No long hiatus this time! Another chapter ready for reading! :) Thanks to all who have returned!

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Shatter Me

Chapter 8

*Todoroki's POV*

I sit quietly by Bakugo's bedside, waiting for the sedative Chiyo gave him to wear off. It took quite a bit of persuasion and promising good behavior on my part, but I finally convinced her to give me some time to speak with him privately.

The moment his eyes open, of course, I'm tempted to break my word and crush his windpipe, but I resist, giving him a hateful stare instead. From his prior reaction, I expected a whirlwind of foul language and shouting, but he simply scowls back at me, jaw tightly set when his own memories of yesterday return.

"I'm probably going to kill you," I state lowly, my expression leaving little doubt that I'd do it without much more provocation. "But I'll give you a chance to apologize for your behavior and ask whatever you want before I make my final decision."

Bakugo doesn't respond for some time, keeping his gaze on me like a predator sizing up another predator. I'll wait for him to say something though; he probably needs time to process the situation.

"Where is he?" he finally asks, apparently unconcerned for his own safety. "What did you do with Deku?"

"Izuku is fine," I state, my annoyance flaring like a fanned flame from the cruel nickname. "He's resting in his room."

There's suspicion in his irises, my every movement and micro-expression being analyzed in his calculating mind. Though I don't owe this bastard an explanation for anything, I feel compelled to tell him that I'm mostly innocent when it comes to Izuku's captivity.

"It wasn't me or my father that took Izuku when he was young." Hesitantly, I reach out to unlatch the restraints on one of Bakugo's arms and offer the file Chiyo put together on Izuku to him. "Nor was I the one that caused the scars I'm sure you saw."

Bakugo doesn't take his eyes off me while I speak, even as he takes the packet. I almost wonder if he's going to look at the file at all it takes him so long to open it, but eventually, he does.

Reading a person and knowing their thoughts is supposed to be an inherent skill of mine— One that I've been very proud and appreciative of... But as he gracefully flips through the packet with his busted hand, Bakugo doesn't let much of anything show. The rage and intent to kill he displayed earlier has evaporated or hidden, cool apathy blocking my attempts at interpreting his state of mind. It's unsettling in ways I've not experienced for well over half of my life; I can't keep myself from explaining further.

"As I stated in the initial part of our interview, however, he did come to me through unusual circumstances. I did kidnap Izuku in a sense, but it was not done out of perversion or with intent to harm."

Chills pulse up my spine but heat surges in waves from my sternum. Still nothing, not even contempt. Bakugo is masked in porcelain, reddish-clay iris's the only sign that there's a person smoldering beneath the veil. He's considering his words carefully, weighing every outcome until he deems one favorable. We're very similar, so much so that murder is a small price to pay for what we want. Izuku.

"I have no intention of letting him go," I add, this time with more force in my voice. "And no one is going to take him from me."

Bakugo runs his tongue along the inside of his busted lip. To most, this would just be a sign that the swollen gash there is causing pain and discomfort, but I know better. It's a tiny crack in an impenetrable canvas, proof of a needle slipping beneath his skin.

He hands the file back to me and takes as deep of a breath as his fractured ribs and restraining strap will allow, calming himself despite not seeming all too flustered by my threats."You're an idiot if you think you're going to get away with killing me. Unlike you, you sick fuck, I actually have friends and family that care about me."

"Is that so?" I hum with amusement, smugly remembering the power and influence that money buys me.

"Yeah, it is. You'll be dead in a month." He smirks, quirking his eyebrow with the same insufferable arrogance I just showed him. "And Deku won't have to spend a day more than that getting hurt by you."

How dare he suggest that I've been doing anything to harm Izuku when I just showed him evidence of how much Izuku's health has improved since I took him in. Angry pulsing. Veins throbbing. The promise I made to Chiyo is hammered into oblivion by the indignant beating of my heart.

Bakugo's wrist is still unstrapped so I grab it with one of my hands and hold it to the bed, using my other to withdraw the dangerously sharp pocketknife I'd snuck in past Chiyo. Bakugo doesn't so much as flinch from the action, not even when the blade begins to split the skin of his throat. Still, for some reason I can't explain, I need him to believe that I wasn't the one who hurt Izuku—that I wouldn't, couldn't, hurt him.

"I'd never harm Izuku." I seethe through tightly clenched teeth. "Suggest that I would or call him that insulting name again, and you'll regret it."

Whether it's a natural instinct or his training in the military, Bakugo remains entirely calm; even his heartrate is rhythmic and slow despite how close he is to having his throat slit clean open. Mine, however, continues thudding wildly with rage… I can't tell if he believes me or not about Izuku.

I press a little harder on the blade to cut deeper, noting that his jaw begins tensing with the budding sting of pain. Blood dribbles faster down to the pillow under his head and yet there isn't even a drop of fear in his reddish eyes; he holds my gaze defiantly.

"He's happy here, with me," I add after the stalemate goes on longer than I think I can stand.

Bakugo's lips part slightly, signaling he wants to talk. Though I'd really rather just finish tearing a hole in his carotid and move on with my life, I withdraw the razored edge enough for him to speak without causing further harm to his throat.

"Then prove it. Let me talk to him."

*Midoriya's POV*

I'm so tired when I start waking up; it feels like something is trying to keep me asleep while something else won't let me rest. Groaning slightly from the strange discomfort, I smack my lips to wet them before I feel the familiar tingle of being watched.

Of course, the first thing I see when my vision unblurs is Shoto. He doesn't even look like himself he's so hurt! His face is one big bruise with gashes on his lips, the bridge of his nose, and near his eyes that are held together by little white strips. I can't see the skin on his hands, but I can only imagine they're as blackened as his eyes are with all the gauze wrapped around them—he's even holding his ribs like it hurts for him to breathe!

"Sh-Shoto!" I squeak worriedly, twisting my uncooperative limbs wildly to try and get out of bed and over to him.

It makes my stomach lurch to see him like this, especially when he struggles to stand. All I can do is wiggle more violently, finally managing to somewhat tumble to the floor as I scamper towards him and into his arms.

I'm careful though, stopping just shy of reaching him so that I don't bump him too hard. Yet with all of the pain he must be enduring, Shoto still smiles at me; I can feel his lips twitching with contentedness in my hair when he pulls me close and 'shushes' me like he does whenever I'm upset.

"I'm alright, Izuku… It's okay." He tells me, once again putting all his effort into pampering me rather than himself. I should be telling him sweet things right now, not the other way around. I shake my head and let the tears already filling my eyes fall, knowing this is all my fault. My whimpering and incoherent apologies seem to be accepted since Shoto keeps petting me, slowly calming even the worst of my anxiety until I've relaxed in his hold.

"Izuku…" He calls, nudging my forehead with his nose. "I know you're still frightened and upset, but we need to talk about something. The man that I fought with, he seemed to know you."

Sniffling roughly, I shrug, weakened from distress. "He... he looks familiar, and I recognize his voice, but I can't..." I start, my response trailing off as strange, foreboding coldness seeps through my body.

I haven't really thought about the night I was brought here since it always scares me to remember what happened to my last Master, but now it's all I can think about. Just because Shoto wouldn't hurt me doesn't mean he wouldn't hurt someone else—especially someone like this man who, from what I saw, is aggressive and prone to violence. If Shoto is here and he isn't, does that mean...?

"W-wait! W-where I-is—Did y-you?" The very thought of anyone being cut apart like Master sending waves of panic into my chest until I'm breathing just as hard as when they'd been fighting. It's only because Shoto pulls me close again that I keep any semblance of awareness.

"Shhh," he hums, holding me securely while kissing my temple and rubbing my back comfortingly. "He's okay for now, Izuku. He's tied down in another room, so he won't cause trouble."

I hiccup on the next frantically heaved in breath, more tears bursting from my eyes. Shoto is the best thing that's ever happened to me and yet I keep doubting him. Though I move slowly enough to stop if it hurts him, I wrap my arms around his waist and sob into his chest, completely overwhelmed by everything that happened and my own shame.

Shoto responds by picking me up and carrying me back to my bed despite his obvious injuries. I shouldn't make him comfort me like this after what he's been through but having him close makes me feel so safe. He doesn't even hesitate to lay down beside me, holding out his arm for me to snuggle up to his side.

"I don't like it when you're upset, Izuku; I'm sorry that I'm part of the reason you're feeling so overwhelmed right now." Shoto states with the soothing, loving tone he only uses with me. "I promised you that you could help me pick out your new friend; if he's the person you want to stay here with you when I'm away, then I'll accept your decision. He does want to speak with you though, without me in the room."

Guilt rails me again, followed by nausea. Between Shoto thinking he's to blame and him still letting this person stay with me after that terrible fight, I can't help but be reminded how much I don't deserve him; Shoto is perfect and I'm just... me...

"Is that alright?" he asks next, as always taking my comfort into account before all else. "I made it clear to him that I wouldn't force you to see him if you didn't want to."

I can do little more than nod, nervousness vibrating through my nerves. I did recognize him... I must know him from somewhere, but I don't even remember his name. It makes me wonder what else I've forgotten.

*Todoroki's POV*

Izuku seems to finally be calming down now, but he's still shaking so I'll wait a bit longer before taking him to my other prisoner. I meant what I said to him, of course; if he really wants Bakugo to stay here with him, then I'll agree despite how much I still want to murder the violent bastard.

I do somewhat wonder what decision he'll make though. Izuku is uneducated and naive but he's certainly not stupid... If anything, he's probably as smart as I am. And even if he wasn't, it would be impossible for him to forget what I did to Shigaraki. That's probably why he reacted with such panic when he saw me but not Bakugo... He thought I'd killed him in the same merciless way I'd murdered his 'Master'.

I guess that's fair.

Does he understand that I'm still going to feel the impulse to kill Bakugo though? Izuku was so relieved to hear that he hadn't been dismembered and I want to make him happy... but the bastard nearly killed me. As it is, it'll be weeks before all my wounds heal and I've done some pretty nasty things to people for a lot less. It will be difficult for me to keep my 'homicidal urges' in check around him, especially if he does something else to irritate me. Damn it. Of all the private security in the world, how did I manage to pick the one person that knew my Izuku?

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Yeah, so, that happened XD. Thank you for reading! Leave me a comment since they're my favorite things ever!