Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

His feet hurt, honestly he should have tried to find shoes or something. Running from that hospital to his house barefoot was the stupidest thing he’d done since he woke up.

Touya looked at the house, it wasn’t any different. The front door and the gate were open. He walked in, keeping his steps quiet. He’d learned how to be quiet when he’d go train.

The first thing he heard when he stepped in was yelling. He quietly made his way to the room and peeked in from behind the frame.

Now obviously, the first thing he saw was Enji.

Shoto on the ground was the second thing. 9 year old little Shoto on the ground trying to protect himself from debris falling onto him. The room engulfed in flames.

He had been forgotten. “Surely, somebody would remember me” was the first thing he thought when he was running. He walked past the room, wiped the tears collecting in his eyes and went towards his room.

An altar. It looked like the handiwork of Fuyumi. She always did make such beautiful sculptures. His favorite flowers were sitting in 2 vases placed on both sides of the picture of him.  He looked so normal in that picture it was almost laughable.

He looked around, it was all the same, they just made room for the altar. He looked at himself in the reflection of the photo and frowned.

He prayed, it was all he could do. Touya was no longer, and he hoped to god Touya would never be again.

He stood there for a few seconds. His expression was mixed with sadness and a quiet kind of relief.

He made his way to the door, and was stopped by a head bumping into his thigh. He looked down and made eye contact with little Shoto.

“Touya?” His voice was so small. Touya stood there in shock. He looked nothing like he had 3 years ago how did this 9 year old kid who barely ever saw him recognize him?

Touya dragged Shoto into Shoto’s room, and Shoto silently complied. His grip was as gentle as he could to move such a big body.

Shoto winced and Touya loosened his grip, taking notice that Shoto looked shocked he actually loosened his grip.

“Touya-“ Shoto started, Touya heard Enji walking past the room and slapped a hand across Shoto’s mouth. Shoto froze, and looked up at his older brother terrified. Touya looked down, only mildly scrunching his face to try not to freak Shoto out too much.

Enji’s footsteps made their way to the other side of the house, and Touya sighed, feeling Shoto’s shoulders drop.

“You can’t let anyone know you saw me.” Touya stated. Shoto’s lip quivered and he looked like he was going to burst into tears. Touya cringed, and rested a gentle hand on Shoto’s cheek.

“How about this. Call this,” Touya handed him a strip of paper. “number if you ever want to talk to me. I’ll pick up, I promise.”

Well fuck he just dug a deep hole for himself.

“Okay..” Shoto wiped the tears falling from his eyes. Touya had a gentle expression on his face as he used his palm to gently wipe the tear streaks. Shoto sniffled.

“I love you.” Shoto whispered as Touya got up to leave. Touya froze and his heart sank. He did not need to be feeling bad for this little punk. He had Fuyumi and Natsuo didn’t he?

“I love you too. Keep that number safe.” Touya said as he opened Shoto’s window and jumped out.

He ran, he didn’t know how and he didn’t know where but he ran. He held tightly to the phone in his hand.

He stopped at a warehouse, and collapsed on the sofa laying against the wall. Must be a dump site.

                          ***

Shoto was 13 years old now, and each year since he was 9 a small box was left on his windowsill on his birthday. It was signed T. T. and Shoto knew who it was.

He never had the courage to call Touya. To see if he’d remember what he did 4 years back. To hear how much or how little his voice changed. The strip sat abandoned on Shoto’s desk collecting dust.

He opened the box, and pulled the letter out gently. A small sticker of a butterfly was at the bottom. Shoto smiled fondly at it, before he decided to read the letter.

“Sorry I couldn’t get you more. Money’s been tight.

Trying to find a job so I can get you something better.

Sorry I can’t do more Sho. If you wanna see me give me a call and I’ll come over.

-T. T.”

Touya was 20 years old now, that much Shoto knew. He’d seen news reports of “A man with blue flames terrorizing Japan.”

Shoto could guess who it was. He couldn’t be mad at Touya, he was hard to be mad at.

Shoto put the letter with the others, he had 4. Each of them to go with a gift that Touya said reminded him of Shoto.

He never had the heart to show anybody. Nobody except Fuyumi and Natsuo remembered his birthday. Fuyumi had gone to college a year ago, as soon as she could. Natsuo just didn’t have the money but he always spent the day with Shoto.

Maybe he should call. It couldn’t go too bad, right?

                 _____________

When Touya got the first call on the phone, he almost dropped it. It was in his pocket, and he yelled as he almost lit the entire cigarette on fire.

He fumbled with it before picking it up. One person knew the number to this phone.

He put the cigarette away as he answered the phone. He sulked into an alleyway and leaned against the                 

                 _____________

Shoto picked at his clothes as he waited for the call to be answered. His door was locked, he was sure of that.

The ringing stopped, and Shoto sucked in a breath.

“..Touya?” Shoto whispered. He waited a few seconds, and almost hung up before he heard a voice coming through.

“Shoto?” Shoto almost cried from relief. Touya’s voice had gotten deeper, and it was raspy but he sounded familiar in the way seeing snow gather outside his window did.

“Shoto, you still there?” Touya asked, Shoto let out a small sound. He was crying, that much he could tell.

“I-I didn’t think you’d pick up. I’m sorry.” Shoto sniffled, and he swore he heard a small laugh.

“Of course I’d pick up. You’re the only person who’s ever had this number.” Touya said. Shoto thought he heard walking, or rustling. Something indicating movement.

“I shouldn’t have called-“ Shoto started. Touya shushed him over the phone. It almost seemed like he was back again. Like 4 years ago.

“I’m happy you did. Are you okay?” Touya sounded genuinely concerned for him. Shoto let out a small sob.

“I just wanted to hear your voice. I wanted to know that you’re my big brother.” Shoto eventually got out. Touya made a small sound of confirmation.

“Can- Can you come and visit me? Or find a place for us to meet?” Shoto whispered as he created a small flame on his fingertip.

“I can. I will. I love you Sho.” Shoto let out a small sob at the tenderness in his big brother’s voice. He hung up before he said anything stupid, and he crawled under the covers on his bed. He didn’t even want a gift from Natsuo anymore.

He wanted to see his oldest brother.

When Natsuo walked in later, after managing to pick the lock, he set the gift on Shoto’s desk and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Natsuo left after that, and that was the most they’d interacted for years to come.

                            ***

Natsuo left for college as soon as he could, Fuyumi moved back in with Endeavor and Shoto, deciding to take care of Shoto.

Shoto was 15 now. He hadn’t called the number in years. He’d thought about it, but never got the courage to.

                _____________

Himiko was screaming at Spinner, and Touya had decided to step out and smoke for a bit.

He stepped out, and felt his phone vibrate. He fumbled with it, ready to cuss out Hawks, before realizing it was the phone.

He switched pockets and answered. He could smoke when he was done.

“Touya?” Shoto said in that same meek voice he did when he was 9.

“I’m here. What’s up buddy?” Touya said in such a sweet tone that he almost  threw up.

“Can you— just talk to me? Please? I wanna know that you’re real.” Shoto whispered like somebody would hear him asking. Touya moved to the edge of the roof and swung his legs off.

“Anything specific?” Touya asked. The thing with an autism filled family is that you needed to be specific or everybody involved would be confused. That was learned fast when the siblings interacted with each other.

“Anything. I just wanna hear you talk.” Shoto finally got out. He said all of it in one breath, and Touya smiled fondly to himself.

Touya spent about an hour rambling to Shoto about the history of painting. Shoto was silent most of the time but made sounds of confirmation to confirm he was listening. Touya’s voice got specifically loud when he got to a part he was more interested in.

Touya had a particularly bad coughing fit, and cleared his throat.

“Are you okay?” Shoto asked as Touya heard him fumble with something near him.

“I’m fine.” Touya said. He assumed Shoto didn’t believe him.

“Touya?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

Touya felt his heart drop.

“Anytime.” Touya said. He hung up, and stood up. He had to stick with his plan. He had to kill him, he just had to. Didn’t he..?

He shook his head. He didn’t have time to reconsider killing his youngest brother.

                            ***

Shoto had waited months, staying awake all night in case Endeavor texted him.

He finally got a text, and he quite literally ran to the hospital and up the stairs to get to Touya’s room.

He barged into the room, scaring his family that was in there.

“Out. Get out.” Shoto ordered in a shaky voice. Everybody made their way out, Fuyumi hesitating before she walked out.

“Touya!” Shoto sobbed as Touya blinked at him. Touya pulled him in for a hug.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I’m—“ Shoto cried as he fell limp in Touya’s arms. He slumped on the hospital bed.

“Don’t. I’m sorry Shoto. You never deserved anything that happened to you.” Touya reassured. Shoto was hysterical , he was gasping trying to get air. Touya gently rubbed his back.

“Shhhh, shshsh. It’s okay. I’m right here.” Touya whispered. His voice was oddly normal. It didn’t have the same rasp it usually did.

“I’m sorry Shoto. I’m so so sorry.” Touya wiped the tears off of Shoto’s face.

“No, I—“ Shoto started. Touya shook his head and wiped Shoto’s cheeks.

“Don’t. I’m sorry, Sho.” Touya whispered as he hugged Shoto. Shoto’s head fell limp on his shoulder as he cried. Touya exhaled and tangled his hand on the nape of Shoto’s neck. He gently brushed his fingers through the younger boy’s hair.

Shoto’s breathing slowly calmed, and he sat there heaving on Touya’s shoulder.  He could barely move his hand he was so tired. Touya reclined the bed back, and gently moved Shoto’s arm from under his back.

Touya laid back, and threw an extra blanket over him and Shoto.

“I’m so tired, Tou.” Shoto whispered. He was breathing slowly, trying to take deep breaths. Touya hummed softly, and went back to untangling Shoto’s hair with his fingers.

“I know.” Touya whispered back.

“I wish everything was normal.” Shoto mumbled.

“Me too.” Shoto shifted a little bit so he was on his side, he looked at Touya. His scars were faint and he had a small burn mark on his cheek.

He had Rei’s nose, her doe eyes, and her face.

Shoto looked everything like his mother besides his hair and his eyes. Fuyumi was an exact copy of Rei. All 4 were spitting images of each other, it almost scared people outside the family.

“Promise me you’ll never leave me again?” Shoto pleaded. Touya gave a small nod.

“I promise.” Touya smiled softly.

“Can you make icicles?” Shoto said after a couple minutes of silence.

Touya tilted his head, and made small icicles drip from the ceiling.

“I guess so. Do you control the output of ice the same way you do with flames?” Touya asked as he lit a small blue flame on his fingertip.

“Kind of, when you use flames you concentrate on the heat in your body to produce hotter and bigger flames. You have to concentrate on the coldest parts of your body and try to collect it in one area unlike flames. It kind of feels like being able to move the blood in your body except you can feel the temperature change. You also need to picture what you want to do and your body will do the rest.” Shoto rambled and Touya listened. They were always good at that. Touya focused on what he was saying, and tried to do what he said.

He felt his fingertips get freezing cold and Shoto watched as he managed to move all of the cold in his body down to his hands. A small sculpture of Shoto formed slowly on his palm. Shoto watched in awe as he constructed the finer details.

Touya’s eyes were closed in concentration, Shoto noticed how thick his eyelashes were, and when Touya opened his eyes to look at what he did and his face lit up.

“I do not know how I did that.” Touya said, dumbfounded. Shoto gave a small laugh and gently held it in his hand.

His hand cooled off, so it wouldn’t melt. Touya watched how gently he cradled it.

“It’s beautiful.” Shoto gave a grin, and threw an arm around Touya.

“God I hope I get stuck with you or Keigo after I’m out of here. I’ll kill myself if they put me in prison.” Touya scoffed, and made a motion slicing across his neck. Shoto laughed, and held onto the sculpture.

“You promised you wouldn’t leave me.” Shoto teased.

“Fine, I won’t kill myself but I am breaking out of there and running to Keigo.” Touya rolled his eyes and smiled softly. Shoto smiled back, he looked back at the sculpture and smiled fondly. Touya had a fond look as he watched.

Chapter Text

Touya really didn’t have anything to his name, so when Keigo popped in with a bunch of stuff from his apartment he just stared.

“Is this all…mine?” Touya asked as he rummaged through the box. Shoto was at school, so Keigo was his only option to hang with.

“It’s stuff you left at my place over the past year. I kept it tucked away in case you wanted it back.” Keigo admitted with a shy smile.

“..Thank you.” Touya whispered. Keigo just stared in shock.

“It’s not a big deal.” Keigo waved it off and gave Touya a hug before he left. Touya wanted to ask him to stay.

“Kei,” Keigo stopped and turned around. “can you, uhm, can you stay with me? It gets lonely when Shoto’s gone and frankly I don’t want to bother Natsuo or Fuyumi.” Keigo’s face lit up for a second, before he nodded. He was still masking.

“Stop doing shit the commission wanted you to do. They bastards who made you do that are gone and useless to you now anyway.” Touya said as threw a controller at Keigo. Keigo caught it with his mouth, just blinking at Touya.

“I had no fucking clue you could do that, that was sick Kei.” Touya gave him a grin and Keigo dropped it in his hands as he spread out in the couch. Touya was sitting criss cross on the couch with Keigo draping his legs over him.

They went through a few rounds of Mario Kart before Touya almost froze the entire apartment. Keigo screeched at him, and hit him on the head with his fist when Touya almost set the couch on fire.

“Somebody’s a sore loser!” Shoto yelled as he narrowly dodged a fireball being thrown towards him.

“Shoto! Your brother’s trying to murder me!!” Keigo yelled as he narrowly dodged a fucking ball of ice.

“Touya stop trying to ruin my apartment!” Shoto hit him on the head and Touya was about to jump off that couch and hit him back until Keigo kicked his ankle monitor.

“Well played Kei.” Touya glared. Keigo flashed a smile and went back to beating Touya’s ass in Mario Kart. Shoto watched as Touya screamed and yelled at Keigo who just laughed.

It was nice to see that while Touya could easily kill him, plus he was also screaming at him, Keigo just laughed and kept trying to piss him off.

Maybe it was part of the charm between those two that Keigo trusted him enough to not be scared or intimidated by Touya, especially after he lost his wings.

Once Keigo left Shoto plopped down on the couch and raised an eyebrow.

“What?” Touya asked as he turned off the TV.

“Is there something you want to tell me Touya?” Shoto asked as he looked him up and down.

“Is there something between you and Keigo?” Shoto got the point, and Touya almost choked on his own spit.

“No- There’s— It’s nothing don’t worry about it.” Touya waved it off, and Shoto raised an eyebrow. Touya looked shocked like he wasn’t being obvious.

“Okay fine, I guess I am still in love with him from when he tried to infiltrate the league.” Touya finally admitted.

“I knew it! Natsuo, Tenko, and Hanta owe me 25 bucks!” Shoto pulled out his phone with a cheeky grin.

“You bet on it?!” Touya exclaimed with wide eyes and he lunged over to see the group chat the 3 of his siblings and their partners had.

“Of course we did! We all bet 25 bucks. Yumi and I knew.” Shoto looked the proudest he’d ever been as he smiled. Touya looked dumbfounded as Natsuo cussed out Fuyumi, Shoto, and Rumi.

“Hanta, Natsuo and Tenko all need to pay up.” Shoto grinned.

“The one time I try to not be obvious everybody but Keigo catches on!” Touya exclaimed. Shoto almost felt bad.

“Stop being a baby, he’s obviously into you.” Shoto reassured.

“He is??” Touya asked in a pathetic voice. Shoto groaned.

“Yes! Do you not notice the way he always tries to be so physical with you?” Shoto exclaimed. Touya pondered.

“I thought he was just being a bird!” Shoto looked in shock at how stupid his older brother was.

“You might be even dumber than Izuku.” Shoto gasped.

Touya looked offended. “Do not compare me to Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes!” Touya exclaimed.

“You’ll live.” Shoto pat him on the back. Touya pouted.

“You wanna order food for dinner?” Shoto asked as he threw his phone at Touya. Touya hissed, and nodded as he scrolled through the menu.

“God I love that Bakugo was wrong about you loving hot udon.” Shoto said with a taste of pride on his tongue.

“How’d he guess that?” Touya looked exhausted. And his voice was going, so Shoto laughed.

“He said that because I like cold food and you had such hot flames you’d like boiling hot udon! I can’t wait to tell him he was wrong.” Shoto had such a big smile on his face it made Touya giggle

“No need to get so possessive. Bakugo probably won’t even like talking to me after I kidnapped him.” Touya pat Shoto on the back, and Shoto looked over bright red.

“I am not possessive! I just get to finally tell him he was wrong!” Shoto exclaimed as he looked away and pulled his hair over his ears.

“Sho..” Touya said with a small giggle.

“Okay fine maybe I am protective, but I have good reason to be!” Shoto defened himself, and he yelped when Touya pulled him into a hug and ruffled his hair.

“Awwww my baby brother’s protwctive over me, how adorable!” Touya teased. Shoto tried to get Touya’s hands off of him and Touya just laughed.

“Sometimes I wanna go back to when I had a brother who didn’t tease me.” Shoto huffed, and Touya just laughed.

“You don’t mean that.” Touya teased.

Shoto sighed and fell onto Touya’s lap. “You’re right, I don’t mean it.” Shoto smiled. Touya gagged and played with Shoto’s hair.

“I’m going to sleep. You should too.” Shoto said as he grabbed a blanket and threw it over himself. Touya adjusted himself so he was laying down and Shoto was resting on his torso.

“I’m glad you’re not just skin and bones and you’ve started getting fat on your stomach.” Shoto said, Touya snorted assuming he was just tired.

“Goodnight, Sho.” Touya gave him a small kiss on the forehead. Shoto hummed.

“Goodnight Touya.” Shoto whispered. Fingers combing through his hair was the last thing he focused on before he dozed off.