Fuyumi Todoroki was hot . That was her first thought when the younger woman opened the door.
She was short, white hair streaked with touches of red, and a rack that Ayumu envied (though her own seemed to be expanding at an alarming rate). Her gray eyes gleamed behind her glasses as she smiled and welcomed in her guests.
"It's so good to meet you!"
The home, very traditional Japanese style, which Ayumu had not expected, smelled of the delicious food the hostess must be cooking.
"You, too."
Fuyumi guided them through the house once they'd removed their shoes. "Feel free to sit. I'm sure you want to be off your feet as much as possible these days. Would either of you care for a drink? Tea, water, milk, fruit juice…"
"Water would be wonderful," she murmured, Hawks echoing the sentiment.
It was strange to see someone related to Dabi and Endeavor who was so pleasant . Warm. She moved around the kitchen with light feet and a friendly discourse continuing.
"Nats will be by a little later, and dad is bringing Shouto. Things can get tense with our father around, but he's honestly trying, and Natsuo has promised to be on his best behavior."
Ayumu accepted the glass of water with a low thank you, then added, "I'm sure I've seen the worst of your family, so please don't worry about it. It'll be fine."
She regretted her words as pain flickered through the dark grey eyes. "I really can't begin to imagine what you're dealing with. I'm so sorry. Touya was— he was a sensitive boy, and—" She shook her head. "You'll be safe here. The worst that might happen is some yelling between the guys."
"I know. I— it was a poor attempt at a joke."
Hawks laid a hand on her thigh, the weight comforting.
"Please," she continued, after favoring the hero with a grateful smile. "Tell me more about yourself.
She learned that Fuyumi was about three weeks older than Hawks, had an ice quirk, and taught elementary school. Ayumu was listening to the woman gush about her students when the door opened, admitting a rather large young man who had the same coloring as his sister. He had clearly inherited his father's build and had to be at least six feet tall, towering over his sister's 5'3.
"Natsuo!" Fuyumi pulled the broad man into a hug. "I'm so glad you decided to come. This is Ayumu."
She stood, a hand on her lower back for extra support, and watched Natsuo's eyes widen when they took in her swollen stomach. "Oh, uh, hi. Please sit. Should you be walking around so late in your pregnancy?"
"I'm only thirty-one weeks along. Twins," she added at the clear curiosity. He and his sister were both so expressive.
"All the more reason you should be sitting. A stressful pregnancy is hard enough on the body."
"Yes, doctor." Fuyumi laughed and Natsuo sighed.
"Natsuo is actually studying to be a doctor." That explained the sister's amusement. "Though I didn't know he had an interest in obstetrics."
The pale young man's face flushed. "Pregnancy is an interesting topic. And I'm looking into everything."
That last was said much too quickly, and she found herself wondering if he, like his brother, had a breeding kink. Their father seemed to have a thing for it, based on some of the memories she'd seen.
"The pregnancy hasn't been so bad, really. Hawks makes sure I don't do too much."
The winged hero wrapped an arm around her waist, grinning as he greeted Natsuo. Was it her imagination, or did he seem a touch possessive? He'd started to rub his thumb against the swell of her stomach.
Natsuo nodded. "Our mother had tough pregnancies, but she was always delicate. I was a bit big, and Shouto was difficult for some reason. I was just worried maybe To—" He cut himself off.
"It's okay. You don't have to avoid talking about him. I can deal with it."
"It's just." Fuyumi wrung her hands. "We've always had trouble talking about him, too. And I don't know if any of us are quite used to the idea of him still being alive."
Ayumu decided sitting might be a good idea after all and returned to her seat. "I understand."
"Do you know their sex, yet? Or have names picked out?" Natsuo redirected the conversation as his sister set the table. Food was all done and Shouto had texted to let Fuyumi know he and his father were on the way.
"After the disaster trying to find out their paternity was, I'm almost afraid to check anything else. Besides, gender isn't a big deal to me. And no, no names. I might not choose those until they're born."
Natsuo frowned. "'Trying to find out'... I'm confused. I thought they were Touya's."
Hawks' hand on her tensed, but Ayumu patted it and responded, "He is. Kind off. Uh. Well, I don't know what your father knows or has said—"
"Just that you're pregnant with twins and you're the one our brother referenced in his big speech," Fuyumi answered. "So we just assumed..." She shrugged.
"Yes, well," Ayumu said, stumbling for the words to give them. "Touya was giving me fertility drugs without my knowledge, and it seems I might have initially had more than two fertilized eggs. Paternity tests come back with him, Shigaraki, and Hawks as matches."
Two sets of grey eyes turned toward the winged hero.
"That would be extraordinarily difficult, given you were still with my brother until the battle," Nastuo said. "You're way too far along. Unless." He cut himself off, cheeks red.
"Anyway, I'm more than happy to parent the little chicks." Hawks smiled tensely, and she was grateful that he'd taken the initiative to shift focus to him.
"You're gonna break a lot of hearts when you announce you're taken," said Fuyumi. "Most eligible hero bachelor off the market? Oof."
"We're not together like that."
"Ouch, babe. Breaking my heart here."
Ayumu laughed and nudged him with her elbow. "Come off it. Like anyone could ever tie you down?"
She was unaware of how the siblings watched the pair interact, or she might have felt uncomfortable displaying her closeness with him.
It wasn't long until that Endeavor and Shouto arrived. She started to stand, but Natsuo said loudly, "There's really no need to get up. I'm sure my father and brother understand."
Endeavor frowned (or was that his default expression?) and nodded. "Miss Sato, thank you for joining us. Hawks."
"Endeavor," mimicked Hawks.
"You must be Shouto. I've only seen you on TV." She beamed at the teenager, something easing at the sight of a child in the group.
He was, Ayumu thought, the sibling who looked most like Dabi, and not because of the one burning aqua eye. There was a certain delicacy of his features. Unlike Natsuo he was pretty rather than handsome, and slender.
He nodded his dual-toned head. "Ayumu Sato, father said your name is," the boy replied.
"Yes."
"I am sorry we are meeting under such circumstances, but I am glad to meet you all the same."
He was such a serious child that she couldn't help but feel both saddened and charmed. This was the boy who had replaced Touya under their father's iron thumb. He had clearly experienced things he shouldn't have, and now his own brother had come back from the dead with a drive to kill him.
"Likewise," she said.
Endeavor and Shouto took their places at the table, and the bowls and plates of food started circling for everyone to take their fill.
"This is all delicious, Fuyumi. And I appreciate that you made only dishes I could eat."
The pale girl blushed. "It's nothing. I enjoy cooking."
"Still, it's wonderful."
A round of praises rose from the other diners, inviting more blushing acceptance, then fell a silence punctuated by the clink of utensils as they ate in peace.
"So, Miss Sato, where did you live before all of this?" Endeavor tried initiating conversation first, which was surprising to the woman, considering he did not get along with nearly anyone at the table.
"Kamino Ward, though I'd moved there only a few weeks prior. Before that, I lived on Okinawa for a few years."
"Why did you move?" he asked.
"I went through a nasty breakup, and I wanted to get as far away from my ex and her friends and family as possible."
Bright blue eyes narrowed. "'Her'? I was unaware you were a lesbian."
"I'm not," she said flatly. "I'm bisexual."
He looked perplexed, but continued, "Are you going to settle down now? Surely you'll want a father figure for the chil—"
"I'm as likely to settle down with a woman as not. Honestly, the only serious relationships I've had— at least, the ones I chose — have been with women."
"If you prefer women, would you not be a les—"
"Whether or not I prefer women," she interjected bitingly, "isn't the matter. Cis-men are usually more intimidated by my Quirk. Gender doesn't matter all that much to me. Your oldest and I have that in common."
"What exactly are you implying?" Endeavor demanded.
"I'm not implying anything. Touya is pansexual. Or, to paraphrase him without being too crass, a body is a body."
The atmosphere was tense as the Todoroki children listened to the back and forth, until Fuyumi finally interrupted.
"Being attracted to more than one gender is pretty common, dad. You really should try to be more open-minded."
He gazed stonily at his daughter before nodding, allowing the dinner to quietly continue.
That is until Shouto asked, "Will we be able to meet the children?"
"I see no reason why not," was the easy answer. "I'm a bit leery on Endeavor, but the rest of you have been pleasant enough."
"I wouldn't hurt the children." Enji was so quiet she wasn't sure she'd heard him at first. "I'm aware of the mistakes I've made with my family. I am trying to be better, but I understand that it might take time before you can trust me."
Natsuo snorted, but said nothing when his sister laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Forgive me if I am still a bit worried. I've seen what you were like with Touya, and I will not allow you to treat my children that way."
"How?"
"What?" She turned to meet the heterochromatic gaze.
"How did you see it? Is that what you meant when you mentioned your Quirk earlier?" His mismatched eyes were unblinking as he spoke, his attention wholly on her. He was going to be something impressive by the time he was grown.
"Oh. Yes. I can see certain memories when I make skin contact with people. I also nullify their Quirk at the same time." It was a quick enough explanation; she didn't feel the need to go more in depth.
"I won't ask to see them without you present. Not until you trust me." The man looked tired and desperate behind the stony gaze. She thought maybe her practice reading Dabi's expressions helped her with his father.
Ayumu nodded, and conversation slowly drifted toward more harmless topics again.
At the end of the night, Endeavor bid her good evening and went to do paperwork in his study (so he said). Shouto had homework due Monday. That left Natsuo and Fuyumi to walk her to the door.
"Thank you so much for coming, Ayumu. It was wonderful to meet you." Fuyumi squeezed her arm where it was covered with a sleeve, and Ayumu was grateful for how careful she was. Too many times, she'd had to remind people to watch where they laid a hand.
"Yeah," Natsuo added. "Don't be a stranger."
She thanked them both and bade them goodnight, then Hawks was guiding her away.
"That wasn't so bad," he said, wrapping arms around her before taking to the skies.
She laid her head against his chest, burrowed into his warmth, and thought, Surprisingly nice.