Warning: Just like his quirk, Katsuki Bakugo is prone to explode. Proceed with caution when contacting him. Wear appropriate PPE and follow all safety protocols.
[ Damn it, he hates that expression. Shoto needs some explosions to rattle him loose of those thoughts. Fortunately for him, Katsuki comes packed with such explosions.
With equally dismal enthusiasm, Katsuki eats his own noodles. His lack of enthusiasm comes with attacking them ferociously and beating them into submission. DIE, NOODLES. ]
Mm. [ A grunt of acknowledgement. Shoto knows this is what he was born for, this is his value.
Sometimes he thinks about more than this, but not with such a stark reminder. Oh, he won't change his mind and forgive Endeavor just to have someone to talk to. That would be incredibly pathetic. He'll just keep doing what they ask of him and then maybe they'll acknowledge him.
Bakugo is his friend, he thinks, they did that class together and he thinks he might be. Or maybe not. Maybe he just wants to use Shoto for training because he's skilled enough to give him a proper fight. That seems far more likely, doesn't it.
He's not really paying attention, just drifting aimlessly behind Bakugo. ]
[ Bakugo leads the way out to where they spar near by... ish. They need some room to ensure they don't damage their own home. That said, it's time to get some things out the old fashioned way. Katsuki doesn't hold back because Todoroki's in a bad place. That's a reason to treat him to his best.
So he does. He keeps going until they're both sweaty, somewhat worn out, and a natural stopping point. ]
[ Shoto is catching his breath. He got as much of a work out as Bakugo did and while he hasn't said anything, he's at least looking a bit more lively. ]
I'm not. [ He agrees. ]
I'm just...processing. Everything is the same as it's always been, so it shouldn't bother me. I mean, with my family. Being here is different.
Who cares about should? It bothers you. You're not going to stop being mad by saying you shouldn't be mad.
[ That's obvious to Katsuki, but he's never been one to stop himself from being mad when he's mad. Everyone knows when he's mad because he makes it obvious. Anger's pretty much the easiest emotion to express. ]
[ Katsuki partially wishes they were never invited to that dinner, but if that happened Natsuo might have been killed. So no matter how awkward, he's glad he was there, him and Midoriya both. ]
[ He is angry about it, but how Shoto feels is not now nor ever has been a priority in the Todoroki household. He holds that to be true. ]
I don't know... [ He can't help but admit that. ]
Perhaps because if it weren't for my father's ambitions, I would be completely unnecessary. I still am, I guess. And he didn't even need me, he became number one on his own.
Who cares if your dad needs you? You've saved lives. You help save Japan and the world. You're the one who takes on Dabi, takes on your brother, in the final fight. People need you. The world needs you.
[ He can't help but wonder, because for Shoto he hasn't done anything beyond being a somewhat okay student. He's not even top in the class, which definitely irks his father. Not in any ranking. ]
I suppose that makes sense. Cleaning up my family's mess is my responsibility. [ How, he's not sure, but that makes sense. It's his fault his mother got sent away, and it's probably his fault that his brother died - although he's not dead and he can't explain that. He doesn't remember anything about him. It's frustrating. Not that he knows much more about Natsuo and Fuyumi. ]
I'll look after it. [ Somehow. ] I apologize for my brother. [ Terrible to have a villain in the family. ]
[ It's easy to forget sometimes how much of an idiot Todoroki is. It's not just investigating "alien" footprints in a dry riverbed. It's basic stuff like this. ]
It's a hero's job to stop a villain, and you're the best at standing up to his flames.
[ Hello, earth to Shoto? It's not all about the name Todoroki. ]
Don't arrest him. We are not babysitting Dabi 24/7. Just keep an eye on him and stop him from murdering anyone. I'll do the same.
You're not stealthy. [ The words come out immediately. It's purely fact, and a guy like Dabi who's avoided getting caught with a whole lot more stealthy people looking for him is going to spot it from a mile away. ]
We'll all keep tabs on him, sure, but he's not— he's your brother, not your responsibility. Not any more than mine or Midoriya's.
I don't see how. If he's a villain than he probably has a reason to be, and I can probably guess what would make him do it so it's my responsibility to stop him. You don't have to get involved in my family things.
[ His family is a disaster, he knows this, and he believes it's his fault entirely. He has to fix it. ]
[ At least Todoroki is facing the truth. He's not handling this alone. Katsuki and Izuku will both help. It'd be impossible to stop them from helping. Trying to stop them would be akin to trying to stop a storm from passing through an area. Pointless, and Shoto would only wind up looking like an idiot. ]
Don't get deep fried, I know. We will handle him together, and we won't let him murder anyone. Even if they would come back.
[ He wants to ask more, but Todoroki's shut down into hero mode at best. He's not looking at it like it's his brother come back to life. ]
So don't worry. Midoriya and I are with you. [ Not like that statement would make their teacher shiver in terror or anything. ]
[ They know some things about him... and the terrible person Dabi is. It's less a detailed history and more a rap sheet. Katsuki figures that's what Shoto's hung up on: how you get from a should-be-dead kid to a villain. Most of the time, Katsuki wouldn't care about a villain's origin story. Whatever it is, it doesn't justify killing people. This one he gets the urge. It isn't about understanding a villain. It's about knowing his brother. ]
He's the only one to know those answers. You'll have to ask him or wait for some trial to reveal it now he's here.
[ Katsuki hates that, but it's the stupid truth. Endeavor isn't here to answer questions, and Endeavor couldn't answer most of them. Only the one Shoto voices here. ]
[ Katsuki is exactly right. Shoto isn't clear how he got from point a to point b. No, he doesn't agree with his what his brother did - obviously - but at the same time, it's just another lie told by his father.
Even if Enji was there, Shoto wouldn't ask him. He'd rather not speak to him at all as much as possible. He's like Natsuo in that regard. ]
Do you think he left because of me? [ Shoto asks aloud before murmuring to himself 'probably' under his breath. Just like his mother. If he hadn't been born, none of these things would've happened. ]
[ Katsuki's responds instantly. No need to think it through or second guess himself. Endeavor's the reason. As good as the man can be in public, he's a shitshow with his family. He's the reason for it. Him and Shoto's mom. Wouldn't even stand up for her kids.
It's not on a literal kid. Shoto was what five at the time? ]
I don't know, dad only got that way because I was born. Everything got really bad then.
[ Shoto takes far too much responsibility for Enji's actions, even while blaming him. He just thinks he should've been better. His brother and his mother didn't need to be cast out of the house somehow. ]
[ Katsuki stares at Shoto. He doesn't say anything for a good few moments. What is there to say? Shoto hears what he wants to hear and doesn't listen to anything else. Who blames a baby? Baby Shoto didn't manifest some mind control quirk and control Endeavor's actions. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
EXPLOSIVE!
Text; un: shoto
Am I a ghost?
text | un: greatexplosionmurdergoddynamight
Why do you even have to ask?
no subject
So I was wondering if we're all dead.
Are you a ghost?
no subject
That doesn't make us dead or ghosts. I'm not a ghost. You're not a ghost. Midoriya's not a ghost. Hawks's not a ghost.
If there's ghosts here, they're not Star Children.
no subject
It's good to know there's no ghosts. Thanks Bakugo.
no subject
[ Dabi's here?! If there were an appropriate time to swear up a storm or hit the drums until his limbs nearly fall off, it's now. ]
Your brother isn't dead.
no subject
no subject
He's Dabi. Dabi is your brother. [ Ugh. It'd be better not to have a brother than to have him as a brother. ]
no subject
Oh.
[ He's processing. ]
no subject
[ Katsuki frowns at his relic. This is terrible news. With a sigh, he gets up and heads to the kitchen. ]
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
He's an adult. He should grow up.
no subject
It's just blood that ties us together.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
Bakugo won't get another text, Shoto will just shuffle to the kitchen a minute or two later. His expression is perfectly neutral, almost blank. ]
Thanks. [ He's just going to take it and leave. ]
no subject
Eat up. I need to kick your ass with how much better I've gotten afterward.
no subject
They sit heavy in his stomach. Him not saying anything isn't that weird, but his expression doesn't really change. He's already lost in thought. ]
no subject
With equally dismal enthusiasm, Katsuki eats his own noodles. His lack of enthusiasm comes with attacking them ferociously and beating them into submission. DIE, NOODLES. ]
Come on.
no subject
Sometimes he thinks about more than this, but not with such a stark reminder. Oh, he won't change his mind and forgive Endeavor just to have someone to talk to. That would be incredibly pathetic. He'll just keep doing what they ask of him and then maybe they'll acknowledge him.
Bakugo is his friend, he thinks, they did that class together and he thinks he might be. Or maybe not. Maybe he just wants to use Shoto for training because he's skilled enough to give him a proper fight. That seems far more likely, doesn't it.
He's not really paying attention, just drifting aimlessly behind Bakugo. ]
no subject
So he does. He keeps going until they're both sweaty, somewhat worn out, and a natural stopping point. ]
Don't pretend to be dead inside. You're not.
no subject
I'm not. [ He agrees. ]
I'm just...processing. Everything is the same as it's always been, so it shouldn't bother me. I mean, with my family. Being here is different.
no subject
[ That's obvious to Katsuki, but he's never been one to stop himself from being mad when he's mad. Everyone knows when he's mad because he makes it obvious. Anger's pretty much the easiest emotion to express. ]
no subject
[ Although he probably couldn't name his emotions even if he was bit by them. ]
I'm not sure what to think about it. It's the way it's always been. I don't actually know anyone in my family. It makes things very awkward.
[ Think about how great that dinner was Bakugo. ]
no subject
[ Katsuki partially wishes they were never invited to that dinner, but if that happened Natsuo might have been killed. So no matter how awkward, he's glad he was there, him and Midoriya both. ]
The way it's always been sucks.
no subject
I don't know... [ He can't help but admit that. ]
Perhaps because if it weren't for my father's ambitions, I would be completely unnecessary. I still am, I guess. And he didn't even need me, he became number one on his own.
no subject
Who cares if your dad needs you? You've saved lives. You help save Japan and the world. You're the one who takes on Dabi, takes on your brother, in the final fight. People need you. The world needs you.
no subject
[ He can't help but wonder, because for Shoto he hasn't done anything beyond being a somewhat okay student. He's not even top in the class, which definitely irks his father. Not in any ranking. ]
I suppose that makes sense. Cleaning up my family's mess is my responsibility. [ How, he's not sure, but that makes sense. It's his fault his mother got sent away, and it's probably his fault that his brother died - although he's not dead and he can't explain that. He doesn't remember anything about him. It's frustrating. Not that he knows much more about Natsuo and Fuyumi. ]
I'll look after it. [ Somehow. ] I apologize for my brother. [ Terrible to have a villain in the family. ]
I should arrest him.
no subject
It's a hero's job to stop a villain, and you're the best at standing up to his flames.
[ Hello, earth to Shoto? It's not all about the name Todoroki. ]
Don't arrest him. We are not babysitting Dabi 24/7. Just keep an eye on him and stop him from murdering anyone. I'll do the same.
no subject
[ Shoto, no. ]
no subject
We'll all keep tabs on him, sure, but he's not— he's your brother, not your responsibility. Not any more than mine or Midoriya's.
no subject
[ His family is a disaster, he knows this, and he believes it's his fault entirely. He has to fix it. ]
no subject
[ Bakugo crosses his arms, stubborn about it. ]
I don't shirk my duties as a hero. [ What few of them he can scrounge up. ]
no subject
I won't stop you from helping but be careful. You said I'm the best person to stand up to his flames and that's probably true. Don't get burned.
[ Oh dear, from someone else that might sound like he's worried about Bakugo. ]
no subject
Don't get deep fried, I know. We will handle him together, and we won't let him murder anyone. Even if they would come back.
[ He wants to ask more, but Todoroki's shut down into hero mode at best. He's not looking at it like it's his brother come back to life. ]
So don't worry. Midoriya and I are with you. [ Not like that statement would make their teacher shiver in terror or anything. ]
no subject
I don't know anything about him. I wish I knew why dad thought he was dead.
[ He doesn't really know how to process his conflicting emotions. It's not really his strength. ]
I know you are. We make a great team. [ Somewhere, somehow, Aizawa definitely knows. ]
no subject
He's the only one to know those answers. You'll have to ask him or wait for some trial to reveal it now he's here.
[ Katsuki hates that, but it's the stupid truth. Endeavor isn't here to answer questions, and Endeavor couldn't answer most of them. Only the one Shoto voices here. ]
no subject
Even if Enji was there, Shoto wouldn't ask him. He'd rather not speak to him at all as much as possible. He's like Natsuo in that regard. ]
Do you think he left because of me? [ Shoto asks aloud before murmuring to himself 'probably' under his breath. Just like his mother. If he hadn't been born, none of these things would've happened. ]
no subject
[ Katsuki's responds instantly. No need to think it through or second guess himself. Endeavor's the reason. As good as the man can be in public, he's a shitshow with his family. He's the reason for it. Him and Shoto's mom. Wouldn't even stand up for her kids.
It's not on a literal kid. Shoto was what five at the time? ]
no subject
[ Shoto takes far too much responsibility for Enji's actions, even while blaming him. He just thinks he should've been better. His brother and his mother didn't need to be cast out of the house somehow. ]
no subject
You are such an idiot.
no subject
[ One would think that the baby of the family wouldn't be to blame, but things in the Todoroki household just aren't normal. ]
no subject
[ Duh, idiot. The more Katsuki learns about other people, the more normal his childhood looks. ]
Dabi's not your fault, so get over it.
no subject
[ At least, for the moment, Shoto is no longer dissociating and worrying about Dabi, and that's probably good enough. ]