Kastuki gasped. The broken boy breathed in deeply, his face lighting up with pure joy, something he hadn't been able to summon since his mother had died. "Kacchan, is that you?" Izuku smiled widely. He hadn't been truly happy to see his old tormentor since long before Middle School. "I've missed you!"

Katsuki choked, fat tears rolling off of his cheeks. He jumped forward, unashamedly crushing Izuku in a bear hug. The recipient grunted as his incredibly sore body protested at the jarring movement, but soon relaxed into it. Katsuki was the first to speak, grunting out his words.

"Izuku- I'm- I'm SORRY! EVERYTHING I DID I-" His voice voice cut him off with a horse choke. His fists tightened around Izuku's shoulders, though he made sure to place as little pressure as he could on the frail body. "I'VE-- I'VE TOLD EVERYONE BUT YOU! I THOUGHT I'D LOST YOU!"

Izuku stopped Katsuki, fumbling around with his left hand until it latched on the others shoulder. He slowly and weakly pushed Bakugo back, still smiling through his own tears. "Katsuki? I forgave you over a year ago. This... you don't need to--"

Katsuki shook his head, denying the easy way out of his troubles. "No! I PUSHED you to come this far! If - it was because of me that no one ever believed in you! No one ever cared! It - this all... it comes back down to me!" His voice was gutteral, grinding. "This is all MY FAULT! I WISH I HAD NEVER BEEN BORN! YOU COULD'VE-"

The slap echoed through the room, the sting shocking Katsuki into stunned silence. Izuku looked shocked as well, though at Katsuki, not his own actions.

"Never. Say. That. Again." His voice was quiet and his chest rose and fell rapidly with his painted breaths. "Did our childhoods influence my decision? Yes. Yes they very well did! But I. Had. A. Choice! I am no one's fault but my own!" Izuku pushed Katsuki back a little further, slowly sitting up in the bed. He pointed a dangerous finger into Katsuki's face. "I wouldn't have had an easier life without you Kacchan. Someone just as worse or more than you would have been there if you hadn't. And now, I am doing something with the life I have... and you have always been my inspiration to keep going, even when you cut me down." His hand fell down to his knees once again, and he peeked through his bandages. "Never wish that again. Please."

Bakugo was stunned.

Izuku, still thought of him like that? After more than ten years of physical and mental abuse? Katsuki was still his amazing Kacchan?

Luckily for his pride, Bakugo was saved from any form of responce by Recovery Girl walking into the room. Izuku, who could only hear her, snatched Katsuki's hand, looking toward the door and far above her head. "Kacchan? Who's there?"

Bakugo turned, smiling at the old woman as his own shoulders relaxed. "Oh, it's just Recovery Girl. UA's school nurse. She's the one who patched you up."

She click-clacked he way to the bedside as Izuku let out a small "oh". RG poked Katsuki in the leg with her cane. "Indeed I am young Midoriya. Now be a gentleman Bakugo and give an old lady her seat."

Katsuki obeyed, pulling his hand free of Izuku's and allowed the old pro to make herself comfortable near Izuku.

"So, you know who I am now? Who else does?" Izuku asked, worried.

She smiled and patted his hand. "We three, Toshinori, no doubt 1-A, and my assistant, who I made swear to not tell, are the only ones I know of." She sent a glance to Bakugo. "You should do the same to you class Bakugo, if Aizawa hasn't already."

He nodded as Izuku let out a shaky breath. "You all... you're working to keep who I am secret? Why?"

Recovery Girl turned her head back to Izuku. "Well, we do want you to live a normal civilian life once again, don't we? Can't have your name tainted by your vigilantism."

Izuku frowned, shaking his head. "What? No. I'm not coming back yet. (...besides technically I'm an Anti-Hero, not Vigilate.)"

"WHAT?!" Bakugo shouted, thrown completely off guard. Here Izuku was, half dead, alone, with his master in prison, less than a meter away from Katsuki, and he wasn't coming back? "OH YES YOU ARE!"

Izuku turned to Katsuki, unfazed. "No. Hasn't anyone been paying attention to anything I've said? If I had won the battle, which I did, I'd stay right where I was! I've proven that I'm worthy to be doing this! I can't go back! Not yet!"

Katsuki's fists tightened. "IF NOT NOW THEN WHEN?!"

"Boys please," Recovery Girl tried to intervene, but Izuku shouted right over her.

"I don't know! I've things to do still Kacchan, don't you remember?!"

"You're bringing that back up!" Katsuki asked incredulously. "Is that just your escape answer for everything?!"

"Enough!" With two sharp cracks, Girl's cane collided with Izuku's hand and Katsuki's head. "Back down, the both of you!" Izuku blinked, slowly sinking back down into the bed from where he had started to rise. Recovery Girl turned her head back to Izuku, looking sadly at him. "Are you sure you won't reconsider? You'd receive the best possible treatment for your eyes, and I'm sure accommodations and keeping your true identity out of the media could be easily provided."

He shook his head, resolute in his decisions. "I'm certain." Katsuki looked on in distress as Izuku smiled gently and Recovery Girl nodded.

"Very well. I still feel I must advise against it for your own health, but I cannot stop you." Izuku wanted to disagree, she was pretty good with that cane, but she continued. "Now, as for your eyes. Me and my assistant did our best, but there was still heavy damage done." The two teens swallowed, nervous for the outcome. "For the most part, we believe you will keep your vision, but no doubt there will be limitations. Seeing as you won't be around for me to examine you," he shifted under her dirty look, "I cannot tell what those will be. Regardless, for these first few weeks you'll have to give your eyes as much rest as possible. Little bright sunlight, next to no electronics, and no heavy reading."

Izuku nodded along, making mental notes for reference. It seemed his work was going to be postponed until he could find a way around being half blind. Knowing himself (now that he was significantly less panicked than he was on the battle field,) it shouldn't be that hard. If he could defeat the strongest hero totally blind, everyone else should, in theory, be significantly easier.

At Recovery Girl's question he repeated everything she had just said, proving that he had memorized her instructions. She nodded, at least partly satisfied, and opened her bag. "Now, they may have cooled off slightly, but I had these brought over for you and Toshi, and an extra for Bakugo as I was certain someone else would need one." She pulled out a cup of cheesy noodles with veggies and a water bottle, and handed them to Izuku. She pulled out the other for Katsuki, who took them in surprise.

Izuku hadn't realized how hungry he was and greedily shoved the food into his mouth. Given how little he could see, he kept spilling and missing his mouth, but honestly? He didn't care. At that moment it tasted like heaven, and he had eaten the whole cup in under a minute. After chugging down the water bottle, Izuku took a second for a deep breath and realized the other two occupants were silently staring at him.

"... what?"

"Hungry, were you?" Recovery Girl asked slowly, amused.

Izuku chuckled, pointing to the wall that paralleled the empty battlefield. "I lost breakfast out there. I lost a perfectly good bowl of marshmallow cereal." Girl joined him in his mirth as Katsuki kept eating slowly. Satisfied, Izuku moved to hop off of the bed. "Welp. Time for me to leave before the cops that just entered in the next room over try to arrest me." His boots made a solid thunk in the floor and he stretched, seemingly not at all hindered by his injuries.

"You should not be moving yet! Rest boy!" Recovery Girl protested, but Izuku didn't listen.

"I can rest in my own bed." He flicked a spare marble onto the floor, the portal opening smoothly. "It now is only a couple meters away." He turned to face Katsuki, trying his best to smile reassuringly. "See you, Kacchan."

And then he was gone again.

Gone, just as quickly as last time.

Katsuki fell backwards, shock settling in. He had been so close to having Izuku back. He could have reached out and kept him by force. But Izuku was gone again.

How could he explain this to his mother? His classmates?

How could he forgive himself?

Recovery Girl's and Toshinori's (who had just entered) voices were quiet in his ears as he pulled his knees up to his face and rocked back and forth.

He'd failed to bring Izuku home.

- meanwhile, across Japan -

Izuku's facade of strength gave out almost as soon as both feet were through the portal. He stumbled, began to fall, and was caught by strong arms. As he was cradled against a familiar warm chest, Izuku relaxed instantly.

"Touya," he breathed, "...thank goodness."

"Izuku what-? How bad-?" Touya stuttered, Spinner standing behind him awkwardly.

"Tell you later." Izuku mumbled as he yawned, tapping his friend's shoulder. "Need to sleep right now. And you two probably need to get back to the league." Izuku groaned at the two's immediate protests. "Guys, I'll still be here! Where am I going to go like this? They're going to be having a fit and if we're to be keeping your affiliation with me a secret, then you two need to get your butts over there!" They were silenced, and Izuku started trying to get his feet underneath himself. "First though, help me to my bed. Imma'bout to pass out."

Touya had to almost drag Izuku to the bedroom, the latter half asleep before he even finished his rant. Smiling as he was tucked in, Izuku sleepily muttered "it's gonna be rough Toy," before he was deeply asleep.

A/N

So. Apparently, you dorks, despite all of the spoilers I was basically spoonfeeding you, actually thought, that I had finished his anti-hero career. Hehehe. YOU WERE WRONG! How's he supposed to save Eri and hold up a very lucrative business with Overhaul of he ain't still on the wrong side of the law? How am I supposed to write one of the best brotps ever of him and Dabi unless they still killing peeps together? Why would dabs and spins get kicked out of the league if izu is gone? And I've literally promised a third book that is the most likely (I think) to make you peeps cry (At the beginning at least)

How did you guys get to this conclusion?! Don't get me wrong, I'm finding it extremely hillarious, I'm just totally confused.

Technically, I COULD have had him go home here, but there's so much more suffering if he stays! But who knows. More ideas for the one shot amirite?

Now, comments. WHOO BOI did you guys go nuts!

Canadianblitz(I'm calling you CadB from know on), I always thought that AM was the strongest (and #1) hero of the world. I mean I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure he is so that's how I wrote it. If I am definitely proven wrong, I'll go back and change that. Also I loved letting him let loose with his anger too. Not only is that just satisfying (especially when you consider his tendency to bottle emotions (relatable, I do that same)) it's going to inspire A LOT of people. Those with "villainous" quirks like Shinso, the quirkless en-masse, deforming/ugly quirks, and those kind hearted souls who have been inspired by izu or know someone from one of the other categories.

Also, I'm glad you list this so high. It makes my day! I actually LOVE Apotheosis! It's probably my #1. I mentioned it in the first chapter's AN of Irony I think. I'll keep your list in mind, but I am usually caught up in my own reading/too tired to read someone else's unless it's one I've already read and they've updated.

Hardcasekara, Dadmight does kind've happen, but it's not too prominent. Daddy Stain is the big deal here and I love it. And as I mentioned above, this is a big deal for the quirkless and others. (Due to my much later updates, no, DadMight doesn't really happen.)

Sombra, you have no idea how happy your comment made me. I made someone cry? I am still on cloud nine over this and I will probably never get off. I'm too happy for such a being a terrible person. Deku Bunny is going to be plenty sad tho.

Again, I'm over the moon that you like my writing so much. I do try to improve my writing wherever I can, so it's super satisfying to see the fruit of that.

Mystery man and everyone else, thanks for making sure I kept up with this story and didn't forget it.

You all are absolutely amazing and I love you all to death and back. And with that sentimental ending, so long Lovies!