Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/ works/11162067. Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Underage Category: M/M Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア_|_Boku_no_Hero_Academia_|_My_Hero_Academia Relationship: Bakugou_Katsuki/Todoroki_Shouto, Midoriya_Izuku/Todoroki_Shouto Character: Todoroki_Shouto, Bakugou_Katsuki, Midoriya_Izuku Additional Tags: Minor_Midoriya_Izuku/Todoroki_Shouto, Alternate_Universe_-_Prostitution, Angst, Angst_and_Fluff_and_Smut, Suicide_Attempt, Abuse, Todoroki centered Stats: Published: 2017-06-11 Completed: 2017-06-13 Chapters: 3/3 Words: 9970 ****** Red Light (Don't Stop) ****** by snowkind Summary The man next to him stirred. Todoroki slipped off the bed, his foot silently touching the carpeted floor, and he padded over to the bathroom. For a moment, the boy stared unemotionally at himself in the mirror, and then a tear suddenly escaped and glided down his burn. Eight years. It had been eight years since he was thrown into the dreadful business, and it genuinely surprised Todoroki to see the tear. He hadn’t shed a single drop ever since he was ten. He had learned better by then. Notes This started out as a PWP but then it turned into something else that kind of made me really sad while I was writing it I just love Todoroki a lot, and so of course I just had to write about him suffering SOBS Why do I do this to myself I just want him to be loved and to love himself If you want anything tagged, have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don't hesitate to let me know! I hope you enjoy reading! I don't own any of the characters unless stated otherwise. Love, May ( ˘ ³ ˘ )♥ P.S. The story is most likely embellished with various spelling errors and grammar issues... I tend to overlook a few things while writing and even re-reading! If you happen to spot any problems, please let me know so I may fix it! Thank you! See the end of the work for more notes ***** Chapter 1 ***** He let out a shaky breath as he lifted his leg. The wooden chair creaked under his full weight, threatening to give out if he stood on it for more than a minute. The rope bit viciously into his neck, the dry material scraping against him uncomfortably. Todoroki swallowed slowly, his throat uncooperative, and then he kicked the chair away. Sweat covered his entire body when his eyes snapped open. Todoroki sat up from the lumpy bed, kicking off the sheets that were only half covering his body. He glanced to his right to find another individual sleeping soundly. A peculiar desire washed over him. For some reason, Todoroki wanted more than anything to know what the stranger was dreaming about. Perhaps something nice. Or maybe nothing. A comforting darkness. Todoroki wished he could sleep like that. He tried to wonder when was the last time he slept untroubled. He couldn’t remember. The man next to him stirred. Todoroki slipped off the bed, his foot silently touching the carpeted floor, and he padded over to the bathroom. For a moment, the boy stared unemotionally at himself in the mirror, and then a tear suddenly escaped and glided down his burn. Eight years. It had been eight years since he was thrown into the dreadful business, and it genuinely surprised Todoroki to see the tear. He hadn’t shed a single drop ever since he was ten. He had learned better by then. Still, Todoroki felt like he was being torn apart in two. His left side was one half, the half that he wanted to live yet it rejected him. His right side was the other, the other that he couldn’t escape and was killing him from the inside out. Todoroki turned on the faucet and washed his face with the cheap hotel soap. ===============================================================================              “YOU IDIOT! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” The voice sounded distant, and the tension around Todoroki’s throat immediately slackened. He fell to the floor with a gross thud, saliva involuntarily coming from his mouth. Air rushed back into his lungs while his vision refocused. The boy felt himself being roughly lifted up by his shirt so that he was forced to stare into the unrelenting anger that burned in his father’s eyes.             “If you wanted to throw your life away that badly, then I could’ve just killed you myself. You ungrateful…” Endeavor dropped Todoroki to the floor. Todoroki squeezed his eyes tightly together when foot connected to stomach. He coughed violently and clutched his hands over the spot his father had kicked him.              “It’s no wonder why your mother left you.” Todoroki blinked the sleep away quickly. His hand began to unconsciously hover over his stomach when he sat up from his bed. Another dream… memory. He sat very still for a moment before falling onto his back again so he could stare at the ceiling. His body ached from the day before. From the week before. From everything. He was grateful enough that his father granted him at least one day off from work. He looked forward to this break every single time he had to step into an unfamiliar room and take off his clothes.  Todoroki curled onto his side, pulling his knees close to his chest. It was terribly early. Early enough so that the boy knew he wouldn’t reply, but he reached for his phone regardless.   [Today at 4:32 AM] shouto: Are you awake? king_of_death: i am now you ass shouto: Oh, sorry king_of_death: you should be [shouto is typing…] king_of_death: im just kidding jesus fuck cant you ever take a joke. ive been awake for a couple of hours already. whats up shouto: Nothing much. I don’t feel like going back to sleep. king_of_death: not that i care or anything but is there something keeping you up shouto: Don’t you have school in a couple of hours? king_of_death: not this bullshit again. i could be asking you the same thing [shouto is typing…] king_of_death: wait never mind because i’m Mister Types With Proper Grammar so im qualified to not have to go school shouto: I never said I don’t go to school. king_of_death: then why are you always talking to me? its like you dont have anything better to do Because I don’t. Todoroki typed, his thumbs poised above the keyboard as the cursor blinked away, ready to send. He deleted it after a moment of staring and was about to send a different response until his phone vibrated with new messages. king_of_death: im getting tired waiting for you to come up with some other shit excuse so watch this and feel better or something. ill talk to you later king_of_death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP8-c5mmdO4 king_of_death: try to get some sleep   Todoroki pressed the link and was a bit startled to be redirected to the video. A smile stole onto his face. He had gotten in touch with Bakugou nearly a year ago, and the boy still managed to pull off these ridiculous surprises. Todoroki had never seen Bakugou’s face before and only knew that he was the same age as him living somewhere in the same city, but other than that Todoroki only knew Katsuki as an explosive ball of swear words and an “I hate the world but the world better love me” attitude. He enjoyed talking to him nonetheless, finding their aimless conversations about Bakugou’s vivid contempt for people at his school amusing and somewhat comforting. Todoroki set his phone down and pulled the covers over his head. He slipped off to sleep surprisingly easy by wondering about what color hair Bakugou had and what color his eyes were. ===============================================================================             “His left side is unsightly.”             “M...Mom?” Todoroki peered from behind the door, not able to comprehend that his mother had been talking about him on the phone. The woman turned around with a petrified look. The next thing Todoroki knew, he was bawling on the floor with immense pain bubbling in his eye. Loud footsteps echoed through the house, and a shrill scream followed when Endeavor hit his wife to the floor. Todoroki lay helpless, in pain and fear. His father crouched before him and gently picked him up into his arms.             “You’re going to be okay, Shouto. Everything is going to be okay.” The words echoed as if being spoken in a cavern. A lie. What a beautiful lie Todoroki so foolishly believed.              “This is Izuku. Clean him up then teach him properly.” The other boy was thrust onto him violently. Todoroki fell backwards and watched his father slam the door. Izuku immediately scrambled off of him, eyes wide and hair wild.             “Sorry…” The boy mumbled softly, though he had turned his head to face the door.             “It’s locked.” Todoroki spoke first before the other could do anything. He wasn’t in the mood to stomach watching the boy get beat for trying to escape.  Todoroki stood up and then offered his hand to help pick up the other.              “I’m Todoroki.”             “I-Izuku Midoriya.” He stuttered. “But you can call me Deku if you’d like.” Tears began to well up in his eyes. Todoroki could hear the fear breaking up his voice like twigs underfoot.             “You’re going to be okay, Midoriya. Everything is going to be okay.” Todoroki forced his lips into a thin, unconvincing smile. The words tasted bitter and came off his tongue with difficulty. +++ Off the streets? Todoroki reviewed what Midoriya had told him. The boy winced under his touch as he brought the towel to one of the bruises that painted his back.              “Sorry.” Todoroki muttered and tried his best to avoid the other bruises while he dried Midoriya up from the shower.             “Okay, go to the bed.” Todoroki instructed softly while he folded the towel neatly away. Midoriya did as he was told, and Todoroki opened one of the bathroom drawers to take out a bottle of lube and a couple of condoms. Todoroki found Midoriya waiting for him on the edge of the bed. Obedient. Todoroki thought to himself, and then quickly shook the thought away. He set the items down on the bedside table before getting onto his knees in front of the other.             “Have you done any of this before?” Midoriya looked down at him with nervous eyes.             “A couple of times... a long time ago.” He croaked quietly, shifting his position uneasily.  Todoroki just nodded before carefully reaching forward to take hold of Midoriya’s cock. It didn’t seem like it’d be too daunting of a task to teach him. Todoroki flicked his focus up to Midoriya’s face, analyzing him for any reactions. The boy shuddered under his touch and filled his fists with the blanket covers underneath. Todoroki brought his face closer, exhaling softly onto the head of the cock. A broken, almost silent grunt spilled from Izuku’s mouth. Todoroki stuck his tongue out and dragged lightly, teasingly, from Midoriya’s tip and underside to his base. He could feel the boy’s cock throb in his grip, and his own heart seemed to immediately sync with the beat. Midoriya finally dared to open his eyes and look down, not even remembering when he had closed them. His throat tightened when he saw his cock disappear inside of Todoroki’s mouth. The incredible heat that enveloped him made Midoriya moan out loud. He automatically jerked, his hips twitching further deeper into Todoroki’s mouth.              “S-Sorry, I…” Izuku started to say, but his bit his thought back and opted to chew his lower lip instead when Todoroki hummed in response as if to say, ‘It’s okay.’ The vibrations felt heavenly and only made Midoriya buck again. Midoriya gasped loudly and tilted his head back as Todoroki picked out just the right pace to have him groaning involuntarily. When Midoriya came, Todoroki expertly and impressively swallowed everything without spilling a single drop. He pulled back with an indulgent ‘pop’, and felt his eyes widen a bit at the sight of Midoriya’s cock still standing at full length. Stamina. Todoroki thought to himself a second time. Just as he was about to part his lips to say something, Todoroki found himself being hauled up from the floor and onto the bed. Midoriya apologized quickly before crashing his lips into Todoroki’s. Teeth caught onto lip, and Todoroki could already start to feel his lower lip swell. He felt shocked at first when Midoriya’s tongue infiltrated his mouth in a messy kiss, but soon felt the tension melt away when he stared at the concentrated and scrunched up expression the other boy had. An inappropriate time to laugh. The amusement swiftly dissipated when Midoriya broke the kiss and unexpectedly flipped Todoroki around, holding his lower body up with a strength that truly surprised him. Super strength? Todoroki noted the boy’s Quirk and stored it in his mind a quick second before he felt Midoriya stretch to reach the lube and condom. With the package torn, condom on, and lube applied, Midoriya barely gave Todoroki any time to brace himself until he was rammed full with the boy’s cock. Being so filled all of a sudden sent a wild trill down Todoroki’s spine. He cried out half in pain and half in pleasure. Izuku apologized once more in a breathy grunt when he slid out and then thrust back in with barely a second to adjust. Todoroki suddenly felt appreciative that Midoriya had the strength to keep his legs held up, because his legs already felt like jelly after two thrusts. He inhaled the damp scent of the blanket covers, his cheek pressed flush against the bed, and closed his eyes. Whimpers and moans tumbled from Todoroki’s mouth as a reflex. He could detect the fresh bruises that were going to form on his hips from being held so tightly. Todoroki’s mind slipped away from him as it always did during times like these, even if he didn’t want it to. Midoriya’s groans reverberated from a distance. The sensations smudged into a bright blur. His breathing seemed to slow. The last thing he could remember was Midoriya kissing him. Soft and warm. An apology. Then darkness. ===============================================================================              “UNGRATEFUL! HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING!?” Endeavor fumed, forgetting that he was Todoroki’s father between the buckle and the belt. “You’re lucky he wasn’t anyone important and that I have some strings I can pull to cover up, but you’ve wasted my time and money. You better make up for it tomorrow.”  Todoroki just lay with a remote look in his eyes as the belt let out a harsh sounding crack once it connected to his skin. His mind replayed the incident. A flower of fire with curving yellow and orange petals flashed before him. An unrecognizable lump of ash that had no identity now. A stranger who became a skeleton with cinders for tendons. Todoroki breathed softly through his nose. He wiped the sleep from his eyes and was careful not to wake Midoriya or the client up. Wandering into the bathroom, Todoroki examined his body in the mirrors. No bruises. For one month, Midoriya was learning exceptionally quick on how to control his strength. A buzzing noise suddenly interrupted his train of thought. Shit. He had forgotten to turn off his phone.   [Today at 5:27 PM] king_of_death: yo you there king_of_death: shouto king_of_death: shouto king_of_death: shouto king_of_death: shouto king_of_death: shouto king_of_death: fuck king_of_death: dude im gonna get in trouble if they realize im not at practice shouto: What practice? king_of_death: basketball practice but thats not important right now shouto: I didn’t know you could actually work with teammates. king_of_death: stfu. where are you right now Alarm seized hold of Todoroki for an instant. He read the message over, and then read it over again just to make sure Bakugou had sent him what he thought he sent him. king_of_death: ok its fine dont answer while i look like a total fucking ass just sipping on my smoothie like i think im the coolest shit or something king_of_death: which i am king_of_death: but anyways get your ass over here [shouto is typing…] king_of_death: i dont like repeating myself but king_of_death: get your ass king_of_death: over king_of_death: here shouto: Where is ‘here’? And why now? king_of_death: jesus fucking mary and joseph why do i have to explain everything to you king_of_death: would you feel better if i said that im lonely and am currently seeking some companionship with some dude ive never met before [shouto is typing…] king_of_death: ok that came out wrong king_of_death: i mean just king_of_death: heres the address. meet me if you want or stand me up like the dick you may or may not be   Todoroki’s phone hummed again in his hand with the address. He lightly bit on his lip, staring at the directions to get to the remote diner. It wasn’t that far. Less than fifteen minutes by bus. Todoroki poked his head out of the bathroom to check on the other two. Midoriya snored softly. He looked at his phone again. Technically this session was supposed to end at 7, but little did their client know that for such a small frame that Midoriya had, he possessed an unbelievable amount of stamina. Todoroki’s lower lip faded from view behind teeth. If he was quick… If he was quick and everything went smoothly and this Katsuki kid was actually who he said he was… Todoroki rushed to put on his clothes. ***** Chapter 2 ***** Todoroki watched silently as tears slipped down his mother’s face. She was always crying nowadays when no one was around. He watched as his mother stared out the window with sad, twinkling eyes—sitting sadness on her elbow as she waited for something to happen, a star to fall, someone to change her life and take her away from here.   It broke Todoroki to see her suffering like so, but a strange apprehension held him back from going up to the woman to try to give her a calming hug. He didn’t want to admit it, but deep down he knew that she hated him. Or at least a part of him. He could hate the rest of himself just as easily for being such a coward. Todoroki almost missed his stop if not for the unanticipated lurch of the bus. When he got off and stood in front of the diner, he was abruptly compelled with the urge to run back after the bus and return back to the musty hotel room he had always known and despised his entire life. He swallowed hard and forced himself to enter the building.             “Uh… Bakugou?” A boy with a terrible scowl and a black eye turned in his seat to face him.             “Depends who’s asking.”             “Shouto.” The blond raised an eyebrow and stopped chewing on his straw.             “No. Fucking. Way.” Todoroki felt his chest tighten, like his lungs wanted to burst from holding in his breath.             “S...Something wrong?” Todoroki tried to even his pulse. His eyebrows drew together.             “No, uh. Dude, I just. Yeah, I don’t really know what the fuck I was expecting, but definitely not…” Bakugou’s voice trailed off as he gestured with a hand at the other.             “Did you just get off of work or something?” Todoroki turned rigid.             “Like what are you wearing? Damn dress shirt and pants, student my ass. You don’t go to school, do you?” Todoroki relaxed his shoulders a bit and cautiously took a seat. He let out an awkward and short sounding laugh.             “No, I don’t.” Bakugou flicked at the straw in his empty drink.             “Paying the rent? Feeding the family? Must be rough. ” Bakugou chuckled dryly. Todoroki clasped his hands together and then unclasped them so he could set them on his lap. He looked down at the counter and then glanced up at the other.             “What about you? That happen today?” Todoroki gestured to his eye. Bakugou suddenly burst into a brief and short laughter. Heads in the diner turned, but everything returned back to normal as soon as he stopped.             “I got it so we could match." Todoroki watched Bakugou's eyes go to his own burn scar before continuing to speak. "I’ve got good intuition, don’t I?” Todoroki said a small ‘oh’ and then anxiously locked his fingers together. Bakugou sighed and waved his hand to get the attention of the waiter.             “You really don’t know how to lighten up, do you? Hey, another smoothie and… get this kid a strawberry milkshake. Oh, and two burgers and an order of fries.” Bakugou leaned back in his chair while the waiter left to retrieve his order. He stared at Todoroki and then pressed his lips together.             “Got in a fight. Some jackass bumped into me, didn’t say sorry, so I did what any other law abiding citizen would do. Popped him in the jaw. Guess he knew what to do next.” Todoroki’s eyebrows came together again. He peered at the other with a curiosity, gauging whether he was kidding or not. Bakugou’s gaze flit away suddenly as he scratched the back of his neck.             “So anyways, where do you work?” This time it was Todoroki’s turn to look away. Bakugou muttered something that Todoroki couldn’t quite catch, and then he was talking again.             “Hey, tell me if the strawberry milkshake is any good when you get it. I’ve been meaning to try it but I would rather be caught dead than be seen drinking that girly ass, pink cup of diabetes.” The words didn’t match the grin that was now perched on Katsuki’s mouth. A joke? Todoroki tried to smile at it, but the entire situation still had him on end. He slid his phone out from his pocket and checked the time. He still had a solid hour before he and Midoriya were expected to be back. Todoroki suddenly registered pain in his shoulder when Bakugou punched him in the side.             “Dude, you know it’s rude to be looking on your phone when you’re on a date.” Todoroki remained silent, the stinging in his shoulder quickly subsiding as he stared. Bakugou’s face quickly contorted into a scowl.             “Shouto,” His own name sounded foreign to Todoroki. He strangely liked hearing it the way Bakugou said it. “Cut me some slack. I think the last time I invited anyone to hang out was back in the sixth grade.” Todoroki chuckled this time, and Bakugou’s face immediately brightened at the reaction.             “Okay, so you respond to listening at what a sad, pathetic, and lonely life I’ve lived. I get it. Well prepare to have your ass turn numb from sitting in that chair so long, because I’m about to give you the full autobiography of how and why I’m so fucking lonel—” Bakugou stopped speaking when the food and drinks arrived.             “Okay, maybe after this. Eat up, dude. Don’t worry about having to spend whatever fortune you may have saved up for the tenth yacht you’re thinking about buying, this is my treat.” Todoroki hesitated for a moment until he saw the other already helping himself and stuffing the burger into his mouth. Through a full mouth, the boy managed to dish out a ‘I’m not going to feed you.’before continuing to eat. After a couple of bites and a sip of the delightfully sweet milkshake, Todoroki set his burger down.             “Just so you know, I’m not rich. My father is, but I’m not.” Bakugou paused and chewed thoughtfully.             “What the Hell does that mean. He probably buys you anything you want. Explains the nice getup you’re wearing too.” Todoroki looked down to his food. Bakugou immediately sensed the change in the boy’s demeanor.             “Okay, fine fine,” He muffled through the remaining bites of his burger. “You’re not rich but your dad is. Then what’s the suit and tie look for?” Todoroki bit his tongue. His phone vibrated in his pocket. A text message from Midoriya asking where he was. Todoroki felt a panic start to burn through him.             “It’s… just how I like to dress. I’ve got to go, thanks for this.” Todoroki slid out of his chair and was about to make a dash for the door, but something held him back. Bakugou gripped his hand tightly.             “Wait, Shouto, where are you go—”             “Let go. I need to leave.” Todoroki’s voice had suddenly turned stern and his gaze was ice. The grip loosened just a bit.             “Fine, but...we’ll talk later, right?” Todoroki pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth, a troubled feeling trickling into him. He nodded. Bakugou let go. A different kind of warmth that Todoroki had not even noticed until it was gone and disappeared from his hand. He dreamed about that warmth. ===============================================================================  Todoroki held still while Midoriya helped to straighten his tie as the final touch before heading out.              “Specifically requested.” Izuku wiggled his eyebrow a bit, prompting Todoroki to chuckle.             “Sometimes clients are just craving certain things, and I guess I happen to have those certain qualities.” Midoriya gave a little snort, rolling his eyes a bit before leaning up to press a quick kiss on Todoroki’s cheek.             “Well stay safe anyways. You have your phone?” Todoroki nodded.             “Call if you need anything.” Todoroki cracked a faint smile and then patted Midoriya on the shoulder.             “Thank you.” When the boy arrived the hotel room, Todoroki smoothed a hand through his hair. As much as he detested the profession, he couldn’t help but wonder what was in store. A brief knock on the door told him everything. When the door opened, Todoroki wanted to run away. His body seemed to react violently, and his mind screamed at him to do one of the two options: either freeze everything so he could run away, or burn the door so that it would be a distraction so he could run away. He wanted to just not be there in his body at that exact moment when Bakugou opened the door.             “So it is you.” The blond leaned against the door frame with a haughty and amused look. Todoroki was speechless. He had not expected to see the other for at least…never. The time in the diner was already cutting it close. All at once, Todoroki felt afraid. An awful feeling began to well up in his chest and balloon outward, almost making him want to vomit. Why was Bakugou here? How did he know to ask for him specifically? Had he somehow known he was in this… business? Todoroki hated it. Bakugou placed a hand underneath Todoroki’s chin. His skin prickled under Bakugou’s trapping hold. Todoroki didn’t want the other to be here. He didn’t want the former, harmless fantasy of just having a normal life with Bakugou as a friend and not as a client to be destroyed. He didn’t want these two things to merge together, becoming muddied and hideous in the process. Bakugou tilted the boy’s face down a bit so he could lean in and kiss him. Todoroki felt like he was drowning.             “I don’t really do this often, but I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to come in the room so we can stop wasting time.” Todoroki shrugged out of his jacket and hung it neatly on the chair when he entered. The entire time, Todoroki couldn’t stop feeling Bakugou’s eyes trained onto him. His skin felt like it was burning and freezing at the same time. He couldn’t tell if Bakugo was angry or upset, partially because Bakugou kind of looked like he wanted to kill everyone all the time, and that made reading his face impossible.             “What are you doing. Why are you here?” Todoroki finally broke the unnerving silence.             “I could really ask you the same fucking thing, but something tells me you won’t answer me. Just like always, huh? If I asked why you lied to me, would you maybe say something?” Katsuki’s voice dipped to a near whisper. The words strangely sounded sad to Todoroki.             “I didn’t lie.” Todoroki set his jaw and tried to return the steely gaze.               “Then why didn’t you tell me?”             “Oh, you mean tell one of the only people I enjoy talking to who doesn’t want me for my body that I’m a prostitute? Well I guess it doesn’t matter anymore because here you are.” Bakugou suddenly closed the distance and brought Todoroki into an embrace. Surprised, Todoroki’ breath came out in flutters and washed Bakugou’s skin with an enticing warmth. Bakugou brought a hand to the back of Todoroki’s head, fingers massaging where they touched. Gentle. Todoroki hadn’t expected that the other even had the capabilities of being gentle.             “Shut up.”             “I didn’t say anything.”             “You didn’t need to. I know you’re thinking that I’m a creepy as Hell stranger. I don’t fucking enjoy it either but just give me a moment.”             “I don’t think that at all…” Todoroki tentatively rested his hands on Katsuki’s back when it felt like an eternity or two had passed by the both of them.             “I guess we’re both pretty fucked up.” Bakugou finally let go to Todoroki and went to fall onto the bed as if from exhaustion.             “Why are you here, Bakugou?” There was a moment of charged silence before Katsuki replied, and in that time Todoroki had taken a seat near the foot of the bed.             “After I saw you the other day… I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I didn’t want to just talk to you on the phone, I wanted to see you. So… I did a little research. I’m not,” He paused and sat up to stare at Todoroki. “I’m not here for your body.” Todoroki pressed his lips together. “I’m here just to,” Todoroki raised an eyebrow. Bakugou’s lips seemed to tremble as he struggled to choose what words to say. “Fuck, I don’t know.” He covered his face with his palms and then suddenly jerked in his spot. “I mean not to fuck! That came out wrong. Shit, I mean I don’t—”             “I get it.” Todoroki pressed his mouth into a slight smile. “I think.” Bakugou sighed and covered his face again.             “I’m not used to...this.”             “I can tell.” A smirk threatened to tug onto Todoroki’s face. Bakugou immediately shot him a glare.             “Can you stop that?”             “Stop what?”             “Stop… staring.” Bakugou mumbled the last part and averted his gaze. Oh? Todoroki felt a mixture of curiosity and pride bubble up within him, and a fog began to roll over his mind. He slowly reached over, stretching his body just so that he could place a hand on top of Katsuki’s.             “Can I kiss you?” Todoroki could feel Bakugou tense up under his touch when he asked. He studied the boy’s bewildered looking face for as quick as Bakugou had it on before masking it with his usual scowl. The smirk tugged at Todoroki’s mouth again.             “I mean, you already did kiss me at the doorway, so I assume it’s no problem for you.” Bakugou gaped at him like a deer caught in headlights. Todoroki almost thought the boy would tip until he abruptly pulled away his hand and scrunched his eyebrows together.             “This is stupid. I’m going home, forget I even came.” When Bakugou moved to stand up, Todoroki mirrored his actions and blocked his path.             “So soon? Our session has barely even begun.”             “Shouto.” Bakugou frowned. “Don’t. I’m not… I’m not here for that.” A part of Todoroki felt oddly disappointed. The rest of him felt distant.             “Don’t you want to relax a little? I’m sure school is very stressful.” Todoroki stepped forward, drawing out a reaction from Katsuki that made him look like he was about ready to fight.             “Stop it, Shouto. I don’t want to do this.” When Todoroki sensed the apprehension melting away, he advanced forward until he could place his hands on Bakugou’s shoulders.             “Aren’t you always the one telling me to lighten up? Why don’t you listen to that advice too?” The moment Todoroki began to unbutton Katsuki’s uniform shirt, the boy roughly pulled away and glared so intensely that Todoroki froze in his spot.             “Is this what you’ve always wanted from me?” Todoroki could see the building anger in Bakugou’s eyes. Todoroki’s legs didn’t seem to work anymore. His voice fell away deep inside of him.             “Is this who you really are?” The anger was abruptly extinguished, leaving a cooled and hardened look of sorrow and a fragile hurt that Todoroki recognized straightaway. Bakugou fixed his uniform and started to push past him. Todoroki willed his legs to move. His arms to reach out. His voice to say something…anything.             “Help me…” Bakugou turned his head a bit, skeptical that he even heard Todoroki say anything.             “Help me.” Todoroki croaked louder, his body now trembling.             “W...What. With what? I can’t help you with anything if you don’t tell me any fucking thing.” Todoroki looked at the swaying ground. Something felt like it was stuck in his throat. His vision blurred and his breathing became labored.             “I don’t know.”             “What?”             “I… don’t know.”             “What the fuck do you mean you don’t know?!” Katuski suddenly lunged toward him and gripped him by his shirt collar. “What are you doing, huh, Shouto!!? What are you trying to accomplish here!??” Todoroki’s eyes burned with tears, but they wouldn’t fall. He had learned better than to cry. Heaves instead replaced his breath. His heart felt like it was racing in his chest. It felt like a biting cold froze the very blood in his veins, all the while his skin itched and burned like crazy.             “Woah, wait. Shouto? Shouto, can you hear me? Get… Here sit down.” Todoroki felt himself being guided to the bed. Heavy footstep falling one after the other until he just collapsed onto the bed. He was shivering uncontrollably now, and when Bakugou tried to touch him he hissed and snatched his hand back to himself as if he had been burned.             “Shouto, stay with me, okay? Hey, Shouto? Shouto?” When Todoroki came to again, he saw Bakugou on the phone with his free hand flicking a bright spark in and out of existence.             “OH JESUS FUCK! SHOUTO!” The boy immediately ended the call and dropped the phone to the floor so he could fill his arms with the other. “Are you alright? Fuck, you almost gave me a heart attack!”             “How long have I been out?” Todoroki’s vocal chords felt dry and on the verge of snapping.             “Five minutes max. I was on the phone with the po—” Todoroki wobbled to his feet and then flew to the bathroom so he could throw up what little he had in his stomach. Bakugou stood stunned in the stuffy room, listening to Todoroki retch while he coughed up barely thing but the clear fluids of his stomach. His mind clicked back online and he rushed into the bathroom.             “Fuck! Shouto, what’s wrong? Do you need to go to the hospital? I’m calling the—” He snapped his mouth shut when Todoroki weakly tugged on his pants.             “Towel. Just bring me a towel please.” Bakugou swiped the rough cloth off the rack and bent down so he could wipe Todoroki’s mouth.             “Water? Do you need some… okay just. Just wait.” Bakugou left the towel with Todoroki before snatching one of the glasses the cheap hotel had in the main room. He filled it with tap water from the sink and then helped Todoroki hold the glass while he drank. Once he finally wiped Todoroki’s face down after washing the towel, Bakugou lifted the boy up and gently brought him back to lay him down on the bed.             “I don’t…” Bakugou started to say after a long moment of silence. “I don’t really know what the fuck just happened and…”             “It’s… It’s nothing.” Todoroki tried to offer his most reassuring smile to no avail. He sighed softly, eyes fluttering to a close. “Just a bad habit from when I was younger… I thought I had gotten rid of it.”             “That wasn’t any fucking ‘bad habit’, dude.” When Todoroki opened his eyes, it looked like Katuski wanted to say something. Concern was blatantly written on his forehead. Eventually, Bakugou sighed and scooched closer. He raised a shaky hand, hovering it just above Todoroki’s cheek.             “Can I…?” Todoroki nodded slowly and closed his eyes when Bakugou brushed the back of his hand against his cheek. He turned his hand around so that he could cup the side of Todoroki’s face in his palm, thumb lightly grazing his cheek.             “Why are you hurting so much? Why don’t you just… run away?” Todoroki sighed as he if were going to say something, but Bakugou continued speaking.             “I mean, fuck who knows what you’ve been through except yourself. It’s probably not that easy to just run. I can’t even begin to imagine or know what you’ve been through and I… I’m s… I’m sorry for everything that has happened to you.” Todoroki suddenly began to cry with his eyes closed. Bakugou stopped stroking his cheek for a brief second, and then he used his sleeve to soak up any and all tears. When it seemed that Todoroki was on the verge of falling asleep, peacefully this time, Bakugou leaned forward.             “Want to know an even more reason why I am so fucked up?” He faintly pressed his lips on Todoroki’s forehead. “I think I’ve fallen in love with you. Well… I thought it not long after we started talking. I knew it the moment I saw you in that diner. Pretty disgusting and messed up, huh?” Todoroki breathed softly, his mind edging on the depths of sleep.             “I don’t think that at all…” =============================================================================== Todoroki lay motionless on the hospital bed, the unmarked, white ceiling being the only thing he could see with his right eye. A bandage covered his left side of his face, and when he tried to move to touch it, he realized how weak and brittle his limbs felt. He was completely immobile. His throat tasted of bloody iron from being so dry. He didn’t even know how long he had been in the hospital now. It made Todoroki wonder— A dangerous gloominess curled its tendrils around young Todoroki’s heart. —how much did his mother hate him? Todoroki was gently lulled out of sleep by the sound of the shower being used. For a moment, he completely forgot where he was and what had happened. He had been stripped to only his briefs, and his other clothes were hung on the chair in the room as if someone attempted to fold them but gave up halfway. He rolled his shoulders before walking to the bathroom. He hadn’t had a dream like that for a while now. Not since he met Bakugou in person. He figured that at least it wasn’t one of the worse ones of the bunch, so he shouldn’t worry so much. Besides, a majority of his worry thawed away when the steam from the shower enveloped his body.             “Bakugou?” Todoroki’s voice cracked. A mop of blond banged into the glass shower door.             “FUCK! AH, uh, h-hey Shouto.” Bakugou turned his back toward Todoroki, despite the steam concealing everything. Todoroki’s lips automatically curved into a tiny smile. Waking up to something like this was different and… nice. Something he had never experienced before. It warmed his heart up more than the shower steam was starting to make his skin feel sticky.             “Mind if I join?”             “Yes—Shit, I mean no. I mean. You can come in.” Removing his briefs and pushing it to the corner of the bathroom, Todoroki carefully stepped into the shower and under the soothing water. Bakugou slowly turned around to face the other when he stopped feeling flustered.             “You have piercings?” Todoroki swept his wet hair back as he stared. Bakugou laughed briefly, awkwardly, and continued to lather his body in soap.             “Is that really the first thing you notice? The piercings on my dick?” Todoroki instantly blushed at the comment and turned quiet.             “Ah, wait. Sorry, I didn’t mean—” Todoroki laughed this time around as he stole the soap bar from the other boy’s hand.             “It’s okay, I know you didn’t mean it in the wrong way. And don’t worry, even if you did, I’ve heard worse things.” He began to work up some bubbles until Bakugou suddenly caught his wrist, making the soap fall to the tiled floor.             “I wouldn’t, okay? I don’t… I won’t view you like that. You’re notlike that. You’re better than… that.” Todoroki held Bakugou’s gaze, jaw going slightly slack. Bakugou worked his mouth into a small smile before reaching up to slick the boy’s hair back. Todoroki could see that the other thinking, but before he had the chance to ask what was going on through his mind, Katsuki kissed him.             “What was that for?” Todoroki whispered.             “You're just really… I don't know.” Todoroki blinked once. Twice. Three times. Then he leaned to kiss Bakugou again. The water stopped pattering down on Todoroki’s back when Bakugou lightly pushed him against the wall.             “Mm…” Todoroki hummed softly, his arms finding their way around Bakugou’s neck.             “Is this… okay?” Bakugou pulled away an inch, wet breath on his lips.             “Yes. God, yes.” Todoroki continued their kiss, tongue flicking out to gloss Bakugou’s bottom lip as if asking for permission. The boy parted his mouth, and Todoroki took no time to slip his tongue in, immediately noting Bakugou’s distinct taste while exploring every part of his mouth. Bakugou soon fought for dominance, and each tongue slid roughly and hotly against each other. Todoroki relented first, bringing back his tongue so he could replace with teeth instead, sucking and gently biting Bakugou’s soft, lower lip. Bakugou brought one hand to Todoroki’s cheek and wrapped his other around the boy’s slim waist. He sighed contently when Todoroki moved his nipping to Katuski’s jaw, and then continued downward so he could chase the delicious curve along Bakugou’s throat.             “Shouto…” Bakugou’s fingers pressed into Todoroki’s waist. It was only until then that Todoroki discovered Katuski’s hard erection pressing needingly against his thigh. Todoroki slid one of his hands down Bakugou’s back, his fingers barely skimming down the wet skin and tracing small circles when he stopped just above his ass. A smile flickered onto his mouth when Bakugou began to quietly pant.             “Do you want to…?” Todoroki said, and was surprised when Bakugou instantly shook his head to say ‘no’.             “I… I really fucking can't… I shouldn't. I don't want,” Todoroki could feel Bakugou swallow thickly. “Well I want to. Jesus, I really want to. But you—I don't want to hurt you.” Todoroki thought his heart skipped a beat. Bakugou started to shiver under Todoroki’s touch. Todoroki didn't realize that his hand that rested on the small of Bakugou’s back was starting to emit a light frost, while the other, that rested on Bakugou’s neck, was heating up. He immediately turned it to his advantage.             “You won't hurt me.” Todoroki whispered over the sound of the water. He shifted his left hand from Bakugou’s back to his chest, and was pleased by the immediate, shuddering reaction of his cold touch. He dragged his fingers, starting from the clavicle, down to a sweet pinch at the nipple. Bakugou jolted, and a soft moan rolled off the tip of his tongue. Bakugou’s skin prickled under the icy touch. It was intoxicating, to say the least, but it was nothing compared to when Todoroki unexpectedly took hold of Bakugou’s cock in his warming grip. Bakugou’s hips immediately jerked forward to dig into Todoroki’s palm. He gasped loudly and let go of Todoroki’s waist so he could support himself against the shower wall.             “Wait… wait, Shouto.” There was a sense of urgency in Bakugou’s voice. Todoroki held very still, panic quickly rising in his throat.             “Are you hurt?” Bakugou let out a breathy laugh and shook his head.             “No, fuck no. Far from it. It's just,” A pause. His eyes flickered all along Todoroki’s body with hunger. “I’ll treat you.” His eyes returned back to Todoroki’s contemplative gaze. He hesitated, his tongue curling slightly in his mouth so the tip just barely grazed the roof. “Ca...Can I do that?” Todoroki looked dumbfounded. It took him a minute to process what Katuski had said, and it took him another minute to feverishly start nodding his head. Water droplets flung everywhere, and Bakugou laughed. Todoroki felt a warmth bloom in his chest. It was different from the heat he typically felt when he used his Quirk, and it was definitely not the building heat from the running shower water. Bakugou bit his lip, eyebrows knitting together at the same time. He took in the sight of Todoroki’s naked body again, wondering where he should start. Todoroki must’ve figured out what Bakugou was thinking when he initiated the first move and pressed their lips together. Gentle at first, almost as if the kiss was hovering and all Bakugou could register was the fluttering sensation of Todoroki’s quickened breath. Then something clicked in Bakugou’s mind and he took charge. Gentle ended. Rough began. Bakugou pressed Todoroki back, closing the small space from the wall so that the other was flat against the cool surface. He worried for a split second about not giving Todoroki the proper warning, seeing his head slightly bounce back from the wall. His worries quickly melted away when he saw Todoroki just gnaw on his lip and close his eyes. Bakugou leaned in and helped himself with Todoroki’s neck. He swirled his tongue in perfect circles, marveling at the clean taste of Todoroki’s skin, and then shifted lower so he was sucking on the protruding bone at his collar. He bit into the skin there until his teeth left pale, red indents. Todoroki’s mouth barely fell open as a low moan spilled forth. Bakugou moved lower once more, now getting onto his knees so he was eye level with the lower half of Todoroki’s body. He licked his lips before pressing a harsh kiss to Todoroki’s hip bone, and then Bakugou gently trailed his teeth lower until he could feel the desperate desire emanate from Todoroki’s fully erect cock. Bakugou glanced up to find Todoroki’s eyes squeezed tight and his arms above his head, fingers splayed across the smooth wall as if attempting to grab hold onto something. Bakugou decided to give the other a real reason to want to grip onto something. In one, swift second, Katuski filled his mouth with Todoroki’s cock. He gagged a little when the head of the cock almost touched the back of his throat. Todoroki let out a loud moan and squirmed, wet body helplessly slipping against the wall. The moment Bakugou moved his head back a little to try and develop a rhythm, Todoroki thrusted forward, hips twitching and eager to revisit the immense warmth Bakugou’s mouth possessed. Bakugou wanted to cough, but the noise was easily smothered out with Todoroki’s full, throbbing cock that was now being mercilessly shoved in and out of his mouth. Fingers found their way into Bakugou’s hair, holding his head still, and they tugged roughly as Todoroki continued to viciously ram himself into Katsuki’s mouth. Bakugou, not even aware when he had closed them, suddenly snapped his eyes open in a slight terror. The increasing lack of air forced tears out of Bakugou’s eyes, and his throat tightened around Todoroki’s cock when it felt like he was starting to choke. He dug his nails into Todoroki’s waist, as if a plea to make the boy stop. A part of him was grateful that Todoroki didn't let up his fast- paced rocking, the other part started to see black spots pop up in his vision. In the next whirl of a moment, Bakugou’s nose was crushed against Todoroki’s cleanly shaven pelvis. Bakugou held onto Todoroki with a vicelike grip. Todoroki squeezed the fistful of blond hair, groans pouring out uncontrollably from his mouth, while stars exploded in his body and seemed to rip through his every fiber of being. His body jerked and then froze intermittently, and his pupils were blown wide as Todoroki held on tightly while emptying his last load into Bakugou’s throat. When his cock finally slid out of Bakugou’s mouth, feeling limp and overextended, the other boy sputtered and coughed violently. Todoroki immediately crouched down to sweep Bakugou into his arms, and an alarmed expression replaced his previous frenzied one.             “Bakugou?! I'm so sorry! Bakugou!?” Todoroki wanted to beat the ever living shit out of himself. He clasped onto Katsuki, eyes like searchlights as he watched the other continue to cough until his face sported a cherry red color.             “Re—lax.” Bakugou spoke with strained effort. His mouth felt dry despite the thick, sticky come that coated his throat. Todoroki grit his teeth and clenched one hand into a fist.             “I'm so sorry.” Todoroki repeated, anxiety still heightened in his voice. “Can you stand? I'll take you to the bed.” Bakugou heaved a final, ribcage rattling cough before propping himself up. To Todoroki’s surprise, a smirk formed on Bakugou’s lips.             “I'm still not done yet.” Todoroki parted his mouth in protest, but then abruptly clamped shut when Bakugou took his hand and guided him to wrap his palm around his hard cock. With the help of the other, Bakugou picked himself up from the floor. He then pulled Todoroki into a hug under the running water, and closed his eyes briefly to appreciate the comforting respite of the entire moment. A small gasp filled Todoroki’s mouth when the moment ended and he could feel Bakugou’s cock slip between his legs.             “Squeeze your thighs together a bit.” Bakugou instructed. A choppy grunt vibrated in his throat when he felt the pressure around his cock increase. “Fuck…” He bit the word down on his tongue and started to roll his hips between Todoroki’s silky thighs. Bakugou’s grunts became more common the faster he pumped himself against the other, and his arms braced against Todoroki the harder he pushed. A few minutes later and he was coming. His muscles turned rigid and his arms locked around Todoroki while his mind unraveled from the pent up tension. Splatters of white stuck briefly on the wall behind Todoroki, and the rest was swiftly washed down the drain. Todoroki caught Bakugou when his legs momentarily gave out from beneath him. He whispered something into Bakugou’s ear, but he couldn't decipher it over the swirling haze drifting into his mind and the sound of the water. Todoroki gingerly held Bakugou’s chin, tilting it up toward him, and then kissed him. ***** Chapter 3 ***** Todoroki was thankful that his next client didn't complain about the signature of blue and black bruises that his father had beaten onto his back for overextending his time with Bakugou. Bakugou, on the other hand, couldn't stop throwing vicious insults and threats when he saw what his father had done to him. He also wouldn't stop apologizing and peppering Todoroki in kisses. Todoroki tried his best to reassure Bakugou that everything was fine and that Endeavor rarely beat him nowadays, knowing the negative effect it had on clients who poured themselves over his body. All he needed to do was make sure he was on time with his appointments and returned afterward when he was supposed to, and if he could do that then he could secretly meet with Bakugou whenever he chance he got. Bakugou still harmlessly growled about the issue. At least Todoroki thoughtit was harmless. Todoroki knew something was wrong when he messaged Katsuki and didn't receive a reply. He hastily returned back to his house, or the building he called home, after his client was adequately subdued, and was partially astonished to find it in ruins. For one thing, Todoroki thought it to be strange seeing the building he had grown up in almost half blown to smithereens. Crumbling walls and smoking furniture. Holes blasted through several rooms. It made Todoroki feel strangely elated; like seeing a dream become reality yet not be able to grasp that itisreality. Midoriya came half-stumbling, half-running out of the charred front door.             “Todoroki! What do we do?! All the authorities are on their way, what if we get caught and thrown in jail?”             “What’s going on?” Todoroki stared at the shorter boy with a perplexed look. Thrown in jail? But they hadn’t done anything wrong… they had always been forced to do wrong things. Another thought popped into Todoroki’s mind.             “Where’s my father?”             “I-I…” Midoriya frowned. “Well there was this really strange guy who looked to be our age, and at first I thought he was going to be training with us but then it didn’t make sense that he was coming here voluntarily, and then I thought that maybe—”             “Midoriya.” Todoroki’s face lit up. He held onto the boy’s shoulders to interrupt him in his muttering. “Where are they?” Deku glanced nervously over his shoulder back into the ruined mansion, and then past Todoroki’s shoulder at the empty pathway leading to the building.             “They’ll be coming… what if we get caught?” Izuku repeated again, this time softer and more vulnerable. Todoroki pressed his lips into a thin line while he thought of an answer.             “Go pack up anything and everything that’s worth something. Easy enough to carry.” Midoriya’s eyes widened at the other’s suggestion.             “Do you mean…?” He didn’t have to finish his question before Todoroki was nodding his head and gently reeling Midoriya back toward the burning building.             “Like you said, we don’t have much time so grab what you can.” A rumbling explosion somewhere inside the labyrinth of the household shook the ground, spreading more dust from the decrepit walls that once seemed so impossible to escape from. Todoroki suddenly brought Midoriya into a hug.             “And… stay safe. I’ll try to find you first once I’m done, okay?”             “Done with what though? Can’t we just leave now?” Todoroki bit his lower lip.             “There’s someone I need to save.” Once Izuku nodded, the two hurriedly split up into the disintegrating building. Todoroki easily froze walls and crashed into them so they came tumbling down, evidently creating a simple and straightaway pathway for him into the main study room where a majority of the explosions were emerging. As he came closer and closer to the room, he could start to hear familiar, angry shouts. It did not surprise Todoroki to see Bakugou there, cursing at the top of his lungs with spit flying everywhere as he yelled at Endeavor. There was an incredibly bright light that made Todoroki shield his eyes, followed by a grand wave of heat that sent the room spiraling further into shambles. Endeavor seemed calm yet fired up at the same time. Todoroki knew the look that raged in those vicious, green eyes. A challenge. An opportunity.             “BAKUGOU!” Todoroki shouted.             “Shouto? Fuck, I didn’t think you’d be here so soon! I wanted to wrap your present before you arrived!” Todoroki scrunched his eyebrows together with uncertainty. Bakugou just turned to face Endeavor, who looked amused to see his son there.             “Yeah,” Bakugou continued, voice rising in tandem with the spark that was beginning to take form in his palms. “I wanted to burn your sICK FUCK OF A DAD TO THE GROUND SO I COULD TAKE HIS ASHES AND WRAP THEM UP NICE AND TIDY!”   Another explosion sent the ground shaking and the room shuddering. Pieces of the roof fell down, pockets of dust becoming thicker and poofing up more often. Endeavor just barked a laugh.             “Shouto, do you know this kid? I wish you would’ve introduced him to me sooner; he’d make one damn fine whore. Lots of energy like that other shrimp. You wouldn’t have suspected it! But this kid? I like what he has to offer. Fight him, son. Make him know who is the boss around here.” The debris underneath Todoroki’s foot crunched. He had taken a step backward, a wave of unfamiliarity crashing down onto him.             “Son?” Todoroki repeated the word. “Since when did you ever consider me that?” His fingers twitched on his right hand, and shards of ice rapidly crystallized along the floor. “You think I’d listen to you?” Todoroki regained his footing and claimed the step he had rescinded. The ice crystals traveled faster and latched onto the bottom of Endeavor’s shoe. The man looked down at the ice and then shot a vicious grin at him.             “So what? Are you trying to disobey me? Do you even know the reason why you’re living right now? Standing here in front of me like the coward you are?” Endeavor easily broke the ice up with his own flames. Todoroki grit his teeth, and just as he was about to respond, he watched his father get blown onto his back by one of Bakugou’s explosions.             “HEY OLD MAN, YOU FORGET WHO YOU’RE FIGHTING?!” Bakugou leapt toward the fallen man and prepared to bring down another explosion. Ice trapped Bakugou to the ground and traveled up until it covered half of his body, trapping his arms in place. Shock flashed onto his face, and then confusion as he looked up at Todoroki.             “Sh...Shouto?” Bakugou’s face had softened from its perpetual scowl. Todoroki felt shame for a moment, but he turned his face away so he could confront his father.             “Young man, I admire your spirit but this is now between a father and his son.” Endeavor brushed dust off himself, and his lips curled up into sickening, prideful smile. “So, Shouto? Are you going to show your father what you can do with that power of yours? You’ve only ever used it to fuck, because that’s just the kind of shameful son you’ve grown up to be as.” Todoroki’s fingers started to twitch again. He set his jaw and remained silent, glowering at the tall figure that was now slowly approaching him.             “How can you be such a disgrace? Everything I’ve taught you and given you, all thrown to waste. It’s no wonder that woman you called your mother wanted to leave you.” Todoroki let out a cry and forced his left hand forward so that a huge torrent of ice raced toward Endeavor. Half of the ice was melted by the growing fire that licked the air around the older man. He was untouched. Invincible.             “SHOUTO! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?” Bakugou suddenly screamed as he struggled to break free from the ice that encased him. “THAT WAS SO SHITTY, EVEN I COULD’VE DONE THAT AND I CAN’T EVEN CONTROL ICE!” Todoroki raised his eyebrows at first, and then he chuckled softly. He tried again, sending another path of shards toward his father, only to see them effortlessly melted. Endeavor just spat on the ground with disgust.             “So weak. I should’ve let you kill yourself the first time you tried.” He sent another ice patch. It erupted into a splash of water.             “My idiot son. Even with the power you have, power that could’ve easily beaten me, you are still useless.” Endeavor stopped walking. He was two steps away from Todoroki. The immense heat of the flames emitting from the man made beads of sweat roll down the side of Todoroki’s face. “I should’ve killed you when you first showed signs of weakness… and I will kill you now.”             “SHOUTO!!” Bakugou screamed angrily. The ice that trapped the boy suddenly released him.             “I know.” Todoroki spoke calmly, and then he flicked his wrist and all the water that Endeavor had melted, all the water that had slowly pooled up to everyone’s ankles, crystallized. It let out deafening screeches as ice scraped against ice, building up on top of each other and fighting as if it were alive.It roared and shattered and towered like an unholy, frost dragon. It consumed Endeavor up to his throat, rendering him completely immobile. Todoroki stared passively at the ground when Endeavor suddenly began to laugh like a maniac.             “THERE IS IT! EVERYTHING I’VE TAUGHT YOU! MAYBE YOU AREN’T AS USELESS AND I THOUGHT YOU WE—” Todoroki snapped his other hand out. His left hand. The side he used to hate so much. The side that made him hate himself and think that he was never good enough… could never amount to anything except pain and loneliness and sorrow and anger. Todoroki released that. He released it all. All the pain. All the suffering. The tears. The anger. A single ember that flickered and swayed in the wind, looking as if the tiniest breath might blow it out, suddenly expanding outward and exploding into a colossal ball of fire. A star of light. A purge. The drastic change in temperature caused the ice that held Endeavor’s body to crack. It splintered, a thin line darting from the top straight to the bottom in one, clean fracture. The entire structure shattered to the floor, and on top of the liquefying pile rolled Endeavor’s head. Todoroki panted heavily. Bakugou shouted something and ran toward him. Sirens flooded in the distance, their loud alarms resonating within the dying building. Midoriya skidded into the room with a soot covered face and a huge backpack bouncing against him.             “Todoroki!” Izuku ran up to Todoroki and snatched one of his hands. “They’re here! What do we do?” Bakugou raised an eyebrow, examining the smaller boy with a suspicious look as if to say, ‘Who the Hell is this shrimp and why is he holding your hand?’ Bakugou finally clicked his tongue against his cheek and rolled his eyes.             “What the fuck do you think we do? Use your brain.” Bakugou grinned and snatched Todoroki’s remaining hand for himself. “We run.” Todoroki glanced to both boys on his either side and then parted his lips, a smile slowly curving onto his lips:             “And we don’t stop.” End Notes Thank you for sticking around and for reading this work so far! It really means a lot to me when you leave a comment or give this work a kudos, but it really means a lot more to me considering the fact that you've even read one of my works! I am so grateful to have such kind supporters, and I'd just like to thank you all for also bearing with any potential discrepancy in characterization of the various characters I have made! Thank you for sticking around and I hope you have a phenomenal remainder of the day! P.S. If you have any requests/would like to read about a certain event or AU feel free to leave a comment or message me on my Tumblr! Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed their work!