Serendipity

There were many names Shouto answered to. He's not stupid, he knows that the name given to him was Shouto. At birth, upon seeing his split genes, father decided it was best. 'Burn' and 'freeze'. From birth, Shouto had his purpose and life laid out for him, maybe even before.

His name also means blessed. He is lucky to have a quirk, lucky his body can handle it, lucky the number two (one) hero is training him, lucky I didn't kill you, lucky momma didn't burn him sooner.

Father also calls him Touya. And Rei. He must be very angry, when he does that.

The dark has always been frightening.

He's sure it has its reasons to be. The dark must be hiding something (father. Or momma? Shouto?). He just knows to protect his neck. Knows the limits of how much pain his back can take before it makes the rest of him hurt. He knows that everything he goes through will end, and it will all start again. It is a vicious cycle, unending and repetitive. Pain, light, eat, dark, pain, light, eat, dark. Homework is sprinkled between the events, he showers. Father asks him how he's feeling. Shouto opts to hide in the dark, where it is safe.

Endeavor is stronger than him. It has never been an unknown fact, Shouto has never doubted it for a second. Father is strength. He is the rules. He is everything Shouto is not. (not real) Shouto hears the crack of a bone, his own. Somewhere on the body. He feels the pain but his mind doesn't tell him where, can't quite pinpoint where Endeavor is touching.

Endeavor is stronger than Shouto, and so it is with a great struggle that Shouto tries to push Endeavor off of him. But Endeavor is heavy, and Shouto is weak. Too weak to defend himself, or the forgotten children, or the white haired woman. He hits Endeavor's chest, tries to stop him from squeezing another bone into submission. It doesn't work. Shouto screams.

Angrily gnashing teeth take shelter in Endeavor's flesh, bite down until they touch again. Blood fills his mouth. He gags. Endeavor doesn't move away from him, only stands, shaking Shouto off of him. Shouto feels it in the way the tatami sinks. Even though he has learned to question everything to survive, he knows what happens next.

Fingers trace the roots of his hair, all too familiar. They rub circles into his skin, bringing some sort of comfort while Endeavor lines his staff up with Shouto's ankle. His scar burns. The fingers trace that, too.

Rei's hand clamps over his mouth when he screams. Blood smears over their skin, but she manages to keep his jaw shut tight. After the first hit, Endeavor hits again. And again. And again. Shouto can't see what face he's making, Endeavor is a shadow in the dark.

The bones crunch and break and become unreal, Endeavor does this to the other ankle, too. Rei is humming a lullaby. Shouto turns his head to the side, her hand falling from his face as he succumbs to it, like always. Shouto knows this is his job. He knows he was created for this. He knows he isn't supposed to break the rules which harbor punishment. Knows that he's as important as the blood stains on the tatami, never more important than Endeavor. Rei kisses his forehead.

"Shouto!" Endeavor screams. The sound echoes in his head, mixing with the distorted sounds of Rei's singing. He thrashes in her hold, trying to get away. He needs to get away. He can't-

He screams, but it might be Rei's scream. He doesn't know. He needs to get out. Out of the dark room, and Rei's hold, and away from father. Shouto hears something move, next to him. He scrambles away, out, before it can get him. Before father can hurt him more. His hands brace over his neck, he hides himself. The room is not dark. The night light illuminates it dimly. He screams.

"Hey, Todoroki. Todoroki, it's safe," Shouto clenches his jaw shut. His hands find his ears, press tightly over them. He doesn't want to be hurt, he swears he didn't break the rules again. He swears.