It's a long road...

ch. 20

472 words --
big tw for this chap

todoroki was terrified out of his mind, although he'd never admit it. he did not want to go home for the weekend, he did not want to leave the safety of his dorm. he did not want to leave bakugo, fearing that the newly formed friendship between the two would degenerate in his absence from ua.

shoto todoroki, above all else, did not want to face his father.

but, nevertheless, todoroki left ua for his house for the weekend, propelled only by the thought of going home to protect his dear sister.

so, now todoroki was standing in his father's training room, staring endeavor down. fear had fully rooted itself in todoroki's mind.

fear had a peculiar way of taking over every part of the body, todoroki realized. it had seeped into todoroki's bones and coated his muscles and joints; it made him feel sick. it was twisting his insides into painful knots. with every pump of his heart, fear was being spread throughout his veins alongside his blood. fear was filling up every empty space in his lungs, making it hard to breathe.

endeavor wordlessly got into a fighting position, prompting todoroki to do the same. what happened next came in a blurry rush.

endeavor launched himself at todoroki, his eyes and fists ablaze. his hands flew at todoroki in a flurry, fireballs continuously rushing at him. todoroki dodged, weaving in and out of the fireballs, sending a spike of ice after spike of ice at endeavor, trying to delay his father as best he could.

despite his efforts, todoroki couldn't keep endeavor at bay for very long. soon enough, endeavor had forced todoroki into a corner, curled up into a tiny ball, desperately trying to keep his face covered and protected. endeavor showed no mercy attacking todoroki ruthlessly. the whole time, endeavor hurled insults and criticisms at todoroki.

after what felt like an excruciating eternity, but honestly was probably only a few minutes, endeavor stopped.

"just go to your room." endeavor snarled at todoroki, disgust evident in his voice.

todoroki scrambled up and rushed into his room. he collapsed onto his bed, and huddled into his blankets. he felt tears drip down his face, making him feel pathetic.

"shoto?" todoroki heard fuuyumi say. he listened to her walk into his room, and felt his bed dip as she presumably sat down. he felt fuuyumi's hand rub his back in a comforting manner over the layers of blankets covering him.

endeavor's words echoed throughout todoroki's mind as he layer and cried.

"worthless."

"weak."

"you should be able to fight back."

"you should be better than this."

"i'm doing this to make you stronger."

"if you were strong enough, this wouldn't be happening."

"you deserve this."

"you're such a fucking disappointment."

"you're an embarrassment."

"you're nothing."

"you are nothing."

"nothing!"

he was nothing.