~Big Book of Fairytales~ My Hero Academia x Reader Fantasy AU

-2- The Story of a New World

I untied Todoroki from the chair, keeping my club prepared just in case. He made no hostile moments, and from what I could tell, he spent most of his energy thinking instead of acting.

I led him to the trapdoor, letting him climb down. Then I followed. It was terrifying. I had no idea how Dabi could do this, especially when he was injured. The ladder shook with every step and the rungs tried to slip out of my hands. And then they did.

I was almost to the ground when I fell. I braced for hard impact, but was met only with a soft one, "You need to be more careful. If you had gotten hurt then I wouldn't get my satchel back and this would be for nothing."

"I feel the love," I looked down at the grass below me, "Does... Does grass hurt?"

"Have you ever been out of your tower?"

"Nope. Not that I can remember."

He sighed, but it wasn't as harsh as the sighs I was used to hearing, "Let's take it slow then."

He propped me upright, then helped me slowly descend onto the grass. It was a weird feeling. Sort of spikey, but soft on my feet. My dress fluttered out around me as I centered myself on the uneven ground.

"I can't believe I'm doing this."

He left his arm out for me to hold onto, he was being oddly patient, "We can always go back."

"No. I've already come this far," I finally let go of Todoroki's arm, and then it all really hit me, "Dabi is going to be furious."

I walked forward, letting my feet lead me as I walked, "But what he doesn't know won't kill him. Oh man, this is going to kill him."

I felt a sudden cold sensation, and looked down to realize I had stepped in the little pond I had seen below the tower, "Wow. This is amazing."

"You seem to have... conflicting thoughts," Todoroki's voice was oddly comforting, slow and steady, "And who's Dabi? Your brother?"

"Well," I thought for a second, "We aren't related. But he takes care of me."

"And you're sure you don't want to go back?"

It took me a moment to answer. I had moved away from the pond and to the mouth of the grotto, and now I was just standing there. It should have been easy to answer his question. I had come so far. Basically just one more step and then I would be in the real world.

"No. I'm going to see those lanterns."

He nodded and walked past me, "Disappointing."

I followed him, entering the real world, "You're really blunt."

"I guess."

I took the club off my belt and held it in my hand. Of course that's when I noticed Todoroki didn't have a weapon out, "Why aren't you preparing to fight?"

He looked back, then looked at my stance, "Why are you preparing for a fight?"

"Dabi told me that he gets attacked a lot on the way home," I lowered my weapon a little, "Mostly by ruffians, and thugs, and robbers, and one time he said he ran into a man who was hunting for me. The man apparently attacked Dabi with potions and was such a huge threat that Dabi had to burn the man to ashes. But since he's such a good guy, he found the man's address in his bag and had a ranger bring the box to his home to be buried."

Todoroki thought for a moment, "Most people don't get attacked that often. That is unless..."

"Unless?"

"Don't worry about it," he looked at my weapon, then at the entrance to the grotto that now stood behind me, "Though it's probably a good idea to avoid those types."