Infernal Memories

A Broken Facade

The second court date was the same as the first. He made his claims, and some new ones surrounding the abuse he endured, then was sent home for the second part.

He had been waiting for hours already, a part of him just wanting to give up and let Endeavor have him. Once he was dead he wouldn't have to worry about stupid court and trials and custody.

He had given up all hope of winning, so when he lost it wouldn't hurt as much. He had been expecting it. He had nothing to look forward to. Even if he was to win, he would be carted off to someone who probably wouldn't let him continue at UA. Which was great for him, he wasn't literally abused to get where he was.

With nothing to do, he decided to go and finish something he should have the other day. He had never apologized to Bakugo, hadn't even seen him since that night. He still had the bruise on his stomach from when Bakugo punched him, and his cheek too. He couldn't remember if he had gotten a good hit on Bakugo or not, but it didn't matter.

He knocked on Bakugo's door twice, and heard angry footsteps coming toward it. The door swung open briskly and Bakugo was there, scowling at him.

"What the hell do you want?"

Todoroki decided to rid himself of attitude and bowed. "I apologize for my actions the other night. I shouldn't have attacked you, and I didn't mean any of the things I said."

He heard Bakugo scoff, and then he was pulled inside the room by his shirt. "What are you-"

"Don't fucking tell anyone about this got it? I'll kill you if you do." He paused, then sighed. "I'm sorry too, okay? I was just- you were in so much pain and I didn't know how to handle seeing you cry so I fucking snapped."

"You- what?"

"I'm sorry! Damn you're stupid sometimes."

"No- why would you care if I was crying?"

Bakugo stared at him blankly with red eyes. "Your oblivious ass might not see it, but everyone here looks up to you. They see you as one of the strongest pillars in class. Even I do sometimes. So seeing you break down like that wasn't easy for any of us."

Oh. They were scared. When he started sobbing on the common room floor, went on to hit the floor angrily, none of them knew how to react. If he was this vulnerable, that meant they were even more so.

"You think your so fucking weak! Then what does that make the rest of these bastards?!"

Oh. Oh. That's what he meant. If Todoroki didn't think he was strong, what did he think of his classmates? They thought they were weaker than him. He was always that stony-faced person that was always calm, providing a sense of safety for others. So when his face was wet with tears and his arms were host to trails of blood, what were they supposed to feel?

"I'm sorry. I just- I was upset."

"I know that. And you have every fucking right to be. Hell, if it were me with the abusive dad I would be spouting off at everyone. I'm not saying you were wrong to freak out, I'm just saying that's why I punched the shit out of you."

Not blunt at all.

"Okay. I- again, I apologize."

"Yeah, whatever. Any word on the case yet?"

Todoroki shook his head. "I don't think we'll win. I'm calling everything off when Sensei gets back. It's wasting everyone's time."