Ashes

Todoroki

"Mom? Why won't you look at me?"

Touya watched as his mom flinched, turning slowly to look at him with a thin smile.

"What are you talking about Touya, of course, I look at you."

Touya clenched his teeth, "No you don't! You don't look at me anymore, only Natsuo and Fuyumi! Ever since..."

Touya rubbed his arms, fresh with bandages from his training. The new training that dad had started since his quirk started hurting him.

"Why won't you look at me?"

Touya watched with downcast eyes as his mother glanced at him, biting her lip as she looked away.

"It's not your fault Touya..."

Touya tried to keep his expression neutral, "Then why?"

A moment of silence passed as his mother opened and closed her mouth, seemingly trying to find the right words to say.

Touya blinked in confusion as she seemed to forget he was there, looking above him with hazy eyes.

His mother turned away from him, muttering to herself as she left the room.

"You're just like him."

.............

Touya moved through the empty house, waiting for his family to return with their new little brother in tow.

He wanted to go and see him but he wasn't allowed to. His dad said it wouldn't look good for people to see his injuries. They would think he's weak and it would be harder for him to become a hero.

I wonder what he looks like... maybe he'll have red hair as I used to. Then we won't all have white hair...

He hummed as he shifted through the house, his burns from yesterday's training already bandaged.

He lit a small fire in his palm, watching as it danced across his fingers.

Maybe he'll have fire too. Then we can play together as I and Natsuo used to...

Since his quirk backfired, he hadn't been allowed to see Natsuo or Fuyumi. His father said he didn't have time for distractions anymore.

I have to work twice as hard now to become a hero since my quirk hurts me... I don't have time to play with them...

He sighed as the flame died out, still wanting to see his brother and sister regardless.

Maybe I'll get to play with our new brother...

He stilled as he heard the front door open, bolting to the living room.

He paused as he spotted his father enter the house, a wide grin on his face that he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Dad? What happened? How is he?"

Enji looked toward his first son, momentarily brought down at the reminder of his failure.

Hmm... well, it's not like I have to bother with him anymore... although...

He looked at his son's bandages, the single flaw in his almost-perfect quirk.

Better safe than sorry.

Enji had learned his lesson from Touya's late mutation, he wouldn't risk investing everything into Shoto only for it to backfire.

Touya can be a good sparring partner for him later on. In the worst case, he can be a spare if Shoto's quirk doesn't work out.

Touya froze as his father gave a calculated grin, his eyes looking through him as he spoke.