I Royally Decline// Todoroki Shouto x Reader

Chp. 16: She's here

Your POV

Flashback:
"Sho-chan? Are you awake?"

"I told you that I wouldn't be asleep if you were still awake," Shouto groggily hummed and pulled my back towards himself.

"Can I ask you something?"

"If it'll settle your mind, go ahead."

"How'd you get your burn scar?"

"Oh," he hesitated and I suddenly felt ashamed for asking, "I'm sorry I never told you... I really meant to, but so much has been going on it just slipped my mind." I felt his breathing become heavy and his fingers shifting in my messy, (h/l), (h/c) hair.

"I was little... back when my mom was still around. She was the only comfort I had in this place where my father treated me like a weapon. I had no idea that I wasn't the only one being abused. His constant need for domination was mentally draining the woman and she couldn't bear what he would do to me. She grew to a point where she hated the sight of him... which could be seen on my left side. I caught her mumbling to herself one night in the kitchen and asked her what she was doing there. She turned to me with a sickening face of insanity, whilst pouring boiling water over my "father's side." My father "disposed" of her and I haven't seen her since. I don't blame her for what she did... I blame my father." Hot tears began to pool up on the back of my neck and I turned to see Shouto biting is lip in an attempt to keep from crying. "I'm sorry, I'm usually not so emotional," he tried to laugh, but it came out in a choking manner, causing more tears to spill from his heterochromatic eyes.

"Heroes cry, too. You can't hold everything inside of you or else you'll go insane too. Just think, your mother never had anyone to talk to about what she was going through. You have me, and I promise I am going to fight right along side of you," I assured him. My fingers, once again, found their way to his scar and traced the outer edge. "Plus, I find your scar pretty darn attractive, if it makes you feel any better." A real, pure laugh escaped Shouto's lips and I watched as his mouth quivered into a smile.

"Thank you."

End of flashback

I woke up with my hands on Shouto's bare chest. I squinted to see his jacket and shirt on the floor and then turned my attention back to the toned abs and chest that were directly in front of me. Fire caressed my face and blood threatened to drip from my nose, but I somehow managed to keep from overreacting. Light heat radiated from his left arm that was wrapped around the side of me facing up, and a slight chill emitted from the arm underneath me. A pleasant sense of peace was established as I laid my head back onto his chest. I thought back to before I came to Endeavor... I never felt this... stress-free. It didn't make sense though because Rory and I were probably in the greatest danger of our lives, but I still felt safer than ever. I held my breath and hoped that this wasn't some dream that I'd eventually wake up from and have to go back to the armory where a weapon like me would be stored.

"Oh, you're up? I guess I broke my promise to stay awake when you were... anyways, good morning," Shouto mumbled groggily, catching me by surprise.

"Well I'm not exactly an alarm and you're not psychic, so keeping that promise would have been difficult," I sleepily giggled. A true smile was painted across Shouto's face. My vision soaked in the delicate features that were sculpted on the work of art I saw.

"Ugh, what time is it?" Shouto groaned.

"Well the sun is just rising, so it's about time we get ready," I informed. Shouto dug his face into the crook of my neck and hugged me tighter.