Peter turned his head and saw how Rumi was now cackling and flipping him off, until she laughed too hard and winced, and then started laughing again.
Seeing her so lively after an experience like that made a small smile appear across his lips.
"Hey, how are you holding up?" He asked her, waiting for her laughing to stop. She was wearing a hospital gown just like him but had less bandages and a cast on her broken leg.
The girl simply waved her hand snd chuckled at the question. "Pfft, as if a broken leg can keep me down! I'll be hopping in no time!"
He couldn't help but laugh at the declaration, there was just something about her personality that brought him comfort.
"Hey." Her voice was softer now, it felt weird hearing that from her. "Are you alright, man? You kind of got it the worst out of everyone."
He paused, eyes narrowing as he thought about the question.
Peter was fine… right? He's fought villains before, so he should be used to it!
The thing was, he would never be used to it.
"I uh, don't know. I was just so close to dying and… I don't know, part of me accepted it, you know? It's a natural thing and all, but…"
He paused, Rumi's ears folded as her expression grew softer.
"The other part of me was just so scared, at that moment. I just felt s-so helpless, and I felt like I haven't done everything I should; I was so tired. When I closed my eyes, i-it felt like I was drowning, then I just w-wake up after making peace with it? Sometimes it feels like I just can't rest, not e-even if I died."
The room grew silent, Peter had just noticed he was sitting up on the bed. The fan overhead blew cold air that hit his semi-exposed back, making him shiver.
Peter hadn't noticed he was crying until the cold air hit the tears. He sniffed and quickly wiped them away.
"I'll be alright, sooner or la-"
"I was scared too, you know?"
Peter paused as those words sunk in. He looked at Rumi to see her ruby eyes grow soft as she looked down.
"Man, I was fucking terrified! Nobody wants to die; that's why I like living every day like it's my last." Her voice held an emotion Peter couldn't read, the bronze-skinned girl turned her to look at him.
Those crimson eyes stared at his, she had a small smile on her face.
Not a grin or a smirk or anything.
A tiny, genuine smile between two people.
She looked beautiful when she smiled like that.
"So when it's my time, I can check out with no regrets! Maybe you should try that?" She offered, Peter simply looked into her eyes for what felt like ages.
"H-How do I know if I'm doing it right?" His question hung in the air for a second, the girl's ears immediately perked up as her smile grew a tiny hit.
"You won't! It's a-"
"-Leap of faith… right?" Peter felt his lips curl upwards, the tension in his tired body fading away as it was replaced with warmth.
"Yeah! Exactly! A leap of faith!" The girl laughed; the sound felt like music to his ears.
Suddenly, her laughter died down, and her eyes looked down at her bed. Her expression told him that she was trying to say something but looking for the right words.
"Hey, Peter?" The silence was broken, Peter perked up.
"Uh, yeah?" His voice may or may not have cracked.
"Thanks." Her voice was quiet, but he heard it
"What'd I do?" He was so confused right now.
"You promised you wouldn't die on me, and you kept your word. Thanks for that." Peter could make out the faintest blush, the redness being hidden by her tanned skin.
The sound of his heart monitor speeding up filled the quiet room. His face felt warm as a blush crept up to his cheeks.
Oh, he had a crush on Rumi.
His heartbeat sped up again the tiniest bit.
Holy shit.
Holy shit, he had a crush on Rumi.
The boy gave a small laugh, running his good hand through his hair. "Yeah, I'm pretty hard to take out."
A fuzzy warmth spread across his chest as the girl next to him laughed lightly.
Yeah, that was definitely a crush.
"We make a good team, huh?" She grinned, extending her arm across the gap between their beds and offering a fist bump.
"We sure do." He extended his good arm and connected their fists, her hand was incredibly small yet calloused and warm.
They looked into each other, Peter getting lost in those crimson eyes he first met in that fighting ring, a soft smile spread across his face again at feeling the contact.
He could stay like this forever, and he'd be happy.
The door burst open, and in walked an angry-looking Recovery Girl, the tapping of her cane following her every footstep.
"Why are you two alone in here? Someone should be supervising you!" She scolded, her cane lightly hitting Peter in the head.
"We uh, just woke up." Peter winced at seeing the woman's fury grow.
"Don't talk back to me, young man! It is a miracle you're even awake right now, so learn some manners if you want my quirk!"
Man, she was scary.
Peter only muttered a small apology, he could hear Rumi snickering in the background. The hero's lips extended and placed a gross kiss on his forehead; Peter wasn't able to hide the disgust on his face.
A camera flash went off, Peter turned his head to see how Rumi was taking a picture. Before he could say anything, he felt the slight pain in his arm disappear as it was replaced with a wave of great exhaustion.
He was out in a flash.
The last thing he saw was Rumi getting yelled at by Recovery Girl before his world faded around him.
There was no way she'd feel the same, right?
...
The car ride was a silent one, the light of the setting sun passed through the window and hit his scarred face.
Shoto Todoroki was tired.
The face of Parker telling him to use his quirk was still fresh on his mind, he remembered the absolute desperation he showed in a single look.
Maybe cracking two ribs was the least of his problems, he'd have to apologize to him when school was back in session after the 5-day break they were given.
What should he have done?
If he used his left side, maybe Parker and Usagiyama wouldn't have ended up as injured, maybe he could have prevented the monster from nearly overwhelming All Might after he showed up.
But he made a promise.
He couldn't and wouldn't use his father's quirk, he'd be the number one hero with his ice.
That was the right choice.
… Right?
The car stopped suddenly, his dual-colored eyes looking up to see they had reached his expansive house. His father wordlessly exited the vehicle from the driver's side and stood there, waiting for him.
Why hadn't he sent a driver? He never picked him up himself.
If that bastard tells him to use his fire…
Todoroki exited the car and started to walk toward the front door, he was stopped by a firm and calloused on his shoulder.
"Shoto" The rough voice of endeavor came from behind him.
Anger bubbled inside him, then confusion when he faintly noticed a small sense of calm in his words. The teen simply turned around and looked at his father in the eyes.
His expression didn't hold the rage or disappointment it always did, it held something… unreadable.
"If you tell me to use my f-" He started, his voice dying at his throat when the man before him kneeled down to his height.
"I heard what happened, are you alright?"
What? What was his game here?
"I will be, not let g-"
"Wait, let me finish. I heard about how those Parker and Usagiyama kids got injured by that monster at the attack. A couple of student's statements said how the creature's quirk was Shock absorption and how Parker asked you to use your fire to fight it."
The memory was still fresh in his mind, his fist clenched as he grit his teeth.
"I won't use your quirk." His eyes narrowed in anger, he couldn't understand the expression his father held.
It seemed too… gentle.
As if he actually cared.
"I understand that, but what if those kids had died, Shoto? What then? Could you live with the guilt of having been able to save them?" His voice was firm as the grip on his shoulder tightened the smallest bit, but not as if to hurt him.
… He didn't want them to die.
… They would've been fine… right?
"I know our relationship isn't… the best nor has it ever been, but know that I am not angry at you, Shoto. You want to be a hero, right?"
"I- Yes, what's your point, old man?"
"Do not let your hatred for me or your fire hold you back from saving others, if you could've acted but you didn't, then what happens next is on you. I don't expect you to start using it overnight but please just think about it. Now come, Fuyumi has been worried about you."
Just like that, the number two hero let go and started to walk inside; Todoroki simply followed behind him with a distant look in his eyes.
His sister rushed the man and hugged Todoroki tightly once the two had entered through the door. Todoroki barely noticed the embrace.
He had a lot to think about.
...
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