Smile (for the camera)

Chapter 1: Bite your tongue

  TW: Abuse, Dysphoria, self harm, mentions of rape

   Kaminari was running, running as fast as possible. A slight ache thrummed from his shoulder, from where a bruise was sure to form, but it didn't slow him down. Gasping, he grabed the handle of the old, dilapidated door and threw it open. He screamed.

     "STOP! STOP IT, LEAVE THEM ALONE!"

     "Ah, look who finally decided to show!" A tall man with dirty brown hair cackled before his face dropped down to a scowl. The boy who the man had clutched by the throat a second earlier was dropped with no regard to his welfare. The boy crumpled to the floor, unmoving.

     "I gave you one rule girl. ONE! Always get back by 3. And you broke that rule. Now remind me what your punishment is for breaking this rule."

     "Please don't hurt them! PLEASE! I PROMISE I'll get back on time from now on! You can do whatever you want with me, just please don't hurt them!"

     "But that wasn't the deal, was it sweetheart?" The brown haired man picked up the fainted boy again before another appeared from the hall, his hair a dirty blonde, more tame than Denki's, but less brown than his twin, who was currently being lifted.

     "Please, father! Stop, think about what you're doing!" Denki slammed the door before taking a deep breath, preparing himself.

     "1 million volts!" A jolt of lightning shot out, about to hit the cruel man, but instead he dragged the blonde haired child in front of him, using both twins as a blockade. Screams echoed through the kitchen before abruptly stopping, along with two heartbeats. Electricity stopped flowing as a young electric blonde girl with a lightning bolt crouched down beside them in a frenzy, checking for a pulse. There was none.

     "Nonnononono! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Sobs began to wrack her small, seven-year-old frame as she held her two dead triplets, tears falling.

     "Now look what you did, you stupid bitch! What were you thinking!"

     "I didn't mean to!" She sobbed. "I didn't!"

     "Well that doesn't matter, does it?" Now he was angry. Angrier than when he had kicked out Denki's mother. Angrier than when she had first arrived late. "Stand up! The only way you'll ever learn your worth is for it to be fucked into you! That's the only thing you'll ever be good for!" 

     "No, nono, I'm sorry, please STOP!" Ignoring her please, the man ripped off her clothes, bearing her small frame to him. Just as he reached out to slap her face, Denki awoke with a scream.

     "It's not real, it's not real. Just a dream, just a memory. In for four, out for four. You're fine.

     A knock sounded from the door, that was what probably had awoken him. This was a reoccurring dream for the electric teen, and more often than not he'd have to relive the whole experience. Thank God for small miracles such as the interruption of the hellish moment.

     "Dunce face, get the fuck up! We have fucking exams and we're going to be late is you don't drag your sorry ass up!"

     Bakugou's screams sounded like an angels melodious song after the rough night, though one thing ticked Kaminari off.

     "Exams? I thought we had those next week?" 

     "You didn't study at all!? I've been telling you idiots all week! Yes we have fucking exams! Now get your ass out here!"

     Shit. He should have studied. Of course, it couldn't be fully blamed on him, his adhd was probably the main cause of his dropping grades. That and his past. Still, he should be doing better, he should be better.

     "Sorry Bakubro! I'll be out in a sec!"

     "THE HELL YOU JUST CALL ME! DIE RETAIL PICKACHU!

     Finally slipping out of his dorm room, Denki plastered a smile on his face. It was a mask, a lie, but not an unfamiliar one. It was surprisingly easy for the introverted boy to fall into this person, this character.  It was everything Denki wanted to be, everything he wasn't. Happy, extroverted, cheerful. Easily able to raise the mood, never got down, didn't have a traumatic backstory. Oh well. Everyone had some issues. His were just more.... prominent. And probably more deserved.

     Snapping back to the present, Kami realized that he was now sitting in class, staring at a half filled essay paper. Looking down in surprise, he realized that the answers actually looked correct for once. Hm. Shrugging it off (It was a common occurrence, happening more and more frequently. Maybe one day he'll slip away and never snap back-) he continued to fill out the paper, praying his answers were right. If only the words would stop moving and let him read it. Answering another question, (What should you do if you come across a civilian with a head injury in battle. A. Move him to safety for medics to care for. B. Leave him for dead. C. Walk away and plan to come back later. D. Make sure it's not too serious as you can't move him and then take him to a medic. D was obviously correct. Wo even wrote this?) Denki paused, looking up and catching the eyes of a hobo-like caterpillar who went by the name Aizawa. He raised an eyebrow before closing his eyes and going back to sleep (probably). 

     Once again, time slipped and he returned inside the dorms playing video games with the Bakusquad. The clock read 11 am. The longest time yet. That.... was concerning. But it didn't matter. He'd be fine. He just had to push through.