warnings: none?
Awata and Izuku make themselves coffee before leaving. When it comes to coffee tastes, Izuku prefers his with way too much creamer and maybe some sugar? And luckily Awata has creamer, although she seems amused when she watches how much he puts in his thermos.
"Don't let Nighteye and Centipeder know that you're a filthy creamer drinker," she says, the corners of her mouth quirking up. "They're both stringent believers in the superiority of black coffee."
"They're not the only ones I know like that," Izuku replies, and, contrary to appearances, he's not thinking of Aizawa. No, actually, it's Yamada who drinks his coffee black.
Thermoses in hand, Awata and Izuku walk to the Nighteye Agency together. Izuku is wearing his U.A. uniform while Awata is simply wearing sweats and a T-shirt, a hoodie bearing the logo of a small-time hero school over top. It makes sense, since she'll just be changing into her costume when she gets there, but still. Izuku kind of wishes he could just wear sweats and a T-shirt to work.
"You can go up and wait at my desk," she says as they enter the agency. "Toogata, our intern, will be here soon. You'll probably spend some time with him, and then the two of you are likely to shadow either Centipeder or Sir Nighteye for the rest of the day."
"Alright," Izuku nods, and then they split up, Awata heading down the hall to the changing rooms and Izuku over to the elevator, to head up to the second story where her and Centipeder's desks are.
The doors to the elevator are just beginning to close when another boy in a U.A. uniform carrying a costume case comes in the door. His eyes lock on the elevator doors that are closing, and Izuku sticks his arm through to hold them as the other boy hurries over.
He's tall, and broad-shouldered, with fluffy blond hair and bright blue eyes. Izuku's first impression is that he's very… round.
"Hi! You must be the first-year intern Sir told me about," the other boy says, breathlessly. Did he run here from the train station?
"Yeah, that's me!" Izuku replies, grinning. "Midoriya Izuku, pleased to meet you!" He bows.
"I watched your tournament matches!" the other boy replies, grinning in return. "Toogata Mirio, at your service! You were pretty cool!"
"Thanks!" Izuku replies. There's some familiarity niggling at the back of his mind. He knows Toogata, and not just from this year's Sports Festi—oh, wait. That's right. Toogata was the one who ended up naked because of his quirk during the last year's Festival.
Izuku's not going to mention that, though. This year he must have gotten a gym uniform that works with his quirk.
"So, have you worked with Sir yet? Did you manage to make him laugh?" Toogata is very animated as he speaks, his round eyes filled with some shining excitement.
"I haven't managed it yet, but I'll make it happen," Izuku replies.
Toogata follows him to Awata's desk, chatting the entire way. He talks a bit about his experience working with Nighteye, and then he talks about his friends, and his experiences in school… Izuku lets him talk, making the appropriate noises as Toogata dispenses both advice and funny stories.
"I see you've met Toogata," Awata says as she walks over. Her white cropped jacket is still unzipped, but she tucks what looks like her hero license and a credit card into a pocket inside it and then zips it up. Toogata himself seems to perk up at her approach.
"Bubble Girl!" he says. "It's good to see you! Good morning!"
"Good morning to you, too, Toogata," she says, moving past the two boys to sit down at her desk. "Now, Sir should be in his office already," she checks the time, "so the two of you can head on up."
"Great!" Toogata flashes her a thumbs-up. "Let's go, Midoriya!" He takes off across the room at an impressive power walk, and Izuku waves at Awata before turning and jogging to catch up with Toogata. They both power walk together to the elevator, getting in and taking it up to the floor Nighteye's office is on.
That evening, Sir Nighteye requests that Izuku remain behind when Awata clocks out. He does so, waiting in a chair outside Nighteye's office while the pro himself finishes up a phone call inside. It's a long call, and Izuku's waiting for a good twenty minutes until he's called in.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting," Nighteye says as Izuku walks in. His fingers are steepled and his head is downturned, slightly, and if Izuku looks close enough, he can see the lines of stress around his eyes. "Some people just don't know the meaning of concise. Now, please, take a seat." He gestures to one of the chairs across the desk from him, and Izuku sits down, lacing his fingers together in his lap.
"Now that you have some experience and have seen how we operate here, I'd like to ask what you're hoping to get out of this internship. What made you choose my agency, out of any of the other offers you received?"
"Well," Izuku's left thumb starts tapping on the right. "Most of my offers came from underground heroes. There was only you and a few others who offered who are daylight heroes. And, while I realize my quirk is… suited, more for underground work, I'd like to see what else is there before I really decide. I'd rather put myself where I can do the most good, not just go where everyone expects me to."
Nighteye nods. "Indeed. And what about my agency, as opposed to every other daylight agency that sent offers?"
"Well," Izuku's right hand disengages and reaches up to the back of his head as he looks away from Nighteye's razor-sharp gaze. "You're well-respected. You're not… a limelight hero, per se, but you're known, and you have a reputation. Also," Izuku looks back towards Nighteye, steeling himself. "Mr. Aizawa called your work steady, and that's pretty high praise from him. You're also one of the best investigative heroes out there."
"Hm." Nighteye nods, slowly, as if he's chewing that thought over in his mind. "I see. So, now: what exactly are you hoping to get out of this week?"
"Well, a handle on the paperwork, for one thing," Izuku replies, dryly. "I might get crushed under it."
Nighteye's eyes narrow in a way the Izuku finds impossible to read. Is he amused? Irritated? Izuku can't tell, and his heartrate starts to tick up.
"I'm glad that I'm experiencing how much there is right off the bat," he continues. "Even if it makes for a 'boring'," he holds up his hands for scare quotes, "internship, at least I'm learning now so I won't be blindsided by it later. It's… impressive, really, how much work has to go into running an agency. Um…" He trails off. Whoops. He'd rambled himself right off topic from Nighteye's original question. "Anyways. Uh, what I'm hoping to get out of this week…" he pauses, tilts his head. "I was hoping to get to see some of the investigative side of things, honestly. That might not be really possible with only a week, but really, anything is great!" That's probably not the answer Nighteye is looking for.
Nighteye hms again and Izuku fights his instinctual reaction to squirm under that gaze. He's not an anxious little kid. (He is an anxious small teenager, though, so not much difference, really.)
"I see," Nighteye finally says. "I can work with that." He stands. "I'll walk you back to Awata's apartment."
Izuku stands. It feels like he's been caught off-balance—the whole tone had shifted, so quickly, and it's all he can do to follow Nighteye out the door.
He starts to relax as they reach the street, waving good-bye to Centipeder and some of the secretaries and… private investigators? Honestly, Izuku's not sure what half the people in the agency do, but they seem nice and they all wave back at him and greet him when he runs across them in the halls so it's whatever.
"So," Nighteye says as they step outside. "You have All Might as a teacher. How have you found him to be, so far?"
Wow! That's a loaded topic! It's a good thing Izuku has a very easy out.
"I haven't actually had any classes taught by him yet," Izuku replies. He shrugs as he feels Nighteye turn his gaze to him. "Since I just moved up to 1-A right after the Sports Festival, and most of our hero classes were taught by Mr. Aizawa or Ms. Kayama to get us prepared for this week."
"Ah. I see. Well, it must be different having Aizawa as a classroom teacher rather than working one-on-one."
"It is," Izuku agrees. "I'm not allowed to be as… conversational? As… cheeky with him." He smirks. "Apparently, it might inspire my classmates to be cheeky, and he really doesn't want that to happen. And I see why! They're all…" he shakes his head. "They're all wild. You thought Tokoyami breaking my arm was the most feral thing they're capable of? No. No, it gets so much worse, and I haven't even had a practical with them yet."
Nighteye nods. "Most hero classes are, indeed, rowdy. When you put many teenagers with strong personalities and high hopes in a room together, things get… wild."
"Mhm. Apparently, Class B is worse, though, given what a friend of mine keeps saying. I knew her before U.A., so she talks about what her class is like, and she swears that one of her classmates is rabid. I mean, obviously not, since he hasn't died yet, but still. I met him, and I do agree with her that he's… interesting. When the USJ incident happened, all the teachers got called out of class, and Class B was in the middle of a practical. According to Aomi, her class rep was trying to maintain order but this guy revolted and tried to start a battle royale. An assistant got there pretty quickly, but still."
"…Interesting," Nighteye says.
The two of them continue conversing, with Izuku doing most of the talking, until they're coming up on Awata's apartment building.
"I'm sure you're capable of making it upstairs on your own," Nighteye says, and Izuku nods. "Tomorrow, you should arrive in your uniform, but please bring along a separate set of clothes you can workout in. I would like to get a sense of your capabilities outside of the arena of the Sports Festival."
"Sure thing!" Izuku grins. "See you tomorrow!" With that, he heads inside and upstairs to Awata's apartment, using the key copy she gave him that morning.
She welcomes him back, and they have dinner again, and talk a little bit, mostly about light subjects.
After dinner, Izuku messages Iida.
me
Hey Iida! I hope your internship is going well! [beaming face with smiling eyes] I've been doing a lot of paperwork, mostly. I can't do fieldwork since I don't have a costume yet, but I will be doing some combat training tomorrow!
A few minutes later, the app shows his message as "read". Izuku messages another chat as he waits for a reply.
Class 1-EYYYYY
me
So what's everyone working on? Mine's mostly paperwork, since I don't have a costume and can't do fieldwork yet!
Class Prez 3
I'm interning with Uwabami, alongside Kendou from Class B, and today we shot a commercial.
me
Hey, that'll be good for recognition, at least!
Class Prez 3
Yeah. I guess so.
me
Are you upset?
Class Prez 3
No, it's okay. I'm not upset.
me
You're typing like you're upset. And hey, it's okay to be! Just remember, there's a lot that goes into being a successful limelight hero and a lot of that is the popularity contest. I hope you get to do something cool for the rest of your internship! [beaming face with smiling eyes]
Class Prez 3
Thanks Midoriya [smiling face with smiling eyes]
Urarara
…I feel kinda bad now because I spent my day throwing around Gunhead and all his huge sidekicks
Class Prez 3
Oh no! Don't be! It's okay! That sounds like you're having a good time!
Urarara
I am! And I'm learning how to throw people around so I can kick Midoriya's ass next time we fight!
me
I feel concerned
Urarara
Good [smiling face with horns]
Chargebolt
[face with open mouth] Uraraka means business. Midoriya, your days are numbered!
Even as Izuku chatted with his classmates, no response came from Iida.
There wasn't a response when he woke up in the morning, either.
Class 1-EYYYYY
me
Hey, has anyone heard from Iida? I texted him last night and haven't heard back from him.
Shiozaki Ibara
No, but I will let you know if I do.
Chargebolt
Iida Tenya
Kirishima Eijirou
Iida Tenya
Alien Queen~~
Iida Tenya
Urarara
Iida Tenya
sticky boy tape man
Iida Tenya
Satou Rikido
Iida Tenya
Izuku still hasn't heard from him when he leaves with Awata, a bag containing his workout clothes, sports wrap and athletic tape, and ankle braces on his shoulder, and he tries to push down the worry gnawing in the pit of his stomach.
"Are you okay?" Awata asks, and obviously he hasn't done a good job of ignoring his worry.
"Yeah, I'm fine!" Izuku replies, smiling at her. "Just a little worried about one of my friends."
Awata's eyebrows draw closer together. "Would talking about it help?"
Izuku frowns and nibbles at his lower lip as he thinks. "So, uh, you heard about Ingenium, right?"
"Yes. Oh—that's right. His younger brother is in Class 1-A."
Izuku nods. "Yeah. And I haven't heard from him. I texted him last night, and normally he responds almost immediately, but… he hasn't."
Awata hums. "That's rough. Ingenium's injury and retirement is…" She pauses. "It's a hit to the hero community, it really is."
"Well, it's not like Tensei's going to be permanently retiring, even injured," Izuku replies. "As far as I've heard, he's still planning on running Idaten and keeping those teams together."
"Tensei?" Awata looks bemused, and Izuku flails a bit as he realizes that he was pretty familiar with him, there.
"Yeah! Uh, Mr. Aizawa's pretty close to him, and since he's my uncle, my mom set up family dinner nights, with Mr. Aizawa and Mr. Yamada, and then Ms. Kayama invited herself, and then she brought along Tensei and then Emi ended up inviting herself at some point, too!"
"Wow," Awata says. "Sounds like you're pretty well-connected, there."
"Yeah." Izuku nods. "I guess I am."
Izuku spends the morning and the first hour of the afternoon after lunch shadowing Awata as she works on an investigation with some of the support staff. They do have corkboards with red string and a plethora of whiteboards to go along with that. The case is a persistent thief, pulling off museum heists and bank heists and jewel heists with little evidence left behind. Izuku's own theories about the thief's quirk, in fact, make it into the official investigation, and he feels a little thrill of satisfaction as he's summoned to the agency's… gym? Sparring room? that afternoon.
He's given five minutes to change into his workout clothes. Rather than bringing his U.A. gym uniform, he sticks with what is familiar and comfortable: his shorts and a large dark grey T-shirt with the sides cut out that says, in white English words on the front, "I'm more confused than a chameleon in a bag of skittles". He carries his sports wrap and athletic tape into the sparring room with him and sets himself down on the floor so he can tape his wrists.
Over the years, he's gotten pretty quick at wrapping and taping his wrists, so he's almost finished when Nighteye walks in. He and Nighteye both do double takes, Izuku because seeing Nighteye wearing sweats and a T-shirt is just plain weird.
"Ah. I see you already know the importance of proper wrist support."
"Ms. Isozaki—one of my first martial arts teachers—drilled it into us," Izuku replies, finishing up with a tear of the tape. He sets the wrap and tape to the side and stands, turning to face Nighteye.
There is an obvious moment as Nighteye reads the words on his shirt, and then he snorts and rolls his eyes.
"Does that count as a laugh?" Izuku asks, bouncing on his feet and pointing at Nighteye. "Did I make you laugh?"
"Yes," Nighteye replies, shaking his head. There's a small smile on his face and fond exasperation in his voice.
"Yeah!" Izuku punches the air. "Alright!"
Nighteye and Izuku warm up together and then set up for the first spar. Nighteye instructs Izuku to make the first strike, so he does, feinting like he's going to punch with his right hand but going in with his left elbow to Nighteye's gut instead. And, honestly, while Izuku can't say that it's easy to get under Nighteye's guard, it is simple considering Sir Nighteye is way taller than him.
Izuku darts out of the way of Nighteye's knee just in time, stepping under the man's arm and behind his back. Nighteye is fast, too, though, whipping around and grabbing Izuku's shirt. Izuku counters that hold quickly, breaking his grip and dodging back.
Nighteye presses forward, and Izuku just can't manage to get back inside the man's guard. It's almost as if he's seeing—
Oh.
Right.
"Hey! That's rude!" Izuku says before he brushes the four fingers of his right hand over the palm, with the pad of his thumb brushing over his index finger. There's a crackle of red energy across his body as he negates Nighteye's quirk.
"I was wondering if you could use Negation on yourself," Nighteye says as Izuku presses back in. "Can you still use your quirk against others, even after activating it on yourself?"
"Yeah," Izuku grunts as he catches Nighteye's fist on his shoulder. "'s not great though."
"It causes some sort of backlash?"
Izuku nods, dodging a knee. Nighteye doesn't speak after that, and the spar continues. It's obvious that the pro is holding back, a lot, considering his experience and the way Izuku just barely manages to dodge and block.
Eventually, Nighteye ends the spar, holding up a hand and allowing them to step back and take a breather and drink some water. After their quick break, Nighteye analyzes what he's seen of Izuku's style.
It's important, having multiple teachers. Each one brings something different to the table, catching a different thing that Izuku needs to focus on, bringing a different worldview and thought process and focus to the table—and Nighteye's a good teacher. He's calm, he explains things in a way Izuku finds easy to understand, and he breaks everything down to their fundamentals without a second thought.
Safe to say, Izuku learns a lot that afternoon. He goes home that evening, a pleasant soreness in his muscles, the kind that says "I did something today". He chats with Awata as they walk, and she tells him about her younger siblings. One of them is hoping to make it into U.A. next year. Izuku hopes they make it.
As a matter of fact, Izuku's feeling pretty damn great until they get home and turn on the news and it shows a Hosu in flames.
"Oh no," Awata says, her hands coming up to cover her mouth. She's already halfway standing before she seems to realize that there's nothing she can do. Hosu is far enough away that they'd get there in time to do cleanup, maybe.
Izuku sends a text message to Iida, who still hasn't responded.
me
I just turned the news on. Please be careful! Message me when you're safe, okay?
And then he sees the monsters.
Class 1-EYYYYY
Hagakure Tooru
Is anyone else seeing the news about Hosu?
Kirishima Eijirou
You mean the NOUMUS?
YOU MEAN THE MULTIPLE NOUMUS?
Cat Whisperer
I hope Iida's okay… wasn't he interning in Hosu?
Chargebolt
Iida's in Hosu with the NOUMU?!
me
What the FUCK is a Noumu
Are they those… monster things?
Class Prez 3
Yes. There was one at the USJ. All Might could barely beat it.
me
Excuse me, the FUCK
Class Prez 3
I know. I'm sure Iida will be okay, though. Manual is a good hero and is known for keeping his interns safe and out of situations they can't handle, and Iida is smart! I'm sure he's just busy evacuating civilians
Jirou Kyouka
I hope you're right.
haha forgot to update this last time so y'all ffn readers get a double update. no cliffhanger waiting for you
