The scratching

Chapter 20

I want to apologise for the long wait. School has been stressful.
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Sleep hasn't come easy to him these past few months. Between the constant punishments, having to do everything around the house and the fact that he doesn't even have a bed, it was very understandable. His whole body aches and he was burnt more than he can count on both hands. So safe to say, Izuku was done. He wanted to go home, back to his family and the people he loved.

One for all constantly buzzed under his skin, warning him that a threat was nearby. Which, under normal circumstances would be good but considering that his father the man he lived with was the threat, left him in a constant fight or flight modus.
The past users have been summoning him more and more these past few weeks. Especially after punishments. He can't think of a week where he wasn't in his own mind talking with the past users for hours.

Which brings us to the current situation. Izuku in his own mind, talking with the past users. Well, more the past users talking and Izuku listening. He didn't really feel like talking after punishments.

"Just..don't let what he says get to your head alright? You're not a slut nor are you useless." Hikage said. The other users agreed.

They've been very nice to him lately. He doesn't get why. Nana always combed her hand through his hair, telling him story's of her fights.

"I'd say punch him in the face but..erm well, we all know how that ended last time" Bruno cringed.

And it was true, they all know how that ended last time: with Izuku being suspended in the air and his father using whatever tool he could find to spank him with. It didn't matter if it was his father's hand, a flogger or a cable cord. As long as his father could think of it, it was used on Izuku. And yes, even though Izuku was beat black and blue by his father, he didn't cry. Not one single tear left his eyes which, in his eyes, was a win. Well, depends on how you define the word "win". For Izuku it meant that his father couldn't hurt him that much anymore. It meant that Izuku could handle whatever his father did to him. In his abused mind, Izuku did not care about the fact that he was slowly starting to be like his old self again. He did not care that he didn't feel any emotions, or that his scratching was getting worse again. He did not care, but the past users did. They cared deeply but Izuku did not know that. In his point of view, he could only trust himself. He was alone, just like old times.

"Izuku? Dear? You with us again?" Nana smiled down at him. Izuku could only nod his head. He didn't feel present at all, but they didn't have to know that.

"How about I'll tell you the story of my shortest fight ever?" That caught Izuku's attention. Even after everything, he loved Heroes. No one, not his father and not the abuse he had to endure could change the fact that Izuku adored Heroes.

"It was a very sunny day, I only had about 5 minutes left until it was my lunch break when suddenly there were people screaming and running around. Of course I checked what was happening-"

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"Hello Bakugo, please take a seat wherever you want. If standing is more comfortable for you, feel free to do so too." Inui greeted him.

Despite hating the fact that he was there, Bakugo plopped down onto the couch while looking around the room.

"I'd like to start this by saying that I'm very happy to have you here. Going to therapy is a huge step for everyone and I'm glad that you took it. I want to remind you that everything you say here is confidential. Meaning I won't tell anyone unless I come to the conclusion that you're a danger to yourself and/or others. Feel free to share as much as you like. Whatever you want to tell me is fine. If you don't want to talk at all, that's fine too. Don't feel pressured to say anything." Inui said while taking a seat on one of the chairs, notebook and pen in his hand.