Very big trigger warning for this chapter: Grooming, verbal abuse, death threats, just cruelty in general, and mentions of suicide attempt. Just know that you are loved, you are wanted, and if you're struggling with depression and dark thoughts, please please find any kind of help. The world would be a darker place without you all here. Please enjoy the chapter and thank you for staying with me this long. It'll get better soon.


"Are you sure you have everything you need?" Reina asks her as she walks her up to the school. The red haired woman fusses with her sister's hair, easing a tangle her brush had missed during the girl's eagerness to get ready for the day. "I don't need to rush back to the apartment and grab anything, do I?"

"No, I have everything," she promises, patting her duffel bag. "Several changes of clothes, shower stuff, first aid kit-"

"And Mr. Spokes?"

"Yes I have Mr. Spokes, shut up," she hisses, looking around to make sure no one heard her. "Only Katsu knows about him!"

"And why does Katsuki know about him?"

"That's none of your business," she says quickly, trying to get away from her sister and join her sleepy friends. Reina grabs her by her shirt collar, pulling her back and hugging her tightly, shaking her twice. "Leggoooo!"

"But I'm gonna miss you so much!" she replies, making sure her voice is nice and loud. "Do you have your favorite pillow? What about enough shower stuff? And a backup phone in case you break yours?"

"Reina, now you're just being extra," Leinei gets out, unhooking her sister's arms from around her shoulders and getting away. She takes a breath of relief, shaking her head. "You'll be fine. Just order take out like you did before I lived with you. And stop embarrassing me!"

"Oh now you're too good for sisterly affection?"

"No, I'm too good for a sister who only pretends to care when it makes her look good."

Reina's smile leaves her face and she steps away from Leinei, who's glaring at her over her shoulder. The elder sister turns on her heel, trying hard not to cry as she starts to walk home without even saying goodbye. Leinei rolls her eyes and walks over to the storage compartment of the bus, placing her duffel inside of it.

"That looked like a fun conversation," Izuku says, having startled her. "Aha, sorry! We left about the same time, but I think your sister kept you distracted."

"Yeah, you could say that," she replies duly. She smiles at him. "How have you been, Izu? We don't talk as much anymore."

"Oh really good!" he says, excited now. "I finally got more control over my quirk, thanks to Gran Torino, and I think me and Kacchan are getting along better. I think. I wouldn't quote me on that right now."

"That's awesome. I'm happy for you, Izu."

"You're being too loud this early in the morning," Bakugo growls as he comes up to them and yawns before dropping his forehead onto Leinei's shoulder. She sighs and smiles at him, shaking her head. Izuku's eyes are wide as he sees this, the small space still lingering between them.

"Someone didn't sleep last night," she remarks to him, her voice light and teasing.

"Shut up. You're the one that texted me at three in the morning."

"I guess I did huh? Did you want to sit with me or Kirishima on the ride over?"

He nods, standing back up and looking at the others starting towards the bus. Mina was walking with Yaoyorozu, Kaminari with Jirou, and Kirishima with Sero. He narrows his eyes as Leinei chuckles, shaking her head still at Izuku's pale surprised face. They're leaving me no choice but to fucking sit with her. Those cunning bastards.

"What's wrong, Izu?"

"I-I've just never seen Kacchan do that."

"Really?"

"Shut up. Let's just get on the bus," he grumbles, tugging at her shirt sleeve and trying to head to the bus. He really didn't want to deal with the damn nerd this early in the morning, not when he has to deal with Mina and her antics too. Why does Leinei insist on being friends with her? Oh yeah. Girl things. I guess I can deal with that.

"You still didn't answer my question on who you wanted to sit with."

"I'm sitting with Sero!" Kirishima calls, pulling Sero along with him, and wincing as the taller boy accidentally runs into the door. He sighs and steps off the bus to help the half asleep boy navigate his way onto the bus rather than into it. "Have fun Salinsa!" He adds with an eager wave.

"That was weird," she mumbles, finally following Bakugo's tugging towards the bus. "I'm guessing you want to nap the entire way there?"

"Shut up."

"Okay, Katsu."

He wasn't even looking at her, but he could hear the damn smile in her voice. He has to hide his own smile as they climb on the bus and find a seat somewhere around the middle, him letting her sit next to the window and him on the outside. She stretches her arms above her head, yawning softly as the rest of the bus fills up.

"It looks like you and your sister still aren't on the best terms, huh?" he asks. Her smile falls and she looks out at the window as Aizawa directs the last few stragglers onto the vehicle. Bakugo leans forward a bit, resting his forehead against the back of the seat in front of them with his eyes closed. I brought up a touchy subject, dumbass. Stupid. Stupid, you know how she feels about her sister.

"No, we aren't," she replies softly, her voice distant. "I really don't think we ever will be."

"You never know," he mumbles, resisting the urge to reach over and squeeze her hand. The last thing he needed is Mina upping her ante right now. "Something might change that. Have you told her how you feel about the whole-"

"Katsu." He flinches at the stern tone in her voice, glancing over and seeing the irritation growing in her eyes. "Can we please not talk about this right now? Let's just focus on the summer camp, alright?"

"Alright."

I fucked up.

Reina wipes the tears from eyes, taking a breath as she walks up the stairs to her apartment and into the abode she shared with her sister. The scathing words Leinei parted with still echo in her head, but she knows that deep down there's some truth to it. She did nothing to stop the Commission from shooting her up with those suppressants, she did nothing to protect her. Keigo was the one to speak up that they shouldn't do that, but…

Reina knows Leinei idolizes Keigo. She has his hoodies, those stupid red feather barrettes he got her for Christmas three years ago. Going through her phone, they talk more than Leinei ever spoke to Reina in the past five years. He has a nickname in her phone, and she's just Reina. She doesn't call her sis, or sister, or literally anything that says they're family outside of introductory courtesy.

I'm too good for a sister who only pretends to care when it makes her look good.

A day after the Shiketsu Incident

"How could you lose control like that?!"

"I didn't mean to!" Leinei cries, muffling her voice by hiding her face in her hands. Her entire body trembles, tears streaming down her red puffy cheeks. Her eyes were empty, her body curled in on herself in the corner of her room. Reina stands at the door of the small bedroom, it partially opened behind her. "I-I didn't-"

"Do you know how much more work you just made for me!?" she demands, her voice breaking from sheer anger. "For Keigo?! No, of course not. You only fucking care about yourself."

"Reina-"

"No, I don't want to hear your fucking excuses!" Reina yells at her, watching as the purple haired girl flinches back. "You think that you've got it so bad here. You're handed everything on a silver fucking platter, and you can't even be fucking normal for a day. Why couldn't you just fucking leave well enough alone?!"

"They were hurting-"

"Maybe they would have beat some fucking sense into your head!" Reina screams, slamming her fist onto the desk and cracking the linoleum. "You fucking know better, you fucking idiot! God I wish you were never born sometimes so that I didn't have work three times as hard to make up for your broken fucking quirk!"

Leinei just continues to curl in on herself, not saying anything more as she tries hard not to cry louder. Reina pants harshly, walking over to her and grabbing a fistful of her hair, wrenching her head back so she can look at her. Leinei cries out, clawing at Reina's wrist.

"You-you're hurting me-!"

"Good, maybe you'll finally fucking see what you're doing to us!" she yells at her, spit flying from her lips. "You selfish fucking brat! I wish you'd just fucking die and do the world a favor!"

"Reina, that's beyond enough."

The ember haired girl looks up, seeing Keigo standing in the doorframe with his wings fluffed out. Several feathers float around him, already sharpened as she slowly lets go of Leinei's hair. The younger girl recedes back into her corner, trying to make herself disappear as she curls into an even tighter ball than before. Reina walks over to him and pokes a finger into his chest, to which he just stares blankly at her.

"You aren't even blood, what gives you the right to fucking tell me what to do?!"

"The fact my baby sister is bawling her eyes out right now," he replies, grabbing her wrist. "The fact she's scared, confused, and needs help, and you're just fucking hurting her more. So, unless you're gonna calm down, and talk to her like a person and not a fucking villain, you need to leave. Because I swear on everything I stand for, I will make your death look like an accident."

Reina jerks her arm away and shoulder checks Keigo as she leaves the room, slamming the door behind her. Her chest is heaving, her face nearly volcanic with anger. She had to call off work, she had to leave the agency to Toda, and come here to deal with her fucking failure of a sister that at this point wishes she was aborted, or gone over the cliff with their parents that day. At least then, she wouldn't have to deal with the messes she keeps making. Her ears were ringing, her heart pounding in her chest.

"So what should we do with her?" the Commission President asks, crossing her arms across her chest after having heard the entire exchange between the three of them. Reina looks at her out of the corner of her eye. "I am merely asking you as her elder sister. You know that Hawks has a soft spot for her. You're the only one able to make a rational decision about this at this moment."

"Lock her away for all I care," she remarks, her voice scathing. "I have to go talk to the families of the victims."

"Galliant just passed away too," the President adds. "His widow isn't the most stable."

"Right. Thanks."

"I'm sure you don't need me to remind you what you need to do."

"Just pick up the slack, get the NDAs signed, and hand out the nice little checks to keep the incident under wraps," Reina recites, closing her eyes as she tries to keep her voice calm. "And increase my workload so I can make sure she isn't my legacy."

"Smart girl. I knew there was a reason you were my favorite."

"Yes ma'am."

Leinei wipes her eyes, sniffling as Keigo sits next to her. He wraps a wing around her, pulling her closer to his side and leaning over to kiss the top of her head. He murmurs some words of reassurance. In turn, she hugs him and buries her face in his chest.

"I-I didn't mean to do any of it," she whispers, muffled by his shirt. "They were-were hurting me, and they wouldn't sto-stop…"

"I know, Lei Bay," he coos, wrapping his arms around her and gently running his fingers through her hair. "I know you didn't mean to do any of that."

"I didn't want to hurt anyone...I didn't even want to-to use my quirk.."

"I know. You're my Lei Bay. You've got the best heart and the best soul of anyone I've ever met."

"But...Reina-"

"What about her?"

"What she said...She hates me...she thinks I did it all on purpose."

"Reina is an idiot. You defended yourself."

"Why does she hate me? I-I've tried so hard.."

"I wish I could tell you that, honey," he murmurs, hugging her tighter as her tears soak through his shirt. He rests his chin on her head, just letting her cry into him. His fingers trailed up and down the middle of her back, trying to find a way to calm her down. A small smile cracks on his face as he has a feather bring the stuffed porcupine off the bed and to them.

"Now what's got you so blue, buckaroo?" He says, pitching his voice a bit higher and holding the plush in a hand and wiggling it a bit to get her attention. She sniffles and pulls back a bit, using the heels of her hands to wipe her eyes. "Oh there's those pretty blues of yours! I almost forgot what they looked like buried in Birdbrain's shirt."

"Keigo-"

"I'm not Keigo, I'm Mr. Spokes! I know your favorite person in the world is Keigo, but I'm your favorite plush in the world!"

"Keigo," she repeats, starting to laugh a bit through her still streaming tears. "Kei, please."

"You are so very loved, you know that right?" He says, still speaking like the porcupine. "Me and Keigo love you enough for the entire world!"

"I know.."

"And it's okay to cry and be upset. One of your best things is that you have your heart on your sleeve. And anyone willing to hurt that isn't worth another glance, because they are the true villains to hurt such a wonderful person."

"You're gonna make me cry again."

"Okay, I was trying to cheer you up," he laughs, dropping the voice and setting the plush in her lap. He cups her cheeks and gently uses his thumbs to wipe the tears under her puffy eyes away. He kisses her forehead, closing his eyes as he hears her sniffle. "I promise, no matter what happens, I will always love you," he whispers, setting his forehead against the top of her head. "You are one of the best people I know. You're my hero, Leinei. No matter what happens."

"I love you too, no matter what happens."

Three Months Later

"So she'll be moving in with me then?" Reina asks, sitting in a chair in the HPSC President's office. Keigo stands by the door, his hands in his pockets as he watches the lady sitting at the desk. "And why's that?"

"Leinei will temporarily be housed in a hospital specializing in mental health issues," the lady reports, her voice emotionless as she stares at the two young adults. "The reasoning for this is we recently found her attempting to kill herself."

"I'm sorry, say that again?" Keigo says in disbelief, walking forward to stand next to a pale faced Reina. "Lei tried to commit suicide and we're just now fucking finding out about it?"

"You will watch your tone when you address me, Hawks," the woman snaps at him before relaxing back in her chair. "We here decided it was best you both didn't know until it came to this. She has already been moved to the hospital and is receiving around the clock care. You two will be allowed to see her, however visits will be kept to a minimum as your duties come first. After her tenure at the hospital, she will be moving in with Elementia so as to not distract you from your rising titles, Hawks."

"I think it's better she moves in with me, all due respect," Keigo retorts, looking out of the corner of his eye to glare at Reina. "She has responded much better when around me, and I think staying with me will be more beneficial to her recovery following the hospital."

"You cannot talk me out of this decision, Hawks. Leinei will remain with Elementia for the time being, and her status will be carefully monitored and reported back to us. Am I understood?"

"But-"

"Am. I. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Yes ma'am."

"You're both dismissed."

Keigo turns on his heel as Reina stands, following him out. Once the door is shut, she drops into a crouch and is holding her head with both hands as she struggles not to scream. Keigo looks down at her, his eye twitching as he debates on what to do. He wants to blame her for what happened, to yell at her and make her apologize for every cruel thing she has ever said to Leinei leading to that moment where his beloved sister was almost lost from their lives. He also wants to comfort her, because he wants to scream too. How could he not know his sister was so prepared to leave them? How could he not be there for her the way he needed to be? Every ignored call or text because he was at work-could they have pushed her just a little closer to the edge? Every visit cut short, every video chat cut off quickly.

"You need to apologize to her," he says thickly, looking down at Reina as she looks up at him, her eyes watering. "You need to make things right with her, before it's too late and we lose her."

"I-I know," she whimpers, wiping her tears away quickly. "I just..I just need to check on her, and see her."

"Then get your shit together and let's go," he tells her, starting towards the elevator leading to the ground floor. "I need to make sure she's okay."

Present Day

Reina takes a breath as she sits down on the couch, shaking her head as she watches her phone for a message from Leinei saying that they made it to the training camp. It was getting close to noon, about the time Aizawa had told her they would be there. She had texted Enji and Keigo hours ago, feeling alone in this apartment. Keigo ignored her message, and Enji was working.

So here she sits, waiting for the text from Leinei saying that she was okay and having fun. Her stomach hurts, twisting as she sits there with each intrusive thought. The words she said to her that day, echoing on a twisted loop in her head.

Why did I say them? I didn't mean-I don't think I meant any of that. Did I mean any of it? I never apologized...she never asked for one. I…

"I'm a bad sister," she whispers to herself, leaning forward and holding her head. "Mom and Dad would be so pissed at me.."

But it's not my fault. She-she made everything difficult. The President said so! Everything the President says-she's never done anything to hurt us. She's been right all the time and..I just…

No, it's Leinei's fault our relationship is like this. She needs to get over herself. She doesn't understand everything I've gone through. She's had it so easy compared to me. She's a child, I'm an adult. She has to forgive me.

"Shouldn't you text your sister?" Ochaco asks Leinei as they start prepping for dinner at the camp. "We've been here for a few hours now, I'm sure she's worried."

"Ah, I left my phone in my bag," she replies with a shrug, striking a match against the side of a matchbox to start a small fire under a stove. "She'll be fine without a text from me. Doesn't really matter."

"Are you sure?"

"Hey, Uraraka, drop it," Bakugo calls, shocking Ochaco. She nods and drops the subject as Leinei stands and dusts herself off. She smiles brightly, closing her eyes as she tilts her head.

"Let's just focus on getting better this week and having fun."