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

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 10: Veil

Midoriya's nails dug into Bakugou's shoulders, his soft pleasured cries muffled against the demon's bicep as he clung to him desperately.

"Katsuki! Katsuki!"

Bakugou shivered pleasantly at his tone, at the sharp sting of nails digging into his flesh. He growled and quickened his pace, Midoriya practically yelping as Bakugou jerked him with each movement, the demon panting heavily against his contractor's ear while coaxing him closer to climax.

"I've got you. I've got you. I won't let go."

Midoriya's whine hitched an octave and he cried out sharply as he spilled, clenching around Bakugou tightly and arching beneath him, the demon watching him with a heated expression, memorizing the expressions twisting his face. Midoriya's entire body convulsed with overstimulation for a few lingering seconds before he exhaled a shuddering breath and relaxed beneath Bakugou, panting shakily. Bakugou dipped down to kiss him, Midoriya humming into his mouth and kissing back tiredly, whining softly as Bakugou continued fucking into him in rough little slaps.

"Cum in me. Cum inside me." Midoriya whispered against his lips, carding his fingers through Bakugou's golden hair, tightening his hold while kissing him eagerly, Bakugou growling against his lips.

"Izuku-" Bakugou breathed out, and Midoriya held his eyes, his expression rosy and sated with afterglow.

"Let me feel you." Midoriya murmured, kissing Bakugou's jaw and tightening his hold around the demon's neck, closing his eyes and basking in his warmth while urging him on sweetly. "Don't stop until you've made me cum again."

Hawks and Todoroki were on high alert from the moment they felt Dabi's presence, exchanging a glance at sensing the near limitless energy that had suddenly manifested within the city, the other demons within their respective plethoras immediately taking notice as well. It had all of their survival instincts screaming, and as the greaters continued to watch the stars high above were blotted out by impossible darkness one by one.

"What is that?" Rodi breathed, standing to his feet and peering up at the pitch black sky as well. "Is a demon doing that?"

There was a pause, an eerie silence washing over the mountainside, then suddenly a massive dome encircled the entire camp, encapsulating everyone inside. They were lifted from the earth, the planet spinning on its axis sickeningly for several agonizing moments before the dome dissipated and released them back onto level ground once more.

Rodi stumbled and fell to the ground, slapping a hand over his mouth to force himself not to vomit, swallowing thickly several times before that crazy intense sensation of vertigo began to fade away. When he glanced up he met eyes with a demon he hadn't truly met before, the chaos that had opposed Shigaraki. They held one another's eyes for a long moment before Shinsou redirected his attention, immediately turning to speak with Todoroki and Hawks.

Amajiki tried to push himself up, but Rodi reached out and stopped him, insisting the other boy remain still and try to rest.

"Izuku?" Amajiki called, and Rodi patted his upper arm gently, glancing towards the other human nearby. He was sheltered from their eyes by a sizable iridescent bubble, the orb resting against the curve of the hillside several steps away, and though Rodi couldn't see what was happening he could feel the energy curling from within.

"He's okay." Rodi reassured gently, glancing around and familiarizing himself with their new location, Pino chirping curiously and branching out to explore a short distance as well. "He's with us, he's just...preoccupied at the moment."

Amajiki blinked slowly, his head throbbing and his body feeling heavy and weak. He flexed his fingers and Shimura took his hand, Usagi petting over his temple and forehead gently, trying to soothe him.

It's alright, Tamaki.

Rest now. Everything's alright.

Amajiki blinked slowly, humming softly and closing his eyes, not sleeping fully but simply resting beneath their touch. Rodi kept a close eye on his breathing, glancing around now and then as Pino continued to explore, wondering where it was that the chaos had suddenly transported them to, and wondering how much of a hassle it would be to try and find his way back again. He'd liked that city. He hadn't been finished with it quite yet, especially not after finally cracking into that bunker.

When he'd made the decision to set out in search of new friends, he hadn't expected all of this to come along with it. Then again, things had become rather boring recently. At least his current circumstances were interesting, to say the least.

Shinsou watched the new addition to their party with a little frown, exhaling through his nose and glancing towards the bubble concealing Bakugou and Midoriya from view, not wishing to disturb them but worried about his contractor nonetheless. Energy continued to pour from the orb, only growing in intensity and richness, Shinsou parting his lips and breathing it in, basking in the overwhelming excess.

Todoroki took a step closer, looking up at Shinsou and asking under his breath, "You're certain you've placed enough distance between us?"

"For now." Shinsou agreed with a nod, glancing down and catching the greater's eyes. "We're lucky it was already dark. It allowed my abilities to flex to their fullest, even if only for a few moments. It was just enough to do what needed to be done in the end."

Hawks took a step past them, his eyes fixated on something ahead of them just out of sight. At the edge of camp, where Pino had come to stand in the dense fog, there were three figures huddled together, observing the campsite warily. "We've got company." Hawks said under his breath, and as he stepped forward he manifested fully in reality, drawing back his wings to a great height and sweeping them forward, casting back the thick fog in rolling waves.

Rodi's eyes widened a little as he pushed himself back to his feet, the human skipping ahead a bit to draw closer to his bonded, murmuring to Hawks as they continued closer side-by-side, "I saw them in the city before as we flew over, they were at the edge of the city limits. It looked as if they were waiting for something. It didn't feel to me like they were a threat."

"No, they're not." Hawks agreed, folding his wings against his spine again. "They were with us before, at the bunker. They tried to help when Amajiki fell."

Shindou took a step closer to greet them, Hawks offering the greater earth a little smile while reaching out a gloved hand, Rodi watching their exchange curiously as Pino came to hover at his side. The pair beside him shifted forward curiously, watching Pino with obvious interest, one of the greaters smiling down at her and speaking to her softly while the other crossed her arms over her chest, fixing Rodi in her sights.

"How is he?" She asked, Rodi shoving his hands in his pockets and nodding over his shoulder, a little grin teasing up his lips.

"He's resting for now. Should be alright."

"His companion?" The other asked, and Rodi looked to her with another little nod, humming his agreement.

"Yeah, he's alright too. Working on renewing his energy reserves as we speak!" He gave the pair a little wink, turning to look back over his shoulder towards the bubble resting nearby the fire, his gaze lingering on the embodied chaos watching over it from a short distance away.

Shinsou sensed his gaze, meeting Rodi's eyes for a moment before returning his attention to Bakugou and Midoriya, the energy emitting from their shared space sizzling as it swept over the other demons within range. Todoroki stayed close to the iridescent orb as well, finding a place to sit beside the fire and reclining back on his hands, letting out a quiet sigh.

"Sit. Relax a while." The dual murmured, looking up at the chaos with a half-lidded gaze, his tail patting the grass beside him. "I'm certain you're far more in need of respite than the rest of us. We're safe for now. Try to savor this."

He was right. Shinsou knew he was right, but he was still coiled tightly with tense energy, his senses on high alert, his instincts surging with cautionary warnings to run and hide and protect.

Had that chaos wanted him dead, there would have been little Shinsou could have done about it, especially with his reserves as low as they had been.

He couldn't make a mistake like that again. He had to end any future altercations with another chaos quickly, instead of allowing things to become unnecessarily drawn-out. Why had he allowed it to go on like that? Why hadn't he ended it quickly? It had been within his power to do so. He could have overwhelmed that newly ascended and consumed him easily enough. What had he been waiting for?

There was a part of him that felt pity for Shigaraki. There was a part of him that had cringed at seeing him ripped apart, that had felt repulsed as his core was subsequently devoured.

The chaos that had toyed with Shinsou hadn't held a shred of mercy within his entire being. All traces of lingering humanity were long since dead and gone.

It made him extremely dangerous, his tactics and desires simple and bestial in nature. It meant that Shinsou wouldn't be able to reason with him. To him, this was all just a game, and Shinsou had undoubtedly drawn his interest now after transporting his contractor as far away from the city as he possibly could in that moment.

Once his energy reserves were full again, and he had time to speak with Midoriya about what was happening, it was likely they would warp again. As ancient as that chaos was, Shinsou couldn't be certain how far they would need to go before he would undoubtedly lose interest. For now, the game was fresh and exciting, and they would all need to use every precaution available to them to keep Midoriya and Amajiki as far away from danger as possible.

Shinsou had a distinct feeling that they were being hunted. It was an unshakable foreboding sensation, restlessness twisting at his gut mercilessly, not allowing the spiraling energy trapped in his core to subside.

Small fingers slipped between his own, and Shinsou looked down to meet eyes with an unfamiliar demon. She watched him curiously, ruffling her feathers and drawing back hesitantly when he simply stared at her for a long, quiet moment, not responding to her touch.

Shinsou exhaled a heavy breath, pushing his turbulent thoughts to the background as he focused on her instead, crouching down beside her and looking up into her bright blue eyes.

"Hello, little one. What's your name?"

She arched her brow a little, then lifted one of her hands to tap against her throat, letting out a soft warble in reply.

Shinsou frowned at that, leaning a little closer and examining the brand over her throat. The gnarled sigils appeared to be the remnants of a collar, a forced bond with a witch or a priest no doubt. It seemed that breaking free from the bond had rendered her mute, and so instead of speaking in words she gestured and made soft vocalizations resembling a twittering bird, Shinsou smiling and watching over her closely as she attempted to communicate her concerns.

He could feel her emotions well enough through their close proximity in astral, and he hummed quietly and shifted his gaze to rest on her contractor, asking curiously after a moment, "You're wondering about returning him home? To the city?"

She nodded lightly, lowering her hands slightly while fluffing her feathers around herself, pouting a little as she watched the chaos, waiting for him to speak.

Shinsou thought to himself for a moment before meeting her eyes and replying softly, "I'm sorry, little one. I can't help you return to that place. There's a chaos chasing us. A powerful, old one at that. Were we to return now, he would devour us whole." He arched his brow a bit, adding gently, "As curious as he was regarding my contractor, I fear yours might draw his interest as well. It would be better for you both to avoid the city until that chaos has lost interest in pursuing us."

He looked towards Rodi, watching as the human conversed back and forth with the trio of demons standing before Hawks, quietly considering their next course of action. He thought to himself for a while longer before glancing towards the bubble concealing Bakugou and Midoriya from the outside world, humming quietly.

"Perhaps for now you might consider staying with us? It would be safest not to venture off into the wilds alone." He met Pino's eyes, offering her a little smile. "We have strength in numbers. We could offer you shelter amongst us, until we find somewhere safe to reside."

Pino watched him for a long moment, blinking up at him slowly, then she turned towards her contractor's voice, flickering to his side within moments. Rodi smiled down at her, lacing their fingers gently and returning to his conversation with Hawks, Shinsou staring after them for a long moment before sighing aloud, shifting to settle down beside Todoroki.

A small eternity passed before the steady stream of energy emitting from the bubble began to subside. Eventually the bubble popped, revealing the demon and contractor within, and Shinsou finally felt himself relax. Seeing Midoriya safe in Bakugou's arms settled his nerves inexplicably. They stayed pressed together for several moments longer, sharing soft kisses between them, before Bakugou glanced up and caught Shinsou's eyes, the chaos quirking a brow and offering the greater a mischievous little smirk.

He hadn't been wrong to accept Bakugou's deal. Their bargain had essentially saved all of their lives. It had drawn Bakugou and Midoriya closer together as well.

Midoriya followed Bakugou's gaze, his eyes widening as he realized Shinsou had returned to them, immediately leaving the greater's side and rushing over to meet him. He tugged Shinsou quickly to his feet, urging him towards his injured companion, and as they knelt together beside Amajiki the demon reached out and cupped the back of his head, soothing away all lingering aches and healing what damage had been done.

Amajiki exhaled a quiet breath, blinking slowly and rolling over to look up at Midoriya tiredly, and this time when he tried to sit up Midoriya helped him. He reached up and rubbed at his forehead, pinching his brow and frowning while glancing around their changed environment. "Where are we?"

Midoriya glanced around as well, realizing for the first time that they were no longer resting on the mountainside. This place was entirely different, shrouded in dense fog, the sound of waves crashing against stone thundering somewhere just out of sight. Midoriya's eyes widened as he stood from Amajiki's side, walking closer to Hawks and Rodi, Shinsou hesitating only a moment before following after him.

Rodi caught Midoriya's eyes as he turned to watch the other human's approach, giving him a little wave in greeting while offering a teasing grin, "Hey there! All finished with your feeding?"

"Where are we? How did we get here?"

"Ask your chaos." Rodi replied, shrugging lightly and leaning slightly to the side to fix Shinsou in his sights. "Care to tell us why you brought us here, big guy?"

Shinsou took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, nodding to himself for a moment before meeting Midoriya's eyes.

"Alright. I'll explain this as best I can. I apologize in advance, demonic politics aren't my strongest suit by far."

He glanced towards Hawks briefly before returning his eyes to Midoriya and Rodi, continuing with a low growl.

"Another chaos interrupted my brawl with the recently ascended, and after consuming my opponent he turned on me, threatening to come after you." He frowned a little, his tail swaying behind him slowly as he tried to keep things as simplified as possible. "There wasn't time to discuss what was happening, and so I did what I had to do, and moved us as far away from the city as I could reach." He cast his eyes across the swirling fog, adding after a moment, "It would be wise for us to move again before daybreak. My elemental attunement is at its strongest in the dead of night."

Midoriya shook his head slightly, trying his best to comprehend what Shinsou was implying, his breath escaping in trembling puffs of fog. "So what you're saying is...we're being hunted?"

Shinsou nodded lightly, reaching out to brush his fingertips against his contractor's hand, trying to instill a sense of calm. "He won't catch up to us easily, not with the distance I can weave between us, but until he loses interest in pursuing us we need to be careful about lingering in any one place for too long."

Rodi whistled long and low, crossing his arms over his chest and raising a brow while asking, "Don't suppose you'd mind taking us along for the ride? This place kinda gives me the creeps, and if it's all the same to you I'd rather we not become a chaos' meal anytime soon."

"I offered as much to your bonded." Shinsou replied with a nod, Pino fluffing her feathers and crooning softly, Rodi smiling down at her with an affectionate gaze.

"Alright then!" Rodi agreed cheerily before gesturing to the demons behind him. "What about our other unexpected tagalongs?"

Shinsou redirected his gaze to the trio of unbound listening quietly, Hawks considering as well before speaking up on their behalf.

"I wonder if Amajiki would be willing to offer them a contract. They came to camp to speak with us again just as you encased us. It's only by chance they weren't ripped to shreds during the sudden transition." He shifted his wings, fanning them out slightly before settling them against his spine once more. "They offered what help they could while we were underground without you. Amajiki had been considering a contract with Shindou before the quakes began."

He offered the earth elemental a smile, Shindou grinning and reaching up to card his fingers through his dark hair before looking to the greater pair beside him. Hawks followed his gaze, nodding and turning to meet Shinsou's eyes.

"Their quirks are useful. We may need their strength during upcoming fights."

"It couldn't hurt." Shinsou agreed, the chaos lingering beside Midoriya and Rodi, watching silently as Hawks led the unbound further into camp to speak with his contractor.

The ocean waves were clearly audible now that their voices had quieted. Midoriya listened to the waves quietly, the dense fog curling around him misting his clothing and skin, his hair tousled lightly by the passing breeze, the taste of salt heavy in the air. Rodi whistled to himself absently, continuing forward out into the fog to explore, and after only a moment of hesitation Midoriya followed after him, Shinsou trailing only a few steps behind, ensuring his contractor wasn't too far out of sight.

Midoriya wasn't certain if he had ever spent so much time submerged in astral before. It felt strange to casually walk the same realm as his demons, but at the same time safer than it may have otherwise been to travel the same steps in reality. Like this, he could see and feel and taste everything around him so much clearer, his surroundings enhanced in a way that was almost indescribable.

Rodi came to stand at the crest of a giant rock overlooking the ocean below, large waves crashing harshly against the cliffs and scattering seafoam on the breeze, the older boy's expression pure unadulterated delight.

"I've never been to the sea!" He called out over the roar of the waves, turning to watch Midoriya as he approached. "Have you?"

"No…" Midoriya murmured, his voice nearly lost beneath the thunderous roar, and Rodi laughed merrily while reaching out and cuffing his shoulder playfully, grinning and tilting his head towards the dark waters below.

"Wanna take a closer look?" He asked, and as he stepped forward feathers sprouted along his shoulders and spine, quickly spreading down the lengths of his arms and gathering at his fingertips, pinions swiftly overtaking most of his tanned skin and fusing into wings. He flexed his remiges against the rough current and with an excited whoop he stepped forward off of the cliff, allowing the gale cast by the turbulent waves to sweep him up into the salty air.

Midoriya gasped and reached out for him, but Rodi was far above him in a matter of moments, his laughter echoing through the thick fog.

"Come on! You've gotta see this!"

Midoriya drew back his hand slightly, his fingers curling against the air, shivering as he searched for the human beyond his sight.

Shinsou pressed a hand against his back, his eyes glowing with neon violet as he leaned a little closer, offering Midoriya his clawed hand.

"Would you like to borrow my wings for a little while?"

Midoriya's pulse fluttered at the prospect, and he searched Shinsou's eyes, asking hesitantly, "Is it a form of possession?"

"In some ways." Shinsou replied honestly, watching his contractor patiently, giving Midoriya a few moments to make up his mind. "Do you want me to help you fly?"

Midoriya bit his lip, arching his brow, glancing up again as he heard Rodi whoop and let out another peal of bright laughter, and with a leap of faith he grasped Shinsou's hand and murmured his consent, the chaos smiling secretively to himself before vanishing from sight.

Midoriya felt Shinsou behind him, as if resting against him gently, then that feeling began to sink inside of him, and with a hitch of breath he realized dark runes were etching themselves into his skin in spiraling patterns. He watched with wide eyes as membranes began to grow between his fingertips and elongate from his forearms, spines sprouting from his elbows and shoulders as his arms changed into something resembling a bat's wings, his exposed nerves tingling against the salty air as he lifted his arms against the wind.

There's nothing to fear. He heard Shinsou whisper against the back of his mind. I'll catch you if you start to fall.

Midoriya curled his fingers, watching as his borrowed wings shifted and twisted in response, and he looked up through the fog for any sign of Rodi before letting out a shaky breath.

"I don't know how to do this. How do I get us up there?"

Like this. Shinsou replied with a smile, his lips curling against the back of Midoriya's neck. Midoriya felt Shinsou lift his arms, and then with a strong downbeat he kicked off from the cliffs, a rush of vertigo sweeping over him as he was carried quickly above the rolling fog and into the glittering skies.

Rodi was grinning from ear to ear as he tilted his wings at a sharper angle and drew closer, laughing and nodding his approval, mischief shimmering in his storm-grey eyes. "That's it! Easy does it!" He shifted his remiges slightly so the current carried him under Midoriya in a smooth arch, Midoriya watching the fluidity of his movements with surprise and awe. Rodi had shared flight with Pino for most of his life. Midoriya was only now learning the possibility of sharing a demon's wings.

I'm giving you control. Shinsou whispered against his shoulder, and Midoriya tensed slightly, Shinsou smoothing his hands over Midoriya's arms to keep him level and steady. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. Watch what he does, mimic his movements. Don't be afraid to fall.

Midoriya let out a trembling exhale but did as he was told, following Rodi's movements with his eyes before trying to copy the way he flexed his hands and wrists, bending his arms just so against the currents carrying them higher and higher above the cliffs. Up here, the air was pure and endless, the wind sweeping by whistling loudly in his ears, Midoriya almost deaf from the roar of it.

Rodi noticed the way he was wincing from the noise, and carefully he reached up and tugged his headphones from around his neck, shifting to slide them over Midoriya's ears. It was all Midoriya could do to keep himself level until the other boy pulled back, his heart fluttering as Rodi gave him a playful wink and a smile. Midoriya held his eyes, arching his brow and letting out a breath of tense laughter before forcing himself to take a deep breath and relax, turning to look ahead of them out towards the place where the sea melded into the sky.

The stars' reflections were blurred along the surface of the dark ocean, Midoriya following the line of the horizon to look up at the constellations overhead, twinkling and gleaming against a backdrop of inky black. He tilted his fingers ever-so-slightly, and the next sweep of gale took him soaring to greater heights, the cold causing him to shiver involuntarily, his breathing growing a little strained as the air became thinner at such great heights.

Mind if I take the helm? Shinsou asked gently, and Midoriya could feel Shinsou's fingers lacing through the membranes branching between his own, the demon within him manifesting just enough to share his natural warmth.

"It's beautiful." Midoriya whispered, and Shinsou chuckled softly before humming his agreement.

Astral is a beautiful place. The demon whispered in reply, and Midoriya felt him press a soft kiss against his shoulder before asking once again, Is it alright if I steer us? I want to show you something.

Midoriya considered for a long, quiet moment before nodding, and as he did so he felt himself returned to that place within him that was out of his control, that seat he had been strapped into before when Bakugou had risen to possess him. It sent a chill through him that could only be described as fear, but before he could begin to regret his decision he realized someone else was there with him in the darkness.

Sero smiled and took his hands, squeezing gently, reaching up to comb his fingers through Midoriya's hair.

"Don't worry. It won't be like last time." He offered Midoriya an apologetic little smile, and Midoriya glanced down to watch as the mid wrapped his arm in a spiral of prehensile tape, the sensation eerily familiar. It was exactly the same as how it had felt before, when he had been strapped in, unable to move.

"It was you?" Midoriya asked breathlessly, and Sero nodded, retracting his tape and smoothing his fingertips over Midoriya's knuckles gently.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to frighten you." He cupped Midoriya's cheek gently, holding his emerald eyes. "I realized after listening to you speak with Todoroki and Bakugou, that you must have thought it was because of him that you couldn't move. It wasn't Bakugou. I made that decision on my own." He glanced down at their hands, offering quietly. "They warned me that you might try to fight against being possessed, and that if you did so it might hurt you, and put you at risk." He glanced up hesitantly, his expression embarrassed and soft. "I didn't want that, and so I bound you the moment Bakugou took control."

Midoriya blinked a few times while looking away, trying to wrap his mind around it. It hadn't been Bakugou all along. It had been Sero that had made him feel that way, unsafe and vulnerable despite the demons there to reassure him and offer him comfort.

When he had spoken Bakugou's name, and the sensation hadn't faded away, he had thought it was because Bakugou was intent on devouring him.

Now he realized he hadn't spoken the right name to regain control.

Sero seemed to be of the same mindset, ducking his head a little while offering quietly, "I do not wish for you to mistrust me, nor doubt my loyalty to you in any way. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me for scaring you, and for unknowingly causing a rift between you and your first, I will gladly offer up my true name as penance."

Midoriya watched the mid for a long moment before letting out a slow breath, nodding and squeezing his hands lightly. "I would appreciate that, so from now on I have the ability to regain control, should you ever bind me again."

Sero nodded and offered Midoriya a smile, smoothing his palms up Midoriya's forearms while leaning closer to press their cheeks together, whispering against his ear, "My name is Hanta. Sero Hanta."

"Hanta." Midoriya whispered, and the demon pressed against him shuddered pleasantly before drawing back to meet his viridian eyes.

"I'm yours." He said gently, searching Midoriya's eyes, the human holding his gaze for a long moment before smiling and nodding, relaxing into his touch.

"Thank you for telling me. I feel better now, knowing it was you all along."

Sero smiled a bit wider at Midoriya's words and gradually returned his attention to their surroundings, Midoriya looking out across the vast ocean alongside him and realizing he had been flying on autopilot this entire time, with Shinsou at the helm. Sero pulled back slightly, just enough that Midoriya could twist and turn as he liked, looking around his lofty environment with wonder, noting that Rodi was flying beside them a few wingspans away.

Hitoshi? He called, and his voice felt small, but he knew immediately that he had been heard.

"It's not far now. There's an island up ahead. We're almost there."

Rodi had spotted their destination as well, and with a hitch of breath he asked incredulously, "Is that a hotspot?"

Shinsou hummed an affirmation, the sound caught between a chuckle and a growl, and Rodi laughed brightly before letting out an excited cheer. Midoriya watched as Rodi lifted his arms against the skies and struck a powerful downbeat, the sudden movement sending him soaring for only a moment before he began spiraling down towards the diamond-shaped island far below, his laughter trailing behind him.

A hotspot? Midoriya asked, and he could feel Shinsou's grin as the chaos began to descend as well.

"You'll see." Shinsou replied, his tone merry with amusement, and as they drew closer to the island the entirety of Midoriya's plethora began to stir with restless excitement.

As they touched down on level ground Midoriya felt Shinsou shift within him and begin to withdraw, returning Midoriya to himself while reclaiming his own body, the chaos once more fully embodied beside him. He crossed his arms leisurely over his chest, grinning and greeting the other demons that rose to the surface and began manifesting around them. Midoriya didn't understand for a moment, looking around the island with uncertainty and wonder, taking a few steps closer to the eroded remnants of a stone structure nearby. It was little more than crumbling ruins covered in thick layers of ivy and patches of moss, the visible rocks beneath worn smooth from centuries upon centuries of exposure to the elements.

"I haven't experienced a rift in ages."

Midoriya turned to look back at Todoroki, the dual's eyes focused on the stone structure before them as well, Midoriya's breath hitching a bit as he realized Todoroki's appearance was unlike anything he'd witnessed before. As Bakugou had appeared to him when they had shared intimacy together, Todoroki bore a humanlike appearance more realistic than anything Midoriya had ever seen in the years they had spent together. I was more vivid and alive than anything crafted within astral as well.

Bakugou took a few steps closer, and Midoriya could hear his footsteps against the damp grass, the subtle shifting of the talismans around his neck chiming, the seabreeze ruffling his golden hair as his eyes trailed up the lengths of the ancient pillars nearby.

Midoriya stepped closer, arching his brow and reaching out for Todoroki, the dual turning his attention to his contractor and watching him with a calm, patient gaze as Midoriya's fingers traced up his arm. There was soft opaque cloth concealing most of his skin from view, not unlike the clothing Bakugou wore in some aspects, but with notable differences. As if they wore garb from different countries or eras. Or perhaps both.

"What is this?" Midoriya breathed, curling his fingers against Todoroki's silken sleeve and meeting his two-toned eyes. "What's happening? Are we still in astral?"

"No, Izuku. This isn't astral." Todoroki murmured gently, shifting to take his contractor's hand, and Midoriya could feel the texture of his fingertips, the subtle scratch of his blunt nails, the scarring across his palms and the callouses along the curves of his thumb and forefinger birthed from years of heavy swordplay. "This place is a rift where the abyss bleeds into reality. It is known by many names; the shimmer, the edge of the veil, a gate, or perhaps most commonly, a hotspot."

"It's a mirror of the soul in some ways," Bakugou added softly, taking a step closer to the moss-covered stones, reaching out to touch them while continuing on, "These places show reflections of our pasts. Fragments of who we were before, the visages we wore when we walked amongst the living. Or in some cases," he glanced over his shoulder towards the other demons chatting excitedly nearby, "reflections of the entities we were before we became sentient beings."

Midoriya followed his gaze, his eyes widening as he realized what Bakugou was looking at. There, standing beside Shinsou, was a creature of sorts he didn't recognize. It felt familiar, as if he had known it all his life, but he couldn't place it despite his efforts, its appearance too foreign. Too strange. He stood there staring until it glanced up and met his eyes, and in that moment he knew her innately, his brow arching a bit as he let out a shuddering breath.

"Asui…?"

She tilted her head slightly, hesitating only for a moment before stepping away from the group and approaching, Midoriya watching her with fascination as she came to stand before him with a quiet smile.

"It's nice to meet you finally." She said softly, and there was a strange echo to her words, something gravelly just beneath the surface, as if multiple whispering voices were trying to speak all at once.

Midoriya nodded slowly, blinking down at her and arching his brow, thinking for a moment before asking hesitantly, "I don't mean to...to stare, Asui. It's just, I've never seen…"

"I know." She said quietly, nodding and offering Midoriya a gentle smile. "This visage isn't something meant for human eyes. I can understand your uncertainty, or perhaps even fear, but I assure you this - I am loyal to you in entirety. I am yours. I am under your control." She dipped her head a little, her gills fluttering, her fins flexing with her movements as she added with a little smile, "It has been my great privilege to share your life with you. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey. Thank you for trusting in me to protect you."

She cast her eyes to the side for the briefest of moments, before returning her sights to Midoriya once more, her wide pupils narrowing into fine slits.

"If it would please you, I would offer you my true name."

The other demons watching their exchange whispered amongst themselves and exchanged quiet laughter, one of the other girls stepping closer to speak with Midoriya as well.

Her manifestation wasn't entirely human either, but her appearance wasn't nearly as foreign as Asui's. Midoriya offered her a soft breath of laughter and an affectionate smile, the little imp wrapping her arms around Midoriya's middle and nuzzling into his chest, purring happily as she hugged him tightly.

"I want to give you my name too, Izuku. So you may call upon me whenever you'd like."

Midoriya hugged her back gently, looking down to meet her eyes as Toga peeked up at him with a little smile. He searched her cat-like yellow eyes, reaching up to pet her cheek, her blush warm as she giggled and nuzzled against his hand, her little fangs curving against her rosy lips.

"I love you, Izuku." She purred happily, her blush creeping across her cheeks and spreading to the tips of her ears, her breath trembling as she spoke. "I've always wanted to be with you like this, just like this. I'm so happy. I'm so happy, Izuku." She met his eyes, arching her brow while pressing close against his chest once more. "I want to stay beside you, I want to walk with you always. Please, Izuku? I love you so much. Please let me be with you?"

Uraraka and Hagakure were beside them before Midoriya had realized they'd approached, the mid and lesser drawing Toga away from Midoriya slightly, Uraraka speaking to her gently while trying to soothe her into calm.

"Toga, darling. You know you can't be with Izuku like that."

"Only Shinsou can walk beside him." Hagakure whispered just as gently, her tone soft and light.

Uraraka hummed her agreement, reaching up to tuck her russet hair behind her ear while glancing up and meeting Midoriya's eyes, offering him an apologetic little smile. "I'm sorry, Izuku. She doesn't truly understand what she's asking. She's just excited to be able to experience you like this. Many of us have never held the opportunity to stand beside our contractor on level ground. Seeing you like this, feeling you in the physical realm, it's very…" She glanced to the side, her voice fading away for a moment before she found the right words to say, "It's very overwhelming, for all of us, but especially for those of us who cannot fully manifest outside of this place."

Asui took a step closer, reaching out and petting through Toga's blonde hair gently, coaxing her into calm, soothing her methodically and drawing the imp closer to rest her head against her shoulder. Toga was still watching Midoriya, blushing lightly and pressing her curled fingers against her lips, biting at them gently and letting out a shaky exhale. She looked hungry. Midoriya wasn't certain if he'd ever witnessed such raw desire before.

He hesitated briefly before meeting Uraraka's eyes, taking in her human appearance, her warm chestnut hair and chocolate-brown eyes, the natural pink of her cheeks, her nervous mannerisms as she reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear again shyly. She glanced away, her blush only growing as Midoriya watched her, the mid strangely quiet now that she was truly visible beneath Midoriya's eyes.

Midoriya reached out to her, touching her arm gently, and when Uraraka looked up at him Midoriya couldn't stop his smile.

"You're beautiful." He whispered gently, and the flush across her cheeks brightened to a cherry red. "You're so beautiful. You look so real." He lifted his hand to brush against one of her bright cheeks, and Uraraka couldn't stop the embarrassed laughter that escaped her, turning away slightly and hiding her face with her hands.

"Don't say such things!" Uraraka chided gently, shaking her head and peeking through her fingers for a moment before letting out a sigh, lowering her hands and offering Midoriya a smile of her own. "I haven't looked like this in centuries. My human visage was stolen from me a long, long time ago."

"Stolen?" Midoriya asked softly, and Uraraka hummed and laced her hands behind her, glancing towards Hagakure, the lesser nodding her understanding as well.

"Not all of us transitioned into existing as demons willingly." Hagakure said quietly. "While some of us ascended from ancient beasts, or made contracts as humans to one day give up our souls, some of us were forcibly taken. Killed and subsequently converted."

She shrugged a little, her expression sad, her tone gentle and soft.

"I was murdered when I was still very young. My feelings of anger and regret drew me from the afterlife and plummeted me into the abyss. If I had died peacefully, perhaps I would have found happiness and contentment in the afterlife. Perhaps I might have eventually ascended to a place filled with light, instead of awakening to find myself trapped within an endless, silent void."

She closed her eyes, shaking her head slowly, Uraraka reaching out and taking her hand.

"I still don't know how long it took to ascend from the abyss, but once I found myself back on earth everything was strange. Changed. I ascended shortly after the fall."

"Many of us returned to the world after the bombs fell." Uraraka agreed, looking up to meet Midoriya's eyes. "All that death and grief, it ripped apart the veil between astral and reality. It made the barrier weak, and the sparse gates in existence became more numerous, allowing more and more demons to escape from the abyss. Though I will say," She looked past Midoriya, her eyes trailing over the stone structures erected nearby, "This gate feels as if it has existed for much longer than the past twenty years. These ruins are timeless, ancient."

"It feels forlorn here. Nostalgic." Asui agreed quietly, Toga peering up at her with a quiet sigh. "It's as if we've walked these foggy shores before, the strange familiarity of it. It feels as though we once dwelt here amongst the living, perhaps lifetimes ago, and are just now returning home."

"The oldest gates feel the most inviting." Shinsou said softly, Midoriya turning to look up at him, the chaos grinning and shrugging lightly, spreading out his massive wings before folding them around his shoulders once more. "It's good to visit hotspots now and then, to allow your contracted demons to walk freely beside you, without the weight of their bonds."

He looked around the island, his gaze wandering over the other demons manifested here and there within the thickening fog.

"Should we come across a place such as this again, it would be wise to rest and relax within range of the edge for a while. Hotspots are natural wellsprings of energy, we can draw from the abyss directly here, instead of leeching from our contractor." He flexed his wings absently, curling his claws against the air, gesturing lightly as he spoke. "As things are, with that chaos pursuing us, we won't truly have an opportunity to bask. We cannot linger here for much longer. We'll need to warp again soon."

Midoriya nodded slowly, turning to cast his eyes across the island once more, finding Rodi wandering between several crumbling stone archways closer to the heart of the island. He lingered where he was only for a moment longer before deciding to walk closer, his steps muted against the dark, damp grass. Midoriya caught the sound of Rodi's voice as he drew gradually closer, a quiet song drifting along with the waves rolling against the pale sands surrounding them. The melody was soft, and sweet, and it twisted at Midoriya's heart.

"Only you~
Can make all this world seem right…
Only you can make the darkness bright…
"

Pino was watching him with a tender smile, their fingers laced together and their arms swaying slightly, her pink hair tousled and curling all around her as the seabreeze swept by, her blue eyes never leaving Rodi.

"Only you, and you alone…
Can thrill me like you do…
And fill my heart with love for only you~
"

He pulled her closer, then turned her around in a small circle, Pino's smile brightening as they danced together in the fog, Rodi drawing her closer once again and reaching up to card his fingers gently through her hair.

"Only you~
Can make all this change in me…
For it's true, you are my destiny
…"

Pino closed her eyes as Rodi pressed their foreheads together, his jacket ruffling wildly and his messy ponytail tossed haphazardly with the wind as he twisted them around together again and again, dancing against the push and pull of the salty gale.

"When you hold my hand,
I understand the magic that you do~
You're my dream come true…
"

Their movements stilled, Rodi waiting for Pino to open her eyes and look up at him, cupping her cheek and pressing a kiss against her brow.

"My one and only you…"

Midoriya's steps slowed until he simply stood a short distance away watching their exchange, his chest aching at the way she looked at him, at the way he cradled her and spun her across the grass as if she were made of glass and gold. The adoration in his voice, the gentleness in his eyes. He loved her. Genuinely, deeply. He loved her despite her inhumanity, and she reciprocated everything, all the love he gave. She loved him just the same. Though she couldn't speak, couldn't sing with him or whisper her returned affections, her expressions said all there was that needed to be said aloud and more. There was not a single shred of doubt regarding how much they cared for each other to anyone observing their display.

Midoriya reached up and wiped away the warm tears blurring his sight, blinking a few times and glancing away, Shinsou watching his contractor quietly.

Until moments ago, when Toga had professed her love for him, Midoriya had never heard any of his plethora tell him that they loved him. He had only ever heard those words from Amajiki, and a mother he barely remembered two decades before.

He glanced across the island towards Bakugou and Todoroki, arching his brow and catching those brilliant garnet eyes closely watching over him, thinking about what Bakugou had said to him before.

I could have loved you.
I could have given you every part of my soul.

He arched his brow, biting at his lip, and tentatively he met Shinsou's eyes.

Shinsou watched him in kind, his expression gentle and soft, the chaos reaching out and carefully tugging Midoriya closer, shifting his wings to wrap around his contractor and envelop him in warmth.

"We care about you so much." Shinsou whispered, cupping the back of Midoriya's skull, the human hiding his face against the demon's broad chest.

"I care about you too." He murmured, his words muffled as he pressed closer, Shinsou's embrace tightening, the demon letting out a quiet, heavy sigh.

He returned his eyes to Rodi, watching as he drew Pino closer and pressed a soft kiss to her nose, then to each of her cheeks, his bonded twittering and smiling as she was fussed over, her smile as radiant as sunlight. He wondered if Midoriya could ever begin to understand how different the bond they shared was in comparison to those he shared with his own plethora.

Once a human offered up their soul of their own volition, things drastically changed for both contracted and contractor. Demons were naturally incapable of truly experiencing and reciprocating human emotions, only able to imitate such from memory, unless they shared a substantial portion of their contractor's soul. Shinsou only held a fraction of Midoriya within him, and even that had to be boxed up within him and suppressed to be kept properly in check. Human souls and emotions were powerful, wonderous things.

The way Rodi and Pino were together, sharing Rodi's soul equally between them, it gave Pino back her humanity. It allowed her to love again.

Shinsou wasn't certain if he had ever witnessed a human and demon cherished pair. It was a rare, beautiful thing.

He felt Midoriya's fingers curl against his chest, felt the subtle trembling of his shoulders, and as much as Shinsou longed to comfort him he knew in that moment he was not the one Midoriya needed the most.

"Let's head back." Shinsou whispered, parting his wings just enough that he could look down and meet Midoriya's eyes.

Midoriya sniffed quietly and nodded, Shinsou carefully wiping away the tears smeared across his cheeks, Midoriya exhaling a shaky sigh and leaning into his touch.

As Midoriya and his plethora left the island behind, Rodi and Pino danced together quietly in the rolling fog. Rodi's soft voice filled the droning silence just above the roar of the sea, Pino twittering and smiling happily as she danced alongside her beloved, sharing warmth between them wherever they touched.


Lyrics: Only You by The Platters

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