The sharp sounds of the two training staves hitting each other cracked in the room, the trainees whirling about each other.

Dabi was a quick learner, and in the week he had been learning under Midoriya, his combat skills had improved noticeably. However, as his sore limbs reminded him as he hit the floor for the tenth time, he still had a long ways to go. He groaned.

"C'mon. Get back up." Izuku poked him in the side with the staff. "If I wasn't allowed respites until Master said, and you are significantly more trained than I was when I started, you aren't allowed them either until I say."

Touya grunted, sitting upwards and clambering back to his feet. The sounds of wood on wood continued as he steadied himself. Spinner was at the other side of the room, attacking a mannequin with his own staff.

Izuku gave Dabi an encouraging smile. "Try holding the staff up a little higher, see if that helps."

Touya nodded, and their training continued. They exchanged rapid blows for a minute. He ducked under Midoriya's staff, but the teen quickly followed the swipe by knocking Touya's feet out from underneath him for the eleventh time that day.

He sunk into the floor, defeated. "I'm not getting back up."

"Well you're mature for a 20-some-year-old guy." Izuku quipped, but didn't press the matter.

"Hey," Touya quickly changed the subject, "hasn't it been, like, a week or more since you sent that letter to Endeavor? Are we ever going to follow up on it?"

Izuku chuckled lightly. "Oh yeah, we are. And soon, but first I gotta finish making sure you too idiots are trained as you can be." Izuku looked distant, his voice trailing off. "So much to do, so little time."

"There you go again." Touya sat up quickly, shaking Izuku from his thoughts with the sudden movement.

"I'm sorry?"

"You keep making these weird and vague statements like that." Spinner stopped what he was doing, listening in on their conversation. "When we each properly introduced ourselves a week ago, you said something similar." Dabi pointed a finger to Midoriya, glaring at him. "Just what aren't you telling us?"

Izuku blinked, shocked at the sudden outburst, before sighing and sitting down as well. He waved his hand to Spinner. "Come on, you too." He took a deep breath, muttering to himself. "Where to begin?"

"Start by explaining why you keep acting like you're gonna just disappear or something like that."

Izuku nodded, figuring that probably would be the best place without having to explain his whole history to them.

"Well, simply put, I may not be." He shifted at Touya's annoyed face. "You see, before the... Hosu incident, Master and I each promised each other something. Ingenium asked me if I would make sure his little brother, Tenya Iida, would not be harmed if he came seeking revenge. As I still rather see most in 1A as friends, and I respected his determination to protect his brother, I came to Master with the same request, but spanning to cover all hero students we may come across."

Izuku sighed, closing his eyes at the painful memory. "In turn, he made me promise that-" he bit his tounge, frustrated.

"That-?" Dabi pressed, eyebrow raised.

"He made me promise, that if anything... permanent, ever happened to him, that I would do what I could for the cause and, go, home." The words were hard to force out, but out they came nonetheless.

"Then why are you still here?" Spinner spoke up from where he was lounging on the floor next to them.

"Doing what I can for the cause." Izuku took another, deeper breath, preparing himself for their reactions. "And what I can do is coming to a climax. After Endeavor, I'm going to challenge someone, not as Stain's Apprentice, but as myself. I don't know what to do, and this battle will decide if I continue my work here, or return home peacefully." His eyes grew distant, boring holes into the wooden floor. "I need to prove I'm right. I'm not some disillusioned kid. I need to prove to myself and the world I am to be feared. And All Might is the key."

There was momentary silence as heavy as molasses.

"What." Dabi spit the word out.

Izuku tried to intervene. "Let me explain, I know-"

"All Might?! That's basically suicide!" Spinner leapt to his feet, genuinely concerned for his small friend. Izuku was just a kid! Many older and even more experienced adults had gone up against him and had severely and quickly defeated. That All For One guy himself had failed, and he radiated power.

"I thought he was to be respected above all else. That's what you told us you hold us to right?" Touya glared at Izuku, rage evident despite his eerily calm voice. "Yet here you are, saying you're going to go toe to toe with him, on purpose, and genuinely try to win against him?"

"Yes." Izuku admitted the word sadly, knowing how much he must seem like a hypocrite to them at that moment.

Touya lost his cool. "Then are we supposed to respect him or try to kill him?!"

He yelled right back. "Respect him as the Symbol of Peace! Respect him for the fact that he got there of his own works and that everything he does is for someone else's good!" His voice quieted, and he dragged his gaze from Touya's own. "I'm not saying I don't respect him. It's just..."

"Just, what!" Touya was on his feet too now, unsure of when he had stood. "Give us a straight answer!"

"I CAN'T!" Izuku almost screamed the words, bent over and fighting off tears once more. In the week he'd known the two, he grown to be very close to them, highly valuing them and the friendship they shared. And now, he was back where he always seemed to end in his friendships. His tears started to fall. "Please Touya. I... can't explain it, I don't know how. If fail at this, it will say that I AM weak. I HAVE to do this, and I have to do this alone."

Touya and Spinner shared a shocked look with each other, not having expected such an emotion from the stoic teen. Spinner drew his mouth into a line, looking down at his little friend. He knelt back down.

"Do you have any sort've plan yet?" He gently asked.

Izuku looked up, his tears drying on his cheeks. He sniffed. "Sort've." He gave a quick rundown of his plan, how long he hypothesized All Might had left in his bulked form, and his own abominably low percentage of winning unless he played every trick right. Granted, he still had probably less than 50% of winning if he did play his cards right, but he felt he had no other choice.

Dabi sighed, his shoulder sagging. "Fine. You win you idiot. I may not fully agree with this stupid plan but," Touya looked down at his first true friend, kneeling at his feet, sincere, "I will support you."

Izuku Midoriya wiped his tears, muttering 'Thank you' to his two true friends.

"Quit crying, you look like a ninny." Dabi turned and strolled to the door, leaving the two behind. "And I'm saying that training is done this time."

A/N

So! Our first little glimpse at Stain fanatic home life. Hope you enjoyed. Next chapter jumps right to endevs, and we get to see Izu's and dabs sadistic and straight up psychopathic side as we see what they do to the dirt bag. He deserves it.

Also, I've been rereading you guys' comments, and y'all are so nice and funny. Seriously, you lot are the flipping best and I love you.

I realize I've posted two thousand some chapters right after each other, but I'm on a rather good writing streak rn, so I apologize if this is seeming a bit rushed. If you've been seeing and notable issues in my writing as of late, please tell me, it helps a lot.

So long and thank you Lovies!