pandora's box [bakudeku/tododeku] [pt.1 of where's my love fic series]

runner

summary: a couple of weeks pass since katsuki's health complication. he seems to be quickly recovering as he fights some bullies off. he's also becoming more suspicious of some of the bruises and marks on izuku's skin that have been showing up more lately. izuku gets overwhelmed and skips the rest of hisashi's training, running away. he finds a garden and is immediately entranced by the flowers. there, he crashes into a quiet boy with split hair.

notes: this chapter's song: "runner" by kevin abstract.

warnings: mentions of child abuse, violence, implied child abuse, bullying.

several weeks later.

"stop crying!"

"but kacchan was in danger and i couldn't help!" tears spill out of green eyes, as broken sobs leave the boy's lips, his breaths coming out in stutters.

warm hands grip freckled cheeks as they gently wipe away the overflowing tears. "no! i wasn't. i won." katsuki shakes his head as he hears his best friend blame himself.

"but...i wanted to protect you..." izuku's doe eyes shut as another wave of tears glides down his cheeks. he unconsciously leans into the warmth of katsuki's hands, his hands emitting more heat due to his recent use of his quirk.

"no! deku will be deku," katsuki's eyes widen in alarm and surprise, his lips forming a scowl after he whisper shouts. after katsuki had been released from the hospital, it had only taken him two days to notice the way izuku's body flinched when someone yelled unexpectedly. since then, the explosive boy has started lowering his voice or covering izuku's ears if he has to yell.

izuku doesn't ask why the elder suddenly has become a bit quieter around him, believing it is just katsuki being weird. 

the blonde boy watches as the younger boy balls up his fists as he unsuccessfully tries to wipe his tears, rubbing his eyes. katsuki smiles sadly as he continues wiping away izuku's tears with his thumbs, his hands cupping his face. "i protected you, idiot. stop now."

he ignores the slight pain on his right cheek and on his elbow as he pulls izuku in for a hug. he lets the younger cry it out, despite his soft commands for him to stop crying as he gently runs his fingers through izuku's hair. he quietly works his fingers as he tries to make izuku's curls less messy, frowning when he feels some of the knots in his hair.

what the hell? his eyes narrow as he spots some dark bruises on izuku's shoulders along with a bright red mark. is...is that a burn? he stores this information for later, deciding not to bring it up seeing how upset izuku already was.

even...even though i've done all that training i still can't protect kacchan. izuku's clenches his hands, now gripping katsuki's blue shirt tightly as he lets out another sob.

and what else can katsuki do besides letting his best friend cry it out?

after school.

"heroes don't cry, izuku!" hisashi yells harshly as he disappointedly looks down on a curled over izuku. he ignores how izuku flinches at his shouting as he wipes his hands with a white handkerchief. he scrunches his nose in disgust as blood quickly stains the handkerchief, its bright red color contrasting against the white. "go change, we're going to work on your stealth. don't disappoint me again."

wiping the corners of his mouth with his hand, izuku shakily gets up, ignoring the stench of his vomit on the ground. he nods his head before walking quickly to the locker room.

i don't want to do this. izuku cries silently as he walks to the locker room, head hung down low. why...why am i doing this? i'm tired.