Disclaimer: I own nothing
Life with Eri around was nice. It was peaceful and generally wholesome. She was quiet but she didn't need to say anything. Her very presence was enough to make Izuku smile. Life without an arm on the other hand was a little harder to get used to. It was three days since the raid on the Shie Hassaikai. The world still believes Ketsuiki is dead. Ruby completely let fly at Izuku after the raid and his revival. She told him he had so many chances to get out of there but he chose to stay. She asked him how he thinks his mother would feel if she learned that were him. He felt bad, he really did but he couldn't bring himself to regret it. He didn't apologize but he still felt bad for making her worry. Aizawa called his phone a couple of times but Izuku didn't want to talk to the man. It actually started to piss him off a little bit. To appease him he decided to text him instead.
'I'm fine, old man. Stop calling... Dumb ass'
Short, sweet and to the point. The way Aizawa and Izuku liked things. Of course, it didn't stop Aizawa from calling. Izuku still felt a little better letting the man know he was alright. Well as close to alright as you could get with a missing arm and a flesh wound. His liver was a little messed up so he refrained from drinking but apart from all that he was doing fine. Dabi was in pretty bad shape after the raid as well. It was mostly his left arm. He burnt the staples right off his arm. Heat resistant staples and he disintegrated them. Izuku was still impressed with the raw power Dabi had up his sleeve. Dabi had taken to wearing a sling for his left arm. It should be fine in a while. Giran is gonna call in a favor to help heal it faster. Dabi was going to take work as Giran's loan shark. It would be nice to have a little more money around to help with Eri. After what people saw him do to the Shie Hassaikai they'd be smart to pay what they owe. That and Dabi was a fairly intimidating person when he needed to be. Apart from Dabi and Izuku nobody was seriously hurt. Everybody had sort of went back to their normal lives. Izuku had a christmas concert coming soon. He already released his christmas album. It wasn't that popular but he got a message from Jirou saying she liked it so he was pretty happy about that. Giran had worked on it with him for a while. He was gonna do covers of some old classics. He'd need his arm by then so he'd have to get some blood in his system. He planned on going out tonight or tomorrow to get some blood. Crime rates rose back up around the areas he patrolled. He'd have a lot of work to do to bring them back down again. But he liked that kind of work. Things would sort themselves out soon enough. Currently Izuku, Toga, Dabi, and Eri were in the living room. Eri was watching TV and the rest were sort of watching but kind of distracted. Izuku was balancing the TV remote on his stump arm.
"Hey." says Toga.
"What's up?" asks Izuku.
"Ya wanna do something fun and impulsive? The kind of thing that our parents would disapprove of." asks Toga.
Dabi looks up from his phone, he's interested.
"I'm interested… what do you have in mind?" asks Izuku.
"Ya wanna get ear piercings or maybe a nose ring?" asks Toga.
"Maybe… I don't think I'd look to good in those. Although it does sound fun and impulsive, I guess I should at least try. If I don't like it I won't wear it." says Izuku.
"Cool. Let's go." says Toga.
"Where do we go for something like that?" asks Izuku.
"Um." says Toga.
"I know a guy." says Dabi.
"Great but if we're all going, who watches Eri?" asks Izuku.
"She can come with us." suggests Toga.
"I'm not sure I like that. Eri what do you think?" asks Izuku.
"I wanna see things." says Eri.
"Yeah… you haven't really been around. That's fine I'll show you a thing or two. Although I'm not sure you can go out looking like that." says Izuku.
" What, why not?" asks Toga.
"Too recognizable. Dabi could we borrow some of your hair dye?" asks Izuku.
"Sure. Do you know how to dye hair?" asks Dabi.
"No...does the box have instructions?" asks Izuku.
"I'll help. If you don't mind." says Dabi.
"I don't mind. I like your hair." says Eri.
"She's got a point. It's nice hair." says Izuku.
"Thanks." says Dabi as he goes to get his hair dye.
A little while later Izuku and the rest of the family were driving down to the place Dabi mentioned. Eri looked new with black hair. The horn was recognizable but the hair should keep her safe. The white horn contrasted with her black hair. They pulled up to the place. It looked alright. About as nice as you could expect from someone like Dabi. Toga complemented Izuku on driving with one arm. Although he normally used one arm anyway.
"Hey big blue." says the man behind the counter when they walk in.
"Hey there, big fella." says Dabi, "My friends are looking for some of your magic."
"Well then come this way and I'll work my magic." says the big fella.
Izuku and Toga were currently looking in the mirror. He thought he was looking pretty good. At least he thought he did. Izuku got studs and a ring around the back of his ear like Dabi's. He wasn't too keen on the ring in the back but he liked the studs. They were jade so they kind of matched his eyes and ears. Toga got mostly the same but she got another ring for the back of her ear and a nose ring. She looked cute in Izuku's opinion. Real cute. He should tell her how cute she is.
"Lookin good." says Izuku.
"Thanks. I love how your stud goes with your green." says Toga.
"Thank you." says Izuku.
A little while later they were all back in the car heading home. When they got home they just sat around the TV again. Life felt slow. Believe it or not, it felt easy. They could finally just relax. Izuku went out on the back porch to smoke. He doesn't smoke inside anymore. He tries to be mindful of what he does around Eri. Although he has taught Eri a couple of words she probably shouldn't know. He doesn't think that was too bad. He was just expanding her vocabulary. Sometimes he'd start to light the cigarette then realize what he was doing and headed outside. He'd been smoking a lot in the last two days. Regeneration wasn't working but he figured he'd have it back up in no time. His lungs would be back to normal.
Ring
Ring
Ring
Ring
It was Aizawa again, god he was still calling. What an ass hole. Should he pick up? No he definitely shouldn't, … Fine, he'd answer the old man.
"Jesus christ ya wack ass hoe. The hell are ya callin so much for? I said I was fine." says Izuku as soon as he answers the phone.
"You're fine? You're fine? You lost an arm! You got a hole put in your stomach! You looked like a corpse!" says Aizawa livid yet concerned.
"Funny you should say that." says Izuku.
"You died again didn't you?" asks Aizawa.
"What gave it away?" asks Izuku.
"Just making sure… kid you can't do shit like that." says Aizawa.
"Who's gonna stop me? I know you aren't." says Izuku.
"Damn right I'll stop you. You can't do that to yourself." says Aizawa.
"We've met three times and I've walked free each time. I also remember leaving you in the dust all three times." says Izuku.
"You know I have contacts. I could send the entire U.A. staff after you." says Aizawa.
"No you won't. You saw what happened to me. My regeneration isn't even working. You don't have the heart to go after me right now." says Izuku.
"Well at least let us help the kid you saved." says Aizawa.
"I've offered to take her to ya. She said no. I even left out how bad you smell and look. I made you sound real nice." says Izuku, "and besides I can look after her."
"You can't even look after yourself." says Aizawa.
"Course I can. I've been doing a fine job of it these past couple of months. I've only died four times." says Izuku.
"That's not looking after yourself." says Aizawa.
"Okay so maybe it isn't but I'm fine. I can live with one arm for a while." says Izuku.
"... You don't have your arm back? I thought you regenerated." says Aizawa.
"Oh sure, because you know so much about growing entire limbs back. You though I could just regrow a whole arm right after dying." says Izuku before muttering, "Dumb, piece of shit."
"Well when will you get your arm back?" asks Aizawa.
"I was planning on going out tonight. Get some blood in me. Kickstart the regeneration process. All of my minor cuts are gone, even the big one on my leg. I just have a fairly nasty gash on my stomach and I need to regrow an arm. No big deal. Oh also I need to regen some lung tissue I've been going through like a pack a day. It's terrible and expensive too. It's a good thing my girlfriend steals all my cigarettes." says Izuku.
"Okay first stop smoking." says Aizawa.
"Smoking right now." replies Izuku.
Aizawa groans, "Second your girlfriend is a thief."
"Yeah, why?" asks Izuku.
"Why don't you arrest her or something?" asks Aizawa.
"That's my baby girl. Also petty theft from a gas station isn't a big deal. If it were a small business I'd return it and tell her off. But corporations have all the money they need. They won't miss a carton or two." says Izuku.
"She steals cigarettes by the carton?" asks Aizawa.
"My roommate smokes about as much as I do. It's the fire guy, you should know him. Also smoke doesn't hurt him, cuz he has a fire quirk." says Izuku.
"Kid you really gotta come to me for some help. I know you don't want it but that girl needs it. I'll let you see her if you bring her here. Please come to me. I can help you." says Aizawa.
"... I'm sick of your shit. You'd arrest me the moment I come over. And don't talk to me about what she needs. I ask her what she wants. Stop calling me." says Izuku before hanging up.
He really is sick of Aizawa's shit. A little while later he was getting ready to head out. He tied up the sleeve he wasn't using. He had his hanging around his neck as he walked into the living room.
"I'm going patrolling. I'll be back." says Izuku.
"Don't go." says Eri.
Come to think of it, he really hadn't left her side for the past two days. Of course she doesn't want him to leave. He promised to protect her.
"I'll be back soon. I just gotta go fight a couple small time fellas to get my regeneration back." says Izuku.
"Can I come?" asks Eri.
Wow she really didn't want him to leave. But that's a terrible idea he shouldn't take her. He was about to say that but he made eye contact with her. Oh no. Oh jeez. That's not good.
"Go get a coat." says Eri.
Eri smiles and runs off to get a coat.
"That's a bad idea." says Dabi.
"I know, but I couldn't say no to her." says Izuku, "Just trust me. It is going to be fine."
The 'I hope' went unsaid.
Eri came back down with a puffy coat.
"Hey Eri." says Izuku.
"Hi." says Eri.
"Ya ready to go?" asks Izuku.
"Mhm." replies Eri.
"Great let's go." says Izuku.
Eri is currently riding on Izuku's shoulder as he jumps around town. It was oddly silent. Nothing was happening. Izuku kept looking around but he really couldn't find anything. He smelled something. He knows that smell. Aizawa's nearby… so is Mic and Midnight and Nezu? Some sort of animal… Hound dog. Shit it was Hound dog. Were they tracking him?
"He's around here." says a gruff voice that almost certainly belongs to hound dog.
Shit, shit he shouldn't have agreed to let Eri out with him. Well if he goes around maybe he could get by them. He looks to the path he has to take… oh… snipe is here too. Well if he turns around… ectoplasm is right there. Okay he just needs to go left… Oh it's Vlad King. Shit he was surrounded. Izuku jumps into a back alley.
"Eri, hide here for a minute." says Izuku.
"What's wrong?" asks Eri.
"Just some heroes looking for me." says Izuku, "I'll be right back."
Izuku jumps back onto the roof and jumps over to Aizawa.
"It hasn't even been two weeks and your back on your shit?" asks Izuku.
Aizawa doesn't hesitate or mix words he immediately throws his scarf.
'Here we go again.' thinks Izuku.
Authors Note
I tried to get this out last week but I guess being a day late isn't too bad. So Izuku's in a bit of a pickle especially with just one arm. Izuku has an unlucky way of getting in a bad spot but he has an almost lucky way of getting out of them. So the christmas chapters are probably gonna come a little bit after christmas. I didn't schedule this very well. That's my bad. Also I'm kinda losing faith in the heaven or hell chapters but I talked to a friend about them and he thought they sounded cool. I know the first one is gonna take place in heaven and explain why Izuku hasn't been going to heaven or hell before. But for the hell chapters I know I planned on basing it hazbin hotel despite the fact it only has one episode. My question is how closely should I base it off the show. Should I introduce characters from Hazbin Hotel. I could have Izuku stay at the Hotel whenever he's down there. The heaven or hell chapters are just for fun filler chapters so I'm open to ideas. I've also got an idea for a chapter where Izuku looks for Vlad in hell and tries to meet him. I'd like input on this because I like the idea but I don't really know which direction I'm taking this in. Also I watched the rise of Skywalker it was pretty. I liked it more than the last one. I also beat the star was game, fallen order. It was great I give it a 9 out of 10. I give the movie a 7 out of 10. I like the direction star wars has been going in with the last game, the last movie and the mandalorian. I'd like to discuss this in comments or in the discord.
Nazgul Belserion: I got the idea for Dabi and Izuku being bros from other stories and I'm glad that other people like the way I interpret their relationship through my writing. Also that would have been a great face reveal. People would have realized that Ketsuiki is a middle school student. His classmates would have been confused as hell and his mother would completely lose it. But his face being revealed brings too many problems for him that I can't have him face just yet. There is a time and place. I've got it all planned out.
Todo Deku 26: I kind of imagined it the exact same way. I imagine it like the song O holy night (love that song) when he starts singing about falling on your knees and hearing the angle voices and the angelic choir goes off in the background. That's how I imagined it.
Atomic Dragon 59: They are gonna think Ketsuiki looks familiar but nobody that knew him would expect that. Katsuki and Inko come to the collective decision that Izuku looks a lot like the vigilante. But Izuku wears his hair really long when he isn't Ketsuiki and there is no way he could grow all that out of no where, or at least that's what they would think. I think you are right about it helping with All Might's retirement. I hadn't thought about that when writing it but it's a good point. It probably humanizes All Might, seeing someone who can preform like he can.
Draconic King: Thank you. I tried to make the ending emotional. I normally don't go for emotional as Izuku tries his hardest to ignore negative emotions, but I felt int was needed there. It kind of leads into some things that I have planned for the story. The world is gonna have a strong reaction to the fight.