Chapter 1: The Outcasts
I own nothing. Warning, may contain Out of Character moments.
He was terrified, completely so. His legs gave out beneath him, muscles unable to even tremble before the person that now threatened to thrash him.
Mineta has heard about Bakugou Katsuki, the strongest and meanest kid in all the school, nobody crossed him without getting away with it. And unfortunately, he managed to do just that with a stray water balloon that was intended for a tree in the park he was in. The spiky blonde began to crack his knuckles as the shorter boy finally gained some control over his vocal cords.
"L-Look man, I-I didn't know you–"
"Yeah? Well you should've thought about that before you decided to throw fucking water balloons around!"
Bakugou then released an explosion from the palm of his hand, a show of intimidation with his Quirk. And despite being soaked from head to toe in water, it did nothing to mitigate the intensity of the flash. Mineta felt the chill of the cold sweat rolling down his body, feeling none of the heat from the midday summer sun.
"I-I was just practicing–"
"I don't give a fuck if you were training whatever shit Quirk you have! You shouldn't even be out here doing that anyway!" The raging boy inched closer, his menace becoming much stronger with each centimeter. Mineta's voice froze once more, not that anything he could say now would save him from the wrath of the human grenade. The shorter boy's attacker grinned, one that wouldn't be uncommon on a Villain, as he cracked his knuckles and closed in on his prey.
"Kacchan wait!"
Mineta saw the glee of his aggressor turn to annoyance before a body blocked his view altogether. Someone was putting himself between them, like a Hero emerging to protect the innocent. And despite being short and scrawny, compared to Bakugou since Mineta himself was as small as a child, and was trembling as though he was an earthquake, this curly green haired kid had a back that anyone could rely on.
"Out of the fucking way Deku, I have a stain to clean up." Bakugou said, practically snarling like a wolf. This Deku was shaking eve more, but he held his ground and even managed to shout out a few words.
"You can't just beat up someone for accidents Kacchan! It just happens, leave it at that!"
"That little shit was using his Quirk, which is ILLEGAL. Not that your Quirkless ass would know..." Bakugou said. Mineta's eyes went wide as he continued to stare at the boy who now protected him. Then the aggressive blonde's other words registered in his head and his voice came back in working order.
"But I don't have a water Quirk!"
"I don't give a shit. Last chance Deku, get out of my fucking way or you'll be going home in casts." He replied, his Hellish aura centimeters away from his opponent. The oppressive air caused bristles to shoot up the shorter boy's spine and he quickly tugged at his protector's shirt.
"Hey man, you should go, I'm not worth it." Mineta said as the boy looked back at him. And though the green haired boy was sweating up a storm and shaking like he was getting electrocuted, his wobbly smile and shining green eye radiated hope. That's when Mineta saw it, the stalwart spirit and unyielding courage in this Quirkless kid's body.
Deku turned back to Bakugou, readying an uneasy fighting stance in the process. "Y-You know me Kacchan, I-I'm not going anywhere."
His opponent just gave a dissatisfactory hum… Before grabbing the green haired boy by the collar and slugged him across the face. Mineta quickly scrambled away, not unlike a cockroach, but couldn't bring himself to run away from the scene completely. Weird as it was, he couldn't leave behind this stranger who was getting beat up in his place. So he looked back and paled, Deku was just getting relentlessly thrashed by Bakugou and then some. To call it a fight would be too generous, this was just a one-sided lynching.
"It's still not too late to run…" Mineta heard his mind say. With the way things were going, that would be best… The shorter boy clenched his teeth and gripped the dirt beneath him with all his strength, almost as though he would get swept away if he didn't. "No. If this Quirkless kid didn't run, then neither would I."
Deku finally collapsed onto the ground, unable to stand from the beating he took. Bakugou gave one last kick in the stomach to the green haired boy before turning his sharp eyes to Mineta.
"Huh, thought you ran off like a little bitch." The blonde said. It sounded as though he had a modicum of respect for him, being able to stay when his 'protector' was busy being pummeled. But that was soon replaced with the same bloodlust that had chewed up Deku. Bakugou picked up his prey by the collar with one hand and hoisted him up to eye level effortlessly.
"You're lucky that piss stain Deku came around when he did, I lost interest in you. But don't you dare throw shit at me again, accident or not. Got it?"
Mineta couldn't even speak as his body had already conveyed the answer in the most unceremonious manner possible… The explosive boy's expression turned to disgust as he tossed away the shorter boy and proceeded to distance himself from him. And as luck would have it, Bakugou was finally leaving the park. Though not without one last comment to the soiled Mineta.
"Oh yeah, if you know what's good for you, stay clear of that pathetic excuse of a person over there."
Then he was gone and for a few good minutes, Mineta waited before he hurried to where Deku laid unmoving for quite some time. He didn't know any first aid, but the short boy could at least check on him. "H-Hey man, you okay?" He asked, gently shaking the green haired boy.
Deku stirred and slowly turned his aching body to face the person rousing him. "… Mom?"
"Not quite dude. You okay? You took one Hell of a beating." Mineta asked, helping his protector sit up. The green haired boy just gave a weak nod, almost as though getting his ass kicked was just another Tuesday night.
"I'm fine, nothing some ointment and sleep can't fix. But what about you? Kacchan didn't do anything did he?"
"Other than making me lose some dignity, I'm good." Mineta said nervously, doing his best to ignore the dampness of his shorts. Deku sighed in relief as he laid back down on the dirt, having the courtesy to leave his words at that.
"That's a relief… I was afraid Kacchan would still be upset after he was done with me." The green haired boy then shot up suddenly, realizing something, though he winced in pain as his injuries acted up to such swift movements. "Wait no, you shouldn't be hanging around me. If Kacchan finds out, then–"
"That's a problem for future me to worry about. Because right now, fuck that guy."
Deku's jaw went slack as his eyes widened, clearly not expecting to find someone to say such a thing. Mineta raised and eyebrow in response as if asking why he should listen to that guy's threats. Then again, purposefully painting a target on himself would definitely get the snot kicked out of him in the future. But again, that was something to worry about later. Because right now, the guy in front of him was his only concern.
"I don't want to let a guy like him win, it'll just bloat his ego. Even if I can't beat him in a fight, I can at least prod him with a friendship stick – That was a shitty metaphor…"
"For what exactly?" Deku asked, eyebrow raised and had an expression halfway between curious and grossed out. And Mineta couldn't blame him, his words sounded a bit too dubious for two guys who know nothing about each other. Still, he had to roll with it and get on with his thoughts.
"What I mean is, the two of us should stick it to the man! Show him that he can't break us with fear! We'll be like those two guys who fought the Gothic Impaler!" Mineta explained. Deku seemed to brighten over the name of the horrifying Villain who had a penchant for staking people. In fact, his eyes were shining even more as he easily recalled the names of the Heroes who squared off with the incarnation of Vlad Tepes III.
"You mean Daybreak and Blo-Zone!? They were able to beat the Impaler's Eye of Terror that many fell victim to with literal smoke and mirrors! It was one of the greatest battle plans in Hero history!" Then the implications of Mineta's words hit him, the wonder in Deku's eyes were replaced with a kind of astonishment that would give the word its definition. "You don't mean…?"
"Yeah man, let's partner up and show the world what we're made of! Just think of all the respect and girls we'll get! We'll be the coolest Hero team around! So, what do you say man!?" Mineta replied before holding his hand out. Deku was apprehensive and there was a torrent of emotion and questions in his body. And as the seconds passed, he looked as though he was sinking further and further into despair.
"I won't be much help though… I don't have a Quirk…"
The shorter boy recognized the look that his protector had, the sadness of having the rug swept out from beneath you that you come to expect it. And the offer Mineta had just extended was like dangling a carrot in front of a horse, close enough to tempt but too far to reach. But he wasn't about to give a guy hope only to dust it, God knows how many times that has happened to him.
"Doesn't matter, I know people with great Quirks who don't have the balls to do what you just did. When you showed up, you looked really cool with the way you stood against that guy."
"I was shaking the whole time." Deku argued.
"So was I. But you didn't see me try and fight. So give yourself some credit, there's a Hero in you."
Now that really shook the green haired boy, almost making Mineta feel like he said something wrong. And that feeling doubled when heavy tears began falling from Deku's face. The shorter boy started sweating as his brain was trying to pick out what went wrong. Though that ended when Deku began to wipe away the tears.
"Sorry… I've wanted to hear those words for a while… Do you really think I can be a Hero?"
"You already are dude. I'm Mineta Minoru." He greeted as he held his hand out once more. And this time, with a small smile on his face, the green haired boy took it and gave a gentle shake.
"Midoriya Izuku."
Chapter 2: Where We Started
I own nothing. Warning, may contain Out of Character moments.
The next year and a half has been difficult but irreplaceable for Midoriya and Mineta. To the former's surprise, the shorter boy stuck with him even after their next, violent encounter with Bakugou Katsuki. And the next one after that. And the next after that…
Sure, the two of them would constantly get the crap kicked out of them, but at least they had each other for support. However, on those days where they weren't targets, it was just filled with pleasant and happy moments at the arcade. Long talks about the technical and aesthetic designs of Hero costumes. And that one hilarious accident involving a passionate artist and an unhealthy number of baguettes.
Tried and tested, Midoriya and Mineta stuck together through thick and thin. Outcasted and against the world, they go on to fight the hopeless odds and be what they were meant to become…
"A Marching Band? I didn't know this school had one." Midoriya commented. The shorter boy smirked and placed down a flyer he had found pinned on the school's bulletin board. It read, 'Be Loud, Be Proud! Come join the new Marching Band and let your sounds roar'!
"Apparently it was put together this year, just got enough members added to the Brass Band and are looking to swell their numbers more. They'll even accept Third Years, as long as you can play an instrument well. So, what do you think? Yay or nay?"
Currently the duo was in the classroom of 3C, with their classmates all talking within their respective cliques. If anything, the only way to survive the generic nature of Orudera Middle was to either bury yourself in friends or studies. And that would lead to different, eccentric groups forming together and coloring the student body with their characteristics. Though for Midoriya and Mineta, that only meant more people to fend off since they were even below other outcasts of the social ladder.
It's been just them since the day they've met, no one else wanted to join their trust circle.
"I don't know…" Midoriya muttered, shyly pondering the prospect.
"But there are so many hot girls in it! Akari's in it and I know you have a thing for her." Mineta argued, whispering that last statement. His friend's face lit up and began covering his head with his arms, a pointless gesture since it did nothing to hide his embarrassment. Though it didn't stop the green haired boy from throwing out a retort to Mineta.
"Can you play an instrument?"
"Well I–"
"A real instrument."
"… Why do you have to kill my buzz like that? A guy like me has but one dream, to bed all the ladies I can possibly manage." Mineta said, voice without an ounce of hesitation as he stood tall. Midoriya just gave a small chuckle to that declaration, shooting down the shorter boy's sense of elation.
"Let's start with getting a date before attempting a harem."
"Hey! They'll be all over me when 'Grape Juice' makes his debut! I can already see it now…" Mineta replied, a bit hopped up on his wildest fantasies. The other students in the class gave the short boy weird looks and mocking giggles, but simply left the two outcasts to go on about their nonsense. Midoriya ignored the unnecessary attention his friend was drawing in, as it happens often enough, and continued the conversation as normal.
"I still think 'Grape Shot' sounds cooler. But weird names do have a certain novelty to it, a few even made it to the Hall of Fame." He said, racking his brain for Heroes with unique names.
"What about you dude? You got yourself a 'cool' or 'wacky' Hero name yet?" Mineta asked. Before Midoriya could even answer, the shorter boy saw him bristle and turn pale. He swallowed and slowly turned around, his eyes meeting the piercing, anger laced gaze of Bakugou Katsuki. And as always, the guy was flanked by his two usual, sleazy looking lackeys.
"Kacchan… Good Morning…" Midoriya greeted, his voice squeaking a bit. The blonde boy ignored him and continued to glare down at Mineta, with the shorter boy feeling the pressure bear down on him.
"W-What do you want man?" Mineta asked, shifting his foot behind him for stability.
"It doesn't matter what God fucking name he chooses, he'll never be a Hero. He'll be the same shitty, Quirkless Deku till the day he dies. Or do I have to waste my time on you bitches again?" Bakugou said, not even bothering to hide the rolling thunder in his voice.
The blonde's two lackeys gave a wide sneer as Mineta could already hear the arrogant laughter rattling around in their heads. Still, as afraid as he was, Midoriya's confidence was on the line and what Mineta lacked in courage, he made up in loyalty. Even with a cracking voice, the shorter boy spoke up against Bakugou.
"A-And I keep t-telling you, Midoriya h-has as much of a chance as y-you or me."
"No, he doesn't rat bitch, quit deluding him or yourself. Deku is weak, he can't beat anyone at anything. How can he be a Hero if he can't even win against those sticks in the Handcrafts club?" Bakugou asked, his voice becoming more guttural by the second. This time, the class around them burst out laughing as Midoriya looked to the ground, seemingly becoming more insignificant as time passes. Mineta couldn't let that stand, so he mustered the bravery to prevent his voice from faltering to the stress.
"He can be a Hero by saving people, helping them however he can."
"Then why can't he be a damn Police man? A fucking Fire Fighter? An honest to God Doctor? Why the Hell does Deku have to be a Hero? He doesn't have the one thing that's required!" Bakugou argued, his voice now sounding like the snarl of a wolf. Midoriya started to reach out to Mineta, an attempt to break up the escalating argument. But the shorter boy was feeling the adrenaline, his zeal and fury reaching its peak. The words came out of his mouth before he could even let his brain register it.
"Oh yeah!? Maybe you're just too scared to admit that Midoriya's a far better Hero than you will ever be!"
Mineta didn't know what just happened next… A blur of motion and he was flat on his butt, behind and to the right of Midoriya. Bakugou's fist was right in Midoriya's gut, with the blonde's face projecting the image of bloody war. And judging from the position of his arm, Mineta's face would be in its path had he remained standing there.
The explosive boy wordlessly pulled his fist back, letting the green haired boy crumple onto the ground to writhe in pain. He then stepped over him and snatched the notebook that rested on Midoriya's desk, the latest in his collection of self made Hero notes. Bakugou looked at Mineta, eyes full of contempt as he lightly tossed Midoriya's book in the air and caught it repeatedly.
"You seem to think Deku has potential… This is what I think of it." He said. Bakugou then quickly grabbed the book and pressed an open hand against it, detonating it with his Quirk. Once the smoke cleared, the campos book was severely burned with some portions of it already crumbling off. The blonde boy threw it to the ground in front of Mineta and went to sit down at his own desk.
"Alright class, settle… What's that smell?" The teacher said, entering the room. Someone jumped to a response before Mineta could say anything.
"Midoriya tried to smoke something." Someone lied gleefully. The short boy clenched his teeth, temples throbbing with anger over these classmates of theirs. Hasn't Midoriya been through enough this morning?
Fortunately, the teacher wasn't buying it… Unfortunately, Midoriya was going along with the slanderous remark, even going so far as to start coughing as he got up from the floor.
"I'm sorry sir… I was too eager to try something… I bought online…"
The teacher looked at him sternly, as though he was trying to fish up any more answers. But sighed in defeat when Midoriya ultimately didn't budge on the matter. "I see… Go stand the hall until first period. Don't do it again."
Midoriya simply shook his head and shuffled out of the room, the rest of the class snickering at him the entire time. This wasn't the first time something like this happened… Being the kind of person he was, Midoriya would always shoulder the blame for any problem, regardless of who's fault it really was. Teachers know he's lying to save the true culprit trouble but attempts to get the truth is met by a stubbornly insistent Midoriya. This ends up wasting a lot of class time, so Teachers would just give up and accept things at face value just to save the effort.
And this in turn just gave everyone else more ammunition to put the poor boy down.
"Mineta, get off the floor." The Teacher said. The shorter boy nodded and grabbed Midoriya's burnt book before going to sit at his desk. Things might have calmed down as the day went on, with the cruel teasing dropping as Midoriya avoided any more confrontations and Mineta taking care not to get goaded into one.
But it was really, really hard… And Mineta was surprised that his teeth haven't shattered yet due to the amount of pressure he puts on them. Every day, he continuously defied others to defend Midoriya's dreams from becoming lost in despair. But no matter how many weights he removes from him, Mineta can't hold back the amount of misery the world keeps lumping onto Midoriya's back. So, it left the shorter boy wondering…
Just when will life change for his friend?
Chapter 3: A Sinner's Faith
I own nothing. Warning, may contain Out of Character moments.
"That's all for today, have a safe trip home." The Teacher said, the afternoon bell sounding in the air. Mineta sighed as he leaned into the back of his seat, today was just full of it. Though he had to admit, someone suspiciously selling produce in the bathroom like a drug dealer gave him a laugh. Still, what happened that morning bothered him greatly… And Mineta could only imagine what was going on in his friend's head.
"You ready to go Mineta-kun?"
Speak of the devil, Midoriya came to a halt by Mineta's desk, hands calmly gripping the straps of his backpack. With how relaxed his shoulders were and how soft his smile is, one wouldn't think the boy went through some stressful times. It's one of several qualities that Mineta admired about his friend, the ability to move forward through any circumstance. Though from what he could see, Midoriya's eyes didn't shine as brightly as before. So Bakugou's words did affect him…
"I'm good. How about you? You seem a little out of it." Mineta replied. Midoriya broke eye contact and began to fidget with his backpack's straps, his voice getting a little shaky.
"I-It's nothing too bad… Just trying to process what happened this morning…"
Yeah, no, there's definitely a few gears of uncertainty turning in his head. But it would do no good talking about the matter now, mostly because there were still several of their 'classmates' around. And the last thing Mineta needs is someone with an attitude butting in on their heart-to-heart. So the shorter boy just got up from his seat and slung his backpack onto his shoulders, no point in waiting around her.
"Don't worry about it man. Let's hit town, there's a special going on for Mount Lady's debut at The Fig Grove. There's some anatomy on her that I want to… Scrutinize." A mischievous grin was spreading across Mineta's face as he thought about the size shifting Heroine. Normally anyone would immediately take a step back from the deviousness emanating from the shorter boy. But Midoriya knew better about the nature of his friend's habits, though it was surprising the first time around.
"Just remember to buy something or the owner's going to ban you for a month again." He asked, causing Mineta to let out a groan.
"I forgot about that..."
"Then today'll be on me, so let's go." Midoriya said as he began leading Mineta. The two kept up the small conversation as they moved through the school that still buzzed with activity from the various clubs. But the moment the two stepped off the school grounds, the green haired boy grew silent as his eyes cast themselves downward. And knowing him, the guy is most likely wrestling with his inner demons and losing the battle. Now's about time to tag in.
Mineta stopped walking and grabbed Midoriya's sleeve, causing him to stop in turn. Both of them stood in silence beneath the overpass for a good moment, each one formulating words for the other to hear. But the shorter boy had the initiative, concern written upon his face for the friend he stood by.
"Midoriya, you're thinking about what Bakugou said, aren't you?"
The green haired boy's brows became scrunched as his lips became pulled into a frown, his already dull eyes darkening further. Frustration was an uncommon look on Midoriya, but it was just frequent enough for Mineta to recognize the signs. The shorter boy released his grip and began patting his friend's arm.
"Midoriya, listen… As smart as Bakugou is, the guy might as well be an ass because he just spouts shit. He's only putting you down is because he's afraid that you'll surpass him, that you'll become a better Hero than he could ever dream to be."
"But… Kacchan is so much better at everything than me. He's strong, smart, and everyone loves him. How do I compete with that?" Midoriya asked, his being starting to shrink. Mineta shook his head and redoubled his determination, he must reach for the optimism buried away under doubt.
"People love him because they're too scared to point out anything wrong with him. One step out of line and they'll end up where we are, bottom of the barrel being crushed by those up top. So, they'll do anything to keep their standing, which means siding with him whenever you're involved. That's a dictatorship mentality! A dystopia! And something a Hero shouldn't create, let alone support!" The shorter boy's voice echoed slightly on the surrounding walls before dying out. Mineta took multiple deep breaths to cool off, his friend taking this pause to communicate his thoughts.
"Well… If you want to get technical… Kacchan created more of a wolf pack mentality, with him being the Alpha and me being the runt. And I think that analogy fits Kacchan a little better than being a dictator. As the head, he uses his strength to fight off threats to the pack and rallies them against greater targets. It's kind of admirable."
"Maybe if you ignore two big things. One, society isn't made of wolves. And two, Bakugou doesn't really look after anyone else the way a pack wolf does. But I digress. Midoriya, you can't let Bakugou have his way with his words! If you give in, he will have the best shot at being Number One!" Mineta shouted, grabbing Midoriya by the jacket. His green haired friend looked away again, staring at some arbitrary spot on the ground. He opened his mouth, but a sound barely a whisper came through.
"It's fine, Mineta-kun… With the way I am… Maybe it's better if I try something else. I mean, there's no shame in being a Doctor, or a Police Officer, or a Fire Fighter, they help save lives too."
"You aren't wrong, those jobs are respectable. But on that day in the park, when you saved me from Bakugou, I saw something in you that's worth more than what anyone else believes. There are plenty of jobs that involves helping and saving people… But Heroes can do one thing better than they could, and that's bringing hope to others."
Midoriya stared at his shorter friend, the lights in his eyes regaining some luster. Mineta smiled and patted him on the arm, putting the weight of his emotions into each movement. "When I saw you, I felt inspired. You, some Quirkless kid, standing up for a weak stranger against the top dog of our school? There's nothing more Heroic than that. And because of you, I try to be a better person than I was before… With varying results."
The green haired boy's face then began to exhibit a small smile, both feeling Mineta's sentiments and remembering those strange memories. "Yeah, those were train wrecks. But thank you Mineta-kun, it's just hard you know? With the way I am now, I'll just drag everyone down and make things go from bad to worse…"
"You're a smart dude Midoriya, I know you'll come up with a way to solve the problem. Failing that, you have me to watch your back, it's what partners do." Mineta said, gesturing towards himself.
"I know… But do you ever have that… Sinking feeling that whatever little power you have might not be enough next time? Like, just how much longer could I keep you from getting the worse of it? It's scary." Midoriya replied, his smile turning into a slight frown as he casted his eyes down again.
Before Mineta could speak, he heard a noise from somewhere that's not exactly far or close. He took a moment to try and identify it but shortly gave up, as he had other matters to attend to. "All too well man, it's just like with me trying to change people's mind about you. I keep pushing but no one wants to budge, it's an uphill battle that I'm losing. But I'm not going to turn tail and run, because I owe you at least that much for everything you've done for me."
"Thank you, Mineta-kun… That means a lot to me…" Midoriya said, his smile returning. He then spread out his arms slightly, leaving his body open and made a welcoming gesture. Mineta shuffled in place and scratched at the back of his neck.
"Oh, what the Hell, come here buddy." Mineta replied, taking a step towards Midoriya and gave him a hug. The green haired boy returned the embrace, adding in some gentle pats to the back that truly felt soothing. It was still awkward for the shorter boy to engage in physical contact any more intimate than handshakes or pats with a guy. But this was his partner, so he decided it was well worth the slightly embarrassing feeling.
But the two broke off when a burbling noise was heard at their feet. Looking down, the duo saw that they were standing in a rather thick puddle of dull green slime, easily reaching their ankles. Before Midoriya or Mineta could utter a single word, the sludge ensnared their bodies with surprising strength and covered their mouths, halting the scream that came reflexively.
Two pus yellow, blood shot eyes opened along the slime coating Midoriya, followed by a crooked grin forming just beneath.
"Hello boys, care to help a man in need?"
Chapter 4: March of the Saint
I own nothing. Warning, may contain Out of Character moments.
"I-I can't breathe…" Mineta thought as he began clawing with his free hand at the sludge covering his mouth. But due to the sliminess of the substance, he could find no place to gain a good grip. His eyes went to Midoriya and saw him struggling as well, unable to grasp any of the sludge. He then noticed the eyes of the sludge man alternating between the two of them, muttering loudly to himself in a manner like Midoriya.
"Decisions… Decisions… With you, I'm able to use smaller hiding spaces. But with you, I'll be better at blending into the crowd…"
What was he talking about? It was already getting hard to think of an answer when Mineta was running out of air. In fact, his struggling almost stopped because he didn't want to waste any more energy than necessary.
It wasn't long before he got an answer in the form of a long smirk as the slime around his throat tightening sharply. Mineta's mind speed up to the danger and he began to claw at his liquid noose to no avail. Looking over, he could see Midoriya suffering the same and losing the battle just as quickly. The sludge man gave a relaxed chuckle, as though murdering two middle school students was as casual as watching TV.
"Ah well, doesn't matter, both of you will be dead. But don't worry, I'll at least let you both experience your deaths together."
Mineta, with whatever strength his body could muster, began to thrash and shout against his restraints to break free. His weak frame straining against the sludge with all his might as he watches his friend grows weaker and weaker. The regret in Midoriya's eyes growing as the light continues to fade...
"Damn… It… Not here… Not like this…"
"Have no fear boys! For I am here!"
The nearby manhole erupted as a muscular man leapt out of it. Before the sludge man could react to his sudden visitor, the stranger threw a punch and scattered the dense slime as though they were nothing but petals. Both Midoriya and Mineta could finally breath again, but they were still both on the verge of passing out. With the last of their consciousness, the duo saw the bold smile that plastered their savor's face.
"All… Might…?"
…
…
…
After what seemed like the longest moment, Mineta stirred from the darkness that clouded his head and slowly sat up, his senses reorientation themselves. He looked to his right and saw Midoriya, equally dazed, looking back at him. The two gave a weak nod to the other before finally registering the voice that was beckoning them.
"Hello? Hello? You boys okay?"
It finally registered with them who it was that was talking to them. All Might, Symbol of Peace, and the greatest Hero of their generation. Mineta could only just stare in awe, unaware of his friend freaking out over the Hero's autograph.
"I apologize for getting you boys caught up in my Villain hunt. But thanks to you, I managed to snag this slippery fiend!" All Might said with a laugh. He then proceeded to show them the blob that tried to kill them, neatly packed into a 2-litter soda bottle. A part of Mineta's ego began inflating over the fact that the Number One Hero thanked them. So much so that he began to fidget around. But in turn, he failed to notice the question brewing in Midoriya's eyes.
"Well then young men, I'm off to the police station to drop off this sucker. Don't be a stranger!" All Might said, soaring off in an epic jump.
"Thanks again All Might!" Mineta shouted with a wave. And that was when he unleashed the rest of the energy he was holding back from the encounter.
"HOLY SHIT! Midoriya, we got to meet All Might in person! I can't wait to rub this in the… Other's… Faces…"
Only now did the boy realize he was all by his lonesome. Initially, Mineta thought another Villain got his friend and looked towards All Might. But it was here that he saw a mass attached to the Hero's leg before disappearing. He stared into the distance as his jaw went slack. He didn't…
"Midoriya! I know you're a fan! But at least warn him before hitching ride!" He yelled as he began running in that direction. But because of his short legs and the distance covered by the Symbol of Peace, Mineta couldn't guess where his friend was. And that fact only deepened when it took him about twenty minutes to reach the city. Which meant that Midoriya could be anywhere by now.
Then an explosion was heard nearby, the scent of smoke filling the air.
"Trouble… Midoriya might be there!" He thought as he took off in search of the source. And in a short moment, Mineta found it, a shopping lane that ran between the buildings. There was already a crowd gathered and their expressions told him that the battle wasn't in the Heroes' favor. Things could go bad in an instant and he felt like walking away… But the thought of Midoriya getting hurt stopped his retreat. He was his partner and Mineta should be there to watch his back, as he always said he would.
So with an uneasy courage, he waded though the patch of civilians to the front… Only to regret not backing out while he still could. The gates of Hell have started to open on this small street. Fire and rubble littered the street as a large figure stood in the center of it all. Mineta focused in on that, trying to make out who it was through the smoke and distorting heat haze. Paling when he recognized it as the Sludge Villain that tried to kill him and Midoriya.
"Why is he here? I thought All Might caught him?" Mineta thought, starting to gnaw at his finger nails. His blood was already running cold just by the fact that a Villain managed to escape All Might. The next thing he observed made him feel like he was stranded in the dead of Winter. The sludge man's hands were exploding…
"No… It can't be…" Mineta began looking for any evidence of the person ensnared by the slime. And as though confirming his fears, he spotted a head of spikey, ash blonde hair. "Bakugou…"
Half of him wanted to cheer, seeing a bully like him being blindsided by bigger fish was a very cathartic sight… But his more reasonable, fearful half began to realize the magnitude of the situation. From what Mineta could tell, Bakugou has been caught for some time since he lost most of the control to his body. And though the explosive boy was still struggling, it was obvious that he was losing the strength to fight off the Villain. Bakugou was going to die…
"Why isn't anyone doing anything?" Mineta thought, looking all around him. He saw several Heroes on point, but none of them could do anything more than damage control. Mount Lady's giant form was too big to fit into this narrow space. Kamui Woods is weak against fire and that was everywhere. Backdraft was too busy trying to put out the fires to join the fight. As for Deathgoro and the other Heroes that could move in this environment… They were too weak to pry Bakugou out or unable to hurt the Villain without hurting him.
The only thing capable of saving Bakugou at this point is a massive rush of air. So he Hero needed was…
"All Might, where is he?"
At this point, Mineta saw Bakugou's raging face finally faltering and giving way to desperation and fear. His eyes were calling for help… For someone to save him from this disaster. To see someone so powerful and ruthless become so helpless made Mineta feel even smaller and weaker. It reminded him that even the strong could be brought down by another who's stronger. That even Bakugou could die from this Villain…
The thought was horrific. And the sight of Bakugou's terror would've burned itself into Mineta's memories… Had it not been for the sight of a familiar, reliable back, rushing forward towards the danger. He didn't know when a smile formed on his face. But he did let the feeling in his chest give rise to a loud cheer.
"GO MIDORIYA!"
The green haired boy kept rushing forward through the fire and the flames. He then unslung his backpack and threw it at the Villain in one smooth motion. The action wasn't much, but it did manage to stun the blob and subsequently released Bakugou's head. Allowing him to breathe. Using this opportunity, Midoriya started a frantic dig to free his once childhood friend.
As Mineta watched him, a thought ran through his mind. He should be over there and helping him, otherwise he won't make it. But the legs he tried to move felt like lumps of iron rusted to the floor. No matter how much he wanted them to move forward, they refused to obey. And even the sludge Villain recovered from his stupor, his body was still rooted by cowardice.
With each second slowly, Mineta watched as the Villain raised its hand and readied to blow Midoriya to kingdom come. The sight was reminiscent of a guillotine, poised to fall. And the whole thing was brought down just as quick. His heart seized up, eyes staring at the plume of smoke that replaced his friend. He fell upon his knees as his mind plagued him with thoughts of Midoriya being nothing more than a smear of gore on concrete.
Before he could fully fall into despair, however, Mineta saw the smoke clear and witnessed a miracle. Shielding his green haired friend from the blast was none other than All Might, smile seemingly more radiant than ever. He swiftly grabbed both Bakugou's and Midoriya's hand and threw out a terrifyingly heavy punch. His booming voice piercing through the chaotic noise.
"Detroit Smash!"
A rush of air exploded along the street, rushing out both ends. The other Heroes on scene begun to focus on shielding the crowd from this man-made wind storm. Mineta had to use every ounce of strength in his feeble body to hang on. It didn't take long for the force to subside, the crowd looking back at the Number 1 Hero. The fires have been put out and the Villain was nothing more than splotches trying to reconstruct itself. Rain started to fall as well, despite the sky being clear all day, and cheers erupted all around.
The Symbol of Peace has saved the day.
Not much has happened after that. The police and city municipal workers arrived to clean up the Villain and any wreckage present. Reporters were asking questions. And civilians were trying to get pictures. Normally, Mineta would be trying to get some up-close shots of Mount Lady and her fine assets… But there were two things he was more concerned with.
One, Bakugou was being praised. Mostly for his strong quirk and endurance against the Villain. It's natural sure, even Mineta was impressed by the whole thing… But doesn't it bother anyone else that the Heroes are laying it on thick with the compliments?
And two, Midoriya was being scolded for rushing out so recklessly. Sure it made sense and no one in their right mind would charge a Villain… But shouldn't be saying something about his initiative? After all, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. And Mineta's pretty sure that applies here.
He broke out of his thoughts when his friend was finally able to go, having been thoroughly admonished. Midoriya looked fine physically except for a bit of debris on his uniform. But Mineta could tell that he was in deep thought. Those melancholic eyes say it all.
"Hey, Mineta-kun sorry for the wait." Midoriya said.
"It's cool. Let's head on home, I think we had enough excitement for today."
"Yeah… I guess that's enough…" Midoriya then became wistful, his being radiating with the want for something more. Mineta then patted his partner's arm, once more putting the weight of his words into it.
"You looked really cool you know, the way you charged in."
"I didn't really do anything though…" Midoriya replied. Though as the seconds passed, a small yet satisfied smile began to form upon his face. "Was I really that admirable?"
"More than any Hero there."
Mineta wanted to add 'even All Might', but he doubted his friend would believe that. Still, his words had done the job and Midoriya was dragging his feet less. The two just went straight home without another word between them. It wasn't done out of awkwardness or tension, but because each of them was wrestling with their own inner demons. And even when they've reach the point to part ways, neither of them said anything more than a simple 'see you later'.
Mineta looked back as he saw Midoriya disappear around the corner and sighed. He bent down slightly to rub his knees, both still feeling sensitive. A reminder of his uselessness today.
"I can't even move when there's trouble… Some partner I am… I'm just talk…"
There was still time to improve before UA's entrance exam, about a year give or take. He needs to figure out how to get more out of his Quirk. And how to not freeze up during an actual crisis. Otherwise, Mineta would only be dead weight to Midoriya and his journey to be number one.
Starting tomorrow, he's going to work harder than before. For his sake and the Hero he looks up to…