Keeping You (Todoroki x Reader)

Sweat dripped into my eyes, but I did not blink as I dodged another whip from Shinso's binding cloth. And another. A cool breeze caressed my cheek as he attacked again. He was keeping me moving, keeping me on the defence. Smart.

He had become fast thanks to his training it seemed, his quick reflexes and decision making keeping me on the back burner this whole fight. He'd changed from our fight before, I could feel it. He was a fire that was determined to engulf me given half a chance. With each flick, jab and punch, he drew closer to doing just that.

He paused his assault for a moment and I sent an energy blast to the pipes hanging above him. The blast's hollow sounds echoed like haunted ghosts before the bolts cracked and they came crashing down on him. He leapt backwards, light-footed as he had been so far, and I took the opportunity to duck behind a wall of pipes for a breather.

My heart thundered as I regulated my breathing. I had to calm my mind, calm my heart. I couldn't let him get the best of more, or, worse, get away. He was our biggest threat - no matter how inexperienced he was.

'Hiding now, Princess?' Shinso called out, his smirk evident in his voice. 'I thought that was my job.'

He's keeping me at a distance with the binding cloth so I can't drain him. And he's too fast for my energy blasts to get him. I peeked over through a gap in the pipes. Shinso climbed over the pipes with feline grace, his radiant violet eyes prowling the area with hunger. I repressed a chill as I turned away, looking down at my hands instead, clenching them. If it's a fight he wants, then a fight he shall get.

From behind the pipes I stepped back into the open, hand glowing as my weapon of choice formed. 'Don't call me Princess,' I said through gritted teeth, my eyes locking with his as I flicked my wrist, a whip of pure energy cracking like thunder. Shinso was obviously surprised by my action as his brainwashing claws never scarped the outer walls of my mind. I remained untouched, but that was all I needed to say to him.

Still in a daze, he couldn't dodge my attack as I flicked my whip and it wrapped around his wrist. With a mighty tug, I hauled him into the pipe wall to my left where he crumbled to the ground with a pain-filled groan. He scrambled to his feet, but my whip was already around his ankle, flinging him to the other side of the corridor.

I went to grab him again, but his cloth beat me to it. It wrapped around my middle, catching one of my arms by my side and the other bent up close to my chest so my fingers just peaked over the bindings. I tugged and pushed against the bindings but they held tight. Were they made from titanium or something?

Shinso sat partially crouched on the ground near the wall he'd been slammed into, the side of his head bleeding. But he held onto the binding cloth, his grip strong and unwavering as he gathered himself. Damn, he definitely had improved.

'Clever,' he said between breaths, pulling himself to his feet. 'Using my own weapon against me. I might not be a master at it, but even I can tell your movements were sloppy.' He walked slowly over to me, where I finally gave up on struggling. If he just came close enough-

'I think I'll keep my distance from you, Princess. You can't drain me unless you can touch me,' he said, the confidence he spoke with killing off my hopes of doing just that. He scanned me up and down, my stomach turning over with dread and regret. 'I would've preferred to take you in without a fight, but thanks for the warm up. I think I'll fair better against Midoriya now because of it.'

Midoriya. That's right. He was here. So was Ochaco, Mina and Mineta. All waiting for me to join them, to fight with them. I am not alone.

Shinso turned to walk away, gripping tight to the end of the binding cloth. 'Come on, then. Better get you in jail so I can return for the others-'