Deviant
Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia.
Warnings: Violence, Drama, Peril, Death
Pairings: Midoriya x Amajiki, Midoriya x Shinsou, Midoriya x Bakugou, Midoriya x Todoroki, Midoriya x Uraraka
Plot: Life after the apocalypse has drastically changed for those who survived. Contracting with demons is probably one of the least interesting developments in the new world. For Midoriya and Amajiki, it's become a standard way of life, the only existence they've ever known. They must rely on one another to avoid possession, and live whatever semblance of life remains now that the planet has been ripped apart.
Demon Classes:
Lesser - unable to appear in spectral form, only visible/communicative with contracted host
Mid - can appear in spectral form/partial manifestation
Greater - can manifest entirely in the physical realm
Deviant - dangerous to contract with, strong enough to possess host during manifestation
Chaos - can exist independently without contractor, consume weaker demons to sustain themselves and accumulate power
*New Additions to Plethoras:
(Midoriya: Sero, Ashido, Yaoyorozu, Iida, Koda)
(Amajiki: Tsuburaba, Komori, Hatsume)
Midoriya: (Original Pact: Bakugou, Uraraka, Todoroki)
Power - Bakugou G/G (power/combustion), Toga M/L (power/darkness)
Fire - Todoroki G
Water - Asui M
Air - Uraraka M/L (air/gravity)
Earth - Kirishima M/G (earth/shield)
Light - Kaminari M (lightning)
Darkness - Shinsou C
Enhancements: Jirou L/L (sight/sound), Hagakure L (stealth), *Sero M (binding), *Ashido M (poison), *Yaoyorozu L (crafting), *Iida L (speed), *Koda L/L (voice/sound)
Amajiki: (Original Pact: Hawks, Fumikage, Nejire/Mirio)
Power - Usagiyama D, Mirio G/G (power/light)
Fire - n/a
Water - Nejire M
Air - Hawks G, *Tsuburaba M/M (air/shield)
Earth - n/a
Light - Shimura D/G (light/gravity)
Darkness - Fumikage M
Enhancements: Aizawa G (sight), Kuroiro G (stealth), Shiozaki M (binding), *Komori L (growth), *Hatsume M (crafting)
Terminology:
Aura - the lifeforce and energy emitted by all living things, quality and quantity vary
Dual - demons capable of offering their contracted host multiple quirks
Shade - L demons who possess and feed solely off of animals
Husk - the remnants of a human host after possession, if not devoured entirely
Remnant - a common name for a lingering piece of reality before the apocalypse
Revenant - another name for an embodied demon, a demon that has returned to life
Deviancy - when G or D demons become powerful enough to possess their host without consent, some demons may have deviant tendencies but decide never to act upon them
Possession - when a demon takes full control of their host without express consent, and may choose to relinquish control, remain in control, or devour their contracted host accordingly
Reality - the realm where humans exist naturally
Astral - the realm where demons exist naturally and draw power from, Astral mirrors Reality
Haven - a safe shared headspace between demon and host within the astral realm
Cherished - the demonic equivalent of bonded soulmates, when contracting with a human cherished pairs typically bond simultaneously with their chosen host to remain together
Ch 07: Entr'acte
Midoriya had never contracted with a demon in haven before. Until Shinsou, he had never experienced that shared safe space with any of his demons, he wasn't even aware it existed until a few weeks prior.
Todoroki had said he wasn't strong enough before, but now that he was recovering from near starvation and his energy levels were on the rise he was able to handle being submerged in astral without any adverse consequences. It made the most sense, to meet with the cluster Shinsou had brought back to camp on an even plane, and so with only a touch of hesitancy Midoriya agreed to speak with them in haven, so long as his plethora was present for their exchange.
Amajiki was the same, cautious but curious nonetheless, and when Hawks reached out and pulled him under he let himself fall into that blurred realm between reality and the beyond. It felt as fluid as floating, as breathing, the same sensation that swept through him when teetering on the verge of falling asleep.
Their demons coaxed them gently onto the other side, like being dunked below warm waters and enveloped completely in darkness, then light. Colors shifted and changed to project a mirror of their surroundings, reflecting the mountaintop and the surrounding forest in crisp details and vibrant neon hues, Midoriya and Amajiki looking around in wonder at their surroundings before focusing on the demons that had gathered before them.
Amajiki was the first to act, taking a few steps forward and reaching out to Hawks, marveling at his manifestation; his crimson wings, his golden eyes. The fallen angel chuckled and offered his hand palm-up, his gloves concealing his fingers from view.
"Hey kid." He murmured gently, and Amajiki hadn't been able to stop the bittersweet laughter bubbling up in his throat. He wrapped his arms around Hawks' middle and hid his face against his chest, the angel sighing softly and wrapping his arms around his contractor gently, folding his wings in to envelop Amajiki in downy warmth.
"You're real. You're really real."
Hawks smiled and rubbed along his back gently, carding his fingers through the human's dark hair and cupping the back of his skull, nuzzling against his temple while whispering, "I've always been real, you know that."
"Not like this." Amajiki whispered, tightening his hold on the demon and clenching his fingers against the greater's jacket, his tone causing Hawks' chest to ache.
"I can bring you here whenever you like." Hawks murmured gently, and Amajiki sniffed and pulled away slightly to meet his eyes, the greater chuckling softly while affectionately ruffling his hair.
Amajiki exhaled a little laugh while batting Hawks' hand away gently, returning his impish little smile. "You've been holding out on me. We could have spoken like this together all along, right?"
Hawks hummed thoughtfully, his wings shifting against the sunlight, his remiges casting a ruby glow across Amajiki's shoulders and cheeks. "I'm sorry about that, kid. I'll try to be more forthcoming from now on." He grinned down at Amajiki playfully, propping his hand against his hip and teasing his contractor with a devious little wink.
Midoriya watched them with a gentle smile, glancing away from his companion to focus on Bakugou instead. The greater was speaking with one of the demons across from them quietly, the mid nodding his head and glancing towards Shinsou, then Midoriya.
Shinsou took a step closer, grinning and beckoning for the mid to approach, turning to face Midoriya while gesturing towards the other demon, explaining calmly, "This is Sero. He is a binding enhancement. He was the one who helped us hunt the first day we arrived. You remember?"
"I remember." Midoriya nodded, offering Sero a little smile. The mid offered Midoriya a fanged grin of his own, his tail swaying lightly behind him as the human looked him up and down, marveling at the details he could sense within the demon as they shared the astral realm.
Typically Midoriya only felt a fraction of a demon's energy and intent when they approached him in reality, and based on their word alone he made a decision determining whether to strike a contract or not. Here, they were exposed to one another equally. Sero wasn't a voice hiding in the shadows, he was a full embodiment presented before him. Midoriya wasn't certain what to do, or how to respond. It was like meeting a stranger for the first time and trying to strike up a conversation without making things unduly awkward for either party involved.
Midoriya glanced towards Shinsou then Bakugou briefly, before returning his attention to the enhancement before him, asking after a slight pause, "Did you come here to forge a contract with me?"
Sero nodded and grinned a bit wider, flexing his fingertips against the air and drawing energy into himself, manifesting thick skeins of tape from either of his palms, casting them around the space surrounding them. Midoriya watched with wide eyes, tracking the tape's movements with slight awe. The way they twisted and changed direction as if they possessed sentient thoughts of their own reminded him of a demon's tail, the tape able to grasp and bind whatever it came into contact with from all appearances. Midoriya wondered fleetingly just how strong the tape actually was. Could it handle lifting heavy objects? Could it offer support when exploring abandoned buildings or crossing deep waters? Did the enhancement's abilities rely solely on the host's aura and strength?
"If you have questions, ask." Shinsou coaxed gently, Midoriya glancing up and holding his eyes for a moment before nodding and looking to Sero once more. The enhancement was watching him as well, just as curious about the human observing him it seemed. He flexed his bindings against the air before drawing them closer to Midoriya, one of the lengths spiraling up his arm and suddenly going taut, Midoriya inhaling softly as he was tugged forward, Sero grinning and reaching out with the other length to suspend him lightly in the air.
"You were thinking about this, weren't you?" He asked, and it was friendly and playful, Midoriya's heart fluttering in his chest. He laughed and nodded, reaching out and touching the tape, admiring how smooth and flexible the cloth felt against his skin, yet how powerful it felt where it gripped and manipulated him at will.
"Would you allow me to control this however I liked?" Midoriya asked, Sero humming and nodding while gently lowering him to the ground, and once Midoriya was on his feet again the demon withdrew his binds gently, leaving only faint traces of pink spirals behind. Midoriya blinked down at his arm and poked at the mark curiously, then met Sero's eyes, giving him a little nod. "Alright, I would be willing to forge a contract. I'm assuming Shinsou already explained that I'm not willing to bargain with any part of my soul?"
"I understand." Sero replied with a little nod, holding Midoriya's eyes. "If you would allow me to rest within you, I would offer my capabilities in exchange for your energy and protection."
Midoriya nodded, offering Sero a little smile. "Our plethoras protect each other, you won't have to worry about that." He glanced towards the other human nearby, watching his companion affectionately for a few moments before adding candidly, "Amajiki and I are a team, and our collective demons are loyal to a fault. They protect us as hosts, and also protect one another as cohabitors." He met Sero's eyes, continuing. "Keeping one another safe is our number one prerogative, no matter how fearsome the opposition we may face." He arched his brow a little, searching Sero's eyes. "You would be safe here with us, that's true enough, all I ask in return is that you try to get along with everyone as well as you can. We're the closest thing we have to family now that everyone else is gone."
Sero watched him with a curious expression, but gingerly nodded his head. "I will do what I can to mesh well with the other demons you already hold under contract. I have no reason to assume we wouldn't get along otherwise." He glanced towards Shinsou, giving the chaos a little smile. "Those loyal to you seem friendly enough from what I've experienced so far."
Bakugou let out a soft sigh, Uraraka and Todoroki standing quietly beside him, the mid reaching out and patting the greater's shoulder before asking gently, "Are you alright? You've been unusually quiet since Shinsou returned."
"It feels like we're preparing for war." Bakugou murmured under his breath, turning his eyes away from Midoriya and Sero's exchange to meet eyes with Uraraka instead. "You can't tell me you don't feel that. The entity within the city is flaring already, and it's barely past dawn."
"It is concerning." Todoroki agreed softly, his eyes never leaving Midoriya. "All we can do now is wait to see how this plays out. Once Midoriya and Amajiki are done speaking with these unbound, we can talk to them about the deviants within the city. I'm certain Shinsou is in the same mindset, with the way he keeps glancing towards the valley."
Uraraka hummed her agreement, a little frown turning down her lips. "He's restless. We all are."
Bakugou frowned a little and cast his eyes away from his companions to focus on the other plethora nearby, watching as Amajiki spoke with a lesser who had approached him, the petite demon stretching out her hands towards the human and grinning impishly as she displayed her quirk. All around the human a variety of plantlife began to sprout from the earth, Amajiki glancing around in wonder, looking to Hawks for a moment before focusing on her again.
"You can grow things?"
"Many things, from medicinal and edible to poisonous and deadly." She grinned and grasped one of the mushrooms near her feet, uprooting it with her tail before lifting it and offering it to Amajiki. "It's multi purposeful; diverse in itself but also compatible with the other talents you possess. It can be a lifeline or a dagger." She flexed her fingers again, the mushroom resting atop Amajiki's palm blossoming into something plush and fluffy, tiny little spores floating through the air and coating Amajiki's fingers with dust. "I would offer up my talents at will, should you agree to contract with me."
Amajiki nodded, offering her a little smile, thinking of all the ways her quirk could be used practically. If they were ever stranded somewhere without sustenance, with her quirk they wouldn't have to worry about scavenging for food ever again. It was an invaluable talent. "Under the terms I mentioned before, I accept." Hawks nodded his approval, glancing towards one of the other demons nearby, Amajiki following his gaze and asking the mid watching their exchange curiously, "Komori mentioned your quirks are similar? Can you grow things as well?"
The demon grinned and stepped closer, tilting her head slightly before she started to explain, "Komori's enhancement is growth, whereas my enhancement is crafting. They are similar in some ways, but where she manipulates plants and the like, I can help you craft non-living items."
"Crafting," Amajiki mused, looking towards Midoriya and thinking for a moment before asking, "I've never heard of a talent like that before. Is it rare?" He glanced between the mid and Hawks, the greater ruffling his feathers lightly and taking a step closer while shrugging, circling around the lesser demons that had gathered around Amajiki.
"There are all sorts of different capabilities that enhancements wield I've never heard of before. I've been with you for the past twenty years, I'm a bit out of the loop when it comes to what's rare and what's not." He nodded towards Shinsou, the chaos chuckling heartily and pawing at Sero's shoulder, Midoriya laughing a bit and gesturing towards a few other demons, beckoning for them to approach. "If any of us were to have such knowledge, Shinsou would be the appropriate one to talk to, from an outsider's point of view."
"Right." Amajiki mused, thinking for a moment before stepping away from his plethora and crossing the short distance to reach his companion, reaching out to touch Midoriya's arm and gliding his fingers down his forearm gently. Midoriya looked up at him in mild surprise, grinning and lacing their fingers, squeezing his hand gently.
"Hey." Midoriya murmured, Amajiki watching him with a soft expression before turning his attention to the demons Midoriya had been speaking with moments before.
"Who's this?" He asked, Midoriya grinning and gesturing to each demon in kind as he spoke.
"This is Ashido, and Yaoyorozu." The mid and lesser demons nodded and offered Amajiki little waves and smiles in greeting, their tails twining together now and then as they stood together, their shoulders brushing as they shared their warmth. The pink demon was unlike anything Amajiki had ever seen before, her black sclera giving her yellow eyes an eerie, haunting look, though she seemed friendly enough. Midoriya motioned to the boys standing behind the girls a short distance away, adding once Amajiki redirected his attention, "These are their friends; Iida, Koda, and Tsuburaba."
Two of the boys gave little nods in greeting as their names were called, but the demon in the middle was quiet and shied away from their eyes, his tail twisting around one of his ankles and his shoulders hunched submissively. Amajiki tilted his head slightly, watching him for a moment before turning his attention towards Shinsou, who was still chatting with the mid enhancement at his side, the chaos grinning and reaching out to wrap an arm around his shoulders, Sero chuckling and swatting at him playfully.
"Are you planning on contracting with all of them?" Amajiki asked, Midoriya meeting his eyes and shrugging lightly, looking past Amajiki's shoulder to the demons still standing beside Hawks.
"I don't know yet. I mean, I haven't even asked them what their quirks are." He squeezed Amajiki's fingers, nodding towards Hawks casually, "Why don't you call them over, and we'll decide between the two of us what works best for our plethoras. I know some of my demons have different capabilities than yours, and vice versa. Let's figure out how to balance out our clusters, and we'll go from there." He met Amajiki's eyes, arching his brow a little and giving him an affectionate smile as he asked gently, "Does that sound good?"
Amajiki nodded and leaned a little closer to steal a kiss, Midoriya's heart fluttering as he squeezed his companion's fingers and kissed him back just as softly. Shinsou watched them with a little smile, then gestured towards the girls who were watching with curious little smiles and soft giggles, "Alright then. Why don't you all introduce yourselves and show off what your quirks can do?"
It took the better part of the morning, but after meeting each of the newcomers and witnessing the capabilities they offered, Midoriya and Amajiki divided the demons between them and added them to their respective plethoras.
Midoriya contracted with Sero first, the mid binding enhancement easily finding a place for himself amongst the other mids Midoriya housed. Kirishima and Kaminari took to him quickly, welcoming him with open arms before introducing him to the others that had gathered, all the while quizzing him about his experiences before becoming contracted. It was vastly different in comparison to how they acted around Shinsou; Sero was one of them, whereas the chaos was an unknown anomaly. What they hadn't felt comfortable enough to ask Shinsou directly, they held no such qualms with asking their new cohabitor. Sero just laughed and smiled, answering each of their questions with a cheery disposition. Asui and Uraraka quickly took to him as well.
Other than Sero, the demons that had approached Midoriya and Amajiki offered up various other talents to enhance and strengthen their respective plethoras.
Amajiki forged contracts with Komori, a growth lesser, Hatsume, a mid crafting enhancement, and Tsuburaba, for his dual talents as a mid air elemental and a shield. Midoriya already held a contract with Kirishima as his shield, and Amajiki was grateful to finally have a demon with such talents within his ranks.
Aside from Sero, Midoriya contracted with Yaoyorozu, a crafting lesser, Ashido, a mid poison enhancement, Iida, a lesser speed enhancement, and Koda, a lesser dual offering enhancements in both voice and sound.
While Amajiki could have just as easily made use of Koda's abilities, the lesser seemed hesitant to leave his friends and join another plethora alone. Midoriya welcomed the timid demon with gentle understanding and warmth, reassuring Koda he would not be separated from his companions, and so the demon had shyly agreed to contract with Midoriya as well.
Amajiki watched over their exchange with a soft smile, glancing briefly towards Aizawa where he spoke with Hawks and Fumikage nearby. He wondered fleetingly if Hizashi would make an appearance now that they had been settled in a new location for a few weeks, but so far the elusive greater had opted to remain hidden out of sight.
He knew well from previous conversations with Aizawa that Hizashi was a greater enhancement specializing in voice and sound, just like Koda. He wasn't certain if the greater would ever approach him for an official contract, but should Hizashi appear within the city limits sometime soon Amajiki might deem to approach the demon directly with an offer of his own. He had been with their plethora for years, even if not officially contracted. It only made sense now that he could handle the extra weight required to carry new demons within him that he offer Hizashi a place beside his cherished.
Amajiki still didn't fully understand what was keeping the two apart. Had it simply been his own limitations as a strained host? Or was there something more complicated happening between the greaters that Amajiki was currently unaware of.
Amajiki sighed to himself quietly, glancing away from Aizawa and refocusing on Midoriya instead. He could only imagine what it would be like to wield such a strong enhancement. From what he could discern, both Aizawa and Hizashi verged on the edge of deviant tier in their respective abilities, and whenever they were within close proximity their quirks flared and drew strength from one another, just as Nejire and Mirio's capabilities grew into something more. Hizashi could be a powerful ally, if only he would agree to an arrangement that proved mutually beneficial for them both.
Amajiki cast his eyes around haven one last time, before reaching out and touching Midoriya's hand, meeting his companion's eyes. "We've been at this all morning. Now that we've finished our new contracts, I think it's time for breakfast. Are you ready to go?"
Midoriya hummed and nodded, squeezing Amajiki's fingers and looking towards Shinsou, the chaos glancing up from his conversation with Ashido and Yaoyorozu to meet his contractor's eyes. He paused to chuckle and ask the girls to wait a moment before stepping over to Midoriya and Amajiki, Hawks stepping closer to the pair of humans as well.
The demons exchanged a quiet glance, then both reached out for their contractor simultaneously and shifted them back to reality, Amajiki and Midoriya holding onto one another tightly as the hyper-pigmented colors surrounding them slowly faded back to something natural and soft. The sensation of floating in water or hovering in air that had surrounded them faded away into the subtle pull of gravity, and the humans took a few moments to simply stand together and remember how to move their bodies before turning to one another, exchanging little smiles.
Midoriya shifted slightly, wrapping his arms securely around Amajiki's waist and tucking his face against his companion's shoulder, letting out a heavy sigh. "Why am I exhausted already?" He murmured against Amajiki's collar, and the older boy chuckled softly, rubbing up and down his back while kissing Midoriya's unruly curls.
"We did just forge new contracts with multiple demons all at once." He sighed and shrugged, meeting Midoriya's emerald eyes as his companion looked up at him. "I think the most I've ever taken on at once were Mirio and Nejire together, and that was a long time ago. Back when we were kids."
"Yeah, that's fair." Midoriya agreed, allowing Amajiki to tug him back towards the campfire, settling down beside the softly crackling flames and resting his arms across his drawn knees, "I can't remember a time I've ever contracted with more than two at once either. The difference is definitely noticeable, despite the majority being lessers."
Amajiki nodded and busied himself with adding a fresh log to the fire, stoking the dying embers with a long stick until the blaze grew large enough to once again shield them from the brisk morning air. He shifted closer to Midoriya's side once he was done, wrapping his arm around him and rubbing along his side and lower back soothingly, kissing Midoriya's shoulder and cheek before asking gently, "What sounds good for breakfast, hmm?" He flexed his fingers a bit, thinking for a moment before calling out to Komori, "Are you able to grow anything you want? Like potatoes, or carrots?"
Midoriya made a soft sound of want, nodding his head and resting against Amajiki's side with a little smile, "Oh gosh fresh veggies sound amazing, can she do fruit too?"
"I don't know," Amajiki replied gently, still petting across Midoriya's back as he waited for the lesser to reply, grinning a little as his eyes wandered towards the flames, letting out a tired little sigh. "I guess we'll find out."
The lesser was silent for a few moments longer before she spoke, Amajiki listening quietly as she explained the limitations of her quirk. He hummed a soft sound of understanding, turning his attention to Midoriya once more, shrugging lightly.
"She can grow whatever she has previously encountered or consumed, but unless she has experienced it personally to some extent she cannot replicate it from scratch." He paused to listen again before adding, "She knows some vegetables, but not fruit. Maybe if we found some canned fruit in the city she could replicate fresh produce after making contact? We'll have to see what we can find once we decide to go." He turned his eyes towards the dilapidated city nestled in the valley below. "That place is huge. Maybe we can find bunkers tucked away with lingering supplies, untouched by radiation."
Izuku.
Midoriya glanced to the side, focusing on Todoroki's voice.
We need to speak with you before considering venturing into the city. There are things you need to know that may influence your decision to do so.
Midoriya glanced towards Amajiki, then asked in a hushed tone, "What is it? Is something wrong?"
Todoroki was quiet for a moment, then calmly replied, We can discuss further after breakfast. Take your time. We are still becoming better acquainted with our newest arrivals.
"Okay." Midoriya breathed out softly, glancing up and meeting Amajiki's eyes, his companion watching him tiredly. Midoriya arched his brow, reaching up and petting Amajiki's cheek, the older boy leaning into his palm and closing his eyes, an affectionate smile turning up his lips.
It took a small amount of time for Komori to craft a little garden in the soil beside the tent, Amajiki and Midoriya pleased to discover variations of wild radishes and carrots, spring onions and potatoes, along with a few others that they didn't readily recognize, but the lesser demon assured were entirely edible. Komori explained each in turn, educating her host on what vegetables she had replicated for them, Amajiki relaying the information to Midoriya while his fingers trailed over the freshly tilled earth.
"This is celery root, and fennel." He shifted his hand over another larger plant, marveling at the wide leaves and purplish stalks. "This is rutabaga, and kale, and these are turnips." He gestured to another patch nearby. "There's garlic, turmeric, and ginger just there." He pulled back his hands, patting his knees absently as he crouched beside the garden patch. "With these we could make all sorts of things. There's a ton of potential combinations." He glanced back at Midoriya, his cheeks dusted with pink and his smile bright. "Do you remember the taste of baked potatoes? Maybe we can make some later, with vegetable soup for lunch!"
Midoriya nodded, his eyes wide, glancing over each of the leafy green clusters and trying to remember their names, what they tasted like, if he'd ever actually eaten them before or if he'd only read about them in books. "Are you sure it's alright for us to eat them now? Are they fully grown, or should we wait a while until they're ready?"
Amajiki hummed and nodded, reaching out and grasping one of the potato plants, tugging it from the soil and uprooting several large tubers growing beneath. "Komori says it's fine to eat them now. She'll grow more for us as needed." He grinned and gestured towards the carrots and celery nearby. "Take whatever you like! I'll start working on breakfast. I'm pretty sure I remember reading about how to make garlic potato skewers!"
Midoriya nodded while returning Amajiki's smile, taking his time to gather up several bunches of root vegetables and leafy greens before glancing towards the forest nearby. He bit his bottom lip absently, thinking of visiting the lake to rinse the vegetables and fetch fresh water for them both.
He turned towards his companion, opening his mouth to speak, but suddenly a wave of static electricity washed over him and knocked the breath from his lungs, his body seizing as he fell back on his haunches. Midoriya didn't understand what had happened for a long moment until he spotted her, staring in horror at the small figure standing just behind Amajiki at the edge of their camp. Her eyes were black, burning coals, and her tattered white wings were stained with soot and ash, thick tar spreading out beneath her feet and creeping across the dewy grass. She was terrifying, like something out of a nightmare.
Amajiki didn't even realize she was standing there. None of their demons had alerted them of her presence, and now she was close enough that she could kill either of them easily if she liked.
"Bakugou-" Midoriya hissed, reaching for the greater, but he found there was no one there to greet him. A thick, weighted blanket had fallen over his mind, dulling his senses. It reminded him of when he had first awoken after contracting with Shinsou, when the embodied demon had muted his plethora's voices to allow Midoriya to sleep.
Amajiki glanced up slightly, arching his brow a little. "Izuku? Are you okay?"
Midoriya watched the twisted figure warily, his fear turning to ice in his veins as he whispered to Amajiki desperately, "Call for Hawks-" He inhaled sharply as the figure's wings shifted minutely, the small girl continuously staring at him, watching his movements closely. "Call for anyone!" He forced out in a strained tone, "See if they respond!"
Amajiki frowned a little, watching Midoriya while quickly doing as he asked. As soon as Hawks surfaced the figure turned her eyes from Midoriya towards the fallen angel instead, and the pressure that had overwhelmed Midoriya's senses snapped like a taut wire, Midoriya gasping in a rush of fresh air as his plethora rose to the surface. Bakugou and Todoroki were before him in an instant, taking defensive stances and summoning their strength, Shinsou stepping between the greaters and the unknown entity that had appeared before them, Hawks similarly taking a defensive position between Amajiki and the small girl.
"Everyone calm down." Shinsou called evenly, lifting his hands and blocking Bakugou's path as the greater started forward, Todoroki holding his position before Midoriya, glancing down at his host with concern as Midoriya shakily pushed himself back to his feet. Amajiki was frozen in place, his eyes wide as he realized how close he was to danger, gradually backing away a few steps and making his way to Midoriya's side, his eyes never leaving the manifestation of that small, tattered girl.
Hawks approached her slowly, kneeling down before her and folding back his wings, taking in her appearance with a soft, sad expression. "Hey there, little one. It's alright, we're not a threat to you. We don't mean you any harm."
The girl's face twisted and she lifted her wings, her remiges trembling as she flexed and flapped them against the air, sending soot raining down all around her. "Go back. Go back."
Shinsou frowned a little, watching Hawks interact with her, offering hesitantly, "I bumped into her earlier while I was out exploring the valley. She must have tracked my energy signature and followed me back here."
Hawks didn't turn his eyes away from her, humming a soft acknowledgement at Shinsou's words before reaching out, offering one of his gloved hands palm-up, giving the small angel a gentle smile. "What's your name? Can you tell me your name?"
Midoriya felt fingertips against his shoulders, several voices speaking against the back of his mind all at once.
Eri.
Her name is Eri.
She's dangerous!
Get away from her.
She'll rip us apart.
Get away from her now!
Bakugou and Todoroki could hear their voices as well, exchanging a quiet glance before looking back at Midoriya, the human host frowning and considering for a moment before whispering cautiously to Shinsou, "What is she? Is she really that much of a threat?"
"She's a remnant, like Hawks." He replied evenly, glancing back to meet Midoriya's eyes. "A fallen angel."
"What is she doing here?" Amajiki asked breathlessly, watching cautiously as Hawks continued to interact with her, Midoriya reaching over and taking his companion's hand, squeezing his fingers tightly. "I don't understand, I've never seen another demon with wings like Hawks' before."
"Fallen angels are oddities, even amongst our ranks." Shinsou offered quietly, lowering his arm slightly when it seemed Bakugou wasn't intent on stepping any closer to the girl. "It's uncommon enough to find an angel walking the realm of reality, let alone an angel out here, in the middle of nowhere, all alone…"
"Most angels congregate where there are people." Bakugou added quietly, his eyes burning as he shifted his gaze to Midoriya and Amajiki. "It doesn't make sense that she would choose to roost in such a dilapidated city, unless there are contractors within we haven't sensed in the weeks since we've arrived."
Midoriya frowned a little, looking away from Bakugou and Shinsou to meet Todoroki's eyes. "You said before there was something you wanted to discuss with me? Something about the city?"
Todoroki nodded slowly, tilting his head slightly and nodding towards the small angel nearby. "It might have something to do with her, but I am uncertain. Her energy signature isn't the one I've been most concerned about. There's something else within the city, something all of us have been able to sense growing over these past several weeks." He frowned a little, his brow arching as he looked out across the valley towards the city. "This place is filled with deviancy and chaos. It might prove wiser for us to relocate to a more suitable area, than linger here any longer and risk an altercation with those that reside below."
Amajiki was watching the greaters with slight awe, listening carefully to their conversation with Midoriya, marveling at how well he could hear and see Midoriya's demons, and sense their manifestations. It was surreal to experience them like this, almost as clearly as he could see them in haven, undoubtedly due to their energy reserves being at max capacity after weeks of regular feedings and rest. Their demons were stronger than they had ever been, and yet Todoroki still spoke of the dangers within the city as if both of their plethoras combined couldn't handle themselves in a brawl with whatever it was that lurked the abandoned streets.
He couldn't wrap his mind around it, an opponent as powerful and dangerous as that. Right now, with the energy reserves compiled within them, he felt as if he were truly unstoppable, especially with Midoriya at his side.
He frowned a little, arching his brow and opting to speak up before the demon continued. "Is it really something so concerning that you think we should move our camp?" Amajiki asked, Midoriya squeezing his hand gently, the older boy taking a step closer to Midoriya's side. "Hawks hasn't mentioned anything about this, about anything in the city being a potential danger to us, or having to uproot ourselves again and find a new home…" He pinched his brow, glancing over to watch Hawks' interaction with their unexpected guest, his chest twisting with unease and anxiety.
What was going on? What weren't they saying? Surely there was some reason as to why this angel had arrived, surely something bigger was in the works, something that their demons weren't letting on. It made him feel weak and vulnerable. Helpless, despite his plethora's brimming, near limitless capabilities in the present moment.
He had thought that they were growing, that their plethoras were steadily becoming stronger. That their bonds were deepening and strengthening as their bodies healed, as their energies peaked and began to overflow. It seemed his plethora was still sheltering him, treating him as a child to be protected from the outside world. He wanted to know more. He wanted to know everything. He wanted his plethora to tell him exactly what was happening out there in the wilds, lurking in the dark.
Hawks pinched the fingertips of his gloves and pulled them off slowly, offering his open palms to Eri once more, eventually taking her small hands. The angel was watching him quietly, her energy fizzling and steaming wherever she made contact with him, the scent of charred flesh souring the air. Hawks watched her patiently, waiting to see if she would speak, and then something unexpected happened.
Hizashi appeared at Hawks' side, kneeling down beside Eri and taking one of her small, soot-smeared hands in his own without hesitation. The way he touched her, with such familiarity, it twisted something inside Amajiki's chest.
Aizawa manifested immediately, stepping closer to his cherished and watching Hizashi's movements carefully, a little frown turning down his lips. Hizashi didn't acknowledge him at first, but gradually shifted to draw Eri closer into his arms, standing up and cupping the back of her skull as she rested her cheek against his shoulder. The black tar and ash slowly drained from her small figure, until eventually nothing remained except pure, pristine white. Now, instead of the terrifying figure Midoriya had first witnessed at the edge of camp, she appeared to be nothing more than a small, beautiful angel, the warm sunlight streaming down from high above highlighting her pinions in soft, brilliant gold.
She folded in her wings so they rested lightly against her shoulders, blinking up at Hizashi and Aizawa slowly, one of her thumbs caught between her lips as she listened to them speaking back and forth quietly.
Hawks stood back, giving them space to converse alone, Amajiki hesitating for a few moments longer before starting forward, coming to stand at Hawks' side.
"What's going on?" He whispered softly, and Hawks shrugged lightly, his crimson feathers brushing against Amajiki's arm.
"Not sure yet. She wouldn't talk to me. She seems to have calmed down for now."
"You know I can't do that. I'm tethered." Aizawa murmured quietly, his tone gentle, his fingertips tracing the length of Hizashi's forearm. The other greater frowned a little, his manifestation flickering between astral and reality, and he held Aizawa's eyes for a long moment before turning away. Eri watched them as she was carried back towards the valley, her eyes wide and bright, her irises a brilliant ruby red.
Aizawa watched them go, and Amajiki could feel his yearning, his longing to be with his cherished. He couldn't be sure of everything that was said, but somehow it felt as if Hizashi had asked Aizawa to go with him, and Aizawa hadn't been able to oblige him, due to his contract with Amajiki.
He stepped closer to Aizawa's side, the greater gradually glancing over to meet his eyes. "Is everything okay?" He asked, and Aizawa was quiet for a long moment before exhaling a heavy sigh.
"It's nothing to concern yourself with. I can handle it on my own."
Amajiki arched his brow a little, frowning lighty. "Should I go with them? Will it help if I walk after them into the valley?"
"No." Hawks said quickly, stepping forward once more. "It isn't safe to go there. Not now. Not yet."
"He's right." Aizawa murmured, "We can't risk anything happening to you. Either of you." He looked past Amajiki to Midoriya, staring at the younger human for a long moment before turning away, his manifestation already beginning to fade. Amajiki watched as Aizawa's figure shifted from reality back into astral, and once the greater was gone he turned towards Hawks, glancing over at Shinsou, exhaling roughly through his nose.
"You need to tell us what's going on. What's out there? What are you all hiding from us?"
Midoriya stepped closer to Bakugou, Todoroki still standing quietly at his side. "Katsuki? Shouto?"
Bakugou hesitated before turning away from Shinsou, reaching up and carding his fingers through his hair, rubbing absently between his horns. "We didn't want to worry you by saying too much."
"You needed time to heal and rest. Both of you." Todoroki murmured gently, his fingertips gliding soothingly up Midoriya's arm.
Shinsou frowned a little, his eyes wandering from his contractor to his human companion, thinking of what was coming, thinking of what might happen, what they should say and what they should keep to themselves.
"Hitoshi?" Midoriya asked softly, concern etched into his tone, and the chaos sighed and relented, meeting Hawks' eyes briefly before returning his gaze to Midoriya.
"Alright then. We'll tell you what we know." He rolled his shoulders slightly, shifting to cross his arms over his broad chest. "There are many unknown factors we have yet to shine light upon, things we won't know for sure without further investigation, but for now we can go over what we do know for certain."
Bakugou frowned a little, dropping his hand and closing his eyes before tilting his face towards the light of the sun. "It's a lot to handle, mentally and emotionally." He looked down again, his irises burning as he met Midoriya's eyes. "You need to prepare yourself for what we are about to say."
Todoroki took Midoriya's hand, squeezing his fingers, nodding lightly at Bakugou's words. "There's a reason we haven't said anything until now. The knowledge of this is a heavy burden." He glanced between the two humans, watching their expressions, trying to keep his voice calm and even as he spoke. "First and foremost we need you both to understand that this could quickly become a life or death situation. If it comes to that, we will possess you in order to save our hosts."
"You would possess us?" Midoriya murmured, his chest twisting and his heart fluttering wildly, arching his brow a bit and searching Todoroki's eyes. "Without our permission?"
"If it was necessary to save your life, then yes." Todoroki replied gently, rubbing his thumb back and forth against Midoriya's hand. "Once we were certain it was safe, we would relinquish control once more, and give your autonomy back to you, but in the meantime…"
"We would be in full possession of your body, our will would overwhelm yours." Bakugou added quietly, a low growl rumbling beneath his tone. "You're strong enough now that you can handle a full-body possession and come away unscathed, so long as we are there to protect you and you do not fight against us to regain control."
Todoroki nodded, taking a step closer to Midoriya, petting soothingly along his side. "Can you trust us enough to allow us to possess you temporarily? Can you trust us to do what is necessary to save your life?"
Midoriya blinked slowly, trying to understand and absorb everything that was being said. "Who would be in control if something like that were to happen?" He asked hesitantly, "Just you and Katsuki?"
Todoroki nodded, his eyes drifting towards the greater standing nearby. "We are the only two within your plethora strong enough to possess you, as of right now. It's possible over time Uraraka or the others may be able to do so as well, but such deviancy is typically reserved for higher tiers; greaters and above."
"So then...you could possess me?" Amajiki asked Hawks, the angel nodding and flexing his wings lightly as he shifted his weight from foot to foot. "You, Shimura, and Usagi?"
"Yes. We could possess you at will easily now that you're healthy and our energy reserves are full." He watched Amajiki's reactions, tilting his head to the side slightly. "I know the concept of possession is scary, but none of us desire to consume you alive before your time comes. We would possess you only to protect you in a dire situation where no other options were available to us at the time." He reached out slowly, tracing his fingertips along the curve of Amajiki's cheek. "I'm not sure if you remember, but there have been times in the past where we have possessed you before to keep you safe. Especially when you were still small. It was brief each time, but you have experienced it. We gave you back control as soon as you were out of danger. We never kept you submerged for long."
Amajiki nodded slowly, clinging to Hawks' words. "I...I trust that you would never hurt me. I don't...remember anything about being possessed before, but…" He looked to Midoriya, arching his brow a bit, still speaking to Hawks. "It won't hurt us, if you take over like that? What exactly does it mean for you to take control?"
"We would manifest our quirks through you." Todoroki explained calmly, Hawks nodding in agreement as the other greater spoke. "You would essentially act as a physical body for us to wield temporarily, before returning you to your senses and giving you back full control."
"You experience minor levels of possession almost daily." Bakugou added, his tail lashing the air behind him. "When you use our strength as your own, our abilities being channeled through you is technically a slight level of deviancy." He shrugged a little before crossing his arms over his chest as well. "The main difference is when we possess you, you're submerged and unable to control your movements at all. Your body is ours, until we choose to give you back control."
"We become your puppets." Amajiki said quietly, and the implications sent chills coursing up Midoriya's spine.
"In all aspects, yes." Hawks nodded, brushing his wing against Amajiki's side. "You're an empty vessel for us to manipulate and use at will. We are in complete control."
"That still doesn't explain anything." Midoriya breathed, shaking his head lightly. "Why are we even discussing consensual possession like this so suddenly? What about this city terrifies all of you so much that you imagine you might be forced to do so?"
Shinsou stepped forward, gesturing towards the valley. "There are several unique entities within the city that are deviant tier, if not chaos. While the city could prove to be a treasure trove of resources for you and Amajiki, if we are going to explore the ruins we need to be willing to fight against those entities, should they deem our presence amongst them a threat and turn hostile. We need to be on guard at all times for any unforeseen attacks."
He curled back his lips, his fangs flashing momentarily as he added with a low growl,
"Feral demons are notoriously territorial, greedy and prideful. Entering into the areas they have claimed as their own will without question cause some sort of reaction. If we discover they are friendly with one another, they may choose to band together to launch a cooperative strike. I can handle another chaos well enough on my own, but going up against two would overwhelm me."
He frowned and glanced to the side, dropping one of his arms and flicking his wrist absently, his fingers curling against the air.
"I've dealt with other reavers in my time, and I can boast candidly that until now I have demolished every opponent I have ever faced without fail. With that being said, having two human hosts to safeguard during a deathmatch is a handicap in and of itself." He arched his brow a little, offering Midoriya an apologetic smile. "I don't want to risk either of you getting hurt, regardless of what we might find exploring the city. There is nothing that could possibly be worth risking your lives for." He turned away slightly, shrugging dismissively while adding, "I'm fine with the idea of exploring wherever we can while we can, but if we suddenly find ourselves in a deadly situation, getting the two of you out of the city limits is our utmost prerogative." He shook his head slowly. "Nothing else matters. Only that."
"We should attack preemptively, not just wait around for them to come for us." Bakugou snorted, growling and clenching his fangs. "We've waited around while that thing gathers power. For all we know, allowing it to have the first attack could prove fatal to us all."
"We know nothing about them." Todoroki said softly, exhaling a strained sigh. "They're exceedingly strong, and acknowledging that fact is frightening, yes...but that doesn't necessarily mean they're aggressive." He looked from Bakugou to Shinsou, then met eyes with Hawks calmly. "We've been living on the mountain for weeks now and not once in that time has anything from the valley risen to attack us." He gestured lightly towards the city as he spoke. "If anything, attacking unprovoked may lead to risking Midoriya and Amajiki's lives unnecessary. We can't approach this rashly without considering our other options."
Bakugou narrowed his eyes, letting out another annoyed snort. "What, you think we should just waltz in there and calmly introduce ourselves while offering up a buffet? If our hosts are the only humans those things have encountered in decades they'll be ravenous. Demons aren't capable of thinking logically if they're starving-"
"Alright. Alright." Shinsou crooned, glancing between the two greaters and arching his brow, sighing deeply. "Give them time to process what we're saying. Nothing has been decided yet." He turned slightly, still speaking to the demons beside him while looking down at Midoriya with a reassuring little smile. "This is a lot to just throw at them suddenly, without any prior indication of something being amiss." He shrugged a little, his tail lashing the air rhythmically behind him. "Let's give them time to discuss things amongst themselves. They both need to think about what they want to do."
Midoriya nodded slowly, his mind reeling with questions and anxieties, looking towards Amajiki and watching as his companion spoke back and forth with Hawks in a hushed tone, wondering what was being said. Shinsou drew his attention once more, patting his shoulder lightly before glancing down at the scattered vegetables strewn across the grass, kneeling down to start gathering them up, offering them to Midoriya one by one.
They'd had quite an eventful morning between forging new contracts and encountering Eri unexpectedly, and now it was finally time to relax and have some breakfast. There was much to discuss.
They still had time to figure out their next course of action before putting their plans into motion, and investigating what entities inhabited the shadowed valley below.
Thanks for reading! More to come!
