She's the Man
Chapter 14: Daddy Issues
Izuku lead his team through the task of avoiding Todoroki's oncoming attacks. He'd been grateful to his sister for giving him a thorough look into his classmate's quirks, and what she'd observed of their strengths and weaknesses. Iida was fast and strong, but was too disciplined. He followed the rules in a precise and strict ordero which left him open for deceit. Yaoyorozu was smart, and very athletic, and had a fair amount of strength and skill. Izumi had noticed, however, that she often needed approval for her actions, which meant her confidence was shaky at best. Kaminari's quirk was powerful, but came at a disadvantage. Because of the way he channelled his quirk he often short circuited his brain if he used too much power.
As for Todoroki, he was by far the best in their class in Izumi's opinion. On top of having a powerful quirk, he had excellent judgement, athleticism, physical strength, and tactician. Todoroki should have won in their battle exercise but had shown the good sense to stop the fight before Izumi had overdone it and hurt herself. He had only one weakness… and that was his pride. For whatever reason Todoroki refuses to use his left in combat. It was that weakness Izuku was exploiting.
As Todoroki poised to attack Midoriya moved his team to the left. Todoroki snarled, knowing if he attacked with his ice, he'd catch Iida in the crossfire. The guy had seen right through him, or Izumi had exploited him. Either way, unless he thought of something fast Midoriya would beat him out again, and it ate at him.
"Everyone," Iida suddenly spoke breaking Todoroki's thoughts. "There's only a minute left. You won't be able to use me after this… I'm counting on you."
"Iida?"
"Alright…" Izuku murmured to his team. "Only a minute to go, we-" he drifted off as something went off in his brain. His head turned to the right and he felt an unease. "What's that?"
"Deku-kun what's wrong? You suddenly went pale… Deku-kun?" Uraraka strained to look up at his face, saw the blank stare. "DEKU-KUN!?"
What was he seeing? What was going on? Through the ice and the fog of his brain he saw his sister, but she was as frozen as he, unable to move, unable to think.
"Izumi…"
"Izuku…"
Izumi wasn't sure why she thought of her brother. Her mind was full of haze and fog and her body refused to move and act. Still through the thick of it she could feel her brother's presence, sense him reaching out to her.
They connected, and for a moment they could feel each other's strength. Lights sparked, different colors connecting together, and for a moment Izumi could see clearly. Then, as fast as the sensation had come it vanished.
Izuku felt the smack of a hand against his forehead as Todoroki snagged the band across his forehead, Iida's discreet weapon, recipro burst, and Izuku's blank mind had allowed them the opening they needed to snag the ten million.
"What!?" he touched his forehead and glanced over.
"Midoriya, what happened?" Tokoyami looked over his shoulder at Iida and the crew, amazed by the level of speed they'd attained.
"I don't know… I don't know… but they've got it." And now they were at Zero points. What the hell was he gonna do?"
Izumi had felt the smack of a hand against her forehead as well, but unlike her brother all it had done was snap her to her senses.
"OW!" Izumi flinched and smacked the hand away while holding her forehead. "That hurt… what the hell?"
"What!?" Shinso looked at his hand then at her, his team halting right beside Izumi. He made another grab for her points, reaching for the ones around her neck now. He tugged and it jerked her body back, refusing to come off. "What did you do?"
"Ack!" Izumi choked when he grabbed the ones around her neck and tried to pull them off. Irritation snapped her back and she whirled around glaring at him. She wouldn't talk, wouldn't answer him, instead she lifted the point bands around her neck up, and gave him a look that said 'These are Mine!'
"WAKE UP!" She punched Tetsu in the head snapping him to and did the same to Awase and Shiozaki.
"What? What happened?"
"I'll explain later," Izumi growled. "Let's get out of here!"
"What about-" Izumi clamped a hand over Tetsu's mouth and spoke in a low voice.
"Don't look at him, don't respond to him, just ignore him. Just, GO!"
"Go where…"
"The Ten Million points…" Izumi eyed the ice structure with a snarl. "I've changed my mind… I said at the beginning of this battle I wasn't going to settle for fourth place and the same goes for third. We're gonna aim for the top!"
Izuku had panicked, he could admit that now. With his teammates beside him, Izuku was focused. He would grab for the Ten Million, he would get his points back no matter what. Iida's last move had stalled his engines forcing them to be stranded in place and leaving them open for attack.
Izuku put power in his hands, Kaminari's electricity being halted by Dark Shadow and allowed him to take Todoroki head on. Todoroki saw the fierceness, and something about Izuku's power triggered an instinct to defend himself. Without any warning or logical reason his left arm set aflame.
Izuku saw it, and with one swipe of his hand, broke Todoroki's guard, putting out the flames. The look on his face, Izuku noticed, was one of stupefied shock. Taking that instant to snag points Izuku tried for the Ten Million… but only got seventy.
"Damn it… that's not enough!" Time was running out… the seconds were counting down and Izuku was out of options. "Don't stop! Keep going. Tokoyami-kun! Uraraka-san!"
"Let's go!" Uraraka shouted.
The ice wall broke apart as Izumi and Bakugo burst through and joined the fight for the ten million.
"Shiozaki, Awase, operation last resort!" Izumi called out moving to a standing position on top of Tetsu's back. Shiozaki wrapped her vines around her limbs and waist, Awase reaching up and fusing them to her body. Tetsu went full metal allowing Izumi to spring off him and make a jump for Todoroki. Bakugo, who had originally been after Deku, saw the guy no longer had the points.
"The ten million?" He glanced over at Todoroki and immediately changed course.
"BAKA!" Izumi screamed at him, and felt a sense of deja vu as the two of them collided, the vines tangling around them.
"Time's Up!" present Mic Shouted just as Izumi and Bakugo slammed to the ground in a tangle of limbs and Shiozaki's vines.
Izuku's hand, which had been stretched out trying to make the grab, suddenly clenched as realization hit. He lossed. He hadn't been able to grab the points in time. It was all his fault, he'd been distracted and unable to block Iida's oncoming assault, and unable to locate the right amount of points.
"I'm sorry you guys." He told his team as he climbed down. "I let you all down."
"Deku-kun…" Uraraka giggled and pointed behind her at Tokoyami. Izuku lifted his head, and his eyes went wide and teary at the sight of Dark Shadow holding up a headband. It was no ten million, but it was enough to get them through, and enough to have him crying for joy.
"Get the hell off me, Bakugo!" Izumi struggled from underneath him, the vines holding them together.
"Get your damn vines off me! Damn it why is it everytime I'm close to winning, your ugly face gets in my way?!"
"Took the words right out of my mouth, you jerk." Izumi's temple throbbed. Her teammates ran over, Awase unbinding the vines and shiozaki retracting them so they could get freed up. Izumi clenched her fist wanting so badly to punch him, but Tetsutetsu was hugging her tight.
"Izumi! You okay? You're not hurt?!"
"I'm fine... I'm just irritated. We were so damn close!" She pulled back from Tetsu's hug sighing heavily. "Third place… That's not good enough!"
"What are you talking about? We made it to the next round. Your idea to fuse the headbands to you was ingenious!" Awase gave a thumbs up.
"Yeah, and your last ditch effort would have worked too if it hadn't been for blowhard over there." Tetsutetsu pointed over his shoulder at Bakugo who raged at him.
"Shut up, Tin can! Or I'll-"
"Fuse?" Shinso walked over his eyes filled with grief over his failure and loss. "What do you mean by that?" When all she did was glare at him, Shinso let out a sigh and held up his hands. "The battle is over, I lost, no reason to brainwash you now."
"My teammate can fuse objects together. I felt it was the best use of his quirk and allowed us to keep our points safe. I wasn't sure if it would work or not, but I'm glad it did." She looked over his shoulder at Ojiro and the others and frowned. "Now I have a question. Why did you feel the need to brainwash people to form your team?"
Shinso narrowed his eyes at the question.
"I'm the only general's student who made it through, no one would-"
"I beg to differ. This was a team battle Shinso and the members of your team didn't know what the hell they were doing. Your quirk is powerful, but you rely too heavily on it. There were plenty of teams who could have used your skills, and helped you."
"Who would have taken me on? No one would welcome a guy like-"
"Bullshit excuses!" She shouted and got in his face. "You make yourself useful, put yourself out there and let others judge for themselves whether or not to trust you. That's the real way to win! The real way to become a hero. That's what you want isn't it Shinso-kun?"
"Eh?" Shinso's face went shocked. "How did you-"
"You had the same mournful expression my brother did when he thought he wasn't getting into U.A… if you want to be a hero Shinso, then don't give up, and just work on getting stronger. Open up, learn to work with your other skills as well as your quirk. Then I can guarantee there's nothing you won't be able to achieve." She held out her hand to him. He glanced down at it, huffed out a laugh and took her hand.
"Can I get that in writing?"
He'd won, Todoroki thought looking down at his left hand, but at what cost. What the hell had he been thinking using his left side? No, that was just it, he hadn't been thinking, he'd only been reacting. Midoriya's power had frightened him into using his fire.
He glanced up, Izumi shaking the hands of the general studies student and then turning to hug her brother. He'd gone up against Izumi in battle class. Her power had been surprising, and her will to win admirable… but something about her twin brother was giving him the shakes. What was it about him that had him quivering?
"Todoroki-san?" Yaoyorozu came up beside him, showing concern. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." he let his hands fall at his side. His eyes remained glued to the twins. "Just thinking about the next round."
"Yes, there's always a tournament style in these events. I wonder what manner of tournament it's going to be." Yaoyorozu held her chin thinking as well.
"Whatever it is, we can't let our guard down." He turned and walked away from her. "I'm going to go eat."
"Third and fourth place…" Izumi sighed again. "I went up, you went down, so much for us aiming for the top."
"We can't give up yet, there's still one more round left." Izuku held her shoulders. "Let's give it all we've got."
"Right… how did Todoroki end up with your points anyway?" She questioned and crossed her arms. "You'd been doing so well, I thought you'd certainly have them til the end."
"Well, actually the weirdest thing happened. We were in the middle of a stand off and all of a sudden my brain went kind of fuzzy and hazy, and I could hear your voice, and feel your presence around me."
"What?" Izumi's eyes narrowed. "You felt that too?"
"So did you!? So I wasn't just imagining it!" Izuku pointed at both of them. "We must have been connected somehow."
"Maybe, I did feel your strength and mine combining… it felt as though I were a water balloon about to pop. It was… definitely weird."
"There was lights too, like our power was connected by those lights."
"Could it be…" One for All… a sacred torch passed down generation to generation. "Maybe it has something to do with our quirk?" Izumi touched her chin then shook her head. "I'm gonna go find dad and ask about this. Go to the cafeteria with the others and save me a seat."
He watched her rush off. Jumping up into the stands and taking the stairs three at at a time.
"Couldn't have just used the student entrance, could you, Izumi?" He laughed and followed his classmates to go get food. He was stopped at the archway by Todoroki.
"Midoriya-" Todoroki grabbed him by the arm his eyes fierce. "I want to talk to you and your sister about something. Do you have a minute?"
"Oh, uh I was about to go get food. Izumi went to go look for…" he drifted off a second his eyes looking up at the stands. "Something. She wanted me to save her a spot."
"Alright, I'll go with you then. When she gets back, I've something important to discuss with you."
"Oh…" Nerves clutched in his belly and Izuku swallowed hard. "Okay."
~Meanwhile~
Izumi had asked around the teacher's booth about the location of All Might, and she was told he went off to have lunch elsewhere. Annoyed she had missed him, Izumi made her way down the hall to take the stairs to the main level... immediately after the first flight she spotted her father.
"There you are… H-"
"All Might…" The growl of a voice sent a Izumi's spine. She crouched and pressed herself up to the railing to hide. Peering around the top, she only needed to see the scorching flames of the costume to know exactly who her father was talking to.
"Endeavor?"
"I haven't seen you since that talk we had with the press about ten years ago." All Might pressed on, unaware of his daughter's peering eye. "I saw you, so I thought I'd say hi."
"Is that so, well you've already done that, so leave me be." Endeavor's callous voice responded and he turned his back to the Number 1 hero. The idiot had some nerve suddenly inviting him to tea. The guy was as oblivious as ever to his distaste.
"Hahahaha!" All Might leapt over and cut his path. Izumi climbed down the next few steps and peered around the corner to keep her eye and ear on the conversation. She didn't know what Endeavor's problem was, but the guy was a buzzkill. "Don't be so cold."
"Tch," Endeavor glared, thoroughly annoyed.
"Your son," All might continued. "Young Shoto is an amazing young talent. He's doing so well and only using half his strength. It must be because of the way he's been trained, am I right?"
Really dad? Izumi's temple throbbed in annoyance. It was bad enough she had to give Todoroki kudos, she didn't need her old man rubbing it in… then again he didn't know she was listening in.
"What's your point?"
"Well I'd seriously like to know how to raise the next generation." All Might asked with some strain in his voice. Izumi's temper sizzled but she stayed crouched. She couldn't let them know she was there… she'd just have to-
"You honestly think I'd tell you? Tch, you're as clueless as ever and it's damn annoying." Endeavor pushed past All Might. The Number One hero's face fell with disappointment. He had hoped this rivalry between them would have ebbed over time.
"I'm sorry."
Endeavor paused briefly, feeling the need to put in the last word.
"I will tell you one thing. I will make THAT into a hero that will one day surpass you. That was why I created him."
Izumi's eyes widened a bit. Surpass? Created?
"What are you saying?" Confused and concerned All Might narrowed his gaze on Endeavor.
"He's in his rebellious stage now, but he will definitely surpass you. I'll make sure of it." Endeavor's voice warned in a deep and threatening tone. Izumi felt sick, she couldn't hold back the reigns of her temper any longer. Letting out a shaky breath she leaped down to stand beside her father, and glared at Endeavor.
"Izumi!" All Might choked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Eavesdropping." She admitted, her eyes fierce on Endeavor. The man eyed her with some curiosity but with the same pure malice she had felt in his voice. She refused to let it shake her. "Now I know why Todoroki's acting like this, and why he's resentful towards you. Created him? Just what kind of way is that for a father to speak about his kid? You're a fool if you think he stands a chance against my-"
"Ah Izumi-chan!" All Might clasped a hand over her mouth and held her to him even as she wriggled in protest, waving her fists and letting out muffled screams and curses. He laughed nervously. "It's time for lunch, well it's been nice seeing you Endeavor. Let's have that tea some other time." He hauls her up and makes a dash back up the stairs and down the hall.
Endeavor looked after them, his gaze intensified by suspicion. "That wasn't curious at all." He spoke sarcastically to himself. He recalled the girl, the look of her and the ferocity in her eyes. He had watched her in the first event and had been impressed. In the second event her brother had seen right through his son's folly at not using his left side. Hmmm… he'd have to see just what their connection was to that fool.
"Let go of me old man!" Izumi squirmed and thrust her elbow in his weak spot making him drop her. "I've got a bone to pick with that asshole!"
"Izumi, calm yourself down." He put his hands on her shoulders. "I know you're angry but you can't just go punching and screaming at whoever rubs you the wrong way."
"Weren't you listening to him? Didn't you hear the way he talked about Todoroki as if he were… as if…" Izumi felt the tears well up and she had to control her breathing. "RAUUUGH!" She turned on her heel and ran off. She needed to find Todoroki, and get some answers.
All Might sighed heavily watching his daughter run off.
"My Goodness, we really need to do something about that temper of yours, Izumi-chan."
~Cafeteria~
Izuku had found a spot at the end of the table Class 1A was sharing. The cafeteria was cluttered with students and staff, and visiting heroes. Still, with his cheeks filled with rice, Izuku kept his eyes peeled for his sister.
"Ah! Izumi-chan!" Kaminari shouted out to her grinning. Izuku peered down the table. His face went blue as he recognized the raging aura. "Perfect timing, we just found out the girls have to do a cheer battle during the recreation games. Yaoyorozu made these for ACK!" He slammed into the table, food flying and staining the uniform he'd held out to her.
"Get that thing away from me." Izumi said in a low growl. "You and Mineta must have a death wish if you think I'd be a pawn in your sick game."
"Hah? It… uh…." Kaminari trembled at the sight of a raging Izumi. Mineta, swallowed hard but was determined to see Izumi in the uniform too.
"It's not a game, we overheard Aizaw- EEEP!" Mineta wriggled as Izumi hauled him up by his shirt.
"Even if that were true, I'm not a part of your class yet, and I'm not participating in a game where I have to wear a skirt shorter than my uniform!" She gave him a death glare. "I'm not like these other girls, Mineta." Her smile was deadly and threatening. "You fuck with me, you won't live to see your 2nd year."
Mineta went white as a ghost and slipped through Izumi's fingers and turned to a puddle on the floor.
"So scary, so scary…"
"...and yet still so hot!" Kaminari finished just as frightened and pale as him.
"Izumi!" Izuku waved her over smiling. "Did you find-"
"No… Todoroki!" Izumi placed a hand on his shoulder. The guy was munching on his soba noodles as he glanced over his shoulder at her. "Come with me."
"I'm eating.." He turned away and pulled more noodles into his mouth.
"I said come on!" She grabbed him by the scruff of his uniform and dragged him out of his chair and out of the cafeteria, Todoroki stoic and still eating all the while.
"What's that about?" Izuku wondered and set his food down and jogged after them.
Izumi had pulled him out of the cafeteria and down the hall, and once they were alone finally let go of him. Todoroki stood up and dusted himself off eying her narrowly. He had planned on talking to her after they'd all had something to eat, but clearly she had something on her mind as well.
"Alright, what do you need to tell or ask me that can't wait?"
"Your dad is an ass!" She suddenly shouted and had him choking on a sudden urge to laugh.
"Pfft what?"
"He's a class A bully with an inferiority complex! I've never met anyone who was so full… no wait Bakugo is bad, but still your dad is-" She started to rant.
"I know." He lifted his hands up to calm her tantrum. "What happened Izumi? What did he say?"
"He," She took a long deep breath trying to calm her temper. "He threatened All Might."
"I'm not surprised… but why does that piss you off so much?" He tucked his hands in his pockets. "All Might can handle my dad."
"He said he was going to use you to do it." Her eyes lifted to his. She saw the amusement turn to cool distance and disdain. "Is that true?"
"Yes...Izumi-" Todoroki tried to explain, but she interrupted him again.
"I don't want you to!" She shuddered and hugged herself. "Please, please don't do what he asks! Don't be-"
"Izumi!" He shouted at her, grabbing hold of her to him. "I've no intention of letting him have his way."
"But-" she stayed stiff in his hold, her eyes threatening tears.
"Have you ever heard of quirk marriages?"
"What?" Her head tilted up. Looking into her eyes, Todoroki told her everything. About his father's vendetta against All Might, how he'd married his mother for the pure purpose of creating a strong offspring, and how that forced and abused marriage had forced his mother to lose her sanity.
"So trust me," He tightened his grip on Izumi, somehow finding comfort in the hold. "I won't become a tool for that bastard to use."
"That's so cruel... " Izumi's eyes flooded and she felt his need for comfort. Her hands finally came up and around to hug him. "How can a man like that be a hero?"
"I don't know… but I'm determined to not give him what he wants. I'm going to reject him completely by winning this tournament without using his quirk." He felt her hug him back and he turned his head so that he could lay his cheek on her hair.
"Your motives are like something out of a comic… I know what it's like to resent a parent so much that you want to cut all ties with them." Her hands stroke up and down his back. "I have to warn you, if this is the path you choose, my brother and I won't make it easy for you. I promised no mercy."
"Yeah, I know."
Somehow, Todoroki thought as he stroked a hand down the length of her hair, that promise was more comfort to him than any hug.
~Ask Briry~
Briry: I got that done way faster than I expected to! Woot! Anyway the next chapter reveals the lineup for the tournament. If you have any requests on who you want to see fighting against each other, and you do you want to see compete for the title and win it all, be sure to include your opinions in the comments!
Next Chapter: Tournament Trouble!
