Not Endeavor praising OR Endeavor bashing. I just like psychology.

Inspired by an episode or 2 of Bones where Sweets notes how the murderer only references her dead husband by his name and never as her husband.

--

From an outsider's perspective anyone could see that Endeavor was good at his job, he wasn't a 'good hero', but he had the highest arrest count than any hero in history, his brute force is what stopped him from being a fan favorite like All Might or even Hawks. He relied too much on strength, not caring about property damage or civilians as much as he should as a hero of justice. He himself was not a bad person, he was no angel, but he cared in his own twisted way, he just didn't know how to properly show it.

Those in his family have other ways to describe him, a few choices being, 'An abusive asshole' and 'Flaming Garbage'. And they're right to call him that, they were put through hell because of this man, their childhood was ruined and there was no changing that - no matter how many times he apologizes.

His wife, Rei Todoroki is a sore subject for him, he loved her, he still does. Everyday he hunts for a solution for the pain he put her through, she deserved that for putting up with his shit for years. When they first met it wasn't 'love at first sight' but he truly cared for her, they were overjoyed when they had Touya and later Fuyumi. He changed exponentially when Touya died - his hatred of being 2nd swirled around in him until it burst and Natsuo and Shōto were then born. He pushed them farther than he should've, he was pissed - he wanted them to have what he could never, he wanted them to surpass him, to be better than him - he went about it the wrong way.

His wife suffered because of him, the one person in his life he cared for and who cared for him. She never went away, no matter what, no matter who he was fighting, where he was, she was still there in his heart. At press conferences whenever someone brought up Rei he was tense, he knew his family wasn't watching but he still didn't want to mess up, her life was on the line if he said anything out of place. Even if he repeated 'It's to keep up apperances ' to himself, he always referred to her as 'his wife' or as a 'Todoroki' that was her title, her standing position, just because he was shit to her doesn't mean that Rei shouldn't be shown love. (Many psychologists were confounded by Endeavor's demeanor, they all could see that he was challenged, he was furious about who knows what, but he always softened up when his wife was mentioned. A clue he gave was how he called her and how often, at one conference they counted and he mentioned her about 16 times, and never as Rei, either as 'my wife, Rei,' 'My wife' or 'Mrs. Todoroki'. They all came to the same conclusion, he still loved her).

It was 10 years after he broke Rei and had her sent to the hospital that he finally found a worthy solution for her and the rest of his family.

When she could finally come back, he would not be in their life, it was better this way for all of them. It met all their needs; Fuyumi could finally have the family she's always wanted, Natsuo wouldn't have to act strong and ignore his siblings just to be away from home, Shōto could have some semblance of a normal life, and Rei could finally be happy and find the right person for her. All he had to do was leave. It was tough, but ultimately, he knew it was the right thing to do for everyone but himself. This was not going to be easy for him, but he had already lost everything and gained nothing but a title he worked hard for for 20 odd years.

This was the right thing to do, he knew that deep in his heart. He got to work immediately, he had them an estate built much like they one they were living in, he got the paperwork for Rei's transfer to the home filled out and sent, he let Fuyumi and Natsuo be free, and limited his time with Shōto to just hero work. The final thing he had left to do was free Rei Todoroki from her duties, it was a logical next step but it took all his courage to get a set of divorse papers. He filled his out hesitantly, then mailed the other to the Hospital his wife was at with a note to return it as soon as her decision was made.

Months passed without a reply, the house was finally finished being built and his children already started moving into it, leaving him in his thoughts and an overly quiet estate that felt wrong, uneasiness filled his soul to the point he was drowning in the feeling. Touya came back, but he didn't want to be a Todoroki - it broke the family's heart, but they were used to the feeling. Life passed by slowly and repetitively.

A month later he finally got the envelope he was waiting for, Rei's signature on her paper. He debated on looking at it, he knew what was on it, but he didn't want to let his one last chance of happiness slip away from his grasp, he had to, though.

He tore the envelope open expecting to find the folded up document inside, instead all he found was a piece of lined paper folded inside. He pulled it out and began reading.

In her calm and controlled cursive it read:

'Dear, Enji Todoroki,

I know it's been years since we last talked, and that you put me through hell - I still can't bring myself to look at you - but I know it's you who's been bringing me my favorite flower (the one I told you I liked when we first met), I knew that it was your way of apologizing, of making amends. Deep in my heart I still love you, not in the way that I used to, but you will never be gone in my heart.

For that, I will not be signing the documents you sent, and to be safe I had them shredded and burned by Shōto. I know that you've been tearing yourself up, and this was proof of that. I will not let you destroy yourself because you think that's the only way we can be free. If you truly cared about me, and our family, you will listen to me.

I will be living with my children, but when I am strong enough I will be visiting you, we can start over. I'll introduce myself with my maiden name, you'll introduce yourself as 'Enji Todoroki' and you'll ask if I'd like to go out with you. I'll say yes and we'll go out and learn about each other. Then we can just be Husband and Wife, not Pro Hero and Wife, not Husband and Asset - those aren't what we'll be, we'll be happy and satisfied, and loved.

If you accept then all you need to do is tell Fuyumi, she'll understand what you mean.

With all my love,

Rei Todoroki' with the Todoroki being underlined over and over, making a point that he couldn't miss.

How could she be so understanding, he didn't deserve any of this. He didn't, but he would. He would be the best person for her sake. It would all be for her.

He called up Fuyumi, the phone clicked as connected and her voice could be heard in his ear, "Dad?"

"Tell your mother that I accept."

There was a brief pause, then, "I'll tell her… We love you dad."

He didn't know if he had the right yet, but he replied, "And I love you all too." He ended the call and the uneasiness he'd been feeling shrunk and finally let him breathe in a deep big breath of relief and hope.

From this point on, he'd be what his family needed, he'd be what they should've had years ago - a loving parent and partner.