Infernal Memories

11 Years

The whispers are what woke him up. Had no idea what they were saying but knew they were about him. The song replayed in his head like a mantra, the same lyrics that once reminded him he was young, now reminded him that everything hurt.

Why did everything hurt? He was in the dorms, and he was healing. He was getting better. The bruises were still bad but he had trained and more in them. So why did it hurt now?

His left hand instinctively raised to his right, to check the bandages, but the motion stopped when he felt something tug on his wrist. No. Inside his wrist.

Heterochromatic eyes opened to bright light, having him squint. Once they adjusted, he opened them fully, taking in the hospital setting he was in. The now unsteady beeping of a heart monitor attacked his ears, and he wanted so bad for it to stop.

That was his heart.

"Look! He's awake!"

Footsteps left the room and then more nurses walked into the room, writing things down and talking to each other as he was repeatedly nudged awake. Someone raised the position of his hospital bed to make him sit up, and his eyes were forcefully opened by gloved fingers. A light shined in his eyes and he tried closing them, but they were held for a little longer before being released. He felt something hold his bangs back, and a pair of hands pressed right below his ear, then removed themselves accordingly. He felt something sticky be removed from his skin, and then something else even stickier took its place. He was sat up and felt a finger run down in his spine as a nurse pointed at certain points for another nurse to write down. After a minute, he was asked questions.

"Mr. Todoroki, can you hear me? A simple nod or thumbs up will suffice."

He nodded tiredly, his neck starting to fall limply at his side.

"Does anything hurt? If so, where?"

His right hand reached up to his rib cage, then down a little to right below.

"He needs more pain relief."

He felt something being injected into his arm.

"Can you see alright?"

He managed a word. "Blurry."

"Okay. Seems his voice is alright too. Can you tell me your name?"

"Shoto." His voice came out slightly muffled, and raspy.

"Now tell me if you know where you are?"

He shook his head.

"You're in the hospital now. You're safe and in the process of healing now."

The pain stopped completely and his breathing slowed to normal. "Why?"

"You were hurt about a week ago. Do you remember any of that?"

Vague flashbacks of being tossed around in front of his classmates came back to him. "Not really."

"That's alright. Did you want anyone to come visit you in particular? It might help you out."

"Where's my friends?"

"We can call your current caretaker and inform them of your request. Press the button there if you need anything." She left the room and he was left alone.

Wait. Current caretaker? Endeavor was the one who hurt him though. He would be punished. For being weak. For letting himself be beat.

He silently panicked, going through scenarios in his head. Then the door opened and he awaited the orange flames that always accompanied his father.