Note: I will be posting chapters daily for a bit. This is an AU. Most things will not follow the canon timeline/storyline. The main focus of this story is the difficulties Katsuki faces throughout the custody battle. The abuse won't be explicitly described. I think that covers everything for now!
Last night with Todoroki had been easy. Neither teen felt the need to have some deep, life altering conversation about why they wanted space from their classmates and that was everything Katsuki had needed. They spent the night watching Disney movies, eating popcorn, and looking at funny cat memes. The last one had been Aizawa's idea but he enjoyed it all the same.
His teacher sat in the dining room for the majority of the evening but migrated to the couch after the second film had finished.
Katsuki could tell the man was casually listening to make sure things were going okay but he kept his distance to give them some time to themselves.
Todoroki had spent the night and that morning they made their way to class earlier than normal, making sure to avoid bumping into anyone. They didn't want to answer any questions but Katsuki had also wanted the opportunity to talk to other boy before everyone else came barging in.
"Spill Katy Perry." Katsuki wasn't a delicate person so there was no point in sugar coating things. Todoroki had been in a weird mood the night before and after the initial thought that the usually stoic teen had come over to comfort him, he realized Todoroki actually needed some of his own.
He just didn't know why.
"Midoriya was praising Endeavor yesterday after school. There was a breaking news report that featured my father and I don't particularly enjoy watching other people fawn over him." The nerd could be a real dunce sometimes. He thought it was pretty obvious that Todoroki had a strained relationship with the Flame Hero?
"It's frustrating because Midoriya knows why I find it difficult to use my flames, well he doesn't know everything but…" His classmate trailed off, clearly uncomfortable with this part of the discussion.
"Your old man seems like a raging asshole if you ask me Katy Perry and you're nothing fucking like him. The nerd doesn't know when to shut up sometimes." Katsuki tried to keep his voice somewhat calm but he was never the best at being soothing. It didn't seem like the other boy noticed too much though.
"Midoriya loves heroes and I told him that Endeavor was trying to change but that doesn't erase everything he's done in the past. I just needed to step away. I'm sorry I intruded on your alone time." Todoroki's expression was pained, his posture stiff as he tried to maintain eye contact. Katsuki hated every second of it.
"You weren't fucking intruding. I wouldn't have asked the old man if you could come over if I didn't want you there." Before Todoroki could respond, the classroom door was pushed open and the rest of the Dekusquad walked in.
"Kacchan!" Katsuki will never understand how this kid could be so excited so early in the morning.
"Why are you so damn chipper already nerd?" The other teen blushed slightly but still made his way over, stopping directly in front of the blonde's desk.
"I was worried when I didn't see you last night in the dorms… but you seem okay today so i guess everything is okay?" Katsuki rolled his eyes but that didn't stop the warmth from spreading throughout his chest.
Why did so many people care about him?
It just felt so foreign to him. Maybe he had just never noticed it before?
"I'm fine nerd. The dorms are just too loud sometimes." And it was true. He had always had an issue with noise. It put him on edge, especially when there were too many sounds happening at once. It was a major sensory overload for him.
"Okay Kacchan. Talk more later?" He simply nodded, wanting the other boy to back off just a little and luckily he did.
Katsuki was still trying to get used to interacting with his childhood friend so casually and he didn't really enjoy it when people were in his space so it was a tricky situation for him.
Izuku was always there. Whether Katsuki wanted him to be or not. No matter what, no matter how much he pushed him away, the kid never left him alone. He didn't really know how to feel about it either but he couldn't think about that anyway.
Not in the middle of class.
Not when he was already overwhelmed, thinking about his current living arrangements with his teacher. Everything was piling up and he was starting to wonder if he could handle it all.
Was he strong enough?
Aizawa promised to be there for him so maybe he could talk to him tonight? He would help him if he needed it… wouldn't he?
His thoughts were abruptly cut off when that same man grunted out instructions for the morning… Katsuki snorted because everyone raced out of their seats to follow directions but he knew just how soft his mentor had gotten. Most of class was aware too but they always managed to forget that during school hours.
His dilemma would just have to wait until later then…
"Mits it's mandatory. You can't just skip over this." Masaru hissed at his wife, frustrated at the sheer stubbornness of his partner. He knew Mitsuki hated it when others got involved in their personal life but they had no choice. If they wanted their son back, they needed to play by the rules.
"This is fucking ridiculous Mas. That damn kid is a nightmare! They have no idea what it's like to be his parent and now they are trying to tell us how to raise him.. the damn nerve of these people." His wife was fuming and he couldn't blame her.
These random strangers were acting as if they were experts in all things Katsuki. They hadn't dealt with all his outbursts… his aggression. They were clueless.
This teacher thought he could somehow change their son into a good person with therapy and understanding?
Apparently they didn't listen to Katsuki enough? They put too much pressure on him? They didn't give him positive affirmations or physical affection… yeah because that is what their hotheaded son needed.
It was absolute nonsense.
"I get it darling but we are sort of stuck… we just need to play their game for a bit. The judge will cave as soon as he sees we are willing to give this treatment plan a shot. Can you do that Mits?" The blonde glared at him but seemed to sigh in resignation. She knew there was no way out of this.
"This better fucking work Mas. I won't have this damn brat ruin our reputation." Masaru let himself relax because if Mitsuki was willing to cooperate, the other side wouldn't stand a chance at beating them.
Katsuki would be back home soon and everything would be back to normal.
Katsuki:
come sit at my lunch table with me
He had already told Kirishima he'd sit with the group at lunch today but now that it was time to actually follow through, he didn't know if he could.
Over the past few days, Katsuki was feeling increasingly anxious and loud noises just made things worse. He missed his friends but they were an exuberant bunch so he needed a buffer.
He hoped Todoroki wouldn't mind.
Todoroki:
Alone ?
Or should I bring the others?
Katsuki:
just you Katy
unless you don't want to or whatever
Todoroki:
On my way
He couldn't help but feel relieved knowing that someone would be with him to face his friends.
It's not like he couldn't do it alone but with everything going on lately, normal things felt exhausting.
"Ready Katsuki?" The blonde shrugged but took off towards his usual table, pulling Todoroki…pulling Shoto along with him.
As soon as he was in close proximity… the gaggle of morons began shouting at him.
It was just the usual shit but it was too much too soon. He gripped onto the other boy's shirt tightly, trying to tune out all the screaming.
"I know you are excited to see him but can you please refrain from yelling?" Katsuki gaped at his (friend?) while the others in his group quieted down and went back to eating their lunches.
He could tell they were just happy to see him but he was glad the other boy had spoken up for him. He couldn't deal with all their usual antics right now.
They were all watching him cautiously as he took a seat and honestly he was already ready to lose it.
Why was it so difficult for him to be around people right now?
He couldn't deal with all the pity in their eyes and he just knew they wanted to ask him a shit ton of questions.
"I can't fucking do this… I'm sorry, I need to go.." he didn't let anyone try to stop him. He couldn't.
It felt like his lungs were on fire, the need to scream more urgent than normal. He let his feet carry him towards Aizawa's office, praying the man was in there so he could help.
He hated asking but the man had proven himself time and time again… Katsuki hated to admit it but… he needed him right now.
He shoved the door open and immediately dropped onto the couch on the far wall.
Luckily, his teacher was in there and he knew not to crowd the teen when he was in such an anxious mood.
"I used to eat on the roof when I was a student here. The cafeteria was way too loud for me, not to mention I hated almost everyone." Katsuki snorted at the confession, happy that his mentor provided him with something distracting… his breathing was already slowing and he felt his muscles begin to relax as well.
"My office is always open to you kid. You don't even need to ask. It's going to take time to readjust and right now everything is probably going to overwhelm you." He groaned obnoxiously loud, trying to let the other know just how fucking annoying this whole situation was.
"This is all your fucking fault." Aizawa simply looked at him with a deadpan expression.
"You're right. How dare I actually give a shit about your well-being." Katsuki let out a booming cackling sound and moved to a sitting position to stare right into his guardians eyes.
"If you really gave a shit about me you'd stop making me talk to those idiots… they drive me crazy!" Aizawa just rolled his eyes because he wasn't stupid. He knew Katsuki didn't actually hate any of his classmates just like he didn't actually hate his.
They were just not the best at showing it.
"Sure they do kid. Are you staying with me again tonight?" Katsuki stiffened slightly, the question making him feel somewhat uncomfortable. He had already sought out the man's help once today. He wasn't fucking helpless.
"I'm only asking because I didn't really feel like cooking and I know you love it so…" the man shrugged his shoulders carelessly and pulled out one of those disgusting jelly packets.
"How did you survive before I moved in? Why the hell do you even buy those things?" The blonde knew what the hero was doing but honestly he didn't care. He would much rather spend the evening in his quiet apartment over trying… and failing to ignore his classmates all night.
"Fine old man but I get to choose what we eat… and I'm making it as spicy as I want so you better be able to handle it."
"This isn't on me.. Her behavior isn't my responsibility." Fuyuko sat behind her desk in a floor length pin striped pants suit, a nonjudgmental expression on her face as her client shared his thoughts on his role in his family dynamic.
The Bakugo household was a volatile environment and after the youngest member had experienced such an intense trauma response after their first session, she decided to implement mandatory therapy sessions for each of the parents on a more consistent basis.
Eraserhead had been concerned for the safety and well-being of Katsuki so Nezu supported this recommendation wholeheartedly but Fuyuko had been struggling to build rapport with either parent.
Masaru proved to be the most difficult one of the group. The man was fairly meek but he also refused to accept that his duty as a parent included protecting his child from his wife. He was adamant that he had no power over Mitsuki or what she does in their home regardless of its impact on their son.
She knew better. Their first session he showed just how manipulative and creative he could be. Today though he seemed to be in a totally different space.
This was most likely due to the fact that his wife hadn't been cooperative. She had agreed to do anger management classes but after a few minutes in the group… she stormed out.
Mitsuki's meetings with her hadn't been going any better.
Therefore, this session, Fuyuko decide to incorporate some motivational interviewing techniques to help empower Masaru and evoke some sort of change.
She needed to make positive progress with someone.
The first step was utilizing active listening.
"I've heard it all before.. I'm the man so that means she has to listen to me right? I'm supposed to have power over her well that's bullshit.. That's a lot of pressure and it's not possible. You don't know my wife." Masaru was rambling at this point. His voice was high pitched and whiny showing the clinician that he was stressed out but she just allowed him to vent without interruption. She maintained consistent but not overwhelming eye contact to demonstrate that she was in fact following along which seemed to be helpful.
"I mean if you lived with us you'd understand… everyone thinks that I'm just as bad as she is because I don't stop her but why is this on me? Why should I put myself in harms way when my son can defend himself? They aren't like me… And besides my son is… well he's just as aggressive as she is! He instigates their fights…" His volume escalated towards the end and his fists were clenched tightly atop the arms of the chair. His agitation was clear so Fuyuko decided to step in.
"It sounds like you're under a lot of pressure." It's important to show him that she empathized with his feelings and that seemed to ease some of his tension.
"Establishing roles is important. Can you tell me what you believe your parental duties entail?" Challenging obvious discrepancies in a way that doesn't make Masaru feel attacked would be tricky but she needed to give it a shot.
The brunette narrowed his eyes suspiciously but seemed to be processing how to respond.
"He has a place to sleep and I always provide him with hot food. I've always made sure Katsuki has everything he's ever needed.. he doesn't go without.. ever." Fuyuko could tell the man was desperately trying to keep his cool.
"I don't know what you want from me. He's living with his damn teacher now." Fuyuko had heard this before as well.
Masaru refused to acknowledge his areas of concern because he felt like they didn't matter anymore now that Katsuki wasn't living at home. It was a temporary fix though. The poor attempt at avoidance was ignored. She needed to push forward.
"You're correct Mr. Bakugo. Katsuki will be spending the majority of his time under the care of the staff here at UA. So let's discuss their role. Aizawa Sensei or Pro Hero Eraserhead as you may know him, will be the primary adult providing supervision. What are his duties?" It was a risky move because Masaru could catch on and react poorly but hopefully it would work out.
"I hope that he will protect my son, keep him safe, and provide him with all the basic necessities if I am unavailable. That obviously includes emotional support because he has been through a lot these past few months because of this school." Fuyuko found it interesting that Masaru expected his son's teacher (now temporary guardian) to keep him safe but he didn't feel as though he was required to do the same.
She also found his dig at UA interesting but she let it slide. She could address that later.
"What if another student was bullying Katsuki? What should Aizawa Sensei do then?" Masaru looked at her incredulously and she knew she had him.
"He should prevent it from continuing in the future. He should make sure my son is safe from anyone who chooses to cause him harm." He answered it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"So would you agree that it is also your responsibility to do the same?" The brunette in front of her cut his eyes and plastered a challenging smile on his face.
"My wife isn't a villain… she isn't a bully… it's not the same thing. She is providing him with discipline and making sure he understands he can't do whatever the hell he wants. We would never allow someone to assert power over him for no reason at all."
It took every ounce of strength she had not to roll her eyes at this man.
He didn't get it and she wasn't sure if she could help him see that what they do to their son is just as harmful if not more so than any of the other trauma he has faced over the last few months at UA.
It was back to the drawing board for her.
Maybe this family really couldn't be saved…
