Katsuki opened the waiting room door with out a word. Ochako looked up with a startled expression.

"O-oh. Bakugo." She stood and awkwardly scratched the back of her head. "What a surprise!"

Bakugo held her ruined jacket out to her.

"You forgot this."

"Oh." She fumbled with neatly folded jacket. "Thank you."

"You fought well." She looked up at him, shocked. "Saying what you did, you were trying to get a rise out of me so I'd mess up, weren't you?"

~"YOU'RE BLIND IF YOU CAN'T SEE THAT WE WANT TO HELP YOU!"~

She blushed, her own words echoing in her ears

"I, meant what I said Bakugo." She looked to the side, at the barren table.

Bakugo's anger had always frightened her, but recently she had been seeing the determination behind his actions. She found that, in and odd way, she could respect his drive to be the best, regardless of how uncomfortable it made her feel.

"You've been even more volatile than you usually are. We want to be there for you, but you've been pushing everyone away, even Kirishima. We all can see that you're hurting, but we can't do anything if you won't let us!"

She looked up and saw that she had gone too far. Bakugo was scarily still, but his eyes portrayed pure anger.

"Contrary to everything you just said," his voice was worryingly steady despite how he was looking at her. "I don't need people to be 'there for me'." He spat the phrase out. "Don't be delusional, Round Face."

He turned and headed toward the door, but before he could leave, she spoke up again.

"I look up to you Bakugo." He froze. "You have such a strong purpose and determination, it makes my own purpose seem little." He slowly turned to look at her. She met his gaze. "I'll admit, I AM in it for the money, but it's for my parents, and I do truly care about those in pain and hardships." She took a deep breath and hardened her gaze with new determination. "You may choose to lie to yourself of whether or not you need your friends to be there for you, but I will do what I can to help you out of your hardship Bakugo. Count on it."

The two stared at each other.

He turned and left without another word.

- Hosu city -

Izuku looked to Stain, the near lifeless body of Ingenium at their feet. "Will we kill him?"

Stain remained silent for a long moment. He turned away. "He'll live. Assuming the Emergency Services get here in time." Stain jumped and easily scaled the wall, climbing to the rooftops.

Izuku knelt next to Ingenium.

"I'm not sure if you should count yourself lucky or unlucky." He observed the older man's suit. "Where do you keep you phone?"

"Left ... leg."

Izuku nimbly pulled it out. "Do you have a family?"

Ingenium's voice quivered, as if he was on the verge of tears.

"Parents ... little brother."

"Hmm." Izuku nodded as he sent up and emergency signal. "Lucky then. You still get to be with them." He placed the phone next to Ingenium, standing to leave. "Goodbye."

"Wait!" Izuku stopped at his words. Ingenium could barely speak, but the older man fought tonget the words out. "Brother ... he - will be de-devestated. May seek - revenge." His voice displayed that he was fully in tears now.

Izuku squatted down next to the inert figure.

"Let me guess, he's in the hero program." Izuku's voice was bitter. "What do you expect me to do about that?"

"P-please. Don't ... kill him. He, he has room to improve. Just ... give him ... the time to."

Izuku stilled. Ingenium sounded incredibly serious, and the boy felt a strange tingle slide down his spine.

"What's your brother's name?"

Ingenium gasped for breath.

"Tenya ... Iida."

Though Ingenium could not see it, and his body didn't portray it, Izuku's eyes widened with shock. He realized he had just nearly killed the older brother of his friend. He fought to keep the emotions out of his voice.

"I'll see what I can do."

He placed his hand on Ingenium's back in an almost comforting manor, then lept after his master.

- UA -

Bakugo was more fierce and vicious with his classmates than he had ever been. The whole cursed situation and his confrontation with Uraraka had put him in a dangerous mood. He barely even felt remorse over the damage he did to Kirishima, regardless of how little it was. Kirishima stopped bakugo in the hallway, telling him it was a good fight, and Bakugo tried his best to ignore the betrayed look his friend gave him and he walked coldly past. He could hear Kirishima being comforted by the small noises his dragon made, but kept walking.

And now, before his fight with Todoroki, he found himself being confronted with the subject of Deku once again.

Todoroki told him that his overly aggressive behaviour would only hurt his hero career.

Bakugo yelled and raged, but he couldn't deny the truth.

Todoroki told him that how he was acting wouldn't help get Midoriya back. He told of the video that Izuku left for him. In it's little time, Izuku told Todoroki to not give into his anger, and to tell his friends of whatever was the reason. He was currently trying his best, and he felt that Bakugo should as well.

This, being basically the same of what Uraraka had said, wasn't a smart thing to say to Bakugo.

He slammed his hand down on the table.

"I don't think you understand. I need to win this and prove that I'm the best. I WILL find him and I need to prove that I am capable to do so!"

Todoroki blinked at him, face impassive.

Bakugo turned, and stormed out, yelling at a frightened Iida as the class rep bumped into him.

- Hosu -

"So, you want me to promise, that if we come across any UA brats, to spare them, until they graduate, giving them time to change if need be?" Stain chose his wording carefully, making sure not to miss anything his student had asked of him.

Izuku swallowed, nervous of the answer. He wasn't sure if he could stand to go against Stain if it came to him or Iida. He'd just lost his mother, he couldn't lose Stain as well. But he couldn't lose Iida either.

Stain was silent for a long moment.

"How about a deal. I'll promise you this, if you promise me something in return?"

Izuku blinked and jerked his head back slightly. Stain sounded professional, as if they were two business men striking a deal instead of a master and student. This sounded so alien to their usual relaxing witty banter and discussions.

"What do you want?"

Stain crouched, looking down at the city.

"Let's face facts kid." Stain licked his lips, preparing himself. He was sure Izuku wouldn't respond well to what he was about to propose. He was backing Izuku into a corner to get him to agree, or suffer losing his alleged friend. He hated it, but the problem couldn't be ignored with the child's current situation. "We live a dangerous life. Everyone is against us."

Izuku turned his head fully to his master, crouching down beside him, and stared at him. This was common knowledge. He'd known that since he first started training. They weren't heroes, not even to themselves, and they weren't villains. They weren't even vigilantes in a normal sense, and the majority of vigilantes hated Stain and Izuku as they abstained from killing in any form.

"If something, permanent, is to happen to me, I want you," Stain took a deep breath, and Izuku swallowed in apprehension "to go back home."

Izuku's mouth and throat went horribly dry.

"What?" His voice was barely more than a whisper. "Master, what are you talking about?" He placed the tips of his fingers Stain's arm.

Stain looked at him and Izuku saw that he regretted what he was having to say, but Izuku could tell that he wouldn't go back on what he was saying either.

"It's a very real possibility, and you understand that."

Izuku shook his head, denying reality. He stood up and started pacing, kicking at pebbles.

"Nononono." He muttered. "No. It won't come to that." He turned and looked to Stain, shoulders slumping as his hands hung in mid-air. "Say it won't come to that Master."

'Take it back.' Stain stayed silent for a moment. 'You're putting too much pressure on him, he just lost his mother.' He could barely see Izuku's eyes behind the goggles, but he could feel the emotion radiating off of his student. 'Accept defeat for once and let him keep his friends alive.'

"What do you say?"

Izuku whimpered quietly.

"Please-"

Stain raised an eyebrow, and Izuku sucked in a large breath. He shuddered once, then looked back up at Stain.

"I accept."

- later -

They didn't talk much the rest of the night. Izuku curled up on the spare mattress, under thick blankets and fresh sheets. He kept his face turned away from Akaguro whenever he could and barely touched his dinner.

Chizome finally tired of it.

"Please don't be like this." Izuku stiffened under his covers. "You know I'm trying to make sure you'll be safe if something is to happen to me."

"I do understand, but I won't let anything happen to you Master." Izuku turned his bloodshot eyes on Akaguro. "I can't."

Izuku had nightmares that night, and no amount of comfort from Chizome could get the image of his master, the only person Izuku had left, broken and bloody, lying at Izuku's feet from the boy's mind.

A/N:

WE'RE ALMOST THERE PEOPLE! About two more chapters, and we'll be at the legendary alleyway throwdown, only (as you might imagine) it goes a tad differently. Is it bad that I take so much enjoyment from being terrible to our little cinnamon roll?

Probably.

Anywho! Thank you lovlies for the wonderful and encouraging reviews you have been leaving! You guys are the best, and feel free to keep reviewing. I live to hear what you guys have to say or ask. Also, I dropped a hint to something Imma reveal later on. See if you caught it ;)

So long and have a great new week my lovies!