A/N: (Fanficlover175: I'll try my best)
Inspired by Levius.
Chapter 2: Musutafu Massacre
Izuku sat quietly huddled beside his window, his digits slowly unhinging the screen under the moonlight. After dinner, which had been an oddly somber affair, he claimed to be tired and went to his room.
Mom checked on me over an hour ago, the coast should be clear.
The screen came loose and Izuku carefully pulled the metal mesh frame inside. He did a quick once over, making sure he was ready. Dressed in a dark green coat and black slacks, he double knotted his red shoes, and peaked out of his window. He'd never snuck out before, but part of him wanted it to go off without a hitch.
Mom and Dad's light is off and their curtains are closed.
He smiled to himself.
Perfect.
Izuku carefully climbed out of his room and onto the first floor's roofing. Once fully outside, he closed the window and carefully climbed to the house's lowest point. He took a deep breath and readied himself for the six foot drop.
His heart pounded, fear of being caught rushing through his veins. Still, he found himself elated.
Just you wait, Kacchan… if you want a fight…
Izuku's breath hitched as he jumped.
...you'll get one.
-oxoxo-
On the edge of the rolling hills outside of Musutafu city, All for One and a man in uniform stood beside each other. Behind them, platoons of orderly soldiers awaited their commands.
"Place the mortars along this hill, we'll bombard them first and then storm the city during the chaos," All for One stated to the man beside him.
The man glowered.
"Need I remind you that I don't take orders from freaks. You're just as bad as those bastards in the city."
All for One chuckled.
"Something funny, freak? Did your little monster disintegrate another rabbit or something?"
"No, General. While we must work together, and you may loath to do so, I admire your hatred."
The General looked disturbed, but gestured towards the soldiers for the mortar platoons to set up on the designated hill.
"Whatever. We commence bombardment in five minutes. We'll start with the bay and cut off their escape routes. You will take care of the remaining heroes and All Might, leave the city to us."
All for One chuckled once more as if he were humoring an adamant child.
"Of course General, it will be my pleasure."
-oxoxo-
The trek into the city was quiet, however, as he approached, the commotion of Musutafu's nightlife greeted him. Izuku navigated the crowds, making his way to the bayside factory until he stood resolute outside its soot covered doors. His breath clung to the back of his lungs.
Just breathe Izuku… you've got this.
With one last calming exhale, he reached out and opened the door, slipping inside. Bathed in moonlight a swarm of kids huddled around the ring. As soon as they noticed him they stepped back revealing a smirking Bakugo Katsuki at its center.
"You're late shithead. I thought you chickened out or something."
A chorus of chuckles flit through the crowd. In response, Izuku marched forward, his footsteps echoing throughout the factory until he stood within the circle. His emerald eyes stood firm against those glaring rubies.
"I'm not afraid of you."
Never again.
Izuku readied himself, arms out and left foot forward.
Almost instantly Katsuki's demeanor shattered. The fragments of his smug ego gave way to a quiet rage that burned through the blonde's self restraint.
"You're not afraid, huh, Deku?"
Kacchan's arms flew back, and he snarled.
"Well you fucking should be!"
Two blasts illuminated the factory and shook its walls. The spectating children collectively stepped back as Katsuki suddenly exploded forward. In an instant, those hateful ruby eyes were before him, his right arm cocked back.
"You're nothing compared to me!"
Just like before, focus.
Izuku leaned to his left, preparing for the incoming right hook. Katsuki swung and Izuku dipped under the arm. But just before Katsuki could complete the motion of his opening right hook, Izuku noticed a grin spreading across the blonde's lips.
Crap!
Katsuki jumped and sent a quick blast to the floor with his left hand at the same time. The blonde left his line of sight, flying above him.
Izuku turned to face his airborne foe but was swiftly propelled forward.
"DIEEE!"
An explosion to his upper back sent him sprawling onto the concrete, his jacket singed and smoking. Katsuki landed behind Izuku's prone form, embered hand still outstretched.
Damn that really hurt. Everything feels out of place.
Izuku struggled to his feet, the pain seeping deep into his nerves.
That was so stupid. I fell for it! Of course Kacchan would adapt.
He turned to regard Katsuki. His opponent had stepped into another stance, smirking and ready for more. Izuku grit his teeth.
I have to be better than this.
He readied himself once more. Whatever Katsuki would throw at him, he was determined to win this time.
Katsuki got the first hit, he'll likely-
Izuku didn't have time to think as the blonde rushed him. Panicked, he raised a hasty upper guard. Katsuki threw a single punch into his guard before switching things up. Izuku let out a strangled cough as a full force knee strike made contact with his unprotected stomach.
He doubled over, falling to his knees as he struggled to breathe, one arm clutching his wounded torso. Spit fell free from his mouth as Katsuki stood over him, looking down.
"I thought you weren't afraid of me, Deku," Katsuki taunted.
Izuku's eyes screwed shut as he willed the pain away. In a quiet yet heavy voice, he responded.
"I'm not, Kacchan."
Katsuki's brow furrowed, scowling once more as he growled in annoyance.
"Just give up!" he bellowed, placing a heel on Izuku's side and kicking him over.
He coughed violently as he was forced onto the ground. Even so, he picked himself back up, one limb at a time. Katsuki's burning glare contested Izuku's crackling determination.
Once more he readied himself, albeit slower.
My vision is getting blurry. I don't think I can take another hit like that. No more thinking, I have to just act. Kacchan always takes the initiative.
One last calming breath.
Here we go.
His legs moved without thinking as Bakugo Katsuki's eyes widened in surprise. Izuku closed the distance between them and unleashed a violent right hook of his own.
In a split second before the punch landed, they made eye contact.
I will win.
Unaccustomed to being on the defensive, Katsuki was forced to bring up a shody guard. The sudden blow knocked his guard to the side and unbalanced him. This left his side vulnerable and open to Izuku's next attack.
Without hesitation, Izuku, following the momentum of his last punch, kneeled down, connected his fists, and rammed his elbow into Katsuki's side.
The blonde grunted in pain, however his rubied eyes remained unwavering. It was going to take more than that to bring Bakugo Katsuki down.
In retaliation, Katsuki dropped his guard and struck Izuku across the cheek with a jab.
I'm not giving up.
But as soon as he'd taken the hit, Izuku countered by throwing his own punch which clipped Katsuki's cheekbone.
Both combatants disengaged, their short burst of close quarters violence leaving them out of breath and wincing.
"You look tired Deku, gonna give up?" Katsuki snarled.
Izuku's eyes steeled over.
"No, I'll-"
It was at this very moment a thunderous blast erupted from the street outside. The ground rumbled beneath their feet, causing both Izuku and Katsuki to stumble as the factory windows shattered. Burning orange light consumed the factory. The sudden commotion spread panic and the children scattered, leaving him and Katsuki behind.
I know that noise… And from Kacchan's expression, so does he...
Izuku looked out from the empty window frames and gasped. The building that had once stood across from the factory had caved in on itself. Rolling dust filled the street as smoke and ash drifted through the air.
A stray ember wandered from the building, landing on his cheek. Izuku's emerald orbs widened, realization settling in.
...that building exploded.
-oxoxo-
Hisashi jolted awake.
Three years of war had sharpened his perception; especially to the sound of mortar fire. He heard it again, another rumble of mechanical thunder. Hisashi rushed to the window and pulled back the curtains. He whispered desperately.
"No…"
In the distance, the orange lights flickered within Musutafu as pillars of smoke disappeared into the night sky. Inko stirred behind him.
"Hisashi?" she sees his rigid posture, "Hisashi, what's wrong?"
He broke away from the window, swiftly moving to open a suitcase he'd placed under their bed. Inside, his hero uniform was on display, neatly pressed and folded. Hisashi spoke as he began equipping himself for battle.
"I'm so sorry, Inko. Get Izuku and lock yourselves in the basement; you know the plan."
Inko, still waking up, looked confused.
"Hisashi, what are yo-"
Then she saw it: Musutafu in flames. It took a while to look away, and when she had, tears had pooled in the corners of her eyes. Hisashi sat down beside her on the bed, now dressed in full combat gear. Before he could speak, his wife rushed forth and kissed him fiercely.
After a few seconds of passion, he gently pushed her away.
"I have to go, Inko. They need me."
She smiled at him sadly.
"I know."
Hisashi pressed his forehead against Inko's as he cradled her cheek. He could feel her tremble as she held tightly onto the front of his uniform.
"I love you, Inko," he whispered.
She lets out a quiet sob, nods, and smiles.
"I love you too, Hisashi."
For an instant longer, he relished in her touch, her smell, and her love. But no more. Hisashi stood and so did Inko. She wrapped a night robe around herself and left their room.
Hisashi let out a heavy sigh. It would seem intel had been wrong.
"HISASHI!"
His blood ran cold as he burst out of the bedroom and into Izuku's room. Embers danced in his throat, anxiety rushing through him.
"Inko! What is it?"
His wife stood rigid staring at Izuku's empty bed.
"He… he's gone… Hisashi…our baby..."
Inko sank to the floor. Immediately he was at her side, an arm around her shoulder. Panic surged throughout every fiber of his being before the enraged words of Bakugo Katsuki exploded to the forefront of his mind.
'This ain't over Deku! Just because your dad bailed you out doesn't mean you can just walk away. We're settling this tonight!'
"Inko, it's okay, I know where he is."
It took a second for his words to sink in, but eventually she calmed down and he gently helped her back up.
"Barricade yourself in the basement. Inko, I promise I will get him back."
He kisses her forehead and whispers the oath once more.
"I promise I will."
She nodded through the tears as he departed to the window. Just as he mounted the frame and turned away, two arms wrapped around his torso, embracing him. Her lips brushed against his ear, as she spoke unsteadily.
"Come back to me…please..."
She squeezed him one last time before pulling away.
"...both of you."
The mist of tears shrouding his vision, Hisashi nodded and leapt from the roof, ready to find his son within the horrors of war.
-oxoxo-
I have to get home.
"Kacchan, we have to go!"
Izuku stepped out into the burning bright street as a fire had consumed the remains of the sunken building. Katsuki soon followed, surprisingly calm.
"Don't fucking tell me what to do Deku," he grumbled without much bark.
Before he could retort, a faint whistling cut through the night.
What the-
Izuku's breath hitched as he connected the dots.
MORTAR!
"Kacchan get d-"
The street shook once more as another building collapsed into rubble and smoke. His ears rung from the blast and dust once again filled the streets. Izuku coughed and waved the particles from his face.
"Kacchan, come on! We..."
Kacchan?
The words died in his throat as the dust settled and the unconscious body of Bakugo Katsuki was revealed. A trail of fresh blood stemmed from a deep jagged wound across the blonde's temple. Not far away was a stray brick, lined with crimson, having flown from the debris.
Izuku's breath quickened and the world spun.
What was happening? Why were we being attacked? Have the quirkless forces arrived?
The sharp whistling of the night returned, and without thinking, Izuku dove over Katsuki's body, sheltering it from harm. He winced as the falling mortar struck a nearby building. Izuku examined his former childhood friend as his brow furrowed.
No. I don't have time to panic, I have to get Kacchan out of here.
He placed an arm around Katsuki's torso and heaved the larger boy's limp arm over his shoulder. Izuku's legs shuddered with strain from the first step and his breath came out in shallow pants. Even so, he took one step forward, and then another, and another.
"Come on Kacchan, we can't die here. We still have to finish our fight," he wheezed.
Mortar shells rained from the darkness and brought ruin to the town. Izuku managed to carry Katsuki two blocks into the city before the gunfire and screaming started. The quirkless infantry force had breached Musutafu's walls. By now panic had spread to every corner of the city and citizens were being gunned down at random.
Come on, just one more block. We're so close.
Izuku quickened his pace even as his legs protested. The Bakugo residence wasn't far now. He turned at a street corner and his eyes widened.
Facing him, five meters away, was a squad of four gas masked soldiers clad in black. They traded looks before all four raised their rifles.
Izuku dropped Katsuki and stood in front of his prone body, screwing his eyes shut.
Please… anyone… save us.
Expecting immediate gunfire, Izuku opened his eyes just in time to witness a balefire of emerald flames engulf the four soldiers as his father unleashed hell from the rooftops. They screamed inside their masks as each of the soldiers fell to the ground, writhing in agony before summarily disappearing into ash.
"IZUKU!"
Before he could process what had happened, the building beside him exploded and he was thrown to the street.
-oxoxo-
Hisashi's heart stopped as a debris cloud consumed Izuku's small frame. He leapt from the rooftop, and sprinted to where he'd last seen his son.
"Izuku! Izuku can you hear me?"
The dust cleared, and in place of his son was a pile of rubble. The building had collapsed outward, brick and stone scattered across the street. He called out to his son once more, grappling at the ruins.
"Izuku! Izuku! I'm here, I…"
"Kacchan! I'll get you out!"
Further down the road, the dust clearing, his son stood above the fallen form of Bakugo Katsuki. Hisashi's eyes prickled with tears as relief flooded his system.
-oxoxo-
The ringing deafened him. He couldn't even hear his own voice. A faint stinging had formed across his cheek, and his side felt heavy, muscles dull.
However, none of that mattered. Izuku could only focus on Katsuki's buried body beneath the remains of the collapsed building. His fingers found purchase again and again as he wrenched brick after brick from atop Katsuki's body.
"Hang in there Kacchan!" his arms slow as he grows weaker, "Please… hang in there..."
I can't move, why can't I move? He needs my help, I have to save him!
Izuku's breath elevated and he broke into quiet sobs as the static ringing died down. Mortar shots and gunfire sounded the drums of war as the steady rage of fire and ruin broke across Musutafu.
I… I have to.
-oxoxo-
"Izuku."
His son's head slowly turned to face the voice of his father. Hisashi approached slowly, kneeling down beside his son. He reached out, placing two fingers along Katsuki's pulse.
Hisashi's brow furrowed as his eyes closed. A deep sigh left his lungs, breath heavy with the weight of the dead.
"Izuku, we… we have to go."
"No."
"I'm sorry, Izuku… we-"
Izuku's hands curled into fists as he leaned over Katsuki's body.
"I won't leave him!"
Suddenly a gunshot rang throughout the street as a bullet whizzed by Hisashi's head. He spun around as the soldier loaded another round into the chamber. Before the man could pull the trigger, Hisashi's mouth widened until his face mirrored that of a dragon's maw.
Emerald flames rushed forth in torrents, covering the block of distance and consuming anything in its path. Falling to his knees, the burning soldier pulled off his gas mask, strings of melted flesh hanging between them. Hisashi locked eyes with the soldier and understood.
He drew his pistol and fired a single shot. Izuku didn't even flinch as the soldier crumpled to the street, dead.
Hisashi grimaced. There was bound to be more on the way. He looked into the distant eyes of his kneeling son. They had to leave. NOW.
"Izu-"
"Well… well… well…"
A heavy voice filled with malicious mirth penatrated through the chaos of war. The air became dense and a sense of dread filled the streets. Hisashi's green eyes widened as a tall man in a dark suit walked calmly toward them.
"What do we have here… if it isn't one of the great heroes of the resistance, FireFang."
Hisashi placed a protective hand across Izuku's body as a vicious smile spread across All for One's twisted maw.
-oxoxo-
Kacchan… I'm sorry. I…
Suddenly an overwhelming sense of fear filled every ounce of emotion he possessed. His father placed a hand over his chest and Izuku turned to regard the source of dread.
A lone figure approached as sudden dark swirls of energy began radiating off his body. It smiled and he shuddered.
"Dad, what's going on?"
Hisashi's mouth opened and he spit out a wave of fire in front of them, covering the entire street in dancing green flames. Izuku's father turned around and kneeled to face him.
"Izuku, this is very important…"
Dad?
Hisashi sighed and chuckled softly. His father brushed aside some of his unruly curly hair. He smiled calmy, making eye contact with his son, green matching green.
"I love you, Izuku. Don't ever forget that."
No… please… no…
Hisashi pulled away, ready to face evil itself. With a sidelong glance, his father let one last tear fall before speaking softly.
"Now run."
"No! Dad, I can't leave you!"
Hisashi's eyes turned cold as the man parted the sea of flames, smothering them with darkness, and stepped through onto their side. Izuku held his ground as the fear within him grew. He prepared himself to fight, but before he could, his father shoved him back.
He fell to the ground, looking on as the man shrouded in darkness stood only a few meters away.
"I said run Izuku!"
But…
"Go to your mother! Get to the basement!"
Dad…
"RUN!"
Izuku took one last look at Katsuki's lifeless form buried in rubble, at his home city in ruins, and finally at the silhouette of his father standing tall against evil.
I love you Dad.
-oxoxo-
He smiled sadly as his son ran into the city. Soon his expression changed, a farewell warmth into anxious stone.
Hisashi Midoriya was out of time.
He expanded the muscles in his jaws as he faced down his greatest foe. He hoped All Might would show up soon. Another tear trailed down his cheek.
I really want to see my family again.
It was with this last thought that heat surged from the bottom of his lungs and exploded through his trachea, manifesting into bright white flames, hotter than he'd ever handled before.
Izuku…
All for One smiled as he raised a hand and blocked the assault with a single hand.
Inko...
Hisashi, undeterred, strafed left and released a continuous stream of white fire that blazed through the air and covered All for One. A quick burst of dark energy and the fire around him was instantly put out. All for One chuckled softly.
"A valiant effort, FireFang. But I think it's time to stop playing around."
I'm sorry, I can't keep my promise.
-oxoxo-
"General, there's a lone house on the other side of the city, shall I deploy a squad to check it out?"
Standing on the hill, binoculars observing the massacre, the general nodded to the commander. This battle would be the last one, the one that won them the war...
...and that meant no survivors.
-oxoxo-
Izuku couldn't breathe but his lungs screamed to tell him otherwise.
He'd ran through the city, not once looking back. He took every back alley shortcut and cut off to avoid the soldiers still roaming the city. His legs burned as he sprinted through the hills outside the city.
Izuku didn't slow down until he'd reached the front of his home. Circling around to the back of the house, he brushed aside two large ferns to reveal a double doored hatch. He knocked fervently.
"Mom! Mom it's me!"
The hatch produced a metallic click as the lock inside was undone. Inko Midoriya's eyes shone bright with tears as she opened the two doors.
"Oh Izuku!"
She rushed forth, pulling him into a hug as both of them began to cry hysterically. After a moment to themselves, she pulled away.
"I was so worried; I'm so glad you're safe. Where's your father?"
Izuku shrunk in on himself.
"Dad… he-"
He paused as he heard a faint click behind him. Suddenly a small metal object rolled past his right leg and landed between them.
One second.
Two seconds.
Grena-
Before Izuku could finish the thought, Inko kicked the grenade into a small ditch behind their house and pushed him to the ground, shielding his body with her own.
"Mo-"
His exclamation faded into the night as the grenade exploded. In a flash of light, shrapnel peppered the back of the house and in an instant his right arm jolted with pain. His head spun and his ears were filled with ringing once more.
Izuku's vision was dark and fuzzy but he looked up to his mother as she smiled at him.
"Everything's going to be okay, Izuku."
A dribble of blood trailed down from her mouth and she winced. Still, she smiled. He struggled to keep his eyes open.
We're still in danger. The grenade had to come…
The image of his smiling mother began to fade.
...had to come… from…
Izuku's mind fell to nothingness as four soldiers closed in on their position. Inko spoke gently to her unconscious son.
"Rest... everything will be alright."
A/N: Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading.