Chapter 50: Extracurricular Activities
Chapter Text"I am Izuku Midoriya, Prince of Mischief. And I am burdened with glorious purpose."
"Right, okay sir, so how many are in your party again?"
Izuku sputters at the restaurant hostess, despite knowing what her exact reaction would be. "Seven," he sheepishly answers after glancing back very quickly to count his friends. Tenko and Denki aren't even bothering to hide their laughter.
The hostess nods, grabbing their menus as Izuku and the rest of the 'Mischief Squad,' as Denki had named them, wait, standing in the middle of the mall's walkway.
As Mina had wanted, most of class 1-A had met at the mall to start shopping for supplies for their training camp. There was talk of them going through the mall as one big group originally, but when Izuku had lightly suggested they could prank the mall-goers by dressing himself up as a shepherd and turning the rest of them into sheep, everyone suddenly wanted to split up.
He doesn't see the problem. And he's flexible. If they didn't want to be sheep, he could've shapeshifted into a dog and turned the class into cattle! Thankfully, he received a very gentle, but firm, reminder from clone Thirteen that asking Ochako if he could turn her into a cow probably wasn't the best idea.
Sometimes, the voices inside his head really look out for him.
Anyway, his group had decided to start with something to eat so they could walk it off as the day went on. It would give Denki time to wait on Tokage as well, so the pair could shop together. The only hiccup occurred when someone put their arm around Izuku's neck when he was distracted, scaring him. But he was relieved to look up and find it was only Tenko, pointing out a new game store.
It, unfortunately, also gave Izuku time to accept an ill-advised bet from Denki that he couldn't make it to the restaurant without pranking anyone. He happily accepted that challenge!
Only to turn the corner and see a group of young men and women using one of the mall fountains as their personal swimming pool, while harassing a security guard for just doing his job of asking them to step out. What other choice did he have than to freeze the water, trapping them in there?
Personally, Izuku counted this as karma. But Denki still ruled it as a prank, forcing him to announce his "Glorious Purpose" line to the hostess. He knew he should've never told his cousin that story of his dad doing it.
Walking up in his cargo shorts and an open button-down shirt over a t-shirt that read 'surging righteousness,' Izuku says something to the hostess, and the two walk inside the restaurant for a minute by themselves before coming back out. "I'll show you where you will all be sitting," the hostess says politely, leading the group to the back of the building.
The hero students are surprised when, instead of being dropped off at a table, the hostess opens a curtain to a private room in the back, complete with more comfortable chairs, TVs, a couch, and their own personal drink and chip dispensers.
"Please get comfortable, someone will be with you shortly to take your order." The hostess bows and walks out, sliding a door shut behind her. The teenagers only stand stunned for a moment, before everyone starts to find seats around the table.
Denki grabs hold of Izuku, keeping him back for a second and whispering erratically, "Dude! How did you convince the restaurant to give a bunch of rowdy kids the VIP room?!"
"I bought the restaurant."
Everyone orders their food and settles at the table with drinks. Ochako only orders something else besides water after they are all reassured they are being treated to a meal by the owner, who also went to UA.
'Not technically a lie,' Izuku thinks, amusing himself.
Denki shakes his head, rolling his eyes. Iida and Ochako ask the waiter to thank the owner profusely. Todoroki just nods, probably used to such treatment when going out with his father. Tenko was already back at the counter, getting his own personal basket of chips and refilling on soda, and Izuku does not like the suspicious look Tsu is giving him.
"So, what'd ya guys want to talk about? Training camp?" Denki sips his soda, laying down on the sofa.
"Kaminari, that is highly rude to do in the company of others and in a public place!!" Iida lectures, both hands chopping in a display of ferocity. "Sit up!"
"Can we skip anything school related?" Uraraka yawns, stretching her arms above her. An act that a certain green-haired boy next to her doesn't think is insanely cute, thank you very much. "I feel like we haven't gotten a break since school started, just one crazy thing after another."
Iida puts a hand to his chin, having gotten Denki to begrudgingly comply and sit up straight. "I'm afraid I'd have to agree. We have only just completed our first semester at UA and, had I not seen many of the things with my own eyes, I would not be inclined to believe our story."
"What's not to believe?" Tenko drawls, the sarcasm in his tone is easy to detect. "Villains, aliens, demons, more aliens, gods, monsters, seems perfectly normal to me. I miss anything?"
"Clones, lots of clones," Denki answers, glancing at Izuku. "It's a day off by the way, where are they?"
"I think they said something about celebrating?"
In a nearby karaoke bar, clone Thirteen has most of his clone brothers, as well as the bar patrons, jumping up and down as they all laughed and sang along with him in English.
"I'm Thirteen, yes I'm the real Thirteen, all you other Thirteens are just imitating, so won't the real Thirteen please stand up, please stand up, please stand up?!"
"Huh, okay then." Denki shrugs. "Anything else?"
"Plenty." No one knows when Todoroki pulled his notebook out. "Tenko generalized aliens into a single category when, in reality, we've encountered several different kinds. We have Asgardians," he nods to Denki. "And Frost Giants." He acknowledges Izuku.
"I'm still considered Asgardian," Izuku informs his friend, bringing his drink closer to him.
"He is," Denki corroborates. "Especially since he's the smallest Frost Giant you'll ever find." Izuku responds in kind, glaring at his cousin while conjuring one of his blue marbles and throwing it at his head.
Denki laughs and dodges. Meanwhile, Iida's hand chops have gone almost supersonic. "Midoriya!! That is hardly proper table etiquette!"
Izuku ignores him, in favor of trying to pelt Denki with another marble.
Even Tsu chuckles along with Tenko as the blond maneuvers around the projectiles, before she glances at Ochako. "Maybe we should stop them. Ribbit."
"I know a way," Ochako giggles. When Izuku rears his arm back to try for a third time, she grabs it and leans close to his ear, so no one else could hear. "Don't listen to him. Even blue, I thought you still looked very handsome."
Her words have the intended effect, short-circuiting Izuku's brain, making his head look like a glowing tomato, and sending a shiver all the way down his back. Unfortunately, Ochako's words end up backfiring, causing her to blush and look away.
"Looks like that attack had some recoil!" Tenko laughs.
"Ah, I hope they never grow out of this phase," Denki wistfully says.
"Ochako's not floating to the ceiling, so they're already getting better," Tsu observes, finger on her mouth.
A few minutes later, everyone is calmed down and Denki is picking the marbles off the ground. "Man, you with these things." He stands up, depositing them back into Izuku's hand. "Where'd you even get them?"
"Yeah, I've had them for a long time," Izuku chuckles along, moving to vanish them but stops, pondering in thought for a moment. "We have been through a lot this year, haven't we?"
More marbles appear in his hand, six in total. "I know it might sound weird, but would you all mind taking one?" He places them carefully in the middle of the table. "I kind of consider them good luck charms, and with everything that's happened to us already, a little luck couldn't hurt, right?"
To their credit, none of them look at him weird, to Izuku's immense relief. After a couple of head tilts, each one of them takes a blue marble, starting with Ochako, pocketing them.
Except for Todoroki, who chooses to study his immensely, and write in his notebook. "With everything we've seen, I wonder how much more is out there for us to discover. Up until recently, we believed the Nordic gods were myths and legends, but they're real. How many more similar things exist?"
"You wouldn't believe half the stuff out there." Denki is back to laying on the couch.
"We talked about this, Kaminari! Sit up, now!"
"It's what it's made for!!" A stern glare from Iida has Denki sitting up once again. "Fine. Anyway, my dad's been giving me a crash course over the past year. Like, if you wanna talk about things existing that you thought were fake, did you know vampires are real?!"
Izuku chokes on his soda, spitting out some in an attempt to get his breath back, Ochako slapping his back to help.
"Midoriya, are you alright?" Tsu asks. Izuku gives her a shaky thumbs up.
When he can breathe again, Izuku wipes his mouth and thanks Ochako, wiping up some of his mess on the table. "Sorry."
"Dude, you don't have to apologize for choking!" Denki snickers.
"Oh, right! Sorry!"
"Dude!"
"The existence of vampires is both intriguing and, if we are speaking frankly, a bit frightening," Iida interrupts the alien bros before they could spiral more. "Assuming they are anything as books and movies present them."
"Your brother can turn into a demon with a flaming skull and vampires scare you?" Tenko questions in the flattest voice possible, one eyebrow raised. Tsu had opened her mouth as well, but closed it after Tenko spoke, looking at him. It seems they had both wanted to ask the same question.
Iida clears his throat, fixing his glasses. "I assure you, that has more to do with my knowing the Ghost Rider is my brother than anything else. Should Tensei have become a vampire, I would be much less frightened at the notion they exist."
"You mean, besides the fact that if he was a vampire, he'd probably be trying to suck your blood? Ribbit."
"While that would be a problem, Iida does have something else to contend with." Todoroki flips through his notebook. "Having to live bound to a weapon that constantly encourages him to sin, right next to his brother who transforms into a being whose sole purpose is to punish those who sin."
The table goes silent, Tenko making an oh face. Iida nods, a little resigned. "It's not…ideal, I will admit. But Tensei and I have spoken about it and found that the Rider's presence is a great encouragement, for lack of a better word, for me to control the instincts the Ebony Blade attempts to curse me with."
"And know we're all here to help too, anytime you need," Ochako reminds him. "Right, guys!"
"Yeah!!" they all cheer.
Iida sits straighter, smiling bright, his eyes a little misty. "Thank you all so much!"
After a couple of more words of encouragement, Todoroki brings the discussion back. "I'll have to thank you for the information on vampires, Kaminari. My research into secret organizations has hit a bit of a wall, so being able to look into vampires will help me greatly as I wait for new leads to develop." He looks up. "Midoriya, have you met any vampires?"
Izuku chuckles. "If you're looking for info on vampires, Todoroki, I have a book about supernaturals that live among us I could give you later. But speaking of myths," Izuku redirects his attention to Tsu, who tilts her head curiously at him. "I promised you more information about who you met during your internships."
Tenko looks between them. "Who did you meet, Tsu?"
"Namor McKenzie, King of Atlantis." Izuku crosses his arms, leaning back in his chair. "Better known to the general public as the Sub-Mariner."
"Wait, wait, I've heard that guy!" Tenko slaps the table as his realization hits him. "Yeah, he's got those weird wings on his feet that somehow let him fly!" He turns to Tsu. "You met him?!"
Tsu nods this time. "Yes. Ribbit. We helped him stop a villain from digging into one of his Vibranium deposits. He then swore us all to secrecy."
"You were interning with the hero Selkie, yeah?" Ochako confirms. "He was okay with that?"
"It wasn't his first time meeting him." Tsu takes a sip of water. "Selkie said both he and Gang Orca have met him and says it's better to just agree to what he says."
"And what happens should you not agree?" Iida inquires carefully.
"Very bad things," Izuku answers. No one misses the slight haunted look in his eyes. "He'll do whatever it takes to protect Atlantis and its people."
"What kind of things?" Todoroki was writing so much, he had broken out a second notebook.
"Full scale invasion of the surface isn't off the table."
Several of them suck their teeth in. It's Tsu that breaks the silence after a few seconds. "You said you met him, but he hates Asgardians. Why?"
Sighing, Izuku runs his hands down his face. "Maybe hate was too strong of a word? He doesn't hate most Asgardians, just doesn't like us. It's my grandfather he has a problem with. And it's because of Captain America's shield."
Most of his friends give him bewildered looks. Todoroki, in the meantime, flips fervidly through his notebook. "From what I gathered in my research," he stops on the page he's looking for. "The shield was used by a variety of people, most notably Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, and James Barnes. But it was lost to time after all three of them had retired, never to be found again."
"It's not lost." Izuku shakes his head. "It's in my grandfather's vault. He had it taken because he thought he'd be saving human lives by not letting them fight over it." The greenette makes a face, blowing air out of his nose. "My dad says he took it because it'd be a neat trinket for his collection."
"What does it have to do with the Sub-Mariner though? Ribbit."
"It's both Steve Rogers and the Vibranium the shield is made of," Izuku answers, trying to ease his discomfort with the conversation by shifting around in his chair. "Most people believe the Vibranium came from Wakanda, but it actually came from Atlantis. Tie that in with Rogers being the Avenger Namor was closest with, and he believes the shield belongs in Atlantis."
After Izuku stays silent for almost a full minute, Tenko blinks a couple of times, looking around. "Is that it? The king of the gods and the king of the ocean wanna go to war over a shield?!! Over loot?! If this fish guy has more Vibranium, why can't he just craft a new shield?!"
"Ehhhhh." Izuku tilts his head back and forth. "To be fair, Grandfather and Namor struck a deal a long time ago that took war off the table-"
"Isn't that just swell?"
"But." Izuku presses through Tenko's interruption. "No one knows what the deal was except for the two kings. All we know is that my dad isn't allowed anywhere near Atlantis. It frustrates him to no end that he doesn't know where it is."
"Ribbit," Tsu cuts in. "That doesn't make any sense. If it's Odin that Namor has a problem with, why is your dad the one being punished?"
"I don't know," Izuku admits. "It's just always been one of the many reasons why my dad and grandfather's relationship has been…strained."
"Why does it frustrate him so much that he doesn't know where Atlantis is?" Izuku jumps a little when he sees the intensity Todoroki is staring at him with.
"I-I don't know either," he responds again, a little embarrassed about how much he doesn't know. "My only guess is that my dad constantly told me growing up how important it was to have a network for information gathering. It probably bothers him that he doesn't have anyone down in Atlantis."
He looks back at his two-toned friend, hoping anything he said might've helped, but Izuku is surprised to still see the same intense look on Todoroki's face. As if he's trying to solve the world's hardest riddle.
Eventually, the other boy exhales and gives Izuku a nod, before going back to writing in his notebook.
"I mean…" Izuku gives Denki a look just daring him to continue. He can tell from his cousin's tone that he's going to say something that warrants a stab. If he dares.
Denki dares. "From what my dad has told me, because of his tricks, Uncle Loki isn't allowed in a lot of places," the blond snickers, trying to lighten the mood with a joke.
Ochako has a hold of Izuku's arm before he can even get up. "No stabbing."
"But he-"
"No."
"Yeah, but did you hear-"
"No."
"Denki deserves-"
"Izuku."
Knowing he won't win, Izuku admits defeat, slumping in his chair and vanishing the dagger he had conjured. But not before mouthing 'She won't always be there to protect you' to Denki. He responds with a 'bring it on' motion.
When Denki tries to drink his soda after, he finds it frozen solid in his cup, and a very satisfied grin on Izuku's face.
"You also said you met him," Tsu points out.
"Uncle Thor was invited to Atlantis a few times to try and smooth things over. He brought me once when I was little. I think he said he wanted me to stare at Namor with my big eyes until he submitted? Don't remember much besides being very intimidated by Namor."
The son of Thor groans, getting up to get a new drink. "Hey, Wolverine is the leader of the X-Men, yeah?"
"Yeah, why?"
"My dad told me Namor is half-mutant." Denki hits the underside of his cup a few times, but the block of ice Izuku has created refuses to dislodge, so he gives up and grabs a new one. "And because he is, he's technically a member of the X-Men. Could Wolverine say something to him to calm him down?"
"Hmm." Izuku leans onto the back of his chair, head pointing up at the ceiling. "I don't think it would work. But Uncle Logan-" Ochako stiffens, "is one of the few who won't take any crap from him. So, I guess I could try?"
"Worth a shot." Denki flops back down on the couch, getting comfortable, only for him to be once again, accosted by Iida. "You cannot lay down so haphazardly when out in public!"
"It's a sofa, Iida!" Denki yells back. "Look at it! Look how it was built, how long it is. Laying down is what it was made for!"
The rest of the lunch went pretty much how Izuku expected. Everyone enjoying their meals, laughter, Todoroki asking non-stop questions (Izuku might've created a monster), and Denki trying to eat on the couch, only to be pulled back to the table by Iida and Tsu.
Yes, nothing could-
"Snake!!" Tenko screeches, throwing himself out of his chair. Iida and Denki yell in surprise as well, standing up as small blue snakes slither on the ground beneath them, snapping at their feet.
"Izuku…" Ochako sighs, but a small smile on her face betrays her annoyed tone.
What can he say? He is his father's son.
"That was so good!"
"I know, right?!"
Ochako can't stop her giggling as Izuku opens the door of the movie theater for her, letting them back into the mall. "I was nervous going in that it'd be bad," she confesses. "But I couldn't stop laughing at some parts!"
"You mean the times when you weren't crying your eyes out?" Izuku teases, lightly bumping her, the pair continuing to walk back through the mall.
"Excuse me?!" Ochako narrows her eyes, puffing out her cheeks, causing Izuku's eyes to widen. That's right, be afraid, mister. "You were crying more than me at some parts!"
"…I plead the fifth."
"This isn't America, Deku."
Izuku's hand begins to glow. "But what if I made it look like-"
"No!" Despite trying to be stern while chastising him, Ochako's laughter refuses to be contained, bumping him back. "No magic use!"
"Fiiiine," he pouts, lowering his hand. Oh, that's so not fair. With how big his eyes get and the slight quiver of his lower lip, no one's pout should be that adorable. Ochako can never tell him how much power it has over her.
"…But you still cried more." Izuku bumps her back.
"I thought we were gonna need boats from your tears!" Ochako bumps him again, the two going back and forth for a minute before stopping, their hands tangled up together. When neither of them pulls away after a minute, they both, slowly but surely, fix themselves until they're holding hands properly, Ochako making sure to keep her pinkie up.
"Hey! You up for dessert?" Izuku leads them to a kiosk containing sweets, letting her order some mochi for herself, before Izuku asks for a cake flavored ice cream. Ochako chalks it up to Izuku just being Izuku, as always. And she wouldn't have it any other way.
She reaches into her small handbag to pull out her wallet, thankful that the job her parents got from Mr. Howlett allowed her to save a bit more of her stipend than usual to use on days like this. But speaking of that…
"Uncle Logan…"
She looks at Izuku, watching him as he happily accepts his dessert from the lady behind the counter. Howlett's words from that day come back to her.
"My nephew knew what I was up to and highly recommended your parent's construction company and I agreed."
As dots start to connect, the older woman behind the counter squeals, clapping her hands. "Ohhhhhh, I know you two!! You were in the Sports Festival, weren't you?! 1-A, yeah?"
"Y-yes, that's us!" Ochako stutters out, still not used to being recognized.
"I knew it! I just knew it!" She celebrates with her co-worker. "You two did just lovely during the tournament, please take the food, no charge."
"Ma'am, we possibly couldn't-"
"Nonsense!" The woman cuts Ochako's protest off. "I insist! Go, go, enjoy your date."
Her face burning, Izuku and Ochako thank her sincerely and leave, her boyfriend happily licking his cone. "That was nice of her, huh? We've been pretty lucky today."
"Yeah…" Taking a bite of her mochi, and sticking her tongue out at Izuku when he giggles at her, Ochako's mind starts to wander as Izuku leads them to their next location. While her face was burning in embarrassment over the woman, it was now more so at how easily their hands slipped back together.
Still, she's comfortable. And it allowed her to more easily reflect on their day… "We have been lucky today, haven't we?" She starts. Izuku hums. "First, that restaurant gave us a bunch of free food…"
"Yup."
"Then, there was the movie theater." Ochako scrunches her face in thought. "We were the only ones in our showing; we had the whole auditorium to ourselves! Didn't the movie we saw, Protectors of the Cosmos 3, just come out? Shouldn't it have been packed?"
"It's the middle of the day." Izuku shrugs, nonchalant. "I guess everyone is still at work? It'll probably be crowded tonight. Hey look, we're here!"
Before she can question further, Ochako is led to one of the large buildings at the end of the mall. The entrance is covered by a black curtain, with the only thing visible being a small ticket booth up front. She can't even look for a price before the elderly man inside waves them through.
"You're gonna love this!" Izuku promises excitedly.
Inside the curtain is a hallway similar to the movie theater, complete with numbered doors. Opening the door for her, Ochako walks inside with Izuku behind her, the door shutting. It's dark inside the very large room; she can't even tell where any of the walls are or how high the ceiling is. The only light comes from Izuku's green glowing hand.
"What is this?" Ochako asks the obvious question.
"Back in America, the X-Men have a training area called the Danger Room that makes holograms. Recently, they've been leasing less intense versions for public use, letting people experience different environments. The one we're in is actually broken; that's why they're letting us use it. But we got something better."
Izuku turns back to her, and Ochako can't help but notice how, when his hand shines brighter, the green light makes it seem as though even his eyes are glowing. He gives her a tiny grin. "Remember what you said that night you met my parents? Where you wanted me to take you if I had a spaceship?"
Ochako's eyes widen.
The son of Loki turns around, raising his hand. "I still don't have a spaceship, but that doesn't mean I can't get you there." Ochako can't hold back a gasp as green lines fill the room, shining brightly for a moment before dying away, leaving only stars.
Taking a step back, the brown-haired girl's mouth hangs open as she looks around her, space and stars above her and below her, the surface of a planet. They were standing on the moon.
Her mouth opens and closes, no words escaping. She wants to say something, anything, but her brain is too busy trying to absorb every detail she could.
It's then that Ochako realizes she's not breathing, having unconsciously thought she had to hold her breath at the sight of outer space. Ochako, after breathing normally again, experimentally moves her foot, and yelps when she hears the grains shift underneath her, some moon dust even floating away from under her feet.
"Something's still not right…" Izuku cups his chin, looking around. Meanwhile, Ochako still busies herself by sliding her foot across the moon. She loves the way the sounds react to her movement. "Oh, that's right." Izuku smiles, pointing a glowing finger at her. She watches, mesmerized, as a space suit, similar to the one hero Thirteen wears, that is the same color as Ochako's hero costume, materializes around her, helmet and all. A green and black space suit appears around Izuku.
"Remember, the suit is an illusion. So, you can still eat with it on." Izuku demonstrates by taking a bite of his ice cream, the dessert phasing through his helmet. "I thought, what better place for you to eat Mochi than the moon?"
He looks up, his face dropping in worry at her shocked look. "Is this okay?"
Ochako's not sure what he was expecting, but it certainly wasn't her tackling him in a hug, the greenette having to do everything in his power to stay on his feet (and keep his ice cream from falling). Not that she would've let him hit the ground anyway.
"Thank you," Ochako whispers. "I love it. You didn't have to do any of this for me." She's referring to more than the date, if her earlier suspicions are correct.
Izuku hugs her back. "I did, because you deserve the world Ochako…but I couldn't get it, so I got you the moon instead."
"Deku…" She wants to look up and give him the best eye roll she can for that joke, so if she could just stop giggling for two seconds…
"No? Not good enough?" The pair leans back, still holding onto one another. "I have way more corny jokes where that came from-"
A long time ago, her mother made a joke to her young daughter that Ochako thought was the funniest thing in the world at the time, even if her dad didn't find it humorous at all. Her mom told her that when she got older, if she wanted to, there was always one surefire way to shut a boy up.
Lifting her free hand and putting it on the back of Izuku's neck, Ochako pulls him into a deep kiss mid-sentence, effectively silencing him, their faces phasing through each other's helmets. She feels him stiffen in surprise for a moment, before his body relaxes and he leans into the kiss, closing his eyes, and putting his hand on her lower back.
Remembering a thought that ran through her head during the Sports Festival, and perhaps feeling a little emboldened by how quickly Izuku melted at her touch, Ochako runs her hand through his hair, enjoying the slight shiver from him as she does.
It is as soft as she thought.
The two separate, suddenly remembering that breathing is important. "I hope you know…" Izuku gets control of his breath again. "If telling corny jokes leads to that, I'm going to start making a lot more."
"If I float you high enough into the sky, I won't be able to hear you."
"I keep a bullhorn in my pocket dimension," Izuku replies dryly.
"You don't!"
"Try me!"
They laugh a little, using the moment for each of them to take a few bites of their treats. When Ochako looks up from her delicious sweets, Izuku looks nervous. "So, listen. I didn't just bring you in here to eat ice cream in space."
Ochako turns, giving her boyfriend her full attention as he continues. "I've been thinking a lot about what moving forward means for us, and how you showed me I shouldn't do everything on my own." He takes a deep breath. "And I don't want to go into a relationship lying. I have a lot of secrets, Ochako."
"Like how it was you that recommended my parents to Mr. Howlett?"
Izuku nearly drops his ice cream. "How-"
You slipped earlier." Ochako smiles mirthfully. "You called him 'Uncle Logan' while we were at the restaurant. When he came over to my parents' house, he told me his 'nephew' recommended us. And when I thought about it, I realized he came over only a couple of days after I first told you about my parents' work."
Looking like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Izuku hunches his shoulders a bit, his eyes looking everywhere but at her. "I'm sorry, I know I kind of went behind your back, but I was only trying to help, and Uncle Logan has had nothing but great things to say about your parents-"
Another quick kiss shuts him up again. Huh, her mom was right. It really does work.
"I think…" It's Ochako's eyes that wander around the room this time. "I think if I had found out back then I might've been a little upset? But it's been months and every time I talk to my parents on the phone, or go home to visit for a weekend, they're happier than I've ever seen them. And I wouldn't trade that for anything."
She boops Izuku on the nose. "So, no, you dork. I'm not mad. But you are gonna have to make it up to me." Izuku cowers at Ochako's mischievous smile. "You know, my dad talks constantly about meeting the person who recommended them…"
"Excuse me while I find the nearest bonfire to throw myself into."
Ochako gives him a light smack. "Don't be silly, my parents would love you!"
"I think you're overestimating me."
Crossing her arms, Ochako goes in for the kill. "I went to meet your parents and your dad is a god."
"Technically an alien?" Izuku tries, but Ochako's unimpressed look tells him it didn't help at all. "Fine." He admits defeat. "But if I die, it'll be on your conscience."
"Don't be so dramatic!" Ochako snickers, before toning it down a little. "And I would like you to trust me enough to tell me your secrets, but if that's not today, I understand. You don't have to-"
"No, no." Izuku stops her. "I want to, I do! I just have to build up to it. Okay…okay here we go." Izuku hypes himself up a bit, something Ochako finds very entertaining. "I'll start with the smaller stuff. The restaurant gave us free stuff because I bought it."
"You bought it?!" Ochako shouts in disbelief. "Like, the whole thing?!" She waits for him to say he's joking but when he doesn't… "I know Kaminari said you guys had some extra money because of who your dads are. But I didn't realize that much!!" Alright, so her boyfriend has a little more money than she realized-
"I also bought the movie theater we went to."
"That's a nation-wide chain!! How-"
"And the dessert place we went to."
"You didn't have to-"
"And there's a nearby aquarium and museum I thought you might like to go to one day, so I-"
"Izuku!!"
The green-haired boy puts his hands up in defense. "The lady we talked to? She was the owner and I gave her way more than it was worth, and now she can help out with her grandkids, I don't think that's a bad thing."
"Okay, okay…okay." Ochako slaps her hands together. "Not a big deal, my boyfriend can just buy anything he wants whenever, it's not a big deal. Not like it's crazy or anything." The lunacy of the situation made Ochako laugh a little more, head still trying to wrap around everything. "I'm surprised you didn't try to buy the mall at this rate?" she jokes.
"…"
"It- it's a joke, Deku. You didn't actually try to buy the mall, did you?!"
"…"
"Izuku."
"Contracts with the owners of the land made it so the mall owners couldn't sell to me."
Ochako stares dumbfounded at Izuku, who can only offer a sheepish grin. "I thought you said you were starting with the small secrets?!" she shouts.
"I am!"
Ochako's gonna need a lot more mochi, isn't she? "Okay, before we keep going," she grabs a hold of his shoulders, careful not to float him. "I can't even put into words how grateful I am you'd go that far for me, but please don't do something like this again, okay? It's very sweet, but I don't need a bunch of money spent on me to be happy."
"But-"
"Nuh-uh, I'm still talking." She puts a finger to his lips. "How about from now on, we decide together what we're gonna do, and there will be no more buying of places or business before our dates, am I clear?" Izuku nods. "Good, and next time we go out, it's my treat."
Izuku looks almost offended when she says the last part, but a look that clearly says 'you better not challenge me' from Ochako keeps him quiet. "It's my treat." After a few seconds of debating with himself, Izuku seems to finally give in and nods.
"Good." Ochako lets go of him, satisfied. "If that was the small stuff, I can't even imagine what the big stuff is."
"Yeah…"
"So, were you able to seduce your young woman today?"
Izuku groans. "Daaaad. Why do you have to say it like that?" He whines to a much amused Loki.
The pair walk comfortably together down a semi-busy sidewalk at night, only having to step out of the way of the occasional biker or other people walking by. Cars whisk past them, going much faster than the posted speed limit, while the lights of various shops illuminate around them.
"Say it like how, Izuku? I see it as nothing more than a simple question into my son's life," Loki shrugs.
"Okay, first off, there was no seducing." Izuku says the last word with revulsion. "We just spent the day getting to know each other more and doing fun activities together. You know, just a date."
"Ah, it always slips my mind how…slow things happen in Midgard." Loki contemplates his words. "On Asgard, most relationships begin during feasts with heavy drinking."
"Dad, don't."
"I've witnessed it many times with your uncle, Izuku," Loki narrates, unbothered with Izuku's growing horror. "Most of the time, he and a woman would not even have to exchange words. They would just look at each other from across the hall-"
"Dad, I'm begging you."
"A god doesn't beg, Izuku. Now, for me personally, there wasn't much in the way of potential partners for me on Asgard, due to my origins as a Frost Giant, so I had to seek romantic conquests elsewhere."
"Oh my gods, please don't call them conquests! Hey, wait, that's not what mom was, was she?!!"
"Don't be preposterous, of course, she wasn't. But, as it turns out," Loki nods to a few passing women who giggle and wave at him. Even one of the men in the group looks his father up and down, interested. Meanwhile, Izuku debates what would be worse: stabbing himself and dying, or stabbing himself, surviving, and having to face Ochako and Eri's wrath after.
"Aspiring partners are the same throughout most worlds," Loki recalls. The god reaches, grabbing the thin air where Izuku was trying to run away while invisible, hoisting the boy next to him by the back of his collar. "You present them a lively environment with entertainment and drinks and it ends just the same."
Oh, oh no. Izuku doesn't like the smirk on his father's face one bit. "Sometimes, they'd need a tad more convincing. And that's when singing-"
"No! Dad-"
"Men trærne danser og fossene stanser," Loki sings in Asgardian, in full volume of everyone on the street!! "Når hun synger, hun synger 'kom hjem.'"
"This is embarrassing-"
"Men trærne danser og fossene stanser. When she sings, she sings 'come home.' When she sings, she sings 'come home.'"
By this point, Izuku is begging Heimdall to get him out of there, just something, anything. He knows the gatekeeper can hear him! "Are you done?…"
"For now. But I'm more than happy to sing the next seven verses, if you'd wish-"
"That's alright!" Izuku waves his hands in front of his dad. "Seriously."
"Very well," the God of Mischief chooses to spare his son…for now. "Anything else of interest occur while you were at the mall?"
"Oh! We ran into the big three while we were there! Talked to Mirio for a bit, I told you about him. And saw Amajiki too when he wasn't hiding behind Mirio." Izuku laughs. "He said Hado was there, but we had just missed her; she went running off for bug spray or something."
"And then I told her it was good to see her and left…oh! And I called you as soon as I turned the corner, just like you told me to!!"
Nejire Hado rocks back and forth on her feet, swinging her arms around, and overall just being a lot more…fidgety than normal. Even when the blue-haired girl's hands stop moving, she's either rubbing them together or brushing them through her hair.
Naomasa Tsukauchi taps the back of his pencil a few times on his notepad, before continuing to write. Nejire stands in a small mall security office, flanked by Mirio and Tamaki, while the detective sits at the provided desk, all of them away from any prying ears.
It had taken him a little while to get there after Nejire had called, but it gave her time to finish shopping and hang out with her friends, so she could hardly complain. Plus, it gave her time to digest that she technically had a causal conversation with one of the most wanted villains in the country today.
If you had asked Nejire what she thought she'd be doing today, it wasn't that! There was breakfast and her morning workout- oh, and sleeping! She technically slept today, that was first! So it was sleeping, breakfast, workout, shower-
Wait!
Did she eat first and then work out? Or was it the other way around? Doesn't she usually work out first? Exercising with a full tummy isn't very comfortable. And it could more easily make her throw up! Nejire hates puking. It just always leaves the most awful taste in her mouth.
That reminds her! She's gonna need extra toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash before leaving today! Nothing worse than having a stinky mouth! And- hold on, why was she there again?
"Great." Tsukauchi flips his notebook shut, putting it back in his trench coat pocket. "I think that's everything I needed, unless there's anything else you remembered?"
"No, sir!" Nejire shakes her head. "I did just like you told me after Hosu. I didn't make a scene, I didn't try to arrest her, and I called you as soon as we were done talking!"
"And we're thankful you're okay." Mirio attempts to keep his trademark smile up, but it's strained by his worry. He looks down at Tsukauchi. "I wish you had let her call us." Tamaki nods vigorously. "We all have our provisional licenses and plenty of experience, we could have-"
The detective raises his hand to silence him, smiling kindly. "We're trying not to cause even more public panic. Since the monsters at Hosu and the news breaking that Lady Nagant escaped, everyone's been a bit on edge. A brawl at the mall where Shigaraki could have had access to dozens of hostages isn't exactly ideal for restoring people's confidence."
Nejire looks like she wants to say something but stops herself.
Putting his pencil behind his ear, Tsukauchi recalls something said earlier. "Oh, I'm sorry. You said you were all here getting supplies for a school trip happening soon?"
That's right," Mirio confirms. "Nejire, Tamaki, and I are going with the first year hero students to their training camp. Principal Nezu wants extra security after what happened to the Pussycats during the Sports Festival."
"Of course," Tsukauchi agrees solemnly.
"Yeah…" Nejire says, her eyes dimming a bit in sadness. "They've changed sites since the attack, but Principal Nezu wants to be safe rather than sorry."
"Makes sense." The detective sighs, taking a deep breath. "Well, thank you for contacting me so soon, and I apologize for not getting here sooner. Police business, you know how it is. But if that's all that happened, you're all free to go. I'll be in contact if I have any follow up questions."
"Yes, sir." Nejire gives him a little salute, letting her friends walk out of the office, before halting at the doorway, catching Tsukauchi's attention, her voice almost uncertain for the first time. "When you catch her…you're going to help her, right? You're not just gonna leave her alone in a cell for the rest of her life?"
"While I'm not sure about her ever getting out, that's for the courts to decide, therapy and counseling are always options we offer."
Nejire hums, still not looking completely convinced. "Would it be okay if I visited?"
The detective shifts a bit in his seat. "I'll see what I can do." Seemingly content for now, Nejire thanks him again and walks out of the room, Tsukauchi watching her leave.
"I see. And what about your studies? They are giving you no problems, I assume?" Loki inquires. Izuku nods. "Fantastic. And your clones, any new ones since the thirteenth?"
"No, he's still the last."
"I see." Loki sighs. "I do wish I could aid you with the personality aspect of your decoys. But sadly, mine never developed those traits."
"It's fine, dad." Izuku waves him off. "Believe me, I don't think there's a person out there who could understand what I'm going through with my clones."
Twice sneezes.
"That's very unfortunate to hear. And what of your extracurricular activities?"
The teen trips on a crack on the sidewalk, his face only saved from the pavement by Loki grabbing him. "W-w-what do you mean, dad?"
"Come now," his father chuckles, giving Izuku a very dramatic eye roll. "After all the years you've been at it, did you seriously consider that I wasn't aware? Not to mention, despite what you may believe, I do keep track of what you spend my money on. The fake companies, the blood donation center, the bank, shall I continue?"
"No! No…" Izuku trails off, unsure, afraid to look up at his dad. "Are you mad?"
"Mad? Mad?!!" Loki laughs, kneeling down and grabbing his arms. "My son is using the lessons I've taught him, how could I be upset?! You're using your abilities to help control the narrative, to build your own information network on both sides. Izuku, I'm so proud!"
Going red at the praise, Izuku scratches the back of his head. "It's like you said, can't win a war from only one side, right?"
"Indeed." Loki stands back up, continuing their walk. "Now as I understand it, there is a potential traitor at your school?" Izuku long stopped trying to figure out how his father knows everything. "Pity it's not you. Had it been, you could have caused untold amounts of damage. That is my one criticism, but a minor one in my opinion compared to all the work you are doing. And all by yourself as well, nicely done."
"Yeah, I…was doing it by myself."
Izuku can feel his father's side-eye, but they press on. "Until today, that is." Izuku swallows, but he made his decision and already did it. And he was proud of himself for it. "I told Ochako about everything I've been doing. All of it."
Loki hums, not saying anything for almost a full minute. Did Izuku still think he made the right decision? Yes. Was his anxiety over what his father would say also growing with every passing second? Yes. "Not something I would have recommended," Loki finally remarks, his tone light. "How did she take it? Begged you to stop and told you it wasn't worth it, I assume?"
"…No, actually." Izuku can't remember any time he's seen a look of surprise on Loki's face, but tonight may have just become the first. "She's not- I wouldn't say she's exactly happy with what I'm doing, but she's not telling me to stop, at least, not after hearing how deep I am. Instead, she offered to help me."
"She wishes to assist you?" Loki speaks slowly, as if making sure Izuku could hear him clearly.
"Yeah." The pair stop in front of an alley, the street now nearly empty. "She said that's what people who trust each other do. They help the other out when one is being a 'dummy.'" Izuku chuckles a bit. "And make sure they get out safely."
"And you trust her?"
"I do." Izuku's voice leaves no room for argument.
"I suppose there'll be no talking you out of it then?" Izuku shakes his head. "Not that there would be much of a point at this stage, since you've gone ahead and already told the girl. Unless, you'd allow me to-"
"She's not a random villain you beat up in an alley, Dad, you can't alter her memories."
"As you wish." Loki peers off in the distance for a moment in thought. "Does anyone else know of your activities?"
"Tensei Iida."
"The Ingenium boy? But why-" Loki cuts himself off, face settling on realization. "Ghost Rider?"
Izuku nods, shivering a bit at the memory of the Rider staring at him during Hosu. "He can see the sins of anyone he looks at, and he saw mine the night he appeared." He sighs, brushing a hand through his hair. "And anything the Rider knows, Tensei knows. He confronted me about it that night at the hospital."
"You haven't been exposed, so I am correct in assuming you were able to persuade him to stay silent?"
"About that…"
"Money matters not to me, how much did you use to bribe him?"
"I-I didn't!" Izuku defends himself. "But since I'm not hurting any heroes and because he knows who my relatives are…" he gestures weakly to Loki. "To make it up to him, I kinda promised we'd all find a way to break the Ebony Blade's curse on Iida together?"
Loki's stare could not be flatter. "You do realize that I do not know how to break the curse, off-hand?"
"Y-yeah…but if anyone can find out, it's you!"
"You must think I'm a piece of bread that needs to be buttered so heavily," Loki remarks. "But very well, I shall at least attempt to find a cure."
"Thanks, Dad." Izuku smiles genuinely, causing his father to snicker, and pat him on the head. Looking down the alley they were still standing in front of, Izuku exhales, waving his hand.
An illusion appears in front of them of a doctor leaning lazily against his desk, his head resting on his hand.
"Sorry kid, it's not gonna happen."
"Your first illusion?" Loki questions, looking down at his boy.
"Yup," Izuku confirms. "Sometimes I like to recreate it, just to remind myself how far I've come."
Loki snorts, putting his arm around Izuku. "How sentimental of you. But remember, there's still much further you can go."
A scream down the alleyway causes them to separate. A young woman sprints down out of the shadows to them. "Help me, help me please!" She runs to Loki, hiding behind him. "Please, p-please help or he's gonna get me!"
The next thing they hear is a roar from down the alley, and Izuku can't believe who comes running up to them, crashing through his illusion. A large man with a bull mutation.
"I can hardly believe it!" Loki laughs, clapping his hands. "Izuku, look who it is. This cannot be the same bull-man I defeated the day after you got your powers, can it?"
As if to confirm their suspicions, the bull-man points angrily at Loki, his face contorted in rage. "YOU!! I remember you! I've been thinking about nothing but payback for years!"
Izuku squints. "Wait, were you-"
"You're not getting out of this either!!" The villain shouts at Izuku. "You're the little shit who put us all in the hospital at the USJ!!"
"Really, if I haven't said it enough, well done with that, Izuku."
"Thanks, Dad, that means a lot."
"DON'T IGNORE ME!!" The bull-man begins to scrape one leg on the ground, readying to charge. "You are both dying tonight!"
"Is that so?" Loki flicks his wrists, two daggers appearing from seemingly nowhere. "It's almost as if he resents us for putting him in prison."
"I know, right?" Izuku flicks his own wrists, conjuring his daggers.
A couple of days later…
"Midoriya! Dude! Uraraka! Get up!"
The green-haired boy yelps, jumping up in his plane seat, one of his wireless earbuds falling out of his ear. "-square in the face, this fuckin' world better prepare to get laced, because they're gonna taste my-"
A groggy Izuku pauses his music, rubbing his eyes to get a better look around the private plane, but instead finds an excited Tokage in front of him, grinning madly with her hero costume on. "Up and at'em sleepy head, we're gonna be landing soon!"
Izuku nods, straightening up a bit, and only going a little red at the sight of Ochako yawning from where she had slept against him. To be fair, them falling asleep together during the plane ride hadn't been much of an accident…
Setting his sights a few seats down, he giggles at the sight of an exhausted looking Shinso, who seems ready to strangle the chattering Denki next to him.
Shinso's head falls from where it was resting against the seat, the brainwasher noticing that Midoriya is awake. "Your cousin has not stopped talking this entire flight."
Denki puts his hands behind his head, leaning back. "I'm chatty, it's part of my charm."
"You are like an excitable puppy."
"Aw, thanks, man!"
"I prefer cats."
Izuku laughs, helping Ochako sit up, only for her to latch back onto him, whispering for a couple of more minutes. How could he say no? He looks back up at the bickering teenagers. "Hey, Shinso. Would it help if I turned him into a cat?"
"…Maybe."
"Heeeeey! What if you just made an illusion of a cat?" Denki suggests, hopeful.
"I could…" He can tell Denki knows he won't like the next thing out of his mouth. "But where's the fun in that?" The blond groans and for the first time, Shinso seems to be enjoying himself.
Shaking his head in amusement, Izuku looks out the window, a land mass appearing in the distance. They were almost to I-Island.