We are the future
Chapter 4: Panic
No matter what happened now it would all be worth it, Shoto decided. To see her so speechless, just stunned at the sight of him, made whatever headache came after worth while. Too many times she'd pulled the rug from under him with her sudden appearances and disappearances. It was about time he'd returned the favor.
"You…" Izumi cleared her throat, realizing she probably looked like a complete idiot standing there gawking at him. "You're the last man I expected to volunteer for this kind of thing."
"I didn't volunteer, I was hired, Izumi." He stepped to her. Izuku backed off but kept a close eye on the two. He wasn't sure what this reunion would bring about but he was prepared to step in if needed. Shoto just stared, his smile never wavering. It made Izumi fidget.
"What are you looking at?"
"You…" He replied with a small laugh. "When I'd heard you became a model I almost didn't believe it." He took her chin running a thumb over her lips. "Not because of your looks, or your height… but because you've always hated the press and the spotlight."
"Hate is a pretty strong word… annoyed by it would be more apt." She jerked her head away, her lips burning a bit where he'd touched. If she ran her tongue there… she was sure to taste him. "Besides the press is a necessary evil. You can't change the world if you don't have a voice. If I must deal with the media than I prefer doing it on my own terms, carving my own story so to speak."
"You've got a point," he returned his hand to his pocket. "Well, I guess I'll see you on set." He turned away and walked towards a stylist who was waving him down.
"Kacchan and I should be going to." Izuku rubbed her shoulders sensing her tension. "Don't let Shoto rattle you, Izumi. In the end he's a professional. He'll do the job."
"Yeah… I know." She touched her lip her eyes narrowing. Still, she thought with a frown, Shoto seemed a little to confident and cocky… just what the hell was he playing at?
~Hiro and Nowaki~
"Whoa!" Hiro stared with a drooling mouth at the long delicious display. Their tiny size had gone unnoticed when they snuck into the buffet and mixed with the crowds of people. "Look at all that food!"
"It smells really good!" Nowaki agreed stepping on his tiptoes to stare at a platter of beef. "Looks really good too."
"Excuse me little ones," a plump lady smiled sweetly down at them and grabbed a plate. "I'm just gonna get me some of this yummy roast… is your mommy getting you plates?"
"Oh well," Nowaki backed up tapping his fingers together nervously but Hiro stepped up.
"No, we wanted to get the food ourselves. We're not babies after all."
"Of course… here." She handed them both plates. "Help yourselves boys." She continued down the line and Hiro grinned wide and reached over the counter grabbing food the way he saw the lady doing.
"Hiro-chan, I think we're supposed to pay for this."
"You heard the lady, she said we can help ourselves. Come on let's see what else they've got." Like a little monkey Hiro followed the line of adults, mimicking their movements and stacking his and his brother's plates til they were full. Once there was no more room he carted the plate with him and looked for an empty seat.
"So much food…" Nowaki stared at his plate wide eyed. "The only time mom ever let's us eat like this is during Thanksgiving."
"I know it's awesome right? I like this hotel place." Hiro sat in a booth and sat up on his knees. He looked around for silverware, but only found a pair of sticks. "Japan is weird though… who eats food with sticks?" he stabbed into his meat with the point ends like a fork and shoved it into his mouth munching loudly. "Nom, nom, nom…"
Nowaki took a page out of his brother's book and watched the other adults and the way they held the sticks. He fussed, pouting some when he fumbled, but managed to hold them somewhat properly before using them to pick up a piece of broccoli.
"So we're gonna find mom after we eat, right?" Nowaki asked between bites.
"I guess… she's gotta be around here somewhere. We'll just have to look for her." Hiroki shoved rice into his mouth and looked around again. "Mmmmm ooh I bet she's at the pool." he said with a full mouth. "We should go there."
"You just want to go swimming…" Nowaki frowned at him. "You know we can't go swimming after eating a meal, and besides-"
"Can't do this, can't do that… listen Nowaki mom and dad aren't here to tell us what to do and that's their fault for being busy." Hiro slammed his hands on the table. "Let them worry! Serves them right for leaving us alone all the time."
"Hiro…" Nowaki set his chopstix down. "I miss them when they leave too, but-"
"No buts, Nowaki! Stop acting like…" he tried to think of a good word. "...like a weenie! Let's teach mom and dad a lesson once and for all."
Nowaki looked down at his food playing with it a bit, but then his eyes went hard.
"Okay… if it means Mommy will spend more time with us then I'm in." Nowaki fisted his hands together, his cute little face showing determination. He felt guilty… but it would be worth it if he could see more of his parents.
"Good!" Hiro grinned big. "Then it's settled. Pool here we come!"
"Yeah!" Nowaki took another big bite of food… then paused as he realized something. "Do you think they have water wings?"
~Photoshoot~
Izumi did the Health Spa shoot alone, the silky robe they provided carelessly hung on her as she gave a sexy smile, her hands held out delicately as stand in professionals pretended to buffer and police her fingernails. The theme of the photoshoot was a woman's paradise. On vacation she's pampered, and given the pick of the litter in handsome heroes who vie for her attention. At the end of the day she chooses one to welcome into her suite capping the night off with a steamy kiss.
She was gonna end up choosing Bakugo, Izumi figured, since he was the safest bet. It would be weird to kiss her brother, and with her and Shoto's past it would just murk things up even more between them.
"Beautiful, just gorgeous Izumi… show me those pearly whites… Yes! Okay we got it!" He waved the crew up. "Time for the next set up. Are the heroes ready?" The photographer called back and all three stepped out. Izuku fidgeted some standing in only a pair of swim trunks with his muscles flashing out. He could feel the females around him swooning and Bakugo's annoyance growing.
Bakugo was in a full suit and tie, his hair slicked back and threatening to pop free at any moment. Izumi had to hide a snicker.
"Wow, you clean up nice, Bakugo." Izumi closed the robe tighter around her. "I take it you're my date for the dining hall?"
"Yeah that's right… and I really hope they get this stupid thing over with. I hate wearing a suit." He stuffed his hands in his pockets doing his best not to tug the tie free.
"We're doing your set up next, so we'll get you out of it soon enough big guy." She pat his chest and glanced up as Shoto walked in wearing a wife beater and sweats. So it was the pool for Izuku, dining hall for Bakugo, and Gym for Shoto. "Here I thought you'd be the one wearing the tux."
"Not the right size…" He said simply adjusting the sweatbands around his wrists. "I'm too tall for it."
"Tch… they should have had more than one brought in…"
"These are all sample sizes, Bakugo, whatever fits that's what they use. It's why most models have to maintain a certain physique." She guzzled down water. Her mouth felt so dry looking at Shoto in training gear. When was this stupid reaction to him ever gonna stop?
The stylist came over with Izumi's dress and she stepped behind the curtain to drop the robe and slip into it. They played with her hair some and freshened her makeup. All the while Shoto watched with a keen eye. Her look changed with just a few little touches here and there… but those big green eyes always stayed the same.
He had watched her work, and she'd knew exactly how to pay with the camera and take full advantage of the set. She did her job well and he had to admire her for it...even if it did bring an uncomfortable heat in his belly.
"Excuse me," A voice from behind spoke through the hustle and bustle and the hotel security guard stood fidgeting and holding his hat in his hands. "Miss Midoriya, Ma'am?"
"Hmmm? Yes can I help you?" She adjusted the line of her dress.
"I'm so sorry to bother you while you're busy, but if you've got just one moment there's a situation that I need your help with."
Izumi narrowed her eyes.
"Is there something wrong?"
"We've apprehended a man, but he says that it's all a misunderstanding and you could clarify his story. Would you-"
Dabi? Izumi wondered and narrowed her eyes. Just what the hell kind of tricks did he manage to get himself into now?
"Yes, of course." She brushed past the boys stepping with the security guard off set. Todoroki looked after her as did Izuku. Both were a little curious and suspicious about the sudden serious look on Izumi's face.
"I wonder what happened…" Izuku murmured.
Izumi's heart instantly went into her throat when she saw Mavis in security room cuffed and ragged.
"Ma-... what the hell?!" She ran up to him. "What happened to you?"
"I got duped." He said with a nervous smile. "Those boys of yours sure are something, especially that Hiro." He laughed then hung his head in defeat. "Gomen, Izumi… they gave me the slip."
"You LOST my sons?!" Izumi shouted at him her eyes going wild. "Idiot I can't believe this. I put them in your custody for five minutes and they go missing?"
"To be fair, it was partially my fault, Miss Midoriya." The security guard hung his head as well. He quickly included Mavis setting him free."The boys convinced me Mr. Hatsume here was a kidnapper, and I tasered him.
"Oh my god…" She smacked a hand to her forehead. "Hiroki you're so grounded."
"Well your boys are smart, Izumi. I doubt they'll leave the hotel. I'm sure they'll pop up somewhere." Mavis tried to comfort.
"I guess you're…" her eyes suddenly went wide and she grabbed her hair. "Oh shit… oh shit...oh shit. They're still in the hotel! They could be seen by…" She looked over her shoulder out of the opened door. She saw Shoto and Izuku lingering around, the two exchanging friendly words and laughing. Izumi's eyes flared with temper as she whirled on Mavis and grabbed him by the shirt front.
"Okay listen up Mavis. Those boys are somewhere in the hotel still so you better find them and find them fast because if you don't Eva's going to wind up a widow, do you understand me!?"
"Yes ma'am!" Mavis saluted sweating some but still smiling to hide his nerves. "Detective Hatsume is on the case!" He stood up and rushed out. Izumi whirled on the security guard.
"Well don't just stand there, go help him! The press is hanging out all over this place, so be discreet! I don't want any of this leaking out, got it!?"
"Yes, Ma'am, sorry ma;am!" The guard rushed after Mavis and Izumi rubbed at her temples cursing.
"Ugh… is this my punishment for not practicing safe sex? I knew I should have taken those health classes more seriously." She let out a long heavy breath before stepping back out and managing a smile. "Alright, sorry about that. Just a little issue with some fans."
"Everything okay? You look a little freaked out." Shoto asked, surprisingly conceneed. She smiled easily enough but he could see the panic and worry in her eyes.
"I'm fine...just part of the job I guess." The job of motherhood. She hoped Tadashi would finish briefing with their contact quickly and come back to help. Until the boys were found she needed to keep her brother and the others distracted….not to mention herself
"Alright explosion boy!" Back into character Izumi smugly grinned at him. "Let's enjoy a nice romantic meal together." She hugged Bakugo's arm and whispered in his ear. "Just pretend I'm Izuku...that should be easy enough for you."
"Tch whatever, half pint." He pulled from her grip and the two stepped onto the dining room set. It took some time for Bakugo to loosen up. The first few frames stiff were stiff with irritation, but Izumi managed to coax Bakugo into a comfortable place for both of them. She started talking asking him questions about what he'd been up to the past few years… stroking his hand and his ego as her velvety voice soothed.
Izuku watched the magic happen and his eyes went wide with admiration.
"Wow… Izumi is amazing. Look how calm Kacchan is now." Izuku pressed his fingers to his lips as he started to mumble. "I never knew there was so much work that went into modeling. I see now it's more than just posing for a camera, you have to have excellent control of our body and your emotions… In a way it's like acting, finding a roll and playing it. Hmmm how should I play the one for the pool? We're siblings so maybe we can go for a playful approach… but would that ruin the theme of the shoot?"
Shoto took in bits and pieces of what Izuku was muttering about. One thing he had to agree with Deku wholeheartedly was that Bakugo played right into Izumi's hands. In a way the interaction between them was a battle, and Bakugo had lost.
"Well, I won't lose to you." He murmured and walked away. His set up was next, and he was fully prepared to give Izumi everything he got.
~Meanwhile~
Dabi sat in a cafe casually sipping coffee across from a young pretty teenager. She had hair streaked black and white, and her outfit was a bit lolita which matched with her sweet face and big child-like eyes. On her head she wore a mini tuxedo hat, which he knew covered the horn on her head.
"How have you been Eri? Or should I call you Rika now?" Dabi asked setting his coffee down and watched her take a big bite of whip cream from her sundae and licked it off her lips.
"Eri is fine when we're in private like this. Mama and Papa still call me Eri now and again," she giggled. The scared little child he and Izumi had rescued from the hospital had grown into a pretty young thing with a soft heart.
Once Eri realized she wasn't in any danger and Izumi was Deku's twin sister, she'd calmed instantly. She spent a year with her in America, getting all the necessary disguises and documents she would need to elude from the police and the heroes. It was thanks to Izumi that she now had some control over her own powerful quirk. It was also thanks to Izumi she had been adopted by a wonderful loving family, and was now even attending school and making friends. So despite the dangers, Eri had been more than willing to play spy for her surrogate sister.
"I've been digging up all I can about the No Mercy copy cat." Eri told him in a hushed voice. "I have a friend who interns at Ground Zero's agency, and he says Ground Zero is bound determined to catch him and string him high."
"That sounds like Bakugo…" Dabi murmured, recalling the explosive personality he knew only by reputation. Izumi talked about him and Izuku all the time when they first started their alliance… as well as Shoto. "Anything come up in the reports?"
"From what I understand…" Eri stirred the leftover ice cream gently clicking the metal spoon against the glass. "There's a lot of talk about No Mercy's MO suddenly changing. Some heroes had completely ignored his cases because despite working outside of the law, he was truly helping the cause by taking out villains that the norms couldn't touch. In a way they treated him a lot like the discreet hero Anonymous, and just wrote it off as a hero hiding from the press."
"Then heroes started being attacked as well?" Dabi finished and Eri nodded setting her spoon down and played with the ends of her lacy gloves.
"I don't want Izumi to be seen as a villain, Dabi. I know she's not, despite some of the things she's done, I know she's a good person who truly wants to help the world." She looked him in the eyes. "If there's a way you can convince her to give up being No Mercy… could you do it?"
"It's not that simple, Eri. Even if Izumi stopped her nightly adventures there's still the member of her alliance who continue to do her work because they believe in the cause. On top of that she's worked too hard and given up too much to just let some fake destroy it all."
"I suppose you're right." She lowered her head. "It's just… Izumi's helped me so much. She's given me a second chance in life and helped me see the fun and joy in it. She and Deku… they saved me." She held her heart. "I want her to find happiness too… REAL happiness."
"She will… who knows, I'll talk to her, get her thoughts on what's going on."
"Okay…" that was good enough, she decided and she reached into her bag and pulled out the folders. "Here's copies of everything Ground Zero's dug up on No Mercy… you'll have to be the ones to decipher which events are yours and what's the fakes."
"Thanks Eri, this helps a lot. Now…" He reached into his pocket for his wallet and slipped money onto the table. "Finish your ice cream and go home. Your parents will be worried."
"Okay…" she smiled big. "Will you and Izumi bring the boys over so I can meet them?"
"If we're still in town, sure." He pat her head, tilting the hat off a little making her squirm to keep it hidden. "Stay out of trouble, kiddo."
Once outside the cafe he pulled out his phone to check his messages. He'd heard it vibrate a couple times but had ignored it… and saw the three missed calls from Mavis and five from Izumi.
"What now?" he called Izumi's cell first… but got her voicemail which meant she was back on the shoot. So he called Mavis instead and had to pull the phone away from his ear as the enthusiastic guy screamed his greeting. "OW!" he shouted back into it. "The hell do you want, goggles?"
"Oh Tadashi I'm dead, I'm super dead, I've looked all over this hotel but I can't find your kids. Izumi's gonna kill me, I can't die yet! I still have so many babies that need my attention at home. My company will go to ruin… my wife will be beside herself! HELP ME!"
"Calm down, damn it! Shit…" He should have expected Hiroki to pull off something like this. He should have walked out with Mavis to make sure they'd gotten off okay. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'm on my way back."
"There's… something else you should know." Mavis said out-of-characterly meek.
"What more could there possibly be?"
~Photoshoot~
Izumi posed beside Izuku, her arm linked with his, head on his shoulder. Fans crowded the gates behind the camera equipment squealing and trying to snap photos of the set up, but security was already trying to usher them away.
"You've sure got a lot of female admirers, Zuku." Izumi laughed some and adjusted the hold so her fingertips brushed over his impressive bicep. If he hadn't been her brother, Izumi would be tempted to swoon too.
"I could say the same about you and male admirers. You're really popular with the guys in my agency." Izuku laughed nervously, playing the roll of cute shy hunk very well. The camera just snapped like crazy with every subtle move.
"Yeah, but that's also part of the job. I know how to work a camera…" she frowned standing on her tiptoes now and comparing their heights. She grunted. "Seems like everytime I see you, you get taller." She murmured in complaint. "I've never gonna grow past 5'6" This is so unfair."
An idea suddenly struck Izuku and he gave her a big charming smile.
"You wanna be tall?"
"Well yeah but… KYA!" She squealed as her brother hefted her up like a barbell over his head. Girls screamed with delight at the impressive sight and wished they were the ones Deku was lifting.
"Baka brother!" Izumi squirmed but laughed and managed to pull off a graceful arch to make the photo look more pleasing. "Don't you dare drop me."
"Not a chance…" Izuku grinned big and wide and the photographer made pleased noises at the creativity and spontaneous expression.
Izumi laughed more but something caught her eye. The in the upside down position she saw a familiar set of faces merging with the crowd, holding ice cream cones. Her temper flared and for just one brief moment she lost it.
"HIROKI!"
Hiroki and Nowaki froze, their face filled with instant fear and guilt as their heads turned to their mother. Dropping their ice cream cones they made a run for it.
"Oh no you don't, you two get back here!"
"Huh? Izumi what's wrong gah! Wait! Hold Stil WAH!" Izuku staggered as Izumi squirmed and flipped away. the shake of balance was enough to have him falling backwards and into the pool. The two trouble makers dashed back into the hotel and away from the crowds with their mother hot on their tails.
They turned a corner and Izumi whirled after them, only to collide into Shoto sending the two of them sprawling onto the ground.
"OOF!"
"Ow!"
Izumi winced and sat up holding her head.
"Jeez Shoto just what the hell is your chest made of?" It gave a whole new definition to rock hard abs.
"I could retort and ask what your head is made of…" He replied and stood up and held out his hand. "What's with hurry? Who were you running after just now?"
Izumi took his hand rubbing her head and looked over his shoulder. The boys had up and vanished once again and her temple throbbed. Those two were so dead when she got her hands on them.
"A couple of trouble makers who've done nothing but give me headaches since I got here." She looked up at him. He'd showered and freshened up from their sweaty photoshoot in the gym. It had been surprisingly easy to work with him. Running beside him on the treadmill, spotting him as he did weights, and holding the sandbag he punched had brought back memories of them training together, and had put her at ease. "Sorry."
"No big deal… I've kinda gotten used to you knocking me flat." He reached out brushing hair from her face. "I could say you haven't changed a bit… but I'd be lying. I keep finding these little nuances… and it's making it hard for me to stay mad and annoyed with you."
"Shoto…" her eyes soften. She was beginning to see him the same way she had in high school; A calm, cool guy with a kind heart.
"I came here, bound determined to be ambivalent to any advances you threw my way… but aside from your initial reaction to my appearance you've barely given me any thought at all. I was arrogant to think you had any feelings left for me." His voice sounded pained and had Izumi melting.
"You're wrong about that…" She murmured. "I do have them, I always have… but we've both grown up Shoto. We both have things that take precedence over old feelings." She hugged herself. "I know exactly why we broke up, and I know exactly why you've refused to answer any of my calls or messages. I keep secrets, and I come in and out of your life like a yo-yo. I gave up trying to salvage anything of our previous relationship because I know it would never end well, just as it didn't end well before."
"Izumi…" He came in closer, and he felt that familiar stirring, felt that emptiness he'd had since they'd broken up slowly fill back into place. Was this what he had been missing?
She should tell him, Izumi realized. She should tell everyone what was going on. She was sick and tired of keeping secrets. Sick and tired of hiding and being kept away from her family and friends.
"Shoto… there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago, but I gave up on trying to get through to you." She swallowed hard. Just rip the bandage off, Izumi. Tell him! "Five years ago…"
"Well now…" Dabi walked in on the conversation his hands in his pockets and his fiery temper on simmer. "This is a surprise."
"Who-" Shoto turned to face the newcomer and was taken aback by the similarity in their faces. It took him a good long look to realize who was walking towards them"Ta-Tadashi?"
"Long time no see… bro." He skirted around him to put his arm around Izumi, and pull her in protectively. "I haven't seen you were in grade school."
"What are you doing here?" He eyed the two of them, something twisting inside as he saw the comfort and intimacy in their chemistry together. His eyes narrowed. "How do you know Izumi?"
"Oh I've known Izumi for awhile…" he stroked fingers through her long curly hair. "About eight years actually."
"Tadashi…" Izumi hissed under her breath and shoved him back. "Now's not the time."
"Eight years…" Shoto's own temper flared and the two brothers stared each other down, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.
"So…" He glanced briefly down at Izumi. "This is what you wanted to tell me?"
"No… and don't take that tone of voice with me Shoto. Don't jump to conclusions, don't bite my head off." The photographer's assistant called for the models to adjoin to the suite for the final shoot. "Look...I'll explain everything once the shoot is over. You can have your say then." She glared at Tadashi. "As for you, aren't you supposed to be helping Mavis with something?"
"I am… but then I saw the two of you in the hall and couldn't resist saying hi." He leaned in whispering in her ear. "You better be sure about this… you can't take it back afterwards."
"Yeah…" She stepped back from him and walked away. "I'm well aware of that."
~Ask Briry~
Briry: Wha... so intense! I hope you guys are enjoying the drama, because there's more on the way. As always if you have an opinions or requests be sure to leave them in the comments.
Next Chapter: Rip off the bandage.