Chapter 7

He hadn't managed to get his name onto the paperwork before one of the doctor's darted out to inform him of Air-Lock waking up. Air hadn't managed to leave the doctor's mouth before Todoroki was gone, into the room. Air-Lock's laid there on the bed, heart monitor steadily beating at its proper pace. Relief flooded through him. Todoroki stood, putting the paperwork down on the chair, "How are you feeling?"

Air-Lock attempted to look at him, as best he could turn with a neck brace on. "I'm fine." Air-Lock attempted to suppress a groan of pain from moving. Todoroki cringed. Air-Lock was covered in injuries. Not only the obvious neck injury, but they likely had several broken ribs and bruises up their arm. Todoroki bowed his head, "I'm sorry. I should've been protecting you. I should be the one in this bed right now."

"Nah, it's a symbol of honor. I put a bad guy in jail and protected the innocents. Who else do you think is going to return with such a cool story from their internship? I not only brawled my first villain, but I also met Todoroki-sama's wife, and I got to put that villain in jail." Air-Lock paused, eyes shifting towards him, "I hope you're not the jealous type, we both know that their first question is going to be how pretty your wife is."

Todoroki stifled a laugh. He was trying to sincerely apologize and here Air-Lock was attempting to make him laugh.

"And man, is your wife pretty."

"Um, Air-Lock….Uraraka's not my wife."

"Ah, um, but you two….and then Yuki…wait." Air-Lock attempted to sit up, questions running through their eyes.

"Wait, don't-"

"I've got to know! You can't just drop this on me now! I've been calling her Todoroki for days! That's so embarrassing! What's your relationship?" Air-Lock managed to sit up, sending alerts to the nurses. One rushed in glancing at the two of them and releasing an exasperated sigh.

"If you two are going to set the alarm off call us first and be patient, we'll fix it." She grumbled, reaching above Air-Lock and shutting the alarm off. "It's off, but when you leave make sure to inform us so we can turn it back on."

Todoroki glanced between the two of them, "I'm not leaving. I'll stay here."

"Sir, you can't…"

"I can't have another villain attack them while Air-Lock is down and out, you'll have to force me to leave, and I'm sure you'll find even the strongest heroes will struggle in that coercion."

The nurse sighed, exasperated, before storming out of the room without an answer.

"You think she's going to go get someone to remove you?" Air-Lock shifted themselves up, leaning on the back of the bedpost.

Todoroki smiled, "She's probably called a hero in an attempt to remove me to call my bluff. But if anyone was paying attention earlier they'll probably just laugh at her.

Air-Lock shifted, "What happened earlier?"

"The one who handled the case was Ground Zero, and Deku had been in only moments before. Uraraka was originally called Uravity and was quite famous even as a high schooler for her abilities to handle hero responsibilities."

Air-Lock puffed their cheeks attempting to suppress a laugh, "I want to see her face so bad. That would be hysterical." Air-Lock's eyes shifted, "But that doesn't make up for not telling me Uraraka wasn't your wife. How am I supposed to address her?"

Todoroki paused. In honesty, he didn't mind that Air-Lock thought Uraraka was his wife. It was frankly something he had planned on getting used to. It wasn't like she was going anywhere, anytime soon and hadn't expressed the desire to return to her family. Todoroki's eyes shifted, it wasn't like she could say much in with the storm that was outside. He could've gotten her to her family if she desperately wanted. But right now, it was important to stay with Air-Lock.

Uraraka slid the door shut, "If it's okay with Todoroki, I think it's okay to refer to me as you have been for now."

He turned. He couldn't let her see his face begin to match his hair. Air-Lock's eyes shifted towards Todoroki, a smirk coming to the corner of their lips, "Okay, Todoroki-San."

Todoroki felt his face flush, it was warm similar to the way it had been when he made his first flames. Warm, encouraging, and exciting. Uraraka moved to the chair next to him, moving the paperwork out of the way, Todoroki turned. The Anti-Quirk Marriage paperwork. He had been planning on talking to her first about it, but not yet, her eyes skimmed over the papers. "Ah, right." Her voice was soft. It was barely audible, but he wasn't sure he wanted to hear whatever words she was going to say next. "You lived through something like that too." Her eyes darted down to Yuki briefly. "…Were you considering this?"

He shifted in his sheet, "I was looking at the paperwork, but I kept putting it to the side because of business…then you appeared the other day. I felt overwhelmed with guilt. It's partly my fault." He put his hands on top of each other tightening them. If he hadn't used his quirk so well, if it hadn't escaped how his parents had gotten married, or maybe if he had signed with these people years ago he would've been able to prevent Mr. Eden's mindset. And save Uraraka before this problem started. Air-Lock wouldn't have gotten hurt-Uraraka's hand fell on his.

"I don't blame you, besides…" Uraraka smiled at Yuki, "I'm not sure I can bring myself to hate her." She paused, tightening her arms around the bundle, "But if I do…..If I do.." A layer of water remained in Uraraka's eyes that wasn't typically there, "If I do. I trust you to take her and raise her. To take care of her."

He reached back, running a hand through Yuki's hair and then down Uraraka's cheek, wiping the tears away, "You're too kind. I will take her, but I don't think you will. You have always found the light in the darkness, it's what I like about you."

Air-Lock coughed, shifting their attention to the window a crossed the room. Todoroki glanced back at him, his eyes darting towards the oxygen level. Uraraka shifted, pulling on his sleeve, "They're fine, we're embarrassing them."

Todoroki nodded, suddenly remembering to breathe.

"I should've realized how over-protective you were sooner." Uraraka laughed. There were many occasions the average person would've never thought twice, where he darted running as fast as he could to the person. There were times it had been an embarrassment, and then there were times-his mind darted towards Stain and various other situations-where it had been just what was needed in that situation.

Deku swung the door open, eyes cast around them, betrayal quickly being masked on his face, "Todoroki, do you mind if we talk a moment?"

Todoroki glanced towards Air-Lock, Uraraka was here with them, they should be fine. He shifted moving towards Midoriya. "I'll be back shortly."

Uraraka nodded, turning to talk to Air-Lock in whatever they had been talking about in their previous interactions.

Midoriya was silent until the door was good as shut, even after that moving them down the hall towards the vending machine. Todoroki imagined this was how he felt when he cornered him during one of their first meetings about being All Might's child. There was likely a lot on his mind during that time and he had only managed to way it down with more problems.

"About Uraraka-"

"I know." Midoriya handed him a can, "What I do want to know is why didn't you contact us? You should've stayed with your agency, there were plenty of people who could help you there and you would've remained safe until Kaachan and I arrived."

Midoriya was right there wasn't much he could do to combat that logic. "I know." He paused. "I was concerned about anyone finding about Uraraka and reporting back to Mr. Eden, and I thought it'd be safer if-"

"Dammit, Todoroki, after all of these years you think you'd learn to rely on other's for once."

Midoriya was right.

He was also failing as a teacher. On top of not teaching Air-Lock quirk control, he was incapable of teaching teamwork made him incapable of teaching a leadership role. "Deku, would you take Air-Lock from under my care? I-"

"Only if he wishes it. I'm sure Air-Lock has had plenty of time to get to know you. We'll talk more later, but next time rely on us." Deku glanced towards his watch, "I've got to go, but I'll talk to my agency to bring bodyguards for Air-Lock, remember to get some sleep."

Todoroki nodded, bringing himself back into the room, Uraraka was rapidly talking to Air-Lock, they were deep in conversation about combat and hand-to-hand. "Oh, and that other thing you did with the roof I want to be able to do things like that!" Air-Lock surely would've been leaning into every word Uraraka said if they weren't trapped to the bed due to injuries.

"I'm sure it'll come in time, but you've got to be very careful with your quirk it'll help a lot more with precision." She nodded. He moved, sitting next to her.

Todoroki turned his attention back to Air-Lock, "Once you're done if you decide you're unhappy with your internship here-"

Air-Lock attempted to sit up, pushing themselves against the bed, "Unhappy? I'm sure I just had the best internship in years! How could I be unhappy! I'm going to request you every time!"

Uraraka stifled a laugh, "It's important to request different people, so you get a different aspect of life. But I'm sure Todoroki wouldn't be opposed to your repeated returns."

Todoroki sighed, "I can talk to Deku if he wants to take you."

Air-Lock glanced towards him, "No way." It came out as a soft whisper, disappointment ran through his chest. He had never been particularly jealous of Deku, but he was sure this was-

"I can't believe you'd want to get rid of me so easily after just one hospital visit!" Air-Lock snapped, already attempting to get out of bed, "Is one hospital visit all it took to break you? Have you never been in one before?" Uraraka attempted to shuffle Air-Lock back into bed, struggling while she bounced Yuki.

Todoroki lowered his head, "It's not a punishment. I thought you'd be better off and excited to be working under the current number one hero."

"The number one hero doesn't have elemental powers like you do! And he's too hesitant! I can't just do grunt work I want to be in the field! I want to be doing actual help."

Todoroki nodded, he would have to be doing a fair amount of apologizing to U.A. when Air-Lock got back, but there was a determination in Air-Lock's eyes that reminded him of Deku. There was no way he was going to be able to turn him down. Sure the words flying out of Air-Lock's mouth were something that he would need to correct, but there weren't entirely wrong. Deku's interns rarely got actual fieldwork, but that was because his first intern had almost gotten themselves kidnapped, Deku had the right to be overprotective and was very calculating on who he put in the field and how to improve their powers, "I want to learn from you!"