Embers of Affection (todobaku NSFW story)

CHAPTER 2: Unyielding Flames

The tension from the sparring match still lingered in the air as Shoto Todoroki and Katsuki Bakugo returned to the locker room, their classmates giving them a wide berth. Neither was in the mood for idle chatter, their minds replaying the fierce exchange over and over.

Todoroki stood by his locker, methodically changing out of his training gear. His thoughts were a swirling mix of anger and frustration. Bakugo's words had struck deeper than he cared to admit. His hand hovered over the burn scar on his left side, a stark reminder of his father's legacy. Was he really hiding? Or was he simply trying to rise above his tumultuous past?

Across the room, Bakugo slammed his locker shut, the metallic clang echoing loudly. His anger had not dissipated; if anything, it had intensified. How could Todoroki remain so calm, so detached? It infuriated him. "Ice Prince," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "Thinks he's so above it all."

Just then, Midoriya, their mutual friend, walked in, sensing the palpable hostility. He hesitated before approaching Bakugo. "Hey, Kacchan, everything alright?"

Bakugo glared at him, though not with the same intensity he reserved for Todoroki. "None of your business, Deku," he snapped, but there was a trace of weariness in his voice. Midoriya had known Bakugo long enough to recognize that underneath the anger was a deep-seated frustration and a desire to prove himself.

Meanwhile, Todoroki finished changing and walked out, his mind set on cooling down, both physically and emotionally. He found a quiet spot in the training grounds, away from prying eyes, and began his own personal regimen. Ice and fire danced around him as he practiced control and balance, pushing himself to perfect the harmony between his dual quirks.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the grounds, Bakugo finally stormed out of the locker room. His eyes fell on Todoroki, training alone, and he felt a surge of irritation. Without thinking, he marched over, his footsteps heavy with purpose.

"What the hell is your problem, Todoroki?" Bakugo shouted, breaking the stillness of the evening. "You think you can just walk away like that?"

Todoroki stopped, his icy breath visible in the cooling air. He turned to face Bakugo, his expression unreadable. "I needed to clear my head. Fighting with you doesn't solve anything."

"Clear your head?" Bakugo echoed, his voice dripping with disdain. "You think you're better than everyone else, don't you? Just because you have those fancy powers."

Todoroki's eyes narrowed. "This isn't about being better. It's about control. Something you could use more of."

Bakugo's temper flared. "Control? I'll show you control!" He charged forward, his palms sparking with explosive energy.

Todoroki reacted instinctively, erecting an ice wall between them. Bakugo's explosion shattered it, sending shards flying. The force of the blast pushed Todoroki back, but he quickly regained his footing, flames flickering to life on his left side.

"Enough, Bakugo!" Todoroki shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "What are you trying to prove?"

Bakugo stood panting, his hands still crackling with residual energy. "I'm proving that I'm not someone you can just ignore. You think you're the only one with a past to deal with? The only one trying to be better than their father?"

The words hung heavy in the air. Todoroki's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. For all his bravado, Bakugo was wrestling with his own demons, his own need to rise above his circumstances.

Todoroki lowered his flames, the air around them slowly returning to normal. "I don't ignore you, Bakugo. I just... have my own way of dealing with things."

Bakugo scoffed, but the fire in his eyes dimmed a fraction. "Yeah, well, maybe your way sucks."

A tense silence settled between them, the echoes of their confrontation fading. For the first time, they stood not as adversaries, but as two students burdened by expectations and the shadows of their fathers.

"You know," Todoroki began cautiously, "maybe if we stopped trying to tear each other down, we might actually get somewhere."

Bakugo huffed, crossing his arms. "Don't get all soft on me, Icy Hot. But maybe... maybe you're not completely wrong."

It wasn't a truce, but it was a start. They stood there, not as enemies, but as reluctant allies, each acknowledging the other's struggle. The journey ahead was still fraught with challenges, but perhaps, just perhaps, they could find a way to move forward together.

As they turned to leave, the first stars appeared in the sky, twinkling faintly against the darkening canvas. Sparks and ice, fire and frost—together, they might just light the path to something greater.