Fractured

Gears of Despair

Cold light filtered through the curtains of Midoriya's office, as he sat on his chair. His eye bags had gotten worse, he couldn't sleep for days.

"Midoriya, are you sure you're alright?"

He turned to Todoroki, who had seemed to treat Midoriya's office as his second home. His eyes held concern, judging from the crease in his eyebrows.

No.

"Yes."

He had found it harder to talk to Todoroki ever since Tomura demanded Midoriya to kill him. He was at crossroads, Todoroki was probably the only person still in his life right now, plus he was an excellent hero, this killing would be shedding blood over no reason.

But he knew Tomura wasn't one to give up and let him have his way if he refused to kill him. He was the embodiment of bloodlust and cruel entertainment.

"Hey..." Midoriya's mouth moved on its own. Turning to Todoroki, who lifted his head, slightly relieved the silence was broken.

"Who am I to you?"

Todoroki's slightly parted mouth closed immediately, forming a thin line.

There was silence, as he pondered the question himself too.

"You were an annoying coworker, we had countless squabbles, and were always at loggerheads, but now look where we've come."
Todoroki smiled gently.

Midoriya felt his heart crack.

"You're the person who saved me from my narrow thinking, no one ever listened to me talk about my father and reacted like that. It was absurd at first, but I knew where you came from."

He felt like he was bleeding inside.

He felt warm hands embrace him, and realized he was slightly trembling.

"You're my hero, Midoriya."

The last bits of his heart crumbled away.

After all he had said, how could he bring himself to kill him?

Todoroki knew Midoriya was hiding something, yet he chose to meet it with openness and acceptance. Midoriya could see that he had grown, his cold pair of eyes have certainly thawed during this period of time.

Killing doesn't solve everything.

He knew Todoroki was hinting it to him, and  that he wouldn't give up on him. They've gone to a point where there was no turning back.

Two people who were forced to cooperate, but chose to intertwine their fates together.

He knew that he had grown to love Todoroki, who had made a point to stick by his side during his ups and downs, and knew that he was the only one who could see through Midoriya's facade.

Midoriya shut his eyes, and closed off his heart, and yet Todoroki was the one who unknowingly pried them open.

He nuzzled into the croon of Todoroki's neck, wanting to seek comfort, he earned a contented grunt from Todoroki, who's hands tightened around his waist, he inhaled his crisp scent deeply, memorizing it.

Perhaps for the last time.

You're my hero too.

A/N: God damn it these chapters keep getting shorter and shorter, but they're good places to stop. This is my realization, end me now.

My school has started, and I'm taking medicine, so life has been hectic af. So my updates would usually be once every two weeks, if I can get my schedule together, weekly updates are possible. But for now, I'm drowning

I won't abandon this book though, and I won't go on hiatus, we are close to the end already after all.

17 K holy shit 💕

Thank you for following up with Fractured! See you soon