Try Me Bitch (Vigilante Deku)

Relief? Maybe a bit....

Kurogiri arrived swiftly, as expected. The familiar swirl of shadows and mist formed in front of me, and there he was—calm, composed, and ready to whisk me away from the chaos I'd been drowning in. Drowning is the best word to express and describe my situaiton. I hated myself, I hated my decision and there was noting to say more than this to it.

Kurogiri: Izuku, your father has instructed me to bring you home.

His voice was steady, with a hint of the usual warmth of a mother or a parent,  that I'd come to associate with him. I nodded, too drained to argue, too exhausted to do anything but comply.

Me: Alright.

As the shadows wrapped around me, the last thing I saw was the city skyline, the dark labyrinth that had swallowed up any trace of Eri. The sense of failure clung to me, tightening its grip with every passing second. I definitely made the worst decision leaving this up to the police. It might have been the right one but it was definitely a horrible one. The teleportation was instantaneous, and within moments, I was back in the safety of my home—if you could even call it that.

Kurogiri: We will continue the search. If there's any news, I'll get back to you immediately.

I just nodded again, feeling like I was moving on autopilot. Kurogiri didn't linger, and soon enough, I was alone. The silence was deafening.

"I'll find her", I told myself over and over, but the words felt hollow.

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A week passed, and nothing changed. Every day, I went to school, sat through classes, and went through the motions. But inside, I was a wreck. I could feel the weight of my failure, the guilt gnawing at me, and it was getting harder to hide.

At first, no one seemed to notice. But Shoto... he knew me better than that. We hadn't spent much time together that week—something I regretted, but I was too caught up in my own head to fix it. During a break, he finally cornered me, pulling me away from the noise of the school into a quiet, secluded spot.

Shoto: Izuku, what's going on?

His voice was soft but firm, laced with concern. I looked up at him, seeing the worry clearly written on his face, and it made my heart ache. I didn't want to burden him with all this, but I knew I couldn't keep it from him anymore.

Me: It's nothing, Shoto. I'm just... tired.

Shoto: Don't lie to me.

He reached out, gently cupping my face, his touch warm against my skin. His eyes bore into mine, searching for the truth, and I could see the resolve there. He wasn't going to let this go.

Shoto: You've been distant all week. You're not yourself, and it's scaring me. Please, talk to me.

I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat threatening to choke me. 

The truth was,...... I wanted to tell him everything, but I didn't even know where to start. The shame, the guilt, the overwhelming sense of helplessness—it was all too much.

Me: I... I messed up, Shoto.

He didn't say anything, just kept his gaze steady, his thumb brushing gently across my cheek, urging me to continue.

Me: There was this kid, I met... I didn't know how much she was in danger. I tried to distract her, promised her that the police will help her and I... I just let the bad guys take her.... I messed up. She is a missing child now... I don't know where she is and the police... they aren't doing anything from what I know.

The words spilled out in a rush, and once they started, I couldn't stop. I told him everything—in a way I knew that he would understand but not pinpoint out that I was a vigilante. I couldn't tell him that but I kinda couldn't hide it forever tooo but right now, I just could tell him that much, and the unbearable silence that followed..... it was killing me. Shoto listened patiently, his expression softening with every word.

When I finally finished, I was trembling, my heart pounding in my chest as if it was trying to break free. I felt exposed, vulnerable, and more than a little terrified of what he might think of me now.

But Shoto didn't flinch. He didn't pull away or look at me with disappointment. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace.

Shoto: You didn't fail, Izuku. You did everything you could. You're not alone in this, and we'll find them together. I promise, I'll get my family to help with this too.

His words were a balm to the raw wound that had been festering inside me, and I felt myself relax, just a little, in his hold.

Me: But what if it's not enough? What if I'm too late?

Shoto pulled back slightly, just enough to look me in the eyes again. His gaze was steady, filled with a quiet determination that I'd always admired.

Shoto: Then we'll keep searching until we find them.... but right now... you need a rest. You look horrible and trust me, it means a lot comming from me. Besides I am a Todoroki and you know my family.  We don't give up, not when lives are at stake. And I'll be with you every step of the way and telling you about any news.

It was enough to keep the despair at bay, at least for now. I nodded, feeling a small spark of hope but I still knew how hard it would be.

Me: Thank you, Shoto.

Shoto: Always.

And for the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe again. 

It was a wonder how Shoto could make me feel this way. He was simply put, my second half for sure.