3rd Chapter! Thank you so much for all the support on these past two chapters. As I said before, more review responses! Love you hes/shes/theys, seriously!
Archer (Chap 2): I can't wait to write it, babes. Trust me. muah
MagicBanana223: First off, thank you. Second, his interaction with Jirou will be fun to write about. They'll be chaotic children together. And address One for All...well, I'm still debating, to be honest. There are three forerunners, but we'll see. And it will factor in, but Izuku will not have it, I'm saying that upfront.
Kegerly04 (Chap 2): I wasn't going to do Aizawa. Too easy, in my opinion. Plus, I think Izuku and Midnight will fit together well. We'll get more interactions as the chapters go on. And trust me, I intend to.
Kingofsenju: Hell yeah it is! Thanks for the support.
Pinkypi: Welllllll... kind of. It's functionally similar, I can't deny that, but it is different. That'll be explored more, but without saying too much, the drawbacks are different, the build-up is quicker, and the output is comparatively higher.
For further reference, constructive criticism is always appreciated and taken, if it is constructive. If you are rude, I will be rude back. Equal rights equal lefts. All that shit. Anywayyyyyyyy. Have fun in this chapter! DMJ, out!
TW: Mentions of previous trauma (violence, blood, guns) and discussions of trauma
-DMJ-
"Goodnight, Izuku." Midnight says as Izuku lifts a hand, tired, as closes the door to his room behind him.
It had been a week since Izuku had gone to live with the Pro Hero, and it was going fairly well. He had been set up in the old guest bedroom and had settled in pretty nice if he had to say so himself. He had gotten more clothes after the incident with the thugs in the restaurant, and some more shoes, as well. A pair of running shoes, lifting shoes, and a few pairs of sneakers to wear with different outfits.
He lays down in the plush queen-sized bed, much larger than he had ever had before his time in jail, especially during. It's covered in a dark green comforter, which he pulls aside, and then clambers under, as he stares at the dark ceiling, ignoring the quiet sounds of the city nightlife going on several hundred feet below the penthouse.
Midnight was incredibly nice, and more put-together than he expected. She only patrolled during the day, since that was when it was easier for her. She was a night owl, but with the school year coming up, she had to plan for the next year, including Izuku's incoming class. She was incredibly organized and smart, clearly knowing what her subject was and how to teach it effectively.
Izuku, on the other hand, was working out and studying constantly during the day. Either running or lifting every day during the week, he had actually gained a bit of weight in fat. It wasn't entirely unexpected, as he was able to eat more while working out, so he was gaining back some fat, bit by bit. As Midnight put it 'You need a bit in order to be able to burn it when the time comes'. Izuku wasn't sure if he believed it, but he was willing to trust it.
As he rolled onto his side, Izuku took a deep breath, and closed his eyes, following his body into sleep
-DMJ-
(This is your second trigger warning. The warning mentioned above applies TO THE ENTIRE REST OF THE CHAPTER. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION)
-DMJ-
Izuku's eyes fly open as he hears the sounds of a scuffle. He sits up, eyes quickly searching the alleyway he lays in, and sees the origin of the sound. Two men, fighting over what appeared to be a bag of some kind. Izuku stays silent, slowly grabbing his bag, trying to be as quiet as he can. This fight isn't his problem. He has no reason o get involved.
As he gets up to move away from the fight, trying to find another place to sleep, the alleyway explodes in light and sound.
Chk-chk. POP POP POP.
A gun. The man with his back to Izuku falls back, blood dripping from his chest as the other man runs away with the bag in hand. Izuku, against all better judgment, runs towards the who's dying in front of him.
"Hey, you okay man?" Izuku asks, grabbing a rag from a pile, and pressing it to the man's chest as the man lets out ragged, wet breaths
"I...I don't wanna go..."
"Hey, man, stay with me, just stay with me man," Izuku says, pressing harder, as he tries to find something to stop more of the bleeding
"I...I'm not gonna make it."
"Yes, you are. You'll be okay. HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" Izuku shouts, his voice a bit ragged with emotion
"No...No I'm not. It's okay...never made much of my life anyway." The man gurgles, his eyes slowly fluttering closed
"No... no no no no no...hey, man, stay with me! Just a bit longer! HELP!" Izuku screams, trying to get someone to hear him.
But as he waits, the blood keeps flowing...the man stops breathing.
"No...no...No...I...I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." Izuku says, his voice breaking as he stands up, trying to get the blood off of his hands. It won't go.
Blood floods down the walls of the alleyway, as the man's head, turns to face him, its eyes blood red.
"You call yourself a hero?"
"No...no..." Izuku mutters, covering his ears
"You couldn't even save me."
"I'm sorry..." Izuku says, crying at this point...
"You couldn't save us either." Izuku's parents now join in, their voices just as deep and broken.
"NO! I tried! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
-DMJ-
"I'm sorry!" Izuku shouts, shooting up in bed, holding his hand out.
Panting heavily, Izuku covers his face with his hands as tears stream down his face, hot and full of emotion.
Taking several deep breaths, Izuku checks his phone. 01:00.
"Of fucking course..." Izuku mutters as he rubs his eyes. Groaning quietly, he grabs a pair of shorts and a muscle shirt, along with his lifting shoes, which are just a pair of white leather high-tops. He slips the shoes on, and heads out of his room to the elevator grabs a keycard pressing the down button.
A few minutes later, the elevator quietly dings open, and Izuku steps in, pressing the 'G2' button. The elevator slides shut, and silently moves down. The elevator music is grating on Izuku's nerves. It feels ominous.
As the doors ding open, Izuku steps out of them, and into the gym contained on the second floor of the building. Ignoring the check-in desk, as it isn't manned, merely tapping the keycard on the scan-in plate.
Immediately walking over to the deadlift platform, Izuku grabs the bar, puts music on, and starts lifting, starting with 45-pound plates. He slowly goes up, the bar bending more and more under the weight on both sides, quickly reaching 365 pounds. As he brings up the bar, it only feels heavier and heavier, until he drops the bar with a jarringly loud crash, and Izuku collapses onto his back, tears streaming down his face.
"Not bad, Izuku." A quiet voice says, somehow getting through to him through the music. Oh. Wait. There is no music. His headphones are on the ground beside him.
"Hi, Midnight," Izuku says, his voice ragged and tired
"I'm all for training early in the morning, but not at 2 am," Midnight says, looking down at the green-haired boy, her voice concerned
"I'm fine. I was just finishing up anyway." Izuku mutters, forcing himself back to his feet
"Stop. You're not fine, Izuku. I heard your scream." Midnight says quietly, as an orange cat seemingly appears from behind Midnight, meowing quietly as walked up to Izuku, walking in between his legs.
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"You don't have to. But we're not going to pretend you're okay."
"I'm fine. Seriously." Izuku growls lightly, as he slides the weights off of one side of the bar, slowly racking them
"No. You're not. Don't pretend you are." Midnight says
"I'm. Fine." Izuku growls, clenching his fists
"No. You're. Not." Midnight replies, her voice just as choppy.
"I'M FINE!" Izuku roars, throwing a 45-pound plate across the gym while using his quirk, the weight slamming into one of the heavy bags across the room, falling to the ground with a loud clatter as Izuku stands there, his breathing heavy
"...Sure you are. Come back upstairs. I'll make some tea. Bring Carrot. Put the weights back." Midnight says, sarcastically as Izuku stares at the woman as she walks away, heading towards the elevator
"...Fuck." Izuku mutters as he closes his eyes, not realizing how tired he actually was.
Putting the weights away, Izuku picks up the orange cat at his feet, with a very accurate name for his color. Going to the elevator, Izuku heads back up to the penthouse.
Walking back into the room, he sits down across from Midnight as she slides him a cup of warm tea
"So. Nightmare?"
"Night Terror would be a more accurate term," Izuku mutters, as he sips on the tea.
"Mmmm. What was it about?" Midnight asks quietly as Carrot curls up in his lap
"...I saw someone get shot when I lived on the street" Izuku explains, as Midnight merely looks at him, staying silent
"I...I tried to save him. He died in both real life and in my dream...but in my dream...he...he turned to me and started to call me out. And then my parents showed up...and...and they said the same thing." Izuku says, his voice cracking
"And then you woke up." Midnight guesses, and Izuku nods
"I...why did I have to live? Why me? It should've been someone else, dammit." Izuku growls, tears starting to form in his eyes
"Izuku..." Midnight says, her voice sad and concerned
"There are days I don't even want to wake up. Where I don't wanna get up. I'm numb, day after fucking day, just because of some bullshit that I couldn't control."
"Izuku."
"Why did Nezu even fucking pick me? There are so many less broken kids in that jail. Less broken motherfuckers with a brighter future than I would have ever had. So why me? Is this all some sick fucking joke from the rat?"
"Izuku."
"Why me, Midnight, WHY FUCKING ME?"
"Because I asked for you." Midnight says, her voice quiet, yet laced with power and confidence
"...Why?"
"Because, Izuku, I think you have more potential than you think. You are incredibly smart, strong, and caring. You are what we need in the hero world right now. There are so many heroes only chasing money and fame. You are one of the few people I would be confident in saying that you wouldn't do that. You would buy what you needed too, but nothing else. You're frugal, and you understand how much money is actually worth."
"So fucking what?"
"..."
"Yeah, you have no fucking clue. This was a mistake. I'll talk to Nezu in the mor-"
"I had a cousin who died in prison." Midnight sighs, running her hands through her hair.
"...What?"
"I had a cousin, about your age, who ended up in prison after a few mistakes. He died after getting into a fight. He was 15 when he died. You have the chance to make something incredible out of your life, more so than anyone else. I didn't want you to end up how he did. I want to try to make sure you have something to make of your life. But whatever. If you want to call Nezu, go ahead. I'm going back to bed. Goodnight, Izuku. I hope you make the right decision." Midnight sighs, standing up, leaving Izuku with his tea and his thoughts.
-DMJ-
4 hours later
Nemuri Kayama wakes up in her plush bed, as Yonaka lays across her chest, her alarm blaring on the nightstand next to her
"Good morning to you too." Midnight mutters as she rolls out of bed, still tired as she stands up, rubbing her eyes
She yawns widely, walking towards the kitchen, and instead of smelling just the scent of clean linens, the familiar smell of cooking food sits in the room.
Her interest piqued, she wonders if she just had a lover she forgot about last night.
As she steps into the kitchen, she instead finds her new ward, Izuku Midoriya, making breakfast.
"'Mornin." Izuku says, clearly hearing her walking into the kitchen
"...Did you stay up all night?"
"Yeah. Did a lot of thinking. And...I want to lead off with a sorry. I was a dick last night. This morning? Close enough. I Just...I'm sorry. I'm not used to people actually caring for me. I haven't had that in nearly a decade...and I didn't expect you to actually care. I just expected this to be one of those things where you do this as a publicity stunt or something like that. And clearly...that isn't the case. So...from the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry." Izuku says, bowing deeply to the woman, who stares in shock.
"Izuku...you don't ha-"
"I do. You welcomed me into your home simply because you thought I deserved something more. No ulterior motives. Nothing. You bought me 10s of thousands yen worth of clothes. You are honestly giving me a chance to make something better with my life. Nezu has alterior motives. I don't know if you know them, but it is what it is. Point being...you've been honest with me since day. And it's time I do the same. Nezu wants me to be a rebel in the hero system. That's why I'm here. This isn't out of the goodness of his little rat. I'm a rook in a bigger game of chess. More important than a pawn, but not by much. I don't know exactly what Nezu wants. I doubt anyone does. So I need someone I can trust. Nezu plays games. You don't. So...you wanna help me? I need an out if this shit goes sideways. A way to vanish from both Nezu and the HSPC. If you know someone or have your own ways...let me know, okay?" Izuku asks, his voice deadly serious.
"...I know someone. I can bring him in by the end of the week if you want. " Midnight nods, her voice just as serious.
"Good. So...what was your cousin's name?" Izuku asks, and Midnight blinks
"Sinshi Akali." Midnight says
"Okay. I'm dedicating this meal to him then." Izuku says as he sets out freshly steamed rice, miso soup, grilled salmon, and tamagoyaki. A full Japanese breakfast, complete with green tea.
"...Thank you, Izuku." Midnight says, her voice soft and quiet
"Of course...Nemuri." Izuku says, smiling lightly
Nemuri smiles as Izuku does the same back, and they both dig into their meals, both of them mentally saying a prayer for the boy who neither of them got to see truly turn into what Izuku plans to be.