Honesty || Todoroki Family Oneshots

•°Comfort - Part One°•

Subconsciously leaning onto Natsuo's shoulder, shoto nuzzled into the warmth, fingers clenching his brothers thin, red jacket. It creased the surface of his newly ironed layer, but Natsuo didn't mind, the only thing he cared about in that moment was his tired baby brother clinging tightly onto his left arm.

The feeling brang him comfort, tranquility and a weird emotion building up in his chest so strong he struggled to resist the urge of bringing his brother into a huge, air tight hug. But it's this same urge that can do more harm to his younger brother than good.

Unlike shoto, Natsuo is quite an emotional person and he absolutely adores hugs and physical contact. However, shoto, is the opposite. It's not that he hates hugging, holding hands or high fiving, it just takes alot of trust for him to do so. So at times like these, Natsuo knows he cannot make fast movements to remind his baby brother he is safe, he can trust him and Natsuo will never, ever take advantage of him.

So, when shoto willingly hugs him or like this, leans on his shoulder, Natsuo doesn't take these moments for granted and treasures every last second.

Smiling to himself, the white haired male slowly reached down to scratch his thigh just as shoto began to fidget, taking him out of his trance.

Keeping his movements steady he retreated his hand back from his itch and gently placed it over shotos head. Natsuo's fingers combed his soft, frizzy locks, the silence far from awkward. It felt calming just sitting there, humming to a random tune that mimicked within his head.

Holding the small boy close as he let out a deep sigh. It has been a hard week for all of them, news reporters, paperwork, court dates have been thrown their way constantly after the reveal of their older brother touya, or should he say, Dabi.

Its chaotic, annoying and just stressful for everyone. Though, Natsuo knows the reveal has had a big effect on shoto, more than the others.
His older brother blamed him. He used him. He used him to get revenge on their father. Why should shoto have to pay for Endeavours actions? None of it is his fault.

Yeah, he loves his older brother, Touya. He misses touya. The touya he knew. But he is not sure what he feels towards Dabi yet. His feelings hasn't come together.

Dabi is touya. He's angry at what he's doing but yet, he can't seem to blame him. He doesn't know why. It's more like...he remembers. Touya cared for shoto with all his heart, just like the rest of us, he wanted to be a hero, so bad. But father pushed him down, telling him it was reckless.

"Natsuo..."

Shoto's voice muffled as he pushed his face into Natsuos shoulder with more pressure.

The words of the younger startled Natsuo, one fact that hasn't been mentioned is that shoto hasn't spoken. Not a word since Dabi. He's not sure if that's because of his throat, trying to take it all in or some other, concerning reason. All he knows is that the small Todoroki hadn't spoken to anyone. For him to be the first one is an honor...but that's not what he's worried about right now.

It was the shakiness in his little brothers voice. The way he hid his face, something isn't right.

"Yes sho?"

Natsuo answered patiently, watching shoto's movements carefully.
Now that he's being more perceptive, he's noticed how his brother was paler than usual, dark bags hanging from his vacant, dull eyes. Plus, the weight change. He was too skinny.

If Natsuo was being honest, his baby brother looked like a worn out ghost, trying helplessly to seek comfort from nearby company.
He feels guilty for comparing his brother to something undead, but it was really what he looked like. And that feature just scared Natsuo more.

He remembers a time Shoto got into this state, looking zombie like, avoiding physical touch, not speaking. And at first, the three older children blamed it on Endeavours relentless training, figuring he was exhausted or scared. But it turned out to be alot deeper than they anticipated.

Shoto was going through some inner turmoil. Alot of it. He began distancing himself from others and family, even Endeavour got worried when he turned up to training without bring dragged there! His behaviour was unusual. It may not be unusual for others who know him today, but back then, despite everything, he was still smiling. Smiling through the pain and torture.

Although it was a group effort, shoto was the main reason we stuck together and stayed happy. But even someone who seems happy can be sad.

And when shoto opened up how bad he was feeling about himself, me and the others were just filled with guilt, anguish and pain. Even though he looked sick, worn and tired, we overlooked it, because our little brother was still smiling.

He wanted us to be happy. He wanted us to not worry about him. He saw himself as worthless, an inconvenience and since that day, if his siblings ever thought something was bothering him, they would never turn their heads.

"Is it my fault?"

The voice beside him croaked, suffering inbedded into his tone. The older boy swallowed thickly before gazing down at his younger brother, his amazing baby brother. He wanted to scream.

He wanted to scream at the world he lives in, he wanted to scream at his father, scream at Dabi, he wanted to scream at all the situations shoto has been through. Because whoever, whatever, made his little brother doubt himself or take the blame for anything will pay.
But that doesn't matter right now, because Natsup recognises the familiar damp feeling on his shoulder and the quiet, raspy breathes his brother is taking.

Shoto was crying.

Sure, he has cried before, when he is slightly overwhelmed like in loud, busy, public places. But he doesn't cry as often Fuyumi or Natsuo would like him to. Because, if he doesn't cry, he keeps it all to himself. Which results in breakdowns like these, when he lets it all out.

"Hey....bud? Where did you get that idea from? What's your fault?"

Natsuo spoke softly as he rubbed circles on shoto's back, wincing as he felt the young males bones. He traced them with his fingers, paying attention to each bump as he awaited a response.

"I-I..."

Shoto stuttered slightly, clinging more onto his older brother, resting his tear faced cheek into the crook of Natsuo's neck.

That was when Natsuo came to a sudden realisation.

Dabi.

To be continued...