The Emerald Prince

Chapter 78: Big Asks

"So?" Asked Shoto.

They gazed out over the forest below. It had become steadily quieter over the half hour they had talked, and now the forest was strangely empty. He wondered if Izuku had gone back yet.

Dabi sighed. "It isn't that simple Shoto. I can't just restart from scratch."
"Isn't that what Izuku offered you?"
"He's 16, like he'd know what he's saying or be able to put out on that offer."
"He does and can, how much of his hand do you think he would really show a league of villains?" Pointed out Shoto.

The older man eyed him, "aren't you angry? The best way you can hurt Endeavour is to come with me. We can tear him and all he stands for down!" He took a breath to calm himself, and smiled, "The league would welcome you little brother."

Shoto shook his head firmly. "Four months ago I might have come with you Touya. But I have been taught a lot since then. I have learned about friendship, and jokes..." he smiled slightly startling Dabi, "conspiracy theories, LGBTQ....memes, coffee, twerking... I was showed what love truly was..." Shoto turned to look into those ice blue eyes, "I have lived more in the last four months than I have in the rest of my life...and there is so much more to it than punishing our father. Izuku and I will take him down, and the corrupt system that allowed him to do what he did to me, and to you. But even if he somehow gets away from that...I will still stand by the people who love me...who got my heart beating again, who got me to laugh for the first time in so long-"
He stopped when Dabi laughed and ruffled his hair.
"What?"

The older man grinned, "you've made my year Shoto...I know I'll never be able to make up for never coming back for you. But I am so happy you've found where you belong."
Shoto swallowed, his eyes felt tingly but he blinked rapidly and it went away, "I have."

Dabi got up and brushed the dust from his coat. "I'll go back for now, and message Izuku on my decision in a couple days, you've given me a lot to think about."
Shoto got up and there was an awkward pause before Dabi hesitantly opened his arms and hugged the teen. "Stay safe little brother, I missed you."
Shoto nodded hesitantly and the guy pulled away, stepping back into an awaiting portal.

Shoto sat back down to think over their conversation, how he felt about his brother and what he'd realised about his time in class 1A.
He spent a few minutes gazing out over the forest, it looked so different without Izuku beside him. Izuku.
He needed to get back and find Izuku.

He heaved himself up, cuts and bruises he hadn't realised he'd accumulated made themselves known now the adrenaline had worn off, and he allowed himself to hobble and limp back toward camp, only straightening up to pretend nothing was wrong once he could see the house in view.
There were vans about, and people, a few more pros too. Clearly someone had called the Hero Commission or Nezu.

Aizawa strode toward him, but Todoroki got in the first question.
"Is Izuku back yet?"
The man wilted a little, though hid it well from the expectant students, "neither he nor
Bakugou have returned. Where were you?" He softened his voice for the question.
Todoroki swallowed nervously as the man he'd steadily begun to see as what a father should be looked at him so gently.
"Izuku introduced me to my brother." He muttered, and earned a gentle pat on the shoulder.
"Okay, sounds like you've had a tough evening, Todoroki. I'll let you go."
"Where did Bakugou get sent to?"
"That isn't the mystery Todoroki, the mystery is where he went after." Stated the teacher, even Todoroki could register the dismissal in his tone.

He nodded and headed toward the main building.
His classmates were scattered, giving accounts of what they'd seen to officials, but he blanked them all and made his way straight to Shinsou.
"I don't have any helpful news." He stated and Shinsou glared.
"Aren't you a ray of fucking sunshine." He growled, slapping a medic's hand away. "I'm fine! I didn't fight anyone, leave me alone!"
"Didn't fight?" Probed Todoroki, but the other teen just glared.
"Sit the fuck down here Shoto, and shut the hell up."
Todoroki sat.