Chapter 3
(y/n) = your name
(l/n) = last name
Deku made absolutely no attempt to hide the fact that he knew. As soon as the next hand started, he did not hesitate to throw barbs.
"Call." Nemuri stated, knocking on the table.
"Well, I raise." (y/n) countered, tossing a few chips into the center casually.
This earned her a scoff from Izuku "That's a bluff if I've ever heard one."
(y/n) looked up from her cards when she caught his tone. He seemed rather confident about that, and she couldn't wait to wipe the floor with him using her royal flush. "Oh really, Hot-Shot? And how do you know that?"
Izuku shrugged, seemingly more interested in his hand than with meeting the challenging gaze across the table. "Because, isn't hiding the truth from your loved ones your favorite pass time?" He matched her bet nonchalantly.
"Whoa where is this coming from, Bud? It's not like you to be so nasty. What are you talking about? Hiding the truth?" (y/n) was taken aback by such an accusation. She'd never seen Izuku act like this before.
"What was Mr. Aizawa doing in your house all by himself earlier today?" he challenged out of the blue.
There was a beat of silence. Then two.
"Hizashi, what the fuck? You told him?" (y/n) slammed her cards face up on the table in outrage as she rounded on her friend, along with the rest of the table.
Hizashi's voice raised an octave, matching the shrill screech of a violin "Why do you automatically assume I told him?"
He got the exact same deadpan look from every person, including Deku.
"I didn't!" he defended.
"No! I had to find out by walking in on an extremely upsetting kitchen conversation about my aunt's sex life. Thanks for that, by the way."
At that, Iida clasped his hands together. "Alright! It's been fun. (y/n), wonderful to see you as always, but I think it's time we all headed out." he began to wheel his way away from the table, yanking on Nemuri's sleeve as he went.
"Aww, but it's just getting interesting~" Nemuri purred, chin resting on her hand as her eyes darted between Izuku and (y/n).
The Livingroom was put back together now, (y/n) and Shouta sat patiently on the couch as Izuku paced silently in front of them. Shouta, to his credit, did not outwardly seem at all uncomfortable or guilty. But (y/n) could practically feel the tension radiating off his body. She went to reach for his hand, to give him some form of comfort in a situation he didn't want to be in, but halfway through the gesture, Deku caught her, and she immediately retracted her hand.
"How long?" he asked accusatorily.
"Do you remember that day I was held hostage at work?" (y/n) asked in a small sheepish voice,
"That was four months ago!" an exasperated shout from the teen. He saw his aunt flinch minutely, and sighed, attempting to calm down. "Were you ever going to tell me?"
(y/n) shrugged "Eventually. Shouta wanted to avoid your classmates finding out for both of your sakes, and I was afraid you'd react like- well, like this." Her eyes didn't move from the ground. Shouta subtly rubbed her back to attempt to comfort her. "how mad are you, really?" She asked.
"I'm not mad, I'm disappointed."
She cringed. She'd pulled that line on him a few times. Hearing him repeat it back to her; to hear him reprimand her like he was the adult-and she the child-made her feel like she must be having a dissociative episode.
"Look, I know it must be weird, me dating your teacher, and it'll take some time to get used to it, but please don't let whom I choose to be with effect our relationshi-"
"That's not why I'm upset!" Deku squawked, his voice threatening to break. His vicious outburst now replaced with one she recognized more from her sweet nephew's demeanor. He began to tremble, as he crossed his arms over his chest and lowered his head. "You didn't tell me." He practically whispered. "You didn't- We tell each other everything-I tell you everything! And you didn't…" he cut him self off as he began to sniffle.
(y/n)'s eyes were burning, as she felt guilt spring up on her and devour her whole. "Oh Izuku…Oh Honey. I'm so sor- I'm so sorry." She sprung up from the couch, wrapping her arms around the boy, as he began openly crying into her chest. "I'm so sorry, Izuku. No more secrets. I promise. I promise." She hushed the boys unrestrained sobs.
If Aizawa haddn't been mortified to begin with, he certainly would be now. "…I'm going to head home for the night." He announced, not even allowing the two time to respond, as he removed himself from the couch and made a B-line for the door. "…Good night (y/n). Midoriya." And then he was gone, and the two were alone again.
"I-it's s-so weird. To hear h-him use somebody's first name." Izuku managed to get out, as his body was being wracked with sobs.
(y/n) nodded, squeezing the boy "It's weird for him, too, believe me. He still calls me (l/n) most of the time." She pulled back from him, cupping his face in her hands, wiping fresh tears from his cheeks. "Are we ok?"
"You promise you don't have any more secrets?" he sniffed, halfway calmed down. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, but he didn't seem to notice, because a bright smile grew on his face when she whispered, "I promise."
They fell asleep together on the couch, Izuku leaning into her chest as she rested her head atop his. Guilt wracked every part of her body as she thought of the thing she still kept hidden from him. From everyone, really. All bringing it up would do is remind her of who she used to be. Who she still was. A weak, scared little girl who ran from her problems and avoided confrontation.
She ran from home, she ran from-No. don't even think about it. She ran from her feelings for Shouta, and most recently, she ran from facing her nephew's reaction. Truly, if she physically ran as fast and as far as she ran from her issues, she'd be an Olympian by now.
She snuggled Izuku closer, wrapping him protectively in her arms as she let the soft drone of the television and her own thoughts lull her to sleep.
But she didn't need to run anymore. Running, she'd learned, had always caused more problems than it solved. And this wasn't running. This was just… avoiding an obstacle. Yeah.
Besides, unlike some of her others, this secret wasn't going to come back to bite her in the ass.
She really, truly, believed that.
Author's Note: Yo, hmu with your theories of what the reader's dirty little secret is. I'm curious to see what your theories might be. I think I've done a pretty good job in subtly sprinkling in little clues throughout these chapters as well as the first fic, but still I think they were easy to miss, too. So, I'm real curious to see if any of y'all caught on or what. Until the next chapter, everyone. Bye!
