STRINGS // KATSUKI BAKUGO [2]

Chapter 17 // Quiet

"[L/N]."

You came to a halt at the sound of your name being called and glanced over your shoulder to find Todoroki walking toward you.

You made it through your first day back and were in the process of heading to the staff parking lot to meet Aizawa just as the dual haired boy caught you.

"Hey," you replied, almost cringing at how...odd your voice came out. It almost sounded as if your energy was actively being drained from your body.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing," Todoroki began, eyes raking over your body. "I know you're not okay. You can't be, but I just wanted to check in."

"I'm...surviving," is what you settled on. "I'm living with Mr. Aizawa for the time being."

"Are you going to resume training?" he asked. "It's not like you need it, but it'd be nice training with you again."

You missed being on the field with your friends, and you missed training with people who could keep up with you, match your pace. However, you didn't know if you could just fall back into your usual routine like everything was normal.

"Soon," you promised. "I've got some things to take care of at the moment."

"And the party?" he questioned. "It's tomorrow."

"Dorms?" you wondered.

"Yeah," he was quick to confirm. "Sato is going to bake a cake, and I believe we're doing white elephant. I told them not to, but I'm pretty sure they're also going to sing me happy birthday."

"Your birthday's not until January eleventh," you noted.

"We thought it'd be a good idea to combined it," he explained. "We don't have much free time these days, you know?"

"Yeah," you sighed, "yeah, I know. I'll be there."

Todoroki continued to stare at you, his eyes showing more and more sympathy the longer they lingered on your form, and, before you could tell him not to worry too much, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around your shoulders.

You fell still at the hug, especially because it was coming from someone who never initiated affection or took kindly to abruptly receiving it. It took you a solid ten seconds or so to even return the gesture.

You snaked your arms around Todoroki's torso and interlocked your fingers behind his back, squeezing him back tightly and savoring the comfort.

"I know I'm not the best at talking about feelings or anything of the sort," Todoroki said, his breath fanning your ear, "but you can always talk to me."

You smiled, thinking to yourself, 'I don't think talking will save me,' just as Todoroki leaned back and released you from his grasp.

"See you tomorrow?" he wondered, and you nodded curtly before sparing the boy a wave and walking off.

When you made it to the staff parking lot, you were confused to find Aizawa sitting in the driver's seat of his car considering you had asked to drive home.

He rolled down his window when he noticed you approaching, causing you to say, "I thought I was driving home."

"We're not going home," he replied shortly, cocking his head toward the passenger seat, "not yet."

Your confusion remained present and evident as you got into the passenger seat, secured your seatbelt, and tossed your bag into the backseat.

"Where're we going?" you questioned. "Early dinner?"

"The mental institution downtown," he said, and you pursed your lips as you narrowed your eyes at the man in suspicion.

"Okay, I'm not that crazy yet," you stated blatantly, and you thought the sarcasm would earn at least a small smile from Aizawa, but he remained stoic.

"It's where your father's being held," he informed.

You tensed.

"I thought you might want to see him," Aizawa continued, "and you're also our last hope in getting him to talk. He was home when your mother was taken. He had to have seen something."

"So are we doing this for me or for you?" you questioned as you exhaled through your nose.

"Everyone," he answered, "for you, for your mother, for Bakugo. Your father is our only known lead. Getting him to talk might help us immensely, but it also might help you get some normalcy back into your life."

You released an exhausted sigh and leaned your head against the dashboard, conflicted with everything being thrown at you.

You had to save your mom. You had to save Bakugo. You had to get your dad back to normal. You had to attend school. You had to start training again. You had to watch your back due to the massive target on it. You had to take down the League, and, while doing all of this, you had to make sure to not die, not yet.

"I know it's a lot," Aizawa began, "but, like you said, we don't have all the time in the world. The sooner we get information, the sooner we find the League, and the sooner we find your mother and Bakugo."

"I know," you said, licking your chapped lips and pinching the bridge of your nose. "I know."

You felt Aizawa's hand land in the space between your shoulder blades before he rubbed your back momentarily.

"I wish I could stay I understand," he started, "but, at this point, you've endured more than most heroes have experienced in their entire careers."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" you questioned as you sat up, causing Aizawa to remove his hand from your back and settle it on the middle console. "Am I supposed to be glad I'm practically a walking book of trauma?"

"Be glad you're still living," he responded, as unbeknownst as everyone else to your true health.

'But I'm not,' you thought. 'I won't be,' but you couldn't tell him that, so you didn't. You stayed quiet.

[EDITED]