Chapter Text
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here with a new video! What is up everybody! Deku here, bringing you the latest gossip and news circulating the Hero community! In today’s video, I’m going to finally get to the secrets of Best Jeanist’s famous hair routine and the rumors spreading about the budding Hero, Uravity!”
The phone displaying the recording was turned horizontally, enlarging the video screen. Izuku’s fluffy green curls were pinned back with a thin black headband, his wide green eyes popping out against the navy eyeliner and pink eyeshadow painted against his skin. His freckles were scattered against his cheeks like stars, constellations lost along the rosy hue of his cheeks.
Wearing a peach colored long sleeve shirt with the words ‘URAVITY is the only GRAVITY’ printed in grey font, the young adult sat with his All Might cluttered bedroom as his background. Figurines and posters lined the walls, a bookshelf pushed up against the corner of the curtain-drawn window, the bookshelf overflowing with books, comics, and bundles of papers.
“Many of you have heard of Uravity, the budding young hero who is quickly making a name for herself with her cheerful disposition and her eager strive to help those in need.” The screen panned away from Izuku, showing a snapped picture of the Hero, Uravity, pressing her hands together as she lifted the remains of a surely crumbling building into the air, creating a path for civilians to flee. Despite the pink visor hiding her face, the almost sickly green tint to her skin was still visible.
The picture shrunk until it showed Izuku again on the screen, his smile as bright as ever as he continued. “Uravity made a name for herself back when she was studying at UA, when she helped in the take-down of the villainous yakuza group led by Overhaul. Due to her status as a minor and a provisional hero, Uravity wasn’t allowed to disclose her involvement with the take-down until she graduated and became a Pro Hero.”
The screen switched again to a press conference, where Uravity, along with Red Riot and Froppy, revealed they had in fact helped in the take-down of Overhaul three years beforehand. The announcement had skyrocketed, their public ratings and popularity to an all time high, leading the press conference and their involvement to stay on the trending topic for at least 2 months afterward. It wasn’t until the somewhat destructive and vulgar debut of Volatile Light that the media switched the topic of interest.
“Since then, Uravity has quickly raised in popularity. There have been rumors that soon, Uravity will have breached the Top 10 list, standing beside famous heroes like Tsukuyomi, Shouto, Red Riot, Froppy, Ingenium, and...what was his name?” A teasing smile touched Izuku’s lips as he tapped a finger to his cheek, feigning deep thought. “Oh, Hot Hand McSplodey!” His face burst into an explosion graphic. Bakugou Katsuki, Number 1 Hero Volatile Light, took his place on screen with a clip a civilian had captured of the hot-headed Hero roaring like a fucking animal at a villain. It was as if he’d gone out of his way to find the most unflattering photo of the Hero.
“Anyways,” the image faded, revealing Izuku with a more genuine smile, “congrats Uravity! I hope the rumor is true and we expect great things from you! Now, Best Jeanist, now retired, has recently released a line of hair products that are said to be super!”
The video droned on, Izuku pulling out a bottle of Best Jeanist’s hair product to try. The cell phone shook as Bakugou Katsuki snarled down at the screen, smoke rising from the tips of his fingers.
“FUCKING DEKU!” Katsuki roared at the top of his lungs, raising his phone over his head, readying himself to hurl it as far away as possible.
“What’s got him upset?” Ashido asked, tilting her head to the side as she blinked at Kirishima. Kirishima, red hair combed back into a messy pony-tail, shrugged his shoulders as he watched Katsuki rage as if it were a normal sight to see. It was, in fact it was one that he’d had plenty of experience dealing with.
“He watches that one blogger - what’s his name, Deku? - from HeroTube. Apparently Katsuki knew him when they were younger,” Kirishima explained, theatrically rolling his eyes as Katsuki hurled his phone across the room, light flaring in his hands with tiny, crackling explosions.
“I’ll fucking fight that little chucklefuck!” Katsuki roared.
Kaminari rolled his eyes, flipping another page of that week’s copy of Hero Weekly.
Izuku leaned back in his computer chair, stretching his arms over his head as he checked his view count on his newest upload. Seeing it hit over 1000 views, Izuku gave a soft smile.
A notification pinged from his laptop, signalling a new comment on the video.
ExplodoDeath: Fucking fight me DEKU! [Mark as spam?]
Izuku snorted, ignoring the comment. He scooted back from his computer desk, closing his laptop as he stood up.
“Hm, what can I make for lunch?” Izuku asked as he pattered over to his mini fridge in his room, peering at the nearly empty container.
21 and studying journalism, Izuku didn’t really hate life. Sure, he had been bitter once upon a time as the thought of never having a Quirk tormented him almost daily, but he learned to accept himself. He learned to accept that he could go on to do great things, just as the others in that 20% did.
It hadn’t been easy to find that more positive mindset. Far from it.
Middle school had been pure hell due to Bakugou Katsuki’s insistent bullying. The years before then felt like a trial run of the sort of monster he’d grow into. Sure, Izuku had donned the thickest skin he could, but after the taunting and the relentless torments of Katsuki laughing and saying, ‘ why don’t you take a swan-dive off the roof’, Izuku just...collapsed. High school had been more tolerable, once Katsuki had been accepted into UA and thus removed from Izuku’s life. The occasional bully still tried to start shit with Izuku and, after a encounter resulting in a punctured lung that landed him in the hospital for two weeks, Izuku was done. He couldn’t come home to see his mother cry at the sight of his bruised face any longer. He refused to make her pay for more trips to the hospital, decided that he would never wake up to see her sobbing at his bedside.
She didn’t deserve that. Neither did he.
Izuku began to work out to fix all of that, lifting weights and building up his body’s strength. Everyone had given heroes the credit for cleaning up the litter-coated beach line. Izuku never corrected anyone on their assumption, even when people swore they saw a teenager hauling washing machines or truck engines around like they were sacks of potatoes.
His final year of high school had proved to be stressful - both mentally and emotionally. His status as Quirkless had come back to punch him in the face when he was supposed to decide his career path. He had given up on being a Hero - he couldn’t with his status as a Quirkless teen. Even if a part of him had always known that, it still felt like a punch to the gut. No matter how far he’d gotten in his last year, his physical strength wouldn’t make up for not having a Quirk. He vividly remembered how the university preference forms sat in his backpack like countless weights digging into his spine. He’d put down a few Hero-related courses without even realising.
Not all hope had been lost, though. His interest in studying Heroes and Villains had been something of a well-known fact in his high school, and several classmates had commented on him finding a path in that with his observational skills, something he’d often been praised on. It was with those words in his heart that he found his true calling - journalism. His mother had been overjoyed with his choice - as in, she’d run into his arms crying in joy - and they’d celebrated the new chapter in his life with katsudon. It was a night he looked back on fondly.
With that, Izuku had to strive to show his worth with just his intellect and his determination, pushing against people whose Quirks worked effectively in collecting news. It had been a struggle but he’d gained his place with a scholarship at a local university, majoring in journalism. It was through his information gathering that one of his fellow students had offhandedly joked that he was so passionate about his work he could write countless essays and presentations just on adoration alone. Despite the fact it’d only been a jest, Izuku had been struck with an idea to make a video centered around All Might, whose popularity had been on the decline with his decreasing number of public appearances.
That was how he’d created his first video, which had dissolved into nothing more than an emotional rant about his Hero, and the entrance of a new Hero named Lemillion who seemed to bear a similar Quirk. Izuku had insisted that even with Lemillion around, All Might would always be considered the Symbol of Peace for everyone, and there was nothing or no one who could ever replace him.
The final product had gained enough attention to spur Izuku to release another video, focused on the disgrace of a Hero named Grape Juice, who had been sent to prison for sexual harassment and had his Hero status stripped. That video had caused even more traffic, with people awed by Izuku’s observational skills.
Someone had commented, asking Izuku if he could make a video on Eraser Head and that was how his current hobby had begun. It brought in a somewhat stable amount of income, and with his subscriber count growing daily, it helped lighten the load that his bills and student loans had created. It wasn’t much, but with that and his job at the convenience store down the street, Izuku was making it. In hindsight, he understood that he’d be in a much better financial position if he wasn’t the impulse buyer he’d become after being introduced to the wonders of a credit card and online shopping, but his All Might merchandise collection was something he held very close to his heart.
Izuku rose to his feet, nudging the door to his mini fridge shut as he turned away. He tugged his headband out of his hair, shaking the locks back into their natural place.
“Guess I’ll go buy some ramen.” He mumbled to himself, stepping into his bedroom to swipe his All Might themed wallet from his bed before he was moving again.
He walked through his nearly-bare apartment, the furniture scarce due to the fact Izuku had no friends and therefore, no company. No company meant he didn’t need to waste money on unnecessary stuff, like couches or decorations. Beside his bean-bag chair, coffee table, exercise equipment, and TV, Izuku’s living room was empty. His kitchen even more so. Besides a wok, some chopsticks, a spoon, a spatula, a frying pan, a tea kettle, a pot, and some bowls and plates, Izuku had nothing.
He was never going to invite his mother to his apartment. Never. She’d cry.
Izuku slipped his shoes on, grabbing his hoodie to throw on over his hand-made Uravity shirt. Patting his pockets to make sure he indeed had his wallet, he snagged his keys and left. As he made his way through the bustling street, headed for the convenience store down the road, he shoved his hands in his pocket to make up for a lack of gloves. The temperature was well and truly cooling down, but he would wear a dozen hoodies at once before even thinking of paying extra for heating.
Izuku kept his head down, focusing on his ideas for his next video.
People had been requesting a video on Shouto, the Number 2 Hero and son of Endeavor. Maybe he’d talk about the evidence he’d gathered that proved Shouto had a second quirk, just as many had assumed due to his father’s Quirk and his hair coloring. It suggested something more than just controlling ice and Izuku was honestly curious to delve into the rumors, assumptions, and speculations as he researched for the video.
Izuku got to the convenience store without any trouble, quickly scanning the aisles for something quick and easy to make. It wasn’t long before he spotted his favorite brand of ramen, but there was a small obstacle in his way. Some sort of skeleton man was standing in front of his go-to dinner, seemingly agonizing over which brand of ramen to buy. Izuku couldn’t really blame him, but he was hungry and time wasn’t exactly on his side that afternoon. He had to write up his script for his next video and he had a essay for one of his writing classes that wasn’t anywhere near done.
“Um, excuse me...” Izuku spoke up. The man jumped, turning toward the sound of Izuku’s voice, his gaze falling on the young man. His sunken-in eyes seemed to widen and his flesh-and-bone jaw worked open as Izuku continued, “Do you mind if I squeeze by you real quick? I just wanna grab some of those packs.”
Izuku caught the man’s eyes and inwardly hummed. Something in his eyes were familiar. Izuku just couldn’t pinpoint it.
The man hurriedly scurried out of the way, still staring.
“You- you-” the skeleton spoke up, voice raspy, “you’re that kid who makes those Hero videos, right?” Izuku’s cheeks heated as the man continued to stare.
“O-Oh, um, y-yeah?” Izuku stammered, ruffling his hair as a nervous tick. “I mean, um, I do post some videos but-”
“You made that hour long video on the history and significance of All Might, right?”
Izuku’s face heated further, avoiding eye contact. Oh man , he’d gotten so much traffic with that video. That video had established his place as a All Might fanatic, as if his bedroom background wasn’t cementing enough.
“Yep,” Izuku laughed, “that’s me.” With his confirmation, the man’s dead, caved in expression seemed to brighten slightly.
“I enjoyed that video. You have a lot of passion for Heroes, huh?” The man asked. Izuku rubbed at his neck, his blush darkening. Soon, he’d look as red as Red Riot’s hair.
“Um, well, I mean,” Izuku tried to cover his face with his hands. “Just- All Might is my Hero , y’know? Before I was labelled Quirkless, I really looked up to him as my inspiration to be a Hero.”
The man’s eyes widened. “You’re Quirkless?” The man brazenly asked.
“Ah, yeah,” Izuku lowered his arms, smiling. “Part of that twenty-percent. Ah, um, I’m Midoriya. Midoriya Izuku! Thanks, uh, for liking my videos?” The man’s own cheeks heated as he held a hand out.
“Yagi. Yagi Toshinori. I’ve watched a few of your videos. You really do admire All Might. It shows.” Izuku shook the man, Toshinori’s, hand and beamed.
“Thanks! Despite his retirement, he still holds a place in my heart.”
Toshinori looked like he was about to spit up blood.
“R-Retirement? Wasn’t...wasn’t he dead? Or missing?” Toshinori asked, shuffling his feet as Izuku tilted his head to the side, smile shrinking.
“Hm? No. All Might isn’t dead or missing - he’s retired,” Izuku repeated. “He passed his mantle of Symbol of Peace to that one hero, Lemillion. Lemillion just hasn’t had a lot of media coverage due to the constant shenanigans of Explodo Death - ah, excuse me - Volatile Light and the other Top 5 Heroes, but he’s in the Top 10.” Izuku scratched at his cheek, looking bitter at the fact. His brow creased as he went on, gesturing this way and that out of habit.
“Him and Sun Eater mostly work on helping with natural disaster sights and more densely populated villain areas, where news coverage is limited due to the danger. Because of that, a lot of Lemillion’s deeds are either dismissed or never heard of, despite him having the charisma and skill that All Might had.”
Toshinori leaned back from the flailing hands as Izuku seemed to sparkle as he relayed the information. Izuku, himself, continued to babble as astonishment overtook Toshinori’s usually hollowed expression.
“Also, if you paid attention to the news, All Might’s appearances had been slowly dwindling down throughout the years since almost more than ten years ago.” Izuku cupped his chin with his fingers, his voice almost trailing off into a mumble.
“Judging by the timeline of when All Might first appeared, you’d have to put him as being in his 50s, maybe closer to 60s judging by the iffy timeline of when All Might made his debut. Because of that, it isn’t alarming to think of him as merely retiring after passing his mantle to Lemillion, who is younger.” Izuku stopped, noticing the slack-jawed look Toshinori was sporting.
“You...you sure you don’t have a observational Quirk or anything? That’s - that was just…” Toshinori looked like he was floundering for what to say. Izuku gave a nervous chuckle.
“Ah, I’m sorry, no. I don’t. I just - I really love Heroes, so I’ve spent most of my life observing them. It’s easy to connect the dots once you start to gather all the facts. A part of journalism is making a story based on the facts you have so - uh - research and digging around is natural to me because of it. Um, sorry, I didn’t mean to ramble to much.”
“No,” Toshinori spoke, his voice holding something light and maybe a little wet. Izuku met his sparkling, glowing eyes and Izuku let out a wheeze as his own eyes widened.
Oh.
Oh .
“Thank you, young boy. I - I appreciate that,” Toshinori gave a weak laugh and awkwardly grabbed the same brand of ramen as Izuku had, looking down at it.
All Might Spicy Smash! Spicy Seafood Ramen!
Toshinori shook his head and gave a small nod to Izuku, shuffling away from the shell-shock young adult.
Izuku counted to ten before robotically marching to the cashier. He handed the tired looking cashier his purchases and barely heard the employee asking what he was doing in the store during his off day as he rung up his total. His mind was spinning as he handed over the exact change and dashed home.
Izuku fell face-first onto his bed, hugging his All Might pillow to his face.
He gave a muffled, high-pitched shriek.
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here with a new video! What is up , everybody! Deku here!” Izuku beamed happily at his camera, his eyes blanketed with white eyeliner and dark red eyeshadow. White fake eyelashes were glued to his lids, giving him an almost ethereal appearance as small painted red snowflakes mingled with his freckles against his cheeks. His bangs were braided to the side, held back with a fire-ball hair clip. His black long sleeve shirt read ‘ Katy Perry’s Inspiration ’ in white font.
“Today, I want to talk about the mysterious Number 2 Hero, Shouto.” A simple picture of the Hero appeared on screen, showing the man standing on a pillar of ice he’d created, his skin coated in a layer of ice.
“A simple hero, with his Hero name being his first name, Shouto was known to the media even before he debuted as a Hero. Known as the son of the former holder of the Number 2 spot, Endeavor, Shouto was treated by media as the second coming of the fiery Hero.”
A picture of Endeavor slid to be beside the picture of Shouto, allowing anyone to see the striking similarities.
“Disappointment was high when, during the Hero sports festival, Shouto only showed a quirk to control ice. Speculations formed, saying Shouto took after his mother’s quirk or that he was adopted or other crazy conspiracies.” Izuku twirled a curl around his finger, giving a thoughtful expression.
A grainy news clip from the sports festival all those years ago played, showing Shouto creating a glacier of ice on the arena floor as he competed against a fellow classmate.
“Well, today I want to discuss the evidence of Shouto’s hidden second Quirk. What’s his second Quirk? Well, isn’t it obvious? Fire!” Fireball effects lit up the screen around Izuku as some weird triumphant kazoo music played in the background.
“Now, lemme explain you a thing,” Izuku began seriously as the music died down. “Endeavor has a fire Quirk. Shouto’s mother who has never been publicly introduced, has an ice Quirk. Based on his hair coloring and what we know about genetically creating the perfect offspring to have their parents Quirks, it’s not too far-fetched to believe that based on Shouto’s coloring, he controls two quirks.”
“If you look at this photo heeeere ~” A image replaced Izuku’s face, showing a blurry camera-shot picture of Shouto, fire sprouts from his left side in small flickers. “You can see that there is fire surrounding Shouto’s left side, the side he usually encases in ice. Now, like me, y’all are probably wondering why Shouto hides his-”
The video paused.
Shouto blinked at his computer screen, turning his eyes slowly to the side as Ochako beamed at him.
“Isn’t he just the cutest?” Ochako gushed, pointing to Izuku’s pixelated dimples. “He did a video on me last week! Oh, look at his shirt - he must be referencing that American singer’s song ‘ Hot and Cold ’! Isn’t he just-”
A hand chopped in front of her face, shutting Ochako up.
“Ochako-san, please stop talking. I think you’ve broken Shouto-kun,” Tenya explained with a frown, pushing his glasses up his nose.
“You’re just jealous because he said your theme song should be ‘ Running in the 90s ’,” Ochako cheekily giggled. She dodged another hand chop.
“...How...how did he get that photo? I thought we made sure to erase everyone’s images during that clash with the Villain,” Shouto blinked, moving the cursor over to drag the video back a few minutes to stop at the image of Shouto using his fire.
Ochako gasped, grabbing Shouto’s cheeks in her hands as she swiveled his chair to face her. “Maybe he was there!” She said excitedly. “Oh man! What I wouldn’t give to get a drink with him! Did you see his biceps?”
“Calm down,” the two men ordered. Shouto frowned, running a hand over his scarred face.
“I...I don’t like his video,” Shouto explained slowly. “I dislike anyone knowing I’m connected to that man more than I already am.”
“Maybe you should ask him to take it down?” Tenya suggested. Shouto blinked.
“How?” Both he and Ochako asked. Tenya pushed his glasses up again, smirking.
“Eijirou-kun was texting me earlier about how Katsuki was ranting over his childhood friend messing up his name on Ochako-san’s video.” Tenya huffed with pride. Ochako gaped.
“That Katsuki knows Deku!?” Ochako cried out. “ What ?! That’s not fair but at the same time that’s so lucky! I’ll be back!” Ochako was gone in a flash, launching herself out the window of Shouto’s office. If they hadn’t witnessed her do that very same escape countless times over their years together, the two men might have lost their minds.
“Don’t fight him this time!” Shouto called after the hyper girl. He’d thought with age, she’d mature.
Instead, she’d gained a high-school crush on some vlogger.
“Katsuki !” Ochako kicked the door to Katsuki’s office open, nearly knocking it off the hinges. Katsuki looked up from his desk, his scowl deepening.
“The fuck you want, chubby cheeks?” Katsuki asked as he dropped a paper on his desk, his hands already sizzling.
“You know that Deku guy, don’t you?” Ochako asked as she stepped into the office, arms crossing over her chest. “Introduce us.”
Something spasmed across Katsuki’s face before he burst, throwing his desk the side as his palms exploded in little puffs.
“The fuck you just say, you bitch?! How the fuck would I know that fucking piece of shit Deku! Get the fuck out of here before I toss you out the window!”
From outside the office, two of Katsuki’s unfortunate interns peeked in with fearful expressions.
Ochako slid into a offensive pose, fire burning in her eyes.
“You wanna go?! You wanna fight? Meet me in the alley!” Ochako called back.
“Kirishima-san,” one of Katsuki’s interns sobbed into their cellphone as they cowered under their desk, “Uraraka-san showed up again. Could you please hurry?”
Katsuki lunged. Ochako grabbed him by the shoulders, flipping over him before activating her Quirk. Up Katski went, floating in the air with swear words raining down on the woman.
She smirked smugly. After dealing with Katsuki for 6 years, she knew his fighting style by heart.
Ochako sighed as she trudged down the street, shoulders slumped and head hung low. She just wanted to meet this guy. Was that too much to ask? She walked for several blocks to work out her disappointment, stopping a few times along the way for photos and autographs. Defeated, she started heading home, only to crash into someone in the middle of her moping, tumbling to the ground with them.
“Oh, crap, I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” A voice, a familiar voice, asked. Ochako’s head snapped up, tingling pain in her palms forgotten as she stared at Deku, the man she’d been desperate to find.
“Deku!” Ochako beamed, grabbing his hands in her grip. “I’ve been looking for you!”
Izuku’s face burst into a scarlet color, his words coming out in jumbled stutters as people watched them on the street. Sitting there on the ground was Uraraka Ochako, known hero Uravity, who was holding his hands. She was holding his hands.
She was holding his hands .
“Let’s get a coffee!” Ochako demanded and swept him up in a second.
Everything was a blur before Izuku found himself at a cafe table, a steaming mug of something in front of him as Ochako settled down across from to him.
She beamed triumphantly, looking far more pleased with herself than Izuku thought was necessary.
“Hi,” Ochako began. “I’m Uraraka. But you probably knew that. I’m a big fan of your vlogs.”
Izuku huddled into his shoulders, the tips of his ears red.
Cute, Ochako thought as she studied the man. Without his make-up or hair styles, he looked pretty normal. Not supermodel hot but attractive enough for the woman to notice people check him out from their spots around the cafe. His freckles seemed more prominent without any eye makeup to steal attention from and the tip of his nose was naturally pink. Really cute.
“Thank-thank you,” Izuku stuttered out. “Um-um, I’m-I’m super glad you liked my videos.”
“Of course Deku-san,” Ochako spoke and noticed Izuku’s subtle flinch. She tilted her head to the side.
“Ah, my-my name is Izuku. Ah, um, Midoriya Izuku. Deku- uh -Deku is my vlog name,” Izuku stuttered, trying to avoid looking at Ochako. She was a beautiful woman and amazing hero and Izuku would be stupid not to have a idol crush on her.
“Eh, really? Sorry. Why the name Deku?” Ochako asked as she stirred her iced green tea. Izuku picked up his drink, taking a tentative sip. He blinked at the french vanilla taste before setting the cup down. He gave a almost bitter smile.
“A childhood friend used to call me it as a slur because I’m Quirkless. I had wanted to be a hero but he said I wasn’t able to. It’s also another way to read the kanji of my name so it adds insult to injury. I kinda started to use it on my vlogs out of spite, honestly. Kinda like a ‘ Look at me now, you dick ’ thing,” Izuku explained. Ochako frowned, wondering what kind of kid could be so mean so young.
“Why though? It kinda sounds like dekiru ! It reminds me of ‘you can do it’!” Ochako beamed. Izuku stared at her, eyes wide. “That’s kinda how I thought of your name, at least.” Ochako suddenly looked sheepish. “Sorry.”
“N-no,” Izuku spoke, a weird wrinkle between his brow. “I-I kinda like that. I-thank you? I mean, um, I didn’t mean to sound so negative but-”
“Ah! Shouto-kun!” Ochako suddenly exclaimed.
“Huh?” Izuku looked around quickly, thinking the hero had appeared.
“Oh, no! Um, about that video you had posted about Shouto-kun,” Ochako fidgeted with her cup. “I was wondering if you could take it down?”
Izuku furrowed his eyebrows at the request.
“Ah, I’m sorry, it sound so selfish but Shouto-kun doesn’t want to be outed like that, y’know? He had his personal reasons for keeping his second quirk a secret and he was upset that you basically revealed to everyone that he has a fire quirk,” Ochako explained softly.
“Oh,” Izuku mentally smacked himself. “No, I’m sorry. I - I didn’t think about that. Um, it wasn’t really cool of me to do that, huh? I mean, um-”
“I don’t think I’m the one you should be apologizing to,” Ochako interrupted. She was staring seriously at Izuku. “It really wasn’t alright for you to do that, so you should remove the video and apologize to Shouto-kun.”
Izuku moved his attention to his hands, which were chipping at the handle of his mug.
“Okay,” Izuku agreed. “How can I apologize?”
Shouto and Tenya looked up as the door opened, Ochako trailing with while tugging on some man’s arm.
Shouto blinked at the man from the video, Deku.
“I’m here to apologize,” Izuku began as the two men stared at him. “I’ve removed the video and would like to formally apologize for any discomfort I caused you. I wasn’t thinking and didn’t stop to consider your thoughts and feelings when I made the video. You have your personal reasons to not show your fire Quirk and it wasn’t my place to out you like that, or make judgements. I’m very sorry.” Izuku bowed to Shouto, who stared with wide eyes. Tenya and Shouto shot Ochako confused looks, who merely smirked smugly at them.
“Ochako-san,” Tenya hissed in a low whisper as Izuku continued to just stay in his bowed position. “You didn’t have to kidnap the man!”
“I didn’t !” Ochako snapped back, sounding offended.
“You...didn’t have the right to make that video,” Shouto started and Izuku grimaced. “But you probably didn’t think there was anything wrong with making the video. If...if you want, I can give you a interview?”
Silence met Shouto’s offer.
“Huh?” Izuku whipped his head up so quick, Tenya was momentarily concerned the man would break his neck. “A-A interview ? But - but shouldn’t you be mad at me?”
Shouto frowned at the man.
“I’m mad, yes, but - I don’t think you meant to hurt me with your video. You didn’t know my personal reasons or anything like that and didn’t think you’d be causing any damage by making the video. I understand that and know you truly are sorry. If - if you’d like to know more about me, why not a interview?” Shouto shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“Okay,” Izuku answered dumbly. “Okay. Um, yeah. I - I’d like that.” Izuku gave a small smile and Shouto averted his eyes.
Behind Izuku, Ochako and Tenya were sharing matching grins.
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here LIVE! What is up everybody! Deku here! Now, you’ve probably noticed I took down my last video concerning the hero Shouto. I realized that what I did was not cool and as a apology, took the video down. Instead, today I have a special guest here with me for a exclusive interview!” Like his last video, Izuku was sporting the fake eyelashes, white and red make-up, and had his hair braided. Sitting stiffly beside him while marvelling at the All Might themed room, was Shouto.
Shouto, who had waited patiently for the twenty minutes it’d taken Izuku to do his make-up, seemed a little unnerved at the amount of effort being put into the video for him. Izuku hadn’t minded letting him watch, in fact it was Shouto who’d braided his hair better than Izuku could himself, something he’d done quietly without so much as a word. For such a strong Hero, Shouto was probably the quietest person he’d ever met. And, somehow, that just made him want to know more about him.
“Here with me today is Number 2 Hero, Shouto! He was extremely generous enough to allow me to interview him today.” Izuku gestured to Shouto, who nodded awkwardly at the camera.
“So, Shouto-san, what’s it like to be Number 2 Hero?” Izuku asked, turning his attention to Shouto. Shouto stared at Izuku’s make-up, still not getting over how the man would wear such elaborate stuff for his videos.
“Oh,” Shouto blinked himself back into awareness. “It is...difficult to hold such a title. Endeavor was the Number 2 holder and I do not wish to share any similarities with that man.”
“Oh?” Izuku blinked and Shouto watched the way the fake lashes brushed against his rosy cheeks. “You don’t have a good relationship with your father?”
Shouto’s eyes were cold, his jaw muscles tensing.
“I do not see that man as my father,” Shouto explained hotly. “He was merely the man who gave my mother the sperm to create me. I do not like to associate with him or be compared to him. I am strong enough with my mother’s Quirk. My ice is my power.”
“Is it?” Izuku asked softly. “From what I’ve seen, Shouto-san, your ice Quirk has serious drawbacks.” Shouto’s lips pulled into a curious frown, wondering what Izuku meant. “Your ice Quirk seems to affect you physically, in the form of frostbite, correct? From what I’ve noticed, when you use your Quirk for an extended amount of time, your body’s temperature seems to be affected, causing you to slow down and lose strength.”
With each sentence out of Izuku’s mouth, Shouto’s expression seemed to grow darker. “So would you really consider it a strength if it hinders you?”
“What are you implying? That I’m weak?” Shouto spat out, the faintest flickers of flames licking at his left cheek. “That I need to use that man’s Quirk to be strong?”
Izuku looked confused.
“No,” Izuku clarified. “I’m suggesting you use your Quirk, your power, to counteract the negative affects your ice Quirk leaves on your body. Your second Quirk controls fire, right? Why don’t you use both of your Quirks at the same time to help regulate your body’s temperature and stop yourself from weakening?”
Shouto stiffened, eyes narrowing just slightly as he tried processing the words.
“The fire quirk you have isn’t your father’s Quirk, Shouto-san,” Izuku continued, “it’s yours . How you chose to wield it is up to you. Not your mother, not your father, and not even the media can tell you what to do with your Quirks - your power.”His lips curved into a gentle smile and momentarily, Shouto thought his brain had shut down - he couldn’t think coherently, couldn’t understand why someone he barely knew was being so damn encouraging .
Izuku apparently wasn’t aware of the emotional breakthrough his guest seemed to be experiencing. “Only you can make that decision.” He said. “So, if you want to continue staying stuck facing a wall in terms of strength and weaknesses due to shunning a part of yourself, go ahead. But you have the ability and power to move over that wall and continue to grow, Shouto-san. Why don’t you grasp it?”
Shouto’s expression had eased from the dark scowl, slowly melting into a almost teary-eyed awe at the shorter adult’s speech.
“Besides,” Izuku gave a cheeky smile, “I personally like my guys to be a little hot under the collar.”
Shouto’s left side burst into flames as his cheeks flushed, Izuku giving a squawk at the sudden fire.
“That’s a limited collector’s edition All Might poster behind you! Only five were ever made! Don’t you burn it or I’ll fucking fight you !” Izuku’s voice was a shrill scream as Shouto quickly diminished his flames, face still scarlet.
“But look at that,” Izuku beamed once he was certain nothing had been damaged. “You can use your flames after all!”
Shouto just stared at Izuku’s bright, sunny smile, his freckled rosy cheeks, his shining green eyes-
“Will you marry me?” Shouto blurted out before he even realized what he’d just said.
Izuku dropped his water bottle, lips frozen in a pucker. Water pooled at his feet as he stared blankly into thin air, unable to process what Shouto just asked. On the computer screen, Shouto could see the comment thread going crazy. Izuku’s face swelled with blood and he jerkily moved his hand to the mouse.
“I--uh-um-okay-um - that’s - that’s it for the interview people. Thank-thank for watch-” Izuku gurgled and quickly stopped the live feed.
“WHAT THE FUCK DUDE!” Izuku burst the moment he was sure they weren’t live. “DUDE! You don’t - we don’t - I don’t know you !” This was it, his brain had short-circuited entirely. “I-I think you should, like, go and I’m going to move to, like, Antarctica - or somewhere far - far away from here and-”
“Thanks for the interview, Deku!” Ochako, who’d been hanging out of the shot with Tenya, quickly snatched the back of the confused Shouto’s shirt, using her strength to easily haul him up and out of the room. Tenya, who’d been making soundless hand chopping motions, just opened and closed his mouth before turning on his heel and following the other two heroes out.
Izuku buried his face into his hands and wordlessly screamed.
Hot tea continued to pool from the remains of a shattered cup, staining the wooden desk it’d been poured on as Endeavor stared blankly ahead at the computer screen. Beside him, his intern glanced back and forth worriedly.
Toshinori gave a breathless wheeze as he hugged his sore stomach, exiting out of the web browser. He couldn’t - he couldn’t believe Todoroki would do that! Sure, Midoriya had some guts to flirt the fire Quirk out of Shouto but - goddamn !
“I honestly didn’t think that kid would do that,” Aizawa spoke from his spoke beside Toshinori, Hizashi howling in laughter from his spot on Aizawa’a lap.
“Oh man! But that was BEAUTIFUL! Who’d have thought that stoic Todoroki would propose to a complete stranger!”
“Midoriya-kun sure is surprising,” Toshinori agreed, wiping a tear from his eye.
“FUCK! FUCKING HALF-AND-HALF BASTARD! I’LL FUCKING TEAR HIS INTESTINES OUT AND STRING THEM FROM TOKYO TOWER FOR THE WORLD TO SEE AND-!”
“Careful there bro,” Kirishima, who was sprawled out on the floor with a stack of papers surrounding him, called, “You sound like a villain.”
“FUCK DEKU! FUCK HALF-AND-HALF! FUCKING DEKU! FUCK DEKU!”
“Yeah I bet you wanna,” Kaminari whispered.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP DENKI!”
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here with a new video! What is up everybody! Deku here, LIVE for another Q and A session! Now for those of you who aren’t familiar with my Q and A live streams, on my Tumblr and Twitter accounts this week, I’ve ask y’all to send me any question that’s been burning a hole in your pocket! So, I went through and picked the ones that were most asked, and I’ll be answering them for this live stream!” Izuku beamed, a beanie covering his hair and pulling his bangs out of his face. Glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, his freckles more prominent without any make-up on his face.
“So, without further ado, let’s get started! First question comes from hotandmilky from Tumblr.” He announced. “They ask: Deku, what is your morning routine to get ready for the day? Well, hotandmilky, good question! Love the name, by the way. Ah, my mornings usually start at 5 am. I get home from work, pull on a hoodie and some shorts, and take a light jog around the block and down on the beach. I’ll get home around 7, take a shower, make some boiled eggs and rice for breakfast, and then depending on how long I had worked, go to bed.”
Along the comment thread, the comments were speeding by faster than Izuku could read.
Gravity-Girl: That’s your breakfast in the morning??? Where’s the miso soup? The protein? Boiled eggs don’t do shit!
Iida: I have to agree with @ Gravity-Girl. That is hardly the proper breakfast to get you through the morning until lunch!
“Next question is from @Booty_Shorts_And_Boys on Twitter. They ask: What is your most cherished memory? Aw, that’s so cute! I love this question - it’s so sweet. Well, uh...I guess my most cherished memory was the day I almost died?”
Gravity-Girl: What
Iida: Pardon?
Todoroki_S: What??
Hush Die Bye Baby: EXCUSE ME???
Explodo_Death: TF U JUST SAY
DadMight_01: Uh, pardon me young man, but could you repeat yourself??
An0n: Obviously none of you have been to these Q&As before
Guest: y’all should have been to the last one! It was wild. Man, I still can’t believe that he got to go to a rave with Kamui Woods.
Explodo_Death: it’ll be fuckin wild when i find where you live and
[@Explodo_Death- has been temporarily kicked from the comment section by @An0n due to verbal abuse].
Gravity-Girl: did he just get blocked mid-sentence
An0n: No need to thank me, peasants.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: y’all are so mean. I’ll bring him back in
Gravity-Girl: DENKI NO
Pikachu_I_Am_You: DENKI YES
[@Explodo_Death- has been added back into the comment section by @Pikachu_I_Am_You].
Birb: You fool.
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: Can’t we go a video without causing drama???
Todoroki_S: Have you met us?
Animals: Unfortunately, we’ve all been subjected to each other for a horrendous amount of time
Iida: As Student President I find that to be quite insulting. I thought we’d become something of a family.
Explodo_Death: WE’VE BEEN GRADUATED FOR YEARS STOP CALLING YOURSELF THE FUCKIN STUDENT PREZ
Packing_Tape: @Iida dude. Stop. it was funny the first month. Now it’s just creepy and sad
Iida: ...
Gravity-Girl: Damn they coming for your blood @Iida
Grapes_And_Boobs: shut the fuck up, you guys. I want to hear this bitch’s backstory
Explodo_Death: since when the fuck have you been out of prison??!
Gravity-Girl: He’s not supposed to be...
[@Grapes_And_Boobs has been permanently banned from the website by @Deku_Deku_Desu due to vulgar existence].
Packing_Tape: I think the best part of this website is the fact you can put whatever reason you want for blocking people
Guest: but can you really block someone from the website tho?
Easy_Baked_Oven: please don’t question it. Just. Don’t.
Birb: You underestimate our power.
Izuku burst into a fit of laughter at the comments flooding through following his statement. “Wait, wait , calm down, you guys! I mean, like, at least let me start the story. So. Sit back folks, about to have a story time.” Izuku beamed at the camera, rubbing his wrist with his opposite hand. “Okay, so, I waaaas... 2nd? 3rd? 3rd year! I was in my 3rd year of middle school. I was walking home from school after having a huge encounter with one my bullies-”
Gravity-Girl: who bullied you?
Todoroki_S: Yes I would like to know as well give me names plz thnx
Explodo_Death: STFU
“-and while walking through a tunnel, a sludge Villain popped up from the sewers. As y’all know, I’m Quirkless so-”
DadMight_01: wait a minute
“-I was completely terrified and had no way of defending myself. The Villain attacked me and tried to take over my body.”
Explodo_Death: WHEN THE FUCK DID THIS HAPPEN???
Todoroki_S: When you say take over your body, what do you mean exactly?
“Ah, sorry. Like, the sludge Villain was trying to shove himself into my body through my nose, mouth, ears - basically anywhere he could. I was suffocating because of the whole ordeal. And then, right as I was starting to blackout, he showed up.” Izuku absently rubbed at his throat, his expression far away. “All Might. Punched the sludge monster off me and sealed him up in empty soda bottles. Stayed with me until I regained consciousness and then he took the sludge Villain to the police.”
DadMight_01: Oh. Oh. Okay.
Izuku’s face blossomed into a small smile.
“All Might’s always been my favorite hero ever since I was a child, but it was the first time he’d ever personally saved me, y’know? I got to meet him in the flesh and - man -that was something. Like, oh my god. Just. He looks so much cooler in the flesh, y’know? The media doesn’t do him justice! Anyways, yeah! That is my most cherished memory! Meeting All Might after almost dying.”
Explodo_Death: DEKU WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT WHY YOU WERE ABSENT FOR A FUCKING WEEK
Gravity-Girl: Oh my god that sounds horrible! So scary!
“Next question! This is from alstaart over on Tumblr. They asks: How did you become so comfortable with yourself and your sexuality? Well alstaart, here’s the secret - I just stopped giving a fuck. After I ended up in the hospital with a punctured lung from a bully-”
Gravity-Girl: No seriously I need some names
Todoroki_S: I second that
Iida: I suppose I could supervise whatever activities follow after learning these names
Packing_Tape: I think you mean you want in
Ghost_Girl: I could go for some supervised ass-kicking!
“-I realized that life was short-”
Hush Die Bye Baby: A punctured lung gave you a near death experience but not near suffocation at the hands of a sludge monster? Ooookay
Pikachu_I_Am_You: seriously dude you’re amazing
Explodo_Death: @Pikachu_I_Am_You Denki I swear to FUCK
“-and I should just not care what people think. I was already being bullied for being Quirkless, coming out as bisexual wasn’t going to change anything. So, I just...began to focus on myself. Who I was. I accepted myself as Quirkless - I could learn to accept myself as bisexual. I also made a friend in high school -Toga-chan - who got me into makeup and well, y’know how that ended. Haha. My advice is just learn who you are , not who everyone wants you to be. You are living life for yourself. Enjoy it as such. Now, any questions from the comment section?”
Todoroki_S: Will you marry me?
Gravity-Girl: How are you single rn?
Hush Die Bye Baby: Can I get them digits?
Iida: How have you fared in life as Quirkless while everyone around you has a quirk?
Gravity-Girl: Oooooh good one! @Iida
Explodo_Death: Yeah how the fuck are you so goddamn happy all the fucking time?
DadMight_01: What do you do for a job?
Gimme A Hand or 2: Have you ever thought of doing a Villain video?
“Oooh, I like that question Tenya,” Izuku spoke, barely batting an eyelash at the other comments. “I also like DadMight_01’s - love the username by the way- and Gimme A Hand or 2’s. I actually have a Villain video in the works. I’m just needing to collect more information-”
Gimme A Hand or 2 : I can help with that
Pikachu_I_Am_You: you can what now
Ghost_Girl: concern.jpeg
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand: I can also help with this information gathering, if you so wish it, Midoriya Izuku-kun~ ;)
An0n : honestly i am always at least 70% lost at all times when reading through Deku’s comment section
Guest2: ya aint the only one, buddy
Todoroki_S: ...What’s the other 30%?
An0n: cONSTANT FEAR
Guest4: So like is no one gonna mention DABIn’s comment?? That sounds hella ominous there, friends
“-and edit the video together with more pictures. As for my job, I’ve recently changed my shift to nights at a convenience store-”
Explodo_Death: where tho
An0n: if Deku ends up going missing at least five of these people are potential kidnappers
Gravity-Girl: that’s fair.
Blood-of-my-enemies: Six* @An0n
An0n: yeah i’m changing that 30% of constant fear to like...42%
Iida: That’s oddly specific.
Cattaser-Head: Only 42%?
“-so that’s fun. And for Iida’s question - it’s been hard. I’m not going to lie. I hated it for a while when I was younger - especially when I was younger. I used to go to a therapist about my anxiety and depression that was caused by years of bullying and low self-esteem. Like, I’m not going to lie to you guys - I used to be a mess.” the laugh that left his lips was humorless. “Middle school and high school were dark times for me. Especially after that close call with the sludge monster.” Something dark flitted across Izuku’s expression and he shook his head.
Packing_Tape: shit, dude…
An0n: what a guy. seriously. what a guy.
Hush_Die_Bye_Baby: so, like, wanna give me names so I can make sure no one ever hurts you ever, ever again? Like, for real tho I’m waiting
DadMight_01: it takes courage to reveal something so personal to people! I’m proud of your bravery!
Gravity-Girl: you’re a real Hero, Deku. Quirk or not.
Iida: I couldn’t agree more.
Todoroki_S: I think having a presence such as yours in times such as these is truly healing.
Explodo_Death: ...
Tears briefly shone in Izuku’s eyes at the sudden support. “Thank you, everyone. I’m grateful for that, really.” He brushed the dampness from his lashes with the back of his hand. “Anyways, it was just a struggle. Especially when everyone automatically assumes you have a Quirk and ask you to complete impossible tasks. But, that’s in the past, and I’ve grown to love being Quirkless - it’s always fun to see people’s expressions when they realize my awesomeness is one-hundred percent me.” He beamed brightly.
“Well, that’s all I can do for today folks! Keep an eye out for my next video. It’s about a certain explosive hero.” Izuku winked at the camera.
Explodo_Death: FUCKING FINALLY .
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here with a new video! What is up , everybody! Deku here today to talk to you about the rise of the current Number 1 Hero - Volatile Light.” Izuku’s hair was messy and curled like a halo around his head. His eyes were outlined with orange eyeliner, his eyeshadow a smokey grey. Black eyeshadow stretched from his eyes to his temples, looking similar to Volatile Light’s mask. He wore a black long sleeve shirt with the words, ‘Baby you make my heart go BOOM’ in yellow font.
“Originally debuted under the name Explodo Death, the Hero was known for his hostile personality and unorthodox ways of Hero-ing. Due to the media backlash of his debut Hero name, Volatile Light was chosen to represent the hot headed Hero.” Izuku tapped on his chin, leaning back in his chair.
“You probably remember seeing the first news clips of his debut, right? When he’d grabbed that child about to be squished by the giant villain and had catapulted the poor kid into the air to save him? Remember that? Well, that was the start of what was called the ‘Explodo-Explosion’.” He couldn’t help but laugh as he reminisced.
“Volatile became a meme, the image of him chucking that kid cropped and photoshopped into different scenarios. It was hilarious. I personally partook in a few myself.” Izuku’s image shrunk to show a photoshopped image of Volatile, mouth set in a roar, arm extended in a throw. He was photoshopped on a beach, making to look like he was spiking a volleyball.
“Anyways, after a lot of debate on the internet and news, people began to criticise Volatile Light. His attitude, his language, hell, even his costume. They said he was too much like a Villain and they thought he needed a attitude check.” Izuku snorted, as if amused by the past debates.
“Now, for those of you who knew or knows Volatile Light, y’all know that this dude cannot calm down. It isn’t in his word bank. He does not know the definition of chill. At all. So of course, how did this almighty hero respond on live TV?”
A news’ clip replaced Izuku, showing Volatile Light flipping off the crowd while telling them, ‘ Go fuck yourself !’.
“Yeah. Not smooth, Kacchan.” Izuku’s voice was barely audible, his words a low mumble. “After this fiasco, Volatile was adamant about proving himself to the public that being a hero was about the work you put in - not how you presented yourself. Sure, he matured after his debut but, y’know, it’s funny still. He’s the first hero to tell the public on national TV to go fuck themselves. Damn, Kacchan, what a Hero.” Izuku snickered.
The video paused, Katsuki frowning down at the scrunched facial expression Izuku sported.
The corner of his mouth quirked up just slightly as he closed his laptop. Katsuki rested his chin in his palm, index finger tapping at his temple. The tips of his ears were a faint red.
“Kirishima-sama,” one of the interns sobbed as they hid under their desk, “Volatile-san looks...happy?! What do we do? Is the world ending?”
The screen flickered until it showed Izuku at his desk, a bundle of letters near his right elbow while a tower of boxes rested by his left shoulder, just barely in the view of the camera.
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here with a new video! What is up everybody! Deku here, LIVE! Oh, I am so excited today!” Izuku twirled in his chair, his hair bouncing from the messy buns he’d tried tying it into on the top of his head. His green eyes were outlined with pink eyeshadow, white eyeliner making the green pop. He wore a baggy, white sweatshirt that read, ‘I may not have any mentionable Quirks, but I sure got some personality’.
“Today is a very exciting live stream! I don’t know how, but someone found my super old Tumblr, where I had stupidly put my address up-”
Explodo_Death: where the fuck is this Tumblr
Iida: Midoriya-kun, it is not safe to release such personal information! You need to be careful!
Todoroki_S: I don’t like strangers knowing my husband’s address
Gravity-Girl: He. Never. Said. Yes. Say it with me now. HE! NEVER! SAID! YES!
Pikachu_I_Am_You: can someone fill me in, i think i missed the part where TODOROKI FUCKING SHOUTO PROPOSED TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING
Packing_Tape: honestly we all need another class catch-up because i am missing so much rn
Hush Die Bye Baby: Someone’s in denial~ @Todoroki_S
“-and released it! As weird as that is, I suddenly got some fan mail!” Izuku clapped, giddy as he bounced in his chair.
Explodo_Death: TF PEOPLE SENDING YOU SHIT FOR
Red_Riot_Death: Buddy, dude, bro, pal, amigo, nakama, tomodachi, platonic homo-homie for life, we gotta work on your CAPS lock aggression
“So, without further ado, let’s see what my fans have sent me! This is so exciting! I’ve never received gifts before!” Izuku gushed, leaning over his arm rest to grab at the packages.
Gravity-Girl: Why has your life been so sad, my beautiful Macho-Man? I feel like I need to beat up the universe now.
Todoroki_S: We’ll tag team the universe. I gotchu, girl.
Iida: If I didn’t live with you two, I’d have thought you were joking.
Red_Riot_Death: did i wake up in an alternative universe where Shouto proposes to random strangers and uses the word ‘gotchu’ or am i just waaay too sober for this shit rn
An0n: @Red_Riot_Death: we’re all too sober for this shit rn
Izuku sat back up, holding a pink package. His eyes were sparkling brightly as he showed off the chibi hero drawings marking the package in black sharpie.
“I’m totally fucking keeping this and framing it above my bed,” Izuku swore, gingerly tearing the top of the package with a pocket knife. Izuku removed a shirt, wrapped in plastic. A gigantic grin broke out on his face as he tore the plastic away, revealing a white long shirt with a chibi of him printed on the T.
“Look at it!” Izuku all but screamed as he shoved the shirt into the camera, trying to make it focus on the chibi graphic. “It’s me! Look! Oh my god, it’s so adorable! Look at my freckles!” Izuku pulled the shirt back, admiring it.
Todoroki_S: I want ten.
Explodo_Death: That looks nothing like you! You look way c
Gravity-Girl: @Explodo_Death you wanna finish that sentence buddy?
Explodo_Death: Fuck you
Red_Riot_Death: c’mon man settle down
Explodo_Death: @Red_Riot_Death I’ll settle you down into your damn grave
“Oh my god, you didn’t leave a name, but whoever you are, thank you so so much! I absolutely love it! I’m going to wear it for my next video!” Izuku continued to squeal, absolutely enamoured by the shirt.
Todoroki_S: suddenly I am jealous of a piece of clothing
Earphone_Actress: Check yourself, plz @Todoroki_S
“I think I’m going to cry,” Izuku spoke, voice cracking. He quickly sniffled, gently laying the shirt down on one of his armrests. “Okay, okay, sorry guys! Next one!” Izuku grabbed from the bundles of letter, showing off the baby blue envelope with hero stickers littering the outside.
“I’m framing this one too,” Izuku told the camera seriously, opening the envelope. He unfolded the white paper, giving a squeal as he all but knocked his camera down in his haste to show the letter.
“It’s a picture! Of me! As a hero!” Izuku nearly screamed, his cheeks a rosy red as he almost toppled out of his chair. He withdrew his arm, showing off the picture.
It was a rather detailed crayon drawing, as if a professional had drawn it. It showed Deku in a green costume with baggy pants and a bandana around his face, giving an interview to Lemillion. ‘ For my favorite Hero! - Eri’ was hastily written up at the top.
Izuku’s breath hitched, staring down at the words for a moment.
For my Hero , it read. Hero. Someone thought of him as their Hero. That stung something fierce, though Izuku couldn’t determine if it was a good or bad sting. Izuku inhaled, seeming to come back to himself and all but smashed the picture to his chest, hugging it.
“I love this!” Izuku all but shrieked as he smoothed the picture out, placing it on his desk for safekeeping.
Explodo_Death: I could draw better
Gravity-Girl: @Explodo_Death The most I ever saw you draw were stick figures being killed in an explosion. Miss me with that bullshit.
Explodo_Death: @ Gravity-Girl fucking FITE ME
Izuku opened another package, giving a giddy clap as he stared down at the makeup pallet. He opened the case, showing off the arrange of eyeshadows.
“Look at these colors! Oooh, I could use that color for Lemillion, and that one for Sun Eater. Oh, look at this gorgeous red! That’d definitely match Red Riot!” Izuku pointed out the various colors, his smile growing wider as he listed off the ideas.
Red_Riot_Death: That IS a good red! What’s the name of that red?
Izuku paused in his chattering, seeing the comment. Izuku brought the pallet box closer, squinting at the small print. “It’s...uh...Blood Of My... Enemies…” Izuku lowered the box, staring blankly at it. “Well.”
Red_Riot_Death: Well
Gravity-Girl: Well
Iida: Well
Explodo_Death: I don’t see the problem???
Hush Die Bye Baby: You wouldn’t
Pikachu_I_Am_You: honestly its sad because its true
Izuku laughed at the comments, his eyes sparkling as he pulled a small box onto his lap. He cut the box open, opening the flaps.
His jaw dropped.
Gravity-Girl: What was it? What was it?
Izuku gingerly pulled a hand-stitched All Might plushie out of the box, a little ribbon tied around one of his blonde antennas.
“It’s so beautiful,” Izuku sobbed out, tears welling as he stared at the little stitched smile. “Oh my god, look at how cute this Little Might is! I absolutely love him! I’m going to sleep with him on my bed every night!”
DadMight_01: Little Might…
Todoroki_S: Suddenly I am jealous of a doll
Momo_Without_A_Peach: @ Todoroki_S can you maybe calm down a bit?
Explodo_Death: I’ll admit, it does look pretty well made.
Gravity-Girl: @ Explodo-Death did you just compliment someone?
Explodo_Death: STFU
Izuku shook his head, placing the doll down on his lap and grabbed for a box. “Uh, next one! Oh, this one has a name! This package is from DadMight_01! Hey, wait, haven’t I seen you in the comments?"
DadMight_01: Yes. Hello.
“Hi!” Izuku cheerfully waved, beaming a white teeth smile at the viewers. “Thank you so much for sending me some fan mail!”
DadMight_01: It’s no problem. I thought you’d enjoy it more. It was collecting dust.
Explodo_Death: @ DadMight_01 excuse me but who the fuck are you????
DadMight_01: Ah, young Bakugou.
Explodo_Death: ?????????
Gravity-Girl: @ DadMight_01 ….no way….
Iida: @ Gravity-Girl and @ DadMight_01 Am I dreaming?
Izuku tore open the box, foregoing the duct tape and just destroying the box, almost ripping it in half.
Gimme A Hand or 2: what did that box ever do to you?
Izuku’s eyes widened, his fingers nearly going slack on the short-sleeve shirt he’d pulled out of the box.
“This-this-this-this is THE ALL MIGHT SHIRT! The first ever design they had made for All Might! There were only 100 of them made! I’ve never been able to find it and you’re giving it to me?!” Izuku was vibrating in his chair, his form a blur as he all but ripped his long sleeve shirt off to exchange it for his new shirt.
He had one arm through the short sleeve hole when he caught a comment.
Guest: Holy fuck what happened to your arms???!!!
As if splashed with ice cold water, Izuku froze. His smile shrunk until it was a small, tiny grimace. He stared at his reflection on the computer screen, where discolored splotches could be seen along his shoulders. His eyes trailed from the screen, his head turning down to the side where his scars were.
They looked like angry blisters, clumps of layered flesh that grew over each other. They shined, unlike the rest of his flesh, as they stretched along his shoulders and arms, reaching for his collarbone. It looked like the skin along his shoulders had been shredded off, only to be patched back on haphazardly. Small, circular scars trailed along his ribs, reminiscent of cigarette burns. Thin pale lines danced across his shoulders like ribbons, tying neatly into one big mess of ruined skin.
Explodo_Death: what...what are those?
DadMight_01: Oh, young Midoriya.
Gravity-Girl: Deku-kun, are those burn scars!? Did someone do that to you!?
Todoroki_S: I’m so sorry.
Izuku flushed a dark shade of red. Either from shame or embarrassment, the viewers couldn’t tell, as Izuku scrambled to grab his abandoned long sleeve. He avoided looking at the camera as he switched shirts, adjusting the baggy sleeves over his arms and shoulders.
Izuku wasn’t ashamed of his status of Quirkless. He wasn’t ashamed of who he was. He was, however, ashamed of the marks left on his body by those who were ashamed of his existence. They were brands, showing to the world that he was Quirkless - useless - worthless . They were reminders to how much of a failure everyone thought he was. How much of a failure he was to himself.
“Ah, um, I-I’ll try the shirt on later, DadMight. Thank you for it. I really love it. Seriously. Um, onto the next-”
Explodo_Death: Deku, where the fuck did you get those scars?
Todoroki_S @ Explodo_Death Maybe he doesn’t want to answer such a personal question LIVE where strangers are watching him. Who are you to him, anyways?
Izuku bit his bottom lip, a familiar burning wetness building along his eyes.He blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to dry his eyes and opened his mouth to continue talking.
“Just...just bullies,” Izuku finally choked out, his voice cracking slightly.
“You’re a fucking Quirkless loser,” one of the 3rd years laughed, shoving him harder into the shelf. Sports equipment rained down on them, a basketball bouncing towards the cracked shed door. “The fuck you think you doing, walking around as if you deserve to?”
“Maybe he needs to be taught a lesson,” another 3rd year snickered, cigarette held lightly in his claw. His animalistic eyes went down to his cigarette and his expression lightened. “I know just the motivational teacher too!”
“Wait,” Izuku gasped out, fear locking his legs as his voice came out in a breathless plea. “Stop. P-please.” His face throbbed, where the student with the heavy fists had punched him. Another student, his quirk giving him the ability to render people motionless, had kept Izuku still while the heavy-handed one had wailed on him. His chest felt tight and it was a struggle to breathe. Any time he tried to inhale, there was an indescribable stab of pain that seemed to gut him from the inside out. His body was growing weaker by the second, his limbs shaking with an effort to hold him up. His breathing sounded weird - as if he wasn’t taking in full lungfuls of air.
Heavy-hands threw him to the ground, Izuku’s mouth opening in a silent scream. Pain stole his voice, locking it away as white and black spots momentarily blinded him. A foot slammed down on his hand and he felt his body grow stiff from the effects of one of their quirks. He felt hands grabbing at his uniform shirt, tearing it open.
“P-please,” Izuku croaked. A hand shoved his face into the dirt, shutting him up. A hand smoothed down the skin of his ribs and a hot, heavy lump swelled in Izuku’s throat.
He felt the heat before anything, a familiar warmth that caused him to screw his eyes more out of habit than anything. That type of heat promised pain. And pain it brought. It felt like his flesh was caving under the butt of the cigarette and it was nothing like the burn of Katsuki’s Quirk against his body. This burn felt like thousands of knives sinking into him and dragging down, carving into his flesh. The cigarette butt was lifted, only to descend under the previous location.
Izuku gritted his teeth, tasting blood in his mouth. Another burn. He wouldn’t scream. Another one. He wouldn’t cry. Another one, this one pressing down harder than the last. He wouldn’t-
“What,” a girl’s voice, a flash of blonde hair, blood dripping from a small pocket knife, “are you doing to that cute little bunny?”
“Just the bullies.” He tried to laugh but it sounded more like a wheeze as he fiddled with a envelope. Izuku avoided looking at the camera, at the comments, at himself, instead flicking at the corner of the rectangular letter.
Hush Die Bye Baby: Bullies did that? The fuck, they used their Quirks on you? I pray none of them ever became heroes. That’s scary to think about.
Explodo_Death: Why...why did you never say anything? That you were hurt like that?
Gravity-Girl: @Explodo_Death you okay there dude? Deku-kun, did you ever tell a teacher or a parent? That’s some serious damage!
DadMight_01: You are very brave, young Midoriya! To still be able to smile after that and to be able to proudly show your scars!
Izuku’s eyes finally lifted to the screen, only to recoil in his chair at that last comment. Proudly? Proudly? How was he wearing them proudly when -
A searing burn hit his nerves, sending them into overdrive as the heat trailed up his shoulder, twisting around his neck like a noose. Katsuki gave a snarl of a smile, his teeth sharp and his words biting, as he tightened his grip on Izuku’s shoulder. “I don’t want some Quirkless waste of space standing in the same spot light as me.” His smile turned sinister. “Learn your place. You’re worth less than these side characters.”
His skin felt sweltering, his blood boiling underneath his hold. Katsuki finally let go, not even looking at him. His red eyes never even glanced over the pulsing, wet looking red splotch on Izuku’s shoulder, where his hand had been. Didn’t even notice the way the shorter boy’s chest heaved with air it could not keep. Didn’t even notice the way Izuku wore bandages along his arm the following week, after he’d been absent for 5 school days.
-Izuku kept them covered, ashamed of the blemish they’d left on him. Why did they try to praise him, when he’d spent most of his years flinching at the slightest of hand-raises, thinking he was about to be met an explosion to the face? Why did anyone think he deserved to be complimented for trying to shove that dark part of his past away, burdened with the sight of himself in the mirror, knowing the scars were a result of his own weaknesses?
“I-um-thank-thank you?” Izuku managed to squeeze out as his throat tried to close up. Black spots were beginning to dance across his vision.
Explodo_Death: Deku...
Gravity-Girl: Sorry if I’m speaking out of line, but they kinda remind me of armor.
“Huh?” All at once, Izuku could breathe again and his vision zeroed in on that single comment.
Gravity-Girl: Your scars reminds me of armor. Y’know, little shields. It’s like reminders that the bullies didn’t actually win, y’know? You’re alive, you’re hopefully happy, and you have a body I constantly drool over so that’s a win!
Todoroki_S: I think what @ Gravity-Girl is trying to say is that you shouldn’t look at your scars negatively. Everyone has scars. Everyone looks at them differently. You shouldn’t see them as negative things, Midoriya-kun. Take it from me - your scars are merely your reminder to grow strong. To grow above what people saw you as. They aren’t something to be ashamed of.
Explodo_Death: They must have hurt. They must have hurt so badly and you never said anything?
“I,” Izuku swallowed, wincing at the heavy feeling that slid down his throat. “I-thank you. Thank you guys. I - I’d tried talking to a teacher once. My homeroom teacher. It-it didn’t really do anything. He told me to shut up and deal with it. It was my fault for being quirkless, he said. So there was no point in complaining about it.” A bitter, raspy little laugh forced itself from Izuku and he shook his head.
DadMight_01: As a former teacher, I do not like hearing that such a man was able to teach young children. He should never have been a teacher if he was going to act like that.
Izuku blinked at the comment, flushing in shame. “Um, I’m sorry. Let’s - let’s get away from this angst. Um, okay, let’s see what this fan sent!” Izuku’s cheek were as red as his nose, his eyebrows furrowed as he tried to open the letter nonchalantly.
Explodo_Death: ... I’m sorry.
Explodo_Death: fuck, I’m sorry.
Gravity-Girl: ??
“Oh, this one’s a love letter. From...Hush Die Bye Baby?” Izuku frowned at the camera. His eyebrows raised as Hush commented.
Hush Die Bye Baby: Guilty~
Cheeks a rosy red,
A hero like All Might,
Let's get you in my bed,
You make my pants tight.
An0n: And THAT’S ENOUGH INTERNET FOR ONE DAY
[An0n has left the stream.]
Guest: I ship it.
Explodo_Death: Are you fucking kidding me!
Pikachu_I_Am_You: I wasn’t the best at poetry in school but that is goddamn art right there
DadMight_01: please never use All Might’s name in a poem like that ever again.
Izuku couldn’t help it. He busted out laughing, trying to stifle his giggles with his sleeves.
Todoroki_S: That smile could probably end world wars.
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: and that’s my cue to leave lest BakuBaku decides to set his office ablaze again
DadMight_01: That’s better!
Explodo_Death: Shitty Deku
The camera was shaky, jerking from one spot to another as Izuku tried to focus the phone on himself while also trying to capture the battle commencing at least 30 feet behind him. Around him, the sounds of explosions and screams echoed in the air. Izuku, his black eyeliner winging out into curls, beamed at the camera despite the smear of blood trailing from the cut on his cheek. Dirt clung to his hair and a bruise was already blossoming along his temple.
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here with a new video! What is up, everybody! Deku here LIVE in the center of the battle between the lovely Mt. Lady and a masked villain! Stay tuned as I try and get a closer look!”
From the small comment thread box, Izuku could see the various comments popping up faster than he could read.
Explodo_Death: FITE ME DEKU
Explodo_Death: Wait wheRE TF DID U JUST SAY U WERE????
Guest: Yoooo is that blood?
Guest2: Deku-san is really getting good at his special effect makeup!
An0n: Guys I don’t think that’s fake. The blood is oozing.
Guest2: It’s fake blood. No one would be that stupid to be in the actual line of danger.
Gravity-Girl: @ Explodo_Death you’re 21, start acting like it
Gravity-Girl: Wait did you just say you were in the battle???!!! DEKU WHAT THE FUCK!
Todoroki_S: Midoriya-kun, why are you in the middle of the battle? That isn’t safe! Go find shelter until the heroes take care of the villain!
Iida: @ Explodo_Death Volatile, aren’t you in the area? Why don’t you help with evacuation. @ Deku_Deku_Desu DO NOT FRET HELP IS ON THE WAY. PLEASE MOVE ACCORDINGLY TO THE NEAREST SHELTER WHERE YOU WILL BE TREATED FOR YOUR INJURIES.
Explodo_Death: SHITTY FUCKING DEKU THE FUCK YOU THINK YOUR DOING GETTING IN THE FUCKING MIDDLE OF SOME FIGHT FOR A GOD DAMN VIDEO I’M GOING TO FUCKING FIGHT YOU YOU LITTLE PIECE OF
[@Explodo_Death- has been temporarily blocked from the comment section by @Deku_Deku_Desu due to excessive profanity].
Guest4: y’all, why are there always fights in this dude’s comments? Also, why y’all got them heroes names???
An0n: by now I’m just kinda used to it
“As you can see, Mt. Lady has quickly trapped the Villain on a rooftop with nowhere to go. Looking at the Villain, it seems he has the Quirk to transport a distance of 5 feet between stops. Due to the fact he’s been pushed into a corner on a rooftop where the closest building is 7 feet away, he seems stuck. Ah, wait, he seemed to have transported down the fire escape! It appears he can transport anywhere as long as it is 5 feet away, not just in his sight.” The phone’s camera shifted to film the fight as Mt. Lady shrieked when the Villain dodged under her legs, moving towards Izuku’s direction.
“...uh, he seems to be coming my way,” Izuku’s voice sounded, his tone wary as the masked Villain seemed to lock eyes with Izuku. Before the villain could get close, a rough hand moved in front of the camera, blasting a explosion at the Villain’s face.
“FUCKING DEKU! WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR DUMB ASS DOING OUT HERE!” Izuku’s hand moved, allowing the camera to catch sight of Volatile Light standing behind Izuku, one hand outstretched, the other wrapped around the vlogger’s waist. His face was pressed into a furious scowl as he spun Izuku around, grabbing him by the hoodie collar.
“CIVILIANS ARE TO BE EVACUATED TO THE SHELTERS!” Katsuki roared in Izuku’s face, shaking him once roughly. He scowled at the phone camera pointed at his face and snarled at Izuku.
“You aren’t a fucking Hero , Deku,” the name was spat like it was poison and Izuku’s body shifted backwards, trying to struggle out of Katsuki’s hold, “so stop acting like one! You’re a Quirkless vlogger who’s getting in the- SHIT !” Katsuki hauled Izuku over his shoulder, quickly dodging when the Villain came at them.
“PISS OFF!” Katsuki roared as his grip around Izuku’s waist tightened. Izuku, upside down, grunted as he tried to continue filming. He fumbled, easily switching his phone right-side up to capture everything easily.
The villain gave a cry as Mt. Lady’s hand came down, swatting into the man as if he were a bug. The aging woman gave a little shudder as she chased after the man, leaving Katsuki and Izuku.
Katsuki all but tossed Izuku off his shoulder, the man giving a yelp as he crashed to the ground. He scrambled into a sitting position, glaring at the harsh treatment.
“You’ll always be a fucking ass, Kacchan,” Izuku called out as Katsuki stalked away, middle finger raised towards the camera. “No amount of years working as a Hero is going to change that, you goddamn dick!”
Katsuki stopped and whirled, storming over. He smacked the phone out of Izuku’s hand, hauling him to his feet by his collar. The phone clattered to the ground, the screen shattered entirely, cutting off the live feed.
"You,” Katsuki snarled in Izuku’s face, “can’t say jack shit. You’re nothing but a Quirkless, pathetic little bitch. Grow the fuck up and realize you ain’t ever gonna be a Hero or anything close. You think you’re doing something important, broadcasting these fucking fights.You think you’re some kind of vigilante, acting on the side of the law with your stupid vlogs.”
Izuku’s eyes darkened at his words, that familiar lump in his throat forming as Katsuki raged on. He tried to swallow it down, tried to barge in and say something to stand up for himself, but he couldn’t find the words.
“You think you’re someone, paving a career by making a name for yourself on the web? Well guess what, Deku, you aren’t. You’re just getting in the way of the real Heroes. You’re involvement nearly put yourself in danger. And for what? A stupid live feed of a fight people could hear about on the news later? You are so fucking stupid, Deku. So fucking stupid. You can’t be a hero, never will be a hero, and should stop fucking acting like you’re doing something worth mentioning. You are just being a burden.”
Burden. It brought back flashes of middle school, reminded him of the scars that littered his shoulders and upper arms from Katsuki’s quirk. Reminded him of how damn small he was, and even though he was in his twenties, he felt like he was right back in that small stuffy classroom, pinned to the back wall, with Katsuki shouting in his face about how worthless he was.
Suddenly he was fourteen again, and he hated it.
“What if you’d died? Us Heroes would have been blamed. Had you thought of what consequences your actions could cause? No? Then what the fuck are you doing out here? You’re in the way, Deku.”
You’re Quirkless Deku. You can’t do anything right. Leave it to the heroes. Leave it to Kacchan.
“So go back to your stupid little room with your stupid little webcam and stay the fuck away from dangerous villainous attacks. If I ever see you out in any fucking fight again, I’ll going to personally send you to your grave, do you hear me?”
Izuku glared right back at Katsuki, tears trailing down his cheeks as he tried to control his breathing. It was a rapid rasp, dangerously close to hyperventilation, but he didn’t care. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t on . He was an adult now, he wasn’t Katsuki’s personal punching bag, physical or verbal.
He shoved at Katsuki’s shoulders, the latter giving a startled look as he released him.
“Fuck you, Bakugou!” Izuku snapped as he bent down, rubbing his eyes with one sleeve while the other picked up his phone, or at least what was left of it. “You think you know me! You were the one who cut ties with me after middle school! You were the one who didn’t return any of my texts!”
As if to illustrate it, he threw his device back onto the ground with all the strength he had, part of him wondering if it was a desperate attempt at finding some form of catharsis while watching it break. The effect, however, was anything but and Izuku wanted to do nothing but cry as the remains of the phone smashed and broke apart. It was as if it were a cruel, visual representation of how his heart felt in his chest, shattering like the glass screen of his phone. His lungs were caving in and he couldn’t breathe .
“You were the one who thought it’d be better if I was dead!”
“SHUT YOUR MOUTH!” Katsuki roared, advancing again. He reached a hand out, tiny explosions going off against his palm. Izuku grabbed his arm as he dodged to the side, easily throwing Katsuki over his shoulder and onto his back.
Katsuki stared at the sky, eyes wide. His shocked expression burned into one of rage as he grabbed Izuku by the shirt hem, pulling him down on top of him. Izuku gave a yelp as Katsuki rolled them, pinning Izuku down to the ground with a palm clenching his jaw shut.
“YOU DON'T THINK I DON’T REGRET SAYING THAT SHIT TO YOU?” Katsuki screamed in Izuku’s face. Izuku heaved through his nose, clawing at the hand keeping him silent. “You don’t think I don’t wish to take that shit back? You constantly frustrated me, you fucking bastard!”
He was breathing erratically, his free hand curling into a fist before he slammed it into the concrete beside Izuku’s head. Smoke sizzled lazily into the air as cracks formed in the cement like spiderwebs, branching out from the point of impact like veins. Izuku flinched and squeezed his eyes shut, expecting pain; a habit formed throughout the years at the sign of Katsuki’s quirk, yet Katsuki continued.
“Despite being Quirkless, despite having me as a fucking friend, you still smiled! You still acted like everything was right in the world and everything was still rainbows and sunshine! It PISSED ME OFF!”
Izuku’s eyes fluttered open, widened, seeing Katsuki lean back and press his now dust-covered hand to his blonde locks. A hysterical, disbelieving laugh left his lips. “How happy you were - how you still acted strong! You acted so much fucking stronger than me!” His eyes steeled over and he looked down to meet Izuku’s gaze, lips curled into a snarl. “You were looking down at me our entire childhood!”
Izuku’s eyes growing murky at that, and decided he’d had enough with the abuse. He tucked his legs up underneath Katsuki, planted his feet on Katsuki’s hips, and pushed . Katsuki was thrown off Izuku, landing on his back for a second time that day.
“Fuck you,” Izuku spat as he rubbed at his red jaw. Katsuki had started to use his quirk out of emotion and it had burned . “Just because you were mad I wasn’t wallowing in self-pity didn’t give you the right to be a fucking dick to me for our entire childhood! Literally until the end of middle school, I was stuck with your abuse! I don’t care what kind of excuses you try to bullshit at me, they won’t make up for the hell you put me through.” Izuku scurried backwards, away from Katsuki, when the hero stood back up with a growl. Izuku glared heatedly at the taller adult, destroyed phone forgotten by his side.
“You know Kacchan,” Izuku started with a frown, “Just - just stay out of my life! I don’t know why you comment on my videos, why you even watch them. Just - leave me alone.” Izuku picked himself up, wincing as he rubbed at his face. He gave one final glare to Katsuki before he scooped up his phone and walked away.
Katsuki watched him go, teeth gritted. He glanced down to the fractures he’d left in the pavement below, and closed his eyes. It always ended like this, this gamble between them. It’d been like this for years, where the two had so many different feelings piled on top of each other that they just couldn’t talk to one another. They couldn’t even be around each other.
Maybe Izuku was right. Maybe they should’ve gone their separate ways years ago.
Or maybe Katsuki should’ve fixed things years ago.
He opened his eyes, lifted his head to stare up at the sky, and took a long, deep breath.
The sun shined brightly, as if mocking the storming emotions that weighed down on him like pouring rain. When they were kids, Izuku had looked at him like he was everything, like he was the sun in his sky. Katsuki had been better then, at least in the beginning. He’d been the warmth, the protection.
Now Katsuki was just a husk, functioning on memories of a better time when bitterness wasn’t a permanent taste on his tongue, and Izuku’s smile wasn’t a stab in the chest.
He remembered how he’d been after high school had started, how aware he’d become of how quiet life was without Izuku. That was why he followed his vlog updates so religiously after finding them. But that wasn’t the same as being with Izuku. The only way they’d get back to being the way they’d once been was by Katsuki finally making an actual attempt to fix things.
Izuku had tried hard enough for years on end. Now, it was Katsuki’s chance to chase after him.
.
..
...
Notes:
WE HAVE A DISCORD SERVER! Come talk with us and listen to us scream about this fic!:)
https://discord.gg/VpJHbH3
Chapter 2: Main Story: Ch 2
Summary:
Gravity-Girl: My “Katsuki’s getting rekt” senses were tingling and here I am. What did I miss?
Todoroki_S: Likewise. If someone could fill us in, I’d appreciate it.
Gravity-Girl: @Todoroki_S you sure you aren’t just here for Deku-kun?
Todoroki_S: @Gravity-Girl,listen, my lawyer says I can neither confirm nor deny.
Notes:
Yooo everyone, it's pillage_him_satanael, the co-writer of this dekubowl extravaganza. I'd just like to give a huge thank you to everyone who read and commented and gave kudos!!
Like, seriously, we're blown away by the response of this thing. Thank you so much, guys!
Also, because we have no self-control, this fic will now have three parts instead of two.
We tried our best to shorten it but like, this chapter is even longer than the first and yeah...soz. Once again, no self-control. We might even write more in the future, such as side fics in the same verse, but we'll try not to get ahead of ourselves, lol.
Hope you enjoy!Widdlewed here! Hello and thank you for reading our story! It's a monsterous piece of work and we hope you enjoy every second of it. Due to how much you all enjoyed it, we wrote even more than originally intended. Most likely looking at 3 or 4 chapters tbh. But I doubt any of you are complaining about that haha
Also, because all the heroes keep showing up in Deku's livestream comments section, here's a guide to know who's who.
Explodo_Death - Bakugou Katsuki
Gravity-Girl - Uraraka Ochako
Iida - Iida Tenya (p easy)
Todoroki_S - Todoroki Shouta
DadMight_01 - All Might/Yagi Toshinori
Hush_Die_Bye_Baby - Shinsou Hitoshi
Pikachu_I_Am_You - Kaminari Denki
Red_Riot_Death - Kirishima Eijirou
Pinky_&_Da_Brain - Ashido Mina
Ghost_Girl - Hagakure Tooru
Earphone_Actress - Jirou Kyouka
Birb - Tokoyami Fumikage
Animals - Izumi Kouta
Packing_Tape - Sero
Easy_Baked_Oven - Rikido Sato
Blood-of-my-enemies - Hero Killer Stain
Cattaser-Head - Eraser Head
Momo_Without_A_Peach - Yaoyorozu Momo
Gimme A Hand or 2 - Tomura Shigaraki
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand - Dabi
Its_A_Me_Mirio: - Togata Mirio
If_Im_His_Sun_He_Is_My_Moon: - Amajiki Tamaki
I’m_Twinkling: Yuga Aoyama
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
He’d been 15, mere months into UA, when he first saw it. He’d been bored, scrolling through various videos on HeroTube as a mean to appease his growing irritation. It grew like a fire in the pit of his stomach, flames roaring louder with each class he dragged himself through and every nosy, overly-enthusiastic classmate he shoved away. It’d felt wrong each time, like his heart wasn’t really in it the way it’d been in junior high. Like there wasn’t enough to send him into a rage like Deku could.
Then again no one could really imitate Deku or how easily he could rile up so many different emotions in Bakugou to the point where they manifested as rage as soon as they came.
Around him, his classmates chattered loudly as they dug into their lunches. Despite the noise, it was too quiet. There wasn’t that familiar mumbling Bakugou had grown accustomed to hearing, right near his ear, grating on his every last nerve. There was no wild gesturing in his peripheral vision, no frantic scratching of pencil on paper each time someone around him displayed a Quirk, no cheerful outbursts listing off various strengths and weaknesses of a certain Hero.
Since entering UA, Bakugou’s world had gone unsettlingly silent. His surroundings were all muted tones and muffled, indistinct noise as he tried to focus on a person that he’d never see again. What irritated him the most was that he couldn’t exactly pinpoint why .
On his feed of recommended HeroTube videos, a familiar flash of green caught his attention, and he clicked on the video without thinking, drawn by the somehow familiar-feeling thumbnail.
As it loaded and then began playing across his screen, Bakugou felt like he’d been slapped in the face while simultaneously kicked in the balls. He couldn’t breathe. His chest felt heavy, like a boot-clad foot was slowly pushing down on it, trying to cave his ribs in. His heart hammered in his ears loudly, the audio of the video barely coherent over the blood streaming in his veins. His body flashed hot, then cold, before settling on a tittering lukewarm as his eyes bore into the nervous green eyes of his once childhood friend.
Something bitter and burning churned and laid at the pit of his stomach at the babbling voice of the HeroTuber, which was high-pitched and ladened with uncertainty. The boy was yammering on about All Might, talking about the man’s recent decline in public appearances. As he rambled on, Bakugou’s eyes roamed over the freckles sprinkled over reddened cheeks, green hair pulled back into messy pigtails which, on anyone else, Bakugou would have been unsettled by. His gaze traced the simple eyeliner shaping the boy’s eyes, then focused momentarily on the little stars doodled near his eyebrows.
Bakugou blinked, feeling as if he’d fallen into a beat of dissociation as the video continued to play. It felt he was watching a stranger, despite the immediate weight on his heart that was accustomed to form at the sight of the smiling boy.
His shoulders were squared, his hands moving animatedly as his voice picked up speed in excitement. Where once his tone had once been a meek mumble, barely an audible string of words, the words were now strong with confidence, laced with glee as the screen split to a news broadcast of All Might. The teen’s eyes were wide and sparkling, not two murky pools of swamp water, sinking further into a continuous cycle of self-pity and destroyed esteem. His smile was bright, nearly identical of the one Bakugou saw in his dreams, of days long since gone.
Of a boy who called him “Kacchan” immediately after hearing his first name when they were children, of a boy who hadn’t called him anything else even after all the years that followed. Even after all the abuse he suffered.
Bakugou clicked on the teen’s page, checking his videos. Besides his All Might video, he had two others. One showing off his memorabilia, and the other a makeup tutorial. He clicked on the tutorial, leaning back in his chair as Midoriya Izuku began to explain his various styles, showing off his collected items of beauty.
He looked different without makeup, Bakugou noted. His freckles looked more prominent, his eyes more wide, than he remembered almost more than a year ago. He looked like he’d gained weight, actually, it seemed more like muscle. His cheeks absent of baby fat, and his hair was longer judging from the crazy style. Izuku’s voice was a pleasant hum in Bakugou's ears, becoming a white noise of sorts as his gaze zeroed in on the teen giggling at the camera as he messed up his glitter touchups.
Midoriya Izuku looked happy, alive, and Bakugou didn’t know why it made him want to rage. The urge to flip his desk, set things ablaze with his Quirk or scream, surged through him so violently that he nearly dropped his phone. His grip on his device shook and he quickly ripped his headphones out of his ears, scowling as he shoved it into his pocket.
His fingers tapped on his concealed cell for the remainder of the day, Izuku’s giggles following at his heels like the chilling wind. His classmates stayed away, sensing his fouler than usual mood. Bakugou, more than once, used his Quirk on Mineta when the waste of space had commented on this vlogger he’d begun to follow because they were cute despite being a guy. Aizawa had kept silent during these exchanges, opting to study Bakugou to determine the trigger of his rage.
Uraraka had tried to pick a fight, only to be held back by both Todoroki and Iida when Bakugou looked like he was going to take her seriously. Honestly, he needed the stress relief.
He was furious. He was simmering like lava against molten rock.
He felt betrayed, somehow. He tried to ignore the faint whispers of something weaving bitter resentment at Izuku. Looking at Izuku being so much happier than he’d ever been at Bakugou’s side made Bakugou feel like he’d been tricked. He was waiting for someone to pop around the corner and laugh, “You've been punked!”
But that wouldn't happen, that would never happen, and Bakugou was left to burn alive in his inferno of choking emotions.
His mind kept replaying that day he’d told Izuku to kill himself. He picked apart every detail. His own biting tone. Izuku’s trembling form staring at him as if he were a Villain . The bone-deep exhaustion that had seemed almost permanent on the Quirkless teen. How, after they’d gone home, Izuku had been absent for a week and for one moment, one stomach-chilling moment, Bakugou had thought Izuku had done it. Feared for that inhale of breath that Izuku had taken his own life after Bakugou had told him to .
He thought of Izuku’s mother, who used to treat him like her own son whenever he visited the Midoriya household, and how shattered she’d be. He thought of her at her own son’s funeral, sobbing her heart out. Bakugou thought of her knowing that it was his fault.
It was only after that thought that the teacher had explained Izuku was in the hospital after an accident and Bakugou had released his held breath, relieved.
Staring at the repeated tutorial, Bakugou was again reminded of that moment, when he had thought he’d lost Izuku for good.
Before he knew it, he’d subscribed to the channel (and wasn’t that fucking ironic that the channel’s name was Deku_Deku_Desu?) and set the notifications for any new videos.
He’d ignored his classmates calls as he stormed home early, headphones replaying the three videos on Izuku’s channel.
Once he’d made it to his room, he’d thrown his book bag onto his bed and plopped down, hugging his pillow to his face. He curled around it, trying to find some sort of release to the vice grip on his throat. He tried to swallow - once, twice, but the lump in his throat constricted his air and left him floundering. Bakugou screwed his eyes shut, biting down on his lip until he tasted blood, and inhaled.
He slipped into a fitful rest, Izuku’s voice washing over him like a lullaby as one of his playlists went onto autoplay. From that day on, it’d become a routine to play those videos on repeat before he went to sleep, just so Bakugou could be reassured that the world hadn’t lost one of its brightest attractions.
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here with a new video! What is up , everybody! Deku here,” Izuku announced, “with another LIVE stream!” His cheerful, greeting smile turned into something a little more sheepish. “Last week’s stream didn’t really turn out fun, did it?” He asked, scratching the back of his head, embarrassment flooding his cheeks with color.
“Sorry about that-” The sound of knuckles rapping against his door caught him mid-sentence, and he turned in his chair. “Oh, one second, guys. Someone’s at my door.”
He waved at the camera with a cheeky grin, mumbling that he’d return as soon as he could as he left his bedroom. To the viewers watching, the camera shook a little just as the slam of Izuku’s front door vibrated throughout the thin walls of the small apartment.
“What are you-” Izuku’s surprised near-shout was barely picked up by the microphone as he was at the opposite end of his flat. “ Kacchan - wait, let me go !” there was another yell, closer to a shriek, and Izuku’s voice carried into his room just as Katuski stormed inside with the young adult slung over his shoulder. “Kacchan, I swear -”
He was cut off with a breathy gasp as Katsuki dropped him onto his bed rather roughly, the movement expelling the air in his lungs. As Izuku scrambled to sit upright, back against the wall, his childhood friend - did he still have a right to that title, after all they’d been through? - stood at the end of his bed, folded his arms across his chest, and opened his mouth.
“Listen,” Katsuki snarled low in his throat. “Don't talk. Just...Just listen.” He took a breath, letting his gaze settle on the large limited edition All Might poster that beamed proudly back at him.
It was the same Hero he and Izuku used to spend hours after primary school watching the interviews of. They’d bought action figures of him together and quoted his great speeches. All Might had been everything to both of them. And, even with him retired, it was so clear that the Hero was still central to Izuku’s life. Katsuki wondered what exactly All Might meant to him now.
Regardless, that wasn’t why he was here. That wasn’t why he was watching Izuku’s expectant expression and trying to gather the words that were caught in his throat. He was here for Izuku.
“I...I can't take back what I've done.” Katsuki began, hearing the hesitance in his voice and hating it. Izuku seemed to notice it as well, in the way his eyes went wide, in the way concern settled into them, a feeling that Katsuki shouldn’t have been the focus of. He was the last person Izuku should ever have to worry over. “Even if I apologise, I doubt it'll mean anything. And at this point, I really can't say anything that'll make up for what I've done. It’d be stupid to pretend I could. Just...” He closed his eyes, took another breath. “I'm older, Izuku. We’re older.”
Izuku jolted at that, his chest growing tight at the sound of his name, his actual name. Not Deku, or any of the rude, creative, or vulgar versions. Just...Izuku. The last time he’d heard Katsuki call him that, they’d been young. So young… And he’d adored Katsuki, then. Maybe, just for a little while before his Quirk had manifested, Katsuki had adored him, too.
Maybe the little boy who used to smile at him like he was the stars in his sky...maybe that was the Katsuki he was talking to now.
Izuku’s hands formed fists and he dug his nails into his palms just to confirm this was real.
It was.
“...I can't change the past, but I can fix the future. I can at least try to.” Katsuki went on, scratching at the back of his neck, seeming uncomfortable. And Izuku was more than aware of how much Katsuki detested talking about feelings, whether his own or someone else’s. So the fact that he was literally pouring his heart out to him, let alone on a live feed, was astonishing. “I...I've been watching your videos ever since you posted that stupid video on how you do your stupid eye makeup in the first year of highschool. I just…I needed to know you were still out there. That you didn’t go out and die on me, even after all the shit I said to you.”
He laughed bitterly, humorlessly. “I wanted to find you again. To try and make up for what I did.” He was looking everywhere but at Izuku. His eyes darted from one action figure to the next with an anxiety Izuku hadn’t seen upon his face since they were children. “But I couldn’t. I was...fuck it, I was scared, okay? I know it’s a big deal hearing something like that from me, but it happens.”
Izuku sat up straighter, eyes shining with tears. He leaned forward, lifting a hand, but then retracted it just before Katsuki noticed his attempt to reach out. Izuku knew that he wouldn’t appreciate him trying to comfort him in the middle of this.
“I didn’t want to hold you back.” Katsuki rushed on. “Not like before. You didn’t deserve that.”
“Kacchan…”
“Let me finish.” Surprisingly, his voice was soft, gentler than Izuku had ever heard it. “I...I didn't mean to snap at you, at the fight. I just panicked. You were hurt - you could've been even killed. I freaked. You were my childhood best friend.” He ran a hand through his hair, blinking a few times, and Izuku could’ve sworn those were tears in his eyes. “It was only after I got to UA that it hit me that I took you for granted, that I treated you like shit, and I just... fuck .”
His voice shuddered to a stop. Katsuki took a deep breath and finally met Izuku’s eyes. “You glow, Izuku. When you make those stupid streams just to answer questions. When you make videos you’ve spent hours on.” the corner of his mouth quirked upwards. “You look so... happy, and I haven’t seen you as happy as that in years.” He shook his head. “And I guess you found it easier without me fucking up your life.”
“You didn’t-”
“Stop.” Katuski snapped. “You can’t make excuses for me.”
“I’m not!”
“You always did.” Katsuki hissed, and Izuku frowned, yet said no more. “You always did and you shouldn’t have, okay? Especially not for me.” He glanced down, raising his hands, allowing a few sparks to flash at his fingertips. “You know, the way I see it, if my years at UA hadn't snapped me out of it, I'd probably be a fucking Villain.”
“Don’t say that!” Izuku exclaimed. “Kacchan, that isn’t true.”
“Then why was Dad terrified of me? Why did Mom flinch whenever I got too close?” Katsuki asked bitterly. “She was terrified about the path I was going down and she kept saying how I’d pushed you, the only good influence in my life away and I just... I…” He was clearly fighting back tears and it crushed Izuku. “I hated myself. You must have too.”
“I did hate you.” Izuku confessed, making his delivery as gentle as possible. It might have been true but with Katsuki’s current state and all he was laying bare, it wasn’t right for him to break him down then and there. “When you use to bully me. When you tore up my notebooks and told me I'd be better off dead.”
Katsuki flinched at that and averted his eyes.
“It’s funny, you know?” Izuku smiled bitterly. “When I was in the hospital with a punctured lung, for some reason I blamed you for it.” Izuku lowered his gaze, focusing on his scarred hands. He traced the various blemishes peppering his skin, knowing that he could pick out which were left by Katsuki and which weren’t. “I guess, after a while, I associated pain with you.”
“Izuku…”
“I hated it. I hated you. But I grew up too. Sure, I'm still petty. I'm still bitter. I have burn scars because of you. Maybe some emotional ones too.” Murky swamp green met molten red and Izuku cleared his throat. “I'll never forgive you for what you did to me, Kacchan.”
Katsuki looked ready to collapse within himself, all the air leaving his lungs in a heavy, deflating exhale.
Izuku’s eyes softened at the sight. “But,” he started and Katsuki’s head shot up, “like you said, we can fix the future, can’t we?” A scarred hand extended, palm open invitingly, and Katsuki stared at it like he was being offered the world. “...Maybe we could have a fresh start?”
Katsuki just stared at him as if he’d just spoken a different language. “...You’re shitting me.”
“No, Kacchan. I’m tired. I'm tired of hating you.” Izuku laughed, the sound wet and loose in his chest. “I want us to be friends. I want to have you in my life.” He brushed away his tears with his free hand, his fingers trembling against his skin. “So...are you with me, or not?”
Izuku’s offered hand was batted aside as Katsuki lunged forward, fastening his arms around him in the most violent hug he’d ever received. They fell back against the bed from the force, a laugh bubbling up Izuku’s throat - how long had it been since they’d last hugged? - as he returned the gesture.
“Fucking piece of shit Deku,” Katsuki grumbled into his neck as Izuku hid his face into the former’s shoulder, ”I can’t believe I just talked about my feelings for ten minutes straight on a fucking live stream .”
Izuku’s eyes went wide. “Oh shit, my stream!” Izuku cried out and shoved Katsuki off him, rushing to the computer. His face heated at the comments, most of them Shouto threatening Katsuki or people cheering for their renewed friendship.
He didn’t miss the large amount of hostility between those comments, directed at Katsuki and the snippet of the fight the viewers had caught before his phone had been smashed to pieces.
Izuku ignored that part. That was to handle later.
Katsuki, from the bed, smirked and flashed his middle finger at the camera.
“Mine.” Katsuki mouthed to the viewers while Izuku kept messing with his computer.
It didn’t hide the fact that his smile was sincere, nor the way his eyes shone with unshed tears.
“Do - fear - friends - I - here with - new - Deku -” The video cut off, the screen glitching a choppy edit of the usual intro from Izuku. The screen went black before it flickered back to life.
Izuku sat lounging in his All Might computer chair, black eyeshadow and eyeliner framing his eyes. His hair was gelled back and he wore a thin black choker around his neck as he fiddled with a neon green water gun. His grey, ragged-looking long sleeve shirt read, ‘Baby I Was Born Bad ’.
“ Hello everyone ,” Izuku all but purred. “Deku here, bringing you a new segment - Villains.” He kicked his feet up onto the desk, only for his arms to windmill when his chair pitched backwards with his weight. “Wait- shit! ”
“You okay, Izuku-kun?” A woman’s voice called from the background.
The video cut to Izuku rubbing at his head, where a red splotch was forming. “Hey, ow , hi guys! Deku here, trying out a new intro for my Villain videos. This will be the first video I’ve done where the main focus is on, of course, the Villains.” Izuku gave a cheeky smile as he shifted in his seat, wincing a bit.
“Today, let’s talk about the League of Villains and where they went. Back about 6 years ago, there was a mass attack around the city from the League of Villains. After that attack and the disappearance of the Hero Killer, the League went into hiding. With me today to help solve the mystery is my good friend, Toga Himiko-chan!” Izuku turned just as a woman threw herself at the chair, causing them both to topple over.
The video cut again to Izuku sitting up again, sporting a tiny cut along his temple.The woman, blonde hair braided over one shoulder, looked both amused and guilty as she spun in her own chair.
“Sorry Izuku-kun,” Toga apologized again, smiling sweetly. “I thought you’d be able to catch my weight.”
“I can.” Izuku defended. “But the chair couldn’t handle the sudden shift in weight.” Toga gave a little laugh, her fangs glistening in the extra lighting in the room. "Anyway, back to your intro?"
Her eyes sparkled at his words, and she turned back to face the camera. “Hi, hi, everyone~!” Toga waved, a knife suddenly out and tapping against her cheek cutely. “Toga Himiko here, a former member of the League of Villains!” Izuku snorted and shook his head fondly at her introduction.
“Toga-chan here used to go to high school with me,” Izuku explained as Toga glanced at the blood drying along his scalp. “She had just gotten into the League when we became friends, right?”
“Uh-huh,” Toga nodded. “I was in the League for about - hm - a year?" She tapped her chin in thought, brightening as her and Izuku's gazes met. "Before I left to continue my friendship with Izuku-kun!” She leaned over, giving Izuku a kiss on the cheek. Izuku barely batted an eyelash to the sudden display of affection, as he was used to it on a near-daily basis back in their high school days.
“Anyways,” Izuku continued, shuffling through a collection of papers he swiped from his desk. “From what I understand, the leader of the League of Villains, Tomura-san, was it, has been in hiding since their involvement with Overhaul and the Yakuza, correct?” Izuku asked Toga, who hummed as she fiddled with her braid.
“I guess~? I stopped all contact with them after you said you wouldn’t be my friend anymore since I was a Villain.” Toga whined.
Izuku took a moment to stare at his camera with a blank expression, his eyes shining with a certain brand of do you see what I have to deal with?.
After his pause, he started again. “Villains have been around since the beginning of time - and just up until a few generations ago, they didn’t involve Quirks." He said. "There's no new concept of good and bad even with the emergence of Quirks. But," he swivelled in his chair, facing Toga head-on, "from someone who was once a Villain, is it entirely that black and white?”
Toga smiled like a cat, sporting a cute, mischievous grin. “Well, I joined the League of Villains because of the Hero Killer Stain’s beliefs. I believed in what he thought was right." She replied, clasping her hands together in her lap as she leaned forward. "Stain was a grey area, wasn’t he? He believed he was in the right due to his morals. Isn’t that how everyone is?"
Izuku raised his eyebrows. "I guess most people do act if they believe what they're doing is just. Such beliefs have spawned many grey-area Heroes, and yet most of them just barely hold the Hero title."
"Exactly!" Toga exclaimed. "Nothing is that black and white, Izuku-kun~!" She nudged his shoulder, scooting her chair closer to his own. "But, for me personally - I knew what we were doing was wrong. Did I care at the time? No. Did I think it was wrong? Yeah, but who cared?" She shrugged carelessly. "We were Villains - that was in the manual.”
With that, she threw her arms around his neck, squeezing him tight. "But when I met you, I fell in love with you!" Toga giggled, pressing her cheek against his own, careful of their make-up. "When you found out I was with the League and you said you wouldn't talk to me again, I almost cried!"
Izuku laughed. "I know, Toga-chan. The fact that you left the group for me is amazing, you know."
"It might've been a drastic decision, but I could've really screwed up my life." She said, directing that part toward the viewers. "Like, imagine sixteen-year-old me in jail! Imagine any sixteen-year-old in jail! Like I should've been drinking underage or skipping class if I wanted to act out, not join a Villain group!"
"I think they understand your point, Toga-chan." Izuku told her, gingerly trying to pluck her arms from around his neck, his face flushing with color. "You can get off now, y'know."
Toga pouted. "Why?" She asked in a slight whine. "Is it 'cause you have a boyfriend now?"
He rolled his eyes. "I'm single and you know that." He huffed, pausing to clear his throat. "Anyway, back on topic... the League of Villains has been silent in the last few years with little information as to what they’re doing. Last year-”
The video continued on but Tomura was too busy studying Izuku to care for his words.
“There’s that traitor,” Dabi spoke from beside the man, eyes focused on Toga.
“Ah,” Tomura hummed as he allowed one finger to slide down the laptop screen. “I want him.”
“Why though?” A Villain asked in the background. Dabi rolled his eyes at their leader’s weirdness. Ever since this vlogger, Deku, had done a live stream of a fight Tomura had planned and nearly gotten hurt, Tomura had pulled back, deciding to attack from the shadows and not draw the vlogger’s attention.
Dabi thought it was completely stupid.
Kurogiri was just happy that he was showing an interest in something semi-normal.
The screen blinked to life, viewers staring at the mountain of beer cans stacked like a pyramid on the coffee table beside Izuku’s slumped form. Some form of upbeat foreign music was softly playing in the background, something in English that most of those in the comment section were struggling to understand the lyrics to.
“Oh, hey, it’s working!” Izuku perked up after he noticed the flashing red dot beside his username. He squinted cutely at the camera for a second, as if double checking it was working, before leaning back. He was in his living room, his weights and workout bench his background against his white walls.
“Happy Fun Day Sunday! Hello-wait, my intro- um - don’t fear bros, um, I’m here! Drunk! Hi !” Izuku waved cheerfully at the camera. His cheeks were flushed pink, matching his pink eyeshadow and white eyeliner. His hair had been pulled back into a messy pony-tail, pieces falling out and sticking up wildly.
Gravity-Girl: Um, hey Deku?? Um, could you maybe like, chill on the beers?
Explodo_Death: WTF DEKU U DRINK??
Todoroki_S: Midoriya-kun, I believe you should drink some water and lay down.
Iida: DRINKING. EXCESSIVE. ALCOHOL. IS. UNHEALTHY. DRINK. WATER.
An0n: That’s a very aggressive way of supporting other adult’s personal life choices
Hush Die Bye Baby: Okay, I hate to change the subject, but no one's commented on his guns. Like, imagine getting those through an airport. IMAGINE.
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: @Hush Die Bye Baby you want some water there, friend?
Earphone_Actress: @Pinky_&_Da_Brain honestly I doubt the fucking Atlantic Ocean could quench his thirst
An0n: nah we all know what he really wants to drink ;) ;) ;)
Iida: KUMBAYA MY LORD KUMBAYA
Animals: We're Japanese, Iida. We don't understand the western references you get from Ochako.
I’m_Twinkling: I’m French 8 /
Gravity-Girl: WE’RE ALL TAKING SHINSOU ON A GROUP TRIP TO THE SHRINE TO PRAY FOR FORGIVENESS
Birb: The darkness scurries away from the bright light that young Deku has harnessed.
Guest: What the fuck is wrong with y’all?? Srsly plz explain
An0n: Ah, you must be new.
Gimme A Hand or 2: There is no fucking way you have a 6-pack. It has to be fake.
Guest2: It’s all fake! Deku-san is just amazing with makeup!
Guest: Dude, go away
Guest2: You can go to ‘Deku’s Dark Secrets’ video to see how all of his videos are fake! There is even evidence that he’s actually a secret Hero and that’s why he knows all these other Heroes and
Guest: God, I fuckin hate these conspiracy-theorists like plz stop with your bullshit
An0n: honestly how do people like you even spend your time
An0n: bippity boppity back the fuck out of here with your bullshittery
Explodo_Death: @ Hush Die Bye Baby hey bitch where tf you think you lookin @. Go be a creep somewhere else. @Gimme A Hand or 2 rudely fuck off
Todoroki_S: @Explodo_Death Why are you getting so defensive of my fiancee?
Gravity-Girl: @Todoroki_S HE NEVER SAID YES!!!
Explodo_Death: how i spend time with any of you is beyond me
Todoroki_S: Simple. You don’t.
Iida: Honestly, @Explodo_Death I rarely see you at all outside Villain attacks.
Explodo_Death: that’s a good thing
Izuku squinted at the comments speeding down the side of his screen and pouted.
“Um,” he started, his tone offended, “first of all, I’m single. Second of all, I totally have a six pack. Check this shit out.” Izuku laughed as he lifted his crop top up higher, exposing his well toned stomach. He dropped his shirt, tugging on one of his long sleeves. “You see those weights in the back? They aren’t for show, sweeties.”
Gravity-Girl: I think I might be pregnant
Todoroki_S: Same
Explodo_Death: I’ll show you something, shitty Deku
Iida: PUMP THE BRAKES Y’ALL PUMP THEM BRAKES
Ghost_Girl: my new kink is Deku calling me sweetie
Animals: Guys we went to school together for years i don’t want to hear about any of your kinks
Earphone_Actress: I do not want to kinkshame anyone so let’s stop before we even start
Momo_Without_A_Peach: @Earphone_Actress Isn’t your hobby kinkshaming
Earphone_Actress: @Momo_Without_A_Peach is this a call out post
Hush Die Bye Baby: I call dibs on Deku. I called it. You all see this.
Todoroki_S: UM.
Hush Die Bye Baby: DIBS IS THE STRONGEST FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE.
Hush Die Bye Baby: YOU CANNOT OPPOSE IT.
Gravity-Girl: Hey everyone I’m just here to remind you all that we’re all ADULTS
Todoroki_S: @Hush Die Bye Baby I literally proposed to him LIVE so, kindly fuck off.
Gimme A Hand or 2: I seriously doubt you could lift those weights. What are they, 200 pounds?
Guest: I like how only 1 person actually cares that Deku is fucking STRONG
“Excuse you,” Izuku pouted into the camera, “But I can totally lift those weights. And they’re 500 pounds total, 250 each.” Izuku shimmed up from the carpet, padding over to the weights. He took another sip of his beer.
Hush Die Bye Baby: HOLY ALL MIGHT HE IS WEARING BOOTY SHORTS.
Guest: ,,,,is All Might our lord and saviour now
An0n: IS THAT EVEN A REAL QUESTION
Hush Die Bye Baby: AND THEY SAY ‘JUNK TRUNK’ IM DEAD
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: @Hush Die Bye Baby I'll ask again. YOU WANT SOME WATER THERE, FRIEND?
Explodo_Death: DEKU WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WHAT IS YOUR FASHION SENSE OH MY GOD I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU
Pikachu_I_Am_You: aint stopping you from looking rn
Todoroki_S: I - I need to go. To his house. Now.
Iida: No.
Gravity-Girl: Yes!
Izuku grabbed one of his 250-pound weights, lifting it up with ease. He placed it on his shoulder, raising an eyebrow at the camera as he took another sip of his beer with his other hand.
“See? Easy-peasy,” Izuku commented as he lifted the weight a few times to show he could, in fact, handle the weight.
Gimme A Hand or 2: I
Toga_Party: oh my god that’s fucking hot Izuku-kun~
Birb: Well
Hush Die Bye Baby: I’m gay
Gravity-Girl: We already established this, didn’t we?
An0n: wait it was a secret????? YOU WEREN’T TRYING VERY HARD TO HIDE IT
Hush Die Bye Baby: more call out posts? Who am I, Iida?
Iida: UNCALLED. FOR.
Ghost_Girl : who else just imagined his arm chops lololol
Explodo_Death: me
Gravity-Girl: me
Todoroki_S: me
Pikachu_I_Am_You: me
Red_Riot_Death: i really want to say no but i can’t
Birb: I could practically see them with my own eyes.
Earphone_Actress: Class 3-A having vietnam flashbacks to Iida’s hand chops #confirmed.
Momo_Without_A_Peach: Okay guys, let’s stop picking on Iida. He’s trying his best.
Explodo_Death: All for One was trying his best too, you know. Only that wasn’t for a good cause.
Red_Riot_Death: WOW BAKU GONNA ROLL IN WITH THE VILLAIN SHIT NOW ARE YOU??? MAYBE STOP?????
Gravity-Girl: WHAT THE FUCK BAKUGOU
Hush Die Bye Baby: This is why you need constant supervision.
Explodo_Death: I COULD’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HIM BEFORE HE PUT A HOLE IN ALL MIGHT’S STOMACH
Todoroki_S: You’re...kind of making it worse.
Dadmight_01: I think I chose the wrong time to enter the stream….
Dadmight_01: ……Stop while you can, please.
Explodo_Death: FUCK.
An0n: TODAY ON “HOW THE FUCK ARE WE GONNA DIG OURSELVES OUT OF THIS HOLE”
Explodo_Death: …
Explodo_Death: Sorry
Cattaser_Head: it’s better than his usual ‘fuck you’
Dadmight_01: It’s nice to see that you’re trying, Young Bakugou. I wouldn’t have heard that from you in your UA days.
Gravity-Girl: I still wouldn’t hear it from him anytime soon tbh
Izuku squinted again at the comments before he downed the last of his beer. He crushed the can in his fist, pitching it over his shoulder before popping open a fresh can with his index finger. He took a long chug, a tiny trail of alcohol slipping past his lips and down his chin.
Hush Die Bye Baby: ...Is it possible to become even gayer? Asking for a friend.
Guest4: WTF GUYS I GO AWAY FOR FIVE SECONDS AND I COME BACK TO THIS SHIT
“You guys are so silly.” Izuku giggled, using his sleeve to wipe at his face. “Okay, so, I usually don’t do any of these kinda Lives, y’know, but whatcha guys wanna talk about?” Izuku tilted his head to the side as he took a gulp of his beer.
Explodo_Death: Yeah unlock your fucking door so I can come
Explodo_Death: *fight you
Red_Riot_Bro: Yeah you wanna ‘come’
Explodo_Death: I fucking swear to goat
Red_Riot_Death: lololol the fuck, goat??? LOLOLOLOL
Explodo_Death: fuck off so i made a kistaje
Explodo_Death: *mistake
Todoroki_S: That’s just embarrassing.
Gravity-Girl: I made a Bakugou Katsuki
Gravity-Girl: **mistake
Explodo_Death: are you fucking shitting me
Pikachu_I_Am_You: FUCKING SAVAGE
Pikachu_I_Am_You: SOMEONE SEND PARAMEDICS TO HER ADDRESS SHE BOUT TO DIE
Gravity-Girl: jokes on you we’re not home!
Iida : Okay guys, get off your phones, I’m coming over.
Earphone_Actress: Uh-oh @Todoroki_S, @Gravity-Girl Iida’s gonna come parent you two
Todoroki_S: That’s alright. He’ll probably be a better father figure than mine ever was.
Gravity-Girl: oh,,,, i was gonna type something funny but now i just feel bad
Gravity-Girl: you okay, Shouto-kun? Your,,,your angst is at full ball. I can feel it from my seat.
Iida: we are literally standing next to each other on the train
Pikachu_I_Am_You: SHIT SHOUTO DO YOU NEED TO TALK
Red_Riot_Death: For real man holy shit
Dadmight_01: Anyone could be a better parent than you father, Young Shouto. I’m your father now. I’ve adopted you.
Dadmight_01: I will be right back, Endeavour is calling me.
An0n: I swear these streams get more wild every time there’s a new one
gUEST: sTILL CAN’T BEAT THAT RAVE WITH KAMUI WOODS THO AM I RITE???
An0n: my soul left my body that day
An0n: Kamui Woods,,,fucking,,,got up on STAGE,,,and the DJ just let him take over,,,
Gravity-Girl: suddenly I am jealous of these strangers why isn’t this video anywhere on the interwebs I can watch??
An0n: Ya had to be there
Hush Die Bye Baby: it was pretty hot. Izuku had a body shot taken off him. Too bad he doesn’t remember who took that shot off him.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: @Hush Die Bye Baby yeah um how would you know??
Guest : oh yeah by that sidekick, right?? Um what was his name??? Uuuuuuh Whisper? Mute???
Hush Die Bye Baby: Hi there ;) ;) ;)
Explodo_Death: I suddenly have the urge to kill a man
Gravity-Girl: I wouldn’t call that sudden. That happens a lot with you.
Todoroki_S: I suddenly hate that I agree with Bakugou
An0n : And then Kamui Woods got covered in glitter by some rave girls
Guest: They were hot.
An0n: ...the sidekick, Kamui Woods, or Deku?
Guest: Yes.
Explodo_Death: FUCKIN WHAT????????
Todoroki_S: and where, exactly, can one find this supposed filmed event and how much would it cost to buy all copies?
Todoroki_S: Well, Midoriya-kun? I’m sure student loans are a pain.
Izuku downed the last of his beer and pitched the can over his shoulder, reaching for another one. His vision doubled for a second and he sat still, hand outstretched for a can, just staring into nothing as he tried to keep the room from spinning.
"I'm hungry." He announced, blinking a few times. “I want ramen. Oh, no, I want some rice. Eggs. Sushi? I want some chocolate. I want food.” His babbling continued as he got up, stumbling out of the room, still-streaming laaptop in hand. He hobbled his way to the kitchen, tossing bags of chips past the camera as he scavenged for food.
Izuku waddled back to his room, a half-eaten piece of melon bread hanging from his mouth by the wrapping. He plopped down, tearing open the plastic fully and all but shoving the rest of the bread into his mouth. He chewed, his cheeks bulging like a hamster’s as he groped blindly for a beer can.
A knocking at the door interrupted Izuku and he blinked blearily at the direction of the door. “B-r-b friends, someone is knocking on my door!” Izuku chirped after swallowing his mushed food, and the camera caught him stumbling over to the door.
“Hello-o ?” Izuku cracked the door open. Ochako burst through, Tenya and Shouto behind her.
“Time for bed! Let’s get some water in you and turn the camera off and get you in bed! Sound fun? Yeah? Good!” Ochako hauled Izuku over her shoulder. She moved out of view of the camera and the viewers heard rummaging going on in the kitchen.
“Look at this place,” Tenya clucked, stepping into the living room. His foot crunched down on a beer can lying innocently on the floor and he pitched backwards. He slammed into Shouto, who righted him. Tenya gave a huff and took another step, tripping over a unopened case of beer. He slammed against the carpet.
“Where is that music coming from?” Shouto asked as he turned in a full circle, eyebrows pinched as he looked for the source of the sound.
“Deku-kun, seriously, why is your kitchen empty? What do you eat?” Ochako’s voice echoed loudly despite the music playing.
“I’m fuelled on on hopes, dreams, and mostly 2-minute instant-ramen,” Izuku’s slurred voice sounded, just as loudly.
“And beer, apparently.” Tenya grunted from the floor, glaring at the case of beer as if it had personally murdered his older brother. Shouta tip-toed over the discarded beer cans, frowning at the littered chip bags and protein bars piled on the bean-bag chair.
“I’ll come over and cook you dinner sometime.” Shouto announced as he used his foot to sift through the wrappers.
“Are you planning a date?” Ochako’s sly voice sounded as she wandered into view of the camera, Izuku still slung over her shoulder like a sack of onions.
“I’m not going to say no.” Shouto replied, his expression growing thoughtful as his gaze settled on Izuku, who lifted his arms up in excitement.
“Free food?” Izuku asked, grinning. “Hell yeah!” Ochako sent him a weird look over her shoulder and sighed, shifting her footing.
“I’m going to go put this boy to bed. I’ll help you clean up in a bit,” Ochako explained as she walked out of view again, the sound of a bedroom door opening following. Tenya bent down, collecting a good armload of bottles and cans.
“How can he drink all this by himself?” Tenya asked no one in particular, looking warily at the three beer cases stacked next to the TV. Shouto shrugged, moving to the phone.
“How-how do you turn this off?” Shouto asked, tapping wildly along the browser. His eyes skirted to his reflected image from the camera and he quickly looked at the comment thread.
Explodo_Death: WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU AT HIS APARTMENT? BITCH BACK THE FUCK UP
DadMight_01: Make sure the young man gets lot of food and water in him before he sleeps! Also, if you could prop him up on his side, that’d be wonderful. Is one of you going to be staying the night to watch him? Is he okay? Those look like a lot of beer cans!
Shouto didn’t answer the comments, instead finding the button to end the live streaming.
“Deku is my husband,” Shouto told the viewers, ignoring Ochako’s call of "HE NEVER ANSWERED YOU! " as he glared at the camera. “So he is in fact not single.” He clicked the button, ending the stream.
“You need to stop,” Tenya spoke with a sigh. Shouto tilted his head to the side, confused as to why.
“You’re Deku, aren’t you?” The voice was smooth, easy on the ears. Izuku looked up, the bag of chips in his hold crinkling.
“Uh,” Izuku smartly blurted. “Depends who’s asking?”
The man, purple hair tied into a messy bun, raised an eyebrow at the vlogger. His tired-looking eyes seemed to sparkle for a moment in the dim lighting of the grocery store.
“I watch your videos." He explained, the corner of his mouth tugging up just a little. "I enjoyed your last live stream."
Izuku flushed, nearly popping the bag of chips open as he tightened his grip on them. “T-That was a rough week for me, I had a lot going on.” He squeaked out, trying to hide himself behind his arms. “I- I’m usually not like that.”
“I know,” the man chuckled. “You did a video once on Hush, and why you thought he made an amazing Hero despite his Quirk. It was..." He smiled fondly, "really awesome. Most people think he’s Villain material, y’know?”
“There is no way he’s villain material,” Izuku snorted before he could stop himself. “Hush’s Quirk allows him to control anyone who responds to his voice. Do you know how handy that is during a mass evacuation when everyone is panicking? One word and they file to the nearest shelters in single file. Or when he has to handle a hostage situation, he’s the best choice because he can literally talk the criminal out of it or-”
The man burst out into a loud, long laugh, his laughter alive compared to his exhausted appearance.
“You’re a good guy, really.” the man spoke. “Name’s Shinsou. Shinsou Hitoshi.” Shinsou held a hand out for Izuku to shake.
“I’m Midoriya Izuku. Nice to meet you, Shinsou-san,” Izuku stood up, grasping the offered hand.
“ Call me Hitoshi ,” Shinsou ordered, his words wrapping around Izuku’s head before he realized what the man had said exactly.
“Hitoshi.” Izuku complied, eyes blank. He shuddered, blinking away the daze that had slowly been settling along his mind.
“Eh..? You...your…?” Izuku’s face seemed to regain its healthy flush and Shinsou smirked.
“Can’t wait for your next drunk stream, Izuku.” With those parting words Shinsou left, throwing some finger guns in the farewell.
Izuku crushed his bag of chips and stared at the crumpled mess, a quiet, high-pitched screech sounding from his throat.
Izuku lounged at his spot behind the cash register, dark circles hidden under makeup. Most of his attention had gone into hiding the creases before his shift, knowing he was in for a long night.
As a chime sounded from the automatic doors of the convenience store, his posture abruptly straightened, costumer-service smile settling into place. "Welcome!" He called cheerfully from his post, and the woman who entered waved quickly before she darted into one of the aisles. Blinking in confusion, he allowed himself to smile in amusement at the clear rush she seemed to be in.
At least she acknowledged me, he thought, grinning. That's more than I get from most customers.
Not two minutes later, she rushed to his register, slamming down three large cans of energy drinks - the hard, pricey stuff, Izuku noticed - followed by a handful of protein bars on the counter. "Hi, could I- oh, Deku-kun!" He looked up from scanning her items at the sound of his name, a wide grin stretching across his face as Ochako beamed just as cheerfully back. "You work here?"
"Uraraka-san! How are you?" He swiped the protein bars. "And yeah, I do. I work most overnights." As he bagged her purchases, Ochako tapped her card on the reader. "It's 3 in the morning, though, are you on patrol?"
"Well, I don't wear this costume just for fun!" She winked. "Well, don't tell Katsuki, but sometimes I do." They shared a laugh. "Shouto-kun and I have been out for a few hours now, so I volunteered to get snacks to tide him over until breakfast."
“Oh, I can see why." Izuku replied, holding out her bag. "Tell him I said hi, and good luck to both of you, of course."
He grinned at the salute he received, and he slumped back into his stool after she left, sighing quietly.
Ten minutes passed before his next customer walked through the door, and he greeted them as cheerfully as he could as a familiar skeleton-like man shuffled inside, heading for the ramen displays.
The man's attention was caught at the sound of his voice, and after swiping one of the packets, he headed to the counter. “Ah, Midoriya-kun," Toshinori greeted, "I didn’t know you worked here."
“Yagi-san, hello! Yeah, I work overnights here.” Izuku laughed as he rung up the ramen, dropping it into a small bag. “You’re out awfully late.” Izuku collected Toshinori’s money, the cash register opening as he collected the correct amount of change.
“Ah,” Toshinori rubbed the back of his head, “I’ve become somewhat of a night owl. Took a walk around the neighborhood to clear my mind and ended up here, hungry. You work nights and go to school, correct? That sounds stressful.”
Izuku hummed, rocking on the balls of his feet. “I guess? I’m used to it, so it isn’t very stressful anymore. I just need to work on my time management with my exams and assignments." He brightened up with a smile. "Please don’t stay up too late, Yagi-san.” Izuku gave a parting wave and the man left, bowing before stepping out the door.
Izuku bit the inside of his cheek, letting his gaze flicker down to his barely functioning cell phone. He tapped at the spiderwebbed screen, flicking through news articles from the past three hours. There hadn't been any Villain activity in the past couple of hours, so Shouto and Uraraka wouldn't have been having a very interesting patrol.
“Welcome,” Izuku called as a man stepped into the store, black hood pulled up above his head. Izuku inwardly groaned, seeing the familiar customer. Great, time for another awkward shift.
The man moved with purpose, settling himself in the back corner of the store near the refrigerated beer. He pretended to fumble through the items on the shelves, his long and spindly fingers grazing the chips or boxed goods without thought. Izuku noticed, the second night the man had appeared, how he never fully touched anything. Either one or two fingers would be left in the air, giving Izuku uncomfortable impressions. He’d never seen the man’s full face. Just little curls of a almost pale blue or get a flash of his beady eyes or the prominent circles under his eyes, or the almost permanently cracked lips.
Izuku didn't know him, didn't want to know him, and would like to pretend he never knew of him. He creeped him out. Every shift he worked, the guy would somehow know and be there to watch.
Every shift. The entire shift. Just...watching.
Izuku had tried to switch shifts with a coworker but he couldn't find any willing that wouldn't clash with school. He had a feeling the man would find out his hours if he changed, regardless.
Sometimes he hated life.
Izuku’s attention was stolen as Bakugou-Fucking-Katsuki stormed in with purpose, as if he ruled the convenience store. Izuku’s face fell, plastic smile falling as his greeting died on his lips.
“Deku!” Katsuki snarled, stomping over. Izuku felt the pound of an oncoming headache with each heavy footfall the hot-headed hero made.
“Welcome, valued customer! What can I help you with?” Izuku beamed, brightly, his eyes flashing over to the corner. The creeper customer seemed stiff, wary almost, at Katsuki’s entrance.
“The fuck?” Katsuki blinked, confused, before his eyebrows raised. “Holy shit. Are you forced to say that shit?” Izuku barely managed to keep his smile in place as he turned his attention to Katsuki.
“Valued customer, I have no idea what you are talking about! Now, is there anything I can assist you with?” Izuku tugged on his long sleeve shirt, his eyes again flashing to the customer in the corner. The customer was moving, heading for the exit.
“Oh, you’re leaving? Have a wonderful night! Thank you for your patronage.” Izuku called, inwardly cheering as the man merely bowed his head and slipped out. The moment he walked out of the store, Izuku slumped onto the counter, startling Katsuki.
“Thank God he left. I did not want to deal with him again,” Izuku sighed, looking up at Katsuki’s confused expression. He gave a sheepish smile at the Hero. “That guy comes in every shift of mine and just kinda...watches me? He’ll sometimes invite me out for breakfast after my shift ends, which I always turn down, and he’ll leave. Just like that. It’s...kinda creepy.”
Katsuki’s eyes narrowed as he scowled. “What the fuck, Deku? That sounds like a stalker. Have you informed the police? Your shift manager?”
Izuku waved a hand, laughing. “I’m fine,” he tried to assure. “I don’t think the police need to be involved. It’s totally fine, Kacchan. Now, what did you want?”
Katsuki’s eyes flashed to a pack of gum and he grabbed it, slamming it down on the counter. Izuku stared down at the minty-fresh flavored gum.
“You might want to get that spicy gum instead. You don’t like mint,” Izuku gave a soft laugh. Katsuki, tips of his ears red, snarled and batted the gum pack off the counter like a cat, exchanging it for the other flavor. Izuku rung him up, grinning the entire time.
Katsuki paused at the counter after receiving his bag, and met Izuku's eyes directly. "Izuku." He said quietly, and Izuku's face flushed with color after hearing him use his first name again. Katsuki smirked just a little at his reaction, but then his expression turned serious. "If that guy gives you any trouble, you tell me, alright? I'll kick his ass."
"Kacchan-"
"Or," he relented, "if he's just here and you don't want to be alone with him, shoot me a text or whatever." He took his receipt out of his pocket, swiped a pen from beside the register, and scribbled his number down. "I'll be there. I mean it."
"You know I don't even have a functioning phone, right?" Izuku asked with a breathy laugh, trying to blink back tears. He took the receipt regardless, putting it in his pocket.
"I know, dumbass." Katsuki somehow made the word sound like some kind of endearment. "I already bought you a new one. That's kinda why I'm here." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a new, sleek black phone, a model high above Izuku's paycheck.
Izuku's eyes went wide at the sight. "Are you serious?"
"Yes." Katsuki rolled his eyes. "Just take it."
Izuku plucked it from his hand, almost breathless. "T-Thank you, Kacchan. That means a lot."
"Don't mind it." Katsuki gave a gentle punch to his shoulder, turned, and headed out.
Izuku closed a hand over his shoulder, unable to stop the small, fond smile touching his lips.
"Thank you, Kacchan." He repeated, just above a whisper.
Izuku tried to cover his yawn as the doors chimed, signalling a new customer.
“Wel-oh! Todoroki-kun!” Izuku greeted, face livening as the Hero seemed to ghost into the store. Shouto blinked, checking his watch.
“Midoriya-kun, hello. It’s 6 in the morning. Did your shift just start?” Shouto asked as he wandered up to the counter. Izuku fought back another yawn and shook his head, his nose scrunching up slightly.
“Nah, I get off in 15 minutes.” He explained. Shouto’s eyes widened for split second. He nodded his head.
“Would you like to get some breakfast after you get off? I had stopped in here to get something to eat, after all.” Shouto spoke, his head turning to survey the empty store.
“That sounds great.” Izuku beamed. “Actual breakfast, I mean. Yeah. I just have to check out of the register and wait for the people taking the next shift to get here. Mind waiting?”
Shouto shook his head, moving to roam the aisles to kill time. Izuku ducked down, yawning once more. His eyes watered and he blinked away the wetness, lest he ruin his eye makeup. That shift, he had gone with simple, thin black wings and a Lemillion clip in his hair. He’d been too tired to even think of doing anything more with his hair.
Izuku’s shift ended quickly and he met Shouto outside, his freckled cheeks heating as Shouto took in the oversized white sweater with a chibi graphic of him in his Hero costume printed on it in.
“I didn’t know they made merchandise for me yet,” Shouto commented as he gingerly stole Izuku’s backpack, hiking it up onto his shoulder.
“They don’t…” Izuku mumbled, blush darkening when Shouto just stared.
“It’s cute,” Shouto spoke, his own cheeks dusted with red. “Very professionally made.” Izuku nodded, following after Shouto as he led the two to a fairly new cafe. Shouto dropped Izuku’s backpack into one of the seats, gesturing for the shorter man to sit down.
“I’ll get us something light, okay? Nothing with caffeine, either.” Shouto’s eyes went to the dark circles under Izuku’s eyes and he frowned slightly. “Nothing with sugar either.”
“No problem,” Izuku laughed as he settled back in the comfy chair. “Caffeine and sugar don’t affect my body much anymore. I kinda got immune to the boost they provide. You can get me anything, honest.” Shouto left, leaving Izuku to fiddle with his phone.
He looked up as a tray was placed on the table in front of him, holding 2 bowls of oatmeal, a plate of jammed toast, and two steaming cups of coffee.
“That’s...very Western.” Izuku commented as he took one of the cups, sipping.
“Yes, that’s their main selling point. They sell breakfast for the first three hours they are open and it’s all Western styled food.” Shouto explained as he relaxed in his own chair. He took a long sip of his coffee and pushed the bowl of oatmeal towards Izuku. “Eat.”
“Yes sir.” Izuku mumbled, taking his spoon and stabbing into the food. Around a spoonful of oats, he beamed. “Thank you for breakfast!”
Shouto hid his smile behind the rim of his cup, merely nodding as Izuku took another gulp of his oats.
“You work part time to support yourself while going to school, correct? Have you thought of maybe finding a better paying job with less hours? You look exhausted.” Shouto spoke as Izuku bit into his toast. Izuku hummed around the bread, his chews slowing as he tilted his head to the side.
“I like where I work.” Izuku answered with a soft smile. “So I’m okay. I can suffer a bit more, y’know?” His face looked so resignated, so defeated, but there was something hopeful in his tone.
Shouto bit his lips, tried very hard to hold it in but -
“Marry me.”
Izuku paused, his cup hovering inches from his lips as he stared over at Shouto, who stared determinedly back at him.
"I...I may have only known you for a short amount of time." Shouto licked his lips, tasting the bitter tinge of black coffee weighing down on his tongue like a burden. "But in only moments, you changed my view of myself. You settled something that had been weighing down on my life and crushing me for years just like that. You..." He placed his mug down, met Izuku's gaze. "If I had met you years earlier, I would have been a better person, Midoriya-kun. I would have been as happy as I am now."
"Todoroki-kun..."
“If,” Shouto took a breath, “if you marry me, I can support you. Pay for your food, your schooling. I can support you in your video making - anything. If...if you marry me.” Shouto looked down at his cooling oatmeal, his neck hot. Either humility or confusion - he couldn’t distinguish the cause of the heat. "I want a chance to make you as happy as you make me."
Izuku hummed, taking a very deliberate slow sip from his cup. He rested his cup down, tearing a corner of his toast off and popping it into his mouth.
“Todoroki-kun,” Izuku began, watching the Hero across from him shift in his seat, “I’m flattered by your feelings for me and the amount of concern you have for me.” Izuku’s eyes settled on his empty oatmeal bowl and he twisted the metal spoon, hearing it clang against the porcelain. "I'm grateful. And I'm happy that I've been able to impact your life the way I have."
“But...” Shouto sighed, as if he knew what Izuku was going to say. Izuku gave a sad smile.
“But,” Izuku added, “I can’t return those feelings. Not right now. I can’t be in a relationship right now. I barely have time for friendships as it is." He smiled gently. "I’m not going to tell you to wait for me but let me finish school and ask me again."
"You...?"
"I won’t get your hopes up but I’ll probably have a different answer.” Izuku winked and Shouto’s left side started to steam slightly.
“I...” Shouto cleared his throat. “I can be patient. Until then, I will be your friend. You do not have to be stressed about our friendship, Midoriya-kun. It is perfect the way it is right now.”
He gave a soft smile and Izuku mirrored it. They finished their breakfast in a comfortable silence.
“Kacchan,” Izuku called, tone flat as he watched the green-hooded figure pace the store, “would you stop?”
“The fuck! How’d you know it was me?” Katsuki snapped as he tore his hood off, glaring at Izuku.
“You were talking to yourself,” Izuku revealed and then paused. “Well, more like swearing to yourself. But, I could tell by your build, the way you walk, your voice, and the fact that your hands were letting off tiny sparks when you got really heated in your personal conversation.”
Katsuki glared at Izuku’s faintly smug expression.
“That fucker come back?” Katsuki asked as he stormed over to the counter, grabbing the first thing he reached out for. He nearly popped the chip bag open as he smashed it onto the surface.
“Kacchan...these are shrimp flavored.” Izuku spoke, holding the chips up for Katsuki to see.
“And?” Katsuki snarled, an eyebrow raised in challenge.
“You hate shrimp flavored, you have ever since we were kids.” Izuku spoke back, tone still flat. He leaned back as tiny explosions set off at Katsuki’s side. He didn't miss Katsuki’s suddenly pinched expression at the subtle movement.
“Shut up, Shitty Deku! I’m fucking buying them!” Katsuki spat. Izuku sighed and rung up the chips, holding them out for Katsuki.
“Fucking piece of shit acting like he knows my taste buds,” Katsuki grumbled under his breath as he stormed out of the store, Izuku giving a exhausted wave after him.
Not one minute later did Katsuki storm back in, his face scrunched up into one of pure disgust. Izuku rolled his eyes and held his hand out. Katsuki shoved the bag of chips into his hand and turned on his heel.
“I get off in 30 minutes,” Izuku called as he rolled the chips up, stuffing them into the underside bin of the counter. “Want to go get something to eat afterwards?”
Katsuki froze, his head turning slightly as if he were trying to decide if he had misheard Izuku just then.
"Fine," he snapped. "We're going to that new taco place down the street. Don't make me wait." He stomped his way over to the magazines and picked one up, flipping through it. Izuku snorted to himself, trying to hide his smile.
The second Izuku’s shift ended Katsuki was at the counter, demanding that he 'hurry his ass up'.
The next shift employee looked gobsmacked, staring at his coworker leave with the Number 1 Hero leading them.
“You missed it when Shouto was in," one of the other workers sighed wistfully.
There he was again. Izuku shifted as he replaced the coffee filter, eyeing the man just barely in his line of sight. The man, black hood pulled up, was picking through the magazines, blatantly staring at Izuku.
Izuku pressed his lips together, closing the filter tray with a sharp click and pressing buttons on the coffee maker. Satisfied with the new coffee brewing, Izuku bent down to put away the filters and grounded beans. He could feel the man watching his every move. Izuku pressed his lips tighter together, their color turning white from the pressure. Izuku stood back up, looking around for anything else to do.
The stale donuts could be replaced, Izuku decided, seeing as he had finished thawing and warming up a new batch. Izuku shuffled over to the donut display case, ducking under the cabinets for some gloves.
“Are they going to be marked down?”
Izuku jumped, smashing the back of his head on the wood of the cabinet. He peeled himself from the cabinet, tears in his eyes as he rubbed his head, looking up.
He blinked. Oh.
The man was looming over him, his hood and hair casting dark shadows against his pale complexion. His dark circles looked worse than Izuku’s, his lips cracked and dry. His hair looked unwashed, greasy and tangled as it stuck to his forehead. His red eyes bore into Izuku’s green.
“I’m sorry?” Izuku asked, eyebrows raising to his hairline at the fact that his creepy customer was actually going to buy something.
“The donuts.” Creeper spoke, pointing a slim finger at the display case. “Are you going to mark them down?”
“Oh, um, I can. I mean, they are almost 12 hours old.” Izuku stuttered as he stood up, gloves snapping against his wrists as he tugged them on over his long sleeves.
“I would like to get that rabbit donut then, please.” the man spoke, his eyes continuing to stare straight at Izuku.
“Right away, valued customer.” Izuku gave a stiff smile and grabbed the donut out of the case, slipping it into a plastic bag. “Would you like me to ring you up now?”
The man eyed the donut and nodded, his feet sliding against the tile flooring as he dragged himself to the counter. Izuku trotted after, feeling bewildered, and quickly rung the man up.
“You get off in an hour,” the man spoke. It wasn’t a question. Izuku gave a jerk of his head, a nervous nod, and was careful not to touch the man as he handed him the donut. “Would you like to get coffee afterwards?”
Izuku mentally screamed. There it was. The dreaded, awkward question.
“I’m so sorry, sir! I can’t, I’m afraid. I have to get straight to class after this. Maybe next time?” It was the same excuse as usual but the man just nodded, brushing a finger over the rabbit donut.
“Maybe next time. See you, Midoriya Izuku-kun,” the man bidded and left. Izuku watched, his face carefully blank, until the man walked out. He waited a good two minutes before he ducked down, giving a huge heave of air.
“Why me?” Izuku whispered to himself silently. He collected himself, breathing through his nose, and went back to exchange the donuts.
At least the man had bought something this time.
Izuku had been wandering the aisles of the bookstore, on a hunt for the autobiography All Might had published. It had just gone on sale that day but Izuku was finding no luck with it. Hair pinned back with some Lemillion hair clips, Izuku frowned in frustration.
“Midoriya, my boy!” A voice called and Izuku turned, his eyes widening at the sight of Toshinori and some tall, buff blond man next to him.
“Yagi-san! Hello,” Izuku stuttered, his cheeks flushing as he stared at Toshinori - All Might IT WAS ALL MIGHT. Without a counter and a customer-service persona to hide behind, his inner fanboy was coming out. His gaze flickered over to the man next to Toshinori and his eyes widened.
“Eh, you’re...Togata Mirio?” Izuku’s jaw fell slack. “You-you-you’re L-Lemillion …” The exclamation came out more of a wheeze as Izuku felt his legs shake.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding, the kid connects the dots fast!” Togata laughed, rubbing a hand along the back of his neck. “Hi! You already know my name, but what’s yours?”
“Oh! Um, hi, I’m Midoriya Izuku. I’m-I’m such a huge fan. I looked up your recent rescue in Hokkaido. That was amazing. I can’t believe you single-handedly took down that Villain organization. Ah, um, how is your daughter - Eri was it? Is she doing good? Oh man, I’m sorry, I just-”
Togata burst out laughing, clasping Izuku on the shoulder.
“You sure are funny! But wow, not a lot of people heard about Hokkaido. Or my adopted daughter. Huh. Oh, but Eri is doing awesome! She actually watches your videos. She’s a big fan. She’s going to be so jealous I got to meet you in real life.” Togata smiled. Izuku burst into a gurgling mess of red and green.
“No, um, I mean, I’m so happy? To meet you. I mean. Both of you. Together. I-I need to lie down,” Izuku tittered into a bookshelf, nearly crashing into it. Toshinori gave a chuckle, only to spit up blood.
Izuku gave a high pitched shriek at the blood an Togata just handed over a handkerchief like it was nothing.
“What are you looking for, Midoriya? You looked pretty determined," Togata asked as Toshinori wiped at the blood on his chin. Izuku glanced at Toshinori, complexion peakish, before he gave a shy smile.
“All-All Might’s autobiography was released today. I haven’t been able to find it yet, though. The other three bookstore were sold out by the time I got there,” Izuku explained. “I got off work late so I wasn’t able to wait in line with everyone else.”
“Oh, you mean this book?” Togata blinked, showing off a book in his pile. Izuku started. Toshinori smiled behind his handkerchief as Togata handed it over.
“I already bought it,” Toshinori explained. “I actually meant to buy it as a gift. Luckily, I didn’t need to wait long to give it to the person.”
“Huh?” Izuku stared dumbly up from the book.
“It’s a gift,” Toshinori explained as Togata shifted his footing. “For you. Midoriya Izuku, I wanted to thank you. You are a strong young man and if things had gone differently, I believe we would have gotten to know each other quite well. I wish you the best of luck in life, young man. Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to your next video.”
Izuku blinked back tears, unable to comprehend what the man - his hero - was saying to him.
“I believe that if things had gone differently, we would have been great friends,” Togata laughed. “It’s just a feeling. Thank you for your support. I’ll start watching your videos with Eri. I feel like I’d enjoy them.”
Togata swooped down, scooping Izuku into his arm with a swift hug. He let go and Toshinori held a hand out.
“Thank you,” Izuku whispered as he reached for Toshinori’s surprisingly strong grip. “Thank you.” The three walked out of the bookstore together and with a final goodbye, Izuku went home.
He opened the cover to the book, staring down at the signature written neatly on the inside page.
To Izuku, a Hero in his own right who continues to go above and beyond. PLUS ULTRA!
- All Might
Izuku hugged the book to his chest, curling into a ball on his bed as the water works began.
Music began playing, a whistling that slowly rose to the beat. The video started with a clip of Izuku sitting on a stone wall facing the sea, his hair tousled by the wind as the sun set in front of him. Shadows stretched along his face, caressing his skin. The clip cut to Izuku outlining his eyelid with a black pencil, his hair pinned back. It switched again to Izuku perched on that same stone wall, trying to keep his balance as he talked to someone off screen. The scene cut once more to Izuku holding a All Might figurine, talking animatedly to the camera. The clips switched as the pace of the music increased, stopping on a single clip of Izuku laughing at the camera, green eyeliner popping against his white eyelashes. The screen burst into stars, a glittery font reading Deku, before it went black.
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here with a new video! What is up, everybody! Deku here, starting this video a little differently! How’d you like the new intro? A fan of mine asked if they could make a intro for my vids and I wasn't going to say no! I gave them some unused footage Toga-chan had saved and they made that beautiful intro! The song’s DNA by BTS and-”
Katsuki slowly closed the laptop, lowering his head until his forehead was pressing against the cold, flat metal surface.
“Kirishima-sama,” one of the interns sobbed hysterically from under their desk, “Volatile-san is smiling. What's the protocol for this?”
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here with a new video! What is up, everybody! Deku here, live! A few fans had wanted a tour of my place so-”
The sound of his bedroom window shattering cut him off, a body tumbling through. Izuku gave a high-pitched shriek as he whirled in his chair, headphones ripping out of his ears as he clutched at his chest.
Katsuki stood up, brushing the glass shards from his hair. Their eyes met, and the Hero scowled. Izuku gasped, staring openly at his broken window as Katsuki’s boots crunched under the shards.
“Why the fuck are your doors so fucking shitty? I barely kicked it and it fell off the hinges. Also, I almost didn't think this was your place - it's so bare.”
His window. His window was broken. His window was broken. His window. His window. His - wait, did Kacchan say something about his door?
“What are you doing here?! Can't you knock?!” Izuku nearly toppled out of his chair, hopping over the glass as he hurried over to his bedroom door. He swung it open, the camera getting the perfect view of his front door at the very end of the hall. His front door that was caved in at the middle and barely hanging onto the door frame by a single hinge.
“MY DOOR!” Izuku wallowed, his arms flapping uselessly as Katsuki sauntered over to his computer chair, plopping down.
“Your apartment has shit-ass security,” was all he said as he watched Izuku gesture to his door and his window.
“WHY?!” Izuku’s voice was shaking at his pitch rose to almost hysterical level. “Knock on the fucking door!”
“I DID!” Katsuki roared back, a vein popping as his palms sparked in light bursts of stars. “You didn't answer the fucking door, Deku!”
“So you kick my door down and fucking bust through my window?!” If it hadn't been for the glass on his bedroom floor, embedding into his rug, he’d have fallen to his knees in disbelief.
“Anyways,” Katsuki rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the comment thread on the screen, his eyes scrolling along the speeding comments, “I want an interview.” He flashed his middle finger at the screen as he read a rather rude comment directed towards himself.
“An interview ?” Izuku looked like he’d swallowed a lemon. “You want an interview and this is the way you ask?” He stepped through his rug hesitantly, bare toes tapping briefly along the plush fabric with care as he made his way over to the desk.
“Yeah, I want an interview. Did I fucking stutter?” Katsuki asked, barely batting an eyelash as Izuku scooted his seat over to pull up another chair, plopping into it.
“Well guys, I guess we’re interviewing Volatile Light today,” Izuku spoke blandly towards the computer screen, staring blankly at the camera. “So, let’s start this livestream over properly okay?”
Katsuki settled back in his seat, looking unnecessarily smug, as Izuku coughed and fixed his braided hair. Izuku inhaled deeply and a bright smile overtook his face as he bounced in his seat.
“Do not fear my friends, for I am here with a new video! What is up everybody! Deku here, live! As you’ve just witnessed, Volatile Light has decided to join us-”
Iida: I believe you meant to say ‘he crashed through a window and will later be charged with breaking and entering’.
An0n: Honestly I logged in just in time to see the window shatter and I've never laughed this hard in my fucking life
Guest1: he actually fucking broke it i cant believe this
Guest2: Don't mind Japan's No.1 Hero just BREAKING INTO SOMEONE'S HOUSE
An0n: No lie watching him brush off the glass and sit down like nothing had happened
An0n: that added at least ten years to my lifespan
“ -for an interview. So everybody, let’s give a warm welcome to The Number One Hero, Volatile Light!” Izuku gestured with open arms towards Katsuki, who scowled at the camera.
“Hi.” he greeted bluntly, staring blankly at the camera. He didn't say anything else.
“Beautiful.” Izuku grumbled under his breath. “Alright, well, I don’t have any pre-written questions for you, but let’s just wing it! It’ll be fun. So, Volatile Light-”
“Stop fucking calling me that, Shitty Deku!” Katsuki raged. “Talk to me normally or I'm not gonna take you seriously.” He crossed his arms over his chest, glaring hotly. Izuku hesitated, frowning.
Guest2: Hey, um, what the fuck? Ask nicely, dick.
Iida: Bakugou, our dear, violent friend, you must learn proper manners when speaking to someone! Especially Midoriya-san!
Red_Riot_Death: I heard something about violence and here I am
Red_Riot_Death: what a surprise Katsuki's here too!!
Pikachu_I_Am_You: that's the most accurate thing i've read in years
“Um, K-Kacchan then...” Izuku mumbled, his cheeks pinking slightly. Katsuki almost seemed to preen in content at the familiar nickname. “Um, so, how does it feel to be the Top Hero? Is there any pressure from the media or peers about how you present yourself to the public?”
Katsuki raised an eyebrow at the questions. “I mean, fuck what they think, right? I’m saving their lives, why do I have to be nice about it? In those moments, it’s fight or flight. There’s no time to spare and if I waste even a second trying to make someone feel like they can trust me, when that’s a second I could fail at saving someone else. It’s my duty to protect them.” Katsuki scratched at his cheek, suddenly looking thoughtful.
“Sure, it’s shitty when the media gets onto me because I throw a kid or make the less severely injured walk-”
“That was kinda shitty.”
“-but if they can walk, they can help evacuate other people. They can be Heroes themselves. And I only threw a child once. He was gonna get hurt and Cellophane caught him, anyways.” Katsuki sunk into his seat, expression dark.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: "I ONLY THREW A CHILD ONE TIME GUYS STOP BRINGING IT UP"
Red_Riot_Death: Imagine Sero having to explain all of that to the kid's mother...it was the funniest thing I've ever seen
Packing_Tape: I've never feared for my life more than that day
“Uh-huh,” Izuku hummed. “Smooth. So, despite media backlash, you’re actually grown quite popular due to your… rather unorthodox methods of Heroism. How does it make you feel, knowing you’ve set a new example of how Heroes are perceived by citizens?”
“Eh.” Katsuki shrugged. “It’s whatever.” Izuku’s head snapped towards Katsuki and he gave him a stern stare.
“Kacchan,” Izuku spoke, his tone sounding eerily like Inko’s when she was about to make you feel horrible for sneaking in candy before dinner, “don’t you care at all about how you are seen? Don’t you remember when we used to watch the news as kids? Remember how awesome the Heroes seemed, acting so heroic and nice and warm ?"
At Katsuki's blank stare, Izuku let out an exasperated sigh. "You nearly got into a fist fight with that reporter last week! You are an adult, for god’s sake. You need to get this teenage-edgelord anger in check and realize you aren’t representing yourself anymore. You are representing Heroes everywhere and the city and citizens you protect.”
Katsuki sat there, stunned silently.
Red_Riot_Death: get rekt
Gravity-Girl: My “Katsuki’s getting rekt” senses were tingling and here I am. What did I miss?
Todoroki_S: Likewise. If someone could fill us in, I’d appreciate it.
Gravity-Girl: @Todoroki_S, you sure you aren’t just here for Deku-kun?
Todoroki_S: @Gravity-Girl, listen, my lawyer says I can neither confirm nor deny.
Its_A_Me_Mirio: Wonderfully spoken from a citizen’s point of view! The #1 Hero is a beacon and I’m happy he’s being explained why his actions are no longer acceptable!
Hush Die Bye Baby: ‘bout time someone told him straight. Honestly if I had the chance I would've told him years ago
Hush Die Bye Baby: ...its not letting me type what I want to say. A pop-up keeps coming up telling me the language is 'banned on the site' because its too 'vulgar' and 'offensive'
Iida: Let’s calm down now, children. As Class 3-A President….
Birb: ... Ex-class President….
Iida: I come on here to have a good time and I’m always attacked. Always.
An0n: It’s like you don’t expect it
Earphone_Actress: @Iida , well, you realise we’re all adults now, right? We don’t have to listen to you because of your ‘class prez’ authority.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: that’s because the only one you listen to is your girlfriend @Earphone_Actress
Earphone_Actress: Your point?!?!?! @Pikachu_I_Am_You
Momo_Without_A_Peach: You said you were adults???? Babe, stop messing with Denki
Todoroki_S: Can we please get back to my question I need to be filled in.
Gimme A Hand Or 2: are you a thirsting gossip girl?
Todoroki_S: @Gimme A Hand Or 2 I don’t even know what that means.
Gravity-Girl: @Todoroki_S you wouldn’t. But yeah guys what happened?
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand: can’t deny you ain’t thirsty tho @Todoroki_S
Todoroki_S: I don’t follow. I literally just had a glass of water?
Red_Riot_Death: @Todoroki_S DUDE YOU ARE KILLING ME RN
Pikachu_I_Am_You: I’m going to cry omg i can just imagine him typing all of this with a blank face
Momo_Without_A_Peach: @Gravity-Girl you live with him can you go and confirm this
Gravity-Girl: hell yeah i can!
Todoroki-S: ...You do remember I'm in charge of buying groceries tomorrow, right? Don't make me abuse my power.
Gravity-Girl: Nevermind! (pls pick up more apple juice tomorrow :) :) you're the best)
Iida: I live with people who use grocery lists as threats.
Guest: ANYway @Todoroki_S, @Gravity-Girl Deku_Deku_Desu just preached and laid down some sick truth to this asshole
Red_Riot_Death: By asshole they obvs mean Katsuki
Earphone_Actress: obviously
Todoroki_S : Nicely done, Midoriya-kun. You’re the Hero we need.
Gravity-Girl: the one we don’t deserve :’) :’)
Cattaser-Head: so fucking happy I don’t have to teach you chucklefucks anymore
Ghost_Girl: @Cattaser-Head aaaaaaawwww we love you too dad :^)
“Shut the fuck up, Deku,” Katsuki grumbled. “Listen, I know . But All Might was the Hero who always smiled. He was like the human embodiment of charisma and it...it feels weird trying to follow in his shadow, especially since I’m not his successor.”
Gravity-Girl: BECAUSE BAKUGOU NEVER SMILES AND WHEN HE DOES WE ALL FEAR FOR OUR LIVES DUH
Iida: I can’t really argue with you there.
Izuku blinked at that, reeling in his chair. “What do you mean?”
“We aren’t stupid, Deku." Katsuki huffed. "Despite us being media hogs for popularity and salary, we do know who should be the real Top Hero. Lemillion just has shitty luck with media.”
An0n: He means Lemillion tries his damn best but there's always a camera around for his wardrobe malfunctions when he's not in costume
Its_A_Me_Mirio: I am honestly cryin rn my daughter and husband are too this is a weird Twilight Zone moment
If_Im_His_Sun_He_Is_My_Moon: as the husband, I can confirm.
Gravity-Girl: I still cant believe Senpai has the cutest account name 0////0
Its_A_Me_Mirio: @Gravity-Girl you realise now that we’re out of high school, you don’t have to call us Senpai any more?
Gravity-Girl: you’re still our Senpai in the Hero field!! :) :)
Its_A_Me_Mirio: Then we are honoured to set such an example
Pinky_&_Da_Brains: lmao guys look at Deku’s face he is S H O O K
“You’re openly admitting you don’t believe yourself to be the Top Hero?” Izuku’s tone showed he couldn’t comprehend it.
“...yeah? I mean, we all know Lemillion is supposed to be the Beacon of Light or whatever. You even said so in your video -what the fuck is wrong with you?” Katsuki scooted from his chair as Izuku doubled over, grasping his head.
“AM I DREAMING ? Kacchan, you are actually being a decent human being? Where’s my camera?” Izuku made a show of getting up from his chair.
“Sit the FUCK back down, asshole! I’m human too, y’know!” Katsuki roared, palms bursts with tiny sparks.
Gravity-Girl: DEBATABLE
Red_Riot_Death: LIES FROM THE MEDIA
Pikachu_I_Am_You: HACKS, I CALL HACKS
Todoroki_S: He sits on a throne of lies.
Animals: can’t we go a video without bashing Bakugou-kun? For once?
Red_Riot_Death: Sorry @Animals but did you spend three years with him like the rest of us or?? (Don’t kill me Katsuki, you know you’re my bro)
Gravity-Girl: @Animals Oh Kouta, we’re sorry. We try. We really do.
Iida: The one fault of the internet is that i can never tell if Ochako is serious or not.
Earphone_Actress: THAT’S THE ONE FAULT OF THE INTERNET?!?!
Gravity-Girl: I am wheezing
Todoroki_S: Is what you call it? I thought someone was dying.
Ghost_Girl: All of you will be after Katsuki reads these messages.
Packing_Tape: honestly when aren’t we tho he has a hit list for us for, like, everything
Red_Riot_Death: I can confirm that. He brings it to work with him. The interns check it for their own names almost daily.
Izuku failed at stifling his giggles and Katsuki’s face spasmed into a unreadable expression for a moment. “So, do any of the viewers have any questions for Kacchan right now?”
Gravity-Girl: YA STOP BEING A DICK
An0n: That isn’t a question but MOOD
Gravity-Girl: oh, soz. Could you STOP BEING A DICK??
Iida: Oh boy.
Hush Die Bye Baby: so like, if Bakugou suddenly goes missing, would anyone mourn him? Also, can I then call dibs on Deku?
Todoroki_S: UM
Gravity-Girl: everyone calm down we’re Good Christian Children™ who wait till marriage
Hush Die Bye Baby: WE’RE JAPANESE THAT DOESN’T APPLY HERE
Gravity-Girl: Sorry I’ve been watching a lot of western television lately.
Iida: Tell me about it. You’ve turned my Netflix recommendation list into a disaster.
Todoroki_S: UM???
Birb: @Hush Die Bye Baby I think you broke him
Hush Die Bye Baby: it was a legit question tho Deku says he’s single so he single to mingle and maybe jingle my you know what ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Gravity-Girl: BACK TO US BEING GOOD RELIGIOUS CHILDREN
Ghost_Girl: GOOD. CHRISTIAN. CHILDREN™.
Hush Die Bye Baby: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Iida: Can you order holy water online? Asking for a friend. Maybe a few of them.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: I know a guy.
Iida: You...know a guy...that sells holy water.
Red_Riot_Death: @Iida , listen man, with the shit that goes down at our apartment you’d want someone like that on speed dial too
Earphone_Actress: honestly why do you think we haven’t invited anyone over in months
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: I’ve got three exorcists on speed dial for when I crash there
Momo_Without_A_Peach: The neighbors know to call the police if we aren’t heard from at least once a day
Pikachu_I_Am_You: There are four of us (sometimes five if Mina is up to chill) in this goddamn house and yet none of us can cast out the demons
Iida: I’m sorry, what?
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand: jfc what are your lives????
Gimme A Hand Or 2: I’ve had lots of experience with demons want any help? :)
Guest1: Aren’t you guys Heroes wtf
Red_Riot_Death: FIGHTING SATAN ISN’T IN OUR JOB DESCRIPTION
“Questions, guys.” Izuku laughed. “I didn’t ask to hear about the Lucifer spawn in your house!”
Hush Die Bye Baby: baby you haven’t seen the Lucifer Spawn yet ;P
Red_Riot_Death: IT’S A SERIOUS ISSUE
Todoroki_S: @Hush Die Bye Baby here's my question, if a Hero murders another Hero, is it considered evil? What if it was for the benefit of society?
Gravity-Girl: are you threatening him lol
“Guys,” Izuku laughed louder, “seriously! This can hardly be a interview without questions!”
“How the fuck do you get anything done on these streams with these losers?” Katsuki asked with a snort. He was looking more relaxed now, leaning back in his chair with one arm slung over the back of Izuku’s chair.
“Hey, normally you’re one of the losers commenting. Mostly with expletives, though.” Izuku teased, grinning cheekily as he side-eyed Katsuki.
Gravity-Girl: Newsflash asshole, you're on these streams too!
An0n: Hey Volatile, when you broke into Deku’s room earlier, you said you didn’t think it was his place at first. Why?
Guest: Probably because he keeps his All Might shrine in only one room of the apartment.
Katsuki scowled, flashing his middle finger at the screen. “I thought I had the wrong place cause it was so empty. What happened to your workout equipment?” Katsuki watched Izuku’s image on the computer screen flinch. “It’s gone.”
Izuku rubbed at his arm, frowning. “I sold it.”
Todoroki_S: Excuse me?
Katsuki turned, trying to meet eyes with Izuku but the green haired adult was stubborn as he burned a hole into his bedpost with his gaze. “My paycheck is coming in late this month and I wasn’t going to be able to afford rent or groceries so I sold my equipment to pay rent. I'll save up again to buy better quality stuff, anyways. I had those weights since middle school.”
Katsuki stared, barely breathing. His eyes trickled to the broken window, feeling the fall draft brushing against his exposed ankles. He pursed his lips, turning away from Izuku to click out of the stream, ending it. He flashed his middle finger quickly before the stream successfully ended and closed out of the browser. He pushed himself away from the desk, shoving past Izuku to stomp into his kitchen. Izuku followed after him like a duckling after its mother, lost to Katsuki’s almost trance like determination.
Katsuki tore open a cabinet, seeing nothing. He blinked and ripped open the fridge, nearly taking off the plastic handle. A nearly expired carton of soy milk, rice, and container of eggs stared back at him.
“Pack your shit, Deku.” It wasn't a suggestion. It wasn't even an offer. It was a demand. He was using that tone. It was a tone Izuku knew well, learned well. He used to be wary of it, scared of it on really bad days, back when they were younger and sticks and stones were the least of his worries.
But somehow the displeased bite lingering on that sharp tongue didn’t raise the hairs on Izuku’s arms, didn’t cause the world’s volume to muffle, wasn’t directed at his very existence and Izuku tried to calm the almost habitual skip-of-heartbeat as he stared wordlessly at Katsuki’s back.
“Huh? Why?” Izuku took a step backwards, leaning against his kitchen wall. Unconsciously trying to put space between the two or trying to find a more natural posture, Izuku didn’t want to stop and speculate. He was still wrapping his head around it, still trying to get use to this newfound friendship, and Izuku didn’t want to try and dissect every single interaction between the two, trying to comb through every single word or gesture to find evidence that this was some elaborate prank. That Katsuki would create a explosion in his face, laugh that horrendous laugh that used to make Izuku believe he was everything Katsuki though he was, and say he was joking.
“You can stay at my place until your door and window are fixed. I'll pay for the damages.” Katsuki spoke, back still turned to Izuku as he opened a drawer in the fridge, seeing a head of lettuce.
“What?” Izuku’s voice shook, uncertain, as he gave a confused laugh. His eyes were wide, shoulders hunched. Why did Katsuki care? Why did he decide now, of all times, to bust in and suddenly have a bleeding heart for Izuku’s financial situation? He’d been fine the last time he struggled and he’d be fine the next time he could barely meet the month’s challenges. Izuku grasped for an answer, some sort of solid reasoning for Katsuki’s interest, and floundered when he found none immediately.
Katsuki turned to Izuku with a snarl, his mouth snapping closed with a audible click of his teeth gritting together as he actually looked at Izuku. He looked tired, makeup failing to hide the bruising bags under his eyes. He looked like he was about to be swallowed by his hoodie and his hands visibly shook.
Katsuki gathered his thoughts, opened his mouth, only to pause as his phone went off. Katsuki shoved a hand in his pocket, cell phone cracking in his white-knuckled grip. He gave Izuku a pointed stare, signalling their conversation would continue once he got off the phone, and slid his screen across to answer the call.
“The fuck you want?” Katsuki spat without even glancing at the caller ID. His expression darkened before he hung up without a word. Katsuki stormed past Izuku, nearly knocking him over as he shouldered past. He pivoted on his heel, pointing a finger at Izuku as he stopped before the destroyed door.
“Villain attack. Stay here until I get back. If I even see a notification that you are live streaming the attack, I'm decapitating you." Katsuki hissed before he stepped over the door and walked out. Izuku just stared after him, looking hopelessly lost and confused.
“What the hell, man,” Izuku exhaled to himself, trembling fingers running through his hair, before trudging back to his bedroom. He looked dispassionately at the glass littering his floor and decided he’d sweep it up later. Much much later.
Izuku plopped down on his seat, rebooting his livestream.
“Hello friends! Sorry about that! Now-”
The world exploded.
Izuku was thrown out of his chair, left side slamming against the wall as a cloud of dust kicked up. His bed snowed down around his slumped form, stuffing and feathers blanketing the scorched wooden floorboards. His computer crashed beside him, screen cracked and pitch black. His desk was a crumbled mess where it rested, caved to the side with chips broken off.
Screams rose through the air, as if breaking through a blanket of silence, and suddenly nothing seemed real.
The dust cleared, revealing a gaping hole where his wall was supposed to be, and a towering, dark figure.
The Villain, body long and thin, was spindly like twigs, twisting awkwardly as its pitch black face opened up into several rows of teeth. A inhumanely high pitched scream echoed throughout the crumbled room as Izuku failed to sit up. Slumped sideways, head resting in glass and wood shards, he stared at the Villain while taking stock of how he felt.
His head throbbed, vision blurred around the edges, and he felt liquid trickling down his temple. Probably bleeding then. He tried to move his other arm only to bite back a cry as fire laced through from his fingers to his shoulder. His arm dropped uselessly down on the floor, twisted at a impossible angle. His wrist bone was peeking out, shimmering white against red. His fingers were split open or bent oddly, scorched from the explosion. His legs weren’t responding, uselessly limp under his crumpled form.
Izuku’s breath came out in short, single puffs. His eyes were dilated, the green barely visible against the giant balls of black. He pressed himself closer to the wall, whimpering low in his throat at the Villain crawled towards him on all ten legs. It crouched low, uncomfortably close, mouth open wide as it got right in his face. Black, tar like saliva strung down, pattering against Izuku’s cheek. It stung upon contact, a sizzling echoing against the eerily mute air. His whimpers cut off as hot breath fanned his face and a grey, forked tongue languidly slid out and ran up his bleeding temple.
“Scream, little child,” the Villain spoke, voice sounding like multiple people screeching over each other, “scream so the Heroes can hear themselves fail.”
Tape wrapped around the Villain’s waist and it was gone from Izuku’s personal space in a second, sling-shot out of what remained of his bedroom. A man stole it’s spot, hands raised in a pacifying manner. Izuku jerked backwards into the wall, gasping for air.
“Hey, hey,” the man cooed as he lifted his visor, a concerned smile on his face. “It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m-”
“Cellophane,” Izuku blurted, voice flat as his brain when on autopilot. “Number 13 Hero, you sometimes do group fighting with Red Riot and Pinky. You-you-you-” Izuku’s voice was closing up, breaking off, and he was finding it hard to focus as his world tilted and set ablaze in pain.
“Hey, whoa, calm down! I need you to focus on- whoa!”
A hand touched his cheek and Izuku flinched back.The hand roughly grabbed the back of his head, keeping him still, and another hand tilted his chin up. Katsuki stared seriously at Izuku, Cellophane behind him while nursing a smarting shoulder.
“Red Riot and Shouto are securing that motherfucker right now,” Katsuki spoke, head tilted to talk to Cellophane. “Go see if any of the other civilians need medical attention. Send a paramedic up ASAP.” Katsuki’s tone was hard, instructive, and Cellophane snapped his visor back down with a brief nod and catapulted out of the hole.
“K-Kacchan?” Izuku blinked back tears, his entire body cold and hot at the same time. The world was shaking - no, no, that was him. He was shaking, trembling, unable to stop even as he tried to rationalize that he wasn’t scared. He wasn’t scared but he couldn’t stop his breathing from stuttering in his throat or the sudden sobs that sounded.
“I’m sorry,” Izuku sniffled out as Katsuki gently brushed his hair back, tilting his head down to look at the deep gash to his temple, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Izuku didn’t know he was apologizing. He couldn’t stop himself though. The words just kept coming out, kept echoing around him like a chant. Maybe he thought if he apologized enough, he’d feel better. Maybe if he repeated the words enough, they’d heal his broken arm. Maybe if he heard the words enough, it’d reassure Katsuki. Katsuki who had a alien expression on his face, tittering between gentle and blank.
It was a expression Izuku had never seen before and that terrified him more than the Villain encounter moments before.
Maybe, just maybe, if he apologized enough, he wouldn’t feel like he’d somehow caused this current situation. Wouldn’t feel like a burden. Wouldn’t feel like he could have prevented it.
“Shut the fuck up, Izuku.” Katsuki hushed in a very soft whisper, his hand dropping from Izuku’s head to slowly, deliberately, reach down to his mangled arm. His hand hovered just above the wrist. He locked eyes with Izuku. “I’m going to touch your arm.”
“No you aren’t,” Izuku blurted out, voice raising in panic. He wasn’t. He wouldn’t. It hurt just staring at it. No. Nope. No, no, no.
“I’m going to touch it. I’m going to have to touch it to lay you down on your back. You’re going into shock and I need to help you. You’re going to need to breathe in real deep, okay? A big, big breath.” Katsuki instructed as his hand lowered.
“I’m going to fucking shove my fist through your throat if you even-!!!” Izuku’s words strung into a long scream as in one single movement, he was laying flat on his back, his broken arm limp at his side. His shoulder flared in a wave of white-hot lava pain and he broke into fresh tears, head tilting backwards as he vocally wailed. Katsuki brushed his tears away with his knuckles, shushing Izuku. A heavy material fell on Izuku’s chest and through his tears, the adult saw what remained of his All Might comforter.
Katsuki groped at Izuku’s legs, watching his expression as he touched his shins and ankles.
“You fucking bastard,” Izuku choked out as Katsuki raised his legs up and bent his knees, bringing them back out straight. He repeated the process, eyes trained on Izuku’s face. “You don’t have any medical experience.”
Katsuki snorted, shifting from his crouched position to prod at Izuku’s opposite arm. Inspecting the long, jagged cut from the juncture between his thumb and index finger to his wrist, he plucked out a fairly big chunk of glass from his arm. His forearm looked curved slightly. Possibly broken too. Red eyes traced the steady stream of blood pooling around Izuku’s thigh, where his hand rested. His lips were carefully pressed tight together, white around the edges.
“Newsflash asshole,” Katsuki spoke as he lifted his head up, hearing the hurried footfalls coming towards them from Izuku’s front door. “I have a First Aid Licence. I took classes before I debuted. It’s fucking stupid to have to wait for the paramedics if you could just learn shit yourself. Time doesn’t wait for help, so you gotta fucking make it.” Katsuki stood up as the bedroom door burst open, a pale looking paramedic panting as they entered.
“He’s going into shock,” Katsuki bluntly stated. He stepped aside as another paramedic entered as well. “His arm is completely fucked and he has glass embedded in his other side. I think both arms are broken. Besides the cuts, I don’t think his legs are that bad.” The paramedics crouched down at Izuku’s side, one of them gently moving his head to the side to see the gash.
“K-Kacchan,” Izuku wheezed as black spots began to sprinkle across his vision. His voice sounded faint, far away, and the paramedics’ words were lost to him as darkness began to drag him under.
He wished he could raise his arm, to grasp out, as he saw Katsuki turn his back to him as a blurry figure of red and white rushed towards him.
His eyes rolled to the back of head and he was gone.
.
..
...
Notes:
Come yell at us on discord https://discord.gg/VpJHbH3
Chapter 3: Main Story: Ch 3
Summary:
Guest2: Damn I missed you thirsty bitches.
Notes:
Surprise, Bitch. I bet you thought you saw the last of us.
Live stream username guide:
Explodo_Death - Bakugou Katsuki
Gravity-Girl - Uraraka Ochako
Iida - Iida Tenya (p easy)
Todoroki_S - Todoroki Shouta
DadMight_01 - All Might/Yagi Toshinori
Hush_Die_Bye_Baby - Shinsou Hitoshi
Pikachu_I_Am_You - Kaminari Denki
Red_Riot_Death - Kirishima Eijirou
Pinky_&_Da_Brain - Ashido Mina
Ghost_Girl - Hagakure Tooru
Earphone_Actress - Jirou Kyouka
Birb - Tokoyami Fumikage
Animals - Izumi Kouta
Packing_Tape - Sero
Easy_Baked_Oven - Rikido Sato
Blood-of-my-enemies - Hero Killer Stain
Cattaser-Head - Eraser Head
Momo_Without_A_Peach - Yaoyorozu Momo
Gimme A Hand or 2 - Tomura Shigaraki
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand - Dabi
Its_A_Me_Mirio: - Togata Mirio
If_Im_His_Sun_He_Is_My_Moon: - Amajiki Tamaki
I’m_Twinkling: Yuga Aoyama
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The first thing that Izuku registered as he was coming to was the sound of beeping.
It was slow and steady, seeming to originate from at least four different points judging by the difference in frequency and pitch.
Unfortunately, after sound came back, smell was next. The rich scent of disinfectant was so strong, so present - it felt like a personal attack on Izuku’s lungs as he breathed in. Not to say his lungs didn’t have enough problems on their own already with the tightness of his chest, but the air simply seemed far too clean.
Touch came back next, or at least, feeling did. He felt both far too light and far too heavy at the same time, as if his body were floating yet weighed down with sandbags. Perhaps it was some kind of pain-alleviating drug, because if the sterile assault on his senses was anything to go by, he was either in a hospital or in some kind of haze induced by his mother’s strongly-scented cleaning products. He adored her, he truly did, but whenever she decided to clean, she always went overboard. It often got to a point where he was certain even the neighbours could smell the disinfectant she filled the apartment with and asked her to tone it down.
His mouth was painfully dry, which he was sure was a result from the tube he could feel down his throat, which he struggled not to panic at. It brought back too many unwanted memories of his run-in with that sludge monster way back in junior high. Sure, meeting All Might as a result had been possibly the greatest thing to happen to him to date, but before then, he’d been alone. He thought he was going to die, and all he could see was the sight of his mother’s grief-stricken expression as either a Hero or a police officer came to her doorstep to inform her of his death.
Don’t think like that. He barely recognised the sound of his own voice as he tried coaching himself. You’re okay. You’re in a hospital, probably. Safest place to be, right?
It was another effort to open his eyes, which watered at the harsh fluorescent lighting that practically blinded him the moments he parted his lids. He squinted on instinct, peeking through his lashes as he attempted to look around while he adjusted to the glare of his room.
Izuku wasn’t exactly sure how to place what he was feeling. Confused? Sure. Tired? Absolutely .
He couldn’t feel that much of his body, but attempting to shift his arms did nothing. He somehow managed to gather the strength to look down, eyes going wide at the sight of his fully-casted arms resting across his chest in slings. He noticed the back of his left hand was padded with tape, keeping an IV in place.
Fuck , was his first, brilliant thought, both of my arms are fucking broken .
“Deku-kun!”
He jolted as Ochako abruptly swam into view, his bed shaking slightly at the force of her throwing her weight against its side, hands gripping the railing so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her eyes were filled with tears. “Deku-kun, can you hear me?!”
He didn’t do more than merely stare at her in a distant, detached kind of manner, unsure why she appeared to be so upset.
Was it because of him? Did something else happen? What exactly did happen?
His bed shifted beneath him, pushing him so his body was angled upright. Izuku looked to his left, where Shouto stood, holding the remote that must have been connected to his cot.
“Midoriya-kun.” Shouto’s voice was surprisingly soft. His tone was hushed, low, and his eyes flickered over Ochako’s shoulder at something Izuku couldn’t see. “Do you remember what happened?”
Izuku ignored their questions, turning his attention back to his body. Besides his arms, his opened hospital gown revealed wires stuck to his bruised skin, bandages wrapped around his ribs. Tiny scabs and not fully healed cuts littered his skin, his bruises ugly shades of purple or green. His right shin was wrapped up in pristine bandages, his left knee covered in a brace.
As if having to see his wounds to alert him, Izuku felt everything ache, pushing him further into wakefulness.
He turned his gaze away, taking in Shouto and Ochako staring at him expectantly. A shifting out the corner of his eye had Izuku turning his head very slowly, mindful to the IV in his hand and the breathing tube hindering his movements. Katsuki was staring back at him from his spot on the pull out couch, a thin white sheet draped across his legs. Tenya was sprawled out at the other end of the couch, his legs kicked up on the back of it to avoid Katsuki.
“You little shit .” Katsuki hissed low in his throat, eyes flashing over to Tenya. He kicked at the man and stormed over, rudely shoving past Shouto to get to Izuku’s bedside. To Shouto’s credit, he simply stepped aside with a patient kind of understanding not many people allowed Katsuki.
Katsuki leaned dangerously close over the railing of the bed, nose wrinkling as he caught whiff of the antiseptics in the air. With their proximity, Izuku caught sight of his own reflection in Katsuki’s eyes, noticing that he looked just as banged up and exhausted as he felt. Maybe that was why Ochako was wiping away tears, why Shouto was watching him intently, and why Katsuki sounded so upset.
Tenya kindly stayed at his post across the room, allowing Izuku the breathing space.
“You decide to wake up right before I leave for patrol?” Katsuki was saying, his tone biting. He sounded furious, but after knowing him for all these years, Izuku could pinpoint the difference between anger and concern. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Hey ,” Ochako huffed, locking an arm around his neck, causing Katsuki to glare at her over his shoulder, “give him some space to breathe, okay?”
Only after she tugged him away from the bed did it seem to register with Katsuki how far he’d been into Izuku’s personal space, to which he grudgingly muttered out an apology. Then, he stepped back and glanced at Ochako after she released him, his expression softening from the rage-fueled mask it’d been moments ago.
In that same heartbeat, Katsuki patted Ochako’s shoulder gently, squeezed once, and waited for her to meet his gaze. She gave him a breathless laugh and nodded her head after their eyes met. With that, Katsuki let her be.
It was his way of checking on her, Izuku realised, and he couldn’t help but try to smile at the sight. It was more of a grimace due to the tube, but it was a decent attempt.
The door slid open a moment later, and Inko wandered in with a doctor by her side. Aside from the creases under her eyes and the slouch to her posture, she didn’t seem as openly distraught as the others in the room. In fact, Ochako seemed to brighten at her appearance, just as Shouto, Tenya, and Katsuki did.
That’s mom , Izuku mused fondly, she’s always been a support for everyone around her .
“Izuku !” His attention switched from his friends to his mother in an instant, and his eyes went wide as she hurried to his side, his heart sinking at the sight of tears flooding their way down her pale cheeks. “You’re awake! Are you okay? I...I-” Her sentence dissolved into a sob, and she started running a hand through his messy hair, something she’d always done when he was sick in bed as a child. “Oh, my poor baby…”
Izuku wondered if he appeared as alarmed as he felt. If the shrill ringing of his heart rate monitor was anything to go by, he apparently did. He couldn’t help it though, his mother was crying over him, for him, and he couldn’t even comfort her.
His arms were dead weight against his chest and he believed that even if they weren’t, he wouldn’t have the strength to reach for her on his own. That hurt more than any injury ever could.
The doctor she’d come in with placed a gentle, stalling hand on her shoulder. Her sharp, dark eyes briefly flickered to Izuku, then refocused on Inko once more. “Midoriya-san, please lower your voice.” She spoke with a calm, reserved manner that Izuku was certain he’d heard before, or perhaps it was just so fitting for a professional in such a field that his brain was mindlessly making connections that weren’t there as a result of a drug-induced stupor.
Either way, Inko deflated a little and leaned back, allowing her space to be taken by the other woman, who smiled comfortingly. “Midoriya-kun is still under the effects of the morphine in his system, so he’ll likely be dazed and confused. But the fact that he’s woken up is to be celebrated.” She assured.
Then, her attention was on Izuku. “Midoriya-kun, do you remember me?” She asked softly, and as she flashed a small light in his eyes, he grimaced a little and tried to blink away the resulting flares of color obscuring his vision. “I’m the doctor who treated you when you came in with that punctured lung. It was a few years ago, now.”
Izuku stared at her for a moment, trying to think. He was certain he’d tried to block most of that out, and understanding graced her features when he shook his head in answer.
“That’s okay, I didn’t expect you to. It was a while ago, wasn’t it?” Her smile was still gentle as ever as she pressed the cold metal of her stethoscope against Izuku’s bandaged chest. She glanced at the monitors surrounding his bed while she listened. “I didn’t expect to see you back here with such injuries, though. Are you currently in pain?”
Izuku nodded, wincing slightly, yet his doctor didn’t appear too surprised.
“That’s to be expected, so I’ll give you something for that.” She assured. “But first, I’d like to ask you some questions, if you’re up for them.” She waited patiently for him to reply, to which he gave a slow nod. “Perfect.”
As the doctor readied her questions, Izuku glanced around the room, seeing Tenya join Shouto at his left side. On his right, Ochako stood shoulder to shoulder with Katsuki, her hands in Inko’s, and if he could have, he would have hugged Ochako for seeing how kindly and patiently she was comforting his mother.
Somehow, she was saying all the right things, and Izuku wondered how long he must have been in the hospital for them to get so close.
He looked back to his doctor when she cleared her throat. “Do you know where you are?”
Izuku shook his head.
“That’s okay.” A thoughtful hum. “Do you remember how you got here, or how you were hurt?”
Once again, Izuku shook his head. The stabbing pain in his body was slowing beginning to recede, though, and for that he was grateful.
“You’ve been in and out of consciousness for a while. Do you remember any of the other times you’ve woken up?”
No. He couldn’t remember anything. The last thing he recalled was...getting off work and making a new makeup tutorial around his Villain-themed style. After that, nothing.
“You’ve been in here for two weeks, Midoriya-kun.” The woman continued, her brow creasing in concern at the growing panic shining in Izuku’s eyes. “It’s October twentieth.”
Izuku shook his head in disbelief. No way that could be the date. She had to be lying.
“You were involved in a Villain attack. Does that ring any bells?”
Villain attack?
It came back to him like one of Katsuki’s explosions. A quick, hot flash.
He remembered Katsuki burgurlering his way into his house, the ruined state of his damn door and window , and the interview he’d given. Then, just as fast, an image of the Villain crawling through the rubble of Izuku’s bedroom flickered behind his eyes. He felt its breath against his face, and then Katsuki replaced the figure, touching his face gently, trying to keep him with him.
Even with that last fragment, he felt his heart thundering in his ears, panic swelling in his chest.
Holy fuck , he’d been attacked by a Villain. Not intentionally - from what he was assuming - but he was attacked. He’d almost died . Ice water filled his insides and Izuku felt his throat closing up, felt everything closing up.
He couldn’t breathe - couldn’t breathe - couldn’t breathe -
“Izuku-kun.” Soft, warm hands pressed against his bandaged face and Izuku’s eyes shot open. Ochako swam into view, smiling gently his way, and his gaze zeroed on her as if she were a lifeline. “It’s okay,” she assured, “just listen to me.”
And he did, sluggishly following along as she coached him through his breathing, telling him when to hold, and when to release. They were firm but encouraging instructions, and he held onto every last one until he had settled.
“That’s it,” Ochako whispered, keeping her voice purposely low, “breathe, two, three, four.” The doctor was eyeing the Hero with some sort of expression Izuku couldn’t read and Katsuki looked like he was simmering in a pit of lava, steam coiling around his hands.
He was frustrated he couldn’t help in the same way, Izuku briefly noticed.
“You’re okay,” Ochako’s voice brought his attention back to her, “the Villain was apprehended and while we’re here, none of us will let anything or anyone hurt you.” She was smiling to comfort him, but her lips were trembling just a little. “I...I promise to protect you, Izuku-kun.”
Izuku’s eyes creased at the edges. That’s the first time you’ve called me by my first name.
He nodded to acknowledge her words, to accept that he was in her - and their - care. He couldn’t really do much else at this point, but once he was discharged, he’d express his gratitude to all of them.
“I believe,” his doctor coughed, “that that’s enough excitement for one day. Let’s leave Midoriya-kun to rest and we can see about him answering more questions tomorrow.”
“I’ll stay.” Ochako spoke, leaning back from Izuku, punctuating her statement with a firm nod. Shouto murmured that he would as well, and Ochako grinned his way.
Izuku’s doctor merely smiled. “That’s fine."
“Izuku…” Inko was teary-eyed as she shuffled to her son’s side, brushing messy strands of hair back from his eyes. “I’m so glad you’re okay - that you’re finally awake. I was so worried.” She bent over the railing, kissing his forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that, she followed the doctor out of the room, closing the door behind her.
“You better be awake when I get back from patrol.” Katsuki all but hissed, turning on his heel, storming out. Ochako rolled her eyes at his antics, Shouto barely batting an eye in his direction.
“I’m so glad you’re alive.” Ochako added after a few moments of silence. “You - you scared all of us so badly, you know?” She laughed breathlessly, wiping her eyes once more. “You owe me so much money for all the stress food I ate through.”
Tenya made his way to her side, having been nearly silent this entire time to allow the others to be with Izuku. It was kind of him. He shifted his footing, clear relief on his face as Izuku’s gaze fell on him.
“She’s right, you know.” Tenya added amusedly. “I think we made our way through the vending machine down the hall in the first few days. And that’s merely the efforts of Shouto, Ochako, and myself. You can’t imagine how much Katsuki and Midoriya-san ate through.”
Izuku tried to smirk at that, only for it to be some sort of open mouth twitch with the tubes blocking his lips from making any sort of decent human expression.
“Speaking of which,” Ochako clapped her hands together, “I could go for some coffee right now.”
Tenya shook his head fondly. “I don’t doubt that for a moment.”
“I’ll only be a few minutes.” She said to Izuku. Then, she leaned over the railing and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, giggling as his face reddened. “Good,” she beamed, “you needed some color!”
Izuku was certain if he didn’t have a tube down his throat, he would’ve been sputtering in embarrassment, trying to come up with something to say in response. Luckily for him, Ochako had already skipped out of the room, leaving him to be the blushing mess that he currently was.
“We really are relieved to see you finally awake. You’re so strong.” Tenya cleared his throat, strengthening his voice. With the range of emotions he’d seen in such a short time, Izuku didn’t blame him for seeming a little overwhelmed. “I’m glad to see you’re okay. You’re one of my treasured friends, Midoriya-kun.”
He smiled, bowed his head in farewell, and left without another word.
Shouto watched him leave, waiting a few minutes before he turned back to Izuku.
Perhaps it was due to all the excitement, but Izuku had already fallen asleep, his heart monitor steadier than it’d been in a while. Shouto brushed his bangs back, fingers ghosting over the various cuts and bruises lining his face.
“I thought I’d lost you,” Shouto whispered, his words drowned out by the noise of the equipment. “I thought I’d lost another precious person in my life.”
“...pretty bad shape. Shattered shoulder joint, broken collarbone, broken humerus, open fracture on his wrist.” Izuku shifted slightly, turning his head toward the sound of the voice. “That means the bone broke skin...”
He wondered what day it was, what time it was. He hadn’t really been keeping up to date.
“...broken fingers, second degree burns - from the explosion, I was told. Cuts, gashes, and bruises from impact and glass. Fractured ribs….yeah, he’s pretty lucky…”
Izuku’s eyes fluttered open, closed, then shot back open at the sight of Toshinori at his bedside.
Toshinori’s surprised gasp of Izuku’s name was punctuated with the man spitting blood.
“Are you alright?!” The doctor yelped, alarmed, as Mirio just laughed and handed over a handkerchief.
“This is normal,” both men spoke, one more resigned, the other more embarrassed. The doctor eyed Toshinori warily before she caught sight of Izuku staring at them.
“You’re awake. Do you remember much from yesterday?” She asked, leaning towards him.
“Um.” Izuku coughed, blinking rapidly as he tried to clear his throat. Ow, that hurt. “No?” The doctor nodded, looking unsurprised, and smiled.
“You had your breathing tube removed yesterday.” she explained slowly. “You were awake for a good two hours after that. You don’t remember?”
“No,” Izuku spoke again, his voice raspy and tinged with concern. Was he supposed to remember? Why couldn’t he remember?
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. That’s okay. Your body is still trying to flush out the medicine from your system, so it’s going to be a while before you’re 100%. Do you know where you are?”
“The...hospital?” Izuku asked, looking around. His face scrunched up as he felt a tube between his legs and - wow . Okay. There was a tube there. That was...uncomfortable.
“That’s correct. Do you know why you’re here?” The doctor asked, her eyes flashing to his four visitors.
“A...Villain attack, right?” Izuku squirmed, suddenly feeling self conscious as he noticed his guests.
“That’s right. See, you’re doing great.” The doctor beamed. “How do you feel?”
“Hurt.” Izuku blurted. He blushed. “I-I mean, I-I’m in pain. I feel...weird.” The doctor nodded, moving to the metal pole where all the wires were hooked up.
“I’m going to give you a lower dose of your pain medicine. This should help you but won’t put you to sleep as fast, is that okay?” The doctor turned to Izuku, who nodded dumbly. She was the professional - he was just there taking it all. She nodded and finished fiddling with the machines, nodding to his visitors.
“I’ll stop by tonight before my shift ends,” the doctor spoke as they turned to the door, “until then, if you need anything, call for your nurse. Thank you.” They left, leaving Izuku to stare awkwardly at his guests.
“Hello!” Toshinori greeted, saddling back up to the bed. “You look worse for wear, young man!”
Izuku tried to shift and winced at the stab of pain that caused.
“H-Hi? Um, I’m sorry but why-?”
“Are we visiting?” Mirio asked, holding a little girl, maybe twelve at most, in his arms. “To see you, of course! I was there to help with the cleanup and, boy let me tell you, my heart nearly stopped when I saw you being carted away to an ambulance.” Mirio’s expression fell and the girl tapped at his cheek as if to cheer him up. “We just had to visit and when we heard you were awake, we decided to stop by. That’s okay, right?”
Izuku nodded dumbly, his eyes moving from the girl to the man hanging in the background. Wasn’t that…?
“Ah, let me introduce you! This is Eri, my daughter, and Tamaki, my husband! Say hi guys!” Mirio beamed proudly. Eri, almost vibrating in his arms, waved widely at Izuku while Amajiki Tamaki, motherfucking Suneater , nodded to him.
“Thank- thank you for visiting me,” Izuku stuttered out, mind failing to come up with anything to say. His brain short-circuited. God, what he wouldn’t give to have an interview with Suneater and Lemillion at that very moment.
“So, how are you doing? Are...are you okay? Villain attacks can be scary,” Toshinori spoke up, looking content at their introductions. Izuku looked down at his arms, frowning. Toshinori didn’t have to tell Izuku, he knew. Having now been in two Villain attacks, he knew how scary they could be. Now though, the Sludge Villain seemed like more of an inconvenience compared to the weird black goop Villain that had nearly killed him.
“It...doesn’t feel real? Like, it doesn’t feel like it happened to me, but...but I’m here, aren’t I? All banged up?” Izuku gave a slow, bitter laugh. “Man, and the most I had been worried about that day was my broken window.” His fucking windows . He was still upset about those, despite being put through the grinder.
“That’s life for you,” Toshinori sighed sadly, “it’s one of those curveballs.”
Mirio tilted his head to the side thoughtfully. “After you’re discharged, where will you stay until your apartment is repaired?” Izuku sat there for a moment, confused, before he remembered how his bedroom wall had been caved in like a house of cards. Oh god, his collection ! Izuku snapped out of his thoughts before he could get lost in the rising sadness at his long collected valuables.
“I-I dunno. Probably with my mom?” Izuku stammered, shocked. That had been the furthest thing from his mind. Thank God he had Villain Insurance. He didn’t know what he’d do if he didn’t.
When Quirks began appearing more rapidly, insurance rates skyrocketed due to constant damages to persons and property. Once Heroism became a proper profession, cities would cash in on the activity and put it towards repairing any damages done during a Villain attack. Any property or belongs destroyed or stolen from a Villain Attack was covered or compensated. Because of this, homes or vehicles ruined by an attack were repaired, stress free.
Because of this, Izuku didn’t have to stress the financial burden of paying for his decemated apartment. He was only saddened by the loss of his All Might collection, which no amount of money could restore. It held too much sentimental value.
“I was lucky to have been able to meet your mother when you went into surgery-”
“Surgery ?”
“-and we talked for a little while. If for some reason you can’t stay with her, my doors are opened to you.” Toshinori stared serenely at Izuku and he gawked back.
“W-What?” Izuku squeaked out, fearing he hadn’t heard right.
“It was quite the scare, suddenly seeing your video cut off mid-explosion. We’re happy you’re alive, and if I can do anything to help you, just tell me.” Toshinori spoke as he settled a small All Might plush at the foot of the bed, on Izuku’s ankles.
Izuku stared at it, burned holes into it, as warmth built up behind his eyes.
“The Villain…” He murmured. “What happened to them?”
“The Villain was killed before they reached prison.” Mirio said with a flat voice. He was running a hand through Eri’s hair, swaying side to side as he stared off into space. “It was like Overhaul all over again.” His grip on his daughter tightened. “Ambushed en route, the Villain disintegrated into nothing.”
“The League of Villains?” Izuku gasped in a startled hush, eyes tearing away from the plush to look at the Hero. Mirio nodded, face darkening.
“Yeah.” He went quiet after Tamaki stepped closer, speaking to him in a low voice that Izuku couldn’t hear. Then, Mirio’s expression became cheerful again.
“Anyways, we’ve got to go!” The Hero said. “We just wanted to stop by, see how you were, and drop off a few things!” With his free hand, Mirio gestured to a few paper bags resting on the couch. “It was nice seeing you again, Midoriya-kun! I’ll stop by tomorrow! Toshinori-san will want to, anyways!” Mirio laughed.
Tamaki placed a hand at Mirio’s back, murmured a quiet farewell to Toshinori and Izuku, and left with his family. Izuku watched them leave, still in slight awe they’d visited at all.
“It must have been scary.” Toshinori spoke after a moment of silence. He raised a hand, fingers brushing against Izuku’s shin. “But you stayed strong. You are very strong, my boy. I really do think that if fate had been different, you’d have made a amazing Hero.”
Izuku swallowed down the lump in his throat, tears beading down his cheeks.
“I- thank you? For - for everything.” Izuku sniffled, trying to avoid eye contact. Toshinori gave his shin a final pat and left, sliding the door closed behind him.
Izuku’s eyes drifted to the couch, where four brown paper bags of All Might memorabilia was stacked up, hearts and flowers doodled on the brown paper.
He burst into ugly tears, loud, and hysterical. If his arms were in better condition, he was certain he would have clung to the All Might plush by his feet until he cried himself to sleep.
Izuku’s eyes fluttered open to the soft strokes of fingers through his hair. Toga smiled down at him, moving her hand away from his head.
“Hi Izuku-kun~! You look much better today,” Toga greeted. She was perched on the bed, by his arm, kicking her legs over the edge. “Your nurse said you didn’t eat your lunch?”
“I didn’t want it. It smelled gross.” Izuku explained, tilting his head towards her hand. Toga nodded, hopping off the bed to skip over to her purse. She pulled out a muffin wrapped in plastic, skipping back over to Izuku.
“I’ll feed you, then. Sweets are okay in small doses, but I want you to eat your dinner, okay?” Toga chided, looking smug as she held out the dessert. Izuku just stared back at her, face blank.
“No.” Izuku spoke, turning his head away stubbornly. Toga frowned before giving a smirk.
“Ah well, what the hell, I was a Villain. I’m not your mom. You don’t wanna eat? Don’t eat.” Toga shrugged and ripped open the plastic, tearing a piece of muffin off for him. She held it out, beaming when he automatically opened his mouth.
Toga watched him chew for a few moments before looking over his head, at his heart monitor.
“That Villain was killed. Ambushed by the League. I guess he messed with their territory.” Toga hummed out thoughtfully, tearing off another piece for him.
“Uh-huh. Mirio told me,” Izuku spoke and shifted in bed, his face scrunching up as his back twinged from stiffness.
“...I wanted to kill that Villain. Cut him up into tiny pieces and hide his body parts in the deepest part of the sea.” Toga confessed softly, as if she were laying bare her sins. “Someone posted a picture of you being carted into the ambulance online. A neighbor or a fan, I dunno, but I just… You looked dead , Izuku. I got so enraged . I was - I almost considered going to Shigaraki and asking him to help me get to that bastard.”
“Toga-chan...” Izuku muttered after he swallowed, his expression understanding. “I’m okay. It’s okay. It’s over now.”
“But it’s not okay,” she snapped, her hand tightening around the muffin before she shredded another piece off. She fed him, scowling. “You almost died , Izuku-kun. You almost died and I wasn’t there to protect you. I don’t know why but I thought that since you were a civilian, you’d be safe from harm. You’d be safe from the drama that controls Heroes and Villains.” Toga took a shuddering breath and looked away, a tear sliding down her cheek. “I felt so useless knowing I couldn’t do anything to help you.”
“I’m fine now,” Izuku tried to comfort, wishing he could hold her. ”It happens, Toga-chan. You can’t control everything. You didn’t know this was going to happen. Cheer up. Please? For me?” Izuku tried to wiggle closer to his friend and she gave a wet giggle.
“Only because it’s for you,” Toga smirked and shoved the rest of his muffin into his mouth. She climbed up into bed, mindful of his wounds and arms, and positioned herself against his side. She ran her hand through his hair and he heard her shaky exhale.
“I was given some cards and gifts for you from a few of my old friends,” Toga commented off-handedly and Izuku’s drooping eyes caught sight of a gigantic teddy bear staring back at him from the couch, a card sticking out of its bowtie.
“That one is from someone called ‘blood-of-my-enemies’. I guess a vlogger fan...” Toga hummed thoughtfully, and Izuku merely smiled, slipping into a dream he wouldn’t remember by the time he woke.
“Hush little baby, don’t say a word. Auntie’s gonna buy you a talking bird. And if that talking bird won’t speak, then your control on it will be weak .”
Izuku stirred as the tendrils of sleep slowly loosened their grip on him. He felt someone’s presence by his side, and tried to focus on their voice to find out who it was.
“If you can’t control the bird, then you’ll make friends who haven’t heard. If you have friends who aren’t scared, then you won’t be constantly feared .”
Izuku’s eyes fluttered, catching sight of purple. His eyebrows pinched as his vision focused on Shinsou Hitoshi sitting on his bed near his side. Shinsou gave a small smile in greeting.
“Hush little baby, don’t make a sound. If you do, people will stay around. Don’t speak a word, don’t even hum. No one will trust you, not even some .”
“...that’s a horrible song.” Izuku decided to say after Shinsou had finished.
“I know,” Shinsou replied, smirking a little. “My babysitter would sing it to me when I used my Quirk. You looked like you were having a fitful sleep, so I starting singing it.”
“That’s a horrible babysitter.” Izuku commented, frowning. “That’s a horrible song from a horrible babysitter.”
Shinsou snickered, eyes crinkling. “Yeah, he was a bit of a dick. My parents fired him on the spot the moment they heard him singing it. They were adamant about me knowing my Quirk was completely fine and there was nothing wrong with it...or me…” Shinsou stared at the wall, pensive.
“They sound lovely,” Izuku beamed, because they did. Any parent who supported their child’s Quirk no matter the stereotypes were amazing people in his book.
“Want to meet them?” Shinsou asked coyly. Izuku’s face fell and Shinsou gave a bark of laughter.
“I brought you some oranges. I couldn’t bring them in here though so the nurses have them. I hope you get them,” Shinsou sighed. “How do you feel?”
“Better,” Izuku responded. “I feel like a giant bruise but other than that, better. I can’t move my arms, though. That sucks.” Izuku stared at his casts.
“Yeah, that’s gonna be a bitch for you to get your muscles back to their frankly hot size.” Shinsou gave a dramatic huff, smiling when Izuku gave a snort. “The woe. The horror.”
“I could still probably bench press you with my legs.” Izuku teased and reeled back when Shinsou stared seriously at him.
“Don’t tease.” Shinsou stated. He stood from the bed, stretching his arms behind his head. “I’ll visit you when you’re out of the hospital. I-I don’t do really well in hospitals, sorry.” Shinsou rubbed at the back of his neck.
“No, thank you for visiting. Don’t apologize,” Izuku blurted, feeling awkward on what to say. Shinsou gave a small nod and left, flashing finger guns as he moon-walked out of the room.
Izuku huffed, staring at the ceiling.
“That was a really shitty lullaby,” Izuku explained to no one, unable to wrap his head around how people could be so mean. Izuku moved his eyes to his casts and he froze, staring at the picture scribbled over the hard casing.
“Oh fuck,” he wheezed, cheeks burning red, “you gotta be kidding me.”
Shouto walked in to see Izuku sitting up fully, staring out the window.
“You’re awake,” Shouto greeted as he slid the door closed behind him. Izuku turned to him, smiling widely.
“Todoroki-kun! Hello! Yeah, I’ve been napping on and off so I’m trying to stay up as long as possible so I don’t develop a bad sleeping schedule,” Izuku explained with a laugh. He wiggled in place, wincing at the pull to his ribs. “Hi.”
“Hello,” Shouto’s warm voice washed over Izuku, “you look well. Are you still in pain?” He walked further into the room, shedding his coat from his shoulders as his eyes danced across the piling gifts.
“Yeah,” Izuku admitted sheeply, “but I don’t want any medicine. I don’t want to, like, form an addiction or anything. It isn’t that bad. Mostly sore, is all.” Shouto nodded almost absently and stood there, trying to find a spot to put his jacket and seat himself. Any chairs were stolen by gifts and he didn’t want to be rude and touch them.
“Just put your jacket on the bear,” Izuku spoke, catching Shouto’s conflict. “I can scoot over. You can sit with me up here.” His smile was almost blinding and Shouto pointedly avoided eye contact as he gently laid his jacket across the bear’s paws.
“Please pardon the intrusion,” Shouto spoke and Izuku gave a startled blink at the fact his joke was being taken seriously. He wiggled to the side and watched Shouto gingerly climb up onto the bed, nearly off it as he took up the very edge. “Thank you.”
“Uh- yeah -of course,” Izuku laughed, breath stuttering at the pull of his ribs. “So how are you?”
“Good,” Shouto spoke and his eyes slid to Izuku’s arms. He stared at the white plaster, trying to decipher what the black squiggles on the plaster was. “Is that a penis?” Izuku’s face burst with color, his green eyes almost swirling as he stuttered.
“S-Shinsou-san drew it when I was sleeping,” Izuku coughed and Shouto’s mouth tugged downwards.
“When I was still a student,” Shouto spoke as a small smile overtook his face, “for our provisional license test, Bakugou and I had to babysit children. They gave me the nickname Mr. Five-PeePee Man.”
“Five-what-man?” Izuku wheezed out, thrown off guard by the sudden admission.
“Hitoshi visited?” Shouto asked, a almost hostile tone entering his voice as he fluidly changed the subject. Izuku nodded dumbly, lost to the sudden shift of conversation.
“Yeah…?” Izuku answered. “For a bit. Why? Jealous ?” It was spoken cheekily, teasingly, but Shouto nodded seriously.
“Very,” Shouto spoke and brushed some of Izuku’s bangs out of his suddenly red face. “After all, I dislike love rivals to try and one-up me.”
“Love-love rivals?” Izuku squeaked as he tried to sink away from Shouto’s touch. “Don’t joke about that!”
“And they say I’m dense,” Shouto mumbled. He gave a sigh and thumbed along the plaster coating Izuku’s cheek. “You look better though.”
“Do I?” Izuku asked with a small smile. He looked down at his lap, away from Shouto. “I must have looked pretty bad, huh? I barely remember what happened, let alone waking up here.” Izuku looked like if he could, he’d be scratching his face or hiding it.
“You were scared,” Shouto spoke softly as he moved his hand up to Izuku’s bandaged head. He could almost feel the ridges of the stitches keeping his head closed. “You were confused. You looked... fragile . I forget you do not have a Quirk, that you are a normal civilian, no matter how remarkable you are.”
“Ah, yeah. I’ve heard that one before.” Izuku laughed. “Kacchan likes to remind me so I don’t do stupid stuff.” Multiple times a day, sometimes three times in the same sentence. Katsuki seemed to have the idea if he reminded Izuku about it enough, it’d get to the point where Izuku wouldn’t challenge it. He wouldn’t put himself in danger, hearing Katsuki’s stalling voice at the first sign of any hazard.
“Good,” Shouto spoke, then corrected himself. “I mean, the stopping you from hurting yourself. Not the Quirkless reminder. I doubt that’s a nice thing to be reminded of.”
“Eh,” Izuku tried to shrug and winced. “At this point, it’s just words. I’m happy you’ve come to visit. Thank you.” Shouto’s shoulders squared and he turned to look at Izuku, expression foreign.
He nodded and slowly, ever so slowly, gently rested his forehead against Izuku’s casted shoulder. Izuku stiffened.
“When I was young, that man raised me in what you’d call a abusive manner,” Shouto whispered softly and alarm bells rang in Izuku’s head at the sudden personal confession. “I was trained to be something that’d beat All Might. That’d surpass him. My mother tried her best but she was also hurt by the man she’d been forced to marry. I loved her, with all my heart, but I was a reminder of the pain she suffered daily.” Shouto’s voice shook, his words cracked, and his hands trembled as they lifted and linked around Izuku’s waist tenderly. Izuku stayed still, barely breathing as Shouto just inhaled a breath.
“She poured hot water on my face and burned me,” Shouto revealed and Izuku gave a sharp gasp as his eyes watered instinctively at the cruel treatment. “She was taken away and I never saw her in the household again. I visit her weekly, at the hospital she is kept in. She suffered more than I did, longer than I did, so I can’t blame her for hurting me.” Shouto sniffled and rubbed his forehead against the hard plaster.
“She didn’t hate me, doesn’t hate me. I was just a reminder of Endeavor. This left side of me that I hated for so long…” Shouto didn’t look up, didn’t attempt to move his head as he seemed to inch closer to Izuku. Izuku turned his head, resting his wet cheek against the top of Shouto’s head.
He’d been in the darkness for so long, sinking in a icy hatred that burned cold at the sight of the man who’d raised him. He’d hated himself for causing his mother pain, hated his father for hurting them, hated the world for not trying to help. His mother had appeared in public twice after marrying Endeavor and the public had seen the bruises maring her flesh, seen the fear in her tense shoulders, hear the caution in her words. And did nothing. He was a Hero. He was a protector. He wouldn’t hurt his own wife.
The world turned a blind eye and Shouto continued to hate. To rage silently. To lose himself to his self-loathing.
“This left side of me was a curse, a daily symbol of my hatred for the man who should have been my father. He still tries to pretend he can be civil with me, but I don’t want to acknowledge him.” Shouto’s expression hardened. “Won’t. He can’t earn forgiveness, and he doesn’t deserve it. I thought the same about my left side. The side I inherited from him.”
“The fire Quirk you have isn’t your father’s Quirk, Shoutuo-san. It’s yours.”
And just like that the darkness shrouding him had left him in a breathless sweep. Suddenly he’d been basked in a bright warm light, a tender light.
A radiant light by the name of Midoriya Izuku.
And just like that, Shouto had been able to breathe again.
“I’d always hated losing my mother, being forbidden to see her,” Shouto breathed out, voice nasally. Izuku sniffled and nodded against his hair. “I thought I was going to lose you too.”
Izuku felt his heart hammer in his chest, painful against his throbbing ribs. Shouto unconsciously tightened his hold around his waist and seemed to burrow into Izuku’s side.
“I couldn’t have that.”
“Shouto-san, Uravity-san, a Villain was spotted heading down the Bakura Ward. As of right now, no Heroes have responded,” one of Shouto’s interns burst into the room, looking pale. “Two civilians have been taken to the hospital for injuries sustained when encountering the Villain fleeing. The Villain was reported to trying to rob a bank.”
Shouto looked up from his laptop, his heart skipping a beat. That was right near Izuku’s apartment.
“That’s near Deku-kun’s place!” Ochako shrieked, eyes wide. Tenya’s own hands stopped moving at the realization.
“I’m always losing the people I care about. I couldn’t suffer through that again.”
“Volatile Light is at his apartment right now,” Shouto spoke, his tone sounding muffled to his own ears as his mind raced. That was near his apartment. What if-? No- no, he was fine. He was safe, and he’d stay that way. “He’ll be safe.” Shouto didn’t know why he was saying that aloud. Maybe it was because of the paling expressions on his friend’s faces.
Maybe it was to reassure himself.
Convince himself.
“Not with you. Anyone but you. I’ve...I’ve really grown to care about you, Midoriya-kun.”
Shouto jumped off his pillar of ice, his insides freezing cold as he stared at the crumpled form of Izuku on the floor, debris and blood circling him. Was he breathing? And - oh God - hiis arm . Katsuki shoved past him and Shouto reached a hand out for Izuku, only to whirl at the sound of an explosion. Katsuki threw himself out of the hole and towards the Villain.
He had escaped his binds?
A bubbling hatred Shouto had only ever felt for his father burned darkly in him at the sight of the Villain dodging one of Uravity’s lifted projectiles. His left side burst to life in a swirl of flames hungry for flesh to burn and he was gone, lost to his hatred at his vision tunneled on the Villain. He wouldn't go easy on him this time.
“It...it was a waking nightmare.” Shouto squeezed his eyes shut, trying to rid the image of Izuku’s prone form out of his mind.
“Todo...Shouto-san,” Izuku hushed and Shouto lifted his head finally, meeting teary green eyes. “I’m okay now. It must have been scary, right? But I’m alive now, so please, don’t worry.” Izuku leaned his head over awkwardly and touched foreheads with Shouto, grinning weakly.
“You are too bright,” Shouto whispered and closed his eyes again, basking in the warmth that was Izuku. “It hurts a little, to stare at you.”
“You’re the one who controls fire,” Izuku laughed softly, leaning back to grin at Shouto. “You burn brighter than I ever could."
Don’t ever take him from me , Shouto silently begged any deity that’d listen as he stared at Izuku’s gentle smile. Please, never take him from me.
“I brought you some chocolates. Would you like me to give you some?” Shouto turned his head sharply, trying to calm his sizzling left side as he scurried off the bed.
“Oooh~ sure!” Izuku chirped, eyes sparkling at the sound of sweets.
Outside in the hallway, Katsuki leaned against the wall next to the ajared door, hands shoved into his pockets. He breathed once, twice, then walked away without another sound.
Katsuki left to find a vending machine, leaving Izuku and Shouto alone. Hands still shoved in his pockets, he scowled to himself as he harshly pressed the button for a coffee. He allowed himself a moment to bask in the cold winter air, trying to freeze his burning emotions. Bending down to grab at the can of coffee, Katsuki sighed.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
The aluminium can whined under his vice grip on it, the liquid boiling under the heat of his Quirk activating.
“I know, dear!”
Katsuki looked up and over as Inko rounded a corner, cellphone pressed to her ear. “Don't worry, I'll be sure to tell him. Of course he will! You'll be home by the weekend, right? He'll be so surprised!” Inko caught sight of Katsuki and waved, signalling to give her a minute.
“Alright dear, I'll call you later tonight. I love you too. Bye!” Inko hung up, giving a gentle smile at her phone.
“...I didn't know...you were still together with that guy?” Katsuki slowly questioned, honestly intrigued that their marriage was still going strong. After listening to Izuku throughout their childhood complain about his absent father, Katsuki was surprised that Inko was still married to him.
“Shocking, isn’t it?” Inko gave a meek giggle. “Hisashi is a very dedicated man, whether it be to his job or his marriage. He was doing what was best for Izuku and me so I never had any hard feelings. He always told me what he was doing, where he was going, and what to expect during the month between phone calls.” Inko shrugged. “...I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
“Me too,” Katsuki replied honestly, eyes downcast as he stood from his crouch. “I just didn’t…”
“Know what to say? I had the same issue.” Inko mused softly. “Mitsuki was the same way, back when we were younger. All throughout our time at school together, she couldn’t seem to find the right things to say. She preferred to show how she felt with her actions as opposed to words.” Inko’s wistful expression softened in nostalgia.
“That old hag?” Katsuki scoffed. “I forgot you guys were school friends.” He opened his can of coffee, taking a sip. He grimaced, his tongue stinging from the boiling hot liquid. Shit, his Quirk. He looked around, wondering if he could just set the can down and...forget about it.
“Mhm,” Inko hummed thoughtfully, “that was such a long time ago.”
The two stood in silence before Inko inhaled slowly.
“You hurt my child.” It was a short sentence, only four words, but it was like a death sentence wrapped in barbwire. Inko locked gazes with Katsuki once he raised his head, his eyes cloudy.
It was a simple statement, holding such blunt honesty he didn’t know how to reply.
“You marked him. As if the emotional scars weren’t enough, he has to live with the daily reminders of what you did to him.” Her grip on the strap of her purse was so strong her knuckles turned white. “I will never be able to forgive you. I will never be able to forget what you did.”
Inko felt, more than saw, Katsuki’s shoulders slump under the guilt and remorse.
She pursed her lips. Good , she decided, he deserves it .
“It has been years, and he’s still self-conscious about it - about the scars on his arms, his shoulders. He didn’t wear a singlet or a t-shirt or anything that didn’t cover him for years .” She stalked forward, letting her arms fall by her sides so her hands could curl into tight, trembling fists. “Every day, he would see himself in the mirror and he’d think of you. It didn’t matter that you were at a different school, you could’ve been in a different country and still you would have followed him.”
Her eyes were filling with frustrated tears. “As far as I’m concerned, your memory is burned into his skin just like those scars - and he’ll never be able to escape that.”
Katsuki didn’t say a word. He merely maintained eye contact and let her say what needed to be said. He knew that he had to hear this, that this was a conversation several years overdue.
Inko took a breath, seeming exhausted all of a sudden, as if the few minutes she’d been speaking for had brought back a lifetime of fatigue. Katsuki was certain that it had. “I can’t always agree with what Izuku decides to do, but no matter what, I’ll always support him.” She began tentatively. “I want to be there for him no matter what.”
Despite the wrinkles stretching along the corner of her eyes and how the years had aged her, Inko still looked as fierce and loving as the day they’d met, when Mitsuki introduced Katsuki to Izuku. His eyes had been so bright back then, just as Inko’s had been.
Katsuki had done more irreversible damage to the Midoriya family than he’d ever be able to forgive himself for. Katsuki saw a weight in Inko’s lips when she smiled. A weight piled on by constant minute spent worrying for her child, fearing for his life in a cruel world that was built on a society where the Quirkless were nothing but dirt under Quirk user’s feet. Katsuki was instantly hit with the similarity between her smiles and Izuku’s, their lips upturned but never fully stretched. Like a carefully constructed facade to fool those who tried to look, they smiled like the world had wronged them.
Katsuki was the cause of that. Katsuki was the source for those carefully placed words, those fleeting gestures, those shifted eyes accompanied with hushed words of Quirks and Quirkless and existing.
“Izuku has decided to accept you back into his life. He wants to make amends. He wants to try and start anew with you, Katsuki-kun. I believe in him, support him. If that is what he wants, then I won’t say anything. But,” Inko’s eyes narrowed with a sudden intensity, “if you ever hurt my son again, you will learn that Villains are the least of your worries.”
Katsuki just stood there, eyes wide and mouth parted slightly.
“Huh?” He didn’t know what to say, what to think. They were both unbelievable. The lot of them.
“Izuku is a stubborn child,” Inko spoke as if making a passing comment, “who doesn’t change his mindset frequently. If he’s giving you a second chance, that means that nothing close to Heaven or high waters will change his mind. As his parent, I can only accept his decision. Parents are there to observe and guide when needed. Izuku doesn’t need me to guide him on this. He knows what he wants. And even if I disagree, he knows what’s best for him.”
And wasn’t that the truth? Katsuki knew how stubborn he was - he’d stuck with him all those years up until middle school because he was so goddamn stubborn . He wore his heart on his sleeve and gave it away too many times to count, never expecting it back even when it was torn to shreds or burned under a scorching Quirk. He was stubborn and no force on Earth could ever hope to change that.
“Why though?” Katsuki whispered, his voice cracking as he tried to conceal the turmoil his heart was raging on his throat. “Why would you just... accept it like that? You-you have every right to hate me. Why...why don’t you continue to, even with Izuku giving me a second chance?” Inko’s face drew taunt as she considered his words, looking at him.
She looked at him for the first time in a long while. Gone was that firecracker of a child whose behavior was an eerie copy of his mother’s. Gone was that child who had to be bound and gagged on a stage to accept a medal. Gone was that child whose face was plastered across every news outlet, captured by Villains and speculated to be a lost cause.
In front of her was a young man who had been beaten down by life, his shoulders almost broken by burdens heavier than the strongest mass found in the universe. He’d grown, she realized. He’d grown, just as her son had. She was looking at the past, as she always would, but he wasn’t the same devient of his youth. He had matured, aged, molded from hardships he had to face alone.
“Because I am a parent,” Inko articulated carefully, keeping her tone levelled, “and I know that I can only trust my child’s judgement. He deserves that, at the very least.” Katsuki’s expression crumbled, his breath hitching in his throat. He ducked his head, his hands trembling.
“I-” Katsuki floundered for words, trying to find the perfect thing to properly convey his emotions and thoughts. “I- thank you. ” Katsuki was so close to grovelling at her feet, of bowing at her feet like she was a goddess that had just bestowed upon him the greatest gift he could ever desire. “ Thank you .”
Inko stood there, giving him his moments to collect himself. She briefly wondered how long he’d unknowingly strived for her blessing, for that approval for a second chance. A tiny sliver of her was bitter at how she was just going to push it under the rug. She wouldn’t let it go, oh never would she, but she wasn’t going to be vocal in her displeasure.
For Izuku’s sake, at least.
“Now, what did you need to talk about?” Inko asked as she tucked a lock of greying hair behind her ear. Constant stress from years of worrying for her child had turned her hair lighter earlier than her age should allow, but she pulled it off with the grace of a Queen.
“...So,” Katsuki swallowed, licking his lips, “uh, about his living arrangements…”
Izuku was Bored. Bored with a capital B to show how mind numbingly exhausted he was of staying cooped up in a hospital room all day. He couldn’t use his phone, turn on the provided TV, or even feed himself. While the hospital staff were friendly enough, Izuku wanted to leave. He wanted to go home, try and find some normalcy to this sudden shift in his reality.
It was still hard to grasp - still hard to acknowledge that what he’d gone through was real, that it wasn’t a dream. Sometimes he woke up from a nap or a deep slumber and forget he was in the hospital. Until he couldn’t move his arms and the slightly shift had his side flaring. But, despite this, Izuku was trying to make the most of his situation.
At least he was alive. At least he was still breathing. At least he didn’t lose any limbs or suffer irreversible damage to his body, other than the scars he expected to see once his casts were gone.
He just had to think positively.
Thankfully, it looked like he was going to be discharged within the next two weeks. His ribs were healing perfectly and his legs were just canvases of ugly blotches and bruises, scabs and scars decorating the flesh like tiny little ribbons. He was strong enough to carry himself around for a good hour or so and besides the struggle to use the restroom, he was ready to go.
His left arm that’d received stitches and a small fracture had been downsized to a small cast that stretched from his elbow to his hand, his fingers wrapped in bandages to protect the stitches that crisscrossed his palm and between his thumb and index finger. He had a bit more mobility with it, often times using it only to use the restroom. When he wasn’t using it, it was limp at his side, opposed to his mangled arm.
His right arm, casted from his collar-bone to his hand, was positioned at a angle, a sling holding the hard plaster up at all times across his chest. It constantly threw his balance off if he didn’t pay attention, but the pain was starting to diminish as the days passed.
The bandages covering his stitches along his temple had been changed and when Ochako had walked in on them inspecting the wound, she’d nearly fainted.
Izuku tried to avoid looking at mirrors. He tried to pretend the bruises weren’t as eye catching as they caked along his cheek and temple, reaching his jawline and ear. He didn’t want to see the bags piling under his eyes from sleepless nights when the nightmares of black ooze Villains stole away his slumber. He didn’t want to think about the burns scabbing along his cheeks, where acid saliva caved in his skin like melting rubber.
Izuku tried avoiding mirrors to avoid the reminder that he’d almost died - that he’d been helpless.
Izuku hated hospitals. He hated them with every fiber of his broken being. Hospitals sounded like his mother crying, sobbing over him as he healed from a punctured lung, her apologies blanketing him like a oversung lullaby. Hospitals felt like pain, burning, boiling pain. Hospitals tasted like sewer water and decaying, rotting food clogged in his throat, unable to be swallowed down. It lingered on the back of his tongue, a constant retching taste that left his hospital food tasting like soot layering in his mouth. Hospitals smelled like burning flesh, a faint scent of cooked cinnamon and toasted marshmallows that could only belong to Katsuki. Hospitals looked clean, like an off white like bleach being spilled on a blood-soaked sheet.
Quirkless. His very existence seemed to link him to hospitals, whether it be for a diagnosis or because of who he wasn’t.
Izuku hated hospitals and he hated himself just a little bit more each time he visited one because it was a repetitive slap to the face that he was there because he was weak. Because he was Quirkless .
Izuku hated hospitals, hated mirrors, and above all else, hated himself.
Izuku was all but vibrating in his bed as he stared at the clock. He was being discharged that day. He’d have to come back to get his stitches and casts removed but for now, he was leaving this place.
The door slid open and Katsuki snorted as he caught sight of Izuku, taking in his bouncing form and too bright smile.
“Kacchan! What are you doing here?” Izuku chirped, eyes positively glowing as he greeted Katsuki. Katsuki’s scowl seemed to darken as his eyes lingered on the slowly healing black eye Izuku was sporting, before his gaze flickered away.
“I’m picking you up, dumbass. Why else would I be here on my day off?” Katsuki snapped, watching how Izuku’s bright expression flickered into one of pure confusion.
“Um...why? I thought my mom was picking me up,” Izuku spoke as he shimmied his way to the edge of the bed, throwing his legs over the side of it. He wobbled forward and Katsuki was at his side in a split second, steadying him.
“Yeah, no. I’m taking you home.” Katsuki scoffed and then froze, his eyes widening at what he’d just said. “I mean-”
“Mom’s at home already? What about her nursery job?” Izuku asked, completely ignoring Katsuki pinking ear tips.
“...what?” Katsuki stared for a second before he scowled. “Oh, she’s at work. You-she didn’t tell you?”
“That you were picking me up? Nope.” Izuku shook his head, popping the ‘p’ with a hyper grin. He was about three seconds from clawing Katsuki if he didn’t take him out of there. “Enough talking. Let’s go, let’s go! I’m sick of being stuck in here!” Izuku hopped onto shaky legs, his eyebrows pinching down in determination as Katsuki hovered uselessly by his side.
“Do I have to get a wheelchair?” Katsuki gruffed, eyeing Izuku’s swaying form.
“No,” Izuku spoke back, voice heavy with concentration. “I’ve got this. I-I can do this.” Izuku took one trembling step before his leg’s buckled out from under him. Katsuki snagged him around the waist, a growl escaping his frowning lips.
“I-I swear they usually work in physical therapy!” Izuku squealed as he looked at the tiled floor, avoiding Katsuki’s burning gaze. Katsuki shoved Izuku back onto the bed without a word, giving him a silent threat with his eyes. Izuku blushed as Katsuki stalked out of the room, his voice bouncing off the walls as he hollered for a wheelchair.
Not two minutes later did Katsuki return, smug expression in place as a nurse hurriedly carted a wheelchair in.
“Thank you,” Izuku muttered as he ducked his head, sliding into the offered chair. The nurse beamed at him before casting a wary glance at Katsuki.
“V-Volatile-san, do - do you want me to push Midoriya-san to the lobby?” The nurse looked determined, wanting to fulfil his job while at the same time, concerned that he’d have to put Midoriya right back into his bed if left alone with the hot headed hero. The nurse himself was a fan of Deku’s, so he was well aware of the tension between the two. Despite having been cleared up on LIVE, the nurse could still feel the heaviness that settled between the two.
“Do my arms look broken?” Katsuki snapped and then paused, glancing down at Izuku’s arms. “...I got it. Go away.” Katsuki made a shooing hand motion and then jerked when Izuku rammed into his shin with his wheelchair. Katsuki hunched over with a pained hiss.
“Kacchan,” Izuku chastised, “that is no way to speak to someone! Apologize.” The nurse looked between the two, face paling, as Katsuki’s expression screamed murder at the attack.
“I fucking dare you to do that again,” Katsuki seethed through his teeth, kicking Izuku’s chair back, eyes gleaming with sadistic glee as Izuku went rolling backwards. “Fucking try me, bitch.” Izuku gripped tightly to his wheels, eyes gleaming in challenge.
“Apologize or I’m taking out your knee,” Izuku warned. The nurse stepped behind Izuku, hauling his chair around to face the wall.
“Nope, no fighting please. I’ll-I’ll take you down to the lobby, Midoriya-san, while Volaltie-san gets his...car?” The nurse looked over at Katsuki, who was positively seething.
“This isn’t over, Deku,” Katsuki seethed and stomped out of the room. Izuku sunk in the wheelchair and sighed.
“...should I be concerned you two will try and kill each other?” The nurse frowned down at Izuku.
“No,” Izuku spoke. “Probably. Maybe? Don’t hold too much expectations.” The nurse gave a bark of laughter and looked around the room, seeing if there were any bags for the patient to take. Besides the All Might plushie on the bed, there wasn’t anything left of his gifts.
“Mino-san, can you get me my doll?” Izuku spoke, no longer uncomfortable to address the plushie in such a manor. Mino, the nurse, stepped away from the wheelchair slowly, cautious to Izuku deciding to take off down the hall after the Hero. He grabbed the plushie, depositing it down in Izuku’s lap.
“You excited to leave?” Mino asked and with a final sweep of the room, pushed Izuku out of the room.
“Yes,” Izuku groaned loudly as he fiddled with his doll. “So ready to leave. I mean, not that you guys haven’t been amazing but-”
“Midoriya-san,” Mino spoke bluntly, “it’s a hospital. No one wants to stay here for more than a day.” Izuku gave a small chuckle and the two fell into a calm silence as they entered the elevator.
“I’ll miss you though,” Mino sighed. “You were one of the good ones. Didn’t give me any hassle and you shared your treats.” Izuku gave a laugh, eyes brightening as the elevator dinged as it reached the first floor. He was nearly bouncing in the seat, hands clenching his stuffed doll as Mino pushed him out and towards the exit.
“I don’t want to see you in here ever again, got it?” Mino warned warm-hearted. Izuku grinned and nodded, the smile slipping off his face as Katsuki pulled up.
“Good lord is that a freakin’ Miata RF ?” Mino wheezed from behind Izuku. “It’s tiny.”
Katsuki climbed out of the convertible, scowling at the gobsmacked expression on Izuku’s face.
“What?” Katsuki gruffed. “It’s compact.” He walked around the front of the car, opening the front door for Izuku. He eyed the wheelchair, looking back at his car. “Do you need the chair? I thought you were okay on your own.”
“I am,” Izuku answered as he shifted his legs, shimming himself to the edge of the wheelchair. He hoisted himself forwards and up, swaying slightly as his legs trembled under his weight. “I just can’t walk long distances. My legs start to give out after a while.” Katsuki grunted, reaching out and grabbing Izuku’s uninjured shoulder, using it to guide the man into the car.
Izuku took the time to look around the interior, awed by the almost immaculate condition of the car. If it weren’t for the scorch marks on the steering wheel cover, the car looked like it had been freshly bought not moments before. The footwell mats were clean, the cupholders didn’t even have any residue rings, and the dashboard looked dust free. Izuku looked up from the cupholders as the driver door opened.
“I already unloaded your gifts for you,” Katsuki spoke after he gave a short nod to Mino and slipped into the driver’s seat. “They’ll be on your bed for you when we get back.” Katsuki’s eyebrows gave a weird spasm and his grip on his steering wheel tightened for a second before he lifted his hand to press the ‘start’ button. Izuku watched with childlike fascination as Katsuki pressed his feet on the brake pedal and clutch, shifting his car out of 2nd gear and into neutral.
“I didn’t know you knew how to drive a manual,” Izuku commented as Katsuki switched to 1st gear, moving the car.
“Yeah, Eijirou taught me during our last year at UA,” Katsuki explained, turning his signal on and checking twice before switching lanes. “Do you drive?”
“Nope.” Izuku sounded unashamed to admit it. “Everything is either within walking distance or a train or bus ride away, so I never found the need to get a license.”
“I’ll teach-THERE WAS A FUCKING STOP SIGN YOU PIECE OF SHIT!” Izuku jumped, head whipping to face Katsuki as the man’s sudden exclamation. His eyes jerked ahead, where a car had sped through a stop sign, nearly clipping another car.
“Fucking piece of shit,” Katsuki grumbled to himself. He switched lanes again, making sure to look twice before turning his wheels. “As I was saying, I can teach you to drive if you want.”
“That’s...very nice of you to-”
“FUCKER WHERE WAS YOUR FUCKING TURN SIGNAL? You almost HIT THAT OLD WOMAN! ” Katsuki roared, pressing down on the horn with all he had. The driver he was honking at flashed him a vulgar hand gesture and Katsuki seethed.
“Deku, flip that guy off as we drive past,” Katsuki gritted out, face red as he moved to get beside the driver.
“What?!” Izuku squawked, head snapping between Katsuki to the driver as Katsuki inched closer and closer until they were right beside the driver’s window. “No! You do it!”
“Listen, Shitty Deku, I’m driving. I have to keep both hands on the wheel so we don’t fucking die,” Katsuki explained with the patience of a sleep-deprived mother to a screeching toddler. “So fucking do it.”
“Kacchan, my arms are in casts. I can’t flip him off,” Izuku articulated, speaking slowly as if to remind the man of why they were in the car in the first place. Katsuki sneered in Izuku’s direction, eyes never leaving the road.
“Then roll down the window and tell that dickwad where he can-”
“Kacchan!” Izuku warned, eyes narrowed in a threat. “No! Stop! Leave the poor guy alone. Look at him, he looks like he’s ready to cry!” Katsuki casted a quick glance at the driver and gave a razor sharp smirk as he realized the man must have figured out who he had just flipped off. The driver gave a weak hand wave and mouthed, ‘Sorry’ before slowly pressing down on his brakes, dragging back from them.
“Serves that little bitch right. You can’t just - the speed LIMIT IS 20! I’ll slit your throat !” Katsuki fumed, tiny sparks setting off in his hands. Ah, that explained the steering wheel cover.
“Kacchan is surprisingly safe, huh?” Izuku spoke, eyeing the turned off radio. He didn’t even drive with music on? That was really shocking.
“Driving is no joke, Deku,” Katsuki snipped out. “You can kill people, or yourself if you aren’t careful.” Izuku blinked, uncomfortably aware that he had been rendered speechless. Wow. Everyday, Katsuki was showing how much he’d changed, how much he’d matured. A tiny pang of remorse hit Izuku’s heart, along with a faint jealousy that he hadn’t been able to see that growth.
Izuku gritted his teeth and looked out the window, trying to smooth his features. Honestly, he’d probably have been better off not seeing Katsuki grow. It was better that they matured separately, or else Izuku was afraid of what’d he be, or not be.
And then it came to Izuku.
“Uh, Kacchan?” Izuku’s eyebrows pinched together as he took in their surroundings. “This isn’t the way to my mom’s house.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” Katsuki jeered. “I’m not taking you to your mom’s place.” Katsuki flashed a triumphant smirk. “You’re staying with me.”
“WHAT?!” Izuku shrieked. Katsuki winced at the shrill sound and snarled low in his throat. “I thought-but my mom-huh?”
“I told her I’d let you crash with me until your apartment is fixed,” Katsuki spat, grip tightening around the steering wheel. “So shut the fuck up and let me concentrate on the road!”
“Wait, no, I can’t possibly intrude!” Izuku squeaked, face flushed in alarm. “I’ll-I can stay with my mom, seriously! Kacchan-”
“You’re staying with me and that’s final!” Katsuki roared, his teeth grinding together audibly. “Just.” He exhaled a long string of air. “Just let me do this.”
“Kacchan-”
“Please, Izuku.” Katsuki’s voice sounded soft, almost silent, but the words cut through Izuku like a bullet to the heart.
Izuku’s mouth hung open in shock, the air stolen from his lungs as his mind crashed. He swallowed the lump in his throat, nodded his head twice, and have a soft sigh.
“Okay.” Izuku turned back to the window. “Hey Kacchan?”
“What?” Katsuki spat. Izuku looked at him.
“Why are you in such a bad mood?” Izuku questioned, eyebrows furrowed.
“Why the fuck do you think?” Katsuki gritted out, knuckles white around the steering wheel. “You almost fucking died, you fucking piece of shit. How can I not be angry?”
“Kacchan,” Izuku spoke, tone exasperated, “That was almost a month ago. It’s fine n-”
“It’s not fine!” Katsuki bit out, smoke trailing up from his steering wheel. “I was right there , Izuku! I was right fucking there. If I had stayed for just a fucking minute…” Katsuki fell silent, glaring at the road as he came to a stop at a red light.
“You can’t be serious,” Izuku stated, the words empty of any emotion. “You’re mad about that ?” Katsuki bared his teeth and openly glared at Izuku before turning back to look at the light. “Kacchan, you didn’t know the Villain was heading in my direction. You did what any Hero would do. You responded. You can’t be mad for doing your job.”
“But-”
“But nothing!” Izuku cut off, looking like he was ready to kick Katsuki. “If you hadn’t left to respond to the call in, then you can be mad! Then you can rage all you want because at that point, you’d have failed to be a Hero! So stop moping around. I’m alive, I’m okay, so just.” Izuku exhaled. “Just stop!”
The rest of the car ride was silent.
Katsuki lived in a very quiet little apartment complex off of the Bakura Ward, close to Gionoshion Station. It was close to a local ramen shop that advertised Volatile Light had eaten there once, and a small corner store. The complex looked almost abandoned, maybe due to the almost vacant surroundings. Izuku looked up at the apartment, leaning heavily against the metal car door as Katsuki finished locking up his car.
“You good to walk to the elevator?” Katsuki asked, one hand holding the All Might plush while the other hovered near Izuku’s good shoulder. Izuku gave a resolute head nod and gave a good stomp forward. Katsuki led him towards the elevator, hand hovering close enough for Izuku to feel that familiar heat brushing against his skin. It wasn’t a horribly hot heat, not since his nerves and skin had been burned to the point where he could barely feel anything anymore in those areas, but he still felt something .
Katsuki pressed the button for the seventh floor and allowed Izuku to lean slightly against him, the shorter man giving soft pants. This was the most he’d moved about since he’d been the hospital for almost three weeks, so he felt a little winded. The elevator shifted as it stopped at Katsuki’s floor and the hero led the vlogger out and down the hall. Their shuffled footsteps echoed along the eerily silent hall. No noises from inside the doors they passed, no footsteps from above or below. Just silence.
“My apartment isn’t very...clean,” Katsuki explained. Honestly, he didn’t know why he was warning Izuku. It was just Shitty Deku. “I’ve...never had anyone over before, so sorry if it’s...messy?”
“You’ve never had anyone over?” Izuku gasped, nearly tripping. Katsuki just continued to face forward, rubbing at the back of his neck.
Katsuki felt bare, exposed, having someone over to his apartment. He’d made sure to never reveal his address to anyone, afraid that with such personal information, anyone he deemed close would be subjected to danger. He’d move three times in the last year alone, afraid his last place of residency had been compromised.
Eijirou had always joked he was too paranoid, but Eijirou hadn't gotten kidnapped by the League of Villains when they were sixteen, so Katsuki didn’t care for his teasing or voiced concern.
Katsuki couldn’t be too careful. He never could.
Katsuki stopped at the door at the very end of the hall and dug into his pocket for his keys. He froze, however, his red eyes staring intently at his doorknob.
“Kacchan?” Izuku asked, leaning over Katsuki’s shoulder to see the doorknob. Or what was left of it. The doorknob was hanging off the door, broken into pieces.
“Stay here,” Katsuki snarled in a low voice, pushing Izuku back against the wall. “Don’t come in and if I’m not out within five minutes, run like hell.” Izuku watched with wide eyes as Katsuki kicked the door in, explosions already going off in his palms as he stormed his apartment.
A high pitched shriek sounded from inside, sounding distinctly deeper than a woman’s, followed by Katsuki screaming, “WHAT THE FUCK!”
Izuku clambered inside, against his and Katsuki’s better judgement, and stopped at the sight of Tenya rubbing his scorched forearm, Shouto and Ochako settled at Katsuki’s dining table.
Ochako calmly raised her cup of steaming tea and smiled pleasantly. “We’ve been waiting for you.” She took a long sip of her tea, maintaining eye contact with Katsuki.
“How the fuck did you find my place?!” Katsuki hissed, fists clenched at his sides. His eyes flashed to Izuku, who was clumsily trying to kick his shoes off without toppling over. Shouto shoved past the Hero and wrapped an arm around Izuku’s waist, giving him a sturdy support as Izuku kicked his shoes off.
“I hacked into your files at your office and found your address,” Ochako divulged, a smug smirk painting her round cheeks. “Hi Deku-kun!” Ochako waved frantically to Izuku, who blushed and bowed his head to he woman.
“Uraraka-san,” Izuku mumbled in greeting.
“You fucking bitch! That’s illegal! This is illegal! This is breaking and entering!” Katsuki snarled.
“And kicking in someone’s front door or breaking into their room via window isn’t?” Shouto reminded, expression carefully neutral Katsuki turned blazing eyes his way. Shouto helped guided Izuku over to Katsuki’s couch and settled him down, taking a spot next to him as Tenya began to nag Katsuki on the proper security measures he should have as a Hero.
“Midoriya-kun,” Shouto greeted with a soft smile. Izuku beamed back, nodding his head to Tenya as he caught the speedster’s eyes.
“Todoroki-kun! Hi. Um, is this normal?” Izuku asked, silently hoping he didn’t have to add breaking and entering . Hopefully Shouto understood him.
“Sadly,” Shouto chuckled softly, “far too often when it comes to our ex-classmates.”
“I’ve moved three times this year, I know how to take care of myself!” Katsuki snapped, looking ready to throttle Tenya. Shouto frowned, no doubt considering if he should go to his friend’s aid.
Izuku drowned the Heroes bickering out, his gaze sweeping around the apartment in interest. So this was Katsuki’s apartment? Green eyes bounced from the black leather couches and loveseat to the metal dining table that could easily seat ten people. He looked at the bare cream colored walls, the simple flat screen TV that wasn’t unnecessarily long, the drawn curtains over the five-panel windows, the lack of knick-knacks or decorations.
Izuku blinked at the uncomfortably cold feeling of the living room, afraid to see the rest of the place. There was no personality, no feeling of someone was actually living in the place just by the way the living room was presented. Sure, the apartment smelled of cooking cinnamon and toasted marshmallows, but that was all. There was no warmth.
Down the hall that Izuku could barely see down, he spotted traditional Japanese sliding doors instead of the hinged open-close doors. Huh. That was...weird.
“-fucking take him to his goddamn room!” Izuku snapped his head up as Katsuki marched over to him. The Hero shoved a palm in Shouto’s face, pushing the man back into the cushions as he used his other hand to yank Izuku off the couch.
“You better be gone by the time I come back!” Katsuki hissed over his shoulder as he led Izuku down the hallway. He stopped at one of the sliding doors, opening it to show Izuku his temporary room.
“This is the guest bedroom,” Katsuki explained as he watched for Izuku’s expression out of the corner of his eye. Izuku studied the Japanese sliding door, silently curious as to why it wasn’t a normal hinged door. As if reading his thoughts, Katsuki tugged on a lock of blonde spikes. “I don’t like normal doors. They lock too easily and during an emergency, that’s time wasted to break down a door.”
Um. Okay. Were all Heroes this paranoid or just his hot-headed childhood friend? He glanced over to see Ochako making her way into the living room. The sound of the TV turning on hit Izuku’s ears and he heard Katsuki give a mumbled swear.
“Thank-thank you,” Izuku stuttered out, trying to ease his friend’s anger. When Katsuki looked at him weirdly, Izuku quickly tried to explain himself, lest Katsuki turn his rage back onto Ochako and her friends.. “For-for explaining that to me. It’s...practical. Did you have them personally change the doors in the apartment or did it come like this?”
“Had them change it. It was cheap,” Katsuki grumbled and walked into the room, showing off the single bed pressed up against the wall and the sliding-door closet. Besides the bed, there was nothing. “Your furniture is on it’s way.”
Izuku’s head snapped from the Volatile Light themed bedding to the Hero himself. “My furniture?”
Katsuki shuffled his footing, looking away with a scowl. “I bought you a computer desk and some new shit for your videos.” Izuku just stared, jaw hanging open.
“Wha-how-who-why?!” Izuku shrieked, eyes bouncing around the room before settling on his pile of gifts laying on the bed. “ Why?! ”
Down the hall, Ochako’s high-pitches cackles sounded, followed by Tenya’s and Shouto’s softer voices.
“Cause your shit was ruined during the fucking-” Katsuki cut himself off, jerking his head harshly away as he tried to reel in his temper. Izuku shrunk away at the mention of the attack and the voices from the living room was quieted down. No doubt they were eavesdropping. Katsuki gave a frustrated growl and ran a hand through his hair. “Think of it as a early Christmas present, Shitty Deku!”
“I can’t accept something like that! No way!” Izuku shook his head rapidly, skin green.
“FUCKING DEAL WITH IT!” A thump could be heard from the living room, Ochako’s voice snapping, “ Leave them, Shouto !”. “They’re already on their way! You’re gonna get the gifts and like them or so help me I’ll-” Katsuki shook his fist threateningly.
“Okay, okay,” Izuku cut in, shoulder hunching up as he weakly wobbled back into the wall. He looked ready to slide down it and Katsuki’s expression lightened. “I’ll-I’ll take them. Thank you? I guess?” Izuku ducked his head, tips of his ears red. Katsuki huffed.
“Bathroom is across the hall. Towels are in the cabinet under the sink. We can shop for shampoo and shit tomorrow. Any questions?” Katsuki crossed his arms, eyebrows low along his brow as he all but glared at Izuku.
Yeah, Izuku had questions. He had lots but the only one that slipped was, “Can you cook?” Katsuki’s nose crinkled up as he sneer at Izuku.
“‘Can you cook?’ Can I cook? Of-fucking-course I can cook, Shitty Deku. Unlike you, I actually like full-course meals that don’t consist of just fucking 2-minute instant noodles!” Katsuki grabbed Izuku by the shoulder, guiding him back to the living room. His shoulders tensed when he saw Ochako, Tenya, and Shouto lounging on his couches, watching TV.
“I thought I told you three to get the fuck out of here!” Katsuki seethed. “Leave!”
Ochako snorted, kicking her feet up onto the table.
“You don’t live here,” Iida snapped as he shoved her legs off the table. Ochako scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. Shouto sat ramrod straight, looking both uncomfortable but smug at disobeying Katsuki’s demand.
“I’ll pick up food for dinner,” Iida offered, smiling awkwardly. “For everyone.”
Katsuki stood his ground, studying the trio before his shoulders slumped down in resignation.
“I fucking want sushi,” Katsuki growled out and stomped his way to the love seat, plopping down. Izuku looked between the four before scurrying over to Katsuki, settling down beside him.
“Great, so-” Ochako leaned forward with a devious sparkle in her eye- “You two gonna live together for a good while?”
“That’s it!” Katsuki jumped up as Ochako gave a cackle, “leave!”
Izuku sighed and fell back, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling.
“I think we should have pizza for dinner. It’s fast and filling.” Shouto’s voice sounded so serious in his suggestion. Katsuki eyed him as if he’d just personally gutted All Might in front of him.
“The fuck? I just said we’re having sushi,” Katsuki snarled out.
“I think neapolitan pasta sounds good too,” Shouto mused aloud, face perfectly blank as he stared Katsuki down. Tenya and Ochako looked between the two while Izuku gawked like a useless bystander.
“Half and Half, if you open your mouth one more time, I’m going to crack your head open like a machete to a fucking coconut.” Ochako made a weird, high-pitched wheeze that sounded like air had gotten caught in her throat, her body pressing into Tenya’s side. “Or donate your useless fucking brain to science, because obviously it isn’t doing you any good.” Katsuki’s voice trailed through the living room as a deathly growl.
“...okay.” Shouto’s voice calmly responded, nonplussed. Ochako doubled over, shoulders shaking as her wheezes cut off into choked hiccups.
“If you say one more fucking thing about this goddamn dinner, I’m going to take that two-toned head of yours and bash it into my coffee table.” A terse pause. “And I’ll use your blood as paint to redecorate my living room. Give it a nice splash of color. I think red would look lovely with my curtains.” Tenya’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly, Izuku’s hands slowly lifting to cover his face. “I’ll take your dried up veins from your useless corpse and spell out a message to any guests, warning them of what happens when you get on my every last fucking nerve .”
“Holy fuck,” Izuku wheezed out and wondered just what had become of his life. Ochako burst out into screeching cackles and Shouto gave a snort.
“Froppy?” Izuku asked, eyebrows furrowed as he sipped on his French vanilla coffee. His nose scrunched up at the piping hot liquid, his tongue stinging. December had hit them hard like a nail-covered bat, beating into their bones with a fierce nip. Izuku flexed his fingers as he settled his cup down, trying to work out invisible kinks in his joints.
He’d had his casts removed, the following weeks spent in near-hell at physical therapy to regain his lost mobility and muscles. He wasn’t as strong as he had been before the incident, but he could proudly still haul a washing machine around if the occasion came up.
After he’d moved back into his apartment, his life had changed. Katsuki dropped by three times a week to have dinner with him, Shouto, Ochako, and Iida coming over the rest of the days for either lunch or dinner. As such, Izuku’s kitchen slowly drew in appliances and food, his refrigerator almost filled with ingredients that was more than rice, eggs, and ramen packets.
Shouto had also somehow managed to smuggle three futons into his closet for when the trio decided to crash for the night. The first time Izuku had been made aware, he’d been hit with a tightness in his chest and watery eyes.
New scars criss-crossed his skin, adding to the canvas presented on display to those who cared to look. Due to the necessity to wear short sleeves to make dressing himself easier due to the bulkiness of his casts, Izuku had grown accustomed to wearing the revealing clothes. Of course, that didn’t stop him from wearing the most eye-blinding shirt he could find.
It was a wonder anyone let him out of the house.
Ochako nodded, Tenya stirring his drink three times to the right, three to the left beside her. Next to Izuku, looking too smug for his own good, was Shouto. Sitting on Izuku’s other side was Katsuki, who looked ready to flip the table.
“Tsuyu-chan really wants to meet you,” Ochako explained. “She was wondering if you’d do a interview with her?” Ochako blew at her steaming tea, batting her eyelashes over the brim of the cup.
“E-eh? Froppy? With-with me?” Izuku stuttered out, blushing. His fingers twitched, a residue tick from nerve damage to his hands, and he clenched them into fists.
“The fuck you acting like a schoolgirl for?” Katsuki growled, chugging his coffee down without a care in the world. Shouto glared at the other man, sipping on his hot chocolate.
“Asui-san is very nice,” Shouto explained, a hand brushing Izuku’s closed fist. “It would be fun to for you to have an interview with her, I think.”
“Nobody asked you, half-and-half bastard! The fuck you even doing here?” Katsuki snapped, eyes narrowing at the innocent brush of hands. Shouto stared right back, face carefully blank, as Izuku picked his cup up again, pretending the two weren’t sending sparks at each other.
“Guys,” Tenya spoke and the two looked away from each other. Izuku shifted awkwardly between them.
“Tsuyu-chan wants to do a group interview with all of us,” Ochako explained. Izuku blinked.
“Eh? All-all of us? Oh, um, I - I can work something out in my living room but-”
“Just do it at my place,” Katsuki snapped. He slung a arm around the back of Izuku’s chair, sticking his middle finger up to Shouto as he did so. “Not like you chucklefucks haven’t already been there.”
“You sure?” Izuku looked awed at the offer. Ochako flashed Shouto an expectant look.
“Midoriya-kun,” Shouto spoke up with a jerk, “you can do the interview at our house. Just bring all the equipment you need. The house is more than enough for everyone.” He smirked at Katsuki’s boiling expression.
“Ah, if it isn’t a bother, please have me then?” Izuku laughed. The four at the table stared at Izuku, processing his words.
“FUCK!” Katsuki kicked at Izuku’s chair, ears red. Izuku nearly toppled out of his chair, confused.
“It is settled then! We will talk with Tsuyu-san and discuss a date and time to hold the interview,” Tenya explained.
Izuku nodded, pleased. Another interview meant more people would be able to familiarise themselves with the heroes who’d save them.
“I'm Asui Tsuyu, but you can call me Tsuyu-ribbit,” Tsuyu introduced as Izuku finished setting up. Izuku, hair tied up into a messy ponytail, flickered his green eyeliner coated eyes to the woman. His green and white short sleeve shirt read, ‘I’m the best froggo’ .
“It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Midoriya Izuku, Asui-san,” Izuku greeted. Tsuyu gave a hum, padding over to the couch where Ochako and Tenya were getting comfortable. Beside Izuku, Katsuki and Shouto were having a glare-down, mentally battling over who’d sit next to Izuku. Izuku clicked away at his laptop, ignoring the two men as he logged into his HeroTube account and looked for the LIVE button.
“I'll sit between you two, Jesus! Go sit down now!” Izuku snapped. Shouto and Katsuki shuffled over, sitting on the other side of Tsuyu.
“What is up, everyone! Deku hero, giving another LIVE interview. Today is a special one as we have not 1, but-”
“Fucking Half and Half bastard!” Katsuki roared in the background. “Don't sit next to me!”
Pikachu_I_Am_You: Uuuuh what is everyone doing there?
Red_Riot_Death: Is that Tenya’s place?? Dudes, so jealous!
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: Speaking of houses…
Earphone_Actress: I got it covered. A priest from the Budo Shrine is coming to check it out.
An0n: Okay, real talk for a second. It has been MONTHS and you guys still live in a haunted fucking house. What the fuck. WHY DO YOU STILL EVEN LIVE THERE? @Red_Riot_Death @Pinky_&_Da_Brain @Earphone_Actress @Pikachu_I_Am_You
Red_Riot_Death: we have a good reason for that
An0n: you have a good reason for staying in the devil’s summer vacay spot
Red_Riot_Death: ...the rent is cheap
Guest: I’M CALLING FAKE NEWS
Earphone_Actress: And I’m calling a priest, what’s your point?
Guest3: Okay but how cheap we talkin? Like I’ll blow you for a ice pop cheap or sell your soul to satan cheap cause there IS A DIFFERENCE
Anony: What world do you live in where SOUL SELLING is cheap? @Guest3
Guest3: ….Japan?
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand: Okay but are we not going to talk about how Deku is wearing a short sleeve shirt? Damn, for being in a cast for two months, he still got some bulk. Where can I get that training?
Anony: What do you think this is, One Punch Man? The boi was in casts. Let him have his muscles.
An0n: Listen @Guest3 imma need some specifics.
Momo_Without_A_Peach: somehow we always get back to the satan spawn
Gimme A Hand or 2: You wanna know about Satan?
Red_Riot_Death: somehow we always wake up to find pentagrams on our ceiling
Momo_Without_A_Peach: well maybe that’s you and Denki’s issue
Red_Riot_Death: WELL MAYBE YOUR GIRLFRIEND DECIDED TO GET THE OUIJA BOARD OUT @Momo_Without_A_Peach @Earphone_Actress
Earphone_Actress: is this a call out post
Guest2: Damn I missed you thirsty bitches. IT’S THE TAP WATER
An0n: i think you mean its the TEA
Anonz: We just gonna ignore that creepy message from Gimme? Yeah? No? Okay then
An0n: I mean we always do
An0n: its easier if you just pretend
“Can't you two act your age for once?” Ochako complained loudly. “You are embarrassing Izuku-kun!!”
“Shut the fuck up chipmunk cheeks!”
“What was that! You wanna fight? I’ll destroy you!”
Izuku stared blankly at the camera as a explosion went off behind him.
“ No. Quirks. In. The. House !” Tenya ordered, each word followed by a hand chop. The doorbell rang, silencing everyone.
“Hello?” Shinsou’s voice drifted in from the front doorway. “Where ya guys at?”
“Who the fuck invited Mr. Smooth Operator?!” Katsuki roared.
Red_Riot_Death: Lmao Smooth Operator? Katsuki your gay is showing
An0n: This is one of Deku’s streams, when ISNT the gay showing
Ghost_Girl: okay but why weren’t we invited?? RUDE!!! I AM WRITING A LETTER
“Was that supposed to be a insult or compliment?” Tsuyu’s question was drowned out as Shinsou walked into the view of the camera. He wrapped Izuku up in a hug, flicking off the clustered group on the couch behind Izuku’s back. Katsuki rose from his seat immediately, only for Ochako to bolt from her own spot to restrain him, eyebrow twitching in irritation as he tried to shove her off.
“Who invited you-ribbit?” Tsuyu asked.
“Iida,” Shinsou explained as he let go of Izuku, “he said you guys were having a group interview. I wanted to be apart of it.”
“Hm,” Tsuyu touched her index finger to her lip. “Well, I guess the more the merrier.”
“As you can see,” Izuku spoke as he backed up, gesturing to everyone on the couch. “I've got a group interview going on. Starting from the left, we have Iida, Uraraka, Asui, Shinsou, Todoroki, and Bakugou. These are my friends and-”
“Fucking piss off, bitch! No one wants you here!” Katsuki yelled at Shinsou. Shouto, sandwiched between the two, shoved Katsuki away from him when the man looked ready to lunge.
“Sit down, Katsuki ,” Shinsou ordered. Katsuki dropped to the couch with a jerk. Izuku was over there in a second, flicking Shinsou on the forehead with enough force to reel the man’s head back.
“That's hot,” Shouto whispered to himself.
“No Quirks in the house!” Izuku snapped. He plopped down between Tsuyu and Shinsou, wiggling to make room. Shinsou’s eyes widened at the movement and his eyes not so subtly flashed over to Izuku’s thighs.
“Alright, so, I’ve never done a group interview so-”
“Will you go out with me?” Shinsou cut in.
“Oh hell no,” Katsuki snarled.
An0n: IT BEGINS
It’s_A_Me_Mirio: popcorn finished in time!
“I think I should be the one asking the questions,” Izuku easily deflected. “Asui-san, what are your thoughts on-”
“Your harem?” Tsuyu finished, a smile stretching her cheeks as Izuku’s mouth fell open. “It’s rather lovely, Midoriya-kun. I’m jealous I’ve only now been introduced to it. It seems fun-ribbit.”
An0n: FUCKING FINALLY SOMEONE SEES IT IS A HAREM I’M NOT CRAZY
An0n: I’VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR FUCKING MONTHS
Guest: I ship it
Guest2: ??? which ship?
Guest: yes
Guest: ?????
“What harem are you talking about, you fucking frog girl?” Katsuki snapped out, shoving a hand in Shouto’s face to silence the man.
“Guys,” Tenya began and then stopped. “Wait, what harem?”
“This isn’t the time to be talking about that!” Ochako exclaimed, flailing her arms in front of Tsuyu’s face.
Anony : Uravity gets me. She is my spirit animal.
“Why am I here?” Izuku asked the camera, face drawn in long suffering.
Cattaser_Head : I ask myself that question every single day.
Red_Riot_Death: So do we, Dad
Cattaser_Head: ...
Dadmight_01: Aizawa, do we need to have another self-love talk?
Pikachu_I_Am_You: YES DAD MIGHT WE DO
Cattaser_Head: I regret ever passing you all
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: we love you too, Dad! And Dad Might! :) :) :)
Dadmight_01: Well thank you, my young successors! You make this old man blush
Pikachu_I_Am_You: OUR DADS ARE SO WHOLESOME IM GONNA CRY
Red_Riot_Death: I GOTCHU BABE
Momo_Without_A_Peach: ...they’re literally crying over their phones
Ghost_Girl: send pics or it didn’t happen
“So I heard you were given a larger bed after the attack? Do you need help breaking it in?” Shinsou asked, tone low and suggestive.
Birb: Damn.
Anony: NO WONDER HE’S THE SMOOTH OPERATOR
An0n: when has any operator been smooth? I was on the phone to my internet provider for three hours yesterday and i didn’t even get anywhere with them
Guest7: You gotta give em the ol’ razzle dazzle
I’m_Twinkling: SOMEONE CALLED?
Red_Riot_Death: oh no
Ghost_Girl: DON’T THINK WE DIDN’T SEE YOU CREEPING OUTSIDE OF OUR HOUSE, AOYAMA.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: guys. guys i cracked the code. our place isn’t haunted. Its just FUCKING AOYAMA.
Momo_Without_A_Peach: I mean, that would explain the jump in our Wi-Fi bill.
Anony: * x-files theme plays*
“Stop flirting with my future husband,” Shouto finally got to speak, shoving the iced Katsuki off him.
“Oh my god” Izuku buried his face into his hands. “This was a mistake. This was a horrible mistake.”
Dadmight_01: we believe in you, Midoriya my boy! You’re doing fine!
Pikachu_I_Am_You: BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH THE WHOLESOME CONTENT
Earphone_Actress: Denki, you’re in another room and I can hear you shouting every comment you type. Please stop.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: THE WHOLESOME TRAIN WILL NEVER BE SILENCED
Blood-of-my-enemies: If you ever want them to listen to you, just tell me Midoriya Izuku~ :)
“Guys, can we get back onto topic?” Tenya asked and Izuku looked ready to kiss him in gratitude. “This was Tsuyu-san’s idea after all.”
“Yes,” Tsuyu giggled. “But this is amusing as is. I feel sad that I’ve missed these interactions during your videos.”
“Can I remind y’all we’re live?” Izuku spoke as he struggled to collect himself. “So Froppy, how is it being a positive role model for women heroes everywhere? During your last public appearance, you confronted a person sexually harassing another women hero and-”
Katsuki threw himself at Shinsou, shoving at Izuku. Izuku fell into Tsuyu in a flurry of apologies and shot up to his feet. Scowling, Izuku bodily lifted Katsuki up, easily depositing him onto the ground.
Silence met his action.
Earphone_Actress: ...did that just happen
Packing_Tape: i just entered the stream and i can’t breathe
An0n: I THINK I JUST SAW BAKUGOU’S LIFE FLASH BEFORE HIS EYES
An0n: HE LOOKS SO DISTRESSED
Red_Riot_Death: HOLY SHIT I AM LOSING MY FUCKING MIND
Pikachu_I_Am_You: IN THE AAAARMS OF AN AAAAANGEL
Red_Riot_Death: FLY AWAAAAAAY FROM HERE
Ghost_Girl: hi yes I found religion it’s Deku bodily lifting Bakugou
Gimme A Hand or 2: I-I need to leave. How is someone going through physical therapy three times a week in the mornings at Musutafu Hospital so strong
Anonz: soooooooo I have a few questions @Gimme A Hand or 2
An0n: we all have questions
“Did...did you just lift him up? Can...can you lift people?” Ochako asked, looking awed and alarmed all at once at the new knowledge.
“What she’s really asking,” Tsuyu cut in, “is if you can bench press people."
Izuku flushed, grabbing one of the throw pillows to stuff into his face.
“I’m not as strong as I was before the incident,” Izuku muffled into the pillow, peeking out to peer at the group. “But I’m still pretty strong.”
“Izuku, could you bench press me?” Ochako gasped out, stars in her eyes as she leaned over Tsuyu to look at the man.
An0n: HOLY SHIT
Guest20: that FropAvity content though~! ;)
Guest10: I’VE BEEN WAITING MY ENTIRE LIFE FOR THIS MOMENT
Red_Riot_Death: *Akihiko voice* I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
“Oh god,” Izuku groaned. “Um. Okay. Yeah, sure, I can.” Izuku switched places with Katsuki, settling down on the ground. He held his arms up expectantly and Ochako squealed, moving to lay down against his palms.
Katsuki, Shouto, Shinsou, Tenya, and Tsuyu just watched, entranced, as Izuku effortlessly began to lift Ochako up over his head, lowering her back down as he bent his arms.
“Oh my god,” Shouto wheezed. His face was slowly heating up. The others were no different.
An0n: IT’S HAPPENING
An0n: MY SKIN IS CLEAR, MY CROPS ARE HARVESTING, THE SUN IS SHINING
Packing_Tape: what a time to be alive
Pikachu_I_Am_You: speak for yourself dude i think i just died
Guest1: SCREECHING
Ghost_Girl: does he take reservations?
“You make me feel so light,” Ochako giggled as she tried to keep her body as still as possible. “I might have to have you do this more often on my pity days!”
“You’re extremely light,” Izuku argued with a confused wrinkle along his brow. “What are you talking about?”
“Oooh, Imma keep him,” Ochako spoke aloud. Tsuyu burst into giggles, Ochako following. Izuku gently put her down and sat up. He stretched, his shirt lifting up slightly.
“I understand why you have so many followers,” Tsuyu spoke. “And not because of the video topics.” Izuku tilted his head at her, lost.
“What do you mean?” Izuku asked and Ochako just laughed, shaking her head.
An0n: is this boy FORREAL
“Nothing Izuku. Stay the same, okay? Never change."
Izuku settled back onto the couch as Katsuki, Shouto, and Shinsou started an argument, Ochako egging Katsuki on while Tsuyu and Tenya tried to keep the peace. Izuku observed the rowdy group and gave a faint smile, pleased with how lively his days were now, ever since he befriended the heroes he’d admired.
“I’m going to turn the stream off,” Izuku announced, moving from the couch to the laptop. He gave a wave to his viewers, and paused for a moment, smiling fondly at the reflection of his friends on his screen. Perhaps, to the viewers, it looked like a trick of the lighting, but his eyes were shining with tears.
He mouthed a silent ‘ thank you ’ to those watching, and turned off the feed.
.
..
...
Notes:
Yo we have a discord up and running if you wanna come chat or yelling about Deku bench pressing people! https://discord.gg/VpJHbH3
Also, don't worry, we still have an epilogue planned and a bunch of one shots on the way! Stay tuned, and thank you for all of the patience and support! We love you guys!
Chapter 4: Main Story: Ch 4
Summary:
Todoroki_S: Ochako is laughing so hysterically I’m actually quite concerned she’s going to die.
Explodo_Death: Let her.
Iida: NO!
Notes:
Live stream username guide:
Explodo_Death - Bakugou Katsuki
Gravity-Girl - Uraraka Ochako
Iida - Iida Tenya (p easy)
Todoroki_S - Todoroki Shouta
DadMight_01 - All Might/Yagi Toshinori
Hush Die Bi Baby - Shinsou Hitoshi
Pikachu_I_Am_You - Kaminari Denki
Red_RiotDeath - Kirishima Eijirou
Pinky&_Da_Brain - Ashido Mina
Ghost_Girl - Hagakure Tooru
Earphone_Actress - Jirou Kyouka
Birb/I_Am_A_Birb - Tokoyami Fumikage
Animals - Izumi Kouta
Packing_Tape - Sero
Easy_Baked_Oven - Rikido Sato
Blood_Of_My_Enemies - Hero Killer Stain
Cattaser-Head - Eraser Head
Momo_Without_A_Peach - Yaoyorozu Momo
Gimme A Hand or 2 - Tomura Shigaraki
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand - Dabi
Its_A_Me_Mirio: - Togata Mirio
If_Im_His_Sun_He_Is_My_Moon: - Amajiki Tamaki
I’m_Twinkling: Yuga AoyamaSPECIAL THANKS TODarkWoods FOR LETTING ME USE A EXCERPT OF HER STORY, A Serious Dickscussion.
SPECIAL THANKS TO Shirona over on our Discord for her lovely contribution of the Endeavor/Deku fic.
A warm thank you and hug to everyone on our discord who offered questions for this chapter! <3CHAPTER WARNINGS: Mature Themes! The mentions of dicks. References to ptsd.
ENJOY~! <3
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Camera working? Check. Lighting settled? Check. Mic picking up volume? Whoa, yeah, check.
Was this really a good idea? Probably not. Was Izuku too drunk to properly set up his latest stream but also too determined to wait until he was sober to film something? Oh, absolutely.
It had been far too long since his last drunk stream, let alone his last livestream. Even with the ‘Villain AttackTM’ - Ochako’s dubbing of the event, not his own - behind him, it’d taken some time to settle back in. Things were improving, though. His apartment was better than ever - decked out with more food and furniture than his living space had contained in years - and his physical therapy was over.
His mother had calmed down enough to stop calling every few hours to check that he was still alright. His friends had stopped checking in mid-patrol and mothering him whenever they visited.
Still, Izuku couldn’t help but feel a little resentful. Due to the months he’d spent in the hospital, and then the gruelling physical therapy that followed, he’d lost so much time. He’d flunked his entire semester and would have to retake it, so at the moment his schedule was filled with make-up classes and an abundance of extra credit assignments. He was trying to salvage what he could, but no matter how desperate he was, no matter how sympathetic his professors were, this was just something he had to deal with.
His grades were the least of his worries, though. The attack had left Inko shell-shocked, and it was clear it had taken a toll on both her and Izuku. His usual dinners with his mother weren’t the usual cheerful evenings in his childhood apartment. They’d been replaced with quiet breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with a dreary hospital room as a backdrop.
There was no warmth. There’d only been Inko wearing a tired, strained smile against a background of white. That was all Izuku had seen for months on end. The white of his casts, his walls, his bedsheets. It was pristine to the point where it was painful, and by the time he was well enough to return home, he repainted every wall in his house that was coated with the color.
Angsting over that was what led him here, his latest drunk livestream. There was nothing that made him happier than to talk with his fans, no matter how derailed every conversation became. His fans supported him at his best and worst, offering advice or kind words during his lowest times. They’d shown their love and undying support during his hospital stay and he’d even seen a few websites created to gather funds for his hospital bills or the refurbishing of his house.
Still, it was hard to try and throw himself back into his old life.There was no longer a sense of normal . Despite the wonderful job the insurance company had done, this was still the place that had almost become his grave. This room was still the place where he’d nearly died, broken and battered by a Villain attack.
He couldn’t ignore that, couldn't erase that from his mind. The first month back in his apartment had been the worst, every day a tantrum of hysterics or heavy silence as he tried to cope with the onslaught of memories. While he’d rejoiced in his escape of the hospital, each corner, every wooden floorboard, and every creak of the windows in the faint breeze was like an explosion in his mind, raining down debris and glass to his unsuspecting thoughts.
He hated it.
It’d taken that first month for him to finally stop begging someone to spend the night with him, afraid to be alone in the case of another Villain attack. After a visit from Toshinori and a few trips to his psychiatrist, his anxiety had eased up enough for him to be able to go to sleep without waking up in the middle of the night, expecting that Villain to be hovering over him.
It was still a work in progress but for now, he thought a drunk livestream was good enough to ignore the shadows under his eyes. He hadn’t mustered the courage to do more than a few streams here and there after coming home. His group interview with his friends had been the most lively video he’d produced in a while, but it was hard adjusting.
It was hard to think that he’d been attacked during one of his streams, where he used to feel safe. Indestructible, even, with an audience that wanted nothing more from him than to be himself. Still, there was a little seed of doubt that focused on the live stream from that day, wondering if that was what had made him a target. It was a stupid thought, pointless to even consider when Katsuki had insisted that the Villain was prone to attacking at random, but it still ate away at Izuku.
That was why he was pushing himself to do another stream, as if to prove to himself that nothing like that would happen again, that he’d be safe once again.
The camera shook as Izuku fumbled with it, the mic giving feedback as his shirt brushed against the stand. Izuku fell back onto his chair with a flop, a beer can in one hand, the other waving to those watching. He squinted at the screen for a moment, confirming it was actually recording this time, - he might’ve been talking to himself and an offline feed for an hour or so, but no one needed to know that - leaning back with a smile after seeing the familiar blinking light.
“Do not fear, for I am DRUNK! What’s up everybody!” Izuku greeted to the viewers,voice slightly high pitched as he settled his can down gingerly on his desk. “Deku here, LIVE! Don’t worry, I’ve only had five beers so far.”
Guest2: drunk stream drunk stream!!
Explodo_Death: ...not again.
Red_Riot_Death: I can hear Katsuki’s deep sigh
Pikachu_I_Am_You: its a sound we’re all familiar with
Red_Riot_Death: yeah, all too familiar with
Explodo_Death: listen you fucks
Red_Riot_Death: c’mon brokoro don’t be like that
Explodo_Death: the fuck you just call me
An0n: ‘don’t worry’ he says literally right after telling us he’s drunk
Todoroki_S: I’ll be over shortly to take care of you.
Gravity-Girl: Ummm no you aren’t? You are helping me clean the outside shed today.
Todoroki_S: @Gravity-Girl Why you on the computer then?
Gravity-Girl: Why are you on your computer?
Iida: @Gravity-Girl and @Todoroki_S Why are both of you on your computers? You literally live in the same house. Talk face to face.
“Today I’m going to try out some video games my friend Kacchan recommended,” Izuku announced, tugging on one of his curls. His hair, messily braided into pigtails, looked awkward and stiff as the tails stuck out sideways. His eyes were surrounded by clear glitter, his freckles sparkling alongside the makeup. Izuku smiled, his eyes flashing to the comments.
Gravity-Girl: @Explodo_Death What did you do?
Explodo_Death: The fuck you talking about?
Todoroki_S: @Explodo_Death You probably recommended different types of eroge
Izuku snickered, shaking his head. “Hey, guys, chill.” He hushed. “These games won’t contain any nudity. A bit of violence and swearing, maybe, but not nudity. I made sure that Kacchan’s recommendations could be seen if I streamed them, so be nice, guys. He’s trying.”
Gravity-Girl: he’s trying. oh no. Katsuki’s trying something.
Todoroki_S: I assume that means we should brace ourselves for the worst.
Explodo_Death: i can fucking read this you fucks
Gravity-Girl: we know
Todoroki_S: We know.
Izuku shifted back in his chair, his overly baggy All Might graphic sweater hanging low along his collarbone. His chair rolled back and Izuku ducked under his desk, rummaging sounding after him. He popped back up, a black controller in hand, and rolled himself back towards the desk, fiddling with the wires.
“First on the list,” Izuku spoke as he paused in his ministrations to take a gulp of his beer, “is...wait, what’s this called? Rocket League ? What...what is this game, Kacchan? Are rockets involved?” He squinted at his computer, the screen flickering as he started up the game.
The viewers watched as the streamer fumbled with his controller, trying to get it to work.
Izuku gasped abruptly, his face brightening as he saw the avatar he’d be controlling. “Look at it! It’s a tiny car! Is this a racing game?” He flicked through the menu, looking at the controls, the settings, and the basic tutorial on how to play the game.
He reached over, draining the last of his can before scrunching it in his fist, pitching it over his shoulder. Without looking away from the screen he reached over, using his index finger to open another beer can. He took a slow sip, his tongue darting out over his lips.
Todoroki_S: I’m on my way.
Momo_Without_A_Peach: Stop. Ochako, please control your roommate.
Gravity-Girl: @Todoroki_S let’s go then! :P Five minutes or I’m leaving you
Explodo_Death: Gross. Wait. No. Don’t go to his house.
Guest: Oh hey, Rocket League is really fun! You’ll like it!
Unicorn_Eri_Princess: Papa and Dad play that game all the time! It’s fun to watch.
DadMight_01: Why can’t you just drink water for once, young man?
An0n: i know what i said before but water is for the weak
Iida: You mean it’s for the responsible and the hydrated!!
Izuku took a long, audible sip from his can as he flicked through the types of models his car could be. He settled on a tiny little car labelled Octane, making it a green color. He beamed happily at his car, settling back as the game loaded.
“Wait, do I play against over people?” Izuku asked as his car was dropped down onto the field. He tilted his head to the side, studying the arena. His eyebrows furrowed, his lips pulling into a frowning pout. “Wait, is that glass? Why are the goals so big? What’s with the - oh, it’s starting.” Izuku hastily dropped his drink onto the desk, pushing his thumb onto the left joystick.
“Why aren’t I moving?” Izuku cried out, watching the opponent’s car fly by him.
Explodo_Death: Dumbass, press down on R2 to move forward. L2 moves you backwards. The joystick just changes the direction.
“Oh!” Izuku laughed, his cheeks heating in embarrassment. He wasn’t much of a gamer, usually focusing his time and energy at work or on his videos. Izuku pressed his index finger over the R2 button, watching his car jerk forward.
The vehicle zoomed past the opponent, nearly colliding with them, climbing up the wall and flipping in the air as gravity grabbed hold.
“Whoa, whoa, wait, I’m not ready!” Izuku squeaked, trying to get his car to move. He jumped as the opponent scored, throwing his car across the arena. “Dude, what! This game is confusing!” His eyes flashed to the comment thread, where people were giving their advice.
Todoroki_S: I believe if you press X, your car will jump.
Its_A_Me_Mirio: Pressing R1 gives your car a boost but you can only use it when your gauge is filled up. Pressing L1 lets you powerslide. Just have fun and don’t sweat it! It’s fun just watching you right now!
Gravity-Girl: You can do it, Deku-kun!
He reread the advice, his fingers ghosting over the buttons as he tried to memorize what they did.
“Okay, I’ll play one more round and see what else was on Kacchan’s list.” Izuku explained as the game got ready for another round. “I...think I’m too drunk for this.” He pressed the buttons, experimenting as he hopped around the arena. He hit the ball, watching it fly into a wall. The opponent car chased after, giving a boost to smack the ball towards Izuku’s goal.
“Actually, no, I’m too sober for this.” Izuku mumbled to himself as his car was once against knocked across the arena. He gave a frustrated huff and quickly pulled up the menu, clicking ‘ End Game ’. “I’m done. I’ll play this game another day. Let’s see. What else is there to play?”
He reached for his can, emptying it with two great gulps. Like the last, it was pitched over his shoulder and another one was opened.
Gimme A Hand or 2: Chug that beer like it’s bottle of water. Mmhm.
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand: I’m mildly concerned about Gimme because I can hear nOISE COMING FROM HIS ROOM
An0n: I’m afraid to ask what noises
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand: It sounds like slurping. I don’t want to check
Gravity-Girl: aND I don’t want to KNOW
Izuku blinked at the comments, taking a large chug of his beer. “I don’t even want to know what that conversation is about,” he said as he took a smaller sip. “But you do you.”
Todoroki_S: It better be the sound of him drinking JESUS JUICE, because if not I’m going to have to intervene.
Gravity-Girl: I thought I was the one who makes the Christian jokes! Angry Reacts Only!
Gravity-Girl: ...either my computer just died or all of those notifications were people literally angry reacting my comment...
Izuku’s laughs turned into hiccup, trying to take another sip of his beer. Instead, he ended up snorting it out of his nostrils, drenching his keyboard. Izuku stared wide-eyed at the camera for a moment, as if processing what had just happened, before he pitched backwards with full-blown cackles.
DadMight_01: Oh dear.
Izuku righted himself, grabbing a roll of paper towels to wipe up the mess. “So, we’re getting a new coworker at my place soon. I’m curious who they are! I hope they’ll switch shifts with me when my stalker visits.”
Todoroki_S: Excuse me, did you just say stalker?
Gravity-Girl: Is someone harassing you at work?
Explodo_Death: IS HE STILL BOTHERING YOU?!
DadMight_01: Have you talked to your manager about it? Maybe switch your schedules?
Iida: Are you alright?
Gimme A Hand or 2: ‘Stalker’ is such a harsh term. I’d like to consider ‘person who has a personal interest in your well being and safety’.
Anony: wait what
An0n: with all disrespect, what the FUCK
Izuku stared at the comments, color draining from his face. “So, uh, we’re changing the subject now. Stalker? I don’t know her.” He chugged his beer with one hand, simultaneously using his other to open a new can.
Gravity-Girl: Restraining order? I know her. I could introduce you two.
Explodo_Death: When’s your next shift? We could visit during our next patrol.
Todoroki_S: I think you mean we *will* visit. Perhaps we’ll station a person by the store.
“But, it’s fine, seriously. I’m probably going to be switching jobs soon, anyways,” Izuku explained, scratching his cheek. “But anyways, let’s get back to playing. This one is called... Minecraft ? Ohhh, is this that game where you mine and craft shit?”
Explodo_Death: No shit Sherlock. It’s in the fucking title.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: what the hell are they talking about?? what the fuck is minecraft??
Red_Riot_Death: according to Twitter, “Hitler’s lesser known second book about his love of knitting”.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: @Red_Riot_Death babe, i love you, but what the fuck
Todoroki_S: You are so cute, Midoriya-kun. I am not going to let you change the subject that easily though.
Best_Frogo: You work at the HeroRUs konbini at the corner by that antique bookstore, right?
Explodo_Death: @ Best_Frogo how the FUCK do you know that?
Best_Frogo: @Explodo_Death I’ve stopped by after patrol once for a drink. He was there working. I think I’ve seen this creep he’s talking about.
DadMight_01: I can pick you up from work when you get off from now on if you want?
Explodo_Death: @EVERYONE hold the fuck up stop I’ll pick him up y’all back the fuck up
Todoroki_S: @Explodo_Death rudely fuck off Midoriya-kun is my husband
Hush Die Bi Baby: Oh sorry guys, hostage situation just got called in. I’ll be back to watch this live stream later. Izuku, baby, the only one who ever make me question my sexuality, DON’T GO INTO THE CAVES. Okay bye bye
Gravity-Girl: Oh hey, you changed your name! Wait, you’re off. Damn.
Izuku rubbed his eyes as he tried to keep up with the comments. He blinked, tilting his head to the side.”Caves? What caves? Why wouldn’t I go into the caves? Isn’t this a mining game?”
Gravity-Girl: nobody tell him
The screen brightened up as the game started. Izuku stretched, shifting through the setting. “Adventure Mode? Survival Mode? Peaceful Mode? What are these? Which one do I pick?”
Iida: If you want optimal gaming experience, I would suggest you choose Survival Mode.
Gravity-Girl: And make sure you wander around at night! Best time to explore!
Todoroki_S: Why are you like this? @Gravity-Girl
Izuku chose his setting, starting the game. “Oooh, look at the graphics. Oh, look at the chicken! It’s a chicken! Okay, okay, what do I do first?” Izuku asked, turning his attention back to the comments.
Explodo_Death: Slaughter some sheep.
“What!” Izuku gasped, looking horrified. “Why would I do that!?”
Iida: No, @Explodo_Death has a point. You must collect 3 wool blocks and some wood to create a bed. It’ll help you in the long run.
Izuku’s nose scrunched up, expression slowly dying into a blank look of disinterest. “I’m bored of this game. It’ll probably make me angry.” Izuku paused, face twisting into one of unadulterated rage. “You wanna know which game pisses me the fuck off?”
Explodo_Death: what the fuck
“Kingdom Hearts! ”
Anony : oh no
“ No, listen, if you’ve played it, you understand my rage. Let’s talk about the incarnation of Satan himself. Let’s talk about Donald.”
Iida: The duck?
“Donald. Motherfucking Donald. I want to fight Donald. I want to take his little magical staff and- so, like, listen!”
Hush Die Bi Baby: Is it wrong to be so turned on right now by his anger?
Gravity-Girl: You changed your name!
Hush Die Bi Baby: Ye. I’m embracing my gay ass to all people attractive
Iida: Isn’t that pansexual?
Hush Die Bi Baby: listen, I’m still getting used to the fact that I find both girls and guys hot af so give me my time. Blame Deku for the rave.
Todoroki_S: Please die
Todoroki_S: wait
Todoroki_S: are you
Todoroki_S: are you watching a livestream while dealing with a hostage situation?
Gravity-Girl: Hitoshi! How dare!
Iida: Shame on you - wait, no, it’s only been a few minutes. Are you still on your way?
Hush Die Bi Baby: you know it, boss. typing and running is harder than it looks.
“Like, okay, you're in a battle. For like the hundredth time.” Izuku continued angrily. “Your health is low and you can’t use cure or cura and you ran out of potions. Donald and Goofy are in the background, minding their own fucking business while you get your ass destroyed-”
Anonz: Wow no one gonna make a joke on that? I am disappointed
Hush Die Bi Baby: so is my [WORD BANNED BY ADMIN]
Gravity-Girl: LMAO HE CAN’T SAY [WORD BANNED BY ADMIN]
Gravity-Girl: aw
Cattaser_Head: The fact that he knew to ban those words in the first place…
Cattaser_Head: I regret teaching any of you.
“-and then you see Donald throw his hand up in that familiar gesture of using a goddamn healing spell. So you hopefully, desperately, almost to the point of sobbing say ‘ DONALD!’ but this bitch goes ‘ GOOFY! ’-”
Todoroki_S: Ochako is laughing so hysterically I’m actually quite concerned she’s going to die.
Explodo_Death: Let her.
Iida: NO!
“-and FUCKING HEALS GOOFY, WHO HAD A FULL GOD DAMN BAR OF HEALTH!”
Gravity_Girl: WHAT WAS THAT NOISE
Ghost-Girl: Say it again! Say it again!
Dadmight_01: I don’t know how I feel about your rage for this game.
An0n: why is everyone hating on goofy, he did nothing wrong
Pikachu_I_Am_You: i would take a bullet for that guy
Earphone_Actress: he’s a fictional dog with a stupid voice
Red_Riot_Death: soz babe, im gonna have to side with Kyouka on this one
Pikachu_I_Am_You: why does his life have any less value than yours?
Red_Riot_Death: I am your boyfriend and you did NOT just quote the fucking bee movie at me
Guest2: GOOFY DOESN’T DESERVE THAT HEALTH
An0n: AND GOOFY DOESN’T DESERVE TO DIE! HE HAS A SON!!!
Explodo_Death: he has a WHAT now
Todorki_S: “I’m *not* your little boy anymore, Dad. I’ve grown up. I’ve got my own life now.”
Explodo_Death: okay why are we getting into half and half’s daddy issues now
An0n: “I KNOW THAT. I JUST WANTED TO BE PART OF IT.”
Explodo_Death: what the fuck
Izuku squinted and blinked rapidly, reeling back. He burst into giggling snorts, his breath choked in short wheezes. “G-G-G-” He hunched over, cracking up as he nearly toppled out of his chair. “Guys, YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND MY EMOTIONS!”
Explodo_Death: fucking incredible
Izuku wiped at his face, tears of laughter beading down his cheeks. He tried to suppress a yawn, only to end up sneezing. He pitched forward from the force of the sneeze, slamming face-first into his desk.
“ OKAY !” Izuku jerked upright again, a red blotch standing out along his forehead. “Guys, guys, can I confide in you a deep secret?”
Explodo_Death: if this is another fucking movie quote...
Todoroki_S: Are you okay?
Gravity-Girl: Did he do shots or something while we weren’t looking?
Hush Die Bi Baby: Nah, he’s completely different when doing shots. ;)
“Guys it’s a big secret,” Izuku yawned and nearly tittered off the chair, “I’m - I’m bi!”
He looked both proud and nervous, the reddening skin glistening against the lights of his room.
Explodo_Death: I
Explodo_Death: ...Don’t we already know that?
Gravity-Girl: Shush! Let him have his moment!
Iida: We are proud of you for confiding in us such a personal secret! Congrats!
Hush Die Bi Baby: I’m hella gay
Anony: I thought you were bi?
Hush Die Bi Baby: Shush
An0n: Bi solidarity!
Pikachu_I_Am_You: Same
Red_Riot_Death: Gay as shit bro
“I’m going to go to bed now. Okay? Okay. I love you guys.” Izuku gave a sloppy, deformed heart symbol with his hands and waved sleepily.
Todoroki_S: ...did anyone screenshot that? Asking for a friend.
An0n: Me. I gotchu fam. Find it on my twitter under the hashtag ‘DrunkDekuLove’
Birb: Blessed content.
Izuku reached over, fumbling with the camera. Soft, thoughtful murmurs escaped his lips as he tried to turn it off. The last visible image before the screen went black was him smiling dazedly at the camera.
“What is UP , everybody! Deku here, doing another fan mail opening!” Izuku cheered and the screen lit up with confetti as he tossed some into the air. “Now, for those of you who don’t know, my address has been made public due to Tumblr and certain events a few months back-”
In bright, bold letters (MY HOUSE GOT DESTROYED) flashed across the screen in brackets.
“-so people have been sending me stuff throughout the weeks!”
Izuku spun in his chair, producing a box.
Explodo_Death: I still think having your address be public made is stupid
Gravity-Girl: I think you’re stupid
Explodo_Death: wow, you got me
Red_Riot_Death: Wow, we’re adults guys
Pikachu_I_Am_You: says the guy who cried over finding nemo just last night
Red_Riot_Death: SO DID YOU
Pikachu_I_Am_You: that’s fair
Earphone_Actress: And you *both* woke me up by running around the house screaming, “HAVE YOU SEEN MY SON”
Momo_Without_A_Peach: Why do you always have to watch your Disney movies drunk?
Red_Riot_Death: tradition!
Pikachu_I_Am_You: tradition!
“Sorry for my bland background,” Izuku apologized as he turned in his chair, his hair gelled up in wild curls. His eyes were caked in glittery, purple eyeshadow, seemingly going for a Hush theme that video. His white tank-top had a simple graphic of someone covering their mouth. “Ever since the Villain Attack™, I’ve been struggling to get basically my merch back to how it was. Kinda can’t though with the limited edition stuff…” He sighed.
“So now, without further ado~!” Izuku gave a drum roll onto his desk and lifted up a razor blade. “Let’s see the first fan mail!” He stabbed viciously at the box, ripping it open. “ Oh my god! ”
Izuku took out a smaller box, staring blankly at it. He held it up to the camera, mouth opening and closing wordlessly.
“It’s-it’s-it’s-it’s me !” Izuku shrieked as he shoved the nendoroid figurine into the camera’s view. “SOMEONE MADE A NENDOROID OF ME!” He gave a gumbled, wordlessly screech. “Oh my gosh! Look, I have my phone, and a T-shirt that says ‘DekuDekuDesu’, and even a little ramen cup! You can even change my hairstyles and face to match make-up! This is fan made?! ”
Izuku dropped the figurine box and flapped his arms around wildly in blind panic. “Who made this?” He scrambled for the forgotten mailing box, finding a card. “ I saw you lost a lot of your merchandise in the attack and that Villain Insurance cannot cover for the loss of personal items. Due to that, I thought it’d be nice to make you something. Enjoy and continue to make your videos - Momo Without A Peach. Oh my god, you’re in my streams!”
Momo_Without_A_Peach: Yes, hello. I am very happy that you like it!
Gravity-Girl: So, um, can you make me one?
Momo_Without_A_Peach: You must understand that with my Quirk...
Explodo_Death: I’ll pay anything.
Todoroki_S: Same. Asking for a friend.
Anony: how many friends do you have?
Easy_Baked_Oven: OOOOH GOT EM
“Thank you so much! I love my little chibi self!” Izuku sent a heart to the camera and set the figurine box down gently. “Next one!” He showed off a envelope, doodles covering the white paper.
“This looks familiar…?” Izuku tilted his head to the side and then his eyes lit up. “Eri?!”
Unicorn_Eri_Princess: I hope you like it!
Izuku hastily opened the envelope, being careful not to tear any of the doodles. He unfolded the drawing inside, gasping. “It’s me! With Lemillion and SunEater!” He covered his face, trying to hide his red cheeks as sparkles and flowers floated around him. “Look at how amazing this is!” Izuku showed off the drawing, his expression melting into a look of utter fondness.
“I’m hanging that up,” Izuku stated as if it were obvious. “Since, you know… I lost the other one.” His expression fell. “Now, let’s see what else we got!” He ducked down, resurfacing with a giant box. He plopped it down on the desk, shuddering the camera on its perch. He stabbed viciously at the tape holding the box together, opening the flaps as he hummed.
He stopped.
“This-” Izuku stuttered out. “This-this-this.” He turned blank eyes to the camera, hauling the item - a packaged All Might Kigurumi - out of the wrapping. “ GUYS! ”
Blood_of_my_enemies: Ah, I see you like it. I am glad. I had hoped the sizing would be perfect for you.
Gimme A Hand or 2: EXCUSE
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand: Oh my god please stop
Toga_Party: You gave Izu that stuffed toy in the hospital!
Blood_of_my_enemies: Yes.
“Omigosh I want to wear it but I don’t but I do but-” Izuku swiveled in his chair, looking overwhelmed by the choice.
Hush Die Bi Baby: Change into it. Preferably on camera. Maybe with [SENTENCE BANNED BY ADMIN]
Hush Die Bi Baby: You wound me
Iida: I don’t know whether I should be concerned or impressed that Midoriya-kun knew to block an entire sentence in advance.
“I’ll wear it! Here, stare at my cute nendoroid while I change!” Izuku adjusted the camera to his chibi figurine and hurriedly stripped, his flailing limbs or tossed clothing making appearances in the background.
Not five minutes later he plopped down, adjusting the outfit as he fixed the camera. Then, he fixed the camera with his best impression of All Might. “Do not fear, for I am here!”
Explodo_Death: I’m pissing myself laughing rn
Explodo_Death: his fucking face
DadMight_01: That was...a scarily good impression, my boy.
Cattaser_Head: Oh god, there’s another one
CawCaw A Birb: how amusing, it warms my shadowed, icy heart.
Gravity-Girl: Why is everyone changing their usernames? Stop.
“I love it! Thank you so much! Ah, it’s so warm!” Izuku hugged his arms around himself, swinging his body back and forth. “I love the antennas the best!” He tugged on a yellow antenna and reached for another package. “Oh hey, there’s...more?”
Izuku pulled out another folded onesie. He stared. “This is Uravity’s costume design.” He peered into the box once more. “ HOLY ALL MIGHT! There’s one for almost every single Hero in here!”
Blood_Of_My_Enemies: I have retirement funds to spare.
An0n: I want a sugar daddy now
Iida: No. No. No. No.
Izuku flailed for a moment before exhaling, trying to collect himself. He gently placed the box out of view to the camera and reached for another package. The stamps made his eyes widen. “Oh, this one’s from France!”
I’m_Twinkling: Oui!
Iida: You didn’t…
Izuku opened it, freezing as he pulled out a wrapped wheel of cheese. An...entire wheel of cheese, wrapped air-lock tight in plastic and labeled as more expensive than Izuku would ever dream of cheese costing. “What.”
I’m_Twinkling: That is Pule Cheese. It is very delicious and it is extremely rare. I would recommend eating it by itself or, if you have to pair it with something, go for dried apricots or a raspberry chipotle sauce. If you are unable to obtain the sauce, I am more than happy to send you some.
Ghost_Girl: Dude. We’ve had talks about this.
I’m_Twinkling: Also, if you are feeling in the mood for a wine to go with it, my recommendation would be a glass of Meritage. It tastes wonderful on the tongue when you bite into the cheese slice and
Earphone_Actress: Can someone stop him?
Izuku peered intently at the screen, lips pursed as he read the advice. “Oh wow. Wow, okay. Um, thank you so much.”
I’m_Twinkling: I am more than willing to come to your apartment with Shouto or Ochako one day to help you taste the cheese. :)
Explodo_Death: Oh my fucking god
“Um, maybe? Thank-thank you again! Do I, uh, put it in the fridge or…?” Izuku stared down at the wheel. “It’s so much cheese.” It was a whisper of faint horror, shoulders sagging as the realisation set in that he’d have to make his way through the entire thing.
“Um, anyways, be right back.” The camera captured Izuku walking out of his bedroom, no doubt heading for the fridge. He came back, plopping down.
Hush Die Bi Baby: That kigurumi is so cute though on you.
“Isn’t it?” Izuku beamed brightly. “This one is from...Uraraka-chan?” Izuku peered curiously at the envelope before looking to the camera. “You sent something?”
Gravity-Girl: Guilty
Todoroki_S: Aren’t you always?
“These are...tickets?” Izuku spoke as he pulled two out of the envelope. His eyes went wide once he caught sight of the bold font printed on both. “Oh my god.” He gasped. “All Might on Ice! Uraraka-chan !” Izuku looked alarmed as he stared at the camera. “How much did you spend?!”
Gravity-Girl: Rude! You never ask a date that ;) Think of it as a birthday gift! I know you were bummed you couldn’t see it last year while you were in the hospital! <3
An0n: this is the content I like to see
Explodo_Death: you’re fucking with me
Guest2: isn’t this the part where someone claims husband rights
Todoroki_S: In most occasions, yes, but I am respectful for Ochako and Midoriya-kun’s choices. They are adults, and if they wish to date, that is their decision.
Gravity-Girl: Thank you, Shou! <3
Todoroki_S: Of course, Ura.
Hush Die Bi Baby: bITCH WHERE?!
Pikachu_I_Am_You: soz man all i can see is Shouto crying over his phone as he types this
Iida: Incorrect. In fact, he’s smiling at his screen. Very mature, Shouto.
Red_Riot_Death: I think you mean he’s hella biased but this is so wholesome I love it.
Hush Die Bi Baby: I SEE HOW IT IS. I SEE YOU SHOUTO. I SEE YOU.
Anony: I mean, y’all are thirsty but go off I guess
Izuku’s cheeks heated and he opened his mouth, only for his phone to go off. He checked it, expression falling flat. “Sorry guys, I gotta go get ready for work! I will continue this on a later date! I thank everyone who sent me something and I love each and every one of you!” He made a heart with his fingers and waved sweetly before turning off the feed.
“Do not fear friends for I am here! What is UP , everybody! Today we’re doing another LIVE stream, since the weather is perfect-” Izuku casted a glance to the snowing scenery outside- “and my Q & A box has been drowning in questions! So, we’re going to be answering a few questions today! Yay!” He threw a fist full of confetti into the air, looking down at it as it rained over his computer desk. “I regret doing that.”
Explodo_Death: it’s snowing outside. How is that perfect?
Hush Die Bi Baby: I mean, it’s perfect cuddle weather if you know what I mean.
Todoroki_S: I can bring over some hot chocolate for you if you’d like, Deku.
Explodo_Death: Why the fuck are you calling him Deku?
Gravity-Girl: What are you talking about, Explodo? We’ve always called him Deku-kun.
Explodo_Death: No you don’t
Iida: @Explodo_Death are you okay? You seem confused over us calling Deku by his name.
“Anyways,” Izuku spoke as he fished out a few handwritten letters, plopping them down beside him. “Let’s look at Tumblr and Twitter first and see what kind of questions we have.” Izuku leaned back in his chair with a stretch before moving his mouse. “Okay, first one was from ImHellaPan . They ask: TEACH YOUR WAYS MASTER . Well, that’s not a question but thank you? Um, oh, another Pan question. What’s it like to have Hero friends? ” Izuku leaned back in his chair.
“It’s honestly...weird. Hella weird. Like, grew up admiring these people and have made countless videos about them and stuff and suddenly we’re friends? It’s kind of surreal.” Izuku smiled, gaze distant. “The most inconvenient thing about that is that they’re never free for video game night.” He giggled.
Explodo_Death: BITCH
Explodo_Death: I LITERALLY busted down your door last weekend with a 6-pack and Sea of Thieves. Fuck off with that bullshit
Gravity-Girl: We should have a game night!
An0n: I’d pay money to see them play Mario Karts or monopoly on a live stream.
Blood_Of_My_Enemies: Me too.
Gimme A Hand or 2: Ditto
Toga_Party: Izu is surprisingly competitive and a sore loser with board games.
“I am not! ” Izuku gasped out, scandalized. “Lies and slander! Okay, next question from Hiccup . They ask: what would you name your child? ” Izuku blinked and tilted his head to the side, lips pursed. “Huh. Well that’s - uh - well. I’ve never given children any thought. I’d probably go with something gender neutral though. I’ve always loved Haruka, though. It’s very pretty.” Izuku smiled. “Good question!"
Izuku adjusted in his chair, floofing at his hair. He’d styled his locks to be in little buns, strands curling out as they wished. He swiped at his glitter covered face, licking at his pink coated lips.
“OKay, this one is from Berry_cat7... why does this name sound familiar?” Izuku squinted suspiciously at his computer screen before shrugging. “They ask, Which hero do you think you could take on in an arm wrestling match? ” Izuku’s eyes gained a dangerous glint, a contemplative hum escaping his lips as he tapped at his chin. “I could easily lift up Kacchan, so that gives testament to my strength. I can lift up a washing machine too, no sweat so-”
Explodo_Death: no you can’t
Todoroki_S: this is unfair and untrue and please stop giving me such mental images
Hush Die Bi Baby: I need proof. Like right now.
Gravity-Girl: Are we forgetting he’s literally lifted up weights during a live stream before?
“- guys! ” Izuku burst out laughing. “Okay, okay. Hm. I could probably confidently take on Kacchan and Shouto, easily.” Izuku crossed his arms over his chest, eyes challenging. “I’m pretty confident even post-hospital stay I can take them on.”
Todoroki_S: Those are fighting words. I accept your challenge.
Explodo_Death: bRING IT ON!
Anony: you better stream this oh shit
“I will, I will,” Izuku laughed. “Next question! From Tenyeetingyeeteryeet over on Tumblr! They ask, Did you know there are fanfics about you? Oh.” Izuku stared blankly at the camera. “Oh.”
An0n: Oh no.
Gravity-Girl: Oh no.
Explodo_Death: ….fanfics? Fanfiction? What the hell are those?
Red_Riot_Death: DO
Red_Riot_Death: NOT
Red_Riot_Death: TELL
Red_Riot_Death: HIM
Red_Riot_Death: ABOUT
Red_Riot_Death: FANFICS
Red_Riot_Death: we’d all die
Gravity-Girl: NEXT QUESTION PLEASE!
Izuku tossed his head back with a laugh, spinning in his chair. “Okay, okay, this one is from DarkWoods! They ask, favorite food? Well Dark, my favorite food is katsudon!” He beamed happily at the camera. “My mom makes it the best!”
Todoroki_S: Google, how to make katsudon
Hush Die Bi Baby: Google, how to make the BEST katsudon
An0n: you trying to be the best katsudon bowl you can be for Viktor?
An0n: so sorry please ignore that
Ghost_Girl: no
An0n: D:
“This one is from Persona 5 Trash. They ask, what’s the most villainous thing you’ve ever done? Oooh man.” Izuku winced and hid his face. “Oh no. Oh no .”
Explodo_Death: what
DadMight_01: it’s okay, young man! No one is perfect! It can’t be that bad.
Todoroki_S: I am curious. Let’s hear it.
Izuku peeked out from behind his hands, cheeks red in shame. “Okay you guys, but you can’t judge me, okay?” He removed his hands and bit at his lip. “Like, I was in high school and stupid, so don’t judge me.”
Toga_Party: Oh my god, let it *go* Izu!
Gimme A Hand or 2: Intrigued.
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand: Same.
Blood_Of_My_Enemies: Let’s hear how ‘villainous’ you can be. (Hear my sarcasm?)
An0n: I don’t want to.
“It was my third year in high school,” Izuku began after he cleared his throat. “Toga-chan and I went to the store by the school and- and they were having a sale. On chocolate.” Izuku’s hands moved to scratch at his neck, looking nervous. “Toga-chan wanted some chocolate but we didn’t have any money.”
Explodo_Death: oh my god
Toga_Party: It wasn’t bad!
“We stole chocolate bars!” Izuku cried. “We stole chocolate bars! She grabbed a handful and just shoved them in her pockets and made a break for it and I panicked and followed her example and just-” Izuku buried his face into his hands again. “Oh my god! I still hate myself!”
Toga_Party: You didn’t even eat the chocolate! You ended up giving the bars to the homeless!
Explodo_Death: OH MY FUCKING GOD
Blood_Of_My_Enemies: Absolutely adorable
Todoroki_S: I’m in awe.
Hush Die Bi Baby: I’m in love all over again. -heart eyes, motherfuckers-
An0n: supplies, motherfucker, some fries, motherfucker
Anony: surrounded by bis, motherfuckers
Hush Die Bi Baby: IS THIS A CALL OUT POST
“I know, I’m such a horrible person!” Izuku complained, bringing his knees up to his chest. “Before I lose myself to memories, let’s move onto the next question!” Izuku shook his head. “This is from thiccbish on Twitter. They ask, cats or dogs? Cats!” Izuku beamed. “I love kitties!”
Animals: Same.
CawCaw A Birb: You like all animals though
Animals: Tru
“Okay, next question. This is from swordsandsnails on Tumblr. They ask, how are you feeling after the Villain Attack™?” Izuku’s expression shuttered for a moment before his lips stretched into a thin smile. “Thanks for asking. I am...doing better. Still adjusting, but better!”
Gimme A Hand or 2: Should have done worse to that piece of filth
Iida: I’m squinting at that comment in suspicion.
An0n: NEXT QUESTION PLEASE
“Dere asks, who is the most underrated Hero? Ohhh! Good question! I’d have to say, in my honest opinion, Sugarman! He barely ever gets any media coverage but he actually does an amazing job when he is out and about!”
Easy_Baked_Oven: Thank you very much!
“Okay, this one is from Alstaar on tumblr. They ask, why are you still single when you’ve got all the suitors? Aaah.” Izuku stared at the screen for a moment before he gave a soft sigh. “I might as well clarify, huh?”
Explodo_Death: so fuckin stupid
Gravity-Girl: Yes, please.
Iida: Only share what you feel comfortable with sharing!
“So,” Izuku began as he laced his hands together. “Throughout the years, people have asked me out. I’m not a stranger to being hit on or being hit up for body shots at raves. Mostly college once I knew about makeup, but you know.”
Hush Die Bi Baby: AAAAAYYYYYEE THAT’S ME
Explodo_Death: for fuck’s sake
Toga_Party: I was one of those asking for a date~ ;) ;)
“Each time, I’ve given the same answer.” Izuku fiddled with his thumbs, peering up self consciously at the camera. “I’ve wanted to wait and focus on school. My degree has been kicking my ass, and the Villain Attack™ did nothing to help.” Izuku scratched at his head, forgetting his styled hair. “So relationships haven’t been in the forefront of my mind.”
Explodo_Death: I hear a ‘but...’
Hush Die Bi Baby: I wanna see a butt
Gravity-Girl: Hitoshi, honey, no.
Hush Die Bi Baby: That’s fair, star.
“But,” Izuku huffed out, expression pinched in frustration, “I can’t keep using that as an excuse, right? I mean, I can’t expect people to wait for me for years because I want to focus on my degree and career, right ?”
Iida: That’s understandable, but at the same time it’s also understandable if you want to focus on your studies/career.
Gravity-Girl: ya i call dibs on first date with Deku-kun
“But at the same time,” Izuku spoke softly, “I’m scared to date at this point.”
DadMight_01: Why, my boy?
“I don’t want to date someone who’s only dating me because of this .” Izuku waved a hand over himself. “This? This is me in front of a camera. This isn’t me screaming into the void during a deadline for a news article or scavangering the docks for a Villain meetup.”
Iida: wait what
“How I am on camera is completely different from how I am in real life. You think I’m lying but it’s the true. I can barely take care of myself, barely manage my time, so how can I manage a partner? I don’t want to date someone with expectations of me being Deku . I don’t want to go into a relationship built on hero worship .”
Cattaser_Head: What a mood
DadMight_01: shouldn’t you be grading papers right now?
Cattaser_Head: No papers to grade if I’ve expelled them all again.
DadMight_01: . ..I expected more from you.
Ghost_Girl: Don’t we all?
Explodo_Death: i expected them to be expelled sooner
Gravity-Girl: same
Iida: I hate to admit it, but I thought the same thing.
“You all act like I’m the next best thing since instant ramen,” Izuku argued against himself, “like you’re putting me on some sort of pedestal. I don’t like that. I don’t want that. It doesn’t matter that you always tune into my videos, or think you know what I’m dealing with personally, but it isn’t the same. It’s not the same at all.”
“I don’t share with my viewers my nightmares or anxieties. I don’t share with them my stress of classes, living paycheck to paycheck. You guys don’t know those things. And I don’t want to date a viewer who thinks that I’m not suffering from these issues. I just.”
Izuku pressed the palms of his hands to his eyes. “I don’t want the added stress of a relationship when I’m already drowning. I’m not perfect. I’m not some God. I’m not some untouchable idol. I just.”
Izuku took a shaky breath, dropping his hands. “I’m just not relationship material right now.” He gave a soft self, deprecating laugh as he peeked at the comments. “Okay, I’m sorry guys. I’m logging off. Bye.” Izuku didn’t even wait to see the comments before turning the Stream off.
Izuku jumped as his phone rang insistently, one beep after the other with no end in sight. He wiped at his face and reached for his phone, only for it to vibrate with a string of messages that sent it off of his desk.
[Uraraka Ochako has added you to a group chat: Dire Dumpster Fire. Member Total: 6]
Dire Dumpster Fire: 6 UNREAD NOTIFICATIONS
Izuku stared.
Dire Dumpster Fire: 75 UNREAD NOTIFICATIONS
“WHAT?!” He cried out, unlocking his phone. His phone continued to scream, message after message flying by without him being able to catch sight of the words.
Chicken Katsu: ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE
Jaywalking In The 70’s: Katsuki, that might not be the best method of getting him to respond.
Chicken Katsu: I SWEAR TO ALL MIGHT IF YOU DON’T ANSWER THESE MESSAGES
The Floor Is Lava: Izuku-kun, please answer!
The Scar Is NOT On The Wrong Side: Midoriya-kun, please respond.
Silence Is Mandatory: Google: how do I block a group chat?
Izuku rolled his eyes before turning his phone off, scrubbing at his face. God, how pathetic can he be, getting emotional over a simple question. Was he single or not? Yes or no? He hadn’t needed to go into such detail about his love life!
He plopped down onto his bed and curled up into a tight ball. He was out in seconds.
Izuku awoke to the sound of his front door slamming shut.
“What the…?” He popped his head up, nearly screaming as his bedroom door caved in.
“Surprise fuckwad!” Katsuki bellowed as he stormed over to the bed, Ochako, Tenya, Shouto, and Shinsou following after him in a much guiltier pace. “Answer your fucking phone!”
“K-Kacchan?!” Izuku squeaked, scrambling up as Katsuki advanced on him.. “What-what are you all doing here?”
Katsuki didn’t answer. Instead, he manhandled Izuku over his shoulder and deposited him onto the couch in the living room.
“This,” Tenya began with an awkward cough, “is an intervention.” He waved a hand over the group gathered.
“An intervention,” Izuku echoed, eyebrows knitting up in confusion. “What for?” Were they going to talk about his alcohol consumption? His obsession with All Might? Okay, he admitted, that body pillow was a bit overboard but a total steal for the price the website had been selling it for. How could he not ?
“Because you’re a fucking idiot, that’s why!” Katsuki snapped. “No one expects you to be some fucking perfect person! Get over yourself!” His voice echoed against the thin walls and Izuku just leaned back against the couch, eyes wide.
Tenya cleared his throat. “What Katsuki is trying to say, is that you shouldn’t put yourself down so badly for being human.” He ran a hand through his hair. “No one expects you to be perfect, Midoriya-kun. We watch your videos and admire you because of how you go about informing the world of Heroes, Villains, and the injustices of the Quirk community.”
Oh. It was about what he’d said earlier. He didn’t expect that.
Ochako stepped forward, dragging one of the nearby chairs with her so she could sit in front of Izuku. “Izuku-kun, I’ve been watching your videos since you came out with your first one.” She gave a soft, embarrassed laugh. “I found it randomly by chance while looking at keyboard kitty videos and I’ve never been more thankful to cats in my life.”
“Oh, mood,” Shinsou whispered to Shouto, who elbowed him in the stomach. He wheezed.
“I’ve enjoyed your videos since you began! I’ve been a fan since day one, before you were even at 100 followers.” Ochako continued. "And maybe some of us have been taking...different approaches in telling you how we feel, but that doesn't make those feelings any less real. That's why I don’t like how you’re talking as if we’re making you wear a mask to face us.” She reached out to touch his face.
“I fell in love with your videos because you were different to others. You felt real. Genuine .” Izuku tried to avert his eyes, only for Ochako’s hand to keep him facing forward. “You weren’t fake. You didn’t do things you didn’t want to do for views. You were just...yourself. You may not realize it, but you are just as amazing off the camera as you are on!”
“I’m not-” Izuku tried to start, only to clamp his mouth shut as Ochako gave him a stern look.
“You didn’t care how many subscribers you had. You never did. This was your voice, and your platform to use it on, and that’s why I admired you so much.” Shouto moved, sitting down next to Izuku. He kept a fair distance, not wanting to crowd the adult during such a emotional time.
“We are genuine in our feelings for you, Izuku-kun. We aren’t worshipping the ground you walk on or putting you on pedestal. We’ve seen the man behind the screen, Izuku-kun.”
“I mean,” Shinsou spoke up as he scratched at his cheek, “I fell for you at the rave, but I absolutely love your humor, your wit, your unending sass. I just...I don't really know how to deal with this, whether it's a crush or something deeper than that, so I make jokes out of it on the streams." He laughed quietly. "But you’re not just a pretty face with a tight ass and a suit jacket, Izuku.”
“Suit jacket?” Tenya muttered out.
“You’re a person,” Shinsou spoke over Tenya, “and also the person who holds my interest.” He awkwardly shifted his footing, looking like he wanted to throw himself out the window and parkour himself away from the apartment.
"Hitoshi-kun..."
"Yeah, I guess I never properly expressed anything to you, outside of some casual chatroom thirst." Shinsou laughed freely this time. "God, I need to work on that."
He nudged Shouto, who promptly cleared his throat.
“You already know my feelings,” he murmured, “and my answer to your request at the time. I understand now, though, that my intentions may have come off as...conflicting.” Shouto swallowed and Izuku just sighed through his nose, wondering when he’d get the chance to speak. “I will admit that at the time, my first confession was more of a knee-jerk reaction to you blowing my mind than a serious consideration.”
“Whose knee-jerk reaction is to propose?” Katsuki snorted in the background.
“Forgive me if I came off as hero-worshipping to you. I was merely in awe of your straightforwardness. As you know, my childhood wasn’t...the best.” Shouto’s eyes slid away for a moment, no doubt lost in memories. “It was completely unimaginable that someone could just tell me that my Father’s Quirk was my own. That I was the right to use it without guilt or hatred.”
Shouto exhaled.
“I’ve known you for months now,” he spoke slow, soft, trying to keep his tone soothing. “I have learned that the straightforwardness wasn’t a farce from a camera. You speak your mind and aren’t afraid to be yourself.”
“Guys-”
“Hush,” Shouto shushed and shook his head. “You’ve been honest with us since day one. I would like to do the same. My feelings for you have not diminished at all. I do not expect you to return these feelings. I am not asking you to return these feelings. I merely want you to understand that despite the stress and worry you face over potential relationships, know that my proposal is authentic.”
The group turned to Katsuki, who crossed his arms. He kept his mouth firmly shut, ignoring their expecting eyes. He didn’t know what to say. He was still on fragile glass with Izuku, the two still dancing around their boundaries. Izuku still flinched, during the moments his anxiety got the best of him, expecting a explosion to go off. Katsuki still let his anger control him, still set off those tiny little blasts in his palms and feel some sort of nostalgia at Izuku’s hunched shoulders.
It was a delicate balance they were threading. Katsuki didn’t want to ruin it, not when he was just finally building it up to the point when Izuku could bump shoulders with him or snuggle up against him without tensing or flinching away. Katsuki didn’t want to shatter that paper-thin trust he had gained with Izuku, not with feelings he still struggled to properly vocalize to himself.
So, he kept his mouth clamped shut and glared at the group until they got the hint.
“Izuku, we aren’t expecting you to date one of us. We aren’t pressuring you - we aren’t forcing you. We just want to get our feelings out of the way and hopefully soothe some of that anxiety of yours. It’s-” Ochako inhaled- “If there comes a time you’re ready to date and one of us are single, then we can date. We aren’t going to wait for you. We don’t want that.”
One of us. That was probably the first time, however indirectly, that Ochako confessed feeling something for him outside of teasing. His face flushed with color.
“I don’t want that either,” Izuku whispered, voice breaking. “I don’t want you guys waiting on me.” Tenya nodded, having been silent for most of the entire conversation. Due to their lack of relationship development, he assumed Tenya was just there to support Ochako and Shouto, as well as Izuku on a more platonic level. “I’m just...I don’t know if I can handle a relationship at the moment? Maybe? I don’t know.”
“We understand that,” Ochako comforted. She patted Izuku’s hand. “Thank you for listening to us.” Izuku nodded, leaning forward. She stiffened as Izuku bumped their foreheads together, his eyes closed.
“I’m sorry,” Izuku whispered. Shouto wrapped his arms around him, Shinsou moving to Izuku’s other side. He wrapped his arms around Izuku and Ochako, squeezing them close. Tenya nudged Katsuki forward and the two also joined in on the group hug, all of them silent.
“You are such a drama queen,” Katsuki spoke the moment they broke around, tugging on one of Izuku’s cheeks. “Always was a crybaby.”
“Kacchan! ” Izuku complained, still keeping Ochako to his chest as he pouted at the man. “Stop! I am not!”
“Yes, you are,” the others spoke out, laughing when Izuku sent them betrayed glares.
“I’m not on patrol until midnight,” Shinsou spoke as he stretched, yawning. “Might as well stay for dinner. You have ingredients for hot pot?”
“Don’t just invite yourself into his kitchen!” Tenya chided as he followed Shinsou into the kitchen, the two beginning to rummage through the cupboards. Katsuki settled down on Izuku’s free side, bumping their shoulders together.
Izuku finally let go of Ochako and leaned back, slumping into the cushions with a huff. Shouto leaned into him and Ochako, without even hesitating, sprawled herself across their laps.
“Uh.” Izuku blinked like an owl, muscles taut as Ochako made herself comfortable in Katsuki’s lap.
“She’s like a cat,” Tenya called from the kitchen. “Just let her sit where she wants.” Izuku looked to Shouto, who was rubbing at her feet as if this was a normal occurrence. Izuku glanced at Katsuki, who was beginning to nod off, his head dangerously close to Izuku’s shoulder.
“He did a double patrol that just finished this morning,” Ochako spoke up, acknowledging Izuku’s stare as she ran a hand through Katsuki’s spikes. “He’s exhausted.”
“We’re all exhausted,” Shouto argued as he hunkered down, pillowing his head against Izuku’s arm. “Wake me up when dinner is done.” Izuku pressed his lips into a thin line as gravity won, Katsuki’s head slumping against him.
“You are surprisingly okay with this?” Ochako asked as she nestled down, eyes falling half-way shut as she tried to hide a yawn. Izuku gave a lopsided smile and shook his head.
“I’m a cuddle monster, according to Toga-chan,” Izuku whispered as he heard Katsuki’s soft snores echo Shouto’s sleepy teeth grinding. “So no, not really bothered.” Ochako gave a giggle, expression serene.
“Oh, that’s just too adorable,” Shinsou spoke as he leaned against the kitchen island, looking at the four clustered together, the three heroes sleeping. “I want to take a picture but at the same time…”
“You aren’t jealous?” Tenya asked as he paused in chopping up the daikon, using his thumb to push up his glasses. “With how vocal you are over Midoriya-kun, I’d assume you’d be over there by now.” Shinsou flashed a sly smile, twirling at a curl near the back of his neck.
“I can share,” Shinsou chuckled. “I was raised properly.” Tenya raised an eyebrow at the purple haired man, shaking his head with a deep exhale as he resumed cutting the vegetable.
“He isn’t a toy, you know,” Tenya chided softly as Shinsou sliced at the meat. “If he doesn’t want to choose any of you-”
“Then we won’t pursue him. We aren’t animals, Poindexter. But if the offer of sharing pops up, I’m not saying no.” Shinsou shrugged his shoulders. “I feel like it could work.”
“On what basis?” Tenya dryly demanded. Shinsou jutted his thumb at the clumped pile of adults and Tenya stared. “That’s fair.”
Shinsou chuckled.
[This video has been labeled as mature by creator. By clicking you are 18+, you agree to the terms and services of HeroTube and the-]
[I am 18 or older]
Music began playing, an upbeat synthesizer that carried on into the opening singing voice. The video started with a clip of Izuku prancing backwards down a deserted street, laughing and swinging his arms around energetically. The clip cut to Izuku sitting at his table, sharing a meal with Ochako, Tenya, and Shouto. The video cut just after Shouto set their plate of bean sprouts on fire. The next scene was of Izuku showing off one of Eri’s fanart of him, his face alight in adoration as he pointed out the details. The clips continued to switch, pace increasing, until it stopped on a slow motion clip of Izuku giving a heart to the camera. The screen burst into stars and sparkles, a glittery font reading Deku, before it went black.
“Do not fear for I am here!” Izuku threw himself onto his chair, nearly toppling over. “What is UP , everybody! Deku here, and today, we’re gonna be doing something really different!” He made jazz hands, smile wide. “As you’ve may of noticed, I got another new intro! This song is Pied Piper by BTS and they are seriously cool so check them out! Okay, onto business.”
Izuku spun and the camera was edited to have him suddenly spinning in his living room, wobbling to steady himself as he blinked at the detached camera. “We’re going to be having a change of scenery today, my lovelies.”
Ghost-Girl: my new kink is Deku calling his lovely.
Earphone_Actress: I thought your kink was him calling you Sweetie?
An0n: This is an upgrade
Red_Riot_Death: tru
“Let’s get settled down for a nice day of reading,” Izuku spoke and moved, the camera panning to show his spacious, furnished living room. He sprawled onto his couch, stretching out as he patted a obviously fake book. “Today, we’re reading fanfiction .”
An0n: nOPE. NOPE. NOPE. I’M OUT. I’M LEAVING. SATAN SAVE ME.
Anony: If we talking fanfic, I got a discord that I can invite y’all too to discuss my extensive AUs
An0n: Nope. No thanks. NOT MY CUPPA
Guest69: But I love VolatileDeku
Explodo_Death: Volatile-what?
Ghost-Girl: Ooooh, guys, guys, let’s not get into this now! Katsuki can’t handle ships
Explodo_Death: I’m calling my fucking lawyer
Explodo_Death: Google how to erase memories
Hush Die Bi Baby: I mean, if you want me to try… I want baby pictures. Of Izuku. Bitch I know you have them.
Guest3: Heroes. Heroes reduced to thirsty humans over one vlogger. I - I can’t.
DadMight_01: Can’t what? Are you okay?
Pikachu_I_Am_You: WHOLESOME DAD BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH THE LOVE AND SUPPORT AND NO KNOWLEDGE OF MEMES OR INTERNET SLANG
Cattaser_Head: This was a mistake
Red_Riot_Death : *a kistaje
Explodo_Death: The next time you want me to come over to protect you from the demons, I’m fucking setting your goddamn house on fire.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: god I wish that were me
Iida: ????
Todoroki_S: Oh bood
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: DID SHO JUST MEME
An0n: where have you been?
“For my precious viewers who don’t know, fanfiction are works of fiction written by a fan of, and featuring characters from TV shows, movies, comics, anime...real life.” Izuku stared off into the distance for a moment. He shook his head. “Anyways, I was on Soul’s Archive and saw a lot of fics pertaining to...real life people.”
Gravity-Girl: Oh no.
An0n: Oh no.
Gimme A Hand or 2: Oh yes.
“And some of them were just so hilarious that I couldn’t not read them aloud. If you are interested in any of the fics mentioned in this video, check out the links in the description box below-” Izuku pointed enthusiastically towards the ground- “and go give the authors some love! Now, without further ado~!”
Izuku flipped over the fake book, showing off a few sheets of papers printed. “Let’s start with Midnight Sun, All Day Fun . The title was interesting, and that’s what got me curious. The pairing is Volatile and Red Riot-”
Pikachu_I_Am_You: This is why I wanted to make a public announcement about our engagement, babe.
Red_Riot_Death: Oh my god I can’t breathe.
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: is that that noise I hear? I could have sworn it was Ochako.
Todoroki_S: she’s making the same noise right now.
Explodo_Death: …
Anony: oh no
Explodo_Death: ….I….I have no words to express my rage
“Ahem. ‘ The sun had risen up like any normal day, Red Riot sprawled out in his bunny-suit onsie on his rocket-ship bed.’ ”
Red_Riot_Death: what
“ ‘Volatile Light walked into his bedroom, or more like smashed through the wall like the Kool-Aid Man minus the OOOH YEAH and said ‘RED, GET YOUR PERKY QUARTER-BOUNCE BACK BUTT OUT OF BED!’ “ Izuku wheezed, doubling over to snort. His shoulders shook, the entire couch seeming to vibrate from the force of his laughter. “ ‘Volatile - crap, I’m sorry - Volatile swag-swaggered his way over to the rocketship bed, plopping down on the nose of the bed.’ THE NOSE OF THE BED!” Izuku wheezed.
Explodo_Death: I’m fucking suing
Red_Riot_Death: babe can I
Pikachu_I_Am_You: no, we have our ninja turtle bedding already. It’d clash horribly with a rocketship frame.
Red_Riot_Death: You are totally right. This is why I’m marrying you.
Gravity-Girl: Jealous singles in the club take a shot
An0n : shot
Todoroki_S: shot
Iida: shot
Hush Die Bi Baby: shot
Explodo_Death: fucking chug that vodka bitches
Ghost_Girl: Shot
“ ‘Red Riot sat up, rubbing at his sleep-gritted eyes. ‘Babe, why are you honking so early in the morning?’ ‘Because I haven’t had breakfast yet, Red!’ Volatile honked.’ ” Izuku put the papers down, wheezing loudly as he pitched backwards into the couch. “HONKED! HE FUCKING HONKED!”
Explodo_Death: I call this libel and slander and want to sue
Red_Riot_Death: wait am I the cook for this fic? Dude, I don’t like cooking in the morning!
Pikachu_I_Am_You: YOU DON’T COOK AT ALL.
Red_Riot_Death: that’s true and i love you for cooking for me, you deserve the world
Earphone_Actress: even though Denki burns almost everything?
Red_Riot_Death: HE TRIES HIS BEST
“Guys, guys, I’m sorry, I can’t continue with this one!” Izuku cried out as he waved a hand in his face, trying to calm his hysterical giggles. “Oh my god, oh my god. Okay, okay, let’s find another fic.” Izuku tossed the papers over his shoulder, letting them rain down as he pulled his cellphone out. The video cut to him on his computer and suddenly, his desktop screen was on half the screen. “Okay, let’s have some fun.”
Blood_Of_My_Enemies: I am ready
Izuku pulled up the website, clicking on the fandom Heroes of the Academy. Instantly different options for language, pairings, tags, and the rating popped up and Izuku clicked away at his screen, setting the language to Japanese as he chose all ratings and all pairings.
“Oh, what’s this one?” Izuku stopped on a story, mouse hovering over it for the audience. “ ‘Despite being Quirkless, Deku didn’t let that stop him from entering the world of fashion. Best Jeanist was his inspiration, his reason for getting out of bed in the morning. When offered the chance to work with the Hero himself, will Deku take the chance to prove himself to the world and maybe fall in love in the process or fall to the ill fate of those opposed by the system?’ …. It’s a pairing fic with...me?” Izuku stared. “Should I click it?”
An0n: no
Ghost_Girl: yes
Guest: why
“I won’t. I’m scared. I don’t want to scare you guys too when you see this video. Here’s another one. Simple summery. Sometimes Deku wishes he were a little less observant. Shouto agrees. Oh~ It’s between the Number 2 Hero Shouto and me!” Izuku flashed a smile to the screen. “Let’s see what it’s about. A Serious Dickscussion by Berry_cat7. Oh man, they misspelled discussion, I should point that out to them.” Izuku paused. “Seriously, why does that name sound so familiar ?”
Gravity-Girl: I, uh, I think that’s intentional, Deku-kun…
Izuku clicked on the title and opened the story, humming. “Oh, it was inspired by another story! Cool, we can check out both while we’re here. Okay, okay.” Izuku cleared his throat. “ ‘Um.’ Deku’s lips seal shut the moment Shouto’s eyes return to him. “Um.” ...Oh fuck, how is he supposed to say this. Hey, this story is pretty good so far! Kinda curious as to what they’re talking about but let’s continue to read!”
Izuku shimmied in his seat, getting more comfortable. “ Shouto patiently watches him fidget and redden. ‘Uh. Uh, so about Thursday night-’ What happened Thursday night? Shouto sighs with a fond smile on his face. ‘Deku, that bed frame was old, please stop worrying about-’ BED FRAME?! WHAT BED FRAME?! DID A BED FRAME BREAK?!” Izuku’s face went bright red.
“Guys, should- should I click the inspired fic?” He looked fearfully at the link as his mouth hovered over it. “Aw, to hell with it.” Izuku clicked on the title, Shouto’s Temp Controls, by the users MomMight™ and DISCORD GROUP, and stared. Didn’t breath, didn’t blink. Just stared.
“Nope,” Izuku spoke, hitting the back button fast enough to crack his mouse clicker, “nope, nope, nope. Oh my god. Can I edit-”
The scene cut to him browsing more fics, Uravity’s name being a main pairing. “Why aren’t there any cute fics with Uravity? They either have her as a wingman or a jealous love rival who never gets any positive light. Rude.” Izuku perked up, hovering over a story. “What’s this one? Uravity was tired of not getting the spotlight. She was tired of being cast to the background like some two-bit Hero. She was going to show the world. She was going to topple the world. Featuring Villain!Uravity. What.”
Izuku’s expression was one of pure confusion. “Villain Uravity? But Uravity is a Hero. Not to mention a sweetheart. Haven’t you seen any of her interviews?! She’s sunshine incarnate!”
Gravity-Girl: aww, you <3
Iida: He isn’t wrong. I just can’t see Ochako as a Villain.
Earphone_Actress: you’ve obviously never come across Ochako at a Sephora sale
Todoroki_S: I have. I went with her once. It was quite impressive.
Explodo_Death: can confirm she goes batshit crazy at that place
Iida: @Explodo_Death oh, were you walking past or something?
Explodo_Death: sure.
“Here’s another story with my tag. It says the pairing is a surprise. Ahem.” Izuku readied himself. “ ‘It was forbidden, their love that was. Like the fire he controlled, it seared them deep like the sins of Hell weighing on their hearts. Deku had his doubts, of course he would. Can his fiery lover put him at ease?’ Is this...a ShoutoDeku fic?” Izuku looked at the camera.
Todoroki_S: Only one way to find out. Click it.
Gravity-Girl: Okay I’m intrigued. Click it.
An0n: Click it. Click it. Come on guys, let’s create a chant.
“Okay I’m clicking it.” Izuku tapped on the title. “It’s by Recipro-Kick_My-Head . Lovely username. Ahem. Ahem. ‘I’m sorry, Endeavor-san, but we can’t keep doing this,’ Deku wheezed out through his teary emotions. ’” Izuku stopped, dead eyes turning to the camera. “What."
Todoroki_S: What.
“ ‘He looked up to his fire lover, eyes glistening with regret and love and lust and betrayal.’ Damn that’s some look. ‘We need to break up.’ Well good! How fucking old is Endeavor, anyways?”
Todoroki_S: Stop this now. My eyes. My eyes.
“ ‘But Deku, I thought we had something special!’ The former #2 Hero declared from his side of the bed- THEY’RE SHARING A BED?! - where he watched Deku throw on his clothes like some dignified woman disgusted with her own lustful virtue, and wanted to hide away from the harlot names.’ Um, wow, what are we reading?”
Todoroki_S: my suicide note, stop this.
Gravity-Girl: I need bleach
Explodo_Death: I need to be blinded, deafened, and then put out of my misery.
“ ‘Deku jerked his head back, rubbing his mascara stained eyes. ‘But I can’t keep hiding this from Shouto! He’d never accept me into his life as his stepdad!’ NOPE. WE’RE DONE. NOT READING THIS ANYMORE. I AM SO SORRY WE HAD TO EXPERIENCE THIS TOGETHER.” Izuku spammed the back button until he was at the home page of his phone again. He quickly went back to the website, color pale as he redid his search again.
Iida: I can hear Shouto blasting Linkin Park from downstairs
Iida: he’s angsting now
Gravity-Girl: let him grieve
Guest3: did someone die???
Todoroki_S: my last shred of faith in humanity
An0n: oh worm?
“Okay. I need to cleanse my soul. Oh, what’s this? A UraviDeku fic?! OH BABY!” Izuku clicked the title, Space Cadet, and looked at the opening line.
“ She reminded him of the stars in the sky, twinkling brightly and freely. She had no worries to conform to how society perceived Heroes and women Heroes in general, landing herself in the Top 5 with her male coworkers. She was his pride and joy, his moon, stars, and sky of his universe. Oh my god, this is so cute!” Izuku clapped his hands excitedly. “ Uravity may have been only in the Top 5, but she was Number 1 in Deku’s heart. ”
“ Guuuuys ! This fic is so cute! Oh my god! I love me some wholesome Uravity content that involves her being worshipped for the Goddess she is! I’m going to bookmark this fic and read it later!” Izuku hummed under his breath, the mic picking up the soft tune of Odd Future.
“Well guys, that’s all the time we have today! As mentioned, be sure to check out the featured fanfics and show those authors some love! No hate please!” Izuku sent a heart to his camera, smiling cutely. “Make it a great day and continue to be awesome, my lovelies!”
An0n: t hat’s the closest we’re ever gonna get to an official fandom name
Gravity-Girl: lovelies? Hmm, maybe.
Gimme A Hand or 2: I have people working on it.
Guest69: you...have...people working on it?
Guest2: wtf
The video cut out.
Izuku took a breath, sitting back in his chair before jolting slightly at the sound of an incoming notification. But the quiet beep wasn’t that of his HeroTube page, but his phone. Arching a brow, he slipped the device from his pocket, eyes widening at the unread message flashing across the screen.
Ura-chan: I've been thinking about what you said the other day, and if you still have the tickets I sent you, I'd love to go with you. It doesn't have to be a date if you don't want to.
Ura-chan: How about it, Izuku-kun?
He smiled.
Izuku: I'd like that, Ochako-san.
.
..
...
Notes:
BUCKLE UP LOVELIES, WE ABOUT TO ENTER DEKUBOWL TERRITORY. WHAT'S THAT? YOU DON'T WANT OCHAKO IN YOUR DEKUBOWL? TOO FUCKING BAD.
Thanks for all the comments! Come join the fun in our discord! https://discord.gg/VESvZpP
Chapter 5: Main Story: Ch 5
Summary:
Explodo_Death: just my opinion, as the unspoken king of these losers, but go fuck off somewhere else
Todoroki_S: EXCUSE. Who made you King?
Explodo_Death: I was going to make a ‘your mom’ joke but…
Iida: Good control, Katsuki. If you did, I would have had to ram my foot so far down your throat you’d become my new limb.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: ...dude.
Hush Die Bi Baby: That’s hot.
Bird of a Flock: this is why I retired
Notes:
Hey, everyone! Sorry for the delay on the update, but Widdlewed and I both had some personal issues come up and needed time off to deal with them. Thank you for all the patience and support, it means the world to both of us! Some of your reviews were so incredible and lovely, we can't thank you enough. This chapter is a bit shorter than the rest, but we hope you still enjoy it! Let us know what you think!
-
Live stream username guide:
Explodo_Death - Bakugou Katsuki
Gravity-Girl - Uraraka Ochako
Iida - Iida Tenya (p easy)
Todoroki_S - Todoroki Shouta
DadMight_01 - All Might/Yagi Toshinori
Hush Die Bi Baby - Shinsou Hitoshi
Pikachu_I_Am_You - Kaminari Denki
Red_RiotDeath - Kirishima Eijirou
Pinky&_Da_Brain - Ashido Mina
Ghost_Girl - Hagakure Tooru
Earphone_Actress - Jirou Kyouka
Birb/I_Am_A_Birb - Tokoyami Fumikage
Animals - Izumi Kouta
Packing_Tape - Sero
Easy_Baked_Oven - Rikido Sato
Blood_Of_My_Enemies - Hero Killer Stain
Cattaser-Head - Eraser Head
Momo_Without_A_Peach - Yaoyorozu Momo
Gimme A Hand or 2 - Tomura Shigaraki
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand - Dabi
Its_A_Me_Mirio: - Togata Mirio
If_Im_His_Sun_He_Is_My_Moon: - Amajiki Tamaki
I’m_Twinkling: Yuga Aoyama
Bird of a Flock: Hawks
Chapter Text
“Alright, open your eyes.”
Ochako beamed in excitement, batting her newly-darkened lashes at Shouto.
He stared back at her silently, his brow furrowing in concentration. Ochako grinned at the matching stony expressions he and Tenya had while they studied Shouto’s handiwork.
After a moment Tenya nodded in satisfaction, patting Shouto on the shoulder. “It looks lovely,” He said to him before smiling softly at Ochako, “and you look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Ochako giggled, cheeks warming at the compliment. “Both of you, really.” She nudged Shouto’s shin with the toe of her shoe, “I should make you do my makeup more often. Especially before patrol.”
Shouto snorted quietly, rising from his seat. “If you woke up earlier, I’d be more than happy to.” He replied, earning an amused chuckle from Tenya, and a playful roll of the eyes from Ochako.
“He has a point.” Tenya spoke with a shrug, glancing over his shoulder to see Shouto start packing up the mess he’d made of Ochako’s supplies. There was a cluster of brushes strewn across the kitchen table, not to mention the palettes the three had debated on for a good ten minutes. “Here, Shouto, I’ll help you. Ochako, go find your jacket. You need to leave soon.”
“Yes, sir!” Ochako said with a salute.
The trio’s heads shot up at the abrupt chiming in of Katsuki’s somewhat-slurred voice shouting, “ LET’S FUCKING GO !” from a seemingly unknown location. Ochako burst into a fit of giggles as Shouto and Tenya jumped, both wide-eyed. She swiped her phone from her pocket, seeing a message from their hot-headed Hero flash across the screen.
Sparky: you’re going on your date with Izuku today, right?
“What...was... that ?” Tenya slowly questioned, seeming concerned to hear her answer.
“Katsuki’s text tone. It’s audio from our graduation party.” Ochako informed cheerfully. “Eijiro sent it to me. Remember when he and Denki started a game of Monopoly? We were all drunk.”
“I remember.” Shouto said. “That was Katsuki’s reaction when he finally managed to buy Mayfair. Or...was it when Denki landed on Mayfair after Katsuki had placed a house there?”
“No,” Tenya sighed, “that was when I landed on it after he’d put a hotel there.”
“And you were going so well…” Ochako sighed sympathetically. “I honestly thought you were going to win.”
“I’d be surprised if you even managed to remember how the game ended,” Tenya said with a laugh, “after you and Shouto went bankrupt, he started crying and you ended up on the roof .”
“I wasn’t upset that I lost, I handled it well enough.” Shouto defended, but he didn’t seem too bothered by the remark. “I was emotional because I was drunk and Hitoshi started showing me cat videos.”
“ And ,” Ochako interjected, “I have a Quirk that makes something like scaling a house easy -”
“Drunk Ochako worries me.” Tenya sighed.
“-if anything,” Ochako went on, “you should be wondering how Katsuki got up there!”
“Easy.” Shouto said. “He propelled himself with his Quirk. It was a miracle that his impact didn’t make him crash through Momo’s ceiling.”
“Weren’t you watching cat videos while this was happening?” Tenya asked with an amused smile. “How would you know?”
“...I glanced up while one was buffering.”
While the two shared a laugh, Ochako started typing a response to Katsuki’s message.
Space Cadet: Yep~! Thank you for lending me your mascara, by the way!
Space Cadet: I can’t believe I was out!
Sparky: it was yours anyway, dumbass. you left it at my place, remember?
Space Cadet: Same thing~
Sparky: half and half did your makeup, right? send me a pic so I know he didn’t fail as hard as I imagine he did
Space Cadet: have some faith in him!!!
[IMAGE SENT]
Sparky: fuck even i could’ve done your wings better than that
Space Cadet: then you can do them next time :P
Sparky: yeah whatever
Smiling to herself, she glanced up to see Tenya tugging his jacket from the armchair Shouto had taken refuge in after cleaning up. She walked over to them, nudging Tenya’s side. “You’re visiting your brother today and tomorrow, right?”
Tenya’s returning smile was radiant. “Yes. I can’t wait to see him.”
“Ask him when he’d like us to visit next.” Shouto said, glancing up at him. “We’ll work our schedules around it.”
“Speaking of schedules,” Ochako clapped her hands together, bowing toward Shouto, “thank you for switching patrol shifts with me this morning! You’re a lifesaver!”
“Now that you mention it,” Tenya murmured, shrugging on his jacket, “shouldn’t you be getting ready to leave too, Shou?”
“Yuga is on his way.” Shouto replied. “He proposed we meet here before heading out.”
“Well, I better get going!” Ochako leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to Shouto’s cheek, then straightened up to give Tenya one. She grinned at the little burst of steam that came from Shouto’s left side, and pretended not to notice the little flaring of color in Tenya’s face. “Bye, you guys!”
As she skipped out the door, both men sighed and shook their heads fondly.
Ura-chan: We still on for today??? <3
Izuku: No backing out now! I just applied eyeliner!!!
Ura-chan: Saaame. If you cancel, I’m just going on a date with Shouto :P
Izuku smiled, looking up from his phone, to do a final once-over of his appearance. He exhaled, sliding his phone into his pocket so he could smooth his clammy hands down his sweater front.
A date. He was going on an actual date. While no stranger to romantic outings (Toga wasn't as stealthy as she thought), he’d never put such thought or care into the occasion. It’d only ever been the mentality of ‘friends having fun and maybe a kiss?’, but this - this was a whole other issue.
There was a pressure for the date to be perfect. This was Uraraka Ochako - Uravity - one of his closest friends, a major cutie, and a Pro Hero to boot. He wanted this to be amazing, unforgettable. Even if it fell through and failed horribly, he still wanted to spoil her as a way to show his appreciation to her and their friendship. It was the least he could do after everything she’d done for him.
Izuku patted down his pockets, mentally checking off his list of required items - wallet, keys, phone, etc - and braced his hand on his front door knob.
Now or never, huh, Izuku?
The video started off a tad shakily, opening to a blurred shot of the main shopping district in Kamino Ward. A moment passed before Izuku managed to focus it on him and his date. Grinning in success, he raised his arm a little higher to make sure both of them were clearly in the shot, waving a little to his viewers in greeting.
“Do not fear,” He and Ochako cheerfully chorused, “for we are here!”
As Ochako dissolved into a fit of giggles, Izuku turned his attention to the camera. “What is UP , everybody! I’m Deku, back at it again with another live stream, but this time, I have a special guest!” He gestured to her with his free hand. “Say hi, Uraraka-chan!”
“Hi, everyone~!” Ochako beamed, waving excitedly. “Shouto, if you’re watching, thank you again for trading shifts with me!” She fixed her beanie in place, making sure it wasn’t messing her curls up too much, and winked at the viewers. “This is my first stream, so play nice, guys!”
Todoroki_S: Of course. I hope you’re enjoying yourself.
Hush Die Bi Baby: Wait, WHAT? One on one streams?? WHEN IS MINE?!
Explodo_Death: check the group chat, dickhead
Hush Die Bi Baby: ???
Pikachu_I_Am_You: Great to see you, Ochako! Welcome!!
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: Ooooh you look stunning! Who did your makeup? Katsuki?
Explodo_Death: DIIIIIIIIEEEEEE
Red_Riot_Death: Welcome back!!
Midorima Izuki: Welcome
Momo_Without_A_Peach: Welcome, girl~
Ghost_Girl: Welcome.
Headphone_Actress: Welcome.
Gimme A Hand or 2: Welcome, Hero.
Guest4: do you ever see the same word written so many times in a row it starts to like,,, not look like a word anymore? Oh, welcome, btw! Love your work, Gravity Girl! <3
Guest: Welcome!!
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand: Welcome.
An0n: Is this a cult?
Hush Die Bi Baby: !!!!!!!!!!!!
An0n: does that mean yes?
While Ochako was busy reading the comments scrolling across the notification bar, Izuku took the chance to steal a glance at her, feeling his cheeks grow a little warm. She looked stunning, and that was no exaggeration. With her bangs swept aside, her make-up was on full display, and on someone so naturally attractive, he felt it wasn’t fair. It only emphasised her already captivating features, which left Izuku particularly shell-shocked whenever he looked her way.
Her lashes were darker, longer than usual, giving each of her stares a sharp, piercing look. The complimenting golden eyeshadow was striking , and if Izuku wasn’t speechless every time he gazed at her, he would have asked her where she bought it. Unfortunately, he’d developed a bad habit of letting his gaze wander to her glossy, smiling mouth and oh -
She was gorgeous, and he was utterly, shamelessly distracted.
Anony: should someone tell Deku he’s gaping like a fish?
Hush Die Bi Baby: no leave him. I like seeing him with his lips parted
An0n: wooooooooooooooow
Usernames? I Don’t Know Her: wow what the fuck is wrong with you all
Todoroki_S: Multiple things.
MOMMIGHT™: I thought this was a Good Christian™ Channel
An0n: New people! Don’t worry, everything makes sense after a while
Packing_Tape: no it doesn’t.
Bird of a Flock: Just my opinion, as the new guy, but Deku would look great with some wings
Ghost_Girl: there’s an aesthetic joke missing here...
Explodo_Death: just my opinion, as the unspoken king of these losers, but go fuck off somewhere else
Todoroki_S: EXCUSE. Who made you King?
Explodo_Death: I was going to make a ‘your mom’ joke but…
Iida: Good control, Katsuki. If you did, I would have had to ram my foot so far down your throat you’d become my new limb.
Pikachu_I_Am_You: ...dude.
Hush Die Bi Baby: That’s hot.
Bird of a Flock: this is why I retired
DABIn_Them_Up_With_The_Left_Hand: ‘retired’ right lmao
Red_Riot_Death: wasn’t it because you had a very bad publicity stunt, Hawks? With that intern?
Bird of a Flock: low blows, children. Low blows.
Cattaser-Head: Why do I still watch these?
Pikachu_I_Am_You: cause you secretly wanna know how we’re doing, Dad.
Ghost_Girl: Yeah Dad!
Cattaser-Head: I don’t remember adopting you all.
DadMight_01: What about those adoption papers I found in your desk during second year?
Cattaser-Head: I know you’re joking but it still pisses me off
Ghost_Girl: Aw dad! Be nice to DadMight!
Tenya’ll: But fr tho, I want someone who looks at me like Deku looks at Uravity-san. That’s god tier love right there bruhs
Ochako flushed, catching the comments. She snuck a glance and sure enough, Izuku was staring at her like he’d never seen her before. His purple, glitter coated eyes were dark, glossy lips parted as if his breath was stolen away by her mere presence. It was unfairly complimenting, making the Hero feel more empowered than she’d felt under the gaze of someone in a long time.
As strange as it was, it reminded her of how Katsuki would look after she bested him in a spar or an argument, his eyes alight with awe at her strength and determination. It sent a tingling warmth to the pit of her stomach, validated by two of the most important people in her life.
It was endearing and downright empowering to be loved so. She knew she was attractive. She knew she turned heads and she relished in Izuku’s undivided attention.
“So, should we tell everyone about our plan for today?” Ochako asked as she linked arms with Izuku, keeping them pressed together as they pushed through the bustling sea of people.
“All Might on Ice!” Izuku cheered, all but bouncing up and down like a child. “We’re seeing All Might on Ice! I mean, it’s a musical adaptation of his biography performed by ice skaters- not that the real All Might’s just going to be skating at any random ice rink...” He began to gesture excitedly with his free hand as he spoke, Ochako smiling fondly his way as he went on, “I mean, this show has been sold out for months , and Ochako-san just walks up one day like, ‘ Hey, I have tickets, wanna come with? ’ and I’m like ‘ are you serious ’-”
“Whoa, easy there!” Ochako snorted as one of his excited motions caused his knuckles to smack against the selfie stick, almost knocking his phone from its stand. She burst into a fit of laughter as he stopped mid sentence with a surprised splutter of pain, shaking her head at his antics. “Seriously, Izuku-kun, what am I going to do with you?”
“Ow …” Izuku whined, embarrassed by her laughter. “Hey, it’s not my fault I’m passionate about my favorite Hero! It’s- It’s All Might we’re talking about here!”
“I know, I know.” She hushed. “Here, give me your hand.”
“Uh, okay. Why?” Izuku offered the hand as asked, feeling his cheeks warm as Ochako took it in one of hers, studying his reddening skin.
“Because someone has to take care of you!” Ochako insisted, winking before pressing a gentle kiss to his stinging knuckles. She smiled cheekily after looking up. “There, all better!”
Izuku stared blankly at her.
Red_Riot_Death: Deku.exe has stopped working. Try tech support!!!
Pikachu_I_Am_You: I never thought I’d see the human version of a blue screen
Tired: CAN YOU BLAME HIM?
Tired: ngl I’d D I E if Uravity kissed my hand.
Todoroki_S: B(ig m)ood
Ochako pretended he hadn’t stopped breathing, internalling punching the air in victory for her bold move. She found it so adorable, how despite his charm and his personal awareness to his own attractiveness, he was so pure in any physical contact that passed the platonic line. Despite what Hitoshi claimed of this infamous Rave Party™, Izuku didn’t seem like one who didn’t get flustered by kisses or holding hands. It made it all the more refreshing and fun to be with him, experiencing new sides of him.
“What about after the show?” Ochako asked cheekily, lacing their fingers together. He hadn’t yet pulled away, still too shocked at her action, and she took quick advantage to hold his hand hostage. His skin was calloused, scarred and rough from what they only ever seemed to acknowledge as the Villain Attack™. It was warm, radiating heat and trembling slightly. Nerves, probably. She squeezed their hands and like a switch, Izuku burst to life in a stuttering mess, steam almost visible as it wafted up from his beet-red face.
“I- uh- we- I- um... I dunno, uh - ice cream?” His voice rose an octave, eyes rapidly darting around their scenery in an effort to keep his gaze from falling upon their linked hands.
“Ice cream, it is!” Ochako cheered and the camera moved again as the two walked, zoned in on them as their shoulders bumped. “Time to change up your diet of salty soups and alcoholic beverages!” She teased, half joking, half serious.
“Why are you in my space and judging my life choices?” Izuku laughed. Ochako rolled her eyes, huffing out a giggle and shook her head.
“Izuku-kun, you literally had nothing but ramen and beer before we started shopping for you! That wasn’t healthy.” Her voice was light, even as her eyes darkened seriously at her subtle chide. Izuku’s smile softened and he bumped their shoulders again.
“I know, I know.” His lips twitched downwards for a second before he turned his attention to the phone. “I’m better now guys, I promise . This lovely angel and her friends have made sure my kitchen is well stocked.” Ochako puffed her chest out in pride, nodding resolutely.
Hush Die Bi Baby: Flames. Flames on the side of my face.
Ghost-Girl: Who are you, EnevWHORE?
Todoroki_S: I… what?
Explodo_Death: That’s Razzle Dazzle’s area of patrol. Is he even working today?
I’m_Twinkling: Oui~ :)
“Oh~! Yuga is patrolling today, isn’t he! An 8 hour shift, if I remember correctly. We can go see him, if you’d like! I know his route like the back of my hand.” Ochako offered and Izuku nearly tripped, mouth opening and closing repeatedly.
“Razzle Dazzle? As in-”
“Yes, yes, we know his stats. You made a half hour video on him just the other week, silly.” Ochako cut off with a laugh. “And yeah! He took over Kamino Ward when Katsuki transferred to his current location. Now, about that ice cream...”
I’m_Twinkling: Sparkles Ice Cream is delicious. They stopped using glitter, which is a disappointment, but the ice cream is still amazing. I recommend you try it out.
“Thanks, ‘I’m Twinkling’!” Izuku chirped and the camera jostled once more as Izuku adjusted the camera. “To Sparkles we go! Well, after the show, of course. We’ll see everyone then!”
Ochako waved goodbye to the camera on Izuku’s behalf, as one of his hands was occupied holding it, the other laced with her own. Not that he seemed to mind, though.
As they said their farewells, she felt him run a thumb over her knuckles and her smile grew even wider. Ochako had a feeling that today was going to be a good day.
[Group Chat: Dire Dumpster Fire]
Silence Is Mandatory: So, the love birds are at All Might on Ice as we speak.
The Scar Is NOT On The Wrong Side: Do they qualify as love birds on a first date?
Silence Is Mandatory: Unimportant.
The Scar Is NOT On The Wrong Side: Debatable.
Jaywalking In The 70’s: I hope Ochako is enjoying herself.
Chicken Katsu: you didn’t see the livestream? she’s having the time of her goddamn life
Silence Is Mandatory: Is someone...jealous? ;)
Chicken Katsu: fuck off. as if. Deku and I are barely friends.
Silence Is Mandatory: what if I wasn’t talking about him?
Chicken Katsu: the fuck does that mean
Silence Is Mandatory: well you and Ochako were pretty close in senior year~
Chicken Katsu: yeah, and?
Jaywalking In The 70’s: You say that as if it wasn’t a huge point of discussion for 80-90% of our class for most of that year.
Jaywalking In The 70’s: There were legitimate bets placed on what people thought of you and Ochako’s relationship… You can’t tell me you weren’t aware.
Chicken Katsu: i just ignored it
Chicken Katsu: it’s the only reason I stayed sane during that dumpster fire of a year
Silence Is Mandatory: I like to think senior year was the best out of the three.
Chicken Katsu: only you would ever say that
Silence Is Mandatory: Tough crowd. You start a minor fire in someone’s room ONE time…
Chicken Katsu: there were NO witnesses and there was NO damage BUT WE ALL SMELLED SMOKE. What did you do and HOW the fuck did you do it, you son of a bitch?! HOW?!?!
Silence Is Mandatory: That’s a secret I’ll never tell. xoxo Gossip Girl ;) ;)
Jaywalking In The 70’s: That’s it, I’m changing the Netflix password. And the Wi-Fi password. Ochako has corrupted too many of us.
Chicken Katsu: HE DOESN’T EVEN LIVE WITH YOU
The Scar Is NOT On The Wrong Side: Wait… Hitoshi is SATAN SPAWN on the account???
The Scar Is NOT On The Wrong Side: I thought that was Katsuki???
Chicken Katsu: WHAT THE FUCK GUYS
The parlour wasn’t too hard to find with various decorated signs outside displaying their specials in bright, bold colors. Fortunately, even with the rave reviews Izuku checked on the way, it wasn’t too crowded. A few couples took up booths toward the back, but Ochako pointed out another with a window seat that they could stake claim of.
“Sparkles has been one of my favorite places since Junior High. I actually had a summer job here so I could help with the entrance exam fees for U.A.” Ochako was saying as Izuku stared at the menu in awe, training his camera on the frozen treats. “They’ve been doing Hero-themed flavours for as long as I remember. It’s made them quite popular.”
“I’ve only read the names for a couple of sundaes,” Izuku breathed, “and I am in love .”
He glanced at the faux displays, one of which was a sundae made of vanilla and strawberry ice cream. The flavours were mixed together in a spiral, topped with strawberries, whipped cream, and blue sprinkles. He stifled a laugh at the card beside it, reading: Shouto Strawberry Sundae, ¥800. Apparently it was the special of the day, discounted as a result.
Ochako caught him inspecting the model, and grinned. “After getting permission and organising royalties, the store normally interviews Heroes on their favourite flavours to match both their color scheme, and preference.” She informed cheerfully. “And Shouto really loves strawberries.”
“It reminds me of his hair.” Izuku chuckled. “It’s pretty fitting.” He peered over, catching sight of another display. “ What is this? I must have it.” Izuku leaned in, looking at it. It was propped on a cone display, the cone itself dyed a dark green, patterned like a familiar pair of gauntlets. Vanilla bean swirled upwards, protruded by two black licorice sticks that were traced with a caramel drizzle. It looked oddly reminiscent of a mask he knew quite well. “...Explodo Death Dessert? This must be Kacchan’s.”
“He asked them to name it that,” Ochako snickered as she eyed the recently added treats. “They were pretty relaxed about it.” Izuku nodded, not really having the heart to tell the girl that no one in their right mind would say no to a potential money making machine.
He smiled at the incoming commentary in the comment section, and smiled up at the worker behind the counter. “Could I have a medium Explodo Death Dessert cone, please?”
Shard: I need to go there now and spend my entire paycheck and gorge myself on all of them.
Explodo_Death: are you fucking me right now
Explodo_Death: *fucking kidding me right now
Todoroki_S: Are you certain that was a typo?
Iida: I believe it was intentional.
Explodo_Death: fuck both of you
Todoroki_S: On behalf of both of us, we politely decline your invitation as of this time.
Iida: Thank you, Shouto.
Moonlight_Madness: ‘as of this time’ -insert lenny face-
A simple chocolate chip mint ice cream display caught his eye and he smiled at the name of it, finding it ironic that the name bearer would chose such a simplistic dessert to represent him.
“Aaaaand a Tsukuyomi Treat in a small cup?” Izuku requested and the worker nodded again, moving to prepare the desserts.
CawCaw I’m A Birb: I am blessed
“You’re getting two?” Ochako asked as she debated between a Froggo Frappe and a All Might Avalanche. “You must be hungry.”
“The Tsukuyomi one has chocolate chips. I love chocolate chips,” Izuku admitted with a breezy laugh. Ochako nodded as if that explained everything and ordered herself a Froggo Frappe.
“You and Asui-san are close, huh?” Izuku asked as the two got their orders and settled down into a table. Izuku positioned his phone to capture them, giving a quick cheer as he tried his icy treat. He moaned around his spoonful and shoved another into Ochako’s face. “Eat it.”
Hush Die Bi Baby: I had the strangest sense of deja vu just now for some reason.
Ochako leaned forward, giving a tentative nip to the ice cream. Her expression lit up. “Oh wow, that’s good! Wanna try this? It’s just a green tea frappe.” Ochako held her drink out and Izuku took a sip, humming around the straw.
Todoroki_S: I’m sure there’s a law against how sweet two people can be in one place.
“Tsuyu-chan and I are the best of friends,” Ochako answered finally as she nibbled at her straw. “We were close in high school and we’re still close now. She’s my closest girl friend.” Ochako’s expression was fond, her lips quirked into a smile. “She’s adorable, and she’s always been there for me.” She tapped at the decoration on the side of her cup, tracing the bright image of Froppy printed on the styrofoam. “What’s not to like about her?”
“That’s so sweet,” Izuku cooed out as he finished his first ice cream, pouncing onto the one with marshmallows feverishly like a starved animal. “I can relate. Toga-chan and I were close enough to where when she’d sleep over, we’d share a bed.” Izuku laughed at the memory.
Gimme A Hand or 2: I AM BETRAYED
“Shouto, Iida, and I do that!” Ochako blurted with a laugh. “We’ll end up falling asleep on each other on the couch or during our movie marathons! It’s so warm, leeching off someone’s body heat.”
“Kacchan and I used to end up sleeping over at each other’s houses when we were younger,” Izuku spoke, expression growing distant. “Before our friendship kinda went up in flames, I mean.” He poked at his treat with his plastic spoon, lips tugging down briefly.
“So how many makeup tutorials did you watch to master those wings?” Ochako quickly spoke up, wanting to make him smile again. “I want to see you do another makeup tutorial.”
“I mean,” Izuku laughed as he licked at his treat, “I have a few made and ready to be uploaded. I just have to go back and edit the film and adjust the effects. But it took me forever!” He slumped down comically on the table, making Ochako giggle. “I have so much respect for makeup artists.”
“Well, I hope you know how many current Heroes appreciate you now.” Ochako smiled when he looked up. “You have no idea how many times some of us got together in the U.A dorms to watch your tutorials before internships and interviews. You were a lifesaver in high school.”
“Wha-” He gaped, “ really ?!” He glanced back at his cell to see if anyone was confirming her claim.
Momo_Without_A_Peach: She’s right! You stopped a lot of pre-interview meltdowns.
Headphone_Actress: Deku’s one of the only reasons I ever got any good at eyeliner.
Momo_Without_A_Peach: and now she’s ever better than the rest of us :’ )
Headphone_Actress: aw, thanks babe.
Red_Riot_Death: EXCUSE. KATSUKI IS TOTALLY THE KING OF EYELINER FROM OUR CLASS I MEAN REMEMBER MY DATE PHOTOS??? KATSUKI TOTALLY DID MY EYELINER
Pikachu_I_Am_You: I agree
CawCaw_I_Am_a_Birb: I also agree
Explodo_Death: Shut the heck up I am not
Easy_Baked_Oven: ‘heck’???
Explodo_Death: A lot of people have been on my ass lately about my ‘language’ which is bs
Explodo_Death: god damn reporters and doctors and ‘friends’
Pinky_&_Da_Brain: BITCH WHERE?????
Red_Riot_Death: Brokoro, pls. You are the literal makeup Guru of our graduating class. Stfu and accept the praise you wet biscuit
Explodo_Death: WET BISCUIT?! COME HERE YOU FUCKING RED SCALY GECKO
An0n: is this a call back to that halloween costume party that someone shared of Red Riot dressed as a dragon and Volatile Light as his beast tamer??
Spoopy Joker: oh shit I remember that. Shouto was a fucking knight and he had a white horse he legit rented for the party
“For the record,” Uraraka spoke to the viewers after seeing the latest comment, “Tenya and I didn’t think Shouto was serious when he brought up the idea of getting an actual horse, so we might’ve encouraged it a little too much.”
Izuku smirked. “Did he at least win ‘Best Costume’?”
Ochako snickered. “If he didn’t,” She said, “there would’ve been riots .”
Inko was having a quiet day in her apartment, catching up on household chores for the moment to maintain her preferred cleanliness. She was dusting away at cobwebs that had gathered below the TV stand when her attention was stolen by sudden, rapid knocking on her front door. She paused for a moment, then rose to her feet, quietly heading to the kitchen to discard the duster on the counter in case she had guests. Usually Mitsuki or Izuku would phone ahead of time, but she was no stranger to a surprise visit or two, especially from her son and his friends.
Wiping her hands on her skirt, she started for the door. The knocking persisted, yet it had become more hesitant with the second round. It was almost as if the visitor was doubtful, wondering whether or not she was actually home. Inko had to stand on her tiptoes to peek through the peephole, and surprise overtook her expression at Katsuki’s conflicted expression greeting her, his gaze averted almost sheepishly.
Taking a breath, she opened the door, greeting him with somewhat of a tense smile. “Katsuki-kun,” she said, “what brings you here?”
Katsuki stood there, staring blankly at her as if he were a deer caught in the headlights of a speeding car. He blinked, abruptly collecting himself in order to answer.
“I...uh- I came- I came to talk to you…?” He sounded uncertain, hesitant. Inko almost smirked. She could tell by his eyes that he was most likely consulting a speech he had mentally constructed for this exact moment, one he was reviewing over and over again with each beat of silence that passed between them.
Unfortunately for him, Inko had no intention of following his script. This was her home, and her son she was certain they were about to converse about. For now, Inko was the one in charge.
“Talk?” Inko opened the door wider, wordlessly inviting Katsuki in. “About what?”
Katsuki waited until he was inside to answer, spinning on his heel to face her once he had made his way into the living room. He glanced up, and started with, “I’m here to talk about Izuku.”
“Yes, I thought you might be.” Inko gestured for him to sit down, and after a second’s hesitation, he did. “Would you like anything to drink? Tea? Coffee?”
“Uh, coffee’s fine. ...Thank you.” Katsuki scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, mentally cursing himself for acting so strange. They’d ended their last conversation on civil -if a little heated- terms. “So, uh…” He swallowed dryly, searching for something to converse about. “Has Izuku been visiting more recently? He said something about coming to see you last week, uh-”
“Katsuki-kun,” Inko cut him off with a slightly strained smile, “I’ve known you since you were a boy, and I know you’re not one for small talk. You’re here for a reason, so tell me what it is.”
Her tone wasn’t unkind, but she still seemed guarded. He didn’t blame her for that.
“Last time we spoke, you- you mentioned that Izuku had been going to therapy. To, uh, deal with me. What I did to him.” It was hard to get the words past the lump building in his throat, but he had to raise his voice so that Inko could hear him over the noise of the warming kettle. “I wanted to ask you about that. How long it’s been going on for, how-”
“Since Junior High.” Inko stayed in the kitchen, leaning against the counter as she waited for the water to boil. “He’s had weekly appointments ever since, so you could say it’s been at least six or seven years… Is there a reason you’re asking?”
She didn’t really need the clarification. It was quite clear to see that this was a topic that had been hanging over Katsuki’s head since they last spoke, or perhaps even longer. He seemed more guilt-ridden than before, even more exhausted than he’d appeared to be after their previous conversation. For a moment, Inko wondered how much he was reliving the past after Izuku had come back into his life, how many sleepless nights he’d spent pondering every single thing he’d ever done to his childhood friend.
Katsuki glanced down at his hands, staring at the mess of reddened cuticles and short, blunt nails. He’d been picking at them relentlessly on his way over, wearing them down as he climbed the stairs to Inko’s floor, dragging out the time before their conversation as much as he could.
“I… When I was a first year at UA, I… I was kidnapped by the League of Villains.” He drew in a breath, exhaling it shakily.
“I… Yes, I heard.” Inko said, because who didn’t know? The entire event had gone international, severely damaging UA’s reputation and that of the teachers’ as well. The academy’s security was brought under scrutiny and led to an increased amount of doubt surrounding the safety of the students. That had led to the dormitory system, one that Inko was glad her son hadn’t been involved with, as his regular, relatively Quirkless high school had never faced such dangers. “What about it?”
Katsuki hunched over, his elbows digging into his knees as his vision blurred. “It was...intense. I didn’t - I wasn’t prepared for something like that, or for what I saw there. I - the nightmares …” He closed his eyes and his shoulders slumped. “...Sorry. Um. I had to go to therapy for a few months after that.” He finally looked up, locking eyes with Inko. “I know how strenuous the bills can be. I’ve seen the bills my mom received. I know it wasn’t cheap, isn’t cheap.”
“That’s none of your concern.” Inko shot back, internally struggling to hold her tongue. Her cheeks were growing warm, her hands curling into fists. “It is in poor taste to discuss someone’s financial situation with them.”
“I know that you were struggling when I was a kid.” Katsuki continued on, clearly ignoring her. His eyes had started to sting. “Ever since the start. I know that’s why Izuku’s dad left, so he could get a better job overseas.” His shoulders were beginning to shake. “And I know that you took out loans so you could pay for Izuku’s sessions. I know how much debt you’re in. I’ve done the math for the rough estimate.”
Inko was momentarily at a loss of words. “That- That isn’t any of your-”
“Yes, it is !” His voice bounced off the walls and sounded scratchy to his burning ears. “I ruined this family! This - all of this-” he gestured around the small, cramped apartment- “is all on me, so yes , of course it’s my fucking business! I was stupid and jealous and fucking awful to your son.” He paused to inhale a sharp, shuddering breath. “And you - you had to pick up the pieces because you love him. Of course you do, it’s Izuku. It’s- it’s Izuku .”
“Of course I do.” Inko echoed softly, still taken aback by the sudden burst of emotion from the boy she’d thought of as nothing but heartless for so many years. “Yes, you’re right. Of course I do. He’s- he’s my little boy. There isn’t anything on this Earth that could change that. But you-”
She trailed off at the sight of his face just... crumbling .
His eyes were drowned out, their usual spark of life smoked out by the tears he tried to hide. It hit her, seeing them run down his cheeks, that in all her years of knowing the boy, she’d never seen him cry. In all the years of carrying him and Izuku home, bruised and sore from rough housing, the young man before her had never even given a whimper in her presence.
It felt wrong, seeing his lower lip tremble. It was almost unreal to watch him seem to curl into himself like a man broken under the weight of the world. This was not the monster from her memories, not the cause of all her baby’s hurt - this was nothing but a lost child trying to swim ashore a ocean created by his own mistakes. And these tears were for her little boy. For Izuku, who she thought Katsuki would never show a shred of remorse for. Izuku, who she believed Katsuki would continue to torment if she allowed him anywhere near her son.
Inko was rendered speechless as he sank to his knees, pressing his forehead to the floorboards in the deepest motion of respect anyone had ever shown her. “I know you can’t forgive me, and I’ll never forgive myself.” He choked out, hands curling into fists with a white-knuckled intensity. “But I’ve been saving money up for years and I make so much more than I need on my Hero salary.”
It was difficult to hear him choke back sobs, to watch tears slowly puddle on the space beneath his face. Inko couldn’t help but blink back her own as she kneeled in front of him, hands hovering hesitantly above his head.
“Let me pay.” Katsuki sniffled. “For the sessions, for whatever you have left on your loans. Please, Inko-san. Please.”
“Oh, Katsuki-kun,” Inko slowly rested a hand on his head, running her fingers through his hair as he quietly trembled. She hated the way he flinched under her touch, as if he expected her to harm him. Maybe he thought that was what he deserved from her, and the mere thought made her heart ache.
“I can’t take back what I did.” Katsuki cried. “A-And I’m trying to come to terms with that.” He lifted his head and met her gaze. “But I want to do what I can. For Izuku and you.”
“...Then that’s a start.” Inko gave him a watery smile, touching a hand to his cheek. “You’ve wanted to make amends for years, haven’t you? And I...I never thought you would, but...”
She cut herself off, slowly pulling him against her chest. Katsuki froze, but the tension seemed to vanish from his muscles as Inko closed her arms around him. Then, the dam finally broke, and Katsuki was weeping into her chest, gripping onto the fabric of her shirt as he wailed like a child. And Inko shushed him in the way a mother would, with a gentleness he didn’t deserve from her.
Inko carded her fingers through his hair in the way she’d comfort Izuku, and it almost felt like she was making up for lost time. As if Katsuki had become that small boy Izuku would cheerfully bring home each day. As if Katsuki was the second son she’d once seen him as all over again.
Somewhere behind her, the kettle let out a soft beep, signalling that the hot water was ready. She made no move to release him, though, knowing that they still had so much to discuss, so much time left between them.
18 years worth of time to make up for. Maybe this was a good place to start.
“...and that’s how I spent the festival wearing a skirt,” Izuku laughed out. “Never trust your shape-shifting friends, okay? They’re out for your blood and your humiliation.” Izuku stared directly at the camera as he chomped down on his plastic spoon viciously. “This is seriously really good, though! If you guys ever want a good date place, come here!”
In the background, the employees made distressed whines at the idea of more customers.
“So.” Izuku leaned forward against the table, expression almost eerily serious, “If you hadn’t become a Hero, what would be your second career choice?”
“What?” Ochako nearly dropped her drink, blinking at the weird expression and question. “My second career choice? I-I don’t know.” Ochako leaned back in her seat, face scrunching up quizzically.
“You had to have had something,” Izuku argued, smiling teasingly at her. “I mean, have you always wanted to be a Hero since you were a child?” Ochako considered the question, humming as she thought.
Her cheeks heated up a little as she thought back. “I - when I was younger, I wanted to have a career that made money to help out my parents. I’d found out about the Prime Minister and thought, ‘ Hey, she probably makes a butt-load! That’s what I wanna do !’. And then I never did anything and eventually found out about Heroes and their salaries.” Ochako laughed loudly, hiding her face.
“That’s fair,” Izuku snorted and smiled. “When I was younger, I wanted to be a giant robot.” Ochako snorted, nearly spraying the table with her drink.
“A-A giant robot?” She choked out in a laugh. Izuku nodded, unashamed of his admission.
“They’re super cool. Like Gundams.”
Ochako smacked the table, cackling loudly, and he smiled at the sound of her laughter.
The rest of their time went back easily enough, the conversations smooth and not stilted. Before they knew it, the ice cream parlor was close to closing hours, and both were surprised at how quickly the time had gone by.
Izuku held the door open for Ochako and they left the shop hand-in-hand. Ochako pressed up close to his side, letting her visible breath wisp away into the night air.
“I’ll walk you to the station?” Izuku asked and Ochako nodded, smiling to herself as he leaned into her. It was comfortable, not at all awkward like she’d expected. It was if she was with Katsuki or Shouto, she felt completely at ease.
The walk to the station was shorter than she wanted it to be, and she was almost dreading the train as she saw it slowly approaching the platform. Her stomach flipped anxiously, and the hand that wasn’t in Izuku’s was balled into a trembling fist.
“I-” Izuku swallowed, clearing his throat as her ride arrived, “I had a really great time.”
“Me too.” Ochako smiled, her cheeks flushed. She squeezed his hand. “Thank you for today.”
An announcement sounded, signalling that the doors would close in a few moments.
“It was my pleasure.” Izuku assured, running his thumb over her knuckles. “So, I- I’ll call you? Or you’ll call me? I’d love to do this again sometime.” Izuku seemed sad to see her go, but she had an idea to make him smile again. Something to finish the date off on a higher note than before.
“I would, too.” Ochako smiled, let go of his hand, and cupped his cheeks. In the same heartbeat, she was on her tiptoes, pressing her lips to Izuku’s.
He froze, startled, but he felt her smile into the kiss and returned it, eyes fluttering closed. He barely rested his hands on her waist before she pulled away with a smile and a wink, slipping into the crowd of commuters. He could only stare, smiling like an idiot, as Ochako disappeared into the mass of people, the door sliding shut behind her.
Then, the train was gone, and his lips were warm, lingering with the taste of green tea.
“I’m home!” Ochako called, padding into the living room. She saw Tenya and Shouto curled up on the couch and didn’t hesitate to charge at them. She threw herself into the air, waiting until the last moment to make herself weightless. She plopped down on them like a feather, sprawled on their laps, waiting until both men turned their heads in her direction to smile, “Hi.”
“Welcome home.” Tenya spoke, flipping another page of his book as he huddled closer to Shouto’s warm left side. “How was your date?” Then, he paused, glancing back at his other roommate. He arched a brow, setting his book down so he could reach toward her and cup her cheek. His eyes went wide, and he retracted his hand with a hiss, “You’re freezing , Ochako!” His eyes darted over her figure. “Where’s your jacket? Why weren’t you wearing a jacket? Shouto-”
“I know.” Shouto raised his hand, brushing a few stray strands of hair back from her face, heat flaring at his palm once he settled it against her cheek. His eyes met hers as Tenya detached himself from him, Shouto frowning a little. “You’re cold.” He said, just as Tenya chimed in from the kitchen, “I’m making you a hot chocolate!”
“My date was amazing, thank you.” Ochako gushed, giggling as Todoroki lifted her, setting her to lean against his left side instead for the extra warmth. “Izuku-kun is such a gentleman!” She started pulling at her braid, undoing it so that her hair would fall across her shoulders in waves. “I’m taking you two back to that ice cream place once we all have the same day off, okay?”
“Okay.” Shouto agreed, his brow furrowing as Ochako gave a soft, short sneeze, reminiscent of a kitten’s. She grinned sheepishly at Tenya’s responding sigh as it sounded from the kitchen.
“You wanted to try out the ramen I had yesterday, though, didn’t you?” Ochako asked Shouto, who nodded, replying, “Yes, it looked delicious. I should have listened to your recommendation.”
“It did look like a hearty quantity for the price you paid.” Tenya’s voice carried from his place at the counter. “The side dishes looked fresh as well.”
Quietly, to Shouto, Ochako punctuated Tenya’s statement with short chopping motions, earning a soft, amused snort from Shouto. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head when she huddled a little closer to him.
“I am curious about the barbecue restaurant we saw next door…” Tenya continued, Ochako dropping her hands into her lap with his reappearance. “Did you happen to get the name of it? It looked interesting. We may have to try there as well.”
“I have patrol in that neighbourhood tomorrow.” Shouto remarked, distractedly playing with a few of Ochako’s styled curls as Tenya set a mug of steaming hot chocolate in her hands, and a bag of marshmallows in her lap. “I’ll check the trading hours.”
“Thank you.” Ochako and Tenya chorused, the former smiling and blowing at her drink, the latter taking his place of Shouto’s free side. He carefully lifted Ochako’s legs so she wouldn’t spill her beverage, setting her feet in his lap. Then, he tilted his head thoughtfully. “So, we’re confirmed?”
“It’s a date!” Ochako beamed, popping a marshmallow into her mouth.
“Sure.” Shouto agreed, smiling a little as Ochako snuggled a little closer to him, responding by putting his arm around her. “That’s fine by me.” A pause. “Wait, are we having ramen or meat?”
“Meat.” Tenya voiced. “Protein trumps sodium.” He rubbed Ochako’s feet and she giggled, wiggling. “A healthy diet-”
“Consists of protein, starch, dairy, etc .” Ochako and Shouto recited without pause, used to hearing their Meal Planner™ tell them so every single day. Tenya nodded, satisfied, and smiled as Shouto passed his book back.
Ochako slurped on her hot chocolate, content with herself as Shouto ran his hand through her hair, effectively flattening her curls out. Tenya rested the spine of his book between Ochako’s legs, using them as a holder as he settled to continue reading.
“I think we should paint your nails,” Ochako suddenly spoke, downing the last of her hot chocolate. She leaned over, placing it on the coffee table. Shouto’s eyes followed her movements as she ran her thumb over his fingernails. “Izuku-kun had his painted a clear sparkle coat today. It looked pretty.”
“You think?” Tenya spoke as he looked up from his pages. “Hm.” He eyed Shouto critically. “I believe a nice clear coat or black.”
“Black’s boring,” Shouto mumbled as Ochako interlaced their fingers together, nestling back into the cushions. “I want blue, or green.”
“Like Izuku-kun’s eyes?” Ochako teased and Shouto smirked, nodding amusedly at the idea just for her benefit.
Tenya watched them converse about Ochako’s date for a moment, taking note of how snugly the three of them seemed to fit together. To him, Shouto and Ochako were like puzzle pieces he’d spent a lifetime trying to find. Precious, final parts he needed to be complete.
It was why he regarded Izuku with a measure of caution. He’d only met him a handful of times, and only watched a few videos Ochako had showed him. He understood the appeal of the man at surface value- Izuku was funny, kind, and he was clearly remarkably intelligent. But he also seemed to have a troubled past with Katsuki, as well as obvious self-destructive tendencies.
Regardless, Tenya was grateful for the positive impact Izuku seemed to have had on Ochako and Shouto, - Shouto especially - but that didn’t cease his worries. Perhaps it was his protective side coming out, but he needed to know more about him to make sure he’d be a right match for either of them. Or both of them. Tenya didn’t know the man’s relationship preferences.
As he made a mental note to contact Izuku later that evening, Tenya was lost with the sound of Ochako and Shouto’s sudden burst of joint laughter over something Ochako had said. They were some of his favourite people in the world, placed upon the same pedestal as his brother, whom he adored more than anything. He didn’t want to lose them, or the closeness he had with them, but if being with Izuku made them happy, he’d have to support them.
“Tenya?” He glanced up at Ochako’s curious expression at the sound of his name. “You zoned out! What were you thinking about?”
He smiled at the sight of Ochako leaning comfortably against Shouto’s chest, his chest warm at the feeling of Shouto wrapping an arm more snugly around his shoulders.
And support them, I will.
“You two are dorks.” Tenya replied. He flipped another page of his book and Shouto’s lips quirked. He reached over, snatching the book from Tenya’s hands.
“You didn’t even read that page,” he commented and Tenya slumped against him with a huff. “Also, you adore us.”
“Hush.” Shouto rested his head against Tenya’s and increased the steady temperature of his left side. Ochako nestled down under her own head was tucked against Shouto’s collarbone and sighed contentedly.
Tenya waited for them both to get comfortable, their eyes fluttering shut, and then took out his phone. Maybe, if he spent more time with Izuku in person, it would put all his worries to rest.
It was worth a shot, wasn’t it?
Izuku was walking down the street towards his apartment when his phone buzzed. He blinked, unlocking the screen to see a message notification from Tenya. Opening it, he nearly tripped over his feet.
Iida Tenya: I do not mean to impose, especially so late at night, but I was curious as to whether you had any plans tomorrow? I’m going to be visiting my older brother and thought you’d like to meet him.
Meet Tenya’s older brother? Older brother? As in -
Izuku clamped a hand over his mouth to muffle his excited shriek. Did he seriously just get invited to meet the original Ingenium? Somebody blast him through a wall - he had to be dreaming.
Midoriya Izuku: Um??? Yes??????!!!! TEXT ME THE TIME AND PLACE I WILL BE THERE!
Smooth, Izuku, he thought distantly, but he was still way too excited to be properly embarrassed, already breaking into a run to sprint the rest of the way home. Real smooth.
He had so many questions to ask, to write, to prep for.
This was turning out to be a fantastic week.
.
..
...
Chapter 6: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Chapter by widdlewed
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Hey everyone! Long time no see. It's been a while since an update and while we know you were all hoping for a new chapter, sadly this isn't it. After much discussion and working around both our schedules, we've decided to rewrite Stream's Live. We will keep the original document up, but will no longer be updating this story. Instead, we will be updating the second part of this series, RE: Stream's Live. Please follow that story for new updates.
Thank you all for the endless support! We hope you continue to follow and enjoy this story!
Notes:
https://discord.gg/x8yzHVY
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