Shoto Todoroki: Rising

Chapter 9. On Sorrow

They both entered the meeting room, Aizawa closing the door behind him. It was small and empty beside a square desk and 2 chairs laid out facing each other, only separated by the corner of the table; dimly lit compared to the bright hallways seemingly to recognize the tragic discussion to be had. They sat down, not without Shoto still holding his head down to avoid his teachers gaze meeting his own misty eyes. It didn't help that the questions he'd been dreading hearing were coming or the tense atmosphere was practically choking him to tears.

'Why am I.....so afraid? Haven't I always dreamed of getting help?...stupid...'

Aizawa merely stayed silent while examining the boy. He didn't want to bombard him with questions right away keeping note that he was trying to seem nonchalant. Just as much as Shoto was trying to not let his calm composure show any cracks, Aizawa also wanted to keep his usual laid back demeanor, sitting back comfortably. (Though he knew he couldn't do so. His students meant a lot to him)

He couldn't help but feel terrible that his student has been going through hell at home all this time. The student considered to be the strongest by everyone was now in front of him, pale and distant, disassociating himself from reality. As a hero, he had seen many children afraid of asking for help fearful of what's to come, or whether their perpetrator would find out hence it'd be better to remain silent. He wondered if he was witnessing the same case, and if so, just how much worse would it be coming from the son of the so called Number 1 Hero? How much had that monster ruined his student's life?! Aizawa was going to do all it took to save him.
.
.
.
"Shoto..." Aizawa called his attention with a gentle tone quite contrasting the fury inside him. The latter showed no reaction or response, but he continued anyway.

"I know it's difficult to admit certain things.....but we're all here to help you."

Shoto's seamless form started to crack as he took a shaky breath and more tears formed, threatening to spill over. His whole body felt weak, being held up only by his arms stretched under him and fists resting on his thighs.

"Weak!"

"Shoto, are you safe at home?" Aizawa tried to make the boy feel more comfortable, slightly leaning forward to close the tense air.

No response

But Aizawa wasn't one to give up so easily.

"You can tell me anything, alright?"
.
.
.
No response. He was practically using all his energy controlling his emotions, as well as fighting the demons in his head.

-

A few years prior...

"THIS! IS WHAT YOU GET! FOR DISOBEYING ME!"

Endeavor's giant and intimidating shadow loomed over a curled up child Shoto on the floor. He kept screaming curses, over and over and over again, all the while kicking,  punching and throwing the shell of a boy around in a flaming fury. At this point Shoto had gotten numb of all feeling in his body. All that was left was a boy's screaches for help as tears of agony poured down.

"NEXT TIME YOU OR YOUR SIBLINGS TRY TO GET HELP! I SWEAR YOU'RE ALL DEAD!!"

All he could see was blurry red swirling all around him, with ringing in his ears, and a shell of a body littered with past scars and present tortures, as he promised to himself then that he would simply........give up.

'Never again.....'

-

"Shoto? Please. Talk to me....something, anything."