Third person pov

By the time lunch rolled around, Touya felt dead tired. He was tired of being stared at, tired of doing Algebra, and tired of ignoring the hissing whispers as everyone talked about him behind his back. He hated his desk, and the invisible chick behind him had been on the verge of hyperventilating all morning. The six armed boy next to him, Shoji he thought his name might be, looked ready to attack at any given moment should he need to. It was all just... annoying. It left him feeling mentally exhausted. 

But at least Takashi was there. He stood at the front of the room, helping out any teachers that came in to teach. Touya would watch him bounce around and to pass out papers, stopping to check on the redhead every so often to help him through whatever they're working on at the time. Touya is relieved. He's also glad he was allowed to keep his wedding band on as he sits there, waiting for a break from all they prying eyes. It's a great comfort that helped to keep him from getting too irritable as he spun it around his ring finger.

He's not an idiot. The work isn't terribly hard, but he certainly wasn't breezing through it like Takashi might. It's not as though he's gone through life without any academic presence, however. There were any late nights he found himself staying up and working through problems with Takashi. He could still recall their absolute victory every time they'd finally find an answer. Those were far simpler days.

That being said, he's no genius either. He can follow the lesson just fine, but some of the problems in algebra still trip him up. In art history, he struggled to compose an essay. It wasn't something he'd had to do in years now. Lucky for him, Takashi always seemed to know when he was having even the slightest bit of trouble. Maybe it was a soulmate thing, or maybe it was showing on Touya's face. I didn't matter. Takashi always knew when to stop by the redhead's desk to help him through something, and he'd praise him brightly when it clicked. Those were the moments that kept Touya going.

He can't help but feel bad for Shoto. The moment Mr. Aizawa stepped out of the room and Mic stepped in for English, the class was bombarding his little brother with endless questions. Asking if he knew, if Touya was going to kill them, and such of the like. Takashi was pretty quick to shut it down. His eyes flashed a threatening red that silenced the room completely. Even Present Mic looked taken aback. It's another weight off Touya's chest.

Touya is not good at English. It's a common subject that most begin to learn in middle school, and it continues through the years. But it's been ages since Touya was stuck in the foreign class. He found himself struggling just a bit more than everyone else, who'd been in the class consistently all year, and the years prior. There are words he managed to remember. Simple words like cat, dog, bowl, and cup. Things like those stuck with him. Unfortunately, this class has moved on from single words to simple sentences. 

 Takashi acted as his guiding light. Not only was he Touya's soulmate naturally, but he'd been tasked with watching and helping the scarred man anyway. That means it isn't nearly as weird that he's constantly stopping at Touya's desk to take a peek at his work. Nobody batted an eye at that. Instead, they mutter when it's allowed and send weary looks the redhead's way. Touya found that he was, sadly enough, getting used to it.

The teachers that filtered through also seemed to be waiting for him to slip up. He can just tell. The fact that Touya can't help but grimace, glare, and scowl probably doesn't help in the least. It's just his default set of expressions, that's all! Besides, it's not like he was particularly enjoying the situation or anything of that sort. The only time his face wasn't hardened into something sour was when Takashi was next to him, helping out. He felt more relaxed and content in those moments, if not completely and totally confused by the work that was set out before him.

So when he said hearing the lunch bell was like hearing angels sing, he wasn't exaggerating. He wanted to get up immediately and flee the room. He didn't. He sat and waited patiently, keeping as still as possible as kids rushed past him as fast as they could, as though afraid he'd attack out of nowhere. He kept both of his hands on the desk where everyone could see, and stayed sitting back with his ankles crossed under the desk. He was pretty sure his scowl nullified his attempts to be less threatening, but at least he was trying!

One student did slow as they passed. She was tall, with black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail. At first it did seem like she was going to rush past like everyone else was doing, but something caught her eye and stopped her from doing so. Touya watched her halt and do a double take, gaze dropping to his hands. Or more specifically, to the band on his right hand. The pair he and Takashi had purchased came from a run-down pawn shop, so his wasn't in the best shape. It isn't top of the line, or exceptionally shiny or expensive. But it's his. Theirs.

The look on her face was nothing short of priceless. She looked as though she'd been struck. The remainder of the class who hadn't left yet watched worriedly as she just stood in front of his desk and stared in a dumbfounded manner, clearly afraid to leave her alone in here with Touya, even if Present Mic and Takashi were still present. They all lingered near the door, gazes on the dark-haired girl as she blinked owlishly down at his hands.

"You're... You're married?" She sputtered out, as though she didn't quite believe it. He couldn't really blame her there. If not for the fact that he and Takashi were soulmates, Touya doubted they ever would have gotten married. It was the sad truth. Touya was too... too out there. His personality was odd and fluctuated, and he wasn't the prettiest sight to behold anyway. Endeavor had made sure of that when he forced Touya to activate his quirk, and pushed him to make his uncontrollable flames stronger and brighter.

Still, Touya couldn't stop himself from smiling at her question. It wasn't a big smile or anything, but it was a proud one as he straightened in his seat and uncurled his hand so she could better see the ring. The movement was nearly unconscious. "Yeah, for almost three years." He failed to keep the fondness from his voice as he twisted the band again, raising his gaze to meet hers. She looked calmer.

"How... How nice." She smiled a little before she darted off again, seeming to realize just who she was talking to. Touya couldn't help but feel a little warmer as he furled his hand back into a fist again. He waited more. People gave him glares and more nervous looks as they teetered out of the room one by one. They were hesitant to leave him alone, he noted. He can't blame them after all he did.

"Soba for lunch?" His little brother asked. A few of his friends are still at their desks. All of them seemed to tense as Touya stood, and Aizawa glanced their way as he entered the room, eyes shifting right on back to Takashi soon after. The brunette was happily organizing papers like it was nobody's business. How he could do it so quickly and efficiently, the underground pro had absolutely no idea. He felt mildly intimidated.

"My favorite." Touya agreed with a grin. He brushed the uneasy feeling off and rolled his shoulders, cracking his back and yawning. Shoto's friends all blinked at him as though they hadn't expected him to act even relatively human despite the fact that he'd been doing the same damn thing as them all day. It was actually a little sad. 

"Todoroki, are you eating with... your brother today?" Ochako asked, giving a forced smile when Touya turned to look at her. She immediately felt herself begin to sweat as she recalled his blue flames arching all around them, eating away the woodlands. Was it really just some huge misunderstanding? He didn't seem like a bad guy, but then again... he had been scowling and glaring at anyone he caught looking at him.

"Yes." Shoto answered simply, but it was brighter somehow. Looking at him, he wasn't smiling. But his eyes were lighter than they'd ever seen them. His shoulders weren't tense and square, and he didn't have his face hardened into a guard. He looked like he was bordering on content. They'd never seen him look that was before, save for when he was alone with Izuku. And even then they'd only caught glimpses before his protective wall was rising up to block them out again.

"I see. Very well! Have fun, and feel free to join us at any time." Iida made his usual chopping motion as Shoto gathered his things. Touya was shaking out his hands. It had been a long time since he last held a pencil for that long. He could already tell this shit wasn't going to be easy. No wonder so many high school brats were reported to have severe depression these days, according to Takashi. This place sucked and was stressful as all get out.

"W-Will you be alright?" Izuku asked, eyeing Shoto cautiously as he tried his best to get a read on his emotions. Shoto seemed happier. Like a light was shining right on him. To Izuku, this was a huge relief. Seeing the people he cared about happy made him happy by extension, so this was a big deal to him too. It reminded him of how worried he'd been about Iida when Tensei passed away. It was like that, but with Todoroki... it was constant.

"I'll be fine." Shoto gave a small smile that was more reassuring that the half-and-half boy probably realized. Takashi tilted his head slightly, seeming to be mulling over something as Touya waited for them to go off to wherever they'd be eating. He knew it wouldn't be in the cafeteria, and he was glad. As if twenty pairs of eyes wasn't enough. He'd been ready to snap just at that, but over two hundred? Yeah, as if.

"Well... w-we'll see you later, then." Izuku gave one last smile. Takashi felt a grin stretch across his face as his green eyes darted before Shoto and the freckled boy, excitement lighting up in the pit of his stomach. This day just kept getting better and better, didn't it? His dear Touya hadn't even noticed yet, which probably meant he wasn't going to. Takashi would bring it up later. It was very clearly a secret.

"Come on, you two! Someone will come ask what we want later, but not if we're not there to meet them." Takashi urged, already marching towards the door. He gave Aizawa a mock salute as he went, Touya shuffling after. Shoto bid his friends farewell once more before rushing after them, falling into step next to his older brother and immediately beginning to talk. They blinked after him, not too sure if they'd really just seen Shoto start a conversation on his own, or if they were hallucinating.

Takashi led them a ways down the hall to a side room. It wasn't particularly large, with a few tables and chairs. A camera in the corner let them know that Nezu was watching closely. Touya didn't really care. It was empty, and that was all that really mattered in his eyes. He finally felt like he could relax just a little, lacing his hand with Takashi's and slumping forward.

"Not enjoying it, then?" Shoto asked with a small smile. Touya gave an exaggerated groan.

"Takashi is the only reason I haven't snapped yet." The redhead said in all seriousness. Takashi pressed a kiss to his cheek, earning a small hum in response. Shoto didn't seem at all disturbed by the display of affection. If anything, he looked curious. That basically sealed the deal for Takashi. Any doubts he had were wiped away, and he let out an excited squeal that made the half-and-half boy flinch slightly. Touya just raised a brow, glancing at his husband questioningly.

"Shoto!" Takashi looked near tears as he fanned his face. "You didn't tell us you had a soulmate! And he's so cute, too!" 

Shoto's jaw drops, eyes going wide. Touya freezes, eyes also going wide as his gaze whips from his husband to his shell-shocked younger brother. Shoto doesn't even try to deny it. It's clear as day on his face that Takashi somehow managed to hit the nail on the head. Touya feels joy of his own fill inside him, a smile stretching across his face, because having a soulmate is a beautiful, beautiful thing. And his baby brother has one.

"I- uh... u-uh..." Shoto for once looked at a loss. "Please don't tell dad?"

Touya bursts out into a fit of laughter at his younger brother's concern, and Shoto relaxes slightly when he remembers that this is his family. His real family, and that they're going to help him so that he and Izuku don't have to hide anymore. Then, Endeavor won't be able to pull him out of school to get him away from Izuku, and he won't make training harsher because Shoto is "weak". They're going to help free him.

"Well, what are you doing here then?!" Takashi asked. Touya's laughter died down, and he blinked.

"Oh, shit. He's right." Touya grinned at him. "Go get your soulmate, Shoto! You can't be happy apart from him."

The acceptance warms him so much that he can't help but smile as he bounces to his feet, rushing off to go get Izuku so he can know Touya the same was Shoto does. So he can see that things are all going to be okay, and so that Takashi and his older brother can meet him. He's excited. How could he not be?

Takashi and Touya grin at each other, and suddenly the redhead finds himself thinking this situation isn't as bad as he thought it was.