Perfectly Imperfect (Shoto Todoroki x Reader)

this guy again

I pulled back, blushing a little when I realized almost half of Shoto's shirt had been burned off by his flames.

...

Okay, fine, I was blushing more than a little. Could you blame me? He- stars above, I was not expecting him to be that jacked.

What was I talking about, again?

I shook my head, looking up at Shoto again and realizing his expression had hardened significantly.

Frowning, I turned to look over my shoulder.

Yep. Endeavor. He must have shown up while I was congratulating Shoto. Sighing, I shifted over to the left, out of the way. This was gonna be fun.

Endeavor was smirking- that alone made my fingers itch for a hammer, but this was Shoto's fight.

"What's the matter? Not going to tell me to get lost?" Endeavor began. "You need to learn how to control your left side. It's dangerous to release so much energy like that. But I'm glad you're finally seeing reason. Now that you've abandoned your childish rebellion, we can get back to what's important."

My fist clenched around... wait-

I looked down to see Shoto's hand in mine, his grip so tight that his hand was shaking.

Blinking, I glanced back up at his face. He didn't look upset enough to warrant this reaction out of anger... did I grab his hand? Was this my fault?

Endeavor was speaking again, Shoto still silently listening.

"After you graduate, you'll work by my side. I'll lead you down the path of the mighty, Shoto."

Shoto took a breath, face neutral.

"I haven't abandoned anything."

He lifted his left hand, staring down at our intertwined grips. "You're a fool to think my feelings could be so easily reversed. Instead... out there..."

He looked at me, the faintest twitch of a bittersweet smile on his face as we locked eyes, "With you..."

Shoto gazed back at Endeavor, deathly serious. "I forgot all about you."

Shoto took a step forward, and I followed, watching as Shoto brushed past his father. "Whether that's good or bad, whether it's the right thing to do, I don't know. Maybe I don't need you."

Together, we rounded the corner, leaving a dumbfounded Endeavor behind.

It wasn't until we were safely out of earshot- once again, on the other side of the stadium, just to be safe- that I burst out laughing and pulled Shoto into another hug.

He blinked, nonplussed. "What's this for?"

"Just because."

"Oh."

We stood there for a moment, and I realized he had his arms wrapped around me as well. Something in my stomach fluttered and took flight, filling me with a sense of euphoria.

"So, you aren't mad about what happened with Midoriya? I was under the impression that you were very protective of him."

"Midoriya?"

I blinked.

"OH MY GOD I FORGOT ABOUT MIDORIYA!!" I pushed myself away from Shoto, grabbing at my hair. "I'm the worst friend ever, he broke like a hundred bones and I just FORGOT!!"

I turned away, then pulled Shoto into one last hug. "Gotta go! Catch you later!!"

I ran off, almost kicking down the door to Recovery Girl's office when I arrived, much to Recovery Girl's vexation.