06/09/2022

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The Emperor's Dragon
Emergence 5

Ochaco had gone home early so it was just Hitoshi and Izuku in the library today. Izuku looked at the purple haired boy. "What is it?" he asked.

His friend was resting his chin on one hand, with his fingers curled in to partially cover his mouth. He wasn't working on his homework.

"Do you want me to help you?" Hitoshi countered with his own question.

Izuku blinked. "What do you mean?"

Hitoshi sighed and shook his head slightly, without lifting it from his hand. "You've been twitchy for weeks," he said. "You're still thinking about what your dad said."

"Of course I am," Izuku hissed. He couldn't be loud in the library.

"Yeah, and that's making you twitchy and-" Hitoshi shook his head. "You aren't concentrating." There wasn't any accusation in his voice. There didn't need to be.

In the final year of Middle School they were ranked weekly. Izuku knew he'd slipped.

"What am I meant to do?" he asked his friend.

Hitoshi shifted his hand. "I don't know," he admitted.

That actually reassured Izuku a bit. His friend wasn't trying to tell him how to live his life, but he was concerned.

"I could help though," Hitoshi offered again.

Izuku didn't ask what he meant this time but the shift of his head conveyed his question.

"I'll help you not worry about the decision," Hitoshi said. "I don't know if I can, but I'll at least try," he added.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll use my quirk on you," Hitoshi shrugged. "The way I see it, is you can either stay aware of it, and worry about the decision, or you can let your mind work on it and get on with school." He gave Izuku a smile. "You'll know, Little Dragon, when you've made up your mind, even if it is just to do something else rather than run your dad's businesses, but you won't be worrying about making the decision."

Izuku blinked again. He sort of knew what his friend meant. "Do you think it will work?"

Hitoshi shrugged. "It can't hurt to try," he murmured before taking a deep breath. "Your dad loves you, Izuku. Even if you decide not to run his businesses, he'll accept it. That's the entire reason he let you go, so you could find out what you wanted to do. But you aren't going to do that if you keep worrying," he added.

"So what do you want to do?"

"See if I can make you not consciously worry about your decision," Hitoshi said.

Izuku thought for a few seconds but he already knew what his answer was going to be. Hitoshi wouldn't hurt him. He knew that already. "Alright," he said as he nodded. "What should the wording be?"

"How about I tell you to think about your future without worrying about what your father thinks?"

"That works," Izuku decided. "But how will I know when I've made a decision?"

Hitoshi thought about it for a few moments. "Then how about I make it that you think about your future without worrying what your father thinks, and when you've made a decision, you can worry then?" He suggested with a laugh.

"That seems fair," Izuku said. "Hit me," he instructed.

"What here?"

"Why not?" Izuku asked. Sure there were a couple of other students around but this wouldn't take long. "Or were you only being facetious?" Hitoshi was usually so serious about his quirk that he didn't think his friend would have made the offer to use it without actually meaning it. He didn't joke about his quirk, not like others did.

"I just thought you might want to think about it for a while," Hitoshi told him.

Izuku shook his head. "Nah. I trust you," he said. "You're my friend."

"You were my friend first," Hitoshi told him.

"Well, of course I wa-" Izuku didn't finish the sentence before he felt Hitoshi's quirk overtake him. He'd been under Hitoshi's quirk before. He was one of the test subjects and it was always an odd experience. It felt a bit like he was detached from his body. It wasn't that bad, except for the fact that it felt like other people were standing with him.

Of course, there was no one there, but it felt like there were people watching over his shoulder. Izuku had asked Hitoshi about it but the other teen hadn't known anything about that, and Ochaco, who had agreed to go under Hitoshi's quirk a few times never said anything like that. She agreed with the feeling of detachment but said she felt nothing else. It was just him.

Izuku heard as Hitoshi spoke softly so that the others in the Library wouldn't overhear. They didn't need someone tattling. "Izuku, you are going to think about what you want for your future, just the way your dad wants you to," he heard HItoshi say. "But you aren't going to worry about it. When you've made a decision, and you know you've made a decision, you can worry about it then, if you feel it's appropriate."

While he couldn't smile under Hitoshi's quirk, Izuku felt like he should. That was a good addition to the instruction.

"Now wake up," Hitoshi added, reaching out to poke his arm. The instruction with the stimuli had the desired effect and Izuku blinked. It always felt a bit odd when Hitoshi released him. It was odder if he broke out but it was never that bad. This time though Izuku felt as if something had changed.

"So?" Hitoshi drawled.

Izuku made a bit of a face as he thought. "I think it worked," he said. He felt almost lighter. He still knew that he had to make a decision but it somehow wasn't weighing upon him quite as much as it had been. "You should go into psychology!" he told his friend.

"And miss out on the cats?" Hitoshi challenged.

The green eyed teen thought about that for a few moments. This week he was going with close to his natural colouration of green hair and green eyes. "Run the clinic out of your cafe?" he countered with a grin.

That at least caused Hitoshi to snort his laughter. "Maybe," he agreed. "For the moment I think we'd better focus on our homework and getting good grades. So long as we get them, we can decide later."

Izuku's lips quirked. "True," he said. "Now, where am I meant to be up to?" He asked. It was time to stop worrying and catch up. After all, if he didn't pass this year, then he couldn't make a decision about the future, so really, he should focus on that.

"I'll give you a list," Hitoshi said.

Izuku nodded, before bringing up one hand to push his hair out of his eyes. "Thank you, Hitoshi," he said sincerely. "For everything."

The purple haired teen smiled at him. "What are friends for?" He asked.

Izuku smiled. Yeah, what were friends for, if not to support you. He was glad he had good friends.

-ted-

One thing Izuku hated about the fact his dad was giving him space to decide was that Tomura acted all high and mighty when Kurogiri took him to see dad. He'd known that the older teen saw his dad a lot, but had usually been in the day, when he was at school. Now Kurogiri was taking him in the evening, usually while he was doing his homework. Ostensibly, it was to give him quiet time to study during his final year of Middle School but Izuku had the feeling Tomura had asked for the time shift just to lord it over him.

It wasn't like he didn't see his dad, just not as often.

Izuku looked up from his homework. When he'd gotten home he'd shifted his hair to white and his eyes to gold, so he knew he kind of looked a bit like his dad. "Tomura," he called the older teen.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," came the response.

It wasn't like they hadn't had this conversation before, almost every day. "I mean it, Tomura," Izuku stressed.

Tomura snorted. "And what are you gonna do about it?" he demanded.

From the tone, Izuku could tell Tomura wanted a fight about it. He also knew from his dad that he shouldn't make threats he wasn't prepared to carry out. That was the whole point of a threat. It couldn't just be empty words. But this wasn't a threat, it was a promise. If Tomura's quirk or actions hurt his dad then… He didn't care what deal they'd made, Tomura had to answer for that.

"I know you think Dad coddles me, Tomura," Izuku said softly, so softly he knew Tomura would have to strain to hear.

"I don't think that, I know it."

Izuku smiled, showing his teeth as his dad did. "That's his choice, isn't it?" he asked before he let the smile fade. He'd figured out that retort pretty early. Tomura didn't like to say things against his dad. "But it's your choice if you hurt him."

The older teen huffed. "I'm not going to hurt him!" He growled.

"Your quirk?" Izuku pressed.

"I don't use it around Sensei!" Tomura shouted. "Do you think I'm stupid?" he continued. He actually took the hand from his face to glare at Izuku.

"I don't think you are stupid. I think sometimes you forget." Izuku replied, meeting Tomura's eyes squarely. He couldn't display any weakness or the older teen would jump on it. "Even with the mask, his lungs are weakened and your quirk-" he didn't need to elaborate.

"I don't use it around him!" Tomura repeated.

Izuku didn't back down, despite the reassurance. He narrowed his eyes slightly. "I know he's working on the plan with you," he started on a new tact. "Don't be the reason anything happens to him."

Tomura actually smirked. "And what can you do about it?" he challenged, gesturing with the hand he was holding. "You are getting coddled and by the time you make a decision, it's all going to be over."

"What?" Izuku laughed, rather than taking offence. He knew Tomura was wanting him to take offence and to sit and splutter. "You think you're that good?"

The older teen knew better than to attack him. They both knew that was futile. They both knew Izuku was physically stronger, especially with the strength quirk, and they both knew that he'd just grab Tomura's quirk to end any altercation. They usually ended up shouting at each other. So long as that was as far as it went, then no one interfered. Kurogiri usually just gave them both a look to check for injuries and said nothing.

"Oh I will be," Tomura purred. "I will be," he repeated.

"Hah! You're gonna need help! You always need help," Izuku snarked. He was referring to how his dad would help Tomura with taking on All Might.

He was somewhat surprised to see that the words hit home. Tomura snarled at him. "At least I know what I'm doing!" He yelled. "You can't even commit!"

"Not all of us can be killers at five," Izuku countered.

"And not all of us were born with a silver spoon up our arse!" Tomura howled as he stormed out.

The slam of a door indicated he'd gone through to the bar. Kurogiri would transport him from there. Izuku took several deep breaths as he calmed down. He couldn't show a reaction to Tomura but that didn't mean they weren't there. Tomura was acting this way because he thought it hurt him. And it did, sort of. He wanted to see his dad. Understanding what his dad was doing didn't change that but… it didn't seem fair but he well knew, life wasn't fair.

Izuku nodded to himself. He was reasonably confident Dad didn't want Tomura to fail, at least not on the important things and it was kind of funny to accuse Tomura of needing help when he knew he'd need it too! But that wasn't the point. Dad wouldn't let Tomura fail, not on the important missions and if Tomura wasn't using his quirk around Dad then that was good.

It would be alright. It would just take time and…

What did he want for the future? His future. Izuku put his pen down and closed his eyes as he considered. He already knew he wasn't making a decision today. He could feel it but… It never hurt to think.

What did it really mean to be a villain? At least, that's what his dad was called. That's what Tomura would be called but he knew they were revolutionaries though… Izuku admitted to himself that Tomura would most likely be closer to a real villain. Sometimes that was necessary. He'd seen it in history. Sometimes, someone was required to be the bad guy to initiate change. That was the role his dad had selected for Tomura and the older teen was eager to fulfill it.

For himself… What would it mean to be what the world called a villain? He couldn't be friends with Ochaco. She didn't see the world the way he did… or… wait, he couldn't be friends with her if he was known to be a villain but there were some out there the heroes had no idea how they really were. They always found out pretty quickly but at least initially there was confusion.

He could be friends with Ochaco if the heroes didn't know who he was. And… Izuku thought about it again, thought about the things he'd discussed with his Dad over the years. His father had only ever mentioned villainy once or twice. When he referred to Izuku it was as a businessman, like himself… Except… Izuku laughed softly. It was one of those mocking laughs. His dad wasn't just a businessman, not if he could stand up to All Might.

The world called his dad a villain, not a businessman. And his dad didn't want him to be a businessman, not really. He remembered what his dad had said on that mountain top when he'd told him. When you come to me, you must understand that the world will call you a villain. You must understand what that will mean, and what the consequences are. You must be ready to face that reality.

Izuku sighed. He could be a businessman. It wasn't exactly easy but he could do it but could he do the rest…. In one way, he'd have to. He'd promised Tomura to help against All Might and he doubted any hero would let him go after that but as his father had once pointed out there was help and help. And he wanted Toxic Chainsaw… but there were probably other ways of getting to him. He didn't have to go outside the law. He'd just never looked for those alternatives.

And both of those things were single acts. They wouldn't necessarily be his future… So, Izuku sighed again. What did he want? Sitting at the table, with his homework spread before him, Izuku knew he just didn't know because as much as he thought that being a villain would cost him Ochaco, he was sure it would cost him Hitoshi as well. His friend understood but… Too many people had called Hitoshi a villain in the past and his friend didn't want to be that. He could understand that but…

Izuku took another deep breath as he opened his eyes. It couldn't simply be a choice between his friends and not having them except… He remembered his father. He'd never seen him with a friend. That didn't mean he didn't have them, Izuku berated himself, just that he'd never seen him with them… Though maybe… those Izuku called friends, maybe his dad called them family and he knew that his dad had those he trusted and they were working for him. So yeah, he never saw them but his dad knew them and that was enough for him.

If he could have that would it be enough for him?

Izuku felt his face stretch into a doubtful expression. He wasn't sure… and he wasn't going to be able to make a decision now. Not with his English homework waiting. He opened his eyes and looked down at the page. He'd have to thank Hitoshi … He didn't feel sick with worry after thinking. Instead he felt worry that he hadn't done his homework.

Izuku snorted. He'd best get to it. And maybe… no matter what decision he made, maybe there was a way of keeping his friends. He'd just have to look.

-ted-

Izuku is a teenager. He still thinks he can have everything. Life will unfortunately get around to teaching him that things are never that easy. But for now, he can hope!

And Hitoshi... oh dear, Hitoshi... possibly better for you not to be fully aware of your quirk's abilities.

As for Tomura... when the adopted foundling thinks he is better than the prince, you know there's gonna be trouble. Don't read too much into their interaction here. Tomura and Izuku know each other but Izuku is a teenager, and Tomura is not quite an adult. Complete rationality from both is a bit too much to ask for.

My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out.

-ted-

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