Chapter Text
In all reality, of all the students he’d expected to Breakdown to such a degree, Aizawa loathe to say that his blindness to the True Situation taking place right Under His Nose, was Midoriya. Bakugo even, for other reasons, perhaps Iida. Shinsou was a possibility on his mind.
Not Todoroki.
Never him.
The kid had the emotional output of a brick wall, only his closest friends could read his expression with absolute certainty, and they had. His entire friend group, those who the kid would consider Actual Friends, they’d noticed something was off. They’d tried to warn them all. Something wasn’t right. Todoroki never spoke directly to any of his Educators of his Homelife, but his small circle of what might consider Best Friends knew enough, the boy had the best Poker Face the rest of the Outsiders had ever seen. Sure, small concerning indirect comments and remarks were presented, but they never thought it dire enough to actually investigate.
Overall, as not only a Hero, but an Educator who’s Trained extensively to spot the signs of Abuse and Neglect, Aizawa feels like shit. His Coworkers aren’t any better then him in this combined feeling of Absolute Failure. They knew, as teachers, that a Abused Child would never openly confess to the horrors they face at home or wherever they may be happening to someone of Authority–Especially if the one who’s Abusing them holds a position of Authority themselves–given the high probability that the Abuse has been Life Long and from the hands of a Parent no less would mean that any and all adults weren’t to be trusted with such vital life endangering knowledge.
They could claim that Todoroki Shoto never came to them with allegations that would generate an investigation, but any reasonable Lawyer would clap back with the admittance that the boy had made allegations in passing that would have been concerning enough alone to generate said investigation, in short–They’d Failed. Their Failure was Horrendous.
Todoroki Shoto was sent home for Break without a second thought, no reports made despite their Legitimate Necessity, no Investigation Initiated. What occurred in those few short hours from the End of School that day to the moment a call came in from Local Law Enforcement to inform them that one of their students was in Police Custody pending charges for undisclosed Criminal Actions remained a mystery.
Aizawa was the one to receive the call, which had been a shock when it came in, and as Situations Like These decreed he then in turn assured the Officer on the Phone that he would be there as soon as he could be and rang Nedzu immediately after. The Stoat’s tone of voice indicated to the depths of his disappointment that things had to go to such lengths for action to be taken, indicating that he knew more about Todoroki’s Home Life then his Actual Teachers did–Nedzu can’t submit any Investigation Requests regarding Potential Parental Abuse involving students without his teachers coming to him with concerns first–agreeing in a short kind of tone that himself and Hound Dog would meet him there as well.
Before hanging up without so much as a parting goodbye.
…..
“You can’t do anything with Sho without his Legal Guardian present.” Midoriya being there before them had been a shocker, to the two Teachers, Nedzu looked absolutely delighted. Frightening but intriguing. “Have you called him?”
“His teacher, Aizawa Shouta, has arrived.” The Detective–didn’t get his name and never did–sounds just so done. “Yes.”
“Aizawa isn’t his Legal Guardian.” Silence. The silence that follows that bold confident declaration is deafening. “A Kinship Guardian was Named in Pro Hero Endeavor’s Will should anything ever happen to himself and his wife, Todoroki Nee Himura Rei. With the latter taking the side of the former in this matter, neither are considered Suitable until the Investigation is complete. Therefore, the one Endeavor, Todoroki Enji, named as Sho’s Legal Guardian in his Will retains Guardianship Status.” How the Problem Child knew such things is a mystery to everyone within the room, apart from the other Boy in question, Todoroki nods dazedly just once as though understanding. “The one who retains Guardianship of Todoroki Shoto, complete and totally, at the moment, is his Oldest Brother. Todoroki Touya .”
“ Dabi? You think we would give a Villain , reformed or not, a Child in any capacity or manner?” There’s an Agent affiliated with the Hero Public Safety Commission sitting on Aizawa’s left and the urge to violently act upon them is a hard urge to fight off, knowing that they knew of Endeavor’s Heinous Treatment in regards to his family and did nothing–no even worse they Covered It Up –Midoriya sneers at their Uppity scoff for the rest of them that decidedly must remain at a semblance of Professional before someone who works with their Employer in some fashion. “Not even up for debate. Aizawa is the next best choice, not by a large margin, before our own Right comes into play.”
Midoriya has an interesting Family Tree. Aizawa, thanks to Todoroki’s Conspiracies, knows very little about the kid’s family outside of his mother. But supposedly, she’s a Lawyer of some rather Substantial Standing, with a nursing degree to back her up. She’s undoubtedly where her son gained such intricate knowledge of the legal system–including the numerous shortsighted Loopholes that were there in Plain Sight that most tended to Overlook in regards to their Existence because they don’t read the Law thoroughly enough. Supposedly though, Midoriya Inko signed over Partial Guardianship of her only son to his Oldest Cousin for when her Cases took her out of Japan for Extended Periods of Time.
None of them know who this Illustrious Oldest Cousin with Partial Guardianship of the resident Problem Child is, Nedzu does, he simply cackles when asked for the identity of the mysterious man. They’ve never met him either. Though Midoriya, his friend Group, and the Principle have assured that the man is very well informed on the Trouble his Ward gets into and deals with it swiftly and without negotiation. Nedzu typically grants the brat a pass for a day or two off Campus when such a need arises that his Illusive Guardian is needed to personally get the chaotic little shit back in Line once more.
Todoroki’s Conspiracy states that Midoriya Izuku’s Partial Guardian is a man by the name of Shimura Tenko.
Aizawa shot that idea down real fast. Shimura Tenko, real name of the Villain Shigaraki Tomura, no fucking way.
“You have no Rights in this case, I’m afraid.” The door to their Interrogation Room opens swiftly, the voice of Midoriya Inko announces her arrival before her physical presence joins them, a simple house dress does nothing to lessen the impact of her general Air . “It’s appalling and concerning that you simply assume you do. But for another time, that discussion will have to wait, more prying matters are at hand.” Todoroki jumps from his chair at Izuku’s side at the entrance of another individual just behind the Green Dragon known more commonly as Midoriya Inko. Though his healing Regiments are far from over, a vast majority of the Scarring the man had been well known for is long gone, as are the staples. Todoroki Touya, preference for his alias Dabi, is slightly less imposing in the leisure attire he wears now than the sight of him months before. “My Client, Todoroki Touya, has retained his Original Appointment of Guardianship of his youngest brother despite his Criminal Background. I apologize for my delay in getting back to you, sweetheart,” she’s speaking to her son directly now. “We’ve been doing Emergency Placement Checks for the better part of the Hour.”
“Snowcone, kid, you okay?” Heads whip around, save two, as the teen in question makes a sound akin to that of a wounded animal under his breath and stumbles out from behind his side of the table. Dabi meets him, a startled expression adorning his features, when the boy’s legs give out to catch him up. “Hey, Fire Starter, it’s gonna be okay. Baby brother? Hey?” Hands, no longer Scar Tissue ridden, curl around the back of the youngest Todoroki’s head, the boy in question sobbing silently into the chest of his loose fit sweater. They don’t need to see the younger male’s hands to know they’re gripping the back of his Oldest Brother’s shirt. “What happened, Nova?”
A question most of them would like an answer to, they get nothing, the boy simply continue to breakdown in the arms of one his mind deems Safest at the moment (despite their rather Colorful History) and Touya doesn’t press the issue further with pointed disregard for their silent demanding stares that he does just the opposite of what he’s chosen the best course of action is.
“Now, see here–” Midoriya Inko simply turns her attention away from those she clearly deems more worthy of it to pass the Self Righteous HPSC Representative in the matter a crisp folded Document. “What is this meant–”
Aizawa reads over the Asshole’s shoulder, eyes widening a fraction in disbelief, at the Official Declaration–Signed, Dated, Sealed, and Notarized–of the Transfer of Guardianship of Todoroki Shoto to his Oldest Sibling Todoroki Touya for the Foreseeable Future. Pending the Completion of an Internal Investigation through Agencies not Affiliated with the Hero Public Safety Commission of the Incident that Gathered them all here tonight and Numerous Abuse Allegations brought to the Courts Attention from Parties that shall remain undisclosed at this time.
“Dabi’s Criminal Background is not being overlooked, their Arrangement is going to be monitored very closely for the time being, but given the details of the Incident that occurred at the Todoroki Estate and his Teachers failures in just about Everything they’re trained to do in the case of Abuse Allegations, it was deemed that the best one to care for our Shoto was his oldest brother due to the nature of their Quirks and the distinct understanding only Todoroki Touya can have for any outbursts from here on for the near future from Shoto thus knowing how to properly handle them.” She turns a judgemental and dismissive glance on the Homeroom Teacher. “The last thing he would need is someone simply taking his Quirk away from him should he lash out in a flare up of uncontrollable emotion, please keep in mind that this child has been trained to Battle since Four Years Old, he wouldn’t need his quirk to still cause unimaginable damage. In fact, it’s firmly believed that such an action as to Erase his Quirk, given that it’s Emotional Based, would cause far more harm than good no matter the true intention of the act.”
…..
Dabi, known as Todoroki Touya by a far less group of individuals, wasn’t expecting to be called at this hour of night by a frantic Lawyer with the name Midoriya Inko–AFO’s much treasured Wife–and far less that she was waiting for him outside the Renovated Bar they now ran with their destination first to the CourtHouse and then the Police Station.
He almost told her to, kindly and with much respect (because again AFO’s Beloved Wife), to Fuck Off and disconnect the call so he could return to sleep as his body and mind desired.
The first utterance of his Baby Brother’s name from her end of the phone line had him sitting up, suddenly wide awake, all tiredness washed away in a wave of Unknown Energy Source. He, obviously, demands answers as he balances his phone between his shoulder and ear as he throws his blankets back to get dressed. Midoriya’s rather not keen on giving too many details over the phone, what with it being an unsecured line by technicality, and Dabi can Respect that Immediate Declaration. She does give him vague details about the Incident that occurred at the Todoroki Estate earlier that Evening, an Incident that had his poor Baby Sho at the Epicenter as the Actual Aggressor, he couldn’t help but agree with her opinions in regards to his brother’s educators when it came to their turning a blind eye to the Allegations being presented to them with a rather Open Neglect to act on them.
Shoto won’t tell anyone, he’s not talking, about the Timeline Of Events that lead up to his unexpected Outburst of Volatile Inferno Style Rage. He’s brought to a pause at the Color Type of the Flames that the kid had produced. White Fire . Hottest Fire known on Earth. With a burning Range of 3,600 Degrees Fahrenheit (2,000 Degrees Celsius), it's the Flammability that makes that particular Flame so Dangerous. The highest heat capacity, that Flame takes the longest to cool down then any other flame. His own, Blue Flames, was the hottest on technicality, but those his baby brother produced for unknown reasons that night were by far Much More Dangerous.
Dabi, in this particular instance Touya, is quite shocked when he finally leaves the Bar for the car waiting on the side of the road for him, to learn that his Place as the Guardian for his youngest brother–Todoroki Shoto–has not been written out of their parents Will. Inko intends to act upon that Decree before Other Arrangements can be made. Citing that what’s best for Baby Sho at the moment was someone who understands his High Scale Emotions, actually understands and not simply states as such to appear comforting, and that someone was him. Touya. Dabi. He was the best one to Retain Guardianship despite his Criminal History and Colorful Past with the kid and his class.
He finds that his urges to commit Arson aren’t as dormant as he assumed them to be, after the first round of interrogations in the whole Guardianship Matter. His focus is on the half-half brat though, Touya keeps his eyes metaphorically on that single Point, to keep his temper in check. Shoto needed him, out of all the people who he could go to, he was the one, his name was the only one that came out of the mouth of that Snow Miser-Heat Miser Lovechild knockoff. That’s the singular thing he repeats to himself, mentally of course, when his irritation at the delay in getting the brat’s side starts to increase dangerously.
Back to the Bar they go for an Unusually Late Home Check. Tomura got his text regarding the situation, there was no easy way to overlook their Backgrounds in Villainy, but had some heavy hitters vouching for them. Made up the room across the hall from his, Dabi’s that is, for the kid. Nothing personal was in there, just the bedroom necessities, and a newly made bed. They couldn’t expect them to really be all that prepared with such short notice and this late at night.
When the Home Check is approved is when they receive the Official Guardianship Paperwork and off to the Station they go from there. He can feel the heat still rolling just under the surface as Lava Boy latches onto him, his immediate concern isn’t digging for information, it’s to calm the kid down enough that his chances of becoming a Literal Fireball aren’t as Possible as they are presently. Skillfully, pointedly ignoring the demanding of the contrary stares from the other occupants of the room who don’t know what exactly was Involved in the Incident that ended up with their entire family in a Burn Unit with various degrees of wounds and the baby Todoroki clutching at his sweater in an Interrogation room like a Lifeline as his body shakes with Muted sobs he’s releasing into his chest, Dabi’s concern is the brother he’s now the Legal Guardian of and nothing more.
That’s not to say he won’t question the lovable brat at a later time, because the Timeline needs Established, but not right now. Not for the nearest future. His highest Priority at the moment is ensuring Shoto’s wellbeing. Brotherly interrogations can occur at a later time when things aren’t so…. Heated .
Though it’s glaringly obvious it’s done so begrudgingly, Dabi signs his Actual Name on the release forms for his youngest brother, the kid having allowed him to maneuver him more so into his side to allow him the ability to write. Fingers, pale and bandaged and shaking, clutch at the front of his baggy fitting sweater. It brings back far too Vivid Memories of Wayback Years after an Incident involving Scalding Hot Water and mom.
“Come on, Nova, let’s get back home, yea? You gotta be exhausted, kid.” Dabi’s not known for his general gentleness, but then he’s also not one who allows most anyone close enough to witness it, the surprise at his tone from those who don’t got even the smallest clue is humorous at best. “Tomu made you up the room across from mine, new bedding and everything, but if you wanna bunk with me for now that’s cool too kiddo. Don’t go chattering about it with all your little gremlin friends though, I still got a reputation, keep the soft side to yourself.”
Shoto speaks not a word, half hidden in his brother’s side still, only gives a single pointed tug on his sweater.
“Okay, that’s fine squirt. I told you, you can bunk with yours truly as long as you need to.”
…..
First order of business, finding a manner for Kid Brother to release the residual tension of his White Hot Rage, they sleep through the rest of the night after returning from the Station and for a good portion of the following day. Shoto is rather clingy at that point, Dabi resigns himself to being used as a Human Mattress, arms hugging loosely around the sleeping teen’s shoulders.
Sensei allows them to use one of the Nomu’s Training Facilities for their specific needs. No actual Nomu’s were harmed in the making of this Mock Engagement. They also have to be supervised for this particular Thing, which angers the younger Todoroki more then one would expect it to, he makes this known by burning a perfect imprint of both his hands in Kurogiri’s Fine Wood Bartop when the announcement is made. Touya yanks him back off his barstool by the back of his short sleeved shirt when the smoke billows up from the making of the imprints, offering a small apology to the Bartender as his baby brother mutters things under his breath as he’s tugged into the elder’s embrace.
Kurogiri waves his apology away with understanding. Citing he dealt with worse with as Tomura was growing up, at which the aforementioned man grumbles indignantly, and the entire interaction does entice a few soft “pin drop and you might miss them” giggles from the Peppermint Patty kid caught up in the fire user’s semi restraining embrace.
Not an intended outcome but one they’ll take.
Keigo is assigned as their Official Supervising Agent, bird brain fought tooth and nail for it, given his background with child abuse and the knowledge he retains with how the Commission Works. A hero is designated as their Supervising Agent, as all parties expected, and the Avian volunteered at first opportunity. Last thing that Lil Sho needed was a hero attempting to recruit him to the HPSC Funded Programs for children in his position.
Of course, Dabi choses Hand to Hand Combat as his form of Physical Therapeutic Release Mechanisms, because talking shit out just isn’t the best course of action in every fucking scenario. Though, without the Winged Hero’s prompting, he does set some Boundaries. Rules of Engagement if you will.
One, non incapacitating shots, subdue only. Meaning no knocking someone clean out for the count.
Two, no Overkill. Persey. Meaning, once the other person is down it’s time to Reset the match, you don’t continue wailing on them until you break Rules one and two.
Three, no Quirks, Literal Hand to Hand only . Quirkless Style, if you will. No Fire. No Ice. (Feathers only if Rules are being broken and therefore one needs to be yanked off the other)
Shoto agrees, a tad begrudgingly, which should be a bit concerning but they’ll look into that later too.
Their first sparring match is….sloppy. Dabi fights dirty like a villain would be expected to do.
Baby Brother fights dirtier .
Kid is pissed, about what he ain’t got a clue, but something finally snapped and that something was the final Support Beam of a Dam holding back a Raging Wall Of Death (water). Keigo has to interfere not even five minutes in, feathers snagging the boy strangling his Guardian as though the face he’s staring down into isn’t the one that’s Actually there before him. Touya rubs at his neck as he coughs weakly, lungs begging for more oxygen then he can provide in a single few gulps, watching his brother hang limply above him as he sits up from where he’s back slammed into the floor with enough power to force the breath from his lungs before small fingers around his windpipe refused another to replace the one that had been lost.
“Icecap?” Its the unfocused glaze in the brat’s (read as affectionate) eyes that stave off any responding anger he might– should have –produced at the blatant lack of care. Shoto is not Home right now. “Where you at?”
“Is he disassociating?” Keigo’s concerned addition to the thus far one-way conversation is another flag on the board as to why he’s eternally grateful that the man fought so hard to be their Supervising Agent. “Should I block his Quirk?” First lesson in Heroics when it comes to individuals they intercept in the midst of a Mental Crisis–in any form–is Quirk Blocking. Not as a means to try and tame them, but for the safety of everyone in the immediate area, in the event the Individual experiencing the Episode has a Powerful Quirk. Todoroki Shoto has a Powerful Quirk. “I’m followin’ your lead here as Guardian, Dabs, what you want me to do to help?”
“Just….Keep him off his feet until I say so.” The last thing they needed, especially if Sho was reliving whatever Event that had Lead to the Outburst that cast them into this sudden Life-Changing turn of events, was to feel powerless without his Quirk present. “Don’t put the cuffs on him. I never want him to know the feeling of missing a part of yourself like that.” He can tell by the way the hero huffs as he agrees that Keigo is far from approving of his decision, but Touya doesn’t have the time to dwell nor tease about that, far more concerned about the way his baby brother’s mismatched eyes seem to drift further and further to something that’s not exactly right there. “Kiddo, can you hear me? ToTo’s here, kiddo, I lost you once, I’m selfish and can’t go through losing you again , so think you can come back to me?”
An unbroken period of silence follows the older Fire User’s much too heartbroken request, Shoto doesn’t even appear to have heard what’s been said, until a vivid alertness returns to once lifeless eyes and they lift to lock gazes. “ToTo?”
“I’m here. Right here , Bruni, and I ain’t going anywhere.” This moment, the slight break of Disconnection that’s pushed the boy back into Reality, needs to be handled with great care. Any slight waver and it’ll shatter completely. “Not again. Never again. ToTo’s never gonna leave you again .”
Keigo doesn’t say a word, doesn’t interrupt the delicate slight Breakthrough, when he lowers the boy to his feet ever so slowly at Dabi’s slight hand gesture of a command. Despite what the other’s had thought–rather vocally–the Winged Hero had never doubted the elder’s ability to reach out to the baby Himura where he’d long since hidden himself as a means of protection .
Villains aren’t Born. They’re Made.
Dabi wasn’t Born as Dabi, Second In Command for the League Of Villains, Dabi was Born as Touya, the only one who ever had the ability to really connect with his Baby Brother.
Man knew what he was doing.
“Who am I?” A heartbreaking question for an equally heartbreaking situation. “ToTo, who am I?”
“You’re Shoto, my littlest brother, the kid who I continue to find endless nicknames for.” Touya traces his fingers lightly over the boy’s cheeks. “A bit of a pain in my ass but I love’ya anyway. Someone with far too many notebooks he thinks I don’ know about full of increasingly far fetched Conspiracies. Best Friends with the son of Japan’s only SS Ranked Supervillain and baby brother of my once Boss.” The hero stays on standby, there if needed, but doesn’t make it known he means to be of interruption. Fingers curl around cool pale cheeks. “My hoodie thief who ain’t all that sly about it. The one who assures us time and time again that you’re good to stay in your own room but still end up in bed with me or Tomu come morning. You’re the brat I know still squeals like the kid you never really got to be when I hold you tight and Tomu plays around with your toes.”
“I’m…Shoto.” The teen blinks up at him. “Just Shoto.”
“Right, you’re Shoto, Surname Left Behind. Nothing More. Just exactly who you are. Shoto.” Not once in any Future he saw himself in, did Dabi see himself in this particular position, hell he’d tried to kill this very kid staring up at him like he’s the reason he hasn’t tried to ki– Leave Permanently . Yet here he was as Legal Guardian to that same brat and not hating every moment of it. “My baby brother.”
A brief pause, neither older man is sure if its a good pause or not, before the boy nods. “I wanted to hurt them. I wanted to make them pay.” He has their undivided attention. “They all want to know what happened that night but they only want to know because Endeavor was harmed.”
“What happened, Hailstone?” Touya saw an opening and he was going to tread carefully as he entered it. “That night , what did they do to you , baby brother?”