Random Author's Note: I saw some fanart of Todoroki by Xioann on Tumblr [as evil] but with an undercut & I really like it, it's really hot & I just kind of want to give Todoroki more of a temper now. Also, this is much longer than the other chapters I've written so far. It's about 8 pages in word, I hope you guys like it!
Chapter 4
Todoroki stormed into her father's office. If he was here to guard her there was no reason to be calling him away so frequently. He threw the door open, "What do you want? I'm sure you know that I'm quite busy."
Her father scanned him over scrutinizing each detail on him as though he was some form of cake that he was going to sell at the latest auction. And it came out horrendous. The man dared to glance at his paperwork.
"I guess since we're done here I'll be going."
"I haven't said my ordeal."
"Frankly, you haven't said anything so you're a waste of my time." He dared glare towards his boss, fire him. It wasn't like he could find anyone else that Momo would accept now that she already had gotten to know him a bit. Besides the other's likely wouldn't comply with wanting to teach Momo basic self-defense courses and then some.
Her father nodded, placing his paperwork down. "I like you. I thought you'd be some uptight child raised like someone from a high class. Spoiled frankly, but…" Her father dared to glance down towards his eye. "You're the first person to talk back to me in years. I've found that I can drag the people out for important topics because they're too busy trying to please."
"As you are doing now. Now, excuse me. I have to get back to make sure someone doesn't poison Momo's breakfast."
"The maids surely won't."
"And that's where you're too lax."
The man shook his head, picking up some paperwork, "Momo's birthday is this week and we'll be having a party for her tonight. Please dress in the proper attire, but I'm going to need you at a reasonable presence from her. Is that compliable son of Endeavor Studio's?"
Todoroki felt his presence twitch, "Todoroki. Now if you called me here to tell me I'm incapable of doing my job, then we're done." If there was going to be a party where else would he be? It wasn't as though he had plans out in the middle of nowhere in a place he had never gone before. He slammed the door on the way out moving to the kitchen. But that put another thing on his mind, what to get her. It was like she already had an abundance of things that she didn't want or need or became donated to charity.
He pushed open the kitchen door, the workers that were chatting with Momo quickly scurried away to other parts of the house. Fine, be like that. It wasn't as though he was here to make friends with them. She looked over her shoulder a smile blooming onto her face, "Todoroki come here." She smiled patting the seat next to him. "What do you like for breakfast?"
He glanced towards the plate in front of her, "I'll have whatever you're having." The maid nodded, going to pick up the dishes from the counter. Todoroki reached over picking up Momo's spoon and taking a bite out of her food. Good. It didn't have the metallic taste that most poisons he tasted contained. He'd have to wait another couple minutes due to his rising tolerance. He glanced towards Momo's reddening face, "Poison check, wait another couple minutes."
Momo nodded, "I watched Marie make it. I always watch my food being made it's okay. Besides I've already been eating for a while. Todoroki nodded. That didn't mean the poison check was for nothing. She glanced towards him grabbing another mouthful of her breakfast, "Did you bring any formal clothes with you?"
He nodded. He wasn't too sure what he was about to get his hands into when he began heading over for the internship, so he had packed a large variety of clothes. His preparedness likely would come in his favor. "The party is sudden. Hopefully, it'll limit the number of guests."
"My father holds the party on this day every year. I'm sorry but the party isn't going to be small."
Todoroki nodded. At least he would know ahead of time that his work wasn't cut out for him tonight. And it wasn't like he could just brandish a weapon freely at the party. Most people were assuming that it was safe in the ever-safe-Creal company's party. He slid the chair back. "Are you going to be in here with Maid Marie for a while?" Momo nodded. "I'm going to go through a preliminary investigation on the ballroom. I'll be back." He glanced towards the phone on the counter, he jotted down his phone number on a stray piece of paper in his pocket. "Call this number if anything happens."
Momo nodded, "Are you sure you don't want me to go with?"
He hesitated, glancing down at her food. She had barely touched it and was too busy trying to make sure that he was entertained as though he were one of her guests instead of a bodyguard, "Eat. Join me when you finish."
She nodded reaching for her food. He hesitated to leave the room, but it was only a crossed the hall, it was less of a walk then the shower rooms had been from the previous afternoon. It would also give him a chance to investigate the room undistracted. And Momo needed to eat her breakfast without worrying about entertaining guests.
Todoroki moved from window to window checking the locks and which ones swung open, none of the windows seemed to have been tampered with and there were cameras in each corner of the room. He wasn't sure if this was a plus or a minus yet. It gave extra guards and extra security, but also risked the chance of being hacked to plan the perfect timing if anyone were to consider an attack on this home. A large event would also be the way to get away with such an affair. He glanced towards the doors: two large ones near the front decorated in so many various gemstones that he'd say they had stolen it off a rock-climbing course if the gems were any smoother. At the back of the room contained a large light pink curtain that stretched throughout the hall, he moved the curtain. Behind there was a door leading to a back kitchen for the employees to come and go without being seen by the guests. He tapped his foot against each panel and space of the dance floor. It didn't seem as though this room had any extra escape routes to spare. The results were even, easy attacks and escape routes were about the same in number. Most of them being the same route depending on the scenario. Larger and braver attackers were likely what was going to be a major problem. But if the perpetrator was simply on still sending written notes and actions that weren't more advanced then that, it was very unlikely that they were going to try to blow the roof off of the mansion tonight. He glanced towards the massive roses that lined the windows. He would need a list of guests, their faces, and anyone that they might possibly bring to the party as their own guest or plus one. He would also need to know if Momo was expected to receive the presents directly or if there would be a place for them. He tightened his fist dread passing through him at a rapid pace. He didn't want to take away Momo's chance to open her presents, but he also knew better than to let her open them. Maybe if he stayed by her when she opened them it would matter as much. His brain found itself rushing through scenarios.
He pulled his phone from his pocket glancing through it. No calls received. He switched to the apps glancing up again towards the windows. It was very small but it was there, delicately behind the roses lined the zodiac stars which would likely how they would be outside this house at their exact positions on this day.
Todoroki glanced towards the piano in the corner. He would also need a list of employees and if they were allowed any guests.
"Todoroki are you okay in there?" Momo asked, sliding open a door, "Have you been in here the whole time?" He nodded, standing up from running his hands along one of the corners. Momo tilted her head glancing around, "If you needed to know where all the exits are I would've told you. And we don't have any trap doors in this room." He nodded. That meant other rooms did have some. He would have to find them and know if they led to the outside or any other rooms. He glanced at the clock, it was about twelve right now.
Todoroki glanced towards one of the maids opening the door, "Hey, Momo, which of your dresses did you want me to set aside? And which hair stylist did you want me to call for tonight?"
"I'll go look." Momo turned to hurry to the door. He placed his hands in his pockets following suit.
He glanced towards the butler outside the door, "Who would I talk to, to get backgrounds on all guests and employees not only at the events but preparing for the events?"
"I can take care of those things for you sir, where might I find you in the next several moments?"
"Momo's room."
The butler nodded heading in the opposite direction at a steady, but refined pace. The maids and butlers shuffled around, moving at a heavy pace around the mansion. It wouldn't surprise him if they had extra staff explicitly for this day. He hurried after Momo, one of the maid's pushing him back when he got to the door.
"Sir, I understand you take your job very serious…but, as you see." The maid paused, taking her hands off of him, red running a crossed her face. "There's some matters of decency that we expect you to understand." She glanced towards Momo's room.
He nodded, positioning himself outside the room. He glanced at the clock, it was going on nearly four-thirty. How long did it take to pick out a dress and call a stylist? If it took any longer he was going to go in there and handle everything himself.
The maid stifled a laugh. He glanced at her. "If I may?"
He nodded.
"I know it's a little intrusive of me, but I feel I could see what you're thinking, but if you've never had your hands in hair before I wouldn't recommend going in there to help."
He knocked on the door, "Momo, are you okay in there?"
"Oh, yes. I'll be out in a few. How about you go get ready for the party yourself?" She called back.
He glanced towards the maid from the previous night. The one that had been afraid of the small dog within the mansion. If anything were to happen it was very likely that he would be able to hear her from his room. She sounded skittish enough. But that didn't mean he wanted to leave Momo with just this maid as her guard. But more people was also unreasonable and harder to figure out if anyone had any other intentions.
Momo opened the door, sticking her unkempt hair out, "Todoroki, it's fine. Go get ready and trust me that I can protect myself for five minutes and trust yourself that you taught me well enough to do at least that."
He nodded, "No longer than five minutes. I'll be back." She smiled shutting the door once again. He paused, she locked the door. He nodded examining the staff around him. "No one's to leave their positions, I'll relive you when I get back."
The maid scoffed, "I've been doing this job since before she was born. You think I'd let anything happen to someone I've practically raised?"
He headed towards his room, grabbing a suit that had been carefully laid out and throwing it on. He glanced towards his hair he didn't have time for that. He rushed out of his room, buttoning the buttons as he went.
"Wait." A hand landed on his shoulder. Todoroki reached up grabbing the wrist and beginning to flip the man, "Wait, it's me the butler." He paused glancing towards the man. Todoroki slid his grip off of the man waiting for his explanation instead the man shook his hand grabbing his wrist. "My, what a strong grip you have."
"What is it?"
"Two things. The first." The butler glanced at his suit, "a tie." The butler held out a dark red tie. He took it. It wasn't something he wanted to be wearing when possibly under attack, but he couldn't risk sticking out either and having whoever was coming for the attack know the reasoning of why he was here. "And second, the thing you asked me to find." He held out a box.
Todoroki took it. "Thank you. I'd prefer if I had gone for it myself."
"You went everything from specially ordering to different extreme's. I for one am glad that you haven't left our precious Momo's side."
He nodded. "And that's where I should be getting back to. If you'll excuse me."
"Todoroki, sir." He glanced back towards the butler. "I'm not sure what circumstances bring you to our humble home, but if you need anything, please ask for help."
Todoroki nodded and hurried down the corridor, he had been gone longer than he had planned on being. Arriving at the door to the maid's hiss. "I knew it. Can't you take the time to finish properly? Trust us we've worked here for years." She chastised dragging up a seat, iron hot in her hand. Pride radiated through her. She dragged him to the chair.
"Wait. What-"
"Even if you're her guard you need to take care of yourself. How will you ever take care of her if you can't take care of yourself?" She chastised clearly upset with the fact that he had rushed through getting ready. "There." She smiled, unplugging the iron from the wall and placing it carefully on some ceramic.
He glanced towards the mirror outside, she had mixed his multi-colored hair together and somehow made his bedhead from the morning into some form that was presentable for society.
"Momo! He's back! I won."
Momo opened the door.
"I told you that he'd pick rushing back to you before trying to get ready. So, I win our bet." The maid smiled triumphantly.
Momo blushed, "Todoroki, you do know that it's not as though we're under siege, I'm in my own house. I've told you before please make sure to take care of yourself."
He nodded, glancing at the clock. The party would be starting soon and he hadn't gotten a chance to glance through the guests and their backgrounds. The butler arrived behind him. "Sir, I've gone through most of the guests, frequent visitors with no prior history of crime or any under the radar shady activities. The employees are also clear and have had their background checks rerun tonight as they are on the beginning of each week."
Todoroki glanced towards Momo. "Well, haven't you been busy. Tonight, just have fun." She took him by the arm leading him back towards the ballroom. Eloquent music resounded from within the now open doors. He glanced around at the guests already arriving and spinning tales in their groups. She escorted him down the stairs, her arm pulling him closer. She was shaking.
"Momo, are you-"
A guest came up smiling at her, "Momo! Happy birthday dear! We haven't seen you in years! How's school going? Are you still pursuing fashion?"
Momo leaned against him, "Of course, of course. You know how I love to create things."
"Here you are. I'm sure you're plenty busy." The guest smiled, handing her a package and scurrying away back to their group. Todoroki shifted reaching to take the package.
"It's okay I can carry it."
"That's not the point."
"You're right here. If I hear it start ticking, I'll throw it at you." Momo laughed, dragging him to where a pile of presents was growing. She glanced towards the food, picking up the cake that was already lying freshly out. She cut a piece, reaching to feed it to him. All well, that made it easier then the hassle he dealt with earlier in the morning. He reached down taking a bite.
"Oh my, you're already so intimate with your boyfriend and I haven't even met him." A playful voice sounded behind him. Todoroki found himself almost choking on the food realizing the implications of eating off of Momo's plate.
Momo's ears lit up as she turned towards them, "Oh, goodness. I-Well there's a reason."
"No need, no need." The boisterous woman smiled taking his hand and shaking it. "How do you do? I'm Momo's aunt, from her mother's side of course." He nodded watching as the woman wandered off just as fast as she appeared. The crowd was spinning fast and he felt unfamiliar with all the faces that were coming and going. He felt unprepared.
"Todoroki, are you doing all right?"
"I'm a bit dizzy. While my family is in the same class as yours, we aren't as…open." It was too crowded. It was very unusual for such a large amount of people to be in one room or even be considered invited at all. Fuyumi was honestly the probable favorite and even her important parties and events were either small or not at all.
"Do you want to sit down?"
"It's okay I'll stay by your side."
Momo reached up placing her hand against his forehead, "Todoroki, you have a fever." She led him to one of the chairs, pushing him down with little effort. "I'm going to get you a drink I'll be back in a second. The food is right there, you'll be able to see from here."
She hurried to the table. He felt dizzy. He was sure he had eaten something today and that he was taking care of himself properly. Maybe it was forcing himself into the situation that he didn't want to be in out of spite or the mass of people within the ballroom. He shut his eyes but opened them again rapidly. He glanced towards Momo making her way through the room with a hassle. Each guest was pausing to talk to her and wish her a happy birthday. She finally made it to the table choosing to grab water and throw several ice cubes within it. She was one of the first people he had met in his long life that was concerned about others. Genuinely. Not simply because they wanted to save face. He would've decided to be here either way if he had known about her previously he would've found all the ways in the world to come to her side.
She was right though. He likely had a fever from overwork. He glanced towards the table again, Momo hadn't moved. Instead, she was backing away from the man at the table with a smile. She continued her conversation; making slight movements as not to be seen. Todoroki rose from his chair moving towards her. The man darted grabbing Momo's wrist.
Todoroki took steady paces towards the two of them. This internship wasn't its intentions of teaching him to control his impulses but instead prompting him to follow them. He was going to crush that man's neck.
The man swung Momo around locking her in a headlock, the glass clattered to the floor halting most of the party. The man swung his head around, eyes darting frantically as he examined the situation. He reached for his pocket pulling out an unmistakable piece of silver metal.
The man tightened his grip on Momo's neck, Todoroki could see that she was gasping for air. "Don't move any closer or I'll hurt her!" The man snapped pushing his gun against Momo's head. His heart was pounding. Maybe he wasn't completely ready for such a situation to set in so soon. He had advised against this birthday party for the best interest of the company, but no one wanted to bother to listen to him. "It's for the good of the company we can't just hide due to a few measly threats." It made him want to spit on their freshly polished shoes.
"And what makes you think I care?" Todoroki hissed. The man twitched, eyes darting back towards Todoroki, he was the only one daring to get close to him in a room full of people rushing out to save their intolerable worthless lives. "I was sent here to guard her due to burning my school. Do you think I find this rewarding?" He hissed. The man twitched, swinging his gun from Momo's head towards Todoroki's. He moved, slamming the man's wrist.
"You little!" The man snapped letting go of Momo, she darted away, reaching for him. Todoroki kicked the gun away and slammed his knee into the man's stomach. The man gasped salvia and whatever remnants of what he had eaten at the party dropping on the floor as the man fell to his knees. "Wait. You're like me. We can work together. Get a better place in this society by force."
Todoroki lowered himself to the man's position, watching as the man gasped for air, groveling on the ground and leaned towards his ear his voice no higher than a whisper, "I could give less of a damn about your position in society. But if you ever go near her ever again…" Todoroki felt the cool metal of the gun resting underneath his hand on the floor, "Bang." He was so close to the man he could almost feel him shiver as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Todoroki glanced over his shoulder, eyes carefully searching for Momo as she came back in with a pile of items in her hands. "What are those?"
"We'll need to tie him up until the police arrive," Momo stated, her eyes darting towards the gun underneath his hand.
Todoroki pushed his hand up into his hair pressing his body heat against it. Willing himself not to pick up that gun. He had never known himself as a compulsive person, he would've never before considered actually murdering the man in front of him. But there was something running through him like electricity begging, whispering, and pleading to pick up that gun and do more than just murder him. Torture him. Let him suffer and feel the panic that had run through his own bones. Whatever was whispering in his ear was suffering and he was sure how to quench his growing demons. His fingers twitched wrapping around the metal. Growing children needed to be fed properly to grow big and strong.
Momo's hand landed on his, "It's okay." She whispered, "I'm fine." Her voice was smooth and drew him to her, he barely noticed her drag the gun from his grasp. He glanced at her, purple lined her throat. He really did want to kill that man.
He turned to her bowing his head, "I'm sorry. I'll do better next time."
The other employees darted into the room, glancing frantically around as sirens wailed outside barely audible over the panic of the party guests. Todoroki glanced towards the police darting into the room, guns all raised. "You're late." He snapped watching as they glanced around scrutinizing the situation. They each glanced at the one on the floor and the man lying tide up a crossed from them. Momo's hands on his arm. They lowered their guns. Todoroki stood up offering her his arm, she nodded taking it. "Let's go somewhere quieter. It's been a day, and it's probably going to be a while before they leave."
Momo nodded, following him. He wasn't quite sure where he was walking. Anywhere but here was likely the plan. Momo took the lead, opening the furthest door in the mansion out into a garden. The garden was mostly pond, a dark blue pond that clearly reflected the night sky, but several trees around the garden. Momo sat down at the edge, swinging her feet into the pond, the night stars reflecting throughout it. "It's calm times like these that I appreciate it those most." She smiled. Now was a good of time as ever.
"Close your eyes."
She glanced towards him but nodded going her head going back to the position it had been when looking at the stars. She complied, closing her eyes. Todoroki pulled a small box out of his pocket, unlatching the chain. It was brittle he felt as though it would break within his fingertips. He pulled the chain around her neck gently latching it together, surprised at himself for not breaking it. "It's not much, but I hope you'll like it."
Momo opened her eyes glancing down towards the necklace now around her neck. It was a small moon, a blue sapphire sitting upon it with her zodiac sign radiating inside. "How'd you-? The ballroom. My mother did that when I was little for me, but how'd you know?"
"It's aligned for your birthday." He leaned down letting impulse run through his veins. They had described him as impulsive when he got here after all. He glanced towards Momo's lips slowly lowering his head, she paused her eyes fluttering.
"Shouto Todoroki!" A voice bellowed breaking the atmosphere. His heart dropped as he glared up towards his boss.
