Leave It All Behind - Katsuki Bakugo x reader

Metamorphosis

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You remembered you dad had cried the day your mom left. It was a memory that had just resurfaced. He had hugged her just that morning, and when he left for work, then he finally broke.

It was the first time, and the only time you had ever seen him cry. Still, you had no idea why.

The memories you had of your mom were nice; she was happy, lively, and warm hearted; that was until your last year together. Around that time, she had changed.

She didn't talk much, she never played, and most days, she was out of the house, for multiple days at a time even. Your brother was born, and she became even more distant. He was fed formula the first few weeks, because she wasn't even home to take care of him.

That's where most of your resentment towards her laid; towards the way she left your brother. Now you were sitting in the waiting room, wondering where it had all gone wrong.

Tokoyami won against Mina, and Bakugo won against Kirishima. You walked to the waiting room. There would be a half an hour before the semi-finals started. Your match was first, and you were beyond nervous. You won against Iida by chance, so this was defiantly nerve wracking given Todoroki had shown no mercy against the other students.

You had no chance of winning and you knew that; but still, the thought of getting even third place was an unimaginable feat. Still, deep down you knew you weren't the powerful girl you pretended to be, and it scared you knowing how Todoroki might not hold back.

The room seemed suffocating, so you left, and headed down the halls, hoping the time would pass quicker.

"(y/n), I need to talk to you?"

Your mother stood at the end of the hall once more, but this time, you remained calm. It was time to hear her out. You knew she wouldn't leave you alone until you at least heard her out. You weren't too interested in hearing her story, but it was what you would do.

"I'm sure you have so many questions, but first, I want to apologies," she said, sitting down on a small, cushioned bench. You hesitantly sat down next to her, looking at your own folded hands.

"I don't need an apology, and I certainly don't want one," you said, a coldness in your voice showing how you truly felt. Her face looked sad, but you didn't regret what you said, you meant it.

"I- I shouldn't have left, but I had to," she said with a pause, then proceeded to tell her story.

"I had cancer. It came around right about four months before your brother was born. Your father knew I was leaving. He encouraged me not to, but I had too. I couldn't bear to see him cry anymore. I thought it would be easier for you to end up hating me, than to mourn me. It was pancreatic cancer, and the doctor only expected me to live a year, and in the last month it got so much worse. But I lived. Your father told be about everything that happened before we cut contact, and I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you. (y/n) I'm so sorry," your mother finished. (This conversation DOES in fact serve a purpose to the plot, and the last part IS unrevealed/is expanded upon later. A little literary device called foreshadowing)

It was, well, a shock. You didn't know how to feel because so many emotions forced their way through. A feeling of abandonment, sadness, anger, hate, regret, pity, and so many more you couldn't think to name. It all made sense now, and you hated it. She had a reason for leaving, and although she never should have, you understood her not wanting to wither away in that dust bowl of a town, only for you to watch.

"Stop it, you don't get to cry," you started, tears only coming out harder as you watched them stream down her face, "I was so lost for so long, and I needed you. You weren't there and I hated you for that. I understand why you did what you did, but I've hated you with my whole heart for so long, you don't get to make me so confused like that," you cried, and for the first time in so long, you gave the person you resented most in the world a hug.