Ch.9

3.1K 121 131
                                    

"My quirk," I ask, mostly to myself. Todoroki nods.

"That's the requirement. If you tell me your quirk, your real quirk, then I'll keep this cat and give her a good home," he speaks.

I gulp. I feel my stomach turn queasy and I hesitate. Cat or quirk? Cat or... quirk? I can't leave this cat here, it would make me feel terrible.

But I can't tell Todoroki my quirk, or lack of one. Cause then he could spread that information and I'd get in trouble. I'd be kicked out of the hero course.

I can't get kicked out of the hero course. I would be in so much trouble. I'd be so hurt and put through so much pain and—.

"Are you okay," I look up and see Todoroki's concerned face. I look down at my hands and see them violently gripping my pants. Even Shery was meowing at me, concerned.

I took a deep breath and stared at the little kitty. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to have to decide. I didn't want to.

"(Name)?! I knew it! You were hanging around useless boys. Your grades are going to slip!"

I feel my arm be yanked and I look up. My mom's standing there, looking very, very angry. I guess I don't have to choose. I put the cat down and stand, my head towards the ground.

"I'm sorry, mom," I say quietly. I can hear my heart beating in fear.

"Useless brat," her voice is laced with venom. I hear her footsteps moving away and go to follow when Todoroki's arm stops me.

He walks in front of me and bows. My mom turns and sees this and pauses. Todoroki raises from the bow and holds out his hand, his other arm behind his back.

"Hello, ma'am. I'm Todoroki Shoto, son of the number two hero, Endeavor. I'm sure you've heard of him. It's a pleasure to meet you," Todoroki says. His arm is still in the air.

My mom raises her head a little and looked down at him. She sticks out her hand and shakes his, "I'm (Mom's Name), nice to meet you too."

My mom turns to me and smiles a very fake smile, "it's always nice for you to have powerful friends. Maybe they'll help you get where you want to be."

My mom pulls her hand away and walks towards me. She grabs my wrist and starts to drag me away.

"Whatever, you don't even have a quirk. You wouldn't make it that long anyway, so you need to know someone powerful," she speaks.

I try and look at Todoroki's face. I wanted to know if he heard it, but I was dragged too far and couldn't see it.

What if he heard it? What would happen? Oh, no. Oh no, no, no. This isn't good. I can't be kicked out of the hero course. I need the money. I need to get out of the house with my parents. I need to. I need to.

I can't be a disappointment. I can't fail my parents. I can't fail. I can't. I have to stay in the hero course.

When I got home, I ignored my parents and made my way to my room. I worked and studied and didn't sleep that night.

The next day, I avoided Todoroki like the plague. I didn't want to talk to him, I didn't want him to tell me that he knew. I didn't talk to him at all.

After school, as I was leaving, I felt my arm be yanked as I was pulled behind a tree. I closed my eyes and looked down, it was a habit after my parents.

When nothing came, I opened my eyes and looked up hesitantly.

"Todoroki," I ask, confusion evident in my voice.

"You've been avoiding me all day. Why," he asks me. I gulp. Did he not know? Does he really not know? Thank god.

I feel happiness flow through me as I realize he doesn't know. He can't tell people about something he doesn't know. I'm safe. I'm in the clear.

"Oh, well... I've just been nervous about testing and quirk tests. And I just didn't want to bother you in case you were also stressed," I say quickly.

I hope Todoroki accepts the lie and moves on... but he doesn't, of course. Just my luck.

"I don't believe that," he points out. "Why were you avoiding me? Does it have something to do with what your mom said? About you not having a quirk?"

My eyes widen. He knows. Oh, god, he knows. He most definitely knows. I feel my feet move on their own.

My brain was already in overdrive and I was very ready to leave. Very, very ready to leave. As I take a step away, Todoroki calmly holds me in place.

"There's nothing wrong with it, you know," he says. My brain flatlines and I look up at him. I don't have any words.

My entire life, I've been beaten down and ignored and mistreated because of this. Because of not having a quirk. I fixed it, I fixed myself for it. I didn't want to be different, I wanted a quirk.

And here I am, being told nothing it wrong with not having a quirk. Part of me was mad, wanted to scream. But another part of me felt accepted, felt at home.

I didn't need a quirk. Maybe I really don't need one. It won't excuse the years of bullying, and I certainly won't tell anyone else about it. But maybe, around Todoroki, I won't need to hide something.

If he can accept this, he'll accept me. He's already accepted me. I feel happiness overcome me. I feel a jolt of energy and not the bad kind. Not the kind that come after I talk with my parents, not the kind that comes after being bullied.

No, this is good. I close my eyes and lean in. And I kiss him.

And... he kisses me back.

Work The Pain Away (Todoroki Shoto x reader)Where stories live. Discover now