Chapter 20: Icarus Flies With His Army
"Come on, Izuku tell us the story!" Mina cried.
"Why me? It's Toshi's story," Izuku laughed.
"I don't know, you're the bard of the group," Hitoshi said with a smirk.
"Wait, you're that type of nerd?" Denki asked excitedly.
A slow blush creeped over Hitoshi's face, making the group laugh. "That's not the point! The point is that if you want a story, Izuku is the one to tell it!"
"It's literally your story," Izuku said, shaking his head. "You can be the bard for tonight."
"... I like being a druid," Hitoshi muttered.
"Of course you do," Izuku laughed.
"Is anyone going to tell the damn story?" Kacchan asked.
"Mmm, no," Izuku decided.
"What?" Mina cried. "We want to know how you went feral on Hitoshi!"
"Yeah, it's really not necessary," Hitoshi said, ducking his head. "All you need to know is that he's scary when he's angry."
Kaminari laughed. "Yeah, learned that one real quick during the training exercise a couple weeks ago."
"Guys, it's raining outside!" Mei cheered, jumping up from where she was sitting on the floor. They were all sitting in the common room, playing random card games at the coffee table.
"That is what the forecast warned," Shouto laughed.
"Can we take a walk in the rain pretty please?" Mei asked. "I love the rain!"
"I'm so down!" Mina said standing up.
"I like the rain as well," Momo said, standing and offering a hand to Jiro who shrugged and accepted it.
"Rain is super manly, bros!" Eijiro said, punching his fists together and making everyone laugh.
They all stood to join their friends, forgoing jackets as they put their shoes on and stepped out in the soft rain.
"This feels so nice," Izuku said, tilting his head back and spinning in a circle as the water cascaded around them all.
They continued to walk around the grounds a bit, until they spotted someone walking their way.
"Monoma?" Izuku asked, stepping to the front of their group. "What are you doing out here?"
"What are you doing out here?" Monoma parroted.
Izuku raised his hands up and smiled at the other boy. "We were just out for a walk in the rain," he explained.
"Well, I was looking for you," Monoma said, turning his head to the side.
Izuku looked back towards his friends in confusion. Several of them shrugged back. No one knew what he wanted then. "Why were you looking for me?" Izuku asked, turning back to the 1-B boy.
Monoma scuffed his shoe on the floor. "I just- Listen. Your classmates are stupid."
"Hey!" Mina shouted.
"We're literally right here," Hitoshi deadpanned.
"Obviously I don't mean you guys," Monoma huffed. "The others. Who thought you were a traitor. It's not even believable, no matter what the Commission or All Might claimed."
"Um, thank you?" Izuku said in confusion. "I mean it wasn't true, but why didn't you believe it?"
"Because," Monoma scoffed. "I might hate 1-A, but we all went through the Summer Camp together. No one in 1-B believes that you're a traitor or ever could be. I mean, you almost died fighting the League of Villains. You protected all of us, and that kid."
"Kota," Izuku said with a soft smile. "Yeah, the League has been out to get me the entire time. I'm glad you could see that."
"It started because you have multiple quirks right?" Monoma asked.
"Um… yeah?"
"That's why I can't copy your quirk," Monoma nodded. "It may all be one giant quirk, but there's so many variations that Copy tells me that it's a blank."
"Oh!" Izuku said, lighting up. Kacchan and Hitoshi started grumbling behind him, but he flipped them off and otherwise ignored them. "That makes sense! I have about seven different ways to activate my quirk, so you quirk doesn't know how to copy it in a way for you to use it!"
"I- wh- Seven?" Monoma shouted.
Izuku laughed and rubbed the back of his neck as a shiver passed through him from the rain. Maybe they should have grabbed jackets. "Yeah, it's a lot and it took me a while to master them."
"It took you like a week to learn each of them," Kacchan countered.
"It just took you a while to learn there were so many and to master the first method," Shouto added.
"Your analyzing really came in handy," Hitoshi snickered.
"Okay, that- that's crazy," Monoma said, shaking his head. "Anyways, I just wanted to come tell you that 1-B is on your side and we were the entire time."
"Then why didn't you say anything before?" Mei asked.
"Vlad told us not to," Monoma shrugged. "He told us that the teachers were figuring it out and that they'd put a stop to everything."
"Lot of good they did," Mei huffed.
"They got me out," Izuku said, reaching back to grab her hand. "Besides, I'm here now and everyone knows I'm not the traitor."
"We should probably get back inside," Momo said. "We're all going to catch colds if we stay out too much longer."
"Yeah, you're right," Eijiro said. "Not everyone has quirks to counter the cold," he added with a look towards Kacchan and Shouto.
"You're all just weak," Kacchan scoffed.
They started walking back to the dorms, Monoma joining them and then separating to go to his own dorm as they passed it.
When they got back inside, they were faced with a glaring Shouta whose arms were crossed, a foot tapping on the floor. "If you all get sick, you're not going to Recovery Girl."
"But that means we'll miss classes!" Denki cried out.
"That's your own fault," Shouta huffed.
Izuku snickered. "We should all take warm showers and have a slumber party!"
Shouta pinched the bridge of his nose. "You all have classes tomorrow."
Hitoshi faked a sniff. "I don't know, teach. I'm feeling pretty sick."
Sero coughed into his elbow. "Yeah, I think we all caught something already."
Shouta rolled his eyes at the group. "You're all going to classes tomorrow unless you have a fever." He glared at Shouto and Kacchan. "A natural fever. Now go shower and get warm, you damn problem children."
"I'll make hot tea for everyone when we come back down," Momo offered.
"A life saver!" Mina cheered, the girls all heading to their side of the dorms, Mei getting dragged along as well.
"Dad, can we have a sleepover in the common room, pretty please?" Izuku asked, giving his best puppy dog eyes. Denki and Sero snickered and Eijiro pushed Kacchan's shoulder, whispering something that Izuku didn't catch.
Shouta sighed. "Fine, but that means you're babysitting your little sister tonight."
"Okay!" Izuku said, giving his dad a quick hug.
"Eri cuddles!" Eijiro cheered, punching the air.
"Just hurry up and go take showers. You better be back before Mic gets here with Eri," Shouta snapped.
The boys ran towards the stairs, splitting up on their respective floors and taking quick, but very hot, showers. Izuku almost felt bad for anyone else if they needed a shower, because by the time everyone was done, there was definitely no hot water left in the building for a while.
When Izuku came back down with his floormates, all of them in pajamas and carrying blankets, Mic was just walking in with a bundled up Eri.
"Just on time," Shouta said. "Alright, let's go Hizashi."
Hizashi finished taking off Eri's rain jacket, boots and gloves before turning to his husband and taking his hand.
"Have a nice night, alone," Izuku snickered.
Shouta shot a bright red glare at Izuku, but he and his friends were all howling with laughter and their two teachers quickly left the building, both of their ears pink and not from the cold.
"Pops said I get to have a sleepover with you, oni-san!" Eri said, running up to Izuku.
"That you do, munchkin!" Izuku said as he picked up his sister, still laughing.
"Tea's ready!" Momo called from the kitchen.
Slowly, everyone gathered in the common room, the coffee table quickly covered in snacks and drinks, the couch pushed far back, and bodies and blankets all huddled together.
"Movie night?" Denki asked.
"Ashitaka!" Eri cheered.
Izuku chuckled. "We just recently watched that one, Eri."
"It's a good one!" Eri countered with a pout.
"Can't deny that, but why don't we watch something new?" Izuku asked.
"How about a Disney movie!" Mina asked.
"Halloween's next week," Hanta said.
"Oh! Nightmare Before Christmas!" Denki cheered.
"Have you seen that, Eri?" Eijiro asked.
Eri shook her head. "I don't think so."
"You'll love it!" Mina said. "It's where there's different towns for each holiday and the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown goes to Christmas Town!"
"Okay!" Eri cheered.
Momo scrolled through their media channels and finally found the movie and put it on. Jiro had made several bags of popcorn, so there were a couple bowls spread throughout the group as they settled in to watch the movie. Eri, Shouto, and Denki were asleep by the end of the movie. Everyone quickly followed after the second movie.
"Alright, everyone up!" Shouta called out, kicking Hitoshi in the leg since he was the closest.
There was a chorus of moans and grumbles as the students blinked their eyes open to see Shouta and Hizashi standing in the common room trying to wake them. Well, Shouta was trying to wake them up, Hizashi was giggling as he took pictures of them.
Izuku quickly closed his eyes and snuggled into Kacchan's side more. Apparently, Hitoshi was also trying to hide.
"Really, Hitoshi? Hizashi, go get the thermometer," Shouta sighed. "Todoroki, Bakugou, up. You two don't get fevers." Izuku could vaguely hear Shouto getting up, quiet as he was.
"I have a parasite," Kacchan grumbled tiredly, running his fingers through Izuku's hair.
"I'm not a parasite," Izuku pouted.
"Izuku, let go of your boyfriend so he can get ready for classes," Shouta huffed.
"I have the thermometer," Hizashi called. Izuku winced and hid further into Kacchan at the loud noise. "Eri, baby, come on," Hizashi cooed. He must have given the thermometer to Shouta. There was a weight and a lot of warmth taken off of Izuku and he cuddled further into Kacchan.
"Migraine," Hitoshi whined, apparently having a similar problem.
"Correction," Kacchan huffed as Izuku could feel Hitoshi getting closer. "I have two parasites."
"I'll go make sure the others are getting up," Momo offered. There were sounds of shuffling blankets and padding feet as Momo left.
"I'll do the same on the boys' side!" Eijiro said as he left as well.
"Did you seriously get sick over a little walk in the rain, Izu?" Kacchan huffed, still combing through his hair.
Izuku shrugged as he melted into the touch.
"Kaminari, get your ass up, you don't have a fever," Shouta huffed, sounding much closer. "Hatusme, you're not even my student, why am I dealing with you?"
"Because I also have a fever," Mei groaned.
Izuku let out a small chuckle. Looks like Dad jinxed himself last night.
"Sero, Ashido, Jiro," Shouta hissed. "Get ready. If you're late for class I'm assigning extra homework."
The three jumped to their feet and ran away quickly as Hizashi laughed.
"Alright you two," Shouta said in a much softer tone than he'd been using with the others.
Izuku could hear the thermometer as Shouta placed it in front of his forehead. Shouta hissed when it finally showed the results. "Hitoshi, lift your head up, kid." There was a slight movement and then another beep. "You idiots," Shouta sighed. "Alright, you four are staying here today."
"Why am I staying?" Kacchan huffed. There must have been some silent communication because Kacchan sighed.
"Make sure that they all actually take their medicine and get some rest," Shouta commanded.
"Yeah, yeah," Kacchan rolled his eyes. "I'm on babysitting duty."
"I'll have the kids take notes for you guys and I'll come back during lunch," Shouta said. "Just get some rest, brats."
"Okay, Dad," Izuku said. "Bye Pops, bye Eri," he added.
Hizashi and Eri chimed their goodbyes just before they heard the door open and close.
"Alright, fuckers," Kacchan hissed. "Get off me, I'm getting your medicine and then we're moving up to one of the rooms."
Izuku grumbled but rolled off Kacchan. When he stepped away, he rolled over and placed his head on Hitoshi's chest and Mei scooted up behind him to wrap an arm around his waist.
"Damn, you guys all actually got fevers," Eijiro said. "Sorry, bros."
"Let's just clean this up," Momo said.
Izuku could hear the crinkle of chip bags and the clink of cups tapping against each other, but he quickly fell asleep again.
"Izuku, come on," Kacchan grunted, slow circles being rubbed on his arm.
"I don't wanna," Izuku mumbled, burying his face in Hitoshi's chest further.
"We gotta go up to bed," Kacchan said. "You guys will be in even more pain if you keep sleeping on the floor."
"We don't all fit on one bed," Hitoshi mumbled tiredly.
"Yeah, that's why I had Eijiro and Shouto move Izuku's bed into my room, now come on," Kacchan huffed.
In the end, he had to help them all stand up and made them take their medicine before he herded them into the elevator. Mei kept her arms wrapped around Izuku and buried her face in his back which made it even harder to walk.
When they finally got up to Kacchan's room, he helped them all into the bed and tucked the blankets in for them before leaving again. Izuku was on the end with Mei cuddling into him and Hitoshi cuddling into her. Kacchan came back a couple minutes later and sat in the bed next to Izuku. Izuku immediately cuddled into him and was half-lying in his lap with Kacchan running his fingers through his curls again.
Izuku fell back asleep, surrounded by his friends with the promise of his dad coming back in a couple hours. He may be sick, but things were getting better and he had a new family to take care of him and help him through anything that might come.