Shadowfire - OC x Shoto Todoroki

Chapter 24 - Black and White

Kaida had had high expectations of living with her classmates, excited at the prospect of the college-like situation. But reality had been far beyond her expectations. Every minute of her waking hours was spent in class, or studying with various groups in 1-A, or being beaten and battered in the gym. It was easy to keep herself exhausted enough to ensure that no nightmares would plague her sleep, and she would fall asleep the second her head hit the pillow, not allowing for any intrusive thoughts to make their way through the silent darkness.

Of course, there was the occasional moment when her eyes became teary, her teeth gnawed on her lip and her mood plummeted, but it seemed like Katsuki and Shoto were subconsciously working as a team to keep her happy. She was never without either boy, and although they constantly exchanged glares and shouldered roughly past each other in the hallway, there was a noticeable drop in the lack of shouting and aggression that went on between the two.

She spent most nights in Shoto's room, sleeping comfortably in his arms with her head on his chest. The only downside to this was that it made sleeping alone on the weekends rather lonely, as Endeavour demanded that his youngest son spend the time at home to receive additional training. Kaida spent the whole 48 hours of every Saturday and Sunday worrying about Shoto's wellbeing. He often returned each Monday exhausted and downtrodden, refusing to speak about his time at home.

At the beginning of each week, when Shoto shuffled miserably into the classroom and sank into Kaida's arms, her heart twisted with anxiety and sympathy. Dark circles ringed both his eyes and his voice barely rose above a murmur. He clung to her like a puppy with separation anxiety, and she had no complaints about the constant cuddles she received when they were out of sight of their classmates, but would trade the clinginess for Shoto's happiness any day.

It was one of these days now, Monday morning, an hour before class started, Shoto and Kaida sitting alone in her room. Shoto usually arrived back at school on Monday mornings, but this weekend, he had trudged into Kaida's room at almost 2 in the morning, refusing to utter a word. He had only climbed into her bed and wrapped his arms around her waist, squeezing her body snugly into his. She had tried to stay awake with him, but had quickly fallen back asleep, and doubted that he had done the same.

Usually, they held hands on the way to class and dropped their grasp when they walked through the door. They didn't need to be the gossip of class 1-A. But today, Shoto squeezed her hand tighter when she tried to loosen her fingers.

Kaida slammed to a halt just before they reached the door, dragging Shoto backwards and into another hallway so none of their class saw them.

Her face twisted into a look of concerned frustration, and he winced at her expression.

"What happened?" She asked flatly. She was fully aware that Shoto was no doubt in a fragile state, and didn't want to upset him; but she had to get something out of him. She was fully aware of what life was like with a toxic family, and knew that she had to do something to help the boy she loved. Even if it meant forcing him to talk to her.

"I really don't wanna talk abo-"

"Please, Sho. Please talk to me." She begged.

He inhaled a shaky sigh, hands snaking under her blazer and resting on her hips as his head dropped onto her shoulder.

"I can't go home again." He mumbled into her shirt.

She clenched her teeth, balling up her fists around handfuls of Shoto's shirt. She wanted to march out of the school that instant and tear Endeavour apart, but her boyfriend needed her, and anger wouldn't help him.

"What did he do?" She asked gently.

"He brought you up...I don't know how he found out about us but he did and...he said that I wasn't born to find love. I was born to be a hero and rise to the top of the ranks, and that I shouldn't waste my time with such pointless things." He inhaled deeply. "I feel like a soldier bred for war. Like my life means nothing except for training and winning. I want to have more purpose than that."