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“So what controls her power? What is it like?”
Shouto fights the urge to roll his eyes in annoyance while he feels the grip of his husband on his waist tighten in silent fury. Shouto’s father has always been a predictable asshole, but sometimes his level of audacity precedes Shouto’s expectations.
“Her magic is fucking strong, that’s what it's like.” Katsuki gruffly responds, he was never down with formalities when addressing the former Todoroki King. Since the first time they met, they’ve been at odds. When Shouto ran away to Katsuki’s land across the badlands into mountain territory, Enji sent the whole cavalry after him only to face fiercely protective dragons who scared the men enough to return with their tails between their legs. Humiliation isn’t a strong enough word.
So, Shouto’s husband and father are not chummy with one another. Regardless, he is here standing in their mountain-top castle of the honorable dragon folk, not as a King, but as a father and grandfather. Shouto is open to giving him a shot, much to Katsuki’s displeasure. It’s not going well.
Shouto tugs on his fur-lined coat and buries his nose into it. The beauty of autumn has passed, and they are now firmly planted in the chill of winter. His dad always hated the cold, so his body is becoming more rigid the longer they stay outside, but the first snow of the season is important to embrace in Katsuki’s culture. At least he’s keeping the complaints to a minimum—small victories.
Since Enji stepped down from his role and begrudgingly passed the crown to Fuyumi, he has been trying to make amends with his family, though old habits die really fucking hard.
He tried with Touya, though incredibly unsuccessful. When Shouto asked Keigo why Touya didn’t accept Enji’s proposal to become king he said, “Touya stated he would rather rip his eyes out than sit on Enji’s ass print on the throne.” He got a laugh out of Shouto, he won’t lie.
Fuyumi has remained the closest to their father, though she is also guilty of participating in their sibling bitching sessions. Natsuo only speaks to their mother so that’s a lost cause for their father. Their mother has long forgiven Endeavor for his sins but chooses to spend her time jumping from each child, spending several weeks with each sibling, and coming into her role as Grandma Rei, so they only ever speak when there is a wedding or coronation to attend.
So this is his attempt at finally making nice with his youngest child.
Endeavor and his entourage are finally–4 years later– meeting the fifth (and probably last) Todoroki grandchild. ‘ Yeah fucking right ’ Katsuki had said when Shouto broke the news. He thinks the former monarch is still convinced Shouto is his ticket to a prime legacy.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watches as Enji glowers at Katsuki’s dragon Yoshitsune, curled up by the outside gates, she is carefully watching the kids as though they were her hatchlings. The creature puts him on edge, and Shouto feels proud at the sight of a grown man threatened by such an imposing presence. In contrast, his child doesn’t blink twice when she wants to touch her smooth scales or climb her tail like a personal playground. This is her home.
Slowly Enji gives his attention back to the kids and looks down his nose at the little girl, playing in the snow-covered garden with the Kaminari boy. Disdain. Shouto knows that look well; he’s been on the receiving end of it for the better part of his childhood.
“What kind of fire will she wield? Her cousins have adequate abilities, but as my prized child, I expect even better results.” His father's tone and towering figure grate on his nerves.
It still perplexes him how anyone could look at those innocent babies, smiling in the winter sun, all bundled in their warmest furs, and think, “Not good enough.” He clenches his fists as he tries to keep his response polite. The sooner they get this over with, the sooner he leaves, and Katsuki can order Hitoshi to change the locks.
He looks at his partner to see that Katsuki’s eyes are locked solely on their daughter, joy and pride swirling in the heat of his gaze. Before Shouto can respond he answers on his behalf, “She is the perfect blend of Shouto and I, her ice is mighty.” Shouto fights down a grin.
Enji’s stupid mustache uncharacteristically flares out like when he would lash out at his family. He lost some of his spark with age, but Katsuki’s quip was enough to bring the old man back to his former glory. The following silence is tense.
The wind howls and the snowfall picks up as the sun begins to set.
“How…disappointing.” It’s guttural, he means it from the depths of his soul.
Shouto's stomach drops when he registers the displeasure. Nausea swirls in his gut and the desire to fix it by proving himself itches under his skin. The cool air whips his hair around and sharply cuts across his cheeks, he digs his nails into his palm, trying to brace himself through the sensations clawing up his throat.
Not enough. Never enough.
His baby, the most important thing to him and his husband is…inadequate.
He remembers the day she was born. She was so small and delicate, her wrinkly body fit perfectly along his forearm, safely tucked into the crook of his elbow. He never understood Enji and that day only solidified the glaring differences between them as father and son.
Shouto wishes he was the type to yell, to just let it all out on the object of his pain, but he can’t. Not with her right there, enjoying her time in the snow. Not when it’s her first time meeting her grandfather.
Shouto quickly realizes Katsuki isn’t squeezing the shit out of him anymore. No longer using Shouto as his personal stress ball. Shouto looks over to see his powerful, intimidating husband hunched over, bellowing in laughter like he just heard the greatest joke of all time. It's infectious, but Shouto has never laughed in front of his father so he fights the desire.
“You think.. HA … you, you think I give a shit about what you think about my kid?” Katsuki keeps laughing, wiping tears from his eyes. He looks at Nemie, their little girl who just chucked a snowball right into Mochiki’s pink cheeks and the little boy flops back into a thick pile of fluff. Katsuki cups around his mouth and yells out, “Nice shot Nemi!” and the following melodic sounds of her laughter grace Shouto's ears.
Through all the pain and torment, this is why he fought so hard to be with Katsuki, this was the life he wanted.
Suddenly Hitoshi appears seemingly out of nowhere and Katsuki whistles out at the kids to call them back in, they perk at the sound and their chubby hands link together as they clumsily run back towards the adults, little legs working hard to not wipe out into the frost.
Mochiki runs right past them into his dad’s arms, he quickly says a drowsy goodbye to Nemie and the duo quickly exits the tense situation. Shouto envies them, Aizawa would have been a nice father to have, an even better grandfather he imagines. Oh well.
Enji grits out another question because he can’t surrender even when a loss is inevitable, that charming Todoroki stubbornness. “When will you have another? Surely you will try for a son next.”
Katsuki bends down to intercept their daughter as she bulldozes into his arms in glee, her earmuffs flying off her head on impact, barely registering her dad’s response to Enji’s outlandish inquisition. “Nah, just this little rascal is enough for us,” he declares as he throws her in the air a bit. His smile warms Shouto’s heart, the love of his life and their child, relishing in the joy of the season together.
Shouto finally looks over at his father. Bright blue eyes are glaring back into his own, unpleased with their choices. Unwilling to back down, Shouto matches his stare and finally chooses to speak. “Even if she had what you wanted she would never go back to that place as a Todoroki. She is a Bakugo.” Shouto swears he can hear Endeavor grit his teeth, seething.
“No matter, Fuyumi and Touya created boys who are more capable of taking the throne. The Todoroki name will live on with or without you.” Katsuki snorts next to him at the clear lie. They heard all about how their niece and nephews also did not pass Enji’s ‘test.’
Fuyumi’s boys, Kazaki and Nagisa, have the Humura ice mixed with their other parent’s magic which is nothing particularly special or powerful. Kaima and Ume, Touya’s twins, very existence is a big Fuck You to Endeavor considering their other father is the King’s former right hand. The harpy wings are hard for him to ignore as well.
Katsuki always said if the old man could pull his head out of his ass, he would see that their neice Takami Ume is the perfect heir and possesses the moxy to match. Unfortunately, giving Fuyumi the crown was tough enough, a line of queens was not in the original playbook, nor was allowing his fire to be pushed out of power.
That’s the real kicker, the Todoroki name is forever cursed, plagued by the bloodline of the Humura clan. Enji’s need for power and a legacy has caused his flame to be smothered and his children to be tainted. Alas, there will never be another whose fire rules their sorcery. Todoroki Enji is the last of his kind and no amount of force will change that. He is no God.
Shockingly, or not if you know Endeavor, his arrogance allowed him to deny the very real fact of this world, Ice was always more influential than Fire. Even now, with every one of his children and now grandchildren possessing the harsh winter in their veins, he still believes there’s a shot.
Shouto trusts that when Enji acknowledges the venom he has brought upon himself and their family, then his father will be able to accept and move on from their past. But for as long as he keeps running from his mistakes, he will continue to be sorely disappointed.
Katsuki is one of the people who will continue to remind Shouto’s father of these facts.
Shouto melts as Katsuki shoves his nose against Nem’s cold cheek to nuzzle her lovingly, “Nemie will rule the Dragon Kingdom if she so chooses.” Katsuki’s ruby eyes cut toward his father-in-law, “We will raise her to take no shit, especially from leaders like you.” Katsuki is firing on all cylinders, he kisses Nemi’s head as she leans against the fur of his cape. “You gotta problem with that then you can fuck off.”
“Katsuki.” Shouto reprimands, the swearing around the four-year-old is going to bite them in the ass one day, and he’s no better.
A little hand pats Katsuki’s mouth and Nemie mumbles into his shoulder, “Bad daddy.” Katsuki lightly bites at her hand in apology, “Sorry bug.”
Shouto hears his father clear his throat behind him, he peers back to see Endeavor quickly nod in dismissal. Probably ready to retreat to his guest quarters since it is clear he will not get what he wants out of this moment. Shouto watches as his large figure disappears around the corner before looking back at his family. He sags into Katsuki’s free side and lets out a long-suffering sigh. He knows this conversation is far from over, but he’s not alone. He and Katsuki are a united front against any adversary.
The November twilight serves as a beautiful backdrop to the falling snow, the sky painted in shades of purple and orange as the days grow shorter. Shouto thinks they should probably head into the warmth of the living area soon before Mistuki starts looking for them, but the view is too good to pass up.
Katsuki breaks the moment now that it’s just the three of them, “He’s still a prick.” All of the remaining energy in his body seeps out as he chuckles in agreement. It could’ve been worse.
“Papa?” Shouto acknowledges Nemie with a hum and closes his eyes. Katsuki combs through his red and white hair with gentle fingers. Shouto would love to just freeze time. This moment with the beautiful frozen flakes blanketing their home and the smell of fireplaces blazing throughout townspeople's abodes. Winter in all its perfection. It feels like his mother’s embrace.
He tries to breathe it all in.
“What’s a prick?”
Shouto’s eyes shoot open and Katsuki cackles like a fool.
He’s going to kill him.