"Why do I always have to be his puppet?" Shinsou groaned, shaking his head as Izuku's control

dropped.

Izuku leaned forward on his knees, eyes squeezed shut against the light. "You have nothing to hide, remember?" He grinned when Shinsou started grumbling to himself.

"Izuku, I want you to practice your reach for the rest of the day," Aizawa said, collecting his things. "Shinsou, Midnight has gathered a group of students you can practice with."

Izuku waved goodbye and went to find a quiet spot to practice. He settled down against a tree along the outskirts of the lodge yard. Fluffy clouds rolled overhead, pushed along by a gentle breeze that tugged at Izuku's hair. If not for the determined yells and echoes of destruction from his classmates practicing their quirks, it would've been peaceful.

He closed his eyes and opened his quirk.

This hurts. Don't make me stupid this time. Finally beat my record! I'm so hungry.

As the thoughts of his friends soaked into him, Izuku stood and decided to search them out. Tracking skills needed work too. He found Mina relatively easy. She was too focused on burning a hole through a chunk of concrete to notice him.

Yo, Midoriya, you listenin' in?

Izuku looked over at Kaminari who was grinning at him and pointing at his ear. Izuku waved. Practicing my reach.

There was an explosion across the yard that made Izuku jump. Curious, he edged closer, careful to keep out of the way of the other students practicing. Not wanting to get in their way, he sat down on one of the logs near the big firepits and reached out with his quirk, searching over the mountainside.

"Everyone, back up!"

Izuku sat up, looking around as the other students followed Vlad King's order. Izuku moved to the porch of the lodge and leaned against the railing to watch. Vlad gave a thumbs up when a large space on the lawn had been cleared. Todoroki took a few steps back.

Even from the distance, Izuku could feel the concentration rolling off of him. And then there was fire.

Izuku stumbled back, throat constricting as the heat of the flames hit his face.

Wonder how she'll feel about one of her students.

The flames reached higher, pressing in around him.

I want to burn you.

Run.

Get up! Get up! GET up! You have to get up!

Yuri.

Izuku reeled back as the flames shot out, heart thundering in his chest. His arms flying to his face.

I want to burn you.

Izuku waited for the flames to reach him, tensed with rippling fear, scream lodged in this throat.

He reached out for Yuri, but she wasn't. She wasn't— He spun around, vision blurring when he didn't see her.

"Deku—Hey, look at me."

Izuku blinked, tears slipping down his cheeks as the flames fell back and the feeling of his skin burning receded. He laid his hand over Bakugo's pressed to the side of his face, blocking off Todoroki in his peripheral and the flames still heating the yard.

Bakugo took Izuku off to the side in a nook by a door and pulled him close.

"Dabi," Izuku whimpered, tensing again as the breezed brought a wave of stifling heat. He sucked in a ragged breath. "The fire."

Bakugo turned him away. "I know."

"I remember," he cried, letting Bakugo pull him close. "He burned me—He wanted to." The arms around him tightened, Bakugo's cheek pressed tight to Izuku's temple. "You were too far away," he whispered, blinking through tears. "I looked at you before the ceiling caved in, but you were too far away."

"It's ok. You're ok," Bakugo said, hand drawing up and down Izuku's back while the other kept Izuku's face tucked against his shoulder.

"It hurt," Izuku stammered, breath catching in his throat. "He wanted to—to kill me so bad that I almost—almost couldn't—" Izuku clenched his teeth. "I didn't stop him. . .in time."

"You did," Bakugo said against his ear, fingers curling into the back of his shirt. "You stopped him and saved Yuri."

Izuku felt a frantic pound against his chest but couldn't tell which heart it was. "I did good?" he asked, a bitterness lacing his voice.

Bakugo was quiet for a moment before he pulled back and looked Izuku in the eye. "You did the best you could."

Izuku wasn't sure if that made him feel better. That his best almost wasn't enough.

"And you won," Bakugo continued, wiping the tears off Izuku's cheeks.

Izuku leaned into the touch, remembering the last time Bakugo had dried his tears. "I thought being a hero would be easier."

"Well," Bakugo started, take a step back, hands falling to his sides, "they make it look nice on TV."

Izuku looked past Bakugo to the ocean peeking through the tall trees surrounding the lodge. Even as he remembered the fire and how much pain he'd been in, how scared he'd been, he couldn't forget the feeling of Yuri clinging to him. "Am I crazy—after all that—for still wanting to be a hero?"

"You?" Bakugo scoffed. "I think I'd be more concerned if you didn't. That's just how you are. How you've always been."

Izuku moved closer and looked around the corner. Todoroki was finished and the other students were making their way to the house. "I should go talk to Aizawa," Izuku muttered, reluctant to leave the safety of the dark corner. He looked back at Bakugo. "Thank you."

Bakugo glanced away, hands shoving into his pockets. "After last night, I thought the fire might —" he cut off, scratching at his cheek.

"I should've thought of that," Izuku huffed to himself. "I'll let you know what he says." Bakugo frowned slightly but nodded. "Don't be an idiot."

"I'll be ok," Izuku promised, smiling when Bakugo crossed his arms, unconvinced. "Ok, ok," Izuku grumbled, "I won't overwork myself. Is that better?"

Bakugo raised an unimpressed eyebrow.

"I'll be with Aizawa. I'll be fine." He added softly when Bakugo's scowl didn't change, "I have to tell him."

Bakugo's eyes shifted to the floor as his shoulders hunched. "I know." He turned from Izuku, hand wrapping around the door handle, he paused, head turning slightly like he thought of saying more, but he pushed the door open and went inside.

Izuku stared at his reflection in the glass as the rhythm of his heart wound down to a stable beat.

Izuku welcomed the cool night with the release of an exhausted sigh. He laid on the grass, fingers digging into the chilled earth as the glow of the bonfires danced at the edge of his vision. As much as he wanted to get further away, Aizawa was keeping a careful eye on him.

Even though he didn't mind the company, Izuku felt bad that Shinsou was stuck laying in the grass with him.

"You're a mess," he teased with a good-natured huff.

"How do you think I feel?" Izuku scoffed, shifting to rest his arm behind his head.

Shinsou was quiet for a bit and Izuku could tell he was working up a question. "So, you remember all of it?" he finally asked, glancing over at Izuku.

"Most of it," Izuku said, gaze moving across the sky as he tried to find the Big Dipper again. "Compared to Mirko and Bakugo's reports, I'm missing bits and pieces."

"But you remember. . .him? Dabi?"

"Yeah," Izuku hesitated. "Not all of it, but enough to help the police."

Talking with Aizawa had dragged on for hours and then turned into a conference call with the Tokyo police and Mirko. Izuku lost count of how many times he retold the details of the confrontation with Dabi. It didn't seem to dull the sting or the way he closed his eyes when he got to the part about Dabi throwing a handful of blue flames at him. Even so far away from the fires, the smoke in the air made his stomach twist with unease.

Izuku stared up at the sky, losing himself in the starlight, trying to find shapes and stories. "You ever think about how small we are?" Shinosu asked, his voice weary.

Izuku smiled, letting his eyes close as a salty breeze blew up the mountainside. "I used to think about it a lot more."

Shinsou's head turned to the side to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"I used to think about dying a lot," Izuku said softly, pushing himself up into a sitting position. "I still do sometimes. I think. . .it'd be quiet."

Shinsou released a stiff breath and shook his head. "What does that have to do with being small in comparison to the universe?"

Izuku looked at the horizon where the stars met the ocean. "I just never thought anyone would care." He looked up again as he said, "My view of the world was so small for so long, that it was hard imagining anyone caring about me in a way that mattered, like how could you miss a single star in all this?"

"Do you still feel that way?" Shinsou asked as he sat up and moved closer to Izuku.

Izuku shivered from the sudden heat soaking into his left side and looked at him. "No," he said and smiled, warmth spreading through his chest. "It's still hard to believe that sometimes. I kept expecting it to end."

"I know I give you a lot of shit about it, but I was the same way. With them." Shinsou rested his arms on his knees. "It took me a while to accept it. Felt too good to be true."

"You were right," Izuku chuckled, remembering fondly the first night he went home with Aizawa. "They are relentless." Izuku fell back into the grass, listening to the distant waves rolling onto the shore. "This noise. . .it's different. I think I could listen to it forever."

"Noise?"

Izuku hummed, threading his fingers through the blades of grass. "It never shuts off. I can drown it out or put a damper on it, but there's always a buzz up here," he said, tapping his temple. "I used to wonder what it would be like to die. To experience a mind like everyone else. I think it'd be quiet. Peaceful."

"Most people are scared of death, you know."

Izuku was quiet for a minute while he thought back to his middle school days. "It was hard to be scared of death when I was terrified of life." Izuku laced his fingers behind his head and glanced up at Shinsou. "I had to micromanage my quirk to make sure I didn't slip up and mention something that I overheard. It happened too many times. I'd say something they never told me, and they'd get freaked out." He took a breath, focusing on the sound of the ocean. "It's not that I wanted to die. I always had hope that life would get better"—he looked at Shinsou—"and it did, but for a long time, I looked forward to when it would happen."

"I guess I can understand that," Shinsou said and laid back down.

"Sorry you have to babysit me."

The corner of Shinosu's mouth tugged up. "I don't mind. It's pretty loud over there." He looked at Izuku with understanding. "I like the quiet too." He drew in a long breath. "But I'm sure I'm not as good of company as Bakugo," he teased with an exaggerated sigh.

Izuku felt a laugh bubble out of him, and he pressed his cold hands to his warming cheeks. "You saw that?"

Shinsou pressed the back of his hand to his mouth to stifle his laughter. "Kirishima was practically guarding you two. He kept complaining about how bad the food was when you guys fought."

Izuku craned his head to look at the firepits hidden by a hill but he could still see a bright glow and the occasional head.

"Still complicated?"

Izuku shrugged because it was, and it wasn't. He thought about when they were kids and the transition to middle school and muttered, "I think we're just getting to actually know each other for the first time."

There was something thrilling about being able to disappear.

When Aizawa had brought up the possibility, Izuku had been doubtful. It wasn't easy having so many holds on so many people and then having to pay attention to the moment their thoughts shifted to him and redirect that thought immediately.

He'd been doing it without realizing it for a while which was what gave Aizawa the idea in the first place. Granted those moments, like when he took the surrounded flag from Class B while they carried on their conversation, lasted only a few seconds.

In the first days of training the new skill, Izuku learned that effect carried a lot of strain and his time limit less than a few minutes before he had to drop the control.

But the skill was invaluable and Aizawa made him practice till it was usable in a fight.

It was also nice not having to talk to people when passing them in the hall. He could walk by a group of people and they wouldn't react to his presence.

There was something therapeutic about shifting away thoughts directed at him with such ease. Even as the strain of control built, there was nothing invading without him allowing it.

However, fighting off two classes and several teachers was turning out to be a challenge.

Izuku stared through his tray of food wishing he'd picked a quieter table instead of trying to push himself by sitting with his friends.

"Has anyone seen Izuku? He's been missing since this morning," Mina said, frowning with worry.

The rest of the table fell quiet as they looked around. Izuku felt a shot of pain as he shifted their thoughts around and decided to drop the control before the headache became too much to handle.

"I'm right here," he said, from beside Mina.

She whipped her head around, eyes wide as she let out a scream. The chatter of lunch fell to dead silence.

"Dude, how the hell—When the hell did you get here?" Kaminari paled, leaning away from Izuku.

Izuku blinked at him, resting his cheek on his hand, adding a confused, innocent furrow to his brow. "What do you mean? I've been here the whole time."

"What do you mean?"

Izuku jerked away as Mina jabbed a finger into his side.

Kaminari grabbed his head. "Are you using your mind tricks? Dude, you can't fuck with me like this," he whined.

"It's true," Sero sighed, patting Kaminari's shoulder solemnly. "He may go stupid and never come back."

Kaminari balled his hands in Sero's shirt and shook him. "Don't speak it into existence!"

"You're not going to go stupid," Shinsou said, pulling Kaminari off Sero. He looked up at Izuku as he asked, "You're using Stealth, aren't you?"

Izuku grinned. "Yep! Getting pretty good at it too."

"What the hell is Stealth?" Bakugo asked from across the table.

"It's what I used at the bank."

Bakugo's glare dropped away as he looked off in thought. "You've been doing it all morning?"

"Izuku, that's amazing!" Mina squealed, wrapping her arms around Izuku. "I had no idea you were right beside me."

Izuku winced at her loud voice near his ear. He sat up as Vlad walked by with a cake, a mess of candles lit on top. "What are they doing?" he asked, pulling away from Mina.

Mina followed his gaze to the cluster of Class B students gathering around a table as Vlad set the cake down. "I think it's Kendo's birthday."

"Why bring a cake?" Izuku watched as Kendo leaned forward and blew out the candles, thin trails of smoke curling into the air.

"You've got to have a cake to celebrate," Kiri said. "Haven't you been to a birthday party?"

Izuku tried to think. "I guess this one kid in elementary brought treats to school for his birthday, but

I've never been to a party."

"Izuku," Mina said almost hesitantly, "you've had birthday parties? Right?"

Izuku met her eyes, feeling his stomach twist again. "No," he said, watching as the cake was divided up. "Besides, I thought parties were for little kids."

Mina tried to say something, the words dying out as frustrated puffs of air as she looked between the small gathering around Kendo and Izuku. "You've never had a party?" she finally wheezed, hands balling into fists.

"No," Izuku muttered, shrinking back as everyone at the table stared at him in varying degrees of disbelief and pity.

"Well, when's your birthday?" she asked, breath ragged. "We'll throw you one big enough to make up every one you missed."

Izuku felt a tremor shoot through him as he remembered it was July. "Wait, what's the date?"

Bakugo's voice was pinched with suspicion as he said, "The 17th."

Izuku counted on his fingers and blinked up at Mina. "It was two days ago." He scowled down at his hands. "I always forget."

Mina sucked in a deep breath before she screeched, "Mr. Aizawa!"

It turned out that the lodge had a lot of private rooms. Plenty of places that he could be dragged off to against his will, and it would probably take someone a while to find him.

Izuku tensed as the door clicked softly closed behind him and he stared hard at the ocean glittering under the afternoon sun.

"Izuku?" Aizawa said, his footsteps quiet as he crossed the room.

Izuku felt heavy. He stayed facing the window, the heat of the sun fanning across his face. "What do you even do at a party?" He tried to add an edge to his voice to feign curiosity, but it came out dejected and hollow.

"I don't really know," Aizawa sighed, turning to lean against the window frame. "Never was much of a party person."

Izuku smiled lightly, knowing he should've expected that. "Hatsume always got me a cupcake from this bakery down the street from her house." He swallowed down the lump in his throat as he remembered the look on her face when he'd asked what it was for. "I don't know how she found out when my birthday was, but she even put a candle in the frosting." His smile shifted tight and strained as he fought back tears, struggling to keep it up. "I forget about it every year, but she always had one waiting for me." He itched to check his phone knowing he probably had a message from her.

Mina crossed the yard, darting to the trees as she waved at someone coming off the trail to the sky lift. Izuku felt his stomach churn and an ache rose to his chest as his friends followed after her.

He couldn't get the way they had reacted out of his head. The shame that stretched under his skin like icy fingers when they looked at him like a wounded animal. The way his ears had rung when

Mina shouted for Aizawa. The stern set to Aizawa's mouth as Mina frantically explained that Izuku's birthday was two days ago.

The embarrassment as the hall had stared at them and tried to listen into the conversation. How badly he just wanted to disappear when he realized that birthdays didn't just stop and that he—

Izuku stared at the windowpane, the ghost of his reflection staring back as a ringing started in his ears. "Am I broken?" he gasped, a shattering feeling reverberated through his whole being, tears flooding his eyes. Every fiber screaming for something he didn't understand.

"No," Aizawa said, pulling Izuku tight to his chest. "Of course not. Why would you think that?"

Izuku drew in a stuttered breath, feeling the tension rise through his body as all the reasons presented themselves. "I-I've never had a birthday!" He tried to pull away but Aizawa held him tight. "I didn't understand what a mother was until I was eight!" He sobbed, voice crumbling to a whimper as he said, "I made myself forget about her because it hurt too much to remember how no one wanted me. . ."

Aizawa's hand shifted to the back of Izuku's head. "Damn it, Izuku," he sighed. "You're not broken."

"But—" Izuku sniffed, shoving back to look at Aizawa. He clutched at his chest, the empty feeling growing as his heart hit soundlessly. "But these are things I should know, right? I should've had." He forced a breath in, determined to get the words out. "If I'm missing parts, how am I not broken?"

"Izuku, look at me." Aizawa's voice was so gentle that Izuku didn't hesitate, a shaky breath escaping as he found comfort in Aizawa's dark, tired eyes. "There's nothing wrong with you."

"But—"

Aizawa pulled his sleeve over his palm and wiped the trails of tears off of Izuku's cheeks. "No one taught you. That's all. You didn't learn when everyone else did, but. . .you are now."

Izuku let Aizawa draw him into another embrace and let the warmth soak into his skin.

"You've done nothing wrong, Izuku." Aizawa's arms wrapped around him softened from something desperate to. . .to something Izuku had never felt before and he tucked in tighter to it. It felt like safety. Home. The feeling he had when Aizawa had shown him his room for the first time. Like he belonged. Somehow translating through the way Aizawa's hands splayed across his back and pushed into his hair.

A promise.

This is your family too if you want it.

Izuku sucked in a breath like he was breathing for the first time and the heaviness from earlier lifted off him.

"You're not broken," Aizawa said. "You're just a little lost." He pulled away to look at Izuku, relaxing when there were no new tears that needed to be wiped away. "A lot of people failed you, but I won't let that happen again."

Izuku stepped away after a while, rubbing at his tired and sore eyes. "Where did everyone go?" he asked, gesturing to the window with a nod.

Aizawa looked out over the lodge grounds with a put-on scowl, the effect spoiled by the way he smiled. "Mina made a convincing argument."

Izuku looked around the room that Mina had somehow secured with simmering anxiety. He wrung his fingers while Sero threw rolls of streamers across the room and Uraraka dumped snacks into bowls on one of the far tables.

"Is this really necessary, Mina?" he asked as she walked by, two jugs of punch cradled in each arm.

She spun on him furiously, brows drawn together tight. "Yes," she said simply and took the drinks to Uraraka's table.

"Don't worry, man, it'll be fun," Kiri said, leaning on Izuku's shoulder.

Izuku looked at the assortment of foods and the streamers being twisted together, and he wasn't so sure. "Aren't we supposed to be training?"

"We have night training," Kiri said with a slight shrug. "They were going to give us the evening off anyway."

"Zuzu!"

Izuku smiled down at Eri who dragged Bakugo behind her, fingers wrapped tightly around his hand.

"Are you excited for your party?" She grinned wide, bouncing on her toes. "Daddy says I can have two s'mores tonight!"

"Yeah, I guess so," Izuku said, ruffling her hair. He looked up at Bakugo, their eyes locking for a split second before Bakugo looked away, a line creasing between his brows. Izuku breathed deep as he felt the prickly emotions press into him and blocked them out. "Have you been helping Kacchan?"

She nodded. "Bakugo lifted me up really high to hang the balloons!"

Izuku looked around spotting the clusters of balloons tape above the doorways and windows. "It looks great. Thank you."

"Eri, darling!" Yaoyorozu called, peaking her head through a door. "Sato said the cupcakes are cool enough to decorate."

Eri gasped, dropping Bakugo's hand immediately.

Izuku chuckled as Eri bound out the doorway and looked back at Bakugo. "Why does she call you by your full name?"

"She called him Baka the first time," Jirou said with a sly grin as she walked by. "Mr. Softy here took her aside and taught her how to pronounce his name."

Bakugo rolled his eyes, shoving her hand off his shoulder. "Don't you have a playlist to make?" She smirked, adjusting the box in her hands. "Sure do."

"Izuku, I'm kicking you out," Mina said, grabbing his arms and shoving him towards the door.

"I don't get to help with my own party?"

She grinned, holding the door open. "Not this time. I'll send Shinsou after you when we're ready."

Izuku balked at the door as it closed in his face.

"Midoriya, hey, I wanted to ask you something." Kaminari slowed to a stop as Izuku scowled at the door. "Did Mina kick you out?"

"Yes!" Izuku huffed out a breath and crossed his arms. "What did you need?"

Kaminari blinked as he remembered and lit up again. "Oh yeah! Do you know if Shinsou likes J9?"

"The band?" Izuku asked and smiled when Kaminari nodded. "I think so. He has a couple albums and a poster in his bedroom."

Kaminari's eyes widened slightly as he looked down, cheeks tinging pink. "He kept it?" he muttered before shaking his head and focusing back on his goal. "So, he likes them? L-Like enough to go to a concert?"

Izuku pressed his lips together to suppress his grin. "Are you planning to ask him out?"

"W-Well, um," Kami stammered as his face flushed, pulling at the collar of his shirt. "I was thinking about it, I guess."

"I think he'd love to."

Kaminari perked up. "Really? Awesome, thanks, Midoriya!"

Izuku waved, watching him run back down the hallway. He glared at the door once more before deciding to go outside.

"Hey there, Midoriya. You want to help me with something?" Sonar asked, two buckets held in either hand.

"Sure," Izuku said, wrinkling his nose as the smell of fish wafted over.

She smiled brightly and turned, gesturing him to follow.

When they boarded the sky lift, Izuku rested his head against the window and stared out to the sea.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Sonar said as she took a seat on the bench across from him.

Izuku nodded. "It's hard to imagine it getting angry."

"Lots of things are like that," she said softly. "Just when I think I've figured it out, the current changes."

"What's it like talking to animals? Can they talk back?"

"Sure can," she laughed. "Dolphins are chatterboxes, but fish give the best information." Her face softened as she asked, "What's it like hearing other people's thoughts?"

Izuku smiled lightly and sat up. "It used to be harder."

"I heard you joined the Hero Course late." Sonar stood as the lift neared the beach dock. "From what I've heard, you've really made up for lost time."

Izuku followed her out of the lift and down the stairs to the beach, carrying one of the bucks in his hand. "I've been working really hard."

"You're going to make a fine Pro-Hero one day, Midoriya." She held out her hand, the foam from the rolling surf curling around her ankles.

Izuku took her hand and let her lead him into the ocean till they were waist-deep. He jumped back when a spray of water burst upward beside him.

Sonar laughed as she threw fish from the buckets into the water. "This is Mizu, Arashi, and Ao. Say hi guys!"

The three dolphins lifted their heads from the water and let out a chitter of squeaks. "Are these the same ones from the diving lesson?"

"Sure are!" She laughed again as one splashed her. "They're my helpers. They're great at gathering other wildlife for me."

There was a clap. Izuku caught sight of a wave of water hitting him just before the force threw him under. Izuku spit seawater from his mouth as Sonar helped him up.

"They're quite mischievous, too," she said as the dolphins squealed. "Sorry about that, Midoriya." Izuku scowled down at his soaked clothes and shrugged. "I was planning to change anyway." Sonar looked over as the dolphin's chatter picked up and cover her mouth to hide a laugh.

"Do I even want to know?" Izuku asked, brushing the water off his face.

Sonar looked at him apologetically as she said, "They think your hair looks like seaweed."

"I never thought I'd be insulted by dolphins," he grumbled as he tossed out the rest of the fish from his bucket.

"They're usually sweet," Sonar said, glowering at the rippled shadows swimming back out to sea. "Let's get you back so you can change."

Izuku followed behind Shinsou, wringing his fingers as the music thrumming through the walls got louder. Shinosu paused outside the door, hand on the knob. "You ready?" he asked.

Izuku looked at the door warily. "I guess so."

As the door opened, the music became clear mixed with a flurry of rushed voices. Izuku barely caught Mina as she hugged him.

"Happy Birthday, Izuku!" She grinned, gesturing to a poorly painted banner hanging crooked on the far wall. She winced, head tilting to the side. "Turns out, none of us are very artistic. Sorry."

"It's great. Thank you."

Her grin returned and she pulled him over to the main table. "Hope you're hungry," she said,

shoving a bowl into his hands.

Izuku blinked down at the katsudon, stomach growling. "H-How?"

"Mr. Aizawa called in a favor," she whispered. "And Bakugo cooked it, of course."

Izuku spied him across the room, watching with an unreadable expression and something tightened in his chest as Bakugo looked away. He forced up a smile. "Thank you. All of you," Izuku breathed, looking around the room and all the decorations.

Not sure how to really feel about it.

Mina grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the table. "Get comfortable, because we've got eighteen birthdays to celebrate!"

Izuku sighed happily as he ate the katsudon and accepted cupcakes that Eri decorated especially for him.

"I don't know how to dance."

"Come on, it's not hard. I'll show you," Kaminari urged, grabbing Shinsou's hands.

Izuku watched them, smiling against the rim of his cup as Kaminari laughed and pulled harder, determined to get Shinsou up. Go, idiot.

Shinsou glanced over at Izuku, visibly gulping before he stood and let Kaminari drag him onto the dance floor.

"Zuzu, are you enjoying your party?" Eri asked, climbing into the seat beside him. "I remember my first birthday party. I was nervous."

"I'm enjoying it a lot. Thanks for the cupcakes," he said, leaning closer so she could hear him over the music. "Want to dance?"

She nodded, taking his hand. Izuku had to hunch over to reach her and eventually lifted her onto his shoulders. She giggled, fingers tangling in his damp hair.

"It's time for your cake," Mina said, dragging him over to the table where Todoroki was lighting candles with his finger. Izuku stumbled as he saw him. An uncomfortable itch at the back of his mind. Like he was forgetting something.

Izuku focused on the tiny flickering flames instead. "Isn't there a song?"

"There is!" She waved everyone over, a slight frown forming as she looked around, but she covered it with a grin a moment later.

Izuku sat back in his chair, careful to keep a smile up as he looked at his classmates. There was one face missing.

"Make a wish!" Mina said, squeezing his shoulders from behind. Izuku blew out the candles, knowing what he wanted.

He ate his slice of cake slowly as he walked around the room, concern ebbing away at his appetite when Bakugo was nowhere in sight. Frustrated, Izuku set the half-eaten cake down and slipped outside to get some air.

Izuku closed his eyes as he leaned against the rail, letting the grain of the wood bite into his palms. He looked up when he heard footsteps and found Kiri coming to a sudden stop.

"H-Hey, Midoriya. Everything ok?"

Izuku rushed down the steps towards him. "Have you seen Kacchan?"

Kiri leaned away, rubbing the back of his neck. He opened his mouth to say something but all that came out was an indiscernible grumble of words. He pointedly looked towards the tree line as he said, "He stepped out. Needed some space."

"Oh." Izuku shrunk back, trying to tell himself to relax.

"I. . .think you should talk to him," Kiri said on a sigh, stress drawing his shoulders high.

Izuku stared at him for a few moments, trying to work out his expression, before he nodded. "I'll try," Izuku said and stepped around Kiri, entering the woods in the direction he came from.

Even though it was barely dusk, the forest was dark and covered in shadows. Izuku stumbled down a lightly worn trail, trying to listen for the sounds of another person among the distant crash of waves and chirps of crickets.

"Damn it, Kiri, I told—"

Izuku stumbled to a stop as he heard Bakugo's voice. "Kacchan!" "What the hell, Deku," Bakugo said, taking a step back.

The smile dropped from Izuku's face, the worry festering up again. He thought the low light must've been playing tricks on his eyes as Bakugo's cheeks shined brighter than they should've. "What's wrong?"

Bakugo took another step back, eyes locked on the ground between them. "You should be at your party."

"It's nice," Izuku said, looking back up the hill towards the lodge. "But I would like it more if you were there."

Bakugo's lip curled back as he turned further away, shoulder's drawn back and tight. "You don't want me there."

"I do," Izuku defended, closing the distance between them to a couple feet. "Of course, I want you there. Why wouldn't I?"

Bakugo spun on him, fists shaking at his sides. "I've known you most of my life and I don't know a fucking thing about you," he ground out through clenched teeth. He took a step back, drawing in a ragged breath. "That's what's wrong! I didn't even know when your birthday was!"

"Kacchan. . ." Izuku reached out for him, but Bakugo turned away. "I-It's ok—"

"No, it's not!" he spat, wheeling back around. The fury on his face melted away as he looked at Izuku, replaced by a tightknit pain that brushed up against Izuku so sudden and hard that his breath caught. "Every time I thought—" He shook his head, shoving a hand into his hair. "I was wrong about everything."

"It's not like I was honest," Izuku said gently, stepping forward. "You were my friend. I didn't

want you to leave." Izuku shrunk back, the few feet between them feeling unmeasurable. Bakugo narrowed his eyes, hand dragging down his face.

"I was—" Izuku forced down a swallow as his voice cracked "—I was so proud of you when you got into the Hero Course." He smiled even as his voice shook, "I admire you. I always have. Don't you get that?"

Bakugo squeezed his eyes shut. Izuku shot towards him, feeling a dangerous roll of emotions that he recognized. "A hero doesn't tell someone to jump off a roof! You should hate me and it's like you don't even care!" Bakugo stumbled back, pushing Izuku's arms away. "You should hate me!"

"I can't!" Izuku shouted back, voice feeling jagged on his throat. He blinked away tears as Bakugo furthered the distance between them. "I could never hate you. . ."

Bakugo drew his forearm across his eyes. "Why do you do that? Why do you try to make it ok?"

Izuku got ahold of Bakugo's wrist and pulled him closer. "I'm not!" Izuku cried, feeling the tears slip down his cheeks. "You chose to be that way. Chose to be a bully. It was wrong and it hurt, but I never hated you. I couldn't. . . You're Kacchan." He tightened his grip, fighting back as Bakugo tried to yank his arm free. Izuku grabbed his opposite shoulder, physically turning Bakugo to face him. "I would try to avoid you and you'd find me every time. I don't know what I did to make you so angry—but I've chosen to forgive you. That was my choice. . .and I made it a long time ago."

Izuku hated the way Bakugo's eyes welled with tears and he desperately wrapped his arms around Bakugo's neck, afraid he might try to pull away again.

"You never did anything, I—" his voice broke, a pang of panic shooting through Izuku. "You needed me. . ." Bakugo shut his eyes, the tears sliding down his cheeks and dripping off his chin. "And I wasn't there."

"You're here now," Izuku said, wiping the tears from his face. "I used to see you in the halls, and I kept hoping that one day you would come and say hello." Izuku dropped his hands to Bakugo's shoulders, curling his fingers into Bakugo's shirt. "But I never thought we'd talk again. This is more than I ever hoped for," he whispered looking up to meet Bakugo's gaze. Izuku folded his arms back around Bakugo's neck. "I won't let you go," he promised, arms tightening. "Never again."

Izuku relaxed when he felt Bakugo's arms wrap around him, gradually pulling him closer till there wasn't a breath of air between them.

"I'm sorry—I'm sorry, Izuku," Bakugo sobbed, face buried against Izuku's shoulder. "About everything. I hate—I'm. . .sorry, Izuku."

Izuku felt his heart jump as fresh tears blurred his vision and words died against his windpipe. So, he just held Bakugo tighter.

I think we're just getting to actually know each other for the first time.

"I know. . ." Izuku said, voice wavering. "I know you are. But I forgave you a long time ago." Izuku hesitated as Bakugo's arms loosened and he stepped away. He kept his hands on Bakugo's shoulders, just in case.

"How can you forgive that?" Bakugo asked, his voice small and hollow.

Izuku lifted his hands to Bakugo cheeks. "I was angry and hurt for a while, but. . .I still cared about you." He shrugged, struggling to sort through his feelings. "I-I could feel your emotions sometimes," he said hesitantly, looking away. "I could feel how much you hated yourself and I just thought, if I kept supporting you and looking up to you that you'd stop feeling that way." Izuku looked back when Bakugo's hands laid over his.

"I was—I was an idiot. I'm sorry," he said, pressing Izuku's hands against his face a little harder.

"I know, Kacchan." Izuku gently tugged his hands free and stepped back, leaving one hand out in offering. Bakugo took it with no hesitation and let Izuku pull him towards the glowing windows of the lodge glinting through the trees.

They broke through the tree line and started crossing the yard, the music from inside drifting out in a muffled beat. Izuku felt Bakugo slow and looked back.

"You're missing your party," Bakugo said, voice low and husky, hand tightening around Izuku's.

Izuku smiled, a flutter spiraling through his chest. "It felt wrong without you anyway," Izuku muttered, heat stinging across his cheeks as Bakugo's eyes widened.

Bakugo's surprise softened with a slight shake of his head and he pulled Izuku closer. "Do you know how to dance?"

Izuku stared at Bakugo, feeling a hand slide against his waist and Izuku swore the music got a little louder. "No," he breathed, the cool air feeling like static against his skin.

"It's easy," Bakugo whispered, letting go only to lift Izuku's arms to his shoulders. "Just don't let go."

"I won't," Izuku promised, heart lurching as Bakugo took a step back, pulling Izuku with him. Izuku tried to watch his feet, blaming the thick grass for the way he kept tripping.

"You're terrible at this," Bakugo snickered, guiding Izuku through a turn.

Izuku attempted to look angry but he couldn't help laughing as he tripped again. "I'm trying!" Izuku scowled down at his feet. "It's harder than it looks," he grumbled. A jolt shot through him as fingers brushed his chin, turning his face up.

"I told you, you need to look up more," Bakugo said as their eyes met and he looked up, lifting Izuku's chin.

Izuku tilted his head back far. He wasn't sure if he'd ever get used to seeing so many stars. They blinked through the lingering purple of dusk fading to dark indigo. "What do stars have to do with dancing?"

Bakugo stepped away, still holding Izuku's hand as a breath raised his shoulders and he said, "Everything."

Izuku shook his head, smiling through a laugh, and threw his arms around Bakugo, pulling him into a tight hug. "I know you said you don't know anything about me, but. . .you remembered katsudon is my favorite. And you always know when I'm upset. And you've pushed me more than anyone else to be better." He stepped back, reluctant to let Bakugo's hand go. "It's the little things," he said, echoing what Mirko had told him that night on the roof.

Bakugo stared at him, mouth drawing tight in an almost smile as he nodded.

"Zuzu! Bakugo!"

They looked at Eri running down the stairs towards them, arms full.

"I almost forgot about the s'mores!" Izuku said, scooping her up. He looked at Bakugo. "Kacchan should help us, right?"

Eri nodded very seriously. "Yes. He promised, too." She leaned closer to Izuku and whispered, "We also need him to help light the fire."

"Yeah," Bakugo said, reaching over to take the chocolate bars from her hand and smiled at Izuku, "s'mores sound great."