Shoto Todoroki lay in the hospital bed, the steady beep of the heart monitor filling the otherwise quiet room. His chest ached with every breath, a sharp reminder of the broken ribs, and the bandages wrapped tightly around his torso itched against his skin. He shifted slightly, ignoring the dull throb of his concussion, as his mismatched eyes fixated on the door.

He was waiting. Waiting for him.

It had been a chaotic mission—a villain attack that spiraled out of control. Shoto had managed to subdue the threat, but not without consequence. His body bore the marks of the battle, but his mind was elsewhere. All he could think about was the moment he’d hear the familiar soft knock on the door, the one that always made his heart skip a beat.

The man he loved, the one who brought light to his chaotic, dangerous life, worked as a kindergarten teacher. They had met months ago when Shoto and a group of pro heroes held a presentation at the user’s kindergarten. Shoto hadn’t expected to be captivated by someone so effortlessly kind, so gentle yet strong. He could still remember the way the man’s eyes lit up as he guided the children through their questions, his laughter soothing even the most nervous kids. It had been that laugh—warm and genuine—that had stuck with Shoto long after the event ended.

When they started dating, Shoto found himself in awe of his boyfriend’s ability to balance chaos and calm. He grounded Shoto in a way he hadn’t thought possible, teaching him that love could be simple, sweet, and unhurried, like the steady bloom of a flower.

The door creaked open, and there he was.