Shattered Dreams

Greatest Challenge

Endeavor Agency

Shōto hadn't been at his father's agency since the beginning of his internship.

The building was buzzing with activity despite the night nearly falling — and of course it was; crime never stopped.
One of Endeavor's many sidekicks informed him that the Flame Hero was back from his patrol.
Shōto thanked him and headed for his office.

~

- Come in, Endeavor mumbled, eyes shifting from one TV screen to another as he scanned every news channel while reading a report at the same time.
He didn't even flinch when the door opened.
- It better be an emergency, he warned authoritatively, I don't have time fo-
He snapped out of focus as his son dropped on the seat facing his desk.

- ... Shōto!

"Still stoic as ever", the latter noted, as his father straightened up and dove his icy blue glare into his. "He definitely should take lessons from All Might on how to look at people normally".

(Anyone else than him would have wet their pants under such a death glare... and that nasty scar didn't help at all.)

Father and son stared at each other in silence for a while.

Shōto hadn't seen the Flame Hero since that awkward family lunch Fuyumi had thrown, which had ended with Natsuo snapping at their father and the latter leaving to avoid making things worse.

The flames framing the redhead's face suddenly vanished, causing the young man to raise a surprised brow. Endeavor hardly ever showed his bare face.

The teen then noticed just how tired he looked.

At some point Endeavor cleared his throat, finally breaking the silence.

- Despite how much I'd appreciate it, I suppose you didn't come to say hi. Tell me what you want, and I'll see what I can do.

Shōto didn't blink, racking his mind for a neutral approach.

"What happened with All Might?"
Too vague.
"What broke you and All Might up?"
Too direct.
"Why do you hate All Might so much?"
Too wide.

- I didn't like what you implied when I introduced Midoriya to you, he simply began. That warning about not getting too close to a N°1 Hero, or they'll hurt me. I wanna know exactly what you meant by that.

He leaned one cheek on his palm and stared at the Flame Hero.
- And be credible. I know you and All Might dated once, there's no way he could have been the villain in the story.

Endeavor opened his mouth. And closed it.
He was prepared for any question excep-

... No.
He couldn't have expected anything.

He probably should have rejoiced at Shōto showing up unannounced — the young man did visit him at the hospital, but he hadn't uttered a single word and had left less than five minutes later. The very first thing he had said later, during Fuyumi's lunch, had been a sassy remark on that nasty scar barring the redhead's face.

(Which was the very last thing on his mind. Endeavor didn't give a single fuck if he didn't look like a goddamn movie star.)

He had boiled with frustration, yet he couldn't really blame his son.
He knew just how long the road would be until Shōto considered forgiving him; hell, he might even still refus-

No! he mentally corrected himself, instantly feeling his flames coming back as his jaw clenched.
A N°1 Hero must not step back.
He would do all he could to make amends.