Summary: AU. There was a time when Izuku Midoriya would literally do anything to possess a quirk, but this was more of a curse than a quirk. A fic in which Izuku's quirk is to do everything that he is commanded to, and Todoroki is the only thing keeping him sane. Ella Enchanted Inspired. One-Shot.

Disclaimer: I don't own Boku no Hero or any of its characters.

TRIGGER WARNING: Attempted suicide and depression. Read at your own risk.

A/N: I sort of whipped this up in a couple of days. Sorry if this sucks. Go easy on me.


There was a time when Izuku Midoriya would have done anything to possess a quirk-to be the number one hero and help others with a smile on his face. He remembers his four year old self running around the house with his flamboyant All Might pajamas with an All Might action figurine in his left hand. Not to mention: a smile on his face.

Izuku couldn't remember that last time there was a genuine smile on his face. Of course there were those fake, reassuring smiles that he fed to his mother when she asked him how his day was or when he tried to convince himself that his life wasn't hell.

How could his life not be with a quirk like his?

Despite his father not being present, Izuku had a joyful childhood. He remembers the fun that he had hanging out with the other neighborhood kids. He remembers believing that all of his dreams would become a reality.

At least, that was until Kacchan's quirk manifested. Things started getting worse after that-when Izuku watched all of his friends getting quirks.

Since that day, Izuku never forgot.

All men are not created equal.

"You're just a quirkless loser, Deku."

Everything was better than being quirkless.

Wrong.

Izuku didn't give up. He tried levitating objects and breathing fire, but that was all hopeless. He did research and wrote piles and piles of notes. It was around his sixth birthday when he found out what hell really was.

"Honey, go wash up! It's time for dinner!"

Izuku remembers it all so clearly. His eyes were practically glowing as he watched his favorite video. He had seen it over a hundred times, but it still managed to give him hope. Even if his situation really was helpless.

Izuku remembers telling his mother that he would be another couple of minutes. Of course, she didn't mind. She understood how happy that video made her son.

It was almost ironic how his quirk appeared in those moments.

Izuku vividly remembers his six-year-old body immediately getting up on its own, washing his hands, and skipping to the kitchen for dinner.

Two minutes before he wanted to go.

Izuku found it a little odd at first, but it didn't take his long to realize what was going on.

Izuku watched all of his friends throwing a softball back and forth. He didn't even bother asking them if he could play; he knew that they would say no. He just observed all of his friends and their quirks. Izuku watched as Kacchan used an explosion to propel the ball forward—landing all the way past the gates of the forbidden zone in the neighborhood. All of the neighborhood children had heard the rumors about the danger lying on the other side of the gates, but none of them had actually seen it for themselves. Still though, Kacchan seemed proud that he had thrown the ball such a far distance.

"Deku! Why don't you go and get our ball back for us?" Kacchan proposed with a smirk on his face.

"You know that we're not supposed to trespass!"

Kacchan's hands suddenly ignited with flame. "Climb the fence and get the ball for me, Deku!" he said, looking more confident than ashamed that they were in this mess because of him.

Before Izuku could object, his arms and legs betrayed him, climbing all the way up the fence and down the other side to retrieve the softball that Kacchan had thrown. In barely anytime at all, Deku returned the ball to Kacchan with sweat leaking down the sides of his face. Kacchan wasn't too happy about that.

"You're worthless without a quirk, Deku."

While Kacchan might have thought that Izuku was simply trying to show off, Izuku knew that even though he was terrified of to get beaten up by Kacchan, he would have never gone into the forbidden zone.

Izuku knew that something was wrong.

Soon enough, he began to process that his body did everything he was told to do, even without his consent. Izuku also learned that fighting back was the kind of torture that he never wanted to endure. After all, the longest that he could fight his body was less than ten seconds. However, Izuku discovered little loopholes. For example, he didn't have to carry out commands that were "How about…" or "Why don't you…" He also learned that commands could be counteracted by other people and that if they weren't too specific than he could find ways around them.

The doctor had said so himself. He had never seen a quirk like this. That's right: obedience.

It wasn't until his mother forced an answer out of him that she learned what was going on.

Izuku didn't even acknowledge his mother as he walked through the door that night, headed straight for his room. He threw his backpack across that room and towards the floor and did a belly flop on his bed, screaming into his pillow.

Inko Midoriya knew that even in his darkest moments, this was unlike her child. She gently knocked on his door and waited in front of her son's door for a moment before hearing a faint "come in."

Izuku's room that was usually glowing with colors was consumed by darkness. It was heart breaking to see her six-year-old son like this. She sat down at the end of his bed, running her hand through his locks of forest green hair.

"What's wrong, Izuku?" she asked, with obvious pain in her voice. Izuku didn't answer. Minutes passed in silence.

"Tell me what's wrong, Izuku," she urged.

Izuku's body stopped moving up and down with his breaths. Instead, his entire body began to shake.

"Izuku?" she asked, clearly alarmed.

"I…I don't know w-what's wrong with me," he sobbed into the pillow. "I-It's l-like my own body…" he trailed off.

"What are you saying?" she asked, her eyes widening with concern.

"M-my quirk. I-I have to do everything that I-I'm told," he choked. And with that, Izuku planted his head back into his pillow, drowning in tears. In a way, admitting it to his mother was like admitting it to himself.

Inko didn't know what to say.

Izuku just wanted to hear that everything would be alright. That this was all just one cruel nightmare. That he could still be the greatest hero.

But instead-

"I'm so sorry, Izuku! I wish things didn't have to be like this." She pulled her son into a hug, rocking him back and forth as he filled up with dread.

While his mother couldn't wake him up from the horrible nightmare that he was having, she made things a little better by not ever commanding Izuku to do anything. Instead, she asked him to do things she wanted to do with patience. She worried about him. She knew that he could easily be taken advantage of if anybody found out about his quirk.

Not everybody was so kind.

Izuku didn't spend much time with his "friends" anymore. He carried on pretending that he was quirkless, even though that didn't stop Kacchan from telling him what to do. Izuku dreaded all of the commands, no matter how little they were. On top of that, the bullying never seemed to stop.

Nobody could ever know. It was scary to think that he would literally throw himself in front of a car if somebody told him to.

After being in Kacchan's life for over five years, Kacchan easily caught on to the fact that Izuku was like a puppet. Kacchan originally thought that it was because Izuku was scared of him or something along those lines, but he wasn't an idiot.

Izuku literally did everything Kacchan told him to, whether it was to give him his homework or not go to school. Things that Izuku would never do if he wasn't specifically told to.

They were junior high first-years.

Kacchan decided to test his theory.

Deku, why do you do everything I tell you to? It's like you have no mind of your own." Izuku flinched with his words, his eyes growing wider and his worry painted across his face.

"I-I just r-really admire you. I-I r-really w-want to b-be like y-you."

Kacchan gave Izuku a challenging look. Izuku started backing up, waving his hands around everywhere.

"Look, I-I have to get going. My mother will be worri-"

"Get down on your knees, Deku."

Just like that, Izuku got down on the knees, his hands balanced on the pavement of the sidewalk.

"Please, Kacchan! I-"

"I knew something was going on. There was no way that you were brave enough to do half of the things that I told you to." Kacchan crossed his arms. Izuku was practically in tears.

"Please, Kacchan! You can't tell anyone about this!" Izuku cried.

Kacchan looked up in thought just before he glared down at Izuku.

"Don't tell me what I can or can't do. That's my job now!"

Izuku knew that this was would happen. It was just a matter of time.

"God you're pathetic. And just as I thought that you couldn't get any more worthless," he laughed.

Luckily, Kacchan didn't appear to have told anybody else. Probably so that he could keep Izuku to himself. Izuku didn't tell his mother about his situation. Not because he wanted to protect her, but because Kacchan told him not to tell anybody.

At first Kacchan told Izuku to do simple things. Izuku did Kacchan's homework and even gave him his money. He didn't talk to the people that Kacchan didn't want him talking to, and he flunked all of his tests so that Kacchan would come out at the top of his class.

His grades were dropping, he had no friends, and he didn't buy lunch anymore.

But that was much better than what happened next.

It was their third year when Kacchan had ordered Izuku to stay behind in their homeroom classroom so that he could take his anger out on him, so that he could beat him up, leaving him with miles of burn marks up and down his arms.

It was his third year when Kacchan found out that Izuku wanted to go to U.A. and told him to jump off the roof and hope for a better quirk in the next life.

Izuku wished that he could bring himself to care, but he was already living in hell. He had considered suicide many times before but could never put his mother in that kind of pain. He would have liked to leave a note or at least say goodbye, but he didn't really have a choice. His legs were carrying him to the roof.

Maybe he would get a better quirk in the next life.

Izuku stared down at the void below him. He was too distraught to even be afraid.

This last decision was his own, not his body's.

He jumped.


Izuku eyes blinked open to see a blur of primary colors in front of him.

"All Might?" he cried.

Could this be heaven?

"Thought we'd lost you there!" he had a smile glued to his face.

Izuku closed his eyes again, refusing to accept this reality.

He wasn't even allowed to die.

"Mind to tell me why you were jumping off the edge of a building?" he said, seriousness in his tone this time.

"Don't you have people actually worth saving? Villains to fight? " he muttered. His childhood self would be disappointed in him for not getting All Might's autograph right about now.

"Every life is important. Don't throw yours away!" he smiled.

Even though Izuku wanted to die, he was relieved that he was still alive, even if he wouldn't let himself believe it.

"Thank you, All Might," he said, with the closest thing to a smile on his face.

"What's your name, young lad?" he asked.

"I'm Midoriya. Izuku Midoriya,"

"Well then, young Midoriya. Tell me where you live."

It was a command, so Izuku had no choice but to obey.

After giving All Might directions, the two of them walked to the Midoriyas' apartment, being that it was only a short distance away. The walk was so comfortable, he could almost believe they were close friends, rather than, well, strangers who met under…crazy circumstances. The walk actually cheered Izuku up until a dreadful thought came to his mind.

What would his mother say?

"Well, I can't exactly tell her about Kacchan because he told me not to tell anybody, and even if I did, she would still be pretty worried. I can't do that to her. All Might is surely going to tell her about what happened…there's no avoiding…"

"Young Midoriya? You're mumbling!"

"Oh!" Izuku covered his mouth with both of his hands in embarrassment.

"You still never answered my question earlier," All Might declared. Izuku gave him a questioning look.

"Why were you trying to kill yourself?" Izuku looked down with shame.

"It's not like I wanted to," he lied. Even if it was a command, Izuku was glad to have an excuse to carry it through.

All Might gave Izuku a questioning look in response. He pretended not to notice.

"We're here!" Izuku said. While there were traces of sadness in his voice, Izuku was relieved that he didn't die. He was talking to All Might, his all-time favorite hero, and he was going to see his mother again. He could stand Kacchan's torture if it meant that.

Standing at the door, Izuku turned to All Might. In an alternate universe, he would have gotten down to his knees to beg that All Might stay. He would have asked All Might all of the questions he had collected over the years. He would have asked All Might if he had as chance as a hero. Instead, he said, "Thank you, All Might. I'll be fine from here."

All Might wasn't having it. He hung in the doorway and called out, "Ms. Midoriya?"

Inko Midoriya immediately ran to door in panic. Her hair was tied up, and she was wearing casual clothing that she had obviously been working in.

"Is Izuku alright?" she asked, seconds before she realized that it was All Might that she was gazing up at.

"Young Midoriya is here!" he gestured to Izuku who was cowering behind him. Inko Midoriya looked relieved and confused at the same time. "If I could just speak to you in private…" he started.

Inko had a look in her eye that told Izuku to go to his room. He couldn't disobey after letting her down like this. Even though Izuku closed his door, it was easy to listen to what they were saying.

"I don't know how to tell you this the right way…" he started. Inko's eyes were desperately asking "please," so All Might continued.

"I found your son on his way to his death. He jumped off the roof of that school building. Luckily, I happened to be passing by when I saw him." All Might paused for a second, struggling to look into Inko's eyes. "He seems…alright now. Said that he didn't want to, you know…"

Izuku couldn't see through the door, but he knew that his mother was sobbing uncontrollably. And to think that Izuku had put her into so much pain.

Izuku stopped listening at that point, crashing down onto his bed. This was all his fault.

Isn't it funny how by pretending to fall asleep causes you to actually fall asleep?


Izuku woke up early like every other morning. He got dressed, didn't bother with his hair, grabbed his backpack, and then on the way out-

"Where do you think you're going?" his mother asked, angrily, unlike the cheerful mother Izuku was used to seeing.

He didn't even get the chance to say "school" before a command was thrown his way.

"Sit," she said, pulling out Izuku's chair. It was hard to know that his mother was using his quirk against him. She never forced him to do anything if it was against his will.

Although she was holding herself very well, it looked as though she would break any second. "You're not going to school today," she answered, much more calmly than before.

Izuku looked down at his hands.

"Why? How could you…?" Suddenly his mother was crying again, her face in her hands. "Please tell me that it was your quirk. I would rather have that than know that you did this at your own free will!"

Izuku opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

"Tell me the truth, Izuku."

Izuku couldn't tell her. She couldn't know about what had happened with him and Kacchan, whatever the price. It was absolutely humiliating. Even if it was just between his mother and him. There were things that she was better off not knowing.

That was his choice.

No matter how hard his body fought him, he fought back even harder. Harder than when Kacchan made him do those things. Although Izuku had an impressive tolerance for pain, this was pushing it. His screams could probably be heard over the entire street. His face was flooding with tears, and he was biting down on his lip so hard that he was gulping down his own blood.

Inko watched in horror as her son tried to fight back.

"Stop, nevermind, goddamnit!" Just like that, Izuku's screaming stopped.

She sobbed into Izuku's shoulder. Izuku was breathing heavily. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she cried, her entire body trembling.

After their encounter, Izuku stopped eating. All he did was lay down on his bed, drifting in and out of consciousness. He didn't even think; his mind was completely blank. He was just…existing.

He didn't even realize how much time had passed when his mother told him that they were going to visit a doctor. Izuku didn't even object, despite his reluctance. He couldn't be selfish.


Six Months Later: Present

Izuku started going to therapy twice a week. Over the first few sessions, he hardly talked, never giving details about his quirk. It didn't take long for Izuku to completely break down, spilling out his quirk and the bullying that occurred at school. But he always stopped talking before they reached Kacchan.

Sometimes they would discuss medication. Izuku wasn't fond of the idea at first, but he just wanted the old version of himself back-the person who managed to stay optimistic despite all of the tragedy in his life. He wanted to feel happy again, to believe there was still hope for him to become a hero.

Going to U.A. wasn't really a possibility anymore.

Not like it ever was.

Maybe that's why the U.A. student with bicolored hair and heterochromatic eyes bothered him so much.

Izuku didn't even know what his name was, but he certainly made an impression. He was hard to miss. Izuku noticed that he came to the psychiatric ward every Sunday without fail.

As Izuku waited for his appointment time, he watched the teen as he cautiously stepped up to the front desk, his body shaking. Izuku observed how he lifted his land up to the left side of his face—to the burn mark that marred his face. Week after week he would watch this teen, wondering what kind of circumstance would land him there.

After the incident, Inko insisted that she homeschool Izuku. She didn't want somebody to find out about his quirk and end up using it against him. Besides, that way she could keep an eye on him. Izuku regretted not being able to meet any new people, but he could almost forget that he had a curse of a quirk without all of the commands throw at him.


Shouto Todoroki was frustrated to hear that his mother was going to be another half an hour or so…something about a group session. He didn't even bring his phone with him because he didn't want to deal with his father for leaving home without permission. It wasn't a stretch to compare his home to a prison. He felt like a stranger in his own house. He didn't even know his own siblings.

Shouto had been visiting his mother in the hospital since he started out at U.A. Surrounding himself with a classroom of supportive heroes in training gave him the confidence that he needed to visit her, even though he was nearly positive that she wouldn't want to see him ever again at first. Now, he looked forward to the time that the two of them spent together every week.

There was only one seat left in the waiting room, and it happened to be next to a plain-looking boy with crazy green hair. The boy's hands were in his laps as he just sat there.

"Hey, mind if I sit here?" Shouto asked. He waited for a few seconds until he realized that the boy didn't hear him for some reason. He wondered what could be so distracting that the boy couldn't hear him. Rather than asking again, Shouto simply sat down in the chair next to him, making sure that he wasn't being too loud.

The boy next to him fiddled with his thumbs as his body tensed for a second. "Oh, I'm sorry…were you talking to me?" the green-haired kid asked as he pointed his fingers towards himself. "I didn't realize!" He was blushing from embarrassment.

"No big deal, but…who did you think I was talking to?" Shouto asked.

The boy slumped his shoulders. "I don't know. I guess I'm not used to people talking to me." He gave out a weak laugh after that. Clearly, it wasn't a joke, even if he played it off as one.

That was the end of their conversation. "Midoriya?" a nurse called from the other room. The teen turned to Shouto and smiled before getting up and joining the nurse.

Ever since their awkward conversation, Shouto looked out for the kid…Midoriya? Well, Midoriya always sat in the same chair while waiting for appointments. Shouto just barely saw him on his way to his mother. When he wasn't just staring at the walls in the room, Midoriya was scribbling notes into a journal. In the few moments that he got a glimpse at the kid every week, he noticed that the boy was in deep concentration, almost as if he would lose the thought forever if he didn't immediately write it down. For some reason, Shouto was very curious about the boy. It was easy to wonder who everybody was and what tragedy they had to go through to be at a mental facility once a week. Especially a kid who looked so normal—a kid who looked like he should be happy. Shouto was almost tempted to go up to him and talk, which was very unlike him. Maybe he just wanted somebody to relate to.

The two of them fell into an unspoken routine. Shouto would sit in the same spot next to Midoriya. But it wasn't until about three weeks after their first conversation that Shouto started talking.

"What's that journal that you're always writing in?" Midoriya looked up from his notes as if surprised that somebody would ever ask.

"Oh," he looked so embarrassed. "Nothing, just me being a total hero fanboy," he muttered awkwardly.

Shouto read the outside of the notebook: "Hero Analysis for the Future: No. 13"

"So you want to be a hero?" he said. Midoriya instinctively covered the top of his notebook. Shouto wondered why he was so embarrassed.

"It's silly, I guess," he said. Midoriya's voice was a little shaky.

Shouto gave him a questioning look. "Why is it silly?" he asked.

Midoriya hesitated a little before answering. "I'm…quirkless. I don't think it's possible to be a hero without a quirk."

Shouto looked away, feeling almost guilty that he asked.

Midoriya could probably sense his guilt. "It's cool…I've come to terms with it," he said, faking a smile.

The two of them sat in silence for a few good minutes before Midoriya spoke up again.

"What's your name?" he sputtered, slightly blushing.

"Todoroki, Shouto Todoroki," he answered, reluctantly. He hated sharing his surname with his father. "And your name is-"

"Wait, Todoroki? As in Endeavor's son?! I'm sure you have an amazing quirk," Midoriya said.

Shouto nodded. "You sure know your heroes." Midoriya laughed at that.

Before Shouto could ask another question, Midoriya was called out of the waiting room. As usual, he smiled before getting up and leaving.

Shouto decided that was a good time to go visit his mother. Midoriya didn't have to know that he delayed his meetings just to learn more about him.

Somehow, their short and awkward conversations became a routine. They would mostly talk about heroes, quirks, and U.A., even drifting to soba a couple of times, but they hadn't managed to dig deep into what they were doing at a psychiatric ward of all places.

Midoriya liked having a friend…could he consider Todoroki a friend? Shouto liked Midoriya because it was easy to be a new person around him. Around everybody else, he was cold and distant. But around Midoriya he could talk about his father without any judgement.

Soon enough they ended up exchanging numbers.

Midoriya was tempted to ask Todoroki about the burn mark across the left side of his face, just like Shouto was eager to ask Midoriya, someone who seemed so cheerful, what he was doing here. The two of them chose to respect each other's privacy, though. Midoriya could almost forget about his quirk. Since Shouto never ordered him around.

Three months into their awkward and short chats, Shouto clenched his sweaty fists.

"Do you maybe want to go get some coffee or something? After your appointment, I mean…" he muttered. Midoriya looked so surprised that it made Shouto feel as though he was crossing the line.

"I'm sorry, I shoul-"

"Coffee sounds great, Todoroki-kun!" he smiled with his teeth. Shouto relaxed with that. "Don't you have an appointment too, though?" Shouto swallowed. He hadn't thought to tell Midoriya why he was here.

He hesitated. "My mother, actually. That's why I'm here."

"Oh," Midoriya said.

"She…my father…"

"Midoriya," a nurse called out. He never got to finish.


Izuku walked down the hall with a nurse to his room. He greeted his therapist with a smile. Since they started therapy, Izuku was doing so much better. He had begun taking antidepressants, which helped to relieve so much of his pain. He was no longer getting bullied by Kacchan, and by some crazy miracle, he was going to get coffee with Todoroki! He was sort of nervous, considering that his white All Might shirt and cargo pants would make him look stupid, but he was excited nonetheless.

Somehow during their session, Izuku's thoughts drifted to Todoroki. He thought about his incredible eyes—unlike any eyes he had ever seen. He thought about Todoroki's bicolored hair, neatly parted straight down the middle. Amazing.

When his therapist asked him why he was practically drooling, he spilt out all of his feelings. He was going to get coffee with Todoroki-kun!


Shouto eagerly watched the clock, wishing that time would go faster, just this once. He mentally rehearsed what he was going to say and where they were going to go and! Why did he care so much?

After what felt like decades, Midoriya stepped into the waiting room, a smile planted on his face. He looked so, so happy.

"So, where are we going?" he asked.

The two of them ended up walking a little bit up the street toward a cute little coffee shop that everybody liked. Izuku was content just watching the houses that they passed by, thinking about how happy he finally was, when a familiar voice pulled him out of his head.

"Nobody has a chance winning the sports festival, but me. I'm going to even better than All Might!"

That confidence, that angry tone. It all sounded just like…

Izuku stopped walking.

It didn't take but a couple of footsteps for Todoroki to notice that Izuku wasn't by his side. "What's wrong?" Todoroki asked him, now turned around facing Izuku.

"Oye! Icy-Hot! What are you doing here?" Kacchan called. There was another guy with him with spiky red hair. Izuku should have figured that the two of them knew each other, both going to U.A.

As Todoroki looked for the right thing to say, Kacchan was distracted with somebody else. His eyes became evil.

"Deku? I thought I told you to go die," he said. Todoroki looked concerned.

"Wait, how do you know each other?" Todoroki asked.

"Don't tell me that you're friends with this worthless loser," Kacchan growled.

"Kacchan! Please, don't do this," Izuku muttered, helplessly.

"Let's just go," the red-haired kid urged Bakugo.

Izuku was already walking away in the other direction as Todoroki just watched with a confused look on his face.

"Stop walking," Kacchan said. His smile was almost terrifying.

Izuku stopped walking, despite all of his struggling.

"Now come over here." Izuku did as he was told.

Great. All I wanted was to drink coffee with Todoroki. Now he'll think I'm pathetic.

Todoroki watched the affair with wide eyes. "What's going on, Midoriya?"

Izuku couldn't even hold back the tears that were threatening to spill.

"You mean he hasn't told you? You're such an obedient little dog," Kacchan snarled. "Why don't you come with us?"

Like lightning striking, realization hit Izuku. Kacchan told him to stop walking. He never told him to stop running.

Without any more thought, Izuku bolted down the block before his body could betray him again.

He felt guilty for leaving Todoroki behind. That was the least of his problems, though. He would rather die than face anymore of Kacchan's torture.

And if Kacchan were to tell Todoroki about his quirk, then so be it.

Todoroki texted Izuku about ten times, but Izuku didn't respond. He couldn't be friends with Todoroki after what happened. It was just too close, too risky.


Shouto was confused. He texted Midoriya, but his friend left all of his texts on read. It was clear that he didn't want to talk to him. Todoroki considered asking Bakugou what was going on, but the only time that they ever spoke to one another, Bakugou was yelling at Todoroki, insisting that he would "win."

It wasn't hard to piece together that Midoriya was avoiding him. When Shouto visited his mother, Izuku wasn't in the same chair that he always was. In fact, he was nowhere to be seen. Shouto couldn't help but feel that everything was his fault. That he could have prevented this by not asking Midoriya to coffee.

Shouto couldn't take it anymore.

"What happened between you and Midoriya?" Shouto growled, cornering Bakugou at the back of the classroom.

"Why do you even care about that worthless piece of shit?" Shouto chose to ignore that question, focusing on one that had been on his mind a lot lately.

"What didn't he tell me?"Shouto asked.

Bakugou's eyes lit up with pure evil. "Why don't you ask him yourself?" Bakugou challenged.

If Shouto was angry before, that didn't compare to how he felt now. "What didn't he tell me?" He asked again.

"I'm not afraid of you, Icy-Hot!" Bakugou snarled.

The entire class was practically gathered around the two, nobody daring to pull them apart.

"I'm losing my patience," Shouto said. He hated the attention.

"Just ask him about his quirk," Bakugou said grinning.

Shouto thought for a second. "But…he's quirkless."

Izuku stopped going to appointments. He couldn't face Todoroki. He had grown to really like Todoroki in the past few months, but he couldn't help but think that his friend would turn against him, just like Kacchan. Izuku even stopped taking his antidepressants.

"Izuku?" his mother called from the other side of the door. Her words were coated with worry. "May I come in?"

Izuku was curled up against the wall. His face was in his knees.

"I got a call from your counselor. She said that you missed both of your appointments this week. What happened? You've been so excited to see her," she whispered. Inko bent down to comfort Izuku.

Izuku didn't want to worry his mother. "I just…bumped into Kacchan. I guess I'm just jealous that he's at U.A. and I'm not," he lied.

Inko dried Izuku's tears with her thumb. She didn't know what to say. "Izuku…" she cried.

That night, Izuku got a text message on his phone.

From: Todoroki
13:28
Midoriya. I don't know what happened between us, but I do know that we need to talk. I'm not mad at you. Meet me tomorrow like usual.

Izuku screamed into his pillow.

A command.


Shouto was surprised to see that Midoriya actually met him. He had sent over a dozen detailed text messages in the past week alone, and Midoriya failed to answer any of them.

Usually when Midoriya saw Shouto, he was smiling. But this time, he looked hesitant, even fearful. What even happened to make him this afraid? Midoriya reluctantly sat down in the chair next to Shouto.

"Hey, Todoroki-kun…" he flinched under Todoroki's icy glare.

"Midoriya, tell me. "How do you know Bakugou?"

Midoriya looked around anxiously. "W-we were childhood friends, that's all…"

That didn't quite do justice to what Todoroki imaged Midoriya would say. "What happened between the two of you?"

The color drained from Midoriya's face.

"Todoroki, I…" Midoriya started.

"Tell me," he commanded.

Midoriya tried to fight it, but only five seconds passed by before he had to give in. "He found out about my quirk," his friend said, tears threatening to pour down his face.

So Bakugou wasn't lying?

"No more, Todoroki," Midoriya begged. He stood up to leave.

"Sit down," Todoroki said. Midoriya sat back down.

Bingo.

"That's your quirk, isn't it?" Todoroki asked. "Obedience?"

Midoriya turned away. "Please, Todoroki," he muttered. "You can't tell anybody about this."

"Why did you lie to me?" Todoroki asked.

"This is a dangerous quirk to have. Now that you know about it, you have complete control over me," Midoriya said. He sounded regretful. "Go ahead, ask me to do something."

Shouto looked Midoriya dead in the eyes. It seemed as though he thought he was actually going to.

"No," Shouto said. "You're my friend. I would never use your quirk against you."

Midoriya had the typical surprised look on his face.

"I won't tell anybody about it either."

Midoriya dried his tears.

What a pitiful life to live.

"Isn't it depressing," Todoroki paused for effect, "that the only time that we talk is here of all places. Besides, I never got to buy you coffee."

Izuku smiled.


"Midoriya, there's something that I need to tell you," Shouto said.

"What is it," Midoriya asked, supportive as ever.

"I never got to tell you about my mother…and why I have this," Shouto said, gesturing to his burn mark.

Midoriya focused on Shouto.

"My father knew that he would have the world's greatest hero before I was even born. Have you heard of quirk marriages?" Izuku shook his head. "He arranged a marriage with a woman with a powerful ice quirk—my mother. I was a successful experiment," he whispered. "The only one of my siblings with two quirks. The others were cast aside. My father personally trained me as soon as my quirk manifested. He wanted me to be the best. It's his abuse that I have to thank now; it's the reason I'm so powerful today."

Izuku looked horrified.

"My mother, she…she wanted to protect me. My father didn't like that. He abused her." Shouto paused to take a breath. "Not long after, she called my left side unbearable and poured boiling hot water on my face. That's the reason that she is at the hospital. My father couldn't allow her to hurt his most prized possession." Shouto looked up like he just seen it all before his eyes.

Izuku took Todoroki's hand on the table and squeezed it, just like how his mother did when he was upset.

"She forgave me," he said, traces of a smile on his face. "She forgave me faster than I could have ever imagined." He looked Izuku in the eyes. "I never want to be anything like that monster." There was hope burning in his eyes.

Izuku smiled—not just one of his weak and forced smiles, this time.


"I want you to go to U.A.'s sports festival," Todoroki told him. The two of them were at the coffee shop that they frequented at after their hospital visits on Sunday.

"Wait, U.A.'s sports festival—as in like one of the biggest events in all of Tokyo?" Izuku's eyes sparkled.

"Yes," Todoroki said. "And All Might will be there too. I know how much you idolize him. Plus…I think I would do better knowing that you went."

"I would love to!" Izuku beamed. "I'd love to see you in action. I'm sure that you are an amazing fighter."

"Since Bakugou will also be there, I thought that maybe I could get you a seat that's far away from him if you want. He won't bother you if he doesn't know you're there," Todoroki supposed.

"That's very thoughtful of you!" Izuku said. They went on drinking their coffee and taking in their surroundings.

Todoroki broke the silence. "What happened between the two of you?"

Todoroki told Izuku so much about himself that he almost felt obligated to spill out the truth. But he couldn't. He didn't want to be treated differently. After all, since Todoroki found out about his quirk, he had a habit for being protective. Izuku was grateful, but he didn't want that. He wanted to be the world's greatest hero. He wanted to be the protector. So, Izuku answered, "We were childhood friends. You already know how he can be." He found out about my quirk and told me to kill myself.

It was painfully obvious that Izuku was dodging the question, but Todoroki didn't push him. He didn't want to take away Izuku's privacy.

Being that it was time to pay, Todoroki watched Izuku fiddle through his yellow bag in search of his wallet. He could just barely see inside. It was hard not to snoop. Shouto watched him maneuver his hands through a maze of journals, pens, and

Pills?

"Here, I'll pay," Todoroki insisted.

He couldn't help but feel like there was more to Izuku than he thought.

Izuku counted down the days until the sports festival on his calendar. He wasn't one to go out into the world. Aside from the time that he spent at the psychiatric ward or drinking coffee with Shouto, he was on his bed or at his desk. The people that he interacted with on a routine basis were leveled down to his mother, Todoroki, and his therapist.

Izuku sent Todoroki a quick text.

From Izuku
12:06
looking forward to tomorrow! i know that you'll be amazing!


The sports festival was even better than he ever imagined it could be. There were millions of people, which made blending in with the crowd a piece of cake. Not to mention, All Might was there—the hero who saved his life. If only he could see Izuku now. Izuku knew a lot about U.A. from what Todoroki told him. He knew that Todoroki was in class 1-A, which was the same as Kacchan.

After everybody in the stands settled down into their seats, all of the first-years gathered below. Izuku couldn't help but pretend that he was down there. He wondered what it was like to stand in the same spotlight as Midnight. Did they realize how good they had it?

It wasn't really a surprise to learn that Kacchan would be representing the first-year students. His speech of "I'm going to win" was even less of a surprise. Izuku envied him.

Todoroki was incredible. In the obstacle course, he looked as though he was able to pass everybody without any effort whatsoever. Well, until Kacchan, who was just a hair in front of him when he lost. Izuku couldn't help but wonder why Todoroki didn't use his fire. His face had clearly been frostbitten. The people around Izuku's cheers were nearly deafening.

Izuku wondered how high or low he would have placed if he was in their shoes.

He was so jealous that he wanted to leave.

But he needed to stay behind and support Todoroki.

The Calvary Battle, which was the second event, was won by Todoroki's team. Not just his quirk, but all of Todoroki's abilities were outstanding.

After the Calvary Battle was a short intermission so that the students could take a break. Izuku figured that he should find Todoroki to praise him, but he figured that Todoroki was busy training or talking to reporters. He was exceptional.


Even though Shouto was exhausted, he was eager to find Midoriya. He wanted to let him know that it was his inspiring words that kept him going and challenged him to succeed. Shouto wanted to beat Bakugo for Midoriya. And he was going to do it with only his ice.

He decided to text Midoriya.

From: Todoroki
13:56
Where can I find you? I would really like to speak with you.

Izuku responded almost immediately after Todoroki sent the text.

From Izuku
13:57
you're so cool! (no pun intended) i'm near the entrance

Shouto practically ran to meet up with his friend. Midoriya wasn't one to stand out, but he couldn't miss Midoriya's wild, green, hair.

"You're doing incredible out there! Everybody loves you," he said, supportive as ever. Shouto looked around awkwardly, slightly blushing. The two of them started walking until they found a shady spot around the food stalls.

"I knew that you were amazing, but I didn't expect this!" Midoriya finished.

"I'm glad that you could come," Shouto said. He looked up toward the sky as though he was recalling a memory. "You should have seen my father's face. He's furious that I'm not using his fire." Shouto's face was filled with resentment.

Midoriya looked at him with worry. "Todoroki…"

"I want you to call me "Shouto" from now on, Midoriya. I'm nothing like that bastard. I don't want to share anything with that monster, even if it's just a name." Midoriya could tell that Shouto had changed. He had never seen him so angry, even when they talked about his father.

Shouto could tell that something changed in Midoriya, too. He was glaring into Shouto's eyes. "If you want to reject your father, that's fine, but you have no right to be number one if you only use half of your strength!" Midoriya, the one who was always lighting up the world with his smile, was, in fact, not smiling.

Shouto narrowed his eyes. "What? You want my fire? Did my monster of a dad bribe you or something?" Shouto was breathing heavily. "Now I'm mad!"

"You think you can win with half of your strength?" Midoriya shouted.

"I thought that you of all people would understand, Midoriya. You know what he's done to my family—to me!"

"It's your quirk," Midoriya cried, "not his!"

"Just leave!" With that, Shouto turned around and stormed back through the entrance.

Midoriya would always be the one in need of saving, no matter what. He could never hope to understand what it was like to be a hero. And he had no right to tell Shouto how to use his quirk.

Todoroki couldn't wait for the next fight. He would show Midoriya that he could win without using his father's quirk.


Izuku couldn't control himself. It wasn't fair that somebody with such an amazing quirk would hide it in order to rebel against his father. Izuku would have given anything to have a quirk like that. Todoroki, who was usually so rational, was being childish. Still though, he hadn't meant to go that far.

Todoroki was surely angry at Izuku. He had commanded him to leave, for God's sake. The dual colored teen probably hadn't realized it in the heat of the moment, but he broke a promise to never use Izuku's quirk against him. Two words and now he had to leave. He really wanted to see Todoroki fight.

And now he was crying. Even if he had a quirk, Izuku could never hope to be a hero. He couldn't even stop crying. He really was pathetic.

After the sport's festival, Izuku told himself that he would apologize to Todoroki. Todoroki was his best friend. Izuku shouldn't have crossed the line. It was his fault that Todoroki was angry.

As Midoriya worried more and more about Todoroki, he noticed less and less where he was walking.

"Excuse me? Mind helping me find my seat?" a dry voice behind him asked. Izuku looked up to the source of the voice to clarify who he was talking to. The man wore a dark hood that completely covered his face in shadow. Izuku gulped. He felt anxious…uncomfortable…scared.

There was no doubt that he was talking to him. There were hardly any others around because the matches were going to start in just minutes. Izuku gave out a nervous laugh. He was surely overreacting. He just wasn't used to others talking to him. That was all. "Um, yeah…" he said, feigning his cheerful voice.

Izuku's entire body chilled as he felt bony hands around the side of his neck. The man laughed. No…There were no doubts about it now. He saw this man on the news. Todoroki told him the story in person.

"Tomora Shigaraki?"

"You'll make the perfect hostage," Shigaraki laughed. "I'll show the rest of the world how fragile their sense of safety really is! Don't try screaming or struggling. Just come with me…"

Dread washed over him. Izuku obeyed.


Izuku couldn't remember the details of how he got there. He supposed that it was somebody's quirk. Maybe…some kind of mind-obliterator. The detail didn't matter, though. He needed to get out of there, and fast. If the villains found out about his quirk, they could do things worse than Bakugou ever did. They could force him to do anything they wanted…

Izuku looked down to realize that he was completely engulfed in chains from his neck to his ankles. This suggested that they didn't know what his quirk was. Whoever "they" were. He could barely make out a couple of figures in the dim light of…a bar? He also noticed that his backpack was stolen.

"Ah, so he's awake now!" Shigaraki giggled. Izuku gritted his teeth.

"What do you want with me?" he hissed. Izuku could only guess why Shigaraki took Izuku of all people if he didn't know about his quirk. But if he was being realistic, Izuku knew it was because he looked defenseless. A crying boy far away from the scene was perfect prey.

"You don't get to ask the questions," Shigaraki stated. "All you have to do is wait right here. Let's see if All Might really does get around to saving you! Or is he too busy with that sports festival?" Shigaraki turned around to talk to the other villain who appeared to be standing behind the bar. Izuku struggled to hear what he was saying.

"I saw this one having a little chat with one of the children on the list. Endeavor's son, that's the one. We can use that to our advantage."

Izuku froze. He would never be able to forgive himself if Todoroki got hurt because of him.

"…Do you know anything about him? His name? Signs of a quirk?" the voice that wasn't Shigaraki said.

"His name is Izuku Midoriya," he answered.

How did they? Oh, his backpack.

"As for a quirk, I've got my suspicions." He looked straight at Izuku. For a minute there, Izuku thought that he would feed him a command. But instead, he said, "It must be some kind of mental quirk. He has these journals that are filled with observations of heroes." His eyes were on Midoriya. "That's cute. You want to be a hero?"


Todoroki placed second in the sports festival. Unfortunately, he lost to Bakugou, but he used his flames. Midoriya was right. It was his quirk, not his father's.

Why couldn't he have realized that before he told Midoriya to leave?

From: Todoroki
16:29
You were right, Midoriya. I was acting irrational. Thank you for making me realize something so painfully obvious. In my anger, I did something I should have never done and used your quirk against you...when I told you to leave, I didn't want you to actually go. You deserve a will just like everybody else does. Maybe we can get coffee after your appointment like usual.

In a broken down bar, just a little ways from where Todoroki pressed "send," Midoriya's phone lit up with a text message notification.

"This is just too good," he muttered.

"Kurogiri! There's something that you need to see," the slouching man said, holding up Midoriya's now cracked phone. "I think we picked the right hostage!"

"From my understanding…" the warp gate villain started. "This child's quirk…

Is obedience…"

"Change of plans," Shigaraki said.


Todoroki's phone rang with a text. The corners of his lips slightly lifted when he saw who it was from.

From: Midoriya
17:13
it's fine! don't worry about it. coffee sounds great!

Todoroki let out a sigh of relief.


Izuku didn't sleep that night. He had never felt so afraid. His mother was probably worried sick, not getting any sleep because he hadn't returned home yet.

He had just about given up formulating an escape plan in his mind when he heard footsteps downstairs to the floor Izuku was tied up in.

"Midoriya," an eerie voice called. What could he have wanted that couldn't wait for the morning? "I have a favor to ask you. I have the feeling that you'll be inclined to obey."

Izuku's lungs tried to catch up to the speed his heart was pounding at.

"Looks like your little friend give away your big secret," Shigaraki giggled, holding up Midoriya's phone.

No, this…this can't be happening.

"Tomorrow, go to meet your little friend. Don't tell him or anybody about anything about us or where you are right now," Shigaraki looked down at Midoriya's phone as if reviewing notes. "When the time is right, you will take him here, insisting that you have something to show him. Whatever works. Then, you, Izuku Midoriya, will lead him right into our trap."

Izuku couldn't do anything but just sit there, drowning in his own shock.

"P-please," he managed to cry, hopelessly.

He was so pathetic.


"What's wrong?" Shouto asked Midoriya, sipping his coffee. Shouto noticed that the usual light in Midoriya's eyes were gone. "You seem a little bit off."

Midoriya was distracted by something.

"Midoriya?" Shouto questioned.

"Oh! Everything's fine." Shouto noticed that he didn't even provide an explanation.

"I'm sorry about yesterday…is that what this is about?" Shouto asked.

Midoriya almost spit out his coffee. "Of course not! I was acting a little bit out of line yesterday! You did amazing."

He was way too panicked.

"Look, there's something I need to tell you…something I should have told you a while ago. Why I'm in therapy and all," he muttered, looking away.

Why this, and why now?

"I just don't want you to look at me differently," Midoriya said.

"You know that I never would," Shouto said, millions of questions popping into his head.

"Back when Kacchan and I were junior high first-years, he…found out about my quirk. It's not like I told him—he was just suspicious to why I did everything that he asked me to, no matter how brutal. Kacchan was sort of the only friend that I had." Izuku paused, as if he had trouble admitting it to even himself. "I wanted to be just like him! He was so smart and talented. Kacchan didn't feel the same way about me as I felt about him. He confronted me about my quirk, and I couldn't really deny it at that point. After that, he took my money. He made me to his homework and cheat on his tests. Then, he forced me to stay quiet about it. I had no choice."

Shouto desperately wanted to pull Midoriya into a hug.

"When we were third-years, he started to take his anger out on me. He used to burn me with his quirk. He told me that I could never hope to be a hero. I always heard people saying that, but I never actually believed it myself until then. I stopped coming to school after that. That didn't really stop Kacchan though. He found out that I wanted to go to U.A. and told me to jump of the school building."

"Izuku…" Shouto started.

"I didn't even try to fight back. I just wanted to get it over with. I don't really remember much, but All Might was there. He saved me and brought me home after that. Since then, I haven't given up. I never was really happy until I met you, though. I've been getting better, thanks to you. My doctor told me that she was even going to take me off of my medication. I owe you everything, Shou-"

Shouto cut off Midoriya as he took his friend's face in his hands and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Midoriya just starred for a few seconds before sinking into the kiss. Midoriya's lips were nice and tasted like coffee. Shouto couldn't describe it, but it was like he was getting pulled into another dimension. The people in the coffee shop faded around them. So did the light music and the echoes of laughter. He had never felt anything like it.

But it was over as soon as it started as Midoriya pulled away first, hardly containing his embarrassment as he blushed. He couldn't even maintain eye contact with Shouto.

"You're the bravest person that I know, Izuku," Shouto said.

Shouto thought Midoriya was cute, seeing him this flustered.


"You're the bravest person that I know, Izuku," Todoroki said.

In that moment, Izuku felt like he was going to burst into flames. But the entire moment was cut short with the thought of the burden that he had to carry. It was only a matter of time before he would have to betray his friend and lead his Todoroki to his death.

I'm not brave, Todoroki. I'm a coward, leading you on like this.

Izuku wanted to be with Todoroki, but not like this. Not hours before the carpet would be pulled out from right underneath him.

Don't cry, damnit!

Todoroki noticed. He always did. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. That was wrong of me."

Izuku didn't answer. Shigaraki's words burned in his mind.

Tomorrow, go to meet your little friend. Don't tell him or anybody about anything about us or where you are right now. When the time is right, you will take him here alone, insisting that you have something to show him. Whatever works. Then, you, Izuku Midoriya, will lead him right into our trap.

Izuku gulped down the rest of his coffee and slammed the cup down on the table.

Before he came to a conclusion, his body came to a decision.

"Shouto, I…" his cheeks were probably a bright red. "I want to take you somewhere."

"Where are you taking me," Todoroki smirked. Izuku had never seen him look so intrigued

"You'll see," Izuku said flirtatiously. This wasn't him. This was his body betraying him.

Todoroki took Izuku's hand and said, "Please lead the way."


The dual colored teen couldn't say how long the two of them were walking for. For some of their walk, they were in comfortable silence; for some of it, they talked about their lives and feelings.

Although Midoriya was acting kind of strange, Shouto followed him without any questions.

Shouto still chose to trust them when they reached the bad part of town.

Shouto had faith in Midoriya when he led Shouto into a hidden building through the back of an alley.

"I don't think that we're supposed to be here," Shouto pointed out.

"When has that ever stopped you before, Shouto?" Midoriya responded teasingly. Shouto smiled back on him, even if he was overflowing with doubt.

Midoriya held open the door for Shouto to walk inside. "Trust me, Shouto," he said.

Shouto walked inside the abandoned bar. What did Midoriya have to do with this place?

"Good work, Midoriya!" a dangerous voice in front of him said. Shouto didn't see him at first through the dim light of the bar.

Tomura Shigaraki?

Only, it wasn't just him. Several other villians appeared.

Shouto whipped around to face Midoriya, who was avoiding eye contact with Shouto on purpose. There was guilt painted all over his distressed face.

"That was all an act?" Shouto shouted at him. "Are you insane?"

"I had no choice," Midoriya cried. "He made me!"

Tomura Shigaraki pulled out a chair for Midoriya. "Come sit," he said cheerfully. Midoriya clearly struggled, but his quirk won the fight.

"Shouto, Run!" Midoriya cried. Shouto hesitated, refusing to leave Midoriya behind.

"No, Midoriya," Shouto whispered.

"You can't use your powers here! Just go!"

"Be quiet, Izuku," Shouto said. Midoriya's lips slammed shut.

"What do you want with me, Shigaraki?" Shouto asked, choosing to ignore Midoriya's glaring.

Shigaraki looked happy that he dared to ask. "I want to kill you," he answer simply. "I believe we have a history."


"You are a lunatic," he finally answered. "Let Midoriya go free!" he growled.

Todoroki would have put up a wall of ice or let the bar catch on fire, but he couldn't hurt Midoriya. Otherwise, he would run, and the other villains were sort of blocking the exit.

"You know what would be even better than me killing you? You're little friend!" the villain said, scratching his neck, "And then you would have to fight him, not me!"

Shouto's eyes grew wide. He would rather die than hurt Midoriya.

"Midoriya! Don't listen to him!" Shouto yelled, desperately.

"Midoriya," Shigaraki smiled, handing him the teen a knife "Put this through his heart!" Izuku took the knife despite his struggling. His eyes were drowning in tears.

"Give me the knife, Izuku," Shouto urged.

"Kill him," Shigaraki hissed.

But Izuku didn't give Shouto the knife. He didn't kill Shouto, either. Instead, he resisted. The poor boy cried out in agony.

"Go, Shouto!" he cried.

"No! I'm not leaving you here, Izuku!"

"GO!" Izuku shouted, even louder. He stopped struggling.

Suddenly, Shouto's body started moving to the door, like he didn't have the choice. Try as he did, he couldn't resist Izuku's command.

Izuku also realized what was going on. He turned to Shigaraki, who looked startled. "Take the other villains and leave!" Izuku commanded.

And he did, as if he was in a daze.

Izuku could hardly process Shouto running towards him.

"Shou-"

Todoroki's lips collided with Izuku's, as they melted into an adoring kiss.

"You did it! Izuku! That's your quirk! You can control people. Nobody can ever manipulate you again," Todoroki whispered into his ear.

Izuku couldn't contain himself. He was sobbing uncontrollably. But he was happy.

"Thank you, Shouto. You've saved me."

Shouto couldn't wait to alert the pros about the bar. Midoriya couldn't wait to see his mother and tell her what had happened. Maybe he had a chance at being a hero, after all.