Noctem

Prisoner in Paradise

Shoto and Y/N walked side by side toward the prison, the air cooling around them as they approached the entrance. Y/N felt a flutter of curiosity and excitement about finally meeting Shoto's brother, Toya.

"Are you sure he's going to be alright with me visiting?" Y/N asked, glancing at Shoto with apprehension.

"Yeah, he'll be fine," Shoto reassured her, a hint of a smile on his lips. "He's been looking forward to meeting you. Just be prepared for his usual sarcasm. It's a family trait."

"Bring it on! I can handle sarcasm," Y/N replied confidently, though she felt a mix of nerves and thrill at the thought of the encounter.

Once inside the visiting room, they waited for Toya to arrive. The sterile environment felt oddly welcoming, knowing that it was a place where the Todoroki family came together, despite the circumstances.

Moments later, Toya entered, his expression shifting from serious to intrigued as he spotted Y/N. "So, this is the famous Noctem!" he exclaimed, a charismatic smirk spreading across his face as he approached them.

Y/N waved, feeling her pulse quicken at the impact of his presence. "Hi! It's nice to meet you, Toya!"

"Nice to meet you too, especially since you're the lucky one stealing my little brother's attention," he replied smoothly, eyeing Shoto with mischievousness. "He's probably been rehearsing what to say to impress you all week."

"You have no idea," Shoto grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"Don't worry about him too much; he's all serious and cold," Toya continued, winking at Y/N. "You're definitely out of his league. He's lucky to have such a charming girl around."

Y/N felt a mix of shyness and amusement as she looked between the brothers. "Thanks! But I think I'm lucky to meet both of you."

"What a diplomatic answer!" Toya exclaimed with a theatrical flair. "But let's get real, I can see the admiration in my brother's eyes. He's smitten, isn't he?"

"Shut up, Toya," Shoto muttered, clearly embarrassed but also protective.

Y/N laughed, finding the dynamic amusing. "I think it's nice to see two brothers who can poke fun at each other."

"Oh, you have no idea. He gets it worse at home," Toya chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "I'm just the icing on the cake."

As they delved further into conversation, Shoto tried to steer the topic away from himself, but Toya wasn't having it. Instead, he turned his attention to Y/N. "So, Y/N, what do you do when you're not saving the world? Tell me your secrets."

Y/N, feeling playful, replied, "Well, aside from working on my shadow and wind manipulation, I enjoy knitting. It relaxes me!"

Toya raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Knitting? That's adorable! I wouldn't have pegged you as the knitting type."

"Hey! Don't underestimate the power of knitting! Plus, I've made some pretty cool shadow-themed scarves!" she said, drawing laughs from both brothers.

Toya leaned back, adopting a thoughtful look. "So, you can make something pretty out of shadows, huh? Wish I could say the same for my family's fiery expectations."

"Just embrace your shadows too!" Y/N said with a grin, fully aware of the pun in her statement. "We all have our own way of shining—some just use fire, and others use shadows!"

"Touché!" Toya replied, impressed. "You might just be perfect for our family then. Someone who can handle our... explosive tendencies."

"Looks like Shoto picked well," he added, looking at his brother with a smirk. "I guess I have to up my game if I want to win you over, huh?"

Shoto rolled his eyes, though a smile tugged at his lips in the face of Toya's charm. Y/N felt flattered, her cheeks warming.

"You guys are hilarious!" she laughed, enjoying the newfound bond they shared. "But really, I'm happy to just get to know you both. I appreciate the love and lightness."

As their conversation continued, Toya quipped jokes, and Y/N played along, her dorky spirit shining through. There was a comfort in the banter, and for a moment, it felt like they were all just friends—even amidst the backdrop of their unusual circumstances.

Eventually, as the hour came to an end, Y/N stood up. "Thank you for having me here! It was nice to finally meet you, Toya."

"Of course, it was a pleasure! And Shoto—don't mess this up, or I'll have to step in and steal her away!" Toya teased, winking at Y/N.

"I'm not worried," Y/N shot back, feeling confident. "I can handle both of you!"

As they left the visitation room, Shoto walked beside Y/N, feeling lighter after the encounter. "I'm glad you got to meet him. He actually makes this whole situation bearable."

"Bearable and amusing!" Y/N laughed, looking back at the door. "Plus, he's right about one thing—there's definitely something special between us."

Shoto nodded, a determined look on his face. "I hope you'll give me the chance to show you that we are all a little crazy in our own way."

With hearts buoyed and a sense of belonging growing, Y/N felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The bond with Shoto and his family was blossoming, and she couldn't wait to see where this journey would take her.