Chapter 19: Sands Of Time
"Love is the whole thing. We are only pieces." -Rumi
Izuku & Ochako
"It's you. From the news."
The man swallows, looking carefully between the pair. Neither recognize the man nor does his scraggly tank top and jeans give away that he is a villain or a civilian. He could easily be putting on an act for them, pretending to look afraid by the trembling of his legs.
So Izuku steps forward before he can say or do anything more, verdant eyes gleaming and the man steps back in alarm.
"Wait, I wasn't planning to attack! I've seen your face in the news enough times to know what your quirk can do." He utters out so quickly they barely catch everything he's said.
He brushes a hand through his sandy blond air, averting icy blue-gray orbs to the pavement below. This would be a hundred, no a thousand times easier if Himiko were here with him or anyone from the League...
But he has to prove his worth to them, show that he doesn't need to rely on them as heavily as he constantly does.
So as soon as he caught sight of green-black hair, of those striking red shoes he had moved.
This is his chance to learn his weaknesses, he can't screw this up.
'What if I don't find out anything important? They'll get pissed, right?' The sudden thought makes him pause.
Shit.
This was a bad idea.
"Then why are you hiding in the shadows like that?" Ochako questions skeptically forcing Jin to focus on the here and now.
"I...I there's been a lot of commotion lately in this district, it's easier to keep to the shadows and not put any spotlight on myself unless necessary." He yammers, pursing his lips before he falls into a tangent and gives away too much.
'Step back from us; an arm's length.' Izuku decides, activating Infliction.
A minute later Jin's feet move of their own accord, his shadow no longer hovering so closely over them.
Beads of sweat pool at his neck, swallowing at the intensity of Izuku's glare.
'So that's what his quirk can do.' He bites his tongue until the metallic taste of blood hits, a welcome distraction to keep himself from blabbing away.
"You may recognize us from the news or any social media, but that doesn't explain your behavior. If you were truly afraid of me why would you purposely step out of the shadows at seeing my approach?" He questions.
Jin bites his tongue just as the urge to confess he knows their U.A. students pops to mind.
"Part of me wanted to see your ability up close for myself. To see if was truly as violent as the news has said." He blurts out, digging into his pockets to give his hands something to do.
His fingers tap against his last box of cigarettes, nicotine could help ease ease his jitteriness; hopefully.
"Well, you saw it. So what else do you want?" Ochako questions, unable to hide the coldness lacing her tone.
The way this man is behaving he looks ready to jump them any second.
"Ochako, let's go." Izuku mutters by her ear and she nods.
The man at least doesn't move to follow them, figure growing darker against the saffron hue of the skyline.
Izuku's glare is paralyzing enough, a silent threat.
And Jin feels his heart pound furiously, a wild gallop amid a haze of rushing thoughts until one thing becomes clear.
'I need to warn Toga.'
-X-
Izuku
'His shoes are at the door.'
They're too big to be Mom's, leather at the ends scratched and worn from years of use.
Shoes he hasn't seen in years...
And towards the kitchen between the scents of peppers and vegetables being chopped does he hear a man's laugh.
'He really is home.' Izuku breathes, tight churn of his stomach stopping him in place.
Everything he thought of to say for his arrival is disappearing into a fog of running questions and uncertainties.
"Izuku sweetie is that you? Come on in, dinner will be ready in just a few!" Inko's voice floats into the living room.
'It's just Dad, no reason to worry.' He reminds himself.
Hisashi looms beside Inko, smile widening to match hers at his approach.
"Look how tall you've gotten!" He laughs, pulling him into a sideways hug before he can react.
An ink stain rests on his suit pocket, wrinkled from top to bottom. This close he picks up on the tiny hole in the corner, the smell of rice and egg mixed with sweat.
Even having spent years overseas has taken away the aromas of home.
But his body seems much thinner, the little memories he has of his Dad is not this skeletal form wrapping him into warmth.
"No, a lot of my classmates have a good whole inch or so over me." Izuku laughs easily returning the affection squeezing him back.
"Well, height doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, especially when you become a Pro-Hero! Inko tells me you've been making quite the name for yourself with this quirk of yours." Hisashi beams proudly.
"Infamously making a name for himself you mean." Inko adds in with a huff.
A flush crawls up Izuku's neck. Mom had to have filled him in with the details if he didn't see for himself on the international news.
"It's...It's good to have you home Dad, err but not to be rude what caused the sudden urgency?" It is the first question his mind jumps to ask about.
Inko nudges Hisashi before he can respond, gesturing instead to the table already littered with a colorful assortment.
"Let's discuss it over dinner." He remarks and Izuku restraints the retort to question it.
Midway through the meal though he can't help himself to ask again why he's here.
His body feels as if it's on fire, itching to get away from the mundane topics of weather and how everyone's week has been. He digs his nails into his palms until the crescents form, waiting for an actual response.
Hisashi looks up first, green eyes like his own somber and resolute.
"It's for some genetic testing regarding your quirk and...to figure the cause of this increased weakness/fatigue I've been having as of late." He explains.
Izuku nods blankly as they let the implication lie there in the air, the pieces connecting like a puzzle that this trip back home wasn't for a proper much needed vacation or even work-related business and his stomach lurches all over again.
-X-
Ochako
'Rain again?'
Drizzles to rain showers come more often now late in the evenings into the nights. What should make her sleepy only leaves her awake and restless, watching thin rivulets stream down her windowpane.
Or maybe it's these thoughts of Deku that has her mind still so very awake.
'Come on, finals are coming up! Sleep already!" She orders herself, slapping her flushed cheeks.
"Focus, remember everything at stake!" Speaking it aloud to doubly remind herself that nobody performs at their best when drowsy.
But then her mind drifts to Madam Chiba, of her stupid fortune and this wondering how exactly to define this current relationship between her and Deku.
They haven't even put a title yet to what exactly they are.
"Ochi, you still awake in there?" Gamma questions with a light rapt on her door nearly making her float up in surprise.
"Ah, just getting a last minute section of questions in!" She calls back.
Their voices lower again to a hush most likely wondering what homework she could possibly have that's keeping her up at night, Gamps pitching in. "You're not going to recall any of that info if you don't let your mind rest!"
Ochako feels a laugh bubble up, stifling it before calling back she'll be properly under her covers in 5 minutes. Neither of their quirks can see through objects, but she wouldn't put it past Gamps and Gamma to do another go round to make sure she keeps to her promise.
Momo mentioned she would begin tutoring sessions next week, but it seems like she's already filled up through Thursday.
'Study with Deku, it will give you a chance to finally talk about the status of your current relationship plus get an idea of how to take on the physical portion of the exams.'
Her heart skitters at the very idea, but then she can't keep putting off the topic. Burying her feelings isn't going as well as she planned...
Sunlight, a tinted mix of reddish-violet warms her face awakening her minutes before her alarm hours later, Ochako blinking away spots.
Puddles and damp pavements cover the streets, rain having moved offshore.
There's study packets to complete today from Midnight sensei's review of Renaissance pieces of Art to Present Mic's list of English conjugations to translate.
However past all that she thinks of Deku and she steels herself, stretching out her arms.
No more putting this off.
"Today. I'll ask him today what exactly we are." She whispers into the coming morning.
-X-
Elsewhere-Toga
"I'm telling you Himiko, his quirk is much more dangerous up close! I can see why Shigaraki was so interested in him-ah, but that's not the point! A lot of the faculty and Pro-Heroes will eventually find a trail that leads back to you!" Jin warns before pacing again in a feeble attempt to keep these antsy feelings at bay.
Himiko looks up from her drink, golden eyes cheery and bright. "Well, just like Shigaraki I'm interested in him too! Ochako as well, I've never had a chance to witness love this up close before; I'm not just going to let this opportunity pass me up!"
She still hasn't indulged in their blood yet, in fact now would be the perfect time to try and infiltrate back into school even with the more advance measures in place since that student's death.
It's not like many of his fellow peers truly mourned his death, a bully and complainer who now they wouldn't have to deal with his taunts or jeers. They should be happy he met such a gruesome end, that even his blood just like his personality truly was sour until the very end.
Jin shakes at her shoulders, snapping her out of her thoughts. "I know that look in your eye and no! They're are far more cameras now at that school, ways to check a student's DNA if they rouse even the slightest suspicion!"
Himiko pauses, considering her options. "It's final exams time now though, everyone will be too focused on studying to notice-"
"Seriously, that kid's Infliction could tear you to pieces! I can't let that happen to you, I hate even the idea of it happening!" Jin rambles, divulging into wild theories of her being captured, jailed, and worst of all killed.
"I barely got a taste though, people in love's blood tastes different from ones like you and I." Himiko interrupts with a pout, leaning her head back to observe the passing clouds overhead.
Morning would soon be coming.
A breeze picks up, stinging and cold to her cheeks before breathing it in and reveling in the chill as goosebumps prickle her skin. She isn't sure how a regular student at U.A. with such lofty goals for being a Hero doesn't crack from the pressure, the need to be perfect for their peers, the faculty, their parents...
Themselves.
Briefly her thoughts twist to her own parents, the sharp pang of a headache thrums to life while her gut churns in revulsion. The garden is where they often caught her, hands smeared with dirt and blood having tried to cover up the act.
'Why can't you be normal for us?'
'No! How many times do we have to tell you not to use your quirk?!'
She blinks away the memory before it shrouds over her thoughts, clenching her teeth together.
Some random article she read days ago shows most of those esteemed U.A. students upon graduation don't even actually get picked up by a proper Hero agency, falling into obscurity with the rest of society.
'I can make it back in, I know I can.' She determines, smile creeping back up. Ochako or Izuku would tell her the same thing, to not give up no matter how difficult or impossible the situation seemed.
Blood like theirs' she's sure is sweet, filled with hope and the naivety of bright dreams for the future she shattered for herself years ago. When mixed and drank together she wonders if she'll experience these same emotions again or of the budding love between the duo.
So, no reason to put those blood samples she collected to waste!
"Sometime this week I'll go, you can be my back up!" She cheers, looking back at Jin properly.
He's lit a cigarette while her mind was drifting, thin mist of gray escaping through his lips.
A knock comes to the door before he can respond or continue to refute her ideas, Kurogiri slipping in through the thin crack underneath the door.
"Your business with U.A. is unimportant right now Toga. Shigaraki has called a meeting to discuss bigger plans to be put into motion, meet us in the lobby in 10 minutes." He orders.
Jin crushes his cigarette into a nearby ashtray, tacking on a small grin.
"Well, duty calls!"
Himiko lingers back before moving to follow, scoffing lightly.
Her 'business' with U.A. was far from over.
-X-
All Might
"All the preparations are complete, we just need to create the matchups now!" Principal Nezu announces happily.
The practical exams for the end of the semester for the First Years is one of his most favorite activities, the written exams can only test a student's skill so much.
It's when the students as well can finally see him in action and not just as the voice behind the daily announcements.
Ectoplasm raises his hand before the meeting can end, clearing his voice.
"Was there any update from the police regarding the Second Years' death? I know we plan to move the students into the new dorms once the exams are over, but I don't recall them bringing up anything new."
Toshinori perks up at this, he has been asking Nezu the same questions with little answers in return.
"The coroner's final report did show cause of death to the deceased student Hideyoshi Takeda as a slash to the carotid artery of the neck leading to substantial hemorrhaging." Nezu confirms after a moment.
The room goes still, feeling twice as chilly and uncomfortable. He thinks of the boy's parents again in tears, crumpling to the ground as their eyes turned glassy and dark at a lost.
"All he ever wanted was to be a Hero, to help make the city less crime-ridden. I always thought the field was dangerous no matter how good you were or strong your quirk was, but then he got into U.A., even excelled in his classes and my fears lessened. Too late to realize just how much more of a target being at that school made him...'
They buried their son yesterday, unsure what to say when they saw him there and instead pretending they hadn't.
None of this news will bring them peace and he's sure they'll never trust in any Hero again.
"To bring back in some positives, they collected DNA from the scene. Some blond hair and a few drops of saliva that is going to be tested against every villain currently in the database." Nezu explains.
He dismisses them on the note he'll have posted which students they'll be facing by the end of the day.
"I'm sure you want to test your prodigy, right?" Yamada asks lowly as he gathers his belongings.
Toshinori nods, reminding of seeing their scuffle during lunch hour last week.
"Kacchan, what reason do you have to go looking for me? To even drag Ochako into this-"
"You know why you damn nerd so don't act like you don't know, you may think you're tough shit with Infliction but you don't even have full control over it." Katsuki cuts him off, hands crackling with budding flames.
An unresolved anger burns in Young Bakugo's eyes and likewise just the same Young Midoriya looks ready to use Infliction to devastating effects and his continued taunts.
The best way to end this whether they like it or not is to be teamed up together.
"You sure they won't just try to harm each other if they got paired together for the Finals?" Yamada half-jokes at the idea of seeing those actually try to work together in a feasible way.
Toshinori shakes his head, moving to stand.
"No because at the end of the day they both know what's at stake if they fail."
-X-
Izuku & Ochako
"What are we?" Ochako asks aloud.
She blurts out the question before nerves can strike at her again for the umpteenth time, she isn't going to retain any of the study materials before them unless she can get that question out of the way first.
Everything from Madam Chiba's vision, to Mina and the rest of the girl's taunts (with Aoyoma even deciding to ask if Izuku has been on her mind as of late when she spaces out for too long), it's all cultivated to this moment.
Izuku looks up from their literature notes, perplexed. "What are we? We'll we're two first year students at U.A. preparing for our end of year finals. One of us is not fully focused on the written portion that's worth half our grade and-"
Ochako affectionately bumps their shoulders interrupting him. "That's not what I meant! Geez, we just went through that 50 question practice guide. I think we deserve a small study break!"
Izuku laughs in return and Ochako feels a familiar coiling in her chest. Maybe she should've buried this question until after their exams were over no matter how much it could distract at her thoughts.
"What are we?" He repeats, green eyes meeting brown warmly. "What exactly are you referring to? It has nothing to do with what will be on the practical or written sections of our tests that much I can determine."
Ochako purses her lips, mouth feeling inexplicably dry at the worst moment. "Our...I mean would you call what we have a relationship? You and I?"
Izuku blinks once, twice, and then his face reddens to match hers as it finally clicks.
Studying disappears from his mind.
"Huh?! Ah, I mean I do really like you Ochako, I never imagined you would consider me as boyfriend material or anything like that. I mean, there's so many other guys you could pick from..." Izuku trails off.
There is the matter of his reputation with Infliction as well, the fear and unease it causes to those around him once they see it activated. Limiting it's use as Recovery Girl suggested has done little to stop the rumors.
"Why not you as boyfriend material? Especially when I only want you?" Ochako asks back softly, nearly balling up her hands into her lap before re-gaining her resolve to intertwine their hands.
This close she wonders just how much faster her heart can beat in anticipation, if when she looks properly into Deku's eyes once more he will see all her desires for him reflected in her gaze.
Izuku is the first to lean in and just as she nearly shuts her eyes she inescapably sees a figure near the bookshelves watching them.
It isn't like the man from before in the alleyways, auburn eyes widening taking in sandy blonde hair to the manic grin stretching across her flushed cheeks.
Pinkened cheeks smeared in crimson.
Her mind flashes back to the day of the blackout, shards of glass pouring around them like rain. She can't recall if she ever learned how exactly her quirk worked but she knew it required blood. Blood that somehow, someway can disguise her and allow her to slip in amongst them.
'It's her.'
-x-
I'm sorry I'm so slow at updating this story. I'm not sure how many people keep up with it, but my mind was all over the place before I could clearly start writing this next chapter out. Well, it is Valentines Day at least where I am, enjoy the day with your loved ones and friends or be like me and spend it watching anime and catching up with Youtube videos!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!