Dancing Shadows

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Ellowyn's POV-
   Katsuki and I sit next to each other on his bed. The sunlight coming through the blinds highlights the golden color of his hair and makes his red eyes glow. As I set down my textbook, he smiles and I feel like I'm flying. I love his smile.

   When I gently touch his face, his smile disappears. My heart drops into my stomach as he gasps in pain. I pull my hand away but it's too late. His eyes are wide with panic as he curls into a ball. He shudders as my quirk continues to eat at his insides and cause him unimaginable pain. Only seconds later he stops moving as his eyes become dull.

...

Katsuki's POV-
   I wake up as Ellowyn sits up in the bed next to me. I turn towards her to see that she's facing away from me. "Ellowyn? Are you okay?" I have to stop myself from trying the soothe her by rubbing her back.

   She wipes her face before turning to face me with a half-hearted smile. "Yeah, I'm okay."

   I sit up as I ask, "Why are you lying to me?"

   She looks looks down at her hands in her lap with shame. "Katsuki, please. You know that's not how I meant it."

   "Is this about what happened the other day? You've been acting weird as fuck since then."

   She sighs before quietly saying, "Yes."

   "Why won't you talk to me?"

   When she finally looks up at me, she looks exhausted. Her eyes well with tears as she tells me, "I'm sorry. I just don't think I can be with you anymore."

   My heart splinters. "What? Why?" I wince at the weakness I hear in my voice as it trembles.

   "Katsuki, I don't have control over my own quirk. In fact, I have so little control that I've killed people with it. I can't risk hurting you like that."

   "That's fucking ridiculous!"

   "It's the truth! I ruin everything I touch and I can't stop. What happens when I go too far? The next time I hurt you could be so much worse."

   "Do you think it doesn't hurt when you don't let me help you?"

   I see the guilt in her eyes as she looks away from me. "You can't help me."

   "Fucking bullshit. There has to be something."

   She hesitates before saying, "There isn't. I think I just need to go home. Stay away. There's no other way."

   "That's a fucking lie. You hesitated before you spoke. There's something else."

   "No-"

   "If you have any respect for me, you'll tell me the fucking truth."

   She hesitates once again before finally giving in. "Best Jeanist said that because I don't have control because I only use the full extent of my quirk when fear forces me to. He suggested using my full quirk in one of our training sessions since they feel safe for me. He thinks if I learn how to use it on command that it'll keep me from losing control so often."

   "Then we'll try that."

   "No."

   "Why the fuck not?"

   "It's too risky. I could hurt you."

   "I won't let that happen."

   "Katsuki, I can't do this."

   "Yes, you can. Trust me." When I realize she's still acting a bit hesitant I add, "If you aren't able to use the full extent of your quirk on command, I'll stop trying to help."