Um,, hi. It's been nearly four months.. Shit happens ig. My mom's boyfriend is moving in with us soon, so I gotta get used to another person in the house again, and I've been catching up on old fandoms and new ones, and I got into creative writing! Working on a novel now, so that's. Fun? Difficult. Turning sixteen this month :p anyway have this
The trio wandered along the streets in silence, unsure of where they were and where to go. The part of town they were in was shabbier than where they lived, and there weren't many bystanders. Izuku contemplated asking for directions, but he knew how they looked: two middle school kids in soiled uniforms, lost, and injured, dragging behind them a third who looked half-drowned. Himiko was leaned against his side, tired and anxious, eyes scanning everyone they passed for any sign of a threat. Neither of them really noticed Katsuki behind them, expression of something lost and weary on his face.
It had felt…weird and unnatural when Deku had called him Bakugou. For years Katsuki had tried to make it sink in that we are not friends and haven't been for a long time, despising the nickname his childhood friend had given him. But now that he no longer used it…it made Katsuki feel nauseous.
Then again, it might've been the sludge.
"Where're we goin'?" Katsuki finally asked after some time in silence had passed. The answer he received was muted and quiet, so he spoke up. "Answer me, nerd!"
"I said we're going to the hospital!" Deku snapped irritably, turning to glare half-heartedly over his shoulder at him. "The problem is I don't know where we are, so shut up, okay?"
"Don't fuckin' tell me what to do, Deku!" Katsuki yelled, feeling more comfortable and better the angrier he got. This was something he was used to, what he was familiar with. He could almost forget that he called him-
"Bakugou, we just escaped a Villain attack and are now currently in a bad part of town and injured. We can't spare time for bickering when we should be trying to find help, so shut the fuck up and let me think," Deku said, spinning around and finally letting go of his wrist for the first time in ten minutes. "We don't know where we are or how to get home, our phones were either lost in the encounter or damaged, and we don't have money for a train. Unless you'd like us to just leave you on this street corner with an antagonized criminal running around, I'd advise you try to be helpful and help us find a Hero or a police officer, okay?" His tone was sharp and firm, making Katsuki halt in his tracks.
This was not the Deku he grew up with. This Deku was more confident than before, with a leaner build and more muscle than their last interaction. Katsuki had seen him around school looking happier than he had in years, and though he looked like he had been crying recently, he knew this Deku was done being pushed around by him.
"I…" he tried to say, but his voice failed him. When it was clear Katsuki wasn't going to be saying anything else, Deku spun back around and began marching off, the blonde bitch by his side. He did not reach for him again.
—
"Way to lay into him, Izu-chan," Himiko said tiredly, dull amusement sparking in her eyes at the dumbfounded look on Baka-chan's face.
Izuku sighed. "I just needed to think and figure something out, but it's hard with him yelling every three seconds," he admitted, eyeing a passing man in a business suit warily. The more they walked the better their environment became, and Himiko suspected they were getting back to a safer part of Musutafu.
Sure enough, the trees planted along the sidewalks were becoming more lively and bigger the further they went, and more people were walking around. Himiko thought she was even starting to recognize some signs and shops.
A few streets down, Himiko could hear shouting. Familiar voices.
She sped up, tugging Izu-chan along with a grin pulling at her lips.
"This way, Izu-chan, Baka-chan!" she called excitedly. Behind her she could hear Baka-chan sputtering in rage.
Racing as fast as they could along the sidewalk—which admittedly wasn't very fast—and rounding the corner, they came face to face with a smallish crowd at the central train station, signs held high and voices raised.
"It's the Quirked Defenders!" Izuku said excitedly. Himiko knew he had never seen their rallies in person before, and was eager to see how things were done. Unfortunately with Stain-sama's support of their cause, their protests had garnered some unwanted attention lately, and police forces were getting quicker at shutting them down.
"What the hell is this?" Baka-chan asked irritably, coming up behind them and shoving them aside. Himiko hissed at him and cuffed his head. "Watch it, blonde bitch!"
"Bakugou, you need to back off," Izuku snapped. "These people will not tolerate any of your hate, and tensions are high lately. You need to calm down and let Himiko handle this." Baka-chan scoffed, glaring at the floor, but otherwise didn't react. Himiko counted it as a win.
Weaving through the crowd carefully as they jolted and yelled, hand gripping Izuku's tightly as he dragged him along with Baka-chan in tow, looking for any familiar faces. Julie was likely picking up Eri from school, Hito-chan was already at the house with Sako, Dabi was at work, and Tenko was at school, so the only people she would know there would be Mei Mei or…
"Moto!"
The short man in the crowd turned, looking around in surprise before spotting them. Yamamoto's tangerine eyes lit up and he began pushing his way through the throngs towards them, muttering curses in English as someone bumped into him. Finally bypassing the protesters, Yamamoto set his sign at his feet and gave Himiko a brief side-hug, grin as wide as her own.
"Hiya, kiddo, it's been awhile." He turned to Izuku, head quirked to the side. "And who might you be, squirt?"
Izu-chan ducked his head. "Mi- Midoriya Izuku, Yamamoto-san." Moto turned to Baka-chan.
"And you are?"
"None of your fuckin' business."
Moto sniffed. "Brat."
Himiko grinned, wrapping her free arm around Baka-chan's shoulders in an uncomfortably tight embrace. "This is Baka-chan! A world-class pain the ass and a Quirkist!" Izuku nudged her in the ribs.
Yamamoto's face soured. "That true, kid?"
Baka-chan suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"Listen, brat, we don't want any trouble from people like you. It's best you leave, 'less you want trouble," Moto said, putting a hand on Himiko and Izuku's shoulders in a protective manner.
"Yamamoto-san, it's alright. Actually, we were looking for help," Izuku cut in. He gestured to the three of them. "We kinda ran into a Villain and got lost, we were hoping you could-"
"Back up," Moto interrupted, looking worried. "You were attacked by a Villain in the middle of the fuckin' day and didn't think to hunt down a Hero?"
"That's why we came here-"
"We were in a bad part of town; we didn't see any-"
"Shut up and let me call your ma," Moto cut in again, looking irritated when Himiko and Izuku started talking at once. He looked stressed, which was to be expected while at a rally with three injured and exhausted kids. Pulling out his phone from a secured pocket in his cargo pants, Moto began typing something in, but then the crowd surged, people separating from each other and screaming, protests turning into shouts of alarm.
The four of them looked around in surprise, trying to find the source, but they couldn't see anything at first. Himiko thought it might've been the Heroes, but they would've been flashy when making their entrances, so what-?
"What the fuck!" someone screamed, and then the mass parted like the Red Sea, and the Sludge Villain from before was rushing forward in a garish green blur, eyes burning in rage.
"Fuck!"
The Villain made a dive for Baka-chan, thick liquid extending and folding on itself, but he was shoved out of the way, tumbling sideways in a heap. "What-"
"IZUKU!" Himiko screamed. Izuku was halfway submerged in the waves of the slime, struggling and kicking to get out, but he couldn't find anything solid to kick off of.
The crowd rippled and surged as Izuku was swallowed up, Yamamoto putting himself between Himiko and Bakugou in a way of protection, even though they both knew his Megaphone Quirk couldn't do anything against someone made of sewer sludge.
"Izuku!" she shouted again, but she was drowned out by the screams. Panic rising, she tried to fight forward, but Moto was already picking her up and hefting her away.
"Stay back!" he warned, his voice varying in pitch in volume as his Quirk got away from him. Baka-chan stood stock-still behind the two, unnoticed as all hell broke loose.
His eyes were wide and his skin was ashen, his chest rising and falling rapidly the only thing proving he wasn't a statue. Katsuki's fingers twitched and sparked at his sides, singing the cuffs of his uniform even more. He watched Deku get absorbed into the slime fucker, unable to move his feet , head screaming as he struggled to take in what was happening.
Deku pushed me out of the way.
He sacrificed himself for me.
Why did he help me?
He must hate me; why would he risk his life for me?
He has no hope for a Hero career but he still saved—
"He didn't save me," he whispered, wanting so badly to clutch at his own head and pull, but only able to keep his eyes forward, transfixed, as his childhood best friend drowned, him able to do something, anything, to help him, but stuck, just like some useless—Deku.
The crowd surged again as the Sludge Villain lashed at them, the last of Izuku's hand disappearing in the thick slime. Pro-Heroes Death Arms, Kamui Woods, Mount Lady, and Backdraft were suddenly on the scene, with Death Arms tring to attack the Villain, rather than trying to pull Deku out like a dumb fuck, but the bastard's body was too fluid for him to properly grab onto him. The Villain roared, striking out at Death Arms and pushing him back.
"My Quirk isn't suited to fight him!" he shouted, falling back into the line of Heroes. Mount Lady was unable to do anything because of her size, and Kamui Woods was saying that the Villain was moving too much which put Deku at risk of being pierced by his spears, and Backdraft (why the fuck was the fucker even here?) was holding the crowd back with tangible water ropes.
"I can't risk washing away the sludge and the child!" he said, increasing the water pressure with his Quirk when some of the people behind him tried to rush forward. "Stop! Please stand back and let the Heroes do their job!"
"You bunch of fuckers!" Yamamoto screamed, the speaker-like bulges in his throat pulsing, the skin warbling. "You don't need a Quirk to save the fuckin' kid, just help him!"
"IZUKU!" blonde bitch screamed amongst the other roars of protests and outrage.
"You'd really let some kid die just because you're incompetent?!"
"Get the hell outta the way and let us help!"
"Useless Heroes!"
"Save him!"
Lost in the chaos of the crowd, no one noticed as the wind picked up as the No. 1 Hero landed.
—
Pushing through the rioters, All Might surveyed the damage.
The newest alumni of UA, Mount Lady, was caught in a narrow street, unable to assist. A firefighter-themed Hero he didn't recognize was holding back the rioters as they tried to rush forward to help the boy (despite how useless they would be in a fight, not to mention getting in the way), and Death Arms hurling debris at the Villain, aiming non too carefully in the child's direction. Though brave of the boy to try and save his friend, he's only put himself in danger and jeopardized the capture of the Slime Villain.
As he pushed through Backdraft's barricade, All Might said, "Never fear. Why? Because I am here!" Everyone around him gasped, stopping in their tracks as they waited for one of his signature attacks.
The Villain suddenly looked like a cornered animal, backing away and baring his jagged teeth.
"Alright, Villain. I'll give you the chance to stand down now and release the boy, or be taken in by force." The Villain hissed in what he probably thought was a frightening manner.
"Never!" the Villain shouted, voice an odd warbling sound. It must be because he doesn't have vocal cords, he mused absently, but pushed the thought aside.
"Very well. Have it your way."
Winding back his arm, All Might rushed forward in a flash too fast for the naked eye to see, yelling a Detroit Smash! as he grabbed the boy's uniform, preventing him from being blown away with the thick sludge.
The crowd behind him went silent in their shock, watching as the sky above cracked with thunder before it began to rain.
"D- did he just make it rain with one punch…?" a rioter whispered, voice hollow.
Turning, All Might laid the boy down on the ground carefully, standing aside as Backdraft rushed forward, retracting his water, to check on the boy. He was still, his garish yellow backpack resting next to him, with sludge clinging to his hair and clothes. He would look almost dead with his pale skin if it weren't for the faint movements of his chest.
Before anyone could react, a young girl broke free from the rioters, dodging past Death Arms' defenses and dropping to the boy's side. "Izuku!" she screeched, her whole body trembling as she slowly reached for him. Her hand flinched back as he suddenly sputtered and coughed, retching on the ground as he rolled over.
"'Xcuse me, miss! You can't be h-"
The girl whipped around quickly, yellow eyes narrowed into slits as she glared at Death Arms with all the ferocity of a mother protecting her child. Or in this case, a sister protecting her brother. "Shut the fuck up!" she screamed unexpectedly. Death Arms was so shocked he took a step back, startled. "This is your fault, you hear me?! You could've saved him, but you didn't. He could've died and you could've stopped it. All of you!" She turned her glare on Backdraft and Mount Lady, who had just shrunken down to join the other Pros. "Would you really want a kid's blood on your hands?"
"H- Himiko…" her brother wheezed beside her, obviously weak. He barely managed to sit up, but she quickly helped to prop him up. She seemed to notice something small and black on the ground next to him, her eyes widening in shock and horror. She handed the thing back to the boy and he gratefully placed it to his ear.
"How dare you!" Death Arms roared. He stormed closer to the girl, nostrils flaring in his anger. "Who do you think you are? We Heroes risk our lives every day to protect you people, and all you do is complain! Show some respect!"
The young girl stood up, clearly enraged and horror gone, with her bangs plastered to her forehead from the rain. She bared her unusually sharp teeth at the Hero. "How dare I? How dare you-"
"Himiko!" someone from the crowd shouted, shoving his way forward. The other kid the boy had pushed out of the way trailed behind the man, hands clenched at his sides and shaking. He looked small and frail in the rain. "Kid, I hate these Heroes as much as the next," there were cheers and some laughter from the rioters, "but right now we gotta get the kid here an ambulance."
The girl—Himiko—paused as she thought about it before nodding shakily, pulling out her water-damaged phone, but she stopped and looked up at the sound of sirens. Two ambulances pulled up, first responders and medics immediately jumping out with various gear and gurneys. Three of the first responders surrounded the boy, checking him to make sure he was breathing alright.
"Steady there, kid," one of the medics said. The antennas sprouting from her forehead twitched, then emitted a soft yellow color. The same color radiated from the boy, soft warmth making steam rise from his clothes as they dried a little. "You'll be fine," she said after a moment. "You coughed up most of the liquid, but there wasn't much in your lungs to begin with. The rest can be removed by Jorge." She gestured for a short man with a petite stature, skin dark and hair masking his eyes. His Japanese held hints a Mexican accent when he spoke.
"Lie back down for me," he said. Himiko helped him lie back down as the yellow light faded and he was soaked again by the rain. "What's your name? Is there a way to contact your parents or guardian?"
The kid's hum was hoarse.
"His name's Midoriya Izuku," the girl supplied. "I have his mom on speedial, I'll call her." She shook her phone off, smacking it a little until it turned on, grumbling about the rain as it finally stopped. "Inko? Yeah, it's Himiko. Something…happened. Yeah, I'll explain more when we get back…"
—
Soon after Himiko got off the phone with Inko, Izuku was cleared to go—after he was berated by the useless Heroes. Inko was on the other side of town and couldn't get them right away, so they agreed to meet at the Midoriya house. Baka-chan, after getting a checkup, was free to go, with Moto escorting him home.
"You sure you're okay?" Himiko fussed, ruffling Izuku's hair to get the last of the sludge out. It was getting longer lately, she was thinking of braiding it.
"'M fine, Himi-chan," Izuku wheezed tiredly. He was limping a little. "Lady said gotta rest throat…tea an' stuff." He coughed, shuddering a little as the rain water dried.
"Damn Heroes can never do anything right, huh…" she mused. Izuku grunted in agreement.
"I am here!"
"Fuck!" Himiko screamed. Izuku fell over next to her.
All Might stood in front of them in all his American glory, striking a weird pose. His impossibly white teeth glinted weirdly in the dying sun.
"Jesus almighty," Izuku hissed. He was struggling to get up. Hauling him back to his feet, she linked arms with him to keep him steady.
All Might laughed. "Greetings, young Midoiriya, young Himiko!" Himiko stiffened. Fuck, I forgot my mask. Luckily All Might seemed too stupid to recognize her with dyed hair and a longer cut. "I've come to talk to you about what you did, young man."
"If it's about how he should've stayed on the sidelines as Baka-chan was nearly snatched, then beat it," Himiko snapped. "He's already been talked down to today one too many times."
All Might blinked, looking just as stunned as the first time she snapped at a Hero. "I assure you, that's not my reasoning for being here. I came to say it was very brave, though very reckless, to push your friend out of the way like that."
"Who, Bakugou?" Izuku shook his head like he was confused. "Ah, no, we're not friends…that slime guy attacked him earlier. Didn't want him to get hurt," he mumbled.
"Your feet moved before you could think?" All Might prompted, looking eager. Himiko tightened her arm around Izuku's. She didn't like the sound of that.
Izuku nodded. "Yeah. How'd you know?"
All Might's grin was equal parts amused and excited. "Each great Hero has had one thing in common, young Midoirya. Do you know what that is?"
"A sense of justice?"
"An overly dramatic tragic backstory?"
He laughed. "Midoriya was closer, young Himiko. The thing they had in common was that their bodies moved before they could think. I believe that you, young Midoriya, have what it takes to be a Pro-Hero."
Izuku's eyes were wide and teary. "Do—do you really think so?" he whispered hoarsely.
"I do. But tell me, why didn't you use your Quirk?" They both stilled. "Your Quirk isn't suitable for Heroics, is it?"
Each word seemed to crush his spirit more and more, his shoulders hunching in on himself like he was trying to hide. "N- no, sir… See…
"I don't have a Quirk."
All Might looked stunned at the confession.
"I see," he murmured. He scratched his head in thought, suddenly looking eager again. "You cannot be a Hero without a Quirk, young Midoriya-"
"And why the hell not?"
"...pardon?"
Izuku clenched his teeth, hard. "I said, why? Why can't I be a Hero? Why am I only the one people don't believe it? I've heard of Heroes that have the most 'useless' Quirks you could imagine, but they still get the job done." He glared at All Might, finding the blue shining in the dark of the shadows on his face. Himiko looked proud, sliding her hand down from his arm into his hand. "So why the hell not? I have just as much as a chance as anyone else, and I actually managed to save Bakugou, so what gives you the right to tell me no?" He was crying again, but he couldn't bring himself to care.
All Might, for the third time that day, was stunned, looking at Izuku with wide eyes, smile wiped clean off his face. He appeared to think, really think, about what Izuku said, head tilted as he considered him.
Figures he's Quirkist like all the rest. Izuku felt the fight drain out of him as his head hung. It had been a very long, very trying day, with people doubting and yelling at him left and right. The only support he had was his and Himiko's family, and with the rejection of his hero, he was just so fucking close to finally giving up, despite everything Himiko tried to say.
Then All Might spoke.
"I am…sorry," he said slowly. "If you would let me finish." He turned to Himiko, giving her a look that implied she leave. She scoffed, glaring at him harder. As if she'd leave Izu-chan alone with him after that.
"I'm not going anywhere," she said firmly.
"Please, it's something that can't be overheard-"
"If you're willing to tell it to some kid you almost let die you can sure are hell say it to me too."
He almost flinched. Almost.
Izuku piped up. "Whatever you can say to me you can say to her too, otherwise I'm not interested."
All Might sighed, like it was some great burden to deal with children. "...alright," he finally said. "But you must promise me never to tell another soul."
The two exchanged looks, wary. "...we promise," they agreed, cautious.
"Young Midoriya." He turned to Izuku, eyes gleaming in excitement. "I want you to have my Quirk, One For All. Then you, too, can become a Hero."
"...what?"