— continued ask:
The cold claws of death ravaged his skin, a touch oh so familiar. Tempting fate over and over meant paying the price in blood; bruises began to bloom, tainting the no longer fair skin of his arm a deep purple and a trickle of blood ran down his mouth. Be it the fierce confidence in capabilities or acceptance of what was bound to happen after treading the thin line between life and death for so long, eyes burned with characteristic determination; the lack of fear and anguish in the face of cruelty was what graced him. Ever since his youth, his mind was set upon becoming a hero and his admiration for his peers, 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 ( and maybe even more so his overwhelming desire to protect them ) drove him to push his boundaries.
It was after their battle, when adrenaline wore off and exhaustion seeped painfully into drained limbs, that he staggered, only to feel strong hands keeping him up on his feet. ❝ Ah, thank you, Todoroki-kun. ❞ voice softened, when he spoke again ❝ I mean— thank you, for always having my back. ❞ Emeralds scanned the other for injuries from the battle they just fought, before settling upon dual-colored eyes, only to see an expression that he thought that mirror his own. They had just survived a battle that shouldn’t have been theirs, but they had, just the two of them— to tooth and nail, to see another day. ❝ Are you alright, are you hurt anywhere ? ❞
Midoriya. The stronger he'd get, the more dangerous his fights would be. Shoto feared the moment he'd no longer be able to catch up to him. The moment he'd be left behind, and watch him helplessly march forward to protect everyone, to protect him. Shoto, who once wished to be the strongest, now only wished to be able to stand by his side. So they could smile together in the face of danger. There was no stopping him from endlessly hurting himself at the shake of their safety. At the shake of his dream. If he could listen to reason. If he could pay mind to his own limits and let him take over for once. Trust him, that he could win both their battles. But every time, they'd face more difficult challenges, higher walls to climb. They'd have to overcome their limits once more. Left with no time to heal or rest.
Not everyone was born equal. He'd realize that now, watching him. The pain he'd have to endure, only so he could make his dream come true. Shoto never considered himself to be priviliged , or gifted. He'd be outraged for anyone calling him that. Many times in his younger years he had wished to be born quirkless, when sinking deep into despair and self-hatred. But now, he'd realize he had started from a different point. His body wasn't made to be perfect, he had faced many hardships to control his Quirk properly, but he now could see with his own eyes, that for the same vision, they've followed different paths.
Breath heavy, he'd still try to regulate his body's temperature. He had gone too far, feeling dizzy after using his left side continuously for such a long time. Searching with his eyes to find him, he rushed to his side. Unstable he was only a few seconds ago, but he used the last of his strength to support both their weights. His words were unexpected, heterochromatic eyes staring confused at the green ones. He truly had a way to speak to one's heart, when it was needed the most. Just like a real hero. “ Of course, ” he whispered, uncertainty hanging in his voice. “ You are not in a state to worry about me. ” He knew such words wouldn't stop the other from wanting to make sure he was alright. He was in a better state than him. “ But I am alright. ”
@withsorrowandregret
