Todoroki Shouto/Midoriya Izuku:
Oh my gosh. So soft. So kind and supportive, with deep-seated love and fierce loyalty thrown in. These two can support each other in their darkest moments, both knowing and understanding what the other is going through due to their individual, different experiences that were traumatic in their own ways. Midoriya was a reject of society, and still he persevered and remained true to himself. Todoroki wasn’t quite rejected by society, but his troubles were ignored by it. In a way, they were both overshadowed, by people with quirks or by a famous and terrible father.
They both know what it is like to be ignored, to be torn down and have to reconstruct themselves with little or no support. They both latch onto the love they’ve experienced and draw strength from that, even if everything and everyone else is against them. Society was against them both from the start: Midoriya, because he was quirkless and therefore “worthless,” and Todoroki, because he was Endeavor’s son and could never be anything other than that, could never be a victim of abuse because his father is a “hero,” could never just be “Shouto” without “Todoroki” attached to it. Ignored and overlooked.
These experiences have affected them differently, which actually helps them to balance each other out. Midoriya has been the weakest and he has been the strongest. He has seen the world from both sides. This has made him incredibly empathetic and understanding, even if he is sometimes awkward about it. His empathy makes it easier for him to communicate with and help Todoroki, who has stifled all of his other emotions in favor of anger for the majority of his life. The best way for Todoroki to discover himself outside of his anger and defiance is with someone who has far more experience with the emotions foreign to Todoroki. Todoroki is very open and honest about his emotions, but I think he has a hard time recognizing them and analyzing himself because he’s only allowed himself anger. Todoroki needs someone who can help him discover himself, who can lead him gently by the hand or punch him directly in the face, as needed. Someone who can show him that yes, he is nothing like his father, yes, he can be who he wants to be, yes, he is already someone who is kind and beautiful and loving who deserves all of those things in turn.
At the same time, since Todoroki has defied his fate and his father for the entirety of his life, this has made him so incredibly strong. He doesn’t give in, give up, or compromise on the things that matter most to him. He will defy authority figures if he believes they are in the wrong, regardless of superiority or status. He will break rules he doesn’t agree with for good reasons. He has been working toward becoming stronger for his mother, which shows his intense devotion and loyalty and love. Todoroki loves very few people, but he will love those people with the entirety of his being for the rest of his life. He will always rush to their side if they need anything, big or small. He is the kind of support Midoriya has always needed in his life, someone strong and constant and dedicated. Midoriya’s mother has done her best, and she is an amazing mother, but she can’t be Midoriya’s only support. He needs someone who has 100% chosen him to show him that yes, he has worth, yes, he is lovable, yes, he deserves all the good things in the world.
Their relationship is about support and proving to each other that they are each wonderful and worthy of love, and fuck the world and the people in it for telling them anything different.
And this type of relationship doesn’t have to be romantic. This is already the type of relationship they have. Love doesn’t have to be sexual. Whether you ship them or not, their relationship is strong and built upon devotion, loyalty, and support. They have both endured and found the support they needed in each other.
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