Fragmented | Shigaraki Tomura x Reader

12; within reach

The League had succeeded in capturing Bakugou. A part of you was relieved that a few of the other villains had been apprehended, and that none of the students had been killed, but they had ultimately accomplished what they set out to do.

Though Bakugou should very well have been disoriented and afraid, his expression didn't betray that at all. He glared at his captors, not saying anything, the look in his eyes harsh and unwavering. He was just a teenager, several years younger than you, but the difference between you was clear as day. This boy wasn't like you at all. He was strong.

And even though he was a prisoner himself, right now, he was your best chance at escaping.

You filled up a glass of water and slowly walked over to his side. Shigaraki's expression was unreadable behind that artificial hand, but you imagined he was staring at you in disbelief.

"Um, here," you offered, smiling gently. "I'm sure you must be thirsty. Would you like some?"

Bakugou looked up at you in confusion, no doubt wondering what the hell your angle was, or if the drink was somehow poisoned. You were sure that from his perspective, it was fairly suspicious, but you needed to act kind to him so that he would take the hint and realize that you weren't a villain like the rest of them. You couldn't just blurt out the words and beg for him to help you because you knew that wouldn't go over well, but he needed to trust you, at least to some degree. Even if he was just a kid, he was still a hero, and with a powerful Quirk to boot.

"I don't need it," Bakugou refused, turning his head away from you. Well, you'd expected this reaction, but he wasn't cursing you out or acting as crassly as you'd seen him do on TV. Perhaps he was just being smart and trying to keep his cool, or maybe your desperate expression was enough for him to understand that you wanted to be here just as little as he did.

Of course, Shigaraki didn't hesitate to voice his annoyance. "What the fuck are you doing, [Name]? Why are you acting all friendly with him?"

"Chill out," Dabi muttered, and you were surprised to hear him rise to your defense. "We're trying to get this kid on our side, aren't we? She's just being nice to him."

"I was hoping to help him feel a bit more at ease," you nodded. You pulled the glass of water away from Bakugou's face, but made sure to lightly tap him on his shoulder and give him a terse, pleading look before walking away. You returned to Shigaraki's side and set the glass down, trying to disregard the violent glare boring through your chest.

"Whatever," he gritted out. "I guess that's fine. Anyways, this is what I wanted you to have a look at."

He switched on the TV at the end of the room. It was a channel that was broadcasting an interview with U.A's principal, and a few of their teachers. Understandably, U.A was getting a lot of reprimand for having allowed their students to come to harm yet again, one of them having even been captured by villains. You studied Bakugou's expression the whole time, but the boy didn't even flinch. He actually glanced over at you every now and then, and you clenched your jaw in response.

Shigaraki chuckled. "It's weird, isn't it? Why are the heroes the ones getting criticized? Sure, their response was a little slow, but everybody makes a mistake or two. Are they saying they aren't even allowed to make a single mistake? Heroes are under some pretty strict standards these days, huh?"

You continued staring ahead. Shigaraki was going off on some spiel about hating heroes and how they weren't truly heroes, blah blah blah. The same shit as always. Still, as his speech came to a close, you could tell that it had been said with the intention of trying to convince Bakugou that they were the ones in the right. His next words caught you off guard.