Turning point

Hello! Mimmy here with a little something for #ButterflyEvent24! My branding at his point is Dabi and Hawks, together or apart, but pretend to be shocked that I chose this moment....

I had a handful of prompts for this (I'm a sucker for what if scenarios) and settled for this one.

Prompt: What if Endeavor had gone to Sekoto Peak?

#WritingMatters

Word count

1192

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“Where is Touya?” Endeavor’s voice thundered through the house as he noticed his two middle children in the living room but saw no sign of his eldest.

Fuyumi and Natsuo exchanged a look, as if debating whether to tell him or to wait it out. Touya would eventually tire and return home, as he did nearly every day after his excursions to Sekoto Peak, often with a few new burns.

Endeavor’s frown deepened at their silence. His gaze hardened as he waited for a response. Their lack of words was answer enough. He recalled Touya’s plea to him in the forest, to see how much progress he had made. Endeavor had snapped at his son, and no sane person would continue training after being told their quirk could be fatal.

But Touya wasn’t sane in that way. He had absorbed Endeavor’s ambitions and made them his own. Endeavor knew his son would push himself to the brink, even if it meant burning out.

Without another word, Endeavor stormed out of the house. The front door slammed shut behind him, startling his children. Shoto peeked out of his room at the noise.

Endeavor’s boots pounded against the pavement as he stormed away from the house, his frustration boiling over. The air was crisp, and the chill did nothing to cool the heat of his anger and worry. He didn’t stop to consider his next move; instinct drove him as he headed for the car.

The engine roared to life as he sped down the road, the landscape blurring past in a haze of steel and asphalt. Sekoto Peak was a good distance away, but Endeavor’s urgency lent him a fierce determination. Each mile seemed to stretch into infinity as he gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity, eyes fixed ahead.

The familiar, rugged terrain of Sekoto Peak came into view, its stark, towering silhouette a strong reminder of the challenges it held. Endeavor’s heart pounded as he pulled into the parking area. He barely ed the crunch of gravel underfoot as he leapt out of the car and started climbing.

His steps were heavy and deliberate as he made his way up the rocky path. The wind howled around him, carrying with it the faint echoes of distant flames. The landscape was littered with the remnants of past training sessions—scorched earth, charred trees, and the occasional smoldering embers. Each sign of Touya’s presence drove Endeavor’s urgency higher.

“Touya!” His voice cut through the wind, echoing against the mountain’s stark walls. “Touya, where are you?”

The call was swallowed by the roaring wind, leaving only silence in response. Endeavor's breath came in ragged bursts, a mix of exertion and desperation, each step fueled by the growing dread that he might be too late.

He reached a plateau, a vantage point overlooking a vast expanse of charred earth. The scene was eerily quiet, save for the occasional crackle of residual flames. Endeavor scanned the area, eyes searching for any sign of his son amidst the devastation.

His gaze locked onto a cluster of burnt trees, and he approached with renewed hope. As he drew nearer, he noticed fresh scorch marks on the ground—evidence that Touya had been here recently. The discovery gave him a glimmer of relief, but it was fleeting. There was no sign of Touya, no evidence of him being in immediate danger but no evidence of him being safe and sound, just the relentless aftermath of his relentless training.

Endeavor’s fists clenched at his sides as he stood there, the weight of his own failings heavy on his shoulders.

He had to find Touya before the flames consumed him completely.

“Touya!” he called out again, desperation threading through his voice as he looked for his son. The flames around were small, mere embers of Touya’s power, and that only heightened his anxiety. “Touya, where—?”

A silhouette on the ground shifted slightly, looking up at him with teary eyes. The boy’s white hair was unmistakable.

“Touya...” Relief flooded through Endeavor as he hurried to his son, dropping to his knees to meet his gaze. He could see the tears brimming in Touya’s eyes, which now held a mix of shock and something else—perhaps gratitude. “Are you hurt?”

“Dad...?” Touya’s voice was quiet, almost shattered, as he struggled to keep his tears in check. He fought to maintain his composure, unwilling to appear weak in front of his father.

Endeavor’s stern expression softened as he took in Touya’s fragile state. He reached out, gently placing a hand on his son’s shoulder. “It’s alright, Touya. I’m here now.”

Touya’s eyes, still brimming with unshed tears, met his father’s with a mixture of relief and uncertainty. For a moment, the intensity of the training and the bitterness of their past conflicts seemed to melt away. Endeavor could see the recent burns and exhaustion etched on Touya’s face, the toll of pushing himself beyond his limits.

“I’m sorry,” Touya whispered, his voice cracking. “I didn’t mean to—”

“You don’t need to apologize. I should have been here sooner.” Endeavor interrupted softly, shaking his head.

Touya’s shoulders trembled, and Endeavor could see the effort it took for him to hold back his tears. The sight struck a chord deep within Endeavor, a stark reminder of the price of his own ambitions.

“Look at me, Touya,” Endeavor said gently, his voice tender. “You don’t have to prove anything to me. I’ve been so focused on what you could become that I forgot to see who you are right now. I’m proud of you, no matter what.”

Touya’s resolve broke, and he let out a choked sob, finally allowing the tears to fall. Endeavor pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him close. The warmth of his father’s arms, the strong presence that had always seemed so distant, was now a source of comfort.

“I’m sorry,” Touya murmured into his father’s shoulder. “I just wanted to make you proud.”

Endeavor’s grip tightened, his own eyes watering as he rested his chin on Touya’s head. “You’ve always made me proud, Touya.”

They stayed like that for a while, the embers around them flickering softly, a gentle reminder of the fiery ion that had driven them both to this point.

“Let’s go home,” Endeavor said softly, his voice carrying the promise of a fresh start.

Touya nodded, a tentative smile breaking through his tears. As they began their descent from Sekoto Peak, the bond between them felt stronger, forged anew in the warmth of their shared moment.

And Touya didn't dare get his hopes up, but that was a good start if his father was willing to listen, to just watch him.