Hey folks! Shorter chapter today, but just FYI for anyone growing tired of the "in between canon" stuff, next update will feature the Big 3 and thus the Work Studies arc etc. SHALL COMMENCE (with plenty more non canon additions muhahaha)!

Another note, about the scheduling for this fic. I have been uploading once a week, pretty consistently now, for a while, in order to provide even a small reprieve for those of you dealing with lockdown boredom and all that. BUT things are kinda opening up again (generally) so I'm going to return to my originally intended schedule of every 2 weeks.

So, with that in mind, the next update should be around the 18th of September! And from then on, every two weeks.

This allows me a little more time to get ahead of myself again, to start reading the manga (I CANNOT RESIST ANY LONGER SORRY) and just generally not start to treat this like an obligation. Which trust me, makes it far more likely that you'll get good content. SO ALSO from this point on, be aware that there MAY be Manga spoilers ahead, small details threaded into proceedings as I learn new details ahead of where the last season of the anime left off. YE BE WARNED. I likely won't tag specifics because then who knows, you might not be able to tell the difference between my own cooked up nonsense and the canon spoilers! It's been known to happen lol. Thanks for reading, now I hope you enjoy the chapter!


SHO POV

A knock sounds on my door and I put my pen inside my workbook, knowing I'll have to get back to studying quickly. These extra classes are intense. But I can always make time for Alex… Except that isn't her knock. Another sounds. It's impatient. Bakugo? I tug the door open and raise a brow at him, not resisting as he barges inside muttering about apologies but this 'can't wait'. All right. I'll bite. I close the door and perch on the edge of my bed. He leans on the wall by my window, looking angry but more in a concerned manner than his usual sulking. What's this about? I can't say I've been very keen on his company since his outburst with Alex, he burned her and has thus far avoided her since. But maybe that's changing? I'll hear him out at least. She would want me to.

He glares to the side. "I reckoned it was a good time to clear the air. Also Alex is at her Dad's apartment upstairs, she's kinda fucked her back again by overusing her power."

I jolt, getting up. "Open with that."

"Todoroki."

"I should go see–"

"She'll need some time with him. She's a fuckin' mess, and that's coming from me."

He hadn't yelled. My name fell from his mouth calmly, and in all honesty I think that scares me more. Bakugo yelling is standard practise, Bakugo speaking calmly has my entire body tensed. How upset is Alex? I stop putting on my shoes and return to the bed, clasping my hands. I would text her soon.

I note his slumped shoulders and uneasy fidgeting.

I sigh. "Did you two finally talk?"

He nods, pursing his lips. Had I been correct? Since doing extra coursework together, me and Bakugo had talked more. Albeit briefly due to my anger. I'd had my own theories about how Alex felt about the burn, mainly because she had told me, obviously. She didn't blame Bakugo, she saw it as mainly her own doing. I didn't agree, but I wasn't the one with a new burn mark. Bakugo wouldn't hear it from me though, refusing it every time. Stubborn fool.

He sighs. "You were right."

"Shocker."

"You gotta be a smart ass about it?"

"Yes." I shrug and he grumbles some more. "So are you two back to normal?"

"Yeah… I think so."

In all honesty, I'm glad. Whilst my relationship with Alex is going well, the last thing I want is for us to become one of those teenage couples who do nothing without one another. We need space. We need our own friends. I'm not sure who counts as that for me, maybe Midoryia and Iida? But the point stands. Alex and Bakugo have a strange connection, a similarity in their fiery natures. It's one of the reasons I have any time for Bakugo, because I can theorise that there's a caring heart under that spiky demeanour. And likely a very loyal one as well. Why else would Alex bother with his troublesome self?

Bakugo scuffs the flooring. "She's gotta stop using her power for her back though."

"Yes, it's a bad habit."

"Thought you were keeping an eye on her for that, Half n Half?"

I laugh, I can't help myself. As if Alex would allow herself to be minded like a toddler.

"For one thing, it's hard to tell a lot of the time. For another, I'm not her nurse, she'd kick my ass if I started monitoring her."

"I guess…" He slides down until he's on his haunches, hands clenching and unclenching.

I tilt my head. "How bad was the spasm?"

"She nearly hit the deck. Back totally gave way, I practically had to carry her ass up to her Dad's."

I look down. Oh. That's more than I realised, that's a bad relapse. She'll be so annoyed at herself. Does this mean more physio? Or will she try to refuse that? No doubt seeing it as wasted time. Dammit. I've never seen someone so angry at themselves for being injured. Except maybe myself.

I clear my throat. "That… Is worse than I thought."

"No shit. You look like I just kicked ya in the balls." Bakugo puts his head back, bumping off the wall a few times. "We were outside talking when it happened. She's so busy lookin' after everyone else that she keeps forgetting about herself. It's fuckin' annoying."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Agreed."

"So… What you gonna do about it?"

I peer over my hand, finding myself locked in his angry gaze. It's my responsibility, that's what his eyes are saying. They're demanding me to take action. Why? Why is he so insistent I take this on, rather than Mr Aizawa? Bakugo swallows and his teeth clench; like he's biting back words. Does it annoy Bakugo that it's me… rather than him? No. That's just some weird teenage reaction, right? Bakugo is just a concerned friend, a comrade aware of the fact he could have easily been the broken one at Kamino.

I blink and try to focus on the issue at hand, Alex's back. But in trying to find an answer for that, I come up blank. This isn't simple. None of it is.

"I don't think I can do much of anything. Not directly."

"Huh? You just fuckin' giving up on her?" He stands, stomping closer and trying to loom. I'm pretty sure I'm his height or a little taller, but there's no point investigating that right now.

I roll my eyes. "No, I wondered if we might both help. Us and the whole class. Many eyes make less work. And she's less likely to notice if we all do a little, rather than a few doing a lot."

His mouth closes and he shoves his hands in his pockets. "Makes sense. They worry too."

I look at my phone, bringing up my text conversation with her. I'd hoped to take her to see my mother soon, but extra pressure won't help right now. No doubt Alex will worry over foolish things like being good enough for my mother to accept. As if Alex could not be good enough for anything. It'll have to wait for now. Alex's health comes first.

Me: [I hear you're at your dad's due to back trouble? Need me to bring anything?]

The need to help. It's a baseline for a lot of people's motivations when it comes to being a hero. My own is all tangled with a sense of obligation of course. I can't ever really be sure why I wanted to be a hero initially. As a child I know I was inspired by All Might, by those I saw on TV saving others. But then he would come home and I'd see a "hero" beating my mother. I'd feel the sting of a "hero" and his cruelty, his demands on my training, his endless tyranny. The word "hero" became as skewed as "love".

But that need to help… It was what drove my mother.

I hear the whine of a kettle, I see desperation in a panicked woman's eyes, I feel the wet heat of boiling water. But it's on my left side. It's not exactly comfortable, but it won't mark. But that's hindsight talking. As a child I screamed. As a mother, she snapped out of it and tried to help. Frost creeps over my palm. In trying to save me, my mother accidentally scarred me for life, her ice permanently damaging my skin as she sought to soothe a scald that never took hold. Panic. Love. A need to protect. A perfect storm that will never be truly forgotten.

Alex is a kind person. Like Midoryia, she sees herself as disposable when it comes to a cost for helping someone. What if one day, it goes beyond waking in a hospital bed? What if she never wakes up? Or her desperation leads to someone else not waking up in her place? It would destroy her. Blue flames flicker into my mind and I clench my hands into fists. Then he would swoop in, wouldn't he? This Dabi claiming to be a part of my family, this person from her past she once trusted who now has invisible hooks in her I'll never quite understand. Would he manage to win her over then? Would her anger at herself be warped into something else?

A foot nudges me. "Oi, Half n Half, you fuckin' zoned out."

"Sorry I… I got lost in my thoughts I guess."

"Fair enough. But what we gonna do? She won't be able to do Work Studies, so she'll be stuck with us. Should we ask her to help us train? Be involved so we can at least see what she's up to?"

I nod slowly, trying to shift the sounds of a boiling kettle from my mind. Me and Bakugo are nowhere near close enough for me to share those details with him, and without it as an example, my worries likely don't make sense. I don't know. For now though, he has a decent plan.

"She might buy that, and it's another way for her to 'help' us, right?"

Bakugo nods and goes to the window as my phone buzzes.

Alex: {Nah I'm fine, you focus on your studies. My back is just being a bitch. Nothing to worry about! Dad's making hot chocolate though, score!}

I stare at the words–carefree, jovial even. Masking. My mother was always so gentle, so caring, so loving towards me right until the moment the kettle boiled over. I'm not suggesting Alex would ever hurt me, but she could well end up hurting herself. This can't continue. It could lead to so much misery; for her, me, Mr Aizawa, for the whole class and beyond. Alex is meant to do great things. I can't let her destroy herself. But I also can't be too harsh. The shadow entering my room as I sat with a bandaged eye, waiting for mother to come home, the deep voice booming at me, nailing her coffin shut. I can't be him. I want to help her, not control her. Fuck, this is difficult.

"Bakugo…" I start, but have nowhere to finish.

"Yeah?"

"How was she, when you left? As in… How angry with herself was she?"

He leans on the window sill, shoulders slumping with his deep sigh. "Real angry. Kept talking about wasted time and stuff. Makin' it seem like she's just whining about a splinter, rather than still dealing with a recovered broken back. Dumbass."

That hardly matched the text message's tone.

I sigh. "She's not exactly sounding like that over text."

"Hiding shit, huh? Not good." He puts his head against the glass. "She's got physio organised for tomorrow afternoon. Y'should probably go along or she's gonna throw a nurse out the window."

I nod. "I think you're right. Thanks by the way… for uh… telling me. Seems ridiculous that you needed to, I know. But still, thanks."

"S'fine. Just want her to be okay, y'know?"

"Of course."

Me: [All right, enjoy the hot chocolate. I hope your back feels better, but you have to give it time okay? Don't push yourself too hard.]

Alex: {Don't you start. I'm fine! I'll see you soon, don't worry about me, just get that nose back in a book Mr Prodigy! x}

You mean too much to me Alex, to so many. We won't lose you to this.

We can't.


ALEX POV

I hold onto the bars and slowly make my way along, gritting my teeth as I struggle to put a foot in front of the other. Apparently it's swelling. Some kind of infection or stress. I kind of zoned out, it was just more delays, more time lost, more class missed. Frustration bubbles. My foot fails to respond again. It's just me and the damn nurse, I told Dad to get back to teaching. No point in two people's days being wasted. The window is open, letting the cool breeze in, allowing a little reprieve from the damn hospital smell.

Work studies. I wasn't able to participate. Dad checked with the faculty, spoke to my doctors, looked at the small print I'm never told about. No good. Can't risk it. Take your time. Recover. Recover. Always just fucking recover.

My leg gives way and I'm back on the ground. I stare at the flooring, blood thundering in my ears, frustrated tears pooling in my eyes, teeth grinding so tight they feel ready to crack. I know I'm just being impatient. I know I have a lot to be thankful for. But fuck that logic doesn't help when my heart hurts this much.

Steps approach, but they're not the shuffling ones of a nurse, they're Sho. Did he send the nurse away? I sniff and try to pull myself together, but there's no point. He's seen. Another tantrum. Another pout. He called me strong once; what the hell does he think of me now?

I take a deep breath, knowing I can't bear to ask that question right now. I'd want an honest answer, and know I can't handle it. So instead, I'll deflect like a coward.

"Sho, you should be studying."

"And you should take a break." He kneels beside me, setting a can of soda next to me, already open for me. "If your legs are giving way then the swelling needs time to calm down."

I sip the juice. The sugar helps with the shakes.

He's right about the swelling, and in all honesty some of his ice right now would be perfect. But something sticks in my mind as if it were a fishbone in my drink. How does he know about the swelling? Sure he knew about my back being sore but… Had Bakugo talked? Or Dad? Wait, how did Sho even know I was here?

"You been talking to my Dad?"

"I asked for an update." He pauses and clears his throat. "Is that okay?"

I look up from under my fringe, unable to deny the fact that kinda pisses me off. Like I'm a car in the shop, being discussed by mechanics. She needs this new part, but it's gonna take two weeks, that ok buddy? Sure thing pal, I'll keep an eye on her in the meantime. I sip again. Nope, the anger is still there. No need to snap at him though, we can talk about this. My frustration shouldn't be aimed at Sho, that isn't fair. I'm angry at my injury, not him.

I set the can down, voice calm. "You could have asked me, doesn't feel great knowing you guys are talking about me behind my back."

"I didn't see any point in you having to go over your setbacks."He frowns when I look at him. "I thought it would save some annoyance for you."

"Appreciated, but next time, please just ask me."

He doesn't look keen on that suggestion. I put my hand on top of his and squeeze softly, does he not feel like he can talk to me? We've been texting a lot. Sure, I haven't seen him in person much recently, but he's been so busy studying and I've been playing catch up.

"Sho?"

"Alex I can't be sure that you'd bet forthright." He admits, eyes dipping from my alarmed expression. Forthright?

I retract my hand. "Isn't that just a fancy way of saying I'm lying?"

He purses his lips. "You've been downplaying your back pain."

I curl in on myself as much as I can without any pain. So not much. But even so, I want a little distance. He's looking at me like I'm a kid lying about who spilt the milk.

I shrug. "I thought it was just spasms."

To be honest, I can't even be sure if I'm lying or not. Had I thought it was more? Did I just not want to admit that? Sure, I tried to shove it aside in the exam. I had to in that moment, there wasn't time to hesitate. But now? Since? Every time the pain has flared I've shoved pills down my throat, maybe perched on something to relieve pressure or worse, used my power. It's become a bad habit I guess. Maybe.

Frost creeps over his can. "We're meant to be helping each other, right?"

I nod. That was what we had said, but I didn't quite appreciate at the time how much more of his help I needed. Like I'm using him. It's not fair on Sho. The window creaks further open, pushed by the wind, rusted hinges whining.

He continues. "You've been great for helping me with my extra coursework, but… Alex, has that been at the detriment of your recovery? I think maybe we need to refocus and get you–"

"No!" I yell, biting my lip as my voice rises when I didn't mean for it to. Dammit I'm too tired for this, my nerves are frayed. I don't want to bicker with him like this, it's petty. I'm being petty, right? Fuck. I don't wanna ruin this. Then again, I guess I always knew it would be me to do that. Right? Rats are always where they're not meant to be. I sniff. "I wanted to help you with coursework. Let's face it, you likely failed because we were so focused on my broken arse beforehand. I didn't mean to ignore m-my injuries. I really didn't. I'm sorry. I-I..."

He pulls me close. "Breathe… Breathe Alex."

I'm trembling, gasping, why the fuck am I reacting like he was scolding me? He didn't yell. He didn't even raise his voice, I bloody did that. We were just talking. Yet I cling to him. I hear the echo of rusted bed frames. The whine of metal on metal. Shit. It's been so long. Why am I thinking of that now?

"I'm sorry." I hear my voice but my mouth is moving on its own, panic taking over. "I'll do better. I'll be better. Please don't think I'm not trying. I am. I promise. Please, I'll–"

"Whoa, whoa, Alex?" Sho cups my face, searching for something as his eyes shine. "Shh, it's okay. It's alright."

The jumbled words are replaced with shaken breathing.

He runs a thumb along my cheekbone. "I didn't mean to scold you."

"Y-You didn't. It's fine."

He frowns. "No, it's not fine. You nearly had another panic attack. Did I cause that?"

Shit, I knew he'd start to blame himself. No. This isn't right. This isn't fair on him. Dammit why do I have to fuck these things up?

He looks a little pale, something going on behind his eyes that I don't know about. "I… I didn't mean to be harsh."

No. No that's not it. My mouth won't work. I foolishly open and close my mouth a few times, nothing but small squeaks escaping.

His eyes tighten. "I'd never want to be like…" He swallows hard. "Alex… Are you scared of me?"

Again the inability to speak. Again the squeaks. Shit it looks like I'm confirming it. Dammit, no. The last thing Sho has ever done is scare me. He's not Endeavour for fuck's sake! But that's what's in his head, right? He hates thinking he could ever be like that bastard. Dammit I need to talk. I need to speak! I cling to his wrists when he tries to back off, when he tries to give me space. No. Don't back off now. Shit.

"I shouldn't have turned up unannounced." His eyes are downcast, his right wrist feeling colder every second. "Sorry if I overstepped."

His walls are going back up. Am I losing this too?

"N-No." I gasp, tongue feeling like it's made of fucking lead. I gulp and he frowns, eyes raking over me. "Wait."

"All right. I'm not going anywhere, please just take a full breath, Alex."

I focus on that, but the rusted window gives another whine as the wind pushes it and I feel something give way inside me. Snap. Like the ground just disappeared under me. The cold lino flooring is concrete, the sharp smell of chemicals from the hospital are cleaning fluid after I vomited again, the pain in my back is a new brand or fresh bruising from a beating. I can't run like this, I can't get away. I'm stuck. Trapped. Trapped like a rat. Shit. Another rusted whine sounds as the window closes itself, and I'm done. I can hear the rumble of Sho's voice but it's like he's underwater. I guess it's been a while since I felt this vulnerable.

Things start to go dark, soda spills next to me, turned to ice and pushed aside before it can pool against my knees. I brace against the floor, staring ahead. I can't move. Once again mis-matched eyes are in front of me, imploring me to answer. Fuck. He looks so guilty. No, this isn't your fault. Sho. Please. Shit this is ridiculous.


SHOUTA POV

Alex had told Shouta to go back to teaching, to not waste his time hovering, but in all honesty, he couldn't focus. Her physio had annoyed her badly enough when she was first injured, let alone a relapse. He hurried along the corridor, expecting a crying nurse to be outside. Instead, he found a concerned one.

"What's happened?"

The nurse looked startled but smoothed herself down and explained. "I was uh… Well you see, your daughter's boyfriend turned up and suggested I take a break. I did so, knowing she was hardly wanting my company anyway, but when I came back to check on them, it would seem something has uh…"

He looked to the door. "Gone wrong?"

She nodded and stepped back from the door to let him continue.

He headed inside and slowly closed the door behind him, finding Alex on her knees, bracing as though she had just run a new personal best. Or she was about to vomit. Only she wasn't panting, she didn't seem to be moving at all. Todoroki was there also, pushing her hair back, calling her name, begging for an answer.

"Alex please, I don't understand what's wrong. Please. B-Breathe, okay? You have to just breathe. Fuck. I should call your Father, where's your phone? Alex? Alex look at me."

Gone was the polished prodigy, in his place sat a panicked boyfriend.

Shouta cleared his throat, very aware that his daughter was still not responding. Logically, there were a few options. Had the boy hurt her? Had something happened with her power? Todoroki looked up with wide eyes, and the fact he didn't immediately compose himself was likely the most unnerving thing of all. Todoroki's mask was broken. Far worse than it had been at the Summer Camp. The boy radiated guilt, he looked between Alex and Shouta, mouth seemingly unsure of what to say.

"Todoroki, what's happened?"

"She froze up, sir. I don't know. We were talking… N actually we had a fight. But then she just started panting, struggling to breathe, and now this. She's barely breathing, blinking or anything. I'm not sure if she's even awake."

"Pull the blinds down." Shouta started on his side of the room whilst the boy dealt with the other, the lights flickered on and they both watched Alex. But she still didn't move. It wasn't the Vision Villain at least. That was a win. Maybe.

Shouta knelt beside her and lightly touched her shoulder, finding her trembling but only very slightly. They couldn't see it, but she was. He felt for her pulse and found it quick but steady, he leaned in and again her breathing was fast but consistent. He had seen it before but not for a very long time. Not since she was very small, vulnerable, and very afraid.

"What were you fighting about, Todoroki?"

"I didn't mean to upset her."

"I know you won't have. Now, what was the fight about?"

Todoroki kept his eyes fixed on Alex. "She didn't like that I'd spoken to you about her condition. That I hadn't asked her directly. Th-Then I admitted that I hadn't asked her because I was worried she might downplay things. It went from there... "

It sounded innocent enough, a bicker more than anything. To have set off such a reaction in her, it had to be more than that. But the boy wasn't one to lie. Far too upfront for such things. So if it had only been that, why was Todoroki himself looking so guilty? Usually it was Alex to jump to assumptions of guilt.

"If that's all it was, why do you look like you're to blame for this?"

The boy looked down and shuffled back. As though he feared simply being nearby would hurt her. Shouta stayed still, simply watching, trying to piece it together.

"I… Perhaps I was too harsh when I spoke."

Whenever Shouta had seen Todoroki with Alex there had been nothing but a gentle kindness. A tenderness in the boy that only seemed to happen near her. The idea of him suddenly being harsh with her didn't add up.

Todoorki continued. "Maybe I made her feel scolded or something. It rather runs in my family to be harsh with these things, so I… I was worried that maybe I spoke wrongly. That I overstepped. Or made her feel pressured. Or trapp–"

"You're not Endeavour." Shouta tilted his head, surprised to see such a powerful jolt go through the boy. It had been a stab in the dark, but yes, that seemed to be the issue. It made sense. All kinds of rumours surrounded Endeavour's treatment of his family, from his wife to his kids. Rumours weren't to be taken on face value, but it rather explained the boy's fear.

"She looks so frightened." Todoroki whispered, looking to the side, gritting his teeth. Likely trying to avoid crying or something, or maybe to keep his quirk under wraps. Considering how well kept together he kid was normally, Shouta wasn't sure what would happen if Todoroki lost his grip.

Shouta was about to ask more questions when he found his answer in the sound of a rusted window hinge, creaking against the wind.

Shouta sighed, the noise confirming where he had seen her like this before. He started running his fingers through Alex's hair. "It's all right Todoroki, I don't think this has much to do with you at all."

The boy didn't look like he believed a word.

Shouta nodded to the offending sound. "Close that window."

"Uh… Fine." The boy did as told, frowning when he returned.

Shouta kept his hand moving, her eyes slowly starting to blink. "Has Alex ever described the conditions in which Shigaraki kept her contained as a child?"

Todoroki's brows lifted. "A little. Small room, old bed and mouldy walls. Wh-Why?"

"She got a fever once, when she was still pretty new to living with me. Due to the fever, she got really confused, and whenever the springs in my old sofa complained, she ended up very similar to this. Rigid, shivering, though then she was also apologising rather than staring ahead. But it's very similar." He started to move her gently, easing her closer and into his arms where he held her head against his shoulder. "Back then, once she came out of the fever, she explained the room she had been contained in had an old metal bed in it, with a rusted frame. It's the noise, Todoroki. The window must have set her off."

Todoroki swallowed hard. "But surely she hears rusted things all the time…"

"Yeah, true. But right now, and back then, it's that paired with the vulnerability." Shouta sighed as she started to loosen in his arms, hands weakly clutching his capture weapon, breathing evening out. "Both times, be it a fever or a relapsed back injury making it impossible to walk, both are likely very similar to when she felt helpless in that small mouldy room."

"So… So I didn't…"

Shouta gave the kid a soft smile as Alex's eyes finally closed and sleep took her. "Alex has never been great with accepting when she needs help, Todoroki. And no doubt she doesn't want to become a burden to you."

"She could never be a–"

"I agree. But it's her we have to convince. The last thing she wants to do is end up like that little girl, cuffed to old pipes and rusted beds. It's probably a part of herself that she outright hates." He picked her up and stood up. "Entirely illogical I know."

Todoroki put his hands in his pockets. "I suppose fear is rarely logical, sir. I apologise for my over-reaction. It won't have helped things."

"You're both kids. It's fine. She'll get there, and this back thing will calm down. I've been going over some design possibilities for her costume, to give her a helping hand on the field in the future."

Todoroki stared at her, eyes misting before he blinked hard and clawed the mask back into place. The kid had genuinely feared he had treated her like Endeavour would. It sounded like madness to Shouta, but as the kid said, fear was rarely logical. Such awareness was encouraging on one hand, but on the other, worrying.

Shouta hitched Alex higher, her arms automatically reaching round his neck to hold on.

He nodded to Todoroki. "May I speak plainly, Todoroki?"

"Of course, sir." The eyes fell again, studying his shoes. Todoroki expected a scolding, a demand to never see Alex again and to stay away. It was easy to spot. What a fool. A gallant fool hopelessly attached to Alex.

"You're driven, you're powerful and you're dedicated. These are all qualities you could attribute to Endeavour as well, but I can't say I see the resemblance goes beyond that. Not recently anyway."

The boy blinked.

Shouta smirked. "To be honest kid, I consider your Dad a bit of a shithead. I'd need a lot of persuading otherwise. If I thought you were anything like him, I wouldn't have let you even hold her hand, let alone become involved. Do I make myself clear?"

Todoroki dipped his head, a slight blush appearing. "Yes, sir. Thank you…"

"No problem kid. I'll keep you posted on how she's doing, but for this weekend though, just leave her with me. I'll get her head out of her ass."

Todoroki pursed his lips against his own smirk. "Just let her know I'm sorry if I upset her at all?"

"I'm sure she knows that. If she could still perceive you at all during this episode, no doubt she'll stupid about it all herself. Not that she needs to, but that's my daughter for you, a stubborn idiot." He headed for the door. "Oh and Todoroki?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I really think you two will be fine. You make a good team."

"Th-Thank you, sir."

"Yeah, yeah. Now get the hell back to studying, I don't want another failure out of you."


So yeah, some outside POVs for ya, and a semi-wrap up on the whole "Alex is not handling this" because I promise, this is a turning point for our damaged little kid.

As I said at the start of the chapter, I'm now moving to bi-weekly updates, so I will see you around the 18th of September with the next chapter!

Thanks to everyone reading, following, faving and leaving reviews! Shoutouts below as I love responding to you guys ^-^ thanks, cya soon!

SHOUTOUTS:

Zikashigaku: Damn right she called him out haha, Alex will only have so much patience! I don't really like when fics gloss over THAT part of Bakugo's past, and considering how much I've kinda focused on his volatile nature it would have been seriously daft for me to. Plus, I consider it a part of his character, something he has learned the error of and I find that so important! I am now reading the manga, I am just past Vol 22 and intend to ask for the others for my birthday, so I look forward to knowing more haha. And I look forward to putting in any details that I've gained thus far. But Shh on those spoilers for anyone else, and me, just in case haha. I am really looking forward to writing Alex and Endeavour in the same scene, along with the rest of the Todoroki family ^-^ And oh boy. The Overhaul arc. Yeah... I have some ideas muhahahaha. I agree on the Izuku front for sure! Thanks for continuing to review, its so awesome of you, and you're literally the only person bothering to do so on here atm, so it really does mean the world (that's not meant to come across as a demand you never stop. If a chapter doesn't grab you etc you're under no obligation to leave anything lol, i'm just wanting to make sure you know how MUUUCH I appreciate ya ;) because its so awesome what you've been doing). I hope you liked these pov switches etc. and insights. Cya next time, in a couple weeks!