Emerging from the private room, Todoroki kept his head down, not wanting anyone to notice the tears in his eyes.
"Hey, Todoroki!" Kirishima called out from their table. Several empty glasses of varying sizes were scattered in front of his friends.
"So, how'd your first lap dance go? Deku make it memorable?" asked Kaminari, slurring his words while holding a fruity mixed drink.
Kirishima caught on quickly, ushering Todoroki away from the table, "Hey man, what happened? You're crying…"
"Mr. Todoroki, we're here to take you home," a voice called out behind them. Turning around, Todoroki saw two tall men in custom tailored suits. Rolling his eyes, he pulled away from Kirishima.
"I'll be okay, Kirishima, thank you. As for you two," Todoroki said, anger cutting into his voice. "I thought I told you that I didn't need an escort tonight."
"It's your father's order, sir. If you'd please," the older man with a trimmed moustache said as he gestured toward the door.
"Of course he'd be the one to call me back. I'll see you guys later. And thanks again Kirishima, for giving me the chance to… Just, thanks." He gave Kirishima a light pat on the shoulder before following the bodyguards out of the club.
When they reached his home, Todoroki stormed out of the car and into his father's study.
"Where do you get off thinking you can have your goons come fetch me like a fucking child?! I was trying to have a good time and forget about your bullshit, only to have those two show up and sink me back into it all over again."
Cold blue eyes stared back at him, short flame-red hair framed his face. Enji Todoroki stood up from his desk and walked over to his youngest son. Todoroki felt the palm against his face before he'd even seen his father's arm in motion, slapping him down to the floor.
"A fucking child would know better than to disobey their parent. I told you to behave yourself, that my re-election campaign was in full-swing and I didn't need another scandal like when I first got elected to public office. Your brother fucked me over that time, but we managed to secure the win. What do you think would happen if my competitors found out my son was slutting around in a goddamn brothel?"
Holding his cheek, Todoroki got up from the floor and faced his father again. "It wasn't a brothel, it was a gentlemen's club! My life has nothing to do with you, and neither did Touya's!"
"Our entire family is under the public's eye, Shoto. Your older brother's indiscretions nearly ruined everything I worked for and sacrificed to get to the position I'm in now."
"And Touya was one of those sacrifices! He didn't even say goodbye before he left home, or even explain why he was leaving."
Enji glared at his son before returning back to his seat at the desk. "He lost his right to call himself a Todoroki the moment he ran away like a coward. You'd do well to learn from those mistakes and know your place within this family, Shoto. I'm not paying your tuition for you to be fucking around in a strip club like some low-born gutter rat. If you're going to follow in my footsteps, you have to keep your image clean."
"I get to choose what I do with my life, old man. And right now, becoming anything remotely similar to you makes me want to vomit. Don't interfere with my life again." Shoto left the study with the same furious energy as when he had entered, slamming the door behind him. Enji picked up his cell phone and pressed a button on his speed dial.
"Yeah, it's me. So who was he with tonight? I know it's the same bar they found Touya in, that's why I'm getting ahead of this shitstorm before the bottom opens up. Really? Green hair? Fuck, what is it with my kids and that whore? You told me he left town after I sent you to take care of it; that he'd never work in the business again after what you did to his face. I don't give a fuck about scar fetishes, Keigo, just make sure that little fuck gets the message this time!" Enji hung up and slammed his phone against the desk, cupping his head in his hand.
Todoroki never missed an evening at Ultra after their first meeting. He paid double the price of a private dance, making sure they were left alone. Some nights they only held each other and talked. More often, his time was spent under Deku's steady, experienced hand, comforting and invigorating all at once. The caution Deku grasped tightly to when it came to his feelings was slowly chipped away, until he had to admit that he had fallen again.
Just as Todoroki sought an escape from his world, Deku wanted to break away from his past and love again. And with each night spent within their dream, their fantasy, Deku grew more trusting.
Holding Todoroki in his arms after their latest rendezvous left them both drenched in sweat, Deku wearily smiled as Todoroki brushed the damp green strands of hair out of his eyes and tucked them behind his ear.
"You've never asked me about them. Not once."
His voice low, Todoroki replied, "What?"
Deku tapped against his left cheek, tracing his finger along the thin scars. "Most people want to know what happened. Others just see them as a kink to get themselves off."
"They're a part of you, Deku. And while I'm sure there's a reason for those injuries, it's your right to share that story when you want to, not to meet a demand by me or anyone else."
Deku's eyes welled up with tears as he gripped Todoroki tight. "Thank you, Shoto. It doesn't bother me when people see the scars, but having to put into words what they represent… That's what pains me more than anything else." He touched at his face again, his voice quivering. "These scars are proof I was never meant to find real love. Or at least, that's what they used to show me whenever I looked in the mirror. Until I met you, Shoto."
"You deserve to find love and happiness like anyone else, Deku. You're a strong person, but if you need me, I'll always be here for you."
"We're going to have to stop meeting like this, Shoto. I can't let my lover pay money to spend time with me anymore," Deku said with a grin.
"What are you saying?" Todoroki's heart froze, thinking the worst, that Deku wanted to stop seeing him.
"I'm going to quit dancing, at least the exotic kind, anyway. I always enjoyed performing on stage, expressing myself through my body, my legs always wanted to be in motion when I was a kid. Exotic dancing was never the career I planned, and I don't want to share myself with anyone else. So with you, I'd like to move on from this and see about using my legs for something other than making people horny. Maybe apply for some dance troupes or plays. I feel anything could be possible when I'm with you, Shoto."
Todoroki leaned forward, softly caressing the side of his lover's face. "Deku…" Shadowing his hand over Todoroki's, Deku shook his head.
"Izuku. That's my real name. I have no need for a stage name anymore."
Todoroki's heart was ready to burst. Being trusted with Deku's real name really set in the reality that they were together now. He kissed Deku again, feeling so much closer to him after such an intimate reveal.
"I'll tell the boss tonight. With such short notice, I'll at least have to finish the week, so tomorrow will be my last night on stage."
"Then I want to be here for your last dance. I'll take you out somewhere nice after you're done. It can be our first date."
Smiling as he got up, Deku nodded, "I'd love that, Shoto."
Todoroki walked into Ultra wearing his nicest suit, carrying a modest bouquet of flowers. The mood in the club was different, the music wasn't booming, the energy it provided wasn't enhanced by the performers dancing to it. He had checked his watch to see if he'd actually shown up too early.
Walking to the back, he felt eyes all on him as he made his way to the bar. Several dancers were huddled together, looking like they were crying.
"What's wrong?" Todoroki asked the closest one, a young lady wearing a sheer pink babydoll tee and matching boy shorts.
"They just barged in here, I heard the screams from the next room. It was just…" she said as she sunk her face into the ample chest of her coworker and continued to sob.
"Where's Deku?" The awkward glances between the performers developed anxiety within Todoroki. Some of them looked over to the private rooms, so that's where he went. Several bouncers lined the hall of doors and blocked his path.
"Let me through! I want to know where Deku is right now!"
The blonde from the bar was at the end of the hallway and noticed him struggle. Stomping through the sea of bodies, he wrenched Todoroki up by his shirt collar and slammed him against one of the closed doors.
"You've got a lot of fucking nerve showing up here, asshole. I ought to take you outside and stomp a hole in your chest!"
"Where's Deku? Did something happen to him? It was supposed to be his last night."
Kacchan's red eyes flared as he stared daggers through Todoroki. "His last night, huh? Yeah, that's what this is, thanks to you. You wanna see? Fine!" He pulled Todoroki through the guards and stopped at the last private room. Easing the door open, Todoroki's throat seized up, threatening to bring up everything he'd eaten.
Deku was covered in blood, one of the bodyguards was propping him up, holding a towel against the side of his face. He was sobbing, trying to lean forward but was being held still.
"You have to stay still, Deku, you're only making it worse," said the guard to his right. It wasn't until Todoroki focused on why Deku was trying to move that he realized what was missing.
"His… His leg…" Todoroki stammered out as he took a step back, barely able to suppress the urge to vomit again. Wrapped in multiple towels, with a silver and black studded belt cinched tightly around his thigh, Deku's right leg was gone below the knee.
"Ka-Kacchan… It hurts!" Deku winced through a shock of pain, looking to the doorway. When his eyes fell on Todoroki, they widened with a terrifying hybrid of fear and anger.
"You! How could you? I trusted you! Why did you let this happen to me again? What did I do to make your family hate me so goddamn much?!"
Todoroki rushed forward, knelt among the blood and reached for Deku's hand. "I don't understand, Izuku! What happened? Who did this to you? Please, let me help you!" Todoroki said, his voice cracking as his heart thumped against his chest. Weakened as he was from his attack, Deku still had enough fire left in him to slap Todoroki's hand away, returning with a backhand to his face.
"Get away from me, Todoroki! You couldn't even tell me who you were, who you were related to! Just get out! I wish I'd never met you! All your family does is bring me pain." Deku had to be restrained once again, he still struggled against the burly men holding him still, wanting to strike out at Todoroki again.
Touching his cheek where Deku hit him, Todoroki still didn't know what was going on. He'd never told Deku his full name. With his father's position, it was easier for him to meet people if his family name wasn't involved to influence people's behavior. He'd grown tired of others treating him differently because his father held a high office. He wanted to be able to develop his own friendships and relationships that weren't influenced by his father.
"You heard him, get lost, jackass," Kacchan said as he shoved Todoroki aside and went to Deku's side and tried to calm him down.
Backing out of the room, Todoroki looked at the blood that had coated his fingers, realizing who would know exactly what had happened.