Climbing the Ladder {Currently Discontinued}

Chapter 8 - Weakness and Strength

"No." Todoroki got out of his seat and picked up his school bag.

Endeavor leaped out of his chair. "Shoto wait-!" He didn't stop. "Just let me explain-."

"I have school now," Todoroki walked to the door, not looking back. "I'm not going to take time off of my work to help with some case that you can do on your own."

"Think about it," Endeavor walks in front of his desk. "This will look good for hero agencies! Even if you don't want to join mine, helping with a real case will boost your chances of getting your own!"

"Rather not." Todoroki's expression doesn't change as he opened the door. "I get my agency my own way."

"Shoto-!" The door slammed shut. Why must you be so difficult...

*****

Todoroki eyes burned with rage. He couldn't believe he was missing his second day of UA just because his dad wanted to spend some quality time with him.

"Why am I here?" Todoroki crossed his arms. "I've got places to be."

"Shoto," Endeavor started. "Our scouts have recently heard of a group of villains calling themselves Purgatory teaming up with the League of Villains. I could use your help."

"'I could use your help' my ass." He mimicked to himself, clicking the button on the elevator. "That scumbag just wants to show me off."

The elevator opens to reveal someone already in it. Todoroki's frown wipes off his face.

"Going down?" The man in the elevator smiled humbly.

Todoroki didn't answer, he got into the elevator and saw the button to the bottom floor already clicked, so he leaned against the wall as the doors closed.

"Why do you take the elevator?" Todoroki asked. "You have those wings, can't you fly down?"

"Yeah sure." He tilted his head towards Shoto. "But then I wouldn't have been able to run into you."

Todoroki groaned. The number two hero and the number one annoyance.

"I'm guessing your meeting with your old man didn't go well." Hawks scratched his head awkwardly. "What was it about?"

"He asked for my help with the capture of The Purgatory." Todoroki closed his eyes. "Like I'd ever lift a finger for that mans name."

Hawks looked at Todoroki curiously. "Was he planning it to be an after school thing? Or..." He paused.

"He never specified." He scowled. "But I could see it forming in his head that he wanted to put me on a temporary leave from UA."

"And you wanted to stay?"

"Of course I did. I'd choose training over my father any day."

"You sure that's the only reason?"

There's someone I want to check up on. "Rather not take make up classes."

Hawks hummed in response.

Todoroki sighed. "You don't have to take me there, Hawks. I can take the bus."

Hawks raised his eyebrow. "Don't you want a quicker way to get there?" He wrapped his right wing around Todoroki, smiling cheekily. "We'd go straight there, no detours."

Todoroki thought about his offer, looking at his wing, then back at Hawks. "How fast can you go?"

*****

"Turn our weakness into our greatest strength?" Kirishima tilted his head to the side. "How are we gonna do that?"

Ryoku holds her hands up in defense. "I know it sounds like I'm crazy, but your weaknesses aren't as horrible as you think."