Secrets of a Shadowed Past (KrBk)

CH 8: It's complicated.

After a few moments, bright red eyes opened. They didn't carry their usual sparkle of mischief and determination but it was a start. A weak smirk pulled at the corners of his mouth giving the boy's handsome face a hint of its usual bluster. The memory played like a movie in his mind while he looked at the person who knew him best out of anyone, a mix of worry and pride in the greenette's features. The younger teen was always pleased when his faux brother pulled himself out of an attack. He'd prefer the blonde not have them at all but this was a best case scenario given the circumstances.

After another somewhat tense few seconds Bakugo finally spoke. His voice was much quieter than usual and his words were punctuated with hard swallows but it was obvious he was coming out of it. "That dipshit - never - came back - to the park - again."

"Nope! And that is why Kacchan is the best! Better now?" Nodding, and despite his still shaky breath, the spiky haired teen took the offered hand of his longtime companion and stood to face the only two people still lingering in the makeshift battle zone

Knowing the youth would prefer privacy to deal with a clearly personal matter, the Pro Hero teachers quickly cleared everyone else away as soon as they recognized the nature of the issue. They were responsible for their student's well-being and would address the pair of friends once Bakugo's panic attack subsided. The concerned teachers needed to know what was going on with these two sooner rather than later. This incident coupled with Midoriya's behavior that morning hinted at something bigger than just not responding well to the mental aspect of the day's training.

When it was clear the fiery male was feeling more himself, it was the typically louder of the two instructors who spoke up first. "You boys need to tell us what's going on, ya dig?"

After sharing a serious look, the teens both sighed and nodded in resignation. They knew this day would come, the day they had to tell the school their story, but that didn't make it any easier.

The four moved from the open field to the teacher's tent as the youths began to explain what happened when they were just eleven years old, only omitting certain more private details. To say the pros were shocked with their new-found information would have been a blaring understatement. They were relieved to learn both boys' parents were fully aware of the situation, at least the parts the teens were willing to divulge. After all, they were their parents. How could they NOT know such a thing happened? Especially considering the time frame the boys explained. However, learning that neither of the students had been referred to any kind of therapy afterward was very surprising. Especially for Katsuki. Standard police procedure as well as child welfare demands it for any situation even remotely as traumatizing as what the boys described having been through. How had these two stayed out of professional care for a whole five years since? In their caregivers defense, according to both teens, none of their parents were aware of Bakugo's panic attacks. Or his night terrors. Or Midoriya's bursts of rage when reminded of said events of the past. The kind of thing the class had only the barest glimpses of that morning.

According to the blonde, Izuku's behavior at breakfast was the mildest form of anger they could hope for out of the freckled Alpha when triggered. Apparently last time something reminiscent of the event occurred the greenette destroyed a whole car. Though, it WAS in the junkyard at the time. Thankfully. The boys would not say exactly what resulted in the unsanctioned recycling work but something only Izuku and Aizawa knew about Katsuki's status gave the man a rather distastefully good idea what it might have been.

After their conversation, it was decided the two students would return to UA early to meet with Midnight and Recovery Girl. They would both be under the care of the school's medical and mental health professionals until such a time as they didn't need to be was determined. The boys' parents would of course be included in the process and as much as neither loved the idea they knew they needed to resolve their trauma once and for all so they could move forward as successful heroes.