Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia. I do however, own the world I invented.

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Follow You

Outside, through the layers of invaluable metals and the latest in shield technology, lazy asteroids tumbled along through their field. With a flick of his wrist, the optic panels embedded into the wall shifted from a dark, comforting green into a window into the cosmos. Nebulas of color, rainbows shifting phosphorescently through golds and blues, purples and pinks. A family of Balaena Stella, commonly known as Space Whales, if unoriginal, float by. They sing to each other, silvery hides shimmering with the reflections from the ship. They're docile but venomous. Best to be admired from afar. He watches the creatures, dancing in the stars, and fingers the ring on his left hand….

The vastness of space never ceased to amaze Todoroki Shouto. He'd been groomed his entire life to lead the U.P.A Space Fleet as Admiral. His father had bred him to lead, using the top genetic scientists to create the perfect soldier. His father trained him, beat him, tortured him to ensure that the Todoroki name would be synonymous with power.

Todoroki Enji had been Vice Admiral of the United Planetary Alliance; bitter that he was never quite good enough to outrank his rival, Toshinori Yagi. Not that his destroyer, Endeavour, was a ship to be laughed at. It just wasn't All Might. It should have been All Might. Well. Shouto would secede them all. There wasn't even a question to it.

At fifteen, Enji shipped his son off to the Academy. And it was the first time that Shouto had ever been allowed to breathe. And with breathing, came rebellion.

Todoroki sat in the corner of his class on that first day. Quiet, subdued. He tried to remain invisible but threatening, keeping his posture stiff and heterochromatic eyes forward facing. With his duo-tone hair and mismatched gaze, it was clear that he was a genetic. The pseudo-insult used for engineered human babies. Genetics were rare among commoners, but grew in popularity the higher your social or military ranking went. Children that had been manufactured to stand on equal footing with other sentient species. They'd been implanted with biotech that allowed them to manipulate matter; born with better reflexes, more stamina, greater immunity. To some they were an abomination. To most they were just part of the universe, coexisting with the natural born in ease.

His class had a couple of other genetics from what he could tell, a few naturals that had either been born rich enough to buy—or lucky enough to be evolutionarily gifted with their own biotechs. A few different species including a pink-skinned Martian with bug-like eyes and antenna(possibly horns, Shouto wasn't inclined enough to ask). Most of his classmates flitted about with nervous energy, introducing themselves and stumbling over their words.

Todoroki apparently gave off the expression he was going for because every one who looked his way quickly changed their minds about approaching him. Except…

A small frown fell onto his face as the skinny boy in front of him grinned wildly, holding out his hand. "I'm Midoriya Izuku!" he quipped, his green eyes crinkling with his smile. He ran his left hand awkward through his wild, curly hair: just as emerald as his piercing eyes.

It was habit, a learned behavior from constantly being paraded around social gatherings by his father, that caused Shouto to extend his right hand and grip the other boy's firmly. "Todoroki Shouto."

"Oh wow! Todoroki? As in Captain of the Endeavour? Vice Admiral of the entire fleet? That Todoroki?" Midoriya swung a chair in front of his desk and straddled it. His elbows resting on the top of the table, causing Shouto to grimace at his lack of tact. Must be a low born, lucky enough to earn admittance into the Academy. He won't last, Shouto thought.

"That would be my father. Enji," he said the name as if it was poison on his tongue. If Midoriya noticed, he didn't mention it.

"Wow! You must be amazing then! All my life I've wanted to be in the S.F. I never thought I'd actually make it here. It's kind of like a dream. Being surrounded by my heroes." Izuku rambled on, Shouto listened with a quirked eyebrow. What a curious boy. Does he stop talking to breathe I wonder? "So, like, Endeavour is an amazing ship. I mean, I personally prefer All Might, but Endeavour is awesome too! Jeez, listen to me. I'm probably annoying you."

Todoroki didn't reply, he didn't have to because at that moment an angry yell startled the entire room, "DEKU? How the fuck are you here?! What are you doing?" An explosive boy barreled past everyone in his way and wrenched Midoriya up by his shirt collar.

"Oh, hi Kacchan," the green haired boy paled, his voice much softer.

"Don't fucking call me that, Deku! How are you here? Is this your idea of a fucking joke?"

He flinched his head away, a small blush dusting his freckled cheeks. "I-"

"—That is enough. Everybody sit down before you're all expelled." At that voice, the room was a cacophony of sliding chairs and ruffling papers before dying off into an uncomfortable silence. At the head of the class, a tall, slender man stood at the podium. His eyes were red-rimmed and bluish circles sunk them into his skull. Long, wavy black hair was pulled out of his face by a wrap of white bandages that encircled his neck and down his arms. He hadn't shaved and appeared to be seconds from toppling over into a deep sleep. "My name is Aizawa Shouta. I'm your professor." He said professor as if it was a threat, like executioner.

Turns out, Aizawa just looked like that. He noticed everything and constantly remained on high-alert. He told them his story, he worked undercover as a spy and did unmentionables as a black ops agent. He had retired that life to teach "you fucking disasters" five years prior and "for some reason, have been teaching ever since because of masochism or some shit."

Most of his peers instantly took a liking to their professor. His speech laced with curses, treating them with respect, unwilling to sugarcoat a word. For many, it was their first time being treated like adults. For Todoroki, it was crass and maybe a tad amusing.

First week into the academy, Shouto realized that Midoriya worked harder than any of them. He also connected with everyone like a natural leader. People gravitated to him. Izuku was the sun and everything was caught in his orbit. Todoroki tried to dislike him. He tried to ignore him. But he fell into that pull harder than he ever intended.

That was why, during the annual Academy festival—where they held mock battles: spatial, airborne, and grounded. Mechanized, weaponized, hand-to-hand, and vehicular. A showcase of the future—he told Midoriya everything.

The most anticipated event every year was the fleet combat. Two students were thrown into an AI as respective admirals, in control of a fleet warring between one another. The matches were drawn randomly. So really, Shouto hadn't been worried at all. There was such a large pool of names, he would surely pair outside of his class and crush the competition easily. His opponent was announced as if it didn't just flip Shouto's world on its axis. Todoroki Shouto versus Midoriya Izuku. They had 24 hours, one Earth day, to prepare. Todoroki felt the weight in his stomach and the knot in his throat as he locked eyes with Izuku. Oh, well. Fuck.

"Midoriya!"

"Huh? Oh, hey Todoroki!" Izuku stopped walking to let Shouto jog up to him.

Todoroki had not thought this idea to fruition before sprinting up to his new rival. He stammered on his words, the shorter boy watching him amusedly with a green brow quirked. With a sigh, Shouto ran his hand through his hair. As it fell from his fingers, some strands mismatched. White blips against red. Red blips against white. It gave the impression that he was disorganized and very un-Todoroki. Worry crossed those green irises. Frustrated he asked, "Listen. Can you come back to my dorm? I'll make you coffee or tea or whatever you like and we can talk."

Midoriya's friends, Uraraka and Iida, hovered nearby, concerned.

Iida Tenya might as well be royalty. His family traced through generations of nobility and great leaders. Centuries back, dating as far as the dark days of Earth when their ancestors barely managed a trip to the moon and space was mainly a world of science fiction. All Iidas were natural born, made from love between parents. Enji thought that made them lesser. Shouto thought it made them admirable. Tenya was tall, broad shouldered, and long legged. His biotech was designed for speed. He could race any land vehicle and fly without the need for a jetpack. The light caught against his glasses as he turned his head towards Todoroki.

Uraraka Ochako had thick, brown hair and a round face. Her eyes were large. "Midoriya?" her voice was soft and had a lunar accent. Earthlings had terraformed the moon several centuries ago and had slowly evolved into a new species, homo lunarius. Nearly identical to their sapien counterpart, their biology had shifted to better accommodate the lower gravity of the moon.

"Go on guys," Izuku flashed his famous smile, the one that illuminated his entire face and caused the corners of his eyes to crinkle. They continued down the hallway with a brief glance backwards. "You okay, Todoroki?" he asked nonchalantly as they trekked through the halls. His hands stuffed into his pockets, posture relaxed; it made Shouto nervous.

The awkward air floated between them. "I'm fine," he replied, short. Several floors up he pressed his palm to a hand scanner on the wall and the panel obediently slid away.

"Welcome, Shouto. Welcome, Izuku," a robotic voice greeted them.

"ASHIR, set a kettle to brew," Todoroki told the AI as he slipped off his boots, leaving them strewn carelessly by the door.

"Understood." From deeper in his room the stovetop clicked on with a tiny hiss.

Midoriya hesitated about removing his shoes. In the end, he kicked them off and padded over to Todoroki's couch. He sat cross legged and watched as Shouto nervously drifted to the kitchen without a word. "Weird," he said to himself with a shrug. "ASHIR, play the highlights from today's events."

"Yes, Izuku." The wall changed from a solid gray to an illuminated screen. Midoriya concentrated, occassionally murmuring something to himself, scribbling on his data pad.

Todoroki watched from the doorway as the kettle came to boil. He found himself looking less at the replays from that day's events and more at the boy seated on his furniture. He threw his hand against his hair again, the colors settling into their respective positions. The AI switched the burner off as the water whistled and broke Shouto's shameless staring.

"Uh. I have Jasmine, Chamomile, Lavender, and Matcha," he called into the other room. "What would you prefer?"

"I'll take Matcha, thanks Todoroki."

He poured the water into two cups, added the green powder to one and a mixture of calming Chamomile and lavender to seep into the other. Izuku smiled at him as he took his saucer. "ASHIR, mute the volume."

"Yes, Izuku."

The green haired boy blew against his beverage steam coiling from the liquid. "What's up, Todoroki?" he asked with that smile.

Shouto looked at his hands to avoid the piercing emerald. "I just…" Breathe, Shouto. You stupid moron. He traced the raised flesh on the left side of his face. "I could easily have a med bay fix this scar," he began and Midoriya was perceptive enough to listen interestedly, setting his tea to the side. "But. I don't want to. It's a reminder. M-my mother, her name is Rei, she gave me this scar." Izuku inhaled sharply but didn't interrupt. "Because. Enji, my father, is an evil man. I'm sure you figured out that I'm a genetic." He held his right hand out toward Izuku, briefly encircled by frost. When he opened his fist, he dropped a small ice sculpture into Midoriya's open palm. A Space Whale, sparkling under the ceiling lights. "But I'm… unique. My father had three children before the scientists could get it right."

He held his left hand out, gesturing for Izuku to give him back the sculpture. He did so, with curious eyes. Shouto grimaced as, under the ice, a flame flickered to life. The whale melted, disappeared into a puff of evaporation. Midoriya gasped softly, "Two biotechs? I didn't think that was possible."

Todoroki pulled his left hand away and balled it into a fist in his lap, covering it with his right in shame. "Yeah. Most don't. As far as I'm aware, I'm the first. And only. My father thought a man with two powers, complimenting each other, would be unstoppable. So he had them install his fire. And my mother's ice. The scientists made them coexist in me. I wish… they failed. I wish I'd never been born," his voice was barely a whisper.

Midoriya made a small choking noise and squeezed Todoroki's knee. He looked like he wanted to speak but Shouto wasn't finished. He continued, "My father expects. Rather, demands, that I become Admiral. And he'll do anything to ensure that." The tears flowed as much as he fought against them. "And he broke my mom. A man so cruel that a mother fears her child because he has that same fire. And in that fear, she saw Enji in me and threw boiling water upon my face. Burn the tyrant away.

"Father had her committed. At least she's away from him now. But I miss her. I miss my mom." He hung his head, covering his left side as his hair fell into his eyes.

"I bet she misses you, too," Izuku said in the silence as Shouto took a shuddering breath.

"Anyway," Todoroki continued, ignoring the comment, "I thought you should know a bit more about me before… I'm not really sure what possessed me, actually." He lifted his tea and took several deep swigs, closing his eyes.

Midoriya nodded silently and joined him in drinking.

"ASHIR, volume on," Shouto commanded. The commentary of Yamada Hizashi filled the room and the two academy students watched the holo-panels. "Bakugo is a force to be reckoned with. Are you two friends?" Todoroki made idle conversation as Bakugo Katsuki demolished a sheet of concrete on the screen, his brow contorted in anger.

"Once upon a time, maybe. I've known him since I was two." Midoriya sounded melancholy but Todoroki didn't push him to further explain. "He's too hot headed. That'll be his downfall. He can't check emotion out at the door."

Todoroki replied with a shrug, "That isn't necessarily a bad trait. Admiral Toshinori fights passionately. I can't imagine the man he would be without his smile."

They drank their tea and commentated on the highlights. When Midoriya reached the dregs he stood and stretched. "Well. Thank you, Todoroki." He held out his hand and Shouto took it and squeezed firmly. "I'll see you tomorrow. Best of luck."

The hallways were fairly deserted as he strolled back towards his own room. It was quite the surprise when he nearly collided with another human. The man was tall and burly, with fiery red hair and goatee. He recognized the Vice Admiral instantaneously. Midoriya opened his mouth to apologize but Todoroki Enji spoke first. "Tch," he rolled his eyes like Izuku was an insect in his way. "Watch yourself. You're the boy that'll be facing my Shouto, aren't you?"

"I-"

"You behave like Yagi. You strategize like him as well." The man runs his fingers over his mustache. "Shouto's goal in life is to surpass Toshinori. You'll be a good stepping stone."

He turned to walk away, smirking down at Izuku. "I'm not Toshinori Yagi," Midoriya snapped, recalling the conversation he and the younger Todoroki had shared. That was enough to make the Vice Admiral stop and watch him with narrowed eyes. "And your son, he isn't you." Green lightning sparked up his arms as he stared the taller man down. "Everything he achieves will be because of him. Not because of you." Izuku pushed passed Enji, not giving him time to reply.

The day of their battle was bright and warm. The stands were crowded and nearly every television across the galaxy had tuned it at some point to observe the festival.

Todoroki Shouto stood tall with his shoulders back and head held high. He clasped his hands together behind his back. Across from him, Midoriya Izuku mirrored his posture. Both of them were dressed in their uniforms, freshly pressed. Todoroki focused on looking into Midoriya's piercing green eyes. His father was seated nearby and Shouto was determined to ignore his flaming gaze. The corners of Izuku's lips twitched upwards as he offered the genetic a reassuring smile. We're about to fight each other and still he motions to encourage his competition. Midoriya… You're an enigma. Shouto listened to himself speaking in his head, accepting the smile with one of his own.

Yamada Hizashi addressed the crowd, introducing Todoroki and Midoriya and building up hype. "Gentlemen," he finally spoke directly to them. "Prepare to upload into the battle field."

With one more shared smile they grasped one another's hand and bowed their heads respectfully. "Good luck, Midoriya."

"And you, Todoroki."

They separated as they were led off the main stage, staff strapping them into the immersion suits. When Todoroki opened his eyes, the helmet fully secured over his bicolored head, he was on the deck of a battleship. The crew awaited his orders. You can do this Shouto. Without Enji.

The virtual battle raged, Midoriya and Todoroki trading ship for ship and blow for blow. They stood on equal footing. The hours melded away in a cacophony of frazzled shields and burnt metal.

Eventually, the two of them met head on, in a hand to hand combat, their vehicles destroyed and crews subdued. Shouto was trembling, frost caught in his hair and dusted over his uniform.

Midoriya panted, clutching his broken hand. "You're slowing down, Todoroki," he shouted. "I see what you're doing. And you won't win if you refuse to use your left side." A cone of ice flashed his way but Izuku easily sidestepped it. "You're going to give yourself hypothermia."

"I can do this without him," Shouto huffed.

"He isn't here! Look around you Todoroki! Your father isn't here." He threw another lightning packed punch, colliding with his opponent's stomach. Shouto doubled over, caught himself with a wall of ice, and spat phlegm and blood on the ground. He staggered, swiping the dribble of blood from his mouth with his sleeve. "You're not only insulting yourself but you're also insulting me. I expected one hundred percent from you, Todoroki. I deserve your all. Not this fifty percent, suicidal crap." Izuku's chest rose and fell heavily but determination set in his features. His eyes misted. "You won't win if you won't use your fire."

Shouto's voice was small as he replied, "It's not mine. It's his fire. I don't need it. I don't need him."

"It is not his, Todoroki Shouto! This power is yours. You are not your father. You are Todoroki Shouto. You are fifteen years old. You are an excellent student. You are passionate and kind. You are in the top class in the top academy because you earned your place. You train. You study. You are a worthy adversary. You are fire and ice. And you are not your fucking father." The audience watched the paused combat through the screens that connected them to the virtual battlefield, unable to hear the words exchanged but able to read the passion that zipped between them. Izuku charged, green electricity coursing through his veins. As he reached Todoroki, the field erupted in flame.

Any remaining ice hissed into steam as the fire roared to life. A monstrosity of crimson waves dancing across the battlefield. The vision began to clear as the flames obediently died into embers and in the middle of it all, Midoriya Izuku, an unconscious heap on the ground.

Todoroki didn't hear Yamada Hizashi announce his victory. He was running, stumbling over his own feet to reach Midoriya. "Izuku!" he screeched, not realizing he'd used the boy's given name. Half way across the field, his vision fell away. The roar of the crowd assaulted his ears as the helmet was lifted off his head, disconnecting him from the battle. It took a moment for him to orient himself, shaking free of the remaining virtual ties. When he saw Midoriya, his own helmet removed and eyes closed, he struggled to his feet, batting away the hands attempting to subdue him. He pulled himself free of the immersion suit with a hiss of pain and bolted for the wavy, green hair.

Midoriya was pale, starkly so. His freckles stood out like beacons on his cheeks. A river of blood trickled from his nose. "Izuku!" Shouto cried out again, desperately reaching for his unconscious friend. A strong arm caught him around the middle and pulled him into a firm hug.

"Easy young Todoroki," Toshinori Yagi said into his ear. "Midoriya will be fine. They're taking him to the med bay." Shouto's knees dropped from under him and the only reason he was still standing was because of the sturdy grasp of the Admiral.

"I hurt him," he choked.

"He will be fine," Yagi repeated firmer. "Let the nurses check you over, then you can go join young Midoriya in the med bay and see for yourself." Todoroki didn't have any fight left in him as he let the admiral guide him away, focused on the emerald head slowly leaving his vision.

A couple bandages and one ice pack later (and wasn't that ironic), he was given permission to see Izuku. The boy was lying in a pod, eyes closed but clearly comfortable as his chest rose and fell evenly. The nosebleed had stopped and a sling held his injured arm steady. "Hey Todoroki," he said, without opening his eyes.

"M-Midoriya." Shouto collapsed into the chair beside him, voice strained. "I'm so sorr-" but Midoriya didn't let him finish his apology.

His eyes cracked open as he turned his head toward Todoroki. "Beautiful," he sighed breathily.

"W-wha'?"

"Your fire. Was absolutely beautiful." Midoriya smiled and the grin lit up his entire face. "You're amazing, Todoroki!" Shouto felt the tips of his ears burn. "Thank you, for giving it your all. And thank you for trusting me with your ice and fire." He held his free hand out, "We will have a rematch one day, Todoroki. And we will both operate at one hundred percent from the beginning."

Shouto gripped Izuku's hand and let a briefest surge of heat flow from his fingers into Midoriya's. "It's a deal."

There was that smile again and a weight lifted from Todoroki's shoulders only to settle firmly in his belly with the butterflies. Oh. Well I'm screwed, he thought as he leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes.

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A/N: Please review!