chapter 1
Todoroki was very young, about ten years old. His father brought a boy into his room. A boy who seemed around his age had glasses over his crimson red eyes and dark blue hair. “Here you seem miserable in your room, the knight's son will keep you busy.”
His father left the room just as fast as he entered, making no effort to properly introduce the two, and giving the boy in front of him a disgusting look before leaving the room.
“My name is Tenya Iida, what’s yours?” The boy tilted his head to the side
“Shouto.” Shouto replied softly
Iida noticed the boy had a bandage wrapped around his right eye and pointed at it a mix of curiousness and concern written all over his face “What happened to your eye, did you get hurt?” His hand reached out to touch it but Shouto flinched and moved back.
“I’m fine, it's just a little burn…” The memory of his mother grabbing the kettle and pouring the water on his face. The pure look of distress, fear on his mothers face all because of his father. His father was the reason why his mother did that to him, his father made his mother hurt him–
“—Who did it?”
“My… dad”
“Why?”
The memories of that day played back in his head the look on his mother’s face– the tears that ran down her cheeks, the way her body shook with fear–
“Uh actually never mind that, I can run really really fast, do you wanna see?” Seeing the look on his face after he asked Iida figured maybe he didn't want to talk about it.
Shouto seemed more relieved they weren’t talking about it anymore, the change in topic made his face lightened up. “Yeah.. I wanna see!”
✩
It took a while but the two had grown closer. Shouto had begun to become more comfortable with Iida even though the circumstances in which they were brought together were odd to say the least Tenya was still able to make the boy smile.
The two would be in Shouto’s room laying on the ground as Tenya rambled on about how he wanted to become a great Knight who fought and protected others like his older brother.
“My brother works as a knight here and I’m going to be just like him, he gets to fight dragons and many other beasts!”
“You really want to go fight those scary beasts?” Shouto was unable to understand why Iida would be excited to go against such disgusting beasts, he was also expected to fight when he became king. His father had told him that it would be his duty to protect the people in his kingdom if he wanted to be a great king. It was weird the way he said it was as if he had a choice but he didn't he was doing what his dad wanted so what say that?
“I want to be able to protect everyone and save people!” He turned to look at Shouto. “My big brother said I’m supposed to protect you too, and to do that I have to fight.”
Shouto looked at the pure look of determination and a soft smile on his face, his father would’ve loved that. The determination and need to protect others wasn’t something he had; he was put into a position he never wanted and was never given a choice. It seemed like the same had happened to Iida yet he’s happy, he’s so sure of himself. Why? How?
Shouto brought his hands up and stared at them. He wasn’t very strong like Iida. “I don’t think I can fight…”
Iida sat up. “You won’t have to worry because if anyone tries to hurt you I'll be there to protect you.”
Iida sounded so sure of himself that Shouto couldn’t help but believe him.
Whenever Shouto was upset they were in the garden with Shouto on Tenya’s back as he ran around the fields, the soft breeze hitting Shoto’s back as he held on tightly. “Go faster!” The boy would chuckle. Sometimes Iida would go too fast and they would both end up landing on the ground, Shouto laughing softly, his hands on either side of his head. Iida would always turn to make sure Shouto was safe, checking his knees, shoulders and elbows for any injuries.
If he ever got hurt they would be in the nurses room as Iida looked around for bandages attempting to tend to Shouto’s wounds. “You ok Shouto?” He asked while putting on a band-aid on his knee. Shouto sniffled and wiped away his tears nodding softly “Yeah..” He’d wrap his arms around him in a hug to make sure he knew that he’s always there.
“I’ll be more careful next time, you won’t get hurt.” Shouto sniffed softly clinging onto the fabric of Iida’s clothes as if he’s going to disappear. He snuggled his head on Iida’s shoulder getting his shirt wet and dirty but Iida didn’t care he wanted to be there for Shouto even if it meant getting covered in snot like this.
“Are you ok, do you want to go back to your room now?” Iida asked not letting go of Shouto
“Can we stay like this for a little bit…?” Shouto snuggle into his neck
✩
Iida was the only thing Shouto had, his father would not let him be around his siblings and his mother had been sent away the only person he could talk to was Iida, the only person he had was Iida and he cherished him and he held him close every chance he got. The only person he smiled around, the only reason he woke up everyday.
The older they got the more protective Iida had gotten of Shouto, it was his job he was supposed to protect him and that was what he was going to do. He had gotten stricter which made Shouto feel seen in a way. With a father like Endeavor he didn’t really have much and he never got to go to school like the other kids so having Iida around worrying about every little thing that happened made him happy.
As the years went by Shouto’s feelings towards Iida grew stronger and stronger. I mean they were really great friends so this was expected but sometimes Shouto wished he could hold him all night. He always felt the urge to hold his hand and he was never able to explain it. He would stare down at his hands on many occasions, they held hands a couple of times when they were younger. They’re only 15 now. Would it be weird to hold his hand now?
“Shouto, your attention is placed elsewhere are you ok?” He asked moving his hands like a knife on a chopping block.
Shouto looked back up at him, meeting his crimson red eyes. “Hmm? What oh.. I’m fine.” He gives him a soft smile.
Iida is unconvinced but doesn't push it, figuring that if Shouto wanted to talk about it he would. “Well, if you ever need to talk about something I’m here ok.”
“I know, you’re always here, thank you.” Shouto smiled at the thought while Iida kept chopping his hands in the air and rambling about how it was his duty and how he would always be there for his friends.
On some occasions Shouto would catch himself staring down at Iida lips the way they moved while he talked, how soft they seemed. But he would quickly look away. Was it normal to have thoughts like this about your friends? I mean he’s never had friends apart from Iida so how could he really tell? It was probably normal to think about friends like this. Shouto brushes the thoughts away and picks them up. Either way Iida was his friend and nothing was going to change that.
✩
Shouto laid in his bed, his hands in his head in his hands he could think about was Iida. It was confusing for so long he hadn’t been able to quite understand what he felt, just that he had very strong feelings for him. But the thoughts that always crossed his mind, the things he would wish for, dream of were beyond what he thought was friendship.
It was weird he’s never had thoughts like this about someone ever, dreams about kissing– A knock was heard coming from his door. “Come in.” Shouto sat up swiftly and the door opened by a castle maid. “Your father called for you.”
“Tell him I don’t feel like talking.” Shouto replied coldly
The maid looked scared looking to her right then back at him and sighed “He said it’s very important please go see him.” The maid practically begged Shouto seeing this finally stood. “alright I’ll go see him.” The maid let out a sigh of relief and left the room, closing the door behind her.
He got up and left the room headed towards his fathers room but the moment he left he saw his father there in the halfway “Father.” The heterochromia boy said coldly. Endeavor spoke but Shouto couldn’t care less.
“—You will meet her family first for dinner and then after that the two of you two will chat.” Shouto had finally started to pay attention to the words his father was speaking. Meet her family? Who’s family?Iit couldn’t be his mother, could it? “What?” Was all that he could let out he wanted to say more but the words felt stuck at the back of his throat which was odd because this had never happened before. “I said you are to be married” The words hit him like a knife and then it crossed his mind Iida. It may have sounded pathetic but Shouto had dreams of marrying Iida he never really thought of marriage or ever felt like he wanted it but with Iida it didn't seem as bad and they were purely dreams anyway.
“You can’t decide that for me.” The man let out a soft sigh. He wasn't in the mood for an argument. “I have already spoken with the Yaoyorozus and they are very excited to meet you.”
“You didn’t even think to consult me before making a decision like that? You’re going to send me away to get married to someone I don't know like what happened to my mother!” Shouto raised his voice at the man in front of him, this wasn’t his father, this was a pathetic excuse of a man.
“I’m doing this for your own good.” Was that supposed to make him feel better? “Don’t act like you care, if you did you would have at least consulted me. You didn’t even think to ask me like my thoughts on this don’t matter as if you’re not forcing me into marriage. This is something I should be able to decide for myself.” Endeavor without saying a single word finally said before he turned around and left.
The boy was in his room laying on his bed with his head in his hands thinking about what had happened earlier. Things were moving too fast and he had no say at all. He didn’t even know how to feel because there was too much he was supposed to feel. The audacity he had to say that he was ‘doing it for his own good’ when he didn't even think about what his own son would think about something like that. “Are you alright Sho– Todoroki-kun?” Iida stood at his door in his knight gear, his head tilted to the side and his helmet in his hands.
Shouto lets out a soft sigh and how was he even supposed to go about this? “I’m fine, it's just my father who wants to marry me off to some random woman I have never met.”
“What?” Iida looked confused, “I apologize, your father wants to do what?”
“He wants to sell me off to some woman I have never met.” Shouto looked at Iida, this wasn't how he’d expected things to turn out at all. Well it’s not like the way it goes in his dreams was ever going to happen but the thought this was far from anything he would have expected but it wasn't crazy for his father.
Iida walked over to his bed and sat down next to him “I’m supposed to meet her parents soon and talk with them.” Shouto sighed softly, letting his body meet the mattress. Iida did the same.
“And you just found out now?” Iida asked for clarification, unable to comprehend what was even happening at the moment.
“...Yeah… my old man’s a scumbag…”
Iida turned his head to look at him. “Shouto, no matter what happens I’m here and I will always be here to fulfill my duty to you, to protect you if you ever need me to. But I'm not just your protector, I'm your friend too so you can come to me when you need someone to talk to. I will always be here to listen. ”
Todoroki whips his head to face Iida. Could he ask Iida about the dreams? Well Iida was probably more experienced in stuff like this anyway. “Is it normal to dream about marrying your friends?”
“What..?” This definitely wasn’t what Iida was expecting at all, either way his friend was asking a question that seemed important to him so he was going to help. “Well–”
Iida sat up “Actually never mind I don’t want to think about it especially not after what my old man said.” He looks at his hands and he feels so weak everything he thinks he has control over is gone he thought he’d at least have control over who he spends his last years with when Endeavor dies but even then the man wants to have control over him somehow.
“I’m sorry, I know my word’s can’t do much for you but I promise you that if I could do anything to help you I wouldn't hesitate to.”
Shouto looks at him. “Would you help me run away..?”
“Are you thinking of running away? Shouto that’s not in your best interest you would not have a shelter to stay at nor would you have any money to buy food and imagine it starts raining and you tried to get some shelter but what if you end up in the wrong territory and meet a beast or worst a dragon then you’d get eaten alive and you–”
“I’m not thinking of running away but, if i was would you help me?” Shouto had a look of pure genuine curiosity and hope. If there was anyone he’d want to spend the rest of his miserable life with it’d be Iida. He wished he hadn’t burdened Iida with this duty and friendship but he also wished that Iida felt the same somehow that he’d also want to spend the rest of this miserable life together.
“If you needed my help I’d be there without hesitation, I wouldn't have to think twice.”
✩