Caged Freedom -Finished-

Ch 17: Internship

Valkyr sat on the train next to Todoroki. She had decided to accept Endeavor's nomination. She wanted to grow as a person. Katsuki didn't like that she would be spending so much time with Todoroki, but he had no say in the matter. She wanted to become strong to protect others. She didn't always want to be the one to be protected.  

"Are you nervous, Valkyr?" Todoroki asked. 

"I am a bit," Valkyr admitted. "But I'm not backing down. I should tell you though, when I was first saved from my father. Endeavor was one of the biggest supporters that I be sent to some Psychiatric hospital and be under constant surveillance the rest of my life. Only because of All Might and Nezu's support was I let go and allowed to live a normal life." She looked down at her hands. "So I am not sure what to expect from this."

Todoroki grabbed her hand and held it trying to comfort her. "Well I will be right next to you, so Your not alone." he told her. 

Valkyr smiled up at him. "Thanks Shoto. I am really glad I have someone here I know and trust. It would have been really hard to go somewhere new by myself."

"I don't think you give yourself enough credit," Todoroki told her. "You have already survived a lot more than most people could have. Now you great each day with smiles, laughter, and determination. Most would have cracked under the pressure of their past."

Valkyr blushed lightly and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I can only do that because I have such great friends. I wouldn't be able to do it without you guys. You give me a reason to keep going."

"I am glad I can help you, Valkyr." Todoroki smiled softly and leaned his head on top of hers. He knew many guys were fighting over her. But it wasn't like that for him. He just wanted to protect her. That smile on her face gave him hope that one day he could move forward away from his own past. They stayed like that until they reached their stop. Valkyr continued to hold his hand while he showed her the way to his father's building. They went in and up to Endeavor's office. 

Valkyr took a deep breath and stood up tall before walking inside next to Todoroki.

"I have been waiting for you two," Endeavor said. "Shoto, seems you are finally ready to take the path of the mighty?"

"I have no intention of going down a path you made," Todoroki answers. "I will make my own path."

Endeavor chuckles. "And you Wraithier? I told them to lock you away two years ago."

"I'm here to show you that you were wrong," Valkyr said. 

"Well I only made an offer to you, because I wanted to see how those with soft hearts have changed you," Endeavor said. "They couldn't see past the appearance of a tortured girl, but I saw the look in your eyes that day. You were no innocent child, you were a monster in child's skin."

Valkyr grit her teeth but kept a bored expression on her face. What he said hurt, but she couldn't let him get to her. "I am not a monster." She said with her tone wavering. "I will be a hero."

"Do you really believe that?" Endeavor shook his head. "Naive child."

"I believe in her," Todoroki said. "Valkyr is a strong person and she hates violence. All she wants to do is protect people. I believe she will become a great hero."

"You are both naive children then," Endeavor said with a sour expression. "You, Shoto, didn't even realize she held back in your fight at the sports festival. You only won because she is afraid to use her full power." Valkyr looked down at her feet as Endeavor spoke. Todoroki looked at her surprised. "She is afraid to use her father's quirk because it truly turns her into a monster."