Izuku sat on the floor of the lounge area using the coffee table to eat from. Shinsou sat beside him, his empty bento pushed away. They both watched some infomercial about a vacuum. Every once in a while, they'd glance at the remote sitting a few feet away, but it would require too much effort to get.

"Have you thought about who you want to intern with?" Shinsou asked, head resting on the couch cushions.

Izuku's automatic answer would've been All Might. That was his dream as a kid, but Izuku was already training with him and he was retired so that wouldn't work anyway. "I'll be happy to work with anyone, honestly."

Shinsou rolled his eyes. "Such a fanboy."

Izuku pouted, but he wasn't wrong. "I am excited, though."

"Say goodbye to sleep."

"No kidding," Izuku whined. "I'll be gone every other weekend for it."

Shinsou shrugged, reaching forward for his water. "It's a lot of fun. I miss it."

"Who did you work with?"

"Gunhead. At the time, internship options were really limited." He finished his water and set it beside his empty bento. "Learned a lot about close combat from him."

Izuku let his head fall back on the cushions to stare at the ceiling. "Yeah, I need to work on that." "You really don't have any favorites?"

"I mean sort of, but I'm worried about working in a big agency." He shrugged, annoyed with himself. "That's a lot of people and I need to learn a lot in a short amount of time."

"Ah," Shinsou said as he kicked his legs out under the table. "That makes sense."

Izuku tried to copy the action but whimpered as his muscles protested. "I'm still sore from the other day," he groaned. "This sucks."

Shinsou snorted beside him. "That's what you get for overworking yourself."

"It was just one spar," he huffed, legs finally fully extended. A small victory.

"With Bakugo." Shinsou jabbed Izuku in the side with his elbow. "What were you thinking?"

Izuku glared at him, rubbing his ribs. "That I need to get better and Bakugo said he would spar with me," he mumbled with a halfhearted shrug. "I like sparring with him." Shinsou raised a brow, so Izuku explained, "I've never had to worry about getting stressed out with Bakugo. It's always been like that with him. He's loud and confident. It's the quiet ones you have to watch out for."

"So that's why," Shinosu muttered, looking back to the TV where an air fryer was now being advertised. "I guess I can see why you'd train well with him, but you should be careful, or you could get injured."

"Yeah, yeah, Aizawa would kill me." Izuku waved him off, slowly summoning the strength to get up off the floor to go do homework.

"You should train with a hero like Bakugo. I bet Todoroki could set you up with Endeavor."

Izuku pressed into the couch. "He kinda scares me," he winced, remembering the first day of class. "But, yeah, maybe there's someone like that."

Interning with a pro-hero was probably the highlight of the UA Hero Course curriculum. Izuku had dreamed of it for years, working alongside some big-name hero, learning the ropes, and saving people. But it had only been a dream.

Now he was looking down at a list of approved agencies that Aizawa had handed him after their training session. Two agencies were highlighted.

"Agencies requested me?" He looked up at Aizawa who nodded. "How?"

Aizawa shrugged. "I assume Endeavor became interested after the first-day training session, but Mirko didn't say why she wanted you to intern with her."

Izuku looked back down at the list again, considering the two. "Endeavor is a large agency, but I'm sure there's a lot to learn there." Given that Endeavor was the #1 hero, it was tempting.

"But if you interned with Mirko, you'd be working right alongside her since she's independent." Izuku frowned, torn. "Which one should I choose?"

"That's for you to decide. I won't tell you," Aizawa said, stepping away to leave. "But let me know by Thursday. You start this weekend." He paused a few feet away. "Ask Todoroki and Bakugo. Bakugo interns with Mirko."

With that he left, leaving Izuku to stew over his choice. He debated the pros and cons of both all the way back to the dorms, even texted Hatsume for the stats of both heroes since he didn't have his notebooks handy. He was halfway through the lounge room, b-lining for the elevators to go to his room and do more research when Bakugo called him from the kitchen.

Izuku stumbled to a stop and looked over at him.

Bakugo scowled, drying his hands with a towel. "Where the hell do you think you're going, nerd?"

Izuku looked between him and the notebook he was writing in. "Um, research?"

"Do it later. There are potatoes for you to peel." Bakugo turned, throwing the towel over his shoulder.

Izuku gave the elevators a longing look before following Bakugo to the kitchen. He perked up a

moment later, remembering what Aizawa said. "Kacchan, you interned with Mirko, right?" "God, you want to talk?" he groaned.

Izuku nodded, curls bouncing across his forehead. "Mirko requested me to intern with her. Can you believe that?" He took the bag of potatoes Bakugo handed him and immediately started peeling them, talking animatedly. "What is she like? Did you learn a lot from her? I could totally see you working as an independent hero. No wonder you worked with her!"

"Deku!" "Yeah?"

Bakugo sucked in a sharp breath through clenched teeth. "Three questions then shut the hell up. One at a damn time."

Izuku tossed a peeled potato into a bowl and picked up another. "Sorry. What is she like?" "She won't go easy on you. She'll push you to your limits."

Izuku wrote that down. He picked a potato back up and started peeling again. "Did you learn a lot from her?"

"If you're wanting to improve your hand-to-hand, you should pick her," he said, dumping the washed rice into the steamer.

Izuku watched him move around the kitchen, making a mental list of things he wanted to research about Mirko. "So, you cook every night? And breakfast on the weekends?"

Bakugo glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "They're fucking helpless."

"Aw, you're so sweet, Kacchan." He ducked out of the way of the garlic power Bakugo launched at him. "So violent," Izuku tutted, tossing another potato into the bowl.

"Shut the hell up!"

"But you are—sweet I mean. We didn't do that at my old dorm," Izuku said, balling up the empty potato bag in his hands. "It was everyone fend for themselves."

Bakugo's eyes followed him as he picked up the bowl of potatoes to wash them. "No wonder you're so fucking skinny."

Izuku mocked Bakugo safely with his back turned. "All Might says I should be caught up by the end of summer if I maintain my weight gain."

"Then you should stop skipping your meals, idiot."

Izuku sunk into his shoulders with a pout. "It's just so much food."

"You skipped three meals yesterday."

"Are you counting my meals or something?"

"All of our meals are numbered by date and time, dumbass."

Izuku glared over at the second fridge where their school-issued meal plans were kept. With the

schedule All Might had him on, his meals took up a good chunk of space. "I just forget," he grumbled, pulling a pot over to throw the chopped potatoes in. "Maybe I should set alarms." He nearly jumped out of his skin when he turned to fill the pot with water and saw Ashido sitting at the bar top.

She grinned with a wave. "I'm bored so I came to bug you two."

Bakugo groaned at the stove. "That means the other two aren't far behind."

"Don't worry, bro, we're here!" Kirishima said, sliding into the chair next to Ashido, Kaminari right behind him.

"Midoriya! You totally have to come to the mall with us tomorrow!" Mina said, smacking her hands against the countertop in excitement. "Please, it would be so fun!"

Izuku glanced back at Bakugo before turning on the water to fill the pot. "I'm actually doing something after classes and then I was planning to rest."

She pouted, cradling her head in her hands. "But we haven't gotten to hang out yet!"

"Yeah man, it'll be fun," Kaminari said, lacing his hands behind his head and leaning back. "Most of the class is going, too. You'd totally be missing out."

Izuku handed the pot off to Bakugo considering it. "It will depend on how I feel after my quirk training."

"Oh, so that's where you've been going," Ashido said. "How do you train your quirk?"

Izuku busied himself with washing his hands while he thought of a way to explain it. "Basically, I'm helping with therapy. It's complicated."

"Can't wait to see you in action during training this week!" Ashido smiled, standing from the chair.

"Actually, do you guys know where Todoroki is?"

"Probably in his room," Kirishima said. "Why?"

"I got an internship offer from Endeavor's agency," Izuku explained, rinsing off more vegetables to chop. "I wanted to ask him some questions."

"Dang you really are moving fast," Kaminari winced, looking exhausted just thinking about it. "I don't know how you do it."

Izuku smiled shyly, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's just what I have to do."

The sun was hot as it shone down on Izuku's face in the hospital sunroom. After working with three patients, he focused his attention entirely on the warmth spreading across his skin. He'd never seen a patient in the sunroom, but he thought it was nice even with the rough wood of the bench digging into his back.

Hatsume was beside him, her head falling every few seconds and jerking up the next. She'd stayed up late on another project. Izuku shook his head and closed his eyes again.

There was no headache. No strain. He almost couldn't believe it. Almost.

He frowned up at the glass ceiling as he sorted through the three patients. None of them had memories directly related to their illness. He'd been able to re-wire their thoughts with little effort. A few minutes with each person and they were breathing easier. At least for a few days.

Hatsume was impressed too, but it was so close to the commands he usually used on people in fights he wasn't satisfied with the progress. It's the trauma and negative emotions that made him flinch back and hesitate.

He considered that it would be different during his internship and that he had it all wrong during middle school. When he tore through the trauma and deep hatred that surrounded the core of the person and changed them entirely.

Izuku shifted uncomfortably at the memory, startling Hatsume awake. She stretched yawning. "We should go," she murmured, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Izuku gave a grunt of agreement, following her lead as she stood.

"Todoroki?" Izuku called as they entered the lobby. "What are you doing here?"

Todoroki looked over at them, blinking in surprise, and then motioned to the sign pointing towards the mental wing of the hospital. "Visiting my mother," he answered in his usual monotone.

"Oh," Izuku said, his mind drawing a blank as he fought off a yawn.

"Are you going to the mall? Many of our classmates are," Todoroki said, coming to stand a few feet away.

Izuku dragged a hand through his hair feeling the exhaustion fill him like lead. He really wished he'd skipped the hospital and just gone to bed after classes. "I was planning to go back to the dorms with Hatsume."

"Nonsense!" she cut in, giving him a shove towards Todoroki. "I'm needed back at the shop, so this works out great. Have fun!" She waved as she stepped through the sliding doors.

"I guess I'm coming," Izuku sighed, shoulders sagging.

Todoroki pulled out his phone, thumb scrolling across the screen. "We should leave. Mina said they're almost there."

"It's not far. There should be a bus coming soon, too."

"Public transportation?" Todoroki muttered, looking genuinely intrigued by the idea as if it was some grand adventure.

Izuku shook his head. "You've never been on a bus?"

"I ride the train often."

"Not much different. It shouldn't take long," Izuku said as they exited the hospital. They took a seat on the stop bench. He tipped his head back again, letting out a content sigh. "Oh, hey, I had some questions about your dad," he said, sitting up. Todoroki looked at him expectantly. "He submitted a request for me to intern with him."

"Don't."

Izuku snapped his mouth shut, deflating. "Why?"

"He's only after your power. My father is not the kind of man you should learn from," he said, eyes shifting down. "He is not kind. He's the reason my mother is in the hospital." He pointed to his left eye. "She burned me."

Izuku shrunk back with a shaky nod. He didn't even want to consider how those events fitted together and made a note to stay out of Todoroki's head. "Ok, I guess I'll go with Mirko, then."

"That would be wise," Todoroki agreed. "I think the bus is here."

Izuku shot up from the bench, counting the seconds as the bus rumbled down the road and pulled to a stop.

It's not that Izuku didn't like the mall. It was loud and there were always lots of people. He and Hatsume had spent plenty of afternoons window shopping during breaks, but he was tired and wanted very badly to go home. Still, he trudged in with Todoroki, following a step behind as Todoroki read out the directions from Mina.

"What are we even here for?"

Todoroki shrugged, looking bored as they entered a clothing store. "Yaoyorozu said something about stimulating the economy, I think."

"Midoriya!" Mina squealed, wrapping her arms around him. "You came!"

"Mina, don't smother him!" Kirishima pulled her off. "You sure you're ok, Midoriya? You won't get overwhelmed? You look really tired."

Touched by his concern, Izuku shook his head. "I'll be ok. Large crowds are actually the easiest to deal with. Lots of noise." He followed them out of the store as Mina explained how the class had split up to shop for different things.

She started walking backward, pointing a finger at Izuku. "You're my muse today!"

While Izuku didn't know what that meant, he had a bad feeling. "I don't have money to buy things," he warned, glancing off to the storefronts filled with mannequins dressed in the latest high- end fashion. It was nothing he'd wear anyway.

"Don't worry about it. We're just gonna have some fun changing up your style while we shop." She waved him off, turning back around.

"I don't really know if I'm up for that," he mumbled, pulling at the straps of his backpack.

"It'll be fun. I promise." She grabbed his arm, pulling him into a store. He let her pile shirts and pants and accessories onto his arms, growing more anxious as they edged closer to the dressing rooms. He looked down at the mound of clothes in his arms. He'd seen at one price tag and nearly had a heart attack, so he tried not to think about how much it all cost.

Izuku shifted the pile as his arms grew tired. There were a lot of tank tops and short sleeve shirts. They'd probably ask questions if he didn't try them on. He looked back at the entrance wondering if they'd notice if he left.

Before he could decide, Mina shoved him into a changing room, ordering that he come out in the

outfits she'd picked. Izuku scowled down at the pile he'd dropped on the bench. He sunk down beside it, covering his face with his hands and he leaned forward on his knees.

He glared over at the clothes. It'll be fun.

As he pulled on the first outfit, he realized he couldn't remember the last time he'd bought clothes. Growing up, he only got hand-me-downs from the older kids in the house. No one had ever taken him to the store to try on things that actually fit.

Izuku ran his hands down the thin, tight-fitting shirt. At least the sleeves were long. It didn't look bad either, he decided. Maybe one day he could buy nice, new clothes that no one had ever worn before.

"Come on, I wanna see!" Mina whined on the other side of the door.

Izuku opened the door, standing awkwardly, not sure what to do as they all stared at him. "I look dumb, don't I?" His cheeks flushed as he looked down at himself.

Mina scoffed, giving his shoulder a playful shove. "What the heck, Midoriya, you're actually hot! You've been holding out on us with those baggy shirts."

"W-What?" He squirmed away from her poking his abs faintly visible through the tight fabric and wrapped himself in his arms. She spun him around to face the mirror in changing room, giving him a good shake. He felt himself smiling as her emotions filtered into him. She was so happy. Thrilled that he was there. "I'm pretty tired, Mina, I don't know if I want to try on the rest."

"Aw, ok." She draped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "You do look cute though." She looked behind them. "What do you think, Bakugo?"

Bakugo looked away from a rack of shirts to Izuku's reflection, giving him a quick once over. "Still looks like a nerd to me."

Ashido quirked a brow. "Says the guy with straight A's and goes to bed before nine." She looked back at Izuku's reflection, ignoring Bakugo's glare. "Let's get something to eat. I'm starving."

Most of their class was in the food court already eating. Izuku let Kaminari drag him over to a table where Shinsou waved from. He sat down with a sigh, accepting the slice of pizza Shinsou offered him.

"You look terrible," Shinsou said as he ate.

Izuku didn't even have the energy to glare. "I had no idea, thanks for letting me know," he quipped. "It's been a long day."

Shinsou, undeterred by his attitude, asked, "Mina turn you into her dress-up doll?"

"She tried but let me go."

"Lucky," he grumbled. "I was stuck with her for two hours."

Beside him, Kaminari grinned. "Don't act like you didn't enjoy it. I see right through your aloof, bad boy act."

Izuku snickered as Shinsou's cheeks tinged pink. "I haven't even worn any of those clothes she made me buy." He crossed his arms as Kaminari draped one around his shoulders, leaning against

him.

"But you looked so cute in that skirt." Kaminari laughed as Shinsou smacked a hand against his face, blushing harder. At Izuku's questioning look, Kaminari explained, "He lost a bet. I still have the picture."

"I hate you," Shinsou said, muffled by his hands still covering his beet-red face. Kaminari tightened his grip, grinning ear to ear. "No, you don't!"

"Denki, quit hanging on him," Mina scolded, pulling him off. Bakugo and Kirishima took a seat on either side of Izuku. "Is that all you're eating?"

Izuku looked down at his half-eaten slice of pizza and then looked at the trays of the others filled with food. "Yeah?"

"You've got to be hungrier than that," she said. "Do you want some of my soba?"

"Or my udon?"

"No, no, I'm fine! Really. Thank you though," Izuku said, waving his hands as the food was offered. "I'm not very hungry." He could feel the glare from Bakugo. "I should probably keep to the food All Might ok'd for me anyway."

Mina rested her cheek on a fist, staring at him in almost a daze. "I can't imagine you even more buff."

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "It will be a while. Don't worry."

"Well look who it is, Class 3-A. Looks like you've had to add another student to make up for your poor hero skills!"

Izuku narrowed his eyes at the blond talking.

"What's this one do?" he taunted, shoving a finger at Izuku. "Must be terrible if he transferred so late."

A nice redhead girl shoved him away. "Ignore him. I'm Kendo, nice to meet you."

"Izuku Midoriya," he greeted, ignoring the curious murmurs and thoughts from the other class.

"For today's combat training," Aizawa cut in, "you'll be playing a game of capture the flag to test your strategy and teamwork. Class A versus Class B. The first team to capture the other team's flags wins. Each team can take as many prisoners as they want, but they must be placed in one of the holding cells. Any questions?"

Tsu raised hers. "How many flags does each team have?"

"Three," Aizawa explained. "Where you hide them is up to your team's discretion, but they can't be placed on a person." He stepped away, falling in line with the other teachers. "There will also be other obstacles you will have to get through. You'll be given five minutes to hide your flags and form a plan."

Class A was given red and B blue. Izuku looked out at the cityscape and then over to the large monitors their teachers would be watching from.

"The robots will act as the first line of defense for each team and will be lit with the designated flag color," Aizawa said gesturing to the ones on the monitor, waiting in the training field. "You will need to get by them to have any chance of defeating the other team."

Izuku's stomach twisted, and he pulled at his gloves. His quirk wouldn't be useful against robots. He'd have to get creative and rely on support items.

"Begin."

Izuku followed his class to their designated starting point, a tall building on the west side of the city. Tsu took one flag, Uraraka another, and the last one was hung at the top of the building.

"Bakugo and I have come up with a plan," Yaoyorozu said, stepping forward. "We're going to separate into teams. One group will stay at each of the flag placements to guard them. Another team will patrol amongst the robots and alert the guard teams of anyone getting too close and capture them if possible. The last team will infiltrate Class B and get their flags."

Bakugo spoke next. "Sparky, Deku, Glasses, Shinsou, and Kirishima are with me. Yaoyorozu will explain the rest."

Izuku stumbled, struggling to get his legs working. Shinsou gave him a concerned look. "Are you ok?"

"This is the first time I'm fought with my quirk since the license exam," he pointed out, "and I was able to make it through without much fighting, so really, since the final."

Shinsou's eyes widened slightly. "I didn't realize," he muttered, muffled by his mask. "You'll do great. You're stronger than you were then."

Izuku looked to the other side of the city, worry stirring in the pit of his stomach. "That's not really what I'm worried about."

Beside him, Kirishima shrugged, hands laced behind his head. "Just kick their ass like you kicked ours that first time."

"I had a lot more surprise on my side," Izuku grumbled, heart beginning to hammer.

"And if you're worried about what they'll think of you," Kirishima continued, "everyone has an opinion they think matters. Ignore them."

If only it were that easy.

They stopped walking when they saw the first blue robots patrolling a block away. Bakugo turned to them. "We're splitting up. Kirishima with Glasses, Shinsou and Deku, Sparky with me. When you get the flag go help another team." Bakugo shifted his gaze to Deku and Shinsou. "We'll stay in a group until Deku can figure out where all the flags are."

"But what if they did what we did and just sent someone off with the flags?" Kaminari asked.

"Even if they did, they probably saw where they went," Deku explained. "It'll give us a good idea."

"What the nerd said," Bakugo agreed, turning back to the robots.

"Alright, let's kick some ass!" Electricity sparked around Kaminari's hands.

Bakugo held up a hand, bringing them to a stop as the robots turn to them. "Kirishima."

"On it." He grinned, cracking his knuckles, before hardening his arms. They made quick work of the nearby robots.

Bakugo set off a few extra blasts for good measure. "Someone's bound to come investigating now."

Izuku fished through his belt and pulled out the communication devices and handed them off. "I only have four, so if Shinsou and I get separated we can't communicate, but this way we can know each other's location." He tested the connection with the receiver end clipped to his suit. "If you want to communicate, just press it."

"Should we make code names?" Kaminari looked to Bakugo with a pleading smile.

"I don't give a damn what you go by, just answer," Bakugo said annoyed. "We've got company."

Izuku glanced around. There were robots closing in, too. He pulled out his staff and a couple capture net bombs. With his quirk, he reached towards the person, searching their mind.

"Four more are coming, two from each side," Izuku warned and dug deeper. "There's a flag hidden to the north. . .near a satellite dish."

Kirishima and Iida went north.

Izuku stepped up beside Bakugo as he looked around trying to see the four others headed towards them. "The two on the right are coming first," he said, head snapping to the right. They were close. "They're hoping to distract us while the left ambush us."

Bakugo sneered. "So, we're about to be surrounded?" "Yep," Izuku answered stiffly.

His sneer twisted into his signature evil grin, blasts popping in his palms. "You and Shinsou, get to their main base." He cracked his neck, raising a hand to the right. "Kaminari and I got these idiots."

Izuku shoved Shinsou out of the way of an attack. He looked back finding scales embedded in the ground. Gritting his teeth, Izuku dug into his mind, stalling his attacks.

"Thanks," Shinsou said, brushing the dirt from his clothes.

Izuku only nodded, too busy sorting through the guy's mind, crafting thoughts and memories that would keep him docile and confused for a while. He gave Shinsou another nod when he was done. "Let's go, I know where the flags are." He pulled out his walkie-talkie, speaking into it as they ran. "Kacchan, the third flag is being guarded on the third floor of a building two blocks east. It's five stories tall, only one entrance."

"Got it," followed by a large blast that went off behind them.

"I've been thinking," Shinsou said as he followed Izuku through the streets, "remember when we figured out that we could communicate through your quirk?"

"I remember. You want to do that?" Izuku frowned, wishing they'd practiced more. It could still work.

Shinsou nodded. "I think we can confuse them if we aren't communicating verbally. They've pretty much figured out my quirk."

"Don't worry about that. I'll get them to answer."

They skidded to a stop as a cluster of robots turned a corner coming for them.

Left.

Izuku grabbed Shinsou again, moving out of the way just as a blast of air shot through where they were standing. The robots stalled.

"You're the mind reader, right?" a boy asked from where he perched on a support beam above them.

"Yeah, that's me," Izuku said, taking a few steps back.

The boy smirked. "So, you know what I'm thinking right now?"

Izuku felt his heart hammer harder, pounding loud in his ears. "What's your quirk?"

"Can't find out?" he taunted, looking Izuku up and down thoughtfully. "Sounds like a useless quirk."

"Don't worry, I can do a lot more than read your mind," Izuku said, narrowing his eyes. He reached out to his mind, shifting deep. "What is your quirk?"

"Solid air," he answered with a dazed expression.

Izuku grabbed Shinsou by the arm, taking a few more steps back. "Put a box around those robots for us. The strongest one you can manage." Then leave. You didn't see anyone here. It was a false alarm.

The boy followed the command and walked back the way he came.

"Just a couple more blocks."

Shinsou followed him, trailing behind. "Don't overwork yourself, Midoriya," he warned.

Izuku slowed to a stop as the building holding the flag came into view. "There's a lot of people in there, but there's a group coming at us from the left."

"I mean it, Midoriya."

"I want our class to win."

Shinsou set a hand on his shoulder. "We can do that without you pushing yourself too far."

Izuky shrugged him off and lifted his staff. They were close. "I won't push myself. Get ready. They're almost here."

"How many?"

"Three."

Izuku groaned when he saw the blond walking towards them followed by a beast and a girl.

"Kendo says you're a mind reader," he said, blond hair fanning across his face. "How about you let me give it a test drive."

He shot towards Izuku, hand outstretched, running straight into the capture net Izuku threw. The beast slapped a hand against his forehead.

Izuku raised his staff to the other two, searching their mind for their next attack. The beast.

Izuku glanced over at Shinsou and nodded, confirming that he'd heard the message. While Shinsou worked the dials on his mask, Izuku reached into the mind of the beast boy as he walked forward.

The girl looked at him, almost panicked, lips parting to say something then pressing closed as she glanced at Shinsou. She took a couple nervous steps back, hands raising.

Now.

"Gevaudan, take them as prisoners," Shinsou said, in the voice of the blond boy fighting in the net behind them.

The beast bared his teeth, growing bigger.

"Answer him," Izuku ordered, resting on his staff. "Your friend asked you a question. Answer him."

"Understood, Monoma," he answered in a gruff voice, nearly drowned out by the disgruntled shouts from Monoma.

Izuku left Shinsou to deal with the brainwashing and focused his attention on the girl. She was timid and easily persuaded to return to the main group.

"We got the flag," Iida said through the earpiece. "Where is Bakugo located?"

"Southeast, five-story building," Izuku replied, "follow the destruction."

"Understood."

Monoma managed to get into a sitting position, seething. "That wasn't mind reading."

Izuku shrugged as he walked by. "Not my fault, you didn't do proper research." He turned to Shinsou. "I've got an idea."

"This is a stupid plan," Shinsou grumbled as they walked towards the building holding the flag. They were wrapped in his capture weapon, the brainwashed beast walking behind them.

Izuku pursed his lips. "It works in movies."

Shinsou would've smacked his forehead if his arms weren't pinned to his sides. "Remind me to never follow one of your plans again."

"It hasn't even failed yet!"

"Shut up, someone is coming outside."

It was the redhead girl. Izuku smirked, reaching towards her mind and convincing her that there was nothing amiss about them. She waved the beast in, telling him to put them in the holding cell.

"Hey, Tendo?" "Yeah—"

Shinsou's eyes crinkled at the corners as she fell under his control. Izuku searched her mind, figuring out exactly where the flag was located. Second floor, but someone was coming down the stairs.

Get to the flag. I'll hold them off.

Izuku nodded to Shinsou and reached into the mind of the person as they ran into the room, making them stumble to a stop and look around confused.

"What's your name?"

Answer him.

"Kodai," she said, frowning in confusion. "You're not suppose—" Be quick.

Izuku reached into Shinsou's mind, pulling together an answer. I will. He took the stairs two at a time, searching with his quirk for anyone headed his way. Just as he feared they were all congregated in the room with the flag. He pressed himself against the wall, listening to them talk.

He reached into their thoughts, wincing as his head began to throb. He ignored it. The five students of Class B continued to talk as Izuku walked between them and snatched the flag from where it hung in the center of the room surrounded by vines. He didn't let his hold on them go until he was halfway down the hall. He grabbed Shinsou and bolted from the building, both of them picking up speed when they heard the shouts and yowl from the beast.

"Got the flag," Izuku said into the walkie. "Headed to Kacchan's location." "Hurry!" Kaminari yelled, cut off by a blast.

Izuku and Shinsou looked at each other when they saw the billowing smoke up ahead. Izuku reached into his belt and pulled out a couple capture bombs. He looked over his shoulder at the group chasing after them and threw the bombs. They exploded with a small cloud of smoke and tangled up the feet of most of the group.

Another blast sent a shudder through the ground and buildings. Izuku pushed himself into a sprint, pulling away from Shinsou. All that running finally paying off. He skidded around a corner.

Bakugo and Kirishima were back-to-back, surrounded by robots, three Class B students tied up around them.

Izuku tossed more bombs, these filled with sticky tar, at the feet of the robots and used his reinforced gloves to punch through the body of the biggest robot. Kirishima tore through the rest of them till they were surrounded by scrap metal.

"Dude, nice timing," Kirishima said between gasps. "They never end. We haven't even made it

inside yet."

"They don't know where the flag is," Izuku said, pulling out of the minds of the three students. "They only know that it's in this building."

Shinsou pushed open the door, peeking into the room. "I'll go. We'll have company soon." Izuku rolled his shoulders, trying to release the building tension.

"I'm about spent, guys," Kaminari said, stumbling over to them and leaning against Kirishima. The wave of robots lay scattered across the ground, shorted out. "How many are coming?" he asked Izuku, already wincing at the answer.

"About a dozen," Izuku groaned, lifting his fists. They were all pissed too. Even from a distance, he could feel it. "Get ready."

"Go help, Shinsou," Bakugo said, giving Kaminari a shove in the direction of the building. "But—"

"Go," Bakugo bit out. "You'll be better use to him."

Izuku pulled out his staff, extending it. "They're going for a joint attack."

"All at once?" Iida asked.

Izuku didn't even get the chance to answer as half of Class B swarmed towards them and their last remaining flag, hell-bent on protecting it. He focused on using his quirk to predict moves, saving his energy in case he needed it. There was fighting inside the building, too. The occasional bolt of lightning shooting down from one of the windows, electrocuting the students Kaminari's disks attached to.

Izuku back stepped out of the reach of Monoma. "You don't want my quirk," he warned, ducking under a pair of horns aimed at his head.

Monoma's lip curled back. "Think you're too good to use your quirk on us?" His eyes narrowed, reaching again. "What are you hiding?"

"I am using my quirk."

"Shishida said you took control of him."

"Something like that," Izuku agreed, knocking his hand away.

Monoma reached behind him, fingers brushing against Kirishima's arm. Izuku gritted his teeth as Monoma's arms turned to rock.

Izuku reached into his mind, digging deep, weaving commands. He heaved a sigh when Monoma walked away to search for one of their flags in a random building. "Is he always like that?" he asked Kirishima who jumped away from a steel fist.

Kirishima, locked with the metal guy, looked back at him. "He's actually pretty tame today." The metal guy stepped back, skin returning to normal. Kirishima blinked in confusion and then turned to Izuku with a nod of thanks. His eyes widened."Shit."

Izuku turned around, wanting to pass out at the wave of robots headed their way. The fight had

quieted down inside the building, so hopefully, it wouldn't be long. Izuku looked to the rest of Class B fighting them.

"I'll hold them off," Izuku said, reaching into each of their minds commanding them to stop moving. "You guys take care of the robots."

"Midoriya, is that too much for you?" Iida asked, taking a concerned step towards him. Yes. "No, I'll be fine. Iida, go help Shinsou and Kaminari. We'll handle it out here."

Iida hesitated for a moment, looking back at Kirishima and Bakugo still fighting and then to the robots nearly upon them. He ran into the building and Izuku brought all the attacking to a stop, closing his eyes as he felt the strain strengthen to sharp, stabbing pain.

Bakugo and Kirishima looked back to him, caught mid-action. "I'll hold them off, just take care of the robots!"

Izuku wove through their minds, convincing them that they had won, that there was no more fighting to do. One at a time while sending commands to the others to hold still, till they were all convinced that the game was over.

"He's controlling you!"

Izuku opened his eyes to see Monoma running towards him, shouting at his group. Izuku held their minds tight.

"We've won, Monoma. Pony has the flags." Kendo gestured to the girl with horns holding up non- existent flags. Monoma pulled at his hair trying to talk sense into them.

Izuku had to shut his eyes again, wincing in pain.

"Let them go!"

Izuku barely dodged the punch from Monoma, whimpering as his head spun and he saw stars.

"Let them go," he yelled again, hands balled into fists. "You freak!"

Izuku stumbled a chill racing down his spine. "I. . .I'm not a freak," Izuku said quietly, shaking his head.

Monoma seethed, teeth bared in a crude smile. "Ran into some of your classmates when you sent me on that goose chase. They said we should be glad you're on our side. The heroes." He glanced over to his classmates still chatting. "Guess they're right."

Izuku thought he might be sick, the nausea burning his throat. "I am a hero," he whispered, but the words sounded foreign to him.

"But have you thought about it?" Monoma asked, dropping his stance. "Being a villain would be easy with your quirk. It must've crossed your mind." Then he glanced towards his class thoughtfully. "Must be hard making friends, too, when they know you could turn them into slaves on a whim."

Izuku flinched back struggling to keep his control over the other students. Bakugo and Kirishima were almost done fighting back the robots.

Monoma shoved his hands into his pockets, standing casually as he looked Izuku up and down. "All most near your limit? Too many slaves for you?"

"T-They're not—I wouldn't!"

"Is this why you transferred so late? The teachers didn't trust you?"

Izuku felt his hands ball into fists, but another wave of pain shot through his head making his knees wobble. He had to let them go. Bakugo and Kirishima would have to be ok.

"Leave him alone!" Shinsou yelled, shoving Monoma back.

Kaminari put a hand on Izuku's shoulder, getting his attention. "We got the flag. We won. It's ok," he said gently, but his breathing was uneven, and the draw of his brow said anger.

The control was already gone, and the migraine remained, but the pain in his chest hurt worse. Something ripping apart inside him.

From where Monoma had stumbled he smirked. "I'm just saying what we're all thinking. He,"— pointing at Izuku—"is dangerous. Did you even see what he did to them?"

Izuku shrunk back as his eyes began to burn, the only thing keeping him from running was the grip Kaminari had on his arm.

"Monoma," Kendo hissed, fist growing, "it's just combat training."

Monoma scoffed. "He could tell you to jump off a roof and you'd do it!"

"He's not wrong."

"Shut up!"

Run.

Run. And hide.

Izuku pulled at Kaminari's hold, ripping his arm free. "Midoriya!" he yelled, reaching to grab him again, but they were both knocked away by a loud and powerful explosion.

Izuku cradled his head, his control sputtering and the thoughts surrounding him poured in.

He would be a terrifying villain. Monoma's right, but he shouldn't say it. I hope I never fight him. He looks hurt. And I thought the purple guy's quirk was scary. Why does it ways end like this?

Smoke. So much smoke.

Izuku focused on it, letting it fill his senses. Dug his fingers into the dirt.

"You underestimated him and lost," Bakugo growled, hands sparking as his foot connected with Monoma's ribs. Kirishima pulled him back yelling something. "Don't take it out of him because you still suck after two years, you piece of shit!"

He needed to get away. It was too loud. It was too. . . Everything was blurred and muddled. Izuku pushed himself up, half dragging his body away from the group till the thoughts in his head fell to whispers and then silence. He rested there in the shadow of a building, tears free-flowing down his cheeks. "I'm not a villain," he reminded himself weakly, voice breaking. "My quirk is what I make

it."

He cried harder, not sure if he believed it anymore.

It was happening all over again, just like he expected it to, but it still hurt so bad. He wasn't even sure how much time had passed.

He hung his head between his knees, watching his tears pool on the ground between his feet, forcing himself to breathe the way Mrs. Ito taught him. Slow and steady, till his heart rate returned to almost normal in his aching chest. But he didn't get up. Couldn't even think about moving with the way his head hurt and blood pulsed in his temples.

Everything hurt. Everything was being ripped apart. He just wanted to sleep. Forever.

"I'm not a villain," he whispered, eyes growing too heavy to hold open. It felt like forever till someone was calling his name.

"Deku."

Izuku tried to look up, knowing it was Bakugo, but the light glinting off his gauntlets forced his eyes closed again.

"You seriously overdid it, didn't you?" Bakugo groaned, crouching down beside him. He pulled off one of his water bottles, offering it to Izuku.

Izuku stared at the bottle, remembering the final. "Why are you here, Kacchan?" Izuku felt new, hot tears slip down his cheeks, too tired to wipe them away. "Don't you hate me?" Izuku heard dirt crunch under Bakugo's boots as he shifted.

"You think I'd be here if I hated you?"

Izuku forced himself to look over at Bakugo. "You won't lie to me," he murmured, squinting as the low light made his head throb. "Do you think I'm a villain? Is my quirk evil? I should've stayed in the Support Course. I'm not a hero. I'm not—I can't—"

"Stop that," Bakugo ordered, tipping Izuku's chin up so that their eyes met. "You're going to work yourself up into another panic attack."

Izuku focused on the feeling of Bakugo's fingers pressed into his skin, grabbing at his forearm so that he wouldn't pull away. Bakugo's hand shifted to fan across Izuku's cheek, wiping away tears with his thumb.

"You're the same as when we were kids," he muttered, "always crying."

Izuku sniffed, mad he didn't have the energy to make a comeback.

"Can you walk?"

"You never answered me," Izuku said, resting his head back against the wall, reluctantly letting go of Bakugo's arm.

Bakugo's eyes narrowed. "No, you're nothing like a villain. You're a self-destructive idiot who cares too much about what other people think of him." Bakugo stood offering his hand to Izuku. "Can you walk or not?"

Izuku took his hand, swaying as he stood, black spotting his vision. He nearly collapsed but Bakugo wrapped an arm around his waist and held him steady. "Aizawa's gonna kill me."

They tried taking a few steps, but Izuku's head swam again, and he tripped forward, held up by Bakugo. "You're lucky I don't," Bakugo growled.

"How far to the exit?"

"About two miles."

Izuku stumbled again, cursing as pain shot through his head.

"Alright, fuck this."

Izuku yelped, holding his head as he was lifted, heat staining his cheeks. "You can't carry me!" He winced again.

"Well, you can't fucking walk and I am not dragging your ass all the way back."

Izuku covered his face to shield his eyes from the sun and cover his burning cheeks. "But it's two miles," he muttered, forcing himself to keep his voice low.

"Are you saying I can't carry your scrawny ass two miles, Deku?"

Bakugo's grip tightened on him, his pace picking up.

Izuku gave up fighting and rested against Bakugo's shoulder, jerking his head up every few seconds as he fought off sleep. Bakugo gave him a nudge as they approached the exit. Izuku squinted, trying to figure out who was waiting for them. Their class was gone, and it looked like the two figures waiting were Aizawa and Recovery Girl.

"Idiot," Bakugo hissed one last time before setting him down.

Izuky glared at him as best he could, but he had a feeling it didn't come off near as intimidating as he wanted it to. He sighed, turning to Aizawa, head hung. "I'm sorry."

Aizawa crossed his arms. "We'll discuss it tomorrow after you've recovered." "Sit down, sonny, I'll get you fixed up."

Izuku plopped down, wincing as his head spun. He watched with tired eyes as Bakugo spoke with Aizawa and then jogged back into the buildings. He was missing his gauntlets. Right. He'd have to put them down to carry Izuku. He felt another wave of embarrassment wash over him, but it was cut short by Recovery Girl healing him. He felt the migraine melt away, his remaining energy with it.

"Come on," Aizawa said, extending a hand to help him up. Izuku took it, sighing with relief when his head didn't ricochet with pain.

It felt like a moment later that Izuku was pulling off his shirt and squirming under the covers of his bed. He could hear Eri in the hall asking questions in a hushed voice, ever curious.

Home, he thought as he snuggled into his pillow, this is home.