MФЯDЯΞD

eleven

Akaguro is still as unresponsive as always, Todoroki thought to himself with a sigh as he sat down next to the walking shell of a person. It had been a while since he and Bakugo had appeared in the strange new world, and Bakugo had already acclimated to their situation. Currently, he was out with Shigaraki and Compress causing mischief who knew where.

Todoroki was with Kosuke at Dabi's apartment. The apartment owner was also there, but in another room at the moment. It was usually like that. Todoroki still couldn't get used to it, though: the world and the situation.

This world was unlike the one he came from. There was technology beyond his wildest imagination, transportation that didn't involve horses--in fact, he hadn't even seen a horse in the time he had been in the world--and there were quirks instead of magic specialties. They had similar starting points such as people were born with quirks just like people were born with magic. However, in this world, those with quirks were looked down upon.

Sure, those without magic weren't as well off as those with magic, but it wasn't like there was any sort of discrimination against them, not like the derogatory term quirkless in this world. No, Todoroki didn't like that one bit. The fact that quirkless people couldn't be heroes, a prized and noble profession, was even worse. People that were born without magic could still be adventurers, knights, or any other profession. Todoroki just found the discrimination here way over the top, to say the least.

As for the entire situation, he was even more lost. The prince and the barbarian had been dropped into this world thanks to one of the demon king's subordinates so they could get their friend back, but that friend was practically a walking corpse. Todoroki had seen many corpses in his lifetime, and the look in Kosuke's eyes was the exact same.

The only difference was that Kosuke was still warm.

With no sure way back, Bakugo and Todoroki were stuck, and they had to make peace with that for the time being. Bakugo had taken on well with the league and was already off making messes, but Todoroki was a bit more of a stay at home person in this situation. He had left a few times, like when they'd had to change apartments or to a warehouse or abandoned school building, but still. He had barely left Kosuke's side, doing his best to nurture and bring him back even though it seemed as hopeless as it could get.

Meanwhile, the apartment's tenant watched as his little brother sat next to Mordred, his face practically blank as his mind whirled. He often looked like that, just processing things and thinking whatever it was that he thought about.

As for Dabi, he had been thinking long and hard about what he was about to do. Having been around Todoroki for so long, he had gotten back into the groove of seeing him, hearing him, and being around him. The person he had wanted to destroy. The person he had been jealous of for a good portion of his life.

But after having Todoroki around almost all the time, Dabi found that all of those negative feelings had faded. When he looked at this Todoroki, he no longer felt the burning need to kill him. He no longer felt the carnal desire to see him cry. No, now all he wanted was to hang out with him and the others and live freely.

And by God, he wanted to hear his little brother call him like he did in the old days. Even though this Todoroki wasn't technically his little brother, he could be relatively sure their histories were the same. But of course, he needed to check and make sure, so after preparing some drinks, he sauntered over to the couch and opened his mouth.

"Deep in thought, huh?" Dabi's voice broke the prince out of his head, bringing him back to the present. Holding out a cup, the villain waited for Todoroki to take it, which he did a second later with a quiet thank you. "No problem," He said, plopping down beside him.

Todoroki blinked at him, surprised. Usually when Dabi sat down, it was next to Mordred. He and Bakugo had plenty of bouts revolving around that since the barbarian was still very adamant about Kosuke being his husband. In the end, both of them were usually shut up by the fact that neither of their relationship statuses with him were legitimate or consensual.

"So," Patchwork glanced his way, his electric blue eyes reminding Todoroki of his father. He instantly banished that thought since of all people, why did he have to think of that tyrant at this moment? Then Dabi's voice brought him back to the present as he went on. "You said you still have a shitty old man for a dad, what about your older brother?"

"Natsuo?" Todoroki raised a curious but confused eyebrow, causing the villain to almost snort.

"No," He chuckled, leaning back on the couch. "I meant your older brother."

"Natsuo is my older brother," Now the prince was just plain confused. What was Dabi trying to get at here? Was Fuyumi in this world a dude? Todoroki saw the villain huff with a slight shake of his head.

"What about Touya?" Dabi eventually asked, and this time, Todoroki's blood ran cold. It had been years since he had heard that name, not since the funeral. Slowly, he shook his head, clutching the cup in his hands tightly as he looked down at it with somber eyes.

"Touya died."

"Ah," Dabi's voice had a hint of laughter in it, making the prince whip to face him. Sure enough, the guy had a hand over his mouth and was most certainly chuckling behind it.

"You think that's funny?" Todoroki demanded, his face twisting with how livid he felt at the villain for laughing at the news that his other brother died.

"Yeah," He snickered, lowering his hand and grinning at the teen. "Yeah, I really do. Guess our universes really are the same."

"What do you mean by that?" He snarled, about as fed up as he could get. He wanted this conversation over, and he also wanted to punch the guy for being so insensitive and rude, but right now, he hoped this man could justify laughing at his brother's death so he wouldn't have to feel the need to pummel him.

"Touya Todoroki died in this world too," Dabi told him. He was no longer laughing, a smile still plastered on his face, but his eyes were a different story. They looked pained, like he was reliving something. Todoroki felt his anger start to fade.

"Oh."

"Yeah," He sighed. "So, Shoto," His given name coming out of Dabi's mouth made the prince feel weird, not exactly unpleasant but very unexpected. It hadn't happened since they appeared, he had always addressed him as Todoroki until right then. "I take it you haven't figured it out yet?"

"Figured what out?" He questioned, furrowing his eyebrows. Dabi rolled his eyes with a laugh.

"Ah, you always were pretty dense, little brother," He smirked at him, and that's when it hit the teen. He had seen the resemblance, just never really connected it until right then. Dabi had a flame quirk, which was the equivalent to flame magic. Touya had flame magic. Touya had burned to death in blue flames, leaving only his jaw behind.

But maybe, Touya hadn't died. Maybe he'd somehow patched himself up, stapled himself back together, and was still out there living by a different name, biding his time. The person beside him was this world's Dabi, and if this world had one, it was more than likely that his world had a Dabi. And that meant..

"Touya-nii," Todoroki gulped, feeling tears welling in his eyes. "I--"

"Don't say it, kid," Dabi ruffled his hair, both of them reminiscing on the action as he did it. "I'm only telling you cause you're not this world's Shoto. Also don't try to find me in your world, I'm probably planning to kill you in front of the old man."

"What--"

"But while you're here," The soft smile on Dabi's face was undeniably, unmistakably that of tender, brotherly affection. "I guess I wouldn't mind being the big brother you deserve. Sorry you had to deal with the old man alone all these years."

"...Akaguro's crying."

"What?!" Dabi instantly whipped to look at Mordred, who indeed had tears streaking down his face. However, his expression hadn't changed. Now, though, Todoroki and his older brother knew that Kosuke was in there, buried deep, and that there was hope after all.

[HAPPY NEW YEAR, WE SURVIVED Y'ALL!]