Help Me, I Know You Can Hear My Cries *HAS BEEN ADOPTED*

Chapter 1

Ten year-old Izuku Todoroki  ran down the street with his brother Shouto. 

"Let's hurry! There's a fight with All Might going on! I want to get a good view! I can't believe I'll get to see All Might in action on my birthday!" He yelled back. He could hear the fight up ahead, and he could already see the camera flashes and hear the murmurs of people surrounding it.

"Okay Izuku," Shouto replied, "Just remember dad needs us back at six. Fayumi can only cover for us so long. Plus, he's still mad at Touya. Natsuo's lucky he's still in school. He doesn't have to be around the house."

Izuku winced. When their father, Enji Todoroki, better known as the number two hero, Endeavor, needed them home, it usually meant he wanted them to train. And the training wasn't fun. Especially since their mother, Rei Todoroki had to move away.

Izuku's thought process was interrupted by the sound of a booming voice yelling; "SMASH!!"

Izuku grabbed Shouto's hand and pulled him to the front of the crowd. All Might was facing a villain who had large black wings that looked like they were made of dust. The villain flew backward from the force of All Might's punch and hit a building, falling unconscious as his wings fully disintegrated.

Izuku had already whipped out his notebook by the time the villain had hit the ground, and was muttering furiously as he scribbled things down, filling page after page. 

The crowd was moving quickly now, as All Might arrested the villain and the action was over. Izuku didn't move, still taking notes, then taking the time to detail a small sketch of the villain's dust wings. Suddenly, there was a harder than usual tap on his shoulder.

"Izuku?"

Izuku turned and saw a boy around his age with spiky ash-blonde hair and bright ruby-red eyes, who was wearing a black shirt with a skull on it, black pants, and wrist bracers. 

The boy seemed familiar, and Izuku's brain struggled to compute. Then it clicked.

"Ka-Kaachan?"

"Where have you been?!" The boy, who Izuku now recognized as his childhood friend, Katsuki Bakugou, shouted. "You don't just get to disappear into nowhere like that! Mom wouldn't tell me anything! What happened? I've been looking for you ever since you moved away!"

Izuku stepped back, feeling overwhelmed. "Wh- what? I- I didn't move, I-"

A woman with identical ash-blonde hair and red eyes to Katsuki appeared behind him.

"What's going on here? Katsuki, if you've been yelling again for no reason-" Her eyes widened when she saw Izuku. 

Izuku frowned. "Auntie Mitsuki?" 

Katsuki turned around and faced his mom. "Explain what's going on right now, mom."

Mitsuki cleared her throat. "Izuku. How are you doing?" She asked, her voice softer than usual. "Have you been-"

"Izuku!" Shouto ran up to his brother. "I lost sight of you when the crowd moved. Are you okay?" He noticed the Bakugous. "Who are these?"

"Shouto, this is my best friend, Kaachan, and his mom, Auntie Mitsuki. Kaachan, this is my brother, Shouto Todoroki."

"Brother?" Katsuki glared at his mom. "Explain."

Mitsuki hit her son upside the head. "Okay! But show some more respect!" She sighed. "Six years ago, there was an... accident. Izuku had to move away and live with another family. He's a Todoroki now. I can explain more when we get home."

"Why don't you just explain now?" Katsuki said, frowning. "What happened to Auntie Inko?" 

Izuku gasped. Images started flooding his mind. 

His mother's fallen body. 

The blood pooling around them as he hugged her and begged her to stay. 

The silver knife he was given after he had been taken away. 

The bullies at the orphanage. 

His house, now occupied by a happy family with two children. 

His mother's lifeless eyes staring at him as he was dragged away from her.

Izuku collapsed. He was hyperventilating, and he curled into a ball on the pavement. He was dimly aware of Auntie Mitsuki falling to her knees beside him, trying to figure out what was going on, Katsuki demanding to know what was going on, and the passerby staring anxiously at him. 

Izuku's vision started to go dark, and he felt like he was falling into a black hole as his brain switched to full panic mode. He could hear the voice of his mother, chiding him, comforting him, as his memories spun out of control.

Then a hand was placed on his back. "Izuku!" 

Izuku's vision cleared as he looked up fearfully. Shouto knelt beside him, his eyes worried. 

"There. You're better now." He said, although he sounded like he was more reassuring himself than anything. 

"What happened?" Katsuki asked shakily. "One minute he was fine, then the next he was shaking on the ground muttering about death and..." He trailed off.

"Izuku has severe anxiety, stress, and depression disorders." Shouto said sadly, helping his brother up and letting him lean on him.

"From what? He was never like that before!" 

Mitsuki coughed. "Well, you see-"

"It's okay." Izuku interrupted quietly. "I'll say. I'm alright." He turned to face Katsuki. "Six years ago my mom was murdered. I was sent to live in and orphanage for a few years until I got adopted by the Todorokis. I've been living with them ever since."

"Oh." was all Katsuki had to say. Then suddenly, he gave Izuku a big hug. 

"I'm sorry." He said. "Just please don't leave me again. Promise me!"

"Okay." Izuku whispered. "I promise."

It was well past six when Izuku and Shouto returned home. 

Fayumi opened the door for them, worry in her eyes as she silently nodded toward the training rooms.

When the boys entered, Enji Todoroki turned around, glaring at them with fire in his eyes.

"Where have you boys been?" He asked calmly, though Izuku and Shouto could hear the rage underneath. "I asked for you to be home at six. What time is it?"

Izuku and Shouto stayed silent. They knew better than to answer when Enji was this angry. 

"Judging by your red eyes, I'd say you had another breakdown." Enji said, pointing at Izuku. "And you-" He pointed at Shouto. "I say you didn't want to leave him alone. You're both disappointments."

Six hours later, Izuku and Shouto were in their room, collapsed on the floor. 

Izuku was sobbing quietly, while Shouto had propped himself up against the wall. Fayumi had just come and bandaged their new wounds and brought them dinner, but she had to leave in fear of angering their father anymore. 

Izuku suddenly sat up and wiped his eyes. "Shouto. Let's run away."