Happy.

II

Stretching his arms up and out, Todoroki looked at himself in the tall mirror he had hung in his bathroom. Two things jumped at his glance, his scar, and the inky words forever etched on his skin. 

'Happy.'

He scowled at it. Disgusted by how it seemed to taunt him, teasing him, maybe even warning him. 'You can't be happy until you die.' It felt like a curse, a stroke of bad luck that seemed to follow him wherever he went. Furrowing his eyebrows he sighed, wishing he could carve out that word and replace it with literally anything else. But knowing his luck the word was also probably written on the bone underneath. 

None of his friends knew what his word was, and he wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. Who knows what they would say? For one they'd realize that the smiles he gave them were fake and the laughs were forced. He wasn't truly happy, otherwise he'd be dead. U.A didn't force anyone to reveal what their words were which he was truly grateful for. Some flaunted them, others tried using them as a way to get attention. 

Shoto had been asked by a few people what his word was and why he refused to tell people. He simply shrugged and said: "It's not important." 

Grabbing his schoolbag he walked out of him dorm, trying to get to class without bumping into anybody. But, as I've said, luck is never on his side.

"Oi. Half'n'half." A deep voice called out, surprisingly it was calm, not annoyed or angry. 

"Hm? Can I help you Bakugo?" Todoroki asked, tilting his head to the side. 

"...Why do you hide your word?" 

Breath now caught in his throat Shoto didn't look up from the floor. Heavy footsteps approached him and his chin was pulled upwards, he found himself glancing at crimson eyes that held nothing but hatred. 

"Well?" 

Unable to avert his gaze he just stared, admiring the resolve Bakugo had to find out his motives behind keeping his word a secret.

"Wouldn't you like to know, mutt." 

Fire-red eyes grew wide, gripping the younger tightly he brought their faces close. 

"Tch, watch it scarface. I won't be so nice next time." Releasing the candycane, the blond stomped away. 

Heart pounding in his ears, tears caressing his waterlines, breath coming out in short quick intervals. Shoto hurriedly collected himself and followed the direction in which the older went, already wishing the day was over.