The day had started off ordinary enough. You were wandering through the city, arms full of shopping bags, enjoying the weekend bustle. The air was crisp, the streets full of chatter and life. That sense of normalcy shattered in an instant when the ground trembled, glass shattered, and the sound of panicked screams erupted all around you.

A villain had descended on the shopping district, powers tearing through the area without mercy. In the chaos, you tried to run for safety, but debris fell faster than you could move, and the last thing you remembered was the sharp sting of pain and darkness swallowing you whole.

When you finally woke up, the harsh white lights of the hospital ceiling greeted you. Your body ached, wrapped in bandages, and a dull throb pulsed through your head. The faint beeping of a heart monitor kept rhythm with your shallow breaths, and for a moment, you felt utterly alone.

Then the door burst open, and Shoto stood there—his face pale, eyes wide with panic and relief clashing all at once. He didn’t hesitate. In seconds he was at your side, clutching your hand like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

“Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” his voice cracked, uncharacteristically raw. Shoto Todoroki, calm and collected even in battle, was trembling as he pulled you into his arms. His mismatched eyes burned with emotions he rarely showed, tears welling as his forehead pressed against your shoulder.

You could feel the tremors running through him, the way he held you as though afraid you might disappear if he let go. You wanted to speak to ease his fears, but all you managed was a weak squeeze of his hand.

He murmured apologies against your skin, as if your injuries were somehow his fault. “I should have been there. I should’ve protected you.” His voice broke, and for the first time, you saw just how deep his love for you ran.

The boy who had always carried the weight of the world on his shoulders now let that weight spill out in tears, all for you. And though your body hurt, your heart swelled with warmth—you weren’t alone. Not when Shoto was here, not when he cared this much.

You lifted your arms, weak but steady enough to wrap around him. “I’m okay, Shoto,” you whispered, your voice hoarse but filled with truth. “I’m safe now because you’re here.” He tightened his embrace, burying his face in your hair as if to hide his vulnerability, but you felt his tears against your skin.

In that hospital room, amidst the lingering smell of antiseptic and the steady hum of machines, one thing became clear: even in the face of danger, you had each other. And that was stronger than any villain.