Ethereal ◆ Shoto Todoroki x Reader

Shard

◆ Part 2: Chapter 19 ◆

Shard

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Darkness.

"Shoto?" You fumble for your husband, Shizukana holding onto your arm.

"Your Majesty," he whispers, "stay close."

"Everyone stay calm," You hear King Iida say, "we have a solution."

The room grows lighter, sight returning to the royals. Your eyes fall on Tenya's guard; the same one from long, long ago whose quirk you powered up. He's glowing softly, looking determined.

Some of the Todoroki Kingdom's guards leave the room, and you stay by Shizukana's side.

"Where's Shoto?"

"I'm here." You hear his voice, a smile on his face. "It's okay."

"Sho," you whisper to him, clinging to his arm, "the baby. What if the league is back? What do we do?"

"Baby?"  He mutters to himself, placing a hand on your shoulder. "It's okay. The guards will take care of it."

"But . . . " You can't help but glance around the room, sweat forming on your skin.

"Maybe you're right," Shoto agrees, "we should leave and get somewhere safer. We need to make sure the baby isn't harmed."

You nod, following him to the hallway. Shizukana trails behind you both.

"You," Shoto tells your guard, stopping in front of your bedroom, "stay here and tell us if there's any trouble."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Shizukana bows, taking his place by the door.

As Shoto closes the door, clicking the lock, you plop down on your bed. The soft sheets embrace your body, easing your nerves. 

"Everything will be fine, I'm sure," you tell Shoto, "but I just don't want to take any chances."

Your husband is silent, standing with a hand on the door. You stand up, walking towards him, thinking he's nervous.

"Sho, I said don't worry." You assure him, hugging him from behind, "Our guards can handle it, remember? Plus, it could've just been a storm, like they said."

"Oh, but Darling," Shoto says, slowly turning around, "I just can't help but worry for you."

His mouth is turned up into a smile, stretching across his face. 

". . . you and the baby, that is."

Shoto activates his quirk, freezing ice into his own hand, creating a sliver shaped like a knife. The smile falls from his face.

"Shoto?" You mutter, unable to hide the nervousness in your voice, "What are you doing?"

"If he had known there was a baby," he mumbles, "the plan would've been much different. Oh, well . . . "

" . . . he'll be so happy to know that I'm getting rid of it for him!"

"Who are you?" You cry, pushing the imposter away. Shoto is strong, though, and pressures you back into the mattress of the bed. Your heart pounds in your ears.

The baby. The baby.

Not the baby.

You kick the stranger, knocking them backwards. "I said who are you!"

"Oh, so Toka didn't tell you about me?"  Shoto's voice hums. "What a disappointment. I thought we were best friends, until she went and died on me."

You stare at the stranger, your stomach churning. Your hands shake as you push yourself up to look at the body of your husband.

"Where's Shoto?"

"Who cares? You're not even gonna ask me my name again?" They sigh. "I guess I just have to tell you. Gosh, you royals really are rude."

The imposter struts forward, a smirk on Shoto's face. "I'm Toga, Your Majesty."

Toga fakes a curtesy, giggling, still in disguise.

"How'd you even . . . ?"

"Oh this?" Toga gestures to your husband's body, "It's my quirk. Wonderful, isn't it? I'll make it even more fun . . . "

"What?" You mutter, your voice shaking. You think about screaming, but you don't know what this person could do. 

"Now, everytime you think of your husband, your dear king," Toga coos, "you'll think of me. You'll think of the pain."

"Shizukana!" You scream, getting more nervous by the second, "Help me!"

Instead of the door banging down, instead of your guard rushing in to save you, the hallway is quiet. 

The world is silent as Toga creeps closer, clutching the shard of ice in Shoto's hand. It cuts through the skin, but the imposter doesn't flinch. 

She just stares at you, a smile on the face she stole.

You scream some more, backing up into the wall. Your throat is raw and dry, and adrenaline pumps through your body. 

She's a part of the league, she has to be, you think. Which means . . . the scarred man must be here, too. 

You ready your quirk. 

If they come one step closer, you'll kill them. You'll unleash everything to save your child.

Even if it means murder.

But as they step closer and closer, you can't.

Because that's your husband. That's Shoto. 

The dual-colored hair and different, beautiful eyes. The scar on his face and the way he talks. The taste of his mouth on yours. The man you've grown to love.

Even as Toga raises the shard, one thought runs through your mind.

That's Shoto.

"My Love?" Toga says with his voice, "Isn't that what he calls you?"

She laughs with his voice, telling you that she loves you, with your husband's lips.

"I love you, so much," Shoto coos, "I will always protect you, my Love."

Even as you see your own blood, covering the face of your beloved, you can only think one thing.

I can't kill him.

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