Chapter Text
Shinsou sits across from Todoroki, slouching in his chair. There’s a newspaper on their desk that Todoroki’s skimming, a sigh leaving his lips.
“He still in hot shit?” Shinsou asks.
“Yeah,” Tododroki mutters, eyes never leaving the page. “News must be slow if they’re still on this.”
Shinsou snorts. “Sero actively stops a villain rampaging through the city and the onsen that was destroyed is still news three weeks later.”
“Along with his name. Listen, to this: Cellophane’s tape can’t stick the pile of rubble together that has now become a sore spot for Hakone residents.”
“I wish his PR team would just tell them to shut the fuck up because if they continue this, next time there won’t be a hero to help him.”
“He doesn’t have a PR team, he’s solo.”
Shinsou raises his brows. “Hakone’s that small?”
“14,000 residents.”
“Maybe we should expand there.”
Todoroki looks up for the first time, leveling a glare at Shinsou. “Don’t start,” he deadpans.
Shinsou grins and shrugs. “I’m just saying.”
Todoroki’s cell buzzes, screen lighting up with a call from: DAD, contact photo absent.
Todoroki barely restrains a groan, swiping to answer and immediately putting the device on speaker.
“Todoroki,” he answers, identifying himself.
“Shoto, good. I’m calling about next week’s gala.”
“I sent in my RSVP last week. Shinsou and I will both be attending.”
“I’m aware. I’m calling about a different matter. You aren’t bringing a plus one and so I’ve set up a match for you.”
Todoroki’s eyes widen, an initial panic setting in. He looks over at Shinsou who’s cheeks have puffed with the effort of holding in a laugh.
“Dad, no-”
“You’re getting old-”
“I’m 23,” he interjects, but Enji talks over him.
“And appearances are important. What does staying single say to the public? It gives off an unlikeable aura. So, since you haven’t taken the initiative to find a partner, I’ve found a match for the night.”
“Dad-”
“It’s the Fantom Thief. I believe you attended UA together. His name is-”
“I know who Monoma is.”
“Good.”
The color drains from Shinsou’s face and Todoroki is sure he isn’t faring better.
“I’m not dating Monoma.”
“It’s one evening. You might surprise yourself. You might like him. He’s a good hero and-”
“No.” Todoroki stands firm, willing his father to for once listen to him.
“This isn’t a request, Shoto.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
Todoroki’s mind whirs grasping for anything that would make his father back off. “I’m already seeing someone.”
There is only a momentary pause before Endeavor says, “who?” confusion evident in his voice.
Todoroki’s eyes flick down, the wide-angle photo of Sero restraining the villain plastered, large and black and white in front of him.
“Cellophane.”
Another pause.
“And why did you fail to inform me of this and why isn’t he coming to the gala?”
“He’s been getting a lot of bad press lately. We wanted to hold off on any announcement until it blows over.”
“Nonsense. His image is easily cleaned up, especially with your agency’s influence. Announcing your relationship is the best thing you could do at this moment for his career – and for yours. Bring him to the gala.”
“Dad, he doesn’t want to-.”
“There’s no reason for him not to go. If he doesn’t, then that is a clear indicator that he doesn’t care about your status or his status in the rankings and therefore is not a suitable partner. Monoma will be in attendance regardless, so if Cellophane doesn’t show, he can step in as your date.”
“Dad-”
But before Todoroki can protest again, the line goes dead, screen going black.
Todoroki sits back down, unsure at what point he had stood up. His hand clasps his mouth as he looks at Shinsou.
“Now you’re in deep shit,” Shinsou says.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. How are you going to make Sero appear on your arm for the gala?”
“Monoma’s going to be there.”
Shinsou shrugs. “I guess you can just go with Monoma.”
“Hitoshi.”
“I’m fine.”
He doesn’t look fine. His jaw is clenched tight, and the flicker of sarcastic amusement that usually resides in his eyes is gone. Todoroki can see a buzzing tension thrumming through Shinsou’s body. It’s hard to shake the usually aloof hero, but Todoroki recognizes the sliver of control that’s being clung to.
“You don’t have to go,” Todoroki offers.
“I’m going. You’ve already RSVP’d me.”
“You can say something came up.”
“Nothing came up.”
“But-”
“It’s fine,” Shinsou clips.
Todoroki looks at him softly and Shinsou seems to surrender under his gaze.
“It’s fine,” he repeats, voice faint, nearly a whisper. “I’ll survive. Not going would be worse.”
Todoroki humms.
“What about you though,” Shinsou asks, a genuine concern lacing his words. “Have you even talked to Sero since we’ve graduated?”
“Not really,” Todoroki sighs. “Just here and there at some get-togethers, but we haven’t kept up with any intentionality.” He groans, burying his face in his hands. “What am I going to do?” he questions.
“Ask him to the gala, I guess,” Shinsou offers.
Todoroki peeks at him through his fingers. “You think?”
“Well- I mean. I was half joking.”
“But I could,” Todoroki says slowly, as if the idea is currently dawning on him. “I could explain everything, and- Endeavor’s right, it would be good for his image, so it would benefit him. But it would just be for show. Only him and I would know- and you.”
“I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
Todoroki furrows his brows. “I’m a good actor,” he offers.
Shinsou scoffs. “That’s not quite what I meant. I mean- pretending to date a guy that you’re actually into sounds like a recipe for heartbreak.”
Todoroki shrugs. “I can handle it, and besides, not matter what it’s better than the alternative.
*****
A chat notification pings on Sero’s computer and he clicks into the message. It’s from the office manager on the other side of his door.
Ikuta: Someone is here asking for you. It looks like the hero Shoto, but I can’t tell if it’s actually him or someone faking. He won’t go away when I tell him you’re busy.
Sero reads the text twice just to make sure he understands correctly. He hasn’t talked to Todoroki in a year at least. It would be a bit strange for him to suddenly show up at his office, but Todoroki has never strictly followed social norms anyway.
Sero: Be right there.
He stands up, walks across the space and opens the door, peeking his head out to glimpse the situation. He had the brief thought that it might be a ploy from another villain, trying to get close and catch him with his guard down, but as his gaze meets the ever intense stare of heterochromatic eyes, his hackles relax. There’s no mistaking Todoroki.
His stomach flips.
“Todoroki! What the hell? What brings you here?”
Sero swings the door open and leans against the frame, a smirk plastered on his face. He looks easy and cool. Masking nerves has always been second nature to him, and boy did Todoroki make him nervous- does , he guesses, as he watches Todoroki’s eyes flick down and back up. Does make him nervous.
“I have a proposition, but-” Todoroki looks at Ikuta who is doing a wonderful job of acting absorbed by the computer in front of her, “I was wondering if we could talk in private?”
“Sure,” Sero says as he pulls the office door wider, gesturing to its interior. “Be my guest.”
His office is kind of spacious, but without enough furniture to fill it. The desk is dinged up and the shelves and filing cabinets are mismatched. It’s never bothered Sero before, but suddenly a thick inadequacy settles low in his gut.
He’s kept up with Todoroki’s career, knows about the seemingly exponential growth his and Shinsou’s agency has had. He can only imagine the large building and modish interior that must accompany it. The small space that Sero’s carved out in Hakone must seem garishly pathetic in comparison.
Still, he pulls out the extra chair for Todoroki and takes the seat across from him. Todoroki sits straight in his chair, proper, unlike Sero’s slouch and spread legs, but Todoroki fidgets, which is strange. He looks stiff in an uncomfortable way that Sero’s never seen him look before.
The silence stretches on and Sero wonders if he should speak first, but then Todoroki clears his throat.
“So…” Todoroki pauses.
“So?”
“So,” he says again, with resolve, looking up at Sero. “I have an idea.”
When it didn’t look like he was about to continue, Sero nods and prompts him. “What’s your idea?”
“Do you know the Christmas Gala that’s happening over at Fuyu Lodge?”
“Of course,” Sero says, voice trailing up in an echo of a question.
It was one of the biggest fundraising events of the nation. Sponsored by the National Heroics Society, an invite to it had the potential to significantly bolster your rankings. However, you already had to be notorious to get a bid. Sero obviously did not make the list, so it’s strange that Todoroki has traveled out here to talk with him about it.
Todoroki’s lips purse and his gaze slides to the floor. Suddenly he groans, slouching in his chair and burying his face with his hands.
Sero startles. “Todoroki?”
“I’m sorry,” Todoroki responds, voice muffled by his fingers. “I thought I was going to be able to lay out this proposition as if it were the most logical thing, but even thinking about saying it-” he cuts himself off with another groan.
“Todoroki, man, it’s okay. Just spit it out, no judgment here.”
Todoroki’s arms fall and he looks directly at Sero as he begins to speak. “As you might have guessed, Shinsou and I are attending as representatives of our agency. My father wanted to set me up while there. With Monoma.”
Sero grimaces. “Ouch.”
“Obviously, for multiple reasons, that was not something I was interested in doing.”
“Totally.”
“So,” Todoroki sighs, “I tried to say no, but he was so insistent, so I- uh,” Todoroki gestures vaguely, “told him I was in a relationship already.”
“Oh,” Sero says, slightly taken aback. His stomach twists again, less pleasantly this time. “Congratulations, I didn’t know.”
Sero thought he might die under Todoroki’s glare.
“With you.”
Sero furrows his brows. “Me what?”
“With you, Sero. I told him I was in a relationship with you.”
Sero blinks, brain feeling foggy and strange. He scrunches his face up. “Why me?”
“Because I had the newspaper out, and your photo was there and,” Todoroki sighs again, “and so I said your name and said we were keeping it a secret because of your recent media issues, and he just said that us announcing our relationship would be the the better route for your reputation and so he wants you at the gala, with me. As my date- well, as my boyfriend and my date.”
Sero feels like he’d been dunked in cold water. “So,” he says, mouth unsticking and words coming slowly, “you said you had a proposition?”
“We should pretend to date.”
“Pretend? To date?” Sero repleats.
Todoroki smiles. It’s small, barely there, but it’s the first time Sero’s seen it in so long. He drinks in the hint of a dimple that appears and the way that it seems to make Todoroki’s eyes that much brighter.
“Well, yes, pretend. It’s not like you want to actually date me.”
Oh, Sero thinks, you couldn’t be more wrong.
“But,” Todoroki continues, “it would be good, for the both of us. You come to the gala, we pretend to date, and my agency can step in and clear up your image. It gets my father off my back for the time being, and then in a couple months when it all blows over, we can break up amicably. Because of the distance.”
Dangerous, Sero’s brain tells him. This is dangerous. And not smart.
“Sure,” he says with a casual shrug. “Sounds like fun.”
Todoroki’s face lights up. “Really?”
No, his mind screams.
“Of course,” falls from his lips.
“Sero, thank you.”
“No worries,” his hand reaches up to grip at the back of his neck. “What are friends for?”