Chapter Text
Izuku’s parents had held him and cried after he’d returned home, feeding him and fussing over him as they always did, but there was a restraint to their actions that he’d never seen before.
“We can’t baby you anymore,” his mother had told him, her expression sad and tired. “Whether we like it or not you’re a proper hero now, and heroes can’t be held back by overprotective parents. We’ll always be here for you sweetie, but we had to accept a long time ago that we can’t keep you from your work.” She and his father had been almost as busy as the healer usually was, the two organizing relief efforts and volunteering every chance they got. Izuku was proud of the work they were doing, even though it meant seeing them less than he’d have liked.
Just about everyone in the country was working hard to rebuild after the war, from every day citizens to top government officials. All Might was busy helping Nezu and Mera pick up the pieces of the Commission and cobble together a working institution. There had been far less resistance to their taking control than any of them had expected, the Japanese government all too eager to lay the handling of the bureaucratic nightmare at their feet. They’d swiftly replaced the board with the top ten heroes, leaving only All Might, Nezu, Shiketsu’s principal and a small handful of trusted officials remaining of the original governing body. Mera was appointed Director of the Hero Commission, forgoing the usual presidential title and relinquishing some of the powers Fujimura had held and abused during her time at the helm. He complained loudly to anyone who would listen about the longer hours and extra paperwork but couldn’t hide his pleasure at taking the position, at least not from those who knew him best.
Izuku had learned this from his brief visits to the USJ, where he’d provide medical care to the worst cases brought in from around the country. Many of his patients had been collateral damage, crushed by falling buildings or burned by raging fires or caught in the crossfire of the heroes and villains. Most died immediately or in transit but Izuku couldn't think about them, not if he wanted to help those who were still alive. He’d only take the most dire of cases, leaving the healthier patients to Recovery Girl and Monoma who, according to the old nurse, had the makings of a wonderful healer.
“Once you get past the incessant talking he’s really quite wonderful,” she told Izuku one day, watching as Monoma used his borrowed quirk to heal a woman’s broken arm. Izuku smiled at that, feeling both proud of his friend and grateful of the burden he was able to lift off Recovery Girl’s shoulders.
From there he’d wander to the UA support labs, where Hatsume and Momo assisted David and Melissa Shield in drafting schematics for a new and improved I-Island.
“We’ll need to update our defenses considerably,” Melissa had told the group, circling areas on the map her father had drawn. “I was thinking we could purchase the rights to some of the support gear Hatsume patented and incorporate them into what we were using previously, like those amplifiers you made to enhance Earphone Jack’s sound blasts.”
The pink-haired inventor looked as though Christmas had come early. “My babies, part of I-Island…”
But most of Izuku’s time was spent wandering the city, his thoughts as aimless as his footsteps. This particular day was freezing, the winds biting and the clouds overhead threatening rain. It reminded the healer of the mountains where he’d been held captive, the unceasing cold and the isolation flooding back to him with each gust. Kenzo and his people had returned to their village the day prior, wishing Izuku a heartfelt goodbye and promising he’d take good care of Spinner. He felt some small relief knowing the villain had the community he’d helped to create supporting him, whether or not it led to true redemption for him.
Izuku checked his phone, noticing the time and quickening his pace. He planned on meeting Shoto at the newly renovated Todoroki home, which had been remarkably untouched by the fighting. Like him, Shoto and Katsuki had been taking time away from hero work to recover, although they too would join the relief efforts for short periods of time. All of the students that had been on the front lines at either I-Island or the League compound were required by their mentors to take considerable time off, with Aizawa going so far as to schedule wellness checks with Hound Dog for each of them. It was a strange dichotomy, being a hero student, unable to make major life decisions but expected to bear the responsibility of a nation with their every action. The brief time Momo and his classmates held majority power in the Commission wouldn’t be replicated until they were full time pros, and probably not for a number of years still.
Fuyumi was there to greet him when he arrived, as was Natsuo. “He’s trying to get along better with dad, after everything that’s happened.”
Natsuo scoffed. “I still don’t like the bastard, but not totally hating him is good enough for me.”
The hero in question wasn’t home, too busy with his agency handling relief efforts in his parts of the city. Izuku suspected Endeavor was enjoying this change of pace as a hero, focusing on restorative care as opposed to preventative. Izuku removed his shoes and made his way to Shoto’s room, taking note of the newer additions to the property. Fuyumi had told him they’d added a second wing to the home connected by a hallway, designed to be a private suite with bedrooms, bathrooms and a small kitchen. He didn’t need to ask who it was for.
Shoto was filling a bookcase when Izuku entered the bedroom, the furniture expensive but sparse. He stood there for a moment, watching with silent appreciation as his boyfriend chose each book and ornamentation with thoughtfulness. When he finally turned to face Izuku, Shoto’s expression was a myriad of emotions. “She’s not coming back.”
Izuku cocked his head. “I thought she’d been discharged from the hospital already? Did the doctors decide to keep her longer?”
“She was discharged last night; she decided not to come home.”
Izuku felt his heart ache for the other boy. Shoto had a complicated relationship with both parents but it was clear there was love for both of them, of a kind, in his heart. His mother likely had her reasons for not returning, all of which were more than likely justified, but it was upsetting to know she was hurting her children once again.
“We don’t even know where she went,” Shoto continued, looking distressed. “She sent Fuyumi, Natsuo and me a group text saying she wasn’t coming home and not to worry, but how could we not worry? She’s been in a hospital for almost ten years, and everything’s so chaotic right now...Fuyumi and Natsuo think she’s better off on her own and away from Endeavor, but…”
He nodded to the frame he’d been placing on the bookshelf when Izuku had arrived. “I thought maybe- maybe she’d like it.” It was a picture of Izuku, Shoto and Katsuki at dinner during their trip to I-Island. Izuku had his held tilted back in laughter at something Katsuki had said, the blond smiling triumphantly across the table. Shoto was sat between them, a soft, genuine smile on his face. They looked so happy, so young, and it struck the healer like a blow to remember that night had been less than six months ago.
Izuku placed a hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder, unsure of what to say. “I don’t agree with it, but it’s her choice whether or not she wants to come back, just like it was your choice and Natsuo’s choice. Maybe she just needs some time to adjust…” It was a hollow argument, but it was all Izuku had.
Shoto put his hand over the healer’s, squeezing gently. “You wanted to talk to me about something?”
Izuku felt his stomach lurch, feeling guilty. “I- I was going to invite your family over to my house for dinner; Kaachan’s parents still have dinner with mine every so often, and I thought maybe you guys would like to be included.” In truth, this would be the first time the two families would be meeting for dinner since Izuku’s first semester at UA. Katsuki and Shoto had each been by to meet the Midoriyas’ as their son’s boyfriends, as well as Shoto meeting Katsuki’s parents, but the adults had yet to spend any time together in this new dynamic their children had formed. With the news that Rei wouldn’t be attending no matter what, Izuku regretted suggesting the idea to his parents. “I understand if you don’t want to come now, with everything that’s going on…”
Shoto’s smile was bitter and sad. “Nothing’s going on, Bunny, that’s the problem; it’s the same anger, the same dysfunction it’s always been. Fuyumi will of course say yes, and if she goes Natsuo will go too.”
Izuku nudged him. “It might be fun to watch Endeavor and Aunt Mitsuki try to have a conversation.”
Shoto gave him a smile that was a bit more genuine. “I’d rather watch him fight off your parents and their overbearing hospitality.”
“They have good manners, that’s something to be proud of, Shochan!”
“Whatever you say, Bunny.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In the end all of the Todoroki family joined them, sans Rei, Fuyumi and Inko hitting it off immediately. “I’d love to know more about the recipes you use, I’m afraid I haven’t changed mine since Izuku was a baby.”
Hisashi had done his best to look intimidating when meeting Endeavor, going so far as to puff his chest out and giving him what he believed to be a firm handshake, but given the flame hero was nearly a foot taller than him it only looked comical. Katsuki’s parents chatted amicably with Fuyumi and Natsuo, including Endeavor whenever possible but largely keeping their distance. Though they respected his work and were grateful for his mentoring their son, the Bakugos were suspicious about his wife’s absence, though they kept it to themselves out of propriety.
Izuku, Katsuki and Shoto helped with the cooking and setting the table, joining the conversation intermittently and giving their respective parents sharp looks or loud admonishments whenever one( particularly Mitsuki, Hisashi and Endeavor) said something inappropriate.
“Your sons have bright futures ahead of them,” Endeavor commented over dinner. “They respond quickly emergencies and handle combat with little difficulty. Bakugo keeps his explosions under control in highly populated areas and Midoriya he’s become much better at fighting without the use of his quirk.”
He was a bit too large for the chairs in the dining room, his back nearly twice the width of the carved wood behind it. Fuyumi and Natsuo sat on either side of him, their smaller frames only making Endeavor look even more out of place.
Hisashi puffed up with pride. “My son will be the number one hero as soon as he graduates, I’m sure of it!”
Mitsuki bristled. “My brat will have him beat a hundred times over! He’s the real number one here.”
“I’ve raised Shoto to take my place-“
“Raised him to take All Might’s place,” Inko said with false sweetness. “You’ve only been number one for less than a year, remember?”
Masaru chuckled. “All our boys will be incredible, who cares who’s number one?”
Instantly Endeavor, Hisashi and Mitsuki were arguing with him, their voices rising in volume as they each touted the superiority of their child. Fuyumi and Inko were watching the exchange with amusement while Natsuo rolled his eyes, looking annoyed but not exactly unhappy.
Shoto let out a groan. “They hate him.”
Izuku shook his head. “Actually, I think they’re getting along well.” It was true they were arguing, but there wasn’t any hostility to their words. Even the playful jab thrown at Endeavor or between the Bakugos and Midoriyas held no real heat.
“That hag would be screaming much louder if she was really pissed,” Katsuki muttered between bites. “Your old man seems to be enjoying himself, anyways.”
The three excuses themselves from the table not long after, collecting their plates and washing them before stepping outside. The night air freezing but a small plume of fire from Shoto’s palm kept them comfortable enough. They could see the stars overhead, which was a sight as beautiful as it was unsettling; after all, the only reason light pollution in the city was so low was due to rolling blackouts and multiple buildings either destroyed, abandoned or both. They stood together in silence, enjoying the cold night air stinging their cheeks.
“I’m glad you invited us,” Shoto finally said, his voice small. “It’s been…nice.”
“We’re always happy to have you over Shochan, and the same goes for your family.” Izuku adored his boyfriend’s siblings and, though he was frustrating at the best of times and insufferable at the worst, he and Endeavor had come to find a steady rhythm when interacting. They’d never be close, that was obvious, but they could be civil. Perhaps even friendly, one day.
Katsuki nodded. “You can come over to mine too, just don’t expect the hag to be overly friendly.”
“Why not? She already likes me better than you.”
The blond screamed in protest at the taller boy’s comment, Izuku biting his cheek to keep from laughing. “The hell? I’m trying to have a moment with you, asshole!”
“Why are you always so angry, Kat?”
“THE FUCK? WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO DAMN DEPRESSED?!”
Izuku tried to cut in. “Guys, you-“
“And YOU!” Katsuki whirled around to face him. “Why are you always mediating us, hm? Let us fight, dammit!”
“Actually, I was going to say you’re both awful.”
“HAAH?!”
When the night came to a close and goodbyes were exchanged, Izuku could see a marked improvement in spirits from the entire Todoroki family, though Endeavor and Shoto remained expressionless as always. Fuyumi and Natsuo had taken a liking to both Izuku and Katsuki’s parents, no doubt marveling at the healthy family dynamics they had. It made Izuku sad to know they would never experience that with their own parents and he could only hope that Rei, hurt as she was, would be able to at least reconnect with her children in the outside world.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Touya trudged along the busy streets of Qing Qing, on alert but not expecting any trouble. Most of the League’s activities hadn’t been more than idle gossip in other countries and China, while bracing for the conflict to spill across the sea, had kept out of Japan’s problems as best they could. Even so, there was always the chance some hero super fan recognized his features from his encounters with Endeavor enough to put together his identity.
He paused near the city center, waiting impatiently for the crosswalk to turn. He spared a glance to the monument in the square, a large, golden infant swaddled in a blanket gleaming in the lights of the city. The glowing baby, the first meta human ever discovered. He didn’t know it, but that infant had changed the world within just a few short moments of being in it.
Touya couldn’t help but wonder if the world would have been better off if he’d been smothered.
He continued on his path to the plain, nondescript apartment he’d rented. It was a drab thing, all metal and concrete in various shades of dirty grey, but he’d lived in worse conditions. He unlocked the door and kicked his shoes off, not bothering to stash them in the nearby closet. A noise sounded from the kitchen, Touya’s shoulders tensing instinctively. He moved over to the small space, eyes fixed on the figure bustling about.
Soft grey eyes found piercing blue. “Did you get the vegetables?”
Touya nodded, holding the shopping bag up for her to see. He watched as she took the vegetables from him and began to prep them. He had no idea how his mother had managed to find him, much less how she’d managed to get to him without alerting Endeavor. Perhaps she was more resourceful than he’d ever given her credit for, or perhaps Endeavor was still didn’t care about his wife.
He nodded to the stove, where a pot was close to boiling over. “Need some help?”
She accepted, and Touya moved swiftly to the stove and turned the heat down, stirring the soup gently to keep it from spilling. The domesticity of the moment unsettled him, having lived so much of his life alone and surviving on what scraps he could get his hands on. The League had cooks at the compound and his safe house with Hawks and Mirko was always stocked with quick meals from nearby convenience stores, but it had been years since he’d had someone make a meal just for him.
They sat across from one another at the cramped dining table, the second hand furniture scuffed and unstable. The two ate in silence, neither knowing what to say to the other. Touya had so many questions to ask her, so many angry words to hurl at her, only he didn’t know how to let them out. That voice in the back of his mind, which he could almost think of fondly, urged him to speak. “Why did you come here?”
Rei looked to up from her bowl. “Because I wanted to see you.”
“But why me, of all your children? The others aren’t- “ Aren’t villains…
Rei set her chopsticks down, her calm grey eyes boring into his. “I saw your brothers and sister quite a lot while I was in the hospital. I spent time with them, watched them grow, I got to be part of their lives even in my own small way. I never got that with you.”
She placed her hand atop his, the feeling of it foreign and uncomfortable. “I’ll always love your siblings, but they haven’t needed me in a long time. Sure, they might want me in their lives, but they don’t need me. I think that you do.”
Touya was thoroughly unsettled; it had been so long since he’d had any parental affection he didn’t know what to do with it. The best he could do was let his mother hold his hand, taking in her words with as much emotional availability as he could muster. “I- I guess you could stay here, with me…if you really want to, I mean.”
Rei smiled, and in that small gesture Touya could feel their connection, weak and fragile but still there despite it all, strengthen ever so slightly.
“I’d like that, Touya.”