Frozen Wings

Chapter 19

Storms' POV

"Todoroki? You doing alright?" I entered his room after getting permission. His wheelchair was on the side of his bed. He sat at the headboard, reading a book. The teen put his book down to focus on me.

"Of course, sir." He curtly replied.

"Don't be so formal with me, kiddo." I chuckled, sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Right. My apologies." He said.

"It's fine. But I don't want you lying to me." My tone became serious.

"Lying? I don't-"

"You said 'of course'. I know you aren't telling me the truth. Your injury is bothering you. I want you to tell me how you're actually feeling." I said. Todoroki glanced at me before letting out a sigh.

"I can't stand it. I feel like I'm being treated like the number one hero who's got five minutes left to live. I can't join in anything that my classmates are doing. I can't keep up with them when they run off to see something interesting. I understand what Hawks is going through. It's so damn difficult. I hate it. I want to use my Quirk again. I want to resume all my classes. I want to get another internship. I want to fight alongside my friends again. I-" Todoroki choked on his words, his heterochromatic eyes tearing up. I felt my heart ache.

"Aw, kiddo, don't cry." I opened my arms. Todoroki collapsed into me, allowing me to pull him closer. He nestled into me, sobbing.

"I d-don't w-want t-to-o b-be s-s-stuck l-like this f-forever!" He cried.

"Shhh. Shhhh. It's okay Shoto. I'll fix this. I'll find a way to get you better. You'll be back on your feet before you know it." I murmured, rubbing his back.

He weakly nodded, hiccuping, tears still flowing down his face. I felt horrible. This kid, this strong, steadfast kid that I had seen improve time and time again, was breaking. Hawks' pained face from when he broke his hand flashed in my mind.

I'll find a way to get you both back to normal. So you can resume your lives, so you can regain your usual attitudes. I'll find a way, no matter the cost. If that's the last thing I do, then so be it.

———————

I carefully went into Hawks' room. He seemed to be having a rough time staying asleep. I sighed, quietly walking over towards him. It wasn't until now I noticed how exhausted he looked.

He's been getting worse and worse since the time he started working here. I thought he looked different in person when I met him, but I didn't realize that it was because of something that's been bothering him... I can't let this get any worse. It's too risky. I have to find a way to get him to tell me what's wrong. I have to. I can't bear to see two people I care about become dull shells of their former selves. I won't watch them grow weak and frail because something is hurting them and I couldn't help.

I shut my eyes tightly before opening them again. At that moment, Takami woke up, shaking violently.

"Takami? Are you alright?" I asked, setting my hand on his good one. He looked at me with fear in his eyes.

"N-No." He admitted. I gave him a sideways smile.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I offered. I was given a slight nod in return.

"Okay." I sat next to him on the bed.

"What's going on?" I calmly asked.

"My past..." Takami wouldn't look at me.

"You have a rough past too?" My brows furrowed.

He nodded. "My parents died immediately after my Quirk developed. I had no other family so I was sent to an orphanage. People adopted me. I found out that said people were actually part of an organization of spies. Until I was legally an adult, they trained me as a spy. I had to endure attacking and killing people with my Quirk just to please them. When I got sick, they worked me to the point of near death, as if they could train the sick out of me. I wasn't allowed to go to any school, they taught me themselves. But when I wasn't being trained they-" Takami choked on his words, heartbeat picking up. I noticed him swallow the lump in his throat.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I won't make you relive memories that hurt." I said.

"They locked me in a cage! A bird cage! I-I w-was t-treated-d like a w-wild a-animal-l!" He started to cry. Everything Takami was saying reminded me so much of my own childhood. But it didn't scare me anymore. I built who I was now off of my past. I was grateful in a way, because I was strong enough to protect UA against anything now that I was genetically mutated. But that didn't mean that everyone else could move past something like this.

"Oh, Takami, I'm so sorry..."My ears flattened against the top of my head. He wailed, completely breaking down. I felt my heart shatter. Without warning he buried himself against me. I tightly wrapped my arms around him, still avoiding his wings as he gripped my shirt, his entire body shaking. He was so weak, his strength, mental state, everything. I could feel his bones even from under his outfit. It wasn't good.

"It's gonna be okay, Takami. It'll be okay." I murmured, rubbing his back.

"I'm here for you now. You don't need to be scared anymore. I'll listen to anything you have to say. I'll stand by your side any time you need me. I'll be here no matter what time it is, day or night. I promise, as long as I live, nothing will hurt you. Not a single soul. We'll get through this together." I spoke softly, making sure he knew he was safe.

"Thank y-you."