Ethereal ◆ Shoto Todoroki x Reader

Epilogue

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He's okay.

"You really think we would let our prince get hurt?" Commander Aizawa says, watching relief flow over your face. You stand on your tip-toes, peering over the crowd of guards and staff here to greet the prince and the Brigade.

When Shoto sees you, his eyes light up. You don't waste a second, and you push through the crowd to hug him. 

His body is cold against yours since he's been using his quirk, but you don't let go. "You must be freezing." You tell him.

"Y-you get used to it."

You realize he's blushing and smile, pulling away and turning to the commander. You bow, one hand on your heart. "I want to thank you," you say, "for everything."

He doesn't say anything, but he nods. You stand up, taking a deep breath, and look around you. The stars in the night sky shine down on the crowd, and faces full of hope look at their future queen.

Guards are gathered around the Commander, along with the Brigade. Some maids linger by as well. 

"Thank you all," you say, as loud as you can so they can hear, "Thank you all for everything. Thank you for persevering. Thank you for not giving up!" 

They clap, and you take Shoto's hand. He smiles at you.

"We are not going to let this destroy us!" You continue. "This is not the end. They think that we'll give up? Just because our castle is a pile of ash? We still have our king. We still have each other!"

"They might have cancelled our wedding," Shoto announces to your surprise, "but they cannot separate us."

He leans down and kisses you, and he tastes like ash, and you think of the fire. Of Moyasu. Of the palace, burning down in flaming glory. You think of a phoenix.

A bird that rose from it's own ashes.

To rise, one must first burn.

And as your heart pounds and you pull away from Shoto, one thought repeats in your mind:

This is only the beginning.

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Ethereal  ◆ Shoto Todoroki x Reader:

. . . The End . . .

. . . of part 1.