Chapter 4: Past (#16)

Arguments between them were few and far in between. They were usually severe enough that hurt feelings would drive both to suffer in silence for days until one, usually Todoroki, would crack and apologize first. The other would always easily forgive because they knew in some small way that whatever issues they had stemmed from the same beautiful place that drove them to always seek each other out.

However, knowing all that did not make the fighter any easier.

They were professional heroes. They were mature enough not to let whatever was happening between them interfere with their work. Yet once the missions were over, that was an entirely different battlefield.

Todoroki ran a hand through his bangs, the mundane task of filling out paperwork proving to be far too much for his mind to focus on right then. Across the room, past all the busy traffic of the office, several desks over, smart half-rim reading glasses perched on her nose was Yaoyorozu working busily on her own formidable pile of reports. She's not looking in his direction, that wasn't her way. When she was upset Momo bottled things up, throwing herself into work and looking out for others, ignoring her own needs. She didn't mean to do it, it was simply who she was.

He hated fighting with her. He knew he could be proud. Enough so that he didn't see her point of view even when she was making a valid point. Generally he wouldn't refer to himself as being stubborn, though he supposed there could be those who would disagree, but he considered himself to be reasonable when the situation called for it. Todoroki knew that the original purpose for their explosive disagreement didn't matter. He just wanted it gone. The last thing he wanted was what happened two years prior.

Only one person knew that at one time Todoroki Shouto and Yaoyorozu Momo, the couple that had been dating since third year, had split. Only Jirou had been aware and she had kept her mouth shut, though she glared at Todoroki whenever she caught sight of him. It hadn't been anything either of them had done really. The two were just so busy as pro heroes, Momo taking on a side job as a researcher's assistant that coupled with all the hero work kept her out of the house and on call at all hours. The separation lasted months. Their friends assumed that they were still in contact, managing the stress of maintaining a relationship while answering the demands of their jobs. Kaminari and Ashido called them the power couple. It was sweet but at the time it had only made them feel even more hollow than they did. Even when they tried to speak, usually in the office, something would interfere and they began avoiding each other. Until a day came that made them realize that they still cared too much to be apart.

A group of villains were laying waste to the city and scores of heroes had been called in to handle the situation. She had just saved an elderly couple when one of the villains had charged at her. Momo defended herself and went on the attack, nearly defeating him when a second and third appeared, backing her into a corner.

Not far from her Todoroki had apprehended one of the villains when Bakugo flew by, appearing overwhelmed as he took on a number of them. Todoroki made to help when Bakugo furiously shouted in his direction. "GO HELP PONYTAIL! SHE'S OUTNUMBERED!" Todoroki had only stared for a second before his words sunk in and the area exploded in flames.

The sound of the explosion drew the attention of her attackers and Yaoyorozu had a chance to look in the distance. There she saw a figure emerge from a boiling inferno, sliding towards her on a river of ice as his left side was completely obscured by fire.

Together the two heroes made short work of their foes and when Momo finished tying up the last of them she found herself roughly yanked into a pair of strong arms. And just like that the months of uncertainty coupled with loneliness were gone as Momo buried herself into his embrace, pulling away to smother him with a searing kiss before they broke apart, sharing a glance that held so much and quickly getting back to work. He was back in their apartment that same night. They woke the next morning in each other's arms, on the couch, and a chin-raised Mochi watching them with a judging gaze from atop the cushions.

Yes, arguments between them were few and far in between. Something else Todoroki remembered from them as he got up and approached her desk was that they were also very much not worth it.

So when he reached her desk and she looked up at him quizzically he knew that there was only one way to make things right. He grabbed her hand and in full view of everyone pulled her up and into an all-encompassing embrace, smiling softly when he felt her wrap her arms around him and squeeze back.

Owari~

Gotta give my pair a little bit of drama. Lol.

Fourth one down. Twenty-six more to go!