Chapter 5!
Two chapters and this one takes care of my fighting fix! Reminder that chapters 4 and 5 are new so make sure to not miss the previous chapter. I explained in the prior chapter notes that I'm actively working on other updates, most notably The First Steps Upwards, and while I'm doing my best they make take a bit of time as they seem to be quite hefty.
To everyone who faved, followed, or reviewed thank you so much!
Enjoy, more notes at the end!
Chapter 5: Twin Fangs
*Itsuka POV*
Midoriya hadn't shown her face since the end of the Sport's Festival.
Itsuka still remembered how uncomfortable the ending had been thanks to everyone in the stadium having some kind of opinion about a quirkless girl winning the festival convincingly. Unfortunately it didn't end there and plenty of people, even heroes, had been making dissenting comments about either Midoriya or U.A as a whole using the greenette's win as some kind of opener for the thoughts that they were usually too cowardly to say publicly. Itsuka had been unable to find the greenette afterwards and her messages weren't being answered either so she just had to wait to be contacted instead. They had two days off after the event, Vlad-sensei informing the class that the greenette would be joining 1-B after the break, and luckily on the first day Itsuka heard back from Midoriya.
The greenette had simply texted Itsuka the address to her apartment and that she'd leave the door unlocked. The orange haired girl was a bit concerned due to the strange message but she'd made the short trip over. Since the green haired girl had let her know that the door was open, Itsuka simply entered quietly and called out for the girl but received no response. The silence had put her on edge but Itsuka made her way in and found who she was looking for.
Midoriya was laying across the short side of her bed, her legs kicked over the edge and heels resting on the floor, while the back of her right hand was placed on the top of her forehead and her left was hovering her phone above her chest. The light of the device's screen showed that blood was slightly smeared from under her nose and mouth but still trickling along her chin, neck, and lower right cheek. A touch below her right eye was a forming bruise and the greenette had a halfhearted attempt of bandaging on her left cheek like she had given up part way through. Her eyes looked dead and the emotionless line of her lips made Itsuka feel like she was looking at a completely different person.
She had never expected to see that kind of expression on Midoriya's face.
Even the greenette's hair, which she usually kept up in some kind of ponytail, was down and spread about messily while she stared bored at her phone like she was in a trance. Itsuka had been stunned for a moment but she drew closer to Midoriya, who still hadn't noticed her, and stood off to the greenette's side before she grabbed her attention.
"What the hell happened?" Itsuka worried as she took a seat on the edge of the bed, already taking out some tissues and wiping at the ignored blood that was still somewhat fresh.
Midoriya's apathetic gaze shifted from her phone to Itsuka and her eyes regained life, "Three stray cats wanted ta scrap with me," the greenette explained, her attitude returning soon after, but Itsuka glared at her. "Don't worry, they don't look nearly as pretty as I do," the injured girl laughed and tossed her phone off to the side, "also ya mind snappin' it back?" she requested with a point to her nose.
"I can punch it back into place," Itsuka offered in annoyance at how lightly Midoriya was taking the situation, "I'm sure you know how to do it."
"I wanted someone ta bitch at about tha pain afterwards," she told her honestly with a chuckle of amusement.
Though Itsuka knew that Midoriya was genuinely back to her default mood, at least for right now, she figured that whatever made the greenette make that kind of face was going to resurface later.
"Why didn't you just run?!" the orange haired girl admonished, "Other than possibly getting hurt worse than this you're also a U.A student! I doubt you want to get kicked out!" she reminded Midoriya who looked away dismissively.
"Well they thought it'd be smart ta fling their quirks around," she admitted but Itsuka wasn't having half explanations.
"Answer me," she pressed, trying to dig deeper, "why not escape and try to get help?"
"An what," Midoriya glared back, "let em hit everyone on tha street like a jackass?" she questioned and a bit of sarcasm tinged her voice as she was about to continue, "some plan ya-AH FUCKIN' SHIT!" Midoriya shouted out as Itsuka snapped her nose back into place to shut her up.
"The fact that you had good answers was starting to get annoying," the orange haired girl huffed from beside the squirming greenette.
"I can fuckin' tell," Midoriya whined, her eyes watery as she held a hand to her nose.
"So what's been keeping you away?" Itsuka questioned, not wanting to give the greenette room to organize excuses, "I heard you'll be in my class too."
"I think ya can look at me an tell I've been busy," the greenette replied, pointing at her recently acquired injuries, "told ya I'd make it ta tha hero course."
"Sure did," Itsuka remembered, "though we go to the same school and live in the same area but somehow I never see you on the way there."
"I'd take an early train, or I used ta," Midoriya revealed, "now I just go by myself."
"I'll go with you," Itsuka offered but Midoriya just looked at her ceiling with a puff of air.
"Hell if I'm gonna take tha train or go ta school with ya," she refused adamantly.
"What's the problem?" the orange haired girl wanted to know and the greenette closed her eyes.
"I'm not exactly comfortable takin' public transport these days," Midoriya told her and Itsuka at least withdrew from that front.
"Then how do you get to school? I'll tag along," she tried again but the greenette shook her head.
"I own a scooter," Midoriya explained, "licensed an everythin' but I'm not takin' ya with."
"Why not?" Itsuka demanded a little and Midoriya opened her eyes just barely and slid her vision onto Itsuka.
"Last thing I'm puttin' ya through is dumb people doing dumb bullshit," Midoriya told her, her gaze shutting down any further arguing so Itsuka was forced to back off this time.
The two talked sparsely for a while longer until Itsuka needed to leave and Midoriya just shooed her off which she rolled her eyes at. The orange haired girl had nearly closed the door behind her but she froze up for a moment when she managed to catch the greenette's voice one last time.
"Stupid bastards..." Midoriya mumbled bitterly beneath her breath.
Itsuka doubted that she was supposed to hear that.
-break-
She wished that she had stayed home or at her aunt's gym during the second day that they had off but instead Itsuka was stuck on a packed train with people she'd sooner kill than be near.
It couldn't be helped since the Sport's Festival had been so recent but having to closely listen to all these people stupidly work their mouths about things they knew nothing about bothered Itsuka far more than she thought they would.
"Good for her, I'm sooo envious."
"Talk about going for pity points."
"Like quirkless people can be heroes."
"Right, U.A must think it's so great for being progressive."
Midoriya's win and the knowledge that she'd be moved into the heroics course, a quirkless girl, had spread like a wildfire and everyone wanted to be a part of the conversation. Itsuka's body was tense and she silently kept to herself to try and contain a small but building anger that was settling in her stomach. With each comment the orange haired girl felt more and more of her self control slipping and bursts of laughter had never made her this angry in her life. No, she had felt something like this before.
A heavy, suffocating, feeling crushed Itsuka's being all at once.
Their mocking words, jeering laughs, and cowardly barbs were surrounding her. No matter how much Itsuka tried to ignore them or tune them out they remained like a constant annoying buzz in the back of her consciousness. The words weren't even directed at or about her but she found them inescapable.
"Do you like girls or something?"
Itsuka had snapped to attention at that, her body naturally shuddering at the words, as she tried to find the source of the question. No, it had been in her own head. A bad memory of a careless comment that she'd rather forget. She was no longer surrounded by humans on this train. They were just faceless shadows of ignorant, unreasonable, hate. None of these people knew the greenette.
Didn't listen to her yell like an idiot over small stuff.
Poke fun with a big smile on her face.
Laugh like nothing could be wrong in the world.
How did Midoriya stand this?
Itsuka was so frustrated that she was going to cry.
-break-
*Izumi POV*
Kendo had appeared at her door out of nowhere on the afternoon of their second day off and dragged Izumi off to her aunt's place.
She's was being a bit forceful, not that Izumi cared, but the greenette did notice that the other girl also appeared to be pretty upset. Izumi wasn't even given time to warm-up before the two were gloved and in the practice ring and she was wondering what the orange haired girl was up to. Just from looking at Kendo's back she could tell that the other girl was tense and even more so she wasn't wearing headgear like normal. Maybe Kendo was having trouble dodging or maybe she had a death wish but Izumi could tell that this spar might be a bit different than the others they'd had.
The green haired girl rolled her shoulder and gave her arm a spin, "Ya really sure bout this?" Izumi wondered, "Yer actin' kinda weird." She didn't receive an answer and after peering over, the Osaka born girl noticed something, "Look, ya don't even have tha timer set up so-"
The greenette had begun turning back into her own corner until she heard fast footsteps and saw that Kendo was rushing her from across the ring. In her surprise, Izumi was caught off guard and nailed directly in the face twice. The greenette's body responded and she threw a right straight but the orange haired girl avoided it like she was expecting it and threw her left over the top of the punch, burying her fist into Izumi's cheek before following up with a right that drilled into Izumi's chin from below. The greenette's head was popped up from the punch and her back rammed against her corner but Izumi launched off it and put a left handed smash into her opponent, the orange haired girl managing to guard but being flung back to center ring.
Opening one-two then a cross counter left followed by an upper and they were all thrown as hard as they could be. The greenette wiped the back of her glove along her nose and mouth and then gave it a look before refocusing her eyes on the girl across from her.
Izumi was seeing red.
-break-
*Itsuka POV*
Itsuka had thrown those with everything that she'd had.
She was going to make her snap and then from there Itsuka would need to survive. She had already bloodied Midoriya up so that was probably enough to get the greenette furious and raring for payback so it was on to the next step. If this was all Itsuka could do for her then so be it and if it could even count then she would protect Midoriya in any way that helped.
Itsuka had made herself a live sacrifice.
The beast across from her had looked at the blood on her glove and then at Itsuka and the orange haired girl cringed at the look on Midoriya's face. The greenette was so enraged that she was madly smiling in some kind of twisted delight while her eyes were wide and her body was shaking. Looks wouldn't have to kill because Midoriya was going to use her fists to do it herself. There was no backing down.
"This...FUCKER!" the greenette roared furiously, Itsuka almost losing her nerve just from the anger in her voice, but the orange haired girl resolved herself again.
Midoriya charged at her immediately, the speed at which she did panicking Itsuka, and closed the distance between the two of them so that they were now within hitting range. The greenette, who was too angry to think, started off with her best and rammed a smash into Itsuka's blocking arms. She had used a strong cross armed block but Itsuka felt like both her arms were going to be shattered just from the one hit but she planted her back foot to hold her ground. Punches rained down on her block, each one igniting her arms with pain, and the orange haired girl knew that she needed to find Midoriya's timing so she could avoid the hits. As painful as the barrage was, it was also consistent and she could use that.
Now!
Itsuka shifted out of her guard and went to avoid to the outside of the incoming right straight but the punch never came and her escape route only held a long right hook. The unexpected punch flung Itsuka's head the other direction, the girl feeling like her wits had been ripped straight out of her, and Midoriya's lowered left came soon after. The dazed orange haired girl managed to use her redirected momentum to duck under and to the outside of the punch and she used her own right to slam into the greenette's exposed jaw, getting some distance between them once more. That had been another attempt by Midoriya to hit her with a smash and it was the one punch that Itsuka refused to take if she could help it.
Sure all of the greenette's hits were incredible but Midoriya's absolute strongest punch was off her left hand. It was surprisingly fast too but as long as Itsuka remained cautious and conscious of it then it was avoidable due to its telegraphed motion. That being said, Itsuka couldn't take more punches like the right that Midoriya had caught her with moments ago. Itsuka not only hadn't predicted it but there was so much power behind the punch that it was like Midoriya expected it to hit.
No, Midoriya knew for sure it was going to hit.
Truthfully, Itsuka still didn't have her head on right after that punch and she almost found Midoriya's instincts and adaptability to be equal to having a quirk. Top that off with those fucked up knuckles of hers then as long as she got or made a chance to hit you then she'd end it in the blink of an eye. Midoriya had the ability to destroy someone mentally and physically, a single punch breaking both will and body, and the fear she could instill a person with through her fighting was unique in its own right.
Another smash nearly froze her spine as Itsuka took the inside and put another full power right straight into Midoriya's face but a right hook less than a second after the orange haired girl's punch had landed would have taken her head off if she hadn't gotten her left in front of it. Damn it, Itsuka wasn't in here to win but hadn't Midoriya been hurt at all from the orange haired girl's punches? The force of the blow knocked her from the ring's center, back towards her corner, and Itsuka tried to throw a panic left at the chasing Midoriya but the wild girl slipped her head and dodged by a hair. Her green eyes hadn't even registered Itsuka's jab, her body simply moving in response, and Midoriya clenched her left while she drove in.
The unrelenting greenette's own jab blew through Itsuka's deteriorated guard, dazing the orange haired girl as it knocked her head back and upwards, and it was never going to stop amazing her how much power Midoriya had. Itsuka slammed against the corner post, her waist lowering, and her battered arms faltered as she began drooping forward. She was seriously at her limit but Itsuka managed to still put up a desperate block since the green haired girl was already on her. Midoriya's right hand came in from below, destroying her weak guard, and the exhausted orange haired girl's arms were flung above her head. She couldn't defend or punch from this position but Itsuka noted that Midoriya looked strange. The greenette's left hand was farther away now while her right was closer. Midoriya was already prepared to fire another right punch and strangely her form matched how she threw her smash. Left back, right forward? Itsuka had been wrong, Midoriya's best punch didn't come from her left hand.
It was whatever the hell she wanted it to be.
The cannon that was Midoriya's punch was aimed straight for her head and Itsuka began to grit her teeth, the mouth guard being clenched tight, until she caught a glimpse of Midoriya's eyes. Those green eyes were violent, starving, and most of all they were blind to who was in front of them. Right now, Itsuka was just some opponent that Midoriya was going to rip apart with her fists and there wasn't a shred of mercy in this approaching punch. Itsuka had only considered and resigned for a split second to take the hit but that punch...
Death.
Itsuka's knees gave out and she practically crumpled onto her rear as the punch ripped through the air. Her breaths came out ragged and her arms were dropped in front of her from exhaustion and fear, her limbs refusing to answer her. Itsuka felt as if every last ounce of strength left in her was just drained away as her unfocused eyes stared blankly at the canvas before her. Her head wouldn't move at all, was she too hurt or too scared to even dare to see what kind of look Midoriya was making? Was the greenette angry? Disappointed? If she was then she couldn't blame her, Itsuka's spirit had broken there and Midoriya probably hated that. It was a joke thinking she could help the volatile greenette this way.
"Fuck is wrong with ya?" the greenette called loudly, crouching down to Itsuka's level and the orange haired girl figured that she was pissed until she felt her hair being untied and two arms being wrapped gently around her head. "Puttin' up with someone like me an doin' somethin' crazy..." the green haired girl mumbled to herself and her fingers played with Itsuka's orange locks.
She didn't know what to say, her words wouldn't work anyway, but Midoriya pressed Itsuka's face into the crook of her neck, obscuring her vision but keeping her mouth unblocked so the orange haired girl could continue breathing. The labored intake of air was all that could be heard aside from Itsuka's hammering heart and the orange haired girl simply let herself be held.
How could the same person who terrified her like this be capable of being tender?
Wild animals could survive by themselves.
But...
Itsuka dared to want to protect her.
-break-
"Ya calmed down?" Midoriya asked, handing a bottle of water over to her as she crouched in front of Itsuka.
"Yeah," the orange haired girl nodded, still exhausted and bruised, "sorry," she offered pitifully and Midoriya scoffed.
"Tha hell are ya sorry fer?" the greenette wondered as if the apology was unnecessary.
"I just.." Itsuka began and Midoriya poked her in the center of her forehead.
"Look," Midoriya interrupted, "I get what ya were tryin' ta do," she admitted to Itsuka's surprise, "Didn't have to put 6 in my face but I 'ppreciate it alright?" she mused with a quick and sharp laugh though Itsuka wasn't convinced.
"but.." the orange haired girl attempted again and Midoriya stopped her for a second time.
"Do ya even know what a hero is?" Midoriya prodded in irritation and Itsuka flared a little in response.
"Of course I know!" she fumed back while Midoriya sat on the ground before her.
"Then explain it ta me," she ordered, waiting for an answer.
"It's..." the tired girl started but suddenly found herself at a loss.
"Anyone can be a hero," Midoriya declared, absolutely certain of her words, "my top two heroes aren't even pro heroes."
"What? Then who are they?" Itsuka inquired and Midoriya gave a bright and genuine smile.
"My Ma an myself," she answered energetically.
"A little self-centered to add yourself," Itsuka joked but the greenette wasn't bothered.
"I'm proud ta say I'm my own hero," she stated both truthfully and firmly, "an Ma sacrificed so much fer me but I don't think sacrifice is exactly what makes a hero," she added on.
Itsuka waited patiently for Midoriya to continue and the green haired girl hugged her knees with a soft smile.
"It's the feelings they give ya," Midoriya confirmed, "I look up ta them, they helped me when I was stuck, made me smile when I was unsure if I could. I think that counts plenty an anyone can do that."
Itsuka was so drawn in that she couldn't utter a word but Midoriya kept going.
"All Might, tha number one hero, saved a hundred people right?" Midoriya asked rhetorically, "Ma looked at me, quirkless an cryin' my eyes out, an said help one," the greenette recounted with another small quirk of her lips, "So I did and before I knew it I'd helped five, then ten, and then so many that my dumb ass lost count,"
"So eleven?" Itsuka interjected and Midoriya chuckled.
"Ass," she laughed, "but ya get what I'm sayin' right?"
"That you're a hero?" Itsuka teased and Midoriya gave her a halfhearted glare.
"We're ya even listenin' ta me?" she questioned with a shake of her head, "I'm sayin'," Midoriya resumed, "Thanks fer wantin' ta be another one of my heroes."
Maybe Itsuka had been underestimating Midoriya just a bit without noticing.
"Let's stop by Recovery Girl's tomorrow," Midoriya suggested, "She's gonna yell at me but it's better ta get ya fixed up."
Itsuka nodded her head in agreement and while the greenette was thinking about things, Itsuka was in her own thoughts. The conversation had been somewhat relieving but truthfully she didn't want to hear those words. It wasn't enough for her to just try or to want.
Itsuka needed to be able to make Midoriya feel safe.
Notes and Stuff
If you need a quick image on what it's like when Izumi punches then feel free to check out the first half of Hajime no Ippo Chapter 1092 titled God Serena.
I'm really putting Itsuka through the paces here but I know that things will be getting better for her soon enough in upcoming chapters, or at least up and down but mostly up. I also like letting Izumi lose her shit more in this fic cause it's fun to write plus this Izumi vents better with fighting than anything else.
Not much else to say that I haven't covered already other than I'm trying to get a mass update coming along but we'll see how it goes cause that might be a bit hard on me. Thanks for being patient and supporting me!
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed and look forward to more updates from me!