STRINGS // KATSUKI BAKUGO [2]

Chapter 22 // Obstacles

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"Red or green?"

"Red obviously."

You grinned at Eri's passionate involment in the holiday that was Christmas and plucked one of the red santa outfits off of the rack situated in front of you.

"Here," you said, kneeling down to be at eye level with the girl. You held out the outfit to her chest, saying, "this seems like it should fit. Do you wanna try it on?"

Eri nodded rapidly before snatching the outfit and abruptly sprinting off. However, before her little legs could carry her too far, you lunged out with your arms extended and scooped her off the floor.

"No running off," you stated sternly. Although, you managed a small chuckle at her excitement. "We gotta stick together, okay?"

Eri's smile faltered momentarily, but she eventually seemed to grasp the idea as she nodded once more.

"Excuse me," you stopped a nearby employee. "Can she try this on?"

The young man nodded in response before silently beckoning you to follow him. With Eri in your arms, you made your way through the packed store and to the back where the fitting rooms were. There, the employee unlocked one of the empty rooms before hurrying off to continue on with what he had been doing.

You set Eri on her feet, and the girl immediately rushed into the dressing room where she closed and locked the door in order to proceed with trying on the outfit.

You leaned against the wall behind you and folded your arms over your chest, patiently waiting for Eri to get done changing.

"Funny seeing you here."

You didn't recognize the voice at first, so you turned with complete oblivion, but you sure as hell recognized the face when your eyes settled on the person.

"Emerson," you stated, refusing to let your disbelief show in your voice or expression, "if that is your real name."

"Real as can be," they replied. "Come back to find your mommy and your boytoy?"

Your face hardened, jaw clenched, and eyes narrowed at Emerson's clear attempt to shake your demeanor.

"I'm not here to hurt you," they assured before glancing at the dressing room door Eri stood behind, "or the girl."

"Then why are you here?" you wondered aloud.

"To talk," they stated, and you remained silent, waiting for them to continue.

Emerson exhaled through their nose before venturing closer to you and leaning against the wall. You shifted to the left a few inches, not very comfortable with the lack of distance.

"Heroes and villains, they're a funny thing," they began, crossing their arms to match your stance. "Various people see the same person as different things. To you, I'm a villain, but, to an elderly lady I may help walk across the street, I'm a hero. To some of society, you're a hero. To some of the city, you're a villain, Overhaul's former lapdog. To the Chief, you're a troublemaker. To that girl in there, you're an idol. It's funny how different one person can appear to dozens of eyes."

"Is there a point to this?" you asked, wondering if it was such a good idea to continue this conversation.

"Villains are only villains because people choose to focus on the bad things, the mistakes," Emerson continued, ignoring your question. "You were that person once, the villain. When you were brainwashed, everyone completely forgot about all of the good you've done for the world, for them, and chose to focus on the fact that you had been place under a villain's boot."

They were right.

"Then you talked to them, made them realize they were wrong," they proceeded. "You had a chance to prove yourself. Us villains never got a chance, not one."

"Maybe that's because of, I don't know, the murder," you noted, and Emerson scoffed quietly.

"I won't say our crimes are mistakes. They're deliberate," the villain admitted, "but they never would've happened if we had been given a chance, one chance. If Dabi had been appreciated for what he had instead of shamed for what he didn't, he wouldn't be where he is. If Toga hadn't been feared simply because of her quirk and personality, she wouldn't be where she is. If Shigaraki hadn't been abandoned due his power and shunned by his father, he wouldn't be where he is today."

You processed their words, eyes falling to the floor beneath you.

Villains.

Misunderstood children.

Abused kids.

They were all the same.

Some of them got lucky.

Todoroki was abused, yet he persevered through every hardship thrown his way, and now he's on the path of a hero.

Some of them didn't get lucky.

Shigaraki was abused, and he gave into his destructive power. Now he's down the path of a villain.

"That doesn't excuse all that villains do," you eventually said. "You may have tragedy to your backstory, but you still chose to give in, chose to be the bad guy."

"Yes," Emerson agreed, "but it sure as hell gives us a good excuse."

"What does this have to do with you going after the people I love?" you asked. "I'm in your way just as much as everyone else. I hate you just as much as everyone else. I've caused damage just as much as everyone else."

"Because," they began, "Shigaraki wants to kill you before your brain does."

You froze, a sharp exhale slipping past your lips.

They knew.

"If he wants to kill me," you started, "then why are you here instead of him?"

"I'm just the messenger," Emerson stated, "not the final boss."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" you questioned, pushing yourself off the wall.

Emerson ignored you at first, moving away from as a familiar black and purple portal appeared behind them. They spared you a small wave.

"It means that, once you've overcome all of the other obstacles in your path," they finally responded, "come find him."

[EDITED]