Echoes of Vapor (Shoto Todoroki)

02.05

PART 00.05

BACK

Ryou stared at himself in the mirror, his reflection looking strikingly unfamiliar. Even when he was off moving family to family, he had never seen himself look so devoid of life.

It was time for him to go back to school, except he had missed the entire first week due to his mental health issues. The new school year had already started, but Ryou didn't even bother to show up at any point.

Now, he had no choice but to start showing up, or else the school would get on Ben's case. Ben smiled and told Ryou that it was fine if they did, but Ryou knew that it was time for him to start getting it together.

He stood there, gripping a hairbrush in his weak, trembling hand, trying to desperately muster up the strength to bring it up to rake through his long hair.

Ryou was barely able to claw himself out of his pajamas to change into his school uniform. Putting on the white shirt that went underneath his black jacket felt like pulling teeth, the feeling of the shirt's neckline brushing against his neck made him feel nauseous. The uncomfortable feeling in his stomach doubled when he began buttoning up his jacket, but he went through with it anyway.

Two knocks alerted his attention, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Ryou? Do you need my help?" Ben quietly asked behind the door.

Ryou turned his head to face the door, his grip on the hairbrush weakening even more. He then glanced down to the hairbrush which seemed to mock him from where it dangled in his loose grip.

"Yes," Ryou responded, his voice sounding a lot more hollow than he would like it to sound. "I... I need help with my hair."

Ben quietly opened the door and stepped in, his expression unreadable. Gently, he took the brush from Ryou's hand, and slowly turned Ryou around to face the mirror once again.

Ryou engaged in another staring contest with his reflection as he did his best to keep his head straight while Ben gently brushed through his tangled hair.

"Your hair has gotten long," Ben said softly, his tone matching the gentleness of his care. The blue locks in his hand were once silky smooth, but it seemed that they too had been changed by loss.

"Mhm," Ryou hummed, knowing that his hair used to be one of his favorite parts of himself. It also used to be Katashi's favorite part of him.

Ryou slowly reached up to hold some of his hair in his hand, stroking through the strands with his thumb. His hair used to be so soft, but now it felt rough and unlike how it used to.

"You're all good to go," Ben announced, placing the brush down on top of Ryou's wardrobe. "Do you want me to take you to school?"

Ryou turned to look at Ben, absorbing the question slowly. Did he need Ben to take him to school? Or did he want him to?

Then, Ryou felt embarrassment claw its way into his thoughts.

"No, I'll be okay," Ryou mumbled after a few seconds of consideration, reaching down to grab his school bag. "Thanks, though."

Ben nodded in understanding as Ryou made his way to leave the room, then together they walked to the door of the cafe. Ryou looked up at Ben who smiled warmly at him.

"I'll be leaving, then." Ryou said after a second of silence.

Ben nodded again, reaching down to wrap Ryou into a secure hug. Ryou's eyes widened at the action, his expression warping slightly into a vulnerable one.