Quirkless Rejects

Shoto and Rei

The car stopped and Deku got out. "Well, come one." Shoto reached out and snatched his forearm. "W- w- w- wait! This is-" "Where your mom is, right?" Shoto gulped and nodded. "Todoroki," ah, Chief time, "in order for this to go down correctly, we need the testimony from your mother. She will be a great asset in our removal of Endeavor from the hero title. Do you understand why we need this to happen?"

Of course, he understood... but Shoto wasn't ready to see his mom again, everything was happening so fast. Yet, a part of him wanted to see her again. He missed her more than he let on. Shoto also knew that this was going to be a major step in removing his father from his title as the number two hero, and hopefully as a hero in general. He took in a large breath and nodded. "Ok. Let's go." He saw Deku's sunglasses turn happy before they began their climb up the side of the building with special gloves that adhere to surfaces to let someone climb as such. Shoto very much did not like these gloves, they felt weird. It scared Shoto to think that Deku had already gone and found the room his mother was admitted into but considering who Deku was and how confidently he navigated the blindspots in the windows, Shoto knew that the greenette already had.

Deku stopped outside a window and began fiddling with the latch. There was a soft *click* before Deku opened it. He scooted, crawled(?), aside and gestured to Shoto. Oh, I'm going in first. He took another deep breath, again, before climbing through the window. Shoto's breath caught in his throat when his mother's head turned to face him.

"Shot-OH!" and Deku came in as well.

Shoto always had an emotionless face, it was kind of like his trademark that went along with his cold personality. Yet now, he couldn't help the way he trembled and how he felt the scar on his face burned with a phantom pain that wasn't really there anymore. "Mom," he cooly said. Deku nudged him just a more harshly than necessary. He cleared his throat and was about to speak before he noticed his mom pat the hospital bed beside her. He directed his eyes to Deku who simply walked away to lean on the wall in the opposite corner of the room. Message received. Deku had an odd way of showing he cared but it was in times like these Shoto was grateful to the teen even if he hadn't known him for too long. Shoto walked over and sat beside his mother.

She lifted her hands and gently caressed his face, he thumb ran over the scar. Tears filled her eyes. "I saw the festival... I did this to you, didn't I, Shoto?" the white-haired woman asked. Shoto took her hands and held them in his lap. "No," he replied. "You know who did this to me." Her frail frame shook and she looked away. "I have always wanted to apologize to you, Shoto. I should have been there for you." Shoto shook his head. "Don't. We both know that one of us was bound to snap, you had a lot more stress. I guess, in the end, we both snapped." She nodded then looked up again.

"Could you take off the mask? I want to see the full face of my son."

"I'm sorry, mother, this is what has become of your son. I cannot take it off now. I am sorry, I did not become the hero you wanted me to be."

"It is every mother's wish to see her child happy. If this is the life you have chosen then smile with every step you take down this path. Only when you do not is when you need to apologize to a mother." she said. "And at that moment, I will apologize for letting you turn away."

Shoto didn't have the heart to say it, but he had long since forgotten how to smile. But, perhaps, in this new walk of life, as he learns what it means to have friends and comrades to stand by his side, Shoto can relearn what it means to be happy. "Why are you here, Shoto?" she asked. Shoto sighed inwardly, not really wanting to have this kind of conversation when they had just reconciled, if he could call it that. Shoto instead slightly turned his head towards Deku and gave a small nod. Deku pushed himself off of his position on the wall and strode over to the Todorokis.

"Madam," he started, very formal, "I do not know how you wish to be called hereafter your life's turn of events." It was nice of him to ask. Shoto knew that his mother would not want to be called by her husband's last name. "Rei is fine," she said. "Thank you for taking in my son, Deku." He gave a curt nod. "It was the Quirkless Rejects pleasure and we plan to take care of him with as much hospitality as we can offer. On to business though, we are here to discuss removing Endeavor from his hero title." Shoto heard his mother's breath hitch at the name "Endeavor."

"I am sure you know just how poor the number two hero's practices are behind closed doors that are hidden from the media. As both a spouse and a father, he has been less than satisfactory and even though he has taken in a larger percentage of villains and criminals, he is more cold towards the public than his flames let off." Shoto's mom nodded again and Deku continued. "We have records that there was once a Toya Todoroki in the family, a son, that had run away and we are currently looking into confirming his whereabouts to get his statement as well but for now, we would like to use your testimony in a court case against Endeavor."

Wow, Shoto thought, he is more diplomatic than he lets on. Thinking back, didn't Deku say that Midoriya wasn't "present" when we first met? Over the week the two have gotten to know each other, Shoto has questioned that statement along with the sudden mood changes and talking to one's self. He had come up with a personality disorder but he would have to look into it later.

Shoto's mom nodded. "I would be more than happy to give my statement on that man." Shoto could have cringed at the malicious note in her voice. Deku's sunglasses turned happy.

"Great!" He pulled open his laptop and opened a document. Shoto peered over. It had a few points that he assumed Deku had wanted to cover. "Now, could you please tell me-"

*Knock Knock*

"Rei?" Shoto saw Deku stiffen. "I brought the biscuits!" Shoto looked at his mom. Her eyes were staring wide at Deku. We should leave but... what's going on? The door began to open. Rei stood suddenly. "Wait In-" The door opened completely to reveal a short, stubby female with straight green hair holding a plate of biscuits with a nurse by her side. Deku looked towards the greenette. She looks oddly like... Oh, suck!

The woman dropped the plate. *CRASH*

In the doorway stood Inko -hecking- Midoriya.