UPDATED (YYYY/MM/DD) : 2020/11/15

A/N: The big reveal of 'Dabi is Touya' left nothing to be desired *thumbs up* but the fact that Touya is actually white-haired and not red-haired is umm… for now, it's still red-haired here. I may or may not change it in the near future. Looking forward to Chapter 291 in a few hours~

CHAPTER TEN - PART TWO

Occupational Hazard

Twelve year old Denki entered his home and eyed the pair of familiar shoes without much thought. After taking off his outdoor shoes, he went straight to the kitchen to check the refrigerator. Ah, there's enough for dinner but not for breakfast. He closed the fridge and headed to the dining slash living room through another door. He saw a pair of feet poking out from one end of the sofa and headed there.

He propped his elbows on the back of the sofa and looked down to his sleeping older brother figure. "Touya-nii," he called.

The seventeen year old teen's eyelids twitched but didn't respond otherwise.

"Touya-nii," he called again.

The teen shifted and his eyelids parted. He looked blearily upward. "What is it?" he groaned.

"Stay for dinner. I'm making ramen, but not the instant one," Denki said. "What do you think?"

The red-haired teen blinked slowly before nodding. "What time is it?" He asked mid-yawn. He sat up and rolled his shoulders.

"Around 6 PM. How's Kyuushu?"

"Not bad. I brought souvenirs," he said, reaching out to his school bag on the floor next to the sofa. He took a wrapped object and handed it to the blonde. The younger teen's eyes lit up.

"Thanks, niisan," he beamed. "Glad to have you home uninjured and all. I was a bit worried since you're supposed to be back a few days ago."

"Ha, well… other than lamenting my lack of physical ability, nothing else happened."

Denki didn't miss the bitterness in the older teen's tone. The blonde carefully spoke up. "Call me selfish, but I'm personally glad that niisan is super smart instead of stupidly strong. That way the chances of niisan coming home safely is much higher than Enji-ojisan," he said sincerely.

The two of them looked each other in the eyes and the impromptu staring match ended when Touya rested his palm on top of his head and he ruffled Denki's blonde locks. There was a small smile on the older teen's lips. The teen's usually cold turquoise-eyed gaze was rather soft. "You're right," His lips curled in disgust, his hatred reflected on his eyes. "The last thing I want is to be like that man." And the teen lifted his palm, grabbed his bag and dragged it with him towards his bedroom.

'Aa…' Denki thought sympathetically, staring at the teen's back.

After enrolling in middle school, Yuugo rented an apartment with three bedrooms, bigger kitchen, and high-tech living room closer to Yuugo's office. Since the beginning, one bedroom was intended for Touya. Ever since that day, Denki has wished for this. Touya's hatred for Enji had always been obvious to Denki and there's nothing he can do about it.

There are a lot less chances to interact with the older teen unlike with Shouto who is his classmate. Not only that they have a five year age gap with him being a lot younger. He didn't want to leave things as they were but he had to tread the situation carefully.

Touya suffered Enji's hell training seven years before Denki met Shouto, suffered despair and hopelessness from his weak body and lack of ice quirk, inferiority complex from when Shouto the 'successful product' was born… there are probably a lot other things that Denki hasn't realized yet. If Denki can give somewhere Touya can relax and free from pressure, the blonde will get it with any means. Thankfully, Denki's father didn't need much persuading for his request. Touya had run away to Denki's place a lot since that near-death experience and he had practically made Denki's home his home too.

Denki actually liked it a lot. It's nice to come home and find out that there's someone else at home.

"Ah, I almost forgot. Niisan," he called.

Touya turned around slightly. "Yeah?"

"I'm back," he said, smiling.

Touya blinked slowly before huffing, a smirk formed on his lips. "Welcome home, Otouto. Call me when food is done. I'm going to take a shower first."

"Will do!" He beamed.

Most of the time, he's the one saying that to his father. That's why, hearing someone telling him 'welcome home' feels really nice.

"Report."

The voice was as soft as a whisper. The other party's response was by tapping the mic instead of giving a verbal reply. The man understood.

'Sorry, Denki,' he thought, his lips were pressed together into a thin line. His gaze was heavy but also determined. 'It seems I can't go home at all today.'

.

.

A few months have passed, and no, school didn't get better. It's still awfully boring that twelve years old Denki found himself nodding his head sleepily and dozing off in the middle of geography and history. At least until the door slammed open and their modern literature teacher appeared, pale panting and looking as if he was seeing ghosts.

*SLAM!*

"What in the world? What do you think you are doing, Kitauchi-sensei?! We're in the middle of the class!" Their female teacher hollered, outraged. That successfully snapped the male teacher out of his daze.

"Right! I'm sorry! Todoroki-kun and Kaminari-kun! They're in this class, right?!" He exclaimed.

Denki's eyes were wide awake now. He looked to the teacher warily. From the corner of his eyes, the blonde saw Shouto tensing. "Kaminari and Todoroki are present. How can we help you, sensei?" Denki asked, raising his hand. Shouto did the same too.

Seeing their expressions, the teacher took deep breaths. His eyes looked grim and solemn. "Pack up your things, both of you. There's a car picking you two up-

"Just what is happening, Kitauchi-sensei? You barged into my class and ordered my students around. You can't be more unreasonable!" Their female teacher exclaimed in annoyance. The male teacher pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Look, pardon it just this once. Todoroki's older brother and Kaminari's father are in critical condition."

The blonde's face went pale and white as a sheet. Blood completely drained out of his body at the reminder of his father who hadn't returned home for two weeks even though it should have been no more than five days.

A lot of gasps of shock and surprise came from nearly the entire of the class' occupants.

"That can't be!" It was their geography and history teacher, covering her lips while her expression was nothing but shocked. "Kami-sama… Trace is-?" the female teacher immediately turned to the stiff and shocked duo. "What are you dawdling about! Hurry up and pack your belongings. You have time to be dazed on the way!" she commanded.

Denki fumbled over his pencil case. His hands were trembling, his insides were churning, and his mind was whirling. Swallowing thickly, his golden orbs hardened and he slammed both palms together. It wasn't playful enough to be called a clap.

*CLAP!*

It stopped his trembling fortunately. With his throbbing hands, he rushed on putting inside his books and writing utensils. It didn't take long for him to finish packing.

He rushed to Kitauchi who had exited his class before remembering his manners and turned to his history teacher, bowed in respect, and excused himself. His teacher and all of his classmates could see that the usual laid-back and laughing teen looked really panicked and unwell. It was clear that the boy was shaken and shocked. Shouto was the same although he was faring better than the blonde. They all knew how the blonde only had his father left.

Shouto gave his wrist a squeeze as they rode the car to the hospital. No words of consolation, no reassurance, Denki appreciated it. It's better than empty promises.

.

.

Touya was interning under Denki's father, that's how he also got hurt. Touya suffered bruises, fractures, broken bones, and cracked skull. On the other hand, Yuugo was in critical condition because of poison and burns. One of his lungs is beyond salvaging and he lost many patches of skin because they practically melted. The poison reached his brain by the time he got to the hospital and although everything has been flushed out, nothing can be guaranteed. Thankfully the doctor said the man's condition has stabilized and the man will survive and be able to continue his hero work, although his physical condition will never be the same as it was before.

Denki couldn't see the extent of their injuries, just that the two were wrapped in bandages and looked deathly pale. The only sign of them being alive was the heartbeat monitors. If someone didn't tell him and Shouto about their condition, they wouldn't have known the extent of their injuries.

At the miserable sight of his two precious people, Denki's stomach churned and he felt his heartbeats thundering in his ribcage. He wasn't convinced of their survival.

"You will be living with us until ojisan leaves the hospital, Denki-chan," Fuyumi said quietly, breaking him from his trance. Denki was still dazed however.

"... huh?" He managed, swallowing thickly.

Tears gathered in the older girl's eyes and she squeezed his hand that she was holding.

"Live with us until Touya and Ojisan get better," she said firmly, looking him right in the eyes. "I will talk to Otousan."

Shouto nodded. His face was pale and he looked green in the face. Denki didn't have the focus to figure out why his expression looked like that. But…

"Okay," the blonde murmured obediently.

The usually lively blonde was nowhere to be seen.

Author's Note:

So yeah, red-haired Touya for now. That and although I'm not sure how it is in canon, here Fuyumi is older than Touya. When the Boiling Water Incident happened, Shouto and Denki were 8, Natsuo was 12, Touya was 13, and Fuyumi was 15. Right now, Denki is 13, Shouto is 12, Touya is between 17 to 18, and Yuugo is 34 (will be 35 in a few months).

And ugh… Wonder how Endeavor is going to deal with all the mess his firstborn son caused? I know he reaps what he sowed and it's totally his fault… but he's stupidly awkward and he's making an effort to repent and improve himself (although it takes All Might forced retirement for it to happen)… yeah, maybe I feel bad for him. Totally not Touya's fault though! Still! It's like minus 2 plus 1 and then minus 2 LOL. Can't wait for canon updates for sure~

Anyways! Looking forward to your Like, Favorite, and Comments. See you in the next chapter~