Protecting You (Katsuki Bakugo x Reader)

Chapter 82- Villain Complex

Signing out Rei for the day was easier than you thought. You showed the front office workers your hero license, took a couple of pictures with staff members that wanted your autograph, and walked right up to Rei Todoroki's room. With a quick knock on the door, a smiling angel with hair the shade of fresh snow greeted you.

"(Y/n)! What a pleasant surprise! Is Shoto with you?" Rei's expression was contagious and you couldn't help but smile back.

"Not today. I'm taking you out to meet someone else! But don't be too surprised!" Rei clapped her hands in excitement, color rushing to her cheeks. In just a few months of knowing her, you could see how much she has improved her mental and physical state. Between the regular visits of her children and the change in Endeavor, Rei was beginning to feel safe in the world...and seeing her light up inspired you to keep fighting to make her life one of ease.

"I can't wait! Should I close my eyes?!" She hummed while placing her hands over her eyes prematurely.

"Sure, I'll lead ya!" You walked with Rei down the halls and towards the front doors, the woman given a badge to show she was temporarily going out so she would be allowed back in by security. She was babbling about recent paintings she had completed this past week when you suddenly stopped her short. Outside of a café, across the street from a small private park, stood Touya with a baseball hat, facemask, and an athletic sweatshirt and sweatpants combo to be able to hide in public. Looking at him ached your heart, especially seeing the genuine joy in his cerulean eyes from seeing his mother. 

He was leaning against the brick wall of the café, looking at you and his mother with a soft expression that anyone one else would be caught dead observing.

"Can I open my eyes now?" Rei asked you.

"Yeah, you can," Touya responded in his raspy voice, the regular scent of cigarettes missing for once. Instead, the scent of fresh laundry and new cologne struck you as the wind gently blew your direction. 

Going clean when you see Rei huh? What a Mama's boy...

"Touya?!" Rei excitedly exclaimed as he pulled away from her hands and smiled from ear to ear. Touya couldn't help but smile back at his mother, wrapping his arms around her in a tight yet affectionate hug. He completely towered over her and appeared so soft...like this was the man he truly was underneath the weight and veil of villainy. It really made you think for a moment as you watched Touya hug his mother and compliment her haircut that you didn't even notice. He truly loved and adored her, paying attention to the smallest of details like her disdain for the smell of smoke and the way she had her bangs trimmed.

If a person labeled as a villain loved his mother this much, how genuinely evil could he be? By society's standards, Dabi was an A-rank villain that would receive either life in prison or the death penalty should he ever be caught. On the other hand, he did burn your village down. The fact he saved you from starvation and insanity or the fact he was the type to risk everything just to take his mother out for some tea and fresh air would be completely erased thanks to his title of villain. Even you were a prime example of the uselessness of labels. Hero, mercenary, vigilante, villain...you held every single one of those titles according to someone out there. All Might saw you as a hero, Hawks saw you as a mercenary, Stain saw you as a vigilante, Genko saw you as a villain. Depending on who was judging you, you would either be revered for your talents and bravery or arrested for your crimes and violence. 

Suddenly being a hero felt like a total farce, and like Katsuki, you seriously questioned what it actually meant to be a good guy.

"(y/n)...you coming with us?" Touya's voice broke you from your thoughts. Jarred from the questions circulating your mind, you almost missed the smile he gave you under his black cloth mask that he used to hide his facial scars. Rei gave you a pearly grin, clearly enjoying her day already.