Shielding (Todoroki x reader)

54~ Resolved

(Y/n's P.O.V)

I heard footsteps approaching, and turned my head, still laying on the pavement. "Stop this right now. All three of you. I'm sorry, but I heard what you said." the thin, tired figure of All Might said, nearing us. "All Might..." Bakugo whispered, and Midoriya asked "When'd you get here?" which I merely sighed and went back to staring straight up.  "I didn't notice before. I should have." he continued, and Midoriya and Bakugo got up, Midoriya taking extra time to lift me, supporting me on his shoulder and I help him up as well with my tattered and burnt wing. "It's too late now. Why did you pick Deku? It started when the sludge villain came, didn't it? So why him?" Bakugo asked, and I thought back.  I had been watching the whole thing on the television in the hospital, where I'd walked after school and the encounter with Bakugo that earned me my scar. I stood silently, pulling Midoriya back up when he started tipping over slightly. "He was powerless. But still more heroic than anyone else. I knew you were strong. That much was obvious. You were someone who could already fight. So, I decided that he should have the chance to stand in the ring." All Might explained, and Bakugo frowned. "But now you know I'm weak, too. I always wanted to be like you, which meant being as strong as possible. But look what I did to you. Because I'm not good enough." I let out a staggered sigh, understanding how he felt. I helped Midoriya steady himself, then went to Bakugo's side, placing my hand on his shoulder. I expected him to smack it away, but instead he just stood there, looking defeated. "This not your fault young Bakugo. I was always going to lose my power. You couldn't do anything to change that. You are strong. But you focused too much on your physical strength and overlooked what was important. This isn't your burden. I apologize." I let go of Bakugo as All Might took his head and shoulder, and brought him closer for a reassuring hug. All Might looked up at me, and I was vaguely aware I was a bloody mess. "That goes for you too, Young Takami. You're far from useless. You just made a mistake as we all do from time to time. But you'll get stronger, get wiser. This isn't your burden either. Sometimes I forget that you're children." All Might said, reaching out to my shoulder, but suddenly Bakugo broke away aggressively, knocking me over from beside him. I sat there, not feeling the urge to get up. 

"After being a hero for so many years, you learn a few things. Striving to be the best, like you, young Bakugo. Wanting to be a powerful, reassuring presence for those around you, like you, young Takami. Caring deeply about people and rescuing those in trouble, like you, young Midoriya. All of these feelings are necessary in a hero. Otherwise, they'll never truly be able to represent justice. That's why you admire their strength so much, young Midoriya. Why you're unafraid of being injured if you can help these two, young Takami. And I know that's why you've always feared his heart and spirit, young Bakugo. Now that you've laid your feelings out on the table, maybe you can understand each other. If you have mutual respect and focus on making one another stronger, Midoriya and Bakugo, I have no doubt you'll become the ultimate heroes, winning and saving people at the same time. And from what I've seen, Takami will be willing to rush in and help you two along the way whenever you need her." All Might said, but the only response was from Bakugo. "Dammit. That's not what I wanted to hear." and with that, he fell back to sit on the ground beside me. I grazed his back with my wing absentmindedly, same to Midoriya on my other side who had also sat down at some point. "You. You had the strongest guy in the world lay the groundwork for you. Don't you dare lose again." Bakugo said to Midoriya, arms bleeding. I took out my roll of bandages and grabbed his arm, and surprisingly he didn't get mad when I started wrapping it. "I'll work harder so that I can beat you." Midoriya responded. They went on talking about who knows about Midoriya's quirk, and I busied myself with patching their wounds up to help until we went to the infirmary. "Recovery Girl and Principal Nezu do. As far as students go... only you and Takami." All Might replied. "And you don't want this to get out. Cause that would be bad. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. I won't tell anyone what's going on. Unlike Deku, I can keep my mouth shut. This will stay between us." Bakugo responded, and I nodded in agreement, making one of the faces my brother does when he promises to keep a secret, then stopping realizing what I was doing. "Thanks, Kacchan. You too, (Y/n)." Midoriya said, and I gave a small smile. "Of course." "I don't deserve this. I should be down on my hands and knees begging for you to keep this secret for me. Yet here you are, being considerate and helping me out. Thank you." All Might told us, but I shook my head slightly and finished with Midoriya's wounds, which weren't as bad as Bakugo's. Bakugo stood up and said "I'm not doing this for you. It would just be a real pain if this got out and messed stuff up." I smirked at him for his defensive attitude, then turned my attention back to All Might. "Now that it's come to this, I can explain what's happened between me and young Midoriya. That's only fair."

All Might proceeded to lead us back to the infirmary, and told us the whole story. The power passed through generations to stop a great evil, how he was injured and has limited strength, and finally, how he chose his successor. Everything. They continued talking and it turned into Midoriya and Bakugo arguing as they usually do, and I zoned out, the pain from hitting my head on the wall setting in, along with all my other injuries. Once we got patched up at the infirmary, Aizawa finally snapped at us, trapping us all in his scarf, and I coughed because of how tight it was. "You fought the night you finished the preliminary hero licensing exam? I'm glad you three have so much energy." he said menacingly, and I lazily blinked at him, hardly keeping myself awake since it was late and Recovery Girl's quirk took so much energy, and it was also continuing to heal the other injuries. My burns were still a bit tender, so the pain was keeping me awake, but not too bad. "Aizawa, wait, hold up with those restraints. It's my fault that they sparred in the first place." All Might protested, and Aizawa's eye twitched in annoyance. "Huh? Your fault? How is that?" All Might leaned over and whispered the explanation to Aizawa, and as soon as the restraints were loosened, I fell over and almost fell asleep on Midoriya. I tried to get back up but I was too tired, and Midoriya nervously laughed at me. "Sorry... too tired.. healing used to much energy.." I tried to explain, yawning and leaning more on his shoulder sleepily. "I understand that they felt they had to break the rules. But this is something I can't just ignore. There must be a suitable punishment. Who threw the first punch?" Aizawa asked, and we all responded to the question. "I did." Bakugo said. "I also went pretty hard. It wasn't just him." Midoriya said, guilty. "I butted in after they started, my intent was so get them to stop but instead I joined in and went nuts as well." I explained slowly, yawning halfway through and shutting my eyes. "You're all on house arrest! Four days for Bakugo, three for Midoriya, and one for Takami. During that time you'll clean all the common areas in the dorm, morning and night. Plus, I want a written apology from the boys, a verbal but the lengthy apology from Takami, but preferably when she's actually awake. That's all. Go." I was jerked slightly awake when he started shouting, but fell back asleep almost immediately. "Ummm, (Y/n)... (Y/n) please wake up." Midoriya stuttered, face a bit pink, probably since he's not used to being touched by a girl. I opened my pale yellow eye and stared at him, then opened the other and blinked slowly, too tired to talk. He ended up carrying me back up into my dorm, and he set me down on my bed, said goodnight, then quickly rushed out of there, uncomfortable with being in a girl's room, let alone while she was asleep.