"Uncle! I need a break! I'm gonna die!"

Todoroki and I had been sparring for well over two hours, and I thought my body was going to shut down. The boy immediately ceased fire, literally, and I plopped down onto my bottom, limbs feeling like jelly.
"Impressive, both of you. Fauna, you need to work on the speed of your transformations. Shoto, your control is improving, but you still have a long way to go."

Endeavor had been supervising us the entire time, after Hawks had ditched me to go to a meet and greet. Intimidating as he was, he was surprisingly polite, which went against everything I had ever heard about the new number one.
"Um, thanks, Sir..." I replied, panting as I tried to find the energy to stand up. I really needed to try and talk to him, but after such a workout I had to take a breather.

"Come on, we can cool off on the roof. There's a southerly today." Todoroki offered me his hand, and I took it gratefully, letting him assist me in getting back on my feet. If I couldn't get to Endeavor, at least I could try with him. He was a nice boy, albeit a little flat. Having to double cross him left a bad taste in my mouth.

After filling our water bottles and opting to ride the elevator, we ended up on the roof. He had been right, the wind was cool and refreshing, and I wasted no time in lifting my arms and doing a spin, so everything could cool off.
"Ugh, I'm so out of shape!" I lied, feeling my shoulder click as I stretched. "You know, I'm surprised you're only a first year, Shoto. I guess you got a lot of special training, your dad being such a powerful hero and all."

Shrugging his shoulders, the sentient AC moved to stand by the edge of the building, looking out over the cityscape.
"Too much. He was ruthless." It wasn't the first time I had heard that bitter tone slip into his voice when speaking of Endeavor, so I took our newfound friendship as an advantage.

"You resent him, huh?" I took a place beside him, dipping my hands into the pockets of my (F/C) training shorts. It took him a while, but he eventually nodded, a soft sigh escaping his lips.
"All of us do. He was a horrible person." Usually, I wouldn't try to pry into people's personal lives, but I didn't have a choice. My job forced me.
"Do...you mind if I ask you why?"

Todoroki revealed a traumatic section of his childhood, and my heart ached for him. His father's obsession, his mother's breakdown, and how she poured boiling water over his face, causing the scar by trying to ease the pain with her quirk. All he had wanted was a childhood, spent with his brothers and sister.

This was too easy...He's too trusting of me...

"So, your sister has been trying to glue everything back together..." I mused, imaging just how difficult it must have been for her. "What about your brothers?" Turning around, Todoroki sat on the ground, stretching his legs out and rolling his ankles.
"Natsuo doesn't want anything to do with him, which is probably the smarter choice. My other brother isn't around anymore."

I knew it was a touchy subject. Asking about it was probably rude, but if I could get any dirt on the flame hero, I'd take that chance. Following him to the ground, I crossed my legs and hummed, leaning back into the guard wall.
"Oh yeah, you mentioned he wasn't. Did he run away or something?" Todoroki shrugged again, taking a long sip from his water bottle.

"I don't know what happened to him. Natsuo does, I think, but he won't talk about it. At least that's what Fuyumi says. We don't see much of each other." He didn't seem at all uncomfortable, which was good for me. He was spilling the beans, and now I knew that there was something up with the number one. He had weak points, now that he was trying to make amends.

"I'm sorry to hear that..." I frowned, giving him a quick squeeze on the shoulder. "What was his name?" I thought it was a simple question. I didn't even need to know, but I was just trying to show him I cared. Nothing could have prepared me for what came out of his mouth.

"Touya. We never had much to do with each other, but he was apparently really strong. From what I remember, he was short for his age, and he had dad's hair and eyes. Natsuo said he hated it."

Touya...Red...Ocean eyes...

It took everything I had not to externally freak out. How could I have missed it? Hearing it said out loud made so much sense. A flame quirk, him knowing Todoroki's full name at the summer camp, his hatred for Endeavor, and heroes alike. It made me feel sick to my stomach.

"I..I can imagine..." I murmured, knowing I had to stick around and pretend that everything was hunky dory. Part of me was made that Dabi hadn't told me, but at the same time I could understand. If Shigaraki found out, bad things could happen. "I think it's good that you're giving him a chance to make up for it all, Sho. If he's seriously trying, then your support could do wonders."

I want him to fall. Deep into the pits of his own hellfire.

We continued talking for another half an hour or so, and I vaguely answered questions he had about the villains. Some of my responses were straight up lies, others were twisted truths. I downplayed their strength and numbers, just to be safe. Afterwards, we went back to work and sparred for a further hour, up until Endeavor got a phone call about some meeting.

"Enough for today. You both worked hard, so make sure to rest up once you get home. I've organised a car to take you both back to Yuuei." This may have been my only chance, so I grabbed it by the throat.
"U..uh, Mr. Endeavor, Sir!" Calling out to the muscular man, I ran to catch up, willing away the mousey features my quirk almost released for show.

He turned, lifting a brow. Why did he have to be so intimidating?
"Yes? Do you need something?" My anger towards him was steadily rising, so I had to make it quick. Clearing my throat, I clasped my hands behind my back and looked up into his familiar eyes.
"I just wanted to let you know that, um, if you and the other heroes need any help trying to find the league of villains, I can do my best to help out. My brain is really fuzzy, but...I can try!"

The man seemed to relax a little, but his tension seemed to transfer over to me when he reached out and gave my head a pat.
"The offer is appreciated, but we have some good information already. It's only a matter of time. When we're ready, we may call upon you and other students to assist."

Some good information..?

That scared me. Terrified me beyond belief. How could they have information? A mole? Was it Hawks? I wasn't sure I'd be able to sleep again. Swallowing, I forced a smile, giving him a peppy thumbs up.
"Y..you can count on me, Sir! I'll make sure to train extra hard!"

------------------------------------------------

"If you don't get your stinky bird butt here right now, I'll find out what preys on Hawks and eat you! I'll leave the balcony door open! Hurry up!" Still pacing the common area, I hung up, ignoring the way my three friends stared at me from the couch.

"Uh, a little bit aggressive over a purse, don't you think, (N/N)?" Mirio chuckled, a small droplet of sweat beading at his temple. Nejire shook her head, lifting a finger before she began to educate the blond.
"You obviously don't get the importance of a woman's purse, Mirio! I know for a fact that (N/N)'s WcCafe stamp card is in there, and she's one stamp away from a free coffee! I'd be stressing too!"

As the others went back and forth, Amajiki was focused on me, his token furrowed brow even more creased than usual.
"(Y/N), I'm sure he's just busy. He's the number two hero. You won't need it until tomorrow..." He was onto me. He knew me better than he knew his favourite corner to hide in at Fat's agency. Still, I was too restless to care. I needed to talk to the others.

"He told me to give him a rundown tonight about my training session, too, so, he needs to pick up..." I growled, squeezing my phone so hard that my palm turned white. "I'm gonna go open the balcony up. Knowing that idiot he'll smack right into it..." I whipped around and jogged to the elevator, praying it would open before the ravonet tried to follow me. I thought I was in the clear when I was inside, but of course, my luck was gone.

"Seriously, you're acting really weird, (Y/N)." Amajiki really had gotten used to me, and that showed in the near-confident tone he was taking, his back to the doors as they slid shut. "I know you said you're still trying to get back to normal, or whatever you're telling people, but I'm worried about you. Let me help!"

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I closed my eyes and counted to ten. The day had already rocked me, I didn't need any more drama. I wasn't built to take it.
"I've been overworking myself, Tamaki. I'm tired, I'm sore, and if I'm being honest, I'm starting to get really pissed off with everyone crowding me all the time..." I muttered, voice bitter and deep. "I know you're worried. You've said that, what, a hundred? Two hundred times? I get it. What do you want me to say? I've been dragged back and forth between two different worlds, and I'm just exhausted!"

Unlike the last time, Amajiki didn't seem quite as taken aback by my outburst, instead moving closer to me.
"Are you still in contact with them? Still in love with that Dabi guy?" No part of me was okay hearing his name on the boy's lips, and this time I actually did scare him, sharp, spiked hackles tearing through the back of my shirt collar.

"Do you seriously think I'd be this fucking messed up if I'd been able to talk to them?! It's none of your business who I love, because it's not you, Tamaki! Just back off! I don't want to d..do this anymore! I can't be around you..!" I was hurting, and I tried balling it all up in a vicious spray of words and throwing it right into his face. It worked, of course, but Amajiki was prepared for it this time around.

Taking a deep breath, he backed away from me, stepping aside as the doors dinged open, revealing my floor.
"I hate it. I can accept you loving somebody else, and I want you to make your own choices...but when they're causing you pain? It makes me feel sick..." He whispered, hanging his head and leaning against the metal wall. "I won't say anything. My promise stays."

I never deserved you. Not for a second, Kiki...

With all of my emotions trapped behind a steeled expression, I walked out of the elevator, my quirk dissipating and the boy I had been close to, once upon a time, remaining behind me. In the past. As I fumbled to unlock my door, my phone began to ring, and I regrettably answered it without looking at the contact info.
"Hawks, I'm gonna pluck every single feather from your body and stu-"

"Woah woah woah! (Y/N), it's just me, Eijiro!" The voice on the other end was enough to make me smack my head on my door, but I held my tongue.
"Look, I'm not really in the mood to talk right now. Long day." I sighed, finally managing to get the lock to release, slipping in and slamming the door shut behind me so I could lean on it.

"It sounds like it. Do you want me to come over? I've been told I'm a really good listener!" Why did they all have to be so nice? So caring? I had actively, consciously, tried to kill them. If Dabi hadn't gone behind my back and spared their lives, they'd be nothing but unidentifiable charcoal now.

"No, I'm really not in the mood, Kirishima. I need to get in touch with Hawks and go....t..to bed..." I should have just hung up on him, but I couldn't. My mind wasn't really functioning on the right levels to even think about that.
"Look, (Y/N), I'm worried about you...After Kamino, I promised that I'd look after you, and I've already failed once...It wouldn't be right to just..."

Cut. Them. Off.

"DOESN'T ANYBODY GIVE A SHIT ABOUT WHAT I WANT?!" Violently, I shook my phone, as though it could knock some sense into him. "All I want is for people to leave me alone! Every day, people tell me they're worried, they think I need to be around them, they want me to get better...There's nothing wrong with me! If there is, then everyone is making it worse!"

My panting was the only noise once I had finished barking, and it took a long while for the unbreakable boy to respond, his voice much quieter than before.
"I..I'm sorry...I didn't mean to upset you. That's the last thing I want, but...after what happened, can you blame us? We thought we'd lost you, (Y/N). That...scared me more than anything..." My jaw was clenched so tight that my teeth were chattering, and I tilted my head back to stare into my ceiling.

So, this is what it feels like to be the bad guy, huh..? Swingeing guilt...

"N..no, it's me..." I whispered, all emotion vacant from my voice. "...I'm the one who's lost you..." Kirishima responded immediately, but his words fell on deaf ears as a loud bang echoed throughout my dormitory, followed by a loud curse. Neck nearly snapping as I looked through the glass of my balcony, I saw the number two hero, sprawled on his back, wings splayed up and over the guard rails.

"-m seriously freaking out! What do you mean by that?!" Kirshima's panicked voice phased back in, and I tightened my lips, already pulling the phone away from my ear.
"Gotta go. I'm sorry." Hanging up and throwing my phone away, I walked to the door, sliding it open and staring down at the possibly concussed Hawks.
"Dammit, kid...You said it'd be open..." He whined, rubbing at his face as he propped himself up on his elbows.

"You're going to take me back to the Liberation Front, Hawks. Right. Fucking. Now."

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***She angy.

So, I wasn't going to update this for a while. Reason? I've received a bunch of messages from people bugging me to update it. Many of which were less than polite.

Listen, I love you guys, and I wish I could update everything, every single day, but I'm not capable of that. I'm exhausted, I'm a single parent, and my health isn't great right now. At the moment, I'm finding it really difficult to write, but I'm really trying. I want to do my best for you.

All I ask is that you please don't slide into my dms and try to guilt me/forcibly tell me to update 😅

Next Time: Relations***