The Scandal Turned True

Chapter 12: Forgive and Goodbye

 When you stepped out into the cold night air, you took in a deep breath, filling your lungs until it started to hurt. You were relieved to breathe fresh air at last compared to the musty stench of that basement you had been chained in. Flashing lights filled the street, police cars and ambulances lined the road and even pulled up onto the side walk. Endeavor and Hawks were discussing with the chief of police as Ryuu was handcuffed and stashed into the back of a squad car. His men piled into other cars, cuffed and ready for Tartarus. You spotted the girls that Mina freed being checked out by the EMT's, all of them were crying and hugging one another. 

 "There she is!" Kirishima shouted, bolting towards you. Mina released you in time for him to hug you tightly against him, "Holy Hell, Y/N. You scared the crap out of me. I'm so glad you're okay." You could hear the emotion in his voice now. You smiled lightly, doing your best to hold back your own emotions as the others joined you.

 "Y/N, you're okay!" Tsu stated when she reached you both first, hugging you when Kirishima finally let you go. You winced slightly, having gone on for sometime not feeling the pain in your wrist and ankle up until now.

 "Oi dumbass." Bakugou spoke up as he pushed his way through the crowd to get to you. You looked up at him, waiting for him to degrade you in some way when he rests a hand on your head unexpectedly. "Good job in there, but don't do something so reckless ever again." He scolds you lightly, but his eyes were soft as he looked down at you. It was an expression you've never seen on him before.

 "I must've went overboard if you're the one lecturing me about recklessness." You quip back, but smile weakly, "Thank you. I'm alright." You tell them, seeing them smiling in return. An officer approached the group, making them all separate from you as he waves you over to him. You look at Mina who grabbed your hand, nodding to her before following after the officer, presumably to be questioned.

 After speaking with him and the chief of police, one of the EMT's stopped by and started to bandage you up. He asked questions about where you were hurt, what needed attention the most, a ride to the hospital in case of any internal injuries. You were ready to decline the offer when you noticed your mom being loaded into one of the ambulances.

 "Not exactly, but I need to ride with her. She's my mom." You tell him, seeing his eyes widened slightly and nod. He escorts you to the ambulance, explaining to the driver about you riding along when Aizawa approached you as you got in the back. He holds open the door as the other one gets shut, looking at you warily.

 "Will you be okay?" He asks, his eyes filled with worried. You looked down at your mother's skeletal hand, resting yours on top of it.

 "Do I have any other choice?" You ask him in return as the EMT came back around and shut the door to cut you off from him. You sat down beside your mother, gazing at her weak state. You would love nothing more than to be with your friends and Aizawa after everything you've been through, but there was just something else you needed to do first.

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 When you arrived at the hospital, it seemed eerily quiet for a Saturday night. Even with all the girls and your mother being checked in, the vacancy of other people felt so close to being like a ghost town. You were ready to follow your mother wherever they may take her, but the nurses informed you that you needed to wait while they ran tests and got her settled in. Other nurses questioned the bandages and your lack of clothing, reminding you of your lack of footwear as you stood in the waiting area. Without giving too much away, you only mentioned to having been involved in a mission with the Pro Hero Hawks and they appeared to let it slide for now.

 You lost track of time of how long you had been waiting for anyone to speak with you. You were tired, hungry and cold. Even with Mina's jacket, it could only cover so much. Each time you went into the bathroom to clean yourself up or check for any other damages the EMT's may have missed, you could tell in the mirror that you went to Hell and back again with your messy hair, dirt covered face, hands and ankles. At that moment, you wanted nothing more than just a hot shower to wash everything away. Physically, mentally and emotionally.