Izuku fought against a yawn as he stepped onto the sparring mat. Even after some solid sleep, Izuku still felt exhausted. Getting out of bed had been a nightmare in itself. They'd taken one look at the blaring alarm and snoozed it. Izuku just wanted to go back to bed, but Mirko was intent on him getting back to training.

After she chewed him out for keeping secrets and lying, of course. He tried not to think about what would happen when they started their internships up again next weekend.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked Bakugo, who squinted at him tiredly.

"Yeah, your kicks need work."

Uraraka looked between them curiously. "You two look terrible."

"Kacchan helped me catch up on my homework," Izuku said, losing a battle against a yawn. "We were up late."

"Are you sure you're able to work out, Midoriya?" Iida asked, his lips pressed into a thin line as he looked Izuku up and down. "It's no trouble if you want to practice sometime tomorrow."

Izuku waved him off. "I'm good, I just need to get my blood pumping."

Iida didn't look completely convinced as he said, "Alright. Let me see what you know."

Izuku went through the kicks Mirko taught him, trying not to be annoyed that he couldn't spar like Bakugo and Uraraka. His quirk was still on lockdown for another couple days under Aizawa's order, so he was left to work through moves with Iida.

"Ah, I see," he said as Izuku turned on the ball of his foot. "You're leaning too far forward. Make sure to keep your head up."

Izuku nodded and repeated the move till he got the adjustment right.

Iida stepped away and put on a pair of mitts. "Let's try it in practice," he said and raised the mitts up.

"So, how did you do on the math test?" Izuku asked after several rounds. He drank from the water bottle Iida gave him while he waited for an answer.

"I did well," he said, putting his glasses back on. "Do you need a tutor?"

Izuku shrugged and tossed his empty bottle in a trash can. "Not really, I guess. I thought it was kinda tough."

"It's admiral that you're working so hard to catch up with the course work," Iida said, eyes on their friends still sparring.

Izuku opened a second water bottle and sipped it, watching the way Uraraka broke out of one of Bakugo's holds with practiced ease. "I only have a few more weekend classes this semester, then

I'm free."

"I understand you need to catch up, Midoriya," Iida said slowly with the tone of an impending lecture, "but you need to take care of yourself. A Hero is no good tired and overworked."

Izuku slumped slightly and he felt his cheeks warm as he watched Bakugo roll out of a fall. "My routine got messed up, but I'm. . .making some adjustments." He tipped the bottle back to avoid saying more than he meant to.

Iida smiled and clasped his shoulder. "Good on you for seeing where changes needed to be made."

"Something like that," Izuku muttered too low for Iida to hear as he talked with Uraraka. He went to take another drink, but the bottle was snatched from his hand. "That was mine!" Izuku whined as Bakugo chugged what was left.

He looked at the empty bottle with consideration before offering it back to Izuku. "You want it back?" He smirked when an irritated noise ripped out of Izuku.

Izuku grabbed another and held it tight. "Get your own," he warned.

"Bakugo, you really shouldn't upset Midoriya," Uraraka said with a conniving grin. "Especially when you agreed to practice with him on takedowns."

Iida perked up, looking almost proud. "That is kind of you, Bakugo."

"Shut the hell up, four eyes," Bakugo snapped and grabbed Izuku by the shirt. "Let's just get this over with."

"You act like it's a punishment," Uraraka quipped with a teasing tone.

Izuku twisted out of Bakugo's grip. "Thanks for helping me train. I owe you and Iida."

Uraraka gave his shoulder a playful shove. "You don't owe us anything." She leaned closer to him and whispered, "Just take down Bakugo hard and we'll call it even."

"Always happy to help a classmate achieve their goals," Iida called from the edge of the mat. "I'll see you all back at the dorms."

Izuku stepped back and watched Uraraka talk through the moves, breaking them down into steps. He repeated them on her till Uraraka was satisfied and had Bakugo step in.

"Remember to keep your grip loose but firm," she said as Izuku stepped up to Bakugo. "You don't want to lock up your joints."

"Right." Izuku grabbed the punch Bakugo threw. He kept his quirk reigned in tight, fighting the habit to use it. This was just some fine-tuning practice, he reminded himself as he shifted his weight and knocked Bakugo off balance. "How was that?"

Uraraka hummed in thought. "It was good. You'll get better at speed with practice." She waited till Bakugo was back on his feet before she said, "Let's pick up the pace. Midoriya's got the basics down, so I think we should focus on some intermediate moves."

"Yeah, that sounds good," Bakugo agreed.

Izuku was beginning to wonder if he'd entered a parallel universe around the fourth time Bakugo let himself get taken down. He wasn't even in that bad of a mood. He'd scowl at the ceiling for a

second before he got up and repeat whatever set Uraraka called out. "You're spacing out, Deku."

"N-No I'm not," Izuku argued, dropping his grip on Bakugo's wrist.

"It's almost five anyway," Uraraka said as she came towards them with water. "I think that's enough for today." She tossed them each a bottle. "How late were you two up doing homework? I didn't even know Bakugo was capable of stay up past nine."

Izuku smiled against the mouth of his water bottle as Bakugo glared at her, but Uraraka seemed immune to his glares. "It wasn't that late. Ten I think?"

"Something like that," Bakugo agreed gruffly. "The idiots needed help and this one—" he gave Izuku a shove, "—was in deep fucking shit."

Izuku rolled his eyes. "It was like three days of homework," he grumbled.

"You can really tell that you two have known each other a long time," Uraraka said with a giggle. "Would've never known that the first time we met you."

"He's still a pain in my ass," Bakugo muttered, scowling off to the side. "Have been since we were seven," Izuku stated proudly.

Uraraka shook her head. "I'll see you guys later."

"Bye! Thanks for today," Izuku called after her.

"How the hell are you still so hyper?" Bakugo groaned as he walked off the mat.

Izuku followed with a shrug. "I think I'm hitting that spurt of energy before I crash again." He picked up his backpack.

"That All For One junk is out of your head now, right?" Bakugo asked a hand shoved into Izuku's curls to get him to look up.

"It's gone," Izuku said quietly, seeing the worry that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "And no Dabi either."

Bakugo let him go, his hand falling to his side. "You think that's gone, too?"

Izuku heaved out a heavy breath because he really didn't know. "I'm not seeing him, but. . ." he trailed off as he thought about Todoroki and Endeavor. "But—" he cut off again with a frustrated huff. "This is going to sound weird."

Bakugo's brows rose slightly, and he glanced up at the clock. "We should head back. You can tell me on the way."

Izuku waited till they were outside and away from large groups of students before he explained. "Remember when you said that I looked terrified talking to Endeavor?"

"You said it was the fire," Bakugo said. He frowned harder. "What was the real reason?"

Izuku shrunk back. "I don't really know," he admitted. "But I was scared of him. A lot. I felt like he'd hit me."

Bakugo stopped in his tracks. "Why would you think that?"

"I told you, I don't know," Izuku said carefully as he felt a wave of anger. "I wondered at first if Endeavor just reminded me of the old man." Izuku turned around to keep walking knowing that Bakugo would follow. "But nothing about Endeavor looks like him and I didn't feel that way when he fought him at the beginning of the year."

"Then what?" Bakugo asked, caught up and walking beside Izuku.

Izuku frowned at the theory forming in his head, but the implications of saying it aloud felt too severe. He hoped Bakugo would be able to tell him if he was crazy or not. "When I look at Todoroki, I feel annoyed and frustrated and like I know him." Izuku sighed hard. "His quirk is an issue, sure, but more than anything, I just get frustrated looking at him."

"And you don't know why?" Bakugo hummed in thought when Izuku nodded. "You think it has something to do with Dabi's memories that you can't remember?"

Izuku slowed to a stop. "I do," he said quietly. "I think. . .I think maybe he knows them—Endeavor and Todoroki."

Bakugo stopped a few feet ahead and turned to look back at Izuku. "Endeavor's fought Dabi a couple times that I know of."

"It's more than that," Izuku said, thinking over how he felt standing in that room with Endeavor and Todoroki. "I felt like a kid again standing in front of Endeavor." Izuku twisted his hands around the straps of his backpack. "I think that Dabi might be. . ."

Bakugo walked back to Izuku. "Might be a what, Deku?"

"Might be related or something, I don't know," he rushed out, looking at the ground between their feet. "There's something going on. I know that much."

"Icy-Hot's only got two siblings and neither of them look like that patchy bastard."

"See, I told you it'd sound weird." Izuku huffed out a breath, his annoyance with it. "I just wish these feelings made sense."

Bakugo looked over his shoulder to the dorms. "Aren't you going to their house for dinner? Just ask then." He looked back at Izuku. "Or ask Icy-Hot before you go."

Izuku considered it, but he wasn't too sure.

"If Dabi does have some relation to Endeavor, I'm not surprised he hates him," Bakugo said. "Icy- Hot doesn't like him either. Shit head wouldn't use his fire for the longest fucking time just because Endeavor wanted him to."

Izuku started walking again. "I didn't realize Todoroki was so spiteful."

"Should've seen what he did to the car Endeavor bought him," Bakugo snorted.

"I need to ask him when his dad wants to have that dinner. He's probably hoping I forgot." Izuku waved when he saw Aizawa headed up the steps of the dorm. He backtracked to them. "I thought you would've gone home by now."

Aizawa reached into his bag and pulled out a little bottle. "Needed to give you these."

Izuku soured but took them without complaint. He tucked the bottle into his pocket before he asked, "Would you like to join us for dinner?" He grinned, knowing the answer.

"That actually sounds like a nightmare," Aizawa said. His eyes narrowed slightly at Izuku. "Why aren't you getting sleep, Izuku?"

"Just nightmares," Izuku muttered, avoiding eye contact. "Don't worry, I was up late catching up on my homework. I'll get more sleep tonight."

"Let me know if they get worse."

"I will," Izuku said, lifting his gaze to Aizawa's. "I know I'm not supposed to leave campus, but Endeavor invited me to dinner sometime this week."

Aizawa frowned at that. "I was wondering why Todoroki put in a request form. Do you want to go?"

"It'd be rude not to after I said I would," Izuku said.

Aizawa took in a deep breath. "I'll consider it. Find out when this dinner is supposed to be."

"Ok, thank you." Izuku watched Aizawa walk away, the guilt he'd been feeling for the last few days weighing on his shoulders.

"Stop sulking, nerd," Bakugo said, giving Izuku a rough shove to get walking again. Izuku glared at him. "I'm not sulking."

"The hell you aren't," he scoffed. "You always get this stupid look on your face, have since we were kids."

Izuku stopped walking. "Why aren't you mad at me?" he asked, shifted his eyes to Bakugo's as he stopped walking. "You didn't want me to go, but I went anyway. So why aren't you upset about it?"

"You think I'm not?" Bakugo's shoulders drew tight with a stiff breath. "Of course, I'm ticked off. You always just run into danger without thinking."

Izuku looked away, forcing himself to stay where he was standing as he heard Bakugo walk closer.

"I was scared, Deku," Bakugo said quietly, like admitting to a great secret. Knowing Bakugo, Izuku supposed he was. "I've always used anger to cover up what I'm really feeling." He was quiet for a moment before he looked up at the roof of the dorm. Izuku felt his stomach drop. "I was pissed off and frustrated with you, but more than anything, I was scared because I knew you were going to get hurt."

Izuku pressed his lips tight and tried to blink away the way his eyes watered. "I'm sorry." He felt like a broken record. It felt impossible to say it enough, to mean it, to make it worth something. "It's just—" Izuku swallowed hard as something broke out in his chest. Something brittle and sharp and old. "It's just all of this has happened so quickly." He sucked in a deep breath, trying to keep the tears at bay for as long as possible. "The transfer, training, the internship, a-a family, friends, you." Izuku shoved a hand through his hair, pulling hard at the roots. "No one has ever cared about me before!"

Izuku wrapped his arms around himself, thumbing the hem of his short sleeves. "Then, suddenly

people did, and it didn't feel real. It felt too good to be true." He bit his lip, what would've been a sob coming out as a disjointed breath. "I'm terrified of it all being temporary. I let it all in. I let myself trust people. I let myself feel safe, so if it was taken from me by something out of my control—"

A look of understanding crossed Bakugo's face. "You pushed us away so you could blame yourself."

"Yeah," Izuku choked out, pressing his palms to his eyes. "It would've hurt either way, but at least I would've had control. Even if it was my fault."

"It's not temporary, Deku," Bakugo said gently.

Izuku sucked in a sharp breath and pressed his hands against his eyes harder. "Don't do that," Izuku said, hating how his voice was breaking. "Just tell me to stop being a crybaby. Yell at me. Anything else but that."

Izuku felt Bakugo's fingers press against his hands and pull them away from his face. His mouth tipped up in a faint smile. "You know I'm bad at doing what I'm told."

"I don't know how to handle you being nice to me," Izuku huffed, his hands still held captive by Bakugo.

"Well, it's become a lot harder to kick your ass," he said, dropping Izuku's hands. It looked like a thought occurred to him as his face lit up and he smirked. "But if me being nice to you bugs you so much, I guess I'll have to do it more."

Izuku rolled his eyes but couldn't fight the smile that spread across his face. "You're ridiculous." Bakugo shrugged. "You're not crying anymore, so it must've worked."

"I guess so," Izuku said, wiping what was left of the tears off with the back of his hand. He stopped outside of the dorm doors, Bakugo looking back at him in question. "Thank you, Kacchan."

The small smile returned as he said, "Come on, nerd, I'm hungry."

Izuku grinned as Bakugo turned back to open the door, figuring it would be the only likely time he'd get away with the action while in clear view of their classmates. He shot forward and wrapped his arms around Bakugo in a hug. Just as he expected, Bakugo went ramrod straight and fought against him.

"Let me go, you shitty nerd!"

Izuku tightened his grip, keeping Bakugo's arms pinned to his side. "Thanks, Kacchan."

Bakugo glared over his shoulder at Izuku, his expression pinched and sour, but it softened slightly. "God, you piss me off."

"Yeah, I can tell." Izuku let him go, still grinning ear to ear.

Mina yanked the door open. "Quit dilly-dallying! I'm hungry!"

Kaminari peeked over her shoulder. "Careful," he whispered in warning, "she's hangry."

She pointed an accusing finger at Bakugo. "It's almost six! What have you done with the real Bakugo?"

"That one," Bakugo said, jutting a thumb at Izuku. "It's his fault."

Mina crossed her arms. "If you don't start dinner, I will."

"You wouldn't dare," Bakugo sneered.

"Watch me," Mina said, spinning on her heel and walking towards the kitchen.

Kaminari came up beside Izuku as Bakugo chased after Mina. "It's shark week, dude. Watch out." Izuku grimaced. "Have you seen Todoroki?"

"Not since classes. Probably in his room," Kaminari said. "He emerges for dinner."

Izuku opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Bakugo yelling, "Deku, get in here!"

"Duty calls," Kaminari said with a wince. "See ya later, Midoriya."

Izuku looked at the kitchen warily. Mina darted past him with a cackle. "Sorry, Izuku."

He gave her a half-hearted glare, pointedly looking at the kitchen when pots and pans started slamming together, punctuated by angry muttering. "I have to deal with that, you know."

Mina smiled sheepishly. "I'll text Kiri," she tried to appease, slowly backing away. Izuku wasn't sure if even Kiri could help now.

"Deku!"

He gave Mina one last glare before walking to the kitchen. "Coming!"

Izuku lifted a tired hand and knocked his knuckles against Todoroki's door. Immediately, he heard soft footsteps. Izuku stepped back as the door was opened. Todoroki's two-toned head peeked around the door, his eyes going a little wide when he saw Izuku.

"Hello, Midoriya." He pulled the door open further. "Is dinner ready?"

"Almost," Izuku said after a stiff moment. He bit his tongue as the familiar feelings welled up in his gut. "I wanted to ask you about that dinner with your dad."

"You can still decline," Todoroki said quickly, his fingers turning white where they were wrapped around the door.

Izuku scanned Todoroki's face, picking out the way his brow was pinched, and mouth pressed firm. His eyes settled on his scar, red and warped around his eye. "Actually, I was looking forward to it," Izuku said, focusing on Todoroki's mismatched eyes. "But Mr. Aizawa needs to know when it is before he'll decide if I can go."

Todoroki frowned. "Fuyumi made arrangements for Friday," he said slowly like he was hoping Izuku might interject.

Fuyumi.

Todoroki had two siblings. Izuku narrowed his eyes at the familiarity that name brought. He could almost picture a face. "Friday? I'll let you know what Mr. Aizawa says, then."

"It's really no trouble if you can't come, Midoriya."

Izuku stared at Todoroki and let himself feel the anger and frustration simmering in his blood, trying to get to know it. He threw up an easy smile as he said, "I guess I'm just curious about the #1 Hero." Izuku turned towards the elevators. "You hungry? Dinner should be ready."

He heard the door click close and hurried footsteps as Todoroki caught up with him. Izuku stepped into the elevator and hit the ground floor button. "Is Fuyumi your sister?" Izuku asked as the elevator began to descend.

"Yes," Todoroki said, shifting, "I have a brother, too. Natsuo."

That name sounded familiar too. Izuku was sure that Dabi had some relation to them. Maybe he'd take Bakugo up on his advice and just ask Todoroki, but now wasn't the time.

Izuku stepped off the elevator, sighing as he was met with the delicious smells of food. "Get in here, extras!" Bakugo called from the dining room.

"If you keep yelling like that, you're gonna end up with hearing aids," Izuku said, earning a heady glower from Bakugo.

Kirishima draped an arm around Izuku's shoulders. "So, Midoriy-bro, you free tomorrow for a spar?"

"Actually, I'm working on my technique," Izuku said, "so that'd be great." Kiri lowered his voice as he asked, "Still no sparring with Bakugo?"

"No. No quirk either for the rest of the week." Izuku tried not to be sad about it. It'd been a long time since he avoided using his quirk. He kept it reeled in tight, determined to follow Aizawa's instructions, but Izuku could feel the strain building.

He realized he was probably taking what Aizawa said too literally, but since sparring was his main outlet, Izuku was a little lost on what to do besides putting in earbuds. At least that old habit still worked.

"Well, I'm happy to help you practice," Kiri said with a toothy grin. "Tomorrow after classes?"

Kiri released Izuku and took a seat at the table. "Sure thing."

Izuku sat on the edge of his bed while Mina flopped down in the bean bag, remote already in hand as she flipped through thumbnails.

"Any requests?" she asked, inclining her head slightly to Izuku as she searched for something to watch.

Izuku looked at the TV screen. "Whatever you want."

Mina hummed in thought, the scrolling slowing. "I'm kinda in the mood for something cheesy. What about you?"

"Cheesy?" Izuku moved to sit on the ground beside her. "That sounds fine."

Mina looked at him curiously as she hit play. "Hey, you're feeling better, right?"

Izuku reluctantly looked up at her. He didn't really know the answer. Yes, the memories of All For One had finally been sorted out, but he didn't feel any better than before. "I think so," he decided on. He couldn't talk to her about Dabi, and his feelings still twisted up in that, but he didn't want her to worry either. "Getting sleep has been hard since the fire."

She frowned. "Do you dream about it?" she asked in almost a whisper.

"I do," Izuku said, the happy tune of the opening song jarring against the emotions he was picking up. "Always things that could've gone wrong." He turned back to the TV, watching as a bubbly girl walked down a busy street, a bright smile on her face. "Feels ridiculous to be kept up by 'what ifs'."

"I don't think it's ridiculous," Mina said. "I have those kinds of dreams, too." She laughed humorlessly. "I've woken up screaming before because the thing that hurt me actually killed me in the dream." Her eyes drifted from the screen to Izuku. They held there for a moment before she said, "You're too hard on yourself."

Izuku swallowed thickly. "I feel like I have to be," he said, the words flowing out of him without much thought.

"Why?"

Izuku looked up as the movie paused, the girl on screen caught mid eye roll as she argued with a guy who was undoubtedly her love interest. "Because I'm so behind. I don't have the experience you guys do, I'm still lacking in physical strength and control over my quirk and I—" he cut off, the words catching painfully in his throat. "I keep messing up."

Mina shifted off the bean bag to sit beside Izuku on the floor. "We've been doing this longer—"

"I know, that's the problem." Izuku shoved a hand into his hair. "If I hadn't been so scared, I could've transferred sooner—during our first year. Instead, I waited like a cowered till I didn't have a choice anymore."

"So why didn't you?" Mina asked, resting her cheek against her knee, eyes locked on Izuku's face.

Izuku stared back at her. "You saw what happened," he said, unable to hide the bitterness in his voice. "What good is a Hero when stuff like that happens when they use their quirk?"

Her brow pinched. "That was scary," she admitted, "but you're more than those moments, Izuku." She pressed on when Izuku looked away. "A Hero can't be a Hero all the time. We need someone to look out for us, too."

Izuku wondered what Mirko would say to that. He wondered if she had someone to help soothe the ache from picking herself up after a fight.

"Heroes are just people. We're human." Mina shrugged and leaned back on the beanbag. "We make mistakes and mess up, think we could've done something better, think we could've done more, or question why we're a Hero at all." She hit play, letting the flirtatious argument fill the air. "All that matters is that you keep fighting."

"Even when you're scared?" Izuku asked, feeling a smile creep onto his face.

She grinned back. "Especially when you're scared. You intern with Mirko; I mean come on. That's

like her whole thing."

Izuku laughed. "I miss her."

After the first fight with Bakugo, Mirko continued to call him weekly as promised. She pressed the issue each time, but she sounded worried more than anything else.

"She'll be at the Support gala thing, right?"

"Probably." Izuku couldn't imagine Mirko missing a moment to garner attention.

"How the hell did you talk me into this?"

Izuku rolled his eyes. "I didn't talk you into anything, Kacchan. You agreed when Mr. Aizawa asked you to come with me."

"Whatever," Bakugo scoffed, begrudgingly following Izuku and Todoroki onto the train. "I don't get why you want to go to this dinner so badly."

"You know why," Izuku answered lowly, hoping that Todoroki didn't hear. Bakugo's eyes cut to his and he let out a stiff breath. "Hope it's worth it."

"It's not a long ride," Todoroki said, pulling open a door to a private cart, "but I thought this would be better than chairs."

Bakugo moved past him to enter the room first. He flopped on the bed with a content sigh. "You just like spending your dad's money."

Izuku peered in over Todoroki's shoulder. It was spacious with a bed and a small room off to the side. "It's less than an hour," Izuku said as he closed the door. "You didn't have to get this."

Todoroki tossed his bag into one of the chairs before falling face-first into the mattress. "You took me on the bus," he said, turning his head so that his words weren't muffled. "You can ride first- class."

"It's. . .nice." Izuku glanced around not sure what to do. Todoroki looked like he was falling asleep and Bakugo was texting. He settled on sitting in one of the chairs that faced the window.

Todoroki's home was on the outskirts of Musutafu, Izuku knew that much. He leaned forward on the small table between the two chairs and watched the city dissolve into sparse countryside. It wasn't long till Todoroki's soft snores mixed with the hum of the train.

He looked up when the bag Todoroki had tossed in the other chair was dropped to the floor and Bakugo took its place. "What are you thinking about?"

Izuku looked back at the suburb they were passing by. "I'm wondering what people do with so much house." While he knew what area of Musutafu they were in, he'd only been there once. A long time ago for only a few days before he was moved again. Even as they passed by fast, Izuku could still see kids playing on the sidewalks.

"Complain about needing more house."

"Really?" Izuku asked. It was sometimes hard to tell when Bakugo was joking. "I remember getting lost because I'd never been in a house with stairs before. I can't imagine wanting

something bigger."

Bakugo shrugged, his eyes focused on the passing houses. "What's the point of money if you can't show off how much you have? Bigger house, bigger paycheck."

Izuku thought of the allowance Aizawa had started giving him that was collecting dust in a jar on his desk, a few dollars kept in his wallet. The only time he'd tried to use the money was at Daishi's. "I don't know what I'll do with money."

"Buy whatever you want," Bakugo said as if it were simple.

"I don't think you can buy the things I want," Izuku answered thoughtfully.

Bakugo snorted. "You would think like that." He inclined his head slightly as he said, "It doesn't have to be important."

"Then I think I'll buy another beanbag chair."

Bakugo smiled. "Yeah, that's a start."

Izuku watched the way his eyes crinkles, almost maroon in the low light. It made his heart stumble for a few beats. Izuku looked back out the window, ignoring the strange feeling. "What would you buy?"

"A nice ass car."

Todoroki sat up when his phone started buzzing. He squinted down at the screen. "Our stop is coming up." He scowled down at his bag laying sideways on the ground before picking it up. "It's not too late to turn back."

"No way. I'm hungry," Izuku said as he stood.

"Fuyumi's a good cook." Todoroki pulled open the door as the train came to a stop. He paused at the top of the steps leading off the train. "You're positive about this, Midoriya?"

Izuku opened his mouth to answer but reconsidered his words as he felt the worry rolling off of Todoroki. "I'm sure," he said with a single nod. Izuku realized why he'd paused as they stepped onto the platform. Endeavor was waiting for them.

Izuku stiffened at the sight of him, relaxing slightly when there were no flames. Just normal, casual, civilian Endeavor. He could do this.

"Shoto, Midoriya," he greeted, pulling a frown at the sight of a third, "Bakugo." "Endeavor," Bakugo said, parroting the distaste in Endeavor's voice perfectly. Todoroki stepped forward. "My friends are hungry. You promised dinner."

"Right, of course," Endeavor said, waving for them to follow. "The car is this way." "Don't get it twisted, Icy-Hot. We're not friends."

Todoroki's brow furrowed. "Why not?"

"Don't take it personally," Izuku whispered to him. "He has an allergy to the word friends."

Todoroki's frown deepened. "I don't think it's possible to be allergic to words, Midoriya."

"No, that's—that's not what I meant."

"Then you should say what you mean, Midoriya. It's confusing otherwise."

Izuku didn't know how to respond to that, so he promptly shut his mouth. He looked at Bakugo for help, but he was engrossed in his phone. "Right. Sorry."

The car ride was mostly silent. Izuku sat in the back seat with Bakugo while Todoroki sat in the front with his father. The car was probably the most expensive thing Izuku had ever touched. It smelled like leather and the smooth interior gleamed under the passing streetlights. He sat up straight, wishing he'd said yes to Aizawa's offer to drive them.

"Relax," Bakugo hissed.

Izuku tried to. He leaned back against the stiff seats, even mirrored Bakugo's slouch, but it didn't work very well. He shifted back to sitting up and decided to just look out the window and pretend he wasn't in a car that cost as much as most people made in a year.

They pulled up to a traditional-style house, its windows lit up with a warm glow. Izuku approached it slowly, his steps faltering at the fear and familiarity it brought. Bakugo hung back with him, watching the way emotions flickered across Izuku's face.

Izuku gathered in the feelings and followed Todoroki inside.

"Welcome!" a voice said. "We're so excited to meet more of Shoto's friends!"

"Fuyumi," Todoroki pleaded.

She blinked at him. "You don't bring friends home often, Shoto," she said with a bright smile. "I'm Fuyumi and this is Natsuo."

Izuku looked both of them over. "I'm Izuku Midoriya," he greeted. "It's nice to meet you." "Please, come in," Fuyumi said.

Izuku carefully put his shoes away and moved further into the house. He tried not to look too stunned by the interior but judging by the way Bakugo jabbed him in the ribs he'd failed.

"Dinners almost ready. I'll bring in the appetizers."

Izuku turned in place. In some sense of the word, the house felt like home. He knew this place—or rather Dabi did.

Fuyumi re-entered the room carrying a tray of food. "I hope you're hungry."

"You didn't have to make so much," Todoroki told her as he took the tray from her hands.

"Nonsense," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Teenage boys are known for their hunger." As Todoroki's scowl deepened, she said, "I made soba."

"Cold?"

"Of course."

Todoroki nodded. "Thank you, Fuyumi."

"Midoriya," Endeavor said, gesturing for Izuku to take a seat on the opposite couch, "I'd like to thank you for your help in questioning All For One."

Izuku noticed how Bakugo stiffened. "I'm glad I could help."

"We learned some valuable information." Endeavor leaned forward and picked up one of the little skewers of meat. "Have you considered where you will go after you graduate?"

"I haven't," Izuku said. Having the #1 Hero so interested in him should've made Izuku ecstatic. Izuku probably would've been if it weren't for the conversation with Todoroki so long ago and whatever memories from Dabi's mind that still clung to him. "I still have a lot of work to do so I've been focusing on that."

"You're lucky to have such a strong quirk," Endeavor said, dropping another toothpick onto a slowly growing pile.

Izuku bit back the bitterness that coated his tongue. "Yes, thank you. But I still have a lot of training to do."

"Why did you transfer so late?" Endeavor asked as he leaned back. "I heard rumors that you were forced to transfer."

The answer Todoroki was giving to his brother cut off midsentence. He looked between Izuku and Endeavor cautiously as if wondering if he should intervene.

"I didn't think I could be a Hero," Izuku answered. He looked down at the lap as he said, "It took some time, but I changed my mind. Being a Hero is all I want." He looked up and met Endeavor's eyes feeling a spark of determination. "You're right, I'm lucky to have a strong quirk."

I just wish I'd figured that out sooner.

Endeavor's eyes flickered down to Izuku's hands. The sleeves of his shirt covered the burn scars on his arms, but the tops of his hands still showed bits of warped skin. "Strong indeed," Endeavor mused.

"Dinner's ready," Fuyumi said, a towel on her shoulder as she walked into the sitting room.

Izuku stood next to Todoroki as he washed dishes. He wiped them off as Todoroki finished and set the plates in the drying rack.

"I want to apologize," Izuku said, finally working up the courage.

Todoroki paused; his hands submerged in the soapy water. "For what?"

"I lied to you," Izuku said, sinking into his shoulders. "Your fire wasn't what was bothering me."

"I don't understand," Todoroki said, withdrawing his hands from the water and drying them with a towel.

Izuku sighed heavily as he put down the plate next to the others. "I fought Dabi during the fire," Izuku said quietly not wanting the others to hear him. "But I can't remember much about what happened with him."

Todoroki's frown deepened; his mouth pressing into a thin line. "I still don't understand."

"When I look at you, I get this feeling I know you," Izuku said. "When I look at Endeavor, I feel fear and when I look at you, I feel frustration and anger sometimes. I just don't understand it." He looked up at Todoroki expecting more confusion, but Izuku found him pale and almost scared. "I think. . ." he hesitated as Todoroki took in a shaky breath, but he pushed on, "that these feelings have something to do with Dabi's memories."

Todoroki drew into himself, the towel clutched in his hands spilling through his fingers. He looked down almost shamefully as he said, "They would." After a deep breath, he looked back up at Izuku. "Dabi is my older brother Touya."

Izuku gaped in response. He'd expected some relation, but not a brother. "Ok, now I'm the one who's confused."

"I thought he'd died when I was little," Todoroki said, his voice low as he stared at the ground between them. "Dabi revealed the truth to my father during one of their fights."

"If he's your brother. . ." Izuku trailed off as he looked around the oddly familiar home, "then that explains a lot."

Todoroki set the towel down on the counter. "This is why you wanted to come tonight, isn't it?"

"Yes," Izuku said, looking back at him. "I wasn't sure what I was searching for, so I thought coming here might give some answers."

"I see," he said, reaching into the water to pull the plug. "You don't remember anything about him?"

Izuku hated that he had nothing to give the hope in Todoroki's eyes. "No. Nothing more."

"If you see him again," Todoroki said slowly, carefully, like he wanted Izuku to hear each word, "I want you to stop him."

Izuku stiffed and opened his mouth to reply but was cut off.

"However you need to," Todoroki said. "Just stop him."

Izuku pressed his lips closed as he thought about his answer. "I'll do what I can."

"I've seen you stop my father mid-fight." Todoroki's eyes flitted over Izuku. "I know you can, Midoriya."

"I'll do what I can," Izuku repeated, not wanting to make a promise.

On the train ride back to UA, Izuku dozed off. He was rudely awoken by Bakugo shaking his shoulder.

When they got back to the dorms, Izuku wasted no time going straight to his room and crashing on his bed.

It was quiet.

Izuku sat up and looked around his darkroom. His few things. He got up and pulled open his closet. His selection of clothing was bigger than before but compared to what he saw of Bakugo's closet

and Mina's, Izuku felt embarrassed.

He shrugged off his uniform and traded it for a t-shirt and hoodie. Before he got in bed, he flipped the TV on and chose a show at random. He left it on at a low volume so that it was just an inaudible hum in the background.

Izuku snuggled under his blankets as his eyes grew heavy.

Bakugo's hands were always just slightly out of reach in the dreams. Each time, their eyes locked before the ceiling came crashing down. Each time, Izuku woke up with a startled, choked sound and a cold sweat.

Izuku fell back on his bed with a frustrated cry. Each time, Mirko and Bakugo died. Ridiculous.

It was nearly two in the morning. Izuku was surprised at the decent amount of sleep he'd gotten before the dream, but it was too early to justify staying up. Izuku looked over at the connecting wall as he swore he heard something.

Izuku debated for a moment before he got up and went to Bakugo's door. A yawn broke out of him as he knocked on the door.

Bakugo didn't say anything when he answered. He stared at Izuku for a few seconds before he gave a single nod and left the door open as he went back to bed.

Izuku gently closed the door, the soft click of the latch absurdly loud at the late hour.

"Another nightmare?" Bakugo asked as Izuku came closer.

"Yeah," Izuku muttered, lingering in the center of the room. "Sorry."

A few silent moments passed before Bakugo asked, "Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to go to sleep, Deku?"

Izuku jumped when Bakugo's gruff voice broke through the silence, and he edged closer to the bed. "I-I can sleep on the floor."

"You didn't bring shit with you, for one," Bakugo said, sitting up to look at Izuku. "And two, we've already talked about this."

Izuku gulped. "Right. Sorry." He barely managed to stop the yelp of surprise when Bakugo grabbed his wrist, it came out as a high-pitched squeak instead. Izuku mentally cursed when he heard Bakugo snicker.

"Come on, nerd, I'm fucking tired."

Izuku got under the covers with a slight huff. "Sorry for waking you."

"I was already awake," Bakugo said, shrugging against his pillow.

"Nightmare?" Izuku asked, wonder if the noise he'd heard was Bakugo waking up.

Bakugo stared blankly upward. "Yeah." He shifted to lay on his side and looked at Izuku. "You

fell."

Izuku felt his heart twist, remembering how scared Bakugo had looked trying to get him down. "I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing."

Izuku curled in on himself. "I don't know what else to do," he admitted. "If I had just told you, then none of that would've happened. Or Aizawa—"

"Shut up," Bakugo ordered. "You're fine. They're just stupid dreams." He let out a stiff breath. "You can't change the past, Deku."

"I know that," Izuku grumbled. "I'm just worried about the future." He scowled as a finger was drove into his forehead.

"Idiot," Bakugo said and Izuku could hear the smirk in his voice. "Can't do anything about that either." He moved closer. "I'll kick your ass if you're worrying about me."

Izuku frowned at his shadowed face. "I'd like to see you try, Kacchan."

Even in the dark, Izuku could see him roll his eyes as he turned over. "I'm not doing this. Go to sleep, Deku."

"You started it," Izuku muttered, dodging the smack aimed at his arm.

"Deku."

"Yeah, Kacchan?"

Bakugo pulled the blanket up over his shoulder. "I'll leave my door unlocked, so you can just come over when you need to."

Izuku smiled tiredly, watching as Bakugo's shoulder rose and fell with each breath. "Ok," he murmured before falling asleep.