Flare Signal
chapter thirty-six
"Why do you look at him like that?"
Izuku hugged his knees. He'd long since stopped crying, the tightness in his chest having eased. In between the tears he'd told Eraserhead bits and pieces. Not all of it, but enough of the story so that Eraserhead understood.
Eraserhead had been— unfailingly kind.
He was kind of like Kacchan. Rough around the edges, but sincere. Izuku liked it.
"Midoriya?" Eraserhead asked, voice low.
"At who," Izuku said, but he knew perfectly well who Eraserhead was referring to. He hadn't told Eraserhead anything about life before Chimera. That was personal. It didn't mean Izuku found Eraserhead untrustworthy, just that Izuku felt like he'd come up against a wall every time he talked about his family. His real one.
"Bakugou," Eraserhead said.
Izuku sighed. Eraserhead had noticed, though Izuku thought it might be fairly obvious to anyone who paid attention.
"We were friends," Izuku said plainly. He didn't want to say any more than that. Eraserhead seemed to sense it and backed off, just slightly.
"That… makes sense," he said, tilting his head.
Izuku's face and voice felt raw. Most of the other students had trickled off to bed as it had gotten later, though Izuku hadn't noticed until the conversation had ebbed and he'd looked up to see the last embers of the fire dying.
Kacchan was still out, though. Izuku was surprised—he'd have thought Kacchan would have been one of the first to go, since he liked sleeping early. He'd procured a blanket—or maybe one of the teachers had—and was now sitting with it loosely around his shoulders. He had his chin propped on his hand, staring into the last pieces of the fire.
It was the wanting that hit Izuku, then. It was always the wanting. It ebbed and flowed—always there, an undercurrent, a tug in the same direction. But the more steps Izuku took forward the stronger it seemed to be becoming.
Izuku thought it must have been because now he felt Kacchan was… in reach, somehow. Like now Izuku could hold his hand out, and his fingers would just barely brush by.
A little further, Izuku thought.
"Alright?" Eraserhead interrupted.
Eraserhead had asked Izuku that, before. Each time had been no less sincere than the last. Izuku rolled the word around on his tongue for a moment, tasting it.
"Alright," Izuku tried out, and Eraserhead nodded.
"Do you want to keep talking?"
Izuku shook his head, then remembered. "There is—one thing…"
Eraserhead blinked at him, eyes glittering. He nodded in invitation, and Izuku stood. His limbs felt stiff. He stretched.
"I'll… be back?"
Eraserhead lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I won't go anywhere, if that's what you mean."
Izuku stood there for a moment, fiddling with the hem of his shirt before he realized that Eraserhead was serious. He jogged back to the lodge, careful not to disturb anyone already asleep, and took the sealed letter from his bag. When he held it up to distant lantern light Izuku could see
Eraserhead was still waiting, like promised. Eraserhead had gone to talk to the other teachers, but when Izuku returned, he moved to meet him.
"Here," Izuku said, too drained to feel very much more. He held out the letter, and Eraserhead took it without hesitation. He scanned it.
"Toshinori," Eraserhead read, and Izuku nodded. "A letter?"
"No," Izuku said, "a failsafe."
Eraserhead reexamined what he was holding. "A failsafe."
Izuku shrugged, feeling a little sad. "I just… wanted to be sure, you know. In case, in case anything happens there are things I want him to know—"
"Nothing is going to happen."
"Just in case," Izuku pleaded, "I can still feel their eyes on me. They have my blood and they'll follow it."
"Nothing is going to happen to you," Eraserhead said again, firmly this time, and he stepped forward to look down at Izuku. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Then, out of earshot of the others, Eraserhead murmured his name. Izuku closed his eyes.
"Okay?"
"Yes," Izuku said, "but—please keep it for me. I'll take it back later, then."
Eraserhead tucked the letter away and jerked his head in the direction of the lodge. "You should get going, kid."
"I," Izuku said slowly, "don't really want to go."
"Go," Eraserhead told him, voice gentle, but he wasn't looking at Izuku anymore. Now his gaze was settled over Izuku's shoulder; Izuku turned and saw Kacchan sitting alone, eyes half-lidded.
"I'll… see you tomorrow?"
The words came out a little more desperate than Izuku meant them to. But Eraserhead just nodded. He put a hand on Izuku's back and shoved him forward a little; Izuku stumbled, looked back at him once, then crossed the distance to Kacchan. He crouched down.
Kacchan slid a warm gaze onto Izuku. He seemed softer, like the night before.
"Hey," Izuku whispered. Kacchan grunted. "It's late."
"You didn't seem to care about the time before," Kacchan grumbled. Izuku smiled.
"I care about it now," he quipped. "Come on, King Explosion Murder."
Kacchan levelled him with a look Izuku couldn't decipher.
"What?"
"You're just like him," Kacchan muttered, so quiet that Izuku almost missed it. Close enough to touch. Izuku just had to reach out.
He settled for resting his fingers on Kacchan's shoulder. "Come on."
They trekked back the lodge together but slowed outside. Izuku was tired, but he didn't really want to sleep.
"I saw you talking to Eraserhead," Kacchan noted. Izuku's heart missed a beat, but he wiped his hands on his shirt and nodded coolly.
"There was just— a problem. I wanted to talk about."
Kacchan nodded. He didn't look like he was going to push Izuku any further than just the question itself, so Izuku relaxed. He felt eyes on him and turned, fingers reaching for his side though there was no knife there and saw Eraserhead watching them. Kacchan turned, too.
Eraserhead inclined his head. Izuku shook his. He didn't need words to know what Eraserhead was suggesting—tell Kacchan.
Not today. Izuku was tired and worn out enough. If he told Kacchan… no, no, though the thought hurt, not today. The thought hurt, but telling Kacchan would hurt more.
It was like— it was like carrying a shard of crystalline glass in his heart. When he moved it hurt. But taking it out might hurt more.
Not today, Izuku thought. There was always tomorrow. Dangerous thinking, Silver would have called it, but Izuku remembered the look that had been on Kacchan's face earlier and decided that it wasn't the right time.
"Goodnight, Bakugou," Izuku said, biting down on his tongue when he'd almost said Kacchan.
Kacchan ran a hand through his hair. He studied Izuku like he knew all his secrets. But he didn't say anything more, just shouldered his way into the lodge. Izuku followed as he always had.
The next day when Izuku woke up he felt different. He couldn't tell if it was a good different or a bad different, just that something had changed and shifted in the night. He'd woken early—earlier than his classmates, it seemed, but it was right on time for Izuku. He'd been knocked out of his schedule for a while now, but Izuku thought it would be nice to take an early morning run to get back into it.
He got ready and dressed in an old set of clothes before pushing his way out the door. The morning light was grayish. Izuku stretched languidly, feeling the light chase away any last sluggish bits of his nightmares. When he was ready, he eased into a jog.
Izuku decided not to go far. He hadn't seen any of the teachers up and about, which meant that Izuku was alone.
The jog was short and uneventful. Izuku liked it, though. The woods were a nice change of pace; it was different from jogging through the city streets, a little more challenging. The soft greens and deep browns of the forest were calming to look at.
It was nice to slow down. Izuku spent the last few minutes alone, running his fingers over tree bark and breathing in the fresh air. The morning was warm and comfortable; after his run, Izuku sat for a moment in the grass and listened to distant birdsong. He wondered what it felt like to fly. With One for All he could run like the wind, but he was sure it would never quite replicate the feeling of having wings.
Training today had moved from Quirks to skills. Izuku kept his knives on him and felt safer for it, though he knew he didn't really need them. The students were paired randomly to spar, and unlike the day before they fought without their Quirks.
Izuku's first round was with Hagakure. Izuku felt it was a good match. He'd gone up against a lot of heavy-hitters, but Hagakure was more like Izuku without One for All. Her style relied on stealth, and it was hard to block against an opponent when he couldn't see where she was hitting.
"Hah," Hagakure crowed happily when she managed to catch him unawares and knock him down.
Izuku pinpointed her voice as he rolled to the side. This time he closed his eyes, pretending like it was an exercise with Bonestealer and he'd been blindfolded again. Invisibility couldn't trick all the senses. The soft crunch of grass came from his left. Izuku twisted smoothly to the side and felt the press of air.
Hagakure cried out when Izuku found her arm and pulled hard. He felt her stumble heavily and swept a foot out. There was a dull thud when Hagakure hit the ground, and Izuku opened his eyes again.
"How'd you do that?"
"You're invisible," Izuku pointed out, "but not silent."
"Huh…"
"Too bad we can't swap Quirks, huh?"
"Oh, that would be so cool!"
An invisibility Quirk would be useful. Instead of creating illusions Izuku could have just vanished and gone, and by the time anyone would've realized it was too late. But Izuku thought it must have been terrible to be invisible your entire life, then thought he understood that, just a little. It wasn't the same, but it was lonely when people could see right through you.
"You know, uh," Izuku blurted, "we don't know each other all that well but I think you're great, Hagakure. It's… hard to miss you."
"You really think so?"
Izuku turned so he could look in the right direction, lifting his eyes to where he thought her face was. Then he grinned.
"Well, I got you, didn't I?"
She laughed.
"Hey… thank you, Akatani," Hagakure said, sobering, and Izuku smiled.
They were called to swap partners, so Izuku said his goodbyes to Hagakure though he wished he could have gotten more practice with her.
He wanted to find Kacchan and did, wading his way through the crowd. They switched partners, and Izuku grinned toothily at Kacchan.
This spar was friendly. Casual, even, and easy.
"Heard we were doing," Kacchan started, then ducked under Izuku's fist, "something fun tonight."
Izuku didn't spare a glance to Eraserhead. He jabbed, trying to get under Kacchan's defense. "Fun?"
Kacchan made a noncommittal noise.
"The teachers have," Izuku hissed, a blow glancing off his ribs. "The teachers have a different definition of fun."
"Some test of courage," Kacchan said, and Izuku saw the opening under his arm and went for it. He pounded at it, and Kacchan took a step back. Izuku chased after the chance. Hit. Hit again.
"Break," Izuku said, a moment before his fist connected again.
Kacchan stumbled back, giving way, and Izuku let up. They took a break, getting water.
"Test of courage, huh?"
"Mm," Kacchan responded. He didn't seem pleased at the outcome of the spar, but he didn't seem too upset either.
"Hey…"
Izuku wiped at his sweat, tugging at his shirt for the heat. He cast a look towards Kacchan.
"What."
"Can I, um…"
Kacchan took a long drink. He lowered the water bottle.
"Spit it out," he grunted, "you've been trying to talk to me for ages and you haven't, and it's kind of pissing me off."
"Sorry," Izuku said, and Kacchan's face darkened. He didn't like the apology, then, nor wanted it.
"Well?"
Vlad King called for them to swap again.
"Not now," Izuku said, "not private enough. Too many people to overhear us. I want to talk to you later."
"You going to waste my time?"
"I'd never," Izuku promised. "It's important."
"Better be."
Izuku drifted over to Uraraka. She cracked her knuckles, looking threatening, but the effect was ruined a moment later when she smiled at him.
"I feel like I haven't talked to you," Uraraka said. Izuku frowned, a knot of guilt forming in his stomach. Uraraka saw the look on his face and held her hands out. "No, no, you're fine! We've all been busy."
"I guess," Izuku said, readying himself. The thought distracted him, though, and suddenly he found Uraraka shifting forwards.
Izuku kept himself steady, watching her hands. She tackled him a second later, but Izuku grabbed her forearms, the two grappling. When she released him, Izuku dropped towards her. They went down together, rolling in the grass and dirt.
Uraraka tried to hit him, but Izuku dodged. Then he pinned her down, careful of her hands, and waited until she nodded at him before standing up. Izuku offered her a hand up and she took it, dusting herself off. A quick fight no longer than a few minutes. Izuku wiped at his face.
"I hope you don't think I was— avoiding you or anything," Izuku said, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I just, you know, training and everything going on."
"No, no," Uraraka insisted, "you're fine! We were just missing you, that's all. Actually I think the others wanted to do another bonfire tonight if you want to join us? You don't have to—"
"Yeah, yeah," Izuku said, "yeah, that sounds great. I, uh, I have to talk to Bakugou later but… save me a spot?"
"Bakugou, huh?" Uraraka glanced over to where Kacchan was ruthlessly gunning down a 1-B student. They winced together, and Uraraka turned back to him. "You two are an interesting pair. Well, anyway, don't be silly— of course we'll save you a spot."
"Thanks," Izuku told her honestly, and was grateful for it.
The rest of the morning continued like that. At noon they had a quick lunch, and then played a modified game of hide-and-seek tag, using their skills to find each other or hopefully to make it to the base.
Izuku found himself steadily growing more anxious over the day, though. He tried not to dwell on it, but Izuku had never been very good at pulling himself out of his head once he dove into it—that was where Kacchan helped. But it was Kacchan that was the problem.
He wanted to relax and have fun. For a while Izuku did, slipping through the trees unnoticed and laughing quietly when he and Todoroki ran into the same hiding spot. Hide-and-seek tag was tense but electrifying, and Izuku grounded himself in the feeling.
Over dinner Eraserhead caught his eye. Izuku glanced at the others, jogging over when no one seemed to be paying attention. Eraserhead flicked his forehead.
"Alright?"
"You don't have to keep asking," Izuku said, but he felt secretly glad for it. "I'm fine. Oh, have you seen Kouta?"
"The kid?" Eraserhead grunted. "Took a bowl of stew and ran off."
Izuku nodded distractedly. He must have gone back to his hiding spot, then. Izuku was tempted to go after him, to talk again, but he thought about what Todoroki said and decided he didn't think it would go any better than it had before.
He had other things to worry about, too. Kacchan had sent him a few looks over dinner; he hadn't forgotten what Izuku said.
"I'll— catch you later, Eraserhead," Izuku said.
"Wait."
Izuku cocked his head.
"Does anyone else know?"
To an outsider, the conversation was harmless. Vague enough that no one would know what they were talking about unless they'd been present when Izuku had confessed the night before.
"Detective Tsukauchi," he said, "I trust him."
"Have you arranged anything?"
Izuku shook his head. "He offered, though. I think I'll take him up on it until I can… figure out what comes next."
Eraserhead nodded sharply. "Good that you have someone you trust. I'll get in contact with him to offer any assistance."
"You don't need to…"
"Heroes never need to do anything," Eraserhead said, "but we do it anyway."
"—and I trust you," Izuku said. Eraserhead blinked at him for a moment at the words and then cuffed him gently over the head. "Thanks— thanks. I think Kacchan's waiting for me, I've got to go."
"...Kacchan?" Izuku heard him mutter behind him as Izuku scampered off in the other direction. He hadn't meant to say Kacchan, but it had come so naturally. When he said Bakugou it never seemed right.
The test of courage followed immediately after dinner, and Izuku saw his opportunity as the teachers explained the rules. He half-listened to the teachers telling them how they would switch between classes and scare each other. When Todoroki and Kacchan were paired together, Izuku quietly muttered a plan to his partner, then went to go stand in between the two.
"You wanna switch?" Izuku asked Todoroki. He smiled and slung a hand over Kacchan's shoulder playfully, even though he was shrugged off and snapped at. "I'll deal with Bakugou."
Todoroki looked relieved, and though Kacchan tried to hide it he seemed to feel the same way. He muttered a quick thanks, disappearing into the crowd.
"You did that for me?"
"Don't be so self-centered," Izuku said. "I thought I'd make the sacrifice and get stuck with you so he wouldn't have to. You two hate each other."
"I don't hate him," Kacchan said, scowling.
"I'll be telling him that, then."
"Shut up," Kacchan snapped, digging an elbow into Izuku's side. Izuku yelped. "Besides, you were the one who wanted to talk to me."
"Yeah," Izuku said, then went quiet. The nerves kept him nearly silent as they lined up, waiting for their turn. Izuku watched pair after pair shuffle into the forest, and distantly he heard a few screams.
"Test of courage," Kacchan muttered. "They can't scare me. Bet you'll scream."
"I'm not screaming," Izuku shot back, "you'll be the one who'll get scared, Bakugou."
Kacchan scoffed. "Is that a challenge?"
"Is it?"
They shoved and quipped at each other until they were too far out of line, and then they were promptly yelled at. After slinking back Izuku gnawed nervously on the inside of his cheek. He kept glancing over at his partner, but didn't dare say anything. Once they were into the woods and out of sight and hearing, Izuku would tell him.
He could do it. He could do it.
When Izuku and Kacchan were called to take their turn, Izuku's stomach flipped. He wrung his hands, twisting his fingers together. Telling Eraserhead had been difficult. Telling Kacchan should have been easy, but he was harder.
"Test of courage," Izuku told himself, trying to breathe.
"Scared already?" Kacchan asked as they trekked into the forest. They went a little farther before Izuku stopped.
"I'm not scared of them," Izuku said.
"Then why are we stopping?"
"I told you I needed to talk to you." Izuku bit his lip. "I'm not scared of them, Bakugou, but I am scared of… you."
Kacchan took a step back. He shook his head disbelievingly.
"Scared of… me," he said slowly. Kacchan swallowed visibly, but then he seemed grow angry. "Bullshit, Akatani."
"I wasn't finished," Izuku broke in.
"You've never been scared of anything," Kacchan said, and it felt like a compliment the way he was saying it, "much of all me."
He sank back, and the anger dissipated a little. "So what the hell is up with you?"
"I'm—"
But Izuku stopped. A scream split through the air, and this one was real.
"Did you hear that?"
"I have ears," Kacchan snapped. Izuku went immediately on high alert. He kept his breathing even but shallow and went still, listening. Another panicked cry cut through the air, and Izuku moved.
He was jerked back. Kacchan kept a tight hold on his wrist.
"Let go," Izuku growled, but he stopped struggling when Kacchan held out his free hand and pointed.
Smoke.
"That's not from us," Kacchan said in a low voice. He let go, and Izuku pulled a knife free from his side, glad he'd brought them along.
"No," Izuku agreed. "We need to stick together, Bakugou."
Kacchan nodded, eyes sharp.
"We're not going back."
"We're not going back," Izuku agreed.
He looked past Kacchan and saw the forest swathed in a purple haze. He squinted at it, then realized it was growing thicker and thicker, a cloud of gas spreading in their direction.
"Run!"
The scent of something vaguely sweet touched his nose. Izuku covered his mouth with his free hand, then lifted his shirt to cover his nose and mouth. Kacchan followed suit, and they dodged out of the cloud of smoke that was sinking through the trees.
"Sleeping gas," Kacchan hissed, voice muffled.
"We should get to the others," Izuku said, "the ones in the forest."
"We need to warn the rest of the students," Kacchan said. They looked at each other, clear of the gas for a moment.
"We could… split up."
"Absolutely not, dumbass."
Izuku sighed. Kacchan was right. With no real grasp on the situation, splitting up would make things worse.
"We should…" Izuku worried his lip. They couldn't stand around waiting. "I know we both said we weren't going back, but I think we should tell the teachers that something's wrong. They won't know. And then we'll come back for the students who are out here."
Kacchan hesitated, but then nodded. "Let's go."
They ran through the trees blindly. Izuku hoped they were heading in the right direction. In the midst of fear and after going off track, they had stumbled somewhere far from the course. Now nothing looked familiar.
Partway back, Izuku skidded to a stop. Kacchan stopped too when he realized Izuku had.
"You have to go alone," Izuku said, "I trust you, Bakugou. I need to take care of something."
"Take care—"
"Kouta," Izuku said, "I think I know where he is. I have to go make sure he's okay."
Kacchan wavered. Izuku pointed in the direction of the cave where he knew Kouta would be, alone.
"Find me," Izuku said.
Kacchan gripped his shoulder. "Don't be more of a fucking idiot than you already are, got it?"
"Only if it's mutual," Izuku said. Then he turned tail and began to run.
Kouta. Kouta. Izuku's heart brimmed with fear. Kouta was so young—certainly not defenseless, but Izuku knew he was alone. And whatever was happening screamed foul play. A forest fire Izuku could believe, but the sleeping gas…
Izuku felt sick. He covered his mouth with a hand as he ran, knife still out as he stumbled.
They found me.
It was the only explanation. Maybe they weren't after Izuku specifically, but they'd followed him somehow. Izuku had bled all the way here, and the villains had come with their noses to the scent of it. They could taste fear.
"Stupid," Izuku cursed, then ran faster. One for All screamed in his ears as he pushed himself as fast as he could go. The trees thinned, and the grass gave way to dirt and rock.
"Kouta!" Izuku shouted, and then shut up. He couldn't give himself away if there was anyone there. If there really were villains like Izuku thought…
He wasn't scared for himself. Izuku thought he'd known the villains would come for him, whether it was now or later. But what he hadn't wanted was anyone else getting involved. Anyone else getting hurt.
Izuku crept up the cliff side silently. He drew his illusions around him until he was flickering rock the color of smoke.
A shout cut through the air. Izuku heard it and felt it like a cut in his own heart.
Kouta.
He didn't waste any time. Izuku peered around the corner and saw Kouta standing first. Then he saw the large, hulking villain that towered over him.
Muscular. The name rose in his memory.
"You killed my parents!"
Muscular laughed. "I'll be glad to help you join them. Funny… they're not here to save you, huh?"
Kouta took a staggering step backward, and Izuku moved. In an instant he'd put himself between Kouta and Muscular. He pressed a hand tight against Kouta's shoulder. The other was holding his knife threateningly.
"They might not be here," Izuku said, looking Muscular in the eye, "but I am."
"Huh…"
"Kouta," Izuku hissed, "run."
"You look familiar…"
"Really," Izuku said, thinking fast. He scanned Muscular. There was no way Izuku could beat him, but… he had to try. Just long enough for Kouta to get out of here, long enough for someone to come, maybe.
Muscular grinned toothily. When he stepped forward his eyes shone, and Izuku's gaze caught on one of them—a cybernetic eye, glassy and strange.
"You're going to be coming with me," Muscular growled.
One for All rose. Izuku heard Kouta breathing quickly behind him; he reached out with his free hand and shoved blindly. Izuku felt Kouta stumble.
"Go!"
Muscular raised a hand and brought it down. Izuku dodged out of the way, throwing himself in a different direction. When the dust cleared Izuku saw him again, closer, and he rolled to the side. Kouta shrieked his name, and Izuku reached for the boy. He grabbed him and practically threw him down the path.
He turned, but the distraction had run its course. A heavy fist connected; Izuku barely registered the pain, only that he'd been thrown off his feet. He hit something hard and felt his vision ripple.
Kouta, Izuku thought, and forced himself up. He needed a hero. Izuku wasn't the best one, but he'd give it all he got.
He managed to slip under the next fist and brought his own rippling with power. One for All shuddered when Izuku hit, but he felt like he'd just hit a wall.
The world went sideways as Muscular grabbed him. Izuku sailed through the air; he remembered to curl in on himself and landed rolling. A sharp pain ran through his foot. Izuku got up again.
The muscle augmentation, Izuku realized. His Quirk. He could withstand great force, even one like One for All.
"You can do this," Izuku whispered to himself. Heroes were one thing, but he knew villains. He took stock in the short time he could, using One for All to stay on defense.
"Stop running," Muscular called.
He was a lot larger than Izuku. Pure, brute strength, and built. But that meant Izuku was faster than him.
With his Quirk Izuku couldn't beat him in strength, at least not with the percentage of One for All Izuku could use safely or with a hundred percent. He wondered if he poured his all into what would happen, like All Might had done at USJ; then he dodged another hit and dismissed the thought. If Izuku used One for All past his limit he would only hurt himself further.
"Running will keep me alive," Izuku responded.
Muscular chased him down the slope. Izuku wondered where Kouta was, if he was back at the main camp yet. Where Kacchan was.
He saw a small figure up ahead and realized it was Kouta, then saw someone behind him. Izuku felt like crying in relief when Kacchan met his eyes.
The ground shook. Izuku heard Muscular breathe, heard his feet still for a moment, and that was all the warning he got.
Izuku reached out, One for All sparking against his skin as he grabbed Kouta then Kacchan, holding tight as the ground fell out from underneath them. He clung on, only trusting his sense of touch. Dirt rained down around them.
Izuku coughed, stumbling, but when he felt solid ground beneath his feet he moved.
"Bakugou!"
Kacchan was torn from his grip, but— Izuku blinked. He was fine. Kouta was clutching onto Izuku's shirt, and Izuku squeezed his hands before easing them.
"Hey, dickhead!"
Kacchan launched himself forward. It was only surprise that made Muscular take the hit, but he recovered quickly. An arm swung out, and Kacchan dropped midair.
Izuku shouted, heart in his throat. Kacchan caught himself, rolling when he hit the ground and looking back just once.
"Bakugou, let's go!"
Two against one. They still wouldn't win.
Izuku had done the calculations. The best option to surviving was to run like hell.
Izuku scooped Kouta up and began to bolt. Kacchan caught up and ran with them, boosting himself with his explosions in short bursts. One for All kept him moving.
"Bakugou, huh?"
Muscular was close on their tail.
"I've been looking for you and your friend," Muscular called, laughing. Izuku felt Kouta stiffen and shot to the left as Muscular cut between them.
"Well, you can suck it!"
He was catching up. Kouta's breath shuddered in Izuku's ear.
Kacchan suddenly twisted and let loose a torrent of explosions. Fire burst by Izuku's ear; he recognized it and forged forward faster. Then Izuku dropped Kouta to the ground, told him to run, and turned to face Muscular.
Kacchan was moving swiftly away from Muscular's attacks. Every now and then he would cut in close, let loose an explosion, and spin out again. His Quirk had a slight effect if anything at all.
Muscular batted out with a hand like he was swatting a fly. Izuku saw this one and tackled Kacchan out of the way, the two of them sliding. His hand scraped painfully. Izuku's knee throbbed.
Kacchan dragged him to the side, and then Izuku rolled on instinct as a foot stomped down. He needed, he needed—
Muscular stumbled, sightless just for a moment. Izuku gasped at the moment, keeping the illusion tight. Muscular reached out blindly, and that was when Izuku realized. The eye.
"Eyes," he said, pressing close to Kacchan. "He can't protect them. We need to get to the eyes."
The illusion dissolved. Izuku didn't have time to worry about whether or not Kacchan had seen his trick, and if he had, Kacchan didn't have the time either. Kacchan rolled his shoulder back, glancing sideways at Izuku. Then he rushed forward, screaming.
Muscular caught Kacchan mid-air.
"Is this all you've got?" Muscular asked. "Surprised the League wants a weakling like you."
Kacchan struggled as Muscular squeezed; Izuku focused, even when Kacchan made the smallest sound of pain. Then the noise turned into a shout of anger as he twisted in Muscular's grip.
One for All sang in his blood. Muscular turned to face Izuku, but Izuku was there, leaving the ground faster than Muscular could catch. He slammed into Muscular's arm; it tightened around him, but Izuku didn't need to be close. The knife slipped between his fingers, but Izuku flicked it. His arm ached but held as Izuku rotated his wrist back and threw.
He didn't miss. Muscular cried out as the knife jammed into his eye, and the grip around him loosened. Kacchan tore himself free, and they both ran.
"Hold on," Izuku told Kouta, feeling breathless.
"The gas," Kacchan called.
Izuku met his gaze to show he understood, then pulled his shirt up. He had Kouta cover his nose and mouth as an enraged howl chased them.
They stumbled to the sleeping gas. Izuku tried not to breathe in, but the sickly sweet taste slipped through the thin fabric of his shirt. Izuku could taste it on his mouth. Kacchan's explosions had stopped. Izuku could see him moving, a dark shadow.
"Split up!"
And Izuku veered left as Kacchan veered right, Muscular barreling forwards blindly. Izuku risked a glance back and cast an illusion again, wispy figures springing to life.
The fog was getting thicker. Izuku coughed wetly, limbs sluggish, but he staggered forward.
He stumbled out into the clear air and kept running. He heard a dull thud behind him but didn't dare look back. Kacchan was nowhere to be seen.
Villains. The League.
He'd been right, and now that they were out of immediate danger Izuku could feel it catching up with him. Kouta was quiet, but Izuku could hear him breathing. It kept Izuku going. Small fingers dug into the back of his shirt, his neck— good, good. He could feel it, grounding him, keeping him going.
"Akatani!"
Izuku thought he was hallucinating, the sleeping gas tugging st the edges of his senses. But Kouta's fingers scrabbled across the back of his neck. When he stumbled into Eraserhead's steady grasp he knew it was real.
"Eraserhead," Izuku gasped, knees going weak. He couldn't cry, not in front of Kouta, but he shuddered. Kouta tugged on his sleeve and Izuku set him down.
"Akatani," Eraserhead said. Izuku held onto the sound of his voice like it was an anchor. Then, quieter, "Midoriya."
He felt like a fish stranded on land, air burning in his lungs. He wanted to cry. Out of danger the adrenaline was fading, but Izuku pinched the back of his arm hard and felt tears well in his eyes.
"It wasn't me," Izuku said the moment he could get words out. "Eraserhead, please, I swear it wasn't me, I- I don't, they… I didn't say anything I swear, I'm sorry—"
"Stop."
Izuku breathed. Eraserhead held on, and Izuku pressed his face to Eraserhead's shoulder.
"We'll head back to the lodge," Eraserhead said, "to safety. You'll stay there with the others."
"I can't do that."
"You…"
"I need to tell… I need to tell Mandalay."
Now that Kouta was safe the fear for him abated, but a different one took its place. Kacchan was in danger. Izuku didn't know what the League wanted with him, but he was in danger.
"If it's important—"
"They want Bakugou," Izuku pleaded. "He knows, he heard, but… and I have to go after him. Please."
Eraserhead wavered. Izuku could see the conflict in his face.
"I know you don't like it," Izuku begged, "but this is my fight more than anyone's. And I won't let them get what they want."
Kacchan. Kacchan. What did they want with Kacchan?
They wanted Izuku, too, but Izuku had known that. Villains were all the same. Once they had their hands on something they were wont to let it go.
"Please."
Eraserhead swallowed. His eyes were pained.
"When you reach her, tell her there's a message I need her to relay. I, pro hero Eraserhead, authorize all students to use their Quirks in defense against the villains."
Izuku's hand slid to his second knife. He'd lost the first one to Muscular. One for All pulsed in warning.
"Re- really?"
"I don't plan on losing any of my students tonight," Eraserhead said. He gripped Izuku's arm. "Come back, do you hear me? I said I wasn't going to let anything happen to you, and it's a promise I don't intend to break."
Izuku swallowed.
"Yes," he whispered, and Eraserhead let go. Izuku turned his back, drawing on One for All and bursting through the trees. Mandalay first, Kacchan next. Mandalay first, Kacchan next. Come back. The words slipped into a mantra Izuku repeated as the forest bent around him, the trees seeming to shift as he crashed through.
A fight had broken out when Izuku burst into the clearing. He staggered back as the Wild, Wild Pussycats surged forward locked in a deadly ring. Izuku spotted Pixie-bob crumpled on the ground, head bleeding; he stopped breathing when he saw her silent and still, then cut through the battle to grab her. Pixie-bob was heavy and awkward in his arms, but Izuku stumbled towards safety. Ragdoll, Izuku noticed, was nowhere to be seen.
Izuku didn't recognize the villains that were fighting, but they looked dangerous.
"Mandalay!"
Mandalay struck the villain she was fighting with a howl, claws tearing through, and he went down. His partner screamed in fury but was tackled by Tiger, and they went tumbling down.
Mandalay looked up when she heard Izuku call her name again.
"I've got a message for you," Izuku said, then relayed it. Her eyes widened, but she nodded.
Soon enough Izuku was running again. The Wild, Wild Pussycats could hold the fort—Mandalay first, Kacchan next. He had no idea where to go but followed the path of the test of courage, this time quieter but no less urgent. Distant sounds steered Izuku in the right direction. He fingered his second knife and pulled it, hand tightening around the familiar grip.
A hand reached out, grabbing Izuku's shoulder, followed by another over his mouth. Izuku jerked, turning with his knife as he and his captor tumbled into the leaves—
"Shoji," Izuku gasped, knife stopped just shy of injury.
"Shh," Shoji murmured.
"I could have," Izuku started, but stopped when he saw a dark, pulsing thing swing over their heads. He only registered it was a claw, peering through the leaves to find a large massless shape tearing through the forest.
"Dark Shadow."
"That's, that's…"
"We were attacked," Shoji said, and quickly explained about the villain with razor-sharp teeth that found them.
"And now—"
"And now," Shoji agreed, and they both went quiet as Tokoyami shouted helplessly. Dark Shadow swarmed around. They drew closer; an eye peered in Izuku's direction, and then Shoji grabbed Izuku's arm and began to pull him.
Stabbing pain shot up his foot. Izuku's vision twisted as his leg crumpled underneath him; he was hardly aware of when Shoji lifted him and began to run. Dark Shadow screamed, and the chase began.
"Light," Shoji said, "we'll need light. If you can run back and get help, I can keep Dark Shadow busy."
"I," Izuku gasped in his ear. He needed to get to Kacchan before it was too late but— there was no choice in leaving Tokoyami or Shoji, either.
Shoji avoided another attack.
"I know the others are in danger—"
Behind them, Tokoyami shrieked uselessly. He was sobbing something, telling them to leave him. Izuku felt his chest turn inside out.
"I have a plan," Izuku murmured, and Shoji listened.
When the first glittering line of teeth appeared Izuku faltered, but Shoji was the one running. He saw fire bursting ahead. The air left his lungs when he saw Kacchan and Todoroki together, trying to hold back the villain Moonfish.
"Light!" Shoji roared.
Todoroki turned, expression confused, and Izuku waved an arm.
"Light!"
Kacchan turned, hands blazing as Dark Shadow barreled through behind them and slammed into a set of teeth. The teeth shattered, and Dark Shadow shrieked in triumph. Moonfish, suspended in midair by his own teeth, turned a cloudy gaze in Tokoyami's direction, but it was too late.
Shoji raced forward as Dark Shadow let loose. Izuku watched numbly as he tore Moonfish from the air.
"No," Moonfish screeched, "no—"
A loud crash sounded.
"Now!" Kacchan shouted, "Now, dammit!"
Not a second too late. Dark Shadow turned his gaze on the huddled group, but Todoroki and Kacchan stepped in with glowing hands. The light burst against the darkness, and Dark Shadow retreated.
"Grab him," Izuku whispered, and Shoji dropped him to catch Tokoyami when he fell gracelessly.
Todoroki stepped back and spotted Izuku, crouching by his side and relieved now the danger was over.
"You're hurt," he said, and Izuku pushed himself off the ground. Todoroki steadied him.
"I'm fine," Izuku said, and met Kacchan's eyes over Todoroki's shoulder. "We need to get moving."
"I'm sorry," Tokoyami was saying in the distance, "I'm so sorry, I was so angry when I saw you were hurt and I just lost control, I didn't mean to—"
"It's okay," Shoji said gently. He patted Tokoyami's arm with a free hand. "You don't need to feel guilty about the situation, Tokoyami. And Akatani is right. We need to get back to the lodge."
"We heard the announcement," Todoroki said, "about Bakugou."
"Let's go back," Izuku said, "and with all of us here we can escort Bakugou. Not a bad group."
"I don't need escorting," Kacchan protested.
"The villains are after you for some reason," Izuku said, tired, "and we'd all like to go back in one piece, so shut up."
"Come on, Bakugou," Tokoyami said, ambling forward.
The group fell into line, Kacchan in the center. The march was silent but solemn. Izuku drew his knife and kept it out as he limped forwards, One for All lying in wait for its next use.
"Someone up ahead," Shoji reported, and Izuku held his knife at the ready.
A shout sent them running forwards. They broke formation and headed through a line of trees to see Uraraka and Tsuyu together and a young blonde girl, blood over her hands. She leapt back when she saw the group of students that arrived, then paused. Her eyes—gold, Izuku thought—met his.
"Oh," she said softly, arms dropping slightly. Her gaze had wonder, not anger, and Izuku raised his knife, noticing she had one in a hand, too.
Then the villain turned tail and scampered off into the trees. Todoroki and Uraraka moved at the same time, but Tsuyu held out a warning hand.
"We don't know her Quirk, kero," she croaked, "we shouldn't look for a fight."
"You're right," Izuku sighed. He looked over the girls. "You two okay?"
Uraraka was flushed but nodded. Tsuyu looked unhurt.
"We're protecting Bakugou," Todoroki put in, and Izuku turned to look for Kacchan and saw an empty gap where his friend had just been.
"Bakugou!"
"Looking for someone?"
Izuku caught a flash of motion, and his arm jerked of its own volition. A knife embedded itself in a tree trunk, but the villain he'd aimed at leapt gracefully out of the way.
"You," Izuku growled, One for All spreading over his body. The pain dulled again. "Give him back!"
"Now, that's not very polite," the villain said. "It's just a little magic."
"What did you do to Bakugou?"
"Oh, nothing your friend can't take. The name's Compress, by the way." Compress smiled, and Izuku caught the light in his eyes behind a mask. He waved a gloved hand, and two marbles slid in his palm. "Sorry, all. I've got to go."
"Give him back," Izuku shouted, the fear and anger making his voice swell, and Compress laughed.
"Give him back? He's not yours." Compress wiggled his fingers. "Sorry, all. I've got better matters to attend to."
"After him!"
Izuku was already on Compress' heels. He heard the others following and ran faster, pushing One for All. His bones screamed under the pressure, but Izuku kept going.
He saw an opening when Compress missed a step and lunged. Izuku snagged the back of his coat and yanked backwards hard, sweeping out a foot. Ice raced around him as Todoroki caught up.
Izuku reached for Compress' pocket, but a shouted warning made him drop as unfriendly fire hissed overhead.
"The party's started," Compress murmured. Todoroki leapt forward and engaged with another villain, this one scarred with burns and spitting blue fire from his palms. "Ah, Dabi!"
"Let my friends go," Izuku growled in Compress' face, One for All crackling threateningly. Ice cracked. Compress tackled Izuku, and they went rolling. Around them the sounds of fighting rang in the air, but Izuku gripped Compress' arms with a fierce strength. He couldn't let Compress touch him—it'd activate his little magic trick.
"You'll be a nice addition to the collection," Compress said, but a moment later Izuku punched him in the face hard.
Something flew from Compress' mouth.
Kacchan.
"I've got them!"
"Not so fast," a different voice said, and Izuku felt his body ache as more villains revealed themselves. More. There were so many.
More, and more.
Izuku lost himself to the fight. Students and villains faced off, and though Izuku knew they were strong, he felt the defense give. With every punch Izuku sent he felt the villains retaliate—stronger, faster, harder.
Uraraka went down screaming, and Izuku shouted, tackling the villain who'd gotten to her. The girl laughed when she saw him.
"You," she whispered, but in his fury Izuku hit her, tearing the knife from her grip and cutting down. But she only laughed harder, eyes sparkling.
"Contact Kurogiri! We've got our target! Toga—"
"No!"
Izuku knocked down the villain he was fighting.
As one Izuku and Todoroki sprinted forth while the villains retreated. Todoroki reached over, wrapping fingers around Izuku's wrist and tugging him faster and faster. They left the others behind, but Izuku didn't care—his gaze was locked on the cloudy marble between Dabi's fingers.
Izuku ran forward but reeled back as Dabi turned, sending fire streaking towards him. Someone wailed, and then Izuku realized he was hearing the echo of his own voice screaming. Todoroki pulled him down, and Izuku felt the fire hiss as ice rose to counteract it.
"Bakugou!"
Izuku pulled free from Todoroki's grasp. A dark portal had formed from nowhere, and suddenly there was Kacchan.
Their eyes met.
"Bakugou!"
He looked like he had the first day. The darkness around him, swallowing him, so close to the end.
"Akatani," Kacchan said around the hands gripping him. "Akatani, don't—"
He choked on nothing, sinking into the portal, and Izuku screamed as Compress tugged him deeper in. Dabi waited, guarding, and his shock-blue eyes locked on Izuku's face.
Kacchan disappeared from sight.
"Are you going to come quietly?" Dabi smiled, the stitches on his face stretching. "Or am I going to have to make you… Midoriya?"
"Akatani, don't!"
The portal was closing. Izuku stared into its depths and knew, for once, what was waiting for him on the other side.
Dabi held out a hand.
"You're with us now," Dabi said, and it was a promise as well as a threat.
"Akatani, what are you doing?" Todoroki caught up, reaching out. His eyes were wide in fear, and that was why it hurt when Izuku activated One for All and sent Todoroki sprawling on the ground. Dabi sent a wall of blue fire racing between them, and the only thing Izuku saw for a moment was the betrayal on Todoroki's face.
"I'm sorry, Todoroki," Izuku said, "Tell Eraserhead— tell All Might…"
The blue light was cold on Todoroki's face. Izuku stumbled a step back as a hand gripped his shoulder and wrenched him away from the sight.
"Time for you to stop pretending you're a hero," Dabi said in Izuku's ear, and Izuku closed his eyes. The portal was waiting for them.
For him.
"...Kacchan," Izuku whispered. He would do anything for Kacchan. He had already.
Dabi's other hand was still outstretched. Izuku took it. Todoroki shouted his name, but Akatani had never been the real one. The portal shivered when Izuku stepped into it willingly.
The darkness consumed him. As the world fell apart and reformed around him, the only thing Izuku could think was that he would follow Kacchan, as he always had.