The Emerald Prince

Chapter 36: Admitting defeat

Hi all, just want to shout out to my beta readers DahFloofistSmol, WitherMenace and Just_Peachiii for all their good advice and support!

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Bakugou was awake well before his alarm clock.

He'd come home expecting his parents to be disappointed about his actions in the sports festival... only for them to be happy, and congratulating him on his second place, reassuring him that he could beat Izuku, and that they'd pay if he wanted combat classes.

He knew he was mostly responsible for what he did to Izuku in the past, regardless of what the greenette himself said. However, the fact his parents, well his mum mostly, hadn't seen any need to reprimand him last night... made him realise that they'd never tried to curb his behaviour, ever. Not really.

So, this morning, he was going to come clean.
He was going to tell them everything... that was his to tell.

He hit his alarm clock just as it attempted it's first brring and got up. He made his way past the box of All Might merch he'd taken down since reconnecting with Izuku, but not managed to get rid of, and to the wardrobe.

He shrugged off the shirt he'd slept in, and eyed his abs with a self satisfied smirk before tugging on a red tank top, a dark hoodie, and some joggers - he'd definitely need to leave the house for a jog after this.
He crouched to put on some socks before going to the mirror to see how bad his hair was that day - not like he could style it. No one had managed to tame Bakugou Katsuki's hair...yet.

Then, slowly as he could, he trudged down the stairs to face his parents.

Mitsuki was cooking, and Masaru reading a newspaper when he entered the kitchen. He paused to savour the normality... after this conversation, he doubted they'd be this type of normal again.
"I need to talk to you."
Masaru closed his newspaper and eyed his son curiously, whilst Mitsuki snorted, "better by why you've been acting so oddly brat."

He swallowed his retort, he wasn't going to get sidetracked. He wasn't surprised she'd noticed something was up. He hadn't broken anything in weeks, he'd taken down his all Might posters... he'd averaged out only yelling at her maybe three times a day.
"It is. You offered to pay for combat training. Could you... please... put that money toward getting me therapy and anger management classes?"

His parents froze.
Seeing as Mitsuki was speechless, for the first time in Bakugou's memory, his father took charge.
"Why would you need that, son? Is this about the fight with Izuku? Wasn't really out of character for you, being hot blooded is just part of being a teenager, no need to worry."

Okay. He could officially grant his parents a reasonable portion of blame for his situation.

He settled in a chair, and crossed his arms.
"I need psychiatric help, dad. And I'm worried that neither of you have thought of it before. You're telling all this time, these last ten years, when I've come home with bleeding knuckles... you've never fucking questioned how I got them? That my level of violence might not be healthy?"

Masaru swallowed, and Mitsuki turned off the stove, turning to give her son her full attention. "The older kids found your quirk a threat... so tried to put you into your place, and just like your mother, you didn't take their shit. That's all, right?"

Bakugou stared at her. How blind did you have to be?
It was clear, his dad at least had not thought that, he was staring at Mitsuki too.

"I was a bully! Mum! And you know who I beat? Izuku. Every school day, for eleven fucking years, I threw his quirklessness in his face, I called him useless trash, a waste of space, pathetic... I beat him, I actually broke his bones some times! The last day I saw him in middle school I... I told him to kill himself!"

His parents were white, Mitsuki shook her head weakly, "Inko said you and Izuku were... were best friends... that you protected him from the older kids! Katsuki... she never lies..."

Bakugou swallowed the lump in his throat, she did more than lie... she abandoned him. "Izuku did. Only to her. The teachers never bothered to ask. They watched sometimes."

"But you collected your medals hand in hand yesterday? I thought you were about to tell us you two were dating?" Asked Masaru faintly.

Hit me where it really hurts why don't you?

Bakugou shook, tensing with the effort to maintain composure. "He forgave me. On the first day at UA... he looked me in the eyes and told me it was alright.... And it wasn't! It... it still isn't!" He gritted his teeth. "And don't think for a second, I am trying to shove all the blame on to you! But seriously...did you really not think I have a problem?"

Mitsuki just stared at him in shock. He could feel it, the image she had of him... the golden child, future number one hero, strong, clever and confident, draining away. She finally saw him.

Masaru got up, and moved to his son, taking the teen in his arms. "It's okay... I love you, Katsuki. And I'm so sorry I- we failed you. We can definitely pay for therapy if you feel you need it. I think UA has a counsellor... Hound dog? But if you don't want the school involved I can understand that too."

"Also," Mitsuki spoke unusually softly, moving across the kitchen to stroke his hair reassuringly, "please invite Izuku over... if you can, Katsuki. I believe we owe him a formal apology for our failings."

Bakugou choked back his relief. "I... I will... mum."