Find A Way [Todoroki Shoto x Reader]

Chapter 2: Todoroki Shoto

Before you could respond, the knife tilted, forcing you to look up at your assailant. As expected, it's the man you saved. While his gaze is rather threatening, you don't feel all that scared. Probably because it wouldn't take more than a snap of magic to put him down, knife on your throat or not.

"...No?"

The pot lets out a burble.

The man doesn't look up, keeping his heterochromic eyes trained directly on you. Like you're a puzzle in need of solving... or a witch he's debating on killing. You hope he hasn't figured that out yet.

Another noise comes from the soup. It sounds done and you're pretty hungry, so you ask: "Want some soup?"

A brief look of mystification broke through his blank expression, but disappeared as quickly as it had come. The knife was removed from your neck and you took it as permission to stand up and grab two bowls from the table.

As you filled them, you cast a glance at the man. He had backed up a few paces to let you work, still holding the knife with an unreadable expression. "You can put the knife down. I'm not going to hurt you."

Still nothing, but he did set his blade on the table. Unperturbed, you held out a steaming bowl of sustenance, which was quickly accepted when he realized it wasn't poisoned because you were eating the exact same thing. Smart.

***

Dinner passed as expected: quiet. After your initial attempts at conversation, you merely shrugged your shoulders and accepted that you weren't gaining another friend today. That was okay—you were a big girl.

As expected, the soup was delicious. The carrots you added practically melted into your mouth, and the garlic gave it just the right zap of flavor, as well as other things. If not for your mother, you definitely would have become a cook. Maybe. You liked where you were now, even if it was a tad mundane.

"...Thank you," a quiet voice snapped you from your thoughts. You stared at the man opposite you as he stared a hole into the bottom of his bowl hard enough that you briefly feared a hole would form if he continued.

"It's no trouble," you said simply, scraping the remains of your food from the corners of the bowl. The sound filled the cottage with the crackling fire, neither louder than the other.

This time, a pair of heterochromic eyes turned themselves to you. "No. Thank you."

You dared meet them. "Like I said, it's no trouble."

"You didn't have to help me," he continued, suddenly chatty. "But you did. Why?"

You set your bowl down. "You needed help. So I helped you."

"...Why?"

You didn't know what he was expecting, but it obviously wasn't that. It was like nobody believed in good intentions anymore.

"'Cuz I wanted to," you shrugged to show how nonchalant and chill you were. "You don't owe me anything."

There was more silence. The fire crackled imploringly as you were stared at.

"...Fine, okay, you owe me your name. Tell me your name. Please."

"I am Todoroki Shoto," he says politely. Stiffly. Regally.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Hayashi Ren."

It's not your real name, but close enough. That was the first rule of your old coven—never be known by the name your mother gave you—and you don't think you'll ever stop following it.

Old habits die hard, you suppose.

It was quiet again.

"You should sleep. The bed's yours," you nodded to the bedroom while collecting the dishes.

There was a pause, then you heard: "Is that your bed?"

You deadpanned at him, dropping the bowls into the larger basin on the floor. You'd wash them in the morning. "Not tonight it isn't."

Todoroki's expression hardened and you internally groaned. Why were all men this stubborn? "...I don't—"

Welp, looks like there's only one thing left to do.

Before he could finish, you turned on your heel and made a b-line for the door. Practically throwing open the heavy wooden item, you glanced behind you at the bewildered man in the center of your kitchen. "I'm going out. Use the bed."

That should have been the end of it, but the soft footfalls following you signaled that your work was far from over. With a silent huff, you carried on to the forest, lifting the lantern you'd snagged from the foyer. The edges of your tunic flapped in the cool breeze, unseen even in the golden glow of the lantern.

Halting at the edge of the clearing, you called out behind you. "You're not subtle, you know."

Todoroki looked back at you with baleful eyes. His tunic was rebuttoned, though a few seemed to be missing. Oops. "It's dangerous to go out at night," he said simply.

"Thanks," you mumbled. "You should rest. Really."

"I'm not stealing your bed."

Jeez, you barely knew the guy and you were already annoyed at him.

"It's not stealing if I'm offering it to you."

Without a pause, you heard: "Then I am politely declining."

Sisters, give me strength, your tired mind whispered. "Okay, fine, how about I put some blankets on the floor and you sleep there?"

Todoroki brought a hand to his chin, considering your offer. "Are you going to sleep in your bed?"

Your eye twitched. "Yes."

"I accept your offer."

Finally!

Dead leaves crunched under your boots as you headed back to the cottage. You could go gathering another time. "Come on, it's late."

"Then why were you—"

"Shh, you'll wake the animals."