"Are you sure about this?" Izuku asked as he stumbled back, rubbing his shoulder where Bakugo

had punched him.

"Absolutely," Mirko quipped from somewhere to his left, much too cheery for Izuku's liking.

Izuku grumbled and shifted the blindfold so the folds of the fabric didn't bite into his eyes. He stumbled out of several advances from Bakugo, struggling to adjust to the feeling of thoughts being enacted into actions without seeing them. He punched, but he was short, missing Bakugo complete. Izuku gritted his teeth and focused harder on Bakugo, trying to imagine his body and the way he moved.

Izuku let out a breath as he successfully blocked Bakugo.

"Focus on your accuracy!" Mirko called as Izuku drove Bakugo backward a few steps.

He wasn't sure how long it'd been, but his muscles were screaming for a break. Izuku knelt on the ground and wheezed for air. Bakugo didn't sound any better.

"You're not fighting me until you can beat Bakugo blindfolded."

Izuku weakly nodded as he accepted the water bottle from her. He got about half of it down before she told them to start again.

Bakugo was coming towards him, arm moving back to throw a right punch. Izuku dodged, letting Bakugo move him around the mat, and focused on familiarizing himself with the sensations from his quirk. It was strange not being about to see Bakugo but knowing where his body was and how he was moving.

Distance was proving to be a difficult point to judge.

"You're not using your senses, Izuku. Listen!" Mirko shouted.

Izuku took a breath to slow himself down, realizing she was right and that he'd been leaning on his quirk. He stood still, picking out the sounds around him.

Feet moving across the mat. Hard breathing. His own heart hammering. Bakugo grunting with each punch and kick.

There were other things too, Izuku realized. The smell of smoke that clung to Bakugo's skin. The sweat. The heat of Bakugo's hands when they were close to Izuku's skin.

He blocked another punch as that heat drew near his cheek.

"There you go!"

Izuku grabbed Bakugo's wrist and yanked him forward, driving a heel into his side as he lost his balance. Bakugo cursed, grabbing Izuku and dragging him down. Izuku winced from the sudden light as Bakugo pulled the blindfold off his eyes. He grinned, dangling it tauntingly over Izuku's face. "You're even worse than when we first started training."

"I'd like to see you try!" Izuku reached up to smack away Bakugo's hand, but he just lifted it out of Izuku's reach and laughed. "Get off of me, Kacchan," Izuku grunted, struggling to push him off.

Bakugo leaned back a bit, smirking when Izuku wheezed from the pressure on his stomach. "I don't know, Deku," he drawled, and Izuku felt his stomach roll dangerously as Bakugo smirk widened to a lopsided grin. "I like winning, too."

They both looked up as a shadow cross over them. "If you two are done, I'd like to move on to a joint sparring session."

Izuku gulped at the way Mirko's brows were pinched together. They got up wordlessly.

Mirko shook her head and took a deep breath. "You two are strong on your own but you need to learn to work together in a way that doesn't end in a—" she gestured in a frustrated manner at them "—argument."

"Y-You want us to work together?" Izuku asked, a bit shocked.

Mirko crossed her arms, a small smile playing on her lips as she looked at him. "There's a difference between working as a team and fighting equally alongside someone else. Even if you work as independent heroes in the future, there will be times where you have to work with someone else or a team."

"Like Kamino?" Izuku asked.

Mirko was quiet for a moment, glancing at Bakugo as she said, "Yes. Like Kamino. In those cases, it's important to be aware of those around you so you can fight efficiently. You have to focus on your own fight without getting into someone else's. You don't want to get in their way." She took a few steps back and opened her arms. "So, you two are going to work together to fight me." She stiffened as she realized something and pointed at Izuku. "No mind control though!"

Izuku huffed but nodded.

She smiled mischievously and Izuku prepared for a nerve to be poked. "If I were you, I'd consider using Izuku's quirk to communicate. It's quite handy."

"Hell no," Bakugo bit out.

"Why are you so stubborn?" Izuku grumbled, ignoring the glare Bakugo sent him.

Mirko shrugged, lacing her fingers and popping them as she stretched her arms upward. "I don't care how you do it, but—" her eyes cut to them "—neither of you are joining me for patrol until I'm sure you won't get tangled up in a fight." She raised her fists. "Well?"

Bakugo struck first and Izuku focused his quirk on Bakugo like he'd been doing earlier. Izuku shifted around Bakugo, using his quirk to dodge Mirko's attacks. He braced himself on Bakugo's shoulder a second before an explosion, then he pushed off, driving a kick into Mirko's stomach as she stumbled back.

"Alright," she grumbled, steadying herself. "Not bad. Guess I'll have to step it up." She looked at Izuku as she raised her fists. "Don't rely on Bakugo. You're strong enough on your own."

Izuku felt heat flare in his chest, and he nodded.

Mirko avoided their advances with a wide grin, calling out corrections and praise as she saw fit. She defended against them seamlessly, her years of experience showing in the skill of her blocks and counterattacks.

Izuku wasn't sure what she was looking for. They wouldn't be able to beat her with limited quirks. He was just happy to land a hit every once in a while. He ducked under a punch Bakugo threw and rammed his elbow into Mirko's stomach. Her leg came up hard, the force of air knocking them away.

Izuku pushed himself up from the ground, wiping the sweat from his brow. Mirko took a few steps towards them, rubbing her side where Izuku had hit her, smirking. "You used him as a distraction."

Izuku sat back with a tired laugh. "Didn't really work."

She shrugged. "It was a good idea."

"Did we pass or not?" Bakugo asked, wiping the sweat from his face.

Mirko stood with a long sigh. "It will take more than one session to get you two on the same page, but, yes, I'll let you two join me on patrol."

"Yes!" Izuku grinned.

"Now, tell me what you noticed about each other's fighting styles," Mirko said and tossed them water bottles.

Izuku caught his and chugged it. "Kacchan's always favored offense and he's really strong in the air. That usually trips up opponents."

Mirko nodded. "That's right. He always strikes first, so you hung back till he made the first move." She looked at Bakugo expectantly.

Bakugo looked sour as he said, "Deku has gotten a lot faster, but his counters are still shit." Izuku glared at him.

"True," Mirko said, mouth tipping up in teasing, "but you always get tripped up by his combo punches. Deku has great stamina and reflexes. You should keep that in mind, whether he's fighting you or someone else."

"You know," Izuku said thoughtfully, "I'm not any faster, it's just an illusion."

"Well, you are getting faster at reacting," Mirko said as she sat back down. "But the way you're beginning to move a fraction before your opponent does give the illusion that you're fast. Make sure you use that against your opponents."

"Deku's gotten a lot better since training with you," Bakugo said, staring hard at the far wall. "More than I expected."

Mirko hummed in thought. "Izuku?"

Izuku sat up, blood rushing. "Well," he started, "I guess that's because the basics of my mind reading are similar to your hearing." He scratched at his cheek. "I've really improved the distance that I can hear thoughts and how to pick out certain thoughts. Even though it's not sounds I hear; I can still sense when someone shifts their weight for a fake out or the way they panic when I block them." But it was more than that. He locked eyes with Mirko. "I think the reason I've improved so much under you is because you're teaching me to rely on my instincts and senses when I fight. I did that a lot as a kid without really realizing it to avoid fights. I'd use my quirk to catch thoughts directed my way and leave. That's why I spent so much time on rooftops or walking around. Now I'm turning it into a strength." He drew his hands into fists in his lap and whispered to himself, "No more running."

Mirko smirked. "That's what I like to hear," she said and stood. "Get dressed, we have patrol soon."

Izuku stood to follow her but noticed Bakugo still sitting. "Kacchan?" Izuku asked quietly and Bakugo's brow furrowed, but he said nothing as he stood and walked out of the gym. Izuku watched him go, feeling those prickly emotions press into him for a second before he blocked them out. "What's going on?" he muttered, looking at the door Bakugo had left through.

Tokyo looked incredible from the small amount Izuku had been able to see through the train car windows. Walking along the streets was another story. Everywhere he looked, Izuku saw towering buildings and flashy billboards. So many people that stopped and asked for pictures. Izuku melted into the hum of the city. They even stopped to talk with some of the other hero's patrolling.

"Look alive," Mirko said as they turned a corner. "Looks like we've got a robbery." "No civilians," Izuku said as they approached the building. "Two people."

They skidded to a stop as the shop door was flung open. Izuku brought them to a halt as they turned to run.

"Stop," he said, purposely aloud.

"I got to admit," Mirko said, taking the bag with the stolen money from one of their hands, "it's nice not having to chase petty thieves."

Izuku frowned as they fought his control and tossed a net bomb for good measure until the police arrived. He stepped back, a chill running up his spine. Mirko's ears also shifted.

"What is it?" Bakugo asked, tensing as he looked around.

"Something's coming," Izuku said slowly as thoughts filtered into him. He looked up. "Something from the air."

Mirko stepped up beside him, frowning up at the shy, her ears twitching. "What is that—" Screams started down the street and something exploded.

Izuku threw another net bomb at the two tied up and the money bag for good measure before following Mirko and Bakugo. Smoke was rising from one of the lower floors of a skyscraper, the orange hues of flames glinting off the windows.

"I can't tell what's going on," Izuku said frustratedly as they dodge people running away. "Everyone's afraid of someone—or something—but I can't find the person." He watched the way

Mirko frowned and picked up the pace with unease.

"Fan out," she ordered, shooting into the thick of the lingering crowd.

Izuku nodded to Bakugo before splitting off right. He pressed orders into everyone he passed to get far away and to not turn back. He ducked as there was another explosion. A plume of fire rose into the air, filling the street with light. Izuku looked for the source, knowing it wasn't a blast from Bakugo.

Izuku jumped back as a large form was thrown into the ground. Mirko stood in the hole in the building, hair whipping wildly as she glowered down at the creature. Izuku tried to press into its mind but found a mess of jumbled connections and fragmented memories. It hardly felt human.

"It's a low-level nomu," Mirko explained as she landed on the ground.

"I can't control it," Izuku said, stepping back as it began to move and pulled out his staff. Mirko's lip curled back as it got to its knees. "This one breaths fire, so watch out."

Izuku forcibly made himself stand up straighter as the nomu began to get to its feet. Mirko kicked it down again. "That was a person," Izuku muttered in horror as he dug through the fragments of a mind left behind. He locked eyes with the creature when it turned its head. Izuku leaped out of the way of a stream of fire. When he landed, Izuku tossed two flash bombs to disorient it

Bakugo counterattacked the flares of fire with explosions, containing the damage. Izuku focused on driving away civilians while Mirko dealt with the creature. Izuku watched curiously from afar as the nomu thrashed and fought while Mirko twisted rebar around its massive arms.

"What do you think it was doing here?" Izuku asked, keeping a safe distance away. "It doesn't have much of a mind left." He stepped back as it growled and fought the restraints.

"Nothing good," Mirko said, looking up as the police pulled into the square.

Izuku handed Bakugo the last of the prepped vegetables as he talked with Mina. "I'm so jealous that you guys got to go to Tokyo," she whined.

Izuku chuckled, pinning the phone between his shoulder and ear as he got plates down. "It's really cool, and the agency Mirko's contracted with got us this really nice flat for the week."

Mina groaned louder. "Anything interesting happen?"

"There was a nomu a few days ago. Mirko said it was low level though."

"A nomu? Seriously?"

Izuku shifted the phone back to his hand as he set the plates down on the table. "Yeah, it was crazy. But other than that, we've just been dealing with petty crimes."

"Is Bakugo there?"

Izuku glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah, he's cooking right now."

"Ugh, you're so lucky," she cried. "I miss his cooking. You don't appreciate something till you don't have it anymore."

Izuku laughed with a shake of his head. "You're so dramatic." He heard her voice muffle like she covered the receiver.

"I gotta go, Izuku, but tell Bakugo I said hi."

"Bye, Mina." He looked over at Bakugo as he slid his phone into his pocket. "Mina says hi." Izuku accepted the bowl of rice from Bakugo who only grunted in reply. "Mirko, dinners ready!"

She came out of the bedroom wearing her costume, carrying her gloves in one hand. Izuku sat down to her left and scooped rice onto his plate. "It's so nice not having to eat take-out," she sighed happily before digging in. She poked Bakugo in the shoulder when he sat down. "You're oddly quiet."

He scowled at her. "What's the point of pointless conversation?"

Her smile pressed into a thin line, ear's leaning back. "There's nothing wrong with a friendly chat, Bakugo."

Izuku looked at him curiously. Friendly. Except he didn't want to be friends. Izuku sunk into his shoulder slightly and poked around at his food.

"Something wrong with it?"

Izuku lifted his eyes to Bakugo's a bit reluctantly. "Nothing," he muttered after a few moments of silent staring and he started to eat.

"How's Eraser Head?" Mirko asked, popping the awkward silence that had polluted the air.

Izuku wiped his mouth with a napkin and pulled out his phone. "He texted me this morning to check-in, but he's good," Izuku said as he scrolled through his camera roll. "Eri wanted me to show you this."

Mirko snatched the phone from his hands. "She's gotten so big!" She shoved the phone towards Bakugo so that he could see Eri standing next to her school project. "Look at her. She's adorable."

Bakugo just rolled his eyes and pushed her hand away.

"I think she's turning eight soon," Izuku said as he took his phone back.

Mirko rested her cheek against a fist propped up on the table. "You're pretty close with them."

"When he found out I had nowhere to stay during the break, he made me stay with him," Izuku explained, hurriedly shoving food into his mouth to avoid talking for a moment.

Mirko's brows raised curiously. "Nowhere to stay?"

Izuku shrugged, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. "Well, when UA made the dorms and moved everyone on campus, UA gained guardianship I guess." He swallowed thickly when Mirko didn't say anything. "Basically, when breaks came, I didn't have anywhere to stay. Usually, I just stayed with my friend Hatsume, but she was taking a trip to America, so she went behind my back and told Aizawa where I'd be and he made me come home with him," he huffed, still mad that he hadn't figured that out sooner.

"So Aizawa's your guardian?" Mirko asked, chopsticks paused halfway to her mouth. "Yeah, the school made him my guardian when I transferred courses."

"Interesting," she said through a mouth full. Then she frowned down at her food. "What do people usually ask at dinner?"

Izuku frowned too trying to think of the common questions he'd heard at the dinner table. "Eri always asks if I have fun at school."

Mirko raised her eyes brows. "Do you?"

Izuku thought for a moment. "Sometimes," he said lowly.

Then she looked at Bakugo expectantly.

"Do we really have to do this?" he asked, and she nodded. "It's school. It's not fun."

"Combat training is something fun."

Bakugo gave him a dubious look. "Right, because I know how much you love robots, Deku."

Izuku blushed and looked away, remembering the way Bakugo had laughed. "I think everyone finds them annoying," he grumbled defensively.

Bakugo smirked, pointing his chopsticks at Izuku. "You hate that you can't use your quirk on them."

"Of course that would annoy me!"

Bakugo looked at Mirko. "You should see how he looks pissed off."

"Oh?" Mirko's ears perked up and she looked at Izuku. "Does his face get all red?" she asked, eyes locked on Izuku as she inclined her head to Bakugo.

"Ear's too."

Izuku slapped his hands over his ears. "Why am I being attacked?" he whined.

Mirko furrowed her brow as she studied Izuku. "I can't imagine him angry," she said, crossing her arms. "Izuku, what's something that makes you angry?"

Izuku drew a blank and blinked at her for a few seconds before he remembered something that sent a hot flash over his skin and whipped over to look at Bakugo. He seemed to know exactly what Izuku was going to say as his smirk dropped and he muttered something under his breath. "How about when you threw the fight!" Izuku said, leaning forward on the table.

"What?" Mirko asked, looking at Bakugo in disbelief.

"You're bringing that up now?" he bit out, hand dragging down his face. "Yeah, I'm still mad about it!"

"Get over it, Deku. I beat you in the rematch!"

"Because you didn't throw it!"

"Alright!" Mirko said, shoving them back into their chairs. "I knew I'd regret taking on two teenagers," she muttered under her breath. She took a deliberate pause before saying to Bakugo, "his ears do get red."

Izuku dropped his head into his hands as he heard them snicker. "I hate both of you."

"Still a shit liar, Deku," Bakugo reminded.

Izuku glared up at him through his fingers till something in the window caught his eye. He stood, squinting as sunlight reflected off the windows of the surrounding buildings, but something didn't look quite right about it.

"Izuku, what is it?" Mirko asked urgently.

Then Izuku saw it, the trails of smoke. "A fire," he breathed, faintly able to see the flames curling out of a shorter building down the street.

Mirko shot to her feet, chair toppling over behind her. "Get dressed!"

A minute later, he and Bakugo were following Mirko out of the building, still pulling on the last of their costumes.

"There are still people inside!" a man yelled when he saw Mirko, pointing to the building being doused by water heroes.

One of the heroes ran towards Mirko, looking relieved to see her. "Part of the building has collapsed," he said through heavy breaths, "so we can't reach the people still inside."

Mirko set a hand on his shoulder. "We'll handle it. Just keep the flames at bay."

"Will do." He returned to his teammates.

Izuku looked up at the burning building wearily. Black smoke was still billowing out of the broken windows and collapsed area, rising high into the sky. Helicopters and news stations were starting to circle the area, too.

Izuku pulled the straps of his mask tight as they entered the building, sticking close to Mirko.

"There are people above us," Izuku said, inching up closer to Mirko as something in the walls crackled. "Maybe ten floors up."

She nodded, pushing a fallen beam aside. "The emergency stairs should be up ahead."

Izuku sorted through the thoughts filtering into him, trying to make sense of their panic. "The stairwell was blocked off during the collapse."

"I was afraid of that," she grumbled. "Do you know how many?" Izuku felt his stomach churn. "It's hard to tell, but more than fifteen."

She cursed and glared up at the ceiling, ears twitching as she listened. "We need to hurry. This part of the building is heavily damaged."

"There are a lot of kids," Izuku said quietly. They were so scared, the fear rippled through him and he shivered.

Mirko growled as she shoved the stairwell door open. "Shit," she coughed as smoke wafted out. "We're in the stairwell," Mirko said, pressing a button on her communicator. "But Deku says there's a blockage ten floors up."

"The building's structure should still be stable enough for Dynamight to get through if you hurry," someone replied, voice crackling through the receiver.

They ran up the stairs, smoke growing thicker as they rose through the levels. Bakugo yanked Deku against the wall as something crumbled from several floors above. The embers and ash rained down as the chunk of debris ricocheted off the railings, falling towards them. Bakugo knocked it away with a small blast, leaning over Izuku as sparks shot out. "They better be right," Bakugo ground out, giving Izuku a light shove to get moving.

"We're getting close!" Izuku called to Mirko as they passed a painted 8 and the thoughts of the trapped people became clearer.

"I see the blockage," Mirko said as they reached floor ten.

Izuku came to a stop behind her, searching for the door. He could barely see a corner of it, the rest covered by a collapsed wall. They moved what they could and called to the people inside. Rushed and frantic voices responded.

"You need to back up as far as possible," Izuku told them. "We have to blast through the blockage to get you out." He waited till he was sure they were all backed up against the far wall before nodding to Mirko and Bakugo.

Izuku watched Bakugo cup his hands and create a controlled explosion that ate through the metal door with little damage to the surrounding structure. Izuku crouched to peer through the warped opening and motioned for the people to come towards them. Mirko ripped the opening wider and radioed in that they made it.

More heroes arrived in the stairwell to help get the people down safely.

The smoke was growing thicker and the temperature rising as the group dwindled to a few people left.

"They'll start putting out the fires again when we get everyone out," Mirko explained, white gloves blackened with soot. Her ears swiveled around for a moment and then nodded as the last person made it through the door. "That's everyone! Let's go."

Izuku took two steps towards her and stopped. "Deku," Mirko urged, reaching a hand towards him.

He stepped out of her grasp and turned to look at the growing smoke, sure he heard someone. Far away. "There's someone else," he said to her, still staring at the smoke-filled room.

"I don't hear anyone, Deku. Where are they?"

He took a step away as he reached out with his quirk. They were desperate but so quiet. Terrified. "I have to find them!" Izuku yelled back, moving further into the room.

"Wait!"

He paused to look back at Mirko, but something crunched above them. They looked up at the ceiling as it bowed down and Izuku felt his stomach drop.

They were. . .

He locked eyes with Bakugo, watching as panic surged across his face, mouth opening wide as he screamed, "DEKU!"

They were too far away. . .

Izuku was thrown back by the force of the ceiling caving in and fire flared into the room. He groaned as he pushed himself up, eyes stinging from the smoke and heat. "M-Mirko!" he called weakly, but only the crackle of fire answered. Izuku slumped, coughing as he sucked in the thin, hot air through his mask.

He heard the distant thought again and got to his feet. "Please be ok," he muttered, looking back to where the door had been, now a mess of burning debris. He pushed further into the building, smoke growing thicker, flames licking up the walls, sparks falling as the structure threatened to give way.

Izuku crouched low to the ground to avoid the thick of smoke, reaching out with his quirk, narrowing in on the location of the person—the child. A girl he was pretty sure. Getting closer.

"Hello?" Izuku called, ducking as part of the ceiling fell in. He quickly brushed the sparks from the hair and pulled his hood up. He dropped his head when no one answered, and another wave of fear hit him. He peered down the stretch of apartment doors struggling to pinpoint their location.

Help?

Izuku pushed forward, latching onto the thought. "I'm here to help!" he half wheezed, eyes burning. He dragged himself down the hall till he found what he was sure was the right room. He stared at the way the door was ajar in confusion, fear brushing up against him, but it was mixed with threads of hope. Slowly he pushed the door opened, staff in his other hand because something was off.

Half the room was blacked to a char, the furniture twisted husks of ash. His blood grew cold when he saw the distinct human shape laying on the ground, blending into the charred surroundings.

"You rookies. Always sticking your nose in places you don't belong."

Izuku snapped over the voice, lungs ceasing up. "Let her go," Izuku ordered, staring wide-eyed at the man.

He looked down at the girl in his grasp as if he forgot he was holding her. "I don't think I will," he taunted, blue flames sparking in his hands. He gave Izuku a curious look. "Deku, right?" He frowned. "Your teacher has a habit of taking my nomu's. It's very frustrating." His eyes darkened to something sinister. "Wonder how she'll feel about one of her students."

Izuku shuttered hearing the threat and his foot shifted back. "Let the girl go." She whimpered, hands pressed over her mouth and nose.

"Do you know who I am?" the villain taunted, blue flames growing taller.

Izuku pressed into his mind, shifting back his thoughts of setting the room on fire. He shivered despite the rising heat biting through his suit. "Dabi," he hissed, gripping his staff tighter. "Let the girl go." He pressed into Dabi's mind, forcing himself deep as he wove thoughts. Slowly, Dabi's hand uncurled from the girl's shirt and she clambered over the ash-covered floor to Izuku.

Dabi blinked at her, face twitching as Izuku struggled to make connections that would last more than a few seconds. "The news said you're a mind reader," Dabi drawled, taking a step towards

them.

Izuku tried to push the girl back but she clung to his leg.

"But you're doing something else," Dabi said, a dangerous edge to his voice and the heat in the room picked up again. "Tell me," he said, gaze narrowing at Izuku, "how did the police so easily capture those twenty yakuza members? All those guns and not a single shot?"

Izuku gulped. Heart pounding hard against his sternum. The little girl gripped him tighter as blue flames crawled along Dabi's fingers.

"I'm afraid I have some questions," he said lowly.

Panic sparked through Izuku and he shoved the girl away a moment before the flames reached him.

"What is your quirk?" Dabi asked casually while Izuku tore at the burned remains of his suit, parts of his skin searing from the heat of the burns. He tried not to think about the burned corpse a few feet away.

Izuku glared up at Dabi, digging into his head, searching for something to make him stop.

"Those are ugly," Dabi said, slightly dazed as he looked down at Izuku's skin. He raised his hand. "Tell me what your quirk is, or I will kill you." He pointedly looked at the dead man. "Like him."

Izuku glanced at the girl, covered in ash, tears streaking through her dirty cheeks. "I can read minds," Izuku confirmed, wincing as he struggled through Dabi's memories, forcing himself to go deeper.

Dabi's lip curled back. But the flames died down as Izuku found something to latch on to. He's dead. Your mission is done.

Dabi stared at him blankly for a moment and then glanced at the dead man. Izuku pushed his thoughts away from the girl cowering a few feet away.

"I want to burn you," Dabi said. His eyebrows rose, pulling his narrowed eyes a little wide. "Are you trying to stop me?" Dabi shook his head as Izuku's control kept breaking, the flames around the room growing with agitation.

Izuku took a deep breath. Curled his trembling hands into the ash and he pushed deep into Dabi's mind, grasping at memories and ripping them forward.

Dabi stumbled back, ripping at his hair. "Get out of my head!"

Izuku saw the blue flames coming at him, wild as Dabi threw them, and the scorching heat wrapped around Izuku, scream catching in his throat as white-hot pain erupted across his chest and arms.

He laid in the ash, vision going in and out. He caught glimpse of the girl, screaming now, reaching a hand towards him. A small, dirty hand.

Mirko would tell him to get up. He had to get up.

Izuku dragged a hand back, biting his lip, and pain seized through him and terror told him to stay down. "It's. . .going to be ok," he said to the girl, getting to his knees, trembling.

Behind him, Dabi barked a laughed, a little hysterical. "You heroes," he spat. "You just don't know when to quit!"

Izuku stumbled to his feet, swaying as his head swam, wincing from the strain. "I have people counting on me," he slurred, reaching into Dabi's mind again pulling forward every moment he was paralyzed with fear as a child. Izuku felt the anger they sparked, watched how the flames around the room grew.

The ground trembled as another part of the building collapsed, shaking embers from the ceiling.

"You're going to leave," Izuku ordered, hammering the command in with a threatening sense of fear if he did not follow the order. "Leave."

Izuku pulled the girl close as Dabi walked, subdued and dazed, out the door. Izuku gave himself two seconds to let the fear and adrenalin shutter through his body. He pulled off his mask, couching as his lungs rejected the smoke-filled air. Through blurry eyes, he fitted the mask over her face.

"What's your name?" he asked as he pulled the straps tight. It was a little big, but better than nothing.

She blinked up at him, eyes bloodshot and watery. "Yuri," she wheezed after a coughing fit and pushed the mask tighter against her face. Izuku relaxed when she took a deep breath. "What about you?" He hated how her voice wavered, weak and tired.

"Don't worry about me, Yuri," he said, biting back the pain and pushed into her mind. "I need you to stay calm and hold on to me. I'm going to get you out of here."

She nodded and gently wrapped her arms around his neck.

Izuku choked on a cry and forced himself to stand. "How old are you, Yuri?" He stumbled out the apartment door and ripped off a chunk of his tattered suit hanging around his waist and pressed the cloth to his nose and mouth.

"Six," she sniffed near his ear.

Izuku soothed her thoughts, using it as a distraction from how it felt like his skin was melting and crunching at the same time. He clung to her happy memories, letting the feelings of joy and laughter course through him.

"You're very brave, Yuri," Izuku said, shuffling down the hall, feeling his body growing weak. "I'm going to get you out," he said again, "I promise."

Even if it's the last thing I do. He narrowed his eyes, pushing himself to take another step even as he stumbled. A hero dies on their feet.

"Yuri," he wheezed, leaning against a wall for a moment. "Do you know where the other stairwell is?"

She leaned back and looked around. "Down that hall," she said, pointing to the left. "Where are the heroes?"

Izuku pushed off where he'd been leaning and started walking again. The smoke wasn't as thick, but he'd give anything for a fresh breath of air. His lungs were aching. Everything was aching. "They're not far," he wheezed, narrowly avoiding a coughing fit.

Through the smoke haze, Izuku saw the red glow of the exit sign and felt tears burst to his eyes. "Not far," he said again, leaning against the wall for support as his legs trembled.

He wanted to sleep. Maybe then the pain would stop.

Every time those thoughts became too loud to ignore, Yuri would shift in his arms and he'd take another step. "Not far."

"What's your name?" Yuri asked, sounding just as tired as he was.

Izuku gritted his teeth when he had to shift her to one arm to get the door open. "Deku," he whimpered, putting all of this numb weight against the door to get it open. "My name is Deku."

She was quiet for a moment, hands shifting their grip. "That man killed my dad."

"I know," Izuku sighed, slipping through the just wide enough opening and took in the stairwell as best he could. "I know, but the bad guy is gone now." Her arms tightened and he fought back a cry. Izuku stared down at the spiraling flights of stairs, wanting to collapse. "Not far," he said to himself and muttered it over and over with each step. "Yuri, do you have friends?" he asked after she was quiet for too long.

"Two," she muttered, grip on his shoulders weakening.

"Tell me about them," he said, knuckles white around the railing so he wouldn't sway. "What are they like?"

He listened to her talk, pulling the memories of her friends forward while he stumbled down the stairs. The smoke was thinning, each creak from above sending a fresh wave of terror coursing through his already frantic blood, but his feet refused to move faster.

"Do you have friends, Deku?" she asked, sounding a little more awake.

"I do," he said, managing a small smile. "I've known him for a long time." A comforting warmth bloomed in Izuku's chest. "Friendships are funny sometimes." He stared at the painted 3, becoming aware of how badly his body was trembling.

"How?"

Izuku forced his legs to keep working. Not far. "I've always cared about him a lot," he said quietly, "but we. . .we don't always get along."

"But you're friends?"

He chuckled weakly at the confusion in her voice. "Friendships are complicated."

She hummed in understanding. "Fumi always takes red bean paste doughnuts," she grumbled bitterly.

Izuku blinked at the bright yellow 2 for a moment and tried to muster a yell but a weak wheeze of air was all that sounded, the effort alone making him sway.

Mirko and Bakugo were out there somewhere. Izuku wondered if they were searching for him. He hoped not. He. . .He hoped they were waiting for him. That they'd be there when he got to the ground floor.

Not far.

"Yuri," Izuku said, as he leaned against the door, wincing when it was hot. "Yuri, I need you to wait here while I open the door."

She whimpered but let go and stepped back, looking up at him with squinted eyes, little hands holding the mask tight to her face.

Izuku used the cloth he'd been pressing against his mouth to grab the handle and pushed the door open, a hot wave of dry air rushing in. Izuku bit down on his hand to stop the scream of agony that bubbled out of his throat. He shakily offered it to Yuri. "Not far," he said, meeting her glassy eyes. He picked her up again, tears washing down his cheeks from the pain and he gritted his teeth hard.

When you think you're at your limit and you think you can't go on, you do. You go further than you ever have before.

Izuku forced his eyes open and looked at the fire smoldering in what was once a gym, most of the walls and floor ash, the skeletal remains of workout equipment blackened from the smoke. Part of the ceiling had collapsed, blocking the entrance. Izuku fought back a yell of frustration and tried to think.

He dug into his charred belt and held two explosion bombs in his hand, weighing the risks. There were large windows lining the walls, but he knew he didn't have the strength to break them. He looked up at the ceiling and the part that had caved in. The whole building could collapse at any moment.

Izuku soothed Yuri's thoughts as she grew agitated and he stepped back, breathing hard as his adrenalin spiked. Faintly, he could see people moving around through the smoke-stained glass. He raised his arm, wincing as his skin protested. Izuku lifted his head. "It's going to be ok, Yuri," he said, taking one last breath before he threw the bombs.

He watched them fly through the air, even hit the glass, breath catching in his throat as they blew open and the glass shattered.

A horrible creak vibrated through his bones from somewhere behind and above him, Yuri yelped as Izuku shot forward with the last of this strength, the light shining through the broken window like a beacon, white and blinding.

Izuku felt the crash of the ceiling behind him, the force propelling them through the opening he'd made and shattering the rest of the windows, the heat of fire against his back. He heard Yuri scream. Felt her little arms wrap tight around his neck. Distantly felt the pain that followed. Even farther away, more people screaming. And then there was an explosion that rang deafening in his ears.

Izuku wasn't sure when he hit the ground or when Yuri had left his arms or how long he laid there. He tried to get up, but only his fingers tips twitched.

He didn't want to get up.

He wanted to close his eyes. Make the pain stop. He wanted it to stop. It hurt. Everything hurt.

"Izuku!"

Izuku managed to get one eye open as he heard his name, but everything was blurred, and the light was too bright. He shut it. Sleep. He needed to sleep.

"Izuku, get up!"

Get up. . .

He tried to open his eyes again because he knew that meant something. Something important.

Something he was supposed to remember. "You have to get up!"

Izuku blinked, some of the world coming back into focus. Familiar maroon eyes and tanned skin streaked with soot stared back at him. He closed his eyes again because Mirko never looked scared. He had to be dreaming.

"Izuku, get up! Get up! You have to get up!" Yuri. Where was Yuri?

Izuku felt his arms move under him.

"Get. Up."

Izuku looked at Mirko, mind swimming as he tried to make sense of what had happened, tasting ash on his tongue. "Yuri," he murmured, not even sure her name made it past his lips.

Mirko's face softened, head hanging as she drew in a breath. "She's ok. You got her out." She looked him in the eye. "But you have to get up, Izuku."

"I have to get up," he repeated, struggling to remember why.

Mirko nodded, arm raising to shield her face from the water that misted around them. Izuku bit down hard from the feeling of needles being pressed into his skin. "Heroes get up. Remember?" she said, voice high and airy, desperate.

Izuku stared at the ground between his hands, blinking to focus as he saw multiple.

Get up.

Izuku pushed himself to his feet, stumbling as his burned skin seared with pain as every fiber in his body protested. He tipped his head back, breathing the clean air in as deeply as he could through his shaky lungs. A helicopter swooped low and Izuku closed his eyes as the chopped air echoed in his head. "Yuri," he said again.

"She's in an ambulance."

Izuku looked down slowly, recognizing the voice. "Kacchan," Izuku breathed, taking a step towards him but stumbled. Izuku bit down hard on his lip, hard enough to draw blood, and he followed Mirko wordlessly. She walked in front of him, Bakugo to his right.

Izuku wasn't sure when they got to the ambulance or when an IV had been put in his arm or when his body had gone numb, but he felt Mirko's hand stroking his cheek, a blurred flurry of movement around her.

"Dabi," he managed out on a tired breath.

Her eyes widened slightly, but whatever emotion she felt she swallowed it down. "Just rest now, Izuku."

He couldn't even think about arguing as his eyelids grew enormously heavy and finally, he slept.