Assassins Can Be Heroes Too || Todoroki Shoto

|113| A Cracked Mask

Rie was dumbfounded.

Shoto's eyes travelled to her dark-purple hair which she only just realised she hadn't finished combing. Blinking rapidly, she tried to dismiss him, stating that she was busy at the moment and occasionally faltering over her words, her breath hitching as he reached out his hand, slowly covering her mouth in an attempt to silence her - it worked as he gave her a neutral expression.

"I can comb your hair for you," he offered gently, startling the assassin as her protests fell on deaf ears, watching helplessly as the boy made his way into her dorm, his eyes casting a fleeting glance over to her desk where her black comb was lying there, standing out from the timbre wood underneath. He sent the golden-eyed girl another glance, motioning for her to sit on the floor in front of his seated position on her bed, which she tentatively did, turning her back.

"Rie..." he broke the silence, pausing momentarily, "I... don't know why you broke things off with me..." her heart skipped a beat as he continued running the comb through her straight hair, "but..."

Of course that's what he wants to talk about...

The girl swallowed.

She missed this.

She missed the silence that would fall between them, neither of them having to say anything.

She missed his gentle touch.

She missed the small things that he did to make her smile.

She missed him.

She exhaled shakily.

"Did the servants... tell you anything?"

He hummed.

"They told me a bit," he admitted, "but... I want to hear it from you."

She bit her lip, gazing down as the calming motion paused momentarily.

"Rie... is it true... that... that you've killed people before?"

She remained silent.

"Yeah," she whispered hoarsely.

No response came from him, the girl tensing.

"Todoroki..."

"Shoto," he prompted.

"S... Shoto..." her hair covered her eyes as he set the comb aside, "have you... have you heard of Crimson Death?"

She wasn't sure whose heartbeat was louder.

"So the rumours were true, huh..." he muttered.

"You're not scared?" she gazed up at him.

"Of what?"

"Of... of me..."

He furrowed his brows.

"Why would I be?"

"Because I-"

"Because you're Japan's worst assassin?" he cut her off, "because you've killed people before?"

The girl remained silent.

"Rie... can I say something?"

She swallowed, turning away as she let her hair fall over her face. Her lower lip trembled as she heard the boy say something, but it fell upon deaf ears. His arm gently snaked around her waist, his other hand tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the girl feeling his gentle touch travelling down the edge of her jawline and under her chin, tenderly tilting it so that she was facing him.

"Are you okay?"

For a moment, it was silent. Her breathing began to quicken, her eyes dangerously close to spilling out the tears that she had tried to keep in for so long. Her body visibly shaking, Endeavor's son made no movement to rush her, instead rubbing soothing circles with his thumb on her hand. Her walls came crashing down, her thunderous yet silent cries resulting in the boy wordlessly pulling her into his chest. His eyes softened as he felt her body violently racking with sobs.

"I'm sorry," he could make out.

"There's nothing to apologise for, Rie," he murmured gently, running a hand through her hair as she shook her head, unwilling to explain further, "you did nothing wrong."

You don't know that.

"I... I..." her breathing was uneven, rapid.

"Breathe," he advised, "take your time..." the girl nodded timidly, burying her face in the crook of his neck and sending involuntary shivers down his spine, though he brushed them aside.

"I'm sorry..."

He didn't speak.

"I'm sorry, Shoto..."

He remained silent.

"I'm sorry..."

He wondered why she was apologising.

"I'm sorry..."

What was he supposed to say?

He wisely chose to remain silent, letting the female's body rack with sobs as his own heart clenched in pain.

"I'm still here, though, aren't I?" he stated quietly, "I'm still alive, your servants are still alive, the teachers are still alive-"

"But he isn't," she whispered, "Ace isn't alive, because I killed him. Everyone I end up getting close to or becoming friends with always dies, because of me. Because I'm an assassin, and that's what we do, we kill and we hunt, we don't care about who the person is and what they mean to us, and not to mention my parents-"

He leaned in, closing the gap between them as her eyes widened, cutting her rambling off.

"You've been spending too much time with Midoriya, you've gotten his habits of mumbling and rambling," he muttered into her hair, frowning.

Her eyes widened.

"Are you... jealous?" she gazed up at him curiously.

"No," he answered hurriedly, gazing to the side with a small huff.

"You answered really quickly..." she hummed, "and you're blushing, too."

"Am I?" he gazed down, "if I'm blushing, then what are you doing? Your face is probably redder than mine."

She whined, burying her face into his neck, the boy letting out an amused huff.

"I missed you, Shoto," he could make out.

He smiled softly.

"I missed you too, Rie."