Chapter Text
The door slammed open, causing Izuku to gasp and drop the journal that he had been reading on the floor.
"Quick! Turn on the television," Ochaco demanded. She swung the door shut and dropped her belongings on the floor. Ochaco raced over to him, practically bouncing as she landed on the couch. Izuku side-eyed his girlfriend with worry, but grabbed the remote as she asked.
As the TV turned on, he asked, "What's wrong? Why are you home from work so early?" It was his day off. He had planned to go out, but the comfort of the couch and the craving to just update his journals had been strong. It had been forever since he had given them a moment. Now he was staring at his out-of-breath, pink-faced girlfriend in shock.
"Look!" She gestured to the television for him to see a countdown on the screen. There were 48 minutes and 29 seconds left, but left to what? It was odd. He changed the channel and saw the same thing: The time was counting down. After a few moments, the screen flickered to the infinity sign, then flickered again, and the countdown resumed.
He glanced over to his girlfriend, looking for answers. He was trying not to freak out. "Errr... Ochaco... what is happening?"
She sighed, glaring at the notebook he had been reading. "I've been calling you for hours."
Izuku picked up his phone to see not only a bunch of missed calls but also texts. Scrolling through the texts, he saw that more than Ochaco had been trying to contact him. "I was busy," he grimaced, "and muted it." He had actually heard the first two calls, but he would never admit that to her. He had figured it couldn't be that important and that she'd tell him later. Guilt burned. He loved her. He truly did, but since moving in together, he felt overwhelmed and just wanted... time to himself.
She huffed and gave him a sad smile. Lying back on the couch a bit, she pushed her bangs out of her face and gave a small laugh, "You would have loved it. A couple of hours ago, a duo of villains took over the airwaves across the world."
His eyes went wide, "The entire world?"
"Yup. They said they have a special message. That by tomorrow, everything we know will be different."
"Different! How?"
"I don't know. No one does."
He jumped up. "Why are you here? Why are we here? We need to stop this!"
She grabbed him, dragging him back down, and leaning over his body to keep him still. "How? No one knows where the message is coming from. Besides, the duo said we'd all be better off in our homes."
"Why are we just listening to them?" he sputtered, "That can't be safe."
"I thought it best we were together. At home. Once we can help, we will."
At first, Izuku's mind rebelled, but as he glanced at the door, there was a whisper that Ochoca was correct. He grudgingly let it go and asked, "What are people saying?"
She pursed her lips. "I'm sure someone is out there trying, but...they could be anywhere," she said with a shrug. "Work said it was important we head home. All hands on deck for whatever tomorrow brings. It was rough out there. Everyone else had the same idea. I'm shocked that you didn't hear the racket."
He kinda had. He noted that the traffic was particularly noisy today, but hadn't really given it much thought. He just wanted a day of peace, and this happens. "It feels wrong that we aren't helping."
"People are anxious, but not panicked. Everyone is just focused on getting home."
It didn't make sense. Heroes should be getting ready, not whatever this was. Gnawing at his lip, Izuku glanced over at his girlfriend. His heart went into his throat at the sight. He had never seen her so worried. He grabbed her hand. "And the countdown?" He glanced at the television before looking back at her. There were 42 minutes and 3 seconds left.
"The villains are going to make a speech."
His eyes snapped back to the television. Those numbers now held meaning, and whatever was at the end of them wasn't good.
After a few minutes, the infinity sign felt like a taunt. 40 minutes left? It would feel like an eternity for them to be over. To kill time, Izuku pulled the earlier video up online and watched it on loop. Two figures sat in darkness. He couldn't make out any details, but from the sound of their voices, one was male and the other female. Ochaco had summed up their message well, but had left out how excessive they were. His anxiety-filled mind tried to think over the possibilities of what was about to take place and came up with nothing. Ochaco spent her time texting with her parents and sharing her thoughts on what was happening with them.
It was only when 10 minutes remained that he noticed a change. The infinity symbol was now being overlaid with a heart. That made sense, but it didn't. Izuku wondered if this was some elaborate marriage proposal that two villains were going to make the world watch. Ochaco laughed with enjoyment at the idea when he told her.
Five minutes... 1 minute, 10 seconds. Izuku held Ochaco closer as the countdown disappeared, and at last the villain duo appeared.
"Have you missed us?" The petite purple-haired woman on the screen gave a beaming smile, then quickly glanced at her partner. He was a golden-haired man with even more golden skin. He looked back fondly and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sure you have all been so eager to hear from us again. First off, I believe introductions are in order. You may all call me Affinity, and this, this is Infinity. Try not to get us confused."
Izuku could particularly see a flood of researchers, desperately trying to figure out who these villains were by their pseudonyms. His gut told him it might be too late.
A moment passed, then another, and the all too bright smile faded, leaving a serious expression on the woman's face. Izuku noted that her eyes were constantly changing colors: Red, pink, black, yellow, green, a rainbow of colors. They were beautiful yet filled with sadness. She cleared her throat. "We may have scared you, but it is my opinion that this world should be scared."
Affinity's frown deepened, and she clenched her eyes shut as she shook her head. It was like she was overcome with... grief. "It's sad, you see. We have all been blessed with quirks, amazing quirks. We all have become so powerful, yet we fail to acknowledge the most important thing in our lives. Something else that we have all been blessed with, our soulmates."
"What!" both Izuku and Ochaco exclaimed, looking at the other in disbelief. This had to be a joke.
Affinity went on, "My quirk has always been a bit of a curse. I look at the world and see connections. I see people's affinities. All of them, in all their shades. It's beautiful!... And ugly. I see your friendships and your loves. The most precious things this world has to offer. I also see your lies. I see the lover whose heart cheats and the friend who is not a true friend. I see the darkness of your hate. You'd think that would be the worst thing I could see, but oh no... it isn't. The worst, you see, are the soul mates. Did you even know that we have one? No, of course you didn't. You're all so blind. I found mine, you see. He's perfect. He has an amazing quirk, but we will get to that." The man put up a finger to his lips and made a shushing noise. She gave a shaky laugh.
"It makes me angry. You're all fools. I see it every day. You walk next to them. You talk to them! They are right there and you do nothing!" she spat. "How? How do you not realize? Why have we been given such a gift for it to be just wasted! You make excuses, and you always pick wrong. It breaks my heart. It crushes me!" As tears ran down her face, Izuku felt horribly scolded.
Infinity leaned forward, speaking at last. His voice was a deep rumble. "So I decided to do something about it. My quirk? Potential. The ability to change reality around me in small ways... until now. Until I met her. You could say she was my awakening." They looked at one another with adoration.
"Our bond makes everything better," she grinned.
He gestured his hands out before him. "You are all seeing my work now. That little nug to stay or scurry home that you all felt?" He gave a moment for the question to settle. "Me. The fact that every person on this earth understands what we're saying?" He tilted his head. "Also me. Have you asked yourself how? No? Well, let me tell you. It's simple. It's the reality I choose."
A chill ran through his body as Izuku gasped out in horror. "No, no, no, no, no, no. This is bad. Very bad."
"Some of you may hate us," the woman went on, "but what is going to happen is for your own good."
"It may hurt at first," the man admitted. "Change always stings."
"But in the long run, it will be worth it. We promise. Besides, my Infinity will go easy on you. Won't you, my heart?"
"After the whirlwind of change, they will float down to an accepting world. We've spent our days making grand plans on how to make you all see. On what we wanted this world to be. The potential is endless," he leered condescendingly. "I like to think of this as my big moment, and I want to get it right. I don't intend to do it again. I'm not a villain. I just want to make her happy, and this, this will make her happy."
"It will," she assured.
"You all," he waved his hand about, "just knowing your soulmates is boring."
Her eyes narrowed. "They'd just ignore it. They always do."
"Not this time. This time, it will be part of them. Instinct, you could say. That need for your other half. That tug. Anything other than embracing it will be unimaginable."
Affinity gasped with her hands in front of her in a joyful expression. "From this day, bound just as fate intended."
"Right, so the question is..." The man tapped his chin, appearing as if he was thinking, and began tilting his head this way and that as he spoke to the air. "How about... no. A world where... Hmmm, no, I couldn't possibly. How about... hmmm." It was an act. Izuku could tell with the shift in mood that they were putting on a show. The gleam in their eyes spoke of a plan, one they were practically feral to bring into being. "It needs romance, flair, and a dash of sex."
"More than a dash," she giggled, and he hummed in agreement. "Maybe if they didn't repress their feelings and desires, they would have gotten things right."
He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "That is all in the past, my dear, and the future is ours to create."
"Connections so undeniable will need something special. They must be celebrated."
"And displayed. A deep acknowledgment of bonds that will make them shake and tremble. Let's bring them to their knees," he agreed.
"I know, I know. So wicked!" she exclaimed, bouncing up and down in her chair. Dramatically, she leaned over to whisper in his ear.
He gasped in fake shock and tapped her nose. "My dear, you are all that is lovely in this world!" Eyebrow raised, he smirked at the camera. "Most of us have those urges. Those secrets that you can barely whisper in the dark. Why be ashamed? Let's bring it all to light."
"It's about balance and trust. I never knew such a connection was possible until I met him."
"You see, my love and I enjoy a certain dynamic. It is quite natural for us, and it will soon be natural for you as well." He looked back at her, and she nodded. "Kneel!" The purple-haired woman slipped from her chair and dropped to her knees, bowing her head. Infinity tipped her head up, smiled, and laid a tender kiss upon the woman's forehead. "Good girl."
"I love you, Master."
"And I you; my heart, my soul, my beautiful submissive."
"Oh!" Ochaco breathed, squirming in her seat.
Oh indeed. Izuku could not blame her. His own heart pounded as both shock and warmth spread throughout his body. Still, his mind raced. Surely they didn't mean to make everyone... No, that was ridiculous. They couldn’t- What else could they be planning?
Affinity looked back at the camera. "See, I told you. He's perfect and he's mine." She leaned against his thigh, and the man ran his hand through her hair.
"Close your eyes."
Izuku felt his body begin to relax. The man's voice was like waves crashing along the shore.
"As the sun fades, so will your old life. Once again, sorry for the pain, but in the pain, pleasure will be found."
Izuku was floating, unknown words mumbling from his lips.
"You will wake up and see!," a bright voice said. "You will finally see what I see! Look before you! Your soulmate waits!"
Peace. Warmth. Joy.
"And my love will no longer be sad."
"A world where our fantasies are reality."
"That's one way to put it, my naughty, lovely girl!" he laughed. "Enjoy!"
"And goodnight."
The screen cut out, and suddenly, Izuku felt so heavy as exhaustion came over him.
"Izuku?"
He tried to respond, but his lip just trembled.
"Izuku, I don't feel right. I feel like I'm about to pass out."
"Me- me- me too," he said, struggling to get up and failing. "Let's... Let's go to sleep."
"But it is so early," she yawned.
"Nap, just a nap." He blinked, looking around him in confusion. "We need to find the bed."
"That's too hard. Let's just sleep here." She slipped to the floor, laying her head back against the couch.
Not knowing what else to do, he joined her. The words he was about to speak were lost as sleep overcame him.
Hours passed, and as the world woke up, everything was different.
---
Izuku stirred. He was curled up on the floor. He felt strange, heavy, and vulnerable... so vulnerable. As he peeked up through his green curls, ice ran through his veins. He saw her. Across the way. She was wrong... all wrong. Tears came to his eyes as he squeezed them shut, not wanting to see.
He knew they weren't made for one another. He knew there was someone else. Someone far more fitting. His soulmate. He sensed them. Him. It was a him. He scrunched his nose in annoyance because that was definitely a part of him that he had long ignored. It seemed stupid now to ignore such a basic part of himself, but he had. Stupid Deku. Why had he done that?
He needed to find him. That was so important. Things would be better once he did. Things would-
"Izuku." Someone was shaking him. He grumbled, irritated by the disturbance. "Izuku! Wake up."
He reluctantly opened his eyes and glared up at the voice. "I'm busy."
"Busy? Izuku, here, let me help you up."
He yanked away from her touch. "Go away."
"Hey, it's okay," she said softly. "Let's just give it a moment, and then you can stand up on your own."
He lay there a minute. He could feel the woman's eyes on him, waiting. They were like ice stabbing him. He wanted it to stop, so he dragged himself up. He stood there, unsteady, before wrapping his arms around himself. Feeling a bit better, he looked up. "Ochaco?"
"Yeah, it's me."
He glanced around, feeling lost.
She let out a deep exhale. "I don't know what to say."
"Me either, he mummbled.
"What do we do?"
He laughed bitterly, "Break up?"
"Obviously." I care for you, but..."
"I know. I feel it too." He shook his head in disbelief, "I spent years longing for you." He started crying again as a chill ran through him yet again.
She nodded with understanding."You'll always be my first."
"That feels weird now."
"But it's still true." She paused, lifting her hand to her heart. "I feel him. My soulmate."
Izuku paused and closed his eyes before echoing the movement. "I do too." He just wanted to stay here forever, lost in the feeling of them.
"And I know him, but I can't grasp who he is."
Izuku tried to focus. "Yeah... It's like an image flickering in the back of my mind. I see it, but I can't quite process who he is."
She gave a little laugh, "Ah... and... and I'm a Dom." Izuku's eyes flew open. Her cheeks were pink, but she was puffed up with pride, "I never knew I had that in me."
"Me either," he chuckled awkwardly. "I mean, you... not me. I'm... definitely not a Dom." Just how did he knew that fact he didn't know. He just did.
She tilted her head. "We never even came close to that in the bedroom. I wonder-"
He shivered. "Let's not talk about it."
"Does it really bother you?" When he didn't answer, she added, "That we were together?"
"Maybe? It just feels..." like it was never meant to be.
"It doesn't bother me in the slightest. I wonder why?"
"I don't know. It just feels wrong." Cold.
"That hurts a little. We were together for years."
"Sorry! I'm annoyed they did this to us. It's not fair."
She sighed, "I'm not. Izuku, I care about you. I do, but even before, there were issues."
He knew it, but still... "I was trying."
"We both were, but- but fantasy and reality were not the same. I was struggling with that."
"Same." He cringed as his voice cracked.
"I know."
There was pity in her eyes, and it made him feel so miserable and empty. This was the most honest they had been in years. He wasn't great with relationships, but even he had seen the warning signs. He just smiled and pretended that he didn't. That was the problem, though. Ochaco had done the same. Why hadn't he ever realized that?
Clasping onto the couch, he curled up on himself. Biting his thumbnail, his mind flooded with all the doubts and issues he had suppressed for the last few years. He had gotten everything he wanted, everything, but it hadn't been quite what he expected. Trying to be a symbol was exhausting. Attempting to be the perfect boyfriend was exhausting. Trying to be there for all his friends was exhausting. Making time for his mother... exhausting. Winning the war didn't make things easier. Sometimes, there was so much pressure he thought he'd be crushed.
"Izuku," Ochaco grabbed his arm, knowing he was spiraling. He nodded that he heard her and pulled his arm away, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Sorry," he smiled.
She gave him a firm nod, walked across the room, and grabbed her bag. Pulling her phone out, she stared down at him. "I need to check in on my parents. Will you be okay?
"Yeah."
"I'm scared," she admitted, her hand shaking a bit. He was too, but- Oh... Izuku's heart dropped. Oh god, her parents. Were they soulmates? The implications of just how many lives had been torn apart dawned on him. Jumping up, he gave her a tight hug. "It will be okay."
"Will it? I'm not so sure." She sighed, "I need some time alone. Please, don't come in. Please," she pleaded, walking into their bedroom.
Izuku thought about checking his own phone as well, but he wasn't ready for that yet. Besides, he was certain his own parents weren't soulmates. He'd laugh if they were. Wanting to break the silence, he settled on turning the television on. The local stations were still off air, so he turned on international news. The headline read: 'Reality Changed! Events break out across the globe.'
Izuku shuttered. That man's power was truly terrifying.
He was a minute into the current news story when he heard sobbing from the bedroom. He curled in on himself a little tighter, resisting the urge to check on Ochaco. Infinity had promised pain, and it seemed people were getting it.
People were waking up slowly across the globe to find their relationships in tatters. There was confusion and heartbreak, but there was also hope. The reporter currently on was sharing their own experience upon waking up. She was certain of having a soulmate, but knew she hadn't met them yet. She hoped that this broadcast might help in the search.
Izuku settled into the feeling of his own soulmate again. They were.... they were. They had blue eyes? No, wait... that was wrong. Definitely, dark eyes... Right? He huffed in frustration. If they wanted them to know who their soulmates were, why not give a name?
The bedroom door swung open, and Izuku bolted up. Ochaco looked awful. She trembled slightly, and her face was streaked with tears. "Why?" she sobbed.
Izuku could see that the pain of their breakup was nothing compared to the end of her parents' relationship. He couldn't blame her. Striding over, he wrapped Ochaco into another fierce hug, ignoring the sharp, icy stabbing sensation running down his spine.
----
Ochaco had gone to see her parents, and Izuku prepared himself to call his own mother. His finger was hovering over the 'send call' button when his phone lit up and a call from her came in.
"Hi, Mom."
"Izuku, baby, are you okay?" She sounded scared, and Izuku felt a lump in his throat.
"I'm fine, Mom. I swear."
"Oh, thank goodness," she breathed, before her voice sharpened. "Didn't you know I was worried? I've been calling you. Why haven't you called back?"
"You know why," he grumbled.
"I was worried sick over you and Ochaco. I can't believe this is happening. Why can't people just leave others alone?" Her torrent of words kept coming. It was clear she was misunderstanding what he meant by 'fine'.
"Mom, I need to tell you something. Mom!"
She went quiet before asking, "What is it, sweetheart?"
Izuku clenched his fist, willing himself to just say it. "Things between me and Ochaco are obviously over." He gritted his teeth and waited.
"You just told me that you were fine!"
"I am, I guess, but- What about you? Do you have a soulmate?"
His optimism at the thought died as he heard her sniffles. "I had hoped that you and Ochaco- I'm so sorry, sweetheart, but they say we all have a soulmate. Whoever she is, I know that you'll love her. I will too. You'll find her. I know you will."
"Thanks, Mom," he mumbled. "It's okay. I feel them."
"Good! Oh, I'm so pleased!" She sounded thrilled, but he wondered how thrilled she would be when she learned there would never be a grandchild. He knew how badly she wanted one.
"I have to go."
"Okay... Come and see me soon. Love you!"
"Love you too, Mom."
He sighed, glad that was over. He wished he had gotten an answer from her about her own soulmate. There had to be someone for her. She deserved it. She had lived so much of her life alone for the sake of not telling her child the truth that his father didn't want him. It was only after U.A. that he had gotten the truth out of her. It stung, but it was better than the present, but actually never present, father he had formed in his mind. Besides, All Might had long taken that fatherly place in his heart. His mother, though, remained alone; her marriage was nothing but a piece of paper, tying her to a man who had long moved on. It was unfair.
Izuku glanced back at the television. They were running a piece on government response across the world. Vague statements were being made, but it was obvious no one had a clue what to do. He grabbed his phone, checking if there was word from the hero commission. Nothing, at least from them. There were the missed calls from Ochaco and his mother, and numerous texts from friends and co-workers.
Even Aizawa had checked in with him. His head spun with a rush of fondness that filled him. It had been six years since they were teacher and student, but the man still cared. Much to his surprise, they had become friends. Texts went back and forth every few days, and they got together each Wednesday for a drink. Sometimes it was coffee, other times a beer. Aizawa liked those quiet, dark places where they could just sit and chat. He was always interested in Izuku's career and claimed that the news never covered events correctly; he preferred to get the stories from the source. Aizawa would add his own commentary on the Underground, U.A., or life in general, but for the most part, Izuku talked, and Aizawa listened. They had even worked together on occasion, but that was rare.
Reading the message, Izuku laughed. You could barely tell the world had just been turned upside down.
"Hormonal teenagers run rampant through the grounds of U.A. Chaos. Drinks? Can't wait until Wednesday." At the end, in a separate message, there was also a simple. "Are you okay?"
Was he? He wasn't sure, but Aizawa wanting to hang out at a bar on what would typically be a busy Friday meant he was not his normal self. The man was not a fan of crowds, though Izuku doubted there would be crowds tonight if any bars were even open. As he went to answer, he paused, lifting his head and staring ahead. It was in that moment that he finally knew what to do. Pocketing the phone, he got up and left the apartment. He could check in at U.A., maybe even help. It felt like the right thing to do. It felt like it was where he was meant to be. Mind made up, he picked up pace, activated One for All, and sped off in the direction of the school.