Chapter 14

Jessylane318

-Midoriya's POV-

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"Can I… be a hero too?"

Midoriya Izuku would consider himself a lot of things. Thoughtful, kind of awkward, observant. He notices things constantly. The way Ka-chan favors his right arm over his left, how Uraraka-chan brightens over free food, when Kirishima-kun constantly looks to his peers (especially Ka-chan) before for approval. He notices he isn't always sure he's supposed to, like Shouji-kun's scars, sometimes peeking out from behind his mask, the way Kouda-kun whispers before he speaks, and how sometimes Jirou-chan hums what sounds like a lullaby when she isn't paying attention.

He's always paying attention like his brain won't turn off. His thoughts sweeping through crowds continuously, always catching on things and people, and whatever bright, shining item can hold his attention if only briefly. It's one of the reasons he's always loved heroes.

The way they stand out, the way they can keep his attention for long moments. It's like breathing deeply after a thousand shallow breaths. It's almost a relief, to capture those vibrant, wild thoughts and press them into a notebook. It's a relief and a rush and pride, as he can see them there.

Those people so amazing with their quirks and their costumes and the way they make others feel safe.

All Might more than any, because he smiles. Because he always saves the day, because he's always there.

Midoriya considers himself a lot of things. Desiring, desperate, wanting. He wants that more than anything. He watches the reruns, dons the costume, becomes All Might, if only for his mother's bright laugh.

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"You need to be realistic."

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Maybe that's why it takes so long to notice her.

Hoki Rin.

The girl who somehow managed to uncover and expose his secret without even trying. The girl who'd saved him from Shigaraki, not just the once in the USJ, but also in the mall. Who'd cried, dark eyes wide and searching as her fingers pressed into his jacket. Who'd grinned and glowed, fireflies dancing across her vision and huge, luminescent wings at her back. The way she'd felt in his arms, fingers clinging to his shirt, his heart racing as he caught her.

"Hoki-chan! Are you okay?"

He… He isn't sure what to think of her.

She was a study in dichotomy. Strong, effortlessly strong, with all hard lines and fierce expressions when she unleashed her quirk, black hair whipping in the air, arms outstretched with shadows and flames. But also bright with brilliant glowing wings and quiet in her sad moments, with eyes downturned and so small and seemingly delicate when she reached for him! She was amazing. He'd never forget watching her take on Ka-chan, the way she'd faced down the blonde despite her obvious terror, the way she'd dodged, deflected, and detoured.

And her fight against Shigaraki was nothing short of epic.

Especially since he'd never even expected her to appear. Hoki Rin wasn't the type to involve herself if possible. She rarely spoke, rarely interacted, rarely looked at you. But then out of nowhere, she stepped out onto the dais. Wrapped in bandages, Sero and Kaminari behind her.

"Let him go."

She'd stepped out and exploded. It was like watching a movie, the way her skin had split and the world had erupted chaos. Shadows crashing in hissing fury, rising up and towering over them—the sheer mass enough to catch his breath. Flames melted the cement below, snakes snapping with burning tongues, and tentacles cleaving the air.

Mineta and Tsuyu stared beside him, stared just as slack-jawed and breathless.

"Is… Is that Hoki?"

"Woah… ribbit."

It made her fight against Ka-chan look paltry.

It was like watching a pro.

Sheer power in every movement, strength and determination in every line of her body. In that second, she was everything he ever wanted to be—a hero.

"NOMU!"

Until she wasn't.

Midoriya Izuku was many things, and all too clearly he understood. As the monster that broke Aizawa-sensei broke Hoki, Rin, he suddenly understood the drawback of her quirk, the way it turned on her as she screamed. Bits of pieces all clicking together. The flashlight she always carried. The way she clutched it continuously. Inky black surrounded her and her body.

He'd moved without thinking, seeing the dingy, scratched flashlight.

Grabbing it.

But then All Might was there.

And after everything (going Plus Ultra, with a real smile!), he'd pressed the flashlight to his hero's hands worriedly.

"She-Hoki-chan, she's gonna want that!" he'd told the gaunt man hurriedly. "She always wears it and she'll be upset if she can't find it!"

"Of course, m'boy!"

And he wasn't sure whether it was All Might's easy acceptance (was this really his life? All Might? Was All Might really listening to him?) or the fact that he knew he'd made a difference, but like always, Midoriya noticed. And once he noticed, it was hard to stop.

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"Even as a third-year, he still can't face reality."

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Something changed after that. He noticed how Kaminari and Kirishima kept closer to her, saw the way the girls worried and tried to include her. He took note of how she fought in the sports festival, and how Ka-chan recognized her, snarled at her, worried (Why didn't she try? Was something holding her back? Was it her quirk and a fear of it or something else?).

He noticed, but Todoroki-kun needed him more.

"It's yours! Your quirk, not his!"

He noticed, but all the way in Hoku, Iida-kun needed him more.

"I came to save you Iida!"

And then, in the quiet moment, as they waited in the hospital bed, Iida confessed to both him and Todoroki he regretted not checking in on Hoki. So of course he noticed. And as Iida whispered about a girl that seemed to think she was a villain, he began putting together the pieces, remembering the way her shadows responded to her emotions—a normal thing for most quirks—but also the way it changed…

He itched for his notebook, to update the information, and draft out new entries.

For the comfort of getting all of those thoughts out, as they circled and circled and circled and-

He wanted to write out all of the details on Stain, what he'd seen of Endeavor, even the Nomu. He wanted to write everything—to catalog the millions of thoughts swirling endlessly in his head.

But it felt like the moment he noticed something; he was always finding something else. Unlike his other classmates, noticing Hoki-chan felt like unraveling a cord. A quirk that wasn't properly labeled. Her sudden new friendship and openness with Shinsou. The way Aizawa-sensei and Present Mic and Midnight all seemed to watch her worriedly, constantly.

The way she now smiled.

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"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry-"

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He hadn't been ready for Shigaraki.

Thoughts already a mess from Uraraka-chan's friendliness.

He certainly hadn't been ready for Hoki.

He'd been in class with her for nearly a third of the school year, he'd partnered with her, he'd watched her fight ectoplasm, he'd seen her fight with this very villain.

And yet somehow, he hadn't expected her to run to his rescue.

(A quirk and you're still weak. Weak. Weak. Weak.)

"If you hurt him, I'll rip you to pieces."

He hadn't expected her to slide down a banister. He hadn't expected her casual viciousness or her unflinching glare. More than anything, he hadn't expected the way she'd looked at him when Shigaraki left (with one last menacing whisper). Anger cracking into something old and haunting. He noticed more in that look than he ever meant to.

Tears spilling across her cheeks, dark hair in disarray.

She watched someone die.

And those pieces clicked together only too easily. The bracelet, the new family, the worried looks. He's certain if he searches, he can even find the article, probably some sort of foster family, because she never talks about her own, and he's never once heard her speak about her parents—and his heart aches when he notices that. Because he loves his mom. He loves her hugs and her laughs and her fierce unending love.

And Midoriya Izuku is many things, but more than anything, he wants to be a hero. He wants to be like All Might, smiling, helping, protecting.

So he hugs her like his mom hugs him.

And maybe he is, just a little, because the girl in his arms, all lines and strength and fierce power cries. She holds him and sinks, like he did his mom when the world felt overwhelming.

"I thought I was going to watch you die."

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"All Might? Can even someone without a Quirk be like you?"

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He thinks on that moment often. Often enough that even his notebook doesn't help, because suddenly he's red-faced and awkward. So he focuses on other things, on his training, on his time with his friends. He visits I-Island for the summer, protects people—gets to be a hero.

So he's surprised when she texts him.

Hoki Rin, despite having their number all summer, rarely messages anyone. And he's even more surprised, when he finally sees her again.

He notices the changes almost immediately. After only a month, the quiet, distant girl isn't there. Instead he meets Hoki Rin, as he thinks maybe she always should have been. Glowing, sharp-tongued, and caring.

He notices when she gives her clothes away to Mineta-kun.

He watches as she races fearlessly through the woods, her strong legs sprinting across ravines, rocks, and monsters. He sees the way she doesn't rely on her quirk anymore, how she glows and smiles, and laughs when she triumphs.

It's distracting.

Especially the wild way her hair slips free of its braid, and the dappling sunlight that catches across her face.

Especially when he notices her terror, when Kouta sucker punches him and he can hear the quiet panic as Aizawa-sensei sends them all away. Maybe that's why his body moves on instinct, when Mineta tries and fails to climb the wall and he hears her and Kouta's sobs.

He's between the baths in seconds, hands worrying as the chaos on the girls side doesn't abate. Midoriya is a lot of things, observant, thoughtful, anxious. But when it comes to Hoki, she always manages to catch him off guard. So he isn't ready for her to surge through the door, completely bare. He isn't ready for her, holding the little boy bleeding against her chest, to nearly fall, and he's reaching for them both instinctively.

And maybe it's the hot spring. Maybe it's the steam in his brain, but he catalogues it all automatically.

She's soft.

With skin tanned by the sun and a group of three dark spots by her right shoulder.

With small breast—

Small craters chasing down her neck, across nearly the fullness of her chest and around her back. Marks, the shape of claws, rip through her shoulder. Cracks, the same ones that formed that day at the USJ, split her forearms.

"My shadows, they hurt him!" Hoki-chan cries, nearly hysterical. "Take- take-"

He takes the boy, especially as the door to the girl's side opens and she spins—strong again, poised to defend.

And there are lines, old, faded white scars crisscrossing her back. Her quirk.

His stomach churns at what that means. At the realization that maybe he isn't the only one that has scars from learning to use this power.

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"Your legs are too wide. Will you fix it already?"

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Summer camp is probably the most stressful, strangest summer camp he's ever been to.

He learns more about his classmates than ever.

Like the way Kaminari-kun discharges little bits of electricity while he sleeps, and so has to sleep under a special blanket. The way Todoroki-kun makes these tiny, adorable snores when he's sleeping, and how Tsuyu-chan doesn't like breakfast foods.

He's not sure there's anyone that doesn't notice Aizawa-sensei and Hoki-chan's changed relationship though.

It's like watching a trainwreck.

Hoki stays mad. Eyes half-lidded and vibrant. In the flurry of partners and fighting practice, she catches his attention again and again. She rips through her opponents without remorse, breaking through defenses despite her smaller stature and downing almost everyone constantly without any use of her quirk.

When he was younger, once it became clear that he'd never get a quirk, before the world had really had a chance to crush the dream, he'd dream about being the first quirkless hero. He'd learn martial arts, he'd design all sorts of crazy support items, he'd be like the old heroes from before quirks!

Watching Hoki-chan take down Ojiro-kun and Kirishima-kun with nothing but her bare fists felt a bit like reliving those same daydreams.

He thinks maybe Ka-chan wonders the same thing, because when she isn't looking, he sees the blonde staring between them narrow-eyed.

So maybe that's why in the chaos of the attack, he's completely caught off-guard to find her bloody, curled up, and rocking in terror in Ka-chan's shirt, shaking at the very sight of Tokoyami-kun. Ka-chan looking worried and overwhelmed, glares.

"Fuck, if you bastards set her off again, I'm gonna beat your asses! She just stopped all that damn crying!"

But there isn't time to worry, at least not out loud (Her brother? Who all were these people after? What happened? What happened to her shirt?). Because they're after Ka-chan too and they need to get back and his arms aren't working anymore, and they need to move but suddenly neither Hoki-chan or Tokoyami-kun or even Ka-chan are back there. So they're chasing, and he isn't sure what he's going to do with broken, useless arms.

Deku. Useless. Useless. Useless! Ugh!

And Mineta-kun, of all people is flying through the trees, straight at the villain with fire and-

And he can't breathe-

Ka-chan-

"KA-CHAN!"

Because the blonde is there and-

"KA-CHAN!"

And all he can see is his best friend's wide eyes, with a villain's hand around his throat as he disappears. And he's too slow to stop it.

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"You're quirkless."

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Midoriya Izuku is a lot of things.

He usually isn't speechless though.

He stares at his dark-haired teacher noticing at once the wear in his face, the concerned tilt of his head, and his slow blink—the one that usually meant he was either surprised or thinking. Midoriya doesn't know what to say though, mind whirling with thoughts and facts and oh no oh no oh no oh-

"S-S-Sensei-"

"You're not denying it, suggesting it's more than likely true. The real question here now is how?"

"I don't-"

"Medically, the chance of a quirk awakening after seven is rare, but after ten? Almost non-existent. Combine that with your behavior, and it makes even less sense. You initially filled out your application for UA as quirkless, changed it Mid-July to a stockpiling quirk, but then didn't register with the state until April of the following year following your rather poor showing at the exams. Strange."

"I-I-"

Aizawa-sensei doesn't smile, in fact, he doesn't look happy at all as he bends forward, lips twisting down and gaze burning.

"Midoriya, I'm going to need an explanation—one that makes sense—because right now, you look incredibly suspicious. What is going on here?"

He swallows.

And then, looking down, wonders if All Might will forgive him for telling his secrets.

"I… I have All Might's quirk."

Aizawa-sensei makes a choking noise.

"Excuse me?"

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"A worthless, quirkless wonder like you somehow got into UA of all places… and somehow got a quirk of his own."

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Things change. Things change again and again.

Aizawa-sensei learns about One-For-All, learns about All-For-One, learns about all of the dead predecessors, and launches into the lecture of all lectures. After he's dismissed, Aizawa-sensei keeps All Might and even with the door closed, he can hear him launching into yet another tirade.

But it changes everything.

Aizawa-sensei drags things about his quirk out that Midoriya had never thought to ask. Like All Might's mentor didn't have super strength. Like both All Might's mentor and his mentor's mentor died an early death. For all that Midoriya notices, Aizawa-sensei does too.

And it's like a weight is lifted, making him so much lighter.

But then there's the provisional exams, and he doesn't have time to think—to notice the bright way Hoki-chan glow expands and expands, or the way everyone else notices too.

Suddenly they're in the exam and then it's over.

He passes!

And things change again.

Because Ka-chan was always supposed to be a hero. He had the perfect quirk for it. The perfect disposition. Ka-chan was always going to be a hero—except he doesn't pass. Yet quirkless, worthless Deku does.

Things change.

He fights Ka-chan. He fights him with everything he has.

"This whole time, I wanted to be strong like you! But I was weak…! And you wound up like that!"

He can only watch as his childhood friend, his middle-school bully, cries. And then it stops. The blonde sits, curled and quiet.

"If you're trying to hide it, you've done a shitty job. Stupid, Deku. Fucking Hoki knows your secret."

He can't help but swallow.

"H-H-Hoki?"

"Aizawa-kun has already taken care of that," All Might says quietly.

"Tch. If you're still trying to hide it… I won't breathe a word. I'll keep your secret."

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"Of all the irresponsible… Starting a fight the night after your exam?" Aizawa-sensei snarls the moment they make it back to the dorm. "I'm happy to hear you've got the energy for that."

And despite his injuries, he watches as both All Might and Eraserhead share a look and a whispered secret.

Aizawa-sensei turns back, and eyes narrowed.

"Talking is how you're expected to address your feelings," Sensei says flatly, lips thin as he removes the capture weapon. "We're cleaning up these cuts before they get infected and then you two are going to explain exactly what the hell you were thinking."

Midoriya shrinks.

And then he hisses, especially when Aizawa dips a cotton ball in alcohol and dabs it none-to-gently against his forehead.

"Sit still."

"Fuck," Ka-chan scowls as he's afforded the same treatment.

"Sensei?"

There's a distinct pause as everyone turns to the dark space in the lobby. Hoki slips past it with wide, terrified eyes. Her hair braided back and messy from sleep. His cheeks warm as he realizes she's in her nightclothes, feet bare and wearing nothing more than a long shirt.

In a small voice he's never heard from her, she whispers.

"Did… Kaito?"

Strong, scared, happy.

It's hard to look away from her worried gaze—hard to stop his brain from wondering how it might manifest. Quiet, small, maybe something barely visible. Midoriya, he tries for a smile, pulling at bandages and a burn, hoping he never finds out. It falls away when Sensei presses gauze dipped in alcohol firmly against his shoulder, and he leans away, face wrinkling in pain.

"Go to bed."

She disappears almost as quickly as she'd come, All Might chasing out behind her. He doesn't miss the way she scowls at him, the way she backtracks quickly. He also doesn't miss Aizawa's worried gaze at their departure or Ka-chan's guilty scowl.

.

"I'm not usually that good with people, so I'll have to keep trying. I wasn't very popular at my old school."

"Because you were quirkless?"

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Midoriya Izuku would consider himself a lot of things. Thoughtful, kind of awkward, observant. He doesn't know what to do when addressed directly from her.

"Ah… I… uh…"

He feels unintelligible and idiotic as she looks back, smile dimming.

"My brothers were too," she tells him, unbothered by his mumbling or thoughts. His mind stops and starts, stuck on the plural. Brothers? "Quirkless, I mean. My whole family was."

He doesn't even know if she understands the sheer size of that statement.

Hoki, the most powerful female in their class.

Hoki, who barely in control, could go toe-to-toe with the League of Villains, was from an entire family of quirkless? He hadn't ever even met someone else who was quirkless outside of Melissa Shields. And her whole family…

"They… they were?"

She smiles, relaxing quietly.

"Yeah. They were constantly getting in fights because of it. When… When the suits took us, I think Ryu was about to be kicked out of school. He's my oldest brother. Kaito wasn't so bad, but he'd get dragged into them a lot because of Sora and Ryu. People liked to pick on them…"

Suits. Kicked out. Picked on?

"Oh," Midoriya says, and he can't keep the surprise from his voice. "I… I sometimes fought with Ka-chan, but that was it. I really just wanted to be a hero."

The way she wrinkles her nose is familiar, if not painful.

He isn't really sure why he expected her to understand.

Maybe because of her brothers. Maybe because of everything.

But in the end, he was still just Deku—even if he was working on changing the meaning.

"Really?" she asks, and her gaze hurts.

So he does what All Might does in a hard situation. He grins, feeling rueful as one hand reaches back and rubs at his bandaged neck.

"Stupid, huh? As if someone quirkless could be a hero…"

"What?" she grunts. "Why couldn't they be a hero?"

She doesn't look up, missing his flash of surprise.

He can't help but stare, mouth dry going dry at her flippancy.

"You… You think they could?"

"Yeah," she says, not even pausing to consider it. Her brows furrow as she finally glances his way. And- And she looks confused of all things, as if she can't even fathom how someone wouldn't understand. How for years he'd longed for those very words. His eyes burn. "My brother isn't having any problem being a villain."

He stares.

And she turns away, eyes lost on the dorms ahead. Sunlight filtering through the clouds overhead casts a warmth across her face he doesn't quite understand, even as he notices it. The soft wind catching in her hair spills inky black strands.

And for a moment, all he can hear are those words, repeating again and again and again.

"Can I… be a hero too?"

Yeah.

So when he offers to keep their talk a secret, just between us, he can't help himself.

He thrusts out his pinky.

There's something beautiful in the stunned look on her face—over a pinky promise of all things. He gladly notices, memorizing the way her dark eyes widen and she hesitates. But Hoki Rin is many things, strong lines and soft skin and shaking, clutching fists in his shirt. She steps forward like she always does, her pinky curling around his, skin brightening like it always does whenever she's happy.

Only this time it's him making her happy.

Fireflies flutter across her arms and cheeks.

He beams, the warmth of her hand pressing against his doing strange things to his chest. He finds himself captivated, unable to look away.

Hoki Rin.

She's beautiful.