Chapter 70: Shadows Left Behind

Izuku stopped fighting the pain and let himself lay down. He leaned on the Calm Mind to block pain and concerns out of his mind and focus on the sounds of the others as he let his eyes rest for a moment.

A couple of running steps approaching, heavy breaths. Surprisingly Shoto spoke first, not quite next to Izuku yet.

"Are," a pause, "you okay?"

Silence.

"Eijiro?" Hitoshi asked this time.

"I'm okay, just…"

Sounds of him scrambling up and running steps approaching.

"Izuku is hurt," there was a thud of knees hitting the asphalt and it did not sound like they were stone as they hit this time.

"What happened?" Hitoshi asked.

"He was like this when I arrived."

The tourniquet Eijiro had been placing before got pulled so tight the Calm Mind, and extensive experience from shattering bones, were the only things preventing Izuku from shouting.

"I mean he was conscious then," Eijiro's voice was getting more panicky.

"Hss," Izuku hissed, both hoping for some silence and trying to calm the redhead who usually calmed him. "I'm still conscious."

"Oh, that's a relief."

"Go check on Tenya. Don't worry about me," Izuku commanded.

"Sounds like himself at least. Good to know he didn't get hit in the head too hard," Hitoshi tried to ease the situation, but the words were forced, and his worried tone didn't really do it. "I'll go check on him."

"He got hit by Stain's quirk. It's why he can't move."

"Izuku," Hitoshi said with a harsher tone, "you are laying in your own blood. Focus on yourself for once."

Izuku shut up as Hitoshi left, just laying there as Eijiro and Shoto worked to stem his bleeding.

"It's going to be okay," Eijiro said again, but it wasn't clear for whose sake.

"It will be now," Izuku said quietly, but with much more confidence. "Great job, sword breaking hero Red Riot."

"More like bone breaking," Eijiro muttered under his breath.

"Life saving," Izuku corrected. "Not just me and Tenya, he tried to go for Hitoshi."

"I know. I..." Eijiro's voice broke, and he pressed some bandages on another wound. Izuku thought about letting it go for the moment, until he wasn't bleeding, but he didn't want to leave Eijiro's current thoughts as the end of the conversation. Had to at least have a distraction.

"Shoto," he said.

"I'm here. Are you sure you are going to be okay?"

"Yes, but can you do one thing for me."

"Yes."

"Slap Ei for me."

Silence.

"Just a soft slap. It won't hurt him. He just had a sword break on his neck."

The slap was barely audible, but it was there. After a short pause Eijiro kept dressing Izuku's wounds.

"Are those men…?" Shoto asked.

"Not dead," Izuku said as briefly as possible. He didn't want to talk about Native to not expose anything by accident.

"I'll go check on them."

He left, leaving Izuku alone with Eijiro for a moment. He was already finishing on the last wound.

"You are pretty good at that," Izuku said. "At least a lot better than in the first aid class."

"I practiced at home. There is no point in saving people from villains if I can't keep them alive long enough for that to matter."

"Sounds familiar."

"I still can't do more than this," Eijiro said after stemming the last of the bleeding.

"It's plenty."

Even in silence he could sense Eijiro's restlessness now that he wasn't keeping himself occupied, but that didn't necessarily translate into paying attention. Izuku decided to risk it as he opened his eyes.

"How's Stain? We can't risk him escaping."

"Shoto's ice is holding him, he's unconscious… I hope."

Yep, too pure and in need of therapy, just like Izuku, for the therapy part, certainly not for pureness.

"He still probably has weapons and knives. You should search him. Ask Shoto to help with the ice and keeping him restrained."

"Are you sure?" Fingers pressed against Izuku's shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm not dying right now doc Kirishima. You should focus on making sure there are no more patients. That's what you do best."

"Right," he did not sound convinced, "okay. I'll be close. Shout if you need something."

"I already have everything I need here," Izuku whispered, "well a pillow would be nice."

Eijiro hesitated for a moment but went to do as Izuku asked, calling for Shoto to join him. They took a moment working together to deal with Stain, taking away all sorts of sharp things and tying his hands.

"You should take away all of the bandages on his arms," Izuku said just loud enough. "He probably has something hidden under them."

"Okay."

"And tie his hands behind his back so it is harder to do anything if he is still hiding something."

After another moment of waiting Izuku pushed himself up a bit to see down the alley. Hitoshi was talking, kneeling next to Tenya who was sitting against the wall. At least Stain's quirk's effects seemed to have ended.

Unfortunately that also applied to Native. Brave on the other hand was still not moving, even though Hitoshi had pulled him next to Tenya. Izuku laid back down, confident enough he was in good hands. Now they just needed to wait till Stain was secured and Brave got up.

A bit later steps approached Izuku. He regretted looking in the direction as Native was walking to him. Stain had used his quirk on the scum quickly so unfortunately he wasn't very hurt.

"Quite the impressive fight you put up young man. Thank you. Even if he beat you too, this murderer would have killed me if you hadn't arrived when you did. You even managed to fight him without taking his quirk, Quirk Stealer."

He grinned and said it in a joking way that made it hard to say if he was just stupid enough to think that was funny or genuinely berating him but not willing to show it openly in this situation. Something felt slimy either way, and not in the good way, like when Izuku's resident puppet-master tugged at his strings for his benefit.

"It's Kureru for you," Izuku responded, starting an awkward silence as he did.

"Anyway," Native said eventually. "Seems you are going to need some help getting out of here. Mind if I carry you? It is the least I can do after being so useless. Pros really shouldn't need help from students."

Well, wasn't this scam acting humble and helpful. Izuku failed to keep the frown off his face. Native didn't notice or care as he crouched down towards Izuku.

"Hey," Hitoshi called from behind the man. "Leave him to me."

"It's okay," Native said. "I can do at least this much."

Something in the words was definitely disingenuous.

"Back off," Izuku said with perhaps a hint of Shirokuro sneaking into his tone. Briefly Native's friendly expression cracked with annoyance shining through, but a hand appeared over his shoulder and softly pushed it, convincing him to move so Hitoshi could take his place.

Hitoshi stared at Izuku for a few seconds as his eyes moved from one injury to another, but then his lips turned up teasingly and he crouched next to Izuku.

"Seems I finally get to take you to a doctor instead of the other way around. I've been waiting for this day for so long and all it took was a single serial killer. I expected better from you."

He tsk. and shook his head.

That got a chuckle out of Izuku.

"I'm- I will be okay. Thank you for asking."

"Seems Eijiro makes for a pretty decent medic, but that guy was right on one thing," Hitoshi pointed a thumb at Native, "you aren't walking out of this alley, no don't even try it."

"Worried I'd hurt myself more?"

"Worried I don't get to pay you back for treating me like a bag of rice."

Izuku squeezed his lips together, thinking about a response.

"Watch your words or I'm going to carry you out bridal style, Izu."

"On your back is fine," Izuku said.

"I knew you'd know what is best."

"It is easier for you that way," Izuku delivered his finishing blow.

"Okay, lets go," Hitoshi moved closer and carefully lifted Izuku's less hurt arm over his shoulder to pick him up. As he started actually pulling Izuku up he grunted and the first yank did not go as far as he probably expected.

"Too heavy?" Izuku asked and smirked. "Should we add more strength training?"

"No, not too heavy, just heavier than you look."

Hitoshi pulled again and got Izuku over his shoulders.

"You know you are supposed to lift the dumbbells, not eat them. I think you weigh more than Eijiro and he is a bit taller than you."

"Hey, you need to eat lot of iron to build muscle."

"Well, your diet does not seem to be an issue for you," Hitoshi bumped Izuku a little to adjust his hold. Some blood dripped down his back. Izuku turned his head to look elsewhere.

Stain had come back to consciousness, but one of his hands was hanging uselessly from what used to be a shoulder. It didn't really have the shape of one anymore, more of an uneven slope from neck to low hanging arm. The hands themselves were tightly tied together and in the even tighter grasp of five rocky fingers.

Izuku was pretty confident he would not escape that even though Eijiro wasn't really watching him. Izuku whispered to Hitoshi.

"I think you might have a new patient."

"I noticed, but you are going to help with this one."

"Anything you need."

"Whatever he needs. You can probably understand what he is feeling the best. When Stain came for me," Hitoshi paused frankly their therapist probably needed therapy too, "Eijiro saved me. After everyone Stain has killed there was no way I wouldn't have gotten stabbed to death."

"Maybe if he got you alone long enough, but…"

"No buts," Hitoshi's head brushes against Izuku as he shook it. "If Eijiro was slower…"

His voice failed for a moment.

"Well he wasn't," Izuku tried to comfort him, "and the only reason Stain came for you was because he realized who was the biggest threat."

"Izuku focus," Hitoshi said in gentler tone than was usually used for those words. "I was sorta focused on the knife at first but after Eijiro hit Stain, I saw his face. I have seen that stare before, not on Eijiro, on you. Like last time I almost got stabbed, when Bakugo almost blew me to pieces, when villains attacked us at USJ, and actually tried to stab me there too, when my old bullies showed up at the sports festival even when that paparazzi harassed Todoroki, Eijiro looked just like you at those times."

"So it is as serious as I thought," Izuku muttered.

"I have no issue with how he looked, but I don't think he was prepared for what happened after."

"When you are prepared to do anything for someone without thinking, it can be hard afterwards when you do, whether you were right or not," Izuku shared his insight. "Also, Ei's idea of fighting and getting injured may still be a little…"

"Inaccurate," Hitoshi suggested.

"Naive," Izuku corrected and looked at the redhead that was now almost next to them. "For most people, life and death battles are not something you get through with nothing but bruises on either side."

They both glanced at Stain's used to be shoulder at the same time. Eijiro looked down quickly.

"I wasn't aiming there. If he hadn't moved just in time…"

"He'd be like the boulder on my yard," Izuku finished. Eijiro nodded.

"If he hadn't dodged my shots, he'd be a lot less than even that," Izuku emphasized, "Remember, he tried to kill Tenya and Hitoshi, and you."

"Fakes, they are both fakes. The world will be purged."

"Shut up killer," Native barked from behind them. "You will have time to talk your tongue off during the interrogation. Hope they give you the behind-closed-doors treatment."

Stain glanced around at them, somehow not held back by the massive injuries right next to his neck. His gaze lingered on Izuku just a little longer than others.

"You want me to talk," Stain said, still mustering a deranged smile. "Perhaps I will. I hear prison can be quite boring. Who knows what I might say if I have to sit there long enough. People need to know the truths of this world one way or another."

A shiver went through Izuku at the implications of those words hit him.

"You can keep your deranged ideologies to yourself. Just keep walking," Native said, acting like he was in charge or responsible for the killer's defeat. If Stain talked, Native would have no hesitation in catching a Shigaragi, or trying to catch one at least. That much was clear to both Izuku and Stain.

They made a stop where Tenya and Brave were waiting. Tenya only had injuries to his upper body so he could walk out of the alley himself, walking head down next to Hitoshi and Izuku on Hitoshi's shoulders. Native walked past Brave, still paralyzed. Eijiro stopped to toss the hero over his shoulder and then jogged to catch up to the rest of the group, carrying the hero.

Mr. Brave didn't seem very impressive of a hero while hanging over his student's shoulder, but Izuku wasn't really in the position to comment on that.

"Should we do something about the other battle?" Shoto asked. He had been walking on the other side of Hitoshi out of Izuku's sight.

"No," Native said. "As the only pro here, or the only one still on my feet anyway-" because he had been the first to be paralyzed… "I can't let students endanger themselves under my watch, running into danger if the battle is still going on."

"Plus half of us are injured, you included," Izuku said.

"Yes, but that is on the heroes you were with. They are the ones carrying the consequences of your injuries. Don't worry I'll make sure people know how bravely you tried to help me."

Tried, they did a bit more than tried, especially Eijiro.

They finally exited the alley to an empty street. Everyone who had been out at this hour had either escaped or found shelter after the Nomu attack started.

"HEY!" an unfamiliar female voice shouted. Izuku only saw her when Hitoshi turned towards the voice. It was a female hero with some kind of gas mask and perhaps green hair, in dark it was hard to say exactly as she approached. She was with muscular man not much taller in light blue martial arts Gi.

Izuku recognized them both. He had investigated everyone that anyone present had as much as considered interning with.

"Why did you…?" she asked. "Who is that?"

"He's" Hitoshi started.

"It's Stain," Native said. "He tried to kill me, and these kids decided they wanted to help."

He glanced at Brave and literally patted Eijiro's head.

"This one was especially impressive, but he is lucky his quirk was good for keeping him alive against swords. Unfortunately handling himself and his student was bit too much for Brave and he got hit by Stain's quirk. He'll be okay in a moment."

"You mean he got paralyzed just like you and were both saved by students…" Izuku said and nodded at Eijiro, "especially this one. Not that you would have lived long enough for him to show up if Tenya wasn't being stupid."

"Yes, you were helpful, but try not to let it go to your head," Native said. "Also it is not polite to try to embarrass people. You shouldn't forget Brave is still pro even if he got hit by a quirk. I mean it would be pretty embarrassing if his intern was already stronger than him."

Since Eijiro was still standing next to Hitoshi Izuku could see Brave's face tense and twist in, concern maybe? Next his leg moved getting Eijiro's attention, so he put the man down on his feet. He faced Eijiro.

"Good job, you," he hesitated, "were of great help."

Even Eijiro raised his eyebrows at that comment.

"As were the rest of you," Brave quickly added, but he was already on Izuku's bad list, maybe not as high as Native, but on the list nevertheless.

"Should have let Stain take them," he muttered accidentally, low enough only Hitoshi could hear him.

Izuku really needed to work on his self-control even around his therapist.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that much at least," Ms Joke said, "but I have to talk to Aizawa about you running off on your own."

Izuku could hear Hitoshi gulp.

That was nothing compared to the jump when Stain started suddenly cackling maniacally.

"You are truly the fakes I knew you to be, even worse. Not only you use your position for personal gain, but you exploit others and have even fallen low enough to steal achievements of children already stronger and closer to being heroes than you."

The killer previously barely standing up stood up straight his long tongue hanging under the fanatic stare.

"The word hero has lost all meaning in this society," he tilted his head to face Native. "The world is overrun by fakes and criminals like you who chase petty greeds.

He twisted around in a motion so quick it was hard to follow, but Native had lost his grip on him by the time he had turned around. Stains arms previously tied behind his back were suddenly on the front as Stain ignored pain and injury taking full advantage of his destroyed shoulder not posing normal restrictions of movements anymore.

"You must all be purged."

Stain's working hand brushed by his head and the fabric surrounding his eyes. Something glinted in light of nearby streetlamp in the hand striking at Native.

Eijiro and Brave were already turning to stop him while Native tried to evade. The small sharp object brushed against Natives neck. Eijiro's fingers closed around Stain's arm. There was a clinging sound.

Stain's arm got yanked away before cutting deep, and the razor blade fell on the ground once Eijiro's other hand grabbed his wrist. By the time the man's lower body was trapped in ice.

"You will be purged," Stain said defiantly even as his tone was weaker.

"Huh," Eijiro sighed and glanced at Native, "hey are you okay?"

"Yeah, I, I think will be," Native said holding his bleeding neck, but unfortunately not bleeding enough.

"So," Thunder spoke, "what did you say about how helpful these 'children' were."

Native responded with glare and a huff.

"Well, I am sure we get to go through the exact events with better time."

"We sure will," Ms Joke said. "Now we should focus on getting all of those injuries treated. I already asked for an ambulance. Shinso, you should find somewhere to let a load off your shoulder in the meanwhile."

"It's okay. I can wait," Hitoshi said and bumped Izuku a bit to prevent him from sliding. "He didn't put me down before getting to ambulance so why would I."

"You are just enjoying having things this way this time," Izuku said.

"Oh, this is him," Ms Joke said. Most notable thing in her words was the lack of hostility or fear Izuku was used to. He'd have to interrogate Hitoshi on what he had been telling to the woman.

"Shinso has talked a bit about you."

"Don't believe a word he said."

"Oh yes, I think I will, even more now. This has been quite enlightening compared to news and online discussions."

"That is a pretty low bar."

"Perhaps, but... Shinso are you sure you don't want to lay him down?"

"Only in an ambulance or hospital."

Joke's mouth was hidden but her eyes smiled even in the darkness.

"As I thought."

"I am going to take your coffee away," Izuku threatened.

Hitoshi hesitated for a second.

"Still worth it."

Izuku decided to let Hitoshi have his fun, if he really considered carrying someone on his back as fun. Izuku didn't actually mind being in that position, even if he huffed about it for Hitoshi's entertainment. It wasn't a bad place to be, minus the painful injuries. Perhaps they could do this as training. They could have a friend carrying contest, perhaps an obstacle course.

There was a distant sound of an ambulance siren possibly signalling Izuku's ride was approaching its end, but it was soon covered by a different screech behind Hitoshi and Izuku.

One of father's Nomus, one with wings, was flying fast over the street towards them. Its tone was unusual, not the normal aggressively animalistic as tended to be the case when the Nomu bothered expressing themselves in the first place. It felt something more urgent and pained.

Izuku might have made a couple of Nomus make such noise during training.

As Izuku stared the Nomu stopped midair and its eyes met his own. It dove towards the group, more specifically towards Izuku looking to the others like it was attacking.

And for them it probably was. What if it thought they, especially Hitoshi, had injured and captured Izuku.

There was no time to hesitate. Father could complain to Tomura.

With an open wound in his hand lighting the Dragon Blade hurt extra bad as the bandages got torched, but at least that arm could still move. He swung it out towards the Nomu and shot before Eijiro jumped in the way. The shining blue blast was weaker than he had used earlier but it hit the Nomu in the middle of its chest causing it to jolt back.

The next second it caught in fire and not just a little shimmering where Izuku had hit but full on lit the entire street with flames that soon turned blue. The burning mess fell on the ground.

"That's new," Hitoshi said, but Izuku frowned.

"That wasn't me," he glanced at Shoto, "and it wasn't Shoto."

Izuku could feel Hitoshi's hold tighten as Izuku's words, and probably their tone made him tense.

"So," Hitoshi started before the form of a very large man formed behind the burning Nomu with flames shining on his shoulders. Shoto hissed, a high pitch hiss of fear and he took several steps backwards until he was further back than Hitoshi and Eijiro.

"I don't think this is good," Eijiro said.

"No," Izuku responded speaking only in whisper. "Keep close to Shoto. He should know that no one gets hurt behind Red Riot."

"What about you two."

"It's okay," Izuku assured as his backhand moved out of Endeavour's sight to Hitoshi's arm right under the short sleeve.

"You should have put on something warmer for night patrol," he muttered.

"Yes dad, at least I got a shirt," Hitoshi muttered as Eijiro moved in front of Shoto. "Now shut up and take it if you need to."

Izuku started quietly pulling in the Brainwashing quirk as soon as Hitoshi gave the permission. Endeavour stepped over the burning Nomu, through the flames like he was trying to make himself look as intimidating as possible.

It was working. Izuku didn't need Calm Mind to focus on the villain in a hero's costume even as Endeavour completely ignored him looking past Izuku and Hitoshi right at Shoto.

"Shoto what are you doing here?"

Shoto moved a bit more behind Eijiro.

"He is here because he is interning with me," Thunder said sounding like he might be ready to stand against the number two, and by that Izuku did not think about the rankings.

"Which I as his father have not approved. Shoto get here."

Shoto did not move. Eijiro hardened. Native looked surprised.

"What do you think you are doing?"

He tried to push Eijiro's shoulder but could not move the boulder that had decided to not move. Thunder on the other hand moved closer.

"I believe you are not supposed to approach him currently," he said.

"He is my son, and he should be interning with my agency" Endeavour sneered as he walked closer, "step aside low ranker."

"I cannot do that. For this week at least he has been trusted under my care as my student and master should not allow their student to come to harm."

"You…" temperature around Endeavour increased.

"Hey!" Izuku shouted. Endeavour did not respond but turned his head just enough for a single eye to stare at Izuku like something between a bug and a piece of something smelly.

He kept walking. New flames formed around his hand.

"Stay away from them," Izuku said with more urgency but also with threat in his voice, however effective that could be while he was being carried over Hitoshi's shoulders. He had gotten through Stain without losing anyone. Would everything really fall now because of Endeavour? Izuku was barely holding regeneration back from healing him enough to jump at the man.

Endeavour raised his flaming hand as if he was going to backhand slap Eijiro out of the way. The flames got brighter, bright enough to make Izuku worry even for Eijiro who still didn't back down.

"Talk about proving to everyone what flaming garbage you really are," Hitoshi said with impossible calmness. "Not having either wife or a child to beat since sports festival must have been difficult for you. How have you coped? Any criminals gone missing in your area?"

Hitoshi paused.

"Or perhaps young women. Seems to be the theme of the day."

Now Endeavour spun around right in front of Eijiro and Thunder mouth open ready to respond. As soon as he saw Hitoshi it snapped shut. He took a couple steps to loom over Hitoshi and Izuku waiting just long enough.

"I have half a mind to…"

Dragon Blade came to life on the hand Izuku could still move.

"To what?"

"At this rate you'll…"

Endeavour's eyes glazed over and his flames disappeared. Hitoshi's shoulders slumped down under Izuku as he relaxed.

"What did you do?" Native asked and reached for Endeavour. It was blocked by a large red bird feather that somehow did not move aside as soon as it brushed against him.

"Hey It's Midoriya," Dark Shadow shouted from above. "He looks bad, who did this. Was it that guy he called burning garbage, I'll crush him."

"Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami snapped as two pairs of feet touched the ground. The pro hero Hawks walked into Izuku's vision a finger on his chin in an excessively casual expression.

"I should ask why you would be doing this to one of the top heroes of this country, but I get the feeling that conversation is better had with a smaller group, besides," he held up his phone standing in front of Endeavour and took a bunch of selfies, "I should thank you for this opportunity."

An ambulance turned corner down the street as Tokoyami came to Hitoshi and Izuku.

"Seems you have traversed a great darkness Midoriya. Will you be okay?"

"Ye…" Izuku began assuring, but was interrupted.

"Of course he will," Dark Shadow said, "he was tough enough to have me. By the way, who's the iced guy?"

"That would be Stain," Izuku responded. "Help us make sure he gets taken in safely."

"Nope," Hitoshi said, turned and headed to the ambulance that had just stopped. "As far as you are concerned there is no 'us' in that. He put Izuku down on a stretcher that had barely been brought out and looked at the medic in the eyes.

"Don't let him get away before he has been properly treated."

"Don't worry, he's in good hands, and doesn't look like he is going anywhere soon."

"And Titanic couldn't sink. Just make sure he doesn't try to get up too soon."

"I see, one of those cases," the medic responded.

"You wouldn't believe. Tenya! You too get on."

"See what I have to deal with," Izuku said reaching for Hitoshi.

"That's my line," Hitoshi said and slapped Izuku's hand away. "If you give my quirk back now it will stop working."

"Right Izuku said."

Thankfully a second ambulance arrived with police before Native tried to jam in the same one. Sharing with Tenya was something Izuku very much did not mind, he wouldn't have had it any other way, even if he didn't feel like talking much with the paramedic present. Tenya just sat head down next to Izuku's stretcher.

Also the painkillers, it had been a long time since Izuku had been in pain for this long continuously, but whatever was injected into his arm was absolutely the good stuff. It made him a little dizzy. Since they were safe now, he rested his eyes, just for a moment.