Shoto Todoroki X Reader

Chapter 14 : Shadows of Summer

The air at the summer camp was heavy with the warm, humid breath of the forest. After months of training, exams, and the growing tension between students and villains, this break was supposed to be a time to refocus and grow stronger, but in the back of everyone's mind was the threat that still loomed over them. The League of Villains wasn't gone, not by a long shot, and the students of Class 1-A knew better than to let their guard down. Still, the peaceful sounds of the forest, the camaraderie among friends, and the challenging exercises had everyone feeling at ease, even if just a little.

You had been spending your time working on your quirk, deep in the woods surrounding the camp. The trees here were different from the Dark Forest you knew so well—less ancient, less alive—but they still held a connection to the earth, and you could feel the magic pulsing beneath the soil. It was calming, a reminder of home, even as the memories of the villain attack months earlier still lingered in your mind.

After an especially grueling day of training, you found yourself alone by the edge of a river, the camp's lights barely visible through the trees. Bakugou had stormed off earlier after another argument with Kirishima, and most of the other students were already heading to bed. You knew Bakugou would be nearby, blowing off steam as he usually did, but something felt off tonight. The air was too still, the night too quiet.

Suddenly, a twig snapped behind you. Your senses flared, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. You turned sharply, but before you could react, shadows surged from the underbrush, wrapping around you with an unnatural force. A thick, cold presence clamped over your mouth, silencing your scream as you struggled to summon your quirk. The ground trembled beneath you as the earth responded to your call, but something—someone—was blocking you.

Darkness overtook your vision as you were pulled into the shadows.

When you awoke, the world was cold and silent. You blinked groggily, your body feeling heavy and restrained. The first thing you noticed was the darkness surrounding you. The second was Bakugou, sitting across from you, his arms bound behind him, eyes blazing with fury. His mouth was gagged, but his glare spoke volumes.

You tried to move, but your hands were bound tightly, your legs tied to a metal chair. The air felt damp, the sound of dripping water echoing in the distance. Wherever you were, it was underground—dark and isolated. You fought back the rising panic and focused on your breathing. There had to be a way out.

Bakugou growled through his gag, his explosive anger barely contained. Even though he was tied up, you could tell he was already calculating, thinking of how to break free and take down whoever had dared to capture him. But for now, both of you were stuck.

As your eyes adjusted to the darkness, the door creaked open, revealing a figure shrouded in shadow. A familiar, sickening presence filled the room, and you knew immediately who it was.

"Good evening, little heroes," the voice purred. It was the same villain from the attack at U.A. months ago—the one with the shadow quirk. He stepped forward, his dark tendrils curling around his feet like a living mist. "You've been quite the troublesome lot, haven't you?"

Bakugou growled again, his red eyes burning with hatred as he tried to yank free from his restraints. You could feel the frustration radiating off him, but there was nothing either of you could do in this moment. Not yet.