Solivigant

Pistanthrophobia

Pistanthrophobia:
fear of trusting due to past experiences with relationships gone bad

A huge man looked down on the boy, eyes glowing with both pity and resignation. Flames curled behind him, covering the miniature plateau of bodies that had already seared itself into the boy's mind. Their screams still echoed in his ears, getting louder and louder and LOUDER-

Ely snapped awake, sitting up abruptly, pink hair covering the wide, frightened look in his eyes. Around him, his classmates cheered, delighted by something he had undoubtedly missed in the short minutes he'd been sleeping. They began to file out of the room, and slowly, Ely followed them. He relaxed his mind and stumbled as an onslaught of emotion and words washed over him.

Hero training!

Ely slammed his mind shut, one hand steadying himself against the wall as he followed his male classmates into another room - the changing room. He groaned internally, shivering in slight disgust as the boys began to strip, changing into their hero costumes without hesitation. A bitter taste filled Ely's mouth as he lingered around the words.

Hero costume.

A spiteful laugh echoed in his mind, red flashing briefly through his eyes. Ely tugged at his sleeves, sluggishly beginning to undress now that nearly all of his classmates were gone. His fingers stilled on the buttons to his top, not quite wanting the remainder of them to see him change. The door fell shut, the last of the boys leaving, serving as Ely's 'ok' signal to drop the rest of his uniform to the ground and hurriedly slip on his casual styled hero costume.

Carefully, as to not displace his carefully positioned mask, Ely pulled on a black long sleeve, shimmying into camouflage cargo pants and an oversized white hoodie. He had neglected his shoes, and now, he wrapped bandages around his feet and fingers flexing his black painted nails before padding out the door, joining his classmates.

Fortunately for him, their teacher was not there yet, so technically, he was not late. Ely stood silently at the back of their huddle, no one noticing the appearance of the monotone boy. The door slammed open, a huge figure strode into the area.

"IT'S ME! ALL MIGHT!" Their teacher was loud - too loud, Ely made a choked noise, covered by the class as they celebrated the appearance of the number 1 hero.

No.

Ely recoiled backwards, body trembling, white-pink eyes widening in undiluted horror. Memories flashed by in a fluffy and all were about that man with the smile. It had been so long, but not long enough since he had seen that exact same smile that ruined his life. His heart clenched, threatening to burst right then and there. He didn't dare breathe as his heart rate fluctuated and just kept on quickening. Ely tried to hide the short gasps of breath he was taking, tightening his core muscles to restrict the automatic breathing pattern his own mind had chosen.

He hid himself towards the back of the group, praying that he had been quiet enough to not be noticed.

Breathe, Ely. Breathe.

The warm whisper of touch that flitted across his hand, reminding him to take that sudden intake of breath which refilled his lungs with much needed oxygen. This time, the whimper that escaped his lips was noticed by another person - although that fact was one of the last things on his mind. Red hair moved in his peripheral vision, but then it stopped, held back by something - no, someone.

"I HEARD THERE IS A NEW STUDENT IN THIS CLASS!" All Might boomed, looking around expectantly.

Ely remained silent, even as the class looked around, directing the number 1 hero's attention to him, focusing on breathing. He looked up, facing the smile that haunted his dreams, that tore apart his world. The man stared at Ely, waiting, waiting for him to introduce himself. And this time, Ely spoke. He spoke with hatred and venom.