The last chapter! I loved writing this and hope you enjoy reading the end of this story. :D Thank you all so much for reading and for sticking with me.
This has been a fantastic introduction to writing fanfiction you all have been so wonderful and welcoming. I can't wait to get into my next story.
I really do love this story so I may come back and edit this in the future as my writing skills grow, but the plot will stay the same.
He thinks the beeping is what wakes him in the end, but he's not sure. He can't really tell where he is either. The room's dark, but the rhythmic sound isn't anything like his alarm clock at home and it doesn't sound like any of the sounds he's come to expect from the UA dorms. He has half the mind to go turn the lights on before realizing his eyes are closed. He doesn't even try opening them, his eyelids feel too heavy, actually, all of him feels heavy. His whole body aches, every muscle tight and cramped. His joints ache down to the bone but he's warm and still more comfortable than he's been in a while.
As the last remaining dredges of sleep slip away from him, everything that's happened this week comes back to him. Not rushing or crashing, but more like wandering into his memory. Events come and go, from getting home for break to the firestorm that tore through the city. He remembers ash and adrenaline but they're both gone now. The rooftop probably didn't deserve that. He's definitely still out of it.
There are people chattering somewhere they sound muted and distant like he's hearing them from a room away. There's no alarm clock, just the distinct sound of an EKG machine. He must be at the hospital, it would make sense.
He can smell the sickeningly clean smell of the hospital, but it's not strong enough to sting his nose when he's had to be here before. Right now it just makes him want to sneeze.
Deciding he's had enough, Todoroki shifts against the sheets, gritting his teeth against the itching feeling that comes from the bandages where adhesive pulls at his skin. Well, he's actually trying to sit up, but it's not going well. He gives up and decides to try and pry his eyes open instead.
The lights are blinding, and he almost has to scrunch his eyes back closed immediately as the light sends streaks flashing across his fuzzy vision. He can smell hospital food, the sweet smell of processed tomato just kills his appetite. He blinks a few times, trying to adjust to the light. It's still a bit too bright, but his vision comes back into focus. The white tiles of the hospital ceiling stares back at him, for the first time, the lights sunk into it aren't judging him for hurting.
There's a light weight against his leg, looking down his gaze is met by the smiling button eyes of a plush cat with a colorful card around its neck. It looks soft. Someone sitting in the chair next to him shifts.
He hadn't even noticed them before. They don't seem to have noticed him yet either, they haven't said anything. He rolls his head over to look just in case. The muscles in his neck protest, and he can't help but groan quietly. The glare from the lights has died down now, so he can see better, so he has no excuse not to believe in his vision.
He was expecting a sibling, or his mother, waiting to tell him what's happening to his father, maybe even Aizawa there to tell him what he's missed, but when he sees Midoriya in the bedside chair, some book with a dramatic cover curled in his hands, he's glad it's him. Midoriya always manages to make him feel better, even his rambling is soothing. He'll deal with his family and school, the big consequences later.
Midoriya's hair is painted a myriad of greens by the light streaming in through the open curtains. He looks like one of the watercolors his mom paints in the park, full of life and just surreal enough to make you wonder. His scarred hand's flicking through the pages as he reads, the sound of the pages dragging across each other reminds Todoroki of rain. With his left hand bandaged, Todoroki figures they might match now, he knows what a burn dressing looks like. Midoriya's eyes flit across the pages, completely absorbed as he mouths the words unconsciously. Midoriya's shoulders are stiff and his brows furrowed, Todoroki hopes that isn't his fault.
"-doria?" his voice is so scratchy he almost doesn't recognize it and his throat is painfully dry. He'll definitely need water before he tries to have any real form of conversation.
The book tumbles out of Midoriya's hands. Todoroki almost winces as it thuds against the floor thinking about how his friend will grumble and whinge over the bent pages and dented spine later. He'd spend half an hour trying to bend the pages back later, he's always been adamant none of them dogear books. Izuku did forgive him the old book of poems his mother read him when he was little, its pages yellowing and torn in places but well-loved. Midoriya's head whips up, eyes going wide and his gaze snaps towards him. Midoriya leaps out of his chair making its legs screech against the creamy linoleum floor.
His face falls and he looks away suddenly. Todorki's confused until he hears Midoriya swearing under his breath about spilled tea. Todoroki relaxes back into the hospital bed, and he feels himself chuckling before he hears it. He can't stop laughing, even as his body protests and he starts coughing.
Midoriya abandons what's quite frankly a hopeless attempt to clean up his tea, and straightens up, countless emotions flashing across his face. In his tired state Todoroki doesn't even catch half of them, but when Todoroki stops coughing he gives his classmate a weak smile. Midoriya breaks into a splitting grin and his eyes light up as he starts laughing too.
His smile is contagious, and Todoroki can feel the smile growing on his own face, still raspy he whispers, "Thank you"
Midoriya rushes forward and comes crashing down onto him, "Fuck, I missed you Shoto"
The impact takes the air right out of his lungs, but his smile never waivers. Shoto. He likes that. He can't even stop smiling when Midoriya presses against him in a clumsy kiss.
"I missed you too Izuku"