ALERT [ BAKUGO X OC/READER]

Melancholy

The lady's monotonous voice seemed to echo in the silence.

Crystal turned to follow the voice, the instigator of her early-childhood trauma sitting in front of her, face absent of emotion.

Fear drained the color out of Crystal's face. All the fluffiness in her heart, the warmth that was the result of what might have been Bakugo's confession was replaced by emptiness and a discomforting combination of fear, dread, and coldness.

Yet there was an unfamiliar want to ask her mother if her theory was right - if her mother had hated her for something that was beyond her control, and quite possibly, her parent's own mistake. But she held it in, knowing that if she asked, she might crumble in front of the last person she wished to.

And she didn't want that. She wanted to show her mother that her childhood nightmare did not destroy her and that she was not afraid of her mother. She wanted to show her that she was stronger, better, someone else. But somewhere inside, it was because Crystal wanted to hide, to hide any vulnerability in front of her mother.

Still, she barely managed to hide the dread in her voice when she said in a composed, calm manner, "Hello, mother."

Mrs. Ishikawa looked at her, as still as a painting, unmoving. Then she replied, "Sit down."

Crystal obeyed, sitting down on the chair perpendicular to the couch her mother was on. She found herself trying to sit as far away from her parent as she could, but she ended up sitting a bit closer than she should - not noticeably close- edging slightly to the edge of the seat. She intentionally postured herself, shoulders square, eye contact held,

To Crystal the moment was as vivid as it was unforgettable - because she felt so uncomfortable, so restrained, even though they were merely sitting down a meter or two apart.

A dead quiet fell over them, seemingly making the atmosphere awkward. A minute or two passed before her mother finally spoke, her voice slicing through the silence like a knife.

"Your fourth quirk. It seems you've been using it lately. And you shouldn't."

"I- I know," Crystal replied, swallowing uncomfortably. She knew her mother wouldn't come for her sake and she figured it was bad news. But she didn't think that her mother would know. Her mother had never come to check on her. At all. Even to come to check on her whenever she had a coma or was injured, even though it was frequent. That was enough to suggest that her mom didn't watch the sports festival either when her eyes flashed gold.

Plus, Crystal had been careful not to come home with her eyes golden, so that her maids would never have to lie for her.

Crystal clenched her teeth, feeling stupid for not realizing that this woman had eyes and ears everywhere. As expected of the richest lady in the country.

"I'm sure you know how much of a hassle the appearance of your useless quirk would make, how much money and unwanted attention it would cost our family," her mother held her head high, "I didn't think I had raised such a selfish little miss like yourself."

"I'll be careful next time." Crystal bit down a curse. She felt her for her hate mother starting to bubble inside of her.

"There won't be a next time. Do you hear me? Otherwise, there'll be no more going to UA for you."

"But mother-"

"You will never, ever show that quirk in public. Not even in front of me. It's disgusting. However, I'll never have to take you out of UA. Because you will never, not even one time, show that filthy quirk of yours again."

Her mother, graceful, stood up and ambled away.

Crystal felt like needles were poking at her soul, threatening to vanquish it, daring her to speak.

But the way her mother spoke to her just added fire to the fuel. She needed to know. She had to.

"Wait!" Crystal yelled as she scrambled toward her mother.

Her body was coursing with nervousness, "Do you know a person called Gold? A supervillain? Is he my father?"

Crystal's mother didn't even stop to turn when Crystal asked her to wait. Yet when the question left Crystal's lips, the lady stopped in her steps, slowly turning her head to face her daughter. And then Crystal knew. It was true. She could tell from the shock on her mother's face, the furrow between her brow, the wrinkles formed on her perfect face.

Crystal's blood seemed to boil with anger. She thought she was upset before, but that was nothing. Her heart was racing, her brows wrinkled so hard her head hurt and her mind was such a mess she could barely get words out, "So that's why you treat me like this?"

A hysterical, mad laugh bubbled out of Crystal before she continued, "For something that happened before I was born? For SOMETHING THAT'S BEYOND MY POWER?! FOR YOUR OWN MISTAKE?!"

She cackled once more, her stomach hurting because she laughed too hard, "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! YOU TOOK OUT YOUR EMOTIONS ON THE DEFENSELESS, NAIVE CHILD I ONCE WAS BECAUSE YOU MADE THE MISTAKE OF ELOPING WITH A CRIMINAL? THAT'S HILARIOU-"

Her mother slapped her, her expression pained and hurt and disappointed and so many more negative emotions. Then she spoke in a hoarse, cracked voice, "I know no one called Gold!"

Just like that, her mother stormed away.

Crystal couldn't seem to get herself to follow her mother. Her lips were trembling, her breath was erratic, her fingers shaking.

She couldn't think, couldn't feel as her knees crumpled, bringing her down to the floor. She balled herself up, her arms around herself like it would make her vanish, Tears blurred her vision shortly before they came cascading down, dripping onto the floor.

She felt broken.

So, very,

b r o k e n

A/N

I procrastinated so much on this chapter im sorry

Also does anyone else love marissa meyer as much as I do