Frozen Wings

Chapter 51

Todoroki's POV

"So I was right... it really is you." I looked at my older brother. The one I thought I had lost.

"Yeah. It's me. And... I'm sorry for everything I've done. Especially to you and your friends. I'm so sorry." He hung his head in shame.

"It's... it's okay. You're still my brother after all." I weakly smiled. Touya started to do something. I couldn't really tell what he was doing.

"Bro what're you doing? You look weird!" Natsuo laughed.

"I think he's trying to cry." Fuyumi frowned.

"I can't... cry anymore." Touya choked on his words. I threw my arms around my brother, glad to have him back. The five of us, my siblings, my mom and myself, all hugging each other, feeling like more of a family than we ever had been before. Suddenly, my mom started to cough violently. We all broke apart, supporting her so she didn't fall. I stared in shock as she coughed up blood. Only one thought ran through my mind.

"STORMS!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. We were outside on the porch of Heights Alliance so I knew she would hear. Sure enough, the over-sized winged snow leopard I had grown to love shot out of the main UA building, charging over to us. She dug her paws into the ground to stop herself, changing into her human form.

"Do something!" I begged.

"A-All of you, please back up. I'm going to take Rei inside to Recovery Girl, okay?" She said shakily. I knew something was wrong. Her voice only shook when there was nothing left for her to do.

Touya scooped our mother into his arms, handing her over to Storms. She turned her back on us, walking away without another word.

I couldn't move. I knew what was about to happen.

"Storms! Wait!" I called. She paused.

"Kiddo, I don't have time to-"

"I know. Please just... let me say goodbye." I could feel the tears pricking at my eyes. Her ears flattened against the top of her head.

"Make it quick."

I got my mother's attention just as my siblings approached.

"Mom... please know... I never blamed you... for my scar. I never once was upset with you. I loved you, and I always will. I don't think I would have made it to where I am today if you hadn't been there for me. I love you." I said. She smiled softly.

"I'm sorry I ever hurt you. I'm sorry I couldn't be strong enough to support you all... yet... I think the way things turned out was for the best anyways. You all grew into strong, perfect people. Seeing what you've accomplished makes me proud to call you my own. Touya... I'm glad you ran into Hawks and Winter... because I got to see you one last time. I got to see you all again. And for that... I'll always... be grateful..." Her smile disappeared as her eyes fell shut. It felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest. The pain I had was worse than when that Nomu crushed my body. Storms slowly backed away, going inside. I could hear voices but I couldn't make anything of them. I dropped to my knees, the shock coursing through me from the impact numb compared to how I already felt. Someone set their hand on my shoulder. I couldn't see who. In that moment it scared me. All I felt was fear. I screamed, shoving them away from me. The tears began to flow down my face, burning and freezing at the same time. I dug my fingers into the ground, accidentally pulling up clumps of dirt and grass. Everything was going wrong. It hadn't been more than 20 minutes ago we were finally together. And now... all that was gone. My ears were ringing as I continued to scream, my throat growing raw.

Suddenly, someone crouched down by my side, gently wrapping their arms around me. I couldn't push them away. I didn't want to this time. Their presence was different from my siblings. It was comforting, as if it was promising everything would be alright. I leaned into them, sobbing. I don't know how long I sat there. My body ached so heavily. My throat burned and screamed at me to do something. My hands were bloodied from tearing up the ground. I was sure my face was red and my eyes were bloodshot.

"Shoto... can I get you some of that special tea that Storms makes?"

Well it isn't Storms... who is it? Why can't I see? Why can't I hear right?

I nodded. "Alright. Let me get my phone out." I moved a little so they could get their phone. I didn't know how long it was, but eventually Storms came out with some tea. She put a straw in it so I didn't have to hold it. Storms sat down a couple feet away from me, letting whoever was sitting with me hold the cup for me. After I finished it, they set the cup down in the grass. My throat already felt better. The ringing in my ears began to go away. The blurriness in my sight disappeared as well. I looked up, seeing Yaoyorozu. She smiled at me, her eyes shimmering with sadness and sympathy.

"I... I figured you could use some company." She said. I didn't respond. Instead, I just hid my face, curling back into a ball again. It hurt.

"I'll be here for you as long as you need." Yaoyorozu set her hand on my shoulder. I blinked the tears out of my eyes again.

"She's... gone..." I choked out.

"I know. I'm... I'm so sorry." My friend said.

"Todoroki... I wish there was something I could do. But she was ill. There wasn't anything I could do. It wasn't something that any Quirk could have fixed. Your mother knew that. It's part of the reason why she wanted to leave the psychiatric ward. She wanted to be with you all again. Make things right. I'm just sorry I couldn't do anything else in time." Storms quietly apologized.

"It's not your fault." I croaked. I began to cry again. Yaoyorozu pulled me in closer. I just wished it was all a bad dream. Unfortunately, it wasn't. It was just another thing in my life that I had to learn to grow from. Another part to my path of becoming a hero.