author's note.
this is a sequel to my other work welcome to the panic room.
genre: adventure, romance
not for the faint of heart.
It's been three years since Izuku went missing, and three years since Shoto stepped down from being a Hero.
The streets have never been a more unwelcoming place since then.
Well, for common folk, anyway.
Not for Tomura's League of Villains.
"Izuku, did you do what was required today?"
Izuku nods. "Of course, Tomura."
Tomura smirks.
"Proud of you."
"I liked it." Izuku says. "I… I—-"
"You're a natural, babe. I can't wait for you to finally take my place as leader one day. Well, assuming Katsuki doesn't beat you to it."
Tomura leers at Izuku as he rolls a joint from the other side of the table.
"But tell me. Do you really understand what it means to lead, Izuku?"
Izuku nods, never taking his attention away from the joint.
"I do what you ask of me because I've accepted what I am. "
"And what's that?"
"A greenie," Izuku licks the joint closed, "but not a toy. Not a slave, not a bitch. Not worthless."
Tomura grins.
"Fantastic. Glad you finally realized that."
"I'm off now," Izuku says as he rises to his feet, inserting the rolled joint into a container, "money doesn't grow on trees."
He picks the small container up and puts it into his coat.
"Later."
—
Climate change was subtle, at first.
No one saw it coming.
It hit the world like a comet.
But all it did was enlighten Izuku to his full potential.
You see, after years of being fucked, Izuku came to the realization that—-
Wait.
"Eri…?"
—-
Snow's enveloped Japan ever since Shoto resigned from his role as a Hero.
Because society's incompetent, they never realized that it was all Shoto's doing.
"Eri?"
Shoto stops in his tracks.
That voice.
Shoto turns around.
His eyes widen.
Izuku.
—
""It's really you…!" Eri cries.
"Be quiet!" Izuku hisses.
"I'm sorry," Eri wails. "I just…"
"Why are you walking the streets at this hour?" Izuku sneers.
It's night, but the scene presented before Shoto is as clear as day.
Eri weeps.
"Eri?"
"My Quirk," she cries, "I—I—"
"You need to go home." Izuku snarls. "Right now."
"Eh!" Eri squeaks all of a sudden. Izuku blinks. "What's wrong?"
"L-look…!"
Izuku turns around, and jaw falls open.
Shoto stands before them, his left side on fire.
"Am I interrupting anything?"
—-
Shoto looks at Eri coldly, but she isn't afraid.
Izuku, on the other hand, seems to be.
"You."
Izuku tenses at Shoto's words.
He closes his eyes.
I don't know you.
He opens his eyes again.
Snow falls delicately upon them, light.
Izuku feels weak.
"Shoto." Izuku murmurs.