Melt Another Day

The Todoroki courtyard was a wintry arena. Duos hurled snowballs at each other, sploshing heads, chests and unlucky tree barks in afternoon fun.

Grinning, Izuku and Fuyumi ran from Natsuo's missiles, their boots sank in soft snow as ice exploded on their backs; this friendly battle had broken out when Fuyumi launched the first snowball at Shouto.

"Try dodging this." Shouto aimed an icy ball at Izuku that disintegrated in mid air, powdery flakes scattering.

And struggling to not double over laughing, Izuku took advantage of Shouto's mishap, pelting his boyfriend square on the chest. Plow!

"Nice shot, Midoriya-kun!" Cheered Fuyumi, the closest person Izuku had to a sister.

"Heh thanks, Fuyumi-san." Blushing at the compliment, Izuku crouched down on the snow laden ground, pretending to scoop up more ammunition. He would take Natsuo down with this misdirection tactic.

Bonding with Natsuo had been easy for Izuku with their mutual love for video games, admiration for All and Natsuo's desire to know Shouto better.

Without warning, Natsuo ducked and Izuku's snowball sailed ahead, smacking an unsuspecting Enji on the cheek with a sickening splat.

Tension as thick as mud oozed between everyone when Enji spun around, levelling Izuku with a glare that sent goose flesh rippling up Izuku's back.

"It was an accident." Shouto rushed to Izuku's side, defending his boyfriend.

Izuku's pounding heart drowned out Fuyumi's and Natsuo's next words. His knees shook violently as he stammered out an apology. "I-I am so s-s-sorry sir Endeavour. I re-really didn't see you there, not that I would've hit you if I did s-s-sir!"

Enji roasting Izuku for that blow would cause a fresh rift between father and son. How could one playful act undo months of progress? Only a time alternating Quirk could save everything now.

"You're in my home," Enji began.

"Call me Enji." The Number One Hero held Izuku's gaze, stalking off moments later.

Giving Izuku a warm smile, both Fuyumi and Natsuo squeezed Izuku's shoulders before heading back to the main house.

And a teary-eyed, Izuku brought a shaky hand to his forehead, wrapping his mind over what happened. "I c-c-can't believe it."

"It's true," Shouto said softly, curling an arm around Izuku's waist. "My old man never says what he doesn't mean."

"Yeah but I thought your father hated me," sniffed Izuku.

Believing Enji tolerated him for Shouto's sake, Izuku never expected the flame hero to offer an All Might successor the intimacy of using his given name. This floored Izuku.

"No, he recognised how good you are, what you've done for me...for all of us." Shouto let go of Izuku's waist, lifting a hand to gently cup Izuku's cheek.

"He considers you family now, everyone does."

Family? Izuku's eyes shone bright, his heart swelled at the notion. Shouto's love had brought him another place where he was wanted and accepted, the Todoroki's were his new found family too. "I'm glad to be."

The End

A/N: Written for the December 14, 2018 prompt in DailyPrompt, "found family." Thank you for reading!