ENDEAVOR

Shoto looked down at the baseball glove in his hands. "How is this supposed to help with training?"

Sweat dripped down Endeavor's face and fizzled in his fiery mustache. "It will train hand-eye coordination and acclimate you to physical projectiles."

Shoto tossed a baseball in his hand. "And this?"

"It may improve the accuracy of your fire and ice, and even if it doesn't, you never know when you might need to toss a fellow hero some rope or medical supplies."

Shoto shrugged. He took his place at the end of the training room and waited.

"Alright, Shoto. I'm going to throw the ball."

Shoto's catching mitt hung limply at his side. "Okay Endeavor. I'm waiting."

Hesitantly, Endeavor lobbed the ball. It fell well short and rolled to Shoto's feet. Shoto picked it up and examined the stitching. "It's not on fire."

"Why would it be on fire?"

"There's always fire when we train."

Endeavor nervously tugged on his costume. "Uh, well… I thought we should shake things up a bit. Why don't you throw it back?"

Shoto thought about throwing it hard, maybe smacking Endeavor on the head, or at least making him run and get it. But he didn't have the energy for that. Underthrowing it would be copying him, so Shoto threw a slow, lazy lob that Endeavor easily caught. Endeavor smiled, or at least tried. The expression buried beneath the flickering flames looked more like the pained grimace he gave news reporters anytime they twisted his arm for an interview.

"I'll put a bit more pepper on this one. Get ready!"

Endeavor hurled the ball. Shoto watched it fly a few feet over his head and slam against the far wall.

"Whoops! Sorry son, don't know my own strength."

Shoto scowled at Endeavor's forced laugh. With a flick of his ice, Shoto brought the baseball back to him. This time, he coated the ball in a thin layer of ice before throwing it back. It slipped from Endeavor's glove.

"Whoops, bit of a butterfingers today." Endeavor stretched his arm. "Right, third time's the charm, eh?"

Shoto rolled his eyes and almost missed the baseball hurtling towards him. On reflex, his right hand flicked up and caught it.

"Perfect!" Endeavor shouted when Shoto threw the ball back. "I think that will be all for today."

Shoto stared. "That's it?"

Endeavor went still. "Yes…? Is something the matter?"

"My hands aren't shaking, and I'm not about to pass out. You always have me train until this happens."

"Uh… well… you need your energy for tonight's patrol."

Shoto nodded and left. Once he was alone, Endeavor went into the observation room. An intern held up a camera.

"You got the pictures?"

"Yep! Just like you asked, sir."

"Good. That should dispel any rumors about child abuse. Have them ready to publish by tomorrow morning."

From inside a fake potted plant in the room, Shoto muttered, "And I almost thought you were actually trying to be a good dad."

499

And father of the year award goes to… hold on… are there any dads in this series? Let's see… *checks wiki* Mr. Shield had criminals rob his own island, the Water Hose Duo's dead, and Bakugo Sr. made Katsuki. So… uh… Endeavor wins?

Also, laptop's been uncooperative lately. I is sad.