Amethyst. (Katsuki Bakugo x Reader)

PART 9 - Hardened by Heat

After my fight with Shinso, I walked back inside the arena to get to the lounge and rest. On my way up the stairs, I heard my father's voice. I immediately pressed myself against the wall, hoping he would leave soon.

As I waited, I heard footsteps approaching from the opposite direction. I risked a glance and noticed Shoto walking towards the lounge to prepare for his match against Sero. Unfazed, he encountered Endeavor, who stood leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, waiting for Shoto.

Shoto halted in the hallway. "What do you want?" he asked our father.

Enji threw him a sidelong glance. "You're acting disgracefully, Shoto."

Shoto continued walking, trying to ignore Enji. "If you simply used the power in your left side, you would've had an overwhelming victory in both of the first rounds," Endeavor continued. "It's time to stop this childish rebellion of yours. Even your sister, Y/N, knows that with my training she's getting far. But it's a shame that your siblings aren't half as talented as you, Shoto."

Shoto clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he walked past our father.

"You have a duty to surpass that imbecile All Might," Endeavor said seriously. "You're different from your siblings; you're my greatest masterpiece."

Shoto's steps slowed, but he didn't turn around. "Is that all you have to say to me, you bastard?" he replied angrily, not stopping. "I'll win this match and advance using only Mom's quirk. I won't give you the pleasure of seeing me use yours."

Endeavor noticed me as I tried to hide. I stepped out from behind the wall and watched Shoto walk away. I decided not to stop him or go after him to talk. I didn't catch much of the conversation between my father and my brother, but I heard enough to know it was the usual argument about Shoto refusing to use our father's power, and my father relentlessly trying to impose his will on Shoto.

"Can't you let us be, Enji?" I asked, tiredly trying to walk past him and continue with my day.

"What was that?" he snapped, grabbing my arm and stopping me from walking past him. "I forbid you from talking to me in that tone, Y/N!"

As a child, I always felt fear—fear of Father's gaze. I would hide behind Toya whenever he raised his voice against us, whenever our performances didn't meet his expectations... but I couldn't hide behind Toya anymore.

I shot him a sharp look. He stared at me as he noticed my eye color changing. My body emitted a cold mist. The arm he held began to freeze. Ice quickly spread from his hand to his forearm, up to his upper arm, and over his chest. Slowly, the ice continued to spread through his blood, and even though my father tried to counter it with his flames, he knew he couldn't overcome my ice. Eventually, he finally let go of my arm.

I said nothing and continued walking.

"Stop this childish behavior and this deliberate attempt to lose. You're a Pro-Hero; I've seen what you're capable of. Stop bringing shame to our family."

I turned to my father and shook my head. "The only one bringing shame to our family is you, Father."

His eyes flashed with anger, but I didn't flinch. I turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, a cold mist still lingering in the air between us.

___________

As I walked away from my father, my heart pounded in my chest. Confrontations with him always left me drained, but I couldn't let him control my life any longer. I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the encounter, focusing on the upcoming matches.

I headed towards the lounge, hoping to find some solitude before the next round. The hallways were buzzing with activity as students prepared for their fights, but I felt a strange sense of isolation. My mind kept drifting back to Shoto and the harsh words exchanged with our father.