The King is Dead

Negotiation

"You look good."

Shouto loosens his tie so he doesn't feel strangled. "I need to look professional."

"You do."

The past week, Yaoyorozu has been finding more time to hang out with Jirou, her girlfriend. That left Shouto to hang out with her friends. That's how he finds himself in the boys' restroom with Kirishima, Midoriya, Iida, and Kaminari. It's Sunday, everyone else is in their pajamas still while Shouto is getting ready to be picked up and taken to court. Hizashi had texted him that they recently found the camera Shouto had told them about, hidden underneath the floorboards of his home. It could help their case tremendously.

But the risk is still there. Shouto might not come home to the dorms today. He could finish the day in handcuffs and a dull green uniform. He might not see Hizashi again.

But his therapist told him not to make it real in his brain otherwise he might manifest it into the real world.

Shouto fixes his hair one last time, sighing to himself. It's the most scared he's felt since he actually did the deed, since father had the ability to beat him and Shouto lost control. Terrified might be a better word for it. Because if he disappoints Hizashi he won't be able to live with himself. He'd beg the judge if he lost, he'd beg the judge to let him be free, he'd bow to them like they were an emperor or empress. He'd do whatever it took; humiliate himself just to keep Hizashi proud.

Iida stands and smoothes a wrinkle out of Todoroki's blazer. Despite him not touching skin, it burns. But Shouto finds that most things do, Ms. Matsuda says it's something that stayed with him from being burned too many times. He can't help but associate touch with fire. So Shouto reminds himself of Iida's engines, reminds himself that Iida doesn't have fiery hands.

"They should have gone a size smaller on your blazer. It hangs from your arms too much."

Shouto frowns. "It's the smallest they had. And it was supposed to fit me by now."

Iida nods his head, "I apologize for the comment, Todoroki. Either way, you look ready to impress. Let's hope the judge approves a negotiation."

"Yea, I'm starting to get too used to having you around. If you just left it'd be so messed up around here," Kaminari says in a complaining tone. He rubs his eye with a yawn. "Hey is the trial gonna be televised? What channel?"

Shouto shrugs. "They'll be showing videos to the room and some are... unsuitable for public viewing." He hates the way everyone goes quiet. "I should be back within an hour from five, Sensei will inform you if I don't end up coming back."

"You say it so casually man, like what if you actually get sent off? Will you try escaping?"

He shrugs. "If I get imprisoned it's because I deserve it. Escaping is futile."

Midoriya hops off of where he had been sitting on the counter. "Let's not think about that. If you come back tonight let's watch a movie, okay? The whole class! As celebration."

"Ooh! Let's!"

Ashido pops in the doorway and Iida immediately goes to shut the door, she evades him. "C'mon Todoroki. Sensei is here for you. Come say bye to Momo." She takes his arm and Iida starts to complain about the wrinkles she's creating. Shouto follows her to the common room, where he sees that Yaoyorozu is wiping her eyes with a tissue, a considerable pile of the things have stacked on the table in front of her.

"Are you crying?"

She frowns at him. "Yes, Todoroki. I'm crying. Go ahead and make fun of me." She wipes her nose and sets the tissue down in favor of grabbing a different one. Her voice is nasally and raspy, he wonders why she's so upset.