| Step in Time | 172732014

I'm Glad You're Here: The Pier

A sneeze caught you by surprise when the bite of the air sent a shiver down your spine. You wondered how the breeze could chill you to the bone, without your Quirk being the cause of it, before you wrapped your arms around your frame. Todoroki walked alongside, reaching out a hand to wrap around your arm and draw you near, his warmth radiating through his jacket and through yours. You melted at the touch. You've always known Todoroki reacted to every little movement you've made, keeping his warmth close, especially when dealing with your Quirk some of the time.

"Is this better?" he asked, his voice soothing while you laid your head on his shoulder.

"Much," you replied. "Thanks, I don't know where that came from."

"Maybe someone somewhere is speaking about you," he suggested with a slightly crooked smile. "You haven't been seeing other people behind my back, have you?"

Immediately, you turned with a playful yet cross look, your brows furrowed and your lips in pout. "How could you think of me like that?" you jested. "Have I not been nothing but faithful and loyal to you?"

A deep chuckle escaped from Todoroki while his playful eyes turned to you, full of love and life. You smirked, containing the slight giggle that would spill from your lips while the both of you walked along the main walkways of the pier.

Tonight was a pleasant surprise of a date. Todoroki, or else as most people knew him as Shouto, had the power of choice and decided to visit the amusement park next to the largest pier in the city. Granted it was an amusement park made for a much younger audience, you were shocked by his choice at first. Still, you had no problem indulging in some fun activities for the day, riding the mini roller coasters and happily taking part in some carnival games. Your favourite moment was walking through Ice World, not necessarily littered with real ice, but showing off your Quirks in front of the children that were present made for a lovely turn of events.

Now with the sun setting over the ocean's horizon, a kaleidoscope of colour washed over the pier, crossing into twilight hours while the both of you kept warm from the sea breeze. Using your Quirk back at Ice World did a little number on you, and though you knew there wasn't any real ice anywhere during that trip, your body temperature dropped slightly. Todoroki immediately took you by the hand, warming you up on the rest of the walk out of the attraction, but it was the children that your mind drew to.

The way they looked up to Todoroki was endearing, watching him stand perplexed and yet stoic for most of your time inside. It was the way he interacted with them, as if he knew how to read them, and how to capture their attention in his element, figuratively speaking.

It came as no surprise. Todoroki was one of the leading Pro Heroes on the scene, thanks to his father as his predecessor, but mostly from his own accord. Meanwhile, you were one of his leading sidekicks, which made for some paparazzi fodder here and there. The number of articles that featured the both of you ranged from sneak peeks to absolute gossip, most of the time.

"What are you smiling about?"

You turned to face Todoroki with his blank expression fixated on you. You had been smiling?

"Oh, just those kids back at the park," you answered. "You were really good with them."

Todoroki continued to stare at you, now confused and yet curious of what you meant.

"Like, you were one with them, somehow," you tried to explain. "You enamoured them with your charm and personality. Mostly your fame, but I'm colouring it like that."

"It actually reminded me about school," he simply commented, withdrawing his arm from yours before his large palm held onto your hand. "When I had to retake the Hero Licence Exam. Even though I was with Bakugou at the time, and we made it work, being around you and our compatibility really demonstrated the extent of our Quirks simply by entertaining kids."