A/N: I'm such a sucker for brother love.

Chapter 18

In the weeks that followed, Todoroki did his best to adjust to his new life. No longer having to worry about his father was something to get used to, but living in the dorms had helped with that. What he constantly had trouble with was having to think of himself as one person. The experience of being two people at once made thinking straight difficult. He was constantly of two opinions about things.

He couldn't decide if he liked his soba hot or cold. He was hesitant to go out into the sun, thinking he would overheat. He would forget about one part of his quirk and end up losing control of it. This happened with both his ice and flames. That wasn't even covering the emotional half of things. But not everything was bad. Aizawa, as Todoroki was allowed to call him now, was there for him through the whole thing.

Through every nightmare, from both his childhood and the kidnapping, Aizawa held him and calmed him down. He erased his quirk when he lost control of it during their training sessions and instructed Todoroki how to bring it back within his own grasp. Through every emotional outburst that was totally unlike him, Aizawa was there to bring him back down to earth. Not to mention, Todoroki's former classmates were always willing to talk and hang out. Midoriya and Kirishima were the easiest to talk to, possibly because they were there when it happened.

Still, even when he felt he was getting better, things would happen that would set him back. He didn't always feel like he could talk to Aizawa or Midoriya, which was partially where the therapist came in handy. Talking to someone who could be completely objectionable about the situation but still be caring really helped.

Sometimes though, he didn't want to talk to any of those people. Which was why one day, he made a plan. One morning, he asked Aizawa if he could go to a park, one of the ones that had many secluded areas to hide and speak without fear of being overheard. When he got the okay, with instructions not to stay there later than 5:00 and to text if he needed anything, he headed out the door at 2:30 sharp. There was someone he needed to thank and, most of all, talk his heart out to.

As Todoroki waited at the planned site, he wondered if he would come at all. It was slightly dangerous for him to just go walking about. But soon enough, Todoroki spotted a head of pure black hair and dark purple scars hidden underneath an oversized hoodie. When he finally got to Shouto's semi-hidden spot, Dabi had no time to even say hi before his arms were full of little brother.

"Jeez, Shou. You miss me, much?"

Shouto didn't say anything, he just clung to his brother. Dabi let him for awhile before extricating himself from Shouto.

"Hey, I know this is a stupid question, but are you okay?"

Shouto huffed out a slight laugh. "Not really. I'm better than I have been. I just... I've missed you. And I wanted to talk."

Dabi looked a little bit concerned but nodded and sat them both down on a bench. "Okay then, let's talk."

Shouto nodded. "First of all, I wanted to thank you for saving me in the alley. Or, well I guess I should say, for saving Roki in the alley."

"From what I understand, Roki was you, wasn't he?" Dabi asked.

"That's the problem, Touya. I don't know anymore. I know that Roki and Todo were me and that they knew it too. But it still feels like they were completely different people. I have their memories, so I know that all they wanted was to be whole again. But they also knew that when they were complete , I wouldn't accept them. It's all so complicated."

Shouto put his head in his hands. "What am I supposed to do, Touya?"

Touya, because that was who he was at least for now, put an arm around his brother. "I don't really have an answer for you, Shouto. I didn't go through it." He sighed. "I guess the best thing to do is to accept that you're different now. There's no denying that those events changed you. What you went through was no small thing. But, I don't know, maybe it did some good in the end."

Shouto looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

~Well, at least he's willing to listen~ Touya thought.

"You're closer to your classmates now, aren't you? And that teacher of yours, Aizawa, took you in. Sounds like a definite improvement to me."

Shouto thought about that for a moment. "I guess that's true. By the way, when did you find out about my 'situation'?"

"When you went to visit mom. I was watching you, both of you. Needless to say, I was confused but I found out what had happened after talking to NoSpace. They had contacted me to see if I wanted in on their job. I refused of course. When I caught wind that they had captured half of you, I headed over as soon as I could. I'm sorry I didn't get there sooner."

"It's not your fault." Shouto was quiet for a moment.

"Did you know that Aizawa got custody away from Endeavor?"

Touya looked down at Shouto in surprise. "No, I didn't. That's awesome!"

Shouto smiled slightly. "Yeah, it is. It's a lot to get used to, though. But living with Dad has been pretty great." The minute it was out of his mouth, he clamped a hand over it.

"...Did you just call Aizawa 'Dad'?" Shouto putting his head in his hands again was answer enough for Touya.

"Ha! You did! Wow, Shouto! It would almost be worth turning myself into him just to tell him you said that." His little brother just groaned.

After one last chuckle, "But seriously, it sounds to me like you're dealing with everything better than you think you are."

"Really?" Touya nodded and pulled his brother into a hug.

"You're going to be just fine, Shou. I'm sorry, I've got to go. But remember, you can call me whenever you need. I'll be there."

Shouto pulled away to look Touya in the eye. "I know. Thanks, Touya. I needed this."

Touya reached up and ruffled Shouto's hair with a smirk, earning a swat from Shouto. "See ya later, squirt."

"Bye, Touya."

Later, Shouto was greeted by Aizawa when he walked in the door at 4:49 with 11 minutes to spare. When Aizawa didn't ask about his day immediately, Shouto went to his room to put his things down. It wasn't until he came back to the living room that Aizawa spoke up.

"So? Did you enjoy your day out?"

Shouto thought about if what he had done could qualify as having a good time. Finally, he decided that it could because of the result.

"Yeah, I think so. How about you?"

"Fine. Your friends are as tiring as ever. You should go visit them soon. They kept asking when you were going to see them again."

"I will. Maybe..." he hesitated until he remembered that it was okay to ask for things from Aizawa, "Maybe I could stay the night? If that's okay with you."

Aizawa pursed his lips. "That's fine by me. Make sure to text one of them first to see when they can, though."

Shouto smiled. An actual smile, too. "I will. Thank you, Da- Aizawa." He said, catching himself just in time. Shouto hoped that Aizawa hadn't caught his little slip up. When no questions or scathing looks came, he sighed in relief to himself. No need to make things really awkward between them both.

"Alright then, if you would go start dinner, I'll be there in a minute after I finish up here," Aizawa said, gesturing to the papers in front of him. Shouto nodded and headed to the kitchen. If he had thought to look back, he would have found out that his slip up wasn't missed, if the smile that Aizawa had on his face was any indication.