Chapter 9: Green Shepherd

"Just remember Izuku to trust the guy in your heart and in here; the Bible."

"…this says the bibble."

"YOU QUESTION THE WORDS OF THE MIGHTY JIMMY!"

Yo, sorry for the late upload college has been really intensive this month and I've had very little time to write anything that isn't an essay. Also FF is more buggy than a Bethesda release day game. Hopefully things get better by next week and I can get back to updating more frequently.

Before we begin I want to give a special shoutout to the YouTube channel MHA Deku Fanfics, who made a video about my story. We did boys, we made it to the big leagues.

Otherwise, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

The walk back to the observation room was a quiet one, and in Ochako and Tenya's case an awkward one. Upon being thrown out of the building and avoiding Bakugo's explosion, they had made their way back to the entrance to the fake city. Their nerves only increased further when they saw a flash of red, blue, and gold speed past them. All Might had said something about the nurse's office but neither teen understood more than that.

The pair waited anxiously for what felt like hours, waiting to see the damage that Izuku had sustained. They expected to see the mangled body of their fellow student to be on a stretcher with only the faintest traces of life. His armor broken into pieces, allowing for the injuries sustained by Bakugo to be seen to the world.

What neither of the two expected was to see Izuku walking towards them with not a scratch on him.

Tenya and Ochako's bodies had visibly sagged in relief before they quickly rushed over to greet their fellow student. However, upon getting closer both teens gained a wary look in their eyes along with their expressions dropping into a neutral frown. Immediately they could tell something was off with Izuku.

His posture was far too stiff to be normal, it was a complete contrast to his normal, otherwise relaxed form. His armored fists were clenched at his sides, shaking every so slightly as though he was trying to refrain from punching a wall. Even his footsteps felt far heavier, each step creating a loud banging sound as metal met stone.

It didn't take a genius to see that Izuku Midoriya was pissed off.

What little confidence Tenya and Ochako had in asking about the matter was instantly dissolved when Izuku brushed past them without a word. It was at that moment did the duo realize that it would probably be best to keep their questions to themselves. No matter how awkward the walk back was. Thankfully for them in a matter of minutes the trio found themselves stepping inside the observation room. Upon which they were immediately bombarded with overwhelming chatter from their curious classmates.

"Whoa! Hey guys!" Mina beamed, waving excitedly as they entered. "Didn't expect to see you back so soon."

"Indeed, you all seem rather…well despite everything." Momo said with a perplexed look. Her gaze scanning over the unharmed trio in bafflement.

"Yeah, what the hell? There's not a scratch on ya." Sero chimed in along with several others who had similar comments.

"It was mostly thanks to Midoriya and Uraraka's quick thinking." Tenya nodded towards the other two teens. "I owe them my life for their bravery." The former remained motionless while the latter gained a light red hue to her bubbly cheeks.

"I really didn't do much." Ochako sheepishly uttered, glancing at her shoes. "I just stopped us from falling, it was Midoriya that got us out of there in time."

"Speaking of Midoriya, how are you uninjured?" Momo suddenly inquired, noticing not even a smidge on his armor. "We all saw you take Bakugo's blast head on."

"It is very strange, even with your proven abilities." Shoji added, leaning forward on his arms curiously.

"Kero. Yeah, I honestly didn't believe Aoyama you'd be fine." Tsuyu bluntly

"Ha! I told you Midoriya was more quick footed than you all realized." Aoyama boasted smugly. "Sometimes my genius can be mistaken for arrogance, it's ok I forgive all of you." He crosses his arms while leaning back in his seat, radiating with a 'I told you so' aura.

"Yeah yeah we get it, you're perfect." Jiro sighed exasperatedly with a roll of her eyes. "Seriously though, how are you still standing after that? I mean Bakugo's an ass, but he's still got, like, a really strong quirk."

"..." Izuku said nothing in response, merely casting a quick glance towards the earphone jack user. Without a word he made his way over towards the back of the room, taking a seat next to Tokoyami.

The armored teen silence quickly created an awkward air within the room that was felt by all of its occupants. No one could claim that they truly knew Izuku, but they all could gather that his response was highly unusual. He was anything if not polite to his classmates, even if he didn't engage in conversation with the vast majority of them. Though none were more concerned than his recently acquired friends.

Tokoyami understood the tranquility that silence offered, but the air around Izuku indicated anything but peace. The shadow user could practically feel the tension surrounding his friend like a stench that could not be removed. His shoulders were too tense, and his hands fluctuated between clenched and unclenched. A complete contrast to the relatively laid back but still confident mannerisms Izuku usually displayed.

A point that even Aoyama and Mina picked up on as well despite knowing their fellow green haired friend for less time than Tokoyami. The former lost his smug grin, replaced by a small frown that did not match his flamboyant nature. Similarly, Mina's bubbly energy dropped significantly, a concerned look in her eyes as she observed Izuku. Her gut was telling her that her friend was definitely upset, something that bothered the pink haired girl greatly. A brief look was shared between the three teens before they nodded to each other resolutely.

Solidifying their unspoken plan to confront Izuku about his abnormal behavior.

"Ahem." An awkward cough brought the class's attention towards All Might, who had re-entered the room. Some noticed that Bakugo was nowhere in sight. "Well, that was a rather…interesting display." The pro hero's smile wavered slightly before it was instantly corrected. "Now then, why don't we discuss the results of the battle. Who do you think was MVP?"

There was a brief murmur among the class before Momo's voice broke through with a raised hand.

"All Might-sensei, I believe Uraraka was the MVP." She stated with the utmost confidence. Much to the confusion of the rest of the class.

"Really, we just watched Midoriya tank a building leveling explosion and you go with her." Sero blinked dumbly as he jabbed his finger in Ochako's direction. "No offense by the way." He quickly added.

"No no it's ok I agree." The gravity user waved away before casting a perplexed look at the other girl. "I don't really understand why."

"It's simple really, you followed the plan to the letter and made excellent use of your quirk regardless of limitations." Momo explained as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Bakugo acted irrationally by choosing to fight Midoriya instead of sticking with Iida to defend the device or form a coherent strategy."

A low murmur of agreements arose from the rest of the class.

"Speaking of Iida, while he made do with the circumstances well enough, he could have done better than confronting Midoriya like that." The black haired girl continued her explanation. "And while Midoriya did come up with a well thought out plan, he could have easily worked around Bakugo rather than simply accepting it as an unavoidable factor.."

There was a brief lapse in silence as the other students pondered on the creation user's analysis. While no one could find anything factually wrong with the basement, a vast majority still believed that Izuku deserved the title. After all it was he who not only took down Bakugo but also immobilized Tenya so Ochako could win the match. Though whatever objections anyone had were quickly silenced when Izuku himself suddenly spoke.

"She's right." The angel grunted in a controlled tone; his arms crossed over his armored chest. "I played around and didn't make sure Bakugo was down for good." Though no one could see it, his eyes burned with a fiery resolve. "I will not make the same mistake again."

"Ah–yes ahem well said Young Yaoyorozu!" All Might stuttered before flashing an approving smile coupled with a thumbs up. "And entirely correct too! Well done now let's continue on with the class!" The number one hero drew the next set of teams, who began making their way down to the fake city.

While the rest of the class moved their attention back to the screen, Izuku's focus lay elsewhere. Normally he would have thoroughly enjoyed observing and taking notes of his fellow classmates' quirks. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to suppress it, Izuku could not help but feel an overwhelming anger at Bakugo and his actions. Even by the blonde's standards he very clearly crossed a fine line. The bullying and jealousy was one thing, but actively endearing the lives of their fellow aspiring heroes was too much for the angel.

Though he was absolutely furious in the moment, the angel held a deeper rage that he barely contained. Izuku had never felt the desire to inflict torment on someone more than he had at that moment. The sheer audacity to risk a life over something as trivial as proving one's superiority, it was enough to make the greenette's blood boil. Izuku wanted to believe that he was incapable of feeling this rage, that he didn't hate Bakugo despite everything.

But that would be a lie.

Izuku had never felt such an emotion towards the blonde, even at his absolute worst the teen never came close to such a feeling. It only served to make the teen feel even more agitated than he already was, both at Bakugo and himself. He knew he should be above such emotions, heroes and angels did not sink into the red abyss. But Izuku couldn't help it, in his heart the hatred that he felt for Bakugo had been earned. As far as he was concerned the two would never build the brotherly bond they had all those years ago.

No matter how guilty he felt about it.

*U.A, End of the Day*

The rest of the day passed in a blur for Izuku, he could hardly remember the classes following hero basic training. The angel had not seen his former childhood friend, which was probably for the best all things considered. While the rage he felt had simmered to a small flicker from its blazing inferno, Izuku truly didn't know what he would do. Not that he could attack the blonde unprovoked, but with the amount of anger flowing through him who knows what would be possible.

When the final bell rang, Izuku sluggishly and carelessly threw his supplies into his backpack with a resigned sigh. Truthfully the angel wanted to skip out on training today, so that he could wallow in his emotions. But Izuku knew that his mentor would not accept such a feeble reason, something that the more rational side of Izuku agreed with. Slinging his backpack over his shoulders, the greenette began to leave the classroom. Mentally preparing himself for the demanding experience that was Gabriel's training.

'Maybe I can convince Mr. Gabriel too let me cut down some machines today.' The teen hummed to himself. The thought of taking his anger out on the metallic foes elevated Izuku's mood ever so slightly.

"Yo, Midori. You got a minute?" The voice of Mina broke Izuku from his thoughts.

Curiously he turned around, only to be met with the sight of said pinkette, Tokoyami, and Aoyama standing next to his desk. Each of them wore a look of concern unlike their unique expressions they wore. Mina's lips, which were usually stretched into an energetic grin, sharply pointed downwards in a deep frown. The brooding, but still laid back air that surrounded Tokoyami now radiated with palpable worry. Even Aoyama's endearing prideful smirk had been replaced with a thin line across his lips.

For a brief moment Izuku was too stunned to speak or move, staring with a perplexed expression at the trio. The angel didn't understand why his friends were looking at him in such a way. He showed he was unharmed by Bakugo's blast, so why were they looking at him with such concern?

"Uh ya sure." Izuku turned around to face the other teens. "So…what's up?" He asked with a note of confusion.

"Look uh I–you…are you–mm…I–I–damn it this is hard to say…" The acid quirk user trailed off, awkwardly rubbing the back of her head as she stuttered.

"I believe what Mina is trying to say is that we have some concerns." Tokoyami stepped up, placing a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. "Ever since your battle you've seemed…distant."

Izuku's eyes widened for a split second as the reason for his friend's expressions became clear. Had he really been so affected by Bakugo's actions?

"It's…it's nothing." The greenette muttered as he looked away.

"Forgive me, my friend but I find that hard to believe." The shadow user continued, clearly unconvinced.

"Yeah dude, you can talk to us." Mina added with a nod of agreement. "We want to help."

"..." Izuku stayed silent for a brief moment before letting out a deep sigh. "I appreciate you guys trying to help. But this isn't something that you can fix so easily." He replied with an uncharacteristic melancholy.

"Can you at least tell us what's wrong?" The acid quirk user pushed with a pleading look in her eyes. "Whatever it is, it's clearly bothering you. Let us help."

"It's not that I don't want to tell you. It's just…complicated." Izuku revealed with a long exhale. His hands raking through his green locks. "Me and Bakugo…we have a lot of history together. We've known each other since we were kids, heh we were once inseparable like brothers." The angel let out a hollow chuckle.

The trio of teens chose to remain quiet, listening with rapt interest.

"But things changed…we both changed I suppose, and we just drifted apart. Although now I'm realizing just how far that rift actually is." Izuku finished in a tone mixed with sorrow and a slight amount of anger. "Maybe one day I'll tell you guys the full story about us, but for now all I ask is for patience." The greenette finished with an apologetic look.

"Bu–"

"We understand, Midoriya." Aoyama, who had been silent up till now, cut off Mina with an uncharacteristic understanding. "We all have our own secrets that we wish to keep to ourselves." The blonde boy gave a firm pat to his friend's shoulder. "Tell us whenever you are ready and not a moment before. We'll be here whenever you need us, that's what friends are for no?"

The room was silent as Mina, Tokoyami, and Izuku stared at the naval quirk user with bewildered expressions. Truthfully none of them expected such a mature, well-articulated response from Aoyama. Not that it was a bad thing, it was just simply surprising to hear from the otherwise vainful teen.

"Ya, I suppose they are." After the moment of silence Izuku responded with a small smile. "Thank you…all of you. I really do appreciate it." Izuku gave a grateful nod to the trio.

"Ya, no problem Midori." The pinkette grinned back while giving a thumbs up. "Also, what the hell since when were you good with words?"

"Ah, mon ami I always was this eloquent. It's just that you're realizing it now.." Aoyama replied with his typical prideful smirk.

"Pftt, ya ok." Mina snorted with a playful roll of her eyes.

"It was very well articulated, have you considered doing poetry?" Tokoyami mused inquisitively.

Before any of them realized it the heavy atmosphere faded into the background like a dispersing mist. As the group made their way out of the enormous school their conversation mirrored that of the idle chatter during lunch. Aimless talks about Pro Heroes coupled with remarks about the various forms of homework they were assigned. Even a few jokes were made against one another, mostly Mina against the boys. It was almost enough to get Izuku to forget about the rage that stirred within him like a dormant volcano.

That was until they parted ways and Izuku was alone with his thoughts once again.

*The Cyber Grind*

By the time Izuku appeared within the dull void of the Cyber Grind once more, what little bliss he acquired had evaporated into nothingness. All that remained was the same feeling of suppressed anger that bubbled with a hidden intensity. Leading the young angel to wear a tightly lipped, furrowed brow expression. Of course, it was quickly concealed by adorning his armor in preparation for the day's training.

"Good, you're properly armed. Let's begin." Gabriel commanded as he stepped to the edge of the platform.

"Actually, Mr. Gabriel, I had a request." Izuku suddenly said with a twinge of hesitation.

"And what would that be?" The Archangel asked as turned to look at his student.

"Just for today is it possible I can battle the machines?" The greenette proposed, his hands twitching anxiously.

"Hmm…I don't see why not." Gabriel answered after a second of deliberation. As Izuku went forward to enter the arena he was stopped by a raised hand. "Although, I would like to hear your reason for this change first." He added while crossing his arms expectantly.

"I–I just need to sort some things out." The younger angel responded with clear reluctance. "Today has been…taxing."

"Yes…I suppose that would do it." Gabriel muttered, his eyes narrowing behind his helmet in suspicion. The Archangel had a feeling there was something his student was hiding from him; he was sure of it. Though for now he chose not to press the issue. "Very well, you know the procedure by now." Gabriel nodded in confirmation, gesturing for the younger angel to enter the arena.

That was all Izuku needed before he leapt off the platform on the gray cubes of the Cyber Grind below. The moment his feet touched the ground the greenette had already grasped the handles of 'Judgment' and 'Mercy'. Drawing the katanas from their sheaths, the metal blades gleaming menacingly. The ground shifted beneath Izuku's feet, but truthfully he didn't even register the movement. All that the teen cared for at the moment was the bright lights of the machines being summoned into the arena.

Several Streetcleaners, Specters, and Sentries appeared throughout the elaborate battleground, already moving towards Izuku. The angel even saw a Swordmachine in the back line, its shotgun arm cocking a shell into its chamber. The vast amount of machines would usually lead to Izuku coming up with a quick plan to eliminate the most problematic machines. However, that strategy was forgotten in the moment, exchanged for a more vicious approach.

Not a second was spared before the angel zoomed across the arena in a blur of silver and green. The Streetcleaner that was in his path couldn't even raise its flamethrower before its spilt head, torso, and legs all became separate pieces. The other machines that witnessed the dismemberment were far more prepared than their fallen ally. Streetcleaners exploded with a wave of flames, Specters leapt into the air, Sentries fired off their rounds, and the Swordmachine began its dance of shotgun pellets and sword swings.

But it mattered not for Izuku was a whirlwind of fury, cutting down one machine and moving onto the next before body even hit the ground. There was a distinct lack of precision that was usually found in the greenette's form. Of course, that didn't matter as Izuku's strikes held so much fury that he simply cut through the machines with ease.

Behind the silver and green helmet, said angel's face was scrunched up in an unusual scowl that didn't suit his freckled face. Green eyes grew brighter with each strike against his foes, a flame that was fueled with the defeat of each machine. The rage that lurked underneath ever since Bakugo's actions had finally started to come through. It was an overwhelming feeling that only seemed to grow in intensity as the battle went on.

Izuku hadn't even realized that the whole purpose for engaging with the metal combatants had been forgotten. No matter how many machines were cut down it only seemed to fuel the inferno that raged within. The fog of emotions that persisted within his mind only grew more dense, which only served to further enrage Izuku even more.

Why? Why wasn't it working? Why was he still so angry?

'Because you're a pathetic excuse of a person.' The taunting voice of Bakugo sneered within the recesses of Izuku's mind.

The angel's grip on his weapons subconsciously tightened, his knuckles turning white underneath his gauntlets. A Specter charged at Izuku from behind, its robotic arms stretched out ready to grab its unaware opponent. Before the machine could process it, Izuku quickly turned around and raised 'Mercy'. In a series of quick slashes, the outstretched limbs were severed from their owner, its head following soon after. The separate pieces and its body fell to the ground with a loud bang.

'Shut up.' The greenette ground his teeth together as he shot back.

Another Streetcleaner charged from his right flank, spewing a cyclone of fire. The wave of fire was easily dodged with a flap of Izuku's wings. With expert precision he cut the barrel of the flamethrower before decapitating the machine in one fluid motion.

'Why should I listen to a pathetic loser like you?' Bakugo's voice taunted. 'Always getting in everyone's way, making life harder for those around you.'

'I said shut up!' Izuku barked within his mind, his anger rising.

A Sentry set itself up on a ledge at the end of the arena, its claws digging into the ground before it turned it head towards Izuku. Said angel let out an annoyed grunt as the pink laser appeared on his armored chest, a loud banging sound following soon after. Swirling the blade in his left hand to a reverse grip, Izuku deflected the bullet with skillful accuracy. A loud clanging sound was heard as the projectile's trajectory was suddenly changed. The shot ricocheted off the wall into the fuel tank of a Streetcleaner. Creating a sizable explosion that rendered the machine to nothing more than bits of metal and wires.

'You know I'm right. You're nothing but a quirkless loser.' The illusion spat with unbridled disdain. 'A useless fucking weakling who thinks he can be a hero.'

"Grr!"

Izuku growled lowly as he shot towards the Sentry with inhuman speed, slicing its barrel head from its body. With a harsh kick he sent the body flying into the void, turning back to his remaining metal opponents once the hunk of metal was no longer in sight.

'You're a fucking disgrace.'

"Be quiet!" The greenette shouted as he threw 'Judgment' with a great amount of force.

The katana sailed through the air before it impaled a charging Specter in its chassis, pinning the machine to the wall. Robotic limbs attempted to dislodge the blade, but its efforts were in vain, all it could do was helplessly struggle. Though it didn't have to for long as with a single, powerful punch of his armored gauntlet Izuku crushed its head. The wall cracked under the unrestrained blow; its power fueled furthered by the teen's rising rage.

'You could have avoided all of this if you just learned your place.' Bakugo's voice continued unperturbed. 'All you had to do was keep being weak, useless fucking Deku.'

The remaining Specter and Streetcleaner charged at him from opposite sides, all while the last Sentry took aim from its perch. Another loud bang echoed as the sniper machine fired from its barrel shaped head. Meanwhile, the remaining humanoid robots simultaneously charged, with the Specter leaping into the air and the Streetcleaner surged forward while pointing its flamethrower. Despite the vast factors stacked against him Izuku remained immobile, clutching his remaining katana tightly.

In a split second the young angel quickly turned around to face his metallic foes, his free swordless arm cocked back, and his armored fist clenched. There was a loud 'tink' sound of metal on metal as Izuku parried the projectile. Faster than it left the barrel the bullet shot back towards the anchored Sentry. The projectile re-entered the barrel, slicing through it and the rest of the machine's body like a hot knife going through butter. The now two halves of the machine toppled onto the ground with a loud thud.

But Izuku was not done just yet, in the same motion he shot into the air with a powerful flap of his ethereal wings. His hand intercepted the airborne robot, seizing the machine by its metal throat with an unyielding grip. With a flick of his wrist the angular shaped head twisted at an unnatural angle, causing the Specter to spasm from the damage. Glancing down, Izuku could see the Streetcleaner standing under him, waiting for his descent.

Mercilessly, the teen threw the body of the Specter down onto the Streetcleaner. Predictably, the latter dodged the makeshift projectile, moving swiftly to the side. However, it did not anticipate Izuku immediately following behind the flung body. Before it could register how close its opponent was, the Streetcleaner already had 'Mercy' plunged through its head. The holy weapon easily punctured the metal, cutting through the machine's insides as it was pushed deeper. It was only when the robot dropped to its knees did Izuku roughly rip the katana from its motionless body.

'But no, you just had to try and prove yourself.' Bakugo's voice growled incessantly in Izuku's ear. 'Just because you can't accept that I'm better than you, that I'll always be better than you.'

"I said shut up!" Izuku shot back, clutching his helmet in frustration.

The voice was more than enough of a distraction to allow the Swordmachine to close the distance. A round shotgun pellets was fired, striking Izuku in his chest plate painfully causing him to stagger back from the sudden blow. But the greater machine was not done as it followed up with several elaborate slashes with its chainsaw sword. Though he was able to defend against some, the greenette's volatile emotional state allowed for the machine to land several strikes.

Izuku could feel his anger rising, both from the voice in his head and now the throbbing pain caused by the Swordmachine. Gripping 'Mercy' tightly in his hands, he returned to the offensive, weaving his own pattern of slashes and stabs. Metal scrapped against metal as the two blades met blow for blow. Occasionally the flow was disrupted by an unexpected attack, such as a shotgun blast or Izuku using his wings to gain an aerial advantage. But the vicious dance between the two combatants would continue regardless.

'You should have taken my advice a lot sooner.' The voice whispered, filled with an insurmountable amount of cruelty. 'Maybe if you ended your pathetic life sooner you might have done something useful…for once.'

Izuku froze mid swing, his body locking in place like a petrified statue and his green eyes widening behind his helmet. The words continued to echo in his head even after the voice had gone silent. Never in his life had Izuku felt so empty than he had in that moment. It was as though someone had ripped his heart out of his chest. Leaving nothing but a bottomless void, a hole that could never be filled.

At least that was until the Swordmachine seized the brief opening to attack. Its chainsaw blade slashed vertically upwards across the left side of Izuku's helmet. Dragging the serrated edges over from the underside of his neck to the top of his head. The piece of armor now sported an uneven line as the holy silver was lacerated. The pain was enough to immediately snap the angel out of his trance. He gave a loud howl of pain, his free hand coming to clutch his now burning face. For the briefest moment Izuku felt as though he was four years old again, shaking in fear as the pain pulsated relentlessly.

That was until the emotion was replaced by an incomprehensible amount of rage.

The silver portions of his armor shifted to a blood red along with his wings and halo became a fierce gold. The hand that clutched his face dropped into a clenched his, the pain subsiding as Izuku's fury took over. Like a flickering light the greenette dashed forward, faster than the Swordmachine could ever react.

"Ragh!" Izuku let out a savage war cry as he approached.

With a single powerful strike from 'Mercy' the teen cut the serrated sword in half, its many pieces flying through the air. Swirling the blade in a reverse grip, Izuku stabbed the weapon into the machine's left leg, pining it in place. Now immobile, the Swordmachine chose to raise its shotgun arm, pointing its two barrels directly at Izuku's face. But it would never fire another shot as an armored gauntlet shot out and grabbed the arm.

The metal of the arm creaked and bent easily under the pressure of the angel's newfound strength. Only once was the projectile firing limb useless did Izuku allow for it to fall limply to the side. The greenette followed up with a sharp kick to the machine's right knee, the leg bent inward causing the Swordmachine to drop onto its remaining functional limb. Now standing above the kneeling robot, Izuku stared into its mismatched eyes. The menacing aura that surrounded the young angel was palpable.

Clenching his gauntlets, Izuku brought his arm up and delivered a harsh punch across the machine's head. The process was repeated with the other hand, a steady rhythm forming as each fist was alternated after each jab. Before long the tempo and force of the beatdown had escalated to what could only be described as overkill. If the punch didn't dent the rectangular head then the sheer power forced the Swordmachine to drop lower in submission. Had the machine been anything else it might have begged for mercy.

But Izuku was all out of mercy, his wraith not yet satiated.

Several moments of the brutal beating left the machine with a barely functioning head. Its aqua blue eyes flickered as it tried to stay online, hellbent on destroying its opponent despite the circumstances. A powerful right jab directly through the robot's rectangular head shut down whatever functionality it had left. Causing its body to drop to the floor lifelessly, however that did not stop Izuku. The teen continued to strike the unmoving body, sending bits of metal and wires flying with every strike. He was only stopped when the arm he raised to deliver another punch was firmly grabbed by a gold and white gauntlet.

"Izuku. That's enough." Gabriel ordered with a hard tone. His grip slackened ever so slightly after the young angel lost some of the tension in his body. "I'm going to release you now." The Archangel said calmly, letting go of his student's arm slowly.

The fog of rage that clouded Izuku's mind began to fade away, leaving a dull throbbing in his head. His armor and wings responded to the change in emotion, the red and gold melting away back to the original silver and green. With his mind now clear Izuku slowly surveyed the arena, becoming shocked at the sight of the brutalized bodies of the machines. Glancing down, his breath caught in his throat as he stared at the mangled head of the Swordmachine. Warily, the angel's gaze moved towards his hands, with only a single thought running through his mind.

'Did…did I do all this?' Izuku felt a heavy weight settle at the bottom of his stomach.

Had he really allowed his anger to consume him? Did he always carry this type of hatred inside of him? Was he always capable of such brutality?

"Now, why don't you tell me what this is really about?" Gabriel suggested, half ordered as he crossed his arms.

"It's…it's nothing." Izuku muttered as he looked away from his mentor.

"You were in Rage Form, that is not merely 'nothing', Izuku." The elder angel rebutted firmly. "Whatever ails you must be impacting you greatly. It is my responsibility as your teacher to ensure you are prepared both physically and mentally. So, I ask again, what is wrong?"

"I–I…" Izuku struggled, feeling frustration at himself for being unable to speak. "I had an incident at school today. It…it involved Bakugo."

"Your former childhood friend?" Gabriel asked for confirmation.

"Yeah, we had a mock battle today and we were on opposite sides." The greenette began lowly. "We fought against one another; I knew he would want to. Always going on about how much he wants to prove he's better than me."

Gabriel remained silent, nodding as he listened intently to his student's words.

"But I won, I proved that I was stronger, that I could be just as good of a hero as him." Izuku continued with a sharp edge in his voice. "But he just couldn't accept that even after the battle was over…he put the lives of others at risk all because of his fragile ego."

"And this is what sparks your anger?" Gabriel summarized with a calmness to his voice.

"I just don't understand. Why is it so important?" The young angel said in exasperation. "We used to be so close…like brothers. We dreamt of being heroes together–of being the kind of heroes that make people feel safe just by us being there." A note of sadness could easily be heard in his voice. "And now all he wants to do is prove how he's so much better than me. That I'll always be a useless 'deku'." Izuku scoffed bitterly.

"Ah, I believe I understand now." The Archangel let out a sound of realization. "I believe I have been lacking in certain areas. Let's rectify that now."

Izuku could feel the sensation of the warp gathering around his body, two golden enveloping both angels. When the light cleared from his vision the greenette knew that he was in the temple on the Moon. He found himself sitting in the front row pew, 'Judgment' and 'Mercy' laying on the bench at his side. Looking up, he saw Gabriel standing at the altar, in his hand an old book with a plain cross on the cover. It didn't take Izuku more than a second to realize that it was the Bible.

"You know I understand your plight more than you'd realize." Gabriel began in a gentle, sympathetic voice. "I wasn't always the Archangel of Justice, I, like others, had to work for such a title."

"You weren't?" Izuku said, confused. Truthfully he had always assumed that his mentor had always been this strong. At least that's what he gathered from the brief glimpses of Gabriel's past that were revealed.

"Heh, oh no. Though I am Heaven born I still had to work to prove my faith to the Father." Gabriel chuckled slightly. "And I was not the only one either, there were others, all trying to prove their own faith." The elder angel continued in a reminiscent tone. "We were all siblings, but I was never as close to them as I was with Michael."

"Michael?" The greenette repeated the name questioningly.

"The Archangel of War and my brother in arms." The Archangel explained fondly. "Our rivalry went almost as far back as our creation. There wasn't a time we weren't trying to prove we were better than the other." He let out a deep sigh, his voice dropping to a somber tone. "It was harmless at first, but as time went on–as we grew more powerful–as we sought to prove our faith further, there was no denying the bitterness that set in."

"You grew apart…didn't you?" Izuku asked, already knowing what the answer would be.

"Indeed, our bond became strained, and we grew resentful of one another. Dare I say, we might have even hated one another. No longer did we treat each other like rivals, but as enemies." The regret within the Archangel's voice was palpable. "The animosity continued until one day we confronted each other. We battled, it was long...and bloody, but I emerged victorious. I thought I would feel elation, that my feelings of anger would have been justified at that moment. Heh, I had never felt so hollow in my existence."

Izuku remained silent, but still listened intensely. A pang of empathy rang in his chest, beginning to see just how similar Gabriel's story was to his own.

"As I stared down at Michael's kneeling form you know what I saw in his eyes?" Gabriel asked rhetorically. "Regret, pain…a sadness that was unnatural for him and left me feeling more empty despite my victory. It was then I realized that I was hurting my brother…that I was simply feeding the cycle of hatred." The elder angel continued with a more hopeful tone. "I decided then and there that even despite everything that happened between us I would no longer let my anger turn me against my brother."

"?!" The younger angel let out a choked, surprised sound.

"I will admit that I do not know the full extent of your history with Bakugo, but I will leave you with this parting message." Gabriel opened the book, reading from the page with regal authority. "Luke 17: 3, if your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. My bond with Michael is forever strained, but perhaps you can salvage yours, Izuku."

The room became silent once the passage was said, leaving Izuku to stare at his mentor with wide eyes. Gabriel's story, it almost perfectly reflected his own history with Bakugo, down to the anger that was felt by his mentor. Of course, Izuku had a feeling that the Archangel was likely leaving out some pieces, but he understood well enough. Green eyes pulled away from the elder angel down towards Izuku's hands.

Did he really want to let his hate control him like this? Even if the resentment felt against Bakugo was justified, did Izuku really want this to be their relationship? Nothing more than two bitter brothers who fed into the other's anger. Were the good memories of the past so easily forgotten in favor of embracing the bad? What had happened to them?

Izuku knew the answer, which only made him feel more guilty with how he acted earlier. He allowed himself to be embraced by the sweet allure of his pent up rage. The same allure that still tempted him now, that still whispered in his ear to give in. Afterall, Bakugo deserved it, he was the one who started it so it only made sense to return his feelings in kind.

'No…no. A hero would never do that.' Izuku resisted with a shake of his head. The anger that filled his reins began to fade away into a growing self-determination. 'I have to be better…I will be better.' The greenette promised to himself resolutely.

His hands reached up and undid the straps that held his helmet in place, grasping the underside once it was loose. With a bit of struggle, he managed to take off the piece of armor revealing his injured face. Two small streams of blood slid down above his eyebrow and at the underside of his neck. The angel turned the helmet to face him, staring at armament for a moment before carefully placing it by his swords.

"Mr. Gabriel…I–this anger that I feel…I want to make it go away." Izuku broke the silence in a whisper-like voice. "But I don't know if I can forgive him…after everything he's done."

"It is a thorny path indeed, my pupil." Gabriel nodded with brutal honesty. "But the road less traveled reaps the most reward in the end. The strength and wisdom you will gain cannot be acquired anywhere else." The Archangel closed the Bible before finishing his speech. "Even if Bakugo denies your hand, you can live your life knowing you did everything you could to offer him a second chance."

"Yeah…I guess so." The greenette nodded in understanding.

"Now, allow me to introduce you to your new piece of training." Gabriel stepped down from the altar and stood in front of Izuku. "I have neglected to teach you the spiritual side of the Father's teachings. From now on we will spend at least one day of the week going over a passage from the Bible." He held out the book, which was taken hesitantly and with a questioning look.

"Spiritual side?" Izuku repeated with a curious tone.

"His gospel was written to teach humanity the values of the Father. I will teach you those values so that you may become a true warrior of Heaven." Gabriel explained to the younger angel. "Being able to protect the innocent is important, but so is spreading the good word of the Lord."

"I see. Thank you, Mr. Gabriel." The teen said softly, giving a small thankful smile. "For everything. I feel a lot better now."

"It is no problem my pupil, I owe it to you as your mentor." Gabriel held out his hand over Izuku's injured face, healing the cuts in a flash of golden light. "Now, let's start where it all began, where the Father created Heaven and Earth." The Archangel began as his student opened the book to its first page.

*U.A, Next Day*

Izuku hummed a small tune to himself as he walked along the sidewalk towards the large h-shaped building. His lecture with Gabriel the previous day had renewed Izuku's love for learning about new things. He spent the entire night reading through the first couple of pages, pondering on the meanings behind each passage. Izuku would've said he wasn't really a religious person before yesterday, but now he's not so sure. Each page only sparked the young angel's interest even more.

Which is how the old book ended up in the teen's backup amongst his other school supplies. Izuku intended to read through it a bit more when he had some down time between classes, honestly he was looking forward to next week's lecture. The thought left Izuku in a pleasant mood, feeling a deep serenity as he continued his walk. The feeling came to an abrupt halt as he came closer to the gate. Standing there, grumpily as Izuku has come to expect, was none other than Aizawa.

"Midoriya." The Pro Hero greeted. "Come with me, we've got something important to take care of this morning." He gestured to follow with a nod.

Wordlessly Izuku trailed behind the tired looking man, crossing through the vast courtyard into the building. The pair traveled down a series of corridors and hallways before eventually stopping at a plain door. The sign above it read 'Principal Nezu', from that alone Izuku could figure why he was here.

When Aizawa opened the door and both of them stepped inside, the greenette was greeted to an expected sight. Ochako and Tenya both stood off to the side, looking somewhat uncomfortable as they awkwardly shuffled on their feet. Nezu sat behind a large wooden desk, his eerie smile present on his unknown animal face. Across from the amalgamated mammal was none other than Bakugo. The blonde held an uncharacteristic submissive air to him, his head bowed down, avoiding eye contact with everyone in the room.

"Alright, we're all here." Aizawa shut the door and strode to stand at Nezu's side. His dry eyes glaring down the blonde. Izuku remained standing in the back, away from everyone else.

"Sensei, why are we here?" Ochako hesitantly spoke up. "Is…is this about what happened yesterday?"

"Yes, you're all here to confirm the details about the incident during your hero basic training class." Aizawa confirmed gruffly. "So that we can give an accurate punishment for Bakugo."

"That's right, Aizawa." Nezu clapped his paws in delight. "I'm simply going to ask you all some questions, then you can be on your merry way."

Izuku shared a brief look with the other two students before they turned back and gave a nod of approval.

"Excellent, now describe Bakugo's behavior during the mock battle." The principal began calmly.

"Non-compliant, uncouth, volatile, and completely unbecoming of a hero." Tenya answered swiftly while adjusting his glasses.

"Pretty mean and loud." Ochako added in much more simple terms.

"Mm, aggressive even for him." Izuku carefully chose his words. Casting a quick glance at Bakugo who seemed to shrink from the answers.

"Ok and is it true that activated his quirk even after the battle was concluded?" Nezu continued his questioning.

"Absolutely."

"Yeah."

"Yes."

"I think that's more than enough evidence." Aizawa cut in. "The incident report from All Might and the residue picked up from the debris corroborates with your testimonies. Bakugo without a doubt made the conscious choice to use his quirk with the intent to harm another student."

"Ah, such a shame too." The animal hybrid lamented without ever losing his smile. "So much potential wasted."

"Um, Aizawa-sensei, what's going to happen to Bakugo now?" The brunette tentatively inquired.

"Expelled immediately." The Pro Hero bluntly answered. "He'll never be allowed into another hero school ever again."

"I see…a harsh but appropriate punishment for his actions." Tenya nodded solemnly. "His actions yesterday were completely unacceptable." Ochako nodded along in agreement with her classmate's words.

Izuku, however, could feel his lips point downwards as the news of Bakugo's expulsion was revealed. A part of the angel agreed that it was exactly what the dirty blonde deserved, not just for yesterday but for everything he's ever done. But Izuku knew that part of him was being fueled by the remnants of the rage he felt for his former friend. The more sensible part of him whispered Gabriel's words from yesterday into his ear. Reminding Izuku that maybe he could change the outcome before it is too late.

"Principal Nezu, Aizawa-sensei respectfully I don't think you should expel him." Izuku suddenly spoke up. Immediately he was met with four pairs of disbelieving stares and an amused gaze from Nezu.

"You want us to not punish him? After the stunt he pulled yesterday?" The Pro Hero questioned incredulously. Looking somewhere between annoyed but also flabbergasted.

"No, punish him however you see fit, just don't expel him." The teen clarified.

"What an interesting development." Nezu excitedly clapped his paws. "And do tell Midoriya, why should we take your word into consideration. After all, Bakugo clearly broke the rules."

"Yeah, he did but he deserves a second chance." Izuku remained firm in his position.

"Why are you defending him?" Aizawa inquired curiously. "He's been nothing but antagonistic towards you, now you have a legitimate opportunity to remove him and you're not taking it, why?"

"Indeed, I would think you would be far more vindictive given his actions against you." Nezu added with a lopsided smile.

"If you asked me yesterday I would have agreed with your decision in a heartbeat." Izuku answered honestly. "But I talked with someone I trust deeply, and I realized that's not the type of person I want to be. It'd be so easy to give in–to let my anger control my actions even if it's justified." The greenette let out a deep breath. "But that wouldn't be very heroic would it? A hero should offer his hand even if he knows it'll be slapped away. How can we expect others to redeem themselves if we do not offer forgiveness for their sins?"

'And I will do my best to forgive him.' Izuku silently promised himself.

"I want to forgive Bakugo, even if a part of me still feels angry after what he's done. But I'm not going to let my emotions cloud my judgment." The young angel stared resolutely at the two U.A faculty members. "I'll offer him a second chance, it's up to him whether he takes it or not."

The occupants of the room stared at the teen with various expressions on their face as he finished his impromptu speech. Ochako and Tenya stared at him with looks of complete shock, their eyes wide and their jaws practically on the floor. For a brief moment an impressed look crossed Aizawa's features before he reverted back to usual tired expression. Nezu looked like a child on Christmas day, wearing a wide smile as he leaned forward on his desk.

Bakugo, at least to Izuku, was the most surprising as it was a look that he would have never expected to see on the blonde. His usual scowl was absent, replaced by a look of meekness that didn't fit the explosive user's sharp features. His red eyes held a mixture of fear, shock, and awe as he stared into Izuku's calm green orbs. The blonde in front of Izuku looked nothing like the bombastic person he knew. Izuku didn't know for certain, but he was confident that Bakugo was at least considering his words.

"Well, I think that settles it then." Nezu claps his paws together in delight. "Bakugo Katsuki will not be expelled."

"But he will receive six months' worth of detention." Aizawa added curtly, sending a hard look at the submissive blonde. Who flinched slightly from the hard edge in the Pro Hero's tone. "And be barred from taking the provisional license exam."

"Well then if that's all, I suppose our business here is concluded, run along now. Class is about to begin." The Principal of U.A shooed away the other occupants.

Without another word the members of class 1-A left the room with Izuku leading the charge and Aizawa trailing behind. Tenya and Ochako still held expressions of surprise as they quietly whispered to one another while casting glances at the taller teen in front of them. Bakugo remained uncharacteristically docile, remaining quiet with his eyes firmly placed at his feet. It was hard to tell if it was from shame or it was contemplative. The answer wouldn't matter as within a few minutes the groups of students and their teacher reached the classroom.

Opening the door, they stepped inside where the rest of class 1-A gave various curious looks. Though the tired–annoyed look from their teacher quelled whatever questions that may have been asked otherwise. The class could probably guess anyway, considering what happened yesterday.

"Alright settle down, we've got some important stuff to get through today." Aizawa started, taking his place at the front while Izuku and the others took their seats. "Before we do anything else you all must pick a class president." The man let out a yawn as he entered his sleeping bag. "I don't care how you decide just do before class is over." Without so much as another word the Pro Hero curled up and closed his eyes.

With the vague goal given, the class immediately erupted into chaos with many shouting for their own nomination. Some made promises that definitely would not be accepted, *cough* Mineta *cough*, while others simply talked about how amazing they were so naturally they should be president. Izuku was amongst the few that decided to not join in the shouting match. While he wouldn't necessarily mind if he was class president, it wasn't something he sought after either. Though that wasn't to say it wasn't amusing seeing Mina and Aoyama give their own pitch for why they were perfect for the role.

"Everyone, quiet please!" Tenya stood from his seat, waving his arms frantically. Miraculously the rest of the class seemed to listen as their attention was turned towards the glasses wearer. "As it is the duty of heroes to serve the people, it will be the people who decide who is fit to be our president! I propose the motion for a vote to take place. Whoever amasses the most votes will become the class president, the second most shall become vice president!"

"But Iida we all barely know each other." Tsuyu pointed out.

"Yeah man, besides won't everyone just vote for themselves then?" Sero added with a raised brow.

"That is why those who gain multiple votes proves they are best suited for the position. They have earned the trust of others and by extension have shown they are worthy to lead." Tenya replied, sweeping his hand dramatically.

With no more complaints from anyone else, everyone began to scribble down their pick for class president. Without much thought, Izuku simply wrote down Tenya as his pick, the blue haired teen seemed to fit the position. As he waited for the results to be tallied, Izuku decided to pull out his Bible and read a few paragraphs. The angel let out a low hum as his eyes scanned over the words of the chapter with rapt interest. His attention was pulled away from his reading a moment later with a tap on his arm.

"Hmm." Curiously looking at the one who nudged him, he saw Tokoyami nodding towards the front of the class.

Midoriya Izuku - 4 votes

Yaoyorozu Momo - 2 votes

"Huh." Was the only thing Izuku could say as he read the results from the smartboard.

"I saw them Izuku, they're real. FAIRY GOD PARENTS!"

"Mr. Gabriel, what does that even mean?!"

And so, we begin with one of the main themes of the story. I knew for certain that I wanted this story to be about forgiveness and giving others a second chance. Though this is only part of the puzzle, the other pieces will come into play later. You'll see a little bit of what I have planned with how I'm going to treat Bakugo's character going forward.

Also gave a sneak peak into a bit of Gabriel's past and his history with Michael (who will become a major supporting character I promise you). I intend to flesh out Gabriel's and Michael's relationship later on, especially after Mr. Ultrakill himself loses his light permanently. I want it to be a sort of reflection of Bakugo's and Izuku's relationship if things turned out differently. You know what, actually, expect more aspects of Heaven to be revealed with the coming chapters, especially during the sports festival. I didn't even realize just how many little things I've been leaving behind, so prepare for more of that.

Next Chapter: Ambush