FOREVER. // Tododeku

All.

BUT IF YOU send for me, you know I'll come.

And if you call for me, you know I'll run.

I'll run to you.
I'll run to you.
I'll run, run, run–

________

Shoto dreamt about the green haired, kimono wearing pixie that was Deku for weeks to come. His mind was at an unease, and he often found himself drifting off to a place where he and Deku existed normally– they'd both be heroes, going to Yueei and falling in love in the traditional way. But no, of course Shoto had to have the worst luck. Of course he had to live with the looming threat of a murderer over his head, all while trying to not fall in love with him. The world was a curse.

It was ridiculous.

"Shoto?"

Todoroki's head snapped up, his thoughts interrupted by his trusted coworker, ex classmate, and friend. Momo Yaoyorozu.

The young lady in question squinted a bit, her attractive features interrupted by a concerned frown. "You've been out of the loop lately, more than usual. You okay?"

Todoroki nodded, his face remaining in its signature blank state. "Just tired. Did you want to tell me something?"

Yaoyorozu sighed, not buying his answer, but she decided to let it go. "Yeah. We've got new information on that villain you bumped into a while back. Apparently, he was behind the massive earthquake in Kyoto. His abilities are somewhat limitless, from what we've gathered."

Well, you're not wrong, but you also are.

"His name is Izuku Midoriya. According to his records, he's in his early twenties." Momo sighed. "He's probably our age. Anyway, the police are doing more underground investigation, but there's something I couldn't ignore."

"What?" Todoroki adjusted the collar of his hero suit, his mind not far from drifting off again.

Momo frowned, placing a warm hand on his shoulder. "We have pictures of him, obviously." Her lips curled downwards. "The shade of his horns-"

"I know. I don't care."

"Shoto," Momo said sternly, her gaze piercing through him. "You need to acknowledge reality. You might fall for him through the scarce encounters you might have. There are too many reasons for why you can't let that happen."

"I know Yao-momo," Shoto hissed, now somewhat irritated. "I'm not stupid."

"I'm not saying you are. I just," Momo's voice softened. "I just want you to be okay. If you got yourself winded up into that mess, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

Todoroki sighed, running a hand over his face tiredly. This conversation was wearing him out.

"I have an idea," he proposed.

Yaoyorozu blinked, her interest piqued. "What?"

"He's an odd ball. Often alone or cut off from his allies," Todoroki said. "He's tried to made a move on me, twice. On his own."

Yaoyorozu's eyes widened. "What?!" She whisper-yelled, her voice strained. "When? Why didn't you tell anyone?!"

"He's in an oddly subdued state, at least when he's addressing me. I thought about what action would be the best to take." Todoroki tapped at his right horn. "He wants me to do something for him, something I don't know if I should disclose right now. But if I pretend that I'm warming up to him-"

"You'd be able to get intel," Momo finished, her face brightening. "Or even better, maybe you could make him come to terms with his ways. Soulmates can influence each oher like that."