Izuku stared at the ceiling of Hatsume's room, starfished on her floor, too lazy to move the bolt digging into his back. Izuku was forced to do nothing. He'd forgotten just how boring breaks could be since he was still restricted from training for another week and a half.

His only solace was being able to run in the mornings, but even those were cut back on doctor's orders.

"Izuku, I need answers!" Hatsume said, appearing over him, face scrunched up in a glower. "You're not even listening!"

Izuku blinked up at her, trying to remember where the conversation had run off to. He'd been telling her about the training camp. Somewhere along the way she'd gone off on a tangent about babies she was developing for water rescue, claiming to be inspired. During that triad, Izuku realized he must've spaced out.

"What happened with Bakugo?" She hauled him up by the shoulders, fingers digging into his biceps. "You're acting weird, something must've happened!"

Izuku leaned away as far as he could in her grasp, glancing around the room as he thought up an answer. "Well. . .a-a lot happened. . .actually." He yelped when she shook him.

"You should've started with that!" She yanked him close, foreheads pressing together. "Tell me everything."

Izuku gulped, staring straight into her eyes as he gave a fearful nod. "I think it started at the hospital. I told you about that, though."

She let him go, crossing her arms as she sat back. "So, you guys talked again?"

Izuku pulled his knees up to his chest and rested against her dresser. He still wondered if he dreamed those moments. The fire glowing in his eyes. The stars. The apology. The tears.

The dancing.

"A couple times. . .actually," Izuku coughed out, rubbing at his warm cheeks. "He apologized, Hats." He met her eyes, watching as they widened for a second, and then softened, crinkling at the corners.

"For middle school?" she asked softly, moving to sit beside him.

"For middle school," Izuku confirmed with a small smile. "I worry about him."

Hatsume turned curiously. "Why?"

Izuku looked up and stared at the ceiling. "He's been through a lot since starting UA." He rolled his head to the side to look at her. "I was worried about him then. . .from afar."

"Worried?" Hatsume drawled, shaking her head. "You didn't sleep for a week when you found out he was kidnapped."

Izuku scratched the side of his head where hair was starting to regrow near his ear. "Exactly, imagine how he feels about it."

Hatsume sunk back, a line creasing between her brows.

"The fire. . .it hurt him too," Izuku muttered, staring hard at the floor between his feet as he thought of the way Bakugo had been scared and angry at the hospital, how he'd traced the scars like he couldn't believe they were real. "He said he thought I died." He heard Hatsume suck in a sharp, shocked breath. "We were separated when a ceiling caved in. On their side, the floor caved in too. That's why I was still in the building."

Hatsume shifted closer, their shoulders brushing. "A fire like that would be traumatizing for anyone," she whispered, "just watching it was hard."

"He lost his hearing from that explosion. Temporarily, but it could be permanent if he's not careful." Izuku stared at his scars and the way the light from her window glinted off the warped skin. He wished he could tell her about Dabi and everything that happened in that room, but Aizawa had sworn him to secrecy. "After all that, he's still worried about me."

"I mean, you guys are basically partners," she said, shrugging a shoulder. "Both of you work with Mirko and you've known each other since you were kids."

Izuku tucked his chin between his knees. "I forgot my birthday."

"I knew you would," Hatsume huffed, cheeks puffing out. "I should've told Aizawa."

"They found out and Mina decided to throw an impromptu party." He smiled remembering the crooked banner and the cupcakes from Eri. He sat up, realizing he was getting ahead of himself. "A few nights before that, though, he came and sat next to me by the fire. He told me that I deserve to be a hero."

"He's going deaf, not blind. Of course, you do," Hatsume scoffed, turning her nose up.

"And then he admitted to being the one who recommended me to Mirko."

"I knew it," Hatsume cheered quietly.

Izuku felt a smile tug up the corner of his mouth, a muted spark still making his heart flutter as he thought of the way Bakugo had tipped his chin up. "He showed me the stars."

"Stars?" Hatsume asked, blinking back to him in muted surprise.

Izuku nodded. "There were so many out there, Hats. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen." He shifted, digging a hand into his hair. "Then the night of the party, he left, so I went to go find him."

"And?" Hatsume urged, nudging his shoulder.

Izuku took a deep breath, chest feeling too tight. "He left because he didn't know my birthday. Didn't know anything about me." Izuku leaned back, kicking one leg out. "He said I should hate him and couldn't understand why I didn't. I told him I couldn't and that I forgave him a long time ago."

Hatsume wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him into a side hug. "Let me guess, he didn't believe you?"

"No," Izuku snorted. "It definitely took some convincing. I was honest with him, about how I was angry and hurt for a while, but I just wanted him to be better."

Hatsume gave his shoulder another squeeze before letting go. "I'm happy you two finally worked that out."

"Me too," Izuku breathed, smiling to himself.

Hatsume stood and stretched, pushing herself onto her toes. "Emotions make me hungry, let's go eat."

Izuku scrambled to his feet, calling after her to slow down.

Izuku found that most of his days were spent watching movies with Eri. He thought he'd mind, but he quickly realized it was another thing he'd missed out on and often found himself just as enthralled as Eri.

"D-Did he just die?" he gasped, clutching the popcorn bowl tight to his chest. Eri nodded solemnly. "I cried my first time too, it's ok."

"Whatcha watchin'?" Shinsou asked, appearing out of the hallway.

"Lion King," Eri chimed, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl. "Oh," Shinsou said, watching the screen for a few seconds, "good movie." Izuku scoffed. "Mufasa just died! I thought this was a kid's movie?"

Shinsou shrugged, heading towards the kitchen. "It's Disney. Get used to it."

Izuku slumped against the couch cushions, staring at the stack of movies Eri had picked out with growing trepidation.

"Just wait till we get to Studio Ghibli," she whispered, curling up beside him.

Izuku was loving the movie, so happy that Simba was returning home, but then the fire started and Izuku's vision narrowed. He remembered what flames that tall felt like to be near. How dry the air had been. The smoke. The ash and embers.

DEKU!

Izuku shut his eyes, taking a slow, deep breath, and reminded himself that it was just a movie. "Izuku, it's time for your appointment," Aizawa said as he entered the living room.

The credits were rolling when Izuku opened his eyes again. He frowned at the lost time and stood, forcing a nod.

That morning he'd be excited about the appointment. The itch to get back to training was nearly driving him mad, but his emotional timer felt burnt out for the day.

He followed Aizawa out to the car, resting back in the seat as he watched the scenery pass. "It's different this time," he muttered, eyes catching on a little girl with an orange backpack

skipping alongside her mother. "How?"

Izuku looked away. "I still can't remember exactly what I did to Dabi to make him leave, but the memory is still there." It was a frustrating feeling, being so close to the answer and knowing it was tucked away somewhere in his head. "And the same with the fire. Even now, it scares me." He sighed hard, feeling exhausted. "I know Mrs. Ito said that would be normal, but it'd be easier if I just knew."

Aizawa's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Maybe there's a reason you forgot it, Izuku," he said gently, eyes locked on the road. "And maybe it will come back to you eventually, but don't go searching for it."

"He wanted to kill me," Izuku said, staring down at his lap. "I made him really angry."

"Probably," Aizawa agreed as he turned the wheel, "you'll face more villains in the future. You just have to trust you'll do the right thing in those moments."

Izuku glanced up at him. "You think I did the right thing?" He looked out the window, unconvinced. "He got away."

"But you saved Yuri and got her and yourself out of a burning building," Aizawa said, a sternness lacing his voice. "I know you did the right thing. You wanted to save her and that's what you did. Only a fool would've gone after Dabi when there was a helpless girl reaching for you." He pulled into the parking garage. "You're no fool, Izuku."

"She. . .She's safe, right? Yuri?"

Aizawa nodded, putting the car in park, but he made no move to get out. "She's with her mother, living under hero protection until we sort out why Dabi killed her father."

Am I crazy—after all that—for still wanting to be a hero?

"Usually, the effects of being in someone's memories ware off in a few hours or a few days, but I can still feel him," Izuku said, pushing the car door open, trying to shake off the way his muscles grew tense. "Maybe it's because I can't remember that my brain can't sort them out." Feelings that just didn't make sense. Like how he'd stumbled back in fear from the TV when he'd walked into the living room while Shinsou was watching a special on Endeavor. Or the way looking at Todoroki brought the intense feeling that he was forgetting something. Nothing made sense.

He trailed behind Aizawa as they entered the hospital and took the elevator up to the main floor. They were brought to a small room by a nurse and Izuku removed his shirt, not missing the way the nurse's breath caught at the sight of the scars. She hid it well and focused on taking his vitals.

Izuku watched absently as the doctor, a good friend of Dr. Tokoro's, poked and prodded his scars, rambling about something that Izuku didn't care to remember.

"You've healed wonderfully," the doctor said, snapping Izuku out of his daze. "I would still recommend taking it slow at first. Ease yourself back into your old routine."

Izuku drew his hand into a fist, watching the way the tendons drew taut under the warped skin. "I will."

The doctor smiled, tossing the used gloves into the trash before he left.

Izuku pulled his shirt back on with a sigh.

"I thought you'd be more excited about being able to start training again."

Izuku shifted his shirt around as he stood. "I'm just tired," he said, pulling the door open. Aizawa reached a hand around him and pushed it shut. "Did something happen?"

"I feel like the only person I can't understand is myself," Izuku said quietly, staring at Aizawa's hand still pressed against the door. "You're probably right, but I'm so used to knowing and understanding and dealing with the effects of my quirk that this nothing scares me."

"We'll figure it out, Izuku," Aizawa said, hand dropping to the handle. "One day at a time for now."

"One day at a time," Izuku echoed, wondering if it was possible to take life that slow. He supposed he didn't have a choice.

Izuku sat at the computer in his room looking over the schedule Mirko had sent him while he talked to her on the phone.

"You and Bakugo are meeting tomorrow, but just to get a sense of where you're at," Mirko said, her voice tight with warning.

Izuku gulped. "Yep, got it, no pushing myself."

"We'll get you back up to speed. You should be able to keep practicing your quirk, so I've added that. It's something you can work on with Bakugo."

Someone called his name from the living room and he stood, switching Mirko off of speaker and pressed the phone back to his ear. "I was practicing a lot during camp, so that should be fine."

"Oh yeah, camp! Tell me about that."

Izuku could hear the way she smiled, and his stomach rolled. "It was nice," he said, heat stinging his cheeks as he heard his voice go high at the end. He yanked the door opened and walked down the hall.

"Bakugo seemed to be in a good mood when I talked to him," she mused. "You wouldn't happen to know why, would you?"

Izuku paused, rubbing at his chin. "Well—um—I guess we kinda. . .talked," he muttered wishing he'd stayed in his room a little longer.

"Talked?" She hummed thoughtfully. "Must've been a good talk." "W-Well," Izuku stammered, shifting the phone to his other ear. "I guess so."

She chuckled and he could imagine her shaking her head. "Have a good night, Izuku. I'll talk to you later."

He muttered a goodbye before slipping his phone into his pocket.

"A talk, huh?" Shinsou asked when Izuku stepped out of the hallway. He smirked at the way Izuku jumped. "Is that where you snuck off to during your party?"

Izuku took a deep breath to settle his racing heart. "Maybe."

"Thought he seemed different those last few days," Shinsou said, turning to walk to the couch.

Before Izuku could think about what he meant, Aizawa called to him from the kitchen. "Yes?" he asked, taking a seat at the table when Aizawa motioned. He slid Izuku his school ID that he'd taken a few days before.

"You and Bakugo will have access to the sparring gyms on campus. That way you can still train without my supervision."

Izuku stared down at the card.

"It's important you follow the regiment Mirko gave you. We've also spoken to All Might about your weight training."

"Do you know when I should be back to normal?" he asked, putting the ID in his pocket.

Aizawa stood from the chair. "We estimate that you should be back on track by the start of school."

Izuku slumped as he realized that meant his goal with All Might would be pushed back, too.

"Daddy, can we go to the park?" Eri asked, leaning up on the table. "It's nice out."

"Only if Shinsou and Izuku take you."

Eri looked up at Izuku, eyes wide and pleading. She grinned when he nodded and ran off to put her shoes on. "I'll get my kite, too!"

"Don't be gone too long," Aizawa said from the doorway. "Dinner will be soon."

Izuku waved to him as Eri dragged him and Shinsou down the sidewalk. The park wasn't far, but Izuku still pulled up the hood of his jacket. He and Shinsou sat on a bench, watching as Eri climbed up the playset and slid down the slide.

"Are you excited about tomorrow?"

"About training?" Izuku asked, glancing over at him.

"Duh."

Izuku sighed, focusing on how Eri squealed going down the twisty slide. "I was definitely more excited a few days ago."

"Nervous?"

"With the way my memories keep coming back in fragments—" he shrugged, heaving a sigh, "—I just want to get back to normal."

Shinsou hummed, eyes following Eri as she ran back to the bench to get her kite. "People like us don't get to be normal, Izuku."

Izuku wasn't sure if he meant heroes in general or people with their types of quirks.

"So, it's your memories?" Shinsou asked, lacing his fingers behind his head and leaning back. "Not

the fact that Bakugo carried you to bed after you passed out in the grass from your quirk training."

Izuku went ridged, face burning. "I'm gonna kill Kiri," he grounded out, cradling his head.

"Well, I thought it was hilarious," Shinsou laughed. "That hot-head is so easy to manipulate."

"You should've just let me freeze," Izuku said, digging his fingers into his hair as he remembered waking up halfway to the bedroom in Bakugo's arms.

Shinsou smirked. "Bakugo said he was going to. Something about how you'd learn to be more careful after exercising your quirk."

"Trust me, I still got an earful."

"You should thank Kiri; it did get cold that night."

Izuku scowled at the woodchips. "Next time, let me freeze." Shinsou grinned. "Not a chance."

"Hope you're ready, nerd," Bakugo said with a lopsided grin that made Izuku gulp, a shiver running down his spine as Bakugo cracked his knuckles. "I'm gonna enjoy this."

Izuku shook off the unease and raised his fists. "Don't get cocky, Kacchan. You're only guaranteed a win if I wear the blindfold," he reminded, smirking when Bakugo's lip curled back.

"We're taking this slow," Aizawa reminded, sending them each a warning glare. "Begin."

Izuku watched Bakugo wearily as he opened his quirk. He stepped out of the way of Bakugo's first punch, a thrill sparking through him.

The punches. The kicks. The way Bakugo looked up at him in disbelief as he was thrown over Izuku's shoulder and slammed into the mat. It was a rush that he'd missed for nearly a month.

But the first time Bakugo went to throw a blast, he hesitated, and it sputtered into sparks and trails of smoke.

Izuku blinked at it, waiting for the fear that never came. "It's ok," Izuku said, eyes locked with Bakugo's.

He gave a single nod before charging again. Izuku dodged the blast, feeling the heat pass his check, seeing how the light from the explosion cast a glow across Bakugo's face. His arm was ready for Bakugo's counter jab and he grinned at the way Bakugo's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Izuku dodged another blast, catching the punch Bakugo threw through the smoke and yanked him forward, forced to let go when Bakugo's palm heated up. He stepped back feeling fatigued.

"That's enough," Aizawa said, walking towards them. "Bakugo, go on offense. I want to see how Izuku has improved his quirk."

"Blindfold?" Izuku asked, stretching his arm across his chest. "Not yet. I want to see how you do without it."

Izuku nodded, shaking out his hands as he faced Bakugo. "Let's see how slow you still are." "Shut the hell up, Deku," Bakugo growled, hands crackling.

Izuku kept his hands up as he dodged and redirected Bakugo's punches, zeroing in on the minute changes to his actions. A nudge of his hand and Bakugo's blast was veering right, useless. Punches missing Izuku completely. Maybe Kiri was right, Izuku thought as he kept close, knowing Bakugo was trying to put distance between them. Maybe Izuku did know Bakugo on a different level.

"Damn it," Bakugo cursed, trying to twist away, but Izuku shifted his weight and spun with him.

Izuku grinned as Bakugo got aggravated and he deflected another blast over his shoulder. "Maybe I'm not so bad at dancing after all."

"Oh, yeah," Bakugo scoffed, throwing a couple punches to back Izuku up, "now you have some fancy footwork."

"I told you it was the grass." Izuku shrugged, leaning out of a punch meant for his cheek.

They stopped mid-fight as there was a crack of thunder. Aizawa looked up to the windows lining the tops of the walls, thin streaks of water running down them.

"Let's go before it gets worse," Aizawa said, frowning down at his phone.

"Dang," Izuku huffed, walking over to pick up his bag, "I was just getting under his skin." He jumped as another clap of thunder reverberated through the windows followed by a flash of lighting. "Uh-oh."

Bakugo pulled open the gym door, cursing at the downpour. "Where the hell did this come from?" he scoffed, hands drawing into fists.

"A storm was predicted for tonight," Izuku said, coming to stand beside him. "Guess it came early."

Bakugo glared at him. "No shit, nerd."

"We need to go," Aizawa said, coming up behind them. "It's turned into a typhoon."

Izuku gawked at the rain casting a white haze outside, absolutely dreading having to leave the safety of the building.

"Bakugo, you should call your parents. You won't be able to make it through the storm," Aizawa said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"Am I just supposed to stay here?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Aizawa shook his head. "You can come home with us until the storm lets up."

Bakugo blinked, mouth hanging open slightly. He looked like he might argue and then glanced back at the pouring rain. "If it's no trouble," he muttered, rubbing the back of his head.

Izuku sucked in a breath of courage before he plunged into the storm.

They were soaked after just a few seconds, trudging down the sidewalk. The few short blocks felt like they took forever.

Izuku nearly cried with happiness as the house came into view.

"Please tell me it's close," Bakugo said, teeth chattering as he began to shiver.

"It's just up ahead," Aizawa said, giving him a gentle push.

The front door opened as they entered the yard, Eri and Shinsou holding towels.

"You guys are soaked!" Eri gasped, shoving a towel into Izuku's hands.

He pressed it against his face, sighing into its warmth.

"You're all going to get sick," Shinsou grumbled, rubbing a towel over Izuku's hair.

Izuku pulled off his shirt and wrapped a towel over his shoulders, his skin feeling icy. He felt a hand shove him.

"Showers. Both of you," Aizawa said, pushing them down the hallway and into the main room. "Izuku, you can use the one in our bedroom."

Bakugo broke out of his shivering long enough to whip his head around to look at Aizawa. "Our?" Aizawa's eyes flared red, dripping hair struggling to lift. "I will end you."

"If it's Present Mic, Denki owes me ten bucks," he grinned, letting Izuku drag him down the hall.

"You really do have a death wish," Izuku said, fighting off a smile. "You don't do well in the cold, do you? Probably because of your quirk," he mumbled, pushing open the bathroom door. "Towels are in the cabinet," he said, staring down at the puddle of water forming under their feet. "I'll get you some dry clothes."

Izuku hurried down to his room and grabbed clothes for both of them. He practically shoved them into Bakugo's hands, intent on a hot shower. He lingered under the hot water, letting it sink into his chilled skin.

He shuffled down to the living room, warm and dry, sighing when Mic handed him a cup of tea.

"Feeling better?" he asked, smiling as Izuku gulped the tea down and nodded. "It's a good thing I made soup tonight."

Izuku watched Bakugo curiously as they ate dinner. He seemed to be a bit miffed as they delved into their usual points of conversation. But he answered all of Eri's questions and looked awfully smug leaned back in his chair, declining seconds.

"You wanna watch a movie with us, Bakugo?" Eri asked, reaching over to grab Izuku's sleeve. "Zuzu promised to watch all the movies with me, so we have lots!"

Bakugo looked out the window across the room where rain still thrashed against the glass.

"Or I can show you what Papa's been teaching me on the guitar!" She smiled wide and hopped out of the chair. "Or both! We could do both!" She ran around the table and pulled Bakugo out of his chair and into the living room, ordering him to wait while she got her guitar.

Your clothes?

Izuku looked over at Shinsou. Not like he'd fit yours. Izuku smirked. Scrawny. Shinsou's brow lowered into a glare.

"Papa's much better than me," Eri said as she sat on the couch beside Bakugo and pulled the guitar into her lap, "and I only know part of the song."

Izuku twisted around in his chair, leaning against the back, watching Bakugo with belated breath. He had a soft smile as Eri started to pluck out notes, his expression dropping slightly as he recognized the song.

"I know that one," he said, smiling again as Eri grinned and started mumbling the lyrics. "It goes like this." He took the guitar from her hands when she finished and continued. Izuku felt his breath catch, remembering the countless early mornings that he heard Bakugo play in his room and imagined how he looked. He did smile, hands moving with precision, the notes coming out clear and strong.

Eri gasped, clapping her hands. "I thought you only played the drums?"

"I learned the guitar first," he said, handing it back to her. "How about that movie?"

She slid off the couch and picked up the stack sitting on the TV stand. "Ok, Zuzu and I are working through Disney and we just watched Lion King, but I'll give you options."

Bakugo took the movies from her. "I haven't seen most of these since I was a kid." "Zuzu hasn't seen any!"

Bakugo looked over the movies with careful consideration. "If you're going in order, we can watch Pocahontas," he said, handing the movies back to her.

She nodded. "Good choice. Hoshi, can you make popcorn?" Shinsou stood up from the table with a nod.

"Zuzu, sit beside me!" She scooted over as he got near and pulled him down. "You have to sit in the middle," she reasoned. "It's the best spot to watch from."

Bakugo looked around the living room, taking it all in as Izuku sat beside him.

"Something wrong?" Izuku asked, careful to keep a distance between them. Shinsou pulled Eri closer to him and gave Izuku the popcorn bowl.

Bakugo looked over at Mic and Aizawa still talking quietly in the kitchen. "It's so normal," he said, shifting uncomfortably. "Not what I expected."

"Weird?" Izuku asked, smiling when Bakugo grimaced. "Very," he muttered, taking a handful of popcorn.

"Bakugo," Aizawa said, coming into the living room, Mic trailing behind him, "the storm has upgraded a category. You'll have to stay here for the night."

Bakugo stilled, blinking up at him.

"Sleepover!" Eri grinned, throwing herself across Izuku to hug Bakugo. "I have an idea!"

Izuku was bumped to the floor while Eri sat above him on the couch, twisting his hair and pinning it down with butterfly clips.

"Perfect!" Eri proclaimed.

Izuku looked up, feeling off with his forehead exposed. He heard snickering and glared over at Bakugo. "You should do Kacchan next."

Eri hummed, leaning on his head and looking down at him. "But Hoshi has more hair than him."

"True," Izuku said, feeling a grin, "but the pink butterflies would look much better on blond hair."

She looked over at Bakugo, eyes narrowing as she scrutinized him. "Zuzu's right. Hold on, I have more!"

"You're gonna regret that, Deku," Bakugo said, knocking a foot into Izuku's side.

Izuku tipped a smile up at him as he rubbed his ribs. "Worth it." He turned back to the TV sending

a message to Shinsou, We have to get a picture for the group chat. Definitely.

Eri climbed back onto the couch and shoved at Bakugo, managing to lean him forward a few inches. "Sit on the floor next to Zuzu!" she ground out, feet digging into the cushions.

"Why would I want to do that?" he asked, pushing back against her.

Eri yelped as she stumbled back, staying up only by holding onto his shirt. When she got her balance, she looked at him quizzically. "You don't want to?" she asked, leaning back as if to get a better look at him. "But you were holding his hand when I asked for s'mores!"

Izuku choked on his popcorn.

"And I saw you dancing together," she huffed, hands planted on her hips. "You can sit beside him."

Bakugo grumbled all the way down, crossing his arms with a scowl while Eri smiled proudly.

Dancing?

Izuku wheezed trying to get air back into his lungs and glared up at him.

Shinosu grinned wider. Holding hands?

Izuku looked back at the TV, deciding to ignore him.

"Could you teach me how to dance, Bakugo?" Eri asked, clipping his hair away from his face. Bakugo smirked up at her. "You've got to better than, Deku."

"That's not what you said during practice," Izuku said in a sly murmur, earning a jab to the ribs. "Stay still!" Eri ordered and Bakugo sat back.

The storm was still raging when Izuku woke up. He stumbled out of bed, rubbing his eyes as he looked out his window. Sheets of rain whipping across the street, thunder and lightning still

lighting up his room every few seconds, but from the looks of it, the power was still on.

Izuku opened his door, peeking into the hallway, debating if some water was worth accidentally waking Bakugo. His cotton mouth won out as he tip-toed into the living room.

The mat he had once used was a rumpled pile of sheets. Izuku looked towards the kitchen, jumping slightly when he saw Bakugo sitting at the table. He sat up as Izuku walked towards him.

"Can't sleep?" he asked through a tired yawn.

Izuku grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water. "I was thirsty," he answered and filled the glass again. "What about you?"

Bakugo rested his cheek against his hand. "I'm still wrapping my head around. . .this." He gestured vaguely.

"It took me a while to get used to it," Izuku said fondly, looking around the house.

"Where were you before?" Bakugo asked, voice hushed as he looked across the table at Izuku. He frowned slightly. "Before UA."

Izuku looked back at him, considering his answer as he took a seat. "Well," he started, "when my mother first surrendered me, they attempted to put me in a traditional foster family." He sat back in his chair with a deflating sigh. "But because of my quirk, I was hard to place. I didn't understand that it was wrong to use it on people without their permission. A lot of times I didn't even realize I was using it. I figured it out by the fourth or fifth move, but by then, no one would take me, so I was put in a group home." He leaned forward on the table, tracing the wood grain with his fingers. "All the other kids were older than me, middle school I think, we all had difficult quirks, so the guy who ran the home was very—" Izuku swallowed hard, "—strict."

"Strict?" Bakugo echoed, an edge to his voice. "The bruises? Those were from him?"

Izuku nodded, finger paused on the table. "I learned pretty quick to hide my quirk as much as possible. If he even suspected I was using it, he'd beat me." He looked up with a soft smile, meeting Bakugo's eyes. "I remember the first day we met. You told me to stop crying like a baby."

Bakugo snorted, shaking his head, something tight about the action. "You were cowering in the corner."

"It was so loud," Izuku sighed. "But you were louder." He looked away, feeling a warmth pass over his skin. "I thought that if could feel normal around you, even for just a few minutes, I'd be ok at home and I'd try to be strong. . .like you."

Bakugo was quiet for a while before he asked, "What's it like? Your quirk?"

Izuku hummed in thought. "I think I told Shinsou that it's like swimming through dark water. It feels kinda heavy like something is pressing in around me. I'm feeling my way through the dark, searching for feelings and memories. They spark and I can see them play out in my mind," he explained, tapping his temple. "I can feel the emotions connected to those memories because it's like I'm experiencing those moments with them."

"But what about thoughts?"

Izuku smirked. "You afraid I'll overhear something?"

"No," Bakugo spat, scowl visible through the low light.

"I'll admit, it was easier when you were kid," Izuku said, taking a sip of water. "I've gotten pretty good at putting up blocks. Before training with Aizawa, I just listened to music or played my TV loud to drown it out."

"Idiot," Bakugo scoffed. "Why didn't you ask for help sooner?"

Izuku shrugged, catching the way his voice wasn't angry, just confused. "Hatsume was the first person who didn't leave after finding out what my quirk was. I stuck with mind-reading when I started at UA and many of my teachers said I should transfer because it's a valuable quirk." Izuku looked up at Bakugo. "But I knew that wasn't all I could do with my quirk and I didn't want to remember."

"Remember what?"

"You remember the sludge villain?" "You think I could forget that?"

Izuku shifted in his chair, drawing the glass of water closer as he thought back to that day. "I was so scared when the sludge villain attacked you that I forgot to use my quirk. I just saw you in trouble and ran. I didn't think. And I was almost too late," he said, voice wavering as he drew his thumb across the condensation on the glass. "After that, I wanted to be able to help people. With my quirk. I didn't want to feel helpless. So, I went looking for trouble, planning to practice my quirk and save the day and prove that I was a hero. . ." Izuku trailed off, curling into himself. "Wishful thinking."

Bakugo leaned forward, lowering his head so that they were eye level. "What happened?"

Izuku took a deep breath before he said, "I used my quirk to stop three villains. It worked. They turned themselves in." He tried to smile, but it crumbled. "But each time I forgot myself for a while. My memories blended with theirs. I would lose time and find myself in unfamiliar parts of town. . .or a knife to my skin. I didn't know control and went too far. That's why I decided not to pursue being a hero. It was nothing you did. At the time, it truly didn't seem possible."

"You would do something like that," Bakugo muttered, illuminated by a flash of lightning. "Then why'd you help with the final?" Bakugo asked mouth tipped up to one side. "I've never been so shocked in my life."

"I don't think I'll ever forget your face," Izuku laughed, trying to keep quiet. "But Hatsume practically dragged me. She always. . .made me feel like I had a choice." He thought back to their first year when he had explained the range of his quirk and what he did as a child. She'd sat and listened, nodding as he talked. But she stayed, which surprised Izuku, and made him wonder if his quirk wasn't as bad as he was told.

He tried to see it the way she did, the amazing thing with so much potential. Even started going to the sparring gyms, getting to know his quirk again. Learning how to hold back and not slip too far into someone's mind. Picked up the staff when he saw a third year using it and practiced as a way to slow his mind. One of his Support Course teachers offered to teach him how to use it while gently suggesting that Izuku should transfer. Izuku always laughed the notion off.

He wasn't a hero, he told himself over and over, even as he looked longingly at the training gyms and the hero students he passed in the hall.

He wasn't a hero.

Until suddenly he was fighting Bakugo and felt like he was alive for the first time in years.

He wasn't a hero.

Even though he was fighting against Endeavor and Mirio and passed his provisional exam and was learning every day.

He wasn't a hero.

At some point, that changed and Izuku was working with Mirko and dragging Tomu out of the building, his control grown so much that he was able to hold over twenty people for nearly a minute.

He had become a hero, learned the meaning of the word and everything it entailed. The legacy that drove his steps when he thought he couldn't go on. Knowing that people needed him to put on the suit and walk headlong into danger.

Whether it be a dangerous yakuza group. Or a bank filled with hostages. Or a petty street fight. Or a burning building.

People needed him. Need him to be a hero.

"She's the reason I'm a hero," Izuku said, voice feeling distant. Hatsume saved him. It only felt natural to return the favor. "I think she knew that I needed a push. I was nervous during the final, torn on what to do with my quirk, but she was thrilled and it kinda rubbed off." He fought off a smile. "Getting back at you sounded nice too."

Bakugo shook his head. "I could tell you were enjoying yourself." His smile widened as he looked at Izuku. "I couldn't do a damn thing about it either. Felt like I was going crazy when I didn't want to fight you and listened to you telling me to stop."

"You were fighting me hard. It was kinda impressive," Izuku mused, thinking back to the fight. "Plus, after two years. . ." he shrugged, not really sure what he was going to say.

"I—" Bakugo looked away, visibly swallowing. "I should've done a lot of things differently."

"Maybe it was for the best," Izuku said, splaying his fingers across the cool tabletop. "We were both able to grow."

Bakugo looked back at him, staring for a few long seconds before he muttered, "Maybe."

They sat in a comfortable silence, letting the storm blowing outside fill the space between them.

"I keep thinking about the fire," Izuku said, focusing on the water and how it rippled when he tapped the glass. "I remember when he said he wanted to burn me and the way the blue flames crawled along his fingers and something about me being Mirko's student, but nothing else."

"You're alive," Bakugo reminded. "Do you need to know what you did?"

Izuku stared through the glass, his stomach twisting. "My quirk comes with a drawback," he said in

almost a whisper. "Nothing has happened since Dabi and I'm just. . .scared."

Bakugo frowned, clearly not understanding. "Shouldn't not remembering be a good thing?"

"Maybe for someone without my quirk," Izuku said, voice hollow. "If I can't remember it, I can't deal with it, and I can still feel it—him—Dabi." He shivered and drew his arms closer to himself. "I was so lost and scared in middle school after fighting those villains. I made a promise to myself to never go that deep again, but I'm afraid I did with Dabi."

Izuku rubbed at his eyes when they blurred. "I thought if I got strong enough through training that I wouldn't have to again. Even against a villain." He sniffed, feeling an emptiness ebb away at him. "What if. . . What if I didn't have a choice? Was I delusional to think I could get away with not putting my life on the line?"

"You did what you had to do," Bakugo said sternly, hand sliding a few inches forward.

"What about next time?" Izuku asked, the questions and fears spilling out. "What if next time I don't forget, and I can't find my way out? What if the next time I forget myself completely? What if I don't have a choice? I've never had a choice."

Bakugo stood and leaned across the table, chair squeaking behind him. "You're not alone anymore," he said almost sounding desperate. "I'm shit at this talking stuff, but. . ." He looked away, hands tensing on the table. "I won't leave you again," he said, meeting Izuku's eyes. "Ever. So, deal with it."

Izuku reached forward, laying his hand over Bakugo's, and stood, smiling when he flinched but didn't pull away. Izuku felt his determination, saw the way his eyes narrowed.

Sensors, Izuku reminded himself, feeling his heartbeat again. "You have a funny way of showing you care."

"Oh, shut up, nerd," Bakugo grumbled, pulling away.

"I'll see you in the morning, Kacchan," Izuku said as he pushed the chair in.

"I mean it, Deku," Bakugo said, giving him a warning glare.

Izuku smiled back at him. "I know you do."

He turned to go to his room, but he paused as something shifted at the edge of his vision. "Everything alright?" Bakugo asked when Izuku stared at the dark corner of the room. Izuku nodded, blaming the shifting shadow on the lightning flashing.