beep
beep
beep
everything was soft. cool. bright, too, he learned as he forced his reluctant eyes open, blinking back sleep.
beep
beep
beep
He raised his head slightly. A tingle ran down his back, jittering along his spine, crawling into his fingertips and scuttling through his toes. The ceiling was white. The blankets were white.
His blankets weren't white. They were blue and red and gold. Weren't they? And his ceiling wasn't blank white. It was covered in glow-in-the-dark stars and posters.
beep
beep
beep
What was that beeping noise? He slowly turned his head, neck unwilling to twist.
Beside his bed, there was a tall, silver machine, with several plastic tubes running out of it. His heart skipped half a beat as he turned his head back to the blankets and stared at them. Trying desperately to move his legs.
No movement. No feeling.
His breathing grew heavier, panicked.
beepbeep beepbeep
beepbeepbeepbeepbeep
cover my back when this all goes to hell
beepbeepbeep
hit it as hard as possible
beepbeepbeepbeepbeep
"Midoriya, calm down!"
He heard feet slapping the floor, rushing toward him. A small, gentle hand rested on his forehead, pushing him back into the pillows.
"Shh, Midoriya," Recovery Girl said, rubbing her hand across his forehead, "shh. You're okay. You're safe. You're all safe. Calm down."
Over what felt like a century, he managed to slow his breathing and calm his heart.
"That's better." Recovery Girl stepped into his field of vision, smiling up at him. "Nice to see you awake."
He mustered a weak smile for her. "W-what h-h-h-happened?"
His voice was rough, querulous.
"In just a moment, dear," she said, and slowly pulled his blankets away, uncovering him.
He gasped.
He was stripped to the underwear, tubes protruding from his wrists. Thick casts covered his legs and arms. Half his chest was covered with a white bandage.
"You know," Recovery Girl said casually, inspecting his casts, "I wasn't expecting you to wake up yet. There's enough sedative in your system to make All Might drowsy."
"Why?"
"'Cause you're a dumbass. A very brave dumbass, but a dumbass."
Seemingly satisfied with the state of his dressings, Recovery Girl pulled up a stool next to his bed and sat down. "So. You've broken eighty percent of the bones in your body, over the course of thirty minutes. New record."
She sighed, rubbing her face with a gloved hand.
"But you'll want to know about the others, I assume."
He nodded as much as he could.
"Mineta went into shock, but is otherwise unscathed. Asui has severe cuts, especially on her face. Yaoyorozu was very nearly decapitated, and she'll never have long hair again, and she has an array of cuts and bruises. Bakugou shattered every bone in both arms. Kirishima went into shock, but his Quirk kept him safe. Aizawa was inches from death due to blood loss. All Might has severe puncture wounds. And Todoroki has cuts, bruises, and frostbite. All of you could have died."
She fixed him with a serious look.
"Had you not done what you did, someone would have."
Izuku lowered his eyes, feeling tears prick up at the corners.
"Oh child," Recovery Girl said, gently brushing the tears from his face, "stop that nonsense. You're all gonna be fine. Physically, at least. Mentally, well…" she laughed harshly "the school keeps a couple therapists on retainer."
Izuku nodded. Her words rang around his head, echoing noiselessly. More tears spilled silently onto his cheeks.
He was vaguely aware of a warmth on his forehead, followed by a wave of relaxation that swept over his body.
"Shh, kid. Just rest. I'll tell your mom you woke up."
He was slipping into darkness again.
"She wanted me to tell you how proud she was."
His knees were numb; his elbows ached. He'd been kneeling on the cold hardwood floor forever.
After an eternity, the old man grunted. "Look at me, boy."
He raised his head, eyes fixed upon the fiery goatee- -his father's moronic little accessory- -not willing to look up any farther.
"Was the account I got from Yagami accurate?"
"Yes, sir."
Another grunt.
"All Might saved your sorry ass, eh?"
Fear thrilled his heart. "Father- -"
"Silence."
The quiet echoed throughout the office.
"All the training, all the struggle, all the hardship we've endured together…and you get upstaged by Toshinori during your first operation."
Silence.
"Well, boy? Explain yourself!"
Deep, shuddering breath. Then, "I'm sorry, Father. But facing you, alone, in non-fatal combat is nothing like fighting a monster that wants to kill me and my- -"
"Your what?"
"- -classmates. I was outnumbered and overpowered." Shouto lowered his head to touch the floor. Kowtowing. "I am sorry."
More silence.
"Bullshit."
"Father- -"
"Bull- -" the chair scraped against the hardwood "- -fucking- -" the tray of food crashed to the floor, glass shattering "shit!"
His father grabbed him by the hair on the back of his head and hauled him up. The two stared directly into each other's eyes.
"You were weak," Endeavor snarled, flames licking along his shoulders, "and weakness will not be tolerated."
Shouto was tossed to the floor again. Endeavor knelt next to him, hand gently resting in his hair.
"You were created for a great purpose, my son. You may not understand yet, but you were. You may think me harsh, but this is all for your own good."
The hand tightened, gripped his hair. Pulled him up again.
All for your own good
Okay, so I was gone for three months. Sue me. I broke my leg, got a boyfriend, started senior year…fun shit.
Anyway, we've moved past most of the horrific violence. The stuff from here out will be cute, but dark-cute. I've finally decided on the tone I wanna strike with this one. Unfortunately, that means more Endeavor, because child abuse is gonna be part of any story with Shouto in it. Have fun with that.
Please review, I need them to live.
UPDATE: Yeah, I know about the spam reviews. A lot of other people have been getting them. They boost my review count so idgaf.
UPDATE 2: Hey, y'all? If you're only interested in reviewing in order to bash other people, then kindly fuck off. The only one you're allowed to bash in your reviews is me.