As the newly fallen rain dripped onto the floorboard of his apartment, Hawks stared at Amari as he tried to take in her outrageous request. She wanted to see Dabi, the man that forced her to murder that first year kid, the same villain that tortured her time and time again. Why in the hell would she wanna do that?
When the hero heard her crying shouts from his office last night, the bird immediately ran in her direction only to find her brother and that Shinso kid looking over her in intense fear as she slept peacefully. From what they told him, the girl was an absolute wreck, and he fully understood why.
He knew that Amari loved Todoroki, that much was painfully clear since the day he mentioned the boy before that Nomu attack in the Kamino Ward incident. The way her eyes lit up at his very name, the way she was so protective, Hawks knew that the news probably hit her the hardest.
And Hawks also knew that the league and All for One had some shady tactics but he would have pegged them to go this far, to hurt the boy just to break Bakugo. It seemed so incredibly cruel and inhumane and the bird wasn't surprised that Amari had acted the way she did last night.
In fact he expected her to still be crying, to be utterly destroyed from the news of Todoroki, unable to move in her own grief. That's what her brother told him anyways..
Yet staring at her now, Hawks didn't see any of those things. She wasn't crying, she wasn't shaking and she certainly didn't look scared. No, the girl in front of him instead had some sort of aura around her, a threatening and terrifying aura directed at Dabi himself.
Coughing once in order to clear his mind, the hero took in her state before the girl pushed herself into his apartment, the water touching the floor as she did so. "Hey chickadee, why don't you sit down for a minute? That storm must be pretty bad…"
His attempt of deflecting didn't work in the slightest though, Amari recognizing it immediately and speaking back with no emotion. "I know you know where he is. Tell me."
It seemed she had shut herself down in order to distract herself from the events unfolding around her. Hawks knew this tactic extremely well and he hated it reflected in his friends' eyes. "I don't think you're really hearing yourself kid. You want to see Dabi, why?"
At the sound of another question, the girl only turned her head before Hawks took in her eyes, void of all emotion and feeling. It was like the girl was already dead. " I want to talk. We have unfinished business."
Gulping at the vague threat, Hawks felt his wings twitch before reaching for her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down. "Listen Bakugo, I know you're probably really upset about everything but I know Dabi. I've worked with him for seven months. He won't bring Todoroki back. It's a lost cause to ask him anything and it would be too dangerous to even try."
Yet the girl only darkened her eyes before challenging silently. "We'll see."
Her words had such a weight to them and it was something the bird couldn't understand, now seeing her step closer in annoyance. "You said it yourself, you've been with him for seven months so you have to know where he spends his time."
And that was true, Hawks did know where Dabi probably was at this time of night but he was apprehensive to tell the girl. There was something about this that didn't seem right, and staring at the murder filled orbs of Amari certinaly didn't help. She seemed out for blood and the bird wasn't ready to be that kind of liability.
So instead the bird shoved his hands into his pockets before laughing nervously in an attempt to erase the tension. "Ah well, I'm not really sure I do kid. Dabi is a pretty mysterious guy, you know? He could be anywhere.."
Almost immediately, the girl could tell he was lying to her, causing her to quickly grab onto his hero jacket before using her Nomu blood to slam him against the nearest wall with a glare. "Cut the shit Keigo. I know when you're trying to avoid the topic…"
Gasping at the sudden actions, Hawks quickly placed a hand to Amari's in order to pry her off of him as the black veins around snaked to her eyes in silent wait.
Although this time, the hero realized she didn't seem bothered. No, this time she welcomed the rage, the anger that came from All for One's influence.
This wasn't good, she seemed completely out of it, like she didn't care about her own well being, like the Nomu blood was fueling her into some kind of sick desire.
Just then Hawks realized that he had been wrong. Amari was broken, but in a completely different way. Not by grief and despair but anger and pure intent.
Lifting his hands out in silent plea, the man moved his hands to her own arms before resting them lightly with terror. "Whoa, hey come on kid, let's think seriously for a minute. You're not acting like yourself. I know you care about Todoroki but do you really think he'd want you to do something like this?"
He heard a light growl under her breath as the bird hoped it would be enough to bring her back to reality. Although he was slowly mistaken as the girl answered back a moment later. "I don't care. I don't care what I have to do. I'm going to see Dabi so either you tell me where he is or I'll find out myself…"
Her threat brought shock of fear through his feathers, the man now picturing as this broken version of Amari walked through villain-filled streets in order to find the purple skinned man. He knew she'd do it, and that terrified him the most. The girl could easily be killed like that.
Twisting his brow in invisible pain, Hawks squeezed her arms a bit tighter with conflict. His voice sounded sympathetic and Amari knew he was about to reject her request. "Chickadee…"
Although he was suddenly snapped out of it when Amari pushed his body even further into the wall, she shouts eching through his apartment like a terrible scream. He could tell she was desperate. "Keigo!"
Hawks then felt as the girls' silent hands began to shake around his jacket as the vibrations echoed into his body with shock. She was so calm before but now Hawks could see the crack starting to break around her protective persona, the persona that was keeping her from falling apart completely.
This girl was trying so hard, so hard to keep everything in, to act strong but Keigo could only see the trauma behind the eyes, the desperation and plea for help but hid behind her stone cold eyes, and that broke him completely.
Twisting his expression in hurt, he then watched as the girl's voice stuttered out her next words, forcing herself not to crumble in front of him, fighting with her unfeeling stance. "Tell me...p-please….."
He could tell she was scared, so much so that Hawks felt his hands loosen on top of her arms before sighing roughly. He knew letting her see Dabi was dangerous but if his only options were to tell her or have her go off on her own in order to find the information then the bird knew his choice.
Letting his hands fall to his sides, the man replied back a moment later. "I'll take you, but you're not going alone. I'm coming with you."
His words seemed absolute, so much so that Amari glared back before roughly shoving her hands off of his jacket before hissing back. "Fine. Let's go."
Almost immediately turning towards the door, Hawks quickly followed after her before walking her quickly made her way down the step in silent intent.
He didn't know what he had just signed himself up for but the bird knew that he was going to protect his chickadee from Dabi. Even the smallest sign of hostility and Hawks already knew he was going to pull her away.
Although he couldn't help but be silently worried for what their upcoming conversion would unfold.
Moving towards the dimly lit alley, Hawks glanced over to Amari as the sweatshirt he lent her covered most of her face. He didn't want villains seeing her in these kinds of slums, especially with the rumors circulating around her in the past.
Rumors traveled fast and if the public found out that Bakugo was in a well known villain hang out then it would look really poor for her future hero career. And since it seemed like she wasn't caring about this kind of thing right now, it was the hero's job to do it for her.
They approached a small door on the side of the building with a gruff looking man blocking the entrance way with a heavy scowl as Hawks whispered towards the girl so that only she could hear. "Alright, let me handle this kid. Just sit back and watch as a pro does his work."
He couldn't see her expression because of the sweatshirt but the bird would like to think she looked impressed, now trailing behind the man as he flung his wings out to block her body. "Hey there buddy! What a nice night, dontcha think?"
The rough man only stared down at the hero before taking a step forward in threatening presence. "Get out of here hero. Your kind isn't welcome here."
Whistling at his tone, Hawks gave out a nervous laugh before putting his hands up in deference. "Whoa there, I think we have a little misunderstanding here. I'm on your side. Go ahead and ask Dabi. We've been working together for seven months after all. I'm all for the league's cause."
His lies were quick and smooth, Amari recognizing them immediately as the man only scoffed. "I don't care what you believe, no dogs of that corrupted society are allowed in my bar so pack up your prissy little wings and beat it, you overgrown chicken."
The man then started to turn away as Hawks' feathers twitched in anxiety. This wasn't good, with his hero status and no one to prove his claims like they usually did, it was hopeless to get into that bar. Usually Dabi would've vouched for him but it seems he was useless now.
Running a couple hands through his hair, the hero tried again with a bit more desperation in his voice. "Ah come on man, don't be like that. We just wanna talk that's all. What do I gotta say to make you believe me?"
Yet one again, the bouncer wasn't pleased with his response, looking down on the hero with disgust. "How about you give me one reason why I shouldn't rip your wings off right now?"
Hawks immediately gulped before nervously laughing, unsure how he was going to get around this man's stern attitude so they could talk to Dabi. "Ah well I…"
Although just as opened his mouth, Amari moved past him, her voice ringing back in unsaid cruelty and mocking vigor. "Have you ever heard of All for One's masterpiece?"
Blinking in surprise, the bouncer quickly turned his attention to the small girl before using his stance to intimidate her. "What the hell are you saying little girl? That's just a load of shit, a scary story to make the man more intimating then he actually is..."
A soft laugh filled the area as Amari smirked before carefully lifting her hood from her head as the blonde hair pooled around her waist evenly, the black veins of her Nomu blood fully consuming her neck and face. "Oh, would you like to test that theory…?"
Hawks couldn't help but gasp at the display. He didn't even notice that her control had fully disappeared until he clearly saw her face. As black veins trailed across her cheeks, the bird shivered at that sight. She looked crazed, insane and determined.
Even the man couldn't help but widened his eyes at the sight of the girl, pointing back with disbelief. "You're that Bakugo girl. The one from the news.."
Nodding back, Amari then narrowed her eyes before pointing behind her. "This is your only warning. You have five seconds to let us through."
Her own malice echoed across the space as the bouncer couldn't help but smirk at her threatening tone, only staring down at her size. "Oh yeah, or else what?"
Although the girl replied a moment later before flicking her gaze to the hand that was pointing towards her as her lips curved down. "Or you'll lose that arm."
Her threat was certainly surprising as both Hawks and the bouncer widened their eyes. There was no way she'd actually go through with that. She must have been bluffing. "Now look here little girl don't think you can just..…"
Yet right after five seconds had passed, Bakugo quickly grabbed his arm before using her Nomu blood to bend it behind his back before whispering into his ear. "Five."
Then Hawks watched as she narrowed her eyes before a loud sickening crack was overheard throughout the space as Amari used her Nomu blood to break the man's arm in a single motion.
Letting out a painful scream, the bouncer held his arm as she let go, causing the man to flop to the ground with a heavy groan of agony as Amari stared at him void of emotion.
The hero couldn't believe what he just saw, that girl broke his arm like nothing and without a second thought. There was no hesitation, not one moment..
Amari then looked down at the cursing man before stepping over him wordlessly into the entrance of the bar causing Hawks to quickly stumble after her. "W-Whoa, wait hold on…!"
There was something seriously wrong with Bakugo right now and it terrified the hero. It wasn't almost like she was acting as a villain, like All for One's pet. He needed to stop this and quickly. He should've noticed this before.
Quickly catching up to her, the girl walked into the bar before seeing a very familiar black leather jacket in the back by the bartender, sitting with his back turned.
A hot ball of utter rage coursed through her as she eyes Todoroki's brother, drinking without a care in the world. That asshole.
Gritting her teeth, she decided to move closer when a couple of villains stood from their chair before making their way to her with a glare, their arms outstretched in order to block her from her goal. "Who let you in here? Little girl's shouldn't be here…"
His voice was slimy and uncomfortable, Hawks immediately moving to step in front of her when the girl hissed back low. "Get out of my way."
Twisting their brows in confusion, they moved closer when Amari let off a fairly large explosion by their feet, causing them to back away as the smoke burned their toes. "Whoa, what the hell?!"
She didn't seem bothered though, using her hands to push the men aside as she tried to walk past them only for one of his friends to touch her shoulder roughly, the nails digging into her skin as he did so. "Hold on there lady. What the fuck do you think you're doing? You're gonna pay for that!"
Letting her palms ignite with heavy sparks, Amari turned before reaching her up and the men in the same, content with a full on battle as another voice stunned everyone into silence, his voice stopping the movements immediately. "That's enough."
The men lowered their fists before grumbling as Bakugo turned around only to meet the eyes of Dabi staring back at her plainly. "What's wrong sweetheart? You keep acting like that and someone's really gonna think you are a villain."
At the sound of his voice, Amari immediately gritted her teeth before taking in his lazy and uncaring appearance. He sounded so amused, so playful with what was going on that it made her even more unhinged. "We need to talk."
Swirling the drink next to him, Dabi lowered his eyes before catching sight of Hawks beside her. "You know I'd rather not have an audience sweetheart. Maybe some other time…"
Then he turned around as she watched his back move back towards the bar. Oh no, this was not happening, she wasn't going to let him. "You son of a bitch.."
Quickly grabbing someone's drink next to her, Bakugo followed Dabi before throwing the contents onto his back, the liquid immediately covering him with alcohol as she hissed loudly. "What the fuck is your problem?! Stop running away for a goddamn second would you?!"
Hawks gasped at her response before quickly forcing the empty glass out of her hands as Dabi turned around, clearly unhappy at her actions. Shit, this girl was gonna get herself killed if he didn't stop it. "Whoa, okay okay chickadee. Why don't we all just calm down and…"
Although the girl was far past that, watching her move past his arm before pointing roughly. "I get messing with me but what the fuck has Shoto ever done?! I know you knew that this was happening so you wanna tell me why in the hell you didn't do anything to stop it?"
Dabi stared at the girl silently before turning his attention back to his glass with a smug smile." I'm a villain sweetheart, why wouldn't I?"
Yet he was certainly surprised when Bakugo balled her fists before shouting back so loud that everyone in the bar could hear as the man almost choked on his drink. "Because he's your god damn brother Toya!"
The room suddenly grew silent as both Dabi and Hawks stared at her with disbelief and shock as the words echoed in their heads over and over, none of them fully processing what she had just said.
For Dabi, it was because he had never expected her to say such a thing out in the open. Since the day she found out about his identity, the girl was adamant and determined to keep it a secret, to only share it when he was ready to come back to his family.
But it seemed all of that had gone out the window now, turning to the red winged hero in slight fear. Amari knew that Hawks was right besides her and she still said it anyway. Why, why had she changed her mind so suddenly?
On the other hand, Hawks' shock lied in the information itself, the words twisting around him in a repeating cycle. Wait, she just called Dabi Toya, and Shoto's brother. That couldn't be right, there was no way this purple skinned villain was Endeavor's other son.
Although as the pieces started to swirl around the bird gasped silently. The promise that Amari made, why they were so close to each other, why she had protected him and trusted him. It was because Dabi was a Todoroki? No, that was impossible.
Slamming the glass down on the bar counter, Dabi snaked up to Bakugo before laughing to himself, mostly for the reason of his secret being spilled so easily. "Seems you still haven't learned to shut your mouth little Bakugo. Mind if I do it for you?"
His fingers started to flicker with blue sparks as Amari only called back in a challenge. "You can do whatever you want with me. I don't give a shit about your secret anymore. You're using it to hide, and I won't let you do it anymore."
Dabi narrowed his eyes before realizing his threat wasn't scaring the girl, instead extinguishing his fire before reaching for his drink. He needed to stop getting too worked up about this. "I'm not hiding anything. I just don't really care about what happens to little Sho or that family.."
Although Amari could see something else in his eyes as he downed another shot. It was the same sadness she had on her birthday when Todoroki found her. "Bullshit. You can't fool me Toya. You can't honestly expect me to believe that you don't care about your little brother, the one you ran away from, the one you keep tabs on when you think no one is watching…"
Smirking into his glass, Dabi replied smoothly. "And what makes you think I do that? You have no proof and even if you did I think we both know that's just your idiotic attitude speaking. You just don't want to admit it."
Bakugo took in his expression before scoffing herself. "I think you have it backwards. The one who doesn't want to admit shit is you. I know this bothers you, I know you didn't want All for One to take him so stop lying. Come on, It's not too late, we can still.."
Yet he was cut off as Dabi laughed to himself. "That's where you're wrong sweetheart. Why would I want to go recuse little Sho when it would hurt our dear old dad the most? In fact, I can't wait to see the look on his face when he finds out he lost another son.."
His reply was one that most people would have been scared of, but not Amari. No, she still seemed annoyed. "And that's what you want? What about Shoto, what about what will happen to him? Your own brother is getting tortured and brainwashed at this very second, pulled into a war he never asked for and you don't fucking care?!"
This caused Dabi to stop before looking down with an expression Hawks had never seen from the man before. It kind of looked like regret. "This is just how the world is. It's cruel and uncaring. The sooner Sho learns that the better."
Amari felt her brow twitch in absolute fury at his words. "Oh cry me a fucking river Toya. Would you stop it with the goddamn self pity for once in your life!"
Throwing her hands up, the girl continued. "Yeah the world sucks but that doesn't mean you just give up. What about breaking the cycle, what about the reason you joined the goddamn league in the first place, huh?! The world is going to continue to be cruel until you try and do something about it!"
Forcing the glass back down in a hard clang, Dabi stopped her monologue before replying. "There you go again trying to find the good where there isn't any. Don't you get tired from all the crap you spew? Just give up sweetheart, it's a lost cause. There's nothing you can do about it."
Yet Bakugo obviously wasn't ready to accept that answer, hissing back with clear intent. "Like hell there isn't."
Rolling his eyes, the villain coaxed further. "And what exactly are you going to do Little Bakugo? In case you haven't forgotten, the one that has Little Sho is the one man that turned you into a lab rat."
Narrowing her eyes, Amari then replied as if it was the simplest thing in the world. " I'm going to save him."
To that, Dabi couldn't help but chuckle back, his lips twisting up sarcastically. "Oh yeah? If you go in there all you're gonna do is get yourself killed. I know you're an idiot but you had to have at least figure that out right?"
He expecting her to seem surprised by his sentence, to cause her give up her stupid delusions and finally listen to him.
Although he received none of those things as he only smirked back sadly. "You don't think I already know that? I've known since day one that if I went back I wouldn't survive…"
With no one understanding, Bakugo continued with a sick sort of amusement in her voice, not caring about who heard the conversation. She was over everything and everyone at the time point, not wanting to hide anything.
If she was going to die because of this then she wanted him to know her sacrifice, to remember it. "In fact you wanna know something funny? Sir Nighteye told me just before he passed that I would be taken by All for One, that I would die by his hand if I ever tried to fight back.."
She watched as Dabi's eyes widened just slightly before finishing her cruel words plainly. "So don't you dare tell me about the consequences of saving him because I know all of them already, Toya."
Throwing her hands up in anger, the girl scoffed. "And even then, even if I know I won't make it back alive I would still go to him without a second thought. You wanna know why? Because I love him and I would do anything for him. You see, I don't run away from the people I love, I don't turn the other cheek and pretend like they don't exist, I don't try to avoid the problems and I certainly don't fucking give up.."
The purpled skinned man could tell she was speaking about him with the way she worded her phrases. Wait, that couldn't be right. This girl, this girl knew she was going to die from the beginning...
No, she had to be lying, that was the only logical explanation. "Oh please, stop lying. It doesn't suit you sweetheart."
Although Amari wasn't laughing, she wasn't cracking any jokes which immediately made Dabi's expression fall with a terrible reality. She was serious, she was going to die for his brother.
Lowering her eyes, Bakugo continued coldly. "Because of that, I need you to understand something Toya. Because when I die I can't be around for them anymore. I can't be the placeholder that holds all of their grief and sadness together. I can't be your replacement anymore so you better pull yourself together pretty fucking fast, you hear me?"
Dabi felt his hands ball into fists before scoffing at her outlandish words. "Your hero complex has only worsened little Bakugo. What makes you think I would do any of that?"
Yet it seemed the girl was only frustrated by his comment, stepping closer in disbelief before grabbing onto both sides of his leather jacket and making him look directly into her eyes. "Because even if I'm not a part of your family, I would do absolutely anything for them, and that includes you, you over baked purple skinned pain in my ass…."
Feeling her hands shake on the fabric from her own rage, the girl continued. "But I can only do so much. No matter how much I try to help them, I'm not you. They need you. They've been waiting for you for so damn long Toya. Endeavor and Rei need their son and Shoto, Natsuo and Fuyumi need their brother. They all need you!"
Bringing his face even closer so he could see the fire in her eyes, Amari finished with dark intent. "And even though you don't want to admit it you know somewhere in that cesspool of a heart you care about them also. So when I'm dead you better stop running away, get your head out of your ass and be there for your goddamn family!
She huffed out a breath before letting go of the man's coat as he took in her words, hoping it would carry some weight to them, that he would finally understand just how important he was to his family.
Although that was quickly wiped away when the man replied plainly, causing Bakugo's anger to flare up immediately. "You're wasting your breath Bakugo.."
Dabi then felt a strong pain in his head as Bakugo punched him across the face as her Nomu blood almost made him stumble off his chair.
As he turned to face her, Dabi then saw her glare with a kind of anger he had never seen before from the girl, tears lining her eyes with unsaid disappointment and hurt.
Then her finger traveled to his old ring before ripping it off her finger and throwing it at Dabi in disgust, the object bounding off his head as it fell on the floor. "Fine, then take your ring back...
With all hope erased from her eyes, Dabi looked at her ring before the girl plainly called back with disgust etched on her brow "Guess I really was just an idiot for thinking you were more than a villain."
Turning around, the girl balled her fists before locking eyes with a terrified Hawks, the conversation of her own sacrifice flashing into the man's mind immediately. This entire time, she knew she was going to die. What was that like, what kind of weight had this girl endured all this time?
He then watched her eyes crumble as Amari partially fell into his arms before hugging the man in devastation as he took an unseen shaky breath that broke the hero's heart. "Amari.."
Using his wings to cover her from the villain, the girl pushed her face even deeper into Hawks before brokenly speaking towards him. "I-I'm sorry.."
Hawks didn't understand the apology but accepted it anyways as the girl immediately pulled away a moment later before giving him an unreadable expression and turning back towards the door.
Then she wordlessly left as the man stood there in silent shock, still unable to process everything that had just occurred. Turning to Dabi he found the man doing the same thing, only staring at the ring that Bakugo had worn for months in silent thought.
Seemingly, the man then jumped to life before the panic began to set in. Shit, he had to stop her from sacrificing herself, he had to tell someone about her plans before she did something stupid.
Hawks shook his head before reaching into his pocket in order to grab his phone before gasping in shock. Wait, he swore he had left his phone in this pocket. Where the hell did it go?!
Looking around the area, the bird then remembered Amari's strange hug before his wings extended in unsaid terror. That shady little girl..
The man then cursed to himself before rushing out of the bar and down the empty streets, hoping he could stop all of this, silently praying that he wouldn't be too late.
Endeavor was leaning against the wall by his family as his children sat at the table in an unsaid sadness and anxiety. It had only been about a day since Shoto was announced missing and since then the man was tirelessly working in order to bring him home.
But while they were waiting on results and leads, the man opted to check on his family first as they watched their father with tired eyes.
Usually they would've rejected his request but this time was clearly different. All they had were each other and the Todoroki's found comfort in each other's presence, as strange as that may have been.
Flipping through another file, Fuyumi silently passed his food towards him slowly. "Dad, you should eat something…"
Although the man only grumbled before reading the contents silently causing his daughter to sigh. She knew her father was taking it the worse out of everyone.
Just then, there was a loud knock on the door causing all the siblings to leap with hope that their brother had come home, standing with slight intensity as they looked in the direction of the noise.
Endeavor as well couldn't help but have that same hope, seemingly rushing towards the door before finding his trainee staring back at him as she huffed out of breath. "E-Endeavor.."
Twisting his head, the man replied. "Bakugo, what are you doing here? I thought you were back at the dorms."
Although at the sound of his voice, everything the girl had been keeping in, all of the swirling emotion of self hatred, devastation and grief she had forced down came bubbling up all at once.
She couldn't help it, looking at Endeavor was like looking at Shoto for her. The scar on his face, his intense stare, it brought back so many memories that Amari couldn't even begin to hold. She just wanted them to be a family again, so why had it gone so terribly wrong?
Taking in a shaky breath, the tears began to pour down her face silently as Amari's shame fully overtook her, now crumbling to the ground before lowering into a hard bow. "I'm so sorry..this is all my fault…"
At the sound of her voice, the two siblings approached behind their father as they watched Amari brokenly cry in front of their feet.
Natsuo was the first to speak, glaring towards Endeavor with malice. "A-Amari? What did you say to her..?"
Although Endeavor only frowned as Amari continued. "Natsuo, Fuyumi, I'm sorry. Shoto was targeted because of me. Endeavor was right with what he said back at the sports festival, I shouldn't have ever loved him. I'm sorry. None of this would've happened if I wasn't so selfish.."
Her tears and choked sobs began to fill the space as the two Todoroki siblings stared at her in shock and sadness. The girl before them looked so utterly destroyed, so broken down and beaten by the world around her.
Although the one to reach their hand out wasn't them but their father, now hearing his rough voice call back to her slowly. "Bakugo, lift your head and stand up."
Amari did indeed lift her head but found it hard to stand as Endeavor placed a warm hand to the top of her head in order to quell her distress. "Now stop apologizing. I don't blame you for Shoto's disappearance.."
Twisting her brow in confusion Bakugo replied. "You should, it's my fault all of this happened in the first place. If I hadn't gotten close to him then All for One wouldn't have taken him. I just wanted him to be happy but with me he was only in danger. I should've realized that but I didn't care...I made this happen…"
Her logic was so broken and twisted that it made the man frown. All for One must have been putting these things in her mind and tearing her apart because of them. Just like with Kazumi's death she always shifted the blame over on herself.
Yes she was true in some sense. His son had indeed been through many terrible events but Amari hadn't purposely caused them. She was just trying to drown herself in self hatred because of it.
Bakugo waited for him to disown her as his trainee, to yell at her once he realized all her terrible sins. That's what he should've done, that's what she deserved.
But yet instead she received his saddened eyes. "Amari, I already know that Shoto finding you was one of the best things that could have ever happened to him. Don't try to twist it into something else.."
Not understanding, the man sighed before continuing. "Back at the sports festival I thought you were just a weak minded child that would rely on Shoto to succeed. Yes you two have faced many challenges but before I knew it, I watched that boy grow into a capable young man, all because of you."
Natsuo and Fuyumi couldn't help but look at her each, taking in their father's gentle tone with slight confusion. They had never heard Endeavor speak like that, so kind and sorrowful. It was like they were looking at the completely different man.
Listening to him continue, Todoroki's father sighed. "And as much as I hate to admit it, you were there for him more than I ever was. So don't think that your presence was a burden on him because I know for a fact that it was the complete opposite."
Amari couldn't help to widen her eyes at his words, tears clouding her vision again as she took in his words. His support for her was overwhelming so much so that she didn't know how to take it.
Racing forward, the girl then wrapped her arms around Endeavor's torso much to her surprise as the man stood frozen and unsure what to do. "E-Endeavor…"
His hands remained at his sides but the man couldn't help but sadden his eyes, looking down at the small child before offering her something in return. "It's going to be okay. I will bring Shoto home, no matter what."
Realizing what he just said, a new meaning poured into the girl only she pulled away a moment later. Yes, it was going to be okay because she would make sure of it. "Yeah, you're right. It will be okay."
Suddenly a new sense of acceptance washed over her as Amari stumbled to her feet before staring at the Todoroki family with an unreadable expression, knowing this was probably the last time she'd see them.
Looking down at her bare finger the girl sighed a moment later, getting to reason she came to them in the first place. Amari wasn't going to let Dabi run forever, even if she was dead. "There is something I have to tell you.."
They twisted their heads in confusion before Bakugo lowered her hands to her sides before pouring out the secret that she had been keeping for months. "This may seem crazy but Toya is out there, he's still alive…"
The look that crossed each of their faces was something Amari knew she'd never forgot, the group scanning her face for any sign of a lie or joke. They all seemed stunned into silence as the silent rain hit the pavement in an ominous sign.
Natsuo seemed to speak first, his hands balled into fists. "A-Amari, what are you saying?"
Yet the girl stayed serious, turning towards Endeavor before narrowing her eyes. "The truth. No matter what happens, you have to find him and bring him home. He's waiting for you."
Then before they had a chance to question her anymore, the girl turned on her heels before moving away in unsaid determination as the family stood silent and frozen.
Although just before she left, the girl turned over her shoulder before smiling back sadly with some sort of acceptance in her eyes. Something the family wouldn't understand until much later. ""Thank you, for everything."
We have only 3-4 chapters left oof. Lots of things happening here as we build up to the finale of the story! Amari is a badass dang.
She's really out here giving Toya a piece of her mind saying that he needs to be there for his family when she's gone. It's like she's passing off her job into him.
Next Chapter: …..
