Trust.
A concept that felt heavy on his tongue.
He wasn't sure who deserved his trust anymore.
Shota Aizawa was his homeroom teacher at UA. He was also the one adult who believed him when he said that his parents were abusive.
Nobody else had taken him seriously. He couldn't even remember how many people he had told anymore because they all sort of blended together. Their repeated refusal to listen to his cries of desperation echoed around in his brain anytime he thought he could trust another adult again.
He was an abrasive kid.
Someone who could command a room without much effort.
But he was also fragile.
Breakable.
He tried to put on a brave face but after awhile the public facade shattered and the private pain bled through. He tried to reach out, begged for an anchor, someone to keep him from drowning but they all just assumed he was overreacting. There was no way a kid with such confidence was suffering in silence. Katsuki seemed like he had it all so why would they believe he needed their help?
All it took for his homeroom teacher at UA to act was a slap to the back of the head. A measly slap that he barely felt and the underground hero called their parenting into question.
Katsuki had been shocked. That was nothing in comparison to what his parents usually put him through but it was enough to piss off Shota Aizawa.
The man acted quickly too. A few days after the incident, Katsuki was removed from his parent's care and placed with the pro. His mother hadn't argued but the teen could tell that she was furious. She wouldn't go down without a fight but she also knew when to keep her mouth shut.
She would assemble a team quietly and show up in court well prepared because Mitsuki Bakugo would never just let someone take her son without giving them hell in the process.
It had only been a few days but he was still trying to process everything.
Could he trust Aizawa?
It was clear that the man wanted to help in some capacity but why? What was in it for him? Did he feel obligated to help because Katsuki was his student?
That didn't seem logical because Aizawa wasn't the type of guy to do something unless he actually wanted to but the blonde refused to let his guard down completely. He couldn't. It never worked out for him in the past.
Aizawa had told him that he would let Katsuki decide if he told his friends but he didn't want to unless it was permanent. No reason to bring it up if it wasn't going to last.
The only person he needed to worry about was Deku. The kid was perceptive as hell and Katsuki didn't have the energy to deal with his childhood (friend?) at the moment. They had been getting along much better since the Sports Festival but they still had miles to go before they were on casual speaking terms.
He couldn't think of their history though because he was still trying to figure out how he was supposed to interact with his teacher now that the man was his guardian.
"Why am I here anyway?" Katsuki was sitting on the large muted yellow couch in the living area while the hero was perched on a stool in the dining room drinking coffee. Aizawa was grading papers but he paused so he could turn his attention towards Katsuki and the teen just glared at the adult with no hesitation.
"The campus is empty until Monday." Katsuki rolled his eyes because of course his teacher wouldn't rise to the bait. Aizawa was too rational for that but he wanted answers so he'd have to push the man even further to get them.
"You know that's not what I fucking meant!" The hero kept the same impassive look on his face and that made Katsuki feel safe regardless of how frustrating his lack of emotional response was. He just wanted his teacher to fight with him. He was used to that type of response.
"The investigation is still pending and until that is settled, I will be your primary caregiver which means that you will stay with me on weekends and holidays." Still not what he wanted to hear. Katsuki knew all of this already and he also knew that Aizawa would make him spell it out word for word before he gave the teen anything more than the technical bullshit.
"I hate you." He scrubbed a hand over his face before he spoke again.
He could do this.
"Why did you take custody of me? Foster care is a thing... I mean why do you even care?" He refused to meet his teacher's eyes. He didn't think he would see pity in the man's expression but he didn't want to chance it either. It just didn't make sense to him. Why not just send him to some group home for a few weeks until his parents could worm their way out of this mess?
"I wanted to make sure you were safe and the only way for me to do that was to take you in myself. I already know you and I am capable of providing you with everything you need unlike your biological parents." Katsuki snorted at the bluntness and the blatant dig at his parents but he was still skeptical.
"I've survived fifteen years in that house." He had to challenge his teacher because there was no way the man just wanted to make sure he was okay. It was too simple.
"I have no doubt that you could survive until graduation but that isn't that point. You are a child. You are not responsible for your own safety. You have rights as a human being Katsuki and your parents violated all of them. You deserve better whether you are capable of handling their abuse or not." His voice was strong as he spoke and that had Katsuki reeling.
He wanted to argue, say anything to dispute his teacher's words but he couldn't.
"Whatever." Aizawa still hadn't earned his trust. That would take more time.
"What's the plan for today?" Katsuki needed to do something. He needed a distraction because his thoughts were almost overpowering him and he didn't want to find out what would happen if they took control. He struggled with self control on a good day, the addition of his uncertain custody looming over his head was a recipe for disaster.
"Can't we get out of here and do something or am I stuck here all damn day?" His legs were bouncing uncontrollably and he couldn't stop the incessant buzzing feeling that was radiating throughout his limbs. He needed to move.
"It's your call kid. Tell me what you need." Katsuki wasn't used to this type of adult interaction. Aizawa clearly wanted to help him so he allowed himself to trust that it didn't come with strings attached.
"I just need to get out of this fucking house. The mall… anywhere.. I don't care." Aizawa simply nodded his head and moved to put his shoes on. Katsuki followed behind and grabbed a sweatshirt from his bag that he had dropped near the front door. He hadn't unpacked yet because he wasn't sure he'd get the chance to.
"I know you're probably not used to this kid but if you ever need something in the future, just talk to me. Even if I say no I'll explain myself and we'll find an alternative if possible. We have to communicate with each other." Aizawa spoke calmly as they made their way to his car but didn't expect a reply. That's something Katsuki liked about the hero. He never forced the teen to answer him. His mom always expected him to which usually led to screaming matches.
The drive to the mall was quiet but not awkward. Katsuki hadn't been able to grab much before he left his house and retrieving anything now would be a hassle. He had some extra cash from previous birthdays but he didn't want to spend it all just in case something more dire came up.
His guardian must've realized his dilemma, "I am responsible for making sure you have everything you need kid. Don't worry about the cost. Be reasonable and it won't be an issue."
Katsuki needed to save his own cash for a rainy day so he decided to let it go. Aizawa was his caregiver anyway so it was his job to do this. His parent's always made sure to throw it in his face but Aizawa was different. He had already at least proven that much.
Izuku:
Has anyone heard from Kacchan?
I went to his place and he wasn't home. Parents wouldn't tell me anything.
Something is wrong.
Shoto:
Is he with the Bakusquad? Or training?
He told me one time that he sometimes goes to the park near your house.
Izuku:
I checked the park. Not there.
Kirishima Mina Kaminari
Shoto:
I'll call him.
Izuku:
he won't answer Shoto. But u can try.
Mina:
Hey babes!
Baku isn't with us… he isn't active in the group chat either..
maybe we should tell Sensei or something guys
Kirishima:
I'm sure he's fine..
he's been through a lot & he was just kidnapped
Kirishima:
would his parents lie ?
like maybe they just don't want anyone to see him so he can chill for a bit
Kaminari:
he never checks the chat
but it's weird that he's not at home
do u think the league got him again?!
Izuku:
I'm gonna look around our neighborhood.
I'll keep everyone posted !
~21 unread text messages~
~3 missed calls from Izuku~
~Incoming call from Shoto~
~Missed call from Shoto~
"Are you going to answer that kid? It hasn't stopped going off since we got here." His teacher had the nerve to smirk at him when he knew damn well the teen didn't want to talk to any of the extras from his class.
"Those idiots are noisy and loud. I'll see them tomorrow anyway." They could wait until they saw him at school the next morning to bother him. He didn't want to deal with them while he was trying to unwind.
He actually found walking around the mall with Aizawa relaxing.
"They're probably worried. It's already been a few days Katsuki." Aizawa didn't need to specify what that meant but Katsuki growled at the man because he was right.
The most painless solution was to send a quick text.
Katsuki:
I'm fucking fine.
Leave me alone.
The next person to annoy me dies tomorrow.
He shoved his phone back into his pocket and went on about his business. He's glad they kept their names simple in the chat. The nicknames became too confusing because people were constantly changing them so everyone decided to use their names. It could be either their family or their given name but it had to be one or the other.
"Don't hurt yourself."
Smug bastard. Katsuki was going to wipe that damn grin off the hero's face if he didn't knock it off.
"Are you done yet? I need some new socks old man." Aizawa chuckled softly but didn't utter another word.
The next few weeks would be a rollercoaster but Katsuki felt hopeful for the first time in a long time.
Fuyuko Yamada was the new licensed clinician at UA. She came highly recommended and Nezu knew it was vital to his students success especially after the continued villain attacks targeted at class 1-A.
The woman's quirk (Harmony- the ability to create balance between two or more people) was unique and it was perfect for uncooperative children and families. It made her patients more susceptible to treatment and with one of her new family of clients, she'd need all the help she could get.
Katsuki Bakugo was stubborn and ambivalent to change but she was confident she could get through to him. He had a long list of mental health issues and behavioral concerns as a result of an extensive history of trauma.
Due to the current battle for custody, she was also tasked by the acting judge to see his parents as well. His homeroom teacher was awarded temporary custody based on emergency circumstances but that could change depending on his biological parents willingness to participate in therapy. Both individual and family sessions have been advised but the results of the abuse allegations were still undetermined.
That could change everything.
Her first session was with Masaru Bakugo.
She always explicitly details their confidentiality agreement at the beginning and then covers any attendance expectations as well as treatment goals based on both individual and professional input.
She always asks her court mandated clients to tell her in their own words what brought them to her office because she wants them to feel empowered but she also knows that this type of question usually prompts a person to reveal something helpful that the reports she receives from the assigned social workers doesn't include.
The reports just give her basic details. She needs to know what type of person her clients are. Things she could never learn from a stack of papers.
"Kat and his mother are spirited individuals. They've always had a passionate way of communicating with each other."
The man was an expert at reframing unhealthy relationship patterns and his passiveness was undeniable.
"I've always tried to allow them the freedom to express themselves in whatever way they feel most comfortable. I think it's important to respect their autonomy instead of imposing or redirecting them to utilize skills I deem appropriate."
This guy was good. He's manipulative in a subtle way. He portrays himself as meek and reserved but Fuyuko knows better. She was going to have her work cut out for her with this case.
Izuku:
Kacchan
Where were you this weekend?
Auntie wouldn't tell me..
~Incoming call from Izuku~
~Missed call from Izuku~
Katsuki had ignored the nerd's attempts to corner him the entire day but of course Deku wouldn't leave it alone. He was always inserting himself into a Katsuki's life even if he wanted nothing to do with the smaller teen.
Deku meant well but his boundaries were atrocious. He didn't know how to take no for an answer but Katsuki almost felt obligated to answer.
His phone continued to ping with notifications and he was close to shutting it off just so he could get some peace.
"Who is trying to get ahold of you kid?" His friend group had given him space after he told them, somewhat aggressively to back off because he hadn't been ready to face any of their questions.
Luckily for him, Aizawa silenced everyone upon his arrival and he promised to talk to them soon. Well in his own sort of way but his squad understood him so he wasn't worried.
"The fucking nerd won't stop pestering me." Maybe his teacher would tell him to fuck off for him if he asked. That falls under his responsibilities now as his guardian right?
Izuku:
Kacchan
please answer me
what's wrong?
"I know your relationship with Midoriya is rocky but he lives close to your biological parents. He's a smart kid. He would've seen that you didn't leave your house this morning. And even if he didn't, I'm sure he went over there this weekend." And he had. The damn nerd knows he wasn't home over the weekend and he definitely woke up early today to watch Katsuki's house to see if he could catch sight of him.
Fuck. He definitely had to say something.
"Damn stalker… I don't want to tell him where I am. It's none of his fucking business." He really hated Deku right now. He didn't want to talk about this shit.
"I know you're frustrated but kid… we really need to work on toning down your use of uncensored language. I promise I hear you. I know in the past, adults didn't listen but I am. You don't need to be so graphic to get your point across." He grumbled under his breathe because maybe he was guilty of using foul language so much to make sure others paid attention to him but he wouldn't let his teacher know he was right on the money with his observation.
"There isn't a rule against it in this house but I just thought I'd let you know that I'll always listen to what you have to say. I will always ask for your opinion on things before I make a decision that involves you and you can always give it." Aizawa said these things so easily. Katsuki wanted to believe him but he just wasn't sure yet but he hoped it was true.
"Also, if you don't want to answer Midoriya. Then don't." With that, his teacher was headed toward the kitchen, presumably to start on dinner.
Katsuki:
Fine
I'm not at home.
I'm staying somewhere else right now.
Izuku:
Why?!
R u safe?
Katsuki:
Omg I'm fucking fine
My stupid parents fucked up and smacked me in front of our damn teachers
Morons
Keep your mouth shut Deku
Izuku:
Wait
Did you tell someone about….
but they never do anything Kacchan
And he was right. Usually they didn't. Deku knew all about what his parents had done to him throughout the years. Well he knew most of it anyway. Katsuki started to push him away when they were pretty young but it hit its peak in middle school. Deku never stayed away though.
Part of him was angry at the nerd for staying by his side, the other part of him was grateful. He had one person that knew he wasn't lying. One person that trusted him over his parents. Even if that one person was Deku.
Katsuki:
This time is different..
I hope so anyway
He let himself be vulnerable for a brief moment. The smaller teen had seen him at his worst so it's not like he needed to be embarrassed. He would be though. Later that night when he realized what he said, he would feel the shame wash over him.
That was a problem for later though.
Katsuki:
Maybe I won't have to go back this time
Izuku:
Where are you Kacchan?
Katsuki:
Fucking fuck Deku
You better not tell anyone
Izuku:
You know I can keep a secret Kacchan..
I always do.
Katsuki:
I'm with our teacher
He's nice and shit…
has a cat too
he's not as damn grumpy as he seems in class
Izuku:
HE HATED ME ON OUR FIRST DAY
omgggg
I can't believe you're living with Eraserhead
Katsuki:
why the fuck are you using his hero name
and he fucking stopped me from killing you didn't he?
The hag pissed him off during the home visit
sucks to be her
He didn't allow himself to open up to Deku often but when he did it felt nice. The kid knew most of his secrets anyway so it didn't make him feel like he was divulging any earth shattering information. It still made him feel raw but he sort of needed someone to talk to so he let himself have this.
Izuku:
He won't take her shit
maybe he'll win Kacchan
it might work out this time
Katsuki:
Do your friends know you have a fucking potty mouth?
not getting my hopes up
but if anyone can take down the hag it's Aizawa
He ain't a damn coward like our other teachers
Izuku:
I don't even curse that much Kacchan!
I will help if u need it
u deserve better
Katsuki:
Whatever nerd
I need to help with dinner
See ya tomorrow at school
Keep this shit to yourself
Izuku:
Goodnight Kacchan
Katsuki locked his phone and threw it on the couch so he wasn't tempted to say anything else. He wasn't sure if Deku would send any more messages but he didn't have the energy to continue the conversation.
"Let me help so you don't burn our damn food old man." His teacher stepped aside and let him take over without any complaints, realizing the kid needed something else to focus on.
His first session with the therapist was scheduled for tomorrow. He was scared he would say the wrong thing and ruin his chances of escaping his past before he even had a real taste of what it could be like to have a parental figure that he could actually trust by his side.