Chapter 12: Tell The Truth!
Izuku still had a dopey smile on his face as he fit his key into the lock on the apartment door. He had walked Ochako back to her door and she had laid another haymaker of a kiss on him before he left. After that he had walked home in a daze. It wasn't a dissimilar feeling to the effects of her quirk. His stomach kept trying to detach itself from his body and he felt like he might as well have been walking on clouds. Izuku had done his best to rub her lipstick off of him before he got home but he was still desperately hoping he could sneak past his mother and shower before dinner to help hide the evidence. He toed off his sneakers in the genken, and tip-toed past the kitchen.
"Izuku? Is that you? Could you come in here?" Izuku sighed quietly and made his way to the living room. So much for the stealthy approach.
"Yeah mom, what's up?"
"My my, looks like someone has been having a little fun ." Izuku stiffened at the familiar teasing tone. He looked up in horror into the smirking face of Kayama Nemuri, lounging on the chair opposite his mother sipping from a glass of red wine. She was wearing a long gauzy navy skirt and a white top, her glasses doing little to hide the mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "It seems like you got caught in the bloom of young romance, eh Izuku?"
"K-Kayama-sensei?! What are you doing here?"
"I invited her, darling." Inko was sitting on the couch with her own glass of wine. She was similarly dressed in slightly more formal attire, a dark gray skirt with a green blouse and an off white sweater over her shoulders. "I thought that this was a good opportunity to have your mentors over for dinner to thank them for all the work they've done. She's our guest so be respectful." Midnight waved away Inko's rebuke.
"It's alright, Inko-san. I'm sure it's quite shocking to have your teacher show up out of the blue to have dinner and wine with your lovely mother." She winked and Inko blushed with a light giggle. "You simply have to tell me your skin care routine. You barely look old enough to be Midoriya's sister!" Kayama's eyes glinted with joy over the rim of her wine glass. Izuku resisted a shudder as he watched his teacher flirt with his mom. What. Is. Happening?
"Darling, why don't you go get changed into something a little more formal for dinner, okay?" His mom suggested. "We're still waiting on our other guest."
"Why Inko, you wouldn't be trying to get me alone would you? How scandalous."
Izuku mechanically walked toward his room to the soundtrack of his mother and teacher's laughter. All of the hope and positivity in his heart from the amazing date with Ochako shriveled and died. This, this is hell.
"Nemuri, you are a riot!" More than enough wine had been poured at this point that Nemuri had switched to water for the rest of the evening. The last thing she wanted to do was get truly drunk in front of three strangers, especially when two were her student and his mother. "I really can't thank you enough for everything you've done for my son. He's finally come out of his shell while at U.A. and from what he's told me you've had quite a lot to do with that."
"He's the one doing all the work, Inko. I'm just giving him a little guidance."
"Still, I want you to know that I appreciate it." She settled her wine glass against the end table next to her. "May I ask you a question though?" Inko leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees and rest her chin on her bridged fingers. Her eyes, which had been kind and open, hardened into a cold and calculating stare. The intensity that rolled off of her irradiated any doubt Nemuri could have had that this was Izuku's mother. It was the same stare that she had seen in Izuku when he assessed a task in training. It was a stare meant to dissect a problem to its core and reveal every avenue of victory and it was currently making Nemuri empathize for all the bugs under microscopes everywhere. "Why are you helping my son?"
Well this was a development. Honestly, Nemuri should have expected something like this. From what little Izuku had told her about his mother she was a fiercely protective woman who had raised Izuku on her own since he was born. If Nemuri were in her position she would also be wary of strangers who entered her child's life. Still, does she have to be so scary?!
"Initially it was just because he was a student who asked for help. I would have done the same for anyone but after that first lesson… he reminded me a lot of myself." Nemuri swallowed thickly at the rush of memories from her own first year at U.A. "I had a lot of people help build me up when I was his age. I know what it's like to be anxious and scared and feel like you don't deserve to be a hero. I wanted to help him the way others helped me and at this point he's kind of like a little brother to me."
Nemuri felt a little surprised at the answer herself. The more she talked the more she realized each word was true. Izuku had started out as her student but he did feel like family. She was used to being the youngest in the room. Her friends at U.A. were the year ahead of her and she mostly grew up at the salon surrounded by older women. Shouta and Hizashi still had a tendency to treat her like a younger sibling at times. It felt nice to step into the older sister role for a change. She felt a weight leave her shoulders as Inko's stare relaxed.
"You're a good woman, Kayama Nemuri. I'm sorry for the interrogation, I just had to make sure. You understand, don't you?"
"Y-yeah, of course." Was this how All Might felt when I cornered him in the staff room? Maybe I should apologize to him.
Izuku pulled down the sleeves of his button up as he made his way back to the living room. Do I really need to get this hemmed? I just bought it!
"Hey mom, did this shirt get into the dryer by accident? I think it may have shrunk a bit." Inko went to respond when the doorbell rang.
"Oh! That must be our other guest. Izuku, could you set the table? We'll be eating in a few minutes." She pressed a kiss to his forehead as she passed. "You look fine dear." Inko rushed to the entryway, leaving Izuku disoriented in her wake. Midnight unfolded herself from the chair and leaned in to whisper in Izuku's ear.
"You missed some lipstick on your cheek there." He blushed in embarrassment and furiously rubbed at his cheek as Kayama cackled. "Honestly, you make it too easy sometimes Midoriya! So, who's the lucky someone~" His teacher waggled her eyebrows at him and Izuku fought to not turn himself into a strawberry with his ever-darkening blush. Why did I ever think taking lessons from her was a good idea again? Izuku ignored the heroine's needling as his mom returned with a very familiar silhouette behind her.
"Okay, before everyone takes their seats, I believe some introductions are in order. Mr. Yagi, this is Kayama Nemuri. Nemuri, this is Yagi Toshinori, Izuku's personal trainer."
Izuku was caught like an observer to a train crash. If this were an anime he imagined the camera would pan on his face giving him the classic fish-eyed angle of horror. The skeletal form of All Might towered over his mother and the other occupants of the room. His familiar, but still hideous, yellow suit hung off of his frame, a wine bottle clutched in one arm. His mentor looked even more gaunt as shock filled his features. Midnight was similarly stunned, all traces of the teasing Izuku had endured earlier erased.
"Yagi?!"
"Kayama?"
"All- Yagi?!"
"Young Midoriya?"
"And I'm Inko!" His mother clapped her hands. "Now, would everyone please sit down? Dinner is served!"
I was wrong, Izuku thought dizzily as his mother began to herd people into their seats. Hell has to be better than this.
The uncomfortable silence was only broken by the occasional cough and the clicking of chopsticks against plates. Izuku sat across from his mom, who had attempted to make small talk but had fallen silent as the tension grew between the others at the table. Izuku had no idea what was going through her head right now, but he knew that she had at least realized there was more to the situation than met the eye. Izuku himself was mostly stuck in panic mode, cataloging the questioning glares Kayama was sending at both him and Yagi. His mentor was eating slowly, focused on the rice in front of him. Izuku knew it must have been doubly uncomfortable for him. He was not only forced into this situation but food in general was a somewhat touchy subject for the hero after his stomach injury. He couldn't eat much and often had to drink supplement-infused water and shakes in order to maintain some semblance of a normal diet. Still, Izuku appreciated his silent reassuring presence more than he could ever put into words. Izuku had managed to focus mostly on his own plate, but now that people were finishing up the heavy tension in the room was ratcheting up once again.
"Well, I suppose I will go get the dessert I prepared." Inko stood up from the table. "Please excuse me." Midnight stood from the table with a heated glare toward Yagi.
"Allow me to help you, Inko-san." When both had walked away, Izuku nodded his head to the hallway and he and Yagi slipped away.
"This is a little awkward, my boy."
"Oh you think?" Izuku pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a breath. "Sorry, All Might. I'm just a little overwhelmed right now."
"No need for apologies my boy, it was a poor attempt at a joke. What do you think we should do, young Midoriya?"
"I don't know. I mean, Midnight is definitely going to figure things out sooner or later. And my mom is absolutely going to know that things aren't right even if we convince Kayama not to tell her. I just- I don't know All Might. I can't really see a way out of this."
"Well, we could always tell them the truth, my boy." Izuku gaped at his mentor.
"But sir! Are you sure it would be a good idea?" All Might laid a hand on his shoulder.
"One for All is your quirk now, Izuku. You are the one who holds this burden and you are the one who decides who to let in on this. I kept everything secret for most of my life but you are far more sociable than I ever was." His eyes grew a little foggy as his voice dropped. "The closest people I had to family were my master and Gran Torino and both knew about our quirk long before I did. There were few people that I met throughout my life that I even thought about telling the truth."
"But that was because of All for One, right? Telling people could put them in danger."
"Yes and no." At Izuku's look of confusion, All Might sighed. "Being associated with me could have put people in danger, true. But telling them what they were in for could have also helped protect myself and them. Sometimes I wonder if I had involved more people in the fight against that demon if we would be having any of the problems we are today.
"But there will always be risks, young Midoriya. Taking the idea of One for All and All for One out of the equation, you're aiming to be the top hero. The next Symbol of Peace. That will cause some issues in and of itself. There are quite a few enemies I've made over my career that would love nothing more than to track down someone close to me and use them to get to me, even disregarding All for One and his syndicate. There is always risk involved in being a loved one to a great hero. I never gave myself the chance to find out if the risk was worth it. Maybe it will be for you though."
All Might offered him a tight smile. This was a far cry from the brash and bold smiles of the number one hero. This smile was from Yagi Toshinori, his mentor. In it was the burden that came with holding on to their great secret over his many years of having the quirk. "Isn't that what us old folks are for after all? To make the world better for you kids?"
"Would you tell them?" Izuku sniffled. "If you were in my position would you tell them the truth?"
All Might was silent for a long moment before responding. "I isolated myself from a young age because I wanted to be a pillar. I wanted to be the one to hold up society and show them that things could change. And maybe it worked, but my boy, you have to choose your own path. You're going to be twice the hero that I ever was, Izuku. You're so smart and you've got even more resolve in you than me. But you are a social kid. You have friends and peers that motivate you, family that loves you and wants to protect you. You have to decide what's right for you."
Yagi brought his arms around Izuku and crushed him into a hug. Izuku melted into his mentor's embrace. He had gotten to enjoy a lot of hugs from All Might in the almost year and a half he had known him. His muscle form gave amazing hugs but there was something very special about being hugged by the skinnier version of his mentor. They shared the same warmth, but this way Izuku could wrap his own arms around Yagi's midsection. The slight boniness of the taller man's elbows and ribs, it felt right. It felt like finding a missing piece of himself.
"Alright," Izuku said. He wiped the tears that threatened to leak out away from his eyes and set his face in a determined expression. "Let's tell them the truth."
Nemuri was skeptical of the way that Izuku and Yagi were conspiring as she returned to the table. She didn't know why All Might was here, or how Inko seemingly didn't know that Yagi was the fucking Number One Hero, but she was on guard and ready for anything that those two could come up with to try and lie to her.
And then they started talking.
Frankly most of what they were saying was utterly ridiculous. A transferrable quirk? All Might's transferrable quirk? It was insane. What were the odds that the number one hero would stumble on a quirkless boy with a heart of gold in a city with millions of people and stick around to witness an act of heroism that he personally considered so inspiring that he decided to train the boy to become the next symbol of peace and holder of the single most powerful individual quirk to ever exist? It was preposterous and crazy and every word was true .
Nemuri had spent enough time around both Izuku and Yagi to figure out their tells and neither of them were accomplished liars. Hell most of the faculty had figured out there was something shady that All Might was keeping quiet. Most of them just figured he had a secret love child somewhere and that's why he was settling down. Snipe had even put money that it was Midoriya that was his misbegotten child and Yagi had finally gotten around to actually being a dad. (Frankly Nemuri would have thought that was far more likely than the tale that those two had just told her.)
It was simply too absurd not to be true though, and that frightened Nemuri to her core. Izuku's quirk, the bone shattering quirk that also apparently held the quirks of six other heroes in it, wasn't just a late addition. He was never supposed to have it in the first place. His quirk wasn't just too strong for his body, it seemed like One for All would have been too strong for anyone's. He had had a quirk for less than six months. A part of her marveled at the idea that with only a few months of experience using a quirk and a year of intense physical training Izuku had managed to rocket himself to near the top of U.A 's first years. It was impressive on its own but with context it was a damn miracle.
Another large part of her wanted to smack All Might upside his stupid head. Based on the sheepish glances in her direction the man had some idea of the number of violations to protocol and basic fucking ethics he had committed in the process of his and Midoriya's first meeting. That fact alone saved him from her ripping into him in front of the Midoriyas but she was going to have words for him when they left here.
"Izuku, I- well, I'm not sure I understand entirely. This 'blackwhip', it's not a mutation on my quirk but it's the quirk of, you said a 'vestige'?" Inko looked baffled as she stared at her son. Nemuri couldn't really blame her for that. Not only did All Might give a teenager the strongest quirk in existence, but oh yeah it was also haunted by the ghosts of the dead previous users.
"Yeah. I can, uh, I can sort of talk to a version of the previous holders that has been saved inside of One for All. I don't know if it's their souls, exactly, but it's like a version of their mind that was saved by the quirk before they passed on One for All."
"There is still quite a lot we don't know," All Might picked up the thread. "Unfortunately, most of the history of the previous users of One for All was lost. Many passed on the quirk in their final moments to the nearest available person. Izuku and I are the exceptions to the rule, in a sense. My master chose me based on my desire to be a symbol. I chose Izuku for similar reasons."
Nemuri narrowed her eyes at All Might. The users of one of the most powerful quirks to ever exist dying in battle? All of them? Who the hell was powerful enough to hunt down several generations of quirk users each more powerful than the last? Her eyes drifted to Yagi's side where his injury was hidden by his clothes. Could he have… She and Yagi definitely needed to have a chat after this.
This time it was Inko's turn to glare at the Symbol of Peace. "And were you ever planning on telling me all of this yourself, Yagi? Or were you going to continue lying to Izuku's mother the whole time you trained him?"
"I-, well you see-"
"Did you not stop to think through the consequences of your actions or did you assume that your being the number one hero would just inure us all to your mistakes?"
"I- but,- that's not exactly-" "I suppose being the number one hero has made you feel a certain sense of invulnerability. Well that's not the case. I'm afraid that a smile won't be enough to solve your problems this time, All Might."
"Mom!" Izuku hissed. Even Nemuri was forced to wince at the venom in Inko's voice. If she had thought she was in danger earlier then she had no idea the kind of terror was in Yagi's heart right now. "That's uncalled for."
"No, it's alright, young Midoriya. She is not wrong. I have made several mistakes in my time as your teacher and I can only hope that you forgive me in the future."
Nemuri watched Inko eye the symbol of peace, judging his words. The mother sighed.
"I'm sorry, Yagi-san. I'm afraid I let my surprise overwhelm my better judgement."
"It's alright ma'am, I recognize this must be a lot all at once." Inko waved his words away and wrapped her hands around the cup of coffee in her hands. Much of the rest of desert had been forgotten in the wake of the bombshells that were dropped, but Inko had kept a steady flow of coffee into her own cup to stay sane while processing her son's story.
"I know a thing or two about fool-hardy men keeping national secrets, Yagi. It's difficult to place trust in others when you bear the entire world on your shoulders." She traced her fingers around the rim of her coffee mug, staring at something that none of the rest of them could see. "I wasn't as supportive of Izuku being a hero as I should have been." Izuku opened his mouth to protest but Inko cut him off. "No it's true Izuku. It is one of my biggest regrets that it has taken me this long to realize this was more than a child's fantasy. I thought if I dissuaded you from it I could keep you safe, but you're too much like your father, stubborn down to your toes the both of you."
She looked up at All Might. "You have done more for my son's dreams than I ever have. You gave him the opportunity to be a hero. If not for you I don't think Izuku would be anywhere near as happy as he is today." Her eyes hardened again. "But if my boy gets hurt again you will wish that you had never been born, got that?"
"Y-yes ma'am." All Might dropped into a low bow on the floor, making Nemuri's eyes widen in surprise. "I promise, I will protect Izuku with my life. I will die for him if need be."
"No," Nemuri whipped her head over to Inko who beheld All Might with all the weight of the world in her eyes. She seemed to hold on to an unspeakable grief with her gaze, and Nemuri wondered what could have happened to her to give her such a haunted look. "It is very easy to die for someone, All Might. You're my son's hero; it would break his heart if you died. No. What I'm asking you to do is much harder. I'm asking you to live for him. Treat him like your child, your legacy. Because as far as I see it, being your successor is taking on your legacy. So train him, nurture him. Protect him. But don't die for him, Yagi Toshinori. Live for him."
"So why do it now?" Inko had asked for a little time to process all the truths that had been revealed tonight and had retreated to her room. Nemuri took advantage of the opportunity to fix All Might with a glare that promised if he left without her she would hunt him down and grab the younger Midoriya by the arm and drag him off to his room to have a private conversation. She was barely fazed by the litany of All Might merch in his room, though made a mental note to tease him for it later, and immediately launched into her questions.
"Well," Izuku picked at a nail while he considered his answer. Nemuri reached into her purse and shoved a fidget cube into his hands. He smiled in thanks before continuing. "I honestly wanted to tell you for a while now. But it's not just my secret, you know? It's wrapped up with All Might's secrets too and I couldn't just go blabbing out those to people. One for All has a complex history and even I don't know all of it."
He fiddled with the cube for a moment. "I interned with All Might's teacher, Gran Torino. All Might always said his master was the one who inspired him and enabled him to be a teacher but Gran was the one who made him into All Might. I need that too. All Might is my inspiration, my predecessor, but I need someone who can help me figure out the type of hero that I want to be." He looked up at her with those big green eyes and she cursed every god she could think of that the boy had learned to weaponize them. "I need someone like you. You're just as important to me as All Might, Kayama-sensei. I'm sorry that I lied to you."
Nemuri gave up pretending to be angry and brought him into a hug. "Nah, it's okay, kiddo. You've got nothing to apologize for. It's like you said, there's a lot of other people's secrets at stake too." She squeezed him a little bit tighter. Most of her anger had just been worry. All this talk of quirks and legacies made her head spin and she had years of experience as a hero. Izuku was just fifteen and this was what he was worrying about at night?
"Just don't bottle this stuff up anymore, okay? You've got people that you can rely on, like me or your mom or even that big blond idiot out there." Izuku let out a muffled laugh. "You can tell us anything, okay kid? You've got to let yourself feel things sometimes, Midoriya. Shoving all this stuff down can get you through the day, but sooner or later the pressure explodes."
"I will. Thank you." She felt her heart swell. Why did all this have to happen to this kid? Every time she learned something new about Izuku it made her even more worried about him. Another fluffy haired teen crossed her mind and she pulled Izuku in tight enough that he started to wriggle in her grasp. Why did the worst things always happen to the best people? She couldn't help Oboro anymore but she would be damned before she let anything else happen to Izuku.
"I've got some ideas on how to help you train Blackwhip. I'll start compiling some things for after you get back from the summer camp. For now, just make sure you're taking some time for yourself, yeah? You work too hard as it is and now that I know all the stress you've been putting yourself under…" Nemuri took a hand off his shoulder and took the opportunity to ruffle his hair. (Honestly, how the hell was it so soft? She should ask Inko if it was something he inherited from his dad or if she bought a specific shampoo.)
"Don't forget to be a kid, okay?"
"Yes, Kayama-sensei."
"Uh uh, cutie. You're family now. I've flirted with your mom and we've shared national secrets, I think that at least earns me Nemuri."
"Nemuri-san?"
"If you'd rather call me Nee-san, I think that could be arranged~"
"Nemuri works! I can do Nemuri!" She laughed and pinched his red cheeks.
"Good boy."
"I'm going to protect him." Toshinori looked curiously at Kayama as the two of them made their way down the darkened streets. A soft wind blew through the high-rises and apartment buildings, not enough to truly be cold near the beginning of July but enough to make All Might wish he had worn a jacket over his suit. His skinny form didn't have nearly as much insulation as his muscular form.
"Whatever it takes, I'm going to make sure that Izuku becomes the best hero he can be. But in order to do that, you need to tell me everything All Might." She looked up at him, blue eyes boring into his own. "I know you didn't tell his mother everything, but I'm a hero. Whatever it is, I can take it and I want to help." Yagi sighed. He knew it was no use arguing. The tone she used was the same one his master had used often, the same that young Midoriya used in battle. It offered no quarter or mercy and promised that she would go to the ends of the earth to see her words through.
"Let me tell you the story of two brothers…"
By the time he finished, Nemuri's face had hardened into a stony resolve.
"Wow… Shouta was right, you really are an idiot."
"Well that seems a little uncalled for."
"So is giving a fifteen year old boy a haunted quirk and putting him on the target list of a near immortal super villain who calls himself the Symbol of Evil!"
"That's fair."
"Don't get me wrong, I'm going to help take down All for One and his league as much as I can. But," she snuck a not too subtle look to his side that had Yagi bristling. "Do you really think you can beat him this time?"
"I'll have to. In order to keep my promise to young Midoriya and his mother, I'll stop him once and for all."
"Well then count me in. Let's go hunt a demon."
"I'm proud of you, Izuku." He paused holding the leftovers and looked toward his mom who focused on the dishes in the sink. "I know I wasn't always supportive of your dreams growing up, but you've chased them down and are making your way in this world. You've got some good mentors and good friends. Just please, no more secrets, okay?"
"Uh…" "Izuku? Do you have something to tell me?"
"I have a girlfriend." Izuku winced at the shattering sounds of plates hitting the ground.
"WHAT?!"
Katsuki ignored the chatter of his parents at the dining table. He deliberately missed the worried glances they kept sending him as he stirred his noodles in his bowl. He was going to be the best hero in the world. He would surpass All Might and Deku and anyone else who stood in his way. Wasn't he?
Because the way you treat him is wrong. It's wrong and cruel and it was unfair of the rest of the world to overlook your behavior. But it's the job of a hero to fight the cruelty and unfairness and the wrongs of the world.
This was ridiculous. Why the hell was he even worked up over this for? That hobo had no idea what he was talking about. Being a hero was about winning no matter what. It was about always being the best and crushing villains under his feet. Right?
Like Endeavor? A voice whispered from the back of his mind, one that sounded like Aizawa-sensei. He destroyed his family to try and beat All Might. Who's to say you won't be any different? Katsuki was jolted back to the conversation he had overheard at the Sports Festival. A whispered confession of a motivation that Katsuki couldn't even pretend to fully understand.
He shook his head violently to get rid of that thought, spraying broth across the table. He ignored the resulting yells from the hag. No, he was different from Endeavor. He was better. Stronger. Deku wasn't All Might and he wasn't Endeavor.
Deku has All Might in his corner, the whisper pointed out. He's watching out for him. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
But what was the lesson he was supposed to learn? Don't beat your fucking kids? Pretty easy, he never wanted any in the first place. Don't buy a wife in a desperate attempt to one up his rival? He didn't need one anyway. He was happier by himself. Leave the romance to Round Cheeks and Deku.
How about 'be a better person'? That seem like a good lesson?
You know, I don't like the actual version of you. Katsuki thought to the voice of Aizawa in his head. I like the mental version even fucking less.
Chapter 13: Have Some Fun With It!
¡EEVEE!
Sylveon
I really feel like I'm forgetting something…
Vaporeon
Same kero
Glaceon
Did you remember to pack a marker in case your evil twin invades the camp and we have to make a note on your head to remember which is the real one?
If not I am bringing extras.
Jolteon
Uhhhh
Umbreon
Todoroki what in the actual fuck
How do I get my hands on whatever drugs you are on
Vaporeon
Sometimes I worry about you Shoto
Sylveon
Sometimes?
Glaceon
@Umbreon I could ask Natsuo's boyfriend? But I don't believe I am on any drugs.
Flareon
@Sylveon Ochako I can send you the list again if you would like!
*Summer-training-camp-requirements.pdf*
Please remember that your shoes should be broken-in prior to the camp!
Sylveon
Thank you @Flareon
You're my favorite, class rep!!
Jolteon
:(
Sylveon
@Jolteon you're still my favorite don't worry
Jolteon
:D
Umbreon
So are we going to address the elephant in the room or what?
@Sylveon @Jolteon are you two dating or what?
Flareon
Shinsou! We agreed we would wait for them to tell us on their own!
Sylveon
Wait you guys knew?!
Betrayal!!
Jolteon
Ochako we were literally gone from the pool yesterday for like 20 minutes
The hickies on my neck were not subtle babe
And you were not much better
Sylveon
lol fair enough ig
Vaporeon
More importantly who asked out who
Flareon
*whom
Who asked out whom
Glaceon
@Flareon Three weeks of shame for violating the grammar police rules.
Jolteon
Shame!
Vaporeon
Shame @Flareon
Sylveon
Shame!
Bad Tenya!
Flareon
My apologies.
Sylveon
@Vaporeon I asked him out actually!
Finally womaned up
Umbreon
Dammit!
Vaporeon
Pay up, kero @Umbreon
Sylveon
You bet on us?!
TSU!!!!!!
Glaceon
@Umbreon Lesson one of the hero course
Never bet against Tsu
Vaporeon
*Ribbits Smugly*
Sylveon
Wait @Umbreon why are you even here???
I thought you didn't need friends
Umbreon
Reconnaissance and intelligence gathering
Plus Tsu is pretty cool
Vaporeon
*Ribbits Smugly*
"Bakugou, come here." Shouta watched the boy trudge over in his direction. His other brats were all clamoring over one another vying for the best space in the bus or to have their bags get on first or just generally making a racket. The two exceptions were Shinsou who stood off to the side with a glare and heavy headphones over his ears, and Bakugou who looked in far worse shape than Shouta had ever seen him. Heavy eyebags, not unlike his own, hung underneath his eyes. Maybe a little sleeplessness will help soften his edges a bit.
"What do you want?" The boy snarled at him. Or not.
"I was just going to remind you of the restrictions in place that even allow you to attend this camp in the first place. You use your quirk without permission, you go near Midoriya at all, you step one foot out of line and you're gone. Got it?"
"Yeah yeah, I got it, alright?" Shouta held his eyes for a beat before nodding. Bakugou wandered off back toward the group. There were some distinct divides amongst his students at Bakugou's presence. Midoriya's friends seemed to close ranks around him, Uraraka glaring holes into the side of the blond's head. Midoriya seemed tentative, though Shouta was thankful that the boy was keeping his distance. He wasn't sure he would have been the bigger person if Shouta was in that situation. Kirishima and Kaminari tried their best to engage Bakugou in conversation but they were steadily rebuffed. Sero and Ashido both gravitated toward their group but kept a small bit of distance, not quite closing in as much as they once would have. Jirou and Yaoyorozu floated closer to Midoriya's group with Ojiro, Tokoyami and Hagakure nearby. Sato, Shoji, and Koda stayed mostly neutral in their own small circle while Shinsou and Aoyama stood apart.
Ah, good. Teenage Drama. This was so much easier when I expelled more of these brats.
The bus was chaotic and loud. Iida was shouting in an attempt to establish some sort of order but was being roundly ignored by the rest of the class. Kaminari was charging six different phones, Jiro had hooked up a small speaker and was playing low electronica for the quiet kids in the back. Several people appeared to be shouting just for the fun of it and Katsuki was, of course, yelling back just as loudly. With all of that in consideration, Izuku felt incredibly at peace. Normally he would have been overwhelmed by all the chaos happening, but the warm presence of Ochako at his side made it far easier to tolerate his surroundings.
Ochako was pressed between him and the wall of the bus, head on his shoulder. Her soft breathing made him think that she was asleep but every so often she would try to burrow deeper into his side or squeeze his hand to remind him she was at least a little awake. Izuku scrolled idly through hero news and occasionally made notes about what he wanted to get out of the training camp. He hadn't gotten an opportunity to buckle down and work solely on improving One for All like this since his interrupted internship with Gran Torino and he wanted to make sure he got everything he could from it.
"Heyy, Midori~" Izuku looked up at Ashido who had mostly climbed over the seat to look down at the two of them. "Why can't I get snuggles like that, hm? Are they just girlfriend privileges?"
"Sorry, Ashido. You'd have to at least buy me dinner first."
"Boo." The pink girl pouted before giving Izuku a wink. "Well, I'm pretty good at sharing if you two are ever interested."
Izuku went to respond but a pair of strong arms wrapped around his center and squeezed him. Ochako mumbled from her place on his shoulder.
"Fuck off, Mina. He's mine." Mina laughed.
"If you change your mind just let me know, Ocha." Ashido sat back disappearing once more behind the seatback.
"So bold, that girl." Ochako, still mostly asleep, readjusted to lay across Izuku's lap with her head on his thighs.
"Hey, Ochako?" The girl in his lap let out a sleepy 'Hmm' so Izuku continued. "Does it bother you that I flirt with other people? You know I only want you right?" Ochako cracked open one eye to look at Izuku's face.
"Honestly Deku, it doesn't bother me. I get a little jealous, sure, but I know you're going to come back to me at the end of the day. Plus, it's part of your hero persona and I've seen how much more confident it's made you. Just don't forget you're mine, got it?"
"Got it." Izuku leaned in to press a quick kiss to his girlfriend's forehead. "You're the best, Ochako."
"You're damn right I am." Ochako rolled over to press her face into his stomach. "Now hush up, pillow. I'm going to try and get as much sleep as I can before Aizawa tortures us for a week straight."
The rest of the trip was quiet and mostly uneventful as many of his classmates took cues from Ochako and settled in to sleep or relax. Izuku switched to reading through the notes Midnight had given him on things she wanted him to work on. A lot of the items on it were things they had worked on together during their lessons: keeping his persona up during training, striking harder while not damaging the environment around him, trying to raise his controllable percentage of One for All, all things Izuku had expected to be on there. The one item on it he was most dreading, however, was trying to figure out a way to work on Blackwhip.
Daigoro said that the trigger for Blackwhip was his anger. There wasn't a shortage of things for him to be angry about. The years of abuse he had taken when he was quirkless. Stain and his followers. Tomura Shigaraki.
All for One.
But Izuku didn't like feeling angry. Anger felt hot and gross in his throat, like lava rising through his core. He couldn't think straight when he was angry. Everything got a little blurry in the peripherals. He preferred to stay in control. His mom said that cool heads always prevail in the end. Anger was like one of those energy drinks he had tried when he first started training with All Might: it gave him a small temporary boost but made him feel like crap at the end of the day.
Logically, Izuku knew that quirks were tied to the user's mental state. They were intrinsic parts of people and when they felt an overwhelming emotion their quirks would react. Izuku remembered countless occasions where tiny explosions would spark from Bakugou's hands and he had some of the strongest quirk control that Izuku had ever seen. Back in his fight with Mineta, One for All had reacted to his anger and flared past his max percentage for a brief moment. Even all the way back in the Stain fight he had felt One for All trying to strain past his limits. Blackwhip would respond to his emotions and if Izuku lost control of himself then the quirk would go out of control. He needed to figure out a new way of controlling the quirk. Anger on its own wasn't a sustainable method of summoning or controlling it. He had to find something else. But what?
What had caused Blackwhip to appear the first time? He had been overwhelmed. All Might seemed so unbeatable. He had been standing between him and his goal, Bakugou screaming and raging and attacking even his own teammates. So was that it: frustration?
That didn't feel quite right either. He needed to stop getting so bogged down by details. Why was he getting frustrated and angry? The first fight he felt that unstoppable rush of anger was against Stain. Then again against Mineta before it boiled over in the final exams. So what was the commonality?
The bus hit a bump that nearly caused Ochako to go flying from his lap. Izuku latched onto her so she wouldn't be thrown and it hit him: it was people. He was trying to protect Iida from Stain, Momo and his female classmates from Mineta, during finals he had been trying to protect Bakugou from All Might. Even as far back as the USJ, the first time he had ever used One for All without breaking anything he had been trying to keep Tsu from being Shigaraki's target. So was that it?
Izuku looked down at Ochako who hadn't stirred even from the turbulence. He tried to evoke a part of that protective anger inside of him. He thought about Tomura Shigaraki trying to lay a hand on her. One for All flared in the back of his mind. His quirk didn't activate fully, like it could tell the danger wasn't quite real. There was a cautious wriggling of Blackwhip beneath his skin preparing itself for a fight. It wasn't quite comfortable. It still felt like knives dancing on his nerves, but it wasn't as frenzied. It felt more like being at the wheel of a powerful car. If he put too much in he'd speed up too fast and crash but right now he just felt it idling, waiting for his call.
Yeah, I can work with this.
When they all eventually made their way off of the bus to a rest stop, they were greeted with a truly spectacular view of the forest and nothing else.
"Uhh, hey Aizawa-sensei? This doesn't seem like a rest stop? It kinda looks like we just pulled over on some random road." Kaminari said.
"Yeah, like, I thought it would be more of like a gas station? What gives?" Ashido joined in.
"Your feline fantasies are here!" A voice cut through the confusion. Izuku perked his head up. He knew that call out! "Say Meow!"
"Purr-fectly cute and cat-like girls!" Another voice joined the first.
"You can call us, the Wild Wild Pussycats!" The voices finished together. Stepping out from a dark sedan were two members of the famous mountain rescue team, Pixie Bob and Mandalay!
"Heya, Eraser!" Mandalay called out. "Long time no see."
"The Wild Wild Pussycats!" Izuku's excitement couldn't be contained anymore. "They're an amazing four person hero team specializing in mountain search and rescue! They're one of the highest ranking teams and have been active for over twelve years!" A large cat paw covered Izuku's mouth before he could say any more.
"I think you have your math wrong," Pixie Bob growled at him. "I'm eighteen at heart." Izuku pulled her hand from his mouth and winked at her.
"There's nothing wrong with experience, Ma'am. I'm sure you have a lot of valuable lessons to teach us and I can't wait to watch and learn from you." Izuku held on to eye contact with her until the older woman gave him a feral grin.
"Oh, I like this one Eraser. Can I keep him?"
"Once he's eighteen and has graduated, go nuts. Problem Child, do not cause any lawsuits on this trip. Everyone else, these are your guest teachers for this year's training camp. They will be hosting us at their forest camp just at the base of the mountain."
"Why did we stop so far away?" Ochako asked.
"We both know the reason for that." Tsu said.
"We should probably hop back on the bus, right?" came from Sero.
"Right now, it's 9:30 in the morning. If you're quick about it, maybe you'll make it there in time for lunch." Mandalay grinned wickedly.
In an instant the ground beneath them surged forward and dumped them all over the side of the guard rail. Izuku had time to think Damn you, Aizawa-sensei! before plummeting over the edge.
"You have three hours to finish. Have fun in the Beast's Forest, kittens!"
"Wait, did she say 'Beast's Forest'?" Kaminari asked. "That sounds like something out of a fantasy game!"
"That can't be right." Sato said. "We must have heard wrong."
Jiro groaned from her knees. "Why do we always fall for Aizawa's tricks?"
"C'mon guys!" Kirishima pulled Sero and Kaminari to their feet. "It's no use complaining. We should just get going!"
"Kirishima's right!" Izuku accepted the hand Iida offered and clambered up from the ground. "We should stick to groups as best we can. Partners at minimum but try to stay with the whole class." He moved to stand at the front of the class so he could see everyone. Most of them looked dirty but no one was injured in the fall which was good. "We can do this. Together!"
A roar came from the forest, answering Izuku's call. A huge four-legged monster, a mix between a lizard and a lion with a long whipping tail and claws the size of Izuku's arm, stepped out from the tree line. Its jaw opened and another roar tore through the clearing, making Shoji and Jiro clutch at their ears. Izuku looked back toward his class and felt a rush of protective anger.
I won't let anyone else get hurt because I was too weak to save them. I'm going to beat this thing. I'm going to win so I can save them!
One for All sparked to life around him. Izuku thrust a fist forward, black tendrils clawing free from his knuckles. Four branches of Blackwhip rushed to the creature, two wrapping around its massive torso and two more attaching to the trees behind it. Please, Daigoro. Lend me your strength. Give me the power to protect my friends! The strands of Blackwhip went taut, and rather than pull more, Izuku let the quirk take control. Izuku was catapulted forward to the beast and in his short flight he cocked his free hand back. "SAN FRANCISCO SMASH!"
Izuku crashed through the beast spraying earth and dirt everywhere. He rolled as he hit the other side, stumbling a little as he did his best to dispel his momentum. The remains of the monster collapsed. It lost its shape, falling back into soil as Pixie Bob's hold over it was broken. Izuku looked back at the others.
"Everyone, let's go Plus Ul-" Several more cries rang out as three more earthen monsters emerged from the woods ahead of them. Ah shit. This is gonna be a long week.
Izuku limped past the last remaining trees, barely managing to keep to his feet as the Pussycat's cabin came into sight. He was among the few who didn't collapse, the vast majority of his classmates now lay groaning at his feet in various states of injury and distress.
"I-" Shinsou paused to roll and vomit off to the side. Sero absently patted at his back. When he had finished, the purple haired boy continued. "I will never doubt any of you again. Is this shit normal in the hero course?"
"Maybe you should have spent a little bit more time on cardio, new purple boy." Ashido snarked.
"It is very normal in the hero course." Aizawa loomed over the class, passing a critical eye over their bruises and scrapes. "You should expect the difficulty of your training to only increase from here over the course of this week." His announcement elicited groans from most of the students.
"I thought you said it would take us three hours?" Kaminari called out. "What gives?"
"Oh, well that was how long it would have taken us, I guess." Mandalay shrugged. "Sorry."
"Now you're just bragging about how much better you are than us?" Sato laid back in the grass. "That's so mean."
"Well I thought you did great!" Pixie Bob called out. "Especially you four!" She pointed to the students still standing: Iida, Todoroki, Katsuki and Izuku himself. Izuku summoned the last dregs of energy from himself to offer her a sultry smile.
"I've always thought stamina was vital, I'm glad to see someone agrees with me." He couldn't resist adding a wink at the end. Pixie Bob grinned wildly at him.
"Oh, you're just purr-fect. Dibs!" Izuku saw Ochako sit up from the corner of his eye. Waves of dark intent rolled off his partner. Aizawa's eye twitched, a vein bulging in his forehead.
"First of all, no. Second of all, I might not be able to give Midnight detention but the same immunity does not apply to you, Problem Child. Finally, you should all get over here and eat something. After you put your bags away there are hot springs available for you to use before bed. Make sure you get some sleep tonight, tomorrow we begin in earnest."
Aizawa walked away followed by Mandalay and Pixie Bob who offered a wave to the group as she left. Trailing behind them was a young boy wearing a red hat and the second most vicious expression he had ever seen on a child. (Nothing would ever top the time a kid in the grade above them had melted one of Kacchan's All Might action figures when they were seven. Izuku still had nightmares of it on occasion.) Izuku jogged a little ahead to catch up to the kid.
"Hey, my name's Midoriya Izuku, what's your-" a flash of pain lanced through his brain. In between heart beats, Izuku found himself clutching the kid's wrist, his knuckles poised to strike him in his crotch. He blinked at the kid, taking a moment to process, before smiling gently. "Well that wasn't very nice."
"Kota!" Mandalay ran over and scooped the boy into her arms. "I'm so sorry Midoriya. This is my nephew, he's not exactly the biggest fan of heroes right now." Mandalay walked away with Kota, chiding him for trying to hit someone. Izuku was left staring at her retreating back, the horned hat sticking out above her shoulder. He doesn't like heroes?
He doesn't just dislike heroes, he hates them. Izuku sat outside the boy's cabin, watching the stars. He had never been this far outside of the city and the dazzling array of lights gave him an excellent backdrop to process his thoughts. He had managed to catch Mandalay outside the hot springs and she had revealed Kota's tragic past. He hates heroes because his parents died on the job. And everyone praised them for it.
On one level, Izuku could understand the logic. There had been more than a few times he had felt resentful of his father for not being there, for his mother for working so much and causing him to grow up a little too fast, and he definitely still had some issues regarding teachers from all the years of them ignoring his pain. But it was still such a strange idea for him to process. Heroes were a fundamental part of who Izuku was. His dreams of being a hero were the only thing that got him through the darkest parts of his life. Hating heroes was antithetical to everything Izuku believed in.
"Come! Try me, you fakes! The only one allowed to kill me is All Might, the true hero!" Stain's words came to his mind, unbidden. Were there more like him out there? Could so many people really hate heroes? Heroes saved people, how could they be hated for that?
"You alright, kid?" Izuku startled at Aizawa's voice. The shadows melted around the man as he stepped out from the side of the cabin. His voice was softer than Izuku had ever heard it before. "Ragdoll let me know that one of the students was out of the cabin. I have to say I'm surprised it's you."
"Ah, I'm sorry sir. I was just thinking. I can go inside."
"It's alright, Midoriya. I'm sure you have a good reason to be out this late." Aizawa lowered himself to sit on the step beside him. "So what's on your mind?"
"Sir?" Izuku couldn't help the confusion that leaked out into his voice. Was this a trap? Aizawa sighed.
"Look, Midoriya. I put you in a position during your final exam that caused a dangerous quirk awakening because of my own negligence. I should have been checking in with you on your progress before now and I need to apologize for that."
"I-it's okay, sensei. Really! I know you're super busy and everything. I'm fine!"
"Being busy is not an adequate excuse for not doing my job properly and checking in with my students." He sounded bitter. If Izuku had to guess he would say it was self-loathing? He was intimately familiar with the feeling but it was strange to see it in someone else. "But seeing as how verbal apologies are irrational, I will be doing my best to rectify my mistakes in the future. So," he turned and put the full weight of his gaze on Izuku. "What's on your mind, Midoriya?"
"I-" Izuku looked away from his teacher and down toward his hands. "I don't understand Kota, Mandalay's nephew. He hates heroes, and it's for a good reason, but…"
"But you're struggling to rationalize it because it's pretty different from your own experiences." Izuku nodded as his teacher finished his thought for him. Aizawa sighed. "Sometimes it's hard to believe in heroes when everything around you feels grim. You knew my hero name on the first day, so you know that I started in general education at U.A."
"Yeah, you were the first person to ever transfer thanks to the sports festival."
"That's correct. But for a long time I didn't think that heroes existed. It wasn't until someone saved me that I started to believe in heroes. Sometimes words aren't enough. No matter how much you convince them or beg or argue they won't change. Change has to start from within. In order to get someone to change you have to inspire them to want to change, to grow and be better than they were. Someone did that for me when I was younger, and I became a hero to be that person for someone else. To honor their work and pay it forward." Aizawa stood and nodded at Izuku. "You want that kid to believe in heroes again? Be that person for him."
The pair of them fell into silence as Izuku tried to absorb that new information. How did he inspire people though? What made someone want to change? It's not like he could challenge Kota to a duel like he fought Shoto. So how could he inspire him? A flash of light blinded Izuku's eye and distracted him from his thoughts. He looked up closer at his sensei and peered toward the messy stubble on his chin.
"Sensei… is that glitter in your hair?"
"No one will ever believe you, Problem Child."
Morning came too bright and too early for most of Class A. Each of them were given a different task and one by one split up to begin working on their quirks leaving Izuku alone with Aizawa.
"Uh, Sensei, what will I be doing?"
"Well, that depends. You showed a lot of improvement with your whips during your hike here. Do you feel comfortable using them against people?"
"I think so. I kinda made a breakthrough with Blackwhip yesterday and I think I can control it a lot better now."
"Blackwhip? Is that what you're calling it? Not the most original name in the world."
"Your hero name is Eraser Head sir." Aizawa raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him.
"So it is, kid. Go start warming up in that clearing. Once Vlad gets here I'll send some members of Class B to join you. I've got an idea for how you can practice control."
Izuku jogged over to his designated clearing and started to stretch. He was already beginning to sweat, the sun's wrath even at this early hour was intense. One for All stirred in the back of his mind. His quirk felt eager, and Izuku couldn't help but agree. This was what he was here for. U.A.'s intensive training set it apart from every other school and Izuku was going to get a full serving of it. He was going to be sore and tired at the end of the day but Izuku had developed an addiction to this over the past year and a half. It was freeing to put everything he had into working out, a high that nothing he had ever experienced before compared to. It wasn't long before Izuku heard a voice call out across the clearing.
"Damn, green, I hope those guns are registered!" Izuku turned to see Tokage and Kendo both in normal workout gear from Class B walking toward him, alongside Vlad King.
"Hey Tokage, Kendo. Am I going to be working with you guys today?" Tokage went to respond but Vlad King cut her off.
"Yes, you three are going to be partnered for today to work on your quirk control." Their homeroom teacher glared at Izuku. He couldn't tell if that was the Blood Hero's default expression or if he genuinely disliked Izuku. "Kendo, your job is to have your hands expanded as large as you can go. You and Midoriya are going to spar. Tokage, you're going to separate yourself as much as possible and try to distract Midoriya while he uses that fancy new move of his to try and catch you." Kendo raised an eyebrow.
"New move?" Izuku let a tendril of Blackwhip extend from his palm and wiggle in the air for a moment before dispelling it. Tokage let out a whistle.
"Kinky."
"Now, I expect you all to give this your all. Eraser and I will be nearby in case Midoriya goes out of control again." His eyes narrowed further on Izuku. Yup, he definitely doesn't like me. "No funny business, you lot. Now get to work!" Vlad King stomped off back to the main part of the training field and Kendo turned to Izuku.
"What did he mean 'out of control again'?"
"The first time I used it during finals I kind of knocked All Might through a few buildings. But it was an accident!" Kendo paled.
"You have control of it now, right?"
"Yeah, I've made some major improvements in the last few days."
"I've got to say, Midoriya, that's less comforting than you think it is. I'm just glad you're not using it on me." The redhead cracked her neck and got into a ready stance. "You ready, Set?"
"One sec." Izuku turned to see Tokage pull her shirt over her head. He rapidly turned back around to face Kendo who seemed resigned to her friend's behavior.
"Uh, Tokage? What are you doing?"
"Well, my quirk lets me split my body into a bunch of little pieces. My clothes are just going to fall off anyway so I might as well strip down now. Why, see something you like, Green?"
Izuku fought back the blush from his cheeks. Two can play this game, Tokage. He pulled his own shirt off, glancing over his shoulder to see Tokage's cheeks reddening slightly.
"What? My quirk would tear right through my clothes anyway so I might as well strip down now." He winked back at her. "See something you like, Lizardy?" Kendo sighed at the both of them.
"Can we just start already, please?"
Izuku stoked at the smoldering flames of One for All until his quirk roared to life. That familiar feeling of raw power and energy rushed through his veins. He reached deep inside to grasp at the protective anger inside of him. He thought about placing Ochako behind him, standing proud like a shield in front of her. I'll protect them. I'll save them. I promise! Blackwhip stirred beneath his skin. Tendrils emerged from his back, two from each shoulder outside his scapula and two more from just above the base of his spine. It didn't hurt this time to summon them. There was a brief twinge of discomfort as the tendrils moved beneath his skin to appear where he wanted them, but it was easily ignored. Wreathed in lightning and swirling black vines, he rushed forward at Kendo who yelped and stumbled backwards.
Izuku kept a steady flow of One for All at nine percent. Aizawa had told them to push themselves, but he would still burn out too fast at ten. He felt like he had full control of eight percent, but even increasing it by a single percentage point made Izuku feel like he was holding the reins of a raging stallion. He could direct it but a single slip in his concentration would result in him getting bucked off.
Kendo dodged his first few punches, getting used to his speed, before stepping in to catch his fist in her own enlarged hand. Izuku winced as the gut shot she sent his way landed squarely on his abs. He had managed to flex and deflect the worst of the damage but it would definitely bruise. Izuku raised a leg to kick but was distracted by something wet in his ear.
"Ugh!" Izuku jumped back out of range of Kendo before looking around for Tokage's head. "Did you just give me a wet willy?!" Her laughter sounded from right behind his ear. He spun to see her mouth floating in the air next to his head.
"I thought Aizawa-sensei promoted all that situational awareness. You're not feeling overwhelmed , are you?" Izuku's eyes widened a fraction of a second before Kendo's massive fist slammed into his side. The world became a blur for a moment as Izuku skipped like a stone across the grass and crashed back first into a tree. "I can't really blame you, you know. It's not every day a guy gets to tango with two hot heroines at the same time."
Izuku groaned and climbed to his feet. Nothing was broken, but he was probably going to be more black and blue than green by the end of this. He narrowed his eyes at Kendo who was rushing towards him for a follow up strike. He waited until she had raised her back foot before springing forward. She might have been able to keep up with the force behind his hits, but One for All gave him a massive advantage in speed. He dashed in to deliver a right hook that she just managed to roll with in time to avoid being knocked out. Izuku let his momentum spin him around over her back and brought his left arm up to lash out with Blackwhip. A flurry of tendrils exploded from his palm and his wrist, capturing and binding almost a dozen of the floating pieces of Tokage.
"There you go stud, fight back! Mama loves a challenge." There was a pang in the back of Izuku's mind and he rolled forward to avoid an enlarged jab from behind him. Izuku jumped to the other side of the clearing, facing down both of his attackers. He wiped away the sweat from his brow. His knuckles popped as he brought up his fists in his own readied stance.
"Is that all you got, ladies? Cause I could do this all day."
"You know, you should really look into shibari, Green."
"Setsuna!"
"What? I'm just saying. All those tendrils could make a girl pretty happy. Plus he's such a gentleman he would never do anything his partner didn't want." Tokage leaned back in Izuku's arms and looked up into his eyes. "You're on my side in this, right Green?"
"I don't think you really have a leg to stand on in this one, Tokage."
"Hah!" She wiggled the stump of her missing left leg in the air. Her movements almost made Izuku drop her, but he managed to adjust his grip in time. "That was a good one, Midoriya. You're a riot!" Kendo rolled her eyes.
"How do you even have this much energy, Set? You literally lost a leg."
"It wasn't that bad."
"It got crushed beneath a tree!"
"It'll grow back!"
The two of them continued to bicker as they made their way back to the dining pavilion. They had been one of the last groups to keep fighting and they had had to wait for Tokage to find all her missing pieces so they were fairly late. As they crested the last hill, a cry rang out from the assembled first years.
"Hey there they are!"
"Woah, is Tokage missing a leg?!"
"Eh, that happens a lot."
"Why is it always Midoriya who's surrounded by beautiful women? Lucky bastard." Ochako glared at Kaminari for that last comment though the blond didn't seem to notice. Izuku managed to set Tokage down on the bench near the 1-B tables without incurring much further teasing.
"You gonna be alright, Tokage?" The green-haired girl flashed a grin at him.
"As much as I have enjoyed lounging in your muscley arms, Green, I think I can manage sitting down on one leg. I'm a big girl. Though, if you want to help me into the bath later~" She detached her eyebrows to pump them up and down with emphasis. Izuku laughed at her antics and walked over to his own table while Kendo shook her head at the girl. Izuku crashed into place next to Ochako who slid a bowl of curry toward him. He leaned in to give her a peck on the side of her head and she wrinkled her nose at him.
"Have fun, sweaty?"
"Yeah. Fighting Tokage and Kendo was a fun challenge. Their quirks are pretty incredible. What about you?"
"Oh sure, loads of fun. I spent most of the day trying not to puke as I rolled around in a hamster ball. Just a barrel of laughs." Izuku felt his heart squeeze a little at her adorable pout.
"Well maybe I can make it up to you. Want to take a walk in the woods later?"
"Why Izuku Midoriya are you trying to proposition me?" He leaned in close to whisper in her ear.
"Only if you want me to."
"Some people are trying to eat here, you know." Jiro gave them a pointed glance punctuated by one of her jacks jabbing in their direction. "Save your couple stuff for when you're away from the hopelessly single, please? I don't think Charge-dolt can take much more jealousy." Kaminari's outraged cry was drowned out by the laughter from the rest of 1-A. Izuku focused on his curry and started to chow down. It was terrible, in an objective sense, with a startling amount of spice that told him Bakugou had definitely had a hand in its creation. Still, it was edible and soon enough his bowl was cleared. Izuku looked up in time to see Kota disappear in the direction of the mountain and he frowned. He turned to Ochako next to him who had also finished dinner.
"Hey, I'm going to bring Kota a bowl of curry. Want to come with?" She nodded and together they grabbed an extra bowl and spoon and made their way into the forest.
Ochako loved Izuku's heroic heart but she was also tempted to float him into the stratosphere. The path they were following, the one that Izuku was 'pretty sure' Kota had gone down earlier, was winding and switched back onto itself in a few places. The two of them were alone in a beautiful forest with more stars than Ochako had ever seen above them and all her boyfriend could think about was the kid who tried to punch him yesterday.
She sighed quietly to herself as Izuku muttered about which way to take on the path ahead. She knew she was being a little possessive and a touch crazy. She knew that Izuku would always choose to help someone he thought was in need, even if it meant ignoring his girlfriend wearing the tank-top she specifically packed to show off in front of him. She just couldn't help feeling a touch ignored by Izuku. Between the Pussycats treating him like a free show and Mina's unabashed attempts at flirting, there were a lot of other people showing interest in Izuku. Even in his first day of Aizawa's Training Camp from Hell he got to hang out with two attractive hero students and she was stuck in a hamster ball!
She felt like she needed to reassert her claim on Izuku and a great way to do that would be to leave a few new bite marks on him for when they got back (so she liked biting him, sue her!) but her plans were currently being wrecked by an edgy eight year old in a silly looking hat. Eventually, they broke through the tree line on a plateau jutting out from the side of the mountain. The forest stretched out in front of them for miles, rolling waves of dark greens that met the dark horizon. Above them, the sky was clear and with no in the way, the universe unfolded before them. Ochako mentally mapped the constellations she could see: Cassieopia and Centaurus, the Summer Triangle of Vega, Altair and Deneb, far out to the south the tail of Ophiuchus peaked out of the horizon. It reminded her of sneaking up to the roof with her dad and listening to him tell her all the stories he could remember about the constellations and even making up new ones on the spot. She had to admit, the kid had good taste as far as hideouts were concerned.
"What do you want?" The amount of venom in Kota's voice was surprising. "I don't want anything to do with you wannabe heroes!"
"We just came by to give you some dinner." Izuku said softly. "We didn't want you to go hungry because of us." As if on cue, the boy's stomach growled.
"It's a little spicy," Ochako called from his side. "But it's still pretty good."
"If that's all you want then get the hell out of here!" Kota returned his glare to the distant treeline. Izuku leaned down and placed the bowl on a flat part of the ground.
"In case you change your mind, then."
The two of them left the boy in silence. Izuku just didn't understand what to do here. This wasn't like Todoroki, he couldn't force the boy to listen to him. If he tried it would just reinforce the idea that heroes were bad. Aizawa told him to be there, to try and save him, but what was he saving him from? How could he save someone who didn't want to be saved?
Izuku was roughly pulled from his thoughts as his back slammed against a tree for the umpteenth time today. Ochako held his shirt in her hands, pressing him back so the rough bark bit into his skin.
"Ocha- hmph!" Izuku's question was cut off, swallowed by Ochako as she crashed her mouth onto his in a searing kiss. For a moment the rest of the world disappeared. Izuku could feel the heat from Ochako's hand as one slipped beneath the hem of his shirt. The sting of the wood was a strange but pleasant contrast to the firm pressure of his girlfriend against him. He could smell the faint traces of sweat and her lavender perfume as well as the crisp fresh air. Eventually, Izuku didn't know if it had been a few seconds or years spent in her arms, Ochako pulled back leaving both of them breathless.
"I told you I don't mind if you flirt with other people and I don't. But I am going to remind you every day that you're mine, Deku."
"If that's how you remind me, I think I'm developing memory loss." Izuku's mouth was dry as a dangerous smile crossed Ochako's features.
"Well," she purred. Her chest pressed against his, pinning him in place. "I guess I'll just have to give you a lot of reminders."
She triple checked her knives, making sure each one was as sharp and easily accessible. If everything went right she'd get to meet so many new friends and taste so much fresh blood. She might even get to see him.
A shudder went through her at the thought of her lover. She couldn't wait to meet him. He was going to taste so sweet, she just knew it. She wrapped her arms around her to keep herself from falling into a puddle of excited goo on the ground. It was almost time. By the end of tomorrow night Izuku Midoriya would be hers.
Even if she had to kill everyone else in the world to get him.