Warnings: mentions of suicidal thoughts.
Katsuki's POV
People thought of him as a hot-headed idiot. There were times when they were right. Sometimes he was a hotheaded idiot. This was not one of those times.
Bakugo had been around Izuku Midoriya since they were small children. He had watched as the idiot followed him around. Watched when he found out that he didnt have a quirk.
That day was the first day that there had been true despair in the green eyes. Bakugo started calling him Deku in a way to declare him not a friend but someone under his protection. Only he was allowed to make fun of Deku. Anyone who tried to do differently answered to him.
He let Deku follow after him like a lost puppy. Always watching him just as he himself was being watched. It was early in there second year of school that Deku started carrying around a notebook. In it was information on every hero he saw or came across. From what he understood there was even information on students as well.
Over the last few months, he saw a change come over Deku. Confidence was slowly being built into his posture. It wasnt overly noticeable at first.
The first time he noticed it was when he stopped the two idiots that followed him from bullying Deku. As he had stepped forward, however, Deku stood. His emerald eyes blazing with an unnatural fire that he had never seen in the younger's eyes.
One went to punch Deku across the jaw. His quirk would have added enough strength behind the punch to shatter Deku's jaw. A punch that never landed. If he hadn't been watching so closely he would have missed what happened next.
Deku slipped his back leg back further so that their heels were touching. Then he gripped the older boy's wrist and twisted throwing him off balance. Then his idiot of a friend was in the air. He came down with a loud crash.
That was what they all had seen even at a distance. Only Bakugo had seen the blue lights coming off of Deku's hands. It was almost as if an electrical quirk was being activated. That thought was impossible though. Deku didnt have a quirk.
Still, that had only been the start of the weird instances around Deku. Over time it seemed that he was growing stronger. Then there was the fire that never seemed to leave his eyes.
When Deku saved him, Bakugo had been incredibly angry. Deku used some unknown power. A burst of lightning coursed through him into the liquid villain.
The pain had been immense for Bakugo. Then a second burst came through his body. It canceled out the first that was making his muscles spasm.
Pain in the green eyes told him all he needed to know. Deku pushed himself too far that day. Still, it was his actions that spurred the heroes further into action.
Bakugo made a conscious effort to be kinder to Deku. He wasnt nice by any means but he wasnt looking for a reason to fight all the time. In turn, the others began to leave him alone.
Deku seemed to change even more since that day. Muscles were becoming more defined. His focus was always somewhere else.
That was why he decided to follow Deku today. He woke up earlier than he was used to. Deku was up at five and leaving his house by 5:30. Bakugo followed him through the streets till they reached a stretch of beach that was littered with trash.
To his surprise, Deku immediately pulled off his sweatshirt and undershirt. His chest wasnt as bare as Bakugo remembered. There were two claws that lay just above and below his heart.
When the younger boy turned around he started in surprise. A dragon with nine spikes on it lay on the right side. On the left was a white and black tiger with blue lighting encasing it.
The lightning was just like when Deku attacked the villain. Did the marks have something to do with the attack he witnessed? Did Deku actually have a quirk? Or were they all missing something here?
While Bakugo was lost in his thoughts the other boy did his stretches. Then he turned his face upwards to the lightening sky.
Deku said to himself, "Well here we go. I think I finally have this technique down. Chun, you told me to find a foot technique that uses my elemental abilities. Instead, I created my own. I hope this works the way I want it too."
Foot techniques? Was that what he was doing a few months ago? Interesting.
: Show me what you can do, Deku.: he thought.
Deku took a deep breath and then blue lightning coursed over the boy's body. It was that ability again. What was this ability that utilized such an unstable element?
Deku took a step forward and that was all he saw beyond flashes of light. Then there was a metallic thud as the boy hit a fridge leaving an enormous dent in it.
"Owwww. Man that hurt," whined Deku, "Well guess I can't expect this technique to work on its first try. 3000 Lightning Movement is difficult enough. But to do it this way makes it even more so. However, I can't give up."
To his surprise, the lightning was still coursing over Deku's body. Then he moved again and there was another flash. This time he was able to hold it together for a longer period of time.
It was like flashes of lightning moving objects off the beach. Then he was suddenly on the ground again. His breaths were coming in pants.
Deku growled under his breath, "No. Not good enough. That was only two hundred movements. I have to do better!"
Then he disappeared into another flash of lightning. Bakugo's eyes couldn't keep up with the movements. Or with what items were disappearing.
This went on until just before time for school. The beach was slightly cleaner than it had been in years. He had to wonder why Deku was doing this. To ask him would be showing that he had been watching. No, for now, he would keep watching from the shadows.
Bakugo had to admit when he followed the idiot he didnt expects to see him cleaning the beach. It wasnt something that was in Deku's character. There had to be a reason behind it.
Sticking close to him in classes was easy. They were in the same homeroom. Bakugo noticed though that Deku seemed distracted more so than normal. Whatever was happening in that mind was keeping goody two shoes from focusing.
After school, he couldn't say he was surprised when they returned to the beach. This time they weren't alone a skinny man with blond hair and blue eyes was there. He looked strangely familiar but Bakugo couldn't place where he had seen the man.
Bakugo couldn't get close enough to hear what was being said between the two without being seen. Something told him that there was more to the blond than met the eye. It seemed as if the blond was mentoring Deku. Just like with the early morning practice Deku went straight back to moving trash.
He watched every misfire of the technique. It seemed that no matter how much control Deku had he still misfired on the technique at least twice in an hour.
Even at a distance, Bakugo could see the other taking something. It looked almost like candy. Every time he took it, it was like Deku was on his last leg. Then he was back to full strength.
So many things were not adding up about the younger boy. He had so many questions without any answer to them.
As the sun was beginning to set Deku grabbed his sweatshirt and undershirt. Then he said goodnight to the blond man.
At first, he thought that Deku was done for the day. When they missed the turn to his street Bakugo realized he wasnt done. They went to the nearby park.
A black-haired man in a white t-shirt and black pants was waiting on the younger. His blue eyes immediately fell onto Deku who gave him a tired grin.
It felt like ice was dumped down his shirt when the eyes shot up suddenly to meet his own red eyes. Even at a distance, the man could see him when Deku could not.
Bakugo stepped behind a tree just before the green-haired idiot turned around. He didnt want to be spotted by the fool. If he was it would be obvious that he had been following the other.
Deku inquired curiously, "Sensei, what is it?"
The man sighed, "Its nothing, brat. Today we will be doing something different. Leave your shirt off for now but next time remember to put it back on. You don't want anyone to recognize those tattoos."
A faint blush could be seen creeping up Deku's neck as Bakugo looked around the tree. What was so important about those tattoos? It was obvious that they didn't want anyone to know about them.
"What are we doing today, sensei?" Deku asked.
The man replied as he said, "Ki deflection. There is no way to teach this to you. The only way to learn it is to fight with everything you have. We are going to have a full contact spar with all ki techniques. We will start out slow so that you can get the feel of it but then we will pick up the pace."
"Yes, sensei!"
Curious to see what would happen Bakugo leaned against the tree. Ki wasnt something that was unheard of in their world. Essentially it was the strength of the body and mind combined.
Unlike with quirks everyone had ki within their bodies. It was what gave them life and power. Everyone used ki to fight to fuel their muscles. The only ones who can use it as a weapon were the Murim.
According to history, those within Murim were considered just as powerful as those with quirk. Abilities differed from master to master. There were even those who could use elemental ki.
Two groups, in particular, were the most powerful of the Murim. They were known as the Guardians and the Heavenly Ways Masters. The two groups were meant to cancel out the other. Natural enemies.
In this time period though they were little more than legends. Murim as a whole had practically disappeared with heroes.
Like quirks, the abilities were passed through a bloodline. Did this mean that Deku got full Murim abilities rather than a quirk?
Deku was the first to move and it was a lunge at the man. The man pushed the boy's arm away from him. Before following it through with a knee aimed at Deku's stomach. With a surprising amount of flexibility, the kid dodged around the knee.
This was supposed to be slow for them?
As the question entered his mind they put space between themselves. Neither was breathing particularly hard or breaking a sweat. This was even with all the strength training that had been done earlier.
This time it was the man who the first move. He threw a left hook towards Deku who barely seemed to move as he dodged around the attack. It was only a feint for the second attack.
Deku's right hand pushed the fist away. A flinch went through the boy. It was as if he didnt deflect the power just fist. Was this power of ki?
Even as the thought went through his mind the battle continued. Blocking and deflecting like it was second nature. This wasnt the first time that Deku and his teacher had fought like this. Or at least something similar.
As they continued with their sparring match the speed only seemed to increase. Bakugo couldn't believe what he was seeing. With his current skills, there was no way he would be able to keep up with this level. Deku wasnt even using that technique he had been training with all day either. Was this the power of Murim?
Izuku's POV
Pushing the leg to the side flinching as he felt the ki explode. He finally was getting down the deflection.
Deflecting a ki attack was not the same as deflecting a regular attack. He had to match his ki flow to that of his opponent.
Matching Chun's ki flow was easier said than done. He constantly changed the strength of his flow. Sensing the strength of the attack was the first step. Then he had to change his own flow strength to match it.
When he figured this out, in the beginning, it was easier to do. Chun was only going a quarter of his full speed. On top of that, he was not even using any foot techniques.
His master might say that it was a full-contact spar but the man was still holding back. Izuku had never been able to make his master use more than half of his strength in any of their spars. If he was honest with himself he would admit that he had probably never seen the other's full strength.
One day he swore that he would see that strength. Then he would match it so that he overcame his limits.
As he deflected another attack he decided on his next course of action. It was time to try that new technique out. He couldn't use it to its full potential yet but it might just be enough to catch Chun off his guard.
Using tweh he retreated back putting distance between them. There was a raised eyebrow as the only sign of surprise from his master.
Izuku drew upon his elemental reserves allowing it to flow with his regular ki. Lightning began to course over his body. Chun said that they could use whatever technique they had in their arsenal. This technique was one he had created in order to use his elemental ki with a foot technique.
The only problem was if he needed to use his ki in a movement. This technique focused on both kinds of ki at once. It prevented him from using his regular ki at the same time.
Sighing he knew it was a problem for another time. Once his ki was flooding through his body he shot forward. It took three movements to get to Chun.
Izuku went for a right hook with the speed. Unsurprisingly it was pushed off to the side. Muscles in the hand that push the attack away however twitched. As his body had grown in strength so had his ki. It was beginning to affect Chun's body when lightning came in contact with him.
He retreated back a few steps but Chun was already coming at him. Izuku blocked a strike at his legs. There wasnt a wince at any pain from the ki. Was his ki protecting his body?
It was something he would have to consider later. They were going at each other in swift movements. Even with the 3000 Lightning Movements technique, Chun was keeping pace with him. To make matters worse he was running out of ki.
Chun had yet to see his ace that he had been holding. If he could get in close he might just have enough time and ki to use it. It was a long shot but it might just work.
With that thought, he rushed at Chun who gave him a fierce grin. If he was anyone else that grin would have sent him running in the opposite direction. This was Chun though. He would never do unrepairable damage to him.
Grabbing onto the man's shoulder's he dissipated the movement technique. It was the longest he had used it so far. 700 movements while was still could not keep up with his master. Still, he had one last move up his sleeve.
Pulling all his remaining unpurified ki into his body at once he filtered it. Just like with the liquid hero it exploded out of his body coursing through Chun.
Then a fist slammed into Izuku's abdomen knocking him to the ground and removing the breath from his lungs. A foot then planted itself on his chest. As he raised his eyes he felt Chun time a ki release to nullify his attack.
It had worked if only for an instant kind for Izuku that it was a win. He had accomplished what he wanted with their spar.
The weight on his chest was removed and a hand appeared in front of his face. Gently he was pulled to his feet.
Chun inquired, "Any injuries? Anything that Shiho needs to look at?"
Izuku gave his body a quick pat-down checking to mane sure that he wasnt injured beyond bruises. There was a large on his abdomen and a few smaller ones on his chest. They weren't anything to would impede his breathing or last more than a few days.
Izuku shook his head and said, "No sensei. Just a few bruises that aren't impeding my breathing. Is your ki flow back to normal?"
"As if your power could do lasting damage, brat," snipped back Chun.
Despite his best effort, Izuku flinched at the harsh words. A flash of guilt went through his master's eyes but it was gone within a second.
"Go, home kid," order Chun, "You've done enough for today. Rest and be ready to go again tomorrow."
Just like that, he was dismissed by his teacher. Chun wasnt one for using more words than necessary. Over the months he had grown used to it. He knew the truth of his teacher though. Behind the gruff personality was someone who cared deeply for those closest to him.
It had taken months but eventually, he had become part of that inner circle. Even though the man cared he didnt allow Izuku to get too close. He had never been to the man's apartment or even Shiho's.
He knew they weren't just here to teach him. There was something else they were supposed to be doing. Izuku didnt ask question and he didn't get any free information. Whatever they were up to it was important and he would honor their privacy. Just as they honored his own.
Izuku held his secrets close to his chest. If school taught him anything it was that you couldn't trust people easily. Everyone he trusted in school from teachers to his peers betrayed him.
His peers berated and bullied him because he was quirkless. Before he started training he would take beatings. More often than not he went home with deep bruises. Several times he went home with cuts from their attacks. He learned quickly how to treat his own wounds and how to hide them.
It didnt matter if the wounds were in obvious spots either. Teachers barely cared even if they noticed. The only time that he ever told anyone his beating had been twice as bad.
His mother would have noticed but she was almost always working. When she was home he was careful to hide his pain so as not to worry her.
Using his ki against them was out of the question. Ki attacks would destroy a kid's body. For his young age, he was mature and didnt want to kill anyone. In self-defense or not he didnt want to be the reason someone died.
When Chun came along he learned to control his ki better. How to fight without killing others around him. It was risky but it worked when he needed it to.
Students stopped bullying him as much when he started fighting back. No longer did he walk away with bruises and cuts. Those who attacked him left worse off than himself.
With each passing day, he was growing steadily stronger. He was able to land and block more hits on Chun even at quarter strength. Every test showed him just where he stood in a real fight.
The only person he truly trusted was his teacher. That trust was full between them. It was mutual in the way you trusted a teammate to help you in a game. Common goals. Chun needed a disciple and Izuku needed a new master. It worked out for both of them. At least for now.
