The day seemed to pass by slowly for Izuku. Aizawa had further clarified that morning that they would be heading to Hosu later in the evening, so they would be doing some normal training beforehand. He ran them through some standard exercises for most of the time. Closer to when they were going to leave he took to sparring against them himself. As Izuku suspected Aizawa didn't want them to fight villains if they weren't ready, so it was less of a spar to teach them something and more of a test. Eventually Aizawa relented and told them to rest till he came and got them.
"So, what do you think he's gonna do at the end of the week?" Shinsou asked from his spot on the couch.
Izuku frowned slightly. That was the real question huh? "I don't know." Izuku said, shrugging. He glanced down at his phone. The group chat had been somewhat active earlier and Izuku had found out that both Katsuki and Todoroki would be heading down to Hosu going after the hero killer. Izuku debated bringing this up to Aizawa but decided against it. He reasoned that with two top ten pros hunting the hero killer down it shouldn't turn into a big scene.
He did however impulsively put on some of his vigilante gear under the clothes that Aizawa had provided them for the trip. Shinsou had given him a questioning look before shrugging and doing the same. "If you think it's worth the risk to wear yours I'll wear mine as well. At least if we go down we go in our stylish hoodies." Shinsou said, shrugging again.
Izuku couldn't help but laugh at that. A long time ago when Izuku had brought up the prospect of maybe doing flasher costumes to Katsuki he was shut down pretty hard. Katsuki had said it was better that they didn't stand out and their current outfits were practical for what they were doing. Izuku hadn't brought it up again cause he'd made a fair point.
As the two checked over their gear, things they used in the sports festival not during their vigilante work, Aizawa knocked and came in. He nodded his head approvingly. "Good you two are ready. Let's go." The three walked to the station in silence. To Izuku it was a bit tense as he was already on edge. Once they sat down on the train Aizawa broke the silence. "You worried about something problem child?" Aizawa asked, trying to sound uninterested.
Izuku blinked as he returned Aizawa's gaze. Problem child huh? Izuku supposed he deserved that one. "A-ah it's nothing. Just a couple of my other friends are doing something big during their internships. I'm just a bit worried is all."
Shouta hummed. That would likely be Bakugou and Todoroki then. He hadn't seen him hang out with anyone else around campus, besides the support course student but she would still be attending her normal classes. They were interning with Miriko and Hawks respectively if he recalled. "They'll be fine. Worry about yourself. We're going to be fighting real villains and I won't let you go out there unless you're on top of your game."
Izuku nodded his head quickly. "R-right! I'll focus. Don't worry about me." He assured.
The ride passed in relative peace and their patrol started off calm as well. Unfortunately it was not to stay that way. Around 15 minutes after they arrived in Hosu the city broke out into chaos. Creatures that Izuku recognized as nomu were destroying the city. Izuku heard Aizawa murmur a quiet "what the hell" before he was herding the two away from the fighting. He brought them into a relatively quiet part of the city. "Stay here. I'm going to go help. Under no circumstances are you to go out there, got it?" He glared at the two. Izuku took a deep breath and looked past Aizawa for a moment. "Problem child." Aizawa gripped his shoulder and looked him in the eye. "Promise you won't do something reckless."
Izuku looked back at him and quietly answered. "I won't." Aizawa held his gaze for a moment before breaking off and running to the fight.
Shinsou walked up next to him and watched Aizawa's retreating back. "So, what are we gonna do?"
Izuku frowned. He was conflicted to say the least. Then his phone pinged and his eyes widened at the message.
Kacchan
Kacchan: Four eyes is here and gonna do something stupid. Was with us before the chaos then ran off once it started.
Izuku glanced at the chaos unfolding around them. "We're gonna do something stupid." Izuku admitted while he stripped off the clothes over his vigilante costume.
Shinsou began following his lead. "Figured you were gonna say that. If Aizawa didn't know he sure will after this."
"It's worth it if we're saving someone." Izuku said, slipping his mask over his face and pulling his hood over his head.
"Who are we saving? You seem to have someone specific in mind." Shinsou asked as he did the same.
"One of Kacchan and Todoroki's classmates. Ingenium's brother. Kacchan said he'd been acting off recently and think he's going after the hero killer on his own. He ditched them after the fighting started." Izuku said, starting to climb up a fire escape. Shinsou quickly moved to follow him and gave a grunt as confirmation that he'd heard what Izuku said. Izuku theorized as they parkoured throughout the city. "I think we need to look away from all the chaos. I don't think the hero killer would want to go after someone in all that. Let's check some of the back alleys away from the main part of the city. I think that's where it's most likely to find him."
"Got it." Shinsou said, doing his best to keep up. As much as Izuku wanted to up his pace he slowed down so Shinsou could keep up; it wouldn't be good to get separated now. It took far longer than Izuku would have liked to find Stain. The duo arrived to see a pro hero slumped against the wall and Iida being held down by Stain. Neither of them stopped to think of a plan. They both jumped down into the alley, barely remembering to switch their voice changers on.
Izuku nearly managed to land a hit on Stain, but at the last minute he looked up and managed to roll out of the way. Izuku had managed to separate him and Iida so he couldn't be too upset about missing. Meanwhile Shinsou landed near the downed pro, who Izuku could now recognize as Native, and was checking his condition.
Stain narrowed his eyes. "Oh? Another fake come to try and stop me?"
Izuku shivered. In all honesty he was terrified. "I won't let you hurt them." He said with a confidence he didn't feel, slipping into the fighting stance he'd been working on with Eraserhead and readjusting his hold on his staff.
Stain brandished his sword threateningly. "I have no quarrel with you. If you get in the way you will be culled like those two." He said raising his sword to point in the direction of Iida and Native.
Izuku spun his staff and reached his other hand behind his back as subtly as he could. "I can't let you do that. What kind of hero would I be if I let you kill two innocents when I could do something about it." He slipped his phone back in his pocket. He knew there was potential help in the city, but the question was could they get here on time? He'd just have to stall for time.
Stain laughed. "Then I suppose we'll have to see who comes out on top then." With no further warning he rushed towards Izuku. Izuku barely managed to parry the sword that came at him in time. He instantly was put on the defensive; barely keeping up with Stain's movements. Some part of Izuku knew that the hero killer wasn't giving it his all and if he was Izuku was sure he'd be dead. He barely noticed when Shinsou came up to support him, taking some of the pressure off.
Through his hyper focus on the fight he managed to hear Iida speak up. "Why are you two doing this? This is my fight!"
Neither Izuku or Shinsou answered him; they didn't have time. Izuku hoped that help would arrive before it was too late. The only way they were getting out of this otherwise was if Shinsou used his quirk. If it was that or dying by the hands of the hero killer Izuku was pretty sure what the preferred option was. If they could avoid that and live though that would be the best outcome though.
The vigilantes were starting to get tired and Stain showed no signs of tiring himself. Then suddenly he stopped and looked at the two more closely. "I recognize you now. You're a couple of those small time vigilantes." he pointed to Izuku. "Those League of Villains wanted you dead Rabbit."
Izuku stiffened. They wanted him dead? Could it be because of what happened at the USJ? He didn't think that would make him that big of a target. Unfortunately their respite was short lived as he ran at them again. After a couple more minutes Stain managed to completely overpower them. Shinsou received a nasty cut to his torso and was tossed into the wall before being paralyzed. Izuku didn't fare much better. Stain slashed at his arm leaving what Izuku hoped was a shallow cut. He'd also managed to get Izuku on the face but he knew that cut was shallow. Stain threw Izuku into the opposite wall and threateningly pointed a sword at Izuku's neck while he clutched at his bleeding arm. "I can respect the work you do vigilante and because of that I'll give you the option to grab your partner and leave with your lives. If you choose to stay I will cut you down just like them. What will it be?"
Izuku sucked in a breath and looked defiantly at Stain. If he was going to die he was going to go down being a hero. "I won't run away and let you kill them. You'll have to go through me to get to them." Izuku said, ignoring the pain in his arm.
"Then so be it." With that Stain raised his sword and moved to strike him down. Izuku's eyes locked onto Iida's. He did his best to give him a reassuring look even though he couldn't see his mouth. The sounds of approaching explosions interrupted Stain's swing as he glared in the direction of the sound.
"You leave those dumbasses alone!" Katsuki said as he let off an explosion point blank at Stain causing him to retreat. "Nobody hurts these idiots except me!"
"Another one?" Stain said, regaining his balance.
"Bakugou!? What are you doing here!?" Iida asked frantically from his place on the floor.
"What's it matter to you Four Eyes? I'm just here to take this fucker down." Katsuki replied, a few explosions popping off in his palms.
"You shouldn't be risking your life for me! Get everyone else out of here. This is my fight! No one should lose their life for me!" Iida said, voice heavy with emotion.
"Who says I'm here for you huh? And these dumbasses engaged knowing full well the fucking danger it would put them in. Whatever happens to them is their own damn fault!" Katsuki yelled, glancing back at Iida.
"I recognize you as well." Stain said, interrupting their "conversation".
"Huuuuh? What the hell do you mean you recognize me? What the fuck do you want a medal?" Katsuki growled, turning his full attention back to Stain.
"You're the boy who claimed he would surpass All Might." Stain frowned. "From what I've seen you're nothing like him."
Katsuki's eye twitched. He almost rushed forward when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned back to see Izuku looking at him. "Don't. He's just trying to get you worked up." Katsuki snorted and turned back to Stain. Izuku was right,unfortunately. He forced himself to calm down.
"Icyhot is on his way too. Stay out of the way and make sure this bastard doesn't get any of the other idiots got it?" Katsuki said, quietly. Izuku only nodded and went to see if Shinsou was alright. "Your opponent will be me now. Keep up if you fucking can." With that he launched himself at Stain.
It seemed like Katsuki was dodging Stain far easier than Izuku or Shinsou had. He'd made sure to hone his quirk to help with mobility as well as attack power so it didn't surprise Izuku that he was keeping up well. Not to say he wasn't struggling. Stain was fast and if Izuku hadn't known that Stain's quirk had something to do with paralyzing someone he would have thought he had a speed related quirk. Wait, quirk. He forgot to warn Katsuki about Stain's quirk! "Ka- Ground Zero! Careful his quirk can paralyze you. I think it's when he consumes you blood. I don't know how long it lasts though!"
Katsuki didn't respond but Izuku knew he'd heard. Izuku turned back to Shinsou who looked like he was doing his best to stay conscious. Izuku lightly slapped Shinsou's face with his uninjured arm and Shinsou's eyes cleared a little. "Hey stay with me ok? You can't fall asleep until we get some help." Izuku pulled down his mask briefly to shoot him a reassuring smile. "We'll pull through. Kacchan is holding Stain off and Todoroki is on his way." Shinsou nodded slowly.
Izuku turned his attention to Iida. He pulled him over to the same wall that Shinsou and Native were propped up against. "There, we're a bit more out of the line of fire now." Izuku glanced back at the fight. Katsuki dove out of the way as a sword rushed through the air he was previously occupying. Izuku knew he wouldn't last too long.
"Why are you all doing this?" Iida asked weakly, unshed tears in his eyes. "You're all risking your lives for me. You two don't even know me."
"If we only helped those in need that we knew what kind of heroes would we be? Not knowing you isn't gonna stop me from helping you when you need it." Izuku stood up and faced the fight. Izuku winced when he saw the blood dripping from Katsuki's leg. He'd gotten hit but wasn't frozen yet. "Heroes help when someone needs it no matter the odds. I could never forgive myself if I'd turned and fled when I saw him about to kill you." Izuku gripped his injured arm. Thankfully it had stopped bleeding so that likely meant the cut wasn't too deep. "Now I'm gonna go help Ka- Ground Zero out. You say this is your fight, so get up and protect the people that you don't want to die for you."
With that he ran off and engaged Stain once more. He got a quick glare from Katsuki but no words were exchanged. Tenya stared in shock. They were willing to risk everything for him. He grit his teeth and looked down. They were going to die and it was all because he was blinded by revenge. "Hey." He heard a tired voice next to him. The other vigilante looked at him and attempted to focus on his face. "Go help them. Be a hero." he said. It was clearly hard for him to speak.
Tenya felt determination rush through him. He pushed past the effects of the quirk and slowly pushed himself up. "I'll make sure they both make it out alive." He gritted out before rushing in for a kick at Stain.
The attack landed and Stain was knocked away from Katsuki and Izuku. "Bout time you fucking helped Four Eyes!"
Iida bowed deeply. "I'm sorry my actions put us all in this situation. Let me try and make it up to you by helping take him down."
Izuku eyed Stain as he got up. "Sure, let's do it."
The three engaged Stain once more. All of them were hurt at this point and Stain seemed more keen on taking them down now. Izuku hadn't thought it possible but he was moving even faster now. They had all acquired several more scratches and cuts. Izuku then made what he thought would be a deadly mistake; he tripped. Stain was on him before either Katsuki or Iida could react. Izuku watched everything in what felt like slow motion. He had moments to accept that this was it. Then he felt something tug at his hoodie and move him out of the way just in time. He stared wide eyed as the sword struck the ground where he'd just been.
"Whew, glad we got here in time. Glad that your tip there was good Shoto." Hawks said as he casually walked in front of Izuku.
"I'm just glad we got here in time." Todoroki said, as he took in the alley.
"Now then Hero Killer. Let's see what you can do." Hawks said, smiling.