The Man Behind the Screen

What's Mine

BAKUGO'S POV

"Thank you for sitting down with us today," The reporter, Suri, said. "We've been saving up questions since your arrest Thursday evening."

Deku smiled weakly. I saw his fingers go to his wedding ring to spin it like he usually did when he was nervous, but the ring wasn't there. "Well, I'm here to answer whatever questions you have."

I'm glad they decided to do an interview instead of a press conference. One reporter would be asking questions as they came in. It wouldn't be nearly as hectic, and he could probably keep his cool. "Let's start with why one of our favorite heroes got arrested, to begin with."

He took a deep breath and pushed himself up in his seat. "I had just found out that someone was abusing my son," he said quietly. Suri gasped but didn't say anything in response. "Being a hero wasn't on my mind. Protecting my son and being the best dad I could be was the only thing on my mind."

"So, you started a fight?" She asked.

Deku nodded weakly. "It isn't my proudest moment, but I wasn't thinking like a hero, and for that, I'm sorry. I know I let many people down when I did what I did. I apologize for letting you all down as a hero."

"Did you use your quirk to bring someone harm?" Suri asked. Even though I've known Deku my entire life, I was surprised he didn't. I'm not surprised in a way, I guess, but I don't think I would have been able to control myself like that.

"I would never use my quirk to bring someone harm like that," he frowned. "Quirks are for helping people, not hurting them."

Suri looked down at the screen in front of her before asking her next question. "We, the people, want to know what is going on with you and your wife. Reports say you haven't been seen at your house in a few months." Probably his nosey ass neighbors.

"Ex-wife," he corrected quickly. "The last time I did an interview, I lied. We divorced a few months back. We never went to counseling to try and reconcile our differences."

Suri gasped loudly again before Deku continued. "We wanted to focus on our son and let him adjust before we informed the rest of the world. She had asked me to come on here and tell the world we were working through things, but that wasn't the case."

"Dude, Kendo is going to kill him," Shitty Hair mumbled. I was so engrossed in the interview that I forgot I was sitting with our friends.

"Keep watching. It's going to get worse." Not the interview itself, but what his ex-wife will do when she sees it.

At that moment, my mind went back to the night before. Deku and I were talking about his upcoming press conference, which turned into this interview.

He turned to face me and said, "Kacchan, I want to let you know in advance." His eyes held a look of worry. "I am going to tell the world everything." He chewed his bottom lip as he told me this.

I raised a brow at him. "What do you mean everything?" I wasn't sure if he meant about us. I wasn't ready just yet, but if he were, I would get there. I mean, he didn't want her to find out until after the custody hearing was over. Also, he didn't want the kids to get too attached if we didn't work out.  "Do you mean everything...everything?"

He shook his head at my question. "No, not about us. I still want to take it slow and be cautious where the kids are concerned. I mean, if that's alright with you." He smiled shyly.

Giving him a half smile back. "It's fine, Nerd. Really. So what do you mean?"

He began to fidget with his hands, spinning his ring. "I mean that she and I are divorced and why. I am done playing her games, and I am tired of not rocking the boat."