Birds of Prey | Tododeku

Chapter 28

Todoroki typed away furiously at his computer, announcing commissions would be closed until further notice on their website. Twice was spamming Todoroki with panicked texts.

Twice: What kind of food do I get her???
Twice: Does she need a separate bathroom? I only have one! Where am I going to get another bathroom???
Twice: When do I feed her???!!!??? How long can she go without food??
Twice: Todoroki!!! You've dealt with women before!!! What do I do?!?$?!??,!?

Todoroki closed his eyes, hoping that when he opened them, the texts would be gone. To his dismay, they were in fact, real. These were Twice's genuine thoughts. He picked up his phone and shot him a text back.

Todoroki: She's a human being, not a cat. Just ask her what she wants. She'll tell you if she gets hungry. She's not a different species, just let her do her own thing and remind her not to go out in public

Twice: Thank you 0_0

Todoroki sighed and set down his phone. Rubbing circles on his temples. The stress of the repercussions of the Shigaraki trial already making its way into Todoroki's core. He sent the address of Bakugou's new apartment to him. Though he didn't think it was the best idea, the doctor insisted on putting Bakugou in the same apartment a floor below Todoroki.

Dabi texted Todoroki, letting him know that Bakugou's things were all moved in and they were next.

Todoroki shut his laptop, putting it in his bag and next to the boxes and suitcases they had. A tired Midoriya walked out of Todoroki's room, rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning Shouto," he said, hugging Todoroki. Todoroki held Midoriya in his arms.

"Good morning Izuku," Todoroki replied. "Your friends found the letters, but it's not too late to go back. You can tell them you changed your mind."

"No," Midoriya said. "I've made up my mind. This is what I want to do."

"Izuku, you don't want this," Todoroki replied. "This isn't something to want. You're in the best university in the East side of Japan. You have your whole life laid out for success. You have the power to do anything. Don't shackle yourself by making the same mistake I did. Living underground, lying, being in an organization like this, you don't want this."

Midoriya grabbed Todoroki's hand. "I do if it means I'm with you," he said softly. "I know what I'm getting myself into. I know that I have everything set out, but it means nothing if I don't have you by my side. I won't be happy unless I'm with you." Midoriya looked down at his feet.

"Plus, I uh, I decided to read up on some of the things you told me about. While I was reading some of those police reports, FBI files, and court cases, I almost couldn't believe what I was reading. I didn't know just how much corruption was going through until I read those files that depicted flaws in the justice system, loopholes for the elites, and laws that subtly target minorities. This... this system is completely bastardized. I can't be an agent in good conscience. Not when I'm actively participating in a system that doesn't care about people like me. Not when I already hurt so many and am bound to hurt more."

Todoroki looked down at Midoriya, his heart practically snapping in two. He gingerly slipped his hands away from Midoriya's. "You're not thinking rationally. What about your mother? Your friends? What about everything you've worked for?"

"I can secretly check in with my mother, tell her I'm living off the grid or something. And everything I've worked for has led me to you. Everything led me to see what this system is actually like. The FBI... they're not here to protect the people like I originally thought. They're here to protect the elites and keep the middle class under control. Unjustified arrests, brutality, cases swept under the rug, they're not here to provide safety to the people being controlled. Why do you want me to go back? How could I even go back knowing I would just be another slave to the wealthy that don't care if I live or die? Do you not want me around?"