Chapter 2
Todoroki struggled not to crumble the paper in his hands. "Excuse me, I believe I forgot my wallet." He glanced at his watch, five minutes had passed. Whatever Uraraka had been carrying appeared heavy, she couldn't have made it that far. His foot pivoted. He needed to move without drawing their attention. The paper crumbled under his hand, he should've realized it. Uraraka was never the type to ask for help or speak up if she wanted something. Of course, she wouldn't ask him for help. Where was she?
The snow was at his ankles and he should probably have called his agency to tell them that he'd be late. A light groan echoed out of an alleyway. Finally. "Uraraka?" He darted towards her as she nodded cradling the bundle. He sighed at least she appeared to be safe, "There are people looking for you-"
Uraraka rose to her feet, shaky, but ready to dart, "Stay back, Todoroki."
He froze. The way she hissed made his heart drop. Footsteps echoed up the alley. He unzipped his coat throwing it around her despite Uraraka's protests, "I'm sorry. Next time we fight at least bring your jacket."
Uraraka's eyebrows twitched, her struggle calming as she realized what was happening.
"She's not here! Just some people having a lover's dispute!" The person radioed before continuing their search.
Todoroki sighed, "I don't know what's going on, but we're going back to my agency. Do you know why they're after you?"
Uraraka nodded, "They're my husband's bodyguards." She glanced down to the bundle in her arms. Todoroki moved slowly, carefully opening a hole in the bundle. His heart dropped. "I can't go back." It was more of a plead than a demand.
"I know. Here." He gingerly took the bundle, careful to keep it on the side that provided warmth and wondering if his agency had anything to accommodate this situation.
"Listen, if they find me. Can you keep this safe?"
"We're going to my agency, if they find you we'll figure it out." He turned, zipping his jacket around her. His phone began ringing.
"Boss? Where are you? Are you okay? Do you need reinforcements?" If it weren't for their spectacular timing he likely would've scolded his intern for panicking so much over the fact that he was a few minutes late. "Clear my schedule, also, discreetly call the agency's doctor."
He could almost hear his intern's vigorous nodding through the phone and smell the disappointment of missing out on the fight they were conjuring up.
"Are you sure it's safe to come there?' Uraraka whispered, accepting his offer of help down the stairs. He dreaded taking the longer route, but with the bodyguard's everywhere he would have to. He glanced at the bundle in his arms hoping his quirk would be enough to cancel out the prolonged cold-exposure.
"You-"
"Uraraka, you need a hospital. Or at least a good doctor and being out here isn't helping. Rely on me."
Uraraka nodded as he pushed the back door to the agency open and proceeded up the stairs. He pushed the door to his office open. Relieved, to see the agency's doctor sitting on his desk quietly and by themselves. Her eyes shifted to his, "I saw the news. I figured this would happen. You've always been a bit reckless."
Todoroki attempted to not crack a smile. She was right, no matter how much he tried to deny it.
"Now let's see." The doctor walked closer. Todoroki took a step back, heat lighting up his face, "You're the one who called me here." She shook her head, gently pulling the blanket in Uraraka's hands, "A preemie, huh?" The doctor smiled, switching the child to Todoroki's hands, "Can you fake being the parent for a bit? Or the cousin. Anything really."
Todoroki rocked on his feet, "Okay."
"I put a crib in the back."
He should've started being concerned on how quickly she gathered information and supplies. He nodded, hesitantly letting her escort Uraraka out of the room.
Todoroki glanced at the child. Uraraka's child, the reality not quite ready to dawn on him. They were no bigger than his forearms. They had a full head of brown hair already. How was he supposed to fake it being his?
The child reached up wrapping their hand around his pinky. Todoroki cradled the small child in his lap, doing his best to keep it towards the warmer side of his body.
"You're not going to break the child." His intern laughed, "Are they related to you?"
Todoroki shook his head, "my friend's"
The door opened, he glanced towards the doctor patiently reaching for the child, "Poor thing only a couple hours old and already introduced to this chaos."
Todoroki glanced towards the door, "Where's Uraraka?"
"Recommended bedrest. I wanted to talk to you about her." The doctor paused glancing at his intern.
"I'll go see if they have paperwork at the front desk for me." The intern darted understanding the need for confidentiality.
"When was the last time you saw her?"
"About four years ago."
The doctor sighed, "Likely, she hasn't spoken to anyone since high school. It's pretty common in abusive and controlling relationships." Todoroki glanced the doctor who continued to talk, "Take a leave, she's going to need you."
"I can't just-"
"Todoroki, I don't know your relationship with that girl, but right now, that girl needs a hero. She needs you."
Todoroki nodded, moving into the next room where Uraraka was lying on a couch, "Sorry, it's not as good as a hospital." She laughed, a hollow laugh with a twitch of a smile.
"Far from hospitals is good."
Todoroki glanced down towards the quite bundle in his arms, "What's their name?"
Uraraka rolled her head to face him, pushing the hair out of the child's face, "Can't go without a name forever, any suggestions?"
"No, I wouldn't recommend asking me for names. Are you going to tell me what happened?" Todoroki slid down, sitting on the floor and leaning on the couch.
"in high school, my parents were injured in one of our construction jobs. I'm sure you can guess we couldn't afford the bills. The son of the CEO knew about my quirk and sent my parents a letter."
'They-"
"No, they hid it. They knew why I went to school where I did, they knew the second I found out I would throw my whole life away to help them." Uraraka glanced at the roof.
"Then how?"
"I found the letter."
Todoroki bit his tongue, exhaustion lined her eyes, there was no point in arguing with her right now. She glanced towards him, "Todoroki's a bit like an egg warmer, keeping an egg safe." She laughed, taking the child from him. Ten minutes passed without a word. He glanced towards her completely asleep, arm curled around the child. Todoroki moved towards his office, dimming the lights in the back one as he moved. He moved towards his desk, upon his desk laid a letter from the Anti-Quirk & Marriage Organization. A very formal letter proposing he be the face of their cause.
He glanced towards the agency's doctor a crossed the room, a pack of cigarettes in her hand telling him she wouldn't be too much longer, "She's covered in bruises, we can't send her back."
Todoroki nodded, "When the time comes we'll figure it out."
"You can't just-"
The intercom beeped, "Mr. Todoroki, Mr. Eden is here. He says it's urgent and wishes to speak with you directly. Should I call security?"
"Send him in." He motioned for the doctor to hide in the back room with Uraraka.
The man strutted in, real fear for an entirely different reason then necessary. "Thank you for meeting with me." Mr. Eden removed his hat, placing himself on the couch in front of his desk for guests. And he wasn't a guest.
"I hear you're very efficient at your job."
"I am." Who didn't? It was the reason he was sitting here.
"You see my wife and child have gone missing." He slid a file over. Todoroki paged through it. Uraraka looking at flowers and other pictures a seemingly happy couple could have. All easy to fake.
"Her name's-"
"I know. And you know I know, too. She was my high school classmate." The man was attempting to play a sympathy card to get a higher-ranking hero to move faster for him.
The man bowed his head, "You're the closest around and I thought-"
"I know, we'll do everything in our power to find her." Giving her back was another matter.
The man nodded, gathering his files, and beginning to leave.
Todoroki shook his head, standing up and going around his desk, "Oh, and Mr. Eden, one more thing." The man began to turn, Todoroki decked him.
