"I just- I don't know, Todoroki. I can air my apartment out, and if it takes longer than a day, I'm sure a hotel won't hurt me."
"That's not what this is about."
Unease was an understatement for what you felt. Todoroki was carrying both your bags and his own, which in any other case you wouldn't let him, but you were more concerned about where he was taking them. His tone when he'd told you his plans showed they weren't up for debate.
Todoroki set the bags down to look at you properly for the first time during the walk and you nearly recoiled at his gaze when it landed on you. Last time you'd seen it on him, it had been seconds before he'd frozen half the stadium of the sports festival during your first year.
"Dabi's planning to meet you. We both know it's not to talk. It's better for him to not be able to reach you, and he wouldn't break into the number one hero's household."
You shifted uncomfortably. Not only did he have a point but his eyes conveyed you didn't have a choice in the matter, "I guess..."
Todoroki's eyes softened at the uncertainty in your tone. It hadn't been his intention to come off so harshly but his emotions had taken over when he'd picked up the note to read it for himself. He took a few steps closer and you stiffened up in surprise; you were the one who'd usually invade his personal space, not the other way around.
"(Last Name), let me make sure you're okay. If staying at someone else's house bothers you that much, only stay with us until we know your quirk can fully protect you. I'll train you everyday. For both our sakes."
You tried not to feel too odd about the proximity between you two as he looked down at you with pleading eyes. This hadn't even been the closest your faces had been but something about him being behind the closeness rather than you made it feel completely different. You scolded your brain for the drastically different reaction it was having.
Then again, combined with the level of concern he was showing, it was hard for your heart to not skip a beat. You'd never seen him show such raw emotion. It made you happy he'd come to care for you that much. You smiled.
"Then it looks like I'm staying at the Todoroki's for now."
The sentence dissipated all kinds of distress he'd been feeling for the past hour. He nodded and began gathering all the bags, not minding your rush to grab at least one to help out, and continued his path to his home. You spoke up with a much more lighthearted tone and it made him happy to know your negative feelings had faltered,"So, does this mean I'll be seeing Endeavor all the time?"
Todoroki shook his head,"My father and brother aren't usually home. You'll see my sister a lot."
He watched you perk up in excitement,"Oh my god, you have a sister?I can't wait to meet her. We'll make an alliance against everyone else in the house."
Todoroki had to admit that the thought of you being involved with his family warmed his heart. He gave you a small smile,"You can introduce yourself to her after getting sleep. It's almost 5 am."
You cringed,"Yeesh. Last time we slept was after the garden, can you believe that?"
"You slept in the bus", he reminded you. You waved your hand as if dismissing him. You could see the traditional japanese-style buildings off in the distance and your eyes shone with awe.
"God, I forget how big your place is!!", your tone changed after and he knew the type of joke coming next from the mischevious look in your eyes,"It'll take me forever to find your room in the middle of the night. Don't worry though, I'll find it."
He silently put his palm over your face to push you away as a response, partly also to keep you from seeing his blush, and you laughed despite your mouth being smothered. You lightly slapped his hand away.
"So mean. I'm kidding, obviously. I'm already intruding."
"You're not", Todoroki assured you. You looked at him appreciatively despite his eyes staying on his house up ahead.
The rest of the walk was silent as you fully took in the grand ambience of Todoroki's home. In a way, it kind of fit him. They both had that dominant and powerful feel. You'd often thought while witnessing Todoroki's tremendous power that he fully lived up to being son of the number one hero and you now saw that the household did too.
You took off your shoes when you'd seen Todoroki do it in front of you and stepped onto the smooth floor lightly in fear of waking up anyone else while he led you to the room he claimed you'd be staying in. The walls all looked the same to you but you trusted he knew where he was taking you.
After a few good minutes, he stopped in front of a door.
"This is my bedroom."
Your eyebrows shot up,"Wait, what? I thought you said you were taking me to the room I'll stay in?"
"I did", he nodded.
Your heart stopped in a mix of surprise and fluster. Was he trying to say you were sharing a room?Sure, you'd done that the night prior, but whether it came to him or Kirishima, you'd only ever shared rooms during a time where it was required. Choosing to do it in his own household was completely different.
Todoroki watched your cheeks heat up as you tried to stutter out a sentence that sounded like you weren't sure yourself of what you were trying to say. With earlier, he'd learned that as much as he liked your composure, he liked seeing it gone too. It made him proud to know he'd been the one to break it down.
He calmly pointed to the door behind you while keeping his eyes glued on your blushing face,"You're staying there."
Oh.
You felt stupid. Of course Todoroki wouldn't suggest something like what you'd thought. You'd need to have a serious conversation with your brain over the way it'd been acting lately.
"R-Right. Of course", you laughed nervously. Todoroki looked silently while you regained yourself. It wasn't like him to purposefully deceive someone for a reaction but it could be chalked up to him learning it from you. Even if you didn't know he'd intended to, it was entertaining to see you get a taste of your own medicine. It was also endearing.
"You'll be able to find my room in the middle of the night", he brought up and you blushed. Now you knew for sure he was turning the joke around and pouted. It wasn't like him to bring the kind of things you did up, so it had more of an effect on you than it did on him, especially since he was so good at remaining calm.
"Leave the jokes to me, Todoroki. I'm the funny one", you stuck your tongue out. He smiled subtly and nodded before placing your bags beside your door.
You watched curiously as he stayed in his spot instead of heading in his room or prompting you to get in yours. Todoroki looked like he was thinking. His eyes were on yours and you tried not to get nervous. It was at times like these when you remembered how attractive he was, and despite him keeping a respectful distance, he towered over you.
His mind was finally fully processing that you'd be living with him. It felt like an accomplishment. Not that he was happy over the kind of circustances that led to it but he'd be able to keep you close to him and under hiw watch at all times. He'd end up benefitting from that too.
His goal of controlling his attachment could be discarded; if anything, it'd have to be the complete opposite now and he had the best excuse for it. It was a very satisfying thought.
Just earlier he'd been upset the salt of the wound that was your previous feelings to his current ones. Now he thought about the cherry on top of the situation you were in now: he'd get to see your beautiful face from day to night, everyday.
"(Last Name)", he started and you looked up at him with your full attention. He loved it and it was making him more excited than he should be about having you around him at all times now,"Let's start training you tomorrow. I want to ensure as soon as possible that Dabi can't hurt you."
Todoroki realized, it was the details that got to him like the different kinds of lights your eyes had depending on your mood or the one he was focused on right now--the way your lips pursed when you were in thought.
"I'm up for it", you smiled at him sweetly,"and I really appreciate that you haven't ever suggested me to not go after him."
"You wouldn't listen to me."
"I would really not listen to you. I'll to go sleep now", you laughed,"but thank you for letting me stay here."
You stepped closer to him and his breath hitched at the familiar feeling of your lips on his face. It felt even more intimate in his own house. You stepped away casually,"A goodnight kiss."
His fast beating heart swelled at that. Would all nights have a goodnight kiss? Nonetheless, Todoroki nodded, thankful for the darkness that hid the burn he could feel on his cheeks. Despite the heat on them, he felt the spot you'd kissed buzzing. It was a very strange ghost feeling that was messing with his mind.
You disappeared behind the door of your room faster than he liked. It was taking a second for his heart rate to return to normal and he stood in his spot while it did. Words couldn't express how delighted he was for all the chances he'd get of something like this with you.
Most of all he felt calm. You felt like what'd been missing in his house. You felt like you belonged right were you were. You made it feel more like home than ever before. It pained him to think that it wasn't permanent.
Todoroki determined that for the sake of his happiness, it was best he didn't think of it. Maybe, with time, he could convince you to not think of going home too.
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Sorry for the short chapter and probably the slower rate they come the next few days :') It's holiday season, gotta appreciate it, frfr
ALLSOOOOO I'm very curious, has anyone here ever played mystic messenger?Because I went through a big phase when I was fourteen and this story is really inspired by Jumin's route, and if you know who he is, you know what this chapter leads to...
Written 12/30/2022
Published 12/30/2022