Thaw of the Ice Mirror

by queenofcandynsoda

Summary:

Touya Todoroki appears to have it all: a thriving career as a top Pro-Hero and rock star as Ember Pyre, a loving marriage to a beautiful Pro-Hero, strong bonds with his younger brothers, and a child on the way.

But is this the full picture of this ascending hero? What drove him to become a hero? Why the constant friction with his father? And who is the mysterious woman observing him from the cold shadows?

Notes:

Hello, this is Taffy. This is my first MHA fanfic. After experimenting with the Eldritch Baby Handbook, I can see myself doing another multi-chapter fic~ Though this will be longer and more or less unscheduled~
I will try my best to make it monthly~
Also, I will be posting art from me and my friend @jknerd on Tumblr and @mNakahara98 on AO3 for each chapter~

Chapter 1: Freezing Point

Summary:

The son who wanted his father's love and the daughter who cared too much

Notes:

The cover is made by me, and the small comic is made by @jknerd on Tumblr and @mNakahara98 on AO3~
TW: Nightmare and partial dismemberment via frostbite

It was not fair. 

It was just not fair. 

Why won’t Dad be here? To see him at Sekoto Peak?

He wanted to show him his new techniques. He wanted to prove to Dad that he was worthy, not disregarded as a “failure”. He just wanted to show that the love that Endeavor gave to Shoto was meant for him. So what that Shoto could produce both ice and fire? Touya’s flames are not only blue but hotter than Hellflame itself!

Tears started to form as a tiny spark flickered on his eyelids.

However, they quickly died down as the sound of a snapped branch pulled Touya away from his thoughts. 

“Touya nii-san… Are you there…?” 

He turned to see the source of the familiar voice. It was Fuyumi, his younger sister, the family’s so-called peacekeeper. She wasn't supposed to be here! Why is she here!? Did she follow him here!?

“Fuyumi, what are you doing here?!” He lashed out at her. Fuyumi slightly flinched, but she would not let his anger scare her away. 

“I heard that you were upset. I want to… check up on you, " she fretted. She was cautious with her words, wanting to prevent her brother from becoming destructive, as she had seen with Her Dad. 

“It does not concern you!” Touya fumed as fire briefly came out of his mouth, causing a slight burn on his tongue. Fuyumi gulped as she came closer to her older brother. “Touya nii-san… Please… You need to stop… You are hurting yourself… You can’t keep doing this…” 

She knew that Touya would not physically harm her. However, the possibility was there. 

Touya stormed, “What makes you say that!? I’m showing that I’m stronger than Shoto!” 

“But it is not worth giving yourself burns daily!” Fuyumi disputed fiercely. “You still don’t get it, Fuyumi! I was supposed to surpass Dad! Surpass All Might! Instead, Dad cast me aside like a failure!” He argued.

“You’re not a failure! None of us is!” His sister disputed. 

He knew that he was not alone. Fuyumi and Natsuo are his young siblings and fellow “failures.” But they had never known what it was like to have their father’s attention, how much their father looked at Touya with such pride. 

Why does he care about what his sister thinks? She was never born with any expectations. She was just born to be a sibling. 

“Not only are you a failure like me and Natsuo, but you’re something worse! Natsuo and I were at least born for a reason! You were just born without one! No one expected anything from you! No one needed you! Is that why you’re always trying to keep the family together?! Because when this family breaks apart, what are you even here for?!”

A quietness formed between them. Touya realized what he had said as he looked at Fuyumi’s face. She was in shock, on the verge of tears. 

It was just too much. He recently learned that he is a product of a Quirk Marriage. His body cannot handle the perfect Quirk. Dad refused to train him. Next, Dad tried to replace him with Natsuo. Then Dad replaced him with Shoto. Dad now ignored him, Fuyumi, and Natsuo in favor of Shoto. 

The worst of it was that he made his little sister cry. He had said the worst things possible. 

“Fuyumi… I—”

Then he felt something hot. It was not the summer heat around him. It was something burning. Something painful.

Fire came out of him, starting with his chest. Then it spread to the rest of his body. Touya saw that he was on fire. 

The pain became unbearable. Then he started to scream.

“IT HURTS!! STOP IT STOP!!! DAD!! HELP!! HELP ME!!!” Touya called out for their father as he instinctively moved further from his sister to prevent potential damage. 

He never learned to quell his flames. His father only taught him to increase the heat. 

He turned to Fuyumi, only to see that her clothes were damaged, but her body remained intact. However, she had the look of fear and horror on her youthful face. 

“TOUYA NII-SAN! STOP—!” She shrieked as she tried to pat away the flames on his clothes. 

“I CAN’T!!! IT HURTS!!!” The eldest Todoroki responded in terror. It had only been less than ten seconds since the ignition, yet it felt like hours. Touya started to take off his jacket, but that only delayed the damage to him. 

Suddenly, a gust of ice-cold air rushed toward him. Touya barely had time to process it before a pair of trembling hands grabbed him. 

His flames started to die down slowly due to the frost and ice. The frost reached his face before any third-degree burns settled in. 

Touya starts to feel relieved as he sees the flames cease around him. 

The pain in his chest, stomach, and arm lessened, but not by much. The frost should have stiffened him. His misfortune of inheriting his mother’s ice immunity just saved him from his sister’s quirk.

He remembered that Fuyumi was born with the opposite problem since she was born with heat resistance. 

Fuyumi…

Fuyumi!

He rasped, “F-Fuyumi…? Are you okay…?” 

No response. 

Touya looked down to see his sister. A deadly frost stiffened her body, turning her lips blue. Her fingers and toes, ghostly pale, began to blacken as circulation failed. Her white hair, streaked with crimson, was now entirely obscured by the ice. 

“Fuyumi… Get up…” 

He tried to help her as his fingers brushed her left hand. 

Then her left ring finger broke off like a branch of a dead tree. 

Touya looked at the fallen finger in pure horror. Then his chest tightened in panic. 

“No… No…! No! NO!”

He grabbed her shoulders and shook the still Fuyumi, but her body remained rigid, like a frozen corpse.

“Fuyumi! Please! Wake up!” Touya cried in desperation. Still no movement. There is only a faint mist coming from her mouth, slowly dying off. 

This happened because of him. 

She died because of him. 

He killed her. 

This is all his fault. 

He did this. 

“I—“

No. 

He needed to get help. He had to get help. 

Scrambling to his feet, Touya turned and ran faster than he ever had before. His body ached, his burns flaring up with every movement, but he didn’t stop. His sister—his only sister—needed help! He won’t let her die. 

He just needed to find someone—anyone. 

In his head, his thoughts were repeating his apologies to his sister. 

I’m sorry, Fuyumi.

I’m sorry, Fuyumi.

I’m sorry, Fuyumi.

I’m sorry, Fuyumi.

I’M SORRY, FUYUMI!

I’M SORRY, FUYUMI!!

I’M SORRY, FUYUMI!!

I’M SORRY, FUYUMI!!

I’M SORRY, FUYUMI!!

I’M SORRY, FUYUMI!!!

Chapter 2: The Blazing Hero

Summary:

Ten years had been a long time, so how much had Touya Todoroki changed for the better?

Notes:

I am thankful for the small support I had from my first chapter~
The drawing of Ember Pyre is from mNakahara98 (@jknerd at Tumblr)
Again, my Tumblr is @queeenofcandynsoda, feel free to ask~

March 21XX

“FUYUMI!!”

Touya bolted upright in bed, a strangled shout escaping his throat, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Cold sweat, despite the warmth of his blankets, plastered itself to his skin. His chest heaved, mind a frantic whirlwind, still echoing with the fading screams of ice and fire. He recalled a scream, silenced by a frosty tempest, and a small hand reaching out before succumbing to stillness. His hands gripped the sheets, his body rigid, his heart thundering like war drums.

For a moment, confusion reigned. His fingers gripped the fabric, a grounding anchor. The familiar dim glow of his bedroom, filtering through the curtains, painted the walls with golden beams. The air was warm, a stark contrast to her biting frost.

He surveyed the room, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The snow and ice, along with the flames he had conjured, were gone. He found himself tucked under a kakebuton, lying on a shikibuton, his head resting on a makura. It was morning, not night. His white sweatsuit had been replaced by pajamas. He glanced to his left. There was no frozen, shattered corpse of his sister. Instead, a young woman lay beside him, her wavy, waist-length hair a striking ombre of white and violet.

As her eyes fluttered open, revealing violet irises adorned with yellow crescent markings, she turned to face him. Her beautiful, pale face, etched with a weary and worried expression, signaled her return to consciousness.

“Another nightmare?” The woman asked him in concern. Touya just nodded, yet sweat was pouring down his forehead. The woman sat up, revealing her large, swollen belly underneath her black nightgown. Her hair fell like ribbons over her chest. She puts her hands on his shoulders. 

“Touya,” Her voice was gentle, filled with quiet strength. “You’re here. You’re safe.” One of her hands went down on the large burn scar on his chest. 

“Thank you, Marisa,” Touya responded to his wife. Suddenly, an American shorthair cat jumped onto Touya’s futon and landed on his lap. “Good… late morning, Kidō.” He hummed as he petted the cat. 

Kidō purred, causing him to feel relieved from the stress. Marisa held onto his left hand, whose wrist had a fading, pink burn scar. On his fourth finger, there was a wedding ring. It was gray due to its polished tungsten, tantalum, and platinum. The outer design was a shining azure. Its center design was of vivid violet between the azure with a flame design. His wife was also wearing a wedding ring, but the colors were inverted with a crescent moon pattern. 

“Better get ready, my hero.” Marisa mused jokingly as she rubbed her stomach, earning a chuckle from Touya as he rolled up the futons. 

This was not a standard house that was located close to Yokohama City. It was a two-floor, traditional Japanese mansion created by the once-powerful Hidaka family in the middle Edo period, before having fire-resistant wood recently. 

The couple headed to the kitchen after freshening themselves in the bathroom. Marisa was wearing a violet maxi dress and a shawl with blue crescents embroidered. Touya was wearing a simple white t-shirt and dark blue jeans, along with a blue tartan overshirt and black sneakers. 

He heated the kettle by using Blueflame, causing the water to boil up almost immediately. He grabbed both his and Marisa’s bowls. Both were in the mood for something light for a late breakfast, so Touya got some miso powder. “They are still talking about any pregnancy rumors.” Marisa grinned as she looked at her phone. She was reading the tabloid sites and hero discussion forums. She always enjoyed the layer of mystery she laid down. “Hey, you are the one who started wearing baggy clothes and doing fewer patrols. People had been asking questions.” Touya joshed.

“Maybe they should have paid attention to your recent rescues.” His wife chuckled. He poured the hot water into the bowls, then mixed it with the miso powder as Marisa continued with, “Besides, you know I’m not the type who wants to be constantly in the spotlight like Takeyama. It is best just to be mysterious.” She started putting on makeup. 

“Yet you are the top model for one of the most popular clothing, perfume, and lingerie brands.” He recalled snarkily. “Hey, people are only allowed to see my hero physique, not pregnant.” She responded before drinking her soup. She did not even blow before drinking since the heat did not bother her. Kidō started to walk in circles around her, getting impatient as it had been hours since he last ate. 

“Oh yeah? Well, I remember when that lingerie line had an exclusive magazine just for me.” He laughed. Some Nocturne photographers gave Touya a rather big lookbook that had many of Marisa’s photos that were too risque for the public, but the perfect gift for his twenty-first birthday. He and Marisa had so much fun that night. “Pregnant or not, you’ve still got the only physique I’m allowed to unwrap.”

Marisa, not even looking up as she stirred her soup, deadpanned, “Maybe I’ll model a maternity line next. Full Hoshikawa glam. Belly out, heels on. See how many fanboys faint when I say the words ‘limited edition.’” Touya choked on his drink slightly. 

“But it would be better if you did an exclusive collection for Hoshikawa. I can already see it. You were on stage with the new clothes as you played out. Meanwhile, your fans are cheering you on. Then buy those the next day.” His wife mused with a mischievous giggle.

Touya could not help but smile at that thought as well. While he loved being a hero and helping others, his rockstar career brought him more joy. The pop-up concerts. The controlled blue pyrotechnics. The blaring music, coming from his bass guitar to the speakers, reached the crowd. The fans love his songs. What really drove him further was seeing his wife and brothers watching him from either the sidelines or backstage, being proud of him. 

Soon, a little star will be watching as well.

Kidō mewled at Marisa, demanding his breakfast as he started to try to climb onto her dress with his tiny paws. “Okay, I’ll get you your food. Just stop orbiting around me.” She sighed with playful exasperation before getting cat food, then pouring it into his bowl. The cat gleefully ate it. Touya laughed a bit. Such an impatient cat. 

---

After having breakfast, the couple went to the Blazin’ Streak. Yes, Touya gave her the name. 

Despite her looks, she was not too flashy. The exterior was a deep blue coupe with blue highlights. As is standard for her type, it had a sleek design that allowed smooth driving and four doors. The wheels had custom alloy rims that had “燎” on them. 

For the interior, the black leather seats had blue stitches and a HUD dashboard. There was enough space in the back seat for an infant car seat. 

The couple went to the front seats, then Touya, as the driver, checked the GPS on the dashboard to see if there was any traffic. Well, there was a villain incident that was quickly handled by a hero, but a portion of the highway had to be temporarily closed, so he needed to take an alternate route.

“Looks like we need to go a different way today.” He sighed as he started driving. His wife started to look through her phone, then she got an exciting message from Natsuo. 

“Natsuo-kun will be visiting us again this weekend. Maybe he and I can go visit Okaa-sama on Sunday.” Marisa smiled as she rubbed her stomach, already forming a plan to visit Rei. Though she was slightly tense about seeing the afternoon traffic. 

“Already? It left like he went back to college yesterday.” He started to grip onto the wheel as he entered the expressway, only to be caught in-between cars. He wished they could fly over the seemingly endless cars and trucks. 

Another message popped up on her phone. “Ohhh. Looks like he’s going to bring Chihiro-san with him.” 

“Glad that she is.” He hummed as he drove at a near snail's pace. He really wanted to set the road on fire. 

“Any news regarding Shoto-kun, Sparky?” She looked at her phone for an exciting response. “Well, he is preparing to have an interview tomorrow.” He observed an opening, all while smiling about the news he had just given. Marisa’s eyes widened, blinking twice as if she was replaying what he said. “Interview? Isn’t he going to take the Entrance Exam?”

“Well, he’s doing the Recommendation Entrance Exam.” Touya’s voice was laced with pride. 

“Just like his big bro.” She commented, “The difference here is that Corusan recommended him because he’s Endeavor’s son.” 

“Come on, Shoto has great skill on his own. He just needs to realize how to use his quirk.” He let out a sharp breath through his nose, feeling unwavering certainty and frustration. He hated to think about that man, especially this early. “He is not going to use his fire. He does not want to appease that…man.” She snarked with barely concealed venom in her voice, rubbing her stomach.  

“Trust me, he will. And it will not be due to Dad or even me, but something else,” He softly disputed. A corner of his mouth twitched upward, almost like a smile. The road cleared up quietly, and so did his anger towards his father. 

---

The Eclipsing Inferno Agency was nestled in the bustling city of Yokohama. It was a five-story building painted azure and violet, the colors of the two heroes on that team. On top, there was the logo representing the famous hero couple: a waning crescent moon paired with azure flames. 

Usually, this was where the eponymous duo would brief about nightly patrols, do training together to have stronger Ultimate Moves, discuss with other heroes, write and record his next song, or occasionally banter about what to have for takeout. 

Today? Touya and Marisa are assembling a mini daycare on the fifth floor. Well, mostly Touya. Instead of the usual briefings, it was the opening of cardboard boxes. 

Marisa leaned against the doorframe with one hand gently supporting her belly while the other hid a small smile. She watched in amusement as a few Hellstage Squad members, which was Touya’s side of the support team, unrolled a soft play mat shaped like a soft yellow star, setting up storage cubes in a corner, pushing a convertible crib with wheels into the side, and adjusting a high chair to the other side. 

Meanwhile, Touya watched with his arms crossed, like a Roman emperor overseeing the construction of his city. 

“You do realize,” she mused, “this is a pro hero agency, not a childcare center.”

Touya turned, looking far too serious for someone surrounded by plush stars and starlight decals. “I know. But if you’re going to be bringing the baby when we’re working, they need space. Somewhere safe like here.”

“They won’t even be able to sit up for months.” She said with a deadpan expression. “I’m thinking ahead,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “You know, vision.”

Her eyes narrowed, just enough to suggest a smirk. “Plus, don’t you think that you’re going a bit overboard, Sparky?” Touya paused. “What makes you say that?”

She did not have to say a word. She just tilted towards a baby swing shaped like a crescent moon covered in blue flames and glanced at the stuffed constellation mobile. Touya followed her gaze on the baby items. “What? The kid will need to know our brand, y’know,” he defended. Marisa could only sigh and then smile. This was another reason she loved this man. 

Touya’s gaze drifted; his arms were falling loose at his sides. His voice, when it came again, was quieter. “I remember when I was little. Dad took me and Fuyumi to the agency sometimes. Back when I thought being part of his world meant something.” He reminisced. The pair was always excited to see his dad’s office. He remembered his dad showing him and his sister how this team operated. They had fun with the first sidekicks, seeing Enji training in his gym, and sitting on his lap in his office. 

However, it all stopped when Enji learned how Touya’s body was not built to handle Blueflame. After that, he was never taken to the Endeavor Agency again. 

He was currently the only Todoroki to remember the Endeavor Agency, let alone with fond memories. Fuyumi was long gone. Endeavor had never bothered with Natsuo, and his youngest brother, Shoto, now hated the agency, a byproduct of Endeavor's drill-sergeant-like training. “I want them to not only have good memories, but to see what kind of work their parents do.” He lamented. “I want them to be the coolest baby in Japan.” 

“You mean, besides having the coolest parents in Japan?” She asked, stepping forward, her arms circling him with a softness that dissolved whatever tension still lingered in his frame. His hand settled along her jaw, his thumb tracing the corner of her mouth like he was admiring her celestial beauty. The flaming couple’s eyes locked onto each other with adoration.

She leaned toward him to kiss. It was not passionate, nor was it dramatic. It is soft, grounding. Her lips pressed to his with the kind of patience that only came from knowing someone’s worst days and loving them anyway. He kissed back, bringing in an extinguishing sense of calm to himself. Her hand brushed the edge of a scar on his lower back, not flinching, not pretending it wasn’t there.

A small flicker of flame danced unexpectedly from his mouth. He pulled back, blinking in surprise. They paused—then laughed.

Later, the evening sky took over Yokohama City, painting the urban landscape in hues of orange and purple. Inside the agency, a quiet tranquility settled over the hero couple. After setting up their mini daycare, they decided to go on their modified schedule. It was the usual: training, patrolling, eating a late dinner, more training, cooldown, then watching a TV show while waiting for any news.

Soon, their assistant with long blue hair, moving in a wave motion, came in. “Oh, hi there, Suzumi-san, how are you?” Marisa greeted their joint assistant. “Feeling great, Marisa-senpai.” Suzumi beamed. Suzumi Murasame was a part of Marisa’s support team, Luna Lineup, shortly after the establishment of Hoshikawa. Reliable, swift, and constantly updating, Suzumi was the pillar of operations. 

She briefed the couple on the latest news and calls since their departure the previous night. Shoowaysha Publishing's joint interview request had been automatically declined, while Esuha had approved Touya for a concert. Marisa's schedule now included a Lune Éclat commercial, with her stipulation that only her upper body would be shown. A well-known plush company had offered to create adorable dolls of the couple. Marisa, who already had a fashion doll toy modeled after her, wasn't keen, but Touya liked the concept.

It would not hurt to have a couple of plushes for their kid. 

The sun had fully set into the night, with its luminous rays merging away from the dark sky. Touya heard an announcement from the Hellstage Squad. “What is it?” He wondered with excitement. 

It was an alert from downtown. A bank robbery is in progress. Three suspects and a getaway driver.

It was time to be a hero.

“Looks like a fight and recovery job.” Touya got up from the couch, which caused Marisa to become alert. 

“A bit earlier than usual, huh?” Felt slight kicks from her womb, she rubbed her stomach to calm the baby. 

“Yeah. Some villains decided to rob a bank during the closing hours. Y’know, the usual type.” He started to put on his costume, starting with his dark blue heat-resistant pants and utility belt. 

“Looks like I am on mission control again,” Marisa grumbled. 

“Come on, you want to continue participating. Plus, we have the Selenian drones now, so you can help me out.” He tried to cheer her up about her current situation, putting on his black gloves and dark blue shirt with blue highlights. 

Marisa raised an eyebrow. “You seem so happy to be solo right now.” 

Touya nearly stumbled when he was putting on his boots.

“Hey, can’t you fight out there while carrying our fiery bun. It’s bad for your health.” As much as he joked about it, he knew how much his wife missed being in the field. 

He checked on his cooling unit, making sure that it would be up and running when he needed it. Can not take any chances. He then put on his overcoat. It was a dark blue overcoat with a high collar and blue highlights. Touya put it on before putting on the cooling unit on his back. He let Blueflame stream across the overcoat and shirt. All while he stayed unharmed. 

He was now Ember Pyre. 

He looked at the flaming blue bass guitar placed on the display, behind protective glass. After some internal debate, he decided not to take it with him tonight. Besides, he needed to be fast, and these guys just stole some money. 

“Go get them, Ember Pyre.” She kissed him on the lips before heading down to Mission Control. 

Feeling a boost of confidence, the full-costumed hero looked up, ready for takeoff. 

“Another day, another batch of idiotic villains.” Ember Pyre sighed before launching himself into the night sky.

---

The air was thick with tension, sirens wailing in the distance as a black getaway car sped through the streets, weaving recklessly around traffic. Inside, a gang of masked thieves clutched stolen cash and valuables, and the getaway driver’s eyes darted to the rearview mirror.

“That was too easy!” The ring leader guffawed as he looked through the cash. “Yeah! No All Might! No Endeavor! We are scot-free!” The getaway driver laughed. The thieves laughed with him. 

However, their premature celebration was short-lived as one of the thieves looked up at the sky. Ember Pyre’s Blue Hell Jacket fluttered as flames curled around him. He ignited his Ember Flight Thrusters, allowing him to hover mid-air easily. The flames around his boots and lower back pulsed rhythmically as he adjusted his trajectory, hovering over the area of the speeding vehicle. 

“They are driving at about 160 kph near an industrial area,” Moonbeam informed Ember Pyre through his communicator. 

“In other words, Dumb and Dumber are speeding around some factories, which increases their likelihood of crashing into something heavy.” He said, scanning for the car. “Take a turn on the right and cast downward. I have already let out two Selenian drones in your area.”

The Selenian drones were a pair of modified drones, which were moonlit in color and shaped like crescent shurikens. They belong to Moonbeam, as she used the pair to scan around the area since her Crescent could not allow her to see through them. Despite being off the field, she had no issue using them for Ember Pyre’s support. 

“Try not to burn down anything too expensive this time.” She replied before sending him the map of the car’s direction to his visor. “Fast with the warnings. Timing me yet again?” He teased as the first Selenian drone, being about the size of his forearm, arrived next to him.

“Well, you said that you want to work on your speed. Now, you need to land close to Building 3 on Block 12. “I have sent two drones to the safe zone. Whatever you do, don’t burst into flames.” His wife bantered, watching through the first drone’s camera. 

“Got it, Moonlight.” He confirmed, setting his sights on the car. 

The thieves paled as soon as they saw the young hero. As much as they researched how to evade All Might or Endeavor in Kamino at night, they failed to realize that they had entered Eclipsing Inferno’s territory. Or that the hero couple is usually active at night. 

“It is Ember Pyre!” One of the thieves shrieked. 

The Top Hero smirked as he clicked open his Ignition Gauntlets. He knows this will be an easy night. 

“Shit! Drive faster!” The ringleader shouted out. The getaway driver pushed the gas pedal, but it was not enough to save them from their stupidity. 

With a sudden burst of propulsion, Ember Pyre shot downward, firing a concentrated blast of Blueflame in front of the car. The asphalt exploded into a controlled inferno, forcing the driver to swerve violently. The vehicle skidded sideways. This allowed the second Selenian drone, which was larger, to release its large hook and fly in the opposite direction, preventing the car from flipping over.

Ember Pyre landed smoothly in front of the car. He stepped forward, steam rising from his body as the Thermal Equalizer Core on his back let out a subtle hiss, stabilizing his temperature.

“I’m starting to think you guys hadn’t thought your cunning plan through.” 

The young hero ribbed. This caused the ringleader to charge towards him. With a quick burst from his thrusters, he sidestepped effortlessly, launching a small burst towards the knife. The thief cried out as the knife’s blade heated up instantly, forcing him to drop it.

Ember Pyre flipped him onto the pavement, pinning him down with ease. The others turned to flee, but with a punch onto the asphalt, the hero released a controlled shockwave of Blueflame around them, boxing them in. The inferno roared but never spread— perfectly contained.

The thieves froze in place, trapped. They knew they were done for. 

“How long was that, Moonlight?” He was expecting something like three minutes and thirty-two seconds. “That was two minutes and twenty-eight seconds. That’s a new record.” Moonbeam informed him, sounding impressed. 

“Thanks. Learned the speed from Ingenium.” He briefly reminisced about his internship days. 

“You’re getting faster.” She praised her husband. “Oh, I’ll take that as a compliment.” Ember Pyre nearly blushed at her words. Of course, she would flirt with him at a time like this. Just another night for Eclipsing Inferno. 

As the police arrived, Ember Pyre dusted off his hands proudly, and the first Selenian drone extinguished the flames to make a safe detainment. He saw the robbers getting arrested without resistance before the news vans drove toward the scene. He knew the routine. ‘Just smile, answer questions, then leave.’ He thought as the reporters and their respective cameramen stepped out, along with civilians, a crowd started to form. 

“It is Ember Pyre! Half of Eclipsing Inferno!” One redhead reporter beamed, nearly tripping on her heels due to the excitement of meeting him personally. 

“The Blazing Hero has stopped a robbery and a high-speed chase!” A brunette reporter exulted, also seeming to race against the red-headed reporter. 

Being the first to get up close and personal, a blonde reporter queried, “You’ve been praised for your tactical flame work recently, especially in urban settings. Has your hero's work evolved with your current ranking as Number Eight?” Then nearly shoved a microphone to his face. 

“Ranking or not, I’m just trying not to burn down the city. So yeah… You could say I’m evolving.” He quipped as he adjusted his Ignition Gauntlets. He gave her a cocky smile, playing the act of the aloof hero type. He knew this would frustrate a certain hero. 

“There’s been some speculation about Moonbeam possibly being pregnant. We’ve noticed she’s been absent from hero patrols lately, and she was seen at an astronomy event in looser clothing than usual. Any comment on the rumor that your wife is pregnant?” The brunette reporter interjected.

“She’s the moon. Sometimes you only see part of her, but she’s always there.” He explained as he cut her off. He was careful not to confirm or deny that he would have a little star soon. 

“Clear the area, please! Pro hero work is complete, and we need to secure the area!” A police officer shouted out, making sure that no one else was getting too close to the crime scene. Then a trio of teenagers ran up to him just behind the safety barrier, their eyes wide with awe.

“You were so cool, Ember Pyre!” A slime teenage boy gushed.

“When is the next album coming out!?”  A tall teenage boy questioned.

“Can you do your flare-up concert here!?” A teenage girl pleaded in excitement. 

He imagined his concert, with him spewing a swirl of blue and white, the overwhelming blaze of justice as he used his bass guitar and sang his theme song. Then he imagined Marisa, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised, reminding him that he did not have time. 

“Sorry, guys. I can not do a concert here or else Moonbeam would drag me out by the ear.” He sighed before his mood shot up to excite his fans. “BUT, I will have one this Friday at the Esuha Plaza. So better get ready for it.” The teenagers were practically shaking upon hearing that. 

Ember Pyre touched the communicator again. “Tell Moonbeam we’re clear.”

“Are you going to tell our kid about tonight?”

He smiled faintly. “Yeah. I’ll tell them the moon lit my way, like always.”

He turned, letting the flames die down. The night breeze ruffled his coat. Somewhere above, the moon glowed faintly. It was waning, but constant.

Ember Pyre smiled as the crowd cheered him on. It felt great to get praise for his quirk, resourcefulness, and anti-hero style. He knew that he was going to spend the rest of the night with Marisa. This included talking about his mission to his unborn child as his wife tried not to laugh. 

However, as much as he felt gratified by the crowd, he got a hidden hollow feeling. He knew that no matter how many lives he saved, villains he arrested, heroes he assisted, his sister was not there. 

Is this enough? Would Fuyumi like this? How would she react to seeing him do his hero work? What would she look like? Their mom? Would Fuyumi praise him for this? Chastised him for doing so much damage?

Would she even be proud of him? 

He hated to imagine her as if she were alive. It reminded him of how he stole that opportunity from her. He quickly pulled himself from such thoughts. 

He knew he could not change the past. 

He knew he should not think about what her future would be. 

He knew he did not have the right to do so. 

All he could do was smile, wave, and give autographs before leaving. “As much as I want to stay here and hang out, I gotta go. Besides, better leave before my old man gets here.” He chuckled. His Ember Flight Thrusters helped him release a careful and controlled burst of Blueflame to launch him from the ground and fly back to his agency. 

‘I wish you were here to see this, Fuyumi.’ He thought solemnly. 

In a dark alley far, a strange woman wearing bandages and ragged clothes looked on the scene. No one noticed her as she walked further from the crowd, deeper in the dark alleyway. All while clutching her fists. 

Notes:

The idea of Touya also being a rock star came from mNakahara98. She drew a Butch Hartman-style Dabi and made him like Ember McClain. That's why I made the hero name for him as a reference since I love Danny Phantom.
Marisa is my own OC. I created her as a part of my Nurse Deku UA, where she is the Hecate to Izuka's Persephone. If you want to know more, ask me on my Tumblr.

Notes:

If you want to ask me about TOTIM or anything related to it, you can go to @queenofcandynsoda in Tumblr.