Chapter 2: The Connection
Izuku
"What was that ability of yours? We've never seen anything like it!" One reporter asks, pushing her microphone right up to his face to properly hear him.
The woman in question gets shoved aside hurriedly by another interviewer before he can even manage a response, just as eager to get a word in.
"Are you the reason those two men collapsed to the ground like that? What made you know to come here; was it the power of your quirk?" The man asks fervently.
Their words begin to blur together and his head pulses at him to get out of here. His face was going to be all over the news, everyone from his classmates to his Mom would know he was here tonight.
And he swallows, tongue wound up in knots.
"Now, now, such questions are going to have to wait. We need to have a talk with him first regarding this matter!" A loud voice booms in silencing them all. The crowd parts then for the man he's looked up to for years, the number one hero...
All Might.
His mind goes into overdrive to be actually seeing All Might here truly right before him, matching the speed of a coming headache thrumming to life as reality seeps in.
He has questions for him as well.
"I expect you all will give this boy the privacy he deserves in the news, correct? He is only a minor after all and at this time the police and I would like to minimize as much as possible his face and name being out in the public for other villains to be able to see as well." All Might reasons.
His voice carries an authority and power that lulls the reporters and news members into a hush, dropping their microphones and cameras for now. The police begin to properly clear out the area while medical personnel attend to the passengers, chief officer Nakamura nodding to them they can handle the situation from here.
And it is only when they are back into the cool night air, away from the flash of the cameras and voices calling to him from all sides does Izuku feel himself exhale.
'All Might is right next to me! The actual real deal; say something!' His thoughts yell as he manages to peek up at him.
"I-It really is you! I-I've looked up to you for years now! Oh, I should get your autograph, I can't let this moment pass me up!" He mutters out in a series of stammers, biting his tongue at how weak and pathetic he sounds as he hurriedly looks for a pen from one of his pockets.
This is far and away not how he's dreamed his first conversation with All Might would go, though really he never actually imagined he would ever get to speak to the man in person.
All Might simply beams, watching as this boy fumbles over his words. It's the opposite of the boy he saw just a moment ago who calmly approached two B-rank villains without fear.
"No need to worry young man, as you can see I already took care of that matter!" He exclaims, gesturing towards a bent page in his notebook to the side with his signature in place.
Izuku blinks, taking in the autograph before feeling tears blur at his eyes he hurriedly wipes away.
"Thank you! You...You don't know how much this means to me!" He breathes out excitedly. He'll have to make sure this notebook is kept locked away his room, away from Kaa-chan burning it out of spite or another one of his classmates ripping it to shreds.
The beginnings of his smile quickly start to fade seeing All Might's expression shift, gazing at him thoughtfully know in a way that makes him squirm.
"What was it that you did back there kid? Even with my speed I couldn't pick up on what exactly you did to those two criminals." He questions.
'I knew this was coming.' Izuku reminds himself.
Still, he feels his chest tighten, familiar coils squeezing at his throat making it harder to breathe...
To focus.
"Um, well...I don't really know how to explain it, but I can inflict pain on a person just by thinking of an injury if I stare at them for at least a few seconds." He whispers out.
It's the first time he's actually said aloud what this quirk of his can do, images flickering in of how much damage it's already done.
He feels himself starting to tremble, pushing forward at All Might's silence.
"I'm sorry, I don't really understand it fully. I only recently found out I could do this a few days ago. Before then, I thought I was quirkless." Izuku manages out, gaze falling away from him to the metal of the rooftop, to the darkness of the night as the moon became blotted out by clouds.
All Might only hums, rubbing his chin in thought. 'Pain Infliction huh?'
That could only mean he triggered it thinking about somebody he wanted to harm and if he had been quirkless prior to this it would've made him the perfect target for bullying and teasing...
So despite his current demeanor, somebody had pushed him into anger, to a coldness that made him afraid of himself.
Izuku peers at him from the corner of his eye, nervously tapping at his fingers.
He already knows what he is thinking, this quirk is not fit for a hero...
It fits perfectly for a villain though, for those who know their quirks or personalities don't fit with the norm of society, are a danger to others when left to their own devices letting their abilities go uncontrolled or managed.
"All Might, knowing what I've just told you do you think I can still be a Hero?" Izuku looks up at him, hands balled against the ends of his shirt so tightly they gain a reddish hue.
There's a lot about this boy that resonates with him no matter his current quivering form Toshinori muses. Walking into a crisis situation without even fully knowing how his quirk worked took a bravery he just hadn't fully captured within himself yet.
It's a recklessness and foolishness he can't help but admire.
'I haven't picked my successor for One for All yet, I'm going to U.A. for that very reason to come to a final decision out of the candidates I was given.' Toshinori reminds himself. He had already heard from the faculty that the 3rd year student Mirio Togata was the perfect student to take on the ability, already shown to be skilled both in academics and in strength to handle taking on his power with ease.
But now this boy before him was making said thoughts waver...
He'd need to keep an eye on him, especially in seeing just how quickly he could incapacitate two grown men.
"What did you say your name was again?" All Might asks instantly making Izuku straighten up.
"Oh, I didn't! It's Izuku Midoriya though!" He sputters out.
And it's then he feels the weights of self-loathing and fear relax just slightly as All Might gives him his perfect grin, already feeling tears prick again at his eyes as he gently pats his shoulder.
"Right, I see no reason young Midoriya why you can't become a Hero in spite of how your quirk seems to work! However, the way your body is right now is absolutely terrible! Luckily, I know just the person who can train you!"
He points a thumb at himself then, Izuku gaping at him in utter silence.
'Does he mean himself?! No, that can't be!' He wonders in disbelief.
"That's right, I mean ME!" All Might emphasizes knowing where his thoughts had gone with his expression.
Tonight was a turning point, Izuku realized. A hope he hadn't had for himself in years, especially not as of late.
And he allowed himself to briefly forget about his other quirk, burying his past cruel actions to the back of his mind...
-X-
Ochako
'There he is; that's train station boy!' Ochako gasps, staring heavily at the front page of the newspaper. The slightly grainy photo that stares back at her can only be the same boy from last night who had played a role in stopping that villainous duo from creating further destruction.
She knew one of these little coffee shops would have his image captured as part of the morning headlines!
Still, it's a surprise it's the only picture reporters seem to have to show of him considering his role in the rescue, not even providing a name to his face. How? She was sure she had seen a crowd of them surrounding him hounding him for questions. Perhaps the police had cut in issuing a warning not to post his identity...
Social media could help, but most of the comments she had scrolled over had only spoke of All Might and the criminal's actions.
Only a few mentioned 'train station boy' (as she had dubbed him until she found out his real name) and even then it was more questioning his sanity and choice to rush into the scene like that.
'He has to be somewhere here in the city still though, right? I want to at least properly thank him in person if I can.' Ochako frowns.
"Um, miss you're going to have to pay for that if you want to keep reading." The magazine attendant notes with a sigh. Customers always did this, pretending they weren't reading pages upon pages of articles or books without actually purchasing said item first.
Ochako freezes, reddening at the mix of annoyed stares and giggles sent her way from the growing line behind her. "Sorry, I'll buy it right now!" She squeaks, hurriedly fishing for her wallet and grabbing a small cup of coffee as an additional courtesy.
The coffee is bitter and hot on her tongue as she takes a seat at the patio, wishing she had opted for the tea instead even with the added milk and sugar. Outside the streets are already coming to life, sunlight falling along the buildings shining windows in pinks and reds.
Today would mark her first actual day in the city, her first day on her own.
"Are you okay Honey?! Mom and I can rush down there if need be!" Her Dad cries out from the other end of the line.
Ochako hurriedly shakes her head before realizing he can't actually see her. "No, Dad! I'm fine; honest! I've already been cleared by the medical staff on site to head on home."
Around her is too noisy, waving goodbye to the kind old lady as her children come to pick her up. Scratches and bruises could heal easy unlike the deeper wounds those that had been right by the windows had sustained...
She hears her Mom sigh in relief in the background before hearing the the distinct clatter of papers and pens being shuffled about.
Were they still up this late looking over bills? Or other maintenance costs of the construction sites?
"Well, you know how your Mom and I worry sweetie. Especially when we hear breaking news of an attack on the same passenger train you had just set off in!" Her Dad notes with a weak laugh.
"All Might came through, the pair of villains were stopped before they could do any serious damage." Ochako replies before promising to call them back once she made it to her apartment.
But it hadn't really been just All Might, no train station boy she was certain had played the bigger role.
She peered back down at his image, trying to recall his other features. He had dark hair with specks of green throughout it, freckles, and maybe red shoes on?
Yup, that narrowed it down!
Ochako resisted a groan, slumping back in her chair. It'd be nice to know someone with a quirk who could pinpoint people out from crowds or instantly gained the location of someone just from seeing their image.
Another glance towards the sidewalks makes her do a double take though, a boy who looked around her age scurrying and bumping into a few pedestrians along the way.
It was too far away to tell if it was actually him, but his hair was styled in the same fashion...
Orientation for U.A.'s campus wasn't until Wednesday, she had today and tomorrow to take in the sights and get to know this city she would call her home for the next few years.
'Wouldn't hurt to see if it's him or not.' Ochako decides after mulling it over, tossing her barely touched coffee aside.
More than just thanking him for his actions, she'd like to know how exactly his quirk worked. If she was lucky, maybe he could give her tips on improving her own abilities.
-X-
Izuku
'I'm late; I'm late! Of all days when the entrance exams are coming up next week!' Izuku bemoans to himself, cursing himself for not properly setting his alarm. This week were the mock exams, other schools already in the first phases of their high school exams with even a few fortunate enough students having already been successfully admitted into their school of choice.
He was still aiming for U.A.
Mom however had too many questions for him, too many he wasn't ready to answer yet only deepening her worry...
He couldn't blame her for being concerned, to awake to a call in the middle of the night that her only son was getting checked at the local ER would be a shock to anyone.
"What on earth made you think it was a good idea to rush in like that?! Thank goodness All Might and the police were there just in time before those two villains attacked!" Inko cried, squeezing at Izuku as if he'd disappear right before her.
The memory clings to him, from her tears dampening his shirt all the way home to the dark bags of luggage weighing under her red eyes that carried over into the morning. Breakfast was quiet, Inko only telling him to promptly come home after school after carrying away their plates.
Sleep had evaded him too, he was restless with a mix of joy and anxiousness over All Might telling him he would take him on for training once his testing period was over.
He makes it into class with just a 5 minutes to spare, halting at taking in the sight of his desk.
It is charred, the color of ink.
Katsuki sends him a wicked grin as soon as their eyes meet, nodding towards what remains of usual seat. All eyes on the class rest on him, heartbeat drumming fast in his ears as he feels his face growing hot under the attention and snickering.
"Enjoy the touch up I did? What made you think a quirkless loser like you had any business being near those B-rank villains last night unless you really did want to take my advice?" His smile widens.
'The photos. Kacchan saw them; all of the school must have.' Izuku frowns.
That grainy image of him is right there on his phone, on everyone's phones.
He knew he met All Might then, the same hero he looks up to as well...
There is nothing he can say to deny this, Mr. Sato still not yet arrived to begin class when he peeks towards the front of the room.
"Midoriya has really pissed off Bakugo now, no way he's just going to let this slide." Aika whispers.
"My money is on Midoriya about to lose an arm and a leg with the way Bakugo has been seething since he arrived!" Keita chuckles back, ready for at least a bit of entertainment to get the day started.
His silence is only deepening Katsuki's anger, Izuku watching in pure dread as he pushes himself out of his desk to approach him. A chill courses through him then of hate and rage, dark thoughts slithering in before he gets too close.
'Twist his left ankle.'
And as soon as the thought passes does a moment later Katsuki halt, wincing at the sudden awkward angle of his left foot. The swelling sets in and crimson eyes burn, searching the faces of his stunned peers.
"Which one of you assholes keeps doing this?!" He growls out, releasing a blast that sends everyone scurrying towards the back. He knew definitively now it was one of his classmate's quirks doing this.
And whoever they were he refuses to let them be silent forever.
Mr. Sato comes in mercifully before Katsuki can cause further wreckage to the room, taking one look at the angle of his foot before pointing in the direction of the Nurse's office.
"Go Bakugo, class needs to get started." Mr. Sato snaps at his lack of movement.
Izuku wills himself to meet his eyes as he passes him out the door, fully seeing the anger and disgust storming in them.
'Actions have consequences.' Izuku repeats to himself, pushing aside his burnt desk to get the loaner desk from the back storage. His hands are still shaky, stomach swirling violently as he moves to calm his breathing.
Mr. Sato moves ahead with the lesson discussing the weight of Math and Sciences towards their final score for the entrance exams, Izuku taking out his notebook to write along with his key points.
He ignores the remnants of ash staining the tiles gray where Katsuki stood just before, the uneasiness of his classmates looking around for this secret quirk user...
The smell of smoke and fire is still in the air.
And Izuku feels his head throb once again, the same side effect...
A punishment for causing pain.
-X-
Ochako
'Is this the school he attends?' Ochako wonders, gazing over the design.
It's a standard brick building, paint chipped along the sides as a layer of vines partially covers the name etched out in amber lettering along the plaque.
'Aldera Middle School?'
It wasn't one of those big name private middle schools she had heard and read about from time to time, the nationally ranked ones that typically led to a majority of their students attending U.A. or going on into the fields of medicine or business as top executives or administrators.
'This is silly, I'm not even a student here. It would look bad to keep loitering around.' Ochako knows at seeing a guard roam near the entrance.
Before she can turn around to head back to her apartment though does she hear the school bell chime out, an influx of students pouring out the doors.
And her eyes widen seeing the same verdant orbs and dark hair from the night before, it's him.
But there is no confidence in his stance now, grip tight on his backpack as he weaves through the crowds of students avoiding eye contact with anyone. He finally glimpses up to make sure he doesn't bump into any one and Ochako feels herself stiffen when his gaze briefly sweeps over her.
Ochako frowns, biting her lip.
'Okay, you found him. How are you going to approach this?' She asks herself.
He doesn't seem in the mood to talk to anyone, eyes nervously flitting around before carrying on along the sidewalk.
Though she came all this way already, to turn back now would be a waste of all this searching.
She moves to match his pace, just a foot shy from him before she reaches out to gently tap at his shoulder instantly making him jolt.
"Oh, sorry! I did not mean to startle you!" Ochako panics at his sudden tenseness, stepping back to assure him she isn't going to attack.
Izuku flusters, shaking his head rapidly. "No, No, I should be sorry! Was I in your way; I'll step aside!"
Ochako pauses then, unable to stop the grin forming along her lips at his frantic and jittery behavior.
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you; you're train station boy...err I mean the guy from that night! I was on that train that you helped stop those two villains from destroying." She explains.
Izuku crumples, a shadow seeming to pass over his features. It was All Might who had really helped, he becoming a background character to him and the police as they ensured the pair went nowhere. "Maybe you're mistaken, I didn't do anything to help that night really."
His stomach guiltily coils at the reminder, of those two men on the ground blue in the face clawing at their necks...
Ochako grips at his hands before he can escape, smiling warmly.
"Don't be silly! You did help even if you don't think you did! Your quirk must be super strong or fast the way your eyes glowed and then they fell down like that!"
Izuku said nothing, staring down at their clasped hands.
And Ochako reddens herself then, breaking them apart. "Sorry, I got a bit too excited there! Ah, my name is Ochako Uraraka, I'll be attending U.A. next semester!"
"I'm Izuku Midoriya. I want to attend there too, we have entrance exams next week so I'm hoping it will work out."
Even with All Might promising to train with him, he couldn't help him in the testing phase nor could he stop these continued taunts and whispers behind his back...
"I can help you study! I took the test early back in my hometown and thankfully passed! I even still have all my old study guides if you want to review them." Ochako suggests.
'She wants to help me?' Izuku blinks.
He nods dumbly, exchanging numbers with her and determining they would meet on the coming weekend.
'I know I said I wanted to focus on my abilities strictly, but it will be great to make a new friend too. He has an especially strong quirk too he seems to be hiding, maybe I encourage him and we can learn from each other!' Ochako considers eagerly, waving back at him before crossing the street.
Meanwhile Izuku studies his hands thoughtfully, they still feel warm.
'A girl just held my hands; both of them!'
-X-
Katsuki
'What is that damn nerd so happy about?'
Katsuki's eyes narrow, despite all his usual volatile behavior around him Izuku hasn't flinched as quickly, hasn't curled into himself as much. It's strange to see him not reacting and even smiling a bit to himself, wondering what exactly is running through his thoughts. He met with All Might that fateful night, had they spoken to each other for long?
Maybe he still think he actually has a chance of getting into U.A.?
Another pencil snaps under his pressure at even the idea, grumbling under his breath as he takes out his third one from his backpack.
These mock exams are easy enough based on past tests they've done and with his ability he knows he's a shoo in for U.A.
The intercom abruptly buzzes overhead, cutting through the silence of the classroom.
"Katsuki Bakugo please report in to the principal's office."
He feels the weight of a dozen eyes on him, curious and amused.
'Damn it, what now?'
He sees Izuku's stare from the corner of his eye, crackling a fist making him hurriedly peer back down at his papers.
He's still afraid of him despite his unusual behavior as of late, still a weakling...
The last people he expects to see when he finally gets into the office with Principal Fujimoto are his parents, scowl deepening.
"Why they hell are they here?" He snaps, Fujimoto only directing him to sit at the lone chair available.
"You know why they're here, your behavior has become too out of line no matter if you are about to head off to high school." He relates casually, chestnut eyes hardening back at him. He's tired of giving Bakugo free passes, of being afraid of what area of the school he plans to damage next just to show off the thrill and power of his quirk.
Katsuki only half hears him as he expects, a rage brewing and clouding his every thought. As if it wasn't bad enough this pain in his foot had only barely lessened in the passing day, the bruising may be gone though the throbbing still lingered even without putting pressure to it.
Deku. That fucking nerd finally told on him...
'Your worst mistake was involving all the adults in my life.' Katsuki scoffs to himself.
He could careless what they think of him or his actions.
Fujimoto sighs patiently, forcing on a smile for his parents still on standby. He could see where his personality came from in watching his mother angrily berate and slap his head to listen...
Where did all the calmness of his father go?
"I can see we're not getting through to you, but I know someone who will." Fujimoto notes with a finality, paging his secretary.
The room goes quiet then, Katsuki stiffening at seeing the outline of a figure approaching.
'All Might?'
He focuses directly on him as soon as he enters, nodding politely to his parents and to principal Fujimoto.
"You must be Young Bakugo, correct?"
-x-
Well, I'm in love with writing this! But you know who I don't love very much though? Katsuki! He won't change overnight, but he needs an intervention. Thanks for all the love with the first chapter, let me know your thoughts as always or any tips you have!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!