Notes: Stuff happened IRL that legit had me lost and I thought I posted this already. Thanks everyone for still reading and being patient! The good news is that the next chapter is already written.
Bakugou was getting real sick and tired of hospitals. It felt like he was starting to live here and he hated it with every fiber of his being. As a hero, he was fairly used to doctors. He didn't get hurt like crazy often, but there had been times when he'd been forced to see someone for a work-related injury. He couldn't always stitch up his own wounds or patch any burns. Somehow, he hadn't broken a bone until Deku had decided to fuck his arm up outside of Kaminari's apartment. Seeing as how Recovery Girl had been called in once again to deal with it, he was beginning to think it was becoming a trend.
It made twisted sense. How many times had Deku broken his arms during their first year just figuring out his One for All? Now he was breaking Bakugou's arms repeatedly.
"You need to rest," Recovery Girl insisted, doing what little she could to hold him down.
It turned out she didn't need to do much. Even as he tried to push against her and clamber out of the hospital bed, her healing quirk drained him even further. He'd already been severely weakened after the fight with Deku. There was no way he would've been able to use his quirk even without Recovery Girl's wearing him down so he could heal once more. After those last little explosions to get Uraraka to safety, his arms had been screaming in pain from quirk overuse Holding onto Todoroki had made him see black spots in his vision. It wasn't until after Todoroki was cuffed and he sat down that he realized his left arm was broken.
Still, Bakugou struggled against her, even with his left arm in a cast, and gruffly muttered, "Don't have time. Need to see Uraraka."
"Uravity is resting," Recovery Girl told him, "like you should be now." With that knowledge, Bakugou allowed her to push him back and he sunk down into the bed. She let out a huff and rubbed her temple. "She wasn't nearly as injured as most people. She got lucky. It appears as if she didn't take too hard of hits unlike some people. Another shattered arm, three broken ribs, and countless other injuries. I won't be able to heal your arm until tomorrow evening. At least you didn't mess up your face like last time."
"Wasn't my intention to get so fucked up, believe me," Bakugou mumbled as he struggled to keep his eyes open. They kept fluttering shut and then he'd pry them open to stare at the ceiling. Even as he felt himself fading and his arms and chest begged for relief, the last bit of adrenaline and determination from the fight clung to his heart. He wished he was in the same room as Uraraka. He didn't know why they'd separated them. Maybe because he had worse injuries. He was pretty sure had heard Recovery Girl swear under her breath when she stepped into the room and saw the condition he was in.
Also, was it him or did she look tired for once? How much did her quirk take out of her? How much had she been forced to use it? The amount of injuries from the attack had to be staggering, but she couldn't use her quirk on everyone that had been hurt, just the most serious cases.
Purple hair and dark shadows popped into Bakugou's fading mind. "Shinsou…" Deku had thrown him through that window. He'd managed to get out, but he hadn't looked so hot the last time Bakugou had seen him.
"Recovering as well," Recovery Girl informed now. "Get some rest, please, even if it's just a few hours. Your body needs it in order for my quirk to do its job fully."
Uraraka's cries echoed in his head, someone shouting Deku's name, and an awful crunching sound that he wouldn't be able to forget even if he tried. "Iida…" His vision faded for a moment before he shook himself awake again. "What about…?"
But his world went dark before he could finish the question, his body's exhaustion and need to recover winning out over his stubbornness.
Uraraka didn't sleep for long. She couldn't. Nightmares about Iida lying limp in her arms, Deku's scared eyes, and the raw pain in Todoroki's voice woke her up before she could fully rest. It didn't matter how tired she was. There was no way she could go back to sleep with those memories on her mind. At first, she'd thought it was maybe just a dream, but then she tried to move and her whole body ached in protest. She flopped back down in bed and stared up at the white ceiling, counting down the seconds until her heart eased into a slower beat.
Wearing hospital clothes, Uraraka shared a room with a handful of other women, some heroes and others civilians. The hospital was dealing with a severe crowding issue onto of not having anywhere near enough staff for everyone. Anyone with minor injuries was being quickly discharged while some patients were being transferred to different hospitals.
It was slow going. No one had anticipated such a catastrophe today. Todoroki's first attack on Endeavor's agency had been devastating not only because it incapacitated the heroes within seconds, but because it had also maximized the collateral damage. Any incoming heroes had to priorities either fighting, rescue, or, like her, a mixture of both. Either way, the hospital had been utter chaos since they had been brought in. She wasn't injured too bad, which meant she could forgo Recovery Girl's treatment, but both Bakugou and Todoroki had barely been standing.
Bakugou had been hiding it well after getting her out of harm's way and helping carry Todoroki back to the group, but then he'd all but collapsed and nearly passed out on them. He hated admitting when he felt weak or was injured, but it was impossible to miss. Every time his arm muscles spasmed for blatant overuse of his quirk, he would flinch and grit his teeth like he wanted to scream in pain. He didn't, but it was close. By the time they reached the hospital, he tongue was bleeding from how much he'd been biting it to stay silent.
On the other hand, Todoroki didn't have as many injuries as Bakugou. Like her, he had been able to refrain from most of the physical fighting and hadn't taken the brunt of Deku's quirk in their battle. Instead, the extreme overuse of his quirk had done him in almost entirely. He wouldn't have been able to fight against Hawks placing the quirk inhibitor braces on him if he'd wanted. He'd drifted in and out on the ride to the hospital, his head lolling against hers and Bakugou's shoulders. The last she'd seen him, when he was being taken away, he had fallen unconscious entirely.
Where had they taken him? Was he still in the hospital, lying unconscious or coming to, chained to a bed without access to his quirk? She could only imagine how terrifying it would be for him to wake up like that. He'd probably panic and think he was still with the villains.
Except they had set him free in a way while the heroes were the ones locking him up now.
Uraraka clenched the sheets of the hospital bed so tired that she felt close to ripping them to shreds. It wasn't right. Yes, he had done those things (he had killed his father), but it hadn't been him. Kyomu had warped his mind and memories. His father had hurt him. Deku had thought he was helping. Hell, even Dabi had kept him from getting killed. Todoroki probably wished he hadn't. It would've been better to be dead than used like that, at least in his opinion. He had asked her to kill him if it came to it and he gave in.
I'm sorry I couldn't save you, Shouto.
Tears built up in her eyes, but she wiped them away with the back of her hand before they could fall down her cheeks. Where was Bakugou? Even in a room with other survivors, she didn't want to be alone. She knew it was her emotions talking, but having him by her side right now would've helped her tremendously. Upon their arrival, he'd been taken elsewhere in the hospital because of the extent of his injuries, shuttled off to where Recovery Girl was dealing with the worst cases. Shinsou and Iida had been taken there most likely as well.
Iida.
Had he even been breathing when she'd held him last? He had to be alive. There was no way he could be dead. It was too much. She'd failed Todoroki, but losing Iida on top of Deku would crush her. If someone told her he was gone, she didn't know if she could get out of bed. Losing Deku had nearly broken her, but she'd picked up the pieces of her heart, taped it back together, and got to work. If she were to lose Iida after everything that had happened this past month…
She'd scream. She'd lose it. She had been holding everything together so tightly, but now it felt like things were crumbling all around and underneath her and she didn't have anything to hold onto anymore. Every second she continued to lie here in bed felt like a second closer to breaking. Somewhere in the room, the only sound that could be heard besides a few hospital monitors was a woman was crying. Everyone else was either asleep or too exhausted to make a noise.
Unable to sit still or take the soft crying any longer, Uraraka pushed through the pain in order to sit up. Most of her weakness came from overuse of her quirk. It had only been the top half of the building, but that had still been a massive amount of weight to essentially carry, not to mention using her quirk repeatedly to rescue people and during her struggle with Todoroki. Nausea still wracked her body, but all she had left to expel was water. Mostly she just felt terribly weak and sore, but she was otherwise fine.
Shoving the sheet off her, she swung her legs around the side of the bed. There weren't any slippers to be seen and she didn't know where the hospital staff had stored her costume, but she didn't care. The cool floor against her bare feet was a relief as she slowly stood up. Her legs wobbled for a moment, causing her to grip the railing at the foot of the bed, but then she steadied herself and sighed. It was a pain and she knew a nurse would get on her if they found her, but she carefully pulled out the IV in her wrist. Finally free, she shuffled to the door and then slipped out of the room.
The hallway was filled with a quiet sort of intensity. There weren't as many staff up here, but then most of them were probably stuck dealing with the more traumatic injuries. She managed to escape notice of a nurse at the desk down the hall, turning the other way to avoid being seen. As long as she stood up straight and made it seem like she knew where she was going, maybe no one would stop her.
If only she knew where the hell she was going.
She was tempted to go to another floor and ask questions, but she didn't know if the nurse would balk at her questions, turn her away, or report her. Probably not the last one. They had enough to deal with here than a stubborn pro hero refusing to stay in bed. She wasn't even that seriously hurt. All she wanted to know was where Bakugou had been taken. They might not answer her at all if she asked about Todoroki, if he was still here. There was a chance he'd been transported to a more secure facility already. She didn't know how long she had been out, but it was late at night. Who knew how much she had missed while unconscious?
After making her way down a few floors, Uraraka decided to test her luck and approached a nurse behind one of the main desks. "Hi, um, I was wondering if you could look up a patient for me?"
The nurse, an older man, peered up at her with tired eyes, taking in her clothes. "Are you supposed to be out of bed?" She pressed her lips together, unable to fake a smile at this point. He rubbed his temple. "Even if I did, there's a chance they might not be in the system yet. We haven't been able to put everyone's names in since some patients are being transferred."
"Please?" Uraraka asked. "I'm fairly certain he's here since he was taken to see Recovery Girl."
Sighing, apparently too tired to argue, the nurse rolled his chair over to the computer. "Name?"
"Bakugou Katsuki."
The nurse sat upright upon hearing the name. "Ah, Ground Zero - yeah, he's here. I saw him before he was treated. The kid looked rough." He typed in the name and did a quick search. "You're in luck. He's here, but there's a note in his chart that says he'll most likely be unconscious for the rest of the night."
"Yes, the effects of Recovery Girl's quirk," Uraraka replied dismissively. "I'm familiar with it." On a personal level, seeing as how she'd gone to UA. Her first time visiting the healing hero's office was because of Bakugou during their Sports Festival fight, after all. "I won't try to wake him. I just… I just want to make sure he's okay."
After eyeing her for a beat, the nurse leaned back in his chair and said, "Room 314."
"Thank you," Uraraka murmured.
"You did good out there, Uravity," the nurse told her before she could walk away. She hesitated. So he'd recognized her then. She wasn't used to that as much as Bakugou, Todoroki, or Momo. None of them had been nearly as popular as Deku, of course. "A lot of lives were saved because of what you did in that building and after. This place would be in even worse shape if not for you."
Her throat constricted, making it too difficult for her to respond, so she simply inclined her head in gratitude and headed in the direction of the elevators. Using the stairs would take way too much out of her. She was already struggling around aimlessly wandering around three floors. At this rate, she'd probably collapse in the nearest chair once she reached the room Bakugou had been placed in. Still, at least she knew where he was. She had planned on asking about Todoroki too, but had been too afraid of the answer. If he was gone…
She wasn't going to let go, no matter what he said. She wouldn't let him pull the same stunt as Deku. She refused to give up on him.
Once she reached Bakugou's room, Uraraka didn't hesitate to open the door and step inside. She was tired of hesitating, of second-guessing herself and wondering if she was wrong. She gone through so much...shit. She wasn't going to be ashamed of wanting a little comfort or reassurance, not anymore.
Like her, Bakugou wasn't alone in his room. Every bed was filled in the hospital and more. As soon as a patient could be discharged and a bed unoccupied, another person took their place. People with lesser injuries were being sent to clinics, opened up during their off hours for the emergency. It was insanity, but for a brief moment, at least on this floor, there was almost silence.
Labored breathing and monitors beeping echoed through the room. Uraraka tiptoed through the room, careful not to disturb anyone. Not that they would wake up anyway. From what she could tell, everyone was knocked out cold thanks to a combination of pain medication and use of Recovery Girl's quirk. Extreme injuries took a lot of energy to heal overnight.
When Uraraka peaked through a curtain in the back, her heart shot into her throat. Bakugou was lying in bed, completely out of it. His left arm was wrapped up in thick bandages and a cast up to his shoulder. Dark bruises covered his chest in splotches, but he didn't look like he was struggling to breathe. Recovery Girl must've healed his broken ribs first. She'd have to work on his arm later since he'd broken it once already this month - or rather, Deku had broken it both times. Bakugou looked exhausted even while sleeping, his face paler than normal, his usual spiky hair somewhat flat, and his body limp. She hadn't seen him look like this since…
Not since Deku died.
Uraraka grabbed a chair and pulled it over to his right side. Sitting down, she folded her arms on the bed and rested the side of her face in them, her head brushing against his side. She stared at his hand lying on his leg. His fingers twitched in his sleep. It could've also been strain from overuse of his quirk. He probably wouldn't have been able to produce an explosion without messing himself up further. A quirk was like a muscle; overusing it could have drastic consequences.
His hand was covered in scars, just like Deku's. The two of them used to lie in bed some mornings and hold their hands above them in the sunlight filtering through the blinds. She could trace his scars with her fingertips, some of them dating all the way back to their first year in high school. He'd hurt himself so much in the beginning before he had gained some semblance of control over his quirk. Even then, villains had targeted him and he couldn't help but throw himself into harm's way to save someone, consequences be damned.
Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't cry, letting them build up until they became too much and slipping down the cheeks. She missed him so much. The last memory he had of her was her screaming at him to stay away from her and Iida. The heartbroken expression on his face threatened to overwhelm her, but she swallowed down the urge to cry. His eyes wide with fear, his face painted anguish - he had been truly devastated over what he'd accidentally done. Even the anger he'd expressed when turning on Bakugou after had sounded more like pain.
Did his genuine regret lessen the horror of what he'd done? No, it didn't.
Uraraka had slept for hours, but when she took Bakugou's hand and pressed her wet face into the blankets, she wanted to sleep an entire day away. She wanted to wake up and find out this had all been a nightmare. The issue was that she didn't even know where the nightmare had begun. When Deku had struck Iida? When Todoroki had attacked Endeavor's agency? When she had watched Kyomu torture Todoroki? When Deku had held Kaminari hostage? When Deku had shown up at her apartment? When he had died?
Wishing to go all the way back then meant erasing what Bakugou and Todoroki had both come to mean to her, but then she had Deku still. Maybe they would've been gotten closer anyways, like it was always meant to happen.
Her entire being hurt - heart, mind, body, and soul - but there was nothing she could do to fix it. She wanted Deku back, but for the first time, she was scared that he was too far gone. After what he'd done to Iida, even if he did start to break free from the quirk, would he want to come back? Would he feel like he deserved it? Or would he simply give in or give up? She couldn't imagine him doing the last one - Deku never gave up no matter what - but they were in uncharted waters now.
And they were all drowning.
When Bakugou came to again, his body was still sore, but he didn't feel nearly as bad or groggy as before. His left arm still throbbed painfully when he tried to move it, but his right hand didn't hurt when he flexed his fingers. As he did, they brushed against something soft and he opened his eyes. Looking over, he found Uraraka slumped against his the side of his bed, using her arms as pillows while she slept. How long had she been there? She must have been in pain too and sleeping like that was only going to make her feel worse. Stubborn woman.
Still…
Despite warning himself against it, warmth blossomed in his chest. He swore mentally, but that didn't stop himself from feeling it. Letting out a breath, he lifted his hand, hesitating only for a moment before he rested it on her head, his fingers sliding through her hair. She sighed in her sleep, stirring in the chair, only to nuzzle her face further into her arms to keep herself from waking. He didn't really want to wake her, not when she looked so peaceful, her mouth slightly parted and face relaxed. That would all fade away once she came to and had to face reality again.
Thoughts drifted into his mind, piece by piece, until he was wide awake. Iida had been unresponsive the last time he'd seen him. Todoroki was arrested. Shinsou looked like he might collapse at any second. Deku furious and devastated all at once. The top half of the agency frozen for a second time on a summer night. The destroyed blocks. Dabi was...Todoroki's brother?
Oh, and the Number One Hero was dead. Again. Killed by his own son, the Number Four Hero.
This was fucking great.
Bakugou's mind kept flashing back to the unsettled look on Deku's face when Kurogiri had warped him to their position. It was like he hadn't known what to do or think. He was lost. The only other time Bakugou could recall seeing that look on his face so far had been on his roof when he'd realized that he'd hurt Uraraka. It went against everything he believed in. That villain bastard's quirk could do a lot of damage, but it wasn't flawless. Hadn't Uraraka said that he'd been forced to put Iida and Asui out of Deku's mind or something like that? His memories and feelings for them weren't in Kyomu's favor to twist.
Deku hadn't wanted to kill Iida. Hurt him maybe, if he got in the way, but not kill him. Iida was a true hero in his eyes, a far cry from the kid who had been deemed unworthy by the Hero Killer Stain.
Don't think like that, Bakugou scolded himself. You don't know his condition. Recovery Girl saved you, didn't she?
"Bakugou?" Uraraka murmured.
He turned to look at her as she lifted her head from her arms and rubbed her bleary eyes. Her cheek was red from where she'd been resting it against her forearm and hair mussed like crazy. She looked bone-tired despite having been asleep. Not having been injured as badly as others, Recovery Girl hadn't tended to her, so she was still bruised, scraped, and red from a few minor burns. His heart still tried to jump into his constricted throat when they connected eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Bakugou demanded, his voice rough from sleep.
"Couldn't sleep," Uraraka mumbled as she sat up straight.
Bakugou huffed. "Sure looked like you were sleeping fine to me."
Next to me, he almost said. Good thing he'd woken up first so he didn't make a complete dumbass out of himself.
"After everything, I need to reassure myself you were okay," Uraraka told him. He tore his eyes from hers, unable to hold her steady gaze for much longer. She was too open. Maybe it was because she'd just woken up or maybe she had simply stopped hiding. He couldn't think about that right now, not when he was still feeling the effects of the pain medication and his body's exhausted attempts to keep up with Recovery Girl's healing quirk.
"I'm fine," Bakugou insisted. He ripped the blankets off, pulled out the IV needle, and clambered out of bed. "I'll be more fine when I get the fuck out of here."
Uraraka jumped to her feet. "You shouldn't get up. You're still really injured."
Bakugou gestured to the cast. "My arm's fucked, not my legs. I need some air."
Biting her lip, Uraraka considered his words and then nodded. She couldn't argue with that. Judging by the light coming in from the window, the sun hadn't risen long ago. Hadn't Recovery Girl said she was coming back some time in the evening? He struggled to remember, but his memories of his brief conversation with her after she had healed his ribs were foggy at best. He rummaged through a cabinet in the room for a cast before giving up. At least he found a pair of hospital slippers. Uraraka was walking around barefoot, although she didn't seem to notice.
After casting one last look around the room, taking note of the other individuals that had been dumped in here with him, Bakugou muttered, "Let's get out of here," and walked through the door. Uraraka followed behind him silently, although he could sense the storm in her mind. She probably would've preferred him to let her get a wheelchair, but he could walk just fine, even if he did have to go slower than his usual brisk, unforgiving pace. He'd put his body through the ringer multiple times this month and was suffering for it. Only in his early twenties and he was already starting to ache like some old, washed-up pro.
Pathetic.
"Have you heard anything about the others?" Bakugou asked as they walked through the busy hallways. He didn't know where he was going. Maybe they could go outside. Sunlight and the wind would do him some good and help clear his mind.
Uraraka bowed her head. "No, I haven't had the chance to ask. Almost as soon as I woke up, I went to find you."
She was avoiding it. He understood why, even if it wasn't in his nature. To be honest, he was wary to find out as well. So much shit had happened already. Losing another person would only add more weight to his shoulders because the loss would be for real. They wouldn't come back twisted as a villain. They'd just be gone. Nothing felt more like failure to a hero than not being able to save someone, but it was even more painful when they died saving you.
This is how Uraraka must have felt when Deku died.
The realization struck Bakugou like a bullet, nearly making him crash into a nurse brushing past him. Only Uraraka tugging out of the way by the back of his shirt saving him from bumping shoulders with her.
They continued to wander around the hospital until they found themselves in the lobby on the first floor. A few people had given them odd looks, but no one seemed to have the time to question them. If they were strong enough to walk around on their own, they didn't need help. There were far too many other people in need here to deal with them.
However, before they reached the revolving doors to step outside, Bakugou caught sight of a familiar group of people rushing to the door and hissed, "Shit."
Uraraka stepped up beside him to follow his gaze. "What-?" Her face dropped. "Oh no."
Perhaps the last three people on earth that he wanted to talk to besides Deku's mom again burst into the hospital. Todoroki's family - or at least what was left of it. Bakugou didn't move from his spot while Uraraka stepped forward to greet them. As soon as Todoroki's mother, Rei, caught sight of her, she turned in her direction while his sister raced to the front desk.
Rei clasped Uraraka's arms as if to keep herself from collapsing. "Is he-?"
"He's alive and he's back with us," Uraraka immediately reassured her, "but I don't know if he's here. I was out of it for most of the night after we were brought here."
The older woman's shoulders slumped. "We left as soon as we received the call notifying us." Her thin body trembled like a leaf in a thunderstorm, but Uraraka held onto her while Todoroki's brother, Natsuo, soothingly rubbed her back. "They didn't tell us his condition. I was afraid he was gravely injured or maybe still under the quirk's effects. I thought… I thought we might be too late."
Natsuo frowned. "They didn't tell us anything, only that he'd been brought here after the attack. We…" He glanced where his sister, Fuyumi, was outright arguing with the receptionist and then Rei. "We saw the news. The ice… The agency is really gone, isn't it? I thought about calling our father to see if maybe he would be able to get us in to see Shouto, but he's probably too busy dealing with everything. It's hard to be the Number One Hero without an agency, not to mention dealing with the press since Shouto was the one that initiated the attack…"
Air hitched in Bakugou's lungs as he stared at them. Even Uraraka had frozen at the mention of Endeavor.
Fuck. They didn't know yet. They really hadn't been told anything.
Had Endeavor's death not been announced on the news? It was possible the media still hadn't been given the exact details on the matter, but it wouldn't be long before everyone knew. They were damn lucky that the one news helicopter hadn't been forced to evacuate right before Bakugou and Uraraka's arrival. No one had been around to film the event, unlike the Kamino Incident back in the day. All Might's secret had been aired for everyone to see. After the cell phone footage of Deku's attack had been released, Bakugou did not want to imagine the frenzy the public would have gone in if they'd seen pro hero Shouto murder Endeavor in cold blood.
Fuyumi stormed over to them, tears gleaming behind her glasses. "They won't tell me what room he's in. Apparently he's being kept under guard and isn't allowed visitors until…" She clenched her hands at her side. "Until he's transferred to a prison hospital."
Would Todoroki be taken to Tartarus? After that display of power, he was a big enough threat, even if Bakugou knew he wouldn't go off like that again. The quirk was broken, although there was a chance he was too.
"Rei Todoroki?" a voice called behind them.
She immediately stood up straight, although she wavered briefly under while held by Uraraka. "Yes?"
Everyone looked up to find Detective Naomasa striding towards them. He was only half in his usual uniform, his suit jacket and tie ditched. Along with a hint of scruff on his face, his hair was a mess. He looked more like Aizawa than the typical clean-cut, friendly image he liked to project. He must have been working through the night to look like that. Still, his voice was clear and calm, most likely for the benefit of Todoroki's family since they were all so frazzled and upset.
"I'm Detective Naomasa," he greeted when he stopped in front of them. "I'm one of the officers in charge of your son's...case."
"Can we see him?" Rei asked.
Naomasa frowned. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea right now."
"Why the hell not?" Natsuo demanded. "He's our brother! He was captured and tortured by villains!"
"We're still determining whether or not he's a threat," Naomasa explained uncomfortably. "Are you aware of what happened to him while he was being held captive?"
Uraraka stepped forward. "I explained the situation after my debriefing. I thought they deserved to know. Plus, I was concerned they might be in danger since we didn't know how he'd react to the quirk."
Naomasa sighed in frustration, but he didn't berate her. More than likely, it had been against protocol for her to do something like that, seeing as how they were trying to keep most of the finer details out of the public. Even the smallest of details could sway the minds of people. A once beloved top hero thought dead and showing up as a villain had horribly shaken things up. The public was so fucking finicky. Their once firm faith in heroes started to waver. It pissed Bakugou off.
People had been even warier after Uraraka and Todoroki's kidnapping. While most believed them to be victims, the erratic cell phone video had made it look like at least Uraraka had gone with them willingly. A small but loud crowd had started to believe that at least Uravity was on the villains' side. In the confusion, Todoroki's name had started to be dragged through the mud, some people proclaiming he turned dark because of a grudge with his powerful hero father.
Well, they hadn't been entirely wrong.
"Although he did turn near the end and help fight...the villains," Naomasa continued, "we're still unsure if he's fully on our side or if he could turn again if triggered. Even using my quirk while speaking to him didn't provide the answers it usually does. The quirk did a number on him, making him difficult to assess, and seems to have some lingering effects. He questioned the ability to trust himself during his interrogation."
"Interrogation?" Natsuo clenched his jaw tightly. He looked like Endeavor when he did that, but Bakugou figured that was a bit callous to ever mention even for him. "He's a victim."
"Who initiated an attack that killed and injured an incredible amount of people," Naomasa added. He kept his voice as gentle as possible, but the statement was blunt enough to force Natsuo to stand down and his sister to wince. "This is a very delicate situation. The attack was very public. Everyone knows about it, but they don't know the circumstances. Quite frankly, we're unsure if bringing up an unknown villain with a quirk strong enough to turn top heroes into villains will cause more panic or solve any backlash against heroes."
The two siblings glanced at each other. Backlash against heroes. If anyone were to understand what that might mean, it was one of Endeavor's kids. Bakugou didn't know the details about Todoroki's childhood and likely never would, but he knew that his mother had been driven so mad by her husband that she'd thrown a pot of boiling water on Todoroki's face, giving him that signature scar. They'd never talked about it and Bakugou was unsure if Todoroki was even aware that he knew, but it was enough to paint an ugly picture against the Flame Hero.
"What's going to happen to him?" Rei asked quietly. While Naomasa had talked, she had neither moved nor blinked. She simply stared down the detective with a look not unlike one that Todoroki gave sometimes when he was upset but didn't want to react. He wasn't as difficult to read anymore as he used to be in school, but he was still pretty maddening.
"It's hard to say at this stage, especially considering what he went through," Naomasa admitted. "He seems to believe he deserves the highest punishment possible."
"No," Uraraka gasped, the color rushing from her face. "He doesn't deserve that. It wasn't his fault. If not for Kyomu, he never would have-" She cut herself off, looking at Todoroki's family out of the corner of her eyes. They didn't know. She must've figured that out as well, but had almost let it slip just now, catching herself at the last second. "Shouto is a good person. He was manipulated and tortured. He deserves better."
"It's more complicated than that and you know it," Naomasa said, although he didn't sound pleased about it either.
Uraraka sunk slightly, pulling away from Rei. She did know - they all knew - and it was utter horse shit. Todoroki wasn't a fucking villain, but he'd committed some serious crimes under the guise of one, the kind of crimes that got a person locked away for life and considered a danger to society. If Shigaraki had still been around with the League, he probably would've kicked himself for kidnapping Bakugou instead of Todoroki all those years ago. They snatched the wrong kid. Then again, had this Kyomu been on their team at the time, they might not have after all.
Naomasa stood up straight, a more professional air coming over him. Ah, this was it. He must have come to the same conclusion once he heard Uraraka stop. There was still a compassionate expression on his face - that would never change about him - but he was definitely in cop mode now, the one that had to be the bearer of bad news. The others noticed the change in him too, instantly becoming wary.
"Actually, there are some things I need to discuss with you all," Naomasa said. Rei nodded her head and clasped her hands in front of her, so tight her knuckles turned white. Natsuo and sister each put a protective hand on her shoulder, even though they looked like they needed the comfort just as much. Naomasa glanced in Bakugou and Uraraka's direction. "In private, as this is a family matter."
"Of course," Uraraka replied, bowing slightly.
Bakugou nodded without saying a word. He sure as shit wasn't going to argue with that. He did not want to be in that room when they found out that they had lost their father and found a brother in the process. It was a fucked up situation. Having Deku's mom cry on him had been painful enough. He didn't know how he would handle seeing Todoroki again after watching his family break down too.
"Although I would like to speak with you two after, so if you could follow me and remain outside, I would appreciate it," Naomasa added. "I'm sure you would like to get back to resting so you can recover faster."
"You can say that again," Bakugou muttered. He wanted the hell out of here, but he was stuck here for at least another night. No doubt Recovery Girl's healing was going to put him out of commission for a few hours again. His painkillers were starting to wear off now that he was no longer attached to the drip. It wasn't pleasant. The walk back to his room was going to be excruciating. It didn't matter. He'd live through the pain. It was better than what Todoroki was going through at least.
He was better off than Shinsou and Iida. He was alive.
Fucking stop it.
The five of them followed Naomasa to a small office that had been turned into a space for the police to work in. Had other captured villains been transferred here as well? That seemed reckless. Maybe they were all here for Todoroki, considering the nature of his complicated as fuck case. He certainly hadn't made things easy on them. While he and the Todorokis stepped inside and shut the door after them, Bakugou and Uraraka sat down in a pair of chairs in the hallway. He had to ease himself down slowly so he wouldn't outright collapse, but his body was really pissed off at him right now.
"Deku's mom is going to have to go through this," Uraraka said in a hollow voice as she stared at the door. His gut twisted uncomfortably at the thought of the woman. Hadn't he promised her to save her son? Some hero he'd turned out to be. He'd only got one of his comrades killed in the process instead. ( Shut up! ) "You said she was moved to a safe place, right?"
"Yeah," Bakugou mumbled as he rested his cast on the arm of the shitty chair. It took some of the pressure off of his shoulder and back. "Should've done it sooner. Deku doesn't harbor any ill thoughts towards her though. Not even Kyomu was strong enough to fuck with his memories of her."
"She's a good woman," Uraraka agreed. "I should call her. It's honestly awful that I haven't yet." She gazed down at her hands. "I guess… I guess I'm afraid - of what she'll say or ask. Nothing I tell her will make her feel better. I'll only make things worse." She leaned over to hide her face in her hands. "I just made things worse."
She'd sat on his right, giving him the ability to lay a hand on her back and rub it soothingly. Well, as soothingly as he could manage. She knew he wasn't the type, but he could at least try. She needed it and his emotionally stunted ass could do this one thing for her. Plus, if he was being honest, he needed the contact too. It felt like everything was pressing down on him. Every time they took a step forward, they leaped two back. They got Todoroki back, but they had still failed to save him. Every victory was also a loss.
"What if she thinks I betrayed him?" Uraraka cried into her hands. Tears slipped from between her fingers and dripped onto her thighs. "What if she thinks I failed him or partly blames me for what he turned into?"
"She won't," Bakugou insisted. "She knows you're a damn hero. She knows-" His hand tensed briefly, but he focused on the circles. Now was not the time. "She knows you love him."
Uraraka lifted her head from her hands and wiped her eyes with the heel of her palm. "Todoroki only snapped out of it after he killed his father. I maybe put a little dent in it before, but it obviously wasn't enough to break through. What if the only way to break free is to accomplish the desire Kyomu plants in your head?"
"Then you better start planning my funeral," Bakugou said.
"Don't." Uraraka glared at him sharply. "Don't you dare suggest that."
"What's my life compared to the thousands that Deku could wreck at one hundred percent? At more?" Bakugou pulled his hand away and leaned back in the chair, staring up at the ceiling. He was so mad at this shit, but his body wouldn't let him react the way he wanted. "We saw All Might go beyond twice. Think about the damage Deku could do if he did that. It'd be a damn good way to draw me back out. I wouldn't be able to resist that call."
When he peered at her, the look on Uraraka's face suggested she wanted to smack him, her brow drawn down and her lips pressed into a thin line. At least the color had returned to her face now that she was pissed. He hadn't liked seeing her so pale. "Iida didn't sacrifice himself to save your life just so you could throw it away."
Fuck, that was worse than a physical slap. Bakugou flinched as if she had anyway, but didn't look away from her, taking in her fierce glare and unshed tears.
He grit his teeth. "We don't know-"
"He stopped breathing, Bakugou."
He couldn't fucking breathe right now and yet he kept doing it, in and out, in and out, just staring back at her as the glare faded from her eyes, replaced by a hollow look. She wasn't in the position to speak with Naomasa after this - she needed to get away - but they both knew they didn't have an option. They hadn't given their official statements yet. Likely he wouldn't be the only one in the room. Shit, this was going to suck. Maybe he should ask for some more painkillers to dull the pain. At least then he wouldn't lose his shit when he was undoubtedly questioned for his actions. He knew they would.
After all, he didn't take the shot to kill, but neither had Deku until the very end when he felt like he'd lost everything. There were plenty of times when Deku had the chance to kill him - and he hadn't. That had to mean something, right?
God, he really was getting so desperate that he was ready to cling to the smallest shit. Pathetic.
A crash from inside the room startled the both of them, Uraraka actually jumping in her chair. Bakugou stared at the door hard. Shouting could be heard, along with what sounded like crying and someone trying and failing to placate the person yelling. With the door shut, their voices were muffled and unintelligible. The door flew open hard enough to slam into the wall, Uraraka grabbing his wrist in surprise, and Natsuo stormed out of the room.
"Fuck that!" Natsuo yelled. "Fuck this entire situation! This is bullshit! I want to see him now!"
Fuyumi, who had her arms wrapped around the hunched and shaking shoulders of their mother, looked out the door and cried out, "Natsuo, come back!"
"Where's my fucking brother?" he demanded instead, rearing back on the room as Naomasa calmly stepped into the doorway. Bakugou could see Endeavor clear as day in him now. His face was twisted into one of pain and anger, but honestly, it was mostly the former. He was beyond devastated and didn't know how to react. Bakugou couldn't blame him for that. If he wasn't in so much pain, he'd probably be asking the same question.
Where the hell were they keeping Todoroki locked up in here?
"I told you," Naomasa stressed. "I can't tell you that right now. I honestly would if I could, but it's not up to me."
"Oh, please," Natsuo scoffed. "Don't feed me that bullshit." He pointed a finger at the detective so aggressively that even Bakugou raised his eyebrows. "I want to know where my brother is. You're keeping him locked up by himself after those villains did the same damn thing to him. After what he went through…"
"I explained why," Naomasa said. "He agreed it was the best choice."
"He had his head scrambled!" Natsuo shouted, throwing out his hands. "Of course he fucking agreed! He's probably scared and upset and filled with guilt and you all aren't making it any better! Are you any better than the bastard that tortured him?"
Fuyumi jumped to her feet. "Natsuo, please!"
Her brother swung his gaze to stare at her, but he did stop. He was breathing heavily, struggling to catch up with his rage. Running his fingers through his hair, he swore viciously under his breath and turned to pace down the hall. With his other fist clenched at his side, Bakugou could tell he was fighting the urge to hit something - to explode and take everything down with him. He knew that look and feeling all too well. It boiled underneath his skin now, although it was too faint to do anything about it. That wasn't the case for Natsuo, who looked like he might actually start a fight with a cop.
(It was a good thing he hadn't inherited a fire quirk.)
"Have you…?" Rei's voice was little more than a quiet whimper, but it carried weight through the pained silence in the hallway. She took a shuddering breath and sat upright, although she didn't turn to face Naomasa. "Have you found any more information on Touya?"
Naomasa shook his head even though she wasn't looking at him. "No, we haven't. Most of his childhood records were apparently destroyed. It's why he wasn't found out after his arrest and incarceration." He hesitated before continuing, "To be honest, I wasn't even aware he had another son."
"Yeah, Dad was always pretty good at making shit disappear," Natsuo retorted coldly.
"Stop it!" Fuyumi cried. "Not now, Natsuo - don't say things like that now, not after…"
Regret flickered across Natsuo's face, breaking the angry exterior he'd been clinging to since bursting out of the office. People said a lot of shit they regretted when they were upset. He wondered if Deku had ever done something like that - if he and Uraraka had gotten into spats like normal couples and he let a few things slip that he shouldn't have. God fucking knew Bakugou had. It was like his brain couldn't wait to get him in trouble whenever he was upset and not thinking clearly.
"Are you sure it was Shouto that...?" Fuyumi asked, staring at Naomasa desperately. "You said Hawks arrived at the scene late, so maybe-"
Before the detective could answer, Uraraka stood and said, "It was him. I saw it happen." Everyone turned to look at her, Bakugou included. He had to fight the urge to pull her back into the chair. She balled her hands into fists at her side and glared at the floor. "I'm-I'm sorry. I was too late. I was too slow. I keep wondering if there was something I could've done to stop him - something I could've said when I first found him and separated him from the fight - but it doesn't matter. I failed you. I failed the heroes. I failed Shouto."
"Don't say things like that, please," Rei insisted in a pained voice. Uraraka trembled slightly under the weight of the pressure she'd put on herself. "You helped bring Shouto back to us. The last thing you did is fail. I can't be more grateful. What happened - what he did… That isn't your fault. I'm sure he believes that too."
"Besides, it wasn't all on you," Bakugou grumbled as he pushed himself to his feet. His body protested, but he ignored it. "I confronted him first. I probably made it worse since the villains had turned him against me too. If not for you, he would've come after me next." He fixed Naomasa with a hard look. "And if not for him, Deku would've likely killed me and more lives would've been lost had he not stopped the building from falling."
Had the building been falling because of his attack? This whole situation was a mess. No wonder Naomasa looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. This was brutal.
Rei finally turned in her seat to face Naomasa. "I want to see my son. He needs to know we haven't abandoned him." Her expression was cool, even with the grief so obvious in her red-rimmed eyes. "If the quirk is still affecting him any, wouldn't that be a direct contradiction to it and help break it further."
Naomasa gazed at her. He sighed and rubbed his temple in consternation. "I'll bring it up with my superiors."
"Yeah, you do that," Natsuo muttered.
Fuyumi wrung her hands nervously in front of her. "When...when will our father's body be released? We need to…"
She couldn't finish the sentence, likely because she didn't know what they had to do. Bakugou thought of Deku's funeral - how massive and claustrophobic it had been. It had felt like half of Japan was there to mourn him. Besides meeting in his apartment to let them know that Deku was actually alive, it was the one time Class A had gathered together in years. Bakugou hadn't wanted to speak with anyone. Most of them went out after for drinks, but he had gone back to work right after the funeral. The stupid villain that had he'd caught trying to rob a bank hadn't stood a chance in the face of his anger. He hadn't known what to do with himself either.
"I understand the situation is tenuous, but this is- these are my sons," Rei said as she stood up. "I want to know if there any updates about them - both of them. Touya…" She lifted a hand to her chest. "If what you said is true…"
"Shouto confirmed it," Naomasa put in. Fuyumi choked on a sob and pressed a hand against her mouth to stop herself. Natsuo slammed his fist against the wall, but he clearly restrained himself.
Ah, Dabi was Touya then? Bakugou wouldn't have known Todoroki had siblings until they showed up for their second Sports Festival. Only one of Endeavor's children were ever talked about. Go fucking figure Bakugou had to be kidnapped by another Endeavor progeny. Because one Todoroki wasn't frustrating enough. This just kept getting more messed up by the second. What a fucking soap. He didn't want to sit here and watch this - he wanted to leave - but he knew Uraraka couldn't just walk away and Naomasa wanted to speak with them besides.
Rei clutched the front of her shirt. "Touya was a good boy, but what he went through… You said Shouto believed he was put under the quirk too?" Naomasa nodded and she swallowed. "Please… Please, bring him in alive. I know that heroes and the authorities will be out for blood after what happened to Enji, but I want to see my oldest son. I thought he was dead. I can't… I can't lose him again. I just want him back."
"I understand," Detective Naomasa proclaimed genuinely. He took her hands in his. Even though his quirk worked the other way, he held her hands and looked her in the eyes as if he could show her he meant it. "As soon as we find anything out or there's a break in the case in regards to your son, I will let you know."
Fuyumi stepped forward anxiously. "I guess I can see why we can't see Shouto right now" - Natsuo snorted and shook his head, which she ignored - "but can we at least talk to him? On the phone or letters? You can screen them if that makes things safer or whatever."
"I'll see what I can do," Naomasa said as he let go of Rei's hands. Before Natsuo could let another irritated remark slip out, a faint but encouraging appeared on Naomasa's face. It didn't look forced, but he was definitely tired. "But I think I can work something along those lines out until you're given the clear to see him."
Bakugou gently tugged Uraraka back so they could give Todoroki's family space and privacy to finish their conversation with Naomasa. She understood immediately, turning to face him. When they connected eyes, she looked so sad that he could only take a breath. She closed her eyes and dropped her forehead against his chest. He forgot sometimes because of how much damage she could do and fight she had in her, but Uraraka was so small compared to him. He could easily wrap her up in his arms and wouldn't be a struggle, at least when he had use of both of his arms again.
Shit, he really hated being injured. He was useless as shit.
Naomasa cleared his throat, pulling their attention back to him. Bakugou glanced to the left and watched the retreating backs of Todoroki's family before allowing Uraraka to pull him into the room. One of the chairs was thrown to the side, presumably Natsuo's. A number of things could've provoked him to lash out, but none of that mattered to Naomasa as he bent over with an exhausted groan to pick up the chair and set it upright.
When no one else walked into the room, Bakugou turned to face him. "This isn't a debriefing about what happened yesterday."
"No, it's not." Naomasa eased himself down into the chair, looking even more tired than he had moments ago. He'd been putting up a strong facade for the Todorokis, but must not have seen a point in doing so with them when they probably looked even rougher than he felt. "We'll do that first thing in the morning at the station when you're discharged from here. My superiors wanted to do it today, but Recovery Girl said you'd be out of commission for the day while recovering from your injuries."
Bakugou dropped into a seat much harder than he should've, but instead of wincing, he ground out, "I'm fucking fine."
"Of course you are." Naomasa didn't waste energy pretending to believe him. He leaned forward and propped his elbow on the table, rubbing his forehead. "This entire case is a nightmare. No one can agree on anything. Some people want to lock Todoroki up; others think he should be released and undergo therapy; and the rest don't know what to do, especially after we spoke with him. A lot of stuff came to light that no one was truly prepared to hear."
"It's hard feeling sorry for a man like Endeavor, isn't it?" Bakugou replied roughly.
"Todoroki certainly feels guilt over what he did," Naomasa sighed, "which makes things even more complicated. He's not just remorseful over what he did; he genuinely didn't want to do it and had his hand and mind forced. He's a victim in multiple ways. If it had been just Endeavor…"
Bakugou scoffed. "He still wouldn't forgive himself even if he did only off his shitty old man instead of destroying an entire street and building."
Was it wrong to speak ill of the dead so soon after their passing? No doubt. However, he wasn't in the mood to mince words. Endeavor had been a piece of shit in the past. He improved over the years, but that didn't make his past any cleaner. Despite what Todoroki said when he was under the quirk, Bakugou knew he wasn't anything like the man, but he also knew what it was like to not have a clean track record.
Uraraka sat down next to him. "If we're not here to be debriefed, then what do you need us for?"
"I wasn't lying about Todoroki not being allowed visitors," Naomasa said. "He specifically asked not to see his family. I think it's more out of fear over their reactions and how they feel about what he did, but also there's real concern about how the villain's quirk warped his perception of the rest of his family." So it was true, as Uraraka had feared. Kyomu had messed with more than Todoroki's memories of his father. "He's being evaluated repeatedly to see if there are any changes in his memories or how he feels the longer he goes without being exposed to the quirk. We need to find out if it wears off on its own naturally, if it's long-lasting, or even somewhat permanent. So far, it seems like his mind is split. He's starting to remember both."
"That sounds like a huge fucking headache," Bakugou said.
"For everyone involved, including him," Naomasa agreed. "The doctors are concerned pushing him further might actually hurt him even more."
"Locking him up isn't helping matters," Uraraka pointed out harshly. "That's what the villains did."
Surprisingly, Naomasa nodded. "I agree. Keeping him in isolation away from family and friends is a bad idea. It can't be healthy for him mentally or emotionally, and those are the two things we need stable if we're going to get information we can trust out of him." He folded his hands and fixed a considering look on them. "Which is why we need you two to step in. He asked if he could see you and I think it's the quickest solution we have."
Bakugou twisted his lips into a frown. "Both of us? I'm pretty sure he'd rather see Uraraka more than me."
"No, he asked to see you as well," Naomasa said, surprising him even further. "We're backed into a desperate corner. While we have the villain Uravity captured in custody, I'm hoping Todoroki can provide key information to end this. It'll work to his advantage when it comes time to decide what to do with him."
"A bargaining chip, huh?" Bakugou didn't like the sound of that. This was Todoroki's life they were talking about, not a round at roulette.
Naomasa didn't appear to like the odds either when he grimaced. "It's his best shot. Work with him, talk him through what he went through, try to jog up any details that might help us find the villains or figure out who they are. The memories and details are there, but they're all jumbled and he's scared. He trusts and feels safe with you."
"So you're using us to get through to him," Uraraka said flatly.
"To be fair, he asked to see you first and my superiors didn't think it was a good idea." Naomasa leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. "You're free to turn this down if it makes you uncomfortable, but know you're leaving him to do this on his own too. He needs someone in his corner."
A hard glint found its way in Uraraka's eyes, the kind of look that said she'd rather pass out than give up. He knew it well, seeing as how he'd seen it in her eyes the day he remembered her name. After their Sports Festival fight, he never forgot it again. How could he forget after witnessing such ferociousness? That look was back in her eyes. It was enough to get his blood boiling. Like hell she was going to turn Todoroki down. He asked for them, so she was going. She could've been half out of it and still would've gone.
"When can we see him?" Bakugou asked.
"Tomorrow after your interview," Naomasa answered.
"Good. I don't feel like waiting." Bakugou stood up. "You ready to get out of here?"
Uraraka didn't answer him, still eyeing Naomasa intensely. "Have you spoken with him? Shouto? Or have you just watched his interrogations?"
"I've spoken with him directly," Naomasa said.
"How is he? Really?"
Naomasa eyed her for a moment. "It's hard to tell whether he's devastated or hollow. It feels a little bit of both. He thinks his life is over."
Uraraka chewed on her dry bottom lip. "Is it?"
"I don't know," Naomasa answered honestly. "I genuinely don't know what's going to happen to him at this point. I don't think he knows what he wants to happen either."
It wasn't the answer Uraraka wanted - Bakugou could tell by the way she sunk in on herself as the fire faded from her eyes - but at least Naomasa was honest. Todoroki hadn't just attacked some heroes or civilians. There was no way he could get out of this unscathed. Even if he did, he wouldn't have wanted it.
Deku sure was in for a rude ass awakening, but so were they.