Chapter Twenty-Two:

Izuku smiled a bright smile while leaning on my bed. It would brighten up Grue's darkness if given the chance. "Really!?"

"Yeah, we could play Mutants and Masterminds if you ever come back. But don't you have the Ochy girl to play with?"

"Ochaco, but that's a nice nickname for her."

I smiled.

Izuku did the same. "You look even prettier when you smile."

I looked away. Why did he say that? That's so weird!

"Oh, I meant that in the most platonic sense!"

I frowned. I don't even know why, I just did. "Thanks. Not that I wouldn't mind! I just-"

"I understand, Ski-"

"Taylor," I said. "Call me Taylor."

Izuku smiled even wider. "Ok. Taylor."

I didn't even feel like it was a gamble this time. Like I did with The Undersiders, before I really knew them. But if I did know them, I wouldn't hesitate to tell them my secret identity. It was the same with Izuku. I already shown him my face. I didn't feel any fear telling him my name.

It was so weird. I thought he'd be another arch-nemesis. Like Armsmaster. But I have as close bond to as I do to Tattletale and Grue. After I told him about my bullies. He comforted me with tears in his eyes, saying the girls that bullied me don't deserve me, my attention, my anything. He was very infuriated. I only see him that mad when Grue shot his friend.

Or when…we shot his friend.

I can't believe I thought he was a nerdy bully. He clearly wasn't. He'd been bullied himself! How could I not see that!? So now, I have to live with the fact that I nearly bullied someone who already has been bullied. I felt terrible about it. But nothing dwelling on it will do.

According to Izuku, his bullying experience was similar to mine. Getting bullied by a main pack and some stragglers. He was mostly bullied by boys, but some girls bullied him as well, to get in good graces with Bakugo. I don't know why. Izuku was way nicer, while Bakugo, judging just from my experiences with him, was a total psycho, like Sophia, except smarter.

But I'd never say that out loud. I wouldn't want Izuku to hear me.

So his bullying experience was just like mine, but with the genders reversed, and with more burning. His bully experience was so bad, that he doesn't even recognize his own achievement. Like cleaning an entire beach, or beating a pack of aquatic villain. It makes me want to punch Bakugo, or as he calls him, 'Kacchan', In the fucking face.

It even made me think about myself. Did I do that? I didn't think so, but neither did Izuku.

"So, back to what we're saying before," Izuku interrupted my thoughts.. "What are you recommended superhero books? Or books in general?"

"Are you going to tell me your favorite superhero comic books?" I said

"Why would I? You don't read comic books!" Izuku said with a dazzling smile.

"I could start. You're going to read regular books."

"Yeah, but I figure you would expect that. Books are more likely considered 'high art' than comics."

"I didn't. I respect people taste."

"Thanks. And I probably recommend Galaxy Wars #1."

My eyes lit up. "You like Galaxy Wars?"

"You do too?"

"Yes! It's my favorite movie series!"

"Me too!" He said. "I love the characters' development and the beautiful locations. They're breathtaking."

"Really?" I said. "I love the sets too."

This must be a dream, a fantasy, someone's power at hand? A master? How could I find someone so similar to me…and he's a hero…That shouldn't be possible.

But here he was, being basically the same as me. And he was still a hero. He was still idealistic…

I'll try not to think about what that says about me. We're probably different in some aspects.

"Wow, I'm glad I found you!" Izuku said. "I never thought I would find someone just like me!" It looked like he was going to say something else, but decided against it. "Which place would you like to vacation to?"

"What place would you like to vacation to?"

"Hey! I asked first!"

"Let's say it at the same time." I suggested.

"Ok!"

We both took a deep breath and said. "Sto Plains of the unnamed continent! What!? Oh my god! Shut up!"

We pushed each other.

"What are the chances we'd want to go to the same area?" Izuku said.

"I know," I said, more incredulously. "There are dozens of continents on this planet. Than chances of us wanting to go to the same ones are…very low."

"Why do you want to go to the Sto Plains?" Izuku said. "Is it to learn magic?"

"You believe in magic?" I asked with a smile.

"Yeah! I mean, Dr. Strange and Dr. Fate are a thing."

"They probably have superpowers! Magic can't be real because it defies logic."

"Well, I know there's probably a scientific explanation for it," He said. "But for now, it's basically magic."

"Ok." I said, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "I would just like to go there because it's a land of adventure. I would love to go on romps throughout the land. Finding people to fight."

"Bad people?"

"Worse than me."

A look of concern washed over his face. "Ummmmmm, not to offend you, but do you have a plan for that?"

I looked down, one hand on my chin, "No…I don't. Come to think of it, I don't typically have plans. I just run into situations and wing it."

"Me too." He replied. "I do better when I'm pressured. Causes me to look for a hundred options a second and pick the one that works."

"That's an exaggeration."

"You're an exaggeration!" He laughed.

He wanted to vacation to the Sto Plains? He fights by the seat of his pants? This has to be an illusion. A hero being so similar? What are the chances? Why did I even hate him so much? He was perfect.

"Well, I'm just glad you didn't say something like The Mushroom Kingdom."

"Isn't that place on the planet behind the sun?" He asked.

"Planet X." I said. "Yes, things are weird there. But they're not exactly happy. The Mushroom Kingdom gets invaded every month."

"How's that different from Doctor Doom or Gorilla Grodd trying to take over the world, like, every week?"

"Touché." I said. While we were talking about this, a thought occurred to me. "You're…not an eleven, are you?"

"No, I'm not from one of the areas that England has."

"You think Japan would've done something about it."

"They're trying to frame it as just sharing land." He said.

"That's so dumb."

"I know, right?" Izuku chortled.

I scratched my ear. "At least you have Kira to help you."

Izuku gave me a look. A bad one. Oh-no? What did I say?

"Kira is barely helping with that. He's mostly killing minor criminals."

Oh, it was nothing

"Also," He added. "It's wrong to kill people, even criminals. Especially now that I know they're not all bad. I can't advocate for that."

Or not…

Should I even bother? Should I argue the fact? If I di I could damage our…relationship. I don't want to do that. It would seem pointless to damage what we have just to fight back against what he said. It's not that important. I'm not going to escalate pointlessly.

But then, if I don't, will he figure it out? He's pretty observate. If I hide from him, will he know?

"Taylor," Izuku said. "Is something wrong?"

Dammit. Speak of the Devil. I can't lie to him. I'm absolutely dreadful at it.

I told the truth. "I think Kira might have a point."

Izuku stared. "Really? But…you're a villain…"

"That why I didn't say they was right." I corrected. "I don't want them to kill all criminals. But to be fair to them, he doesn't kill criminal that have excusable circumstances."

"Great. That means he's smarter than me." He laughed.

I resisted the urge to. Didn't know whether or not it'd hurt him. "Well, what I'm trying to say is, sometimes, you have to do the wrong things for the right reason."

Izuku made a face. "But they're still wrong things. Being a hero means doing the impossible and saving everyone."

"Maybe if you were one of the strongest and the smartest." I said. "Like a New York hero, or a member of the Justice League. But with everyone else, including heroes, you have to make sacrifices. See, you live in Japan, a small country with some of the top heroes and very few crimes."

"Are you saying…that I have it easier?"

Oh god, I fucked up so bad. I didn't mean to invalidate his pain.

"No, not you. Just people like you. They're…more spoiled."

"What about saving everyone?" Izuku said.

"What about it? You can't save everyone."

Izuku stared at me. Then looked down. Oh damn it. What was he thinking about? "What are you favorite books?"

Shit. "If I offended you, just-"

"You didn't. I just wanted to get back on track." He said.

Well, that was obviously bullshit. He just wanted to talk about anything else. That means I offended him. Damn it. I have to make up to him? Should I press the issue?

No…probably not. If I do that, I'll look paranoid, or like a jerk. I should just give the recommendation and talk about it later. If I have a chance.

Oh shit. I wasn't supposed to get close to him! I was supposed to stay as far away from him as possible. It's not like I can't make a bond with our kidnapping victim. Hell, I shouldn't even be seeing him as a victim. This was supposed to be a simple ransom!

Should I just wrap him up again? Should I just ignore this entire conversation?

No, I can't. I'd have to explain myself. And I don't want to tell Izuku that I want to stay far away from him emotionally. Not only is that not entirely true, I don't think his heart could handle it.

Fuck it. "I like…" I paused.

Izuku glanced to the left. "You like…what?"

I frowned. "I just realized…All the stories I liked had heroes being good people…I'm… not sure I would enjoy them anymore."

"You don't think all heroes are bad people, right?"

"No, but after what I experienced, I…" How do I explain myself? How do I articulate how I feel? "I guess I'm not comfortable with people saying heroes are good."

"But if you believe…" He stopped himself. "Actually, forget what I was going to say. I'm not going to fight against your experience, especially with her."

He sounded angry at that last line. A hint of bitterness for someone else entirely.

"Why do people even bully?" I said. "How hard is it to be good?"

"Some people say it's because they weren't given love. But it's probably the opposite. They were given so much love that they think they're better than everyone else."

"Yeah, you're right. Except our 'friends' used to be nice, and they just backstabed us for no reason. They're just jerks. Plain and simple."

"Yeah, Emma's a jerk."

I looked at him. "What about Bakugo?"

"Well, he's a jerk, too. But I can't hate him."

I didn't respond. I don't think I could've. Nothing in my brain could've made a response to what he just said.

"Judging from your reaction, you probably think that's weird. But his talent, hard-work, confidence, and quirk makers me admire him. It's not like you and Emma."

"It's exactly like us. Except it might be worse, because it was for longer." I said, sounding a lot calmer than I felt.

"I doubt Kacchan would've done anything like they did. He's not that bad."

"Maybe not but," I paused. "Wait, that nickname…is that an affectionate one?"

Izuku scratched the back of my head. "Yes…it is…It's something special to the jap-"

"Are you fucking insane?"

Izuku stopped himself. "What?"

"You're defending your bully, making excuses for him. Acting like he's the hottest shit after he bullied you? Are you insane?"

"It's a Japanese thing! We respect people we don't like if they have skills or positive traits! Or if they're authority."

So this was it. This was how we were different. Couldn't it just have been a difference in taste, whether it was music or movies? Did it have to be a difference of the worst kind?

Then again, it's not like he had the same experience as me when it came to authority. So why did it hurt so much?

"But you do like him!" I said. "You say you admire him! And why would you respect people you don't like? Especially if they were awful to you!"

"It's…complicated."

"No, it's really not. I gave up idolizing Armsmaster because he was a jerk. You can't do the same for Bakugo?"

"Armsmaster tried to kill you," He argued. "And broke one of the most sacred things in the super hero community. He's basically a villain. He doesn't deserve your respect."

"I'm not talking about that." I said.

"What?"

I sighed. "When I started the mole mission for the heroes. I had a talk with him. The Undersiders wanted to rob a bank, and I went to talk to Armsmaster about pulling my ass out of the fire if it went to flames."

"Wait, you still wanted on that bank robbery?"

"Yes, at first I wanted to do it to get close to The Undersiders' boss. But then I wanted to do it to prove Armsmaster wrong."

"But what did he say?"

"He told me I was wrong, that I was stupid, and that I should just stop because I'm just a middle schooler with delusion of grandeur."

"He shouldn't have said that…"

"Thank you."

"But…"

I whipped my head around. "But?"

"It's not like he should've called you stupid. Or insulted you. But you…you were wrong. You should've stopped. It wasn't like you could've saved anyone at the bank robbery. They was no reason to do it."

"It got me closer to The Undersiders. It's part of the reason I figured out who their boss was."

"But if a pro hero is telling you to stop. You stop."

He's telling me I should've stopped? That I should've listened to Armsmaster of all people?

"Why? Because they're authority?" I shot back.

"No, because they're usually right!"

Authority let me down, kicked on me, stomped on me, and has neglected everyone in care. He really thought that? That I should just shut up and listen to the bastards in charge?

"Authority isn't as right as you think."

Izuku looked down. Then smiled, while saying. "It's not worth fighting over."

"Yes, there is! And there's nothing funny about this. You think I should've listened to Armsmaster when he insulted me? I thought you liked me."

"I do! That's why I said it!" Izuku got up and started pacing. "In Japan, we have a saying, 'if someone has a point, listen, no matter their attitude.' It's a saying especially popular in superhero areas in Japan. You should've listened to Armsmaster. You should've never done the bank robbery. It was just pointless cruelty just to find out about their boss! You hurt people! Don't you care?"

I stared. Then looked down and sighed. "I never said I didn't care."

Izuku quirked his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yes. I felt awful about doing it to those people. Did you know I threatened to kill him with spiders?"

He shook his head. "And you did it…because you thought you had to."

I nodded. "To stop them from killing themselves trying to stop us."

Izuku stood there, mouth agape. "I…I can't imagine how you feel."

"I see their faces every day."

Izuku walked over to me. "You shouldn't beat yourself up over it." He sat down next to me. "If you want to feel better, just work your ass off helping this city. That'll be enough."

"It won't change what I did to those people."

"You can redeem yourself regardless. Anyone can."

He really believes in me…

I smiled. Trying to wipe away the tears from my face, and I found Izuku's hand on my cheek, wiping away a tear.

I looked at him with his hand still on my cheek. I flushed.

"Uhhhhh, I was just wiping away a tear! Nothing else!"

"I know." I smiled. "So, what about you? Do you really love everything about Bakugo?"

Izuku sighed. "No, definitely not. I didn't even like him all the time."

My eyebrow quirked. "Really?"

"Yes, back in Junior High. He told me to kill myself."

What?

"Told me to take a swan dive off the roof of the building. I was so angry with him for saying that. I actually resented him for a bit. Until the beginning of this year."

Thank god he didn't have to deal with The Trio. He wouldn't be able to contain himself. And he doesn't deserve the depravity of Emma and Sophia.

"What changed?" I asked.

"He ignored me again." Izuku said. "And the anger for him quietly died down…I just wish he was better…nicer…"

I put my hand on his shoulder. Something had to be said. I knew that. But what? I can't say he doesn't deserve his affection. No matter how much I believed it, He wouldn't like it. I couldn't say he would eventually change. Not only do I not believe that, but it would encourage him to keep trying with Bakugo. I can't encourage that.

What would I want someone to say to me?

"Things will get better." I said. "I promise you. You don't have to do anything but ignore him. Trust me, things will get better."

"They already did." Izuku laughed. "I said he started to ignore me."

"Oh! I just meant-"

"It's ok, Taylor. I know what you meant."

I smiled. "Thanks, Izuku."

"You know, you only use the first name of someone in Japan when you're close to them."

I paused. "Oh…"

"I guess you already know."

Oh! "Ummm, I didn't But thanks for telling me."

"My friends actually call me Deku."

"Ok…Deku."

We started staring into each other's eyes. I felt my heart rate rising. I felt like I had to change the subject. I didn't know how, I just had to.

"You have something you want to say, hero?"

Shit. I did not mean to say that.

Izuku took it in stride, though. "Haha! Let me tell you something, villain! Heroes always have something to say!"

Oh-no, not this again. "Really, Deku?"

"You started it." He said with a laugh.

Dammit. Now I have to play along again or else he'll ask why I even did that. And I…couldn't have that. I just couldn't.

I moved my muscles to smile. "Foolish Hero. No one want to hear you speak."

"Silence, villain! Your plans will never succeed! Like always."

"Don't you understand, Hero? Today is opposite day!"

God, this was cheesy as all hell. It sounded like dialogue from a saturday morning cartoon. It was so fucking bad.

Was it bad that I was enjoying this?

Izuku grabbed one of the wooden board from my workers…well…working. "Well, let's see how true your boast truly are!"

That was so redundant. He was way to into this.

But I didn't want to stop now. I grabbed another board and pointed it at him. "Game on, hero! Game on."

What followed was the dorkest battle I was apart of. We clashed, we swung, we traded quips, at one point, Izuku jumped on the bed and we fought there. As stupid as this was, I had fun. I think being in so many life-threating battles made this cathartic. It was fun.

Until I opened Izuku's chest wound.

"OW!" Izuku cried.

"IZUKU!" I said. "Sit down!" I went to look under my bed.

"What are we going to do!?" He asked. "I'm bleeding out!"

"I know first aid!" I said. I pulled out a first aid kit, opened it, and took out some soapy water. "Take off your shirt."

He did as he was ordered and showed his body. It was…considerably more defined than I first thought. Not in a gross, bodybuilder, way. In an appealing, well toned, more…attractive way. Blood trickled down his chest, giving him a rugged lo…oh god! I haven't been tending to his wound! And I've been staring at his chest!

He didn't seem to notice though. "Why are you staring at my wound?"

"Ummm, no reason."

I poured the water on his chest. Then got the stitches. "This might sting a bit."

"I handled worse." He smiled.

I smiled. I shook my head, though, and got to work.

I put the thread through the needle and put the needle through skin. He winced, but barely flinched. I continued to do it. Aware of my hand on his chest. I stared. At the wound, I mean, not anything else. I had to. I couldn't look at his eyes. I just can't.

"Taylor, look at me."

"I am."

"no…I mean…look me in the eyes."

What? "Ummm…why?"

"I…I don't know. I just want it…"

I sighed. "Ok."

I looked up. Staring at his eyes. It was like time froze in that moment. Like, I could get lost in his eyes forever.

I leaned in.

"Hey, brat."

Holy shit.

I ran to the door and leaned on it. "Not now, Shigaraki!" I signaled for Izuku to go back to his silk wrapping. He ran there and tried to wrap himself.

"Not now?" Shigaraki said. "That's not for you to decide, brat. I decide when i want to see him."

I brought spiders in and wrapped him in silk. As quickly as I could.

"Just come at a later date!"

"He won't even be here in a half hour!" he said.

I finished. And just in time to because he decayed the door, and I fell through it. Right at Shigaraki's feet. "Ummm, hi?"

Shigaraki rolled his eyes. And scratched. Definitely not a good sigh. "How are you doing, brat?"

Izuku frowned. "Fine."

Shigaraki walked in. and looked around. Was he inspecting for something? "Why is your mask off? I thought American heroes were all about secret identities. Like our corporate heroes."

Oh shit.

"He...spat at me and I took it off in the moment. As long as he doesn't know my full name, It'll be ok. People are bad at remembering faces."

"And does he know your full name?"

Why is he asking that?

"No." I said. Technically, it was. I only told him my name was Taylor. Not Taylor Hebert.

Shigaraki looked to the ground. "There's blood here. Why?"

"I whacked him with a board. And he bled. It's on the board."

He bled under the slik?"

"I took it off just to whack him."

"Bad Idea. Don't do that again."

I nodded.

"Alright, well, the brat appears secured. Let's talk outside."

"Why?"

"To discuss strategy. The heroes will come soon to save their precious boy. Come on."

I walked out of the room with Shigaraki. Acting a lot calmer than I felt.

A minute later.

I sat on boxes of supplies with Shigaraki, surveying my surrounding with my bugs. Everyone was busy working on adding more to the base. And that meant everybody was out of the warehouse. It was just me and Shigaraki.

What could I do if he attacked me? Could I depend on my bugs? He can't decay it, right? From what Tattletale told me, he needs all five fingers for it to work, so it wouldn't be able to work on them. My bugs, I mean. So I could just Zerg Rush him. But he's fast…Could I escape from him.?

Am I just being paranoid? He might not even know about me and Deku.

"So, what's the plan?" I asked Shigaraki.

Shigaraki looked at my room. "I hate that brat."

"...What?"

"That brat. Everything about him makes me want to tear apart every atom in his body. And look at the dust that remains. He makes me so angry, I want to vomit. I. Hate. Him."

He hates him? He hates him so much he wants to fucking kill him? But he didn't do anything wrong. He was the kindest…

No… get your thoughts into order. Just respond carefully and calmly.

"I don't remember me asking for your opinion on that stupid nerd."

He moved his head around. "You didn't. but I thought we could relate to that."

What!?"

"I saw part of your fight with him. I heard what you said to him. You really hate him." He grinned.

Oh…

"Well, he's the antithesis of everything I stand for."

"Me too, but we're very different. So the question is…Why about him do you hate?"

I thought back to why I hate him. I forgot some of it. But I remember enough to tell him..

"He thinks heroes are good, responsible, and has a black and white view of morality. I've been screwed over by heroes too much to believe that.

Shigaraki titled his head. "Well, I hate him because he idolizes All Might."

What was wrong with that? Should I ask that?

"All Might is one of the last selfless heroes left."

"Doesn't matter. People like All Might think they can save everyone, but there's always someone out there, dying, suffering, and he can't do anything about it. Anyone that thinks they can save everyone deserves to die. That's just a fact of the-"

"Fuck you."

Shigaraki stared at me. "What?"

Holy shit. Why did I say that? The whole point of this conversation was to ignore my own feelings. Why didn't I just do that? I get so defensive about Deku. Like he's a goddamn Undersider.

"Nothing, I'm just teasing you, Shigaraki."

Shigaraki looked at the door of the warehouse. "I hear bugs being frantic. Is that you?"

"I do that to get them to work faster."

"Right, working through fear. Well, let's cut to the…actually, I think I'll have Tattletale explain the plan to you. Just call her and we'll get ready when they'll appear."

Shigaraki got up and walked away. I walked to my room.

And as I entered it. I could hear Shigaraki scratching.

Author Notes:That's right! All fiction is canon to this fanfiction! But some, might not be canon yet. It all has to do with my plans for this world! I'll tell you about them soon enough.

Also, I took inspiration from the techno queen for some parts of this fanfiction. Try to guess which ones.

That's all I had to say. this is Super Ultimate Number One, sighing out. Peace!