Chapter Text
A few days have passed and things seem to go back to normal.
The headaches have stopped and Todoroki is able to sleep just fine again. As stupid as it is, knowing he had someone there to make sure he would wake up did the trick.
And someone he looked forward to seeing was definitely not the reason here.
New thing is they exchanged texts with a few words also now, here and there. Short conversations. Bakugou always seems reluctant to do so, but he’s the one mainly starting those and it makes him feel happy. His heart is swelling every time he hears this little chime of notification when he is studying or in the morning. At 1st, it was mostly when he was either still up a bit late or later than usual in the morning. Bakugou was nudging gently, at least gently for him.
Which meant it was often punctuated by him calling him an idiot or something similar. Although his explosive friend had started calling another name too.
Halfie
He wasn’t sure why, it was not far from his usual half-and-half nickname, but for some reason, it made Shouto’s heart pound a bit faster everytime he did. It seemed to always be when they were alone, with nobody around to hear it. He wondered about that.
The class got news that they are being sent into a new internship for a few days. Todoroki took a chance and offered to both his friends if they wanted to study with him this turn around like during winter and they accepted, which made him really happy. It meant Midoriya, Bakugou and Todoroki are under the wing of Endeavor for a week again. To be honest, he wasn’t sure at 1st Bakugou would accept when he asked him by text as he stopped answering at all until he got to talk to him in person. But here they were, so all was good.
It’s the evening on their 4th day and they get a report of troubles in some part of the city. They were about to turn off for the night, but hearing this, Endeavor sighs. “You boys go on for tonight, I’ll go handle this.”
The 3 exchange a look.
“Can we accompany you sir ?” Deku steps forward, a serious expression on his face.
Endeavor seems slightly surprised. “You sure ? It’s been a long day.”
“We’re already here anyway.” Bakugou shrugs, a little annoyed, his head on the side. He’s not tired, this is nothing.
Endeavor looks at his son, but Shouto just stares back in silence, looking as determined as the other two are. Seeing they won’t back down on this, his father turns around. “Do as you want. Try to keep up.”
They all go meet his assistants and get the location they need. The boys get given an earpiece. “Some people called saying they spotted something suspicious in the area… we’re giving you these so it’s easier to sync up with each other. You might need to split up and it’s getting late. There’ll be a lot more action around.” The assistant explains. Burnin also tells them that the area is a bit big. They know the location of where the people who called were pointing, but whoever they saw are likely long gone by now.
They walk out in the city, running after Endeavor as he gets busy along the way like usual. Soon enough however, they all decide to split up to have a view on more grounds. “Now you boys are to report but not engage if you find the person we’re looking for.” Endeavor instructs them.
“Yes sir !”
On Bakugou's side; it’s been an hour and they haven’t found anything. He is wondering what they are missing. There is then suddenly some white noise in the air. He stops in his track. What the heck is that sound ?
“Endeavor !”
A voice resonates in the quadrant for everyone to hear. It sounds like speaker phones ringing through the whole place. “Now that you’re the number 1 hero, you think you’re so invincible... But believe me you’re not.” The man pauses for what seems a want to add some drama. “You’ve been stopping so many of us lately … you’re gonna regret it very soon.”
Bakugou tsks. “Look at the bastard looking for a spotlight.”
Endeavor isn’t saying anything on their communication line.
Where is he talking from ? It sounded like he was talking from every speaker in the city. Maybe that’s his quirk ? But he was talking about getting back at Endeavor, so he's been about to do something.
On his side, Deku takes a moment to think. “I do not see anything from where I am. Anything on your side ?”
* * *
Earlier, somewhere in this city’s quadrant; “Young Todoroki, what a nice coincidence …”
Todoroki blinks surprised and turns around.
The voice came from behind. He turns around, but it’s too late. He feels pain to the right side of his neck. What …was that…
He feels immediately weak, numb. Enough that his knees give up and soon his whole body is on the floor but he is still fully conscious. He clenches his teeth, trying to move or use his quirks, but all he manages is to crawl a little.
A man stands before him with a grin on his lips. He has long brown hair with some highlights all tied up in a bun. He walks to him and kneels down. “#1 hero’s son … don’t take this personally. It’s just business.” The guy flips him over on his back and climbs over him. Which surprises him a lot. The man grabs him by the collar, which he opens up to reach his neck. “You know, if it wasn’t for him, we would just go on with our lives.” He says while wrapping his long slim fingers around his throat.
He starts putting pressure.
He just sees the old man … why is he doing this, vengeance ? What … what should I do now ? Todoroki feels a bit sick noticing something else. “He’s …”
Then, the man just starts strangling him slowly and his body won’t just move. No matter how much he tries. “Endeavor !”
What is he doing ? He winces, trying to move his hands. Maybe if he could just use his quirk to force him off but it’s not working at all. Whatever the man hit it with before just paralyzed everything he could do.
“Now that the #1 …” He proceeds to do a speech through the city, the one that Bakugou and the others heard. Everything is starting to turn black while the man finishes his speech and he loses consciousness for a moment.
Seconds later, Todoroki gasps, waking up, he tries to take a deep breath but is having difficulties. His heart drumming hard in his ears.
“There you are. We wouldn’t want to make it that plain wouldn’t we ?” The man says, looking at his blurry eyes. A large grim smile draws on his face before he proceeds on the next part of his plan.
He lifts Todoroki up by the neck. “Any last thing in mind ? Any special someone ?” His voice sounds slithering as he goes on. “I hope not … because you’re not gonna see them again, sweetheart.” The man leans forward as he speaks, whispering next to his ear by the end.
But Todoroki is half listening. His head is getting foggy. He’s about to die and yes he thinks about his family for a moment, but his mind switches quickly to the silhouette of someone else… someone spiky looking.
Bakugou ?
He’s gonna die and he won’t … be able to talk to him anymore, to see him again … tears form in his eyes.
* * *
“Do you see anything on your side ? Kacchan ?” Deku is being a pain in the ass on the comms and won’t let him work. Freaking loud mouth.
“Give it a minute, would you ?!” He ends up yelling at him. No way he can concentrate with all the talking, they were all so noisy. That damn icy-hot bastard at least wasn’t a blabber mouth and way more easy to work with … not that he would tell him that. He climbs on the roof of a small 2 story high building nearby to get a better grasp of his surroundings. Upon looking around, he finally answers back. “Nan, nothing here.”
“That’s strange …” His green haired classmate sounds pensive and confused.
He tsks. “Why ?” Ready to roll his eyes a the idiocy that was gonna come out of this idiot’s mouth.
“What that guy just said seemed like a menace. If he was using a quirk, he shouldn’t be that far. Plus he would want you sir to not miss it if we think about what he said.” He points out, addressing Endeavor.
Their current Pro Hero employer hmms. “Fair reasoning.”
Deku scratches his head. “And you Todoroki, seeing anything suspicious on your side ?”
Silence.
Bakugou’s heart start to run a bit faster. He frowns.
Not again.
Wait a minute … Bakugou thinks to himself, getting irritated.
He hears Deku calling for Todoroki on the comms again.
“What is happening boys ?” Endeavor’s deep voice resonated through the comms, but Bakugou isn't listening. His mind getting blurry in the sudden anxiety, like a 6th sense was telling him something was very wrong.
Deku answers the flame hero. “I think Todoroki might …”
Then a 4th voice is heard on the channel. “… Katsuki … “ The voice is strained, without strength and a part of sadness slipping through it. He’s calling for help. Bakugou’s eyes go wide, anger and fear both filling him at once. He looks around again frantically. For anything that might help them see where he is calling from. Endeavor is really far from them at the moment and they can hear a booming fire as he sets in their general direction.
Deku yells on the comms. “Todoroki gives us a sign for us to find you !”
Bakugou is the 1st one to react and starts flying in one direction. It was small but he caught it !
Back on Todoroki’s side.
The man dragged him all the way to the border of the building. Still holding him by the neck. He hears Deku talking about a sign and he concentrates the hardest he can and manages to move his left hand just a little and uses his fire. The small burst of flame is enough to make the man let go of him.
And now he’s falling down.
The building is very high, but it’s going to be seconds before he lands on the street. He hears yelling in his headphones, but his brain is still a mess so he doesn’t understand the words. His eyes are closing and a familiar and blurry color scheme enters his vision as he does. There’s an impact, hard.
“Got ya.”
The voice is familiar too, he forces his eyes open again and sees Bakugou is holding him against his body by one arm, trying to fly them down like he can. Surprised, Todoroki tries to speak, but his throat is too damaged and there’s no sound coming out. Katsuki is here, he saved him. He can feel his warmth, smell him even. He feels overwhelmingly relieved somehow while he should be panicking as the improvised dual flying isn’t going so well. He is being basically deadweight here.
They land, hard, on the top of a building not too far, rolling on the concrete. As soon as they touched ground, Bakugou tried to protect him from the impact by holding him close and using his own body as a shield. Todoroki slips out of consciousness, his head on his chest as Bakugou immediately looks if he is ok. The blond hero goes to talk to the others but realizes he lost his earpiece in the fall.
There is some light flashing next to the building and Deku jumps up using his quirk to meet them. “Kacchan ! Todoroki”
Bakugou ignores him and picks Todoroki’s earpiece from his left ear and puts it on while Deku runs to them.
Deku puts a hand to his ear to muffle the external noise. “We got Todoroki sir. Kacchan caught him. They were on top of the Kaze Enterprise building I think.”
“Leave this to me, you boys stay back. How’s Shouto ?” Endeavor replies.
Deku looks at his friend concerned. “He’s unconscious, but he seems unhurt, I think.”
As he speaks, Bakugo is checking for any wounds and he spots something that gets his attention. He opens Todoroki’s collar. “Wait…”
They both see huge bruises on his neck, so dark it could look like bones were broken even. Making wide eyes, Bakugou lays his ear to Todoroki’s mouth, immediately checking for his breath as Deku puts the pieces together. He saw the files of a man they were hunting right now at the agency.
“Sir ! I think it’s the strangler.” Deku announces, mostly convinced.
Endeavor answer is concerned. Not liking what this implies. “What are you saying ? He’s never acted in this sector of the city so far.” But stays professional as he usually tries.
Bakugou confirms Deku’s suspicions. “He’s got marks around the neck that look like fingers and a puncture wound.”
Deku looks at him, a bit scared by his expression right now.
“Kill the guy.” The blond simply says, his tone boiling in a silent rage. His voice is almost shaking in hatred.
Hesitant, Deku tries to calm him down. “Kacchan, we can’t just kill someone, we need to capture him.”
There’s a huge explosion from the other building. Endeavor has cut his microphone but they can almost hear him roar from where they are.
Deku gets back up. “We need a medic, I’ll go.”
He’s expecting Bakugou to rant about having to take care of their friend, but before he can say anything…
“… Katsuki” Some weird sound comes out of Todoroki’s mouth as he takes a breath and opens his eyes slightly. He looks pale and frankly in pain. They both look down to him, surprised.
Deku walks away to give him some space while he speaks to Endeavor’s team, wondering when Todoroki and Bakugou became friends enough to call each other by their 1st name. Even he didn’t call Kacchan that.
Bakugou waits for Deku to be further before he answers. He looks down. Todoroki looks really in bad shape the more he looks at him struggling to speak or breathe. He’s wheezing as he breathes, his eyes aren’t really focused and he looks really tired for some reason on top of it all.
“… Ka …” He tries again. Calling him like he doesn’t know where he is.
He’s right there holding him, what’s happening to him ? “I’m here, I’m here. What is it ?” Bakugou’s a bit confused as to why he is calling for him also. Especially since they’re not that close. They started talking only recently… right ? He really wish they were, everyday, but he only has himself to blame on that part.
Shouto reaches with one hand to his shirt’s border and grabs it. There is an expression of remaining fear on his face. A feeling that’s mutual … Katsuki feelings swell up. He got mortified for a moment there when they heard him on the comms. Without thinking, he lifts him up and hugs him tight, his teeth clenched. “Idiot icy-hot bastard. You act like you’re invincible all the time…”
Silence.
Todoroki doesn’t tense up but is surprised, he finally relaxes a bit. His eyes are burning, but he’s alive, Bakugou saved him, again.
Their help arrives and Deku climbs back up by jumping, holding a lady medic on his back. They land on the other side of the roof and get to see them hugging. Deku makes quite a face with round eyes.
“My my. Better let them know we’re here before we bother them.” The doctor says with a soft smile on her lips.
She winks at Deku who agrees, still a bit bewildered.
“Erm … Kachan ? The medic just reached the roof. We’re coming to you.”
“What the heck are you waiting for ?! Just bring them here !”
He winces at his answer. Of course he couldn’t sound anything other than terribly pissed even right now. “Right !”
Bakugou helps Todoroki sit as they approach. They’re both blushing a little bit, unassuming.
“Hey boys, sorry it took so long.” The doctor sounds calm and reassuring. And does not show any reaction to their slight intimacy that just got seen there.
Kachan is glaring, holding in his usual banter.
She pulls out her things from the bag she brought. “I’m sorry, it might hurt a little, but I need to make sure it’s not too bad. Can you open your mouth please ?” She looks at Todoroki.
He does as asked and she checks with a little light. He starts coughing almost immediately at the dry air hitting the inside of his throat.
She frowns slightly. “Try not to cough if you can. Your throat is in bad shape, so it’s gonna be too much. Don’t talk either.” She orders him calmly. Next, she examines him while asking Bakugou helps to hold him up or fill her in for any details he might know.
Not too long after, they all go down with the elevator.
“You need to go to the hospital immediately. We need to make some scans to make sure nothing is broken. Among other things.” The doctor announces.
Bakugou helps him walk out in the elevator, but when they reach the main floor, his legs give in entirely just with the small swing of the elevator slowing down.
“Oh no, Todoroki, are you okay ?” Deku steps closer looking more worried.
Frowning, Bakugou just picks him up in his arms before Deku can even touch him.
“Ka … kacchan ?!” Deku looks at him surprised, as much as Todoroki seems to be. “Ok... We need a car or something to get there now.” But Bakugou isn’t gonna react to that. He’s playing it cool, like nothing is weird about him just having the other man in his arms suddenly like this, bride-style and all.
“…right.” Deku doesn’t want to poke the bear too much.
They split up when they find a mean of transport. Deku stays behind after being told off by Bakugou. Someone needs to tell Endeavor anyway and seems like Kacchan isn’t letting Todoroki out of his sight.
* * *
As soon as they got there, Bakugou was shoved to a waiting room. Not being family, it’s not like he could follow anyways right. He stays standing in the room for what seems like forever, replaying this night in his mind. Eventually, he gets a text telling him to get to one of the meeting rooms from Deku. He tsks and goes while swearing. He tells the nurse to come get him as soon as they get any news, almost menacing her he will break stuff if she doesn’t or at least that’s how she interprets it.
When he gets there, Endeavor’s crew is there and some more people. A really round big guy dressed in yellow he thinks he saw on some candy wrappings before, a weirdo that looks terrified and blue in the face, spiky hair and his quirk twin idiot from class 1B.
Kirishima walks to him right away. “Bakugou, we heard what happened … are you okay man ?” He looks worried, but not at his physical state by the way he is looking at him.
Before he can understand why, Endeavor walks to him. The big man stares at him, intense as usual. “I was told you saved him. You have my thanks Bakugou.”
Now he doesn’t know what to say to that. Was he going to hug him again like when he saved his other son ? He didn’t feel like he would survive a display like that in front of everyone, especially not with how he feels right now. “I didn’t do anything. He’s still with the doctors.” He clenches his fists, angry at himself. He should have been there in there to really help him.
Both Deku and Kirishima exchange a look, not sure what to say. They do understand why he feels guilty.
“Sir, we got some footage ready.” One of Endeavor’s assistants states while sitting at a computer linked to a few screens.
Endeavor crosses his arms and frowns. “Go on.”
“It’s …okay, everyone ? Today as you know now, a villain that was nicknamed the strangler by the police has attacked one of the heroes in training, shouto. We have not been able to capture him yet.” The assistant starts.
“Yeah, the snake slipped through our hands.” Their boss growls.
Bakugou eyes goes wider. “What ?!”
“We do not know much about him. But we managed to get our hands on the camera footage from the roof where the attack happened.” They pause and look at the boys. “This … isn’t gonna be easy to watch. So please leave if it’s too much boys.“
They do not move. We need to catch this guy, we’re not going anywhere. They all think at once.
The video starts. The roof is empty. After some time showing nothing, Todoroki slides up to it using his ice quirk and lands smoothly. He walks on while looking around a little and then proceeds to go further. This is when they were doing their patrol prior to the events. Then they see someone walk out of the shadows behind him and he does not seem to notice. The angle is not the best to see and shows them from the back from a higher vantage point. The man seems to reach Todoroki who then turns around quickly but falls on his knees midway and then flat on the ground. It was really fast. The man takes a step back and throws something on the ground.
The assistant pauses the video and zooms in on the thing which happens to be a syringe.
They all gasp. Todoroki was injected with something ? That fits with the puncture wound he had on his neck, Deku and Bakugou realize.
Then rolling the video again, they can see their friend is barely moving, trying to get up but without success. The man walks to him, kicks him on the shoulder strongly and makes him roll on his side to just kick him again in the gut.
Bakugou clenches his fists, feeling anger climbing drastically high. Icy-hot was not fighting back which meant whatever was in that syringe must have been some sort of drug, anything strong enough to knock him off. For what they can see, he is not using his quirk either. The fucker kneels down, their back to them and stays there for a moment. They can’t make anything that is happening really. Then he climbs on Todoroki, straddling him while he seems to be talking to him. He laughs and opens up his collar like he has all the time in the world.
Now he can just feel his blood is about to explode as he can guess what comes next. His fears are quickly answered when they get to see the man wrap his hands around Todoroki’s delicate neck and hold him there without meeting much resistance. They can see the man smile in a devilish way and then curve back up in a weird way looking at the sky. He starts talking again and something happens; there is some dark glow and what seems to be round screens appear around them. Were those … speaker parts ? They looked like it at the very least. Looking at the video time, this fits to when he was doing his speech earlier.
His speech done, the man looks down and suddenly disgruntled. He gets back up and scratches his head seemingly ranting. He kicks Todoroki.
No reaction or answer.
They all realize that Shouto had stopped breathing at that moment. Bakugou, Deku and Endeavor are completely frozen. They were nearby while the man was trying to provoke de flame hero, meanwhile he was there killing Shouto with his bare hands without them even knowing.
It’s like Bakugou can’t breathe. The air is too thin. His heart drumming in his ears. He … he …
The man was now trying to reanimate Todoroki before their eyes with CPR practices, his hands over his chest. Before he gets to blow some air in his mouth, Todoroki gasps, his eyes opening wide suddenly.
Before he knew, his feet were on the move. He’s walking, no, running to the floor where he had talked to a nurse last. Kirishima might have called his name as he left, he now realizes, but he doesn’t care right now. Did he get there too late ? They brought him to the hospital, but … had he suffered any permanent damages ? Was he going to die on the table ? His brain was not being rational right now. After seeing what happened, no wonder Todoroki had been terrified. And he had called for HIS help of all people. Why ?
He reaches the nurse’s desk. “Where is he ?” He asks, dropping all false pretense of politeness. He didn’t fucking care right now.
Looking at her sheets, the nurse answers hesitantly. “He’s just out of the scans, he should be in his room by now. But …”
And before she finishes, he saw the direction she briefly looked mentioning the room Todoroki should be in and walks straight in this direction.
“Wait Sir ! You’re not allowed in there. Only a family member is …”
He isn’t listening and who’s gonna stop him now. The nurse tries to go after him, but he’s faster.
He gets to the room and opens the door. Todoroki is seated on a bed, his feet dangling on the side as a doctor is finishing putting some wraps around his throat. Blue and steel look at him, widening a little in surprise. The doctor turns around and sees him stand there. “Oh, you must be his friend that brought him here ?”
The nurse catches on to him finally. “I’m sorry sir, Mr Todoroki cannot have visitors yet …”
“It’s quite alright Clara. He’s been asking to see his friend anyways. I’ll take care of it.” The doctor answers calmly and invites Bakugou to step in and close the door behind him.
Bakugou turns his head down a little, looking up in an defensive sort of manner. The doctor smiles. “You’re Katsuki Bakugou aren’t you ?” His tone calm. Bakugou gives him a questioning look. “Your friend here showed me your name on his phone. He wanted us to find you and tell you he was ok.” The old man laughs a little. “Don’t worry, he is going to be just fine. But I bet you were worried.”
On his phone ? Bakugou pouts intensify. “Never said I was !” Nonetheless he looks at Todoroki (because he yes he was) who’s scratching his cheek embarrassed.
The doctor smiles. “Of course. I will leave you two for a moment and go see the boy’s dad to explain the situation.” He leaves a pad and pen on the desk next to Todoroki’s bed. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” And then leaves the room so they can talk.
There is a silence.
“You got a knack to get out of trouble just barely don’t you ?” He wasn’t good at talking. Even now. He wanted to say something reassuring, maybe, but it still came out as an accusation.
“...” Todoroki isn’t answering.
He tsks and clenches his fists. “What is it ?”
“...”
“Would you say something ?” He was getting tense while all he wants is … he isn’t sure now. He sighs and steps a little closer. He shouldn’t get angry. Todoroki must still be under shock. He had quite a mental fortitude with all he went through, but anybody would be shaken right now.
When he’s closer, he speaks again and tries to sound calm. “You called for me.” He still didn’t know why. Why him. And using his first name of all things. Todoroki finally looks back up at him and he looks … he’s not sure how to interpret the expression on his face right now. He’s never seen him make an expression like this before. He looks a bit hollow there.
The bi-colored man opens his mouth then and mouths “I’m sorry.” But no sound is coming out.
Bakugou is taken back. “Wait …” His shoulders fall a little, scared to ask what he thinks is happening. The doctors should have healed him by now right. He gulps down his saliva and kicks himself. “Are you …”
Todoroki mouths the beginning of a sentence; “I can’t… “ but stops himself and frowns. He looks sad. So that’s what his expression is, he’s trying not to cry. And starts to shake a little.
Instinctively, Bakugou reaches out and puts his hands on his shoulders, steadying him or himself really. “Hey … it’s fine. The doctor didn’t seem worried right ?” Focussing on what will happen, not anticipating the worse right away.
Todoroki nods.
Bakugou feels a breath getting out of his chest. Ok. This was temporary definitely.
He’s about to ask something when the door opens suddenly and loudly, making them both jump. Bakugou steps back as Endeavor gets in and walks almost over him to reach his son. He puts his hands in his pockets and looks on the side with a frown. Then back at Shouto who’s looking really annoyed at his dad, yes even at a moment like this. He shouldn’t find this funny or endearing, but he does.
They get to know more details on his non-friend situation. Bakugou’s allowed to stay since he is already there while the doctor comes walking in just after Endeavor and tries to finish what he was explaining to him in the corridor by the sound of it. Basically, Todoroki’s throat had been crushed really badly by his attacker to the point that talking was nearly impossible for him right now, even after healing done by the doctors quirks in the hospital. He should make a normal recovery, but it might take some time. Recovery girl has already been contacted and she will administer some treatments as her quirk is stronger so it could accelerate the process. They will be more fixed by then. She’s the one that will do the follow ups too since he will be back at school right away. She is waiting for him as they speak apparently. They can’t confirm yet, but he does mention that there seems to be a little more to Todoroki’s wounds then what it seems. Which Bakugou makes a mental note of, but isn't sure what it means exactly. Except that he doesn’t like it one bit.
Not long after, he and Endeavor are in the corridor waiting for Shouto to get changed so they can go back to school. The silence gets awkward really quick.
There is a chime and Endeavor looks at his phone. He frowns and sighs. "There's something I need to tend to." Which means he got a job that can't wait until morning in Endeavor's language, he had learned by now. "I'll have your things sent back to school from the office." The man turns around and walks away for a few steps before he stops. "Thank you for being there for him." And then leaves.
"Ah ?" This was out of nowhere. Plus he wasn't. That made it sound like they were all chummy, which was clearly not … then the image of Todoroki looking so sad before comes back to his mind. He looks down to the floor, his nose wrinkling. He felt like making a hole in the wall now.
Shouto opens the door. He had changed back into his hero uniform since this was all he had with him right now. Seeing Katsuki there waiting for him, his eyes go wider, this moves something inside his heart. Like a little spark that’s trying to set ablaze to warm him up. But he also feels like he isn't ready to step back out there, feeling like the ground is about to give up at any moment. He feels … scared ? Bakugou gives him an analytical look. Ever so clever. His uneasiness must be showing. But the other doesn't say anything and they get walking side by side.
That was a first. That his friend would not fight to have him walk behind.
Arriving downstairs, Endeavor's chauffeur is waiting for them. They both give him a questioning look. "Hello boys. Endeavor asked me to bring you back to school, Shouto". The man smiles and leads the way.
Katsuki's posture changes a little and for some reason it makes him feel like he would not come with them. Without thinking, Todoroki reaches and grabs Bakugou by whatever is the closest in reach, which ends up being his belt. His grip is light, but enough for Bakugou to notice.
“Ah ?” The other man uses his usual irritated tone to answer, looking surprised at Todoroki’s bluntness.
He immediately regrets doing that and removes his hand quickly.
But Bakugou sighs. “Calm your jets. Like I’m going to walk all the way back to the damn school. You guys are giving me a freaking ride back.” He rants while walking to the car where the chauffeur just went, a little blush appearing on the top of his cheeks.
In the car, there is silence for a long time. He wasn’t one to talk that much, but not being able to talk at all was certainly nerve wrecking.
“You’re overthinking, as usual.” With one glimpse, Bakugou had read him. He lifts his gaze and meets ruby eyes. Bakugou’s bracers are in the trunk so he can sit with enough space and his elbow rests against the door, his cheek on the back of his hand.
They look at each other for a time.
The blond finally rolls his eyes, sighs, grunts looking outside while grinding his teeth visibly. Which confuses Todoroki, but it is fascinating to watch if anything else. He’s just looking at him, all doey eyes, at this point. “Listen you, half-and-half bastard. What happened tonight wasn’t aimed at you. Not really. All this fucker wanted was to mess with your fucking father.”
He knew that. This … this wasn’t what was weighing on him. He looks down squinting a little.
Bakugou frowns. “Hey I’m not saying nothing happened. I’m saying it’s not your fault. He had a plan from the start. Possibly not aim at you even.”
Todoroki looks back up as he is talking and Bakugou was leaning forward in his direction by the end of it, being in his bubble as usual. He opens up his mouth to say something, then stops himself. He can’t. He reaches into his pocket and brings his phone out and writes something down and shows his friend.
It reads; "Don’t worry, I know this isn’t what you meant." Shouto smiles sadly and starts writing again.
Katsuki grunts and sits closer so he can read as he is writing as he does so.
“I feel bad about getting caught yeah, but as you’re saying, he was prepared. It’s just …” He pauses and presses his lips together before continuing typing. “I couldn’t fight back at all. My body wouldn’t move. Not while he kicked me around, not when he punched me in the face, not when he strangled me. I couldn’t even use my Quirk to push him back while he... was strangling me and…” His hands were shaking as he was typing the last words. It made him feel weak and ashamed.
A hand grabbed his shoulder. “What ?! Wait … no no, look at me.” He lifts his gaze again to meet those warm red eyes. “Listen, stop this train of thought. Don’t give me this face, you know what I mean. THIS was not your fault. And you should be furious about it. This is your body, nobody’s else. And no fucker is allowed to even try to take this away from you. Not this guy or even that freaking father of yours. Your quirk, your body. Yours.” That made him feel like something he was holding in cracked inside him. The ruby eyes widen. “Hey … “ The blond looking more worried all of a sudden.
Oh … he was crying. Tears started falling down his cheeks as Bakugou spoke. Midoriya had told him something along those lines at the sports festival, but this was different. Bakugou was right there next to him, his hand on his shoulder still, like a lifeline holding him on and looking him in the eyes like this...
Without any hesitation, Katsuki pulls him in his arms in a tight hug. His expression shocked, almost feral. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s ok…sheesh.” he wraps his arms more largely around him, surrounding him entirely. A hand soothing his back to try to calm him down.
This took Shouto by surprise so much that he stiffened at first, but with Katsuki lulling him down slowly like this, he is calming down now. Tears slowly being replaced by a light blush on his cheeks. He’s never been held like this before. Except by his mom when he was 5 years old and younger maybe. “We’re going to figure this out.” Katsuki adds as he lets go a few seconds later, slowly.
Then, like he just realized what he just did, Bakugou slides back suddenly with wide eyes, his hair almost spikier than usual. He clenches his teeth and tsks.
They arrive on the school grounds at that momen and his eyes are stuck on his explosive friend who's rushing out of the car. He's not sure what is going on. Is the other man blushing or is it just him seeing things ?
Extra:
Looking at the boys leave, the chauffeur picks up his phone. “Hey Sir. Yes, I just dropped Shouto off. But I don’t think you have to worry too much. He’s in good hands I think.”