pretty//tododeku fanfiction

22

   The guilt was eating through Todoroki, bit by bit. Each time the boy with the green hair took another step home, another wave of emotion pulsed through the older boy's veins. He stiffened, massaging his side. It hurt. Bad. His own powers of ice chased away the physical pain, but the emotional pain was just as bad.

There was so much that they had to talk about when they got back. They would have to deal with it sooner or later, most likely when they arrived back at Deku's home. So much was on his mind and Todoroki didnt know where to start. They had Uraraka, for one. The situation with Bakugou was another sensitive topic. They were probably all over the news, as well. Silently, he prayed that the teachers didn't reveal the two boys' whereabouts. Reporters around Deku's house was the last thing he wanted.

   The pastel blue hospital shirt was blown against his skin as the wind started to pick up. He didn't mind, but Midoriya shuddered. With his left, Todoroki made sure Midoriya was warm. No matter what happened, Deku was his top priority. If anything happened to him... he would never, ever be able to live with himself after that.

Just when the fall air was starting to bite into Todoroki's bare flesh, the two turned onto Deku's street. He seemed calmer now. The stuffy air of the hospital couldn't get to him now. No doubt the refreshing, cool air was helping mend the rift in his head that the day's previous events had caused.

Cars drove by and people walked aimlessly around the neighborhood as if they wanted to catch the last fleeing aspects of the summer weather before the cold chased it away and trapped them all inside for the winter. Todoroki would have liked to do something similar, but the thought faded from his mind as Deku rang the doorbell to his home.

   Home...

   The word was foreign to Todoroki... before he started hanging out with Deku.

   His mother answered the door almost immediately. The resemblance between her and Deku was strikingly similar. Especially the face they made when they were worried or scared, an emotion which they both showed a lot.

   It took Todoroki a moment to realize how dirty they were. Dirt and grime were piled up under his fingernails. Deku's hair wasn't as... fluffy... as usual, and he didnt want to know what he himself smelled like.

   Deku's mother noticed this, too. "Leave your dirty shoes by the door." She commamded, reaching out to feel how greasy Deku's hair was. She recoiled, sticking out her tongue. Deku smiled, emnarassed. Even though they were both nasty all over, he still looked so pretty when he smiled and if Todoroki didn't get more if it soon, he was going to go crazy.

   Upon stepping inside, the two of them peeled off their shirts. Todoroki shuddered, feeling the dried sweat stick to his skin.

   Deku grabbed his hand and led him to the bathroom while Deku's mom took their dirty clothes to the washing machine. Their bathroom was small but bright. The smooth wood under Todoroki's feet changed to cold, hard tile, and upon seeing an All Might themed shower curtain, he couldn't help but laugh. Deku only pushed him away playfully. The top of his ears were red with embarrassment. It only made Todoroki's smile wider.

   Deku turned on the sink and dumped almost the whole soap bottle into the water. A mountain of bubbles began to form. Todoroki's inner five-year-old shone through as he picked up a handful and threw it at Deku.

   The boy only stopped, the soap hitting his forehead with a wet slap and making soapy trails down his face.

   Todoroki's laughter stopped as he realized Deku had yet to react.

   "Deku, what—"

   Todoroki coughed out bubbles, reaching for the sink to get back the smaller boy who had launched a surprise attack. Smiling, he lobbed more at Deku, who only threw more back.

   Laughter could be heard throughout the house from the two. Eventually, they stopped, leaning on the sink and the wall to catch their breath. Still smiling, Deku looked up at Todoroki. They were both covered from head to toe in water and soap. Neither of them cared. Their pants had to be washed, anyways.

   Deku turned on the shower and stuck his head into the warm stream of water, rinsing out his hair. It slowly lost its volume and hung around Deku's face like a mop. Todoroki realized how long his hair actually was.

   The taller boy stuck a hand in the water, resting it's temperature. Not that he cared~ he could take a hot shower or a cold shower and be perfectly content. But he was in the mood for a warm shower today. Besides, Deku probably wouldn't want a literal freezing shower.

   After getting his hair wet, he stood and shook it out. Deku's thin arms wrapped around his bare waist. Steam started to encompass the two boys and eventually the misty air was swirling around them. They sat in the warmth for a while, the warmth of the steam and each other, before Todoroki ruffled Midoriya's limp hair and got up to grab a towel. He dried himself off as best he could and pulled it over his shoulders.

     "Deku, I'll let you clean up first, if that's okay with you," he spoke softly from the doorway. The boy only yawned in response, but got up to adjust the temperature as Todoroki shut the door. With nothing to do for the first time in a while, Todoroki set off to Midoriya's room.

     He stepped inside, past the various All Might posters, careful not to get anything wet from his hair. With a snap of his fingers, he set a gentle fire ablaze on his hand, and ran it through his hair to dry it a bit better. As he walked, admiring each figurine, collectible, and useless All Might themed knickknack on Midoriya's various shelves, he realized he never really got the time to appreciate the other boy's dedication, and he felt a little remorse for not noticing all of it sooner.

     He paused as he heard the shower water turn off from across the hall. With soft steps, as to not wake Midoriya's probably sleeping mom, Todoroki went and knocked quietly on the door.

     "One minute~" Midoriya practically sang. Todoroki couldn't help but smile at his angelic voice.

     Midoriya opened the door and Todoroki entered, playfully pulling the towel on his head over his eyes, making him stumble and laugh.

     "I'd give you a hug, but you're all clean now..." Todoroki commented as he looked Midoriya up and down, from the towel cinched around his waist to the second appropriately themed All Might towel now sitting lopsided on his head.

     Midoriya just smiled, but Todoroki could see the exhaustion behind his eyes.

     Todoroki couldn't help but want to tuck him in, give him plenty of good night kisses as they both went to bed together. Burying his face in his hair, whispering sweet nothings, and feeling the cold breeze from the open window cool them off if the blanket over them got too hot. It sounded so nice, to be wanted, to be loved, respected, and plain needed, traits that Endeavor could never give in a million years.

      Todoroki felt happy, truly happy, so much, in fact, that he gave Midoriya a hug anyways.

~~~~~
word count: 1246

hey, it's me, if you're rereading this you may have noticed some changes to this chapter since I archived this story and am now republishing it. i don't plan on changing anything else though haha. as always, thank you so, so much for continuing to read this story! i have a lot planned for the future, maybe not fanfics though, but i hope you still enjoy my other works! :)