(AN: Hey guys FocusRS58 here, Merry Christmas and Happy holidays... Just wanted to give you all a little Christmas surprise, so we've decided to release chapter 10 early as a gift. Which works out as this chapter isn't as long but still 1000+ words so enjoy 😊 )
Heavy burdens
The brooding Katsuki had just left the 1A dorms without a single word. He had asked Mr. Aizawa for permission to use the training room to "blow off steam" to which Aizawa was impressed that he even iasked, but was also concerned, He approved of it but something didn't feel right..... he could tell something was definitely wrong with his #1 "problem child" so he decided he was going to keep an eye on him for now.
Katsuki was walking on the UA path still deep in thought about all that happened and it only made him more frustrated, angry but at the same time also sad. Then almost as if the universe knew how he was feeling, it started to rain but Katsuki didn't care, he just kept on walking as if the weather didn't exist. He finally made it to the training room and used his student ID to open the doors but in doing so, he set off the silent alarm. Principal Nezu sees this on the cameras and calls to notify Aizawa of Katsuki's "intrusion".
Nezu: Shota, you should know that one of your students has triggered the silent alarm as he entered the training room. It's young Bakugo.
Aizawa: *sleepy* Right, I neglected to mention that I gave him authorization to enter at this time
Nezu: May I ask why?
Aizawa: He actually came to me and asked for permission to use it to "blow off some steam"
Nezu: I see... wait, you said he asked?
Aizawa: Correct
Nezu: For someone such as young Bakugo to ask to do anything is something strange, Don't you think?
Aizawa: My thoughts exactly... he seemed a bit troubled, I was planning to go check up on him.
Nezu: I do agree that you should check in on him, but I'd recommend doing so from a distance.... Katsuki Bakugo is a very guarded and stubborn child, so if you come right out and ask him if something is wrong he will hide the truth.
Aizawa: That's a good point sir, I'll be going now.
Nezu: Right.
(Both hang up)
Back with Katsuki, he had dropped his bag down and got right to work. Setting up his weights without even stretching or warming up first. With his new WIRED earphones on, he plays his rock playlist hoping it'll help him release his stress. After a good 30 minutes of pumping out his max weights on bench, squats and curls he still felt so much anger, very little relief and yet still the pain of sadness was brewing a storm in his mind. He was still very angry, not at Momo, or Izuku or even Jiro... no, he was angry with himself. He had hurt the one person he felt truly safe around, he was able to be vulnerable around her, and yet he let his rage, his demons and the darkest parts of him, take over and make him do something he knows he can never forgive himself for. With those thoughts infinitely looping around in his mind, he grunts in frustration and goes to the other side of the training room to the row of very heavy, and very durable, weighted punching bags...
While walking over to the bags, Katsuki begins to take off his earphones, while doing so, something glints in his peripheral vision. When he had dropped his bag on the ground, he failed to notice the ring Jiro had given him was now out of its charred box and lying on the floor. He picks it up and puts it in his right ring finger. As this happens Mr. Aizawa had quietly made his way into the training room and stood in the far corner to observe his student. Katsuki then connects his phone to the speakers in the training room and doesn't even wrap his hands or wrists as the song starts and he starts hitting the bag in rhythm to his song of choice..... "Darkest Part" by Red. (Lyrics)
(Song start)
*instrumental*
You track the doubts of my soul
Until you found it
The darkened room locked away
I let you in
You looked inside then you turned away
My makeshift savior
He left me right here in my chains
But still I whisper
Still I call you
Katsuki starts punching the bag as the chorus starts. Throwing random combos left and right.
I never wanted you to see
The darkest part of me
I knew you'd run away
I waited but you never came
So afraid to be alone
I tried to let you go
And still I find you lost inside the darkest part of me
The first bag rips from Katsuki's raw strength. Now more frustrated he walks. Over to the next bag in line and starts slow.
It's my descent
To know your pain
It's watching all
I believed fade away
Of traitors and fools
Of beggars and thieves
Which mask will you choose
What is underneath
Once again he starts throwing more precise shots. Hitting the upper part of the bag, then switching to the side with a right hook.
I never wanted you to see
The darkest part of me
I knew you'd run away
I waited but you never came
So afraid to be alone
I tried to let you go
And still I find you lost inside the darkest part of me
As the chorus starts again images from USJ start playing in his head, like a constant reminder of his true self.... The uncontrollable monster within.
I'm the black stain of your perfect life
And I'm the darkness that you need to hide
It covers you
It spills over you
Near the end of the bridge, Katsuki takes a breath trying to fight the urge. What he does next surprises even Aizawa as the chorus starts for the final time. Now giving it everything he has left with each punch he ignited his sweat so that when it makes contact with the bag a mini explosion occurs...
I never wanted you to see
The darkest part of me
I knew you'd run away
Katsuki: Rrrrrahhhhhhhhh *throws a flurry of explosive punches at the bag*
I waited but you never came
So afraid to be alone
I tried to let you go
And still I find you lost inside the darkest part of me
As the song reaches the last line Katsuki, now tired, sweaty and his knuckles bloodied and covered with ash from the burnt bag, he throws one final punch while screaming at the top of his lungs. The bag flies off the chains slamming into the rest of them breaking all the chains as they all collide into the wall. The weight of the combined bags colliding with the wall shook the room, Katsuki in the most emotional state, falls to his knees, palms to the floor, sobbing at what he has become. Aizawa turns to walk away, his head down and a single tear in his cheek...
Aizawa: What happened to you problem child.....
Aizawa wipes away the single tear and makes his way to the class 1A dorms, luckily all of class 1A is in the common room already so the task he had in mind was easy to accomplish.
Kirishima: Hey, was Bakugo here at all today? I feel like he's never here
Kaminari: Oh shit yeah he's not here!
Mina: Has anyone checked his room? You know he likes to sleep or be alone...
Momo: What does it matter? we're doing fine right now, let that ticking time bomb be.
Just then Mr Aizawa walked in with the speed and intensity of professor Snape, he wasted no time in saying what he needed to say and in the most stern voice anyone had ever heard.
Aizawa: Midoriya, Jiro, Yaoyarozu, I need to speak with you for a moment
Izuku/Momo/Jiro: Yes sir
The three followed Aizawa down the hall where he spoke with them briefly
Aizawa: There is a pressing matter that we need to discuss, I need you three to come to my office after lights out
Izuku: But why?
Momo: If it's important, why not now?
Jiro: Is everything ok sir?
Aizawa: My office, after lights out, do I make myself clear?
Izuku/Momo/Jiro: Yes sir
Aizawa nodded and dismissed the three and went to his office as the three stood there puzzled, wondering what he wanted to talk about that was so important.
Back with Katsuki still in the training room, his eyes now red from crying. His mental state was hanging on by a thread, he stared at his battered hands, noticing that he had left his ring completely scorched from all the explosions he created, as a tear fell from his face, it happened to land on the ring itself, in doing so, it slid off and washed away the scorch marks effortlessly on his tungsten ring, revealing just how beautiful and durable it really is. The ring shines back at him as he wipes his tears then grabs the ring to place it back into its box for safe keeping. Katsuki grabs his things and leaves the training room, not even bothering to clean it up. As he's walking back to the dorms he checks his phone and sees he still has about 2 ½ hours until curfew. So he changes direction and starts towards his childhood home....
After a 45 minute walk, Katsuki is standing in front of the remains of his home. Still partially standing with most of the walls burnt down, tears well up in his eyes as the events of that night flood his memories. It isn't until he turns around and sees his new home, which to him was always a second home, his "aunt" Inko always treated him like her own son. Katsuki decides to go across the street and finds that the door is unlocked so he proceeds to enter the house in order to talk with his mom one last time.
Katsuki: Hmm, it seems mom forgot to lock the house again. That woman has so much trust in people sometimes, Well it doesn't look like she's here. This will have to do...
Katsuki goes into the kitchen and grabs a pen and paper and starts writing....
Dear Mom,
I just wanted to say Thank you from the
bottom of my heart. Thank you for all that you have done for me growing up. Thank you for welcoming me into your home and treating me like I was your own son before it became official. I wish there was some way I could pay it all back, but maybe in the future or another life I'll get that chance. I am sorry about what happened to Mitsuki, although she wasn't the mother you are, she didn't deserve to be gone so soon. It was my fault and that's a burden I have to live with. Please take good care of Deku and if you can keep an eye on Jiro, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Love: your son, Katsuki.
Katsuki left the note on the kitchen counter, and walked out of the house back to his dorm with a look of both pain and determination......