Chapter Text
He bit into his lower lip while he carefully sank back into the comfortable mattress. His heterochromatic eyes fixed appreciatively on the masterpiece hovering above him wearing a smirk that put even Bakugou to shame. His lithe yet strong form quivering with anticipation at the promise to be consumed, burning wildly in those unbelievably beautiful and intrinsically intelligent hazel eyes.
"You look as though you may just float away if it weren't for the fact that you're trapped beneath me." Jake mused, his warm and honeyed voice enchanting like a siren's song. Shouto would gladly succumb to his demise if this god among men was what awaited at his end.
A strong and powerful hand reached out, gently caressing the soft skin of Shouto's cheek before trailing slowly down his neck.
"If you aren't perfection personified, Shouto Todoroki." There was a softness that showed through those hazel eyes that made something unfamiliar ache somewhere deep within.
"I-I'm not." He breathed out quietly, looking unintentionally small and ashamed. Jake's smile only widened, the corners of his eyes crinkling as that gentleness and authentic adoration reached them.
"You are, darling boy." Experienced fingers explored the contours of his body with a tenderness that made that unfamiliar ache grow. Yet there wasn't enough money in the world that could be offered that would make him want any of this to stop. He'd never been so thoroughly appreciated and worshipped as he was under this man's care.
"Jake…" Shouto tried his hardest to keep the tears threatening to spill over hidden by tightly closing his eyes and leaning further into that heavenly touch.
"Yes, beautiful Shouto?" Gods, why was his heart aching so profoundly? This felt much bigger than some silly crush and its fleeting and fickle feelings. It felt as though Jake was somehow prying at the deepest, fortified and nearly forgotten parts of his heart and soul. He wanted to be angry. Defensive. Instead, he couldn't find the will to resist that which had been denied throughout his youth and later denied by himself from others.
"It's okay, Shouto. You can cry in front of me. There is no judgement here nor do you have a reason to be afraid. I will never betray your trust, darling boy." And just like that he fell apart. No hesitation whatsoever and that left a part of him truly dumbfounded. His body seemed more attuned to what he desired than parts of his mind.
"I'm uh...sorry. I don't...I honestly don't even know why I'm crying." The soft and brief laugh was obviously self deprecating and as those mismatched eyes fluttered close, shedding the unspilled tears that had gathered, a kiss, so soft and incredibly tender, was pressed to his brow like a parent would comfort a child. That only served to break him apart even further.
"Oh, my sweet, precious, darling Shouto. Come here, baby." Without even having to strain a single muscle, he was quickly and easily swept into strong arms and rearranged against Jake's broad chest. The desire to feel loved, cherished, protected, safe , all consuming in that moment of pure vulnerability. And so he nuzzled affectionately into the crook of the man's neck, breathing deeply.
"I'm all kinds of fucked up, aren't I." It was a statement. Definitely not a question. Shouto knew he was damaged goods but it had never mattered to him before because he had never been in an actual relationship before. It had always been simply sex. He was training to be a hero. Obviously there was no room for anything else. At least, that's what he had thought over the last few years. Leave it to Bakugou to, as usual, break the damn mold.
"No, sweetheart. We all have our damages and hurt we carry." Shouto snorted in disbelief.
"Even you?"
"Mm. Especially me." Gentle fingers softly stroked through mismatched locks helping to soothe Shouto's precious and fragile heart.
"Would you like to hear my story? Though, it is quite private and I do not share this with other's. Only a handful of very trusted friends and family know and I would need your word not to ever repeat a word of it."
"Of course. Though I don't know why you would want to share something so private then with me." Jake's fingers slid gently down Shouto's soft cheek, tilting his face to meet his own. The look in his eyes was intense, but only kindness waited on the other side. There was just something about Jake that allowed his guard to fall, with or without his permission.
"Because, darling boy, you are precious to me. You, Katsuki and Izuku have found such a special place in my heart. Is it really so strange that I would like to share a hidden part of myself with you?"
"I guess, it's just, why me and not them?"
"Oh they will absolutely come to know. In time. As it just so happens to involve the nature of my profession as well." Shouto's brows reached upward at that. He couldn't deny the curiosity that had taken root and begun to grow. There were just so many unexplained answers that were never really answered at all and only served to incite more questions that would undoubtedly go unanswered. These two, while so beautiful and kind and real, were shrouded in mystery.
"Okay then. I can't deny how curious I actually am." Jake chuckled at that before repositioning himself to get more comfortable. Shouto crawled easily into the crook of the offered arm and cuddled up against that godly body still nude yet now carefully hidden beneath a soft white sheet.
"My mother was a hero."
"What? Really? Who??"
"Patience gorgeous, I'll get there." Jake teased making Shouto giggle at how ridiculous he must seem at the moment. All snuggled up and eyes wide with wonder as Jake told him his story.
"My father, however, was quirkless. Yet that didn't stop him from becoming one of the most brilliant minds I have ever known. He had thrown himself into his studies and became a brilliant scientist and engineer. People from all over the world would seek him out for a whole host of reasons. None more so than heroes. Yet, he always turned them away, claiming that there were so many talented and brilliant minds out there that solely specialized in that field. You see, he purposely studied and pushed himself towards doing things that hero work seldom crossed paths with."
"Why? Did he have something against heroes in general?"
"No, not at all. Quite the opposite actually. He had great respect for those who used their given abilities for the greater good and serving others. However, he also knew that it was the most coveted, respected and desired position in the workforce. While it's incredibly difficult to get in as they only take the best of the best, the lesser sought after jobs but just as important were always in desperate need of qualified help. My father used his quirklessness and intelligence to be one of the rare few fully focused on and set to make a difference where he knew he could."
"Wow... your father. He's a great man."
"Yes. That he was. He was and will always be my hero."
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize…"
"Not at all. It's been quite a while now since he passed."
"And your mother?"
"Ah yes, my amazing and beautiful mother. Like all true love seems to do, she threw a wrench in my father's master plan for his future. Simply by walking into it." The two shared a brief moment of laughter.
"What is she like, your mom?" A soft and rather sad look momentarily passed through Jake's eyes making Shouto's heart clench.
"Honestly? She was not the greatest mom. But, she was a really great hero. Everyone loved her. And how could they not? She was brave, strong, selfless and gave all of herself to the people. And, she was undefeatable. For a very, very, long time." Shouto felt his adrenaline spike, a mix of excitement, fear and anticipation from Jake's words. No. There was no possible way. Just... absolutely not…
"Until she wasn't. I remember that day as if it were yesterday even though it happened so long ago now. I was eight years old when my mother was killed in combat." Shouto felt like he was hyperventilating. Oh please god no, tell me this isn't him….
"Jake…. I'm so sorry."
"Ah, don't be, sweetheart. She knew that was always a risk she took every single time she put herself out there. We were watching it all unfold on T.V. at the time. Me and my dad would often sit together and cheer her on whenever one of her fights were large enough to be televised. This was no exception. No one had ever expected her to fail. Her opponent however was clever. Too clever actually. He knew her weaknesses of which there were not many. We would come to find out much later that he had spent many years obsessing over and studying her. In time, that infatuation turned to envy and eventually hatred. Which is why when he was ready, he had come quite prepared. It's also why it was so unexpected. She never would have turned her back on anyone and left herself open to attack if there was even the slightest threat. She was focused on apprehending the rampaging villain, not the handful of civilians she had just pulled out of harm's way. And then he struck. It all happened so quickly that at first, no one understood what was happening until she fell. Poison of a very lethal nature. Had it not been for the brave woman who noticed her assailant making a desperate attempt at an escape and calling it out as loudly as possible, he would have gotten away." Shouto's hands covered his mouth to hold back the screams undoubtedly about to be unleashed. It was true. It was him and he's sitting here telling Shouto Todoroki his story that people around the world had tried for years to get from this secretive faceless man. Tears fell in a steady stream as he stared unabashedly at the figure before him in a whole new light.
"Oh my gods you're him. Aren't you. Your mother was…." An all too perfect and gorgeous grin shown down at him in mirth.
"Go on, say it then." Jake encouraged him with what seemed so very much like relief hiding behind that fond smile.
"Your mother….was….Pro Hero Eden? America's longest running number one hero in history? All Mights tutor during his early career in the United States?! A-Are you….are you actually serious right now?!"
"Wow, you certainly know your history, don't you, handsome?"
"You. You're her son, the one so many have spent years trying to find and get an interview with. Oh my….I can't...just….are you seriously Jacob Sylva???"
"Mm. Or rather, I was. I am now simply known as Jake Thomas. My grandmother's maiden name. I'm sure you can already guess why I changed it."
"Oh my...can I...just hug you?" Jake broke into laughter before pulling the younger man into a firm hug.
"So it seems you already know my story, hm?" Shouto pulled back and stared at him incredulously a moment.
"Are you actually serious? I sincerely doubt there's an aspiring hero anywhere in the world who hasn't heard your story. It was one of the saddest moments in hero history. And though I hadn't been born yet, my father thoroughly educated me on everything about heroes and it's prestigious history. Especially about Pro Hero Eden. But wait, that still doesn't explain anything about your profession... because if I remember correctly, she had left everything to you. Including her shares and stakes of the United Alliance Hero Agency, aka, the greatest hero agency world wide! Why on Earth did you turn it down and give it all back to the agency?"
"Ah yes. It was because money didn't matter to me in the same way my mother had. Nothing she had left me could replace her or fill the void she left behind. So, I did what I thought was best to help her legacy live on. It certainly wouldn't through me as I am quirkless, just like my father. I could never be a Pro Hero as simple quirkless Jake Sylva. Instead I left it in the hands of those far more capable than I could ever be. That's why I changed my name and started a new life for myself."
"At only eight years of age…"
"No, not at eight, my love. Eighteen."
"Wait...I don't understand.."
"Everything was left to me, yes. But I was just an eight year old boy and my father had wanted me to wait until I was an adult before making any decisions. He wanted me to understand everything. And so, right after I graduated, I knew if I kept that name, it would follow me my whole life. To give myself a chance at a real future, one I would carve out for myself, I changed my name. After I gave everything left to me back to the agency of course. You understand. Legalities and all."
"So what is it you do for a living then, Jake?" A rather dark and sultry smile answered even before he spoke.
"That my dear Shouto, is where the secret comes into play." Shouto was definitely feeling more curious than when they had started, now.
"You are aware of who currently runs the agency, are you not?" That was an easy one.
"Sure, everyone does. Pro Hero Mastermind. The current number one hero."
"Mm. Indeed. And what do you know of this Pro Hero Mastermind?"
"Ah, well. They are incredibly intelligent and the brains of every operation orchestrated through the agency including foreign affairs. Yet they are notoriously secretive and no one seems to know their true identity."
"Some people do, of course. That would be impossible for anyone to achieve when you work so closely with others and have working relationships built on trust. But yes, I concur, they are quite secretive in nature."
"You talk as if you know them, then. So, do you? Do you honestly expect me to believe that you know the identity of the American number one hero, Mastermind?!"
"But of course. Why is that so difficult to believe?"
"But, how? I thought you said you walked away and started a new life as Jake Thomas or whatever."
"As Jake Thomas, I most certainly did. I even married the love of my life. Oh yes, I believe you already met him? His name is Issa."
"Haha, very funny. You know what I meant."
"Of course. You're just exceptionally fun to tease."
"Hey!"
"Kidding. Mostly. As Jake Thomas, I live a wonderfully quiet and happy little life in Chicago-"
"-wait, you said as Jake Thomas. Are you implying that is not always the case?"
"You are a sharp one! Now let's see just how much. Tell me, handsome. What do you think I mean regarding all of that?" Shouto took a few moments in silence to sort through everything he had now on this man and his history.
"Okay so, you live in Chicago which means you never moved far away and can still interact with the agency should you so choose. You live a quiet, peaceful, married life, well, Jake Thomas does at least and-"
His jaw shut so hard it clanked and echoed through his skull a dozen or so times. Inhaling deeply, he held it as long as he possibly could while trying to calm the insanity that had hollowed out his insides the moment he finally pieced it all together. Eyes wide and hands trembling, he sat on his knees, carefully cupping Jake's cheeks and searching his eyes for any trace of dishonesty or teasing. Yet he found none. A gasp released as more tears spilled over as the sheer shock rolled over him in powerful waves.
"Holy…..H-Holy shit, Jake."
"Figured it out did you?" Jake laughed softly making Shouto's mind whirl. Oh holy shit, Shouto... you did... that with...with…"
"Ho-mygod. I uh… I-I'm…." An adorable high pitched squeak came out next instead of words causing his pale skin to flush a bright red.
"It's alright, Shouto. Go on, tell me what conclusion you came to."
"I can't….I still can't believe it's true. Or real. If I don't acknowledge it I won't have to face the reality of everything I just did with you!"
"Oh no, do you regret doing those things with me?"
"N-No! And oh god- yes because now I actually know who you are!"
"Nothing has changed precious, boy. You simply learned a bit more about me."
"I know but... but you're…. you!"
"Right now I am simply Jake Thomas, dear Shouto. It truly is that simple. Yet I can tell we will not be able to move past this new revelation until you have in fact, addressed it. So, pleased to meet you, Shouto Todoroki, Pro Hero Shouto." Jake offered his hand in traditional western style and Shouto could only stare at it a moment as he trembled with what was expected of him to say in reply. He took a deep breath trying his best not to mess this incredible moment up by making any kind of nervous mistake.
Shouto reached out in similar fashion, firmly clasping his hand in his as his father had taught him so many times to do properly. He looked this incredible man in the eyes when he cleared his throat and carefully spoke.
"The pleasure is all mine, Jake Thomas…" He hesitated a moment considering that he possibly might have gotten this wrong but one nod from the man before him helped him soldier on.
"-Pro Hero, Mastermind."
Tbc