Waking up in the body of Todoroki Rei was a shock, but panic was a luxury I couldn't afford. The moment I opened my eyes and saw a four-year-old Shoto crying softly in the corner, while twelve-year-old Touya hid his scorched, blistering arms in the hallway, my modern mind—armed with martial arts training, tactical intelligence, and complete knowledge of the tragic future—made a hard decision. The frail, broken Rei of original canon was dead. In her place stood a woman who was going to beat this family into shape—literally, if necessary.
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@theegorjessWaking up in the body of Todoroki Rei was a shock, but panic was a luxury I couldn't afford.
The room was cold. Sterile. The kind of cold that seeped into your bones and made you forget what warmth felt like.
And there was a sound—soft, hiccuping, desperate—coming from the corner.
A four-year-old boy with mismatched eyes—one gray, one the color of a summer sky—was curled against the wall, tears streaming down his round cheeks. His tiny fists were pressed against his ears, as if trying to block out the world.
Shoto.
My son.
And in the hallway, barely visible through the cracked door, stood a boy with white hair and burn scars creeping up his arms like angry red ivy. Touya. Twelve years old. His jaw was clenched so tight I could see the muscles jumping beneath his skin. He was hiding his blistered hands behind his back, like he was ashamed of them.
Like he was ashamed of himself.
And somewhere deeper in the house, I could hear it. The roar of flames. The crash of something heavy hitting a wall. Endeavor's training session was still going.
The frail, broken Rei of original canon was dead. In her place stood a woman who was going to beat this family into shape—literally, if necessary.
I took a breath. Then I stood up.
Todoroki Rei
Shoto.
The boy flinched at my voice. He looked up at me with wide, terrified eyes—and I realized with a cold, sharp clarity that he was afraid of me.
The original Rei had already hurt him. The boiling water incident hadn't happened yet, but the damage was already there. The fear was already planted.
Not anymore.
Todoroki Rei
I kneel down in front of him, slow and deliberate, keeping my hands visible. Shoto, look at me. I need you to breathe with me, okay? Can you do that?
Todoroki Shouto
his voice is barely a whisper M-Mom...?
Todoroki Rei
Yes. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere.
I heard a sharp intake of breath from the hallway. Touya was still there, frozen, watching me like I was a bomb that might go off at any second.
I turned my head just enough to meet his gaze.
Todoroki Rei
Touya. Come here.
Todoroki Touya
his voice cracks I... I don't—
Todoroki Rei
Come here. Now.
He hesitated. Then, slowly, he stepped into the room, still hiding his arms behind his back. His eyes were red-rimmed. He'd been crying too.
This family was a house of broken children.
And I was going to fix it.
Todoroki Rei
I hold out my hand to him, palm up, patient Show me your arms, Touya.
Todoroki Touya
shakes his head violently No. No, you'll—you'll be disgusted, you'll—
Todoroki Rei
I won't. I'm your mother. I will never be disgusted by you.
The words hung in the air like a promise. Touya stared at me, searching my face for the lie, the pity, the revulsion he expected to find.
He found none.
Slowly, trembling, he brought his arms out from behind his back. The burns were fresh. Blistered. Some of them were still weeping. The skin was mottled red and white, cracked like old porcelain.
The original Rei would have screamed. Would have cried. Would have called for help.
I just looked at him. Measured. Calm.
Todoroki Rei
my voice is steady How long have you been training without telling your father?
Todoroki Touya
looks down, ashamed ...Three weeks. I thought if I could just get stronger, if I could just push past it, then maybe he'd—
Todoroki Rei
Maybe he'd what? Love you?
Touya's silence was answer enough.
I reached out and gently took his wrist. He flinched, but I didn't let go.
Todoroki Rei
Listen to me, Touya. Your quirk is burning you because you're pushing it too hard, too fast, without understanding the mechanics of your own body. That's not a failure. That's a training problem. And training problems can be fixed.
Todoroki Touya
his voice is small ...What?
Todoroki Rei
I'm going to teach you how to fight without destroying yourself. I'm going to teach you breath control, defensive stances, alternative techniques. And you are going to become a hero—a real hero—without killing yourself to get there.
Touya's eyes went wide. Something cracked in his expression. Something that had been holding him together for years.
And then, from down the hall, came the sound of heavy footsteps.
Endeavor.
The temperature in the room spiked. Shoto whimpered and pressed himself closer to the wall. Touya's face went pale.
I stood up slowly, positioning myself between the door and my children.
The footsteps stopped.
Todoroki Enji
Rei. What are you doing out of your room?
His voice was a low growl. The kind of voice that made the original Rei flinch and apologize and retreat.
I didn't flinch.
Todoroki Rei
I'm tending to my son's injuries. What are you doing?
Silence.
The door swung open, and Endeavor stood in the doorway—massive, blazing, his flames flickering with barely contained irritation. His eyes swept over the scene: Touya's burned arms, Shoto cowering in the corner, me standing between them like a shield.
Todoroki Enji
his voice drops Step aside. The boy's training isn't finished.
Todoroki Rei
His training is finished for today. He's hurt.
Todoroki Enji
He's weak. And you're coddling him. Move.
He took a step forward. The heat intensified. I could feel the sweat beading on my skin, the air itself starting to shimmer.
I didn't move.
Instead, I reached out and caught his wrist.
Fast. Precise. A joint lock that used his own momentum against him, twisting his arm just enough to make him pause—not hurt him, but stop him.
Endeavor froze.
His eyes met mine. And for the first time in years, there was something other than contempt in them.
Confusion.
Todoroki Enji
...What did you just do?
Todoroki Rei
I showed you what happens when you try to lay a hand on my children.
I held his gaze, unblinking. My voice was ice.
Todoroki Rei
You will not break them, Enji. Not under the excuse of a hero's ambition. Not while I'm standing.
The silence stretched. Somewhere in the house, a clock ticked.
Endeavor's flames flickered. And then, slowly—very slowly—he pulled his arm back.
Todoroki Enji
his voice is quiet, dangerous You've changed.
Todoroki Rei
Yes. I have.