"It looks like Quirk Exhaustion mixed with quirk withdrawal."
Himiko couldn't open her eyes, and her entire body felt heavy as she drifted between consciousness and nothingness. What had happened?
She remembered the fight, getting taken out first.
Then there was blood on her face. Gorgeous vibrant red blood.
"What, how?"
Who was talking? The voice was familiar and gravely. Concerned.
Everything was still fuzzy, but through the haze, she could feel a warm hand holding her own.
"It's a transformation type, yes?"
The second voice was… also familiar, but not as much as the first voice. It sounded caring, and as if its owner was much older than the other voice.
"When was the last time Toga used her quirk?"
"In full? Fuck, months."
There was the sound of someone sucking their teeth before the distant voice continued.
"And trying to use it on someone other than me or Izuku must have been too much."
"Where is Midoriya, he should be here."
Was Dabi holding her hand? Himiko tried to open her eyes, but a wave of exhaustion rolled over her, and she let herself drift into the warm arms of unconsciousness and the softness of memories. The last thing she heard was Dabi's rough voice.
"He's out looking for some answers, and I hope to god he finds them."
"So, you're just going to bite me, yeah?"
Himiko nodded, a burning flush crossing her face when she thought of getting to be Izuku. To look like him, sound like him, smell like him. "I just need a little blood," she whispered, awed that Izuku had been the one to bring this up.
He hadn't seemed scared of it, had even seemed to be amazed! He wanted her to be him. He wanted this.
He wasn't scared of her.
Izuku tilted his head to the side, brushing his hair to the side, exposing his neck. "Well," he asked, watching Himiko curiously. "Go on," he gestured with his free hand.
With barely a second of hesitation, Himiko leaned forward, baring her fangs before she gently closed her teeth around Izuku's neck where it met his shoulder. With a push, her fangs punctured the skin, and a burst of blood rushed into her mouth.
She shuddered, pulling her fangs from the wound, swallowing the blood down, metallic iron, strong and oh so salty-sweet.
Izuku hissed when the fangs broke his skin, but it didn't hurt as much as he had expected. Everything he had read about being bitten by a vampire, he had to use vampire, there wasn't really a rubric for being bitten by someone with fangs other than vampires. Everything he had read had said it would be agony, but it was almost… he wasn't sure how to describe it.
It felt tender. She was being so careful not to hurt him, not to cause him any unecessary pain. Izukus' hands shook.
Not from fear, but from wonder. That he deserved to be treated so gently.
Himiko drew back, picking up a patch of gauze to stem the bleeding before she cleaned up the bite. There was blood on her lips.
Izuku just stared, sorting through all the emotions he was feeling. Seeing his own blood on someone's lips. It felt so intimate.
It wasn't anything he had ever experienced before, that swarm of muddled feelings. He should be terrified, should want to run as fast as he could, but all he wanted to do was stay.
Stay in this room where it was safe, where the rest of the world was nothing but faded sound and shadow.
Himiko stood, having finished tending to Izuku's bite. She risked looking into his eyes, seeing them hazed over, staring at her unblinkingly. She had to admit; she liked that look on him.
"I'll be right back," she said nervously, backing out the door and towards the bathroom.
She had never changed in front of another person before, and that wasn't something she wanted to do right now. She loves Izuku. Way too much for him to see her like this.
Heat spread over her face as she locked the bathroom door behind her. Taking a slow breath, she focused, feeling the energy of her quirk flare up and cover her body like a heavy blanket. Her skin changed, becoming slightly darker as her bones stretched, muscles bulked, and hair shrank back and darkened to greened black.
Freckles dusted across her face, and she stared into the mirror with wide green eyes.
Oh. Well, would you look at that?
With a shaky grin, she looked down at herself. Even through the transformation, her cheeks burned. She had to go show Izuku!
Unlocking the door, she all but sprinted down the hall and back into Izuku's bedroom, pouncing on the bed with a tiny squeal. "Izuuku!"
"Hey!" Izuku waved excitedly, looking Himiko up and down. He had to say; she wore him well. "Wait, does my hair really look like that?"
"Yep!" Himiko nodded, settling on her knees across from Izuku. "It's so soft," Himiko sighed, putting one hand into her own hair and the other into Izuku's identical mess of curls. She leaned forward, unconsciously mimicking the way Izuku had.
This feeling… she loved it. She would do anything to get to keep this feeling, even if she had to paint the entire world red to do so.
Anything to keep by Izuku's side, she thought, as she settled down, watching Izuku pick up one of his many notebooks. She would fight to keep this feeling that burned in her chest.
"Hah!" Himiko lunged up from the couch, holding her game cube controller in the air, her entire being putting off an aura of victory. She turned to Dabi with a wild cackle. "Eat shit, flame fucker!"
"What the fuck!" Dabi threw his controller onto the coffee table, glaring at Himiko's flushed face. "Fine, you can have some of my blood." He held out an arm, looking away from the blonde's rabid grin. A slap on his wrist pulled his focus.
"I'm not going to just bite you!" Even if she wanted to. She couldn't.
Himiko rolled her eyes before she picked up her bookbag, searching through it for a small packet. "Ah," she held it up, waving it in Dabi's face. "Here we go!"
Dabi took one look at the packet before shoving it back. "No way, no needles. Just bite me." He held up his arm once again, not missing the definite interest in Himiko's eyes. Much more than before, when being stabbed with a needle was still on the table.
"Are you… are you sure?" Himiko hadn't bitten anyone other than Izuku. And that had only been once…long before they had moved out into Hosu. She had never been Dabi before, either.
With a nod, Dabi looked away, still holding his arm out. "Yeah, I'm sure. You won fair and square, and I'm not a liar." He glanced back when he felt a smaller hand wrap around his wrist, the other taking his hand and holding it still.
He closed his eyes when he felt the pinpricks of a set of fangs bite down on his hand. "Ow," he muttered, even though there was nearly no pain. He stiffened when he felt Himiko draw back, just enough to release her fangs from his flesh and let the blood flow, before she leaned forward again, licking across the small punctures.
Keeping his arm outstretched, Dabi opened one eye, freezing in place at what he saw. Himiko's pupils had slit, and her eyes seemed to glow oddly. Her gaze flitted to his face, and it was as if she was holding him there with just that look.
Was this what real vampires were like? Able to freeze someone with a glance, with bites that barely hurt?
Time seemed to pass quickly, yet dragged on indefinitely, before Himiko pulled away entirely and leaned over to the coffee table, picking up one of Izuku's many first aid kits. She cleaned the wound with efficiency, wrapping up the bite and patting it once. "See!" she said excitedly, hopping back up off the couch. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
Dabi nodded dumbly, watching as Himiko skipped over to the small bathroom. Almost as soon as the door had closed, it popped back open, and Dabi was looking back into his own face.
Himiko, her voice now rough and gravely, but still with her own pronunciations and attitude, apologized, far too cheerfully. "Sorry, I don't like people seeing me change."
"Th...that's why you wanted my blood?" Dabi couldn't help but laugh, especially when he saw how ridiculous Himiko looked, wearing his skin, but her own clothes. Skirts were not his look. With a snort, he leaned over the back of the couch, picking up one of Izuku's half clean shirts. "Just wear Izuku's clothes, he won't care."
Himiko took the shirt, pulling off her now too short cardigan and pulling on the coffee-stained t-shirt. "Why does it say clean shirt," she mumbled, startling herself with how gruff the voice was. It was weird, but she certainly didn't hate it.
She might not have been Dabi before, but it was easy to get used to. Movements had to be slow and carefully considered, careful not to pull the staples too quickly. Becoming people… other people would think it was weird, but she just did it because she loved them. She couldn't help it!
If she cared, she had to do it. Needed to know everything about them, needed to understand how it felt to be in their skin.
She loved Dabi, not the same way she loved Izuku, but she still loved him.
Folding her cardigan, Himiko set it to the side, turning back to Dabi, not missing the way he stared. "Soooo," Himiko drawled, trying her best to accurately imitate Dabi. Her tone was just a little too cheerful, and her smile tugged at the staples. "Wanna play another round of Mario Kart?"
With a snort, Dabi picked up his controller, watching Himiko do the same. "You're going down this time, bitch!"
The two threw themselves into the game, Dabi almost getting kicked in the face by either his own foot or Himiko wearing his foot, he wasn't sure, too caught up in the bright colors and blood thrumming action of Rainbow Road.
"Fuck you, Luigi!"
"Help, Bowser's gonna eat my ass!"
"Mother fucking BLUE SHELLS!"
"IS THAT A GOD DAMNED BANANA?!"
"Mario, no!"
"Whyyyyy?!"
Twin screams and shouts accented the match, Dabi and Himiko stomping the floor each time one of them pulled ahead of the other. The game, eventually won by Himiko of course, turned into the two of them simply screaming and screeching at the top of their lungs, all regard for anything thrown out the window as they nearly collapsed in a one-handed slap fight for victory.
"Boom bitch," Himiko shouted, dropping her controller back onto the couch before rounding on Dabi and posing at him dramatically.
"WHY," Dabi shouted back, cringing internally at how childish and petulant that sounded. Then he looked up, into Himiko's face.
His own face, the expression of victory twisting and warping his scars. "Oh," he muttered, his hand tracing the split in his own lip, "ew."
"Huh?" Himiko bent down, ice blue eyes meeting matching eyes. She raised an eyebrow; a frown tugged at the staples once she realized what Dabi was worried about. Softly smacking Dabi upside the head, she sat back on the couch and patted his shoulder once. "Don't worry, you're like, weirdly hot."
"Wow, thanks." Dabi sighed. Himiko might not be any good at comforting people, but when he saw how confidently she wore his skin, he couldn't help but feel a little better about his scars.
Izuku pushed himself further though the vent, his hoodie, and boots discarded in the teachers' lounge behind him. Shoulders angled into the upper and lower corner; he struggled to move closer to the grate to the nap room. God, he might be short, but he really wasn't built for this. Shoulders and arms too broad to fit anywhere other than a garbage can or a dumpster.
And either the cramped conditions were getting to him, or the vents seemed to steadily get narrower the closer to the grate he got.
Probably put in place by Nedzu to prevent something exactly like this. But he needed to know what was happening. Why had All Might grabbed Toogata out of Recovery Girl's office before Izuku could track him down? And what the fuck was up with that guy's quirk?
If his theory was right, Himiko had tried to copy it along with his appearance, but it misfired and knocked her out.
Pushing himself until he was all but pressed against the grate, one arm stuck behind his back, he listened, straining himself to try and eavesdrop on All Might and Toogata's conversation.
"I heard that she drank some of your blood."
All Might. Izuku furrowed his eyebrows, why did that stick fucker know about this?
"Hu, oh, yeah… wait! Does that mean she has One for All now?!"
Toogata sounded concerned. At least someone other than Izuku and Dabi seemed to be worried about this. And One for All? What was that supposed to mean?
"No, not at all. I just thought you might be worried."
"Oh. Well, I'm not worried about One for All, but I am worried." Mirio sat in the chair across from All Might, fidgeting with a cup in front of him. As far as Izuku can tell, it's empty. "Why did she pass out?"
"I believe I may have some insight."
"You do?!"
He does? Izuku stifled his growl, glaring through the slats of the grate as he forced himself to stay calm. So, All Might knew something about the weird quirk? He better not be Toogata's father, or Izuku is going to owe Himiko and Dabi a lot of money.
What is he saying? Izuku read the guys' medical records, he knows All Might isn't his father! Worry is just making him unreasonable.
"As you know, One for All is a quirk that can be passed down, from user to user, getting stronger each time around. And though it can't be stolen, it can be forcibly passed on."
A quirk that can be passed on? Well, Izuku is planning to have a conversation with an ancient villain who can steal quirks, so he guesses he can believe it. Wait. Does that mean… Toogata has All Might's quirk?
That explains so much!
And that means Dabi and Himiko owe him so much money!
"And the girl, uh-"
All Might seemed to be at a loss for the name, and Izuku felt a flash of rage run through him. Of course, he couldn't be bothered to learn their names. Why would he expect anything other than what he already knew? And he's a fucking teacher, shouldn't he know his students' names?!
"Toga Himiko."
Even Toogata knew her name. Hell, Izuku was rapidly warming up to the guy. He was a good fighter, and based on the, admittedly limited, encounters he had had with him, seemed to have followed the Terrible Three's rise to stardom.
"Ah, yes. She has a transformation quirk that works though blood. It's fully possible that One for All was simply too dangerous to copy."
"Oh. So it is my fault!" Mirio stood, pacing in front of the door. "I feel even worse, now!"
Izuku tried and failed to stifle a snort. This guy… just as good from blaming himself for things as he was!
"Did, did you hear that?" Mirio stared around the room, shock written across his face.
Shit. Izuku tried to back up in the vent, but his shoulders were stuck, wedged in at the angle that at one point had been helpful, but now was his downfall.
"I wouldn't worry about it, this building is always making noise."
The building was always making noise because I'm always sneaking around, Izuku thought, hissing with irritation when he realized he couldn't get out no matter how much he struggled. The only way out was out.
"There is was again!" Mirio stopped in the middle of the room, looking around in worry. "I think it's coming from the vent!"
Fuck.
Izuku couldn't let himself be found like this, he had a reputation! With a sigh, he pushed the grate forward with the hand that wasn't stuck behind his back, knocking it into the break room and onto the carpeted floor. Popping his head out of the vent, he glared menacingly. "So, what's this about a quirk that can be passed down?"
And why were the quirk and All for One named like that? Wasn't that the motto of Switzerland? And the Three Musketeers? And pre-revolutionary France?
"Gah, Midoriya, what are you doing in the vents!" All Might jerked back where he sat, the incident in the teachers' lounge fresh in his mind. At least he didn't have a knife this time.
"Aha!" Mirio grinned, the expression blindingly bright and excited. "I was right!" His grin shrunk by a few degrees, watching as Midoriya made no more movement. He had expected him to drop from the vent and spout off a few threatening words, not just stay in there, glaring. "Are… are you stuck?"
"No," Izuku immediately snapped, trying to push himself further from the vent with no success, his socked feet kicking and sliding uselessly behind him. With a growl and matching scowl, he amended his answer. "Maybe."
"Do you need help?" Mirio stepped forward, not sure if he should be terrified or worried.
"I don't ask for help," Izuku grumbled, forcing his shoulder further forward, a quiet crunch following the movement. "Fuck," he whispered. It didn't feel injured, but he had definite proof now that the vents got smaller at the entrances. Probably planned by Nedzu for situations just like this one. "Fine, you can help me."
"Okay," Mirio stepped forward, pulling on the edge of the vent until it began to warp and bend. Once the vent was bent and the wall was cracked, he asked, "do you need me to pull you out?"
"Fuck off," Izuku snapped instinctively, baring his teeth in a way he usually saved for criminals.
Mirio back off immediately, hands raised in apology. "Sorry?"
"No, I'm sorry," Izuku corrected, beginning to wiggle out of the vent. "I'm supposed to be trying to be nice to people." With another squirm, his shoulder popped out of the vent, his arm following. With a hand to help him, he was able to push and pull until both arms were free, and he tumbled/slid out of the vent, twisting as he fell and landing on his side on the carpeted floor, right on top of the grate he had knocked out of the way. "Fuck."
"Is that your favorite word or something?"
"... yes," he hissed sarcastically as he rolled to his feet, rubbing his side where it had impacted with the grate. Oh, that had hurt. He had gotten used to blows being softened, at least by his standards, in 'gentle' practice sparing or by his armored hoodie. Izuku stretched, his shoulder popping from the strain it had been under. "Thanks," he grumbled, hating how weak he looked in front of them. Trying to brush off any remaining concern, he straightened up before slouching, shoving a hand in his pocket. "Actually, my favorite word is 'terrible.'"
All Might moved to stand, "Midoriya, I must-"
"Save it, Yagi-san," Izuku spat, grabbing Toogata's chair and spinning it around, sitting slouched forward with his arms crossed over the back. "I know about quirks that can be taken and passed on already, it's like, the internet's worst kept secret." He scoffed, rolling his eyes while somehow still glaring. "Fucking Dabi found out about All for One before I did."
"The, the flame guy?" Mirio asked, awkwardly standing next to the coffee table, his chair stolen, and sitting next to All Might while Target was glaring at him seemed like a bad idea. "He seems… intense?"
Izuku nodded, "that's a fucking word," he muttered. Brushing that aside, he cleared his throat, taking on a mocking tone. "So, quirks are weird, right?"
All Might and Mirio just stared, holding their breath as they waited to see where the irritated teen was going with this.
"All for One taking them and giving them out, this One for All being able to be passed on?" Izuku sucked his teeth, slumping where he sat. "Wack, yeah?"
"Hehe, yeah?" Mirio nodded, breaking the silence.
Turning his attention to the other, Izuku toned his glare down to its minimum level. "So, Toogata, how-
"Whoah, that's a little familiar, don't you think?"
Izuku shrugged, "well, I'm not the best judge of that, my social skills are said to be lacking." Besides, he only used honorifics to be sarcastic or insulting. Or in the case of Recovery Girl, out of fear. That tiny woman and her giant cane terrified him.
Izuku turned his glare back to All Might, raising an eyebrow. "So, why you got that look on your face?"
God, he hoped he didn't need to listen to All Might table on. He didn't need this right now. His heart was beating a mile a minute, and he could almost feel the adrenaline coursing in his veins.
"I have hoped to have this conversation with you at a later date, but now might as well be good enough." All Might shifted uncomfortably on the couch, not looking the ex-vigilante in the eyes. Guilt tinging his words, he began only to be immediately interrupted. "Due to unexpected media backlash-
"From you punching a child in the face?" Irritation had turned off his, admittedly limited, verbal filter.
All Might kept looking away, unable to face the mocking hatred in the teenager's eyes. It burned, like the smoke of a fire fueled by plastic and rancid meat. "Um, yes, well, there needs to be a way to repair the um-
Izuku snorted, leaning forward until the chair was only on two legs, and watching All Might intently. He chose his next words, selecting them just on their potential to make the retired hero squirm. "Horrible mistake you made?"
Mirio interrupted from where he had settled on the arm of the couch. "Hey, there's no need for that!" Mirio knew that All Might and this kid had some sort of history, but there was no need for that sort of treatment! Was there? From what he knew, Target, Midoriya, didn't do or say anything without good reason.
Was it because All Might had said he couldn't be a hero? Or was there more to it than that? There had to be more to it, right? Oh, wait, Target was talking again.
Izuku cleared his throat, raising his eyebrows curiously, thankful that his messy hair covered the expression. "But there really is. A hero shouldn't be someone who only solves things with violence. The concept of a symbol of peace is nonsense. Pandering to the media may be effective, but this won't work in your favor."
Toshinori leaned forward, admittedly, he didn't know much about the ex-vigilantes' fanbase, but he knew how the media worked. They wanted a public apology, and that's essentially what this offer was. "And why is that?"
"My team, we're not what people look for in heroes. We're not symbols of any sort of peace, we're the fuckin symbol of war. Because this is a war."
"A war?" Toshiniri frowned. He knew about the kids' hatred for kindness, had heard about it from Eraserhead, but he didn't know it ran this deep. "Do you really believe that?"
"I do. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not there. A war waged in dark alleys and the blind night." Izuku shrugged, knowing that out of the three, he was the lowest common denominator. His fans were from all walks of life, they were the wild ones, the ones that couldn't fit in the way the world wanted them to.
But because of them, that's who he had made himself into. A violent thug who did what he wanted when he wanted. An echo of the majority. The hero none of them had ever had. "That's why the public loves us. Because we do the bad things the heroes are too afraid to do."
Izuku continued, part of him wondering who exactly All Might wanted them to work with. Someone famous, and that's all that it took to guarantee this wouldn't work. "And because of that, working with the heroes, whoever it may be, will fail to produce the results you want. You won't look good, we will."
Mirio leaned away from the intense aura that suddenly snapped to life in half the room. Whatever this guy's quirk was, he knew he didn't want to get on the opposite end of it. "Wow, philosophical."
"You want to get philosophical? I can get philosophical." Izuku relaxed, setting the chair back on all four legs, fully in his element now. He rolled his shoulders back, imagining himself in front of a camera, working out a philosophy or hero breakdown for his followers.
He turned his bruise darkened gaze forward, voice lighting with passion. "The idolization of violence and power in the hero culture is sickening, and the entire hero system is ripe for destruction because of it. Heroes were originally supposed to be 'one that saves others,' but became twisted into 'one who fights villains.'"
He paused, knowing it made his words hold more weight. All Might looked sick, discomfort etched on his features. Toogata was watching with wide eyes, leaning in to hear better.
Izuku nodded to himself, giving himself permission to continue. "This perverse understanding of what makes a hero has leaked into society at an institutional level. Being a hero used to be something people did in order to know they could make a difference, make the world better. Now it's a career. A government job. It's disgusting." Shaking his head, Izuku barely kept the disgust from his tone. "Working in the light as an excuse for legal violence… It's sick and wrong, and I, no, we, won't want any part in it if that's what it takes to be a hero."
He would hand in his licence, hand himself over to the police and let himself go to prison before he became some media thriving, money-hungry, popularity seeking bastard who cared more about rankings than stopping crime.
"Oh."
"Oh."
"Yeah, fuckin, 'oh,'" Izuku rolled his eyes. "I might act like an idiot, but that doesn't mean I don't understand the world around me." After all, the only reason he had worked to get his team licenced was because going on an apology tour was a better option than going to prison.
And wasn't that fucked up, a hero purposefully killing a 'villain' only merited a public apology, but a private citizen accidentally killing someone with their quirk was a lifetime prison sentence.
A buzz from Izuku's pocket pulled his attention away, breaking the tense atmosphere he had created. Still staring All Might in the face, he reached into his pocket, lifting it to nearly eye level and swiping the screen before he glanced down at the message.
[Can I get a, uhhh, Crime?]
*VampBitch* is online
*Dabi* is online
VampBitch: I survived, bitch
Couldn't phase me
Dabi: Please come and stop her
The puns make me want to die
VampBitch: and what, your wisdom is exempt?
Dabi: My wisdom i D
With a Knife: On my way.
Don't die yet, I want to be the one to kill you.
Dabi: Hot
Do it with a knife.
HA, WITH A KNIFE
VampBitch: Kinky, can I watch?
Dabi: yes
*With a Knife* is offline
"Well, I've got to go, Himiko just woke up."
Mirio jumped to his feet, worry written across his face. "Is she okay?!"
"Not your fault, I'm blaming All Bitch. And she's making puns, so she's fine." Izuku shook his head, taking in a slow breath as he put his phone away. Giving himself that moment to clear his thoughts, he stood. "This has been an awful time," he said, flipping All Might off as he turned towards the door. Opening it, he nodded politely to Toogata as he passed him, still snapping rudely at All Might as he did so. "Next time you wanna try and... recruit my team in your idiotic effort, you should ask all of us, not just me."
"Have the day you deserve," Izuku sneered, kicking the door shut behind him. His hands were shaking, and he didn't know if it was from rage or worry.
His head hung low and hood casting his face in shadow, Izuku pushed open the door to Recovery Girl's office.
"Izuku!" Dabi whipped around, not missing the way Izuku's hands shook, and his fingers fidgeted with the hem of his hoodie. He was putting on a strong front for them. "Where have you been?"
"Getting answers," he muttered as he approached the hospital bed. Izuku locked his gaze onto Himiko, and he pulled his hood back, plastering on a fake grin. He didn't want her to see how scared he was. She looked so small in those starched white sheets.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he cleared his throat. "And you two owe me money, Toogata isn't All Might's kid."
Dabi snapped his fingers, blue sparks lighting at the action. "Damn, I was sure he was!"
But Izuku was done keeping All Might's secrets for him. He had had enough. This? It was all a step too far.
Himiko could have been seriously hurt, and All Might didn't even go through the effort of learning her name. The blond fuckwit had slipped from Izuku's 'hated' list and back to the 'despised.'
Izuku took a slow breath, hoping to calm himself before he blurted out, "but he does have his quirk."
At those words, Dabi just threw his hands into the air, irritation rolling off him like the heat from his flames. "Fucking hell, now I owe Himiko money, too!" He hung his head, remembering where half of his money had gone the day before. "But I'm so poor," he mumbled, triggering a wave of mocking laughter from both Izuku and Himiko.
Himiko giggled, sitting up in her bed. "Don't bet against me, and you won't end up owing me money!"
With that, the oppressive atmosphere cracked and broke, shattering from the force of positivity that filled the room.
"Heh. Ha. Haha." It almost sounded bored. But it was as close to hysterical laughter that Izuku could come. Small snickers shook his shoulders as he tried to muffle the sound with the back of his hand. "Pfaha!"
"You sound," Himiko struggled to get the words out through her own giggles. "You sound ridiculous!"
"Like you're any better!"
The only one who wasn't laughing like an idiot was Dabi, and that was because he was too busy spiralling, face buried in his hands while thinking about how much money he owed the two of them.
The door creaked open behind them, Recovery Girl coming through with a clipboard in one hand, her cane in the other. "Ah, Midoriya, you're here. Good." Chiyo set her cane aside as she sat in her chair, flipping pages on her clipboard. "Toga wanted you to know the results."
"Quirk Exhaustion? Or Withdrawl?"
"A bit of both," Recovery Girl answered, setting down her clipboard. Midoriya looked like he had been expecting something much worse. He looked relieved, almost.
"Oh," Izuku muttered, nodding. But with how Himiko had been acting, that couldn't be the end of it.
"Uh, Zuzu, what's with that face," Dabi asked, concern creeping into his tone as he watched Izuku between his fingers.
Izuku frowned, eyebrows furrowed, and the gears in his brain started turning. "Dabi, give me some of your blood, I have an idea," Izuku said, making up his mind.
Dabi just turned and stared, not in disbelief, but with resignment. "Himiko just woke up, and you're going to give her blood?" With a shrug, he pushed up his sleeve. "Alright, sure." This might as well happen.
Chiyo turned in her seat, opening a drawer and picking up a needle, preparing to unwrap it from its sterile plastic. "I hope you know what you're doing, Midoriya."
"Please," he brushed off the question, standing up before turning to close and lock the door, keeping everyone else out. Izuku stepped up to Himiko's bed, standing at her side and taking her hand. "You know what I want you to do, right?"
His smile was tight and didn't reach his eyes. It did nothing to hide his nerves and fear.
Himiko nodded, sitting up. She was a little light-headed, and her mouth was dry, but she felt… strangely good.
Powerful in a way she had never felt before. There was energy thrumming under her skin, like electricity.
Behind the two of them, Dabi was trying to wave Recovery Girl away, focusing his gaze on the needle in her hand. "No, no, no. No needles."
He ducked to the side, dodging a tiny hand. All but running away and jumping across the room, Dabi roughly shoved his arm into Himiko's face. "Bite me."
Grabbing ahold of Dabi's hand, Himiko grinned cheerily. "Okay!"
"She's way too enthusiastic about that," Izuku muttered, watching with feigned disinterest as Himiki's fangs sank into the unscarred flesh of Dabi's hand.
"Oh," he muttered under his breath, watching Himiko lap up the dripping blood. Even he had to admit, that was… something. It did something. To him. On a physical level. His face burned as he realized what that meant. But he'd have to think about what to do about it later; he was a bit too busy right now.
Himiko swallowed a mouthful of hot blood, relishing the taste of iron. Dabi's blood was always so much hotter than Izuku's. As if it was burning in his veins.
But how that heat felt like it was washing over her, filling her skin with a blazing flame.
Pushing her thin blanket aside, she slung her legs over the edge of the bed, slipping to the ground and taking a tentative step. She had to get to somewhere hidden. She couldn't change here.
Seeming to understand, Recovery Girl pulled the privacy curtain out, separating the room into two halves. Himiko nodded her thanks, ducking behind the curtain and letting the power of her quirk flow over her.
It was different this time.
Sharper.
Hotter.
But it also felt easier. As if the stretch and burn of changing limbs had been altered by some new force.
Purple scars stretched tight, and stiff silver staples slowed her normally energetic movement, and she reached out slowly, pulling back the curtain before blue flames blossomed to life across her hands.
She felt powerful.
With a wild grin spread across his face, flames reflected in his eyes, Izuku couldn't stop himself. "That is so fucking hot. I've never been more turned on in my life."
Bonus Scene:
Himiko worried her lip with her fangs, waiting for her phone to buzz. Power of Love would come through for her; she just knew it.
Her phone vibrated in her hand, and she sat straight up, eyes wide.
[Unnamed Chat]
Power of Love: so, I got the numbers, why couldn't you just ask them?
VampBitch: I want them to be terrified!
Power of Love: understandable, here you are
(XXX)XXX-XXXX
And
(XXX)XXX-XXXX
Have fun tormenting innocent children!
VampBitch: Thanks, I will!
*Power of Love* is Unavailable for Further Conversation
Himiko copied the two phone numbers, adding them to her contacts before she opened the messaging app.
*Toga Himiko* has created a new chat.
*Toga Himiko* has added * (XXX)XXX-XXXX *
(XXX)XXX-XXXX: What is this place and why am I here?
*Toga Himiko* has added * (XXX)XXX-XXXX *
(XXX)XXX-XXXX: um, what's going on? Is this how murders start?
*Toga Himiko* has changed the chat name to [ !Decepticons! ]
*Toga Himiko* has changed * (XXX)XXX-XXXX* to *Monoma*
*Toga Himiko* has changed * (XXX)XXX-XXXX* to *Amajiki-senpai*
Monoma: I hate it here
Amajiki-senpai: why did you do this
Why won't it lEt me LeAve?
Monoma: whyyy?
Free me from this hell!
Toga Himiko: I made this because, theoretically,
by copying each others quirks/appearance, we could all be the ultimate spies!
Amajiki-senpai: I dont think my quirk works like that?
Monoma: you're that third year, aren't you?
Sorry, she already abducted me yesterday.
You're her newest victim
Amajiki-senpai: ?
So I was right about the murder?
Toga Himiko: I had a question?!
How does your quirk work?
Amajiki-senpai: for who?
Toga Himiko: you!
I can copy quirks now!
I want to be able to use yours, if you'll give me some blood!
Amajiki-senpai: please do not?
Monoma: do it. Do it. Do it.
Give her the blood
Do it
I WANNA SEE WHAT HAPPENS
Amajiki-senpai: im scared
*Toga Himiko* has changed *Monoma* to *Rabies*
Rabies: hey, I dont have rabies!
Toga Himiko: no, you are Rabies
Rabies: I'll allow it
Toga Himiko: What happens if I drink blood from one of Amajiki-senpai's morphed limbs?
Rabies: what
Toga Himiko: will I become the animal?
Or would I be Amajiki-senpai?
Rabies: ooh, good question
Oh! What if you copy his quirk, then use it in tandem with yours?
Use blood as the transformation fuel!
Parts of different people?!
Amajiki-senpai: don't? Dont do that?
Rabies: what if I copy both of your quirks and dk it myself?
Toga Himiko: Do it
Hey, what works best with your quirk, Amajiki-senpai?
Amajiki-senpai: food wise?
Octopus or squid. Most seafood.
Rabies: squid?
*Toga Himiko* has changed *Amajiki-senpai* to *Squidkid*
Squidkid: Oh. No thank you?
*Rabies* has changed *Toga Himiko* to *Alucard*
Alucard: What?
Why am I draculas twink son?
Rabies: haha, no one is safe!
Squidkid: please let me leave