This chapter starts with Todoroki's POV then switches to Bakugo after the ~~. Each time you see a ~~ it means that the POV has switched! Anyone who has read my other fic, Superstar, will be familiar with this but I hope it isn't too confusing for everyone else :)

I couldn't believe that I had just punched Bakugo in the face. And that I hadn't lost my life to the action.

My father would have been appalled at my lack of control.

And that knowledge felt divine.

"Shoto!" Izuku eventually caught up with me despite my speedy pace, and I could hear both Iida and Uraraka running after us. "Y-you shouldn't- You don't have to- You-" I held his face in my hands as carefully as one would handle an expensive champagne flute. He leant slightly into my left hand.

"I'm going to make him pay for what he did." I kept my voice low and quiet so as to not shout at my beloved. His green curls bobbed as he shook his head, beautiful lips pressed together in anguish.

"Sho... I just..."

"Todoroki! That was extremely irresponsible! You cannot go around assaulting our classmates!"

"No matter how much they deserve it."

"Not you too, Uraraka!" Iida waved his hand about in his usual manner, glasses sliding down his nose from the overanimated movements. Not engaging in their conversation, I simply made my way downstairs. Our makeshift home was on the edge of a large clearing. A perfect battle arena.

I was immensely surprised to see that Bakugo and his friends were already there when I arrived. My boyfriend was walking beside me, a worried look on his freckled face. Uraraka and Iida had stopped talking. We made our way over in ominous silence.

I threw my jacket off, not caring where it landed. Izuku's shoulders rose when he heard the poison laced in my words.

"Are you ready to atone for your sins?"

~~~

FUCK!

That goddamn shitty fucking nerd never stops getting worse!

Even now, he was still trying to mock me or some shit! He should have just told them what I did to him.

And don't get me started on that half-and-half bastard. He had some fucking nerve punching me!

"It's not too late to back out!" Multiple hands were grabbing and pulling at me. What did they care?

"I'm not backing out of shit, dunce face." I spat.

"Bakubro, we don't want you to get hurt."

"Katsuki, please see sense. Fighting won't solve anything!" Argh. Those two working together was bad news for my resolve. I tried to shake their words out of my ears as a venomous voice rang through the clearing.

"Are you ready to atone for your sins?" How pretentious. I took Hina's hand in mine, squeezing it gently for an extra boost of strength.

"I need to do this." She held my gaze, looking so concerned. For me. Why?

"I can't support either of you in this." Appreciating the honesty, I nodded and slowly unfurled my fingers from her palm.

Icy Hot was shaking with pure anger. I knew the feeling all too well. But I couldn't seem to bring out my own fire.

Fake it 'til you make it, or whatever.

I slapped my usual stupid grin on and shifted into a fighting position.

"Atone me then, you half and half bastard!"

~~~

With his thoughtless words hanging in the air, Bakugo ran towards me, the explosions from his hands guiding him through the wind.

I let him get as close as I dared before feeling the cold of my right side tingling down my leg, collecting at my toes.

His fists smashed through my defence, the ice hissing as it connected with the heat of his quirk.

Every time I set up a wall, he blew it up. And every time his exploding fists came swinging towards me, I set up a wall.

The night sky flashed with light, and eventually we were joined by the other members of our curious class. My eyes quickly scanned the crowd, soon landing on the dazzling green eyes I was looking for.

In my momentary distraction, Bakugo landed a quirk-infused punch on my chest. I flew backwards, barely able to keep my feet to the ground. I clenched my jaw as my back slammed into something hard and cold. The sensation cooled my shoulders as my lungs ached with every gulp of air I took. I was only partially aware of the sweat rolling down my entire body, despite the frost covering my arm and face. A burst of hot air surrounded me as my left side thawed me. Bakugo was also struggling, gasping desperately for air, his fists covered in cuts, bruises, and soot. He was massaging his tender wrists, but his infuriating smile hadn't dropped.

I'll break him yet.

~~~

Why won't this stupid bastard just accept defeat already? I was clearly the most powerful in the class. I wouldn't lose to some stupid quirk experiment!

You're glad he won't give up. You know you deserve this.

It was infuriating; I was so close yet so far! With each hit, my knuckles were getting more and more painful. But the ice never stopped coming, so neither did my explosions.

Smash!

Fuck! That one hurt.

Why are you still fighting so hard? What are you fighting for?

I saw half-and-half's eyes skate over what was now a big crowd of extras. How dare he? He challenges me to a duel then lets his attention drift?

I'll teach him for taking his eyes off of me.

I'll teach him to never underestimate me again!

I threw my fist into him, letting my palms pop at the last moment. He went flying backwards, soon hitting yet another ice wall with a satisfying thud.

He didn't move for a few seconds, and I thought I had somehow won.

Of course you haven't won, weakling. You won't win. Ever. You might as well give up now. Even Deku thinks you're some useless loser.

I snarled, fiercely rubbing my wrists. They ached, and every movement felt like I was burning. My body was screaming at me, unhappy to be covered in injuries and ice. The leftovers of that bastard's quirk sizzled slightly at contact with my sweat. The idiot opposite me looked up across the clearing, flames bursting out around him.

Yes!

Flames!

Don't suppress your power when fighting me, Todoroki!

"Come at me with all you've got, Icy Hot! No holding back!"

No sooner than I had said those words, everything turned cold. So, so cold. My vision was filled with something blue, a soft blur on everything like a hazy dream. My muscles tensed up at the sharp change in temperature. No! I'd stop sweating! Fuck!

Fucking half-and-half bastard!

~~~

"How's that for holding back?" My breath lifted in a ball of fog. I was mildly aware of the shivering forms of my classmates. A huge glacier stood in front of me, the form of Bakugo just a dark blob amongst the ice. A voice screaming obscenities made the hair on the back of my neck raise.

"God... DAMMIT!" My creation cracked and crumbled, causing my eyes to widen. I wanted to get back at him for his past behaviours, not kill him! Hinami yelled his name, panic evident in her voice. If I killed her boyfriend, she'd kill me. Maybe I should let her. It would make Father extremely angry. The precarious structure before me collapsed in a cloud of dust and shimmering particles of frost. Movement caught my attention.

"DIE!" Bakugo pounced, his quirk propelling him forward. He looked nowhere but in my eyes. He sent out his biggest explosion yet. I made a hasty shield, piling as much ice onto it as I could. But even the thickest dome I could make had been crushed like dust, melting in mid-air. The force sent me hurtling backwards.

Argh!

A sharp pain clawed at my ankle as I hit the ground. It had twisted underneath me, and I could already feel my movement being limited as it began to swell. Burning leaves and smouldering grass filled my nose, making me even dizzier than I already felt. I couldn't go on much longer than this. But I had to. For him.

"Stop it! Before one of you is seriously hurt!" His voice... Was I hurting him more than I was helping him?

"I'm doing this for you, Izuku." I pulled myself up, a roaring blaze upon my skin yet again. I didn't allow myself to fully stand on my right leg so as to not wince in front of my enemy.

No weakness.

"That's worse!" My boyfriend shrieked, the uncomfortable pressure on my heart more painful than the searing in my leg and foot. Instead of replying, I lifted my arm, my hand outstretched towards Bakugo. My left arm.

Hot air whipped my hair around my face, my eyes squinting at the blinding light that was my flames smashing into Bakugo's explosions, heat battling heat in a crackling symphony.

I could feel my brows furrowing of their own accord, more so when I caught sight of Bakugo's smug grin. Classmates muttered in their huddle, but their words were lost to the wind.

"You two!" Iida was yelling again. "That's enough now! What are you trying to achieve?"

In an uncanny resemblance to my opponent, my lip curled. The question vexed me. What did it look like I was attempting?

"I want to make him pay!" The response I received was far from what I expected.

~~~

"I want you to make me pay!" Why was my goddamn mouth so goddamn big? Angry at myself for saying such a thing - no matter how true it was - I struck him. His hand flew to his jaw, anger in his dual-coloured eyes.

"What?" Well, too late to hide it now. Not that I wanted to anymore.

That's it. Tell them everything. Tell them how you're weak and pathetic and-

"You heard me! I was a dick! I still am! I don't deserve this class. I don't deserve Kirishima, or Kaminari, or Mina, or Sero. I don't deserve Hinami. And I don't deserve Midoriya or his forgiveness!"

That's right! Disappoint them! Look at their anguish as they realise just what a terrible person you are!

"You haven't even tried to gain his forgiveness!" He slammed his knuckles into me, nothing but emotion behind it. I see how it is.

I flicked some sweat off of my hands, ready for a quirkless brawl. I swiftly dodged his attacks.

"I don't know how! I told him to take a swan dive off of a roof! And it's haunted me ever since! Nothing I can say will make up for what I've done to him. And through all of it... He still looks at me with admiration! With his never ending stream of 'sugoi, Kacchan'! He doesn't even hate me. Why can't he hate me? It would be so much easier if he hated me! Why won't he just hate me as much as I hate myself?!" In the pause, I grabbed my hair, tugging hard to keep me grounded, too many feelings spilling out of me at once. I couldn't stop the words from coming out. Todoroki didn't know what to say, completely unmoving.

"B-Bakugo-" Don't say my name like you care!

"So bring me to my knees in prayer! Kill me where I stand! Do something! Do anything! Do anything that can even begin to make it okay! Make me prove just how sorry I am! Make. Me. Atone!" I clenched my jaw so hard I was surprised my teeth didn't crack. My breaths came out on sharp gasps as I began to hyperventilate.

Something rolled down my face.

I could hear the rest of the extra's crying. Probably out of disgust. I couldn't bare to look around. My heart would be torn in two to see Hina sobbing angrily at what I'd done.

They all already hated me. I didn't need the visual confirmation.

At least that way, I could still pretend-

Todoroki's face set, his expression as hard and unreadable as stone.

"If you wish."

But before we could collide, I found myself suspended mid-motion, unable to move.

~~~

Izuku and Hinami rushed over to us as I was forced to stare at the tears stuck on Bakugo's face. I couldn't believe how wrong I had been about him.

The pair pulled us away from each other, and I watched over Izu's shoulder as Hinami yanked Bakugo, struggling with his stiff figure. Once they were content with our positions, she released us from her confides. The momentum we had once had rocked us forward. I grunted as my chin made contact with the ground before I could think to stop myself. Izu held my face in his trembling hands, running his finger soothingly over my cheeks, never hesitating at the feel of my scar beneath his callouses. Just as he always did. My face burnt with shame as I witnessed his quivering bottom lip.

"Don't cry..."

"Then don't do stupid stuff for me!" I turned my gaze downwards. He pressed his chewed lips to my forehead before holding me close.

"Come on." After revelling in my boyfriend's loving touch for a moment and catching my breath, I dragged myself upwards. My hand caught his. "I think you two need to have a real conversation. Learn from my mistakes..."

~~~

I wiped my face hastily, not wanting everyone to see me being so weak.

Look at you crying like a baby!

Shut up. Shut up! Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut-

Slap!

Hug?

"Kat! You're such a fucking idiot! You- I can't- Idiot!" Hina seized my body, bawling into me. Adrenaline still running rampant in my system, I threw my arms around her body, my strength unrestrained. She didn't complain.

Someone launched themselves onto us. A pair of thick arms wrapped around us. Someone threw themselves into the hug. And another person, somewhat tentatively, joined too.

"B-Bakugo! You really mean it? You really love us?" Aw... Dunce face...

"Tch... Yeah, I guess so. Or whatever..."

"That was so irresponsible but so manly!" Shitty hair's words warmed me a little. He calls everything manly but...

"We love you too dude!" Flat face had finally been knocked out of his weed 'enhanced' state, I guess.

"You need to go see Hound Dog so bad!" Racoon eyes laughed through her watery eyes. I don't need therapy! "You do deserve us! And we deserve you!" Oh...

Not knowing what to say, I just loosened one of my arms from Hina and wrapped it around Shi- Kirishima's shoulders, resting my stinging hand on the back of Sero's head.

I guess calling them by my shit 'nicknames' isn't the best way to show my appreciation for them. Talking of shit nicknames...

"Kacchan..." His voice wavered nervously. We stood face to face, neither of us knowing what to do or say. He was playing with his fingers, looking intently at the ground. What would my friends do in this situation?

I hugged him.

When I grabbed him, he flinched violently.

He's scared of you. And rightfully so, after all you did.

Ignoring my thoughts, I tugged him into my chest and encased him in my arms. I almost would have preferred it if he pushed me away. Yelled at me or something. But without a moment's hesitation, he held me just as tightly. We stayed like that for a long time without uttering a single word, his face on my chest and mine buried into his hair, green locks tickling my nose. When we eventually pulled apart, I held out my hand. Just like he had done all those years ago...

"Let's go inside now... Midoriya." He took my hand with a smile. Something I could never do for him. Proof that he was twice the man I'd ever be.

"You know what? I think I prefer Deku."

~~~

It felt bad to be told off by my classmates. I had been castigated by my father many times, but this was different.

Izu and Tsu made quick work of my minor injuries as I held a hot water bottle to my frozen side and Iida poked and prodded at my ankle. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, it was smarting heavily. But nothing could compare to the pain that had given me my scar, so I could deal with it. Despite trying my best to not let on how much pain I was in, I couldn't help but suck in a tight breath every time the rubbing alcohol touched my tender flesh.

Bakugo made a loud noise of agony and squirmed as Hinami dabbed at a burn on his arm. Guilt twisted my stomach. I had slowly accepted that my quirk was my own. But to burn my classmate with the power that he gave to me...

"I'd like to apologise, Bakugo. I was enraged when I discovered that you bullied Izuku. From your current attitude, it didn't seem as though you cared. So all I could do was turn to violence. It wasn't very heroic of me. And I was clearly very wrong about you, too." He began to refute my apology, but was cut off by a groan as Hinami wrapped his arm in a compression bandage. Kaminari patted his other shoulder comfortingly. I couldn't help but wonder if she had pulled just a little too tight on purpose.

"Yeah. Whatever. I guess I'm sorry too. I... We did take it a bit far. I've gotten used to punching my problems. Forgot there was a... friend... behind the problem." I couldn't help but smile at his words. I was... his friend?

"I'm glad you've made up. And I'm glad to finally know your true feelings, Kacchan. I just wish they weren't brought out like this. And that they weren't so resentful." Izu said in a cheery tone. Bakugo looked away with a pout, taking the hot chocolate from Uraraka's hands with a nod of thanks. Iida informed me that my ankle had a minor sprain.

"It'll put a dent in our plans, but we need you to rest it before we can break into anywhere." Why did I have to lose control like a child and fight Bakugo? Now we would have to delay everything. What if the extra time was the difference between getting our teachers back alive and well or...

"I'm ashamed. My brashness has ruined things for you Hinami."

"Don't worry, Todo. I mean, your dad's there too. Just focus on making a full recovery and be happy that it wasn't something serious. You haven't done any real damage other than that burn on your arm either, luckily. You need rest, too. You're both banned from training tomorrow." She smacked Bakugo on the back of the head as we registered her words and started an instantaneous protest. "No use in arguing. A day off. Or else! One more thing before you're done, Kat." She planted a kiss onto his arms. It reminded me of the time Hinami had punched that heathen that was picking on Izu and Bakugo had tenderly pecked her bruised knuckle. I suppose if I had taken more notice of his loving side back then, we could have avoided this.

"I think that marks you done too, Shoto."

"Thank you, Izuku. You're wonderful." He ran his fingers through my hair, laughing behind his hand as Bakugo butt in.

"Thank you, Hinami, the best in the entire world!" I shook my head, somewhat fondly.

One thing the class could always count on was Bakugo's attitude.

~~~

The room was dark and silent. Shitty hair - sorry, habit - wasn't brave enough to try to snuggle up to Mina, so he stayed at the bottom of the bed they were sharing. I hope she kicked him in the face in her sleep. Serves him right for being a coward. Movement caught my attention. Hina got up and padded into the bathroom. When she didn't turn on the light and I heard nothing, I got up with a frown. What the fuck was she doing?

She was sitting on the floor, knees brought to her chest.

"Are you upset again?"

"No. This is for you."

"Huh?"

"Sit." Gingerly, I sat on the cold tiles next to her. "Stop pretending you're fine." Oh God... not an intervention...

"Don't use my own words against me." I snarled. But she persisted.

"Then don't be a fucking hypocite. I can't believe what I heard tonight! Do you... Do you really feel that way?'' I grunted, unable to look into her pleading eyes. "Katsuki..."

"So what if it is?"

"I'm your girlfriend, Kat. I care about you. A lot. And I'll do everything in my power to make this better. We're in this together, okay?" I swear, if she makes me fucking cry again I'll kill her.

Who am I kidding? Am I fooling anyone with this facade? I needed to hear her say those words, and I needed her.

"You don't need this shit. Your parents... My problems are stupid compared to yours. I want you to focus on your family."

"They aren't stupid. Not if they're causing you so much hurt. So talk to me. I'll be honest, I probably won't be able to give you much advice. But getting it all off your chest will be better than begging Todoroki to beat you up..."

She's going to laugh at you the moment your back's turned.

I leant into Hina, pushing away my nasty words with all my might.

And I started from the beginning.

Without thinking too hard about it, I spilled my guts, telling her everything about my past, ignoring the voice in my head and the strong urge to cringe at myself. And, oh shit, I was sobbing like a baby yet again. She held me close as I soaked her shoulder.

"What if he had done it? How could I live with myself if he had- I- I couldn't. I would do it too. I... I considered it anyway." Hina had been noiseless this entire time, but was now whispering honeyed words as she smoothed my wild hair. "He was the one constant in my life. Still is. But I wish he hated me. No matter what I did, he would follow behind me, always trying to catch up to me, always trying to be my friend. It was like he was mocking me. Sugoi, Kacchan! It would be so much easier... I deserve to be hated!" Words that I had never spoken to anyone before were tumbling out of my mouth with no control. What would she think of me now?

"Shhh... You were a bad person." I stiffened. "But you were a child. One who didn't know how to deal with his emotions because he hadn't learnt how to yet. And you're still learning now. You'll always be learning."

"So I'll never be a good person?"

"You already are. Midoriya sees that. He may still be affected by it, and he still may hold your words close. I can't tell you otherwise. But he's forgiven you. He's really forgiven you. So now you need to focus on forgiving yourself. And we'll all be there to help you love yourself as much as we all love you." Her hushed words were followed by her lips against my head. I looked into her eyes and my voice cracked pathetically.

"You mean it?"

"I promise to all of the stars above and beyond. You're not getting rid of me." Smiling brightly, she held my cheeks with a touch gentler than I had ever felt before. She saw through me and treated me with care as easily as someone would with glass.

"I don't know where to start."

"We'll help. Nobody expects change overnight. Especially in such circumstances." Frowning once more, I started.

"I'm sorry. You don't need my stress-"

"I won't be hearing it! No apologies!" She slapped her hand over my mouth, cutting me off.

Once she was sure I would object no further, she allowed me to continue cuddling her.

She held me close and tight. I was curled around her, nose mere centimetres from her neck. And in the comfort of her presence, I drifted off into a heavy, dreamless sleep.

I would tell her. Tomorrow. I'd tell her just how much I love her.