The silence in the room was like thick molasses that stuck to the skin, with the reality of everything taking over. Izuku had stepped away from everyone moving to the farthest corner of the training room. He needed space away from the truth that was crushing around him for the second time.
But the news clung to him, coating the back of his throat until he felt like he couldn't take in a breath.
"Breathe." Kacchan said.
Izuku shook Kacchan's hand from his shoulder. He pressed himself deeper into the cold surface of the wall. The coolness dug into Izuku's flushed cheeks as he tried to stop his raging thoughts. Kacchan was the only one Izuku could tolerate so close to him at this moment. As his lungs burned and everything became too loud inside him. One for all scraped at his bones, begging to use on those that had hurt his friend.
"I said breathe!" Kacchan yelled.
Desperate air filled Izuku's lungs as he did as Kacchan demanded. His thoughts cleared, if only for a moment. Kacchan counted out eight seconds as Izuku held his breath in his lungs. He needed to let his friend take control of his actions because Izuku couldn't trust what he would do at this very moment.
"Breathe again Deku." Kacchan said.
"They're supposed to be heroes…..Kacchan….I trusted them, I told her it would be fine." Izuku said.
"Don't think about that right now Deku, you're having a panic attack I need you to focus on your breathing." Kacchan said.
Izuku shook his head, he understood on some level that Kacchan was right, but his brain wouldn't settle; his body betrayed him as different muscles and limbs shook and twitched. It felt like something or more everything was building in his chest, coiling in a tight grip around his heart.
"It's my fault Kacchan….But you knew…..You knew they couldn't be trusted." Izuku cried.
His vision blurred, the build-up of tears overflowing as they fell to the floor. Izuku slammed his fist against the wall, making it dent and give way under the force. The hole was small, but he didn't care to worry about it.
"You need to calm down Deku." Kacchan said.
Izuku turned his head to look at Kacchan. His face lay only inches away from Izuku. This was the closest they had ever been since they were kids sleeping in each other's beds. The feathering touch of Kacchan's hand against the back of his neck registered, and Izuku began to settle as he focused on the redness of Kacchan's eyes.
"Idiot, you can't lose it now. Now breathe with me." Kacchan whispered.
His words brushed against Izuku's heated skin, and he managed to take a small shaky breath for the blonde.
"Alright, good….good." Kacchan said.
Izuku's focus moved across Kacchan's face. From the soft flush of his cheeks. The dark bruising bags under his eyes gave away how little he was sleeping. He could hear Kacchan swallowed before taking a deep breath in, Izuku following his lead.
Kacchan counted the seconds as Izuku's world began to center around his friend. The way he counted with his finger into the dip where Izuku's neck and shoulder met. Kacchan counted eight taps before releasing the air, and Izuku followed his lead, their breaths mingling between them.
Kacchan began a slow pattern, and Izuku did as told until his breathing evened. His eyes were dry now, making them itchy and glazed as he concentrated only on Kacchan.
When Kacchan was satisfied, he stopped as he dug his finger into the soft fleshiness of Izuku's skin, and a strange shudder coursed through Izuku's body in response, but he was too tired to question or pull away.
"I need you here with me nerd, don't go losing it like that again until we get out of this mess understood." Kacchan said.
Izuku nodded, and he closed his eyes as he settled back into his reality. The warm press of Kacchan's forehead against his own was a comforting sensation that had Izuku humming in response before Kacchan pulled away with a small frustrated huff.
Izuku took a second for himself and then stood straighter as he turned back to the others. Hatsume was silent, looking at no one but the screen to make sure Chieko hasn't moved again. Izuku had to thank the other girl for keeping her composure while he had been falling apart.
"You okay now?" Inasa asked.
Izuku nodded to the taller boy; he looked smaller now by how he had slumped forward in his chair next to Hatsume. His eyes were bright and worried as he looked to Izuku, but he nodded in return, accepting Izuku's silent reassurance.
Izuku's fist clenched at his side as he glanced over to Detective Tsukauchi, who had sat on the ground by the locked door. His whole form screamed defeat, his face buried in his hands. When he spoke, his voice was rough, as if he had been the one crying instead of Izuku.
"Please Midoriya, please know that I didn't want this, but we had no choice." Tsukauchi whispered.
Izuku opened his mouth, but his voice cracked when he tried to bring out the words. He had to swallow a few times to clear the tightness in his throat. When he spoke, his voice was deep and strained from the utter rage he felt for this man.
"There's always a choice." Izuku said.
Tsukauchi didn't look up at him, didn't react to Izuku's accusation. But he let his open palms fall into his lap, his gaze unfocused as he tried to justify himself to Izuku.
"What else could I have done? If the heroes fall, the hospital falls with it. I was assigned this place, but the heroes had their own plans when we lost. I was barely holding things together when you came and Ms. Miyahara appeared. When they promised to stay in line in exchange for her I had no choice. To protect the people under my care I had to do whatever it takes." Tsukauchi said.
Kacchan growled, his spine snapped straight as his body shook with unbridled rage, but as he opened his mouth to shout at the pitiful man, Izuku placed his hand on the blonde's shoulder. Kacchan paused, glancing back at Izuku, but he had his eyes fixed on Tsukauchi.
Kacchan relaxed his stance as he schooled his expression, letting Izuku take the lead now that he was back in control of himself. They had been like this as kids, always understanding what the other needed without the need for words, whether it was Izuku's constant admiration to reassure Kacchan's hidden insecurities. Or the way Kacchan knew how to bring Izuku back when his emotions peaked out of control. They clicked on a level only they understood, and it had always been like this until Kacchan had pulled away from Izuku. But for the first time, Izuku felt them fall back in sync with ease, like breathing again. Izuku just knew that Kacchan understood what he needed to do, and in return, Izuku understood that Kacchan was allowing him the chance to do it.
With Kacchan's permission, Izuku stepped forward towards Tsukauchi
"We trusted you to protect us. She trusted you. You can try to justify it. Say that her sacrifice was the only option, but in the end it's no different than the villains." Izuku said.
Even Inasa reacted to the accusation; as everyone in the room realized what was happening. Hatsume began to type into her laptop, her gaze firm as she focused on whatever she was now doing, but Izuku could see the way her head still tilted towards them as she listened.
"I didn't mean for this Midoriya, I had hoped if we could hold out then maybe when you were ready you could take up the mantle All Might had left for you." Tsukauchi said.
All Might's mantle. The symbol of peace. It was the farthest thing from Izuku's mind at this point. Even after the attacks, after Kacchan's parents, All Might's execution. After all the things he saw on his way to the hospital. Izuku had believed the heroes would eventually save them and bring order back to their broken world, but it was becoming more apparent now that one had to watch out for themselves and those they kept close.
"I'm going to get Miyahara back and all of this stops now." Izuku said.
Tsukauchi reacted to the news, finally looking up to Izuku since he had arrived.
"Wait no, Midoriya, if you try to take her back the heroes will retaliate. Everyone will suffer than." Tsukauchi pleaded.
"Stop calling those cowards heroes." Kacchan muttered.
Izuku stared the detective down. Kacchan, with his arms crossed, is standing at his side. Inasa and Hatsume off to the side, silent as they waited for what Izuku would do. His friends, Chieko, his mom. They were the people he needed to put first now. He couldn't afford to worry about anyone else.
"You can't stop me Detective, Miyahara doesn't deserve this. She should be safe, here with her friends. If they won't give her back then we'll take her back by force." Izuku said.
Kacchan smirked; he looked almost proud at Izuku's words. Inasa stood, and Izuku waited to see who he would side with.
"I don't feel right fighting the heroes, but it was wrong what they did. I'll help you Midoriya." Inasa said.
"I'm already working out the heroes list to see what we're up against." Hatsume said without looking back at any of them. Her usual crazed personality was tamed into a serious neutral frown as she worked.
Izuku smiled at his new friends. If they were going to back him up, then Izuku felt more confident that they could get their friend back one way or another.
"I can't let you do that." Tsukauchi said.
"And whose going to stop us? You?" Kacchan taunted.
The detective stood, and Izuku realized that any element of surprise could be jeopardized if Tsukauchi left to warn the heroes. The idea of restraining the older man didn't sit well with Izuku, but the idea of leaving his friend as she was felt worst. Izuku prepared himself, ready for whatever it takes to stop the other man.
"I found your mom." Tsukauchi said.
Izuku's mouth fell open, not expecting him to say that. Kacchan let loose a round of curses at the detective who observe them. The dark feeling appeared deep in Izuku's gut at what he was insinuating.
"You fucking…..of course you would sink so low!" Kacchan yelled.
"Show me." Izuku said.
The man pulled his phone out, and Izuku's heart seemed to slow in his chest as Tsukauchi was able to call on the device to one of his officers.
"Watanabe, is Mrs. Midoriya with you?" Tsukauchi said.
His eyes were trained on Izuku, who never broke contact, the black pit in his belly only growing stronger the more he stood here being manipulated by the man he had respected only hours ago.
"Yes, take a picture." He said.
"Let me speak with her." Izuku demanded.
The detective ignored him, and once he had what he needed, he ended the call. Izuku took a step towards him, but it was Kacchan stopping him this time.
The bing of Tsukauchi's phone went off, and he opened the message showing Izuku the image of his mother in a room eating with a group of women who seemed to be dressed in a heroes uniform.
"So she's in the heroes wing too." Izuku said.
"No, but she is being guarded by a hero at all times. She's safe with them, but in exchange they want you to stop looking for Ms. Miyahara." Tsukauchi.
"So you're nothing but a lackey now huh." Kacchan accused.
The man didn't deny Kacchan's claim, but the wait his jaw clenched let Izuku know how much he hated being called that. The detective was used to being in authority, and within weeks the heroes had taken over. His power was nothing but a farce. A head figure to keep the peace. Izuku was sure Mr. Inazuma was the one running the show.
Izuku said nothing, waiting for the other man to continue with his threat. They all knew it was. There was no point in denying it.
"We had to make sure that we were prepared in case this happened. She's very comfortable, happy even. She knows you're here and we update her regularly about you. She's found a bit of passion in the work she does for us and we told her you are helping with volunteer elsewhere." Tsukauchi said.
"And that's supposed to make us feel better!?" Kacchan asked.
Tsukauchi didn't respond to Kacchan's outburst; his attention solely on Izuku. The detective shoved his hands in his pocket as he finally turned his gaze away from Izuku. The burden he spoke of was like chains binding him with their weight, Izuku could see that, but he had crossed a line with Izuku. There was no turning back now.
"I'm sorry Midoriya." Tsukauchi said.
"Fuck you!" Kacchan said.
"Kacchan, leave it. He's crazy if he thinks he can use mom against me. We'll get mom back, and then Miyahara and then we'll leave this place to self destruct without us." Izuku said.
The man flinched at Izuku's firm promise to Kacchan. There was no doubt in his voice that Izuku would make good on his promise, and Kacchan simmered down for the moment. He huffed but didn't say another word as he turned away from everyone.
"You can keep training here and volunteering. I can bring you updates on your mom as well if you'd like?" Tsukauchi.
A pathetic attempt to appease Izuku. He didn't acknowledge his words. He refused to give in to what he was saying. Izuku had already lost himself once in front of the man, and he refused to do so again.
"Then I'll leave you all." Tsukauchi said.
He turned from them, unlocking it with a silent click, and as he opened the door, he looked back at the group one last time, his eyes solemn and resigned.
"I didn't want things to reach this point. One day you'll be stuck in an impossible situation and only then you'll understand the burden I carry, maybe then you'll be able to forgive me." Tsukauchi said.
"I'll never forgive you Tsukauchi. I'm almost glad All Might isn't here to see his friend become a villain." Izuku said.
Izuku saw the man's face crumble under the weight of his words before hiding his face under the lip of his khaki hat as he stepped out without a word. The moment the door closed, Izuku turned to his friends, face firm and goals set.
"Let's get started." He said.