Silhouette | Suicidal Todoroki x Bakugou

34 | Bond

A/N (IMPORTANT):
the smut originally in this chapter will be found only on AO3. there's a note where the skipped scene is on wattpad, but otherwise, if you do not wish to read that scene, you can proceed as normal. but i'm not taking my chances with wattpad's abysmal guidelines. i also edited and significantly shaved down the long flashback just to be sure, even though nothing "bad" happens. it's bad that it happened, but it's not "bad" bad, if that makes sense.

Shouto Todoroki

Thunder. Seventy frogs in a jar. White thread piercing the amygdala. Flesh shriveling in acid. Ice. Noose throttling the trachea. Pink. Sunlight screaming through retinas. Momo Todoroki. Mai Todoroki.

Sitting alone on the floor with a white plush rabbit in hand, Mai slowly turned her head to the open door. Then, when her eyes gazed upon her father's neutral expression, the plush rabbit slipped from her hand, plopping onto the floor. She opened her mouth, but no words followed. Trembling, Mai promptly forced herself up to her feet. As her eyes began to overflow with tears, Mai bolted for her father with open arms.

"Dad!" cried Mai, who barreled into Todoroki's chest as he knelt onto the floor to embrace her. "Dad... Dad, I-I missed you..."

Todoroki's heart ached and throbbed as he held his only daughter fast. A paralyzing torrent of fervent emotions eclipsed his body, and he felt his eyes grow heavy with a familiar, warm liquid. Yet, Todoroki did not allow those tears to fall, and instead, he held Mai tighter and closed his eyes.

I don't know what to feel, Todoroki realized as Mai faltered to her knees on his knees. Happy? Sad? Relieved? You're everything to me, Mai... I hurt you. I traumatized you. I left you with wounds that won't ever heal completely. It's my fault, and I chose to do this to you. I'll never forgive myself for that. You needed me more than ever, and I left you. I...

It'd feel good to cut out the guilt...

"Don't leave me like that again," Mai gasped as her small fingers curled into Todoroki's shirt. "Why'd you go? Why'd you go, Dad? I missed you..." Her tears soaked through Todoroki's shirt, causing the damp fabric to cling to his chest.

Gently patting Mai's head, Todoroki reluctantly pulled back and lifted Mai's chin with his other hand. I'm not ready to let anyone know the truth, he thought while mustering up a soft smile. How could I tell her that I tried to kill myself when she should've already been enough for me? He pulled his phone out and typed:

I won't leave you like that again, Mai. I did something very stupid, but I won't let it happen again. I'm so happy to see you. I missed you so much, Mai. I'm so sorry I left. How can I make it up to you?

"It's okay... Just don't go. Please..." Mai wiped her tears with her sleeves and latched onto Todoroki's chest again.

Todoroki nodded, turning his head when something abruptly touched his shoulder. There, Bakugou was crouched down with a smirk and his hand on Todoroki's shoulder. Bakugou nodded with a thumbs-up before patting Todoroki's shoulder and standing up.

"Do you still love 'im, Mai?" Bakugou queried while leaning back against the wall behind Todoroki.

"Mhm," Mai whispered. "Lots and lots..." Her words enveloped Todoroki's heart like honey.

Mai...

Bakugou's smirk widened as he tilted his head. "You like his hair longer?"

Slowly withdrawing from Todoroki, Mai scrutinized Todoroki's hair which still had an inch or two before it touched his shoulders. "Hmm..." She rubbed her eyes with her sleeves again and slid off of Todoroki's knees.