Save My Soul [Todoroki Shouto x Reader] 8

You've got your chains wrapped around me so tight
give me enough just to keep me alive
I try to run but it hurts everytime
Nothing I can do to save my soul
~
Jojo
-------------

The day was one filled with panic, heavy decisions and a dash of chaos. The press had overstepped their boundaries and sent the students into disarray when the heavy steel boarders surrounded the grounds and sent an ear ringing alarm into the air. Iida had quickly come to a solution, and with a strong act of leadership informed the student body of the real reason the security had been set off. Which lead to Midoriya resigning from his newly appointed position of Class Representative, handing the title to a deserving Iida with little to no disagreement from the class.

Aizawa had been quick to step up to the plate, offering minimal explanation over the Hero class of the day. Our only instruction was to quickly change into our hero costumes of P.E uniforms and meet outside where we would board buses to a building on the grounds. I found myself pressed comfortably against Tsuyu's side on the rather cramped bus seat. Midoriya sat to my right, the only student clad in a gym uniform.

"You know, Midoriya's power really reminds me of All Might" Kirishima's comment had been plenty innocent, and yet I felt Deku tense at my side, a nervous chuckle escaping him. "I can't actually see why" Tsu added. Midoriya was growing incresingly uncomfortable at my side, shifting every so often, but it was to be expected. It must take a strike to the pride to have your Quirk compared to someone elses, Number 1 hero or not.

"Don't be silly, no offense Midoriya, but All Might's way stronger. The only thing that's similar is Deku's superhuman strength" I piped in, Izuku shot a grateful glance my way, his tense shoulders dropping as the other's didn't hesitate to agree.

--

When the buses pulled up, we walked single file out of the bus, due to Iida's strict instruction. In front of us was a large dome, the size of a large sport stadium, perhaps larger. In front of us, was Aizawa, standing by his side a much shorter figure, clad in an astronaut , visor black to hide their features.

"Thirteen!" I could hear Midoriya's delighted gasp, followed by a string of agreeing hums from students of our class just as happy to see the Pro Hero. Aizawa called out a loud "oi!" and quickly the class silenced, focusing on the two teachers.

"Originally, we were supposed to be joined my All Might, but he's running a little late" our homeroom teacher sighed, exhasperated, leaning down to whisper into the side of Thirteen's helmet. His voice was stooped low, and barely I managed to pick up a few hushed words. Something along the lines of "...saved too many..." and "...time's up", the few phrases were unintelligable on their own. And despite the nagging itch of curiosity picking at the back of my mind, I brushed it off.

We were soon lead inside, up the stairs and forced to stop by the entrance pathway whilst the teachers explained. The dome was larger on the inside somehow, the glass half sphere roof radiated warmth throughout the arena, even so I could see the swirling of hard winds and snow in the distance on one side of the building. According to the Pro's explanation, the idea of today's task was to test our resistance to different extreme climates. From what I could guess, an area would be selected that opposed the student's quirk, for examply, Tsu would be based in the fire zone. And someone like Ashido in the water where her acid would have no use.

"You will be supervised by Aizawa and I, if things get too far sim--"

Thirteen's sentence was cut short by a sudden chill in the air, the kind of chill that sent the hairs on your arms standing on end. The kind of chill that caused your blood to tingle under your skin and you muscles to stiffen. It wasn't the chill of the atmosphere, it wasn't the chill of a sudden breeze brushing past and catching you of guard. But the chill of impending danger, the thick shiver inducing cold of murderous intent.

"Uh...Sensei?" Yaoyorozu rose a hand, shaky finger pointing in the distance, towards the middle of the arena behind the two teachers in front of us. Behind them, there was a split in the air, edges coloured a menacing purple. Almost as though someone had taken a jam covoured knife and cut straight through the air. The split was spreading, purple stretching until a deep black could be seen in the centre, ominous and forboding.

Aizawa and Thirteen turned on heir heels "students! Get back!" the space suit clad hero called out, the hope that this had just been part of the exercise, or perhaps a simple prank pulled by the teacher dissipated in that instant. And from the purpled edged abyss came something, something moving, something I couldn't quite make out at this distance, through the foginess of the split in the universe.

It was a hand.

A hand that gripped the edge of the split in the air, a hand that pushed clawed itself forward using the edge of the split. Following the hand was another, this one with no arm attached to the wrist, the glove covering a face like a mask, sitting atop the head was a messy head of greasy white hair. The whispy strands fell to his neck in a messy bob, following his head was the rest of the body, and it could be seen that more of those inanimate hands clung to different parts of his body.

"Is this part of the class sensei?" Denki asked hesitantly, his voice trembling in fear, of course he knew that wasn't the case. We all knew, the tense atmosphere in the air was enough to go by.

"No" Aizawa's voice was grim, rumbling with a low undertone of intimidation, it shot through my core, hints of fear fluttering through me at the thought of that tone of voice being directed at me.

Once the hand covered male had stepped out, dozens upon dozens of other people followes, some with visible quirks, others with weapons, and a few simply wearing normal clothes.

"Those are villains" Aizawa finished.

--

We knew, of course we knew what they where, who they were. But to hear it put into words, by a professionly who had come across so many villains that a simple glance he could easily identify them.

There were so many standing below us, glaring at their surroundings as they seeped with evil intent. But oddly enough, they continued like this, turning in circles as though they were searching for something, or rather, someone.

"Students, hurry outside" Thirteen rushed, and we wasted no time in turning heel towards the door. Despite the stubborn cries of Bakugo and Kirishima, we knew we were way out of our league with a band of villains so large. With the door in sight, lungs burned with desperation, we had to leave, we had to get back to the main building and alert the other teachers of the infiltrators.

It's a funny thing, how long it can take for hope to build and yet how quickly it can be wrenched away from oneself. Not a few feet away from the door, away from our escape was that all too familiar purple rip in the atmosphere. The ugly purple mass only growing, stretching high above us and yet remaining relatively slim, it grew until it came to an abrupt stop at around 7 feet.

From the purple fog glowed to bright, yellow slanted eyes, the mass of purple was not just a quirk, but the owner of the quirk themselves. Edges of the purple guirk whisping off into the air like smoke, it was ominous, fear inducing and heart clenching, the sight of those narrowed eyes glaring at us in disdain.

"I don't think so"

The mass' voice was low, a kind of deep that ran shivers over the base of one's hair on the back of your neck. The tense, fear filled atmosphere was broke by a loud bang, a familiar popping of explosions bottled betwen clenched fingers "get out of our way!" Bakugo's voice was booming, a voice that suited him well. It was easily heard over the comotion, and all eyes were drawn to him.

By his side was Kirishima, where the redhead was usually found, sharp teeth glinting through the smug grin on his face. His narrowed eyes holding a sharp contest with pupil lacking yellow.

With his hands raised defensively in front of his face, skin hardening with a soundly cracking "whilst your bravery would be admirable in any other situation, here, it is misguided and unwise" the deep voice echoing from the purple mass in front of us stopped the two head strong boys in their tracks. "My name is Kurogiri, I am a member of the League of Villains and our mission today is to kill All Might".

A cold hard shudder ran down my spine at the thought, it was impossible, it had to be. For a simple band of villains to be able to bring down the symbol of hope. For thme to take down someone so strong, they couldn't, could they?

"Bastard! "

Bakugo's voice once again acted as a loud shock to the system, the doubts that had began clawing at my mind snapping away in an instant "you think pathetic little nobodies like you could take down someone like All Might? That's my job, shithead". His confident growl was almost comical, how he was so sure that he could take All Might down, how he was so sure of himself and his goal.

"That's right! All Might can't be taken down by the likes of you! Bakugo?" Kirishima sent a questioning glance to the blonde at his side, and for a moment, it was silent and tense as they held an unspoken conversation with their eyes. Katsuki's only answer was the sly, almost conniving grin, bright bursts of light and smoke and loud pops sounded from his palms.

Mouths opened wide to release a loud, obnoxious battle cry. Strong calves used to kick hard off of the ground, they leapt at the villain standing in our path "Katsuki! Kirishima! Don't!" Thirteen's loud cry went unheard by the two overly eager students. Thick gloved hand outstretched, the metal tip of the glove quickly popped off, suction immediately followed, powerful and overbearing.

It was too late.

The thick purple tinted black mass stretched over head, it happened too quickly for my eyes to register and yet everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. The shadow as the light from the dome was blocked out, the sounds of people around me muffled and distant, the cold tingling sensation as the quirk surrounded me. It happened in a flash, all too quickly and yet far too slowly.

In a second, what once surrounded me had shifted, changed completely and the warm sensation of the sun streaming through the dome, amplified by the glass, had disappeared. What surrounded me was a thick air, clouded with dust and dirt. The soles of my feet sinking thick into the mud below my feet, wth shaky breath, I dared to scan my surroundings.

Around me, the tips of buildings peeked from slanted ground, I bent my knees as I found myself slowly slipping upon the hill. I glanced around in confusion, and faintly in the distance I could see Aizawa, standing in the middle the arena, in the centre off all the different areas where the villains had first appeared. His long hair stood up, ad straight, the bandages around his neck floating as though defying gravity.

"(Y/n)?"

I tensed hard, spinning on my heel in what should have been one swift movement, but in that moment I had forgotten the thick mud surrounded the soles of my boots. As my torso turned, my feet stayed in place, my heart rose to my throat and my head felt light as I found myself staring down at the descent below, teetering towards it.

A strong hand gripping the crook of my elbow, my slow fall was brought to an abrupt stop. Panting shakily, I blinked, head swimming and eyesight wavering in fear. I turned my head slowly, knees lifting to slowly dislodge my feet from the thickened mud I was standing in. Turning to face my saviour I found my heart, which had once risen to my throat, drop down to my stomach.

My eyes widening and my lips partening in surprise, I glanced around to see if anyone else had joined us on this landslide simulated area. The area, as far as I could tell at this point, was empty, and standing on the slowly sliding mud was just the two of us. Myself and -