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, Rodi x Pino, Midoriya x Rodi x Pino, Midoriya x Sero, Midoriya x Toga

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
Dragon - the most powerful demons in existence, ruling sovereigns of the abyss responsible for world-ending catastrophic extinction events

Unbound:
Allies: Hawks D (air), Hizashi G/G (voice/sound)
Neutral: Dabi C (fire), Monoma ? (light/shadow)
Enemies: Shigaraki D (destruction), Kurogiri D (darkness/air), Kamiji L (fire), Chisaki L (earth)

Embodied Demons:
(Midoriya: Shinsou, Bakugou, Todoroki, Sero, Toga)

Midoriya: (Original Pact: Bakugou, Uraraka, Todoroki)
Power - Bakugou + D/D (power/combustion), Toga + G/G (power/darkness)
Fire - Todoroki + D/D (fire/ice)
Water - Asui G
Air - Uraraka G/G (air/gravity)
Earth - Kirishima G/G (earth/shield)
Light - Kaminari G (lightning)
Darkness - Shinsou + C
Enhancements: Jirou M/M (sight/sound), Hagakure G (stealth), Sero + G (binding), Ashido M (poison), Yaoyorozu G (crafting), Iida G (speed), Koda M/M (voice/sound)

Amajiki: (Original Pact: Hawks, Fumikage, Nejire/Mirio)
Power - Mirio G/G (power/light), Kendou D (power/fire), Usagiyama L
Fire - n/a
Water - Nejire G, Takeyama G (oasis)
Air - Tsuburaba G/G (air/shield)
Earth - Shindou G
Light - Shimura L/L (light/gravity)
Darkness - Fumikage G, Yanagi L (darkness/gravity)
Enhancements: Aizawa G (sight), Kuroiro G (stealth), Shiozaki M (binding), Komori G (growth), Hatsume M (crafting), Kayama G (illusion)

Terminology: (See previous chapters for older terms.)
Remnant - a common name for a lingering piece of reality before the apocalypse
Powerhouse - one of the original founding demons within a contract
Founder - one of the first demons to contract with their human host within a plethora, another name for a powerhouse
Revenant - another name for an embodied demon, a demon that has returned to life
Hotspot - a place where the veil between The Abyss and Reality is thin, allowing excess energy to leak to the surface, a gate between the afterlife and the living 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
Waygate - a hotspot where demons can be called to the edge of reality after being shattered, demons that emerge are subsequently stripped of their powers and returned to reality as lesser rank
Truth
- the original reality and true timeline an entity originates from


Ch 18: Stasis

He felt nothing - just the endless void of haven, impossibly vast and empty. His lungs burned, his heartbeat pounding in his ears, then suddenly there was a rush of air and he was falling from a great height, Blue falling right beside him just out of reach, the ocean stretching on and on far, far below.

Midoriya reached for his plethora, but there was nothing there. No one to respond.

He looked towards the sky above and saw that the night had faded away into brilliant daylight, the bright sky blue dappled with fluffy white clouds drifting lazily across the sun.

He twisted mid-air, still free-falling alongside Blue and unable to do anything to stop it. He did his best to remain calm, reaching out both of his arms and fanning his fingers against the rushing wind, his eyes watering and his ears filled with nothing but crackling static.

As they continued to descend, something appeared in his peripheral vision, Midoriya blinking to clear the tears from his eyes, trying to focus on its approach. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized a pair of bright pink wings glinting in the sunlight, Midoriya laughing and calling out to her as loudly as he could, his voice inaudible over the rushing wind.

She heard him in spite of the odds stacked against them, swooping closer and tucking in her wings, diving to match his speed until finally they were side by side, her bright blue eyes shining in the sunlight.

She spoke to him, but he couldn't hear, and Midoriya glanced around worriedly for any sign of the others before reaching out and taking one of her hands.

She seemed startled that he had opted to touch her so casually, but she shifted her wings and fanned them open slowly, slowing their descent. Blue sped on ahead of them, continuing to fall towards the sea as they came to a halt and hovered together mid-air, Midoriya letting out a trembling sigh.

"Oh thank goodness, Pino! I'm so glad you found us!"

She blinked down at him curiously, flexing her wings against the air and twittering softly, Midoriya watching her for a long moment before pinching his brow in concern.

"Pino?"

She didn't respond, ruffling her feathers and crooning softly, Midoriya watching her closely for several long moments before squeezing her fingers gently.

"Where is everyone?" He looked down at the ocean far below them, searching for any hint of land amidst the sparkling blue. "Did you leave Rodi somewhere safe down below to come way up here and catch me?"

Pino narrowed her eyes slightly, as if not understanding his questions, then she turned her gaze and spread her wings, taking off across the sky faster than Midoriya had imagined possible. He clung to her breathlessly, clenching his eyes tightly shut and trying to remember how to breathe.

He wasn't certain how long they flew across the open skies before Pino twittered again, Midoriya opening his eyes carefully and blinking to clear his vision as Pino began slowly spiraling towards the ground.

As they landed, Midoriya realized he vaguely recognized the coastline, his legs wobbly as he took a few steps closer to the beach, trying to reach out for his plethora once more.

Hitoshi? Katsuki? He frowned and arched his brow, his anxiety immediately rising when gleaning no response. He concentrated and reached for them again, trying to grasp at any trace of his plethora. Hanta? Shouto? Himiko, Ochaco - someone please answer me!

Pino stepped closer, watching him curiously and fanning her wings behind her before tucking them against her shoulders, her feathers ruffling in the sea breeze. Midoriya tried again and again, but once he knew beyond a doubt he couldn't reach anyone he turned towards Pino again, asking worriedly, "Where's Rodi? Is Tamaki with you too?"

She blinked slowly, taking a step closer and leaning in to search his eyes, a quiet trill clicking in the back of her throat. She tilted her head slightly, then asked in a voice Midoriya didn't recognize, "Need help? Lost from home?"

Midoriya's eyes widened, his heart drumming in his chest and ears. She sounded like she was mimicking human speech, as a crow or a parrot might.

He watched her for a long time, trying to push down his panic, then gingerly he replied, "You're not Pino, are you?"

She tilted her head the other way, her eyes widening and her pupils dilating slightly, her feathers bristling as she listened to his voice. "You're not Pino. You're not."

Midoriya's breath hitched as he turned away from her, reaching up to press a hand over his chest, fighting to catch his breath, tears biting at the corners of his eyes. Oh no. Oh no. Everything was wrong. This wasn't right, this wasn't the reality that he knew. What had Blue done? Where had he taken him? What was this place?

A shadow fell over the coastline, Midoriya glancing up and lifting a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. There was a rustling of wings, then something landed beside them, Midoriya twisting to follow its movements, realizing with a start it wasn't a demon at all. It was a girl he vaguely recognized, with giant white wings.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, lifting her wings higher and taking a step closer. "You know not to cross the border. Demons aren't allowed on this side."

Midoriya arched his brow, lifting his hands as she stepped closer still, backing away from her towards the sea. "Wait, I don't-" He glanced towards the other girl standing nearby, who was still watching him curiously, "I'm sorry, I don't know what's going on here. I'm…I'm lost." He looked to the angel again, asking gingerly, "Please, can you help me? I need to find a way to get back to my friends."

She paused her approach, flexing her white remiges against the sunlight, frowning as she watched him in disbelief. "You're asking me for help? Are you absolutely mad?" She lifted a hand, flexing her fingertips against the air, golden light gathering against her palm. "Go back to the other side. Now. Before I send you howling to the great depths."

He shivered and lifted his hands a little higher, feeling more helpless than he had since he was a child. "Please, I don't know what's going on. You have to believe me-" He looked to the other girl standing quietly beside her again, calling out to her desperately, "Why did you catch me and bring me here if I'm not supposed to be here!"

The angel glanced towards the girl as well, asking hesitantly, "Diva, did you bring him here?"

Diva fluffed her feathers and twittered softly, still watching Midoriya as she did so, the angel pinching her brow further before fixing him once more in her sights.

"You were falling? Why didn't you fly?"

"I…I can't fly." Midoriya replied with a shaky exhale. Not without Hitoshi here to lend me his wings.

"What kind of demon doesn't know how to fly?" She asked with a frown, spanning her wings against the turquoise sky. "How did you leave the island to begin with if you can't fly?"

The island. He took a step towards her, his breath catching in his throat. "The island! The island with the stone circle - the waygate?"

He turned to look out across the sea, and suddenly he realized where they were. This stretch of coastline was where Shinsou had first warped them as they ran from Dabi. Out there in the ocean, just a few miles away from shore, the island where he was separated from the others should be resting in a giant cloud of fog.

He turned towards the angel, his tone almost desperate as he asked, "Please, can you take me there? I have to find them. I have to find my friends. Please?"

She watched him for a long, quiet moment, then gradually the energy dissipated from her hand. She crossed the short distance remaining between them, then she reached out and carefully brushed her fingertips against his shoulder, and Midoriya was lifted weightlessly into the air.

"Unbelievable." She murmured, lifting her wings to take flight. "There should be a limit to an angel's inherent kindness."

"Thank you-" Midoriya began, but his voice was lost to the rush of wind, the angel lifting him higher with a flick of her fingers, Diva trailing dutifully behind them.

It didn't take long to reach the island, and the angel paused near the edge of the cliffside, shifting her arm forward to hover Midoriya over the ground before dropping him the rest of the way.

He landed against the ground with a huff, wincing slightly as he pushed himself up, scrambling to his feet. The island was devoid of fog, which made locating the stone circle in the middle easier than it had ever been. That, and their sheer size.

Midoriya's breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened at the strange sight of it. The pillars were huge, towering towards the sky like great blades. They were in pristine condition, not a hint of moss to be found, no breaks or crumbling fragments from elapsed time and exposure to the elements.

"What…?" Midoriya whispered under his breath, reaching out to touch the nearest pillar, a voice calling out to him just before his fingers made contact.

"It seems you've found yourself in the wrong truth, haven't you Midoriya?"

A shiver coursed through him at the sound of Monoma's voice, and he turned to meet eyes with the gatekeeper watching him, an impish smile curving up his lips.

"You're back!" Midoriya sighed in relief, taking a step closer, "How long was I gone? Where are the others? Why can't I feel anyone-"

Monoma lifted his hand, tutting and shaking his head. "Ah ah ah! You have questions, I know. You must be impossibly confused." He looked past Midoriya towards the angel hovering nearby, grinning impishly before calling out to her, "It's unlike you to personally bring me a stray. Are you finally going soft on us, Eri?"

"He's your problem now." She replied with a bark of laughter, Diva drifting a little closer before allowing herself to land, padding barefoot across the plush grass to draw closer to Monoma's side.

"My my. I wasn't expecting to have you visit today either." He smiled and offered Diva his hand, and she twittered and brushed her fingertips against his own before drawing away, glancing up and meeting Midoriya's eyes.

Midoriya watched her quietly for a few moments before whispering, "Thank you. For saving me."

She smiled and fluffed her feathers, then drew away from them both once more. She kicked off of the ground, sending her small frame quickly soaring to great heights, Eri watching her go with an unreadable expression before fixing Monoma in her sights.

"Alright, Neito. Start talking. What is this? What mischief have you been up to?"

"I assure you this is not my work." Monoma chuckled, clearly amused. He slipped his fingertips along Midoriya's forearm, pausing at his wrist and adding casually, "It appears the one who brought him here is that one's keihai." He hummed and drew back his hand, meeting Eri's eyes before shrugging lightly. "You'll find your answers with him. This one knows nothing. He's been severed from his truth."

"He's from another time?" Eri asked, her wings fluffing behind her slightly. "You're certain? Can you sense which tract?"

"You could simply ask." Monoma sighed, meeting Midoriya's eyes. "Where you come from, what is the current state of the world? Has the dragon already ascended? Has the veil been ripped apart?"

Midoriya arched his brow with worry, glancing between them while replying, "No, there's not a dragon." He paused, then added carefully, "We just finished a battle against another chaos. We lost some of our companions, so we came to the waygate to find them again."

"Their names?" Monoma asked, and Midoriya frowned a little before responding.

"They aren't a part of my plethora, they're Amajiki's contracts." Midoriya clarified before continuing on, "The first was Shimura, the second was Usagiyama. I…I'm not certain of Shimura's, but Usagi's true name is Rumi."

"Rumi." Monoma repeated with a hum, turning away and stepping past the ring of stone circles, drawing closer to the waygate. It was completely open, glowing brightly and pulsating with waves of light, Eri hovering as she followed after them, watching their interaction with a little frown.

Midoriya was cautious as he stepped closer, standing back and watching from a safe distance as Monoma continued on alone. The imp drew closer to the gate and leaned in to peer through the large opening, cupping a hand beside his mouth and calling out into the abyss.

"Usagiyama Rumi!" Silver swirls began to appear across the towering pillars surrounding them, ancient runes highlighted along their surfaces and resonating with blinding light. "I compel you by your true name! Hear me now, draw near to the gate!"

The golden light pouring from the waygate turned to silver, and only a few moments passed before a figure appeared on the other side. Monoma hummed cheerily, offering out his hand and taking the other demon's before stepping back with a bright smile, helping her through the gate.

Usagi released his hand as soon as she was free from the portal, baring her fangs and hissing at him angrily, "What business have you to call me? How dare you speak my name!"

Another shadow was at the gate in moments, reaching out for Usagi and taking hold of her forearm before stepping through the gate as well. Midoriya realized with a start that it was Shimura who was with her, both of them turning on Monoma and beginning to flare their quirks threateningly, the gatekeeper laughing and lifting his hands defensively, glancing towards Midoriya with a smile.

"It was not I that summoned you!" Monoma said with a slight nod, redirecting their attention to the witness standing nearby. "This one desired to speak with you. Tell me, do you know who he is?"

Usagi turned to fix Midoriya in her sights, still growling angrily, but Shimura stepped past her shoulder and approached Midoriya, her eyes impossibly wide.

"You." She said softly, barely breathing as she spoke. "You were our contractor's companion. You shared your childhood with him."

"What…?" Midoriya whispered shakily, his brow arched with concern. "Shimura, it's me. It's Midoriya." He stepped closer to her, hesitantly reaching out to touch her hand. "Can you tell me what's happening? I don't understand how I got here. Everything's so different." He looked past her to Usagi, glancing between her and Monoma briefly before focusing on Shimura again. "Tamaki, where is he? Why isn't he with you?"

"Tamaki?" Usagi scoffed with a frown, stepping away from Monoma to reach her companion's side. "What are you saying-"

"Midoriya." Shimura said quietly, as if trying to remember something she'd forgotten long ago. "Yes, that's…that's right. That was your name." She frowned and arched her brow, shifting to glide her clawtips over Midoriya's hand, lingering over his pulse for a few long moments before tightening her hold on his hand. "You're…you're human."

"Human?" Eri said incredulously, the pair of demons noticing her for the first time, both drawing back from Midoriya and taking defensive stances, growling threateningly. "You can't be serious." She tilted her head slightly, fixing her eyes on Monoma. "There hasn't been a single human being alive on the planet for the past nine hundred years. The previous dragon eradicated the last remnants of humankind nearly a millennium ago. Everyone knows that."

"I told you before." Monoma chided teasingly, casually stepping closer, "This one has been displaced. He is not a part of our truth." He looked out across the sea, hesitating for only a moment before adding on, "The one who brought him here appears to be awake. Whatever questions you have, you'll have your chance to ask once he is here."

"Midoriya," Shimura called softly, and he looked up at her with a little frown, Shimura holding his eyes, "That day in the city, when you were attacked…"

"When Shinsou first fought against Dabi?" Midoriya asked, Shimura giving him a confused look before shaking her head.

"The day you two were spotted downtown, when Amajiki acted as your shield." Shimura lowered her eyes, her voice torn, Usagi pressing against her side and taking her hand, squeezing lightly. "He…he bled out in the street. There was nothing we could do to stop it."

Midoriya didn't understand what she was saying for several long moments, then he asked hesitantly, "You're saying that…Shinsou didn't offer me a contract? He didn't save Tamaki?"

"Shinsou?" Usagi let out a sharp bark of laughter, her eyes narrowing as she watched Midoriya in surprise, "How do you even know that name? That reaver is an absolute psychopath-"

Midoriya shook his head, reaching up to press his hands over his ears, his heart pounding in his skull. This was wrong. Everything about this place was wrong. Shinsou had never appeared to offer him a contract. Amajiki had bled out, and yet somehow Midoriya had survived. The girl who looked exactly like Pino was another being entirely. Eri was older now, as if she'd somehow grown up and had never fallen.

Midoriya turned towards the sound of waves crashing against the shore, Blue surfacing from the rolling surf and planting himself between Midoriya and the other demons before him, twisting to gather Midoriya in his arms before leaping into the air and disappearing out of sight.

He carried Midoriya to great heights before glancing back to ensure they weren't being pursued, letting out a heavy, irritated sigh and shifting his grip slightly, pressing his nose to Midoriya's unruly curls.

"Bringing us back took more energy than I'd expected." He beat his wings against the air, his glittering blue scales iridescent in the sunlight. "Are you alright? It didn't feel like I was unconscious for that long-"

"Take me back." Midoriya growled out, tightening his hold on Blue's shoulder and glaring up at him with tears in his eyes. "You brought me to some alternate timeline, some horrible place where I don't belong! My best friend is dead! I never contracted with Shinsou, and because of that in this world Tamaki is dead!"

"Izu, calm down-"

"I won't calm down!" Midoriya shouted angrily, hot tears starting to spill down his cheeks, "Why did you do this?! Why are you doing this to me! Take me back! I want to go back!"

"I can't!" Blue shouted back, hissing and gnashing his fangs, blue lightning dancing across the bridge of his nose and sparking wildly in his eyes. "I can't take you back, don't you understand! I did this to save you!"

"How does this save me?!" Midoriya cried, clawing at Blue's shoulder and shoving at his chest, desperate to break free. "You tore me away from everyone I've ever loved! If we were going to die, if the whole world was going to end - at least we would have been together! You have to take me back!"

"NO!" Blue screamed, and neon blue lightning tore across the sky, streaking in wide branches across the sea before striking bright points along the horizon. "I will not take you back! I cannot lose you again!"

Midoriya was in shock for several moments before his face finally crumpled, ducking his head against the demon's shoulder and sobbing uncontrollably, clinging to him angrily, digging his nails in as hard as he could. "I hate you! I hate you for this!"

"That's fine." Blue growled out deeply, his hold tightening only slightly, his fingers fanned against Midoriya's back and curved against the bend of his knees. "I understand. I can handle it, so long as you're safe."

Midoriya didn't respond, crying miserably as Blue carried him across the vast sea, the demon beating his wings faster to carry them up and up through the clouds, leaving the waygate far behind them.

-x-x-x-

Amajiki said Midoriya's name, and then in a flash he was gone.

A choked sound escaped him as he rushed forward, Shinsou springing into action, Bakugou and Todoroki flickering forward to where their contractor had been mere moments before, Shinsou letting out a terrifying, deafening scream.

"Where is he?" Amajiki asked quickly, glancing towards Shimura as she appeared at his side, the lesser arching her brow worriedly. "Nana? Please, you have to tell me-"

"I don't know." She responded quietly, watching as Midoriya's plethora began scouring the island for their host. "I don't know, Tamaki. I can't sense him at all anymore."

"Pino? What can we do?"

Amajiki turned towards Rodi, watching as the pair clung to one another tightly, Pino arching her brow and searching her contractor's eyes with a pained expression.

"This is beyond me." She whispered in a rush of breath, turning her eyes back towards the waygate. "Perhaps if Monoma was here he could offer us some guidance. The demon that took Midoriya felt akin to a gatekeeper, as if he were well versed in traveling through the realms, navigating space and time."

"Space and time?" Amajiki asked, Shimura frowning deeply and lifting her fingers to her lips.

"It's rare, but not unheard of." She whispered, pausing for a moment to call out to her cohabitors, "Fumikage, Aizawa. I need you with me."

The greaters appeared as soon as she spoke their names, Fumikage bristling only slightly as he looked towards Shinsou, the chaos' energy flaring out of control. Aizawa saw fit to ignore Midoriya's plethora completely, focusing on Shimura instead. "What do you need?"

"We must maintain viable intel on Shigaraki and his cohorts. The last thing we need right now is an unforeseen attack while Midoriya is missing." She glanced between the greaters briefly before adding, "Observe them from a safe distance, relay everything that you see. If you feel you are in imminent danger, return to us at once."

Aizawa nodded his understanding, Fumikage nodding his agreement as well, the greaters flickering from Shimura's side and setting out across astral to do as she bid, the lesser turning towards Amajiki with a little frown.

"We need to gather our strength. It's time for you to contract with Kendou and Yanagi."

Amajiki arched his brow, but gingerly nodded. He stayed where he was, waiting for the pair to come to him, his mind reeling with unanswered questions and anxiety, Rodi stepping a little closer to take his hand.

"We'll find him." Rodi whispered, wrapping an arm around Amajiki's shoulders, his lips pressed against the other boy's temple as he spoke. "I know this is hard. I can't begin to imagine what you must be feeling right now." He took Amajiki's hand in his own, squeezing tightly as he pressed a kiss to his temple. "I'm here. We're right here beside you. You aren't alone, we're in this together. We're going to find a way to bring him back."

Amajiki let out a choked sob and clung to Rodi's shoulders, hiding his face against the curve of his neck, whimpering softly as he forced out, "I can't lose him, Rodi! I can't!"

"You won't." Rodi murmured soothingly, glancing up and meeting Pino's eyes, his bonded giving a little nod, her expression sure and determined. "We'll find him, Tamaki. I promise."

-x-x-x-

Touya glanced up with a frown, shifting his wings behind him and focusing on the demon approaching, nudging Takami lightly to rouse him from his slumber. The angel yawned and rolled over slightly, his red wings flexing against the giant leaves surrounding them before he slowly blinked open his eyes, exhaling a deep breath and tugging at his cherished's arm tiredly.

"What are you doing? It's the middle of the day. Come back to bed-"

"Someone's coming." Touya growled softly, pushing himself up from the sheets and stepping closer to the open window, Takami sighing and pushing himself up as well, trying to determine just what his bonded was looking at.

They were quiet for several moments, before Takami asked hesitantly, "Is that…Aoi?"

"He's back." Touya replied with a frown, his tail tapping against his leg slowly, the demon stepping closer to the edge before stepping out and taking flight, the wind currents quickly lifting him to Blue's current height.

Midoriya heard a rush of wings, gasping softly and glancing up from Blue's shoulder to meet eyes with Touya, his face still red from crying.

Touya's eyes widened and he drew back slightly, hovering in the air beside Blue and hissing out angrily in their mother tongue, "Aoi what have you done? That's not our Izuku. You have to return him to his destined truth! He shouldn't be here!"

"Why should I?" Blue growled in response, narrowing his eyes and hissing, trying to navigate around the demon blocking his path. "You have your cherished, why shouldn't I have mine?!" He lifted Midoriya higher against his shoulder, beating his wings against the currents while shouting out angrily, "All of you are happy and content to go on living without him, but Izu was everything to me! I can't endure this cursed existence without him! I need him by my side!"

"You can't replace the one we lost by wrenching another from an alternate timeline! It doesn't work like that!" Touya blocked his path again, watching Blue with an irritated glare, his fangs gleaming in the sunlight. "Aoi, listen to me-"

"Get out of my way!" Blue snapped, dipping his wings and finally slipping past Touya's shoulder, disappearing into the dense leaves of the giant tree behind him.

Touya let out an exasperated sigh, frowning and descending towards the home he shared with his cherished, Takami waiting for him at the window, reaching out to take his hand as Touya stepped back inside. "Was that…?"

Touya nodded, his lips pressed into a firm line. "He has Izuku with him. He looked younger, likely from a tract yet to be decimated by a dragon." He reached up and rubbed at his eyes, folding his wings in around his shoulders, low growls still rumbling deep in his chest.

Takami crooned softly and tugged Touya closer, wrapping his arms around his neck and peppering his jaw and cheek with kisses, whispering softly against his ear, "If he is from an earlier tract, then time will pass much differently between our truth and his." He drew back slightly to cup Touya's cheek, searching his turquoise eyes. "Allow Aoi a chance to be with the one he loves for at least a little while longer before you dare try to convince him of returning that boy to his rightful place. He'll only fight with you otherwise."

Touya's expression smoothed slightly, and he dipped down and nuzzled Takami's nose affectionately, the angel laughing softly and tugging his cherished back towards their bed, fluffing his wings as Touya claimed a kiss, sighing contentedly at his touch.

Aoi was right. It wasn't fair that he was alone, while others were not. When they had lost Izuku, Takami and Touya had each other to turn to. Aoi had no one, he'd been alone for centuries since Izuku's death, and over time as his quirks had developed into wondrous abilities it became apparent that Izuku had gifted him with the most powerful quirk he possessed before his death - the capability of traversing time.

Only a handful of demons in history had ever possessed such a quirk, and it didn't take long for Aoi to develop the idea of visiting Izuku in other timelines. Never before in all his travels had he decided to return home with an Izuku from another tract. Disrupting another reality's truth always caused irreparable consequences for both timelines involved. It seemed that enough time had elapsed since he was together with his beloved that Aoi was willing to risk whatever repercussions this Izuku's presence in their reality may cause.

Takami watched over Touya quietly, combing his fingers through his cherished's snowy hair and tracing the curves of his face with his fingertips, smiling and leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead, then the tip of his nose, then lips. Touya sighed against his mouth before kissing him back slowly, tugging him closer gently, Takami making soft sounds of want against his mouth.

If he ruins this. Touya thought to himself, his hands petting along Takami's waist. If he disrupts the peace we've found now that the last dragon has fallen, I'll send him to the deep myself.

He gave in to Takami's coaxing, allowing himself to relax once more, rolling over slightly to pin the angel beneath him, Takami giggling happily against his lips.

He would give Aoi some time to be with his cherished before demanding he return Izuku to his truth. He could only imagine what it would be like to no longer have Takami by his side. The pain would be unbearable. It was a cruelty that no one, not even a demon, should be forced to endure.

In the monstrous boughs high above, Blue finally touched down on solid ground, allowing Midoriya free from his grasp. The human shoved him away immediately, taking a few steps backwards and looking around, turning in a half-circle while rubbing at his damp cheeks.

"What is this place?" Midoriya asked, his brow arched with concern. "Why did you bring me here?"

"This is your home." Blue said softly, gesturing towards the massive foliage beside them. He watched Midoriya quietly for a few long moments before stepping closer, offering out his hand. "Come with me, I'll show you."

"Don't touch me." Midoriya growled out, drawing away from Blue's hand. The demon frowned a bit, his brow arching, but he let his hand fall, carefully stepping around Midoriya instead. He parted the giant leaves and stepped into the shadows beyond, calling for Midoriya to follow him.

"You must be tired. Don't worry, it's safe here. You can rest."

Midoriya didn't follow after him, looking around the giant branches of the colossal tree, reaching out to touch one of the leaves gently, feeling the raw energy coursing through its veins.

"What is this?" He murmured under his breath. "It feels almost like a hotspot…"

"It's Yggdrasil." Blue called, parting the leaves around him with his wings, watching Midoriya with a sad little smile. "You don't remember anything, do you? You were the one who planted this tree after the last dragon fell, to help heal the world."

"That wasn't me." Midoriya replied with an irritated snap, clenching his hands into fists, "The memories you hold I cannot possibly share. I'm not from this world! You don't know me! We're strangers!"

"Don't say that!" Blue growled, lightning searing through the leaves closest to him, sending waves of pulsating neon light through the surrounding branches of the great tree.

He clenched his jaw, baring his fangs, watching Midoriya with a desperate expression before dropping his eyes, folding his wings in around himself.

"You aren't…you aren't even giving me a chance! You're supposed to-" He pressed a hand against his face, digging his claws into his skin. "You're supposed to know me." He pressed a hand over his chest, clenching at his heart. "There's a part of you inside of me! You might not share my memories, but you're at least supposed to trust me!" When he looked up again his eyes were glowing, electric blue tears streaking down his cheeks. "Why can't you just trust me? I would never hurt you, Izuku! Never!" He laughed and arched his brow, his breaths hitched and shaky. "I would kill for you! I would die for you!"

Midoriya felt that familiar sensation again, that pull somewhere deep within him, Blue's words twisting his heart, Midoriya fighting everything inside of him to stand still and not go to him.

"You are more than just my keihai, aren't you?" Midoriya asked, and Blue's face scrunched up even further, the demon shifting his wings and tightening them around himself. "Blue? Tell me. What am I to you? What are we to one another?"

"You're my cherished!" Blue sobbed, hunching his shoulders as he went. "You're my cherished and I lost you! I just wanted to save you this time! I just wanted to be with you again!"

A sinking feeling tugged at the depths of his stomach, and he stepped closer gingerly. "You're saying…I was a demon in this world?"

"Yes." Blue breathed out shakily, gingerly nodding his head. "You were strong, and beautiful. The first time we met you could have devoured me. Instead you showed me mercy, you sheltered me. You trusted me with a fragment of your core, you made me your keihai."

"What happened?" Midoriya asked softly, pausing a few steps away from Blue's trembling frame. "What happened to me? Why am I not here now, with you?"

Blue shook his head, glancing away from Midoriya's eyes. "I can't, I can't tell you that-"

"Why not?" Midoriya asked softly, gesturing lightly against the air as he spoke, still trying to understand. "If I was a demon, and something happened to me, wouldn't I have been returned to the abyss as a lesser? Couldn't you have found me again at the waygate?"

"It was Shinsou." Blue growled out, baring his fangs again. "Shinsou is responsible for all of this." He coughed and looked up, carefully meeting Midoriya's eyes. "He took you away from me - he is directly responsible for your shattering!"

There was a fluttering of wings, and Blue turned his attention to their sudden audience, Midoriya's eyes widening as he recognized crimson wings.

"Hawks!" He gasped in disbelief, taking a few steps closer to the angel, careful as he neared the edge of the branch they were standing on. "You're here! I can't believe you're here-"

A moment later another appeared at his side, the same demon that had spoken with Blue before in a language Midoriya couldn't understand, the human glancing between them for a moment before realizing who he was.

"Dabi? You're…" He shook his head, taking in the demon's changed appearance, his pristine skin and his striking white hair. Turquoise eyes settled over him, and Touya shifted a little closer, wrapping his arm around his cherished's waist while fixing Blue in his sights.

"Whatever truth you pulled him from, he recognizes both of us well enough. Though it appears he does not recognize you."

Blue bristled and lifted his wings threateningly, Takami stepping forward and raising a hand to ask for calm, turning his eyes away from the bickering demons and looking to Midoriya instead.

"What word was it that you used?" He asked curiously, offering Midoriya a friendly smile, "What name did you call me by?"

"Hawks." Midoriya repeated softly, his eyes wandering down Takami's frame. It was strange to see him without his jacket and gloves, but his presence was familiar and calming, his voice soothing beyond words. Midoriya carefully stepped closer, looking up at Takami while asking, "You were contracted with Amajiki in this lifetime too, weren't you?"

Takami looked a bit surprised, then his expression softened, and with a little smile he nodded his head.

"Yes, Izuku. I was his first contact."

"You were there with him when…" Midoriya's voice trained off, his brow pinched with concern, "I saw Shimura and Usagi before, at the waygate." He closed his eyes, his nails biting into his palm. "They told me that in this world, Tamaki died…"

"He did." Takami confirmed softly, his words gentle and calm. "He died centuries ago, before you were reborn as a demon."

"What happened after he died?" Midoriya asked, meeting his gaze once again. "Did all of you just…move on? Did you find another host?"

"Some of us did." Takami replied, exhaling softly, flexing his crimson remiges against the air. "Some of us chose to return to the abyss. Others decided to freely roam the world. Tamaki died young. He left most of us years as payment for our contracts."

Midoriya nodded his understanding, casting his gaze to the side before asking, "Do you know how I managed to survive the fight?"

"When a human dies, in their last moments they exude a massive burst of pure lifeforce. That gave us just enough energy to help your plethora take down the unbound." He shifted his wings, fluffing them around his shoulders before continuing on. "After that, I'm not certain how long you survived. When we encountered you again it had been decades, and you were already one of us."

Midoriya frowned and pinched his brow, thinking for a moment before asking, "What about my plethora? Where are they?"

Touya spoke up at that, crossing his arms lightly over his chest. "Shouto and Katsuki were with you the first time we met you as a demon." Midoriya met his eyes, the demon shrugging lightly before clarifying, "There were times when we didn't see you for centuries. Each time you were vastly stronger. Sometimes you were with demons from your former plethora, other times you were alone." He looked towards Blue before adding on. "Once you were a chaos, you reappeared with a keihai none of us had ever met before."

"You've been inseparable ever since." Takami chuckled with a teasing smile, looking up at Touya and nuzzling just under his jaw affectionately. "It took about three centuries before you finally admitted aloud that you were cherished, but we knew long before that. It was obvious how much he meant to you, how much you cared about each other."

"Blue said that Shinsou shattered me?" He looked to the demon as he spoke, searching Blue's teary eyes. "In my world, Shinsou isn't an enemy. He's the most powerful demon in my plethora. I don't understand how here he can be responsible for all of this…"

"Shinsou is a reaver. He doesn't care about anything other than accumulating power." Touya growled, his tail flicking behind him as he spoke. "I can't imagine that revenant ever agreeing to a contract with anyone. As far as we know, he's never held a contract with a human host before."

"I can scarcely imagine." Takami agreed with a sigh, pressing closer to his cherished's side. "You and Shinsou were adversaries for nearly a millennium. As your strength grew, you became a threat to him."

Touya nodded his agreement, flashing his fangs as he growled out, "He shattered many of your allies in attempts to devour you over the centuries, and it made you absolutely despise him." Touya shook his head slightly, his hold on Takami growing tight. "Your desire to avenge those he had destroyed became a wild, ravenous hunger that nearly drove you to ascend to a dragon before you were shattered yourself."

Midoriya didn't understand what Touya was saying. It felt as if there was something he was missing, something important that had been left out. "Destroyed? You mean…the ones he shattered, they weren't able to return from the abyss?"

Touya hummed softly, giving a little nod, Takami meeting Midoriya's eyes and replying hesitantly, "Typically when a demon is shattered, they are simply returned to a lesser state, and are eventually able to ascend again. Shinsou's quirk, however, destroys the core in entirety, leaving nothing behind to be returned to the abyss."

"True death." Touya murmured, his growl rumbling deep within his chest. "No second chances. An eternity of nothingness." He closed his eyes, Takami rubbing along his bicep gently, crooning softly to soothe him. "It is an ability he gleaned from devouring another chaos, or so the rumors say."

"Shinsou holds many quirks." Takami added with a quiet sigh, looking to Midoriya with a sad little smile. "You did too." He looked to Blue, giving a little nod. "Before you were shattered, you passed several of your quirks to your keihai, to ensure he could protect himself should you fall."

"I should have been there." Blue said, his breath caught in his throat. "I should have been by his side. I could have saved Izuku. If he hadn't given me his quirks, if he had just kept them all to himself, he wouldn't have-"

"We can't know that for sure." Takami said calmly, lingering at Touya's side for a moment longer before stepping forward, passing Midoriya and continuing on to Blue, tugging him against his chest. "None of us were there. He wanted it that way. He wanted to fight against Shinsou alone. He wanted to protect us, those of us that were left."

Midoriya watched them quietly, his thoughts reeling, his stomach twisting in knots. "So, in this world…Shinsou is still alive?" He looked to Touya, his voice shaking slightly as he pressed on, "Who else is still alive? Who did Shinsou shatter?"

Touya inhaled quietly, then asked in a low tone, "Are you certain you want to know?"

Midoriya nodded, his heartbeat fluttering in his throat. "Yes. Please tell me. I want to fully understand. I need to know everything."

Touya held Midoriya's eyes, then nodded his head, and began to recount the true deaths that he knew of, Takami adding names now and then as well, Midoriya frozen in disbelief.

Bakugou.

Todoroki.

Uraraka.

Asui.

Toga.

Jirou.

Hagakure.

Kaminari and Kirishima had managed to find a safe haven away from the fighting to spend eternity together. Out of Midoriya's original plethora, they were the only two who remained unshattered.

As Shinsou had never offered a contract to save Amajiki, Midoriya had never traveled with Amajiki to the city in the valley. This meant he had never contracted with Ashido, Yaoyorozu, Iida, or Koda. It also meant that Midoriya and Sero had never met.

Midoriya held his head between his hands, trying to wrap his mind around it. It was all too much too suddenly. He felt chills throughout his entire body, his head throbbing and eyes aching. He was fairly certain if he didn't rest soon he was going to make himself sick.

"This isn't your truth. This is ours."

Midoriya glanced up, meeting Takami's eyes. He was watching Midoriya with something akin to pity, combing his fingers through Blue's hair while the demon rested quietly against his shoulder. "Your truth is much different than ours. Don't forget your reality. Your truth. You mustn't get it confused with ours. If you do, you'll never find your way back home when the time comes."

"I won't take him back." Blue said softly, his brow pinching as his breath hitched. "I won't take him back."

"There's time." Takami murmured, folding his wings around Blue gently. "Don't think about that right now, okay? He's here with us now. Focus on that. He's here with us. He's alive."

"He's alive." Blue repeated softly, closing his eyes, turning his face to hide against Takami's neck. "He's alive."

Takami crooned softly, tugging Blue gently into the shadows, their footsteps gradually fading away. Touya watched them go with a soft sigh before stepping forward to follow after, glancing back at Midoriya and calling out to him as he parted the leaves with his wings. "You coming?"

Midoriya wrapped his arms around himself, hugging himself tightly, unsure of what else he could possibly do. He was powerless without his plethora, completely at the mercy of the angels and demons around him. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to soothe his frayed nerves, then gingerly followed after Touya into the shadows.


Thanks for reading! More to come!