𝘾𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢 - Endeavor X Male Reader

Chapter 14: A laugh

"This domburi is delicious, you're a genius of a cook Fuyumi!"
I complimented her whilst filling my mouth with food. I didn't eat anything since morning so I was starving and my manners weren't the best. Yet the white haired girl was happy, receiving my praises with a smile.
We all sat at the table of their typical japanese dining room.
The only ones doing all the talking were me and sometimes Fuyumi.

More than a dining room, it felt like a minefield.
Natsuo glared at his father, who was beside me, without hiding an inch of his disdain.
Endeavor was squeezing my thigh, as if to say "once this is over, I'll kill you".
Shoto was eating silently.

I rentlessy made another attempt at "breaking the ice".

"Shoto, right? Your performance at the cultural festival was truly something, both you and your opponent were awesome!"

The young boy murmured a "Thank you" and nothing else. He had a freezing and taciturn presence akin to that of his father.
Speaking of, I gave him a nudge under the table, spurring him to add something.
Endeavor incinerated me with his eyes and then spoke up.

"... Have you reconsidered my proposal?"

But his question did not receive an answer.
Things felt even more awkward.

Then suddenly, Natsuo slammed his fist onto the table, shaking all the dishes and abruptly getting up.

"That's enough! What's with this bullshit? Years of silence and suddenly we all sit at the same table as if nothing happened?"

"Natsuo-"

His sister tried to calm him down, but the anger of the boy was way too understandable.

When no answer from his father came, he rushed outside.

I followed him.

"Oi! Man, you got a nice pair of legs, dude."

I complimented his speed while breathing fatigued, my wound making it painful to run.

He stopped and turned at me.

"Please Natsuo, your dad is making an effort in trying to repair these broken bridges. Can you not give him even the slightest chance?"

"Is he? As I see it, you're the one who rushed back at me. Not him."

I stood my ground.

"I can guarantee, he deeply wants this."

"What can you guarantee? Who are you? What do you know about my family?"

The boy called out my condescending manners. And admittedly, he was damn right.
Subtle as a car crash.

"... You're right. I'm sorry. I have no right to talk you into reconsidering your choice. I still hope you'll give it some thought. Good night, and good luck with the university."

On my way back, his hesitant tone called for me.

"Wait."

I glanced at his tormented and puzzled face. Then he spoke up.

"You seem such a nice person. Why on earth are you taking his defenses. Are you truly his friend?"

Only then, I realized how alien this man appeared to his own sons.
They saw him as this lifeform, capable only of thinking about surpassing All Might and working. Barely human, mechanical and non-verbal.

"... I don't excuse his actions. I never will. But I am indeed his friend, even if he says otherwise. And as such, I want to help him and those he holds dear. So, I'm sorry Natsuo. If you're not comfortable around him, you should be allowed to leave everytime you want. Tonight's attempt at communication was goofy and rushed, but I won't give up. Neither will your sister."

Natsuo's expression relaxed a bit.

"You... surely have a way with words. Whatever. Good night to you too."

-

"Where's Shoto?"
"He's gone to sleep, he has school tomorrow. I'm deeply sorry for Natsuo."
"Don't worry, we had a talk. He'll still come to your diners and lunches. He just needs time."

Fuyumi had his gaze lost in nothingness, questioning if she made the right choice by making everyone have a meal together.
She had the idea after all, I merely encouraged her.

"Well, let's start cleaning the dishes everyone."

Fuyumi and I started to retrieve the plates while Endeavor stood immobile and silent like a praying monk.

"I said everyone."

The sitting man scoffed and got up, lending us an hand.
Fuyumi was genuinely impressed by my beast-taming skills.

Once everything was nice and clean, Fuyumi herself bid us goodnight, leaving me and his fuming father alone in the living room.

"I've said this before. Don't indulge in my personal life. You'll pay."

He scolded me with his arms folded, he had a low yet intimidating tone.
Probably didn't want the rest of the house to hear. Must've been hard to pull that off with his grand voice.

"You went along with this, still."

I sat beside him on the sofa.

He didn't respond, asking another question instead.

"Why would you do something that would certainly enrage me?"

I gazed at him, a sight to behold.
Turquoise eyes deep as seas I would drown into.
He said he was angry, but his face told a whole different story.

"Tonight was a fluke, maybe that's why you're upset. But watch me in the eyes and tell me you don't want this. Tell me you don't want your family to be happy, again."

Indeed, he could not deny this fact. So he bit his lip.
For the second time since I knew him, I saw a sparkle of beautiful weakness, a deep feeling of longing that I understood way too well.

"Even if I do, I did unforgivable things. You simply don't get it, this household- I-"

He spoke so softly, looking down, its pitch just high enough so I could listen.

"I'm a lost cause."

His previous heat died out.

Then I threw a pillow at him.

"... What's this for?"
"Idiot."
"What?"

Full of it, I stormed at him.

"If forgiveness is unattainable, aim for atonement! Wasn't your hero name Endeavor? Stop being a little bitch and grow a pair!"

He was just astounded. Never expecting my relatively contained temper to just break and be brutally frank.
The big man fell into quietness again. Man, even having arguments with him was a pain.

"Say something!"

His glare softened as he sighed profusely.

"I guess your lecture comes as a surprise? This and the fact that you saw me worth helping."
"Of course you are. You're all about saving others, but what about yourself? I'll take care of that!"

His huge frame suddenly bursted laughing.
Probably the idea of me saving anyone was just funny to him.

Nonetheless, I loved making people laugh.
The simple fact that I could give someone a brief moment of cheerfulness was enough to brighten a bad day.

"A true hero should also save the soul."

My words caught him off guard, making the conversation return on a somewhat serious vibe.

"I agree. But the day you'll be the one to save me, is the same day I'll eat french fries."

"You don't like french fries?!"

"That's cancer made into food."

"Whatever. Prepare your tongue for a mouthful of those, or better, a moth-ful!"

I just assassinated the mood.

"That was terrible I'm sorry."
"Death penalty wouldn't even suffice."