chapter title: you're the gold

notes: golden christmas prompt for 12/25 for shouchakochristmasweek2018! I'm so sorry this is so unrelated to the prompt and its so late too! gold? lol hahah christmas is such a crazy time but i hope you guys enjoyed this oneshot!

disclaimer: i do not own my hero academia.

summary: Todoroki thinks he has never been good with kids. Uraraka disagrees.

It was noisy. Normally, Todoroki was not a fan of places like this, especially around the holiday season. It was loud, crowded, and somehow, whenever he set foot in the mall, he seemed to spontaneously develop claustrophobia.

His girlfriend of two years, Uraraka Ochako, however, wanted the "full experience of Christmas." That meant going to the mall to go Christmas shopping, see the decorative lights and trees, and wear Christmas-themed outfits.

She had convinced him to wear a Santa-themed suit, complete with a green tie and elf cuff-links. He was reluctant at first, but after seeing her reindeer dress-combo, he was hook, line, and sinker. He was a fan. As he watched her from the rear, eyes traveling along the length of her body, he silently agreed with that statement. He was really a fan.

"Ooh, look at that!" Uraraka was currently fawning over the nearby fixture holding candles, body lotions, and perfumes. Even though she'd had issues with money, she always made sure to get something for everyone important in her life. Now that she was making a lot more money, she was excited to buy better presents.

Todoroki watched her with a certain fondness softening his usual nonchalant expression, a smile gracing his lips. Really, that girl. Sometimes he wondered how someone as kind as her ended up with someone like him.

He was so absorbed in watching her that he almost didn't notice a small tug on the lower leg of his pantsuit. Todoroki was bewildered to look down and see a small child smiling up at him cheerfully, slurping on a candy-cane.

"Hi!" the little boy greeted, eyes wide with wonder. "Happy to meet you, Santa!"

Todoroki stared in astonishment. Santa?!

"Good boy," the boy pointed to himself with his free hand. "I want present!"

Feeling a little alarmed and frankly, a little anxious as well (he had no idea how to deal with children), Todoroki scanned his surroundings to see who this child belonged to. Unfortunately, he didn't see any parents looking for missing children nor did he see any faux-Santas that he could refer this boy to.

This was bad. He had no idea what to do.

Todoroki looked back down at the little boy, whose eyes were still as wide with amazement and reverence, and he felt something deep in his heart stir in response.

He sighed, before lowering himself to look the boy in the eyes. "Hey, what's your name?" He asked in what he thought was a comforting voice.

The little boy blinked at him, surprised, before shyly answering, "...Ichiro."

"Well, Ichiro," Todoroki asked, adjusting his squat position. "What would you like for your present?"

Ichiro immediately seemed determined, his lips set in a resolute manner. "Gold! Want gold," he replied without hesitation.

Gold? That wasn't a normal "kid" answer. "Why do you want gold, Ichiro?" Todoroki questioned curiously.

"Because daddy want gold—mommy said so. He leave without gold. He go without mommy and me," Ichiro answered purposefully, before deflating into a sad, downtrodden expression. "I have gold, maybe daddy won't go..."

Todoroki felt his heart pang at Ichiro's shrunken form. He'd had his own experience with less-than-par fathers. Ichiro didn't deserve a father like that.

"Hey, Ichiro," Todoroki patted the boy on the head lightly, ruffling his chestnut colored hair. "Your daddy isn't very good. But you know what? You're going to be great. You're going to be so good that it doesn't matter if your daddy stays or not. You know why?" He let a genuine smile cover his face, reaching out to tap Ichiro's chest with his finger lightly. "Because you're the gold, Ichiro." Even if it takes decades for your father to realize it.

"Really?" Ichiro's eyes were wide with amazement again, and Todoroki felt his heart lurch a little at the look of pure adoration on his face. How could anyone think of leaving this child?

"Yeah," There was a firmness in Todoroki's voice as he answered.

Ichiro giggled in delight, his laughter sounding like little bells. Todoroki felt another smile tug at his lips, and he almost paused in surprise. There was a strange fatherly instinct that he felt deep in his chest when he watched Ichiro.

"Ichiro? Ichiro! Ichiro, where are you?!"

"Mommy!" Ichiro turned toward the sound of his name being called through the crowd, jumping up and down to wave at a frantic woman approaching from the left. Todoroki decided it was time to stand up.

Ichiro's mother stopped to catch her breath, looking intensely anxious and worried. "Oh my, Ichiro," she berated in a motherly fashion. "Don't run off like that! Come on, let's go." She nudged him in another direction, gently guiding him away.

"Mommy, I met Santa! There!" The boy turned around to gesture toward Todoroki with unconcealed joy. "He give gold! He said I am gold, right here," Ichiro tapped his chest excitedly with a big beam.

There was unadulterated shock in the mother's eyes as she turned to observe Todoroki. As the understanding slowly dawned on her, tears filled her eyes and she flashed him a watery smile that spoke volumes. Thank you. "Yes, honey, you are gold," She tousled Ichiro's hair affectionately, her expression still strikingly fragile.

She reminded Todoroki of his own mother.

As the mother and child pair walked away together, Todoroki stood, still staring after them.

"You're great with kids, Shouto." He was shaken out of his reverie at the sound of Uraraka's familiar high-pitched voice. Todoroki turned to see his girlfriend approach slowly, smiling softly.

She must have read the surprise in his expression, because she chuckled in response. "I...may have heard the entire exchange," she admitted. "But you were great, Shouto." Her expression turned serious. "I know you have fears about not being a good father to your own kids, but I believe that anyone who has you as a father would be lucky."

There was a tenderness in her brown eyes as she observed him. "You're going to be great. Because you're gold, too," she caressed his scar gently, repeating his own words from before.

Todoroki swallowed thickly, feeling tingles of warmth spread through his chest at her encouragement. He nodded at her meaningfully, and she tiptoed to kiss his cheek.

"By the way…" Uraraka's tone became teasing. "Maybe he thought you were Santa because of your outfit," she cocked her head, raising one of her eyebrows. "But I think it's because of your hair," she threaded her fingers through his white and red hair, giggling.

He frowned at her light teasing, rolling his heterochromatic eyes at her antics. Uraraka laughed and looped her arm around his, pulling him towards another round of shopping.

"Hm...do you think Bakugou would appreciate new training gear?" Uraraka pursued her lips thoughtfully, observing the display of training bags, weights, and water bottles placed in the window of a workout store.

Todoroki scowled a bit, turning his head away from her. "Do you really have to buy him something for Christmas?" he asked, a tad annoyed.

"Of course, silly," she responded, giving him an amused smile. "He takes time out of his day to train with me, so I have to repay the favor!"

"It would be better if you didn't train with him at all…" he muttered under his breath, still irritated. They were definitely too close. Plus, he was sure Bakugou used to have a thing for her back when they were in high school.

Uraraka studied him, a small grin forming on her face. "Mm, Shouto, there's no need to worry," she said, voice filled with barely concealed mirth. "He's seeing Momo, now, anyway."

Oh? He didn't know about this new development.

"Besides," she sidled up to him, the action of her her head tilting emphasized by the cotton antlers on her headband. "I'm your reindeer, Santa," she winked, laughing at his deadpan expression.

Ridiculous. She was ridiculous. Todoroki reached out to take her hand, anyway. (Her antlers and smile did not affect his decision.)

Uraraka smiled. "Merry Christmas, Shouto."

They walked away together, hand-in-hand.

fin.