Shoto Todoroki Oneshots ✔️

Submersion

TRIGGER WARNING: abuse, drowning

THEMES: Angst, Endeahoe is a shit dad but what's new

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

"Again!"

Shoto sighed before diving under the water and doing another length. Feeling the cool ripples of water tracing down his arms with each stroke, and the burn of his lungs constricting in his torso, he pushed past the burning in his muscles as he crossed to the other side of the pool. Knowing his father would yell again for emerging too soon, he flipped in the water and pushed off from the other side, letting out small breaths as he returned, watching the bubbles float to the surface. 

Emerging from the water he took in deep breaths, one hand pressed against the tiled wall as vision cleared. He pushed away the soaked bangs on his face, dripping stinging chlorine into his eyes that already burned due to the repetitive training he had been subjected to for the past hour. His feet were going numb, ankles cracking whenever he flexed them, and his shoulders were burning and tense.

"- too slow! Again!"

He must have been too occupied with letting clean air into his lungs that he didn't pay attention to his father's criticisms. With each lap he become more and more unfocused, paying attention only to his form and the clock hung on the wall, signalling that with each lap he was closer to ending his training for the day. After a busy school day and after school training he wanted nothing more than to eat soba and go to bed. But his father had arrived to observe his training and decided to do some aquatic strength training with him instead.

This led to him repeating length after length across the Olympic-sized pool, only the sounds of his father's yelling and the rush of water reaching his ears. It was quiet underwater, and he would honestly prefer to just hold his breath underneath for as long as possible, but then his father would just yell at him further for being a disappointment. If he insisted on doing such rigorous training he could at least come up with some new ways to say he was a failure. 

After his next length, he wondered what his classmates were doing at that time. Maybe eating some desert, or playing on the games console in the living room. There was a new game that caught his eye that he wanted to play, something to do with animals and fishing, so he occupied himself with that for the next ten minutes.

"Shoto! Stop getting distracted! If you zone out in the field an enemy may kill you!"

"I've been at this for almost two hours. I'm tired." he grumbled, resting his forehead on the side of the pool.

"That is not an excuse! You are superior and should push yourself beyond your limits with my training!"

"I'm going as fast as a damn athlete." he complained, wincing when he felt a whack to the back of his head.

"Don't talk back to me! Another lap now!"

"Yes sir." he muttered before taking a breath and diving once more.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A group of Class 1A students were returning from the supermarket, their industrial-sized fridge needing a restock for their meals, meaning they had to walk past the indoor gym and swimming pool. The light was on which was curious for such a late time in the evening. They went over to the side door that led to the observation box and checked inside.

Eyes widening in surprise to find the number one hero Endeavour standing by the poolside, flames gone but his stern expression remaining, they noticed their classmate doing laps in the pool. Todoroki was a good swimmer, this they already knew, but he was also very fast. It was intriguing to watch him for a while, some turning away when he pushed his dichromatic hair away leaving his handsome face on show. But Endeavour's loud yells somehow breached through the glass of the observation box, so they didn't stay too long.