A/N: I'm going to try and put better timestamps so it's less confusing for you guys. I also don't want to feel like Izuku's quirk is too overpowered even with having One For All (it's hard at least for me to write a balance between it being not too strong or too weak.) I know it would be boring if his easily knocked out all his enemies without any stakes as well.
Chapter 27: Your Trust
"In the darkness, when you cannot see the ground under your feet and when your fingers touch nothing but night, you are not alone. I will stay with you as moonlight stays on water." -Nadia Hashimi, When the Moon is Low
Izuku & Ochako (Forest Cliffside)
"You're doing great Kota, keep your head lowered so as to not breathe too much of the smoke in!" Izuku instructs. He feels Kota's faint nod into his shoulder, fingers coiling further around his neck.
The night air is heavily coated with the residue of smog and blood, Ochako blinking away final bits of spots in her vision.
Her stomach still feels like it is tied up with butterflies, concentrating on keeping Izuku's grip while watching their surroundings.
"Izuku, I'm sure you're one of the targets for the rest of the villains in this group, if anything it's best you go coordinate back with Aizawa-sensei and the Wild Wild Pussycats away from the deeper parts of the forest." She relates.
Izuku looks back at her, lips set in a tight line and she realizes he can't fully agree with her. "We'll take Kota back to them yes, but I can't hide from them. I'm sure they've already gone after and even potentially injured our classmates and peers."
Ochako takes in his injuries then, the blue-violet bruises and blood intermingled together on his barely healed arms and leg. He picks up the pace as the edge of the training camp's facility comes into view.
When the adrenaline rush of these stakes are over the pain will hit him tenfold and she grits her teeth not to argue on it right now.
"Are...Are you going to be okay?" Kota questions, bringing her own thoughts aloud to this whole situation.
Izuku manages a grin back at him, any earlier trace of exhaustion in his verdant orbs gone.
"I'll be fine, first things first is getting you out of danger!" He replies cheerily, though Ochako can hear the underlying strain in his voice.
"Izuku, you don't have to-" Ochako begins, only to feel her body freeze up, Izuku halting in place as well.
The butterflies in her stomach flutter into a frenzy, bile resurfacing as a chill of fear comes over her like a wave.
'Why can't we move?!'
Her eyes turn slowly to the left, flash of dark hair and scarlet orbs watching them and the goosebumps crawling across her skin relax.
Aizawa-sensei.
"Good, you two are alright...for the most part at least." He notes dryly, taking in their battered forms.
Izuku slides Kota off his shoulder, gesturing for him to go with Aizawa.
"We'll let Mandalay know you're fine as well." He relates when Kota doesn't immediately move from his grip.
Kota hesitates, sliding off slowly at Ochako's nod. This whole time he's been assuming the worst of him, of this quirk he's witnessed first hand now that could be used with deadly intent, but he instead chose to use to save him, to remind him of the good that heroes do.
He squeezes his hands into fists, memories coming back up of the old stories his parents once told of him of why they went into the field of Hero work.
"They'll be here soon." Mandalay offers, though he notes her glance at her watch in concern when she doesn't think he's looking.
The metal bars of the swing burn on his hands even with the use of water on his palms to try and keep them cool, summer sun blistering especially at this time of day.
Laughter surrounds him, kids his age and younger being chased about the park and greenery. Ignoring them all he concentrates on pushing back with his legs, breathing in the scent of spring and the white-pink of the blossoms, of the bright blue of the sky above.
"Wow, you're getting higher and higher with each passing week!" His Dad's voice pipes in abruptly as grabs one of the swing's handles, halting him. He looks up taking in his scuffed uniform, the blades of grass and dirt clinging to his face despite his cheery grin. Mom looks just as worst for wear, though her dark eyes brighten seeing him here.
"You guys are late." Kota huffs back in return, dropping his gaze to avoid him seeing the smile he feels creeping up. Mandalay gives him a look not to be rude, though he pretends not to see it.
Unlike all the other kids here, his Mom and Dad are real Heroes you can see on TV, serving as the tag-team Water Duo for their district!
Though sometimes he wishes they were just regular salarymen or boring businessmen like Asahi's Dad who works for the local newspaper or Mako's who does a typical 9 to 5 at some insurance company he thinks.
'"That's because matter what, we want to be able to use our quirks to help keep the area safe from any villains, to help protect you and the community!" His Father explains, tickling his side eliciting a light giggle from him.
Kota feels himself pouting again from his surprise 'attack', splashing water at his face when he crouches down to match his eye level.
"But it means you and Mom spend keep spending less and less time with me!" He whines, cheeks flaming at his Mother's light laugh at his behavior.
She bends herself down beside him on the opposite side, fingers tangling into his hair.
"If it means you're safe at the end of the day, it's worth it to be a few minutes or even hours late to a dinner or lunch." She reasons, Dad nodding in agreement beside her.
Maybe it was only a few days later (the weeks before and after their deaths all blur and run together now), though he knows shortly after that they went off to face Muscular...
"I'm sorry I-" Kota begins, but Izuku shakes his head stopping him from finishing.
Aizawa looks them over once again, onyx orbs narrowing taking in their injuries in closer detail now.
He opens his mouth as if about to counter the idea of them still fighting before going against it.
"I've sent notification to fellow classmates they can go on the offensive now as well if they haven't already." He mentions instead.
Ochako nods, twisting to follow Izuku back into the forest when Aizawa pats gently at her shoulder.
"Izuku is running on pure energy and anxiety, eventually both of those will fizzle out and he will crash." He warns.
Her stomach lurches, she knows this all already.
"I don't know exactly how many villains are left out there, but Midoriya I'm sure is one of their main targets for capture as well. If you can, make sure he doesn't come into direct contact with any of them...or really anyone else that looks suspicious." He reasons.
Ochako blows out a breath, pushing all worst case scenarios out of her mind.
'Izuku will work to protect everyone no matter how damaged his body gets or the risk it will do to his life.'
It is perhaps the most dangerous of his flaws, the one he can't be easily talked out of...
Over to the north they see a trail of ice, trees and bushes frozen over glimmering silver in the moonlight; they recognize it instantly.
Todoroki's ice.
"Right!" Ochako replies, mustering as much confidence as she can into her voice, pushing herself to catch up with Izuku's pace.
Aizawa's stare burns at her, that nothing can be guaranteed with their safety as they head back into the deeper parts of the woods.
Katsuki (Inner Forest)
'What the hell is this freak?!' He growls.
His teeth are somehow managing to cut through the bark and leaves, crisscrossing all around him.
'Moonfish, that's what that other guy said his name was.' Katsuki recalls.
He leaves a wake of drool down his chin as his eyes focus on his injury, onyx orbs widening in delight at the thin trail of blood trekking down his arm.
"Your arm...your flesh is almost fully in view!" He cackles out excitedly.
"Are you alright?" Todoroki questions, creating a barrier of ice that at least temporarily stops his razorblade teeth from approaching.
"I'm fine enough to handle this next asshat!" He declares moving to straighten up properly. There's no fucking way he's going to look weak in front of Todoroki, no matter how injured or in pain he is.
"He attacks long-range so we just need to get in close to him, most likely from the side." Todoroki adds in.
The pain from Mustard's bullet rockets up his arm like fire once more and he grits his teeth waiting for the pain to recede enough to move his arms up.
They need to end this quickly, before their reinforcements flood in.
"I can deal with him no matter how he attacks, his mind seems more like a zombie's than anything else." Katsuki retorts.
Todoroki freezes at the extensions of his teeth, side-eyeing him at his comment before taking in his wound. It's clear from his silence he doesn't believe him and the deeper parts of himself know it's risky to try and blast head-first into this as he normally does.
'Go ahead, make it easier for us to hide in the smog to attack by using that grand explosion quirk of yours.' That gas mask freak's words are still relative to this situation.
Ugh.
He'll be damned if he collapses from pain without telling Deku these assumptions he has regarding his connection to All Might, this knowing that will prick at him until he forces him to talk.
"If we come at him from opposite sides that may help." He eventually gruffs out, refusing to be on the defensive completely.
"I'm trying to avoid him reaching Tetsutetsu and Kosei, they're still out of it from Mustard's attack. Mezo isn't too far from here either, based on how Moonfish's mind works maybe he can use one of his limbs as a distraction." Todoroki reasons hurriedly.
He has no idea who the hell he's referring to in terms of their classmates, however it's the only plan they've got right now.
The bushes and trees ruffle up ahead, shadow leaping forth eclipsing over them blocking out the moon. It tears through the trees like dominoes, hands striking with enough force to rumble the ground.
Todoroki straightens in recognition and he briefly recalls then that he's seen this quirk before too, the quiet bird-headed guy from their class.
But his quirk has never looked so wild at least from what he can recall, golden eyes looking them down with a ferocity as if they are the enemy.
"Hey you two, get out of the way! I'm not in full control of Dark Shadow's power right now!" Fumikage yells from not too far away, his shadow beast's hands clawing their way forward to them before he can say any more.
'That thing is weak to light, I'll have to make a mini explosion at least to keep it at bay even if it makes the area smoky.' He decides, creating the sparks of fire in his hands.
Moonfish's attention switches towards Dark Shadow as well, directing his teeth to pierce at him to no avail.
"You...You aren't flesh at all." He mutters.
His gaze falls then to a severed arm resting near the undergrowth seemingly tossed there in the commotion, drool covering his chin again in excitement.
"Or maybe you have flesh after all?!" He considers, lowering himself to the ground.
"That's one of Mezo's arms." Todoroki states carefully, though Katsuki can't be sure if he's just talking to himself or him.
Either way, Moonfish is now in Dark Shadow's path.
It's claws tear and shatter Moonfish's teeth like glass pushing him through the trees, enraging him when said arm is tossed into the shrubbery out of sight.
"That was mine!" He bellows, teeth cascading out again wildly in every direction trying to capture the shadow.
He turns to fix him and Todoroki again with a crazed glare to attack them next, rush of brown hair coming up behind him before he can direct the blades their way.
And then he is in the air, lifting upwards outside his control.
"Quick, have Dark Shadow smash into him again before we subdue it!" Ochako orders.
'Round face's quirk.' Katsuki sighs.
If she is nearby, so is Deku.
They appear out of the thicket of splintered trees and bush, Katsuki immediately noting the splattering of bruises and blood on his arm like paint. Dark Shadow lets out an eerie cry, Moonfish's body crushed over and over again into the ground until he is unconscious.
Even so, it's hands continue to pierce into him staining the ground in a velvet-red.
"Relax already." Katsuki grumbles, combining Todoroki's flames with his own sparks creating enough light to start weakening it's power.
He swallows down a lump in his throat, heartbeat drumming fast in his ears.
That idiot shouldn't be here, why isn't he back at the main facility?
"You really are stupid for coming back out here." Katsuki scowls.
Ochako arches a brow over his remark, chestnut eyes matching his glare. "Why do you always need to have an attitude; would you have liked it if you were just left behind?"
"In this case it would've been for the best, I can handle myself on my own!" He counters back.
"That's why I came back Kacchan, these are enemies that we can't handle on our own, not without risking severe injury or worse..." Izuku cuts in before an argument can flare up.
Katsuki glances at him, Deku's expression kept neutral though the hand gripping Round Face's seems to tighten.
"Let me take a look at that wound Bakugo, we don't want it getting infected." Mezo mentions to get them onto a lighter subject.
'I'm not the one who needs protection or escorting around.' He knows.
Because the one the League of Villains wants is Deku.
A shiver runs down his back again despite the warmth of the night, letting Mezo and Fumikage help with his arm injury. An acerbic taste hits the back of his mouth he spits away as they gather around each other to decide how to proceed back. None of the paths back are without risk or danger, especially the shorter ones.
His nerves itch and burn despite all his attempts to keep ignoring it, the sense that before tonight is over the Villains may just succeed.
All Might (Musutafu City)
'I couldn't just keep being on standby.'
He reminds himself of said fact as he stands outside the police station now, files tucked under his arms waiting on Tsukauchi to get to the door.
Moonlight pools over his back, silver light stretching across the sidewalk and sides of the station. The roads are moderately busy even this late, groups perusing the nearby bars/clubs while the thrum of a car's rock music pulses somewhere in the distance.
Couples young and old don't even spare him a passing glance as they walk around him. Good, nobody should recognize this skeletal form of his even if he is in this shape more and more often now.
Even he has trouble looking at himself this way from time to time in the mirror...
'My final fight, my retirement is coming.' He considers, balling up his hands.
And he is sure it will be against All for One once more.
Finally, he sees Tsukauchi's form hurriedly approaching the door. Like him, he has been on the phone all night corresponding with various rescue teams and officers to get updates on what is happening in the mountains.
"Sorry, my office space is going to be a mess." He warns as he follows him towards his room. Indeed the floor is covered to the brim with various papers, books, and folders with pictures of the latest villains they have on highest alert gazing back at him.
The air smells of coffee and sweat, settling himself down across from him in his usual spot. He considers asking for him to brew him a small cup of plain espresso or tea as well, though his nerves are already too jittery.
"I know you were giving me updates, but it's faster if I just come to you instead." Toshinori begins.
Tsukauchi shakes his head while brushing a hand through his messy locks, laughing lightly despite how long of a day and now night it has been (will continue to be really if he even gets a chance to leave the office before dawn approaches). He's already used to Toshinori's behavior, especially since becoming the number 1 hero.
"Weren't you in the middle of a zoom meeting or voice-call with the other faculty of U.A.? While what I have is urgent information as well, I don't want to jeopardize your job or get you in trouble." He questions.
Toshinori waves off the idea, he'll rejoin the meeting over how the students and Wild Wild Pussycats are faring once he hears what he has to say first.
'I trust you're still okay Young Midoriya.' Though this tightness in his chest says otherwise.
Tsukauchi straightens, taking out his phone and tapping to his pictures. "It's a mix of good news and bad news really, which would you like first?" He semi-jokes.
Toshinori blows out a breath, leaning his head back in thought. "Let's start with some positivity." He replies after a moment.
Tsukauchi nods, turning his phone towards him. "One of the other officers about an hour ago who had been investigating into hideouts pinpointed on this location that has a high likelihood of being the League of Villain's hideout. They were able to talk to the owner of the building who confirmed that the current photos we have of the villains on file look similar to the one of the people they've seen going in and out of the place."
Toshinori purses his lips, there is a 'but' coming now, the bad news that will offset this all...
"Go ahead, say it." He frowns.
Tsukauchi clears his throat, stacking back up his papers.
"As you're already aware I'm sure, they're targeting U.A. students; Izuku Midoriya in particular..." He trails off.
Toshinori barely hides his stiffening, shutting his eyes already seeing the image in mind.
"And right now, they're working on kidnapping him. If not kidnapping him, they will find a way to get under his skin, to get him to come to them before this night is over I'm sure."
Ochako
"Are you sure you're feeling all right?" Ochako repeats, pinching Izuku's thumb when he doesn't immediately respond.
He jolts as if she just awakened him, focus moving from Bakugo arguing with Todoroki and Mezo over how they'll protect each other back to her.
"I think my adrenaline is finally starting to run out." He muses with a waning half-smile.
Ochako can't bring herself to even meet his falling grin, moving both her hands up pressing her fingers against his cheeks leaving light indents.
"Whatever you're thinking right now, it's one you should discuss with the rest of us. Even Bakugo would get pissed at you for running into danger alone to face these types villains we've encountered so far." She determines after studying his face.
Izuku pauses, can his expression be that easily read?!
"I'm not thinking anything like that!" He blurts out, stopping in place, cheeks gaining a splash of red.
He covers part of his nose and mouth hurriedly as if that can somehow hide his thoughts and Ochako feels a true smile tug at her lips seeing his silliness.
She re-grabs back onto his hand, pulling them to keep up with the others.
"It's obvious that's where your mind is going. I don't know when you started thinking that way Izuku, but it's reckless to believe that's the only option for yourself when you normally think of all the options." She whispers.
Izuku clenches his teeth, looking like he wants to desperately tell her more from the way verdant orbs swirl with uncertainty.
"Round-face and Deku, hurry and pick up the fucking pace back there!" Katsuki yells back at them, shrugging away Mezo's arms from finishing his bandage as he glares daggers down at them both.
She swears she sees a sliver of fear in his crimson orbs.
"They're going after me Ochako, I won't let you or any our classmates be injured or worse killed because of that." He finally mutters when they get back into their aptly dubbed circle of protection.
A sharp inhale of breath stops her from replying, glancing towards her left.
"Ochako, is that you? You're alright!" Tsuyu breathes as they round the bend of a corner of smashed and tilted trees and for a moment she forgets her rising worries over Izuku to accept the warmth of her compressing hug.
"Sorry I worried you." She murmurs into her shoulder.
Tsuyu shakes her head, taking in the myriad of wounds littered across her skin. "It's been a rough night for sure."
A night that isn't even over yet.
"Come on, we'll need all the help we can get knowing there could be more villains hiding in wait. I'm sure Izuku is their target for capture." She explains, speaking the latter part of her sentence quieter.
"Midoriya? Well, I haven't encountered anyone in this area besides from earlier, though they could be using a quirk to make themselves blend in with the surroundings. What has Midoriya said regarding that last part?" Tsuyu questions.
Ochako shrugs without a response, Tsuyu rubbing at her back as she walks back to his side.
'There's more to it than that.' She knows, this goes beyond just his use of Infliction, a secret he's been burdening himself with.
"Izuku...you know you can tell me anything, right?" Ochako begins gently.
Is this about his Dad again? Something the faculty discussed with him in private back at U.A.?
"Not this; I can't, at least not right now." Izuku replies, hands balling up signaling to her to not push the subject any further than how it is now.
She's glad for the darkness for just a bit then, if only to hide how pale she feels as a violent tide of nausea churns within her like a storm.
"Trust in me Izuku, trust in us." Though she can't be sure the softness of her words are heard.
The trees and ground start shake and rumble, sending them all into alert mode.
A yellow overcoat appears out of the leaves, bowing in introduction.
"My, we have quite a crowd tonight! For my first act, I'll be doing a classic; the disappearing object!" He cheers.
His eyes catch hers and he winks, as if she is in on the secret for his show before his smile turns darker focusing towards Izuku. He jumps out of the way from Todoroki's ice and Bakugo's blasts, tsking at them both for the interruption.
"Now now, this trick doesn't require the audience's participation!" He beams.
"I remember your face! It's time to get my payback from when you and your cronies attacked U.A.!" Katsuki snaps.
Still, this man maneuvers himself out of the way of his attacks with practiced ease. He already knows how all of their quirks work, the weaknesses to them to help offset his own quirk not being for physical use.
And then time seems to slow down as he produces an aquamarine marble from his tongue, launching himself forward.
"Get back!" Izuku shouts, tossing her back into the bushes just as that man's fingers brush against his shoulder. Smoke billows out around them, everyone's shapes morphing into the darkness. She rushes back forward despite the ash burning at her eyes and chest, hand reaching to try and touch the trench coat man, float him away from them...
But once the sting of smog clears up enough, her heart leaps into her throat in alarm.
Izuku is gone.
-x-
There's more to this than just Izuku being the one kidnapped instead of Katsuki, involving mainly his own secret motivations and what the League has planned for him, his family, and Ochako. Please let me know your thoughts!
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