The Catalyst (Can We Change the World?)

Chapter 8

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Shoto was crumpled on the floor, protecting his body with his arms. Blood seeped from his back, through what was left of his shirt. Tears stung at his eyes but he willed them not to fall.

He wouldn't let AFO get the satisfaction of seeing him cry again. Not when it wasn't even his fault. He had been told wrong information and that's why the mission failed- why they had to move locations.

It wasn't his fault and yet AFO was punishing him. No one was around, not Shigaraki, not his brother- he was lied to and he couldn't fight back even if he tried. As powerful as Shoto was, he was not as powerful as AFO.

Nothing made sense. It was like everything could go wrong in the mission did. And the worst- he had let himself get overwhelmed. In the year he had the enhancer quirk, he hadn't let himself get overwhelmed by it. But the lights and scents were more intense in the city than they had been before. There were so many people brushing past him, shocking him with their emotions as their bodies touched.

Now the odd tendrils of darkness that AFO harnessed cut into his back relentlessly. It was punishment for failing, he was told. Three times whipping into his back was enough to cut deep into his skin and his blood poured onto the floor. Every time he tried to use his quirk AFO countered it. He was reminded of his father in that moment. He felt so helpless.

The anger and hate of not doing a good enough job. The painful punishment even when he tried his best.

Shoto braced himself for the next impact- AFO was yelling but Shoto couldn't hear it, not with his enhancer quirk roaring with pain in his ears. Pain of failing, pain of the dark whip and pain from the wound in his back as warm blood seeped from it. That was the only thing he could focus on. But as that dark tendril reached for him a fourth time it never connected.

Touya stepped in front of Shoto, taking the hit to his face and now he was yelling too. Yelling at AFO but even still it was more noise in his overwhelmed state. Though the throbbing pain receded and was replaced by a relief at seeing his brother. Maybe he would be okay now. But then there was anger boiling inside of him as he saw the black tendril whip into his face and slice into his cheek.

Shoto burned at that- his left erupting in flames it bit and burned at his skin but he didn't care. That man just hurt his brother and he would not, could not accept that.

He stood, despite the weakness in his body, he stood next to Touya and grabbed onto his arm with his right hand. Shoto couldn't protect him, he knew that, but there was something about standing beside him that gave him enough strength to look AFO in the eyes and glare with deadly intent.

"We're leaving." Touya yelled, staring AFO in the face like he wasn't afraid of him. And he wasn't, he was afraid for Shoto. His little brother who had already been through enough abuse at home and he wouldn't allow any from the league. It was supposed to be his safe place.

"Shoto lost control of his enhancer quirk because he refused to train with me. Therefore he was ambushed and I had to step in. He failed." AFO's voice boomed in the small room with authority that meant nothing to him.

"You set him up. He was supposed to be with me and you lied." Touya almost screamed. He could feel the hands of Shoto clinging to his arm and the heat that was coming off his left side. It was uncontrolled but he wasn't in pain. Not from his own fire at least.