Hey everybody! Guess what? A semi-on-time update for this story! :)
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What I've Done
Chapter 12
I suck in another breath as Tomura leaves, trying to memorize everything about this moment so that I have something to keep me sane during the storm that is Inko tonight. Tomura is right, of course; I really can't be acting out like this, or I'll never be trusted enough to go to UA. My only hope is that Naomasa will use this act of disobedience as more evidence that I'm desperate for space.
Screams catch my attention in the distance, however, and I blink at smoke rising from a few blocks away. Chaos is certainly not my forte, but I know there must be a hero-villain situation and can't help but jump at the opportunity to analyze in person rather than from a video clip; getting home can wait just a few more minutes.
I power walk over and weasel my way through the crowd. There are heroes everywhere, all of them shouting about how their quirks aren't suited for this fight and they need backup. The surrounding buildings are on fire, concrete and asphalt blown and scattered across the streets and sidewalk and the best the big bad 'heroes' can do is complain about not having the right quirk? I don't even have a quirk and there are things that I could do to at least slow the rampage down.
Honestly, I have absolutely no intention of helping at all. The heroes don't deserve to win and any bystanders injured should learn not to stand so close to a full-on brawl. But then the sludge-like 'villain' twists and my heartbeat ceases entirely.
"Kacchan?" I whisper, realizing that the damage is a result of his quirk. There's terror in his bloodshot eyes and the only part of his face that's showing is dangerously pale. "He can't breathe!"
I just… start running, not even realizing that I'd moved until I was past the heroes. With no quirk, my ability to help has to rely on strategy rather than power but with all the training Tomura put me through, formulating and executing a plan in seconds isn't difficult. I hurl my backpack as hard as I can straight towards the monster's eye, figuring that's the only spot that would be remotely sensitive to external damage that weak.
It works and I hear more than see Bakugo sputtering and gasping in air, the slimy villains hold momentarily lessened as it reels back with pain. There isn't much more I can do in terms of attacking, but I'm satisfied even as the goo wraps around me and hauls me into the air as well, figuring that I'll just try to buy time at this point, because *quirkless*.
"You should put him down," I state calmly, keeping my gaze fully focused on his yellow eye. "I know this boy and assure you that I have the more destructive quirk."
"Deku what the fuck—"
Slime covers Bakugo's mouth and I internally sigh, actually happy that he's somewhat suffocating again. Can't he see I'm stalling? "It would be smarter for you to take me instead of him."
"Ha!" the creature laughs at me and I have the most compulsive urge to let my eyebrow twitch in annoyance; I seem to be the butt of everyone's jokes since I left the hideout. "You do huh? Then please explain why you haven't unleashed this 'destructive quirk'."
"If I had, I would have hit Kacchan too and that would have defeated the purpose of trying to save him. Besides, don't you recognize my face? I'm the kid that went missing nine years ago. Why else would I have been taken if it wasn't because of a powerful quirk?"
My throat already feels a little hoarse; that's the most I've talked in years, I think. Bakugo looks absolutely distraught behind his sludge-muzzle and I'm not sure if it's because he thinks the villain will realize I'm lying, or because he thinks it's going to work and that I'm going to be taken in his place.
In any case, I can see the wheels turning in this rather stupid 'villains' head and know I've probably convinced him of my potential as a better captive. Before he makes a decision, however, I hear a deep, booming voice begin shouting 'Detrooooit SMAAASH'.
A rush of suffocating wind hurls past us and I feel my body lurch only to be stopped by a grip on my shirt collar. It's incredibly uncomfortable, my neck bending as far as it will go as the force of his punch continues to shockwave through the area.
I cough and heave almost as badly as Bakugo did earlier when the whirlwind finally ends and there's oxygen to breathe once more. The attack is one I'm used to since Master has incredible physical strength like that, so I was able to stay conscious… Bakugo was not.
He's passed out beside me on the ground with a pained expression, but otherwise, he appears fine. The rest of those useless heroes come running in to 'save us' now and I wish I'd just let myself pass out too. Why of all people, was it All Might that had to show up?
It's way past when I'm supposed to be home and I'm certain there must be an Amber Alert out by now, but none of the heroes or first responders say anything; They probably haven't had time to check on police updates with the damage this scuffle caused.
Bakugo wakes up not long after we're taken off to the side for medical treatment and I can see he desperately wants to talk to me. Before he gets the chance, however, the pro heroes that literally did nothing of value during the fight seem to think it's their job to tell me how stupid I am for running in as I did… and then they start telling Bakugo that he's brave—they praise him despite the fact he was weak enough to get caught with a quirk like his and then caused mayhem in an attempt to escape.
Despite having just seen Tomura, I feel rage rear up inside me like a monstrous storm. This is not what I am; this is not what I'm supposed to be. I can't let myself give in to my weakness so I abruptly stand and move to get away before I lose control.
"Hey, where are you going?!" I hear one of them shouting after me, but I refuse to acknowledge the question. What are they going to do? Make me stay?
"You're fucking idiots, get the hell out of my way!" Bakugo snaps as he bulldozes past them as well, guilt covering his features. "Don't listen to them, Deku. Those assholes don't know what they're talking about."
My fingers are trembling and jerkily squeezing my backpack straps as I speed up my pace; his words aren't making me calm down. If anything, it's like my hatred for everyone involved is amplified because I know the heroes are full of shit and don't need him telling me so out of pity. I saved him. Not the other way around.
"Deku." He calls more firmly, grabbing my uniform sleeve and yanking me to face him. "They. Were. Wrong. I would be dead if you hadn't run in when you did. That slimy bastard would have suffocated me and then used my corpse as his own personal meat-suit. You're a fucking hero—that shit you pulled was brilliant."
He'd held my chin up when he'd spoken, holding my gaze as if to let me see the sincerity behind what I could have assumed where hollow words. The tension in my body unwinds considerably… Not as completely as if Tomura were there, but enough.
I have to take in a few deep breathes to adjust to the rapid outflow of emotion and find I'm exhausted when all I'm left with is a mostly numb feeling. Bakugo takes this an opportunity to hug me again, crushing me against his firm chest just like the first day I started classes.
My stomach, heart, and mind can't seem to agree on what I should be experiencing, each flying in a different direction leaving me confused and strung out, yet strangely content. When he pulls back I almost feel the need to shiver from the sudden loss of warmth, but force myself to outwardly appear neutral.
"Alright… Fuck. Let's get you home, okay? Your mom is going to absolutely lose her shit when she finds out what you were up to." He states and I nod, knowing he's completely right.
"It's not wise for you to follow me, Kacchan. You know how my mom feels about you."
"Ah?" he scoffs, giving me a grin that sends a pulse of warmth straight down my spine. "You almost got your ass killed for me, Deku. The least I can do is walk you to your house…"
I find that I don't want to argue even though he was probably closer to dying than I was and nod that he can escort me home if that's really what he wants to do. We're both quiet after that, but as we walk and everything calms down I find it's comfortable. For reasons I can't explain, his presence is soothing; it's like there's a vague memory of feeling almost affectionate towards him before but I can't quite access it. I try to tell myself it's because he—unlike my parents—usually remains quiet around me, acknowledging that I don't care for noise.
The warmth in my body seizes about fifteen minutes later, however, and I abruptly stop walking to look up. Bakugo gazes at me in confusion before following my line of sight just in time to see a yellow blur falling from the sky shouting 'I Am Here!' loudly enough to shatter what's left of my eardrums. He looks dumbstruck, staring at our childhood idol with awe and maybe even discomfort?
We were swarmed by the media shortly after he handed us over to the medics so I didn't pay too much attention to him, but as All Might's blue eyes flicker between me and Bakugo, I can't help but notice recognition. Do they know each other somehow? Does he know who I am?
It takes a while for someone to speak, but eventually, All Might does. "Young Midoriya, we've not yet had the pleasure of meeting in person, but your father is a dear friend of mine. I was wondering if I could have a word with you… In private."
I'm immediately on edge even though he doesn't appear to be threatening me. Still, this is the 'hero' that very nearly killed my Master and subsequently caused Tomura so much suffering… and me as well. I trusted this man with my life only to find out he was everything wrong with society. He's the villain, not Master All For One. I shake my head and start walking again, too annoyed with the whole afternoon to care about what he might be wanting to speak about. "Kacchan is taking me home."
"W-wait!" he stumbles, putting up his hands as he steps in my path.
All Might clears his throat and runs his eyes almost wearily over Bakugo once more, though this time, Bakugo has his chin tucked down to his chest with what I'm now certain is regret and shame. "I apologize; I didn't realize that you and young Bakugo had reconnected and are friends again. Will you allow me to speak with you if he is allowed to stay?"
I have to think about my answer for a moment. Tomura would certainly never allow me to have 'friends' since all I need is him, but for the sake of my mission, I could probably use it as part of my 'identity'. This time I nod, noting that Bakugo peers up at me and smiles with this sort of hopeful bliss… It confusingly makes my stomach flutter though so I push it from my mind.
"I guess the first thing I should mention is I was one of the first heroes on the scene when you were abducted; that's where I met Tsukauchi the first time. As our friendship progressed, I learned a great deal about you through him and the circumstances that surrounded your disappearance…" he explains.
"Circumstances?" I question lowly, picking up on the renewed distress emanating from Bakugo.
"Your quirklessness…" All Might responds almost sadly. "And why you were alone when the villain kidnapped you."
A lightning rod of understanding strikes through my brain and suddenly I understand what Bakugo was apologizing for on our first day of school; he thinks he's to blame for Tomura taking me. In truth, it was indeed seeing me beat up for being quirkless that caught Tomura's interest… but it was the lack of protection from heroes that made him walk over.
"Master didn't take me because of Kacchan." I state firmly, finding I'm disgusted by the idea that 'heroes' would put the blame on a four-year-old when it was their own negligence that allowed his ego to fester until he became a bully. Had someone—anyone—told him it wasn't okay to treat another person like that, he wouldn't have become so volatile. "Master took me because the adults around didn't care enough to notice my absence."
All Might is taken aback by my rather blunt statement, his face falling with shame while Bakugo's wide, increasingly watery red eyes rocket back up to me. I see his Adam's apple bobbing as he chokes on whatever mixture of emotions comes crashing across his face and it's clear he's just as surprised by my statement as All Might is. Did everyone just assume that I've been blaming Bakugo all this time? Even if I did consider him to be the one responsible, I'd be thanking him… Tomura protected me and made me strong.
"Y-you…" All Might starts, letting out a regretful sigh. "You're absolutely right, young Midoriya. Someone should have stepped in to help you which is why I felt so strongly about speaking with you after watching you today. When I saw this timid, quirkless child who'd been kept and tortured by villains for years selflessly rush in to save a life, it inspired me."
I peer up at him while he speaks, trying to rationalize my spontaneous intervention today. I didn't save Bakugo because I care about him! It had to have been that I wasn't thinking and just ran into a fight because Tomura trained me to 'just do'… Or maybe I was subconsciously planning ahead as he's likely still my best option for convincing Inko that I'll be safe in the UA hero course.
"I, All Might…" I hear, pulling me from my frenzied attempts at explaining away my actions. "… Deem you, Izuku Midoriya, worthy of inheriting my powers."
My eyes snap to his face immediately, certain that I've misheard what he said. I know all about the One For All power and am aware that it is meant to be transferred to a new bearer each generation… but… me? His expression leaves little doubt that his offer wasn't a figment of my imagination and I find myself more and more disoriented from that notion. The world starts to sway around me and it feels like I can't get in any air.
The last thing I remember is Bakugo screaming my name and reaching out to catch me as I fall.
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