We are the Future: 2nd Act
Summary: Now that the threat of All for One has been eliminated, Izuku thought he was content. However when his nephews Nowaki and Hiroki come to stay with him Izuku realizes there's something missing in his life, and hopes Bakugo could be accomodating.
Chapter 1: Ten Years Later
Izuku had loved Bakugo Katsuki since they were kids… even if he hadn't known it at the time. When they first met he admired him, envied him, and followed him around like a lost puppy hoping for affection and praise. His sister Izumi could never understand what drove him to be so attached to him… but to Izuku, Kacchan was the first friend he'd ever made. He was cool, strong, brave, intelligent, and could do anything he put his mind to.
Yeah his personality wasn't the best, and the moment Kacchan got his quirk he became rough, even abusive towards him. Still Izuku couldn't really deny a lot of the things Kacchan said. He was quirkless, he failed at a lot of the things he attempted to do, he wasn't naturally athletic or strong and despite being book smart he didn't really have what most adults called street smarts. To make matters worse his sister was so good at anything and everything she tried that it made him feel as worthless and hopeless as everyone called him out to be. It was enough to have a kid lose faith in himself and his dreams.
Izuku refused to do that. He believed with all his heart he could be a hero, so all Kacchan's abrasive attitude towards him had done was push him to better himself, and be the kind of man who could be a hero like All Might. If anything he owed Bakugo a lot for pushing his buttons and limits, and admired him more for it.
Still he hadn't realized it was love… until he'd noticed Bakugo's affections towards his sister. He'd notice more and more Bakugo would ignore him and approach her… the two of them argued, and he berated her but not with the same meanness and callousness he did towards him. He'd tug on her hair, pin her between him and the wall, teased her, and often commented to his friends about how she looked, the things she said or did.
It made his chest ache whenever Bakugo carelessly brushed a hand over her cheek, even though she smacked it away. The way his eyes would just watch her when they were together. Even the way he called her half pint or shorty was more affectionate than mean.
Izuku couldn't stand it.
Look at me… touch me… see only me…
That's how it had all started, how he'd figured out that all this time he wanted Bakugo to recognize him, admire him, and just be with him, because he loved him.
The day he'd confessed he'd gone in expecting full rejection, but what he got had been the rocky start of a relation that grew into something unique and special. To this day Izuku cherished that relationship and prayed one day he could openly tell the world his feelings.
~Present Time: 10 years after Izumi deportation~
The monstrous villain let out an ear piercing roar as he rampaged the city streets. People screamed and ran to get out of the way.
"Where are you, you coward! I'll show you not to make a fool out of me!" He screamed into the sky.
"Don't worry," a voice called out, and caught the monster's attention. Bakugo stood atop a large pile of cars. "You're doing that just fine on your own."
"Why you little-" His hand raking out, ready to beat the guy I to the ground. Bakugo dodged and leapt up over his head. Using his explosions to speed up his trajectory he launched his own attack.
"Die!" Bakugo shouted and jabbed the side of his hand against the back of the villain's neck knocking him down and unconscious. "Heh the bigger they are the harder they fall."
He landed and righted himself pumping his fists. Crowds cheered pumping him up more and he raised his fist in victory.
"Way to go Ground Zero!" An ecstatic fan shouted.
"Yeah! Just what you'd expect from Deku's right hand man!" Another followed and caused Bakugo to jerk and tense up. His eyes went deadly as he focused on the source of the voice. The man went positively white.
"Hah?!"
~Izuku and Bakugo's flat~
"Tch, Deku's right hand man my ass. The hell do they think I am, a sidekick?" Bakugo muttered and kicked his shoes off at the door. "Tadaima! Where the fuck are you, Deku?"
"Ah welcome home, Kacchan!" Izuku poked his head from the kitchen. "Great timing I'm almost done with dinner."
"Great cuz I'm fucking starving. Tch man what a day. Ever since your sister retired from No Mercy duty the villain attacks just keep increasing." He rolled his shoulders.
"I know it's especially bad now that the heroics committee is tightening down on rules and regulations limiting our movements." Izuku waved his spatula in the air frowning thoughtfully.
"Tch this is fucking stupid. Nearly everywhere else in the world is accepting your sister's open policy allowing heroes to have freer range in the field, and non hero quirk use is going by trial case rather than set sentence. Japan just happens to be on that fucking list of old farts who won't get their heads out of their asses."
"Right…" Izuku sighed then suddenly perked up. " Oh! Speaking of Izumi though did you know Hiroki and Nowaki are signed up to take the U.A Recommendation course?"
"Really? So the dynamic duo are coming back to Japan huh?" He smirked. "That ought to be a blast. I haven't seen Hiroki since he turned 10."
"He does look up to you. It's adorable actually." Izuku beamed and Bakugo's face turned rigid.
"Adorable!? What the fuck Deku couldn't you come up with a better phrase than that?!" Bakugo went beat red and grabbed his Pseudo-husband by the front of his shirt.
"Wha! I'm sorry!" Izuku held up his hands in defense. "It's true though...you're such a good role model for him, and keeping him determined towards his goals. That's all I meant by it."
"Sure it is…" he grumbled slowly releasing Izuku from his hold.
"It's true...it really is a shame we can't have kids. I think you'd make a great father, Kacchan." Izuku beamed with a sparkly look in his eyes.
"Even if we could have kids our schedules are too busy to really juggle the responsibility." He frowned. "Your parents still giving you a hard time about not having kids of your own?"
"Uh not exactly...Izumi is giving them plenty of grandkids to spoil… Dad is just worried that I'm making the same mistake he is by not settling down yet." He rubbed the back of his head looking down guiltily.
"Don't you think it's time we told him the truth? Seems like everyone else is up to speed but him." Bakugo put in and leaned against the kitchen counter.
"I guess I'm just worried about how he'll take it." Izuku rubbed the edge of his apron between his fingers pouting.
"If you want to have an actual ceremony other than just wearing rings then you need to come out of the proverbial closet Deku. My parents have known for years. Now it's high time you told him."
"Okay you're right...when we go have dinner with them on Sunday I'll come clean."
"Good," He ruffled his hair and grabbed his face for a firm kiss. "Now get the food before it burns and let's eat."
"Right!" He turned to the stove and paused his spatula to glance back. "There is one other little thing I should tell you."
"What is it?" He sat down narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Deku's behavior.
"Well in regards to the twins…"
~In America~
"Hiroki Yagi Todoroki you are in so much trouble mister!" Izumi Todoroki, beautiful, fierce and hugely pregnant, screamed from the front steps of her home and out at her son who was practicing his athletics on the wide spread greenery that was their front yard.
For ten years Izumi and Shoto had steadily build and raised their family in the mountains of Connecticut. The lush scenery proved to be relaxing, private and yet convenient as it allowed Shoto to remain close enough to have a agency in New York City.
"Crap…" Hiroki stopped mid roll to go blue in the face. His eyes locked onto his mother who now stomped off the stone steps and towards him."Guess she found out."
"I told you, you'd get on trouble Hiroki." Nowaki spoke from up a nearby tree. He paged through a book with a stoic expression that matched his tone. He'd needed glasses once they breached double digits and with them his shy and nervous persona had shifted to a more introvert and calm one. He'd let his hair grow out, the soft green curls a bit feminine now that they were past shoulder length, but it paired well with his elegant gait and studious features. "That's what you get for using your quirk to scare our little sister."
"Shut up, I don't want to hear that from you after the pool incident." Hiroki pointed an accusing finger at him. Where his brother was stoic, he was a spitfire. Their personalities matched their quirks and helped to differentiate them as they got older. As twins they shared a bond no one could break, but as brothers they often argued and butt heads in opinions.
"You said you wanted to go ice skating…" Nowaki pointed out casually turning another page.
"Yeah but not while mom was watching!" Hiroki hissed and yelped when Izumi's hand smacked the top of his head. His cap went flying and flaming red hair came. Once he became a teenager he'd insisted upon dying his hair to match his quirk. On top of that he'd gotten the long locks cut and styled to mimic Bakugo's. The short spikes were more reminiscent of his grandfather Endeavor, but had his hair been any longer those spikes would turn to curls instantly, and he hated it.
"Are you even listening to me young man!? I gave you and Nowaki an extra quirk to help you evolve your own quirks. I did not give them to you so you can abuse the power by using them on whatever you see fit." Izumi put her hands on her hips. "If you don't behave then you can forget about applying to UA and going to Japan!"
"Yes Mom." Hiroki tucked his tongue in his cheek pouting. He spotted his dad coming up behind carrying a toddler in one arm and holding the hand of a slightly older kid. "Damn, don't tell me I'm gonna get a double lecture. Stupid little tattle tale."
"Izumi," Shoto approached his wife setting the little girl down at his feet so he could soothe Izumi's tense shoulders. "Midoriya just called… he wants to know when he should expect the boys. Apparently Bakugo gave the okay for the boys to stay with them."
Izumi turned towards her husband her annoyed look softening only a little.
"I plan on sending them a couple of days before the exam. Providing Hiroki doesn't make any more stupid decisions." Her temple throbbed. Shoto sighed and frowned at his son as the little girl hobbled over to her mother and clinging on her skirts.
"Hiro bad!" The girl said with a firm pout and puffy cheeks. "Need spank!"
Izumi smiled down at her daughter and crouched with some difficulty to pick her up.
"Right you are, Inko." She kissed her plump cheek and ruffled her hair that was a mix of red, white and green, and uncontrollably curly. The girl had bright green eyes like Izumi and was showing off her trademark Midoriya smile. "I promise to punish him later." At the sound of a yawn, Izumi looked to her middle child and smiled at him. "Looks like someone just woke up from a nap."
Tadashi Todoroki, named for his uncle, was a near perfect image of his father. His solemn dual color eyes look up at her sleepily and his soft voice murmured a confirmation.
"Hiroki…" Shoto frowned at the boy crossing his freed arms as he approached him. Hiroki tensed up bracing for the scolding "What have I told you about stressing your mother out?" He bent in whispering. "The hormones from the pregnancy are bad enough, don't make it worse. We all have to deal with the backlash."
"I heard that Shoto…" Izumi's brow twitched irritable. It was Shoto's turn to tense up as he felt the simmering wrath of his pregnant wife. "Am I a menace? Should I take my wild hormones elsewhere?"
"No." He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "Just trying to keep you from taking your anger out on the house. You remember the last time?"
"Need I remind you who nearly burned down the kitchen after one of his temper tantrums?" She raised a condescending eyebrow and Shoto averted her gaze. "Beside if I was really upset i can always take my aggression out on your dad's invaluable antiques." she said with a smirk.
"Ten years and the two of you still can't seem to get along." He sighed heavily.
"Hey I tried," She held her hands up pacing, "I considered us even when I took the house, but he's the one holding a grudge. He never visits, he never calls, and it's his influence that was the reason my open policy act didn't get passed in Japan."
"This might take awhile kids…" he looked down at their children. "Go back inside and get ready for dinner."
"Yes dad," Nowaki jumped down from the tree and picked up little Inko who curled into his hold and stuck her tongue out at Hiroki. Hiroki in turn grabbed tadashi's hand and the four of them head inside.
"You're still in trouble young man!" Izumi called out to Hiroki who then slumped in his walk. She sighed heavily and turned her full attention back to her husband. "I'm starting to think giving them both an extra quirk was a bad idea."
"I don't think so. Both of their quirks evolved in a way neither of us expected. With these power ups they'll become some of the strongest heroes of their generation." He slipped an arm around her and guided her to the stone bench at the front of the house.
"I don't know Shoto. The more I think about it, the more I feel like I rushed the decision to give them quirk upgrades." She sat down rubbing her belly as her youngest stirred in her womb. "It could have gone horribly wrong. What kind of a irresponsible mother makes that kind of risk with her own children."
"You transferred "Super Regen" onto Izuku by accident, but you said you had a feeling it could be done. You procrastinated about it for weeks, prepared yourself and the kids mentally and physically for what might happen and made sure you took all the proper measures. I don't think you were irresponsible at all."
"Just because I came in prepared doesn't make me responsible, Shoto. After I unintentionally gave Izuku Super Regen and saw what it did for his quirk I knew I wanted to try it for real. I've had a theory I'd been playing around in my head even since Izuku told me the origins of One for All."
"I remember you telling me that story." Shoto leaned back on the bench with her staring up at the bright blue sky. "All for One had a little brother who appeared quirkless but in actuality had the useless ability to give quirks to others. When All for One gave him the cultivation quirk the quirks combined and became the quirk known as One for All."
"Yeah… and it's that origin where things got complicated." She looked at her hands her breath sighing out. "My theory is that only one of us inherited One for All while the other inherited All for One. When my brother and I are together our strength combines and builds in an endless loop until our bodies just can't handle it anymore. As twins we have a special connection. We share everything, power, emotions, even thoughts… but when that doctor injected All for One's blood into me it triggered something. Our connection wavered and I could feel the change... it frightened me. The times when Izuku and I actually were in tandem the loop continued...but as I started to lose control and subconsciously beg for more strength, I wasn't sharing power anymore...I was taking it."
Shoto turned his eyes to her, his face suddenly going serious. He took all the information in and followed her logic.
"I see… so you think All for One knew that would happen, and that's why he sent that Nomu after you and Izuku at Fairy Land. He hoped you would stop sharing power with your brother and start taking it instead until One for All and All for One were both yours." Shoto deduced and got a nod from Izumi.
"The more I learned about my quirk the more I was afraid of it. I couldn't be a hero like this. I couldn't risk accidentally hurting one of my friends or comrades, I couldn't risk hurting you or Izuku. I knew I had to control my power, knew I had to distance myself but I didn't know how. That's why I ran, ran where neither you guys or All for One could find me." she shut her eyes. "I still regret hurting you because of that."
"It's in the past, Izumi…" He took her hands in his and kissed them. "...and frankly I think it was for the better."
"How can you say that after everything that's happened?" She lifted her head up eyes filled with tears. "After everything I've done…"
"Izumi look around you." He motioned to the house, the sounds of their children laughing, and arguing inside, the scent of the air, and the peace that brought it all together. "This is where the past has brought us." To seal the deal he set her hands on her own belly and cupped his over them. "Do you really want to say you regret everything? Do you really want to take it all away?"
"No…" tears welled up but she smiled and slid into his arms still feeling the life move inside her. "I guess I just wish I didn't have to hurt so many people to get to where I am. Tadashi…"
"...would be glad that you're happy." He pulled her face up and looked her in the eyes. "You are happy aren't you, Izumi?"
"Yes." She admitted her smile widening.
"Now that that's said…" He cupped her face in his hands. "Do you have any regrets?"
"Just one, Shoto." She closed her eyes and let him brush away the tears with his lips. "Just one."
~A Week Later~
Hiroki and Nowaki hug their parents at the airport, the two of them all packed and ready for their cross country flight.
"I'd take you boys myself, but I'm in no condition to fly. So I beg you boys, no quirk use on the plane, and do your best not to cause your Uncle Deku any grief." With tears in her eyes she rubbed their heads. "Please?"
"Yes Mom." Hiroki smiled up at her. "Don't worry we'll become ace heroes, just you watch."
"You'll come to watch the sports festival at least, right?" Nowaki looked at his parents with a bit of an owlish expression.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Izumi took Nowaki's face in her hands and kissed both his cheeks then did the same to Hiroki who squirmed a little at the affection.
"Work hard you two, and don't slack off." Shoto put his hands on his hips. "You both have impressive quirks, and the training your mother an I have put you through should put you leagues above the others. However, UA isn't for the faint of heart. Don't let down your guard or the other students will walk all over you."
"Got it, dad! Leave it to us!" Hiroki gave a thumbs up and ruffled the hair of his little brother. "Alright squirt, you're in charge. You better take care of mom and the new baby for us."
"Ah…" Tadashi closed his eyes soaking in the touch of his older brother. He slowly opened one eye to glance at Nowaki who just nodded to him. "I will."
"Good." Hiroki looked down at his sister who scowled but was in tears. He crouched down scowling as if mad at her… but then suddenly grinned. "You're a pain in the butt, but I guess I'll miss you too, stool pigeon."
Inko hiccupped and she hugged him tightly whining as she spoke.
"Meanie face!" She cried and clung on. "I won't miss you at all."
"Hai, hai… I hope you come up with better insults by the time I get back" He squeezed her once then let go. He stood up and Nowaki flanked him and the two bowed respectively to their parents before turning their backs.
"Good luck, my boys." Izumi murmured and leaned into Shoto who hugged her comfortingly from behind.
"They'll do us proud, Izumi." Shoto squeezed her gently placing a kiss to her temple. "Come on, let's go home."
"Right…" she put a hand on her daughter's head and picked her up letting the toddler cry in her shoulder. Shoto in turn picked up Tadashi who looked over his shoulder at his two older siblings.
"Dad…" he murmured.
"Yeah, son?" Shoto answered.
"How come so many people want to be heroes? You have to beat up villains, and risk your lives for people you've never met before. Isn't it dangerous and scary?"
Shoto stopped walking and waited until Izumi and Inko were ahead of him before setting Tadashi down and kneeling in front of him.
"Let me tell you a secret, Tadashi." He smiled at his son and ruffled his hair. "Just because many people want to and train to become heroes doesn't mean they'll become one. Being a hero is more than just wearing a costume, and going through the motions. True Heroes like your Grandpa All Might, and Uncle Deku are just born to become one. It's instinctive and essential to who they are and not everyone has that."
"Then why bother trying?" He pouted at not having his question answered.
"Because helping people is something everyone should do. Those who are naturally gifted like your Uncle Deku can't save the world alone. They need support from others who are willing to put in the effort to make this world a better and safer place. That need is what spawns people to act, and what will in turn make the world change for the better."
"So, if I want to help the world… should I become a hero too?"
"Only if you want to, Tadashi. Your brothers Hiroki and Nowaki want to be heroes which is why they're going to school for it, but there are so many ways you can better the world, Tadashi. You can become a police officer, you can become a support specialist, a lawyer, a doctor, a politician. You can be whatever you want to be, Son."
"So you'd be proud of me even if I don't become a hero?"
"So long as you stay true to who you are. Whatever you choose, go at it with all your heart. So long as you put your effort into it, there's little that can make me disappointed in you, Tadashi."
Tadashi's normally sober face lit up with a small smile and he held out his arms to be picked up again. Shoto indulged him, lifting him up and squeezing him hard. As he walked briskly to catch up to his wife he heard Tadashi murmur in his ear.
"Dad…"
"Hmmm?"
"Can I be you when I grow up?"
Shoto felt the tugs on his heart. Tadashi was the first kid he'd had a real hand in raising. He worried that somewhere along the lines his children may come to resent him like he had his own father. However at his son's words everything in him squeezed and slowly released. He had to resist the urge to squeeze his son close and just breathe him in.
"Sure."
~Ask Briry~
Briry: Okay I know I'm already behind on updates as it is and I really should be concentrating on my other fics but I couldn't resist! I hope you guys like this first chapter and will look forward to what I have in store!
Next Chapter: Quirk Evolution