If Midoriya has one word to describe Todoroki's apartment, it would be messy. He never would've guessed that the man who always looks so formal and efficient in public actually is disorganised at home. Todoroki throws his coat haphazardly on the pile of other clothes submerging a stool in the entrance, kicking his shoes off as if in hurry.
Midoriya removes his own much neatly, arranging them parallel to each other on the rug. Todoroki's apartment is small, the visit during less than a minute. The bathroom is on the right directly at the entrance and a narrow corridor devoid of any pictures leads to a square room acting as living room, kitchen and bedroom. Cardboard boxes almost pile up to the ceiling and dirty bowls and plates fill up the sink. The single clean spot of the apartment actually is outside: there's a balcony but instead of having a nice, little comfy set of chair and table the entire space's taken by a huge cooler.
Midoriya doubts there's enough space for a second futon. Perhaps he'll sleep on the roof.
"I'm afraid it's rather small but I'm sure we can both fit."
Not only is Todoroki messy but he's also able to effortlessly lie to himself. Where's the Pro Hero Midoriya's got to know? The image he built of Todoroki is being smashed to bits and somehow, he knows it's only the beginning.
"I welcome you to my house and I do apologise for the mess. I want you to be comfortable and I'll respect your privacy as much as I can."
How can I be comfortable? Respect my privacy, my ass.
"I have a few points to facilitate our cohabitation. First, shut the lights when you leave a room and no more than seven minutes in the shower since I'm paying for the bill. Second, I'll clear a spot in the cooler for you, so you'll have your space and I'll have mine. We don't take each other's food and we wash our dishes afterwards. Third, I do the laundry on Fridays. If you want to wash something before, you do it yourself. Finally, don't wake me up."
The last statement is unexpected but Midoriya nods. If Todoroki's not a morning person, then he can be a monster to deal as soon as he wakes up. Midoriya's fine with not intervening.
"Is there anything you wish to discuss with me?"
"I have the rights to make rules?"
Todoroki clears his throat, rectifying, "Suggestions."
"Well, when I'm in the bathroom please don't come in."
"That's evident. Is that all?" He replies, clicking his tongue.
"I don't know… I'll think about it."
The Pro Hero nods, indicating one of the boxes at the base of the mountain. "Here's your stuff. I think your mother packed only clothes but I'm not sure. I didn't browse through it."
"Thank you," Midoriya tells him, rolling his eyes.
The box is full to the brim and he recognises one of his shirts peeking through the cardboard. He takes a step back and his legs flex. Todoroki's hand shoots faster than his eyes can follow, catching his shoulder and straightening him immediately. Midoriya jerks away, glaring at him. He doesn't say anything, merely taking the box and placing it on the kitchen counter. However, he makes no move to open it, rather picking an uncomfortable-looking metallic chair that was tucked in a corner and unfolding it. With eyes watching him with expectation, he places it in front of the counter.
"What was that?"
Todoroki's puzzled expression is disarming, similar to a child who is told he did wrong when he's convinced of the opposite. "I set a chair for you."
"I got that," Midoriya cuts in impatiently, "but why did you—?"
"You were about to kneel on the floor. You can't do that."
Midoriya feels his cheeks redden. He doesn't know if it's because of humiliation caused by his own forgetfulness or that he misjudged Todoroki's intention. The Pro Hero gestures towards the chair once more and this time, Midoriya complies. He does wince when he bends his knees, stretching his legs as soon as he sits down. He startles when Todoroki kneels beside him, one hand hovering above the injury.
Midoriya shies away instantly, squeaking, "What are you doing?"
"It hurts, doesn't it?" Todoroki whispers, holding his gaze, his palm immobile above his knee. Midoriya's the one who turns away, preferring to stare at his hands gripping the edge of his seat. "You don't have to tell me. I recognise pain when I see it."
Midoriya hates to admit it but his knee does throb even when he's sitting. It's pathetic, really. It's been less than an hour that he's out of the hospital yet he feels pain rippling through his leg, pressuring the injured joint. The doctor's been adamant that Midoriya takes painkillers if it becomes unbearable but he refuses to do so. Those little pills dull reality as well as his senses and he needs them now more than ever.
Distracted, Midoriya reaches out to scratch his knee only to have Todoroki grab him again, catching his hand this time with his own.
"Will you let me put some ice on your knee?"
He's too surprised by this sudden willingness to help him to answer. Todoroki takes his silence as an approval and places his outstretched palm on his knee. Midoriya's breath catches in his throat as he wonders if Todoroki will betray him, freeze him on the spot and deliver him in Tsukauchi's office wrapped in a bow. A shiver seizes his body as a cold sensation seeps through his clothes and reach his skin. It's not first time Midoriya thinks about how Todoroki's Quirk is astonishing, but it's the first time he realises that it can be used for something else than fighting.
Todoroki's hand stays on his knee for a few seconds before he removes it, observing Midoriya with impenetrable eyes, "Better?"
"Y-Yes."
He sounds breathless when he speaks but he shouldn't be. What Todoroki did is nothing new since it represents a Pro Hero's duty. They have to tend to injured civilians, and Midoriya's still a civilian despite being a little… lawless. So why does it feel like a deep connection run between them? Todoroki could've tossed him the painkillers instead of taking care of his injury himself.
It's his guilty conscience. If he arrived earlier, he could've stopped Tomura.
It's plausible, and Midoriya doesn't understand why he'd be disappointed if that'd be the case.
Todoroki's pocket vibrates, his cellphone demanding his attention. He pulls away, rising to face the balcony. Midoriya sigh and pokes at the box's contents. Half of his closet is tucked neatly in the box with a lingering scent of laundry detergent. In his pair of wool socks he discovers one of his All Might figurines. Even if his obsession with the Number One Hero is far outdated, a smile still curls his lips as he contemplates the figurine, his thumb brushing the Pro Hero's V-shaped blond hair.
Behind him Todoroki's conversing in a hushed tone as if he doesn't want to be heard. He keeps on sending glances over his shoulder, and although Midoriya can't see them he can sense cold eyes drilling a hole in his head.
"I told you I can't," Midoriya catches him repeating. "I'm busy."
He wishes he can listen to what the person answers on the phone, but the volume is so low that all he hears is silence. Putting the All Might figurine aside, he digs deeper in the box. He snorts at the sight of a bentō box storing his toothbrush and other toiletries.
"Call someone else." Midoriya turns around, giving in to his curiosity. Todoroki's now turned towards the mountain of boxes, his answer calm and devoid of any stings, but a frown creases his forehead and his right foot's stomping a steady rhythm on the ground. "I'm looking after a friend."
Midoriya almost snickers aloud but muffles the noise by plastering a hand against his mouth. He didn't know that friendship has to be cemented by incarcerating one in the other's apartment, completely cut off from the world. If this is Todoroki's idea of friendship, he doesn't want to know what his concept of enemies entails.
"Yes, it's him." Midoriya perks up. The only person who knows him as well as Todoroki is Yaoyorozu. "No, you can't talk to him. Right now he's... sleeping."
This time Midoriya sniggers, cocking an eyebrow, at the same time as Todoroki lets out a strangled noise. The Pro Hero's cheeks are growing scarlet, eyes darting on the floor.
"It's not like that…! Yes you're— No, you're wrong... I don't need your advice because he's—" He stops abruptly as he notices Midoriya watching him. Clearing his throat, he regains his composure but his face retains its crimson. "I failed him twice. I won't do it again."
Midoriya can only see one thing that can count as failing: the failure to protect him from harm and, coincidentally, twice from Tomura. He may be Quirkless but he's no damsel in distress. He chose to be a police man aware of the danger lurking around. He doesn't mind Death breathing down his neck as long as justice prevails.
"Fine, fine," Todoroki grumbles and all but shoves the phone in his face. "Tell her we're busy."
Midoriya presses the device against his ear, grinning, "We're so not busy so what can I do for you?"
Yaoyorozu's laughter is so loud that Midoriya winces, eyes screwed shut. When he opens them, Todoroki's glaring at him, shaking his head.
"We need him in Chuo, near Tsukiji Fish Market. We're having trouble containing an attack so we need every free Pro Heroes when the police officers evacuate the people."
"Who's attacking?"
"We don't know but there are six individuals who look nothing like humans."
Midoriya scowls, looking at Todoroki, "We have to go."
"You can't," he retorts. "You're in no condition to move, certainly not in a fight zone."
"But people need you. You have to go."
"And leave you alone?"
Midoriya slams the phone one the counter and stands on his feet, not even twitching when pain sears through his knee. Todoroki doesn't step back, even when Midoriya grabs him by the collar.
"Are you kidding me? Who cares if I'm the Judge when people are injured right now? You're a Pro Hero so you have to go and save them."
Todoroki gently removes Midoriya's hands curled around his shirt but instead of letting them go, he rather tightens his grip around them.
"You should sit down."
"Don't tell me what to do," Midoriya hisses.
Todoroki drops his hands, gripping the phone. "Yaoyorozu, are you still there? Send us Iida."
Midoriya remembers stumbling across this last name in the students who graduated with Todoroki. It also rings a bell in his large database of Heroes he memorised, Iida Tensei also known as Pro Hero Ingenium.
Todoroki hangs up, crouching down in front of a lone box and taking out a blue bundle. He unfurls it, shaking it a little as if hoping the wrinkles would smooth themselves. He ends up giving up, tossing the clothes on one shoulder, and heads to the bathroom under Midoriya's gaping mouth.
"Is that…? Are we…?"
"Yes. He should be here in seven minutes."
"So I'm coming as well?"
"I hate," Todoroki mumbles as he gets inside the bathroom, "repeating myself. Take a painkiller, you'll need it."
Midoriya can't help but whooping, Todoroki rolling his eyes and slamming the door.
Iida Tenya, similarly to his older brother, has a Quirk related to speed. While he runs at a frightening speed with Midoriya in his arms as if the latter's a bride late to her wedding, Todoroki surfs on ice above their head without breaking a sweat. He has no trouble matching Iida's speed, and Midoriya even has the feeling they're competing to see who's going to reach Chuo first.
Midoriya catches a glimpse of ambulances' sirens and familiar yellow tape meant to keep people away from the scene. Todoroki flies above the secured area, heading straight in the thick of the fray, but Iida comes to an halt. He settles Midoriya down on a stretcher, making sure he shows no signs of discomforts before nodding to himself. The police officer swallows his pride as he's handled with care, a Hero with a Healing Quirk already trotting his way.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Midoriya. I'm normally against bringing more civilians in a fight but if Todoroki deemed you strong enough to be here, than so do I," Iida tells him before speeding away, a cloud of dust being the only hint of his presence.
Midoriya wants to latch onto him so he can, too, get closer to the heart of the battle. He might have gotten outside but he's still too far. The ground trembles from explosions, sounding like ominous thunder in a clear, blue sky. Around him, people flinch at the sudden noises, whimpering.
I don't belong here.
"Where are you hurt, sir?" The Hero inquires.
"My pride," he mutters before giving himself a swing off the stretcher. He almost crumbles down as his bad leg takes the brunt of the impact but catches himself on the stretcher, hauling himself straighter.
"Sir, you shouldn't do this," the healer warns, hovering around him. "It's clear you're hurt."
"Then heal me, don't just stand there," Midoriya snaps, gesturing towards his knee.
The healer gapes at him before shaking his head, mouth closed. With one hand he pinpoints the pain's source. His hand hovers above his knee similarly to Todoroki earlier that day but nothing happens. Instead, the healer's shaking his head once more.
"I'm afraid this surpasses my Quirk... The wound is too deep."
"Then what are you waiting for? Go heal someone else."
The healer doesn't have to be told twice as he stiffens, reddening. Just as he's about to snap back at Midoriya, their attention's drawn to a dark form hurtling towards them. As soon as it enters the wounded civilians' perimeter, the shadow slows down, stopping in front of them. Midoriya gasps as he stares at the shadow shaped like a bird and holding gingerly in its claw a young girl who can't be older than seven years old.
"Take care of her," the shadow orders in a guttural voice before leaving.
The healer props the girl on the stretcher, Midoriya all but forgotten. It's fine by him and if you'd ask him, it's better that way. With the Hero's attention on someone else, he can slip away. It was easy it was laughable. He thought the current fighting Heroes would've had the brilliant idea of sending someone to watch over the wounded, someone competent enough to hold their own against a villain. The civilians are all vulnerable targets who need healing, yes, but also reassuring. Only the presence of a worthy Pro Hero can quash their qualms.
Did no else but him ever learn from All Might?
He soon realised there's nothing worse than jogging with a leg unwilling to support your weight. Despite the exercises he did before leaving the hospital and a skin-mending Quirk, his muscles are still sore and in a desperate need of a break. Midoriya pushes forward, however, alert as he watches his surroundings. Both the inside and outside market were empty, which is quite a feat. Everyone fled to safety while the Heroes were battling on the other side, near Sumida River.
As he nears the action, various voices yelling warnings to fellow Heroes and threats to the villains reach his ears, filling his entire being with excitement he hasn't felt for a long time. He limps before leaning down against a building, feeling like a child witnessing things he shouldn't. The Heroes have forced the enemies to retreat further on Kachidoki Bridge but they didn't seem to be winning. From what Midoriya could see, their Hero costumes were scratched, showing the bruises blooming on their skin, and their stance, tense albeit drooping in exhaustion. Midoriya's eyes land on the enemies.
His jaw drops. "What the…?"
They are the most peculiar and ugliest creatures he's ever seen. Picture a blue agglomeration of disorganised muscles standing on two hind legs with bulging and unblinking eyes as well as beaks instead of mouth. What disturbs him the most, however, is the top of their head where half of their brain is exposed. There are five of them, three human-looking, one with a lizard tail whipping the air and the last, winged and possessing claws that look so sharp they can rip anything off.
Just as Midoriya decides he can't handle this kind of villains, a pair of bulging eyes settle on him. If the monster had a mouth, Midoriya swears it'd be grinning, showing a rank of shark-like teeth.
He stumbles back, not daring turning away from the creature but it's lunging at him almost faster than he can blink. The world spins around like a whirligig as it crashes against him, Midoriya wincing as the asphalt scrapes his back. He struggles to get free but its claws curl around his shoulders, trapping him. The monstrosity leans down closer to his face, saliva dripping from its open beak.
"Civilian!" A faraway voice screams, and the next second something's colliding against the creature and toppling it.
Midoriya groans as the monster's torn away from, its claws leaving superficial gashes on his skin. Clenching his teeth, he props himself on one elbow, his hand settling on his heart wildly hammering in his chest. His head throbs painfully. He must've hit it. As closes his eyes, even the darkness in his sight swirls uncontrollably.
"Midoriya, what are you doing here?"
He's never seen Todoroki's face so cold before. The Pro Hero points an accusing forefinger encased in ice in his direction and for a moment, Midoriya's convinced he's going to attack him.
"Do you think I wanted to bring you here? I knew it was dangerous, so I left you with healers for your own safety. I trusted you not to do anything stupid."
Midoriya doesn't know why he rises to the bait so quickly given the circumstances but his mouth opens on its own. "Perhaps you shouldn't trust me. Have you thought about it?"
"Shouto! Is he alright?" A female voice shouts, drawing their attention. Yaoyorozu's jogging up to them, a worried expression painted across her face that morphs in shock as she recognises him. "Midoriya, why are you…? Well, it doesn't matter. You have to leave immediately. Can you get up?"
Midoriya nods, his legs quivering as Yaoyorozu helps him standing on his feet. Todoroki glares at him one last time before spinning on his heels and throwing himself in the fight.
Midoriya wishes he could do the same.
"What are those… atrocities?" He whispers instead.
"We don't know but they are strong opponents. We asked for more reinforcements since we failed to beat at least one of them," Yaoyorozu confesses, obviously dejected.
Midoriya doesn't answer, eyes riveted to Todoroki's ice trapping one of his enemies' leg. There's no doubt that the Pro Hero can do the same thing to him if given enough incentive.
"But you are holding up, aren't you?"
"Of course we are. We're Pro Heroes," she replies, beaming at him. It would be more credible if her hair wasn't in a disarray and if she didn't have a bleeding lip. "Now move, no time to lose."
The second they step forward one of the creatures makes a beeline for them. He daresay that there's a predatory gleam in its orbs, as if targeting them on purpose. Yaoyorozu has enough reflexes to sidestep the creature but Midoriya's feet trip over rubble, sending him down on his rear. A shield emerges from her forearm and she grabs it with by hands, positioning herself between the monster and Midoriya.
"Midoriya, run!"
The monster rams into her shield, her petite frame quivering as the impact resounds through her bones. Midoriya can't run, not when someone's putting their life on the line for him. Standing up, he removes one shoe then runs behind the monster. He doesn't have to distract it by throwing the shoe because its eyes follow him as he moves around, almost rolling back in their orbit. Hitting Yaoyorozu with a forceful backhand, it turns around to face Midoriya.
The latter forces his voice to speak despite his gritted teeth. "What do you want?"
The creature opens its beak but instead of speaking, it screeches. Midoriya covers his ears, grimacing, but it keeps on shrieking until ice covers its face, keeping him frozen. Todoroki is a few meters away, frostbite crusting his right hand that is still outstretched in the monster's direction.
"You should use your flames." Midoriya should learn how to keep his mouth shut but seeing Todoroki in this state, he isn't telling him to spite him. "You can't keep going much longer."
He glowers and breathes out, volutes of air swirl out of his mouth. "Just watch me."
"No, I don't want to watch. You have to thaw your ice or you'll lose your limb."
He's certain Todoroki understood his point since his eyes widen, but then the Hero's hand shoots in the air once more, ice materialising from his palm to hit the monster standing behind Midoriya. The ice was flung with enough force to embed themselves in his eyes and on his chest, but the monster doesn't even wail, merely removing the spikes from its orbs, unfazed. It keeps advancing towards them in a slow pace. Knowing it can reach them in a second but that it chooses to take its times, Midoriya knows it's toying with them.
He scrambles backwards, soon catching up with Todoroki. "Use your flames, Todoroki." Answered with silence, he whips his around, yelling, "Use your goddamn flames, Todoroki!"
But Todoroki isn't listening. He's bent over, hands on his knees, visibly trying to fend off the consequences of frostbite. Midoriya grabs his hands in his own, bumping their forehead together.
"Get your shit together or we'll die," he hisses, pouring all his frustration and despair in his voice. "I don't know about you but I'm not going to die here and today, hear me?"
Todoroki shakes his head but his eyes are sharp, proving he's listening. "I hear you. Just run, Midoriya. Don't care about—"
He punches him. He doesn't have enough strength to floor him but Todoroki still staggers back. Midoriya's knuckles are burning but pays them no mind.
"I don't care about you, idiot. I can't do shit here because I'm Quirkless but you're not, so you'll use your Quirk and burn that chicken to a crisp."
Todoroki stares at him as if Midoriya asked of him to pole dance. "But these flames—"
"Yeah, yeah, you got them from your father but who cares? Didn't I tell you that it's the wielder who uses their Quirk and decide to do whatever they want with them?"
"But this Quirk is my father's. I'm not—"
"For fuck's sake, you don't have to be Endeavor's carbon copy if you don't want to!" Midoriya very much wants to punch him again but calms himself down. "Listen, you're Todoroki Shouto and you can manipulate fire, so do it. That's enough reason to blast that thing, right? You're enough."
If it doesn't pull Todoroki out of his angsty teenage stew, then Midoriya will just give the Hero as sacrifice to the beast and run for his life. Todoroki raises his head, eyes flashing in determination.
Midoriya hides his relief by grumbling, "It's about time. Now go—"
Before he can finish his sentence, an enormous explosion detonates behind them, waves of heat unfurling towards them. Midoriya shields his face with his arms, head turned away, waiting for the creature to strike him before understanding the attack didn't come from it. Peeking through his arms, he realises they're shrouded in a curtain of smoke. He can barely see Todoroki beside him, but as the smoke fades he remarks how tense he is.
"The fuck you're doing, just standing here doing nothing, fucking half and half," someone bellows, and Midoriya freezes when he notices a silhouette marching towards them cleaving through the veil. "I ain't got time to save your pathetic ass."
"So conscientious of you," Todoroki replies, deadpan, as the figure emerges completely from the smoke, blond hair as spiky as Midoriya remembers and his eyes, still brewing with his constantly enraged look. "Bakugou."