him a soft smile when he looks up. Sorry , he mouths. Shouto gives him a nervous smile back.

When they get to Bakugo’s street, the blond boy just stalks towards his house, muttering a ‘whatever, Deku’ when Izuku calls out that they’ll see him tomorrow. Deku? What kind of nickname is that? The three of them continue on to the apartment building, Touya falling behind again as the two talk about the documentary they had watched in history class about the rise of quirks. 

Inko has a late shift tonight at the hospital, so Izuku’s staying with them until she’s out of work. Filing inside the apartment, Touya has to remind Shouto to line his shoes up properly when the boy goes to leave them laying haphazardly in the middle of the hallway. The kid rolls his eyes and kicks his shoes off to the side. Not exactly what Touya meant but at least they’re out of the way. Little shit’s got my attitude. Lord help me.

“Does soba sound good for both of you?” He opens the fridge to start gathering ingredients. Both boys answer affirmatively, Shouto more excitedly than Izuku. Soba had become a regular in their household, with it being both of their favorite meals. Plus, it was something easy that Touya could whip up on the days he really didn’t feel like putting that much effort into cooking.

As the boys disappear into Shouto’s room, Touya calls out, “Homework first! It better be done by the time dinner’s ready!” They both whine before filing back out to grab their backpacks, Shouto glaring at him like the little brat he is. Touya just sticks out his tongue and laughs when his brother copies him, stomping back to his room after Izuku. 

 

***********************************

 

Three weeks go by before Endeavor finally agrees to let Shota interview the two other Todoroki children. No other leads had come in during that time, despite his contacts in other cities working around the clock to find any sign of the boy. It was like he had disappeared into thin air. 

The case was quickly losing interest with the public, and it didn’t help that Endeavor refused to drag more media into the situation. Shota understood that it might look bad that the number two hero can’t even protect his own son, but a child’s life was on the line. He, quite frankly, didn’t give a shit about how it looked. He’d become more irked by the hero’s lackadaisical attitude towards the whole situation by the day.

So, when he enters the interrogation room to see Endeavor, arms folded and mouth set in a frown, sitting next to a young boy with white hair who seems to be on edge, stealing nervous glances at his father, he can’t hold back his sigh of frustration. He turns back to Tsukauchi, who is standing on the other side of the one-way glass. “I’m going to need more coffee.”

Shota takes his time getting comfortable, if not for anything else then to make Endeavor feel as frustrated as he did right now. He brings out his manila folder, one that is way too empty for the amount of time and effort he’d put into the case, and opens it flat on the table, the picture of Shouto clipped to the inside. The young boy sucks in a breath and worries his lip with his teeth, his eyes locked on the photo.

“Hey, bud.” Shouta keeps his voice soft, attempting to ease the boy’s nerves. “I’m just going to ask you a few questions about your brother so we can find him and bring him home. Is that okay?” The boy nods slowly.

“Okay, good.” He gives him an encouraging smile. “Now, can you tell me what Shouto was doing the last time you saw him?”

The boy looks nervously up at his father. “Uh, well. He, um…”

“Natsuo, answer the question,” Endeavor barks, making the boy jump in his seat. Natsuo sinks lower into the chair, curling in on himself. He was clamming up. They were never going to get anywhere at this rate.

“Endeavor, please leave the room.”

“What?!”

“Let me rephrase that,” Shota glares at him from across the table. “I will not be continuing this interview until you leave this room and give us some privacy.” A few tense seconds go by, the two heroes staring each other down, before Endeavor huffs and stands up from his chair abruptly, exiting the room and closing the door with a bang. 

Shota studies the boy as he waits for Tsukauchi to give him the green light that Endeavor is gone. Natsuo was still staring down at the table, hunched over himself, his mouth set in a frown and his eyebrows pinched together. Once he hears three taps sound on the glass, he turns the photo of Shouto towards the boy and starts again.

“He’s gone, Natsuo. Okay? I promise everything you say from here on out will be just between me and you.” The boy looks at him warily before casting a fleeting look at the door. Finally, he nods and relaxes a little. Shota gives him a warm smile. “Now, can you answer my question from before? What was Shouto doing the last time you saw him?”

“He was in the training room.” Natsuo speaks softly, eyes trained on the photo.

“The training room?” Shota tilts his head, voice gentle despite the growing confusion in his head. Shouto was 8 years old, right? It was kind of young to be training already.

Natsuo nods. “He trains with dad everyday. To become a hero like him.”

“And what about you? Do you want to be a hero?” Natsuo sinks in his chair, face bowed as he plays with his hands in his lap. He shakes his head. “Okay, that’s okay,” Shota reassures him. “Now, does Shouto train often?” Natsuo nods. The hero can tell he’s hitting a wall with these questions. The further they go down this path, the more it seems like Natsuo doesn’t want to respond. He tries another angle.

“Are you close with Shouto?”

“Not really,” the boy mumbles. “He always liked Touya better.”

The name gave Shota pause. It was a name that hadn’t come up in the list of family members or household staff that he’d looked through. “Who’s Touya?”

“Our brother. He was the oldest.” Natsuo looks at the photo of Shouto again. “He got to train like Shouto because he had a fire quirk like dad’s.” A brother? How are there no records of an older brother? A feeling of dread sank down Shota’s spine, pooling in his gut. What in the actual hell is going on?

“Natsuo, what happened to Touya?” Natsuo’s eyes were ice cold as they locked with his, prickling his skin with unease. His next words would haunt him for days to come.

“He burned.”

Notes:

A little bit of a shorter chapter this week. I've been sick lately so haven't had much energy to write, but wanted to get something out to you guys :)

I can't wait to write more Bakugo & Touya interactions. They both have such fiery (pun intended) personalities, and I feel like their banter would be amazing.

Thank you all for reading! I appreciate every single one of you! <3

Chapter 7

Summary:

Touya goes through it.

Notes:

Oh boy, here we go. I finally caught up through the newest episode of the anime and this is the result of all those emotions. You can almost see where I had some written, watched a few episodes, then started writing again LOL. I'd like to formally apologize for the next couple chapters. I promise everything's going to be okay.

Also yes, I know I like JUST posted the last chapter like 48 hours ago, but I just couldn't hold onto this one any longer. I may also have two more chapters done already. Like I said, I was emotional and I *may* have written like 20,000 words in less than 24 hours to cope. Oops.

“Touyaaa!” Small hands shake him out of a deep sleep. He groans as Shouto jumps up and down on the bed. “Touya! Wake up! We’re gonna be late!”

“Five more minutes,” he mumbles, rolling over and burying his head in the pillow, trying to ignore the little hellion.

“No! Get. Up. Get. Up.” Shouto starts chanting, slapping him lightly on the back in time to the words. “Get. Up. Get. Up.”

Touya swipes his arm out and grabs him, Shouto squealing in an attempt to get away, and pulls him close to his chest. “You’re a brat, you know that?” He starts tickling his sides, Shouto giggling uncontrollably. He smiles as the boy squirms in his grip before letting him go and sitting up. He stretches and wipes the sleep from his eyes. When he looks at the clock, he frowns. “Shouto. I know you didn’t just wake me up 15 minutes before my alarm.” He looks at his brother accusingly.

The boy just crosses his arms and gives him a serious look. “I was bored.” As he walks out the bedroom door, he calls over his shoulder, “Now hurry up!”

Touya chuckles, shaking his head in amusement. “Yes, sir.”

He’s not sure when Shouto became the sassy little gremlin he is now. Sometime over the last few months, his brother has turned into an unstoppable, headache-inducing force of nature. Gone were the days of timid stares and blank looks, of hiding behind him and using him as a shield against the world. Nowadays, no one could tell him anything, no one could make him do anything he didn’t want to do, and he was stubborn as a mule. It was like he was staring into the eyes of a nine-year-old Touya. He was half convinced that raising Shouto was his karma for being such a little shit in his younger years. It was all catching up to him.

Touya stretches before slipping on some pants and his work shirt, trudging to the bathroom to try and tame his hair, put his contacts in and brush his teeth. He frowns at the sliver of white near his scalp. I need to grab more dye . 

He studies his face in the mirror, copper eyes staring back at him. The color still looked strange compared to his vibrant blue, but it was slowly growing on him. Three studs decorate the right side of his nose and three helix piercings adorn his ears. A new hoop was pierced through his eyebrow, still slightly red as it heals. 

Body modifications have become a sort of therapy for him. He had been walking by a tattoo & piercing shop on the way home from work one day when someone walked out, piercings adorning their face. He was instantly captivated, stopping in his tracks. He entered the shop without thinking and left with his first piercing. He hadn’t looked back since. 

The industrial-style jewelry made him feel just a little more normal as it drew attention away from his scars. Like the heaviness he’d been carrying was steadily being lifted from its place on top of his chest. Little by little, he could breathe easier. People still stared, of course, but at least he could tell himself they were staring at the metal and not his mutilated body. They were seeing the beauty and not his failure. He rolls his tongue, the familiar weight of the metal ball clicking against his teeth and grounding him to reality, before turning away from his reflection.

Leaving the apartment, Shouto jogs ahead, taking the stairs two at a time. “Oi, you’re gonna hurt yourself!” Touya warns.

“I’m fine!” Shouto whines, although he slows down and takes the stairs properly, waiting for him at the bottom. “Hurry up!”

“We have plenty of time, punk. They won’t leave without you, I promise.” He sticks his hand out to ruffle his hair, but Shouto swats him away and goes to push him. Touya dodges at the last second, laughing at the attempt.

There’s still a slight chill in the air, the cold temperatures holding on for dear life against the change of the seasons. People are out walking their dogs and kids brave the playground, tired of being cooped up all winter. It’s a beautiful day, the sun warm against Touya’s face, small tufts of clouds dotting the sky. As they continue walking, apartment buildings are replaced by single family homes with manicured lawns. 

Soon enough, a large tan house comes into view, surrounded by a wall with a well-kept garden out front. Shouto runs ahead, ringing the doorbell three times. Even as he’s walking towards the house, Touya could hear distinct yelling from inside, arguing about who was going to answer the door. A headache was already threatening to form at the familiar voices.

“Katsuki, you better get down here or else I’m leaving your ass here!” Mitsuki was still yelling as she opened the door. She turns to them, ignoring Katsuki’s muffled response from somewhere upstairs. “Morning boys!”

Mitsuki Bakugo was one of the more…complex people Touya had met. Inko had introduced them when he was picking Shouto up from the Midoriya's one day after his shift. There was absolutely no doubt who her son was. The kid was a little, slightly more psychotic, clone of her. Just like Izuku was a more energetic, less neurotic clone of Inko. 

But getting to know Mitsuki had, in turn, helped him understand Katsuki a little better. Under her harsh personality and brash nature, there was a fierce protectiveness for those she cared about and an unbreakable sense of determination. She had taken Shouto in as one of her own from the very start, and it was clear that she would protect his brother with her life if it came down to it. Between her and Inko, no harm would come to Shouto. Touya was sure of that. It gave him a little relief knowing that Shouto would have options if anything happened to him. 

He had also realized, over the past few months, that Katsuki was very much the same way when it came to his friends, Shouto and Izuku especially. He may be a little rough around the edges, even though he was getting better about that lately, but at his core, he cared. Sometimes to a fault. When he got upset with Izuku, it was usually because the green-haired boy rushed headlong into danger without a lick of self-preservation. He got upset with the boys when he thought they were slacking during training, because he needed them to be strong, so they’d be safe. He pushed himself to be the best for the same reason, although he’d never outwardly admit any of it. 

Speaking of training… 

“Morning. Thanks for taking them today. We got a large order at work so Hana asked if I could help out.” He gives Mitsuki a warm smile. “I can take them tomorrow though.”

“Oh, it’s no problem at all!” Behind her, Katsuki comes stomping down the stairs.

“Oi! Hot Topic. Where’s Deku?” Mitsuki smacks him on the back of the head and demands he apologize, which he doesn’t. The blond just scowls at him, arms crossed over his chest. It’d be intimidating if he wasn’t nine and half of Touya’s size. To him, Katsuki was like a little, angry Pomeranian, always trying to nip at his heels.

He smirks as the boy’s eyes narrow on him. “Don’t worry, Explody. He’ll be there. He had a checkup this morning so Inko’s taking him straight from there.” 

Training was a relatively new activity that the boys enrolled in together. It was part of their plan to become the greatest heroes in the world, orchestrated by Izuku, of course. The boys had been crowded around the kitchen table when it was Touya’s turn to babysit one night, Izuku muttering incessantly and frantically writing in a notebook about hero names and ultimate moves as the other two watched on and provided input whenever Izuku took a second to breathe. 

Even quirkless, he had no intention of backing down. Touya always admired that about the boy, and it reminded him of how he used to be as a kid. Even after being told he had to stop using his flames, he had been determined to pull through. It hadn’t worked for him, but that didn’t mean it had to be the same for Izuku. 

Of course, the other two boys were committed to making sure he got his chance, claiming they didn’t want to be heroes without him. The first step, according to them, was making sure Izuku could fight. So, when Inko and Mitsuki came to pick up the boys, the three of them were ambushed, Katsuki and Izuku refusing to leave the apartment until the adults agreed to enroll them in the local dojo.

At first, Touya had been vehemently against the idea. The program started out with normal combat training, without the use of quirks, but as they moved through the program, they’d be honing their quirks as well. Izuku was obviously an exception, filling that gap with additional martial arts training. But either way, he thought someone recognizing Shouto because of his ice quirk was too great a risk to take.

What had surprised him the most, though, was that Shouto wanted to train. Touya hadn’t broached the subject with him because he was afraid it would bring up bad memories, but if Izuku and Katsuki were doing it, he didn’t seem to care as long as he was involved. He saw it as a good thing, as progress, but Touya was still cautious. What if something triggered him during training that reminded him of his father? What if the reality of training again in general set off his quirk? That kind of trauma wasn’t something you just got over in a matter of months. Touya knew that firsthand. Besides, Shouto still sometimes came running into his room in the middle of the night, burrowing into his side with wet eyes, muttering about a red-eyed monster trying to hurt him.

His brother hadn’t overcome his childhood yet. Enji still had a strong hold over his life, as much as Touya didn’t like to admit. But Shouto had pleaded with him to let him join the boys, because he wanted to be a hero. Touya may not understand the draw, why Shouto would want to be something that would remind him only of their father, but he couldn’t snuff out that dream. He couldn’t tell Shouto what to do with his life, the kid had already had enough of that. 

So, he agreed to let him train, with specific instructions that Shouto must never use his left side, no matter what happened. The second word got out that a kid had fire and ice, it was all over. They’d have to leave their life behind again and start over somewhere else. That threat alone was enough for him to take it seriously.

Touya looks down at the time on his phone. “Well, I’ve gotta get going. Thanks again, Mitsuki. Hotaru, be good. I’ll pick you up from Izuku’s before dinner, okay?” He ruffles Shouto’s hair, earning him a glare from his little mini-me. Public Shouto was much different from private Shouto, where his brother would cling to him like an annoying little koala bear. Public Shouto didn’t need Touya, and definitely didn’t like being treated like a kid. Independent little brat. He rolls his eyes fondly as he goes to turn away, giving them all a final wave. 

 

***********************************

 

When Touya arrives at the florist shop, he’s cranky and tired and already over everything in existence. There was an incident down the street, and the police had the sidewalk roped off, so he had to go around and walk six extra blocks to get to work, missing his favorite coffee shop in the process. And no , he wasn’t a snob, he just liked his caffeine the way he liked it. A hot caffe mocha with an extra shot of espresso and a light dusting of cocoa powder on top. Yeah, it was unhealthy but honestly who cares. It woke him up and satisfied his endless sweet tooth, a win-win situation. His favorite barista from the cafe shop on the way to work made it perfect every time, and it’d become a ritual. Every morning, besides Mondays, he picked up his coffee and it marked the beginning of his day. But today was not a Monday, which meant he was out of luck since…

“Morning, gorgeous.” The neighborhood’s friendly flying hero swooped down, dropping to the pavement in front of him with that annoyingly bright smile on his face, blood red wings fanned out behind him. Touya frowns irritably, about to take out all his frustrations on him, when he notices the to-go cup in his hand. Motherfucker, I could kiss you right now.

He takes the cup warily when it’s extended towards him. “What’s this for? It’s not Monday.” The hero just smiles harder at him, cocking an eyebrow.

It had become a sort of demented game that the two of them were playing, ever since the day of his agency opening. Hawks started showing up on Monday mornings, usually just to say hi to Hana and ask him out. Touya rejected him every time, of course, but he kept coming back. When he figured out Touya’s love for that specific coffee order, he started showing up those mornings with it in hand. 

The first couple of times he threw them away right in front of him, trying to shake him off, but the hero was damn persistent. Of course, Touya would never admit that he’d have to hide in the storage room before his shift until the blush in his cheeks calmed down and he could force the small smile off his face. The bird could never know he actually had an effect on him. God, he was such a cocky asshole now, he’d be insufferable if that ever got out.

“I knew you liked my little gifts,” Hawks teases. “The street was blocked off so I figured you wouldn’t have a chance to get it yourself and since I was in the area…”

“I wasn’t even supposed to come in today, you know.”

Hawks looks him up and down appreciatively. “Then lucky me, I guess.” Touya chooses to ignore the comment and takes a tentative sip, closing his eyes and groaning when the mix of sweet cocoa and bitter espresso hit his taste buds. “So, wanna go get dinner this Friday?”

Touya smirks over the rim of his cup. “You may be my lord and savior right now, but that doesn’t mean my answer’s changed, Birdie.”

Hawks takes a step closer, invading his space. “That’s okay. I’ll sweep you off your feet someday, hot stuff.” A smug grin paints his face, as if he can sense Touya’s paper-thin resolve slipping a little further with every word. His voice is velvety smooth and why exactly am I rejecting him again? Hawks’ eyes focus on something behind him before he steps back and raises a hand in greeting. “I should go. I’m supposed to be working on a case right now.”

“A case?”

Touya turns to see a scruffy looking man with long, dark hair in a black jumpsuit approaching them from the street, a long, gray scarf wrapped around his neck. His eyes are tired, taking in the scene with an air of boredom. “Yeah. We’re investigating the missing Todoroki kid. Seika, meet Eraserhead. Eraserhead, Seika.” Hawks' voice becomes more distant as the roaring in Touya’s head gets louder.

In that instant, it’s as if everything Touya’s built over the last four months is now out in the open, laid naked in front of him. As if those tired eyes are penetrating through to his soul, analyzing every twitch and judging every word. His fight or flight instinct is screaming at him to run, to remove himself from the situation. To take Shouto and leave and never come back. The two men in front of him are the enemies . How could he forget that? If they found out about Shouto, they’d take him back to that house, and he’d be thrown in prison, unable to do anything to stop them. He had to pull himself together. He cannot fail at this. Not again .

“Oh.” Touya pulls himself back from the brink and focuses on controlling his breathing. “Nice to meet you.” He bows slightly and Eraserhead mirrors him in acknowledgement. “I’m sorry but I uh, I should be going. Hana’s going to wonder where I’m at.” He hopes the shake in his voice is subtle enough to not be noticeable. 

The only difference is in Hawks, whose lips turn into a slight frown before correcting into his signature laidback smile. Of course the damn pest noticed that something was off. Even when he’s actively trying to push the hero away, Touya always maintains a confident, ‘come and get me’ air about him. He blames it on the Todoroki genes. They’re all stubborn, cocky, and arrogant in their own ways. He knows his attitude comes off as a challenge, if the usual glint in Hawks’ eyes are any indication, and hell, maybe he wants Hawks to think of him as a challenge under normal circumstances. Not right now though. The last thing he needs to do is bring attention to himself. Right now, he needs to run and hide and burrow away until it’s safe to come out.

“See you Monday?” Hawks questions him now, even though he should know that Touya will be here, making it known that he’s noticed the shift in his mood. His eyes are calculating, smothering him until he can’t take it anymore. Hide, hide, hide. His instincts are screaming at him. He mutters out an affirmative answer and gives Hawks a tight smile before turning towards the door, escaping inside. 

Moving on autopilot towards the storage room, he shuts the door and sags against it, dropping to the floor. He sets the to-go cup down next to him and brings his knees to his chest, head bowed between them. His shaky hands fly up to roughly tug at his hair until the prickle of pain breaks through the overwhelming feeling of anxiety gnawing at his chest. 

In. Out. In. Out. All he has to do is focus on breathing, focus on his surroundings. Five things he can see. Bags of soil, clay planters, pruning shears, watering can, fertilizer spikes. Four things you can touch. The rough denim of his jeans, smooth cotton of his shirt, the cold tile on the floor, the cardboard sleeve on his cup. Three things you can hear. The murmuring of Hana’s voice in the next room, the low hum of the furnace kicking on, the tapping of his fingers against the floor. Two things you can smell. The honeyed fragrance of fresh roses, the rich aroma of coffee beans and chocolate. One thing you can taste. Cocoa powder and espresso.

Touya calms himself enough to stand back up and answer Hana when she comes to the door to ask if he’s okay. For the rest of the day, he focuses on what’s in front of him, ignoring the screaming voice inside his head telling him he needs to run. Everything was going to be okay. Maybe if he just repeated that in his head a thousand more times, he’d start to believe it.

 

***********************************

 

Shota skims over the new case files in front of him, the ‘HPSC’ seal stamped on top of each page. His budding work relationship with Hawks was paying off. Thinking the hero had some pull with the Commission had been a gamble, but it turned out he was right. Hawks was able to gain access to additional records on the Todoroki family that required a higher clearance, and Shota hadn’t wasted time traveling to Fukuoka to see for himself.

Now, however, the young hero wasn’t much help at all, sulking at the other end of the table like someone had kicked his puppy. Shota rolls his eyes. Hawks had been in a mood since they left that flower shop, and Shota needed him to focus. Damn lovesick teenagers. A kid’s life was on the line.

“Didn’t think you’d be one to go for the broody, quiet type.” He starts the conversation, hoping it’ll be enough to break whatever weird tension was going on with him.

Turns out it works, because Hawks chuckles and sits up straighter in his chair, pulling a file from the stack in the middle of the table. “To be honest, that’s not usually my type. But there’s just something about him. He’s got this mysterious aura. I can’t stay away.” He shrugs his shoulders as if it’s no big deal. “Plus, have you seen him? He’s fucking hot.”

Shota makes a noncommittal sound. If he was being honest, he hadn’t really noticed anything extraordinary about the kid. His ‘type’ has been a certain loud, energetic blond for so long that he’d become blind to anyone else. The one part he did notice were the scars marking the kid’s arms and throat. They looked pretty severe, but it wasn’t something he would ever pry about. Plenty of people have seen tragedy in this world. Whatever happened to Hawk’s boyfriend didn’t concern him. Besides, the bird didn’t seem to mind the scars, so it couldn’t be too bad. “How long have you two been together?”

“Oh,” Hawks outwardly laughs at that, “we’re not dating. Just trying to get to know him.”

“And how’s that going?” He multitasks, skimming through a contract with a private tutoring service for Shouto from a year before his disappearance. There’s a note at the bottom of the contract indicating that the tutor was terminated due to ‘incompatibility’. It seemed like Endeavor was pretty selective with his household staff. This was the third tutoring contract he’s seen for the boy, starting at age 4.

“Well, I know his name, his coffee order, and that he has a family. Oh, and he’s only been working at the flower shop for a few months now.” Hawks replied cheerfully, not looking the least bit worried about the lack of information he had on the boy he was most definitely falling for. Oh, the kid has it bad.

Shota snorts and shakes his head, grabbing another folder from the pile. The smile falls from his face when he looks at the bold sharpie at the top, marked ‘Touya Todoroki’. After his interview with Natsuo, Shota had tried finding information on the eldest Todoroki child. Natsuo had clammed up immediately after revealing that Touya had ‘burned’, refusing to answer questions even about other topics, so they called it quits. Shota wasn’t stupid enough to confront Endeavor about the subject after the attitude he’d displayed in the interrogation room, so he was left with no other options. 

If he was being honest, his feelings towards the case were growing more and more complicated as time went on. At first, he thought he was letting Endeavor’s standoffish attitude affect his judgment. The hero was known to be a bit of an asshole, especially when so many people compared him to All Might, who might as well shit rainbows. But, over time, the Todoroki family secrets kept piling up and the queasiness in his gut kept getting worse. 

He hadn’t been able to find a single piece of information on Touya after that interview. Up until now. It’s like the kid was written out of history completely. The uncertainty surrounding his death made it even harder to research, since Natsuo had been too young at the time to remember the exact date or time frame when Touya had died, so searching through news clippings and articles proved futile. It was starting to drive him crazy, like he was searching for someone who never existed. A ghost, a figment of his imagination that he had made up.

Hizashi had even asked him if it was a good idea to keep working on the case and told him that he should think about handing it off to someone else. But it had to be him. He wasn’t sure why he felt that way, but something was telling him that he had to be there for this child. No matter what happened.

Flipping to the first page, he digests the information on the boy’s birth certificate hungrily. Touya Todoroki, birthday January 18, 2154, red hair, turquoise eyes, parents listed as Enji and Rei Todoroki. The second page was his quirk registration form. Quirk name: Blueflame. The description states that his fire holds more potential heat than that of his father’s. At the bottom, there’s an excerpt from a medical record. Shota’s heart starts to race as he reads the doctor’s diagnosis, detailing how the boy’s body wasn’t compatible with the quirk. How he’d inherited his mother’s ice resistance instead of his father’s heat resistance. Recommendations to keep the boy from using his flames were scribbled at the bottom.

He burned.

Natsuo’s words rang through his head as he turns the page. He freezes with his hand still in the air, paper fluttering softly to the table. 

“Something wrong?” Hawks looks over in concern before looking down at the page. The text, save for a few lines here and there, was blacked out completely. Redacted, to the point where there was almost no point in having it in the file. The only words that could be read were ‘Sekoto Peak’, ‘Touya Todoroki’, ‘November 21, 2168’, and ‘body not recovered’. Body not recovered.

“Sorry. Just…thinking,” he mumbles, distracted. His mind is connecting pieces of the case in a frenzy. Shouto’s room was almost untouched. No sign of a struggle. A personal attack on Endeavor? He recalls the grainy video footage they recovered from the train station. A young kid around the right age clinging to the pant leg of an older boy, hood drawn up around his face. The hooded figure crouching in front of the boy. Was he comforting him?

Body not recovered.

He burned.

He always liked Touya better.

In his distraction, Hawks pulls the case file over to him, eyes flying across the page as he starts at the beginning. When he gets to the quirk registration form, he pauses, eyes growing wide for a split second.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.” Hawks clears his throat, turning to the redacted page. He lets out a whistle. “Wow, they really did a number on this one.” He turns back to the birth certificate on the first page, eyes moving slower this time around as he reads through each line. “I didn’t know Endeavor had any other kids,” he mutters.

“Yeah, well, considering this is the only information I’ve been able to find on his oldest, I think he wants to keep it that way.” Shota rubs at his temples, closing his eyes to combat the growing ache in his head. When he opens them, Hawks has a sad look on his face, miles from his cheery hero persona that he’d shown over the past 24 hours they’d been working together. He looks wrecked. “You okay?”

He whips his head up to find Shota staring at him in concern. He swallows before nodding with a tight-lipped smile. “Yeah. It’s just…sad, you know. To be forgotten like this.” His voice is soft as he gestures at the folder. He sighs loudly before stretching his arms out above his head. “I need a break. Wanna grab something to eat?”

“Yeah.” Shota nods as he stands. A breather would be good. It would give him some time to digest this new information and how it all fits together. What his next steps should be. “Lead the way.”

 

***********************************

 

“Hi, Inko.” Touya sat on the edge of his bed, running his hands back and forth through his hair. “Would you be able to watch Hotaru overnight?”

“Of course, sweetheart. Is everything okay?” His mouth wobbles at the sound of her kind voice, filled with the concern a mother should have. The concern his mother should have had.

“Yeah. I’m sorry to drop this on you. I’m just not feeling great and figured the boys wouldn’t mind.”

Inko laughs. “Izuku will be thrilled. I can send Hotaru down to pack up some things for the night.”

“No need, I can stop by and drop it off.” He gets off the call and stands up, moving over to Shouto’s room to get his bag packed with some pajamas, his toothbrush, and All Might plushie. His eyes well up at the sight of the stuffed toy, worn down over the months. Shouto never slept without it. Not since that first night. His thumb glides along the seam of its torso, his shaky stitchwork pulling the toy together where it had ripped. Shouto had been inconsolable, running up to Touya with the plushie thrust out in front of him, fluff starting to come out of the small hole. He would always remember the look in Shouto’s eyes when he finally handed the toy back to him after ‘performing surgery’. As if Touya had saved him again, as if he was his hero. 

Their happiness was so fragile. He had to preserve that feeling for them, for Shouto. He had to be the one to stitch everything together, to stop his brother’s pain and suffering. It was his only purpose in life. The only reason he woke up in the mornings, the only reason he stayed alive when his body wanted him to quit. He had to remember that. He had to focus on that.

He just needed one night. All day, he’d been feeling this fire burning inside of him, like an itch under his skin that was threatening to explode at a moment’s notice. He needed a night to expel this toxic, negative energy. To deal with the anxiety and paranoia that he’d been suppressing up until this morning. He needed to be alone. He couldn’t let Shouto see that side of him. The side that was absolutely terrified for the future, the side that cowered in fear when he thought of their father. The side that mocked him, the voice in his head telling him he was going to fail. That he’d never be the hero Shouto needs him to be. It was strangling him from the inside out.

He leaves the apartment and takes the stairs two at a time, nervous energy pushing him forward. When he knocks on the door, he’s greeted not by Inko, but by Shouto. He’s scowling up at him, searching his face. The kid’s too perceptive for his own good, and Touya was an open book.

“What’s wrong? Why am I staying here tonight?” His brows crease with worry.

“Just not feeling good, buddy. Don’t worry about it.” His carefully plastered-on smile starts to break when Shouto stares back at him with distress, hurt lacing his voice. “You’ll come back?” Tears start to cascade down his flushed cheeks as he reaches for Touya’s hand and holds on tight. 

The pain in his chest that’s been getting worse as the day goes on finally knocks him to his knees as he pulls Shouto in for a hug. “Sho,” he whispers, sure to keep his voice low enough that no one hears but them, “I already promised you, remember? I’ll always come back for you.” He squeezes his arms tighter around Shouto when he feels his little hands clutch the fabric of his hoodie, burying his head in his shoulder. 

Touya rests his chin on the boy’s head, petting his hair gently. He squeezes his eyes shut, forcing back the moisture threatening to rip through his damaged tear ducts. “It’s just one night, buddy. I promise.” He presses a kiss to the top of his head as he rubs circles into his back. “Have fun with Izuku and I’ll be back before you know it. Okay?”

Shouto pulls away and takes a step back, nodding. Touya takes the sleeve of his hoodie and wipes the boy’s face, pushing his bangs out from in front of his eyes. He cradles Shouto’s face with his hands and stares into his green eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” he whispers, before taking his overnight bag and walking back into the apartment, one last glance thrown Touya’s way before the door shuts.

Touya lets out a shuttered breath and grits his teeth before standing. By the time he reaches the stairwell, he takes them down two at a time, breaking into a run when he hits the ground floor. His destination is only a few blocks over, on the outskirts of the neighborhood. He had found it a couple weeks ago on his way back from a delivery for the shop. It was gated off with a “caution: do not enter” sign posted haphazardly on the chain link. His curiosity had gotten the better of him, so one day when he was bored, he snuck in to check it out.

When he followed the path through the trees past the fence, it opened up into a rolling hill with a small stream at the bottom. The riverbed below had a wide-open area of packed dirt. Touya figured it was probably the start of a construction site that they had just filled back in and abandoned. The desolate area paired with the stream steadily flowing below made this a perfect area for what he needed.

Breaking through the trees, he throws his backpack with extra clothes and his phone to the side and makes it to the center of the open field before the sting behind his eyes is too much for him to bear. His lungs are burning with exhaustion, and he can feel the wetness on his cheeks as he sinks to the ground, letting out an anguished yell. 

All the pent-up rage and frustration and anxiety explode out of his body in brilliant blue. He’s careful to keep in control, even as his emotions war within him. He can’t risk another Sekoto Peak. Not after he promised Shouto he’d be back. He lets out his flames in small spurts, each breath growing lighter like he’s able to suck in more air as the energy slowly leaks out of him. 

The weight he’s carrying, the future of a child he’s responsible for, the stakes if he were to fail. All of it goes up in flames, one by one, as he focuses his power outward. He pulls back once he’s done with a thought, locking it away again before moving on to the next one. He lets out a final burst, screaming at the top of his lungs, for the future he could have had and the feelings he knows he has to suppress. So consumed, he doesn’t even notice the dark figure flying far above him.

Notes:

Alexa, play the "he knows" sound. Hawks, I love you, but please don't fuck this up or else I'll be upset.

How do you think the rest of Aizawa's investigation will go? Whose side will he be on? What will he do if or when he finds Touya? How will Hawks and Touya's next interaction go? Will Touya come back for Shouto? We'll find out soon enough! :)

Thank you all for reading! I appreciate each and every one of you! <3

Chapter 8

Summary:

Touya deals with the aftermath of his breakdown, and he confronts Hawks.

Notes:

First of all, I want to thank you all for the overwhelming support for this fic. Honestly, I never thought it'd do even half as good as it did. It may seem trivial, but it means so much to me. I'm glad that I can create a story that you guys are able to enjoy about characters that have an iron grip on my heart. <3

Also, things are about to get interesting so buckle up!

It’s well past one in the morning when Touya limps into the apartment. The skin on his hands is blistered and red, curling up and festering where the skin grafts meet his healthy skin in a jagged line running halfway down his palm. A steady stream of blood trickles from the wounds. Pain ripples up his arm as he turns the doorknob, the metal cool against his scorching skin. 

Fuck, fuck, fuck that hurts. This was a bad idea. What was I thinking?

Touya pushes into the bathroom, grabbing the first aid kit from the top shelf of the linen closet. He’d splurged and gotten one of the large ones that are medical grade. He knew there was a good chance he’d need it at some point and refused to go to a hospital if he hurt himself. It was too risky.

Turning on the faucet, he puts his hands under the cold stream, gritting his teeth as the water assaults his broken skin. Carefully turning the water off, he pats his hands dry before cleaning what he can with the antiseptic, sweat beading on his forehead and his head swimming from the pain. 

Sliding down to the floor, he pulls the first aid kit over to him and opens it up. His hands shake as he finds the surgical needle and sutures. Breathe. In. Out. It’s okay. It’s just pain. He takes deep breaths, trying to steady his hand. The first prick of pain as the needle threads through his skin has him gritting his teeth. A gurgled scream threatens to bubble up his throat. 

Not wanting to wake anyone up in the apartment next door, he grabs a cloth and shoves it in his mouth, biting down hard. Harsh breaths expel from his nose as he pierces his skin again. Each stab of the needle has him dizzy, but he soldiers on through the pain. His fingers reflectively move to curl into a fist and he forces his hand flat as he works. 

Don’t be a wimp. This is your fault. You did this, now face the consequences.  

After the last stitch is in place, he ties off the end and slumps back against the wall to catch his breath. Don’t stop now. You’ve got one hand left. His stomach roils and he has to swallow back the bile in his throat. Tears threaten to fall from his eyes as he grits his teeth and gets another suture ready. 

By the time both hands are stitched up and sloppily bandaged, Touya feels like he just ran a marathon. Sweat drips down his forehead and merges with the tears leaking from his eyes. He whimpers as he tries to put his hands under him to get up from the floor, before giving up and resting his back against the wall. 

Dark spots cloud his vision. A dull, throbbing pain pulses through his hands now, keeping him right on the edge of consciousness. He looks longingly at the bottle of pain medication sitting on the sink basin, too weak to move. His eyes are heavy and his head lolls forward until his chin rests against his chest.

The sound of his phone going off in his hoodie pocket jolts him from his lethargic state. He’s up and moving in seconds when he sees Inko’s name on the caller ID, ignoring the pain as he holds the phone up to his ear.

“Inko. What’s wrong?”

“It’s Izuku.” The kid sounds distressed, sniffling into the phone. “ Hotaru’s having a nightmare. Momma’s trying to wake him up but she can’t.”

Touya’s already running out the front door by the time he answers. “I’m on my way. Can you let me in?” The boy gives an affirmative answer before Touya hangs up, getting up to the fifth floor in record time. 

Izuku is already standing outside the apartment with the front door open, eyes red and tears tracking down his cheeks. Touya thanks him as he rushes towards the bedroom. The temperature in the house is freezing, each breath creating small clouds in the air. He can hear Inko before he even enters the room. “Hotaru! Hotaru, honey. Wake up!”

She looks relieved when Touya rushes to her side. She’s standing a couple feet away from the futon, where Shouto is lying completely still, whimpering softly. There’s a thin coat of frost covering his entire body and the futon under him, his skin turning blue from the cold. “I’m so sorry, Seika! I didn’t know what to do!” Inko looks on helplessly, Izuku coming to her side with wide, scared eyes, clutching his mother’s shirt in his hands.

“I know. It’s okay. It’s not your fault.” Touya kneels down next to the boy, patting his head gently. “Can you give us a minute?” Inko nods, herding Izuku out of the room before shutting the door.

Fuck. This is gonna suck so bad.  

Touya gasps from the shot of pain lacing through him as he calls the heat back into his hands, placing them on the boy’s chest. He curls over until his forehead meets Shouto’s, taking a deep, shaky breath. “Sho. Please wake up. It’s me, Touya. I’m here, you’re okay.” The boy whimpers under him again but the frost stops, allowing Touya’s heat to flow through his body. “Shouto. I came back. I’m here. Please wake up,” he whispers. “You’re okay. You’re going to be okay.”

Shouto starts crying even before his eyes open, arms coming up to wrap around Touya’s neck tightly. “Touya?” 

“It’s me. I’m here.” Touya scoops him into his arms carefully, moving to sit on the bed with Shouto sitting in his lap as he continues to sob into the crook of his neck.

“The…the monster came…He…he came and…and he took me away.” He hiccups, gasping in short breaths. “I…I tried to run.” Shouto pulls him impossibly closer as Touya rubs circles into his back with the back of his hand. “I couldn’t find you,” he wails. “I…I looked everywhere and…and you weren’t there.”

A consuming wave of guilt hits him like a tsunami. He sighs heavily, burying his face in Shouto’s hair, breathing in the familiar scent of peppermint shampoo. This is all my fault. I wasn’t strong enough and left Shouto when I shouldn’t have. I should have been here. “I’m here now. You’re safe,” he murmurs. 

The door opens and he lifts his head as Inko peaks in. “Izuku’s in my room for the night if you don’t want to move him.” He nods and mouths a ‘thank you’. Inko smiles, concern etched on her face, before lightly closing the door again.

Touya shifts, laying down on the small bed, and pulls Shouto into his side. He’s still crying, but it’s slowing down as his limbs grow heavy with sleep. Touya continues rubbing circles into his back, brushing his bangs back with his other hand, ignoring the mind-numbing pain from the new burns. “Wanna hear a story?”

Shouto nods weakly into the crook of his neck. “Once upon a time, there was a boy who was born with a special power. Everyone told him that this special power meant he would grow up to be the most amazing hero and make his father proud. But then, his power started hurting him, and suddenly, everything changed. His father called him a failure and he was thrown away, forgotten. The boy was heartbroken, and didn’t know why he existed if he couldn’t live up to his destiny.”

Shouto lifts his head to look at Touya in confusion. “This is your story, Touya-nii. You already told me this one.” His tone turns accusatory at the end and Touya smirks, glad to see his attitude is still intact. 

“Patience, young grasshopper.” Touya pokes his side and it earns him a giggle. The sound is like music to his ears compared to his heart-wrenching sobs from a few minutes ago. “The boy had a younger brother. He became jealous when his brother’s power manifested to be even greater than his own. He despaired every night, wondering what he had done to deserve the curse of being broken. Was he a bad person in a past life, and this was his karma?” 

Shouto stiffened at his side. He was way too young to remember when Touya had tried attacking him, screaming about how much he hated him. Before he came to his senses. But the pain was still there at the thought of the hatred Touya had once harbored for him. Even if it was completely unfounded.

“But then, one day, the boy realized his little brother was in trouble, and all his jealousy vanished. The only thing he could think about after that was how much he wanted to save him. So he trained really hard to be strong enough. But he got hurt, and had to go away for a long time.” He glances down to see Shouto’s eyes fighting to stay open, his breaths evening out.

“As soon as he got back, he found his brother and saved him from the evil monster that was hurting him.” He pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts. This was as far as they had talked about when Shouto first asked what happened to him. A lot has changed in the last few months. A lot of realizations, soul searching. He had grown. They both had. So, his story has grown as well. 

“He realized that, even if he could never be the hero everyone else promised him he’d be, maybe he could at least be his brother’s hero, and that made him happy. It gave him the strength he needed to keep going, even when things got hard. That was his new purpose in life, to be that hero, to keep his brother safe from the darkness of the world. And in turn, his little brother turned into his hero, giving him the chance to live a life he never thought possible. They saved each other.” Shouto’s fists slowly unclench from his shirt as his body relaxes into sleep.

“There were still monsters they had to fight, a past they couldn’t forget, but they fought through it all together, side by side. And no matter what happened, the boy would always find his way back to his brother. Even if he had to crawl through the depths of hell to get there.”

 

***********************************

 

Perched on the roof, looking over the playground across the street, Hawks closes his eyes and focuses on the vibrations from the feather he’d slipped into Seika’s - no, Touya’s - pocket earlier that night. He felt bad but he couldn’t help it, it was necessary. He needed more information.

He didn’t really have any proof that Seika was Touya, not at first anyways. There were similarities, sure. When he read Touya’s quirk registration, with his quirk listed as “blueflame”, he thought back to the brief moment he’d seen Seika’s quirk manifest. It was impossible not to compare the two, the vibrant blue sticking out like a flashing neon sign, but even then, it’s not like similar quirks didn’t exist. It could just be a coincidence.

Then, everything else started coming together. They would both be around the same age. Touya’s quirk hurt his body, Seika was covered in burn scars. A death covered up by a hero, and Seika’s clear disdain for hero society. Shouto Todoroki went missing four months ago, Seika started working at the flower shop almost four months ago. Still, they were all just similarities. Nothing definitive. Nothing that meant anything.

So, he trailed him home from work that day after Aizawa left the agency. And no, it wasn’t stalking. It was investigating , putting his covert ops training to good use. He was about to leave, figuring he was home for the night after there was no activity for almost an hour, when Seika left his apartment and headed for a higher floor. 

When he stopped in front of the door to another apartment, he had a short conversation with the young boy who opened it. Hawks was too far away to get a good look, and he hadn’t dispatched his feathers, so he didn’t hear the conversation, but the kid looked to be around the age Shouto would be now. He has dark hair though, not Shouto’s white and red. Do I have the wrong guy?

When Seika left, running down the street, Hawks followed, his curiosity driving him on. He watched as he collapsed, his scream so broken and raw, exploding in a barrage of blue flames. Hawks almost fell from the sky from the emotions that overtook him as he witnessed Seika break in front of him. 

The pain was palpable, filling up the air around him until he was choking on it. The heat was almost unbearable, even as he soared high above the open area. He watched as the man he knew next to nothing about let out blast after blast, his wails and screams shaking him to his core, settling in the very marrow of his bones.

Hawks managed to wiggle a small feather into his back pocket as Seika was trying to get back into his apartment. He was in so much pain and so exhausted that he didn’t even notice. The burns were bad, and Hawks had to choke back bile at the muffled screams as he listened to him clearly trying to bandage himself up. But still, he was alone. 

He said he had family. Where are they?

Suddenly, Hawks could feel his heart beating rapidly through the feather, frantically answering the phone before he flew out of the apartment, back to the door from earlier. That’s when everything finally clicked into place. ‘ Shouto, I came back. I’m here.’ Then the reply, his confirmation. ‘ Touya?’ It was him. He’d found Shouto, and Touya, Todoroki. Hawks let out a shaky breath he didn’t know he was holding. 

‘ The monster came. He came and took me away. I tried to run. I tried to find you. I looked everywhere and you weren’t there.’

Hawks feels queasy. These weren’t the words of a kidnapped child, of a child in danger. He wasn’t scared of Touya , he was scared of losing Touya. Of being taken away from Touya. Something sinister was happening behind the scenes, just outside of his vision. Something was scaring Shouto, and it wasn’t his kidnapper. Who’s the monster he’s running from? Who’s haunting his nightmares?

He sits with bated breath, listening to the soft voice tell the story of two brothers. The Todoroki brothers. 

‘His father called him a failure.’

‘Thrown away, forgotten.’ 

‘Didn’t know why he existed.’

His chest tightens, and he doesn’t realize he’s crying until a stray tear drops on the hand clenched in front of him.

With every word, the chasm between his head and his heart grows wider, until he’s not sure what side he’s standing on anymore. 

 

** *********************************

 

Trees burning, smoke clogging his throat. The outline of a man walking through the flames. The man extends a hand, reaching out to him. He speaks, but Touya can’t make out the words…

The sound of muted voices pulls Touya out of a deep sleep. That same man. Who is he? Was that a memory or a nightmare? His eyes are still heavy as he pulls them open, taking in the strange surroundings. It looks like he’s in a kids’ room, but where…?

He gasps as he sits up, flashes of the night before flooding back in. He feels a dull pain as he turns to grab at Shouto, only to realize he’s alone in the bed. When he looks down at the wound on his hand, he finds that they’ve been re-bandaged. Far better than the sloppy strips of gauze he’d put together last night. It had to be Inko. How in the hell did I sleep through that though? 

Flopping back down on the bed, he tunes into the voices outside the hall. Shouto and Izuku laughing. Pans clanging and something sizzling from the kitchen. A content smile ghosted over his lips at the repose. As if they were living a normal life, a big happy family, inside their little bubble.

Two pain pills and a glass of water sit on the nightstand. He knocks the pills down, gulping down the entire glass of water at once. The cool liquid brings relief to his sore throat.

The door opens and Shouto peaks his head in, eyes widening when he sees Touya awake. “You’re awake!” He runs in and jumps onto his lap. Touya huffs as the air is knocked from his lungs, before carefully putting an arm around him.

“Obviously.” Touya smirks mischievously as Shouto’s face scrunches up and he sticks out his tongue. 

“Auntie Inko said you were hurt.” Shouto’s voice grows stern as he glances at his bandages. “What’d you do?”

“Me?! Why do you think it’s my fault?”

“Because you do stupid things sometimes,” Shouto deadpans. 

“Rude.” He huffs when Shouto looks at him expectantly like the little dictator he is. “Don’t worry about it. It was an accident.”

“Why do you get to lie but I can’t?”

Touya chuckles and pushes him off his lap, standing up and stretching. “Because I’m the adult here and I said so. Now let’s go see what Auntie’s cooking. I’m starving.”

 

***********************************

 

When Monday arrives, Touya approaches the alleyway where the employee entrance of the flower shop is located with a ball of dread in the pit of his stomach. It had been two days since he’d found out Hawks was investigating him, trying to find Shouto and take him away. After his breakdown, he had spent the day figuring out how to handle it. Even though he knew what he had to do. It was just a matter of having the balls to actually do it. He hurries towards the door when he doesn’t see the bird waiting for him. 

Maybe he’s finally getting tired of me and I won’t have to - 

A figure drops in front of him, bright red wings breaking his fall. Touya jerks backward, tripping over himself. Before he can fall on his ass, two feathers are at his back, holding him up as he regains his balance.

“Fucking hell, Hawks. What the fuck’s your problem?” he growls, heart pounding in his chest.

“Didn’t want to miss you.” He holds out a to-go cup. “You looked like you were in a hurry.”

In a perfect world, Touya would smile, take the coffee, flirt shamelessly, and maybe, finally, give in and agree to a date with the pro hero. In a perfect world, maybe they would even be working together, if Touya had become a hero himself. In a perfect world, maybe they could be more. 

But the events from a few days ago are still in the forefront of his mind, and he knows what he has to do. What he has to sacrifice to give Shouto the life he deserves. To make sure they stay hidden.

So instead, he stares at the coffee with disdain, not reaching out and taking it. “You need to stop, Hawks. We can’t keep doing this.” His voice is cold and harsh.

Hawks doesn’t answer him. Instead, he studies him with more scrutiny than Touya is comfortable with. Those hypnotizing, golden irises peering through him, down to his core, as if he can see through to Touya’s soul. But even with the intensity of his gaze, there’s still a softness about him that isn’t usually there. It makes Touya’s skin crawl.

In fact, Hawks isn’t acting like himself at all, Touya muses. There’s no coy smirk, no flirtatious winks, no challenging glint in his eyes like when they banter back and forth. He seems subdued, inquisitive, almost sad in a way. He studies Touya like he’s trying to burn him into his memory. His eyes flit down to the bandages on his hands and his brow furrows in concern for a split second.

“What happened?”

Touya bristles. “None of your fucking business.”

Hawks eyes fly up to meet his. “I’m just asking ‘cause I care. There’s no need to - “

“I didn’t ASK you to care!” Hawks looks at him passively as he yells, not even flinching at his tone. He crowds into the bird’s space until his back hits the wall hard and he winces as his wings are crushed against the brick. Hawks moves the coffee out of the way, so it’s not crushed between them. Touya’s hand comes up to wrap around Hawk’s throat, just threatening enough to make it clear that he’s being serious. 

“I’m not some fucking charity case that you can take on and save like the good little hero you are. You only care because it’s your job to fix broken things, and I’m telling you right now that I can’t be fixed, so just stop. Stop pretending like you actually care about me. No one cares about me, and I don’t need your help or your pity. Go save someone else.”

Touya forces the words out of his mouth, letting the venom spill from his tongue. It’s what he has to do. It’s a sacrifice he has to be willing to make. A sacrifice he is willing to make, for Shouto. 

The way Hawks just looks on silently, assessing him with those goddamn eyes makes it worse. It makes him feel hollow, naked. As if he can see through every word. He’s so close he can make out the burnt orange flecks of his eyes, pulling him in like the sun. Hawks swallows and Touya can feel it move down his throat.

“I’m more than just a hero, you know.” His eyes flash with hurt and resignation, his voice is soft, careful. “I know you don’t need to be saved, Seika. I just enjoy your company. You make me feel good and I thought you maybe felt the same.” His eyes search Touya’s face desperately.

“Well, you’re wrong. There’s only room for one person in my life, and it’s not you.” Touya forces the words out of his mouth, taking a step back and putting distance between them. Every bone in his body is screaming to reach back out when Hawks winces, bowing his head. Don’t go, I need you. “I don’t want you in my life.”

“Okay then,” Hawks nods once before looking up at him. “I think I get it. I’ll leave you alone.” He bends down and sets the to-go cup awkwardly on the ground. When he steps back, he gives Touya a shaky smile, his eyes suspiciously glassy. 

No, stay here. I lied. Please.

“Good.” Touya turns and rips the door open, not looking back as he storms inside.

 

***********************************

 

A week later, Touya cautiously walks down the alleyway towards the employee entrance.

This time, there are no red wings to greet him, and the lack of color seeps its way into the rest of his day, turning everything into a dull gray.

 

***********************************

 

Another week passes, and Hana approaches him with an envelope. According to her, it was included in the flower shop’s mail, addressed specifically to him.

He’s never seen Hawks handwriting but he can’t imagine it being from anyone else. The note is short, only two sentences.

The investigation into Shouto Todoroki’s disappearance has officially been called off. You’re safe now.

Notes:

Oh Touya, my sweet boy. He's going through so much. What do you think he's going to do now that he knows someone gave him the heads up about Shouto's case? Does this mean they're safe?

How is Aizawa dealing with the investigation being dropped? Y'all know Dadzawa isn't gonna give up that easily.

Thank you all again for the support. I really appreciate it and hope you enjoyed this latest chapter! Leave comments with your thoughts, suggestions, questions, etc. I'd love to hear them! <3

Also, I AM NOT OKAY AFTER TODAYS EPISODE.

Chapter 9

Summary:

Aizawa & Hawks make a plan. Touya & Shouto compromise.

“Good.” Touya turns and storms inside, leaving Hawks staring at the closed door. In some ways, he had anticipated this reaction. Obviously Touya knew he was investigating his brother’s disappearance, and Hawks had a hunch that knowledge had led to his breakdown the other night. It had to be at least part of the reason. He had left Touya alone after that, not wanting to push the issue and make matters worse. 

Except everything was different now, because the man he couldn’t get out of his head was the man he was supposed to be hunting down. The boy he was trying to find was terrified of being found. He knew he had a job to do, that he should march into the flower shop and take Touya into custody right then and there, but he couldn’t get himself to move. Instead, he was frozen in place, staring at the chipped paint of the side entrance door, the coffee cup marked ‘Touya’ growing cold at his feet.

That morning, he had been prepared to let Touya know he knew his identity, which is why he asked the barista to write his real name on the cup. He had been prepared to have that hard conversation, to ask Touya to trust him. He half suspected he’d be burned in the process, literally, but it’d be worth it for a chance to make things right. To help him.

But Touya didn’t want his help. He didn’t want him . He said it himself before leaving him behind in that alleyway. So what was he supposed to do now, with the knowledge he had burning a hole inside him? 

The investigation had already been slowly losing traction over the past couple months, and the media had all but abandoned the story. It was the way their world worked. There was always a new fight, new villain, new story to take the front page. Eraserhead, on the other hand, seemed as determined as ever. 

He had shown up to the agency bright and early on Sunday morning, black coffee in hand, and went straight to work, diving through file after file. Every now and then, Hawks could hear him mumbling as he worked, brows furrowed and his mouth dipped in a frown. He didn’t seem to be too happy about whatever he was reading. 

His phone rings in his pocket, startling him. He breaks his staring contest with the flower shop’s door and looks down at the caller ID. Speak of the devil. He presses the button on his earpiece to answer the call. 

“Heyo Eraserhead! What’s up?” He tries to force the cheerfulness into his voice, but it sounds dull, hollow to his ears. If the hero could tell something was off, he didn’t say anything.

“When will you be in? We need to talk. I think I found something.” 

“Oh yeah?” Hawks chuckles nervously. “What’s that?”

“We’ll talk when you get here. Don’t want to say anything over the phone.”

Hawks brings a hand up to stroke the back of his neck. “Right. I’ll head in now.” He hangs up and shoves the phone into his pocket, glancing one last time at the door.

What could Aizawa possibly know that couldn’t be talked about over the phone? Did he figure out that Touya is alive? Did he think he found Touya? Hawks was pretty sure Aizawa was a good guy, and wouldn’t jump the gun without hearing the Todoroki brother’s stories, but he still felt protective, cautious even. 

He had to feel out the situation, see what Aizawa thought he knew, and make sure Touya was protected. Even if he didn’t want his help, he was going to get it. He would prove that he cared about him, that he wasn’t just trying to save him like Touya thought. He could be someone Touya could count on. Failing him wasn’t an option.

 

***********************************

 

Contrary to popular belief, there were very few things that actually bothered Shota Aizawa. He blamed it on Hizashi. The loud blond had catapulted into his life during their first year at U.A., and Shota had no choice but to get used to his particular brand of annoying. The damn fool’s overwhelming personality was endearing in a way, not that Shota would ever admit to thinking that. But no matter who was at fault, he could really withstand anything. At least, most things.

One of those things he couldn’t stand was the idea of self-sacrifice. Of course, heroes were expected to sacrifice a lot in order to save those in need, he understood this. But he hated the idea of heroes running into situations and fights without a second thought about their own life. Rubble and clouds of dirt still haunted his dreams. He remembered standing among the destruction, his ears ringing, waiting for Loud Cloud to emerge, but he never did. He had run back in, not thinking of his own well-being, and his life ended that day.

He never wanted to feel that way again, to see someone throw their life away in the name of being a hero. It was one of the biggest reasons why he had started teaching at U.A. a couple years ago. He wanted to make sure the heroes of the future could chase their dreams without them coming to an end prematurely.

Another thing he wouldn’t stand for was any kind of violence against children. He always had a soft spot for kids, and it had only grown in the past couple years as he and Hizashi started talking about adoption. It broke his heart when they had visited the group home, seeing all those broken souls. He wanted to take them all away and give them a home right then and there. If they had the room and money, he would in a heartbeat. 

Now, a few weeks away from Shinsou’s adoption officially going through, his fierce protectiveness had just gotten worse. His kid wasn’t even his yet, and he knew he’d put his life on the line for him.

Staring at all the evidence in front of him, he felt that protectiveness rear its head again. He didn’t even look up as Hawks entered the room, waiting until he sat down across from him to lift his head. The hero's eyes were cautious, like he was trying to feel out the situation, his posture rigid and calculated. Interesting. Shota filed that in the back of his mind for later. 

“So, you said you found something?” Golden eyes study him intently before flitting down to the papers strewn all over Shota’s side of the table. 

Endless reports lay in front of him; statements from household staff, tutors, law enforcement, and medical staff going back over ten years. Complaints about wrongful termination, claims and allegations that made Shota’s stomach turn.

“I think Endeavor has been abusing his wife and children.”

 

***********************************

 

In hindsight, Hawks should have been more prepared for this revelation. After all, he had seen Touya’s pain up close, and heard Shouto cry over a monster. He just hadn’t wanted to put together the rest of the puzzle. Subconsciously, he had refused to believe Endeavor was that kind of man. Hearing the story of him calling Touya a failure and abandoning him had warped his idea of the hero already, but he couldn’t be an abuser. It couldn’t be that dark.

He had looked up to Endeavor all his life. He had been one of those heroes he admired on TV, like a fictional character saving the day of everyone but him. Until, one day, he did save him. He inadvertently started him on this path of being a hero. Hawks was where he was today because Endeavor was a hero. His hero. 

But how could his hero be the same type of man his own father was? Kicking him around, making sure he knew he wasn’t wanted, locking him in his room where all he could do was stare at the wall and dream of a better life. 

The image of his father with his hateful eyes morphed into the face of Endeavor, towering over him, flames on full display. He imagined Touya and Shouto cowering in the corner the same way he had. Did they wish for a better life too? Did they hope someone would come save them, the same way he did? 

Piercing through the static of his mind, he could hear Eraserhead calling his name. 

“Hawks. You okay?” The hero’s face was full of concern, but he could also feel the suspicion in his gaze. He realized his feathers were sharpening at his back, cutting into the fabric on the back of the chair.

Hawks schooled his expression and relaxed his wings, swallowing past the lump in his throat. “Uh, yeah. Sorry. Just a little shocked is all. It’s…a lot to take in.”

Aizawa’s face sours. “Yeah, well, I wish I could say I was wrong but I don’t think I am. There are dozens of reports alleging abuse. They were all written off by authorities, some even by the Commission itself.” He slides over a stack of papers.

Hawks starts skimming through them carefully. Tutors complaining about bruises and burns on a daily basis. Medical records showing multiple visits to doctors and home visits to treat ‘training injuries’. Injuries sustained by children . Too young to be training that hard. 

As if you weren’t training at that age too. 

The worst ones were the law enforcement records. Transcripts of calls from one of the younger children, asking for help. Calls that went unanswered once they realized who the family was. A hospital record for Rei Todoroki, admitted after a mental breakdown, kept in isolation even after doctor’s notes cataloged her steady improvement. They had suggested her release multiple times but she was kept locked away, not allowed visitors. 

“The Commission knew?” His blood runs cold as his voice falls to a shaky whisper.

Shota gives him a sympathetic look. “Look, Hawks.” He clears his throat, fiddling with the edge of a piece of paper before looking up at him. “Given all the information I’ve been able to gather, I don’t think we’re dealing with a regular kidnapping here.”

Hawks’ feathers ruffle slightly behind him, but he reins them in before Aizawa notices. “I’m sorry. I’m just - I’m still processing. What do you mean?” Alarm bells start going off in his head, his heart thumping rapidly in his chest.

“Just bear with me and keep an open mind.” Aizawa pulls a folder from the pile and slaps it on the table. Touya’s folder. “I believe Touya Todoroki is still alive and that Shouto left with him. Willingly.” 

Hawks nods, not trusting himself to speak, and busies himself with Touya’s file. A file he’s all but memorized at this point. Aizawa continues, “There were no actual signs of a kidnapping at the home, and the video we have shows a boy around the same age Touya would be now with Shouto. Shouto was clinging onto him, like he felt safe with him, and the younger son, Natsuo, mentioned that Shouto was always closest with Touya during my interview with him.”

“That’s not much evidence,” Hawks murmurs, keeping his eyes downcast.

“That’s not all. The lock on Endeavor’s safe was melted off even though it was made to withstand his temperatures. Touya’s flames are documented to be hotter than his father’s. Also, they never found a body when Touya supposedly died. Only part of a jaw bone, but according to the medical examiners, they didn’t even do DNA testing on it, so there’s no proof it’s actually Touya’s.”

Hawks sighs, dropping the papers back onto the table. “So. Hypothetically, if all this is true and Touya’s somehow alive and with Shouto, what does that mean for us?” He watches the hero carefully, feathers picking up the subtle increase in his heart rate. 

Come on Eraserhead, please give me a reason to trust you.

“Well, we need to be careful, but I’m not abandoning these kids. They need help.” Aizawa’s eyes darken, voice growing cold. “If that means taking down number two, so be it.”

 

***********************************

 

The investigation into Shouto Todoroki’s disappearance has officially been called off. You’re safe now.

It’s a trap. It has to be a trap. There’s no way Endeavor would voluntarily give up on finding his masterpiece. Shouto was his only chance at having the ‘perfect’ child, a child who could surpass All Might. 

Touya ignores Hana’s concerned gaze all day, focusing everything he could on his work. He spends as much time as he can in the back, stocking supplies and watering the plants in the greenhouse, so he doesn’t have to deal with customers. It’s like he’s on autopilot, stuck in his own head, repeating Hawks’ message over and over again. By the end of his shift, he’s battling a migraine and feels sick to his stomach. He feels like the world is closing in around him, pushing him into a corner.

Part of him wants to march over to Hawks’ agency and fry that damn bird right then and there. What the hell was he thinking? Did Hawks really think he was just going to trust him over some stupid note? Was he trying to intimidate him by revealing that he knew his identity? There had to be some hidden motive. After all, he had cast him aside, told him to back off and leave him alone. There’s no way the hero was doing this out of the goodness of his own heart.

The bell rings and students start pouring out of the school as Touya leans back against the wall, hands in his pockets and his hood obscuring his face. The best course of action would be to run. Touya had a stockpile of money saved up, just in case they had to change locations quickly. They should leave and start over somewhere else. Somewhere that didn’t have a damn nosy pigeon watching his every move. 

His eyes snag on a trio of green, black, and blond hair, and his heart twinges at the look on Shouto’s face. He’s wearing a bright smile and his eyes are shining, looking so damn happy sandwiched between Izuku and Katsuki. Like he belongs there. The three of them have become inseparable. How could Touya take him away from that?

“Oi, Hot Topic. We gonna go or what?” Touya startles as he realizes the trio are standing in front of him, Katsuki scowling at him like usual.

“ Kacchan!” Izuku hisses, tugging at the blond’s arms that are crossed over his chest. He gives Touya an apologetic smile. Always his friend’s keeper. The glue that held their little band of misfits together.

Touya swallows past the lump in his throat. Even these damn kids had wormed their ways into his heart. Katsuki was a little shit, but he reminded Touya so much of himself in a way. He was determined as all hell and a complete drama queen, even if he would never admit it, just like he was at that age. Subtly seeking attention and validation from his peers and friends, aiming to be the greatest hero no matter what. 

Then there was Izuku. The odds had been stacked against him, told he couldn’t achieve his dream time and time again, and Touya had watched as he just got stronger alongside his friends, like he was giving the world the middle finger. It was something he greatly admired from the boy. An attitude he wished he could harness for himself. He’d make a great hero one day, no matter what the world said.

They were good friends for Shouto to have. Both of them had given his brother a lot of his confidence and determination back. They’d shown him that he could be a hero on his own terms, and Touya could never thank them enough for that.

He smirks and flicks Katsuki on the forehead. “Nice to see you too, Explody.” He ruffles Izuku’s hair and squeezes Shouto against his side. The brat must notice something off because he doesn’t protest, wrapping his arms around him and squeezing tightly. 

“Nice shoes by the way.” He smirks, looking down at Katsuki’s black and white converse that coincidentally matches his own. 

“I didn’t get them because of you, idiot.” Katsuki huffs and stomps on ahead, leading the group down the sidewalk.

“Sure, sure. Whatever you say.” He gives Izuku a wink and Shouto snorts at his side, rolling his eyes. 

“Shut up!” 

While Izuku hurries his pace to catch up with the blond, Shouto hangs back quietly. Touya can feel his eyes flickering up at him every so often and he knows there’s a question hanging in the air. He never was good at hiding anything from Shouto. Not only was the kid scarily perceptive, but Touya knew he had a terrible poker face.

He forces a smile on his face and rests his hand on top of the boy’s head. “Everything’s okay.” Shouto searches his eyes for a moment before nodding and jogging ahead to join his friends.

Touya waits until the boys are caught up in conversation before his face falls and he lets out a defeated sigh. 

What should I do?

 

***********************************

 

That night during dinner, Shouto is silent and brooding. It’s not exactly a huge deviation from his usual self, but he seems to be more contemplative, as if working up to something. Touya can see it in the way he picks at his noodles absently, brows furrowed, and eyes cast downward. He hasn’t eaten even half of his soba, which was concerning in itself considering it’s his favorite.

Touya sighs and sets down his chopsticks. “Out with it, punk. What’s up?” Shouto’s lips tilt down into a frown and he shrugs. “Nope. We’re not doing that, Shouto. Use your words.”

Shouto glares at his authoritative tone. They sit in silence, at a standstill until Touya lifts an eyebrow. “We can sit here all night.”

“Fine. It’s just…” Shouto bows his head again, pushing his noodles around the plate. “I want to practice my fire.” He mumbles so softly that Touya barely hears it, but it stops him in his tracks, chopsticks held frozen in midair. 

“Shouto, we had a deal. We agreed you wouldn’t use your fire. It’s too risky.”

“But Kacchan and Izuku are trying their hardest and I’m not! It’s not fair. Izuku said it’s my power! I want to -“

“You told them?!” He slams his hands on the table and Shouto flinches, wide eyes growing wary. Touya can’t stop long enough to feel guilty at the reaction, frustration building from Shouto’s admission and the note from earlier still burning a hole in his pocket. “WHY would you tell them, Shouto?! How could you be so stupid ?!”

He watches as tears well in Shouto’s eyes before spilling over. The look of fear and hurt and betrayal in those eyes makes Touya instantly feel like he’s just been doused with a bucket of ice-cold water. Regret slashes at him violently as he slumps forward in his seat. “Shouto…”

Shouto gets up from his seat and runs to his room, slamming the door behind him. Touya drops his head in his hands, fingers pressing into his eyes until it hurts. 

He didn’t know what came over him just then. To yell at Shouto like that, to make him afraid of him. Just like their father. No. He wasn’t his father. He refused to be his father. 

His fire surges under his skin, sparks escaping from his palms, but he forces his emotions down. He understands what Shouto is saying, understands the frustration he feels seeing Katsuki and Izuku give their all, knowing he has more to give. Making Shouto hide a part of himself had never been fair, Touya knew that, but it was what they had to do to survive, to stay together. He’d just been lucky so far that Shouto hadn’t wanted to use his fire side, but this conversation was bound to happen at some point.

So could he really deny him now? Could they work on his fire in a safe way, without drawing attention to themselves? More importantly, could they trust the two boys to keep their secret? Not that they would ever tell on purpose. Touya knew they cared about Shouto way too much to ever put him in danger, but kids could be stupid, and they could slip up. 

He gets up from the table and cleans the plates off before dumping them in the sink and wiping down the table. There are no sounds coming from Shouto’s room, so at least he isn’t crying. Touya lets himself take some comfort in that as he leans over the counter and closes his eyes, his headache from earlier only getting worse. 

Not bothering to knock first, he cracks Shouto’s door open and sees the boy lying in bed facing the wall. His All Might plushie can be seen peeking out as he clutches it to his chest. Touya silently scoops the boy up and turns to sit on the edge of the bed with him in his lap. Shouto keeps his eyes closed but he can tell the boy’s awake, holding the plushie tighter to his chest and turning his head away from Touya in defiance.

He rests his chin on top of Shouto’s head, hugging him tight. “I shouldn’t have yelled like that.” He soothes, his voice soft. “I overreacted. I’m just scared. I want you to be safe and happy but sometimes I feel like something’s going to go wrong or I’m not going to be able to protect you.” 

Shouto turns his head back towards him, burying it in his chest, and relaxes into his hold. “I’m so, so sorry, Shouto. I said I’d never hurt you and I failed. My emotions got the best of me and I lashed out, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

He hears the boy mumble into his chest. “I’m sorry I told them. I didn’t mean to. They’re just doing their best and I wanted to too.”

He knows there’s an answer to all this. A way for Shouto to train his fire without risk. After all, they had both trained under Endeavor, so Touya knew not only how to be a student but also how to be a teacher.

Touya kisses the top of his head. “I know. That’s why we’ll compromise. I’ll train you on your fire side, but we have to do it in secret.” Shouto lifts his head and looks at him incredulously. “But you have to understand, outside of our training, you can not use it. It’s still not safe. Is that clear?”

“Really?” Hope shines in Shouto’s eyes, a small smile creeping up his face. 

Touya nods. “Really. Only if you can agree to those conditions though.”

Shouto bobs his head up and down so excitedly his entire body shakes. “Yes! I promise! But…” He looks at Touya sheepishly. “Can Kacchan and Izuku come too? They already know so…”

Touya is about to protest when Shouto whips out the puppy dog eyes and he’s instantly a goner. Little shit knows he has me wrapped around his finger. He rolls his eyes in mock annoyance. “Fine, you manipulative little brat.”

He dumps Shouto back onto the bed. “But you three better take care of me when I’m old and gray. Buy me a big ass house with those pro hero salaries.” He tickles Shouto’s sides and the boy giggles, squirming away from him. “It better have a pool and a hot tub too.”

He heads towards the door, looking back before leaving the room. “Now, do your homework then get ready for bed. We start after school tomorrow.”

That night, sprawled out in bed, he clutches the note in his hand, tracing the scrawl with his fingers. He’d let the bird stew for a few more days. But after that, they’d need to have their own little talk.

Notes:

Ohhhh, Aizawa's out for blood & birdy is in protect mode.

I CANNOT wait for the next chapter, when we'll see Hawks & Touya's confrontation.

How do you guys think it'll go? Should Endeavor be scared of Aizawa? What do you think they did to call off the investigation?

Thank you all for reading! Please leave comments on what you think, suggestions, etc. I'd love to hear them and I've already incorporated some of those ideas into the story so far! I appreciate every single one of you. <3

Chapter 10

Summary:

Touya finds what makes him happy.

Notes:

AHHHHH! The way I was kicking my feet up and giggling as I wrote this chapter. I don't think you all understand.

This is a little bit of a shorter chapter, but it just felt right to cut it off where I did. I hope y'all understand. :)

A blast sounds from the clearing where Touya is training the three little hell hounds he’d somehow gotten attached to. The same clearing he had lost control in a few weeks prior. Some of his scorch marks were still etched into the dirt around them. They served as reminders, not only of his pain, but of his growth since then. Of how far he’d come since that night.

“Watch out, Deku!”

Katsuki flies towards Izuku, who somersaults out of the way just in the nick of time. Landing in a crouched position, the green-haired boy positions his wooden staff in front of him, ready to go on the defensive.

Touya looks over from where he’s working with Shouto, instructing him on how to gradually increase the temperature of his flames. It was very basic, something Shouto had already learned from Enji, but their father had only cared about the heat, not bothering to train them on how to increase, decrease, and hold their flames at a healthy rate. All that had mattered back then was how hot they could go.

“You know, Blasty, if you can get a balance down, you can probably fly at higher altitudes.”

“Not sure if you’ve noticed, dumbass, but I don’t have wings,” comes the sarcastic response that has Touya rolling his eyes.

“Not sure if you’ve noticed, brat, but your explosions can keep you in the air if you can control their output. Keep your hands vertical, aimed towards the ground, and try letting off small explosions.” 

Katsuki frowns and grumbles under his breath, but he positions his hands facing the ground and lets off a blast. The force blows him up and backwards, and he lands on his butt in the dirt. Touya tries to hold back his laughter as the blond stands up red-faced and coughing up dirt. 

Izuku goes to rush to his side but stops when Katsuki gives him a look, warning him to stay back. It was a minor improvement from the screaming match that used to ensue when the green-haired boy showed any concern whatsoever for his friend. Touya would take any win he could get, no matter how small.

“Good. Now try bracing yourself before you let out the blast and focus on your balance.” He turns back to Shouto and Izuku. From watching them at the dojo and training them the past couple days, Touya has quickly figured out that the best way to get through to Katsuki is to give him light praise and let him work on his own. 

He’d provide just enough feedback that the kid knows he’s listening, but not enough to make him feel like he’s being told what to do. Katsuki had an incredible sense of combat as it stood. He was a natural, so it’s not like he needed to be told anyways. He always picked things up super quick. 

“Okay, Izuku. That was a great move. Try switching back and forth from defensive to offensive maneuvers. It’s important that you can both parry and attack, one right after the other. Villains won’t wait for you to change strategies.” The boy nods eagerly at his teacher, before running off to one side of the clearing and going through his exercises. 

Izuku was the easiest to train. The kid was like a damn sponge. Every suggestion, criticism, and praise that Touya gave him was absorbed and analyzed in a way that made him better every time they trained. Touya knew he already had an entire notebook dedicated to their training sessions and it had only been three days. As a result, his battle IQ was already off the charts at age nine. If being a hero didn’t work out, Izuku would be one hell of an analyst.

Lastly, Shouto had surprisingly taken very well to training his left side. His power was so freaking strong and he was a fast learner. If Touya wasn’t so damn proud of him, he’d probably be jealous of his brother’s skills. He did everything without question or fear, no hesitation whatsoever. 

The look of irrevocable trust in his eyes when he followed his directions almost pained Touya. It made him think of everything they could have had, if their life had been simpler. If Enji had actually been a good parent. They could have been training like this from the beginning, as brothers. As a team. 

It made him think about everything they had lost too. He still felt immense guilt at leaving their siblings behind. Part of him wanted to go back and rescue them from that place as well, but it was way too risky for him to attempt now. 

First of all, he wasn’t sure how Fuyumi would react. She was the peacekeeper, always trying to keep everyone together and paint the nice, little picture of a happy family regardless of Enji’s actions. Even though he loved her, it had always frustrated Touya to no end. 

Natsuo, on the other hand, would gladly come with them, harboring a lot of resentment for their father from how he had been completely neglected by the man, on top of Touya always crying to him about the abuse he and Shouto endured. Natsuo always followed his lead and empathized with him, even if he was too young to do much to help the situation. 

However, taking Natsuo away would leave Fuyumi completely alone at home and he wasn’t cruel enough to do that to his sister. She wouldn’t even have their father as company, since he spent so much time at work, and the household staff was kept at arm's length. So, until he found a better way to get them out of that house, he’d have to trust that they could take care of themselves.

“Okay, kid. How’s it feel? You think you have control of your heat?”

Shouto nods. “I think I got it!”

“Good job. Now, stick out your other hand.” Shouto does as he asks, both hands now held out in front of him. “Try cooling down your right hand while increasing the heat on your left. See if you can control both at once.”

He feels the cold air coming off of Shouto’s right palm. His flames sputter out for a moment before he gets them going again, sticking his tongue out in concentration.

“Keep it up, you’re doing great buddy.”

Touya takes a step back, taking in the three of them with a small smile on his face. All his life, he had been called a failure. Told that he wouldn’t be able to live up to expectations that had been thrust upon him. But this. This didn’t feel like failure. This felt like he was doing something right , something that mattered. There was just one last loose end to tie up before he could breathe easy.

 

***********************************

 

A light breeze blows Touya’s hair in front of his eyes, the slight chill all but gone as spring arrives in full force. He brushes the strands out of his face as he looks up at the large, red sign with contempt. Hawks Hero Agency.  

The ball of dread taking up space in his gut gets heavier and heavier as he stands in the middle of the sidewalk. He can hear people grumble as they pass him by, but he pays them no mind, focusing instead on forcing himself back off the ledge of his sanity. You can do this. Get yourself together, Touya.

He takes a deep breath and briefly closes his eyes, summoning whatever courage he can, before stepping forward through the front door that opens into a large lobby, decorated in black and white tones with red accents. All the decor and fixtures are sleek and modern. His steps echo on the black and white marble floor as he enters the room.

A large stone electric fireplace sits against one wall, with some couches and chairs set around it as a waiting area. Against the far wall, next to the elevator bank, is a large black counter with a receptionist sitting on the other side. A black matte chandelier with intricate red feathers carved along the base hangs in the middle of the room, bathing the space in soft light.

Stepping up to the desk, he clears his throat and the receptionist looks up at him with a blinding smile. “Hello! Welcome to Hawks Hero Agency. May I help you?”

“Uh, yeah. I need to speak with Hawks.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Well, no, but - “

“I’m sorry, sir, but Hawks doesn’t generally take walk-ins. I can see if one of his sidekicks is available though, if you’d like.”

Touya lets out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t need a sidekick; I need to speak to the damn bird. Please, if you just tell him - “

“Sir, I’m sorry but I can’t - “

The phone rings and she frowns when she looks at the caller ID. She holds up a hand to Touya as she picks it up. “Hello, sir. How can I…Yes. He doesn’t have a…” She looks up at him, her brow furrowed in confusion, searching his face. He grins smugly back at her, an eyebrow cocked. “I understand. I’ll send him up.”

Touya starts moving towards the elevator bank before she even hangs up the phone. “I’ll see myself up. I’m guessing he’s on the top floor?” She purses her lips and nods. “Great, thanks for all your help.”

All of his confidence and smugness die as soon as the elevator doors close. He rides up in silence, his gut twisting the entire way. He’d been avoiding this confrontation for an entire week. Honestly, he’s still not really sure what he’ll even say, but he had to address the issue before it got away from him. He had to know what Hawks’ angle was.

And no, he was not nervous to be around the hero for the first time in almost three weeks. It’s not like he hadn’t seen him anyways. His damn face was plastered all over every street corner, for heaven’s sake. The darling of Kyushu. He couldn’t get away from him if he tried. It was annoying. That’s all. He didn’t miss seeing his unguarded smile in the mornings or his shameless flirting. Not one bit.

The elevator doors open, and he steps out into another large room. There are signs for bathrooms on his left and a large conference room to the right with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, showcasing a long mahogany table with at least a dozen nice leather chairs surrounding it.

In the middle of the open room is another waiting area, the same style of seating as the lobby downstairs, set up in a half circle with a large coffee table in the middle. On the wall next to the elevators is a beverage station, set up with a fresh pot of coffee brewing and a small fridge filled with bottles of water, juice, and soda to choose from. A basket on top of the counter holds some chips, pretzels, and granola bars.

Directly opposite of the elevator is a large, ornate wooden door with wings carved down the side of the frame going into what must be Hawks’ office. The walls surrounding the door are littered with plaques, magazine covers, and framed pictures of the hero with other pros and government officials. 

Touya takes another deep breath and forces his feet to move forward. His heartbeat is thundering in his ears as he takes the plunge and opens the door, stepping inside and letting it shut behind him before he can change his mind.

The office itself is larger than the entire area outside. The black and white marble flooring continues into the room, but the design is a little more eclectic than the rest of the agency. Two black leather chairs sit on a thick, red carpet in front of the massive wooden desk. In one corner, there’s a hanging nest chair situated in front of some bookshelves. In the other corner, there’s an area with a few brightly colored bean bags and a massive TV on top of an entertainment center.

Situated all around the space, even hanging from the ceiling, are plants of every shape and size. It gives the office a more welcoming feel, especially for Touya, reminding him of the flower shop in a way. The ceiling is dome-shaped and made completely of glass, designed in a honeycomb pattern. Beams of sunlight come in from all angles, bathing the space in an ethereal glow. Behind the desk is a wall of windows looking out over the city, with large glass doors leading out to a massive balcony.

Touya takes his time soaking in his surroundings, pointedly ignoring the intense stare of the golden irises situated behind the desk, or the massive red wings fanned out in an impressive display. Seconds tick by, silence only broken by the methodical ticking of the clock on the wall behind him. 

When he finally locks eyes with Hawks, the tangled up feeling in his gut almost makes him keel over, and his throat suddenly feels dry. Pictures and news stories don’t do the hero any justice. It’s actually a travesty that he looks this much better in person. 

Maybe it’s not even that he looks better . It’s just that he looks more real . The Hawks he sees on the news always has that same canned expression on his face. Always smiling, his confident hero persona on full display at all times. He’s more of a figure, not a real person.

The Hawks watching him right now, though, is miles different. His smile, that usually extends to his eyes, is timid and cautious at best. His eyes are intense and calculating, like he’s trying to feel him out, his usual confidence absent. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, as if he doesn’t know what to say. Considering Touya usually couldn’t get the bird to stop talking, it was a little unnerving.

The hero finally finds his voice. “What are you doing here?”

Touya stands there silently, words failing him in the moment. Coming here was a mistake. Such a stupid, risky move. Hawks could arrest him at any moment and Shouto would be left alone, abandoned. So why did he feel like he was on the verge of crying as he stared at Hawks dumb, handsome face? He should be running out the door and never looking back, not wanting to feel the hero wrap his arms around him. He had been doing fine this whole time. Everything was great . So, what the hell was wrong with him now?

Hawks clears his throat before speaking again. “I left you alone, like you asked. So why are you here now?”

He takes the worn note from his back pocket and holds it out in front of him wordlessly. The paper had been folded and unfolded so many times, he was surprised it was still held together, the ink slightly faded from how often he traced the message with his fingertips. Hawks cautiously steps around his desk and comes to stand in front of him, reaching out for the paper.

He barely glances at it before nodding. “Oh.”

Oh? Just ‘oh’? Touya frowns and glances around the room, waiting for the other shoe to drop. He wasn’t going to say anything else? Demand to know where Shouto was? Arrest him?

“What do you want from me?”

Hawks pouts, his eyes searching Touya’s face. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not stupid enough to think you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart, so why send the message? What’s in it for you?”

Hawks wings droop slightly behind him and his face morphs into one of sad disbelief. He reaches out a hand but drops it back down to his side. “Sei…no… Touya. Nothing’s in it for me. I just want you to be happy. That’s all.”

Touya’s breath hitches as Hawks says his name. His actual name. It sounds just as good as he thought it would. Like a prayer. He shakes his head in denial. “You’re lying. What do you really want?” 

His heart is beating out of his chest as those golden eyes burn into his. His body hums with the need to be closer to him, but he holds himself back, clinging to the last thread of his dignity like a lifeline.

“What do I really want?” Hawks takes one step closer. “ I want you. But since you don’t feel the same, I at least wanted to give you a little bit of peace. I want you to have a chance at being happy. Whether it’s with or without me. That’s what I - “

Touya’s control goes careening over the guard rail and off a cliff in an instant. He cuts him off when he closes the distance between them, grabbing the collar of his flight jacket in both hands and pressing their lips together violently. Hawks body goes rigid, and his wings sharpen behind him suddenly. Touya pulls away when the hero’s lips remain lifeless against his own, wondering if he made a mistake.

Hawks stares at him with wide eyes, his pupils dilated until only a sliver of their golden color is visible. His wings twitch behind him, alternating from soft to sharp in rapid succession. When Touya opens his mouth to ask if he’s okay, Hawks surges forward, almost knocking him over, one hand grabbing at his hip and the other tangling itself in his hair. He kisses Touya with a ferocity that sets his blood on fire. He can almost smell the smoke escaping from his pores.

His lips are soft but firm as they batter Touya’s, desperately drinking him in like a man lost in a desert who just found water. He tastes like honey and cinnamon, the combination absolutely intoxicating. Touya whimpers into his mouth and Hawks answers by gripping him tighter. Touya’s arms wrap around him, clutching onto his jacket for dear life, pulling him impossibly closer. It turns into a war of greedy mouths and hands, each of them fighting for dominance.

“I still don’t trust you,” Touya breaths, panting as he comes up for air. He can feel Hawks smile against his lips as the hero drags him in for another quick kiss.

“That’s fine. I’ll earn your trust. I promise.” The hand tangled in Touya’s hair travels down to gently grip his neck. Hawks thumb caresses his cheek as he presses their foreheads together, their breaths mingling.

Touya can’t help himself as he leans in to kiss him again. As it turns out, the hero is addictive, and it’s a huge fucking problem. Any resolve he had left goes flying, no pun intended, out the fucking window when Hawks chases his lips with a strained groan.

“Does this mean you’ll give me your number?”

Touya can’t stop the laugh that bubbles out of him. Hawks smiles at him with complete adoration before peppering his face with kisses. “Please?”

“I think I might be able to do that.”

“Good. Cause I’m not letting you get away again.”

Touya smiles into the next kiss, bringing his arms up to wrap around the hero’s neck. He lets himself relax into his hold, a wave of contentment washing over him. Yeah, the hero still had to earn his trust, and he wasn’t going to let his guard down completely. But for once in his life, he was choosing to be optimistic. 

He deserved a chance at happiness, and Hawks felt like happiness.

Notes:

Our boys are healing, and I love that for them. That's all I have to say.

Please comment to let me know what you think! Will Hawks be able to earn Touya's trust? How will Aizawa become involved in our boys' lives? What is this mysterious plan he has cooking up?

Thank you all so much for the support! You're all amazing and I appreciate every single one of you. <3

Chapter 11

Summary:

Hawks POV, training, and gossip.

Notes:

So, there's a part of this chapter that is basically a reenactment of a popular (I think) meme I've seen of our Todoroki brothers. Let me know if you know what I'm talking about in the comments below!

Also, I have a Spotify playlist that I usually listen to when writing for inspo. I figured maybe you guys would want to listen in as well, so you can find that here. If you have any song suggestions that you think would fit with the fic/characters, please let me know! I'm always looking for new music, no matter the genre. :)

Hawks has always been somewhat of an adrenaline junkie. Blame it on his quirk, but he loved anything that gave him the same feeling as flying. He had been in a freefall from the top of a skyscraper, felt the wind rush by his face going Mach speeds, and seen all the beauty the world has to offer from a bird’s eye view. He’d been shot at, stabbed, chased down, and had to fight for his life more times than he’d like to admit.

None of that compared to what he feels as Touya slams into him like a hurricane, intent on destroying everything in his path. Maybe it’s because he’s imagined this moment for far longer than he’d like to admit, or because he had all but given up on ever getting to even talk with him again, let alone get this close. Either way, the high he feels as his lips slot against Touya’s is unlike anything he’s experienced before, a potent drug slowly coursing through his veins. He feels drunk but alert, weightless but grounded.

His heart thunders in his chest and he can almost hear his brain short circuit as his senses are overpowered by the conundrum that is Touya Todoroki. The missing son. The wanted kidnapper. The loving brother. The boy who came back from the dead. The sassy brat that haunts his every waking dream. The man he watched break into pieces and put himself back together again.

When Touya steps back and puts space in between them, Hawks decides that he hates it. He hates the few inches between them that might as well be miles.

Why is he leaving? Where is he going? He kissed me. He wants me. He can’t leave. Not until he’s mine. 

Mine. 

Mine. 

Only mine.

He wants every single piece of him. Every dark secret, every skeleton in his closet. All of his hopes and fears and dreams. Hawks was well and truly fucked. There was no after for him now. Only Touya, and Touya alone. Just a simple kiss had cemented that indisputable fact. It was as if the stars had aligned, a message from the cosmos themselves that Touya was it for him. He barely knew him, yet, but that didn’t matter. God, I’m so damn pathetic for him.

He sees those copper eyes, that he knows are blue, looking at him with thinly veiled concern and he doesn’t think as he lunges forward, body working purely on instinct. He threads his fingers in Touya’s soft, black hair, hair he knows is white underneath the dye, and pulls him against his body at the hip. When Touya whimpers against his lips, he swallows it down and his heart stutters in his chest. He tastes like mint and smoke, a heady combination. 

“I still don’t trust you.”

Hawks smiles as he greedily chases Touya’s lips. Of course he didn’t trust him. He would be disappointed if that wasn’t the case. But God, he missed that rebellious attitude of his. Everyone else in his life, the public, had always put him on a pedestal. Treated him as if he was a hero first, and a human second. 

But Touya. Touya was different. He straight up mocked him when they met, contempt shining bright in his eyes. Anyone else would’ve been at his feet, crying their thanks and telling him how much of a hero he was. Touya told him to mind his own business, that he didn’t need his help. Hell, if he had to guess, being a hero was probably one of the things Touya liked the least about him.

Something about that unwavering confidence and callous dismissal had drawn Hawks closer and closer, like a moth to a flame. Like Icarus flying too close to the sun. The more time he spent around Touya, the more he got to see that fiery spirit, and the more he wanted to stoke those flames. Hawks needed that fight, and he needed, no, wanted, to earn Touya’s approval. Touya was so free in a way that he was never allowed to be, not caring what anyone else thought and not censoring himself for the sake of others. It was fascinating.

“That’s fine. I’ll earn your trust. I promise.” And he meant every single word. There wasn’t a chance in hell that he was going to hurt Touya . 

Aizawa’s plan was already in motion. All he had to do was play his part and not screw it up. Once they got to a point where Touya’s safety was guaranteed, he would lead Aizawa to him, and they’d be able to protect the brothers as a team. But it had to be done right. 

They had to get the two remaining Todoroki children away from home, make sure there wasn’t a chance of Shouto going back to Endeavor once found, and figure out a way to lessen Touya’s punishment as much as possible. He would need to face some repercussions, they weren’t miracle workers, but Aizawa thought they’d have a good case with his testimony of the abuse he and the other children suffered. The last step, and possibly the most difficult, was getting Rei Todoroki to cooperate, since her mental stability was questionable at best.

“Does this mean you’ll give me your number?”

His heart flutters violently when Touya laughs, the sound like music to his ears. His laughs are way too far and few in between, and Hawks loves being the reason for it. He wants to hear it again and again, save it as a voice note and play it on repeat.

“Please?” He coos softly as he kisses any part of the man he can reach. Mine. Mine. Mine.

“I think I might be able to do that.”

“Good. Cause I’m not letting you get away again.” 

Touya hums appreciatively against him, his body sagging into him almost in relief. Hawks revels in the soft touches and quick kisses he’s only allowed himself to dream of until now. He feels like he should pinch himself to make sure this isn’t actually a dream. 

“You know, I came here to yell at you.” Touya’s voice is a soft grumble as he finally pulls away, mouth pulled downwards in an adorable pout. His arms are still wrapped around Hawks neck, and he’s softly scratching at the back of his head. The sensation zips through his body like a live wire, causing his wings to fluff up behind him. “Dumb peacock,” Touya grumbles under his breath.

Before now, Hawks wouldn’t have pegged Touya for the type to be so physically affectionate. You know, with his prickly exterior and everything. But the man nuzzles into him, dragging his nose along his cheek and pressing soft kisses into his skin as he goes. He acts touch starved, pressing as close to him as possible, and it’s probably not too far off given what he already knows of Touya’s childhood. With every single touch, Hawks is done for. Absolutely gone. Jumping headfirst off a cliff without a second glance, because he’s at the bottom waiting for him.

“You still can if it’ll make you feel better.” He brings both hands down to Touya’s hips, moving his thumbs up and down in lazy circles right underneath the hem of his shirt. “I’m all yours, so do your worst, sweetheart.”

“It’s not the same. You ruined it.” Touya grumbles.

“It's not my fault I’m so irresistible.” He can’t help the smile that graces his face when Touya snorts and rolls his eyes.

Before Hawks can hear his response, one that’s sure to be sarcastic, the phone rings on the desk and he sighs, resting his head in the crook of Touya’s neck, kissing his collarbone softly. He sends out one of his feathers to pick up the call, putting it on speaker.

“Hawks.”

“Sir, your five o’clock meeting is here for you.”

“Send them up. I’ll be done in a minute.”

He hangs up the phone without hearing the receptionist’s answer, distracted as Touya nips at his earlobe. When he pulls away, the jerk is smirking at him mischievously. “ Behave.”

“You’re one to talk. What’re you gonna do about it, big bad hero ?” The usual contempt in his voice at his title is all but absent. Instead, his tone is teasing, almost playful, and his eyes dance mirthfully. Putting a modicum of space in between them, Touya holds his phone out for him to add his number.

“I can think of a few things.” He winks as he punches in his contact information. When he hands the phone back, he steps back into Touya’s space, so close he can taste the mint on his breath. “When can I see you again?”

Touya pinches his chin between two fingers, tilting his head up and kissing him softly. “When you bring me coffee on Monday.” After a final peck on the lips, he steps back and turns towards the door. “Shit’s too expensive,” he throws over his shoulder.

Hawks snorts and shakes his head in amusement. God, he’s incredible. “So that’s what you want out of this, huh?”

“I mean, can you think of a better way to spend that obnoxious paycheck? Might as well put it to good use and spoil me.” One side of his mouth lifts in a smirk as he shrugs and the effect on Hawks is devastating, his wings puffing up in a primal display. “Besides, I always wanted a sugar daddy.”

He winks and escapes out the door before Hawks can respond, leaving him paralyzed in a jumble of thoughts. 

 

***********************************

 

“Touya, you’re in the way.” His brother sounds annoyed as Touya admires the picture gracing his screen. 

Over the past few days, the hero’s made good use of his number, sending him a selfie every morning and filling the rest of the time with random word vomit. God, he’s so annoying. It certainly doesn’t bring a smile to his face every time he sees Hawks name pop up on the screen. Not at all.

Today, it was text after text of what he was doing all day. Helping old ladies cross the street, saving baby ducklings from a storm drain, apprehending a purse thief, saving cats from trees. The list went on and on. It was all so unbearably heroic, it made him want to puke.

Most of the time, he didn’t even bother responding. After all, he never said he’d make it easy for Hawks. Touya still wanted the bird to sweat a little, and he meant it when he said he didn’t trust him. He still had to prove himself. Besides, he knew at some point they’d have to address the elephant in the room. Not actively participating in conversation was his way of procrastinating.

So, he’d usually let the hero go on his little tangents. Maybe throw in an ‘oh’ or ‘cool’ in there just so he knows the messages are actually getting read. You know, just enough to keep him interested and coming back for more. Definitely not enough to let him know how much he couldn’t stop thinking about him, or how he wanted to kiss him again, or how he couldn’t wait to see him tomorrow morning.

Today’s selfie is of Hawks perched on top of a skyscraper overlooking Kyushu with the caption ‘beautiful view, but I prefer you’. He’s not sure whether he wants to roll his eyes or preen at the cheesy compliment. It even rhymes, for fuck’s sake. The sunset behind him paints the sky in hues of orange and red, contrasting perfectly against the cold, dark metal of the concrete jungle below. 

His smile is blinding, drawing attention from the background in a way only Hawks can, and he’s holding up a peace sign. His eyes are crinkled so he can barely make out the gold of his irises, and his windswept blond hair tries in vain to escape from the visor that he has perched on top of his head. God, it’s so unfair how attractive he is. 

“Touya!” His brother’s little fists hammer at his back as he tries to get through where Touya is currently stopped in his tracks right in the door frame separating the kitchen and the living room. “Get out of the way, you fatass!”

Oh no he didn’t. 

He suddenly buckles at the knees and falls backwards slowly. Shouto’s arms come up to catch him as he rests all his weight onto him. “Oh no, I don’t think I can hold up all this fat anymore, Shouto. It’s too heavy.”

“Touya!” He struggles to keep Touya up, despite the fact that Touya’s actually small for his age and built like a twig, bracing his shoulder against Touya’s back in an effort to push him off. “You’re so annoying! Stop it!”

Touya lets himself fall the rest of the way. Shouto, unable to hold up his weight, lets out a frustrated cry as they both topple down to the floor, Touya landing like a starfish on top of him. 

“Ugh! Why are you like this?” Shouto huffs. He squirms, trying desperately to get him off. 

“I don’t know Shouto, I guess that’s what happens when you’re so fat.” 

“You’re such a dick. I hate you so much,” Shouto grumbles. He finally wiggles free and kicks at him.

Touya swipes out a hand and pulls on the offending leg, knocking him over. He catches him so Shouto lands on him and not the floor, and starts tickling his sides. “What was that? You wanna take that back, brat?”

“TOUYAAA!” Shouto wheezes as he giggles, tears streaming down his face. “Stop it…I’m sorry…you’re not…” He’s interrupted by a laughing fit when Touya goes to tickle under his arms instead. “You’re not fat! STOPPPP!”

“And?”

His brother squirms, his face beat red. “And I don’t hate you!” 

Touya finally relents, giving him a sloppy kiss on the cheek before letting the boy up. Shouto whines and wipes at the spot, brows pinched together. “Gross!” 

Touya lays there grinning devilishly as he stomps away towards his room. It was just so fun to rile Shouto up.

“Go get ready or we’ll be late,” Touya calls after him as he slowly gets up off the floor, cracking his back and stretching his arms above his head.

“I was getting ready until you attacked me!”

“You love me!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

 

***********************************

 

“What the hell are you smiling about, Hot Topic? It’s creepy.” Ruby red eyes glare up at him. He’d been having the trio do some starting stretches and apparently lost track of time. Again.

He looks down at his phone accusingly, mouth pulled in a frown. His conversation with Hawks was open on the screen. 

Dumb bird: just saved the CUTEST cat from a tree

Dumb bird: it has the softest white fur and these crazy blue eyes

Dumb bird: reminds me of a certain someone

Dumb bird: I think I might keep him 😻

You: the cat or the someone

Dumb bird: both

“He’s been smiling a lot lately,” Shouto gives him a look that’s part concern and part curiosity. “It’s weird.” 

Izuku stands in the back silently, green eyes wide and assessing. He might be the most concerning ‘threat’ of them all when it came to figuring things out. The kid was so smart, he could probably tell what Touya had for breakfast just based on his body language and physical tells.

Has he really been that transparent? It couldn’t be that obvious, could it? And if he was that obvious, does that mean Hawks noticed how down bad he was for him?

He frowns at the pair. “Are you guys ready to train or what? I’m not here to talk about my love life.”

“Love life?!” Shouto gapes at him.

Fuck. 

Motherfucking fuck of all fucking fucks.

“No. Wait. That’s not - “

Katsuki devolves into a fit of laughter before he starts dancing around chanting “Seika’s got a girlfriend! Seika’s got a girlfriend!” 

Touya opens and closes his mouth, not even sure where to begin to correct him. Because first of all, Hawks is NOT his anything, no matter how appealing that thought was, and second of all, he’s pretty sure he wouldn’t identify as a ‘girlfriend’, so…

Izuku, bless his freakin’ heart, does his best to calm Katsuki down. “ Kacchan!” He hisses, cheeks growing red from second-hand embarrassment. “Stop making fun of Seika-nii.” He pulls on Katsuki’s arm, attempting to get the blond to stop his relentless teasing. 

If his life wasn’t actively going to shit in front of him, his heart might melt at how Izuku just addressed him. Right now, though, his attention is locked on Shouto, gauging his reaction. Once he gets over the initial shock, the boy’s eyes harden and his lips thin into a hard line.

Why the hell does it feel like I’m about to get grounded by a nine year old? 

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s nothing you need to be concerned about,” he says carefully, sharing a look telling him to drop it.

It wasn’t a lie. It wasn’t anything Shouto needed to worry about. He had it handled. He was in control. Besides, the bird was playing nice now, but there was no way in hell he was getting close to his baby brother, and vice versa. Hawks and Shouto needed to stay in their own designated spaces of his life, never to cross. At least until he could figure out a way to rid their lives of Endeavor permanently.

“Whatever.” Shouto grumbles and breaks eye contact, fists clenched at his side. 

Next to him, Izuku looks uncomfortable, wringing his hands in the bottom of his shirt. Katsuki just looks like he's enjoying the show, glancing between the two brothers in anticipation, almost vibrating with excitement.

Touya sighs and rubs a hand down his face. “Okay. Fine. Let’s start with a sparring exercise. Katsuki and Izuku, you go first. Whoever wins will go against - “

“No.” His brother interrupts him before he can finish, voice hard. 

“What the hell do you mean, ‘no’?” Touya throws his arms out in exasperation, frustration at the boy’s attitude leaking into his voice.

“I want to spar with you.” 

Oh. 

So that’s how it’s gonna be. 

“Hotaru…”

The little shit glares at him, eyes full of challenge and anger and betrayal. Touya glances towards the two onlookers, weighing his options. At Shouto’s declaration, Izuku had somehow managed to pull Katsuki off to the side, near the edge of the treeline. 

Touya has never really shown them his fire before. At least, not his full power. To him, his fire was a festering wound. A reminder of his countless failures, of his bloodline. The inability to control his flames was the reason Shouto was alone all those years, the reason why he woke up in that hospital. His weakness that had set them on this path in the first place.

If he was being honest, part of him was scared of his power. From what he could remember of Sekoto Peak, the pain had been excruciating as he screamed for his flames to go out. They hadn’t listened to him, growing hotter and hotter as his emotions heightened. 

Since then, he’d only used them at the hospital when he woke up, as small balls in the palm of his hand (mostly to cheer up Shouto), and that night in the clearing. That last time, he had let loose and was able to control them, but what if that was a one time thing? It had nearly taken all of his concentration to do just that. Could he really do it again? At least for long enough for Shouto to get the stick out of his ass and calm down?

He clenches his jaw and closes his eyes. When he opens them, he slowly strolls to the other side of the clearing and turns to Shouto. “Last chance to back down, kid.”

Touya barely gets the words out before a massive ice shelf is hurtling towards him. He curses under his breath and raises his arm. He calls on his fire, feeling it rise to the surface to explode in a brilliant display, breaking up the wall of ice just before it reaches him.

“WHAT THE HELL?!” He can hear Katsuki yelling from the sidelines. From the corner of his eyes, he can see the blond standing paralyzed in shock as Izuku jumps up and down next to him, wide eyes shining, mouth already moving as he mutters to himself.

The steam doesn’t have a chance to clear as another ice wall comes at him. He jumps to the side and lets out a volley of flames. Shouto dodges to the left, teeth bared, and sends a barrage of ice his way. This time, he’s too slow, ice quickly encasing his body and fixing him in place.

He gives Shouto a smug grin as he gradually heats himself up. “Come on, baby brother. You know ice doesn’t work on me.” At least this body is good for something. “Is that all you’ve got?”

He can’t help but egg him on a little bit. It seems to work as he watches Shouto light up the left side of his body, from his waist up to the top of his head.

Now this could be interesting. Touya’s flames were still far hotter than his, but Shouto’s flames could be hot enough to hurt Touya if he really wanted to. Touya was already starting to suffer from his own attacks, hands throbbing from the insistent heat and skin threatening to pull back at his barely-healed wound. From the knowing smirk on his face, Shouto had also figured out that fire was his best option.

They both attack at the same time, flames converging in the middle and exploding in a kaleidoscope of oranges and blues. Touya’s palms tingle in warning but he grits his teeth and keeps his flames roaring ahead, gaining ground inch by inch. 

Step by step, he gets close enough to see Shouto’s face through the flames. His little face is determined, wind whipping his hair around, cheeks flushed from exertion, but when they lock eyes, something changes. His eyes grow wide and his eyes fly to Touya’s palms. He suddenly lets up his attack, blue engulfing the last embers of his orange fire, and Touya has to swing his arms up to avoid hitting Shouto with the last of his flames.

He’s panting as he looks wide-eyed at the tears welling in Shouto’s eyes. “Sho…” he whispers, confident that Katsuki and Izuku are well outside of earshot. 

“I hurt you.”

Touya looks down at his palms, at the blisters starting to form along the cracks of his healthy skin. It stings, but not as bad as the night he let loose. This pain is at least manageable. “No, I hurt myself. My flames did this.”

Shouto swallows, mouth wobbling. Good, he’s getting better at accepting his left side. It was something Touya had been trying to work on. Slipping affirmations into his days that his fire was okay , that it was powerful and he could use it for good. That it could help people instead of hurt people. “It looks bad.”

“I’ve had worse.” He shrugs and clenches his fist, careful to keep his face impassive even as the pain shoots through his hands. “Look, I’m sorry for keeping something from you. It’s just…it’s still new and I wanted to protect you. You know, just in case…”

Shouto glances down at the ground. “Yeah…” he mutters. A moment of silence grows between them, Katsuki and Izuku’s soft spoken conversation indecipherable from so far away. “Are you happy?” Shouto looks up at him, green eyes searching his. 

Touya smiles at him softly. He thinks about the fluttery feeling that’s made a home inside his chest these last few days. Who am I kidding, it started long before then.  

“Yeah, Sho. I’m happy.”

 

***********************************

 

Touya murmurs a thanks as Inko slides a cup of tea towards him. She purses her lips at his newly bandaged hands as he carefully brings the cup to his lips. 

Touya, Mitsuki, and Inko were all sitting at the Midoriya’s dining room table after the kid’s training session. It had become a weekly tradition of theirs. They all had Sunday nights off from work, so usually after training, Touya would bring the kids here. They had tried rotating places, but it was just too much of a hassle, and Inko loved any excuse to cook for the group. With Mitsuki and Touya helping, of course. While they waited for dinner to be done, they usually had tea and caught up on everything that happened during the week.

Katsuki started calling it ‘the moms club’ and it kind of stuck, much to Touya’s dismay. But honestly, he found it hard to care as he sat there now. Sure, he could be out hanging out with kids his age, but Mitsuki and Inko were family. They had accepted him and Shouto as they were, adopted them in a way, and he felt comfortable around them. He felt safe. If that meant having tea around a dining room table and gossiping about the week’s drama, so be it. He’d happily be part of ‘the moms club’.

“So, kid, I hear you’ve got a secret beau you’ve been hiding from us,” Mitsuki teases. Inko playfully bats at her arm and shushes her, but she can’t hide the small grin that creeps up her face. 

“Wonder who you heard that from.” Touya rolls his eyes and peeks at the three boys that are crowded around the coffee table in the other room. They’re busy drawing up new hero costumes, again . Izuku’s at the helm as usual, listing off all the improvements they could make to Katsuki’s costume. He hears bits and pieces here and there. Something about storing up sweat and insulation. “You know, Mitsuki, your kid’s a dick.”

She just shrugs it off and smiles back. “He’s got spunk. So, are you not denying it?” She leans in, eager for any gossip she can get her hands on. Any excuse to give him a hard time. All out of love, of course. 

“Oh, Seika honey, you don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to if it makes you uncomfortable.” Inko softly pats his hand that’s resting on the table, eyes accepting and kind.

The difference between the two women had given Touya whiplash at the start, but he quickly became familiar with their dynamic. Mostly because it was the same exact dynamic Katsuki and Izuku had. The boys were literal clones of their mothers, down to their personalities. It was like looking at female copies of them twenty years in the future. It had at least made the kid versions of them easier to handle, since he knew how Mitsuki and Inko worked.

“It’s okay, Inko.” He smiles at her warmly before turning towards Mitsuki and narrowing his eyes. “As for you. I’m not telling you shit.”

She squeals in joy and claps her hands. The boys turn their heads towards them at the sudden outburst, wearing mixed expressions of confusion, concern, and curiosity.

“Inko! I told you! He did meet someone!” She shakes Inko’s arm, practically bouncing in her seat.

“Shut it, you old hag.” Even as he tries to sound tough, he shakes his head fondly and hides his grin behind his cup as he takes a sip.

“Is she, or maybe he, hot? What do they do? Where did you meet?” Mitsuki shoots off her questions in rapid fire, Inko at her side trying to calm her down to no avail. Touya groans when he realizes her stupid loud mouth has alerted the three gremlins who are now not-so-subtly listening in to the conversation, heads tilted slightly their way. 

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me.” Mitsuki smirks at him with the challenge.

You know what…fuck it. If I’m going to do this, I might as well just chuck myself over the cliff right here and now.

“You know the pro hero Hawks?”

He slouches in his seat, Cheshire grin on his face, and takes another sip of his tea as five jaws all fall to the floor in unison before the room erupts in a cacophony of voices.

Notes:

Oh, my sweet Hawks. You are so obsessed it's not even funny anymore.

Buckle up everyone, we'll be getting an Aizawa POV next chapter!

If you have any date ideas for our two lover boys, please drop suggestions below, cause I definitely want to write some mushy scenes for these two.

Also, if you're as WRECKED as I am about that movie scene (you KNOW which one i'm talking about) raise your hand. I will never recover. I would literally trade my first born for a "what if" universe to be animated with a happy Todoroki family. I NEEEEEEEED IT.

Chapter 12

Summary:

Chaos ensues and Aizawa is on the war path

Notes:

Happy Saturday everyone! Don't mind me over here writing fan fic and trying not to think about how this is the first Saturday without MHA until 2025 *crying*

I had so much fun writing this chapter that I actually ended up writing like 10,000 words and having to cut it in half bc I didn't want it to be too long. That being said, that means another chapter after this has already been finished and will probably be posted in the next couple of days cause we all know my patience is nonexistent.

Hope you enjoy! <3

Also, reminder, if you'd like to listen along on Spotify with the playlist I use while writing, you can find that here .

The room erupts into chaos as Touya kicks his feet up on the chair next to him and leans back in his seat. The three kids run in from the living room and are now crowded around them at the table, wide eyed.

“WHAT THE HELL!” Both Bakugos yell out at the same time. 

“Mitsuki.” Inko glances at Izuku nervously, covering his ears. 

Touya rolls his eyes fondly, knowing Izuku’s already been exposed to Katsuki’s, and his, rough vocabulary many, many times before now. He was pretty sure the kid wasn’t even listening to the conversation, lips moving as he mutters to himself.

“Katsuki! Language!”

“You said it first, old hag!”

“Pro hero Hawks?! Wow, he’s so cool! He has such a versatile quirk! There’s a video of him online where he rescues twenty people in seconds! It’s insane! And he’s so young too. According to the forums, he’s poised to break the top ten by the end of next year. He’ll be the youngest one to do that. Oh man, I have so many questions! Do you think you could ask - “

“Oi, Deku. You’re muttering again.”

“Damn kid, you really went straight for the top, huh?” Mitsuki winks at him.

“I’m happy for you, sweetheart. Is he treating you right?” 

“He better be or I’ll kick his ass.” The older Bakugo cocks a brow and makes a show of clenching her fist in front of her face. Touya smirks when he sees Katsuki at her side not-so-subtly nodding in agreement. Little brat could pretend not to care, but he did in his own way.

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. He’s the perfect gentleman.”

“A hero, huh?” His brother finally speaks up, head tilted to the side. Probably trying to piece together how he got over his distaste for anything hero-related so fast.

He smiles guiltily before shrugging. “Turns out they’re not all bad.” The double meaning in that statement is something only the two of them can understand. Shouto nods but still looks wary, lips pursed and eyes searching his face.

Shouto had to know the risk he was taking with Hawks. After all, Touya had been drilling it into the boy’s head for months now. How they couldn’t draw attention, couldn’t let any heroes get too close to them. He supposed it was a little bit hypocritical of him, seeing how he had Hawks pressed up against him a few days earlier. Not that Shouto needed to know that.

But his brother trusted him to make the right decisions. He always had, ever since they’d started their journey together. So Touya knew Shouto wouldn’t push the issue unless he brought it up first. At some point, he would probably have to, Shouto deserved an explanation after all, but not today. Not with four pairs of eyes boring into them.

“So.” Mitsuki leans in towards him, eyes alight with mischief. Inko moves closer at her side, trying to be more subtle. A feeling of dread curls in his stomach as he stares down the two vultures across from him. “Give us the details.”

Touya groans. “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”

 

***********************************

 

Touya barely makes it into the alleyway when Hawks lands in front of him, wings flared out in an intimidating display against the golden morning sun. His hero costume is in pristine condition, visor and headphones positioned perfectly on his head. All chiseled jaw, bright-eyed, soft blond hair falling just right over his face. He was always so put together, it was annoying. Touya never knew if he wanted to kiss him or punch him in his stupid, perfect face.

The hero doesn’t miss a beat as he steps once, twice, into his space, eyes wide with excitement and a beaming smile on his face at the sight of him. Four days. It’s only been four days since Touya last saw the hero and his stomach still somersaults at the sight of him. It’s a problem. 

Especially if he keeps looking at me like that. Does he have to stand so damn close?  

Despite trying to act annoyed, he can’t deny that his body shifts closer, drawn to the hero’s warmth. He may be the fire user, but Hawks still feels like the sun, and Touya’s the one stuck in his gravitational pull. Slowly orbiting around him until he’s pulled into the flames. Ironic, huh?

Touya swallows past the lump in his throat, heart beating wildly in his chest at his sudden nearness, at the intensity of his gaze. Hawks eyes catch onto the movement of his throat and his smile changes to match the predatory glint in his eyes. 

“Good morning, gorgeous.” Hawks thrusts a to-go cup in between them. He leans forward and softly kisses Touya’s cheek, chasing the flush steadily spreading up his face. He smells like bergamot and vanilla, the hypnotizing scent mixing with the notes of coffee and cocoa permeating the air and clouding his head.

“Morning,” he mutters back, taking the cup and bringing it to his lips in an effort to mask the stupid, eager smile that he can’t hold back. To distract from the violent fluttering in his chest. 

“How was your weekend?” The hero sounds sincerely interested as his eyes rove over Touya’s face hungrily, like he’s trying to commit every square inch to memory. Touya doesn’t miss how his eyes linger for a moment too long on the parts of him that are decorated with piercings. Stupid bird brain. 

“Fine.” The flush creeps further up his cheeks, self-conscious of the hero’s penetrating gaze. “Stop staring at me, you creep.”

He refuses to think of how endearing it is, how it quickens his pulse to actually be looked at. For once in his life, someone is looking at him with an emotion other than disappointment. (Shouto was an exception, but he didn’t count.) That was a box of traumas he couldn’t open up right now, one he had buried in the backyard of that damned estate over four years ago along with the old Touya.

“Can’t help it, you’re just so pretty.” Touya frowns in an attempt to hide another damn smile trying to form without his permission. “Aren’t you gonna ask how my weekend was?”

Touya scoffs. “Why would I have to? You’ve sent me an entire play-by-play of your life the last few days.”

“Oh, so you were reading them.”

“I replied!”

Hawks rolls his eyes and tilts his head to the side. “I’d hardly call whatever that was replying, Mr. Playing-Hard-to-Get.”

He shrugs. “Gotta make you work for it, pretty bird.” Touya smirks and tucks a stray lock of hair behind Hawks’ ear when it falls out of place. Behind him, Hawks wings shudder, and he hears the hero’s breath hitch. 

Oh. That’s interesting.

He shelves the thought for later, wondering if the bird’s reaction was because of the nickname or his touch. It was going to be so much fun figuring the hero out, cataloging all the different sounds and physical tells he could draw out of him.

Hawks opens his mouth to speak but, before he can, the side door to the floral shop opens and Hana steps out, holding a bag of garbage to throw in the dumpster. She takes one look at them, standing way too close to be casual, and raises an eyebrow.

“You here to stay now?” She stares pointedly at Hawks. “Cause I don’t think I can deal with his mood swings if you disappear again.” She nods her head in Touya’s direction.

Touya’s eyes narrow in on her. If looks could kill, she would be bursting into flames in an instant. Never mind the last time she’d betrayed him, blurting out his name like the manipulative witch she was. This was going too far. He couldn’t have the damn bird knowing how much his absence had affected him. Not that it did. It definitely didn’t. 

Hawks eyebrows rise and one side of his mouth curls up in an arrogant smirk. 

God fucking damn it.

“Oi, grandma. You know I can still put you in a home.” Hana just snorts and throws the bag in the trash, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I’d like to see you try, boy. You’d be lost without me.” She looks Hawks up and down and Touya groans inwardly before she even opens her mouth. “You’re not blackmailing the poor boy, are you? He’s here of his own free will?”

“For the love of Christ, Hana, I swear…” he grits out as Hawks chuckles, muffled by the hand covering his mouth.

Hana looks smug as she smirks back at him, finally opening the door to go back inside. “Don’t take too long out here, we’ve got orders to start on.” She winks at Hawks before closing the door behind her.

“I hate her,” Touya mumbles, keeping his eyes on the door and pointedly not turning towards the teasing gaze he knows is trained on him right now. He remains stiff as an arm wraps around his waist, pulling him into the hero’s body. Hawks grabs hold of his chin and forces Touya to face him, even as he huffs in annoyance, lips in a pout.

“I like her.” Hawks grins wider at Touya’s growing scowl. “It’s nice to know you actually missed me, hot stuff.” Hawks thumb caresses his cheek, and it melts him little by little as he relaxes in the hero’s arms.

Hawks tongue darts out to wet his lips and Touya is mesmerized. His throat suddenly feels dry and he swallows. “I didn’t miss you.” 

Deny. Deny. Deny.

“Not even a little bit?” Hawks leans in a little closer, breath tickling his skin.

“Nope.” He grips the to-go cup in his hand tighter as he fights the urge to pull the hero in closer.

“So you didn’t think about me at all, huh?” He’s so close, Touya can see the faint orange specks in his golden eyes, pulling him in, hypnotizing him until his head is foggy, devoid of all thought besides Hawks.

“Nuh uh.”

“That’s too bad.” He steps back so suddenly, Touya’s body sways forward, as if chasing him, and he has to catch himself before he falls. Hawks notices his misstep, because of course he does , and smirks at him devilishly. “I guess I should take the hint and just leave then,” he challenges.

Touya groans inwardly, knowing he’s playing right into the hero’s hands as he grabs the collar of his jacket and pulls Hawks toward him again. “Oh, just shut up already,” he growls before crashing their lips together. He can feel Hawks smile against his lips victoriously.

In contrast to their last kiss, filled with hunger and desperation, this kiss is sweeter, slower and more indulgent. Touya’s heart feels like it’s about to fly out of his damn chest as the arm wrapped around his waist tightens. His own hand loosens his grip on Hawks collar and snakes around his nape, tickling the soft blonde hairs there.

Hawks hums as he breaks away, eyes closed. A soft smile graces his lips and Touya can’t help but smile back. “Maybe I should threaten to leave more often.”

“Don’t you dare,” he growls. Hawks chuckles into his mouth and Touya swallows it down.

He can feel Hawks tongue gently sliding across his bottom lip, silently asking for permission. Touya opens his mouth just enough to be an answer. The hero greedily takes advantage, twirling their tongues together and pulling him impossibly closer. 

Touya’s soul practically leaves his body hearing Hawks groan when he finds the metal ball of the piercing in his mouth. His kiss takes on a frantic energy, like the hero can’t get close enough. Like he’s trying to swallow him whole.

“Can I take you out on a date?” Hawks voice is a low whisper against his lips when he finally pulls away, out of breath.

“Hmmm…what’d you have in mind?” Touya feels like he’s floating up in the clouds, even as he’s distantly aware of the ground beneath his feet.

“I wanna surprise you.” Hawks gives him a quick peck on the mouth. “Please .” 

Touya looks up thoughtfully, pretending to consider the offer. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt…” He bites his bottom lip to contain his smile. 

Hawks zeroes in on the move like the predator he is, pupils dilating. He kisses him hard, sucking in his bottom lip and nipping at it softly. Too soon, Hawks reluctantly breaks away and sighs when his phone chimes in his pocket.

He pulls his phone out to look at the screen and frowns for a moment before tucking it away in his pocket again and sighing, grip loosening on Touya’s waist. “I better let you go before your boss comes looking for you.” 

Touya brings his almost-forgotten coffee to his lips, the liquid now cooled to the perfect temperature. “Old hag’s lucky I’m here at all,” he grumbles.

Hawks chuckles before taking his empty hand, squeezing it gently. “I’ll text you about our date.” 

Suddenly, Touya remembers the notebook weighing heavy in the bag he has slung over his shoulder. “Wait!” He thrusts the coffee in Hawks hand and takes the bag off his shoulder, rummaging through it. He pulls out the notebook, sifting through the pages to the one marked ‘Hawks’. “I need you to sign this.”

Hawks glances at the page curiously. “I didn’t know you were such a big fan, baby.”

Oh. 

Touya’s heart flops to the ground, absolutely done for, at the sound of that nickname on Hawk’s lips. He clears his throat and shifts on his feet before forcing a scowl on his face. “It’s not for me, dumbass. It’s for…someone else.”

Hawks hums as he considers the notebook in front of him. His wings ruffle behind him, almost nervously. “You mean Sho - “

He doesn’t get to finish the sentence when Touya closes a hand around his mouth, effectively shushing him.

“Just because I’m letting you in on my life doesn’t mean you’ve earned his name yet. And no, it’s not for him.” He knows it's kind of a cheap shot, considering he hasn't really let Hawks in on his life. At least not Touya's. The topic hadn't even come up yet, so for now, until they stopped skirting around the issue and actually talked like adults, he was still Seika. He needed to maintain that distance until he could trust the hero.

Hawks studies him for a moment but nods, and Touya takes the hand from his mouth. He reaches out for the notebook and hands Touya his coffee. “I understand. Do you have a pen?”

Touya rolls his eyes. “Don’t act like you don’t have one somewhere with that stupid clown costume you’ve got on.”

Hawks eyes twinkle with mischief and he flashes him a devilish smirk. “If you don’t like the clown costume, I can always take it off.” He reaches into one of his side pockets and, sure enough, produces a pen.

He seems completely oblivious to the mess he just created, Touya sputtering and buffering in front of him at the image of Hawks taking his clothes off. Hawks signs his name next to the analysis of the hero and pauses, eyes flitting across the words written on the page. He smiles and shakes his head.

“Well, whoever’s this is, they're talented. It’s quite the analysis.”

Touya shakes himself out of the existential crisis he’s currently going through at the comment and clears his throat. “He’s a good kid.” 

He takes the notebook back, stuffing it in his bag and slinging it back over his shoulder. “I really should get going…” He glances at the door, as if Hana was going to come bursting out any minute looking for him.

“Yeah. Me too.” Hawks eyes twinkle as he leans in for one last kiss. “See you later, hot stuff.”

Touya rolls his eyes. His chest feels warm, not with his quirk but with a fuzzy feeling he doesn’t want to think about. “Yeah. Later, pretty bird.” He watches as Hawks take off and glides out of sight, red wings carrying him in the wind.

 

***********************************

 

Shota sighs as he fills up his mug with coffee from the station outside the interrogation room. He glances at his phone and frowns, the message to Hawks showing as ‘read’ almost five minutes ago. The hero usually replied back instantly, and never left him on read. He knew how important this mission was, so what the hell was he doing that he couldn’t reply?

He glances at the waiting room, where five people are lined up for interviews. Considering that the list of possible witnesses to the abuse behind the closed doors of the Todoroki estate numbered in the dozens, he had hoped they’d have more than five come forward agreeing to help their case. But five was still more than zero, and he wasn’t going to waste the opportunity they were being given.

He nods at Tsukauchi, who’s setting up the recording devices outside the room. “Good to go?”

Tsukauchi sighs, probably done with his shit. It had taken the detective a lot of convincing to even let him interview witnesses here at the station. He had tried, in vain, to talk Aizawa out of his plan, especially since the Todoroki case was officially closed thanks to him and Hawks. 

Technically, the investigation they were doing now was off the books, which would put him at risk if things went sideways. But it was no use. Aizawa was way too persistent, and Tsukauchi didn’t want to piss off one of the biggest assets they had in the underground world.

He didn’t really have a leg to stand on once Aizawa explained the situation anyways. No good detective would ignore the allegations being put out, even if it was against the number two hero in the country, and Tsukauchi was one of the best detectives out there.

So, he agreed to contribute to the cause, giving Aizawa a place to conduct interviews and using his quirk to determine the trustworthiness of the witnesses' testimonials. It would help a lot if, no, when, this went to trial. It was hard to argue with witness statements that were taken under the supervision of someone with a strong lie detection quirk like Tsukauchi’s. 

His phone finally chimes in his pocket and he takes it out, opening his conversation with Hawks.

You: About to start interviews. Any progress on your end? Having proof might help us get more information out of people.

Hawks: Nothing yet, but I believe they’re still in the area. I’ll keep looking.

You: Make sure you contact me the second anything changes. This plan won’t work unless we have Touya and Shouto’s full cooperation.

Hawks: Will do.

He frowns as he shoves his phone back in his pocket. He didn’t know Hawks that well, this being the first case they’ve worked on together, but he was acting strange, almost flighty, compared to when they first started. No pun intended. 

He brushes off the thought as he goes to enter the room, setting himself up on one side of the metal table and sitting down. He nods towards the one-way glass, letting Tsukauchi know he’s ready to start.

The first person to enter the room is an older woman, gray hair pulled up in a bun, some wisps escaping and framing her face. She’s wearing a simple cotton dress with a shawl wrapped loosely around her shoulders. She gives him a nervous smile and wrings her hands in front of her, hesitating at the entrance.

“Please, come in and have a seat.” He tries to soften his voice and extends her a soft smile, far from the gruff exterior he usually wears in his line of work. She nods and walks in, fidgeting as she sits in the chair across from him. “Can you state your name, please?”

“Torou Shisuke.” Her voice is soft, unsure.

“Thank you, Ms. Shisuke.” He smiles at her encouragingly. “Do you know why you’re here today?”

“Um…I uh, I was told you wanted to talk to me about my time with the Todoroki family.”

Shota nods, skimming the profile in front of him one last time. Ms. Shisuke had been a tutor for the family, specifically Touya, for almost three years before she was fired for ‘incompatibility’. How someone was deemed incompatible after three years was fishy in itself, but it was even more suspicious considering she was the last tutor employed for the boy before Touya’s untimely death. Two weeks before his death, in fact.

“That’s correct. Can you tell me about your experience there? You tutored Touya, right?”

A sad smile ghosts over her lips and she looks down at her lap. “Yes, that’s right.” She clears her throat and sighs. “He was such a clever boy, such a kind boy. He was a joy to work with.”

“Can you tell me more about him? What he was like, what he struggled with?”

“He was incredibly smart, so he was in all advanced classes. He never really struggled with anything in the classroom. He did his work, never caused trouble. He was maybe a little stubborn at times, but he always figured it out in the end.” Her sad smile makes another appearance.

“You say he never struggled in the classroom. How about outside the classroom?” 

Ms. Shisuke fidgets nervously in her seat, eyes darting to the one-way glass. Aizawa reaches across the table and rests his hand on top of hers, squeezing gently. “This is all confidential. I understand it might be hard, but we need to know the truth. Please.”

She closes her eyes with a sigh. When she opens them, her eyes are sad, quickly brimming with tears. “The poor boy would come in with bandages all the time, almost daily. Especially near the end. Anyone could tell he was pushing himself too far.”

Shota hands her a tissue and she blots at her eyes. “Did you ever address the boy’s welfare? Either with him or Endeavor?”

“When I asked Touya, he would insist he was fine. Stubborn little thing. He said that he was just training hard so his father would give Shouto a break. From what, I was never sure. Endeavor kept them separated as much as possible, so I didn’t have much interaction with Shouto.” Her face hardens, lips pulling into a frown. “When I went to Endeavor, he just told me to stick to teaching and that it wasn’t any of my business.”

“What about the other two children? Did you have any interactions with Natsuo or Fuyumi?”

“I saw them around the house a few times, but they had a different caretaker. They were isolated from the rest of the family, kept in a different area of the house. Touya was the only family member that came and went from their wing.”

“Did Touya ever talk about them or Shouto? Anything that would hint towards him or the children being abused or neglected?”

“Touya was always…eager to please his father. I don’t think he knew any better. But…before he died, he was upset. He said he couldn’t stand to see Shouto hurt all the time. He didn’t want to be a failure. He said he had to prove his father wrong and protect the others. Protect them from what, he never said, but I can’t imagine what else it would be besides their father. Their mother had already left at that point.” 

Her shoulders sag, voice growing softer. “I confronted Endeavor about it. That’s when my employment was terminated. I heard about Touya’s death two weeks later.” She blows her nose into the tissue. “I knew there had to be more to it, but I had no proof. I should’ve been there for him. I should have gone to the police, told someone. Anything would have been better than staying silent.”

Shota leans forward, keeping his voice low and soothing. “I’m sure Touya appreciates you being there as much as you were, Ms. Shisuke.”

“Please.” Her voice is shaky as she lifts her head to meet his eyes. “Don’t give up on those children. Don’t make the same mistake I did.”

Almost two hours later, Shota is on his third cup of coffee as he shows the last person out of the interrogation room. He waits until the family’s old doctor leaves down the hall to turn to Tsukauchi, who looks exhausted. Whether it was from prolonged quirk use or the subject matter at hand, he couldn’t tell.

“Anything?”

Tsukauchi sighs and rubs a hand down his face. “No lies detected. Unfortunately. I was really hoping you were wrong about this, Shota.”

He nods grimly. The doctor’s statement had made him especially sick to his stomach. The list of injuries he healed between Touya and Shouto was way too long considering he only worked for the family for a little under a year. Broken bones, sprains, concussions, countless burns, cuts and scrapes. Injuries that went past the boundaries of regular training and toed the line of torture. Between his damning testimony and the other four they had gathered from household staff and tutors, the case was solid. Now, they just needed to find the victims.

“Are you sure about taking this on? You know the Todoroki children aren’t going to be the only ones affected. Hero society as a whole will be shaken by this.” 

“I’m sure.” Aizawa’s voice hardens, eyes narrowing on the picture clipped to the inside of the file. A family photo, with four scared wide-eyed children huddled together, and Rei angling herself as far away from Endeavor as possible, hunched in on herself. “We can’t let him get away with what he did just because he has a flashy title. Society will appreciate honesty, and I intend to make him an example. No one should be above the law, and I will come after anyone who thinks they can hurt a child and get away with it.”

Notes:

I really hope Endeavor's ready for the shit storm brewing.

Also, there's something so endearing to me about Touya getting an autograph for Izuku. I love their relationship so much - you'll see some more of it (along with the other two kiddos) in this next chapter and I'm really excited about it.

What do you think Hawks is going to do for their date? And what do you guys think about him keeping Touya a secret from Aizawa?! Do you think it'll cause trouble of does he have it all taken care of?

As always, drop a comment with questions or thoughts. I absolutely LOVE hearing them and they've given me so much inspiration as this story grows. Thank you for reading & for supporting this fic, it means the world to me! <3

Chapter 13

Summary:

Touya is the best big brother.

Notes:

We are officially over 50k words and not slowing down anytime soon!

Listen in on Spotify here!

Touya leans up against the wall outside the school, his foot tapping rhythmically. An anxious habit stemming from childhood, like his body was desperately trying to keep up with his racing thoughts. He didn’t feel anxious, at least not in the moment. Sure, he had a lot on his plate and living in hiding wasn’t exactly easy, but right now, he felt calm. Happy.

Tipping his head up towards the sky, he lets the afternoon sun warm his face, lulling him further into a sense of peace. The days were getting longer, and spring was in full force, a fresh, flowery scent subtly permeating the air. A light wind tousles his hair, strands falling over his eyes. 

I really need a haircut.

His phone goes off in his pocket, and he smiles even before pulling it out, knowing exactly who it is from the obnoxious, custom ‘caw-caw!’ ringtone. He had thought it was pretty damn funny at the time. Not sure if Hawks would agree though.

Dumb bird: Friday. 5 PM. I’ll pick you up?

Clever hero, thinking you’re gonna get an address out of me.

You: I’ll meet you somewhere. Pick a place.

It had been two weeks since Hawks had originally told him he wanted to take him out. On a date. He blamed the delay on his busy patrol schedule. Apparently being a hero came before Touya. Rolls eyes. What would all those stray kittens and old grannies crossing the road do without him? 

He may have told Hawks this morning, in no uncertain terms, that he should shoot his shot or let him find someone else. Not that he had anyone else in mind. It seemed his tastes were annoyingly singular and revolved around a certain overly confident parakeet, but the bird didn’t need to know that. Even so, the same day and they already had a date planned, so he supposed his ultimatum worked.

He lifts his head when the bell rings, and sees Shouto walking towards him, but he frowns when a man he recognizes as the principal is at his side. He’s dressed in a dark suit and shoes, black hair slicked back. His pudgy face is turned down in a scowl, beady eyes directed on him. Katsuki and Izuku trail behind them.

Touya bristles as they close the distance, narrowing his eyes. A siren sounds in his head, warning him of danger. Something’s off.

“Mr. Tameda. Do you have a moment to talk?”

He glances at Shouto as they come to a stop in front of him, but his face is bowed and he can’t make out his expression. Katsuki is practically vibrating with violent energy and has Izuku pulled into his side. Izuku is on the verge of tears, eyes red rimmed and face flushed, arms hugging his waist as he curls into the blonde. 

“What happened?” His voice is ice cold and harsh. 

The principal, Mr. Yamamoto, from what he remembers, blinks rapidly, seemingly taken aback by Touya’s tone. After a moment, he clears his throat. “If you don’t mind, we can talk in my office. It’s a private matter.”

“Katsuki, you know where my spare key is?” He keeps his gaze trained on the principal, but sees the boy nod his head out of the corner of his eye. “Take Izuku back to the apartment and wait for us there.” Katsuki doesn’t argue for once, steering Izuku away as the green-haired boy still clings to his side.

Touya nods. “Lead the way then.” 

Mr. Yamamoto turns and leads them back towards the building. Shouto finally looks up at him and his eyes are hard, angry. Whatever happened, it’s not good. He could count on one hand the times he’s seen that expression on his brother’s face, and none of them were pleasant memories. He puts his hand on Shouto’s shoulder and gently squeezes. 

It’s going to be okay. I promise.

They’re led into an office with a large walnut desk, two dark red leather chairs sitting in front. The cream colored walls are covered in picture frames and certifications. Mr. Yamamoto rounds the desk and gestures at the two chairs before taking a seat himself. Shouto silently sits hunched over, face turned downwards. Touya flops down, slouching in his seat and raising an eyebrow at the man in front of them.

“So, what’s the issue?”

Mr. Yamamoto clears his throat again and threads his hands together in front of him. “There was an incident today, and Hotaru assaulted a fellow student. As I’m sure you can understand, we take violence against our students very seriously.”

That’s…not what he was expecting. He glances at his brother, who refuses to look up from the floor, but he can tell even from his side profile that there’s a storm brewing behind his eyes. Something had to happen to push him to that point. His brother was not a violent kid. In fact, he was the opposite, always had been. He had the more gentle, subdued nature between the two of them, taking after their mother where Touya took after their father.

“What’d the kid do?” 

Shouto’s head shoots up to stare at him with wide, incredulous eyes.

The principal stutters at his question. “I-I beg your pardon?”

“Listen, teach. My brother isn’t the type to just assault someone unless they give him good reason to. I guarantee he was either protecting himself or someone else. So. What. Happened.”

The principal’s mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water, but he doesn’t answer, so Touya turns to Shouto.

“Well. What’d he do, Hotaru?”

Shouto glances at the principal before looking at him, wide eyes questioning. Touya nods his head encouragingly.

“Mr. Tameda, I don’t think - “

“I wasn’t talking to you.” He spits out venomously before looking back at Shouto. “Go on.”

“He…he was bullying Izuku. He said he could never be a hero, and…and that he should jump off the roof because quirkless people were useless.”

His mind flashes back to Izuku with tears in his eyes, curling into Katsuki’s side. Utterly defeated. Broken. A sentiment that felt all too familiar.

You’re a failure, Touya. You’ll never be a hero with that body.

What a waste of potential.

You’re useless to me. Go bother your mother.

A wave of rage engulfs him so suddenly, it takes him by surprise. He has to close his eyes and count to five when he feels his fire roaring to the surface, steam escaping from the corners of his mouth. The faint smell of smoke fills the air, coming from his hands that are curled around the chair’s armrests. He struggles to hold back the flames.

His voice shakes. “What did this kid’s parents have to say?”

The principal pales in front of him, eyes widening. “Well, we haven’t talked to - “

Touya can barely contain himself as his vision goes red. If he didn’t know any better, he swears he could see his body glow an ethereal blue from his quirk trying to break through the surface.

“You mean to tell me Hotaru is in trouble because he defended his friend against a bully.” His volume rises with every word. His brother watches him wide eyed from the seat next to him. Touya’s too far gone to worry about scaring the boy. “A bully that you let go without any fucking repercussions?! What was that you said about violence against students?"

“I don’t think you - “

“I think it was something along the lines of ‘we take violence against our students very seriously’, wasn’t it? So does that mean you don’t consider Izuku a student of yours?”

“No, that’s not - “

He interrupts the man again before he can speak, unable to stop himself. “Fuck your excuses. Let me make things crystal clear for you, principal.” His voice comes out as a low growl, shaking from his attempt at holding back his quirk. 

He sits up straight, glaring daggers at the man, intimidation rolling off of him in waves. “My brother is not in trouble and I am proud of him for sticking up for his friend. For a kid who, quite frankly, is going to be a better hero, no, a better person, than most people in this goddamn school. Yourself included.”

“Mr. Tameda, I - “

“I’m not finished. If I hear of this ever happening again to Izuku or any other quirkless student, there won’t be a place you can hide. You won’t just have to contend with me. I’ll make sure this school is crawling with reporters and police officers alike. Fucking try me, I dare you.”

The principal’s face is beet red, either from embarrassment or anger but, quite frankly, Touya doesn’t give a shit which one it is. He abruptly stands up from his seat, nudging Shouto’s arm. “Let’s go.”

Shouto doesn’t hesitate, hurrying after him as they exit the room, leaving the man sputtering behind them. He doesn’t slow down as they walk out of the school or down the street towards the apartment. Shouto silently jogs next to him, stealing peeks at him as they go. 

He can’t remember the last time he felt this angry. Definitely before he took Shouto. Even before Sekoto Peak. It rages beneath his skin like a wild beast, demanding to be set free. Smoke billows from his mouth as he clenches his fists at his side. 

How dare they treat Izuku like he’s a failure, like he’s worthless. 

His mind flashes with memories. Being sat down and told he wouldn’t be training anymore. His father telling him to give it up, that he wasn’t good enough. Being beaten black and blue when he jumped in between Enji and Shouto. Enji screaming about how much of a failure he was, how he’d never be able to live up to his potential. Succumbing to his emotions and burning in an inferno of his own making.

Then there’s Izuku, eyes sparkling with excitement as he writes page after page of analysis in those notebooks of his. Spending hours and hours designing costumes with Katsuki and Shouto, working on martial arts techniques until his body gives out from exhaustion to compensate for his lack of a Quirk. The unending determination that exuded from him in everything he did. How dare anyone try and trample that spirit.

I’ll destroy every single one of them.

By the time they reach the doorway to the apartment, his quirk has been reigned in as much as possible, still simmering in his blood but no longer threatening to wreak havoc. Touya takes a breath and kneels in front of Shouto, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to see that. But God, I’m so damn proud of you, Sho.” Tears gather in the boy’s eyes, his smile wobbly. “You protected your friend, no matter the consequences. You were a real hero today.”

“I - I just had to…”

“I know. You were amazing.” He leans in and kisses his forehead. Shouto’s arms come around his neck and he wraps the boy in a hug. “So fucking proud.”

Shouto sniffles against his shirt before pulling back, wiping his eyes hastily. “But Zuku…” 

Touya stands and grips the door handle, giving him a small smile. “We’ll make sure he’s okay.”

Entering the apartment, he can hear sniffling coming from the living room. They both beeline in to find Katsuki and Izuku curled up on the couch. Katsuki flashes him a look that he knows all too well. 

I know, kid. I know how hurt and angry you are. It’ll be okay.

Kneeling in front of them, he wordlessly pulls Izuku forward and crushes him to his chest. The kid buries his head in Touya’s shoulder and clings onto his shirt, body rigid and shaking with silent sobs.

He bows his head so he can speak softly in Izuku’s ear. “Listen to me, Izuku. You are one of the strongest kids I know. You are going to be an amazing hero someday. I can’t wait to see it.” 

The boy cries harder, and Touya brings his hand up to pet through his green curls. “You are better than every asshole in that school. Fuck those people and their quirkist ideals. Don’t you dare let those nobodies get you down. You . Matter. Do you hear me?”

“I just…don’t…don’t understand. I didn’t…” He hiccups. “I didn’t do anything…to him. Why…”

“Weak people will always try to break those above them, because they know they don’t have the strength to make it to the top on their own.” He murmurs softly, rubbing circles into Izuku’s back as he tries to calm him down. “That’s the only thing people like him can do to try to win. Don’t let him win, Izuku.” He continues holding the boy, whispering comforting words as he wets Touya’s shirt with tears.

He looks up to see Katsuki and Shouto watching them. Shouto’s face is carefully blank, but he can see the silent rage still simmering underneath, similar to his own. Katsuki, on the other hand, seems almost calm. It’s an eerie calm though, as his calculative gaze zeroes in on Izuku. He makes a note to check on the boy later. Make sure he’s okay.

“I’m proud of you, Katsuki. You protected your friend and got him to a safe place. You did good, kid.”

Katsuki sits up a little straighter and he holds his head high, eyes not leaving Izuku. “Fucker’s lucky Hotaru got to him first.” Touya doesn’t bother correcting him on his language. 

Shouto shuffles on his feet. “I couldn’t just stand there and let it happen.”

Touya’s face softens. “I know.” Izuku is starting to calm down, sniffling once or twice before nuzzling his face into his chest, his body relaxing. “And that’s why all three of you will be amazing heroes.”

 

***********************************

 

A few days later

Touya rummages through the fridge, gathering ingredients for dinner. Something other than soba. We’ve had it three times in the last week. Even I’m getting sick of it.  

He juggles an onion, a couple carrots, and a bottle of soy sauce onto the counter as he closes the fridge with his foot, setting them next to the garam masala and curry powder on the counter. He moves to get the rice ready, pouring it into the strainer and moving towards the sink.

Suddenly, Shouto shouts his name from the living room. He leaves the rice on the counter and rushes in, expecting Shouto to be in trouble or hurt somehow. When he looks over to his brother, however, he seems to be fine other than the wide-eyed expression he has as he stares at the TV. A smile creeps up Touya’s face as he leans against the entryway and reads the news story taking up the screen.

“Earlier today, the principal of Aldera Elementary, Mr. Ryosuke Yamamoto, resigned amid allegations of quirk discrimination and child endangerment charges. A representative from Hawks Hero Agency, who are assisting the police with the investigation, told reporters that the administration is being investigated for covering up multiple incidents of bullying involving quirkless students. They say the severity of the incidents, in which one student almost lost their life three years ago, are enough to pursue criminal charges against multiple faculty members involved. We tried reaching out to Aldera Elementary for comment, but have not heard anything back from the school.”

It really was embarrassingly easy to get his pretty bird to help with the cause. Birdy should be ashamed. Maybe it was because he was on the verge of murder when he called Hawks, venting about the situation and how much he wanted the guy to pay, but he didn’t even have to actually ask Hawks to do anything. He just said it’d be taken care of in that nauseatingly cheerful ‘hero’ voice of his.

He takes a picture of the news broadcast and sends it to the bird, along with a message.

You: that was fast

Dumb bird: well, i’m not called the man too fast for his own good for nothing 😜

You: thats not the compliment you think it is birdy

Dumb bird: dont worry hot stuff, i’m not that fast 😉

You: i hate you

He scoffs and shakes his head, ignoring the faint blush that creeps up his cheeks at the insinuation. 

You: how bad was it

Dumb bird: you know i can’t discuss that with you

Touya stubbornly frowns down at his phone. As if Hawks can sense his eyes boring into the screen, another reply comes moments later. Whipped.

Dumb bird: he’ll be going away for a long time...along with some others

You: good

Hawks hadn’t shared many details with him after he told him what happened. At the time, Izuku had been his priority. But then, within hours, the bird had apparently dug up dozens of incidents with other children that had been swept under the rug, and he had let some things slip to Touya. One-sided parent teacher conferences, blatant neglect and disregard for classroom bullying, a disproportionate percentage of detentions and suspensions for quirkless students, and suspicious transfer requests to other districts from quirkless families.

He looks up to see Shouto watching in fascination as they go into detail about the charges filed. This was all because of him. Because Shouto had the courage to stand up for his friend, to be there and be the hero Izuku needed. Like throwing a stone into water and watching the ripples cast out from it, that simple act was changing lives. 

Not to mention, he had done it without his quirk. For so many years, they had both been told that their quirk was the most important part of being a hero. Hell, his father had forced his mother to have four children because he believed the quirk mattered most of all. 

Shouto was already a better hero than their father could ever be. Hell, he was already the hero that Touya had always wanted to be, but instead of jealousy or bitterness, all he felt was pride and admiration. Maybe even a little bit of hope. Because if Shouto could save someone with just his words and support, does that mean he could do the same? Does that mean… 

He doesn’t let himself finish that thought. It was too late for him. That dream had already died on that mountain peak, and there was no use digging up the past. Instead, he sends another message, this one born out of a fleeting moment of vulnerability.

You: thank you for your help birdy ❤️

Dumb bird: anything for you hot stuff 😘

After stopping to drop a kiss on Shouto’s forehead, he walks back into the kitchen with a smile on his face to continue preparing dinner. He’s methodically washing the rice when his phone pings with another message. This time, a different ringtone that doesn’t match his bird’s.

Mama Inko: I don’t know what you did or how you did it, but you’re an angel, Seika. I will never be able to repay you for what you’ve done for my son.

 

***********************************

 

When Friday rolls around, Touya finds himself standing in front of the mirror glowering at his reflection. He’s supposed to meet Hawks in an hour for their date, but he’s still standing there in just a pair of black ripped jeans, holding two shirts in front of him unable to decide which one he should wear. 

Fucking hell, it shouldn’t be this hard. Just pick a damn shirt, Touya.

He was NOT freaking out. Not in the slightest. He hadn’t been wondering all day what Hawks had in store for them after the bird texted that it was a ‘surprise’. He hadn’t been internally freaking out over the prospect of spending more than a few moments here and there with the hero. 

This was completely different than Hawks bringing him coffee or him barging into Hawks office in between meetings. What the hell were they even supposed to talk about? 

Anxiety roiled in his gut. He knew what they could talk about, the questions that had been hanging between the two of them since Touya entered that office weeks ago, but he dreaded even thinking about it. Talking about it would make everything real, it would solidify Hawks involvement in Touya and Shouto’s lives. At least without talking about it, he could pretend Hawks only knew him as Seika.

He eyes the shirts in the mirror again and sighs. One is a white fitted v-neck and the other is a black t-shirt with an abstract gothic design on the front. He tosses the black shirt on the bed and pulls the white one over his head. 

Once it’s on, he studies himself in the mirror. The shirt is just tight enough to draw attention to his newly-defined ab and arm muscles. 

Damn, I actually look…good. 

He had always been a smaller kid, always on the lanky side, and it was damn near impossible for him to put on weight, no matter how hard he trained in the past. So being in shape was relatively new to him, especially since waking up in that hospital. What muscles he did have had pretty much wasted away from three long years being in a coma.

It wasn’t until a few weeks ago, when he started training with the brats instead of just supervising, that he noticed his body starting to change. It had begun when Katsuki said he could beat Touya with one hand tied behind his back, and Touya just couldn’t let the little asshole get away with it. And yeah, he may have beat the explosive blond, but it had made him realize one thing. He was out of shape. Severely out of shape. 

After their spar, he was so out of breath he thought he was going to pass out, while the three little demons all stood there muffling their laughter. Even Izuku. That’s how he knew it was serious. As time went on and he kept getting stronger, he could tell his stamina was improving. Turns out stress from unattainable standards and trying to keep your brother from getting beaten by an abusive father wasn’t good for gaining healthy weight. Who knew.

Plus, the exercise made him feel good and his body didn’t hurt as much as before. He was proud of where he’d gotten in such little time. His body looked…healthy. At least as healthy as it could look littered in burn scars.

His eye catches movement in the mirror, and he turns to find Shouto standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. 

“What’s up, punk?”

“I’ve never seen you take so long to get ready before,” Shouto deadpans, face impassive.

He rolls his eyes. “Now you’re just being dramatic.”

Shouto shakes his head. “No I’m not. You usually don’t care what you look like.”

Touya regards himself in the mirror for a second, letting silence fall over the two of them. What Shouto said is kind of true. Usually, he just opted for grabbing whatever was closest to him when getting ready, giving it the smell test. He never cared for fashion, so as long as it was clean, who cared?

“You like him, don’t you?” Touya turns at Shouto’s question. His brother is staring at him with his brows furrowed, his mouth turned in a slight scowl. His expression is part speculative and part…hurt?

He opens and closes his mouth. Could Shouto really be hurt that he’s spending time with Hawks? I mean, as long as they’d been together, Touya’s whole life had revolved around Shouto, and he supposed he’s been a little distracted lately, stuck in his phone more often than usual. But surely it couldn’t be that bad. Besides, Shouto had Izuku and Katsuki, so it’s not like Touya was the only person in his life he could be close to.

“I do…” he hesitates, cocking an eyebrow at him. “Why?”

Shouto frowns and shrugs his shoulders. They stare each other down tensely, until Shouto turns to leave. Before he can though, Touya moves to grab him, slinging him over his shoulders. Shouto lets out a surprised yell. “What are you doing?!”

Touya flops on the bed, moving Shouto so he’s trapped in his arms, even as he squirms to get free. He flicks him on the forehead, which earns him an annoyed huff. “You’re an idiot, Sho.”

“Shut up!”

“No.” Touya tightens his arms, cuddling him closer, rubbing circles in the boy’s back. Shouto stops squirming but keeps his head turned down. “You know you’re more important to me, right?” 

He feels Shouto shrug. “Well you are, so stop with the damn attitude.”

Shouto’s head pops up and he glares at Touya, cheeks flushing red. “I don’t have an attitude.”

“Yes you do, you little gremlin.” He blocks Shouto’s arm as he tries hitting him in the chest. Touya huffs out a laugh at the adorable attempt.

Despite his grumbling and squirming, it doesn’t take long for Shouto to finally relax in his hold. His head gently nuzzles into Touya’s chest. “He makes you happy.” It’s not a question.

“Yeah.” He lets himself be honest for a minute, not hiding behind layers of sarcasm and denial. Hawks does make him happy, so happy it’s nauseating. The stupid smile that keeps creeping up his face at random times is proof of that. He can’t even open up his messaging app without grinning like an idiot seeing his name pinned at the top. But…

“You’re more important to me though. You know I would choose you every time, Shouto. Don’t you?”

Shouto is silent for a moment, absently picking at the hem of his shirt. “But then you won’t be happy.”

Touya shrugs. “I can find happiness again. I can’t replace you, though.” 

His heart pangs in his chest but it’s true, because even if Hawks makes him happy, he still doesn’t trust him. He can’t afford to trust him. Touya knows whatever this is between him and the hero is temporary, a dream that he’ll soon have to wake up from. But he’s fine with that, as long as Shouto is happy and safe.

Shouto wraps his arms around him and squeezes. They lay there for a few more minutes, Shouto snuggled up in his arms. Touya knows he should cherish these moments while he has them. The boy’s grown so much over the past six months, and he rarely cuddles up with him anymore. 

He’s become so much more self-assured and independent, never coming to him with his problems, and as proud he was of his brother’s growth, he missed this. He missed his clinginess whenever he was scared or upset. The innocence and unconditional trust in his eyes when they first set out on their journey together. He couldn’t handle how fast he was growing up. Soon enough, he wasn’t going to need him for anything anymore.

His phone pings and he fishes it out of his pocket, noting the time. Thirty minutes until he’s supposed to meet Hawks. On top is a message from the bird.

Dumb bird: meet me here...can’t wait to see u hotstuff 😍

Attached to the message is a pinned location for an address in Chuo Ward of Fukuoka, about a fifteen-minute train ride. He sighs, knowing he has to get up and get going if he was going to make it in time.

“Sho.” He shakes him gently before sitting up with him still clinging to his side.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Shouto grumbles. He pushes away and bounces off the bed. 

Touya stands, grabbing his belt from on top of the dresser and lacing it through his jeans, then shrugging on his black studded hoodie. He didn’t have time to worry about his outfit anymore. Birdy was just going to have to take him how he is. On the way out of the room, he ruffles Shouto’s hair, chuckling when he smacks his hand away. 

“Inko will be here to get you in a little bit.” Touya bends down in the entryway to put on his combat boots. “She gets out at 6:00. Remember, don’t answer - “

“Don’t answer the door for anyone else. Yeah, I know,” Shouto grumbles, rolling his eyes.

Brat.

Touya straightens up and stuffs his keys in his pocket. “I’ll be back to pick you up later tonight. Try to do your homework before you go over to Izuku’s.”

Touya turns to open the door, but the air is knocked out of him with a ‘hmph’ when Shouto launches himself at him. “Have fun or whatever,” he grumbles.

His heart squeezes in his chest. He pats Shouto on the back and bends down to kiss the crown of his head. “I’ll be back later. Love you.”

Shouto grumbles a begrudging ‘I love you too’ before letting go and making his way into the living room, not bothering to look back. Touya fondly rolls his eyes when he sees him turn the TV on and start surfing channels, ignoring his plea to finish his homework. His little rebel.

With one last look back, Touya silently makes his way out, closing the door behind him.

Notes:

Touya deserves best brother award. No contest. Also Hawks is WHIPPED but I'm here for it.

Any guesses to where Hawks is taking him on their first date?

Thank you all so much for reading! Keep the comments and suggestions coming, I absolutely LOVE seeing them. <3

Chapter 14

Summary:

Hawks and Touya go on a date

Notes:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN DROP!!!

Okay y'all, this date scene was NOT supposed to be an entire chapter, but it got away from me (not mad about it). BUT they both REALLYYY needed this and I'm so happy with how it turned out. I hope you guys enjoy it!

Listen in on Spotify here!

It isn’t until Touya is sitting on the train, heading towards Chuo Ward that his stomach starts fluttering with nerves. They were easier to hold back when walking to the station and getting to the platform, when he was moving and could keep his mind busy. 

Now that he was stationary with nothing to do, he couldn’t stop the restless tap of his foot or the sheen of cold sweat on his forehead. He pulls his hood up and rests his head on the window, closing his eyes. The glass is cool against his skin. 

It’s just a date. Nothing to be nervous about. It’s fucking Hawks. Stop freaking out, you wuss.

Even with his pitiful pep talk, his leg wouldn’t stop bouncing as the train began to move. He runs his tongue along the back of his lip ring, moving it up and down absentmindedly. The nerves mix with the slight feeling of motion sickness as the train speeds along. His head starts spinning and he has to swallow back the bile in his throat.

A soft giggle comes from the seat in front of him, and Touya turns his head to see a pair of brown eyes peering through the seats at him. The kid couldn’t be more than two years old, barely able to see over his mother’s shoulders. Those brown eyes inspect him curiously. 

Touya makes a funny face, sticking out his tongue and crossing his eyes, which earns him another giggle. He smiles, remembering when Natsuo was this young, how innocent and excitable he was. How he would burst into a fit of giggles when Touya would make faces at him or chase him around the courtyard.

He never had that relationship with Shouto. It was one of his biggest regrets. He had been so stuck in his own head, self-centered and narrow-minded. He’d taken his frustrations out on a child because he’d been a genetic failure and had to give up his dream. Thinking back on it, he could see how foolish he had been, how unfair he had acted towards Shouto. He wonders if Shouto was also a curious baby, if his eyes would have sparkled at Touya’s faces and funny dances.

At the next stop, the woman in front of him stands, juggling her child onto her hip and gathering her things. As they walk away, the kid looks back at Touya and gives him a shy wave. Smiling, he waves back at the kid, who beams back at him as they disappear from sight.

Touya looks up at the map, heart fluttering when he realizes his stop is next. 

It’s okay, everything’s gonna be okay. Just act normal. He wouldn’t ask you out if he didn’t like you. Just treat it like any other Monday. That’s right. It’s just like him bringing you coffee. That’s all.

The train slowly lurches to a stop and Touya forces himself to stand. His feet mechanically move forward as the doors open and he follows the flow of the crowd to leave the station. He pulls out his phone and looks at the address Hawks sent, quickly plugging it into the map and following the little blue line telling him which way to walk.

The streets are filled with the sights and sounds of the Friday crowd. Horns honking as commuters make their way out of the city center, families milling around and starting their weekends, the soft music from an open door to a little cafe, a group of teenagers lounging near the bus stop laughing and shoving each other around playfully.

Touya’s steps become more languid as he walks, lulled by the upbeat energy of the crowd around him. Soon enough, his phone is telling him he’s reached his destination. He lifts his head and frowns when he sees the bold letters of the archway above his head. Fukuoka Botanical Garden. The plaque below the entrance shows their hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.

What the hell? Why would he bring me here? They just closed.

A soft voice sounds next to his ear, making him jump. “Hey there, gorgeous.” His heart stammers violently in his chest as he turns, ready to scold the asshole for scaring him.

“You didn’t have to - “ The words get stuck in his throat as he comes face to face with Hawks. In casual clothes. He’s never seen him outside of that god awful costume he parades around in, besides the black jumpsuit when they had first met. 

Hawks smile widens as he studies Touya, who can’t take his eyes off the man in front of him. He’s wearing dark washed jeans and lay just right in all the right places and a tight black t-shirt. Touya’s throat dries up like the Sahara at how his sleeves cling to his biceps, arm muscles on display. 

How the fuck have I never seen Hawks arms before?!

His wings seem smaller than usual but still draw looks and hushed whispers. The hero reaches up and lifts the red baseball cap he’s wearing off his head, threading his hair back and putting the cap on backwards. His tongue peaks out to wet his bottom lip. 

His eyes darken as he steps closer, leaning in to whisper in Touya’s ear. “See something you like, firecracker?” Goosebumps prickle Touya’s skin at the sound of his honeyed voice.

He swallows and attempts to clear his throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The haze in his mind clears and he scowls defiantly. “You look…okay. At least it’s not khaki.”

Hawks smirks at him dangerously, biting his bottom lip. “I can change if you want, but we’d have to go back to my place.”

Touya snorts, rolling his eyes. “You’re not getting me in your bed that easily.” His eyes widen and a blush creeps up his cheeks when he realizes what he just said. 

Hawks feathers fluff up for a moment before laying flat again. If he wasn’t so embarrassed, he’d ask about that reaction. Instead, he shifts on his feet, not meeting the hero’s eyes, crossing his arms in front of him to try and put space between them. “You promised me a date, after all.”

Hawks intense gaze never leaves his face, burning into him. “I did.” He brings up a hand and gently uncrosses Touya’s arms before intertwining their fingers. Hawks hand is warm and firm beneath his, thumb softly sweeping back and forth, caressing his skin. “So, shall we?” He smirks, tugging his arm gently towards the entrance of the botanical garden.

“Uh, not sure if you’ve noticed, dumbass, but they just closed.” Despite his protest, Touya blindly follows him, unwilling to unlink their hands. Hawks strides confidently towards the ticketing desk.

“There are uh…” Hawks clears his throat, bringing his other hand up to rub at his nape, “perks to being a pro hero.” He nods and smiles at the lady behind the desk as she gestures for them to go through. Her eyes linger on Touya curiously as he’s pulled behind the hero.

Touya rolls his eyes as they hurry through the turnstiles. “So you’re abusing your hero privileges to go on a date. How noble of you.”

“Not just any date.” Hawks looks back and winks at him. “A date with you. You’ll find there’s a lot I would do for you.”

Touya looks away, distracting himself with the flora lining the pathway. Many of them are flowering, vibrant azaleas and satozakuras creating a splattering of color among the green. A light breeze carries their sweet scent in the air.

He wouldn’t be that easily fooled into thinking anyone would care about him that much without getting something in return. He had learned that love was conditional by nature. His father loved him until he couldn’t be the one to surpass All Might. His family loved him until he disappeared, leaving him behind on that peak and moving on with their lives. Shouto loved him because Touya had gotten him out of that home. Mitsuki and Inko only cared because of how he helped out with their kids.

He couldn’t deserve love unless he had something to offer, and what exactly could he offer Hawks? What was Hawks getting out of this that made him think Touya was worth doing anything for? All he’s done since meeting the hero is give him a bad attitude and push him away.

Hawks was a rising star in the hero world, and he could have anything or anyone he wanted. Why would he settle for Touya’s scarred skin when he could have someone flawless? Why would he want Touya’s barbed words when he could have someone pliant and agreeable? Someone without mental baggage and trust issues a mile long.

There had to be something else, something he wasn’t seeing. Another reason why the hero’s eyes seemed to zero in on him with an intensity that was foreign to Touya whenever he was in his vicinity. Another reason he kept coming back every week, bright-eyed and cheery, like seeing Touya was the best part of his day.

Hawks uses his silence as an opportunity to keep talking. “I figured you’d like it here and I didn’t think you’d appreciate having to share my attention with fans, so…” He shrugs and gestures ahead of them.

“Oh, I feel so special,” Touya sneers, failing to keep the sting of jealousy out of his voice. He’s seen the interviews and public appearances that Hawks has done since debuting. Not that he was specifically looking for them. They would just pop up on social media or whenever he flipped through the local news channels. 

It’s not like he would stop and watch them for more than a few minutes. Just long enough to see a fan or reporter try to get in all close, touching his feathers or grabbing at his arm. Hawks, of course, always just gave them his trademarked smile and a wink. He was never bothered, never attempted to remove them or set boundaries. It was fucking infuriating.

“You should,” Hawks quips back.

Touya doesn’t respond. Instead, he uses one of the benches along the walkway to hop onto the low wall separating the garden sections. He needs space, room to breathe. The way Hawks looks at him, tells him he should feel special. It’s so genuine. It doesn’t make sense.

“Why?” He asks so quietly, he’s not sure Hawks even hears him at first. He chances a look over at the bird as he keeps pace with Touya from the ground. He’s staring straight ahead, a contemplative expression on his face. Touya bows his head, concentrating on his footing as he walks along the narrow ledge.

“Why should you feel special?” The hero finally speaks up. Touya doesn’t dare look at him, just keeps walking the ledge, hands stuffed in his pockets, passing by rhododendrons and cherry blossom trees. “I’m not sure I even really know, to be honest. There’s just something about you that no one else has, and I can’t get enough.”

Touya scoffs. “Yeah, I’ve got something no one else has, all right. A broken quirk, a mutilated body, and a warrant out for his arrest. You sure do have low standards, birdy,” he deadpans.

He hears wings flutter a moment before a hand reaches out and grabs his chin, forcing him to look up and over to where Hawks is now hovering in front of him. A light wind picks up, dropping sakura petals from the branches above their heads.

“You’re misunderstanding me. It’s not about your body, or your power, or anything you think other people see in you.” Hawks thumb skates over his lower lip and Touya’s breath hitches. 

“We’re surrounded by all these trees and flowers that are blooming so beautifully right now, so colorful and vibrant and full of life. But despite that, I can’t keep my eyes off of you. I couldn’t tell you the name of a single thing we’ve passed so far, because they pale in comparison.”

Those piercing gold eyes hold his gaze so reverently, so fucking wholly, that Touya can feel his eyes start to sting, moisture gathering behind his damaged tear ducts. He tries to turn to look away but Hawks grip on his chin tightens.

“You’re this incredible enigma. You try to be this uncaring, untouchable person, go out of your way to be standoffish and unapproachable. Like you’re trying to warn people away, create distance between you and everyone else.” Hawks smirks, eyes searching his face. “But I know better. I know how caring and selfless you are. You’re so much more than you give yourself credit for, Touya.”

Touya. 

Touya’s heart squeezes painfully in his chest. Hawks looks so sincere, so fucking sure of himself, and he might be right. He might have seen through him all this time, down to a base layer of who he is now. But Hawks doesn’t know Touya. 

He may know some semblance of a person who used to be Touya, and maybe some parts of him managed to claw their way out from the grave he was buried in, but that little boy died in that inferno. Touya’s hopes and dreams and life were cut short, leaving a husk of a man in its wake with only one goal in life. He doesn’t exist beyond his responsibility of keeping Shouto happy and alive. 

Hawks doesn’t know the boy who used to rage and scream against an unavoidable future. A boy who tried to burn his baby brother just for the crime of being born. He doesn’t know the black sludge of existence that he had to wade through all those years, wandering without a purpose. Just a boy who was never good enough, never strong enough, never brave enough. 

He grips Hawks wrist and pulls it away from his face. “You don’t know Touya,” he mumbles, chewing on his bottom lip as he drops his head. 

“Then tell me about him.”

Touya heaves out a sigh. He knows Hawks won’t give up, and maybe Touya owes him this much. A glimpse into the man he’s spending so much time and effort on. He’s just not sure if he’ll be able to handle the rejection once Hawks sees the broken man he truly is. 

He drops down to sit on the ledge and Hawks follows, sitting beside him and tentatively taking his hand, intertwining their fingers and rubbing soothing circles with his thumb. Touya lets the motion ground him, giving him the strength he needs to start talking. 

“My dad has always dreamed of surpassing All Might. He realized early on that he would never be able to do that as long as overheating was an issue. So, he moved onto his next plan. He found out that my mother’s family, with their strong history of ice quirks, were hungry for money and status that came with being the number two hero. He bought my mother’s hand in marriage, hoping that her ice would be the solution to his overheating. Then I came along.”

Touya pauses, swallowing back the lump in his throat. He’s always wondered what was going through Enji’s mind when he was born. Had he truly been happy with having a son, or had his dream overshadowed Touya’s birth? Could he even see him as his child, or had he always just been a tool for him to use? 

Enji had put all of his faith and expectations in a 5 pound 11 ounce package. A newborn baby boy that was oblivious to the pressures he now had on his tiny shoulders. Had he cared at all? Second guessed his motives or paused to consider what his expectations would do to his baby boy?

Beside him, Hawks gently squeezes his hand in a show of silent support. He brings their intertwined hands up to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the inside of Touya’s wrist.

“He was training me from the second my quirk manifested. It didn’t take long for him to realize that my firepower had the potential to be far greater than his own. He waited and waited for my ice to manifest, but it never showed, so they took me to the doctors to get tested. Turns out, I would never get my mother’s quirk. Instead, I got her ice resistant body. A real shitty outcome for someone with my level of firepower. The doctors wanted my father to stop training me, to keep me from using my quirk because I would only hurt myself.”

Did the thought of me hurting ever make you pause, Enji, or were you too upset that your dream was dead?

Another kiss to the inside of his wrist, on his scarred skin. He closes his eyes, taking a deep breath in and out.

“Enji refused to train me after that. He told me I could never be a hero, never realize the dream I was created for. He treated me like I was a failed experiment. Then Shouto came along. I was such a fucking asshole. His quirk manifested really early, and it was exactly what my father had been waiting for. I fucking blamed Shouto for me not being good enough. For having a better quirk, for something he couldn’t control. I attacked him, almost burnt the house down. After that, they separated us.”

“What changed?” Hawks questions, his voice soft, coaxing.

“When he was five, I walked in on one of their so-called training sessions. Enji was basically beating the shit out of him. Punched him in the stomach so hard, he puked all over the floor. He was cowering, tears in his eyes, and the look on his face…” 

He shakes his head in disgust. Next to him, Hawks stiffens, thumb pausing for a split second before continuing his lulling circles. “There was so much fear there. He was helpless. I guess it made me realize that Shouto wasn’t my enemy, he was a victim. He never asked for what he was born into, and he never wanted to take anything from me.”

“After that, I tried so hard to prove to my father that I could take Shouto’s place. I guess I thought that if I could show him I was good enough, he’d give Sho a break. Let him be a kid, not be so hard on him. I trained in secret, increasing my firepower and, finally, one day my flames got so hot they turned blue. Hurt like a bitch, but I was so excited. Enji could only ever hold that level of heat for seconds at a time. I thought he’d be proud, that it’d be enough to make him realize I could be his successor. So I asked him to meet me at Sekoto Peak…”

He hears Hawks sharp intake of breath next to him. Of course Sekoto Peak would be in whatever file he’s read on Touya. He absently wonders what else is in that file. How much detail there is on his death, on his life. Maybe he’d ask Hawks to see it sometime.

“He never showed. Whether he forgot or just chose to ignore me, I don’t know. But I was heartbroken. It was my chance to prove I could keep Shouto safe, that I could be a hero, that my life had meaning. But as I sat there alone, my emotions got the best of me. I couldn’t hold back my quirk, and I burst into flames. They just kept getting hotter and hotter and I couldn’t stop them. I felt myself burning alive, and then everything went black. I don’t remember anything after that.”

An image suddenly pops into his mind. A strange man, reaching out to him. Speaking to him. He shakes it away. That was just a dream, a nightmare. It wasn’t real.

“ Oh, Touya ,” a shaky whisper has him turning his head. Hawks eyes are glassy, on the verge of spilling over. One of his wings flares out and curls around Touya’s shoulders. 

Touya waits patiently for what he knows is coming. The ‘I’m so sorry that happened to you’, the look of pity. His body goes rigid in anticipation. He doesn’t know if he can handle seeing that expression on Hawks face, so he picks a spot on the collar of Hawks shirt to focus on.

“You’re amazing.”

His head pops up so suddenly, he thinks he might have given himself whiplash. His mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. “W-what…”

Hawks brings both hands up to cup his face gently, thumbs caressing the soft skin under his eyes. “You defied everyone who thought you couldn’t succeed and became more powerful as a child than a pro with decades of experience. You loved your brother so much you devoted your entire life to making sure he could be safe and happy. You survived, Touya,” Hawks shakes him gently, “You survived something that would have killed anyone else, your father included. You’re a fucking miracle. A phoenix, rising from the ashes to come back stronger. Don’t you see that?”

Touya stares wide-eyed and unbelieving at Hawks, at the bright, beautiful smile on his face, the unbridled awe and reverence in his eyes. Every ounce of his attention is devoted to Touya, like it’s physically impossible to look away, piercing into his soul and cracking him open at the seams.

Touya’s eyes sting, and Hawks thumb moves to swipe away the moisture as it escapes down his face. “No…that’s not…” That’s not right. I’m not strong. He tries to shake his head but Hawks doesn’t let him, instead leaning forward to press his forehead against Touya’s. 

“I’m so glad ,” Hawks whispers, “so glad that you survived and are here with me now. I’m glad that I even get the chance to know you, whoever you choose to be.”

Touya chokes out a sob. He brings a hand up to Hawks nape, burying his fingers in the soft blonde hairs there. The other hand curls into the bottom of his shirt, holding on like it’s an anchor, the soft cotton beneath his fingers a reminder that this man is real and, more importantly, sees him. 

It’s not pity or sympathy or guilt shining in his eyes. It’s empathy and wonder and adoration. It’s everything that Touya never thought he’d see, what he doesn’t think he deserves to ever see, and the hero gives it so freely.

Why? Why don’t you see me the same way everyone else does? The way I do. 

A part of him wants to scream at the hero, demanding that he take back his words, to tell him he’s weak and useless and cursed instead. He wants to hear that his failures, his past hatred towards Shouto, requires repentance. He wants to hear Hawks demands, what he needs to do to keep him near. What those soft words are going to cost him. 

The other part of him wants to stay buried in this soft red cocoon, hiding from the rest of the world. To focus on the calloused hands cradling his face, the weight of Hawks forehead against his own. To actually believe Hawks, to stamp those words over his scarred skin until he can no longer ignore them. 

“Why…” he chokes out, voice shaking. “You’re wrong. I’m not strong. I can’t…”

Hawks ghosts a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “You are strong, Touya, but it’s okay if you don’t see that right now.” He inches back and holds Touya’s gaze. “I’ll be strong enough for the both of us. If you’ll let me.”

Hearing those words snaps something inside of him. Like the anchor dragging him down to the depths of the ocean has been cut and he’s finally kicking his way back to the surface. Like the black sludge suffocating him has been cleared and he’s able to fill his lungs with clean air again. 

He pulls Hawks to him, crashing their lips together with a whimper. Hawks kisses him back as if Touya’s his only source of oxygen, holding his face between his hands almost hard enough to bruise.

“I’m here, Touya…” Hawks ghosts kisses all over his face. “I’m here for you. Please , let me be here.”

Touya falls headfirst into the safety and comfort of Hawks arms, nodding at the hero’s plea, ignoring the incessant whispers in his head telling him he can’t be trusted. He wants to let Hawks be there for him, to take some of the weight off his shoulders. He wants to let his guard down and believe everything will actually be okay.

“Tell me more.” A soft kiss presses to his lips and he chases it until it’s just out of reach. “Tell me more about Touya. Please.”

So, Touya tells him all about the little boy he used to be. How his favorite food is soba and he hates anything with fish. About how he and Natsuo used to dig up worms and chase Fuyumi around the courtyard with them. The lullabies he remembers his mother singing to him every night when he was little, before her mind started deteriorating. The way his hair slowly changed from red to white. The first time he snuck into Shouto’s room with a first aid kit, the way the look on his baby brother’s face made him feel like a hero. 

At some point, they start walking along the pathway again. The sun casts a brilliant gold hue over the park as it starts to set. Touya continues telling stories of his life before the accident. It’s intoxicating, the way the hero eats up every word, giving Touya his undivided attention.

With every word, he feels the weight on his chest lessen. To tell Touya’s story, to have someone listen and care about Touya’s story is more liberating than he could have anticipated. After years of repressing everything, asking for help and being turned away once they knew who his father was, having no one to turn to, Hawks soaks in every word, providing support and input whenever Touya falters, and keeping him grounded with gentle squeezes of their intertwined fingers and soft, lingering kisses.

That light feeling remains even after he bids the hero a breathless goodbye, rides the train to his station, and marches up the steps to the Midoriyas’ apartment. It's still there even when Inko gives him a knowing look, with her sly smile, and when Shouto narrows his eyes on the seemingly permanent smile on his face. It chases him even into unconsciousness as his eyes grows heavy, his last thoughts of red feathers and piercing gold eyes.

Notes:

Oh, I love a supportive Hawks and a healing Touya <3

See guys, nothing happened to Shouto. Everything's going to be alright. Sorry if I scared you. I just had to keep y'all on your toes. 😜

I'll be traveling the next few days so the next chapter MIGHT be a little behind, but it'll get posted as soon as I have it done. If you liked the chapter and want to see more dates, please comment and give some suggestions because I really do want to dive deeper into their relationship.

Chapter 15

Summary:

Hawks turns the tables and Touya comes to a frightening realization.

Notes:

Surprise bitches!! This one's for jfish0518 and akataiii. Hope y'all enjoy! 😁

Also, fair warning, enjoy these next few chapters of our boys being soft for each other, cause shits about to go down. 😬

Listen with me on Spotify Here <3

Hawks rhythmically taps his pen against the papers littering his desk, the form in front of him half filled out. He’s always hated this portion of hero work, and would much rather be out there in the streets on patrol than looking at a stack of incident forms, but there was only so much he could pawn off to his sidekicks.

Lately, he's been finding it really hard to concentrate as it is. He desperately tries to recall the villain attack from last week, when a guy with sticky tentacles for fingers went on a purse snatching spree, but his mind keeps wandering. Even his handler mentioned how distracted he seemed at their weekly check-in, and nothing good could come from catching that kind of attention from the Commission.

He glances at the clock, watching the hands slowly move. Too slowly. The late afternoon sun cuts through the office in rays, only a few soft wisps of clouds in the sky. 

Perfect weather for flying .

The phone rings on his desk, and he presses the speaker button without glancing at the caller ID. “Hawks speaking.” He slams the now completed form on top of the noticeably smaller stack of ‘done’ paperwork before grabbing another. 

“Sir, there’s a man here who’s demanding to be let up. I told him he needed an appointment but - “

His receptionist is cut off by a snarky voice, the man on the other end quickly losing patience. The corners of Hawks mouth quirks up. 

“You can send him up, Yuri. It’s okay.” 

“A-are you sure?”

“Yep. I can handle him. Thank you.”

Less than a minute later, his office door is being flung open, telling him Touya didn’t actually wait until he got the okay to make his way up. He saunters in with a devilish smirk, clutching a take out bag in one hand. 

“You causing trouble, firecracker?” he teases. 

“I would never!” Touya proclaims, putting a hand to his heart in mock offense. “Honestly though, what’s a guy gotta do to make it onto the VIP list, Birdy?”

Hawks smile grows exponentially wider as Touya rounds the desk, sets the takeout bag on top of the paperwork that still needs to be finished, and plops himself down on Hawks lap. The hero’s arms encircle his waist as Touya threads his fingers in ash blond hair and pulls, just enough to tilt his head back for a chaste kiss. 

Ever since their date last week at the botanical garden, Touya has been…different. Less inhibited, more energetic, dare he say…happier? Definitely a lot bolder and physically demanding, stealing kisses and light touches whenever and wherever possible. It’s like a weight has been lifted, a door opened, and the real Touya has started to make himself known. It was intoxicating, the way he almost bloomed, no pun intended, in the last seven days. 

It felt like he was finally allowing himself to maybe even trust the hero a bit. Not completely - he still shied away from any topic involving Shouto, and he wouldn’t allow Hawks anywhere near his brother, but it was a start. It was something , and Hawks was clinging onto that something like it was a life preserver in the middle of an endless ocean. 

“My apologies, baby. I’ll make sure that gets fixed right away.”

“Good.” He grins smugly at the hero, like the spoiled little brat he is. Like he knows Hawks can’t, and won’t, deny him a single thing as long as it’s within his power. Touya dips down again and kisses him, slowly this time, savoring. It’s enough to make Hawks head spin. 

Hawks hums in contentment. “You’re early, by the way.”

Touya tilts his head towards the bag sitting on his desk. “I had to make sure you actually fucking eat something since you’re so dogshit at taking care of yourself.”

Butterflies flutter in his chest as he glances over at the bag, the logo of his favorite lunch place drawn on the outside. He had only mentioned it in passing, not expecting Touya to remember.

“Aww, are you actually worried about me, baby?” He grips Touya’s face and pulls him closer, planting kisses along his jawline. “Thank you."

Touya tilts his head until their lips brush lightly across one another. “Don’t push it,” he growls, the words lacking any real heat. “And you’re welcome. Eat the damn food so we can go.” 

Another chaste kiss. Touya detangles himself from Hawks lap and stands, moving to the chair in front of the desk. He sits down with a huff, slouching back and kicking his feet up on the table top. 

Hawks mouth waters as he opens the container to reveal yakitori and some steamed vegetables. He audibly groans, ignoring Touya’s amused chuckle, and digs right in. After a few bites he looks up to see Touya studying him, a soft smile ghosting his lips. 

“What are you gonna do if this amazing date I’ve got planned involves food?”

Touya scoffs and rolls his eyes. “ Please . You and I both know you’re like a bottomless pit. I’m not worried about you not having an appetite.”

Hawks can’t deny that, so he just hums noncommittally and continues digging into the food, wings fluttering happily behind him. He steals another peek at Touya, who’s now scrolling through his phone with a passive expression on his face, and a sudden wave of adoration hits him like a freight train.

No one’s ever cared enough about him to worry over him like this. He was a pro hero, the darling of the Hero Commission, the man too fast for his own good. A rising star, the symbol of perfection. No one bothered to ask if he was eating enough, or getting enough sleep, or even just how he felt in general. 

He was an untouchable object , one who didn’t have mortal weaknesses like hunger or fatigue or loneliness. That was his curse, the idea of Hawks that had been sold to the public. They knew him as a hero, nothing more, nothing less. Much like the heroes he used to watch on TV, he was just a fictional character. 

The Commission (and the public, if he was being honest) only cared as long as his hero rank was trending upwards and his stats were favorable. He was a tool, a weapon to be used. Not someone to be loved. 

But Touya has never once asked about his hero ranking. He’s never once gushed over the stories from his patrols or asked about what missions he was working on. Those details aren’t important to him. He doesn’t ask for autographs or pictures, and he’s never once tried to touch his feathers without permission like everyone else. 

What Touya does do, however, is lecture him about how canned coffee doesn’t count as breakfast. He admonishes him about skipping meals and relying on quick, unhealthy take out rather than cooking food for himself. He grumbles when he works double shifts or is up late finishing up a mission just to return to the office early the next morning. He’s the only one that’s ever treated him like he was human . 

Touya may administer care in a way most people wouldn’t understand, coming off as crude and even insulting at times, but the intentions were crystal clear. At least, they were to Hawks. His little fugitive worried about him, wanted to take care of him, even if he’d adamantly fight the accusation to his dying breath.

Finishing off the food, even the vegetables after Touya pointedly cocked an eyebrow in their direction, he closes the container and tosses it in the trash. “Ready, hot stuff?” 

He stands, securing his wallet, phone, and keys in the zippered pockets of his flight suit. Outside, the sun is just about to start setting, already bathing the sky in a pinkish-orange glow. 

“Sure, where’re you taking me this time, Birdy?” Touya leans into the hero when he comes around the desk, snaking his arms around Touya’s waist to pull him close. 

Hawks smirks mischievously as he reaches around the side of his desk to press a hidden button. Above them, the top of the honeycombed ceiling lifts and opens to the sky above. 

Touya’s eyes snap open wide as he puts the pieces together. “Oh no. No no no. Fuck no.” Despite his protests, he clings to the hero, arms wrapping around his neck and fingers digging into the collar of his jacket. 

“Baby…look at me.” Touya lifts his head from where he has it buried in the crook of Hawks neck. “We won’t do this unless you want to. I would never make you do anything you don’t want to do. But if you can trust me…” A soft kiss on his jaw. “I’d like to show you something important to me.”

 

***********************************

 

“I’d like to show you something important to me.”

The meaning isn’t lost on Touya. Hawks wants to give him a piece of his story, and wants to pay Touya back for breaking down and revealing so many truths about himself. And in that moment, he realizes he wants this piece of the hero for himself. He wants to do this for Hawks.

Maybe…maybe if I do this for him, it’ll be enough for him to stay.

He gulps but nods hesitantly. A wide smile splits the hero’s face, his eyes twinkling in excitement. Touya tries to stamp down the fluttering in his chest, the wave of pride flowing through him. He put that smile there. That expression, that excitement, was because of him. 

“Ready, baby?” The hero’s voice is velvety smooth right next to his ear, and Touya shivers as his skin breaks out into goosebumps. He buries his face into Hawks neck and squeezes his arms tighter as he nods again. 

“I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall, Touya.”

Without any more warning, Hawks shoots straight up and Touya feels his stomach lurch from the sudden weightlessness. He gasps, cursing under his breath and squeezing his eyes shut as he feels them leave the warmth of the office for the slightly cooler air outside. 

He can feel the muscles on Hawks back flex and move in time with the flap of his wings. The hero nudges him. “You can wrap your legs around my waist if you want. It might be more comfortable.”

Touya does so without a word, clinging to the hero like a koala bear. He focuses on his breathing, forcing the air out and back in again in controlled motions. He can smell Hawks cologne and he nuzzles in closer, chasing the familiar scent like it’s his own form of a security blanket. 

“You’re doing so good.” A kiss to his temple and… oh . The change is instant as warmth radiates through his chest at the soft praise. Hawks is proud of him, and he likes that. A lot. His hold on the hero relaxes fractionally. 

“That’s it. I’ve got you.” Touya’s breathing evens out, focus turning to the strong arms enveloping him. “You’re missing the view, firecracker.” A kiss pressed to the side of his head, mouth lingering there. 

“I - I can’t…” He shakes his head against Hawks neck, eyes still scrunched shut.

Hawks arm rubs up and down his back. “I won’t force you, but I think you can. You’re so strong, Touya. You can do this, I believe in you.”

He believes in me. I have to show him he can believe in me. I have to show him I can be strong enough for him.

Touya slowly lifts his head from the crook of Hawks neck, following the line of his face until his forehead rests against the hero’s, eyes still closed. “That’s it, baby. I’m right here.” 

“If you drop me, I’ll fucking kill you,” he bites out, voice shaking slightly so it sounds like more of a plea than the threat he intended it to be. He takes a deep breath in and out.

Hawks chuckles and kisses the tip of his nose. “Noted. Now open those big, beautiful eyes. Just start by focusing on me if you need to.”

Another deep breath in and out. Touya opens his eyes slowly, meeting golden irises. He feels his muscles relax further as he holds Hawks intense gaze. Nothing exists outside of those eyes. Hawks looks at him with such unyielding confidence, swirling between the yellows and oranges, that he wonders why he’s even scared to begin with.

Hawks believes in me. I can do this. I’m strong enough. 

He counts down in his head, three two one, before he turns to look ahead of them. All the oxygen leaves his lungs in an instant, his mouth falling open. He doesn’t even register the height at which they’re flying, all fear leaking out of him as he takes in the view. 

A mosaic of colors greets him against the dark metals and asphalt of the city below. Blues mix with reds to bathe everything in sight in a purplish-pink glow. The air itself seems to be colored by the sun’s retreating rays. Down below, he can see headlights of cars, lights turning on and off in office buildings and apartments. In the distance, the harbor stretches out into the expansive sea.

“It’s…it’s beautiful,” he breathes. 

“Yeah,” a kiss on the side of his head, “it is. Nothing beats a bird's eye view.” He can hear the smile in Hawks voice, and he can’t help it when his lips curl up in response.

He doesn’t even notice when his hands slowly uncurl from the hero’s neck and come to rest lazily on his shoulders. “I can’t believe you get to see this all the time.”

“I’ll bring you up here anytime you want, hot stuff.” They fly for a few moments in silence, Touya completely enraptured when the hero’s voice breaks through. “Wanna try something kinda crazy?”

Touya’s heart beats wildly in his chest as he turns to study Hawks face. His eyes are imploring, pinned solely on him, hesitant but hopeful. The wind softly blows his hair out of his face and the sun’s rays bathe him in an ethereal glow. Looking like that, there’s no way Touya can deny a single thing Hawks wants from him. He would burn the whole world to the ground if the hero so much as asked him to. 

“How crazy are we talking?”

“Would you like to fly?”

Touya rolls his eyes. “We are flying, birdbrain.”

“No,” he chuckles, playfully knocking their heads together, “I mean…like, without me.” Touya sees some of Hawks feathers detach from his wings and swirl around to the front. “With my feathers.”

Touya’s eyes go wide as reality slams home. “Oh. I…I don’t know…”

“You don’t have to!” Hawks quickly cuts him off, voice reassuring. “It was just an idea but don’t feel like you have to. I don’t want you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

But although his body is tense with fear, Touya can’t deny that his heart is pounding with adrenaline at the thought of flying on his own, weightless above the world. The rush in his blood reminds him of the high he gets while training, and he wants to chase that feeling. 

“Let’s do it.” His voice is sure now, shaking not with uncertainty but with excitement. The hero must see it in his eyes because Hawks beams in response before kissing him hard on the mouth.

“ God, you’re so fucking incredible.” Feathers start weaving in between them, laying flush with his clothes. “Whenever you’re ready, you can let go. I’ve got you.”

Touya slowly uncurls his legs from around Hawks waist. Breathe in, out. In, out. “You’re going to be okay losing this many feathers?” he asks, noticing how much smaller Hawks wings are now. 

“I’ll be fine, baby. I promise.” Touya nods, content with the reassurance.

Okay. This is okay. Everything’s going to be okay. 

He takes his hands off the hero’s shoulders and gives him another nod. Hawks slowly lets go of his waist. Touya grits his teeth and pushes off of the hero, putting a couple feet in between them.

“ Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit .” He flails at the sudden loss of contact. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to just fling himself away from his only lifeline this far up in the air. “ Fuck, fuck, fuck, ” he grits out. 

His stomach rolls and he breathes through his nose to try and stamp down the nausea. The feathers stay steady against his clothes, balancing him out until he’s gliding along on his stomach.

“I’ve got you,” Hawks calls from the left of him. “Try to relax, baby.” The hero’s soothing tone lulls him into a sense of calm, his muscles relaxing against the supple, red feathers when he realizes they’re easily carrying his weight. 

He stretches his arms out wide on either side of him, a smile slowly growing on his face. The wind blows his hair back as they glide along together. A laugh bubbles in his throat until he can’t contain it anymore. 

“This is amazing!” He shouts it out into the air and lets his laughter overtake him. If he were to look to his left, he’d see Hawks staring at him in wonder.

When the sun finally disappears on the horizon and constellations start to appear in the night sky above them, the feathers gently lead him back to Hawks. Touya buries his hands in the hero’s hair as Hawks wraps his arms around his waist, pulling him into a heated kiss. Adrenaline mixes with desire as the kiss turns greedy, Touya nipping at Hawks bottom lip and sucking it into his mouth. The hero groans, hands digging into Touya’s hip like he’s holding on for dear life.

“Thank you,” Hawks breathes against his mouth when they break apart. He kisses the corner of his mouth, then the tip of his nose, then trails up his cheekbone. “You did so good, baby. Thank you for letting me share this with you.”

Touya doesn’t unwrap himself from the hero when he feels them touch down onto the balcony of Hawks office. Instead, he lets the hero trap him up against the glass wall of the building as he claims his lips again, eyes fluttering closed.

“When I was a kid, I wasn’t allowed outside,” Hawks starts when he breaks away. Touya’s breath hitches at the sudden confession. He listens reverently, hungry for every single detail Hawks will give him on how he became the man he is today. 

“My father wasn’t a good man. He never wanted a kid, thought it tied him down, and never let me forget it. He’d lock me in my room for days on end, only opening the door when he remembered to feed me.” Touya freezes in his hold, locking eyes with gold. “My mom would let me out when he wasn’t home, whenever she was lucid enough to remember I existed anyway. Whenever that happened, I’d escape and fly into the city.”

Touya brings his hand up to the side of his face in silent support, and the hero nuzzles into it, turning his head to place a kiss on his palm. 

“I would spend hours just sitting on top of buildings, watching people go about their lives. It all felt so surreal, to see how many people just didn’t notice what I was going through. No one could see me, they just passed by without a second glance. When I’d get home, my father always knew I’d been gone. I don’t know how, but he did, and I’d get beaten and locked away for it every time. But it was always worth it. To feel alive for just a little bit.”

“ Birdy… ” Touya’s voice is soft, heart breaking. He pictures a small, child-sized Hawks, afraid and cowering like he himself had done so many times. Like he remembers Shouto doing. Their stories were so similar yet so different, he absently wonders if it was fated that they found each other. 

Hawks releases a shaky breath, eyes closing briefly before opening and focusing on him again. Searching, contemplating. 

“I always saw heroes on TV and wished they were real. At the time, I thought they were all just fictional characters. No one was actually out there saving people. There was no one who could save me.” He pauses, and Touya can tell he’s hesitating. 

He kisses him softly. “I’m listening.”

Hawks stares into his eyes a moment longer before sighing, resigned. “One day, my father never came home. Apparently, he’d been caught shoplifting.” Another pause. “By Endeavor.”

Touya stiffens in his arms as his world screeches to a sudden halt. His heart jackhammers in his chest and he can feel the panic claw its way up his throat, rendering him speechless. 

Endeavor saved Hawks. 

He recalls a seemingly innocent conversation they had a couple weeks ago, when Touya asked him why Hawks had wanted to become a hero. 

“Someone saved me, and it made me realize I wanted to be that person for other people.”

Someone. Saved. Me. 

I wanted to be that person.

Hawks is begging him to calm down, trying to console him, but the rush in his ears drowns it out until all he hears is static. Everything in front of his eyes blurs until he’s floating in an endless, black void.

The reason why Hawks wanted to become a hero was because of…Endeavor?

“Oh god, I’m gonna be sick.” He struggles out of Hawks hold, batting his hand away when the hero reaches for him. He curls in on himself as a wave of nausea floods him and sinks to the floor. A small trash can is placed next to him and he reaches for it without looking up, pulling it close to his chest.

He can’t afford to face Hawks right now. He doesn’t want to see the concern on his face, the pain in his eyes. Pain that Touya selfishly put there. All because he’s not strong enough to face even the mention of his father.  

He closes his eyes and leans his head back on the cool glass wall of the building, forcing himself to breathe evenly through his nose. He swallows back the nausea and opens his eyes, the world still spinning violently around him. 

“Are you okay?” Hawks' voice sounds muffled through the pounding in his head, but he can make out the concern, the thinly-veiled panic there. 

He sees a hand reaching for him and he flinches away. “Don’t.”

The hand stops and falls to the side, clenching into a fist. “Touya…”

“Just…” Touya grits out. A deep breath in and out. “Just give me a minute. Please.” His voice cracks at the end. 

He just needs some time to process. He knows he’s being unfair to Hawks. It’s not his fault his father was the one to show up, and Touya knows that Endeavor was a hero to a lot of people, even if he was his own family’s nightmare. 

But the irony of it all, the fact that Endeavor just had to weasel his way into Touya’s life one way or another. It was like the universe itself was laughing at him, reminding him that the past never dies.

“Fuck.” He hits the back of his head off the glass wall. “Fuck.” He does it again, ignoring the pain blossoming at the base of his skull. “Fuck.”

A hand reaches out and grabs onto the collar of his shirt, pulling him away from the wall right before his head hits a third time. He opens his eyes to find Hawks glaring at him, golden eyes like fire burning into him. 

“What the hell, Touya! Stop!” Hawks brings his hand up to the back of Touya’s head, feeling around to make sure he’s not bleeding. “Look, I’m sorry.” His voice sounds wrecked. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s not your fault.” His voice is flat. His hands find his hair and he pulls on the black strands until he feels the pain radiating through his skull. Not enough. Never enough. “It’s not your fault,” he repeats, voice weak.

Gentle hands carefully uncurl his fingers from his hair and hold him around his wrists in a firm grip. “Stop. Please.” Thumbs softly caress his skin in soothing circles. “I can’t watch you hurt yourself.”

Touya whimpers, choking back the sob at the back of his throat. He refuses to cry in front of Hawks. He refuses to give his father that much power over him. He’s already given him too much, already let his memory ruin things. He wouldn’t be surprised if Hawks doesn’t want anything to do with him after seeing how weak he is.

He tosses the trash can to the side before leaning forward where the hero is on his knees, crouched in between Touya’s outstretched legs. He buries his head in Hawks shoulder, hands desperately clawing at his jacket trying to bring him closer. If this was going to be the last time he’d feel the hero’s touch, he was going to savor the moment. 

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted…”

“Birdy. I want to hear it. I want to know everything you’re willing to tell me.” He turns his head and lightly kisses Hawks right below his ear. “It’s my problem. I’m sorry.” He expects Hawks to flinch away, but instead the hero leans into him. Hope springs up in his gut. 

There’s still a chance. I can fix this. I can make him stay. 

“If I would’ve known…”

“ Stop, Hawks.” His words come out too harsh, exhaustion getting the better of him. He tries to soften his voice, breathing in the hero’s scent. It smells like home. “I should’ve reacted better. It was just…a shock. Please. Give me another chance.”

“Baby…” Hawks lifts his chin, eyes boring into his. “I’m not going anywhere.” He kisses him hard on the mouth. All the tension leaves Touya’s body, relief causing his eyes to overflow with tears. “I knew it’d be a hard conversation but I wanted you to know. You deserve to know.”

“I should’ve known, really. I should’ve seen the signs.” Hawks continues, a thumb brushing the wetness from Touya’s cheek. “Looking back now, I see it so clearly. In the way he talks to people, the way he acts. But back then, it just didn’t click. I think I was desperate to believe someone would come for me, and heroes were always the good guys, you know.” 

Touya scoffs, nuzzling in closer. “The world’s not all black and white, pretty bird. But it’s not your fault. Endeavor is a…good hero. As far as getting shit done, anyways. No matter what he did to me or our family, it doesn’t change the fact that he saved you. If I was in your shoes, I probably would’ve looked up to him too.”

Hawks shakes his head, his breath hot on Touya’s skin. “Not anymore.”

“Don't change your story for me, Hawks.” He lifts his head to look the hero in the eye. “He’s the reason you wanted to be a hero. That’s important to you. I just…I wish he didn’t have such a hold over my life. Even in this…” he gestures between them. “He can’t help butting into my fucking business. It just threw me, is all. I’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.” He threads his fingers into Hawks hair, gently scratching at his scalp. 

Hawks eyes flutter closed at the touch. When he opens them back up, his gaze is sure, serious. “He is the reason I became a hero, but not the reason I am one now. I don’t want to be the kind of hero who looks up to someone like that.” He leans forward, ghosting his lips over Touya’s. “I want to be the kind of hero that makes sure what happened to you never happens to anyone else.”

 

***********************************

 

“There’s no fucking way mint chocolate chip is your favorite ice cream flavor.” Touya looks at the scene with mild disgust. 

They’re on the roof of some random apartment building that, according to Hawks, has the ‘best view in all of Fukuoka’, where the hero has his idea of a ‘picnic’ set up. Which really means a bucket of KFC chicken, two tubs of ice cream, and a bottle of chilled champagne spread out on a blanket with fake candles. Apparently he had tried bringing up actual candles but the wind was constantly blowing at this altitude, so he gave up and got battery-operated ones instead. 

A for effort, I guess.

If Touya was being honest, the butterflies hadn’t stopped fluttering around his chest since they’d flown up here and he’d seen the display. Part of him wanted to throw up from how soft and romantic it was, while the other part of him couldn’t keep the blush from spreading up his face and painting his ears in a crimson red. He swears his heart is about to fly out of his chest and chuck itself off the building.

The only thing wrong with the picture was the disgusting tub of greenish goo sitting next to his far superior chocolate peanut butter cup, threatening to taint the entire night.

“It’s amazing! You just don’t have any taste.”

“It’s literally just toothpaste posing as ice cream.” He huffs as he sits down, as far away from the monstrosity as possible, and lays back against the pile of pillows bordering the plush, plaid blanket. “You’re a psychopath. It’s the only explanation.”

Hawks plops down on the blanket and leans over him, trapping Touya between his arms. “I’m your psychopath, though.” 

Touya’s brain short circuits as Hawks smirks down at him, those piercing gold eyes taking him apart piece by piece with the promise of putting him back together again. “Mine, huh?” His voice comes out way more breathless than he’d like.

Hawks dips down, capturing his lips. His tongue swipes along Touya’s lower lip, coaxing his mouth open. He swallows Hawks moan as he finds the metal ball of his piercing, swirling his own tongue around it.

It’s no secret that Hawks loves his piercings. It’s not hard to put together when his eyes flit straight to the metal in his face whenever they’re around each other. Touya supposes it’s not too unusual, having a bird quirk and all, that Hawks is drawn to shiny things. If the hero hadn’t started pursuing him before this hobby of his started, he’d think Hawks was with him for the piercings themselves. 

Hawks breaks their kiss, looking down at him and softly brushing Touya’s hair out of his face. “Yours. Always.”

Touya swallows back the lump in his throat, looking away. “You gonna feed me or what?” He can feel Hawks studying him but thankfully he doesn’t pursue it further, instead pecking him on the lips once more before sitting back up to organize the food in front of them.

Yours. Always.

The words swirl in his head over and over again. The last couple weeks have been a dream. The way Hawks has treated him, showed how much he cares. It’s been like something out of a fairytale. But there’s still that malicious voice in the back of his mind, reminding him of the fragility of everything they’ve built.

That voice reminds him that he’s on borrowed time. That this relationship with Hawks is doomed to fail. Hawks is a hero, he has a job to do, morals to uphold, and Touya doesn’t fit into that world. At some point, everything is going to come to a head and he’s going to have to leave or pay for everything he’s done. He’s a criminal, after all. Some would even say he’s a villain. And everyone knows nothing good could come from a hero and a villain falling in love.

Wait…falling in love? No. No, I can’t…

He has a sinking feeling in his stomach as he watches Hawks cheerfully pour the champagne and extend a glass out to him, eyes bright with the same emotion trying to force its way to the surface. An emotion that shouldn’t be there, but is. As clear as day. 

I can’t. But…

He takes the glass, forcing a shaky smile on his face. Hawks clinks their glasses together before taking a sip, turning to look out at the cityscape in front of them. 

The champagne glass remains suspended in mid-air. Touya just can’t take his eyes off of him. Hawks is still undoubtedly the most beautiful person he’s ever seen. Even with his swollen lips, tousled hair, and rumpled flight suit. 

Hawks looks back at him, and the soft look on his face has Touya falling, careening through the air, on a crash course with the earth, where he’ll inevitably lay in broken pieces. Touya raises the glass to his lips, the effervescent liquid like static on his tongue. 

But…maybe it wouldn’t be so bad…

Notes:

The way I could SOB over these characters is insane. They're real for me, I swear.

I mentioned in the much earlier chapters that we'd see Touya's reaction to his father at some point, and this was one tiny, tiny piece of that. There's a lot of buried trauma there and a LOT of repressed feelings. We've only scratched the surface folks, so buckle up.

Also, I wanted to draw attention to some kinda iffy, toxic characteristics of how Hawks & Touya feel about love in general. We all know from canon how traumatized these two are, so it shouldn't come as a surprise. But Hawks definitely doesn't see himself as a person to an extent, so he's beside himself when it comes to Touya actually treating him like an equal, and he doesn't think he deserves to be cared for. On the other hand, Touya has a nasty habit of thinking he has to GIVE something in order for someone to love him. I touched on it a little last chapter then again in this one. Obviously, Hawks would NEVER want to take advantage of that, but at this point he doesn't understand how Touya thinks, so it'll be interesting to see what happens when he realizes how Touya feels and why he's so quick to agree with anything Hawks wants to do. He also feels like he has to shove his own feelings to the side to show he's not weak, which might be a problem in the future. (that's the only hint you'll get from me)

also, anyone who likes mint chocolate chip ice cream can't be trusted. I'll stand by that statement til the day I die. Still love all you psychopaths though. <3

Next up, Hawks gets thrown in the deep end. Can he survive an encounter with a feral Todoroki?

Chapter 16

Summary:

Hawks has an encounter.

Notes:

This is not a drill! I know it's only been like two days since I last posted but apparently the creative juices are flowing because I wrote this chapter in like a few hours and just couldn't hold on any longer. Hope y'all enjoy! <3

You: did u get everything i asked for?

Pretty bird: yes ur highness! It’s all ready for u 

Touya rolls his eyes fondly, the corners of his mouth quirking up. 

You: good. omw up now.

When Hawks (finally) asked him to come over to his apartment …no, sorry, penthouse (because of course he has a penthouse) … for a ‘dinner and a movie’ night, he didn’t think this was how it was going to go. But after Hawks mentioned that dinner would consist of take out, for the fifth fucking night in a row, because he didn’t have any food at home, Touya had angrily scribbled out a list and demanded he go grocery shopping.

He honest to God had no idea how the bird survived up until this point. It baffled his fucking mind. His diet consisted of canned coffee, KFC, and pre-packaged, frozen meals that looked more like slop than actual food. Not to mention the fact that he regularly skipped meals altogether, blaming his bad habits on his hectic schedule. It’d be a miracle if he didn’t just drop out of the sky one day from malnutrition. 

Yet, despite eating like a child with no parental supervision, the asshole still managed to look like a real life Adonis. Meanwhile, Touya ate three balanced meals a day, worked out regularly, and looked like he could cosplay as Jack Skellington. Life was so unfair.

So, surprise! He was now in charge of dinner, and he was determined to blow birdy’s socks off. Not that it’d be hard. He’d learned over the past few months that Hawks is notoriously easy to please when it came to food, as long as he didn’t have to make it himself. 

He shoves his phone back in his pocket, glancing at the other ‘surprise’ on his left. 

Said surprise looks around the opulent lobby as they wait for the elevator. “Why’s everything so fancy?”

He sighs, distracted and on edge. “I don’t know, Sho. Being a hero comes with a big paycheck. You know that.” He hits the elevator button again, grumbling under his breath. What the hell’s taking so long. 

So, he hadn’t exactly told Hawks he’d be bringing Shouto with him. His brother has been an off-limits conversation topic up to this point, and Hawks, thankfully, has been more than patient and understanding of Touya’s hesitation in granting him access to that part of his life. 

He’s grateful, really, that the hero hasn’t pushed it further, but it’s been eating at him recently. The feeling that he’s living in two different realities, keeping the two more important people in his life separate from each other.

Part of him must know he’d never have the guts to take this plunge, crossing that unspoken boundary he’d put up, unless it was an impulsive decision on his end, so at the last second, he’d asked Shouto to join him, knowing damn well the kid wouldn’t say no, and now, he was stuck in this predicament unless he completely backed out of the date, which he couldn’t bring himself to do. 

The buzzing in his head grows louder. His foot rapidly taps on the marble floor, the sound echoing throughout the cavernous room. He picks at his cuticles, needing to keep his hands busy while they stand and wait for the slowest elevator in fucking existence. 

“Why are you so nervous?”

“I’m not nervous,” he bites out, sighing in relief when the elevator doors finally open. He pushes Shouto inside and hits the button for the top floor, typing in the keycode Hawks gave him when prompted.

“You’re sweating,” Shouto deadpans. “It’s gross.”

Touya wipes the back of his hand across his forehead and, sure enough, it comes away with beads of sweat clinging to his skin. “Shut up.” He smacks Shouto lightly on the back of the head. 

“Ow!” The little drama queen rubs at the assaulted spot, eyes narrowed up at him. “ Asshole,” he grumbles under his breath. 

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” Shouto rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. 

“That’s what I thought.” Touya’s foot keeps tapping as he watches the floor count increase. 

When they finally stop at the 36th floor, the doors open into a private foyer with dark gray marble floors. On one wall there’s a table with a decorative flower display and a bowl of what looks like pine cones that smell like a bunch of different spices. Near the door is a small, sunken genken. Framed pictures of Hawks line the walls on both sides. Vain little peacock. 

“Shoes off, punk.” Touya takes off his backpack and digs for Shouto’s house slippers, happy he had the foresight to grab them since there was no way the kid was fitting into one of the adult-sized pairs sitting out. Apparently Birdy didn’t have many guests. Or at least, he didn’t have many kid-sized guests. 

Taking a final deep breath, steeling his nerves, he rings the doorbell. He can hear shuffling from the other side before the door is pulled open. Hawks greets him with a wide smile, wings fluttering happily behind him. The display instantly brings a smile to his face. The hero’s so focused on Touya, he doesn’t see the pair of green eyes peeking out warily from behind Touya’s pant leg.

“Baby! You look so good, I could - “ 

He sees the exact moment it registers that they’re not alone. Hawks eyes meet green and Touya can see his expression change in stages. First comes confusion, then recognition, disbelief, and finally understanding. 

His eyes fly back up to Touya’s. “You…y-you…”

Touya looks away shyly as a blush creeps up his cheeks, focusing on Shouto’s mop of black hair instead. He cards his hand through the strands. “Don’t prove me wrong, birdy.”

“I-I would never.” Hawks' voice is suspiciously wobbly, and when Touya looks back up at him, his eyes are suspiciously glassy. 

Hawks opens the door wider, moving to the side to make room for them to enter, and clears his throat. “Please, come in. It’s nice to meet you, little man.”

“For the record,” Shouto pipes up as they move into the apartment, “just because he trusts you doesn’t mean I do.”

“ Dude…”

“No, it’s okay.” Hawks puts up both his hands in a placating gesture. “I get it. I’ll just earn your trust the same way I did your brother’s.” He flashes Shouto a wink and a smile.

“Good luck with that,” the kid grumbles, dodging away from Touya’s hand as he tries to smack him across the back of the head again.

Hawks turns to Touya, keeping his voice low. “So that means he knows…that I know, right?”

“ He’s standing right here and yes, he knows.”

Hawks grimaces. “R-right, sorry…Shouto.” He looks to Touya for help, chuckling nervously. 

Birdy’s really batting a thousand. Maybe I should help him out. 

It really is fun to watch the hero sweat a little though. Because of a nine year old , nonetheless. So, in the spirit of keeping Hawks planet-sized ego in check, he just looks on in amusement, biting his lip to keep from laughing. 

“Hey, uh, why don’t you go pick out a movie while your brother and I start dinner. They’re in the cabinet under the TV. If you don’t see something you like, I have Netflix and Hulu too.”

Shouto, seemingly placated with the responsibility Hawks gave him, shuffles off to the living room. Touya doesn’t even have time to blink before he’s being dragged into the hallway, just out of view of the living room, and pushed up against the wall. Hawks lips crash against his, devouring him like a starved man. 

Touya pants when he finally pulls away. “Happy to see me, birdy?” he teases. He drops his hands to Hawks waist and moves up, underneath his shirt, nails lightly scratching at the exposed skin. Hawks shivers in response. 

“You really trust me?” Touya’s hands pause and the teasing smirk falls from his face at the solemn tone in the hero’s voice. Those golden eyes pin on him, intense and penetrating, and he’s lost in their orbit, like he’s being swallowed by the sun. Hawks grips his chin, fingers trembling. “You’re sure about that?” The severity of the question hangs heavy in the air around them.

Touya gulps, heart pounding in his chest, breathing ragged. “Yes, I’m sure.” He strains against Hawks grip, attempting to close the distance between them.

Hawks hand moves from his chin to cup his face, thumb caressing his cheekbone. Touya can feel his hot breath on his face as he moves closer. His eyes are unwavering, determined. “I won’t give you a reason to doubt me, Touya. I promise you.”

“I believe you,” he breaths, the admission snapping the growing tension in two. Touya lunges forward that last couple of inches, closing the distance between them and crashing his lips to Hawks. One arm snakes around the hero’s waist to meld their bodies together, his other hand wrapping around the back of his neck to keep him in place. 

Hawks hand moves from his face to thread through his hair and pull, just hard enough to make Touya moan against his mouth. His senses go haywire, filled with Hawks and Hawks alone, until he’s all he can see, feel, hear. Circulating in his blood like poison, or maybe a cure.

“Hawks…I - “

“Excuse me.”

The interruption startles Touya so much he pushes Hawks away from him, the hero hitting the opposite wall with a violent ‘thud’. “Shit!” 

Touya’s heart is pounding as he turns to see Shouto staring at him, bored expression on his face. “For fucks sake, Shouto. What?!”

Hawks groans as he straightens, wings curling inward. Touya winces, muttering an apology under his breath.

“Where’s the bathroom?”

Hawks points down the hall. “First door on the right.” Shouto walks between them and disappears inside the bathroom, closing the door behind him without another word.

Touya sighs. “You okay?”

Hawks nods, rolling his shoulders once. “All good. We should probably…”

“Yeah. Dinner. Right.” He exits the hall and moves towards the kitchen, taking in the penthouse for the first time.

The kitchen itself is massive, with its stark white cabinets and black marble counters, with an island in the center. There’s an array of appliances on the counters themselves. Everything from a food processor, rice cooker, juicer, even an expensive espresso machine. There’s no way in hell Hawks uses even half of the equipment here, let alone knows what they’re used for. 

The kitchen is open to the living area, only separated by a large, glass dining room table. The wall facing outside is all glass, with a large double door leading out to a balcony. 

There’s a U-shaped crème colored sofa in the living room facing a massive flat screen TV, with a black entertainment cabinet set underneath. Built-in shelving on the opposite wall of the balcony is filled with succulents and worn books.

He opens the fridge and takes a mental stock of all the ingredients he needs, which really ends up being everything besides the pre-packaged meal boxes, and takes them out as he goes, placing them on the counter. 

Searching through the cabinets, he finds the pots and pans he needs, placing them on the stove, then opens all the drawers until he finds a knife and some cooking utensils. 

When he looks up, Hawks is leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, with a soft smile on his face. “Making yourself at home, firecracker?”

Touya shrugs, a soft blush crawling its way up his neck and spreading across his face. “Maybe. Is that a problem?” He moves over to the sink and starts washing vegetables when strong arms wrap around him from behind. 

Hawks drops a soft kiss to the back of his neck and his breath stutters, heart skipping a beat. “Not at all. I like seeing you here.” He feels his quirk come to life beneath his skin, warmth blossoming in his chest. “Mmm, you’re so warm.” Hawks rests his chin on Touya’s shoulder, watching him work.

He takes more time than is necessary to get everything washed, not wanting to break the spell. Wanting to keep those arms around him for just a moment longer. Clearing his throat, he breaks the soft silence that’s fallen on them. “You sure it’s okay I brought him?”

“Of course, baby.” He can hear the vibrations of Hawks' voice against his back as the hero speaks right into his ear. “I love that you feel comfortable enough to bring him here.”

The bathroom door suddenly opens and Hawks hesitantly steps away, but not before dropping another chaste kiss right under his ear. 

Touya clears his throat and looks towards his brother, who’s now standing in the entrance, narrowing his eyes at them. “What are you staring at?”

“I have questions. For you.” His eyes land on Hawks.

Touya inwardly groans as Shouto walks over to the opposite side of the kitchen island, where three bar stools are placed, and pulls himself up on one. Hawks leans over the island, bracing himself on the counter and nods. “Okay. Shoot.”

Shouto reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. Touya can see the unmistakable chicken scratch of Izuku’s handwriting and he curses under his breath. If the ground could open up right now and swallow him whole, he’d be a happy man. 

“You’re kidding me, right?”

Shouto looks at him as he straightens the paper out, furrowing his brows in confusion. “Why would I be joking? Zuku is counting on me.”

Touya just shakes his head in resignation. Hawks looks on between the two of them with a soft smile and an amused twinkle in his eyes. 

He listens to Shouto rattle off question after question as he cuts up the vegetables, strains the rice and starts the cooker, and separates everything into their respective pots and pans to cook. 

How much control do you have over your feathers? What’s the fastest speed you’ve ever flown at? Do your wings get sore if you fly too long? What weaknesses does your quirk have? How much do your feathers detect? Can you listen in on conversations? How long does it take to grow back damaged feathers? Are your wings and feathers the only aspects of your quirk, or are there other characteristics? 

Hawks takes every question in stride, answering as truthfully and thoroughly as possible, pausing every so often to let Shouto scribble out the answers. 

Touya finds himself listening in as he cooks, curiosity getting the better of him. It’s kind of embarrassing how much he actually doesn’t know about Hawks. He’s just been so caught up in getting to know the man himself - his personality, his likes and dislikes, his aspirations and history. It never really occurred to him that his quirk itself might be an important part of him. After all, Touya’s quirk was the one part of himself he tried to actively hide, so it wasn’t a topic at the front of his mind.

After Shouto finishes writing out the last answer, he nods victoriously, folding the paper and putting it back in his pocket. He looks more at ease, more relaxed now, legs swinging from the stool. “I think that’ll be good enough. He might have follow-up questions though.”

Touya rolls his eyes. He will. He most definitely will.

Hawks nods, flashing his hero smile. “No worries! Just let me know. I don’t mind answering questions for a fan!” He turns towards Touya, eyes widening. “Uh, baby. That’s…a lot of food.”

Touya takes stock of the counters and stove top in front of him. There’s a pot of chicken curry simmering on the stove, a plate piled high of yakitori, a tray of onigiri that he’d just finished up, steamed vegetables in a light teriyaki sauce, breaded pork cutlet still sizzling in the pan, and miso soup cooking in a large pot on the back burner. 

“It’s not all for now. We’re having the yakitori and veggies tonight,” he grumbles as his face heats. He busies himself with checking the pork, turning them in the pan when he finds them to be the perfect golden color. 

“Then why…”

“Make yourself useful and find me some containers to separate all this stuff into.” He avoids the hero’s eyes. Thankfully Hawks does as he’s told, turning to one of the cabinets and taking out a handful of plastic containers and lids, placing them on the counter in front of him. 

“What’s all this for, Touya?” Hawks asks softly, pleading with him. 

Touya ignores him again, scooping half of the steamed veggies into a serving bowl. “Shouto, can you take these over to the table, please?” He slides the yakitori, veggies and a bowl of steamed rice over to the end of the counter. Shouto silently gets up from his seat.

“ Touya.”

A hand curls around Touya’s wrist, pausing his movements. His eyes fly up to Hawks, muscles tensing. He feels like he could snap at any moment, pressure pushing down on him from all directions until he can’t breathe. The way Hawks looks at him, searching for an answer, makes him feel vulnerable, flayed open for all to see. 

He swallows, looking back down to where Hawks has a hold of him, and takes shallow breaths through his nose. The silence grows between them, only broken by the sound of Shouto setting everything on the table, then the scratching of wooden legs across the floor as he pulls out a chair to sit. Hawks gently squeezes, imploring.

Touya sighs in resignation. “You’re always eating like shit. I just…you need to eat better. So…I figured…” He gestures at the pots and pans around them.

He can feel his heart beat pounding in his ears as the entire room goes dead silent. Touya can’t bring himself to look up. Even Shouto stays quiet, and he can’t even imagine the look he must have on his face, to see Touya so uncharacteristically flustered and on edge. It’s humiliating. 

Did I do something wrong? Should I not have done so much? This was stupid. I shouldn’t have just assumed…I should’ve asked. I wasted his money on all this food and he’s not going to like it…how stupid can I possibly -

“ Thank you,” Hawks breathes out, his hand leaving Touya’s wrist to grab him by the waist and pull him into his side. He leans in to drop a kiss under his ear and whisper, “This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me. I really appreciate it, baby. So, thank you.”

Touya lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, the relief he feels overwhelming him. He nods dumbly. “Yeah, well, you’re welcome or whatever.” His voice is shaking and he can feel his eyes start to burn.

I did good. He appreciates it.

The fluttering in his chest only gets worse when Hawks chuckles and shakes his head, dropping another kiss right below his jawline before pulling away to join Shouto at the table. He turns off the pork and covers the rest of the food so it can cool before he portions everything out. 

He goes to wash his hands in the sink, taking a few moments to collect himself. He bites back a smile as he dries his hands.

I did good.

Dinner goes pretty well, all things considered. Hawks, of course, can’t stop gushing about how good the food is, and even though Touya knows that’s not much of a compliment considering what his taste buds are used to, he can’t help but smile proudly and squirm at the praise. 

Shouto eats mostly in silence, looking back and forth between Touya and Hawks with an inquisitive look on his face, so Touya should’ve known what was coming.

“So, what are your in-intentions with my brother?” Shouto sets his chopsticks down and interlaces his fingers on top of the table like he’s some sort of yakuza boss looking to dole out punishments to his lackeys. 

Touya rolls his eyes. “Seriously, Sho?”

Shouto just shrugs, not taking his eyes off Hawks. “Kacchan said it’s what I should ask to see if Hawks is an asshole or not.”

Hawks, of course, looks unbothered and takes it in stride, not missing a beat. He puts down his chopsticks as well, giving Shouto his undivided attention. “Well, Shouto. My intentions are to make him happy and keep both of you safe. I only want what’s best for him and I want to keep spending time with him.” He spares Touya a glance, smirking when he sees his cheeks turn crimson.

Shouto nods, pleased with the answer. “Okay, but just so you know, I’m more important. Touya-nii said so.”

“I know.” Hawks smiles at him, eyes amused. “I’d be upset if you weren’t more important. You’re his family. I don’t want to change that.”

Shouto relaxes a little, picking his chopsticks back up and pushing the food around his plate. “Touya says that most heroes are opportunistic assholes who don’t care about anyone but themselves.” He repeats the words like a mantra, as if he’s heard them a thousand times. Hawks cocks a brow at Touya, biting back a smile. “What makes you any different?”

Hawks clears his throat, expression shifting back to answer Shouto seriously. “Unfortunately, it’s true that there are heroes out there that are in it for the wrong reasons. You know that better than anyone.” Shouto solemnly nods in agreement. “I personally don’t care about my rating. In my ideal world, we wouldn’t need as many heroes because there wouldn’t be as many villains. The reason I want to be a hero is to make that happen, to make the world an easier place to live in for everyone.”

“Kinda like All Might,” Shouto responds, brows pinched in thought.

“Uh, yeah...” Hawks frowns slightly, like he’d never thought to make that comparison before. “I guess it does sound a little bit like his ‘Symbol of Peace’ thing, doesn’t it?” He chuckles nervously.

Shouto nods. “Well, All Might’s cool, so I guess you are too. If you want to be like him.”

Hawks blinks a few times before huffing out a laugh. “Thanks, little man.” He looks a little lost in thought, so Touya decides to step in and save him. 

“If that’s all, eat your food, Sho. Before it gets cold.” he chides. He picks up his glass of water and takes a drink.

“Are you two gonna make babies?”

Touya sputters, inhaling a bunch of water. He coughs violently, chest burning. Hawks gets up from his chair and pats him on the back, offering him a napkin. “What the hell , Shouto?” He rasps out, breathing heavily as he gulps air back into his lungs.

The boy shrugs again. “Kacchan said that’s what happens when people spend a lot of time together and kiss a bunch.”

“ Kacchan needs to learn to shut the fuck up.” Touya grumbles, throat still burning. 

I’m gonna kill that little explosive spiky-haired idiot.

“Well…” Hawks goes back to his seat and clears his throat. Touya looks over to see the hero…blushing? His eyes widen at the realization that this might be the first time he’s seen the hero actually flustered. If it wasn’t partially at his expense, he’d find it amusing to watch him squirm in his seat as he avoids Touya’s eyes. “That’s not exactly how it works, Shouto.” He finally looks over to Touya, eyes widening fractionally, pleading for him to step in.

“Sho. We’re both guys. Where the fuck do you actually think a baby’d come out of?”

“I don’t know . Your b - “

“Don’t even finish that thought, I swear to God.” Touya covers his face with his hands. Hawks snorts, bringing a hand up over his mouth to try and contain his laughter. “Listen, kid. We’re not having this conversation now. But no, Hawks and I aren’t having any babies. Got it?”

Shouto sighs as if he’s disappointed. “Fine. I’d like to be an uncle someday, though.”

“Yeah. Well. You’re gonna have to leave that up to Fumi and Nat.”

An awkward silence falls on the table. Hawks shifts in his seat uncomfortably. 

Touya hadn’t brought up their siblings in a very long time. It was sort of an unspoken rule in their house. Touya still felt bad that they were stuck at home, and Shouto honestly didn’t have much of a relationship with either of them, being isolated for most of his childhood. Touya wasn’t even sure the boy missed them at all, which was tragic in its own way.

They finish dinner quickly, Touya getting up first to clear his and Shouto’s plate. Hawks follows behind him, setting his empty plate in the sink. “Thank you for dinner, baby.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re welcome, pretty bird.” He kisses the hero on the cheek. “Shouto, did you pick a movie earlier or were you too busy being a creep?”

“I wasn’t being a creep! I didn’t know where the bathroom was. Not my fault you guys were sucking face.” He huffs and jumps down from his seat, walking over to the TV and grabbing the remote. “All your movies suck, so I found something on Netflix.” He plops down on the couch.

“Little shit,” Touya grumbles under his breath. Strong arms wrap around him from behind. Hawks chuckles, his breath hot on the back of Touya’s neck. His eyes flutter closed at the sensation.

“He reminds me of a certain someone I know,” Hawks teases.

Touya turns his head to shoot Hawks a dirty look. “Careful, birdy.”

Hawks just smiles and nips at his earlobe. A shock zips through him, warmth building in his gut. “Come on, firecracker. We don’t want to keep the boss waiting.”

Shouto had apparently landed on the movie ‘Frozen’. Touya couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the obvious choice. He knew, if Shouto’s rapt attention was anything to go by, he’d be seeing this movie a lot in the future. 

Currently, he’s snuggled into Hawks side, soft feathers at his back from Hawks wing wrapping around him. His fingers twitch, itching to reach out and card through the thick, red feathers.

Hawks breath comes hot against his ear. “You can, you know. As long as you don’t pull too hard or anything, you won’t hurt me.”

Touya reaches out hesitantly, burying his hand in the feathers and sweeping downwards. They’re softer than he expected, especially the ones near the base of his wing. 

At his side, Hawks shudders, huffing out a nervous laugh. “Okay, that’s…that feels really good, actually.” He squirms closer, leaning into Touya’s touch.

Touya smirks mischievously as he continues to stroke up and down gently. “Something wrong, pretty bird?” He heats up his hand just a fraction, and Hawks gasps, letting out a soft trilling sound. Touya’s mouth opens in wonder, hands pausing. 

What was that sound?

Hawks eyes widen, a hand coming up to cover his mouth, shaking his head subtly. “ I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” His words are muffled, but the message is clear. That wasn’t a sound he was used to making, it was special.  

I made him make that sound. It’s mine. All mine. No one else can make him make that sound.

The thought makes him feel… powerful. The adrenaline thrums in his veins, and a strong desire to hear that sound again suddenly crashes through him like a tidal wave.

He glances over at Shouto, who’s completely engrossed in the movie. Completely oblivious to the two of them. 

Touya crowds Hawks space and places his hand around the bird’s throat, thumb caressing up and down in circular motions. “Do that again,” his voice low and demanding, eyes slightly manic. 

Hawks breath hitches. His hand drops from his mouth. “I-I can’t. I’m not supposed to…”

“Fuck that. That was a good sound, right? You made that sound because what I did felt good?” Hawks swallows, pausing before he nods slowly. “Then sing for me, pretty bird.” 

Touya buries his hand in Hawks feathers again, heating up and grabbing a handful. Hawks trills again. Touya can feel the vibrations travel up his throat and he smiles victoriously. He leans down to kiss him when he hears a bell coming from somewhere in the apartment. 

The ringing keeps getting closer. “What the hell is that sound?”

Hawks face lights up and he sits up straight. “Oh! Psp psp psp. ”

“Uh, birdy, what are you doing?”

The bell gets louder and more frequent. Suddenly, a white poof ball pounces onto Hawks lap and Touya is met with striking blue eyes. 

Touya’s eyes widen in recognition as the ball of fluff starts purring, pressing up against his chest. “You actually kept it?”

“I told you I would.” Hawks smiles, scratching the cat’s head. 

“I thought you were joking. ”

“What’s that thing?” The newcomer is enough to draw Shouto’s attention from the movie as he stares at it curiously. 

Of course. He’s probably never seen a cat before. Enji’s not human enough to ever allow animals in the estate. A pet would be an unnecessary distraction, a weakness.

“It’s a cat,” Hawks responds cheerfully. “Her name is Natori. Like a phoenix.” He gives Touya a pointed look. 

You’re a fucking miracle. A phoenix, rising from the ashes to come back stronger. 

Touya blushes as he pets the cat’s fluffy, white fur, staring into its turquoise eyes. He squirms closer to the hero.

“Natori?” Shouto watches the white floof in awe. The cat turns its head toward him before padding over Touya’s lap to where Shouto is sitting. 

“You can pet her if you want. She likes attention.” Then he adds under his breath, “ Like someone else I know,” and winks at Touya. Touya scoffs, earning him a chuckle and a kiss on the cheek.

Shouto’s hand reaches out tentatively, petting Natori softly. The cat arches her back into his touch and bumps her head on his chest. He giggles, eyes lighting up. “She’s so soft.”

The cat turns in a circle a couple times before plopping herself down right on Shouto’s lap. 

“Looks like she likes you, Sho.” Shouto lifts his head to Touya, face hopeful, and Touya’s heart clenches in his chest. 

Hawks hand finds his, intertwining their fingers and squeezing lightly. When he meets the hero’s eyes, he’s overwhelmed by the happiness he finds there. It all seems so domestic, so normal. The three of them and a cat, having dinner and watching movies together, curled up on the couch. It’s everything he could ever want - 

“Touya-nii.” He turns his head to see Shouto deep in thought. “Can we get - “

“I’m sorry, Sho. But you already know the answer to that.”

His brother frowns, eyes focused on the animal in his lap. “Yeah, I know,” he grumbles. 

“You can come over anytime and see her!” Hawks chirps from his side. Shouto’s head pops up, eyes wide. 

“Really?!”

Hawks nods. “Of course.” He glances at Touya. “As long as it’s okay with your brother.”

Touya sighs and rolls his eyes. “You know he’s gonna be over here everyday now, right?”

Hawks smirks at him, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “And someone’s gonna have to bring him. Wonder who that could be.”

His face feels hot, and he just knows his cheeks must be a bright red by the way Hawks grin widens. “Scheming little bird.”

His fears are confirmed when it takes way longer than it should to get Shouto out of the apartment when they go to leave. He scowls at Touya the entire time he’s slipping his shoes on, turning his back to him and crossing his hands over his chest defiantly.

Touya cocks a brow when he goes to stand next to the elevator, his back still turned. “See what you did now?”  He tries to act annoyed, but it’s impossible when Hawks is smiling at him like that , so damn sincere and warm. His heart flops in his chest as the hero pulls him in and locks his arms around his waist. 

“Aw, baby. Don’t be mad,” he teases, his honeyed voice washing over him like a warm, summer day, and he’s a goner. Absolutely, completely wasted, smiling back at him like a fool. 

“You’re so annoying.” He leans in anyways, capturing the hero’s lips in a slow kiss. 

“You love it.”

His heart promptly skips a beat at the same time Hawks stills in his arms, that word bouncing between the two of them like a live grenade. Touya stares into golden eyes, that forbidden emotion shining in their depths. He wonders what Hawks sees in his eyes. 

Yes. I do. I love it. I love -

He clears his throat. “See you Monday morning?”

The spell breaks and Hawks straightens. “Actually, uh,” he grimaces, tone apologetic. "I have to leave tomorrow night for a mission out of town, so I won't be around. I should be back Tuesday though.”

“Oh.” 

Touya tries to stamp down the disappointment, the worry, swirling in his gut. He’s been so spoiled with the hero’s constant presence lately.

God, I’m so fucked for this man. 

Plus, what if something happens? Is he going to be in danger? What if he gets hurt? What if - 

“I’ll text you as much as possible, I promise.” Hawks reassures him, as if he can hear his racing thoughts. He kisses him hard on the mouth, like he’s trying to imprint himself onto Touya’s very soul. “I’m gonna miss you so fucking much.”

Touya smiles, relaxing a little at the platitude. “Come home as soon as you can,” he whispers. 

Because I’ll miss you too. 

Hawks eyes widen slightly before both hands come up and cup Touya’s face. “I’ll always come home to you.”

Notes:

So much domestic fluff, I'm going to die. Of course Touya's way of showing love would be through cooking and taking care of his man. It pairs perfectly with Hawks insatiable appetite and desire to be cared for.

Also, SHOUTO. I love this kid so much, he's such a little shit.

Touya finally meets THE cat! and of course Shouto would be a cat person, is anyone even surprised? Hawks just became his best friend. Honestly he should've just answered the door with Natori, it would've made things a lot easier.

Next up, Hawks is going on a mission? I wonder what that could be about... *nervous chuckle*

Thank you all for the comments, kudos, bookmarks, etc. It means THE WORLD to me! See y'all in the next chapter! <3

Chapter 17

Summary:

Hawks goes scary boyfriend mode, Aizawa really doesn't get paid enough to deal with this shit, and Touya might not be okay.

Notes:

BAM! Coming in with some more content for you guys.

Also, been going back and forth for a while on whether to do a sequel OR to just keep the story going. I think keeping it going would reach more people because of the hits filter (I always search by hits), BUT keeping it going would mean the tags on this fic would have to be updated. Nothing too crazy, but there would be time jumps in the "second" part that would lead to more mature themes as we get into the U.A./war timeline.

Let me know what you guys think! Either way works for me, but I wanted to give you guys a chance to voice your opinion!

Anyways, thank y'all for reading. I appreciate every single one of you so so so much. You guys make me feel like I'm doing something meaningful with this silly little hobby of mine. <3

It’s a clear, brisk morning as Shota stands outside a large, iron gate separating the Todoroki Estate grounds from the outside world. At his left, Tsukauchi gives him a curt nod. The detective is tense, worry lines wrinkling his forehead. On his other side, Hawks is poised and ready in his black, covert HPSC uniform. 

The hero has been uncharacteristically silent all morning, but Shota knows it’s not the time to question it. As long as Hawks is locked in and ready to get this over with, he doesn’t care how he acts. He has to trust that Hawks knows what he’s doing. After all, there’s a reason he’s rocketed to the top so fast. Besides, everyone’s on edge.

With a dozen police officers at their backs, he reaches forward and rings the intercom. A gruff voice answers. Endeavor.

“Endeavor. We’d like to speak with you about an urgent matter, if you could let us in.” The man grunts back an answer, and the gate clicks as it unlocks, swinging inward.

Everyone lets out a collective breath. One hurdle down.

By the time Endeavor appears, the group is waiting in the front courtyard. The house itself is massive; two floors of impressive, traditional Japanese architecture. There’s a koi pond on the left of the stone path with a small rock formation, water trickling down the sides. A stone bench, set in between a couple Japanese maple trees blooming with small red flowers, sits to their right. 

As Endeavor approaches, Shota has one hand resting on his capture scarf. Hawks feathers are all sharpened at his back, hands twitching at his sides. Tsukauchi and the other officers have one hand resting on their tasers, ready to engage at a moment's notice.

The number two hero scowls at the group. “Eraserhead. Tsukauchi.” His eyes wander to Hawks, looking him up and down. “And you must be Hawks.” 

The winged hero scoffs, rolling his eyes. Shota sends him a sharp look. Keep it together.

“Endeavor.” Tsukauchi starts, clearing his throat. “I apologize for the early visit, but we have an important matter to discuss.”

Endeavor scans the group. “And what might that be?”

Shota steps forward. “Before we get into that, are Fuyumi and Natsuo home?” He stays on his guard, ready to activate his quirk at the first sign of heat.

“Yes…” He pauses, narrowing his eyes. “What’s the meaning of this? Tsukauchi?”

Tsukauchi speaks loudly once they hear the confirmation, voice resolute. “In accordance with Hero Code 1.11.18, Fuyumi and Natsuo Todoroki are being taken into the protective custody of Shota Aizawa, hero name Eraserhead, while an investigation is conducted into the abuse and neglect of Shouto, Natsuo, Fuyumi, and Touya Todoroki.”

Endeavor’s eyes widen, breath catching. “Where’d you hear that name?” he growls.

Seriously? That’s it? 

If it was any other situation, Shota would find it comical. They’d just informed Endeavor he’d be losing his two remaining children, and he’d gotten stuck on the name of a boy who’s existence he’d tried erasing. 

For fuck’s sake, did he even care?

“Please stand aside, Endeavor.” Shota speaks up, ignoring the question. The man didn’t deserve an explanation.

“If you think I’m going to just let you come in here and - “ He goes to take a step forward and is stopped in his tracks as a red, sharpened feather swings out in front of him, coming to rest at his throat. A small drop of blood trickles down his skin when he swallows against the blade.

“ Stand the fuck down.”

Shota’s blood runs cold at the tone of Hawks voice; the low growl doesn’t even sound human. In an instant, it’s like all the air is sucked out of the area. Everyone is dead silent, afraid to even breathe wrong. The tension is palpable, pressure building as that small spot of blood continues its path and pools at the collar of Endeavor’s uniform. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Tsukauchi squirm with unease.

Shota glances over at the winged hero in shock, and it’s like he’s looking at a completely different person. Gone is the young, energetic hero climbing the charts faster than anyone else in history. No longer the cheerful, ambitious teenager he’s been working with for the past six months. In his place is a predator. There’s no other way to describe the powerful, ruthless energy he exudes.

Hawks eyes are wide open, almost manic, pupils pinning on Endeavor like he’s honed in on prey. A majority of his feathers are detached from his wings, hovering around him in an arch, sharpened and pointing forward. His mouth is lifted in a sneer. His muscles are taut, veins popping in his arms and neck, his hand steady as he keeps the hero in place.

“No more blood has to spill, Enji Todoroki. Stand down unless you want to see exactly what the Commission trained me for.” The winged hero’s voice is empty, robotic. Like he’s reading from a script.

What the fuck does that mean? What has the Commission trained him for?

Shota has a sinking feeling that he wouldn’t like the answer to that question. He had known about Hawks affiliation with the Commission, the investigation had benefited from it in more ways than one, but he’d always thought of it more like a sponsorship. 

Now, however, he wondered how deep the relationship actually went. He knew Nezu had his own theories of their more seedy operations, but he’d always dismissed them, sure it was just the rat wanting to pick a fight again. But now…

No. There’s no time for that. Later. 

He eyes the hero warily. “Hawks…” He moves his hand up slowly, cautious of the dozens of feather swords at his back, and rests it on Hawks shoulder, squeezing lightly. Hawks blinks once, twice, before his pupils dilate back to normal, like he hit an ‘off’ switch. His muscles relax under Shota’s hand, but he keeps the sword steady at Endeavor’s throat.

Shota turns to the flame hero. “Will you cooperate or not? I’d hate to have to arrest the number two hero for obstruction of justice. The press would be unbearable.”

He watches as the flame hero stubbornly stares him down, glancing between him and Hawks. Finally, he lets out a defeated sigh and steps back once. Hawks keeps his sharpened primary outstretched for a moment before letting it fall to his side.

“Tsukauchi.”

The detective nods, turning to his officers to dole out orders, before stepping around Endeavor and entering the house, leaving Hawks and Shota outside with the hero. A few moments of tense silence go by. Shota keeps his eye on the front door as Hawks and Endeavor seem to engage in an intense staring contest.

“I don’t know what you think you’ve figured out, Eraserhead, but I can assure you this is a mistake. I will get to the bottom of this.”

“There’s been no mistake, trust me.” Shota levels him with a stern look. “The entire reason we’re here today is because of the evidence we’ve gathered. We’re not acting on baseless claims.”

Endeavor scoffs. “I don’t care what you heard from some disgruntled employees with nothing better to do with their lives . Nothing you try to pin on me will stick. I will get my family back, I’ll find Shouto without your help, then I’ll make you pay for trying to ruin my reputation. He’s mine. He has a purpose to fulfill.”

“You ruined your own reputation, you flaming piece of trash. Over my dead body you’ll get near any of them.”

“Watch how you speak to me, boy. ”

“Shut up, both of you.” Aizawa sighs, looking between the two heroes. He didn’t come here to babysit two grown ass men.

The front door opens and Tsukauchi exits the house with two white-haired teenagers in tow. Both of them are wide-eyed, Fuyumi clutching onto her brother for dear life. Officers take up the rear, carrying suitcases and boxes of their belongings.

“Give me a minute,” he mutters to Hawks, who nods, narrowing his eyes on Endeavor. 

Walking over to the children, he smiles softly. “Hey there. Fuyumi, it’s nice to meet you. My name’s Shota Aizawa. My hero name is Eraserhead. You can call me either Aizawa or Eraser, whatever you’re more comfortable with.” He keeps his voice as soft as possible. “Natsuo, it’s nice to see you again. I wish it were under better circumstances.”

Fuyumi keeps glancing at their father, wringing her hands together, brows furrowed in concern. Natsuo, on the other hand, looks relieved, not sparing his father a second glance. “Are you here to take us away?” Natsuo pulls his sister closer to his side.

Shota sighs. I guess it won’t do any good to sugar coat anything. “Yes, I am.” He gauges their reactions carefully. Natsuo simply nods with finality, his face impassive. Fuyumi glances at her father again, lip wobbling.

“What will happen to father?” The girl finally speaks up, voice shaky. She adjusts her glasses when they slide down her nose.

“For right now, he’ll remain here.”

“Alone?”

“Damn it, Fumi, is that really any different from now? It’s not like he pays us any attention anyways. Let the old man rot here for all I care.” 

Fuyumi flinches, bowing her head as she bites her bottom lip. Natsuo just looks more and more agitated as they stand there, shifting from foot to foot. He glares at his father when Endeavor turns towards them. 

“Fuyumi, Natsuo. This is only temporary. You’ll be home soon.”

Shota can’t help but notice the way Fuyumi perks up slightly at the promise. 

“Go fuck yourself, Enji. ” Natsuo snarls. Shota coughs, hand coming up to hide the upward twitch of his lip. The kid’s got spunk. Normally, he’d reprimand a 14 year old for using such language, but he lets it slide this one time because, honestly, he might agree with the sentiment. 

He places a hand on Natsuo’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go.”

 

***********************************

 

Hawks knew today was going to be difficult before he even set foot in Musutafu. He’d thought he prepared himself as best he could. The entire fly over, he reminded himself who he was doing this for, of what the bigger picture was. That this was the first step to Touya being free and safe to be Touya again. 

But that had all flown out the window, no pun intended, as soon as he was face to face with the man that saved him all those years ago. The man he used to look up to, the reason he started his journey to become a hero. As soon as Endeavor stepped towards them, challenged them, something snapped, and suddenly, he couldn’t remember what he’d ever seen in him.

Looking into those turquoise eyes now, all he can see is Touya’s scars. Watching Touya scream in agony as he engulfs the clearing in blue flames. Shouto crying, talking about a monster coming to take him away. Pain, suffering, and heartache are all that stares back at him.

White hot rage courses through his veins, blinding him, pulling him under, until everything fades into the background. All he can see, all he can hear is Touya.

My father called me a failure.

Touya’s smile, brighter than the sun itself. He’d gladly be Icarus if it meant being pulled into his orbit.

He treated me like I was a failed experiment.

The sound of Touya’s laugh seeping into his bones, covering him like a warm blanket on a cold December day.

He punched him in the stomach so hard, he puked all over the floor. 

The faint blush painting Touya’s cheeks when he gets embarrassed from Hawks incessant flirting. The mischievous glint in his eyes and his half-cocked smirk when he’s about to give him attitude.

I wish he didn’t have such a hold over my life.

The way he taps his foot or picks at his cuticles when he’s nervous. The way his eyes dart from face to face in a crowd, always searching, always on guard. The way he stares a little too long at his scars in the mirror when he thinks no one is looking.

I didn’t know why I existed.

The feel of Touya’s lips on his, breathing life into the cracks of the man he’s become, the man he was trained to be. Breathing life back into Keigo , the scared, little boy he buried in the back of his mind so long ago.

He feels a light pressure on his shoulder, squeezing, and the scene slowly comes back into focus. He sees a trickle of blood falling from Endeavor’s throat, his blade pushed too hard against the skin. He can’t even remember drawing his weapon.

Come home as soon as you can.

Hawks forces himself to relax, breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth. Forcing himself to focus on the hand at his shoulder.

That’s right. I need to do my job so I can go home. So I can go home to Touya.

The encounter ends up only lasting 15 minutes at most, even though it feels like they’ve been standing out there for hours. By the end of it, Endeavor is left staring out through the gates as his two remaining children are led away to a waiting police car, their belongings being packed up in Aizawa’s personal car behind them. The unrelenting snap of cameras and droning of news reporters standing outside the gate sounds like nails on a chalkboard.

After a stop at the police station to debrief and take down official statements, the Todoroki siblings are released into Aizawa’s care. Hawks follows after them, flying alongside the car. It’s not enough time in the air for him to clear his head completely, but it’s enough to take the edge off. His wings are itching to take him back towards Fukuoka though, as if his instincts know he should be heading home.

Present Mic greets them at the front door. Aizawa had already confided in Hawks that he and the hero were married when they first started working together, but it was a little surreal seeing them in this shared space. Present Mic was dressed casually, in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, hair half done up in a messy bun. 

The entryway spills over into a cozy living area. Framed pictures of the couple, along with some other pro heroes and what looks like a childhood friend, line the walls. The TV is playing softly in the background, some kind of kids show on the screen. 

“Welcome, little listeners!” He smiles gently at the two Todorokis, who look around the house nervously. “My name’s Hizashi Yamada. You can call me whatever you feel comfortable with.”

A purple head of hair standing straight on end peaks up from over the couch cushions, matching eyes regarding the newcomers curiously. Fuyumi’s eyes go straight for him, mouth quirking up for a split second before settling back into a worried frown.

Noticing the quick slip of emotion, Hawks really studies the Todoroki sister for the first time. She seems soft-spoken and delicate at first glance, the direct opposite of her hot-headed brother, and she’s definitely on the shorter side. Touya’s not the tallest guy, not that Hawks can talk, but he probably has at least a few inches on her from the looks of it. Even Natsuo, at 14 years old, towers over her, although Hawks is convinced he’d probably tower over most people. 

If he didn’t have an idea of what Touya looked like beneath the black hair dye and copper contacts, he might not believe the two are even related. Natsuo either, for that matter. That kid was a mini clone of his father, save for the white hair. He wonders if that means the other siblings take after their mother. He’d only seen a picture of Rei Todoroki in passing, but didn’t pay much attention at the time. Did Touya take after her? Hawks didn’t see much of Enji in him.

Fuyumi and Touya have the same eye shape. That must come from Rei. His lip quirks up fondly at the realization. 

Hizashi turns to follow her gaze and smiles. “That little listener’s name is Hitoshi. He’s a little shy around new people.”

“How old is he?” Fuyumi asks softly.

“He’ll be ten in July.”

Hawks sees tears well in her eyes as she nods. His heart pangs in his chest for her, knowing exactly what she’s thinking. The same age as Shouto.

Aizawa clears his throat. “Hizashi will show you to your rooms and help you guys get settled in. Take all the time you need. We can talk more over dinner tonight.”

Hizashi ushers the two inside and down a hallway to the left. The two police officers at their backs follow with the remaining boxes of belongings before taking their leave and closing the door behind them. 

Aizawa turns to Hawks, tilting his head towards the kitchen, before walking in that direction. Hawks follows, winking at Hitoshi as he watches curiously from the comfort of the couch. The boy’s eyes never leave his face, not even to blink.

They settle in at the kitchen table and Aizawa offers him a mug of coffee, scoffing and shaking his head in disgust as Hawks adds an ungodly amount of creamer and sugar. 

“So,” Hawks starts, stirring the liquid into a light cream color, “what happens now?”

Aizawa seems to search his face for a moment and Hawks squirms in his seat. The hero finally sighs and takes a sip of his black coffee. “Well. We’re starting with a hearing to review his license status. Based on the allegations, there’s a pretty good chance his hero license will either be suspended or revoked completely. After that, we’ll move onto the criminal trial. Obviously, it’d be better for us if his license was revoked. The judge will be more likely to convict a fallen hero than a reprimanded one.”

“As for the kids, they’ll stay here throughout the trial. Fuyumi will probably turn 18 before the criminal trial is over, though, so there’s only so much we can do there. I can’t force her to stay here after she’s a legal adult. She might be a weak point in the case, if we’re being honest. Especially if she decides to go back home after her birthday in December.”

Hawks nods solemnly, recalling the girl’s worry over her father this morning. He wishes he’d asked Touya about his siblings beforehand. Not that Touya would be okay discussing them. The topic had never come up, and he’d been trying to be considerate and wait for Touya to bring them up instead. But now, he felt like he was walking in blind, and all the work they’d put in was teetering on the edge of a cliff because he failed to get enough information.

No. Stop. This isn’t a Commission job. Touya’s not just another informant. You didn’t fail.

“Natsuo, on the other hand, seems like he’ll be cooperative,” Aizawa continues. “However, he’s not the one who suffered from the abuse, and he’s only a 14 year old kid. He can speak on the neglect charges, but it’ll all be hearsay when it comes to the abuse charges. Endeavor’s lawyers will try to discredit his testimony the first chance they get if they’re any good.”

“So…” Hawks braces himself for what he knows is coming. His hand clutches the mug like a lifeline, finding comfort in the familiar heat. He can almost imagine Touya’s hand in his, always just a few degrees warmer than the average person. 

“So, we need to find Touya and Shouto. They’re the only ones that have a chance to actually bring him down. I’ll be honest with you, our odds are looking pretty low without their testimony.”

Hawks swallows, frowning into his coffee. He knows he’s being selfish right now, withholding information that’s vital for the case against Endeavor. Hell, he’s being selfish by denying Touya and Shouto the justice that they deserve. The chance to tell their story, to make their father pay for what he’s done, what he’s put them through.

But he just can’t bring himself to say anything. The past few months have been some of the happiest in his life, if not the happiest in his life. Even their short conversations on Monday mornings are enough to make his day. Touya Todoroki has completely taken over his life in every sense of the word. He can’t even breathe without the man crowding his mind, and the truth is, he’s terrified. 

He doesn’t want to lose this fragile happiness he’s found with Touya. He doesn’t want to miss movie nights, the three of them curled up on the couch with Natori, Touya distracting him the entire time with his incessant teasing and feather-light touches. He doesn’t want to miss the look of awe on Touya’s face as they both glide across the skies together. The late night dates on top of random buildings. 

There’s still so much he wants to do, so much he wants to show him. Experience with him. Tell him.

He doesn’t want to lose Touya. Fuck, he doesn’t want to lose either of them. They’d become the closest thing to a family he’s had in…well…ever. No matter what happens with the trial, nothing will be the same once Touya and Shouto’s identities are out. Nothing. And that fact coils in his gut, turning his stomach until he can feel bile at the back of his throat. 

Not to mention, even if Endeavor’s found guilty, Touya would have his own charges to face. Hawks could only pull so many strings, call in so many favors, but he couldn’t guarantee that Touya would come out completely unscathed. He’d have to answer for his crimes one way or another.

What would happen if Touya was taken away? Would he come to resent Hawks for putting him in that situation? Would Touya even want anything to do with him when all this was over? What would Shouto do? He doesn’t even want to imagine the utter devastation that would cause the boy.

“Hawks.” He glances up to find Aizawa staring at him, a contemplative look on his face.

“Yeah?” His voice is weak, shaky.

Come home as soon as you can.

He doesn’t want to be here anymore. He wants to go home, needs to feel the warmth of Touya’s arms. He needs Touya to tell him it’d all be okay, that he’ll forgive him for everything that’s about to happen.

“Do you know where they are?”

Hawks tries not to react, he really really does, but he can’t help the slight twitch of his wings. Aizawa’s eyes narrow in on the move and curses under his breath. Hawks hunches over in his seat, trying to make himself as small as possible.

The silence between them grows. Hawks can hear the murmuring of voices from the back bedrooms, Hizashi still helping Fuyumi and Natsuo settle in, the ticking of the clock on the kitchen wall.

“Dad?” A soft voice filters into the room. Both men look up to see Hitoshi in the entryway.

Aizawa’s eyes soften. “Toshi. Come here, buddy.” The boy pads over and Aizawa lifts him onto his lap. Hitoshi stares across the table at Hawks, a blank look on his face. “Bored of your show?”

Hitoshi nods, eyes never leaving the winged hero. Hawks tries smiling at him, but the boy’s face remains as impassive as before. Even though he knew Hitoshi was adopted, Hawks couldn’t help but wonder if he was somehow Aizawa’s biological child. Their personalities were already scarily similar, almost too much so to be a coincidence.

“Hey, buddy. It’s nice to meet you,” Hawks tries to address him. The kid stares back without a word, mouth in a soft pout.

“He’s still working on talking to strangers,” Aizawa provides.

Hawks nods, taking a sip of his coffee and bowing his head. 

“Hawks…I need to know.”

Damn it.

He’d been half hoping the presence of his son would be enough to distract the hero from the question.

He closes his eyes and sighs. “Yeah. I know where they are.”

“How long?”

He looks up, chuckling nervously. “Are you sure you want to know?” The smile falls from his face when he sees Aizawa’s expression, eyes dead and mouth set in a grim line. Hawks scowls, running a hand through his hair. “Like four months or so,” he grumbles under his breath.

“ Mother - “ Aizawa glances at the boy in his lap, who’s now staring up at his dad curiously, soaking up the interaction like a sponge. “Toshi, why don’t you go find Papa and help him? I bet Fuyumi and Natsuo will want to show you their rooms.”

The kid frowns but hops off his lap silently, shuffling out of the kitchen and down the hallway. As soon as he’s gone, Aizawa turns to him, leaning across the table. “Are you fucking kidding me , Hawks?” he hisses. 

Hawks winces at his tone, wings curling in around him reflexively. Aizawa leans back, raising his head to the ceiling and sighing loudly. “I’m having a real hard time figuring out what the fuck is going through your head so please , enlighten me. I’ve told you time and time again how much we need their cooperation. Don't you get how important this case is?!”

“Of course I do,” Hawks barks back, frustration seeping into his voice. “But we had a deal. I’m not forcing him to get involved.”

“Oh? So he knows you’re working the case? He knows what we’ve been trying to do?”

“Well, no…” 

Aizawa’s hand smacks the table hard and Hawks jolts. “Then why - “

“I CAN’T LOSE HIM, OKAY?!” 

His voice echoes through the room. The muffled voices down the hall pause for a moment. Hawks is shaking, tightening his grip on the mug until he swears he can hear a crack. His nose itches and he suppresses the urge to sniffle, fighting back the tears threatening the spill over.

“I can’t - “ His breathing is ragged, voice shaking so bad he can barely speak. “I just found him.”

Both men look up when they hear a throat clear. Hizashi peeks through the doorway, looking back and forth between them. “All good in here?”

Aizawa nods his head. Apparently it’s enough of an answer for the blond as he spares them one last glance before disappearing down the hall again.

Hawks can feel Aizawa’s eyes boring into him as they sit in silence. After he feels his heartbeat calm in his chest, he chances a peek up, expecting to be met with anger and disappointment. Instead, he’s surprised to find a softness there. It’s not pity - more like compassion mixed with sudden clarity.

“The boy from before…”

Hawks nods, swallowing back the lump in his throat. To his surprise, Aizawa chuckles, shaking his head. 

“You kids will be the death of me.” He has a far off look in his eye. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it.”

“I didn’t know at that point either, if that makes you feel better. It finally clicked when I saw his file.”

Aizawa scrubs his hand down his face. He lowers his voice. “And the boy…he’s with him? He’s okay?”

Hawks smiles, a sad edge to his voice. “Eraser. It would destroy them both to be apart.” He meets Aizawa’s eyes head on, serious, imploring. “They’re inseparable.”

The older hero seems to relax a little, and Hawks realizes just how selfish he’s been all this time. Out of everyone, Aizawa has been working the hardest to find Shouto, to make sure he’s safe. It probably hasn’t been easy for him, not knowing. Meanwhile, Hawks had all the answers this entire time.

“I’m sorry…” he grumbles. “I should’ve told you sooner.”

Aizawa sighs. “Yeah, well, the past is in the past.” He drums his fingers on the table. “You know you have to tell him.”

Hawks stiffens. “I - “

He’s cut off when Aizawa holds a hand up. “I’ll give you two weeks.” Hawks head flies up, eyes going wide with fear. “Hear me out. You have two weeks to tell him what’s going on. During that time, I’ll see what I can do to make this as painless as possible. Nezu owes me a favor anyways, and I have a feeling he’d be interested in Touya’s story.”

“Okay, I can do that…thank you,” he whispers, voice thick with emotion. His heart is pounding in his chest, but there’s hope now. It’ll be a bumpy ride, but maybe everything will work out. Maybe… 

“Don’t thank me yet. But Hawks…” He waits until Hawks looks at him, leveling him with serious eyes. “Even if something goes wrong here, don’t lose faith. If this…thing between you two is the real deal, you’ll be able to weather any storm. I promise.”

 

***********************************

 

Touya scrunches his nose as he scoops another wet clump out of the litter box, disposing of it in the trash can next to him. At his side, Natori makes a soft trilling noise, similar to the one he’d heard Hawks make the other day. 

He chuckles. “You’ve been spending too much time around a certain birdy, Princess.”

The cat meows at him and rubs up against his leg, her fluffy white tail coming up and smacking him in the face. He pets down her back, scratching softly near the base of her tail before he nudges her to the side. 

“Okay, let me finish this, you little brat. Go bother Sho.”

Natori meows loudly at him, but he nudges her again and she finally gets the hint, prancing out the bathroom door with her tail held high, bell jingling with every step. Spoiled little princess in her little penthouse castle. Touya rolls his eyes and shakes his head. 

Being in Hawks penthouse without the hero wasn’t as awkward as he thought it might be. He’d asked Touya if he could go over and check on Nat while he was gone, and Touya couldn’t refuse. Especially when he’d asked in front of Shouto, who’d answered before Touya could even open his mouth to speak, looking for any excuse to come see ‘ his cat’. Hawks had just smiled victoriously, and Touya wasn’t sure if he wanted to smack or kiss that stupid look off his face. Maybe both.

However, this , he looks at the litter box in disgust, is something he could do without. 

“TOUYA!!!”

The panicked yell from Shouto stops his heart in his tracks as he scrambles to his feet. He’s in such a hurry that he somehow stubs his toe on the bathroom door on the way out, muttering a string of expletives as he hobbles down the hall. 

His heart pounds as he goes through the possibilities in his head. Had he hurt himself somehow? Accidentally set fire to the couch? Was there an intruder? Did someone come to the door? He had told Shouto NOT to answer the door no matter - 

When he barges into the living room, Shouto is sitting back on the couch, Natori snuggled up against his left side. 

“Shouto. You’re gonna give me a fucking heart attack if you keep - “

His words die on his tongue as he reads the text crossing the TV, eyes widening, breath catching in his throat. His body feels numb as he takes those last few steps forward, the pain in his toe completely forgotten. The words being spoken by the newscaster sound foreign in his ears. 

“ This morning, a task force from the Musutafu police department, along with pro hero Hawks, stormed the estate of number two hero, Endeavor, to issue a protective custody order for 17 year old Fuyumi Todoroki and 14 year old Natsuo Todoroki, after child abuse and neglect charges were filed against the hero under Hero Code 1.11.18.”

“ Touya?” A pained whimper sounds from his right, and he averts his eyes from the TV to Shouto. Tears are tracking down his cheeks and his eyes are wide, scared and disbelieving.

Touya wordlessly walks over to him, picking him up under his arms and crushing him to his chest. The boy wraps his arms and legs around Touya, burying his face in his shoulder.

“It’s okay, Shouto. You’re okay.” His words sound far away to his own ears.

On the TV, they show footage of Fuyumi and Natsuo being led out the gate. Touya ceases to breathe, and his eyes burn, quickly filling with tears, at the first glimpse he’s seen of his siblings in almost four years. He plops down unceremoniously on the couch when the buzzing in his head makes him feel too dizzy to keep standing.

Fuyumi is so beautiful. She looks just like mom. And holy hell, Natsuo. When the hell did he get so tall? What happened to the little kid who used to follow me around like a shadow? 

I missed so much.

In the background, he sees a flash of crimson red. Hawks is in the same all-black outfit from when they’d first met. He looks tense. Far from his usual demeanor whenever he’s shown on TV. He stalks away from the media circus without a word. No smile, no wink, no humorous quip for the cameras.

So this is the mission he was talking about? How long has he known about this? 

He focuses back on the TV again, gently rocking Shouto back and forth, rubbing circles into the boy’s back. Shouto sniffles into his shirt, soaking it with tears. 

Touya holds the back of Shouto’s head down when Endeavor crosses the screen, not wanting the boy to look up and see their father. Enji is pissed. More than the normal scowl on his face, Touya can tell in the way he stands, clenching and unclenching his fists rhythmically. The way he stares at the police, at Hawks , like he’s planning the best way to hurt them. He knows that look all too well, he’d been subjected to the actions following that look on more than one occasion.

“ The charges were brought against the hero after the investigation into the disappearance of his youngest child, Shouto Todoroki, in November of last year.”

Shouto whimpers in his arms, almost choking him with how tightly his arms are wrapped around his neck. Touya massages the boy’s scalp, hushing him in a soft, soothing tone.

“Sources close to the case say that multiple witnesses have come forward alleging abuse against the child, as well as Endeavor’s oldest son Touya, going back more than five years. No other information could be found on the oldest child, who has seemingly disappeared from public record. Representatives from the Endeavor Agency have said that the hero is working hard to set the record straight and get his family back home, but did not comment further on the allegations.”

The reporter drones on to the next story as the footage leaves the screen, but it all fades into the background like white noise. 

In his pocket, his phone vibrates over and over again. He takes it out, barely able to make out the messages on the screen through the tears welling up in his eyes and tracking down his face. 

Pretty bird: that story wasn’t supposed to break until tomorrow

Pretty bird: I’ll explain everything when I get back, ok? I promise everything’s gonna be alright baby

Pretty bird: please just trust me

Pretty bird: I’ll be home soon. I can’t wait to see you. I miss you so much. 

One chilling fact keeps swirling around his head like a dark cloud, threatening to swallow him whole, as he turns his phone on silent and stuffs it back in his pocket. 

The public knows about Touya.

Notes:

OMGGGG is it weird for me to say I couldn't stop giggling writing Hawks in that first scene? I'm such a sucker for a scary, violent Hawks, it's INSANE. I mightttt have a concept in mind for a fic based on that, but we'll see if it ever gets written LOL

Honestly, the biggest question is, is Aizawa even getting paid for this shit? I feel like he should at least get a bonus for dealing with these damn teenagers. BUT obviously he's gonna do his best because that's just who he is, and we love him for it. We'll just have to see what he and Nezu can do for our boys...

Can anyone else see Natori and Hawks just sitting around the apartment, having full on conversations with chirps and trills? because I can LOL. You know he's such a crazy cat dad that goes all out for his spoiled little princess.

And oh man oh man, Touya. And Shouto, can't forget about him. They're going through it, and writing that scene where Touya sees Fuyumi and Natsuo for the first time in years through a TV screen broke my heart.

Okay guys, make sure you have your snacks, hydrate, pick out your favorite plushie, and get comfortable. The emotional roller coaster starts now!! <3

Chapter 18

Summary:

Our boys deal with the consequences of Hawks mission.

Notes:

Oh hey, look at that. This fic is part of a series now! Made the decision that a sequel would be best, since the tags would just end up really skewed with time jumps & developing relationships, etc. SOOO keep an eye out for that.

I ALSO want to write some one-shots that go along with the fic. Kinda like extended scenes that didn't make it in the main story - extra date nights with Hawks & Touya, maybe some Shouto POVs, etc. If you guys have any ideas, let me know!! I'd absolutely love to hear them.

Touya faintly hears his alarm going off as he stares at his ceiling, the bags under his red-rimmed eyes giving him a sickly appearance. Every movement gives him vertigo, like the floor itself is being ripped out from under him, nausea coiling in his stomach.

Shouto stirs next to him, snuggling closer into his side. His grip on Touya’s shirt has never once loosened, even in sleep, the fabric thoroughly wrinkled under his small hands. 

Everything from last night after they left the penthouse is one giant blur. There’s a good chance he left all of Hawks’s lights and the TV on; he was too dazed to think straight at the time. He barely remembers walking all the way home with Shouto in his arms, the steady rain soaking their clothes.

He does remember that he’d barely been able to set Shouto down long enough to change him into pajamas and make him brush his teeth. He had straight up started screaming and crying when Touya tried laying him down in his own bed. 

The boy was a mess, clinging to Touya like velcro. Touya couldn’t stop him from trembling, no matter how many empty words he murmured into the boy’s ear, telling him everything was going to be okay. It was a bold-faced lie, and maybe Shouto knew. Nothing about the situation was okay .

Shouto had, thankfully, passed out soon after they laid down in Touya’s room though. Touya, on the other hand, wasn’t even sure he actually slept. There were a few times where he thought he might have drifted off, only to jolt back into consciousness again. 

He couldn’t even bring himself to look at his phone. All night, he had seen the screen light up every so often from where it was laying on his nightstand, but he couldn’t bring himself to check. In fact, he had barely moved at all in the last 8 hours, eyes fixed to the same spot on the ceiling.

Despite having hours and hours with nothing to do but think, he was still conflicted on how to feel. About anything. His father was being charged with a crime. It still didn’t seem real, it didn’t seem possible; like he had stepped into an alternate universe. 

How many times had he called the police, begged for help, hoped for this outcome? He could still hear the sounds of his mother screaming and crying, Shouto whimpering as Touya somberly bandaged his wounds, Natsuo and Fuyumi hiding in the corner, speaking in hushed whispers. Years and years of silent torment.

Touya had fucking died because of it. He had the scars to show his trauma. Now, years later, justice was finally being served, and he felt…empty. 

Part of him couldn’t fully believe that anything would actually happen to Enji, that he’d get out of it just like he always did. Just like every other time, the heroes would turn a blind eye and the torment would continue. That was the cold, hard truth he’d learned as a child. Society wouldn’t let anything happen to their number two. He was more important than a few broken kids and a crazy wife.

The other part of him desperately wanted Enji to answer for his crimes. The heartbroken, little boy who died in that fire was clawing his way to the surface, screaming and crying for revenge. He wanted Enji to pay. 

He wanted to watch as everything his father held dear was destroyed in front of him. His precious career in shambles, his mighty reputation up in flames. To hold Enji’s life in his hands and close his fist around it, strangling the life out of him. It would be so easy, so satisfying, to see the life slowly leave his eyes, and that thought scared him to his core.

Then, there was the whole issue with Hawks. Their trust was already fragile, and he couldn’t help but feel a little betrayed that the hero was apparently investigating his father behind Touya’s back. That he was reading into Touya’s life this entire time. Touya’s story was his to tell on his own time, and the hero had taken that from him.

He wanted to believe Hawks had a good reason to do what he did, that he was doing it for Touya’s own good. He wanted to believe Hawks when he said to trust him, that everything would all work out, he really fucking did. But if he hadn’t been honest about this, what else was he hiding? How many more truths were going to unravel before Touya’s very eyes?

They’d been steadily building a healthy foundation up until this point, but Touya could feel a tiny crack forming. Just a small seed of distrust that could cause it all to come crashing down, threatening to bury him in the rubble. He felt like he was being led straight to his own death, again , and that hurt more than anything. 

He slowly unravels Shouto’s hand from his shirt, painstakingly uncurling one finger at a time from the fabric. The boy whimpers when Touya slides his body out from under him, but thankfully wraps his arms around the pillow and nods off again. Touya gently pulls the blanket up to Shouto’s shoulders and ghosts a kiss over his forehead before leaving the room. 

Shuffling into the kitchen, he starts the coffee maker, limbs working on autopilot. As he watches the liquid fill the pot and the rich aroma wafts in the air, he takes out his phone, swiping away all the text notifications without even looking at them. 

He calls Hana to tell her he needs the day off, then texts Inko to let her know that Shouto wouldn’t be in school so she doesn’t have to pick him up after. They need a day of peace and quiet. A day to recuperate away from the world. 

A knock sounds at the door as he’s grabbing a mug from the cabinet overhead and he inwardly groans, knocking his forehead against the cabinet door, at the fucking irony of the universe.

All I ask for is one day. Just one. 

He contemplates ignoring the sound, being as quiet as he can as he moves around the room. But then the knocking starts up again, louder this time, and the noise is getting dangerously close to waking Shouto. 

With a frustrated sigh, he walks over, undoes the lock, and pulls the door open. “What do you - ”

He’s not sure who he expected to be on the other side, maybe Inko or Izuku, but what he’s not prepared for are drooping red wings and a tired smile. 

Touya freezes dumbly in the entrance, holding the door half open. Birdy looks…rough, and that might be putting it mildly. The bags under his eyes rival Touya’s, and he’s swaying on his feet. His clothes are disheveled and his blonde hair is a mess, coming undone from behind his black headband and falling into his eyes, eyes that he can barely keep open. 

A spark of life flickers on the hero’s face when they lock eyes and Touya feels the weight resting on his chest grow heavier. Nausea resurfaces in his gut. 

“Why am I not surprised you know where I live?” His voice sounds flat, and Hawks’ smile falters for a split second, eyes widening in a desperate plea.

Not waiting for whatever excuse Hawks is about to give him, Touya rolls his eyes and turns away, leaving the door open. He lets Hawks decide what he wants to do, too tired to worry about whether the hero will follow or not. 

He hears the door close as he makes his way back into the kitchen, filling his mug before wordlessly taking down another one and filling that as well. He grabs the creamer from the fridge and sets it next to the sugar, then slides the other mug in front of where Hawks is now standing, watching him carefully.

“Baby?” The hero’s voice is hesitant, careful. 

Touya sips his coffee, letting the silence grow between them. He keeps his eyes downcast, running his thumb back and forth against the ceramic lip of the mug. 

“You didn’t answer any of my messages. I was worried.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He can hear Hawks wings ruffle as he awkwardly shifts his weight from one foot to another. The question hangs in the air until Touya’s almost sure he won’t get an answer. He brings the coffee back to his lips, savoring the rich, slightly nutty taste.

“I was scared.” The reply is so soft, it almost gets lost between them. 

Touya’s eyes travel up to meet golden. What he finds there is genuine fear mixed with uncertainty, and it’s so uncharacteristic of the hero that it gives Touya pause. Hawks steps closer. 

Touya grips the mug harder. His control is already holding on by a single thread, ready to snap at any moment. His muscles tense as Hawks reaches out, fingers brushing his arm. The touch is like a shock to his system, affecting him just as he was afraid it would. All the exhaustion from the past 24 hours, all the doubts and distrust and panicked thoughts, come rushing forward at once until he’s shaking. 

A hand wraps around his arm and tugs until he’s facing Hawks. “I was scared, and I acted selfishly because of it. I’m sorry, Touya.”

“You told me the investigation was called off.” He hates how much his voice wavers. The burning in his eyes is back, wetness building behind his lids. The warmth of Hawks skin against his makes him feel vulnerable, weak. Pathetic.

“It was - “

“Yet you continued digging into my past, digging into my family, behind my back.” The hand loosens on his arm. He feels a tear fall on his cheek. “Why wouldn’t you tell me? What were you so fucking scared of?” His voice is reduced to a whisper by the end of it. 

Hawks takes another step closer. And despite his anger, despite his skepticism, Touya feels himself lean in towards the hero. His hands fall to his side and he curls them into fists to keep from reaching out. His skin itches with a desperation to be held.

So weak . He hid this from you for so long. Are you really stupid enough to think there isn’t anything else? Heroes can’t be trusted. You know that. 

“I was scared that it would change things.” Touya snorts weakly at the irony of that statement. “Yeah. I know. I was just…you make me so damn happy, Touya. I just wanted to exist in that bubble for a little while longer. Where no one and nothing could touch us. I thought I could have both. That I could be with you while bringing Endeavor to justice, but that wasn’t fair to you. I see that now. I’m sorry I realized too late.”

He steps close enough that Touya can feel the hair at the top of his head brush against Hawks’ chest where his head is bowed. Touya leans forward until he’s resting against the hero. Another tear lands on his cheek and he sniffles.

Weak. 

The small, naive part of him understands what Hawks is trying to say. Touya’s honestly not sure how he would have felt knowing Hawks was still investigating his father, if they would have gotten where they were today with that information hanging between them.

Yet, that incessant whisper, the malicious voice in the back of his head, won’t stop screaming at him.

How can you be sure he’s being honest with you now? What if this is all just a trap? What if all of this has been an act? Are you really going to fall for it? You’re being foolish.

“I really want to trust you,” he mumbles, the dull, pulsing pain behind his eyes worsening by the second. A hand comes up and cups the back of his head, curling gently around his hair. Touya chokes back a sob.

Weak. 

“I want to be someone you can trust.” Hawks other hand snakes around Touya’s shoulders until he’s crushing him to his chest.

You can’t trust him. 

“I don’t know what to do,” he confesses, voice breaking. His arms wrap around the hero, frantically seeking comfort, squeezing so hard he’s sure he’ll leave bruises. “What am I supposed to do? I feel like I’m being torn apart. Shouto’s a mess and there’s nothing I can do to help him. He’s going to be taken away from me and I can’t…”

His breathing comes out faster and faster until he can feel himself hyperventilating. “I-I…I can’t. Oh god, I can’t lose him,” he sobs. “I’m gonna fail him again. No. No no no. Not again. Please, God, not again.”

Hawks voice sounds in his ear, patient and reassuring, but he can’t make out the words. His head is spinning and his skin feels clammy. Black spots dot his vision. He can feel Hawks’ shirt beneath him grow wet with tears.

Everything you’ve worked for is going to crumble. You weren’t enough. Endeavor is going to win. Again. 

Shouto would’ve been better off if you’d left him alone. 

All of this for nothing. Was your happiness worth your brother’s life? 

Worthless, selfish Touya screws up again. What a surprise.

Touya can feel himself being led out of the kitchen and into the living room, his whole bodyweight leaning against Hawks. The hero pushes both of them down onto the couch and Touya curls into his side, legs draped over the hero’s lap. 

His mind is screaming at him to stop; to demand Hawks leave and retreat into the cool solitude he knows so well. But his body won’t listen, drawn to the warm embrace he’s escaped into one too many times, strong arms keeping him steady, anchoring him to earth. Red feathers curl around them, the darkness oddly soothing, and his mind quiets down as his cries turn to sniffles.

“Touya. I know I fucked up, I should’ve been honest with you, and I’m so sorry for that. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you. I’ll be here every single step of the way and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you two stay together. Okay?” Hawks hand cups the back of his neck and starts massaging the tense muscle. “Just tell me what you need.”

“I need this to all go away,” he pleads, gulping air into his lungs, words slurring from fatigue. “I need him to pay for what he did.” He buries his head in Hawks neck. “I don’t fucking know what I need. I’m just scared. Shouto’s scared. Everything’s fucked up. I feel like I’m in a nightmare.”

Exhaustion is catching up with him, weariness soaking into his bones until he can barely lift his head, eyelids drooping closed. Hawks continues holding him tightly. “It’s okay, baby. I won’t let anything happen to you. Just sleep. You’re okay.” A soft kiss lands on his forehead.

“I…can’t…” His body feels like it’s floating as he teeters on the edge of consciousness.

“Touya-nii?”

A small voice startles him. Hawks withdraws his wings to reveal Shouto standing in front of them. The boy is wringing his hands together, lip wobbling and eyes filled with tears.

“C'mere buddy,” he slurs, holding his free arm open.

The boy climbs up onto his lap, sandwiching himself between him and Hawks. Touya tries to apologize to the hero, knowing it can’t be comfortable to hold both of them, but Hawks just shushes him and closes his wings around the three of them again. Hawks steady heartbeat sounding in his ear, Touya finally loses the battle, mind going blank as his eyes flutter closed.

 

***********************************

 

A few hours later, Hawks blinks wearily, chasing away the little bit of sleep he managed to get. His right arm tingles, but he stays motionless, careful not to disturb the two bodies piled haphazardly on top of him. 

After Shouto joined them and both boys fell asleep, Hawks had slowly moved them to lay horizontally with the assistance of his feathers. Touya was now tucked between Hawks and the back of the couch, and Shouto was laying between them, though mostly on Touya. One of his wings droops awkwardly to the floor while the other covers them, shrouding them in a soft curtain of darkness. He spreads his wing further, letting pinpricks of light pour in between his feathers.

Touya is facing him, head resting on Hawks’ outstretched arm, their legs intertwined. His eyes are red-rimmed and puffy, and even in sleep, his mouth is set in a soft frown. Even his eyes look sad, brows furrowed inward with worry. Hawks’ fingers itch with the need to reach over and smooth the lines away. 

This is all my fault. I never considered his feelings and now he’s upset. All because of me. 

As soon as the story broke, almost 24 hours before it was supposed to, he knew he had made a mistake. He had immediately checked the cameras at the penthouse, witnessed Touya and Shouto fall to pieces in his living room, and he’d never felt so helpless in his goddamn life than he did then, stuck in a hotel room, hours away in Musutafu.

He’d also never flown so fast in his life after meeting a very grouchy, very sleepy Tsukauchi at the police station for his official debrief at 6:00 that morning, three hours before it was originally scheduled. The entire time, he was itching to move, bouncing on the balls of his feet. After Tsukauchi gave him the green light, he made it from Musutafu to Fukuoka in less than three hours. At least half an hour faster than it should have taken him.

All he knew at the time was that he had to get back to Touya. It was torture enough that he’d waited as long as he did, but he didn’t want to immediately bombard him, and he couldn’t afford to skip out on the debrief no matter how much he wanted to. Hawks was hoping that the extra time would allow the boys to sleep so they could hash everything out with clear heads, but it doesn’t seem like Touya got the memo.

Hawks lays there watching in fascinated silence as Touya breathes in and out, his eyes twitching behind their lids every now and then. He surveys the lines of his face, the shape of his eyes, the curve of his cupid’s bow. Memorizing the faint freckles on his cheeks that are barely visible unless you’re looking for them. The natural blush of his cheeks. The curtain of long, gray lashes curving along his closed eyelids. 

He’s so fucking beautiful.

He’s startled from his observations when he detects eyes on him. His gaze flits down, and he’s met with heterochromatic eyes. He hadn’t noticed the change in color before, too exhausted and worried about Touya to pay attention. But he supposed the boy couldn’t wear contacts 24/7. 

The blue eye on his left side is such a vibrant blue, he can’t help but wonder if Touya’s are the same shade. Had Touya already put his contacts in for the day, or had he never taken them out last night? There’s no way he wouldn’t have noticed if Touya’s eyes had suddenly been blue. He’d been dreaming of what the color would look like on him for way too long.

Shouto peers up at him, an indistinguishable look in his eyes. 

“You okay, buddy?” Hawks whispers, afraid to wake the older boy. Thankfully, he doesn’t even stir, so he’s either a heavy sleeper or just extremely tired. 

The boy gently shakes his head, hair falling into his eyes. Hawks reaches out and tentatively brushes it back, fingers ghosting the scar taking up a large portion of his face. 

“What’s wrong?”

Shouto worries his bottom lip with his teeth, glancing nervously at Touya. “He’s scared,” he whispers. 

Hawks pauses at the boy’s perceptive remark. He knew fear was a large portion of what was eating at Touya. Not only because Touya had said as much; the look in his eyes was also unmistakable. But he hadn’t thought Shouto would pick up on it so easily. 

“He thinks I’m stupid and don’t know, but I do. He always gets sad and quiet when he’s scared,” the boy continues, lips pulling into a pout. “And he does this stupid tapping thing with his foot.”

Hawks can’t help but smile at the boy’s brutally honest commentary. “He just doesn’t want to worry you, Shouto.”

Shouto frowns at that, eyes glued to his brother’s sleeping face. “Am I gonna have to go back to Endeavor?” His hand absently grabs onto the hem of Touya’s shirt, clutching it tightly. There’s a tinge of fear in the question, but he mostly sounds resigned, like he already knows the answer.

Hawks’ heart squeezes painfully in his chest. “No, Shouto.” he breathes out quickly. “I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. You’ll never have to go back there.”

Shouto’s gaze turns to him curiously, like he’s not sure whether to believe him or not. Which, considering the circumstances, is fair. “You promise?”

“Yeah, buddy.” Hawks flashes him a sad smile, resting his hand on the boy’s back. “I promise. You two are like my family, and that means I’ll protect you guys with my life if I have to.”

“Do you…” Shouto pauses, eyes whirling back to his brother. “Never mind,” he grumbles. 

“What is it? You can ask me anything, Shouto.”

“Do you love him?”

The question catches Hawks so off-guard he lets out a startled chirp, his eyes instantly widening and flying down to Touya. He lets out a sigh of relief when he finds him still fast asleep. The room feels like it suddenly heated up ten degrees, and Hawks can feel his cheeks flush as his mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water.

Shouto, completely oblivious to the existential crisis happening next to him, continues talking. “Kacchan said we protect the people we love, so I thought maybe you loved him. You guys kiss a lot too. It’s kinda gross.” He scrunches his nose in disgust.

“W-w-well…” Hawks stammers, voice squeaking. He tries swallowing, throat suddenly dry as a desert. His heart feels like it’s about to fly out of his chest, it’s beating so fast. 

Love? Do I love Touya? 

Admittedly, Hawks doesn’t have the best examples in regard to love. His parents' relationship, if you could even call it that, was tumultuous and selfish, both of them using each other to fulfill some twisted need. They hadn’t even wanted him, let alone loved him. He wasn’t even sure either of them was capable of such a strong emotion.

The Commission, on the other hand, tried training those emotions right out of him, convincing him that love was a weakness that a hero of his caliber couldn’t afford. Maybe that’s why he felt himself hesitating now, because the Commission asset in him didn’t want to admit he was weak. 

But when he thought of who he was around Touya, how he made him feel, he couldn’t help but wonder. Was love really a weakness if it made him feel strong? If he could stand in front of the number two hero and challenge him without fear just for him? If knowing that Touya is there by his side makes him want to be a better person, a better hero, than he ever could be before? 

Funny enough, his thoughts wander to Eraserhead and Present Mic. He only witnessed a tiny fraction of their lives together when he was in Musutafu, but it was apparent how enamored they were with each other. The way they could understand each other with just a fleeting glance, the care that flowed through every passing touch, the ease at which they moved around each other. The comfort and serenity of the home they’d built together, the life they crafted together. Their love didn’t seem like a weakness.

During the short time he spent there, he had felt a strong sense of longing. He now realized, lying here in this small apartment, with Touya safe in his arms, that he hadn’t just longed to come home to Touya. He wanted that kind of home with Touya. He wanted that kind of life with Touya. 

He didn’t care that they were young and people would question their decisions, say that they were moving too fast. He didn’t care if the Commission, or anyone else for that matter, thought Touya was a weakness, because they were wrong. Touya was Keigo’s strength. 

He didn’t care about any of that, as long as Touya was by his side, for the rest of his life. 

I…I love him. 

As if by fate, Touya shifts closer in his sleep at that exact moment, his head nuzzling into the hero’s neck, breath hot against his skin. Goosebumps erupt on his skin, and he tightens his hold around him possessively, eyes burning at the sudden realization. 

His gaze flits down to expectant mismatched eyes, Shouto patiently waiting for his answer.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do,” he whispers.

Shouto smiles and nods, satisfied with the answer, before they fall into a comfortable silence. 

 

***********************************

 

Soft hairs tickle Touya’s nose as he comes back into consciousness. A soft caress ghosts over skin, fingers stroking along his cheekbone in slow, careful motions. He stays perfectly still, unwilling to break the spell right away. 

Just a few more minutes…

Of course, Hawks is way too perceptive for his own good, because his fingers pause briefly before continuing their path. “Morning, sweetheart,” the hero murmurs. The gruff tone of his voice sends shivers down Touya’s spine, heat pooling in his gut.

Touya sighs, wrapping his free arm over Hawks’ in answer, hand moving a little too slowly over the hero’s defined abs. In this state, he can almost forget about everything else. Surrounded by red and gold, he can pretend nothing else exists outside of this moment.

He jolts awake, quickly sitting up and scanning the room, when he realizes a smaller body is no longer resting between them. “Where - “

“Easy baby,” Hawks rests a hand on Touya’s hip, his thumb moving in lazy circles against his skin. “He’s in his room watching a movie. He didn’t want to wake you.”

The doubt must show on Touya’s face, because he sees the hurt flash in Hawks’ eyes for a second before it’s gone. “Would it make you feel better to go see for yourself?”

Touya pauses for a second before shaking his head, reluctantly laying back down. “S’ okay.” His voice is hoarse, and his tongue feels like sandpaper in his mouth.

Hawks reaches behind him awkwardly and retrieves a water bottle from the floor next to the couch. He curls his other arm around to open the bottle, which pushes Touya closer into his side, before leaning back and handing it to him.

“Thank you,” he mumbles, leaning up on his elbow and downing half the water bottle in one go. “Did you get up?”

Hawks shakes his head, a small smirk on his face. “My wings are good for more than just flying, firecracker.”

Touya rolls his eyes, closing the bottle and tossing it somewhere on the ground in front of them. He lays back down, burying his face into Hawks shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent. The ever-present buzz of anxiety in his head slows to a sluggish crawl.

That is, until Hawks ruptures the fragile silence. “You wanna talk about it?” His voice is guarded, hesitant.

No.

Every fiber of his being rebels against the idea, but the small, rational part of his brain knows it’s useless. There’s no ignoring the problem. This wasn’t something he could just run from. At least, not yet.

He keeps his head buried in Hawks’ neck like the coward he is, unable to look the hero in the eyes as he starts talking. “I want him to answer for what he did to us. But…I waited for so long for someone to step in and save us. No one ever did.” Hawks arm tightens around him. “I begged for someone, anyone, to listen. What if this time is no different? What if he gets away with it again?”

A hand comes up to the back of his head, gently scratching at his scalp. “Eraserhead and I won’t let that happen. You have people in your corner now, Touya. You are so much stronger now.”

His mouth wobbles as he weakly shakes his head. “No, I’m not.” The sharp intake of breath, the feeling of abject terror he felt seeing Enji on TV was evidence of that. He hadn’t gotten over his fear of his father yet, no matter how much he wanted to believe otherwise.

Lips press to the top of his head, Hawks murmuring against his skin. “You are, and I’ll be there for the times you aren’t. You’re not alone.”

“I want to believe you.” He really does. Even if his head doesn’t agree, rebelling against the very notion, the desire to believe the hero is rooted deep in his chest. “But…how can I trust that you’re not keeping anything else from me? This wasn’t just a little secret, Hawks. It was a secret about me. You studied my entire life like a fucking case file, and I’m supposed to believe you have no ulterior motive for being interested in me?”

“Baby. I wanted you from the second I set eyes on you. Long before I knew who you were. You know that.”

“Do I? How do I know you didn’t know who I was the entire time?” In the back of his mind, Touya knows he’s reaching. He knows Hawks was unaware of his identity until the day they fought and Touya pushed him away. But he keeps pushing, unable to stop the doubts pouring out of his mouth.

“Touya…”

“It would make sense. Gain my trust, wait until I let my guard down, then swoop in when I’m not expecting it. Why else would you be here? I don’t have anything to give you.”

“Baby…” Hawks cups his cheek with one hand, guiding Touya’s head out from the crook of his neck and pressing their foreheads together. “Come on. Don’t do that. Don’t devalue yourself like that. You’ve given me more than enough by just being here.”

No. That’s not enough. That can’t be enough.

Touya shakes his head dumbly. That’s not important right now. “I can’t take any more secrets, so please, if there’s anything else…”

“I promise, there isn't. You can trust me.”

Touya knows Hawks is trying to comfort him, make him feel better, but he only feels frustrated. He’s tired of hearing empty promises. “Hawks…”

“Keigo.” The hero mutters the word softly in his ear. Touya scrunches his face, confused. 

“Wha - “

“My name is Keigo.”

Touya lifts his head, eyes widening. Hawks, no, Keigo, stares back at him cautiously, like he’s trying to gauge Touya’s reaction. The uncertainty there makes the hero look uncharacteristically vulnerable.

“There are only a few people left in this world that know that name.”

“Why?” Touya’s curiosity gets the better of him.

“My parents weren’t good people. My dad…went away and my mom couldn’t cope. Long story short, I saved a bunch of people and caught the Commission’s attention. They took me in, told me they wanted to train me to become a hero. The day I left home, they gave me the name Hawks and said that it was time to leave my old identity behind. So…I’ve been Hawks ever since.”

His story felt…similar to his own in some ways. A shitty family, a second chance, a new identity. He could feel some of his apprehension melt away at the hero’s admission. He had willingly given Touya a secret of his own, and even though it wouldn’t change what happened, it was something. It was a start.

“ Keigo.” He tests the name on his tongue. It fits him. Part of him is smug with the knowledge that he has this special piece of Hawks that no one else has. A piece only for him.

Keigo’s eyes widen, pupils contracting and dilating in rapid succession. His wings shudder, the feathers at Touya’s back seeming to curl around him further, like they’re trying to cover every inch of him. He shifts until Touya is laying under him, pinned to the couch. 

“Say it again,” he growls.

Touya swallows, breath hitching at the heated demand. 

Fuck, this isn’t how it’s supposed to go. I still don’t trust him. I can’t trust him. But…  

His body still reacts against his will, blood thrumming in his veins. “Keigo,” he whispers, keeping his eyes locked on the hero. 

Keigo’s eyes fall to his lips, breath shaky in the air between them. “Touya…” He leans in slowly.

Touya’s heart pounds in his chest, breathing ragged. He can feel the hero’s breath hot on his face. The scent of vanilla and mint fogs his head until the room is spinning around them. Those golden irises, the color popping against the dark markings of his eyes, swirl hypnotically.

Weak.

At the last second, Touya turns his head, Keigo’s lips landing on his cheek. “Wait…” He forces the words out before he has a chance to second guess himself as he finally recalls the reality of the situation. He can’t allow himself to fall back into complacency. Not yet.

A distressed chirp falls from Keigo’s mouth, but he gives Touya space. “Sorry…of course. That was stupid. I’m sorry.”

“I just need time,” he mumbles, avoiding the hero’s eyes. 

Time to come to grips with this new reality. Time to figure out what his next steps should be. Time to determine if Keigo can really be trusted, that he’s not going to turn on him the second Touya bares his neck.

Keigo gently brushes the hair from his eyes, pushing Touya’s head back down to rest on his shoulder. “Take all the time you need, baby. I’ll be here.”

Notes:

All three of our boys needs hugs, let's be honest. They do seem to be talking though...hope someone or something doesn't come along and...ruin it. *evil laughter*

Shouto really is the MVP matchmaker, asking all the right questions LOL

Thank you all for reading! I appreciate every hit, comment, kudo, etc. <3

Chapter 19

Summary:

Keigo and Touya get some quality time.

Notes:

Anyone else have issues writing dialogue-heavy scenes because they're SO anti-social?! Cause that was me with this chapter. It literally took me SO long to complete and I'm honestly not even 100% happy with it. BUT I thought it was an important breather before all hell breaks loose...

Consider this a "filler" chapter with some dabihawks (toukei?) quality time...they're gonna need it.

Touya has been acting differently all week. Not that it was a total surprise. Keigo knew their relationship had taken many steps backwards after his mission in Musutafu, as much as he hated it. But he couldn’t help the frustration bubbling up in his chest as day after day, nothing changed. Nothing improved. If anything, the situation was getting worse.

Keigo had thought the worst was over after he spent the entire day with Touya wrapped in his arms, but the spell seemed to have broken once he left the apartment. There was a coldness to their interactions where there used to be warmth. Every move calculating and hesitant, both of them walking on eggshells around each other.

Touya would barely even look at him anymore, apparently finding everything around them so much more interesting than the hero. Like right now, as he touches down in the alleyway behind Floral Fusions on a bright Monday morning, coffee in hand. Touya’s steps falter for a split second before his shoulders hunch, eyes flitting to the brick walls of the building behind him. Like, what the fuck was so interesting about bricks?

Still, Keigo plasters on an entirely too fake smile when he comes to a stop in front of him, silently offering the cup. Touya takes it carefully, in a way that avoids their fingers accidentally brushing, and mumbles a ‘thank you’ under his breath. He sips the coffee, shifting awkwardly on his feet, eyes glued to the ground.

Keigo’s shoulders droop, smile falling from his face. Not that it matters, because not once has Touya looked him in the eyes. He takes a deep breath, squashing the anxiety curling in his chest before he opens his mouth. “Good morning.”

“Morning.”

“How are you feeling?”

 Touya shuffles on his feet. “Okay.” A pause. “You?”

“Been better.” His eyes are trained on Touya’s face. Although bowed, he can see the faint movement as Touya frowns, brows furrowing. He makes no move to continue the conversation.

“Tou - “

“Do you have plans tonight?”

The question is so sudden, so random, that Keigo freezes for entirely too long, mouth still hanging open. Touya is still staring at the ground, fingers worrying the hem of his hoodie. His lip ring idly moves back and forth. 

“S-sorry. I mean…I was just wondering if you’d wanna hang out…but of course you have plans. So…forget it. It doesn’t matter. Just - I’ll uh, I’ll see you later or - “

Keigo shakes himself out of his stupor and steps forward, grasping Touya’s chin between two fingers and lifting his head up before he can move. Touya keeps his eyes focused on Keigo’s wings behind him. 

“Touya. Can you please just fucking look at me for once?” he murmurs, frustration seeping into his voice.

Touya stiffens but his gaze flits over to meet Keigo’s, eyes darkening at the hero’s demand. 

That’s it, baby. Be angry at me all you want, as long as you keep looking at me. 

“Are you gonna answer my fucking question now ?”

“Hmmm…I don’t know. Do I have plans tonight? Maybe, maybe not. What’d you have in mind? I’ll see if it fits with my busy schedule.” 

Keigo knows he’s playing with fire, literally, when he feels Touya’s skin heat beneath his fingers.

“You don’t have to be an asshole about it,” Touya hisses, slapping Keigo’s hand away from his chin and turning to head towards the door. 

“Yeah, and you don’t have to string me along if you’re not actually gonna give me a chance to make things right.”

Touya stops in his tracks, half turned, before whipping his head around, eyes burning into him. “What the fuck do you think I’m trying to do?”

“I don’t know, Touya!” Keigo raises his arms in question before dropping them to his side. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do here. You can barely look me in the eyes.” His voice cracks at the end. “You barely talk to me. This is the longest conversation we’ve had in days…how am I supposed to feel?”

Touya’s shoulders slump and he lets out a tired sigh, dropping his head. The honking of cars and voices of people walking by echo in the silence between them. Overhead, a couple of pigeons coo before flying off. 

“I’m sorry,” he mutters under his breath.

“I don’t want an ‘I’m sorry’, I just…” Keigo sighs, scrubbing a hand down his face. “I want you. I want us. I know I have to prove I can be trusted again but…don’t just shut me out. Please .”

Tension hangs heavy in the air between them. Touya takes one step, two before slowly wrapping his arms around Keigo’s waist, pulling him into a tight hug. He buries his head into the crook of Keigo’s neck, one hand curling into the soft, baby feathers where his flight jacket meets the base of his wings. 

Keigo lets out a shuddered breath, wrapping one arm around Touya’s waist, his other hand traveling up to thread through his black hair. Keigo feels warmer than he has in days, breathing in the mint and smoke that is exclusively Touya.  

“So…tonight?” Touya mumbles into his neck after a few minutes, breath fanning against Keigo’s skin.

“Yeah, firecracker,” he murmurs, squeezing him tighter. “I’ll be there.”

 

***********************************

 

Keigo pushes the floral shop’s door open ten minutes before closing, the sweet scent of flowers hitting him in the face as he walks in, the bell above the door announcing his entrance. Hana looks up from where she’s stationed at the register, her glasses pushed halfway down her nose and her hair pulled into a bun, random wisps escaping to frame her face. He can see a mop of black hair working in the back, partially hidden by a shelf of hanging plants, vines cascading to the floor.

Behind Touya, along the wall in white buckets, are all sorts of flowers used for arrangements. Keigo doesn’t know all their names, but he can see colorful collections of dahlias, tulips, hyacinths and snapdragons, all flowers that Touya had mentioned in passing before. They were some of his favorites, not only because of how ‘pretty’ they were, but apparently because of what they symbolized.

“My, my, Mr. Pro Hero. To what do we owe the pleasure?”  The older lady gives him a knowing smirk, glancing towards the back where Touya has frozen in the middle of cleaning up his workspace.

“Afternoon, beautiful,” he winks at her. “Just here to pick up the neighborhood grump.”

She belts out a laugh. Keigo chances a look up to see Touya glowering at him from the back. “Oh, so community service then, huh?” Her eyes twinkle with mirth.

“Hey, motherfuckers. I can hear you.”

Hana waves a hand flippantly in the air, brushing off his comment. “Please. You don’t scare me. You’re lucky enough I don’t just throw you out on your ass, kid.”

“And you’re lucky I haven’t pushed you down the stairs yet, grandma.” Touya fires back as he walks towards them, brushing his hands off on his apron.

Keigo watches them bicker back and forth fondly, Touya taking the apron off and throwing it in her direction, only to be caught by two red feathers and deposited gently on the counter. Touya turns to him, scowling, before throwing on his hoodie over his work shirt.

“You ready, firecracker?”

Hana snorts and Touya narrows his eyes at her. “ Don’t even.” He grabs Keigo by the elbow without another word, leading him out the door.

“Bye, Hana!” Keigo twists his body, waving at the older lady as he’s dragged outside.

“Good luck with him. See you tomorrow, firecracker!” The door closes as she starts cackling, the grip on Keigo’s elbow tightening as Touya grumbles under his breath.

Wrestling out of his grip, Keigo lowers his hand, intertwining his fingers with Touya’s and squeezing gently. His heart does a little flip when Touya doesn’t pull away, instead swiping his thumb back and forth in light circles along the back of Keigo’s hand.

“So, where are you taking me?”

“It’s a surprise.” Touya’s lip twitches upward as he pulls Keigo along. “But first, we’ve gotta make a pitstop.” He stops suddenly, only a block down from the floral shop.

Keigo stares up at the storefront that Touya’s stopped in front of. There’s a large glass window that takes up the entire front, letting passersby see inside. The store sign spells out Wildflower Ink in bold, gothic lettering. 

Touya squeezes his hand, the look on his face questioning, hopeful. Keigo’s wings flutter nervously behind him but he nods once, and he’s rewarded with Touya’s bright smile.

Worth it.

Inside, the walls are adorned with different framed tattoo designs and eclectic artwork. A younger lady with neon pink hair and an assortment of piercings adorning her face is at the register, talking animatedly to a couple of guys, their arms covered in tattoos. Another young lady, with long black hair and vibrant purple eyes peeks her head out from the back room.

“Hey! Seika! Back for more?” She smiles fondly at him. 

Keigo’s wings sharpen involuntarily behind him, an ugly feeling spreading through him like wildfire. He frowns, softening his feathers before anyone notices. The feeling gets worse when he sees Touya smiling back with equal softness.

Mine. 

“You know it.”

“Well, you know where everything is. Once you have something picked out, come on back.”

Touya leads him to an ornate display case with rows of metal rings and studs. Keigo is distracted taking in the surroundings, tuning out the sensitivity of his feathers from the loud music blaring through the shop, when a low voice sounds at his side, startling him.

“Wanna do something kinda crazy, birdy?” Touya drawls, leaning in until his lips graze his ear and he nips at the lobe, eliciting a shiver. Keigo recognizes the words as his own, from when they went flying that first time. A warm sensation swirls in his chest and he leans in, chasing that proximity he’s been missing for the last week.

“Like what?” he breathes out. He can feel Touya smirk against his skin.

“I’ll let you pick out mine if you let me pick out yours.”

Keigo whips his head to the side, stepping back when he realizes how close they are. “What do you mean? Pick out what?”

Touya jerks his head towards the display case, eyebrows raising in question. Keigo’s eyes widen when he realizes what he’s asking.

“Touya, I can’t. I’ll get in so much trouble.” His heart beats rapidly in his chest. 

He can just imagine the judgment, the condescending look of his handler if he came back with piercings. He has to be pristine, untouched, perfectly put together. Piercings were distasteful . The public would scorn him if he marred his body with such filth.

Yet, he studied Touya’s face, the hero’s resolve slowly cracking at the hopeful look in his eyes. He studied the metal in his eyebrow, his lip, his nose. The industrial studs and hoops adorning his ears, catching the light at just the right angle to make them shine. Touya’s piercings are fucking beautiful. They don’t mar his body, they don’t make him any less perfect. So maybe…

“C’mon, Kei. Please ,” Touya whines, pushing his lower lip into a pout, fluttering his eyelashes dramatically. Between the adorable look on his face and the endearing nickname, Kei, the hero is done for. Completely and utterly under his spell. 

“Not fucking fair.” he grumbles, “but fine.” His chest feels tight at the victorious smile that splits Touya’s face. “It can’t be anything crazy, though.” 

My handler is gonna fucking kill me as it is. 

Touya rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I know, Mr. Goody Two Shoes.” He presses up against the hero and his grin turns mischievous. “But what if it’s somewhere no one can see?”

“Touya!” Keigo hisses under his breath, wings snapping tight to his back. “I’m not getting my dick pierced, you fucking psycho.”

Touya bursts out into laughter, drawing eyes from the other couple across the shop. “Not what I meant, pretty bird, but good to know you have such a dirty mind.” 

He waggles his eyebrows suggestively, putting an arm up to block Keigo as the hero tries pushing him away. Keigo can feel his face go as red as a tomato, and he turns away, glowering at the display case.

“Fine,” Touya sighs, wrapping an arm around him and nuzzling into his neck. “Just the ears. Literal babies get their ears pierced. They can’t possibly get mad at you for that.”

Keigo snorts, shaking his head. “Yeah, well, they shouldn’t be getting their ears pierced, and you don’t know the Commission.”

“Not the point and fuck the Commission.” Keigo’s heart flutters in his chest as Touya drops a kiss to his cheek before turning back to the display case, arm still wrapped around the hero. God , he missed this. He missed Touya’s warmth, his clinginess. He missed him. Enough to not question the sudden change in attitude.

“Okay, found my pick. Now it’s your turn.” Keigo goes to ask but Touya shakes his head, a coy smile on his lips. “Nope, it’s a surprise. Now, hurry up so we can get back there, birdy.”

He browses through the display case, thankful for the example pictures showing what each piercing looks like. He periodically turns to Touya, taking stock of his existing piercings before turning back to the case. Finally, he finds what he’s looking for.

In the back, Touya leads him to a corner of the shop partially closed off by a colorful tapestry strung up like a curtain, swirling patterns and mandalas covering the fabric. The black-haired girl is sitting on a stool, thumbing through her phone. She looks up when they walk in, her smile too wide and too friendly. Hawks bristles, fidgeting uncomfortably.

Her eyes turn towards Keigo and she does a double take, brows furrowing. “You’re - “

“Yeah, I am,” he replies curtly, his mouth set in a grim line, eyes narrowing slightly. Touya gives him a strange look from the corner of his eye. 

The girl looks him up and down appraisingly before her lips pull in an impressed half-grin. “Good catch, kid,” she remarks to Touya before addressing Keigo again. “Well, my name’s Anya.” She looks between the two of them. “What can I do for you guys tonight?”

“He’s getting his ears pierced. Not sure what he’s got planned for me.”

“Okay then. Who wants to go first?”

Touya squeezes his hand. “You up for it, pretty bird?”

Keigo puffs up his wings. A sudden insatiable need to impress Touya, to show him he’s not afraid of a stupid needle or some pain, rushes through him. “Let’s do it,” he says, successfully hiding the slight tremor in his voice.

Anya gestures to the chair for him to sit before leaving with Touya towards the front room. Keigo fidgets uncomfortably in the minute or two it takes for them to come back, face heating when Touya winks at him, devilish smirk in place.

Keigo turns his head when Anya sets a box on the cart at his side. Inside the box are two stud earrings. A pair of gorgeous square-cut rubies, the same shade as his wings, are framed by intricate, gold settings. My colors. His eyes fly up to Touya, who’s staring at him with a knowing smile.

He clears his throat at the feeling of warmth that floods him, blinking back the tears that threaten to form in his eyes. It’s so fucking stupid, such a small thing to get emotional about. His handler would be ashamed of him. But they’re perfect, a small reminder of Touya he can take with him wherever he goes.

He barely registers Anya setting up the station and disinfecting his ear lobes with a sterilized wipe, spouting off instructions on piercing care. He’s not worried, he knows Touya will be able to tell him later.

Soon enough, she’s bringing the needle up to his ear and pushing through, setting each stud in place. Keigo barely flinches at the slight pinch, too distracted by copper eyes that are burning into him with a level of intensity that twists his stomach into knots. 

Touya replaces Keigo in the chair after they’re done, his position a lot more relaxed than the hero’s had been, hands intertwined over his stomach. Even as Anya pierces the needle through the cartilage in the middle of his nose, he barely flinches, only betrayed by the slight sheen in his eyes and a sniffle.

The new septum piercing that Keigo picked out is a matte black, matching the aesthetic of the rest of his piercings, besides the two blue sapphires at each end. His eyes pin as it twinkles in the fluorescent lights above.

Touya chuckles, murmuring a ‘birdbrain’ under his breath. 

They leave the shop hand in hand, Touya dragging him out in a hurry. Suddenly, he’s being pulled into the alleyway next to the shop and he barely has time to adjust his wings before he’s pushed up against the brick wall. Touya grips his chin roughly, so close he can feel his breath fan across his cheek. 

“What was that back there?”

“W-what was what?”

“You were acting weird around Anya.” Copper eyes pierce through him. “So?”

Keigo tenses, wings ruffling behind him. “It was nothing.” 

He’s honestly not even sure what Touya wants him to say. He didn’t fully understand his reaction either. She actually seemed like a nice girl, and hadn’t done anything to offend him. It was just the nerves, he decided. 

“Nothing, huh?” Touya smirks at him as if he knows a secret that he can’t wait to spill. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were a little jealous, baby.”

“I - I…no...“ Keigo sputters, blood rushing to his cheeks. He wasn’t jealous. Especially not of Anya and her shiny, beautiful hair or overly friendly smile. A distressed warble escapes his mouth, eyes widening at the slip up.

He gets no warning as Touya dives in, attacking his lips like a man starved. His heart stutters in his chest at the sudden contact, and he uses the momentum of his wings to change their positions, pushing Touya against the brick. 

He refuses to come up for air until he’s lightheaded from lack of oxygen, panting as he pulls away. It’s been a whole week of waiting, of missing that undeniable surge of energy that only came from kissing Touya. Like a drug addict taking that first hit after going through withdrawal. 

“I like it when you get jealous over me,” Touya growls, his breath hot against Keigo’s face. His hand comes up and cups the hero’s face, thumb swiping over his bottom lip.

Touya leans in again, licking his way inside Keigo’s mouth, fighting for dominance. The hand at his chin wraps around the back of the hero’s neck, pulling at the delicate hairs there.

“You know, your mood swings are seriously giving me whiplash,” Keigo pants when they break apart, trying to reconcile their encounter this morning with the desperate need shining in Touya’s eyes now. 

“Just go with it. You missed me, didn’t you?” The man sounds rushed, almost manic.

“You know I did.” Keigo rests his forehead against Touya’s. Outside of their little bubble, cars honk and the faint murmur of passersby flows through the air. “You sure you’re okay?”

Touya just clings tighter to him, smiling wide. “Never been better, pretty bird.” He leans down and kisses him hard on the mouth once more. “Thank you for doing this with me.”

Keigo takes a step back, mind going a million miles a minute. “Anytime, baby.” He reaches for Touya’s hand and squeezes when Touya automatically interlocks their fingers. 

“We gotta hurry up! We’re gonna be late!” Touya once again pulls him out of the alleyway and down the street. All Keigo can do is be dragged along, studying the face of the boy he loves with curiosity and concern. 

All he’s wanted these last few days is to see Touya smile again, but now that it’s there, he can’t help the nagging feeling of dread in his chest that tells him something’s wrong. His smile is a little too bright, eyes a little too clouded over, to be genuine. 

“What’s your favorite color?”

“Huh?” 

“Your favorite color.” Keigo goes to answer but Touya interrupts, “and you can’t say red, you egotistical pigeon.”

Keigo’s lips pull into a pout. “Fine then. Blue.”

Touya rolls his eyes. “Such a sap.” Keigo doesn’t miss the blotch of red that crawls up his neck. 

“Well, what about you, Mr. Edgelord? Don’t you dare say black, it’s not an actual color.”

“The fuck it’s not! What color is this then?!” He lifts their joined hands, gesturing at the sleeve of his hoodie. 

“Well, black, but…”

“I win! Next question. Books or movies?”

Keigo chuckles. “Where is all this coming from?”

Touya shrugs as they continue walking, getting closer to Touya’s neighborhood. “I wanna know more about you. Got a problem with that?” He turns to Keigo with a challenging glint in his eye. 

Keigo swallows, throat suddenly dry. “No.”

“Good. So, books or movies?”

“Books. Movie adaptations never get it right and almost always ruin the story. Plus…I wasn’t really allowed to watch movies growing up so, I guess I just don’t get the hype.”

“Same. We were always too busy training for shit like that.”

“I thought you said you were banned from training after you started getting hurt?”

Touya’s jaw clenches. He clears his throat. “Yeah, but I didn’t stop training. Hence my ugly mug.” He gestures to the scars crawling up his neckline. 

Keigo pouts, squeezing Touya’s hand. “You know I hate when you do that.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know, birdy.” Touya gives him a soft smile. “What else…how about…favorite food.”

It’s Keigo’s turn to roll his eyes. “You literally know this already. Yakitori.”

“Oh well, sorry,” Touya snarks back, a teasing edge to his voice. “It’s hard to tell since you eat anything and everything I put in front of you like it’s your last meal, you damn glutton.”

Keigo shrugs. “I have a fast metabolism, hot stuff.” 

He doesn’t elaborate on why else he’s not picky with his food, why he eats faster than he should. Doesn’t tell him how hollow his stomach felt, wading through beer cans and piles of trash looking for scraps of any food left over from his parents. Or how his mouth used to water when the rich aromas from the food stalls below wafted up to the rooftops he hid himself on whenever he snuck out of the house. 

He can see Touya look at him curiously from his peripheral vision as they come to a stop in front of a chain link gate with “do not enter” and “caution” signs posted all along the front. 

“Uh…baby…?”

“Hmmm?” Touya steps forward, opening the gate just enough for them to slip through. 

“I don’t think we’re supposed to be here.” He looks around, trying to get his bearings before he slips through. It was much harder from the ground but…

Oh. This is where…

“Gonna arrest me, hero?” Touya purrs, a half-cocked grin on his face. 

“Well no, but…” 

He looks back warily at the closed gate. Overgrown brush and gnarled trees slowly swallow them whole, the sights and sounds of the street behind them fading into the background as they forge ahead.

He wonders why Touya would bring him to this place. What kind of surprise could he possibly have in store for them here?

Touya comes to a stop, waiting until Keigo looks him in the eye. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” The reply is immediate, and Touya’s face breaks out into a wide grin. 

He drops a chaste kiss on Keigo’s lips before grabbing his hand and dragging him along the dirt path. The grass along their route is wild and unkempt, brushing against the bottom of their pants. Birds chirp and fly from treetop to treetop above, curious of the new arrivals.

“Oh, also,” he stops again, “there’s no ‘Touya’ or ‘Shouto’ here, okay?” His face is serious, waiting until Keigo nods his head in understanding to turn away and start walking again.

No Touya or Shouto? Does that mean we’re meeting other people here?

His head spins with ideas and possibilities as they cut through the overgrown pathway, following the slight indent telling Keigo this path has been used. Frequently too. He detaches a few feathers and stealthily sends them off ahead of them, focusing on the vibrations they send back. He picks up three different heartbeats about a hundred yards ahead of them, the faint murmuring of voices.

He glances at Touya, to the small smile on his face as they walk along. The late spring breeze tousles his hair in front of his eyes. He seems completely relaxed, happy, and Keigo feels some of the tension leave his shoulders.

That is until they reach the clearing ahead, where Touya mutters a quick ‘good luck’ under his breath, before they come face to face with three pairs of eyes, looking him up and down.

Oh.

Shit.

Notes:

Not sure why but I really love the idea that Hawks' piercings were picked out by Touya as an act of rebellion. Idk...just thought it was a cute date idea so decided to run with it. And yes, I know his earrings are shown as all red in the anime, but red and gold just sound better and match his aesthetic.

Also, I wanted to show them actually conversing about something other than how down bad they were for each other LOL. Not that them getting to know each other shows that, because even Keigo's favorite color being blue tells you how OBSESSED he is with our bby boy, but still. I feel like a lot of their "bonding" has happened behind the scenes sooo yeah.

We might also be seeing the start of some mental ramifications of having an abusive, shitty father and waking up from a three-year long coma to immediately grow up and care for your little brother. You can't convince me that Touya doesn't have some sort of bi-polar/manic disorder. It's practically canon.

Do you think Keigo is ready to meet the rest of the gang? What do you think their reactions are going to be? Will Touya save him from the shovel talk he's about to get or will he be laughing in the background? I wonder LOL.

As always, thank you all SO SO SO much for reading. Every single hit, comment, kudo, etc. makes my day so much better, you have no idea. I appreciate every single one of you! <3

Chapter 20

Summary:

Keigo meets the trio and Touya has an encounter.

Notes:

Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA folks!

Also, I'm sorry. LOL.

Keigo’s not sure what he was expecting when Touya pulls him into the clearing, but it’s certainly not this. He looks at him, confused, only to be met with a carefully blank face, besides the sliver of amusement glittering in those copper eyes. 

“Take it as a last show of faith,” he mutters, shouldering Keigo’s wing lightly. “Let’s see how well you do.” The hero nods, swallowing the lump in his throat before turning back to the figures standing in front of him. 

After the Commission took him in as a child, Keigo was trained in every part of hero work imaginable. The good, the bad, and the incredibly ugly. He’d been trained to deal with civilians, other heroes, S-ranked villains, yakuza, and anyone else who called the dark underground home. 

Yet, as three pairs of eyes all stare back at him, he’s never felt more off-kilter in his life. It’s then that he realizes he’s never actually been trained on how to deal with children. At least not outside of giving out autographs and high fives. Something tells him that’s not going to work here.

Shouto, at least, just watches him impassively, face as blank as ever, before looking down to carelessly pick at a fingernail. His lips curl in a small smile and he turns his head when the boy next to him starts muttering under his breath. 

The boy in question has unruly, curly green hair, and vibrant green eyes that seem to shine in the afternoon light. His cheeks are a bright red, dusted in freckles, and his hands are curled into fists in front of him, slightly shaking. 

“O-oh my gosh, H-hawks! I can’t believe it’s actually you! I’m such a big fan, your quirk is so cool !” The kid blabbers on. At Keigo’s side, Touya chuckles, a soft smile on his face as he shakes his head fondly. “D-do you think you’ll break the top ten this year?! The forums are saying you’re really close and your stats are better than Wash or Crust, so it’s entirely possible. That’d make you the youngest to ever do it! That’s amazing! Do you know - “

“Oi, Deku. You’re muttering again, you damned nerd,” A blond kid with angry, red eyes says from this ‘Deku’ kid’s other side, arms crossed over his chest. 

The green-haired kid squeaks and covers his mouth with both hands, eyes going wide and face turning even redder than before. “S-sorry,” he mumbles from behind his hands. 

Keigo laughs and flashes him his hero smile. “No worries, kid! You must be the one with that notebook!” 

The notebook kid lets out another squeak before nodding his head aggressively. “Yes! T-thank you for the autograph! M-my name’s Izuku Midoriya.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, Izuku. I enjoyed reading your analysis. You really know your stuff.” 

Izuku’s eyes twinkle impossibly brighter at the compliment. He opens his mouth to say something when the blond kid at his side butts in again.

“Tch. What the hell’s so special about some big ass wings?”

“ Kacchan!” Izuku pulls on his arm, cheeks a fiery red. Shouto just rolls his eyes and Touya snorts at his side. 

“Hawks, meet Katsuki Bakugo. I’d say he doesn’t bite but…” Touya supplies, gesturing to the kid as if that’s not incredibly vague enough.

“Uhhh…okay. Well it’s nice to meet you, Katsuki.” The kid grumbles and averts his eyes. “Also, my quirk’s not just my wings! I can control my feathers, too!” He adds on cheerfully, detaching a dozen or so feathers and flying them around the trio in sweeping patterns. 

Shouto just brushes the feathers aside as they fly in front of his face, Izuku looks like he’s stopped breathing altogether, watching the patterns in awe, and Bakugo rolls his eyes at the display.

“Yeah, whatever. So you can do cool tricks. You’re still not better than All Might. I bet I could even beat you!”

Keigo raises his brows, looking over at Touya for help. The asshole just smirks and shrugs his shoulders in a ‘what are you looking at me for’ manner. “Oh no, kid. I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Keigo raises his arms in front of him and shakes his head.

“If he’s not gonna spar, what the hell did you bring him here for, Hot Topic?!” Bakugo addresses Touya this time. “Don’t tell me you’re just gonna sit there and suck face while we do all the work, you lazy piece of shit!”

“Hey, I’m not gonna make him spar with you, you fucking gremlin,” Touya deadpans, bringing a hand up and inspecting his cuticles as if this is the most normal conversation in the world.

“Wait, spar?” Keigo inspects the clearing, taking in the wooden staffs leaning up against a tree, the bottles of water and backpacks spread out in the grass. “What exactly is going on here?”

“God, are all heroes this dense?” Bakugo crosses his arms over his chest and rolls his eyes.

“We’re training. To be heroes,” Shouto deadpans, Izuku nodding in agreement at his side.

Keigo looks over at Touya, raising a brow in silent question. 

“I, uh…I’ve been helping them out, I guess.” Touya shrugs, eyes regarding him carefully, gauging his reaction. “And yes, hero , I know it’s technically illegal.”

“Hmmm.” Keigo mulls over the situation.

It felt hypocritical for him to be mad that a few ten-year-olds had sought out training to be heroes. Lord knows he was already well into the Legacy Program by their age. But, that had been with licensed teachers, supervision, a plan , complete with a big, fat, confidential file with his name on it.

The rules and regulations to limit quirk usage to those with a license had been put in place for good reason. He’d seen the consequences of civilians using their quirks recklessly, without proper training or licensure. His handlers had made him watch video after video, sift through picture after picture, of carnage caused by those not following direction, of quirk-caused accidents. He’d never get the image of those bodies, of that destruction, out of his head.

Although Touya probably understands those consequences more than anyone. He’d started training around the same age as Keigo, after all, and understood the dangers firsthand. He knew what worked and what didn’t. He might actually be the best teacher these kids could have if they were really that determined to train. It was better than them trying to learn by themselves.

“Well.” He looks into copper eyes before turning back to angry red. “Let’s see whatcha got, kid.”

 

***********************************

 

“Want some?”

Touya looks down at Shouto as he holds out a bag of gummy worms, eyes trained forward. He shoves a hand into the bag, grabbing a handful before popping one in his mouth. 

In the makeshift training ring in front of them, Katsuki and Keigo are getting ready to square off. Birdy looks at ease, smiling as he stretches, cracking his neck on both sides and rolling his shoulders, his wings moving up and down with the movement. On the other side, Katsuki is clenching and unclenching his fists, basically snarling at the pro hero. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Izuku looks on nervously, wringing his hands. 

“Eh,” Touya shrugs. “They’ll be fine. It’ll be a good ego check.”

“For who?”

“Both of them,” Shouto and Touya answer in synchronicity. 

A large ‘boom’ rings out as Katsuki launches himself at the hero. One flap of his wings and Keigo launches himself up in the air, landing behind the boy. He stands relaxed with both hands clasped behind him. Detaching some of his feathers, they zip through the air, knocking Katsuki off balance so his next explosion goes wide right. 

Katsuki switches tactics, coming in close to trade punches that Keigo easily dodges. His hands are still behind his back, using his feathers to block and jumping out of the way whenever the boy gets in too close. Katsuki lets out miniature explosions with every punch, both increasing the strength and damage of each potential hit. If only he could land them.

Something hot and heavy stirs in his gut as Touya watches Keigo move around the ring, body fluid and a cocky smirk in place. There’s a light in his eyes that Touya has never seen before, a sharpness in his gaze that contradicts his relaxed posture. It’s mesmerizing, and Touya can’t seem to tear his eyes away.

A dozen or so of Keigo’s feathers latch onto Katsuki’s clothing, pulling him into the air above their heads. The hero laughs in delight as Katsuki uses small blasts to change direction, flying past Keigo and landing behind him.

“You’re using your explosions to fly! That’s amazing!”

Katsuki snarks back with a feral grin, “That’s not all I can do!” 

He brings both hands out in front of him, palms crackling before he launches a huge explosion towards the bird. Keigo dodges the gigantic fireball just in time, landing outside the ring as a black plume of smoke rises above the treeline.

“I win!” The blond exclaims, fisting on hand in the air triumphantly.

Touya rolls his eyes. “Katsuki, everyone in the area’s gonna see that smoke, you dumbass. We said no big explosions, remember?”

He’s ignored as Keigo walks over and shakes the boy’s hand, saying something that Touya can’t hear. It must be good, because Katsuki looks smug, standing a little straighter as he nods his head in agreement to whatever the hero is saying.

Keigo turns and starts walking back towards them and, honestly, Touya deserves a fucking medal for not immediately jumping down the hero’s throat right then and there, thank you very fucking much. His body glistens with a thin sheen of sweat, a crooked grin marking his face as his tongue peeks out to wet his bottom lip. Red wings fan out behind him, shadowing his features as they block out the descending sun. He looks like an angel, or maybe a demon summoned to tempt him. At this point, he’d be happy with either.

“See something you like, firecracker?,” Keigo purrs as he invades Touya’s space, eyes flicking down to his mouth and back up again.

“Mmm,” he leans in until he’s speaking against the hero’s lips, “maybe. What are you gonna do about it?”

“Eugh, get a room.” 

Keigo chuckles, dropping a chaste kiss on Touya’s lips, and turns away. “So, anyone else wanna give it a go?”

Shouto pushes Izuku forward, a squeak escaping the green-haired boy’s lips. 

“Oh, n-no I couldn’t. There’s no w-way I could win…” the kid stumbles over his words. 

“Hey, you don’t know unless you try. What’s your quirk?”

Izuku shrinks in on himself a little. “I-I don’t have one…”

Touya tenses as he watches the interaction. He’s not above punching a bitch in the face for upsetting Izuku over his quirklessness, even if that face belongs to an incredibly attractive hero that he might have real strong feelings for.

“Oh! So you must be the one that uses the staffs, huh?”

A wooden staff is picked up and brought to the boy by a couple feathers. Izuku reaches out and takes it, twirling the weapon in his hands a few times. 

“Y-yeah.” He still looks a little hesitant. 

“Well,” Keigo starts walking towards the ring again. “Let’s see what you can do,” he calls over his shoulder.

“You wanna spar with me?” Izuku asks, a little dazed as he slowly follows him. 

“Why not?” Keigo shrugs. “You’re training to be a hero, aren’t you?”

Izuku smiles brightly before jogging to catch up to him. Touya relaxes. Looks like birdy’s face is safe for today. 

 

***********************************

 

“So…” Keigo walks at his side as they leave the training area, the three gremlins babbling on ahead of them. “I never pegged you for the sensei type.”

Touya snorts and rolls his eyes. “Shut up,” he grumbles. 

The hero chuckles and reaches out his hand, interlocking their fingers before bringing them up to his lips, kissing the back of Touya’s hand.

“They’re lucky to have someone like you, y’know. Most kids don’t get the chance to train so young. They’ll be miles ahead of other applicants once they start applying for high school.”

“Yeah.” His jaw clenches. He’s reminded of early morning training sessions filled with hellfire and broken cries. Sneaking into Shouto’s room with their first aid kit after late night sessions gone wrong. “Most kids shouldn’t be training this young.”

He doesn’t miss the way Keigo flinches slightly at his words. Touya softens his voice. “I just wanted them to have a different experience, I guess.”

“I know.” They wave as Katsuki breaks from the group when they reach his street. Touya’s mouth twitches upwards when he sees a few feathers accompanying him. “Just in case,” Keigo mutters. 

Touya chuckles. “Don't let Blasty see them. He’ll be offended that you don’t think he can take care of himself.”

“He, uh, seems like a handful.”

“He is. But there’s a lot more to him that most people don’t see. He’s as loyal as they come and wants to keep the ones he loves safe.” 

“Hmmm.” Keigo looks thoughtful for a minute. “So what you’re saying is, he’s like a mini you.”

“ What?!” Touya screeches. Shouto and Izuku look back at them at the outburst, Shouto raising an unamused brow like the condescending little shit he is.

Keigo laughs before muffling his mouth with his hand at the look of pure shock and disgust on Touya’s face. “I’m sorry, baby.” The asshole still continues to chuckle as he talks. “It’s just, you’re both grumpy emo kids on the outside that are fluffy teddy bears on the inside. It’s cute.”

Okay, but like, what the fuck? Cute? His face heats until he can feel the blush that must be painting his cheeks.

“First off, motherfucker, I’m not that bad. Second of all, fuck you. I’m not a fucking teddy bear.”

“Yes, he is.” Shouto butts in as they come to a stop outside the apartment building. 

“Sh - Hotaru, go upstairs. I’ll be up in a minute.” He keeps his attention on Keigo, eyes glaring at the amused twinkle in the hero’s eye. 

Bastard. 

“ Baby,” Keigo coos, “you know you look so cute when you’re all prickly like this.” He steps in, letting go of Touya’s hand to wrap both arms around his waist, squeezing him hard. 

Touya doesn’t budge as the hero gets in close. The heat in his gut spreads, his face going up in flames. “I’m not cute,” he grumbles. 

“You’re right, you’re not cute.”

Oh fuck you, you little - 

“ You’re hot. Especially with that new piercing. Knowing that you’re wearing something I picked out? God, you’re lucky we’re in public.”

His heart feels like it’ll pound straight through his chest as he watches Keigo’s eyes darken. He trails his hands up the hero’s sides, thumb skimming his defined abs, smirking when he hears Keigo’s breath hitch, before looping his arms around his neck. Red and gold twinkle in his ears and Touya thinks he might know exactly what the hero means.

“Oh? What would you do to me if we were alone, hero ?” He leans in until their breaths mingle, body buzzing with the need to close the remaining distance between them. At the same time, he feels jittery, anxious. Like dozens of needles are pricking his skin. 

“Hmmm,” Keigo’s pupils dilate as they map his face, biting his lip as his gaze pauses on Touya’s mouth. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do, firecracker. Just say the word.”

His head is in a daze, the prickling anxiety under his skin making him itch. Truth is, Touya is so far out of his depth here. Though, he supposes Keigo is as well. The topic of intimacy was one they had been skating around for weeks now, volleying suggestive comments back and forth without a clear idea of how to take that next step, keeping satiated with heavy makeout sessions and exploratory touches. 

From what Keigo told him, the Commission hadn’t allowed dating while he was in their program. Meanwhile, Touya was definitely not interested in anyone when he ‘died’ at 14, he’d been too focused on training back then, and he’d met Keigo not long after his resurrection. He’s not sure what’s expected of him, how to push their relationship to the next level. 

All he can do is talk big and hope that Keigo understands him. But the idea of doing something wrong , of being rejected, is paralyzing. Even as the hero tells him in no uncertain terms that he’s in charge, that Touya is in control of their relationship and what they do. 

He’s not sure if he’s ready for that type of closeness, to let someone in like that. Even Keigo. But he doesn’t have anything else to offer, anything else he can give that’s worth much of anything. Would that piece of him be enough? Would that keep Keigo from leaving, give him enough incentive to not fuck him up and leave him for dead?

He feels like he’s on the bottom of the ocean floor, pressure slowly crushing him on all sides. The words are caught in his throat, right on the cusp of being spoken, held back by that small inkling of fear, of failure. 

“I…Shouto’ll probably be wondering where I am.” He stamps down on the shame threatening to clog his throat as he bows his head. 

Weak.

Two fingers tilt his chin up until he’s looking into golden eyes. Eyes that are way too soft, too perceptive. Touya’s breath catches as those eyes flay him alive. 

How does he do that? Why does it feel like he can see straight through me? 

Why doesn’t he look disappointed? Why does he have to be so goddamn understanding and patient all the time? 

God , it makes him want to cry and scream and punch and kick. Anything to get a different reaction, to see the anger and disgust he’d grown accustomed to all his life. A demand for him to be better, to not be so useless and broken and afraid.

And like the asshole he is, Keigo somehow sees the conflict on his face. He smiles at Touya like he’s the goddamn sun and it’s stifling. 

“Come back to me, baby.” The hand on Touya's chin moves to cup his cheek. 

“How do you do that?” Touya mutters, resting his forehead against Keigo’s.

“Do what?”

“I don’t know…you just always seem to know when…when I’m…ugh.” He has to drag every word out of his mouth kicking and screaming. It doesn’t make sense. Keigo’s seen him freak out before, been there for his panic attacks. It shouldn’t be that hard to just fucking say what’s on his mind…to be vulnerable. “You know when I’m not okay,” he grits out.

Keigo hums considerably. “I think you give me too much credit, firecracker. It’s not like I can read your mind or anything. To be honest, I don’t think we’re much different. Maybe that’s why it seems like I always know when you’re not okay. Because I recognize your triggers and your…weaknesses isn’t the right word…maybe vulnerabilities?…as my own.”

“You’re never not okay though. You’re the strongest person I know.” Touya whispers the confession.

It’s true. Everything he’s come to know about the hero in the months they’ve known each other has proven that fact. Keigo is so goddamn strong it’s annoying. He’s always the one smiling, always holding the world’s problems on his shoulders, never buckling under the weight. 

He’s cheerful and kind and patient and everything that Touya wished he could be. A natural hero. He didn’t have to try and fight his demons to wake up every day with a smile. He didn’t have to push down the resentment and the pain with every step he took. 

Life was a never-ending struggle for Touya. Every step he took out of the black sludge swallowing him whole only made him sink deeper and deeper. If it wasn’t for Keigo and Shouto reaching out their hands, keeping him above water, he would’ve sunk completely by now. Become the monster that he sometimes feels is clawing inside of him, waiting to be let out.

Keigo chuckles, shaking his head. “Baby, I’m not strong. I’m just doing the best I can to be better than my blood.”

Better than my blood.

“The truth is, you scare the shit out of me,” the hero continues. “I don’t know what I’m doing with you. I’ve never felt like this with anyone, not even close , in my life and I’m terrified that I’ll do something stupid and you’ll leave. I want you to be comfortable and happy and I want you to feel safe with me, more than anything. If that means we never take our relationship to the next level, then so be it. As long as you’re with me.”

Touya feels the burn in his eyes before Keigo brushes away the wetness as it tracks down his face. “You’re so fucking annoying, always making me cry,” he grumbles without any heat. “I don’t…I don’t have anything else to give you though…”

“Baby…,” Keigo sounds troubled, hesitant, “I told you before. I don’t want anything from you except for you. You’re enough for me.”

“Yeah…okay.” 

Liar.

He buries his head in Keigo’s neck, one hand curling around his back to bury itself in the baby feathers at the base of his wings. He relishes in their softness, letting the texture beneath his hands calm his frantic heartbeat.

Keigo kisses the side of his head, murmuring against his skin, “Shouto’s probably wondering where you are..”

“Do you wanna come up? We’ll probably do dinner and a movie or something. Nothing too exciting but…if you want…”

“I don’t want to intrude…”

Touya rolls his eyes and pulls away, interlinking their hands. “C’mon birdbrain. At least let me feed you.”

Let me be useful for once. 

 

***********************************

 

Touya finishes cubing up some potatoes and starts peeling the skin off an onion as Keigo plops himself on the counter next to him, kicking his feet like a little kid.

“Whatcha making?”

“Curry.” He starts dicing up the onion evenly in fluid, practiced motions. 

“Do you like cooking?”

“Mm. It’s not really about me liking it or not. Shouto needed healthy meals so I kinda had to learn for him. It is relaxing though. Now that I at least know a little bit about what I’m doing. You should’ve seen me when I first started though. I was a disaster.”

He smiles at the memory of waving a dish towel in front of the smoke alarm when he burnt the absolute shit out of some salmon. The either too well done or not cooked enough rice that he experimented with for what felt like weeks before getting it just right. The infinite number of tabs he had open on his internet browser with ‘easy to make’ recipes and tutorials. 

Nowadays he could hold his own in a kitchen pretty damn well, if he could say so himself. He was no Gordon Ramsey but even Inko and Mitsuki had complimented his cooking so really, kinda the same thing. 

“I don’t think I have the patience to learn.”

Touya scoffs, rolling his eyes as he adds the onions to the oil heating up in the sauce pot. “You definitely don’t have the patience for it, birdy. Or the smarts.” He laughs at Keigo’s indignant squawk, dodging when he tries to smack him with a wing. 

“Hey! I’ve survived this long.”

“Yeah. On fucking…bad take out and spite.”

Keigo’s still grumbling as Touya comes to stand in front of him, bracketing his hands on the counter on either side of the hero and leaning into his space. 

“Why’re you so mean to me?” Keigo pouts, and that action has no business being as adorable as it is. 

“I’m not mean. I’m right and you know it.” Touya drops a soft kiss on the hero’s mouth. Keigo melts into him, unhurried and languid against his lips. They only break away at the sizzling of the food cooking on the stovetop, Touya planting one more chaste kiss on the hero’s lips before moving away to add the broth. 

“So, uh…” Keigo clears his throat, but doesn’t continue. 

“What?”

“ Fuck . I didn’t want to do it like this.” 

Touya tenses, the spoon pausing in the sauce pot. “Out with it birdy.”

“Well. I was just wondering how you felt about, you know, the whole Endeavor thing. I’m not trying to pressure you, I swear!” Keigo’s voice grows frantic. “But you know, the case would be a lot stronger with more witnesses and…you know….” He trails off. 

“You want Shouto and I to take the stand.” It’s not a question. His voice is even. Too soft. 

“No! I mean yeah, I guess that’s what I’m saying, but not if you don’t want to!”

Touya sighs, shoulders drooping. From the second the news story went live, he’d know this was coming. He’d felt it in his bones, in every instinct that told him to run away as fast as he could. That feeling had only gotten stronger as the news coverage continued, Endeavor’s PR team fighting against the ‘baseless’ accusations. Unfortunately, because of his status as number two, the public seemed to agree. No one could believe their shining hero would stoop so low.

A bunch of fucking sheep. 

In order to beat Endeavor, of course he and Shouto would have to be involved. Natsuo and Fuyumi alone couldn’t bring him down. Not when they had managed to escape to the outskirts of Enji Todoroki’s attention their entire lives. They only saw the aftermath of their father’s obsession, only heard the cries of their brothers from behind the thin walls of their bedrooms. 

They didn’t know what it was like to look in the face of the devil himself, wreathed in flames and snarling like a wild animal. They didn’t know what it was like to be bleeding on the floor, just to be pulled up and forced back into position because you ‘needed to be stronger’. To be treated like a tool for someone else’s ambition, only to be thrown away when you broke.

“Can I think about it?” He kept his eyes on the food in front of him, absently stirring the bubbling mixture.

“Yeah. I can hold Aizawa off for another week.”

Touya swallows, his throat suddenly tight. He’d thought they’d have more time, that this life they’d built would last for longer. But hey, fate is a bitch like that.

One week.

The three of them gather around the table, eating dinner and making easy conversation. Shouto and Keigo laugh at a joke Touya makes, and it feels like a piece of a puzzle clicks into place. Like this moment was an inevitable part of their future, the three of them together and happy, finally coming to pass. In the back of his head, Touya hears the tick of a clock.

One week.

They migrate to the living room after dinner, piling onto the couch after Shouto picks some animated superhero movie to watch. Keigo puts an arm around him, Shouto curling up on his other side. The apartment is warm and full and feels like a home. Still, Touya hears that incessant tick of the clock.

One week.

He feels warm and comfortable under the fleece blanket. Keigo’s heartbeat sounds under his ear as he nuzzles further into him. He loses consciousness as a hand softly strokes through his hair.

One week.

 

***********************************

 

Clutching a now very familiar take out bag, Touya enters the Hawks Hero Agency like a man on a mission. He’s sure that if he takes the time to second guess himself, he’ll never have the guts to go through with this. And even though he’d much rather revert to his cowardly ways and hide himself and Shouto for the rest of time, he knows this is a necessary step, a necessary sacrifice for Shouto’s future.

He breezes past the receptionist’s desk, ignoring the girl’s pleading voice telling him ‘Hawks is in a meeting’. They knew better than to stop him by now, it was much easier to just let him pass and have Keigo deal with whatever fallout. Not that there was ever much fallout. He wasn’t that big of an asshole to ever interrupt Keigo’s work. He knew to make himself comfortable in the waiting area if birdy really was busy.

I can do this. I can stand up to my father, face the consequences of my actions. I can do this for Shouto. I have to do this for Shouto.

He only had 24 hours left to make his decision, according to the deadline he’d been given by Keigo. Apparently, Aizawa had some other plan for gaining his favor, and although he didn’t think the underground hero would ever do anything to hurt him or his brother outright, he didn’t trust him completely. Not like he trusted Keigo.

Do you trust him?

He huffs out a breath as the elevator takes him up to the top floor. He was so goddamn tired. It felt like he was yo-yoing back and forth, and the whiplash was brutal. When all of this was over, if he survived this, he needed a vacation.

The elevator dings and the doors open to the now familiar space. He takes out his phone to text Keigo and make sure it’s okay to enter his office when he hears birdy’s laugh coming from the conference room.

When he looks over, Keigo is standing near the door, his back slightly turned away so Touya can only see a partial side-profile. He looks happy, his smile bright. He’s speaking to someone just out of view.

That someone steps out from the doorframe, and all the oxygen leaves Touya’s lungs with a ‘whoosh’. He drops the takeout bag, not even registering the box splitting open, contents spilling out and staining the carpet. 

He can’t breathe, his lungs seizing and heart racing. The room blurs around him, his eyes pinning on a very distinct, very familiar orange and blue suit, flames curling around Endeavor’s shoulders. Keigo, his Keigo, reaches out a hand and rests it on his father’s arm, fucking smiling.

Run.

Notes:

I swear, y'all, I did NOT mean to cliffhang like that on a freakin' holiday. It kinda just happened.

Anyways, I hope you all have an amazing holiday if you celebrate. If not, I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your week regardless.

What's next for our boys? How do you think Touya is going to react? Will there be a confrontation? We'll find out soon!

Thank you all for reading! All the comments, kudos, etc. make me so so happy and I appreciate every single interaction with this fic. You guys have no idea how much it all means to me so THANK YOU! <3

Chapter 21

Summary:

All aboard the angst train!

Notes:

*laughs maniacally in fanfic writer*

The funny thing about expectations is that they usually never turn out the way you expect them to. It’s ironic really. You expect others to act a certain way, you expect yourself to react a certain way, for a confrontation to play out exactly like you pictured it in your head. 

For your reaction to be some perceived threat or realization to be logical and courageous. For the speech you had saved in your head to eloquently come spilling out of your mouth the exact same way you imagined it.

Touya always thought he knew what his reaction would be once confronted with his father again. He’d stand tall and strong, look Endeavor in the eyes, and revel in the shock that would certainly be there when his father recognized him. He’d tell his father exactly how much of a monster he is, that he won’t hurt Shouto ever again. He’d stand and fight if he needed to. This image had built up in his head, and the more and more he thought about it, the more he steeped in it, the stronger that image became. 

But, reality is cruel.

Instead, when that monster steps into view, Touya watches, completely paralyzed, as his life tilts on its axis. That image, those expectations, go up in flames all around him. 

No. 

No no no no no no no.

This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.

His mouth waters as bile rises in his throat. Sweat beads on his forehead and his heart thunders in his chest. Keigo’s laugh reverberates in his mind, the image of his hand on his father’s arm burned into his retinas. 

Shut up. SHUT UP. Don’t touch him. Get your fucking hand off of him.

A scream builds in his throat but he stays silent. His vision blurs until all he can see is that damn hand. That fucking smile . His fists clench, shaking at his sides as his breaths come short and shallow.

He takes a wobbly step backwards towards the elevator, legs like jello. He needs to get out of here, needs to leave before Keigo sees him. 

Please, God, don’t let him see me. 

He has the sickening realization that he’s walked right into a trap. Of course. Keigo is a hero, and Touya is a criminal. How could he ever think things would be different? Touya was nothing. No one. He wasn’t important, wasn’t worth someone challenging their beliefs. He wasn’t worth falling in love with. He was naive and foolish and worthless. How could he ever think someone like Keigo would seriously give him the time of day without an ulterior motive? It had never made sense to him, but he’d pushed those worries away. Let himself pretend. Like a fucking idiot.

Something snaps inside of him.

I’ll earn your trust. I promise.

I’m here for you. Please let me be here for you.

Crack.

You’re so strong Touya. I believe in you.

I want to be the kind of hero that makes sure what happened to you never happens to anyone else.

Crack.

I won’t give you a reason to doubt me, Touya. I promise you.

I’ll always come home to you.

Crack.

I want to be someone you can trust.

Yours. Always.

Crack.

Someone saved me, and it made me realize I wanted to be that person.

Touya feels himself shatter. He’s not sure how he’s still breathing when it feels like shards of glass are stuck in his lungs. He’s not sure how he makes it out of the building when his legs feel numb. The floor beneath his feet sways dangerously, like he’s standing on a ship in the middle of the tumultuous sea, nausea rising in his throat.

Somehow, he manages to stumble into the alleyway next to the agency, crouching down and resting his forehead against the cold brick. His hand comes up to grab at his hair until pain prickles at his scalp. When he pulls away, strands of black are clutched in his fist.

His quirk swirls under his skin as the initial shock and heartbreak make way for anger. His body shakes with rage, teeth chattering and fists clenching. Hot tears track down his cheeks, blurring his vision.

Lies. All lies. Every fucking word. Every single look. Every kiss. Every touch. 

He had pushed aside his instincts, trusted Keigo when the voice inside his head warned him that he shouldn’t. He’d let himself be vulnerable, be seen. And for what? Some attention? Was he that fucking pathetic? That starved for someone, anyone, to pay attention to him?

The monster inside his head laughs, mocking him.

I told you this would happen. I warned you but you never listen. Stupid, naive Touya.

They had been happy. They were doing fine on their own. Shouto was in school, he’d made friends, they’d managed to save up some money and still live fairly well within their means. He had Inko and Mitsuki and, for once, he felt like he had a family. He had a job he loved. Everything was fine.

And he’d thrown it all away for an illusion.

LIES.

LIES.

LIES.

They were all fucking lies.

On still shaky legs, he forces himself up, bracing himself against the brick building. He forces all the rage and bitterness and anguish inward where it takes up residence in the hollow of his chest. He has to move. If Endeavor’s here, that must mean they’re going to come for them soon. They don’t have much time. 

By the time he makes it back to the apartment, he’s out of breath from running most of the way there. He takes the steps two at a time and leaves the door wide open as he barrels inside. 

He keeps his eyes trained forward on his way to his bedroom. Doesn’t stop to think about the artwork hanging on the fridge, or the ridiculous collection of blankets making a nest on the couch leftover from their movie night. He doesn’t pause to look at the few picture frames now hanging on their walls from the past few months. He can’t. Not now. 

Nothing else matters. You gotta hurry.

Save Shouto.

Nothing else matters.

He throws open the closet door and takes out his duffel bag. It’s already packed with a mini first aid kit, an extra burner phone, their fake IDs, and the bundle of money he’s managed to save up from work. He grabs a few changes of clothes and his toiletries from the bathroom before zipping it up. On his way out he grabs his winter coat from the closet. It’s the middle of summer and will be a bitch to carry, but he can’t afford to leave it behind. Not if they’re never coming back here.

And who’s fault is that?

Next he goes into Shouto’s room and takes a smaller duffel out of his closet. Touya moves on autopilot, stuffing a few changes of clothes into the duffel, along with his All Might plushie and a few toys that he knows Shouto prefers. At last, he packs up the kid’s toiletries and his winter coat before zipping it up. 

He takes out his phone in the silence of the apartment and calls the school, telling them there’s been a family emergency. Then he goes out to the kitchen, takes out a few sheets of paper, and writes four different letters before stuffing them in envelopes and addressing them. He places them against the vase on the table.

He lets himself glance around the space once. Just once. He swallows past the knot in his throat, feels the burning in his eyes. This was their home. And they could never come back. Not while their father was alive and well. Not while there were heroes hunting them down.

You could’ve stayed here if you’d kept your head down. You just had to be selfish, didn’t you? 

On a whim, he takes a couple of frames off the walls and gathers the pictures. Along with Shouto’s artwork from the fridge, he stuffs them in the bottom of his duffel. On his way out, he leaves his keys on the side table and leaves the door unlocked. 

 

***********************************

 

When Touya arrives at Shouto’s school, his brother is already standing outside by the entrance waiting for him. He takes one look at the two bags hanging off Touya’s shoulders and a sad look of understanding crosses his face.

Fuck.

The sharp sting of remorse tastes bitter on his tongue. He can’t even look his brother in the eyes as Shouto makes his way over and stops in front of him. “Sho…”

“Do we have to?” 

Touya flinches at the plea in his voice. His hand tightens on the strap of his duffel as he wordlessly hands Shouto his own bag.

“I’m sorry Sho. I’m so fucking sorry.” His voice breaks as the burning in his eyes returns. “But yes. We have to go. Now.” 

“What happened?” Shouto grabs the bag, hesitantly putting the strap over his own shoulders.

“Endeavor’s in the city.”

“But…that’s not that bad, right?” Shouto’s voice is so hopeful, the sound grating on Touya’s ears. “We can just stay home and wait ‘til he leaves, right? Hawks can help - “

“Sho!” His brother flinches as Touya grabs both his shoulders, shaking him lightly. “Listen to me. He was at Hawks agency, okay? Hawks was with him. I’m sorry but we have to fucking go. Please .”

A few seconds pass. Shouto bites his lip, eyes welling with tears. He takes one last anguished look back at the school. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

Touya chokes back a sob as he pulls his brother into his arms. Shouto clutches his hoodie, burying his face in Touya’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I know this isn’t fair. None of this is fair. But I promise I’ll make this right. I promise.”

Don’t lie to him. What could you possibly do to make things right? 

“Okay.” His brother's muffled, resigned voice comes from where he’s buried himself in Touya’s hoodie.

Touya pulls away and straightens. His eyes dart around their surroundings, listening, watching. He jolts when his phone goes off in his pocket, the familiar ringtone causing his heart to stutter. Without bothering to look, he turns the phone off before throwing it in the trash can outside the school. 

“C’mon. We gotta go.” His voice sounds flat, lifeless, as he holds out his hand. Shouto takes it wordlessly, leaving red and green eyes nervously glancing at the classroom door, waiting for their friend to reappear.

 

***********************************

 

Some days, Keigo really, really has to remind himself how much he loves his job. Today is turning out to be one of those days. 

First, he’s woken up by his emergency signal going off at 2 in the morning and has to rush over to an apartment that just collapsed on the other side of the city. Rescue and recovery ended up being a long and grueling process since the collapse happened so early when the majority of people were still home in bed. 

Fierce Wings had been a huge help in the rescue efforts, but even he wasn’t immune to failure. In all, even though they’d managed to find and save over 100 civilians, they had lost ten lives. Each one left a sour taste in his mouth, weighing heavy on his heart. Especially when, from preliminary reports, the cause of the collapse looked to simply be from the building falling into a state of disrepair. An avoidable tragedy, if only the landlord hadn’t neglected his responsibilities. It made Keigo sick to his stomach. 

By the time they got everything finished up, he was exhausted and hungry and irritable. He flew straight to his agency from the scene, since it looked like he was going to have to skip lunch again to catch up on desk work that had upcoming deadlines. He only had himself to be mad at though, since he was always the one to procrastinate the ‘paperwork’ portion of the job. 

It was bad enough that he wasn’t able to see Touya this morning. He sends a quick text asking if Touya and Shouto want to come over for dinner tonight to make up for his absence earlier, ignoring the unread text from Aizawa asking for a progress report. Touya still had a day to decide and Keigo wasn’t going to push him. Aizawa could wait. 

Barely half an hour goes by when his office phone rings. He groans at the interruption. 

“Yes?”

“Sir, Endeavor is here to see you.”

His feathers sharpen instinctually, his senses on high alert. “What does he want?”

“He wouldn’t say. Just that he needs to speak with you and that it’s urgent.”

The overly protective part of him wants to send him away. As long as he’s in Fukuoka, Endeavor is too close to Touya, too close to his family. A long buried instinct inside of him screams to protect what’s his.

Protect. 

PROTECT. 

The logical part of him knows that he should see what Endeavor has to say. That he could use the opportunity to make sure the hero is far off track in his investigation. To see if there are any weaknesses he can exploit for the case. 

In any case, he knows what Aizawa would do. What Aizawa would expect him to do. 

“Have him wait in the conference room. I’ll be out in a minute.”

He hangs up the phone and leans forward, steepling his hands on his forehead and closing his eyes. Why did it have to be today, of all days? He focuses on drawing breaths in and out, calming his racing heart. If he went out there right now, he’d end up attacking the number two hero essentially unprovoked, and he couldn’t risk the headache that’d cause.

Once he’s collected himself to a point that doesn’t promise instant violence, he takes a deep breath and leaves his office, heading straight for the conference room. Endeavor turns towards him when he enters the room and closes the door behind him, wearing a smug grin. Keigo stamps down the sudden flare of rage as he looks into turquoise eyes. The same color eyes that Touya has been forced to hide for so long.

“You know, it’s rude to keep your guests waiting.”

Keigo stares at the hero, completely dumbfounded. Is this guy for fucking real?

“What do you want, Endeavor?” He crosses his hands over his chest, face carefully blank.

“I wanted to give you a chance to be on the right side of history. Before it’s too late.”

“Excuse me?” Keigo cocks a brow.

“I’m sure you know by now that the Commission assisted in cleaning up my eldest’s untimely demise. You must understand why that was necessary, right? His death would have been a stain on my legacy as the number two hero if people had started asking questions.”

Keigo grits his teeth and clenches his fist until he can feel his nails splitting the skin on his palm. Still, he stays silent as the flaming trash can of a human continues on. 

“That’s why I was surprised to learn of your involvement in that fool Eraserhead’s plan, given your current status with the Commission. You of all people should know the importance of maintaining the status quo.”

“I became a hero to help those in need. If helping people goes against the status quo, then the status quo needs to change,” Keigo challenges.

“I wonder what your superiors would think of that sentiment. Especially after spending so much time and resources to train you.”

Keigo’s feathers bristle behind him. “Is that a threat?” His voice is low, menacing.

Endeavor simply smiles. Keigo is sure of it now, he’s trying to provoke him. Trying to get him to mess up. 

Remember, you’re doing this for Touya. Just keep it together for a little longer.

“No. Just a curiosity. Now, back to my offer. I want you to join me in finding my son and getting my other children back from that imbecile. In return, I’ll bolster your hero ranking. You’ll be a shoe-in for the top ten with my endorsement. Maybe even the top five. And, of course, I won’t mention your lapse of judgment to the Commissioner.”

Keigo listens to his ‘offer’ slack-jawed and with a strange sense of awe. This dense motherfucker actually thought he’d go for that? I mean, from the stories he’d been told, the hero rankings meant a lot to Endeavor, but he never thought he was this out of touch.

There was nothing, absolutely nothing in this world that could make him go behind Touya’s back. Nothing anyone could offer him to send Shouto back to that house, to see Touya locked behind bars while his abusive dick of a father is held up on a pedestal.

The idea is so ludicrous, so comical, that he can’t help it. A laugh bubbles out of him, growing louder and more uninhibited as he watches Endeavor’s face scrunch in confusion, red with anger.

Keigo steps forward and slaps a hand on the arm Endeavor has folded across his chest. He smiles viciously, canines protruding to give him a predatory edge, as he leans in.

“You must be out of your fucking mind if you think I would ever do anything to help you.” His hand tightens on the hero’s arm. “You don’t deserve a single ounce of my time, my respect, or my cooperation. By the time we’re done with you, you’ll have nothing to show for your pathetic little life that you abused and neglected your children for, that you drove your wife crazy for.”

At this point, Endeavor’s face is as red as a tomato as he glares down at the winged hero. “You insolent little - “

“Nuh uh uh, Endeavor,” Keigo mocks. “I wasn’t done. You ever step anywhere near my agency or threaten me with blackmail again, and Eraserhead will be the least of your worries. You seriously overestimate your own relationship with our dear Commission, Endeavor-san ,” he sneers.

He pulls back, drawing two of his primaries to his hands and sharpening them. “Now get the fuck out of my building.” 

“You’ll regret this, Hawks,” Endeavor growls before stepping around him and leaving the room.

Keigo slumps, his head bowing as his breaths come out shaky and shallow. That roiling anger, the intense protectiveness still bubbles at the surface. All he wants is to hear Touya’s voice. To see his face and make sure he’s okay. To hide him in a cocoon of red feathers and forget the rest of the world.

He takes out his phone, pausing on Touya’s name before swiping up in his contacts to find Eraser’s name.

You: sooo Endeavor just showed up at the agency and tried blackmailing me lol

The reply is almost instantaneous. It’s almost enough to make him feel a little guilty for ignoring the hero’s text earlier today.

Aizawa: you okay? need backup?

You: nah it’s all good…sent him on his way

You: should have ur answer about our witnesses by tomorrow

You: sorry for not getting back to u sooner

Aizawa: yeah sure you are…its fine. the rats just getting impatient.

Aizawa: let me know if you need anything in the meantime

You: 👍🏼

He shoves his phone back in his pocket and looks out the massive windows out towards the cityscape. All his energy felt like it had been zapped out of his body. He rubs his hand over his face, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

This really was turning out to be a day from hell, wasn’t it?

Keigo lets out a sigh when his stomach starts growling, then turns away from the panoramic view. Maybe he’ll grab a protein bar from the snack basket out in the waiting area and go take a quick flight around the city to clear his head.

His path to the snack bar is stopped when he notices the savory aroma of yakitori in the air, the white plastic bag laying on the floor with its contents spilling out and staining the carpet. The bag has a familiar logo stamped across it. His favorite lunch spot.

Dread prickles up his spine. Alarm bells in his head sound off in a cacophony of noise until he can’t focus on anything but that bag. Someone had been there, someone had brought him food. Someone who knows his favorite spot.

“Oh fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. No no no.”

He hurries into this office, ringing down to the receptionist and putting her on speaker.

“Yes, sir?”

“Yuri, did you send anyone up here after Endeavor arrived?” He can’t keep the frantic edge out of his voice as his heart starts racing.

“Well, Mr. Tameda arrived soon after and let himself up…”

No. 

This can’t be happening.

“Did you see when he left?”

“Um, yes sir…he was only up there for a few minutes…” Yuri’s voice is hesitant.

“Spit it out, Yuri.” He feels a stab of guilt for being so harsh on the girl, but that feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach was getting bigger and bigger with each passing second.

“Well, sir. He didn’t look that great when he left. It almost looked like he felt ill. I asked if he needed help but he didn’t answer me. Just walked out the door and left.”

For fucks sake. What was the point of having all these sidekicks and his own agency if someone clearly not fucking okay was allowed to walk out the door without anyone attempting to help?

“ Fuck, ” he mutters under his breath.

“Sir?”

“It’s nothing. Thanks.”

He’s halfway to his balcony by the time he ends the call, ripping open the door and taking a running start before he’s in the air. Taking out his phone, he sends a desperate text. 

You: hey i heard you stopped by. everything okay?

He didn’t want to seem too alarmed yet. Knowing Touya, it would just send him into an even bigger panic. He circles the area a few times, a cold sweat covering his forehead as the seconds tick by with no response.

Please, for the love of God, answer me.

His vision starts to narrow, his breaths growing choppier as his mind flips through all the worst case scenarios. Cursing under his breath, Keigo calls Touya’s number. That weight in the pit of his stomach grows heavier as each ring passes without an answer.

He switches directions, flying straight for Touya’s apartment building. He lands right on the outdoor hallway on the third floor and he’s at their front door in seconds. His feathers ruffle nervously at his back when they don’t detect any signs of life inside. Jiggling the doorknob, his breath catches when it turns with no resistance.

Touya always locked the front door. Whether they were home or away. There would be no logical reason for him to leave the door unlocked now…

Unless he wasn’t worried about being found anymore.

With a shaky hand he opens the door, the silence of the apartment suffocating him. The space felt empty, abandoned. He tries to swallow past the lump in his throat as he continues inside.

“Tou…” he calls out, voice breaking. In his heart, he knows he won't be getting an answer back.

Keigo stops in his tracks when he enters the kitchen area. There, propped up under a vase of wilted sunflowers, are four envelopes, addressed in Touya’s sloppy chicken scratch. He takes a few hesitant steps forward, carefully reading out the names written on the front of each.

Inko Midoriya

Mitsuki Bakugo

Akio Yamaguchi

Hana Nakamura

The kanji blurs and something wet hits the wooden table under him. He brings a hand up to his cheek, his fingers coming away wet.

He doesn’t have to open the envelopes, doesn’t have to read a single word, to know what these are. They’re goodbye letters. Keigo tries to choke back the sob that’s stuck in the back of his throat as he clutches at his chest. His heart fucking hurts .

His knees buckle and he falls to the floor. His feathers shudder mournfully as he lets out an anguished chirp. His head is in a haze as he fumbles for his phone, numb as he finds the contact and hits ‘call’.

The tired hero picks up on the first ring. “Hawks?”

“They’re gone…” Another sob bursts out of him. “Touya’s gone.”

Notes:

Okay, let's be honest about something. The scene Touya walked in on definitely did NOT look good, but also, Tonya's a self sabotaging idiot that definitely only saw what he wanted to see.

Also IM SORRY SHOUTO.

Can I still say to leave comments & kudos even if I'm pretty sure some of y'all will hate me for this chapter? LUL

Either way, I appreciate all the feedback and kind words and kudos, etc. It means so much to see so many people enjoying this little indulgent fix that I never thought would go anywhere. <3

Chapter 22

Summary:

The aftermath

Notes:

*slaps the hood of this chapter* you can fit so much angst in this baby

 

TW for nightmares with this chapter...i don't personally think it needs a warning and there's nothing *too* explicit, but I'd rather be safe than sorry with people's limits/sensitivities.

Also, just a heads up, we might be getting more TWs in the future as the story progresses. The majority will be in the sequel though, which will be rated explicit. Just in case anyone isn't comfortable with continuing and wants to stop reading while they're ahead. (we've still got quite a few chapters to go before we get there though)

Time seems to stop in the hours after Keigo finds Touya’s apartment empty. After he pulled himself up off the kitchen floor and explained the situation to Aizawa, he had completely seized up. All those years of training, of conditioning to be the fastest hero, and he couldn’t move a muscle. A car door slamming outside finally jolted him back to reality, before he realized he’d been staring at the wall for a whole hour. At that point, it was too little too late.

Touya and Shouto had disappeared without a trace after they were last spotted at the school. There was no sign of them on any of the security footage from the nearby train station, and there were very few street cameras in the neighborhood to help narrow down where else they could have gone. He was still waiting for footage from the surrounding train and bus stations, but once they left Fukuoka, it was going to be almost impossible to find them again.

In the meantime, he finds himself sitting on the edge of Touya’s couch, holding one of the only remaining framed pictures left behind. In the picture, Touya and Shouto are standing in front of a movie poster for the new ‘All Might Adventures’ film. Shouto has a wide smile on his face, his little fist held up in the air in All Might’s signature stance. At his side, Touya half-heartedly holds his own fist up, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.

Keigo swipes his thumb over the older boy’s face in small circles, the image blurring as tears sting his eyes. He doesn’t look up when he hears a throat clear in the doorway.

“Mrs. Midoriya and Mrs. Bakugo are here,” Aizawa starts from where he’s leaning up against the doorframe.

Keigo nods and clears his throat, bringing his arm up to wipe his eyes on the back of his sleeve. “I’ll be there in a minute.” 

Aizawa pauses in the doorway. “We’ll find them, Hawks.” Keigo just bows his head in response, listening as the hero turns and leaves for the other room. 

Honestly, he’s not sure how he’s ever going to repay Aizawa for all he’s done. Not only for him, but for Touya and Shouto as well. Before they’d even gotten off the phone, he was already leaving Musutafu, boarding the first train available to Fukuoka. From there, he’d organized with Keigo’s sidekicks to start processing hours and hours of camera footage, analyzing bus and train routes, digging through any potential sighting they could find. All while Keigo sat there, mind blanking.

His wings curl in around him. This feeling of hopelessness, of helplessness , is so much like what he always felt as a child. The countless days and nights he spent curled up in the corner of their little shack, too scared to make a sound, holding his breath every time his stomach rumbled. Being beaten and starved and screamed at for hours on end with no chance of rescue.

In this moment, though, Keigo thinks he would probably choose to relive his hellish childhood over what he’s feeling now. When he was younger, when the Commission took him in, he had chosen to leave his mother, his family, behind. But, now, his family had slipped through his fingers. They were out there hurt and scared and suffering, and all he could do was sit there and wait, like a helpless child, while another hero did all the work.

He slowly unfurls his wings and stands up, shaking energy back into his tired limbs. He puts the picture frame down on the coffee table. From the kitchen, he can hear a  brash feminine voice, followed by a much gentler one. This wasn’t the time to sit around and feel sorry for himself. He’d wasted enough precious time already, letting Touya slip farther and farther away.

I’ll find you, Touya. I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth to bring you home, if I have to.

The kitchen is surprisingly quiet as he walks in. Two of the letters have been opened, the ripped envelopes discarded on the table. A green-haired woman, who Keigo assumes is Inko Midoriya from the stark resemblance to Izuku, is reading her letter with a hand covering her mouth, her wide eyes brimming with tears. A blond haired woman, clearly Mitsuki Bakugo, reads hers with her brows furrowed, her frown growing as she skims the contents of the letter.

Keigo shifts awkwardly on his feet as he watches them. A small sliver of bitterness coats his tongue, wondering what Touya wrote to them. Wondering why there was no letter addressed to him. Was he really not even worth a goodbye? An explanation?

“Oh, those poor boys,” Inko mutters.

“I understand the contents of those letters may be private, but I have to ask that you relay any information you think may help us find the boys,” Aizawa says from where he’s leaning against the countertop.

“Why the hell should we tell you anything?” Mitsuki bites out. She turns to Keigo, pointing an accusing finger at him. “And what the hell did you do?” 

Keigo curls in on himself, his head bowed in shame. “I - I didn't…”

“We believe there may have been a misunderstanding. I can assure you, both myself and Hawks only want to make sure they’re safe and bring them home,” Aizawa butts in.

“I-is it true? H-he said that Endeavor…” Inko speaks up, breaking the growing tension.

Aizawa sighs. “So he mentioned his identity?” Inko nods. “I trust you’ll keep that little tidbit to yourselves? We want to keep law enforcement out of this as much as possible.”

Mitsuki eyes the hero warily, crossing her arms in front of her. “Aren’t heroes supposed to work with the law when it comes to shit like this?”

“This is a special circumstance.”

“We just want to bring them home,” Keigo murmurs softly. “Please, help us bring them home.”

The room falls into a tense silence. A few moments pass before Mitsuki sighs, moving to sit in the chair next to Inko.

“Honestly, there’s not much in here that’ll be any help. He just talks about who they are, why they left. The little shit even apologizes for putting us in danger.” She rolls her eyes, huffing softly. “As if we’d care about that.”

“Nothing about where they might be headed?” Aizawa presses.

Mitsuki shakes her head. “No. It just says they had to leave because he’d been tricked.” She pointedly glares at Keigo.

The dull ache that’s taken residence in Keigo’s chest grows heavier, making it hard to breathe. He feels himself slipping as everything catches up to him. The exhaustion from being awake since 2 in the morning, the hunger from not eating anything all day, the anger from Endeavor’s visit, the fear and helplessness he felt when Touya wouldn’t answer his calls, the pain he felt when he realized Touya was gone.

He thinks I’m working with Endeavor? After everything, does he really think that little of me?

Black spots dot his vision, a faint swaying in his head the only warning he has before he collapses. Strong arms grab him before he hits the ground, holding him up as he’s guided back into the living room and sat on the couch. 

“Hawks.” Concern laces the older hero’s voice. “Why don’t you go home, get some rest?”

“No,” he breathes out, shaking his head and hissing when the motion makes the dizziness worse. “I need to be here. I need to find him. I need to explain.” 

“You’re in no condition to be finding anyone right now.” Aizawa sighs, dropping a hand to his shoulder and squeezing. “I know you were at that collapse this morning, and if I were to guess, you haven’t eaten all day either. Right?” 

Keigo grunts in some semblance of agreement.

“Then go home. Get some rest, get some food. Then we can go back at it in the morning. We have to wait for the rest of the security footage to be processed anyway.”

“I wanna stay here.” He clenches his fist in one of the blankets strewn over the couch. Tears burn his eyes and he sniffles. He’s cried more times today than he ever thought possible, but he was beyond feeling shame. “Please.”

A few moments go by before he hears a long suffering sigh. “You know if this were an actual investigation it’d be a no, but…whatever. Not like it’ll do any harm.”

“Thank you,” Keigo mutters softly. He perks up suddenly. “ Shit! Natori needs to be fed.”

“Natori?” 

Keigo nods. “My cat. I fed her before I left this morning but she needs to be fed again. I forgot.” A wave of guilt floods him, thinking about how she’s been left alone all day. Usually he’d either be home by now or Touya and Shouto would be keeping her company.

“Well, I haven’t booked a hotel or anything yet. I can go over and look after her if you want.”

Keigo looks up at the hero’s uncharacteristically hopeful tone. “Okay…” he says hesitantly. “I’ll text you instructions. Just make sure she doesn’t scratch up - “

“Yeah, yeah. Trust me, I’ll be fine.”

Keigo’s lips turn up in a shaky smirk. He manages to infuse a small fraction of his characteristic teasing tone into his voice, but it sounds strangely hollow. “You could’ve just said you’re a cat person, Zawa. No need to be shy.”

Aizawa lightly cuffs him on the back of the head before getting up from where he was crouched in front of him. “Shut up before I take back my offer.” He pauses for a moment, looking back toward the kitchen. “Are you sure you’ll be okay here?”

Keigo nods, swallowing the lump in his throat. “I’ll be fine. Thank you.”

Aizawa nods, waving his hand dismissively as he starts walking away. “Don’t worry about it. Text me if you need anything.” He pauses when he gets to the threshold of the room. “Everything will be okay, Hawks. Have faith.”

Touya’s smirk haunts him from the picture resting on the coffee table as he hears footsteps leave the room, a hushed conversation taking place in the kitchen before he hears more footsteps and the front door opening and closing. Keigo lets out a loud sigh. He startles when there’s a small knock on the archway separating the living room from the hallway.

“I’m sorry, dear.” Keigo turns to find Inko in the doorway, a sympathetic look in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to startle you. Eraserhead mentioned you hadn’t eaten, so…” 

She holds out a bowl that Keigo hadn’t noticed until now. His mouth waters at the smell of beef stew, his stomach grumbling loudly. His cheeks warm, embarrassed. “Thank you,” he mumbles.

Inko smiles warmly, walking over to set the bowl on the table and coming to sit next to him. “You care for Se - for Touya.” She doesn’t pose it as a question, but Keigo nods in answer anyway. “I’ve seen the way he looks when he talks about you. I know how happy you’ve made him.” She grabs his hand in both of hers, squeezing lightly. “You two will be okay. As long as you both hold onto the love you two have for each other, you can get through this.”

Keigo chuckles softly, shaking his head. “I don’t think he feels much love for me.”

Inko squeezes his hand. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that.” She stands before walking around the couch. “If Mitsuki or I can help with anything, please let us know. Those boys are our family too. I suppose that includes you as well, now.” She gives him a small smile before leaving, the front door closing softly behind her.

 

***********************************

 

Wooden floorboards creak beneath his feet. Touya lifts his head to see familiar shoji, opening up to their living room area. In the hall mirror, he pauses at his reflection. White hair with red streaks, bright blue eyes, no scars. He looks young. Younger than he should.

He turns when he hears footsteps on the floorboards behind him. His father looms over him, his figure imposing, swallowing up all the light in the room. His mother stands cowering behind him, Fuyumi and Natsuo at her side, clutching onto the hem of her dress. In her arms is a small bundle, a shock of split hair poking out.

Shouto .

He walks towards his mother, eyes focused solely on his little brother.

“Damn it, Touya. When will you get this through your head?” Endeavor reaches down, grabbing him by the shoulders, tearing his eyes away from Shouto. “Have you learned nothing from getting burned so many times? Find something else to do with your life. You’ll never be a hero.”

I need to get to Shouto. I need to protect him. 

He shakes his father’s hands off of him, reaching out to his brother. His mother reels back, shielding him.

Don’t worry, mom. I can protect him. I promise. 

“Touya, you have to cool down!” 

The frantic words make him pause until he notices his hand wreathed in blue fire. His arm moves on its own, aiming it towards his mother. Towards Shouto. A torrent of fire leaves his hand, igniting his family in an explosion of blue.

NO!

He tries to pull his hand back, tries turning off his quirk, but his body won’t listen. Everyone is screaming, trying to put out his flames.

“ Touya, no! I told you to stop! Why wouldn’t you listen?”

“ Touya-nii! Why? Don’t you love us?”

“Those eyes. I knew you had his eyes. You’re just like him.”

“Help! Touya-nii, stop! Please! It hurts!”

No! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! I swear I -

He catches his reflection in the hall mirror and stops breathing altogether. Tears track down his cheeks, but he’s smiling maniacally, his cheeks pulled taut, an excited glimmer in his eyes as his family’s anguished screams die down. When he looks back, only charred corpses remain, ashes falling to the floor. Shouto’s baby blanket is the last to disappear.

He blinks and the scene changes.

The night sky is littered with stars as he lies on his back in a clearing, the small creek bordering the woods babbling quietly. The grass beneath him tickles his skin as he looks up at the constellations. The air is dry and cold, sending up clouds of steam with each breath he takes, but his quirk keeps him warm, swirling just below the surface. He sits up, taking in the familiar surroundings of Sekoto Peak. 

Dad. He was supposed to meet me here.

Without warning, the clearing is enveloped in a ring of blue fire. He scrambles to his feet. The air becomes thin as the smoke gets more and more dense, making it hard to breathe.

“Touya-nii?”

The hushed voice comes from outside the wall of flames. A small silhouette steps through his fire, walking towards him. His little brother’s mismatched eyes are scrunched painfully as the fire licks his skin.

“ Touya-nii. Please don’t hurt me .”

Black sludge bubbles up from the ground, crawling up Touya's body, turning his blood ice cold. He thrashes his head as it reaches his face, forcing its way into his mouth and down his throat. Touya tries to move, tries to scream, but he’s paralyzed, trapped.

Run, Shouto! Stay back. I don’t want to hurt you.

His vision goes blurry as the oxygen is cut off from his brain, the black sludge completely filling his lungs. All around him, the fire rages hotter and hotter. Shouto starts crying, curling in on himself to try and avoid the heat.

“ TOUYA-NII! PLEASE STOP! IT HURTS!”

The last image he sees before everything goes black is Shouto reaching out to him before his body turns to ash.

When he opens his eyes again, he’s in Keigo’s apartment, the warm afternoon light filtering in through the windows, casting an ethereal glow over the space. Shouto is on the couch watching TV, Natori asleep in his lap. Everything looks peaceful, and he gets the overwhelming feeling of home .

Strong arms wrap around him, Keigo’s chin resting on his shoulder. “ Did you think you’d get away from me that easily?” The hero’s fingernails turn into talons, his grip bruising as the sharp points pierce the skin near his hips.

Let me go. You’re hurting me.

He turns in Keigo’s grip, and Keigo lets him, walking them backwards until Touya is pressed up against the wall. Talons rake down his arms, blood oozing from the sharp cuts left behind. Keigo traces his lips down Touya’s neck before biting down hard near his collarbone. Touya winces at the pain, unable to make a sound.

Keigo leans in to whisper in his ear, his hot breath sending shivers down Touya’s spine. “ Why would you think you’d ever be good enough for someone like me?” The hero’s voice turns mocking. “ You’re nothing, Touya. Nothing but a no good failure. A waste of potential. A villain.”

No. Stop. I’m not a failure. I can be good enough. I want to be good. Please, let me show you I’m good enough.

Keigo’s face splits into a wide grin. “See? A villain. That’s the only thing you can be any good at.”

Touya gasps, trying to pull away from the knife he has held to Keigo’s throat, the sharp blade pricking his skin. A small, red spot of blood drips down his neck. He tries to open his fist, drop the knife to the floor, but his trembling hand stays curled around the hilt.

I don’t want to hurt you! I swear this isn’t me!

He can feel the tears pouring down his cheeks. Keigo brings up a hand to wipe away the wetness, but his hand comes away covered in red, as if he’s wiping away tears of blood.

“ Kill me, sweetheart ,” Keigo whispers into his ear. “ You know you want to .”

“Do it, Touya-nii.” He glances over to see Shouto watching them, his face hollow, completely devoid of emotion. “ Do it for me.”

Touya shakes his head, whimpering helplessly as the blade in his hand moves, opening a gash in the hero’s throat. Keigo just smiles, eyes fluttering closed, as blood gushes from the wound, pouring down the front of Keigo’s shirt and onto the floor. His body slumps forward onto Touya until all the life leaves him with a final rattling breath. 

“ Wake up .” A faint whisper in his ear.

Keigo’s body slides to the floor, the knife clattering to the ground right after. Touya brings his hands up in front of his face, covered in blood. In Keigo’s blood.

“ Touya, wake up!”

What have I done?

He feels his body being jostled. “Touya!” He knows that voice.

Shouto.

He wakes up to green eyes watching him with concern. He groans as he uncurls his body, cursing the uncomfortable bus seats. “What’s up?” 

His voice is hoarse, groggy with sleep. His tongue feels like sandpaper in his mouth. He reaches down for the water bottle he has poking out of his bag, emptying half its contents in one go. 

“You were heating up.” It’s then that he notices the cool touch on the back of his hand, ice crystals springing up where his skin meets Shouto’s.

His brain goes back to his dream, or rather, his nightmare. He suppresses a shudder, swallowing the lump in his throat as he feels green eyes focus on him.

I have to be strong. I can’t let myself be distracted. It was just a bad dream. Shouto needs me to be strong. Suck it up and be strong. 

“Sorry, buddy.” He ruffles Shouto’s hair. “Did you get some sleep?”

Shouto shrugs, lip pulled in a pout. “Not comfortable.”

Touya swallows at the uncharacteristic emptiness in Shouto’s voice. “C’mere.” He opens his arms. 

Shouto crawls into his lap, burying his head in Touya’s chest. Touya turns his body, bringing his legs up onto Shouto’s seat to make them more comfortable. He kisses the top of the boy’s head, his arms tightening around him as he closes his eyes again.

A tap to his leg brings him back this time, the burly old bus driver standing over their seat. A lit cigarette hangs from his mouth. “Hey, kid. This is the last stop.”

Touya blinks the sleep out of his eyes. “Sorry,” he mumbles, sitting up.

“No worries. Take yer time. Gotta do a sweep anyways ‘fore I head back.”

Touya mumbles his thanks as he cracks his neck, stretching his back and wincing at the sharp pain from sleeping wrong. He jostles Shouto just enough for the boy to grunt in acknowledgement, eyes still closed. 

“Sho,” he whispers in his ear. “I’m gonna put you down for a second, okay?”

A smirk tugs at Touya’s lips when his brother scrunches his brows in frustration, an adorable little pout forming on his lips. Despite the boy’s silent protest, he gently sits Shouto on the seat next to him, where he curls in on himself, head drooping to the side. 

Touya stands, stretching his back again with a loud sigh, before gathering their bags. He throws the straps over his shoulders, crisscrossing them so they can’t be ripped off of him without a fight. After he’s confident that the bags are secured, he gently lifts Shouto back into his arms. The boy instinctively curls his arms around Touya’s neck, nuzzling his face into his shoulder. His breaths even out right away as he falls back asleep.

Touya slowly moves up the aisle, careful not to jostle their belongings too much on the seats in front of them. His limbs are screaming at him in exhaustion after being so tense all day.

“Sorry again,” he mutters to the driver, who waves him away.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it.”

“Hey, uh. You wouldn’t happen to know of any hotels around here, would you?” Touya takes in the neighborhood around them through the bus windows. The streets are relatively empty, a convenience store across the street lit up with their open sign on. A couple of guys outside what looks like a bar sit outside smoking and gesturing wildly as they talk. 

So this is Osaka, huh?

“We got in a little later than planned, and I don’t wanna make him travel anymore tonight,” he tips his head to the sleeping boy in his arms. 

The man smiles softly, nodding in understanding. “Don’t blame ya. There’s a hotel two blocks down. One a those self serve ones. Best place ‘round here, to be honest. Not the best neighborhood, ya know. You’ll be safe, jus’ don’t stick out too much, ‘kay?”

Touya nods, thanking the man again before stepping off the bus, walking in the direction he pointed out. Thankfully, it’s in the opposite direction of the boisterous conversation happening outside the bar. 

Soon enough, a small two story hotel comes into view, the doors to the rooms visible from the outdoor walkways. It looks nice enough. The grounds are at least tidy and the paint on the outside looks recently redone. Touya sighs in relief, his arms feeling like they’re ready to fall off. 

He opens the door into a small lobby. A cheery girl, probably a few years older than him, sits at the desk, welcoming them as they walk in. She has bright bubblegum hair pulled up in twin buns with matching eyes. The room is sparsely decorated with a small coffee station sitting off to the side next to a magazine rack. There are a couple worn chairs sitting up against the wall, a small TV playing the news hanging up in one corner.

It takes longer than he’d like to check in, having to fumble through his bag with one hand for his ID and stack of bills. He makes a mental note that they’ll need new documents as soon as possible. He’s taking a risk even now using that name, but he doubts Hawks will be tracking him this closely. The computer system the receptionist is using looks ancient anyways.

As the girl processes the payment and creates their keys, he scratches his head trying to remember the name of the contact he used before. 

Guthrie? Gilbert? Guren? No. Giren. He’ll have to look through his bag. He’s sure the guy gave him a card of some kind to contact him with. 

With a key finally in hand, he makes his way for their room, slumping against the door briefly when they make it inside. He doesn’t even bother to turn on the main lights, only clicking on the bedside lamp. Soft, yellow light bathes the room in a soft glow.

He gently lays Shouto down on the bed, the side furthest from the door, then drops his bags right where he’s standing before climbing in next to his brother. As his eyes flutter closed, he can’t help but think how wrong this bed feels, how wrong this city feels. He’s homesick. Homesick for a home he can’t go back to, for a person he can never have.

That night, Touya dreams of blood red feathers being incinerated in a flash of brilliant blue.

Notes:

Okay y'all, so Keigo did NOT handle that well at all. Our poor boy was in shock, but I promise he'll get his shit together. Just give him some time. He misses his fire boy.

Also Inko being the best mama figure <3 i love her so much...just adopting kids left and right.

As always, thank you guys for every comment, kudo, bookmark, subscription, etc! We recently broke 20k hits (INSANE) and we're closing in on 500 subscribers, which is also insane. I never would have thought this little story would do anywhere near as good and I appreciate every single one of you for the support you've given this story so far. You guys are the reason this story continues on, your love for the characters is so fun and satisfying to hear about. I hope everyone has an amazing rest of their week! <3

Chapter 23

Summary:

Hawks and Touya play hide and seek

Notes:

Shooting right past that 100k word count like NOTHING.

The heavy, sticky heat does nothing to deter crowds of people meandering around the city center at the height of a particularly hot summer afternoon. All those indistinguishable faces, the boring humm of conversation. Going about their days like the world was a bunch of fucking unicorns and rainbows.

Despite the heat, Touya pulls his hood over his head. He hated being around so many people, the feeling of so many eyes on him making him want to crawl out of his fucking skin. The sounds of a news broadcast on a TV screen outside an electronics store stops him in his tracks, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“He’s so hardworking. That kid’ll go places, just you wait and see.”

“I hope he comes here next! I heard he’s really nice in person.”

“When I grow up I wanna be just like him, mommy!”

The hero being interviewed draws a small crowd around the screen, because of course he does. If birdy was good at anything, it was standing out. And even after all this time, Touya looks on in awe like a moth to a flame. Despite the danger, despite everything he’d given up for Shouto’s freedom, he’s still haunted by golden eyes and blood red wings. He can’t get them out of his head. It’s like he’s been cursed.

The bane of my fucking existence. 

While the nameless faces around him go on and on about how handsome and put together the winged hero is, Touya sees differently. Keigo is, for all intents and purposes, smiling joyfully in his hero costume, patiently answering the interviewer’s questions and making little quips to the camera like the showman he is.

However, no one seems to notice the tired circles under his eyes, or the way his smirk is just a touch too fake. The way he bounces from foot to foot, not because he’s energetic, but because he’s anxious. The way his windswept hair has been finger raked one too many times in frustration. 

“ You’ve been spending the better part of the month traveling across the country visiting different hero agencies. What do you hope to get out of the experience?”

“Well, I hope to learn from some of the amazing heroes that we have patrolling the streets, since many of them have been doing it for decades longer than I have. I also hope to form long-lasting connections and friendships with people I can trust to have my back, and vice versa, in the future.”

That was a lie. Everything that came out of Keigo’s mouth was a fucking lie.  

Touya knew the real reason why the winged hero had been flying up and down Japan like his life depended on it. Even if his PR team had given the “campaign” a fancy title. He wasn’t looking for experience or looking to make friends. 

Keigo was already the most capable hero out there, thanks to whatever fucked up training program the Commission had him in, if Keigo’s stories about his ‘childhood’ were to be trusted. And friends ? As if. Birdy didn’t make friends, he stabbed people in the back after making them care about him. He didn’t do friends, he had assignments. Missions. Fucking ‘hero’ work.

No. The real reason Keigo was traveling all across Japan was to hunt. To find Touya and Shouto and bring them back kicking and screaming for whatever fucked up reunion and punishment Endeavor deemed fit. 

Over the past few weeks, they’d been playing a demented game of hide and seek, Keigo showing up days after Touya and Shouto left an area. Touya wasn’t sure if it was pure coincidence or if the hero really was that close to finding them, but it was unsettling all the same.

“Any insight on where you’re headed next? Maybe a word for your fans?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see. Call it a surprise.” Keigo winks at the camera and the interviewer laughs coyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Touya rolls his eyes, refusing to acknowledge the consuming darkness in the pit of his stomach, that voice telling him to choke the life out of a newscaster for standing too close to someone who isn’t his. Who can’t be his.

All this time, and you’re still so fucking weak.

“As for a message to my fans, I’ll just say that I can’t wait ‘til we cross paths.” Keigo looks straight into the camera. To everyone else, that wide smile with those intense eyes are part of the charm, just a hero eager to meet the people. To Touya, it was a warning. Those golden irises seemed to zero right in on him, the message coming loud and clear from the other side of the screen. I’ll find you.

“Nii-san?” A small hand tugs on his. Touya looks down at Shouto, eyes hidden beneath a worn baseball cap, as the boy activates his right side, forming a layer of frost between their hands. He realizes then how much he’s sweating underneath his clothes, his skin erring on the side of ‘too hot’. His quirk must’ve started to activate without him knowing.

“Let’s go, otouto.” His voice is flat, emotionless, devoid of life as he pushes their way out of the crowd, leaving the city center for the less traveled parts of Yokohama. No one pays attention to them as they wander down alleyways and side streets, weaving through haphazardly to deter anyone who could be following.

Especially since this is the closest they’ve been to Musutafu in the last month, less than an hour away from their father’s agency, from their old home. Touya didn’t necessarily want to be here, but he also didn’t want to retrace any of their old steps yet. If Keigo was really on their trail, they couldn’t go back to any of the places they had been before. Chances are, there’d be traps set or people waiting for them to show their faces again. So, Yokohama was their next step until they could escape further up north, and hopefully fade into the obscurity that less-populated areas would provide.

You have to be on guard.

Although the news only reported on Keigo’s movements, Touya was sure there were other heroes involved. Probably Eraserhead, and most likely his father. Although, from what he’d seen on TV, his father was still performing his usual hero duties. Endeavor was busy enough with salvaging his reputation anyway, so that’s probably why he’d let the younger hero lead the way with the search efforts. 

The licensing hearing had been postponed for another month, but the courts had maintained the emergency custody order for Fuyumi and Natsuo. Endeavor’s critics had latched onto that like sharks scenting blood. He would know, since he may or may not be one of those anonymous critics on a number of online forums bashing the hero. He’s sure Enji’s PR team had to be working overtime over the past couple weeks.

A nagging voice at the back of Touya’s mind tries to poke holes in his paranoid thoughts. Stupid fucking questions that he didn’t have time to think about, didn’t want to think about. Like why would Keigo be helping his father if he was also a key witness in the licensing case? He’d even put out an official statement denouncing the number two’s actions, expressing his support in Eraserhead’s efforts to ‘keep heroes accountable’. 

You saw him. He was smiling, laughing. Don’t be so stupid. It’s all a game.

Was Keigo really willing to go that far to look like the good guy, only to work with Enji behind everyone’s back? Was it all a ruse to get him to let his guard down? What was genuine and what was fabricated?

Don’t start second guessing yourself. You’ve come too far to quit now.

They stop when they get to a rusty, old fire escape, attached to a dilapidated, condemned apartment complex. All of the first floor entrances, including windows, had been boarded up and locked, but miraculously, it seems like whoever was in charge of securing the place hadn’t thought of the fire escape. It was really a silly mistake, but Touya wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Shouto goes first, silently climbing the ladder to the first platform. Touya follows, his weary muscles, or at least what’s left of them, protesting against the strenuous movement. When they’re both situated on the platform, Touya pulls up the ladder just high enough where no one should be able to follow.

They make their way up to the fourth floor, Touya keeping his eyes sharp for any sign of movement or wandering eyes. Satisfied when he doesn’t sense any danger, he pulls open a window and they both slip inside.

For being condemned, the apartment actually wasn’t in too bad of shape. It was relatively clean, besides all the cobwebs that hung from the ceiling and the healthy layer of dust that had coated the place before Touya found an old rag and wiped everything down. It wasn’t home, but it also wasn’t sleeping next to a dumpster in some alleyway so...silver linings.

That’s right, you lost your home. Everything you built for yourself, gone.

There were no furnishings left behind besides a rickety old table in the kitchen decorated with a small vase of dead flowers. The dried leaves littering the surface were the only sign that life had once inhabited this place. Most of the cabinet doors were either completely gone or hanging on their hinges, all perishables left behind either destroyed or eaten by rats ages ago.

The living area was where they spent a majority of their time, barricading the bedroom doors since there was window access to the outside, afraid to put too much distance between them and their only escape route. A couple of old, ratty futons they had pilfered from a thrift shop a few cities ago were laid out in the corner of the room, a couple of blankets laying on top. 

Half-spent candles are placed on the floor around the room, stuck in place from the wax that had dripped over the sides. A small bathroom sits just outside the living room, the door partially ripped off its hinges. The mirror above the small sink had a large crack going down the middle, but that was fine, since Touya avoided his reflection as much as possible whenever he was in there.

What? You don’t want to look at what an utter failure you are? Poor Touya.

There was no electricity, but there was running water, which was a big plus, since the shower and toilet were still functional, even if the water ran cold. This time of year, it wasn’t that big of a problem anyway, since it was always so damn hot out. They just had to use the water sparingly, so as to not alert anyone that someone may be staying here.

Shouto goes straight to the futons, plopping himself down and wordlessly taking a notebook and pen from beneath his pillow. Touya swallows back the lump in his throat. He had bought Shouto his first notebook days after they had left, when leaving his friends behind had proven to be too much. He wouldn’t stop crying, wouldn’t stop asking when they could go back. 

It’s all your fault. He’s suffering because you were selfish.

As a last ditch effort, Touya told him that he could write them letters while they were away, and that he could give them to the boys as a gift once they went back. He didn’t tell Shouto that he wasn’t sure when that would be, or even if it would ever be possible. But after everything that they’d given up, everything they had to leave behind, he couldn’t crush that last bit of hope. He figured the letters were a phase, that Shouto would stop as time went on and it was apparent that their ‘return’ was less and less likely, but he kept writing. 

The biggest problem was, that’s all Shouto did nowadays. He barely talked, only when necessary to grab Touya’s attention. He didn’t play with the few toys that Touya had packed. Didn’t smile, didn’t laugh, didn’t show emotion. He was regressing to the small boy that Touya had dragged out of that estate, and it fucking killed him to watch. 

Touya spent most nights lying awake, wondering if he had made the right decision. Letting himself be swept away by that all-consuming darkness in his head.

You took away his happiness.

He would’ve been better off staying with Endeavor.

What purpose do you have if you can’t save him?

Those thoughts, those questions, plagued him even now as he watched his brother write, his mouth in a thin line, his eyes dead to the world. 

A shuffling sound coming from the bathroom jolts him from his thoughts. He locks eyes with Shouto, nodding when the boy puts down the notebook and backs himself into the corner, making himself look as small as possible. Touya brings up a hand, wreathing it in blue flames as he slowly moves towards the room. 

Ripping the door clean off its hinges (oops), he’s about to release his fire when he’s met with wide yellow eyes and blond hair, done up in two messy space buns. The little girl’s school uniform is covered in what looks like dried blood as she cowers in the shower stall. She can’t be any older than Shouto, which is concerning. There’s no way she could be out surviving on the streets alone, which meant she was either with someone, or someone was looking for her.

“Who the fuck are you?”

The girl cocks her head, eyes burning with a strange curiosity that makes Touya’s skin itch as she looks him up and down.

“Well,” he barks out when the girl doesn’t answer, “you wanna get roasted or what? Answer the fucking question.” The flames in his hand roar higher, the blue reflecting in her eyes as they grow wider.

“H-Himiko. Toga Himiko,” she squeaks out. 

“Who else is with you? How’d you get up here?”

“No one! I’m alone!” She puts up her hands placatingly. “I - I saw you guys leave earlier and the ladder was down. I promise, I was just curious!” 

For fuck’s sake…I didn’t even notice her. I let my guard down. I can’t do that again. 

Her eyes look past Touya as he feels a hand grab onto the back of his hoodie. Shouto peaks into the bathroom curiously, brows furrowing when he sees the girl.

“Hi!” The girl seemingly forgets the threat of fire when she sees Shouto, a beaming smile replacing her fear. “I’m Toga! Wanna be friends?!” She gets up, starting to walk towards them with her hands balled up in front of her, a hopeful expression on her face.

Touya steps completely in front of Shouto, hiding him from her view. “Stay away from him.” He eyes the blood on her clothes. “Who’s blood is that?” 

“Oh! I met a friend on my way here. He had such pretty blood.” She stares dreamily at nothing in particular. “I just had to have it all.”

Okay. What the actual fuck did she just say?

“What the fuck does that mean?” His muscles tense for a fight. Shouto goes rigid behind him.

“Drinking blood lets me turn into other people. Isn’t that so cool?! My mommy and daddy said that makes me evil, but they’re wrong, right?” The girl starts grabbing at her stained clothes hysterically, tears welling in her eyes. “I can’t help it, but that doesn’t make me bad. Right?”

Her quirk. That’s what this is about.

It sounded like the girl hadn’t received any quirk counseling on how to deal with her quirk. At least, not any counseling that was helpful. It was required in elementary schools as a way for students to deal with the physical and mental changes that came with manifesting their quirk, but some took it better than others.

The intention was there, but there were always limitations and, unfortunately, some were still discriminated against depending on what their quirk ended up being. Touya could see how having a quirk related to blood ingestion could be problematic. Still, though, for her parents to tell her she’s evil for something she couldn’t control?

The little girl looking at him for validation, for comfort, was just another broken child born from a broken system. A system he was starting to despise more than anything.

But what could he do now? Shouto was his biggest priority, his only priority, and he didn’t have the time or the patience to take in another stray. Especially with her quirk. Not that her quirk made her dangerous, mind you, but she clearly hadn’t been properly adjusted to using it, and he couldn’t risk her turning against them because of some fucked up fantasy she had in her head. She needed help, professional help, and that was way outside of Touya’s ballpark of expertise.

You’d just fail her too, Touya. Better off sending her away so an actual hero can help her.

“Listen. Your quirk doesn’t make you evil, or whatever. Your parents were wrong for telling you that, and I’m sorry you went through that, but you can’t stay here. We can’t help you.”

His face stays blank, even as the girl’s face falls. A hand tugs on his hoodie.

“Nii-san.”

“No, otouto.” He knows what Shouto is thinking, but now’s not the time to be a hero. “We can’t.”

“Heroes help people.” Shouto wears a determined scowl, his voice clearer, stronger than it has been in weeks. “Please.” He makes his eyes big and wide, staring up at Touya with his lips pulled down in a pout.

“Don’t give me your fucking puppy dog eyes. That’s not fucking fair.” Touya grumbles, already resigned to losing this battle.

He scrubs a hand over his face before looking down at the girl. “Okay, listen here, you little shit. There are ground rules. You break any of them, I’ll personally toss you out the window, got it?” He ignores Shouto’s exasperated sigh. 

“One: no biting and no taking our fucking blood. You need to learn how to control your quirk. Don’t let it control you.”

Toga pouts, but then ends up nodding hesitantly.

“Two: you listen to whatever I tell you. I say move, you move. I say run, you run. Do you understand? I don’t have time to argue with whiny brats.”

Toga nods again. 

“Three: we change cities every few days, so if you’re gonna stick with us, you gotta be okay with that and be ready to move at a moment's notice. Are you really okay with leaving everything behind?”

“I don’t have anything keeping me here. My parents hate me, everyone at school thinks I’m weird. You guys are the first people to not tell me I’m a monster.” The girl looks to the ground, wringing her hands together nervously. “I…I wanna stay. I want you guys to be my friends.” She looks up at Touya with wet eyes and a shaky smile.

“Fucking…fine,” Touya groans. “Welcome to the shit show, Toga Himiko. You better not make me fucking regret this.”

 

***********************************

 

Touya leans his head back, the sun’s rays bathing his skin in warmth. Soft waves lap against the shore, sea birds squawking above their heads. He squints his eyes open, keeping an eye on Shouto and Toga as they attempt to make a sand castle. Toga is yapping on and on about whatever while Shouto frowns at the uneven structure, trying to keep it from crumbling away. 

They had made it to the small seaside city of Soma in Fukushima Prefecture yesterday, steadily making their way further north. With every mile they traveled further from Fukuoka, Shouto had withdrawn further into himself. So, Touya thought a relaxed day at the beach might do him, really all of them, some good. Not that they had bathing suits or any other supplies, but it was nice to just sit in the sand and not worry about anything, even if only for a few hours.

The smell coming from a street vendor wafts over, making his mouth water and his stomach growl. Shouto stops what he’s doing for a second, looking in the direction the smell is coming from, before going back to what he’s doing.

Touya reaches into his pocket for the ever-dwindling stack of bills he has stashed there. They were already stretching themselves thin with the money they had remaining from what he’d saved up from the flower shop. Especially now that they had one more mouth to feed and one more train ticket to buy whenever they moved. 

He was going to have to figure out something, and soon, because they really only had enough for a meager supply of food and maybe another three tickets to their next destination. After that, they’d have to find another way to make some money before going any further.

Giran’s business card sat heavy in his pocket. He’d called the broker once right after they’d left Fukuoka, to try and negotiate new identities, but his price was just too high. Giran tried to persuade him into paying in the form of ‘odd jobs’, but it was apparent those jobs were anything but legal, and he wasn’t ready to go down that path yet. 

He was running out of options though. He couldn’t get an actual job since they’d have to up and leave days later, and jobs that’d pay under the table and look the other way were hard to come by. Not to mention, many of them were just as sketchy as whatever jobs the broker could offer him.

“Otouto. Imouto. I’m getting food.” Touya stands, taking a second for his head to stop spinning, and leaves the two to watch their stuff as he makes his way over to the street vendor. 

His stomach growls as the hearty aroma of street food drifts over from the stand. Yakitori skewers sizzle on the grill and a big pot of noodles simmers off to the side. He ends up buying two servings of yakisoba, wincing as he parts with 500 precious yen.

When he gets back to their spot, he hands Shouto and Toga the containers. “Eat up.”

“Where’s yours?” Shouto asks over his mouthful of noodles.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full. I’m not hungry.”

Shouto narrows his eyes. He always could see right through Touya’s bullshit. “You said that yesterday, too.”

Touya can feel a headache start to form between his eyes, and he brings a shaky hand up to rub at his temple. He didn’t need to eat, but he knew Shouto wouldn’t understand. They had to make their money last, which meant spending less on food, and he could go without. As long as Shouto, and Toga, were fed, he could deal with the hunger.

It had only been a couple days since he’d eaten anyways. Maybe three…or four? He couldn’t remember, but it hadn’t been that long.

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t hungry then either. Just eat, otouto. I’ll be fine.”

Shouto frowns but goes back to eating his noodles. 

“You can have some of mine, nii-san!” Toga holds out her container, offering it to Touya. Touya’s mouth lifts in a soft smile. As much as he hated to admit, the girl had quickly grown on him.

Toga had taken to the honorifics pretty readily after being told they didn’t use their names. Being Shouto and Touya was too dangerous for obvious reasons, but they couldn’t be Seika and Hotaru anymore either. He hadn’t heard his name, or Shouto’s name, in over a month. Whenever they had to address each other, it was ‘nii-san’ and ‘otouto’ now. It was just easier that way.

“It’s okay, imouto. Just eat.”

Touya lays back and closes his eyes, focusing on the feel of the sun on his skin rather than his empty stomach. It feels so good - the warmth settling into his weary bones. He was always so damn cold nowadays.

The trio is quiet on their way back to the abandoned fisherman’s shop they had found last night. It wasn’t his favorite place they’ve stayed in, since the residual smell of fish permeated the building, which was fucking disgusting, but it was four walls and a roof. It was certainly better than sleeping in an alleyway or out on the streets.

Touya helps the two kids in through the busted window before pulling himself over, breathing heavily as his balance shifts for a moment. He grabs onto the counter under the window until his eyesight goes back to normal.

It’s fine. Power through it. You gotta keep going.

He ignores the worried glances that Shouto and Toga share when he stumbles over to their futons, only sighing in relief once he’s laying down, eyes fluttering shut on their own. His ears can’t make out the muttered conversation taking place next to him as his head spins. He’s just so tired, and cold. His body hurts. Everything hurts. A sharp pain in his stomach has him clutching at his side.

I just need to rest. Everything will be fine after I get some sleep.

 

***********************************

 

Shouto worries his lip as he looks down on Touya passed out on one of the futons, clutching at his stomach. Touya thinks he’s stupid, but Shouto knows he hasn’t been eating, even if he doesn’t understand why. But at this point, he’s getting worried about his brother.

He’s noticed the dizzy spells, when Touya has to steady himself every time he stands up or turns his head too fast. It was harder for his brother to move, getting tired more easily, and he was getting skinnier, his cheekbones gaunt and pale against the circles under his eyes.

It scared Shouto, the idea of something bad happening to Touya. Touya was all he had left, the only person in the world that mattered. His big brother had saved him, so what kind of person would he be if he couldn’t even pay him back for that?

“Are you sure about this, nii-chan?” Toga sounds worried at his side as they quietly climb out of the small window leading into the fisherman’s shop. 

“I have to help him.” Shouto clutches at the yen in his pocket as he marches towards the phone booth.

“He’s gonna be mad.”

“I don’t care.”

Touya was stubborn. It was up to Shouto to help him now, and today had been the last straw. He paused as he and Toga stood in front of the phone, wondering who to call.

He wanted to call Hawks, but Touya had been so sure that he was working with their father. It didn’t make sense to Shouto, because he always seemed genuine whenever Shouto saw him, but he didn’t know the hero like Touya did. Maybe Hawks really was working with Endeavor, and Shouto didn’t want to risk going back home.

Eraserhead, though, was taking care of Fuyumi and Natsuo. He had seen it on the news stations one time when they were walking through town. He had taken his brother and sister away from Endeavor, to keep them safe. He seemed to care about them, and he was the only one who’d ever stood up against his father. He wouldn’t hurt them, would he?

Taking a deep breath, Shouto grabs the phone, depositing the coins needed before dialing the operator. “Hi. I need to speak with Pro Hero Eraserhead’s agency.”

 

***********************************

 

Keigo stumbles into his hotel room, dispelling all of his feathers before plopping face first on the bed, his arms coming up to block out the light from the bedside lamp. He was so tired, so worn out from traveling so much this past month. All he wanted was his bed, his apartment. His fucking family back together again.

Every time he felt himself closing in on them, it’s like they vanished into thin air again. He hadn’t expected Touya to stop in Yokohama, so close to Endeavor’s agency, but he supposed it was perfect. No one would expect him to be here. That is, if he’s actually here. All Keigo had to go on was a sighting of two boys with black hair, one with blue eyes and the other with a baseball cap, stopped outside an electronics store.

Blue eyes.

His eyes sting with tears and he lets them soak into the mattress. His chest hasn’t stopped hurting once in the last 36 days since Touya and Shouto disappeared. He couldn’t eat without getting nauseous, couldn’t sleep without being haunted by their faces. 

His phone vibrates in his pocket and he contemplates ignoring whatever message is waiting for him. It was most likely one of his sidekicks, wondering when he’d be back at the agency, or his handler. The Commission hadn’t completely bought his excuse to travel the country, but reluctantly let him go as long as he met all his PR obligations. If he had to do another interview, he was going to throw himself off a building and not catch himself.

He groans, fishing his phone out of his pocket and blinking at the screen with tired eyes. He reads the message three times before the words actually connect in his head.

In an instant, he’s wide awake, standing up so fast he almost stumbles backwards. His feathers fill his wings back out as he reads the message again, heart hammering in his chest. He doesn’t blink, afraid the words will disappear if he looks away for a second.

Two words, and he can finally breathe again for the first time in a month. Two words, and he can feel the color slowly seep back into his life.

Two words, staring back at him from the screen, and he’s flying out the door.

Aizawa: found them

Notes:

A cameo from everyone's favorite little vampire girl! I had to include her, since she's pretty much Dabi's little sister in canon. The best LOV sibs <3

Who's ready for a reunion cause I sure as hell am! Any guesses on how our boys will deal with seeing each other again? How do you think Touya will react to Shouto calling Eraserhead?

Also, for anyone who might wanna see more of Touya & Shouto's time as runaways, I will be writing a one-shot "extra scene" that goes into some of their time on the run. I'll update the notes whenever it gets posted, so be on the lookout, and subscribe to the series if you wanna keep up to date on any other one-shot scenes.

Thank you all for the support! I really appreciate you all. <3

Chapter 24

Summary:

Hawks gets his man...kind of

Notes:

Just a note going into the holidays (cause I'm already so busy and hate it) chapters might take a little longer than usual. I'll still try to get one out at least once a week, but it might be closer to that 7 day mark than usual.
*me also hiding behind the "too busy" excuse as my other WIP stares at me from the corner*

ANYWAYS, enjoy! <3

Touya wakes up to the sound of shuffling and muted whispers. He’s still wiping the sleep from his eyes when he turns his head to see Shouto and Toga climbing off the counter next to the open window of the shop.

“What are you doing?” he asks groggily, wincing at the sudden pain in his stomach. His head feels fuzzy, like he’s wading through static.

“N-nothing!” Shouto answers, voice cracking. “Just…playing.” Toga nods in agreement at his side, worrying her bottom lip.

Touya rolls his eyes. “Well, be careful. You could hurt yourself.” He stretches his arms over his head, joints cracking in protest. A nap was just what he needed. Now it was time to grab some food and figure out next steps. He grabs his bag, pulling it into his lap, and finds the stack of bills hidden in the inner pocket. 

That’s strange. I thought we had more than this. I must have miscounted earlier.

We barely have enough for train tickets north…

In the back of his mind, he wonders if he can get away with going another night hungry without Shouto forcibly shoving food down his throat.

Grabbing the burner phone sitting at the bottom of the bag, he opens the contacts, which really just has one number listed, and hovers over Giran’s number.

We need money.

Touya glances over to Shouto and Toga. Shouto is writing in his notebook again, stealing glances at him every so often with a worried expression on his face. That answers his question from earlier. There’s no way he’ll be able to skip a meal again without his brother noticing, and the last thing he needs is Shouto worrying about him. Toga is laying on her stomach, flipping through a magazine that they’d found up in the storefront about deep sea fishing while kicking her feet and humming.

“You guys stay here for a bit. I’ll be back soon.” He gets up, shoving the stack of bills into his pocket along with the phone. His head whirls and he braces a hand against the wall until he gets his balance back.

“Where are you going?” Shouto sits up straight, a frantic edge to his voice.

“Just getting some food, otouto.” Touya ruffles his hair. “I promise I’ll be back soon. There’s a store just a few minutes from here.”

“Promise?”

“Always.” He smiles softly as he slowly pulls himself out the window, looking both ways before dropping down to the pavement.

Touya waits until he’s a block away before fishing his phone out of his pocket. Giran’s contact taunts him, his finger hovering over the call button. With a deep breath, he hits the green button. It only rings once before someone picks up.

“Giran speaking.”

“Hey, Giran. It’s uh…Seika.” He winces as the name leaves his mouth, eyes darting around like he expects heroes to come running from the shadows.

“Ah! Seika! What can I do for you?”

“You mentioned you might have jobs…I want details.”

“So you’ve come to your senses?”

“Never said that…just want to know what I’d be agreeing to if I was ever interested.” He shuffles nervously, kicking at a few loose pebbles beneath his feet. The ocean waves crash on the shore in the background, a cool breeze coming off the water. The chill feels good on his flushed skin.

The broker pauses over the line for a moment. Touya can hear muffled music on the other end, the clink of glassware. “I’d rather have this talk in person. Where are you?”

“Soma, for right now.”

“Care to elaborate? An intersection, perhaps?”

“Why would you need to know that?” Touya’s voice turns defensive as an alarm bell sounds in his head. He straightens, moving further into the shadows of the alleyway.

Giran couldn’t be working for his father, could he? Is this a trap?

“Chill, kid. Like I said, I’d rather talk in person. I’ve got a friend that can help make that happen, but he’s gotta know coordinates.”

Touya pauses, sighing heavily as he weighs his options. He could hang up, forget the call ever happened, and figure something out once they inevitably ran out of money. Or, he could trust the black market broker to not double cross him and see what he has to say. Maybe make some money in the process.

For what it’s worth, the broker hadn’t fucked him over so far. He might be a little rough around the edges and charge a metric fuck ton for his services, but Touya knew he was professional. You didn’t get as far as Giran by double crossing your customers.

He rattles off the street intersection close to the alleyway entrance. A few seconds pass before a black and purple void appears in front of him. He steps back with a startled gasp. “What the fuck is that?”

“It’s a portal. Walk through it and it’ll bring you to me.”

Touya takes another step back. “No fucking way. My brother’s here, I can’t leave him.”

“It’ll only take a few minutes and he’ll plop you right back where you were, no harm done. You coming or what? I’m a busy man.”

Touya watches the purple and black swirl menacingly. “Just a few minutes, yeah? Then you’ll bring me back here?”

“That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

Touya grumbles before he finally moves forward, heartbeat racing in his chest. Stepping into the black void, a heavy chill permeates his bones for a moment before he’s out on the other side, his eyes adjusting to the sudden light.

He steps into the same bar he first met Giran in. The broker is sitting in his usual spot at one of the back booths, blowing cigar smoke into the air and watching it dance to the ceiling. Behind the bar, the same mist-like presence dressed in a tuxedo is wiping down glasses. Touya recognizes the black-purple mist as the bartender’s, eying him warily. A slightly out of place TV screen with the words “sound only” written across it in eerie purple lettering sits at the back.

He tries not to think about the last time he was here, all those months ago. The day he and Shouto got their new identities and their temporary life started in earnest. The day a certain winged hero came crashing into his life, disturbing everything in his wake. He feels a twinge in his chest and he clears his throat, hoping to relieve the strange pressure gathering there.

Unlike the first time he was here, there is no one else in the bar besides Giran, the bartender, and a scrawny teenager. The kid is probably a couple years younger than him, sitting on one of the barstools with his head buried in his handheld game console. He peeks out from behind his unkempt gray hair, red eyes narrowing at Touya’s presence before he goes back to his game.

What the hell is a kid doing in a bar like this?

Touya walks over to the broker, slinking into the booth with a sigh, relieved to be off his feet. “So…details.”

Giran brings an arm up to rest on the back of the booth, raising an eyebrow. “Right to it, huh? You need to learn to relax, kid. Sure you don’t want a drink? A smoke?” He offers up his pack of cigarettes, putting them away with a shrug when Touya shakes his head.

“I told you I have to get back. I just need to know how this works…if I were to need money…” Touya fidgets with the sleeves of his hoodie, conscious of the way the broker studies him with an air of nonchalance.

“Well, you call me when you’re lookin’ for work. I see what I have for you and let you know the terms. Once the job’s done, you let me know and get paid.” Giran shrugs as if they’re talking about the weather.

“What kind of jobs are there?”

“Well, it depends on what your expertise is. For starters, what’s your quirk?”

Touya doesn’t answer, instead lifting his hand and letting blue flames lick up his arm. He doesn’t miss how Giran’s eyes widen slightly, or how the bartender pauses in the middle of cleaning a glass and the boy sitting at the bar whips his head around, eyes sizing Touya up like he’s the enemy.

“A very useful quirk.” Giran puffs on his cigar, sending a cloud of smoke billowing between them. Touya bats at the smoke with an annoyed sigh. The smell of the cigar is making his head pound, nausea swirling in his stomach. “I’m sure work won’t be hard to find for you. It could be burning down an old warehouse or two, disposing of evidence…” He makes a flippant gesture with his hand.

“No hurting people.” His voice holds no room for negotiation. Burning some buildings or trash was one thing, but there was no way he was using his fire to hurt people. He knows more than anyone how that heat feels, and he’d rather no one else ever feel that pain.

“No hurting people, if that’s where you draw the line.” Giran slides a phone across the table, a simple burner phone similar to the one he has now. “My number’s programmed in. Just call whenever you need a job and I’ll set you up.”

“What’s wrong with the burner I have?”

“This one’s got a tracker. Lets Kurogiri know where you’re at in case you need a warp.” Giran nods over to the bartender.

“A tracker?” He stares at the device, brows furrowed.

“Don’t worry, kid. I’m really not interested in keeping track of you outside of your jobs.”

Touya takes the phone warily, sliding it into his pants pocket before he can change his mind, before shuffling out of the booth. “Got it. Are we done here?”

Every minute being away from Shouto was making him more and more anxious and he felt like he was going to be sick. He needed to get back so he could lay down.

“Yeah, yeah we’re done. ‘Giri, if you could.”

The bartender simply nods before another swirling dark mass appears. Touya doesn’t look back, disappearing into the inky blackness before he’s spit out in the same place. He lets go of a breath he didn’t know he was holding, the sinking feeling of never seeing Shouto again slowly dissipating.

He shivers and pulls his hoodie tighter around himself when a chill goes through him, despite the summer heat. The walk to the convenience store is a blur, and his tired muscles protest as he walks through the aisles, fluorescent lights only making his head worse. 

Grabbing a few onigiri and granola bars, he quickly checks out and makes his way back to the fisherman’s shack. Soon enough he’s crawling back through the window, mumbling a greeting at Shouto and Toga and dropping the bag of food in their direction. They stare at him with furrowed brows from where they’re playing on the floor. Stumbling towards the futon again, he curls up, throwing the blanket over his flushed skin. 

So tired. Just need to rest my eyes. Just a few minutes.

He feels a cold hand press against his forehead and he leans into the touch before sleep overtakes him.

 

***********************************

 

Keigo’s wings flutter restlessly from where he’s crouched in the back of a non descript van, carefully monitoring the feathers that are currently canvassing the neighboring streets. Aizawa sits next to him, brow furrowed in concentration as he taps away at his tablet.

“So walk me through everything again.”

Part of him couldn’t believe this was actually happening. He’d spent an entire month and then some, going on 37 fucking days, waiting for this moment. A million different scenarios had filled his mind of how this would all go down. Never would he have guessed it’d take place in a sleepy seaside city, in a defunct fisherman’s shack. His heart pounds in his chest as he draws his attention to the three heartbeats inside the structure.

Aizawa sighs, reciting the events for what seemed like the tenth time. “I received a call earlier today from a young boy who said his name was Shouto Todoroki. He said he didn’t know who else to call, and that his brother was in trouble.”

That detail. That detail right there had Keigo’s blood run cold. His mind swirled with all the worst-case scenarios, the outcomes he hadn’t let himself think about all this time. Why didn’t he call me? I would have helped, could have helped if I had known. “What kind of trouble?” His voice is strained.

“Wouldn’t say. Just that they needed help and that they were staying in a fisherman’s shop in Soma.”

“And the third person?”

“A girl. Toga Himiko.” Aizawa brings up a file on his tablet. “No missing persons report was filed and her parents don’t seem to be too worried about finding her. Her quirk lets her transform into someone after ingesting their blood. If I had to guess, the societal pressures were probably too much for them to handle. That’s how a lot of kids end up in the foster system.”

Keigo nods, knowing that Aizawa would understand that more than anyone, if his son’s story was anything to go by. “So what’s the plan?”

Outside, his feathers continue to monitor the surrounding area. There are some vibrations from a bar a block away, but nothing to be worried about. The streets stay silent, the sound of waves breaking against the shore cutting through the late hour.

“Shouto’s expecting me. I’ll go in first, assess the situation, de-escalate if I have to.” He holds up quirk suppressant cuffs. “I’m hoping we don’t need these, but from what Shouto said, Touya has no intention of seeking help, so he probably won’t come quietly.”

Of course he won’t. He’ll be as beautifully stubborn as he always is.

Keigo nods in Aizawa’s direction. “We’re all clear. Let’s do this.”

Aizawa exits the vehicle, slipping into the shadows and making his way towards the fisherman’s shop. Keigo closes his eyes, focusing on the soft footfalls of the underground hero until he’s crouched under the open window. Soon enough, he feels the vibrations from muffled voices coming through.

“Shouto? It’s Eraserhead.”

Keigo can’t hear the muffled reply, since he hadn’t dispatched any of his feathers in the actual building, so he focuses on Aizawa’s side of the conversation.

“Where’s - shit - “

Keigo bursts out of the doors of the van, a strong flap of his wings sending him flying towards Aizawa’s location like a bullet before he even finishes his thought. He’s at the open window in seconds, eyes wide and breathing heavy as he takes in the scene.

Shouto and a blonde girl that looks to be around the same age as him are sitting cross-legged on a ragged futon, a blanket curled around both of them. Shouto’s heterochromatic eyes narrow slightly on him before shifting to a lump on the futon next to him that Aizawa is currently kneeling over. Aizawa turns his head to look at Keigo, a slightly panicked expression on his face.

Keigo takes a few more steps into the room before he sees a shock of black hair and pale skin sticking out from under the blankets. All the air in the room disappears, leaving him a choking, stuttering mess. His legs shake as he moves on autopilot, knees buckling once he’s in front of the sleeping figure.

Touya.

Thankfully, Aizawa moves away to give him some semblance of privacy, guiding the children to the other side of the room and speaking in hushed voices. Keigo’s not sure he would understand anything they’re saying anyways, it all sounds like gibberish as he stares in awe at the man laying in front of him.

Beads of sweat dot Touya’s forehead and his breathing is labored, brows scrunched in a pained expression. The dark circles under his eyes accentuate his gaunt cheekbones, the purplish scars running down his neck looking garish against his pale skin. Keigo reaches a hand out, ghosting the tips of his fingers over Touya’s face. His skin is hot to the touch, too hot to be normal, even for him.

He carefully moves his arms underneath Touya’s heated body, lifting him and cradling him to his chest. A distressed chirp falls from his lips. He doesn’t even try to hide the sound, doesn’t care if Aizawa hears it. He’s too far gone for his training to matter, too preoccupied taking stock of Touya’s condition. He’s sick. My Touya’s hurting. I didn’t get here in time. Touya’s light in his arms, too light. It feels like Keigo could snap him in half with little effort. 

How long has he been going like this? 

Touya shifts in his arms with a groan, nuzzling his head further into Keigo’s chest. Keigo’s wings curl in around them, the overwhelming need to shield, protect running through his veins like wildfire. 

Eyes open and Keigo’s breath catches at the cerulean blue that stares back at him. He had been picturing eyes similar to Endeavor’s teal, but Touya’s make his look dull in comparison, even hazy with sleep and sickness. The way the color explodes like a supernova, almost glowing in their intensity. Like the hypnotizing blue of his fire is dancing behind his irises. Keigo is pulled in until he’s drowning in their depths, completely untethered to the world and stuck in his orbit.

“Kei…” A raspy voice whispers, heavy with exhaustion. Touya’s eyes flutter closed as his body curls in towards Keigo.

No. Come back. Look at me, please.

He tightens his hold on Touya, bending down until their foreheads meet. “I’m right here, baby.”

A small smile graces Touya’s face. “I miss you.”

Keigo chokes back a sob. “I missed you too.”

“I wish you could stay. I hate when you leave.”

“What do you mean, baby? I’m not going anywhere.”

Touya weakly shakes his head. “You always leave. When I wake up, you’ll be gone.”

Oh.

He thinks this is all a dream.

His heart flutters at the idea that Touya has been dreaming of him all this time, the same way he’s been dreaming of Touya. Has he been in the same never-ending cycle of agony? Has he felt like a piece of him has been ripped away, leaving a gaping wound in its place? Did he see Keigo’s face everywhere he went, like how he saw Touya’s? 

“I’m never leaving you,” he mumbles, pressing his lips against his sweat-soaked temple. “Never again.” Touya whimpers before his body goes lax, falling back asleep against Keigo’s chest.

“Hawks.”

Keigo’s wings unfurl and he turns his head towards Aizawa. Shouto is clinging to his side, his eyes bouncing between him and Touya, although Aizawa must have said something to him, because the wariness from earlier is gone, replaced by a thoughtful expression. At his side, the blonde girl, Toga Himiko, clutches onto his hand, staring at the winged hero in rapt curiosity.

“We should go,” Aizawa looks down to Touya’s sleeping form. “He needs medical attention.”

Keigo nods, standing with Touya clutched tightly to his chest. He only lets go of him for a few moments, when they have to fit back through the window, before he’s in his arms again. Keigo stares down at him as if he’ll disappear if he so much as dares to blink. 

“We can’t take him to a hospital,” Keigo mumbles absently as Aizawa loads the kids into the van.

Aizawa shakes his head. “I know of a safe house in Fukushima that’ll have medical supplies. You’ll need to ditch most of your feathers though. They stick out too much, and the underground heroes that hang around there won’t be too happy if the place is compromised.”

Keigo nods, climbing into the back of the van and settling in the back seat. He shifts Touya on his lap, his head resting in the crook of Keigo’s neck. Touya’s breath tickles Keigo’s skin as he sleeps, a reminder that he’s alive and he’s here and everything’s going to be okay now. His feathers rustle behind him happily as his eyes grow heavy.

Too soon, they’re coming to a stop, Keigo jolting awake as Aizawa puts the van in park outside an ordinary-looking, slightly run-down, two story house. The paint on the outside is chipping in places, the lawn unkempt and overgrown. A rusted metal swing set sits on one side of the cracked sidewalk, the seat hanging down to the ground from the clasp breaking off the chain.

The front door creaks loudly as they shuffle inside. Aizawa herds the children up the stairs, looking back over his shoulder to give Keigo the directions to a first floor bedroom to lay Touya in.

He lays Touya down in the bed, mourning the loss of his weight in his arms. The bed wasn’t big enough for him to lay down next to him, although it was tempting to press up against his heated body. Instead, he pulls up a chair and sits, elbows resting on his knees and one of Touya’s hands held in both of his. Keigo’s thumb caresses circles against scorching skin.

Aizawa steps into the room not long after, letting Keigo sit in relative silence as he opens a cupboard on the far wall full of medical supplies. The hero walks over to the bed, fastening an IV bag to a metal hook fixed to the wall above the bed, unraveling the tubing and opening a sterilized trocar. 

As he kneels down, he grabs Touya’s other arm, poking and prodding to find a vein. Keigo watches with blurry vision, his body protesting at the lack of sleep, head pounding from the whirlwind of emotions overwhelming him.

“I’m glad you found him. Tonight was a big step in the right direction.” The tired hero keeps working, cinching Touya’s upper arm before inserting the needle into a vein. “But finding them was just the beginning. Things are only going to get harder from here.”

Keigo nods. Anyone else would probably find the older hero abrasive, his comments too blunt and cutting, but Keigo appreciates the brutal honesty. It’s refreshing, after a lifetime of reading between the lines with the Commission, responding to canned interview questions that lack any sense of genuine interest, and hearing what people think he wants to hear.

Besides, Eraserhead is right. Locating Touya and Shouto felt big, and it was in a sense, but it was only the first step on the long, shaky path to normalcy. Their relationship was practically nonexistent and possibly one-sided depending on how Touya felt when he woke up, the case with Endeavor was looming over their heads like an executioner’s axe, and Nezu’s ongoing support for Touya’s future was contingent on his cooperation. 

Everything they’d built, everything Touya had built, was balancing on a tightrope, suspended above a fatal fall, and Keigo was helpless to do anything about it. Touya was the one who’d have to walk across. To trust that Keigo and Aizawa had his, and Shouto’s, best interests in mind when they asked him to risk it all. It was a lot to ask of anyone, let alone someone who’d had that trust ripped from beneath his feet multiple times.

“I know.” His voice is quiet as Aizawa finishes up, throwing away the used supplies. In the bed, Touya’s breathing had finally evened out. His face was slightly flushed, making him look younger, more vulnerable, than usual.

Aizawa stops before he leaves the room, one hand on the doorknob. “Get some rest, Hawks. You’ll need it.”

When the door closes, Keigo drops his head, resting it against Touya’s hand that’s still firmly grasped between both of his. “I’m not letting you go, Touya Todoroki. Never again.” 

His eyes growing heavy, room starting to spin, he gives in, carefully laying next to Touya on the edge of the bed. He brings a hand up to brush the hair out of his eyes, fingers trailing down his cheek before pulling away.

“Never again,” he repeats, eyes fluttering closed as he finally lets his body shut down.

 

***********************************

 

“My, my, doctor,” a raspy drawl resonates in the empty room. “I must say, your work is quite extraordinary.” 

A figure sits, hooked up to a medical apparatus, wires and tubes snaking across the floor in a haphazard fashion. A wall of screens sits in front of him, video feed showing the inside of a dingy bar, a dark-haired teenager disappearing through a swirl of black and purple mist.

“A pleasant surprise!” A second voice rings out in the darkness of the room, the hum of laboratory equipment steady in the background. “I was sure his body wouldn’t hold out for more than a couple months at most.”

“Never underestimate a strong will, doctor. You’d be amazed how far a wounded animal is willing to go to keep on living.”

“Should we pursue him?”

A smile pulls at the figure’s mangled face. “There’s no need. He was merely a contingency plan, one path of many on our journey to our goal. Besides, not all is lost. Heroes can’t possibly understand the mind of a warped seed like him. They will fail, lose his trust, again. And when they do, we’ll be there to welcome him home.”

Notes:

Oh, these boys are going to be the death of me.

Also, our official introduction of Mr. Potato Head. Bc apparently this fic hasn't had enough angst and confrontation.

How do you guys think Touya will react when he wakes up? What do you think their next steps will be?

Thank you all for the comments, kudos, etc! I appreciate all the support you guys have shown this fic. It really means a lot to me that you guys are enjoying the story.<3

Chapter 25

Summary:

The reunion

Notes:

Oh boy, this has been a long time coming. Our boys are back!

Sunlight spills from a crack in the curtains, casting hazy rays that cut through the room in the early morning hour. Keigo lays on his side, staring at the wall, trying in vain to slow his racing thoughts. The bed is too cold, too empty, but he knows he needs rest. Actual rest that doesn’t involve almost falling off a bed or disturbing Touya while he recovers.

Aizawa had come in a couple hours earlier, cutting him a disapproving look as he took in the state of the two men squished together, and ordered him out of the room. As if he knew Keigo had spent most of the night staring at Touya’s face after a nightmare had turned him off of sleep. 

Touya’s condition hadn’t improved as he watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, the fluttering of his eyes behind his lids. Keigo wondered what Touya was dreaming about, wondered if Touya was dreaming about him. If he was, he hoped it was a dream where Keigo showered him with all the love and affection he deserved, that they were together and happy and whole again.

He didn’t want Touya to be stuck in a perpetual hellscape of loneliness and pain like the nightmare he’d woken from. Hearing words like ‘I don’t love you’ or ‘I hate you’ and seeing Touya walk away from him, out of his reach, as he’s chained to the ground, wings bent and broken at his back. 

So now Keigo was laying in a spare bedroom upstairs, willing his brain to turn off for just a few hours before they’d have to deal with the fallout of last night. Before Touya woke and cemented their future.

The door opens behind him and he turns his head, expecting Aizawa to be there with an update on Touya’s condition. Instead, heterochromatic eyes stare back at him from under black bangs. He sits up, fully facing the boy now, who stands at the door as if waiting for permission to enter.

“Shouto.” Keigo’s voice is part relieved, part questioning. 

He feels a little guilty for the way he’s basically ignored the boy since last night. His instincts just wouldn’t let him see anything other than Touya, especially when he was in that state. His protectiveness, his worry had eclipsed everything else as if he had tunnel vision.

Now, though, his heart warms at the sight of the boy. He didn’t just miss Touya, he missed both of them. The relationship he’d built with Touya in the short time they had together, but also the family they’d built since Touya had entrusted Shouto’s safety with him.

“Did you want to come in?”

Shouto wrings his hands, looking uncertain. The tension hangs uneasy in the air around them. “Touya said you were helping Endeavor.”

Keigo winces, having forgotten how blunt Shouto could be when it came to asking questions. He knew Touya had seen Endeavor at his office, had watched the video footage of his reaction to the point where it made him sick to his stomach, but it was different hearing it out loud. Hearing that Touya really thought Keigo was helping his father. The idea that Touya thought so little of him cut deep.

“I wasn’t, Shouto. I swear to you. It was just a misunderstanding.”

The boy takes a few hesitant steps into the room, letting the door close behind him. “A misunderstanding?”

Keigo hesitates, not sure how much he should be telling the boy. He didn’t want Touya to wake up and think he was trying to turn Shouto against him, or give him conflicting information. But Touya’s life wasn’t the only one shaken up and turned upside down when they left. Shouto had given up everything as well. He was owed an explanation.

“Your father showed up at my office with a deal. I told him no. Unfortunately, Touya only saw him there. He didn’t hear what we were talking about.”

“Touya said you were smiling.”

His penchant for dramatic flair was coming back to bite him in the ass. Keigo internally groans. Why in the hell did he have to be so theatrical? He just couldn’t help but act petty towards Endeavor. The man was a walking time bomb, and it was fun to see him get so worked up over nothing. It was a small victory over the man who had ruined Touya’s life. But watching the video footage, he hadn’t been surprised that Touya would take his actions the wrong way. It really did look bad out of context. 

“It was supposed to be sarcastic. I didn’t smile because I was happy.”

Shouto takes those last few steps forward before plopping himself down on the bed, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Like how Kacchan yells at Zuku even when he’s really happy?”

Keigo’s lips twitch at Shouto’s analogy. Sometimes he forgets how wise the 9-year-old can be, how he catches every single detail and stores it away in that brain of his. “Yeah, kinda.”

“Oh.”

He glances sidelong at the boy sitting next to him. Shouto had always been one to keep his words to a minimum, but this was different. In the short span of a month, he seemed more subdued, like he was trying to make his presence as small and as quiet as possible.

The kid had been through so much, through no fault of his own. Keigo tries to call upon his civilian training, how to put victims at ease, wondering how he could best help Shouto. He was physically safe, so the next step would be to contact a loved one. Contacting Inko or Mitsuki was off the table for right now, contacting the Todorokis was obviously not going to happen, and Touya was unconscious. 

“Oh!” He shifts enough to grab his phone out of his back pocket. Thumbing through the photos, he pulls one up and shoves it in Shouto’s direction. The boy takes it with a curious look on his face, that morphs into one of pure joy when he sees the picture.

Natori is mid-roll on the carpet, batting at a feather toy that is bobbing up and down off screen. The blue of her eyes is pinned on the toy with rapt attention. He reaches over, swiping to another photo of her curled up on the couch, half buried under a fluffy blanket with her head sticking out. Another shows her stretched out against her scratching post, claws dug into the fabric, ears pulled back. 

“I haven’t been home too much in the last month, but one of my secretaries has been staying at the penthouse while I’m gone to take care of her. She sends me a lot of pictures.”

Shouto’s lip wobbles, eyes shining. “Do you think she remembers me?”

Keigo puts an arm around him, squeezing the boy into his side. “Of course she does, bud. I know she misses you. She’s just waiting for you guys to come home.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, bud. I - “ Their conversation is cut short when a loud crash sounds from downstairs, followed by a very angry, very loud voice.

“SHOUTO!”

Keigo sighs, his heart stuttering in his chest at the familiar rasp.

Well, here we go.

 

***********************************

 

The first thought Touya has when waking up is that everything is wrong.

When he opens his eyes, the room is wrong - no longer the abandoned shop but rather a quaint bedroom with clean wood floors and outdated yellow striped wallpaper. The four poster bed with a softer mattress than the ratty futon he’d been sleeping on was wrong . The cotton blanket covering his body, soft on his skin, is wrong compared to the threadbare blanket full of holes he’d buried himself in before he passed out. 

The needle embedded in his skin, connecting him to a bag of fluids hanging on the wall beside him was wrong. The black, synthetic bracelets on both of his wrists were wrong. 

He attempts to call his fire, but when he gets no response, he knows for sure. 

Quirk suppressant cuffs. Not good.

But the worst part, the one detail that sets him on edge, has his heart pounding in his ears and his breaths coming faster and faster, is the fact that he can’t see Shouto, or Toga, anywhere in the room with him. Are they waiting for him back at the shop, only for him to never return? Are they somewhere in another room, waiting for him to rescue them? Have they been captured?

A memory surges forward, though he’s sure it was only a dream. A dream of strong arms and golden eyes, of a warmth he hadn’t felt in too long covering his body, pulling him close. Of red feathers closing in on him, creating a barrier between him and the world. A promise that Keigo wouldn’t leave again.

But here you are, alone again, Touya. How sad for you. How pathetic that you think you can dream of such happy ideas.

The door opens, creaking on its hinges, and Touya meets the tired stare of the last person he expected. A hero he hoped he’d never run into again. Eraserhead pauses in the doorway when he sees him sitting up before walking into the room, shutting the door behind him.

“Glad to finally see you up.”

Touya doesn’t answer, watching the hero’s movements as he drags a chair over from the corner, the legs scratching against the floor before he pulls it in front of the bed, straddling it from behind and crossing his arms over the backrest. His eyes move from the hero to the doorway, then to the window. The only two exits. His only two escapes. 

His fight or flight response is kicking in, juggling his options and trying to figure out how he’s going to get out of this mess. The issue is, he’s not sure where he is, where Shouto and Toga are, and who else could be guarding them. There are too many unknown variables.

This room obviously isn’t a jail cell, and he doubts the hero would bring him to his personal residence. So a safe house? Why? Why not just drop him off with the police and be done with him? What was Eraserhead hoping to get out of dangling a fake sense of safety and freedom in his face? Did he really think it’d work? That he was that stupid to believe this wasn’t a cage?

“Not a talker, huh? Well, I guess Hawks talks enough for the both of you,” the hero mumbles, watching him carefully at the mention of the winged hero. 

“W-where - “ He pauses, his throat scratchy and dry.

Aizawa gestures towards the nightstand, a glass of water sitting within Touya’s reach. When Touya frowns at the glass, making no move to drink, Aizawa sighs and rolls his eyes. “If I wanted to drug you, I would’ve done it through your IV, kid.”

Shooting the hero a death glare, Touya gives in, reaching for the glass and downing it all in one go. He internally groans in relief as the water soothes his sore throat. “Where are we?”

“A safe house in Fukushima. We didn’t want to move you too far since you needed immediate medical attention and a hospital was obviously out of the question.”

“We?” His body tenses even as he asks, knowing what the answer is going to be.

“Yes. Hawks is with me.”

Aizawa watches with calculating eyes as Touya tenses. His heartbeat steadily increases, hands clammy and shaky. Keigo had made good on his promise to find him. Which means Endeavor…

“You think he betrayed you.”

Touya jolts at Aizawa’s statement. “He did betray me,” he growls. “I saw it with my own two fucking eyes.”

“Are you sure you’re not just seeing what you want to see?”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

Aizawa rolls his eyes, shaking his head and muttering something about stupid teenagers under his breath. “It means you should talk to him. Give him a chance to explain his side of the story.”

“I don’t need his side of the story. We were doing just fine on our own.”

“Oh yeah? Is almost starving yourself to death doing just fine?” Aizawa’s voice is firm but holds no heat, the look in his eyes almost sympathetic, understanding instead of demeaning or judgmental. “Shouto sure didn’t seem to think you were fine when he called me.”

All the gears in Touya’s brain come to a screeching halt. “Shouto…c-called…you?”

No. That can’t be true.

Everything was fine. I was going to get more money. We were going to be okay.

Was it so bad that he would rather get caught than be with me anymore?

He couldn’t bring himself to answer that question. He couldn’t bring himself to think about his view of the situation simply being a misunderstanding. It was all too much, the pressure threatening to crush him, turning him into dust. 

Because if all of this was a misunderstanding, if running away was an overreaction, then what did that mean? He dragged Shouto away from a good life. A good home, his only friends, an education and stability. 

Did that mean that he failed? Again? Was he really so bad at taking care of his little brother that he couldn’t even give him a good life without fucking it all up? 

This was his father all over again. He couldn’t train hard enough to keep Shouto from getting hurt. He wasn’t strong enough for Endeavor to acknowledge him as a worthy replacement. He wasn’t brave enough to face his father and instead ran away, dragging Shouto along to live in vacant apartment buildings and abandoned shacks when he should’ve had a normal childhood. 

He thought he had saved Shouto but instead, he’d just been shoved into another fucked up reality of Touya’s making. 

His breaths are ragged, black dots spotting his vision. He vaguely senses Aizawa getting up from his chair, coming around to the bed, telling him to breathe. 

No. 

No no no no no.

I can’t fail. I have to make it right. I need to be Shouto’s hero.

He barely registers ripping the lamp off the nightstand and out of the wall, throwing it across the room, where it shatters to pieces on the floor. He barely registers the way he screams his brother’s name, his voice breaking. 

Eraserhead is holding him down, ordering him to breathe, when the door is ripped open, cracking violently against the wall. His brother stares at him with wide, scared eyes. At his back are red wings and golden eyes that haunt Touya’s dreams and nightmares alike. Keigo holds his brother back with one arm when he tries to enter the room.

“Get your fucking hands off him, you traitor ,” Touya snarls, held back by Eraserhead when he tries to jump up out of the bed. His flames surge under his skin, begging to be let free, to burn off this destructive energy building up inside him. 

Damn these fucking cuffs.

Keigo flinches, a look of genuine hurt crossing his face, but Touya doesn’t take back his words. He can’t.

He’s a traitor. He has to be. Because if he’s not…if this was all for nothing…

Red feathers sweep the glass out of the way before Keigo releases his brother. Shouto comes running towards him, launching himself onto the bed and into Touya’s arms. Touya holds him tight, ignoring the burn when the IV needle in his arm is pinched between them. 

“I thought I lost you,” he breathes. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

“I’m okay, Touya-nii. We’re safe now.”

Touya’s eyes burn at the relief in his brother’s voice. Relief that Touya couldn’t give him. “Why, Shouto? Why’d you call?”

Shouto stiffens in his arms, his fist clenched in Touya’s shirt. “You were sick and you wouldn’t eat. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t wanna lose you, nii-san.” Touya can feel the hot tears dampen his shirt and his heart clenches in his chest.

I wasn’t strong enough. He shouldn’t have had to worry about me.

“What about Toga? Where is she?”

“She’s in the other room with a colleague of mine from U.A.” Eraserhead butts in. “He won’t say anything, don’t worry,” he adds when he senses Touya’s apprehension. “He has a similar quirk that uses blood, so I thought she could benefit from talking with him. She seems to be taking to him pretty well so far.”

Touya pets Shouto’s hair, unwilling to let him go for even a second, pointedly ignoring the golden eyes that are burning into him from the doorway. Keigo hasn’t moved an inch since he’s appeared, like a silent sentinel waiting for him to make his move.

“Can I trust you to not do anything stupid if I go prepare some food for you? You need to eat or else this’ll all be in vain.” Eraserhead gestures lazily to the IV line that now hangs from the wall.

Touya nods. When the hero turns to leave the room, he kisses the side of Shouto’s head before nudging him away. “Go with Eraserhead, Shouto. You should eat too.”

“But…”

“Please.” Touya finally lifts his eyes to the winged hero. “I need to talk to Hawks. Alone.” The hero shifts on his feet, hands clenching and unclenching at his side.

Shouto sighs before hopping off the bed, following behind Eraserhead and disappearing down the hall. 

A heaviness hangs in the air as the silence drags on, neither willing to look away from the other. Waiting to see who will make the first move to cut through the tension steadily building between them.

Finally, Touya sighs. “Are you just gonna stand there like a fucking idiot or are you gonna come in?”

Keigo blinks twice before stepping further into the room, turning to close the door behind him. At that moment, Touya tears out his IV and flies out of bed, crouching to grab a shard of glass from the floor before Keigo turns. He presses the hero against the door, glass shard held to his neck, his other hand clenched in the collar of his shirt.

He knows Keigo should have been able to overtake him easily. His wings were only a fraction of what they should be at his back, but Touya knows how sensitive his feathers are. They should’ve picked up on his movements, and they probably did. He should have had plenty of time to counter, with Touya still feeling sluggish with fatigue and malnutrition. Which means Keigo let him get this close, and that pisses him off. As if Keigo is underestimating him, letting him know he doesn’t actually consider Touya a real threat.

Keigo’s reaction adds to that thought, the hero staring straight at him without a single hint of fear in his eyes. “Baby…” 

“ Don’t. ” Touya grits his teeth, tightening his hold on the shard of glass and pressing it harder against the hero’s neck. Keigo winces but doesn’t move to defend himself. “Don’t you dare. You’re a traitor. You never cared. Everything was a lie. Don’t you dare call me baby.”

You have to be a traitor. Everything has to be a lie.

“Do you really believe that little of me?”

Touya swallows past the lump in his throat at Keigo’s whispered voice, at the way his breath is warm against Touya’s skin.

“It doesn’t matter what I believe. I saw it for myself.”

“Touya…I understand what you’re saying. I do. If I had seen what you did, I would’ve thought the same. I’m not blaming you for that. But I promise you what you saw wasn’t the whole story. I’ve always been on your side. I’ve been working with Aizawa trying to bring you and your family justice from the beginning. Ever since you left, this whole time, I’ve been searching for you to make sure you and Shouto are safe. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Stop it. Shut up. Just shut up.

“I don’t believe you.”

I can’t believe you. Please don’t make me believe you.

“My front pants pocket. I just need to get my phone.” He starts to slowly move his arm towards the pocket, looking to Touya for permission. When Touya doesn’t make a move to stop him, he dips his hand in his pocket and takes out his phone.

Touya studies the hero’s face as he thumbs through the apps. The faint dusting of freckles on his cheeks that are almost impossible to catch unless you’re looking for them. The black lines that accentuate the shape of his eyes, making his gaze sharper, more predatory. The curve of his lips, the faint dusting of hair on his chin from not shaving like he usually does. He feels a familiar burn behind his eyes.

Don’t you dare fucking cry over him.

Keigo brings up a video and Touya tenses when he sees the conference room from Hawks Agency on the screen. “What the fuck is this?” he growls. Touya hates the way his voice breaks at the end.

“Touya.” Keigo’s voice is patient, but sad. His eyes plead with him and he has to look away, towards the video. “I know it looked bad from what you saw, but this video has audio. I need you to hear the conversation. Then it’ll all make sense. Please , just listen.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t make me…” he whispers.

“Please. If you want nothing to do with me after this, I’ll walk away and never bother you again.” Keigo’s eyes search his. “Please, just listen.”

The thing is, he doesn’t want to listen. The stubborn part of him that wants to stay completely oblivious and right in his own head doesn’t want to hear what he knows he’ll hear. He doesn’t want to see Keigo go up to bat for him with his father when he’d spent more than a month making himself believe otherwise. But he’s so goddamn tired , and in the end, he nods at Keigo to hit play.

HIs father’s voice booms from the speakers and Touya tightens his grip on the glass, ignoring the sharp pain that shoots through his hand, or the line of blood leaking from a cut on his palm.

“I want you to join me in finding my son and getting my other children back from that imbecile. In return, I’ll bolster your hero ranking. You’ll be a shoe-in for the top ten with my endorsement. Maybe even the top five. And, of course, I won’t mention your lapse of judgment to the Commissioner.”

Touya recognizes the laugh that bubbles from Keigo’s lips at his father’s offer. The same laugh that he’d heard coming out of the elevator. In the video, Keigo grips Endeavor’s forearm. From this angle, Touya can see how absolutely vicious Keigo’s smile looks, in no way the friendly, happy smile he’d conjured in his head.

“You must be out of your fucking mind if you think I would ever do anything to help you. You don’t deserve a single ounce of my time, my respect, or my cooperation. By the time we’re done with you, you’ll have nothing to show for your pathetic little life that you abused and neglected your children for, that you drove your wife crazy for.”

The color drains from Touya’s face, his grip loosening on the front of Keigo’s shirt. Instead, his hand comes up to his hair, tugging at the strands until he feels the sharp pain at his roots. “Turn it off,” he whispers. “Turn it off!” His voice is louder now, shaky and broken.

The video must be faked. Yes. That’s it. The audio is doctored. It’s not real, it can’t be real.

Do you really believe that, Touya? 

He doesn’t fight Keigo when the phone disappears and the hero pries his fist open, letting the piece of glass fall from his shaky, sticky hand. He doesn’t fight when his knees give out and he crumbles, Keigo picking him up before he can hit the ground and carrying him to the bed, sitting him on the edge.

I caused all this pain and suffering. This is all my fault.

Touya doesn’t feel the sting of hydrogen peroxide on his broken skin or the pressure of the bandage that Keigo wraps around his palm and the crook of his arm, where the IV had been ripped out from. He doesn’t hear the soft words spoken when Keigo tries to bring him back to reality. He’s stuck in a black void, time and space forgotten, floating in nothingness, static in his ears.

Your brother suffered because of you. You ruin everything you touch. You let your emotions get the best of you and make rash decisions. You can never be a hero, Touya. 

You let your doubts tear you and Keigo apart for no reason. Why would he want anything to do with you now? You’re a paranoid mess. He doesn’t need to carry your burdens too.

But then his head is lifted, and he sees gold. Like a light shining into the darkness, a honing beacon intent on bringing him home. Gold irises with orange specks dancing within them, warm like the sun, slowly washing over him.

“Are you with me, Touya?” A voice honey smooth and patient. Familiar. Safe. The color slowly bleeds back into the room. A thumb caresses his cheek. “Touya?”

He moves his head in a slight nod. Golden eyes look relieved, slightly crinkling at the sides.

“Do you think you can eat?” Keigo gestures at the tray of food resting on the nightstand.

When did that get here?

Another slight nod. Keigo smiles softly, squeezing Touya’s uninjured hand before standing from where he’s crouched in front of the bed.

“I’ll give you some space to eat. Let me know if you need anything. We can talk more later.”

He goes to leave, goes to take back his hand, and Touya can’t help his reaction. He squeezes Keigo’s hand harder, tugging him back. The warmth from where they’re joined is his only lifeline. He’ll drown without the steady pressure, without knowing which way is up.

Don’t go. Please.

“You should eat, firecracker.”

That last wall crumbles at the familiar nickname, Touya’s eyes filling with tears as he chokes back a sob. Keigo moves faster than he can blink, sitting next to him on the bed and pulling him into his side. Touya grabs onto anything he can reach, throwing his arms around the hero and fisting his hands in the fabric of his shirt. Keigo maneuvers them so they’re horizontal on the bed, wrapped tightly around each other. 

Touya lets himself cry, releasing all the anger and heartache and agony he’d been holding onto since that day at the agency. All the while, Keigo whispers soft words into his hair, lips pressed to the top of his head, arms wrapped around him like he’s afraid Touya will disappear. 

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he chokes out. His cries turn to sniffles and hiccups. Keigo tightens his hold, one of his hands caressing up and down his back in soothing circles.

“I know, baby. I’m sorry too.” A kiss ghosts over the crown of his head. “We’ll get through this mess. I promise we’ll get through this.”

Notes:

Let me tell you it felt SOOO good writing this chapter. I absolutely love Keigo and Touya together and them being apart was just heartbreaking.

Also, yes, the colleague from UA that Toga is talking to is Vlad King. I remember a fic where he ended up adopting her (can't remember the name) and I thought it'd fit to have him be a "mentor" since they both have blood-based quirks. Hopefully this time around, she can use her quirk for good. ☺

Next up, some more catching up from the last month and some more reunions.

Thank you all so much for the comments, kudos, etc. I appreciate every single one of you! <3

Chapter 26

Summary:

Fluff, fluff and more fluff

Notes:

Chat wants comfort and fluff? Well, here’s your damn comfort and fluff, you animals.

The next day, Touya finally feels some of his strength returning, thanks to the constant influx of fluids and food that Eraserhead and Keigo have been shoving down his throat. He hadn’t been able to eat more than some miso soup and a few bites of rice yesterday, but now he was able to slowly eat a whole bowl of noodles in some hearty broth with vegetables and meat, so that was an improvement.

Eraserhead shuffles around the room, cleaning up the used bandages from Touya’s palm before taking a seat in the same chair he had sat in the day before. Touya wishes Keigo were here to be a buffer, but the bird was taking some much-needed time to shower and rest. Apparently, Touya was a handful to deal with, rude , so Eraserhead was his designated babysitter for the time being.

Even they know you can’t be trusted by yourself.

“So, do we have to worry about you running again or are you ready to hear us out?”

Touya stiffens. After yesterday, he could admit to himself that Keigo was telling the truth. That he was on their side. But he also wasn’t sure what that meant for the future. How exactly was he supposed to move forward, get his life back on track?

“Do I have a choice? I don’t have a home, or a job, or anything else to go back to. It’s just me and Shouto now. Seems like you have us right where you want us.”

I’m not enough on my own.

Eraserhead scoffs, shaking his head. “Did you two even talk at all?”

“What do you mean?”

The hero pauses for a moment, studying his face. “Hawks has been paying your rent and your boss at that flower shop didn’t seem too keen on letting you go. Told us to get you back home so you could get back to work. Not to mention Inko and Mitsuki have been breathing down our necks since we started looking for you. They’ve been worried sick. You’ve got more to go back to than you seem to think, Touya.”

Touya weakly shakes his head, eyes blurring with tears. He didn’t understand, couldn’t understand. Why were these people so blind to his failure? Why weren’t they throwing him away like his father had? Instead, they were making room for him, for the burden that was his existence. Going out of their way to make sure he was happy and comfortable. 

There was no reason for Keigo to keep up on his rent. What if he’d been gone for longer? Would he still be waiting? Saving a place for them to go back to? And Hana. That damned woman. She could have found someone else to help out at the shop, anyone else. So why was she waiting for him? His heart clenches in his chest. Inko. Mitsuki. Why did they care so much?

It doesn’t make sense.

“You know,” Eraserhead continues, “there are two more people I can think of that’d love to be part of your life.”

An unbidden image of a little girl with glasses, red streaks in her hair comes to mind, a bright-eyed boy with spiky gray hair trailing behind her. 

“Come play with us Touya-nii!” Natsuo bounces a ball against the ground. 

Touya is sitting at his computer, waiting for his father to leave for patrol so he could sneak out to train. “I’m busy, Nat. You and Fumi go play.”

“You’re always busy, Touya-nii. Pleaseeee?” Natsuo whines. 

“Come on Touya. You never play with us anymore.” Fuyumi’s lips turn into a pout. 

Touya hunches his shoulders inward, bringing his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around himself. “I abandoned them. They must hate me.”

“They miss you.”

Outside the room, Touya can hear a muffled conversation, the tension in his shoulders bleeding out at the lower tone of Keigo’s voice. 

How far gone am I that his voice brings me peace?

“How are they?” he mumbles, keeping his head bowed.

“Fuyumi is in her last year of high school. She’s planning on going to university for early childhood education in the spring. She gets along with my son, Hitoshi, really well. I think he’s helped her cope with Shouto’s absence. She talks about both of you a lot.”

Fuyumi, an elementary teacher. A perfect career for her, Touya thinks. Even as Shouto was kept separate from them, she tried her hardest to care for the boy from behind the scenes. If Touya had to guess, she felt that teaching the next generation was her repentance for not being there for Shouto the way she thought she should. 

His sister had always been one to place all the burden on herself, to fix everyone’s broken pieces. But she never understood. Fixing everything shouldn’t be her job, her responsibility. Not when Endeavor was the one to break them in the first place.

“Natsuo is starting high school in the spring. He’s already talking about how he wants to go into the medical field. Apparently he wants to specialize in patients with unstable or dangerous quirks.” Eraserhead raises a brow at him. “He harbors a lot of guilt for what happened to you. You’re clearly very special to him.”

Touya sniffles, a hand brushing away the wetness from his cheeks. Natsuo always was his best friend, his confidant, the one person in that house who understood his struggles. The one person who never looked at him like he was a failure or a crybaby. He missed his brother terribly, even when he tried to push those feelings down to focus on Shouto.

He didn’t want to dwell on the idea of Natsuo being a doctor to help people like him. The weight of that decision, the fact that Natsuo was so sure of what he wanted his future to be, and how Touya had helped shape that future, was hard to stomach. He didn’t deserve to be anyone’s foundation, let alone the foundation of the brother he’d abandoned.

“I wanted to get them out. I didn’t want to leave them. But…”

“Endeavor never harmed them. Not physically anyways. Although I can’t possibly condone kidnapping, only taking Shouto was the right choice. I wish you’d gotten the police or a hero involved instead, but I’ve read how that worked out for you in the past, and I understand. I’m just sorry that you felt you had to make that kind of drastic choice to keep your brother safe.”

“I still should’ve been there!” His voice grows stronger. “I left them. And the worst part is, I never planned on going back. I was okay with never seeing them again, if it meant Shouto was safe. How could they not hate me?”

I would if I were them. 

“You’ll have to ask them. If you want to, that is.”

“I don’t know…”

“Just something to think about. No need to make any decisions yet.”

Touya leans his head back against the headboard, closing his eyes. “Yeah. Okay.” The conversation is zapping what little energy he’s recovered out of him.

He hears Eraserhead get up from the chair, shuffling towards the doorway. “We should be able to leave for Fukuoka in the morning. I’d suggest getting some rest before then.”

Touya doesn’t answer as the hero walks out, leaving the door open a crack. He just sits back with his eyes closed, taking a moment to clear his head. He hears Keigo’s low chuckle from the other room and he can’t help the upward twitch of his lips.

He wanted to see Fuyumi and Natsuo. Hell, he’d give anything to see them again. But he worried he was being selfish, dredging up the bloody, charred remains of the child they knew just to have a relationship with them. Sure, they may miss him, but they were getting on without him perfectly fine. Both of them had goals and a future that he wasn’t sure he fit into anymore.

You would just screw everything up, same as you always do. Let them live in peace.

Would them seeing him alive hurt them even more? If he could avoid that, avoid hurting anyone else with his painful existence, he would. Although, he’s not sure that’s even an option anymore. Endeavor’s trial would be beginning soon and Touya wasn’t stupid. He knew Eraserhead was still betting on him and Shouto being involved. Fuyumi and Natsuo would have to find out at some point. So maybe he should just rip off the bandaid and see what consequence awaited him.

A knock at the door has him opening his eyes and looking over. Keigo is standing there with one hand on the doorknob, looking uncertain and a little vulnerable. So out of character for the usually confident hero. Cute.

He’s got on black joggers that ride low on his hips and a light gray t-shirt that clings to his biceps like a second skin. His hair looks damp, like he’d just taken a shower. He’s so fucking beautiful it hurts. Even after all this time apart, Touya can’t help the swell of adoration and arousal and something even deeper that he doesn’t want to address right now at just seeing the hero.

“Uh, the kids just went to bed and Aizawa’s in for the night. I thought we could maybe hang out and…talk?” Keigo shifts from foot to foot, a nervous blush covering his cheeks.

Touya doesn’t answer, instead moving over on the bed to make room. Keigo takes the invitation, shutting the door behind him before coming to sit down next to him.

“So, what’s on your mind, birdy?”

“You, mostly,” Keigo says with a teasing smirk. Touya chuckles, rolling his eyes at the easy retort. His hand itches at his side, so he reaches over, taking Keigo’s hand in his and interlacing their fingers.

The way they fall back into each other, how the callouses on Keigo’s hands are familiar against his skin, how he leans into Keigo like he’s his source of warmth, should terrify him. In some ways, it does terrify him. Keigo owns more of him than he thinks. He always has. Even while he was gone, Touya could never get him out of his head.

“Seriously though, it’s mostly you. Part of me still can’t believe you’re here.” 

“I can’t believe I’m here.” Touya bows his head, focusing on Keigo’s thumb as it caresses slow circles into the back of his hand. “I was just so scared. I froze when I saw him. I didn’t think I’d freeze like that. I’ve had so much time to prepare. I should be able to face him. But in the end, I just ran. Like a coward.”

Weak. Pathetic. 

“There’s nothing cowardly about you, Touya.”

He meets Keigo’s eyes, bright and warm and focused on him. “How can you even say that after all this?”

“You made a decision with the information you had at the time. Your first priority has always been your brother’s safety. You’ve put everything, everything , on the line for him. You’ve dedicated your life to him. What exactly is so cowardly about that?”

The words wash over him, lapping at the sharp edges of his mind, dulling the bite of his own vicious thoughts. He feels his whole foundation, everything he’s been standing on for so long, slowly erode beneath his feet. But Keigo’s there to make sure he doesn’t get swept away. He’s always there.

“Why do you do it?”

“Why do I do what, baby?” Keigo’s voice is soft, soothing.

“You keep coming back, keep trying to help me, be there for me. Why?”

Keigo leans in closer and Touya falls into spiraling gold. “I told you before. There’s something about you that’s absolutely captivating. I can’t help myself.”

“That was before everything happened.”

“My feelings haven’t changed, Touya. If anything, they’ve gotten stronger with every day that goes by. The only change is that I’d like to think I know a little bit more about what is so captivating about you. Now that I’ve gotten the chance to know you.”

“Yeah? You think you know me?” Touya leans in. He can feel Keigo’s breath, honey and cinnamon, on his skin, their noses brushing. Tension crackles in the air around them.

“Yeah. You’re the most selfless, compassionate person I’ve ever met. You put everyone else before you, always, like you think they deserve happiness more than you. You are hard working and determined and tenacious. You’re a better parent figure at 18 than most people are in general and Shouto absolutely adores you.”

Keigo’s hand comes up to cup his cheek and Touya sucks in a breath at the contact.

“You love cheesy horror movies and musicals equally, even if you won’t admit it. You like taking care of the people you care about, like when you make me food and yell at me about not getting enough sleep. You hate fish and summer, which is crazy, by the way.”

I don’t hate summer. My body just doesn’t like the heat,” Touya grumbles.

Keigo smirks before continuing on. “You scrunch your nose when you pretend to get offended by something, and it’s fucking adorable.” He chuckles. “Yeah, like that.” He nudges his nose against Touya’s scrunched one. 

“Smug bastard,” Touya mutters under his breath. 

“Even though you said it was black, your favorite color is actually blue because you’re a conceited brat and secretly love your fire, even if you think it’s destructive.”

It is destructive.

“You are self conscious of your scars. You think they prove that you failed, that you’re meant to burn.” Touya’s throat constricts. “But you’re wrong. Your scars are proof that you live, and they’re so fucking beautiful. Because you’re beautiful. Every single inch, every single part, of you.”

No. You’re defective. A failure.

Lies. Lies. Lies. 

Touya tries to pull away, his head pounding with contradictions, but Keigo keeps him place with the hand on his cheek moving to curl around the back of his neck. He feels like he’s being pulled in two different directions in a violent game of tug of war between the monster in his head and Keigo. 

Keigo’s voice turns serious, his eyes piercing through him. “Before I met you, I was coasting through life with a shallow vision of the future, chasing a dream that wasn’t fully mine. My days bled together into one giant blur that I never cared to focus on. But then you showed up with that wicked tongue, cursing me out for saving you, and it’s like I suddenly woke up. For the first time, I actually thought about what my future would look like. All I could picture was you. You and Shouto.”

How can you still look at me like I have a future? Like I should be allowed to be part of your future? After everything I’ve done…

Keigo’s eyes shine with unshed tears, his voice a whisper against Touya’s skin. “Without even meaning to, you saved me from the dull existence that was my life. Touya Todoroki, you became my hero. How could I not be captivated?”

A whimper falls from Touya’s mouth as his lips collide with Keigo’s, hunger and ferocity bubbling up in his chest, guiding him on. Keigo kisses him back like he’s starved, making up for all the time they’ve lost. His lips are soft but firm, the paradox making Touya’s head swim with need.

Keigo licks the seam of his lips and Touya lets him in, drinking in the groan that falls from Keigo’s mouth as he finds his tongue ring, circling around it before exploring the rest of his mouth. Every atom in Touya’s body vibrates, his head going radio silent, all his senses honed in on Keigo . He can’t get close enough, can’t taste enough of him, to quench this thirst inside him.

He shifts on the bed until he’s straddling Keigo, hands in his hair, pulling on the strands to angle his head back. Keigo’s hands move to his waist, his fingers gripping hard enough to bruise. Red wings curl around them, blocking out all the light. 

Touya pulls back, resting his forehead against Keigo’s. “You’re so heroic it makes me nauseous. You can’t take care of yourself to save your life, which is ironic by the way, and you’re absolutely hopeless at keeping to a schedule. Honestly, I don’t know how you’ve survived on your own for this long.”

“ Touya… ” Hands travel up, under his shirt, before scratching lightly down his back.

“You hate cheesy horror movies, but love watching them with me because it’s an excuse to be all clingy. As if you need one. You prefer sunset to sunrise. You’re actually more of an introvert than everyone else likes to believe, and you cherish your peace and quiet.”

Lips travel down his neck, goosebumps dotting his arms.

“You make these cute little noises whenever you let your guard down and I wish you wouldn’t hide them, you deserve to sing like the bird you are. I also wish you’d tell people to back off when they try touching your wings, because I know they’re sensitive and I know you don’t like them being touched without your permission.”

Keigo claims his lips with urgency, a soft chirp leaving his mouth like a whimper. His feathers ruffle happily around them, the soft plumes brushing against Touya’s skin like a caress. 

“You think you’re the only one captivated, birdy? I’m fucking obsessed with you, it’s terrifying. I hate how vulnerable it makes me feel, I hate how helpless I am when it comes to you. But I can’t stop myself. I tried, I really did, to forget you, but it was hopeless.”

Touya can feel Keigo’s heart pound beneath his hands as he rests them on his chest, the hero wrapping his arms around him like a vice. 

“I missed you so fucking much, Keigo.” His eyes burn as tears track down his cheeks. “Every day felt like absolute fucking torture. I’m so sorry. So, so sorry, birdy.”

“ Touya…” Keigo’s voice shakes before Touya claims his lips again, swallowing any response he could have had. 

Touya breaks away, mouthing along Keigo’s jaw and down his neck. Keigo tilts his head away, giving him more access. Touya’s hands wander down, grabbing the hem of the hero’s shirt and pulling up. 

“Off. Now.”

Hands stop him in place, gently prying his fingers from the fabric. “Touya…baby…slow down.”

The cold rejection washes over him, freezing his breath in his lungs. He must’ve read the signs wrong, tricked himself into believing he was worthy of such an intimate gesture.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid Touya.  

“I - I….you don’t want…but…”

Keigo’s eyes widen in a panic and he wraps his arms around Touya when he attempts to get off his lap. “No, no, no. Not like that. Touya, god, of course I want you. Are you kidding me?!”

“Then why…”

“Taking this next step…it’s a big deal. For both of us.” Keigo’s eyes are steady on him, like he’s trying to drill the words straight into his brain. “I want our first time together to be memorable. Special. Not in a random safe house with people in the other room, seconds from barging in.”

Touya huffs in disapproval, rolling his eyes, but relaxes against Keigo’s chest. “Yeah, okay,” he mutters begrudgingly, his lips pulling into a pout. 

Keigo kisses his temple, his hand moving up and down his back soothingly. “I meant it when I said I wanted you, Touya. Don’t you dare doubt that.”

“Yes, sir.” Touya smirks when Keigo growls low in his throat, tightening his hold on him. 

Of course the hero would have an authority kink. Duly noted. 

He melts into Keigo’s arms, burying his head in the crook of his neck, savoring the feel of warm hands moving up and down his back in soft circles. A kiss lands on the side of his head, lingering there against his skin.

“You have no idea how much I missed you, Touya.” Keigo’s hand moves to grip his chin roughly between his fingers. “Don’t you ever do that to me again, do you understand me?”

Touya shivers at the low growl of the command, his stomach flipping and his breath catching. The devious part of him wants to defy the hero, talk back and see just how far he can push. His mouth curls up in a mischievous smirk as he’s met with golden irises, narrowing, challenging him to continue and promising retribution for his smart mouth.

“Touya-nii?”

The soft voice from outside their feathered bubble douses him like a bucket of cold water, bringing Touya squarely back to reality. Reminding him that if there is a god, he has a sick, twisted sense of humor that Touya is constantly on the receiving end of. There’s no other explanation. 

“Speaking of barging in.” Keigo chuckles, gently knocking their foreheads together and kissing the tip of his nose.

“I swear to god, he’s got a second cock-blocking quirk,” Touya groans. 

“Wouldn’t it technically be his third quirk?”

Touya glares at him as he fixes himself and untangles from Keigo’s lap. Red feathers retract to find Shouto standing patiently at the edge of the bed, like the world is on his time. 

“What’s up, Sho?”

Shouto wrings his hands. “I can’t sleep…but…” His eyes shift from Touya to Keigo and back, an uncertain look on his face. 

Touya sighs, eyes softening. He turns to Keigo. “Stay?” 

Keigo nods, eyes brimming with adoration. “Always.”

God, I’m obsessed with you.

“Come on, brat. Get in here.” 

Keigo and Touya both lay down, Touya opening his arms out for Shouto to crawl into, right between them. The boy curls against him, fists curling in Touya’s shirt. Keigo waits until they’re settled before laying a wing over top of them, holding them both close. 

There’s a sense of deja vu, of familiarity that makes him want to sob, heart wrenching in his chest. The scene is so similar to what he’d fallen asleep to all those weeks ago, after the world found out about Touya. And after all that time, the three of them snuggled together still feels right. Like that’s where they were always meant to be. Like no time had passed at all.

When Keigo kisses him on the forehead, Touya in turn buries his head in the crook of his neck, deeply breathing in the hero’s familiar scent. With each breath, each inhale of the hero’s bergamot and vanilla body wash, his monster retreats further into the recesses of his mind. Defeated, if just for this one moment.

Notes:

Have I ever said how much I love these two because they're my roman empire, I swear.

How do you guys think a reunion with Fuyumi & Natsuo would go? Should Touya be nervous or do you think they'll be understanding?

Thank you all so much for the comments, kudos, etc. I appreciate every single interaction this fic gets. It still honestly blows my mind that so many people are enjoying the story. I never in a million years expected this much support. You guys are the best. <3

Next up: more reunions and back to Fukuoka!

Chapter 27

Summary:

The boys return to Fukuoka

Notes:

Hello everyone! So sorry for the wait. I know it's been over a week since I last posted. But my grandfather passed on the 23rd so between that and Christmas with my family, it's been a crazy week. I'm sorry if the quality is off at all. I honestly struggled a lot with getting back into the right mindset to write. My brain just didn't want to work for a few days while dealing with everything, so I thank you for your patience!

I did try really hard to get this out today in honor of our favorite boy's birthday. Everyone say HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEIGO TAKAMI! 🎉 🎉 (it's still the 28th on the east coast so I made it!)

Side note: We just cleared 500 subscriptions to this fic (WHAT?!?) and we're about to blow past 1,000 kudos. YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!

Being back in Fukuoka was strange. It felt like everything had changed, but yet nothing had really changed at all. 

The same people walked past them on their daily walks, the same children played on the playground across the street. The air held that same subtle tang of salt from the bay, mixed with herbs and spices from the food vendors down the street. The five-story apartment complex in front of him looked exactly like it had when they left all those weeks ago. 

But Touya felt different as he stared at their old home. He felt like he was intruding on a life that no longer belonged to him. It also wasn’t just him and Shouto approaching the building this time. Comforting red wings and gold eyes now stood by his side, the slight pressure of Touya’s hand in the hero’s reassuring and grounding.

He fights the urge to turn and run as he takes a deep breath, ascending the steps to the third floor. Yet, despite the anxiety crawling right under his skin, Touya feels almost disappointed when they come to a stop in front of the door to their apartment. It seems so lackluster, uneventful, compared to the storm of emotions they’d gone through to get to this point. The white door, with its chipped paint and black metal numbers screwed on denoting ‘303’, stares back at them in silence. As if time had frozen, or maybe gone on without them, uncaring of their plight.

See? The world continues to revolve without you. 

When they open the door, Touya’s surprised at the blast of cold air, the smell of cleaning supplies and incense, that hits him. Like someone has been living here, or at least keeping the place alive in their absence. He feels a wing curl around him, the soft feathers brushing against him with care. Of course. Touya knew exactly who was to blame.

However, he doesn’t get a chance to comment on Keigo’s apparent show of domesticity, instead being bombarded the second they break the threshold. A blur of green and blond rush him, almost knocking him off his feet and punching the breath from his lungs in a ‘hmph’. Warm arms wrap around him and Shouto. A hand swats the back of his head.

“Oh, Touya! Shouto! Thank god you’re back!”

“You brat! Don’t you ever do that to us again, you understand? We were worried sick!”

Touya buries his head between Inko and Mitsuki, squeezing them back. An onslaught of emotions makes its way up his throat and he chokes back a sob at the sound of his name, his real name, from Inko’s mouth. It was all so surreal, a situation he’d never let himself believe he could have. The support of those he loves, even after knowing who he is, who’s legacy he was a part of. He’d never let himself believe anyone would pick him over his father, over the number two hero. Yet, here he was, embracing two women who had become his family, not as Seika Tamada, but as Touya Todoroki.

And you thanked them for their support by running away, leaving them ‘worried sick’ about you. How selfish can you be?

“I’m sorry,” he squeaks out, voice breaking at the end. Hot tears track down his cheeks, soaking into their clothes. “I’m so sorry. I-I didn’t mean to…”

“Oh, honey.” Inko squeezes him tighter. “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay, Touya.” She wipes the tears from his cheeks before stepping back to look down at Shouto, placing a hand on the top of the boy’s head and petting through the strands of his hair. “Both of you are going to be okay.”

Mitsuki leans back with one hand on his shoulder, looking him up and down with concern. “You look too thin, kid. Come on in, we have some food ready for you guys.” She smiles at him, squeezing his shoulder.

Keigo clears his throat and Touya turns, taking in the hero’s soft smile and shining eyes. “I have to check in with my agency but I’ll be back later, okay?”

Inko and Mitsuki take Shouto by the hand, leading him into the kitchen, fussing over him like a couple of mother hens, leaving Touya and Keigo in the entryway. At that moment, Touya doesn’t want Keigo to leave. His heart pounds faster in his chest, eyes growing wide with fear. 

Fear that Keigo will walk out of that door and never come back. Fear of being alone again, feeling that empty void in his chest that only golden eyes can fill. A part of him knows the fear is unfounded; Keigo had already said he wouldn’t be going anywhere. That he’d be there for Touya through everything. But that niggling doubt in the back of his mind fights its way to the surface.

The look on his face must be telling enough, because Keigo rushes into his space, resting their foreheads together and cupping Touya’s cheek in one hand, his other hand wrapping around his waist. “Baby.” He leans back to kiss him on the tip of the nose. “Enjoy their company and catch up. I’ll be back before you know it, I promise.”

Touya lets the hero’s honey smooth voice wash over him, leaking into the cracks and crevices of his mind, driving back the doubt and fear little by little. He nods shakily, gulping down a lungful of air. “Okay,” he breathes out, all the while clutching onto Keigo’s hero costume like an anchor.

The hand at his cheek moves to the one curled into Keigo’s jacket, stroking a thumb over his skin. “I told you, Touya. I’m here for you. You’re not getting rid of me. Ever.” 

Touya’s breath catches at that last word, eyes flying up to meet Keigo’s. Swirling gold captures him, and Touya lets himself fall into that reality, the reality where Keigo never leaves him. Where Keigo wants to stay with him forever . 

Did the hero know what he was saying, pledging his life to Touya? Promising himself to Touya for the rest of his life? It was such a nice idea, such a crazy idea, but Touya desperately wants to believe him. To clutch onto that promise, dig his claws in and never let go.

“That’s a long time.” His heart now pounds for another reason as Keigo smiles at him, eyes crinkling at the sides.

“I know.” Keigo leans in, pressing his lips to Touya’s softly, reverently, lingering there as if they have all the time in the world. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he breathes out when he pulls away. “I miss you already.” He presses a chaste kiss against Touya’s lips before stepping back.

I always miss you.

Instead of saying that, Touya finds himself smirking, a remnant of his attitude that Keigo loves so much breaking through after being buried for the last month. “You’re that obsessed with me, huh?”

Keigo smiles back, white teeth flashing. His feathers ruffle happily from behind him. “I thought that much was obvious, firecracker.” He squeezes Touya’s hand one more time before turning away and disappearing out the door, leaving Touya standing there with butterflies in his stomach, bees buzzing in his head. 

The next couple hours pass by languidly as the four of them gather around the kitchen table, which is filled to the brim with soba, made more hearty with the addition of pork belly, and karaage. They even cut up some watermelon, the sweet, cold treat a welcome reprieve for the intense summer heat outside.

Conversation comes easy. Easier than Touya expected it too. Where he expects to see disappointment and anger, he instead finds contentment and relief. Inko and Mitsuki talk about how the boy’s training is going, how they’re so excited for school to finally be out next week. How work at the hospital is going for Inko, and how Mitsuki just received that much-anticipated promotion at the fashion company she works for. 

They ask Touya about their time away, and don’t push for details when he gives vague answers. He does tell them about all the cities they visited, all the exciting parts of their journey that he’s not ashamed of. He tells them about Toga, and how one of the U.A. staff is taking her in as a foster kid. That decision had been hard, and Touya missed her more than he’d like to admit, but it was for the best, for her. Plus, she seemed really happy with the outcome, promising to visit them as much as she could as long as they did the same. And who knows, maybe one day her and Shouto would attend U.A. together.

Touya can’t help but smile as Inko and Mitsuki dote on the boy, continuously putting food in front of him and fixing his hair, patting his shoulder. Comforting him with gentle touches and soft words. It was everything Shouto deserved after the ordeal they’ve been through this past month. Touya knew Toga’s departure weighed heavily on him as well, so having people there for him would do him a lot of good. 

He could tell, as they continued to sit there, his brother was getting anxious, constantly looking from the three of them to the door, waiting. Glancing at the clock and counting down ‘till school was sure to be out for the day. His heart squeezes in his chest as he watches his brother tap his finger on the table, squirming in his seat. He was bouncing with excitement, unable to contain the nervous energy overflowing from him.

As if on cue, the door opens, banging against the wall, two thumps on the ground from backpacks being thrown, followed by shoes being hastily ripped off and discarded. Shouto doesn’t even get a chance to fully get out of his chair before the two boys, panting heavily, sweat dripping down their faces from running all the way here, burst into the room, freezing in the doorway.

Izuku’s eyes fill with tears as he finds Shouto, a squeak escaping him as he bounds forward, almost knocking the boy over when he wraps his arms around him in a tight hug. Shouto hugs him back, burying his head in Izuku’s shoulder. Inko grabs a tissue from the box on the table and dabs at her wet eyes, and Touya feels his own sight go blurry watching the reunion.

Katsuki is still standing at the doorway, looking between Touya and Shouto with wide eyes, fists clenching at his sides. He moves slowly, lip just barely quivering until he gets to Touya’s side. “Are you back for good?” The boy’s voice shakes as he addresses Touya, looking at him with eyes that shine with hurt and disbelief.

“Yeah,” Touya nods. “We’re back for good.”

That seems to be all the blond needs. Touya freezes as Katsuki throws his arms around his waist, his face crushed to Touya’s chest. 

Let it be known that Katsuki wasn’t the ‘hugging’ type. In fact, Touya’d never seen him hug anyone before. Yet, he could feel his shirt grow moist under the boy, his hands clutched in the fabric like he’s afraid Touya will disappear.

When Touya recovers from his shock, he puts an arm around him, rubbing up and down the boy’s back in soothing circles. He doesn’t speak, but he doesn’t need to. He knows that Katsuki wouldn’t appreciate any soothing words anyways. Instead, he lets the boy cry in secret, smiling softly at Mitsuki when he catches her wiping a tear from her cheek. 

When Katsuki pulls away, he rubs violently at his cheeks, destroying any evidence of his show of emotion. He turns to Shouto as Izuku pulls away from him, a wordless conversation passes between the two before Katsuki pulls him into a hug. Shouto reciprocates silently, burying his face in the boy’s shoulder.

Shouto has always been good like that, understanding both boys’ different personalities and being able to perceive exactly how he should act with each of them. On one hand, Izuku taught him how to be more in touch with his emotional side, breaking him out of his proverbial shell when they’d first met and Shouto was struggling with social anxiety. So, he knew how to deal with Izuku’s high emotional intelligence, his need for closeness and aptitude for kindness that extended beyond himself.

However, the bond he shared with Katsuki, in some ways, came more naturally to Shouto. After all, he had been trained from a very young age that emotions had no place in his life. For better or for worse, the values that Endeavor instilled in him helped him understand Katsuki better than most. It wasn’t that Katsuki didn’t feel, but he had become an expert at hiding those feelings, just like Shouto had done to survive that hellscape of a home. 

“Touya-nii?” Green eyes look up at Touya, shining with hesitation and joy.

Touya softens, reaching out to ruffle Izuku’s hair. “Hey, kid. Missed you.”

Izuku chokes back a sob before throwing himself at him, Touya barely catching him without falling back off his chair. Touya has to fight back his own emotions trying to crawl their way up his throat, the burn behind his eyes growing more persistent with each second that goes by. 

Because he did miss them. He missed them so much it physically hurts seeing the aftermath, the six of them sitting around the kitchen table. The way it should have been all along. It hurts seeing the consequences of his actions play out in real time, the hurt and betrayal and sadness that he was responsible for. 

But mostly, he just missed them. His family. The ones who chose him, over and over again, despite his insecurities, his doubts, his shortcomings. The ones who saved a spot for him at the table even after he left them behind. The ones who think that he might be worth something , that his existence isn’t defined by his quirk or his father’s legacy.

The faces around him make him want to be stronger, better than he was before. Instead of running away, he should be standing and fighting for what he’s built. Maybe if he hadn’t been so trapped in his own mind before, he would’ve realized that. If he would’ve had this scene in the back of his mind, he could have confronted his father instead of freezing, left paralyzed with fear.

He wasn’t going to make that mistake again. This time around, he would stand tall. With the love and support of those in this room, with Keigo by his side. This time, Enji was going to look at him as Touya took his entire life apart. 

 

***********************************

 

Keigo sighs, limbs heavy with exhaustion, as he gets ready to leave his apartment. A ‘couple of hours’ at the agency turned into a nearly five hour long headache. Apparently flying all over the country for a month didn’t stop the influx of paperwork. Property damage forms, incident resolution forms, licensing renewals and sidekick applications. All just a bunch of words on pages, keeping him from what he truly wanted to be doing.

It didn’t help that his handler was also vying for his time, keeping him on the phone for an hour trying to explain why he thought it acceptable to cancel the next few stops on this PR campaign that Keigo was so insistent about. Apparently, ‘something came up’ wasn’t an adequate excuse.

All they really had to do to explain the change in plans was say Hawks was needed back in Fukuoka. Heroes' schedules change all the time. It surely wouldn’t be the first time a hero had to bow out of an obligation or change assignments. The Commission just couldn’t leave him alone for two fucking seconds, forcing expectations onto him that his peers weren’t subjected to. 

He couldn’t help but get a little pissy at the whole situation. Especially when he knew Touya was waiting for him to come back, to keep his promise. He was done breaking his promises, the Commission be damned. So, he’d told his handler to ‘figure it out himself’ and hung up, pointedly not thinking about the consequences there’d surely be at his insolence.

For now, he taps out a message to Touya telling him he’s on his way and puts his phone on do not disturb, before taking off from the balcony. He glides slowly, carefully, through the sky to accommodate the extra bags he’s carrying, a small grin on his face picturing Shouto’s reaction to his surprise.

Before long, he’s dropping down to the third floor walkway, knocking on the apartment door, and grinning at vibrant blue eyes that greet him. Touya looks him up and down, taking in the luggage at his side. He raises an eyebrow when his gaze falls on a particular bundle.

“Moving in, birdy?” Touya moves to the side, gesturing for him to come in.

“Don’t know,” Keigo quips, heart fluttering at the idea. “Is that an invitation, hot stuff?” He carefully puts the bags down, leaning in to drop a kiss on Touya’s cheek before pulling his shoes off and hanging his jacket by the door.

“And if it was?” Touya pulls him in around the waist, one hand resting between his wings, and slots their lips together. They slowly rock back and forth, as if dancing, in the tiny entryway. Keigo revels in the way Touya seems so comfortable with him, as if no time had passed at all. As if they’d simply hit pause on their budding relationship, resuming right where they’d left off.

“Hmmm,” Keigo pretends to contemplate the hypothetical question. In reality, he wants to scream ‘yes’ from the top of his lungs, to tell Touya he’d love nothing more than to come home every night to him. But the boys had both been through enough. He didn’t need to make it any more complicated by adding ‘moving in together’ to the list. “I think you’d end up getting sick of me pretty fast,” he says instead, chuckling when Touya rolls his eyes in answer.

“I somehow don’t think that’ll ever happen.” 

Blue eyes lock with his and Keigo can feel his feathers flutter softly at his back. His wings instinctively curl inwards, wanting to wrap around the both of them. But, before he can, a gasp startles them, both turning their heads to the entrance of the living room.

“Natori!” Shouto runs towards them, dropping to his knees in front of the cat carrier, where Natori answers back with a loud ‘meow’. The boy unzips the carrier, eyes wide with excitement as the cat slowly saunters out, her tail twitching as she studies the new surroundings. 

“Is that a cat?” Izuku peeks his head into the hallway, followed closely by Katsuki.

“Yeah!” Shouto nods his head excitedly. “This is Natori.” He pets down her back, the cat arching into his touch. 

The two boys come over, crouching down to pet the animal themselves, commenting on how soft her fur is. Even Katsuki looks intrigued, his mouth twitching up into a smile as Natori snuggles her face into his hand.

“I didn’t know those two would still be here,” Keigo mutters, watching the scene unfold with a soft smile. Bringing Natori had been a split second decision, but from the look on Shouto’s face, he was right to do so. 

“I didn’t know you’d be bringing a cat ,” Touya retorts back. “To be fair, I didn’t think they’d be here either. But they refused to leave, so we’re having a sleepover.” 

“How lucky for you.”

“You mean, how lucky for us , birdy.” Touya kisses the hero’s cheek, lips lingering on his skin there. “That is, if you want to stay the night?”

Keigo’s heart flutters faster, cheeks heating. Touya poses the question with his usual nonchalance, like it’s an afterthought rather than a request. Keigo knows better, though. He knows that under the surface, the question is more of a plea. He sees it in the way Touya watches him, blue eyes piercing through to his soul. In the way he stiffens, as if waiting for the blow of rejection, his heart beating faster in his chest.

He sighs, matching Touya’s indifferent tone. “I guess I could. Just to help out, you know.” He smirks before nuzzling his face in his soft, black hair.

“Ugh, we have to deal with this shit again?” Katsuki looks up at them, crossing his arms with a scowl on his face. The other two are oblivious, scratching Natori’s belly as she sprawls out on the floor.

Touya breaks away from him to ruffle Katsuki’s hair before pushing him in the direction of the living room. “Make yourself useful and go pick a movie. Shouto, Izuku. Bring Natori in with you guys. We’ll be there in a second.”

Keigo waits until the kids are out of the room before he starts planting kisses up Touya’s jaw, right where the scarred, textured flesh meets healthy, pale skin. “Have I told you lately how freakin’ gorgeous you are?” he whispers when he reaches Touya’s ear, nipping lightly at the lobe.

He feels Touya’s skin heat beneath his lips, leaning back to see the red flush of his cheeks. “You’re crazy,” Touya murmurs, squirming in Keigo’s arms.

Keigo smirks at him, drinking in Touya’s reaction. There was something so addictive , so fulfilling about watching Touya. He was so uncomfortable with compliments, especially when it came to his physical appearance, but he would get this adorable look on his face that Keigo loved to see. His nose would scrunch and he’d push his lips up in a pout like he’s upset, but he’d also lean into Keigo’s space, like he’s subconsciously leaning into the words themselves.

“Crazy about you,” Keigo continues, reveling in Touya’s annoyed huff, despite the man wrapping his arms around his neck and nuzzling into him like a big cat. “C’mon, firecracker. Let’s get this sleepover started.”

They join the kids in the living room, snagging a spot at the end of the couch. Keigo sits against the corner cushion, Touya curling up into his side. “There’s not enough room to spread out,” the man mutters, the excuse empty on his lips.

But instead of drawing attention to the amount of room in between them and the three boys at the other end, Keigo wraps his arms tighter around Touya. Nuzzling into him, he breathes in the vanilla mint conditioner that Touya borrowed from him at the safehouse. If Touya wanted to be all clingy, Keigo sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him no.

Two hours later, Keigo and Touya watch the credits roll. The three boys fell asleep long before the movie ended, all curled up in a fluffy blanket together. Keigo runs his fingers through Touya’s hair, absently scratching lightly at his scalp. Touya groans at the contact, head lolling to the side. He lets out a sigh of contentment that brings a smile to Keigo’s lips.

“It’s getting late, baby,” Keigo murmurs into Touya’s ear. He ghosts his fingers up and down Touya’s arm, watching in fascination at the goosebumps that spring up on his skin. “You should go to bed.”

Touya grunts. “Trying to get out of our sleepover, pretty bird? If I remember correctly, you said you’d stay.” 

Vibrant eyes cut into him and his breath hitches. He loses himself in the way the blue seems to push and pull him, like the tides being pushed and pulled by the moon. He brings up a hand, tracing his fingers over the lines of Touya’s face. Up over the tip of his nose, down to his cupid’s bow, swiping along his cheekbones and the soft skin under his eyes.

I’m utterly helpless when it comes to you. Do you know that?

His eyes meet Touya’s and holds his gaze. He sees the question shining there, the plea for him to stay. To erase the doubts Keigo knows run through Touya’s head like a deadly disease. “I’ll stay,” he whispers, ghosting a kiss over Touya’s lips. “I’ll stay as long as you’ll have me.”

Notes:

Touya is reunited with Keigo, the boys are reunited with Mama Inko & Mama Mitsuki, the terror trio is back together, and Shouto finally has his cat back. All is right in the world.

Oh, and Enji is going DOWN. 😡

Thank you guys for all the support, as always. You guys have no idea what it means. This week was extra hard, and there were times I actually went through comments of this fic to bring my spirits up. I appreciate every single one of you. ♥

Also, a few fic ideas I'm working on that revolve around dabihawks. I'll include in the notes whenever one drops, but if you want to keep up to date, subscribe to my profile and you'll get a notification when they go live!
- Touya and Keigo with the same plot (loosely) as Buddy Daddies (if you haven't seen this anime, WATCH IT. It's so cute and I think EXACTLY what Touya & Keigo would be like raising a kid that's not theirs.)
- Touya and Keigo college AU without quirks - bad boy yakuza prince falls for tortured artist
- Post-canon where Hawks saves Dabi's life with a treatment the Commission had been researching and helps him recover. (yes, I know there are a TON of these fics but I'm obsessed so shhhh.)
- Villain Hawks x Pro Hero Dabi: Instead of being on patrol and arresting Hawks' father, Endeavor meets Touya on Sekoto Peak, forever changing the trajectory of both their lives.

Chapter 28

Summary:

Nightmares and second chances.

Notes:

Happy 2025 everyone! I hope y'all had an amazing holiday season and that this next year treats us all kindly!

The air on the mountain peak is cold and dry. The branches of the trees surrounding him clack together like bones dancing in the wind. Dead, fallen leaves skitter to the ground, swirling around his feet. 

He pulls his knees to his chest and wraps an arm around himself, crying silently into the sleeve of his jacket. All of his hard work, all of the time he spent training, and all he had to show for it was an empty mountain top and burns scarring his arms and torso.

His words weren’t enough to convince his father to give him a chance. The work he’d done to ensure Shouto’s safety, to try and give him a normal childhood, was all a waste. He was a waste. Everything he tried to accomplish, all the goals he’d ever set out to achieve in his life, were reduced to ruins before he ever had a chance to see them through. 

It had been like that from the beginning. From becoming Enji’s successor and failing spectacularly. Even from the womb, his body revolted against his purpose, the reason he’d been conceived. Then failing to protect Shouto, from his father, from their mother, from the life they’d been brought up in. He couldn’t do anything. Couldn’t be anything but a failure. The stain on the Todoroki family.

His body heats the more he stews in his despair, the longer the tears fall from his eyes. Fire rushes through his veins, searching for an exit. Surging closer and closer to the surface as his emotions heighten.

He’ll never acknowledge you. You’re a loser. Inadequate. Disappointment. A good-for-nothing, incompetent piece of trash.

Flames flicker from his eyes and he sucks in a sharp breath. He tries to control his breathing, stop the rush of fire licking at his skin, but it just surges higher and higher until he’s combusting.

The pain explodes from every pore. The hair on his arms and legs are immediately singed off his body, crackling in his ears as his skin starts to bubble. His screams are lost in the wind, falling on deaf ears.

The smell of burning flesh stings his nostrils. He watches as his skin chars in front of his eyes. A scream bubbles from his damaged lungs. He screams and screams, calling for help that will never come. Calling for his father, pleading with whatever god is out there for help. Pleading for anyone to save him. Screaming and screaming and screaming…

Touya startles awake to the sound of thunder, a crack of lightning illuminating the room around him. For a moment, he doesn’t recognize his surroundings, the solid walls and warm bed miles from the usual hole in the wall they stayed in over the last month. 

But then he feels strong hands rubbing up and down his arm, comforting words being spoken against his skin. The voice is familiar. The voice sounds like home.

He turns his head to find golden irises pinned on him, illuminated by the faint street light filtering in through the open curtains, searching his face with concern. Touya’s heart calms until his breaths even out, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm as a hand rubs up and down his arm. Soothing, reassuring.

Keigo.

Touya huffs out a breath as his brain catches up to reality. Home. He’s home. With Keigo. He’s safe.

The hero smiles at him softly. “There you are,” Keigo murmurs, his hand continuing to ground Touya as he rubs circles into his skin. “Come back to me, firecracker.”

“ Keigo ,” he breathes out. His body moves before he knows what’s happening, launching himself at the hero, sighing in relief when Keigo crushes him to his chest, warm arms wrapping around him. Shielding him.

“I’m right here, baby.” He presses a kiss to Touya’s temple, his lips lingering against his skin.

They lay tangled together, listening to the rain hit the roof, the occasional thunder clap and streak of lightning breaking through the night as the storm continued outside. Touya breathes in Keigo’s scent, vanilla and mint of his conditioner mixed with honey and cinnamon, and the static in his head dulls down to a quiet humm.

“Did I wake you up?”

Keigo shakes his head. “No. I couldn’t sleep…wanna talk about it?” The sleepy rasp of Keigo’s voice flows over him like a warm blanket, a ball of heat settling low in his gut.

Touya presses up further against Keigo, nuzzling into him like he’s suffocating and Keigo’s his only source of oxygen. “No, not really.” He turns his head, his lips meeting Keigo’s neck. He presses soft kisses into the skin, nipping here and there in an attempt to distract.

Keigo’s breath hitches, fingers digging into Touya’s waist, holding him flush against the hero. “Touya…sweetheart…” He’s cut off with a groan when Touya sucks a mark into his neck, breaking away with a ‘pop’.

“Yes, birdy?”

Keigo sighs, shifting them so his body is hovering over Touya, propped up by an elbow next to Touya’s head. “What do you think you’re doing?” Keigo’s breath ghosts over his face, his lips a hair breadth away from his own. His wings expand over the two of them, casting a shadow in the shape of an angel. 

My angel.

“I think I’m enjoying my boyfriend.”

Keigo’s wings flutter above him, curling inward until the soft feathers brush over his skin. His eyes dilate, leaving only a thin ring of gold. “Boyfriend, huh?”

Touya brings a hand up, threading it through the wispy, blond hairs at the back of his head. “Got another word for it, birdy?”

“Hmmm.” Keigo looks down on him, a soft smile ghosting his lips, his eyes full of adoration. So warm Touya feels like he could burn under his gaze. “I guess not.”

Keigo dips down, finally slotting their lips together with a sigh that Touya swallows down. He tightens his grip on the back of Keigo’s head as he deepens the kiss, taking and taking until he can’t anymore.

“ Touya…” Keigo pants out, sucking in air as they finally break away. He whispers Touya’s name as he plants kisses along his jaw, down his neck to his collarbone, and back up again.

The weight of Keigo’s body on top of his anchors him like a ship moored at harbor during a hurricane. Nothing can reach him in this state. Not his nightmares, or the outside world, or the voice in his head telling him he’s not enough. Because right now, with Keigo worshipping him so reverently, breathing affirmations into his skin, he feels like he might be enough.

Touya worms a hand under Keigo’s shirt, settling it between his wings and pressing Keigo impossibly closer, his fingers digging into the skin. He takes greedily from Keigo’s mouth this time, his tongue demanding entry. Keigo gives in willingly, matching his enthusiasm, pushing back with equal measure.

One of Keigo’s hands slides up Touya’s side, trailing up his arm towards the hand buried in his hair. Touya releases the strands, letting Keigo intertwine their fingers together and hold their hands to the mattress next to his head. “Do you know how crazy you make me?” he whispers, squeezing Touya’s hand as if conveying a message. Or maybe a threat.

“Show me,” Touya answers back, one side of his mouth quirking up in a devilish smirk.

Keigo nips at his bottom lip with a growl. “Not here.” He presses a hard kiss to his mouth.

Touya pouts, making the gesture as exaggerated as he possibly can, squirming beneath him. He smiles when he sees Keigo close his eyes, gritting his teeth at the movement. “Why not?”

“ Because there are three hellions sleeping one wall over and I have a feeling you wouldn’t know how to stay quiet.” He puts a finger to Touya’s lips when he goes to protest. “Plus, you just had a nightmare that obviously upset you. And don’t even try to pretend it didn’t. You’re not in the right state of mind, and I don’t want you to regret anything in the morning.”

He rolls his eyes. “I’m fine, Keigo. You do so much for me all the time. Let me do something for you for once. Let me make you feel good,” he whispers against the hero’s lips.

Let me be useful. I need to pay you back. I need you to want to stay.

“Touya…you don’t owe me anything. You know that, right? I do so much for you because I care about you. I want you to be happy. I don’t need you to do anything for me to feel that way. Especially not this.”

He wonders briefly if Keigo really can hear his thoughts. Maybe it’s a secondary quirk, or some part of a bird’s anatomy he doesn’t know about. There’s no other explanation as to why he’d understand so completely. 

He’s just being nice, trying to save my feelings. After all, he’s a hero. He would never admit that you’re not enough.

Touya huffs out a breath, his eyes stinging. “You think you’re so damn smart.” He tries to pull his hand away but Keigo keeps him pinned. Keigo’s other hand brushes Touya’s bangs out of his face, his thumb attempting to smooth out the creases in his forehead.

“Not smart. Just observant. Especially when it comes to you.” Keigo drops a kiss on the tip of his nose. “I care about you too much to rush things with you, Touya. I’ll do whatever you need me to do, be whoever you need me to be. But not at the expense of messing this up.” He gestures between the two of them. “I know you don’t want to rush things either, so let’s just slow down a little. Okay?”

This side of Keigo, the heroic, caring, understanding, fucking sunshine and rainbows side of him absolutely baffles Touya. He can’t fathom how someone can be so frustratingly good , so chivalrous and selfless. The weight of the world on his back, and he still flies higher than anyone else. He shoulders everything, takes responsibility for everything . It amazes and also frustrates Touya in equal measure.

Keigo is stronger than he’d ever hope to be. All Touya can do is break down, shatter under the same pressure that transformed Keigo into a diamond. He’s a storm where Keigo is a clear sky, a pitch black midnight where Keigo is the afternoon sun. The hero is always there to pick him up, but never needs to be picked up himself. He’s never vulnerable, never weak like Touya is.

How could I ever think he’d need someone like me?

All you’ll do is drag him down with you.

Touya startles when Keigo wipes his thumb under his eye, getting rid of the moisture that’s gathered there. When he started crying, he wasn’t sure. “You’re so annoying, you know,” he mutters. “When do I get to see you cry?”

Keigo simply chuckles, dodging the question, before dipping down and kissing him gently on the lips. “I mean it, you know. Just tell me what you need. I’d move mountains for you, love.”

Love.

Touya swallows, letting the word bounce around in the silence between them. He hates the idea of needing anything from Keigo, especially if the hero was going to insist on the idea that Touya doesn’t need to reciprocate. It makes him feel weak, relying on another person without righting the scales. His upbringing, his training, all told him to be self-reliant, to be strong enough that he could do everything on his own.

But the truth is, he wants Keigo to be there for him. The hero’s attention makes him feel important, makes him feel like he matters, in a way he’d never felt before. That his existence has a purpose, even if his life was a flaming dumpster fire of trauma and issues. He wants Keigo to know the ugly parts of him, because he wants Keigo to know all of him.

Most of all, he wants Keigo’s love. More than anything.

Maybe then, he’ll let me see his ugly parts too. Maybe then he’ll think I’m strong enough to hold him up when he’s weak.

“I…” he starts, pausing until Keigo nods, gesturing for him to continue. “I always have this nightmare. Or maybe it’s a memory…I don’t know. Of Sekoto Peak. I remember all those feelings, all the pain. It reminds me of how much I felt like a failure, how my life never meant anything. Sometimes, I can’t help but think it’d be better off if I never existed in the first place.”

Keigo’s brow furrows, mouth slanting down in a frown. “You shouldn’t ever feel like that, Touya. Your existence has made my life infinitely better, and I know I’m not the only one. Shouto would be lost without you. The Midoriyas and the Bakugos love you.”

“I know. I just…I can’t help it. I don’t want to think about those things, but…” He shrugs his shoulders, looking past Keigo to the ceiling in shame.

I can’t stop. The voice in my head won’t let me go.

Keigo brings a hand to Touya’s chin, forcing his eyes back on him. “What do you need from me?”

Everything.

“I need…I need to know if I’m doing okay. If I’m strong enough…that I’m not just a total disaster of a person…” He chokes back the lump in his throat, unable to stop the tears that build in his eyes.

That I’m strong enough to deserve someone like you. That I’m good enough to be loved by you.

“Then that’s what I’ll do,” Keigo whispers, shifting them so they’re both laying on their side, Touya curled into his chest. 

And that’s exactly what Keigo does, Touya clinging to him like a lifeline as he whispers sweet words to him, rubbing his back or running his fingers through his hair. He doesn’t stop, even as the storm continues to rage outside, and even as Touya’s head calms. He doesn’t stop, even as Touya’s red-rimmed eyes droop with sleep, body relaxing in time with Keigo’s heartbeat.

He doesn’t stop until Touya’s fast asleep, breathing evening out at his side, before whispering one final declaration.

“Most of all, I love you.”

 

***********************************

 

The bell overhead dings with a cheery note as Touya enters the shop, taking in the summer flowers and potted plants on display. The scent of fresh soil and honeyed sweetness greets him like an old friend. Soft piano music plays from the speakers overhead as he walks back towards his old workbench, buckets of flowers lined up against the wall waiting to be arranged.

He ghosts his fingers over the wooden tabletop, tracing the familiar grooves of the wood, the divots from years and years of use. He freezes when he hears a throat clear behind him, turning to see Hana staring at him, arms crossed over her chest and a scowl on her face that rivals the one he usually wears.

“I should smack the shit out of you.” Her tone leaves no room for nonsense. Touya’s sure she’d make good on her word if given the chance.

“Good to see you too, you old bat.”

She scoffs, hands uncrossing to come to rest at her hips. “Guess it was a long shot that your attitude would be fixed during your time away.”

His lips lift in a tentative smile, sensing an olive branch reaching out to him. He leans casually against the workbench and it all feels so reminiscent to all the times they used to banter back and forth when work was slow. “Oh, come on. My attitude makes things interesting.”

“Is that what your little boyfriend tells you?”

“He tells me a lot of things but I don’t think they’re all considered family friendly,” he quips back, a full blown smile on his face now, one eyebrow raised in challenge.

Hana rolls her eyes, lips twitching up as she shakes her head. “God knows why I put up with a menace like you.”

“Does that mean I get my job back?”

“That depends.” Hana looks him up and down, considering. “Are you gonna up and run again?”

Touya confidently shakes his head. “Nah. My running days are over.”

Hana’s eyes narrow on him, assessing him. Outside, life goes on; businessmen passing by on their phones, couples hand in hand window shopping and laughing at inside jokes. Touya opens his mouth to ask about his employment again when Hana speaks.

“You know…I met Endeavor once.”

Touya stiffens, not sure exactly where she plans on going with this. Even though Eraserhead said that Hana wanted to see him back at the floral shop, was it possible that she was actually a fan of his father’s? He should’ve asked Eraserhead, or maybe Keigo, for more information before coming here.

“Yeah?” He sounds uncertain to his own ears.

“It was during the Wisteria Festival at Kawachi Fuji Garden about ten years back. A villain tried to disrupt the festival. Apparently his girlfriend had rejected his proposal in the wisteria tunnel and he was tormenting couples that were attending.”

Touya remembered that fight, from back before everything changed. Before Shouto was even born. Before his skin started to burn. When he still looked up to his father. He remembers watching the live coverage on TV, looking on in awe as his father’s fire streaked across the sky, pursuing the villain. He remembers how proud his father looked as he stared into the camera, warning anyone else out there who dared cross him.

“ Villains don’t stand a chance against someone of my stature.”

That voice, the same one that used to inspire him, just makes his blood run cold now.

“Ichigo and I had a stand set up, advertising the shop. During the chase, your father came through and our stand was destroyed. We didn’t think too much of it at the time. It was a loss but villain attacks happen…just another a part of life. But some of the other vendors asked if he could spare some sidekicks to help get things back in order so the festival could go on. I believe his response was something along the lines of ‘It was your fault you were in my way. Clean it up yourself.’ His attitude was a shock, to say the least.”

Yep. That sounds about right.

“I never really cared for him after that. What you said in your letter…what you kids went through…I’m sorry, Touya. I’m sorry the world failed you.”

“Yeah...thanks.” His voice is tired. He’s heard many ‘I’m sorrys' over the last few days. He was exhausted from all the sympathy, all the pity, but on the other hand, he was grateful for all the support, especially since he hadn’t really expected any of it. 

The truth is, he just wanted to be done with the past. The abuse they had endured already happened. Nothing could change that now, and Endeavor didn’t deserve a place in his present, or in his future. He wanted to go home every day to Shouto and Keigo. He wanted to enjoy his job at the flower shop, training the boys after work. He just wanted to live without his father’s shadow following him everywhere he went.

“The past is in the past, right?” 

Touya huffs a breath in amusement, nodding his head in agreement. Leave it to Hana to know exactly what he was thinking.

“Well, then. You’ve got an order in the back. Better get started.” She smiles, nodding back at the workstation behind him, before throwing him an apron.

“R-right.” He ties the apron around his waist. “Thank you, Hana.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You’re still stuck dealing with me,” she calls over her shoulder. “Oh, and Touya?”

He hums in acknowledgement, looking up to see her smiling softly in his direction.

“It’s good to have you back.” With that, she disappears through the door leading to the back storage area.

He smiles to himself, turning to the workbench again before looking up at the order sheet waiting on the board. He squints at the details printed on the form, reading through them twice just to make sure he’s really seeing what he’s seeing.

     Name: Keigo Takami

     Order details: One large bouquet, luxury tier

     Customer requests: Florist choice of flowers

     Note: To celebrate your first day back. I’m so proud of you. Can’t wait to see what you come up with. Forever yours, Keigo.

He looks back towards the storage room accusingly before taking his phone out of his pocket and pulling up his conversation with Keigo.

You: you know…gifts aren't usually supposed to create work for the person you’re gifting them to, birdy

Of course he doesn’t have to wait too long for an answer. If he knows Keigo, then the bird was probably sitting there waiting for his reaction to this little stunt.

Pretty bird: are you saying I should ask for a refund?

He pouts at the screen, not wanting to admit what Keigo already knows. That it really is the perfect gift for him. Especially after being gone from the shop for so long. He missed getting lost in the peaceful monotony of piecing each arrangement together, creating a small instance of beauty that only he was responsible for. His job had become his own form of self-medication, therapy for his broken, dirtied soul.

You : we don’t do refunds…so I guess I’ll just have to manage…

Pretty bird: Ur so brave. I’ll make it up to u later 😜

Smug bastard.

He sighs, putting his phone in his pocket and setting the ornate vase, decorated with delicate red swirls and line work, in the middle of the table. Mixing a nutrient packet in with some water, he pours the mixture into the vase and turns towards the back wall, looking over his options, before getting to work.

Vibrant camellias signifying love and adoration. For the family he found, for those who support him, for Keigo. Stark white yuzus signifying luck and prosperity. For the upcoming case against his father, for the future. Blush sweet peas symbolizing thanks and appreciation. Again, for all the support he’s received. Support he never wants to lose, never wants to forget. 

He rounds out the arrangement with bunches of yarrow and chrysanthemums in a range of colors from white to light red. He then threads green ivy through the remaining empty spaces, manipulating the arrangement until all of the colors are interspersed throughout.

“Looks like you haven’t missed a beat.” Hana comes to stand at his side, nodding at the arrangement in front of him. 

“Like riding a bike,” Touya quips, wiping down the countertop with a rag and brushing all the leftover flower clippings into the compost bin. “What now? Need help in the back?”

“Sure. You can help me organize the shipment of supplies we got yesterday.”

“Gladly.” Touya follows her into the back, a sense of calm settling in his chest like a missing puzzle piece.

 

***********************************

 

“Oh, come on! That shell totally should’ve missed me!”

Keigo glances up from the half-completed form on his desk to the corner of his office in amusement. “You doing okay over there, kid?”

Shouto doesn’t look up from where his eyes are glued to the TV, tongue sticking out of his mouth in concentration as he tries to salvage the race. He hasn’t left that spot since Touya dropped him off a few hours ago for his talk with Hana. Since it hadn’t made sense for Shouto to go back to school only one week away from summer vacation, Keigo offered to watch him at the agency.

Touya was hesitant at first, which was understandable, but Keigo had managed to convince him. It wasn’t exactly hard after the two met him at his office and Shouto had seen his gaming corner, plopping right down in one of the bean bag chairs and sifting through his games with rapt interest before Touya could protest.

The Mario Kart theme song plays from the TV, Shouto leaning to the side when his character takes a corner. “Yeah, I’m good.”

Keigo glances at the clock before going back to work. Touya should be here anytime now, so he had to hurry to get everything done for the day so he could leave with them. In reality, he really didn’t have the time to follow them around, but he couldn’t help it. A part of him was still terrified that Touya would disappear the second he left them alone.

At least he’d been able to catch up on all his piled-up work for the agency. He’d even posted the patrol schedule for the next month in advance. That should at least keep his sidekicks happy, and it would allow him to focus on more important things. Mainly, helping Aizawa’s plan stay on track and keeping the Commission at bay.

The licensing review for Endeavor was scheduled to start up again in two weeks. Even leading up to it, he’d heard that the Commission planned on supporting the hero. Of course, they wouldn’t want such a large scandal for their number two. A case like this could shake hero society to its core.

So, his role was to make sure that didn’t happen while Aizawa prepped their evidence against Endeavor. Fortunately for them, they had all the blackmail they needed from the files that Keigo had pilfered from the Commission all those months ago. Files that showed the Commission turning a blind eye to the anonymous tips made of the hero’s abuse. Keigo knew that his employers would do most anything to keep those dirty little secrets buried as deep as possible.

Their backup plan was to bring Touya and Shouto in as witnesses, but they really wanted to keep them for the actual criminal trial. The impact would be greater if they weren’t revealed until that time. Besides, there were witness statements to take, evidence to be logged, and deals to be made before they could guarantee their safety once everything was out in the open. All of that would take much longer than the two weeks they were afforded.

Keigo looks up when the door opens, feathers fluttering happily behind him when he’s met with blue eyes, brighter than all the stars in the sky. He has to stop himself from rushing out of his seat to be by Touya’s side, sweeping him up in his arms and never letting go.

You can control yourself, Keigo. Stop acting like a lovesick fool.

But in reality, he is a lovesick fool. There was no other way around it. Nothing else could explain the way his heart sped up the second Touya walked into the room. This instinct buried deep down inside of him that compelled him to make Touya his , only his. This compulsion to make sure he was happy and safe and had anything and everything he could ever want in the world. 

He had meant it when he told Touya he’d move mountains for him. He’d give up everything. He’d rip the wings right off his body if he had to. If that’s what it took to keep Touya. If that’s what it took for them to have their happy ending.

That’s why he had to make sure everything was perfect for this trial. Touya had already gone through so much during his life. He didn’t deserve any more suffering. Keigo had to protect him. He couldn’t afford to fail him anymore, no matter what became of himself. 

That was the cost of being a hero. To sacrifice yourself for the sake of others. The Commission had tried to teach him that the ‘greater good’ or the ‘public’s image of hero society’ was worth that sacrifice. And in some situations, that might be true. But meeting Touya had broken something inside of him. A part of his training that would’ve had him throwing Touya under the bus in order to preserve Endeavor’s career.

In all honesty, he didn’t care about the greater good when Touya was involved. As long as those eyes stayed trained on him, as long as Touya’s hand stayed intertwined with his, that was enough.

He somehow stays seated while Touya makes his way over to his desk, pulling his chair away just enough for Touya to plant himself between him and his work. A paper bag is clasped in his hand, the smell wafting through the air making his mouth water.

“Hey, angel. Brought you something to eat, since I’m guessing you haven’t eaten yet today.” He cocks an eyebrow when Keigo looks at him sheepishly.

Angel.  

The new term of endearment makes him feel like he’s floating in space. Like he’s freefalling from high up in the atmosphere, the wind whipping through his hair and the ground rushing to meet him, just for his wings to snap out at the last second, pulling him back up into the air.

“You spoil me, baby.” He gladly takes the bag, tilting his head up when Touya leans down, kissing him softly. Mint and smoke fills his lungs and he breathes it in like oxygen.

“It’s the least I can do.” Touya plants a chaste kiss on his cheek before getting up and walking over to where Shouto still has his eyes glued to the TV. 

He plops down into the other bean bag chair, ruffling the boy’s hair, which earns him a cry of protest and a withering stare when Shouto’s character flies off the course from the distraction. The corner of Keigo’s mouth twitches up when the siblings start bickering back and forth. He sends out a few feathers to catch the controller that Shouto attempts to throw at Touya.

Never a dull moment. He’d been so resigned to the quiet, obedient life the Commission had made for him. The empty apartment that was way too big for one person who’s never home. The scripted PR lines and empty interviews that focused on Hawks, the hero, rather than Keigo, the person. Interests that were approved through focus groups, photo shoots with makeup artists and professional fashion designers to make him look more desirable to the masses, an artificial personality created for an ideal hero.

That life had been fine. It had promised wealth and acclaim. He’d be able to be a hero the public could count on, rising up the ranks faster than anyone else in history. But, it wasn’t his life.

He watched Touya throw his head back and laugh, Shouto sticking his tongue out at him as he takes back the controller and starts a new game, with a soft smile on his face and warmth in his chest. 

Yeah. This life is much better.

Notes:

I've got a feeling Keigo's taking on a litttleeeee too much by himself. I'm sure that won't backfire at all, right? LUL

The way he supports Touya though? Just...UGH. I love him. And all Touya wants to do is pay him back and be loved. These two just need to say those words TO EACH OTHER. While they're both awake. Please and thank you!

Are y'all ready to FINALLY get to this trial arc? Get ready for the angst, the badassery, the trauma, the REUNIONS and everything that comes with it!

Lastly, thank you all for the kudos, comments, etc. I appreciate you all so so much. This story wouldn't be ANYWHERE near what it is without you guys motivating me to keep writing. I really listen to all your suggestions and try to incorporate those ideas whenever it makes sense, so in a way, this story is all of ours. ☺ ♥

Chapter 29

Summary:

Hawks needs a hug. Touya's there to help.

Notes:

I think y'all have had enough fluff, right? Although, I'd argue part of this chapter is the fluffiest out of all of them.

Enjoy!

“Hawks.”

“Ma’am, you look lovely today.” He bows low with his wings extended in greeting, not moving until he hears a satisfied hum from the President. 

When he lifts his head, he’s careful to keep his posture straight, hands held behind his back, feet a shoulder's width apart. His award winning smile is plastered on his face, hiding the trepidation he feels from being in this room. 

A room with dull gray walls, bookshelves filled with classified files on both sides with a small seating area directly in the middle, and a massive mahogany desk set in front of a wall of windows looking out over Tokyo. A room with two armed guards stationed at the door, making sure he behaves himself.

The President herself is dressed in a gray pantsuit with black heels, her ash blond hair slicked back into a tight bun. She has on the same pearl necklace with matching pearl earrings that she always wears. Her nails are manicured, painted with a neutral shade. Dull, boring, unassuming. But Keigo knows better than to underestimate the President. Buried beneath her expensive makeup and dreary outfit lies a predator. A calculative, manipulative woman with the power of Japan’s hero society in the palm of her hand. 

A woman who stood by as her predecessor authorized the purchase of Keigo Takami at the age of seven. A woman who had helped mold him into the ideal puppet to carry out the Commission’s wishes. Whether that was becoming a role model for children to look up to, or lurking in the shadows as an angel of death.

“I assume this is about Endeavor,” she deadpans, not even glancing up from the paper in her hands.

“Yes, ma’am. I’d like to formally request that the Commission withdraw their support for Endeavor during the upcoming licensing review.”

Hawks watches as she stops skimming through the text on the page. She looks up at him slowly, her gray lifeless eyes impossible to read. “And why would we do that?”

He holds his feathers back from fluttering in agitation like they desperately want to, keeping his face as blank as possible as he recites the words he’s had memorized since the day he knew he’d have to go up against his employer. 

“I believe it will benefit the Commission more in the long run to be on the side of the public during such a high profile review. Everyone will be watching this play out. Regardless if Endeavor is innocent or not,” the words taste like acid on his tongue, “I believe we will stand to lose more if we support a hero facing such harsh allegations this early on. It’s better for us to wait until we know whether or not these allegations have merit, and how the courts will rule, then proceed from there.”

“You say the side of the public as if that is the same as the side of the Todoroki children.” She sits up straight in her chair, eyes boring into him. “Don’t you think the side of the public would be whatever preserves the peace of our current society?”

“The Todoroki children are part of the public that we serve. Aren’t we supposed to help as many people as we can? What makes them any different? Aren’t they worth saving?”

“Watch your tongue, Hawks.” The President’s tone promises swift judgment, her eyes biting cold. “You said it yourself. Endeavor being found guilty is only an if. I wouldn’t overestimate the evidence against him.”

“And I wouldn’t underestimate it, ma’am.”

The resulting silence after his response drags on until it’s almost uncomfortable, the tension in the air ready to snap like a rubber band. Finally, she huffs out a breath, leaning back in her chair. “What is this really about, agent? Maybe a certain boy that you seem to have a lot of interest in lately?”

Keigo’s whole body tenses at the question. He can see it written all over her face, the smug uptick of her lips taunting him. She knows about Touya. She may not know who exactly he is, but she knows, and she thinks he’s influencing Keigo. Alarm bells ring in his head. His feet are desperate to move, to leave and hide him away, somewhere no one can find them. 

You can’t have him. He’s mine. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The President rolls her eyes, the action quite possibly the most emotion Keigo’s ever seen from the woman. “There’s no point in lying, Hawks. We keep track of all our assets. Your patrol time has decreased, your little PR stunt coincidentally came to an end at the same time this boy shows back up in town. The way you mutilated your body with those hideous piercings.” She spits the last part, her face scrunched in disgust. 

He clenches his fists behind him until he can’t help but focus on the pain of his fingernails biting into his skin. The pain is better than the alternative, which was his instincts telling him to run a feather through her heart for daring to talk about his family like they’re a burden.

“None of that has anything to do with him. I’m just adjusting to my role as a licensed pro.”

“Well then adjust faster and do it in accordance with your training. Last time I checked, spending your time in tattoo shops wasn’t part of that training.”

“Understood, ma’am. It won’t happen again.”

She taps her finger on the desk, staring harshly at him until he feels his shoulders curl inward, his head bowing unintentionally. His response to her disapproval is almost Pavlovian at this point, and he hates the way it feels. 

He can still hear her voice from all those years ago, whenever he was brought up because of a mistake he’d made while training. Sometimes as a reward when he did really well. 

“ I’m disappointed in you, Hawks. You won’t be able to save anyone unless you improve.”

“Remember, we’re investing a lot of money and time in you. Make sure it’s not wasted.”

“If we hadn’t intervened, you’d still be in that dirty metro scrounging for food in the trash. Life is better here, isn’t it?”

“We want what’s best for you. Don’t you want to be the best hero you can be?”

Every time, he was made to feel small, indebted to the ones who’d swept him up from the turbulent waters of his former life and given him a place to belong. A purpose that went beyond him. 

He’d been naive back then, only wanting to make other people happy. He’d never been able to do that for his mother and father. All he’d ever seen on their faces was anger mixed with indifference and disgust. All he’d ever heard was how much they regretted his existence, how he was worth nothing. 

So, he’d watch heroes on TVs and hope that someday, he could make people smile the way they did. That someday, he’d be able to help people, be useful for once. He’d make someone happy, the way little Keigo always wished he could make his parents happy. 

“After all, what’s the point of those feathers? You’re your father’s son, aren’t you? Make yourself useful.” His mother’s distorted voice haunts him. 

“I’ll make you a deal, Hawks.”

Keigo barely stops himself from flinching as a voice breaks through his thoughts. He stays motionless, waiting for her to continue. 

“Complete this mission without incident and I’ll think about your little proposal.” She slides a black folder across the desk. 

He uses a feather to bring the folder to him, tucking it under his arm without opening it to see the contents. He knows better than that. The President’s orders must be taken without question. He didn’t need the details of the mission to know it had to be done.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

She nods, effectively dismissing him. As he turns to walk away, she calls out one more time. “Oh, and Hawks?” He turns his head to the side so she knows he’s listening. “Look through those mission notes very carefully. They may remind you who you belong to.”

He doesn’t turn back, instead hurrying out of the room, his whole body deflating as he releases all the tension he’d been holding. The black folder burns at his side and a feeling of dread comes over him. He knows with certainty, scowling at the package, that he won’t like the contents one bit. 

 

***********************************

 

The wind whips Keigo’s hair in front of his eyes as he sits perched on top of an office building in the middle of Nagasaki. The sun steadily dips below the surface of the horizon, cloaking him in shadows. All around him, life goes on. 

Laughter rings out from restaurants down the street, a kid protests his bedtime from the open window in the apartment building next to him. The muffled sound of televisions tuned into the evening news, dogs barking at cars passing by, hushed conversations between star-crossed lovers. 

He closes his eyes and lets all the sounds filter through the feathers he has scattered, picking up the subtlest of vibrations. Once the night sky covers him completely in darkness, sounds dying down as people retire for the night, he tunes in to one feather in particular. 

A feather that picks up on the soft footsteps of his target as they pad along the floors of a modest apartment. Footsteps belonging to one Yuki Hirabayashi, the 34 year old leader of an online movement she called “The Greater Good”. In reality, it was just an online blog that posted testimonials of hero abuse, excessive force, and anything else that highlighted the ‘bad’ side of hero society.

The President’s last words felt much more like a threat once he’d read the file. Yuki was an enemy of the Commission solely because she was giving people an outlet to vent their frustrations with heroes. Likewise, this case against Endeavor was going to give people like her even more ammunition.

Hawks knows he’s not the only agent out there that was assigned to these kinds of jobs, even though he may be the one that went on these missions the most. So, if he didn’t comply with his orders, would the President send someone after Touya and Shouto next? Would she send someone anyways, after finding out they’re alive, to keep Endeavor from judgment?

Remember who you belong to.

He had to comply. As much as he hated it, the Commission owned at least this part of him. A fate that had been sealed for him as a child. A contract with his mom’s signature, complete with a price tag noting his worth.

He had to comply. If he didn’t, Touya and Shouto could be next. Another assassin could be sent after them, snuffing out their lives in the blink of an eye with no remorse or sympathy. Made to look like an accident. Their deaths would be a tiny blip in the paper, then they would be all but forgotten.

He had to comply, because that future just couldn’t come to pass. He wouldn’t let it come to pass. He’d take on as many of the Commission’s jobs as he could to make sure that didn’t happen. For them. For their future.

So, he buries Keigo into the recesses of his mind, letting Hawks take center stage, a mask of cold indifference sliding into place. Hawks can do what Keigo can’t. He can turn a blind eye, look the other way for the sake of his orders.

The footsteps inside the apartment come to a stop as Yuki gets into bed, settling down for the night. Hawks waits under the starlit sky until her breaths even out before he moves, silently gliding down to the fourth story balcony.

His footsteps are silent as he moves down the halls to the second door on the right, the sound of a heartbeat coming from within the room. He enters, a hardened primary in his hand at the ready.

This is all for Touya. Touya Touya Touya.

One misstep and the floorboard under him creaks. He freezes with bated breath, eyes on the lump in the bed. Yuki doesn’t move, but he hears her breathing stutter, only just for a second.

“Are you here to kill me?” Her voice is soft, indifferent. Like she knows she’s on borrowed time.

Hawks doesn’t answer her, standing completely still in the shadows, tense and ready for an attack.

Yuki sighs, but doesn’t turn to face him. “Getting rid of me won’t stop the steady flow towards progress. This sham of a hero society you believe so much in. It’s all going to come crumbling down, with or without me. Someone like you can’t possibly know what we go through. Heroes using their influence for their own personal gain. Does it make you feel good, defending these people? To keep the truth from the public?”

Hawks’ hand tightens on his primary. Keigo would begrudgingly empathize with the woman, because of course he knows what other people go through, what the Commission has covered up. What he has helped cover up. It's always just been part of the job before now. Before Touya. Keigo wants to speak out, agree and offer solutions, and reach out to help those affected by the negative aspects of heroism. 

But Hawks had a job to do, to keep Touya safe. “I’m sorry. It's nothing personal.”

“Don’t ‘sorry’ me. You’re just another cog in the machine that upholds society’s faith in heroes. Someday, you’re going to get tired of obeying without question. Just like your predecessor.”

Hawks sucks in a breath. Kaina. Sensei. He hadn’t thought about Kaina since she’d been locked away in Tartarus over three years ago. After she went crazy and killed the last Commission President.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He takes one step closer when Yuki sits up out of bed, finally facing him. Where Hawks expects to find fear, he finds defiance. The look on her face is almost pitious, as if Hawks is the one on trial, the one about to be executed.

“Do you really think you’re special enough that they won’t get rid of you too once you’ve outlived your use? How about the people you love? Do you really think they’re safe?”

“Stop.”

“No matter what you do, they’ll always be in danger. As long as the Commission is allowed to stay in power. As long as there are people like you keeping them there. Whoever it is you’re trying to protect…you’re the reason they need protecting in the first place.”

“Shut up.” His hand shakes at his side as he grits his teeth. His heart pounds in his chest. 

You’re wrong. I’ll protect them. They’re safe with me. I promised him. I promised Touya he’d be safe. No one will ever take him away.

“Instead of being part of the change that we so desperately need, instead of being a real hero and making this world a better place, you choose to be part of the problem. Does that make you proud? Does it make you sleep well at night knowing what you’re a part of? Living a lie, playing a role. Is that really what you were made for? What’s the point of living if you’re only going to do what they tell you to?"

What’s the point of those feathers, huh? Why don’t you make yourself useful and get us some money?

“ SHUT UP!”

The room goes quiet as a feather drives forward, piercing Yuki’s heart like a bullet. She slumps over, blood blossoming on her night shirt as Hawks stands there, panting. His eyes go blurry and his nostrils sting.

Why now? He’s gone on plenty of missions. He’s never had a problem following orders. He’s never let anyone talk for this long, get inside his head this easily. He’d never gotten so mad at a target before. Why?

You’re the reason they need protecting.

“No,” he whispers, lifting an arm to wipe the tears from his eyes. “You’re wrong.”

Hawks’ feathers get to work, lifting Yuki’s body from the bed before the blood stains the sheets and opening the window to the fire escape outside her room. The fourth story drop will be enough to obscure the wound in her chest. They’ll spin the story to make it look like a suicide. Just another poor soul who drove herself mad, paranoid from crazy conspiracy theories she’d read online.

He’s almost done, checking the room one last time when he hears the door creak open. His heart stops in his chest as he turns to face the intruder.

The file said she lived alone. She was supposed to be alone. Why was the information wrong? The file is never wrong.

“Okaasan?”

 

***********************************

 

The moon is high in the sky when Touya finally gets Shouto settled down in the spare bedroom, Natori tucked into his side like she belongs there. Since he didn’t have school the next morning, he’d been adamant about staying up and enjoying the perks of Keigo’s apartment. 

They’d watched three different Ghibli films, complete with popcorn and sodas, which, in hindsight, probably wasn’t the best idea for tiring him out, before he finally started nodding off.

He tiptoes out the door, softly closing it before sighing in relief and turning his attention to the living room. Blankets littered the couch and the floor surrounding it, takeout boxes forgotten on the coffee table with a bowl of half-eaten popcorn. He straightens out the blankets, folding them into a pile and depositing them in a large, wicker basket sitting in the corner. 

Loading up his arms, he takes all the food containers into the kitchen. He stores the leftovers in the fridge before throwing the rest away. Finally, he wipes down the counters and coffee table, nodding in approval when he steps back and takes in the now-clean apartment. 

Not that he thought Keigo would care if it was left dirty. In fact, Touya was pretty sure Keigo had housekeepers that came to clean. But it was the principle of that matter, and he couldn’t leave everything a mess for Keigo to come home to.

Especially when he and Shouto were still guests. He couldn't be getting any ideas about the apartment being their own. Although, it was true they hadn’t slept apart since they’d arrived back in Fukuoka last week, and Touya isn’t sure he wants to ever leave Keigo’s side. Which is probably why he was so agreeable to ‘watching’ Natori while Keigo had an out of town mission.

The asshole had even made fun of him when Touya answered right away, without his usual snark or stubbornness. “ Be careful, firecracker. I’ll start to think you actually care about me.” Pft. Stupid bird.

Glancing at the clock, he turns away to Keigo’s bedroom, brushing his teeth and getting ready for bed in the en suite bathroom. It did feel a little strange, being in the hero’s space when he wasn’t home, but it also felt right. He imagined this being their norm; going to bed waiting for the hero to get off of work, being woken up to soft kisses and a strong arm pulling him into Keigo’s chest.

He’s in the middle of changing into a pair of sweats and a baggy band shirt when he hears the balcony door slide open in the living room. His heart skips a beat just knowing that Keigo is nearby, and he leaves the room, searching for golden eyes.

“You’re early. Welcome h - “ The smile on his face drops as he takes in the blood smeared all over Keigo’s face and exposed arms, and what he can only imagine is more blood caking his all-black outfit. But most of all, his eyes. Usually as warm and bright as the sun, now they look like crushed sunflowers, weathered by the rain and left to wither away on the mud-soaked ground.

Keigo doesn’t look at him when Touya enters the room. He just stands in front of the balcony door, staring at the wall opposite him. Not an ounce of recognition, no sign of life other than the rapid rise and fall of his chest. His legs wobble as they strain to keep his weight up.

“Angel?” Touya calls out, his tone cautious, questioning. He takes one step forward, but Keigo doesn’t move. He doesn’t even blink. Another couple steps, and he comes into Keigo’s line of vision, only Keigo still won’t look at him.

Touya stands in front of the hero, scanning him up and down. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like he has any injuries, but that begs the question of who’s blood is covering him? Touya’s stomach churns as he questions whether or not he even wants the answer. 

He racks his brain, trying to figure out what to do next. What would he want Keigo to do, if he were in this state? What would bring him out of it?

He gets right in front of him, looking into eyes that are looking straight through him, and wills his voice to stay calm. “Keigo, baby. It’s me, Touya. Can you hear me?” Keigo’s breath hitches before he goes back to hyperventilating, but Touya takes it as a good sign.

He can hear me. I can get through to him.

“Listen to me, Keigo. I need you to breathe with me, okay? Can you do that? Take a big breath, hold it, and let it out. Come on. Follow my lead, baby.” 

Touya takes a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before slowly letting it out. He repeats the exercise, even though Keigo seems to ignore him at first. After a few tense minutes, he can feel Keigo’s breaths start to synchronize with his.

“Very good, Kei. Keep it up. Breathe in, hold, breathe out. There we go.” He waits until Keigo’s breathing is steady before moving onto the next step. “Okay, now, I’m going to touch your hand, all right? Blink once if you are okay with that.”

Keigo blinks, and Touya sighs with relief. He reaches out, his fingertips brushing the back of the hero’s hand. Keigo jolts, but otherwise stays calm, so Touya intertwines their fingers together, running his thumb along Keigo’s skin in soothing circles.

“Can you walk, baby? We need to get you cleaned up. Squeeze my hand if you can walk by yourself.” Touya waits until he feels a slight pressure on their joined hands.

“Good. Now, follow me. We’re gonna go to your bathroom, okay?” Touya slowly begins to back up through the living room and towards the bedroom. Unwilling to turn away from him, he keeps his eyes on Keigo, hoping to see the light return to his golden irises.

Once they’re in the bathroom, Touya gently sits him down on the edge of the tub and turns away to grab a cloth, wetting it in the sink. He crouches down in front of the hero, who’s still staring straight through him. That’s when he notices Keigo mumbling under his breath, almost too faint for him to hear.

“Protect them. I need to…protect them. Whatever. It takes. I need to…follow orders. Be a hero.”

Touya swallows down the lump in his throat, the uneasy pit in his stomach growing the longer Keigo stays in this dissociative state. Keigo’s not supposed to be like this. He’s the strong one. The one that takes care of everyone, always smiling and happy and looking on the bright side of life. He never lets himself be this vulnerable, so what could have happened that led to this?

This is my chance to be there for him. To repay him. I need to help him.

He brings the cloth to Keigo’s face, gently washing off the blood splatters as his other hand comes around the back of his neck, massaging at the tense muscles there.

“Wasn’t supposed…to be there. Why…file was wrong. I didn’t. I didn’t want to. Should’ve…been alone.”

“Do you remember the day we met?” Keigo stops mumbling but doesn’t reply, so Touya continues. “I thought you were the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen, but god, I wanted to smack the shit out of you for being such an arrogant prick.” He chuckles softly. “I couldn’t understand how anyone could be so goddamn cheerful. But you shone, like the sun. I guess I should’ve known from the start that I was doomed to burn up in those eyes.”

Keigo blinks once before his eyes lock onto Touya, though they’re still not as bright as usual. Touya can’t help but smile, relieved that the hero is finally looking at him again. Like he always should be.

That’s it, baby. Just keep looking at me.

“Then you barged into my work like you owned the place and kept bothering me, asking me out on dates and bringing me coffee. I kept telling you off, rejecting you, but you just kept showing up. Like a fucking cockroach. But…” He turns to wash the cloth off before turning back, wiping the blood off the hero’s neck next. “Monday mornings became something I looked forward to every single week. I should’ve known it was no use back then. No matter how many times I rejected you, I’d always fall for you in the end.”

He feels Keigo’s hand clutching at his shirt as he finishes up, tossing the rag in the sink. Touya looks up, relieved to see that Keigo seems to be recovering from whatever state he was in. “Baby. You need to get these clothes off of you. Can you do that or do you need my help?”

He waits for an answer, but when Keigo stays silent, he switches tactics. “Blink once if you can do it yourself, blink twice if you need my help.” Keigo blinks twice. 

Touya huffs, rolling his eyes exaggeratedly. “Fine. I guess I’ll help you strip, but I have to say, birdy, there are better ways to get me to take your clothes off.”

Keigo’s lip twitches upward as Touya leans forward, finding the zipper in the back and pulling it down past the hero’s wings. He takes a moment to pause next to Keigo’s ear, grinning when he feels him shiver as Touya’s breath fans across his skin. “Detach your feathers, pretty bird.”

The feathers all detach at once, dropping down into the bathtub. Touya carefully works the base of Keigo’s wings through the holes in the back of his uniform. Once that’s done, he works on pushing the rest of the uniform down from Keigo’s shoulders, gently sliding the fabric down off his arms until it’s pooled at his waist.

His eyes fly up to check on Keigo. The hero studies him with his brows furrowed, as if curious of what he’s doing. “Is this okay, birdy?” he whispers, hands paused on the hero’s belt.

Keigo jerks his head in some semblance of a nod, so Touya undoes the belt, slowly pulling it through the loops of his pants and setting it to the side. He waits for another nod before unbuttoning Keigo’s pants and pulling those off as well, leaving the hero sitting on the edge of the tub in the bottom half of his compression suit.

“Still with me?” Keigo nods and lets out a quiet little chirp. Touya grins at the noise, bringing up a hand to cup the hero’s cheek. “There we go. Let me hear you, baby. I wanna hear all those cute little noises.”

He hooks his fingers in the compression suit, pausing for a moment. “I’m going to take this off now, okay? Then we can get you in the shower and you can rest.” Touya nods when Keigo chirps again, taking the noise as a go-ahead.

He pushes the suit down, focusing on the task as he lifts Keigo’s feet, slipping off the stirrups before taking the suit completely off and tossing it to the side. It doesn’t escape him that this is the first time he’s ever seen Keigo completely naked, but he doesn’t focus on how intimate the situation really is. Keigo needs his help, and that’s all that matters.

He turns away to turn the shower on, testing the water on his outstretched hand until it reaches a good temperature, the steam slowly filling the room. Kneeling back down in front of Keigo, he takes hold of both his hands, squeezing gently. “Time to stand, baby. Can you do that for me?”

Keigo stands with him, looking at Touya as if looking for direction, lost in what to do next. Touya leads him to the shower door, squeezing his hand once again. “Take your time. I’ll be right outside in the bedroom, okay?”

He turns to leave but Keigo doesn’t let go of his hand, squeezing hard. His eyes are wide, scared. “Don’t go,” he whispers.

Touya’s heart clenches at the sound of the hero’s voice, so soft and broken. So unlike Keigo. “You have to shower, birdy.”

“Please.”

Touya sighs, taking in the hero’s pleading eyes. He didn’t want to overstep any of Keigo’s boundaries, especially when he was still in such a distressed state. But it’s clear that Keigo would have a hard time being on his own right now, even just to shower. 

So that leaves him with two options. He could either shower with Keigo, or he could get Keigo into bed and they could try again tomorrow, once he was feeling better. But he knew the hero wouldn’t want to go to bed caked in dirt and blood, and they’d gotten this far, so the choice was clear.

“Okay, birdy. Just let me get undressed.” Keigo’s shoulders slump in relief as he lets go of Touya’s hand. Touya quickly shuffles out of his sweatpants and shirt, turning away as his cheeks flush red. He grabs onto Keigo’s upper arm, directing him towards the shower once again. “C’mon. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Touya has to admit, the warm water feels heavenly against his skin as he pulls Keigo under the showerhead. He grabs the body wash, pouring a generous amount on a loofah hanging from a hook on the wall. The water swirling down the drain is tinged red as Touya scrubs the hero’s body from head to toe. Keigo stays frozen the entire time, his head bowed and shoulders hunched.

It isn’t until Touya massages shampoo into the blond’s hair, gently scratching at his scalp, that the hero shudders, leaning forward to rest his head on Touya’s shoulder and wrapping his arms around his waist. Touya pauses before continuing his ministrations, scratching at the little hairs on the back of his neck.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” he questions, speaking low in Keigo’s ear.

Keigo shakes his head, lifting it just enough to look into Touya’s eyes. “Just wanna hear your voice,” he mumbles, eyes weary and filled with tears.

“Hmmm.” Touya gently directs Keigo’s head back under the stream of water, washing away all the suds. He picks up the conditioner, squirting some into his hand before running his fingers through the blond strands.

“When I was a kid, we had this koi pond in the courtyard. Fuyumi, Natsuo and I would play out there all the time, but we were always told to never go near the water. Of course, Natsuo and I didn’t care about that. We would break off willow branches from a tree near the pond and dangle them over the water to see which one of us could attract the most fish.”

He smiles at the memory, his heart clenching at the thought of his siblings. Fuyumi would always get so mad that they wouldn’t listen to the rules, threatening to tell father and get them in trouble. It wasn’t as big of a deal back then, though. When father still ignored him, and he hadn’t yet realized the pain Shouto was going through. For a while, he’d felt like he could be a normal kid alongside Fumi and Nat.

“Nat was always such a little shit, taunting me whenever he had more fish over on his side. So, naturally, one day I had enough and pushed him in. You should’ve heard him. He screeched like a little girl because one of the fish apparently touched him, and he thought it was going to eat him or something.”

Keigo chuckles against his shoulder. Touya pulls him close, wrapping his arms around the hero and letting the water wash over them. “Fuyumi and I couldn’t stop laughing. I didn’t even notice when Natsuo got out and started running towards me. The little asshole tackled me right back into the water. We ended up getting in SO much trouble. We were both grounded to our rooms for a week.”

He rests his cheek on the side of Keigo’s head, swaying back and forth under the warm water. “Another time, we decided to try and bake a cake for our mom’s birthday. It was right before she started to get really bad…we wanted to make her smile.”

His voice breaks at the end and he clears his throat. “Anyways, we ended up getting flour all over the kitchen because someone thought mixing everything in a blender would be faster and forgot to close the lid.”

He remembers that as well, like it was yesterday. Rei had walked into the kitchen to find them covered from head to toe. Flour all over the floor, the walls, the counters. It had been the last time Touya had ever seen his mother laugh. 

“Do you miss them?” Keigo’s voice is soft, spoken from the crook of his neck. 

“Yeah. Some days more than others. It’s complicated.”

That was an understatement of the truth. Fuyumi and Natsuo he missed simply enough. Although Fuyumi’s constant passivism made him want to tear his hair out, and it hurt when Natsuo pushed him away. He still missed them more than words could say. 

Rei, on the other hand, was different. Because Touya remembered the way she was before the pressures of being Enji’s wife got to her. Before she was beaten and struck down with harsh words and expectations. Before she broke. 

He remembers the way she used to sing him and Fuyumi lullabies, her soft voice delicate and beautiful as it weaved through the night. He remembers her chasing them around the courtyard, laughing and smiling as they scurried away in unsure feet. He remembers her soft eyes as she told him how much she loved him, how he would always be her baby. The one that gave her the gift of motherhood.

But he also remembers when she stopped looking at them. The way she would stare at nothing, the frown that was permanently etched on her face. How she stopped coming into their room at night to read them stories or sing them to sleep. 

He remembers how, as time went on, he forgot what her laugh sounded like, the way her eyes would crinkle when she smiled. Instead, he saw fear whenever he looked at her. She would cower away from her own son, the son that was supposed to be her pride and joy. 

So yeah, Touya missed his mother, but only the mother she used to be. The one he feared was dead and gone.

“Have you thought about taking Aizawa up on his offer?”

Touya sighs, reaching over to turn off the water and opening the door, gesturing for Keigo to get out first. “Yeah. I have.” Keigo hands him a towel and he starts to dry off. “I just don’t know how they’ll react. If they’ll even want me in their lives.”

“There’s only one way to find out.”

After slipping his clothes back on, Touya pads over to where Keigo stands with a towel around his waist. He runs his fingers through blond strands, slowly drying them as steam rises from his heated palms. “I’ll think about it, birdy. For right now, let’s focus on you.”

Keigo swallows. “I’m sorry.”

“What?” His face scrunches, eyes intent as he cups Keigo’s face between his hands. “You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about, Kei.”

“I’m supposed to protect you. I have to protect you. But I…I…”

“Hey, asshole. I can protect myself, you know.”

“I know, but - “

“Keigo. I don’t need you to be a hero. I just need you , okay? Just you. Nothing else.” Touya leans forward until his forehead is resting on Keigo’s. “We can figure out the rest together.”

He pulls away after dropping a quick kiss to Keigo’s forehead, pulling the hero into the bedroom and to the closet. He sifts through the dresser, pulling out another pair of sweats and a shirt, slits in the back to accommodate Keigo’s wings.

“Go get dressed. Then we can sleep.” He hands off the clothes to Keigo, chuckling when the hero’s stomach makes itself known. “Or get you something to eat.”

Keigo steps in towards him, cupping his cheek before pressing their lips together in a soft kiss. “Thank you.”

Touya turns his head, kissing the inside of Keigo’s palm. “Anything for you, angel.”

Notes:

Okay, let's be honest about something. Hawks is such a great hero and I love him so much, BUT I also don't want to ignore how the manga heavily implies his violent side with the Commission. Hawks and Keigo are two different entities, and he's doing what he must to survive the way he's been raised. That being said, fuck the Commission.

Also, I could've written 10,000 more words in this chapter and it wouldn't be enough. It's one of my favorite scenes from the story so far. I love how Touya takes care of Keigo after Keigo has been taking care of him for so long and telling him stories about when he was a kid. And the glimpse of what he thinks about Rei and what their relationship used to be like? Kill me now. Because he WAS her baby, and canon breaks my heart knowing the only reunion they got was at the end.

Anyways, THANK YOU all for the kudos, comments, etc. I really appreciate all of you so much! I hope you're all enjoying the story so far as we get into the heart of the drama. The next chapter will be more of a "part two" to this chapter, with a side of our favorite pro hero duo turned foster dads!!

Chapter 30

Summary:

The aftermath part 2

Notes:

A little bit of a shorter chapter this time compared to the last couple. I hope you guys enjoy!

Also, happy belated birthday to our little jellybean, Shouto Todoroki. ♥

It’s well past two in the morning when Touya sits Keigo down at the kitchen island, a steaming bowl of chicken curry set in front of him. “Eat.”

“So bossy,” Keigo mumbles before tossing a bite in his mouth. Touya scoffs as the hero closes his eyes, groaning and clutching at his stomach. “ God , I could eat your cooking for the rest of my life and die a happy man.”

Touya leans against the island countertop, resting his chin in his hand. “You’d get sick of me before that.”

Keigo shakes his head. “Not a chance in hell.” He shovels the rest in his mouth then leans back, patting his stomach with an empty bowl in front of him.

Touya watches him, a tired smile tugging at his lips. Keigo still wasn’t back to normal, his eyes heavy and burdened, but he had regained some of his energy back. His personality was starting to bleed through with every touch, every word between them.

He lifts a hand, brushing back a strand of hair from the hero’s face. “Feeling better, pretty bird?” 

Keigo nuzzles into him, chirping softly in affirmation. “You spoil me.”

Touya rolls his eyes. “I warmed up some leftovers and made you shower after a bad night. You flew around the country for a month looking for me because I threw a temper tantrum. I don’t think you’re the one being spoiled here.”

The hero slides off his barstool, coming to stand between Touya’s legs and nuzzling against his chest like a cat, a distressed warble escaping from his lips. “You don’t even know how much you helped me tonight…just by doing that.”

Touya leans down, his lips resting on the top of Keigo’s head, one hand cupping the back of his neck. “Then tell me. Let me in, pretty bird.”

He feels Keigo subtly shake his head. “I can’t. You’ll hate me.”

“Not a chance in hell.”

Keigo’s breath hitches. Arms wrap around Touya’s waist, hands clenching at the fabric of his shirt. Touya lets the silence grow between them, not pushing the issue, especially if it had anything to do with the Commission. 

Like Shouto when they first started seeing each other, the Commission was considered an off-limits topic. It didn’t stop Touya from getting a queasy feeling in his stomach every time they did come up in casual conversation though. Something about the whole situation, how embedded Keigo was in the organization, felt wrong, down to his core. 

At last, Keigo sighs before pulling away and leading them to the couch. They sit cross legged, facing each other. Keigo grabs both of Touya’s hands, head bowed and brows furrowed like he’s studying them intently. The hero’s fingers trace over his knuckles, over the life lines on his palm.

“The missions I go on…they’re the kind that the Commission wouldn’t want made public.” He pauses, clearing his throat. “My job is to eliminate threats to the public’s perception of hero society.”

Touya pointedly focuses on not reacting to Keigo’s confession, though his blood runs cold at the realization. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what ‘eliminate threats’ means. The idea that the pillar of heroism, the ultimate authority of the justice system, would be murdering citizens who may not have committed any outright crimes was sobering. But more than anything, it was proof that Touya was correct in his disdain for hero society.

He squeezes Keigo’s hand when the hero stays quiet, encouraging him to continue. 

“There…there was a target. Tonight. Some lady who ran a blog showcasing stories that put heroes in a bad light. I was tasked with getting rid of her.” Keigo swallows, his voice wavering. 

“What happened, birdy?” Touya asks softly. Keigo flinches, shoulders hunching in on himself. 

“I…I did what I was told. I followed orders. I had to. If I didn’t…you…I had to protect you.” Keigo squeezes Touya’s hands harder, his body going rigid. “It was supposed to be a quick job. Nothing special. It shouldn’t have been any different…”

Touya wrestles one of his hands away, cupping the back of Keigo’s neck and rubbing circles into his skin. He’d have to deal with the fact that Keigo had just killed someone later. Although that in itself would be traumatic, at least to any normal person, something else obviously happened. Something he wasn’t expecting. “What was different?”

“The…the file said she’d be alone.” Keigo’s voice cracks, his breaths coming faster and faster. “She should’ve been alone but…I was about to leave and…and there was a kid.”

A tear drops onto their joined hands. Touya pulls Keigo in towards him until the hero is sitting in his lap, hiding his face in the crook of his neck, as dread pools in his stomach. He waits for Keigo to continue, arms holding him steady. 

“I couldn’t. Touya, I couldn’t do it. I…I ran. I didn’t finish the job. I tried. But…I just…I kept thinking about Shouto and…” He chokes on a sob. “I failed.” 

His heart breaks in his chest, the dread turning to rage, building and building as he whispers soothing words to the crying hero. If he didn’t have Shouto to worry about, if he wasn’t sure it’d lead to him being locked up behind bars for the rest of his life, he’d burn the Commission straight to the fucking ground right now. Preferably with all those assholes locked inside, screaming for mercy.

What the fuck did they do to him to make him think not killing someone was considered a failure? Why was he so scared, so traumatized by not ‘finishing a job’? What did he think was going to happen to him when they found out? Those would be the questions he’d ask, right before smiling maniacally as they all turned into heaps of ash.

“Baby…you’re upset because you let the kid live?” He tries to ask as gently as possible, willing his voice not to shake with rage. He doesn’t want Keigo thinking that anger is directed towards him in any way. His boyfriend doesn’t deserve his anger. “What’s wrong with that?”

Keigo’s head flies up, red-rimmed eyes wide with fear. “You don’t understand! I failed, Touya! I had to finish the job. They’re gonna….they’re gonna come after you! You and Shouto are in danger because of me! Because I couldn’t do my fucking job!” His voice rises with every word. “I couldn’t protect you. I - I promised I would and…I couldn’t…I won’t be able to stop them…I - I…”

“Keigo…baby. Breathe.” Touya takes his face in between both of his hands, forcing the hero to look him in the eyes. “Listen…let them come after me.”

“Touya! You - ”

“I mean it,” he interrupts. “Let them try. I already beat death once and I’m sure as hell not gonna let some bum ass Commission agent take me out.”

“These are trained assassins, Touya. You can’t just - “ He stops when Touya puts a finger to his lips.

“Shouto and I have been training since we could barely walk. My fire is the hottest recorded in history, and Shouto has more raw talent in his pinky finger than I do in my entire body. We can fend for ourselves. I promise, nothing’s going to happen. And if they do come after us, we’ll be ready to give them hell.”

Keigo whimpers, deflating in Touya’s arms, tucking his head into his chest. “You shouldn’t have to fight. I should’ve been able to do my job.”

“Listen to me very closely, angel. I’m proud of you for not doing your job. You knew what they were asking of you was wrong and you thought for yourself. Please, don’t second guess that. You did the right thing.”

“I still killed someone…even though it was wrong.”

Touya pauses, resting his chin on the top of Keigo’s head, wondering how many times the hero’s had to comply, against his best judgment. He knows Keigo is a natural hero. He’s so damn good , always thinking of how he can help others, always reaching out a hand. The thought of him killing anyone goes against everything Touya knows him to be.

How long has he had to suffer, endure the mental trauma that comes from taking a life, all because he’d been dealt a shitty hand and was taken advantage of by twisted people?

“But you stopped. That’s a step in the right direction.” He puts a finger under Keigo’s chin, lifting it up to look him in the eyes. “We’ll figure out the rest, birdy. Together. Okay?”

Keigo searches his face for a second before nodding. “Always.”

Touya leans in until their lips meet and the hero sighs against his mouth. He pours everything he has into the kiss, all the tenderness and affection that he feels towards Keigo. The promise that they’ll always be together, no matter what happens. No matter who tries to break them apart.

“So…who’s blood…” His mind goes back to earlier that night, Keigo’s face covered in blood, down his neck, his hands. The way he wasn’t at all injured.

“Oh, when the kid realized there was an intruder, he let his quirk loose. Some kind of gas quirk. I got out of there before he could see my face or anything, but I breathed some in. It made me really sick. My nose started bleeding, and I started coughing up blood."

Touya frowns, studying Keigo a second time as if he missed something over the last hour or so he’d been home. “You seem fine now though.”

“Yeah. I waited it out on a rooftop nearby. Just in case it was something that could spread…I didn’t wanna make things worse…not when I already - “

“Don’t.” Touya silences him with a kiss on the lips. “You need to stop blaming yourself. Please.”

Keigo chirps, low and sad, but leans forward, chasing Touya’s lips. His tongue licks along his mouth and Touya eagerly opens for him. The clock on the wall ticks by in relative silence as they get lost in each other. Both seeking comfort and giving comfort, erasing all the hurt and pain they’d been through, were currently going through. Those things couldn’t touch them here. Not right now.

When they pull away, Keigo blinks back at him wearily, his eyes drooping with exhaustion. Touya brushes a strand of hair from his face, cupping his cheek with his hand. “Let’s get you to bed, angel.”

They stand, but when Touya turns towards Keigo’s room, the hero instead heads off in the direction of the spare bedroom, a determined look in his eyes. Touya sighs in resignation, understanding in an instant what the hero plans to do. 

“If you wake him up, he’s your problem,” he warns. 

Keigo ignores him, opening the door and stepping inside while Touya continues on to the master bedroom. He turns back the comforter, grabbing a couple extra blankets from the closet for Keigo to arrange however he wants. At the last second, seeing the hero’s phone on the nightstand, he discreetly slips it into his pocket. Keigo enters the room with Shouto in his arms as he turns around but, thankfully, the hero’s eyes are laser focused on the boy.

He watches as feathers take the blankets, organizing them into a bowl shape so the bed resembles a nest. Keigo sets Shouto down in the middle. The boy grumbles a little as he tosses and turns, before his breaths even out again. Natori jumps up right after him, claiming her rightful place right next to him again. Keigo looks back at Touya expectantly.

“I’m gonna go clean up the kitchen real quick, okay?” He kisses the top of Keigo’s head when he lets out a distressed chirp. “I promise I’ll be right back. Go lay down.” Touya pushes him towards the bed before leaving the room, softly closing the door behind him.

After washing Keigo’s bowl from earlier, he pulls out the hero’s phone. There’s only one person he trusts to help with this situation. One person that would know what to do, how to break Keigo away from the Commission for good. He hits the call button, wiping down the countertop as he waits for the hero to pick up.

 

***********************************

 

It’s nearing the end of his shift when Shota finds himself perched near the fire escape of a building in downtown Musutafu, scanning the streets below for any signs of suspicious activity. Thankfully, at this hour, the streets were empty and quiet. 

He blinks wearily, rubbing at his tired eyes. These late nights were starting to get to him, especially with taking care of three kids, the licensing case coming up in the next couple of weeks, and another semester at U.A. starting up soon.

One more hour. One more hour and he could go home to Hizashi. 

He grumbles as his phone goes off in his pocket, expecting it to either be Hizashi asking when he’ll be home, or a fellow hero in need of assistance. Hoping for the former, his eyebrows raise in surprise when he sees the caller ID. 

He knows the hero is an early riser, but not this early. Not without reason. He picks up quickly, running through all possible scenarios in his head for such an early phone call.

“Hawks?”

“It’s Touya, actually.”

He pauses for a beat. Even stranger than Hawks calling him so early would be Touya being the one on the other end of the phone call. He knew from their stay at the safehouse how the fire user was not an early riser in the slightest. He was downright homicidal if woken up before 8 am. “I assume you have a reason for calling me at almost 4 in the morning.”

He swears he can feel Touya roll his eyes through the phone. “Oh, please. I know you work at night. Don’t act like I woke you up. In fact, when the hell do you sleep anyways? ”

“Did something happen?” He evades the question, his sleeping habits of no concern to the teenager. That’s what coffee was for anyways. Sleep was overrated.

“Hawks went on a job for the Commission tonight. When he came back…he was a wreck. To put it mildly.”

Now that put him on edge. Little by little, over the past few months working with the winged pro, he’d gotten the feeling that his roots with the Commission ran deeper than anyone really knew. He was constantly in contact with them, more so than any hero he’d ever worked with before, and treated them more as superiors than a resource like the rest of them did. Of course, the Commission had authority over licensed pros, but for the most part, they left them to their own devices, only interjecting themselves in dire situations.

Stand down unless you want to see exactly what the Commission trained me for.

Their confrontation with Endeavor comes back to him, Shota remembering how that line in particular gave him pause back then, made him feel uneasy. How he questioned what that meant, why the Commission had trained him individually in the first place. How confused he was when he found out that Hawks had never attended a hero course. At least, not a documented one.

“What happened, Touya?”

The boy sighs on the other end of the call. “ Honestly, I don’t know if it’s really my place to say. But…he kept saying that he was doing it to protect me. That he didn’t have a choice. We need to get him away from them. I don’t care what I have to do. I can’t have him destroying himself for my sake.”

“ What did he have to say about this?”

“ Ke - Hawks doesn’t exactly know I’m calling. He dissociated really bad…I finally just got him to bed. If I wasn’t here…I don’t know what would have happened. When he finally talked…I just …I have a feeling it won’t be easy convincing him he needs help in the first place.”

Shota sighs, running his hands through his hair. These damn problem children…he was gonna need a long, all expenses paid vacation after dealing with them. And the damn Commission… Hawks had told him he had everything under control. That he’d be able to get them to listen, to call off their support. But…at what cost? What had he unknowingly subjected the young pro to?

“Do you think you can get him here? To U.A.?”

“ I’ll need an excuse. He’ll never believe I wanna go sightseeing or some shit like that.”

“Well…there are two excuses I can think of. Not that you have to actually go through with it, but it may be enough to convince him.” He waits as the line goes silent.

Touya sounds tired when he answers, the uncertainty bleeding through his voice. “Yeah…I guess that would work…”

“Give me your number. I’ll text you so you can let me know when you’ll be headed this way.” He jots down the number that Touya gives, sending him a quick thumbs up emoji so the boy can add his contact. “Got it. You should go get some rest. We’ll figure this out, okay?”

“ Yeah…thanks, Eraserhead.”  

Shota smirks at the hesitant thank you, knowing it must hurt the stubborn teenager to acknowledge the need for any help at all. “I think we’re past hero names at this point. Just call me Aizawa.”

“R-right…Aizawa. I’ll uh…I’ll text you then.”

He gets off the call as he swings down the fire escape, his shift finally nearing its end. Considering all the overtime he was going to have to put in for this situation now, he figured he could stand to finish up his patrol a few minutes early.

The entire trip back home, Shota shuffles through possible solutions. The most obvious one is, unfortunately, the same one that will give him the most headaches. The one that will put him even more into debt with a certain chimera that always seems to be one step ahead of the curve.

When he opens the front door, he’s surprised to see Hizashi sprawled out on the couch, Hitoshi fast asleep on his chest. Shota raises a brow in question, nodding when Hizashi mouths out ‘bad dream’. 

He quietly makes his way around the front of the couch, bending down to give his husband a soft kiss. His fingers move to straighten out the crease between Hitoshi’s brow. His son sighs in his sleep, curling a hand around the front of Hizashi’s shirt.

“I’m gonna go get cleaned up,” he whispers, planting another kiss on the blond hero’s forehead before straightening, heading towards the bedroom.

Half an hour later, he’s showered and dressed in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, ready for bed. He exits the bathroom at the same time Hizashi comes through the bedroom door. “Is he okay?”

Hizashi nods. “Yeah. Didn’t even wake up when I put him back in bed.”

Shota sighs in relief. Hitoshi’s sleep schedule has been all over the place lately, the boy waking up crying and screaming from nightmares of a life past. Scared that he’d be muzzled again, beaten for accidentally using his quirk. Bullied for being ‘evil’.

It was heartbreaking, knowing his son was fighting the monsters in his head. Monsters that Shota couldn’t do anything about. He was a hero, but he couldn’t do anything to save Hitoshi in those moments. It made him feel helpless, like he was standing among the rubble again, unable to do anything but sit and stare at the destruction.

“What’s wrong?”

Shota looks up at Hizashi’s question. The blond’s eyes are full of concern, a frown marring his lips. “Just…remember when I said I had a bad feeling about Hawks’s relationship with the Commission?”

Hizashi nods, moving to stand in front of him, his hands coming up to rub up and down his arms soothingly. 

“Apparently the situation is worse than I thought.”

“You know, I’ve never liked those people. They act so sketchy.”

A smile tugs at Shota’s lips. His husband was always the paranoid one, operating on gut instincts and ‘bad feelings’. Though, usually, he was right. “Yeah, you’ve mentioned that once or twice.”

“So…what can we do?” Hizashi pulls him into a hug, resting his chin on Shota’s shoulder. “You know we’re running out of bedrooms.”

Shota scoffs, turning his head to kiss the blond’s cheek. “We’re not taking in any more kids, don’t worry. I think I’m gonna have to get Nezu involved again though.”

His husband huffs out a laugh. “He’s gonna love that…”

Hizashi says it sarcastically, but there was a lot of truth to the statement. Nezu had a not-so-subtle hatred for the Commission. No one knew exactly what the organization had done to incur his wrath, but now that Shota knew of Hawks’s situation, he wasn’t exactly surprised.

He at least knew that his boss had been experimented on for years before he’d become a principal at U.A. The chimera had never disclosed who had done the experimenting, and before now Shota hadn’t been sure that Nezu even knew, but now he wondered. Could his hatred be connected to his current state, an animal with a quirk affecting his intelligence, making him smarter than the majority of humans? To the scar running across his face?

“It’s just an idea…but it may be our only viable option.”

Hizashi hums before pulling away, turning towards the bed. “That sounds like a problem for later. C’mon, let’s go to bed.”

He lets himself be lead, settling down on the soft mattress with the blond’s head resting on his chest. As his brain shuts down, eyes fluttering closed, he has just one thought. One thing he knows with absolute certainty.

Things are about to get a whole lot messier.

Notes:

Oh, you guys thought Hawks trauma was gonna be about killing a kid? Nah, it's a lot deeper than that. Honestly, as traumatizing as killing a kid would be, I thought it would be a lot more personal and maybe even more heartbreaking if his current state was because he thought he was failing Touya, so here we are.

Also, just a fair warning/little hint, the kid will show up later in the sequel. Given his quirk, you may be able to guess who he could be (he does briefly appear in the manga/anime). I'm sure having his parent killed by a hero isn't gonna do anything to his psyche...right?...

As for Aizawa, he's FINALLY involved. Like yes, this story is about the Todoroki brothers getting their happy ending but also, Keigo deserves one too and who better to help than our favorite foster dad and the UA staff? lol.

If we're being honest, the Commission made a HUGE mistake underestimating them and the lengths Keigo/Touya will go to to keep each other safe and happy. But I guess that's what happens when you treat people like robots instead of actual humans. None of them have a decent bone in their body and I CANNOT WAIT until they get what they deserve.

Thank you all for reading and for supporting this fic. I really appreciate every interaction more than you know! ♥

NOTE: I suppose it's a good time to say we're nearing the end of this story. We will pick up right where we leave off in the sequel, but there are only about 4-5 chapters left in this portion before we move on to part 2, depending on how word count plays out.

Chapter 31

Summary:

A trip to U.A.

Notes:

Just so y'all know, this chapter was SUPPOSED to end with a little bit of angst, but then I realized what today's date was, and I just couldn't do that to our boys.

Also, EVERYONE SHOUT A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST BOY, TOUYA TODOROKI! We love you, you beautiful soul. 🎉 🎉

 

Completely random: I'm pretty sure "I'm With You" by Vance Joy is this fic's official theme song LOL. It fits them so well. That's all.

The cicadas sing as the morning sun peaks through the clouds, the temperature already uncomfortably warm as Keigo and Touya step onto U.A.’s campus. The tall structure stands out at the top of the hill, sunlight glinting off the massive windows.

Touya swallows, tapping his foot in quick succession as they wait outside for permission to enter. He lets his mind wander, only for a moment, picturing the life he would have if he had been accepted into U.A's hero course. If he hadn’t been deemed a failure. If Enji hadn’t been so obsessed with being the best.

He imagines walking to lessons with his classmates, slinging his uniform jacket over his shoulders when the weather was too hot. Making friends and crowding around the lunch table together. Finding shade under one of the many trees that line the walkways and reading or studying under its foliage. Living out the dreams he had as a child. But then again, that’s all they were. Dreams. Dreams that burned along with his skin.

“ Ohmygodohmygodohmygod, I can’t believe we’re at U.A.! Look at how big it is! Do you think we can - ”

“Deku, for fuck’s sake. Breathe.”

Touya barely hides his smirk when he turns towards the three party crashers at their side. “Language, Katsuki. Don’t make me tell Mitsuki.”

“Tch. Tattletale.”  The blond folds his arms across his chest before turning back to Izuku’s incessant muttering. Touya pretends not to notice the small smile curling the boy’s lips at his friend’s rambling, instead putting an arm around Shouto’s shoulders and squeezing him to his side.

If he thought he was having a hard time being on the infamous campus, he couldn’t imagine how Shouto felt right now. Touya’s dream of joining a hero course had been crushed early on, and he’d come to terms with the fact that joining his father as an U.A. alum wasn’t in the cards for him. 

Shouto , on the other hand, had never even been given the illusion of a choice. Since the moment his quirk manifested, his life had been laid out before him. He would attend U.A., the same as their father. He would become a hero, carrying on Endeavor’s legacy. Then, he would be forced into a quirk marriage with someone chosen for their genetic superiority, in order to make the next generation even stronger.

His hand comes up to thread through his brother’s hair. Shouto only moves his head slightly to ward him off. “How you feelin’, kid?” He asks quietly enough that the other three don’t notice, Keigo shaking his head fondly at Izuku’s fanboying, and Katsuki rolling his eyes while pretending he wasn’t soaking in every word.

“I’m okay,” Shouto mumbles, eyes fixed forward on the main building.

“You know I’d support you either way, right? If you end up going to U.A., or if you don’t.”

Shouto looks up at him, the furrow between his brows relaxing, his frown morphing into a soft smile. “I know, nii-san.” He leans further into Touya’s side.

At that moment, the doors to the building open. Aizawa steps outside, hands stuffed nonchalantly in the pockets of his black jumper, his hair pulled up in a messy bun. As always, he looks like he hasn’t slept more than a couple hours in the past decade.

The underground hero eyes their group, lingering just a moment longer on Keigo, who doesn’t seem to notice as he steps forward, smiling widely in greeting. “Aizawa! Long time no see, man! Thanks for havin’ us!”

“Hawks. Touya.” He nods slightly in his direction and Touya returns the gesture, trying to tame his rapid heartbeat.

The guilt he feels about going behind Keigo’s back is still at the forefront of his mind, but it’s too late to turn back now. He doubts Aizawa would let it rest anyways. For what it’s worth, he may be one of the only true heroes Touya’s ever actually met, besides Keigo, of course. He doesn’t seem like the type of man to let injustices slip by without making an effort to right them. 

Maybe if a hero like Eraserhead had been there all those years ago, had heard their cries for help…maybe…

“And this must be Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo, correct?”

Izuku squeaks as Aizawa says his name, hands coming up to cover his mouth as his eyes glisten with excitement.

“Yeah, that’s us,” Bakugo drawls, boredom coating his voice.

“I-It’s nice to meet you, sir!” Izuku recovers, bowing slightly.

Aizawa hums in acknowledgement, looking between them and Shouto, his eyes calculating. Without another word, he turns back towards the building, calling over his shoulder. “Well, come on, then. Nezu’s waiting.”

Touya turns his head when Keigo finds his hand, interlacing their fingers and squeezing gently. Golden eyes, brighter than the sun, peer at him, full of sympathy and adoration and everything Touya couldn’t have ever imagined he’d get to see directed towards him. Everything he never thought he’d ever deserve. 

“You ready, baby?”

He smiles, squeezing his boyfriend’s hand back. “Kinda too late to turn back now, huh?”

“I’ll be right by your side the entire time, I promise.”

God , he just wanted to crush Keigo in his arms and never let go. The bird was too fucking pure, too good for the likes of him. Even barely recovered from the other night, he was still here at his side, offering his support. Support that Touya should be showering him with, if the hero had any idea of what was waiting for him inside those walls. Support he intended to give, no matter how the impending conversation went.

I’m going to save you, Keigo. Even if I have to burn society down in the process.

He pauses, letting the kids go ahead of them, before leaning down, cupping Keigo’s cheek and pulling him into a soft, slow kiss. When he pulls away, he relishes in the blush that creeps up the hero’s face at the abrupt show of public affection. “Forever, right?”

A low trill escapes Keigo’s throat, his eyes widening as he tries to cough to cover it up. “R-right,” he repeats breathlessly. 

Please remember that when we go in there. Please don’t be mad at me for lying to you. I just want you to be free. I want you to be happy. 

A throat clears in front of them and Keigo jolts, face as red as a tomato when he sees Aizawa waiting with the door open. “Sorry!” he squeaks, grabbing Touya’s hand again and pulling them along. Touya chuckles, completely unapologetic. 

Aizawa steps out of the way, letting them through. Once they’re all inside the air conditioned building, he gives Touya an appraising look. “Are you ready for this?” 

The smile on Touya’s face drops as he meets the hero’s gaze head-on, a wordless conversation passing between them. He knows Aizawa is waiting for permission to continue, giving him time to back out while he still can, and while he appreciates it, it’s unnecessary. His mind is already made up. 

He stands tall, nodding at the hero, determination settling into his bones. “I’m ready.”

They slowly ascend the staircase towards the utmost floor. At every level, the three kids stick their necks out into the long, empty hallowed hallways, taking in the different classrooms and alcoves that can be seen. Izuku practically vibrates with the need to explore as he rattles off fact after fact about the school. 

Even with the heavy conversation looming ahead of them, Touya’s glad he had the foresight to bring them with. He’s even more thankful that Inko and Mitsuki still trust him enough to keep them safe. He’s not sure he would extend himself the same level of gratitude. But he’s thankful nonetheless, because their quiet joy and excitement at just being on the campus was helping to ease his anxiety, distracting him for just a moment. 

When they reach the top floor, where the administration wing is located, a loud voice booms down the hall towards them. “HEYOOOO LITTLE LISTENERS!”

Aizawa sighs at their side, not at all affected by the volume. “Mic, indoor voice, please,” the hero drawls, slowly making his way towards his husband. 

“Sorry, Eraser.” The blond has the decency to at least look a little sorry as he faces the group with an apologetic smile.

It’s a little strange seeing Aizawa and his husband interact in public. It was almost supernatural, how they were able to compartmentalize the different aspects of their lives; a testament to years of practice and a deep understanding of one another. If Touya didn’t know it himself, he would never guess the two shared a life together, loved each other, the way he knew they did. At least, the way Keigo had talked about it from his visits to their home. 

As they come to a stop in front of Present Mic, a mop of purple hair sticks his head out from behind the hero’s legs, wide matching eyes assessing the younger guests with equal parts curiosity and cautiousness.

“Oh! I hope you don’t mind.” Present Mic steps to the side, ruffling the boy’s hair lightly. “I thought I could take the boys on a little tour and they could get to know each other while you guys talk.”

“Hi!” It’s no surprise when Izuku steps forward confidently, a wide smile on his face directed at the newcomer. “My name’s Izuku!”

The boy Touya knows as Hitoshi, from the few conversations he’s had with Aizawa and Keigo, cocks his head to the side, studying Izuku curiously. He looks up at his fathers, as if asking for permission to speak. 

“Go on,” Aizawa encourages. “It’s alright.”

The boy gulps before looking back at the trio. “My name’s Hitoshi.” His voice is quiet, unsure.

“It’s nice to meet you, Hitoshi!” Izuku elbows the other two when they stay silent, gesturing for them to introduce themselves.

“Yeah, yeah,” the blond mutters, rolling his eyes. “The name’s Katsuki.”

“I’m - “ Shouto stops and looks up at Touya, the question in his eyes obvious. 

Touya, in turn, looks to Aizawa for guidance. Since their siblings weren’t actually going to be meeting with them today, keeping Shouto’s identity a secret was necessary if only for a little bit longer, and he wasn’t sure how close Hitoshi was to Fuyumi and Natsuo. If he knew Fuyumi at all, he’d bet on her, at the very least, playing the doting mother hen role towards the child.

“It’s okay. Hitoshi knows that these are…extraordinary circumstances.”

Touya nods at Shouto. “You heard him. It’s your choice.”

Shouto turns his gaze to Hitoshi, who stares back impassively. “I’m…Shouto.” Hitoshi’s lips twitch in the ghost of a smile.

“Thank you for agreeing to watch them for a bit.” Touya turns to Present Mic as Izuku starts blabbering away, suffocating the kid with instantaneous friendship in a way only Izuku can.

The hero waves him off. “No problem at all! I imagine it’d be best for them to keep their distance anyways...” He drifts off when Aizawa clears his throat at his side.

From the corner of his eye, Touya can see the small frown on Keigo’s face, the look of confusion in his eyes. He pointedly keeps his eyes averted when the hero looks his way. “Uh, baby? Wouldn’t it make sense for Shouto to come with - “

“Not right now…It’d be too overwhelming,” he reasons, interrupting before more attention is drawn to the situation. Namely, before Shouto asks what Keigo’s talking about. 

He lets out an internal sigh of relief when the door to the conference room opens, saving him from inevitably digging himself further into a hole, if the suspecting look in Keigo’s eyes is anything to go by. He squirms under their golden stare, instead forcing his attention on the newest arrival.

The chimera is dressed impeccably well in tailored pants and a matching vest, with a crisp, white shirt underneath. His white fur glistens and a serene smile paints his lips. He’s also a lot smaller than Touya was picturing, although he supposes he shouldn’t be shocked, since Nezu seems to be some kind of small mammal. Even with Touya’s shorter stature, the principal barely makes it to his waist.

“Hawks, Touya. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The chimera bows, which they reciprocate. He then turns his attention to the children, their wide eyes assessing the creature with rapt awe and fascination. Nezu looks each one of them up and down, a calculative gleam in his eyes. “And I see you’ve brought some future U.A. alum with you!”

Izuku lets out a startled gasp, eyes gleaming with hopes and dreams. Katsuki puffs out his chest, a self satisfied smirk on his face. Shouto just wrings his hands nervously in front of him while Hitoshi watches on silently. 

Keigo chuckles, falling back into his hero persona with confident ease. “Is that an official recommendation, sir?”

Nezu turns to him, a secret smile on his lips. “Call it intuition. I can’t wait to see what they’ll do.” He glances towards Aizawa. “Shall we?”

The hero nods and the principal turns back to the conference room, expecting them to follow. Touya looks over his shoulder as Present Mic herds the kids away, talking animatedly about the awesome tour they were about to go on. At his side, a warm hand squeezes his. Golden eyes soften when Touya meets Keigo’s gaze.

He takes a deep breath, letting it out in a ‘whoosh’ as they follow Aizawa and Nezu inside, closing the door behind them with a finality that rattles him to the bones. Keigo lets go of his hand as they sit side by side at the massive, square conference table. 

A teapot and four cups sit on a platter in the middle of the table, the smoky aroma of the hojicha tea wafting towards them. Nezu climbs up onto the table and fills each cup before handing them out. Touya worries his lip ring while he waits, his foot tapping rapidly under the table.

Clearing his throat, Nezu settles down in the seat at the end of the table, looking between Keigo and Touya on one side of him, and Aizawa on the other. “I appreciate the two of you making time to meet. To start, I’d like to go through what our plan was for young Touya’s future here and what our next steps are.”

Beside him, Keigo’s feathers twitch. Whether it’s in confusion or irritation, Touya’s not sure. He hopes it’s the former. “I’m sorry, sir. You said what our plan was ? Has there been a change that I’m not aware of?” 

He looks towards Aizawa, who just stares back at him soberly. Touya forces himself to keep his eyes trained on his tea, not meeting his boyfriend’s gaze when he turns towards him.

“That’s what I’d like to discuss.” Nezu takes a sip of tea, bathing the room in a moment of tense silence. “It has come to my attention that some of the…methods…we’ve utilized to assist in the legal proceedings may have negatively affected the people in this room. Touya expressed some concerns and asked that we change our plan and…change our objectives to ensure everyone’s safety and happiness.”

“I…I don’t understand.” Keigo’s feathers twitch behind him again. This time, it’s definitely erring towards irritation. “Touya…what’s going on?”

He closes his eyes for a brief moment at the vulnerability in Keigo’s voice. When he turns, that vulnerability is evident on the hero’s features, from the way his lips are pressed in a thin line, the furrow of his brows, the poignant desperation in his golden irises. Not to mention the rhythmic, nervous twitching of his wings, barely perceptible unless you know what to look for.

Please. Please let us help you. Let me help you.

“Ke - Hawks. Please, just keep an open mind,” he beseeches. “We only want to help you.”

“But this…this is supposed to be about you. Why - “

“Hawks. Would you mind describing your relationship with the Hero Public Safety Commission?” Aizawa interrupts.

Keigo goes rigid in his seat, his jaw snapping shut at the question. His eyes widen with understanding. The arms of the chair creak from the pressure of Keigo’s iron grip. “What does my relationship with them have to do with anything?” The reply is strained, all intonation gone from Keigo’s usual cheerful tone.

“The HPSC has immense power in Japan. We all know this as an irrefutable fact. I, myself, have known for years that their methods can be underhanded at times. Touya believes he may have been witness to the consequences of these methods. Once he explained the situation, it was clear that we need to change our tactic when it comes to relying on their support, or lack thereof, for Endeavor.”

“Wait…I don’t understand. I can get their support. I know I can. If you just give me some more time - “

“Hawks.” Aizawa speaks with zero room for argument, his voice clear and authoritative, ringing out into the room. Keigo snaps his jaw shut again, chest rising and falling rapidly. “We don’t want you to put yourself in an uncomfortable position if there are other options. That’s all.”

“What did you tell them?” Keigo addresses the question to Touya, but he keeps his gaze fixed across the table.

“Birdy…we only want to help you…” he mumbles numbly, the agitation coming from the seat next to him throwing his head into a fog. He flinches when Keigo slams his hand down onto the table. 

“ What did you tell them , Touya?” Keigo repeats, through gritted teeth. 

The subsequent silence swallows up everything in the room, until Touya can hear the blood rushing in his ears. Beneath the table his foot taps, desperate to find a rhythm, to keep him anchored. 

“You were so wrecked, Kei.” He lets the name slip, but at this point he’s pretty sure Keigo is too far gone to even notice. “I was scared. I wanted to help, to make sure you never had to feel like that again. Especially because of me. I didn’t know who else to turn to.”

He focuses on the grains of wood making up the table, tracing the swirling lines and patterns absently as the room descends in another round of silence. 

When Keigo finally speaks, it’s softer, sad in its inflection. “Can I speak to Touya alone, please?”

Touya doesn’t have to look up to see Nezu and Aizawa’s answer as their chairs scrape against the floor. He listens to the soft footfalls before a door is opened, then softly closed behind them. The whole time, he focuses on the tabletop, the grooves of the wood blurring in front of him. 

Mistake. You made another mistake. What a fucking surprise. You really thought you could help? Stupid, naive Touya. Why would he want your help?

He blinks, and moisture drips down his cheeks. 

Oh. I’m crying. 

“Touya…look at me.”

He shakes his head weakly.

Keigo sighs. Touya can see him lean back in his chair from the corner of his eye, hiding his face behind his hands. “I just wish you would’ve talked to me first. This all could’ve been avoided.”

Out of nowhere, irritation itches at the back of his throat, bubbling to the surface in a slow boil, replacing any anguish he was feeling before. He’s tired . He’s so goddamn tired of being told how he should react, what he should’ve done. How he could’ve done things better. 

“Just like how you talked to me before confronting my father?” he snaps. 

Keigo’s head whips up to look at him in shock. “What - no - that’s not -“

“What the hell did you expect me to say, Keigo? If I had said anything about it, offered help, what would you have done? Do you really think you would’ve listened? Or would you have just lied to my face and said you were fucking fine . We both know you weren’t fine. Nothing about the other night was fine. So yeah, I called Aizawa because I knew you needed more help than I could give you. And I’m sorry if that upsets you, but I would do it again. Because I actually care about you.”

“I already told you how what you did that night helped me, Touya! It’s not your responsibility to do anything else. I can handle it. I have handled it for years. I understand it looked bad, but the other night was an overreaction on my part. I shouldn’t have let myself get so emotional. That was a mistake and I’m sorry you had to see me like that but - “

“Are you even listening to yourself?!” He reaches out, grabbing Keigo’s shoulders and shaking him. “You shouldn’t have to handle anything! Stop making excuses for them! You’re fucking human, Kei. You’re human and you’ve been brainwashed into thinking you’re not supposed to be. You need fucking help, and I want to help you. Please, for the love of god, let me help you!”

A plethora of emotions cross Keigo’s face the longer Touya speaks. He shakes his head mutely, lips parted and breaths coming quicker and quicker, matching the rapid beat of Touya’s own heart. Touya grips his shoulders tighter, desperate for Keigo to hear him. 

“You don’t…” Keigo takes a deep breath. “You don’t understand. Sometimes, heroes need to make sacrifices…for the greater good. For the people they love.” His eyes flick up to Touya’s, the implication bouncing around in the space between them. “If this is what I have to do to make sure you’re safe…to make sure you’re happy, I’ll do it.”

Touya’s hand comes up to cup the hero’s cheek. “I do understand, Keigo.” He leans forward, resting their foreheads against each other. Touya can hear the subtle shake in each breath as it fans across his skin. “Why do you think I’m doing all this? Just…I don’t want to be that kind of burden, Keigo. Please, don’t make me be the reason you lose yourself. It’d kill me.”

Please understand what I’m trying to say.

The thought of how far Keigo would go, how much discomfort he would put himself in just for his sake was terrifying. Maybe in a different situation, it would bring Touya joy, make him feel loved and seen and appreciated. But what if, one day, Keigo woke up and resented him for the things he’s done for Touya? What if Touya started to resent himself or, even worse, Keigo, for getting blood on his hands. For being the reason someone else’s life was snuffed out. Could he live with that? Could Keigo live with that?

Keigo sighs, shoulders slumping. “I’m not going to lose myself, Touya. I promise.”

“Even if that’s true…I’m begging you, Kei. I don’t want people to die for me and I don’t want you suffering for me. If that’s the only way this can end, then I don’t want it. I’d rather drop the charges altogether.”

A huff of breath against his cheek. “Don’t say that, Touya.”

“It’s true. My freedom…my revenge…isn’t worth you losing yourself.” His other hand comes up, cupping Keigo’s other cheek, thumbs stroking right under the hero’s eyes. Eyes that are suspiciously glassy.

“They’re all I’ve ever known, Touya. They’re the only reason I’m a hero in the first place. You wouldn’t understand what that’s like…”

A heavy weight settles on Touya’s chest as Keigo jerks back, eyes widening. It was just a slip of the tongue. He knows Keigo doesn’t mean it in a negative way. Besides, it’s true, isn’t it? Touya doesn’t know what being a hero is actually like, no matter how much he wishes he did. No matter what he does, how hard he tries, he will never know that feeling. There will always be that gap, that chasm between them.

“Touya, I didn’t mean - I’m - “

He shakes his head with a sad smile. “I know, birdy. It’s okay.”

Is it really? Doesn’t it hurt, to know you’ll never be on the same level as him? You’ll never truly belong in his world. In Shouto’s world once he becomes a hero. They’re going to leave you behind eventually. You can’t possibly keep up. 

Keigo looks like he wants to say something else, offer platitudes and excuses, but he instead stays silent. Maybe he senses that words can’t do anything for Touya, that nothing he says can change what he knows is true. No matter how hard that truth is.

After a few moments of silence, the hero lets out a tired sigh. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll try…I’ll break away from them. If that’ll make you happy.”

Touya slumps over, all the tension leaving him in a ‘whoosh’, the hero’s ill-spoken words temporarily forgotten. “Thank you, Keigo.”

Before Keigo can reply, the door opens back up, Aizawa peeking inside. Touya absently wonders if they were outside listening all along. “Are you ready to continue?”

He nods hesitantly, and Aizawa opens the door wider, letting Nezu enter the room before him. Keigo laces their hands together under the table, the slight shake giving away his trepidation layered beneath his calm demeanor.

“I trust you two have come to a conclusion?” Nezu asks as he climbs back up into his chair.

“I agree to abandon the Commission’s support for the case…but…” Keigo pauses. Touya looks over at him, frowning at the hardened expression on his face. “I can take care of the Commission on my own. I…I want to get away from them. I know I need to get away from them, to be a real hero.” He pauses to meet Touya’s eyes, eyes contemplative, almost sad. “But I need to do that on my own. Please.”

Touya’s eyes fly to Aizawa. The man looks none too pleased, lips drawn in a thin line and eyes narrowed. Keigo stares back, not at all intimidated by Aizawa’s apparent disapproval. It was definitely not the conclusion he had in mind, what they’d planned for. But Touya supposes he should’ve guessed that Keigo would want to end things on his own terms.

“Very well. We’ll do as you wish.”

“But sir!”

“Now, now, Shota. You know as well as I do that we cannot force Hawks to accept our help. As long as you understand…” His beady eyes bore into the winged hero, “that the offer remains on the table. If you ever need our assistance.”

Keigo nods in agreement next to him. Touya can only look on, helpless to Keigo’s decision. Like Nezu said, he can’t force him to accept help. Even if he so desperately wants to. Even if he wants to lock Keigo away, somewhere the Commission can never hope to reach him. Even if he wants to burn their entire organization to the ground and dance among the ashes. He has to respect Keigo’s wishes.

He just hopes that this will at least be a starting point. A wake up call. That Keigo will respect his wishes and seriously work to free himself. If he didn’t…well…Keigo would have to forgive him for taking matters into his own hand. He shares a look with Aizawa, and he knows the older hero is thinking the same.

“Well then!” Nezu’s voice turns chipper. “Let’s begin.”

 

***********************************

 

Two hours later, they emerge from the room with a plan in place for the review on Monday morning. The proceeding should only last two days. On the first day, both sides will present their cases, and on the second, any last minute evidence can be submitted before the court will deliberate and hand down their judgment. Touya will watch from the sidelines on the second day, in a back room of the courthouse, waiting for a signal that the case may not be swinging in their favor.

The actual trial will start the week after, regardless of whether Endeavor loses his license or not. The only difference being the obvious advantage they’d have if his license were to be suspended. Then, Touya and Shouto will definitely have to testify, their lives forever being changed as they make their way into the spotlight.

Touya rubs at his weary eyes as he forces his feet forward. He didn’t want to make any more decisions today. He just wanted to pack up the kids and get back to the hotel so he can lay down and - 

“NII-SAN!”

That’s the only warning he gets before he’s hit with an armful of Toga Himiko, her hair pulled up in her familiar space buns and a toothy smile on her face. He’s stunned for a moment before he reflexively pulls her into a tight hug, equal parts relief and confusion flowing through him.

Relief because she’s okay. Because he’s felt so guilty since leaving her in the care of someone else, for not bringing her back to Fukuoka with him and Shouto. Confusion because he’s not actually sure what she’s doing there or how she found him. 

That question, at least, is answered when he looks up to see Vlad King talking to Present Mic, the other kids a few steps away from them forming a little huddle with the four of them. 

“Hey, imouto,” he says with a soft, tired smile. “How’re you doing? Are they treating you okay?”

“Yeah! Mr. Vladdy said I can be a hero and help people, and then I’ll make even more friends! Isn’t that cool?!”

“That is pretty cool.” He pets the top of her head. “He’s been teaching you? About your quirk?”

“Yeah!” Toga jumps up and down with excitement. “He said I can give people blood so they’ll always have a part of me with them! And that it’ll help people who are hurting or in pain. So instead of making people sad or afraid, they’ll smile!”

“That sounds great, Toga. I’m so happy for you. Maybe you and Shouto will work together some day.”

“Yeah! And Izuku!”

Behind him, he can hear Keigo making small talk with Nezu and Aizawa as they leave the room, chattering on about the upcoming semester and if the winged hero’s agency will be looking for any interns. Normally, Touya would be at Keigo’s side, if only to listen and be included. But now he just feels conflicted, awkward. Like he’d barging into a conversation that’s not meant for him.

You wouldn’t understand what that’s like.  

He looks towards the kids again, Izuku with stars in his eyes as he talks animatedly to a very bored looking Hitoshi. “Izuku, huh?”

“Mhmm!” She nods enthusiastically, taking his hand, falling into step beside him and leading him to where the other two heroes are talking. “Izuku’s so nice! He even said he wants to be my friend! The angry boy is kinda annoying though.”

He huffs out a laugh at that, picturing what Katsuki’s reaction must have been to Toga’s overwhelming personality and cheerfulness. 

Disappointment briefly cuts through him when she lets go of his hand and skips over to Vlad King’s side. But, for her sake, he forces a smile onto his face. Toga is happy and cared for. That should be enough for him, it is enough for him to let his own insecurities go.

“Hi. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Touya.”

The gruff looking man smiles, sharp canines protruding from his mouth. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Toga talks about you and Shouto quite a bit.”

“All good things, I hope,” he jests, hoping his voice doesn’t give away his discomfort, the hollow void in his chest that grows with each minute that passes by. He runs his tongue along the inside of his mouth, letting the cool metal of his lip ring ground him. 

Vlad laughs, the sound hearty and boisterous. “Of course! From what I understand, you may be the first person to truly accept her. So, thank you. Having a blood-related quirk…it’s not easy. Most people aren’t as…understanding.”

Toga beams up at the hero before her gaze turns to Touya. He can’t help but smile at her genuine happiness, at the hope shining behind her eyes. A stark contrast to the scared, hurting little girl he’d found huddled in their temporary hideout. 

He shrugs. “Most people are assholes. And honestly, I’m the one who should be thanking you. For caring about her and taking her in like you did.”

Vlad brings a hand down on Toga’s shoulder, looking down at her with a warm smile. “Me and the missus couldn’t have children of our own, but we always wanted a family. Finding Toga when we did…it’s like fate.”

Fate. I wonder…what’s my fate?

He feels someone brush up next to him, looking down to see Shouto’s green eyes staring at him critically. Touya puts an arm around his shoulder, giving him what he can only hope is a reassuring look before turning back to the conversation. 

The sun is low in the sky as they leave the campus. Goodbyes are said and Toga throws herself at Touya again, practically strangling him as she makes him promise to come back again soon. He does promise, with the caveat that she behaves herself, although he knows deep down that he’d come back to see her regardless.

By the time they arrive back at the hotel, everyone shuffles through the door, exhaustion finally setting in from a full day of travel and activities. After getting the kids settled in the adjoining room next to them, Keigo and Touya stumble into their own room, absently changing into comfy clothes and climbing into the plush bed. 

Touya sighs as he settles under the soft blankets, snuggling between Keigo’s outstretched arm and allowing himself to be pulled into the hero’s chest. He drapes his arm over Keigo’s stomach, his hand sneaking its way under his shirt and settling against right above his waistband. 

“Touya?”

He hums absently, mind already groggy with sleep. He tilts his head up, blinking awake when he sees the concern etched on Keigo’s face. 

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

He sighs. “Yeah, I’m okay, birdy.” He kisses the soft skin of his throat, letting his lips linger there. 

“It’s just…” Touya squirms, huffing against his skin, when Keigo keeps going. “You’ve been sorta quiet and I just wanna make sure...”

He pulls his mouth away hesitantly. His hand fusses with the hem of the hero’s shirt. “It’s just been a long day and…I’m scared. I guess.” 

He tenses as he waits for a reply, winding his arm tighter around Keigo’s waist. He feels a kiss on the top of his head, Keigo’s hand coming up to thread through his hair and pull him closer to his chest. 

“Scared about what, firecracker?”

About not being enough for you. About you realizing I’m not this amazing person you think I am. About you and Shouto and everyone leaving me behind. About not belonging in your world.

“The case…and seeing my father. I froze last time…I don’t want to do that again. And…I guess I’m scared of confronting…everyone.” Keigo’s nails scrape at his scalp and his eyes close at the sensation. “I’m afraid of losing Shouto…and you,” he adds on with a whisper.

Keigo’s hands pause for a moment before they start up again. “That’s never going to happen, Touya.”

He swallows down a lump in his throat. “How can you be so sure?”

Keigo pulls him further into his chest, until he’s almost on top of the hero, his wings coming to wrap around both of them. His embrace is so tight, it’s almost bruising. Touya welcomes it with a choked cry, the pressure soothing, like a weighted blanket pulled flush around him. 

It makes him feel safe. In that moment, wrapped up in red feathers, he knows nothing can hurt him. Not his father, or the thoughts in his head that wouldn’t shut the fuck up, or his fragile dreams and aspirations that threatened to go up in smoke at a single misstep. He wasn’t Endeavor’s son, or Shouto’s guardian, or even Touya . He was whatever Keigo wanted him to be, whoever he wanted himself to be.

“You already know that I’m a heteromorph.” It’s not a question, but Touya nods against his chest anyways. “Well, my father’s part of my quirk comes from red-tailed hawks. The feathers and the eyes and the bird sounds…but, another fun fact, did you know…red-tailed hawks' mate for life?”

Touya sucks in a breath, his heart hammering in his chest. He tilts his head up just enough in the limited space he has to glance at Keigo. The hero is looking down at him, a soft smile on his lips. “What do you mean?”

“I mean , Touya Todoroki,” a mischievous gleam lights up his eyes, “that you’re stuck with me. When you say ‘forever’, it actually means forever to me. I’m yours, and I’ll always only be yours.”

Keigo’s face blurs in front of him as the hero leans down, capturing his lips. Touya whimpers as his mouth moves against the hero’s, unhurried and so fucking gentle it makes Touya want to scream. When Keigo breaks away, he moves to kiss a line up Touya’s jaw, over his cheeks, on the tip of his nose.

He dares to hope that Keigo is right, that forever means forever, but does he even have a choice in picking Touya? Would he ever feel trapped by this ‘mate bond’, fated to stay at Touya’s side by virtue of a quirk side-effect? Was Touya really special, or was he just the one Keigo was unlucky enough to - 

A flick to his forehead stops his wayward thoughts. “I can hear you thinking, you know. I chose you, Touya. Red-tailed hawks mate for life, but only after choosing a mate that they sense is compatible with them. So, tell that annoying voice in your head to shut up for five fucking seconds. Focus on me, instead.”

So, he does. He focuses on golden eyes that have become so familiar to him until nothing else exists. He focuses on all the memories over the last several months. The magnetism that has inevitably pulled them together, over and over again, their paths intertwining before becoming one.

And when his eyes finally drift shut again, it’s to the sound of a heartbeat, perfectly in sync with his. One that sounds a lot like ‘forever’.

Notes:

Did anyone *actually* think Keigo was going to just be like "oh yeah! i'll accept your help!" like...c'mon.

Also another cameo of our favorite girl with the cutest smile in the world! No surprise that she loves Izuku and finds Katsuki annoying lmao. I'm sure the feeling is mutual.

Thank you all for the support! I appreciate every kudos, comment, etc. ♥ This fic brings me so much joy to write and it's been extremely fulfilling to see so many people enjoy it!

***NOTE: I'm currently working on a couple other Dabihawks fics and NEED TITLE SUGGESTIONS! So if you have one, please comment below! I'm absolutely terrible when it comes to naming things. ☺
- Pro Hero Touya x Villain Hawks (basically switching places)
- Post-canon Dabi x President Hawks

Chapter 32

Summary:

Licensing Review: Day 1

Notes:

OMG y'all. I'll tell ya what, this chapter kicked. my. ass.

So much dialogue, so many POV changes. But honestly, it might also be one of my FAVORITE chapters so far. Hope y'all enjoy!

Keigo prides himself on being an ‘early bird’, no pun intended. Whether it be because of some kind of an internal bird alarm clock or just his years of training at the crack of dawn, he always found himself waking up before the sun has a chance to crest over the horizon.

But, on this particular morning, he finds he’s not the first one awake, if the hot breath and open-mouthed kisses making a path down his neck are any indication. No, in fact, Touya seems to be very much awake. Which is a surprise, albeit a pleasant one, since Touya is very much not a morning person. 

The hand that was formerly resting across Keigo’s stomach is now ghosting up and down his side, sprouting goosebumps in its wake. His breath hitches when the heated fingers pass over a particularly sensitive spot, and he can feel Touya pause for just a second against his throat.

“Good morning, birdy.” The rasp of Touya’s morning voice sends a new wave of shivers throughout his entire body, heat pooling low in his gut. That voice alone could level cities , could bring him to his knees in seconds, command him to do anything , and he wouldn’t even bat an eye. The voice of his mate.

God, I’m so lucky.

“You’re up early,” he breathes, huffing out a breath when Touya nips at his collarbone. Now fully awake, he sends a few feathers under their door, monitoring the situation in the other room. Making sure that the three bodies one wall over are still very much asleep.

Touya kisses back up his neck, his tongue darting out to suck along the underside of his jaw, before he captures Keigo’s lips in a hungry, demanding kiss. “I’m just enjoying my boyfriend,” he breathes against Keigo’s lips, a smirk evident in his voice.

Keigo’s wings flutter happily beneath him, each individual feather honing in on Touya’s warmth, the rapid beat of his heart. Every single fiber of his being tells him how right this feels. Like the entire universe is sliding into focus, and Touya is at the center of it.

With the hand he has resting at Touya’s back, he pulls him in closer. He threads his other hand through his hair, pulling at the black strands until Touya groans against his mouth. 

“Mmm…well feel free to wake me up like this anytime, hot stuff. But …” He uses his wings as leverage as he flips them over. Touya yelps as his back hits the mattress, Keigo caging him in beneath him. “I think you’ve had enough fun. Now it’s my turn,” he growls.

Keigo takes his time, tracing the lines of Touya’s scars running down his neck with his mouth. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” he murmurs against the skin, his hand running up Touya’s side and pushing his shirt up. Touya lifts his arms until his shirt is over his head and Keigo tosses it aside. 

In the low light of the room, with only a glimmer of light filtering in through the gaps in the window curtain, he can only make out the shadow of Touya’s body. But he looks down hungrily anyways before dipping down and planting kisses across his collarbone. He explores every inch of skin in reach, feeling the texture change as he mouths along the scars slashing diagonally across Touya’s chest, down the center of his torso. 

“Every inch of you,” he nips at Touya’s chest, sucking until a mark is sure to be left in the shape of his mouth, and chuckles when a whimper falls from Touya’s lips, “is mine.”

“Yours, huh?” Touya teases, gasping when Keigo nips at his skin again in warning. “Why don’t you prove it, hero .”

Keigo slowly makes his way up until his lips are brushing across Touya’s, until he can see the challenge glinting in those electric blue eyes. Even in the lowlight, they shine like the stars themselves.

He pulls Touya into a bruising kiss, forcing his tongue into his mouth and groaning when Touya’s tongue piercing glides against it. If Touya wants proof, he fully intends on giving it to him. He’ll take everything Touya has to offer, until the only fact that remains in his pretty little head is that Touya is his and  will always be his. Until Keigo’s name is the only one falling from his lips.

Suddenly, his wings twitch, distracted by movement coming from the makeshift security system under the door. He slows his assault, breaking away for a moment to tilt his head towards the hastily placed feathers. 

“Why…” Touya pants, nails digging into his back, “Why’d you stop?”

Keigo closes his eyes, resting his forehead against Touya’s. The feathers pick up on shuffling again, too strong to be sleepy restlessness. He groans in frustration, dipping down to nip at a spot on Touya’s neck, before getting up on his elbows and looking down at him with an apologetic smile.

Touya rolls his eyes, sighing. “They’re up, aren’t they?”

He answers by sending feathers to fetch Touya’s shirt, depositing it on the bed next to them. “Afraid so, hot stuff.” He kisses him softly again, making the most out of the last few moments they’ll have alone.

When he breaks away, he shifts to bring a hand up, brushing the hair from Touya’s face and cupping his cheek. A genuine smile graces Touya’s lips, red and puffy from his earlier assault, and the sight still brings Keigo’s whole reality to a grinding halt until that damn smile is the only thing that exists. 

He thinks of the coming days, how hard it’s going to be on both of them. How this may be one of the last free moments they have before their lives are upended and flipped upside down. One of the last times they’ll have the privacy to be together, without the burden of Touya’s identity being known to the world.

“What’s that look for?”

His thumb slowly caresses Touya’s cheek, brushing over his flushed skin. “I’m just thinking…when all this is over, I wanna take you away somewhere. Just the two of us. Maybe a cabin up in the mountains…or on an island off the coast.” He drops a chaste kiss on Touya’s lips. “How’s that sound?”

Touya’s answering smile is blinding, his eyes suspiciously glassy as he looks up at him. “I’ll go anywhere with you, Keigo.”

 

***********************************

 

Touya’s leg bounces erratically as he slouches back on the couch, an arm wrapped around Shouto, who’s cuddled into his side. He absently rubs soothing circles up and down the boy’s arm as they watch the news coverage on TV. 

The camera shows an aerial view of the courthouse, journalists lining the sidewalk as a black car stops at the front. Shouto lets out a whimper when their father’s massive form appears from the car, dressed in a nice suit rather than his hero costume, his face set in his near-permanent scowl. He looks on at the media circus with disinterest, as if the whole affair is a mere inconvenience to him.

“It’s okay, Sho. He can’t hurt you,” he consoles, dropping a kiss on the top of the boy’s head as he glares at his father’s imposing form. 

Beneath his skin, his quirk rages, begging him to turn everything his father holds dear to ash. He takes a deep breath, in and out, until it’s reduced to a smoldering ember. Still there, still destructive, but something he can at least control. 

I won’t burn for you again, Enji. I won’t let you have that much power over me. 

Inko comes around the front of the couch, setting a teapot and cups down on the coffee table before taking a seat on Touya’s other side. She reaches for his hand, squeezing it between both of hers. He squeezes back, eternally grateful for her support, her warmth. 

Izuku sits on Shouto’s other side, glancing between his friend and the TV with a look of concern. Touya can see his hand come up to hold Shouto’s, and Touya can’t help but smile at the gesture, always the spitting image of his mother.

After Endeavor and his team of lawyers enter the courthouse, another car pulls up before the door opens. Fuyumi exits first, her shoulder-length white hair streaked in red. She keeps her head bowed, eyes hidden under a brimmed hat, clutching her purse in front of her with white knuckles. Next is Natsuo, his massive frame shielding Fuyumi from the crowd, gliding her forward with a hand at her back.

The front door opens, a loud, feminine voice calling out. “Has it started yet?!”

Inko answers Mitsuki as the blonde woman enters the living room, ruffling Touya and Shouto’s hair with a quick greeting before coming around to sit at the end of the couch next to Inko. Her arm comes around behind Inko’s head, squeezing Touya’s shoulder reassuringly. 

Katsuki follows behind her, plopping down at the other end next to Izuku with a grim expression on his face. There’s a hint of concern in his eyes as he looks back and forth from the TV to Shouto, and he subtly slides in closer to the other two. 

On the TV, Aizawa steps out of the last car to pull up, cleaned up in a suit and tie, hair brushed out of his face and pulled back. He strides purposefully towards the courthouse, not giving the press a second look. The tired look in his eyes can be seen through the screen.

Finally, scarlet red enters the shot with a friendly wave at the crowd. Touya’s lip twitches upward and his heart hammers in his chest as he watches Keigo in his element, a wide smile on his face and wings on full display. He’s the only one who engages with the reporters, both a rebellious act against the Commission’s public show of support for Endeavor, and a force of habit from years of extensive PR training.

“Hawks! Over here!”

“How do you feel about the accusations against Endeavor?”

“Do you think this sets a dangerous precedent that heroes should be concerned about?”

“Do you think this could cause society’s trust in heroes to waver?”

Touya watches, mesmerized, as Keigo holds his hands up towards the cameras, efficiently hushing the crowd without a single word. The smile on his face is harsh, the sharp lines of his face more predatory than normal.

“ One at a time, please! I’d be happy to answer your questions. As for the accusations against Endeavor, I only hope that we get justice for those affected by his actions and that he atones for the past. And for other heroes, this is a message that no one is exempt from the law. If we, as heroes, want to continue to hold society’s trust and respect, we need to hold ourselves accountable just as much, if not more, than ever before.”

Touya’s hand drifts towards his pocket as Keigo speaks, seeking out the baby feather that the hero had given him before he’d left that morning. A way for Touya to have a piece of him, when he couldn’t be here in person. 

To Keigo’s credit, they’d gone back and forth about it, his boyfriend arguing that Aizawa didn’t need him there, but Touya had insisted he was fine. Which he was , no matter how nervous he felt. He had Inko and Mitsuki with him, and having another pro hero there with Aizawa was important for public image.

His mouth twitches in amusement as he runs a thumb down the vane of the feather, Keigo’s feathers ruffling up on the broadcast a few moments later. Touya watches the way his eyes soften, his face relaxing into an easy grin, seemingly out of nowhere. In his hand, the feather wriggles back and forth, confirmation that Keigo is with him. Keigo sees him. He’ll always see him.

After Keigo finishes up with the press he gives them a final wave before disappearing into the building. The reporter drones on for a moment about how the process is about to go before the camera switches to one inside the packed courthouse, showing the crowd murmuring in wait. 

Suddenly, the doors open at the end of the room and six people file through, taking their seats at the front. The panel of judges chosen to make a decision on the status of Endeavor’s hero license, faces stern, casting an intimidating aura on the room. All conversation goes silent as the sound of a gavel rings out.

And with that, the review has officially begun.

 

***********************************

 

Shota looks out at the crowd as more people file into the already packed courtroom, seats filling up quickly, forcing some to stand at the back as the seconds tick down. When he turns back towards the front of the room, he leans forward, resting a steady hand on both Fuyumi and Natsuo’s shoulders in the row ahead of him. 

Fuyumi looks back at him with a wavering smile, her eyes downcast and already shining with unshed tears. Natsuo nods, his face rigid as he glances over to the other side of the room. Following his gaze, Aizawa narrows his eyes as he catches Endeavor watching the three of them, a smug look on his face.

The bastard actually thinks he’s going to win this.

Aizawa stares back, holding the hero’s gaze until he looks away, then continuing to stare at the back of his head like he could burn a hole right through it. He’s in the middle of debating whether to cancel Endeavor’s quirk or not, just to see his reaction, when a hand falls on his shoulder. He glances over to see Hawks sitting down in the seat next to him, staring forward at the panel of judges that just entered the room.

The winged hero leans in, keeping his voice low enough that no one around them can eavesdrop, nodding in the direction of the podium. “Two of the judges have direct ties to the Commission. Kaoru Sakata,” Aizawa looks over at the second judge, a man dressed in a simple suit with shoulder-length dark blue hair and wide-rimmed glasses with neon green eyes, “and Asana Kitano.” 

Sitting next to Kaoru, Asana is wearing a white blouse and a pink blazer, her lavender hair spilling over her shoulders. Her black eyes, unnerving since you could never tell exactly where she was looking, contrasted highly against her porcelain skin.

“So we need the other four judges to all vote in our favor.” Aizawa mulls over the information. There was still a chance they could win, but to already have the disadvantage of losing two votes was concerning. Especially since losing even one more vote would lead to a tie, with the Commission President being the designated tiebreaker.

“That’s if none of the other judges are bought off. I have high enough clearance to know of those two, but that doesn’t mean I know everyone on the Commission’s payroll.”

Aizawa hums in agreement. He would be surprised if they weren’t hiding information from Hawks anyways, with the way the hero had publicly come out against the number two hero. That was the price they’d paid for the public’s albeit hesitant support. 

“Well, let’s see how today goes. No use in worrying until we get an idea of where we stand.”

Hawks nods, but Aizawa can see the displeasure in his eyes. He knows the kid is thinking about Touya, hoping they won’t have to involve him this early on. 

The younger hero slowly gets up from his seat, wings twitching restlessly at his back. “I’ll be in the back if you need me. I can’t sit still for so long.”

As Hawks walks to the back of the room, the sound of a gavel rings out. Aizawa lets out a deep breath as the case is announced, looking down at his nearly empty coffee cup in disdain. 

This is going to be a long two days.

 

*** ********************************

 

“We would like to call Dr. Teiji Sakamoto to the stand.”

The room is silent as the doctor makes his way to the podium, sitting in front of the microphone and facing the representative from Endeavor’s agency, Haoru Hinata; a young, handsome man in a tailored designer suit, an expensive watch displayed on his wrist. Dr. Sakamoto, on the other hand, is gray-haired with a thick mustache, the crows feet and bags under his eyes giving away his advanced age.

“Dr. Sakamoto, you were employed by the Todoroki family as their private doctor for almost 5 years, is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.” The doctor leans forward to speak into the microphone.

“And during that time, you provided care to all members of the family?”

“Yes, but most of my time was spent with Touya and Shouto.”

“What did you usually treat them for?”

The doctor squirms in his seat, clearing his throat. “Mostly injuries. Burns, deep cuts, sprained wrists and ankles, broken ribs, a broken arm at one point, concussions. You can find all this information in my notes.”

“I’m glad you brought up your notes. Tell me, in those notes, you write down that these injuries were sustained during training. Is that correct?”

“Yes, but to have so many injuries due to training, it’s highly unusual.”

“If it was so highly unusual, why is there no mention of this? Are you saying your notes are incomplete? If so, wouldn’t you say they’re unreliable?”

“My notes are mainly for my examinations and treatments. Not my personal feelings.”

“So your ‘personal feelings’ were that their injuries were highly unusual?”

“Yes.”

Hinata pauses to flip through a file displayed on the table in front of him. “So, if that is the case, doctor, did you ever mention your feelings to Endeavor? To the proper authorities?”

“No, sir.”

“Interesting. No further questions.” Hinata sits down, trading a satisfied smirk with Endeavor. 

From the other side of the room, Detective Tsukauchi stands as the designated representative of the Todoroki siblings. “Doctor, you said you never mentioned these concerns to Endeavor or the authorities. Can you explain why that would be?”

“Well…I, uh - “

“And I will remind you, doctor, that you are under oath and my quirk lets me determine whether someone is being truthful or not.”

Sakamoto sits up straight at that. “I never reported these concerns because my contract stated that my responsibilities started and ended with treatment. There was a specific clause that forbade disclosure of any health information without penalty.”

“What was the penalty if you were to break that clause?”

“Monetary fines and the threat of my medical license being taken away.”

Tsukauchi pauses at that, letting the words fully sink in. The shutter of cameras can faintly be heard from the back of their room. Somewhere in the gallery, someone clears their throat. Another faceless person shuffles in their seat, the wooden pew creaking from the movement. 

“In your medical experience, doctor, was the training that would’ve caused these injuries excessive in nature, given the boys’ young age?”

“Medically speaking, the injuries sustained were both more severe and more frequent than they should be for any child training that young, so yes, I believe so.”

“And what about Touya? Were you aware that his disposition made his flames harmful to his body?”

“Yes, I was.”

“So, in your opinion, should he have been training his quirk in those conditions?”

“No, sir.”

Tsukauchi nods, turning back towards his seat, before throwing over his shoulder, “No further questions.”

 

***********************************

 

“Torou Shisuke, please take the stand.”

Ms. Shisuke stands from the front row, slowly making her way towards the podium before taking a seat. Her graying hair is held in a bun, her face made up with some light makeup and lipstick for the special occasion. She’s dressed more formally than in her interview, in a modest black chiffon dress with a string of pearls around her neck. 

“Ms. Shisuke, you were employed as a tutor for Touya Todoroki, correct?”

“Yes, sir,” she answers Hinata, her voice meek through the microphone. 

“And how long did you work with Touya?”

“Almost three years.”

“That’s a long time,” Hinata remarks, pacing back and forth absently. “So, I’d imagine you got to know Touya quite well during those three years?”

“I suppose. He was a bright boy. We grew close during my time there.”

“Did Touya ever give you any indication that there was abuse or neglect happening within the Todoroki household?”

“Well, he would come to lessons with bandages and bruises most days…especially towards the end of his life.”

“Did he say what his injuries were from?”

Ms. Shisuke wrings her hands in front of her, her lips turning in a frown. “He said he was training.”

“Did he ever complain that training was too harsh? Did he ever ask you for help?”

“...No, he did not.”

“Even though you were quite close to the boy? Doesn’t that seem odd to you, Ms. Shisuke? You said that Touya was a bright boy. Surely he would be smart enough to reach out for help if he needed it, correct? Especially to someone he was close to.”

“He…he was stubborn. I don’t believe he understood the kind of trouble he was in.”

“You seem pretty sure he was in trouble, Ms. Shisuke. Or does your animosity towards Endeavor, perhaps, come from the fact that he fired you?”

Ms. Shisuke shakes her head, her lips in a thin line. “That’s not why - “

“Are you sure? After all, you did file a complaint against Endeavor, accusing him of wrongful termination. Are you positive that you’re not simply seeking revenge against an ex-employer?”

“ Yes , I’m sure.”

Hinata smiles, bowing his head towards the woman. “Of course. I apologize for the baseless accusation , ma’am.” He walks back to his seat, calling out as he sits, “No further questions.”

Aizawa narrows his eyes as Tsukauchi starts his examination of the witness, going through all the same information they discussed in her initial interview. She describes in more detail the reasons why Touya was training, his frustrations, his worries. How she tried confronting Endeavor and how that was the reason for her termination.

However, Aizawa is more focused on the other bench, at the coy smile on Hinata’s lips, the relaxed posture and smug expression on Endeavor’s face. The way they keep looking between the judges, the slight nod Hinata gives Sakata and Kitano. Their attitudes about the proceedings, as if this was just a minor inconvenience, was concerning. They weren’t taking any of this seriously. 

A quick look to the back of the room confirms his fears. Hawks locks eyes with him and subtly shakes his head. There was something more at play here. Something they hadn’t planned for, weren’t privy to. These testimonies weren’t getting them anywhere. 

Besides the two obvious nays in Sakata and Kitano, they didn’t have the option of relinquishing any of the other judges’ decisions. Even one would place them in a tie, and a tie was as good as a loss in this situation. They needed a bombshell.

The question was, would Hawks allow Touya to take the fall?

 

***********************************

 

By the time it’s her turn to take the stand, Fuyumi is a mess of nerves and, honestly, downright exhausted. Not just from the proceedings, which had already eaten up the entire morning, but of everything. Everything that had happened over the past several months. Shouto disappearing, being taken from their home, their family fracturing further and further until there was barely anything left.

The only thing she’d ever been able to do, the only way she’d ever fit into the family picture, was to hold that image together. To be the glue that kept everything from breaking apart completely. But she had failed, over and over again. First with Touya, then with mother, then with Shouto, and finally, with Natsuo.

Her thoughts drift to Touya, as they often do. Her big brother, her best friend. Since they’d been born so close together, they’d become inseparable throughout their younger years. At least, until Touya decided to take responsibility for what was happening to Shouto. Towards the end, she’d seen less of Touya, and when she did see him, he was always so lost in thought, always calculating his next move. 

That dedication, that desire to put a buffer between their father and Shouto, had cost him his life. That was really the moment when everything started crumbling. Their mother finally lost it for good, and stopped accepting visitors after she heard the news. Their father got more irritable, more focused on training Shouto, who was isolated even further. Natsuo started crying himself to sleep and spending his days shuffling through the house like a zombie. 

She hated the thought that everything Touya did was pointless, that it hadn’t changed anything for the better. She hated that his death was being vilified, used as a pawn in this back and forth. Touya was more than that. He was better than that. He was always the one that went in headstrong, absolutely fearless. She never understood it as a child, but now she envies it. She wishes she could be just like him. 

Sitting at the podium, she subtly picks at her fingernails as her hands lay clenched in her lap. The practiced smile on her face feels more forced than ever, threatening to fall at the slightest hint of upset. 

Touya would be smiling right now, with that cocky look on his face, with a challenge on his lips. Why can’t I be like him? Why can’t I be fearless? Instead, I can’t stop shaking. 

Her father stares up at her from his place in the front. The smile he wears is probably meant to be encouraging, but feels empty instead. Just like it always had been before. The last real smile he wore was from before Touya started burning himself. 

Her gaze wanders over to the other side of the room, where Natsuo sits with Detective Tsukauchi, waiting for his turn at the stand. Natsuo, who has already been through too much turmoil for a child his age, who didn’t smile anymore either. 

Behind him, Aizawa is scowling, more in thought than in upset. If she hadn’t spent the last few months with him, she’d think he’s always upset, but she knows it’s just a prickly exterior. That he actually cares quite a bit, behind the mask.

Then in the back, Hawks. The other hero who had been there the day her family shattered into irreparable pieces. What was his part in all this? Why did he seem so invested, so interested in their story? He was just some random hero from Fukuoka, with no known ties to Endeavor or Musutafu. Why did he care? Why was he here?

“How are you feeling, Fuyumi-sama?” She’s jolted from her thoughts by Hinata’s greeting. 

How am I feeling? She looks back out on the crowd, then to her lap. She feels broken, humiliated, fearful. But deep down, she also feels red hot anger. All the anger that Touya ever expressed, all the anger she’s never let out over the years is slowly bubbling to the surface, like a pot left unsupervised on the stove for too long. 

“I’m okay.”

“I’m sure this is tough on you. We’ll go slow, okay?” 

Hinata smiles, and it’s supposed to be reassuring, but instead it just looks twisted. Fuyumi’s heart beats louder in her chest as she jerks her head in a nod. The buzzing in her veins grows louder. 

“Fuyumi-sama, did Touya ever mention wanting to be a hero?”

Her mouth almost twitches up into a smile at that as she remembers his enthusiasm at training, in the early days, before the burns. “Yes, he did.”

“So would I be correct in saying that he was training voluntarily?”

She clamps her mouth shut at what should be a simple enough question. Before Shouto, yes. But…

“I need to save him, Fumi. He’s too little. He shouldn’t be training when he doesn’t even know if he wants to be a hero but dad doesn’t understand. I need to get stronger so Shouto can be a normal kid. This is what heroes do. They sacrifice. So please, don’t tell dad about the burns. Not until I get good enough to show him. Let me prove myself.”

She closes her eyes at the memory, her fingers trembling in her lap. If she had mentioned the burns, if she had done something to stop Touya…no…something to help Touya instead of cowering away, putting up a front, would he still be here?

Touya. Can I be brave like you? 

When she opens her eyes, it’s with a fire that she doesn’t normally possess. One she borrows from an older brother she wishes she could hug one last time. A brother she hopes she can make proud, after so many years of standing on the sidelines, pretending everything’s okay. 

I won’t let them insult your memory, nii-san. I won’t let them make you into a martyr. 

“He decided to train. But only to save Shouto from my father.” A whoosh of air leaves her lung at the admission, leaving her breathless as Hinata stares back in shock, clearly not expecting the answer. Her father glares at her from below. 

And man, does it feel so damn good . 

 

***********************************

 

Touya stares at the TV screen with wide eyes, his lips parted in shock. 

“ He decided to train. But only to save Shouto from my father.”

Never in his wildest dreams did he expect that those words would be coming not from Natsuo’s mouth, but from Fuyumi’s. Quiet, obedient, meek Fuyumi, who never wanted anything more than to keep up the facade of a happy family. 

He admittedly had a lot of conflicted emotions when it came to his sister. He loved her, so so much, but he’d always been so frustrated by her compliance. Her ability to turn the other cheek and pretend that Endeavor wasn’t a monster. Or at least, that he was capable of change. 

She never understood growing up. Not like Natsuo had. She just whined that she didn’t want to see Touya hurt, not understanding that their father was the reason Touya had to hurt himself in the first place. She never saw Touya, not for real, anyway. 

But now, she speaks those words and it’s as if she does finally see. She’s acknowledging him, understanding his actions for the first time. And he can’t help the way tears stream down his cheeks as he watches a fire spark to life in those gray eyes. 

It’s like she’s resurrecting the fire that Touya had left behind in that house, taking up the mantle in his place. What was causing this sudden change of heart? Why did she look so determined now? The tension in the courthouse had suddenly shifted, evident even through the screen, as Endeavor squirms in his seat. Because of Fuyumi , of all people. 

Touya looks on in awe as Fuyumi straightens her shoulders and glares defiantly at their father. He sees a glimpse of himself in her eyes, if only for a moment. As if his fire is being summoned through her, and his lips pull up into a manic grin. 

That’s it, imouto. I knew you had it in you.

Notes:

OKAY, so a few things.

Keigo & Touya are the cutest ever and I love them with all my heart. That's it.

Can we get some appreciation in the comment section for Tsukauchi?!? I know he's in A LOT of fics, because he's such a badass, but just think he's trying to help the Todoroki kids RIGHT AFTER All Might's first fight with AFO (in canon, the fight happened when Deku would've been approx. 8 years old, and he's 9 right now). The man deserves a raise.

Also FUYUMI, MY QUEEN. I know she gets a lot of flack in a lot of fics, and honestly I've given her *some* flack in this one. It's easy to take her stance on Endeavor and her desire to have a happy family and think her weak, but honestly, I think she's more haunted than anything. Touya was her *person* and I LOVE that she's drawing strength from him. If Endeavor thought he could rely on his "weak" (his words, not mine) daughter to get him out of this shithole, he's dead wrong, and i LOVE this for her.

Last but not least, Touya REACTING to Fuyumi? Omg I think I just stabbed myself. I cannot wait to write their reunion. It's going to be SO SO GOOD.

How do you guys think the rest of the licensing review is going to go? Will Touya make an appearance and, if so, what do you think everyone's reactions are going to be? What do you think the Commission has up its sleeve and what do you think the final decision will be??

As always, THANK YOU guys so much for all the interactions. I absolutely love seeing every comment, kudo, bookmark, etc. that you guys leave. Just a reminder, we are nearing the end of this fic. I plan on posting a "prologue" type chapter of the sequel at the same time as the last chapter, but make sure you keep an eye out for that! Touya's story is FAR from being over, and I'm grateful for every single person who's been along for this crazy ride. ♥

Chapter 33

Summary:

Reunions and surprises

Notes:

Y'all, I should've probably proofread this chapter at least once more before posting, but I was SO EXCITED that I just couldn't stop myself from posting. I hope y'all enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!! ♥

“You know, you can still change your mind. Fuyumi’s testimony yesterday put us in a better spot going into today.”

Keigo is turned in his chair at the small table in a back room of the courthouse. He leans in towards Touya, golden eyes piercing through him with concern, pleading with him to reconsider. Touya can’t help but bring a hand up to the worried furrow of his brows, his thumb pressing against the tanned skin in an attempt to smooth it out.

“I know, birdy. But…I have to be here. For Shouto…and for myself.”

Keigo takes his hand and presses it to his cheek, nuzzling into it. “I know,” he pouts. “I just don’t like the idea of you being so close to him…”

Touya’s eyes flick down to his mouth. He moves the hand at Keigo’s cheek to the back of his neck, pulling him in closer and slotting their lips together. Keigo melts against him, whining in protest when Touya pulls away.

“Everything will work out, Kei. Then we can go hide in the mountains for a while, just the two of us, right?”

Keigo nods, albeit hesitantly, the small frown on his lips turning up into a hopeful smile. 

A knock at the door breaks them out of their reverie. Aizawa leans against the doorframe, tired eyes passing back and forth between them. “Ready whenever you are. We’ve got the building to ourselves until the proceedings start.”

Touya’s breath catches in his throat and he looks back to Keigo. For strength, for confirmation, or maybe for something else. Keigo meets his eyes, understanding in a way only he can be, and nods his head. 

Right. He believes in me. I can do this.

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath in, focusing on the feel of Keigo’s thumb as it caresses the back of his hand, before breathing out. His foot taps under the table, as if the nervous energy building up inside him is trying to escape. 

“Do you want me to stay?”

Touya opens his eyes to gold. Offering him an anchor, a safe place to hide from the storm building up within him. But instead, he slowly shakes his head. “I should do this on my own. At least for now.”

Keigo’s mouth tilts in a soft smile and he squeezes Touya’s hand once more before standing. “Right. I’ll be outside if you need me.” He bends down, cupping the back of Touya’s neck and placing a lingering kiss on his forehead. “I’m so proud of you,” he whispers against the skin before straightening and heading out the door. 

Just before the door shuts behind the heroes, a baby feather floats down to the tabletop in front of Touya. He stores it away in his pocket, a lifeline in case he feels overwhelmed. A reminder that he’s not alone. That he has someone in his corner, always.

Now surrounded by the silence, only punctuated by the sound of his heart beating wildly in his chest, he can hear soft footfalls moving towards him. The hushed conversation draws closer and closer, until it comes to a stop at the threshold of the room. 

His foot taps faster and faster under the table, his hands clenched into fists, white knuckled in his lap. Touya bows his head, shoulders hunching inward, waiting with bated breath for the creak of the door opening. His breathing stops entirely when he hears the handle turn, but he keeps his head lowered as two people enter the room. 

“Excuse me…” 

Touya’s chest tightens, his heart stuttering, at the soft, feminine voice. So familiar, yet so different from the voice from when they were kids. Different from the voice he’d heard through the TV, more light and airy, like a warm blanket on a cold, wintry day. His eyes burn with unshed tears as a mix of emotions, suppressed for more than three years, surges towards the surface.

She sounds just like Rei. 

“Aizawa said to wait here but we must’ve - “ Touya lifts his head, locking eyes with Fuyumi’s gray ones. Her head tilts to the side, face scrunching with curiosity and confusion. “ - gotten …the room wrong. I’m sorry, do I know you?”

He can see her mind working, the cautious recognition warring with the knowledge that he’s supposed to be dead . He opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out, so he snaps it shut. What exactly was he supposed to say anyway? ‘ Hey Fumi, I’m your dead brother Touya! Remember me?’ or ‘Hey Fumi, I’ve been alive this whole time and, oh yeah, I kinda kidnapped Shouto.’

He can also see the moment it clicks for Natsuo, who’s standing at her back, as his eyes widen, a gasp falling from his lips. “Touya-nii?” He whispers, taking a cautious step forward. 

Touya bites back a sob, his mind going back to the last time he heard his little brother speak his name. Natsuo’s voice was just starting to change with puberty, already lower than he remembered it being before. Growing along with his massive size.

He’s suddenly reminded of how much he’s already missed of their lives. So. Fucking. Much. Time he can never get back, memories that can never be made again. He weakly nods his head in answer, not even sure if the movement is enough for them to decipher.

Fuyumi shakes her head in disbelief, a hand coming up to her mouth.  “It can’t be…” 

“I’m sorry,” he breathes, head lowering again in shame. “I’m so s- “ All the air is punched from his lungs as Natsuo barrels into his chair, dropping to his knees and crushing him in a hug. 

Sobs rack Natsuo’s body as he holds on tight. Arms pinned to his side, Touya leans forward, resting his head against Natsuo’s. His little brother, not so little anymore, but forever his little brother. He carefully slides from his chair until they’re huddled on the floor, Natsuo refusing to let up even an inch. As if he’s afraid Touya will slip from his fingers again. 

“Hi, Nat.” He speaks softly, his voice shaking. The greeting only makes Natsuo cry harder, gulping in mouthfuls of air in between sobs. Touya feels the tears track down his own cheeks, falling between them and joining the ones already wetting his shirt.

“H-how…why…you were d-dead. How a-are you…alive? I-is it really y-you?!”

The arms around him loosen enough for Touya to move, and he hugs Natsuo back, tucking his head into his chest. “Yeah, squirt. It’s really me.”

Natsuo lifts his head, truly looking at Touya for the first time through puffy eyes. “I don’t understand. How…how are you here? Y-you were dead.”

He brings up a hand and cards through spiky white hair, a sad smile pulling to his lips. “It’s a long story. I’m just sorry it took me so long to find you guys again.” His hand moves to wipe at the tears tracking down Natsuo’s cheeks.

“You’re not Touya.”

Both him and Natsuo look up towards Fuyumi, who’s still shaking her head in disbelief, wide eyes full of despair and heartache. She takes a step back towards the door.

“Fumi.” Touya unwraps himself from Natsuo and they both stand. He squeezes Natsuo’s hand before he lets go, leaving his brother’s side to take a cautious step towards Fuyumi. “I know this doesn’t make sense. I know I should be dead. But I survived and…I wasn’t able to come home. I’m sorry. I really wish I could’ve.”

He takes another step towards his sister, and her eyes grow wider. “No! Stop lying to me! Touya died! We searched for him, we mourned him. Don’t you dare insult his memory!”

“Your favorite food is Neapolitan ice cream, because you could never decide what flavor you liked best, and you used to watch soap operas with the volume turned down really low because father never approved. I remember your favorite being Asu no Hikari wo Tsukame. You had a super big crush on the boy that Haruka liked. Is that still a thing?”

Fuyumi’s eyes fill with tears, her lip wobbling as she clutches her hand to her chest. “No…stop…”

Touya takes the opening to step in close to her. He brings his hands up to her shoulders, hovering them in midair, waiting. “I’m so fucking sorry I left you alone in that house, Fuyumi. I never meant to leave you alone to deal with it all by yourself. If I regret anything in my life, it’s that.”

“You…you died…” She cocks back her fist and punches him in the chest, though there’s not much power behind it. Touya doesn’t try to stop her, standing still in front of her while the tears stream down her face, the sad look in her eyes replaced by one filled with fire, anger.

“You left!” Punch. “I needed you!” Punch. “We needed you!” Punch. “Everything changed after you died!” Punch. “Why didn’t you…” Punch. This time, her hand stops against his chest and she curls in towards him. “Why didn’t you come home?!” Her voice breaks towards the end as she chokes back a sob.

Fuyumi crumples and Touya catches her, pulling her into his chest, shushing her as her words become indistinguishable. He pets through her hair, resting his chin on the top of her head. Natsuo steps in towards them, wrapping his long arms around them both.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Fumi. I missed you both so much.”

All the fear he had of how they would react, the expectation that there would be hatred, melts away as their warmth fills him, as Fuyumi wraps her arms around him, clutching white-knuckled onto his shirt. 

“We both - “ She chokes back a sob. “We both slept by your shrine every night for…for months. It was hell . Absolute hell. ” Touya clutches onto her tighter, dropping a kiss onto the top of her head.

“I know…I know. It’s okay. I’m here now,” he soothes.

He was foolish to think they’d hate him. They always loved him, just like he always loved them. Even with all the misunderstandings, the frustrations stemming from how differently they’d been brought up in that house. They always had love for each other. Right to the bitter end.

After several minutes and tears turned into sniffles, Fuyumi finally lifts her head, and Touya almost laughs at the disapproval stamped on her features. The same look their mother would give them whenever they got in trouble or did something they knew they shouldn’t be doing. She looks so much like Rei at that moment.

“You owe us an explanation, Touya! Now!” She reluctantly pulls away before walking over to an empty chair and plopping down, taking a tissue from the box on the table and patting at her wet cheeks. Natsuo pats him on the back, flashing him a look that says ‘good luck’, and sits next to her.

Touya takes the seat on the other side of the table, facing his siblings, and takes a deep breath before he starts talking. He tells them about Sekoto Peak, then about waking up in a hospital and realizing it had been three years since the accident.

Fuyumi’s red-rimmed eyes go wide. “Three years?! But where were you? Father checked with every single hospital in the region…there was no record of you anywhere!”

“I’m not sure.” Touya bites his lip, brows furrowed. He would be lying if he said he hadn’t wondered about that either. When he ran that night, he hadn’t looked back, not even long enough to get a good look at the facility, to see if there was a name printed on the building. He’s not sure he could even trace his steps back if he wanted to. Not that he’d ever want to. “The first chance I had, I ran. I didn’t really pay attention to where I was.”

“And you couldn’t come home?! We could’ve - “

“Actually…” He sighs, swallowing nervously. “I did come back…”

“What are you talking about?! No you - “ Her mouth clamps shut, hands clenched into fists on top of the table. “Touya Todoroki. ” He flinches at the steely tone of her voice, bowing his head. “Tell me you didn’t.”

“I had to keep my promise,” he murmurs, part of him hoping it’s too soft for her to hear. 

When she doesn’t answer, he chances a look up, and immediately regrets doing so. Her face is flushed red, eyes cutting through him like a knife. He almost forgot how scary she could be when she was mad. Despite their mother’s gentle disposition, Fuyumi still had that Todoroki temper when she needed it.

Natsuo looks between the two of them, confused. Bless his heart, the kid was intelligent, but sometimes it took him just a little bit longer to put things together. “Fumi, what - “

“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?” Both Natsuo and Touya flinch this time, the feather in Touya’s pocket wiggling back and forth in alarm. He quickly tucks a hand into his pocket, thumb caressing back and forth, a message that everything’s okay.

“I had to! He’s okay, I promise. He - “

“I was worried SICK, Touya! You couldn’t even leave a fucking NOTE?!”

“He? Who’s - “ Natsuo’s eyes widen. “ Shouto?”

“I could wring your neck right now, Touya! Did you not think for a second about how we would feel?! How we’d be affected? First you died, and then Shouto disappeared. Do you even understand - “

“ Of course I do, Fumi. Believe me, if I could’ve taken all of you, I would’ve, trust me! But I came home and he was hurt and crying and I just…I had to get him out while Endeavor was gone. I wasn’t sure when he’d be back…I couldn’t risk him catching us. I’m sorry!”

Fuyumi crosses her arms over her chest and looks to the side, her mouth turned down in a scowl. Natsuo looks back and forth between them before resting his hand on Fuyumi’s arm.

“I understand, Touya-nii.”

Fuyumi whips her head around to glare at Natsuo. “WHAT?! Nat!” Natsuo simply shrugs.

He tries to hide his chuckle behind a poorly-timed cough at how typical Natsuo’s response is. His brother had always been laid back, almost to a fault. So comically different than anyone else in the family. Shouto was the only one that could give Natsuo a run for his money, with the way he could be so impartial to everything and everyone around him. The only difference was, Shouto had a little too much of Touya’s attitude in him.

“You and I both know Shouto was the only one really in danger in that house, Fumi. Enji just ignored us, he’d never physically hurt us. I would’ve done the same thing…if I could’ve.”

“No one expected that of you, Nat,” Touya’s voice is soft, reassuring. He could never place that kind of responsibility on someone who’s just barely a teenager, let alone the child Natsuo would’ve been back then . He never blamed either of his siblings for not doing more. They were shackled just as much as him and Shouto; their chains just looked different. “You guys did enough just being there when I wasn’t.”

Fuyumi huffs, irritation waning as she shifts in her seat. “I’m still mad at you…and I want to see him.”

Touya reaches across the table, taking one of her hands in his and squeezing. “I’ll make it up to you…and you can. After all this is over and I can be sure that Endeavor won’t be able to take him away. Please, just a little longer. I know it’s a lot to ask you to trust me after everything so…if you can’t…then put your trust in Aizawa and Hawks, okay?”

Fuyumi’s shoulders slump and she sighs in resignation. “Yeah…okay.”

“We trust you, nii-san. We’re just glad you’re back…right, sis?” Natsuo hooks an arm around Fuyumi’s shoulders, jostling her playfully.

Finally, a smile plays on her lips and her eyes meet Touya’s. “Right. Just…don’t leave again.”

“I won’t.”

 

***********************************

 

Keigo shifts nervously from foot to foot, wings twitching anxiously at his back. Although there was no longer yelling coming from the back room, he was on edge, the bird part of his brain telling him his mate was in distress. His feathers instinctually curve out towards the end of the hallway, like a magnet being pulled in Touya’s direction.

“Don’t you think we should go check on them? Just in case?” He pleads with Aizawa. The man simply rolls his eyes as he fills his coffee cup for the second time that morning.

“Trust me, they’re fine. I’d be concerned if there was no yelling.” The underground hero scoops some sugar into the cup before mixing it around. “Fuyumi found her backbone,” he says with a proud smile. “Good for her.”

Keigo huffs out a breath. He can feel through the baby feather he’d left Touya that the three heartbeats in the room have calmed down from their erratic behavior just a few moments ago. He knows that if he really wanted to, which he really does, he could home in even more to pick up whatever conversation they’re having, but he stops himself.

If Touya wanted him to hear the conversation, he would’ve asked him to stay. Keigo owes him this moment of privacy, and he has to trust that if Touya needs him, he’ll let him know. So, he focuses on the soothing caresses moving down the feather’s vane and waits. And waits some more.

“So…” Aizawa plops down into a chair. “How are you doing?”

His shoulders tense at the double meaning behind his words. He was honestly hoping that Aizawa would leave the subject alone, maybe forget altogether, but he supposes he wouldn’t be the hero Keigo had come to know if that were the case.

“I’ll be okay.” He tips his face up towards the ceiling. “I just…need to figure things out.”

“You never should’ve been put in this position in the first place, Hawks.” Aizawa pauses to take a sip of his coffee. “The more I find out about the Commission, the more I find myself agreeing with Nezu.” He grimaces, as if the idea of agreeing with the chimera leaves a bad taste in his mouth.

Keigo’s wings bristle behind him at the subtle dig at the Commission, years of mental conditioning telling him to defend the organization, explain that their actions are for the greater good. But he clenches his jaw instead, trapping the words behind them, and nods. Touya would call it progress, but it just leaves him feeling nauseous, jittery.

“Maybe you’re right. But I also know that, without them, I probably never would’ve become a hero. Which means I probably never would’ve met Touya. So…I can’t be too mad about it.”

He thinks he sees Aizawa’s mouth twitch upwards before the hero hides it behind his cup of coffee. “That’s one way to look at it.”

Keigo nods. He had to look at it that way. He had to believe that something good came from his time at the Commission, from all the suffering he’d endured. From all the sacrifices he’d made. 

He loved being a hero, whether Endeavor was the one to ignite that dream in him or not, and Touya was, without a doubt, the best thing to ever happen to him. Two of the best parts of his life had come out of some of the worst times of his life. Like two rays of light peeking out from the clouds after a thunderstorm. 

“We need to go over our plan if Touya decides to take the stand.”

“He doesn’t need to take the stand.” Keigo grits out, swallowing down a feeling of dread. Having Touya this close to Endeavor, to the Commission, already has every alarm bell going off in his head. That nagging voice in his head begs him to hide Touya away, run until they find somewhere the Commission and Endeavor can’t reach.

“Hawks…you know neither of us can stop him if Touya decides to do this.”

Aizawa is right. He hates that Aizawa is right. Touya is so damn stubborn, so tenacious once he puts his mind to something. That side of his personality made it so easy to fall in love with him in the first place. The way he forced life to bend to his will, the way he refused to give up, no matter what the cost. How he took hold of what he wanted and never let it go, no matter what anyone else thought. He was everything Keigo wished he could be.

But it was that kind of attitude, that kind of threat , that would also put him on the Commission’s radar. If Touya went out there, helped expose Endeavor and make society question their trust in heroes, he’d be opening the lid on a danger that Keigo wasn’t sure he could protect him from. Because no matter what Touya thought, he couldn’t face them on his own. Keigo wasn’t even sure he could go against them, and he was the best asset they had.

“Touya is strong, Hawks. Have faith in him.”

Keigo turns towards the hallway, eyes homing in on the closed door that Fuyumi and Natsuo had disappeared behind. “I do…I just can’t help but worry.” No matter what, he knows he’ll support Touya’s decision. But that doesn’t mean he has to like it.

He tilts his head to the side as he feels three taps on the feather. “They’re finishing up now,” he announces.

Every atom in his body feels like it’s buzzing to life as he waits for the door to open, waits to get a glimpse of black hair and electric blue eyes. His wings puff out as much as they can in the small room, a sign of pride, as he makes himself look as big as possible for his mate. He pointedly ignores the amused huff from Aizawa, who unhurriedly gets up from his spot at the table.

The door opens, Fuyumi and Natsuo stepping out first, before Touya follows, closing the door behind him. The weight taking up residence in Keigo’s chest lessens when he sees the soft smile on Touya’s face, blue eyes unburdened and happier than he’d seen them in a while.

Those blue eyes lock onto his from behind his siblings and it takes every ounce of strength Keigo has to stay where he’s standing, when all he wants to do is go to Touya’s side. Like a moth to a flame, everything else fades into the background until Touya is standing right in front of him.

“Pretty bird,” Touya says in greeting, reaching behind him to run his fingers along the edge of his wings. His feathers shudder from the warmth of Touya’s skin, and Keigo lets out a coo before he can stop himself.

Fuyumi raises an eyebrow to Touya as she passes them, clearly taken by surprise by the intimate display. “We’re talking about this later, Touya.”

Touya grimaces, a hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck sheepishly. “Yes, ma’am.” Natsuo snickers as he passes, patting Touya soundly on the back and waggling his eyebrows at Keigo.

“So, how did it go?” Keigo asks as they’re left alone in the break room, Fuyumi and Natsuo disappearing up to the main floor with Aizawa in tow.

Touya keeps running his fingers through Keigo’s primaries, the soft smile on his lips never leaving his face. “Better than I thought it would.” He sighs, bringing both arms up around Keigo’s shoulders and locking them around his neck. Keigo brings his hands to Touya’s hips, his thumbs moving to the dips right above his waistband. “They don’t hate me,” he says, his voice quieter.

Keigo hums, moving his arms around Touya’s waist and pulling him flush to his body. The words ‘I told you so’ dance on the tip of his tongue, but he wisely keeps them at bay.

“They said they wanna get to know me more...spend time together. As a family.” The arms around Keigo’s neck tightens, warm breath ghosting along the side of his face. 

“And what do you want, firecracker?”

“I missed them.” Touya’s voice wavers, his head bowing into the crook of Keigo’s neck. “I missed them a lot. I don’t want to miss any more of their lives…of anyone’s lives.”

Keigo turns his head, pressing his lips to Touya’s temple and speaking against the skin. “You don’t have to miss them anymore, baby. They’re here, you’re here, and we’ve got all the time in the world. Just let me know if I can do anything to help.”

He feels Touya relax against him, huffing out a deep breath as he nods. “Thank you, angel.”

“There’s no need to thank me, but you’re welcome.”

“I should get changed,” Touya murmurs, not making any effort to actually break away. Keigo can’t help the distressed chirp that leaves his mouth, or the way his wings ruffle in agitation. “I just want to be ready, pretty bird. Just in case.”

“You’ll wait for the signal?” His eyes meet Touya’s, the blue ebbing and flowing like the tides, pulling him under, surrounding him on all sides. Something he can’t name flashes through those irises.

Touya simply nods before pulling him in, crashing their lips together with an urgency that has Keigo gasping into his mouth. Arms unwrap themselves from around Keigo’s neck and he feels hands thread through his hair, holding him in place. He’s helpless as Touya steals the breath from his lungs.

“ T-Touya? ” He pants, bringing his arms up to Touya’s chest and trying to put a little distance between them, confused by the sudden change in demeanor. The desperation that has Touya shaking against him, the almost manic look in his eyes, gives him pause. “Are you okay?”

Touya closes his eyes for a moment before they open again, softer than before. “I will be, once this is over.” He kisses Keigo lightly on the lips. “Then it’ll be us, forever, right?”

“Right.”

“Promise me.” Hands leave Keigo’s hair to cup his face. “Please.”

“I promise, Touya.”

It’s hard to leave Touya in the break room when Aizawa calls to let him know everything’s about to start. It’s harder still to stand at the back of the courtroom, watching Endeavor take the stand, while Touya sits down below, all alone.

The disgraced hero and his counsel focus on his impressive track record, on how many people he’s saved with his work and how better off the world is with Endeavor as number two. As if his actions in the field matter more than his actions at home. 

When Tsukauchi cross-examines him, he tries to structure the questioning around Touya’s training. Endeavor, of course, deflects the blame. He tells the court that he tried to stop Touya from training, that he never meant for Touya to be hurt. At every turn, with every question, Touya is to blame, and Endeavor is painted the hero. 

Keigo has to focus every ounce of his energy in keeping his feathers soft; on not launching himself across the room and slitting the bastard’s throat for even daring to utter Touya’s name. Maybe that’s why he’s so distracted that he couldn’t focus on the feather he’d left with Touya. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t realize when Touya starts moving.

Hinata stands once Endeavor sits back down in the front row. “I believe, with Endeavor’s testimony, we can move on to judgment, your honor.”

The head judge nods, turning to Tsukauchi. “Do you have anything else to add, Detective?”

“Your honor, I - “

Tsukauchi is cut off when the front doors to the courtroom are pulled open so violently that they’re almost ripped off their hinges, banging against the walls behind them. Everyone turns in their seats, murmurs growing in volume. 

Keigo watches with wide eyes as Touya strolls in like he owns the place. He looks like a completely different person, exchanging his usual all-black palette for all-white. Ripped white jeans with white platform boots and a low-cut white shirt that highlights the purplish scars crossing his chest and wrapping themselves up his neck. The arms of the long, white jacket he’s wearing are torn completely off, drawing attention to the swirling scars that move down his arms, all the way to his wrists.

The biggest change, though, is the shock of white hair contrasting with his vivid blue eyes, still damp from the black dye being washed out. Keigo doesn’t have time to appreciate how fucking beautiful Touya is, like an angel descended straight from the heavens, as his heart pounds in his chest. 

No. No no no. This isn’t right. What are you doing?!

He looks towards Aizawa, but the man looks just as caught off guard as he is. This wasn’t the plan. Touya was supposed to wait for the signal. He told Keigo he’d wait. So why…

His attitude, that fearful desperation, from earlier suddenly makes more sense. This may have not been their original plan, but this was clearly Touya’s plan from the start. What was he trying to do, though? What did he think this would accomplish? They were fine. They’d made a strong case. This wasn’t necessary! Why?! Why why why why - 

“Your honor!” Touya strides purposefully down the center aisle, head held high, and hands clasped behind him, confidence dripping from him with every step. “I apologize for my late arrival, but I’d like to give my testimony now.” 

He glances to the side, catching Keigo’s eye. His face softens if only for a moment and he winks before turning back, a manic smile back on his face as he gets closer to the front, closer to Endeavor.

Fear like he’s never known before bubbles up in Keigo’s chest. He needs to protect . He needs to get Touya out of here. He needs to - The panicked thoughts in his head suddenly die down, like his instincts are being muffled behind a thick wall. His eyes flit over to Aizawa, the hero’s red eyes flashing in his direction. The hero shakes his head, the message clear. Stand your ground.

He wants to fucking cry , clenching his jaw so tight his teeth hurt. But he forces himself to relax, watching from a distance, as he feels Aizawa release his hold. Keigo has to trust his mate, even if every fiber of his being screams at him to stop this. 

I’m close enough to step in if anything happens. He can do this. I believe in him.

“And who are you?”

Touya stops about halfway from the front, throwing his hands out in a wide-arching gesture. “My apologies, sir. ” He bows low at the waist, his head still raised to meet the judges’ eyes, the smile on his face twisting, teeth bared in a vicious smirk. “My name is Touya Todoroki. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Notes:

WHO IS THIS ABSOLUTE DIVA?!? The way I absolutely CACKLED writing that last scene. He's such a theater kid, and he's just getting started.

Also, my heart is so full now that the Todoroki siblings are (almost) all reunited.

Just a reminder, we're TWO CHAPTERS away from the end of this fic. I'm going to try and post a short prologue chapter to the sequel at the same time as the last chapter comes out, but make sure you watch for Part 2 of the series! We're just getting started!! ☺ ♥

Thank you all for the comments, kudos, bookmarks, etc. I appreciate every single one of you SO much!

Chapter 34

Summary:

Touya takes the stand and deals with the aftermath. A deal is struck.

“Do you have anything else to add, Detective?”

Touya forces the breath in and out of his lungs as he shakes out his hands, bouncing on his feet. His heart pounds in his ears and his head feels like it’s full of buzzing bees as he reaches out for the door handles, for the retribution waiting on the other side.

For so long, he’s been running, biding his time before he’d have to face his past. Before he’d have to drag little Touya out of the shallow grave that Endeavor buried him in, rising up from the meager shrine that takes up a small corner of space in his childhood bedroom. And now, it feels like he’s catapulting at terminal velocity towards a monstrous end. For him or for Enji, he wasn’t sure yet.

You can do this, Touya. Make sure he can’t hurt anyone else ever again. Keep Shouto safe. Make Endeavor pay for what he did. You can’t fail this time.

This was his last chance to make sure Shouto was safe once and for all, his best shot to get revenge for all the suffering they’d endured all those years. Now, while Aizawa and Keigo could defend Fuyumi and Natsuo if his father tried anything, and with Shouto hidden in Keigo’s office back at the agency, being looked over by Mitsuki and Inko, with express instructions to his sidekicks that no one was allowed on the floor. Now, it was his turn to contribute, while everyone else was out of the line of fire.

An eerie sense of calm settles over him as he slowly breathes in and out. Without giving himself another chance to second guess his decision, he rips the doors open, letting them bounce against the wall with a loud ‘boom’. The vibrations rattle his bones as every head in the room turns towards him, eyes questioning, accusing, judging. He hears the murmurs start from the back row, wondering who he is, what he’s here to do.

Don’t pay attention to them. Focus.

He strolls in, clenching his hands behind his back to hide how much they’re shaking, holding his chin up in the air in defiance, summoning a strength he’s not sure he has left in him. He feels vulnerable, naked, with his scars on display, his mother’s hair color, his father’s cursed eyes. But he was well past the point of no return now. There was nowhere left to hide.

“Your honor! I apologize for my late arrival, but I’d like to give my testimony now.”

Red feathers catch his eye in his peripherals and he glances over to find wide, golden eyes pinned on him, Keigo’s mouth opened in shock. His heart clenches in his chest at the pain and helplessness staring back at him. 

He knows Keigo is probably mad as hell at him, for lying, for going back on their original plan. But he also knows Keigo wouldn’t understand why he had to do this. Not really, anyways. He’d only worry and stress about his safety, and Touya had to show him that he would be okay, that he could take care of himself. That he was strong enough to stand by Keigo’s side.

Maybe then he’ll let you help save him too. 

Those golden eyes are almost enough to make him go back on his plan altogether. The soft side of his brain that Keigo’s unlocked over the past several months wants nothing more than to fall into Keigo’s arms and let the hero shelter him from the storm. But he refuses to let Keigo be the only one working towards their future. The hero can’t be the only one willing to sacrifice. So he snaps himself out of it, throwing a wink his boyfriend’s way as the cool, confident mask falls back over his face.

“And who are you?”

Touya comes to a stop as he reaches the middle of the room. On his right side, he can see Fuyumi and Natsuo sitting wide-eyed and terrified. Fuyumi is holding a hand over her mouth, her other hand clutching Natsuo’s arm like an anchor. Natsuo shakes his head, his eyes pleading with Touya to retreat. Aizawa sits behind them, a hand on each of their shoulders. The look he gives Touya is almost indecipherable, but he can see the hint of concern in the subtle wrinkle between his brows, the slight downturn of his mouth.

When he slowly turns towards the left, he clashes with blue eyes that mirror his own, and everything else falls away. All the other voices, all the other faces, become nothing more than splatters of paint on an indistinguishable background. His breath hitches in his throat, the smile on his face wavering for only a moment. He clenches his hands even tighter, focusing on the pain of his nails biting into his palms.

This time I won’t run away or hide. This time, I’ll show him that I’m not that scared child anymore. Bury all those weaknesses. Don’t let him see them. For Shouto. For his future.

Bury them.

Bury them.

He meets Endeavor’s glare head-on, looking down his nose at him, until he can feel the fire in his veins overpowering the fire contained in his father’s eyes. My fire always was better than yours. He smiles so wide his cheeks hurt, a stark contrast to the snarl on Enji’s face. He looks older than Touya remembers, the skin around his eyes crinkling with age and exhaustion. Gray hairs have even started to pepper the edges of his red hair.

Surprisingly, he also seems smaller than Touya remembers. Not in stature - he would always be a big motherfucker. But the image he had of Enji standing over him, imposing and monstrous, an insurmountable barrier, didn’t seem all that scary in this moment. In fact, looking down on him now, Touya wonders why he was ever scared of Enji in the first place. The realization makes him giddy.

Oh, it’s over for you now.

He breaks eye contact with his father, facing the front and dipping into a low bow. Let’s see if this gets your attention, Enji. “My apologies, sir. My name is Touya Todoroki. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He stays bowed as cameras start to flash behind him, the crowd's soft murmur quickly growing in volume until the room devolves into chaos. The head judge, Ruki Kawasaki, tries to get the room under control, calling for order, the gavel’s sound being eclipsed by excited chatter.

Once the crowd is silenced, besides rogue whispers and the sound of camera shutters, Kawasaki turns to Tsukauchi. “What is going on here, Detective?”

“Well, uh,” Tsukauchi looks to Touya for confirmation, collecting himself when Touya straightens and nods his approval. “We have one more witness, your honor. You’ll find him on our approved witness list under Seika Tameda.”

Hinata stands, a panicked look on his face, which makes Touya smile even wider. “Your honor! This is ridiculous! He just said his name was Touya Todoroki, not Seika Tameda. He can’t be an approved witness!”

“You’ll find that his identity was changed in December of last year, your honor. The man standing before you is legally Seika Tameda, who is listed as an approved witness. We believed that Touya’s safety would be put in jeopardy if his true identity was disclosed prior to his testimony. I apologize for the secrecy.”

While Tsukauchi and Hinata argue with the judge, Touya glances to his left again, to where blue eyes are still seemingly trying to bore a hole in the side of his head. He revels in the unbridled hatred staring back at him. Touya’s ‘rebellious’ nature had always been a point of contention between them.

What do you think of my performance, dad? Is this rebellious enough for you? Is it dramatic enough?

He wonders what his father thinks seeing the purple scars, contrasting so drastically against stark white. The clothes are similar to the outfit he imagines he would’ve been buried in, if they’d found a body. Enji always did have a soft spot for traditional Japanese culture, after all.

How does it feel to stare at the corpse of a son you let die on that mountainside? How does it feel to see the person that was reincarnated from those ashes standing in his place? Did you ever think your career would be derailed by a dead, forgotten boy?

His entire appearance was a message - the Touya from before Sekoto Peak was dead and gone. Even if Keigo had drawn bits and pieces of that little boy out, the fact still remained. He was no longer the insecure, subservient child that only wanted to please his father, only wanted to achieve his father’s dream. Both him and Shouto had their own dreams now. Fuck becoming Enji’s successor. They were going to carve their own path in this world. They would become more. They would become better in the wake of their father’s demise .

So here he was, displaying the shattered remains of a child that represented Enji’s aspirations for all the world to see. The first casualty of his father’s ego, and the last one, if he had anything to say about it. No one else he cared about would ever have to suffer at the hands of Endeavor. If he had to pull his father to the pits of hell himself to accomplish that, he would.

I’ll show you how much stronger I am, father. You secured your own downfall when you created me.

Without breaking eye contact, Enji speaks up, his baritone voice thundering above the arguing in front. “Touya is dead. Whoever you are, you’re an imposter.”

Touya can’t help the manic laughter that bubbles from his throat. He throws his arms out to each side, spinning in a full circle. “Oh come on, dad. I know you never paid me much attention, but surely you can see the uncanny resemblance.” He throws his head back, covering his eyes with his hand. When he peeks out from behind his fingers, he’s delighted to see Enji absolutely fuming . He bows into Endeavor’s space, until he can feel the heat radiating off the hero’s skin. “The past never dies, Enji, and it’s time for you to pay for your sins.”

“Mr. Todoroki, please refrain from the unnecessary dramatics.” Touya rolls his eyes, but straightens and faces the front. Boo, no fun. “And Endeavor, please do not speak out of turn.” Kawasaki gestures to the podium to his right, directly in front of Endeavor. “You may take the stand.”

“Sir!” Hinata appeals one last time. His jaw clamps shut as Kawasaki raises his hand to him.

“Thank you, sir. Oh, excuse me ,” Touya snarks as he steps around the counselor, throwing him a wink as he passes. When he sits at the podium, he slouches back in the chair, his gaze immediately going back to his father. He can see the faint shaking in the hero’s shoulders, the rage building and building. Good.

At the edge of his vision, near the back, alluring red demands his attention, but he doesn’t let himself lift his eyes to Keigo. If he saw the fear, the worry, in those eyes, his whole facade would start to crumble. He needed to keep up this act for only a little bit longer, because Keigo’s version of Touya was too soft for what he needed to do, who he needed to be. 

Tsukauchi approaches the bench, giving Touya an encouraging nod. “Touya Todoroki. Would you please tell us your experience living in the Todoroki household?”

Touya takes a deep breath in and out, pausing for the first time since entering the room. This was it. Once he spoke, everyone would know Touya’s blood-soaked story. There would be no putting the lid back on the box, no going back to the life of relative comfort and anonymity. He was fully immersing himself in the world of heroes and villains, tethering his name to Endeavor for all the world to see.

But didn’t he deserve to have his story told? Didn’t Shouto deserve to live without fear of being thrust back into a house of horrors, becoming a puppet to be placed on a pedestal for all to see? He couldn’t let his brother become a thing to be used, a symbol of Enji’s power. He wouldn’t stop until the Todoroki name meant nothing .

“Hmmm…let’s see,” he muses, looking up to the ceiling in mock thought. “I guess we can start at the beginning. My father, the number two hero Endeavor, always yearned for power. He never was quite good enough to surpass All Might, what a shame .” He smiles viciously as Endeavor’s eyes narrow.

“So, because he was inadequate, he decided the next best step would be to force some poor soul to marry him. I was bred from that unholy union, my sole purpose, my reason for existing, to do what my father couldn’t. But Enji Todoroki’s little eugenics project failed. My quirk may be better than his, but my body took after my dear mother.”

“Because I couldn’t be the child he wanted, he cast me aside and forgot about me, along with Fuyumi and Natsuo, since their quirks were…how did he say it?” He rubs at his chin, acting stumped, before raising a finger like the light bulb just went off in his brain, “Oh! Useless, that’s the word. My mother was forced to bear children until he finally got the perfect combination. My baby brother, Shouto, was his masterpiece. It’s no wonder he was the last child. After all, there’s no way Rei would ever willingly sleep with the man that beat her.”

“Your honor, this is going too far. These are baseless accusations!”

“I apologize, sir,” Tsukauchi seems to placate Kawasaki before he can respond, then turning to Touya. “If you could, Touya, please stick to the original question.”

Touya nods, forcing his easy grin into an apologetic one. “Of course, sir. Sorry.”

This was the plan, their last ditch effort just in case Endeavor got away with his license intact. Even though the judges would be told to ignore the little pieces of ‘extra’ information he provided, the news cameras were still rolling. The public was still listening to every word of the live broadcast. If the justice system wouldn’t condemn Endeavor, they’d make damn sure society would.

“Anyways, my father stopped training me when I started burning myself, trading me in for the newest model. The prodigal son.” 

Speaking of Shouto so dismissively leaves a bitter taste in his mouth, especially knowing his brother was probably watching along with everyone else. But he trusted Shouto to know that there was no more animosity between them. Shouto was the most important person to him, even before Keigo. He’d give his life for him. He came back from the dead for him. 

Still, he makes a mental note to make it up to him later. He deserves a little bit of fun anyways, after all this is over.

“Shouto was only four when Enji started training him. I’m talking full-on hand to hand combat, strength training, hours of cardio and conditioning. At all hours of the day, he had to be ready for whatever Enji had planned. We weren’t allowed to spend time with him. He wasn’t allowed to watch TV, or play with toys, or do anything a normal kid could do. He was treated like an object , a soldier.”

“What happened when he was five?” Tsukauchi prods, his voice gentle, empathetic.

“I walked in on him cowering in the corner of the training room, crying his eyes out. Endeavor was towering over him like a fucking school yard bully. There was puke on the floor, and Shouto had bruises all over his body.”

Touya’s hands clench in his lap, and he can feel his temperature rising as fire licks through his veins. That image will forever be burned into his brain, as the moment when his entire world shifted on its axis, when he realized how wrong he’d been about Shouto’s role in his disaster of an existence. 

But having to relay that moment in front of everyone, having to see Endeavor’s face remain as cold as an unfeeling statue, was fucking with him more than he thought it would. How could he sit there, remembering the terrified look his fucking child had on his face, knowing he was the reason for that look, and not react at all? There wasn’t an ounce of shame on his face. He truly didn’t think he’d done anything wrong.

Did it make you feel big and strong, beating up on someone a fraction of your size? Did it make you happy to see how much he feared you? Did you ever second guess yourself, you fucking bastard?!

His breaths start to accelerate in time with his rapidly increasing heartbeat. Just below the surface of his skin, his fire screams, begging for an escape, begging for destruction. The screaming grows louder and louder, drowning out the rest of his senses as the courtroom becomes blurry in his vision.

You can end this, right here, right now. Make sure he can never harm Shouto again. It’s your duty. Your responsibility.

Don’t you want to watch his eyes widen in fear, Touya? Don’t you want to see the skin fall from his bones as your fire turns him to ash? How empowering would it be to hear him scream in agony, begging you for mercy? Only to be rejected, the same way he never gave Shouto any mercy.

You can do it. You can end this right - 

A tugging sensation from the pocket of his jeans pulls him from his runaway thoughts. A feather discreetly wiggles from the fabric, squirming its way between Touya’s clenched fists. His head whips up, his eyes zooming right in on gold. 

Keigo stares back at him without so much as blinking, a steadfast pillar of strength, unmoving and unrelenting. Touya had been so afraid of the doubt he’d see, the skepticism in his ability to actually do this, that the certainty and unwavering belief he’s met with instead hits him like a battering ram, throwing everything back into focus in an instant. The screaming in his head quiets to a muffled whisper.

He doesn’t break eye contact as he takes the feather in hand, stroking down the soft vanes with his thumb. Keigo’s mouth twitches into a soft smile, his eyes piercing into Touya’s very soul, until all of his broken, jagged pieces don’t look so broken or jagged anymore. Those damn eyes that have become his kryptonite look at him with such reverence, such dedication, that he almost starts to believe in himself .

You can do this , those eyes say. Show him what real strength looks like. I believe in you.

His heart calms, his breathing evens out, as the fire in his veins retreats back behind a wall, dejected at the idea of being cast aside. Disappointed that he doesn’t rise to the bait, wreak all the havoc his traitorous mind wants him to release onto the world. The feather wiggles in his grip. ‘I’m proud of you.’

“Are you okay to continue, Touya?”

He looks to Tsukauchi, who’s apparently been waiting patiently for him to collect himself. Clearing his throat, he nods. “Sorry…um…a-after that day, I started training again. On my own. I thought, if I could show my father how strong I could be, he would choose me as his successor and leave Shouto alone, let him be a kid. I just wanted to stop him from being hurt.”

“Can you tell us what happened on November 21, 2168?”

Touya squirms in his seat. “I asked my father to meet me at Sekoto Peak. I’d finally gotten my flames to turn blue…I wanted to show him.” In front, Enji straightens, as if surprised. Of course, he never did find out what Touya was so excited about. He never saw those flames. By the time he showed up at the mountainside, everything had been turned to ash, only orange embers remaining.

Do you understand now, father? Do you regret not meeting me, knowing how strong I’d become? Would I have been good enough for you then?

“I waited for hours but he never showed up…even though he said he’d be there. I…I was upset. I just remember feeling like I’d failed, like I would never be good enough. My quirk…I think it reacted to my emotions or something, and it just exploded out of me. I couldn’t put it out.” He grits his teeth. The screams of a lonely, heartbroken boy ring in his ears. The crackling of fire against his skin and the pain. God, the pain. “I remember screaming for help…then I blacked out.”

“One last question, Touya. Do you believe that your siblings would be in danger if allowed to return back to the Todoroki estate?”

He answers without an ounce of hesitation. “Absolutely.”

“No further questions.” Tsukauchi turns, bowing to the judge, before taking his seat next to Fuyumi and Natsuo. Natsuo discreetly gives him a thumbs up as Fuyumi pats her eyes with a tissue.

He bristles when Hinata stands, approaching the podium with a scowl. 

“Touya Todoroki. Seems pretty convenient for you to show up now, after years of being presumed dead. Where were you all this time?”

He grits his teeth. “I was in a coma for almost three years. When I woke up, I ran. I’ve been getting by ever since.”

“Yet there are no hospital records of you anywhere? Where exactly were you being treated?”

“I don’t know.”

Hinata hums, a noise of disbelief. “And, after waking up from this supposed coma, why didn’t you go back home?”

This is where things get tricky. He could tell from the way Hinata’s beady little eyes were carving into him that he was attempting to back Touya into a corner. A gut feeling told him not to come out and say that he had actually gone home; that the confession could very well link him to Shouto’s disappearance with just that revelation.

“Would you go back to the father who beat you?” He snarks instead. Not exactly an answer, but enough to divert from the original question.

“Well, for someone who talks so much about being a hero to your youngest brother, it seems odd that you would just abandon him, doesn’t it? If you really thought he was in danger, how could you sit by and let that happen?”

His lips pull in a smirk, and he raises an eyebrow. “Careful, counselor. It almost sounds like you agree that he would’ve been in danger. Should I have gone back then, and saved him from the monster you’re defending?” His smile widens when he sees Hinata’s fist clench at his side. “To answer your question, I was a 17-year-old who’d been medically incapacitated for three years, had no one to turn to, and nowhere to go. Even I knew how hopeless that fight would be.”

The courtroom goes silent as Hinata turns his back to Touya, shuffling through some papers on the table in front of him before turning back around. 

“You say you decided to train because you wanted to save your brother. Are you sure you weren’t just jealous of him?”

The change in questioning throws Touya off for a moment, his mouth opening and closing dumbly. Hinata takes the opening, going in for the kill.

“From what we know of other witnesses, you were always a troubled boy, always seeking attention. I understand, really I do. Once your…limitations…were discovered, it must have been hard to deal with the fact that you’d never live up to the father you idolized. It must have been even harder to see your brother do it so effortlessly, once his quirk came in.”

“No!” He grits out. “It wasn’t like that. I - “

“So you never lashed out at Shouto at all? You don’t recall any specific event where your mother had to step in between you two when you tried burning him?”

The courtroom sways in his vision. His hands go limp in his lap, the desperate back and forth of Keigo’s feather becoming weaker and weaker as numbness spreads through his limbs. Like he’s been thrown into glacial waters with an anchor tied to his feet. 

He thinks he shakes his head, his mouth jumbling together words that his brain only half recognizes. “No. That was a mistake.”

Hinata continues on, eyes pinned on him like a shark that’s just smelled blood. “You had to be separated from Shouto after that, didn’t you? Your parents feared for his safety, because of you. Isn’t that correct?”

“It was a mistake,” he repeats. “I’d never hurt Shouto.” Each breath feels like a hand is slowly clamping down on his throat, making him lightheaded. 

“Yet you tried. And you’d like this court to believe that you were a dashing hero, ready to give your life for the brother you so despised? Please . You paint a pretty picture, Touya, but you can’t run from who you truly are. You can’t keep blaming everyone else for your own handicaps.”

Black spots dot his vision. His skin itches, the feel of his clothes against his skin suddenly restricting, tightening around him like a vice. 

You can’t run from who you truly are.

You’re a monster, Touya. A monster a monster a monster a monster. An unloved, undeserving little boy who had to go up in flames just to be seen. How tragic.

You took Shouto from his home, upended his life not once, but twice. You let him sleep in dirty alleyways and abandoned buildings because of your ego. You let him go hungry and made him leave behind people he loved over and over again, because of your mistakes. Was it all on purpose?

No. No no no no no. I didn’t mean to. I would never hurt him. I would never…never…never…

“Touya always protected us!” 

He jolts when a voice sounds from the front row. Fuyumi stands, face red and eyes blazing. Natsuo nods in agreement from his seat. Touya draws in a deep breath as his lungs start to work again. His eyes start to burn, a familiar sting, and his mouth wobbles.

“Miss Todoroki! Sit down .”

“Touya.” She stares right at him, ignoring the judge’s orders, until he meets her eyes. “You always protected us. I know Shouto thought that as well. He loved you so much.”

“Miss Todoroki, if you don’t sit down right now, I’ll hold you in contempt.”

With a soft smile thrown Touya’s way, Fuyumi sits down. He collects himself, wiping at the few stray tears that escaped his eyes with the back of his hand. When he turns to face Hinata again, his voice is cold, even. 

“I gave my life for my brother. You don’t get to take that away from me. Shouto knew how much I loved him. I bandaged him up every night after Enji beat him. I tucked him into bed and read him stories until he fell asleep. I snuck him candy and toys just to see him smile. Don’t you dare tell me I didn’t care about him.”

Hinata’s answering frown is glorious, as close to victory as Touya’s felt since he’d entered the room. The counselor clears his throat, before turning to the judge. “No further questions.”

 

***********************************

 

When they arrive at the top floor of Keigo’s agency, Mitsuki is waiting for them, standing guard at the massive doors. She moves towards them with purpose, before wrapping Touya in a tight hug. 

“Oh, honey.”

He squeezes her back tighter, burying his face in her shoulder. “Thanks for the outfit,” he mumbles, not trusting himself to say much else.

“Of course,” she smiles, the gesture shaky at best, and pets through his hair. “You looked great. You were made for the runway.” The attempted joke lifts Touya’s spirits just a little, until his eyes find the door behind her.

“Where is he?”

She tilts her head towards the door. “In there. Waiting for you.”

Touya squeezes her shoulder, a small gesture of the appreciation he feels for her help, her support. A gesture to replace the words he’s not able to speak at the moment. Without a look back, he strides towards the doors and pulls them open slowly, hesitantly, leaving Keigo to speak with Mitsuki.

Inside the room, Inko, Katsuki and Izuku are gathered near the TV in Keigo’s gaming corner. Inko is speaking softly to the boys when she looks up to meet Touya’s eyes. She gives him a watery smile before guiding the two youngsters towards the door, closing it behind them.

In the other corner, Shouto lays curled up in Keigo’s hanging nest chair, his back to the room. Touya can make out the sniffles as he gets closer. He kneels in front of the boy before bringing a hand up to brush his arm.

“Sho?”

The boy flinches at Touya’s voice but leans into his touch as he gently strokes over Shouto’s arm. With a tired sigh, Touya works his arms underneath his body, before cradling the boy to his chest and plopping back down into the chair. He curls back into the soft down, shutting out the world, Shouto tucked safely into his side.

He pets through Shouto’s hair as his sniffles continue, his small hand grasped onto Touya’s shirt. Only when the sniffles turn into deep, even breaths does Touya speak. “Hey, little firefly. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“How do you know?” 

“Because we’re together. We’ll always be together, no matter what happens next, okay?” His chest prickles with unease, even as he lowers his head to kiss the top of Shouto’s. “And if anything happens to me, you can trust Hawks and Aizawa to keep you safe.”

“Yeah, I know.” The exasperation in Shouto’s voice makes Touya’s lip twitch in amusement if only for a moment, before confusion sets in. Shouto almost seems to brush off the comment as if that never really worried him, as if that wasn’t the issue. He was still nuzzling into Touya’s chest, his little arms wrapped around his body and clinging onto Touya’s shirt. Not exactly acting scared, just a little more clingy than normal.

“Then what’s really wrong, Sho?”

The room is plunged into silence. Touya waits patiently for Shouto to find his words, repressing a yawn that creeps its way up his throat as the exhaustion from everything that’s happened in the last 24 hours catches up with him, fast.

“I just…” Shouto finally responds, seeming to struggle with finding the right words. “They said all those bad things about you…and…it made me mad. Why did they do that?”

The chuckle that leaves Touya’s mouth is completely involuntary. The idea that, with everything else going on, all the unknowns and fears and trials they’d have to face next, Shouto was worried about him , was almost too funny . The thought that his reputation apparently meant so much to Shouto that the boy would be worried for him rather than for himself spread a blanket of warmth over him.

He squeezes Shouto closer to him, shaking his head in amusement. “You’re something else, kid.”

“What’s that mean?” He looks down to where Shouto is now staring up at him, his lips turned into an adorable pout, his brows wrinkling in frustration.

“It means that you should never change. You’re special and you’re going to do amazing things.” 

His brother was so pure, so inherently good , which was already miles better than their father, not to mention better than him. Shouto wasn’t burdened by a vengeful voice hellbent on destruction like Touya was. He didn’t have to fight with himself, fight the urge to destroy everything that had ever hurt him, like Touya did. Without a doubt, Shouto was going to be an amazing hero, an amazing person, all on his own.

“Sometimes,” he starts, rubbing circles into Shouto’s back, “people say things to try and hurt you. To throw you off and make you say or do things out of anger, things you would normally never do or say. It’s important, when that happens, that you remember who you are, right here.” He pokes Shouto right over his heart with his free hand. “It’s okay to get mad for others. In fact, that’s an amazing quality to have. But don’t let your anger change who you are. Understand?” 

Don’t let your anger change you like mine has.

“Yeah, I think so.” Shouto looks up at him, his little face determined and resolute. “Nothing they said was true, nii-san. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me…and…I forgive you.” He nods with finality, his face going blurry as Touya’s eyes fill with tears.

“Thank you, Sho,” he chokes out, kissing his forehead as the first tear escapes down his cheek. “I love you…so so much.”

“I love you too.”

 

***********************************

 

The evening wind is just chilly enough to spread goosebumps along Touya’s arms as he sits at the edge of Keigo’s balcony, his feet poking out through the bottom of the railing, looking out over the cityscape below. All the lights and sounds blur together into one puddle of color, muffled noises that don’t quite reach his ears. He crosses his arms on one of the metal rungs, leaning forward to rest his forehead against the cool metal.

That’s how Keigo finds him some time later. He can hear the balcony door open, the flutter of soft feathers in the breeze, but he doesn’t turn his head. Soft footfalls draw closer until he can sense the hero’s presence right next to him, his socked feet showing in his peripherals.

“May I?” The soft, honeyed voice flows over him like a warm balm against the chill in the air. 

Touya doesn’t reply but rather scoots over as an invitation to join him. Keigo wordlessly sits next to him, looking out over the horizon. Touya can feel the heat radiating from Keigo’s skin, as if he’s the fire user, and all he wants to do is curl into that warmth. Set himself ablaze using Keigo as fuel.

“How long have you been out here?” 

Touya shrugs. “A while.” 

Once he’d gotten Shouto back to Keigo’s and shot the bird a text that they were there, Keigo staying back at the agency to finish up some work, he’d tried to get Shouto to lay down in the spare room and go to sleep, but he wouldn’t let Touya leave. Even with Natori curling up next to him, he wouldn’t let go, curling his arms around Touya’s neck and squeezing the life out of him. So, he waited until Shouto’s eyes finally fluttered shut, his breaths evening out, before unraveling himself from the kid’s grip and sneaking out.

He probably should’ve laid down himself, waited for Keigo to come home and cuddle up to him in bed, but there was a restlessness beneath his skin that he couldn’t shake. So, he’d ventured out onto the balcony, and apparently lost track of time.

The billboard in front of Keigo’s apartment changes, and Keigo sighs next to him. “Touya…”

Touya’s eyes are glued to the screen, orange and blue blurring into indistinct gray. The image was burned into his retinas at this point, after hours of rotating news stories and ads. Bold lettering, taunting him over and over again. Number Two Hero Endeavor declared winner in licensing trial.

What a fucking joke.

At the end of the day, nothing made a difference. Not Touya’s story, or any of the witness statements, or the evidence against his father. Just like before. All those times where he’d call for help, begging someone, fucking anyone , to stop the hurt. Nothing. Ever. Fucking. Changed.

“I shouldn’t be surprised. I should’ve known this would happen from the start.” He swallows thickly. “I was stupid for thinking things could be different.”

“Things are different, Touya. Even if we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, you have support now. You have a family, you have me , and - “

“Yeah?! And where did that support fucking get me?!” Touya spits out, closing his eyes at the hurt flashing across Keigo’s face. He knows he’s not being fair, but fuck! What was the fucking point of all that support if the outcome was still the same?!

In stewing over the results of today’s trial, in all the time he’d had to think through how fucking wrong things were, he’d come to one conclusion. Hero society was to blame. Hero society was what allowed his father to stay atop his pedestal while beating his family into submission. Hero society was what allowed Keigo to be bought and molded into a perfect soldier, a robot who worked in the shadows to eliminate any hint of dissent over that same hero society.

He clenches his teeth at the feel of feathers gliding around his shoulders, pulling him into a warm body. His eyes open to red wings surrounding him, fingers pulling at his chin to force his eyes up. Golden irises bore into his own, sad and hurt and so fucking adoring it makes him dizzy.

“I’m sorry, Touya. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Touya shakes his head weakly. He didn’t want Keigo to apologize on behalf of the system that had destroyed him, the system that failed them both. The only apology he wanted was out of Endeavor’s mouth.

As he begs on his knees for mercy. I want to see the look on his face when I reject his apology, right before he goes up in flames.

Keigo’s hand cups his cheek, thumb chasing away the wetness tracking down his face. “Just tell me what you need, Touya. Please. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do it.” Keigo pulls him in closer, resting their foreheads together. “Just…please, don’t shut me out, firecracker. Anything but that.”

“I’m just so frustrated,” Touya grits out. He moves his head to bury it in the crook of Keigo’s neck, letting the hero pull him onto his lap and wrap his arms around him. “I feel like I’ve tried everything. Even with all the help in the world, it’ll never be enough. He’ll still be praised as a hero, and we’ll be broken and forgotten.”

“We won’t let that happen.” A kiss to Touya’s forehead. “We’ll keep trying. Again, and again. Until we get justice for you and Shouto. For everyone that’s ever been hurt by him. You’ll never be forgotten, Touya. As if I could ever let that happen.”

Touya takes a deep breath, the hero’s scent washing over him like a calm rain after a drought. His hands thread through the soft blond hairs at the back of Keigo’s neck as he nuzzles in closer, his brain going fuzzy. “I’m sorry,” he mutters. “I didn’t mean to lash out at you before. You’ve done so much for me already. I couldn’t do this without you.” Please keep me. 

“There’s no need to apologize, hot stuff. I know you didn’t mean it.” Strong hands trace up and down Touya’s sides. “You know…” the hero drawls, his voice dipped in honey, “this might not be the best time…but what you did today might be one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen.”

Touya’s mouth lifts in a devilish smirk as he brings his head out from where it’s resting on Keigo’s shoulder. The hero’s pupils dilate to the size of marbles, only a thin ring of gold remaining. “Oh yeah?” he teases. 

“Yeah. God , you looked so fucking beautiful and vicious up there. I’ve never seen anyone look so damn perfect . I couldn’t take my eyes off of you for a second.”

Touya chuckles, the sound light and airy in contrast to the nightmare of a day that was coming to a close. But he lets Keigo trap him in his orbit, if only for this moment. Everything else can wait, as long as Birdy’s eyes stay on him. As long as Keigo keeps looking at him with eyes full of adoration and reverence and hunger.

“That obsessed with me, huh, angel?” His eyes dance with mirth as Keigo nods his head enthusiastically in response.

“You have no idea.” Keigo’s mouth splits into a wide grin before a flash of mischief ghosts over his face. “I could just gobble you up.” He pulls Touya even closer, trapping his arms to the sides, and swoops down, pressing teasing bites into Touya’s shoulders, his neck, anywhere he can reach.

This time, when Touya laughs, the sound carries on the wind, taking all his worries with it.

 

***********************************

 

Madam President doesn’t lift her eyes from the screen as her office doors open and close. She doesn’t need to look up to know who’s standing before her, his imposing presence as clear as ever. 

“You wanted to see me, ma’am?”

“The time has come to pay for our support. We have a job for you, Endeavor.”

She lifts her eyes to the man standing in front of her desk, a deep scowl on his face. She internally rolls her eyes, annoyed at the position they’d found themselves in because of this mess.

Endeavor was a necessary evil. He always had been. No one else could even come near his stats, besides All Might, and society as a whole was safer because of him. To be frank, she didn’t care about what happened behind those closed doors. It was way below her pay grade to worry about trivial matters like that. But would it kill him to at least try to present himself in a more palatable light? It was no wonder his approval rating was lower than that of the rest of the top 5.

“What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to eliminate Seika Tameda.” She raises a brow as the hero bristles, standing at his full height. “Don’t tell me you believed his little sob story. You and I both know Touya died in that fire. That small fragment of bone was the only piece of him left. This imposter has somehow managed to not only manipulate other pro heroes, but also your family, to believe his false narrative. He needs to go.”

Besides, your son is compromising one of our best assets, and we’ve spent too much time and money on Hawks to fail now. We can’t allow Touya to come back to life. He’s too dangerous.

“When you say eliminate…”

“Don’t act naive, Endeavor. It doesn’t suit you. You’ve killed before, when the situation called for it. Make an opening, however you can, and don’t worry about the fall out. We’ll handle the story. Just make sure it gets done.”

“And if I say no?”

She levels him with a glare. “Then your license will be the least of your worries. You’ll lose everything you ever worked for. Your name will be nothing but a footnote in the annals of history. Is that what you want?”

Endeavor clears his throat, shifting from one foot to the other. “No, Madam President.”

“Then get it done.” She nods dismissively, going back to the words jumbled on the screen.

Endeavor hesitates for a moment before turning away. She waits until he’s at the door before calling out, “Oh, and Endeavor? Your reward for a job well done is Shouto. You want your son back, don’t you?” 

A smile curls her lips as his eyes widen, mouth dropping open in shock. 

What will it be, Endeavor? The carrot…or the stick?

Notes:

He he he *peeks out from behind the door* is it safe to come out now?

We have one more chapter left of this part of the series and BOY OH BOY, it's gonna be a good one.

As always, thank you all for the support you've shown this fic since originally posting it in August. The response has been overwhelming in such a good way and y'all don't even know how much I appreciate it. ♥

Chapter 35

Summary:

The finale of Part 1

Notes:

Not me sitting here crying because I've officially finished my FIRST fic. I can't believe it's over y'all, but also, I can't wait to start Part 2.

I will be posting the first "chapter" of the sequel at the same time as this comes out, so make sure to check that out after reading!

“ So the trial will start in a month. September 3rd. Between now and then, we’ll need to start getting the kids prepped. Touya and Shouto will need to meet with Tsukauchi so he can take their statements.”

Keigo hums in acknowledgement as he listens to Aizawa detail their plan. He’s only half-listening, since he already knows every step like the back of his hand, the rest of his attention on the nearly-done patrol schedule staring at him from the computer screen.

Kotuka and Shimazu make a good team. I should keep them together on night patrol. He moves Shimazu to Friday nights with Kotuka, pushing Yoshino to the empty slot on Friday morning.

“I still think we should be moving them to U.A. before that happens. Once Shoto’s whereabouts are out there, I can’t guarantee their protection.”

“Yeah, well, that’s not really our call. Unless you can convince Touya.”

His pen taps on the desk as he looks up at the ceiling, pinching the bridge of his nose. The problem was, once Touya decided on something, there was no convincing him. He’d straight up refused to talk about the move, instead shutting himself outside on the balcony for the rest of the night. Once he’d come inside, he’d simply dragged Keigo to the bedroom and pushed him onto the bed, wrapping himself around him and kissing him until they were both out of breath.

Keigo was pretty sure he knew what Touya had an issue with. He didn’t want to take Shouto away from Izuku and Katsuki… again. He still felt a profound sense of guilt about their time away, about what it seemed to do to Shouto’s psyche. So, the topic was closed for discussion. No leaving Fukuoka.

Keigo groans and Aizawa huffs a laugh over the phone. “I’m gonna guess that’s a no. So how about tonight?”

Tonight. Aizawa and the Todoroki siblings were back in Fukuoka for the weekend, as summer break winds down. Before a new semester started at U.A., before Fuyumi started her first semester at university, and before Natsuo started his first year in high school. They had mentioned having dinner, the six of them, at Keigo’s apartment later that night. 

Touya had been surprisingly responsive to the suggestion, though Keigo had a feeling he was putting on a happy face for Shouto. He could see it in the way his boyfriend’s foot had started tapping rapidly against the wood floor, the clack of his tongue piercing against his teeth, the way his eyes darted here and there as if looking for an exit, or maybe looking for danger, when he brought up the topic.

If he was being honest, Shouto’s reaction wasn’t much better. He suspected the kid had a lot of unresolved anxiety and mixed feelings about seeing his siblings again. Maybe fear of change , as if seeing Fuyumi and Natsuo again meant he’d have to go back to that life, that the little bubble he and Touya had created for themselves would pop.

“Tonight’s still on. We should be back home around 6. Touya went out with the boys today,” he chirps proudly. In the week since the day of Touya’s testimony, the day Endeavor won, Touya had barricaded himself, and Shouto, inside Keigo’s apartment. Keigo welcomed the company, of course. If he had his way, they’d already be moved in, mixing all their belongings together to create a home. But he still had his worries.

For starters, living with Touya over the past week was like living with a scared, cornered animal. His sharp eyes would constantly watch the skyline outside the living room windows, tense up whenever the doorbell would ring or whenever Keigo’s phone would go off. He was also overly protective of Shouto, barely letting the kid go to the bathroom on his own, as if he’d be taken right out from under his nose.

So when Touya informed him he’d be training the kids today, for the first time since they’d gotten back from their little adventure around the country, Keigo felt a faint shimmer of hope. Hope that this was a first step to getting his fierce, unapologetic, bratty boyfriend back. Not that he’d ever complain about how Touya would cling to him like a koala bear whenever they had a minute alone together. But he missed Touya’s fiery spirit, his sharp edges.

“Sounds good. Just let me know if anything changes.”

Keigo ends the call as he sends off the company-wide email with the next month’s patrol schedule. His feathers subtly ruffle at the small sense of accomplishment checking off one of his many duties gives him. While the topic is fresh on his mind, he texts Touya to remind him of their dinner plans and ask if he needs anything from the store.

Only a few minutes go by when his phone chimes, not with a text, but with a call. Recognizing the ringtone, Keigo bites his lip to contain his smile as he answers. “Hey there, hot stuff. What - “

“ Hawks! ”

Every feather at his back stands sharp and at attention at the distress evident in Izuku’s voice. In the background he hears yelling, followed by what sounds like an explosion. “Izuku?! What’s wrong?” He’s up from his office chair and running towards the balcony doors before Izuku can even respond.

“It’s Touya! He’s fighting Endeavor! Please…you have to stop them!”

Keigo’s wings fan out and he flings himself off the balcony as a feeling of overwhelming terror hits him like a brick wall. The loud booms, sounds of fighting, continue in the background of the call. His Touya. Fighting. Without him. A powerful flap has him hurtling through the air and he’s never been more grateful for his trademark speed. 

“I’m on my way. Stay as far away as you can, okay?”

With an affirmative response from Izuku, he hangs up, bringing up Aizawa’s contact next. Buildings zip by him, his silhouette reflecting against the glass windows like a red and gold bullet. The wind whips at his face and he strains his eyes, completely forgetting his visor back at the office.

“ Hawks? What - “

“Aizawa! I’m sending you coordinates. I need you to get there as soon as possible. They're fighting…they’re…they’re fighting and I don’t know…” The combination of the high altitudes and panic taking root in his chest make it hard to breathe. “I don’t know if I can stop them.”

“Who?!” Aizawa barks out. Keigo can hear rustling in the background. The clang of keys, the opening and closing of a door.

“Touya and Endeavor! He found them somehow. I’m almost there but…I don’t think I’ll be able to do anything.”

Fire. Of course, he had to go and fall in love with a man that harnessed fire, whose father also had fire, who were now both fighting with fire. The literal worst matchup possible for Fierce Wings. Even if every ounce of him wanted to help Touya, fight by his side, his wings would be decimated in minutes, if not seconds, with Touya and Endeavor’s combined firepower. 

He already knew there was no point in trying to get Touya to stop. After everything that had happened, all the pain and suffering he’d been through, the pain he’d witnessed Shouto endure, Touya would never stop. Not until he either burned himself out or Endeavor was a pile of ash. And the most Keigo would be able to do is make sure the children were kept safe, to sit and watch his boyfriend fight for his life. Helpless. Powerless. 

They needed Erasure. And they needed it now.

“On my way.” Aizawa hangs up without another word, and Keigo sends off a quick text with the pinned location.

With one more powerful flap of his wings, he’s off towards the growing tower of smoke on the horizon. 

Please, let me make it in time.

 

***********************************

 

“Straighten your shoulders, Kats. Any D-rank villain could’ve had you in the ground three times over with that stance.”

Touya stands at the edge of the makeshift ring, his hands clasped behind him, pacing back and forth as Katsuki and Shouto practice their hand-to-hand quirkless combat. Izuku sits  at the edge nearby, quietly muttering as he scribbles in his notebook, his eyes flying back and forth between the pages and his friends.

Katsuki straightens with a grumble, releasing two consecutive punches. Shouto easily blocks the first, but the second one catches him off-guard, and he wobbles on his feet.

“Sho, don’t let up on your defense until you see an opening. If you give an inch, villains will take a mile.”

He feels lighter than he has in months, breathing in the fresh air, analyzing each move being made as Shouto and Katsuki dance around the cleared-out space. Like a perception of usefulness, a sense of worth, burrowing deep in his chest. A feeling he’d all but forgotten. 

He couldn’t get back the month he’d taken from Shouto’s childhood. He couldn’t break Keigo from the chains the Commission had trapped him in. He couldn’t bring his father to justice, create a world where Shouto could be safe and free from their father’s legacy. But, he could do this. 

He could help prepare the next generation of heroes, so maybe the world would be left in a better place. He could make sure the heroes of tomorrow were better than the heroes of today, so no more children would have to suffer. No more families would have to break.

“Oi.” He gestures with his head for the other two to join him and Izuku. Katsuki smirks as he holds out a hand to Shouto, who’s laying on the ground out of breath. Izuku packs up his notebook and pen in his backpack as the other two approach, all three of them standing at attention in front of Touya.

“Katsuki, what could you have done better?”

“Nothing!” The blond smirks, chest puffed up. “I was per - OW!“ He rubs his forehead where Touya just flicked him. 

“Wrong. Try again.”

“Tch.” Katsuki rolls his eyes. “Fine. My form was dogshit and I focused on offense too much. I left my blind spots open.”

Touya nods, satisfied with his answer, before turning to Shouto. “And you?”

“I wasn’t taking it seriously,” Shouto mumbles, “and I let him get too close.”

Touya crosses his arms over his chest before finally turning to Izuku. “Did they miss anything, kid?”

Izuku’s eyes squint, his hand coming up to rest under his chin in thought. He nervously looks over at Katsuki, no doubt debating whether his opinions are worth the blond’s wrath. “Kacchan always starts with a right hook and feints after two consecutive hits. Maybe he could mix up his moves a little?” Touya nods in encouragement. “And Shouto leads with his eyes. You can tell what moves he’s gonna make next if you watch where he’s looking.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself!” Touya ruffles Izuku’s hair, making the curls even more unruly. Izuku looks up at him with a triumphant gleam in his eyes, a shy smile on his lips. “Now, we’ll work on - “

His orders are cut off as something massive hits the ground behind Touya, a loud boom sounding through the clearing. He freezes as a blast of wind smacks into him from the impact, rustling their clothes and kicking up dust in its wake. 

The hairs on the back of Touya’s neck prickle with dread. He doesn’t have to look behind him to know who had just crashed their training session. The heat at his back, the shocked expressions on Izuku and Katsuki’s faces, the way Shouto was frozen with fear was answer enough. He turns his head to the side, stealing a glimpse of familiar orange and blue.

“Seika Tameda…we need to talk.” The loud, booming voice cuts through the clearing. 

Touya takes a step closer to Shouto, shielding him completely from the hero’s view. Thankfully, since Shouto was directly in front of him, it seemed like Endeavor hadn’t yet noticed the boy. Instead of answering Endeavor’s command, he tilts up his brother’s chin, so he can look into green eyes that are wide with fear. 

“Sho.” He speaks low enough that he won’t be overheard. “I need you to listen to me. No matter what happens, I need you to stay hidden, okay? Don’t let him get you.” 

“But…nii-san…”

“Promise me. Promise me you’ll stay hidden,” he pleads, hands cupping Shouto’s face. “ Please.”

He waits until Shouto nods, lips wobbling as tears flood his eyes. “I promise.”

“Thank you…I love you, firefly. More than anything.” His voice cracks at the end and he clears his throat.

“I love you too.”

“Izuku.” His voice remains calm as his brain shifts into planning mode. He pulls out his phone and holds it out as his other hand keeps Shouto close enough where his face is hidden. “Call Hawks and tell him to get here as soon as he can.”

Izuku swallows nervously, but nods and takes the phone, clutching it tightly in his hands.

“Kats.” The blond looks up at him expectantly. “Get them away from here and keep them safe. Don’t let Endeavor see him. Don’t trust anyone but Hawks or Eraserhead.” Katsuki nods, a determined glint in his narrowed eyes, and moves closer to Shouto before grabbing his hand.

“C’mon, Deku.” Katsuki drags Shouto and Izuku away, jogging towards the trees lining the clearing. Touya watches them go with a heavy sense of foreboding taking up room in his chest. As they disappear from his view, however, that feeling is replaced by a bizarre peacefulness spreading through his whole body. 

With a final shaky breath, he turns, facing the flame hero. Endeavor has his arms crossed over his chest, hardened eyes piercing into Touya with determination, a decision already made. Touya forces a smirk onto his face, relaxing his shoulders and unclenching his fists. “You wanna talk? Let’s talk, dad.”

 

***********************************

 

A soft breeze stirs the curtains from the open window. Fingers ghost up and down Touya’s arm as he lays across Keigo’s chest, despite the summer heat. Birdy’s other arm is locked around Touya’s waist, holding him steady above him. Safe. Cherished. Touya nuzzles into the crook of Keigo’s neck, letting the hero’s familiar honey and cinnamon scent wash over him.

Two days had passed since the trial, but Touya still found himself haunted, scenes from that day flashing through his head nonstop like some kind of demented film reel. Cold, blue eyes scorching his skin. The muttering of strangers looking on like their life, their suffering, was a source of entertainment. But most of all, the nauseous feeling in the pit of his stomach that screamed danger.

Since then, sleep has been hard to come by. His nights were mostly spent watching Keigo sleep next to him, with brief instances of unconsciousness. Just enough to imagine hateful eyes and intense heat, Shouto screaming for him, before waking in a cold sweat, lungs heaving and heart pounding.

“You’re thinking too loud, firecracker,” Keigo mumbles, directly into his ear. A tanned hand skims up his arm, up the back of his neck until it comes to rest on his cheek, Keigo’s thumb stroking along Touya’s cheekbone. “What’s wrong?”

Touya lets out a tired sigh. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it birdy, just go to sleep.”

He knows Keigo’s been pushing himself far too much the past 48 hours. On top of his regular patrol schedule and running his agency, he’s been dealing with near-constant requests from the Commission, much to Touya’s dismay. But, despite that, he still spends every spare moment he has hovering around Touya and Shouto like the ever-doting hero and boyfriend he is.

Keigo needs his rest more than Touya needs to talk over this weight of responsibility, the sting of trepidation in his gut. He already felt the burden he’d caused for the hero, even if Keigo would never agree. 

At least not to your face.

Keigo sighs into his hair. “You know I won’t be able to sleep when you’re upset like this, baby.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, cowering in on himself. Keigo, as perceptive as ever, doesn’t let him hide. Instead, his hand tips up his chin until Touya is forced to lock eyes with him.

In the near-darkness of the room, Touya can barely make out the concern wrinkling Keigo’s brow, the soft frown marring his perfect face. “What could you possibly have to be sorry for?”

“You’re stuck worrying about me when you should be sleeping. You shouldn’t have to worry about me.”

To his surprise, Keigo chuckles, fondly shaking his head. “Touya. My resilient, ferocious, beautiful Touya. I’ll always worry about you, and I choose to worry about you. I didn’t ask you what was wrong out of some sense of duty. I asked because I wanted to know. I want to be here for you.”

A few moments go by before Touya realizes the sincerity in Keigo’s golden eyes is there to stay, is genuine. Even after all this time, everything they’d been through, just the idea that he could possess someone so beautiful, so kind and innately good, was baffling.

He swallows nervously before dropping his eyes to his finger as it traces nonsensical patterns into Keigo’s skin near his collarbone. “I just don’t know what to do from here. I know you say I should have faith but…every time I think of the future…I don’t see a way to win. Either Shouto gets taken or…” He leaves the thought unfinished, as if saying the words out loud will speak them into existence.

In his mind, there are only two options for how this will end. Shouto will be taken from him, forced back into a world of brutal training and impossible expectations, or he faces Endeavor, and they finally find out which one of them is the strongest.

“And in that silly, little mind of yours, are you trying to do everything on your own?”

The question troubles Touya, his lips pulling in a pout. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Keigo cards a hand through Touya’s hair, scratching softly at his scalp, “you’re not alone in this. But no matter how many times I tell you that, you never seem to get that through that thick skull of yours.” He pokes the top of Touya’s head with his finger, as if to show how hard-headed he was. “Don’t you have even a little bit of faith in me? In Aizawa and Inko and Mitsuki?”

“Well, yeah but…Shouto is my responsibility.”

“He is, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help, hot stuff. Especially when you have so many people willing to give it.”

Touya hums in acknowledgement, still ghosting his fingers along Keigo’s shoulder, down his arm, watching with rapt attention as goosebumps dot his skin. Of course, he knew he had family and friends now that would drop everything to help. Mitsuki and Inko had straight up threatened him into accepting help on more than one occasion. 

But that didn’t make it any easier. Not when so much more was on the line for everyone involved. Keigo and Aizawa were putting their careers in jeopardy, and Inko and Mitsuki were putting their very lives in jeopardy. If Touya lost, if Touya was charged with kidnapping, they’d surely face their own consequences for aiding and abetting a wanted criminal. He couldn’t let that happen. Not after everything they’d done for him.

“Can you promise me something, angel?”

A short pause as Keigo catalogues the shift in conversation. “Of course.”

“If…if something happens to me - “

“Nothing’s going to happen to you, Touya.” Keigo’s arm tightens around him protectively.

“Just…please.” He lifts his head, catching Keigo’s eye. “Just in case…to make me feel better. Can you promise me that if something happens to me…will you make sure Shouto’s taken care of?”

“Touya…” Sadness coats Keigo’s voice, searching Touya’s face before sighing loudly. “I won’t let anything happen to you…but, yes, I promise. I’ll always make sure Shouto’s taken care of. The same way I’ll always make sure you are taken care of.”

Touya feels his entire body relax further into the hero’s hold, the relief lifting a little bit of the weight from his chest. He wraps a hand around the back of Keigo’s neck, angling him down as he tilts his head further up. “Thank you, angel,” he breathes against Keigo’s lips, before slotting them with his. 

 

***********************************

 

Touya shouldn’t be surprised at the volley of fire hurled his way at his response. He hesitates only for a moment, before stepping back and releasing a wall of blue as a shield, his flames eating up Endeavor’s the instant they collide.

Okay then. No talking it is.

“You are not my son!” Enji roars, releasing another torrent of fire that is consumed by the blue wall of flames separating them.

Touya rolls his eyes. For all his father’s accomplishments, all the accolades and successful missions under his belt, he really was dense as fuck. Too many of his brain cells used up on trying to surpass All Might, and not enough spent on his critical thinking skills, instead using his raw strength and power to propel him forward in the rankings.

It’s that raw strength and power that Touya tells himself he needs to be wary of. He’s not fooled - Endeavor is going easy on him right now, letting out weak blasts of fire to get a better picture of Touya’s level of skill with his own fire.

“Oh, c’mon, dad. Surely you recognize your firstborn. Your failure.” He snarls, a vicious grin on his face. “The son you abandoned, threw to the side when I couldn’t be the successor you wanted.” He gestures to the fire. “This is what I wanted to show you that night, by the way. Surprise! ” 

“Liar!” Enji barks, the flames lining his shoulders jumping up in agitation. “Touya could barely use his quirk without getting hurt. There’s no way he’d be capable of blue flames.”

Touya’s hand twitches at his side as rage courses through him. Not capable? Not fucking capable? He calls twin flames into his hands, holding them out to his side as a laugh bubbles up his throat. “You’d know exactly what I’m capable of if you’d KEPT YOUR EYES ON ME!” He screams as he launches both balls of fire forward, Enji’s eyes widening at the attack.

Endeavor brings up his own shield of flames, but Touya can see the grimace on his face as blue eats through orange. “Enough of this! You’re coming with - “ The hero sucks in a breath as his eyes travel over Touya’s shoulder.

Keeping one arm raised in front of him, he swivels to follow Enji’s gaze, and his own heart stutters to a stop. There, frozen in fear just outside the treeline, Shouto stares wide-eyed at the fight, wind whipping his black hair out of his face, his scar fully visible even from a distance. Behind him, Katsuki does his best to hold Izuku back as he yells for Shouto to move.

No! What are you doing?!

The two brothers lock eyes and Touya shakes his head in a silent plea. Run! Please, run!

“SHOUTO!”

“ NO!” Touya screams, bringing both hands in front of him and pushing out as much of his fire as possible, cutting Endeavor off as he launches himself at the boy. He grits his teeth against the tingling on his skin, sure that blisters are starting to form on his palms. “YOU STAY AWAY FROM HIM!”

He pushes even harder, summoning every ounce of energy in his body to keep those flames going, until Endeavor takes a step back and redirects his attention to Touya. Suddenly, a rush of red feathers shoot towards Shouto, picking him up and depositing him back next to the other two boys. Keigo falls from the sky like a bullet, skidding in front of them as he calls all his feathers back, wings arching protectively around the three boys.

“Touya!” Keigo’s voice sounds wrecked, pleading, panicked. 

Touya lets out a harsh breath, moving his arms to the side as Endeavor launches himself forward, wreathed in flames. The impact of blue and orange sounds off like an explosion, the air shimmering around them as the heat steadily increases.

His hands start to burn in earnest, his fingers naturally curling inward in an attempt to stop the flame. Touya forces them open with a pained yell as Enji’s orange flames grow bigger and bigger, soon dwarfing Touya’s blue ones.

In only a few moments, he’ll be completely overtaken. In a few seconds, Shouto will be in danger, and Touya will be useless. Again. 

He turns his head back towards the spectators, locking eyes with Keigo, only for an instant. An instant that feels like a lifetime. An instant where an entire silent conversation happens between them.

Keigo’s eyes widen and he frantically shakes his head, taking a step forward even as he brings up an arm to shield himself from the intense heat. He screams Touya’s name, begs him to stop, and Touya just smiles.

In that instant, the past several months flash before his eyes. All the memories he’d made with Keigo, all the memories he’d hope to make. The overwhelming love and support he’d been shown that overshadowed all the rejection and anguish of his first 17 years of life. 

The way Keigo’s wings would fluff up and he’d let out an accidental chirp when he was really happy. The way his eyes would gleam whenever the light would catch on one of Touya’s piercings. The soft trill-like snores he let out when he was in deep sleep. The way his hair would stand on end in the mornings, and he’d squint with one eye closed with an adorable pout on his face until Touya came back to bed.

The way his wings would flap happily as he stuffed his mouth with fried chicken, bouncing on his feet like he could take off into the sky at a moment’s notice. The way his eyes shimmered and crinkled as they flew into the sunset, the wind blowing the hair out of his face. Strong arms that feel so much like the home Touya had always wanted, the place where he could finally belong.

He’d hoped for an entire lifetime of cataloguing all of Keigo’s little quirks and mannerisms. A lifetime of stolen kisses and laughter against his skin. But it seemed life had other plans for him, the choice in front of him heartbreakingly clear.

I’m sorry, birdy, but I have to do this. I made Shouto a promise and I can’t go back on that. I need to follow this through until the end. Please…remember the promise you made me. Keep him safe for me. Make sure he has a happy life, and be happy with him. Don’t cry over me, angel.

Turning back towards Endeavor, the tears from his eyes sizzle against his cheeks, immediately evaporating in the heat. As orange closes in on him, Touya calls on as much power as he can. Fire pours out of every inch of him until he’s basked in flames. His scars sting, the healthy skin sizzling and crackling as blisters start to form.

“Eyes on me, Endeavor!” He yells, voice breaking as he swallows back a pained sob. “Come dance with me in hell, father!”

Endeavor doesn’t let up, letting out even more of his own flames with a yell. “Prominence - “

No.

Touya feels something snap inside of him, pressure pushing outward from the core of his very being. He cries out at the sudden rush of heat exploding out of every pore, gasping at the pain as his skin slowly starts peeling at the seams of his grafts. His flames get so hot, burn so bright, that they’re almost white in color. Touya can hardly breathe through the pain of his own body burning.

But then, the pain stops as the scene unfolds in front of him in slow motion. Keigo and Shouto screaming his name, Enji being engulfed in heat, yelling out in pain, and a sense of overwhelming calm washing over him. The crackle of ice in his ear.

Is this what death feels like?

His body, once scalding hot, was now ice cold, steam rising from him as he pushed his flames further, ignoring the screams his father let out. His head feels fuzzy and the ground sways beneath his feet. 

With one last blast of his flames, Touya feels his knees buckle beneath him and his eyes flutter shut as he falls to the ground. The last thing he remembers is Keigo and Shouto screaming his name. 

And then, silence.

Was I good enough, otouto?

Notes:

And with that, our story is JUST BEGINNING! Again, thank you all so so much for reading! It's been such a journey and I can't wait to continue it all with you guys in the sequel.

Just a note before you go: the sequel is rated "mature" because of some more adult themes as our kiddos grow up and some...development of Keigo & Touya's relationship. If you are not comfortable with continuing on, please know that I appreciate the love you've given this fic, and I wish you all the happiness in the world. ♥

Notes:

Please leave comments with any suggestions/feedback! It helps out a lot in figuring out where the story should go from here! <3

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of What We Were Made For