TWO POWERS (Todoroki Shoto x Reader)

Chapter 21: Bare

The man takes a second to consider his words. "I was aware of the possibility, but after seeing you two stand off in the alley earlier tonight, I became more sure. But we'll discuss all this tomorrow. For now, everything is fine. I gave the interviews and no one knows you were involved until we make it public."

"Or Stain confesses it to the police." Endeavour doesn't know how to reply to this.

"Alright then," Endeavour concedes, "let's discuss it later tonight if you don't fall asleep while you wait for me."

You sit back on the sofa next to Shoto, letting the cushions embrace you. It's been so long since you got to sit on something soft.

"Are you really fine?" Shoto asks, "considering your dad and everything."

You think for a bit and chuckle. "You know how I broke several quirk regulation laws and stayed with a criminal? I think that was just me rebelling against my dad's wishes. So really, I'm fine." You give Shoto a reassuring smile and put your hand on his. "But when will it stop, I wonder."

Shoto thinks for a while. He is in a similar situation so you don't need much explaining. "Until we forgive them, I guess."

"Fine then. In that case, I forgive him. I'm done mixing and mingling with villains."

"That was way too easy," Shoto comments, as if responding to a joke.

"It's just a decision, isn't it. I won't let him guide my actions anymore. That's how it is. I bet he wouldn't accept my forgiveness since he thinks he hasn't done anything wrong. So it's only my business anyway."

Shoto doesn't reply but sensing Endeavour approach, you sit up and take your hands back to your lap. Shoto straightens himself too. Endeavour sits in the opposing armchair, crossing his arms as usual.

"So you think that Stain will tell the police that you trained under him."

"Yes."

"How about we deny it."

You roll up your sleeve to expose the scars. "I don't think that's very viable." His eyes open a little bit wider in surprise, but he remains calm and rational. "And," you continue, "I have broken several laws as well, as you probably may have guessed." You explain all the offenses against the laws. You knew the rules well, being a detective's daughter and all.

"But you still saved my sidekick's life, and that's what began this whole thing. I don't see you as a villain."

Relieved, you smile and bow wordlessly. Now you have two people who have decided to be on your side.

"My sidekick said that he managed to convey my offer to you. Do you remember that?"

"Right! You're willing to train me under my conditions. But how did you even know that I have special conditions?"

Shoto besides you stiffens a little bit. "Well, I was quite worried about you going so far, so I told him about your trouble using your birth quirk." You smile at him and could almost hug him if Endeavour wasn't in the room. From the first time you and Shoto had hugged, you got the feeling that he is trying to keep your distance while his dad is present. A wise move, you agree.

"This, of course, doesn't mean that I'm willing to accept you on any conditions. It needs to be mutually beneficial, like all negotiations. But if you agree, I'll become a direct supervisor of sorts for you, concerning your training and hero activities. This also means that I will be able to protect you through my agency."

You smile but feel some sort of sadness as well. "But did Shoto tell you that if I can't use my birth quirk, I have no interest in becoming a hero? And I've used my quirk quite a bit recently, so it might be too late. Maybe it's better if everyone knows that I trained under Stain."

"I won't allow it!!" Endeavour declares, arms crossed as ever.

"Y/n, why are you so ready to sacrifice yourself so easily?" Shoto asks calmly, seemingly out of pure curiosity.

"The truth is, I don't think I'll ever be able to become a hero," you admit. "I didn't have a strong desire to begin with and now that my actions have natural consequences, I was thinking that I could go with it and somehow use it to lure villains out or something."

"And ruin your reputation in the process? Not on my watch!" Endeavour declares. "Especially when you're so friendly with my son. He still needs to surpass me."

"Oh, you're right. Sorry, I wasn't thinking about you at all," you admit. "How selfish. Of course, let's go with Endeavour's scheme then. But you'll need my parents' permission too, I'm assuming?"

"Yes, and from both of them."

You sigh. "Well, this is going to be interesting. We haven't talked much and the last time I saw my mom, she rightfully left me to deal with my own problems. She couldn't help if I didn't tell her anything."

"But they both have called. In fact, your phone has a lot of missed calls and unread text messages. It's in my office, you'll get to deal with it tomorrow."

"Right, of course."

As it seemed like the discussion was over and all that was left to do was wait for tomorrow, Endeavour decided to go to bed. You remained seated and so did Shoto, and even when Endeavour had shut the door to the room he had chosen, you remained silently glued to the couch.

You're staring at the point where the wall and ceiling meet. You're not sure what Shoto is doing. He is quiet. Maybe he is thinking too.

You turn and look at him instead of asking to check whether he is asleep or not. He's wide awake and is also staring forward.

"Aren't you tired?" you whisper.

"No. There's too much to process. I couldn't sleep even if I tried to. Tell me, was Stain the one who cut your cheek too?"

"Yeah, but technically I allowed him to. It was our last spar, but it ended sooner than I realized that it had begun, literally," you say as you gently touch the bandaged area. You leave out the part where he licked you and his touch reminded you of Shoto.

Shoto doesn't look too happy with this information. "So you sparred?"

"Yeah, that's how he taught me. It was quite difficult. I'm happy he got sick of it."

"And nothing else happened?" he asks quite forcefully.

"In this economy?" you jokingly reply to dodge the question.

"Did you buy something?"

"No, that's a joke, Shoto. Nothing that you should be worried about happened." With that you stand up and go to the bathroom, hanging your clothes to dry. Then you head to sleep, leaving Shoto alone on the couch.