Chapter 12: What Defines Me
Izuku stormed into his room and let the door slam as he fell onto his bed. While he was angry that William acted the way he did, he was even more angry with the way his mother reacted. She acted like he was possessed!
Tears started to pool in his eyes as he started to sob. Her rejection hurt.
"Brat," Will said as he ran his fingers through his hair; voice soft with empathy and guilt.
Did he cause this?
Izuku jerked in surprise as he took in his current surrounding. He was no longer in his room. He was on a green and purple plaid couch laying in William's lap. Spring was in a yellow lounger across from them—protective anger burning in his eyes. One of them—likely William—must have pulled him into the mindscape while he was unaware.
"Are you alright, brat," William asked, fingers once again combing through his now shoulder length hair.
"Kinda," he said as he relaxed from the contact. "I just...I can't believe she reacted like that! Yes, you could've been nicer..."
Here he gave William a look and William gently pulled a curl as his face softened as an 'I'm sorry'.
Izuku smiled to show he forgave him and continued, "But, she was cold before you went off on her too! She didn't even try to understand! Why?!"
William shut his eyes in shared pain. He didn't know what to say. He's never had a relationship with his parents. His dad was extremely abusive, and his mother was addicted to pills and neglective. So, instead of saying anything, he pulled the broken teen into a hug.
When Izuku finally calmed down, William tilted his chin up so he could look him straight in the eyes.
"Brat," he said seriously. "We both know I'm not good with emotions."
Izuku snorted in amusement, and William flicked his nose.
"I've never had good parents," William said. "I don't even remember having a role model... I can't tell you why she's acting like this. But, unlike my parents, she does love you. I may not like her and the way she treats you, but I can tell that she cares about you."
Izuku studied him for a moment, and then smiled. William wouldn't lie to him about this.
"So, we just have to show her how great you are," Izuku aid with a bright, hopeful smile. "Both of you!"
"What," William asked taken aback.
"I agree," Springtrap said gobsmacked. "What the hell?!"
"Come on," Izuku said with a pout. "If she get to know you both, she'll have to like you!"
"You don't even know me," Springtrap exclaimed.
"You're apart of William," Izuku said with a shrug of dismissal.
William chuckled in amusement as Spring started to splutter in confusion.
"While I don't think that's how this works," William said and Izuku gave him a pitiful look at this. "For you, brat, I'll try."
"Thank you," Izuku yelled in happiness as he gave the older man a hug.
"Hmph, get to know me first before you subject your mother to me," Spring said with a dry look.
Izuku nodded with a smile. They both agreed!
The next few days were awkward to say the least. While Izuku wanted to make up with his mom and have her get to know William, and eventually Spring, he was still hurt and angry. And, it didn't help that she's been walking eggshells around him and watching for any sudden changes in his demeanor.
So, when he hasn't been training with Allmight and doing more training with William, he's been focusing on getting to know Springtrap.
Spring was very different than William. He was much colder and easier to anger. He was also much more reclusive, spending several hours a day alone. He hated to be touched and will go out of his way to avoid it.
However, they did have some similarities. For example, Spring also spoke through his actions; though he was more open with his thoughts. Spring had a dry wit—like Will—however, it was more sardonic and morbid; and he also appreciated his dramatics.
Springtrap was harsher during training. Izuku has never been more thankful that wounds he got in the mindscape didn't transfer out of it. He really didn't want to explain to his mom why he was a bloody mess. However, the more he trained with Spring, the more respect he saw the man give him.
"So, twerp," Springtrap said. "What did you want to talk to us about?"
"It's about something Eraserhead said in the hospital," Izuku said. "I meant to tell you when we got home, but, well..."
William nodded in understanding, and Spring gave a protective growl. He seemed to like his more less than William did.
"So, what's up brat," William asked as he sat in front of the teen.
"Eraserhead said, when he found me, my eyes were completely black with a glowing white pupil," the teen said giving them both a look. "He thought it was a quirk, but it sounded more like-"
"An animatronic," both of the men said in surprise.
"How," Springtrap growled. "You haven't died! You've never even been near a completed animatronic!"
William, however, was quiet. He had his had on his chin, while the other grabbed his elbow. His foot was tapping out a familiar pattern as possibilities ran through his mind.
"It could be because of us," he mused.
"What," Spring growled in warning. "Are you saying we're killing him?!"
Spring's eyes glowed white as he glared at William at this 'accusation'.
"No, you dumb bunny," William said in a dry, annoyed, tone. "Remember what I said about the merging, brat?"
Izuku's eyes widened.
"You said we could become actual alters, gain psychical characteristics of each other, or you could become my quirk," Izuku said. "So...are you saying that this is how we're merging?"
"It's a likely possibility," William said. "And, with Spring now here, as well as your mind going through being springlocked, you might actually have become an animatronic."
"But, that's not possible," Springtrap yelled. "He's not dead!"
"But, he might have a quirk," William said with an manic grin. "Humanity has evolved... Maybe his mind thought he died, and his untapped genetics took our soul's memories of being dead and gave him a new form?"
"That makes no sense," Springtrap growled as he angrily paced the floor.
William snorted and said, "Does anything we went through make sense?"
Spring stopped pacing to give William a heated glare.
"So," Izuku asked, defusing the tense, as he looked at William in hope. "You think I have a quirk?"
"It's either that or you died without one of us noticing," William said with a shrug.
Izuku's eye shined in happiness. He had a quirk!
Then, reality set in as he bit his lip. How was he going to explain this?
"Brat," William asked.
"How will I explain this," he asked. "It won't be like either of my parents' quirks and to gain it so suddenly..."
"Well, you did almost die," Spring said sarcastically. "Blame that! Or you can say it was the mental strain from this recent attack!"
Both William and Izuku looked at him in shock.
"What," Spring growled in annoyance. "I'm smart too!"
William just smirked and turned to Izuku.
"Hey," Spring growled, but he was ignored.
"So, now we just need to see if you can change forms," William said, eyes glowing in anticipation.
0000000
The next day saw Izuku out on the beach before the sun came up. They wanted time to find their new form before Allmight arrived. All three of them were excited and curious to see Izuku's form. Would he look like Springtrap, or would it be different?
"Okay, brat," William said. "Are you ready?"
Izuku took a couple shaky breathes and said, "Yeah."
Izuku was a bundle of nerves. He almost felt like the anxious mess of a teen that he was before William came into his life. Yet, at the same time he was extremely excited. For years he's wanted a quirk. Prayed for one. Before William, he thought it would make him normal.
And, even though William showed him that he didn't need a quirk to be normal, he still wanted one. If only to be able to help save people better. To study and better himself. Or...maybe it's just that he's wanted one for so long, he'd forgotten how to not want one?
As he stood there, he thought about William's praise, Spring's respect, and he hesitated. Will having a quirk make him lose who he was? He's made so much progress without one... He's been quirkless his entire life...
"I guess I did let being quirkless define me," Izuku thought sadly.
"Brat," William asked in concern.
"You alright, twerp," Springtrap growled softly.
"Will this change me," Izuku whispered.
"Change you," Spring asked confused. "Change you how?"
William, however, understood, and he sent his empathy as comfort to the teen.
"No," he said. "You'll always be you. We'll always be us. This power will just be a tool for us to use. A new skill. Just like your knives or learning a new language. It won't define you unless you let it."
Tension bled from his shoulders as he calmed down. William was right. Once again, he was worried for nothing.
"Thanks, Will," he said.
"No problem, brat," William said, tone warm.
Izuku took a deep breath. This time, he was ready.
"What do I do," Izuku asked.
In the mindscape, William looked at Springtrap for direction. He never had multiple forms or a quirk. He could make an educated guess, but he wanted the opinion of someone who had actual experience.
"Well, try thinking about changing forms," Springtrap said. "That's how I do it. It might help if you get angry?"
Spring gave William a helpless glance. He wasn't sure how to help either.
"I have no idea how this works," the bunny admitted with a shrug. "I just know how it works in the mindscape..."
William cursed then sighed before he said, "It's worth a shot, brat."
Izuku nodded and cleared his mind. He imagine changing into an animatronic. Then he opened his eyes and looked at his hands...nothing.
William thought for a moment, then opened his eyes.
"Remember, brat," he said. "You have to want it."
Izuku nodded and tried again. Once again he cleared his mind. This time, he acted like he was in his mindscape and willed the change to happen. He felt something happen this time. He looked down at his hands, but nothing changed.
"The hell," he whispered confused.
"What's wrong, brat," William asked in concern.
"I felt something different that time," Izuku explained. "But, nothing's changed."
"You must be on the right track then," William said. "Try again, and focus on that feeling."
Izuku blew out a breath and focused on the feeling. He cleared his mind except for that feeling. Then, he thought about changing forms.
This time, he could really feel the change. It felt like a charge flowing through his whole body. It didn't hurt, but he could diffidently feel as his body changed shapes.
This time, when he looked down, his hand was metal plated. Izuku grinned at his success. He couldn't wait to see his full form!
"Young Midoriya," a familiar voice asked weakly.
Izuku's high crashed down in flames.
Allmight.
