⟢⟢⟢⟢ ༘⋆ ❅ ･:*:｡ ❆

Endeavor had just beaten the High-End Nomu, and I was a puddle of nerves. I really thought I was going to watch the Old Man die along with the rest of the nation.

It terrified me.

So when he made it through, I went to find you even before I called my mother and siblings to check on them.

But all I had to do was look up.

I'd been crouching on the balls of my feet, hyperventilating, once I saw my father's right fist rise through the smoke clouds. I struggled to catch my breath as my fire seared my lungs.

Endeavor...

"Todoroki, are you all right?" Your voice, though timid, carried a world of kindness that instantly melted the iceberg of anxiety in my chest. I swiftly pulled you into my arms. It was my first time noticing your scent; it was comforting.

"More than you know," I whispered into your neck. You smelled of nervous sweat, cedarwood, powder deodorant, and... "Mmm. You smell like warm cinnamon apples." You softly giggled at that.

"I made Eri another batch of candy apples. You can have one if you'd like."

"I'd like that very much, thank you."

"Eh hem…" Mr. Aizawa cleared his throat awkwardly. You pulled away first. (I would've never let you go if I'd had it my way.)

"Is something wrong with your throat, Mr. Aizawa? I have a cough drop-" He cut me off. "Shoto. Endeavor is being wheeled to the ambulance. I've already permitted you to go off campus if you need to take the rest of the day to visit your father in the hospital."

"That's so kind of you, Mr. Aizawa!" You beamed. "Todoroki! Tell Endeavor he was awesome out there!"

"Thank you, sir." I hadn't thought about it. Going to visit him without Fuyumi and Natsuo didn't even cross my mind. But the look on your face told me it would be a good idea—after I decompressed with you.

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.

.

Before I left to see my family, I stopped by your room. A glassy red candy apple wrapped in plastic wrap was on your desk. It even had a tag with my name on it.

"How're you holding up, Todoroki?" You closed the door behind us.

"I almost watched my father die, but I'm okay. Just got off the phone with Endeavor. Surprisingly, hearing his voice made a huge difference." I sat beside you on the edge of your bed. "Thanks for the hug and support earlier, Midoriya. I needed it."

"Well, you kinda took the hug yourself..." you nervously laughed. It confused me.

"Oh, my apologies."

"No, it's fine! Honestly, Todoroki? I'm glad you feel comfortable hugging me. You were so guarded when we first met."

I cocked my head to the side, letting your words register. "Hm. I suppose I was." Turning to face you, my heartbeat hiccups at your bashful expression. You're gripping your knees so hard I worried that with too much force from your Quirk, if you weren't careful, you'd smash your kneecaps. I placed my hand over yours, and you stopped shaking your left knee.

"But in my defense, I didn't know how to trust anyone before I met you."

I chase after you faster than I've ever chased after anything in life. I'm sliding toward you on my ice with all the speed I can manage as my heart struggles to beat. While in pursuit, I make a call.

"Todoroki? Why are you calling on your and Midoriya's anniversary weekend? Weren't you boys supposed to unplug-" I don't have time to answer her sisterly questions.

"Yao-momo, I need a favor."

"Shoto…" I can hear the worry in her voice. "What's wrong? You sound-"

"Momo. I don't have time to explain. It's an emergency. I just need help."

"Okay, what is it, Todoroki? How can I help?"

Iida and Yaoyorozu have become our closest couple friends since graduating from UA. We've gone on double dates and couples trips, held each other's hands through personal crises, and celebrated professional milestones together. Tenya is our brother, but Momo and I have had a special relationship since we were first-year heroes.

While Iida would be your second call if I weren't available, Yaoyorozu has always been mine; I trust her judgment more than most, more than yours—especially concerning you.

"Can you track two of our GPS chips for me?" Momo was the architect of our home and put trackers in everything.

"Sure thing. Which ones?"

"CSX-0111 and CDX-0715."

"That's…"

"Mine and Deku's. Yes. But I can't track him fast enough while looking at my phone, so I need your help."

"Shoto…? Why are you tracking Midoriya?"

"Did you know Bakugo was back fighting villains in Japan? Back in Tokyo?"

The phone went silent. "Momo. Hello? Are you still there? Momo?"

"I…I'm still here, Todoroki."

"What's wrong? Are you feeling wedding planning jitters again? The pressure point for it-"

"No, no. Shoto, I'm fine. But…yes."

"Yes, what? You're having cold feet again?"

"No...(and I told you not to bring that up again!)" She whispered. "I knew Bakugo was back in Japan. He's coming to the wedding. He's in the wedding."

My brain cracks. That meant he was going to be on the bachelor trip. FUCK!

"Where is Deku?" I say with an icy bite.

"Uh… Turn left in three hundred feet on Chuo-dori Avenue. Then, head straight for three miles. You should be about two miles from him once you reach the Sumire District."

"Okay, thanks. Got it. So, wanna explain why I'm just hearing you invited Bakugo to your wedding?"

"Tenya wanted him to be a groomsman, and I didn't want you or Midoriya to drop out of being one because of it. Iida loves all three of you like blood brothers, and I just couldn't risk his special day being-"

"Momo. Whatever. Don't cry. I'm hurt, but we can talk about it when I'm not chasing after my boyfriend of seven years as he runs toward the most complicated relationship in his life."

"I know. This must be difficult for you."

"Difficult? Learning how to control fire and ice simultaneously was difficult. This is crushing me."

"Shoto, I don't think you should be chasing him in this state." I ignore her because I'm not trying to hear that. It's too late.

"I just don't understand, Yao-momo! It's not like the murderous asshole didn't put a hole in his stomach. His lungs collapsed! It forced Deku to be hospitalized for damn near a year! I told Bakugo never to come back. Why is Izuku doing this? Why is this happening now? Our anniversary is tomorrow!" I'm so angry I can feel the heat of my flames searing my throat.

"Todoroki, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. That was selfish of me—selfish of both of us. But, it's also Bakugo's birthday...so-"

"Bye, Yaoyorozu."

༘⋆ ❅ ･:*:｡ ❆

I sharply turn down Chuo-dori the way Endeavor taught me all those years ago—"Never stop accelerating, compress your fire, and release at the moment of impact"—and shoot past a hospital. A memory of visiting you in the hospital the first time flashes through my mind—the summer the League of Villains kidnapped Bakugo during our first year at UA. The first time I ever feared losing you.

.

.

.

You were in and out of consciousness for two days and were having seizures every other hour. It scared me how much trauma your body went through fighting to save Kota and Bakugo. All I could do was pray you fully recovered. That, and visit your unconscious body. You looked so helpless, nothing like how you were at the summer camp. I didn't want my friend to die, so both days I brought you food and fresh flowers, just as I did my mother, and sat beside you reading hero news updates for an hour before going home.

You resurrected on the third day. I was the first to see you open your eyes.

"Kacchan?"

And was the only one to hear the first word you croaked from your dry mouth. It was to be expected. Yet, even back then, so early in our friendship, it hurt to hear you say his name with such longing. So, I waited until you were surrounded by most of our classmates—(the ones who were feeling well, anyway)—to tell you the truth.

"Bakugo is gone."

Mina scolded me for being so direct-

"Nooo, that was so cryptic, Todoroki!" Mina shamed me. But I knew better than anyone that that was the only thing you cared about—"Did we win and save Bakugo?"

Though I didn't want to see you hurt, I had to say it. But, since no good deed goes unpunished, I also had to watch you sob as you monologue your regret to the fifteen of us over failing to save your childhood frienemy. It gave me a headache thinking about how much I cared about you even then, how much I wanted to tell you I was here for you even then. But I knew it wasn't the right time or place, not while you wept over missing the only person you truly wanted to see in that hospital room.

.

.

.

Was I a fool for not letting you go then?

Because here we are doing this same old dance again.

I pursue you.
You chase him.
He hurts you.
I hunt him.
He rejects you.
You save him.
I support you anyway.

Tell me, Midoriya: is this unconditional love? Because it hurts.

I became a hero so that people could have peace of mind.

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.

.

"The Endeavor Agency took a big hit when Shoto decided to branch out on his own..." Enji gruffed, swilling his scotch in a glass tumbler.

My father had this irritating way of reminding me how much he hated that I never chose his path for me.

"But, I'm glad he's teamed up with you, Deku." He raised his glass to toast our agency paperwork being approved. Mom invited us over for dinner to celebrate.

He also has this infuriatingly endearing way of doting over you to cover up his crimes against me. He knows you're my weakness and presses my spot when you're around.

But I can't blame him. It's undeniable, Deku, you're a fantastic hero.

"Oh, that's mighty nice of you to say, Endeavor!"

"Please, call me 'Enji."

"Oh no! I could never do that! I respect you too much, Endeavor!" You flailed your hands, nervous, adorable.

"No, I insist. You're a respected colleague, after all."

"But, I'm not..."

"Midoriya, it's fine. Enji means it."

"See, Shoto does."

After you left, my father asked me to join him in my childhood home's training room. The traditional Japanese room brings back lots of nightmarish memories, but I've gotten past those demons.

"How long do you want to train?"

"How ready are you to go out alone, Shoto?"

Perturbed, I answered, "Very. And I won't be on my own."

"I know Deku will be there, but Deku will surpass All Might as a pro hero. It's already evident. But will you be able to keep up and survive as I have trained you from birth to do?"

"You bastard! How dare you ask me such a question. Do you think I'm too weak to keep up with Deku?" My entire left side was engulfed in flames. My father smirked as I charged at him.

"No, as a father, it gives me peace of mind to know he'll protect you." He swiped his arm across his front, "JUST REMEMBER, SHOTO. A TOP HERO MUST ALWAYS BE ABLE TO PROTECT HIMSELF." A fiery wall surged before me, nearly searing me to ash before I froze it.

.

.

.

But I feel like I'm losing my peace of mind chasing after you.

You're too fast; I can't keep up with you. But I can feel One For All's might from a great distance. We've worked side-by-side for so long, it's like feeling the slightest change in weather in one's bones. I'm catching up to you. I see your green tracks ahead, creating a new ice path over rooftops. Staying in the sky is my best gamble for catching you. I slide down the side of a skyscraper as an ice pillar lifts me to the nearest building. I need to figure out your path.

Or slow you down.

"Deku!" I scream, extending my right arm. A bridge of ice forges the path before me. I know you hear me. I know you can sense my presence because I can see you clearly in the darkened distance. But you still don't respond to the sound of my voice. I feel like a fool for you.

This is disrespectful and humiliating, Izuku. Do you not see that? Did you forget that our anniversary is but an hour away?

I nearly reach you, but you're off again in a flash, chasing what I cannot see within all the rubble and smoke. Your Smokescreen doesn't help, either. Nor does…

What? What are these iced droplets rushing back at me?

I look up to see if it's raining and my ice has frozen the raindrops (I hate when that happens because it creates hail and sleet). But one lands on my cheek and nicks my skin. I catch it. It's tear-shaped. I knew you were crying.

How audacious of you to cry as you run away from me.

Your soft heart is why I fell for you. Your unabashed sensitivity and how you cried waterfalls at the drop of a dime no matter where you were were endearing to witness. It's like your heart is made of putty; I can tell you grew up in a peaceful and loving home. I would hate the melting teardrops seeping through my clenched fist if not for that.

"Deku! Why you're crying right now?" I shout, burning the smoke out of my path, but you're too far gone to hear me now. I walk among the street's fallen debris. You must be coming to blows with whoever is in your way—(I don't know, I can't see you)—because the shockwaves from your wind pressure push me further back.

Further away from you.

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.

The evening Bakugo and I failed the provisional hero licensing exam, you and I spent hours talking about what went wrong. Even though you were gracious and firm, I felt like I'd failed you the entire conversation. I'd already failed myself.

"You and Yoarashi almost pissed me off," you teased while helping me blowdry my hair. I'd been so disappointed in my behavior that I kept melting blowdryers. So, as usual, and as I learned then, your calm and steady hands took over in my distress. "Two powerful Quirks and two intense personalities clashing between aspiring pro-heroes. It almost reminded me of-"

"You and Bakugo?" I craned my head up to look you in the eye. You burst out laughing.

"Hey? Since when was your Quirk mind-reading?"

"It's rather obvious, Midoriya. You and Bakugo have the most contentious non-familial relationship I've ever seen. It's like you two hate being friends."

You turned off the hot air and brushed my hair. "Heh. Yeah, I know." Then, quickly change the subject. "It's ironic how perfectly your and Yoarashi's Quirks would've paired together to dry your hair." I looked at your timid expression in the mirror as you used your fingers to give my hair one last tussle with hair product.

"Yes. But then, I wouldn't have had time with Midoriya if he had been here. So, I'm glad." I see your reflection blush, so I turned to give your torso the tightest hug I could squeeze out of your newly defined muscles.

"Ack! Too tight, Todoroki!" You shrieked, patting my head and peeling me off. You yawned—it was contagious. "Anyway, I'm sure we're both worn out. Let's get some rest."

I decided to be bold as I watched you head for my door.

"Midoriya. Wait."

You looked back. "Yes, Todoroki?"

My heart was racing, but I needed to ask; I wanted your comfort. "It's been a long day. Will you stay with me tonight?" The look on your face turned the worst day into the loneliest night.

"I'm sorry, Todoroki, I kinda just want to sleep in my bed tonight, but tomorrow night, for sure!"

"Okay."

You returned to where I sat and pulled back my bangs to kiss my forehead. "And don't worry about what happened today. Okay? It's not on your permanent record or anything. You'll get it right in November." You held my upside-down face in your hands.

I let a small smile spread across my face and nodded. "I know, you're right." You gave me an approving grin, kissed my upturned nose, and quickly pecked my lips.

How ironic of you to then turn around, after kissing me goodnight and leaving me, and ruin your school record fighting him in the still of the night.

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.

It feels like history's repeating itself yet again. My phone rings. It's Momo again.

I stand atop the crest of an ice wave. It's taking me too long to reach you.

"You're catching up. Do you see him?"

"Yeah, he's up ahead. Ignoring me."

"Are you sure he knows you're there?"

"Momo."

"I know, I know. It's just…I don't like this. And I know this isn't the time, and I accept responsibility for partially causing it, but I really hate that this is happening a week before my wedding."

"Yeah, me too." A distorted shuffle comes through the other end.

"Todoroki!"

"Ingenium?"

"Do you need my assistance? I can be there in an instant, brother!"

Another series of explosions set off ten blocks ahead of me. The giant mushroom cloud blooms like a destination marker. I make my move.

"Why the hell didn't you tell us Bakugo was coming for the wedding? And he's a groomsman!"

"You sound angry, and I understand. Momo and I are deeply sorry-"

I roll my eyes. "I am furious, but I don't have time for this! So, save the apology, Iida. Momo already said all that."

I can hear him grit his teeth. "Hm, right. Yes, well, I promise you, Todoroki. It was not done lightly or to offend you and Midoriya."

"That doesn't answer my question, Tenya. You should've warned us!" I'm propelling forward as fast as possible, but my body temperature is dysregulating. I need to hurry up and catch you.

"You're right. It was a selfish call to make."

"Does Sero know?" I ask, my voice low, bracing for the impact of yet another attack from friendly fire.

"No, he doesn't," Tenya replies, and my lungs deflate in relief. I couldn't have taken such betrayal from the whole crew.

"Ochaco?" For Midoriya's sake, I need to know.

"I...I don't think so," Momo stutters, thinking. "At least, I didn't tell her, and she hasn't brought it up to me." I ponder that for a few seconds.

"When did you even invite him?" I can see Blackwhip and explosions in the distance again.

"Good friends check on the strong friend, remember?" Tenya tries to moralize.

"Save it. We're all The Strong Friend, Iida! We're pro heroes! Real friends don't corner their friends back into a love triangle. At least I can still trust one best friend." Momo mewls and gasps at that.

"Listen, I accept your hostility," Tenya interjects. I can hear the Iida family's noble air puffing through his chest. "But, Todoroki, please don't be upset with my fiancée. It was my decision to invite and include him, and I stand by that. I needed to be there for my friend—no, my brother—and I wanted him there for me. For us."

"..."

I stop.

"Todoroki?" Iida calls into my earpiece.

"..."

I've spotted you. You're crouched on the edge of a skyscraper's rooftop.

"He was wasting away in exile and isolation, Shoto," Momo said, pleading. Only she could make me swallow the searing shitstorm I have to say on the tip of my tongue.

"We'll address this later. Ingenium."

"Yes, Todoroki?"

"If he doesn't move from his current position before then, I'll catch up to Deku in twenty seconds. Beat me there."