Koyurei sleeps so soundly. The silver moonlight streams into the room and spills over his face. I watch him while leaning on my hand. This is the same man who was willing to go to war just to get me my lunch.

But here he sleeps so peacefully, scarred by burns but so happy. I wrap my arms around him in the late night gloom and he doesn't move or shift much, just curls himself into my arms. I don't regret meeting him or falling in love with him. Much less marrying him. I run my hands through his hair. But just before I'm about to drift off again all the sudden I get a call. Scrambling to get my phone I detangle myself from Koyurei's arms and grab it. I answer it and a familiar voice comes through the other end.

"Nemuri! How have you been?" Principal Nezu's voice sends shocks down my back of memories about his legendary grudge against those scientists was the stuff of nightmares.

"Uhh, good sir. Very good actually, go-" he cuts me off.

"Ah yes, got married! I'm so proud of you, by the way. Mr. Todoroki was quite a worrisome boy when he was under our hallowed roof." he continues, "But I'm not here about that! I'm here to ask you something very important!"

"Yes?" I ask, looking back over at my husband sleeping curled into a ball almost like he's dead asleep. He might as well be. But then the conversation pulls me back with an offer that sounds way too good to be true.

"How about you come teach the first years at UA this year?" Dad's old adage of 'press further if it's too good, it might bite you in the ass.' comes back up in my mind.

"What's the catch?" I ask.

"No catch, just job security, possible tenure, and you don't have to worry Koyurei's little head off every time you leave the house." I can hear the smile and see the glint in his eyes, "Besides, breaking ornery villains is what you do best."

"These are kids, Nezu." I huff.

"So? Same thing. You'll start this coming semester, okay? If you accept that is, I'll give you a few days to consider." But I shove that aside after Koyurei's eyes open and he looks at me with the softest smile known to man.

I want to keep that smile safe. Putting the Nightbike to rest for a while and the patrolling and the crazy shit would do us some good. Not only that but if we want kids the last thing I want is for them to lose me.

That... and being a hero isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

"No, I'll do it." I say, "I'll teach."

"Splendid! I'll see you soon, Midnight!" When I hang up I feel Koyurei's arms around me and his head rests against my shoulder.

"What was that, baby?" he asks.

"I got a new job." I can't help but smile, "Whipping the next generation of heroes into shape this coming semester. No more worrying about me." he pulls me down onto the pillows and buries himself into my back.

"I'll still worry." he mumbles, "I worry. That's my job."

I smile, "Then worry less, I'll be home more often now. Just with lesson plans instead of investigation tactics." He lets out a soft chuff and we both slowly fall back asleep as my final days as a hero dawn.

The morning comes and it's pretty normal. Getting on my black suit as the smell of breakfast wafts through the air. Koyurei's working hard, nervous energy frying the eggs a little too well and burning the French toast a bit.

"Still worried, baby?" I ask.

"Yeah, I just can't stop. My dad's being weird and now you're a teacher so now I gotta adjust again, and then there's Touya..." he looks at me, "You're literally the only thing that keeps me sane." his soft voice quakes a little.

"It's not fair to you." he continues, "Now sit down, breakfast's ready."

"Are you sure you're okay, Koyurei?" I asks as his beautiful scarred hands shudder a little. He looks at me with those gorgeous blue eyes and smiles wanly.

"Never better. I'm just... so *lucky*." he hisses just a little with tears in his eyes. As we eat he keeps that dreamy look on his face. That soft joy that's been peeking through ever since he's been doing therapy.

Bit by bit I've been seeing the real Koyurei thaw out, the man I married gently letting go of the pain and the confusion holding him back from what he could be and all I want to do is gently let him live.

When I get to the door in my winter coat he stands a little on tiptoe to kiss me on the forehead, "Go save the world, Nemuri." he says.

"I already have." I answer making sure I have my lunch this time. He watches me go and I wave at him as I mount my Nightbike for the first of its last few rides before it retires from hero duty.

He waves back and blows me a kiss.

The time ticks by and I don't have any idea what to fill it with. Walking outside with the leaves still twisting and whirling through the air but with nothing to do there's no purpose. I have the better life I've always wanted but no idea what to do with it.

So I wander, take in the crisp air and the bright sun, feeling the cold on my face. Wondering what to do with all the spare time. Everything I could do is already done. Nemuri's out being a heroine for the last few times ever and I'm here just to wait for the next thing that will inevitably come along. Taking everything as it comes is a little weirder to me but here I am just handling normal chores and making sure everything is neat and tidy at home. I check my phone for anything from Nemuri but so far there's nothing.

But something catches me off guard. A text from someone I never thought I'd hear from again. Someone I thought would never talk to me again. Shoto. His text is simple and to the point.

hi.

Uh... hey. What's up, Shoto?

can we talk?

Sure.

There was a few seconds of that little elipses fading in and out over and over again. Maybe he wanted help with UA? I know Dad's probably putting my poor baby brother through the wringer.

Maybe we can meet somewhere?

i'd like that.

Where to?

soba.

Okay.

The noodle shop is a much fancier place than I expected it to be. Getting a private spot there too means my little brother wants to talk things out. When I get there I follow the employee to Shoto's spot where he sits waiting, teasing the chopsticks through his fingers. He's so much bigger now and his eyes are still that calico blue and gray. His hair is an exact fifty-fifty split of white and red. Other than my sixty-forty white to red ratio. Which would make someone think I have more ice mastery but nope.

Shoto kept trying to grow his hair out. To cover the burn scar and the cloudy blue eye he couldn't really see out of anymore. He wasn't as lucky as I was to get that super regenerative surgery that restored me.

He looks up at me and there's that small smile, "Koyurei, it's good to see you." he nods and I sit down.

"Yeah, it's good to see you too Shoto." I smile and take up a menu, "How's training with Dad?"

"Still brutal." he answers, "I... I miss you."

"Yeah, I miss you too. I spend so much time at home it bores me to tears." I chuckle a little and Shoto chuffs softly.

"What's it like being married?" he curiously tilts his head and I lean forward a little more in my seat.

"To be honest? I don't regret it. Nemuri's absolutely perfect." he nods and I continue, "Sure we're still in the Honeymoon phase but its been quite the ride to get there."

Shoto looks back down at his soba, gently swirling some of it around like he doesn't have much appetite. I know the feeling. That I used to go out with Keigo or Kiruka with the excuse that I was hungry just to get the hell out of the house.

"Shoto, you don't have to eat if you don't want to." I state, "I know that look on your face, kiddo."

"No. I'm hungry." he insists, "Otherwise he wouldn't had let me out."

"Yeah, I know." my voice crackles a little almost overcome with the emotions I wish I could just let out. That I could say sorry to my baby brother for leaving him. Welp, I can't keep it down forever.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

"I've been trying to make amends with everyone in the family aside from Dad. Mom got to walk me down the aisle and Natsu and Fuyumi seemed to let bygones be bygones but..." I start and breathe, "Is it okay if I dump what I feel on you?"

"Sure." he answers.

"I left you. I promised you I'd be there for you and I left you. You got burned because of me, because I wasn't there to save you." I admit, "And now Mom's gone, Dad's a monster, Touya's dead, and... and I'm married. By all accounts I should be where Touya is."

Shoto pauses, I could see the emotions blazing in his eyes but he focuses on his food, "There's a reason why you aren't dead like Touya." he says, "You were always so cool to me."

"I was cool?" I ask, "Me? Really?"

"Yeah. You always were." he smiles a little, "I looked up to you. You always knew what to do or what to say, and then we'd watch stuff like GoRangers or something. The bastard got rid of one of the DVDs when you left."

"What?! No!" I gasp, "It wasn't Heartsong Trooper, was it?!"

"Yeah."

"Nooo! That was a rare one!" I shake my fist a little, "Curse you, Endeavor!" that's what gets my brother laughing. He sputters and then loses it. Laughing against the table and trying to stay polite about it but failing.

I grin and chuckle a little, "That always gets you." The meal passes in relative comfort and Shoto actually seems not that far off from the kid I left years back. Just sobered to the reality that we both share.

After our little lunch we part and it feels kind of nice that he's doing okay. He's in his final years of Middle School and he's more than certain to become part of UA. Down the same road as Endeavor's last shot at surpassing All Might. Just before he leaves, I hug him.

"Be careful, Shoto. He's probably stepping things up in your final years before UA. Just remember that I'm a phone call away, Nemuri and I would be glad to have you over or come stay a while." I squeeze him for emphasis and he returns it.

"Good luck, Koyurei." he says, almost sounding like he's going to cry. Of course he took a huge gamble coming out to see me but when he leaves a noxious burnt flesh smell wafts up towards me.

In the distance I see Touya looming in an alleyway before walking away. He's watching me? Watching Shoto? Watching the both of us? Either way I glare after where he was only to leave to see Nemuri at her agency before I head home with her. But deep down all I can think of is the fact that one day I'll have to face him. I'll have to take on the past to keep my future safe. I get back in my car and begin the drive to my wife's agency.

When I get there, there's a ton of people with flashing cameras and reporters talking about something. When I get out of the car the calls of "Mr. Kayama!" and "Enavant, a word please?" rise to meet me.

"Out of my way." I snarl and muscle past them to see Nemuri trying her best to calm down whatever situation was happening to cause this absolute shitstorm. She looks absolutely relieved when she sees me.

"Koyurei, look. All I did was say I was going to be a teacher at UA and they went crazy." she grabs my hand and we duck inside. We both ignore the crowd and eventually they'll go away.

"Pffft..." I wheeze, then start laughing. Nemuri loses it too. We laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of the situation. The minute she even breathes that she won't be a hero anymore people take the nuclear option.

The Boys all shove their way in and shove the door closed behind them, "Mistress Midnight!" they yelp, "You should get ready for that mixer thing."

"Mixer?" I ask, almost like I've never been to one. Which I haven't. But I guess that's how dating culture works nowadays? I don't know and wouldn't know because my experiences were far from normal. (there're only so many times you can be tied up by hair or hung up by feathers before you start questioning things.)

"I'm doing an investigation!" Nemuri's chest puffs up full of pride, "Some real epionage stuff, babe!" she pulls me close, "Just... maybe get the hangover stuff ready, 'kay?"

"You're going to drink that much?" I sigh, "Look, Nemuri just be careful and don't give me a reason to break my retirement."

"Drinking helps me feel a little younger again." she croons and wraps her arms around me, pulling me up to her lips to whisper in my ear, "Besides, I like how it helps me make bad choices..." it sends shivers down my spine as she smiles and kisses me opening up the way to the back door and going out that way. Leaving me with the Boys.

"Well... do whatever you guys do." I practically sputter. Everyone else just watch as I take off my coat and hang it on a hook. I hustle to the front to maybe stave off the media because they're still there despite Nemuri sneaking out the back.

They crowd around me, "Mr. Kayama! What is it about Midnight being a teacher at UA?!"

"She wants to teach. So let her." I answer, "It gives me peace of mind that she isn't risking her life every day, after all we're newlyweds."

"Are you concerned that she may catch a few cases?"

"Do you seriously think Nemuri is always Midnight? She's a grown woman and I trust her with the discretion to be Midnight or not when doing her job." My voice lowers into a snarl, "I wouldn't have married her if she was anything like that."

"Are there any kids in your future, Mr. Kayama?" one of them asks and I answer as honestly as possible.

"No. Not at the moment." I bow to them, "Now if you'll excuse me I need to take over for my wife's agency duties." I open the front door and shut it behind me as they break things up and I head back to the desk. The Midnight Boys are handling calls and darting around to answer them and I sit, softly half-spinning around in the big cushy chair that leans back. That was a fun make-out session.

My thoughts drift back to the fact that Dabi was watching us. Me and Shoto, what could he be planning for his murder? Why would he want to spare me when I was at ground zero for his mental breakdown? That's when I remember how he wanted me to 'witness' it. That things were better when we were the only two Todoroki children. He idolizes that time, adores the simple times where we were still kids without Fuyumi and Natsuo, and especially not Shoto.

But still. I love all of them. Even Dad. Even if he doesn't want it or know it. I don't forgive him but I still love him. Just like how I don't like Dabi's choices but still love what we had. We probably won't have that again. Maybe that's why he's basically burnt himself to a crisp? I have a habit of surviving things that should've long since killed me. He wants to kill all of them except for me because he knows I'll just survive it.

Some sick part of me says, "Good riddance. We don't need them anyway. We have our wife."

But the kinder me that came back says, "They're still our family." Like we don't know that. Like we actually matter to most of them. I was just a replacement. I never thought of myself as anything other than that.

This replacement became more. He got married. He survived. He found himself again. His ears had finally stopped ringing and his throat finally stopped aching from all the screaming. But I don't remember those days. Those days back in that house at war. But it's okay, I wouldn't remember me back then either. I open my eyes again and look out at the dusking city.

I need to get home.