Chapter Three:

Izuku lunged forward, clamping a hand over Hitoshi's mouth. The force of his lunge pushed him out of the alleyway and out of hiding.

At the end of the street, Katsuki Bakugo turned and pointed. Alas, Shouto was also starting to turn around.

"Black Mask!" Katsuki charged, bellowing, "I'll prove that I'm better than Todoroki by defeating you!"

"Stop, he has a hostage!" Shouto shouted.

Luckily, Hitoshi's body was hiding Izuku's face. Izuku teleported them both to an isolated hill. Dropping Hitoshi on the grass, Izuku panted and tried to figure out what to do.

Hitoshi gazed up with oddly calm eyes. "Are you going to kill me?"

Izuku gasped. "What? No! I'm not a bad person."

Hitoshi visibly relaxed. (Was he really just going to take Izuku's word for it?) "Oh. You didn't seem like a bad person in class." Hitoshi yawned. "If you were evil, I expect you'd have attacked me by now."

"Why are you out so late anyway?" Izuku demanded.

Hitoshi shrugged. "I have insomnia."

"Ah, that's rough." Izuku rubbed the back of his neck. He'd been sleeping poorly lately too.

Hitoshi asked, "Want me to keep your identity a secret?"

"Would you really?" Izuku gazed pleadingly, wondering if he was being gullible. Maybe Hitoshi was lying to escape. What other options did Izuku have except to believe it? Did Dad have a memory erasure quirk? Hisashi had a lot of quirks, but as far as Izuku knew, not one so convenient. Hisashi had other means of shutting people up, but Izuku couldn't let an innocent classmate face his dad's wrath. Izuku desperately hoped Hitoshi wasn't lying.

Hitoshi said, "Sure, but I have a condition. I'm majoring in Criminal Justice. Would you treat me to a meal and let me interview you?"

Izuku trusted Hitoshi's agreement more now they were both getting something out of it. He hesitated. "I don't want to spread around Black Rabbit's bad reputation even more. What if I give you previously unknown history about the Unstoppable Dark Empress, All for One, and All Smite?"

Hitoshi snapped his fingers. "Even better! With that insider information, I'll definitely be accepted by all the top PhD programs in the country." Fortunately, he did not ask how Izuku knew about the Disaster Trio.

"Why the meal?" Izuku asked.

"Because I'm a poor college student with no parents and no money. I haven't eaten in nearly twenty-four hours."

"Fair enough. Let's go to my place." Izuku extended his hand, then teleported Hitoshi back to his apartment.

In the frying pan, Izuku cooked a very early morning breakfast of scrambled eggs and answered questions. Hitoshi was most interested in All Smite and his political agenda. All Smite was a very controversial figure. The standard Japanese primary school education still claimed he'd been a criminal for wealth and power despite the abundance of evidence that All Smite had been largely motivated by discrimination against people with quirks.

After Hisashi finished eating the scrambled eggs, he went through an apple, a salad, and ten pieces of toast.

"Don't eat too fast or you'll make yourself sick," Izuku warned. "I'll buy you another meal tomorrow at school, okay? This isn't your last shot at food." Izuku came from a wealthy family and felt sorry for his starving classmate.

"Thank you." Hitoshi wiped his face. "Truthfully, I've always admired All Smite. I've got a minor ability myself—I can brainwash people."

Izuku startled. "Why didn't you use that on me?"

"I didn't need to." Hitoshi shrugged.

"Hmm…can you brainwash anyone who answers your questions?" That would explain why Hitoshi had relaxed as soon as Izuku had replied to him.

"You figured that out fast. You're good at quirk analysis." Hitoshi's eyebrows rose. "I can use my ability as soon as someone responds to anything I say."

"What a cool power," Izuku said. No wonder Hitoshi had been so calm—he'd known he could have taken control of the situation any time if Izuku had attacked him.

Hitoshi said, "I keep my ability hidden to live a normal life. How about you? Clearly you're not villain material. If you don't want to be chased by the police, why not just give up the mask?"

Izuku sighed. "There's a real assassin after Shouto Todoroki, but no one believes me. I sort of accidentally broke the assassin's legs, but he's still on the loose."

"Todoroki is a celebrity. He can handle himself."

"But he's still a human! If he gets stabbed in the back by someone he thinks is a civilian—" Izuku shuddered. "I'd never forgive myself. Shouto is so kind, and cool, and he's trying so hard to protect everyone even when he overworks himself."

Hitoshi burped. "So you like him, huh."

Izuku flushed scarlet. "I-is it that obvious?"

"Eh." Hitoshi shrugged. "Okay, you fed me well both literally and metaphorically. I'll keep my promise. I won't say anything even if the police interview me."

"Why would they interview you?" Izuku shrieked.

Hitoshi said, "They saw me get taken away by you, and I was stepping out for some fresh air right next to my apartment, so it won't be hard to find me. Don't worry, I'm just a victim. I doubt they'll press me very hard. I learned how to keep my mouth shut to the cops as a kid."

Izuku said, "Do this for me, and I can get you exclusive All Smite photos for your paper. I'll also treat you to meals for the rest of the semester."

Hitoshi grinned. "Deal."

Hitoshi had been interviewed by the police a couple times, even though he'd done his best to keep his nose clean at the orphanage. He'd been determined to make it out of poverty and go to a good college, but even so, he'd been treated with suspicion for having purple hair. And that was even though he'd kept his quirk a secret. Frankly, Hitoshi assumed that Shouto Todoroki, a youth his own age and fellow quirked person, would not be a particularly harsh interrogator.

Shouto sat across from Hitoshi at a metal table. "Bakugo said that it looked like you saw Black Rabbit's face," Shouto said. "Please give me a description."

Hitoshi's mind flashed to All Smite, because of his recent conversation. "Um, he was blond with blue eyes. And he had two hair tufts. His face, uh, it had a strong jaw. I'm sorry, I didn't see much. It was very dark out, and I was terrified."

Shouto smiled gently. "I understand. Please don't let it trouble you."

Hitoshi had clinched this interview. Yes! He took out a plaid handkerchief and dabbed at his sweat.

An icy pressure filled the air. Shouto growled, "Black Rabbit just let you go? How fishy…"

Wait, was with this sudden change in reaction? For some reason, Shouto had gotten very angry upon seeing the handkerchief that Izuku had given Hitoshi. Did the hero have a grudge against plaid? Shouto was still waiting for an excuse.

Perhaps this was a chance to clear Izuku's name a little. Hitoshi muttered, "Uh, maybe Black Rabbit isn't such an evil person as to kill an uninvolved civilian?"

"Huh?" Shouto glared. "Or maybe you were freed in exchange for keeping his face secret."

That was a little too close to the truth. Hitoshi gulped. "I think Black Rabbit was merely bored. He dropped me off somewhere random. I don't think he cared that I saw his face because he's too strong."

"Kidnapping someone from boredom, what a psycho," Shouto grumbled. "And that bastard doesn't fear the police!" A line of ice ran from Shouto's hand down his chair.

Hitoshi silently apologized to Izuku for making his reputation even worse.

In an icy voice, Shouto said, "You can leave now." Alas, the air became so cold that Hitoshi could barely move through it.

Hitoshi found himself nearly shoved out of the police station. Izuku definitely owed him a fancy five star restaurant dinner after this!

In his office, Enji stared at the police artist's sketch of Black Rabbit: a blonde with hair tufts.

"So All Smite's son looks like him…" Enji muttered. His eye twitched. "Shouto, I know that he's handsome, but I won't accept this bastard as a son-in-law no matter what!"

As Shouto stalked to his office, he left snowflakes in his wake. The suspect had clearly possessed his favorite plaid handkerchief! Shouto had nearly demanded it back on the spot, but he didn't want to admit it.

Why would Izuku have given Hitoshi the handkerchief? Surely it wasn't because…did Izuku like Hitoshi? No, that couldn't be it! Maybe Izuku had simply taken pity on someone nervous who constantly sweated. Izuku was kindhearted like that. Or what if Hitoshi had snatched the handkerchief from Izuku who was too shy to resist? Shouto preferred both of those explanations.

Shouto's phone vibrated. Izuku had sent a text! A simple, Hi! What are you doing?

Pacing the corridor, Shouto tried to figure out how to respond. Should he ask about the handkerchief? No, no, that would be too nosy! Shouto wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer, either.

Um, what if Shouto asked Izuku to meet him? Just to get to know each other better. Not a date or anything. Would Izuku think it was a date? Would that be good or bad? Shouto stared at his phone, panicking.

Of course that was when he got an alert about a jewelry store robbery.

Izuku was visiting his parents' apartment for dinner. After setting the table, he sprawled on the sofa and stared at his phone.

"What's wrong?" Hisashi asked, looking up from the book he was reading.

"Nothing." Izuku fidgeted. "Uh, if someone leaves your text message on read, does that mean you're a nuisance?"

Hisashi shot to his feet. "Is it that Todoroki boy?"

"Um…"

"Leaving someone on read is unforgiveable! I'll kill him!" Hisashi started for the door.

Izuku grabbed his father's shirt. "Wait, stop! It's not a big deal! It hasn't even been an hour yet."

"Leaving my duckie on read for an hour!" Fire poured from Hisashi's mouth. "Should I roast him or chop him into bits?"

"Don't you dare—" A message popped up on Izuku's phone. I'm at work. Would you like to meet later? "Oh! He wants to meet me!" Izuku clutched his phone to his chest. "What should I reply with?"

Hisashi said, "Tell him if he buys you something expensive then you'll think about it."

Izuku cast his father a suspicious look. "I'm going to ask Mom and Papa for love advice instead."

"Hey, clearly my tactics worked on them," Hisashi said, sounding offended.

From the kitchen, Inko called, "If you want to meet this boy of yours for dinner, then I don't mind if you leave. I'll save a plate of leftovers for you. It's your first love! You should live a little!"

Izuku swallowed. "Won't I be bothering him? I'm sure he must be busy with work."

With an edge, Inko said, "If some pathetic hero is too busy to meet my son, then I can always take over Japan and ensure that he no longer has a job."

"Ah, I'm sure that won't be necessary." Izuku texted back proposing to meet Shouto at seven for dinner. Luckily, he quickly got an affirmative reply. Bouncing up in the air, Izuku cried, "This is amazing! He wants to eat dinner with me! I-it's almost like a date."

His happiness was interrupted by a text from Hitoshi. Hey, check out the news. Shouto Todoroki just stopped a jewelry store robbery, and I saw a guy with two broken legs in the background. Is that your assassin?

"Oh no! Shouto is going to die before our date! Not that it's a date or anything!" Izuku teleported away.

Dabi had been absolutely mortified in the hospital, humiliated beyond any repair, because Shouto Todoroki had paid all his bills and even added some extra money so that Dabi could buy a wheelchair and hire someone to help him around while he had two broken legs. The check had arrived in a "Get Well Soon" card with a bouquet of flowers. How dare Shouto send a sissy gift like flowers! How dare Shouto treat Dabi like an object of pity and charity! Dabi had burned the flowers, then he'd spent the money purchasing a bomb.

With two broken legs, even Dabi had to admit that he might have a little bit of trouble defeating Shouto in combat no matter how magnificent a villain he might be. But magnificent villains always had backup plans. Dabi would present the bomb to Shouto in a gift box to supposedly represent his gratitude, then leave before the bomb went off. It was a shame Dabi couldn't watch his little brother get blown to bits, but maybe he'd catch it on the news.

An adoring crowd of fans surrounded Shouto after he'd stopped a gang of jewelry thieves. Dabi waved his crutch. "Excuse me! I have a gift!"

Just as Dabi made eye contact, Black Rabbit teleported over.

Black Rabbit grabbed the package from Dabi's hands. Dabi clung on for dear life. "No! You can't have it!" That bomb had been expensive. He didn't dare use his fire for fear of exposing his villainous identity and maybe causing a premature explosion.

Shouto was making his way over, ordering the crowd to move. People stampeded away from the villain. Black Rabbit pulled harder. Dabi screamed as his arm cracked. There was a strange coldness under his chest, as if his eternal fire for revenge had gone out.

Just before Black Rabbit could teleport again, Dabi grabbed on with his one good arm, determined not to let his bomb be taken away.

Izuku had a bit of experience with bombs, because his mother liked to attach them to his fathers' anniversary presents. She said that disabling bombs brought up good old memories. From the moment Izuku had heard the ticking sound in Dabi's gift, he'd known what must be inside. He grabbed the box. When their hands touched, a tingling passed between them. A red spark danced up Izuku's arm. He was too distracted to process it.

The crack of a broken bone made Izuku wince. Izuku hadn't meant to hurt Dabi, but the assassin had clung on so tightly and Izuku still didn't have full control over his super-strength. Nor could Izuku afford to be gentle when an entire crowd of people, including Shouto, were about to be massacred.

Holding his breath, Izuku teleported to the upper atmosphere of the planet to toss the bomb. Dabi clung onto his leg, choking from the lack of air.

Izuku threw away the deadly package, then teleported back to drop off Dabi with the police. Unfortunately, Izuku landed on Dabi's good arm with another crack.

"Sorry," Izuku said, feeling a little bad even though this man was an attempted murderer. "Err, ambulance?" He looked around.

Izuku immediately stopped talking when Shouto Todoroki charged toward him. Shouto cried, "Villain, release your hostage!"

His mission done, Izuku would be more than happy to teleport away. He placed Dabi on the ground as gently as possible. Dabi was muttering vague threats, his eyes crossed.

Then a smoke bomb landed between them, and someone leapt down from the sky, grabbed Izuku, and carried him away.

Izuku was so startled that he didn't resist. The mysterious person carried Izuku tucked under one arm.

A massive leap carried them both onto the rooftop of an office building. After setting Izuku on the ground, Miruko the Rabbit Villain beamed down at him. "You've got skill, kid! Want to become my apprentice?"

Izuku gasped. "Miruko! I'm a huge fan, can I have your autograph?"

Miruko put her hands on her hips and laughed. "Sure, if you join me! We both have a rabbit theme, we'll be the perfect team."

Izuku said, "Actually, I'm not a villain, but I still want your autograph. That man with the scars on his face was an assassin. I was only saving Shouto from him."

Miruko laughed harder. "The famous Todoroki attraction to villains strikes again."

"Eh? But I'm not a villain!" Izuku protested.

"Are you sure? The Todorokis only date villains. Even Rei Todoroki had a stint as a jewel thief that Enji covered up."

"Huh?" Did this mean Izuku had to be a villain in order for Shouto to like him? Was Hisashi right about the Todorokis all being a bunch of masochists? Now Izuku felt confused.

"Miruuuuuuuuuuuuko!" Fuyumi ran up an icicle with a hard expression on her face. "Today I'll finally capture you!"

"My snow queen!" Miruko's eyes lit up. She leapt forward, grabbing Fuyumi's hands and spinning her around. They grappled, but it almost looked like they were dancing across the ice. Leaning so close their lips barely touched, Miruko purred, "Free yourself from the constraints of your family and join me! Together, we can fight for the freedom of everyone with quirks."

Flushing, Fuyumi pulled back. She shouted into a radio on her wrist. "Black Rabbit has taken Miruko in as his subordinate. I need backup!"

Izuku paled. Now he was being accused of even more crimes? If he was mistaken as Miruko's leader then he'd leap to top notoriety immediately. He could teleport away, but he was desperate to straighten out this misunderstanding. On the other hand, it was also only half an hour before his dinner not-date with Shouto. What to do?

Shouto leapt onto the roof with a burst of ice. His ascent left frost running all up the windows, cracking them. From the ground, Cementoss screamed, "Hey, now even the heroes are making more work for me? Stop breaking everything! Headquarters still isn't repaired yet."

With a flick of his fingers, Shouto shot out a tendril of ice, wrapping around Izuku's wrist. His eyes were grimly determined. "I won't let you escape this time, Black Rabbit. You'll pay for hurting that poor, innocent man!"

Now Izuku couldn't teleport without taking Shouto along, which would definitely be awkward. Should Izuku break the ice? But if he wasn't careful, he might accidentally use to much force and hurt Shouto like he'd done with Dabi. Or should Izuku try to straighten out the misunderstanding? Did he dare speak? Could he try to disguise his voice?

"Wait a moment." Shouto raised his hand. Izuku nodded. Shouto took out his phone and texted.

A message popped up on Izuku's phone from Shouto: Sorry, work is keeping me late. Can we meet at 8?

Okay, Izuku texted back, relieved to have extra time.

Great, see you soon, Shouto replied.

On the other side of the roof, Miruko laughed. "You both sure are confident! Texting during battle, what a power move."

"Hey, don't ignore me!" Fuyumi dropped snow over Miruko's head. They grappled on the roof.

Shouto pocketed his phone. "Thank you for waiting, Black Rabbit. But your reign of terror ends here. I'll make you regret not killing me that day!"

Fire and ice rose around Shouto and attacked Izuku together.

Izuku leapt up in the air, avoiding most of the attack. Heat singed the soles of his sneakers. Swearing came from Cementoss below as shingles fell off the roof.

Bouncing off the rubble, Izuku leapt forward. Right now, he couldn't be heard over the howling ice and crackling flames. But if Izuku could just get close, then he could explain to Shouto that Dabi had been an assassin and Miruko didn't work for Black Rabbit.

Izuku landed on the ice next to Shouto. Making his voice gravelly to disguise it, he said, "There's an assassin—"

Izuku's foot slipped on the ice. He crashed into Shouto, knocking them both off the roof.

As they fell through the air, Izuku reacted on instinct. Izuku grabbed the front of Shouto's shirt and teleported them both safely to the ground.

Standing up, Izuku wiped sweat off his forehead. Phew, maybe now Shouto would understand that Izuku had saved him and listen.

Hmm, why did Izuku have blue cloth in his hand? Why were the reporters all around the street snapping pictures?

Izuku looked down. Shouto's eyes were wide. When Izuku had grabbed the front of Shouto's shirt, he'd accidentally ripped it off. Now Izuku stood awkwardly over the half-naked hero, holding out the torn cloth.

Shouto clutched his hands over his bare chest as cameras flashed around them. With tears in the corners of his eyes, Shouto cried, "Out of all the criminals I've met, you're the most utterly despicable!"

Izuku's mind went white. He bowed his head, whispered, "I'm very sorry," and then vanished.

Hisashi opened the apartment door. "Congratulations, ducky! Now that Miruko has become your subordinate, you're being hailed on the news as the top villain in Japan. I'm so proud of you, let's celebrate—ducky? What's wrong?"

Tears poured down Izuku's cheeks. He sniffled. "I-I'm despicable…"

"Who do I have to murder?" Hisashi demanded in a voice of doom.

OMAKE TIME!

Omake: All for One's Past Courtship Attempts, Or Why Izuku was Right Not to Take His Dad's Advice

Hisashi: All Smite, you left me on read so I blew up an orphanage.

Hisashi: Empress Inko, I'll offer you Japan if you marry me…wait, you already took over Japan? Fine, I'll steal Japan from you and then offer it to you!

Toshinori: Why do we like him?

Inko: I blame the coat.

Author's Note: Delete the spaces to get the link to a lovely fanart by hoodiemanic of Izuku wearing All for One's coat:
hoodiemanic.
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