All Might jerked at the clock's soft chime. His lids blinked.

'Three o'clock? When did I fall asleep?'

"mMph…n,no…"

Todoroki flinched. As if the boy had heard his thoughts, Toshinori covered his mouth. His expression deepened. More sweat seeped from the teen's crossed brow. And worse yet, clouds of steam were rising from his twitching left side. Toshinori huffed.

"Crap..."

~ Shoto could not feel his toes. They were shrouded in a pile of icy snow. His frame wracked in the open courtyard. The blind blew through him as if he were a thin napkin. Weak, heavy arms hugged his torso.

"Arms out, Shoto."

One grey, and one blue, his eyes pierced back at the direction of his father's command.

"No," Shoto husked.

Out of a shroud of darkness, Endeavor appeared. His grimace was deep and unmerciful.

"What?!" he barked.

Shoto snarled.

"I said—" ~

Toshinori lightly shook the teen's right shoulder.

"Hey," All Might whispered, "Wake up, Young Todoroki. Wake—"

Todoroki threw back his head, purple nerves flexing against his strained neck.

"I-I s-said…"

~ Endeavor grabbed the boy's wrists. He cranked them like a steering wheel. With a grunt, the teen thrusted both arms: thick ice and scorching flames shooting from his appendages. ~

Todoroki winced, eyes clasped shut. Crackles of ice popped from his right shoulder. Embers flashed and sparked from his left. His hoarse, lifeless cries made Toshinori cringe.

"I-I s-said 'NO', you bastard!"

~ Even angrier flames shot back at the teen. Dodging his father's strike, Shoto dove to the snowy ground. His quivering hand clenched his churning stomach.

"Too strong," he choked, "H-he's too strong."

"'Strong'?"

Shoto felt a looming shadow barrel over him. Echoes of Enji's sinister laugh rumbled through his abdomen.

"You ain't seen nothin' yet."

Burly arms thrusted the teen into the air. Enji began to shake him like a ragdoll.

"Shoto!" ~

"Shoto! Shoto, wake up!"

He had no choice. Toshinori grabbed both shoulders, ignoring the scorch of Todoroki's left side. His jostling became more urgent and unnerved.

'I've got to,' Toshinori pondered, 'He'll burn up again. I have to wake him.'

The teacher continued to shake him, forcing Todoroki's head to bobble.

"Todoroki," he hollered, "Shoto! Wake up!"

Todoroki's limp arms began to stiffen. All Might's heart skipped a beat.

"That's it," he urged, "That's it, Young Todoroki. Wake up, boy."

Todoroki's tearing eyes shot open. Sharp gasps strangled out of him. Toshinori lightened his grip as the teen's elements started to evaporate from his appendages.

"'S okay," All Might consoled, "You're okay. 'Just a bad dream."

The boy's face was paling as he woke. His snow white complexion was becoming greener by the second. He hunched over in bed, drawing breaths that were uneven and deep. His back arched like a frightened cat. Gags spurted out as he clutched his burning stomach.

"G'hmp… G'gonna…"

Toshinori knew that look. As his is quirk were speed-driven, he dashed to the corner of Todoroki's room and grabbed the copper waste bucket. He barely slid it under Todoroki's chin before he vomited.

"H'mp…H'huuup…"

Todoroki's body jerked with each expectoration. His aching esophagus challenged the teen's relentless bouts of simultaneous sobs and bile. Toshinori rubbed the boy's contorting back.

"It's okay. Let it all out."

He couldn't help but look. Each wretch brought a pained cry with it. Toshinori's brow softened.

'What the Hell have you been through, boy?'

After a minute or so, dry heaves came out in twos and threes. Though he could not completely straighten his back, Todoroki shivered as he brought his gaze up from the bucket. His eyes, bloodshot and glassy, looked to his instructor. With all he could muster, Toshinori grinned warmly at his student.

"Better now that it's out, huh?"

Mortification was on Todoroki's flushed face.

"I," he rasped, "'M'so… s-sorry…"

Toshinori took the bucket from the boy's lap. His tone was gentle but firm.

"You have nothing to apologize for, young man."

Pulling his legs into his arms, Todoroki stared at his kneecaps. He bit his lower lip as it wobbled.

"I…g't sick…"

All Might cocked his head. The teen resembled that of a scolded child. Toshinori gingerly clapped the boy's right shoulder.

"'Happens to all of us, every now and again. Nothing to be ashamed of."

Combing up his bangs, All Might pressed his massive palm to Todoroki's sweltering forehead. The teen shivered at Toshinori's touch.

'Damn fever,' the pro hero frowned.

All Might grunted as he stood up in the chair, stretching out his lower lumbar region.

"Not sure where y'got these chairs, young Todoroki. They could stand to be replaced."

Todoroki looked on, perplexed. His teacher sauntered over to the other side of his room. He squinted as All Might fished through a sopping pile. Grabbing one large towel and a washcloth, the former Number One hero knelt back down beside the boy, gently urging him to lie back down.

"This is gonna feel weird," All Might insisted.

He draped the long, drenched towel along Todoroki's steaming left arm. Todoroki muffled a moan. The towel sizzled like a frozen beef patty to a hot griddle.

"Yeesh, kid," All Might chuckled, "Y'take being sick kinda seriously, don'tcha?"

Barely able to register a response, Todoroki emitted a shaky cough into his icy right fist. Again, All Might pushed up the boy's two-toned hair to lay a moist washcloth along his searing brow. Heavy eyelids fought Todoroki's urge to slip back into slumber. The teacher pulled up the comforter on his right arm.

"Try t'get back to sleep, son."

Todoroki's nose crinkled.

'Son…'

The teen's groggy vocal cords strained.

"A…All Might…"

"Yes?"

"Mmph… M…M'doriya…"

All Might quirked an eyebrow. Sweat started to dot his own brow.

'Uh oh. Does he know about One-for-All?'

Coolly, All Might questioned, "What about young Midoriya?"

Though his eyes were shut, Todoroki's expression was puzzled.

"'s'he… yer s-son?"

It didn't matter that it was three in the morning. All Might cackled like a hyena.

"Bahahaha!"

His deep chortle brought a touch of blood to his mouth, but he didn't care. All Might clasped his wounded side, wiping a single tear from his eye.

"Y-young Todoroki, that fever's really gone to your head!"

Todoroki's slitted eyes peered out at the hero. Despite the hysterics, the teen groaned as he shuffled deeper in bed.

"N'v'rmind," he breathed out.

It took seconds for Todoroki to drift off. By the time All Might had recollected himself, he turned to find the young man's chest gently rising and falling in sleep. The pro wiped his brow.

"Atta boy," Toshinori sighed, "Asleep again."

"How nice for him."

Toshinori jolted at Aizawa's deadpan tone. All Might scoffed, careful to keep his voice down.

"A fine time you picked to wake up."

His colleague's red eyes glared, unamused.

"Your laughing woke me up," the instructor murmured, "I had thirty more minutes."

All Might scratched the back of his neck uneasily.

"Er, right… Apologies, Eraserhead. I—"

Aizawa sniffed, the sides of his nose creasing.

"'The Hell is that smell?"

"Oh, that, well…"

All Might lifted the full waste bucket from the floor. Aizawa recoiled.

"Is that—"

"Uh… You missed a lot."

Aizawa looked to the teen. Vapors were rising toward the ceiling from his stiff body.

"Another smoke show… Still fighting this bug?"

All Might shrugged, "'Think he's fighting more than a bug, Shota."

Eraserhead grumbled. He slumped his way to the armchair, waving back to All Might.

"Dump that," he insisted, "And then get some rest."

All Might took to the door, muttering under his breath.

"Psh, he could've dumped it."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, nothing."

His right hand barely gripped the doorknob before he flinched in discomfort. Aizawa quirked an eyebrow.

"Y'alright?"

All Might subtly studied his palm. It was tender to the touch, with reddened patches of crisp, open skin. It looked like he slapped his hand to an open stove.

'Must've been from young Todoroki,' he thought, 'Needs tending to, but I'll be fine. No need to get Shota more worked up than he already is.'

"Fine," All Might called back, leaving for the shower room.

Aizawa stared. He wasn't convinced.

Briskly, All Might made his way to the shower room. He flicked on the light to find the nearest toilet. The hero turned his head, dumping the sloshy contents of the waste basket into the bowl. A quick flush, and the mess – and smell – dissipated.

He looked down at his minor wounds.

"Now, to take care of you."

As quietly as he could, the former pro fished through the cabinets to find—

"Gauze, gauze. Where are you—"

"Looking for something?"

A surprised yip peeped out of Toshinori. Aizawa knelt, grabbing the emergency kit from the bottom drawer of the sink.

"Need some help dressing that wound?"

All Might smirked.

"Nothing gets by you, does it?"

Aizawa's teeth ripped out a decent sized bandage from the gauze roll.

"Nope," he droned, grabbing All Might's hand, "Hold still, now."

Delicately, the teacher took All Might's palm into his own. All Might gave his colleague a leery look.

"Quite the bedside manner."

"Don't get cute," Aizawa droned, peering up with dead eyes, "Why didn't you wake me when it happened?"

All Might shrugged.

"'Was kinda in the middle of something."

He looked out the door.

"Shouldn't somebody be watching young Todoroki right –Ow!"

"I told you to stay still," Aizawa zipped the bandage tighter around his colleague's hand, "Besides, I think the kid can go five minutes without setting something on fire… Though, perhaps based on his track record, I may be jinxing the situation."

All Might glanced back down at his hand. Light spots of blood peaked out through his bandages. He recalled the moment he grabbed at Todoroki's left side. He blinked heavily.

"It happened again," All Might growled inwardly, "That damn fever dream. It must've been about his— Yah! God, Eraserhead! 'You trying to hog-tie it?!"

"I said 'hold still', damn it."

All Might sneered at Aizawa's dour demeanor.

"You know who I'm talking about, Shota."

"So what if I do?"

Aizawa's words had venom in them. His tone softened, as well as his grip.

"Don't even want to imagine what that boy went through. The less we acknowledge that bastard, the better."

Aizawa kept to his work. Steady, tired eyes were resolute. A final tuck, and the tourniquet was complete. All Might admired his comrade's work.

"Thanks for the help. 'Coulda managed this one myself, though."

Not looking up, Aizawa muttered, "'M just glad it's not a student."

There was a hush in the darkness. Even the patters of snow tapping against 1A's common room windowpane were muted. Deep breaths and snores muffled through the barrage of sheets and blankets. Strewn across the floor, students were sprawled in a comatose state. All were content in their dreaming… except, of course, the One-for-All successor.

Midoriya's body quaked. Trembling muscles squeezed at the pink blanket. He thrashed about – tossing and turning so fervently, his flailing leg lashed into Iida's torso.

"OoF!"

The class representative yelped himself out of a sound sleep. He threw his spectacles on over a cross expression.

"Hey!" Iida jolted, whispering harshly, "What's the big—"

Finding the source of the kicking, he found his friend muttering busily in his sleep.

"T-todoroki," Midoriya repeated, "T-todoroki… you… not okay… F-fire… y-you're… on f-fire…"

Iida wasted no time. He climbed across a mound of blankets, thoroughly jostling Midoriya's shoulders.

"Midoriya?"

Midoriya's mutters enhanced in volume.

"N-no, Todoroki—"

Panic was setting into Izuku's slumber. Iida began to yell.

"Midoriya-"

"Todoroki!"

"Midoriya!" Iida bellowed.

"Midoriya—"

Iida looked up at the feminine voice. Rushing over, pink pajamas flashing, Uraraka raised a flexed hand.

"Wake up!"

She closed her eyes as she swatted. Iida, too, looked away. After a moment, they both winked one eye open. Midoriya jolted up right, his shoulder stooping as he panted. Iida's eyes widened in horror. Uraraka's face twisted, her eyes tearing up.

"Oh God," she whispered, "I… I slapped you."

Uraraka scrambled to her friend. Midoriya's left cheek was slightly pinker than the right. The girl audibly gasped, her own face reddening.

"M-Midoriya, I'm so sorry! Gah, what've I done? I… You weren't waking up, and I… Your nightmare, it was… A-are you alright?! I—"

"Th…thank you."

Uraraka stared at her classmate. Midoriya was hugging his knees. His unsteady breathing made his voice quiver.

"I n'needed that."

Uraraka looked to Iida. Iida looked Midoriya in the eye, glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose.

"Are you alright?"

Midoriya looked up. He thought back to his nightmare. To Todoroki.

He drew a shaky breath, wiping sweat from his brow with his forearm.

"No."

Before Iida could press him further, a brawny yawn caught his attention.

"Whhhhat's with all the noise?"

Stretching out his arms, Kirishima wiped encrusted sands of sleep from his eyes.

"'S it morning already?"

"Must be," Kaminari replied sleepily, "What's for breakfast?"

Rikido shuffled in sleeping bag.

"Mmmm, y'guys like French toast?"

Almost like clockwork, rustles of stirring came from the rest of the 1A classmates. Mina Ashido rubbed her eyes lazily.

"Hey," she whined, peeking one eye at the dark window, "The sun's not even up."

"Ugh," Hagakure moaned, her translucent skin hiding behind a green face mask, "This is so not good for wrinkles."

Adjusting his glasses, Iida looked to the wall clock. He frowned. 5:02.

"Er," Iida blushed, "Sorry, guys. I…"

He looked at Midoriya, smiling kindly.

"I," the class leader lied, "Had a… bad dream."

The whole class groaned vocally. Iida quickly winked to Midoriya, whose face stood frozen in surprise as his friend took the hit for him.

"Maybe," Iida added, stifling a yawn, "We could all try going back to sleep?"

"No way," Kirishima grunted, "Once this man's up, he's up."

"Same here," Mineta lisped, eyeing up the girls' side, "Mornin', ladies."

"Ew," Asui moaned, her tongue poking out.

Standing tall, Shoji began to stretch his appendages.

"At least it's Christmas Eve," he breathed out, "Something good, right?"

"Damn iiiiiit!"

All heads jolted at the scream. Of course, it belonged to—

"Kacchan?" Midoriya greeted sheepishly, "Er… Merry Christmas Eve?"

"Don't give me that sugar plum bullshit, Deku!"

His fresh bedhead stood on end as he hollered.

"It's too early for all you losers to be waking people up with yer goddamn pep!"

His nostrils blew out steam as he trumped to the kitchen counter.

"Rikido! What the Hell's for breakfast?!"

"Uh," Rikido shrugged, "F-french toast?"

Bakugo slumped in the kitchenette's stool.

"…I'll have two pieces."

There was no doubt about it. Everyone in 1A was officially awake after that. Bustling from the students came in all forms: the girls tidying up the pillows and blankets, a few of the boys moving back the furniture to make room, and – naturally – Rikido working quickly in the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Iida stood at the helm, guiding the group to move the futon.

"That's it, just—"

The class leader turned at a tap on the shoulder. Midoriya's kind eyes met his.

"Just," Midoriya extended his hand, "Wanted to thank you."

Justly, Iida firmly shook his comrade's outstretched hand.

"Don't mention it! We're friends… right?"

Midoriya nodded decisively. Iida returned to his directing as the green-haired boy made his way for the dormitories. Uraraka leapt in front of him. His brow furrowed at his friend's deep expression.

"Deku," she huffed, "I'm really sorry!"

Midoriya flashed a shy smile.

"N-no, please, it's fine."

"But, Deku," she cried again, clasping his scarred hand, "I slapped you! Hard!"

"Uraraka, it's really okay," Midoriya giggled, "I can take it a little hard, y'know."

Blinking at his own statement, Midoriya's face flashed burgundy. Uraraka quirked an eyebrow.

"Uhh…"

"Uhhhh-no!" he frantically waved, "No, totally not what I-! I didn't mean-! I, I gotta go."

His feet sprinted as quickly as they could carry him. His thoughts raced even quicker.

'Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid—'

He barely heard a low voice yell, "Midoriya, watch—"

"Oof!"

The teen spilled to the floor, taking Aizawa with him.

"…Out."

Frenetically, Midoriya bowed as his teacher rose to his feet.

" ,areyouokay?!I'msosorry,Ididn'tmeanto—"

"Easy there," Aizawa shushed.

Midoriya gasped as his instructor thrusted the back of his hand to his forehead.

"Hm. 'Looks like you got some rest last night, huh? 'Guess you can actually listen to directions when you want to, Problem Child."

Nonchalantly, Aizawa entered Todoroki's room. Like his shadow, Midoriya followed suit. He stopped in the doorway abruptly. His instructor's stern voice had his ears perk.

"Well," Aizawa pressed, "'You need something, or what?"

Careful tiptoes brought Midoriya back into the room. He quickly glanced to a shivering Todoroki, looking away again in seconds. He rubbed his hands. The teen's low tone could barely be heard by Aizawa.

"I…I'm sorry."

Aizawa plopped into the armchair.

"I've been knocked down before, Midoriya."

"No, not that. I… I'm sorry. For yesterday."

The teen bowed his head once more. His teacher's downcast eyes softened.

"If anybody should be apologizing, Midoriya… It's me."

A quizzical look flashed on Midoriya's face.

"Huh?"

Todoroki's quiet murmuring caught their attention. Aizawa adjusted his student's comforter carefully.

"Heroes look out for others," Aizawa stated, "Especially when their sick. Especially if they're friends."

He shot Midoriya a sincere look.

"That's something to admire. Not discourage."

Midoriya could feel hot tears welling up. He hid his eyes beneath his bangs.

"Th-thank you, Mr. Aizawa. I promise to stay out of the way."

Aizawa nodded. He looked down at the ailing teen.

"If he's… feeling up to visitors later… Maybe—"

"O-of course! Yes! Absolutely!"

Aizawa harshly shushed his pupil.

"Easy there," the teacher admonished, "You'll wake 'im."

"R-right," Midoriya blushed, "I-I should—"

"Midoriya?"

He turned back.

"Y…Yes?"

His teacher's grin made Midoriya uneasy. It was strange to see Aizawa smile… almost creepy.

"Close the door on your way out."

Again, Aizawa's deadpan tone shot through the freckled boy. Still, he grinned.

'He looked… better? That's good.'

The boy hadn't even taken two steps before a truly familiar smile greeted him.

"Young Midoriya!" he exclaimed, "You're looking much better, my boy. How're you feeling?"

"O-okay! I—"

Midoriya squinted. Clutching two travel mugs of coffee, All Might's right hand was adorned with a thick ravel of gauze.

"I," Midoriya continued, "I should be asking you the same thing."

All Might's expression puzzled. His prodigy pointed.

"Your hand."

Taken aback slightly, the hero rambled.

"Th-this? Oh, nothing really. Just a—"

"It happened again… Didn't it?"

Midoriya's piercing glare pierced All Might's bright, blue eyes. He couldn't lie to him.

He sighed deeply, "Last night."

"The dream. It came back."

"Yes," All Might sighed, "It did."

Midoriya kept his eyes fixed on his mentor.

"All Might," Midoriya pressed, "He… Where is Todoroki going for Christmas?"

All Might fumbled with the words.

"Well, uh… He's, um—"

"Be-because if he's going with that.. With that maniac, I—"

"Woah," All Might urged, placing the cups carefully on the ground, "Easy, son."

Midoriya's face continued to redden.

"I…I don't care if he's the Number One hero now! He, he hurt my friend! He hurt a great future pro! He- "

His own scarred hand clapped over his mouth, forcing sobs back in. All Might knelt, placing both hands on Midoriya's shoulders.

"Young man," the hero insisted, "Take it easy."

"I-I need to know," Midoriya insisted, "I-I need to know that… That he's not going to be with him. At least for Christmas. Please, not for Christmas…"

All Might looked down.

"He…Young Todoroki will not be with Endeavor for Christmas."

Midoriya's head jolted up. His heart fell to his stomach.

"He won't?!"

"No," the former pro replied, clearing his throat, "But, eh… 'Not sure if I'm supposed to tell you this, but… Well…"

A pause plagued the hall. Midoriya held his breath. All Might released his own.

"Midoriya… Todoroki… won't be going home for Christmas…"