Vow [Katsuki Bakugou x Reader]

[Chapter 38]: Forgive

"How?" You finished pulling your shirt back down and glanced over at his question.

"How what?"

"How did you get it?" He added. You just sat in silence for a moment, allowing troubled memories to creep back into your mind. Shouto could tell it was painful. "Sorry, you don't have to tell m-"

"You first." You interrupted him. "I want to know how you got yours." Shouto's eyes widened. It took him a moment of thought, but he decided to comply.

He told you about his parent's quirk marriage. How he was born to be a tool of his father's desires and surpass All Might. How his father abused his mother and thus, she poured boiling water over his left side. It was hard to listen to. Your heart ached for him.

"Shouto..." You whispered. He shifted uncomfortably and glanced up at you, meeting your eyes.

"Alright, I've told my tale... But I don't want you to feel like you're required to tell me yours." His tone was gentle and genuine.

"No, it's fine." You took a deep breath and crawled back around to face him. There was a feeling of intimacy you felt with Shouto at that moment. He cared about you, and he would listen to what you had to say without judgment. "I'll never get over it if I don't acknowledge what happened."

And so you told him everything. All about your family and their prosperity, as well as their downfall. You spoke of the fateful night when your father signed your back and you reduced the mansion to a crater, unintentionally murdering everyone within it. How Takashi wasn't your real brother, but rather a family servant and close friend to you. And you told him about the aftermath. Once you finished, he sat there quietly with his eyes cast downwards.

"Sorry Shouto, I know I kinda dumped this on you all at once." He furrowed his brow and grabbed his face.

"Don't apologize. I just... I can't believe you've been keeping that in all this time... My problems must seem so small compa-"

"Don't do that." He paused at your words. "Just because my problems are big doesn't mean yours are any smaller. And besides, I didn't tell you these things because I want your pity. I just want you to understand that I know what it's like to feel weighed down by your scars, mental and physical."

He felt something snap within him. Leaning forward, Shouto wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into him. He rested his chin on your shoulder. You couldn't really tell if it was for him, for you, or both. But it was comforting.  You responded by wrapping your arms around his back.

"It's our life Shouto. From here on out, we get to decide how we live." Your mind trailed off to thoughts of Katsuki. How he was always honest with himself and others and just how much you admired that about him. He really did live for himself and his dreams. 

I want to see him.

You pulled away and smiled gently at Shouto.

"I have to go."

He tilted his head a bit confused.

"I have to go to Katsuki. I need to fix the mess I made this morning. I need to talk to him." You stood quickly and grabbed your shoes before making your way to your door. "Stay as long as you need to. I'll see you at school tomorrow Shou-"

You felt his hand wrap around your wrist just as you were about open the door. Glancing back, you searched his face for answers.