Enji Todoroki was in a loveless marriage, bound by the desire to make strong children. Children who wouldn't face his fate: overheating. Quirk marriages were quite popular at the time, and he got himself in one.

Rei Todoroki, Enji Todoroki's wife possessed an extremely powerful ice Quirk, one impressive enough that he sought her for marriage and child bearing purposes.

Together, they had four children.

Toya Todoroki, whose flames were far too hot for his own good, resulting in his death.

Fuyumi and Natsuo, whose Quirks only produce the properties of ice.

Shoto Todoroki, the perfect one, with a perfect split, Half-Hot Half-Cold.

Yet throughout all these years, there is still no love. Now, Rei is locked away in a mental facility while Enji strives each and every day to become the Number One Hero, and push the perfect child to be even stronger than him.

[F/n] [L/n], Number Five Pro Hero, Aquarius. With no significant other or children of her own, she strives to become the Number One Hero, while also mentoring the younger and newer generations. Due to a battle many years ago, even if she had a significant other or sought out other means, is physically unable to bear children.

Aquarius and Endeavor find themselves tangled in one another's stories, as the world gets darker and the Villains get stronger.

Currently, the two were on camera with hundreds of thousands of citizens watching. A loose Nomu, one that had seemingly broken free had rampaged throughout the city. And the closest and most capable Heroes, were them.

Number One Endeavor, Number Five Aquarius.

Buildings had been on lockdown and areas fully evacuated. Children, adults, students, teachers, all watching on their tv's in horrific anticipation.

With tattered clothes and looks of sheer determination, the two Heroes were about to bring the fight to a close. With moves that could be used in perfect unison.

Standing near each other with their opposing arms drawn back and palms facing the others, the city, the country, watched as fire and water combined and grew to strong magnitudes. The water didn't evaporate, the fire didn't go out. The steam produced was so great that the camera crews had to continuously wipe off the lenses in order for the video to be clear.

It got hot, really hot. Hell hot.

"BURN IN HELL!"

The massive attack of fire and water shot forwards as they pushed their arms towards the Nomu, the beam so fast, so strong, it not only pierced the creature, but it began to sizzle and evaporate.

The scene calmed.

The two stood with labored breaths, [L/n]'s hero costume half gone due to Endeavor's flames, both of their clothing tattered due to the Nomu's attacks.

Enji was beyond overheated, and due to her constant close proximity to him during their battle, [F/n] felt as if she were on fire. Turning their heads to face one another, their emerald and [e/c] eyes met. She reached up to place her hand on his back, palm sizzling upon contact.

Almost immediately after, Enji felt cold water crawl across his body, bringing at least mild relief to the eternal flames that felt as if they were eating him alive. Remembering the citizens were still watching, they did one last thing to prove their victory before medics rushed the scene.

Endeavor rose his fist, Aquarius gave a peace sign.

Medics arrived on scene, and soon, the cameras cut. Japan breathed a sigh of relief. The strongest waves of relief being felt by those like Shoto Todoroki.

"Worry about yourself." Came Enji's voice as he grabbed her hand and removed it from his back.

"To be so hot, you're so cold." [F/n] remarked with a small laugh, nearly collapsing to the ground before getting caught by the flaming man himself.

"My own body can't handle the heat. Much less someone whose body isn't built to withstand heat at all." As cold as he sounded, there was truth behind every word. He didn't want to actually touch her too much due to his body's extremely high temperature, one of the medics grabbing her from him rather quickly.

The two were taken to the hospital and treated for their injuries; broken bones, cuts, bruises, and burns.

The right half of her body had been seared red, getting more intense as it got to her arm and hand. The burns were severe enough to be treated with remedies and wrapped up in bandages until further notice.

The two were in the same hospital room, neither with any visitors.

"Hey, Enji?"

"What?"

"You saw what you managed to do out there today, right?"

"Yeah, what of it?"

"I know you hate when I try and tell you this... But it's just more proof that you deserve the title of Number One. I'm serious-"

"Can it, [L/n]. The way I got that title, I hate it. I hate it to the core. I've always wanted to be Number One, but never like that. I wanted to surpass All Might, but instead he fought and completely dropped out. I didn't earn this spot, it was given to me."

"That doesn't change your strength. You're Endeavor!"

"I said to can it!"

Silence.

Sigh.

"I appreciate your efforts, but the only person that can ever make me feel as if I deserve the title of Number One, is me. Stop wasting your efforts. Use your words on someone else."

"Using my words on you isn't a waste of effort."

"You know me, you know who I am, you know what I'm guilty of. You're stupid to do what you're doing."

"But I care."

"Well I don't."

"Open your heart up, just a little bit. Let the armor of your heart go."

"No need to talk so poetically. This is just how I am."

"No, this is how you make yourself." This time, Todoroki heard movement, and before he knew it she was standing at the foot of his hospital bed with her iv stand next to her. "We all have choices to make, and you are consciously making yourself that way."

"If you keep going on about this, I'm leaving."

"You can't leave, not yet. You know that as well as I do. Look, I'll let it go for now. But please understand that you'll feel... Lighter, better, if you open up just a little bit and let others in."

"I let you in."

"And ever since that night, you've been more distant. It doesn't have to be me, I'm okay with that. Just, please, allow yourself happiness."

He mumbled it quietly, quiet enough he didn't think she'd hear it. But she did.

"I will not allow myself something I do not deserve."

[L/n] sighed softly, looking at the man with a gentle, somber gaze, "If you decide to lighten up on yourself, I'm always here." With those words, she went back to her side of the hospital room.

Days had gone by since then. Both Aquarius and Endeavor were back to their regular Hero duties, while also still being the top of the headlines. The world had truly gotten more dangerous and the amount of battles that both them, and other Heroes had to take on, had increased tremendously.

Late one night, [L/n] was lounging around in her home, eating her dinner with a glass of wine. After a ridiculously stressful day, she wanted to loosen up a bit. She watched tv while consuming a bowl of tonkotsu ramen and allowed her mind to attempt to empty itself. Just as she'd taken another sip of her wine, a knock came to her door.

Standing up, she approached the front door and looked out the peephole, surprised to see Endeavor himself. Opening up the door, she let the man in, quickly closing the door behind him. He was dressed incognito, in casual clothes and a cap to cover his face.

"If I had known you were coming over I would have at least had some clothes on." The [e/c]'d woman commented, currently in nothing but underwear and a large t-shirt. "Let me go put some pants on, I'll be back. Make yourself at home, Enji." With those words, she made her way to her bedroom to put on a pair of sweatpants.

Upon her return, she saw Enji sitting on her couch, jacket on the coat rack and cap sitting on the table. Her home was a much more modern design compared to his traditionally designed home. He was clad in a form fitting navy blue turtleneck and black pants. "So," she began, "What do I owe the pleasure of being visited by Mister Number One himself?"

Rather than answering verbally, she watched as he grabbed her glass of wine and took a rather long drink from it. She went into her kitchen, grabbed the bottle of wine and another glass before returning to her living room and sat next to the rather large man. Filling up the remainder of the one glass and then pouring into the other, both sipped from their glasses in silence.

He was yet to say a word, and she wouldn't push him. [L/n] could tell by the look in his eyes that he was tired- and not physically, but mentally. So, for the next few hours, Enji and [F/n] sat in calm silence while watching tv on her couch.

After those hours had passed by, she looked to the man and opened her mouth, softly asking, "Are you okay, Enji?"

Whether it was the alcohol talking or the fact that he truly did trust her, he'd never know. But he answered her question with utmost honesty.

"How... how did I get here? All I wanted was to insure that my children wouldn't have to suffer the same fate as I, overheating. Got into a Quirk marriage with Rei, had four children. Touya died from his own flames, Fuyumi, such a sweetheart despite everything, Natsuo won't have anything to do with me, and Shoto... the things I've done to that poor boy. And Rei herself, I can't tell you the last time I've seen her." He rested his elbows on his knees and placed his face in his hands.

"Enji..." [F/n]'s voice came softly as she scooted to where she was sitting right next to him and placed a hand on his back, gently raking her fingers up and down. "You may not be able to change the past, but you can work on the future. And I know you already are, you just have to keep striving towards these new goals of yours. I won't say that the things you've done are okay, but I will say that you've been taking strides forwards and that's what matters. No one's perfect, Enji."

He was silent, his eyes shut with his face in his hands as he thought over her words, while also attempting to calm the storm in his mind.

"Do you want me to make you something to eat?" She brought up, wondering if maybe something warm to eat would help him.

"You've done enough, I don't need you to cook for me, [F/n]. I've already come to your home unannounced, drank your wine, and given you my troubles." He'd decided it was time for him to leave, but when he attempted to stand, he was pulled straight back down onto the couch. So much so that he was now laying down and his head in her lap. He was going to speak up, but decided against it as she began to comb her fingers through his hair and run her fingers up and down his sides.

While laying there, he thought long and hard about something he wanted to say, something he knew was a sensitive subject to touch, even if only one statement.

He chose to say it.

"You know, you would've been a great mother."

She tensed up briefly before her muscles once again relaxed, a sad, somber smile on her face as she looked down to him then upwards towards the ceiling, yet truly looking much beyond that. "Thank you, Enji."