Katsuki Bakugo was many things. A fighter, for sure. Izuku had brawled with him enough to know he was a force to be reckoned with. Arrogant, maybe. Honest, no matter how much you really just preferred he lied. Explosive, for definite.

But most importantly, an idiot was not one of them.

Izuku was wary of him the most. More than anyone, Izuku was aware of him the most. Bakugo had known him since he was a child. Heck, since he was born. Their parents were friends so it was a given. They had grown up together, attended the same schools together, fought against each other, and just overall been nearby almost all the time. For the longest time, they had aimed for the same thing. To be a hero.

That is, until Izuku began to stray from that dream. Until he warped and morphed his dream into something else and strayed from Bakugo's path. He thought that Bakugo wouldn't notice. After all, he had always been ready to get rid of him. To get away from him. But as days passed and Izuku changed more, shown by the slight differences, Bakugo, of all people, noticed. Noticed the way he walked, the nervousness that wasn't quite jittering anymore but rather almost practised alertness, the raised confidence. The strength behind his punches, the calmness, the barely concealed techniques in his movements whenever they fought.

That was the thing about Katsuki Bakugo. You thought that if he didn't care, he wouldn't notice the changes. If you thought that, you'd be very wrong and in some grave shit. Like Izuku is, right now. Well, perhaps he's overthinking it. But Bakugo has a knowing look when he looks at him, whenever the topics of heroes come up, he doesn't get mad. Whenever the topic of vigilantes comes up, y'know, like One for All, Bakugo looks directly at Izuku with a piercing 'I know what you fucking did' look in his eyes.

See, Izuku didn't realise he was exposing himself to Bakugo as the days went by. If anything, he thought that Bakugo would be the very last person to notice, given his disregard of the teen. The whole constant 'wanting nothing to do with you' actions. The hatred to even be near him. Bakugo should have been the last to know, yet somehow, he seemed like the first.

Honestly though, Izuku wasn't entirely sure that Bakugo did know. He hadn't said anything that indicated he did, hadn't spoken to him or even mentioned One for All in any conversation (that Izuku could hear, anyway). It was just the looks. Bakugo had a few different 'looks' which ranged from 'annoyed neutral' to 'I'M GOING TO FUCKING MURDER YOU SLOWLY AND PAINFULLY' and the looks that Bakugo was giving him now wasn't even similar to anything Bakugo usually had. He just looked knowing. Still annoyed sometimes but honestly, that was just his default so Izuku wasn't sure if it was really related. He looks annoyed when calm. Hell, he looked annoyed when he was happy - which... was rare. Izuku couldn't actually remember the last time he had seen Kacchan happy.

Don't get distracted, Izuku.

Right. Izuku was doing his best to ignore Bakugo right now. The class had managed to get to the conversation of heroes again. They were talking about Mount Lady's debut and recent activity. Then someone had shouted "but she can't beat One for All!" and while Izuku was more than happy to have one of his classmates actually like him (even if they didn't know it was him), he had drawn a bit more attention than he would have liked. As in, the class was now talking about One for All and their opinion on him, which Izuku was trying really hard to focus on while Bakugo had turned his head to look at him. The second the name came up, Bakugo had looked straight at him. Izuku didn't know what to make of this look. He was just staring, very clearly, at him as if expectantly waiting for Izuku to suddenly confess he was One for All. Or perhaps he was waiting for a reaction for him to confirm his theory.

Well, Izuku wasn't going to give him one. Instead, he focused on what his class was saying. From what he could hear, he had most of their support. Others had a conflict of interest, while others were just unsure of where they stood with him. It was interesting to hear. People said different things when they were and weren't in the presence of the person they were speaking about.

"I think," Bakugo suddenly cut in, drawing attention to himself easily. Most of the class silenced when he spoke. Talk about authority. "that One for All is either Quirkless or a liar who hasn't told anyone about his hidden Quirk," Bakugo's words are sharp and his eyes don't leave Izuku and dammit. He knows! He has to! Why else would he say that? He's making Izuku more anxious than he would like to be. Purposely ignoring Bakugo won't go well for him, so he turns to meet Bakugo's stare head on. Bakugo stares back at him steadily.

Fucking Kacchan.

A classmate erupts, yelling at Bakugo. "He's not a liar! He's like, the most honest person ever! You literally see his every move, man! You just have to actually watch!" The boy defends, moving his hands rigorously. Bakugo finally breaks their staring contest to turn his gaze to their classmate who spoke.

"Then why won't he tell us what his Quirk is?" Bakugo asks steadily and Izuku knows that this is serious because Bakugo is only calm when he's really and truly serious. Which he shouldn't be unless he knows something, dammit!

Fucking Kacchan!

"Because it's like- like- like his secret weapon or something! Or maybe he already uses it, we don't know!" Is the fired response and Izuku appreciates him a lot more. Hopefully he can avoid a confrontation with Bakugo thanks to him.

"Or maybe he just doesn't have a Quirk," Bakugo implies and then turns back to Izuku who freezes, putting up his best neutral mask. "Why don't we ask the nerd? I mean, you're Quirkless, so you would know, right?" and then the class turns to him and Izuku feels his gut twist. His mood sours more than it already has and he feels like someone has just stabbed a knife into his back with all the pressure he suddenly feels. Stop looking at him. He hates it. Stop it. Stop looking. Stop judging. Stop thinking. He doesn't want to hear it. Stop. Stop it.

Get your shit together and get Kacchan off your trail.

Izuku sucks in a breath and once again meets Bakugo's gaze head on, but it's nowhere near as steady as he would have liked. His personality changes are normal. He is normal. Any changes that Bakugo might have noticed are normal because Izuku has grown as a person. Not because he is One for All but because he's a growing teenager, which means hes changing as a person. "I don't know. He could be Quirkless, since I think it's possible. But there's no way to know for sure unless One for All says." His voice is calm but that's a slight edge to it he doesn't want there but can't control. Dammit.

A sharp grin grows on Bakugo's face and Izuku feels like he's just walked right into a trap. So help him, if he just gave Bakugo what he wants... No, no. He's overthinking. He's just nervous, he's just bleeding, he's just hurting from all the stares directed at him. He knows his opinion doesn't actually matter, it never has, yet he gave it anyway. He feels like the air in the classroom is thin and barely breathable. He's suffocating.

Stop looking at me.

"And when is that? Think he'll ever tell the truth?" Bakugo asks, the grin making him look shark-like. Like a damn predator. Fucking Kacchan.

"I don't know, that's his choice," Izuku replies heatedly, unable to keep the glint of anger out of his eyes. Bakugo is pushing him and Izuku can't think straight because everyone is still looking at him and he can't breathe. Stop looking at him!

A classmate speaks up before Bakugo can say anything else. "I thought you said Quirkless people can't become heroes?" and once again, before Bakugo has a chance to even open his mouth, someone else explodes and the conversation moves onto the topic of whether One for All has a quirk or if he's a hero or something else entirely. Bakugo doesn't look bothered and instead continues staring at Izuku, now with a smirk. Great. Izuku feels like he can breathe now that the class isn't focusing on him anymore but now he's panicking for a different reason. Bakugo is looking at him victoriously, still with that knowing glint in his eyes.

Fucking Kacchan.

When the bell rings to end class, Izuku is out of the door within seconds. He does not want to risk a confrontation with Bakugo. He does not want Bakugo asking questions or confirming any theories. It's the last thing he wants. Again, he could be overthinking but he's learnt that sometimes it's just best to be cautious.

He practically runs out of the school in his attempt to avoid Bakugo. He even takes a different route home so Bakugo won't find him. It's the weekend so he won't have to worry too much for the next two days.

He pays a visit to the Urarakas during the weekend to see how they're doing. He doesn't want to show himself to Ochacho unless her parents are okay with her. So he goes to the window. Scaling the wall from the balcony is quite hard but he manages it. He peers through the window, spotting Daisuke on the couch and going through paperwork. One for All smiles slightly. He's certainly determined.

He knocks on the window, making Daisuke jump. He spins around quickly, alert. One for All waves and gives a smile. Daisuke relaxes with a sigh and a smile. He places the paperwork down on the table and walks towards the window, unlatching the window and letting One for All in.

"Hi," One for All greets. "I didn't want to go to the front door in case answers. I don't want to reveal myself to her unless you're okay with it," he explains because while entering through windows is fun, its not exactly polite.

"Don't worry about it. But, thank you. Now, I've been looking through my papers and I found..." They spend the next twenty minutes going over the pattern that Daisuke has found and One for All is impressed. He's done a bit of studying so he understands it a bit better but he's still a beginner. Regardless, he manages to understand and from what he understands, he has enough to prove that Daisuke has been stealing money from the company. However, One for All is nothing but thorough and he wants the full extension of what Daisuke has done to make sure the public know what he's really done and for the Urarakas to get the most out of this.

One for All asks how the company is going and how confrontations with Daigo are going. Daisuke tells him they've been avoiding his calls and any face-to-face confrontation. One for All is relieved. He gives Daisuke Suziya's private business number so they can discuss this between them since One for All really isn't good at this particular talent yet. He leaves shortly after as Ochacho knocks the door for her father. He leaves through the window again.

He manages to avoid Bakugo for a total of two weeks. Then, his mother tells him they'll be going to the Bakugo's for dinner. His Mother is excited and happy and Izuku tries to dissuade her with "but we fight, remember? We're not exactly friends," and other valid reasons that are half-truths and complete truths but his mother only beams at him.

"Actually, it was Katsuki who suggested it! His parents said he wanted to make up with you! So, we'll be going over there this Saturday! And to make sure you don't run off again," Izuku pushes the guilt down. "We'll be going the whole day! We'll be there for 1pm and stay for dinner! Isn't that great?" His mother is so happy that he can't possibly refuse.

"Yeah, it is, mom," Izuku forces a smile. His mother happily chatters away, telling him the details. If Kacchan had been the one to ask for the dinner, then it's clear what this is about. He wasn't happy about being avoided (not that Izuku was bothered about that. He had noticed Kacchan chasing after him once and all he did was stick out his tongue, rush around the corner and then sprint for his fucking life. Bakugo didn't get him that day either.) and was clearly taking the initiative. He just had to use their parents as an excuse to corner him.

Fucking Kacchan.

One for All is back to investigating. He's taken a bit of a break from his streams in order to do this. He has some private investigations he has to focus on. He's looking into the missing people again. The ones who disappeared without a trace. The villains of all types just disappearing without a trace. It's been driving him crazy the last few days. Well, actually, Bakugo has, but whatever. This has too.

It's been driving him crazy enough that he actually left his city. Which, as he already mentioned, he does not like to do. But his investigation requires that he be here, so... Here he is. In Kamino Ward.

He has a vague sense of what he's looking for and a few places to check but ultimately, he doesn't have much plans until he finds anything. It's really a plan as you go kinda thing, which he's not entirely comfortable with. At the very least, he intends to get his mother a gift while he's here, as well as the ice cream she really likes that can only be found in a few stores. The one in their city is out of stock so hopefully he'll have more luck here. It'll be a nice surprise.

He's wandering around somewhat aimlessly, a bit lost. He has a map of the city but its all so big. He decided it'd be best to go incognito as to not alert anyone of his presence here. He doesn't see the point in seeking around as One for All when he could just walk through the streets with less worries. So he's wearing a grey hoodie which he has pulled over his hair and jeans. Inconspicuous, he hopes. He keeps his head down anyway.

Just a normal teenager in the street. He looks around, sight seeing as he goes. He's not looking at anything special in particular but it's kinda nice to be somewhere else. It makes him anxious though. Being in an entirely different city without his mother. What if she needed him while he was gone? It would take him a while to get back. Or what if something happened in his city? He didn't want to leave it unattended, even if there were heroes there. It just made him uncomfortable. A lot of things did. There were just so many unknowns and with a mind like his, all he did was think about everything and how it could all go very wrong.

There was also the fact if something happened to him here, there would be many, many questions. He also didn't want to drag his mother out here if he got taken to the hospital. He was away from his usual contacts for when he needed serious help - his admins helped patch him up when he needed it. His most trusted admins knew where the Murderfort was and had access to it. But out here... He didn't have anything. He had fans, undoubtedly, but... He had no base of operation, no back-up, he wasn't familiar enough with the area to know which areas were best to avoid other than rumours and research or how to navigate through the allies or city in general... Ugh, it all made him nervous. He was used to doing things alone, sure, but he was used to being alone on familiar territory.

Kamino Ward was not familiar territory.

Once he nears his destination, he ducks into an alley. It's getting dark and he doubts there will be much light in the alley. He has some equipment with him, weapons, technology, the usual but he's not sure what to expect exactly. He pulls his mask out of his backpack and puts it on his face. He has night vision in his mask so that should solve that problem. It's not dark enough to use it though.

He wanders through the alley, committing it to memory. If all else fails, he'll have to head to the rooftops somehow. He has a bit of his gear with him - his strength enhancers, mask (obviously), a knife, rope, a baton, a gun and he's wearing his boots which have special impact softening material in. He has his tech attached to his wrist like usual as well, hidden under his hoodie. It was fully charged and he had the equipment with him to recharge it if necessary. He'd just need somewhere to plug it in. He had different types of maps with him, including one that detailed the city's sewage system. He has multiple versions of the normal map, with notes and details and places highlighted with places he should check, needed to check, should avoid and notations of heroes and villains known to be in the area. Izuku had been planning this for a while now. He wasn't one to be unprepared, after all.

Three long tiring hours later and One for All hadn't found much. He had met a fan that recognised his mask and had a long conversation in which One for All offered some advice when his fan spoke of his life. It had been a nice break actually. He had sat down discretely with him, spoke to him about his problems, managed to scare his bullies away when they came his way and even gave him his private business number in case they ever tried anything.

He looked out for his fans, that was a fact. Although he slightly feared he may have just made a superfan... Still, he was glad to make Tenma happy. It made everything worth it. He had a little... skirmish in an alley. Some guys tried to rob him and he knocked them out. He left them there with a tip to the police that there had been an attempted robbery. Whether or not they could be properly charged, he wasn't sure.

One for All slowed down as he heard talking nearby. He was already quiet when he approached, so hopefully he didn't spook them away. He sneaked towards the corner, peering around it slightly.

"Kurogiri... Just take me home already," A young adult mumbled, scratching at his neck. He wore a dark hoodie which covered his face, pushing his shaggy light blue hair into his eyes. One for All couldn't make out any features. Beside him was a...man? Made out of what seemed to smoke and dressed in a suit.

"Don't you think we should stay out for a bit longer?" 'Kurogiri' asked, seeming to try to convince the young adult something.

"No... Just take me back to the bar. I'm tired," The young adult continued to scratch at his neck, One for All watching carefully. They weren't doing anything wrong but he found it weird they were just casually having a conversation so far into the networks of allies. One for All yanked himself behind the wall quickly as the young adult turned in his direction. Crap. Did he see him? Just in case, One for All ripped his mask off and shoved it into his pocket. Maybe he could just play it off as being lost? They didn't seem too troublesome, but... The one scratching his neck... he had a weird aura about him, Izuku wasn't sure what it was. Maybe it was the way he was nearly scratching his own skin off, or perhaps the fact that Izuku couldn't see his face. However, Izuku was sure it was the way he behaved. He hadn't been here for long so maybe it was just those few moments but the way he talked... The desolate, uncaring and tired manner. It could be that he had a long day but something just seemed so wrong about him.

"Kurogiri, there's someone over there," the same tired voice spoke and a jolt went through Izuku. He'd rather not confront them, especially since it didn't seem like they were actually doing anything other than trying to persuade the other to 'just take him home'. So, Izuku bolted. He sprinted back the way he came. Purple mist appeared in the middle of the alleyway before he could get too far, however. Izuku screeched to a halt, watching the mist with intrigue and surprise.

His mind quickly rushes through some responses that will hopefully get him out of this. They didn't seem like villains from what they were talking about but they were hanging around in back alleyways and that wasn't something you'd do for the hell of it unless you were prepared to protect yourself or fight. Hopefully the simple excuse of 'I don't have any money' would dissuade them, regardless of how small the possibility was.

The mist forms into a person with a nice grey suit and metal armour around their neck. (Izuku is assuming body parts but it's working out well.) He turns to go the other way but the young man with the hoodie is standing there. Drat, they've blocked him in.

"I-I don't hav-have any mo-money," Izuku stutters, putting as much fear into his voice as possible. Can't have them being too suspicious, after all. It's not hard to act afraid - he's been afraid his entire life, after all.

"We don't want your money," The young man lazily replied.

"Th-then?" Izuku stammered, drawing his body in so his body language clearly states he feels as though he's under threat. The man surveyed him before finally, sighing, his shoulders dropping.

"Forget it. Let's just go, Kurogiri..." The man turned away, stalking away from him. Izuku perked up. They were going to leave?

"Yes, sir," Kurogiri replied, following after the younger man. Izuku watched them walk away until they were out of sight. Just as the man was about to turn the corner, about to leave Izuku's sight, he stopped and turned around, watching him carefully. No, there was something wrong here. There was a look in that man's eyes- something dangerous, crazed, wrong, borderline giddy like he had just figured something important out and it was completely wrong.

Every muscle in Izuku's body tensed, preparing for a fight, preparing for the man to switch, for something to go horribly wrong. The air around that man was completely different, out of place, cold, deadly and Izuku didn't like it one bit.

"See you, One for All," The man waved casually, as if the look in his eyes didn't scream pure insanity, as if knowing who he really was without the mask wasn't a massive deal, as if this was normal. Izuku felt the blood drain from his body, everything going cold. He hadn't been recognised without the mask before (unless you count Kacchan but that was a different matter entirely) and the thought of his identity going viral as well as everything else terrified him, gluing him to the spot. He knew it was something he would have to deal with eventually, that one day he'd have to take off his mask and show the world who he really was ot gain their full trust but now? Right now? He wasn't ready, he was far from ready. He couldn't do this, not now. There was too much at stake. It was too soon, he wasn't ready-

He looked up to find the man gone.

Midoriya Izuku found himself wandering the busy streets of Kamino Ward. He had no destination in mind, he was just purely wandering, lost in thought as often. He had calmed down since his encounter with that man - who he didn't even know, let alone whether he was a hero or villain or if he'd keep his secret safe. His panic was subdued for now but a cloud of gloominess hung over him. He would have to take extra precautions for when his identity was out. He already had some, of course, but since the threat of exposure was more prominent than ever, he'd have to ensure everything was in place. Honestly, his only concern with his identity being out was his mother. And maybe school. There were plenty of solutions for the latter so he wasn't too worried about it. There was also the fact that he wouldn't be able to just walk around in public anymore without being noticed. He enjoyed the attention as One for All but being Midoriya Izuku was his escape from all that. Without the safety, the privacy that being nobody gave him, he would crush under the pressure and that was the last thing he needed. He had no friends, no sidekicks, no one who he could trust with his secrets and problems, a mother who was so worried everyday and all Izuku did was put more and more distance between them every day.

He sighed, looking up towards the lights. It was drizzling, he noticed. Izuku didn't mind, it wasn't like it was really getting him wet or anything. It was bearable. He stood there, in the middle of the streets, looking at the lights as people hustled around him with umbrellas and shopping. For some reason, despite his need to focus on the matter on hand, he ended up focusing on something else. Here he was, surrounded by tons of people and a famous vigilante hero that so many people admired and the life he had surely dreamed of - even it was a warped version - was finally his and there were no barriers in his way, supported by his admins and fans... He just felt alone. How weird.

He lifted his hand, trying to see the drizzle land on his hand. He was faceless in a crowd, a background character in everyone's lives - just as he wanted for himself when he wasn't One for All and yet; the loneliness suffocated him.

How unusual.

When Saturday comes, Izuku's stomach is full of dread. Gosh, he hates this. Damn Kacchan. He doesn't need this right now. No, what he needs is to go back to his website and make a bunch of memes to mock heroes he doesn't like.

His mother and the Bakugos give each other pleasant greetings, pleased to see each other and all very respectful. Kacchan stands beside his mother who is welcoming the Midoriyas in. As the group enter, still greeting with quick warnings and explanations of what they have to catch up on, Izuku sends Kacchan the most vicious glare he can the second he's sure none of the adults are looking. Kacchan, the little bastard, just smirks, completely relaxed. Izuku has half a mind to just punch him in the face right now and end all these pleasantries. But, for his Mother's sake, who is so happy and smiling, he refrains.

Once all the greetings are through and they're all ushered to the living room, Kacchan begins to head upstairs. He throws a 'we'll be in my room' over his shoulder, prompting Izuku to stand up and follow him without even having to say anything.

"Ar-are you sure that's a go-good idea?" Izuku's mother asks, worried, clearly knowing their track history and not wanting the two to be left alone unattended, lest they want a fight to break out. Given what they're going to talk about, a fight probably will ensue. Neither is good at holding back their anger when it comes to each other nor is it a 'gentle' topic they can stay calm over.

Regardless, Izuku doesn't want his mother to worry. "Don't worry, Mom! We'll be okay!" He gives her a quick hug and then jogs up the stairs, following Kacchan to his room. He mentally sighs.

Let's just get this over with.

Welcome back.

I had major writers block with the Shigaraki scene so for that, I apologise. Buuuuut, for once, the gears are finally turning and the plot is finally settling in.